back to school edition Index Campus News......................................3-6 Collegewide............................................7 Science and technology...........................8 Entertainment...................................10-11 Features.................................................14 Sports.......................................... ....16-17 Opinion................................................ 19 Directories...................................... 20-23 Volume 22, Number 1 Feature Zo does it again Page 14 Center spread Directories Got Myspace? Check it out Pages 12-13 Find your way around campus Pages 20-23 Latos headed for MLB BCC pitcher was the 11th round pick in the 2006 First-Year player draft. By Martin Bater and Omar Torrijos Staff Writers History has been made this year. Matt Latos, a 6’ 6’’, 216pound freshman pitcher from Margate, Florida, became the highest drafted baseball player the Seahawks have ever had. AUGUST 13, 2007 Www.broward.edu/observer Get the new 20072008 handbook at Student Life D’oh! They are taking over By Heather dulman editor-in-chief Matt Latos has been drafted by the San Diego Padres. Latos was the San Diego Padres 11th round pick in the 2006 First-Year player draft. Latos ended the season posting 20 consecutive scoreless innings and led the Seahawks in three statistics: strikeouts, innings pitched and earned run average. “The signing of Matt Latos is a tremendous start to the 2007 Draft,” said Padres vice president of scouting and player development Grady Fuson to Scout.com. Fuson added that “[Padres scout Joe Bochy] did a great job identifying and evaluating the progress of Mathew as the year has gone on and now we’ve added a premier talent to the organization.” file photo Premier talent. That’s how strong BCC’s athletic program is getting. This school is ▪ Drafted continued on page 16 Ay caramba! One of the most well-known families on television, The Simpsons, is now on the big screen. It is the longest running animated satirical sitcom that has been on family television since 1987. The cartoon originated on The Tracey Ullman show. In 1989 they got their own sitcom. It took about 18 years for The Simpsons to be at movie-goers’ local movie theaters. Now the wait is no longer. Check out page 10 for a more in-depth movie review by Sports Editor, Martin Bater. If you go, remember find a seat and keep your spot neat. ▪ The Simpsons Movie continued on page 10 Budget cuts slam BCC’s pocketbook By Buzz Lamb Staff Writer At the end of May, Gov. Charlie Crist signed a $71.5 billion 2007-08 state budget, which provided record high funding for community colleges, an increase of $70.4 million. In mid-July Gov. Crist put the squeeze on the budgets of the state’s 28 community colleges (as well as all state agencies) telling them they had to trim four percent from their spending plans. The cuts, which could ramp up to as high as 10 percent, came after the Governor had already pulled the rug out from under the colleges’ financial officers by vetoing a five percent tuition increase. “This presents a difficult situation for all of us,” said Bill Pennell, BCC’s Chief Financial Officer. Pennell said the veto of the tuition increase coupled with the increase of fixed costs makes the situation worse. “It’s like we are getting less money, net, net,” he said. Pennell said BCC President David Armstrong gave his office very clear directions on the mandate and the state sent an e-mail saying that the payments to our college will be reduced by one percent each quarter. “We got our first check and they weren’t kidding,” he said. Pennell said the President’s Cabinet has put together plans to meet the four percent cut-backs. “We are now in the process of identifying areas for the other six percent if needed,” he said. According to Pennell, currently none of the spending areas selected will affect the student or the faculty directly. “If we have to go to the extra six percent or if it lasts more than a year it could become painful,” he said. Pennell said other community colleges in the state are already in a lay-off mode or are having to make other deeper personnel-type reductions. “We are fortunate in that Dr. Holcombe knew about this and, to his credit, the way he has managed the college in the past…always conservative from a budget standpoint, has helped us tremendously,” he said. Armstrong said in his first week on the job he had to call together his cabinet to look at what they could do to meet the mandatory reductions. “Four percent means a $3 million reduction for us. We have some fixed costs that eat into more than the amount that we end up receiving from the state after the cuts,” he said. Armstrong also stated that the four percent cuts will not affect the students or the faculty directly. “Operationally we want to fill the positions, make sure we have the entire faculty, advisers and staffs to make sure all of the classes are available so that students can enroll in the classes they need to take,” he said. Armstrong said he has seen in the past that some colleges put a freeze on hiring and then there were not enough classes for the students. “Students are our first priority,” he said. Armstrong said they are trying to do things that will not hurt the college personnel financially. “In the area of health care costs we are looking at ways to ‘tweak’ the system in the areas of co-payments rather than raising the cost of employee contributions,” he said. Armstrong said there will be cases where cost savings will come from cutbacks in travel, delaying implementation of some purchases such as computer and printers and delaying some contracts with consultants. “Building projects will not be affected because that money comes out of a different pot,” he said. “Those projects are funded by the Gross Receipts Tax which is levied on utility bills.” Gov. Charlie Crist photo courtesy of floridasac.org According to Armstrong, security is another area where there will be no cuts. “The programs and upgrades identified during ▪ Budget continued on page 7 The Observer August 13, 2007 Central august 13, 2007 The Observer O.V.A.L. gives gift of sight Calendar of Events By Daniella Dorcelus Central Bureau Chief A young child struggles to do well in school because she can’t read the board; a grandmother who’s passionate about reading is hindered by her poor vision from doing so during her leisure time. These scenarios are a daily conflict for many Americans and others worldwide. Fortunately, there are people out there who care and are working to ameliorate the lives of those who suffer from less than perfect vision. The Office of Volunteering and Leadership (O.V.A.L.) is embarking on another mission to assist members of the community. They will be collaborating with “Give the Gift of Sight,” an organization that helps provide free eyewear and vision care to the lees fortunate, on a drive to collect eye glasses. It will begin on Aug. 20 and continue through Sept. 28. They are encouraging all students, staff and faculty to bring at least one pair of glasses to Student Life, located in Room 106, Building 19. Although it is the first time that O.V.A.L. has partnered with “Give the Gift of August 2007: Welcome Week Aug. 20-24 September 2007: Campus Safety Month Gift Of Sight Month Park Cleanup Sept. 20 Gift of Sight Collection Drop-off eyewear in Student Life Sight,” it is not the first time that they have collected items to provide for those in need. In the past, O.V.A.L. has worked with Women in Distress to collect cell phones for women suffering from domestic violence so that they will be able to call 911 in an emergency situation. Last December the group teamed up with the Salvation Amy of Broward County to collect toys for unfortunate children during the holiday season. They received over 200 toys from numerous individuals. The O.V.A.L. staff, which includes Shaneka Willingham, Selena Scott and Izu Nnakenyi, is pleased to be a part of an initiative that will have such a beneficial impact on a number of people. Willingham, a sophomore who is majoring in elementary education at BCC Central Campus said that the group is anticipating on collecting approximately 100 pair of glasses. Willingham said that she feels good to be part of a project that will have a significant influence on the lives of others. Willingham can identify (from first-hand experience) with those who need glasses but do not have the means to obtain them. Nnakenyi began working with O.V.A.L. in May, and since then has participated in many cleanup projects such as the ones held at C.B. Smith Park and John U. Lloyd State Park. She also helped beautify the campus during “Earth Day” by picking up and discarding trash around campus. “Give the Gift of Sight” was founded in 1988 and provides people in North America and many third world countries the chance for better living. According to www.givethegiftofsight.org, the organization has sponsored more than 100 optical missions to 27 developing countries providing the gift of sight to more than two million recipients. The organization endeavors to aid seven million people by 2008. October 2007: Women in Distress Month Cell Phone Collection Month Women in Distress Walk Oct. 6 Beach Cleanup Oct. 27 November2007: Donation Month Canned Food Drive Toys 4 Tots November thru December CONTACTS Selena Scott , OVAL Office Staff 954-201-6237 Izu Nnakenyi, OVAL Office Staff 954-201-6753 [email protected] The Observer Needs You! If you like to write, take photos, or do computer layout and design, you can be a part of the student newspaper. Prior experience not necessary. Scholarships may be available. E-mail us at [email protected]. The Observer South august 13, 2007 South welcomes Lake renovations approach completion Stubbs Photo by Heather Dulman Janice Stubbs takes over as Dean on South Campus. By Heather Dulman Editor-in-Chief The search is over; Janice Stubbs is the new Dean of Student Affairs on South Campus. Stubbs took office as of