Dec. 8, 2006 issue 13 Loquitur

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

C a b r i n i

C o l l e g e

The Loquitur Y o u S p e a k, W e L i s t e n

www.theLoquitur.com

Radnor, Pa.

WHAT’S INSIDE

Vol XLVIII, Issue 13

New handbook divides faculty KATHERINE BRACHELLI NEWS EDITOR

KB727@CABRINI.EDU AMANDA FINNEGAN EDITOR IN CHIEF

AJF724@CABRINI.EDU

PERSPECTIVES Christmas Decor Page 6

FEATURES Camry Page 9

A&E ‘Happy Feet’ Page 11

SPORTS Eagles Page 13

The faculty will vote on Dec. 11 on whether to approve the changes for the final draft of chapter one of the Faculty Handbook, which was mandated by The Middle States Commission for Higher Education in March 2005.

However, faculty are divided about the selection process, faculty input and proposed structure of governance The new handbook includes explicit statements of the governance responsibilities of the board of trustees, the president and the vice president of academic affairs as these responsibilities intersect with the responsibilities of the faculty, according to the executive summary of proposed changes to the Faculty Handbook and the Governance Model .

The Middle States evaluation team exit report made a very strong recommendation that the college complete its revision of the faculty handbook within an 18-month time frame with specific attention to first clarify policies and procedures for governance and secondly, to define a clear process for ongoing handbook revision, according to a memorandum from Margaret Dupree, chair of the board of trustees.

“Faculty can not judge without a handbook. The faculty is unclear about their role as a colle-

DAN SQUIRE/PHOTO EDITOR

Faculty members, Dr. Brian Metz, assistant professor of business administration, and Dr. Sheryl Fuller-Espie, associate professor of biology, take part in the American Association of University Professors induction meeting on Dec. 5.

gial operation to the college. We have been operating in kind of a limbo,” Dr. Jolyon Girard, professor of history and political science, said. Girard and Dr. Jonnie Guerra, vice president for aca-

demic affairs, who were co-chairs of the self-study committee for the Middle States evaluation, were also asked by the college president, Dr. Antoinette Iadarola, to co-chair the Steering

Committee to oversee the revisions of the Faculty Handbook.

However, some faculty disagreed with the selection process of how Girard was appointed by the administration and not voted upon by faculty as well as with the selection of the committees, which also has administrationappointed faculty.

“I would have been happier if half were appointed and half were elected by the faculty senate,” Dr. Anthony Tomasco, professor of psychology, said.

According to the Organizational Structures of the Work Groups, each work group had two co-chairs and three additional members. Each co-chair was asked to recommend the appointment of one additional member and then jointly recommend a fifth member.

“It was the mechanism how the committees were chosen that faculty is concerned about. They didn’t feel they had a buy-in.

They didn’t have a voice in saying, ‘I trust that person to represent my views,’” Dr. Sheryl Fuller-Espie, associate professor of biology, said.

The new governance model eliminates the Faculty Senate, the Academic Council and the President’s Faculty Meeting. It creates the Faculty Assembly, a committee of the whole, defined to include all full-time faculty members and the president, vice president for academic affairs, dean for academic affairs and dean for graduate and profession-

HANDBOOK, page 3

Educational engagement reaps benefits ELIZABETH BRACHELLI MANAGING EDITOR

EAB722@CABRINI.EDU

abrini College students have received excellent scores in two national studies.

One study placed Cabrini students in the top half of the nation in five areas of student engagement in their own education.

A second study placed Cabrini students in the top 20 percent in the nation in the amount they grew from freshman through graduation in the areas of communication and critical thinking.

Faculty and staff who have studied the survey results say both surveys show the strengths of a Cabrini education as well as point to areas that will be addressed by the $1.9 million

grant received from the federal government in October.

One survey shows that students who are personally engaged in educational activities are benefiting from their involvement. As students jump into educational activities as active learners, they are improving in student learning and development as measured by national tests. Active student involvement includes collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction and enriching educational experiences.

This past year, freshman and seniors participated in the National Survey of Student Engagement. The survey measures “engagement,” or how DAN SQUIRE/PHOTO EDITOR

EDUCATION, page 3

Kim Feeny, a senior psychology major, is one of the many students who engages in her studies. Student involvement in their studies has lead to Cabrini receiving excellent scores in two national studies.

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2 | NEWS

EDITORIAL

New governace: are faculty losing their voice?

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

McCain speaks out in Philly AMANDA FINNEGAN

AJF724@CABRINI.EDU EDITOR IN CHIEF

MEGHAN HURLEY

MLH722@CABRINI.EDU

While students are beginning the first exams on Dec. 11, the faculty, will be facing a test of their own and voting on a new governance policy that could significantly change the college.

The new model would create change the way faculty share the running of the college with the administration. It is called “shared governance.” This is a term for the way faculty and administration figure out their roles in important issues concerning students.

Although the administration has ensured reluctant faculty members that their voices will still be heard, some faculty feel that they are merely becoming employees of the college and have lost their place in an important setting.

In every body of governance, there needs to be a system of checks and balances, even here at Cabrini.

The system ensures that no one group can take control. But with the new model of governance, some faculty, specifically untenured faculty, feel that they will be unable to speak up due to the fear of being under an administration microscope.

Currently, the Faculty Senate only has faculty present and no administrators at their major committee meetings. However, in the new governance structure faculty will not have the option to voice their concerns without an administrator present at major committee meetings.

Some faculty members, especially untenured faculty members, may not feel comfortable speaking in a forum with administrators present because it could affect their career in the long run. Even though the majority of faculty members at Cabrini have agreed that there is a need to have a doctrine that includes a uniform set of guidelines for all faculty members to follow, faculty members also desire a doctrine that includes all faculty members’ input.

Where do students fall into this new model? The structure shows no place for student input. Do we even have say on how things are run at Cabrini?

After all, our tuition drives everything at this institution. We should at least be included in major decisions that affect ourselves and our professors.

The mansion has become this untouchable place where the administration presides over the college.

Few of us have ever even formally met an administrator and few ever will.

The faculty are the people who see us on our good days, bad days and really, really bad days. Faculty members know their students the best and know what is in their best interest, even when we don’t even know it. They’re never trying to get more money out of us, just more of our potential.

The connections students make with their professors at Cabrini are invaluable. They speak on our behalf, but their voices are potentially being reduced.

Shared governance is a system meant to give everyone a say in decision making processes at the college. Everyone specializes in a different area: student life, curriculum, finances. But we need to let those who specialize in their subject areas and relationships with students be heard. If one group in the shared governance system has lost its voice, then the system has failed.

No one person is more important then the next on campus. We all contribute to what makes this institution desirable for prospective students. Equality is the key.

The Loquitur is not just an outlet for student opinions but an outlet for all to express concerns.

We understand that this is a touchy subject with both administration and faculty. Loquitur welcomes all feedback on the matter. Please send all letters to the editor to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com, 500 words or less, attached with name and email address.

WRITING COACH

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who is expected to run for president in the 2008 election, continued to take stands on issues that set him apart from the current administration. He emphasized the need to uphold the Geneva Conventions, he stressed that global warming is a truth that the public needs to be made aware of and he believes the decision regarding gay unions is a matter for the state governments, not the federal government.

The National Constitution Center hosted McCain in an informal town hall meeting that covered additional topics like his run for president in 2008, immigration policies, torture and the war in Iraq.

The NCC was packed with McCain supporters and scattered with protesters on Saturday, Dec. 2. The event was sponsored by The Big Talker, 1210 AM, and McCain was interviewed by the show host Michael Smerconish.

Smerconish asked McCain questions about national issues as well as about his books and then took questions from the audience.

“I would very much like to be president of the United States,” McCain said. “I will make a final decision after sitting down with my otherwise reluctant family over the holidays.”

McCain is calling for one final push in Iraq to send more troops to make the American presence

known. He stated that he thought a pullout would be the worst option for the government.

“When it comes to war, there is no such thing as compromise; you either win or you lose,” McCain said.

As a former Prisoner of War in Vietnam, McCain has a strong stance on America’s own policies towards the treatment of the detainees being held by the United States. McCain is a strong believer in upholding the Geneva Conventions, sets of international humanitarian laws that dictate how countries are supposed to conduct themselves in time of war. He acknowledged the mistakes made by U.S. military personnel at Abu Ghraib, but encouraged the audience to not be disheartened.

“It’s important that we do treat our captives under the Geneva Convention,” McCain said. “If we change the Geneva Convention, we put our own soldiers in harm’s way.”

McCain also addressed the current immigration situation, stating that he would support a temporary worker program. He

also said that he supports a fence being built along the spots on the border that has the most immigrants crossing illegally each year.

In a room full of Republicans, the liberal voices made sure they were heard. McCain had two interruptions from zealous opponents. Two men both shouted out comments, protesting statements that McCain made about the war.

McCain stated that he would willingly address these comments when it was time for the question and answer session.

“I respect the views of those who disagree with me,” McCain said.

McCain also addressed the issues of global warming and gay marriage. He states the “climate change is real” and that it is something that the American population needs to pay attention to.

He feels that the issue of gay marriage should be left up to the states, but does hold a personal view on the issue as well.

“Yes, I firmly believe that marriage is between a man and a woman,” McCain said.

MEGHAN HURLEY/WRITING COACH

Sen. John McCain, left, was interviewed by Michael Smerconish,right, who is the host of the show Big Talker. This interview took place on Saturday, Dec. 2.

2006-2007 Loquitur Staff Editorial Staff

Editor in Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor News Editor News Editor A & E Editor A & E Editor Features Editor Perspectives Editor Sports Editor Sports Editor Photography Editor Web Editor Events Editor Writing Coach Graphic Designer Adviser

Amanda Finnegan Elizabeth Brachelli Stacey Turnbull Katherine Brachelli Brittany Liberatore Matt Donato Nicoletta Sabella Ashley Randazzo Daina Havens Jason Radka Patricia Sheehan Dan Squire Shane Evans Yadira Toledo Meghan Hurley Charlie Grugan Dr. Jerome Zurek

Staff Writers Kaitlin Barr Monica Burke Jessica Chesko Christina Cimmino Katherine Clark Ashley Cook David Damiano Jennifer Davis John Fennell Ryan Grugan Jessica Hagerty Jamie Hufnagle Elizabeth Kerstetter Brittany Lavin

Elizabeth Lavin Colin Mason Pat McGowan Kasey Minnick Karli Morello Nicole Osuch Vickie Papageorge Megan Pellegrino Jillian Smith Brittany Such Jackie Turchi Grayce Turnbach Diana Vilares

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The Loquitur is Cabrini’s College weekly, student-run, campus newspaper. It is widely respected as the voice of students, staff, faculty, alumni and many others outside the Cabrini community. The Loquitur has earned its position by advocating for self expression through freedom of speech, and by serving as an outlet for readers to effect change on campus and off.

