By Ashley Badillo
The music industry has welcomed the change in media, from selling cassettes to selling CDs in record stores. Now, without leaving the comfort of their homes, people can download entire albums or just their favorite singles off the internet. It is best to buy albums than to download music off the internet. To illegally download songs off the internet hurts not only the artists’ but also everyone who took part in creating that song. Producers, ghost writers, music managers, and record labels all lose money every time a song is illegally downloaded off the internet. New legal downloading sites such as iTunes may sound better, but overall it actually hurts the music industry and the artist.
In one year the overall music industry revenue has dropped 25% because of legal downloading. Music stores, such as F.Y.E and Tower Records, have been shut down due to lack of customers. Soon there will be no need for record stores at all. Artists’ singles are bought and listened to through iTunes and Lime Wire rather than buying albums. The majority of the artists’ songs are no longer being heard because of downloading. Illegal downloading is so much easier and cheaper than legal downloading; in a few years from now what is to stop people from doing so, if record stores are all shut down.
Because of downloading sites such as ITunes and Lime Wire, album sales have decreased. “The combined effect of all these competing forms of distribution, plus the continued growth of illegal file sharing, has been decreases in CD sales. From a peak of almost 800 million albums (CDs, plus records and tapes) sold in 2000, the sales declined to 619 million albums at the end of 2005. Digital track sales increased 150 percent in 2005, but overall sales still declined 4 percent because many people buy single tracks, not full albums, from online stores,” reported The New York Times. Money that is spent on making an album is going to waste due to the fact that not many people are buying albums anymore. Record stores such as Tower Records are going bankrupt and shutting down due to the lack of customers. Within five short years album sales have declined by 181 million, causing many artists to lose money and making it harder for newer artist to become establish in the music industry.
“Much of the music being swapped between computers is copyrighted, and swapping these songs can be considered piracy- violation of the copyright of the artist or recording companies who own it. So as a listener, you have a legal dilemma when you turn to the Internet and MP3s to look for diversity of music. By looking for new talent on the Internet, you can help new bands get around the gatekeeping of the music and radio industries, but if you only listen to their MP3s and don’t buy their CDs, they won’t survive,” noted Media Now: Understanding Media, Culture, and Technology. By getting attention off the internet, artists do not have to worry about advertising or censorship, because it allows the artists to promote their music however they want. The only thing is that if people are not buying a new artist’s album, then the artist loses out on a lot of money and may not even be able to create another album or they may never become successful.
Even with all the great success, legal downloading has become unpopular with record labels and established artists. “ITunes has become the runaway hit of the music business; selling more than five billion song downloads since it started five years ago. But a growing number of record companies are trying to steer clear of Apple Inc.’s behemoth music store, because they say selling single songs on iTunes in some cases is crimping over all music sales,” according to a Wall Street Journal entry later reported by The Charleston (SC) The Post and Courier.
Artists such as Kid Rock have kept their albums and singles off of iTunes and in doing so have seeing a significant growth in album sales on the Billboards’ Hot 100 chart during a period where the music industry is going on a slight downfall. Atlantic Records has even pulled one of their artists (Estelle) off out of iTunes and has seen her sales go up. Record labels are not the only ones that have a dislike toward legal downloading; artists feel the same. “A number of labels and artist would prefer to see their music sold as an album. Some want the higher profit from a CD, while others feel selling a track at a time is like selling a book by each chapter, effectively reducing its value as a complete work of art” stated in an article on Macintosh News Network. Artists lose out on distribution sales when songs are bought off of iTunes. And since many people tend to only buy the songs they have already heard (most likely from the radio) they do not even bother to listen to the other songs by the artist. Much of the creativity that is put into making an album is becoming a waste.
Artists and record labels are fighting back against illegal downloading. “Individual groups like Metallica, recording companies like EMI, and representatives of the entire industry, like the Radio Industry Association of America (RIAA), sued Napster and other services to stop them from allowing people to trade copyrighted music. The rulings eventually killed Napster. The industry also began to sue individual downloader’s-more than 17,000 by the end of 2005-settled suits with 3,900 of them, according to RIAA,” noted Media Now: Understanding Media, Culture, and Technology. Not only are record labels and artists suing sites such as Napster, but now they are also suing individuals who download many songs illegally. In doing so, the amount of illegal downloading that goes on may drop but there is still the problem with legal downloading. As for now, artists are coming up with more creative ways to sell albums, such as adding DVD’s about the artist in the album that cannot be found on iTunes, or putting posters in the album covers. But with sites such as Lime Wire and iTunes, there will still be a continuous down fall in album sales.
It is better to buy albums than to download singles. By downloading singles a person will miss out on the other songs that appear on the albums, and with the continuous lack of album sales record labels themselves will begin to go bankrupt. And if there are no more record labels, then there will not be any more artists. “New Media” can lead to bad business, and downloading music off the internet versus buying albums is becoming “bad media.”
For Further Information:
NY Times, January 6, 2006.
Joseph Straubhaar and Robert LaRose. Media Now: Understanding Media, Culture, and Technology. Thomson Learning Inc. 2008.
“Why some record companies avoid iTunes.” http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/aug/31/why_some_recording_companies_avoid_itunes/ (31 August 2008).
“Artists avoid iTunes; singles discourage album sales” http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/08/29/artists.avoid.itunes/ (29 August 2008).
Ashley Badillo is a student at St. Thomas Aquinas College. She is a Communication Arts major who will graduate in the spring of ’11, and hopes to one day work in the Independent Film industry. Ashley still lives at home with her mother and older sister in Lower Manhattan in New York City.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
"Hurt Locker" Review
By Alex Bly
“The Hurt Locker,” directed by Kathryn Bigelow, is about an American bomb squad in Iraq. They particularly focus on disarming I.E.D.s (Improvised Explosive Devices) that are planted by terrorists to kill civilians and U.S. military personnel. It is one of the jobs that we rarely hear about and that is what makes the movie so interesting and unique.
According to Yahoo Movies, the director of the film, Kathryn Ann Bigelow, was born in San Carlos, California in 1951. After high school Kathryn studied painting for two years at the San Francisco Art Institute. She also studied Film Theory and Criticism at Columbia University, where she earned a masters degree. Later she went on to direct such films as “Near Dark” in 1987, “Blue Steel” in 1990, “Point Break” in 1991, “Strange Days” in 1995 and “K-12, The Widow Maker” in 2002.
This year, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Director, according to IMDB. Her movie “The Hurt Locker” beat her ex-husband James Cameron’s major film “Avatar,” which was expected to win. The official Oscar website shows that she also won against “The Blind Side,” “Inglorious Bastards,” “District 9,” “Up,” “Up in the Air,” “Precious,” “An Education,” and “A Serious Man.”