July 1, 2007. “As I got more involved I wanted to have this position, I can truly help students and have an impact on their lives. I want to work with them and minimize their challenges so they can succeed here at BCC,” said Stubbs. For about two years at South, Stubbs was Title V Solo Grant Director, which is a five-year grant that the college receives. The object of the grant is to improve student persistence rate in college Prep and English as a Second Language (ESL.) Stubbs attended Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC); she received an Associate’s degree in Journalism and Public Relations. She got her bachelor’s in Public Management and Public Administration at FIU. Then she decided to study more on policies and procedures in taking on a master’s degree in Higher Education at Barry University. She started out working at MDCC as a supervisor of admissions and registration. In 1991 Stubbs arrived at BCC as Coordinator of Admissions and Registration at South Campus. “I learned a lot and I have a lot of respect for MDCC but my loyalty is with BCC,” she said. Her goals are to have a commuter campus; talk to students to know of there wants and needs, to get students more involved, evaluate all processes such as students succeeding (i.e. enrollment), to promote workshops and collaborating with faculty. She understands that it is not easy to get students involved but she wants to find ways to succeed in her goals. Aug. 27 will be Welcome Week, which makes the new students feel welcomed and clubs and organizations are showcased. Students can contact her at (954)201-8903 or stop by her office located in Building 68 Room 206 in the Student Affairs office. “I have an open door, the door is always open, and students can come by whenever they want. If I’m not here they can certainly make an appointment,” she stated. Photo by Kevin Rosenberg Phase one is almost done and Phase two should be completed by October. By Jasmine Grant Staff Writer Has anyone been wondering exactly why there is a fence around the lake? On June 25 just like any other ordinary Monday, a new project was started with the intention of renovating the area that surrounds the South Campus lake. That day TMG Construction got started on the project. This project has been split into two phases and according to Sean Devaney, director of BCC south campus facilities “it is only going to take five weeks to complete from start date just for the first phase.” Phase one of the project will consist of the replacement of all benches due to the deteriorating state of the old ones, and only the north end will be open to the public. The new benches will be made from recycled plastic.Phase one was completed Aug. 1. With the start of phase two there is going to be more time needed for completion and more muscle considering there will be CCI construction replacing pole lights. The construction takes place from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. One of the main concerns Devaney had was safety,“Well my main thing was safety because there are areas were roots were pushing up the pavement. There were some trees down from hurricane Wilma,” said, Devaney. Devaney has been pushing this for years and summer of 2007 he hit the lottery making this project the top priority. The project re- ceived a budget of $120,000 provided by BCC Central Campus facilities. The funds oversee all of BCC’s new construction, renovation and remodeling. This project does not mark the end of change for the lake with plans in the works of replacing the exercise stations which are American Disabled Association(ADA) approved. “We are also looking at adding aquatic plants and making it more natural. There are plenty of species of turtles, fish, birds, iguanas and ducks. It’s a very healthy lake,” said, Devaney. With the implication of this project not only will local community benefit but the campus community as well. Although there is not an exact date for completion it should be over by October. North august 13, 2007 The Observer Business professionals find their niche at North By Anthony Perrucci North Bureau Chief Business Professionals of America, a national organization of 55,000 members, is now present on BCC’s North Campus. The organization, founded more than four decades ago to promote business education, was brought to BCC in 2006 thanks to the efforts of students. In the year since, the group has grown by leaps and bounds, becoming a chapter in the National Technical Honor Society, winning a Community Partners award from Student Life in recognition of their community service, and sent members to a national BPA conference in New York City. “It was really exciting [to go to the conference] because it was just our first year,” said More Info Office: 46/139 in Student Life E-Mail: [email protected] Club meetings are held biweekly on campus. club president Paola Mariselli. Mariselli, a sophomore, was driven to spearhead efforts to bring BPA to the campus after finding that the group did not have any presence at BCC. “You learn so much [about the business world],” claimed Mariselli, listing the benefits the group offers to interested students. Jeffrey Nasse, an English professor on North Campus, agreed to serve as adviser. Nasse, who teaches a technical business writing class, said that the main focus of the group is to “[give] people with like-minded goals” a chance to meet. “Students in the group are afforded the opportunity to hone their skills, meet professionals in the business world, and network with one another, establishing professional contacts for their futures,” Nasse added. In addition to helping the members of the group, the club has also established itself in the community. BPA has participated in food drives, toy drives, and has been present at many student life events on-campus in the past year. Photo by Johnny Louis/JLNPhotography.com (Left to right) Rajiv Dixon, Shawna Wecht, and North’s BPA president Paola Mariselli meet to discuss club matters. The success of the group in its first year has spurred Mariselli to continue to push the organization forward in the future. “You are your own enterprise,” she said, adding that the group is open to all students of any major. Learning how to market oneself in the business world could yield an advantage in a nonbusiness atmosphere. To that end, Mariselli mentioned plans to hold resume workshops and teach interview- ing skills to assist students with landing a job. As the group heads into its second year, its president stressed the need for new members to join its ranks. “I hope [the club] continues,” said Mariselli. Jordan prepares Coffee House to receive a for American Idol grand re-opening By Archie Asar Contributing Writer It was not so long ago North Campus student Johanna Jordan was competing for the Seahawk Idol singing contest. Now she is getting ready for the real thing. Jordan, who is in her sophomore year at BCC, was the winner of the Seahawk Idol at North Campus. The contest took place from January to April and was a great success. It brought out many other students to showcase their talents. Jordan was the favorite to win from day one, and after achieving her goal she began to set greater challenges for herself. That greater challenge is to be ready and take her talents to American Idol. She has traveled to Atlanta to seek help from a professional singer named Yewande Austin, who has performed at North Campus for the past several years and she volunteered to help Jordan. Jordan began singing when she was five years old. One of her greatest influences has been her father, who is a musician. At age 15 she started taking voice lessons and has been fully involved in her singing ever since. After coincidently finding a flyer around campus about the contest, she worked up the courage with the help of her boyfriend to audition. She considered herself to be shy but the contest made her come out of her “shell.” Jordan looks up to artists such By Archie Asar Contributing Writer Photo by Archie Asar Johanna Jordan, who was part of North Campus’ Seahawk Idol contest, is now practicing for Fox’s American Idol. as Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Selena and Christina Aguilera. “All of these artists have influenced me one way or the other,” she said. Jordan’s first audition with the judges from American Idol will be Aug. 6 in Dallas, Texas. If things happen to go wrong in Dallas, the second choice is Miami. That audition would take place Aug. 22, when American Idol comes to South Florida for the first time. Jordan will be performing live on Aug. 28, during the re-opening of the Coffee House at North Campus. Live concerts are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and are expected to last until 2 p.m. Since 2004 North Campus’s Coffee House has been a great kept secret. More than 30 different musical acts have graced this small intimate room for the past three years. Unfortunately, it never received a formal introduction to all of BCC students. The Coffee House has gone through some changes during the summer and it will be graced with a grand re-opening on Aug. 28. The Coffee House sits between the cafeteria and the bookstore in Building 46, Room 126 at North Campus. Events such as: Monday Night Football, Seahawk Idol, and Ladies Night have been held at this location. The re-opening is scheduled to fall during the Welcome Week and will include a three hour concert, free coffee and other giveaways. Matt Humphreys from Canada, Rebecca Loebe from Atlanta and the Seahawk Idol winner, Johanna Jordan, will be performing. The Coffee House which was created by the Student Life Department has been commended by many artists who have performed there as being one of the best venues in the college business. Scott Celani, who has been performing at the Coffee House for the past couple of years said, “The Coffee House at BCC’s Coconut Creek campus is very classy. It’s decorated really well and the acoustics are great. I’ve