By Claire Coakley
Chef Lisa Maiden stands in front of her students wearing her white chef jacket, ready to teach the proper way to make the perfect sandwich.
Students raise their hands ready answer Chef Maiden’s questions on the proper ingredients for a turkey club.
For students pursuing a career in the culinary arts Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School is the place to prepare for a future in food.
Southeastern Regional, a four year high school that serves young men and women from the city of Brockton and surrounding towns, combines academics with vocational and technical studies to prepare them for employment and life after high school.
“The courses that we take at school are intense, challenging, and rewarding all at the same time.” Josh Frank said, a 16 year old culinary arts student.
The culinary arts program is the most popular at the school offering training in baking, cooking, industrialized food service, and dining room functions.
“I would have to say my favorite part of the program is being able to get the hands on experience that a lot of other kids my age aren't offered.” Tequila Stone,17, a culinary student said. “I learned how to sauté and that is really useful because I enjoy doing it at home and showing everyone what I can do. I also learned a lot of useful things like sanitation and different cooking methods.”
Chef Lisa Maiden, one of the instructors at Southeastern Regional said the culinary program preps the students for employment. Academic and technical classes alternate each week to promote the integration of academics and technical education.
“Most students leave here with their high school diploma and their Serv-Safe certificate which is basically management certification which makes them a lot more desirable for employment at restaurants.” Maiden said.
The students usually start class around 8:30 a.m. Class time entails going over different techniques and concepts, such as how to build a sandwich, “mis en place” which is French for “putting in place” and entails having all of your ingredients ready before cooking.
At 10 o’clock, students have “shop”, the hands on experience of working in their school-run restaurant where they get to cook, prepare the food, and run the restaurant.
“Like any other restaurant it has its very busy days where people are running around trying to get everything done and we have our slow days where everyone is doing other things. But having our own restaurant gives students the opportunity to learn the basics of a successful business and develop skills needed for the working world ahead of us.” Stone said.
The cafeteria at Southeastern is not your normal school cafeteria. It is set up as a restaurant and each day student’s are assigned different jobs such as hostess, dishwasher, line cook, and waiters.
The restaurant has a number of small round tables with red and white checkered table cloths, centered with a small vase of flowers ready for hungry customers to sit and eat.
“A typical day for us is to come into shop, get changed, and get right to work. We don't have much time to prepare our meals so we always have to be on top of our game. But the experience we get in the kitchen is my favorite part,” Frank said.
Getting experience, not homework, is stressed. “Honestly we aren't really given homework but if we are it's homework that benefits us and what we’ve learned. For example our instructor might tell us to look up a recipe or come up with our own recipe” Stone said, a 17 year old culinary student.
Maiden said many of the students continue on to culinary school, such as Johnson and Wales University, The Culinary Institute of America, New England Culinary Institute, and Newbury College.
Most students that go on to culinary school from Southeastern already have college credit from the courses they took, saving them money, she said.
“I do plan on going to culinary school. The schools I’m looking into are the Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales University. From there I plan on deciding where I want to go in the culinary field.” Frank said.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Colleges extend help to Haiti
By Bobby Calobrisi
Published April 20, 2010
The Enterprise of Brockton
Neite Decimus heard what sounded like the rumbling of an oncoming train and realized something was wrong. It was the sound of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 250,000 in Haiti on Jan.12.
Decimus, a graduate student at Bridgewater State College, saw death scattered on the streets and witnessed six to seven people being toppled by a house.
He survived and is telling people that educated Haitians are needed to help the country rebuild.
Decimus is one of thousands of college students raising money and awareness to help earthquake victims in Haiti. At Bridgewater State College, students and faculty raised more than $10,000 on Feb. 2. At Wheaton College, students have raised $3,425 as of Feb. 28.
Said Wheaton sophomore Paul Roell, “It goes to show that this really is a cause worth benefiting. People involved will do the best they can to see things through.”
Even without a first-hand account of what happened, students at Bridgewater State College and Wheaton College have raised a combined total of approximately $13,425 in relief efforts as of Feb. 28.
At Bridgewater State College, the event Hope.Help.Haiti, held on Feb. 2, raised $10,000 from students and faculty alike for the American Red Cross and Free the Children along with Partners in Health.
Decimus spoke at the fundraiser about how Haitians earning scholarships and college degrees would help rebuild Haiti in the future, according to the “Help for Haiti” BSC NewsLog.
In a separate interview, he stressed how Haitians need education to help them
recover for themselves.
“If you want to offer any help to Haiti, see exactly what Haiti needs and train us, don’t just give us food,” he said. “Train people in engineering and farming; train and prepare people for when things like [this earthquake] happen.”
Decimus said Haitians need education, but that education must go towards keeping Haiti its own country. “For [nations] to help us is not to change us. To help us is to help us access knowledge, access technology,” he said. “We are so far behind. We need to take it step-by-step to move forward.”
Decimus said after the earthquake, people took the opportunity to overcharge for resources. He said Haitians cannot extort themselves if they are to do better by their culture.
“We need to learn to live like other Haitians and defend each other,” he said. “We need to be educated as a nation and learn how to respect people, not just those with money or education but with lack of education. We need to know who we are as a people.”
Jonathon White, assistant professor of sociology, estimated over 1,000 people over the course of the event, drawing the feeling, “We are all Haitian.”
White said in the email that students and faculty alike are seeking to extend direct efforts to benefit Haiti.
“There is a strong contingent of students (along with a couple of staff members) organizing to take a trip to Haiti to put their skills to work to helping in any way they can,” he wrote. “Others are continuing to organize fundraisers and education/awareness events. Others, like myself, are deeply involved in organizations outside of the campus who will continue to do work in Haiti for decades to come.”
Wheaton College’s Student Government Association has raised $2,500 for Doctor’s Without Borders, said Gabe Amo, the SGA President.
“They operate on the ground and have been providing medical care for an historic period of time,” Amo said of Doctors Without Borders. “We wanted to put the money to use in a way that is in the spirit of contributing.”
The student-run events have included a social hour, a bake sale, a volunteer gate and a benefit concert.
Paul Roell, the Wheaton sophomore who organized the benefit concert, said pooling the money seemed the best way to send to a fast and efficient organization. “We wanted to have the most substantial amount that we could send for the most fitting cause.”
The one-night benefit concert at Wheaton raised $1,380 on Feb. 5. Seven performance groups (singing, dancing and spoken word) each sang two songs and then sang “Can’t Give Up Now” in unison to cap off the event, which collected donations at the door, starting at $5 an entry.
Each group also contributed from their funds that the school gave them, raising a couple of hundred dollars, said Roell, member of an all-male a cappella group, The Gentleman Callers.
At the Jan. 30 basketball doubleheader, held on Jan. 30, where the Haitian national anthem was played and $200 was raised, said Scott Dietz, assistant director of
athletics for media relations.
John Sutyak, assistant director of athletics, said the athletic department was honored the students used basketball to raise money.
“It makes you think how lucky we have it that we can play on sunny afternoon
and there are people struggling right in now in that country and we’re playing a game. It puts things in perspective a little bit,” said Sutyak.
From Feb. 5-7, the Wheaton Athletic Mentors (WAMs), who have put on an
alcohol free weekend the past six years, called the Big Event--that raises money for a local charity--dedicated the event to helping Haiti and raised $800.
More than 1,000 people from Wheaton and 300 others attended, said Jason Clucas, co-president of the Mentors executive board.
“We obviously had a great pouring of support of the school and because of that we were able to have our best Big Event in the four years I’ve been a part of the organization,” said Clucas. “When we changed the foundation, we showed that we were dedicated to helping Haiti and helping the [Haitian] student athletes we had here really finding themselves in tough times.”
The Mentors will send the money to groups helping special needs students in Haiti or a group providing clean water or both, said Clucas.
Published April 20, 2010
The Enterprise of Brockton
Neite Decimus heard what sounded like the rumbling of an oncoming train and realized something was wrong. It was the sound of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 250,000 in Haiti on Jan.12.
Decimus, a graduate student at Bridgewater State College, saw death scattered on the streets and witnessed six to seven people being toppled by a house.
He survived and is telling people that educated Haitians are needed to help the country rebuild.
Decimus is one of thousands of college students raising money and awareness to help earthquake victims in Haiti. At Bridgewater State College, students and faculty raised more than $10,000 on Feb. 2. At Wheaton College, students have raised $3,425 as of Feb. 28.
Said Wheaton sophomore Paul Roell, “It goes to show that this really is a cause worth benefiting. People involved will do the best they can to see things through.”
Even without a first-hand account of what happened, students at Bridgewater State College and Wheaton College have raised a combined total of approximately $13,425 in relief efforts as of Feb. 28.
At Bridgewater State College, the event Hope.Help.Haiti, held on Feb. 2, raised $10,000 from students and faculty alike for the American Red Cross and Free the Children along with Partners in Health.
Decimus spoke at the fundraiser about how Haitians earning scholarships and college degrees would help rebuild Haiti in the future, according to the “Help for Haiti” BSC NewsLog.
In a separate interview, he stressed how Haitians need education to help them
recover for themselves.
“If you want to offer any help to Haiti, see exactly what Haiti needs and train us, don’t just give us food,” he said. “Train people in engineering and farming; train and prepare people for when things like [this earthquake] happen.”
Decimus said Haitians need education, but that education must go towards keeping Haiti its own country. “For [nations] to help us is not to change us. To help us is to help us access knowledge, access technology,” he said. “We are so far behind. We need to take it step-by-step to move forward.”
