THE FALCON TIMESAPRIL 15, 2009

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MIAMI DADE COLLEGE NORTH CAMPUS SINCE 1961

VOLUME 46, ISSUE 14THEFALCONTIMES@HOTMAIL.COM

News

Page 4

Entertainment

Page 2

Opinion

WWW.MDC.EDU/NORTH/FALCONTIMES

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: (Left) Cindy Irizarry, MDC In Focus producer, works wth students to produce a TV show that exposes the programs and events held at Miami Dade College.

Page 7

Danyelle CarterStaff Writer

The North Campus dimmed the lights March 27 at 7 p.m. to commemorate Earth Hour.

Torches were lit around building 5 to symbolize the environmental-friendly use of light. Sasha Saunders, a pre-law major,

opened Earth Hour by singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” A short fi lm, provided by Project Switch, was also presented dur-ing the event. It informed students on the reduction of energy consumption as well as green living. Students were also able to complete surveys regarding compact fl uorescent light bulbs verses incandescent light bulbs.

“The North Campus is proud to con-

vene its students and the community for this global observance by hosting a cel-ebratory kick-off program,” North Campus President Dr. José A. Vicente said.

Students also learned that if every Amer-ican home replaced just one light bulb with an “energy star” qualifi ed bulb, enough energy would be saved to light more than three million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and

prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

“It makes us aware of the small things like changing to CFL light bulbs,” Garnet Rodriguez, a dental hygiene major, said.

In order to make their homes greener, students can purchase an “energy star”

GO TO EARTH HOUR,PAGE 2

Interested in becoming a television reporter?

Miami Dade College In Focus, a television program that showcases the talents of student reporters from all eight MDC campuses, might be the answer for you.

The 30-minute show, which focuses on MDC events and programs, airs on MDC TV on Tuesday s̓, Thursday s̓, Saturday s̓ and Sunday s̓ at noon and 6 p.m.

For several aspiring television reporters, MDC In Focus provided the fi rst opportunity to practice their craft.

“MDC In Focus was my fi rst step to getting a real feel [for] being a reporter,” explained Eli Vera, an alumnus of the show. “It reaffi rmed that this is what I want to do.”

Vera is one of several alumni of the show who have parlayed their experience at MDC In Focus into other opportunities. She hosts an entertainment segment “Entertainment 411” on MDC TV.

Other success stories include Ionna Hernandez, who worked on the show almost two years ago. She served as a roving reporter for the Miami Dolphins halftime show at Dolphin Stadium; Melissa Stephanie Cabrera, hosted several MDC TV shows before leaving for New York University; Eric Walker, a reporter and editor for the show, will soon host an MDC TV segment called “Wordsmith Walker” and reporter Brandon Janvion, has interned at CBS 4.

“[MDC] In Focus has provided me with an opportunity to enhance and put into practice what I learned in class,” Janvion said.

Television veteran, Cindy Irizarry, who has worked at Access Hollywood, HBO,

WSVN Channel 7, serves as the show s̓ producer. She was hired two years ago to retool the show.

Irizarry brought an impressive resume to the show, having worked with top industry talent such as Geraldo Rivera of Fox News Channel, and Shaun Robinson of Access Hollywood.

Irizarry has crafted a show that is video-heavy and image-driven.

“Cindy taught me about the industry,” Cabrera said. “She gets on a personal level. She makes you comfortable in front of the camera.”

The show, whose target audience is 18-39 years-olds, is resonating with viewers.

“People recognize me,” said student reporter, Welta St. Fleur, proudly.

The shows topics vary from week to week. Recent editions have focused on the

College s̓ hospitality program, the dental hygiene discipline and a video diary about President Barack Obama s̓ inauguration. The student reporters, who are not paid for their appearances, said they take pride in their work.

In addition to being featured on MDC TV, the show can also be seen on Channel 2 s̓ website at “www.uvuvideo.org” and on iTunes U.

