College Parents

By MELISSA PILEIRO

Editor-in-Chief

Regardless of our state in life, most students here at Cumberland will agree that college is far from easy. When you have other responsibilities, however, juggling them along with schoolwork can be even more chaotic. Three CCC students know the meaning of chaos all too well, as they’re dealing with one of life’s most important duties: caring for their children.

Jim Hanna began his college career only two months ago after spending years as a successful retail manager. “I needed a career that was going to be recession-proof,” Hanna said of his decision to enter the Nursing program. Jim’s parents offered to let him spend the work week here in South Jersey, where tuition is cheaper, while his wife and daughter remain with his in-laws in Wayne. The distance presents a challenge for the Hanna family, but it’s nothing that they can’t manage. “We spend weekends together,” Jim said about his wife, Janet, and 9-year-old daughter, Rachel. They talk nightly on the phone, and Jim helps Rachel with her homework. “She’s amused by [me being in school]. It’s a novelty for her.”

Pamela Young, now in her 4th semester as a Paralegal Studies major, has gotten used to the delicate balance of college and parenthood. She said that her husband Kevin keeps her grounded and organized, especially when it comes to their three children (Jaylen, Justyce, and Mikayla). “It requires me to have more patience. Wearing so many hats, dealing with my homework and theirs…I had to come up with many creative ways to manage my schedule.” The key to time management, Young said, is communication. Even single parents can work with the people around them to ensure that their children are taken care of, and the parent has time for coursework.

Ernie Wozunk not only juggles his family and schooling, but a career as well. A subcontractor for GE and father of four girls (Victoria, 8; Natalie, 14; Jennifer, 18; and Stephanie, 20), Ernie first became interested in teaching through his wife, Connie. The added incentive of paid tuition as thanks for his service to the National Guard has Wozunk pursuing a career that he feels will better his family. The transition between worker, father, and student isn’t always seamless, however; he said that “You have to really be able to switch gears and multi-task.”  To accomplish this, Ernie takes almost all of his classes in the evening, allowing him to give as much focus to his classes as possible.

These three CCC students are all in very different situations, but there is one thing on which all of them can agree: family comes first. “Discuss your goals and expectations with your family, and get their support. Let them know that you’re doing it to better their lives,” Wozunk said. Young’s thoughts were very similar: “Look into all aspects of going to school, and make sure you can arrange your school around family, and not your family around school. This is my kids’ time—school is secondary.” Jim Hanna agreed, saying that he had his time to be a college student without other responsibilities. Now that he does, the people he loves matter the most. “Go to school while you’re young, because it’s not going to get easier,” he said. “Take your parenthood seriously.”

CCC’s Fitness Center

 

Shiara Battle working out.

By DIANA RUSSELL 

Contributing Writer

Tucked away on the second floor of the Student Center/Gymnasium, occupying a space that once was a stage, is a well known, but sometimes overlooked facility the Fitness Center.  It may be known to all students who have a student ID, but it isn’t really known unless you have exercised on the array of fitness equipment.  The 1,200 square foot facility opened in December of the year 2000 to “support the reinstitution of athletics, meet recreational fitness and for intramurals,” according to Joe Hibbs Director of Student Life.  He further explained that “the design was based on space and money.  Larger was more desirable, but the college also needed office space and room for lockers.”  During the first year of operation, the Fitness Center was run by the Center for Health and Fitness located at College Drive and Sherman Avenue.  This organization purchased the very durable equipment that is still in use today.  

The Fitness Center is used by CCC students and staff who are looking to get in shape for athletic events, lose weight, tone up, slim down, and generally be more physically fit.  This is done in a friendly, supportive environment with upbeat music playing in the background. Four television screens offer a variety of stations ranging from MTV to ESPN. Headphones can be attached to the aerobic equipment so that you can listen to the televisions or you may bring your own personal headphones. On average, there are 50-60 people using the Fitness Center daily, with a slight decline during mid-terms and finals.  Along one wall there is cardio equipment for aerobic exercise, treadmills, recumbent bikes and elliptical machines, and there are fourteen weight machines for upper, lower and core muscle groups.  Other equipment includes a stretch chair, exercise balls, power balls, mats, cardio steps, and jump ropes. Freshman Brett Peter uses the weights “to keep in shape using different machines for different areas of the body.”  Sophomore Andrea Santiago was sent by her softball coach “to start warming up for softball in the spring. I will be doing more hard core work starting in January,” she said.

