Aliannys Ortiz Garcia’s “gossip positivity” lets you be “up to date with the most recent events happening in the entertainment industry” at https://aliannys.substack.com
Horizons Advisor
Professor Steve Mark
Wid Alceus tells us that “If you’re interested in content ranging from John Wick to anime,” his site, Reel Thoughts, is the site for you. Find it at https://reelthoughtz.substack.com
Additional Writing by
Larry Ferguson
Lynette Hernandez
Elianna Martinez
Holly McPartland
Lual Nyamakal
Iker Santiago Dia Gonzaleaz
Gio Santana’s “Climate Danger” offers “articles related to climate change and the field of meterology” at https://climatedanger. substack.com Kayla
James El-Hage’s “From Beyond the Arc” promises “unbiased perspectives on the world of basketball“ at https://substack.com/@frombeyondthearc
Travis Hayden’s “The Fight Game” offers insights into “everything going on in the combat sports world” at https://thefightgame.substack.com/
Design Staff
Alyssa Johnson LAYOUT DESIGNER
Kyle Bleakley DESIGN STAFF
Joseph Carreno DESIGN STAFF
Design Advisor
Professor John Favret
Design Staff
Braiden Robinson LAYOUT DESIGNER
Ralph De Jesus DESIGN STAFF
Adonis Smith DESIGN STAFF
Eliana Martinez LAYOUT DESIGNER
Jake Killoy DESIGN STAFF
Andrew Luna DESIGN STAFF
Scott Preslar DESIGN STAFF
Aguirre DESIGN STAFF
Matt Rodas LAYOUT DESIGNER
Angie Chay-Arana DESIGN STAFF
Simon Fernandes STAFF DESIGNER
Abigail Nima DESIGN STAFF
Isaias
Building Your Legacy at Housatonic - By Lynette Hernandez- Staff Writer
Information You Need If You Want to Survive College - Aliannys Oritz Garcia - Staff Wrtiter
Steam Tutoring: The Unsung Hero of Success - By Wild Alceus - Staff Witer
5 Tips to Prepare for College Courses From The Start - By Giovanne Santana - Senior Staff Writer
Student Entrepreneurial Success - By Wid Alceus - Staff Writer
NEWS YOU CAN USE LIFE HACKS
We Can All Be Main Characters - By Aliannys Ortiz Garcia - Staff Writer
Effective Study Techniques and Time Management - By Wid Alceus - Staff Writer
Planning for the Week - By Travis Hayden - Staff Writer
Save Money with Free Television Services - By Giovanne Santana - Senior Staff Writer The Map to Discover Organization - By James El-Hage - Staff Writer
Conversation Classrooms: - By Larry Ferguson - Editor Emeritus
Lessening Student Burnout - By Holly McPartland - Contributing Writer
PERSONAL ESSAYS
How a Failure Helped Me to Make the Dean’s List
- By Giovanne Santana - Senior Staff Writer
Going for the Top - By Iker Santiago Diaz Gonzalez - Contributing Writer
The Narrow Escape - By Lual Nyamakal - Contributing Writer
PROFILES
Professor Lalani - By Travis Hayden - Staff Writer
The Unknown Side of our Beloved Fifi - By Lynette Hernandez - Staff Writer
Unlocking Opportunities: Exploring the Journey of College Transfers
- By James El-Hage - Staff Writer
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Unknown Side of our Beloved Fifi - By Lynette Hernandez - Staff Writer
Unlocking Opportunities - Exploring the Journey of College Transfers
- By James El-Hage - Staff Writer
SPORTS
Who Does Housatonic Think Will Win the Superbowl? - By Travis Hayden - Staff Writer
Building Your Legacy at Housatonic
By Lynette Hernandez Staff Writer
The Legacy Club is a great way to leave a legacy both on campus and off campus, leaving an impact that builds our community and trying to make a better future for tomorrow. The club is student run, which gives it that extra sense of comfortability.
The best part of this club is “All of us being on the same page and being able to have great communication because think about it, when it comes to a team or a group, those things are needed in order to work effectively,” according to Public Relations Officer and current student Arnaldo Flores.
The club upholds self proclaiming and uplifting values, evident in their actions. The Legacy Club organizes events that offer benefits to everyone such as Alumni Insight day, if you’re looking to seek knowledge, or attending protests addressing issues that are sensitive to you as well.
Legacy Club Logo
“Our goal is to empower students to succeed at Housatonic by providing them with network opportunities, connections to alumni, various resources on and off campus, and practical leadership experience. And the significance lies in the connection of who you know and the value of what you know. Because while having valuable knowledge is an asset, its true potential is realized when shared with the right people,” says student president of The Legacy Club, Tajay Kelly
The members view the club as something more than just another school club. As both Flores and Kelly have said, “The Legacy Club is not a club, it’s a movement. Little by little, we’re gonna keep growing and we hope to make some changes.” If you’re interested in leaving a lasting legacy, head up to 317A in Beacon Hall on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
STEAM Tutoring: The Unsung Hero of Success
By Wid Alceus Staff Writer
The STEAM center offers tutoring by both professionals and peers. This tutoring specializes in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math courses. HCC separates their tutoring into different disciplines rather than throwing all subjects into one pool. This helps students find the resources they need much easier rather than sifting through a sea of different options. They offer inperson and online tutoring. For students who may need extra resources for more hands-on learning or lack of necessary resources, the tutoring center offers those things for students to utilize during their sessions.
Jonathan Karnizan, who used the tutoring for preparing for his Chemistry test, said that, given his work schedule, he only had the opportunity to meet with a tutor online.
“The tutoring helped clear up some of the misconceptions I had, but I felt like I could’ve gotten more out of it if I met the
tutor in person. I’m still happy I had the opportunity to go online though. It’s better than nothing,” he said.
While in-person may be a better choice for some, the option to use the services online seem to be at the benefit for all of us. In both cases, setting up an appointment is made easy. To make an appointment, students can go to the STEAM center website located in the HCC website, click on the link provided and sign into their student account. The school makes signing up easier since signing into your student account also provides the classes you’re registered in. Locking down a session is as simple as choosing online vs inperson tutoring, selecting a time and a person you want to do the session with. With online tutoring, you are provided a link to meet with your tutor upon confirming the appointment.
Whether you’re struggling with a topic or want to further solidify your strengths, these tutoring services are a great option for all students.
Information You Need If You Want to SURVIVE COLLEGE
By Aliannys Ortiz Garcia | Staff Writer
It is not a secret that, as college students, class work and assignments can get a little overwhelming at times. Students get so enthralled by the idea of having to finish something quickly that they don’t think about the resources the school provides to make it a little easier for them.
I noticed that a lot of students are complaining about not having enough space to study. The library at the Housatonic Campus has many resources, and it is “not just for books,” as the infographic outside by the entrance says.
If you ever feel like you need a quiet place to go, they have a group study room. To get access to these rooms, students need to reserve the room online and then ask for a key, which will be kindly given to them. If the study room is occupied, they also have a quiet study space and isolated desks that can be useful when looking for a calm place.
Librarian Jennifer Lutris gave me some important information that some students may take advantage of. First of all, she told me that the library has extended its hours. And, she added, “The library is also offering help to those who have extra work. They can help you from 30 minutes to up to an hour, and you can choose whoever you want to get help from.”
And, she added, “The library is also offering help to those who have extra work. They can help you from 30 minutes to up to an hour, and you can choose whoever you want to get help from.”
Illustration by Vexels
Images (& pencil) by Freepik
In our library, you don’t only get books, so if you need to complete assignments or work by yourself, you can also get DVDs and free accounts from famous newspapers such as The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. These DVD sets are 3 dollars, and CDs of movies and music are 1 dollar each. Students can also buy books that vary from educational to entertaining and rent books for up to 4 weeks and DVDs for one.
If you want to talk or ask about anything related to the library, there’s a reference desk just by the entrance from which you can get important information, and they also have computers if you ever need one to do some work or get some copies.
If you are shy and do not want physical interaction, their website, Housatonic.edu/library, has a chat feature in which you can ask anything as long as you are respectful. The library’s number is 203-332-5070 if you ever want to call, but they also have HC-Library@hcc.commnet.edu as an email, and they are located in room B144 at Lafayette Hall.
Take advantage of this opportunity without the need to spend or do much and use the resources made just for you.
Images by Freepik
Image by Vecteezy
Image by Pngtree
Student Entrepreneurial Success
By Wid Alceus Staff Writer
Thesupport of student entrepreneurship is an important aspect of any college campus. Given that college is an environment that breeds creativity and ideas, an outlet for that is necessary to allow students to express themselves. At Housatonic, the Werth Center embodies the ideas of community, innovation, and development. It’s an organization that provides competitions with cash prizes, workshops, mentorships, and more. It’s located on the first floor of Beacon Hall to the left of the bookstore. The Werth Center captures many of the ideals needed to cultivate entrepreneurship on college campuses.
