FEBRUARY Â 2012
observer THE Â OFFICIAL Â STUDENT Â NEWSPAPER Â OF Â ESSEX Â COUNTY Â COLLEGE
SINCE Â 1968
THE Â STUDENT Â VOICE
Governor  Christie  Visits  Irvington  Church  “Remember  that  you  are  in  a  house  of  God,� -  Pastor  Ron  Christian  Reminds  Attendees By  Wintella  Powell and  Lev  D.  Zilbermintz
 About  400  people  packed  Chris- tian  Love  Baptist  Church  in  Irvington  to  hear  Governor  Christopher  Christie  speak  about  crime  and  education.  The  event  held  January  19,  2012  was  organized  by  church  leaders  in  coordination  with  the  Gover- Photo  credit:  The  Seattle  Times QRUÂśV RIÂżFH  The  event  started  at  10  a.m.,  with  a  blessing  by  Reverend  Reginald  Jackson,  chairman  of  the  Essex  County  College  Board  of  Trustees.  Following  recitation  of  the  Pledge  of  Allegiance,  a  choir  of  three  Page  six young  children  sang  the  national  anthem. Pastor  Ron  Christian  of  Christian  Love  Baptist  Church  introduced  Governor  Christie.  The  pastor  asked  the  audience  to  act  respectably  to  each  other  and  the  elected  representatives.  “Remember  that  you  are  in  a  house  of  God,â€?  said  Christian. By  Ben  Potesky Mayor  Wayne  Smith  of  Irvington  called  on  Staff  Writer the  attendees  to  be  “very,  very  professional  and  respectfulâ€?  when  addressing  Governor  r.  Martin  Luther  King,  Jr.  Christie. should  have  been  at  home   Upon  entering  the  church,  Gover- with  his  wife,  children  and  nor  C hristie  received  a  warm  welcome  and  grandchildren  celebrating  a  standing  ovation. his  83rd  birthday  on  the  15th  of  this   In  his  speech,  Christie  talked  about  year.  Unfortunately  on  April  4th  1968  ZKDW KDSSHQHG EHIRUH KH WRRN RIÂżFH $F- cowardly  people  who  feared  MLK’s  cording  to  the  governor,  over  117,000  jobs  message  of  peace,  justice  and  equal- were  lost  prior  to  his  election.  Taxes  were  ity  ended  his  life  far  too  early.  MLK’s  raised  115  times.  Within  eight  years,  New  assassins  did  succeed  in  destroying  his  Jersey  became  the  state  with  the  highest- body,  but  they  did  not  succeed  in  de- paid  taxes  in  America,  said  Christie.  Be- stroying  his  message.  On  January  17th  cause  of  this,  people  began  to  move  out  2012  hundreds  of  people  from  all  over  of  state  to  Florida,  Virginia,  Pennsylvania  NJ  gathered  in  ECC’s  Mary  Burch  and  North  Carolina. Theatre  to  celebrate  his  life  and  ac-  Christie  described  to  the  audience  Photo  credit:  Wintella  Powell complishments. Lawrence  Hamm,  delivers  passionate  speech how  he  had  to  make  some  tough  choices   The  event  was  hosted  by  Dr.  LQ WKH YHU\ ÂżUVW ZHHN RI WDNLQJ RIÂżFH $F- Akil  Kokayi  Khalfani,  the  director  of  FRUGLQJ WR &KULVWLH VWDWH RIÂżFLDOV WROG KLP the  Africana  Institute  at  ECC.  Khal- ity.â€?  Dr.  Abdullah  emphasized  about  the  that  if  he  did  not  cut  two  billion  dollars  in  fani  opened  by  paying  homage  to  all  power  of  education,  and  how  even  today,  spending  in  the  next  three  weeks,  New  Jer- the  men  and  women  who  fought  on  for  anyone  to  truly  be  free,  they  must  sey  would  not  be  able  to  make  payroll  in  the  front  lines  of  the  civil  rights  move- have  an  education.  Recalling  her  child- March.  Realizing  that  the  state  was  in  seri- PHQW ZKR VDFULÂżFHG WKHLU OLYHV LQ hood  in  the  South,  she  remembered  hav- RXV ÂżVFDO WURXEOH &KULVWLH FXW WKH EXGJHW order  that  their  children  and  grandchil- ing  no  choice  but  to  go  to  “colored  onlyâ€?  two  years  in  a  row. dren  could  live  in  a  country  that  would  places  in  public.  Abdullah  said,  “I  say  Over  600  programs  were  cut  during  Chris- not  treat  them  as  second  class  citizens.  to  you  today  although  we  may  not  have  WLHÂśV WZR \HDUV LQ RIÂżFH EXW WD[HV ZHUH The  ECC  head  then  turned  over  the  lines  for  white  and  colored  we  still  have  not  raised. stage  to  ECC  President,  Dr.  Edythe  engrained  in  our  society,  engrained  in  our   Christie  said  that  there  were  three  M.  Abdullah.  Dr.  Abdullah  opened  minds  things  that  separate  us  as  human  important  things  that  needed  to  be  ad- with  a  powerful  quote  from  MLK  “An  beings,  and  we  must  free  ourselves  from  dressed:  reduction  of  income  taxes,  im- individual  has  not  started  living  until  those  chains.â€?  Following  Dr.  Abdullah’s  proving  education  and  cutting  down  crime. KH KDV ULVHQ DERYH WKH QDUURZ FRQÂżQHV powerful  speech,  Rev.  Lola  Akiwowo  led   By  way  of  example,  Christie  of  his  individualistic  concerns  to  the  an  opening  prayer,  followed  by  several  pointed  to  the  fact  that  “property  taxes  broader  concerns  of  all  humanity.â€?  fantastic  songs  performed  by  the  ECC  went  up  less  last  year  than  in  20  years.â€?  She  then  went  on  to  say  “MLK  was  choir  that  truly  embodying  the  events  This  was  accomplished  with  the  help  of  not  only  about  the  struggle  of  African  tone.  authorities  in  Trenton  and  Newark’s  may- Americans,  but  the  struggle  of  human- continued  on  page  two or,  Cory  Booker.
Dr.  Martin  Luther  King,  Jr. In  His  Own  Words
Remembering  Dr.  Martin  Luther  King,  Jr.
D
Photo  credit:  Wintella  Powell NJ  Governor  Chris  Christie
 To  applause,  the  governor  said  that  he  wanted  to  cut  income  taxes  by  10%  and  raise  the  income  credit  for  the  working  poor.  Another  important  thing  is  the  education  system.  Christie  said  that  teachers  need  to  be  evaluated  to  ensure  WKDW WKH\ DUH TXDOLÂżHG WR WHDFK FKLOGUHQ Any  teacher  who  does  not  have  the  necessary  teaching  skills  will  have  to  leave.  “The  criteria  for  the  success  of  the  school  system  is  not  based  primar- ily  on  your   zip  code,  but  on  the  quality  of  the  teachers,“   said  Christie.  Christie  said  that  only  “twenty- three  percent  of  children  in  Newark  graduated  with  a  high  school  diploma.â€?   The  governor  also  noted  that  his  great- grandparents  emigrated  to  Newark;Íž  that  his  grandparents  and  parents  lived  in  Newark  until  1967.  “My  parents  moved  out  of  Newark  in  1967  because  they  were  afraid  I  would  not  get  an  education,â€?  said  Christie.  Crime  was  the  third  important  issue  that  Christie  addressed.   The  gov- ernor  questioned  the  logic  of  releasing  violent  offenders  before  they  came  to  trial.    “They  should  keep  you  in  jail  until  you  came  to  trial.   If  you  are  ac- TXLWWHG WKDW LV ÂżQH Âł VDLG &KULVWLH  The  governor  wondered  why  $27,000  was  spent  to  house  non-Âviolent  offenders.  By  comparison,  drug  treat- ment  costs  $12,000  per  year.  Following  his  speech,  Chris- tie  took  questions  from  the  audience.  A  member  of  the  audience  commented  continued  on  page  two
Long  Lines  Plague  ECC  Bookstore  Buyback  Program By  Lev  D.  Zilbermintz News  Editor
Photo  credit:  Wintella  Powell (&& VWXGHQWV ¿OO (&& %RRNVWRUH IRU )DOO Buyback  program.