Zoraida PastorWolfson Bureau

Students put college in focus

T. K. Xynn/Wolfson Bureau

Campus dims the lights for the environment

New marquee promotes school events and programs,

informs community

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and novelist visits campus

Fast & Furious is back, like it or not

Transferitis takes over graduating class

Letter from the editor: Journalism is evolving, not dying

NEWSPage 2 April 15, 2009

On her fi rst day on the job, EdnaBuchanan was threatened with arrest for crossing the caution tape at a crime scene investigation. It was a bad start to what turned out to be a career she will never forget.

Buchanan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, spoke at Miami Dade College North Campus for the Journalism Speaker Series last month.

Buchanan, currently a novelist, worked for the Miami Beach Daily Sun for fi ve years and the Miami Herald for many years, until she took leave to pursue her novelist dreams. Sixteen years after taking what she thought would be a short leave from the Miami Herald to write a book, Buchanan is

still on that “leave.”During her time at the Herald, she

covered more than 5,000 deaths, 3,000 murders, and many other cases.

When going to a crime scene, she said she asks the detectives the who, what, where, when and why s̓ so much that they would tell her to leave the crime scene.

“In the beginning, the detectives would have me escorted away from the crime scene or the police department. They hated me one day, and bought me a birthday cake the next. It was always up and down,” Buchanan said.

One of the reasons she made an effort to write about every police report is because no one death is more important than another.

“Writing about these people and their stories, either in the paper or in my novels, I am able to immortalize them,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan fell in love with the police reporting part of journalism because it showed that heroes are not heroes; they are just ordinary people rising to the occasion.

Not everybody saw Buchanan s̓ writing as she did.

“I got a lot of threatening letters for writing so many crime stories,” Buchanan said. “They wanted me to stop.”

She didn t̓. Buchanan continued writing and said that a newspaper should mirror its community.

“If there are 300 murders in one day, that s̓ what I am writing about,” Buchanan said. “Sometimes the reporter is the victim s̓ voice, and that s̓ all they have.”

Rebeka SilvaStaff Writer

Courtesy of MDC Media Services

REPORTING THE TRUTH: Journalist and novelist Edna Buchanan spoke at the Lehman theater last month.

Rebeka SilvaStaff Writer

Dean of students Malou Harrison has long wanted to ensure the community that the 245 acres and 15 classroom buildings surrounded by NW 27 Avenue, NW 119 Street and NW 32 Avenue was Miami Dade College North Campus.

“It was important to us that we made it well known to the public that a major college existed right here,” Harrison said.

The electronic marquee s̓ purpose is to inform students and the public about the

programs, opportunities and events at the North Campus.

Some time has passed since the marquee was fi rst built, and new advances are being made with the displayed advertisements.

“We r̓e the most important institution of higher learning in the area, particularly with our important degree and workforce training programs,” said Harrison, “not to mention our open access to all who seek a college education.”

Each department can now submit any type of event or information that will allow the students and public alike to be aware of the activities.

The marquee currently provides

important information and reminders. Examples of that have been the promotion

of the peak registration periods for summer term; as well as scholarship opportunities and fi nancial aid information.

Events such as MDC Women s̓ History Month program, the Festival of the Arts series and a celebrated author, Edna Buchanan who recently addressed students were all advertised on the marquee.

“Think of it as a billboard and how effective outdoor advertising is in introducing the public to products and services,” Harrison said.

According to Harrison, the intent is to install two similar marquees at the campus

entrance located at Lake Road and NW 119th Street, and at the campus entrance on NW 32nd Avenue.

These three areas have a very high volume of traffi c by neighborhood residents and private-car commuters of South Broward residents commuting to Dade County.

“That s̓ a whole lot of prospective students,” Harrison said. “By seeing the marquee, they are made aware of the opportunity to enroll and upgrade their skills, earn a degree, become certifi ed in a high wage and demand area, attend a cultural performance, or enroll their children in music or drama lessons.”

Speaker Series bringsPulitzer Prize-winner

light bulb priced at $6.99 at Lamps Plus, or purchase it online priced at $7.99 from “Bulborama.com.”

MDC students Tim Martinez and Nich-olas Daniels rapped about the current envi-ronmental crisis through the song Get Up (Earth Hour).

“Thereʼs a crack in the ozone, people donʼt even know they contribute to it in their own homes,” they rapped. “Itʼs not

hard to succeed if everybody teams up, gets going, comes together for the cause, for the change, keep the situation from oc-curring.”