performed at over 75 col- leges across the country and I can honestly say that this is one of the best on-campus rooms I’ve ever played in.” “It provides a very warm and welcoming environment for the students. I can’t wait to come back in the fall,” he added. There are several events scheduled such as the Seahawk Idol, Last Band Standing, and Happy Hour. Also there will be eight concerts which would be held at least once a month. Students can call Student Life and find out about each event. Dates and times are already available. For more information call Student Life at 954-201-2325. All Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend this grand re-opening. Doors will open at 10 a.m. Photo by Archie Asar Students at BCC’s North Campus look forward to a re-opening of their favorite Coffee House. The Observer JUNE 11, 2007 Collegewide august 13, 2007 The Observer Budget Did your family go to college? hit hard ▪ Continued from page 1 the crisis last May on all campuses remain a priority as well,” he said. According to Armstrong, every degree they can raise the temperature in offices and classrooms translates to approximately $25 thousand annually. “Every little thing adds up, we are looking at everything in those areas,” he said. “Hopefully students won’t be able to tell the difference if it only lasts a year.” Armstrong said the veto of the tuition hike might turn out to be a positive move. “The tuition not going up might help a student who is right on the edge financially to enroll in that extra class he or she might need,” he said. “It probably won’t make enough of a difference as to whether a student comes to BCC or not but somebody might be able to take four classes instead of three.” Another positive issue occurring at BCC is the increase of the hourly pay for work-study students. Jillian Printz in the public relations office at BCC said the wage has increased to $9.00 per hour. “We found that the students just couldn’t survive on minimum wage,” she said. According to Armstrong, the work-study program is federally funded and is not affected by the budget cuts. “We really need more students to sign up for this program…there is plenty of money available for those who can display a need,” he said. Dr. Edna Chun, Human Resources Director for BCC, the chief negotiator for the college dealing with the BCC/UFF for the 2007-08 contract, said they are still in negotiations. “I think both negotiating teams have worked very hard. Despite the fact that we are in a very bad budget year the (college) president wants to insure that we continue to fully fund the benefit package now offered,” she said. Chun said it is very significant for the college to remain competitive in the benefit plan. Chun said a hiring freeze or layoffs are currently not being considered. “We are proceeding and we will be meeting with the union again at the end of August,” she said. Chun said the faculty union is seeking a raise in salaries, but Dan Rieger, chief negotiator for the faculty union, is sensitive to the situation with the budget cuts. Chun said it may take more than one more meeting to finalize the contract but she emphasized that both sides are very aware of the problems caused by the belt tightening. “We all hope this will eventually be resolved by the governor’s office and things will get back to normal,” she said. By Travis Donald Whc Bureau chief With tuition rates on the rise and a tank of gas costing more than a Metro-PCS bill, students – especially those who are attempting to achieve more than their folks -- need every dollar they can get. Financial Aid can be a student’s life-line. For full-time students work might not fit into their schedules and for others the minimum wage isn’t enough. Some can always get help from their parents to lend a few extra bucks when times get tough. But if your parents didn’t finish their degree and are struggling just like you, there is still hope. With the First Generation Scholarship (FGSS) students can get the help they need. Sharlene Funchess, Coordinator of Scholarships at BCC, says the scholarship is available for specific and general majors. The qualifications are easy: the student must be a Florida resident whose parents (or parent if you reside with only one) have not acquired a four-year degree; the student must be seeking a degree, maintain a 2.0 GPA or better, and fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The Scholarship is available for both part-time and full-time students. The best part is that it is a scholarship, not a loan, which means that there are no worries about having to pay it back. They allot a specified amount depending on a student’s qualifications. In the 2006 – 07 school year, the amounts typically ranged from $700 to $1,000, which is about enough to pay for a fulltime semester. Does it sound too good to be true? Perhaps. But as it was reported on May 11, 2007, on the SunSentinel, the state Legislature didn’t set aside more money for the new budget, so universities will get the same budget as last year and new students might be left out. That’s not to say the money isn’t there. It’s like most things in life: first come, first serve. So don’t procrastinate and get out there today and get the money the state is giving away. It’s an incredible opportunity for those who really need the extra help to get through college. For more information contact the BCC Financial Aid Department. The Observer Science and Technology august 13, 2007 TO W HO Be a successf ul Sci ence Major At Broward Community College 1 REGISTRATION & TESTING If you haven’t registered, hurry! You might still have a chance. This can be done at any campus or online. Make sure to do the CPT test which will evaluate which classes best fit you. 1 a 2 3 CORE COURSES Make sure you are on track on your core courses. Many of them are pre-requesites for other courses, you do well on these you will be more likely to finish your degree on time. REMEDIAL COURSES BCC has these specifically to help you. Excel at them to have a solid foundation on which to build your college carreer. 4 ELECTIVE COURSES You will have a certain degree of freedom to explore elective courses that are not directly related to your major. Take this opportunity to explore and to find out what area of science your best suited for. ! GET YOUR MATH STRAIGHT As a science major it is specially important that you are sucessful on your math courses because they build and expand on one another. Below is how they they progress. College Algebra (MAC 1105) GO BEYOND BCC offers a wide array of classes. Check with your transfer college which classes will be part of your Bachelor’s program and you may be able to take some of those classes at BCC even though they’re not part of your A.A. Trigonometry (MAC 1114) Pre-Calculus (MAC 1140) Calculus I (MAC 2311) GRADUATION AND TRANSFER (Congratulations!) Calculus II (MAC 2312) Student groups and Clubs Joining student clubs at BCC is very important. Getting involved in student life looks great on your transcript and will help develop social and leadership skills that you can use at your next college. Here are just some of the great clubs you might be interested in. Name Engineering Association Computer Club IEEE Science Club CFI @ BCC Contact Rolando Branley Donat Forrest Mohammad Dabbas Dr. Jeanette Madea Robert Fusco Phone (954) 201-6676 (954) 201-2235 (954) 201-2429 (954) 201-2236 (954) 201-4915 Life after BCC PICK YOUR UNIVERSITY Since 1971, the Florida Statewide Articulation Agreement was approved by the Florida Board of Education. That says a student who receives the Associate in Arts (A.A) Degree from a Florida public community college is guaranteed admission to upper division status, with the exception of limited access programs. KEEP ON GOING Your Bachelors doesn’t have to be the end of your academic career. The options just expanded even more: Now you can progress to a Master’s degree and a Doctorate. E-Mail [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ! Calculus III (MAC 2313) Diff. Equations (MAP 2302) As you can see, it is your math classes that can span at least five terms and classes like College Algebra are pre-reqs for Chemistry courses and Calculus II is a co-req for Physics courses. If you fall behind or believe you know the material CLEP tests are available up to Calculus I so you can move on faster. THINGS YOU WISH YOU KNEW - Blue Cards: This is not a substitute for being responsable and registering on time, but if it is absolutely crucial, you may ask the professor for this card so you can register for a class that is already full. - It’s possible to audit a lecture class and still obtain a grade in the lab. - College is not high school. Keep on top of the drop and withdraw dates and find a professor that suits you. - Don’t waste the summer. It is a great time for getting any pre-requisites or electives out of the way, so use the time wisely. STUDENT SPOTLIGHT ON THE ISSUES: SCIENCE AND MORALS BY LANCE BUSH CONTRIBUTING WRITER Is religion necessary for morality? No. The persistence of the myth that without religion, one is incapable of being moral, is perhaps one of the most pervasive and unflattering assessments of the human condition. Those who take up this position often insist that without the divine guidance of holy scriptures or the everlasting eavesdropping of an invisible being monitoring our behavior, that we cannot be trusted to avoid the temptation of lying, stealing, raping, and pillaging to our heart’s content. Yet, when we observe the behavior of those members of our society who are without religion, we do not see that this is the case. This myth is long past due for having the stilts it stands on cut out from under it. Some argue that the law of God is written on our hearts. That each and every one of us has an innate knowledge of what God wants us to do and not to do. While this is a rather dubious claim, perhaps there is some truth to it, in a way. Perhaps we do indeed have an innate morality center rooted somewhere not in the heart, but in the brain. Perhaps the ability to cooperate, treat others fairly, and the whole gamut of positive feelings and emotions that give rise to our moral codes has its basis in our evolutionary past, when our ancestors benefited most not from ruthlessly competing with one another, but from cooperating. The notion of the “selfish gene” has undercut the issue of morality seeming to cast a shadow on evolutionary theory. Classical Darwinian Theory focused on organisms as the units of selection, and it is through parent-to-offspring transmission of adaptations that evolution takes place. However, what William Hamilton, a British biologist, recognized and published in groundbreaking work on in the 1960s is that not only do our offspring share our DNA, but our close kin—brothers, sisters, cousins, etc.