 A  long  line  of  students  snaked  to- ZDUGV WKH %X\EDFN RI¿FH ORFDWHG LQ front  of  the  ECC  Bookstore  on  Level  1.  Students  were  patiently  waiting  in  line  to  sell  their  college  textbooks  back.  Every  so  often,  the  line  would  inch  forward,  and   an- other  student  would  try  sell  his  or  her books.  According  to  the  store  policy  post- ed  at  www.essex.edu/bookstore/policy. html   used  books  have  a  return  value  of  30  percent  of  the  purchase  price.  This  means  that  a  book  which  originally  cost  $60  will  be  sold  back  for  $20.  Used  books  can  be  returned  dur- LQJ WKH ¿UVW WZR ZHHNV RI )DOO DQG
Spring  semesters.  During  Summer  I  and  II  terms,  used  books  can  be  returned  during  WKH ¿UVW ZHHN RQO\ ,Q RUGHU WR UHWXUQ WKH books,  the  student  must  have  the  original  purchase  receipt,  stated  the website.  ECCO  staff  talked  to  students  dur- ing  the  Fall   Buyback  program,  held December  12  –  16,  2011.  Most  students  were  resigned  to  getting  only   a  little  mon- ey  for  their  books.
was  displeased  with  the  slow  pace  at  which  the  cashiers  worked. “Cashiers  need  to  put  more  effort,  pas- sion  in  their  job,�  said  Tabatha,  a  Social  Science  major. ECCO  staff  counted  at  least  twenty  stu- dents  waiting  in  line,  and  only  one  ca- shier  serving  them.
Marva  Rudder,  the  Director  of  the  Bookstore,  defended   the  cashier.  In Izaias,  an  undecided  major,  said,  [I  take]  an  email  response,  the  director  wrote,  “Whatever  money  they  [the  Bookstore]  “The  cashier  performs  satisfactorily.  give  me.  Use  it  to  buy  books  for  next  se- No  complaints  were  ever  made  regard- mester.â€? ing  the  process.â€? Another  student,  Tabatha,  Class  of  2013, Â
Essex  County  College  303  University  Ave.  Newark,  NJ  07102
continued  on  page  two
PAGE Â 2
FEBRUARY Â 2012
Christie  Church  Visit  continued  from  page  one
as  to  whether  the  Governor  and  Legislature  could  do  anything  to  stop  the  killings  in  New- ark.  After  all,  the  anti-Âbullying  bill  was  fast- tracked  through  the  Legislature. Afrika,  an  ECC  alumnus,  Class  of  2011,  asked,  “What  is  the  Governor  going  to  do  to  create  jobs?â€?  Gary  Campbell,  a  member  of  People’s  Organization  for  Progress,  said,  “I  hate  to  be  negative,  but  everything  was  set  up.  Every- thing  is  controlled  [by  the  church].  The  gov- ernor  did  not  address  the  foreclosure  issue  in  Irvington.  I  think  that  is  key.â€?  Viva  White,  a  Newark  native,  said  that  the  meeting  with  the  governor  should  have  been  held  “in  a  bigger  buildingâ€?  and  a  better  time  of  the  day.  “It  is  about  the  people,â€?  said  White.
Look, a tall purple rectangle!
NEWS Bookstore  Buyback
Remembering  MLK continued  from  page  one
 Rudder  explained  that  the  Bookstore  uses  a  set  criteria  for  determining  which  books  it  will  buy  back.  According  to  Rudder,  “the  buying  decision  is  made  with  the  aid  of  the  textbook  Buyer’s  Guide.Textbooks  are  purchased  if  they  will  be  used  in  the  upcoming  se- mester. Textbooks  are  purchased  if  up  to  the  buyback  event  no  edition  changes  are  announced.  The  Bookstore  also  purchases  text  which  will  not  be  used  in  ECC  class- rooms  (per  the  Buyer’s  Guide  and  Wholesale Agreement).�  Aly,  a  Biology/Premed  student,  Class  of  2015,  wanted  to  see  the  Bookstore  buy  more  books  than  now.  The  freshman  said  she  sold  one  book  for  $10,  a  fraction  of  its  original  cost.  Another  nursing  students,  Natalie,  Class  of  2012,  said,  “It  is  holiday.  You  can  only  get  a  little  extra  money  back.�  According  to  Director  Rudder,  students  may  get  up  to  50  percent  of  the  original  price  for  their  text- books.   A  lot  depends   on  condition;͞  demand;͞  lack  of  edition  changes;͞  and  whether  texts  will  be  used  in  the classrooms.  Asked  whether  the  Bookstore  had  an  Internet  buyback  program,  Rudder  said  that  one  has  been  in  place  since  2008.  It  can  be  found  at http://www.essex.edu/bookstore/buyback/index.html  The  next  Buyback  program  will  take  place  at  the  end  of  the  Spring  2012  semester.
 Eventually  it  was  time  for  the  keynote  speaker,  civil  rights  activist  Lawrence  ‘Larry�  Hamm,  a  veteran  human  rights  activist  with  over  30  years  of  experience.  Immediately  after  taking  the  stage  Mr.  Hamm’s  strong  presence  was  felt  by  the  audience  as  his  powerful  voice  boomed  throughout  the  auditorium.  “It  is  a  great  honor  for  me  to  be  here  with  you  today  for  this  celebration  of  one  of  the  greatest  Americans  that  ever  lived,  Dr.  Martin  Luther  King,  Jr.�  he  opened.    Hamm  continued  with  an  extremely  pas- sionate  speech,  telling  students  that  just  like  the  civil  rights  pioneers  before  them  it  is  time  to  take  action.  “We  need  to  be  marching  right  now  on  boards  of  education  all  over  this  state  to  make  Dr.  King’s  books  required  readings  in  these  public  schools!�  he  continued.  Mr.  Hamm  then  reminded  the  audience  that  MLK  day  was  by  no  means  given  to  the  people,  and  if  it  weren’t  for  the  hard  work  and  dedication  of  certain  men  and  women,  MLK  day  would  have  likely  not  become  a  holiday.   Hamm  eventually  closed  with  a  message  to  the  students  of  ECC  “Our  history  shows  us  that  if  we  can  put  aside  our  differences  and  unite  on  our  common  interests,  there  is  NOTHING  we  cannot  accomplish!�   After  the  event  was  over  I  asked  Dr.  Khal- fani  what  the  one  message  from  event  he  would  like  the  students  to  remember.  Khalfani  said,  “The  message  to  take  away  from  this  is  that  students  today  have  a  huge  role  in  changing  the  world  just  as  they  did  in  the  civil  rights  movement.�    This  event  was  not  only  a  celebration  of  MLK  the  man,  but  the  message  he  conveyed,  and  that  if  students  of  ECC  have  the  courage  to  stand  up  for  the  things  they  believe  in  just  as  he  did,  then  they  truly  have  the  power  to  change  the  world.
continued  from  page  one
Did  You  Know?
Your stomach produces a new layer of mucus every two weeks so that it wont digest itself.
