Author Megan Abbott To Visit the Grant Campus
By Nicole Brems
Edgar Allan Poe Award Winner Megan Abbott will be visiting the Grant Campus of SCCC on November 7th. The author will be discussing her latest book The End of Everything. The novel tells the story a 13 year old girl in the 1980’s suburbs whose best friend disappears.
Abbott has also won the Barry Award for her previous novel, Queenpin in 2008, and been nominated for the Edgar award three times.
Abbott will be in room 113 in the Captree building on the Grant campus from 3:30-4:30 on the 7th. For more information about the event you can contact campus activities (631) 851- 6702.
Friday Family Fun Flicks
By Taylor Baker
Friday Family Fun Flicks is going to be playing a movie at the college. The college is having Campus Activities and Early Childhood play the movie “Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 2” at the Eastern Campus in Riverhead.
It’s a great time be with friends and family to get caught up again in all the magic or see the final movie for the first time on Friday, Nov. 11. Students can come down to the Shinnecock room 101 to check out the movie. This is at 7:00 PM. Now that the grand finale is out, “Deathly Hallows: Part 2” has made itself a fan favorite.
After 10 years Harry Potter is a classic American family favorite. “Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 2” is sending the beloved series out with a bang. Reviews have said this is the movie as being best “Harry Potter” installment.
Bring the whole family to see, the last Harry Potter, rated PG 13. So join Campus Activities and Early Childhood for the movie “Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 2.” For more information student can come down to Campus Activities, Peconic Building room 119 or call (631) 548-2522.
The Smurfs Movie
By Taylor Baker
The Smurfs is going to be playing at the college. It’s a great time for parents to take your children to see it on Friday, Nov. 11.
The college is playing the movie at the Ammerman Campus in Selden. Students can come down to the Islip Arts Building room 115 to check out the Smurfs. This is at 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Free family movie night! Bring the whole family to see, Smurfs, rated PG. Enjoy the furry little blue creatures and some free popcorn. A non-perishable food item would be appreciated.
Admission is free. The Smurfs is a CG animated and live action feature movie about the nostalgic little blue cartoon characters. Young children will think this movie is super smurfy. Contains some rude humor, a few suggestive jokes and lots of smurf language. The Smurfs movie is a been-there-done-that cross between Alvin and the Chipmunks and Enchanted. For more information contact campus activities at (631) 451-4376.
Vending Machines dOVER Priced Following 33 Percent Increase
By Taylor Baker
Vending machine prices have increased by as much as 33 percent since last semester according to a recent Ammerman campus survey.
Islip Arts Building
“There’s an increase in price, because there’s an increase in goods,” said Nick Skelos, manager of Dover Hospitality Services, Inc.
A license agreement between Dover Hospitality Services and the college indicates that Dover is responsible for the cafeterias on the Ammerman and the Grant campus. Along with the cafeterias Dover also services the vending machines in buildings across the campuses.
Skelos further explained the vending machine increase in an interview on Oct. 24.
“Our costs have increased dramatically in the last couple of years due to the fact that there’s an increase in goods. Trucking is more expensive. Gas prices are hot. It starts with the gas prices. Gas prices are high, and it goes from there,” Skelos said.
Vending machines are available in most Ammerman Campus buildings. The only building without vending machines is the Huntington Library. The Riverhead building and the Babylon Student Center, both have two vending locations.
Last semester the NFL College Administration building located by the east entrance of the campus was cited for having a reduced cost for vending items. Items in the machines were as much as 50 cents cheaper. This semester the price of items of the vending machines are up 50 cents more that last semester. From $1.50 to $2.00 in drinks, making it a 33 percent difference in costs.
Dover pays $270,000 in capital improvements, with annual payments of $25,000 to the College. On top of this money, the College takes commissions between 11 percent and 12.5 percent from the gross of sales of food services. They take 28 percent on vending machines sales from all the vending machines. The College and Dover determine snack and drink prices for the machines. The College has to approve the price increase by Dover.
While Skelos claimed that he did not know the percentage of profit that Dover earns for vending services, the College’s contract with Dover is clear about the profits.
Dover’s been affiliated with The College for five years. The College is licensed to continue working with Dover Food Services for another six years; as of July 1, 2010 the contract has been extended to another five years, expiring on June 30, 2015. The College receives proceeds from Dover’s sales due to commissions.