—also share our DNA, and that while natural selection selects for behaviors that aid in the survival of our direct offspring, it also ought to select for aiding in the survival of our other relatives, since they too share a slice of our DNA and indirectly aid in passing on our genes themselves. Further, our tendency to aid our kin ought to be a function of their genetic relatedness to us—we will aid our brothers and sisters before our more distant cousins. This made sense in early hunter-gatherer societies, where nearly everyone living with you could be reasonably expected to be somewhat related to you and therefore share at least some of your DNA, and thus cooperative behavior likely evolved not out of our recognition of the benefits of unselfish behavior, but paradoxically through our gene’s selfish “desire” to propagate. Altruistic behavior is even observed in animals. Some birds and mammals, for instance, will give warning calls that put them at risk, but provide an opportunity for others of their kind to find cover. Interestingly, studies show that this behavior is more frequent in the presence of close kin. Inclusive fitness is just one approach to seeking a naturalistic understanding of moral behavior. There are quite a few other explanations biologists have put forth, such as reciprocal altruism—the idea that we benefit from aiding others when we can reasonably expect them to reciprocate in the future. But all of these explanations may not even be necessary. Why must we prove that morality doesn’t come from some divine source, when it has never been proven that it does? Society has taken religion’s monopoly on morality for granted for too long. It is time to challenge this presumption. Long before monotheistic religions like Islam and Christianity held dominion of the world, even before civilization, our ancestors survived tooth and claw, day to day, struggling for survival in a world of danger and mystery, where death lurked around every corner and strange phenomenon challenged the imagination of the burgeoning minds of men. With little knowledge of the world around us, the crash of thunder and the rumble of earthquakes must have seemed the ominous tidings of a wrathful god. But we know better now. These phenomena have natural explanations that can readily be accounted for by modern science. There is no reason at all, beyond arrogance and lack of imagination, to put ourselves on a pedestal above nature and pretend our own species is beyond natural explanation. Further Reading: Dawkins, Richard (1989). The Selfish Gene (new edition). Wright, Robert (1995). The Moral Animal: Why we are, the Way We Are: The New Science Of Evolutionary Psychology Get your response published! To find out how, see page 19. JUNE 11, 2007 The Observer 10 The Observer Entertainment august 13, 2007 Potter’s Back his battle with Voldemort and the Ministry as well as becoming a leader to his fellow students. In his return to the role of Once again the school bells Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe are ringing at Hogwarts School turns in his most nuanced perforof Witchcraft and Wizardry this mance to date. Harry Potter and summer. Harry Potter and com- the Order of the Phoenix is as pany join forces on their fifth much a coming of age story as it venture onto the big screen. is an adventure tale, and Radcliffe shows us exactly how difficult the usual trials of puberty can be compounded when you’re an orphaned mage with a destiny to fulfill. While I would have liked some of the supporting characters like Hermione Granger (played by Emma Watson,) or Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) to be given more screen time, newcomer Imelda Staunton shines in the role of Dolores Umbridge. As an adversary to Harry, Photo Courtesy of Warner Brothers Studio. Umbridge is a Previous films of the series have harsh authoritarian underneath set the bar high when it comes to with a saccharine sweet facade on quality performances, “magical” the outside; Staunton balances the computer generated effects and a layered character very well. menagerie of mystical creatures; At the risk of sounding tragiHarry Potter and the Order of the cally un-cool, I have to make a Phoenix does not disappoint. small confession; I have never In addition to these hallmarks, read any of J.K. Rowling’s bestHarry Potter and the Order of the selling Harry Potter novels. While Phoenix has steeped in a much I can almost count in one hand more gritty and moody esthetic, the number of people my age who pitting Harry against not only the have not cracked open any of the machinations of Voldemort but books in this series, I get the feelalso alienation in the face of a ing that is more of a help than a mistrustful world. hindrance when it comes to this Apparently Harry just film adaptation. can’t catch a break. The young The novel clocks in at 870 hero begins his latest adventure pages and there is no possible way facing not only a pack of wraith- to fit the entire story into a fealike Dementors but also the threat ture length motion picture. While of expulsion from Hogwart’s for there is undoubtedly a good deal an unauthorized use of underage of details lost, the best quality of magic. When the often abused Harry Potter and the Order of the warlock finally does report for Phoenix is that this sequel offers his latest term he must face the us a glimpse at the politics and sneers of his fellow students as institutions of the magical world well as the authoritarian power that Rowling has created. of the Ministry of Magic appointed inquisitor, Dolores Umbridge. While struggling to overcome the Ministry’s attempts to discredit him, enduring the tortures of a new administrator and battling the psychic influence of You-Know-Who, Harry must also come to the realization that he is not alone in this conflict. A major part of the narrative is dedicated to Harry’s difficulties in allowing his friends to help him shoulder the burden of Photo Courtesy of Warner Brothers Studio. by michael kryszak contributing writer By Martin Bater sports editor In pop culture, there are events that redefine or put into perspective what the most significant icons in music, TV and art have done through the years. The Beatles had “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, everything they stood for and meant to the world musically was plastered in that record, and “M.A.S.H” had its final episode. Now, a family that has lived in America’s living room for almost 20 years gets its fat yellow bottom off the couch and onto the movie screen to cement it’s legacy in The Simpsons Movie. The series has been a fixture on FOX for 18 years, beloved by two generations. The big question that hung over the movie was how it could possibly live up to the hype and satisfy its fans. Let’s face it, Homer and his family have been through every possible adventure two or three times already and even I, a diehard Simpsons fan, had my doubts about whether Spider Pig could meet the high standards set by the television show. To my surprise, the movie not only met my expectations, it Photo Courtesy of 20th Century Fox. exceeded them. The movie begins and the theater, at full capacity, laughs uncontrollably as we see The Simpsons watching the “Itchy and Scratchy” movie and Homer standing up in disgust while yelling “Why are we paying for something we get on TV for free? Anyone who is watching this is an idiot.” The basic premise after that in tales the audience fallowing Homer as he tries to save Springfield from himself after poisoning the lake by dumping a SILO full of his pig’s (also known as “Spider Pig” and “Harry Plopper”) remainings. This act of pollution causes the town to be deemed environmentally hazardous and is to be isolated from the rest of the world in a giant glass dome. Those first five minutes of the movie remind everyone why the series was such a cultural icon and why Homer is one of the 10 most beloved characters in the history of television. If you really want to know why this movie means so much, just look at some of the words the show and film has introduced into American culture: “meh” (as in “I don’t care”), “craptacular” (as in “this gift grandma gave me is craptacular”), “learning juice” (beer) and most importantly “MMMM….DONUTS.” As you can see, The Simpsons are a staple of American culture, and there fore deserved to be showcased on the big screen. Blast from the past BY Heather Cooper Layout editor In the midst of the summer blockbuster season, movie-goers are still left with the same tripe devoid of any originality. It seems screen writers, producers, and directors alike are opting for remakes instead of new ideas. Since the releases of TMNT and Transformers, Hollywood has fallen into the fad of bringing back the 1980s. Movie connoisseurs can look forward to plenty of old ‘80s television cartoons being revived in live action or computer-generated imagery films in the near future. While the box office hit Transformers had a solid start, the streak is sure not to last with the approaching Dec. 14th release of Alvin and the Chipmunks. The film is about a Photo Courtesy of 20th Century Fox. man named Dave (played by Jason Lee of My Name Is Earl) and the problems he encounters while raising three mischievous and musically talented chipmunks. 