September 2009 WWW.BERGEN.EDU/THETORCH VOLUME - 15 ISSUE - 1 Environment Club... pg 2 The Torch Meadowlands Campus... pg 3 THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE Textbook Resolution: What is it? SADAF KHURSID On April 1ST, Bergen resolution that would save even more difficult to burden for students. Some CO-EDITOR Community College held the students some money in attain.” of the recommendations that a public hearing to inform the long run. The Text Book Did you know the were stipulated included the The present economic the students that the tuition Resolution was proposed to average text book now costs following: recession has forced us to will increase by almost the senate to help students a minimum of $100.00? “[To] keep the same face the harsh realities of eight percent for the next cut back on some of the That is approximately three- editions of books for two drastic increases in every semester. This means expenses that they will be fourths the cost of tuition! years, give preference to arena from transportation to that you, the students, will facing. According to SGA, The Text Book low or no cost educational the cost of food. The most be paying more than you “The rising cost of the Resolution was passed April resources over expensive important change that has already are. college textbooks creates an 21st by the faculty senate. commercial text books, occurred and which affects Keeping that in mind, added burden to the tuition The Resolution consists of make professors place every student is the increase Student Government rate which is spiraling out suggestions or alternatives a copy of required and in tuition. Association proposed a of control making education that can help lessen the SEE TEXTBOOKS ON PG 4 Recession Hold On, Construction’s coming… Proof Jobs Many careers have proven the stand strong even during a recession. ILLUSTRATRED BY BRENDON MIEL CARINA TESONE In this economic downturn, many NEWS EDITOR professions are being pummeled by the recession, while some fields are still standing strong. The last look of the student center... As a BCC student, not only does one have to worry about what career path to choose, HUMA MUNIR construction. Dacey is in A lot of departments at but one must determine if that path could charge of the entire project. the college are currently endure unemployment slumps. Now the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The second plan on the being moved around in question everyone wants to know is: What agenda is the renovation of the the “anticipation” of the jobs are in high-demand and are resisting the Last semester, Torch Student Center, which currently construction, points out V.P. recession? published an article on the consists of the Counseling Dacey. For example, the Office According to David Butcher’s “Survival construction that was supposed Center (Room: A-118), Student of Equal Opportunity Fund Guide: Recession Resistant Jobs”, John to begin on campus starting in Life (Dr. Choonoo’s Office), moved, and Career Counseling Challenger, CEO of the outplacement the month of August. However, Advising Center (Room: Center has moved to where EOF firm, “Challenger, Gray and Christmas,” we are here once again to A-101), and several club spaces. once stood. The revamping of told Yahoo! HotJobs which professions are inform you with the latest The construction that was the departmental structure is to resisting the recession: details on this hot topic. supposed to start now was ensure that Student Center’s EDUCATION. “Postsecondary teachers The construction for new delayed due to technical issues services are available in one are expected to grow by 23 percent between science labs may be done by with bidding. It is now set to central area. 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average mid-September this semester. resume at the end of the Fall During the construction, for all occupations,” the U.S. Bureau of Labor “…They built eight or nine new Semester or at the beginning of club space will become a Statistics (BLS) reports. Thanks to increased laboratories as the extension the Spring Semester, 2010. “… tremendously frustrating issue enrollment into colleges, universities and at the back of school”, says Everything will stay the same for both the students and the vocational institutions, the career is likely to Vice President Tim Dacey in the fall semester,” states V.P. SEE RECESSION JOBS ON PG 6 while briefing Torch on the Dacey. SEE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION ON PG 13 Winner for News & Arts and Entertainment Writing Award and Layout & Design 2008-2009, Winner of the General Excellence Award 2007-2008 New Jersey Press Foundation Better College Newspaper Contest Page 2 BCC News September 2009 BCC NEWS Voters Beware… Corruption’s in the Air Students Unite For the Purpose of Art CARINA TESONE online article from The Star- NEWS EDITOR Ledger disclosed. The twisted tales Over the