Throughout the course of each day, two maintenance workers service the vending machines five days a week. The buildings with vending areas have two machines, one for drinks and one for snacks. Dover does offer refunds, with the number on the machine. The number to call is (516) 933-4444 extension 13.
The drinks available are Coke A Cola, Dasani water, Nestea Cool Lemon Iced Tea, Diet Coke, and Sprite, which all increased 50 cents from the previous semester. The snacks such as chips and candy range from $1.00 to a $1.50. As for the gaming room, the machine carries cans of soda at a cheaper price making it $1.25. The water and some snacks such as chips and pop tarts have a difference in price from the cafeteria and the vending machines. In the cafeteria, the water is cheaper than the water in the vending machines. Pop tarts are the opposite; they’re $1.50 in the cafeteria and $1.25 in the vending machines.
When asked why the water prices were different, Skelos said, “All the machines have to be fixed; all the drinks are one price in the machines, so water and soda they all have to be fixed that way, where as in here [the cafeteria] we can actually distinguish between one drink and another. You’re never going to go to a vending machine and see two, three different prices.”
If the snacks are two different prices, in the machines, then why isn’t the water and soda that way as well?
“Snacks cost different prices, and the machines are different, two separate machines” [from the drinks and snacks], Skelos said.
“Vending machines have to be programmed separately. It’s, its own separate department, that’s why there’s a difference in price of water from the vending machines and the cafeteria,” Andre Greenfield a third year manager said.
In a random survey on the Ammerman campus students reported spending around $10 each week and some said as much as $5 a day on vending items.
“I don’t like the idea the price of the vending machines went up in price. We pay enough to go here, at least make the snacks and drinks cheap,” said Mike Ellison an Ammerman campus sophomore. He mentioned, now that he knows the price went up; he won’t come back as much.
Open Houses on All Three Campuses
By: Erika Ruiz
Open Houses on November 6th on All SCCC Campuses
SCCC will be having open houses on all 3 campuses on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011.
Students will be given the opportunity to meet with faculty, explore scholarship opportunities, talk with Admissions and Financial Aid Representatives. Students will also be able to tour the campus of their choice. Open houses will run from 1-3p.m.
For more information contact your campus of choice:
Ammerman Admissions (631) 451-4022
East Admissions (631) 548-2512
Grant Admissions (631) 851-6718
To obtain directions and or maps of campuses, check out http://www3.sunysuffolk.edu/maps/mapli.asp
10 CHEAP things to do for college students on a budget
By Jessica Radesco-Verdi
These tough economic times don’t have to mean no fun for students. There are plenty of inexpensive or even free things to do. Arts, culture, music or the simply bizarre; there is something for everyone.
Students are footing more of the tuition bills and receiving less in return, according to the Delta Project Report, Community colleges saw absolute declines in spending, down by nearly 2.5% per student in 2009. This trend will be continuing for some time in the future due to the lack of revenue and the need to compensate for it.
The wallet may be a little thinner these days but with some imagination and resourcefulness you can keep yourself busy throughout the semester.
1. American Museum of Natural History NYC $4
2. Museum of Modern Art: MOMA NYC $5
3. Multilingual tours of the United Nations NYC $4.50
4. Guggenheim Museum NYC $4
5. Wildlife Conservation Parks in Central Park NYC/BK $1.25
6. For those into the spirit of Halloween; there is the Nat’l Historic Landmark Woodlawn Cemetery free open house with rare tours of famous residents’ mausoleums. BRONX. OCT.16 at 2pm
7. Hamilton Grange-The house of Alexander Hamilton re-opens. Harlem. Wed.-Sun. FREE
8. Two-for-One Off Broadway tickets http://www.nycgo.com/offbroadwayweek
9. October is a big festival time around the Island with many of them offering free admission.
10. Donation classes are now popular (Yoga, dance…) offered at a pay what you can basis http://www.innerspirityoga.com/Donation.htm http://always-at-aum.com
These are just a couple of ideas for fun on tight funds. Sites such as http://www.studentrush.org and http://www.schooltix.com are great for scoring cheap tickets to the theater, concerts, comedy shows…
Don’t forget to check the SCC calendar for cheap or free events that take place on and off campus like family fun flicks Fridays or cheering on your favorite sports team.
Student Celebrates Successful Adjustment to College Life
By Katie Ford
There is no stranger experience than adjusting to the college lifestyle after finally getting used to high school. Walking into a classroom full of 30 unfamiliar faces that you will be with for the next few months is a real uneasy feeling. The class is so full, yet so awkwardly quiet. Everybody’s head turns when the door opens with a new pair of squeaky shoes waiting to put the name to a face of their professor.