20th Century Fox hired Dave Hill, former director of Garfield 2, to direct the film. Many expect the movie to bomb, especially BCC sophomore Lenia Osorio, who says, “The film is going to be a big flop. It might be harsh, but today’s modern children want to see fighting turtles, not singing rodents.” Fox along with Transformers’ producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, are also working on a script for a film about the beloved action figure G.I. Joe. “Those ‘80s properties have really large audiences, and Joe is a giant to an ‘80s audience.” said Di Bonaventura in Entertainment Weekly Magazine. Following in 20th Century Fox’s lead, Warner Brothers Studio has announced they will also be remaking two popular cartoons, Thundercats and HeMan and the Masters of the Universe. Thundercats will be a computer-generated imagery film following the events which took place in the very first television episode. It will be about a group of humanoid cats, led by Lion-O, who come to earth after their planet’s destruction, bringing with them their battle against the evil MummRa. With a script written by Paul Sopocy and Paula Weinstien (Blood Diamond) as producer, perhaps the film will see some of the success of TMNT. The live-action film He-man and the Masters of the Universe will fallow He-man, the alter ego of Prince Adam, as he saves his world from the sadistic hands of Skelator. The movie still is in pre-production, so it is undecided who will be directing and starring in the film. Cinema fans are all hoping that between these new films there will be at least one success, although the hope of a box office hit like Transformers is not expected. Student Anthony Sedley quibbled, “I really hope one of the studios can pull off a good ‘80s remake, instead of ruining the cartoons we loved as children.” However it is a well known fact that as long as the money keeps rolling in, Hollywood does not care what happens to the integrity of an old cartoon and even less about what decade it aired in. Entertainment August 13, 2007 The Observer Transformers: More than meets the eye By Kevin Rosenberg South Bureau chief I never liked Transformers as a kid, but now after seeing the movie, I am a huge fan. Before this flick, the director Michael Bay didn’t have a good track record with his past films (Pearl Harbor, Armageddon, and Bad Boys II), so I was surprised at how this movie revealed to be so good. The film is based on a group of robots from another planet called Cybertron. Before their planet’s destruction, it was split into two groups: the good Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, and the evil Decepticons, ruled by Megatron. Both groups are brought to earth to find a mysterious cube called the “allspark” which brings life to any machine or electrical device. The Autobots are on earth to find the cube and protect the humans from falling into the hands of the Decepticons. Megatron and his army are on earth to retrieve the cube and create an army that can capture earth in order to make it their new planet. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBoeuf of Even Stevens) is the main character. Sam’s great grandfather found the cube a long time Photo Courtesy of Dreamworks. ago, and hid clues on how to find its location among his personal belongings. Sam was never perceptive enough to know all of this, until he buys a yellow ca- maro, which actually happens to be an Autobot named Bumblebee. Bumblebee’s main objective is to keep Sam safe. When he first buys Bumblebee, the robot is a 70s model camaro, but after being insulted on its ugly paint job, it transforms into the beautiful new 2008 camaro concept car. Megan Fox, (Sydney 11 Shanowski of Hope & Faith) plays Sam’s love interest, Mikaela Banes. In the movie she is a beautiful women and convicted felon. Her co-stars, Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson, also gave great performances in their roles as U.S. Army soldiers. Transformers has an enthralling plot, but the story is a little far fetched. You have to keep in mind that this is a movie based on a science fiction cartoon that aired in the 80s. It’s a great movie to see for entertainment purposes but don’t expect much else. However, Transformers kept me entertained the whole time. I loved the characters, and especially the Transformers themselves. Most of all, I really enjoyed getting an in-depth look at the new 2008 camaro. The acting was great, the Transformers are awesome, and it had an attention-grabbing plot. There is only one negative part of the film. When the Autobots battle the Decepticons, there are too many special effects going on at once; it is like a visual sensory overload. I recommend sitting a few rows back than normally, so one can get the full effect. Comments Computer Dude writes: Welcome Students Hi my name is Broward Community College Don’t forget to check your BCC email often for updates from your teachers My Friends Sammy the Seahawk President Armstrong South Campus Central Campus North Campus Tigertail Lake Center CellStudent1101 writes: Remember to turn off your cell phone before class Professor Y Says: Try to get your books before the lines get too long About Me: My Blog I have eight campuses Tuition: In state - $69.80 per credit Out of State - $242.05 Stuff for fun: > The game room on campus is open to all students with a student ID card > Join a club on your campus like Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa, or the Observer Newspaper > For the Athlete in you cheer on BCC’s six athletic teams August 20, 2007 > The first day of classes has finally arrived. I just love the excitement of the first day back August 13, 2007 > I’m so busy today! So many students are stopping by to register adn tour my campuses. I’m looking forward to a great semester August 8, 2007 > All the grades are in. It looks like all of my students hard work and studying paid off August 6, 2007 > Today I was very sad because all of my wonderful students left me for their summer break. But I guess I shouldn’t be too sad because they will be returning on August 20. Surfer4Life writes: Check out Tigertail Lake Center for windsurfing, sailing, and other outdoor events Buff Guy writes: Don’t forget to visit the gym on all the BCC campuses to get a good work out between classes. Check Student Life on your campus for times Professor X writes: Don’t forget to show up or YOU WILL FAIL!!! 14 The Observer Features Professor Spotlight: Sobchak designs historical landmark By Jasmine Grant Staff Writer For all of those who have an interest in history, one of our own has been involved in the Cultural Heritage Landmark installations, counting down Broward County’s 100 anniversary in 2015. Downtown campus graphic design teacher, Alicia Bellini Sobchak, was given the responsibility earlier this year to design four historical landmarks to be displayed in different locations around the county. Sobchak has been able to reach out beyond the boundaries of her classroom and become a contributor to Broward County’s history. With her own graphic design company, Alicia Bellini Designs, Sobchak has been able to display all of her skills and the creativity that makes her unique. Working with Broward County Historical Commission under their Cultural Heritage Landmark program, Sobchak has immortalized some of her designs. The main agenda of the project was to create landmarks that would honor the cultural his- tory of Broward County. Sobchak’s signature marker was “The New River,” which is a symbol that connects the past, present and future. All four markers stand six feet tall and are made from ceramic. The markers can be found at Wray Botanical Collection-Flamingo Gardens; Pine Island RidgeTree Tops Park; Tequesta Indian Village-Peace Mound Park and Ely Educational Museum-Blanche and Joseph Ely House. All markers are open to the public. Her company’s concentration is environmental graphic design. She received her two degrees in graphic design from the University of Florida as well as Florida Atlantic University. Sobchak has always been passionate about her art and looked forward to make a living from it. “Doing graphic design was a great way to combine art and business,” she said. Throughout her career she drew inspiration from nationally acclaimed artists such as architect Miya Lin, who designed the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. and Barbara august 13, 2007 The road to Zo’s Ville Photo by JOhnny Louis/JLNPhotography.com Comedian Katt Williams entertains children at the Overtown Youth Center. By Johnny Louis Photo Editor Photo Courtesy of www.co.broward.fl.us Kruger, a visual artist. Not only does she draw inspiration from others, but she is a source for inspiration as well. “She is a fabulous instructor and just recently she won an award for teacher of the year for 2006. She is a very gifted artist and designer and a great addition to BCC,” said Rick McCawley. The fact that Sobchak has been able to make her art a success proves that with hard work and dedication dreams are not impossible to achieve. Eleven years ago, Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning started an organization called Alonzo Mourning Charities, with the purpose of “Providing support and services to enhance the lives of youth of promise,” as their motto states. Alonzo Mourning Charities is a not-for-profit organization and has raised over $6 million to help South Florida’s youth. This past July, “Zo’s Summer Groove,” which is a five day event and fundraising, brought a smile to the faces of South Florida’s youth. The fundraising event consisted of youth basketball clinics, a golf tournament, comedy show/concert, youth summit, benefit dinner, block party and AD: FIU Pines an all-star basketball game at the American Airline Arena in Miami. This