summer, NJ of clandestine bribery stumbled upon another and trafficking Dwek political pitfall as FBI encountered, could have agents turned in public only been snagged from a officials for corruption and Sopranos episode, describes religious figures for money a Wall Street Journal. With laundering, which included crooks and swindlers at human organ trafficking. either side, Dwek would It would take the Federal play two incongruous Bureau of Investigation ten roles, and still feed the years before solving the case information back to the on Thursday, June 23rd; a FBI. One disguise would be major key player was their as a “developer interested cooperating witness (CW), in building high-rises, but Solomon Dwek. who needed expedited According to an online permits and approvals,” article from The New York states Washington Post. Times, Dwek, a Jewish In addition, the informant real estate developer, was would pretend to be a caught for bank fraud (a businessman, assisted by Two examples of art inspired by the models. PHOTO BY JESSICA STROH twenty-five-million-dollar his female partner acting as check that bounced) in his secretary. JESSICA STROH There may growth started happening. 2006. He became CW for During the investigation, be a way for It all began when the budget began to the corruption investigation Dwek got in contact with LAYOUT EDITOR you to make dwindle for live models in the painting and in 2007, accompanied Levy Izhak Rosenbaum, extra money at drawing classes. Before it was completely by another female FBI who called himself a college this fall that you are probably not depleted, the art department head passed a undercover. With talent and “matchmaker” in human even aware of. Modeling for art classes new rule allowing student models to pose wires up his sleeve, Dwek organ brokering, reports is a great employment opportunity for nude for the first time in BCC’s history. was skillfully able to walk CNN. Dwek’s partner made students at BCC and it is also an exciting Previously, only professional models had between both worlds of up a fictitious uncle, and told way to connect with fellow artists and this option. However, the hourly rate for Jewish Rabbis and Hudson Rosenbaum that her uncle students. a professional model is nearly twice as County politicians, an SEE CORRUPTION ON PG 12 It all started this past spring semester much, at over $15 per hour. With this new when a lot of changes were felt amongst rule instated, it became possible to use the students in the art department. The remainder of the budget in a more frugal Green Machines overall opinion of the college tends to be manner, providing models for many of the of a commuter school, so there is little or sections of art classes, and also involving no community interaction amongst peers, the students in a way that had never been especially those in different class sections. done before. While pursuing a degree in art, a strong Many of the art student models began unity throughout the student body is very to pose nude or partially nude for the important for creative growth. With focus other art classes, there were at least three on critiques and stress on brainstorming, female student models and one male the college experience for art students student model who posed clothed, but for should not be something deemed any less little or no money. This experience not important for personal growth than the only provided a sense of liberation for the classes themselves. This spring, this unity and personal SEE STUDENT ART ON PG 12 Giving Back to Our Community MITALI DAVE others always gives one The club came to The Enviornmental Club, planting the community garden in Ender Hall of BCC. CONTRIBUTING immense happiness and be when, during the satisfaction. presidential campaign, PHOTO BY RACHEL WIELAND WRITER Service isn’t something Professor Lori Talarico MICHELLE HA over by East Hall in the you have to give, or and her students spent a school. They have planted Albert Einstein said, something you need to lot of time discussing the FEATURES EDITOR watermelon, cucumbers, “Only a life lived for give. Service is something issues, and it was clear squash, tomatoes, and others is a life worthwhile. you want to give. that they were all excited The BCC Environmental pumpkins and are looking Try not to become a man Volunteering our time and over Barack Obama’s call Club has progressively forward to working on some of success but rather try to abilities to the creation of to the youth of America to made substantial efforts interesting projects, once become a man of value.” better tomorrow is service. get involved. to raise consciousness in the shrubbery flourishes. Service can be defined The BCC Community She realized that it the school and community Recycling and as a willingness to Services Club gives was time to start a club about environmental composting have also been work for the benefit of students an opportunity whose philosophy was matters.