Decimus said after the earthquake, people took the opportunity to overcharge for resources. He said Haitians cannot extort themselves if they are to do better by their culture.
“We need to learn to live like other Haitians and defend each other,” he said. “We need to be educated as a nation and learn how to respect people, not just those with money or education but with lack of education. We need to know who we are as a people.”
Jonathon White, assistant professor of sociology, estimated over 1,000 people over the course of the event, drawing the feeling, “We are all Haitian.”
White said in the email that students and faculty alike are seeking to extend direct efforts to benefit Haiti.
“There is a strong contingent of students (along with a couple of staff members) organizing to take a trip to Haiti to put their skills to work to helping in any way they can,” he wrote. “Others are continuing to organize fundraisers and education/awareness events. Others, like myself, are deeply involved in organizations outside of the campus who will continue to do work in Haiti for decades to come.”
Wheaton College’s Student Government Association has raised $2,500 for Doctor’s Without Borders, said Gabe Amo, the SGA President.
“They operate on the ground and have been providing medical care for an historic period of time,” Amo said of Doctors Without Borders. “We wanted to put the money to use in a way that is in the spirit of contributing.”
The student-run events have included a social hour, a bake sale, a volunteer gate and a benefit concert.
Paul Roell, the Wheaton sophomore who organized the benefit concert, said pooling the money seemed the best way to send to a fast and efficient organization. “We wanted to have the most substantial amount that we could send for the most fitting cause.”
The one-night benefit concert at Wheaton raised $1,380 on Feb. 5. Seven performance groups (singing, dancing and spoken word) each sang two songs and then sang “Can’t Give Up Now” in unison to cap off the event, which collected donations at the door, starting at $5 an entry.
Each group also contributed from their funds that the school gave them, raising a couple of hundred dollars, said Roell, member of an all-male a cappella group, The Gentleman Callers.
At the Jan. 30 basketball doubleheader, held on Jan. 30, where the Haitian national anthem was played and $200 was raised, said Scott Dietz, assistant director of
athletics for media relations.
John Sutyak, assistant director of athletics, said the athletic department was honored the students used basketball to raise money.
“It makes you think how lucky we have it that we can play on sunny afternoon
and there are people struggling right in now in that country and we’re playing a game. It puts things in perspective a little bit,” said Sutyak.
From Feb. 5-7, the Wheaton Athletic Mentors (WAMs), who have put on an
alcohol free weekend the past six years, called the Big Event--that raises money for a local charity--dedicated the event to helping Haiti and raised $800.
More than 1,000 people from Wheaton and 300 others attended, said Jason Clucas, co-president of the Mentors executive board.
“We obviously had a great pouring of support of the school and because of that we were able to have our best Big Event in the four years I’ve been a part of the organization,” said Clucas. “When we changed the foundation, we showed that we were dedicated to helping Haiti and helping the [Haitian] student athletes we had here really finding themselves in tough times.”
The Mentors will send the money to groups helping special needs students in Haiti or a group providing clean water or both, said Clucas.
Backseat passengers still need to buckle up
By Alex Cosmer
Mike Farwell was in the backseat of a Ford Explorer and not wearing a seatbelt when the SUV struck a tree.
Farwell considers himself to be fortunate.
“I guess I am lucky I hit the back seat and landed on the center console,” Farwell said. “A broken nose was probably the best outcome compared to what could have happened.”
National figures show, it can save your life.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a passenger who is traveling in the backseat at the time of their car accident, wearing a seat belt is 44 percent more effective at preventing death than riding unrestrained. For those riding in the rear of vans and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) during a car crash, rear seat belts are 73 percent better at preventing fatalities.
“You are going to be like a missile,” Easton Police Chief Allan Krajcik said.
Krajick recalls one serious crash involving a passenger who wasn't wearing a seat belt.
“A kid was in the back seat at the time of the accident and he was tossed out the back window,” Krajick said.
Not wearing a seatbelt remains the leading cause in accidents resulting in deaths.
Fifty five percent of those killed in passenger vehicle occupant crashes were not wearing a seat belt, according to NHTSA.
People should wear a seatbelt no matter where in the car they are.
“It is absolutely as important,” Krajcik said.
There have been various programs for the public, especially for the youth, to start wearing a seatbelt.
Click it or ticket is a campaign from the NHTSA to increase the use of seat belts. Drivers or passengers will be given a ticket if they fail to abide.
“I have seen an increase in citations and usage,” Krajcik said. “ I believe it is a direct result of click it or ticket push.”
Mike Farwell was in the backseat of a Ford Explorer and not wearing a seatbelt when the SUV struck a tree.
Farwell considers himself to be fortunate.
“I guess I am lucky I hit the back seat and landed on the center console,” Farwell said. “A broken nose was probably the best outcome compared to what could have happened.”
National figures show, it can save your life.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a passenger who is traveling in the backseat at the time of their car accident, wearing a seat belt is 44 percent more effective at preventing death than riding unrestrained. For those riding in the rear of vans and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) during a car crash, rear seat belts are 73 percent better at preventing fatalities.
“You are going to be like a missile,” Easton Police Chief Allan Krajcik said.
Krajick recalls one serious crash involving a passenger who wasn't wearing a seat belt.
“A kid was in the back seat at the time of the accident and he was tossed out the back window,” Krajick said.
Not wearing a seatbelt remains the leading cause in accidents resulting in deaths.
Fifty five percent of those killed in passenger vehicle occupant crashes were not wearing a seat belt, according to NHTSA.
People should wear a seatbelt no matter where in the car they are.
“It is absolutely as important,” Krajcik said.
There have been various programs for the public, especially for the youth, to start wearing a seatbelt.
Click it or ticket is a campaign from the NHTSA to increase the use of seat belts. Drivers or passengers will be given a ticket if they fail to abide.
“I have seen an increase in citations and usage,” Krajcik said. “ I believe it is a direct result of click it or ticket push.”
FLOODED DORM ROOMS ON STONEHILL CAMPUS
by Shane Caffrey
Rains total of over 7 inches of water fell last week in Easton causing harsh living conditions for Stonehill College Students.
The Cascino Residence Hall basement was flooded for the majority of last week.
“It sucks down here. I need to have flip flops next to my bed so I don’t get soaked,” said Angelo Todesca, 20 from Canton Mass and a Stonehill junior who lives in one of the affected dorm rooms.
Todesca and his roommate Cameron Knights, 21 from Hudson Mass, needed to move most of their personal belongings into their common room to accommodate the wet conditions.
“Its awful down here, I can’t breathe down here because of the mold and smell. It makes it difficult to do focus on doing work when some of your stuff is floating around on the floor,” said Knights.
When some students moved into Cascino Basement they were told by some Stonehill maintenance workers that these rooms were flooded all summer.
“These rooms are the worst on campus, after the summer we needed to get all new furniture down there,” said one maintenance member.
Such a reoccurring problem should be fixed as heavy spring rains could make difficult living conditions. During the most recent rainstorm, students like Knights and Todesca were given industrial dehumidifiers, powerful fans to dry the rugs, and an industrial strength wet-dry vaccum to suck up standing water. As rains continued this week, their room still remains wet and needed to be washed to avoid mold buildup.
“It always get’s wet down here when it rains, its very bad, very bad,” said Teresa, the custodian of the heights for the past several years.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous, I pay $45,000 a year to go to this college and I can’t even sit at my desk without worrying that my feet are going to get soaked, its ridiculous,” said Steve Zanetti, 21 from Ludlow Mass, who lives in the room next to Knights and Todesca.
Some students from the building have refrained from using the common kitchen area in Cascino Basement due to the smell.
“I’m kind of bummed out because I can’t be in those student’s rooms because I feel nauseous if I’m over there. It’s inconvenient for me because they spend most of their in my room to escape their rooms,” said Michael Cooke, 21 from Simsbury Conn, a Cascino resident not affected by the flooding.
Flooding in the common area of the kitchen was fixed during the winter when water seeped through an electrical box attached to one of the walls and flooded part of the common area of Cascino Basement. However flooding in the dorm rooms continues as the spring rains continue. Members of the Stonehill Maintenance crew have spent large amounts of time monitoring the flooding conditions over the past few weeks and continue to use industrial equipment to counteract the water as it continues to seep into the affected rooms.
College radio leaving an influence on Stonehill and Bridgewater State campuses
By Bobby Calobrisi
Listening to the radio on 92.3 Pro FM, Ellen Rathburn is sure she has heard this song somewhere before.
“It’s really funny usually, ‘Where do I know this song? They say it’s brand new. I’ve heard this before.’ Oh, we played this on WBIM four or five months ago.”
Rathburn is the general manager at the Bridgewater State College radio station 91.5 WBIM-FM and recalls Lily Allen music being played on WBIM her freshman year and hearing her again on Pro FM a year or so ago.
“It’s really nice to know that we do have somewhat of an influence,” said the senior. “Our charting and listenership gets to pick what [eventually] goes on these big time stations and what ultimately becomes popular sometimes.”
In an era of commercial broadcast stations that play predominately mainstream music nationwide, over 1,400 college radio stations are becoming the local alternative.
Jeremiah McCarthy, the general manager at Stonehill College’s 91.3 WSHL-FM, says that college radio is known for featuring up and coming artists.
“It’s a place for us to get undiscovered and budding artists before they catch on to the greater public.”
Peter Q. George, general manager of 95.1 WXRB-FM in Dudley, Mass., as the chief engineer for both Stonehill College and Bridgewater State College radio stations, said, “College radio has the flexibility to play up-and-coming music [without] having to worry about ratings.”
