Comparison Charts for Presidential Candidates

Posted by Brandon T. Bisceglia

Co-Editor in Chief

Do you want to know what the presidential candidates' positions on various issues are? ProCon.org offers a comprehensive (though by no means exhaustive) list of 6 of the major contenders' positions in a side-by-side format that is updated frequently. To view the charts, go here: http://2008election.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=1561

Halfway Out the Box

A Picture Essay of Beacon Hall’s First Few Days
Brandon T. Bisceglia
Co-Editor in Chief

The walkways of Beacon Hall are spacious, with lounge areas scattered in seemingly random corners throughout the building. In one such alcove on the third floor, a couple of art-deco chairs stand next to a floor-to-ceiling window with a breathtaking view of… I-95.

This is the glory and the irony of HCC’s new building – lush carpets and fancy track-lighting side-by-side with half-painted walls and empty rooms. In some cases, such as the doughnut-shaped lounge tables, form appears to have trumped function. In others, the planners clearly foresaw the necessities of expansion, with class and office spaces beyond what current enrollment could possibly fill.

Jessica Jarrett, a transfer student who has not yet seen Lafayette Hall, notes that some of the new building’s finished construction has yielded some unsatisfactory results. “I don’t really like the fact that there are no windows in some of the classrooms,” she says. “At least they have climate control, which is nice… but it’s not the same.”

Some areas of Beacon Hall, on the other hand, have some rather unusual views to offer.

This window is typical of what one will see from the second and third stories. The designers were mindful of the potential for disturbance, of course – you will not hear a sound from any of the nearby thoroughfares.

The large student lounge on the third floor has an added feature – the windows contain light dampers to keep out the worst of the afternoon sun. This also obscures most of the busy Bridgeport horizon, as first-term student Samantha Carrano points out. “Those lovely smokestacks over there?” she muses, waving dismissively from her seat in the corner of the lounge. “I don’t even notice them.”


Carrano approves of the ample student space. “I can just chill out here,” she says. Indeed, students seem to have taken an immediate liking to some of the cozier spots.

Other areas, though, are not seeing as much traffic. In the first few days especiallyEspecially during the first few days of the semester, many of the rooms meant especially for students are bare and silent.

Some rooms, in fact, are still only husks. Search for the new bookstore or open computer labs, and all you find are naked wall fixtures.

Teachers, meanwhile, are struggling as much as – if not more than – students to make some sense of their new surroundings. Classrooms are moved, furniture finds its way across halls, and the faculty scrambles to locate their belongings.

In one case, English Professor Stephanie Hart’s boxes end up in the Horizons office. In the interim, she remains at Lafayette. When asked how she’s faring, she replies with a sigh: “It’s been exhausting.”


Because the HCC campus is relegated to a fairly cramped area, some of Beacon Hall’s entrances lead directly to the street. Around the corner from this stairwell, the sidewalk suddenly ends.

Accessibility, however, is no problem. The building can be entered from any side. There is even a patio on the third floor that connects directly to the garage. This spot is bound to be a favorite, with its expansive view of campus and the city skyline beyond.

As time goes on, all of the turmoil and excitement will of course fade into the mist of memory. Beacon Hhall will become as much an established fact as its sister across the courtyard. That, though, doesn’t make the tangible force of now any less important for those of us living in it. After all, this too is part of HCC’s long legacy.

(All photography by Brandon T. Bisceglia)

Beacon Hall Wheelchair UN-Accessibility

By Gerry Whitted

"You can adopt the attitude there is nothing you can do, or you can see the challenge as your call to action." - Catherine Pulsifer

When I finally entered Beacon Hall at Housatonic Community College a.k.a. the new building. WOW!!! This looks and has the aura of something special with the high ceilings, track lights and spacious halls. My olfactory nerve is romanced by the smell of new. The fovea, in the center of my retina, is distracted by the new color scheme.