While there never been numerous requests for free weights, a rowing machine and a better leg weight machine, according to Joe Hibbs there are no immediate plans to purchase additional equipment because of the limited space. For example, if a rowing machine is purchased another piece of equipment would have to be eliminated.  Even a rack of dumbbells, in place of the free weights, would need a workout area. The gym often has to substitute for dance and aerobic workouts.  

Staff members, Sue Law and Tywon Ford, are certified personal trainers who are available to help set up a personal exercise program (an appointment may be necessary).  They both belong to the National Federation of Personal Trainers, and are re-certified every six months. Other staff members include Assistant Director Shawn Ferris, Coaches Jim Marketto, Larry Simonini  and Amy Holliday, and secretary Debbie Iacovelli. In addition to assisting students and staff with equipment use and safe exercise methods, the staff maintains and cleans the equipment daily.  All equipment is disinfected after each use, cleaned every morning and evening, and thoroughly scrubbed weekly.   

The Fitness Center is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30am to 6:30pm and Friday from 9:30am to 4:00pm.  During the summer or college breaks the Fitness Center is closed on Fridays, and it is closed when the college is closed. Students and staff must have a valid college ID and wear proper fitness attire, including sneakers, to use the equipment.  Sports drinks or water in plastic bottles are allowed, and lockers are available. If you have any questions, or need to make an appointment, please call 691-8600 ext 432.  As one anonymous student in her fifties put it, “Why not use the facility?  After all, I am paying for it through my college fees, so I might as well get smart AND skinny while I’m attending Cumberland County College!”

The lowdown on the flu shot

 

The flu shot being given.

By NADIA ALBIZU  

Staff Writer

All over the United States the flu season becomes a big issue between the months of November and March. The flu usually starts with symptoms like a high fever, headache, dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, nausea, and extreme exhaustion. Most healthy adults may be able to effect others one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. There are two ways to get vaccinated, the flu shot and a nasal spray flu vaccine.  “I like to get the flu shot yearly,” said Amanda Roman, a 19-year-old from Vineland. “Even though the shot hurts, it’s a good way to stay healthy.”

Vaccine manufacturers are predicting that as many as 143 to 146 million doses of the flu vaccine will be produced, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People infected with the influenza can spread it to others by a simple cough or sneeze. Complications of the flu can lead to bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening or chronic medical conditions. 

If pain in your arm is not up your alley, another way to get vaccinated is a by using the nasal spray flu vaccine (LAIV). Ashley Colvin, 19-years-old, said, “I still remember the first time I took the flu shot, I was in the 8th grade in the school nurse’s office. Now instead of going through the aching, I just use the spray; it’s totally different from the shot and gives me the same results.” The nasal spray flu vaccine is just like the flu shot. You can get it as early as September, and it should be repeated yearly. The nasal spray is good for anyone between the ages of 2 and 49, with the exception of any woman who is pregnant. 

The Daily Journal and the free local Clinic Center of Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) have listings of all the clinics in Cumberland County that offer free flu shots. The biggest organization in Cumberland County is the Community Health Care, Inc; they offer free flu vaccinations in the following areas: 

Vineland locations: 1038 East Chestnut Avenue, 319 Landis Avenue and 484 S. Brewster Avenue. 

Millville locations: 1200 N. High St. 

Bridgeton locations: 5 Manheim Avenue, Suite 3 and 70 Cohansey St.

