Perspective

Read, Download, or Share the Oct 2011 Issue of Horizons!

2011-10-27T07:23:00.000-04:00

The latest issue of HCC Horizons hits the stands today, and you can also read it online right here. Please pass it along!Housatonic Horizons October 2011

Continuum 35: Creative Writing

2011-05-13T22:10:00.000-04:00

Visit the Continuum website!

Host Brandon T. Bisceglia speaks with Horizons editors Michael Bednarsky and Lovanda Brown, who share their experiences as Co-Editors-in-Chief of HCC's creative writing magazine, Images, and talk about the intersection of journalism and creative writing.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Stats Update: Horizons Facebook Page Gets Boost

2011-05-12T09:35:00.000-04:00

The graph below displays activity on Horizons' Facebook page from May 2, 2010 to today. Since the beginning of the semester, the editors have made an effort to post links and updates more frequently, instead of relying only on in-depth articles for content. There has been a marked increase in user activity over the same period.

What do you think of the content?

May Activities & Events at HCC

2011-05-06T19:23:00.001-04:00

(Click on image for full-size)

Video: Student Rally to Prevent Cutbacks

2011-05-05T08:51:00.001-04:00

By Brandon T. Bisceglia

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

HCC Student and Women's Center employee Kaitlyn Shake delivered a speech at the end of Wednesday's Courtyard Festival thanking students for their support in an ongoing petition to prevent the loss of the college's full-time professors as a result of Connecticut's budget cuts.

The budget, which had been passed the day before by the State Legislature in Hartford, depends upon $2 billion in labor savings which are still under negotiation.

Shake exhorted her fellow students to continue their efforts to protest the potential firing of professors, noting that they would result in reduced services to students and negatively impact the college's accreditation.

Watch the video below:

Scenes from the 2011 Courtyard Festival

2011-05-04T22:16:00.000-04:00

It may have rained on the day of HCC's annual Courtyard Festival this year, but that didn't stop the festivities. The Events Center was packed with students, music, and activities.

The spring celebration culminated in a somber moment, as students learned that their petition to prevent cuts to teachers and services at HCC had been extended another week in the hopes that more signatures could be collected and presented to the state legislature.

Students enjoy food and fun in the events center.

Another vote is cast at the Student Senate elections booth.

The band plays on.

Horizons reporters distribute papers while trying to recruit new reporters.

The Horizons chicken dons its balloon hat for the camera.

Student and Women's Center employee Kaitlyn Shake gives the crowd an update on the rally in Hartford April 27.

Students, some wearing shirts that read “Democracy Is Not a Spectator Sport,” listen as Shake speaks about the petition.

All photographs by Brandon T. Bisceglia.

Read the Summer 2011 Issue Online NOW!

2011-05-03T12:55:00.000-04:00

Horizons Summer 2011

Remembering Mothers On Mother’s Day

2011-04-30T01:53:00.005-04:00

Her Death May Be Hard To Deal With, But You’ll Get Through It

By Jennifer Claybrook

Opinions Editor

My mother and I (The photo that I use for my memorial).

Photo by Jennifer Claybrook

This will be the third Mother’s Day I will spend without my mom. I try to handle it as best as I can, but sometimes I’m unable to control my feelings and emotions. It hurts beyond belief to know that I will never, for the rest of my life, spend another Mother’s Day with her.

Each year, other motherless children are also reminded of the mother-daughter/mother-son relationships, and it can be very complicated for them.

Just knowing that they can’t shower their mom with gifts or even give her a simple hug to show their appreciation cuts deep.

“When my mother died April 18, 11 years ago, I took it hard because Mother's Day was just a month away. I remember feeling terrible and rather depressed,” Allison Kirk, a mother of one child, said. “I usually feel a lot of emotions on Mother's Day. But honestly speaking, I feel more aggravation than I do anything because I can't converse with her, hug her, or smell her.”

Yannii Scott, a Northampton Community College student, feels similar. “On July 9, my mom will be gone six years and I hate knowing that I'll never see, talk, or feel her again,” she added.

Marquis Bergman, who recently lost his mother, said, “I get emotional. Really emotional, like I’m going into a depressive state. I don’t want to be bothered with anyone or anything. I start to feel like nothing in the world matters at that time because truthfully it doesn’t.”

Around this time of the year, everyone talks about what they’re going to buy their mom, or where they’re going to take her for Mother’s Day, but it can make those who are unable to do those things unhappy.

“I guess everyone whose mom is still alive I'm kind of bitter towards because I feel like my mom was taken too soon and it’s a holiday,” Scott said.

Bergman added, “I cry a lot. It seems like that’s the only way to feel better,”

Some motherless children don’t even bother to celebrate Mother’s Day because they feel as though things have changed since the death of their mom.

“Mother’s Day just isn’t the same. I really just don’t celebrate it,” said Scott.

Mother’s Day may be hard to get through, but it doesn’t have to be a painful memory.

“I feel kind of depressed and sad, but with my son being there I feel great,” Salihah Williams, who lost her mother at a young age, said. “[It] makes me want to show him everything my mother never showed me”

Even though coping with the fact that your mom is not there, there are so many things you can do to lift your spirit and celebrate the life of your mother. These are a few things that I do to honor my mother on Mother’s Day. Hopefully they can work for you.

Think of all the good times you and your mother shared, whether it’s the walks you used to take in the park together, or even the television shows the two of you used to watch.

For example, I still watch some of my mom’s favorite cooking shows on the Food Network because I remember when she and I would watch them all day on the weekends.

Talking to friends and family members about the life of your mom could also help too. Hearing stories about your mom and looking at her pictures could possibly make you feel a lot better.

“Now that I am older, it helps to look at photos and talk about all the good times we (my mother and I) shared, with family and friends,” Kirk said.

Writing your mother a letter or poem can also help too. This way, no one will know how you are feeling, especially if you aren’t good with expressing it with others.

Every year, I find it very helpful to write letters to my mom, telling her what I’ve been doing and how much I miss her. Before she died, she made me promise to continue with all of my successes and be happy, so writing the things that I’ve done and how I feel makes me feel closer to her.

Having your own memorial session for your mom by lighting a candle near her photo is a simple but great way to honor her. This can be done alone or with others depending on your comfort. I personally light candles near my favorite photo of my mom. I even play some of her favorite songs. It’s like she’s there in spirit, but not physically.

Visiting your mother’s burial site to leave flowers or even to just say you love her is a great way to honor her as well as cheer yourself up.

“My brothers and I get together and go visit her grave,” Bergman said.

Mother’s Day is one of the many holidays that I find hard to deal with without my mom, but over the years I have found ways to make it better. I know that my mom would have wanted me to be happy every day, even on Mother’s Day. So, I cherish all of the memories that we shared together on this special day to remain happy, just how my mom wanted me to be. I know your mom would have wanted the same. You may not be able to see, hug, kiss, or talk to her, but she’s still there watching over you.

Calling All Mothers: Today Is Your Day to Shine

2011-04-29T23:27:00.013-04:00

By Dana Souza

Staff Writer

Mother’s Day sign at Hallmark.

Photo by Dana Souza

It comes around once each year in May, and is celebrated by many. That’s right, Mother’s Day is approaching shortly. This year, the day lands on Sunday, May 8.

Mother's Day began in the United States nearly 150 years ago and is a day to honor and express appreciation for mothers everywhere! It usually falls on the second Sunday in May.

In fact, according to Mothers-day@123Holiday.net, did you know that the second Sunday in May has become the most popular day of the year to dine out? Telephone lines record their highest traffic, as sons and daughters take advantage of this day.

There's no particular way to spend the holiday. However, some families have traditions. For example, some families consider cooking mom her favorite dish, or serving her breakfast in bed.

Heart of Roses.

Photo courtesy of Handmadegreetingcards.com

In my family, we enjoy going to brunch, usually one that offers a buffet. One thing that is crucial for my mother is ham! My mom must have her eggs and ham on Mother's Day!

Tayna Etienne, 20, a first-year Nursing major at HCC, celebrates the holiday with a church tradition.

“It is like a family reunion. All my family goes to the same church and we always go to church on Mother’s Day!” she said. “Mother’s Day is a day to show appreciation and to recognize mothers for all the hard work they do. This year I am going to treat my mother and aunt to get their hair and nails done in Manhattan, and possibly buy them a new outfit.”

Why go all the way to Manhattan for hair and nails? Manhattan is home for Tanya who commutes from Manhattan to Bridgeport every day for work and school.

Some families plan the entire day out with church, activities and traditions. As for others, a lovely card or sweet phone call is just enough.

Carolyna Zarate, General Studies major at HCC, will be calling her mother who lives in Florida, and will most likely send her a card.

A wide variety of Mother’s Day cards to choose from at Hallmark.

Photo by Dana Souza

"My family doesn't have any traditions. [We] basically treat my mom like a queen and take her out for dinner and shopping," said Zarate. "Last year I took my mom out to lunch, then we got our nails done and at night my brother came down from New Jersey. We [then] had a family dinner in which my brother and I cooked.”

Mother’s Day is extra special to Javon St. Clair, 25, who is also a General Studies major at HCC. “I celebrate Mother’s Day with my mother, grandmother and aunt. Even though my grandmother and aunt didn’t give birth to me, they played just as important of a role as my mother did,” he said.

This year Javon plans to bring his mom to church. “She’ll love that. Last year I invited her to my church, she cried, she really enjoyed it though,” he said. “I plan on surprising my grandmother and aunt with dinner at a restaurant--on me.”

Javon is very passionate about celebrating Mother’s Day. Some people are not too sure what day the holiday falls on, but Javon knew exactly the day.

So what if you haven't gotten your mother a gift yet? No worries! As many of us put things off until the last minute, there are lots of gifts we procrastinators can buy, even up until the actual day!

One of the best things during this holiday are the specials. There are countless amounts of companies discounting and setting special prices for the occasion.

Yankee Candles
Photo by Dana Souza

Yankee Candle has a Mother’s Day sale. It offers a 50 percent discount when you buy any large jar or tumbler candle. Macy’s has Mother’s Day designer fragrance sets on sale, and Edible Arrangements has dozens of assorted fruit-filled arrangements; they offer everything from dipped white or dark chocolate strawberries to arrangements with balloons, teddy bears, and personal notes.

Bobbi Brown, 21, and a Journalism major at HCC, shops at Walmart for her Mother’s Day gifts. “My mother loves flowers and loves the color purple. Walmart always has a flower section with purple flowers and the prices are low.”

If you are looking for the perfect card, personally I feel that being creative and hand making one is the best way to go! However, if you aren’t into that, CVS Pharmacy and Hallmark have a wide variety of amazing heart touching cards and the prices are affordable on any budget.

Hallmark offers many Mother’s Day gifts with great prices. It is the first place on my list when I am shopping for gifts, especially Mother’s Day. They even wrap the gifts and put them in gift boxes for your convenience!

Many restaurants have dining specials as well. Marisa’s Restaurant of Trumbull, Ruby Tuesdays, Outback Steakhouse, and many more, all offer Mother’s Day specials.

According to Mothers-day@123holiday.net, the top ten gifts include flowers, trip to the spa, perfume, jewelry, candles, diamonds, chocolate, gift baskets and gourmet gifts.

It’s never too late to shop for gifts. Most of the Mother’s Day specials and promotions don’t end until the actual day, which is great for last-minute shoppers. As Mother’s Day is only days away, make your mother or loved one know they are special to you. It’s never too late to show appreciation.

It's Festival Time at HCC!

2011-04-27T11:47:00.000-04:00

By Myranda Sinkler

Staff Writer

HCC is holding its 11th annual Courtyard Festival once again! The courtyard will come alive with live bands, games, and food. The festival is made possible by Graphic Design Professor John Favret and its sponsor, The Center for the Arts Committee.

When Favret came to HCC twelve years ago, he discovered that we needed to become more knowledgeable in the arts. He came up with the idea to not only get students to celebrate the end of the semester, but celebrate the art that’s all around them.

“The festival was created to focus on the arts and try to bring forth anything forth that will be relevant to students,” says Favret, coordinator of the Arts Program.

Last year the festival was held on May 5, so the theme was Cinco De Mayo. There was a mariachi band and a mechanical bull. However, there is no theme this year.

However, don’t let that deter you from joining the festivities. There are many things to do this year!

There will be a rock climbing wall, Stretch the Clown making unusual things out of balloons, paper mache rooster fights, and much more.

There will be tropical ice cream from El Coquito, pizza, and tacos from Taco Loco. There will two forms of musical entertainment, a reggae band and a house band. There will be artists featured: a print maker, a sidewalk artist, and a glass artist who will be using a torch to make bugs out of glass.The Graphic Design Club will be making wanted posters, and everyone will get a Spin Art Frisbee as a parting gift.

The festival is being held May 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the courtyard. All students are encouraged to attend, as well as anyone else who wants to join the celebration. This festival is a great way to start your summer vacation and support the art community.

Upcoming Event: Green Fair 2011

2011-04-24T10:04:00.007-04:00

(Click on the image to enlarge)

Sign the HCC Student Petition!

2011-04-22T10:15:00.003-04:00

By Brandon T. Bisceglia

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

Less than two years ago, HCC suffered the loss of many of its full-time faculty and staff, some of which have not been replaced. In the same time, enrollment has grown by thousands of students.

Adjunct professors, despite being highly qualified as teachers, cannot serve on committees or provide essential advising and other services for students. Further reductions in full-time employee positions could potentially reduce office hours, decimate school programs, and even threaten the college's accreditation.

As a part of ongoing budget negotiations at the State Capitol, several proposals are being considered that could result in layoffs of large portions of the college's full-time faculty and staff. Alternatively, some professors could be reclassified under state rules as "managers" in order to strip them of the collective bargaining rights they currently have under the various state workers unions and teachers associations.

Horizons, in conjunction with the Women's Center and other student organizations, is committed to protecting the core assets of HCC. Students who share these concerns are encouraged to sign the online petition here. The text of the petition says:

"We, the students of Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, CT, demand that the faculty and staff retain full collective bargaining rights, and that no full-time professors be laid off as a result of the upcoming state budget negotiations.

"The ratio of Housatonic Community College full-time faculty to students is already dangerously low, and students are losing vital services.

"We urge you to sign this petition to preserve the integrity of our college. It will be presented to the Connecticut State Legislature on Wednesday, April 27, 2011."

The Student Senate is also sponsoring a trip to Hartford on April 25 for a rally regarding the impacts of the proposed budgetary changes, and to testify before members of the Connecticut State Legislature. Students interested in participating can sign up for the trip in the Student Life Office, located in room BH-317 on the third floor of Beacon Hall.

Read Horizons, Issue 2 Online Now!

2011-04-20T17:37:00.003-04:00

Final Horizons Issue 2

Laser Golf Comes to HCC

2011-04-10T18:23:00.000-04:00

By Brandon T. Bisceglia

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

On April 6, the Student Senate sponsored an event which brought laser golf to the Events Center in Beacon Hall. Proceeds from the event went to the Pay-It-Forward Scholarship, which helps incoming students pay for classes at HCC.

The flourescent-colored "golf course" spanned the Events Center. Blacklights and pop music accompanied the students as they played.

Photograph by Brandon T. Bisceglia

HCC alum Kevin Green readies his stance for the next shot.

Photograph by Brandon T. Bisceglia

Upcoming Event: STOMP

2011-04-08T10:12:00.000-04:00

(Click on the image to enlarge)

Beacon Hall Evacuated After False Alarm

2011-04-06T04:16:00.002-04:00

By Brandon T. Bisceglia

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

Students mill about outside Beacon Hall on Monday morning, waiting for security to allow them back inside.

Photo by Brandon T. Bisceglia

The fire alarms in Beacon Hall were activated three times on Monday morning, leading to an evacuation of the building.

The cause of the alarms, which began at approximately 10:40 a.m., was not immediately known. Director of Security Christopher Gough said his department was investigating.

The high-pitched buzzing and flashing strobes of the alarms interrupted classes. Students, professors and staff members poured out of the building into the courtyard and other areas near the entrances.

After about ten minutes, people were allowed to reenter Beacon Hall.

The first time that the alarms were activated, they lasted only a minute before being abruptly halted. This caused confusion among some students and teachers.

"We were about to leave when it stopped," said Adriana Cedeño, a Criminal Justice major at HCC who was in the middle of her Criminology class at the time. "Since it went off, we sat back down. We didn't leave until the third one."

Some were critical of the disorderly way in which the evacuation was handled.

Theater Arts major and Student Life employee Theresa Giorgio was working in the Wellness Center at the time.

"When the alarm went off, the students tried to grab their stuff from their lockers," she said. "I think we're all old enough to know we're supposed to leave if there might be a fire."

Director of Student Activities Linda Bayusik was also disappointed at the slow reaction to the alarm.

"There were students playing table tennis in the Game Room, so I told them to leave. They hadn't noticed. Then I went to the TV Room and the lounge [on the third floor], and found people there, too," she said.

"You cannot treat the alarm as a joke," she added.

Horizons will bring you updates on the alarm and the handling of school emergencies in upcoming issues.

Upcoming Trip: Metropolitan Museum of Art

2011-04-04T18:30:00.001-04:00

On Saturday, April 9, the Photography Club is sponsoring a bus trip to the NYC Metropolitan Museum of Art. The cost is $10 for HCC students and $15 for non-students. For more information or to sign up for the trip visit the Student Activities Office in room 317 of Beacon Hall, third floor.

Upcoming Event: Laser Mini-Golf

2011-04-04T18:27:00.003-04:00

It's spring, but the weather says otherwise.

So on Wednesday, April 6, the HCC Student Senate is sponsoring Laser Mini-Golf, in the Beacon Hall Events Center (room 214) from 6 - 9 p.m., to "beat the long-winter blues." They will be accepting donations of $3 per round of golf, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the HCC Pay-It-Forward Scholarship -- created to ease a student's financial burden for one academic year and available each year to an entering freshman.

