Www.broward.edu/observer
Volume 25, issue 7
Back page
Freedom by Design
Entertainment
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Sustainability
BC architecture students
volunteer to help disadvantaged
A review of the newest Call
of Duty installment
Broward College’s efforts to be
more environmentally active
Center spread
Campus news
Holiday Shopping
The greatest Black Friday
deals and holiday ventures
Winging it
Page 8-9
Nov. 22, 2010
Page 3
Page 11
Page 16
BC hosts regional
flight competition
By Buzz Lamb
S ta f f Wr i t e r
Dozens of small aircrafts and about 100 collegiate aviation
students f lew over Broward College’s Aviation Center on South
Campus during the second week of November. For the f irst time
ever, Broward College (BC) hosted the National Intercollegiate
Flying Association (NIFA) Region IX competition Nov. 9 – 13.
“ This is a great opportunity for us to show off our
facilities and our programs as well as compete against some
of the f inest f light programs in the southeast,” said Aviation
Operations Associate Dean Eric Boylan. According to Boylan,
the competition was a combination of f light and ground events.
Flight Competition Continued
on Page 6
Photo By Crystal Vander Weit
Students have a safe source to unload stress
By Donna Levasseur
Staff Writer
Transitioning
from
high
school into college can be a very
stressful time in a student’s life.
From choosing a major, the right
schedule, where to live, who to live
with and full-time or part-time
work for those who are in need of
additional financial support. Those
responsibilities bring with them
consequences and challenges which
can lead to anxiety, co-dependency
and sometimes depression.
Broward College (BC) and the
Henderson Mental Health Center
(HMHC) have partnered up to
bring BC students an opportunity
to get the assistance and support
they need in order to deal and cope
with the stresses and anxieties of
college life.
The program is funded by BC
and is available to all BC students
effective Oct. 18, 2010. HMHC
is the largest private non-profit
mental healthcare provider in all
of Broward County. They have
been in business for over 50 years
specializing in mental healthcare
services such as stress, substance
abuse, anxiety, eating disorders,
borderline personality disorder,
relational challenges and family
issues.
Most students transition into
college between the ages of 18
to 21. There is a lot going on in
a student’s life at this time from
learning how to manage their new
life as a young adult to learning
about relationships, financial
responsibility, themselves and the
anxieties of what lies ahead for
them up the road.
According to Vice President for
Student Affairs and Enrollment
Management, Angelia Millender,
the college looked at the national
landscape relative to more and
more students attending colleges
and universities around this nation,
indicating that student mental
health is something that needs to
be addressed and not ignored. The
Student Affairs leadership team
began to look at the data and
started conversations about the
college’s best approach.
Millender added that the long
term goals are to monitor the usage
and scale it up as needed. Since it
is new, BC will need to evaluate it
and make adjustments as needed.
Right now it is being paid by the
Student Activity and Service Fee,
so students will not be charged for
the service.
According to Neil Cohen,
Associate Vice President of
Student Affairs-Student Life, BC is
committed to running this program
for a year, through October 2011.
At that time the college plans to
assess student interest and make
the best decision they can at that
time based on student usage over
the year.
If privacy is a concern, please
note that confidentiality is of
great importance when it comes
to discussing personal and private
matters. At the HMHC every
student is protected by the HIPPAA
law and only if the student requests
or decides to release information,
then and only then can it be done.
Janelle Bowing, a student at
Nova Southeastern University was
Facts about mental health disorders
Mental disorders affect 51 million Americans each year.
Depression affects more than 18 million Americans, making it
the most common serious brain disease in the US.
From 1993 to 1995, suicide was the third leading cause of
death among people of ages 15 to 24 in Florida, and the fourth
leading cause of death among children ages 10 to 14.
Courtesy of hendersonmhc.org
referred to the center by several
friends. According to Bowing, the
center has brought her a great deal
of relief. “I felt good knowing that
I can get some things off my chest.
My counselor was non-biased
and non-judgmental. I felt very
comfortable being there,” she said.
According to Debra Goldman,
a licensed clinical social worker and
Director of Student Counseling
Services at Henderson, there
are two licensed mental health
professionals who are dedicated to
the BC community. This program
is a supportive service that helps
students make life a little bit easier
and it brings a bit of balance and
clarity into their routine.
“There are times when students
just need to vent and sometimes
that is all that is needed in order
to get through the day,” said
Goldman. HMHC is located
at 330 Southwest 27 Avenue,
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. For more
information contact HMHC
directly at 954-424-6913 or visit
the Student Affairs office on
campus.
Nov. 22, 2010
Campus News
Page 3
BC exercises the ‘freedom’ to make a difference
BY Donna Levasseur
Staff Writer
Broward College (BC) architectural
students, Pablo Terraza and Brett Reeves,
co-captains of the Freedom by Design
organization, have found themselves at the
center of a movement. About four months
ago, the two activated the program, which
provides assistance to the mentally challenged
and disabled homeowners. They promoted
it through social media marketing, such as
Facebook, Twitter, and the school website.
In collaboration with Florida Atlantic
University (FAU), BC architectural students
built and designed six projects, including
handicap ramps, landscaping projects,
and painting homes of those who are less
fortunate.
The energy, that is fueling this program,
is the collaborative efforts of Terraza and
Reeves, who would like to make a difference
in their community.
There is a big project in the works
right now where the volunteers will be
constructing what is called a therapeutic
staircase which aides young children ages 3
to 10 with walking disabilities.
Freedom by Design is affiliated with
American Institute of Architecture Students
(AIAS), an organization nationwide that
gives students a glimpse of what goes on in
the architectural fields. They are currently
25 volunteers strong at BC and FAU. They
welcome any students who would like to
join them and help make a difference in the
community.
On Nov 12, Freedom by Design held their
premier fundraiser. They were accompanied
by BC Dean, Dr. Winston Thompson,
Raymond Jungles and Professor Felix
Lorenzo. Also present was the Jazz Quartet,
BC Jazz Combo, and local sponsors, which
provided dinner for the evening. Pablo
Perralta, president of AIAS, said that he
Photos By Crystal Vander Weit
A raffle was held at the event to raise money for future Freedom by Design projects.
would like more students to get engaged in
their communities. “Your heart gets warm
and you feel appreciated.”