George says that college radio gives students a look into the professional landscape of running a radio station.
“Both mine and colleges offer public service to the community and we are aware of an audience in mind,” he said. "Both have an avid listener base that will swear by what we play."
Geoffrey Lantos, a professor at Stonehill and academic advisor for WSHL, resides in Easton, Mass. and says listening off campus provides insight into Stonehill’s campus life.
“It’s not tightly scripted like a professional station. It’s more conversational, more laid back, easy going [with] no strict time limits,” he said. “It speaks more to college students directly.”
Chris McCormick, who maintains the computers as WSHL’s Information Technology representative, thinks it is good for a college station to have alternative programming.
“It’s not like, ‘You have to play this or you’re fired,’” said the Stonehill senior. “We wouldn’t have any DJs if it was like that.”
Both WBIM and WSHL programming includes hip hop, alternative rock, indie rock, rpm
(a mix of techno and dance), metal, as well as talk radio.
George says each station’s signal covers seven to eight towns: WBIM’s signal covers the southeast direction toward Middleboro while WSHL’s signal goes northwest toward Brockton.
“Each station has a potential listenership of 175,000 people on FM alone,” said George.
WSHL and WBIM make sure there is no dead air when DJs aren’t in the studio.
Using Zara radio, a free program software, students store alternate playlists, taglines and their own recordings, said McCormick.
Rathburn says the majority of emails to WBIM ask how to get their bands on the air.
“A lot of bands send us stuff to play demos,” she said. “We never turn anything away. We try to give everyone a shot.”
The WBIM staff goes into Boston and Providence to listen to artists whose albums have been sent to them by music promoters.
“We’ll [listen] to other bands too that we absolutely love that are opening for [artists we’ve played] or playing in other show next door and grab CDs and just add them to our rotation too,” said Rathburn.
WBIM does community outreach work on and off campus for Boy Scouts and Club Scouts in the Bridgewater area; Relay for Life; a heart disease event; open-mike nights; and air guitar competitions.
“We really put ourselves out there on campus and try to get involved with as many people as we can,” said Rathburn.
Rathburn said WBIM started reworking its station dynamic by revamping its programming by introducing a news talk show and hip hop as well as rpm. She says that the station is trying to alter away from medal music.
“We definitely are finding a lot of hits before they make it onto the charts, but we are trying to expose Bridgewater State [College] and surrounding communities to music that they wouldn’t hear on other radio stations; stuff that people at our station are passionate about and want to share with the community,” said Rathburn.
In the future, Rathburn says WBIM will be looking to do more community work and underwriting, where a business exchanges goods and services, like giveaways, for on-air advertising.
Extending their services to the Stonehill Community, WSHL has been asked to DJ events for the Office of Health and Wellness; Relay for Life; Earth Week; and the Stonehill chapter of Silent Witness Initiative.
“Working public events gets our name out to people who maybe aren’t aware that the school has a radio station,” said McCarthy.
For the past two years, the Office of Health and Wellness has asked WSHL to DJ the fall and spring health fairs that raise awareness to prevent injury, illness and disease.
“The music for the spring fair was particularly well chosen with a wide range of easy listening yet modern music that people could be seen moving along to the beat of softly singing along to the songs,” says Jessica Greene, wellness coordinator, via email.
For WSHL, McCarthy wants the station to have a greater presence on campus.
This means having more of an active relationship with clubs and organizations utilizing the station’s DJ services.
“If more people are aware we have the capability [to provide service] we would be a greater presence on campus,” he said.
WSHL is in the process of setting up a master computer to store everything from music playlists and downloads to underwrites and public service announcements. This will make it easier for DJ selection, says McCarthy.
Long after he graduates, McCarthy just wants students involved with the radio station to stay committed to it.
“Some students don’t know how lucky they have it to have a radio show,” he said. “Other stations may require you to take a class and they have a lot less freedom of what to play and when to play it.”
Listening to the radio on 92.3 Pro FM, Ellen Rathburn is sure she has heard this song somewhere before.
“It’s really funny usually, ‘Where do I know this song? They say it’s brand new. I’ve heard this before.’ Oh, we played this on WBIM four or five months ago.”
Rathburn is the general manager at the Bridgewater State College radio station 91.5 WBIM-FM and recalls Lily Allen music being played on WBIM her freshman year and hearing her again on Pro FM a year or so ago.
“It’s really nice to know that we do have somewhat of an influence,” said the senior. “Our charting and listenership gets to pick what [eventually] goes on these big time stations and what ultimately becomes popular sometimes.”
In an era of commercial broadcast stations that play predominately mainstream music nationwide, over 1,400 college radio stations are becoming the local alternative.
Jeremiah McCarthy, the general manager at Stonehill College’s 91.3 WSHL-FM, says that college radio is known for featuring up and coming artists.
“It’s a place for us to get undiscovered and budding artists before they catch on to the greater public.”
Peter Q. George, general manager of 95.1 WXRB-FM in Dudley, Mass., as the chief engineer for both Stonehill College and Bridgewater State College radio stations, said, “College radio has the flexibility to play up-and-coming music [without] having to worry about ratings.”
George says that college radio gives students a look into the professional landscape of running a radio station.
“Both mine and colleges offer public service to the community and we are aware of an audience in mind,” he said. "Both have an avid listener base that will swear by what we play."
Geoffrey Lantos, a professor at Stonehill and academic advisor for WSHL, resides in Easton, Mass. and says listening off campus provides insight into Stonehill’s campus life.
“It’s not tightly scripted like a professional station. It’s more conversational, more laid back, easy going [with] no strict time limits,” he said. “It speaks more to college students directly.”
Chris McCormick, who maintains the computers as WSHL’s Information Technology representative, thinks it is good for a college station to have alternative programming.
“It’s not like, ‘You have to play this or you’re fired,’” said the Stonehill senior. “We wouldn’t have any DJs if it was like that.”
Both WBIM and WSHL programming includes hip hop, alternative rock, indie rock, rpm
(a mix of techno and dance), metal, as well as talk radio.
George says each station’s signal covers seven to eight towns: WBIM’s signal covers the southeast direction toward Middleboro while WSHL’s signal goes northwest toward Brockton.
“Each station has a potential listenership of 175,000 people on FM alone,” said George.
WSHL and WBIM make sure there is no dead air when DJs aren’t in the studio.
Using Zara radio, a free program software, students store alternate playlists, taglines and their own recordings, said McCormick.
Rathburn says the majority of emails to WBIM ask how to get their bands on the air.
“A lot of bands send us stuff to play demos,” she said. “We never turn anything away. We try to give everyone a shot.”
The WBIM staff goes into Boston and Providence to listen to artists whose albums have been sent to them by music promoters.
“We’ll [listen] to other bands too that we absolutely love that are opening for [artists we’ve played] or playing in other show next door and grab CDs and just add them to our rotation too,” said Rathburn.
WBIM does community outreach work on and off campus for Boy Scouts and Club Scouts in the Bridgewater area; Relay for Life; a heart disease event; open-mike nights; and air guitar competitions.
“We really put ourselves out there on campus and try to get involved with as many people as we can,” said Rathburn.
Rathburn said WBIM started reworking its station dynamic by revamping its programming by introducing a news talk show and hip hop as well as rpm. She says that the station is trying to alter away from medal music.
“We definitely are finding a lot of hits before they make it onto the charts, but we are trying to expose Bridgewater State [College] and surrounding communities to music that they wouldn’t hear on other radio stations; stuff that people at our station are passionate about and want to share with the community,” said Rathburn.
In the future, Rathburn says WBIM will be looking to do more community work and underwriting, where a business exchanges goods and services, like giveaways, for on-air advertising.
Extending their services to the Stonehill Community, WSHL has been asked to DJ events for the Office of Health and Wellness; Relay for Life; Earth Week; and the Stonehill chapter of Silent Witness Initiative.
“Working public events gets our name out to people who maybe aren’t aware that the school has a radio station,” said McCarthy.
For the past two years, the Office of Health and Wellness has asked WSHL to DJ the fall and spring health fairs that raise awareness to prevent injury, illness and disease.
“The music for the spring fair was particularly well chosen with a wide range of easy listening yet modern music that people could be seen moving along to the beat of softly singing along to the songs,” says Jessica Greene, wellness coordinator, via email.
For WSHL, McCarthy wants the station to have a greater presence on campus.
This means having more of an active relationship with clubs and organizations utilizing the station’s DJ services.
“If more people are aware we have the capability [to provide service] we would be a greater presence on campus,” he said.
WSHL is in the process of setting up a master computer to store everything from music playlists and downloads to underwrites and public service announcements. This will make it easier for DJ selection, says McCarthy.
Long after he graduates, McCarthy just wants students involved with the radio station to stay committed to it.
“Some students don’t know how lucky they have it to have a radio show,” he said. “Other stations may require you to take a class and they have a lot less freedom of what to play and when to play it.”
Brockton area college students turning to military for education and work skill
By Katherine Landergan
Published April 3, 2010
The Enterprise of Brockton
Blaze Montelo had made it to the final round of police training at Bridgewater State College when the college police chief told him his criminology degree from Bridgewater State just wouldn’t cut it.
“He said I would need more training and skill as an individual to stand out, not just an education,” said Montelo of Middleboro.
So, Montelo did what thousands of other college grads are doing: He signed up for the Army.
Montelo is part of a growing trend of young college students who are joining the military to help pay for an education, land a job after graduation and serve their country.