Are You Ready for Early Registration?

2011-03-30T12:18:00.001-04:00

Early registration for the Summer and Fall 2011 semesters begins Monday, April 4 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. See your advisor--Register early!

The Academic Advising Center is located on the first floor of Lafayette Hall, room A111, and has five full-time counselors available to students by appointment, as well as two full-time academic advisors available on a walk-in basis.

Remember, there is a protocol students are expected to follow when seeking advisement, which includes organizing degree materials and proactively tracking your progress. Keep your materials organized in a folder and review this information regularly.

Director of Academic Advising Mary Clark suggests the following tools to guide you: a copy of your degree requirements, the college catalog from your first year, your faculty advisor's contact information, and the ability to log onto myCommNet to search for course availability and online registration.

“Essential to successful degree completion and graduation is planning," advised Clark. "All students need to begin thinking about graduation from the first day of enrollment."

With reporting by Tori Centopanti, Editor-in-Chief

Upcoming Events: April

2011-03-30T00:46:00.000-04:00

Upcoming Event: Women Leap Hurdles

2011-03-30T00:43:00.001-04:00

Sponsored by the HCC Women's Center, "Women Leap Hurdles" is an inspirational talk by guest speaker Janet Luongo--certified holistic health counselor, educator, speaker, author, artist, TV producer, and coach.

Those who attend the event will receive a free 30 minute consult with Luongo.

The event takes place Thursday, March 31 from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Beacon Hall Events Center (second floor, room 214).

Read Our Latest Issue of Horizons BEFORE the Print Issue Hits the Stands!

2011-03-25T11:30:00.005-04:00

Download, view, or share the full text of our latest issue below.
Horizons Issue 1 Spring 11

Upcoming Event: Community Job Fair

2011-03-14T16:16:00.000-04:00

HCC will be hosting its 15th annual Community Job Fair in the Events Center on the second floor of Beacon Hall on Mar. 16. It's free and open to the public. Students looking for jobs are encouraged to attend.

Access Our Special Supplement Right Here!

2011-03-10T09:01:00.002-05:00

You've probably seen copies around campus. Now you can view (including full screen view), print, download, or share the special supplement through Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail right here!

Horizons Special Supplement Spring 11

Annual Law Enforcement Job Fair (Press Release)

2011-03-10T00:51:00.001-05:00

HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE’s

3rd ANNUAL

LAW ENFORCEMENT JOB FAIR

The Criminal Justice Department at Housatonic Community College would like to invite area law enforcement agencies to participate in HCC’s annual Law Enforcement Job Fair.

You will have an opportunity to connect with diversified and viable candidates from local area colleges as well as with the general public.

Even if your department is not hiring at this time, please come to talk about and hand out information about employment with your law enforcement agency. Your department will have an opportunity to provide this information to qualified individuals who are considering a career in law enforcement.

DATE: Wednesday, March 23, 2011

LOCATION: Housatonic Community College, Events Room BH-214

TIME: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

-No registration fee

-Set-up time begins at 8:30 am

-Criminal Justice Club members will provide assistance with set-ups

-Reserved parking on 5^th floor of campus garage (Mauve 5 South)

-Refreshments / beverages will be provided

If you are interested in participating in the Job Fair, contact Professor Joanne Anzenberger at janzenberger@hcc.commnet.edu, or at (203) 332-5212 no later than March 18, 2011.

Please provide the following information in your email:

-Number of tables required

-Number of recruiters who will attend

-Special needs (outlets, easels, flip charts, etc)

Joanne Anzenberger, M.S.

Professor of Criminal Justice and American Government

Office: (203) 332-5212

Cell Phone: (203) 253-3973

Student Senate Releases, Debates Budget Estimate

2011-03-07T20:33:00.001-05:00

By Brandon T. Bisceglia

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

The Finance Committee of the Student Senate released its budget estimate at its Feb. 24 meeting.

Questions promptly arose as to the accuracy of the estimate.

After accounting for itemized deductions, the report listed a balance from the Student Activity Fund (SAF) of $46,083.89. The SAF is maintained by a fee that every student at HCC pays as part of enrollment, and is disbursed by the Student Senate for clubs, events, and other expenses (Horizons is also funded through the SAF).

Co-Treasurer J.P. Keleman disagreed with that number. He said the actual cash-on-hand was $23,613.62 based on a report he had received from the Business Office on Feb. 4.

Mazurek said he knew the number might not be exactly correct, because it was based partly on projected enrollment for Spring 2011. But he was surprised that the difference was so large.

"I will be following up with [the Business Office] tomorrow to find out exactly what the balance of cash is for us going forward," he said.

Read Horizons for more details on the Feb. 24 meeting of the Student Senate and lots of other news related to HCC.

(Click on image below for larger view.)

Upcoming Event: International Women's Day 100th Anniversary

2011-03-06T12:26:00.000-05:00

On Mar. 8, 2011 HCC's Women's Center is celebrating the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, a yearly event recognizing the "economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future."

(Click on the images below for a larger view.)

Events at HCC:

About International Women's Day:

HCC Takes Action Against Budget Cuts

2011-02-26T16:37:00.010-05:00

By Tori Centopanti

Editor-in-Chief

On Monday, February 28, the HCC Student Senate will be sponsoring a bus trip to go to the Appropriations Committee meeting in Hartford in regards to state budget cuts to community colleges.

Anyone interested in going should contact the Student Life Office, located on the third floor of Beacon Hall, room 317. Students can make their own transportation arrangements, but those planning on taking the bus are required to meet in front of Lafayette Hall by 2:45 p.m.

The following statement was released by Student Senate President Konrad Mazurek:

Weigh in on the Multi Million Dollar Educational Budget Cuts in Connecticut

Attention: If you are currently employed in a position renumerated from federal funds (Student Labor/Work Study) make ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN to check your rights and responsibilities regarding political activism as detailed in the Hatch Act.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen:

The Housatonic Community College Student Senate will be providing transportation to the Appropriation Committee's Public Hearing taking place in Hartford this coming Monday, February 28, in order to give the student body an opportunity to voice their opinions on the budget cuts proposed by Governor Dannel Malloy.

A considerable part of balancing the spending in our state will be focused on cutting funding to the state-funded community colleges, whose budgets have been frozen since 2009. The planned changes mark a decrease of more than $12 million dollars in annual funding and fall $24 million short of the money requested for operating our schools.

These cuts are also to happen on the request of a governor who during his recent campaign trail emphasized the difference which education made in his life and his commitment to providing the same opportunity to others.

How does this affect you? If the budget goes live in its current state you are likely to see the following in the next 12 months.

Increased tuition and fees

Cuts in courses, programs, and services

Less student labor hours

Less full-time faculty

Less scholarship assistance availability for individuals

We will be departing from HCC around 2:45 P.M. and remain in Hartford until later that evening. Please contact me at Kmazurek@gmail.com if you would like to join us, or have any questions, comments, or concerns.

I am looking forward to hearing from and joining all of you in Hartford.

Sincerely;

Konrad Mazurek

HCC Student Senate, President

P.S. I am including the names and contact info of our local representatives. Please let them know how you feel about these funding changes. Your letters can be a page or a paragraph long, what counts is showing your opinion!

Horizons staff will continuously update as more information is released. Please check back for updates!

Malloy's Budget Elicits Ire from Community College Students

2011-02-26T03:09:00.005-05:00

By Brandon T. Bisceglia

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

If Governor Dan Malloy’s proposed budget for next year passes the Connecticut State Legislature, it will reduce funding for the state’s 12 community colleges from $158,282,029 to $149,130,964 – a drop of almost $10 million. His proposal for the year after that would cut another $3.5 million.

The community colleges have already seen minor reductions in funding over the past four years, at the same time that the colleges have been experiencing unprecedented increases in enrollment and pressures to expand their services.

The easiest way for the colleges to make up for lost state revenues is to increase enrollment costs and other fees that students pay.

The Student Government Association of Gateway Community College has issued the below statement urging students at all the community colleges to contact the appropriate legislators and express their dissatisfaction over these budget cuts. HCC’s Student Senate has also come out strongly against the cuts, and plans to issue its own initiatives in the coming days.

My Balancing Act

2011-02-23T04:14:00.006-05:00

By Charlene Cabral

Staff Writer

Me and my daughter Camille

Photo by Charlene Cabral

As challenging as being a single working mom getting an education may be, the end result is completely worth all of the sacrifices.

On September 22, 2007 at 9:58 p.m., I was blessed with the greatest gift ever known. For ten months I awaited her arrival, and like her father, she kept me waiting.

For the last two months of my agonizing wait I got to know her in such an intimate way. Never did I build a bond with anyone as I did with her in those two months. Every turn, every poke, every kick was hers and mine alone. She would let me know when she felt my hand over her, having long deep conversations with each other.

So on that warm September night when she finally blessed me with her appearance, I knew that all I wanted to do was make sure that all of Camille’s dreams could come true.

When I was twelve years old, my eighteen year old aunt was granted a full scholarship to college, the first in my family to go on to college. Three months later she found out she was pregnant.

As devastating as the news initially was, my aunt did not let it deter her. She took her year off from school to have my cousin, but the very next semester she went right back to school. I am proud to say that she went on to receive her master’s in sociology and is now a high level administrator for the Department of Children and Families here in Bridgeport. It was hard for her to do it alone, but she persevered. I know that sounds so romantic, and every word of it is true, but I live in reality. As much as I want to do everything for my daughter, I know that I need two key factors to make it all happen: money and wits.

For the past three years I have tried to figure out how to provide my daughter with the love, guidance, support, and food that she needs. I can live as a starving artist, but I don’t think my Cami can appreciate mommy’s dedication to her craft. So as of recently I have subscribed to the “single-working-mom-trying-to-get-her-degree” lifestyle. I have to admit, it is quite the challenge.

I have to say the biggest challenge that I am facing right now would be the lack of sleep. As of now I work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., then I am at school until 10 p.m. The only time my daughter sees me is in the morning when I’m getting us ready for our day.

There are days when I wake up and I just want to sleep in and spend the rest of my day with my daughter. As much as I want to, I still get up and go through the motions because I know the end result will benefit the two of us.

“What about your social life?” My answer to that is, what social life?

I have learned that there are some sacrifices that you just have to make, and having a social life is one of them for me. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a complete hermit. I do make it out at least once a month. The rest of the time is spent either with my daughter or studying, it’s a choice that I made and one I am willing to live with. If my aunt could do it, I sure can as well.

My aunt is my inspiration. She is proof that it is possible. Don’t get me wrong, as “glamorous” as it may look on paper, to say I am a working a 40 hour job and going to school, there are times when I just want to give up. Times when I have an essay, a midterm, and a group project all due on the same day, and the night before my little princess in running a fever. Never mind the demands of a job as well.

As discouraging as it can get sometimes, and trust it has, all I have to do is look at that spunky little girl, and I remember why it is all worth it.

Wrong Way Down a One-Way Street

2011-02-23T03:06:00.003-05:00

By Tori Centopanti

Editor-in-Chief

Image courtesy of http://www.targetprocess.com

I always understood the real dangers of drugs.

I got all the usual warnings. There was health class (yes, I actually paid attention) and my parents always believed I was better off educated than sheltered and naive. Regardless, the idea that drugs are bad, and to “just say no,” are inescapable in the media: television, movies, books, news articles, the Internet. All the facts were right at my fingertips.

I knew the repercussions of taking drugs, short-term and long-term, but I never understood why people took drugs in the first place. With so many natural ways to get “high” and feel happy, why risk your life by using drugs? What I didn’t realize in my preteen years was that I would soon learn the answer to that question firsthand.

A lot of circumstances in my life contributed to the bad decisions I made. But the real source of my issues has always been my relationship with my dad. When I was younger, I was the only kid I knew who didn’t look forward to the weekends, strictly because I was forced to see him. He was controlling and abusive, psychologically and emotionally. He was short-tempered, condescending, stubborn, and had violent tendencies in addition to being an alcoholic and a bully.

I constantly felt like I was walking on egg shells around my dad, never knowing what would set him off into a rage next, or how far it would go. His usual bit involved insulting and belittling me, usually accomplished by making me feel stupid or useless. My report cards were never up to standard, even when I got straight A’s. In fact, nothing I ever did was good enough. My younger half-sister, on the other hand, was unable to do any wrong in my dad’s eyes. He would say that he loved us both equally, but I didn’t believe him.

Even though I only saw him on weekends, my dad still tried to control every aspect of my life: my friends, my boyfriends, my attire, the way I thought. I had to ask permission for everything, including the phone, the computer, the microwave, and even to play in the backyard. My dad disapproved of most of my friends and all of my boyfriends, which meant he did everything in his power to isolate me from them while I was under his roof.

One night, when I was ten years old, my father took his bullying to a new level. In a drunken stupor, he said that my mom should have had an abortion and that he wished I had never been born. He proceeded to back me into a corner, threatening to kill me right then and there -- with a fork of all things. His bark turned out to be bigger than his bite and he backed off, but it left emotional scars that are still with me to this day.

Any chance of saving our deteriorating relationship disappeared forever in that moment. I still have not forgiven him, and I don’t think I ever will.

I spiraled into a deep depression at a young age. I stopped caring about my health, school, or anything. At thirteen I began smoking cigarettes, drinking, and cutting myself. At fourteen I attempted to take my own life. I just wanted to escape life. When I awoke the next morning I was disappointed, but not entirely shocked.

My plan had failed, but I felt deathly sick all day so I sought refuge in the nurse’s office at school. The nurse didn’t believe I was ill though and, in my frustration, I accidentally blurted out what I had done the night before. An ambulance was called to take me to the hospital. From there I was immediately, and involuntarily, placed in a psychiatric hospital.

My dad only visited me once, briefly, and refused to take part in therapy. He firmly believed that nothing was wrong with him and demanded to know what was wrong with me -- no surprise there. My mom was my only support system through the entire ordeal. She visited me every day and came to every therapy session she could. She was my rock and for that I am eternally grateful, but she wasn’t the problem.

I was discharged from the hospital after two weeks on the condition that I complete six months of out-patient therapy in addition to personal therapy. None of it “fixed” me though. My dad only came to one family therapy session, but he may as well have never showed up at all. He spent the whole time arguing and insisting that he wasn’t the problem -- I was.

Every therapist I went to wanted me to forgive my dad and try to repair our broken relationship. I refused every time, and eventually stopped taking my counseling seriously. During one particular session, my therapist made a safety plan in case I ever decided to hurt myself again. “When you feel like harming yourself, who are you going to call?” she asked me. I replied, “Ghostbusters!” and burst out laughing.

By the time I was fifteen, I had already begun experimenting with drugs. It wasn’t long before I was using everyday. Drugs provided the escape from life I was looking for, and I didn’t have to die to achieve it. I didn’t want to face my problems or talk about my feelings. I just wanted to forget everything and be happy -- a state of mind which drugs helped me achieve. Honestly, it seemed like a win-win solution at the time.

My friends at the time were not merely just people I did drugs with. It was more than that. We were a tight-knit group, almost like a family. We understood each other and bonded over the abuse we endured from our parent(s), whether it was emotional, psychological, physical, or sexual. We may have done some bad things, but we weren’t bad people. We were just a bunch of depressed teenagers seeking solace in a messed up world.

I was heading the wrong way down a one-way street though, heading straight for a dead end. I had two options: Keep going, or make a U-turn.

I shudder to think where I would be right now if my mom hadn’t intervened. I constantly lied about my drug use to her, but I couldn’t fool her forever. When I was 17 years old, two years into my drug spree, she found out. She was disappointed and angry, but worried more than anything else. We worked out a deal: I didn’t have to go to rehab and I could continue living with her, but I had to get clean and stay clean. That was over four years ago.

Quitting drugs was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The withdrawal symptoms were hell. In the beginning, I relapsed a few times to make them stop, but learned the hard way that it only started the detox and recovery process all over again. There was no easy way out or shortcuts. The saying is true: If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain first. I began applying that idea to every aspect of my life.

Getting clean meant I could no longer run from my problems, specifically my relationship with my dad. I had been giving him chances over the years, hoping he would change, but he never did. I had to face the music. I could either keep trying, which was putting my recovery in jeopardy, or I could give up. Now, the only time I see him is on holidays, once or twice a year maybe. We don’t talk on the phone; we’re not even friends on Facebook. It was the best decision I ever made.

I can say, without a doubt in my mind, that if it had not been for drugs, I would be dead right now. It’s ironic but true. When things got tough, all I wanted to do was leave reality behind. To accomplish that goal, I thought I only had two options: drugs or death. In retrospect, I’m glad I chose the path I did because I’m still alive.

Most people are shocked when I first tell them I’m a recovering drug addict, and some don’t even believe me at first. People usually say that they would never expect that from me, or that they never would have known that if I hadn’t told them. I’ve heard a few times that I don’t “look” or “act” like a drug addict, which is utterly ridiculous, not to mention stereotypical. I understand why I elicit that reaction in people though.

Although I dropped out of high school, twice, I earned my G.E.D. with honors. I started attending Housatonic Community College (HCC) in 2008 and have made the Dean’s List for academic achievement a total of five times. I have a 3.54 GPA (grade point average), and I was one of the ten people chosen to receive a full scholarship for the 2010-11 academic year. This semester marks my second as Editor-in-Chief of HCC’s student newspaper, Horizons.

I don’t regret anything in my past because it helped shape the person I am. All my experiences have just made me stronger and smarter. Every mistake I made was just another step in my journey, leading me to where I am now.

Family Matters

2011-02-23T02:57:00.004-05:00

By Bobbi Brown

Staff Writer

Brown family of Bridgeport, Conn., posing in front of their brand new home.

Photo courtesy of the Hartford Courant newspaper / Extreme Makeover Home Edition (Stephan Dunn)

Some may argue that all tears that are cried are alike, but that’s not true. People cry for many reasons, and some tears are happy and some are sad. One tear that I can relate with is that tear of sadness and a lack of family love; at the age of five I was placed into foster care with my little brother. Although we had older siblings we were all still too young to take care of each other. My parents were unable to provide us the things we needed and most of all they were not able to give us that love.