Founded in 1959, the Loquitur has thrived and greatly expanded its readership. The paper now has 4,000 online readers and 1,500 print readers on a weekly basis.

Our mission is to provide readers with an opportunity to voice their opinions freely, in an environment where their voices are effectively heard and respected.

The Loquitur: You Speak. We Listen Loquitur is a newspaper written, edited and produced by the students of COM 353, 352, 250 and 251. Subscription price is $25 per year and is included in the benefits secured by tuition and fees. Additional copies are $1 each.

Loquitur welcomes letters to the editors. Letters to the editor are to be less than 500 words. These are usually in response to a current issue on campus or community area. Guest columns are longer pieces between 600 and 800 words and also are usually in response to a current issue on Cabrini College campus or community. Letters to the editor and guest columns are printed as space permits. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and content. Name, phone number and address should be included for verification purposes. Personal attacks and anonymous submissions will not be printed. Letters to the editor and guest columns can be submitted to loquitur@googlegroups.com or to the newsroom mailboxes in Founders Hall 264.

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

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Vote to be cast on handbook HANDBOOK, page 1 Senate has only faculty present al studies. This body meets monthly and is chaired by a faculty member and has four vicechairs (three faculty members and the Vice President for Academic Affairs), and a secretary (faculty), according to the Executive Summary.

Within the new governance structure faculty will no longer have the option to speak without an administrator present at major committee meetings, making some faculty members uncomfortable. At present, the Faculty

and no administrators.

“In the old model, the president was one among equals, not a CEO,” Dr. Sharon Schwarze, professor of philosophy, said.

Some on the faculty worry that administrators have set up the current rewriting process and will continue to control each committee and that untenured faculty will not have opportunities to speak their minds on committees.

“Untenured faculty members can not say what they want because they perceive it will affect their tenure,” Fuller-Espie said.

Dr. Paul Wright, an untenured faculty member and assistant professor of English and communication, feels differently than Fuller-Espie. Wright said, “I don’t think I can speak unless I have a governance doctrine.”

“There are always people who are going to disagree with the process and the outcome. More people have been involved with the creation of these documents than ever before. We have taken every letter, every concern every question from any faculty member in any venue that was provided,” Girard said.

According to Girard, after the

faculty votes on Dec.11, the results will be taken to the board of trustees.

“I do not expect the new system to be turned down,” Guerra said.

“If our vote doesn’t count it’s not shared governance,” FullerEspie said.

Loquitur welcomes your comments and questions on this story.

Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com.

The editors will review your comments each week and make corrections if warranted.

NEWS | 3

Students’ studying brings success

EDUCATION, page 1

involved students are in academics and campus activities. Chad May, the director of institutional research, said, “It’s used to compare our first year and senior experiences and to get an overall measure.”

Results from the NSSE show that first-year and senior students are in the top half of students from 528 four-year colleges and universities in all five benchmarks of effective educational practice: level of academic chalBoard of Trustees lenge, active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, enriching educational expeFaculty Cabinet riences, and supportive campus Grievance Board environment.

Now in its seventh year, the survey, known as “Nessie” after its acronym NSSE, covered 260,000 freshman and seniors Vice President of according to the Chronicle of President Faculty Assembly Academic Affairs Higher Education.

Dr. Charlie McCormick, dean for academic affairs, said, “If we VP just do it to get the numbers, the exercise is meaningless.”

McCormick and May agreed that the survey was a valuable Faculty Development and instrument. May explained that Advancement Committee the survey is used for three main reasons. The survey is used to look at the curriculum as well to College Council Academic Planning Committee leverage the decision-making.

Also, the survey is used as a measure for the Title III grant, a $1.87 million grant received from Subcommittees the federal government. The purBoards pose of the U.S. Department of Faculty Development Education’s Title III Subcommittees Subcommittee New Programs Strengthening Institutions grant Board that the college recently was Assessment SubcomFaculty Evaluation Subcommitawarded is to supply eligible mittee tee Nominating and Appointinstitutions with abilities to ment Board improve academics, strengthen Undergraduate Curriculum Faculty Grants, Initiatives and Sabbaticontribution to nationwide higher Subcommittee cals SubCommittee education programs, increase institutional management and Graduate Council Committee Board sustain fiscal stability.

Promotion and Tenure Board May also said that the surveys Boards Academic Honesty Board helped the college focus on the Academic Review Board first-year experience.

Charlie Grugan/Graphic Designe The survey was conducted in February of 2005 and was completed in April. Cabrini takes part in the survey every three years.

NSSE surveyed 331,601 students nationwide, including 283 freshmen and 146 seniors from Cabrini.

McCormick said, “Nessie is an institutional snapshot.”

Cabrini also participated in the Collegiate Learning Assessment.

According to the CLA, students graduated with more than predicted growth in key communication and critical thinking skills.

Nationally, 8,900 students from 123 colleges and universities participated in the CLA. The CLA is a central focus of the Council for Aid to Education, a national nonprofit organization based in New York City committed to improving quality and access in higher education.

Organizational chart for the system of shared governance in which faculty have unique and significant responsibilities

4 | NEWS

Microsoft launches new invention GRAYCE TURNBACH

GRT722@CABRINI.EDU STAFF WRITER

The neon pink and orange three dimensional “Z” located at the top left corner of zune.net is the new 30GB digital media player, Microsoft Zune, trademark.

Microsoft’s newest invention could be dubbed as another “wannabe iPod,” but Zune has something the others don’t. Zune can locate other Zune players and wirelessly exchange content music and pictures, for starters, according to nytimes.com.

“It seems like a good idea but you can share songs with an iPod too but through iTunes,” Stephanie Castrilli, a sophomore marketing major, said.

Microsoft is including a few pre-loaded songs, music videos and film shorts which will allow the user to experience something different. In turn, the artists that are being installed on the Zune’s

will be given more exposure to fans.

Users may purchase a plan for $14.99 a month which allows the consumer to access millions of songs per month. They may also purchase songs individually by using Microsoft Points.

Microsoft Points is a stored value system that can be redeemed at a growing number of online stores.

Each song will go for 79 points.

“It’s better to wait for the better cheaper version,” Victoria Matkowski, a sophomore elementary education major, said.

“Something better always comes out.”

Kayla Moran, a sophomore special education major, said, “I don’t trust the iPod wannabe’s because they are never as good as the original.”

Apple is overpowering the market by 90 percent with their iPods, but Microsoft says that the Zune “Was just a stepping stone.”

MCT

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

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Healthcare costs to increase in near future DIANA VILARES STAFF WRITER

DVV722@CABRINI.EDU

Health care costs could rise more than 10 percent in 2007, unless companies change their plans, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“Insurance carriers anticipate medical costs to rise across all plan designs, including health maintenance organizations , preferred provider organizations, and consumer directed health plans,” said PwC. “In 2007, PPO costs are expected to rise 11.9 percent, HMOs by 11.8 percent and consumer-driven health plans by 10.7 percent.”

Due to the increase in insurance premiums, employers are finding themselves pushing some extra costs onto their workers.

Employees, however, especially those in unions, are fighting to hold onto their rights to full coverage.

“Health care has emerged as the top concern, replacing wages and job security on the picket lines and at the bargaining table,” said Stephanie Armour and Julie Appleby of USA Today.

The increase is a result of a multitude of factors such as higher prices for hospital care, drugs and other services; increased use of medical care and insurers’ push for higher profits. Armour and Appleby said that the “demand by patients for less restrictive managed care also played a part.”

Some workers are made to decide which they would prefer, higher wages or preservation of their benefits.

Seniors Rachael Perrault and Jessica Watson both said that they think health care plans do less than most would expect anyway.

“I have Blue Cross and they don’t cover anything it seems like. I have to pay about $65 to get my prescriptions filled and after a while it adds up,” said Watson, a senior psychology major.

CONTRA COSTA TIMES/MCT

Many people visit health centers to get their health insurance processed, as shown above.

“I know that the health insurance company my parents are under don’t cover all of the necessities either. My parents have to pay out of their pockets for certain medical issues, issues you would think an insurance company would cover,” Perrault said.

One thing college students are reminded to check into upon graduation is the health benefits offered by their potential employer.

Kate Hertzler, sophomore edu-

cation major, said that her main priority after graduating is getting a well-paying job to pay off her student loans and has never thought to ask about health benefits. “I’ve just never considered it. Actually, I think that it’s something that a pretty good amount of young people over-look and really shouldn’t. I wouldn’t want to be in a position where I’d have to give up my pay or my health because I forgot to ask when I had the chance.”

WebCT creates split opinions on campus JILLIAN SMITH STAFF WRITER

JKS724@CABRINI.EDU

WebCT Vista is causing a debate on campus among faculty and staff. Information and Technology and Resources personnel and faculty believe that WebCT Vista, a learning management system, is a useful teaching tool. However, students disagree.

WebCT Vista is a “system that enables educators to disseminate content and online resource links to students, enable interaction between learners and their colleagues as well as their professors, enable group work and collaboration take place online and assess student performance through online mechanisms,”

Dr. John McIntyre, director of IRT, said. WebCT Vista is powered by Drexel University’s service and hosts many other colleges besides Cabrini.

Professors rely on it to post students’ grades and upcoming assignments. Students then can check their grades at any point of the semester and submit assignments.

“Having used Vista for a full academic year now, most of the faculty members are taking advantage of this robust system in meaningful and valuable ways for themselves and their students,” McIntyre said.

“Our department has more than 200 majors using WebCT all the time,” Dr. Jerome Zurek, professor of English and communication, said.

“From my perspective,

WebCT is an extraordinary teaching tool and I run all of my courses through it,” Dr. Seth Frechie, associate professor of English and communication, said. “More importantly, it provides a readily available opportunity for student interaction outside of class.”