John Garra, a licensed architect, is the
mentor for the program. He oversees all of
the designs, projects, and assists the student
volunteers with obtaining permits and all the
legal documentation and requirements that
is needed for the projects to get approved
and built.
Garra said, “This program is one of the
most exciting pro bono works that I’ve ever
done. It’s a win win win situation and it’s a
feel good thing.”
According to Terraza, each project that
is completed gives them a step up to perfect
their skills and designs as architectural
students. Alex Parsons, vice president of
AIAS, who is also an FAU student, said that
“accessibility is an important thing when
it comes to design. It should not be taken
for granted and it is very important to assist
those that are disabled. Able body people
need to show their support.”
Hubert Harris Jr., a volunteer with
Freedom by Design, was serving dinner for
the evening. Harris joined the organization,
because he likes to get involved in serving
Co-captains of Freedom by Design, Brett
Reeves and Pablo Terraza.
others and loves helping out. “The more you
network, the more people you meet. It’s not
about who you know, but who knows you.”
For more information on volunteering
or donating towards the building fund visit
www.AIAS.org.
Pippin retires after years of dedication
BY Clayton Gutzmore
South bureau Chief
Broward College has had many
inspiring individuals who have
brought change to the school.
Some motivate the students, while
others simply liven the school’s
environment.
Whatever the case is, BC
recognizes excellence when it is
displayed, and Barbara Cohen
Pippin displayed plenty of that.
Pippin is the president’s assistant
and is director of Government
Relations.
Pippin created clubs and
programs that help students get a
better understanding of politics
and how the government works.
She is also a lobbyist in Tallahassee
for education and stands for many
principles. Not only that, but she
is one of the few proactive people
who always seek change. Now, the
next phase of Pippin’s outstanding
career is retirement.
Pippin decided that now would
be the best time to retire, because
she is now ready to pass the torch
to someone else to allow new ideas
to be put into the school.
“It’s time to move on and allow
some one else with new ideas to
pick up the gauntlet and take
the college to the next level,” she
stated. January of 2011 will mark
11 hardworking years Pippin has
spent with the college.
Pippin arrived at BC in 2000
and is responsible for bringing a
lot of government related activities
to the school. She conducted
workshops on legislative and
funding processes for SGA and
Broward Days, invited legislators
to speak in classrooms, and
established
the
government
relations of the college.
Pippin has put in a lot into the
college; she created the strong bond
with BC and Florida legislators
and created most of the legislative
programs BC has to offer.
A few of Pippin’s contributions
to the school include the creation of
the Competitve Edge program, in
which students travel to Tallahassee
to shadow a member of the House
of Representatives.
Another is the
legislative
internship, which is a program
that allows students who meet the
requirements to work in the district
office to understand the legislative
process.
Her funding efforts benefitted
BC on many occasions. She helped
to secure congressional funding
for several campus projects, one
for the construction of the new
Institute for Public Safety, another
for the renovation and remodeling
of the old Institute of Public Safety
and also aided in the funding for
the Aviation Simulation Center to
name a few.
With all that she has put in,
Pippin is going to leave with very
fond memories of the college.
“I am going to miss everything.
My friends and colleagues, the
events, like SGA meetings, and
welcome back faculty and most
importantly, graduation,” she said.
Pippin’s passion for government
started at a young age back in high
school. Pippin’s first job was at the
city hall in her home town of East
Providence, Rhode Island. She
worked there, at the Opportunities
Industrialization Center, until she
went off to college.
She graduated from the
University of Rhode Island in
1972 and got her master’s degree
at the University of Massachusetts
in 1974. What really sparked her
passion for government was her
drive to always make change, and
the only way she saw fit to do that
was through politics.
Pippin is very fond of graduation
because she is emotionally moved
every time she witnesses students,
“
Photo Courtesy of Barbara Pippin
I will miss
being part of the
Broward College
family commencement
ceremony . . . It
reinforces my passion:
commitment to
students and why I do
what I do professionally
and personally.
”
Barbara Cohen Pippin, a front
runner at BC for educational
advancement, retires after 11 years.
- Barbara Cohen Pippin
who put in such an endeavor for
their degree, to continue on to the
next level. “December [of ] 2000
was my first community college
graduation,” she said.
Pippin never doubted her
purpose at the college.
“Observing the students of all
ages, ethnicity, educational skills
and miscellaneous experiences and
background, walk across the stage.
I knew, without reservation, that I
was where I needed to be, and my
decision to pursue employment
with Broward College was the right
one,” said Pippin.
Her plans for retirement are to
continue to lobby in Tallahassee for
education and become an advocate
for student access issues, financial
aid and the Dream Act.
With such a proactive person
leaving BC, she encourages
students to make a difference in our
community and to eliminate the
word “can’t” from our vocabulary.
Nov. 22, 2010
Campus News
Thanksgiving comes
early for BC students
PHoto by von clinton
Student Life members, Nick Lee and Anisa Hosein, participate in South
Campus’ Thanksgiving celebration on Nov. 17. Students answered questions
about the history of the holiday and celebrated with a feast supplied by
Student Life.
Page 5
Carl Sagan shines on
In
the
planetarium there
was a show about
the galaxies and the
stars in the solar
Broward College
system which was
(BC) found time to
thoroughly enjoyed
celebrate the man
by the attending
who taught others
guests.
to celebrate the
“It’s just like
Earth. BC’s Central
when
I went to the
Campus
rejoiced
planetarium
as a kid,
to celebrate the
it
was
just
awesome
existence of Carl
to see those stars all
Sagan, the Pulitzer
around you,” said
Prize winning author
Claudia Sosa, a local
and
renowned
resident with a love
astronomer, for the
for astronomy.
anniversary of his 76
After the shows
birthday.
in
the planetarium
Aside
from
Courtesy
of
phys.lsu.edu
there
were telescope
inspiring others with
Carl
Sagan,
scientist
prized
for
his
theories
viewings
offered to
the words and ideas
and inspirational lectures.
the
public
where
of Sagan, the event
people
were
given
a
chance
to
look
at
the
was set to help increase public participation
telescopes.
in the excitement of astronomy and space
“I manage the telescopes here, kind of
exploration.
