Stall 9-30-10

September 30, 2010Vol. CXXVII, Issue 1

T H E S T U D E N T N E W S P A P E R O F B R O O K D A L E C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E

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Comedic DateComedic DatePage....2Page....2

NYC Mosque DebateNYC Mosque DebatePage....8Page....8

Tennis LadiesTennis LadiesPage....15Page....15

By Katherine Kim

As Brookdale welcomes

students to yet another

academic year, i t also

opens a brand-new

fitness center.

As written in the

membership package, the

mission of the f i tness

center : “Is to provide a

safe and friendly workout

enviroment, supported by

professional services that

promote life long health

and wellness.”

But for many students,

the issue is the center’s

cost. Currently, fees,

ranging from $10 a day to

$200 a year, are required

for anyone who enters the

fitness center.

Many students have

expressed surprise that

membership to the fitness

center is not free for all

students.

The new center is a

great improvement from

the original.

“The original f i tness

center was supposed to

be a temporary ‘swing

space’ until either a new

facility was established or

a remodeling was done.

Unfortunately we stayed

there for about 10 years;”

according to Fitness

Center Supervisor Joyce

Cosentino, “This is a great

improvement. It’s clean,

and it provides more

space for more activities

for our members and

students.”

Students and faculty must

pay a membership fee for

use of the center.

Students taking fitness

courses cover their

membership fee through

their tuition and may enter

at any time during hours

of operation using their

“keycards” to sign in,

according to Cosentino.

“Compared to other

gyms, this is cheaper,”

theater arts major Alexis

Gorensten, 18, from

Malboro said.

But why should students

pay a membership fee?

“The fees contribute

towards the school debt,”

Consentino said .

Made to “provide ample

space and opportunities

for students,” the fitness

complex, according to

Director of Athletics Frank

Lawrence, cost a total of

$22.8 million to build.

The fitness complex

includes the fitness and

recreational centers, and

the Collins Arena, which

is currently being

remodeled.

The school funded the

$22.8 Mil l ion project

through three sources;

reserved revenue funds,

the Chapter 12 Capital

State Fund Program, and

government county

bonds, Consentino and

Lawrence said.

See Fitness Fees page 11.

New Fitness Center Fee Future Uncertain

Smoking Ban Going ForwardBy Charles W. Kim

Smokers on campus

may be taking their last

drags this semester.

“This is a transitional

moment (for Brookdale),”

President Peter F.

Burnham said during a

telephone interview Sept.

24. “We are implementing

(smoking) cessation

plans immediately.”

Burnham made his

proposal to eliminate

smoking on all seven

campuses to the Board of

Trustees during a special

meeting later in the day.

The board is expected to

approve the ban during

its regularly scheduled

meeting Oct. 14.

“I felt the issue was

debated,” Burnham said.

The college’s student

Governance board

narrowly approved a

smoking ban in the spring

during a meeting that

most faculty members did

not attend due to a union

meeting taking place at

the same time.

Once approved, the

recommendation went to

Burnham to act on.

See Smoking Ban page11.

Alex Hogger photoSmokers in the SLC gazebo may not have long to enjoy their habit once a proposed ban isapproved.

Thomas A.L. Martino PhotoChris Sullivano, a 19-year old business major from Howell,works out in the fitness center Sept. 28.

By Charles W. Kim

Attending a school-

sponsored comedy show

turned out to be a great

date for one Brookdale

couple.

“We figured it would be

a great thing to do, and it

could be fun,” said 26-

year old Stephanie

Rosseter of Tinton Falls

who is coming back to

school for her elementary

teaching certificate.

Rosseter and boyfriend

Dan Farnkopf, 25, a first-

semester criminal justice

major from Brick joined

almost 200 others in the

Navesink room of the

Warner Student Life

Center Sept. 14 to hear

comedian and television

celebrity Dave Coulier.

Coulier is most

remembered as “Joey”

from the ABC television

series “Full House” which

ran from 1987-1995. The

show featured a widowed

sportscaster, played by

comedian Bob Saget that

invites his best friend and

brother-in-law to live with

both him and his three

daughters, according to

the International Movie

Database website.

“My jokes are timed-

released,” Coulier said

after taking the stage.

“You will get them after

the show.”

Coulier’s show poked

fun at a couple members

of the audience as well as

his own family, making

jokes about his parents

and his child-raising skills

in talking to his son.

“I was too much of a

comedian (talking to him

about sex),” Coulier said

describing one exchange

between them.

Coulier also poked fun

at a variety of topics from

going through the airport

to the naming of

hurricanes.

“Hurricanes should have

scarier names,” Coulier

said. “Like Maximus.”

In addition, the celebrity

combined jokes with

playing a harmonica

during his performance.

The show, which lasted

for more than an hour,

was sponsored by the

Student Life Board and

was part of “Are You

Ready for Primetime”

Welcome Back Week

festivities. Those events

included a student

involvement fair, barbeque

and sports event featuring

the new $40 million gym

and fitness center.

Earl ier in the day,

students were treated to a

karaoke event in the

Martin Luther King Jr.

lounge with “Saved by the

Bell” cast member Dennis

Haskins who played

Principal Belding.

“It is a pretty good

turnout,” Student Life

Board member John

O’Donnell said. “We went

old school with a 1990s

feel.”

O’Donnell, 19, a second-

semester criminal justice

major said the popular

week-long program was

designed to bring in “more

high quality acts” for the

students to get them

involved.

“These are the things

people want to see,”

O’Donnell said.

The event was certainly

popular for the couple that

admitted being huge “Full

House” fans.

“I never knew he did

stand-up (comedy),” said

Farnkopf, who recently

transferred to Brookdale,

following the performance.

“I used to watch the show

all the time.”

Farnkopf said he was

surprised Coulier would

play a smaller venue like

a community college.