However, this great teaching tool does not come without technical difficulties.

“It crashes once or twice a week,” said Dr. Raymond Robb, assistant professor of mathematics. Robb posts his review sheets and answer keys on WebCT, “and when students can’t access the answer keys, they get very upset.” Robb further explained that it takes away from class time the following class because students don’t have the answer keys to answer any questions they may have had on the homework.

Junior secondary education major Michael Pio said that he wouldn’t know what it’s like when it is working because it’s always down. “It’s the most redonkulous thing in the friggin’ world.”

Junior elementary education major Alyssa Kuhn said, “They should have a class teaching it, or it should be apart of College Success freshman year.”

“There is no plan to change Vista in the future,” McIntyre said. However, since Cabrini will not be switching to a more manageable, user-friendly learning management system, McIntyre said that there are ways that students and faculty can learn the system. “We strive to provide multi-dimensional support and training in a variety of forms.”

A few examples, in addition to

the in-house resources, ITR has monthly boot camps that last all day and also conduct modularized two-hour sessions on how to properly use WebCT Vista. They also offer training for small faculty groups, provide phone support and provide email-based help.

Most of the training is available to faculty; however some are available for students as well. “Moreover, our student support area is expanding and becoming more multidimensional as well,” McIntyre said.

Although junior mathematics major Rob DeVasto has not used WebCT this year, he said, “When I did use it was slow and its pages expire quickly.

Either fix it, or get rid of it.”

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

NEWS | 5

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Director of public safety retires

Information leaks about Iraqi scandals MEGAN PELLEGRINO STAFF WRITER

MRP727@CABRINI.EDU

DAN SQUIRE/PHOTO EDITOR

Charles Schaffner, director of public safety, will retire at the end of the fall semester. Schaffner has made significant strides in areas concerning campus safety by reworking Cabrini Collegeʼs policies and procedures and implementing various new safety and security programs on campus.

NICOLE OSUCH STAFF WRITER

NAO722@CABRINI.EDU

Charles Schaffner, director of public safety, has announced his retirement effective at the end of the fall semester. In January 2000, Schaffner joined the Cabrini College community as director of public safety.

Located in the east wing of the Mansion, next to the Holy Spirit Library, The department of public safety has been directed by Schaffner. For the past seven years, Schaffner has worked in his back office and executed his distinct and innovative ideas of how to make Cabrini College a safer place for students and faculty while being surrounded by several picture frames scattered around his office of his beloved wife of 10 years and other family members.

Now, after being the director of public safety and also an educator at Cabrini College, teaching at the Pennsylvania State University’s Police Supervisory Training School and at Pennsylvania State University’s Police Executive Development program and retiring from the Falls Township police department in Fairless Hills, Pa. where he worked through the ranks from patrol officer to chief of police he

feels that it is time for himself to retire.

Schaffner said, “In each point in your life you look for different things and accomplish goals and when you accomplish the goals you set then maybe its time to do something different.”

Schaffner said he has made significant strides in areas concerning campus safety by reworking Cabrini College’s policies and procedures and implementing various new safety and security programs on campus.

“I like to think that the department as a whole became more professional,” Schaffner said.

As director of public safety, Schaffner helped to execute a records management system that accurately reports events taking place in the department and around campus to the department of education.

Buildings were made more secure as a result of a closed-circuit television system that was implemented on campus to monitor for any illegal activity in dorms for safety. The monitoring systems have helped public safety officers to identify and solve problems more effectively.

Specifically, public safety was able to solve the cases where lap top computers were stolen in both Founders Hall and Woodcrest Hall last year.

Schaffner has managed to improve the access control system and I.D. badges. Students now have access to more than one room if they should need it compared to the old system that did not give them that access.

Since he came to Cabrini College, the department of public safety has grown almost three times the size and now the officers have new uniforms that give off a more professional look.

Schaffner said that more quality people have been hired and the turn over rate has gone way down from what it used to be.

“I am thankful for Cabrini and the opportunity to work with such fine people,” Schaffner said.

Schaffner also taught courses at Cabrini College and shared his experiences and knowledge in punishment and corrections, police and safety, and forensic science courses. Schaffner said, “I really enjoyed that because it gave both students and I a different view of each other.”

Now with retirement from managing public safety and teaching at Cabrini College ahead of him, Schaffner said that he sees spending time with his family and playing golf in his future.

He said that he looks forward to no commute from his home in Cherry Hill, N.J. Furthermore, he looks forward to spending time at his house at the Jersey Shore in Brigantine, N.J. where he is currently working on building a room off the back of the house. Schaffner said that he will probably not stop working completely and will continue teaching part-time at the Bucks County Police Training Center.

“I will miss the students and faculty at Cabrini College the most. I have been very fortunate to work with really great people.

I will also miss the atmosphere, the students have kept me young and on my toes,” Schaffner said.

Loquitur welcomes your comments and questions on this story.

Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com.

The editors will review your comments each week and make corrections if warranted.

The New York Times has attained materials that a US government report from June estimates Iraqi insurgent groups are raising $70 to $200 million a year from a range of illegal activities. This leads to the thought that many groups responsible for terrorist attacks in Iraq are financially selfsustaining. Some of the money raising crimes includes smuggling, counterfeiting and corrupting charities. There were no distinctions made between what Iraqi groups are taking part in these illegal acts and who is not.

Iraq study group works on final reports The Iraqi study group is working on its final reports to the deliberations that were given in Washington. There were no specific timeliness mentioned of how long it will take to deliberate these discoveries. The commission does recommend that there should be a gradual withdraw from war and should start beginning next year. The official final report with all these dates has not been released yet.

Pentagon proposes emergency spending The Pentagon is preparing for its emergency spending proposal. It is said that this proposal could be the largest since that given right after Sept. 11. The Pentagon is considering asking for anything ranging from $127-150 billion. These numbers are causing a great deal of controversy among the democrats and republicans due to the fact that many of the members of the Senate are democratic.

Large increase in train users There has been a large increase in those who travel using Amtrak and other train systems since the beginning of 2006. The reasons for this is that the higher airport securities are leading travelers to take the train, rather than go through the airport securities. Another reason for this rise is as gas prices increase, it becomes easier to take Amtrak than pay for gas and at the same time it is a shorter commute for many.

Rumsfeld reports US strategy is in need of help Retiring defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld admits that the US strategy in Iraq is in major need of an adjustment. Rumsfeld states that there are certain things that need to be done to turn this current method around. Some of these methods include: decreasing troop levels, setting time goals in order to see the progress made and not giving a great deal of aid to the violent parts in Iraq.

If all these actions are taken according to Rumsfeld, the US government would be better understood and recognized. This will create a loyalty. Rumsfeld does not give any particular strategy to be done, only these broad details.

Afghanistan police forces are weak A report given by the Pentagon and the state department says police forces in Afghanistan are becoming weaker. There is such a small number that the day-to-day work cannot be performed and there is no tracking of the officers and employees. Today about only 50 percent of the equipment is able to be used because of the lack on numbers in the police forces. It is believed that since there is not a strong police force, many of these Taliban crimes are being done knowing this is the factor.

Top worldly officials are against international conference There have been decisions to have an international conference to discuss the Iraqi problems and what can be done in the future.

The problem is that many Iraqi officials are against having the conference. One official includes President Jalal Talabani. Due to the lack of interest in having the international conference by the Iraqi officials, it cannot take place until there is further interest.

6 I PERSPECTIVES

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Perspectives

Friday, Dec.8 , 2006

Holiday Decor:White-light wonderland versus multi-colored ‘gaudy’ mayhem STACEY TURNBULL COPY EDITOR

STT722@CABRINI.EDU

Christmas is a time of love, family and the gift of giving. Along with the fantasticness of Christmas comes stress. You worry about gifts, money and having to spend time with that one family member you’re glad you only see once a year.

This is all trivial to me.

I know I do as much as I can with presents and saving money, and I possess the great art of avoiding the family members I can’t stand.

The one thing I can’t seem to avoid is the blur of the gaudy-colored lights and inflatable SpongeBob’s that have taken over the lawns and houses of many across the nation. Colored lights are the one thing at Christmas time that makes me hate the season.

Just looking at houses with colored l i g h t s gives me an ulcer.

I hate colored lights and I always

have. I don’t know why, I just always thought that they were just, in one word, gaudy.

Yes. it is a matter of preference, and people should be allowed to decorate their homes however they choose, but I think that when it comes to Christmas time, there should be a guidebook to follow.

Homes with colored lights are automatically branded in my book as “over-doers.” These “overdoers” just have no idea when to stop putting up little Mickey Mouses and cut-out carol singers.

These people have thousands of things on their lawn. My question is, what is the point if you can’t even see what is being displayed?

On another note, the inflatable Homer Simpsons and Pooh bears. I didn’t know that these were memorable Christmas characters! I guess I should go back and do some reading.

As for humongous Santa Clauses, why use them

when they block out the view of the gaudiness behind them?

Every year, it is a huge tradition to drive around my neighborhood to find the most-gaudy house.

My older brother and sister would be trying so hard not to wet themselves when I hung myself out the window screaming, “GAUDY!” and almost scaring the homeowner out of their wits. After driving away, we would find the next gaudy house, going merrily on our way.

White lights are the way to go.

They are classy and sophisticated and make neighborhoods look so nice during the holiday season.

Even red a n d green lights are fine with me.

Blue makes homes look warm but not too over the top. I just think that the multi-colored arrangement of lights goes

Putting lights up on my house is a Christmas tradition that I look forward to every year. With the Christmas season fast approaching, holiday decorations are going to be springing up everywhere.

My favorite part of the season is seeing the neighborhood all aglow at night. It fills me with the Christmas spirit during my favorite time of the year.

The Christmas season is all about love and joy and spreading cheer all around.

With this season comes the fun of decorating. Decorations are a matter of personal choice.

People should be able to put up whatever they want.

It’s their Christmas and their Christmas celebration.

If they want to have colored lights, whose

above and beyond the need to decorate. Hire a decorator if you are the desperate to show your spirit.

But why, why I ask, must you show your Christmas spirit with the lights of orange and purple when it was not a colored light that led the three wise men to the baby Jesus. It was a clear, bright, white light of a star sent by God.

to say no? There is no one definitive set of laws governing holiday decorations.

Tasteful or gaudy, extravagant or subtle, decorations are a reflection of self.