A local association of science and reason- babysitting them for my work study. It’s
based organizations announced the second really fun, we have shows at the planetarium
annual Carl Sagan Day, which took place on weekly open to the public as well that I help
Nov. 6 on Central Campus. The all day event with,” said Jermaine Fray, a political science
was filled with children’s events and activities major in his sophomore year at BC.
The planetarium is open every Wednesday,
throughout the day and at night there were
Friday,
Saturday and Sunday to the public
two shows held in the Buehler planetarium.
and
all
BC
students can attend any show for
Although there were plenty of events
just
$2.
going on at Carl Sagan Day, there weren’t
Carl Sagan Day may have not attracted
too many participants. A larger crowd was
as
much
of a crowd as anticipated, but it did
definitely anticipated yet the number of
provide
great
activities and expanded many
people could be counted on two sets of
people’s
views
on the planetarium at BC.
hands.
By Skylar Siegel
Central Bureau
Chief
Page 6
Campus News
Nov. 22, 2010
Aviation students host flight competition
Flight Competition
Continued From
Front page
Boylan said that the Society of
Experimental Test Pilots (SETP)
was a major sponsor for the event
hosted by BC. “They have given the
college $1,000 toward our budget,”
he said. “And,” he added, “they
supplied our guest speaker (Bob
Hood) for the awards banquet on
Saturday night.”
According to NIFA Chief Judge
John Lawler, there are 10 schools
in the Southeast Region which
encompasses Florida, Georgia and
Alabama. “We have seven colleges
competing here this year including
last year’s second-place national
champion, Daytona Beach-based
Embry-Riddle,” he said. Lawler
and his wife, Vero Beach residents,
volunteer their time as NIFA
judges. Lawler, now retired, spent
his career on a US Navy aircraft
carrier.
Lawler said the competition is a
perfect opportunity for the students
to sharpen their professional
skills. “The flying events are the
most challenging, especially the
landings. Everything has to be
done with absolute precision,”
he said. “This competition is the
equivalent of an NCAA event in
collegiate sports,” Lawler said. He
added that, in his opinion, unlike
some sports competitions, there
is no home-team advantage. “A
runway is a runway,” he said.
Broward College’s Seahawks
Photo By Crystal Vander Weit
A participating school in the flight competition is scored on their ability to land on the white line drawn out on
the runway at North Perry Airport located next to South Campus.
Flight Team coach and adviser,
Justin Kremer, disagrees with
Lawler. “One of the things you
get penalized for when you do
landings is your traffic pattern. If
you’re too wide, too high or too
low you get points off. Our guys
know the traffic pattern…they
could fly it in their sleep. That’s
a huge advantage,” he said with a
grin.
The comprehensive events at
North Perry Airport were designed
to measure student’s landing,
flying, navigation, safety and other
skills. “It’s all about safety,” said
John Huynh, a certified flight
instructor at the BC Aviation
Institute. “Everything that they do
around the aircraft is being judged.”
Huynh said 25 judges scrutinized
every move the students made
during the four-day event.
Kremer said logistically BC has
the smallest ramp area to work with
than any of the other host facilities.
“North Perry is a very busy airport,
so it was a challenge not only for
us but for the air traffic controllers
and the other pilots in the area as
well,” he added.
Kremer said BC has competed
in NIFA events since 2005. “We
finished 5th overall in last year’s
competition,” he said. “We took
a couple of individual first places
as well,” he added. In this year’s
competition BC had some notable
successes placing in the top ten
in the navigation, message drop,
power-off
precision
landing,
ground trainer and preflight
inspection events.
Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical
University placed first in the
overall competition followed
by Jacksonville University and
Florida Institute of Technology in
the number two and three slots
respectively.
While many of the students
focus on the competitive side of the
event, Kremer said they actually
benefit most from participating
in other ways. “Someday they’ll
be sitting in the cockpit of a
commercial airliner and they’ll
look at the person in the copilot’s seat and say ‘Hey, didn’t we
compete against each other at the
NIFA event in Fort Lauderdale
back in 2010?’”
BC aviation student Miguel
Ortez said, “We have put a lot of
hours into organizing this event.
The best part is that it’s a lot of
fun. The time goes by so fast when
you’re doing what you enjoy.”
According to Ortez, all of the BC
team members belong to the Alpha
Theta Rho fraternity. Huynh said
they put on a barbecue to raise
money to help defray some of the
costs.
Organizers of the event
emphasized that this is not an
air show and that any potential
spectators might have been
disappointed if they expected
aeronautical entertainment.
Nov. 22, 2010
Features
Page 7
Putting a ‘can’ on hunger
Kyle Rambo
Contributing Writer
Photo by Brittani Philbin
Volunteer paints mural outside elementary school
Painting a brighter future
By Brittani Philbin
Photo Editor
& Adrianna TraxLer
Staff Writer
It wasn’t just another typical Friday
morning for one Broward elementary school.
Local volunteers, including Broward College
attendees, woke up bright and early to make
a change that would not only benefit the
young students, but also lift the spirits of the
school.
Sunland Park elementary was chosen as
part of the United Way Project this year in an
effort to create a better and more comfortable
environment for underprivileged homeless
and abused children who attend the school.
Companies, including Publix and UPS,
non-profit organizations and volunteers
from Broward College, collaborated to help
make renovations at the elementary school
on Oct. 29.
United Way of Florida’s mission is
to “increase the organized capacity of
people to care for one another.” The nonprofit organizations’ goals are to improve
education, help people achieve financial
stability, and promote healthy lives by 2018.
“We choose a different project every year.
It’s the most amazing day, and if you want
to feel good, come help your community.
These volunteers worked so hard and put in
so much effort today. Art matters and art
gives,” said painter, Janine Casoria.
The school has been neglected and hasn’t
been updated in a couple years. Inside the
building, the volunteers used brushes and
cleaned the walls and floor tiles, repainted
the walls in each classroom, cleaned the
bathrooms and refurnished the wood on
the desks. Outside of the building, the walls
were painted with whimsical elements,
plants, flowers, flamingos and silhouettes of
kids dancing. An updated playground now
consisted of more swings, slides and carousels
for a safer and more fun atmosphere at recess
time. Five murals were painted in total, and
two of the school logos were painted as well.
“The building has a newer and homier
feeling, which will help make a better
environment for education. It was a great
feeling to know we were helping these
children have the same opportunities and
privileges other children have and helping
our community,” SGA President, Virginia
Limage, said.