“It’s a resume booster,” said Robert Rosenthal, chairman of the Stonehill College economics department. “A lot of companies consider (military service) valuable when screening applicants.”
According to the Pentagon:
The number of armed-forces enlistees with bachelor degrees rose from about 5,400 in 2008 to more than 6,400 last year.
The number of new recruits with associate degrees from community colleges also went up, from about 2,380 to 2,570.
Rosenthal said the numbers would be higher if there weren’t wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Some people may be motivated by patriotism,” Rosenthal said. “But others who have questions about (the war) or their own safety are choosing not to enlist.”
In his address to Congress last March, Curtis Gilroy, the Pentagon director of recruiting policy, attributed high recruitment rates to the economic slump.
“Generally, times like this make recruiting less challenging,” Gilroy told Congress. “And a regrettable trend in national unemployment operates to the advantage of those who are hiring, including the U.S. military.”
According to a budget proposal by the U.S. Army, scholarships and stipends make up more than half of the Pentagon Reserve Officers’ Training Corps budget. In 2007, the federal government allocated $173 million for ROTC scholarships nationwide.
Locally, the Bravo Company, an ROTC program based at Stonehill College, has nearly doubled its enrollment in the past two years. In 2008, the company served 31 students, and this year 57 students are enrolled.
Bravo Company is affiliated with the 140-cadet Charles River Battalion at Boston University and covers Stonehill College, Bridgewater State College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Curry College, Massasoit Community College and Eastern Nazarene College.
Montelo, a graduate of both the Bravo Company and junior ROTC program at Taunton High School, is currently pursuing his master’s degree at Bridgewater State College, paid in full by the ROTC. Montelo said the money was just an added bonus.
“The Army offers the training for more skills and to become more marketable in the world,” Montelo said. “I was already on track, but I needed something more for myself and my career.”
Aaron Brown, a sophomore at Stonehill College, said free college tuition played a big role in his decision to join the Bravo Company. He was a member of the junior ROTC at Brockton High School, and received a four-year college scholarship offer from the ROTC.
“It seemed foolish not to take it,” Brown, of Brockton, said.
Brown, a criminology major, said his military service should help him become a firefighter. He noted the civil service gives veterans extra points on firefighter entrance exams.
“You get the training that a lot of jobs are looking for,” Brown said. “It’s another thing to put on a resume to make you stand out from other people.”
Kellyanne McLaughlin, also a member of the junior ROTC at Brockton High School, said she would be at a state school if the ROTC were not paying her tuition. She receives four years of free education, $1,200 a year for books and a stipend each month.
McLaughlin, now a nursing student at Curry College in Milton, said the Army is all about job security.
“I’m going to have a job as soon as I’m done with school,” she said. “I’ll have the upper hand over all my friends.”
Andrew Capachione, the only Bravo Company member from Massasoit Community College, said military service offers two financial payoffs.
Not only will he receive a commission, but Capachione said being an Army officer could help him become a Drug Enforcement Administration officer later in life.
“The Army will help me learn all the tactics I need,” Capachione said. “The experience I get won’t be like anything in the civilian world.”
Copyright 2010 The Enterprise. Some rights reserved
Published April 3, 2010
The Enterprise of Brockton
Blaze Montelo had made it to the final round of police training at Bridgewater State College when the college police chief told him his criminology degree from Bridgewater State just wouldn’t cut it.
“He said I would need more training and skill as an individual to stand out, not just an education,” said Montelo of Middleboro.
So, Montelo did what thousands of other college grads are doing: He signed up for the Army.
Montelo is part of a growing trend of young college students who are joining the military to help pay for an education, land a job after graduation and serve their country.
“It’s a resume booster,” said Robert Rosenthal, chairman of the Stonehill College economics department. “A lot of companies consider (military service) valuable when screening applicants.”
According to the Pentagon:
The number of armed-forces enlistees with bachelor degrees rose from about 5,400 in 2008 to more than 6,400 last year.
The number of new recruits with associate degrees from community colleges also went up, from about 2,380 to 2,570.
Rosenthal said the numbers would be higher if there weren’t wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Some people may be motivated by patriotism,” Rosenthal said. “But others who have questions about (the war) or their own safety are choosing not to enlist.”
In his address to Congress last March, Curtis Gilroy, the Pentagon director of recruiting policy, attributed high recruitment rates to the economic slump.
“Generally, times like this make recruiting less challenging,” Gilroy told Congress. “And a regrettable trend in national unemployment operates to the advantage of those who are hiring, including the U.S. military.”
According to a budget proposal by the U.S. Army, scholarships and stipends make up more than half of the Pentagon Reserve Officers’ Training Corps budget. In 2007, the federal government allocated $173 million for ROTC scholarships nationwide.
Locally, the Bravo Company, an ROTC program based at Stonehill College, has nearly doubled its enrollment in the past two years. In 2008, the company served 31 students, and this year 57 students are enrolled.
Bravo Company is affiliated with the 140-cadet Charles River Battalion at Boston University and covers Stonehill College, Bridgewater State College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Curry College, Massasoit Community College and Eastern Nazarene College.
Montelo, a graduate of both the Bravo Company and junior ROTC program at Taunton High School, is currently pursuing his master’s degree at Bridgewater State College, paid in full by the ROTC. Montelo said the money was just an added bonus.
“The Army offers the training for more skills and to become more marketable in the world,” Montelo said. “I was already on track, but I needed something more for myself and my career.”
Aaron Brown, a sophomore at Stonehill College, said free college tuition played a big role in his decision to join the Bravo Company. He was a member of the junior ROTC at Brockton High School, and received a four-year college scholarship offer from the ROTC.
“It seemed foolish not to take it,” Brown, of Brockton, said.
Brown, a criminology major, said his military service should help him become a firefighter. He noted the civil service gives veterans extra points on firefighter entrance exams.
“You get the training that a lot of jobs are looking for,” Brown said. “It’s another thing to put on a resume to make you stand out from other people.”
Kellyanne McLaughlin, also a member of the junior ROTC at Brockton High School, said she would be at a state school if the ROTC were not paying her tuition. She receives four years of free education, $1,200 a year for books and a stipend each month.
McLaughlin, now a nursing student at Curry College in Milton, said the Army is all about job security.
“I’m going to have a job as soon as I’m done with school,” she said. “I’ll have the upper hand over all my friends.”
Andrew Capachione, the only Bravo Company member from Massasoit Community College, said military service offers two financial payoffs.
Not only will he receive a commission, but Capachione said being an Army officer could help him become a Drug Enforcement Administration officer later in life.
“The Army will help me learn all the tactics I need,” Capachione said. “The experience I get won’t be like anything in the civilian world.”
Copyright 2010 The Enterprise. Some rights reserved
Easton committee looks to hold seminar on school bullying
Published March 20, 2010
The Enterprise of Brockton, Mass.
By Deirdre Watson
EASTON — The town’s Human Rights Committee wants to hold a seminar for parents to address bullying in the schools.
The committee members, at a monthly meeting recently at the police station, said they hope to meet with the school superintendent and other officials in April to discuss details about that seminar and when it could be held.
The move in Easton comes as the state Legislature moved last week to crack down on bullying in schools.
Massachusetts House of Representatives lawmakers unanimously approved a bill designed to clamp down on school bullies. The bill would ban bullying, require school districts to come up with bullying-prevention plans and expand the definition of bullying to include the growing problem of Internet cyber-bullying through the use of e-mails and text messages.
The legislation would also require school officials to inform parents of their anti-bullying curriculum and alert both the parents of bullies and the parents of their victims after a bullying incident.
House lawmakers approved the bill on a 148-0 vote after debating the measure for more than three hours.
But some critics said the legislation wasn’t tough enough and pushed to include language in the House bill that would have fined teachers and others for not reporting bullies.
“It’s a toothless wonder,” Rep. Robert S. Hargraves, R-Groton, said of the bill. The House rejected the amendment.
The Senate had already passed an anti-bullying measure and now the two bills will be reconciled in committee and voted again. Gov. Deval Patrick has indicated he will sign the measure.
The push for anti-bullying legislation has gained momentum following the recent suicides of students in South Hadley and Springfield.
In the past several months, the Easton Human Rights Committee has been working to identify the age group most in need of education about bullying and plans to target grades 3-5.
Colleen Corona, a committee member who is also a selectwoman, suggested School Superintendent Michael Greene come to an upcoming committee meeting to discuss bullying and what can be done to alleviate it.
After discussion among the committee, it was agreed representatives from three Oliver Ames High School groups – Best Buddies, Advocates for Community and Cultural Tolerance, and the Gay Straight Alliance – should also attend the meeting.
The committee also talked about inviting Wes Paul, Oliver Ames High School principal, and other Easton school principals, to the meeting.
A seminar for parents on both bullying online – or cyber-bullying – and other types of bullying is being considered.
Corona said other programs about children’s cyber safety have drawn many parents in the past and a cyber-bullying seminar may draw many parents.
“So many parents don’t know how to monitor what their children are doing online,” Corona said.
The Enterprise of Brockton, Mass.
By Deirdre Watson
EASTON — The town’s Human Rights Committee wants to hold a seminar for parents to address bullying in the schools.
The committee members, at a monthly meeting recently at the police station, said they hope to meet with the school superintendent and other officials in April to discuss details about that seminar and when it could be held.
The move in Easton comes as the state Legislature moved last week to crack down on bullying in schools.