So break out the extension cords, get the hooks ready and haul out the ladders; it’s time to deck the halls and let your lights shine.

People are always criticizing the decorating choices of others, but really, who are

MEGHAN HURLEY WRITING COACH

MLH722CABRINI.EDU

VS.

they to judge. There is no appointed all-knowing judge of Christmas decorations and if you think that you are, you are sadly mistaken. Who are you to say how I can enjoy my Christmas season?

When God said let there be light, there were no specifications to what kind of lights they could be. White or colored, large or small, blinking or twinkling, they should all be welcome in our Christmas and holiday celebration.

What’s so wrong with colored lights? Absolutely nothing. They sparkle and shine, filling everyone’s heart with the Christmas spirit. There is no law that says only white lights are allowed at Christmas. Colored lights can be just as pretty and add a lot to people’s front yard or inside decorations. The angel didn’t declare that behold, a savior is born and you should celebrate it only with white lights.

Let’s talk for a minute about the big inflatable things that some

folks like to place in their front yards. For them, nothing says Christmas or the holidays like giant, airfilled snowmen, reindeer and Santa Clauses blowing around on their front lawn.

Or maybe they are spreading some holiday cheer with plastic light-up figures. What’s the big deal? It’s not hurting you and it makes those people happy because that is how they are celebrating this happy season.

Everyone chooses to celebrate and decorate in a manner that is unique to them. So bring on the inflatable snowmen, the plastic light-up nativity scenes, the moving reindeer and the fiber-optic Christmas trees.

Cover every possible inch of your house with colored and white lights.

Put wreaths on every door and candles in very window.

It’s Christmas, let’s celebrate it like we want to.

DAN SQUIRE/PHOTO EDITOR

Fair trade items make great gifts that give twice

DAINA HAVENS PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

DMH724@CABRINI.EDU

This Christmas holiday, I will be giving gifts that

give twice. The majority of the shopping that I have left will be done at a little store called Global Gifts in Wayne, PA, which is associated with hundreds of other little stores nation wide, all of which are under one big organization called Ten Thousand Villages.

This organization has a passion for achieving international social justice by bringing fairly traded, unique crafts and goods directly within the grasp of

the average American consumer.

The trick is, the people who made those ornaments and organic cacao bars sitting on the store shelves can feed and clothe their families, seek medical care and means of education and maintain human dignity.

When my two close friends open their $10 green and brown Africanonyx candle holder for their new home on Christmas, they will be touching

a piece of art that was held in the hands of a struggling soul just trying to make a living and maintain a culture.

The heart-shaped river rock that was made in Haiti that sits on my window at home reminds me of the love and hard work that goes into making these crafts that have the ability to unite us all.

It’s really a gift that gives infinitely; being a simple Christmas gift that has the ability to also give

the gift of knowledge to those who aren’t aware of the suffering that members of this one human family endure.

If you pick up an ornament, carving, bag of coffee or woven basket, just to name a few items, you’ll see a little sticker with the price and a reference to where the product was made, including places like Haiti, Africa, Bangladesh, India, China and Thailand.

There is a perfect individual gift for every family

member and friend, and although every penny goes to doing good, many crafts are inexpensive in terms of money and priceless in their meaning.

For more information, visit or shop online at www.tenthousandvillages.c om.

A Ten Thousand Villages brochure title sums up my entire message by simply stating, “Shop fair trade. Invest in your world.”

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

www.theloquitur.com

Annual hunger banquet highlights ONE campaign gave at the White House about the ONE campaign.

The basic idea behind the ONE campaign is to make the government add an additional 1 percent of their budget to solving the problem of AIDS, hunger and homelessness. The government currently gives less than 1 percent of their budget to fight this problem, so LIZ LAVIN the ONE campaign is not askSTAFF WRITER ing for anything unreasonable.

EAL723@CABRINI.EDU The ONE campaign is made up of over 70 nonAll I wanted to do was profit, humanitarian organiget lunch at Jazzman’s. I was zations. They have joined only steps away from the together to reach an internaline when my friend and I tionally agreed upon goal: were flagged down by cut extreme poverty in half someone from the Wolfing- by 2015. ton Center asking us to sign I started the night having up for one of the events dur- no idea what the ONE caming their Hunger and Home- paign was. I left hoping that lessness Week. everyone will know about it.

Looking at the activities, I Fortunately, most of us at saw that my choices were a Cabrini never have and hunger banquet, a chance to never will have to worry give up my meals for a day being homeless and hungry. and a sleep It is for that out in the reason that I commons. think everyMygrowlone should ing stomach join a cause wasnotagreeto give peoing with the ple across DAINA HAVENS/PERSPECTIVES EDITOR idea of giv- Participants who sat on the floor the world ing up my shared rice and water for dinner. the chances meals for a whole day, so that we have. was out. And I wasn’t going As college students, it can to lie to myself; I can feel my be very hard to support causes throat start to ache the minute that we are passionate about.

I hear someone within five It seems the only way to show feet coughing, so spending all support is through money. night in the commons? No What really did me in for thanks: the hunger banquet it the ONE campaign was the was. fact that it is not about how In the mansion dining much money they can get you room, we were divided very to give. What they want from unevenly; only three people you is your voice. Of course, at the upper-class table, less wearing the white bracelet than 10 people were the and the ONE shirt will bring middle-class and the 20 or awareness everywhere you so of us left were the poor. go.

The uneven numbers were But the most beneficial surprisingly accurate to the thing you can do for this orstatistics of our world today. ganization is lend your voice.

Those of us at the I urge you to go to one.org wooden table were served and learn more about this orrice and water and jealously ganization. While you are looked on as the upper-class there, sign their declaration. was served salad, spaghetti Send your friends an e-mail and chocolate cake. While asking them to do the same. we ate, we listened to asso- Take a few minutes to remind ciate professor of religious our government that this studies Dr. Suzanne Toton growing problem needs to be of Villanova University and stopped. watched a speech that Bono

PERSPECTIVES I 7

Awareness:

hunger and homelessness week unites community for success

DAINA HAVENS PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

DMH724@CABRINI.EDU

Over $2,800 later, minus all other expenses, the 2006 Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week that began on Sunday, Oct. 5 was a triumphant success.

As co-chair of the campaign, it was a blessing to be part of something that positively effected so many lives, ranging from the campus community members who learned a few things about a desperate world issue, to the 30 local families that received full-course Thanksgiving meals, and even to the local and international organizations that will receive donations from the money raised. It truly was a week of success.

This annual tradition at

DAINA HAVENS/PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

Kelsie LaBauve, a sophomore religious studies major, stands in front of the Devon ACME Oct. 5 collecting spare change from shoppers for the hunger and homelessness awareness week kickoff event.

Cabrini, and at most other colleges with a mission statement dedicated to service, is an extensive week with many events that weave through each day meant to raise both money and awareness. The events for this year’s campaign began with a collection at a local supermarket and a special blessing by Father Michael at Sunday evening mass, and in this order, continued with a hunger banquet in the Mansion, a beginning and breaking of a fast, a sleep out in solidarity with the homeless, a fundraiser known as “Cabrini Island” and finally a letter signing social justice advocacy event.

The “bucket brigade” outside of the Devon ACME on a chilly day reminded many shoppers and volunteers how every penny counts. All the spare change, plus a $20 donation from a Cabrini Alum, a $10 dollar DAINA HAVENS/PERSPECTIVES EDITOR donation from Brittany Decicco, a junior history and political a ONE Camscience major, talks on the phone to raise money while being shipwrecked on Cabrini Is- paign volunland. teer and a few

dollars from a proud father of a Cabrini freshman, added up to just over $200.

That evening, Father Michael Bielecki said in his homily, “We can be tempted to carelessly dismiss as unimportant, if not undesirable, those who distract us from our own agendas, who demand too much from us, who make us uncomfortable, like the hungry and homeless, the unemployed and alien, or those who fail to live up to our expectations.” His words set a beautiful tone for the week’s events to come.

Apersonal highlight of the week was welcoming Dr. Suzanne Toton as a guest speaker for the Hunger Banquet, where she spoke about and shared a video on the ONE Campaign and Bono’s role in the fight against hunger.

The biggest impact on my emotion was watching all the faces of the guests at the banquet react to the huge pieces of chocolate cake that were being served by dining services to the fortunate few that were considered the upper and most fortunate class, while the majority of the participants sat uncomfortably on the floor eating only rice and water.

One participant, Megan Zweigle, a sophomore elementary and special education major, said “I felt like we are all students here. They were

better than us and it wasn’t fair.” Zweigle was a member of the majority who symbolized the developing nations and was forced to sit on the floor and feel social injustice.

Dining services also made it possible for the participants in the fast to donate their three meals from that day, and then use that money to purchase non-perishable food to donate to the cause.

Working toward social justice should be a personal passion that becomes a community effort, and I feel that The Cabrini community really stepped up to the plate, especially with this year’s record-breaking amount of money raised from “Cabrini Island.” Students raked in hundreds of dollars in donations from other students to get off the “island,” while faculty, staff and cherished members associated with the college donated large sums to save the “stranded” volunteers.

They were really saving lives, filling empty bellies and comforting heads without pillows to rest on.

The Wolfington Center and its volunteers do amazing things, but there is still so much left to be accomplished. If you want to help, just stop in and say hi anytime…that’s how I got started.

PlayStation 3 hovers just out of reach for students’ holiday budget

DAVE DAMIANO STAFF WRITER

DMD724@CABRINI.EDU

What would you spend with $499? Would you spend it on a brand new PlayStation

3? I hope not. I play Madden NFL ’07 like most people, but I would never spend this much money on something I use once in a while.

Over the years, there have been various types of gaming systems including PlayStation 2, Xbox and Nintendo Game Cube. But why have game consoles become so much money? They all cost at least $300 when they came out.

I never got these when they came out because it was too expensive. My parents weren’t going to buy them

for me either because then my friends and I would be sitting around the house all day playing games.

It just doesn’t seem worth it anymore to spend this much money on something that I would only play one game for.

Like most college students, I don’t have much money. I love sitting around playing Madden with my friends. It can be frustrating at times especially if you’re not as good as the other guys, but all in all it’s good fun.

I think because I’m older and that my roommates and I live off campus, I have been more cautious with my money recently because of the bills that I have to pay by the end of the month.