Choosing  Identities continued  from  page  seven
When you talk to your child, you build vocabulary, so everyday moments become learning moments. For more tips, visit bornlearning.org
Free  Income  Tax Preparation Â
[but]  it  would  be  for  us  a  backward  step,â€?  Ryder  ratio- nalizes  as  he  weighs  the  options  of  assimilating  into  white  society  for  survival,  or  accepting  the  complex  psychological  “burdenâ€?  of  the  black  race.  In  fact,  he  is  one  of  the  most  ardent  believers  in  this:  Ryder  chas- tises  the  “growing  liberality,  almost  a  laxity,â€?  of  others  in  the  Blue  Vein  Society  concerning  intermingling  with  blacks.  He  does  this  despite  his  own  humble  origins.  But  by  the  end  of  the  story,  after  Liza  Jane’s  poignant  – and  chastening—appeal,  the  answer  to  whom  between  whites  and  blacks  the  group  should  be  loyal  seems  clear:  the  one  that  would  be  loyal  to  them.  7KH ZRUGV WRQH DQG FRQWH[W RI WKH ÂżQDO SDUDJUDSKV RI “The  Wife  of  His  Youthâ€?  suggest  the  whole  audience  in  attendance  has  been  moved  by  Ryder’s  tale.  There  was  no  true  alternative  to  handling  the  appearance  of  someone  like  Liza  Jane;Íž  acceptance  was  the  only  right  answer.  “For  the  story  had  awakened  a  responsive  thrill  in  many  hearts.  There  were  some  present  who  had  seen,  and  others  who  had  heard  their  fathers  and  grand-Â
fathers  tell,  the  wrongs  and  sufferings  of  this  past  generation,  and  all  of  them  still  felt,  in  their  darker  moments,  the  shadow  hanging  over  themâ€?.  Even  within  the  Blue  Vein  Society,  Liza  Jane’s  story  resonates.  Ryder  (and  Chesnutt)  knew  it  would.  By  having  Liza  Jane  wait  in  an  adjoining  room,  by  Ry- der’s  act  of  looking  at  Mrs.  Dixon  with  a  “mingled  expression  of  renunciation  and  inquiry,â€?  and  by  making  his  intent  to  choose  his  loyal  wife  abun- dantly  clear.  But  most  telling  of  all  would  be  his  recitation  of  the  moral  charge  “to  thine  own  self  be  true,â€?  uttered  by  Polonius  in  Shakespeare’s  Hamlet,  SODFHG VLJQLÂżFDQWO\ EHIRUH WKH HQG RI WKH WDOH It  is  easily  arguable  that  Ryder  had  made  his  choice  well  before  revealing  her,  in  his  own  words  to  himself.  The  audience  is  meant  to  be  moved;Íž  the  ¿FWLRQDO 5\GHU NQHZ WKHLU KHDUWV %\ H[WHQVLRQ LW is  suggested  that  author  Chesnutt  knew  his  read- ing  audience.  “He  should  have  acknowledged  her,â€?  they  say.  To  deny  “the  wife  of  his  youthâ€?  in  all  her  apparent  blackness  and  loyalty  would  be  to  deny  some  fundamental  part  of  themselves–their  own  respective  racial  identities.
For  ECC  Students Now  Through  April  16th 2I¿FH RI 0DUNHWLQJ &RPPXQLFDWLRQV
99% of Americans have seen combat on TV. 1% of Americans have seen combat in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Sandra M. Palumbo, U.S. Navy - Bahrain, November 6, 2007
 ECC’s  Single  Stop  USA  student  resource  center  is  offering  free  income  tax  preparation  services  for  students  now  through  April  16.   Those  eligible  must  be  current  ECC  students  with  incomes  of  less  than  $49,000  if  married  or  with  dependents,  or  less  than  $25,000  if  single  without  dependents.  Stu- GHQWV PXVW EULQJ LGHQWLÂżFDWLRQ DQG 6RFLDO Security  cards  for  everyone  listed  on  the  return.  Also  required  are  W-Â2  forms  for  each  job;Íž  documentation  and  provider’s  tax  iden- WLÂżFDWLRQ LI FODLPLQJ FKLOGFDUH H[SHQVHV DQG any  other  tax-Ârelated  documentation  received,  such  as  tuition  receipts.    The  free  service  is  offered  from  10  a.m.  to  2  p.m.  Mondays,  Tuesdays,  Thurs- days,  and  Fridays,  and  3  to  7  p.m.  Wednes- GD\V 7KH FRQÂżGHQWLDO VHVVLRQV DUH KHOG LQ WKH Green  Area  near  the  Educational  Opportunity  )XQG (2) RIÂżFH &DOO .HYLQ .XUG]LHO DW 973-Â877-Â1856  for  additional  information.  Taxes  are  due  this  year  by  April  17,  as  April  15  falls  on  a  Sunday  and  April  16  is  the  Emancipation  Day  holiday  in  the  District  of  Columbia.
We know where you’re coming from. We’ve got your back. Join the online community at IAVA.org
ESSEX Â COUNTY Â COLLEGE Â OBSERVER
PAGE Â 3
FEBRUARY Â 2012
student life Getting By At Essex County College S u r v i v a l  T i p s  F r o m  a  R e c e n t  G r a d u a t e By  Leonita  Rexha Staff  Writer
New  Students:
transcripts)  and  degree  requirements  before  seeing  them.  If  you  think  you  don’t  have  a  degree,  then  you  are  Liberal  Arts.  *This  applies  to  current  stu- dents  as  well*  ,I \RX DUH JHWWLQJ ÂżQDQFLDO DLG DOZD\V EH VXUH WR JR LQ WKH RIÂżFH ZLWK HYHU\WKLQJ EHFDXVH they  will  make  you  go  back  six  times  for  the  small- est  things  and  the  line  there  can  take  forever.  Try  to  schedule  your  visits  there  when  you  have  abso- lutely  nothing  to  do  for  the  next  couple  of  hours.   6-  If  you  are  planning  to  go  to  a  four  year  college  after  Essex  County  College,  make  certain  the  classes  you  are  taking  are  transferrable  or  else  \RX ZLOO HQG XS ÂżQGLQJ RXW \RX WRRN WKRVH FODVVHV for  no  reason.  NJTRANSFER.org  is  a  good  website  to  help  you  with  that.  Remedial  classes,  those  be- low  100,  are  non-Âtransferrable.    7-  If  you  are  going  to  a  four  year  college,  your  hardest  classes  will  be  your  best  and  the  most  memorable. Â
 First,  I  would  like  to  say  Welcome  to  Es- sex  County  College  and  congratulations  on  your  acceptance.  Now,  that  you  are  in  college,  here  is  a  list  of  items  that  may  better  prepare  you  for  stu- dent  life.  No,  itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  not  more  books  to  buy,  but  some  things  , ZLVK , NQHZ ZKHQ , ÂżUVW JRW KHUH )ROORZ WKHVH VWHSV DQG \RXU ÂżUVW VHPHVWHU ZRQÂśW EH WRR EDG hopefully!  1-  The  counselors  in  the  Red  Area  gelp  ¿UVW WHUP VWXGHQWV FKRRVH WKHLU FODVVHV <RX FDQ also  register  withdraw  online.  This  means  you  can  avoid  waiting  in  the  never-Âending  Enrollment  Services  line.  2-  Take  time  to  learn  your  way  around  WKH FROOHJH 'R QRW ORRN IRU \RXU FODVVHV ÂżYH PLQ- utes  before  classes  start  as  some  professors  will  not  excuse  your  lateness.  They  are  preparing  you  for  the  real  world  where  lateness  will  not  be  ac- cepted  by  your  employers.  3-  You  will  have  to  do  everything  on  your  own  unless  you  have  a  really  good  profes- sor  or  counselor  to  help  you.  Thus,  if  you  have  found  that  good  samaritan  or  counselor  to  help  \RX DOZD\V KDYH RQ KDQG \RXU DXGLW XQRIÂżFLDO
Illustration  credit:  Leonita  Rexha
Good  luck!
