“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.” -Morrie Schwartz Volume XVI, Issue V February 18th 2008 Manchester, NH FEBRUARY IS: New Co-Ed Interest Based Housing at SNHU BLACK HISTORY MONTH with resources to help. They are Haley Webb given a budget to work with and Staff Writer are expected to plan at least one program a month. Programs are designed Southern New Hampshire to benefit the SNHU campus, University is now providing an ranging from activities that additional opportunity for stu- may include their floor of their dents to express their interests: residence hall to campus-wide ‘Programmed Pods.' events. These events demon- Programmed Pods is an ini- strate a certain Pod’s interests tiative that provides a new hous- and allow other students and ing option for students. Through members of the SNHU com- What's Inside? Pages Programmed Pods, students are munity to be exposed to differ- News 1-7 encouraged to live with other ent interests they may not have Clubs 9 students of their choosing who explored on their own. Opinion 10-11 have similar interests, in a co-ed Creator of Programmed snhu.edu Entertainment 12-16 environment. Programmed Pods Pods, DaVaughn Vincent- Hampton Hall off of East Side Drive Creative 17-18 will be located in both Windsor Bryan, who is also the Residence Classifieds 20 and Hampton Halls on the East Director of the East Side Resi- PS Logs 21 Side of campus. dence Halls, explained that the Sports 23-27 idea emerged as a combination Dining Services Voices & Faces 28 Some examples of similar interests or Programmed Pod of many different things. One themes include music, movies, source of inspiration behind the Accusations Cleared sports, art, the outdoors, winter Programmed Pods was SNHU’s sports, and more. existing Wellness Housing in Featuring: In addition to simply shar- Chocorua Hall. The students Aimee Terevechia ing a common interest, the stu- living in this housing option Staff Writer dents who choose to live in the share a common interest, simi- Ask Aimee Programmed Pods are given a lar to the Programmed Pods, Page 2 learning opportunity as well. however, they are more lim- Recent "miscellaneous" charges at the café at Southern New When students create a Pro- ited in their interest. The great Hampshire University have been causing a stir on campus. Many grammed Pod based on a certain number of clubs and high level students have noticed the price discrepancies, but according to Dan PS Logs interest, they are given the abil- of involvement on the SNHU Van Avery, General Manager of Dining Services, there is an explana- ity to plan events and activities campus also contributed to the tion for the charges and inconsistent prices. Page 21 based on that interest. To do idea. According to Van Avery, the "misc." charges are valid. He this, the students are provided Please turn to page 04 explained that when a student sees a "misc" charge pop up on the screen, it is nothing to be alarmed about. These charges account February 27 - 28 for the numerous possibilities available to students, from specialty Sign up at items to new meals that Dining Services is trying out. As Van Avery www.relayforlife.org/snhu explains, "If a student wants green beans on their hamburger, we use the 'miscellaneous' charge to account for the green beans." Van Avery also addresses students' concerns pertaining to incon- sistent pricing, saying, "I assure you, it is unintentional." To account for the discrepancies, he points to two causes: human error (cashier error) and customers failing to notify the cashier of their exact order. "Part of it is a training issue," said Van Avery, "but part of it is also the customer factor." As he explains, if a customer buys a hamburger with green beans one day and the cashier can see the green beans, than the customer temple.edu and dinesnhu.com temple.edu Sodexo logo and Dining Services Banner Please turn to page 04 2 News the OBSERVER STAFF Letter From the Editor Ask Aimee FACULTY ADVISOR Judy Timney [email protected] A column by Aimee Terrevechia Libby Parent EDITOR IN CHIEF Editor in Chief Dear Aimee… Libby Parent What do you do when you have a friend that has a drug [email protected] problem but they just deny it? No matter how much you tell them their screwing up their life, they just keep telling you that MANAGING EDITOR The spring semester is upon us, and unfortunately—or fortunately, I you’re wrong and to butt out. Especially when it’s a friend that Daniel Smith haven’t decided yet—this is my last semester at SNHU. That means that you really care about and know