The Werth Center allows students to develop their ideas into something tangible. Workshops they provide prove to be effective ways for students to learn useful information and it allows them to gain insights into the intricacies of running a business. As Mike Dodgon, from the World Economic Forum, says, “There are also strong pedagogical reasons for teaching entrepreneurship, as it engages students with pressing real-world problems, develops critical thinking, and broadens their life skills. Universities help fulfill their economic and social missions by promoting entrepreneurship.”
The Werth Center provides access to many knowledgeable business owners and leaders that have years of experience. The use of the knowledge can decrease the learning curve that comes with newly run businesses. These educational efforts can lay a strong foundation for students to build on their ideas.Whether your business idea is only on a piece of paper or you have a developed customer base, the Werth Center provides many of the necessary resources to find success.
Through the Werth Center, students can be a part of a growing entrepreneurial network. Their space encourages collaboration and innovation among students. Events they provide like business plan contests, and networking sessions help stimulate a competitive yet collaborative atmosphere. Their competitions offer grants to encourage students to manifest their ideas and win the financial backing necessary to grow. Raphael, an intern at the Werth Center, has personally won some of the competitions and states, “I wanted to start selling products that had my embroidery but I didn’t have the money necessary to buy a machine. Because of the competition’s grants I was able to buy a machine and start.” Such a community not only supports individual ventures but also contributes to a culture of entrepreneurship across the campus.
Access to capital is often a significant barrier for student entrepreneurs. The Werth Center addresses this challenge by providing grants and connecting students with investor networks, which are crucial for transforming innovative ideas into tangible businesses.
In the digital age, access to the latest technology and innovation labs is vital for student businesses. The Werth Center provides students with the software, online tools, and technological resources necessary for their businesses. Innovation labs further support this by offering spaces where students can experiment with new technologies and business models. Through Maker Space where students are able to use resources that can help businesses, from sewing to photography, grow. After students go through a workshop that teaches them how to
use the resources, they’re able to go on their own time and use the facilities without supervision. Access to maker space helps students get over potential barriers that come from lack of resources.
And the entrepreneurial journey does not end at graduation. Housatonic and the Werth Center provide support for student entrepreneurs with their career beyond graduation. Johnny Luk, CEO of the national Association of College and University Entrepreneurs, told a reporter at the Guardian, “...while there is widespread support at universities for budding and student entrepreneurs who already have ambitions to run a business after graduating, more could be done to flag it as an option for undecided students.” With the Central College Network, students gain access to many companies that are looking to hire students. This resource can help curb a potentially long-winded
and difficult job hunt for students. Through this network they can gain experience needed to run a business successfully. Werth Center’s alumni network allows you to find opportunities from people that share common ground and find success in the business of your interest. Alumni can also utilize the resources they provide to continue improving.
Housatonic and the Werth Center play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs by providing a comprehensive support system that encompasses education, mentorship, financial resources, and beyond. By fostering an environment that encourages innovation, risk-taking, and practical problem-solving, Housatonic prepares students not just for the challenges of the business world but for a future where they can be the drivers of economic growth and social change.
Photograph by Braiden Robison
5 Tips to Prepare for College Courses From The Start
By Giovane Santana Senior Staff Writer
As a college student at CT State Housatonic, I know that preparing for the Fall 2024 Semester on campus is not an easy task. Depending on the classes you registered for and are taking, there are a lot of supplies you may have listed on the syllabus for that particular class. The million-dollar question on every student’s mind is: “How do I prepare for the fall semester in the first weeks of classes?”
The good news is that there are 5 tips to consider when preparing for the Fall ‘24 Semester, and after following these tips, I can assure that you will be as successful as you can be in all of your classes!
The first tip to consider when preparing for fall semester early is to think about the supplies that you need. For example, if you are taking an English or Science class, you may want to consider buying a textbook and a notebook, as well as some supplies to use for labs in any science class. If you are taking a math class, however, you may need to purchase a regular or graphing calculator, a textbook, a pencil, a notebook, and even a ruler.
Gadiel Vargas, a student tutor at The Writing Center in Lafayette Hall says, “I think that the one supply that some students do not realize can help them succeed in their classes is a notebook, since they don’t take notes as much as they do now. I don’t see people work on something while taking notes. They should write parts of a lecture down so they can get ready for an exam. There needs to be at least something for students to write on, like an Ipad, a computer, or even OneNote.”
Rachell Williams, an ASC tutor for the Writing Center says, “I think that because schools are using technology nowadays, some students think that using their computers instead of their notebooks is a good idea, since they have Chromebooks or laptops at their disposal.”
The important part of this process is that if you can get your supplies early enough to get ready, you
will be more prepared than ever before. Preparing for classes either before or during at least the first weeks of class are a good time to get your supplies settled before you continue with the classes you will take for that semester.
The second tip to consider is to use the tutoring and support services offered at the Academic Support Center in Lafayette Hall. Tutoring is a great way to help you get your work done, as well as prepare for future assignments in the classes you are taking. Andrew Pelletier, Director of the ASC, says that this is a great way to get the extra help students need to succeed. “This is entirely free, and tutoring is something students pay $100 an hour, and for us, it is completely free”, Andrew said. “I also think that this is beneficial and convenient, because there is no long-term commitment, just come get the help when you need it. You’ll get help on demand with appointments, and if there is no room, you can usually see a tutor on the same day.”
“Talk to people who have a high knowledge of the subject you’re struggling with,” agrees Gadiel Vargas, a tutor in the Writing Center.
The third tip to consider is to use, and familiarize yourself with Blackboard for your coursework. Blackboard is always the hub for all of your coursework, assignments, quizzes, and exams. When using Blackboard, you can check out the Course Content tab to the left corner to access your work. You can also check out discussion boards for the classes you are taking to engage in class discussions and respond to other students about a certain topic. You can even access the syllabus for the courses you take so you know what you have to do for that class. Accessing your assignments and exams on Blackboard is 100% key to making sure you are on top of all your classwork.
“When it comes to Blackboard, if you don’t know how to navigate through the site, then there’s
also help at the Writing Center or IT, they can help you with technical issues”, Gadiel said.
The fourth tip to consider is to use the myCTState portal to receive updates about the campus. The myCTState portal is the replacement for the myCommNet website, which was used only for new and returning students until the spring semester of 2023. When the CT State merger took place, it was confirmed that the aforementioned portal was going to be used to access Blackboard and class registration. If you want to sign into Blackboard and the myCTState portal, all you have to do is login with your CT State email and password, and then you have to go through a verification process to access your account and stay logged in to your work. It is important that you check your email every day for updates and what’s new at Housatonic. The myCTState portal is necessary to be able to access your course dashboard and stay up to date with the latest information, weather alerts, and important announcements for the school.
Sometimes there can be miscommunication with the latest Microsoft Authenticator app to allow students to sign up to their email, but it is important to keep your data secure. “While this three-step
1. Supplies that are vital; Save yourself from the headache of being unprepared!
2. Tutoring and Support services are there for a reason; No shame in getting help!
3. Familiarize yourself with Blackboard; It is vital to keep yourself informed!
4. myCTState portal to check what’s happening; Cancelations or even Events are shown through these pages often!
5. Microsoft Office apps; Has many useful applications that will make your life easier as a student and increase your efficiency too!
verification process can be onerous, burdensome, or annoying, this is a really great way to keep your account safe and secure,” Pelletier said.
The fifth and final tip to consider is to be familiar with the Microsoft Office desktop apps. There are apps like Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Teams, and you can use those platforms to access your email and chat with your fellow classmates and teachers. When using these apps, you can write documents, spreadsheets, and even create presentations. This service is free to use, and it is similar to Google Drive, except that you can access all of the apps on the same website. In my experience, I have used these platforms for a long time now, and I am still using them today.
Overall, by thinking about the supplies you need, by using the tutoring services and getting extra help, using Blackboard for your classes and the myCTState portal to get the latest news on the campus, as well as by being familiar with using Microsoft Office platforms, these tips can really help Housatonic students to become successful and graduate to pursue their own career in university and beyond.
Illustration by: Angie Chay-Arana
Planning for the Week
By Travis Hayden Staff Writer
I used to be one of those students who saved everything until the last minute. It would be midnight on the due date of a major assignment that I had weeks to do and only then would I begin to start the assignment.
For my first few semesters in college, this would be a successful strategy for me until it backfired and I ended up failing my first class and not getting the grades I wanted. Since that moment, I vowed to make a change. That change was planning.
Planning has helped me tremendously since I started it, and I can help you too. The way I do it is I get my weekly work schedule on Wednesday and I compare my assignment’s due dates to that and when I have my classes. Since I have been doing this I have been less stressed with my school assignments, have been getting everything done in a meaningful time, and have reset my sleep schedule. Planning is the best way to stay on top of your schoolwork by carving out
the time when you are free you will get your work done without having the stress of having to wait till the last minute.
For example, if I have to work on a Thursday from 5-11 p.m. and I know I have class from 11 am-12.15 p.m., I will put that in my planner and then schedule a gym session from 12.301.30 p.m. and then do my homework in between. This has made life similar for me, as every day is different and I have different obligations but since I have been planning I no longer find myself pulling all-nighters the night
Illustrations By: Isaias Aguirre
Effective Study Techniques and Time Management: Unlock Your Potential
By Wid Alceus Staff Writer
In the journey of academic excellence and personal growth, mastering effective study techniques and efficient time management is important. This life hack not only promises to enhance your retention of information but also ensures you manage your study hours more productively, leading to a balanced and stress-free life.