I mentioned earlier that I enjoy playing Madden with my friends. When this game came out in early August, it cost around $50. This is for a system that has been around for a while. I can only imagine how much it is going to cost to buy the new PlayStation 3 games.

When this game came

out, we played it all the time, and because my roommates and I split the price, it didn’t matter to any of us. Now that the first semester is coming to an end, there hasn’t been much time to play, and I don’t know if we got tired of it or if it’s because of the tremendous amount of work we have to do, but its just not the same as it was.

I feel it was worth it to spend the money for that great month of August, but now that the system we played it on, the PlayStation 2, is virtually extinct, what is

going to happen for the future?

The best times I had in regards to video games was the first system to ever come out; Nintendo. There was nothing better then shooting ducks in “Duck Hunt” or storming the castles in “Super Mario Bros.”

I’m sure that as the years go by there are going to be some great games coming out, but I doubt any will leave the lasting impression that I felt when playing those games as a kid on the original Nintendo.

8 I FEATURES

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Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS/MCT

Guitars have been making music for so many years and musicians everywhere are finding new ways to recreate the traditional guitar. Fender and Gibson are two guitar manufactures that lead the market in popularity and overall quality.

ʻRock and Rollʼ inspired through the strings COLIN MASON STAFF WRITER

CHM724@CABRINI.EDU

The guitar, in its many forms, could quite easily be described as one of the most popular instruments in modern history and contemporary music. It is one of those instruments that are available at any music store in one if it’s various forms and price points. The sixstringed guitar as we know it has been around for approximately 5,000 years, originating in Asia, with the first of the type of acoustic guitars we know today being made in Naples, Italy, in 1779 by Gaetano Vinac-

cia.

The two main types of guitars are the basic sixstring acoustic and electric guitars. There are thousands of companies out there that make guitars ranging anywhere from $99 to $15,000 and more.

The two most popular companies, due to the famous instruments created by them, are Fender and Gibson. Fender is known for creating the Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars, as well as inventing the first electric bass, the Precision bass. Before that, musicians had to lug around the cumbersome standup bass, so Leo Fender decided to create a bass that could be am-

plified the same way as an electric guitar. For his Strat and Tele guitars, the bolt on neck was very innovative.

Prior to this, guitars had glued-in necks, making repairs more costly and difficult. He wanted to make his instruments so that if something were to break or have a defect, it could be easily repaired or replaced. The Stratocaster was also the first solidbody electric guitar to feature a tremolo bar, for dive effects and vibrato.

The Stratocaster and Telecaster designs have been copied countless amounts of time over the years, but nothing is as good as the original. The list of players that use fender electric gui-

tars include Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Janick Gers, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden and various other artists.

Gibson is well known mostly for the Les Paul signature line of guitars. Gibson had signed a contract with guitarist Les Paul in the early fifties to design a signature solidbody electric guitar. What he designed and had released in 1954 would live on to this day as being one of the best sounding, easiest playing and most legendary guitars in history. It is vastly different from anything fender did. It was a single cutaway, glued-in neck electric, with

no tremolo bar and different, hotter sounding pickups. It originally came in two colors: gold and black.

Gold was the first choice because it represents all things fine, according to Paul, and black because a player’s hands would be easier to see against an inky black background. When sales began to decline in the late ‘50s, more solid and sunburst colors were introduced, but this could not save the Les Paul, for it was discontinued after 1960 for almost a decade. The SG model replaced the Les Paul, and the Les Paul was reintroduced in 1969 after Gibson was bought out.

Both guitars remain in pro-

duction to this day. Notable Les Paul players include Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, the late Johnny Thunders of the New York Dolls and James Williamson of The Stooges.

Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story.

Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.

Healthy for your sweet tooth: Fresh berry dessert BRITTANY LAVIN STAFF WRITER BLL722@CABRINI.EDU Finding healthy things to eat is difficult, especially in college. With weight-loss trends changing everyday, it’s hard to distinguish what’s considered healthy and what isn’t. It’s even harder when a sweet tooth is involved.

This 10-minute recipe could be the answer. According to whfoods.com, it combines the flavors of fruit, yogurt and chocolate in a way that is rich tasting,

but still healthier than most desserts.

“I would definitely try this recipe,” Carolyn Wilson, a junior English secondary education major, said. “I love all the ingredients and it’s quick and healthy.”

Fruit makes a great snack and healthy dessert.

The strawberries or raspberries are filled with the nutrient vitamin C and the low-fat yogurt has highquality protein. These things, combined with melted chocolate, provide a delicious and guilt-free eating experience.

“I don’t even need to read the nutrition facts to know that I would try this recipe.” Danielle Licwinko, a sophomore elementary education major, said.

This recipe could also serve as breakfast or even as a quick snack on the way to class. It’s also a convenient way to enjoy dessert without worrying about counting carbohydrates or calories. With this recipe, the only thing that needs to be counted is the 10 minutes it takes to make. With such busy schedules, a typical college student is lucky if they’re able to sit down

and eat a balanced meal, let alone a healthy dessert.

“It’s fast, easy and delicious,” Lauren Magill, a sophomore undecided major, said. “Can’t beat that!”

For more quick and healthy recipes, check out www.whsfoods.com.

Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story.

Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.

Berry Dessert with Yogurt and Chocolate Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes Ingredients: (Serves 2) * 1 basket fresh berries * 8oz low fat vanilla yogurt * 2 oz melted dark chocolate Directions: 1. Fold together yogurt and berries.

2. Melt chocolate with heat on medium.

Place berries and yogurt in individual bowls and drizzle with melted chocolate.

FEAT

TURES

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

www.theloquitur.com

FEATURES I 9

MCT

The Toyota Camry is not just for a family, in fact it can just be as beneficial to a younger generation of people. The Camry is inexpensive and has the ability to keep the driver safe along with all passengers due their safety extras.

Safety options prove best in Toyota Camry PAT MCGOWAN STAFF WRITER PVM722@CABRINI.EDU

The Toyota Camry, the car of the year, has pleased many costumers, but can a college student get that quality? The answer is surprisingly yes.

The Toyota Camry has five different models that you can buy. There is the Camry CE, LE, SE, XLE and the Camry Hybrid.

Each model comes with different features and are at different prices.

The Camry CE is the cheapest, coming in at $18,270. Despite the low price the Camry still has most of the safety features that the other models have.

The CE comes with many standard features that other cars do not have as standard.

One of the exterior standard features of the Toyota Camry is the 16-inch steel wheels and full wheel covers. Another external feature is the high solar energy absorbing glass, which many cars do not have.

Interior standard features include a tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio and climate controls. Defroster-linked CFC-free air conditioning with dust and pollen filter also comes with the Camry CE. The Camry CE also comes with two 12V auxiliary power outlets.

The most important part of a car is not the exterior or

the interior. It is the safety features found in the car.

The Toyota Camry won the car of the year award for the safety features it includes.

One of the many standard safety features that come with the Camry CE is the airbag system. The airbag system includes front and side airbags, but the airbag system also includes knee airbags, which is very rare.

The Camry CE also comes with a direct tire pressure monitor system.

This allows us to be able to avoid dangerous flats and tie blowouts on the road.

Another important safety feature that is included in the Camry CE is the child restraint system in the rear seat. Child safety is usually left to minivans, but the Toyota Camry is one of the exceptions to the case.

The base price of the Camry CE is $18,270, however the actual price is a little higher. The Total MSRP, the suggested sale price for retailers, is $18,850. The price, however, is up to each individual retailer so the price will vary.

Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story.

Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.

The Toyota Camry, pictured above, seats five passengers and won the car of the year award for its safety features.

MCT

10 I A&E

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Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

COURTESY OF THE SPIRIT OF PHILADELPHIA

The Spirit of Philadelphia cruises the Delaware river daily, giving their guests a different view of Philadelphia.

A night on the town: the Spirit of Philadelphia ELIZABETH BRACHELLI MANAGING EDITOR

EAB722@CABRINI.EDU

Cruising down the Delaware River while overlooking Philly’s twinkling skyline and indulging in exquisite food and energetic entertainment is the ultimate outing for college students looking for a night out.

The eventful night out can be enjoyed on the Spirit of Philadelphia, a dinner cruise.

Located on the Penn’s Landing waterfront, the Spirit of Philadelphia has a jam-packed, three-hour dinner cruise that appeals to all crowds.

Bob Gregory, the general manager of the Spirit of Philadelphia, sums up the cruise in the few words he constantly hears from college students and all types of crowds. Gregory said, “It’s fun. They love it.”

The night aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia begins with stepping on to the three-

deck ship to be escorted to the tastefully decorated tables and decks for the holiday season and the night’s festivities. The ship takes parties of two to 600 guests by reservation. Guests can also reserve whole decks for large parties.

Gregory said, “A lot of people just think we’re a boat ride and dinner.”

The Spirit of Philadelphia involves more than a boat ride and dinner. After being seated on the ship with either group reservations or other guests, there is the opportunity to venture around the ship and take in the views from the panoramic windows surrounding the ship. Also, the strolling decks are accessible if the skyline view is not enough from within the ship’s climate-controlled decks. If that does not appeal to the guest, the full-service bars are open.

Once the boat is ready to cruise the Delaware River, the dining and the entertainment begins. Guests are able to choose

from an endless assortment of freshly prepared food after being invited by their waiter to the Grande dinner buffet. The buffet includes a salad, a carving station of ham and roast, entrees of chicken teriyaki, chicken marsala, andoille sausage, shellfish and stuffed sole Chesapeake. There is also accompaniments of white rice and various types of vegetables. After eating dinner, guests can choose delicious desserts of either vanilla bean cheesecake or chocolate marquis.

While eating dinner, the dance floor is busy with entertainers engaging the audience in the ship’s live musical revue “Red Hot Rhythm & Blues.”

Leah Salamon, the director of entertainment, said, “We have positive feedback from our audience.

The musical includes clips from every era of music from Motown, rock, classic rock and classic rock and roll. The cast of

the musical wears sparkling costumes fit for each tune. Audience members are pulled from their seats to sing and dance in tunes.

Salamon said, “It’s a real audience pleaser.”

Once the live entertainment slows down, the guests can take over the dance floor with the disc jockey’s playing of the top 40 hits.

After guests spend the night dining and on the dance floor, the boat docks back into the Penn’s Landing waterfront port.