However, a beacon is a guide to help you find your destination. If this is so why does the wheelchair accessibility at Beacon Hall has me lost. Beacon Hall wheelchair accessibility is akin to playing hide- n –seek, dodge ball, obstacle course or riding on a roller coaster. Remember this is not an amusement park or recess at an elementary school. This is Housatonic Community College, an undergraduate institution that promotes higher learning.

My first day of school I was greeted by one of the heaviest doors in creation. I had to pull the door open with both of my hands in order for me to gain entrance, while sitting in my wheelchair. Inside the vestibule there is a plate that you push that will open the door automatically. But I wondered, why is there not one outside?(hide -n- seek)

It has taken me two weeks to answer this question, and the answer issssssss. It was always there. The entry plate sits about five inches above the brick ashtray. It is difficult to see when all the smokers congregate around the ashtray because they obstruct the view of the entry plate.. But that definitely is not the only problem with accesability.

When I reach the elevator and the doors open, no longer do I worry about rolling over someone's foot. My rear wheels will not obstruct the closing of these doors as I enter. Also absent, are the “do you mind waiting for the next elevator” look on other riders faces, due to the elevator being crowded.

But as soon as I get off the elevator my bubble burst, because I had to battle with these ridges in the carpet. Maybe they are speed bumps to deter excessive speeding in the hallways. Walking you barely notice the ridges, but when you push a wheelchair you expend more energy. It is tantamount to the ridges on the interstate that alert you when you are on the shoulder.

My next problem is the blacktop pathway between Beacon and Lafayette. There is barely enough room for a pedestrian and a wheelchair on this thoroughfare. Many do not chance a confrontation, so instead they move on to the dirt. Imagine two wheelchairs on this pathway going in different directions; 1)you can get off the pathway and chance getting stuck in the mud or rubble 2)you can collide while figuring out who has the right of way 3) turn around and wait for an all clear signal. So much for choices(dodge ball).

If you should survive the roller coaster/obstacle course, beware for what is ahead. There are two sewer drains with grooves that are on the downward slope adjacent to the Beacon Hall garage entrance. It will take an effort to avoid that sewer with grooves--it is very tricky. If your wheel finds its way in there, be prepared to defy gravity or fly (Roller coaster).

In July1998, the American with Disability Act was passed. Its purpose isto assist those who are physically challenged and leveling the playing field for usto succeed. We do not want or expect any special treatment. All we ask is that you remember that the sum of our unlimited abilities is so much greater than the limits of our physical disability.

Great Zone; Dead Zones

Is Beacon Hall missing something?
By Margarita Gomez
Senior Staff Writer

Beacon or Lafayette Hall???

Collage by Margarita Brown

How do students feel about Beacon Hall? Hate it or love it?

Beacon Hall has just been opened to all HCC students; however, it is not yet complete.

Beacon Hall, the new addition to HCC, opened on September 2, just in time for the Fall semester.

Many students were excited about a new place to study, but these possibilities have not been completely fulfilled.

“I hate that building [Beacon],” says Dara Nile, an Accounting student at HCC. “There is nothing in there, no computer lab, no cafeteria... it's a nice building... [but] I only like the lounge.... It will be nice when it’s done.”

Walking around without art pictures on the walls, no cafeteria, no computer lab, no TV in the TV Lounge, makes Beacon Hall feel like an isolated building.

Myra Hudson, a student at HCC, thinks of Beacon Hall as a “headache for everyone... Walking around without art pictures hanging on the walls, lights or more windows it is a complete desolation. She rather spends her free time in the old ‘comfy’ building, Lafayette, where “there are more lights, and more life.”

Aside from the fact that there aren’t many decorations in Beacon Hall, it’s also rather difficult to find your classroom. There aren’t many people around to ask for help, and it’s seems even more difficult to make new friends.

“There is nobody, but next semester there will be more people,” says Jessica Kulak, 18, an Early Childhood student. “…the building is not fully done… [and] makes it hard to meet new people because there is nobody around.”

Even though some people agree with Nile, that Beacon is a “house [building] with no soul”, other students find Beacon as a fresh start.