His girlfriend Rosseter,

who already holds a

bachelor ’s degree in

business from New Jersey

City University and hopes

to someday teach social

studies, also said she was

a big fan of the television

show and started

watching the show when

she was only 9 years old.

“This was excellent!”

Rosseter said. “It was a

nice break and he made

me laugh.”

The couple, who said

they have been dating for

more than a year and a

half, then, stood in line to

meet Coulier and have

their picture taken with

him.

Even though they were

armed with paper and

pen, Farnkopf forgot to

ask Coulier for an

autograph after their

photo with the celebrity

was snapped.

Fellow fan and student

Becca Farina, 19, a third-

semester business major

from Manasquan did not

forget to get his signature

on a special house-

shaped box set of the

series on DVD.

“I’m obsessed with “Full

House,” Farina said as

she waited in line.

Coulier took the attention

all in stride, even taking a

moment to speak on a cell

phone with a fan that

could not attend the

event.


2 September 30, 2010

The StallBrookdale Community College

765 Newman Springs Road

Lincroft, New Jersey 07738

Telephone (732) 224-2266

Editor-In-Chief

Brian Harris

Layout Editor

Charles W. Kim

Graphic Designer

Tim Tim Hart

Cartoonist

Alex Hogger

Contributing

Writers/Photographers

Mary BrienzaRaven Halliwell

Dane HodgeKatherine KimMatthew Klein

Thomas A.L. MartinoAlec Moran

Paul Williams

Faculty Adviser

Debbie Mura

Charles W. Kim PhotoComedian and television celebrity Dave Coulier poses with student couple Dan Farnkopf andStephanie Rosseter following his show Sept. 14.

Comedian Makes Great Date Night

Charles W. Kim PhotoComedian Dave Coulier speaks with the daughter of one of theSept. 14 show attendees.


3September 30, 2010

By Charles W. Kim

After fighting cancer for

several months, college

President Peter F.

Burnham is back at the

helm of the school and

“doing great.”

“(The experience) was a

wakeup call,” Burnham,

66, said during a

telephone interview Sept.

24. “I was very lucky.”

Burnham said he was

diagnosed with cancer

after his primary doctor of

more than 20 years found

a growth on his tongue

during a routine check up

last October.

A biopsy taken shortly

thereafter confirmed the

worst, the growth was

malignant.

“It was very frightening,”

Burnham said. “You are

asking, ‘Why me’?”

Doctors told Burnham

the cause was l ikely a

combination of a genetic

pre-disposition to cancer

and a history of smoking

cigarettes, even though

he quit the habit 24 years

ago.

“I used to smoke two

packs a day,” Burnham

said.

Burnham said the

diagnosis started him on a

5- to 6-week surreal

odyssey where he

researched his condition

and the forms of

treatment available.

“There are about 10

mil l ion people in the

country (right now) with

cancer,” Burnham said.

“About one out of every

three people will develop

cancer (in their lifetimes).”

He eventually decided to

be treated at the

Abramson Cancer Center

of the University of

Pennsylvania located in

Philadelphia.

The center is one of only

39 in the nation to hold a

Comprehensive Cancer

Center designation from

the National Cancer

Institute, according to the

center ’s Internet site.

According to its site, the

center sees more than

70,000 outpatient visits

each year, 33,000

chemotherapy treatments

and more than 66,000

radiation treatments.

“I had a 7:15 a.m.

standing appointment

every day,” Burnham said.

“I had to discipline myself

to get in the car, through

all kinds of weather, and

go to the treatments.”

Like many other cancer

patients, Burnham talked

about the difficulties of

both radiation and

chemotherapy treatments

that became a large part

of his daily routine.

“You had to wear a mask

(for radiation) that would

keep your head perfectly

still,” Burnham said.

Burnham said he

dropped 40 pounds during

the treatments because

he had trouble eating

when the radiation

damaged his taste buds.

“Food tasted horrible,

like cardboard,” Burnham

said. “It was very

depressing watching

yourself shrinking away in

the mirror.”

Burnham said he used a

feeding tube, going

directly into his stomach,

three times a day for two

months in order to take in

the proper nourishment.

He said he feared using

the tube too long would

allow his throat muscles

to atrophy and he would

have to learn how to

swallow all over again.

“You have to have your

own head on your

shoulders and commit to

the treatment,” Burnham

said. “I saw a lot of people

(in treatment) who lost

hope.”

A large outpouring of

support from Burnham’s

family, fr iends and

especially colleagues both

at Brookdale and in the

Middlestates Commission

of Higher Education

where he served as

chairman unti l i l lness

forced his resignation,

helped him through the

tough times.

The regional

accreditation group, which

serves more than 500

institutions in the Mid-

Atlantic States as well as

Puerto Rico, sent

Burnham more than 500

cards wishing him well in

addit ion to cards and

letters from the Brookdale

community.

“It bowled me over

(getting that kind of

support),” Burnham said.

Burnham says he is

currently cancer-free and

is hoping that a

comprehensive six-month

exam coming up soon will

confirm the fact, even

though he is admittingly a

bit nervous.

“You see people who are

there (in treatment for

cancer) for the second or

third time,” Burnham said.

“It is on your mind.”

His recovery also had

some very good

moments, according to

Burnham, such as the day

last spring when he could

start to taste food again.

“The taste buds grow

back,” Burnham said. “It

was amazing (tasting

food) again.”

Rediscovering the joy of

food has led Burnham in a

search for spicy, greasy

foods featuring various

ethnic cuisines.

The whole experience

and being away from the

daily pressures of the

college with its $125

million annual operating

budget during the six

months he was battling

the disease did produce a

bright note for the career

educator.

“This is a high-burnout

job, and I was beginning

to wonder (before the

cancer) i f this was

something I wanted to do

for the rest of my life,”

Burnham said. “I was on

the fence.”

The hiatus, however, re-

energized Burnham, and

he is now “10 times more

aggressive” in carrying

out his duties as the head

of the college.

