“Truth No Matter The Cost” The Torch BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT NEWSPAPER IGNITING STUDENTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE VOLUME 21 . NO. 4 TORCHBCC.COM DECEMBER 2013 Environmental Action: How Students at BCC Tackle Global Warming Problem left & center: BCC going green, separate trash cans for recycling garbage and compost. right: Three water purifying fountains, each saving about 3,600 bottles in two months of use. Nomi Eijkenaar // The Torch NOMI EIJKENAAR with strong winds of at least 140 miles aware of the steps they take and realize the water, he realized his pants and shirt STAFF WRITER per hour, are one of the least contributing that even recycling here on campus will were full of oil spots. At that point he Many believe that countries that contribute nations to the problem of global warming. make a difference.” She believes the “wanted to influence people to see what the most to pollution since the Industrial Some consider this situation as a “climate school should have outside recycle bins their actions caused.” He believes in the Revolution should be held responsible for injustice” and believe that countries like and wants students to know that Dunkin promotion of bicycle riding, using public global warming and for the horrifying the United States and China should be Donuts cups can be recycled. She believes transportation, and carpooling. He takes problems they more financially responsible for global a day of awareness at the Student Center the bus to school even though he is the are contributing to our planet. As a warming’s effects than those countries will help notify students and will provide owner of a car; it is important for him to New York Times article stated, the human who contribute less to the terrifying them with more knowledge about the show that the change one person makes activities that are changing our climate situation. situation. can lead to a difference. have been understood to happen in the The Torch investigated how students By the same token, the president of The Environmental Club combined nations that contribute the most to global are taking responsibility to do what the Environmental club, Justin Boushay, with the help of STEM is promoting the warming but have instead been getting hit is necessary to help those who are became involved with protecting our use of the least. less fortunate. 20 year old Brenda planet back in 2008. He was surfing in reusable water. The school has Countries like the Philippines that got Griepenburg, a member of the Green Florida a year after the big BP oil spill in installed three new water fountains that hit by Typhoon Haiyan (a tropical cyclone) Team said, “I think students should be the Gulf of Mexico; when he came out of Continued on pg. 5 College Discount Cards Coming to BCC PEPE ROMERO NEWS EDITOR As early as next semester, students at Bergen Community College will benefit SPRING2014 by receiving a free discount program that will allow them to get ten to fifteen percent off of restaurant bills, food store BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE bills, entertainment, and movie theaters in Bergen County. Aimed to ease financial burdens on cash strapped college students, College Discount Cards will be an added STUDENT benefit that is usually available at four year schools around the country. The idea of creating the program was formed by the Student Government Association and DISCOUNT is funded by the Office of Student Life. Kayla Williams, Chief of Staff of SGA, presented a sample discount card from Passaic Community College to CARDS Knocking out Paola Baez, Chairwoman of the Auxiliary Services Committee. As Baez, a business strangers on the administration major student stated: street became a “When I went to their website, I was The student discount cards will be sponsored by SGA and can be acquired next semester, spring 2014. impressed with the potential variety of Concept of discount card designed by Valerie Batista game. It has gotten stores the cards provide access to”. As out of hand and legal decided, twenty stores out of fifty will be action has taken selected as a part of the discount stores usually available to four year schools of marketing the cards and spreading available by the use of the card. Once only. Fenkart believes the cards will be the word to other students about the place. deciding which stores will be available on available the end of January 2014. availability of the program. The proposal the card, the Office of Student life will According to their website, College to present College Discount Cards to the Knockout Game distribute 5,000 cards to students who Discount Cards was founded in 1998 and Office of Student Life for approval was signed up to receive them. Greg Fenkart, with over 500,000 cards in circulation passed with a unanimous vote by the Gone Viral Coordinator of Student Development, annually, they are the leading provider SGA senate. expressed particular pride in providing of such service. Once all participating pg. 7 students with discount cards which are stores get selected, SGA will be in charge I N S I D E Health Professions Building Pg. 2 Our Very Own Thrift Shop Pg. 13 Coming Together for the Beauty of the Game Pg. 20 2 NEWS THE TORCH VOLUME 21 ISSUE 4 | DECEMBER 2013 Health Professions Building FELLIX LYU STAFF WRITER A $26 million Health Professions Building will be constructed at the Paramus campus of Bergen Community College. The BCC Board of Trustees meeting held in November discussed the requested action of paying a $218,000 service fee to RSC Architect. As part of the requirement for the already approved State of New Jersey GO Bond application, which provides funding for the building , BCC has prepared contract documents for RSC to review. The architectural plans contain the design of laboratories and classrooms that are measured at 65,000 to 80,000 sq ft. The construction will be starting in 18 months and BCC is expecting future revisions for the building. Many high school students enrolling at BCC are anticipated for the new Health Professions Building. Unfortunately, Any and all funding is going to be used at A rendering of the planned Health Professions said, “First, I believe that they will the current students that are majoring in the right discretion. It’s great. I don’t have Integrated Teaching Center at Bergen Community probably add extra classrooms and more nursing, radiology, or any other health any complaints about it.” College. classes will be administered during the profession may not have a chance to see As a yearly average estimate of 1,000 Photo courtesy of Larry Hlavenka daytime. Secondly, there may be a growth this building. students being enrolled, a huge percentage in clubs and designated rooms, rather than Nathan Rosario, a nursing student, of those who enroll are nursing majors. meeting in a random room, the clubs will said, “I think it’s a great idea. It’s good With the installment of the Health have a schedule.” For the nursing majors that Bergen is expanding and getting new Professions Building, students in Bergen who are striving and those who are going facilities, especially for the healthcare Community College are wondering what to strive, hopefully, this building will be field, because it is the most common and will happen to the nursing classrooms of great convenience. faster growing fields.” He said, “If it’s now that the building is being constructed. for education, I really don’t think there Aimee Landestoy, a fellow BCC student should be any limit to what they spend. Sing, Sing, Sing here at BCC Sing, sing, sing is excersiczing their vocal chords. Nomi Eijkenaar // The Torch NOMI EIJKENAAR to define and pursue their own informal educational Sing, Sing, Sing is one of the biggest highlights of STAFF WRITER goals, at their own pace, and according to their own the program. It is the Bergen Community College Senior Who knew there were about 700 students here at Bergen choices and talents. The program provides classes held Chorus consisting of about 65 members. The class meets Community College who are 55 years of age and older? at BCC by retired professors or current staff members every Tuesday and is instructed by Barbara Heitmann. The oldest student here at BCC is Evelyn Zyman, who who work as volunteers. The course does not require auditions and is open to all just turned 100 this past June. The Institute for Learning The cost of the program to students is $200 per two adults with the desire to sing. in Retirement (ILR), was brought to BCC combined semesters, providing them with a spot for the entire Sing, Sing, Sing is a program that provides older with Road Scholar Institute Network about 12 years ago school year. Courses include art, history, movie reviews, people with a place to come and socialize, express by Lois E.Marshall. short stories, religion, technology, singing courses, and themselves, and entertain others. The program would Marshall had the vision of incorporating classes to many more. Lois E.Mashall passed away suddenly about like to encourage young students to engage with the ILR adults over the age of 55 and to offer them the opportunity four years ago, and the ILR program was passed on to program and to feel free to sing along on the day of their the current director of the program, Dr. Ilen Kleinman. performance. JOIN THE TORCH Meetings every Tues., 12:45 p.m., SC-111A Corrections to stories that appeared in the November 2013 edition: Pg. 5 SGA President Alexis Bravo was an intern at the New Jersey Republican State Committee NOT a member of the Young Republicans.