“I love it [Beacon],” are the simple words that Nicole Catalano, a Human Services student at HCC, used to describe Beacon Hall. “[Besides being] better looking than the old building [Lafayette Hall], quieter [and] beautiful; it has more open spaces and studies spaces, more spaces where you can hang out with your friends.”

Kulak, on the other hand, sees advantages to both parts of the campus.

“I like both buildings,” she says. “…. The old one [Lafayette] has paintings around, art work; the amount of space that the new building [Beacon] has, and that it [Beacon] is attach to the garage makes so easy to go through.”

Get Lost

Finding Your Way Around Beacon

By Samantha Bratz
News You Can Use Editor

The stairs leading to confusion.
Photo By Samantha Bratz

When Beacon Hall opened it was not just the students who could not find their way around, the teachers had issues too.

“I’m so lost. I have no idea where I’m supposed to be or where I’m supposed to go. Does anybody know where room (fill in the blank) is?” These words have been heard quite a lot lately as students try to get around HCC’s latest addition, Beacon Hall. Students are not the only ones who’ve been having issues finding their way around; several teachers have been having the same problem.

On September 2nd when the doors to Beacon Hall opened, we were all shocked to see that though the building looked small from the outside, the inside was ten times bigger and it felt like walking through a maze instead of hallways. Students, teachers and staff members alike could be seen walking all over campus examining the maps that were handed out to help us find our way.

I, like several other students, figured that the teachers would have been more familiar with the building before the first day of classes; but I was wrong - so very, very wrong. I heard one student ask her teacher if she could point her in the direction of her next class and the response she received was “No, I’m sorry. This is my first day here too; I was here one day last week to see my office and I don’t know how to get through the building yet.”

On the first day of class, Professor Claudine Coba-Loh who is the Chairperson of the Behavioral/Social Sciences Department, told her Addiction and Mental Illness in Behavioral Health class, “I’ve found pathways from my office to the classrooms where I teach, my office to the bathroom and my office to the water fountain. I have yet to venture to the third floor.”

Security guards patrolled the hallways trying to help lost and confused students and teachers find their way. This was a great method to help us all ease into life at Beacon Hall – until you came across a security guard that did not know their way around the building either; it was sort of like the blind leading the blind.

As I walked into Beacon Hall on the first day of classes I said to my self “Okay, this is a little bigger than you thought…but you know where you’re going; it’s going to be easy.” I soon lost that confidence when I reached level 2 and saw room numbers like 267 and 291 and I needed to find 232. So I walked around for awhile until I finally stopped and said “Where the hell am I? Is my class invisible?” Then I realized that if I walked past the stairwell I would be taken into another hallway that contained all the classrooms from number 234 down. The map was a very helpful method in guiding people around the new building except that it did not clearly show that there are hallways next to the stairwells that lead to other hallways. If I’d known that I could have saved myself a lot of time and aggravation.

Judith Taylor, a patrol officer in Beacon Hall, said that when the new building opened “everything went well. Having the security guards around really helped and they made sure everyone had a map; the maps really helped people find their way around.” Taylor went on to say that “there really were no major problems or concerns when it came to people finding their way around the building. The only problem that occurred the first week was only having one elevator that worked, making it difficult for people with disabilities to get around. Everyone now knows their way around the building and things are going great.”

During the first week of classes I saw teachers in groups of two or three walking through the halls of Beacon Hall. I have a bad habit of eavesdropping but the things I heard from the teachers were shocking yet funny.

I had to laugh when I saw a group of teachers, two women and one man, walking and talking in the hall. One woman said “I have a class in ten minutes and I don’t know where it is and I still have to go to my office to get my stuff but I don’t know where my office is. Are we even on the right floor?”

The other woman said “Yeah well when I went to look for my office I ended up in the bathroom. I came this close to walking into the men’s room.”