“It became very clear

that I missed (my work) a

lot,” Burnham said. “I am

getting stronger as the

weeks go by.”

A Presidential Cancer Victory

BCC photoCollege President Peter F. Burnham is back running the school after battling cancer for severalmonths.



All items in the police blotter are taken from the officialreport by the Chief of Police to the Monmouth CountyProsecutor ’s Office. All suspects are presumedinnocent until proven guilty in court.

Campus Police responded to 455 calls for service

during July, including two motor vehicle accidents, five

first-aid calls, two fire alarms, one criminal mischief

complaint and one arrest.

July 6 Police arrested a non-Brookdale student for

trespassing after repeatedly f inding them in

unauthorized computer rooms.

July 7 A vehicle parked in lot No. 2 reportedly had the

rear driver’s side window broken sometime between 8

a.m. and 4 p.m.

July 21 Secretary Kochman attended the

Performance Recognition Program for the PSA in the

Student Life Center.

July 31 Police provided security for a flea market held

in parking lot No. 3.

Campus Police BlotterBy Thomas A.L. Martino

An unidentified 18-year

old man miraculously

survived a 40-foot fal l

from the MAS building

roof Sept. 1, according to

police.

“A couple auto-tech

employees found him

sitting on a curb (near the

path by the auto-

technology buildings),”

Chief of Police William

Sanford said. “He was

bloody and obviously

injured.”

Two off icers were

dispatched to the scene at

6:18 p.m. and found the

victim incoherent, but

alive.

Sanford said the man’s

name and a report of the

incident would not be

released, but that he was

not a student at the

college.

While the victim was

“apprehensive” in telling

police why or how he

became injured, an

investigation by the

officers determined the

man used a ladder inside

the MAS building to gain

access to the roof,

Sanford said.

He then either fell, or

jumped from the point

where the MAS and auto

technology building roofs

meet plunging an

estimated 40 feet to the

ground below.

“(After the fall) he was

able to recover and crawl

up the hil l to the curb

where he was found,”

Sanford said. “He had

blood all over his face and

shirt.”

Paramedics transported

the victim to Jersey Shore

University Medical Center

in Neptune.

Sanford said he believes

the victim was treated and

released from the hospital

a few days later and did

not know any further

details about his

condition.

Police do not know if

alcohol or drugs were

involved in the incident

and are not pursuing any

criminal charges in the

case, Sanford said.

“Once we found out

there was no criminal

activity involved, we are

pretty much out of the

situation,” Sanford said.

While not a common

occurrence at the school,

Sanford said employees

were working to make

sure such access to

potential ly dangerous

areas more secure to

prevent others from doing

the same thing.

During the 35 years the

college has been

operating, Sanford said

he could only remember a

couple similar incidents.

Man Survives 40-Foot Fall


5September 30, 2010

President Welcomes PTK National Honor Society

Brookdale Community College president Dr. Peter Burnham welcomed Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) students and their faculty advisor, Dr Shahin

Pirzad, at a luncheon reception in the President’s office Sept. 14.

From left to right are: Dr Pirzad, Colleen Roberts, Danielle Sammut, Marissa Brodzick, Ashley Bonefont, Michael Geraci, Sarah Sakowski

and Dr Burnham.

PTK is a national honor society/service organization that recognizes achievement among two-year college students who have a GPA of 3.7 or

higher.

Alpha Pi Theta, the Brookdale PTK chapter, with over 100 active members, is concerned not only with academic achievement, but

encourages the four Phi Theta Kappa hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship through club-sponsored activities and

programs including, regional/national workshops and conferences.

Portal To Make Online Experience BetterBy Charles W. Kim

Students will have a new

and easier way to find the

online information they

need starting Oct. 4,

according to officials.

The college has

designed a new web

“portal” that wil l al low

students, staff and faculty

to log into the system

once and be able to

access many different

applications such as

Gmail, Webadvisor and

the Angel learning

system, Information

Technology Services

Executive Director Patty

Kahn said.

“The institution needed

something badly,” Kahn

said. “There are so many

various usernames and

passwords (used now to

access different

features).”

As of Monday, students

will sign up for a single

“net id” account that will

let them into several

different applications to

get the most up-to-date

information on events,

classes, scheduling and

others, Kahn said.

“(The portal) will open

doors to lots of things,”

Kahn said. “We really

hope (using) it takes off.”

While students will not

be able to use the system

until Monday, faculty and

staff have been using it

since August in what

Kahn termed a “soft

launch” to work out the

bugs.

Technically, the new

venture relies on an

“active directory,” which

ties together all of the

information the college

has online relating to

many different areas.

The directory will serve

as a master database so

the various applications

can be integrated and

display proper information

to users based on their

associated roles, Kahn

said.

In addition to the regular

features like Gmail and

Webadvisor, the new

system allows for users to

create profi les, use an

instant messaging client

among friends, post to

blogs and user-created

knowledge bases known

as “wikis,” Kahn said.

Teams of faculty, students

and staff have worked on

the design and integration

of the new system for

about a year, Kahn said.

“It is vitally important that

students create their net

id account,” Kahn said.

In order to smooth the

process, there wil l be

training for students, Kahn

said

Thirty-minute sessions

are being today and

tomorrow to show

students how to set up an

account, Kahn said.

Information Technology

Department will also be

available to help train

students after the Oct. 4

launch, Kahn said.

“We are trying to hit all

avenues (to help students

use the portal),” Kahn

said.

Students who would like

to set up an appointment

for one of the training

sessions should contact

Michelle Branagan at

(732) 224-2088 or send

an e-mail to her at

mbranagan@brookdalecc.

edu.

BCC photoThe much awaited portal for Brookdale is scheduled to go livenext week.

On Oct 14, the Board of

Trustees is expected to

approve the ban of

smoking at all Brookdale

campuses January 1,

2011.

The only place that you

will be allowed to smoke

on any and all Brookdale

property in in your car.