The reason the win was so unbelievable was that the film was expected by many to be a sleeper film. It was very low budget and only expected to be viewed by people who are truly film fanatics or people interested in this topic. It was truly a win for the underdog this year at the Oscars.
The main character Sergeant James is played by Jeremy Renner. Sergeant James comes in to replace Sergeant Thompson, played by Guy Pearce, who is killed by a remotely detonated explosive in the very beginning of the film. He wears a protective outfit but it does not save him. Sergeant James is not liked by his new squad mates -- Sergeant Sanborn, who is played by Anthony Mackie and Specialist Eldridge who is played by Brian Geraghty. They think he is too brash and not concerned enough about his or their safety.
The reason Sergeant James, the main character is not liked is because he is reckless and takes unnecessary risk. For example, in one part of the movie he doesn’t wear his bomb suit that helps protect him from flying debris and the force of the explosion. He also stays near the bomb until he disarms it even when he is warned that is could blow any second and that he needs to leave.
The terrorists are portrayed as cold and intimidating. In confrontations, they stare down Sergeant James and his bomb squad and ignore their orders. The American soldiers are in constant danger. Their enemies are not just Iraqi soldiers but also some Iraqi civilians, both of whom hate the invading Americans.
Sergeant James is addicted to the danger of being in the bomb squad. He not only shows no fear, but he actually seems to enjoy putting his life at risk. He shows no hate or prejudice against his enemies. He views diffusing the bomb as a challenge of his abilities, and relishes the chance to “defeat” the bombs and traps the enemy has set in his path.
There is one scene that deals with terrorists and not their traps. The main squad at one point encounters friendly British soldiers. While the two teams are having a discussion, an enemy sniper shoots one of the British soldiers. This leads to a heavy fire fight between the terrorists and the American Bomb Squad and British Soldiers. The British take many casualties but in the end the enemy sniper and his team of terrorists are defeated.
One of the themes in the film is decision. The main characters had to decide whether or not to trust these civilians. That had to decide if they thought they would take action to hurt them. In one part of the film a man with a bomb strapped to his chest slowly walks towards the crew and has his hand in the air as if he is coming in peace. He claims the bomb has a timer and they must defuse it quickly or else he will die. They take a while to discuss if they think he is a lying terrorist who will blow up the bomb or a person who actually needs help. In the end the main character decides to help him. It turn out that he is actually a good person who was captured by terrorist. Sergeant James and Sergeant Sanborn try to help him but must leave because they do not have enough time to get it off before the bomb blows up.
In the end of the film, the main character Sergeant James goes home to the U.S. But after a short time with his son, he decides to go back to Iraq once more for another tour of duty. The last scene is him walking towards a bomb to disarm it and the screen shows the number of days he has left as one. Then the number resets, showing he has signed up for another full tour of duty.
What is the reason? I think this is because he actually feels that bomb defusing is something that he is good at. It makes him special because it is the one thing he is better at than anyone else. We hear that he has disarmed over 800 bombs during the war, which seems to be some kind of record. But it is not enough for James. He wants to improve his record.
Overall, I liked the movie a lot. It was entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was an extremely suspenseful film. I never knew when a character was going to be blown up or shot. For this reason, I would have to give the movie a full four stars out of four.
Alex Bly is a sophmore at Saint Thomas Aquinas College. He currently lives in River Vale, NJ. He is majoring in Criminal Justice.
“The Hurt Locker,” directed by Kathryn Bigelow, is about an American bomb squad in Iraq. They particularly focus on disarming I.E.D.s (Improvised Explosive Devices) that are planted by terrorists to kill civilians and U.S. military personnel. It is one of the jobs that we rarely hear about and that is what makes the movie so interesting and unique.
According to Yahoo Movies, the director of the film, Kathryn Ann Bigelow, was born in San Carlos, California in 1951. After high school Kathryn studied painting for two years at the San Francisco Art Institute. She also studied Film Theory and Criticism at Columbia University, where she earned a masters degree. Later she went on to direct such films as “Near Dark” in 1987, “Blue Steel” in 1990, “Point Break” in 1991, “Strange Days” in 1995 and “K-12, The Widow Maker” in 2002.
This year, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Director, according to IMDB. Her movie “The Hurt Locker” beat her ex-husband James Cameron’s major film “Avatar,” which was expected to win. The official Oscar website shows that she also won against “The Blind Side,” “Inglorious Bastards,” “District 9,” “Up,” “Up in the Air,” “Precious,” “An Education,” and “A Serious Man.”
The reason the win was so unbelievable was that the film was expected by many to be a sleeper film. It was very low budget and only expected to be viewed by people who are truly film fanatics or people interested in this topic. It was truly a win for the underdog this year at the Oscars.
The main character Sergeant James is played by Jeremy Renner. Sergeant James comes in to replace Sergeant Thompson, played by Guy Pearce, who is killed by a remotely detonated explosive in the very beginning of the film. He wears a protective outfit but it does not save him. Sergeant James is not liked by his new squad mates -- Sergeant Sanborn, who is played by Anthony Mackie and Specialist Eldridge who is played by Brian Geraghty. They think he is too brash and not concerned enough about his or their safety.
The reason Sergeant James, the main character is not liked is because he is reckless and takes unnecessary risk. For example, in one part of the movie he doesn’t wear his bomb suit that helps protect him from flying debris and the force of the explosion. He also stays near the bomb until he disarms it even when he is warned that is could blow any second and that he needs to leave.
The terrorists are portrayed as cold and intimidating. In confrontations, they stare down Sergeant James and his bomb squad and ignore their orders. The American soldiers are in constant danger. Their enemies are not just Iraqi soldiers but also some Iraqi civilians, both of whom hate the invading Americans.
Sergeant James is addicted to the danger of being in the bomb squad. He not only shows no fear, but he actually seems to enjoy putting his life at risk. He shows no hate or prejudice against his enemies. He views diffusing the bomb as a challenge of his abilities, and relishes the chance to “defeat” the bombs and traps the enemy has set in his path.
There is one scene that deals with terrorists and not their traps. The main squad at one point encounters friendly British soldiers. While the two teams are having a discussion, an enemy sniper shoots one of the British soldiers. This leads to a heavy fire fight between the terrorists and the American Bomb Squad and British Soldiers. The British take many casualties but in the end the enemy sniper and his team of terrorists are defeated.