WEST ESSEX BEAT
ECCO  Roving  Photographer
Meet...Indira  Singh
 8-  If  you  are  not  used  to  or  afraid  of  the  work  load  that  college  gives,  donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  be.  In  the  pro- cess  you  will  learn  to  work  under  pressure  and  un- derstand  the  meaning  of  procrastination. Â
Student Life & Activites at The West Essex Campus By  Patrice  Wright Staff  Writer
Photo  Credit:  Wintella  Powell ,QGLUD 6LQJK (&& 'HQWDO +\JLHQH DQG (GXFDWLRQ PDMRU By  Wintella  Powell Staff  Writer
 Indira  Singhâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  perspective  of  Essex  County  College  is  that  no  matter  how  old  you  are  or  where  you  are  within  your  education,  it  is  never  too  late  to  pursue  or  further  your  education.  The  college  has  over  600  hundred  programs  to  choose  from.   Singhâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  majors  are  Dental  Hygiene  and  Education.  Indira  desires  to  teach  everyone  all  around  the  world  how  to  properly  take  care  of  their  teeth.  She  wants  to  provide  free  dental  plans  for  people  in  other  countries  who  cannot  afford  dental  insurance.   Singh  enjoys  motivating  children  and  encourages  them  to  get  a  good  education  and  to  stay  in  school  in  order  to  lead  successful  lives.  Indira  believes  that  it  is  important  that  our  African  American  children  know  their  history.  We  all  must  remember  our  brothers  and  sisters  who  have  paved  the  way  for  us.   With  that  being  said,  Indira  wants  the  Black  Student  Union  reinstated  at  Essex  County  College.   She  is  seeking  serious  students  who  are  interested  in  helping  her  in  this  venture. Â
 Essex  County  Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  West  Essex  campus,  ORFDWHG LQ :HVW &DOGZHOO LV ÂżOOHG ZLWK VFKRRO VSLULW just  in  time  for  the  Spring  Semester.     Most  of  West  Essexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  events  are  free  and  open  to  all  of  the  students  who  attend  the  campus.   As  the  semester  progresses,  more  of  events  will  be  added  to  the  calendar  and  with  everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  favorite  price,  free.   West  Essex  student,  Shana  May,  boasted  about  their  Open  Mic  Nights,  Free  Breakfast  in  the  Morning,  and  Free  Peanut-ÂButter  and  Jelly  Sand- wich  Day  (PB&J  Day).   Although  this  campus  may  be  smaller  than  the  main  campus  in  Newark  â&#x20AC;&#x201C;  that  doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  take  away  from  the  student  interaction  with  their  classmates  or  teachers.   Everyone  knows  almost  everybody  that  attends  this  campus.  Brandon  Layne,  of  both  cam- puses  adds  â&#x20AC;&#x153;There  are  clothing  stores  nearby  and  a  lot  of  fast  food  places,  restaurants,  and  deliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  around.  Different  banks  are  close  by  and  the  parking  for  the  school  is  also  FREE.â&#x20AC;?  Layne  feels  the  environment  in  and  around  the  school  is  really  comforting.   Â
Photo  credit:  Christian  Blair
Upcoming  Events  at  West  Essex: February  1st-  Free  PB&J  Day February  9th  â&#x20AC;&#x201C;  Extreme  Game  Day February  22nd  â&#x20AC;&#x201C;  Black  History  Month  Celebra- tion Stay  Connected.  Follow  on  Twitter:  @EssexCountyWEC
Instant  Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Day  Card my gift to you.
Illustration  credit:  Stacey  Almonte
ESSEX Â COUNTY Â COLLEGE Â OBSERVER
PAGE Â 4
FEBRUARY Â 2012
OPINION Letter  to  the  Editor
OBSERVER
 Many  people  do  not  know  the  hard  work,  commitment  and  dedication  it  takes  to  publish  a  college  newspaper  and  achieve  academic  success  at  the  same  time.  I  can  only  imagine  that  producing  a  student  news- paper  is  no  a  walk  in  the  park.  And  my  position  as  president  of  Student  Government  Association  (SGA)  gives  me  a  unique  vantage  point  to  make  such  an  observation.  $V VWXGHQW OHDGHUV ZH RIWHQ KDYH WR PDLQWDLQ D GLIÂżFXOW EDODQFH EHWZHHQ PDQDJLQJ PXOWLSOH FRPSHWLQJ priorities  and  responsibilities  with  attending  classes  and  getting  good  grades.  At  the  same  time,  we  try  to  have  a  social  life  and  enjoy  the  college  experience.  This  often  begs  the  question:  what  is  college  life  like  when  you  are  participating  in  an  extracurricular  activity  and  trying  graduate  with  a  respectable  GPA?  Most  often  there  is  little  or  no  college  life.  Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  why  it  is  important  to  take  time  out  to  say  a  big  thanks  to  the  hardworking  ECCO  staff,  as  well  as  many  other  students  who  devote  their  time  to  lead  other  clubs  and  activities  while  balancing  their  demand- ing  academic  schedules  and  making  college  a  fun  and  exciting  experience  for  the  entire  student  body.  They  are  truly  the  unsung  heroes  of  ECC!  Again  kudos  to  the  editors  for  their  excellent  work  over  the  past  few  months.  3HUVRQDOO\ , KDYH QHYHU UHDG DQ\ QHZVSDSHU IURP VWDUW WR ÂżQLVK XQWLO , SLFNHG XS WKH ÂżUVW HGLWLRQ RI (&&2 last  semester.  Keep  up  the  great  work  ECCO!
The  Student  Voice  of   Essex  County  College Â
Essex  County  College 303  University  Ave. Newark,  NJ  07102 eccecco@gmail.com Editor-Âin-ÂChief Christian  Blair
Kindest  regards,
News  Editor Lev  Zilbermintz
Alton  Drummond ECC  Student  Government  President
Features  Editors Elaina  Garrett Tsahai  General Staff  Writers Stacey  Almonte Michael  Araujo Salomao  Becker Robert  Colon Collis  Marrow Ben  Potesky Wintella  Powell Leonita  Rexha Juniel  Spruiel Patrice  Wright Advertising  Representative Chelsea  Wegman Layout  Design  Editor Christian  Blair Humanities  Faculty Co-ÂAdvisors Eileen  DeFreece Jennifer  Wager
By  Christian  Blair Editor-Âin-ÂChief
 The  Pulse  hopes  to  be  a  column  that  reports  the  results  of  anonymous  surveys  of  RXU UHDGHUV 2XU ÂżUVW SROO (&& 9RWLQJ +DE- LWV ,I \RX G OLNH WR WDNH SDUW ÂżOO LW RXW FXW it  out,  and  place  it  in  the  Pulse  envelope  on  the  ECCO  newsroom  door  located  downstairs  in  the  Clara  Dasher  Center  -Â-  Room  G3.  Thank  you  for  your  participation!
ECC Voting Survey 1- Major: ___________________ 2- GPA: ____________________ 3- Sex: Â&#x2020;Male
Â&#x2020;Female
4- Did you vote in the last presidential election? Â&#x2020;Yes Â&#x2020;No 5- Did you vote in the last midterm election? Â&#x2020;Yes Â&#x2020;No 6- Do you plan to vote in the next presidential election? Â&#x2020;Yes Â&#x2020;No 7- Do you plan to vote in the next midterm election? Â&#x2020;Yes Â&#x2020;No â&#x20AC;&#x153;The  Pulseâ&#x20AC;?  logo  design  credit:  Juniel  Spruiel
Silent  Imprisonment By  Elaina  Garrett )HDWXUHV (GLWRU
 )RU VRPH RI XV KHUH ÂżQDOV DUH RYHU IRU RWKHUV the  semester  is  just  beginning.  The  stress  of  term  papers,  GPAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s,  work,  bills  and  social  life  can  take  a  toll  on  our  mental  state.  We  are  constantly  bombarded  with  the  pres- sures  that  come  along  with  transitioning  into  adulthood.  These  pressures,  depending  on  the  resiliency  and  coping  skills  of  the  individual  can  either  make  or  break  you.  De- pression  among  college  students  is  on  the  rise.  According  to  a  study  published  in  the  American  Journal  of  Ortho- psychiatry,  of  the  individuals  that  visited  an  on-Âcampus  medical  center,  25  percent  were  diagnosed  as  depressed.  With  numbers  for  depression  being  this  high,  suicide  is  a  reality  to  some.         Recently  an  ECC  student  attempted  suicide  in  a  class- room  on  the  Newark  campus  of  Rutgers  University.  By  grace,  a  Rutgers  student  entered  the  classroom,  stopping  this  tragedy.  Since  then,  the  universities  have  been  en- couraging  counseling  and  other  services  for  students  who  may  be  at  risk  for  this  severe  depressive  state.  Students  are  encouraged  to  take  advantage  of  these  services,  even  if  non-Âsuicidal,  and  to  also  speak  up  if  they  feel  someone  may  be  in  need  of  these  helps.  More  puzzling  than  the  reality  of  a  friend  at- tempting  to  take  his  or  her  own  life  is  not  being  able  to  detect  it  before  the  inevitable  occurs.  How  do  you  know  if  one  of  your  peers  are  depressed  or  suicidal?  What  do  you  say  to  him  or  her  that  will  impact  a  change?  How  do  I  pre- vent  sabotaging  a  rescue  mission?  These  are  all  important  questions  that  we  as  young  adults  should  be  knowledge- able  of,  especially  with  the  strains  that  school,  work  and  social  life  put  on  us.  As  an  individual  who  attempted  sui- cide,  I  see  the  importance  of  this  enlightenment  for  young  adults.   A  depressed  person  will  not  always  admit  that  they  are  in  fact  depressed,  although  some  do.  A  few  signs  or  symptoms  in  young  adults  are:
     Â