At the root of this approach is scientifically based study techniques and time management strategies. By using methods such as spaced repetition and active recall, you can significantly improve your retention of information. These techniques utilize spaced repetition to enhance long-term memory. Similarly, active recall involves testing oneself rather than passive review. These techniques together help to deepen learning and memory retention.
When I first began studying using passive techniques, I found inconsistent results with tests. It’s only when I implemented these techniques where I found myself consistently getting good grades. When it came time for the final, a lot of the content I went over felt more like review rather than reteaching myself the content. The benefit of these techniques is a more
efficient study session that yields higher retention rates. A great strategy to use is the Pomodoro technique, a method where work is broken down into intervals with short breaks. When the previously mentioned study techniques are paired with effective time management strategies, students can optimize their study sessions, reduce procrastination, and alleviate the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Begin by planning your study sessions around the concepts of spaced repetition and active recall. Create a schedule that allows for reviewing material over
Illustrations By: Isaias Aguirre
increasing intervals of time. During each study session, use active recall by testing yourself on the material studied, rather than passively reading, or highlighting text. Many textbooks have questions that students can use to help test themselves based on the content they’re using. There are also plenty of free resources online that can provide practice problems for people to test themselves as well. Implement the Pomodoro Technique by working for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. This not only keeps the mind fresh but also enhances focus during study time.
You also need a space that encourages focus. When in an environment like your room where you relax or your kitchen where you eat, your mind will be inclined to do these things rather than focus and study. Going to an environment like the library or creating an environment in your house to study is an important step to improve your study sessions.
A good night sleep proves to be one of the most important things needed when you study. Lack of sleep reduces your ability to retain information and greatly reduces your ability to focus. Getting at least 7 hours of sleep will create a clear difference in your ability to perform both studying and on your tests.
Personal experiences and numerous studies validate the effectiveness of these strategies. For example, spacing out study sessions has been shown to double memory retention over a period, while active recall methods are proven to significantly boost learning efficiency. Active recall helps demonstrate where your knowledge may be lacking and helps you focus on your weaknesses while improving or maintaining your strengths. The Pomodoro Technique has been credited with improving productivity by maintaining a high level of concentration and reducing fatigue. Adopting these study and time management strategies can drastically change the way you learn. They are simple to implement, yet the impact on your academic performance and personal life can be profound. Start today and unlock your potential to learn more effectively and live a balanced life.
Illustrations By: Isaias Aguirre
We Can All Be Main Characters BeYourBestWithoutHavingto SpendtheWholePaycheck
By Allianiz Ortiz Garcia Staff Writer
Iknow I am not the only one who sometimes finds herself watching reels or videos on social media apps of people with unique styles and amazing clothes, wishing I could look or have the same as them. We want to dress and look good every day but now with all these changes in fashion it gets quite hard and overwhelming, more so with the increasing prices. Here are some tips to have the best style without having to spend too much money.
Never be afraid of changing routines. If buying clothes in expensive stores was something that you used to do constantly, change that, and start thrifting. I know that buying used items can sound weird, but there are many thrift stores around the area with workers that make sure everything is good and clean for you to take home.
Be creative and make or design some of your own things. A pair of scissors and a sewing needle can change lives. You can watch video tutorials and get some experience to change something from bad to good or even perfect. You will not need to buy new pieces, just go to your closet, and find som ething you do not use and try it. I like to wear big old T-shirts but I always cut the neck of the shirt so it can make this off the shoulder illusion. Sometimes I cut my jeans and use them as shorts and other times I even paint my shoes. It is all about experimenting. Doing all of this can be a healthy way of keeping yourself busy while having fun.
Do not run away from the idea of repeating clothes. One item can be used constantly, and nobody would even notice. This is where you put all that time you have been watching videos to use. Wear the same shirt and change your pants or skirt. Wear the same pants and change your shirt. Wear different shoes and different accessories to make that outfit pop and never quit trying to find that best version of yourself. Put these tips to use and make it happen. Do not get spooked at the mere idea of changing for the better. Be your true self and find the style you really want.
Illustrations By Simon Fernandes
Save Money With Free Television Services
By Gio Santana Senior Staff Writer
As streaming services get expensive and less affordable for those who are on a tight budget, and the use of cable television becomes less frequent over time, there is good news about a type of streaming service that allows you to access your favorite movies and TV shows, as well as access to the latest news and a good selection of live TV channels, depending on the service and content offered. What if there was a free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service that you can use to access your favorite content? What if this streaming service was a cheaper alternative to a subscription service?
There are many benefits to switching from a premium subscription streaming service, such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Paramount Plus, and Max (formerly known as HBO Max), to a free, ad-supported, streaming television service, such as Pluto TV and Tubi. One of the biggest benefits to switching to a free streaming service is that you don’t have to sign up, although there are some services that do allow you to register for free and sign in with your TV provider, such as the ABC and CBS apps. Pluto TV is a good example of allowing you to go straight into the service without signing up. Another benefit is that you don’t have to purchase anything or use a credit card, as everything in that particular service is free.
The content varies with each streaming service you use. For example, if you love SpongeBob, then you would watch the show on Paramount Plus, but you could also watch a few episodes without any copyright infringement on YouTube. The only cons with free streaming are that the content you are looking for may not be available to you, and that the content offered is supported by ads. The amount of content in one streaming service may be more or less than what another would have. Some streaming services also have original series that serve as exclusive content for that specific service.
There is growing recognition that cable television is no longer a part of our everyday lives. Although we may still use this method today to watch TV, we know now that streaming is the new norm for watching TV, now that this is the era of television where we have so many more options to watch our favorite TV show or movie.
Illustrations By Simon Fernandes
The Map To Discover Organization
By James El-Hage Staff Writer
Have you ever felt cluttered or confused when you are researching a topic for a paper? If so, a Concept Map is the perfect tool to help you increase productivity and make learning easier and more fun.
A Concept Map is a visual representation of your sources that helps comprehension of difficult subjects, allows you to grasp the broader picture, and helps you uncover new connections. Making a concept map is similar to brainstorming. You take your overall topic of your paper, and you break it down with the help of your sources.
I was introduced to Concept Maps by my teacher recently when I was struggling with formatting my essay. The Concept Map helped me because I could see all the main points and highlight which ones I wanted to expand on. This made it easier for me to decide on what I wanted my essay to consist of. Ever since my teacher showed me the importance of making a Concept Map, I have made one for every major essay since then.
The first step in creating a Concept Map is to
take a blank sheet of paper and print the name of your topic in the middle. Next you write down the title of your sources around the title of your topic with arrows connecting them. Then write down key concepts of your sources around their respective titles connecting them with arrows. Make sure that you are keeping your arrows and shapes organized so that you can read the key concepts after. Then analyze the key concepts that you have written down from each source and identify which ones are similar. After you have found similarities between your sources, expand on them in your paper so that you can relate your topics to each other.
Now you have a Concept Map with all the information you need from your sources to relate them to each other.
Illustrations By Alyssa Johnson
Illustration By Simon Ferandes
Conversational Classrooms: Round Tables for Eager Learners
By Larry Ferguson Editor Emeritus
You’re in class and the professor is talking at a rate of a million words a minute. As time passes by, you try your hardest to keep track of all the thoughts and associations you make in your head, but the professor leaves no room in between their lecturing for you or anyone else to express the thoughts that they struggle to hold on to. In some classes that are taught face-to-face, trying to stay engaged can feel like a battle. This feeling can result from very dense content being packed into each lesson or the limited opportunities to practically apply any of the content-based skills they’re developing. This issue is compounded by the fact that in most classrooms, time for discussion is scarce. In a moment where someone may want to comment on a particular topic in hopes of starting a conversation about an aspect of the lesson they find confusing,
they may instead feel discouraged because of the common no-talking rules seen in many classrooms. It’s no secret that these spaces are not traditionally regarded as conversational, but I believe that stigma can be detrimental as it can prevent productive conversations between students from ever starting.
Conversation can mean more than just chit-chat.
In a classroom setting, conversation can mean more than just chit-chat. During a lesson, conversations between students can be an extremely effective supplement to the traditional passive learning methods of watching and listening to an instructor. When used properly, conversation adds an element of active learning to the equation. This allows students to not only further explore the content via their dialogue, but also express their own thoughts and ideas about what they’re learning. Such moments create opportunities to share questions, comments, and concerns about educational topics, making learning a more collaborative, gratifying, and overall positive experience. The openness of this kind of classroom can help alleviate any shame or embarrassment that may come with wanting to dig a little deeper into topics that students don’t fully understand or are genuinely curious about.
Photo by: Abigail Nima
I can personally speak to the kinds of wonders this works due to a few wonderful classroom experiences I’ve had. In practice, this method transforms a classroom from an amphitheater with a professor front and center, into a roundtable where the professor acts as both a teacher and a moderator for classroom discussions. In the
classes I’ve attended that have employed this round table method, the professor comes off as far more approachable and less intimidating, since their neutral role makes them an essentially equal participant in all conversations. From this position, they retain the power to prompt students with essential questions that can get the conversation to keep moving in productive directions while still leaving agency in the hands of students who have the ultimate say in the way that their class time gets used.