The charitable event was a success in the
eyes of the volunteers. Something good was
accomplished and the school was made into
a place children should enjoy.
Zirel Perez, VP of Student Government,
got to see first hand what it is to help others.
“I feel the experience was very successful
and rewarding knowing we got to clean the
daycare and park and help create a better
environment.” Hopefully, the children will
be inspired and feel deserving in this newly
refreshed school.
As kids in elementary school, we are
always asked around Thanksgiving time
what we are most thankful for in our
lives. As the years pass by and we get
older, most of us realize that there are
many things in our lives to be thankful
for.
We also realize that there are people
who are less fortunate and have gone
through many hardships in their lives.
There’s no better time to give them a
boost than around the Thanksgiving
holiday.
Broward College’s Central campus is
making a difference this holiday season in
helping those in need by running, what
they call, the Can-Tastic Food Drive
through the Student Life Department.
The Can-Tastic food drive is a program
that allows students to donate canned
foods or any non-perishable goods to
people in need through local food banks.
This event is not only good for the
people who receive the goods, but it
can also be rewarding for the person
who is donating the items. Sara Lopez
from the Student Life department says,
“I loved participating in the food drive
and would highly recommend that all
students contribute to this wonderful
community helping experience.”
The Can-Tastic food drive ran until
Nov. 18th. There is an extra incentive
for students to go above and beyond as
anyone who donates 25 cans will receive
four hours of community service. If
anyone really wants to go hands on and
help the community, the Student Life
Department offers different volunteer
opportunities all year long.
Giving back to the community is
a highly rewarding experience that
everyone should try, especially around
the Thanksgiving holiday. Good
people who live day to day without
everyday goods deserve to have a nice
Thanksgiving. With the help of students
at Broward College, these people might
get the holiday season they hoped for.
photo courtesy of rockhoppersdailygrind.com
Canned food donations for Operation Sack Lunch.
Focusing on ‘creative self ’ with Mr. Plumb
By Devon Shaddle
Contributing writer
David Plumb is a creative writing and
English professor at Broward College’s
North Campus and a writer himself. His
class is unique in that he focuses on “tapping
the creative self,” as he calls it.
Plumb encourages students to set aside
time to write every day. It doesn’t have to
be in a specific format, or method, just so
long as the aspiring writer is able to put aside
technology and the daily grind for a few
moments and focus on writing.
Many of Plumb’s classes open with freewrite exercises. Students are given a fragment
of a scene, conversation, or thought, and
asked to expand on it, pushing their pen
vigorously without stopping to self-edit.
After 10 to 20 minutes, students have
the opportunity to share what they wrote.
Students are then introduced to prose and
poetry forms, which will be work shopped
and graded. Through this process, students
are able to get and give feedback, which
helps them grow as writers. This class proves
challenging for those who prefer linear and
clear-cut assignments as Plumb himself
asserted on the class syllabus, “The writing
process is learned by trial and error…There
are rules. There are no rules.”
Plumb did not always see himself as a
writer. He attended Syracuse University
in New York, majoring in Political Science
while working in the medical field. During
this time, Plumb was drawn to writing and
literature but it was ultimately coming across
Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s “Coney Island of the
Mind” that turned his life course toward
writing.
Plumb explained, “One evening I went
to a party where someone was reading
Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s ‘Coney Island of
the Mind.’ It changed my life forever.” He
continued, “The writing in ‘Coney Island of
the Mind’ was free verse and very risk-taking
for the time. It sang a very jazzy, out there
song I had not heard before. At the time I
was living what might have been deemed a
bohemian life. In fact, someone said I was a
‘Beatnik’ and I didn’t know what that was.”
Plumb went on to become a U.S Naval
Officer, then worked in a slaughterhouse
for meager pay in upstate New York. He
eventually hitch-hiked his way to SanFrancisco, where he attended printing school
and worked a series of jobs to maintain his
writing.
He also taught Fiction Writing at the
University of California, Berkeley and Fort
Mason Center for the Arts. A prolific member
of South Florida’s literary community,
Plumb’s most recent published work is the
book “Poetry on Strings,” published in
2009. “Poetry On Strings” features pictures
of marionettes created by artist Pablo Cano.
Each of Cano’s charming marionettes
is given character by a poem written by
Plumb. The marionette, Lolita Coffee
Cup and the accompanying poems is on
display at The Coral Springs Art Museum.
His poem, “News on A Full March Moon”
was nominated for the Pushcart Anthology
2010. He will teach a poetry workshop at the
Palm Beach Poetry Festival in 2012.
Photo Courtesy of David Plumb
Professor David Plumb, North Campus
English professor at Broward College and
professional writer.
Best Electronic Sales
Nikon’s Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel S70 Digital Camera
Shoppers can get a head start on their
holiday wishlists starting with Black Friday,
on Nov. 26. Some of the biggest doorbuster
specials have been announced, but more
surprises are yet to come on the day of the
event.
Barnes and Noble Nook WiFi eReader
Location: Best Buy
Sale Price: 169.99
Original Price:
299.99
Location: Best Buy
Sale Price: 99.99
Original Price:
$149.99
You Save $130
You Save $50
Black Friday Mall Hours
Broward Mall:
5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Coral Ridge Mall:
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Coral Square Mall:
Best Clothing Sale
All Express Clothing Stores
5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Galleria Fort Lauderdale:
8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
You Save:
6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• 40 percent off of purchases before noon
Pembroke Lakes Mall:
Sawgrass Mills:
• 30 percent off purchases after noon
12:01 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The Shops at Pembroke Gardens:
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Information Courtesy of Sun-sentinel.com
Sale Information Courtesy of BFADS.NET
By Felecia King
Contributing Writer
It’s already November and with
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year
around the corner, businesses are ready for the
holidays. However, they aren’t the only ones.
Students at Broward College (BC) are excited for
this year’s holiday season.
With the season in mind, students have
already made their wish lists. Some of the top
contenders for presents and stocking stuffers
among students this holiday season range from
gadgets like the PlayStation 3 and iPad, designer
fashions including the newest Juicy Couture
purses, money and even romance. Students want
it all this holiday season. Some overzealous
companies including Wal-Mart, JC Penney,
Target, and Best Buy have already started their
pre-Black Friday sale, with “doorbuster” deals on
the iPad, Flip video camera, Samsung’s dual view
digital camera, and a plethora of other gadgets.