Brazilian Capoeira dancers provided en-tertainment with no electronic equipment along with Nago, a Brazilian music and dance troupe that performed acoustically with drums, berimbau, and tamebrines. The 12 dancers, a combination of barefoot stu-dents, staff and alumni, clapped and made intricate back fl ips, elaborate cartwheels, and African swaying.

Provided by MDC Media RelationsSAVING THE ENRIVONMENT: Students and faculty watch a video on environmental awareness during Earth Hour March. 27.

FROM LIGHTS,FRONT PAGE

Students unite to protect environment

New plans for new marquee under effectScreen will be used for displaying upcoming events and programs, scholarships

ENTERTAINMENTPage 4 April 15, 2009

Justin Lin s̓ (director, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift) cliché opening for a movie that involved fast cars and girls in bikinis was something I half expected.

Lin did not cease to amaze me when the fi lm opened with a chase scene with Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel, Babylon A.D.) and long-time girlfriend Letty (Michelle Rodriguez, The Fast and the Furious), doing what they do best: steal to live. They are not stealing money this time. Instead, Letty called it “Liquid Gold,” also known as “gasoline.” This was an appropriate scene for the economic crisis we are in today.

This is not, however, the focus of the movie. The original cast for The Fast and the Furious did an outstanding job, if you r̓e looking for an all-show and no acting required behind-the-wheel action.

FBI agent Brian OʼConnor (Paul Walker, 2 Fast 2 Furious) is on a mission

to take down the largest drug cartel known in the country and Toretto is out for revenge against the same cartel that lead fast-car drivers like sheep to the slaughter to deliver his heroine.

Mia (Jordana Brewster, The Fast and the Furious) is OʼConnor s̓ love interest and Toretto s̓ sister. With barely a hint of emotion portrayed on her face, she somehow lets her sentiments be known that she misses OʼConnor and wants her brother back safe and sound.

The Fast and the Furious franchise is everything you expect. There was only one thing the writers changed for Fast & Furious: they added GPS systems.

The plotline reaches a fl at line when our heroes team up, putting aside their differences to be friends once again. Did you really expect something original?

Overall, the movie was good, but Iʼm not going to rave about its creativity. Fast & Furious lived up to its trademark: hot girls, fast cars, tough-guy fi ghts, and adrenaline-pumping, engine-roaring chase scenes. It is everything the general American public loves. And oh yeah, the no-brainer plot was thrown in the mix somewhere.

Be on the lookout for a fi fth installment for this summer s̓ blockbuster hit as it ends off in a cliffhanger, whether you like it or not.

Monique Dos AnjosMovie Review

Fast & Furious: Here we go again

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

IT’S BACK, LIKE IT OR NOT: Diesel (left) and Walker (right) star in the latest adaptation of The Fast and the Furious franchise.

The reissue of Pearl Jam s̓ fi rst and most successful studio album, Ten, has fans eager to get their hands on one of the four different editions that were released March 24.

A perfect score for Pearl Jam’s Ten

Ten made its slow rise to the top when it was originally released August 27, 1991 through Epic Records. It has been labeled 13 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and generated three hit singles: “Alive,” “Even Flow,” and “Jeremy.”

Now, each edition of Ten includes a digitally remastered version of the original and an entirely new remix by producer Brendan OʼBrien, who produced four other Pearl Jam albums. The “Deluxe” edition also contains six unreleased songs, including early versions of “Breath,” “State of Love and Trust,” “Brother” (with vocals), “Just a Girl,” “Evil Little Goat,” and “2,000 Mile Blues.”

The “Legacy” edition of Ten comes with a DVD of Pearl Jam s̓ 1992 performance on “MTV Unplugged,” plus a never-before-seen version of “Oceans.” Fans can also purchase the Vinyl Collection, which includes the original version of Ten on one long play record and OʼBrien s̓ remix on the other CD.

But surely, the package that all die-hard Pearl Jam fans must possess is the “Super Deluxe” edition. This package contains two CDs, a DVD and four vinyl records that come in a linen-covered clamshell box. The album also includes a dub of the demos fi rst produced by bassist Jeff Ament, guitarists Stone Gossard and Mike McCready, and vocalist Eddie Vedder.