One of the themes in the film is decision. The main characters had to decide whether or not to trust these civilians. That had to decide if they thought they would take action to hurt them. In one part of the film a man with a bomb strapped to his chest slowly walks towards the crew and has his hand in the air as if he is coming in peace. He claims the bomb has a timer and they must defuse it quickly or else he will die. They take a while to discuss if they think he is a lying terrorist who will blow up the bomb or a person who actually needs help. In the end the main character decides to help him. It turn out that he is actually a good person who was captured by terrorist. Sergeant James and Sergeant Sanborn try to help him but must leave because they do not have enough time to get it off before the bomb blows up.
In the end of the film, the main character Sergeant James goes home to the U.S. But after a short time with his son, he decides to go back to Iraq once more for another tour of duty. The last scene is him walking towards a bomb to disarm it and the screen shows the number of days he has left as one. Then the number resets, showing he has signed up for another full tour of duty.
What is the reason? I think this is because he actually feels that bomb defusing is something that he is good at. It makes him special because it is the one thing he is better at than anyone else. We hear that he has disarmed over 800 bombs during the war, which seems to be some kind of record. But it is not enough for James. He wants to improve his record.
Overall, I liked the movie a lot. It was entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was an extremely suspenseful film. I never knew when a character was going to be blown up or shot. For this reason, I would have to give the movie a full four stars out of four.
Alex Bly is a sophmore at Saint Thomas Aquinas College. He currently lives in River Vale, NJ. He is majoring in Criminal Justice.
“The Dark Knight”
By Eddie Prendergast
With content in movies becoming increasingly stupid and lack-luster to say the least, a movie like Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" is not just the epic tale of good versus evil, but the concessions that a good man faces in order to reach the greater good under extreme scrutiny. Arguably the best "Batman" movie ever, the movie put new life into a classic character, The Joker, spawning a slew of Halloween costumes and cult-like status for the late Heath Ledger. Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker was bone-chilling. It was truly an experience to sit and watch Heath transform into a maniacal genius. He is possibly one of the top villains of all time, in my personal opinion. From the first scene of The Joker and his men robbing the bank, it becomes clear that this is going to be a worthy opponent for the caped crusader. Played by Christain Bale, Batman is a step away from perfect. At times Bale's voice seems a little forced but that would really be a judgment call. Aaron Eckhart plays Harvey Dent aka Two Face, Gotham's District Attorney.
Harvey's campaign to wipe out the mob by cutting off their funds runs parallel to Batman's, which is where Police Commissioner Gordon played by Gary Oldman steps in to bridge the gap. In a joint effort to bring down Moronee (Eric Roberts), Gotham's D.A and Batman raid the mob banks only to come up short. The Joker, taking advantage of the mob's misfortune, proposes the idea to eliminate The Bat, plunging the viewers deep into The Joker's quest to take over the city. Nolan and his crew blend the visual and audio worlds seemlessly, making for an extremely believable right there feeling. The post-production work is practically flawless, with only some of Batman's physical impacts sounding slightly exaggerated. The love-story of Bruce Wayne and Rachel Dawes played by Maggie Gyllenhal doesn't overtake the film which is a plus in my book as movies like "Spider-Man" became a little too fixated on the boy-girl story then the super-hero's story. Nolan's perspective allows the viewer to see the character before they were villains allowing for a better understanding of the characters motifs. Bruce and Harvey's triangle relationship with Rachel really pulls at the heart-strings, especially when The Joker is holding the violin.
"The Dark Knight" doesn't leave much room for a trilogy, as "Batman Begins" offered a solid lead-in to The Joker. Also it seems that Batman could evolve more as a character, perhaps in the life of Bruce Wayne. It wouldn't be accurate to label the performance as stale, as I imagine it difficult to do something different being confined to that suit. However, that is a situation where lemonade could be poured because Bruce Wayne, other than being a cover for Batman, could have more of a story. Mr. Fox, Morgan Freemon, makes for a great tech-guy, as Batman's gear is crucial to his performance against villains. There is a playful chemistry between them that feels very natural. This was not so much the case when Aaron Eckhart was in the hospital scene with Gary Oldman, as I felt that each actor, maybe a mismatch, did not bring their A-game.
"The Dark Knight" offers an incredible story that transcends on so many levels. There is the obvious of good versus evil, but more so is the idea that a good man might have to do something morally questionable in order to achieve a greater good. The Joker in spite of all his insanity really has the right idea. He understands a human being's ability to walk away from someone even after doing something like cutting your face to make your wife feel better about her own. The Joker knows that people for the most part only want you there when they need you, and when they are finished they can't be bothered.
Batman being an idealist believes that people are good, and the scene of the prisoners and civilians capable of killing each other on separate boats is proof for Batman that he was right. Bitter-sweet though because Harvey Dent would succumb to his rage and ambitions for revenge, just like The Joker knew he would. The Joker symbolizes the ideas that money doesn't matter; it's intelligence that is the key. Because of how The Joker played his cards, (no pun intended), he was able to capture the Chinese money launderer and acquire half of the mob's life savings. What was interesting is that he burns his share of the money because the money is useless to a thief, or rather a worker who has cheap supplies. He knows that his position of power, the ability to take the Russian gangsters thugs' right from him shows that the fear of The Joker was much greater than a paycheck. His ruthlessness was all he needed to control the criminals who otherwise would be against him. "The Dark Knight" is a combination of beautiful destruction and twisted morals that somehow seem logical. Comparable to Scarface, movie-goers walked out of the theater wanting to be like The Joker. It is not often that people so unanimously agree to be the bad guy, but I'd be lying if I said I too didn't have the slight urge to introduce a little chaos.
"The Dark Knight" shines during a time when movies seem like jewels and turn out to be cubic zirconium. It saddens me that Heath Ledger will not be able to reprise his role, but maybe seeing it once is what makes it so great. Now in the same breath as James Dean, Ledger will be forever remembered as the murderous-lunatic he embodied so well. Bale and cast were nothing shy of great, making for one of the finest pictures I have had the privilege to watch.
Eddie Prendergast is an undergraduate student at St. Thomas Aquinas College, studying Communications. He plans on interning this summer hopefully in the field of communication or marketing, with a concentration in sports. He's expected to graduate in the Fall of 2010.