The usual path that is

taken when it comes to

making any changes in

BCC policy involves at the

very least a year-long

study that is done by a

G o v e r n a n c e - c h o s e n

committee which looks at

every single facet of the

proposed idea.

In the case of the

proposed smoking ban,

the study only lasted for a

single semester and still

went through even though

on the same day when

G o v e r n a n c e w a s

scheduled to vote on the

smoking ban proposal,

there was also a teacher’s

union meeting scheduled

at the exact same time so

the turnout at Governance

was quite sparse.

Even with the low turnout

at the meeting, any and all

attempts to table or put off

the vote unti l the next

forum were squashed.

So the proposal was

passed, even though a

Student Life Board-

sponsored survey showed

that the majority of people

here at BCC prefer to

have the current smoking

policy currently in place

instead of an actual ban.

What was evident

throughout this whole

process was not only the

complete and utter

disregard for the process

in which decisions like this

are made but the

brazenness in which

certain members of

administration showed

students in their

successful railroading of

the ban through the

system.

It left a bad taste in many

people’s mouths and as

we get closer to Jan 1,

these people will see just

how unsettl ing their

actions were.



Editorial-Smoking Ban Policy Change: Too Fast, Too Furious

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7September 30, 2010

“As a former university employee

in lower Manhattan, I understand

the need for centers like that for

religious organizations. Based on

the location, I don’t have a

problem with it. They have every

right to build at the site there.”

Allison Fitzpatrick

A 31 year old administrator working as the

director of the Northern Monmouth Hiring Center

in Hazlet

“I don’t think that they should. It should be

more of remembrance to the people who lost

their lives there than a mosque. It is not

respecting the people who died there.”

Meghan Andrieu

A 31-year-old, first-semester radiological

technology major from Brielle

“No. How are you going to

build a building (like that

near) one that was torn down

by Muslims and the people

who hit the twin towers? On

the other hand, there are

different kinds of Muslims.”

Thomas Gadson

An 18-year old, third-semester nursing

major from Neptune

“I honestly don’t care. It

doesn’t really affect me

at all as long as I can

take my classes and do

what I have to. I’m

neutral.”

Jeremy Browne

An 18-year-old first-semester

business major from Middletown

“Absolutely not. I don’t support the whole

Muslim thing. The whole Sept. 11 (memorial)

should stay there forever. I think it is going to

start a huge riot. Personally, I am not racist,

but I don’t support the whole Muslim thing,”

Dylan Thieo

A 19-year-old, first-semester criminal

justice major from Middletown

Talking HeadsShould the Park 51 organization build a community center and mosque two blocks

from Ground Zero in New York?By Charles W. Kim

Student Life Board Elects New Officers Sept. 27 By Alec Moran

A number of executive

absences within the

Student Life Board

prompted an emergency

election process this last

Monday Sept. 27. Vivian

Sarayasik and Kim Klipper

both ran for the open sec-

retary position.

The Student Life Board

secretary is in charge of

recording what occurs

during general meetings,

keeps track of SLB corre-

spondence, and is chair of

public relations for the

board.

Both candidates possess

strong qualities, excellent

organization, and have

similar vision for market-

ing the Student Life

Board.

Kim spoke of her leader-

ship experience working

at a children’s camp this

past summer and as a

Brookdale cheerleader

while Vivian pointed to her

abundant leadership

experience serving on her

High School’s student

government. After much

debate, Klipper was cho-

sen to be the new SLB

Secretary.

She is excited to estab-

lish a public relations com-

mittee and also to

strengthen the bond

between Student Life and

Activities and the Athletic

Department.

John O’Donnell and

Michelle Marino both ran

for the vacant parliamen-

tarian position.


parl iamentarian helps

keep track of club paper-

work, keep order in SLB

meetings, and also serves

as an outlet for al l stu-

dents who have an issue

at Brookdale Community

College.

O’Donnell, who has been

a part of the SLB since the

Spring 2010 semester,

outl ined his desire to

increase communication

between clubs.

Michelle Marino, also a

member since the Spring,

has already shown great

leadership skill in reach-

ing out to clubs such as

EOFSA and volunteering

during “Library Day.”

Debate again fol lowed

and a near unanimous

decision was made to

appoint Marino as parlia-

mentarian.

Michelle is excited with

the challenge of bridging

the communication gap

between clubs and stu-

dents as she plans to

work hard to be success-

ful with her new position.

She will chair the SCAB

committee which stands

for the Student Club

Advisory Board.

The SCAB committee

will be reviewing club pro-

posals and will also serve

as an outlet for student

advocacy.

Christopher Cummings

and Sascha Basista both

ran for the open Vice

President position. The

Vice President of the SLB

is in charge of al l pro-

gramming, oversees all

SLB committees, and

helps develop student

events in conjunction with

the board and the office of

Student Life and Activities.

Cummings, a member of

the board for over a year

now, has been huge sup-

porter of SLB activit ies

and has demonstrated

tremendous vision to help

lead the board in program-

ming and student advoca-

cy.

Cummings serves as a

student ambassador and

is also the Student

Steering Representative

for Brookdale’s College

Governance.

Cummings plans to use

his experience and per-

spective as an older mem-

ber of the board to reach

diverse constituencies at

the college.

Basista is a newcomer to

the board, having only

been a formal member for

the past three weeks.

He plans to make more

students aware of the

Student Life Board

because of his own expe-

rience learning about the

board in only his last

semester at Brookdale.

After heated discussion

and a near t ie vote,

Basista won the Vice

Presidential election.

He wil l immediately

establish a programming

committee.


is Brookdale’s version of

Student Government,

Programming Board and

finance committee.

All students at Brookdale

are welcome to attend

general meeting held

every Monday from 12-1

in SLC 110 or to partici-

pate in the many new

committees that are form-

ing. To find out how to join

or become part of a com-

mittee, visit room SLC 110

or email the Student Life

Board at slb@brook-

dalecc.edu.