1.  Sadness  or  hopelessness 2.  Irritability,  anger,  or  hostility 3.  Frequent  crying 4.  Withdrawal  from  friends/  family 5.  Lack  of  enthusiasm  and  motivation 6.  Thoughts  of  suicide
 Just  because  a  friend  displays  one  or  more  of  these  symptoms,  does  not  make  him  or  her  depressed  or  even  suicidal.  Please  do  not  attack  the  individual  with  ac- cusations  of  depression  or  suicide.  Be  sure  to  offer  your  sincerest  compassion;Íž  you  never  know  the  state  of  the  in- dividual.  Depression  is  a  state  that  may  lead  to  an  attempted  RU VXFFHVVIXO VXLFLGH $ VXLFLGDO SHUVRQ PD\ EH GLIÂżFXOW WR decipher,  but  most  of  the  time  they  are  confessing  their  plans  to  us  but  we  do  not  notice.  Our  peers  have  the  great- est  impact  on  us,  thus  it  is  important  for  us  to  know  the  signs  so  that  we  will  be  able  to  help  our  friends.  Did  you  know  that  70   percent  of  people  who  are  going  to  or  have  committed  suicide  have  shared  their  plans  with  a  friend  or  family  member?  They  may  have  said  things  like,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m  bet- ter  off  deadâ&#x20AC;?,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;I  wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  be  your  problem  when  Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m  goneâ&#x20AC;?,  or  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll  be  sorry  when  Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m  gone.â&#x20AC;?  Although  these  are  not  outright  confessions,  they  are  indirect  implications.   Other  changes  in  behavior  include  making  arrangements  to  eliminate  debt,  a  sudden  need  for  reconciliation,  or  giv- ing  away  valuables  or  prized  possessions.  In  the  mind  of  the  depressed  person,  these  actions  are  attempts  to  allevi- ate  the  burden  on  their  loved  ones  once  they  are  gone.  7KH PRVW LPSRUWDQW DQG PRVW GLIÂżFXOW SURFHVV of  being  a  help  to  someone  who  is  severely  depressed  to  the  point  of  suicide,  is  intervening  once  you  are  sure  that  ESSEX  COUNTY  COLLEGE  OBSERVER
they  are  in  fact  suicidal.  Getting  them  help  is  vital,  be  that  medical  attention  or  counseling  services.  Of- fering  genuine  care  in  concern  is  a  long  way.  Saving  someone  does  not  always  have  to  be  a  super  heroic  act  like  convincing  someone  not  to  jump  out  a  window.  Simple  kind  words  can  have  a  huge  impact  on  the  suf- ferer.  You  can  be  a  hero  by  telling  your  peer  things  like,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;I  understand  that  you  are  hurting  more  than  you  can  explain  to  meâ&#x20AC;?,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;I  love  you.  I  know  you  can  overcome  thisâ&#x20AC;?,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;I  believe  in  your  painâ&#x20AC;?,  or  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Would  \RX SOHDVH JLYH PH D FKDQFH WR KHOS \RX ÂżUVW´ <RX can  also  make  a  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;life  pactâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  that  says  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Promise  me  you  wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  hurt  yourself  before  we  at  least  try  some  treat- mentsâ&#x20AC;?  or  leave  loving  reminders  that  encourages  them  to  want  to  see  their  future.  Personally,  music  and  my  younger  brother  saved  me  from  my  overdose  attempt.  Find  things  that  they  like  or  that  bring  joy  to  them  during  this  dark  time.  Above  all,  try  to  get  them  help  sooner  rather  than  later.   Suicide  and  depression  are  as  serious  as  a  heart  attack  and  they  should  be  treated  as  such.  Never  ever  assume  that  someone  will  not  take  his  or  her  own  life,  or  assume  that  what  they  are  going  through  is  a  phase  and  that  they  will  â&#x20AC;&#x153;get  over  it.â&#x20AC;?  ,W LV YHU\ GLIÂżFXOW WR XQGHUVWDQG WKH PLQG RI D VXLFLGDO person.  Being  in  such  a  state  as  this  is  entrapment,  it  is  a  silent  imprisonment.  I  felt  as  if  the  end  was  the  most  logical  solution.  The  problems  that  existed  did  not  make  sense  to  me  and  I  was  done  with  trying  to  ¿[ WKHP $Q\ Âż[ WR WKH SUREOHPV ZHUH WHPSRUDU\ DQG would  only  result  in  my  own  unhappiness.  The  need  for  relief  that  I  longed  for  only  existed  in  death.  With  counseling  and  a  great  deal  of  strength  and  support,  I  overcame.  It  is  imperative  that  if  you  or  someone  you  know  is  suicidal,  seek  help.  My  favorite  tool  that  was  taught  to  me  by  a  counselor  was  to  reach  out  to  a  trusted  individual  (maybe  a  friend  or  loved  one)  if  you  ever  felt  unsure  about  harming  yourself.  In  an  emergency,  contact  the  National  Suicide  Prevention  Lifeline  1-Â800-Â273-ÂTALK.  Our  peers  are  RIWHQ RXU ÂżUVW OLQH RI GHIHQVH :LWK WKHVH WRROV \RX can  protect  yourself  and  others.
Academic  Counseling  Services If  you  need  counseling or  know  of  someone  who  does,  please  visit:  essex.edu/studentlife/ services/counseling/ The  department  is  staffed  by  an  outstanding  group  of  dedicated  and  deeply  caring  professionals.  If  you  are  aware  of  a  crisis  during  a  time  the  counseling  department  is  not  open,  there  are  resources  in  the  community  that  can  help,  such  as  the  suicide  help  line  that  can  be  reached  by  calling Â
800-Â273-Â8255
FEBRUARY Â 2012
PAGE Â 5
OPINION Big  Bad  Deal Â
Excessive  ATM  Surcharges  at  ECC  ATMs By  Christian  Blair Editor-Âin-ÂChief
 :HOOV )DUJR FDPH XQGHU D ORW RI ÂżUH ODVW \HDU for  considering  charging  their  customers  $3  per  month  to  use  their  debit  cards.  Thankfully,  those  plans  were  quashed  by  overwhelming  customer  outrage.  But  some  Essex  County  College  (ECC)  students  are  feel- ing  a  Wells  Fargo  squeeze  of  a  different  kind  -Â-Âby  way  of  prohibitive  ATM  surcharges  with  every  card  dip.  The  Newark  campus  cafeteria  does  not  take  plastic  so  when  you  are  strapped  for  cash  and  rushing  between  classes,  your  only  recourse  is  one  of  the  two  nearby  ATMs.  That  is,  if  you  can  afford  it.   ECC  students  without  a  Wells  Fargo  debit  card  are  charged  a  whopping  $3  surcharge  for  every  transaction.  Add  that  to  the  fee  their  own  bank  charges  for  using  another  bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  ATM  and  the  withdrawal  be- comes  very  expensive.   â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  ridiculous,â&#x20AC;?  says  Social  Services  major  Latonya  Graham,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;  I  just  paid  $5  for  taking  out  twenty  bucks!  You  want  to  get  lunch,  but  you  have  to  pay  this  ridiculous  fee.â&#x20AC;?  The  only  other  option  is  the  Bank  of  America  %R$ $70 DOVR ORFDWHG RQ WKH VHFRQG Ă&#x20AC;RRU RI WKH main  building  in  the  Newark  campus.  It  comes  with  a  $2  surcharge,  which  seems  like  a  great  deal  by  direct  comparison  only.  Jessica  Corado,  a  Psychology  ma- jor,  says  sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll  accept  the  fee  her  own  bank  tacks  on  but  the  ATM  surcharges  go  too  far.  Corado  said,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not  everybody  has  a  Bank  of  America  or  Wells  Fargo  ac- count.â&#x20AC;?  Other  students  have  learned  to  bring  the  cash  they  need,  or  they  travel  off-Âcampus  and  avoid  the  ECC  ATMs  completely.  Pilal  Abdul-ÂQawi,  a  Social  Sciences  major,  walks  four  blocks  away  to  his  own  bank  just  to  save  himself  the  surcharge.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;I  donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  want  to  pay  those  fees,â&#x20AC;?  he  says.   Social  Sciences  major  Vanessa  Munoz  says  sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll  often  walk  out  to  the  Rite-ÂAid  to  buy  something  with  a  fee-Âless  â&#x20AC;&#x153;cash  backâ&#x20AC;?  option  or,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;I  wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  buy  anything  and  just  starve  till  I  get  home.â&#x20AC;?  These  students  might  be  interested  to  know  that  only  two  blocks  away,  inside  the  Paul  Robeson  building  of  Rutgers  University,  the  ATMs  have  no  sur- charges.  As  you  open  the  door  to  Robeson,  you  are  SUHVHQWHG ZLWK DQ $IÂżQLW\ &UHGLW 8QLRQ NLRVN WKDW boasts  â&#x20AC;&#x153;65,000  Surcharge  Free  ATMs.â&#x20AC;?  As  advertised,  a  $20  withdrawal  (even  with  a  PNC  bankcard)  deducts  precisely  $20  and  nothing  more.  Imagine  that.  Okay,  so  weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re  comparing  apples  and  or- DQJHV ULJKW" $Q $IÂżQLW\ &UHGLW 8QLRQ $70 ZLWKRXW a  surcharge  is  a  completely  different  animal.  The  real  head  scratcher  comes  right  around  the  corner,  where  \RX ÂżQG WKH RWKHU $70 LQ 5REHVRQ D :HOOV )DUJR kiosk  that  doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  charge  students  a  dime.