In America alone there are over 15 million children waiting to be placed into foster care. Every year this number rises because of the number of babies born that are not wanted, or the children who are placed into the system because of abuse.

There is a great need for foster care parents in the United States. Many children who are placed into foster care often feel the need to lash out at their care givers because they feel that no one loves them. They ask the question, “Why would someone do this do to me?” Like many children, I asked this very question. “Why?” I didn't understand why the family that my parents built was falling apart and why they didn’t fight hard enough to keep it together.

I blamed the world for the way life was treating my siblings and me. I am the third oldest out of nine children -- eight girls and one boy. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) separated all the children and placed each of us with at least one other sibling.

I was blessed to share my life with my little brother. Even though he is a year younger than me, he tries his best to protect me from everything. He has become my inspiration to always hold on to what you have close to your heart. We have been through everything, wishing every night that our family would one day get back together. We even joked about going on the show “The Locator” to search for our family.

Family is so very important and many people neglect to see this. We forget about family traditions and family functions, and focus on arguments and forget about the love of the family. Yes, we argue with parents and don’t agree with everything they say, but at least they are in our lives. Many children in foster care can’t say that about their lives.

Some children are not even in foster homes but in orphanages waiting for someone to come and rescue them. I have never been in an orphanage, but I have moved from home to home looking for a place to call my own. We needed a family that was not keeping us for the check that would be given at the end of each month. We needed a family who would honor holidays and family traditions, one who would be forever in our lives pushing us to achieve any goal we set our minds to. We needed a family who would chastise us when we were wrong and embrace us with love when we did something right.

We got that family in 1993. Finally we found someone who would turn around and become a parent all over again, after she had raised her own two children. We lived with my foster mom for a few years until 2001 when she officially made us her children. That was one of the happiest moments of my life.

Although she was a single mother, she made it her duty to make sure we

got everything we needed. Even when our home caught on fire in 2007, she never gave up and still encouraged us to keep believing that everything would work out. In 2008 our family was blessed to get a brand new home built from the ground up on the TV show called “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

This, all because one little old women believed in the value of family, and took in two little children and showed them unfailing love.

America needs real people and families to step up to the plate and make a difference in some young child’s life. Even if they never get adopted like I did, just to be in a stable home makes a difference. Children need that, since love and care will allow them to break out of their shell to share what they are going through.

Picture expresses the need for foster and adoptive parents...one step at a TIME!
Photo courtesy of The Foster Care Prevention/Family Preservation Program

There are many ways people can become a foster parent, by just simply dialing 1-888-Kid-Hero or signing up for a ten week training that will assure them of the skills needed to become a great foster or adoptive parent. Like many jobs or anything involving children, there is a mandatory background check to ensure the safety of the children.

With all that is needed to be a foster parent what matters the most is the happiness of a child, and the chance to make a dream come true. Become a foster parent and make a positive difference.

More to Love?

2011-02-23T02:57:00.003-05:00

By Tiana Bridtter

Staff Writer

I couldn’t let obesity take my aunt from me.

Obesity is an issue affecting the human race throughout the world. There are so many people that have stories and their own personal issues that they took on in dealing with this “health plague.” I’m here to tell you how it affected me.

I’m not and have never been overweight or obese, but I have an aunt who is. The funny thing is that when you see her, her weight is not at all what stands out. She has such a beautiful personality, and you barely even notice her weight even though you know by sight its there. My aunt is the sweetest person on the planet. She is very into church and willing to help anyone and everyone in need. For as long as I’ve known her she has always been overweight, and as time went on she didn’t seem to be getting any smaller.

Whoppers, pie, cake, and pretty much anything that was edible, became catalysts for my aunt. Not for nothing, I love to eat just as much as the next human being, but she was eating a lot. She was eating herself to death -- literally. She wasn’t able to wear the clothes the average woman was able to put on, and was more subjected to dresses and other loose fitting clothing. She wasn’t even able to wear high heels for fear of breaking them, so she stuck to flats only.

She claimed her weight didn’t bother her and said her weight meant that there was a lot of her to love, but of course I knew that was a lie. Not to say someone can’t be happy with their weight no matter what size they are, but my aunt showed the signs that she wasn’t: the late night crying; the way she looked at herself in the mirror; and the way she stared at women smaller than her, almost like she wanted not so much to be like them, but be as small as them.

I stepped up and decided to help her tackle her issue firsthand, which meant she had to admit that she was overweight, that she did have an eating problem, and that she needed to take care of the problem before it became worse -- before it was too late.

Denial is always the biggest stumbling block to get over when it comes to weight loss. It’s actually more of an issue than losing the weight. For months my aunt wouldn’t admit that she had a problem. I could no longer watch her slowly kill herself. I grew frustrated and scared at the same time. I couldn’t take another minute of fearing that she’d be snatched from me, so I decided to do a family intervention and we told her head-on that it needed to stop.

I pulled up stories and facts about obese people. I had investigated the health scares about obesity and found research on people who were either the same size as her or bigger. I even went as far to find stories about people who have died from the condition. I found out that obese individuals 30 years old and up have a 50 to 100 percent increased risk of premature death from all causes, compared to individuals with a healthy weight.

Click here for great facts about obesity.

When you’re obese, there is a huge risk of having a heart attack. Congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death and angina, or chest pain, is increased in persons who are overweight or obese. High blood pressure is twice as common in adults who are obese than in those who are at a healthy weight.

When I brought the information to my aunt’s attention, she was very upset at first, but she knew I was right. I assured her that I would help her and wouldn’t quit on her. I made a deal with her. I told her if she’d start eating right and going to the gym, I’d go back to church. I knew that was an offer she couldn’t and wouldn’t refuse. She agreed to the deal. Just as promised I went to the gym with her four times a week, twice a day. It was quite a struggle and an obstacle but I stayed true to my promise.

That was over two years ago. My aunt has since gone from 350 lbs to 167 lbs -- that’s 183 lbs! Now she is able to wear the high heels and fitted jeans she wasn’t able to wear her whole life. But more importantly, she is alive and now healthier than ever before.

A Second Chance at Life

2011-02-23T02:54:00.000-05:00

By Elisa Byrdsong

Staff Writer

My totaled car at the impound lot after the accident on 5-3-08.

Photo by Nicole Byrdsong.

How a horrible car crash that could have taken my life ended up saving it, at the same time giving me a second chance to cherish life for all it’s worth.

“Live every day like it’s your last.” This quote is easier said than done, and what does it really mean? On May 3, 2008, just 21 days before my 19th birthday, I lived the day that could have been my last, and learned exactly what it meant.

Like most people, I have witnessed many accidents on the news and heard many different tragic, fatal stories of people -- not only teens -- who have lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes. Of course, also like most people, I never thought that I would be a victim of such an incident.

My mother would always warn me to be careful on the road but I would simply reply, “Okay!” and jump behind the wheel. I understood that the chances of an accident were somewhat possible because I was constantly driving, but I considered myself a cautious driver and always obeyed the rules of the road. Had I been aware of the U.S. statistics that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15-20 year olds, I may have realized that my chances were more than probable.

However, it seems there was no stopping the events that took place this one, life-changing evening:

My intent of the night was to enjoy it with friends, as I stowed three of them in the car with me. I drove the four of us down the short familiar stretch of highway, aware of my exit approaching. Driving 60 mph, I passed the big green billboard displaying three-quarters of a mile left to exit. Suddenly I felt great impact from the rear of the vehicle and I automatically knew something wasn’t right. I had been hit by something fast and hard from behind and I didn't even see it coming.

I quickly grasped the wheel in a futile attempt to control the car on the narrow highway. I could feel the vehicle spinning as if I was on an uncontrollable merry-go-round that would never cease. As I caught a glimpse of the little blue car that had hit us, my car smashed face first into the guardrail and began flipping in the air. I thought for sure this was the end.

After I was knocked unconscious from the impact of the airbag slamming into my face, I violently landed on the roof of the car, and started regaining consciousness. Yelling and screaming was the last thing I remembered as I awoke... dangling upside down from my seat belt in the dark.

“Lisa get out of the car! Come on wake up!” I could hear my friend demanding.

As I began to realize what had happened, I released my seat belt -- which was holding me, trapped upside down in the car -- and I dropped painfully on my head as it unbuckled. Once I heard the voice of my friend I knew that at least one of the passengers in my car had survived. Praying for every one’s safety, I crawled out of the overturned car in the middle on Route 8 and feared the worst.

Thankfully, the four of us survived. But realizing how close my friends and I came to death instilled the fear of driving in me. Even though I was lucky to have survived the horrible crash with minor cuts and scratches, I was scared to even sit in a car -- better yet be behind the wheel of one again.

As months went by, the swelling, back pain and nightmares of the accident went away, but I still remained petrified to get behind the wheel. I had not been to work in months and I started to get behind on bills; I knew this couldn’t last forever.

“You have been given a second chance and it wasn’t to sit around and be afraid! Make something out of your life, most people don’t live to talk about something like that! But you did,” my great-grandmother said to me, as she lay in the hospital bed sick from cancer.

Those words coming from her as she lay there helpless, knowing that her days were limited and yet still positive -- that gave me the courage I needed to work on my fears of driving and to get on with my life. It was at that moment I realized that I had a purpose in life, and that I was just beginning the journey to finding it.

How can I sit home for months feeling helpless and miserable for myself? I’m alive! A little scrapped up and scared but I’m here. And for what? To sit in the house laying in bed all day? Wasting my life on re-runs of Lilo and Stitch on Disney Channel?! This couldn’t be why I was granted the opportunity to walk away from something millions of people die from every day!

Looking at my great-grandmother laying there, hair white as snow from age, skin soft and wrinkled, facing the fear that I had just escaped -- and was now hiding from. She faced death with no fear and forceful denial while people sat around with tears in their eyes knowing that she will soon be a memory.

From that day on I promised myself that I would not hide from death. It is inevitable. Scary, dramatic things happen in life and the end comes unexpectedly, but when that day comes you should know you had the best life you could give yourself.

Locking myself inside the house did not solve anything and I still had dreams to accomplish, so I got up and got busy. It’s been almost three years since my accident and I am living my life my way: happily, with no regrets. Since then I have entered school to accomplish my dream of becoming a news anchor, and I am back on the road -- still wearing my seat belt, which I believed help save my life.

Truthfully, there’s not a day since then that goes by when I get into a car that I don’t think about that horrible day, and maybe someday it will happen again. But you can never really know what the road ahead has waiting, so stay curious to stay cautious and live everyday like it could be your last.

“Driven…” Hopes for Today or Frozen Dismay

2011-02-23T02:52:00.002-05:00

By “M.E.”

Staff Writer

Editor’s Note: At the writer’s request, this article has been published under a pseudonym due to the personal nature of its content.

You are invited to choose your own definition of “driven.” The voice that holds us true to our dreams... or the poison that deceives us, forces us to become “driven over the edge.”

Winter winds whip frozen limbs one against another across the orchard, covered in ice above the ground... this permanence is merely temporary.

Hidden from the sun, acres of grass, green as Ireland, await to emerge, buried beneath a layer of snow and barren earth, now hopeless and empty, but with the promise of tomorrow... this too, is impermanent.

All things must be nurtured to grow… without it, for some, a quick, painless, demise, for others, a slow and self-inflicted one. The first taste of disappointment and lack of self worth may test our strength against impossibility, leading us to claw our way up toward the sun, only to be beaten down once again.

Our paths set before us are not always ones we need to take, and sometimes, we are forced to take them. They may lead us where we shouldn’t go and we become lost, yet, we cannot surrender. Not yet. Only then will we find our way. Hopelessness brings redemption.

Like the blanket of grass hidden, veiled from view, this is a story of self discovery. It involves secrets, acceptance and denial. It is a part of your life and mine, and shares the afflictions we all fear the most, testing the strength of the human spirit.

Before hiding behind the mask, I was happy and alive. Long after that, I died every day. Isolation from friends, family, even myself, brought a loneliness, a desperation, and with it, the evils of the things that take it all away, alcohol, drugs, and attempted suicide. Without help, the seed of self-destruction began to grow. Amazingly, I survived. I moved away on my own, continuing with the one thing that held me high above the world, independence and a drive to be something more.

Where this drive came from, I never knew. It is still with me to this day, the thing that doesn’t let me give up. Sometimes I want to shrug it off and surrender. Time moved on and once again, trust turned its back on me, in the form of a lying cheat of a boyfriend, forcing me back behind the mask. The mask is the thing we all wear, that hides our true selves from the person that others see.

Alcohol, drugs and an endless sea of non-substantial relationships held me in a sleep of death for three days, finally awaking to the reality that one must at least go on with the motions, even if you can’t feel anything else. I started to become driven, this time over the edge.

The heart finds its way to heal… by prayer, by poems, by writing. These are the only answers I can offer. Another chance at love, or so I thought, came in the disguise of of a marriage. That’s when I became driven not only over the edge, but began building layers of denial. Two children later, continuous moving from six or seven different locations in Connecticut to places out-of-state by no choice of my own left me exhausted, without direction, and with that… I left. The only problem was, he wouldn’t let me leave.

Physical and verbal abuse was common, and police were called. I was attacked, degraded, my clothes, belongings, and identification were stolen, and my car damaged. A line of duct tape was drawn down my entire house indicating what side I should stay on. Bolting my door day and night, and after an attack in self-defense, I was arrested. The charges were nullified, and though my son stayed with his father out of loyalty, my daughter remained with me. I never thought I would lose a son at the age of twelve. To make the suffering just a little more painful, my crazy ex-husband took my son out-of-state to live.

Repeated prayer and poems were once again what kept me moving forward. Through all the harassment, separation, and years of isolation from a normal life, I met someone who loved me. I was happy and alive like before the mask… but a deeper place I now began to tread.

Club scenes, parties, back alleys, and an alternative lifestyle lent a host of new problems. In denial, and after finally seeking counseling, I realized that the love I thought was mine these past few years was really a man’s love for drug addiction, and not what I thought.

Matters grew worse when I was laid off my job, having to maintain a house, two young adult kids, and a boyfriend living his own hell, in his own denial. Arguments grew common, and once again, withdrew behind the mask. Hopelessness sank in, the same afflictions poisoning my soul, this time, for months.

A lifeline of co-workers and friends gone, signing up for college began an occupation of thinking... and writing…every day. Not just poems, but fictional stories. They created a passion for something bigger than despair. With writing, came the hope for something more meaningful, a bigger piece of life that was missed somehow, a detour from misery that became my salvation.

Becoming “driven”… the voice that holds us to our dreams… is much like the grass awaiting to emerge with the promise of tomorrow…

Sometimes, paths lead us where we shouldn’t go and we become lost, only then will we find our way…

A video demonstrating the power of love, healing, and sacrifice for something other than one’s self, called “My Love” by Sia is my dedication....

Poet Emma Wheeler Wilcox wrote “Solitude” and I dedicate this poem to those who will appreciate its worth:

“Solitude”

Laugh, and the world laughs with you,

Weep, and you weep alone.

For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,

But has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer,

Sigh, it is lost on the air.

The echoes bound to a joyful sound,

But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice and men will seek you,

Grieve and they turn and go.

They want full measure of all your pleasure,

But they do not need your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many

Be sad and you lose them all.

There are none to decline your nectared wine,

But alone you must drink life’s gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded,

Fast, and the world goes by

Succeed and give, and it helps you live,

But no man can help you die.

There is room in the halls of pleasure

For a long and lordly train,

But one by one we must all file on

Through the narrow isles of pain.

Why Athletics Should Be In Our Community Colleges

2011-02-23T02:22:00.006-05:00

By Rondale Williams

Staff Writer

Football players at Shasta College football practice.

Photo by Michael Hendrix

How athletics could affect the community college atmosphere in Connecticut in the areas of student life and campus diversity.

Look around the campus of Housatonic Community College at around 5 p.m. What is happening? Virtually nothing that resembles that of an actual college campus. There is no school spirit, campus involvement from students, or real attractions to keep students on campus for that matter.

There is a way to fix this problem however, if we added interscholastic athletics to the extra-curricular activities not only at Housatonic, but at all Connecticut community colleges. Maybe it would entice students to want to be more involved with campus activities because the interest in sports would either get students involved directly with playing these sports, or watching athletic competitions after school.

This is a community college after all, and most people in Connecticut probably have no clue that there are community colleges out there that actually have athletics. In states like New York, California, Texas, Mississippi, Kansas, and a few others, there are community or junior colleges that have full fledged athletic departments.

As a matter of fact, I myself participated in junior college football at a point in time, coming out of high school because I wasn't a very highly recruited football player of course. Factors like playing on a terrible high school team caused many guys on our football team to be overlooked when college coaches were recruiting. That caused me to look for an alternative to playing at a four-year institution and try and walk on to a football team. When I did, I found a junior college in California named Shasta College. The school was exactly what I was looking for and had everything a four-year college did, including dorms and almost every main stream sport imaginable like basketball, football, soccer, and volleyball, just to name a few.

There was also an awesome fan base in the town of Redding, Calif., where the school was located. Fans constantly asked us when games were and how we thought our season was going to turn out. Our teams would travel in-state to different community colleges and rivalries were big with many of the nearby colleges, much like you see with major Division 1 athletics. Just like big time football programs, kids from all over the country would come and play at our school in different sports. On our football team alone we had kids from as far away as Georgia and Connecticut, creating a truly diverse campus that only students at four-year universities enjoy.

I also remember college coaches from the likes of big football schools, like California and Oregon State, would even attend our games to recruit players to play at their universities. For example, on our team alone we had a wide receiver go to the University of California Berkeley on a football scholarship, and Jason Sehorn, the former New York Giant, played at Shasta and continued his college career at the University of Southern California.