With content in movies becoming increasingly stupid and lack-luster to say the least, a movie like Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" is not just the epic tale of good versus evil, but the concessions that a good man faces in order to reach the greater good under extreme scrutiny. Arguably the best "Batman" movie ever, the movie put new life into a classic character, The Joker, spawning a slew of Halloween costumes and cult-like status for the late Heath Ledger. Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker was bone-chilling. It was truly an experience to sit and watch Heath transform into a maniacal genius. He is possibly one of the top villains of all time, in my personal opinion. From the first scene of The Joker and his men robbing the bank, it becomes clear that this is going to be a worthy opponent for the caped crusader. Played by Christain Bale, Batman is a step away from perfect. At times Bale's voice seems a little forced but that would really be a judgment call. Aaron Eckhart plays Harvey Dent aka Two Face, Gotham's District Attorney.
Harvey's campaign to wipe out the mob by cutting off their funds runs parallel to Batman's, which is where Police Commissioner Gordon played by Gary Oldman steps in to bridge the gap. In a joint effort to bring down Moronee (Eric Roberts), Gotham's D.A and Batman raid the mob banks only to come up short. The Joker, taking advantage of the mob's misfortune, proposes the idea to eliminate The Bat, plunging the viewers deep into The Joker's quest to take over the city. Nolan and his crew blend the visual and audio worlds seemlessly, making for an extremely believable right there feeling. The post-production work is practically flawless, with only some of Batman's physical impacts sounding slightly exaggerated. The love-story of Bruce Wayne and Rachel Dawes played by Maggie Gyllenhal doesn't overtake the film which is a plus in my book as movies like "Spider-Man" became a little too fixated on the boy-girl story then the super-hero's story. Nolan's perspective allows the viewer to see the character before they were villains allowing for a better understanding of the characters motifs. Bruce and Harvey's triangle relationship with Rachel really pulls at the heart-strings, especially when The Joker is holding the violin.
"The Dark Knight" doesn't leave much room for a trilogy, as "Batman Begins" offered a solid lead-in to The Joker. Also it seems that Batman could evolve more as a character, perhaps in the life of Bruce Wayne. It wouldn't be accurate to label the performance as stale, as I imagine it difficult to do something different being confined to that suit. However, that is a situation where lemonade could be poured because Bruce Wayne, other than being a cover for Batman, could have more of a story. Mr. Fox, Morgan Freemon, makes for a great tech-guy, as Batman's gear is crucial to his performance against villains. There is a playful chemistry between them that feels very natural. This was not so much the case when Aaron Eckhart was in the hospital scene with Gary Oldman, as I felt that each actor, maybe a mismatch, did not bring their A-game.
"The Dark Knight" offers an incredible story that transcends on so many levels. There is the obvious of good versus evil, but more so is the idea that a good man might have to do something morally questionable in order to achieve a greater good. The Joker in spite of all his insanity really has the right idea. He understands a human being's ability to walk away from someone even after doing something like cutting your face to make your wife feel better about her own. The Joker knows that people for the most part only want you there when they need you, and when they are finished they can't be bothered.
Batman being an idealist believes that people are good, and the scene of the prisoners and civilians capable of killing each other on separate boats is proof for Batman that he was right. Bitter-sweet though because Harvey Dent would succumb to his rage and ambitions for revenge, just like The Joker knew he would. The Joker symbolizes the ideas that money doesn't matter; it's intelligence that is the key. Because of how The Joker played his cards, (no pun intended), he was able to capture the Chinese money launderer and acquire half of the mob's life savings. What was interesting is that he burns his share of the money because the money is useless to a thief, or rather a worker who has cheap supplies. He knows that his position of power, the ability to take the Russian gangsters thugs' right from him shows that the fear of The Joker was much greater than a paycheck. His ruthlessness was all he needed to control the criminals who otherwise would be against him. "The Dark Knight" is a combination of beautiful destruction and twisted morals that somehow seem logical. Comparable to Scarface, movie-goers walked out of the theater wanting to be like The Joker. It is not often that people so unanimously agree to be the bad guy, but I'd be lying if I said I too didn't have the slight urge to introduce a little chaos.
"The Dark Knight" shines during a time when movies seem like jewels and turn out to be cubic zirconium. It saddens me that Heath Ledger will not be able to reprise his role, but maybe seeing it once is what makes it so great. Now in the same breath as James Dean, Ledger will be forever remembered as the murderous-lunatic he embodied so well. Bale and cast were nothing shy of great, making for one of the finest pictures I have had the privilege to watch.
Eddie Prendergast is an undergraduate student at St. Thomas Aquinas College, studying Communications. He plans on interning this summer hopefully in the field of communication or marketing, with a concentration in sports. He's expected to graduate in the Fall of 2010.
Interview with Ann Soltis
By Brittany Pinter
Ann Soltis is an 80-year-old woman living in Clifton, New Jersey. Ann was born August 26, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany. She had 8 siblings, 2 girls and 6 boys. Ann said in a recent interview, “Growing up in Germany was very sad, it was a very sad time.” While Ann was growing up the country was in war and many families were living in poverty. The Holocaust was going on and it was very scary being a young girl in Germany. Ann recalled a time when she was at school and there was a parade honoring Hitler. Ann said, “Now looking back on that day I wish I could have thrown a brick at him, with all the horrible things he did.”
When Ann was a teenager she went to nursing school: there she found the love of her life. She met her soon-to-be husband Emil Soltis outside of the library while she was on her lunch break. They both knew it was love at first sight. Emil was a soldier in the war and once his duty was done he took Ann back to America with her.
The couple was married on May 17, 1952 and they came to America in September of 1952. They have three children, two girls and one boy, and eight grandchildren. Ann and Emil had a wonderful marriage and loved to travel. They went on many tropical vacations such as to Hawaii, Aruba and the Bahamas. Ann’s husband died on March 30, 2005 after having a stroke. Ann stays very active and is part of many groups in her church, St. Philips Church in Clifton, NJ. Ann is part of the Rosarian Society, the Prime Timers and she is also a Eucharistic minister. Ann is also an active member of the Red Haters Club. Ann is very close with her children and grandchildren. They threw her a surprise 80th birthday party this past August, at the Brownstone in Paterson, New Jersey. Ann was really surprised when she arrived and was thankful all her children and grandchildren made her birthday special.
Brittany Pinter is a Communications Arts student at St. Thomas Aquinas College.
Ann Soltis is an 80-year-old woman living in Clifton, New Jersey. Ann was born August 26, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany. She had 8 siblings, 2 girls and 6 boys. Ann said in a recent interview, “Growing up in Germany was very sad, it was a very sad time.” While Ann was growing up the country was in war and many families were living in poverty. The Holocaust was going on and it was very scary being a young girl in Germany. Ann recalled a time when she was at school and there was a parade honoring Hitler. Ann said, “Now looking back on that day I wish I could have thrown a brick at him, with all the horrible things he did.”