Students are not only accepting gifts, but they also
plan on giving this holiday. Tereisha Hannah, a
BC student, is planning to spend at least $1,000
on Christmas gifts. “I have a really big family and
we do Christmas really big. We are a really close
family,” said Hannah.
For those who are not savvy in the shopping
world, Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving
and is the busiest shopping day of the year. Bargain
shoppers near and far camp out at their local malls
and superstores to score the largest discounts,
which can be a huge help on the wallet during
holiday shopping.
The deals start as early as midnight. One
of the largest Black Friday events in the Broward
area occurs every year at Sawgrass Mills Mall,
which opens at 12:01 every year. Broward Mall is
scheduled to open at 5 a.m. this Black Friday, with
Pembroke Lakes Mall opening just an hour later at
6 a.m.
“I want to be second in line,” said Nadine
Elliott, a BC education major, who is planning
to shop on Black Friday. Nearly 11 percent of the
200 students that participated in a recent survey
on South Campus, are planning to go shopping on
Black Friday.
For those who don’t have the patience to wait
in the harrowing lines and tackle their way through
mobs of shoppers, online shopping deals have taken
flight over the past five years. The shopping event
of the web, Cyber Monday, precedes Black Friday
and is the biggest online shopping day of the year.
Those who miss the events will have the opportunity
to catch up on the extended mall hours taking place
from Black Friday up until Christmas Day.
Although it is the season of giving, some students
realize that it is not just about the gifts. There is
still an apparent value of the quality time spent
with family. “I don’t want anything for Christmas,
I’ve got it all,” said Dennis Collado, student at BC.
Even if students are not spending big on
gifts they most definitely are on travel. Out of 200
students surveyed on South Campus, 27.5 percent
are planning on traveling to destinations such as,
Chicago, New York, California, Dallas and Boston.
“I hope that everyone has a peaceful holiday
season,” said South Campus student, Kenny
Sereme.
However the holiday is spent or which gifts
are received something that students never forget
is the spirit that accompanies the season.
Design by Richard Perez & Jillian Goltzman
Nov. 22, 2010
Entertainment
Page 11
By Jeffrey Martinez
Staff Writer
I’ll admit it right now. I’m
not an overall fan of most firstperson shooters. Games, such as
Halo and Call of Duty, just never
clicked with me before in ways
role playing games and adventure
games do. When I got my hands
on the previous Call of Duty
game, Modern Warfare 2, the
ratio between skilled players versus
beginners was so unbalanced that
I was instantly turned off from the
game. That being said, I believe
that the recent installment, Call
of Duty: Black Ops, is a great
game that blends in all the fun
hardcore fans of the series love
with innovations that please the
newcomers.
Let’s first talk about the singleplayer campaign. Black Ops’ story
is by far the best in the series,
excelling Modern Warfare 2’s
appalling and confusing storyline.
This time around Call of Duty
takes place during the Cold War.
The player takes on the role of
U.S. Special Forces operative
Alex Mason and CIA agent Jason
Hudson. As the story progresses,
the player will alternate between
the two soldiers as we are whisked
across various Cold War scenarios,
such as the Bay of Pigs invasion in
Cuba and the Battle of Khe Sanh
in Vietnam.
While the campaign is a definite
improvement, it is not without its
faults. For the most part, the game
feels like an on-rail shooters in
which the player has little freedom
to roam and explore the area. The
game flows literally from point A
to point B, shoot a couple of guys,
and then straight to point C.
Also, there are a couple of
bugs in the game which ruin the
experience. The biggest bug takes
place during the Battle of Khe
Sanh mission. Taking a complete
180, this glitch causes a key audio
conversation that instructs you on
what you have to do from being
inaudible.
Combined with the fact that
the objectives’ list does not show
what your mission is and the
game keeps respawning enemies
continuously, most players are
doomed from passing this point
in the game. Luckily, other players
have discovered what the objective
actually is, but this is a bug that
must be removed with a patch
update if they wish to keep players
playing the rest of the campaign.
Now, let’s go to multiplayer,
also known as the meat and butter
of this game. Millions of players
have shelled out the $63 for this
aspect of the game alone. And
their money was wisely spent as
this is perhaps the best online
multiplayer Call of Duty game to
date.
Black Ops’ multiplayer follows
in the footsteps of Modern Warfare
2’s online glory, give-or-take a few
additions and subtractions. First
off, there’s the introduction of
split-screen online play. In Modern
Warfare 2, players were forced to
play with only one controller while
online; a prospect which caused
many problems in households that
(Top) Call of Duty: Black Ops character, Bowman, who is Alex Mason’s companion throughout the campaign, aims fire
at Vietnam soldiers. (Bottom) Bowman in combat with an ally.
had more than one child.
Fortunately,
Treyarch,
the company responsible for
developing Black Ops, has
included a feature which allows
players to play traditional splitscreen multiplayer while online
and playing against friends and
strangers.
Other features included are the
addition of a point system, which
lets you upgrade your weapons and
unlock perks and attachments. The
purpose of this system is not only
to be used as a monetary system,
but also as a means to develop one’s
own skill. Instead of unlocking
every gun in the game, the point
system makes it so that if the player
wishes to be a sniper he focuses his
attention on using sniper guns
instead of assault or submachines.
I also feel as though the
multiplayer aspect is a lot more
inviting to those who are not used
to first-person shooters. As I said
before, I was not a fan of Modern
Warfare 2, due to the complexity of
the battlegrounds. I was skeptical
about Black Ops, yet when I played
my first online match, there was a
sense of satisfaction when I finally
got my first kill and understood the
simpler mechanics. Sure, I still lost,
but now I didn’t feel like the game
was impossible to learn. I was no
longer afraid to run around and
shoot.
That being said, like the
campaign, the multiplayer is
riddled with issues and bugs, as
well. Certain weapons will not
deal any damage to opponents
for absolutely no reason and
when one uses a headset their
voice echoes within the game.
Probably
the
most
disappointing and perhaps the
most critical issue with Black
Ops is the online servers. Many
players, myself included, have
a difficult time maintaining an
online match due to unstable
servers. The game will simply
quit or freeze on everyone, which
is a big hassle and frustration.
Most of the time, I’ve thrown the
controller not because I lost, but
because the game froze.