Now imagine that same atmosphere at not only Housatonic, but at all community colleges in Connecticut. Wouldn’t it excite you to cheer for our school’s football team at a game on Saturday night? Or do we want to stick with the status quo, and just have a table tennis club? Maybe by implementing athletics we can give those student athletes in high schools that weren’t highly sought after on the recruiting trail the chance to play again and earn an athletic scholarship.

Our community colleges can even become a refuge for college players that may have had a troubled past at four-year universities. For example, look at the Cam Newton story and how he had gotten into trouble at the University of Florida for stealing laptops there after his first season. His sophomore year he left the university and went on to star at Blinn Community College in Texas, and was highly recruited by many schools, such as Auburn University. Then he later received a second chance to resume his Division 1 football career at Auburn and led them to a national championship this year. Maybe Connecticut community colleges can one day offer a second chance for a fallen athlete, just like the Texas community college offered Cam Newton a second chance.

Not only can we offer the opportunity for students to play sports and hopefully one day prosper in the field of athletics, but offering athletics can help the community college system prosper financially. As we all know, sports like football and basketball are big money makers for colleges and maybe we can draw some of that money into colleges like Housatonic with the implementation of athletics. At Shasta, for example, our student cafe profited greatly by selling food and snacks at games. The money from athletic donors also helped Shasta College create dorms to house student-athletes from out of state, as the dorms were not directly funded by the college itself.

With athletics we also offer the student body entertainment and give them a reason to want to stay around the campus. As I stated before one too may times I see students run out of class, run to their cars and head home. Not to say that students wouldn’t still head straight home, but maybe they would have a reason to come back to campus. If, say, Housatonic was playing Gateway Community College in a big basketball game. Many times at Shasta we had students go home the same way here at Housatonic. But many students and Redding residents would come back, if they knew we were playing our rivals College of the Siskiyous, or Laney College out of Oakland. Those games were big; whether in the football stadium or field house, students would pack the stands to see those games.

Through athletics we can create that same hunger for sports the way Shasta College or the Redding community had. Through rivalries and great athletic competition we can do that and keep students and Connecticut residents involved in our campus community.

Then, just maybe, we could draw kids to come from out-of-state to continue their academic and athletic careers at a community college in Connecticut because they would recognize the commitment and opportunities to athletics in our community colleges, creating the true diversity that a junior college like Shasta College had. So, what better way can we serve students than by giving them the same atmosphere they would enjoy at any four-year institution. To do that I believe there is no better way than athletics to begin making students become accustomed to the true atmosphere of what college should be.

How to Drop a Class on an Academic Budget and Schedule

2011-02-19T23:27:00.001-05:00

By Michael Bednarsky

Arts & Entertainment Editor

If you organize how each class with help you graduate and/or transfer, you will find ways to work harder in the courses you take. Reduce stress, and envision your goals at all times!
Image courtesy of www.college-warehouse.com

Before you can drop a class, you have to first be enrolled in one. Students at various universities and colleges across the planet know how tedious the process of signing up for classes can be.

HCC students, regardless of tenure length, are aware that reserving course spots ahead of time is an intelligent move. If you sign up early via the Registrar desk, you avoid the congestion that builds up between semesters; the dreaded panic mode for unpunctual students. If you register online, you immediately get to pick your classes and pay; there is no confrontation.

Then again, the Internet option of choosing to take a class without paying only guarantees that you are penciled in; your spot can be handed to somebody else. Another student can align their finances first and sweep the rug out from under you, forcing a rearrangement of what you will plan to do.

Of course, you all know this already, because the dilemma is not surrounding that you secured any classes, but instead if you actually want to complete them.

The basic information about dropping a class is located under the “Registrar’s Office” tab on the Housatonic Community College website.

If you wish to drop a class shortly after a semester begins, it’s fairly easy. Students deserve to have that option readily available to them, in case a class does not assist their career as originally envisioned. Alternatives are abound: some courses have surplus editions with different professors, and some majors have several ways to achieve the credits for your overall goal (of course, including the core requirements).

You have a little under two months to drop a class without repercussions. That’s a sufficient amount of leeway to muse on if you are willing to bang out the remainder of any class you are stressing about. If you drop out of a class within the first two weeks of a semester, you are removed from the class roster; just like that.

The next span is the “Automatic Withdrawal Period” (third to sixth week of the semester), built to allow a student to drop a class without having to give an inkling of notice to the HCC staff or officials. Your mid-term and final exam grades will have a ‘W’ so that your records will indicate that you did not fail the class.

Then there’s the tricky part: once you enter week seven of the given semester, you will receive an ‘F’ if you make the decision to drop. This time-frame marks the last layer of weeks for you to drop, because you are no longer allowed to after week twelve. Nobody can force you to participate in a class, but you will ultimately fail the course by snubbing it from that point on. That will eat away at your G.P.A. (grade point average), thus hurting the overall continuity of your career at HCC.

Also, financial woes enter the equation. You may not be reimbursed for your original payment for the class. Refer to the Registrar further for more information, as each situation is different depending on the financial aid ratio/record of the student, and some courses have separate policies.

In some circumstances, you may just want to stick it out. If you are upset about a course, but completing it will facilitate your goal, then just grin and bear the scenario. Visualize yourself at the next step of your career. For example, if you are transferring to another college in due time, you should become determined to acquire as many credits as possible to go to your “dream school.”

On the other hand, it is never too late for you to change your focus altogether. College education routes may be recommended for a plentiful life (financially), but you do not have to pursue them!

Simply put, go forth with the situation if it will help you in the long run. Do not make the assumption that you will not like a course without allowing sufficient time for your analysis. Keep track of how your psyche reacts to your environment, and if you must opt out, just be sure to do it correctly. Develop a self-ultimatum, to push the length of your limits and possibilities.

Good luck, and enjoy your journey, regardless of what you decide to do!

Additional information on these matters can be found at our establishment’s official Registrar Office web-page.

Continuum 34: Wrap-Up

2010-12-21T02:01:00.001-05:00

Visit the Continuum web page

How to Produce a Podcast / Tying Loose Ends / Stewie Disses Bridgeport / Beardsley’s Mysterious Murder

HCC is embedded in the heart of Bridgeport.

Photograph by Brandon T. Bisceglia.

How to Produce a Podcast (If You Have the Time) – Producing an hour-long show on your own isn’t as easy as it might seem. In honor of Continuum’s last episode of the year (and the last in its longer format) host Brandon T. Bisceglia explains the process he goes through to bring this content to the Internet.

Student Senate Updates: Tying Loose Ends – The Student Senate covered a lot of ground in its Dec. 9 meeting, which was the last of the semester. The final budget estimate for the semester (which you can see here) showed the Student Activity Fund remains well coffered.

The Student Senate inducted new senator Priscilla Mathew, its eighth and final member for the year. Mathew spoke to the audience about her leadership experience, and was questioned before being voted into office.

The Student Senate also resolved to pursue a stronger enforcement of its standing policies governing clubs’ submissions of minutes and attendance sheets, as well as the requirement that they attend Activities Committee meetings. Senators expressed concern over the persistent lack of cooperation by some clubs on the matter, noting that they had already relaxed the rules at the clubs’ behest.

Finally, the Student Senate pondered the strain that the ever-increasing student body is going to have on college facilities in the near future. Because full-time professors have not kept up with this growth, members also questioned whether there would be a negative effect on student advisement and other services.

Commentary: Stewie Disses Bridgeport – On Dec. 12, the popular adult cartoon, “Family Guy,” aired its Christmas special titled “Road to the North Pole” on the Fox Network.

In one scene, the character of Stewie compared the decrepit and polluted state of Santa’s Workshop to Bridgeport.

Mayor Bill Finch laughed off the remarks, and took them as an opportunity to promote the city by pointing out its positive features. This strategy is nothing new for Finch, whose administration launched its “Surprise, It’s Bridgeport” marketing campaign earlier this year to attract more business and tourism.

Finch’s and the Family Guy portrayals are both, in their own ways, fictionalized accounts of the city, exaggerating some truths and ignoring others.

Road to the North Pole clip

Surprise, It’s Bridgeport

This Week in History: Beardsley’s Mysterious Murder – On Dec. 22, 1892, James W. Beardsley, who gave Bridgeport the land that now houses Connecticut’s only zoo, was killed during a home invasion that was never solved.

The New York Times conflated the events surrounding Beardsley’s death, reporting that his demise may have been due to a “curse” that a local homeless man placed on him.

Beardsley Zoo’s website

News – Networking Politics

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Budget Update: Student Senate Finance Report

2010-12-13T15:16:00.001-05:00

Continuum 33: Alliances and Fissures

2010-12-12T02:03:00.003-05:00

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Community College Student Alliance / CAN Investigation / The White Wolves / Edmund Andros

Image courtesy of hcc.commnet.edu/IR

Community College Student Alliance – Community college student representatives from all over the state met at Naugatuck Valley Community College on Nov. 19 for a meeting aimed at forming a coalition that would allow them to amplify their collective voice at the administrative and legislative level, as well as to share ideas.

The organization, which calls itself the Community College Student Alliance (CCSA) discussed the drafting of its Constitution and brainstormed ideas for shared student life issues that the collaborative process might be able to help resolve at its first meeting. They also agreed to increase inter-college communication and encourage fellowship among the schools.

Student Senate Updates: CAN Investigation – A measure that was ultimately tabled at the Student Senate's general meeting on Nov. 18 about the possibility of imposing sanctions on the Community Action Network (CAN) for violations of state laws and/or school policies drew questions from the senators about practices spanning most of the club's existence.

Some matters involved the club as a whole, while others touched, without naming names, on individual members.

The Student Senate introduced a list of preliminary charges as well as a list of some of the actions the governing body could take if CAN is found to be culpable for any violations.

The Student Senate resolved to table any course against the club until a full investigation can be undertaken, which the senators promised to conduct.

The latest allegations stem from a demonstration CAN conducted aimed at promoting Democratic Congressional candidate Jim Himes on Oct. 27. Himes and Republican opponent Dan Debicella were at HCC that day for a debate.

CAN's actions come under the direct purview of the Student Senate and the Office of Student Life, which are jointly responsible for handling clubs.

For a complete list of the tentative allegations, click here.

Commentary: The White Wolves – On December 1, a jury at the Bridgeport Federal Courthouse gave a mixed ruling in a conspiracy case involving several reputed members of a local white supremacist group who were charged with attempting to sell guns and grenades to an offshoot of the Ku Klux Klan.

The group, known alternatively as the White Wolves and Battalion 14, has become infamous locally for its high-profile presence in the area.

Five people were charged in the conspiracy: two pled guilty over the summer. Of the remaining three members, one was convicted, and two were acquitted, included the group’s supposed leader, 29-year-old Kenneth Zrallack, who currently lives in Ansonia.

The jury made the right decision in setting Zrallack free on Dec. 1. In a criminal trial, it is up to the prosecution to demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that the person on trial committed the crime. And in this case, there simply wasn’t enough evidence to prove that he was guilty.

Despite the extreme ignorance and horrid bigotry that drives such actions, they are protected under Constitutional principles that trump any level of disgust we may feel toward the White Wolves. They have the right to further their own ideas, no matter how repulsive they are.

What we can do, though, is speak out against them, learn to take their threats seriously, and keep a vigilant eye on people who espouse such abhorrent beliefs. Eventually, Zrallack may slip up and get himself put away for good. But even if he doesn’t, the rest of us can make a concerted effort to see that groups like his win no new converts with their hateful lies.

Read coverage by Connecticut Post about the case

This Week in History: Edmund Andros – Dec. 6 marks the birthday of one of the most reviled men in all of Connecticut history.

On that day in 1637, Sir Edmund Andros was born in London, England. Among other things, he would one day become Governor of the short-lived Dominion of New England – the only time in our history that Connecticut was ruled by anyone other than the American settlers.

He was also the indirect inspiration for one of Connecticut’s most enduring myths: the so-called “Charter Oak” incident.

A History of Connecticut, by Elias Benjamin Sanford

Sir Edmund Andros, by Henry Ferguson

A Complete History of Connecticut, Civil and Ecclesiastical, by Benjamin Trumbull

Biographical Sketch of Governor Robert Treat from the Connecticut State Library

News - Early Childhood Education Partnership, Course Evaluations, The Shepard Cycle, New Spring Courses, Continuing Education

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Continuum 32: The (Mostly) Science Show

2010-11-28T03:02:00.005-05:00

Visiting the CDC / Climate Denial / Culture and Scientific Consensus / Psychic Kids

Students from HCC’s Honors Program stand next to an iron lung during their recent visit to the CDC in Atlanta. Image courtesy of Caysey Welton.

Interview: Visiting the CDC – Every year, HCC offers a special interdisciplinary course for students enrolled in the college’s Honors Program. The topics covered by the seminar change from year to year.

This semester, Professor of Biology Dr. Kathleen Toedt is covering epidemiology – the study of diseases and how they spread.

In mid-November, the students in the class flew to Atlanta, Ga. to visit the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), where they toured the agency’s on-premises museum.

Climate Denial – Dr. Michael Mann is a professor of meteorology and the director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University. Mann is also the person responsible for the famous “hockey-stick graph” that has become a major target of climate change critics over the past decade.

At the annual conference of the National Association of Science Writers and the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing in New Haven earlier this November, Mann discussed the solidity of climate science and some of the genuine scientific uncertainties that remain.

He contrasts this with the misguided public discourse surrounding the hockey-stick graph and, more recently, with the manufacture of the Climategate controversy in 2009.

Climate Science From Climate Scientists: http://www.realclimate.org/

Culture and Scientific Consensus – Why do people with certain political and social values tend toward a particular set of seemingly unrelated beliefs about what the scientific consensus is on certain issues, while people with a different set of values think the consensus agrees with their perspective?

Dan Kahan is the Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Law at Yale Law School. He and his colleagues have looked into something they call “cultural cognition of risk.” What they’ve found is that a person’s cultural values play an important role in determining their assessment of risk, of what scientific consensus is, and even in whether someone is likely to believe an expert’s opinion.

The Cultural Cognition Project at Yale Law School: http://www.culturalcognition.net/

Commentary: Psychic Kids – A&E began airing the second season of a show called Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal this November. On the show, children with emotional and psychological problems are given “help” by psychics and mediums, all while being taped to sell to audiences.

Most of the supposed “experts” on the show have little professional experience working with troubled children, and all of them are invested in entrenching the kids that they really are being visited by ghosts or possess psychic powers.

This show demonstrates the harm of unscientific thinking, and takes advantage of the misery of children for a profit.

Skepchick’s letter-writing campaign to end Psychic Kids: http://skepchick.org/blog/2010/11/psychic-kids-letter-writing-campaign-edition/

News – HCC’s Ex-President Dies, World AIDS Day, Metropolitan Museum of Art Trip, Winter Wonderland Ball

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Continuum 31

2010-11-17T22:56:00.004-05:00

Executive Positions / Canvassing / Guilty of Date Rape? / Bridgeport's Beloved Socialist

Jaclyn Willis, played by Shamorrow Bember, tells the court the story of the night she was allegedly raped.
Photograph by Brandon T. Bisceglia

Visit the Continuum web page

Student Senate Updates: Executive Positions/Canvassing - For most of the semester, the Student Senate has operated without most of its executive positions. That finally changed on Nov. 4, when Treasurer Konrad Mazurek became acting President and senator Juleen Moreno was voted as acting Secretary.

The Student Senate also decided to hold a special meeting the following Thursday in response to concerns that the Community Action Network (CAN) had possibly violated certain rules and policies during a demonstration the club held on Oct. 27 to promote Democratic Congressional candidate Jim Himes when he and his opponent, Republican Dan Debicella, were at the college for a debate.

Interview: Guilty of Date Rape? - On Nov. 3, HCC's Women's Center and the Performing Arts club cosponsored a production of No Witness, a play that explores the complexities of date rape. Twelve audience members are selected as jurors to render a verdict in the fictional court battle over whether a young man overstepped the line.

This Week in History: Bridgeport's Beloved Socialist - Jasper McLevy was mayor of Bridgeport for 24 years, from 1933 to 1957. He was also a prominent member of the Socialist Party. He was a closer friend to Republicans than Democrats, and was eventually criticized for being too fiscally conservative in city affairs.

McLevy's relationship with the city was deeply intertwined with his sometimes battered identity as a lifelong Socialist. Bridgeport also changed dramatically under his stewardship.

News – Jewish Culture, Frosty the Snowman, Mr. HCC, Musical Talent Show, Toys for Tots, Music Lessons

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Continuum 30: Student Senate / STATWAY / Extracurricular Activities / Yale School of Medicine

2010-11-10T08:58:00.003-05:00

Visit the Continuum website

Graphic courtesy of actiononaccess.org.

News: FOE Meeting Times, Gettysburg Trip, Ernest Newton, NYC Trip, Music Lessons

Student Senate Updates: The Student Senate continued a painfully slow growth process at its Oct. 21 meeting, inducting its fifth member, Business major Melissa Silver.

The Student Senate also took votes on allocating funds for clubs who had not supplied a budget proposal before the Spring semester deadline. Proposal deadlines had been reopened until Oct. 14.

Most clubs got what they asked for without too much question. The Photography Club, however, was flat-funded $2,000 after several items on their proposal were rejected. The club had been asking for nearly $5,000, nearly twice what any other club had received.

The Art Club was left in the same position, though their initial request was slightly lower.

The clubs may still receive the rest of the funding that they requested. Part of the reason that the Student Senate voted for flat-funding was that the budget proposals were, in Mazurek’s words, “messy.”

Interview: STATWAY – HCC’s Math Department has begun test-piloting a new program for developmental math students that shifts the focus of their studies from algebra to statistics. The program is called STATWAY, and was formulated by the Carnegie Foundation. If all goes well, the college will begin teaching the new program in 2011. The goal then will be to change the way that developmental math is taught in community colleges across the country.