By Brian Harris

“We cannot defendfreedom abroad bydeserting it at home.”Edward R. Murrow

Remember when we

were in elementary school

and every November we

would make hand turkeys

while our teachers told us

about the pilgrims and the

first Thanksgiving?

In between giving your

hand turkey a green body

with purple and blue feath-

ers, did you happen to

catch the reason why they

left England? In case you

don’t remember, here’s a

refresher: The Pilgrims

left England because of

religious persecution.

Now let’s fast forward to

May of this year, when two

organizations, the

Cordoba Project and the

American Society for

Muslim Advancement,

brought forth to the

Community Board of

Lower Manhattan their

plans for the building they

purchased, which hap-

pens to be located two

blocks from Ground Zero.

The plans call for a 15-

story community center

that would hold amongst

other things, space for

performances, swimming

pool, gym, and various

public spaces. This build-

ing would also have a

mosque.

As you could imagine, a

proverbial firestorm erupt-

ed nationwide. Everyone

from NYC Mayor Michael

Bloomberg to President

Obama to Sarah Palin and

every pundit, reverend

and politician from coast-

to-coast had to throw in

their two cents.

You had politicians turn-

ing this into yet another

left wing-right wing battle.

Protesters were call ing

this project a “victory

mosque” and a direct slap

in the face to not only the

people who lost loved

ones in the 9/11 tragedy

but to the entire country

as well.

Before we go any further,

I would never disparage

nor tr ivial ize anything

about what happened that

day. I remember watching

the news in chemistry

class as the constant

updates of the most vis-

cerals act of terror and evil

in my l i fetime flashed

before my 16-year-old

eyes, filling me, like every-

one else, with thoughts of

swift and merciless

vengeance.

However, I also realized

that this act of brutality

was the work of a few mis-

guided people, and not a

statement from the Islamic

people at large. That’s

why I never had a prob-

lem with the U.S. invading

Afghanistan, which is

where the terrorist organi-

zation al-Qaeda held the

country by the throat.

Al-Qaeda, l ike other

extremist groups in all

walks of life, takes a mes-

sage that is positive and

evilly twists it to fall along

with their misguided mes-

sage.

Unfairly, the media at

large for the most part has

made it seem to the

American public that the

acts of these despicable

people are a fair repre-

sentation of the Islamic

faith as a whole.

You’ve noticed that the

people who protest the

building of the mosque-

housing community center

are self-professed “proud

and loyal Americans.”

However, what these peo-

ple seem to forget as they

protest the mosque while

clutching the Constitution

and draping themselves in

Old Glory is that what they

would like to see happen,

the abandonment of the

project, is highly un-

American.

This country was found-

ed on the ideals of “life,

liberty and the pursuit of

happiness.”

As Americans, we all

have the right to express

our feelings, opinions and

beliefs. Whether its pro-

choice or pro-life, for or

against the war, atheist or

believer, as citizens we

have the freedom to

believe what we want.

What I’m trying to say

here is that we have to get

over the “AMERICA!!!

F**K YEAH!!!” sentiment

that permeates this coun-

try and realize that there

are more people in this

world than just us and that

they don’t necessary

believe in the “American

Jesus,” to borrow from a

Bad Religion song. What

these close-minded “patri-

ots” seem to forget is that

this country was based on

the idea of individual free-

dom and by saying that

this community center

can’t be built, they are

denying these people the

very rights that they are

granted by being

Americans.

I’m not saying that the

protesters don’t have the

right to protest. Just

because I don’t believe in

what they are saying,

doesn’t mean that they

can’t protest. I just want

them to realize what the

actual situation is. The

question is not “Should

they build it or not?” The

question is “Do they have

the right to?” and the

answer to that is yes.

Because if we deny them

their right to religious free-

dom, how can we go out

and be the “global free-

dom police” that America

fashions itself to be.

So I’ve got a message

for all of those “culture

warriors” or whatever you

call yourselves, instead of

having a death-grip on the

Constitution as you spit

out nonsense, try actually

reading it.

Tribecca.com photoPark 51 in lower Manhattan is the proposed site for a community center and mosque two blocksaway from Ground Zero.


9September 30, 2010



Continued from page 1.

A draft of the implemen-

tation plan, obtained by

the Stall, lists three major

areas to be addressed

both before and after the

ban goes into effect Jan.

1.

According to the docu-

ment, the school will begin

a massive communication

campaign to make every-

one aware of the ban,

start various programs to

help smokers quit and

finally to address enforce-

ment issues regarding

those who violate the poli-

cy.

Chief of Police William

Sanford said he is mainly

concerned with how the

new policy will affect the

manpower of his depart-

ment.

“It depends on compli-

ance,” Sanford said.

Sanford said his agency

could deal with the issue if

there were a small num-

ber of violators, but could

run into a logistical prob-

lem if the number of viola-

tors climbs into the hun-

dreds.

Currently, those who

smoke in non-designated

areas on campus can face

a disorderly persons

charge that is heard in

Middletown Municipal

Court and which does

appear on the individual’s

record.

Sanford said the new

policy may have an “inter-

nal” college enforcement

element, such as with-

holding a student’s tran-

script until a fine is paid to

the school for a violation.

The penalt ies would

increase up to the court

summons for repeat viola-

tors, according to Sanford.

Burnham, himself a for-

mer smoker and cancer

survivor said the issue has

been discussed numerous

times in the last 10 or so

years and it is time for the

college to move to a truly

smoke-free campus.

“I understand individual

rights,” Burnham said. “I

paid a heavy price (for

smoking), but this is not

my decision alone.”

Burnham said the

Governance Board could

“study the issue unti l

doomsday,” but in the end,

policy decisions are the

responsibil i ty of the

administration and the

Board of Trustees.