Children six to fifty-nine months, enrolled in childcare, or Pre School are required to have received flu shot before December 31st. The last week for any scheduled shot is December. 27, 2008. To make an appointment please call the Cumberland County Community Health Care, Inc at (856) 691-3330.

Don’t fear the “Freshman 15”

 

The salad bar at the Cumberland Cafe.

By SUSIE REMPFER

Staff Writer

Freshmen at colleges everywhere are worried about gaining the “freshman 15.” 

Students at Cumberland County College are no exception. There are, however, ways in which to prevent weight gain.

Studies show that students do not usually gain a full 15 pounds. On average it ranges from 3 to 10 pounds collectively put on within the first two years of college, especially the first semester of freshman year. 

One reason weight gain is so common in college is because there is no mandatory physical education class as in high school. Students become less active and more involved in partying and studying. Jeffrey Etherton, a freshman at CCC, said, “I’m definitely less active this year. All four years in high school I wrestled and did other types of exercise. I do try to work out, but I don’t have as much time.”

Following the FDA approved food pyramid is a good way to start eating healthy. 

According to kidshealth.org,  “70% of college aged students get less than the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables.” 

Another way is to simply pick better food options. Avoid sodas, greasy fried foods, and use large portion sizes sparingly. 

“I do eat out a lot more than I used to. Sometimes for both lunch and dinner,” added Jeff.   

The Cumberland Café can be a good alternative choice to eating out. The Café offers a create-your-own salad bar with a variety of soups and fresh fruits. Whole grain cereals, and different juices and teas are also available daily. 

Besides a balanced diet, getting plenty of sleep and regular exercise will help keep off the extra pounds. The college fitness center is open to all students with proper ID and sneakers. Different types of workout machines are available to help students get into shape. 

It is also important to eat foods rich in calcium, because the average twenty-year-old is still building up bone mass. Weight-bearing exercises like running also helps. Habits like drinking large amounts of soda, drinking alcohol, and smoking cigarettes decrease the absorption of calcium. 

Health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, breathlessness, joint discomfort, heart disease, and type-2 diabetes, can be brought on by unhealthy eating habits learned in college. Also, there is an increased risk of developing some types of cancer. 

By eating right, getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep, and exercising when possible will help keep off the dreaded freshman 15. It will also help stop memory lags, making it easier to concentrate and memorize important information.

A look at the Faith Fellowship Club

By JAREL ROSS  

Staff Writer

The Faith Fellowship Club started 14 years ago. Linda Slomin, the advisor for the club, said that the goal was to “Enrich the spiritual life of students, provide them an avenue in which to express their faith, and to reach out to those who have no church affiliation or spiritual foundation through club activities and events.”  When the members of the Faith Fellowship Club get together, they typically discuss faith-related business for a few minutes, sing a few songs, study the Bible, and have prayer. 

“One of my most memorable moments,” said Slomin, “was when we used to do ‘Celebration of the Bands,’ an event that included bands, choirs, ventriloquists, and mimes.  The club and the community joined together [using their] gifts and talents.” 

 

On Saturday, December 6th, 2008, there was a retreat—an event that involved one main topic, and members who brought their pastors to speak on the five subtopics at the college.  There the club received a continental breakfast, lunch, and ending with dinner at the home of Kenn Atkinson, campus ministry staff person with Colition for Christian Outreach (CCO).

Upcoming events include a series of prayer walks (club members walk around campus and pray for professors and students) this semester and the next semester, as well as a bake sale.  In addition, this year the FFC will have the Celebration of Praise, which is an event where choirs, bands, soloists, duets, ventriloquists, ballerinas, and mimes perform.   Also in the spring semester will be two events happening in the month of May—The Gathering, and Sight & Sound.  The Gathering, also known as the National Day of Prayer, brings the community together  to pray for the nation. There the club serves food, has games, music, and more. Sight & Sound is a theatre event, where the group travels to see plays such as In the Beginning and Daniel and the Lions’ Den in Lancaster, PA.  There will be breakfast at McDonald’s, shopping at the Rockvale Outlets, and dinner at Shady Maple restaurant.  

