The Harlem Shake takes place on campus

By Brianne Colon

The Harlem Shake has been a trending video within the past few months. Seen on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube teenagers have created a video to the song Harlem Shake by dj Baauer. This video is only about 30 seconds long. The video typically consists of one person dancing with a helmet on for a few the intro of the song while everyone in their surroundings seem to go on with their typical day. When the chorus of the song comes on everyone starts to dance. Teenagers around the world have created their own versions of the Harlem Shake and the idea spread quickly. Suffolk County Community College student Miles Graves decided to gather fellow students and create a “SCCC Harlem Shake”. He used Twitter and Facebook to spread the word of the event that would be recorded in from of the Riverhead Building on campus. Students were told to meet at the clock tower at 11am. “Students showed up with all different costumes and accessories that added a lot of uniqueness to the video” said Michelle Rueb, liberal arts major. The riverhead building is where all of the media and video classes are held. The students who had recorded and edited the video take classes in the basement of the riverhead building. The students would have done the video in one of the classrooms but they were unsure of how many students would actually attend. With a possibility of a big outcome the students decided right outside the Riverhead building would be the best place to have the video take place. The riverhead building has the biggest variety of classes being taught in comparison to the other buildings. In the Riverhead you may have classes for technology, business, languages, mathematics or more. The building is never empty; it is always filled with people. “Riverhead was a perfect spot for the video because there are so many students around it that if they didn’t hear of the event they were still able to participate, just by being in the right place at the right time” said biology major Nicole Calvagna.Despite the cold weather as soon as the time became 11 o’clock am the veteran’s plaza began to fill with students, many of them actually leaving in the middle of class to join the video. The video did not begin until a little after eleven giving students time to get to the event. As more students began to show up, Miles Graves began to explain to everyone how the video was going to work. Located in front of the Riverhead building he had a camera set up on a Tripod. Instead of having to hold the camera himself he chose to do this so he could be a part of the video himself. Not only was he responsible for the recording of the video but he set up the music and was also the main dancer in the beginning of this video. “Although I took care of everything technical and all the planning this video could have not been possible without my fellow students at SCCC” said media arts major Miles Graves. The video was done within the hour and the students continued with their classes. All of the editing and finishes of the video were done in the media class rooms in the Riverhead Building. Not much editing had to be done to the video, just some sound changes, cutting and credits. The video was uploaded on to Youtube.com later that day. As soon as it was posted students began to share the video via Facebook and Twitter. The video now has over 17,000 views. You can find the video yourself by visiting Youtube.com and searching Harlem Shake (SCCC edition). The Riverhead Building was an ideal location for this event giving it the pleasing turn out that it had.

Women’s Week: Celebrating 40 years of Women’s Studies

By Erica Matz
“Not the church, not the state, women must decide their fate!”
This is the iconic chant of the NOW organization- or the National Organization for Women. The NOW organization along with the National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) was featured during Women’s Week, which was sponsored by the Office of Campus Activities and Student Leadership Development. Women’s Week took place recently in the Montauk Point Room in the Babylon Student Center, and it celebrated its 40th anniversary of Women’s Studies among other progressive movements. Above all else, the event celebrated not only feminism but women. “Feminism and women are nurturing, it is empowering but best of all it is delicious!” Exclaimed Tricia Lin- the president of the NWSA.
Women’s Week celebrated the history or ‘Her-story’ of the progression and implementation of Women’s Studies and movements throughout the United States. Several lectures and presentations were given throughout March 4, March 6 and March 7. Womens week featured many influential figureheads who aided in the furthering development of women’s studies both at the Suffolk County Community College Campus’ and elsewhere throughout the country. The National Women’s Studies Association presented a lecture on the history and the development of finally implementing women’s studies into programs nationwide.
However women’s studies would not exist without the efforts of the feminist movements that took place earlier this century. First and second-wave feminist movements dwelled on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, women’s suffrage and sexual harassment. The third wave of feminism campaigned for women to be able to hold greater political power and receive equal wages. All three of these campaigned for social and cultural equality. Because of the proximity that these movements have to our time (the third wave taking place in the early 1990′s) celebrating and acknowledging women is significant and has presence in our culture as we know it today.
Professor Goode-Elman, a women’s studies professor at the Ammerman campus states that the main message that the presentations attempt to send is “Teaching, Empowering, Resisting.” This is the slogan seen on the front of the brochure that advertised the events throughout the college. Women’s week intended to educate the participants on not only past issues but the present. Women’s week advertised pure equality and progress to its and it certainly educated those who attended.