The college is a large commuter school made up of roughly 24,000 students. Everyone is here for different reasons whether it’s financial, “just getting the crappy classes out of the way first,” or trying to get their grades up after slacking in high school for four years. Whatever the reason, don’t listen to the “high school grade thirteen” rumors, Suffolk is a great place to start if you take advantage of the opportunity! Sure you can spend longer than two years here if you don’t meet the requirements to graduate but the choice is entirely up to you.
This is the time where everyone seems to be setting out to find themselves. What better place to do it than here at on campus? There are many different kinds of people here. We have the nerds, the jocks, the hacky sack group, the shirtless Frisbee players, the kids studying in the library, the kids sleeping in the library , the speed walkers, the turtle-pace walkers, the impossible-to-get-around-large umbrella holders, the underdressed girls and the boys who seriously need to invest in some belts. My personal favorites are the weather-confused girls; Uggs, a miniskirt, a tank top and a scarf… come on now, you don’t look cute and you’re making me wonder if you are hot or cold.
You will also run into those kids who never gave you the time of day in high school, but now that all 200 of their best friends have gone away to college, you are their best friend. You can either A. pretend to ignore them, or B. give in. My best answer for you? Stand up for yourself, pretend like you have no idea who they are like they did to you for four years. It will feel real good later.
The age of students here varies anywhere between 17 to… old. This has shown me that intelligence and the will to learn more is not marked by a certain age and that it is always possible to further your education. I saw a man walking through the hallways of the Southampton building wearing an “I’m retired shirt.” I also met a 42-year-old mother of two in my math class. She is the sweetest woman, looking to further her education towards her goal of becoming a nurse. Although she complains a lot about how math has changed since she was back in high school, it is a real eye opener to see someone so focused .This has really shown me that anything can be achieved if you put your mind to it. It’s never too late to forget your past and start fresh to get a good education; it’s never too late to reach your dreams.
Do you ever feel surrounded by others who will do anything, even run you down, to get out of here? Well, picture this. You are a mouse in a field of starving cats. The second you step foot into the parking lot to leave after class you hear engines start, blinkers clicking, and you see reverse lights from behind and in front of you. It usually results in a one or two-minute screaming match over who had whose blinker on first, but you just continue along your merry way happy to get out of here. The worst part of college life is definitely the parking lots. There are no where near the correct amount of spots for the amount of students who attend here. You basically have to arrive 45 minutes early for your class just to drive around looking for a parking spot for a half hour. Day two for me, lesson learned… if you arrive late, you will probably find a spot in one of the overflows so it’s your best bet to just start there and hike a mile to class. Just remember what lot you parked in, otherwise you’ll spend an hour walking through every lot trying to remember where you parked. Guilty as charged. Here at Suffolk it is safe to say the worst drivers in all of New York State have come together on one campus. Stop is the new go, 15mph is the new 55, and pedestrians rarely exist unless you beat them to the crosswalk and literally throw yourself onto it forcing them to stop. There is at least one car accident reported or unreported a week. I’ve witnessed three since my start here, just months ago.
However you want to look at it, Suffolk is a smoking campus. Hip hip hooray for those of you who are smokers, boo for me. I can’t stand the smell of smoke, and know first hand what it can do to you. I watched emphysema and lung cancer take the life of my grandfather in 2009. Oh the things I wish I could tell people to get them to stop, but they wouldn’t care to listen anyway. The point that I am getting to is whether or not you want to be around it, you are most definitely going to be. No matter what door you take in or out of the building, there is no way to avoid it. It seems like most of the student body here are in fact smokers. I personally think it is absolutely disgusting. A smoke-free campus would benefit everyone, but unfortunately that is not the case here.
As I sat at the cafeteria table people-watching specifically for this essay, I came to the conclusion that there are many unique individuals who come here. You see people wearing shark hats, outfits that come close to resembling Halloween costumes and people who speak loudly enough to represent the entire student body as a whole. I guess everyone is unique in their own special ways, but then what makes us different because we are all essentially the same…right? All I know is that the individuality calls for some interesting conversations in the classrooms and that makes the learning experience fun. Suffolk is a great place to get a good education and either earn just your associates degree, or look to transfer to continue your education. Whatever your reason for coming here was, you have made a great choice as long as you take advantage of what the college has to offer. You will meet a variety of different people, and find your place fast. Plus, you won’t be buried in student loans like most of your friends who went away to school.
