THE WHIT
Stacy Jones Editor-in-Chief Amelia Thatcher Managing Editor Nicole Reagan News Editor Brittney Slovak Features Editor Bobbi Lee Hitchon A&E Editor Cody Chrusciel Sports Editor Alexandra Harcharek Photo Editor Dan Marsicano Copy Editor John Gurbisz Assistant Copy Editor Eileen Cox Advertising Manager Emily Kostic Web Editor Matt Goold Graphics Assistant George Clark Adviser
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Established in 1938, The Whit is Rowan University’s student-run newspaper.
All opinions and/or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. All letters to the editor are subject to editing for explicit content and length. It is the policy of The Whit not to print anonymous letters to the editor. Letters can be submitted at www.thewhitonline.com or emailed to editor@thewhitonline.com
Lock changes troubling
Whether you are a commuter or a resident on campus, one of the first things you do when you leave home for the day and one of the last things you do before you fall asleep is lock your doors. If you’re a resident of Mullica Hall, you now can’t. When the locks to the bathrooms in Mullica Hall were changed on Sunday night, it opened the door to potential vandalism, theft and lack of privacy. Mullica Hall, which currently houses suites with two dorm rooms joined by a bathroom, used to have locks on their bathroom doors that would lock from the inside of a particular dorm room. However, on Sunday night, the locks were changed, so that the doors can only be locked from the inside of the bathroom, leaving it possible for residents of Mullica Hall to walk freely into their neighbors’ room. When security is consistently a recurring issue on campus, it’s impossible to understand the logic behind this change. Proponents of this change state that locking the doors from each dorm room left it possible for residents to become locked in their windowless bathroom, which is an obvious fire safety hazard. However, one must remember how unlikely it is that one could be locked in his or her bathroom. Only two such cases occurred in Mullica Hall so far this semester. Don’t want to get locked in the bathroom? Next time you go to the toilet, make a little announcement such as, “Hey roomie, going to be in here for a bit!” You’d be surprised that such a little statement can stop your roommate from accidentally doing the oh-so-dreaded deed of locking you in there. Perhaps informing the residents of Mullica Hall of valuable tips to avoid getting locked in the bathroom would have been a more logical course of action than giving their neighbors access to their rooms. As a result of these changes, The Whit would find it none too surprising if the spring semester brings an increase in stolen valuables from dorm rooms in Mullica Hall. Imagine knowing that two strangers, in addition to whomever they allow in their room, have access to your room when you’re sleeping, when you’re in class, when they know that you are home for the weekend. It’s an extremely frightening proposition and Rowan University essentially handed them that opportunity.
The Whit would like to wish everyone a successful and mentally sound finals week. Trust us, we’re feeling the crunch too. And, once all of the chaos from exams has settled, we hope you find your way home safely and enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones. See you in 2009.
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DECEMBER 11, 2008 On TheWhitOnline.com:
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– Jonathan Miller Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner
Rowan’s fall 2008 semester has been one to remember, according to Hays By Julia Hays ith one week left in the semester before holiday break, this is a hectic time for students studying for exams, finishing term papers and trying to keep a bit of sanity intact. But before we leave Rowan University, some until next semester, and some graduating and moving on forever, let’s revisit what may have been one of the most noteworthy semesters of our college careers. We had the opportunity to witness what was deemed by many to be one of the most historic presidential elections in American history. Yes, it did seem to go on for quite some time, with pundits making accusations, campaign aides bickering and a slew of political ads dominating the airwaves, but the results gave us all reason to pause. No matter what our political affiliations, we can all agree that to see
A Rowan student asks why Camden has to be the butt of crime jokes in a Letter to the Editor
Holidays are an expensive trial of strength. The only satisfaction comes from survival.
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an election where members of different genders and races were competitive candidates, given tough questions and scrutiny for their policies, rather than their identities, was a huge step forward for this nation. This is a country whose roots were once deeply seeded in discrimination, and ever since our declaration of independence and commitment to democracy, we have strived to deliver the equality guaranteed and deserved by all citizens. It is startling to remember that it’s been merely a few decades since the Jim Crow laws,
remnants of the Civil War, were finally abolished. Many of us may have had grandmothers or great-grandmothers that did not have the ability to vote. Now they can see their granddaughters vote and run for office. Our nation truly has come a long way, and we must continue to do what all we can to ensure that all citizens, of any race, gender, religion or sexual orientation, are provided equal rights and the opportunity to pursue their own paths to happiness. We face challenges ahead. These are difficult economic times, which leave many of us college students worried about our futures. How to obtain employment, decent wages, health insurance and benefits, and pay off school loans are all significant worries. But I encourage each of you: rather than worrying during finals week, take a breath, do
your best, and head home for the holidays. And as you gather with your family and friends to take some time from the stress of classes, think back to what it is that you just witnessed. Our nation can indeed change. For what was once considered impossible has been proven possible. Where minorities were once told they could never succeed, they, and we, have demonstrated that America can change and grow and become better than it once was. Yes, we face challenges in the coming months, but these challenges provide us with the ability to show that this nation is still that great nation, which enjoys the freedom that some can only dream of. There’s no better example of good will during the holiday season than the pride in knowing that our best days are yet to come, and that we will make it happen. Have a safe and happy holiday season, and a wonderful New Year. Julia Hays is a journalism major with a minor in Spanish and an Internat’l. Relations concentration. She also reports parttime for the CourierPost in Cherry Hill, NJ.