When Ann was a teenager she went to nursing school: there she found the love of her life. She met her soon-to-be husband Emil Soltis outside of the library while she was on her lunch break. They both knew it was love at first sight. Emil was a soldier in the war and once his duty was done he took Ann back to America with her.
The couple was married on May 17, 1952 and they came to America in September of 1952. They have three children, two girls and one boy, and eight grandchildren. Ann and Emil had a wonderful marriage and loved to travel. They went on many tropical vacations such as to Hawaii, Aruba and the Bahamas. Ann’s husband died on March 30, 2005 after having a stroke. Ann stays very active and is part of many groups in her church, St. Philips Church in Clifton, NJ. Ann is part of the Rosarian Society, the Prime Timers and she is also a Eucharistic minister. Ann is also an active member of the Red Haters Club. Ann is very close with her children and grandchildren. They threw her a surprise 80th birthday party this past August, at the Brownstone in Paterson, New Jersey. Ann was really surprised when she arrived and was thankful all her children and grandchildren made her birthday special.
Brittany Pinter is a Communications Arts student at St. Thomas Aquinas College.
The Screaming Man
By Brittany Pinter
St. Thomas Aquinas College is a small quiet private college in Sparkill, New York. The school is known for its academics and its one-on-one interaction with students. Over the past few weeks St. Thomas Aquinas College has been nothing but quiet, except for the mysterious Screaming Man on campus. Who is he and why is St. Thomas Aquinas College his screaming grounds?
A few weeks ago, resident students living in the McNelis Commons reported spotting a strange man walking around the wooded areas. Shortly after, students started to hear a scream in the late night and early morning hours. Amanda Nathan, a dorm resident, said, “The scream is terrifying. It is not a normal sounding scream. That man is scary.” She and her roommates were among of the first students to hear and report this screaming man.
A few weeks ago, students started to notice a strange man walking around in the wooded areas in the back of the 3 building dorm area. At first no one thought anything of it, but when he started to appear more and more often some people got concerned. Natalie Colon became concerned when she was coming back late at night from her team practices and had to walk past the woods. Once she found out the man kept lurking in the woods, she stated, “Even though I’m an athlete, I still won’t be able to take down a six-foot-tall man.” Natalie and her teammates all started to become worried since they have late night and early morning practices that they all walk to.
Many of the students thought the episode of the man lurking in the woods would soon end but little did they know, he would start to cause more worries. Students, mostly girls living in the 3 building, started to hear more screams late at night and in the early morning hours. At first many students thought it was a student joking around, but once the screams went on for over a week everyone became aware this wasn't a prank.
Christine Handy had heard rumors of the strange man screaming at night but she never really believed it was true. One night last week she and her roommates were woken up by the screams. Christine said, “This scream is like no other, it is a terrified scream. I’m actually scared this man might do something crazy.” Christine and her roommates called STAC security right away along with students who heard the screams too. When security got to the scene, there was no one to be found. Over the next few days the screams were reported not only near the 3 building in the McNelis Commons but also in the Aquinas Village dorms, which are located on the other side of campus.
As more and more students found out about this screaming man, many rumors started to circulate. Some students heard this man was walking around campus with a backpack and a rope in his hand. Other students were saying the man is suffering from post-war syndrome. With all different rumors going around school, many students became very worried.
As the issue progressed, the Dean of Residence Life, Norman Huling, and the head security officer discussed how to handle the situation. Many students felt like security around the dorm areas was not enough. The Orangetown Police was also involved with the situation and officers searched the wooded areas frequently. According to the Campus Safety Director Jim Nawock, “We have taken several steps. We have placed security officers in personal cars placed outside of the 3 building.” Mr. Nawock had also responded to many phone calls and emailed to concerned parents. Many parents were happy to hear the school was taking proper precautions. Mr. Huling also sent out an email so all resident students giving out safety tips such as, “Walk with a buddy and keep campus security’s phone number in your cell phones.” After the emails were sent, many students were relieved about the actions by the campus.
Currently the campus security is still looking for the screaming man, but he has still not been found. Lately the screams have stopped but there is still high security around campus. Thankfully, none of the students and staff got hurt during all of the commotion and campus security will continue to be on-the-watch for the infamous screaming man.
Brittany Pinter is a 20-year-old sophomore at St. Thomas Aquinas College. She is from Clifton, New Jersey and is majoring in Communication Arts. Brittany eventually wants to be a special events planner and plan many exciting events.
St. Thomas Aquinas College is a small quiet private college in Sparkill, New York. The school is known for its academics and its one-on-one interaction with students. Over the past few weeks St. Thomas Aquinas College has been nothing but quiet, except for the mysterious Screaming Man on campus. Who is he and why is St. Thomas Aquinas College his screaming grounds?
A few weeks ago, resident students living in the McNelis Commons reported spotting a strange man walking around the wooded areas. Shortly after, students started to hear a scream in the late night and early morning hours. Amanda Nathan, a dorm resident, said, “The scream is terrifying. It is not a normal sounding scream. That man is scary.” She and her roommates were among of the first students to hear and report this screaming man.
A few weeks ago, students started to notice a strange man walking around in the wooded areas in the back of the 3 building dorm area. At first no one thought anything of it, but when he started to appear more and more often some people got concerned. Natalie Colon became concerned when she was coming back late at night from her team practices and had to walk past the woods. Once she found out the man kept lurking in the woods, she stated, “Even though I’m an athlete, I still won’t be able to take down a six-foot-tall man.” Natalie and her teammates all started to become worried since they have late night and early morning practices that they all walk to.
Many of the students thought the episode of the man lurking in the woods would soon end but little did they know, he would start to cause more worries. Students, mostly girls living in the 3 building, started to hear more screams late at night and in the early morning hours. At first many students thought it was a student joking around, but once the screams went on for over a week everyone became aware this wasn't a prank.
Christine Handy had heard rumors of the strange man screaming at night but she never really believed it was true. One night last week she and her roommates were woken up by the screams. Christine said, “This scream is like no other, it is a terrified scream. I’m actually scared this man might do something crazy.” Christine and her roommates called STAC security right away along with students who heard the screams too. When security got to the scene, there was no one to be found. Over the next few days the screams were reported not only near the 3 building in the McNelis Commons but also in the Aquinas Village dorms, which are located on the other side of campus.
As more and more students found out about this screaming man, many rumors started to circulate. Some students heard this man was walking around campus with a backpack and a rope in his hand. Other students were saying the man is suffering from post-war syndrome. With all different rumors going around school, many students became very worried.