In my experience, the roundtable method is exceedingly effective when students are questioning their understanding of a topic. Many times before, I have personally presented my understanding of a subject and witnessed others do so in classrooms that used the roundtable method. In these moments, students were able to weigh in with their respective interpretations of the content. With the mediation of the professor, in less than ten minutes, the entire class was able to work together to synthesize different ways of looking at a topic that were all conducive to fully grasping the concepts discussed. These experiences served to highlight the fact that roundtable classrooms give students the power to identify and amplify helpful understandings of course content and weed out unhelpful ones. The collaborative element of the method makes it so that even when people come to realize there are better ways they could approach what they’re working on, they are guided to that conclusion with such patience and care that there are no hard feelings.
are both reasons and ways for them to strike a balance between more traditional talking rules and the roundtable method. Moments where quiet is an absolute necessity are common in classrooms. During assessments and assignments, a moratorium on talking could be what ensures a student will succeed or it can be what guarantees their failure. This makes such instances perfect examples of better safe-thansorry scenarios. However, such a situation highlights the beauty of using the roundtable method. It is one of many ways that a classroom can be run, which underlines the fact that no matter what kind of rules there are when it comes to talking in class, the teacher must use their better judgment to discern what method would net more value for their students in any given situation. Depending on the kind of classroom a professor is running, switching gears shouldn’t present too much of a problem on a class-by-class basis.
Although the advantages of the roundtable method are clear, it may leave a little to be desired for educators who prefer the concrete structure that comes with rigid policies regarding talking during lessons. While it is true that professors must relinquish a degree of unilateral control to use the method, there
At the end of the day, there are tons of different ways a professor can lead a classroom. As long as students are put first and the methods being used aren’t producing negative outcomes for learners, everything will work out. This means that assessing having different methods at their disposal and identifying their best use cases is an important part of being an instructor. With that being said, due to its ability to bring active learning to a classroom, stimulate productive conversations led by learners, and its overall versatility, the roundtable method should be added to every educator’s bag of tricks. There’s no harm in letting students talk their way into a new understanding and/or appreciation of a topic, so don’t be afraid to put students first and let them talk!
Illustration by: Abigail Nima
Lessening Student Burnout
By Holly McPartland Contributing Writer
Burnout
is something that everyone runs the risk of suffering no matter what they’re doing in life – be it one’s job, familial responsibilities, or (of course) education. College is an area that is especially prone to causing burnout. By nature, college students are adults, so it’s likely that they’re not just dealing with school or the other two stressful facets of life mentioned above, but perhaps even more than that. While college students are adults and, as such, are fully expected to be responsible in regards to their academics, they are also human and sometimes require more help and support. As such, there’s more that the college can do to assist students when the grind starts to become too much. Optimally, the school should put together some kind of support center or group for students suffering from academic stress or burnout.
According to a piece by Ashley Wallis on the Southern New Hampshire University’s website, “The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) said, ‘Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health problems on college campuses.’ 85% of college students said they had felt overwhelmed by everything they had to do at some point in the past year. 30% of college students reported that their level of stress had a negative effect on their academic performance.” If 85% of students are reporting that they are feeling overwhelmed, that means two things: First, that number, in actuality, is more than likely higher than what is reported and second, this is a prevalent issue among the student body. For a big problem, however, there doesn’t currently seem to be a lot of resources to help it. From personal experience, I can say that, when it comes to academic stress, it really does feel like you’re on your own a lot of time. Yes, you can talk to your teacher when you
need help, but usually that only applies to when you need assistance with something in regards to their class or in the event of some kind of emergency. If you’re overwhelmed with school in general, there’s not really anywhere within the Housatonic space you can go.
But I can already hear some of you asking “Well what about the Counseling and Wellness Center? Or TimelyCare? Don’t those basically serve the same purpose?” Well, yes and no. What I propose is something connected to one or both of those resources, an offshoot program that specializes in assisting students who are dealing with this specific problem.
Photo by: Braiden Robinson Artist: Liz Favret
Or a web site that helps connect all the resources, places, and people who could help with this problem together for whatever issue a student may be experiencing while dealing with burnout.
“But what exactly would this program entail?” you may also be asking. Aside from allowing students to come together in some kind of support group to help themselves and each other work through this problem, this group would bring together existing resources within the school to try and combat burnout. For example, if students are feeling stuck with an assignment or class and are having a hard time trying to muster up the will to power through, we could have people from the Academic Support Center and all of the groups under its umbrella (i.e. Center for Academic Progress, Writing Center, tutoring) help them figure the next best course of action. Students suffering from mental/emotional fatigue from burnout? We have individuals from the Counseling and Wellness Center and Timely Care to help with that. Moreover, on the page about academic burnout on the University of the People’s website, the first piece of advice given for how to avoid burnout is to “Make Time for Enjoyable Activities…Sprinkle your calendar with things you love to do throughout the week, and you’ll feel start to feel more motivated to start your school days.” Maybe we can use this resource to help the overall student body by organizing some kind of fun day on campus around finals to help students relax during a stressful time during the semester.
its mission, so that may very well help alleviate some costs, as opposed to hiring whole new staff. Moreover, all expenses – monetary or otherwise –ultimately go toward helping to curb a prominent problem faced by the student body (Again, we’re talking over 85% of college students). If students feel like they have somewhere to go when they face this specific kind of stressor, they’ll likely feel better and more confident in themselves to continue furthering their education. And what’s good for the students will ultimately be good for the school too. Having some kind of place where you can get help with feelings of burnout is a good step in the right direction. And, if students can see that others are having the same sort of troubles that they are, perhaps that can set a precedent of normalizing seeking help when they need it. As Wallis notes, according to Mental Health America (MHA), “28% of college students reported feeling so depressed at some point during the year they had trouble functioning,” but “Only 8% sought help to be treated for depression.” And the University of the People’s first three pieces of advice given for how to recover from burnout is to “1. Seek Help…2. Recognize Symptoms…3. Don’t Ignore” Not only would this help set a standard for students to reach out when things at school get tough, but it would also apply to their everyday lives – to reach out for help when anything in your life gets too tough. That’s a precedent that not only helps shape successful students, but successful adults too.
“But what would be the cost of putting together, staffing, and maintaining such a thing?” Well, that depends on how you define “cost”. The idea of this resource is to draw upon a few existing services offered by the college and their staff to assist in
Photo by: Braiden Robinson Artist: Liz Favret
How a Failure Helped Me to Make the Dean’s List
As a student who majors in journalism and communications here at CT State Housatonic, I started my journey here on campus during the fall semester of 2021. I took a class that happens to be my hardest course during that time, Math 137: Intermediate Algebra with Professor Marina Philips. The entire semester I took was online and asynchronous, and due to the impacts of COVID-19, it made it hard for me to learn the concepts that were taught in the course. Even with the help of online tutoring drop-in sessions, I failed the class and I already knew that I wasn’t ready, because all I needed was a graphing calculator to work on specific math problems that require me to create graphs and use certain functions.
After failing the class, I realized that math classes in college were as extreme as a math class in high school, and for me, personally, it was way more than I had anticipated. However, when I took an easier Math class in the fall of 2022, I took Math 095: Elementary Algebra Foundations with Professor Asantewa Dawson. After taking that class, I started to remember the material that I was taught from my math classes in the past, such as combining like terms and the distributive property. After a lot of tutoring and support at the Tutoring Center in Lafayette Hall, I was able to pass that class with an A and move on to the class I failed prior, but in-person with the same professor. After taking that class, I accomplished a massive milestone in my college
By Giovanne Santana Senior Staff Writer
career, something that some college students could not do, because they wouldn’t have the mindset to keep moving forward.
After being enrolled in the spring semester of 2023, I landed my first job as a staff writer for the Housatonic Horizons student magazine. This job is a big milestone for my college career, as it helps me to improve my writing skills and bring me one step closer to becoming a journalist and TV news anchor. This happened when I started taking a Publications Workshop course with Professor Steve Mark, which was a required class for my major or program of study. The class I took was engaging and I loved the fact that I was able to work in a group, since I cannot do every assignment alone. This is why I go tutoring for my math skills and my writing skills. I worked extremely hard that semester, and I was able to go to class 4 days a week, as opposed to 5 days a week in elementary school, middle school, and high school. I was productive and focused on my work all semester, and I even checked my grades to make sure that I have passed all my classes for that semester before getting ready for summer vacation. Shortly after the Spring 2023 Semester was over, I accomplished a giant milestone in my college career during my summer.
After a successful spring semester last year in 2023, despite enduring a tough summer and long illness, I got a letter from the Dean of
“If you have a dream, don’t let anybody take it away...”
Students and Faculty, Robin Avant, saying that my hard work for that semester was more than enough, as it caused me to end up making the Dean’s List.