Despite its shortcomings, Call
of Duty: Black Ops is a great game
for anyone who loves first-person
shooters. The campaign’s story
is well told and the multiplayer
is the best the franchise has seen
to date. Treyarch needs to deal
with the bugs and server issues
that plague the game in a future
patch if they wish to avoid having
their game tossed in the used bin
at Gamestop. But, any game that
lets me shoot at dictators and
Nazi zombies is a must buy for
me.
Photos Courtesy of ps3.ign.com
Page 12
Sports
Nov. 22, 2010
Photos By Von Clinton
Seahawk dribbles the ball to the other side of the court while Johnson & Wales University’s Wildcats try to gain speed but do not succeed.
Seahawks triumph
over Wildcats
By Jorge Delgado
Staff Writer
The Broward College womens’
basketball team had little problem
defeating the Wildcats of Johnson
& Wales University, a school
located in North Miami, as they
cruised to victory 63 to 52 on their
season debut. Led by Coach Kevin
Johnson, the Seahawks were able
to overcome a strong opponent
that, initially, was able to find open
spaces. The Seahawks, however,
overcame this thanks to their
shooting skills, which became the
difference.
The game started pretty even for
both sides, as the teams were on par
with their scoring, with both teams
shooting inside the perimeter.
Later on, however, the Seahawks
changed their attack plan into
a more physical game, bringing
themselves closer to the basket, and
shifting the momentum towards
Broward. Both teams, being at
foul limit relatively early, did not
prove to be a disadvantage for the
Seahawks, who were able to end
with the lead by the half.
By the beginning of the second
half, Johnson & Wales seemed to
be on a mission, as the score gap
seemed to be defused, and the
Seahawks found themselves at a
near tie, making it look as if the
momentum was gone. As the game
progressed, the team got back on
track, and was able to improve
its offense and defense, creating
shooting opportunities.
With 14 minutes left, the
Seahawks were in control, leading
by the comfortable margin of 14
points.
Women’s basketball team gathers on sideline with Coach Kevin Johnson to discuss a play for the game.
Later in the half, the Seahawks
showed their impressive side, as
turnovers handicapped Johnson
& Wales, giving a fatal blow and,
subsequently, getting a game high
of a 20 point lead to Broward’s
favor.
Down the end, the team was
dominating, allowing for fewer
and fewer points. The lead slightly
decreased by the end, but it did not
make Broward lose control, as the
final stretch of the game was spent
more on Johnson & Wales’ side.
Overall, it was good start to a
season, which is believed to have
high expectations, with a final
score of 63-52 for the Seahawks.
Men’s Seahawks’ priority: improve defense
By Jorge Delgado
Staff Writer
Despite all the praise, Coach
Bob Starkman is not happy, even
though the final score was 10269 against St. Thomas University.
Coach Starkman talked about how
the team still needs to improve.
“Our defense needs to improve,
and we had an average free throw
percentage,” he cautioned.
It definitely helped that, from
early on, the team had the size
factor on their favor. You could
also add the teams’ speed, which
helped them on some earlier
turnover against Broward. Earlier
in the game, things did seem pretty
even, which were quickly turned
by the middle of the first half, as
the gap between the teams severed.
Additionally, the team was
able to get into rhythm, as the
physical factor kicked in, and more
opportunities to get close to the
basket were within reach.
Some factors were of concern
early on. The team still seems
slightly prone to regrettable
turnovers, but the defensive did
put forth a good effort to stop the
St. Thomas players and keep them
on check, and without that many
opportunities.
By the end of the first half,
the gap had been set at 13 points
in the Seahawks’ favor, which
would later widen thanks to good
performances by AJ Matthews and
Ryan Weems, who scored 28 & 24,
respectively.
The next half was Broward’s
all the way, as the audience was
able to see the point gap become
bigger. Later in the second half,
the Seahawks had their 13 point
difference improve to a 35 point
difference with 4:30 left, to finally
end on 102 to 69 final score, with
a difference of 33 points.
Both Matthews and Coach
Starkman warned of complacency.
“It’s not about style points or
how many blowouts; it’s about
good heart, and improving the
defense as we move forward,” said
Coach Starkman. “We also need to
improve our double team.”
Matthews also talked about how
he believes his defense can improve,
calling blocking improvement “a
priority.”
“We have to work harder,” he
said.
Nov. 22, 2010
Page 13
Sports
Miami Heat’s trio brings big hype to NBA
Opinion
By Jorge Delgado
Staff Writer
When LeBron James “brought
his talents” to South Beach,
a funny thing happened. The
almighty Miami Dolphins, and
their training camp shenanigans,
were suddenly in the actual sports
section of the papers, instead of the
front page. This seems rather odd,
especially since we happen to live in
a football town. Sure, James is the
biggest star in basketball today, but
basketball is the number two sport
in this region and the number three
sport nationally, after baseball. Yet,
this is James, right? Oh, and Chris
Bosh and Dwayne Wade too.
The so-called “big three” are
not necessarily the most interesting
story in sports today, however.
Heck, right now, nothing in
basketball should be.
Basketball is not like the other
fall sports, such as football and
hockey, where predicting who
makes the playoffs is a fool’s
game. In the National Basketball
Association (NBA), it’s utterly
predictable who will be on top by
the All-Star break. This is unlike
the mighty National Football
League and, to a certain extent, the
National Hockey League (At least
in the Northeast and the northern
Midwest), which makes the NBA
feel rather boring by comparison.
Yet, here we are watching and
caring about basketball in the fall
thanks to the big three.
The level of interest is definitely
palpable. The NBA’s online store
has James’ jersey as its best selling
product and a single ticket to a
Heat game could run you up to
$13,000 on eBay. The overall
reporting of the team by the media
has increased, as well. During
the past several months, I have
found myself watching ESPN
and listening to their analysts talk
about how the Heat are going to
win at least 70 games out of the
82 they play in the regular season.
People are comparing the team to
the 1995 Chicago Bulls, the most
successful regular season team in
history. Talk about praise!
Or maybe not; you see, this
is a first year team and as Kobe
Bryant correctly mentioned some
time ago, his team, the Los Angeles
Lakers, has had more time together
and are still the favorites to win
it all. This is why we should not
confuse praise and expectation
with hubris.