Suffolk Community College Hosts Long Island Regional Economic Development Council
By Alexander Corrigan
Pictured left to right: Stuart Rabinowitz President of Hofstra University, John R. Durso President of Long Island Federation of Labor, Owen H. Johnson Senator R- Babylon, Kevin Law President of Long Island Association
Tuesday Sept 13 Suffolk Community College played host to the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council on the Eastern Campus in Riverhead. The purpose of this public meeting was to generate ideas about how to develop a strategic plan for long-term, sustainable, economic growth here on Long Island.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo (D- New York) launched the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council on July 27, with an aim to redesign the relationship between the state government and businesses to stimulate regional economic development and create jobs on Long Island. Stuart Rabinowitz, President of Hofstra University, and Kevin Law, President of the Long Island Association will lead the Long Island Regional Council; both men will serve as Regional Co-Chairs. The Regional Council will coordinate the economic development of Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Other notable members of the Council include Patricia McMahon, Vice President of Battle Management Engagement Systems Northrop Grumman. Tracey Edwards, Vice President of Operations Verizon Communications. Samuel L. Stanley Jr. MD, President Stony Brook University. Samuel Aronson, Director Brookhaven National Labs.
The Council is part of a very ambitious plan by Governor Cuomo to revitalize New York’s economy. “These councils will have the tools they need to initiate regionally tailored projects that take advantage of our state’s many resources and create jobs for New Yorkers” said Governor Cuomo, “For too long, economic development efforts have not met the needs of New York’s diverse regions, but with this new approach we will once again open New York for business.” The new approach is radically different, transitioning from a top-down development model to a community-based approach that emphasizes using each region’s unique assets, harnessing local expertise, and empowering each region to set plans and priorities. The state’s current economic affairs are governed through various organizations; the Council will work at bringing together the various stakeholders and groups to create a clear response to economic development and job creation. Each region will work with representatives from local businesses and academia to focus on creating a region specific plan.
The Council has received the praise of many; including New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. (I, WF- Sag Harbor) and Senator Kenneth P. LaValle (R- Port Jefferson), both men publicly thanking Senator Quomo, especially for expediting their requests for the Council to hold a public forum for the East End of the Island. “Their willingness and quick response is greatly appreciated,” said Assemblyman Thiele.
“The East End is unique,” said Senator LaValle, “and I am gratified that the Governor recognizes the importance of the region as an economic engine.”
The first meeting of the Council was held on Wednesday Aug 10 at Stony Brook University. Since then there have been Council meetings held at Hofstra University, Suffolk Community College Eastern Campus, SUNY Old Westbury and the New York Institute of Technology.
The next meeting will be in Melville on Oct 18 at the RXR Building. The Council will be discussing what utility incentives are available to businesses, financing, avoiding bureaucratic red tape, and what technology is available and how it will help businesses grow. The RXR Building is located at 68 South Service Road in Melville. The meeting will be held in the Lower Level of the RXR Building. There is a continental breakfast that starts at 7:30 a.m. followed by the opening remarks beginning at 8:30 a.m. The meeting is open to the public, however one must register at http://www.lipower.org/commercial/ecodev.
For more information about the various Regional Council’s please visit http://www.nyopenforbusiness.com, the Long Island office can be reached at (631) 435-0717. The Governor’s Press Office can be reached at (212) 681-4640 in New York City and (518) 474-8418 in Albany, or by e-mail at press.office@exec.ny.gov.
Cradle of Success- Helping Parenting Students on Campus
By Nicole Brems
Prior to the club Cradle of Success, founded in 2009, pregnant and parenting students on the SCCC Ammerman campus didn’t have somewhere to turn to for support while at school. Many young parents struggle to stay in school after having a child, having a place to turn to for support and encouragement can be a great thing to have to make it through college.
The group, which as founder and former President, Jean Bowen, puts it,
“Didn’t have an epic creation. I was sitting in American History class and started doodling in my notebook, sketching out cradles and baby stuff. I suddenly came up with an image and it fit my ideas of having a support group for young parents like me. I decided to make up the name Cradle of Success and play around with it on fliers. Since the student government government senators had to pick projects to work on to better the school, I chose to focus on the parent population of Suffolk. After many ideas, I kind of just ran with it.”
Having a concrete idea in mind about where she wanted the club to go, Bowen began her research about parenting students on campus.