“They (Governance)

don’t make policy,”

Burnham said. “They cre-

ate a conversation and

dialogue about this.”

Burnham said he under-

stands the “challenges”

police will have enforcing

the ban, which restricts

smoking except for inside

an individual’s vehicle, but

feels the college will be

better off with the ban in

place.

Student Life Board

President Alec Moran said

that while he personally

does not smoke, he feels

the process by which the

recommendation moved

through the system was

wrong.

“While the issue was

aired (in the spring), there

was not enough time for

students to give their col-

lective input (to the

process),” Moran said

Sept. 28. “I’m not sup-

porting smoking, but I’m

not for marginalizing a

segment of the student

body (that does smoke).”

Moran said he hoped

administration would give

more time to future issues

that could have such a

large impact on the stu-

dent body.

“The 16,000 students

should have a voice (in

decisions) too,” Moran

said.


11September 30, 2010

Continued from page 1.

Director of Accounting

Elise Barocas confirmed.

“We took a bond for

$27.8 million, but only part

of that was used on the fit-

ness centers and arena,”

Barocas said , “We used it

for what we call the Big

Four.”

For any student wanting

to know, The Big Four

construction covers vari-

ous renovations on

Brookdale campuses,

namely the Lincroft and

Western Monmouth cam-

pus.The renovations

include work on the ATEC

buildings, the Coll ins

Arena and the fitness/

recreational centers.

All revenue related activi-

t ies in the f i tness and

recreational centers con-

tribute to the debt ser-

vices,” Lawrence said.

But, wil l the fees go

down? Or will they go up?

Director Lawrence thinks

that, “It’s a higher possibil-

ity that the fees will go up

as further development

occurs.”

But not everyone tagree.

Cosentino hopes that

“when we get an good

increase in enrollment and

in class activities that the

fees will go down.”

The use of the recreation-

al area for events would

also be a big contribution

if used on a regular basis

for various events, includ-

ing sports and conven-

tions.

Education major Gary

Papa, 18, of Middletown

said, “Compared to the old

building, the cost is worth

it. But I’d be happier if it

were cheaper.”

Despite the discounts

some students are unsat-

isfied with the new facility,

even when impressed. “I

still think it should be free

for students,” Business

major Chris Cruz, 18, of

Malboro said. Port

Monmouth native

Business major Andrew

Barry, 18, agrees;

“ It is nice and convenient,

but I think it’s too expen-

sive.”

At this time, the only cer-

tain answer for the future

is uncertainty.

Fitness Center Fees

By Raven Halliwell

Over the past few weeks,

I have seen a lot of the

people I know and love

go through a lot of hell in

their everyday life.

Sometimes people say

and do things that we

may not appreciate but

sometimes what they say

is what needs to be said.

Recently, a fr iend of

mine and I got into a

huge fight over his

mistakes and major

character flaws. What

started the fight?

I pointed out some of his

mistakes. Not to say that

I myself don’t have my

own flaws because ask

anyone who knows me, I

am not perfect!

There wil l always be

people, like myself, who

are brutally honest and

tell us what we need to

hear but not necessarily

want to hear and it may

make us upset but we

need to listen to them.

Most people tend not to

l isten to someone but

they do hear them.

What’s the difference?

To hear something is to

take it at face value but to

actually listen to it is to

take it to heart.

For example in my old

high school, we had an

ROTC program and the

end of the year video

always featured Bruce

Springsteen’s “Born in the

USA” which is a good

song.

Only one problem; it is a

dig against the armed

forces.

After I pointed that out to

the Major, it was never

used for ROTC programs

again.

I offer you this call to

action; the next time you

talk to someone and they

start bitching you out

about the look you gave

somebody for whatever

reason, actually listen to

what they have to say.

Not just enough to

regurgitate what they say

but to actually paraphrase

it.

Take a moment and step

out of the situation. Now

step back in objectively

and decide not on who is

right; but on how the

situation could have been

handled differently.

If you have any

questions, comments or

concerns about Counsel

Corner or have a

question that you would

like to see in a future

issue, e-mail me at

[email protected].

All questions are

handled in the utmost

confidence.

Counsel Corner

January Smoking Ban Moving Ahead

Alex Hogger photoStudent Tyler Walliker has asmoke at the SLC gazebo.





By Charles W. Kim

The Lincroft campus

could erupt at any time,

with music that is.

During good weather one

can often find students,

many not even in music-

related majors, in the vari-

ous outside sitting areas

breaking out an instru-

ment of choice and shar-

ing their talents.

“This is our first day (of

school) and we had a little

gap between classes,”

said Michael Brown, 21, a

photography major from

Union Beach, as he tuned

his acoustic guitar next to

the smoking gazebo by

the Student Life Center on

Sept.8.

Brown, who has been

playing for about f ive

years and has mostly per-

formed solo, said he likes

playing with other musi-

cians in the impromptu

concerts that usually take

place around the school.

Pre-med student Michael

McGuinness, 20, of

Cliffwood Beach used the

warm and sunny after-

noon to audit ion with

Brown in the hope of pos-

sibly forming a band

together.

“It gives us an opportunity

to put a band together,”

McGuinness said. “You

find many people with sim-

ilar interests (here).”

Neither student studies

music as part of their aca-

demic program at college,

but both said they enjoy

playing for others and

those who stop and listen

for a moment.

“The best part is meeting

people and getting some-

one for your band,”

McGuinness said. “(Other

students) are very kind

about (playing in public).”

The music does not stop

inside the Martin Luther

King Jr. Lounge in the

SLC, passersby usually

find someone sitting at the

piano and tickl ing the

ivories as background

music for those sitting on

the couches playing card

games.

Long Branch resident

Michael Borrero, 19, said

he has been playing for

two years and loves the

classic sounds of the

Romantic Era, including

Frederic Chopin, Schubert

or Robert Schumann.

The period, during the

late 18th Century, also

featured composers like

Mozart and Haydn,

Borrero said.