In addition, fans receive two vinyl long plays, and an imitation of Vedder s̓ composition notebook crammed with notes, photos and memorabilia illustrating the band s̓ success.

The audio on all of these albums has been programmed to be in 5.1 surround sound, giving listeners the feeling they are jamming right beside the band.

Thus, Ten is the fi rst of a long process to re-release every Pearl Jam album within a two year period, leading up to the band s̓ 20th anniversary in 2011.Courtesy of Legacy Recordings

Jeannie RodriguezAlbum Review

FEATURESPage 5April 15, 2009

FASHIONISTA...

It was an ordinary day in Jamaica, New York, where a sixteen-year-old Italian-American boy was singing Doo-wop on street corners; his dream was to have a career in music.

Years passed and Joe Ricco had completed his four years of service for the Navy and still had that same dream of becoming a musician.

One day, Ricco went to visit his friends from the Navy. He arrived at their place to fi nd an unexpected surprise awaiting him. His friends were packing their bags and heading to Miami to attend Miami Dade College.

After little thought, Ricco decided to apply and go as well. And he did. He sold his Corvette, packed his bags, and left New York.

He didnʼt know what awaited him in Miami, all he knew was that he wanted to study music, so he went for it.

College had never been something Ricco had ever considered until he saw his friends taking the initiative. He had looked at the classes being offered at the North Campus, and they had a wide range of contemporary music courses. He knew this college could potentially open doors for his music career.

“I always loved warm weather and it was an extra attraction to come down to Miami and go to school,” Ricco said.

It was 1967 when Ricco started attending classes at the North Campus. While studying music education he obtained a job as a student assistant for the audio and visual department (now known as Media Services.) After two years, Ricco fi nished his degree in Music Education. He was given a part-time position in the media services department for about three years, and then was offered a full time position.

Since Miami Dade College had already given him so many opportunities, he decided to go back to school and pursue a

degree in radio and television production. Ricco then decided to pursue another degree in commercial photography. Although Ricco initially wanted to study music, his interactions with the media services department helped him grow a passion for photography.

Riccoʼs father was a commercial artist and remembers his father with his thirty-fi ve millimeter camera always in his

hands. “I always was interested, but my father

taught me the basics of photography,” Ricco said.

“He is always giving me tips on how I can improve my photographs. I have always kept that with me,” Sade Murray, a psychology major, said.

Having worked at the North Campus for about forty years, Ricco has seen the

transformations the campus has undergone. When he fi rst arrived at the North Campus they had just completed building three and were working on building fi ve. He also said how he had to attend classes in portables because the campus was an Omni Force base back in World War II.

Having experienced fi rsthand all the renovations the campus has undergone Ricco offers a lot of information to students.

“He tells us stories about how the campus has changed. He knows the campus in and out,” Brian Cobas, Web Designer at MDC, said.

With all the transformations the North Campus has seen, Ricco himself has changed and developed a passion for photography and television. He really enjoys having a job that does not have the same duties every day.

“Itʼs always changing, everyday is different,” Ricco said.

Although Ricco had grown a passion for fi lm and photography, he still loves music. After moving to Miami he began to enjoy Caribbean music, such as Reggae.

He had no idea that his two passions music and photography would go hand in hand. When he would attend local Reggae concerts, he had the opportunity to photograph the artists. He was able to photograph for the Reggae Report, and this allowed him to enjoy the best of both worlds. Ricco also had the privilege to photograph a president and many well-known fi gures. He was able to photograph President Clinton when he came to the campus.

“It was pretty exciting to have a president come and visit,” Ricco said.

MDC has offered Ricco many opportunities and his stories reveal to students that he is experienced in his fi eld.

“He knows a lot and he is usually always right,” Cobas, web designer, said.

Ricco came to Miami on mere impulse and with the idea to study music. He found a place, Miami Dade College, he could call home, and that offered him the chance to experiment and grow as an individual.

‘He knows a lot and he is

usually always right.’