Host Brandon T. Bisceglia speaks about the program with Mathematics Professor Theodora Benezra, who is heading up the research and development team at HCC.

Commentary: Extracurricular Activities – Ever since Beacon Hall opened in 2008, HCC’s enrollment has been increasing. Along with that expansion has come an added demand for more extracurricular events and activities.

Several groups have excelled at meeting this demand. They deserve a bit of praise for that success.

This Week in History: Yale School of Medicine – In November of 1813, the Medical Institute of Yale College opened its doors, making it the first school in Connecticut for the formal training of physicians. The Institute, which would blossom into the now-famous Yale School of Medicine, was the product of a unique agreement between the college and the State.

- Medicine at Yale, presented by the Harvey Cushing/John Jay Whitney Medical Library

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Life after School

2010-10-24T18:04:00.002-04:00

By Wesley Collazo
Staff Writer

While the future is full of possibilities, it is always important to remember that success will be met with challenges. By preparing for those challenges, we can place ourselves on the path toward achievement.
Image courtesy of www.yapa.org.au.

The traditional design of school goes like this: get good grades, get into a great college, graduate with a degree and boom! You are now in the career you have always wanted.

However, this is a misconception from beginning to end. Many students are “lucky” or fortunate with the fact that success or a career comes at an early age. For others it is a constant struggle not just after graduation, but throughout their entire education, even starting as far back as high school. Many businesses are in a slump with the economic state, and so many jobs are not available. Trying to master life, career and business today is a struggle, and for many it will be an even bigger uphill battle.

Building a future from your college education is not as easy as it once was. The state of the world is making it difficult for young entrepreneurs to succeed. Students across the nation pour so much into a college education, striving to achieve that career that they have dreamt of since elementary school, in return only running into road blocks that no one could ever anticipate.

For example, as a communications major, my ultimate goal/dream is to open a successful public relations firm that serves to the masses across the board. Realistically, this will be a challenge.

Without selling myself short, I still realize that my dream may never happen. I am fine with that.

However, many students I have observed seem determined to conquer their field. They end up getting so consumed in being successful, that in return they are actually losing the battle. To help, one thing that needs to be addressed is the perception of achievement when you finally receive your college degree. Going through school I was always told, "go to college, receive that degree and you will be successful". Seem a bit far-fetched? To say the least!

There are ways to make the transition into your career easier. One way is to experience the inevitable struggles you will face in the future, through others today. For instance, I have joined forces with an up and coming clothing line business that is in its early stages. I work to help them develop their audience, and shed light on their products as a whole. It is a struggle to have all the ducks in order, but I see this as an opportunity that can potentially help me out in the near future.

Having a firsthand view of the struggle to establish a business, I can live vicariously through my employers, and learn to better prepare myself for the hard times I may face when I work towards a business of my own.

Because of this, I have realized that not only what I learn in classrooms will help me in the future, but that ultimately, having experience is the vital ingredient to success. I now know that mapping out a plan ahead of time before entering college will be highly beneficial when you are gearing up for the start of your career.

Continuum 29: Special - Politics in Connecticut

2010-10-20T09:55:00.003-04:00

Visit the Continuum page

Graphic courtesy of ctlocalpolitics.net

With the 2010 elections only a few weeks away, host Brandon T. Bisceglia tells stories from the campaign trail revealing the ways in which Connecticut politicians interact with the people, the press, and each other.

Part 1: The Narrative of Rick Torres

Part 2: Poll Fables

Part 3: A Stolen Laugh

Part 4: An Honest Ad

Part 5: Negativity

Part 6: Lawsuits Don’t Matter

Part 7: Millions of Dollars for You

Continuum 28: Behind the HCC Library / Boughton & the Tea Party / Pandemic Flu in Bridgeport

2010-10-12T10:06:00.003-04:00

Visit the Continuum website

Library Associate Jennifer Falasco carefully applies a special glue to the binding of a book that has begun to fall apart.
Photograph by Brandon T. Bisceglia.

Part 1: News – HCC Museum Closing, Veteran’s Center Move, Women’s Opportunities in Math/Science, Men’s Center Open House, ECE Food & Clothing Drive, CJ Club Presents Sarah Tyman, World Music Performance, Psychology Information Sessions, Salem Trip, Transfer Fair

Part 2: Behind the HCC Library – Host Brandon T. Bisceglia speaks with Library Associate Jennifer Falasco to find out how HCC’s library gets and keeps track of its books. Falasco also discusses her lifelong background with libraries, as well as some of the differences between public libraries and academic libraries.

Part 3: Boughton and the Tea Party – Last week Democratic State Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo criticized Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor Mark Boughton because of several Tea Party rallies he’s attended. Boughton’s association with these groups represents a tightening alignment between Republicans and tea party groups – a relationship that may have both positive and negative impacts on the two factions.

Part 4: Pandemic Flu in Bridgeport – On October 11, 1918, pandemic influenza was reported to have infected 147 Bridgeport residents within 24 hours, and had killed the city’s police commissioner. It was the height of the worst flu outbreak the city – and the world – had ever seen. That same day, a new committee was formed to staunch the spread of the disease in Bridgeport. The efforts would come too late for the pandemic, but would inform public health policies into the twenty-first century.

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Continuum 27: Club Budgets / Institutional Research / Blasphemy / The Death of County Government

2010-10-05T09:56:00.004-04:00

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Part 1: News – Author Sergio Troncoso, Safe is Sexy, Madonna y El Niño, SCORE

Part 2: Student Senate Updates – The September 23 meeting of the Student Senate produced a lively discussion about the process of securing club budgets, resulting in an extension of budget applications until October 14.

Part 3: Institutional Research – HCC’s official student count for the Fall 2010 semester was 6,197, another all-time enrollment record in a string of records that have mounted since Beacon Hall opened in 2008. Director of Institutional Research Jan Schaeffler talks about the meanings behind the numbers, her dual jobs as researcher and teacher, and other projects she’s working on.

Part 4: Blasphemy - September 30 is International Blasphemy Rights Day. The benefits of the right to blaspheme include the unimpeded dissemination of scientific discoveries, freedom of religious choice, and are even tied closely to the ability to criticize government.

Part 5: The Death of County Government – On October 1, 1960, the Connecticut General Assembly formally abolished the last vestiges of the state’s county government, making it the first in the country to do so. This level of government, though integral to the original formation of the colony, slowly turned into an ineffectual shell of its former self.

East Coast Residents Should Anticipate Large Earthquakes

2010-10-04T16:26:00.004-04:00

By Michael Bednarsky
Arts & Entertainment Editor

The Atlantic Northeast might one day be an infamous victim of Mother Nature.
Courtesy of www.datpiff.com

We live in the New York metropolitan region. Most of us are ignorant of the different routines of those who are far away, certainly with weather. When we think of California, for instance, the idea conjured up consists of beautiful girls, beaches, medical cannabis, and earthquakes.

Be sure to ponder that last one: earthquakes. There are several scientific studies regarding California's literal connection to the remainder of the United States; one day it will separate, and plate tectonics are mainly to blame.

A lot of people around here will go about their day at the usual rushed pace without much thought about earthquakes, but they would have to think again. We are overdue for an earthquake: a damaging, malevolent, and terrain-rearranging earthquake. Not “we” as in Bridgeport, or even the state of Connecticut. “We” as in the entire East Coast, combining New England, the Tri-State Area and even Canada.

Last June, a minor earthquake occurred between Ontario and Quebec, which trickled down into upstate New York, reaching all five boroughs of New York City. According the NY1 News Channel, the earthquake lasted for only thirty seconds, with a magnitude of 5.5. For some, this brought fears connected to their memories of 9/11.

Clearly, we are not impenetrable, but my how fortunate we have been with earthquakes! On the other hand, we have had our run-ins with hurricanes. The most-destructive hurricane for us was the “Long Island Express” hurricane (also known as the “Great New England Hurricane”), back in 1938. Places like the aforementioned California deal with natural disasters frequently, and midwestern states like Kansas take pride in the weather dilemmas that formed their history.

We, however, have a slate that has been sparsely tarnished. In 2008, New York Magazine announced that is it only a matter time before we have another issue, noting that New York's worst earthquake was near the Rockaway Peninsula, in the borough of Queens. This was in 1884, with a magnitude of 5. Another dilemma like this, especially in Manhattan, would cause financial setbacks that would deteriorate the environment and universal image of the location for some time.

We are less likely to be attacked by Mother Nature through earthquakes mainly because of the landscape. There's a reason why Western states are more prone to being hit. Earthquakes are caused by tectonic plates rubbing against each other, which perpetuate pressure, and the eventual split of the Earth's surface.

Parts of California are located on either the Pacific plate or the North American plate; the whole state is exposed to a fault line (the infamous San Andreas fault), making the ground a larger threat than in other areas. Los Angeles, one of California's many legendary cities, is about only fifty kilometers from the San Andreas fault, with smaller fault lines through the metropolis as well. After absorbing these details, it's obvious why the West Coast has a surplus of earthquake events.

It is near-impossible to guarantee when another earthquake will take place on the East Coast. A journalist is not well-equipped enough to predict it, unless there's a heavy interest and experience with weather present. With me, this is not the case; I am only delivering a cautionary announcement of what is to come.

Do not fear the future, though. When a state like California can work through natural disasters with ease, there is no reason why we cannot follow suit.

Any thing that happens will be worth talking about, and if an intense earthquake here is in my lifetime, the first thing I will remember will be writing of this article. Until then, I will enjoy or at least tolerate the weather near my residence, and patiently wait for the potential headline news.

Beyond Face Value

2010-10-04T16:17:00.003-04:00

By Tori Centopanti
Editor-in-Chief

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org

“Lock jaw.”

I was branded with that dreadful nickname in high school. To my dismay, it caught on like wildfire and it stuck.

It didn’t even make any sense since it literally means what it says: a locked jaw - being physically unable to open your jaw. On the contrary: I’ve been called a loudmouth and told
I don’t know when to shut up.

The reason people teased me was that my lower jaw—and teeth—noticeably protruded out further than the upper. A birth defect I had absolutely no control over.

Girls were ferociously cruel about it.

A lot of them would ask if I had been punched in the face. No matter what my rebuttal, their grand solution was to “pop” my jaw “back into place.”

I would ask why they hated me so much. Surely I must have done something wrong to incur their wrath. The answer was always the same: “I just don’t like you.” Once, a girl even wrote “you’re ugly” in every page of my notebook when I wasn’t looking.

So much for sugar and spice and everything nice.

Nothing ever escalated in physical violence, but it was always a possibility. I had seen plenty of other girls get into nasty, ruthless fights—both on and off school property. One day, as students made their way to the buses, I watched as my main antagonizer seized another girl by the arm, flipped her into the air and slammed her backside into the pavement.

It all happened in less than two seconds. The only thought going through my mind was, “That could’ve been me. What if that had been me?”

It was a real-life production of “Mean Girls,” except more brutal and heartless. I lived in a near-constant state of fear.

Some of my tormentors went so far as to approach me in public and threaten to beat me up, right then and there. I couldn’t ignore someone who was in my face, hoping they would go away. I didn’t want to ignite any violence, but I also didn’t want to seem weak.

So I did the only thing I could think of: I reasoned with them. I debated that I had done nothing to offend or wrong them in any way; that there was absolutely no reason for us to fight.

It worked every time.

But I still dreaded going to school, a place I should have felt safe. School officials did nothing to alleviate the situation and I knew that I might not be able to talk myself out of every confrontation. Walking around town with my friends gave me anxiety—adding to the stress my mind and body were already under.

From a stranger’s perspective, the only things my jaw affected were my confidence and self-esteem. Little did they know that was the very least of my problems.

The real trouble began in sixth grade. I felt nauseated almost every day, a pattern that continued well into high school. I’d get acid reflux and heartburn no matter what I did. By the age of 20 I had a stomach ulcer, which is most common among senior citizens.

I couldn’t do anything that involved running because it made me feel sick and I had trouble breathing. My grades in gym class slipped and I stopped trying. I became a regular in the nurse’s office.

At first nobody believed me, not even my own mother. Everyone thought I was faking, because let’s face it, that’s what kids do. My underbite was normal up until middle school, when the misalignment of my jaw visually presented itself and then grew more pronounced.

But it wasn’t until I started high school that I was officially diagnosed with mandibular prognathism, which simply means that the lower jaw projects out farther than the upper. My orthodontist explained that since the mouth is the beginning of the entire digestive system, having a severe prognathism—like I did—ultimately led to medical and dental problems.

At just 14 years old, I decided that something drastic had to be done. That’s when I discovered orthognathic surgery, better known as corrective jaw surgery.

I wanted the surgery. But ultimately I needed it.

Preparation for the surgery was much longer than I had anticipated and my patience wore thin.

I wore braces for over four years and had all of my wisdom teeth extracted at once. The latter resulted in a rare complication: an abscess—a type of infection—developed in my throat, which almost completely closed up. I made it to the hospital just in time.

I figured if I could survive that, I could handle the hurdles that lay ahead of me. How wrong and naïve I was.

I underwent corrective jaw surgery in February 2008, and recovery turned out to be a more grueling process than I had imagined. I was the picture of misery. My jaw was wired shut for five weeks. I couldn’t talk or eat. Breathing and sleeping were practically impossible tasks.

I felt as if I had been through hell and back enough times to qualify for a frequent visitor pass. But in the end, every horrifying second was worth it.

I was certain that once I had the surgery, my “lock jaw” would be old news and the bullying would stop.

Once again, I was proven wrong.

Rumors that I had facial cosmetic surgery began circulating. I was appalled that anybody would say something so cruel and ignorant without any facts or proof.

I can’t lie: the surgery did improve my looks, but that was just icing on the cake. The most significant benefits I experienced were medical—not aesthetic.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeries’ website states that “While the patient’s appearance may be dramatically enhanced as a result of their surgery, orthognathic surgery is performed to correct functional problems.”

I’m living proof of this.

I can properly chew and swallow my food now, a simple feat that so many people take for granted. I’m finally able to eat food I’d been physically unable to before, like steak. My breathing has vastly improved and I run regularly for exercise—without getting sick.

I truly believe that my experiences have made me stronger and more open-minded, and I am grateful for that.

Not everything is at it appears, but most of us rely on sight as our main perception of the world around us. We can help it, though, if we try. A conscious effort has to be made to not judge a book by its cover, because everyone has a story worth telling.

Next time you see someone and find yourself making assumptions about them, or tearing them down in your mind, stop. Take a few seconds to think of how you’d feel if you were in their shoes. Teasing someone about their appearance and calling them names may seem innocent, normal and even amusing at times, but when you’re on the receiving end of it the fun stops.

It’s our differences as human beings that make life interesting. No two people in this world are exactly the same. Shouldn’t we celebrate that?

Let’s Save Water One Drop at a Time

2010-09-29T02:47:00.002-04:00

By Sania Mathakutha
Staff Writer

We drink, we bathe, we flush, we swim, we wash, we splash, and we cook. Imagine one day without running water.

Especially clean safe drinking water. Water is one of the most important nutrients in the body and since it has no calories it might possibly be a significant factor in loosing weight and being healthy. Cells in our bodies depend on water to function. Without water the body begins to get dehydrated, your mouth can become dry, your eyes stop producing tears, and you might experience muscle cramps. Water is also needed for respiration and converting food into energy. To meet our food demand, farmers need water to grow crops. Without sufficient water, food prices go higher.

“Economically, why are people spending money on water when you can get it for free? The first step is to use reusable water bottles and fill them up in school,” says Professor of Mathematics Marina Philips, who advices HCC’s Friends of the Environment club. “You could also reduce the amount of time you spend in the shower to save water.”

Our civilization uses water as though we have limitless amounts of it. We run the tap just to get the water to our desired temperature before we use it. We do not stop and consider all the water that goes down the drain for no purpose.

Justin Szygiel, a student at HCC says, “It’s sad but unavoidable” when he sees people opening faucets and letting them run for no purpose.

Because of the drought that Connecticut is experiencing, fire dangers are at a high because of insufficient water. According to an article in the Darien Times fromAugust, Governor Jodi Rell issued a drought advisory for Connecticut.

“We are not in an emergency situation, but it is important for people to take sensible steps to stretch our water supply,” Governor Rell was quoted as saying. “I am asking all Connecticut residents to use common sense and to avoid unnecessary water usage such as watering lawns, washing cars at home or running ornamental fountains. While current water supplies are adequate across much of the state. I urge all residents and businesses to please cooperate with your local water utilities and follow their recommendations.”

Saving water should not feel like a sacrifice; when you save water, you are conserving it for the future. Water covers a majority of the earth and provides it with the ability to support life. Organisms don’t have to be told twice about the importance of water for their survival, existence and reproduction. Amphibians lay their eggs in water so that they can reproduce. Even flies understand the importance of water because they lay their eggs in it. Without water, organisms would not exist.

Using reusable water bottles puts money back in your pockets and saves the environment at the same time. Most bottles are never recycled - they end up in landfills, oceans or on the side of the road. Bottled water is not healthier or tastier then tap water. However, if you feel like you need to filter your water before drinking it, you could either buy a water filter for your tap, or a filter pitcher.

According to Professor of Biology Sandra Barnes, students collected water from several fountains at the campus last year, which she tested for microbes.

“Because the water is chlorinated, the bacterial count was very low,” she says. “The water coming through the drinking fountains is very safe – possibly better than bottled water.”

Never take water for granted. In a survival situation, having or not having water can be a matter of life or death. The human body can survive weeks without food, but can not last that long without water.

The majority of diseases in the developing world are water related. Many are because of poor management of human excreta. Some countries in the developing world rely on water from rivers and steams that can be contaminated by septic tanks and municipal sewage. The most common disease is Diarrhea, which is caused by contaminated water. According to the World Health Organization, Diarrhea killed 2.2 million people in 1998. Water is our main source of hygiene. So if you have water to flush your toilet, count yourself as one of the most privileged people in the world.