OPINION
DECEMBER 11, 2008 W W W
he said, she said Responding to: “Vandalism, theft plagues Wilson hall” “I agree that the building could be patrolled better: It’s cavernous, bizarrely laid out and very hard to easily know what’s going on, even nearby (Especially in the practice rooms and their 3 parallel halways). The best thing there would probably be more people patrolling, possibly even design the patrol so one person (from Security) would always be in the building during the later times when the music majors are a-practicing.” I know that the building is very convenient to the engineers who are going to their housing at the south end of campus, or the Student Center: It’s a warm building you can cut through on cold nights (and days!). As to Professor Rawlins’ remark about the students knowing ways of getting in the building without a key: unsurprisingly, every building is like that. We’re students; we find out these things when we have to spend that much time in our buildings! One last thing: Are there maintenance staff in the building after it’s closed? Can they be checked (Or at least suspected equally with some hypothetical student with ill-will towards music majors)?” – “Lurking student” •••
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The following are unedited excerpts from readers’ online comments about stories published on The Whit’s Web edition. To read more comments or write your own, visit thewhitonline.com.
Responding to: “Questions raised about Iceland conference” “conferences can be vital to inter- and intra-disciplinary communication,(and perhaps affilation or other forms of cooperation), however, insofar attendance and presentaiton of papers are aspects of the retention and tenure process, academics ought not to be so quick to claim reimbursement as an entitlement...institutions ought to fund travel and accomodations within their means for as many of their faculty as they can, but it is not, in other words, fall outside the demands of career development to expect faculty to pay all or part of their expenses when those interests are a priority.” – “h.c. ecco” ••• Responding to: “Twilight pleases box office, disappoints readers”
PHOTO POLL Poll and photos by
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What, besides some lovin’, can you give as a budget-friendly gift this holiday season?
“Cookies.” Amanda Schnur
Elementary Ed.
“Forgotten, I think you underestimate the movie, and it’s fans. It’s nice to see a movie that has a story and doesn’t need a whole bunch of special effects to cover up for bad writing. I hope the next one is better, longer so that they can tell more of the story, but I hope they don’t CGI us out of the theater, and they won’t if Catherine stays.” – “Ella”
“Artwork.” Bridgette McMahon
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Graphic Design
“Pajamas.” Miracle Pygen
Law & Justice
Across
1- Cloudlike mass 4- Basics 8- Cutting edges 14- Lennon's lady 15- Bridges of Hollywood 16- Orange zircon 17- T.G.I.F. part 18- Cave dwellers 19- Point in a direction 20- Province in W Canada 23- Mayberry moppet 24- Thick-skinned charger 25- Touch lightly 28- Kathmandu resident 30- Guess 33- One who carries out a death sentence 36- Extra-terrestrial being 40- Sheet music abbr. 41- At right angles to the keel 42- Component 45- Noxious 46- Medical
Crossword puzzle provided courtesy of Bestcrosswords.com. Sudoku puzzle provided courtesy of Sudokupuzz.com. 51525556-
CPR specialist Fork Decline Scientific recording of earthquakes 59- Prima ballerina 62- Donkey cry 63- Sidekick 64- Three lines of verse 65- Green land 66- "Xanadu" band 67- Passionate 68- X-ray units 69- Dusk, to Donne
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Plenty Recorded Idle talk "Dancing Queen" quartet 5- Netherlands queen 6- Trap
7- Japanese dish 8- Tire rupture 9- Old Italian money 10- Not fer 11- Expected 12- East ender? 13- Become firm 21- New Zealand parrot 22- Guarantee 25- Yearn deeply 26- On the main 27- Division of a school year 29- Slow, musically 31- Lasso 32- Crowd 34- Diners 35- French vineyard 36- Skin disorder 37- Apparatus for weaving 38- Monogram ltr. 39- Pothook shape 43- Irreverence 44- Stingy person
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Defunct airline Strong snuff Breathe in Former name of Sri Lanka 53- Old card game 54- Water wheel 56- Director Vittorio De ___ 57- K-6 58- Some whiskeys 59- Aliens, for short 60- Hanoi holiday 61- Metal-bearing mineral;
“A homemade coupon book.” Zack Rosica
Phys. Ed.
“Homemade ornaments.” Jenna Ings
Undeclared
Solution on page 12
Tell us about your cheap and cheerful holiday gifts of choice at www.thewhitonline.com.