The club meets every Wednesday from 2-4pm in room A14 of the Academic Building.

For more information, please contact Mrs. Slomin at the EOF Office in the Student Life Center or call 856-691-8600 ext. 256.

Illiteracy, a problem rising here in NJ

by AARON RILEY

Staff Writer

Illiteracy is a problem affecting the entire nation, but it is an incessant challenge for the state of New Jersey especially. According to statistics traced from the National Institute for Literacy documenting the “24 Most Illiterate Cities in the U.S.,” 9 out of the 24 cities were in New Jersey, more than any other state. Along with Essex, Hudson, Union, Passaic, and even Atlantic Counties, it is commonly accepted that the communities of Cumberland County need help with literacy.

The Cumberland County Literacy Institute was created to combat illiteracy through tutoring programs and family literacy workshops for children and adults. “We supply them with books and materials and they meet with volunteer tutors for an hour or two once a week,” said Karen Arenz, literacy coordinator for the college and the director of the 21st Century Learning Community Grant. “We try to answer any questions they have and we give them basic support and occasional testing.” The non-profit organization runs on grant funding and most of its adult literacy programs are associated with libraries, churches, and synagogues. 

It is difficult to determine the cause of the literacy problem, and studies conducted to infer whether it stems primarily from learning and developmental disabilities or educational inconpetence are scarce. According to Arenz, “Individuals can sometimes identify where things went wrong but I don’t think there are any statistics to show where the problems start. With literacy nobody talks statistics. They’re hard to come by and they can be unreliable.”

Additionally, the strive for improvement remains difficult for those who attend the workshops. Given the widely accepted idea that the state of affairs seems to be running smoothly despite illiteracy being commonplace only perpetuates deprivation of long run aggregate supply and augments the gap between classes. It is hard enough to attain a job with enough of a salary to support yourself and your family if you are illiterate, but if you manage to, that job would obviously suspend the need for literacy. “Unfortunately the population needs a lot of other services. They need jobs, daycare for their children. Sometimes even the people who need help with literacy the most need to put the issue on the backburner if a good job comes along or if they need to stay home to raise their children. It winds up becoming a lifelong struggle even with the resources available,” stated Arenz.

Ultimately, the most vital goal of the Cumberland County Literacy Institute is the improvement of the families’ and individuals’ education skills. Arenz stated, “I want to help the family work together more. To give parents the skills to help their children with homework and test prep. Even doing things around the house you wouldn’t normally regard as being relevant toward literacy, such as following recipes when cooking. I want parents to realize that by helping their children with their regular education needs they are improving their own reading skills. We’re trying to enlighten families on what they can do together to improve their own collective language skills. That is the basic goal of the family literacy program.” She continues, “As far as the tutoring goes, it’s to help individuals achieve whatever they can. Most volunteer adult literacy programs are focused on the individual’s goal, such as to be able to read the Bible and teach Bible school at their church, get a truck-driving license, or go to college. That’s what the program tries to help them achieve.”

SPCA needs pet owners

Lulu is one of many cats at the Cumberland County SPCA.

By SUSIE REMPFER

Staff Writer

The Vineland SPCA is in dire need of pet owners, volunteer workers, and donations. Hundreds of animals including cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, and even a pig currently reside there. 

 The adoption process is very simple. An application will be given to anyone interested in adopting. Bev Greco, Executive Director of the SPCA, said, “Pets are a big commitment. It is important to make sure you are meeting your match. Cats are more suitable for full-time college students because they don’t need as much attention as dogs. Cats are independent, and usually calmer. If interested in a dog, it is better to get an older dog who won’t need as much training.”

   As of this writing, the SPCA has reached full capacity with cats, and more people are bringing in strays every day. If the animals are not able to find homes, euthanizing them is the only other alternative.

   Cats cost $80, while dogs can range anywhere from $110 to $150, depending on age. The SPCA also provides spaying and neutering services for less than half the cost of a veterinarian.