“I used my project, “Cradle of Success” as a quality of life project, and came up with ideas to help the young parents on campus. I researched by emailing many SUNY schools to study the percentage of young parents and what facilities and/or clubs were available to them.”
The responses she received came as somewhat of a shock to her and fueled her to push forward,
“Some told me about daycares and programs, others saying that not many parents spoke up or looked for facilities to help them through college. I ended up bringing my information to the faculty advisor, Patty Munch, who told me my passion could be suited well by starting a club. In December 2009 on my last day of classes, I received the official letter stating Cradle of Success was an official SCCC club!”
Each semester on Activities Day Cradle of Success had a table where students could learn about the group. Though they were always successful on that day Bowen had wished more members could join. To try to help out parenting students further Bowen would send out letters and emails to companies looking for support and donations for the group.
“I spent hours looking up organizations onion and websites to help young parents. Although I catered to all ages and situations, my personal focus was on young parents like me. I wanted to make a Facebook, so I started that. I received so many replies from companies. I received samples and brochures from Earth’s Best, Pampers, Huggies, and many organizations about SIDS, pregnancy, nutrition, infant care, breastfeeding, colic, postpartum depression etc. It was so great. Those things are what drove people in because, who doesn’t want free stuff?” Bowen said.
As Bowen had previously mentioned Cradle of Success had been started not only to help parenting students on campus but, she was initially more drawn to those in similar situations to her own of having a child during her young adulthood. But, as her researched progressed further within the club she realized that these parents weren’t taking advantage of all the support systems the SCCC campus already had in place,
“I ended up realizing how many colleges didn’t support or help young parents. But, the cause was not because of discrimination. As I realized from my meetings, it was the parents who didn’t speak up. They kind of hid and most didn’t even use the daycare but, instead took night or weekend classes to make ends meet. I realized that the daycare was really made up of older parents who were married and had a family. I was, at the time, the youngest mother using the daycare, being only 17 when I enrolled my daughter.” she said.
Having her daughter in the campus daycare became a vital part of much of the changes Jean was able to make while at SCCC. During her years as a student she worked alongside the campus daycare director, Audrey Hopkins, who helped her with her research. Bowen was able to make club meetings from kid-friendly. While at a club meeting she was able to propose and bring into being, changing tables into the public bathrooms of the Babylon Student Center.
In the spring of 2011 Jean Bowen transferred to SUNY Stony Brook. After meeting through Amber Taylor through a mutual friend Amber, also a parenting student, became the next President of the club.
“When I first started classes I knew very few people but, through a family friend I met the previous president, Jean Bowen. Upon speaking to her I realized the club was a great asset to the school and it would’ve been a shame to see it go,” she said about deciding to join the club as the President.
Amber is hoping to follow in Bowen’s footsteps and get changing tables installed in the men’s bathroom in the Babylon Student Center. This year the group is also hoping to plan fundraisers to help the campus daycare.
The group, which currently has about 10-30 members, meets on Wednesdays during common hour in the Smithtown Science Building room 110. The group also has a Facebook page where anyone interested can get information about the group.
Blood Drives at Suffolk Community College
By Nicole Brems
On two Wednesdays during the month of October, the 19th and 26th, the Long Island Blood Center, the local chapter of the New York Blood Center, will be visiting Suffolk to collect blood donations.
Since it’s inception in 1964 the New York Blood Center has become the largest non-profit, community-based blood collection and distribution organization in the country. Annually the blood center provides nearly one million components of blood to almost 200 hospitals throughout parts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
Nearly 2,000 people donate at one of the various blood drive or blood center locations every day. The NYBC does not only accept whole blood, at their blood drives they also accept automated red cell donations. At their multiple blood centers they also accept platelets, plasma, and leukocytes(white cells).
For those who don’t normally donate the NYBC has a rewards program as an incentive for blood donors. The blood center offers different amounts of points for the kind of donation you give. They also give you extra points the frequency of donating and for donating during certain seasonal times.
The blood center also has special incentives to try to get people in to donate platelets. In the past they have given away triple points, $25 gift cards to various stores, even NYBC umbrellas.
So, please go out on October 12th or 26th to the Grant campus and Riverhead campus, respectively, and donate blood. The blood center will be set up in HSEC fieldhouse, on the Grant campus, from 8am-8pm on the 12th and Peconic building, in Riverhead, room 100 from 9am-3pm on the 26th.
Please give an hour to save a life!
The Lighthouse News 