- Brian Cobas

Courtesy of Joseph RiccoTHROUGH THE LENS: Joseph Ricco has been working at the North Campus for more than 40 years.

Belkis PerezStaff Writer

Joseph Ricco is the man behind the camera

Itʼs a quarter to eight and I have about 15 minutes to fi nish getting dressed for school. It was another usual morning for me, having trouble fi nding anything that looked good on my body. I realized I needed some help fi nding clothes that fi t my shape.

So, after more research on body shapes, getting some help from a local stylist and asking students what helps them, Iʼve put together a guide that I feel will serve as a great help when ever you get caught in a fashion crisis before eight in the morning.

For some students itʼs about what feels right on them. But we canʼt always trust what feels right looks right on us, can we? Diana Lopez, criminal justice major, goes by what she feels comfortable in when shopping or getting dressed.

“I see celebrities layer cardigans, which I like to do because I feel like long or quarter sleeve shirts fl atter my shape,” Lopez said.

So fi rst things fi rst, identifying your body shape is key in fi nding clothes that look and fi t you right. There are four different categories that are mainly used to describe

body types. Girls with hourglass shapes have shoulders and hips that are about the same width with narrow waists. Those with a rectangular shape have shoulders and hips that are equal with a slight indentation of their waist. Then thereʼs pear shapes, which is when the hips appear much larger than the shoulders as well as a narrow waist. And lastly, inverted triangle shapes are top heavy with slender legs and have narrow waists.

Sashely Cardenas, fashion merchandise graduate of The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, styles locals through her new Web-site “styleaddictonline.com.”

With Cardenasʼs help, I was able to put together a guide that will give you some insight into what clothing will look good for whatever shape you are.

“Those with an hourglass shape, wrap dresses and tops are fl attering, and anything belted. Almost all skirts and all types of pants are fl attering as well,” Cardenas said.

Celebrities you can look to for ideas with this body shape is Jessica Biel, Jessica Simpson and Scarlett Johanson. Baggy clothing should be avoided because it could overwhelm your petite structure.

Girls with a rectangular shape have to

break up their silhouette to create curves. V-necks and scoop neck lines break up your wide torsos and elongate it, according to Cardenas.

Celebrities you can look to are Cameran Diaz and Hilary Duff. Avoid turtlenecks

Jessica TejedaFeatures Editor

and tops with necklines above the torso because it will give you a disproportionate look.

Those with pear shapes should wear tight tops that will hug your body and accentuate your slender upper body, taking away attention from your bottom half.

“They always want to widen their shoulders to create the right proportions with their bottom,” Cardenas said.

You should look for fl owing fabrics that will not emphasize your larger bottom half. Skirts that hug your hips rather than fl ow and skinny jeans are big no-noʼs because they make your bottom half stand out more. Celebrities with pear shapes are Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.

If you have an inverted triangle shape, what you should look for when shopping are v-neck shirts that elongate your torso and tops with narrow collars. They will divert attention away from your full bust, and pencil skirts that accentuate your slender legs.

Celebrities that represent your body shape are Reneé Zellweger, Demi Moore and Teri Hatcher.

Itʼs not easy being a college student; on top of our daily stresses, the last thing we need is going crazy in the morning trying to fi nd something to wear for school.

Donʼt make your early mornings more challenging then what they should be and fi nd what fi ts you right.

Courtesy of denimblog.comTHE PERFECT FIT: Celebrities like Camer-on Diaz who have rectangular body shapes go for deep neck lines.

Page 6 April 15, 2009

Sherry RixGuest Columnist

Congratulations, by attending Miami Dade College you can begin your pur-suit of a bachelorʼs degree by choosing a major in an asso-ciate in arts degree program and then transfer to a four-year institution. MDC is by far the largest and most diverse college in the nation. MDC boasts eight campuses and more than 300 degree pro-grams. Since you have made such a wise choice to begin your college career here, do not sell yourself short and miss the ben-efits of completing your associate in arts degree before transferring.

Beyond the benefits of low tuition costs, small class sizes, and classes taught by faculty (not teaching assistants), there are several policies in place to protect the credits earned at MDC. As a well-informed student, you should know these policies before transferring. Begin by:

• Choosing your courses carefully and avoid taking (or re-taking) courses that arenʼt necessary.