Massachusetts House of Representatives lawmakers unanimously approved a bill designed to clamp down on school bullies. The bill would ban bullying, require school districts to come up with bullying-prevention plans and expand the definition of bullying to include the growing problem of Internet cyber-bullying through the use of e-mails and text messages.
The legislation would also require school officials to inform parents of their anti-bullying curriculum and alert both the parents of bullies and the parents of their victims after a bullying incident.
House lawmakers approved the bill on a 148-0 vote after debating the measure for more than three hours.
But some critics said the legislation wasn’t tough enough and pushed to include language in the House bill that would have fined teachers and others for not reporting bullies.
“It’s a toothless wonder,” Rep. Robert S. Hargraves, R-Groton, said of the bill. The House rejected the amendment.
The Senate had already passed an anti-bullying measure and now the two bills will be reconciled in committee and voted again. Gov. Deval Patrick has indicated he will sign the measure.
The push for anti-bullying legislation has gained momentum following the recent suicides of students in South Hadley and Springfield.
In the past several months, the Easton Human Rights Committee has been working to identify the age group most in need of education about bullying and plans to target grades 3-5.
Colleen Corona, a committee member who is also a selectwoman, suggested School Superintendent Michael Greene come to an upcoming committee meeting to discuss bullying and what can be done to alleviate it.
After discussion among the committee, it was agreed representatives from three Oliver Ames High School groups – Best Buddies, Advocates for Community and Cultural Tolerance, and the Gay Straight Alliance – should also attend the meeting.
The committee also talked about inviting Wes Paul, Oliver Ames High School principal, and other Easton school principals, to the meeting.
A seminar for parents on both bullying online – or cyber-bullying – and other types of bullying is being considered.
Corona said other programs about children’s cyber safety have drawn many parents in the past and a cyber-bullying seminar may draw many parents.
“So many parents don’t know how to monitor what their children are doing online,” Corona said.
Bridgewater State College invests in Haiti's recovery
By Bobby Calobrisi
Neite Decimus heard what sounded like the rumbling of an oncoming train and realized something was wrong. It was the sound of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 250,000 in Haiti on Jan.12.
Decimus, a graduate student at Bridgewater State College, saw death scattered on the streets and witnessed six to seven people being toppled by a house.
He survived and is telling people that educated Haitians are needed to help the country rebuild.
Decimus is one of thousands of college students raising money and awareness to help earthquake victims in Haiti.
Jonathon White, assistant professor of sociology, said in an email that students and faculty alike are seeking to extend direct efforts to benefit Haiti.
“There is a strong contingent of students (along with a couple of staff members) organizing to take a trip to Haiti to put their skills to work to helping in any way they can,” he wrote. “Others are continuing to organize fundraisers and education/awareness events. Others, like myself, are deeply involved in organizations outside of the campus who will continue to do work in Haiti for decades to come.”
Even without a first-hand account of what happened, students at Bridgewater State College students and faculty raised more than $10,000 on Feb. 2.
At Bridgewater State College, the event Hope.Help.Haiti, held on Feb. 2, raised $10,000 from students and faculty alike for the American Red Cross and Free the Children along with Partners in Health.
Decimus spoke at the fundraiser about how Haitians earning scholarships and college degrees would help rebuild Haiti in the future, according to the “Help for Haiti” BSC NewsLog.
In a separate interview, he stressed how Haitians need education to help them recover for themselves.
“If you want to offer any help to Haiti, see exactly what Haiti needs and train us, don’t just give us food,” he said. “Train people in engineering and farming; train and prepare people for when things like [this earthquake] happen.”
Decimus said Haitians need education, but that education must go towards keeping Haiti its own country.
“For [nations] to help us is not to change us. To help us is to help us access knowledge, access technology,” he said. “We are so far behind. We need to take it step-by-step to move forward.”
Decimus said after the earthquake, people took the opportunity to overcharge for resources. He said Haitians cannot extort themselves if they are to do better by their culture.
“We need to learn to live like other Haitians and defend each other,” he said. “We need to be educated as a nation and learn how to respect people, not just those with money or education but with lack of education. We need to know who we are as a people.”
Jonathon White, assistant professor of sociology, estimated over 1,000 people over the course of the event, drawing the feeling, “We are all Haitian.”
Neite Decimus heard what sounded like the rumbling of an oncoming train and realized something was wrong. It was the sound of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 250,000 in Haiti on Jan.12.
Decimus, a graduate student at Bridgewater State College, saw death scattered on the streets and witnessed six to seven people being toppled by a house.
He survived and is telling people that educated Haitians are needed to help the country rebuild.
Decimus is one of thousands of college students raising money and awareness to help earthquake victims in Haiti.
Jonathon White, assistant professor of sociology, said in an email that students and faculty alike are seeking to extend direct efforts to benefit Haiti.
“There is a strong contingent of students (along with a couple of staff members) organizing to take a trip to Haiti to put their skills to work to helping in any way they can,” he wrote. “Others are continuing to organize fundraisers and education/awareness events. Others, like myself, are deeply involved in organizations outside of the campus who will continue to do work in Haiti for decades to come.”
Even without a first-hand account of what happened, students at Bridgewater State College students and faculty raised more than $10,000 on Feb. 2.
At Bridgewater State College, the event Hope.Help.Haiti, held on Feb. 2, raised $10,000 from students and faculty alike for the American Red Cross and Free the Children along with Partners in Health.
Decimus spoke at the fundraiser about how Haitians earning scholarships and college degrees would help rebuild Haiti in the future, according to the “Help for Haiti” BSC NewsLog.
In a separate interview, he stressed how Haitians need education to help them recover for themselves.
“If you want to offer any help to Haiti, see exactly what Haiti needs and train us, don’t just give us food,” he said. “Train people in engineering and farming; train and prepare people for when things like [this earthquake] happen.”
Decimus said Haitians need education, but that education must go towards keeping Haiti its own country.
“For [nations] to help us is not to change us. To help us is to help us access knowledge, access technology,” he said. “We are so far behind. We need to take it step-by-step to move forward.”
Decimus said after the earthquake, people took the opportunity to overcharge for resources. He said Haitians cannot extort themselves if they are to do better by their culture.
“We need to learn to live like other Haitians and defend each other,” he said. “We need to be educated as a nation and learn how to respect people, not just those with money or education but with lack of education. We need to know who we are as a people.”
Jonathon White, assistant professor of sociology, estimated over 1,000 people over the course of the event, drawing the feeling, “We are all Haitian.”
Milford Native Hits Broadway
By Katherine Landergan
The year was 1979. A senior at Milford High School was noticed for his disco dancing skills and roped into the school musical. Thirty years later, Rob Ruggiero would be making his directorial debut on Broadway.
“It really is a dream come true for someone who is in the theater,” said Ruggiero, who opened on Broadway this past February, with Matthew Lombardo’s comedy, Looped.
Looped tells the story of Tallulah Bankhead, an actress and wild partygoer, who is called into a sound studio to rerecord (or “loop”) one line of dialogue for her last film. Given her inebriated state, Bankhead is unable to loop the line. This sparks a comedic showdown between the actress and her film editor.
Ruggiero has also directed Looped for the Arena Stage in Washington D.C., and the Pasenda Playhouse in Los Angeles. He said his biggest challenge was adding scenes before the show premiered on Broadway.
“The challenges on a new play are different, it’s a bit like a moving target,” he said. “The characters develop, so you have to put a lot of focus and energy to nurture that.”
Looped features Valerie Harper, a four-time Emmy Award winner, who achieved fame as Rhoda Morgenstern on both the “Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and the CBS spin-off series “Rhoda.” Ruggiero has heard rumors that Harper’s performance in Looped will be nominated for a Tony Award.
“She is one of the most talented, kind, generous people that I know,” he said. “She doesn’t want any special treatment.”
Ruggiero said he is usually in rehearsal from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., six days a week. Before a show opens, he can be at the theater anywhere from 12 to 18 hours each day. And when one show is finished, the next one starts.
“It makes it very hard with friendships and personal relationships,” he said. “It’s a fascinating life but there are prices to pay.”
Ruggiero, originally from Milford, Mass., didn’t get his first taste of theater until his senior year of high school. He was a member of the disco dance club, and the choreographer of the club recruited him for the school musical, Oklahoma!.
Ruggiero went on to attend Westfield State College, where he participated in a number of musicals. He then transferred to Stonehill College, and became an active member of the theater department.
Patricia Sankus, head of Stonehill’s Theater Arts Program, said she first thought of Ruggiero as a sweet and shy young man.
“He started as an actor, and those first roles were life changing,” Sankus said. “After he did those roles I knew he had a talent that could be developed.”
Sankus said he participated in all the theater productions, whether as an actor, or technician. Ruggiero also directed a one-act play and a short musical.
“Stonehill helped springboard me into my career,” Ruggiero said. “It opened up doors and helped me understand myself as an artist.
In 2005, Ruggiero wrote and directed Ella, a musical about the life of Ella Fitzgerald, starring Tina Fabrique. The production won three Kevin Kline Awards, including “Outstanding Director of a Musical,” and three Joseph Jefferson Awards, including “Best Director-Revue.”
He also wrote and directed a musical revue, entitled Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn. The production had a successful run Off-Broadway in 2006, and received nominations for both the Outer Critics Circle Award for “Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical,” and the Drama Desk Award for “Outstanding Review.”
Currently, Ruggiero is directing the play, High, which he hopes to open on Broadway next year. But Ruggiero said Broadway has never been his ultimate goal as a director.
“I didn’t need to have a Broadway show, I just wanted to have my work produced,” he said. “A Broadway show is like the cherry on the sundae.”