Whether you’re a student or a staff member you have to admit that the first week or two at Beacon Hall was kind of confusing. Though the teachers received their keys the week before classes started it is highly unlikely that exploring the new building was a top priority when they had to unpack their offices and get ready for the new semester.

When asked if teachers and staff members should have had more time to familiarize themselves with the new building Coba-Loh said, “I absolutely do. It was very chaotic (and still is to a lesser degree) with no computers, no telephones, no internet, no copy machines, unpacking to do, and classes starting, it was all very rushed.”

Samantha Mannion, professor of Criminal Justice and Political Science and the Coordinator of the Criminal Justice Program said, “I think any move is stressful and requires time to adjust to. I think even if we had had more time, there would have been confusion and start-up issues.”

So we’ve all survived the first few weeks at Beacon Hall; some of us just barely. Could things have gone better when Beacon Hall opened on September 2nd? Yes. Coba-Loh said, “Scheduled tour dates for students, staff, faculty etc. once the building opened would have been helpful. It should be showed off, it is beautiful!”

“It’s a shame that the printed signs directing people around the building were not in place when the move occurred. It would have definitely made it easier for people to navigate their way around the building” said Mannion. She continued with, “I think it would have been a smoother transition if more of the construction-related work had been completed at the time of the move.

It’s hard being over here without proper resources (i.e. working copy machines, food services, etc.) I also believe it would have been much better if the two college buildings had been connected at the time of the move. Right now, with the construction work in the courtyard, it really feels as if we’re operating two separate colleges.”

With that said, those of you who are still having a hard time finding your way around Beacon Hall should take Coba-Loh’s advice and “take the time to walk around. Give yourself time to orient yourself to the new building. It is a big, beautiful facility and spending some down time going on your own tour is great.” Who knows, maybe we’ll conquer this great building after all.

The Minds Behind The Design

Why Beacon Hall was Built for You
By Dan Otzel
Staff Writer

An incredible amount of time, money, and effort went into making Beacon Hall fit to your exact specifications.

In the coming weeks, Beacon Hall, Housatonic Community College’s newest addition, will have its ceremonial ribbon cut by Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell. It will be host to a “Community Day,” where, according to the college’s website, Housatonic invites the public “to the HCC campus to celebrate the grand opening of Beacon Hall.” Faculty will become accustomed to the quarters where they mold young minds, and staff members will comfortably settle into their new offices.

Yes, it seems as if all is well at Housatonic these days. But let’s not forget one important detail; Beacon Hall was built for you – the HCC student!

Once Newfield Construction finished their “full gut and renovation of the 150,000 square foot former Sears Department Store, as well as 25,000 square feet of new construction and a 3,500 square foot renovation of the existing 200-seat Performing Arts Center,” as explained on their website, the decisions of how the new building would facilitate and nurture a learning environment for the eager HCC students was left up to the Housatonic brainpower.

Dr. Paul McNamara, Dean of Administration, notes “the objectives for the new building included certainly meeting the instructional needs of students. But very important to us was the provision of adequate student spaces.”

When speaking of those “instructional needs,” McNamara says that Beacon Hall “is an absolutely state-of-the-art building in terms of technology. Everything over there is cutting edge. We (also) have wireless throughout the whole building.”

According to the HCC website, Beacon Hall will “house the Behavioral and Social Sciences, Business, and Humanities departments, and will have approximately 30 classrooms of various sizes, 10 computer classrooms, open computer labs, foreign language and ESL labs as well as a number of special purpose rooms.”

When speaking of “the provision of adequate student spaces,” Beacon Hall delivers. Shanté Hanks, the Director of Student Activities, says that she “did have a lot of input in regards to the student area. Ultimately, whether it was the offices of the faculty to the Wellness Center…it all affects the students.”

“We wanted to make sure there were lounges and gathering spaces and alcoves and meeting areas; the kinds of things that students should have available to on a college campus,” adds McNamara.

In addition to those amenities, student government and student clubs now have ample space, with “the clubs (having) the biggest office space in the building,” according to Hanks. Beacon Hall will also feature a Wellness Center showcasing “certain classes,” she adds.