year’s event was sponsored by Miccosukee Resort and Gaming, Nike, City Furniture, and Heineken. “Zo’s Summer Groove” began with youth basketball clinic at the newly built Miramar Youth Enrichment Center located at Miramar Parkway S.W. 68th Avenue and the Overtown Youth Center, where all the kids that participated at the youth basketball clinic received free Nike tennis shoes. During the press conference at the Overtown Youth Center, Mourning and other celebrities such as: comedian Katt Williams and Benji Brown, ▪ Zo’s Ville Continued on page 16 JUNE 11, 2007 OPINION The Observer 15 16 The Observer Sports august 13, 2007 Bonds chases Aaron for home-run record By Omar Torrijos Staff Writer Outfielder Barry Bonds spoke briefly with reporters and said he didn’t want to talk about himself or the home-run record he’s chasing. The following interview was given to ESPN by Bonds on April 24, 2007. “Let’s talk about how our team is doing,” said Bonds. Bonds praised first-year Giants manager Bruce Bochy, saying, “you can’t say enough about how well he’s handled the situation, how well he’s handled us.” And the San Francisco slugger also said he was enjoying Alex Rodriguez’s hot streak. “A-Rod, I’m so happy for him–it’s great, it’s phenomenal. I hope he hits a hundred (homers), I really do,” Bonds added. By the time this article was written, Bonds had hit 754 homers, locating him only one away from breaking Hank Aaron’s all- time record. Steve Phillips, baseball analyst for ESPN and former GM, brought a fair point to the table. At this pace, Bonds would have broken the record around the beginning of August, when the San Francisco Giants would be on a six game road trip, three against the Los Angeles Dodgers and three against the San Diego Padres. When Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s record he did it on the road, it actually happened in Atlanta, where he had played before. The problem with Bonds is that he’s not a beloved player among fans and players. For this matter, Major League Baseball would rather not see Bonds break the record on the road and have him booed and the fans throwing stuff on the field for around 20 minutes while everything is being shown live. What’s going to happen in a year, five, or maybe ten when the Commissioner wants to com- memorate the breaking of one of the most sacred records in baseball? It would be a very damaging moment for the sport. Dodgers’ catcher Russell Martin said, “I’m sure the fans will be pretty happy when we get him out. And be pretty mad if he gets a home run, it’s going to add a little intensity to the series, for sure.” Also, it’s fair to say that even though there is plenty of controversy about Bonds’ steroid consumption and plenty of proof against him (as shown in the book “Game of Shadows”), 754+ home runs in a player’s career is an amazing accomplishment that it’s supposed to be seen once every generation. However, Alex Rodriguez, who turned pro at the age of 19 and is now 32, has hit 500+ homers so far. During his 12 years as a pro (not including this season) he had hit 464 homers, which is an average of 38.66 HRs per sea- GIVE US BCC Soccer! By Alberto K. Sanchez copy editor With all the hype that soccer is currently enjoying with the arrival of David Beckham in Major League Soccer (MLS), wouldn’t it be a good idea to think about the possibilities of bringing the sport most played around the world to BCC? I believe it is. BCC has a very competitive athletic program and each year more athletes arrive on campus with the hopes of having outstanding accomplishments as they prepare to move to four-year universities. Being involved in soccer during and after high school, I know first hand that many Broward County athletes that don’t get the chance to go straight to four-year universities arrive at BCC, distancing themselves from the sport as it is not offered here. It is certainly not easy to start a new sports program, as many administrative actions would need to be taken. Most importantly, being in compliance with the Title IX legislation that was passed in 1972, which bans sex discrimination whether it be in academics or athletics. The legislation basically states that if a sport is offered it needs to be available for both male and female athletes unless there is not enough interest among the students to participate. This means both sexes need to have the same opportunities in regards to money given to the program, facilities, recruitment, medical facilities, equipment, and practice time among others. So, although it would not be an easy process to start, with and Athletic Department that has been doing a great job with every sport that is currently offered at BCC, why not trust them with the responsibility of bringing soccer to BCC. As a soccer fan, I believe it would be a great opportunity for the college, and if properly advertised among the student body it wouldn’t surprise me if it becomes, with time, the most popular sport at BCC. Grooving with the youth at Zo’s Ville Photo by Johnny Louis/JLNPhotography.com Comedian Benji Brown stands with Miami Heat players Alonzo Mourning, Dorell Wright, anb Udonis Haslem. ▪ Continued from page 14 Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright and Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin, shared with the kids a little of their life and the need for good health and fitness. “Zo’s Summer Groove” Comedy show/concert took place this year at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and featured comedian Katt Williams, Mike Epps, Marvin Dixion, Benji Brown and Gary Owen. The event continued with a youth summit at the Parrot Jungle Island, a benefit dinner and a free block party. To close out the event, “Zo’s Summer Groove,” held their signature all-star basketball game at the American Airlines Arena. During the press conference Mourning said that he is looking to expand the organization state wide little by little. For more info, visit <www. amcharities.org> Photo by AP/Jeff Chiu San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds hits his 756th career home run in the fifth inning of their baseball game against the Washington Nationals in San Francisco, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007. son. If Bonds,43, finished his career with 754 home-runs, A-Rod would take seven more seasons to hit 757 out of the park. Will he be the next one to break the sacred record? I believe he is. Drafted BCC players on their way to major leagues ▪ continued from page 1 producing talent and getting players that bigger schools like FIU or FAU struggle to get, and that is largely the responsibility of Athletic Director John Giordano. Six former BCC players will be part of MLB teams for the up coming season. Luis Pardo was picked by the Houston Astros in the ninth round as the 291st selection overall. Nolan Mulligan was picked by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 26th Round and the Baltimore Orioles picked Brandon Cooney in the 30th round. Dylan Gonzalez went to the St. Louis Cardinals as a 31st round pick as well as Gabriel Casanova who was picked in the 37th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Pittsburg Pirates picked Daniel Bomback in the 42nd round. “This is great for the program. We want our players to succeed both athletically and academically. We have had a lot of players drafted in the last couple of years and that speaks well about what we are doing,” said Giordano. Giordano thinks that Latos helps a lot when it comes to recruiting, because players want to play for a quality program. It doesn’t matter if Latos ends up being a superstar or a bust; his signing sends the message to South Florida high school players that they don’t need to go to a big time school to make it big. They can stay close to home and attend a much more affordable college without losing any of the big time scouts. Sports august 13, 2007 The Observer is beckham the MLS Savior? By Martin Bater Sports Editor No. Beckham is not the MLS’ (Major League Soccer) savior. He is just the first step in the right direction for a league that is finally starting to find the way to make soccer relevant in this country. The main reason fans get excited by a sport and start following it is because there is a product in place that is so good there is no reason to ignore it. The NBA had the Celtics-Lakers rivalry in the 80s and the Bulls’ dynasty in the 90s. Baseball has the Yankees. Anyone older than 16 in South Florida probably remembers how hockey did matter when the Panthers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals while the fans went giddy with the plastic rats, and how the Marlins hooked everyone in 1997 and 2003 by putting more than 60,000 people in the stands. Soccer has that kind of power, but Beckham isn’t quite enough to make a substantial difference. With the Bulls dynasty and the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan gave their hometown fans something to root for and the rest of the country something and someone to root against. Beckham isn’t going to make the L.A. Galaxy a dynasty, he can execute free kicks and make excellent passes, but he doesn’t make his teammates better. He is certainly not someone anyone would root against, at least not now, he is too nice. Beckham leads by example, and that is great, I wish every sport would have more athletes like that. Just don’t expect him to open his mouth and say something controversial. He is very similar to Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez in that aspect, he will measure every single word he says in front of a camera. That’s why the MLS needs to step out of the stone age of borderline amateurism and start taking itself seriously. It can start doing that by bringing in another star player that is the complete opposite of Beckham. Bring in loudmouths like Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo or Wayne Rooney, great players with an attitude that will light a fire under every team in