As the issue progressed, the Dean of Residence Life, Norman Huling, and the head security officer discussed how to handle the situation. Many students felt like security around the dorm areas was not enough. The Orangetown Police was also involved with the situation and officers searched the wooded areas frequently. According to the Campus Safety Director Jim Nawock, “We have taken several steps. We have placed security officers in personal cars placed outside of the 3 building.” Mr. Nawock had also responded to many phone calls and emailed to concerned parents. Many parents were happy to hear the school was taking proper precautions. Mr. Huling also sent out an email so all resident students giving out safety tips such as, “Walk with a buddy and keep campus security’s phone number in your cell phones.” After the emails were sent, many students were relieved about the actions by the campus.
Currently the campus security is still looking for the screaming man, but he has still not been found. Lately the screams have stopped but there is still high security around campus. Thankfully, none of the students and staff got hurt during all of the commotion and campus security will continue to be on-the-watch for the infamous screaming man.
Brittany Pinter is a 20-year-old sophomore at St. Thomas Aquinas College. She is from Clifton, New Jersey and is majoring in Communication Arts. Brittany eventually wants to be a special events planner and plan many exciting events.
Disney World, a Place Where Dreams Come True
By Laura Jones
Imagine a place where you can throw your worries out the window, relax, and enjoy everything that it has to offer. There are so many magical things to do that most families can’t fit in, in one week. At Disney World, people of all ages can have fun. Between the four theme parks, two water parks, and many other thrilling attractions, everyone can find their own little happy place. Disney World really is where “dreams come true,” and if you want to feel like a kid again, this is definitely the place to go.
Last summer I went on an eight day vacation to Disney World for my fourth time with family and friends. We all are well over the age of 18 and still had a blast. There is no such thing as being too old for Disney. We spent the entire day in the parks, from 10am-10pm. It sounds crazy, and extremely tiring, but it was completely worth it because we got to spend every minute of every day enjoying what Disney World had to offer. No time was wasted and our feet may have been a little sore at the end of the day, but no one seemed to mind.
The best thing about Disney resorts is all the discounts and advantages that are included. There are plenty of deals and you can save a significant amount of money on park passes. If you purchase a “Park Hopper” pass, it can last up to five days and entitles you to go to any theme park, any day throughout the duration of your stay. If you decide that you want an extra day or two, as a guest at any Disney resort, you can buy an extra day for about five dollars per person! It sounds unreal, but just last summer I was able to do this.
Disney World in the summer is the most popular time for most families to go because children are out of school, but you have to keep in mind that it is extremely hot. Be prepared to sweat and deal with Florida sun’s strong heat. During this time of travel, you also have to remember that there will be very long lines for attractions. Make sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen, too. If you don’t mind the hot weather, then vacationing to Orlando, Florida during the summer is perfect for you. If you choose to vacation in the winter months, you will definitely experience cooler temperatures. However, whatever month you choose to visit Disney World will guaranteed be a memory that will last forever.
There’s so much to do and there are so many choices at Disney World, it’s hard to make decisions. Animal Kingdom, one of Disney’s newest theme parks, is divided into seven areas: Oasis, Discovery Island, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia, and Dinoland. According to Disney World’s website, this park shows Walt Disney’s passion for nature and conservation, and it leads the way in animal care, education, and research. It is so unique because it holds 1,700 animals from 250 species, across 500 acres of land. The most popular attraction is the Kilimanjaro Safari, which is so much better than the one at Six Flags Great Adventure. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the largest animal-themed park in the world! Here’s a fun fact from the Disney World website: Did you know that to keep 1,000 animals happy it takes about 3 tons of food a day? That’s a four and a half year supply for the average person.
Magic Kingdom, a fairy tale wonderland, is spread out across 107 acres through each of these magical lands: Main Street U.S.A, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown Fair, and Tomorrowland. One of the most popular attractions at Magic Kingdom is the “It’s a Small World” ride and Cinderella’s beautiful castle, where at one point in time, guests were allowed to dine inside it. You can travel through this theme park while really putting your imagination to the test. There are parades that occur daily such as the “SpectroMagic” and “Celebrate a Dream Come True”, as well as nightly fireworks. Here’s another fun fact from the Disney World website: Did you know that Walt Disney wanted to be sure that the business of the park would never intrude on the show, so he had built approximately 1.5 miles of Utilidors-the access tunnels beneath Magic Kingdom?
Epcot is the theme park at Disney that is sprawled out over 300 acres, twice the size of Magic Kingdom, and is divided into two parts: Future World and the World Showcase. Future World is full of attractions that are inspiring and educational and has a wide variety of shows as well. According to the Disney World website, Epcot focuses on innovations and technological advancements. The icon of Epcot theme park is called Spaceship Earth and looks like a huge silver golf ball with an actual ride inside it. The World Showcase features shops, attractions, and restaurants that portray 11 countries including: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, United States, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada. This park also has nightly fireworks called “IllumiNations: Reflections of the Earth.” Epcot is a place you won’t want to miss! Here’s a fun fact: Did you know that while Walt Disney was generating new ideas for Disneyland Park in California, he thought about building an International Street? That idea grew to become the concept behind the World Showcase area in Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World in Florida.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios, formerly known as MGM Studios, is an amazing theme park that offers behind-the-scenes opportunities of Hollywood. This park has action shows, breathtaking attractions, and backstage tours. According to the Disney World website, the Hollywood attractions date back all the way to the 1930s and 1940s in the four areas of Hollywood Studios. One of its newest attractions is the American Idol Experience where you can sing up on stage and audience members vote for you. This park is one that makes you feel like you’re up close and personal with Hollywood fame. Here’s a Hollywood Studios fun fact: Did you know that the icon of Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park is a 122-foot-tall blue and gold sorcerer Mickey hat, like the hat Mickey Mouse wore in the 1940 classic Disney film Fantasia?
Whichever path you choose while vacationing in Disney World, you are going to have a magical and memorable experience. Walt Disney World is truly a place where dreams come true, for people of all ages. Embrace this imaginative and delightful place in sunny Orlando, Florida, and you’re guaranteed to experience a vacation you will never forget.
Laura Jones is an undergraduate student at St. Thomas Aquinas College, majoring in Communications and minoring in Performing Arts. She plans on getting an internship this summer with a radio station and hopes to pursue a career in the radio, television, or magazine industry, while singing on the side.
Imagine a place where you can throw your worries out the window, relax, and enjoy everything that it has to offer. There are so many magical things to do that most families can’t fit in, in one week. At Disney World, people of all ages can have fun. Between the four theme parks, two water parks, and many other thrilling attractions, everyone can find their own little happy place. Disney World really is where “dreams come true,” and if you want to feel like a kid again, this is definitely the place to go.