The school’s website mentions other appendages, like “an expanded college bookstore, open and accessible to the public, and a second cafeteria area. A large events space, capable of multiple configurations, with support service will provide the opportunity to host college and community programming for up to 500 persons.”

So, how can the Housatonic Community College student demonstrate their gratitude for the new gift?

Respect.

Explains McNamara: “(We) have something really neat, and I think it is something that everybody should enjoy. And it is also something that everybody should help take care of.”

Beacon Hall is just that: a beacon to an intellectual tomorrow. As Shanté Hanks proudly declares, “the possibilities are endless.”

Beacon Hall: A Work In Progress

By Victor Rios

Op/Ed Editor


There are good reasons why Beacon Hall is not yet completed; meanwhile, take a look around; there are plenty of features in the building that you can enjoy.

The hustle and bustle of ongoing construction, students and cars all added to the experience that was the first day of school at Beacon Hall: the state of the art building that has yet to be completed, but is sure to leave students and staff flabbergasted.

So far, the feedback from most students has been stupendous. Beacon Hall has opened them up to talking about their school in a positive light.

“It feels more like a real college,” said Kris Brewer, a transfer student.

It is not just the students who are thrilled. The staff happens to love the new building, especially since each department got their preferred accommodations fulfilled in the new building. “I just love it…especially the event room, where I’ll be doing most of my work,” said Linda Bayusik.

But Conrad, a continuing student, disagrees. “Going up those stairs is a workout, especially when you just wake up. That’s the worst! You look up those stairs and don’t see an end to them.”

The reason for the high ceiling in the public areas and the length of the stairs (17 ft) is simple: Beacon Hall was build off of the core of the old Sears building. “We had limitations as far as the budget, so we looked at ways to reduce the cost and still get a great building,” said Richard Hennessy, Facilities Coordinator.

“If we were to take out the mainframe of the old building we are looking at an added cost. Not only are you taking the concrete and other materials out, you also have to bring in public utilities companies. It would have been too complicated, added a year of work and would have been too costly,” remarked Mr. Hennessy.

Another modest complaint heard throughout HCC is the fact that construction has yet to be completed. “I thought the building was supposed to be completed by the start of the semester,“ said a teacher who chose to remain anonymous.

But that particular problem will not persist. Construction is slated to be finished October 15th according to Dean of Administration Paul McNamara, the person in charge of seeing the project completed with as little complications as possible.

“The reason why we still have construction going on is because no construction project is ever completed on time,” said McNamara. “We knew it wasn’t going to be finished on time, so we went ahead and told the architect to dedicate his (time) on finishing instructional spaces along with the security systems first. And we did receive a certificate of occupancy the Thursday prior to the start of the semesters. That’s why students were able to attend classes in the new building. It sure would be nice to have a fitness center and all the other additions, but we have never had them before, so we could wait a little for the new spaces,” added McNamara.


There were four main goals McNamara set out to accomplish when he was charged with seeing Beacon Hall through.
- Make classrooms sound for learning.
- Create student spaces.
- Create spaces for the display of Housatonic’s extensive artwork collection.
- Security.

“One of the major complaints from the Lafayette Building was that there were no adequate student spaces…now students have a whole floor dedicated to them,” said McNamara.

Accordingly, students do tend to gravitate toward the third floor. A large student lounge is open now. A game room that will be filled with chessboards, video games like Pac-Man, and an air hockey table will be available soon said Robert, a student who works in the student activities center. Also included at Beacon Hall is a meditation room open for anyone looking for a quiet space to perform prayers or silent meditation - but not to hang out and talk!

Media reach (computers, TV, DVD, Projectors) in every classroom was a must; it helps in providing faculty the tools they need to make for a better learning atmosphere. Larger classrooms accommodate a larger number of students, and the new chairs are more comfortable than those old metal chairs that the Lafayette building still has.