People turn on the sink and let water run as if it’s nothing valuable, forgetting the intensive labor someone had to go through for that miracle to happen. The question is, where would you be without water?

Easy Ways to save Water

· Use reusable water bottles and refill them at school or at home.
· Turn the water off while washing hands, brushing teeth, shaving and washing dishes
· Take shorter showers
· Cut down your laundry load by doing laundry at least once a week once you have a full load.
· Replace dripping faucets and pipes because every drop counts.

Continuum 26: Why We Needed the Constitution / Off-Peak Students / Long Island Express Hurricane

2010-09-24T09:38:00.001-04:00

Part 1: News & Events - Bridgeport Library Book Sale, The Big E, Banned & Challenged Books, Read Aloud Day, Record Enrollment

Part 2: Why We Needed the Constitution – History Professor Dave Koch’s presentation at the Events Center in celebration of Constitution Day on September 17 tells about some of the major ideas and events that led the United States from independence, to the Articles of Confederation, and finally to a Constitutional Convention.

Part 3: Night & Weekend Students: Many of HCC’s services are only open during traditional daytime hours. Many more activities take place during the day. This leaves night and weekend students underserved and unable to participate in many aspects of student life – a position that is unfair, given that they constitute one of the community college’s target demographics, and that they end up paying for college functions that they cannot use.

Part 4: The “Long Island Express” Hurricane: On September 21, 1938, a category three hurricane plowed across Long Island and slammed into Connecticut, centering between Bridgeport and New Haven. It was the single worst natural disaster to strike the state in recorded history.

Continuum 25: Student Senate Shortage/FEMA/Connecticut’s First Constitution

2010-09-16T22:30:00.002-04:00

Part 1: Events

Part 2: Student Senate Updates – Recruiting Senators, HCC Foundation, Budget Estimates, Revision of Constitution & Bylaws

Part 3: Student Senate Shortage – Many students who served on HCC’s Student Senate last semester have either graduated or moved on to other activities. Only three members were left to run the group’s September 9 meeting. Host Brandon T. Bisceglia speaks with Director of Student Activities Linda Bayusik and Student Senate Treasurer Konrad Mazurek about the push to recruit new senators, and why they feel the Senate is important.

Part 4: News – Albertus Magnus Transfer Agreement, HCC Crime Statistics, Himes Internships

Part 4: FEMA - Last Friday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied Connecticut’s request for federal assistance for losses incurred by the June 24 storm that produced a tornado that ripped through Bridgeport’s downtown area. The denial reveals inequities inherent in FEMA’s policies, and questions about its overall usefulness.

Part 5: Connecticut’s First Constitution – On September 15, 1818, Connecticut Governor Oliver Wolcott signed the final draft of Connecticut’s first post-colonial constitution.
- Connecticut Constitutional History, By Wesley W. Horton

Continuum Website

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Continuum 24: News/Off to the Americorps/Stem Cells/Benedict Arnold

2010-09-08T19:35:00.001-04:00

Continuum is inaugurating the new school year with a new format! Join host Brandon T. Bisceglia as he delivers news, interviews, and stories related to Housatonic Community College and Connecticut as a whole.

Part 1 - News and Events: Dean of Outreach/Vietnam Course/Welcome Back Party/Clubs/The Big E Trip

Part 2 - Off to the Americorps: Former Student Senate Vice President Chad Hunter discusses his time at the college and his decision to take a year off to serve the Americorps in California, as well as the drive to serve one’s community.

Part 3 - Stem Cell Commentary: A federal judge recently ordered a temporary ban on public funding for embryonic stem cell research, because of a law passed by Congress in 1996. Connecticut has its own laws that have created clear guidelines for the acquisition of embryonic stem cells, and may serve as a model for updated federal legislation.

Part 4 - This Week in History - Benedict Arnold: On September 6, 1781, Connecticut native and infamous traitor Benedict Arnold led British forces onto shore at the port of New London, in one of the worst battles to occur in the state during the American Revolutionary War.

Click on the button below to listen now!

Finding the Equation

2010-05-24T10:28:00.004-04:00

By Horizons Staff

A video answering questions about how to successfully juggle community college life and other obligations.

Continuum 23: Education Documentary

2010-05-19T18:21:00.001-04:00

To fulfill a requirement for HCC’s Honors Program, Nursing major Meoba Nsenga filmed a documentary in which she interviewed students, teachers, and administrators at several area high schools and from HCC. Host Brandon T. Bisceglia asks Nsenga about her experiences with the American educational system, and what she learned making her documentary.

Holistically Balanced

2010-05-17T10:09:00.005-04:00

By Desirae Williams
Staff Writer

Ever think of connecting with yourself on a deeper level? Of being able to listen to signals from your body? Or the emotions that your heart felt? Or even the simplest, yet most peculiar ideas that arise from your mind?

Have you ever thought about how this unique relationship, seemingly, works together without your conscious awareness? After so many questions, it is well to know that your thoughts may have answers if you take the initiative to redirect your life in a more holistic manner; focusing on the relationship between your heart, mind, and body.

Many individuals face a point in their lives when they seem to plateau, finding it hard to juggle responsibilities and what they ultimately want to enjoy out of this life. However, it’s better late than never to find some equilibrium in our lives, and to finally start appreciating it in a whole new way. Always remember that greater awareness of the complexities of our nature can help shape who we want to become in the future.

The first step would be to recognize this balance—mind, body, and soul—and that it can lead to higher achievements in life. Healthyliving.org provides multiple links to nothing but nurturing well-being sites. Concurrently, their mission stands by the holistic approach to life’s more bleak moments. They urge the understanding of simple things in life as a way of coping with hardships or appreciating what our rewards are.

Be smart, realize that healthy living is about understanding how your emotions can affect your thinking, and how your health can affect your body. When an aspect of your life is off balance- you have a cold, you’re upset after an argument- it usually affects something else; how you can complete homework assignments? If left to its own devices, any unbalanced lifestyle can lead to complications.

The connection between physical health and mental health makes them whole, and each part is of equal importance.

There are exercises that can enhance your physiology as well as your mind. Yoga, a callisthenic, has gained popularity amongst celebrity clients and people who swear by the harmonious lifestyle it promotes. The elements of this routine are a combination of physical postures, specialized breathing techniques, and meditation to promote relaxation. Although there isn’t any definitive evidence that states the health conditions that yoga combats, it is said to reduce stress levels, heart rate and blood pressure, as well as increasing lung capacity and mood.

The Community Health Network of CT knows firsthand that it is imperative to make exercise a part of the daily routine and created a statewide initiative called, “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” to back its mission. It strives to educate the community through annual, daylong events that promote healthier foods, activity plans, and an overall well-being as a lifestyle, according to www.chnct.org. The design behind this program is another element of making balanced decisions.

A nutritional regimen is also a key component in maintaining a wholesome balance. According to Mayoclinic.com, it is recommended to intake as much fruits, vegetables, and whole grains as possible. The site urges people to formulate a meal plan that consists of balanced consumption of salts, sugars, dairy, and meats which contribute to overall health. The food pyramid, also known as MyPyramid, is strategically shaped and organized with the most important focus of the diet towards the base and the less frequent food items towards the top.

“It’s hard for me to eat the food that is supposed to be healthier because I don’t have a lot of time to plan,” Katherine Clark, General Studies major said. This is a common plight amongst everyone, and can be transformed, if a little effort is applied, to make a bigger difference in the end.

Focusing on how to live life more holistically and within awareness of one’s self, can be as simple as changing the food that is eaten or the level of activity that you participate in.

Attempting to address any imbalance will uncover the greater potential in us. As we begin to feel more control over our lives and health, it can make everything fall into order and bring forth the greater good in every situation.

“Changing my diet might be hard, but if it means becoming more balanced, I’m down to try,” said Clark.

Getting Registration Right

2010-05-15T05:35:00.005-04:00

By the Horizons Staff

In this video, we attempt to give HCC students a walkthrough of Lafayette Hall to show them where to sign-up for classes and the best course of action to take in getting courses. Included are interviews with staff of the Financial Aid office and Academic Advising Center.

The Whole Foods Story

2010-05-10T12:14:00.000-04:00

By Deb Torrreso
Outreach Editor

Fast food; what a concept! There was nothing fast about watching a carrot grow, but I don’t think making crops grow faster was the idea behind it. It had more to do with meeting the changing lifestyles of consumers and their needs. People are spending more time out of the home which ultimately leaves less time to shop for and prepare meals.

The family experience of buying food from farms and local distributors, and sitting down together over a home-cooked meal has been replaced for many by grabbing a bite here and there, while connecting with loved ones via cell phone or texting. This devolution was unavoidable. The problem is that no one saw the long term danger to our health as a result of this lifestyle.

While fresh foods were the better health choice, they had to be consumed in a timely fashion; busy lifestyles were making it more difficult to do that. A viable option was to create foods that could be stored until someone had the time to prepare them. TV dinners and the microwave solved that problem. At the same time, in order to create a fast food industry and provide the convenience of keeping foods on hand longer, foods would have to be modified in some way.

One of the processes to make this possible would be the making of Trans fats-a process called hydrogenation (adding hydrogen to vegetable oil). This substance has since been used in the manufacturing of foods, allowing them to stay fresh longer and have a longer shelf life. Trans fats are found in many snacks and fast foods. Unfortunately, the effect of ingesting these fats on a regular basis can be devastating as it can raise cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease.

It seemed like the world around food started moving at a faster and more competitive pace; mass production, packaging and marketing all played a role in the quality, or lack thereof, of the food we were putting in our bodies. Many of us didn’t realize the toll it took on the industry to develop new methods for food consumption.

A movie called Food, Inc. is as disturbing as it is informational as it takes us on a ride through the modern farming communities, examining the mistreatment of animals. Many farms have to administer antibiotics and steroids in order to keep animals alive under unhealthy conditions, and to “plump them up” for mass production.

Among many other issues, the movie takes a peak at the process of making packaged hamburgers. The producers report that hamburgers contain meat filler (which is used to create more product) after which it is cleaned with ammonia to eliminate the possibility of the E-coli bacteria. This process has itself actually become a competitive market. You can find more information at takepart.com/foodinc.

While many of the food industry’s dark secrets are surfacing, there is a light on the horizon as a result of it. There is a lot of buzz out there right now about healthy nutrition. There are informational books, classes, CD’s, and seminars popping up all over the place. Careers are being created in health coaching and counseling, and at the very least, there is an overdue awareness that if pursued, promises positive results.

Many people in communities are giving their time and energy to help change the nutrient-lacking path so many people are on by starting with America’s kids. British Chef Jamie Oliver is intent on “changing the way America eats.” He has been working within the school system of West Virginia to educate the kids, as well as the adults, in the benefits of eating more whole foods such as fruits and vegetables.

The country has witnessed Oliver slowly progress from being ridiculed by the naysayers, who believe there is not enough time and money to create healthy, proportioned meals, to evoking tears from appreciative parents and kids.

Don’t forget, kids eat what we let them. Their habits and behaviors are instilled from an early age and if no one tries to help change that, they may become overweight and unhealthy. Oliver proved his insights could arrest some of the thinking that leads to those behaviors - but it wasn’t easy.

For some kids, realizing they wanted to change this self-destructive habit was a painful experience; many of them had never gained the knowledge or support they needed to understand there were options.

Connecticut is following Oliver’s lead with a movement that is sweeping its way through Fairfield County to promote better health and wellness through exercise and nutrition.

Obviously, it’s easier to follow a healthy lifestyle if it’s started at a young age. Bringing this awareness to the school system is a crucial piece of the puzzle. A staunch supporter of this premise is Amie Haul, Director at From Your Inside Out. Haul teaches workshops using a new concept called Square Foot Gardening.

The kids learn to build a 4foot by 4 foot wood structure, divided into square-foot beds of organic soil. Haul teaches them what and how to plant. For example: as the beans grow up she has the kids build a trellis; and so on.

Haul believes in teaching kids better health by exposing them to growing their own foods, and understanding the value of eating foods that have not traveled long distances to reach the supermarkets. She wants to share with them the enjoyment of watching the vegetables and herbs grow, and to show the connection to how it affects their environment. The opportunity has been provided in part by Family Consumer Sciences (FCS), which is likened to “home economic” class.

According to Haul, building the gardens not only helps with woodworking skills, but helps to expand the abilities acquired for mathematics, history, sociology and spelling. There is also a positive by-product in that the kids are experiencing “the feeling of community and caring for something,” Haul said. “It’s really about getting people connected to each other, their food, the community and the land.”

Haul sees this project as a useful tool in life for these young people. Not only do students learn how to start and tend a garden; she also provides cooking classes where she demonstrates how meals can be made with these whole foods.

Fortunately adults are rethinking their eating habits as well. Parents, along with health care professionals are more aware of the positive effect good nutrition can have on health and lifestyle, and as a result are setting new examples by making changes in their own lives.

Yoga instructor Patti Tower, of Laughter with Yoga (www.thehappyyogini.com) has been slowly changing her eating habits over the last four years. She never thought she would give up certain foods like onion rings, but now she prepares the majority of her own food and eats very little processed and packaged foods-and no fast food.

“My advice to people just starting out is to drink a large glass of water 30 minutes before eating meals and chew food slowly and completely,” Tower said.

While changing one’s lifestyle can be a stressful option, taking control in even a small way could start someone down a path that leads to better health. Doing as little as replacing one unhealthy food with one healthy food, buying produce locally, and reading labels at the grocery stores to determine the fat and sugar content, are just some ways to make a big difference.

You can find more information as well as lists of farmers’ markets in your area at the following sites:
Northeast Organic Farming Association, (NOFA) www.nofa.org
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) www.farfresh.org/food/csa and www.csa.com

Good Luck and Think “Health!!”

Sports and Our Youth

2010-05-08T06:21:00.003-04:00

By Veronica Pagan
Staff Writer

Bridgeport Raiders vs Danbury Vikings at Danbury's home field.
Photo by Veronica Pagan.

Any time you turn on the news there is talk of child obesity and other health risks to young people. Yet within the community there are sports offered to youth that can help keep them physically fit and academically motivated.

Pop Warner Football League was established in Bridgeport in 1987. The Pop Warner website states their goal is to inspire youth in the ideals of sportsmanship, scholarship and physical fitness.

Bridgeport Pop Warner is a branch from Pop Warner Little Scholars, which is a non-profit organization in its 77th year. According to the Pop Warner site, their staff consists of volunteers and coaches who are trained to offer the best and safest programs for youth.

In southern Connecticut, there are 20 different teams offering football for children between the ages of 5 and 14.

Their practices start in August, before school starts. They usually are Mondays and Fridays during the summer. When classes start the practices are three times a week for one hour for the 5-9 year olds and two hours for the 10-14 year olds. The practices are held at Newfield Park.

My 6-year-old son, Eugene Barros Pagan, is a former player for the 2009 Season of the Bridgeport Raiders and a current player of T-ball for the Indians. He enjoys playing sports.

“I love football and baseball, I love running and scoring points, and I like making new friends,” he says.

For those who feel that football is a rough sport for children, there is always baseball. The season just started for the North End Little League (NELL), which was founded by Nell Carter in 1954.

Indians vs Marlins. A T-ball game at the NELL field.
Photo by Veronica Pagan.

Their practices are held half an hour before the games. The games are on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The games are held at the NELL field.

2010 League Information Officer Steve Bailer says, “This program teaches our youth respect and loyalty and good family values. This can also rub off on the families who may not have had such an experience as a youth.”

“The volunteers, parents, and youth who participate in the program are willing to put their time in. Others are reluctant at first, but once the season starts they don’t regret participating,” says Bailer.

For more information about NELL baseball, visit http://www.eteamz.com/NorthendLL/
nellbridgeport@yahoo.com. To learn more about Pop Warner in Bridgeport, contact Alvin O’Neal at o_neal_alvin@sbcglobal.net, or 203-400-3164.

Forensic Expert Shares Experience with Students

2010-05-04T01:33:00.002-04:00

By Kari Damato
Staff Writer

Dr. Henry Lee.
Photo by Kari Damato.

Dr. Henry C Lee, one of the world’s foremost forensic scientists spoke at HCC on April 28 about the role of forensic evidence in solving crimes, from ransom notes to designer shoes. Lee was a prominent figure in many of the most challenging cases in the last 45 years. A few of these cases include the O.J. Simpson trial, the JonBenet Ramsey murder, the Laci Peterson case and the murder of Helle Crafts, also known as the “woodchipper” murder. In addition, Lee has authored hundreds of articles in professional journals and co-authored more than 30 books.

Professor Samantha Mannion, coordinator of the criminal justice program and advisor to the Criminal Justice club, and Professor Joan Lloyd, the chemistry club advisor, thought that Lee would be the perfect speaker.

“Lee encompasses both the scientific expertise and criminal justice know-how. It will make the event the perfect cooperative effort between our two clubs,” said Mannion prior to Lee’s visit.

“We hope that students will come away from his presentation with a greater and more profound appreciation of the critical role that science plays in solving modern crime,” Mannion said. “Science is not perfect, but it has greatly narrowed the margin of error between guilt and innocence that has existed in law enforcement and our society for so long. Dr. Lee is an incredible engaging and entertaining speaker, and we are very pleased and excited to be hosting his presentation.”

Lee spoke in the events center, which was completely full. Immediately his great sense of humor and wittiness captured everyone’s attention. Lee said he came to this country “with $50.00 in my pocket and spoke no English, and now 30 years later I have lots of money but still don’t speak English.”

Throughout the seminar he handed out and even threw mini badges to people who answered questions correctly. As he spoke about the top 10 forensic scientists, he said, “He couldn’t believe the Chinese guy was number one [referring to himself].”

Lee started school in a community college, majoring in chemistry. After finishing school he was not able to attend his commencement because his family didn’t have money. He said he always kept in mind a saying he had learned: some people make things happen, some watch them happen, and others wonder what happened.