Making it into the Dean’s List motivated me to be proud of my hard work so that way I may continue to work my hardest as I got ready for my final semesters at the campus, and the first of them taking place during the CT State merger. I’m sure that I have come a long way in my academic and educational journey.
I hope that what used to make me a humiliating failure in a math class makes me a stronger, successful student later on when I go to university to study meteorology and become the #1 most trusted meteorologist that the entire state of Connecticut
can count on. There is one motivational quote that has been in my mind since high school, and that quote was from none other than Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla Perez. She once said, “If you have a dream, don’t let anybody take it away, and always believe that the impossible is always possible.” And that’s why I say to everyone, you don’t have to compare yourself to other people to think that you are better than they are, because you can be a much better person today than you were yesterday.
Illustration by: Ralph DeJesus
Going For The Top
By Iker Santiago Diaz Gonzalez Contributing Writer
“Being a first-generation college student is really special because it opens new opportunities.”
If I told you to be more compassionate, you wouldn’t do it. We humans lack compassion for the person near us. But I am going to fix that right now. Because I am going to share what it’s like to be the first generation of your bloodline to go to college. It is awesome to attend college, and we all know that. I like attending college because it helps me progress with my education and meet other people. But besides being a first-generation student, I have a special background.
I come from a family migrating to the United States to have a better future. When we moved to the United States, I was nine years old. My Dad worked all day at a Pizzeria, so he didn’t have time to spend with his family. My mom worked two jobs for most of our time in this country. My family is hardworking, and thanks to their sacrifices and effort of getting us forward we were never in a situation of hunger, and I have this opportunity to attend college. Initially, I attended a bilingual school and made awesome friends, but I then had to move to an all-English school and leave all my friends behind. But moving to this new school made me perfect my English so much that I know better English than almost everyone I know.
My mom and coworkers influenced me to attend Housatonic. One day, not too long ago, as I was doing work for my composition class, my mom came home with tired eyes and a sore body. I hugged her because I barely spend time with her because of her long work hours.
She responded, “Keep working on your future son, because you’re not going to be an hourly wage earner like me and your dad.” My mom is my main influence and motivation to be a successful person. She is very hardworking and I love her.
by Pixaby
Photo
(Pexels)
The other influences for attending college are my coworkers that, like me, came from other countries and didn’t attend college. Sometimes they will tell me that I must study so I don’t receive the same overworked lifestyle as them. I really love those people and they motivate me to attend Housatonic.
I like college a lot, despite the challenges that come with attending here. The biggest challenge that I face with college is staying up-todate with all the assignments that teachers post on Blackboard. However, I solve that challenge by texting my friends to help me out, and they are cool, so they help me. Housatonic is very diverse in the sense that there are people here from all ethnic backgrounds. It’s great to talk to them and get to know them. I also like the teachers here because they are really helpful, nice, and help me maximize my focus.
Being a first-generation college student is really special because it opens new opportu-
nities. I come from an immigrant family that sacrifices a lot to get me to attend Housatonic. Also, having the pressure/motivation to attend college from my mom and coworkers gets me pumped to attend Housatonic with hopes of becoming successful. And lastly, attending college has its challenges. Like everything in life has its challenges; despite that, I like attending Housatonic because it helps me meet people from all ethnicities and work with awesome teachers.
Illustration by Kyle Bleakley
Illustration by Kyle Bleakley
The Narrow Escape
By Lual Nyamakal Contributing Writer
The occasion was quite different from what we had expected. Even before we entered the room, we could hear some noises. I had never thought I would find myself in such a situation. It all started when we slowly approached the room, gazing at each other worriedly.
“Where are all the people?” I secretly asked myself.
My mother and I were invited to a wedding ceremony at my friend’s house. But to our utter disbelief, there was no one there in sight.
Abruptly, we heard another sound inside the room. We looked around to see if anyone was there, but our efforts bore no fruit. Slowly and cautiously, we entered the other room inside the hall. My heart was forcefully beating as I stared suspiciously at the door, wondering what horrors lay on the other side.
I reluctantly got hold of the doorknob as I opened the door and it creaked loudly. A wave of pitch darkness engulfed me. My mother stood beside the door, gazing at me suddenly, and I heard another sound, although it was more distinct and closer. I stood still as I investigated the darkness that had enveloped me, trying to make out shapes. I heard a hair-rising scream from behind me. I turned around, knowing perfectly well that it must have been my mother. Fear ran its icy hand up and down my spine as I returned to the door. In the blink of an eye, two gigantic men held my hand tight, dragging me down on the floor. Three more started torturing my mother, beating her and asking her to give them all personal information including her bank account.
“We should not trust people blindly, no matter who they are.”
Illustration by Alyssa Johnson
I screamed loudly but all was useless. No one was available to come to our aid.
Instead they looked into my eyes.
“You could scream as much as you want, but remember no one will ever find out where both you and your mother are, so listen, you little rat. Today is your last day to be alive. I will slaughter you and cut your flesh into pieces,” said one man, as he pointed his gun at me.
Then he said, “I give you ten seconds to choose who you want to live between you and your beloved mother.”
My mother started to bleed over her body. Seeing my mother in such a terrible condition, I cried, ”Take me instead! Let my mother go and do whatever you wish to do with me. Just let her go!” Their gang leader laughed evilly at me. and said “Do you think I will buy that? No. not at all.” A very hot slap landed on my face, which made me go blind for thirty seconds. Thereafter, I could only see stars arranged from largest to smallest. I begged them to free her, but my words fell on deaf ears.
Mercilessly, they shot my mother right before my eyes. With all my pleading, I could only see my mother lying on the floor and her blood flowing. That was the end of my world, I felt the ground where I was standing shaking terribly, and my entire body was shaking with anger. I could only hear my heartbeat in the quiet room.
After they shot my mother, the gang ran away. I dragged myself to where she was lying. I laid my hand on her to see if she was still breathing, but she was gone long ago. My mind went blank. I couldn’t think of anything, I just sat still and prayed to God to do the miracle. Surely God never disappointed people. Someone came to see what happened after he heard me crying. To his surprise, he saw the body of a woman lying on the floor. He quickly called the police, and my mother and I were taken to hospital.
Days later my mother recovered, and she was discharged from the hospital. The police and community elders investigated the incident, only to find
out that the gang had mistaken my mother for someone else. After they had arrested them, my thinking capacity changed. As it was said, experience is the best teacher. We should not trust people blindly no matter who they are. When the deal is too good, we must think twice before considering whether to act on it or not.
We relocated to a nearby neighboring village to freshen up our minds for a while. To our surprise the village was nothing compared to where we came from, the residents were living peacefully with one another. The elders talked to me and said to me that they believed that everything occurs with purpose. They said to stop thinking about what took place and that I should move on. “After all, a lot of people outside there had been through a lot just like you, and they chose to move on which gives life a meaning. They lived happily and stayed focused and lived the best of life without wasting any time,” they added.
I took their advice seriously. I let go of my stress, returned to my daily activities, and before I realized I had regained my strength I opened a new chapter of my life full of hope.
Illustration by Kyle Bleakley
Professor Lalani:
Not your basic math professor...
Out
of all teachers and staff throughout CT State, there is none more unique than Professor Riaz Lalani, a math professor at the Norwalk Campus. Professor Lalani is more than just your basic math professor at a community college.
Out of college, he ended up getting a job building nuclear reactors. Still, he ended up leaving, as he believed his morals did not align with the company he was working for then, so he went on to pursue teaching at Clemson University.
Lalani didn’t just stop there. He also had jobs as a retail banker, consultant, and in health care technology. Lalani says, though, that he is most proud of being a part of a group of people that started a boutique bank. “We didn’t have a single customer when they started but within 5 years it was the 13th largest credit card issuer in America,” he added.
By Travis Hayden Staff Writer
They would eventually sell to The Bank of America and Lalani would work for 2 more start-ups and go back into teaching at Norwalk Community College and Fairfield University. I asked Lalani whether he preferred teaching at big schools like Clemson and Fairfield or teaching at the community college. Lalani stated that he had enjoyed teaching at Norwalk more than the other two universities he had taught at before. Lalani said when he was getting back into teaching he wanted to teach high school instead of university originally, but said he thinks community college is the perfect balance between a high school and a university.
His advice for students is that “Once you start a job, think about what’s next.” just like he did. Lalani told me that our generation will be changing jobs and careers frequently and that to maximize our value we need to change tracks quickly and keep another door open.
Photo by Travis Hayden
Illustration by Scott Preslar
The Unknown Side of Our Beloved Fifi
By Lynette Hernandez Staff Writer
As you make your way through the cafeteria line, the last person you might exchange words with is often the unsung hero of the dining experience. Some might affectionately know her as Fifi, while others might not even be familiar with her name. But behind that friendly smile lies a remarkable story of resilience and determination.
Fadiola (“Fifi”) Gojani is the powerhouse behind Theodora’s Food Service. Though her official title is General Manager, her journey to this role is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Albania, Fadiola’s childhood was filled by the chaos of war. At just five years old, she fled her homeland and sought refuge in Germany.
“Fadiola (“Fifi”) Gojani is the powerhouse behind Theodora’s Food Service.”