If not able to spend the night out on the town to relish in the dinner and entertainment, the cruise also offers lunch cruises with narration on Philly’s skyline. Moonlight cruises as well as theme cruises are available all year round at different pricing.

For more information on pricing and the Spirit of Philadelphia, visit http://www.spiritcitycruises.com/ph/index.jsp.

McNabb takes a stab at a clothing line JOHN FENNELL STAFF WRITER

JF737@CABRINI.EDU

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is following in the footsteps of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Already the face of Campbell’s Chunky Soup, early last month he unveiled his new signature apparel collection, the Super Five clothing line along with Reebok, the exclusive on-field and sideline apparel provider for the National Football League.

McNabb created a casual men’s look that is meant to reflect his own style. The line includes T-shirts and fleeces to knit sweaters and vests.

With sizes that go all the way up to 5XL. “I’ve always wanted clothing that was casual and comfortable, but had a more refined look and feel,” Mc-

Nabb said, according to the Associated Press.

Reebok makes McNabb the first NFLplayer to have his own clothing line and one of a few North American sports league athletes. Philadelphia 76’s point guardAllen Iverson also has a signature apparel collection from Reebok.

McNabb is trying to achieve similar cross over status as Michael Jordan whom he grew up idolizing as a kid in Chicago. Jordan was the one who opened all the doors for athletes to be more then just ball players and become businesses.

Jordan started with his own sneaker from Nike over twenty years ago and now has his own clothing line under the Nike label.

“His name is way bigger than mine and the things he’s been able to accomplish. Those are the things I

want to accomplish when it comes to sports on and off the field as well,” McNabb said.

McNabb acknowledges that Jordan’s success in winning six National Basketball Association championships helped him to become as marketable as he is now. At the time, the Eagle’s were 44 coming of a season where they had failed to miss the playoffs after previously making the National Football Conference championship game four years in a row and going to one Super Bowl.

It bothers McNabb that many athletes are judged by the number of championships they win because of all the great athletes out there that never won. But he has never let the public's opinions hinder his growth in anyway, not since he was booed the minute his name

was announced on draft day in 1999.

“People are going to say whatever they want, and everybody has their own opinion about things,” McNabb said. “I think in this game that we play, you have to be able to open up avenues for yourself in the future and be able to put yourself in a position when the game is done…You have to have something to fall back on.”

Currently McNabb’s season is over, after suffering season ending knee injury that could have him sidelined into next season.

Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story.

Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com . The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.

ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

McNabb looks at his clothing line as a safety net to fall back on when his football career has come to an end.

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

A&E I 11

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MOVIE REVIEWS

‘The Fountain’ floods theaters NIKKI SABELLA

A&E EDITOR

NS722@CABRINI.EDU

The riveting performances of Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz pulled “The Fountain” into one of the most thought provoking, symbolic movies of the year. The somewhat underrated film is open to interpretation by each viewer. However, they can all agree that it incorporates themes of action, romance, drama and even some science-fiction into a philosophical and visual work of art.

Director Darren Aronofsky, also director of “Requiem for a Dream” and “Pi,” takes the storylines from three different time periods and splices them together to make one main story focused on one man’s struggle to accept morality. At this moment, it is hard to tell if the stories are the same or three separate stories.

The first tale is of a queen and her quest to save her country with the help of a warrior. The second is a story taken in present time about a man who is trying to find a cure for his wife’s cancer. Lastly, stopped in time and stuck in a bubble in space, a man and his growing tree look for ultimate meaning in a nebula in space.

Originally, Aronofsky casted Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett to play the main characters with a $75 million budget. Instead the film was shut down and restarted with a budget of $35 million and a different cast.

Hugh Jackman plays Tom Creo or Tomas, the hopeless husband from one aspect or the fighting warrior in another, both on the search for the fountain, symbolic for the fountain of youth or cure. Rachel Weisz (real-life girlfriend of Aronofsky) plays Izzi Creo, who is the sick wife searching for an ending to her novel coincidentally titled

WARNER BROS. PICTURE

Tom Creo (Hugh Jackman) takes a stroll in the fountain of youth.

“The Fountain,” she also plays Isabel, the endangered queen trying to save Spain.

Many scenes are vivid with flashbacks and interweaving images. Jackman cut off all of his hair and shaved his beard to play the man in the bubble in the yellow radiating bursting nebula. He is there with his life-like tree, representative of his dying wife. Ghost-like images of his wife appear and persuade him into his past or the present-day life. There he retraces his steps to find meaning and a solution to death.

The film presents the audience with issues that are universal. Offering some un-

dertones of religious and cultural interpretation (Mayan, Christian, and Buddhist) the film leaves audiences with conversation pieces. The present-day story is the most emotional, seeing as it deals with strong love bonds and the potential loss of them through the unfathomable ideas of death.

With a brilliant score and unmatchable experiment with lighting and graphics, “The Fountain” is somewhat similar to the style of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” and with it’s birth-death tone, it is comparable to “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

Quite different from what the trailer pre-

sented, “The Fountain” is a complex and intelligent film on the contemplation of death and the desperate measures taken to salvage life, not about a woman who lives forever.

With only a $3 million gross for opening weekend, the film is highly underestimated.

Although hard to understand at the beginning, the pieces make slight contact in the middle only to scatter in confusion at the end. “The Fountain” leaves a feeling of incompleteness while at the same time a feeling of being satisfied by its mystery.

‘Happy Feet’ taps its way into the hearts of viewers

“Happy Feet” has been making tracks since its debut on Nov. 17.

JEN DAVIS STAFF WRITER

JED724@CABRINI.EDU

WARNER BROS. PICTURE

Norma Jean (Nicole Kidman), Mumble (E.G. Daily) and Memphis (Hugh Jackman) together as a happy family.

The animated film “Happy Feet” made its debut performance on Nov. 17. The comedy adventure is set in the land of the Emperor Penguins deep within Antarctica. In the great nation of the Emperor Penguin, you are no one unless you can sing. Mumble (Elijah Wood) expresses himself through fierce tap dancing.

Mumble’s mother, Norma Jean (Nicole Kidman), encourages her son’s creative talent while his father, Memphis (Hugh Jackman), strongly opposes the idea. According to Memphis, tap dancing “just ain’t penguin.” Being denied the talent of a singer, Mumble struggles for the acceptance of his community and peers.

Coincidentally, Mum-

ble’s closet friend, Gloria (Brittany Murphy), is recognized as the best singer of the class. However it is difficult for her to support Mumbles outrageous tap dancing steps.

The stern leader of the pack, Noah the Elder (Hugo Weaving,) believes Mumble is a disgrace and expels him from the community.

On his own for the first time, Mumble stumbles across some very unique yet entertaining penguins known as the Adelie Amigos.

Ramon (Robin Williams) carries the Adelies above and beyond. Immediately the Adelie Amigos are drawn to Mumbles dance moves.

For the first time in his life, Mumble feels acknowledged.

Adelia Land is a land unlike any other. Here every penguin is very relaxed and embraces the joyous simplicity of their lives. For

WARNER BROS. PICTURE

them, life is too short to be anything but happy.

Mumble is directed towards the vibrantly feathered Lovelace the Guru (also voiced by Robin Williams). Mumble ponders questions about life in which he is told Lovelace will be able to answer.

Exploring the Antarctic world Mumble broadens his knowledge of himself and others. Together with the Amigos and Lovelace, Mumble embraces his natural talents and comes to an appreciation of life. Simultaneously the joyous clan explores the region one ice berg at a time.

Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story.

Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com . The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.

12 I A&E

www.theloquitur.com

Tis’ the season:

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

What’s your favorite holiday jingle?

“‘Little Saint Nick’ by The Beach Boys because I grew up with this song. My dad played it all of the time.”

“‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ by Frank Sinatra because it reminds me of when I was younger.”

“‘All I want For Christmas Is You’ by Mariah Carey because it is fun to sing along with.”

“‘Jingle Bell Rock’because my mom always plays it while we decorate the Christmas tree.”

Maria Anthony, freshman elementary and special education major

Krystle Yoder, freshman elementary Gabrielle LaVenia, junior English education and early childhood edu- and secondary education major cation major

Caitlin Dawson, sophomore nursing major

JAMIE HUFNAGLE STAFF WRITER

JLH729@CABRINI.EDU

It is finally the time of year when our favorite Christmas songs begin to circulate on the airwaves and bring Christmas cheer to everyone. Whether you are walking through the mall during Christmastime or driving in the car listening to the radio, it is almost an instinct to instantly sing along to popular Christmas hits. The sound of Christmas music continues to bring excitement to people of all ages.

It seems like a given birth right to learn the lyrics to hits like “Frosty the

Snowman” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The lyrics are traditionally passed down from generation to generation as each Christmas rolls around.

What would Christmas be without the sound of Christmas hits ringing through the air to remind us of this special time of year?

Everyone always seems to have that favorite Christmas song that can be played over and over without ever tiring of it.

Through the years, it seems as though Christmas songs continue gaining more and more popularity. Popular music artists continue to remake classics and add their own style to the songs we have come to know.

When I think of the holidays, Christmas songs are one of the first things that come to mind. I know Christmas is right around the corner when I am driving in my car and I switch the radio to my favorite station to hear my favorite Christmas song blaring out of the speakers.

Christmas time is officially here. We can be reminded of that by hearing the constant sound of Christmas music played all around us. The music may be tucked away when Christmas comes to an end, but until then it will be a constant reminder of this joyous time of year.

New Union Rules battles their way to the top JESSICA HAGERTY STAFF WRITER

JH729@CABRINI.EDU

WYBF and campus activities and programming board held a Battle of the Bands on Friday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. “New Union Rules,” a punk band, won the title at the end of the competition.

Battle of the Bands was held in Grace Hall with two stages set-up facing each other. To qualify, each band was required to have at least one Cabrini student in it.

Each of the four qualifying bands took their turn on one of the stages to try to win over the audiences votes.

Upon entering, each person was issued a ticket.

Each band had a small box to place a ticket if you wished to vote for them.

The winning band was determined by the band with the most tickets.

The members of the winning band “New Union Rules” took home $150 in cash, a $100 gift certificate to the musical equipment store Sam Ash and a $50 American Express check card. All prizes were provided by WYBF and CAP board.