When it came to creating spaces for displaying HCC’s art collection, there was a compromise between the architect’s desire to have a collage of different colors throughout the building, and the administration’s desire to showcase HCC’s art collection (which happens to be the largest collection of art held by any two-year institution in the whole country). Every wall in Beacon Hall’s public spaces has 5” x 8” plywood to help support the art (hint: the white walls will be adorned with art).

The security systems in place in Beacon Hall were wholly a creation of McNamara. In fact, the security system is not unlike the systems in place at Lafayette Hall. As soon as you walk into Beacon Hall the first thing you’ll notice is a room with security guards closely monitoring the halls.

“I did this intentionally. When students walk into the building, they know that there are people watching, not for fun, but in order to maintain our status as one of the safest college institutions in the Fairfield county,” he said.
In 1996, when Lafayette Hall (which was also completed by McNamara) opened, there were 2,800 students, of which only 300 were full-time students. Now there are 5,017-plus full-time students in a new state of the art building. It took six years for this project to finally be on the last phase of completion. A few years of planning and filling out paperwork, a year of construction and we can now see the fruits of the efforts put forth by everyone involved in this project.

A lot of meticulous planning was put into this building, and it was done with you, the student, in mind. McNamara gave these words of advice for all students and staff:

“It’s a brand new building. Enjoy it and have fun, but be respectful of everything within it…I will be the one to get a heart attack when I see a student’s name engraved on a table.”

All in all, Beacon hall is a great new addition to HCC and an even greater addition to the flourishing city of Bridgeport, even if it’s not finished yet.

The View from the Top

Places to Relax around Beacon Hall

By Luiz Tassi

Staff Writer

New York City based real estate agents say one of the biggest attributes that sell a high end apartment are the views. Apartments overlooking Central Park sell for millions of dollars, and are often populated only by the rich and famous. But students at Housatonic Community College are being given a small taste of these luxuries. Beacon Hall, Hack’s newest building opened for the first time this semester, contains various large glass windows overlooking different parts of downtown Bridgeport and its local monuments.

While downtown Bridgeport is still a way away from rivaling downtown Manhattan, the views from Beacon Hall still offer a calm, serene view, and comfortable chairs for students create a great looking environment to spend some free time between classes.

The building has three of these pseudo lounges, located on opposite sides of the second floor, one side overlooking Lafayette street, the other overlooking Broad street, and the lounge that takes up the length of the third floor. Each of these views offers a unique setting to students, depending on which environment they work best in.

Third Floor-

The third floor is the most comfortable space for students. There are a number of long couches nearby which lie directly underneath windows that are tough to see through due to the thickness of the glass, and the plastic that covers it in order to keep to heat out. The floor is also lined with comfortable chairs and large tables, which make it easy to sit down and have room to lay all your books, without having to resort to writing with textbooks and notebooks falling all over your lap.
“It’s the best place to study,” says John Bennet, student at HCC, “there’s a lot of room, something that you don’t get in other places around the building.”

Unfortunately, even though it offers the most space, the area is near the entrance and exit to the parking lot, making it sometimes noisy and crowded. During times of heavy traffic, namely at the beginning and end of regular classes (9:30, 11:00, 12:30 and 5:00) people will be walking through the floor, talking on their cell phones and to their friends, and can easily be disturbing for someone looking for some quiet study time. Additionally, the views from the floor are blocked by the sides of the building, and the parking lot, making the environment less relaxing.

The third floor is ideal for people who don’t mind a little noise but don’t want the distraction of a nice view. If you need to get a lot of work done without the luxury of time to relax, just throw on your IPod and take a seat on the third floor.

Second Floor, Lafayette-

While not having the same amount of comfortable chairs, tables and couches as the third floor, or as nice a view as the Broad Street side, the Lafayette side of the has a nice mix of both. It contains a nice amount of chairs and tables, but no couches, and the view outside is decent, but not as good as the view from Broad Street. The view overlooks the intersection between Lafayette, I-95, and the parking lot, with cars driving by.