By the age of twelve she was starting fresh in a foreign land, and four years later, at sixteen, she embarked on yet another chapter, this time in the United States of America. Fadiola’s transition to life in America was far from easy. Language barriers and cultural differences posed challenges.
However, with the support of patient friends who empathized with her situation, she found her footing. Her circle of friends was as diverse as the country itself, and through their guidance and understanding, she learned to navigate the complexity of American life, something that she idolizes and utilizes when interacting with the students of HCC.
Later, Fadiola found employment at the HCC cafeteria. With the invaluable support of the exceptional staff, she pursued her education at Housatonic. Gradually, she worked her way towards earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Reflecting on her journey, she expressed “That whole experience made me want to graduate in psychology and help people that went through similar situations.”
Photo by Scott Preslar
Unlocking Opportunities: Exploring the Journey of College Transfers
By James El-Hage Staff Writer
Transferring schools can be a daunting process that most college students find themselves in. According to recent statistics, about one-third of all students will swap institutions at least once before earning their degree. Transferring can be a good idea when the new schools give students better opportunities then the previous school. Some reasons that students decide to transfer is because of a change in majors, Academic and social reasons, and just overall being unhappy. Outside factors can also contribute to a student deciding to transfer, but it is important to know that you have support, as one former CT State student learned.
“When I started the transferring process, it was scary,’ said Muntaha Yousif, who was formerly at CT State but transferred to Fairfield University, ‘Not knowing where I was going to go or what situation was going to be the best for me.” Just like many other students Muntaha didn’t feel “at home” at her first school, which first gave her the idea of transferring.
“It didn’t feel like me. It felt like I wasn’t being myself when I was at school and that started to affect me and my productivity in school,” said Yousif, ‘It was really hard for me to make friends because of how small the school is.”
“...One-third of students will swap institutions at least once before earning their degree.”
When you make the decision that you want to transfer it is important to find the college that fits you the best. The first thing you should do is think about academics, campus culture, financial aid, and career services. “When I started doing
my research on schools I made sure to keep my values in mind so that I could find a school that compliments me and my strengths,” said Yousif. “I was looking for a friendly and welcoming environment with teachers who are understanding of students and their accommodations.”
On her search to find a new school Muntaha would attend events hosted on campus to get a feel for the environment. When she was talking to her friends from Fairfield University about this, they told her about the Flavors of Asia event.
“Flavors of Asia is an event at Fairfield University that embraces all Asian Cultures and ethnicities,’ said Yousif, ‘The event includes food, dances from each culture, games, and prizes.”
Muntaha and her friends attended the event together as a group and this event was what really sparked her interest in Fairfield University. “The event allowed me to feel so included in my community and embrace my culture instead of being afraid to show my Middle Eastern roots,” said Yousif. “Transferring can be extremely complex so, to make it easier on myself I made sure to know what the requirements are to transfer, the application timeline, and how to successfully prepare for the application.”
Once you decide where you want to go, you have to familiarize yourself with the transfer process. Many students struggle with this so it is important to take advantage of the support that colleges provide like transferring workshops and meetings with your counselor.
by Scott Preslar
Illustration
Book & Cranny
By Eliana Martinez Assistant Magazine Designer
Iama book nerd and a bookseller. I love to read all types of genres from all kinds of authors, I love to collect books, I love to smell the pages, and I love to talk about books. Maybe you are looking for a good book recommendation. Maybe you’re hoping I write about your favorite book here. Maybe you haven’t picked up a book in a long time and are hoping for a sign to read again. Sometimes all you need is a sign to pick up a good book. This article is going to be your sign. Here, I will be recommending three different books from three separate genres you might enjoy. Hopefully you will find them as interesting as I did.
Contemporary Fiction
If you are in search of a simple literary novel, I will recommend (as I do with everyone who will listen) the deadpan hidden gem Convenience Store Woman by Japanese author Sayaka Murata. It follows a 36-year-old woman named Keiko Furukura who works at a convenience store and that’s all she wants to do. Pressures from her family, coworkers, and society try to sway her to abandon her job and marry and birth a child, but she is not sure that’s
what she wants in her life. She doesn’t understand the appeal of relationships and having a kid. She just likes the cleanliness, the order, and the power of the convenience store. Furukura is a cog in the capitalist machine, sure, but at least she is content with what she wants to do in her life. The book critiques gender norms specifically of women in such an unconventional way, I do not doubt it will be a future classic. It is also a relatively short novel, clocking in at 160 pages.
Fantasy
For this genre, I won’t give you everyone’s go-to recommendations like Sarah J. Maas or George R.R. Martin. No shame if you like them but ACOTAR is all over BookTok and everyone’s done with Game of Thrones after that last season (iykyk). No no, I’m going to recommend to you the fantasy series that made me fall in love with fantasy all over again: The Poppy War Trilogy by Chinese-American author R.F. Kuang. Inspired by the history and politics of 20th-century China, the first book introduces us to our main character Fang Runin, nicknamed Rin, a young woman who escapes an arranged marriage and joins the ranks of the military academy, Sineguard, discovering her talents in shamanism. She studies under the opiumaddicted Master Jiung while the threat of the Poppy War hovers over the school. The trilogy challenges several controversial topics, not just including drug use and war and the consequences of it, but also colonialism, imperialism, and racism, as Rin is a dark-skinned Indigenous woman. Avatar: The Last Airbender was named a major influence to the story, so some Zutara fans will see the connections (wink wink).
(Fun Fact: R.F. Kuang is a local author and sometimes visits the Barnes & Noble in Milford where I work! She even gave us a shoutout in the acknowledgments of her fifth novel Yellowface!)
Graphic Novel
Not everyone is a fan of full-on novels, and that is completely valid! Reading is reading, and that includes comics and graphic novels. For anyone looking for a compelling story without all the artless pages, look no further than the semiautobiographical It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth by British comic book author and illustrator Zoe Thorogood. A surreal exploration of a period of depression she had experienced, Thorogood depicts her emotions and her darkest and selfish thoughts as bizarre comic characters as she writes the very graphic novel you are about to read. Thorogood’s artstyle and character designs are sharp and unique, as well as strange, akin to manga art and the vibes of Hayao Miyazaki. Lonely is a realistic look into loneliness, depression, and mental anguish without any glamorization or excuses. The graphic novel and
Thorogood’s artwork has been nominated for many awards, and she won the Russ Manning award for Most Promising Newcomer.
Happy Reading!
I hope that one day, as you are relaxing in your local library or browsing your favorite bookstore, you pick up these enticing stories and give them a chance. They are lovely reads and have led me to find even more fantatic stories. Who knows, they might end up being your favorite works of literature too!
R.F. Kuang @ B&N!
Image Credits:
Official cover art for Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata.
Official cover art for The Poppy War: The Collector’s Edition by R.F. Kuang courtesy of HarperCollins. Image of R.F. Kuang courtesy of Barnes & Noble Milford Instagram. Official art courtesy of Zoe Thorogood @zoethorogood on Instagram.
THE PARTIAL ECLIPSE
by Eliana Martinez
Assistant Magazine Designer
OnMonday, April 8th, 2024, tens of thousands of Americans on the east side of the country were able to view a solar eclipse. For those in New England, A.K.A. us, we were able to see a partial eclipse, where our moon does not completely cover the sun as it passes between the sun and Earth. It was still a beautiful sight. The excitement and inspiration from the eclipse was everywhere, even after the moon moved on. Conversation and community blossomed on the block and on the Internet, but the coolest thing to come out of that day was the photography. Considering eclipses are historical and scientific events, you can believe many photographers jumped at the chance to capture it, one of them being Housatonic graduate Zach Asaulo.
Asaulo, Zachary. Untitled Eclipse Photograph 1. April 2024
Asaulo, Zachary. Untitled Eclipse Photograph 2. April 2024.
Zach had took several magnificent photographs at Seaside Park in Bridgeport and posted them on his Instagram for his family, friends, and followers to see. He used his Nikon D3500 with a 70-300 lens and a K&F 58mm Solar Filter, and called this experience one of the most exciting of his life.
“It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be,” he said. “The only minor obstacle was to stabilize and adjust the shot while using a tripod.” He used a software called Luminar Neo for basic adjustments, and edited in some sun rays his camera was not able to capture. The golden crust of the sun stands out more with the rays, and in the images with the fiery red of the partial eclipse glows like something out of a fantasy film. Zach was able to capture the wonder of the partial eclipse beautifully. And having a lack of symmetry gives each image a realistic charm, as if you were actually looking out your window and witnessing the eclipse all over again.
“It was my first time shooting [an eclipse] so the shots were worth it. But I was even more excited when they were edited based on how I saw it in real life.”
Zach usually takes architectural photographs at iconic Bridgeport sites and other Connecticut locations, as well as urban New York, but will not pass up the opportunity to something as pretty as this.
You can follow Zach on Instagram: @zach_photography766.
SUCKER PUNCH
A Review Over a Decade Later
By Eliana Martinez Assistant Magazine Designer
In 2011, Zack Snyder (Watchmen, Man of Steel) dropped the psychological fantasy Sucker Punch, a movie weirdly described as “Alice in Wonderland with machine guns”. It is more or less considered a cult classic now with a small fanbase that celebrates its aesthetic and its story. Or, rather, its story that could have been.