The year was 1979. A senior at Milford High School was noticed for his disco dancing skills and roped into the school musical. Thirty years later, Rob Ruggiero would be making his directorial debut on Broadway.
“It really is a dream come true for someone who is in the theater,” said Ruggiero, who opened on Broadway this past February, with Matthew Lombardo’s comedy, Looped.
Looped tells the story of Tallulah Bankhead, an actress and wild partygoer, who is called into a sound studio to rerecord (or “loop”) one line of dialogue for her last film. Given her inebriated state, Bankhead is unable to loop the line. This sparks a comedic showdown between the actress and her film editor.
Ruggiero has also directed Looped for the Arena Stage in Washington D.C., and the Pasenda Playhouse in Los Angeles. He said his biggest challenge was adding scenes before the show premiered on Broadway.
“The challenges on a new play are different, it’s a bit like a moving target,” he said. “The characters develop, so you have to put a lot of focus and energy to nurture that.”
Looped features Valerie Harper, a four-time Emmy Award winner, who achieved fame as Rhoda Morgenstern on both the “Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and the CBS spin-off series “Rhoda.” Ruggiero has heard rumors that Harper’s performance in Looped will be nominated for a Tony Award.
“She is one of the most talented, kind, generous people that I know,” he said. “She doesn’t want any special treatment.”
Ruggiero said he is usually in rehearsal from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., six days a week. Before a show opens, he can be at the theater anywhere from 12 to 18 hours each day. And when one show is finished, the next one starts.
“It makes it very hard with friendships and personal relationships,” he said. “It’s a fascinating life but there are prices to pay.”
Ruggiero, originally from Milford, Mass., didn’t get his first taste of theater until his senior year of high school. He was a member of the disco dance club, and the choreographer of the club recruited him for the school musical, Oklahoma!.
Ruggiero went on to attend Westfield State College, where he participated in a number of musicals. He then transferred to Stonehill College, and became an active member of the theater department.
Patricia Sankus, head of Stonehill’s Theater Arts Program, said she first thought of Ruggiero as a sweet and shy young man.
“He started as an actor, and those first roles were life changing,” Sankus said. “After he did those roles I knew he had a talent that could be developed.”
Sankus said he participated in all the theater productions, whether as an actor, or technician. Ruggiero also directed a one-act play and a short musical.
“Stonehill helped springboard me into my career,” Ruggiero said. “It opened up doors and helped me understand myself as an artist.
In 2005, Ruggiero wrote and directed Ella, a musical about the life of Ella Fitzgerald, starring Tina Fabrique. The production won three Kevin Kline Awards, including “Outstanding Director of a Musical,” and three Joseph Jefferson Awards, including “Best Director-Revue.”
He also wrote and directed a musical revue, entitled Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn. The production had a successful run Off-Broadway in 2006, and received nominations for both the Outer Critics Circle Award for “Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical,” and the Drama Desk Award for “Outstanding Review.”
Currently, Ruggiero is directing the play, High, which he hopes to open on Broadway next year. But Ruggiero said Broadway has never been his ultimate goal as a director.
“I didn’t need to have a Broadway show, I just wanted to have my work produced,” he said. “A Broadway show is like the cherry on the sundae.”
Healthcare Bill Gets Mixed Results At College
by Matthew Atlas
(Easton, Mass.) ---- The universal health care bill was passed by the House on Sunday, and was met with mixed reactions by local students at Stonehill College.
House Democrats approved a major overhaul of the nation's healthcare system on Sunday, with a 219-212 vote. The bill has now been sent of President Obama, who succeeded in his year long struggle to get the measure passed.
He intends to sign the bill on Tuesday.
"It's a change after a long expensive plan," said Jamal Noshahi, 21, of Dallas, Texas. "It's better that we have something new and different instead of a plan people didn't like anyway."
Jared Allen, 22, of Walple, Mass., agreed. "I don't understand why everyone is saying it's going to be bad for the country. Everyone's getting healthcare, and is Canada's healthcare system so bad just because they have universal coverage? It's going to be a wait-and-see sort of thing."
Kevin Deane, 21, of Brockton, Mass., was also a supporter of the bill. "It's good because nobody is going to lose treatment."
Other students, however, did not view the bill favorably. "I'm a registered Democrat and I don't agree with the bill. My father is a doctor and doesn't agree either. When doctors and nurses don't think it's good... I mean, they're the forefront of the industry," said Joey D'Agostino, 21.
Republicans say the new system will burden the nation with immeasurable debt, weaken medicare, and create a role that is too large for the government to play in the heatlhcare system
The bill would require most Americans to have health insurance, would add 16 million people to the medicaid rolls and would subsidize private coverage for low- and middle- income poeple, at a cost to the government of $938 billion over 10 years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkUbhZVW_go
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3200:
(Easton, Mass.) ---- The universal health care bill was passed by the House on Sunday, and was met with mixed reactions by local students at Stonehill College.
House Democrats approved a major overhaul of the nation's healthcare system on Sunday, with a 219-212 vote. The bill has now been sent of President Obama, who succeeded in his year long struggle to get the measure passed.
He intends to sign the bill on Tuesday.
"It's a change after a long expensive plan," said Jamal Noshahi, 21, of Dallas, Texas. "It's better that we have something new and different instead of a plan people didn't like anyway."
Jared Allen, 22, of Walple, Mass., agreed. "I don't understand why everyone is saying it's going to be bad for the country. Everyone's getting healthcare, and is Canada's healthcare system so bad just because they have universal coverage? It's going to be a wait-and-see sort of thing."
Kevin Deane, 21, of Brockton, Mass., was also a supporter of the bill. "It's good because nobody is going to lose treatment."
Other students, however, did not view the bill favorably. "I'm a registered Democrat and I don't agree with the bill. My father is a doctor and doesn't agree either. When doctors and nurses don't think it's good... I mean, they're the forefront of the industry," said Joey D'Agostino, 21.
Republicans say the new system will burden the nation with immeasurable debt, weaken medicare, and create a role that is too large for the government to play in the heatlhcare system
The bill would require most Americans to have health insurance, would add 16 million people to the medicaid rolls and would subsidize private coverage for low- and middle- income poeple, at a cost to the government of $938 billion over 10 years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkUbhZVW_go
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3200:
Braving The Elements
By Dan Cermack
North Easton, Mass. --- Students at Stonehill College, nestled in the heart of New England, are accustomed to the occasional snow day.
However, after a weekend where temperatures bottomed out at five degrees below zero, several students said that new measures had to be taken to step outside.
"Going outside has become a process," said junior Kristen Labbe, of Portland, Maine, "I wear a very long coat with a hood, Ugg boots, a hat, gloves, and multiple layers of clothing, and when I'm inside I crank the heat."
"Cranking" the heat seems to be a popular strategy by many students. Senior Kate O'Leary of Ipswich, Mass., said she cranks her thermostat to "over 78 degrees" during these cold-spells.
"I'm originally from Florida so I'm not used to these temperatures. Blasting the heat and staying in bed seems like the smartest way to deal with it."
According to the U.S. National Weather Service, Friday had a reported high of 21 degrees and a low of 13. With an added wind chill making it feel closer to zero degrees, several students had to adjust their weekend plans.
"It was too cold to even go out," said senior Katie Cummings, of Chaminade, N.Y., "So I just wrapped up in my Snuggie and drank a lot of coffee. It was also too cold to smoke cigarettes so I just did it in my basement."
Another senior, Kait Mendall, of Gloucester, Mass., said she has another tactic for staying warm over the weekend: body heat.
"I literally got in bed with my roomate and spooned for half the day on Saturday," said Mendall, "It was awesome and hot."
Temperatures slightly rose as the weekend progressed with Sunday's reported temperatures climbing to a high of 28 and a low of 13.
Yet, as several students pointed out, these elements are to be expected in the middle of a New England winter.
"I've lived here all my life and am used to it," said senior Patrick Manchester, of nearby Stoughton, Mass. "How do you keep warm? Wear lots a layers and go outside as little as possible."
With the bulk of winter still to come, it seems the Stonehill community is taking all precautions necessary to brave the frigid weather.
North Easton, Mass. --- Students at Stonehill College, nestled in the heart of New England, are accustomed to the occasional snow day.
However, after a weekend where temperatures bottomed out at five degrees below zero, several students said that new measures had to be taken to step outside.
"Going outside has become a process," said junior Kristen Labbe, of Portland, Maine, "I wear a very long coat with a hood, Ugg boots, a hat, gloves, and multiple layers of clothing, and when I'm inside I crank the heat."
"Cranking" the heat seems to be a popular strategy by many students. Senior Kate O'Leary of Ipswich, Mass., said she cranks her thermostat to "over 78 degrees" during these cold-spells.
"I'm originally from Florida so I'm not used to these temperatures. Blasting the heat and staying in bed seems like the smartest way to deal with it."
According to the U.S. National Weather Service, Friday had a reported high of 21 degrees and a low of 13. With an added wind chill making it feel closer to zero degrees, several students had to adjust their weekend plans.
"It was too cold to even go out," said senior Katie Cummings, of Chaminade, N.Y., "So I just wrapped up in my Snuggie and drank a lot of coffee. It was also too cold to smoke cigarettes so I just did it in my basement."
Another senior, Kait Mendall, of Gloucester, Mass., said she has another tactic for staying warm over the weekend: body heat.
"I literally got in bed with my roomate and spooned for half the day on Saturday," said Mendall, "It was awesome and hot."