that they’re smarter than the [email protected] the real world will come crashing down on me in less than four months. choices they’re making… Woohoo! -Concerned LAYOUT EDITOR Actually, believe it or not, I am getting things in order: I have success- Carter Meyers fully completed my GMAT with a much better score than I anticipated, I have completed my FAFSA, and I have begun the application process for Dear Concerned, [email protected] grad school. Hopefully, this extra year or two of schooling will help me Having someone you care about make such damaging life get a job doing something I love and making millions. Or at least enough decisions can be very difficult. In a situation like this, it is often ADVERTISING EDITOR paper to live on. So, California, Colorado, Baltimore, Boston, Philadel- necessary to organize an intervention. Contact your friend's Gina Arnone phia, or New York it is. Sadly enough, I will most likely not be moving family members and other close companions to get together and [email protected] back to Vermont, although it is the best state in the country. discuss the situation. Once you have all evaluated the circum- Since this is my last semester, it is also my last lacrosse season as an stances, decide on a time in which you can all approach your NEWS EDITOR NCAA athlete. And most likely, I will be inactive for the rest of my life. friend. Doing this together will be both more effective and easier How awesome is that? No but seriously, the weather is warming up, the Ashley Manley on all parties involved. Tell your friend how his/her actions [email protected] turf is completely clear, and we have our first game in less than a month. Cyan Cyan The Sports Section includes basketball coverage and a Spring Sports pre- are making a negative impact on his/her personal and profes- view! Support the Penmen! sional life. Be clear and firm. Identify every cause and effect Magenta COPY EDITOR Moving on to this month’s issue: packed with some good stuff. of the situation. Offer help and guidance. Inform him/her of Holly Bundy Throwback PS logs. Need I say more? On page 5, be sure to check out resources available for individuals dealing with addiction. Be sure [email protected] our Photo Editor, Suzanne Lentell’s column regarding her experiences to identify the problem—do not tip-toe around the subject. Say, Yellow Yellow abroad in Australia! Also, notice the new Classified Advertising section "You have a drug problem. I want to help." PHOTO EDITOR on page 20. YOU have the opportunity to advertise anything from tele- I must also caution you, however, to not allow yourself to Suzanne Lentell visions and cars to yourself. Check it out! Black be dragged down by this person's addiction. If this intervention [email protected] Also, be sure to come to the pub on February 26 at 8:30pm for does not work, or the individual refuses your help, your relation- our website unveiling party! Trebek, Massachusetts based band will be ship with him/her will be crippling to your own life. It is impor- performing acoustic sets and we will be giving away tickets to the spring OPINION EDITOR tant to decide a point at which you must walk away—and to not Laura Rotolo concert, Gavin DeGraw. There will be other miscellaneous prizes we will be giving away! only identify this moment for yourself, but also for your friend. [email protected] Side note, when you are driving on the Interstate and choose to travel at 65 miles per hour or less, do not get in the left lane. It is just Best of luck, CLUBS & ORGS silly. Especially in Vermont when there are no cars. There is really just Aimee EDITOR no need. Mike Capalbo And finally, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns Dear Aimee, [email protected] regarding any content in the paper, be sure to contact me at observer@ My boyfriend keeps asking me to stay over in Washington… snhu.edu. I hope you enjoy the issue and I welcome any suggestions you but I don't think I'm ready and I don't want other people to find may have. Have a good one. Be Safe. Rock on. ENTERTAINMENT out. What should I do? EDITOR -Anonymous Caitlin Murphy [email protected] The Southern New Hampshire University Dear Anonymous, Observer is a news publication produced by South- Only you can know if you are ready or not to make that leap SPORTS EDITOR ern New Hampshire University students and funded forward in your relationship. If you would be embarrassed if Nicholas Tasso largely by the Student Government Association of others found out that you were spending nights with your b.f., [email protected] the University.