The plot follows a young woman nicknamed Babydoll who is admitted to a mental hospital by her abusive stepfather to be lobotomized after accidentally killing her sister while trying to defend themselves. At the hospital, she slips into a multi-layered fantasy world and plans to escape with the aid of four other girls she befriends.
Viewers reportedly were confused with the plot of the film, since the setting switches from a gray mental institution in the mid-20th century to a colorful brothel in a maladaptive daydream to a guns-blazing battle fantasy-within-a-fantasy, and many questioned how the characters being “scantily-clad” was feminist. The girls are sexualized and abused by the male characters in the film, and, according to Snyder, the way they dress is a “massive f*ck you” to the misogyny they face. The girls wear these outfits while killing monsters like Nazi zombies and fighting back against their oppressors. The film was intended to be a feminist tale of women fighting for their bodily and mental autonomy. As for the fantasy-within-a-fantasy plot, it does serve as an interesting depiction of the coping mechanism that those who are abused can fall into. But the abrupt transition into the sequences can be confusing and the lack of background to Babydoll’s character leaves much to be desired.
Despite the convoluted plot and worldbuilding, Sucker Punch is a fun movie with eye-catching visuals and an exciting soundtrack to make up for its flaws. One of the first fantasies Babydoll has in her maladaptive daydream is where she is at a temple in feudal-Japan fighting three giant samurai monsters while snow falls softly like feathers. These scenes clearly take inspiration from action-packed anime, such as Kill la Kill, and crazy video games like Lollipop Chainsaw. The soundtrack of the film serves as the backbone to the fantasy
“Meka” Fan Art by Eliana Martinez
scenes, using remixes and covers of preexisting songs as a representation of “the subconscious mind of Babydoll and her journey” (Tyler Bates, composer). Emily Browning, the actress who plays Babydoll, sings some of the songs herself, which added an extra layer of surrealism to the film as if Babydoll herself is singing lullabies into the audience’s ears.
Another critique of the film was its rating. It was rated P-13 for commerciality’s sake but its themes are too violent and disturbing, and many important scenes had to be cut to keep the film at that rating. The extended version is rated R and is able to do the themes and story some justice, but neither of these versions are not the director’s ideal film. In early 2024, Snyder expressed interest in releasing a new extended cut with unreleased and new footage. We shall see if that comes to fruition, but with the success of Snyder’s cut of Justice League, it just might.
To fans of the film, myself included, there is nothing cooler than a girl in a skirt killing dangerous monsters with a katana she got from an old man. Seeing Babydoll and her friends kill Nazi zombies in one fantasy while trying to escape their abuser in the other (and also in reality) was a rollercoaster of emotions. The film clearly had a lot of missed potential, but it is still an entertaining film with intense special effects viewers can enjoy and an intriguing plot that hits viewers like a sucker punch.
“If you don’t stand for something... you’ll fall for anything.”
“Babydoll” Fan Art by Diamanté Rivera
Films Coming Out This Fall
Films are a very important part of our culture here in the United States. No matter what walk of life you are from, people can bond over their love of cinema, as we get lost in stories for two to three hours. School is back, and people are looking for relaxing things to do to help get their minds off school. Films could be the perfect escape.
There is a stacked lineup of movies coming out this fall but there might not be a film with more hype behind it than Joker Folie a Deux. The first Joker movie is considered to be a twisted masterpiece, where actor Joaquim Phoenix ended up winning best actor at The Oscars for his performance as The Joker. Five years later the long-awaited sequel is finally set to release, this time co-starring Lady Gaga as Joker’s love interest and fan-favorite character Harley Quinn. This time around the movie will be a musical, which is an interesting choice but with Gagas’s vocals and Phoenix`s ability to make anything work, we should be in store for a good one on October 4th.
Joker Folie a Deux is not the only comic book movie coming out in October, as Venom: The Last Dance is coming out to complete Tom Hardy’s trilogy of Venom movies. Venom might not be everyone’s cup of tea, as they are cheesy comic book movies, but if you are a fan of overthe-top action and cartoonish violence Venom is the perfect film for you. Venom the last dance releases on October 25, 2024.
The last movie I am going to talk about might not be for everyone, I am going to give a little warning; only see this movie if you have a strong stomach and are not squamish. There is a horror movie coming out on October 25 by the name of Terrifier 3. The Terrifier movies
By Travis Hayden Staff Writer
follows a killer by the name of Art the Clown who is the most twisted and sick villain in movie history. The first Terrifier movie was the sickest and most grotesque movie I had ever seen in my life when it first came out, and the only reason why it still isn’t the most is because they released a sequel that was 10 times worse. The third film is looking to blow those two movies out of the water when it comes to the gore and violence of the previous two movies. It is going to be tough to top it, but for horror movie fans everywhere this is a must-watch movie.
I would recommend going to your local theater this semester and checking out any one of these movies if you are feeling stressed about school. It may not help entirely, but if you are feeling stressed seeing a movie could help you get your mind off your worries for a couple of hours.
HCC’s Spring 2024
Student & Faculty Art Show
Photos taken by: Braiden Robinson
Maritza Gonzalez
Morales
Bridgeport Fireworks
Pandora Kerma
Green Goddess of Envy
Kim Wilson
Sandstorm
Roberta Hirsch
HCC’s Student & Faculty Art Show Interviews
by Eliana Martinez Assistant Magazine Designer
On the first day of May 2024, Housatonic Community College held its annual Student Art Show and Faculty Art Show. Blackberries with goat cheese, barbecue beef meatballs, and wine (and Coke for the minors) were served, relaxing live jazz played in the Lafayette Atrium, and everyone gathered together to enjoy the show. It was amazing to celebrate the talent and creativity of members of our community, and we had the pleasure to have a quick interview with a couple of students and faculty members that had submitted their pieces.
Raven Bak (she/her)
Raven’s “Four Fish” was done with gouache on Bristol board paper. It was for a color matching class for Color Theory in which the student was to mix the exact colors found in a random image in a magazine. Raven was drawn to an image of sardines,
reminiscing about the sea robins she watches at the beach she lives by. “Four Fish” is a very charming painting, and we thank Raven Bak for being our first interviewee!
Professor Ada Friedman (she/her)
Part of her “Everyday Drawing” series, “April-Sept. 2020 Calendar” is a giant mixed media painting displayed in the Atrium. One day, Professor Ada realized that the marks on her calendar and her handwriting are art in and of itself, and decided to make a piece dedicated to the happy feeling of this epiphany. Filled with inside jokes to herself, Professor Ada uses gouache, coloring pencils, magazine clippings, and more to express the idea of processing everyday life.
Pandora Kerma (she/her)
Photographer Pandora had submitted two photos for the art show, the first being “Foggy Night Lights”, a project she had done to study contemporary and night photography. She found the perfect spot nearby the King’s Highway to capture the fog perfectly illuminating the streetlights. She described this as her toughest photo because of
Photography taken by Zach Asaolu
the limited time frame and finding the right long exposure setting.
Pandora’s second photo, “Bridgeport Fireworks”, is a sentimental piece, she said, as she wanted to “capture the beauty in Bridgeport” most people overlook and the feeling of being at home. She waited for someone to walk to the center of the frame and snapped the picture we see today.
You can follow her photography account on Instagram: @pandora.k.photography
Kayla Desmond (she/they)
Dabbling in the arts, graphic design, and a “little bit” of photography, Kayla was inspired to create this photograph by the song “Mercury” by Steve Lacy. The photograph is a representation of the two sides of relationships — love and heartbreak. To give it an ethereal atmosphere, Kayla put some star nail stickers on her cheek and star-themed jewelry, as well as used the blue LED lights in her room and a desk lamp with a yellow light.
You can follow their art account on Instagram: @picsbyryanne
Adrian Pulido (he/him)
Adrian is an education assistant in the arts and is a highly regarded teacher. For the art show, Adrian wanted to create something big, something that represented love, something that could stand as a monument to the expression “I Love You This Much”. He decided to go for an enormous ceramic carrot for its phallic resemblance and had it stand on a wooden platform he had made himself. He described that it took him three meticulous weeks to create the carrot, stacking coils on top of one another, and that the drying stage was the hardest to go through. I Love You This Much immediately stole the eyes of attenders with its size and stark orange color. We hope you had the chance to see it.
Eliana “L” Martinez (they/she)
A kiss to modern-day feminism, L’s The Nymph intertwines music and paint with rapid splashes of color to show the chaotic growth of womanhood and the reclamation of femininity from toxic men. They expressed Hispanic singer Melanie Martinez’s influence on their art, taking inspiration from the song
“NYMPHOLOGY”. They explained they had taken a damaged vinyl copy of the album Crybaby from their job to incorporate it to the piece, hot-gluing it to the canvas on top of the subject. They reassured viewers that they did not spend any money on the vinyl.