They are definitely a good
team, but not yet great. They are a
diamond in the rough and, like all
diamonds in the rough, it’s going
to take time to develop into a team
that can trust each other. So, don’t
feel underwhelmed if they finish
below either the Boston Celtics or
the Orlando Magic in the Eastern
Conference standings by the time
Photo Courtesy of dailytitan.com
The Miami Heat faced a big loss to the Boston Celtics.
of the All-Star break; worry about
what happens after that.
Remember, that anger is a great
motivator and, in case you haven’t
noticed, LeBron has sounded
quite angry lately. In his last Nike
commercial, he said he is “no role
model” and that he is not a “ring
chaser.” In addition, the team’s
president, Pat Riley, took the team
to an Air Force base for training
camp, which subsequently turned
into a circus. Add that to the intense
scrutiny the national media has put
on him for leaving Cleveland in
such an unsportsmanlike manner,
and you have a player and a team
seeing itself as Shakespearean
villains who will desperately try to
avoid the destiny they are supposed
to have. They will mostly succeed,
but who knows if they’ll make it to
the promise land.
Ultimately, that might be the
most intriguing thing about this
NBA season; on one side, we have
James, Bosh, and Wade and on
the other side we have everyone
else. Once the spring kicks in,
we will finally determine who
really has a chance to claim a
championship. Our Miami Heat
are predictably going to be in that
discussion, but once spring comes
all preconceptions are forgotten
and the real season starts, and all
bets are off. Meanwhile, we [Heat
fans] will watch and cheer for the
big three, as well as the rest of the
team as they go into the New Year
determined to win it all. It’ll be up
to them to make it happen.
Nov. 22, 2010
Opinion
Page 15
No change provided
Better Breathing
By Brandon WRIGHT
Staff Writer
Christopher Johnson
Contributing Writer
Toll-by-Plate soon to go in
effect on turnpike
PowerLung training helps
build endurance
Receiving a huge fine via the mail
for accidently going through the
Sun Pass lane can certainly damper
ones mood, but a new program may
shine some light on Florida drivers.
The Florida Turnpike Enterprise
will now use an electronic openroad tolling, also dubbed “Toll-byPlate.” This new method will bring
some hope to drivers who are faced
with major violations for going
Sign for Florida Turnpike’s new open-road tolling.
through the wrong booth.
Of course, this doesn’t eliminate toll
The transition to the new electronic
costs. You will still be charged for cruising open-road tolling will allow all drivers to
through the electronic toll, but instead of the have a smoother commute and may even
$100 fine you will be billed the standard toll save some gas mileage. In 2014, construction
fee to the address where your license plate is to the turnpike will extend further, from the
registered to.
golden glades interchange to I-595.
Many students have faced the situation of
The down side to this method of easy
stopping at a toll plaza to pay the 50 cents or transportation is that you will be charged
$1 to get to classes here at Broward College, an additional service fee each time you pass
waiting for the congested tolls to move along through along with the standard toll fee. For
hoping not to miss the bell. Getting to work those with the Sun Pass, the discounted fees
and even going on vacations to the Keys or will remain the same.
Orlando may be bothersome for some that
Still, travelers should stay alert when
have to stop and go through tolls.
taking the Turnpike as this transition may
According to Floridaturnpike.com, the confuse drivers at first. There are those who
first conversion will begin in early 2011. are not willing to pay the additional fee and
During construction, they will begin the will stick with their sun pass devices, but
conversion on the southern side of the some may find it slightly more convenient to
Turnpike, from U.S. 1 in Florida City, to the drive through these electronic tolls and not
Miami-Dade and Broward County line.
worry about a bill until later on.
Photo courtesy of SUN-SENTINeL
Follow us on Facebook:
Are you an athlete that needs an extra
kick in the lungs or maybe improvement in
your breathing on the last 100 meters? Well
no two words have ever looked better
together than PowerLung. Everyone
knows the feeling
of
difficulty
in
breathing
during
exercise,
competitive sports,
or any intense effort.
It stands to reason that
if you could increase you’re
breathing
performance,
thereby increasing oxygen
intake, you could dramatically
increase performance in
virtually everything you do.
I am a cross-country runner,
and I have been searching for a product
that could increase my endurance and
lung capacity for years. I had tried
several breathing exercises that helped
somewhat, but I can’t really say that it was
noticeable.
Then, I was fortunate enough to receive
information about PowerLung via e-mail; it
explained that this new product will be able
to increase your endurance and lung capacity
by 25 percent. Just like any other muscle
in the body, the lungs can be expanded
and strengthened, however the common
products (Expand-a-Lung, SportsBreather,
UltraBreather, etc.) won’t help to attain this
goal. So, I gave it a try. Not a single product
has given me such impressive results as the
PowerLung. The best characteristic about
this apparatus is that it is easy to use and
anyone can use it and, unlike other products,
PowerLung allows you to set the resistance
that is best for you that allows your lungs
to work.
The PowerLung trainer looks like an
overbuilt plastic kazoo with a snorkel’s
mouthpiece at the business end. It is almost
as easy to use as a kazoo.
One of two numbered adjustable twist
knobs varies the amount of resistance the
device imposes against inspiration (breathing
in). The other knob varies the amount of
resistance your expiratory (exhaling) efforts
meet. It is best
to start off
at the lowest
resistance
The
PowerLung
possible, then
runs for
increase
the
$99.99 on
resistance
amazon.com
incrementally
within
a
certain amount
of time. The
average person
increases the resistance every week
to two weeks, however this
process, needless to say,
goes according to your
fitness level.
If you are a constant
runner, like I am, you may change
the resistance within a couple days. As far
as price is concerned, it is most economical
to purchase PowerLung through Amazon
where it is listed for only $99.99, compared
to other websites that have it listed for $110
and above.
When you’ve been an endurance athlete,
as long as I have, you have to start looking
in out-of-the-way places for improvement.
It can be difficult to judge whether or not
a particular new out-of-the-way measure
has contributed to any improvement you
do experience. Sometimes, you have to
take a leap of faith based on the results of
controlled scientific studies, showing that a
particular tool or method really works. Such
is the case with respiratory muscle training.
Several good studies have shown it
enhances endurance performance when
done properly. So, if you’ve been an athlete
for some time and are already training as
hard as you’re ever going to train, you might
want to try respiratory muscle training.