   Volunteer work is also in high demand at the SPCA. Off-site adoption drives and businesses like PetSmart are great places for community service opportunities that help benefit  animals. Volunteer work can also be done directly at the animal shelter in Vineland, spending time socializing with the animals, or folding blankets and towels from the laundry.

   Donations are always needed. “Kitten and puppy chow, canned adult cat and dog food, kitty litter, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and blankets are all key essentials,” says Bev.

   Three out of five animals do not stay in the same home throughout their lifetime. If you do choose to become a pet owner, the SPCA urges you to do your best to care for the animal. They also suggest having a back-up plan in case of a change in lifestyle that is not suitable for an animal. 

   Whether adoption is a possibility or not, there are still ways in which college students can help the SPCA through volunteer work and donations. “Please consider the SPCA during any free time. We are full of animals who need attention and love,” said Bev.  

 

Cumberland County SPCA

1244 N. Delsea Drive

Vineland, NJ 08360

Phone: (856) 691-1500

FAX: (856) 691-2703

E-mail: adoption@cumberlandcountyspca.org

Cost of Adoption:

Dogs (over 4 months): $110

Puppies (under 4 months): $150

Kittens and Cats: $80

These costs include vaccines, dewormers (normal and heart), spaying or neutering, and microchipping.  

The Hourglass Interview

By AARON RILEY
Staff Writer

AR: What compelled you to write your own musical?

WJ: I’ve always been a close friend with a very capable musician named Al Schulz. In college he was a pre-med major, largely because his family was very practical and didn’t see [a viable career] in music, but he certainly could have [succeeded]. Our families were friends, so as our kids were growing up together we’d meet at his house. He always seemed to have a new type of piano that he composed songs on. One day I thought it’d be a good idea to put words to those songs. We did that very gradually, starting far back in 1973. Some of the songs we wrote then are in this show. It didn’t become a play until much later. In the mid-80s I took a graduate course in playwriting at Villanova University, and I needed to submit a script to an original play by the end of the semester. The story of the play was conceived as a straight comedy, not a musical. We later got the idea to put the music [we composed earlier] into the show. Earlier this year a friend of [Schulz] from Lancaster had heard what we had been doing and said we could perform the play at Lancaster Catholic High School using their graduates who had been involved in theatre and were still in the area. So once we got word that we could actually do [The Hourglass Cafe] as a production, we really worked hard at completing it. It’s going to be done here [at Cumberland County College] as a staged reading, but in about a year from now, it’s going to be done as a production in Lancaster.

AR: What did you have to do to bring the script to the production stage?

WJ: In late December of last year between semesters, I gave Mrs. Bradshaw the completed script along with a CD of the music and asked her for some input. She told me she liked the music and thought the script was clever. Then we learned that the proposed production in Lancaster had been postponed almost indefinitely. My friend [Al Schulz] asked if it could be done somewhere in Vineland. I told him I’d look around and keep my ears opened. About the middle of the spring 2008 semester, Mrs. Bradshaw approached me with the prospect of directing my own play this coming school year. I told her I was interested but would need to pass the idea by my wife because it’s quite the commitment of time. She said it didn’t have to be a full production, instead suggesting an evening of one-act plays. She gave me a few options before indicating that I could do my musical as a staged reading. I jumped at the chance. That’s when it became a reality. She was able to secure a date. Before the school year began, it was already in place, and the dates for rehearsal and performance were set.

AR: Who are the characters and have they been cast?

WJ: We had some ideas for main characters when we were arranging for try-out night. One of the people we had in mind was a young lady and local teacher named Deena Parr. Just a handful of people came, most of which went on to fill the chorus. Deena however was the only one that had the capability as we saw it to take on a major role. So we needed to get on the phones; we needed to ask people to ask people and spread the word. By doing that we were able to get together all of the remaining members of the cast, and even the chorus.

The Hourglass Cafe was presented on October 28th, 2008.