While enticing, the proximity to the street and the location outside a few class rooms makes it occasionally noisy.
“It can get kinda loud there,” says John Namoli, another HCC student.

But the space and view make it a great place to stay if you and a small group of friends need a place to stop and sit, because it allows a few friends a big enough space to sit down, without as much noise and commotion as the third floor.

Second Floor, Broad Street-

The Broad street side contains arguably the nicest view out of anywhere in HCC.
“It’s really nice there,” says HCC student Joao Maiolino “You can see I-95 and the side of the building. It looks really good.”

Unfortunately there are only two single chairs, which make it both impossible to relax with friends, and awkward to sit around if there are strangers in the other seat. In addition to only having two seats, it doesn’t have any tables, so writing can be a bit uncomfortable.

Even though it’s the most difficult area to get settled into, during slow days at HCC such as Fridays, where the buildings are nearly empty, it provides the most relaxing and beautiful view around.

Beacon Hall Study Environments

Beacon Hall Boasts of More Placid Study Environments

By Chris Albino

Staff Writer

How Beacon Hall manages to handle the lack of quiet space HCC students have.

The often overwhelming college workload leaves many students stressed out about their cluttered schedules. Before the construction of Beacon Hall students did not have much opportunity for quiet study, one of the keys to a successful learning process. The new study lounges Beacon Hall has to offer students must not be overlooked by those looking for a haven from the hustle and bustle of the Housatonic community.

Beacon Hall has seemingly attracted more students to choose Housatonic as a start for their college careers. Over 5,000 students enrolled in Housatonic for this fall 2008 semester breaking the record for most enrolled in the process. While the expansion of Housatonic is an important and essential process, it cannot interfere with the purpose of the schools construction, academia.
The differences in size and space between Lafayette Hall and Beacon Hall are glaring. Lafayette Hall caters to a more intimate school experience where the student is bound to see a minimum of one or two recognizable peers or faculty. While the familiarity that Lafayette Hall has to offer its students’ is desirable, it at times can feel slightly cramped.

“It (Lafayette) wasn’t the best place for study, most of the time I would just go to my classes and head home to study. It was too loud in the student lounges because they’re attached to the cafeteria and the library is busy most of the time” said Housatonic student Mike Roche.

Housatonic is a commuter school and therefore cannot devote an excessive amount of space to its students to spend downtime studying. The Housatonic course schedule does not offer many courses in the middle of the day. Between the hours of two and five in the afternoon there are not many courses for a student to take. If a person gets out of one course at one in the afternoon and has another later that day he or she no longer needs to go home to find peace and quiet.

Before Beacon Hall, long breaks between morning and late afternoon classes posed a dilemma for Housatonic students. Many students chose to leave the building only to come back to attend their later classes. This causes students to spend extra money on gas. Beacon Hall allows for the student with time on his or her hands to go to the study lounges to catch up on readings for class or to simply relax with fellow students.
“I’m pretty excited I can spend entire days at HCC now because kids can just chill and do their own thing in the lounges upstairs. Driving back and forth from school two or three times a day between classes is a hassle” said Adam Wolloch.
The study lounges in Beacon Hall allow for more than just individual study. Many pieces of furniture have clearly been chosen for multiple people to work together. Beacon Hall makes group study more convenient; rather than having to cram five or six students in the tight quiet study rooms of the Lafayette Hall library, students can meet in the student lounges of Beacon Hall where numerous couches and tables have been allotted for those looking to work in a group setting.

“At the end of last semester I had a project due. I had to do the project with three classmates but the problem was we couldn’t talk in the library and the study rooms in the library were always full” said Housatonic student Sarah Russell.
Beacon Hall has seemed to rectify the issue of study space. The new building offers students multiple study lounges with various tables, comfortable chairs and couches for students to utilize while studying. Rather than having to be crammed into a library with every other student who has a big exam later in the day, the savvy student will retreat to the respite of Beacon Hall’s study lounges.