the league. While Manchester United is about to pay around a $60 million fee for Carlos Tevez, one of the best forwards in the world today, every MLS team has a salary cap of only $400,000 per player. While every other team in the world buys and sells its own players, the MLS acts like a parent that doesn’t trust his children with money, only allowing two designated players per team to earn more than the salary cap, and takes part in deciding which team can get which player. The best South American players don’t leave their country because the level of soccer is inferior to Europe’s, it isn’t, they leave because European clubs from Russia to Spain will ensure their family’s financial future for generations to come. Why else would a player that doesn’t know how to even say hello in Russian go to play for the Spartak in Moscow? It’s time for the MLS to wake up. Beckham was just the first building block in what is supposed to make America think in terms of the “Big Five” sports, not just four. That time is now. Yes. No. By Alberto K. Sanchez copy editor Yes. Beckham brought more attention to Major League Soccer (MLS) in a month than what the league has received in their almost 11 years of existence. It has already been reported on the New York Red Bulls website that for the Aug. 18 game at Giants stadium against the L.A. Galaxy more than 40,000 tickets have already been sold, when the average attendance is only around 10,000 people. It is clear that Beckham is no Ronaldihno or Messi, players who can change the course of a game at any moment, so don’t expect the L.A. Galaxy to suddenly be a championship team. But he will certainly lift a team and a league that was simply stuck. After the announcement of Beckham’s signing with MLS earlier this year, many international players turned to MLS in search of their new home. Players like Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Colombian Juan Pablo Ángel also arrived in the U.S. this season. MLS is taking the right steps into getting soccer at the level it deserves to be in this country. Many things that have slowed the development of the league are now changing. The league’s salary cap is a major handicap, but the arrival of Beckham pushed the league to change some of its rules and allow for two designated players per team to earn more than the $400,000 cap. So if by savior we mean rescuer, Beckham is surely it. The reason MLS manages the teams and takes decisions about what players to place on which teams is because if those teams would take on the burden of having to pay for every player, the teams would basically go bankrupt. Every team needs the MLS’s help to carry out their daily business and be able to produce enough money to keep things running smoothly. But that, in time, could also change, as the L.A. Galaxy expects to earn $1 billion in the five years Beckham is set to stay in Tinseltown. Things are starting to look up and Beckham is surely to blame for the turn around that the MLS is currently going through. So yes, keep bringing pretty faces if that is what’s going to attract people to a soccer stadium, the passion for the sport will come in time. 17 18 The Observer OPINION August 13, 2007 OPINION august 13, 2007 The Observer Guess What? You Got Mail So Go Check It! By Angela Osborne Opinion Editor How many times a day do you check you’re MySpace, Facebook, Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, or Yahoo accounts? A few times a day, right? Then why is it so hard for students to check their BCC email accounts? On the first day of class the professors talk about the email policy. Professors will only read and send emails to and from broward.edu email addresses. That would make using our BCC email accounts important, right? Email is the easiest way to communicate these days with anyone, and students, professors and college officials are no exception. Professors send emails to their classes to let them know if class is cancelled or changes that occur in assignments or exams. Students email professors their homework or to ask questions. And college officials email students to notify them of when grades are posting, hours of the library, or even closing of the college. Just last spring, students should have realized the importance of school emails. The officials at Virginia Tech emailed the student body of the university to let them know of the dangers that were on the campus that day. Also, when BCC had a scare of its own just days later, an evacuation of all campuses was ordered and emails were sent to all students to tell them not to Earn up to $5000 or more while helping infertile couples start a family. Healthy nonsmoking females 21-32 (egg donors) and 21-42 (surrogates). Call Sara 954 987-5802. bother with coming to classes that day because the campuses were closed. So why do students not check their email? A common complaint is that students do not know what their usernames and passwords are. The easy solution for that is for students to locate their BCC email username and password logging onto MyBCC, and look- Classifieds Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief Heather Dulman Managing Editor Nathan Phelps CYNDI THE TUTOR “Where students learn, improve, and achieve” K-6 tutoring, Call 6 am to 10 pm. (954) 274-9214 Sports Editor Martin Bater Entertainment Editor Andres Lopez Opinion Editor Angela Osborne Layout Editor Grant Abraham Layout Editor Heather Cooper CopyEditor Alberto Sanchez Photo Editor Johnny Louis Central Chief Daniella Dorcelus Broward Community College 2006 FCCPA General Excellence Award South Chief Kevin Rosenberg North Chief Anthony Perrucci WHC Chief Travis Donald Sci-Tech Editor William Breim STAFF WRITERS Omar Torrijos Buzz Lamb Jasmine Grant CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ILLUSTRATION Eleazar Soriano AdvisEr Jennifer Shapiro Web Designer Chris Cutro ing under the student email/account info section and students can get both their username and password. Another issue students have with BCC email is; why should they have to check yet another account? This is college and some professionalism is expected. BCC does not want to send emails to “hotmama87” or “bigpimpin1182” or anything along those lines, so they furnish an email account to us, and it might be some jumbled form of initials but it is better than “urlilshorty.” If only there was a way to forward emails that are sent to your BCC account to your normal everyday email account, then that would cut down on half of the problem right? Oh wait, there is! In your inbox, under the options tab, in mailbox management, you can have mail forwarded to any email address you want, isn’t that great? So you only have to go to your email account to send emails. No more excuses. Check your email. Who doesn’t need a computer? Hello students and faculty. RE System Computers offers anything related to PCs and Laptops. Certified Technician. Call Pete 954-8296930. 19 Life: What It Means By Michael Paredes Contributing Writer What is the meaning to life? This question has baffled the human mind since the dawn of man, and still no answer has been found. No definition can be given when the subjectivity of the response is so large. The meaning of why we are here is different to everyone. Perhaps it is to serve others, to worship God, or maybe even just be content, to do the best possible. Human kind also seems to want to over complicate the answers. They try to elaborate so much and build so many intricacies, when one simple idea sums it all up so well: the point in everyone’s life, whether it be to love, to hate, to create, or to destroy: we all simply live. That is the one thing that all life has in common. No matter how it is played out, it comes and it goes. How we choose to live it out is another factor all together. Some would say we choose our destination, and how we get there. Others would argue that everything is predestined, and we have one set path, one fate we cannot escape. Perhaps it is a mixture of both. Perhaps we have our own destinies, yet we have some choice in where they take us and with what forces we choose to use and carry with us. In the end, our lives just exist. We are here, we live and we die. We wonder and we hope. We smile and cry soon after. We hide from the world and we embrace. We do so much in the fraction of time that we can exist, but after all is said and done; all we have really done is existed. We may not have changed the world, but we dwelled on it, and we all connected with each other in someway. All our spirits are interwoven; all of our souls flourish and live out their time together. Instead of asking why so much, we should just enjoy this festival of life, never regret what we do with it, and just hope for the best and see what happens along the way. The Observer is a bi-weekly consolidated newspaper produced by students of Broward Community College. The editorial office is located at South Campus, Bldg. 68-268, 7200 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, FL 33024. Bureau Offices are located at North Campus, 1000 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek, FL, 33066, and Central Campus, 3501 SW Davie Rd, Davie, FL. The Observer can also be reached by phone at 954-201-8877 or e-mail at [email protected]. Letters to the editor are encouraged. The writer’s name and phone number must be included and the letter signed. Unsigned letters will not be accepted, but requests for anonymity may be honored at the editor’s discretion. Letters must be typed and not exceed 300 words. The Observer upholds the right to edit for style or length or to reject publications of letters deemed inappropriate. Michael Kryszak Michael Paredes Archie Asar For information concerning editorial policy or advertising rates, call 954-2018035. Bruno Niccoli Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of BCC students, staff, faculty and administration. 