Temperatures slightly rose as the weekend progressed with Sunday's reported temperatures climbing to a high of 28 and a low of 13.
Yet, as several students pointed out, these elements are to be expected in the middle of a New England winter.
"I've lived here all my life and am used to it," said senior Patrick Manchester, of nearby Stoughton, Mass. "How do you keep warm? Wear lots a layers and go outside as little as possible."
With the bulk of winter still to come, it seems the Stonehill community is taking all precautions necessary to brave the frigid weather.
Haskon workers, supporters put up a fight
By Deirdre Watson
TAUNTON – After working at the Haskon factory for 31 years, Dick Pacheco retired in 1992.
Now, others who have worked at the factory for decades are facing the end of their Haskon careers sooner than they expected. The company Esterline is looking to close the factory.
But workers – and politicians – are fighting back.
Pacheco’s son, State Sen. Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton), is trying to save the jobs of the Haskon workers facing layoff.
“I’ll be around for as long as you want,” he told workers at a recent union rally designed to support workers.
This is a familiar scene being played out across the country. Factory workers are fighting to save their jobs by enlisting the help of politicians and labor union leaders.
“Some of these jobs were lost because of foreign competition, but a larger fraction were lost due to technological innovation or changes in customer preferences”, said Sean Mulholland, Stonehill College professor of economics.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 1,570 people were laid off in the U.S. in February 2010, compared to 2,737 people in February 2000.
“Manufacturing job loss and creation has always been a common occurrence in many countries. The US is not the only country to experience a loss in manufacturing jobs: from 2000-2006, China lost 4.5 million manufacturing jobs,” said Mulholland.
In Taunton, community members and groups showed support for Haskon at an April 12 rally.
The rally began on the Taunton Green, and continued with a march down Weir Street to the Haskon factory.
It was estimated that about 100 people participated in the events throughout afternoon.
Supporters and workers held signs that read “Haskon jobs...80 years in Taunton. Keep ‘em in Taunton” and “We need jobs not greed!” Many were wearing shirts that said, “Keep Haskon jobs in Taunton”.
Esterline, the company that owns the factory, plans to close the Taunton factory in favor of cheaper labor in California and possibly Mexico.
The factory has about 150 workers. Most of them are members of UE Local 204, the Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America.
The workers, politicians and union representatives hope to find another company to buy the Haskon factory from Esterline. If this doesn’t happen, they hope to secure fair severance packages for the workers.
Several politicians attended the event, including congressman U.S. Rep. (D-Mass.) Barney Frank and Democratic candidate for governor Grace Ross.
Massachusetts AFL-CIO president Robert Haynes came to voice support for the workers. “When they tell you Haskon owns this company, tell them people lie Dick Pacheco own this factory”, he said, referencing Marc Pacheco’s father.
Taunton City Council president Deborah Carr offered workers her support. “You are strongly supported by all our city councilors,” she said. She said the city could offer tax incentives to companies that might want to buy the factory. The union hopes that if another company bought the Haskon factory, employees might be able to keep their jobs.
The Rev. Mark Cregan, president of Stonehill College in Easton offered his support and the support of the Stonehill community to the workers. He said a short prayer and told the crowd, “every one of us has a certain human dignity”.
Corey Dolgon, director of community-based learning at Stonehill also attended the march. “It was significant that so many political leaders were there,” he said in an interview after the event.
Bob Kingsley, director of organization in UE’s national office, who flew in from Washington D.C. talked to the crowd. He encouraged workers to fight for justice.
“We intend to grab onto your leg, Esterline, like a junkyard dog,” said Kingsley.
The Haskon Factory has been in Taunton since 1931. Since its opening, it has provided steady jobs for many community members.
Peter Knowlton, president of UE District 2, was pleased with the turnout. “We got more people than we expected, more people from the community” he said. Haskon has been a relatively large employer in Taunton for the last 80 years.
“The purpose of these rallies is to give hope, to show that we’re optimistic about the situation,” he said.
Dolgon agreed that the march was a success as well. “On the one hand, the workers need to see and hear the level of support and commitment they have from thei union and other unions, from the community and its political leaders, and from surrounding institutions like Stonehill. This support helps them maintain their efforts, courage and solidarity to carry our a difficult struggle. On the other hand, the march is a show of strength to the company and, along with publicity and media attention, it helps to put pressure on company to negotiate more fairly”, he said.
Allison Wilhite, a senior at Stonehill, attended the rally to show her support.
“Hopefully the good weather reflects good fortune for the Haskon workers,” she said.
TAUNTON – After working at the Haskon factory for 31 years, Dick Pacheco retired in 1992.
Now, others who have worked at the factory for decades are facing the end of their Haskon careers sooner than they expected. The company Esterline is looking to close the factory.
But workers – and politicians – are fighting back.
Pacheco’s son, State Sen. Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton), is trying to save the jobs of the Haskon workers facing layoff.
“I’ll be around for as long as you want,” he told workers at a recent union rally designed to support workers.
This is a familiar scene being played out across the country. Factory workers are fighting to save their jobs by enlisting the help of politicians and labor union leaders.
“Some of these jobs were lost because of foreign competition, but a larger fraction were lost due to technological innovation or changes in customer preferences”, said Sean Mulholland, Stonehill College professor of economics.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 1,570 people were laid off in the U.S. in February 2010, compared to 2,737 people in February 2000.
“Manufacturing job loss and creation has always been a common occurrence in many countries. The US is not the only country to experience a loss in manufacturing jobs: from 2000-2006, China lost 4.5 million manufacturing jobs,” said Mulholland.
In Taunton, community members and groups showed support for Haskon at an April 12 rally.
The rally began on the Taunton Green, and continued with a march down Weir Street to the Haskon factory.
It was estimated that about 100 people participated in the events throughout afternoon.
Supporters and workers held signs that read “Haskon jobs...80 years in Taunton. Keep ‘em in Taunton” and “We need jobs not greed!” Many were wearing shirts that said, “Keep Haskon jobs in Taunton”.
Esterline, the company that owns the factory, plans to close the Taunton factory in favor of cheaper labor in California and possibly Mexico.
The factory has about 150 workers. Most of them are members of UE Local 204, the Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America.
The workers, politicians and union representatives hope to find another company to buy the Haskon factory from Esterline. If this doesn’t happen, they hope to secure fair severance packages for the workers.
Several politicians attended the event, including congressman U.S. Rep. (D-Mass.) Barney Frank and Democratic candidate for governor Grace Ross.
Massachusetts AFL-CIO president Robert Haynes came to voice support for the workers. “When they tell you Haskon owns this company, tell them people lie Dick Pacheco own this factory”, he said, referencing Marc Pacheco’s father.
Taunton City Council president Deborah Carr offered workers her support. “You are strongly supported by all our city councilors,” she said. She said the city could offer tax incentives to companies that might want to buy the factory. The union hopes that if another company bought the Haskon factory, employees might be able to keep their jobs.
The Rev. Mark Cregan, president of Stonehill College in Easton offered his support and the support of the Stonehill community to the workers. He said a short prayer and told the crowd, “every one of us has a certain human dignity”.
Corey Dolgon, director of community-based learning at Stonehill also attended the march. “It was significant that so many political leaders were there,” he said in an interview after the event.
Bob Kingsley, director of organization in UE’s national office, who flew in from Washington D.C. talked to the crowd. He encouraged workers to fight for justice.
“We intend to grab onto your leg, Esterline, like a junkyard dog,” said Kingsley.
The Haskon Factory has been in Taunton since 1931. Since its opening, it has provided steady jobs for many community members.
Peter Knowlton, president of UE District 2, was pleased with the turnout. “We got more people than we expected, more people from the community” he said. Haskon has been a relatively large employer in Taunton for the last 80 years.
“The purpose of these rallies is to give hope, to show that we’re optimistic about the situation,” he said.
Dolgon agreed that the march was a success as well. “On the one hand, the workers need to see and hear the level of support and commitment they have from thei union and other unions, from the community and its political leaders, and from surrounding institutions like Stonehill. This support helps them maintain their efforts, courage and solidarity to carry our a difficult struggle. On the other hand, the march is a show of strength to the company and, along with publicity and media attention, it helps to put pressure on company to negotiate more fairly”, he said.
Allison Wilhite, a senior at Stonehill, attended the rally to show her support.
“Hopefully the good weather reflects good fortune for the Haskon workers,” she said.
Slam Poet Inspires Two Stonehill Students
By Katherine Landergan
For slam poet George Watsky, nothing is off limits. He will talk about his lisp, his inability to find love, or that time he drunk texted God.
Watsky, a senior at Emerson College, has performed in New York City, at the Kennedy Center in Australia, and on the Fox Network. And last Tuesday, he inspired poets at the St. Patrick’s themed Concert Coffeehouse.
“I can’t believe I performed in the same room, on the same stage as him,” said Kalee Burrows, a freshman, who performed her poetry earlier that night.
Watsky said he tends to write about politics, his weaknesses, and what it was like to grow up in a multifaith household. He describes himself as a “seriocomic” poet, and said his goal as a performer is to make the audience feel a range of emotion.
“I want to make people laugh and I want to make them cry,” he said.
Watsky is currently studying in Los Angeles, and will graduate from Emerson College in May with a double major in acting and screenwriting. He plans to tour with his poetry, enter in screenwriting competitions, and to continue working for Youth Speaks, a nonprofit group that promotes the arts in schools. He also just released a hip hop album, now available on iTunes.