Tartuffe to be presented on Ammerman Campus

By Glen Conway

Ammerman Campus theatre students will put on quite the show on campus.

Mid April the production Tartuffe will be presented in Shea Theater by the theater department. The show will open on April 18 and run through April 28. The show itself is free to the students. Each student can obtain one free ticket from the Box Office located in the Islip Arts building with their student ID. Otherwise it is $12 for the general public and $11 for students, children and seniors.

Tartuffe is a French play considered to be a classic. It has many variations in how it can be produced. But in all productions Tartuffe means “imposter” in French. This knowledge gives the viewer a little insight into the play. “He goes into a house and pretends to be someone he is not and turns the house upside down” said Danny Bua, a sophomore cast member and productions major and a lead in the play. “Not supposed to tell about the play as its supposed to be a surprise to the public” Danny further commented.

However after speaking to various cast members some information about the play was exposed. For example it is written in rhyming couplets which have proven difficult for the cast to master. “It’s been a challenge to not speak it as a rhyming poem but instead as a flowing text” said Bua. It is a typical play in that it has two acts with one intermission. The play has a flowing plot meant to keep you entertained. “This is gonna be the most different but interesting version of the play that anyone will see” commented Bua. As he further explained how the hard they are working on the play and how exciting and wonderful he believes it will be.

Yet not all the cast is in agreement on the joys of the play. “It has been a difficult task to work with the director” said an anonymous minor cast member. She further went to tell me “The smaller show had more book time than the longer show” meaning that there was more stage practice with the script in the smaller production than the larger one. She also complained that rehearsal is from six to ten and the cast has been getting out as early as eight. But she did admit that it is infrequent this happens. But when confronting Bua with this information he exclaimed “It has been a demanding schedule to adhere to but not impossible. Practice makes perfect”. Further saying while it was difficult at first the play is coming together nicely. When asked about the director he Bua said he liked the director and saw no problems with what he was doing.

For the most part, the cast is very excited and looking forward to putting on a spectacular show. “We look forward to seeing everyone there” said Bua happily.

Additional information on ticket prices and availability the phone number to the box office is 631-451-4163.

Compass’s Exciting Holiday Party

By Julia Catalano

The writers and staff of The Compass held a holiday party during common hour on Wed, Dec.5.  Students wore their  festive holiday apparel to show their spirit at this party.  Refreshments, baked goods and even homemade punch was served in the lower level of the Babylon Student Center.

This party was open to all staff in the journalism department in order to showcase the Compass’s writers and all their hard work. The students also joined together for a good cause, a toy drive which was held for the less fornatunate.

American Sign Language Club presents 2nd Annual Holiday Bingo!

By Ally Lashley

The American Sign Language Club will be hosting their second annual Holiday Bingo located in the Montauk Point Room on Friday, Dec. 7. The ASL Club will also be communicating with the deaf community of Suffolk for a fun game of Bingo. Deaf students, along with regular students and family members are more than welcome to join in the festivities!

This game of Holiday Bingo will be held from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M., and students unfamiliar with the Montauk Point Room, this is located upstairs in the Babylon Student Center of the Ammerman Campus. A game of Holiday Bingo is perfect for the ASL club to be holding for deaf students, and non-deaf students. Learning sign language for the letters B-I-N-G-O is fairly easy, and a good learning experience for students interested in learning some sign language. This is a fun, and a nice quiet way to spend a Friday night. Club members of ASL will be helping students, along with the deaf community to fairly play a game of Bingo with your hands!

Holiday Bingo is definitely an interesting, but creative Holiday Club event for students! All students interested in this club event can contact Campus Activities at 451-4376. All students, families, and deaf students alike are welcome to share this second annual Holiday Bingo event!