Corrections:
On Nov. 8, 2010, The Observer ran an article on page four
regarding Dr. Richard Corseri, which contained multiple errors.
The Observer regrets the mistake. Dr. Corseri requested the
following statement be printed.
“The article about me printed in the Nov. 8, 2010 issue of
The Observer contained some misinformation, most importantly
that I am retiring from Broward College in Spring of 2011. I
am scheduled to retire from the college in Spring 2012. Please
discount the Nov. 8 article.”
-Dr. Richard Corseri
facebook.com/observernews
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jillian Goltzman
Central Bureau
Chief
Skylar Siegel
South Bureau
Chief
Clayton Gutzmore
North Bureau
Chief
Ronald Bray
Broward college
2009 FCCPA General
Excellence Award
Photo editor
Brittani Philbin
Sports Editor
Steve Levin
Managing Editor
Richard Perez
Layout Editor
Karen Casilimas
Copy Editors
Alejandro Lozano
Michelle Twarkins
Staff Writers
Jorge Delgado
Buzz Lamb
Laureen Jocelyn
Donna Levasseur
Alexandra Martinez
Jeffrey Martinez
Alexis Martinez
Melissa Simons
Anthony Foglia
Adrianna Traxler
Adviser
Jennifer Shapiro
Adviser’s
assistant
Chris Cutro
Contributing
Writers
Christopher Johnson
Felecia King
Kyle Rambo
Devon Shaddle
Photographers
Von Clinton
Crystal Vander Weit
The Observer is a bi-weekly consolidated newspaper
produced by students of Broward College. Our office
is located at South Campus, Bldg. 68-268, 7200 Pines
Blvd., Pembroke Pines, FL 33024. The newsroom can
be contacted at 754-273-LEAD, or Observer@mail.
broward.edu.
E-mails to the editor are encouraged. The writer’s
name must be included, although requests for
anonymity may be honored at the editor’s discretion.
E-mails must not exceed 300 words. The Observer
upholds the right to edit for style or length or to reject
publications of letters deemed inappropriate.
For information concerning editorial policy or
advertising rates, call 954-201-8035.
Opinions expressed in this publication are those of
the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of BC
students, staff, faculty and administration.
Photos by ronald bray
A class plants in the garden located on North Campus to practice one aspect of
sustainability.
By Ronald Bray
North Bureau Chief
Maybe you have noticed the movement on
Broward College (BC); it’s called sustainable
thinking. It all started over two decades ago with
Dr. Peggy Green. Even before she knew what
an impact she would make, her fascination with
science and the natural systems was leading her
in the direction of sustainability and environmental
awareness.
“Sustainability is so important for everyone’s
future,” said Green, an environmental scientist
and active environmentalist on North Campus.
“It’s the elephant in the room that everyone needs
to understand. It almost encompasses everything
when you talk about people, [the] planet and the
economy. It’s a way of looking at how everything
fits together in a way that works,” she said.
Her first passion was the study of animals.
At that time, Green was in graduate school and
ecology was a fairly new course that examined
natural systems and the environment. In 1970,
during the first Earth Day, she was cleaning up the
wetlands at Lake Alice and pulling out the evasive
water hyacinth, then it all became clear to her
“that everything was connected.”
While studying, Green realized, “in the case of
the environment, your [focus] just keeps getting
broader and broader as you keep pulling in more
things that interest you.”
At that time, there was no major for
environmental science offered. When she went
back to school for her doctorate in community
college education, her focus was on biology.
Green wanted to do something in education that
could help the environment and make an impact.
She searched for an effective way to spark the
Students use planting tools to make room for new growth.
necessary awareness in our educational system
with respect to ecological questions. “I did my
research on developing workshops to help faculty
infuse environmental issues across the curriculum,”
said Green.
Green developed a series of workshops which
were proven successful and people had a greater
understanding of the environment after they
finished.
An increased sense that they could make a
positive difference to Earth became apparent and
they began thinking sustainably.
After she earned a doctorate in education, she
requested to move from the administration back
to faculty where she would have the most impact
on students.
Now, North Campus is covered with native
landscaping. It is estimated that around 85 percent
of North Campus’ trees and plants are natives.
There is a Tropical Hardwood Hammock (trees
indigenous to South Florida), butterfly gardens,
and wetlands, which have been repopulated with
native species instead of harmful exotic plants.
Sustainable thinking has “influenced the way
the campus is making decisions,” said Green. When
they landscaped the parking lots, they used the
native Slash Pine. Recently, the Sustainability
Committee agreed to remove all exotic trees from
all BC campuses, leaving just native trees to be
planted.
The landscaping not only benefits the
environment, but the students as well. Dr. Marie
Dugan, a 19-year veteran to North Campus and
head of the North Campus Science Department,
pointed out that the faculty uses the native
landscaping for educational purposes. For example,
the marsh, located in the back of the campus,
essentially dug to raise the elevation.
“Over the years, we have removed exotics and
planted native trees all along the side. We have
the Cypress, the Bulrush and the Pickerelweed
there now,” said Dugan.
The native plant systems have a very efficient
water filtration capacity. Students test the water
on the golf course side where they use a lot of
fertilizer, then follow the water to the wetlands
and then compare the results. After viewing the
data, she explained that it becomes obvious that
“nature knows how to clean water better than we
do.”In addition to the multitude of environmental
first-hand learning on campus, there are BC’s newly
passed sustainability policies. They encourage
faculty to include ideas that promote sustainable
thinking.
About nine years ago, a collegewide
sustainability committee was formed. Now, there
are sub committees on each campus, and BC’s
new director of sustainability position. Green
noted that the new additions show that we are on
the right track, but there is still much to do.
Dr. Barbara Bryan, the North Campus Provost,
has strong feelings toward sustainability. “I believe
that we are the stewards of the earth. We have
a responsibility to educate about sustainability. I
don’t believe that we can destroy the planet; that
is an arrogant thought. We don’t have that power.
I think we should help to take care of the planet,
because it is the human race that we will destroy.
The planet is far superior to us,” she said.
“If you have a passion, you follow your passion
and [don’t] give up. You stick to it. Because, there
were times, through the years, when it looked like
I was having no influence whatsoever, but I just
didn’t give up. I just kept offering workshops.
Even if only three people came, I didn’t give up,”
said Green.