Burrows, a theatre major and avid Watsky fan, said she loves watching clips of his performances on YouTube. Her other top inspirations include Margaret Atwood and Langston Hughes.
Burrows, from Brookfield, N.H., said she started writing poetry by studying other poets.
“I would watch slam poets online, and emulate what they did,” Burrows said. “Then I began to find my own voice.”
Burrows’ work ranges from politically charged pieces to poems about her day to day problems. She read four original works at Concert Coffeehouse, including a piece about the environment, entitled “Like Gandhi said, Be the Change.” Burrows said she was inspired to write the poem after seeing Lindsey Mac, a singer and environmental activist, perform at Concert Coffeehouse earlier this year.
“When writing the poem, I asked myself the question, ‘what if Mother Nature was real?’” Burrows said. “Would I apologize to her for our wrongdoings?”
Rex Macapinlac, a freshman, who also performed his poetry at Tuesday’s Coffeehouse, said he admires Watsky for incorporating politics into his poetry. He has studied clips of Watsky online, and tries to incorporate Watsky’s theatrical style into his own performances.
“Anyone who is honest to the crowd, that’s what I admire,” said Macapinlac, a communications major from Hyannis, Mass.
Macapinlac, who idolizes Shel Silverstein and Tupac, said he has been writing rap songs since the sixth grade. This past fall, he decided to alter some of his raps and perform them as poems at Concert Coffeehouse. He is also currently working on a hip hop demo, and describes his sound as a mesh of Kanye West, Coldplay, and Prince.
“The key to success is to be universal in your poetry,” Macapinlac said. “That’s what I aim for.”
For slam poet George Watsky, nothing is off limits. He will talk about his lisp, his inability to find love, or that time he drunk texted God.
Watsky, a senior at Emerson College, has performed in New York City, at the Kennedy Center in Australia, and on the Fox Network. And last Tuesday, he inspired poets at the St. Patrick’s themed Concert Coffeehouse.
“I can’t believe I performed in the same room, on the same stage as him,” said Kalee Burrows, a freshman, who performed her poetry earlier that night.
Watsky said he tends to write about politics, his weaknesses, and what it was like to grow up in a multifaith household. He describes himself as a “seriocomic” poet, and said his goal as a performer is to make the audience feel a range of emotion.
“I want to make people laugh and I want to make them cry,” he said.
Watsky is currently studying in Los Angeles, and will graduate from Emerson College in May with a double major in acting and screenwriting. He plans to tour with his poetry, enter in screenwriting competitions, and to continue working for Youth Speaks, a nonprofit group that promotes the arts in schools. He also just released a hip hop album, now available on iTunes.
Burrows, a theatre major and avid Watsky fan, said she loves watching clips of his performances on YouTube. Her other top inspirations include Margaret Atwood and Langston Hughes.
Burrows, from Brookfield, N.H., said she started writing poetry by studying other poets.
“I would watch slam poets online, and emulate what they did,” Burrows said. “Then I began to find my own voice.”
Burrows’ work ranges from politically charged pieces to poems about her day to day problems. She read four original works at Concert Coffeehouse, including a piece about the environment, entitled “Like Gandhi said, Be the Change.” Burrows said she was inspired to write the poem after seeing Lindsey Mac, a singer and environmental activist, perform at Concert Coffeehouse earlier this year.
“When writing the poem, I asked myself the question, ‘what if Mother Nature was real?’” Burrows said. “Would I apologize to her for our wrongdoings?”
Rex Macapinlac, a freshman, who also performed his poetry at Tuesday’s Coffeehouse, said he admires Watsky for incorporating politics into his poetry. He has studied clips of Watsky online, and tries to incorporate Watsky’s theatrical style into his own performances.
“Anyone who is honest to the crowd, that’s what I admire,” said Macapinlac, a communications major from Hyannis, Mass.
Macapinlac, who idolizes Shel Silverstein and Tupac, said he has been writing rap songs since the sixth grade. This past fall, he decided to alter some of his raps and perform them as poems at Concert Coffeehouse. He is also currently working on a hip hop demo, and describes his sound as a mesh of Kanye West, Coldplay, and Prince.
“The key to success is to be universal in your poetry,” Macapinlac said. “That’s what I aim for.”
Wheaton efforts extend to Haiti
By Bobby Calobrisi
While with his class in Trinidad and Tobago, Paul Roell wanted to have a collaboration of song, dance and spoken word groups perform together on the campus of Wheaton College.
This idea sprung up as a way to raise money for the people of Haiti devastated by the earthquake that struck on Jan. 12.
At the start of spring semester, Roell brought his plan to Gabe Amo, head of Wheaton’s Student Government Association, and the benefit concert raised $1,380 on Feb. 5.
Wheaton College’s Student Government Association has raised $2,500 for Doctor’s Without Borders with students, like Roell, putting on an array of events to fund for Haiti relief.
“They operate on the ground and have been providing medical care for an historic period of time,” Amo said of Doctors Without Borders. “We wanted to put the money to use in a way that is in the spirit of contributing.”
The student-run events have included a social hour, a bake sale, a volunteer gate and a benefit concert.
Roell, a sophomore, said pooling the money seemed the best way to send to a fast and efficient organization. “We wanted to have the most substantial amount that we could send for the most fitting cause.”
The one-night benefit concert consisted of seven performance groups (singing, dancing and spoken word) each singing two songs and then singing “Can’t Give Up Now” in unison to cap off the event, which collected donations at the door, starting at $5 an entry.
Each group also contributed from their funds that the school gave them, raising a couple of hundred dollars, said Roell, member of an all-male a cappella group, The Gentleman Callers.
At the Jan. 30 basketball doubleheader the Haitian national anthem was played and $200
was raised, said Scott Dietz, assistant director of athletics for media relations.
John Sutyak, assistant director of athletics, said the athletic department was honored the students used basketball to raise money.
“It makes you think how lucky we have it that we can play on sunny afternoon and there are people struggling right in now in that country and we’re playing a game. It puts things in perspective a little bit,” said Sutyak.
From Feb. 5-7, the Wheaton Athletic Mentors (WAMs), who have put on an
alcohol free weekend the past six years, called the Big Event--that raises money for a local charity--dedicated the event to helping Haiti and raised $800.
More than 1,000 people from Wheaton and 300 others attended, said Jason Clucas, co-president of the Mentors executive board.
“We obviously had a great pouring of support of the school and because of that we were able to have our best Big Event in the four years I’ve been a part of the organization,” said Clucas. “When we changed the foundation, we showed that we were dedicated to helping Haiti and helping the [Haitian] student athletes we had here really finding themselves in tough times.”
The Mentors will send the money to groups helping special needs students in Haiti or a group providing clean water or both, said Clucas.
Roell is impressed at the relief efforts of Wheaton College that started the first week into the spring semester.
“It goes to show that this really is a cause worth benefitting,” he said. “People involved will do the best they can to see things through.”
By Bobby Calobrisi
While with his class in Trinidad and Tobago, Paul Roell wanted to have a collaboration of song, dance and spoken word groups perform together on the campus of Wheaton College.
This idea sprung up as a way to raise money for the people of Haiti devastated by the earthquake that struck on Jan. 12.
At the start of spring semester, Roell brought his plan to Gabe Amo, head of Wheaton’s Student Government Association, and the benefit concert raised $1,380 on Feb. 5.
Wheaton College’s Student Government Association has raised $2,500 for Doctor’s Without Borders with students, like Roell, putting on an array of events to fund for Haiti relief.
“They operate on the ground and have been providing medical care for an historic period of time,” Amo said of Doctors Without Borders. “We wanted to put the money to use in a way that is in the spirit of contributing.”
The student-run events have included a social hour, a bake sale, a volunteer gate and a benefit concert.
Roell, a sophomore, said pooling the money seemed the best way to send to a fast and efficient organization. “We wanted to have the most substantial amount that we could send for the most fitting cause.”
The one-night benefit concert consisted of seven performance groups (singing, dancing and spoken word) each singing two songs and then singing “Can’t Give Up Now” in unison to cap off the event, which collected donations at the door, starting at $5 an entry.
Each group also contributed from their funds that the school gave them, raising a couple of hundred dollars, said Roell, member of an all-male a cappella group, The Gentleman Callers.
At the Jan. 30 basketball doubleheader the Haitian national anthem was played and $200
was raised, said Scott Dietz, assistant director of athletics for media relations.
John Sutyak, assistant director of athletics, said the athletic department was honored the students used basketball to raise money.
“It makes you think how lucky we have it that we can play on sunny afternoon and there are people struggling right in now in that country and we’re playing a game. It puts things in perspective a little bit,” said Sutyak.
From Feb. 5-7, the Wheaton Athletic Mentors (WAMs), who have put on an
alcohol free weekend the past six years, called the Big Event--that raises money for a local charity--dedicated the event to helping Haiti and raised $800.
More than 1,000 people from Wheaton and 300 others attended, said Jason Clucas, co-president of the Mentors executive board.
“We obviously had a great pouring of support of the school and because of that we were able to have our best Big Event in the four years I’ve been a part of the organization,” said Clucas. “When we changed the foundation, we showed that we were dedicated to helping Haiti and helping the [Haitian] student athletes we had here really finding themselves in tough times.”
The Mentors will send the money to groups helping special needs students in Haiti or a group providing clean water or both, said Clucas.
Roell is impressed at the relief efforts of Wheaton College that started the first week into the spring semester.
“It goes to show that this really is a cause worth benefitting,” he said. “People involved will do the best they can to see things through.”
By Bobby Calobrisi
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