a g u y a C THE
Collegian
www.cayugacollegian.com
Vol. 57 Issue 2
September 15, 2008
FRESHMAN: Time for a Horse and Buggy
Need Classroom Etiquette Tips? By Andy Brown, Assistant Editor Coming to a new school as a Frosh is a big adjustment. It can be hard to convert your classroom habits to the liking of your new teachers. It can be hard because you’re in a totally new environment than what you’re used to. You don’t know the teachers. You don’t know their likes, their dislikes. How far can you push them until you get kicked out? How do you get on their good
side without kissing tush too much? There are some good tips on how to emulate the “perfect” student. First of all Cayuga students, read the student handbook and follow that. Sounds boring, but it turns out to be very helpful. Usually most of the things you’re doing wrong are explained in the handbook. Take it from Dave Rowe, a Cayuga professor in the Telecommunications Department. “When you’re in class don’t forget you’re there to learn,” explains Rowe. “Raise your hand and try hard not to interrupt the professor.” It sounds easy, but when you have an idea that you want to say, it’s hard not to speak out in the cool classroom environments that Cayuga has. Also a tip that sounds obvious but happens a lot, Mary Merritt, also a professor in the Telcom Department, explains the use of electronics in class. “Make sure all listening devices are out of your ears upon entering class. Whether the device is on or not, they shouldn’t be in. Also, eating and drinking is a touchy subject, some professors allow it, but I would just refrain from it altogether.” Don Fama, who is a retired Math Professor who still does some parttime teaching, explains his tips in three easy ways. “First of all, you have to be on-time. Second, you have to be prepared to ask questions, conversely, also answer questions. And last, have your assignments done.”
CCC: Surprise for Freshmen By Natasha King, Editor-in-chief
Starting school can be crazy. Especially if you are new to the school. Whether you are moving to a different school for the same grade or moving up to college from high school, it can seem overwhelming either way. However, there are so many differences between college and high school that could possibly make it seem as if it would be harder to adjust, but chances are they will only make the transition easier. “In high school you have to take the same classes, but in college you can choose your own courses,” says Tamara DeLaCruz, incoming freshman from John V. Lindsay High School, and a Criminal Justice major at CCC. “Everyone is so nice, there are no problems, and everyone speaks to one another,” she continued. College can also seem impossible because of some of the courses you may have heard about through other students. But DeLaCruz thinks otherwise. “The workload is bearable
because you can get help and the teachers aren’t as strict as I thought they would be, and they help you.” says DeLaCruz. As for the food? “I have not eaten our food yet.” DeLaCruz said with a laugh. “But I’ve heard that it is good, but expensive!” Even if you are transferring from another college, it can still seem difficult because you are not used to the way things work at that college. “This course work is a little easier and the campus is much smaller..” Said transfer student Jess Lynn. She transferred to Cayuga from Cedarville University in Ohio. “It’s definitely small, and the people are friendly and helpful.” Lynn stated. The college has seemed to have adopted the name “FSU,” or “Franklin Street University.” But, that doesn’t affect the student body’s choice in choosing to come here to further their education. DeLaCruz says, there are “a lot of choices here, why not come here?”
By Kenny Alnutt, Staff Writer
$4.62 a gallon? On June 30th, 2008 that could have most likely been the words coming out of every American citizen’s mouth that owned an automobile. Fuel prices have been soaring the past couple of years, bouncing up and down, digging deeper and deeper into the American pocket. Recorded on July 11th, 2008 fuel was at its highest ever on record at $147.27 a barrel. Talk to any gas station attendant and they will tell you the same thing “its an everyday task to change the prices on those boards and its starting to hurt my feelings to tell people they have to pay that much to go to work everyday,” says Mobil Express Marts Ruth Plucinik, who has been working as a gas station attendant for a number of years now and has seen the rise and fall of the fuel prices first hand. Now, it’s September and fuel is at a five month low. Coming in at $106.23 a barrel, its got a lot of people rushing to fill up their tanks before the price goes back up. At the beginning of the summer analysts said that by the end of 2008, fuel would rise to over $5 a gallon. As of September 5th the prices of fuel are down, and pockets are filling back up, but those same analysts are still predicting the same climb in prices by the end of the year. 1.6 to 3.1 percent; that’s how much fueleconomy.gov reports the demand for gasoline is down from last year. Since these high prices for gasoline, a lot of people are “going green” and getting more fuel efficient vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, the highest rated economic car on the market. At 48 MPG in the city you can’t go wrong with one of those. The same could not be said about the
most dreamt about car in the world, the Lamborghini Murcielago. Rated dead last at 8 MPG city and 13 hwy, that would not be the smartest choice in today’s world if you want to
compete with “green cars”. Green Cars are cars with lower emissions and higher gas mileages, pretty much conserving on gas and helping the air quality. Some citizens are also turning to motorcycles to save them money, some of which can get up to 60 miles to the gallon. Travelers are feeling it as well. With ticket prices going up, its forcing families to cancel vacations, and companies post-pone that business trip that the boss wants you to take to make the company more money, but can’t send you because he can’t afford to make that money! Whether you’re rich or poor, famous or just an average Joe trying to get back and forth to school and/ or work, saving money at the pump has got to be the number one thing on your mind. If it’s not, and your pockets are empty, take a step back and look at your odometer and your gas gauge and think about it.