“New Union Rules” was also the band to kick off the intense event. Band members Lee Miyaharar on guitar and lead vocals, Chris

Daubert on bass, Ryan Conklin on drums and Kevin Connolly on guitar performed four of their original songs for the crowd.

The band has been playing together for just about two years.

“We’ve played other shows at small venues in Philly,” Daubert, a student at LaSalle University, said. “Currently we are mixing and editing our new album.”

The album is expected to release in January and includes seven original songs. Album updates and more information can be found on their website at www.newunionrules.com.

All four band members look forward to graduating from college this spring.

Conklin and Connolly are both seniors at Cabrini.

However, Daubert feels that graduating will not discontinue the band.

“We’re just going to have fun and take the band-thing as far as we can,” Daubert said.

The second band to perform for the night was “Divided Sky.” The band contributed a unique sound to their performance by

JEREMY STEVENS/SUBMITTED PHOTO

New Union Rules (left) takes their first battle of the bands title with a few new songs.

Lee Miyahara (Above), lead guitar and singer of New Union Rules, solos for the crowd.

adding a violinist instead of a bass player.

Band members are Cabrini students Pat Walsh on guitar and lead vocals, Kevin Burke on violin and Chris Holland on drums.

Also, Kevin Posodiec, a student at Penn State Berks, on guitar.

“Divided Sky” has been playing together for two weeks and performed one original song. The two other songs were cover songs by Dave Matthews and The Doors.

Next to take the stage was the metal band “Scythe of Azrael.” Amanda Wyckoff on guitar and lead vocals, Chrissy Zeller on bass, Andrew Stubbs on lead guitar and Sara Neidorf on drums performed 5 of their original songs for the audience.

“Scythe of Azrael” has been playing together for one year and will continue to play shows at small venues in the area to get their music heard.

“Right now we’re just

out having fun, but hopefully we’ll be famous rock stars someday,” Zeller said.

Last to take the stage was “Manhattan Project.”

This acoustic Indie band also plays “just for fun” and has been playing together for one month. Band members include Chris Campellone on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Andrew Ciccaroni on lead guitar and Anthony Casazza on bass. All three band members are Cabrini students.

“Manhattan Project” ended the show with one original song entitled “Bridgetown Pike” and two cover songs.

Once everyone had placed their tickets in the voting boxes, the votes were tallied and “New Union Rules” was announced the winner of the competition.

Although the other three bands left empty handed they all felt good about how they had performed earlier in the evening.

SPORTS I 13

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Friday, Dec. 8, 2006 LOQUITUR EXCLUSIVE

Smith recalls Rutgers SHANE EVANS WEB EDITOR

SME722@CABRINI.EDU

No matter how many years Eagles fourth year tight end enjoys playing in the top tier of competitive football, the National Football League, he’ll never forget his roots at Rutgers New University in Brunswick, New Jersey.

“Whatever school you come from, you should always be proud of that,” Smith said of his four years at Rutgers.

“Everybody has different experiences because some guys transfer and some guys may not like the school or may not have a good time. I mean, we didn't win many games, but Rutgers is a prideful school and we get a lot of respect in the state and outside of the state. So being from there, you feel good about where you’re coming from.”

Drafted late in the second round by the Eagles in the 2003 NFL Draft, Smith has flourished ever since he became the starter in 2005.

During that season, he set career highs of 61 receptions, 682 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Smith accredited a lot of his success in college to the fact that he was constantly around his team and they had a different kind of closeness that is hard to find in the NFL. “Just the locker room,” Smith said of one of the biggest things he missed about his experience at Rutgers.

“You are growing up together with guys, you're hanging out more. You are experiencing the same things, going through the same things at the same time. Living together is another huge thing because we are constantly together, at the times where we really are learning a lot about each other and ourselves. Definitely just hanging out with the guys was huge.”

A native of Highland Park, New Jersey, Smith was exposed to Eagles fans before he was drafted by the Philadelphia franchise in 2003. He didn’t however; realize the immense difference between Scarlet Knights’ fans and those that follow the green and silver.

“Philly fans are very outspoken, they don’t really hold any punches,” Smith said of the infamously brutal Eagles patrons. “At Rut-

gers they were a little more relaxed and it was more of a school spirit type of thing, which is definitely expected because these are your classmates and people you live with so they tend to be a bit more forgiving. Eagles fans are just a lot more…passionate.”

With his college years fading further into the past, Smith likes to remember how things were at Rutgers and all the things he was able to accomplish. With the program’s revitalization of the last two seasons, Smith has been able to boast to his Eagles teammates about their success.

Today, since the spotlight is strictly focused on his old stomping grounds, Smith says that things would be different if he were there today. Despite their recent success and national attention, the big tight end who aspires to be a musician and is teaching himself how to play the guitar in his free time, said that the playing level in college is nothing compared to what it’s been like for him in the NFL. “The intensity and the expectations,” Smith said of the biggest differences between college and the pros.

“Everything is fast paced and serious. There is really no down time. You are always in the spot light.

Being at Rutgers then, wasn't like being at Rutgers now. We weren’t winning games, so there weren't as many expectations, so when people talked about us, it wasn't always positive.”

With another successful season in the NFL nearly in the books, Smith has made a great transition to football’s highest level and has been widely regarded as one of the best young players at his position. But no matter how good Smith gets or what he does in this league, he still keeps things in perspective that he is living out his dream.

“Just living out your dream,” Smith said of being a player in the NFL. “Being that you are one of the best of the best. It doesn’t get any better. There’s not another level, besides the Pro Bowl. You're playing against the best every week.

Not like college where you have a couple teams you are supposed to beat and you know you're going to win and should win. Here, it's any given Sunday with the best of the best, and I’m proud to be a part of that.”

DREW HALLOWELL/PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

L.J. Smith dunks the football for a touchdown celebration.

This week in sports JASON RADKA SPORTS EDITOR

JNR722@CABRINI.EDU

Garcia: The answer in Philly?

The Philadelphia Eagles’ playoff hopes have been kept alive with a last minute victory against the Carolina Panthers on Monday night. Now in a three way tie with the Panthers and the Giants, the Eagles still have to hold a winning record for the rest of the season to sneak into the final National Football Conference wildcard seed. Backup quarterback Jeff Garcia overcame crowd adversity to help rout the Carolina with a game-winning interception by Lito Sheppard. Garcia will remain the starting quarterback pending his progress for the rest of the season.

UPCOMING GAMES Saturday, Dec. 9 Women’s basketball at Kings (1 p.m.)

Men’s basketball at Widener (3 p.m.)

Sunday, Dec. 10 Women’s track and field Seton Hall Games (11 a.m.)

Men’s track and field Seton Hall Games (11 a.m.)

Tuesday, Dec. 12

Greg Maddux to join the Padres Veteran starting pitcher Greg Maddux has once again packed his bags and has landed recently in sunny San Diego, Calif. Maddux inked a two-year $16.5 million contract, with incentive to make an extra $4 million if Maddux reaches 180 innings for the upcoming season. Maddux will turn 41 on April 14, had a 15-14 record with the Cubs/Dodgers last season.

Sacramento Kings to relocate?

National Basketball League commissioner David Stern has been in recent serious conversation with Sacramento capital officials about keeping the Sacramento Kings in the Calif. state capital. According to cbs.sportsline officials, the Kings faithful has ambitions to stay at home. “With the quality of the support that this team has received from Sacramento and the job that the Maloofs have done with (the Kings and the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs), we feel it's important to make this effort," Stern said.

"Whether it's successful or not, I make no guarantees, but it will not be from any lack of effort on our part."

New steroid accusation: Cal Ripken Jr. Mark McGwire, Jose Canseo and Barry Bonds are huge names that are thrown around when people mention steroids. Unfortunately, more childhood heroes have been brought into the steroid spotlight, Cal Ripken Jr. Ripken played in 2,632 consecutive games and was noted to be the new Ironman. Although no fingers are being pointed towards Ripken, Ripken could give no comment about McGwire’s recent hall of fame induction. His only comment was, “I don’t feel I’m in position to judge.”

Men’s basketball at Rowan (7 p.m.)

Saturday, Dec. 16 Men’s basketball vs. Scranton Saturday, Dec. 30 Women’s track and field Metropolitan Holiday Classic (10 a.m.)

Wednesday, Jan. 3 Women’s basketball vs. Albright (6 p.m.)

Saturday, Jan. 6 Women’s basketball at Delaware Valley (1 p.m.)

Monday, Jan. 8 Women’s basketball vs. Arcadia (6 p.m.)

Men’s basketball vs. Arcadia (8 p.m.)

Thursday, Jan. 11 Women’s basketball at Eastern (6 p.m.)

Men’s basketball at Eastern (8 p.m.)

14 I SPORTS

www.theloquitur.com

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

Cavalier Swimming

DAN SQUIRE/PHOTO EDITOR

Sophomore Chris Alig swims freestyle during a recent meet.

Swim team faces exhausting mid-season MONICA BURKE STAFF WRITER

MCB727@CABRINI.EDU

This season, the Cabrini women’s swim team has been dedicated to excellence, working harder for better performance at each meet. They have set the bar high for themselves and have committed to being the best they can be.

Currently the team is tapering currently it is mid-season and just when they are tempted to begin to slack on their game with finals and winter break imminent, they have two crucial meets in the days ahead.

Freshman elementary education major Andrea Carabella said, “This season is going well. I think our most successful meet of the season was against Misericordia. We lost but I think the dedication and drive of the team was put into full effect.

Carabella, who is new to the team said, “Even though as a whole we lost, we definitely achieved a personal best. I excelled

in two events. This was a personal victory for me.”

As most students look forward to lazy days spent in front of the television this winter break, the swim team is facing double daily practices and hard physical workouts. There is a bright spot in all of that, they will be doing it in sunny Florida.

“I’m so excited to be going to Florida over break. I will probably be exhausted but the idea of practicing outside in the warm weather is sounding so amazing right now. I seriously can’t wait,” Carabella said.

The team heads south the first week in the New Year for what might be the hardest training they have yet to experience.

Coach Mike Kernicky said, “Florida will be a bonding time for the girls. We are going to beat them up physically with double practices, make them hate them hate the coach a little but it will be good for them as a team, as a whole. They will work hard and learn to commiserate over it.”

Carabella is no stranger to hard work.

“Here on a college team. it is a lot less stressful then when I was in high school.