Music Department Announces December Concert Events

By Julio Avila

“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music,” once said the iconic Long Island native artist Billy Joel.

   What better way to demonstrate the expression of the college as well as the students and faculty who dedicate themselves to the field of music and to set a show of rhythms for everyone? As a result, the faculty and students of the Music Department will be holding a department wide performance on two separate nights.

“These concerts have been taking place since the beginning of time, since the music department stared,” said Professor Craig Boyd, Department Chair and College-wide Coordinator of Music.

   Making sure that the choir, band, orchestra, as well as the other respected groups are ready for these concerts takes a bit of planning as well as practice.

“The concerts are held on availability of staff, students, and the theater, and we usually get ready and plan the performances by the first week of December,” Boyd said.

   Though the students and faculty who perform are playing for their fellow students, there is a much deeper connection between the music and these students. It also helps exhibit feeling, passion, and other forms of literary elements in the form of music.

   ”It’s an opportunity for the band, orchestra, and the ensembles to teach a high level of literature through music. Some pieces are emotional, seasonal, and demonstrate technique,” Boyd said.

   When asked about the value the students get from these performances, Prof. Boyd jubilantly replied, “Students get the sense of accomplishment and camaraderie, getting the chance to be mentored by professional conductors as well as a grade.”

   Performances that will be taking place include Ave Maria by the Suffolk Singers, Lambscapes by the College Choir, The Simpsons by the Jazz Ensemble, as well as other pieces of music from the respected participants.

These concerts will be held on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Shea Theater adjacent to the Islip Arts Building and are free of charge for students and the general public.

Students can also visit the music department’s website (http://department.sunysuffolk.edu/Music/index.asp) to see a schedule of upcoming performances as well as links to the Music Department’s Facebook page and YouTube channel to watch videos of performances from the different music groups.

“The Foreigner” Stage Performance

By Julio Avila        

        A live performance of “The Foreigner” will be taking place at the college throughout mid-November. It is a play about two British men, who come a long, long way from home to a remote fishing village in Georgia.

 

At this point, with the mention of British men coming to America, the phrase “long, long way from home”, and the title in itself, you may be thinking about the band “Foreigner”. Sadly, it is not they who will be performing. Do not confuse the name of the band with the play that is actually called “The Foreigner”.

 

 

“The Foreigner” is a comedic play performed in two acts and is written by Larry Shueand and is a play about a British demolition expert name Staff Sergeant Froggy LeSueur and his friend Charlie Baker who is also British but is going through a state of depression because of his wife’s frail state and his case of shyness around people approaching him trying to engage in conversation with him. He refuses to utter one word to these strangers, hence why he is referred to as a foreigner due to LaSueur creating the excuse because of his nearly non-existant willingness to want to talk.

 
This play made its debut in January, 1983 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and would be produced in the Astor Place Theater the following year in New York City where it would keep playing even after Shue’s death in 1985. The play has been a success in that it went on to win two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards in the categories of Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production

 
For those who want to enjoy a performance involving comedy, drama, and struggles, this is the play to watch. Performances for this play are Nov 14, 15, 16, 17, 23 and 24 at 8:00 p.m. and Nov 18 and 25 at 2:00 p.m in the Shea Theater adjacent to the Islip Arts Building.

 
Tickets are on sale at no cost to students (General Admission: $12, non-Suffolk students, children, and seniors: $11.00). Students can purchase tickets on the schools online box office website: https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?e=68cfaee0b4f0d8e2b07ea1b0e9d4437f&t=tix

Ammerman Campus presents ParaNorman!

By Ally Lashley

The Ammerman Campus presents a Family Friendly Movie night on November 16th for all students, and their family members interested in seeing ParaNorman! This movie is a spooky flick created and directed by the one and only Tim Burton (The Nightmare before Christmas and Corpse Bride). At the box office this movie would have cost around sixteen dollars a pop, but ParaNorman can be viewed for free at the Islip Arts Building in room 115 at 7 P.M. .