Illustration  credit:  Leonita  Rexha
6HH WKLV ZLWK \RXU RZQ H\HV 7KH ¿UVW LP- age  (Figure  1.)  is  a  $20  withdrawal  at  the  ECC  Wells  Fargo  ATM  on  10/18/2011  and  the  second  image  (Figure  2.)  is  the  same  amount  taken  out  at  the  Rutgers  Wells  Fargo  ATM  on  11/2/2011.
Fig. Â 1
Fig. Â 2
TAKE YOUR HIGHER EDUCATION
even higher earn your bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree
Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve earned your associate degree and are thinking about continuing your education, a great place to consider is DeVry College of New York. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been helping students reach their career goals by providing an accredited university education that helps to prepare them for the workplace. We work with community college students like you to transfer qualifying credits and give you the opportunity to earn your bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in as few as 18 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; months â&#x20AC;&#x201D; so you can get started on your success even sooner. Look at some of the other great benefits we offer: 4 $( ( $ & $ * 4 #)& ,-#$*4 $! .$' , , ,0$ - !), && ", / . Midtown Manhattan 180 Madison Ave. (34th and Madision) | New York
For more information on earning your bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree, visit DeVry.edu/cc In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. * Available for those who qualify. DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. DeVry is certified to operate 2 .# . . )/( $& )! $"# , / .$)( !), $,"$($ 6 ,2 / .$)( & 0 &)*' (. ),* && ,$"#.- , - ,0 .
 Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll  note  these  two  students  are  being  hit  by  their  own  bank  (PNC)  to  the  tune  of  $2.50  at  both  ATMs.  You  canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  do  anything  about  that.  Well,  you  can,  but  youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll  have  to  vote  for  stronger  representatives  in  Congress.  Good  luck  on  that.   While  researching  this  story,  some  questioned  whether  ATM  surcharges  were  legal  on  college  cam- SXVHV LQ WKH ÂżUVW SODFH 7KH\ DUH 2QH VWURQJ DGYRFDWH for  consumer  protection  is  United  States  Senator  Robert  Menendez.  He  explains,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;These  fees  are  legal,  even  on  student  campuses.â&#x20AC;?  All  thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  required  is  that  the  ATM  discloses  the  fee  before  the  transaction  is  completed,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;often  done  via  a  sticker  on  the  front  of  the  ATM  or  a  prompt  on  the  screen.â&#x20AC;?   The  crucial  difference,  and  the  point  of  this  ar- ticle,  is  that  while  the  Rutgers  student  suffers  no  ATM  surcharge,  the  ECC  student  is  jacked  twice  -Â-  once  by  their  own  bank,  and  once  more  for  an  extra  $3  by  Wells  Fargo.  It  might  be  tempting  for  the  reader  to  conclude  that  Wells  Fargo  is  pulling  a  fast  one  on  ECC,  but  itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  not  that  simple.  Dr.  Joyce  Wilson  Harley  is  the  new  Execu- tive  Director  of  Administrative  Services  at  ECC.  She  believes  the  likely  scenario  is  that  Rutgers  has  negoti- ated  a  â&#x20AC;&#x153;considerationâ&#x20AC;?  with  their  vendors  that  keep  the  ATMs  in  Robeson  Hall  free  of  charge.  This  is  some- thing  ECC  can  pursue  as  well.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;If  the  contract  is  up  soon,  we  put  the  RFP  (Request  For  Proposal)  out.  That  gives  [the  banks]  notice  that  we  are  looking  at  others  and  that  brings  them  to  the  table.â&#x20AC;?  However,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;If  [the  contracts]  have  longer  legs  then  we  call  them  in  and  have  a  conversation,â&#x20AC;?  said  Harley. Greg  White,  the  Wells  Fargo  Community  Bank  Presi- dent  for  the  Metro  New  Jersey  Area  was  on  vacation  when  contacted  for  comment  and  Wells  Fargoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  North- ern  New  Jersey  Regional  President,  Lucia  Gibbons  hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  yet  returned  phone-Âcalls.  However,  Fran  Durst,  a  spokeswoman  for  Wells  Fargoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Northeast  division,  KDV FRQÂżUPHG WKDW VXUFKDUJHV DUH DQ LWHP KDVKHG RXW DW contract  time. As  it  turns  out,  the  reason  why  the  cafeteria  does  not  offer  debit  or  credit  card  purchases  is  another  unfortu- nate  contract.  The  vendor,  Metropolitan  Food  Services,  is  not  currently  contractually  obligated  to  provide  a  debit/credit  payment  option.  When  we  spoke  this  past  November,  Dr.  Harley  mentioned  that  the  Metropolitan  Food  Services  contract  is  up  at  the  end  of  the  school  year.  Whether  talking  about  the  contracts  with  the  banks  or  food  services,  she  says  she  is  interested  in  â&#x20AC;&#x153;ne- gotiating  differently  with  any  vendor,â&#x20AC;?  on  the  next  go  continued  on  page  six
ESSEX Â COUNTY Â COLLEGE Â OBSERVER
PAGE Â 6
FEBRUARY Â 2012
arts Dr.  Martin  Luther  King,  Jr. In  His  Own  Words  The  following  is  an  exerpt  from  Dr.  Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Letter  From  Birmingham  Jailâ&#x20AC;?.  It  was  published  in  May,  1963  along  with  this  introduction  by  Colin  W.  Bell,  Executive  Secretary  of  the  American  Friends  Service  Committee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From  Birmingham  jail,  where  he  was  imprisoned  as  a  participant  in  nonvio- lent  demonstrations  against  segregation,  Martin  Luther  King,  Jr.has  written  the  letter  which  follows.  It  was  a  response  to  a  public  statement  of  concern  and  caution  issued  by  eight  white  religious  leaders.  The  letter  speaks  powerfully  of  one  of  the  great  freedoms  -Â-Âfreedom  from  racial  discrimination  -Â-  which  is  rooted  in  our  religious  faith  and  which  our  nation  has  stood  for  in  principle  but  has  not  yet  established  in  practice.  It  is  an  eloquent  expression  of  the  non  violent  approach  to  the  restructuring  of  our  social  order.â&#x20AC;?-  Colin  W.  Bell The  Public  Domain  Original  First  Version  of Â