The coach knows it can be a hard transition from high school to college sports. We work hard here but he knows we are learning the ropes,” Carabella said.

She added, “It is really different from high school where when we were seniors we were the leaders, now we are the one’s starting over again and learning. It has been a positive learning experience so far.”

To say Coach Mike Kernicky is excited about this season would be putting it mildly.

“This season has been fantastic. It has been the best season ever. The girls are hard workers and they deserve the success that they are getting.”

On Dec. 2 and Dec. 3, the team competed against Fairleigh Dickinson and Ocean County College.

These meets were huge for the team.

The women of the team hope to outdo their previous performance records of the season. These meets will qualify swimmers to

participate in the Eastern College Athletic Confernce finals at the University of Pittsburgh. The ECAC is just the first step to the elusive National Collegiate Athletic Association championship.

“These meets are crucial for the girls.

We’re hoping for some of them to qualify for the ECACs at Pitt. This is a major factor in getting into the NCAAs.” said Kernicky.

The swim team has had a very successful season thus far. Their current record is 3-2, with many more meets to elaborate on their success, these women have a lot to look forward to.

The season wraps in mid February.

The Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your comments each week and make corrections if warranted.

Second year swimmer strives to improve time KATIE CLARK STAFF WRITER

KAC729@CABRINI.EDU

Gina Scuibba is an active member of Cabrini women’s swim team. This is her second year with Cabrini. She has been swimming for about 15 years. For Cabrini she swims distance free style. This involves the 100 and 500-yard race and usually relays.

Scuibba discovered swimming when she was young. Her family and she were members of their local swim club. Her parents thought it would be good for her to take swimming lessons.

After a while, the instructor saw something in Scuibba. He recommended her to join their swim team. Scuibba took his advice and has been loving swimming ever since.

“When swimming isn’t fun anymore, that is when I will stop, but I doubt that will happen anytime soon,” Scuibba said.

They have won three out of their five meets. This year’s record is much higher than the past others have had. Scuibba thinks her team has complete potential to

go far especially since their new number of swimmers.

The women’s team has expanded with 12 new freshmen and the men’s team also has an expansion.

“This program is continually growing at a fast rate and has a lot of potential not only for this year but for the years to come,” Scuibba said.

There are many goals floating around the swimming team. For the women’s swimming team alone, its goals are pretty obvious. According to Scuibba, they want to swim the best they can and to come out on top.

This year, Cabrini’s swim team is going on its first training trip. Over winter break, the team is traveling to Florida, where they will train for a week.

The goal for this week is to be ready to swim against all the other teams in hope to beat them. They hope that all their hard work will pay off in the end. Scuibba’s goals go a little deeper.

Her main goal, however, is like the team’s. She wants to improve all of her times, especially her 500 time. She always wants to allow herself to have fun while

competing. She follows her dad’s words of advice; “Just go out, have fun and swim the best you can.”

Scuibba has overcome many different obstacles during her years in swimming, such as, overcoming times, swimming in her first races, being scared and intimidated by other swimmers.

According to Scuibba, swimming has helped her overcome many of her obstacles including different life issues.

Whenever she has a problem with something, she will let it out through swimming.

If she is in a bad mood, she will let it out in the water, and then she would be good to go afterwards. Scuibba swims to swim. It is something she really enjoys doing, no matter what kind of mood she is in.

“It’s like my copping mechanism, I guess you could say. No matter what I do or where I go, swimming will always be a part of my life,” Scuibba said.

The Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your comments each week and make corrections if warranted.

CABRINI COLLEGE ATHLETICS

Scuibba is a member of the womenʼs swim team. She has been swimming for 15 years.

DAVE DAMIANO

Major League Baseball 2006 Awards

STAFF WRITER

DMD724@CABRINI.EDU

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander

SPORTS I 15

www.theloquitur.com

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Johan Santana

Most Valuable Player National League: 58 home runs and 149 runs batted in was enough to give Ryan Howard his first Most Valuable Player Award. Howard, who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies beat out Albert Pujols, last years MVP by 41 votes. Last year, Howard was named National League Rookie of the Year. This is the second time in Major League Baseball history that a player has been awarded Rookie of the Year and MVP in consecutive seasons. Cal Ripken was the only other player to receive this honor.

American League: Minnesota Twins’ first baseman Justin Mourneau beat New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter in the 10th-closest American League Most Valuable Player Award in history. This is the first MVP award for Mourneau, who won by a score of 320-306.

Mourneau had a batting average of .321 with 34 home runs and 130 runs batted in.

Mourneau’s strong play helped produce one of the best offensive seasons in team history.

Cy Young Award National League: Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb became the 2006 Cy Young Award winner. The Cy Young award is given to the best pitcher in each league. While Webb led the National League with 16 wins, this marks the lowest win total for a starting pitcher to win the Cy Young in a full season. Webb also set career highs with 235 innings pitched and 178 strikeouts.

American League: Minnesota Twins pitcher Johan Santana captured his second American League Cy Young award. Santana led the league with 19 wins, 245 strikeouts and an earned run average of 2.77. Santana has become the 14th pitcher in Major League history to win at least two Cy Young Awards.

Rookie of the Year National League:

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Webb

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard

22-year-old Hanley Ramirez won the National League’s Rookie of the Year Award.

The Florida Marlins shortstop is the first rookie to ever score 110-plus runs and steal over 50 bases in a single season. Ramirez also hit 17-plus home runs while playing in only 100 games for the Marlins.

American League: Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander became the first starting pitcher since 1981 to win the American League Rookie of the Year. Verlander helped the Tigers reach the World Series, and was given the chance to pitch during the final game. The Tigers did not win the championship, but Verlander’s 17 wins helped him secure the Rookie of the Year Award.

Manager of the Year National League: Despite being fired from the Florida Marlins in Oct., Joe Girardi was given the National League’s Manager of the Year Award.

Girardi coached the youngest and cheapest team in the Major Leagues and guided them to a season of 78-wins and 84-losses. Girardi also kept the team, which many predicted to have 100-plus losses, in playoff contention until mid-September.

American League: Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland was given the American League Manager of the Year Award. The Tigers had a record of 95wins and 67-losses, improving by 24 wins from the previous season. Leyland also led the team to the World Series, their first playoff birth since 1987.

ALL PHOTOS: MCT

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006

SPORTS I 16

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SPORTS Lady Cavs suffer one point loss

After a disappointing one point loss to 738@ .

Chestnut Hill College, the Lady Cavs remain strong and optimistic about On Thursday, Nov. 30 at 6:00, the women’s basketball team battled Chestnut the remainder of their season.

Hill in a physical and challenging game.

KAITLIN BARR STAFF WRITER

KMB

CABRINI EDU

In the first half the women completely dominated every part of the game, from rebounds, to steals, to finishing their shots and playing intense defense, no one could have imagined the outcome of this game.

Sophomores Kate Ryan, Nikki Duggan, Casey Kyler, Kayleen Smith and Melissa Benedetti, and freshmen Deana DiAmico, Kate Walck and Kasey Agostinacchio, were all key players in this game. Duggan and Agostinacchio’s three-point shooting, or the outstanding rebounding from Kyler and Smith; each strength was used on the court against Chestnut Hill.

Although all of these aspects were major contributors in the first half, it wasn’t enough for the Cavaliers to pull off the win in the second half. Chestnut Hill came out ready to play when they stepped back on the court in the second half.

Chestnut Hill sophomore Marianne Frinfrock, was a threat as she added 10 much needed points to put her team back in the game. This was the first time the sisters played against each other since they both attended Haverford High.

As the second half progressed, Cabrini’s women had difficulty performing in many areas. Missed shots, early fouls and turnovers by the Cavaliers were some reasons Chestnut Hill was able to come back into the game.

In the final few minutes of the game, Ryan was able to hit two crucial shots to bring Cabrini back into the game. On a great play in the last seconds, Smith was fouled going up for a lay-up. To freeze her up a little, Chestnut Hill called a time out, forcing Smith to walk away from the foul line. After missing both foul shots, Cabrini grabbed the final rebound, but missed at the attempted shot, making Chestnut Hill win over Cabrini 55-54.

Sophomore forward Brittany McCleod tips off against Chestnut Hill senior forward Andrea Carter.

DAN SQUIRE/PHOTO EDITOR

Campus Announcements YADIRA TOLEDO EVENTS EDITOR

YRT722@CABRINI.EDU

Pro-wrestling unplugged WYBF is sponsoring pro-wrestling unplugged on Friday, Dec. 8 in Grace Hall. Doors are scheduled to open at 7 p.m. There is a general admission fee of $12 or a reduced price of $7 with any college i.d. Tickets for this event are on sale in the cafeteria. Those interested can also see any WYBF staff member for tickets.

Dodgeball There will be an open-gym session of dodgeball on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Students are invited to stop in, form teams and play; this event will begin at 9:30 p.m. and continue until 11 p.m in the Dixon Center. For more information please contact Orlin Jespersen at (610) 225-3909.

Rock climbing Those interested in rock climbing are invited to learn the basics by taking a trip to the Philadelphia Rock Gym on Wednesday, Dec. 13 and Thursday, Dec. 14. The physical challenge is scheduled to last from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. All equipment, shoes, chalk etc. will be provided; those interested in attending are reminded to check the Cabrini shuttle for departure/pick-up times and to wear comfortable clothing. For more information please contact Orlin Jespersen at (610) 225-3909.

Poster sale As the campus community resumes their routine, on Tuesday, Jan. 16 there will be a poster sale held in Jazzman’s. This sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information please contact Ashley Shoenfelt at (610) 902-8461 or via e-mail at als732@cabrini.edu.

Texas Hold ‘Em On Friday, Jan. 19, there will be a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament held in the Grace Hall Atrium. Students will be able to compete against one another from 8 p.m. until 12 a.m. For more information please contact Ashley Shoenfelt at (610) 9028461 or via e-mail at als732@cabrini.edu.

Big prize bingo The office of student activities is once again hosting their night of big prize bingo in Jazzman’s. This game will be held on Monday, Jan. 22 at 9 p.m. For more information regarding this event please contact Ashley Shoenfelt at (610) 902-8461 or via e-mail at als732@cabrini.edu.

Sophomore guard/forward Melissa Benedetti defends Chestnut Hill freshman forward Katelin Formica.

DAN SQUIRE/PHOTO EDITOR