Beacon Hall: An Educational Change

By John Slater
Staff Writer

Whether this is your first semester at Housatonic Community College or not, this is Beacon Hall’s debut semester.

Since 1997, Lafayette Hall has seen many students come and go through the hallways at HCC. The building which has served as the educational center for so many, will now share that tradition with Beacon Hall. Although both buildings will serve as the stage to educate many, Beacon Hall now offers new amenities to students which they previously did not have.

When asked about her favorite addition to Housatonic, Kyleigh Hacker said she loves the study area on the third floor of Beacon Hall. “It’s great” Hacker said. Also adding that it not only provides a great study area but the furniture is much more comfortable and inviting than the space in Lafayette Hall.

Speaking of the third floor, students who have class there may no longer be intimidated to park on the fifth floor of the parking garage. In fact, they may feel invited; there is an outdoor walkway which adjoins the 2 structures.

The perimeter of the walkway, which is lit with 6 over head lights and 5 small pillar lights, serves as “an easy access point for all students including those who may suffer from a handicap” said HCC student Dominic Gattling.

The first floor of Beacon Hall will also offer a wellness and fitness center.. Anjela Hayes works at the Beacon Hall information desk. Hayes said that although there is not a definite date, to her knowledge the fitness center will open by the end of October.

“Hopefully the fitness center will serve all the purposes of a gym” said Donald Campbell. Who is also impressed with all the power outlets around the building which allow him to use his laptop while at HCC.

Although Beacon Hall is as inviting as it is, there is much more for students to look forward. A larger bookstore, a cafeteria and a computer lab are just some of the other amenities which students will find useful when Beacon Hall is fully complete.

A Little Change Will Do You Good

By Deb Torreso
Co-Editor In Chief

Human nature prepares us for the cycles of life. The seasons change, carrying with them the sights and sounds that fill our senses with delight; a new home or job gives us a chance to travel a different journey; a variety of characters come in and go out of our lives. These gifts are all components of our day-to-day lives.

Coming back to HCC this semester was like beginning a new cycle. With its airy layout and scenic views, it’s as if Beacon Hall was handed to us on a cement platter. There is nothing like a new design and fresh paint to get the academic juices flowing. Sure, it’s still a daily grind to get motivated to come to class on top of an already crazy life-schedule. But you have to admit, the scenery makes it a lot more appealing.

The one thing that was most endearing was the fact that someone took the time to say, “Hey, these people are already stressed out; what could afford them some relief?” Whoever the team of interior decorators were should be commended for creating this “artist’s palette” of shapes and colors to soothe the soul and rejuvenate the psyche. It must have taken some care to put it all together. They just as easily could have thrown neutral-colored paints on the wall and installed some new toilets and said, “Here you go. Enjoy!”

The first day I walked through the halls, I did a lot of ooh-ing and aah-ing. I was blown away by our fifth-floor upper deck. I know I can’t be the only one who thought, “Wow, all we need is a Tiki Bar and a bartender who can blend a good Marguerita.”

I’ll certainly settle for the view for now. Speaking of which, has anyone been driving southbound at sunset? There is a perfect view from the highway of people walking through the halls. It seems to connect our HCC population to its outer community of Bridgeport; mirrored images of our brothers and sisters from auto-glass to window pane.

Rumor has it that Beacon Hall is not quite finished, and so we get a chance to experience its completion little by little. Some of it may go unnoticed, but I have a feeling some of it may peak our senses even more. Who knows? Maybe we can expect a four-star restaurant on the upper deck, or a game-room with pool tables and live music on the weekends.

What matters is not whether you think Beacon Hall is incredible or just okay. It’s how you feel when you are here that you should try to notice. In the middle of your crazy rush, try to take a moment to find a quiet spot to “chill.” The fifth-floor deck in late afternoon has a great sunny spot. You might find that you look at things a little bit differently afterward.

Either way, this whole process has been a treat. I am proud to be a part of the HCC community at this special time in its history.