Last summer I went on an eight day vacation to Disney World for my fourth time with family and friends. We all are well over the age of 18 and still had a blast. There is no such thing as being too old for Disney. We spent the entire day in the parks, from 10am-10pm. It sounds crazy, and extremely tiring, but it was completely worth it because we got to spend every minute of every day enjoying what Disney World had to offer. No time was wasted and our feet may have been a little sore at the end of the day, but no one seemed to mind.
The best thing about Disney resorts is all the discounts and advantages that are included. There are plenty of deals and you can save a significant amount of money on park passes. If you purchase a “Park Hopper” pass, it can last up to five days and entitles you to go to any theme park, any day throughout the duration of your stay. If you decide that you want an extra day or two, as a guest at any Disney resort, you can buy an extra day for about five dollars per person! It sounds unreal, but just last summer I was able to do this.
Disney World in the summer is the most popular time for most families to go because children are out of school, but you have to keep in mind that it is extremely hot. Be prepared to sweat and deal with Florida sun’s strong heat. During this time of travel, you also have to remember that there will be very long lines for attractions. Make sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen, too. If you don’t mind the hot weather, then vacationing to Orlando, Florida during the summer is perfect for you. If you choose to vacation in the winter months, you will definitely experience cooler temperatures. However, whatever month you choose to visit Disney World will guaranteed be a memory that will last forever.
There’s so much to do and there are so many choices at Disney World, it’s hard to make decisions. Animal Kingdom, one of Disney’s newest theme parks, is divided into seven areas: Oasis, Discovery Island, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia, and Dinoland. According to Disney World’s website, this park shows Walt Disney’s passion for nature and conservation, and it leads the way in animal care, education, and research. It is so unique because it holds 1,700 animals from 250 species, across 500 acres of land. The most popular attraction is the Kilimanjaro Safari, which is so much better than the one at Six Flags Great Adventure. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the largest animal-themed park in the world! Here’s a fun fact from the Disney World website: Did you know that to keep 1,000 animals happy it takes about 3 tons of food a day? That’s a four and a half year supply for the average person.
Magic Kingdom, a fairy tale wonderland, is spread out across 107 acres through each of these magical lands: Main Street U.S.A, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown Fair, and Tomorrowland. One of the most popular attractions at Magic Kingdom is the “It’s a Small World” ride and Cinderella’s beautiful castle, where at one point in time, guests were allowed to dine inside it. You can travel through this theme park while really putting your imagination to the test. There are parades that occur daily such as the “SpectroMagic” and “Celebrate a Dream Come True”, as well as nightly fireworks. Here’s another fun fact from the Disney World website: Did you know that Walt Disney wanted to be sure that the business of the park would never intrude on the show, so he had built approximately 1.5 miles of Utilidors-the access tunnels beneath Magic Kingdom?
Epcot is the theme park at Disney that is sprawled out over 300 acres, twice the size of Magic Kingdom, and is divided into two parts: Future World and the World Showcase. Future World is full of attractions that are inspiring and educational and has a wide variety of shows as well. According to the Disney World website, Epcot focuses on innovations and technological advancements. The icon of Epcot theme park is called Spaceship Earth and looks like a huge silver golf ball with an actual ride inside it. The World Showcase features shops, attractions, and restaurants that portray 11 countries including: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, United States, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada. This park also has nightly fireworks called “IllumiNations: Reflections of the Earth.” Epcot is a place you won’t want to miss! Here’s a fun fact: Did you know that while Walt Disney was generating new ideas for Disneyland Park in California, he thought about building an International Street? That idea grew to become the concept behind the World Showcase area in Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World in Florida.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios, formerly known as MGM Studios, is an amazing theme park that offers behind-the-scenes opportunities of Hollywood. This park has action shows, breathtaking attractions, and backstage tours. According to the Disney World website, the Hollywood attractions date back all the way to the 1930s and 1940s in the four areas of Hollywood Studios. One of its newest attractions is the American Idol Experience where you can sing up on stage and audience members vote for you. This park is one that makes you feel like you’re up close and personal with Hollywood fame. Here’s a Hollywood Studios fun fact: Did you know that the icon of Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park is a 122-foot-tall blue and gold sorcerer Mickey hat, like the hat Mickey Mouse wore in the 1940 classic Disney film Fantasia?
Whichever path you choose while vacationing in Disney World, you are going to have a magical and memorable experience. Walt Disney World is truly a place where dreams come true, for people of all ages. Embrace this imaginative and delightful place in sunny Orlando, Florida, and you’re guaranteed to experience a vacation you will never forget.
Laura Jones is an undergraduate student at St. Thomas Aquinas College, majoring in Communications and minoring in Performing Arts. She plans on getting an internship this summer with a radio station and hopes to pursue a career in the radio, television, or magazine industry, while singing on the side.
College Tips
By Ali Reap
College years are probably the most fun, yet most stressful of a person’s life. There are some tips that incoming students who will be living on a campus should know about college life that many people find difficult adjusting too. College students must balance things such as homework, studying, sports, partying, sleep and maintaining good grades. Many students find it hard to find time, and often put too much time into some of these activities.
Moving into a dorm room is a life changing experience, and often some of the best years of a young adult’s life. You are living on your own, without parental supervision, so as much as it is fun, it is often a hard environment to sit down and do homework. Buying a planner is the first step to advising this problem. It is some where to write down everything you have to do every day, and most colleges sell them in their book store or you could get it at pretty much any local stationary store. If you know when something is due you are more likely to make the time to get it done. You have to make sure you actually use it, because you will find it extremely helpful to have written down all your assignments so you can get them done on time. The planner must be brought to every class so you don’t forget to write down anything, and as soon as the teacher tells you the assignment, or you see it on the board write it down immediately, so you don’t forget to do it.
Another smart idea if you are living on campus is to take advantage of the library hours. The library is a perfect place to study. Studying in a dorm room could become very difficult, especially for the people who live in rooms with three or four people or even a house where distractions could occur. The library is the perfect place to get away from distractions that just prolong your homework period. You can just go to the library, focus and surprisingly get it done much sooner. When working on a project with a partner or group of people or even by yourself you will find the library a useful place to get this done. The library is also a place that is often full of help if you need it for an assignment. There is most often a media specialist who works in the library who will help you with any research you need, as well as assisting in finding any books, magazines, or websites you may need. The library is usually open pretty late, and weeks of finals and midterms the library hours are usually extended.