It was apparent that he would be the one to make things happen. He shared many photos from throughout his career, from his childhood, him receiving awards and being on talk shows.

Lee said, “This year no more talk shows, I am focusing more time on cases.”

He compared the show C.S.I and actual forensic work. He said the characters on C.S.I. never need warrants. “They carry a flashlight and find all the clues they are looking for, we have all different kinds of lighting and it’s hard to find clues with that,” he said. “C.S.I. also never shows any signs of stress or having to face the community, you need the public’s trust. It’s very important.”

Lee touched on a few of his more prominent cases, explaining his findings and what was involved. He related his different theories on the shooting of JFK. However, he said, “this is one case that will never be solved. When the original bullet was found, it was washed, removing all DNA.”

He concluded with information on the field of Forensics. “It has a lot to offer but it’s more important to find something you are good at and strive for your best,” he said

Lee stayed after the seminar for book signings and pictures.

Lee currently resides in Connecticut and is the Chief Emeritus for Scientific Services for the State of Connecticut and an occasional lecture professor of forensic science at the University of New Haven, where he has helped to set up the Henry C. Lee Forensic Institute. He is also a visiting professor at the East China University of Political Science and Law. Previously, he has served as Connecticut's Commissioner of Public Safety, the Director of the Connecticut State Police Forensic Science Laboratory, and as the state’s chief criminologist from 1979 to 2000.

For more information on Lee and to purchase his videos and/or books, visit http://www.drhenrylee.com.

“Defining Moments” for Art Department on Display

2010-04-30T11:01:00.002-04:00

By Tori Centopanti
Staff Writer

All photographs by Tori Centopanti.

An exhibit of faculty art work called “Defining Moments” made its debut in the Housatonic Museum of Art on April 7.

At the opening, over 40 pieces were on display and the smell of paint was still fresh in the air.

Paintings ranging from realistic to abstract adorned the walls, along with drawings, sculptures and photographs.

The pieces were chosen individually by each artist instead of by jury. This gave them the opportunity to showcase their best recent work.

The largest sculpture piece, titled “The Rusty Hinge,” was of an old door with chains wrapped around it and arms coming through. The artist is Art Program Coordinator and Professor of Graphic Design John Favret.

The piece was inspired by roadblocks he has personally encountered in life. “Some people really go head-to-head with somebody who’s unwilling to move out of the way,” he said. “I’m tired of banging heads.”

Favret’s paintings feature places he loves to visit. One depicts a dock with people swimming. Others are of a pastry shop and a pub, both located in New York where he used to live. All these were made using acrylic on canvas.

Professor Peter Rembetsy is the artist behind the other sculptures, which display lacrosse players and skateboarders. He captures the action of the sports with most of his models in mid-air and doing tricks.

Professor Andy Pinto said his paintings focus on “buildings that once symbolized the culture of America [that] are now eyesores waiting for demolition.”

He used acrylic on canvas to create a barn, brick wall, and diner. Another piece he submitted was of a bare tree made using graphite stick on paper.

“I feel that a painting is not a photograph; it should be the product of more information than one moment has to offer and should express a point of view,” Pinto said.

Professor Gus Moran’s works were among the most abstract of the pieces. All five paintings were made using oil on canvas and display people in various situations. They show a painter, a scribe, Indians, a woman on a taxi and a man standing on what appears to be wreckage.

Professor Tom Brenner’s pieces could be considered realism, but he adds abstract elements to them. He used unblended pastels on rough sandpaper to create the city scenes.

“I find inspiration in the urban landscape of Bridgeport, most especially in its decaying industrial architecture,” he said.

Professor Andrew Prayzner’s work displays two mug shots of captured drug smugglers with their faces pixilated beyond recognition. He used oil on canvas in order to blend the pictures to the desired effect.

“They have this dehumanizing, abstracting quality that shifts the portraits away from standard documentation and towards an overarching geometric abstraction that symbolizes a kind of power structure,” he said.

Other faculty artists that contributed include Juan Andreu, Jason Buening, Judy Corrigan, Carmine Picarello, Ernest Lopez, Tom Scippa, Stefanie Victor, Suzan Shutan and Janet Hayes.

Faculty art shows have been done annually for years, but this year was a little different. The art department is entering a new era, which is why the name “Defining Moments” was chosen.

When the previous art program coordinator, Ron Abbe, retired, Favret took his place beginning in the Fall 2009 semester. He has been making changes ever since.

Recently, several new adjunct professors have been brought in and many new classes are being offered to meet the needs of students. Even more classes will be added during the 2010-2011 academic year.

“For the first time all of our classes were full and that’s not typical,” Favret said. “We’re trying to expand what we offer but also raise the bar a little bit for the highest quality education we can give our students.”

The faculty’s exhibit may be over, but art lovers need not fear. The student’s art show will be on display in the Housatonic Museum of Art from April 29 until May 27.

The Treasures of Pleasure Beach

2010-04-26T02:44:00.000-04:00

By Brandon T. Bisceglia
Co-Editor in Chief

All photographs by Brandon T. Bisceglia.

Just a few yards across the water from Bridgeport Harbor lies another world.

A two-and-a-half mile peninsula juts from Point-No-Point in Stratford’s borough of Lordship out into Long Island Sound, where it widens from a sliver of sand into a swath of land large enough to have once held one of the country’s premier amusement parks.

These days, Pleasure Beach/Long Beach West is in many ways a shadow of its former
self.

In 1996, the wooden swing bridge that connected the beach to mainland Bridgeport caught fire. The bridge was the only way for vehicles to get back and forth; without it, residents had to walk across from Long Beach in Stratford, take a boat, or swim.

Over the course of a century before the fire, the Bridgeport-owned portion of the beach had been home to all kinds of entertainment projects. In 1892, the first incarnation of the amusement park was built. In the 1930’s, the Pleasure Beach Ballroom hosted world-famous big band acts such as Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman. Through the 1950’s and 60’s, the spot saw the construction of the original Polka Dot Playhouse, a roller skating rink, and other venues.

On the Stratford-owned half of the beach, over 40 cottages were built, many of which became so beloved by their owners that they continued to spend summers with their families at the getaways for years after the bridge burned and power lines began failing.

That’s all over now. The owners eventually gave up on the cottages as disagreements about money and the best use of the land between residents of both Stratford and Bridgeport caused both sides of the beach to languish in urban decay.

Scandal continues to characterize dealings surrounding Pleasure Beach/Long Beach West. Over the past few years, the now-abandoned cottages have been vandalized and looted, and a few of them burned to the ground in several cases of arson that still have not been solved.

In November 2008, Stratford residents voted overwhelmingly to sell their portion of Pleasure Beach to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for ten million dollars. The town agreed to do so under the conditions that the FWS remove the buildings, and that the area be maintained as a nature preserve that would be accessible to Stratford residents in perpetuity.

But that deal has soured, as the federal government has lowered its assessment of the property’s value and town officials have butted heads over who gets to lead any revitalization efforts.

Meanwhile, several of the structures on the Bridgeport side were knocked over by contractors without the city administration’s knowledge or approval in the fall of 2009. It was later discovered to have been okayed by the Fire Department. The wreckage still hasn’t been removed, and debates have sparked over whether it poses an even greater safety hazard than the dilapidated buildings did when they were standing.

Last month, the FWS constructed a temporary road from Long Beach so that workers could tear down the remaining cottages and haul away the wreckage.

But they’ll have to wait until the end of the summer to do it, because there are other residents on Long Beach West/Pleasure Beach. And they require some privacy.

That’s because they are protected species of birds, and their nesting area lies in the grasses along the shore.

During the warmer months, the beach is literally swarming. There are plenty of seagulls, of course. There are also least terns, a small bird that with a black eye stripe and white underbelly that can be seen diving for fish alongside the gulls.

The most famous inhabitants by far, however, are the piping plover. Walk for a few minutes near their territory, and you are bound to hear their unmistakable call: a single, short, high-pitched “pip.” You’ll probably also see them scouring the beach for insects in their trademark style, which involves running a few yards, stopping suddenly, then running in a new direction.

The birds of Long Beach West are vivid examples of the upside to the area’s abandonment. The terns were first classified as endangered by the federal government in 1985, because their preferred nesting habitats on sandy shores were also prime real estate for humans. The plover, which are classified as threatened, are picky creatures – if there are too many humans or other large animals around their nesting sites, they move out.

Ever since the bridge burned, plants and animals have slowly begun taking over all of Pleasure Beach/Long Beach West. Without anyone to repair the roads, grasses and flowers managed to sprout between the tiny cracks in the pavement. Year after year, they patiently worked to uproot the blacktop from those crevices.

Now many of the roads are inaccessible; you’ll be confronted with a thicket so dense that you may wonder for a second if you’ve accidentally wandered into the Amazon. Parking lots that were once divided into neat rows by yellow paint are instead lined in geometric patterns of eye-high grass.

Some of the plants that have infiltrated the peninsula are rare in Connecticut. Sea lavenders, which grow only in limited ranges of marshy soil, fan their pink and purple rosettes throughout the summer. Prickly pear cactus pokes up from the sandy parts of the beach.

All sorts of common creatures have also moved in. Deer, foxes, and raccoons have all been spotted. You can’t walk more than a few yards without stumbling upon a rabbit. Even an owl has claimed the rafters of the old restaurant.

Perhaps the most awe-inspiring sight is up in the air, where ospreys circle or perch on trees. A number of them have built gigantic nests on top of the now-defunct telephone poles.

When you come anywhere near those nests, you can feel yourself being watched from above. And if you get too close, be ready for a close encounter; these raptors have no reservations about swooping at humans to protect their broods.

It’s difficult to imagine such a place within sight of HCC and I-95. But despite the other-worldly atmosphere of Pleasure Beach/Long Beach West, there is a real possibility that one day Bridgeport and Stratford will follow through with one of the many plans that have been proposed over the years to “revitalize” the area. It may have only taken 15 years for the wild to return to the beach, but it can always be blinked away with the signing of a contract.

For now, the plants and animals will continue to enjoy the magic of the land as much as their human counterparts once did.

Why We Dream What We Dream

2010-04-21T09:22:00.004-04:00

By Susan Smith
News You Can Use Editor

“To sleep, perchance to dream.” –William Shakespeare

In November of 1899, psychoanalyst pioneer Sigmund Freud published a book called The Interpretation of Dreams. Although people since the Egyptians had been interested in both the spiritual and medical aspects of dream content, Freud’s examination of the unconscious state introduced the first comprehensive analysis of dreams to the realm of modern science.

Psychoanalysts and psychologists since then have been indebted to Freud’s previous advancements in understanding the mental state during dreams. Today there are associations devoted solely to the comprehension and analysis of dreams, many headed by psychologists and other scientists dedicated to advancing our knowledge of the sleeping mind.

However, it is apparent that the margin of this knowledge still remains quite slim.

Today, the most detailed case study on dreams was reported by psychology professors at the University of California, who created The Quantitative Study of Dreams, an organization that analyzes the content of dreams. The study surrounded the detailed account of 3,116 individual dreams over the span of 20+ years by a woman named Barb Sanders.

Dream researchers today have psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud to thank for his pioneering study of the human mind, and his book, The Interpretation of Dreams.
Photo Courtesy of bu.edu.

This detailed collection of dreams was provided by Sanders herself during the years between the late 1960s and up until 1997. During this time, she would record the content, length and often her reaction to each dream. Essentially, Sanders’s report is merely an extensive dream journal.

However, this journal is increasingly vital to researchers today since the amount of medical research into the mind is so slim, and the only way to really study detailed thought of the human brain is through recorded experience. This lengthy record is especially critical when studying such an intangible subject as the human dream, since it provides dream researchers the ability to measure actual statistics, such as dream length and content based on variables like age and gender.

Extensive analysis of the Sanders study helped develop certain theories about the content of dreams, highlighting the idea that our dreams are usually formed by elements relating to significant interests, worries, fears, aspirations and ideas that we experience during our waking life. The psychologist G. William Domhoff, who recorded the results of the analysis, summarized that “Dreams are dramatizations, or enactments, if you will, of our thoughts.”

This may seem like an obvious proposal when you experience a dream about a former spouse - as Sanders often did - or a big test you have the next day. It is simple to see when the worries or concerns of the day have carried into the night, and with no conscious decision on your part, your mind is infested with the tribulations you have put off during waking hours.

However, chances are you have also experienced dreams that are so bizarre you cannot begin to imagine any relatable inferences to your daily thoughts. For example, HCC student Storm Wyrt remarked on an unusual vision she experienced recently: “I dreamed I was killing rats! I was in some sort of room and they were everywhere, and I just kept stabbing them.”

When asked if she had any inkling as to why she encountered such an odd scene, she seemed clueless, remarking that she has “absolutely no idea” why she would imagine such a thing. For all intents and purposes, there is no relevant reasoning linking these strange visions to your daily experience. However, there are other mental explanations that may cause such unusual circumstances.

One theory is that our dreams may be associated with a connection to memory, an idea Freud introduced over 100 years ago. He proposed that memories stored years ago frequently surface in the unconscious state, often because something that day reminded you of that memory, whether or not you were consciously aware of it.

Freud himself did not recognize this possibility until he experienced it himself, when he explained a bizarre dream of a church tower that he was unfamiliar with. For years he saw the same vision of the structure in his dreams, thinking it was only something he created in his mind, until one day while traveling, “I then suddenly recognized it, with absolute certainty, at a small station between Salzburg and Reichenhall. This was in the late nineties, and the first time I had travelled over this route was in 1886.” It then became shockingly apparent to him that dreams can invite detailed memories from over 50 years prior.

Although modern science still cannot precisely delineate why we dream what we dream, there are some general interpretations of common dreams accepted by most sleep researchers.

Dr. Rosalind Cartwright, a doctor, author, and recipient of the Distinguished Scientist Award given by the Sleep Research Society, shared some insight on interpreting certain important dreams. “Usually we only remember the last dream of the night. That is the longest, most complex story, not to mention the most exciting one,” she explained. However, she advised that if a dream sequence was particularly vivid, unusual, or frightening, “we should stop and think about why we are dreaming that dream at this time.” By reflecting on the action in that dream, it is possible to form a general interpretation of why you dreamed what you did.

Paul McCartney claimed that the idea behind his song, Yesterday, was from a dream he had one night.
Photo courtesy of magazine.jamsbio.com.

For instance, many people have had the excessively scary dream where their teeth fall out. Cartwright explained that this physical decay is linked to a subconscious fear that the dreamer is “falling apart, or getting less attractive.” This may be why middle-aged or pubescent teen sleepers may experience such a nightmare.

Cartwright also mentioned less obvious scenarios. For instance, if you have a dream where you find a new or uncommon room in an otherwise familiar house or area, it could be an indication that you subconsciously believe there are hidden aspects in your family or relationships.

While interpretations like these seem probable, there is no precise scientific knowledge confirming that dreams provide interpretive allusions at all. And since sleep and psychology experts can rely only on individual case studies - like Barb Sanders - it is difficult to seamlessly insinuate meaning behind any subconscious ideas.

It seems the human mind has decided to keep us in the dark when it comes to the bizarre, confusing, complex reasoning behind our dreams.

Continuum 22: International Festival

2010-04-12T12:17:00.001-04:00

On April 22, the International Student Association (ISA) and the Multicultural Club (MCC) will be hosting their annual International Festival. Host Brandon T. Bisceglia sat down with a few of the members of the clubs to discuss the upcoming event, as well as the clubs’ other activities.

An Hour with the iPad

2010-04-11T20:16:00.002-04:00

By Andrew Mathieu
Staff Writer

The iPad. Image courtesy of www.wired.com.

Ever since Apple announced the iPad a little over two months ago, reactions and expectations have been boiling and overflowing through word of mouth, print, and web. After months of proclamations like “second coming of computers” and “just a giant iPod Touch,” the iPad was released on April 3.

After going through dozens of reviews on apps, iBooks, and the device itself, I finally went hands-on a demo iPad at a local Best Buy. Here are my impressions:

Though I initially thought the device would be bigger, I got to see the iPad in all its half inch, 1.5 pound glory. It was heavier than I thought it would be as well, but it still felt nice to hold, giant touch screen and all. Since I had handled an iPhone before, the iPad’s interface was easy to use. Though the device could be held and viewed in both portrait and landscape mode, I opted for landscape for most of my hour long demo. After getting my bearings on the device, I started to try some apps.

I started with the Calendar, Contacts, and Notes apps that will be familiar to anyone who has used an iPhone or iPod Touch. These are not carbon copies, however - the larger, 9.7 inch screen makes these applications much better, with easy-to-read text and enhanced typing due to the larger, on-screen keyboard.

Next I watched some videos from the app of the same name, and was surprised by the quality and speed of the video. The quality varies, however, depending whether you’re watching videos downloaded from iTunes, video podcasts, or YouTube (which actually looks fantastic).

The built-in speakers sounded fantastic, and were surprisingly loud when I loaded an iTunes song preview. I rarely used earphones with my time on the device. However, similar to video, the quality varies depending on the source. It is also worth noting that a person can supposedly sign onto any iTunes account from the iPad, though I did not test it myself.

Photos look great on the larger screen real estate, and the ability to create albums and slideshows is welcomed. I was even able to save an image from Safari directly to the device, which was very convenient.

My overall experience with Safari varied. Some websites took a while to load, while others were clearly made with the iPhone in mind. For the most part, though, it was a good experience, and one that will hopefully get better as time goes on.

Finally, I played some games. All of them were blown-up iPhone games, but they still worked very well with the bigger screen (N.O.V.A. and Rock Band in particular).

All in all, I enjoyed my time with the iPad. It is a well made and thought out device, though the internet problems and high price keep me from recommending it to anyone who doesn’t have a spare $500 around. A better, cheaper version of this device, either made by Apple or another company, is probably on its way next, which is also something to keep in mind. The best advice I can give is to somehow try the device if you can. When it comes to the iPad, it is better to judge it from arm’s length.