• Students who complete a degree at MDC are guaranteed admission into one of the 11 state universities. This approach to earning a four-year degree is commonly referred to as the 2+2 articulation agree-ment

Be Prepared for Transfer Most institutions offering bachelorʼs de-

gree programs require that specific course-work be completed prior to admission into the program. The amount of coursework varies depending on the program of study. While satisfying common prerequisite courses is not required for an associate in arts degree, they are required for admis-sion to the selected program at the univer-sity level. Some universities will not admit transfer students unless the common pre-requisites for the program are satisfied.

1. Meet with your academic advisor and together create an Individual Educa-tion Plan.

2. Consider which program and university you want to transfer into; then make note of the common prerequisites the program requires.

3. Declare a major or pre-major ear-ly (at 24 college credit hours or sooner).

4. Monitor your progress with the your advisor.

5. Contact me at Career Services, (305) 237-1044, Room 1164 at the North Campus to obtain information relating to

application deadlines, transfer policies, scholarship opportunities, and any other questions you may have as it relates to transferring.

6. Plan to meet and/or exceed the admission requirements for the university and program.

7. Complete the associate in art de-

gree and prerequisite courses prior to trans-ferring.

Know the tips of transferring as an MDC student

Sherry Rix is the transfer coordinator in career services at the North Campus. She has worked at the college since February 2006.

Page 7April 15, 2009

OPINION

The Falcon Times is published by the students of Miami Dade College North Campus. Deci-

sions regarding content are made by student editors.The

opinions in this newspaper do not necessarily represent those of the administration, faculty,

or the student body.

Laura C. Morel Anahi CortadaGreg TorralesDaniel MasipJessica Tejeda

Editorial Board

Staff

Editor in ChiefManaging Editor

Advertising ManagerEntertainment Editor

Features Editor

11380 N.W. 27 Avenue, Room 4209

Miami, FL 33167(305) 237-1253(305) 237-1254

Fax: (305) 237-8262

For ad information, contact Greg Torrales, advertising man-

ager, at (786) 237-8414, or at gtorrales_metropolis@yahoo.

com.

Advertising Information

Manolo Barco Adviser

Letters to the Editor

The Falcon Times welcomes letters to the editor. All submis-sions should be 300 words or less and must be typed. The writ-er must sign their full name, phone number, address, stu-dent number, and e-mail ad-dress on the letter in order to be considered. Faculty and staff should include the title, department, and extension. All letters are subject to editing. Letters can be sent via e-mail to thefalcontimes@hotmail.com, with the sub-ject “letter to the editor.”

THE FALCON TIMES

Danyelle CarterRebeka Silva

Monique Dos AnjosJeannie Rodriguez

Akeem MayersBelkis Perez

Corrections

Found an error in the newspaper?Let us know.

Call us at (305) 237-1253.

By Akeem Mayers

ournalism is dead. At least that was the main message I heard during the College Media A d v i s e r s ʼ C o n v e n t i o n in March. I was supposed to be learning about improving my writing and editing, but instead every session was like a funeral parlor where hopeless journalism students heard how the fi eld is slowly fading into nothing.

How motivating, right?I will never forget one session in

particular. We were nonchalantly told that print, broadcast and

radio journalism are all dying. We learned newspapers are dying off because of the lack of advertisements and sales. We were told there would be no full-time positions in the future, and that all journalists would most likely need a “day job.” And to top the level of sadness and resignation emanating from the room, we were told that most of us would not even work in the fi eld.

“I hope I didn t̓ discourage you,” project director of Preserving Digital Television & Community Media Services Nan Rubin said at the end of her presentation.

No, not at all. It s̓ sad to see the greatest

newspapers of America, The Baltimore Sun, The Los Angeles Times, even the New York Times shove reporters in the streets.

More and more newspapers are deciding to use shared media services such as The Associated Press to fi ll up their pages.

Millions of readers have decided it s̓ more cost effi cient and easier to check the news online. Thousands of journalists have been left without jobs. Everyday, people grow more dependent on the Internet. It s̓ a black hole sucking in all the information which can feed us whenever we Google something or go to Wikipedia.