Another useful tip for living at college is to eat right. Eating right is extremely important for a college student because it gives you energy. Energy is important for a busy college student, especially when you have lack of sleep and need to stay focused for the day. Eating right will enhance your ability to think and do work, as well as have the energy to stay up and do it. The cafeteria is a hard place to make healthy decisions because often the better tasting things are the fattier things. You must be careful of the “Freshman Fifteen,” which is often said because freshman students typically have a hard times adjusting to making the right food decisions in the cafeteria, and often gain as much as fifteen pounds. Gaining weight is usually something people do not want to do, so make the healthier decision as often as possible. Of course you are going to be expected to treat yourself once in a while, but that is typical.
Reading is one of the most important things to do in college. You will get tons of reading assigned guaranteed, but if you actually complete it all, it will help you out a lot. You will save yourself a lot of time and effort when it comes time to write a paper or take a test. Text book chapters are probably among the hardest things to read, because usually it is just fact after fact and it is a lot to take in at once. If you spread out your reading time, it makes it a lot easier to retain the information and actually learn it. Reading will not only strengthen your knowledge in that class but it is also healthy for the mind to read.
Sleep is probably the most important part of college. Sleeping is what every college student loves to do but often does not get enough of. Sleep is one of the body’s main source of energy, and often when living at school it is easy to stay up late with roommates and friends on nights were you need to get up early. Try as best you can to save your late nights for the weekends and get as much rest during the week as you can. Lack of sleep leads to falling asleep during class, and it lowers your immune system so you are more susceptible to getting sick.
Going to class is the last advice I could give to a college student. Some schools give a certain amount of days you can miss before it starts to affect your grade and others schools don’t; sometimes it depends on the teacher. Sometimes teachers tell you that if you miss class then it is your loss, and they are totally right. Missing class is necessary at time, but all I could tell you is to avoid it as much as you can because going to class is extremely necessary. By going to class you have the chance to ask questions, have group discussions, and learn hands on about the information you are learning. If you do not go to class, or you miss often, then you are more likely to get a bad grade in that class.
College will be some of the best years of your life. Tips on studying, sleeping, eating, planning, going to class, and any other strategies friends or family could tell you from experience would be worth considering. Going to college is a privilege and remember that there are people in this world who would die to go to college, so take advantage of your opportunity. I wish you all the best of luck with your studies!
Ali Reap is an undergraduate student at St.Thomas Aquinas College. She is studying Communications with a focus in Journalism. She hopes find an internship she greatly enjoys. She aspires to become a journalist or a photographer.
College years are probably the most fun, yet most stressful of a person’s life. There are some tips that incoming students who will be living on a campus should know about college life that many people find difficult adjusting too. College students must balance things such as homework, studying, sports, partying, sleep and maintaining good grades. Many students find it hard to find time, and often put too much time into some of these activities.
Moving into a dorm room is a life changing experience, and often some of the best years of a young adult’s life. You are living on your own, without parental supervision, so as much as it is fun, it is often a hard environment to sit down and do homework. Buying a planner is the first step to advising this problem. It is some where to write down everything you have to do every day, and most colleges sell them in their book store or you could get it at pretty much any local stationary store. If you know when something is due you are more likely to make the time to get it done. You have to make sure you actually use it, because you will find it extremely helpful to have written down all your assignments so you can get them done on time. The planner must be brought to every class so you don’t forget to write down anything, and as soon as the teacher tells you the assignment, or you see it on the board write it down immediately, so you don’t forget to do it.
Another smart idea if you are living on campus is to take advantage of the library hours. The library is a perfect place to study. Studying in a dorm room could become very difficult, especially for the people who live in rooms with three or four people or even a house where distractions could occur. The library is the perfect place to get away from distractions that just prolong your homework period. You can just go to the library, focus and surprisingly get it done much sooner. When working on a project with a partner or group of people or even by yourself you will find the library a useful place to get this done. The library is also a place that is often full of help if you need it for an assignment. There is most often a media specialist who works in the library who will help you with any research you need, as well as assisting in finding any books, magazines, or websites you may need. The library is usually open pretty late, and weeks of finals and midterms the library hours are usually extended.
Another useful tip for living at college is to eat right. Eating right is extremely important for a college student because it gives you energy. Energy is important for a busy college student, especially when you have lack of sleep and need to stay focused for the day. Eating right will enhance your ability to think and do work, as well as have the energy to stay up and do it. The cafeteria is a hard place to make healthy decisions because often the better tasting things are the fattier things. You must be careful of the “Freshman Fifteen,” which is often said because freshman students typically have a hard times adjusting to making the right food decisions in the cafeteria, and often gain as much as fifteen pounds. Gaining weight is usually something people do not want to do, so make the healthier decision as often as possible. Of course you are going to be expected to treat yourself once in a while, but that is typical.
Reading is one of the most important things to do in college. You will get tons of reading assigned guaranteed, but if you actually complete it all, it will help you out a lot. You will save yourself a lot of time and effort when it comes time to write a paper or take a test. Text book chapters are probably among the hardest things to read, because usually it is just fact after fact and it is a lot to take in at once. If you spread out your reading time, it makes it a lot easier to retain the information and actually learn it. Reading will not only strengthen your knowledge in that class but it is also healthy for the mind to read.
Sleep is probably the most important part of college. Sleeping is what every college student loves to do but often does not get enough of. Sleep is one of the body’s main source of energy, and often when living at school it is easy to stay up late with roommates and friends on nights were you need to get up early. Try as best you can to save your late nights for the weekends and get as much rest during the week as you can. Lack of sleep leads to falling asleep during class, and it lowers your immune system so you are more susceptible to getting sick.
Going to class is the last advice I could give to a college student. Some schools give a certain amount of days you can miss before it starts to affect your grade and others schools don’t; sometimes it depends on the teacher. Sometimes teachers tell you that if you miss class then it is your loss, and they are totally right. Missing class is necessary at time, but all I could tell you is to avoid it as much as you can because going to class is extremely necessary. By going to class you have the chance to ask questions, have group discussions, and learn hands on about the information you are learning. If you do not go to class, or you miss often, then you are more likely to get a bad grade in that class.
College will be some of the best years of your life. Tips on studying, sleeping, eating, planning, going to class, and any other strategies friends or family could tell you from experience would be worth considering. Going to college is a privilege and remember that there are people in this world who would die to go to college, so take advantage of your opportunity. I wish you all the best of luck with your studies!
Ali Reap is an undergraduate student at St.Thomas Aquinas College. She is studying Communications with a focus in Journalism. She hopes find an internship she greatly enjoys. She aspires to become a journalist or a photographer.
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