Any student unfamiliar with this movie, it begins with our not so normal hero Norman who has the gift of seeing and communicating with the dead. Norman is viewed as a freak, and is left to being a loner at his school. He meets another loner, Neil, and they become friends. Norman’s life seems to be looking up until an encounter with his crazed uncle, voiced by John Goodman, who claims Norman, with his special gift, is the only boy who can stop the evil witch soon to plague the town. Norman and Neil head out with their older siblings to face the evil witch, in doing so uncovering many hidden secrets of their town.

Tim Burton fulfills his talents with ParaNorman, and each character is uniquely shaped into their clay-mated physiques. Each character experiences outrageous encounters with zombies, ghosts, and witches throughout the entire film. The ghoulish vibe of this movie may be a bit frightening, but the funny scenes outweigh the scary scenes in this film.

Suffolk Student Kathleen McKiernan is excited to bring her little sister Bailey to see ParaNorman at the Islip Arts Building. “With the expensive prices at the movies, I usually just wait until movies come out to rent, but this movie being shown for free is more than convenient, and I can bring my sister because she loves Tim Burton movies.” This movie is rated PG for some scary images, but it is a funny movie for young children and adults. The presentation of this movie is free, but a thanksgiving food donation would be greatly appreciated for the college’s food pantry at the time of showing.

“Plantanos y Collard Greens” Musical Trip

By Julio Avila

If you are a student who enjoys cooking and food, likes plantain’s (or as it is said in Spanish “platanos”), collard greens, or food in general, then this event is not for you! Do not let the name fool you.

“Platanos y Collard Greens” is actually an off-Broadway play written by David Lamb, and produced by Jamillah Lamb. The play is based on David Lamb’s novel “Do Platanos Go With’ Collard Greens?” which was published in 1995, and later managed to turn this novel into a play, made its debut on June 27, 2003. Lamb’s play first debuted in a small theater on Manhattan’s West Side, and began its first tour a month later on October 8 traveling to theaters, performing arts centers, and colleges such as University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which was the first university the play traveled to. The group has even traveled abroad to perform such as St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands.

The play is a comedic love story about two college students who fall in love at first sight, but come from different backgrounds; Freeman who is of African descent and Angelita who is of Dominican descent. Both kids face a culturally mixed New York City that consists of Blacks and Hispanics in Washington Heights who have to overcome the prejudices, and the struggles of their parents’ un-acceptance of their love.

It is a play you will not want to miss if you enjoy a good comedy, story of romance or a story about young people doing what they thought was right, and to negate the negativity spawned by those who were against their decisions. This play has even received positive reviews from the New York Times, The Daily News, the New York Post, as well as other media outlets and universities.

Students will be able to attend this play in the city on Saturday, Oct 27 which is being offered through the Campus and Activities office at the Grant Campus. Students must purchase their tickets which are offered on a first come first served basis at a price of $30 by contacting the Grant Campus’ Office of Campus Activities at 851-6702 or Multicultural Affairs Office at 851-6341.

Students who have purchased their tickets must meet at the Brentwood Long Island Railroad Station before 1:15 p.m. on that date to catch the train going to the city.

Rock your socks off with colleges first Battle of the Bands

By Anthony Lucero

It’s a battle like no other; one that puts the musical talents of bands against each other to see who will rein supreme and be the champion of battle of the bands.  The Suffolk Community College Foundation will play host to its first annual: Battle of the Bands on Nov.2.  All students, faculty, staff and public are invited to part take on this event that will surly “rock your socks off” .It will we a night of live music and entertainment as MC Blue Jupiter (NYC’s premier a cappella group) hosts the event alongside a rocking judging panel of included guests such as long island’s own Frankie Dee from the WRCN morning show.

The Suffolk Community College Foundation is a non for profit corporation with its sights set on the progress of adding scholarships, programs, and other resources for our college students in need an deserving of these aids . Tickets start at $15 per person and $10 with current student ID. The event itself will be held on the Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood in the Health, Sports and Education Center on at 7:00 p.m.

So get your band together and come join in the fun as there will be prizes to the best bands along with title of champion of the colleges’ first Battle of the Bands. For more information on how to register your band or for more details about the event you can contact Leona Blatt at (631)-451-4941