“You can’t really get into

a (modern) band playing

classical (music),”

Borrero, a computer sci-

ence major told second-

year psychology major

Heather Kilpatrick, 18, of

Eatontown. “I tried guitar

but kind of failed at that.”

Kilpatrick said she loves

hearing the many differing

musical styles and talents

demonstrated by the stu-

dents who, like Borrero,

play mainly because they

enjoy it.

“You see how (the musi-

cian) feels playing l ive

instead of just listening to

it,” Kilpatrick said. “You

(also) get to hear all vari-

eties of music. It is all ran-

dom.”

Charles W. Kim photoStudent Michael Brown gets ready to jam outside the SLC Sept.8.

No Admission Ticket Required For Jams



By Matthew Klein

Recently, New York Jets

wide receiver Braylon

Edwards was arrested for

DUI in New York. When

the police stopped him,

he had a 0.16 BAC, which

is twice the limit in New

York. This, along with

other issues, has been

and continues to be a

major problem with

athletes, especially in the

NFL, the past couple of

years.

Why do these athletes

and other celebrities in

general do this stuff? It is

because they think just

because they are famous,

they believe they can do

anything they want even if

it’s against the law and

not get in trouble for it.

In March of 2009, then-

Cleveland Browns and

current Balitmore Ravens

wide receiver Donte

Stallworth was driving

under the influence when

he struck and kil led a

person. He plead guilty

and served only 30 days

in jail in addition to having

his license suspended for

life. Thirty days in jail for

ending somebody’s life

because he was driving

drunk and he is sti l l

allowed to play football. If

that was any average

person, they would have

received not days but

years.

However, in the case of

Michael Vick, they made

an example out of him to

maybe put the word out

there that even if you are

an athlete you will get

prosecuted to the fullest

extent of the law. Vick

plead guilty for running a

dog-fighting ring which

operated for years. He

was sentenced to 21

months in prison and

served his full sentence.

He has been allowed to

play football again as he

is now the starting

quarterback on the

Philadelphia Eagles.

So the message here is

maybe one day athletes

and celebrities will realize

that they are just l ike

everyone else and are not

untouchable when it

comes to the law.

Sports And The Law

By Mary Brienza

The movie Machete was

a gory bloodfest from the

director of Planet Terror,

based on the fake trailer

of the same name shown

during the double feature

Grindhouse. The movie

was fi lmed in the same

grainy, jumpy style as the

Grindhouse features. It

starred Danny Trejo,

Robert DeNiro, Jessica

Alba, Steven Segal,

Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff

Fahey, Cheech Marin,

Don Johnson, and

Lindsey Lohan, according

to the imdb.

Danny Trejo’s character

is a former Mexican feder-

al agent who is out for

revenge against the man

who kil led his wife and

daughter. He is pulled into

an assassination plot, and

then betrayed by the men

who hired him. The movie

then shows Machete tak-

ing bloody revenge on the

men who betrayed him

and those responsible for

the death of his family.

The movie was packed

with action and bloody

gore, including the most

creative disembowelment

I have ever seen. There

were a few scenes of

female nudity, but mostly

the movie was about

Machete ki l l ing people

creatively in a quest for

revenge.

The actors were clearly

enjoying themselves, and

the results were very

entertaining.

The story was pretty

straightforward, with the

story proceeding to create

situations for more gore

and things exploding with

the henchman being killed

in some creative ways.

There were some creative

one-liners that will proba-

bly become a part of the

movie quoters repertoire.

I thought Robert DeNiro

and Steven Segal’s per-

formance were among the

best, along with the lead

Danny Trejo. Steven

Segal is a delightful ly

creepy villain, and Robert

DeNiro is clearly enjoying

playing the evil, smarmy

Senator. Michelle

Rodriguez was bad-ass

and one of the few strong

female leads in any action

movie. Jessica Alba plays

a U.S. Immigration and

Customs Enforcement

agent who develops an

interest in Machete.

I recommend this movie

to anyone who enjoys

action movies that feature

a lot of blood and gore. It

features some awesome

explosions and awesome

villain deaths.

In light of recent events

in Arizona, the story is

also extremely timely and

wil l touch the vein of

human conscience, and

the way illegal immigrants

are viewed and treated.

Machete’s Bloody Fun

SLB Plans Spain TripBy Jordan Edmond

Trying to organize this year's Spring Break trip?

Has trying to get friends together, setting up hotel

arrangements, and finding entertainment become a

hassle?

Thankfully, Brookdale has got everything handled and

planned out.

Nix the usual trip to Cancun and join Student Life and

Activities on a spring break trip to Spain from March

11-20.

The trip will give a vivid insight into the history of

three beautiful cities; Barcelona, Malaga, and Madrid

via guided tours.

For the trip, students are $2200 for a double room

and $2100 for a triple occupancy room while the

community and staff are $2350 for a double room and

$2250 for a triple room.

The trip includes round trip tickets, room taxes, daily

buffet breakfast, transfers between airports and hotels,

luxury bus to Madrid and tours.

Signups have already started and a non-refundable

deposit of $300 is due by October 1.

If any additional information is needed contact

Student Life and Activities at 732-224-2390 or email

[email protected].



By Paul Williams

The Brookdale Jersey

Blues women’s tennis

team cruised to their

second 9-0 win in just

three days against an

shorthanded Fashion

Institute of Technology

Tigers squad on Sunday,

Sept 19.

FIT’s top-ranked player

did not make the trip due

to an undisclosed illness

and their second-ranked

player didn’t travel with

the team due to an

eligibility issue.

The names of the absent

players were withheld by

FIT coach Lynn Cabot-

Puro, who was excited to

see her other regulars get

the opportunity to play

against some tougher

competition.

“It can only help them

gain confidence,” said

Cabot-Puro, in reference

to her players each

moving up a slot and

opposing higher-ranked

players than they would

normally face.