Print journalism is not the end of journalism. Newspapers are evolving into a new form of media. The evolution may take time and may leave many journalism majors wondering if it s̓ worth the struggle. Believe me, it is.

More and more people rely

on Google News and blog sites. They don t̓ seem to understand that the majority of the time, the information is false or not completely accurate. People are “blogging” in a feeble attempt to replace the quality work and noble profession of reporters. Bloggers do just that: they blog. Period. But reporters actually report. Reporters research and interview and check their facts and write a story with dedication. Is this the price you are all willing to pay?

I am just trying to make you see that newspapers are not obsolete, nor yesterday s̓ news. We still need and require verifi ed information reported by people that know what they are doing.

I emailed Samuel G. Freedman, New York Times columnist, about a month ago to thank him for writing the book Letters to a Young Journalist, where he discusses that there is still hope for this profession. He responded back.

“...While the economic health of our profession is troubled, there will ALWAYS be jobs for smart, committed, energetic reporters and writers like you,” he said in his e-mail. “Have no doubt of that.”

I know reporting and journalism will survive in some form. Perhaps some newspapers will move to online versions. That is fi ne, but please don t̓ go around saying “journalism is dead.”

For those that are majoring in print journalism like I am, do not be discouraged by the current situation. If this is really something that you are passionate about, don t̓ give up.

Gain experience freelancing for your local newspaper, work for your college newspaper, and get good grades so you can transfer to a school that has an amazing journalism program. But please do not go to the academic advisement department to change your major.

Journalism is not dead.

JLaura C. MorelEditor in Chief

ired of doing coursework? Do you just want to relocate to an upper-level u n i v e r s i t y ? Well, if you r̓e a sophomore, chances are you have transferitis.

Transferitis (semesterus lazikutus) has been classifi ed to be a condition in which second-year students tend to get sluggish toward their fi nal semester. Symptoms include lack of interest in course material, maximum procrastination, and arriving late to class.

This epidemic is already spreading to some of MDC s̓ upperclassmen and does not seem like it will stop anytime soon.

“It is real; I have seen it strike unsuspecting students always around the fi rst offi cial day of spring, and it lasts through fi nal exams,” said speech professor Diane Sloan.

Although transferitisʼ main host is a sophomore seeking graduation, MDC professors are affected indirectly. Jeffrey Demsky, assistant professor of history, has witnessed the effects of this condition.

“I have occasionally observed behaviors consistent with this alleged condition,” Demsky said. “This is the case with a student that achieves at a high level throughout the semester and then decides to back off to settle for a lower, albeit passing grade.”

When handling transferitis, faculty and staff approach this student outbreak in a variety of ways. While some suggest a constant barrage of pop quizzes, other faculty members battle it

through positive encouragement.Without question, this plague

is inescapable. Aside from these tactics, a cerebral boost would not kill the infected student, Sloan said.

“If students need my class to graduate, they need to take memory pills, so they do not forget who they are, where they are, and who I am,” Sloan said. “That usually helps the situation and soothes the pain.”

From a logical perspective, transferitis is not the best frame of mind to take, especially since you are moving onto a higher institution.

Decalva Brown, student government association president, believes that if you began strong, you should fi nish stronger.

“It is good that you got accepted into a higher institution, but it would be benefi cial to leave with good grades in your last semester,” Brown said.

“You cannot slack off in college because it is going to catch-up with you sooner or later.”

Furthermore, the disease of transferitis is not the wisest thing to have either.

Gilbert Gil, a fi lm production major, said that once he reaches his sophomore year, his primary objective is to make his family proud.

“It is not an educated choice to throw everything away,” Gil said. “Parents want their children to succeed.”

Contrary to popular belief, not all sophomores are carriers of transferitis. Rosette Charles, a biology major and spring graduate, is immune to the second-year virus, all thanks to her self-motivation.

“I am still focused on my classes,” Charles said. “When I started MDC, I had a plan to succeed, and I am sticking to it until the end.”

Transferitis: Uncovering the mythDaniel MasipEntertainment Editor

T

Letter from the editor: Journalism is not dead