HCC Hosts Law Enforcement Job Fair

2010-04-09T09:47:00.005-04:00

By Shawn Gibson
Staff Writer

If you happened to be on the HCC campus on Friday, March 26, it might have appeared there was some kind of first responders training drill happening.

But it was not a drill; it was just the second annual Law Enforcement Job Fair, hosted by HCC.

Law enforcement and military officials converged on Beacon Hall with the hopes of attracting new recruits into their ranks. Recruiters were putting on their best faces to show why their branch of service or department of law enforcement has more appeal to an applicant. Bridgeport police were on hand with one of their K-9 units, who seemed more interested in chewing on his toys than the job fair.

Although the job fair didn’t draw hefty numbers of people, the participants were happy with the effort of the agencies.

"I was interested in the local police department and am glad they were at the job fair,” said Manuel Irizarry of Bridgeport.

Professor of Criminal Justice Joanne Anzenberger, who is also a veteran of the Stamford police department, is credited with arranging the event. She got the idea from a similar event hosted at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at The City University of New York.

Slightly down the hall, Cynthia Payne of New York Life Insurance Company offered free child identification services to any parent wanting to put their child’s finger prints, photos, DNA samples, or other identifying information on file with the company.

“Anzenberger invited the company in to provide the service to local children,” Payne said. She recounted that about 10 families came in and took advantage of the services being offered.

For more information on the New York Life Insurance Company, visit www.newyorklife.com. For information on recruiters, or to learn more about the Criminal Justice program at HCC, contact Joanne Anzenberger at 203.332.5212 or JAnzenberger@hcc.commnet.edu.

All photographs by Shawn Gibson.

Where to Re-Sell Textbooks

2010-04-07T09:35:00.007-04:00

By Michael Penna
Staff Writer

With the end of the spring semester around the corner, you may be considering selling your used textbooks. Obviously, you want to make the most money you can.

If this isn't your first semester at Housatonic, at some point in time you have probably sold used textbooks at the Follett bookstore right here on campus. After all, it's convenient.

There are plenty of options if you want to sell your textbooks, one of which is online buyback.

Online retailers sometimes offer the best price, but there are downsides.

Convenience may be the most prominent of the issues with online retailers. If you're looking to make money quickly, online retailers aren't the way to go. Not only do you have to ship your books to the company, which can take days, but most companies also have a policy where they won't accept textbooks if they find them to be in an unacceptable condition. So even if you ship your textbooks, the whole process may end up being a waste of time.

Let's say you just finished your Western Civilizations II course and want to sell back your textbook. In this case, let's say your textbook has the ISBN (a 10-digit code printed somewhere on the back of the textbook) of 9780393932362.

For a used copy of this book Amazon.com offers $15.75, Bookbyte.com offers $18.25, and eFollett will give you $13.00.

But before you sell your textbook you must consider each retailer's policy, as there are several differences between them.

As an example, one of eFollett's policies is that "excessive highlighting, underlining or other markings may decrease a book's buyback value." According to Bookbyte's policy, if over 75 percent of the book is written on or is highlighted, it is not eligible for buyback. On the other hand, Amazon accepts books with highlighting, notes, or other markings as long as the item is not a study guide or a workbook.

What qualifies as "excessive" in this case? And will Amazon really accept a textbook that is covered with excessive markings?

These questions are just some of the problems with online buyback: in some cases, it just isn't possible to know the value of your book until you send it in.

Conversely, by selling your textbooks at brick and mortar stores, you can save a lot of time and effort.

"It's pretty quick to just go in and out of the bookstore here on campus," said Kim Nania, a second-semester student at HCC.

As opposed to online buyback where you are almost sure to encounter an uncertainty, buyback at brick and mortar stores is much easier. You can get your textbook quickly appraised and walk out of the store with cash in hand within minutes.

In spite of the convenience issue, if you decide to take your chances with online buyback to make the most money, it is important to do your research beforehand. Look only for reputable online retailers, and be sure to read each one's policy with a careful eye. If you're sure your book qualifies for buyback and you are willing to wait to get your money, online buyback might just be the option for you.

HCC’s Enrollment Continues to Break Records

2010-04-04T02:13:00.001-04:00

By Jasmin Carmona
Staff Writer

This spring, HCC set a new record for enrollment with a total of nearly 6,000 students, an increase of 14.6%

The enrollment profile for the spring semester says the total number of enrolled students is now at 5,903, while last spring there were 5,152 students attending HCC.

This makes HCC the fifth largest of the 12 Community Colleges in Connecticut and the second highest in enrollment increase.

The majority of students are continuing, and of those students 94.8% are seeking degrees. Almost 12% of student enrollments are new students. For many, this is their first time in college. Of these students most are female, and part-time students are leading in enrollment.

The number of students enrolling doesn’t seem to be slowing. “We might even have more on the way come fall,” said Registrar Jim Connolly. Connolly said this “increase was expected, so I’m not really surprised.”

Due to the economic situation, Connolly had figured more students would be enrolling since so many unfortunate people lost their jobs this year alone.

“Now that our school has put in new buildings, it is bigger and becoming a more quality school,” he said. “People are noticing the changes and the school is affordable, so I can see why we are getting more and more students.”

HCC President Anita Gliniecki agreed in an email that the reasons for enrollment were planned and intentional. “The college has worked to understand and implement strategies to increase student retention semester to semester,” she added. She also has noticed an increase in the number of students attending full time.

“I can only assume that the poor economy is resulting in more students pursuing educational programs to improve their ability to attain or retain a job to transfer to a baccalaureate program without debt,” Gliniecki said.

According to Mark Herzog, Chancellor of the Connecticut Technical College Community System, student enrollment is now more than 55,000 throughout the community colleges, a 38% increase from what it was 10 years ago.

Approximately 65% of the student population is over the age of 22. In addition, the recession has caused many adults who have lost their jobs to enroll. Many of these older students are staying longer and graduating from the system, while younger students end up transferring to state schools in the University system.

Yet the increase is not all good. Herzog said, “Services have not kept up with enrollment because of cutbacks in state funding.” These cutbacks have caused libraries to close early, as well as support labs, leaving students at a disadvantage.”

Herzog also mentioned that “we’ve lost 177 staff this year that serves the students.”

HCC has to ensure that the buildings are kept clean as more students are using them. The college needs to ensure there is sufficient parking as well.

Gliniecki said, “As HCC has more students, this does result in the need for more student services such as advising, counseling, tutoring, financial aid and library access.”

“The fact that we keep growing to me is indicative of the pent-up demand from the years before Beacon Hall was opened, when the college could not offer any additional courses due to lack of classroom space,” she added.

Lauren Martin, a student at HCC, is currently in her fourth semester and has been working for Student Activities for two semesters. Martin said, “I’ve definitely noticed the increase of students attending and think it’s great.”

“I love HCC and think it has so much to offer,” she added. She also believes the increase has to do with the economy. “More people are going to school now to have a higher level of education.”

“Students can use Housatonic as a tool where they are able to save in order to finish,” said Counselor Marilyn Wehr. The main goal is to give students the opportunity they need in order to graduate. Wehr said, “Here students have an affordable alternative.”

Many students have mentioned to Wehr the friendly atmosphere they have encountered at HCC. “There is an intimate setting at our school, and a lot of our staff takes time to really help everyone as much as possible,” she said.

History Club Promises to Deepen Members’ Knowledge of Connecticut

2010-04-01T09:46:00.003-04:00

By Tori Centopanti
Staff Writer

History Club members from left to right: Secretary Adriana Cedeno, Fernando Moura, Rachel Florrie Fletcher, Faculty Advisor Dr. David Koch, ‘Web-mistress’ Fannai Dixon, President Justin Tracey, Solange Fyfield and Melissa Domond.
Photograph by Tori Centopanti.

The History Club is ready to make history come alive at Housatonic after being approved February 4 by the Student Senate.

According the club’s constitution, the purpose of the club is to broaden members’ perspectives on history, particularly of Connecticut and the surrounding region, to provide history-related educational and recreational opportunities, and to serve the community.

“I want to see it become an institution here at HCC that’s a lively, vibrant organization with good student participation,” said History Professor Dr. Kevin Boylan, advisor to the club.

The club has gotten off to a great start since forming near the end of 2009, with about 30 students showing interest and its organizational members actively working to plan events.

“From what I’ve seen so far, I think we have all the elements in place to really make an impressive splash on HCC’s community,” said Assistant Professor of History Dr. David Koch, another advisor to the club.

Eventually, they’d like to take a trip to Washington, D.C. or Gettysburg, but there’s a lot of local history they can explore in the meantime.

“I think people are more familiar with, say, the battlefields of the Civil War down in Virginia than they are with the history of Connecticut,” Boylan said.

One trip that is being arranged involves visiting the Mark Twain House and Museum as well as the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, both located in Hartford. No official date has been confirmed, but they are aiming for the week after spring break.

According to Koch, the club is interested in seeing “some of the stuff you wouldn’t find every day.” Among his suggestions is Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden.

“It’s really a hiking trip, but [it] was actually a civilian conservation core project that was begun in the 1930’s as a Depression Era project,” he said.

The idea of inviting a civil war reenactment group on campus, or visiting one, is also being looked into.

“It’s more about what we can potentially do rather than what we’ve done so far,” said History Club President Justin Tracey, who is also the Opinions Editor for Horizons.

The most rewarding thing for Boylan is seeing the enthusiasm shown by the students. “I wish that all my students were so taken with history when I’m teaching,” he said.

“The fact is that we’re always heartened to see people finally becoming enlightened and seeing what the true best academic subject in the world is, which is of course history,” Koch said with a smile.

The idea for this club was a joint effort by Boylan and Koch.

“Our intention was to give students who had an interest in history a greater outlet for that than perhaps our curriculum could offer,” Boylan said, referring to HCC’s lack of a degree or certificate in history.

“I think it’s really filling a gap that needed to be filled,” Koch added.

Tracey got involved “accidentally” after writing an article about the club last semester. “I gained an interest in it, and I actually played a vital role in creating it and getting people to sign up,” he said.

Students interested in joining can contact the club’s officiers through their official Facebook page, which is titled ‘Housatonic Community College History Club.’

To keep up to date with their future events, trips and activities, you can also visit the Student Activities calendar on HCC’s webpage.

The club meets every second Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Room 317 of Beacon Hall.

Continuum 21: Press Conference with Rick Torres

2010-03-29T18:37:00.001-04:00

Rick Torres is a Bridgeport native running for the Republican nomination for House Representative in the third district against Democratic incumbent Jim Himes. On March 22, Torres held a press conference in the Horizons newsroom with the paper’s reporters. Here are some highlights from that conference.

Chronic Surgery

2010-03-07T01:49:00.004-05:00

By Jacob Kirton
Staff Writer

Guard your heart for you may never know what’s after it

Society today is a perverse one. So much rebellion is a bound in a once controlled and structured world. Many people would even attest to today as being the fabled, and familiar end of times. Today, we as people strive to succeed our latter day ancestors and become greater than what we were destined to be, our minds are often the strongest weapons we have.

In the year 2010, the world is on the brink of bringing sorcery back into the daily routine of life. As we turn on the radio, watch movies or even go to a neighboring country, we hear the glorification of drugs. These mind altering substances place the body on a plane that allows for outer body experiences and death alike.

Music is a big part of our culture, and has always played a role in shaping human beings. You can turn on the radio, and listen to Lil Wayne rap about sipping syrup, and popping pills without restraint. This behavior once looked upon as strange has become a norm among the youth . People don’t understand that music is a gateway to the soul. What we choose to fill our minds with will dictate our actions. I challenge anyone to prove me wrong.Imagine what the world would be like if every morning before people left their driveways they lit up a joint.

One of the most widely used drugs is alcohol, hell it’s even legal. Drinking has become one of Americas past times. President Obama had a couple beers at the white house to settle a racial profiling dispute between a cop and Harvard professor. The image of alcohol in particular is shown as a moment cheers and great times. This may sound great with people being real with one another but the drawback is acting out on guilty pleasures.

Always drunk and never sober I hungered to get a bit of action when the mood was dull. The people I choose to hangout with always seemed to be into something with someone. One night I was out drinking with a friend in New York. We were at this small get together and ended up beating this instigator up. It was night time and we didn’t have anywhere to go so we were sat on the sidewalk. My friend was drunk and falling asleep as I paced back and forth. Out of nowhere these 5 cars roll up packed out with a bunch of guys with bats and pieces of wood. They hop out, push me aside, and grab my friend. I lost my temper and started swinging at any and everything. The leaders told everyone to stop so he could speak to me. We negotiated a little while longer, and they left but that night just led to a string of other dangerous events because of my drunken stupor.

As for pot, people feel that smoking a little is not as dangerous as sniffing a line of cocaine or taking a pull of crack. What people fail to realize is that whether its plants or powder the effect is the same: total loss of self and dignity.. Early sophomore year in high school was when my years of experimentation started. I became rebellious and lawless never caring what my actions may produce as long as I was able to laugh in the end. My kindhearted nature would increase being friendly although deep down I was a walking time bomb. If the wrong person rubbed me wrong I was ready to snap regardless who they might be because of these influences.

These feelings of euphoria that many associate with being “High” are defining what really makes you person. I can think back to a song that had that line “I want to be sedated” For a country bent on creating a sense of freedom for all, drugs have definitely enslaved us.

When I smoked Pot I liked being an intellect. There was once a time when I was smoking with a friend and we were discussing the cure to aids. He said I couldn’t figure it out and I told him give me a day. As I started walking down the block to my house my mind was spinning in all these directions for possible solutions with the cure. I came up with quite a few ranging from UV light exposure to bio-engineering new eosinophils. I never tested any of these theories but many of them felt like they could actually work. Although my mind traveled to these various distances to enlighten and inspire, it was the paranoia of reality that never sat well with me.

When one partakes of the ritual of “Smoking Weed”, they are handing the keys of their life over to an unknown entity. People take on otherworldly characteristics when under the influence. Some people become pranksters like Loki the Norse God from certain mythologies. Others tend to have a nasty approach in life and become lovers of self. It always seemed no matter how bad or good the situation may be life was a joke smoking weed. I could not have a serious conversation with my girlfriend or look my parents in the eye because I was too highto think at the time. It always felt that when I was high I had all these ideas but no motivation to enact them but yet when I wasn’t high I was motivated but had no ideas to enact. Smoking weed life is always question of what’s next rather than here we go. Maybe that’s why people move on to harder things after experimenting and losing luster.

As thoughts become loose and reality a fleeting mist of jumbled thoughts and false emotions, the brain becomes unaware of what is happening around it. If only I could go back in time, and warn everyone to eradicate those thoughts that are so hard to control. Do Not Do Drugs!

Break Free and Save

2010-03-07T01:05:00.003-05:00

By Desirae Williams

Staff Writer

My heart starts to beat a little faster, my hands clam up, the line gets longer, and cashier is looking at me with those, "you know your card wont work if I swipe it through a third- time" eyes. Finally the cashier asked if I would like to use another form of payment. Yea right, like I had that option.

Visa used to my friend, my confidant, that someone I could depend on. Obviously, not after that last pesky situation.

I was knee-deep in debt and needed some a way out or I would be buried beneath it pretty soon.

As a debtor, I embodied Kanye West's rap lyrics, "I'm addicted to spending before I get it". It is as if he created that song for me. He perfectly captured the essence of the blessing, and curse of purchasing unnecessary items without having the means to do so, plus, getting away with it, all in the name of interest!

It was at 18 when the credit card company sought to destroy me, by gearing up their best army. They recruited me and others who were unaware of the disadvantages of advanced monies. Amex, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover all suited up their elite soldiers and veterans to the “plastic game.”

They boldly hunted me down to “sign on the dotted line”. As innocent as I was, so was I ignorant, and allowed Visa to conquer over the other choices, and accepted a loan of fifty dollars in exchange for a one-hundred and fifty dollars.

What was I thinking? Other than noticing how small the text size was becoming as I attempted to review my terms and conditions, not much.

As I replaced my cash with plastic, I managed to pile up bills (tabs) at a variety of vendors. So to sustain my “lifestyle” I had to use a card (or two) to cover whatever my money did not. I completely exhausted all of my other funds just to stay afloat.

Realizing that my tumultuous relationship with my old time companion would eventually become abusive, I searched for a way to restructure my spending. Who helped me the most? Suze Orman.

Orman is a motivational speaker, and hosts of CNBC’s , The Suze Orman Show. She provides on-air financial information that ranges from wise investments to how much to save, along with various other programs on the cable network. I even checked out her site www.suzeorman.com and found helpful tips that I eventually adapted into my routine. Most of the available resources were truly inspiring and perfect to adapt to my advantage.

Thanks to the advice I decided to just be straight forward with myself and face all of the “pink” and “green” bills that were in my name, along with filing a credit report from an accredited financial institution, and laying it in front of me so that I was aware of the damage that was caused.

This was like a cleansing process for me because I took the first step to controlling my life and reshaping my future in a positive manner. I was no longer going to pretend as if a bill or a payment was not due for services that I received.

Also, I decided to use my money in the most beneficial way, to break my financial chains loose from around my ankles, and rise to the occasion of better money management.

Actually seeing what I accumulated over time made me a little hesitant to proceed, but the process was necessary. I then created a permanent list of the creditors, services, and products that were due payment, and decided to contact them directly to clarify every condition.

After my grand tally, I decided to pay ten dollars a month on every bill and I had a total of six. I figured out how much time it would take to pay off each bill and then paid extra if necessary to try to close it faster. In addition to paying off older bills, I managed to put money aside in a savings account for emergency purposes.

Now it was hard to deal with the errors of my ways and try to tackle the issues that I created. But instead of continuing down the same path, I embraced a new philosophy in life, now, I make sure to remember that no matter how bleak the situation looks I know that I could resurface from any dilemma if I don’t ignore it. So embrace the challenges, and you’ll come out on top.

The lessons learned from this situation far exceeded the problems faced.