Professor John Favret (he/him)
Professor Favret, the host of the two art shows, had a handful of pieces put in the exhibition. The first he showed us was a large painting titled “The Bronx”, which depicted a dilapidated neighborhood he saw while on his first trip to New York. The next was “Searching”, another large painting based on a “traumatic memory of searching for a job, feeling like you’re in a clown-house” rather than job searching. And the third, in which he is proudly photographed in, is “Rusty Hinge”, a giant sculpture made in response to a former Housatonic dean who ignored and disrespected students’ and faculty members’ opinions and struggles.
Professor Favret’s work is mosaic-like with earthy and dark tones with an atmosphere reminiscent of a lucid dream. You can find his art throughout the school. Feel free to look and say hi!
Interview with David
During the art show, we were lucky to catch a glimpse of the elusive David Frasier, whom many students will know as Pandora Kerma’s boyfriend who accidentally hijacked the Art Club. He was kind enough to give us a quick interview as a viewer of the Art Show.
Interviewer: Hello, David.
David: Hi, I’m David.
I: What’s your name, David?
D: David.
I: What do you like about being named David?
D: I like that I can stand out as one of the best Davids. That is my goal.
I: What exactly brought you to the Art Show today?
D: I am with Pandora Kerma, my girlfriend. She has two photos on display and I’m here to witness the greatness of an up-and-coming career.
I: We love that for you. What do you find inspiring about your girlfriend and her photography?
D: It’s just amazing how her photos come out and how hard she works for them. I’m glad that I can help her in any way, bring her to places, to witness her take the photos, and listen to her about how to take the photos and the long exposures and framing. One of her photos has long exposure, with the traffic lights, and I got to witness that one live as she took it.
I: That must have been cool.
D: It was, it was amazing.
All jokes aside, it was clear that David was very proud of Pandora. We included this interview because it is important for fellow artists to surround themselves with loved ones who support their craft wholeheartedly. We hope you have a David of your own and, if you don’t, be your own David. You deserve it.
Good luck this semester!
Who Does Housatonic Think Will Win the Superbowl ?
By Travis Hayden Staff Writer
It is officially fall. School is back in session, and the warm weather is starting to go away. Usually, people view these things as negative, but this time of year comes with something positive: football is starting back up. NFL Football is the most-watched sport in The United States by a wide margin. According to Emily Stewert of Business Insider, 93 of the top 100 most-watched TV broadcasts in 2023 were NFL games, which means a good percentage of CT State students are interested in football. With the new season starting up, all 32 teams and their fans are currently filled with optimism and hope that their team can make a run for the most coveted prize in all of football: The Lombardi Trophy. Unfortunately, only 1 team can call themselves Super Bowl Champions for the 2024-2025 season. So who do we as students think will win the Super Bowl?
Many students believe The Kansas City Chiefs will not only win The Super Bowl but become the first team ever to “three-peat” as champions. The Kansas City Chiefs were 11-6 last year, their worst record in the Patrick Mahomes era, but still ended up running the gauntlet to become champions again. Housatonic student James El-Hage believes that the Kansas City Chiefs will be the first team ever to win three consecutive Super Bowls. James believes the Chiefs will win the Superbowl for a third straight year because “Patrick Mahomes got an upgrade at Wide Receiver in the form of Hollywood Brown to pair with Rashee Rice to go into year two. While Travis Kelce, who I expect to coast (through) the regular season again, will look like his former self in the playoffs.”
Students might be choosing The Chiefs because of how good their offense has been over the last five years, but recently the defense has been the key factor in them winning. Last year was the best defensive season they have had, and although they had to trade star Cornerback Lajarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans, they were able to retain superstar Defensive Tackle Chris Jones, who is the X factor when it comes to the defense. Jones, who was expected to leave Kansas City ended up getting a new contract that is five years for $160 million, and $90 million guaranteed. With the retirement of Rams Superstar Aaron Donald, Jones is the premier Defensive Tackle in The NFL and he, along with Cornerback Trent Mcduffie, is expected to lead this defense on another run to the promised land. When it comes to Lombardi Trophies, it is impossible to bet against the big three of Coach Andy Reid, Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and Tight End Travis Kelce. With that being said, there are still other contenders that have similar odds of adding another ring to their collection. Another team students mentioned was the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2022 The Eagles came up just short losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-35 during Super Bowl 57. In 2024 The Eagles started hot starting 11-1 and they were looking like the favorites to win Super Bowl 58, until the collapse. Last year, the Eagles experienced a historic collapse by finishing with a strong 12-5 record yet losing the NFC East to the Dallas Cowboys and suffering a first-round
playoff upset against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After this disappointing season, fans were calling for Head Coach Nick Sirianni to be fired after his late-season collapse, but General Manager Howie Roseman went to work this offseason in repairing the roster.
The Eagles had plenty of key departures from the team. Two players who were considered the heart and soul of the team, Center Jason Kelce and Defensive Tackle Fletcher Cox, retired during the offseason. Even with The Eagles losing two of their top contributors in their team history, they still have one of the best rosters in the league. Led by Quarterback Jalen Hurts, The Eagles offense is loaded with talent all around. Hurts is lucky enough to be throwing to one of the best-receiving duos in the league in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, while also being protected by one of the best Offensive Lines in the league. Although the loss of Jason Kelce stings, the unit led by Lane Johnson is still one of the most formidable units in the league, and it will be interesting to see if The Eagle’s signature play the Tush Push will still work without Kelce.
“They have the best team in the NFL, especially after gaining Saquo
Although the Eagle’s offensive roster has been amazing the last few years, there is something different in the air this year in Philly because of Running Back Saquon Barkley joining the team. Saquon Barkley left The New York Giants to join their biggest rival on a three-year, $37.75 million contract. Barkley has been considered one of the best Running Backs in football for years now while playing behind a subpar offensive line and being the main weapon for The Giants. Now that Barkley is on The Eagles, he doesn’t have to carry the offensive workload and gets to play behind one of the best offensive lines. The Eagle’s roster is one of the most stacked rosters in the league, and the students here at Housatonic believe it too. As Nico Escobar, a student here said, “They have the best team in The NFL, especially after gaining Saquon Barkley.”
leaving, The Eagles still have two of the best Defensive Linemen with the duo of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis wrecking the interior. Another Philly legendary Defensive End Brandon Graham is staying for his 15th season with the team. The secondary is led by six-time Pro Bowl Cornerback Darius Slay. Even at age 33 he still plans on locking down your favorite receiver. Last season, The Eagle`s secondary was a major part of their collapse; so, to help they brought back Safety C.J Gardner Johnson. Johnson played for The Eagles in 2022 and left to sign with the Detroit Lions. Johnson called Philly fans the worst fans in the world, but in 2024 he is returning to the team in hopes of improving the secondary. This Eagles roster is stacked and the pressure is on Coach Sirianni to win the team’s second Super Bowl. In Philly, anything less with this roster would be considered a disappointment.
Barkley”
The Eagle’s offense might be the most stacked in the league, but the defense might be just as stacked. Even with Fletcher Cox retiring and Hasson Reddick
The Eagles are not the only team that’s looking for revenge and have a stacked roster. Just a few hours south of Philadelphia, there is a team that believes they came just short of beating Patrick Mahomes and The Kansas City Chiefs: The Baltimore Ravens. Last year The Ravens made it to the AFC Championship where they came up just short, losing at home 17-10 to The Chiefs. It will be 12 years this year since Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh last won a Super Bowl, and it might be The Raven’s year this time around. The Ravens are led by the reigning league MVP Quarterback Lamar Jackson, Jackson is the most versatile player in the entire NFL! The true definition of a dual-threat QB, Jackson is almost unstoppable if you play too deep and don’t fill the box he will run all over you, but if you commit to his running game he will throw it downfield to his receiving core, Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor. The Ravens last year wound up having the best running game in The NFL and it looks to be even better this year with the recent addition of Running Back Derrick Henry. Henry is a 4 time pro bowler and was the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year, he is considered the best pure Running Back of his generation and he is now joining the best dualthreat Quarterback we have ever seen.
The Ravens might have the most explosive running game the sport of football has ever seen this year, but as the old saying goes, defense wins championships, and Baltimore’s defense is certainly good enough to win one. Jaylen Wilson, a student here at Housatonic believes this is the case as he said “I think The Ravens are going to win The Super Bowl because they have the best defense in the NFL. Last year they were first in sacks, takeaways, and points allowed.” The defense is led by Middle Linebacker Roquan Smith and Saftey Kzyle Hamilton, two players who make it difficult for opposing offenses to move the ball downfield. Along with Cornerback Marlon Humphrey who is considered one of the best Slot Corners in the NFL. Last year, this group made it nearly impossible for teams to score points and they are looking to do the same thing again this year, but this time hopefully win a championship.
At the end of the day, 32 teams are fighting for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. We won’t know who is going to hoist it until February. It could be the three teams students mentioned the most, or it could be teams that were so close last year, like The Lions and 49ers. You also have young teams such as The Texans & Packers who believe their time to win is now. You also can`t forget about the teams who believe it’s their year every year, like The Bengals, Bills, and Cowboys. At the end of the day, this is just a student’s analysis of who is going to win the Superbowl, and we won’t know until we see the year unfold