“We’ll focus on what their

strengths and experience

are from today, and go

from there.”

To compensate for the

absent players from FIT,

Brookdale coach Karen

MacLaughlin withheld

Heidi Denn, the Jersey

Blues’ number one-

ranked player, from

competing in any of the

matches, then only

scheduled second-ranked

Natalie DeSabato for one

doubles match and third-

ranked Lauren Abate for

one singles match.

Under GSAC rules,

Brookdale was awarded a

win for each match that

FIT could not fill, so they

were up 3-0 before they

even took the courts for

the doubles matches.

When they did, DeSabato

and Olga Kanevskaya

easily dispatched Katrina

Herreng and Abigail

Salembier 7-1.

Sara Nardea and Rose

Manning quickly defeated

Autorene Shortridge and

Marika Kooga 8-0, thanks

to multiple unforced errors

from the FIT pair and

Manning perfectly placing

several shots between the

two Tigers that were

nearly impossible to

return.

“You moved nicely

together, played much

better together today,”

MacLaughlin excitingly

said afterwards to her fifth

and sixth ranked players.

The singles matches

were also easily won by

the Jersey Blues, with

each of their players

winning in straight sets

and dropping no more

than three games in any

of the sets.

The highlight of the hot,

sunny day came when

Abate chased down a

shot from Katrina Herreng

that landed close to the

baseline.

Abate had her back

turned to the net but was

able to hit a remarkable

return shot over her head

that landed in Herreng’s

backcourt, which forced

Herreng into an error as

her attempt to return to

the acrobatic shot sailed

wide. Abate went on to

win the match 6-2, 6-1.

Kanevskaya had the

toughest time of all the

Jersey Blues players,

losing 5 total games in her

match with Salembier.

She committed multiple

double-faults but was

more than able to

compensate for them by

hitting numerous blazing

forehand winners on

Salembier’s serve to still

prevail rather easily, 6-2,

6-3.

In the day’s other

matches, Nardea made

light work of Shortridge 6-

0, 6-2 and Manning

defeated Kooga 6-1, 6-1.

“I was very impressed

today. They did very

well,” said MacLaughlin

after all the matches were

completed.

Paul Williams PhotoOlga Kanevskaya serves dur-ing the Sept. 19 match.

Ladies’ Tennis Showing No Love To Foes



By Dane Hodge

Is there any more that

the Brookdale men’s soc-

cer team could ask for this

season?

They’ve started the sea-

son with an overall record

of 8-0 (6-0 GSAC).

The Jersey Blues recently

defeated the number one

ranked and defending

national champion, Union

Community College Owls.

Currently, the Jersey

Blues are ranked number

two in the NJCAA poll,

and eighth in the NSCAA

poll.

Things couldn’t have

started any sweeter, until

Brookdale heard the news

about their former stand-

outs’ performances at

their new institutions.

Three former Jersey

Blues standouts now

doing the same at the next

level.

Rowan University is the

school which has gotten

the most out of

Brookdale’s former play-

ers and has given them

the chance to succeed at

another level.

The three players were

all on the 2008 team

which was nationally

ranked number one in the

country in the Adidas

national poll which includ-

ed all schools in the

United States.

Christian Gonzalez, Joe

Parella, and John Loiodice

are the three players who

are now key components

of the Owls. Gonzalez,

who is a native of

Colombia, was an all con-

ference and All-region

midfielder for the Jersey

Blues. Joe Parella, a

Howell native that broke

the school record in goals

in his two years at

Brookdale.

Both Gonzalez and

Parella were captains on

last year team that went

15-2-2. Gonzalez has tal-

lied two assists and two

points in eight games,

while Parella is second on

the team with two goals

and one assist in eight

games for.

Last but not least, is Joe

Loiodice who was a team

captain on the 2008

Brookdale team.

In his second year with

the Owls, Loiodice has

performed well. In eight

games this season, he

has one goal and one

assist for three points this

year.

The team is 3-2-2 with

plenty of season left as

they look to make a splash

in the NCAA tournament.

“It ’s a beautiful thing

when you see your play-

ers do well at other institu-

tions”, Coach Mike Costa

said. “It makes the pro-

gram look good, and

makes themselves look

good as well, and we

could be any more proud

of them”.

This year the Jersey

Blues have a number of

players who are more than

capable of continuing their

play at other institutions.

They hope to do so and

to continue to make a

name for themselves in

the ranks of Junior

Colleges.

Men’s Soccer Undefeated So Far

Cross Country Team Making Strides

BCC photoBlues runner John Arnonebeats out the competition to finish 5th in the Osprey Open at Stockton College in GallowayTownship last weekend.

By BCC Athletic Staff

The Brookdale’s men’s cross coun-

try team placed third at the Osprey

Open, which was hosted by Stockton

College over the weekend.

Finishing behind four-year institu-

tions Stockton College and Rutgers

University, the Jersey Blues were the

first community college to cross the

tape.

Improving their times immensely

from the previous year, the team

clocked in with an average of 21:39

and scored 81 points overall, com-

pared to last year’s 23:02 average

and fifth place finish.

For the second consecutive meet,

freshman John Arnone (Red Bank

Regional) was the Jersey Blues top

finisher, placing fifth out of 57.

Arnone ran the 6k race in 20:09,

going out strong in a 5:04 first mile.

The next Jersey Blue finisher was

Joseph Mullen (Neptune) who gutted

it out at the end to run down four

other competitors making him the

10th place finisher with a time of

20:42.

Rounding off the top five, Patrick

O’Boyle (Mater Dei) finished 28th

with a time of 22:12 and sophomores

Ryan Lundy (Mater Dei) and Alec

Moran (Shore) crossed the tape 33rd

and 35th, respectively.

Next up, the Jersey Blues will com-

pete in is the Gettysburg Invite on

Oct. 16 hosted by Gettysburg

College.

Documents

Stall 9-30-10