20 The Observer august 13, 2007 Central Campus 3501 Davie Road Davie, FL 33314 Central Campus Directory Map Legend 1 2,5,7 3 4 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14-15 16 17 18 19 20&23 24-25 21. 22. 27. 28. 39-42 43-48 49 38,52,100 Behavioral Sciences/Dean of Academic Affairs/ Dean of Business Affairs/Provost/Social Sciences Classrooms Visual Arts Bailey Concert Hall/Theatre/Music Math/English /Fine Arts/Theatre Health Sciences Business Administration/ Communications/MFL/Reading/ ESL Gym Wellness FAU Liberal Arts Computer Science/Engineering Natural Sciences Buehler Planetarium University/College Library/Learning Resources Buehler Observatory Admissions/Bookstore/Cafeteria/Campus Safety/ Cashier, Counseling & Advisement/ Dean of Student Affairs/ Registration/Student Life/Testing Facilities Management Bldg. Maintenance Landscaping/Horticulture Institute of Public Safety Child Care Aquatic Complex BCC Classroom Modulars IPS Classroom Modulars Driving Simulator FAU Facilities Career Center 201-6612 Institute of Public Safety 201-6791 Provost Cashiers Office 201-6545 Intramural Sports 201-6328 Dr. Lois Bolton Communication Dept. 201-6558 Learning Resources 201-6660 201-6510 Bldg. 1-157 Deans Computer Science & Engineering Open Lab Academic Affairs Dr. Dianne Ruggiero 201-6513 Bldg. 1-165 Business Affairs John Stancil 201-6624 Bldg. 1-159 Health Sciences Dr. Debbie Papa 201-6767 Bldg. 8-136 Institute of Public Safety Mandt Edward 201-6789 Bldg. 22-131 Student Affairs 201-6101 Computer Science & Engineering Dept. 201-6723 Continuing Education (main #) 201-7800 Continuing Education (Language) Library 201-6648 LRC Tutoring 201-6663 Mathematics Dept. 201-6692 Math Lab 201-6645 Medical Assisting 201-6906 MFL Lab 201-6687 Nursing 201-6851 Performing Arts Dept. (Music & Theatre) 201-6960 Continuing Education for Health Sciences 201-6768 201-6843 Physical Sciences Dept. 201-6677 Counseling 201-6528 Planetarium 201-6681 Assoc. Dean of Student Affairs Criminal Justice 201-6791 Radiography 201-2352 Kaye Francis Dental 201-6448 Reading Lab 201-6424 201-6527 Registration 201-6865 ROTC 201-6791 Security 201-6626 David Asencio 201-6522 Bldg. 19-130 201-6874 Bldg. 19-116 University/College Library, LRC & Technology Disability Services Support Distance Learning Testing Center Miguel Menendez 201-6480 Bldg. 17-317 Student Affairs 201-6450 Emergency Medical Services 201-6920 Social Sciences Dept. 201-6630 English Dept. 201-6637 Student Affairs 201-6522 201-4901 Advisement/Counseling 201-6528 ESL Lab Student Financial Services 201-6573 Admissions 201-6800 ESL/Reading/SLS Dept. 201-6427 Student Government 201-6846 Architecture & Design Dept. 201-7396 Evening Administrator 201-6359 Student Life 201-6756 Bailey Hall 201-6880 Financial Services 201-6573 Student Success 201-6528 BCC Emergency Hotline 201-4900 Fire Science 201-6982 201-6587 Flexible Learning Biological Sciences Dept. Bookstore Behavioral Sciences Dept. 201-6791 Testing Center 201-6567 Veterans Affairs 201-7621 201-6557 Health Sciences Dept. 201-6767 Visual Arts 201-6517 201-6830 Health Science Scholarships 201-6899 Wellness Dept. 201-6855 201-6948 201-6596 Business Administration Dept. 201-6710 Health Services Management 201-6904 Wellness Center Campus Safety 201-6626 Honors Institute 201-7645 Writing Lab august 13, 2007 The Observer South Campus 7200 Pines Blvd. Pembroke Pines, Fl 33024 South Campus Directory Map Legend 71 - 2nd floor Admin/Provost Provost 201-8077 Math Lab BCC Emergency Hotline 201-4900 Mentor Program 201-8994 208A Bookstore 201-8805 Nursing 201-8850 Deans Business Administration 201-8933 The Observer 201-8877 Academic Affairs Cashiers Office 201-8830 Office Systems & Tech 201-8841 Dr. Hank Martel Aviation Institute Dr. Shouan Pan 201-8800 Bldg. 71- 201-8909 Career Center 201-8865 P’an Ku 201-8044 Business Affairs Climbing Wall 201-8238 Reading Lab 201-8909 Albert Smith 201-8888 Bldg.71-210A Communications 201-8986 Registration Student Affairs Continuing Education 201-8815 Science/Wellness Dept. 201-8965 Janice Stubbs 201-8001 Bldg. 71-202 201-8835 Counseling 201-8876 Safety 201-8970 Associate Dean of Student Affairs Disability Services 201-8913 Safety Emergency Line 893-5700 Anthony Cruz English Dept. 201-8904 Soc./Behavioral Sciences 201-8810 Academic Resources and Instructional Financial Services 201-8846 Student Affairs 201-8903 Technology Flexible Learning 201-6564 Student Government 201-8941 Terri Justice Foreign Language Lab 201-8909 Student Life 201-8973 Aviation and Automotive Technology Honors Institute 201-8873 Student Success 201-8994 Jorge Guerra International Students 201-8991 Veterans Affairs 201-8868 201-8903 201-8875 201-8067 201-8077 Bldg. 68-207 Bldg. 69-210 Bldg. 72-136B Bldg. 99-118 Student Affairs Intramurals/Student Activities 201-8911 Job Service 201-8866 Academic Advisement 201-8875 Learning Resources 201-8909 Admissions 201-8835 Library 201-8825 Automotive Technology 201-8103 Mathematics Dept. 201-8920 99 Aviation 67 Bookstore 73 Child Development Center 69 & 71 Classroom Bldg. 90-98 Classroom Modulars 403-412 Classroom Trailers 72 Learning Resources 70 Science/Computer Labs 68 Student Services/Student Life/Cafeteria 65 Wellness Center/GYM 81 Library 21 22 The Observer august 13, 2007 North Campus 1000 Coconut Creek Blvd. Coconut Creek, Fl 33066 Map Legend 41 Health Science 42 Physical Plant 46 Student Services 47 English/Communication/Reading/ ESL 48 Engineering Technology/Computer Science North Campus Directory Provost Dr. Barbara J. Bryan Bldg. 49-200 201-2202 Deans 49 Administration/Classrooms 50 Visual and Performing Arts 51 Business Administration 52 Classrooms/Math Lab 56 Social/Behavioral Science Academic Affairs Dr. Monica Ramirez 201-2389 Bldg. 49-200 Business Affairs Dr. George Stalliard 201-2403 Bldg. 49-200 Health Sciences Gregory Ferenchak 201-2060 Bldg. 41-230 Student Affairs Peter Barbatis 201-2300 Bldg. 46-222 Assoc. Dean of Student Affairs Vacant 201-2312 Bldg. 46-218 57 Mathematics/Science Student Affairs 60 Omni Auditorium/Wellness 62 BCC/North Regional Library/LRC 63 Little Learners College Advisement/Counseling Admissions 201-2305 201-2240 BCC Emergency Hotline 201-4900 Bookstore 201-2225 Business Administration 201-2360 Cashiers Office 201-2210 Campus Safety 201-2229 Career Center 201-2272 Communication/Fine Arts 201-2370 Computer Lab 201-2255 Continuing Education 201-2204 Disability Services 201-2313 English 201-2385 Engineer Tech/Computer Science 201-2324 Financial Services 201-2330 Honors Institute 201-2236 Institute of Public Safety 201-6931 International Education 201-7706 Intramural Sports 201-2437 Job Placement 201-2282 Language Lab 201-2262 Learning Resources 201-2260 Library 201-2600 Mathematics 201-2283 Math Lab 201-2391 Mentor Program 2367 Omni Auditorium 2233 Open College 6564 Reading/ESL/SLS Reading Lab Registration Science Soc./Behavioral Sciences 201-2263 Student Affairs Student Government Student Life Student Success Veterans Affairs Weekend College Wellness Educ./Athletics Word Processing Lab Writing Lab 201201201201-2321 201-2392 201-2245 201-2284 201-2300 201-2461 201-2325 201-2310 201-2330 201-6564 201-2314 201-2439 201-2279 Directory august 13, 2007 The Observer 23 Weston Center Pines Center 4205 Bonaventure Blvd., Suite 2 Weston, Fl 33332 16957 Sheridan Street Pembroke Pines, Fl 33331 Weston Center Directory Director Dr. Silvia P. Rios-Husain 201-3612 Bldg. 100-126 Interim Asst. Director Myrna Bomser 201-3610 Bldg. 100-124 Student Life Coordinator Rosa Fuste 201-3630 Bldg. 100-119 Pines Center Directory Faculty Advisor 201-3655 Cashier 201-3607 Financial Aid 201-3621 Veteran’s Affairs 201-3621 Bookstore (Pines) 201-3604 Bookstore (Weston) 201-8529 Cont. Education 201-3609 Student Affairs 201-3603 Counseling 201-3602 Enrollment Services 201-3605 Reception Desk 201-3601 Admissions/Registration 201-3631 Testing Center 201-3606 Willis Holcombe Center 111 East Las Olas Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33301 Willis Holcombe Directory Provost Student Affairs Dr. Lois Bolton David Asencio 201-6522 Bldg. 19-130 Computer Lab 201-7595 Deans University/College Library, LRC & Technology Disability Services 201-7517 Academic Affairs Support Evening Administrator 201-7420 201-6510 Bldg. 1-157 Cashiers Office 201-7418 Dr. Dianne Ruggiero 201-6513 Bldg. 1-165 Miguel Menendez 201-6480 Bldg. 17-317 Financial Services 201-7580 Business Affairs Architecture/Design Learning Resources 201-7595 K e John Stancil 201-6624 Bldg. 1-159 Williams 201-7318 Bldg. 33-111 Health Sciences n Registration 201-7378 Academic Advisement 201-7491 Security Dr. Debbie Papa 201-6767 Bldg. 8-136 Admissions 201-7378 Security 201-7419 Institute of Public Safety BCC Emergency Hotline 201-4900 Student Affairs Bookstore 762-5204 Student Life 201-7377 Edward Mandt 201-6789 Bldg. 22-131 201-7636 201-7491 Administrative Coordinator Janice D’Andrea 201-8501 Bldg. 100-204 Disability Services Larry Melody 201-8913 Bldg. 68-227 Learning Resources Terri Justice 201-8909 Bldg. 72 24 The Observer Feature august 13, 2007 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week S u m m e r In Miami S w i m Design and photos by Johnny Louis/JLNPhotography.com Jessica Simpson True Religion Jessica Simpson Badgley Mischka True Religion ANK Parke & Ronen ANK Mirla Sabino Red Carter Jessica Simpson Red Carter True Religion By Johnny Louis Photo Editor T DE & DR Red Carter his summer’s Mercedes-Benz fashion week was just effusive for Miami’s heat. The color was vibrant and loud; The cut was exotically trim in all the right places and to add combustion to an already stream of beautiful models was the star studded attendance. This year’s event included the Beach Boys featuring John Stamos; Denise Rodman, Tyson Beckford and actress/singer turned designer Jessica Simpson. A long list of designers were at hand to showcase their latest line of hot swimsuit designs. Among them were Zimmermann, Red Carter, Ank by Mirla Sabino, Don Eduardo et Donna Rosalia,Shay Tod and Parke & Ronen.
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