Martin  Luther  Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Letter  From  The  Birmingham  City  Jail â&#x20AC;&#x153;...I  guess  it  is  easy  for  those  who  have  never  felt  the  stinging  darts  of  segregation  to  say  wait.  But  when  you  have  seen  vicious  mobs  lynch  your  mothers  DQG IDWKHUV DW ZLOO DQG GURZQ \RXU VLVWHUV DQG EURWKHUV DW ZKLP ZKHQ \RX KDYH VHHQ KDWH ÂżOOHG SROLFHPHQ FXUVH NLFN EUXWDOL]H DQG HYHQ NLOO \RXU EODFN brothers  and  sisters  with  impunity;Íž  when  you  see  the  vast  majority  of  your  twenty  million  Negro  brothers  smothering  in  an  air-Âtight  cage  of  poverty  in  the  PLGVW RI DQ DIĂ&#x20AC;XHQW VRFLHW\ ZKHQ \RX VXGGHQO\ ÂżQG \RXU WRQJXH WZLVWHG DQG \RXU VSHHFK VWDPPHULQJ DV \RX VHHN WR H[SODLQ WR \RXU VL[ \HDU ROG GDXJKWHU why  she  canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  go  to  the  public  amusement  park  that  has  just  been  advertised  on  television,  and  see  tears  welling  up  in  her  little  eyes  when  she  is  told  that  Funtown  is  closed  to  colored  children,  and  see  the  depressing  clouds  of  inferiority  begin  to  form  in  her  little  mental  sky,  and  see  her  begin  to  distort  her  OLWWOH SHUVRQDOLW\ E\ XQFRQVFLRXVO\ GHYHORSLQJ D ELWWHUQHVV WRZDUG ZKLWH SHRSOH ZKHQ \RX KDYH WR FRQFRFW DQ DQVZHU IRU D ÂżYH \HDU ROG VRQ DVNLQJ LQ DJRQL]LQJ SDWKRV Âł'DGG\ ZK\ GR ZKLWH SHRSOH WUHDW FRORUHG SHRSOH VR PHDQ"´ ZKHQ \RX WDNH D FURVV FRXQWU\ GULYH DQG ÂżQG LW QHFHVVDU\ WR VOHHS QLJKW after  night  in  the  uncomfortable  corners  of  your  automobile  because  no  motel  will  accept  you;Íž  when  you  are  humiliated  day  in  and  day  out  by  nagging  VLJQV UHDGLQJ ÂłZKLWH´ PHQ DQG ÂłFRORUHG´ ZKHQ \RXU ÂżUVW QDPH EHFRPHV ÂłQLJJHU´ DQG \RXU PLGGOH QDPH EHFRPHV ÂłER\´ KRZHYHU ROG \RX DUH DQG your  last  name  becomes  â&#x20AC;&#x153;John,â&#x20AC;?  and  when  your  wife  and  mother  are  never  given  the  respected  title  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mrs.â&#x20AC;?;Íž  when  you  are  harried  by  day  and  haunted  by  night  by  the  fact  that  you  are  a  Negro,  living  constantly  at  tip-Âtoe  stance  never  quite  knowing  what  to  expect  next,  and  plagued  with  inner  fears  and  outer  UHVHQWPHQWV ZKHQ \RX DUH IRUHYHU ÂżJKWLQJ D GHJHQHUDWLQJ VHQVH RI ÂłQRERGLQHVV´ WKHQ \RX ZLOO XQGHUVWDQG ZK\ ZH ÂżQG LW GLIÂżFXOW WR ZDLW 7KHUH FRPHV a  time  when  the  cup  of  endurance  runs  over,  and  men  are  no  longer  willing  to  be  plunged  into  an  abyss  of  injustice  where  they  experience  the  bleakness  of  corroding  despair.  I  hope,  sirs,  you  can  understand  our  legitimate  and  unavoidable  impatience.â&#x20AC;?  -  Dr.  Martin  Luther  King  Jr.  Read  the  entire  letter  as  well  as  other  letters  and  speeches  by  Dr.  Martin  Luther  King  Jr.: Martin  Luther  King  Online The  Dr.  Martin  Luther  King  Jr.  Public  Domain  Resource  Site http://www.mlkonline.net
Why arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you writing for us? It s time to get your work published
Big  Bad  Deal FRQWLQXHG IURP SDJH ¿YH
DURXQG ZKHQ VSHDNLQJ VSHFLÂżFDOO\ DERXW IRRG services,  acceptance  of  credit  and  debit  cards  is,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;one  of  the  criteria  upon  which  respondents  will  be  evaluated,â&#x20AC;?  said  Harley.  As  the  Student  Government  Associa- tion  held  its  Advocacy  Movement  panel  in  the  cafeteria  pit  on  November  30th,  2011,  a  table  was  being  set  up  beside  the  Wells  Fargo  ATM.  Representatives  of  the  bank  were  giving  away  Wells  Fargo  water  bottles  and  other  incentives  to  any  student  who  signed  up  for  an  account.  I  spoke  with  Frank,  one  of  the  representatives  at  the  table,  who  declined  to  offer  his  last  name.  When  asked  if  he  thought  it  was  fair  of  Wells  Fargo  to  charge  Essex  County  College  students  who  werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  Wells  Fargo  customers  three  dollars  per  transaction,  Frank  offered,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;this  is  standardâ&#x20AC;?.  When  I  informed  him  that  Rutgers  students,  with  or  without  a  Wells  Fargo  account,  paid  no  surcharge,  he  declined  further  comment.  When  I  attempted  to  take  a  photograph  of  their  table,  they  yelled  for  me  to  stop  and  covered  their  faces.  I  respected  their  wishes,  returned  my  camera  to  its  case,  and  went  on  my  way  to  the  Advocacy  Move- ment  where  students  and  community  leaders  were  decrying,  among  other  things,  the  role  of  GHUHJXODWHG DQG DEXVLYH ÂżQDQFLDO LQVWLWXWLRQV in  our  economic  free  fall.   Granted,  the  ATMs  provide  a  conve- nience  but  they  are  also  massive  advertise- ments  for  the  banks.  The  school  offers  the  banks  access  to  thousands  of  potential  cus- tomers  every  day.  But  this  is  hardly  a  choice  you  make  on  the  merit  of  the  bank  itself.  When  your  only  alternative  to  signing  up  for  an  ac-Â
count  are  the  excessive  surcharges,  free  brand- ed  water  bottle  aside,  Wells  Fargo  is  basically  VKRRWLQJ ÂżVK LQ D EDUUHO 2QH ZRQGHUV LI WKHVH exorbitant  surcharges  on  ECC  students  may  be  detrimental  to  their  marketing  plan.  Gaug- ing  student  reaction  to  the  surcharges,  the  banks  may  be  teaching  the  unintended  lesson  that  neither  Wells  Fargo  or  Bank  of  America  deserve  your  business  in  the  future  when  they  clearly  do  not  have  your  back  today,  when  you  need  it  most.   Dr.  Harley  says  the  six-Âfoot-Âhigh  ATMs  in  the  main  building  should  not  be  con- strued  as  an  endorsement  of  those  services  by  the  college.  Just  as  a  shopping  mall  may  have  one  or  more  ATMs  for  the  convenience  of  their  customers,  the  ATMs  that  are  on  campus  are  merely  vendors  providing  a  service  under  contract.  However,  one  would  assume  an  edu- cational  institution  to  have  a  greater  obligation  to  negotiate  contracts  in  the  better  interests  of  its  clientele  than  that  of  a  mall  to  its  transient  customers.  Rutgers  has  managed  to  work  out  agreements  that  provide  ATM  service  with- out  surcharges  but  ECC  is  burdened  by  the  perfect  storm  of  two  poorly  negotiated  con- tracts:  a  food  vendor  that  doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  take  plastic,  and  banks  that  levy  sky-Âhigh  surcharges.  The  result  of  this  leaves  ECC  students  as  a  mere  afterthought,  outweighing  any  intended  con- venience.  What  do  you  think?  Are  these  sur- charges  acceptable  for  the  convenience?   Should  the  food  services  offer  card  swipe  pay- ment?  Do  colleges  have  a  higher  obligation  to  students  than  that  of  convenience  store  to  its  customers?   Voice  your  opinion  in  the  next  issue  of  the  ECC  Observer  by  sending  a  Letter  to  the  Editor.  Email  eccecco@gmail.com
RETRACTION
ECCO: THE STUDENT VOICE
CAMPUS WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
WANTED
Pick up a staff application at the ECCO newsroom located in the Newark Campus Clara Dasher Student Center - Room G03
ESSEX Â COUNTY Â COLLEGE Â OBSERVER
 We  ran  a  piece  in  the  Decem- ber  2011  issue  titled,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;ECC  World  AIDS  Weekâ&#x20AC;?.  Shawna  Barr,  a  panelist  at  the  event,  called  to  our  attention  certain  factual  inaccuracies  and  misquotations.   The  ECCO  faculty  advisors  and  the  entire  editorial  staff  apologizes  for  causing  any  distress  to  Ms.  Barr  and  her  family.
