VOL. 26... NO. 5 TORCHBCC.COM FEBRUARY 2018 $50 for 50: Bergen Campaigns for Scholarships FARAH ALHABLAWI CONTRIBUTING WRITER Raising $505,050 in continue until the biggest donations seems like a day of the academic year: daunting and even a touch commencement 2018. infeasible task, but for those The goal is expected who participated, it’s as easy to be fully reached by then. as apple pie. Although the scholarships and With almost $100,000 financial aid for students are already donated to Bergen’s the main goal of the campaign, Fifty for 50 campaign, the it is not the only one. All who goal seems closer than ever. donate can give their name The campaign started as “a and a wall will be built in their Limited Transfer representation of the institute’s honor and contribution. 50 year tradition of excellence,” “The wall will represent Options for said Larry Hlavenka, a reflection of our Bergen International Executive Director of Public community generosity - Relations.“It encourages a lasting reminder of the Students the members of our Bergen individuals who supported the community to leave a lasting campaign,” Hlavenka said. legacy of support for students.” The donations the pg. 3 The campaign and campaign receives will not pay all its donations will provide for the wall, however. Those students scholarships and overseeing the project are still educational support for their receiving quotes on its cost. time in Bergen Community The funds for the wall will College. be from a separate source. The It is crucial for many wall will be a committed piece Bergen students who could of history that will not only not afford paying the cost of serve as a commemoration education by themselves. to kindness, but will also be “Scholarships are affordable. increasingly critical lifelines As for how it will look, for community college those overseeing are discussing students - 50 percent report design ideas with vendors this financial issues could cause spring. them to leave the institution,” The wall will be located Hlavenka said in the Student Center, it will Black History The campaign started in help create a brighter future of Month: Is It mid-October 2017 and will many students looking to enter // Adrianna Caraballo higher education. Enough? Is Success 101 a Waste of Time? pg. 6 JELSON MONTERO CONTRIBUTING WRITER all. After a while the course Every semester incoming just seems time consuming.” students sign up for Success Not only does this make 101 and it seems that every students uneasy but it makes semester the complaints grow. them lose interest. It becomes The Success 101 class is harder for students to find the a course required of students motivation for coming to class. who are placed in remedial Erimir Vargas, who is in level mathematics or remedial his third semester at BCC, level writing courses. The took Success 101 said, “At purpose of this course is to help first the class helped me out incoming students prepare for because I was new here and what will be expected from didn’t really know much about them at the college level and college, but after a while it how they can use special skills just became boring. We were to prepare for tests, homework, learning the same things over 30 Years of projects, etc. Success 101 also and over again. We did projects Phantom focuses on how each student and other things but they were should define success and how all focused on the same old they can gain success. topics.” pg. 10 The course, however, was The class becomes in uncertain status because the time consuming for college Faculty Senate had not made a students; this can be harmful decision on whether it should to them. Students who take be a permanent requirement this course are essentially for students, meaning the // publicdomainpictures.net losing a chance to take an extra course was in pilot status. elective. Instead of choosing a William Mullaney, the course.” said, “ I’m excited about the class that interest a student they Vice President of Academic Success 101 is considered class. It should be helpful.” are forced to attend Success Affairs, said, “ The course to be an impactful course in New students and 101 which doesn’t add much is no longer in pilot status the eyes of the administration administrators seem to feel value or interest. because the faculty senate with the research that backs it that success 101 has a helpful Vargas said, “Having recommended it be required up. impact during college, however a class that has such little for certain students.” The In fact Bucchino also students who have completed benefits for students and solely recommendation was signed said, “Educational research the course had different takes up their time does not by the President of the college, suggests FYE courses are high opinions. seem fair.” ending the pilot status for the impact, which increases the Yefry Ramirez has Students who take course. rate of student retention and completed five semesters at remedial level courses are According to professor engagement.” BCC. Ramirez who was placed already at a disadvantage Iris Bucchino who currently First year students tend in Success 101, said “Every because of the fact they have Men’s Basketball teaches Success 101 “First year to agree with these statistics class seems to focus on finding to pay for these extra courses experience ( FYE ) courses however students feel that the what success means to each and gain zero credits for them. Season Update are considered high impact effectiveness of the class fades individual and tips to improve BCC seems to be at a and are student-centered. Over with time. academically, and although divide between the feelings 90 percent of colleges and Mariah Calvano who the concept is good having to towards Success 101 from pg. 20 universities across the nation is in her first semester here at learn the same thing over and administration point of view offer some version of the FYE Bergen Community College over again is not interesting at and a student point of view. Montana Governor Enforces Net Neutrality Paired Classes pg. 4 pg. 4 2 NEWS THE TORCH VOLUME 26 ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2018 NEWS The End of the Dream KAROLINE SANTOS SOUZA CONTRIBUTING WRITER they have all the same things that other House Minority Leader Nancy Americans have, except the papers. Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader On January 9, President Trump had Chuck Schumer have been working a meeting with bipartisan members of together with President Trump since the Senate on immigration, and in that September 5, 2017 to find a better bill meeting, Trump discussed the chance for this case before the deadline of to give a path to citizenship for the March 5, 2018. DACA applicants. Deferred Action for Childhood Meanwhile, the government is still Arrivals (DACA) is a program that afraid for the country’s safety after a started in the Obama-era in June series of recent crimes and terrorism 2012. The program protects a specific involving immigrants. The bipartisan eligible type of young immigrants senators are having trouble making a brought illegally to the United States decision together. as children from deportation, and also President Trump said that he is provides work permits. going to sign any bill that parties came It is a two-year long renewal- forward with. The only thing that all based program that can help people senators were in an agreement about like 26-year-old Camila Oliveira from is the fact that the bill has to be solid Brazil. Camila is a young adult that enough to resolve the problem once came to United State in 2005 with her and for all, since a good number of sister and her parents. the senators do not want to go back for She was one of the first applicants DACA again after some years. to DACA and explained that during The DACA program is considered this time she has had the chance to go an urgent case since the deadline is to college in New York City, get her coming and this problem is linked driver license and live in a status that to other things, for example, the she compared to a “limbo”, where she government shutdown on Friday, was not considered a legal resident but January 19th. was also not afraid to get deported. Now, there is no way to predict how After the announcements of a The debate over DACA is ongoing. // Wikimedia Commons DACA can be affected by this situation. possible cancellation in the program, while Congress is still deliberating on still have not received a new DACA. The most important thing that we know she is no longer thinking about her a possible DACA solution and she also Camila said that the word that is that the bipartisan groups had to run future or what is going to happen with fears the judiciary could block DACA would best describe her current situation with a bill for the Dreamers. her and her sister. Camila’s DACA renewal again. is “fear,” because even knowing she is Until this day comes, expiration is coming at the end of the After September 2017, around a Brazilian citizen, her heart belongs undocumented Americans are praying year; however, she is not sure if it is a 200,000 Dreamers have submitted the to the US. This is the speech of many to receive the real name that they all good idea for her to renew her status application, paid the fee of $465 and Dreamers; they’ve all grown up here; deserve: Americans.