PAGE Â 7
FEBRUARY Â 2012
arts ³,1&$5&(521´ %\ &DWKHULQH )LVKHU $ %RRN 5HYLHZ %\ 0LFKDHO $UDXMR Staff  Writer
 It  will  always  watch  you  with  its  red  beaded  eye.  Hear  every  word  you  speak  and  whisper,  feel  every  move  you  make.  It  knows  every  single  thought  you  think  inside  your  very  own  head.  There  is  no  sanctuary  from  WKLV YLOH EHDVW 1R ZKHUH WR KLGH RU WR ÂżQG comfort.  Not  even  in  your  own  body.  There Â
is  no  way  to  escape  from  the  clutches  of  this  monster.  Incarceron  controls  you.  You  are  Incarceron.  Imagine  a  prison,  like  many  states  put  together  controlled  by  itself.  Imagine  be- ing  trapped  inside  the  prison  for  your  whole  life  and  wanting  to  see  what  is  out  there.  If  there  is  an  outside.  You  are  now  Finn,  a  young  boy  who  wants  all  of  this.  He  has  heard  stories  of  one  man,  Sapphique,  leaving  the  prison,  but  he  does  not  know  if  they  are  true.  He  would  do  anything  to  leave  and  heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  ¿QDOO\ JRWWHQ KLV FKDQFH  Incarceron  by  Catherine  Fisher  is  a  captivating  tale  about  escaping  something  WKDW LV SDUW RI \RX :KHQ )LQQ ÂżQGV D NH\ that  allows  him  to  communicate  with  the  outside  world,  he  starts  to  learn  the  truth  that  he  was  never  told.  With  the  help  of  Keiro;Íž  his  oath  brother,  Attia;Íž  a  slave  girl,  and  Claudia;Íž Â
the  mysterious  girl  from  outside,  theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll  dis- cover  secrets  that  were  better  left  uncovered.  To  say  that  Incarceron  was  beau- tifully  written  will  not  cover  it  all.  Even  though  the  story  was  wonderfully  writ- ten  out,  the  way  the  words  formed  did  not  H[DFWO\ Ă&#x20AC;RZ ZHOO WRJHWKHU 7KHUH ZHUH SDUWV where  I  had  to  go  back  and  re-Âread  it,  just  to  understand  what  I  had  read.  Now  this  may  be  because  I  was  tired  when  I  read  it,  but  either  way  I  still  had  to  go  back  every  few  pages.  But  when  I  say  the  story  was  beauti- fully  written,  I  mean  the  general  idea.  A  prison  that  controls  you  and  gives  you  life  is  something  that  we  can  all  learn  to  fear.  But  without  spoiling,  there  were  certain  parts  that  made  me  hesitate  to  liking  it  even  more.  For  some  very  odd  reason  I  really  hated  the  fact  that  they  saw  little  animals.  Now  for  everyone  who  has  read  this,  you  will  understand  what  I  mean.  I  am  talking  about  Claudia  and  Jared,  when  they  see  the  OLWWOH DQLPDOV LQ WKH ÂżHOG )RU WKRVH RI \RX who  have  no  idea  what  I  am  talking  about,  go  read  the  book.  But  that  part  really  bugged  PH EHFDXVH IRU VRPH UHDVRQ LW GLG QRW ÂżW with  the  story.  I  mean  if  you  were  able  to  see  the  animals,  should  you  not  be  able  to  see  the  others?  The  characters  are  well  written  out,  full  of  life  and  emotions  that  make  you  want  to  get  to  know  them  more.  Catherine  Fisher  plays  with  your  own  emotions,  making  you  feel  pity  for  certain  characters  and  then  despise  them  a  second  later.  Every  character  you  meet  has  a  pivotal  role  to  setting  the  story  forward,  so  it  was  impressive  that  they  were  all  third  dimensional.   The  novel  is  action-Âpacked  and  full  of  thought  provoking  incidents  that  make  you  wonder  if  everything  is  happening  by  accident,  or  if  it  was  all  planned  out.  Both  the  world  outside  and  the  world  inside  the  SULVRQ PHVK ZHOO WRJHWKHU DV WKH\ ERWK ÂżJKW to  see  what  is  real  and  what  is  an  illusion.  $QG LW DOO OHDGV XS WR WKH ÂżQDO PRPHQW where  everything  they  learned  is  thrown  away  and  one  question  pops  up.  Will  they  ever  be  able  to  escape  Incarceron?
Choosing  Identities:  Acceptance  in  Charles  Chestnuttâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  â&#x20AC;&#x153;The  Wife  of  His  Youthâ&#x20AC;?
Break out your sketchbook It s time to get your work published
ECCO: THE STUDENT VOICE
CAMPUS COMIC ILLUSTRATORS WANTED Submit your artwork to the ECCO newsroom located in the Newark Campus Clara Dasher Student Center - Room G03 Illustrator credit: ECC Alumni, Leonita Rexha
Answers  to  December  Crosswords
By  Jonathan  Williamson Contributing  Writer
 In  African  American  author  Charles  Chesnuttâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  1899  short  story  â&#x20AC;&#x153;The  Wife  of  +LV <RXWK´ D TXHVWLRQ WKDW GHÂżQHV WKH PDMRU PRUDO FRQĂ&#x20AC;LFW RI WKH SLHFH HPHUJHV DW WKH end:  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shall  you  acknowledge  her?â&#x20AC;?  Should  the  light-Âskinned,  educated,  and  formerly  enslaved  Mr.  Ryder  acknowledge  the  aged,  dark-Âskinned,  and  illiterate  Liza  Jane,  whoâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; though  part  and  parcel  of  the  life  he  has  left  behindâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;has  been  searching  for  him  loyally  IRU WZHQW\ ÂżYH \HDUV" 2U VKRXOG KH GHQ\ her  and  move  on  with  his  new  existence,  his  light-Âskinned  beau,  and  reinvented  racial  identity?  The  answer,  from  the  text,  would  seem  clear.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;He  should  have  acknowledged  her,â&#x20AC;?  echoes  the  light-Âskinned  Mrs.  Dixon,  along  with  the  other  guests  at  Mr.  Ryderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Blue  Vein  Society.  For  those  that  do  not  know,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blue  Veinâ&#x20AC;?  societies  were  organizations  formed  after  the  Civil  War  era.  They  were  made  up  of  (usually)  free-Âborn,  upper  class  mixed- race  blacks  whose  skin  had  to  be  light  enough  for  their  blue  veins  to  show  through.   Ryderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  stated  expectation  of  this  very  answer  reveals  the  heart  of  the  story:  to  deny  her  is  to  deny  not  just  his  past,  but  the  collective  one  of  formerly  enslaved  African  Americans  at  the  end  of  the  19th  century.  Having  come  to  this  conclusion,  it  is  likely  he  would  have  presented  the  wife  of  his  youth  to  them  no  matter  what  the  response. Â
Instant  Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Day  Card
catch me if you can 7KH PRUDO FRQĂ&#x20AC;LFWV EHWZHHQ OLJKW skinned  blacks  engaged  in  â&#x20AC;&#x153;the  upward  pro- cess  of  absorptionâ&#x20AC;?  into  white  â&#x20AC;&#x153;highâ&#x20AC;?  society  and  dark-Âskinned  blacks  of  â&#x20AC;&#x153;servile  origins  [with]  grosser  aspectsâ&#x20AC;?  in  the  post-Âslavery  era  in  the  United  States  are  established  early  on  in  the  short  story.  Ryder  himself  expresses  a  denial  of  the  latter.  He  does  this  having  to  meet  with  persons  â&#x20AC;&#x153;whose  com- plexions  and  callings  in  lifeâ&#x20AC;?  were  beneath  the  standards  of  the  Blue  Vein  Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;he  even  argues  for  more  social  rigidity.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;[The  dark-Âskinned  blacks]  would  welcome  us,  continued  on  page  two
ESSEX Â COUNTY Â COLLEGE Â OBSERVER
Illustration  credit:  Stacey  Almonte
FEBRUARY 2012
PAGE 8
sports Men’s Basketball Schedule February 2012 2nd 4th 7th 9th
Asa College - NY Salem CC Delaware Tech CC - Stanton Raritan Valley CC
7pm 3pm 7pm 7pm
Home Home Home Home
Photo credit: Wintella Powell
Women’s Basketball Schedule February 2012 2nd 4th 7th
Asa College 5pm Salem CC 1pm Delaware Tech CC - Stanton 5pm
Home Home Home
Photo credit: Wintella Powell
ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE OBSERVER