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WHERE IS THIS ON CAMPUS?

APRIL 28-MAY 4, 2008 EDITION

PRINT EDITION HEADLINES: Relay for Life; Swing into Spring Dance; Car contest; Libraries and Liberals; Forgetting Sarah Marshall Review; Too much campaigning?; Softball earns No. 2 bid in NAC playoffs

PHOTO GALLERY

Spring Fest: Students enjoyed the annual Spring Fest which featured a carnival, BU Idol and a chance to win a car! Photos by Katie Buell.

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NEWS

Handicapped Accessibility an issue at BU
By Brian Sabatino
Guest Writer

When you think of ‘handicapped accessibility’ what comes to mind? Many assume that a ramp is all that is needed for the handicapped to bypass steps in front of buildings. But this is common misconception, one that Benedictine administrators have not acknowledged.

Benedictine University lacks appropriate accommodations for students who are physically handicapped or in need of assistance to enter buildings.

“I wish there were handicapped buttons in the library, so I can enter when I need to without asking for assistance,” said student Jason Welge. The library is a main area of concern with the lack of the button to enter and exit the library without assistance.

Another area that has been a concern, especially during inclimate weather, is the lack of handicapped buttons on both sides of Kindlon Hall, making it difficult to enter at convenience. Kindlon has a bright spot as well there is an elevator which makes it possible to get up stairs, but sometimes that is not enough.

“The lack of handicapped buttons may be caused by the lack of knowledge and the resources to make this happen for all doors around the campus,” said a member of the University Services Department at Benedictine University.

Scholl Hall is also a problem area. Like Kindlon, one must go through the parking lot, which can be dangerous and too distant. Then once one enters Scholl, there are many doors that serve as unneeded obstacles to the handicapped person’s mobility. They do not have the needed buttons.

In addition to the challenges the handicapped face in Kindlon and Scholl the Rice Center poses problems. While Rice has a ramp to the entrance, once up the ramp, the handicapped individual has no way to enter without the help of a person whom may or may not be there.

The Coal Ben, just built, also has the lacks button to aid those needing assistance entering and exiting the building.

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Intramural Basketball
By: Lisa Rybak
Guest Writer

Through continued efforts to provide the student body a diverse range of activities, Benedictine’s students activities board sponsors this spring’s intramural basketball. An opportunity for students to stay active until the weather heats up outside, the activity is offered on Monday and Wednesday evening.

Intramural sports give both students who are non-athletes and athletes a chance to intertwine their talents in a competitive, but casual way. The teams pull in crowds who are just as entertained to be there as those on the court.

Marcus Pass, sophomore communication major, said that “the best part of it is having fun. You get a chance to see and connect with people that you usually don’t see outside of a classroom. It shows another side of students, the competitive side.”

While offering students on campus an opportunity to use the gym through the night, the sporting events are also open to coaches. Intramural basketball has attracted a total of 15 teams this year.

Some of the students have been participating for years. Communication major Ryan Brown is on the coach’s team, otherwise known as “The Staff.” Brown has been involved in intramurals since 2003. Although this is his last year he has consistently enjoyed one thing. He likes the team game concept at intramurals. “Carefree! You still want to win, it’s still intense, and you have fun.”

Their regular season is coming to a close and playoff are just days away. Similar to any other competition, intramurals is set up on a bracket. “Just like the
NBA, you lose, you go home.” said Brown.

Neither Brown nor Pass are looking to attempt the impossible. They share one common goal between themselves as well as with the rest of the participants: they want to win! “This is my last year; I’m just trying to go out with a t-shirt. I think this will be my year” said Brown.

Pass has realistic views upon entering play-offs. “We can’t get a good seed now, but ya gotta take it one team at a time now. Not over-look anyone. Not look ahead, but just focus on the task at hand.”

Play-offs will take place the week before finals, giving students the ultimate wind-down before the year ends. This event has proven to be a seriously good time. The teams will have a chance to overlook their record for their regular season games and give themselves a shot to take it all. Winners walk away with pride on the court and wonderful t-shirt to remember the time they had.

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Rockband Competition lights up BU
By Lisa Rybak
Guest Writer

On April 16, the Student Programming Board hosted a “Rockband” event, in keeping with the members’ of supplying the Benedictine student body with needed diversion from their studies and everyday stress. The event took place 9:00 pm at the Coal Ben.

Rockband expanded on the successful “Guitar Hero” event last fall, which boasted close to 60 participants.

According to Programming Board advisor Eric Guthrie, the Board’s first attempt at hosting Rockband was scheduled and subsequently cancelled due to timing and technical difficulties. It was discovered that since it explained that the event was planned to be right before the volleyball tournament at midnight, and even with that cancellation they wanted to continue with the Rockband event. Technical difficulties however gave the board no other option but to reschedule.

Programming Board secretary Elizabeth Skarr was disappointed when the original event did not take place when scheduled. “We had 15 to 20 people who showed up,” said Skarr, adding that she understands that the weeks are getting busier as students head towards finals.

However, according to Skarr and other organizers, the rescheduled event went well. The board members began the evening playing the first song, and then a second. As spectators built their nerve, a crew of excited stepped up to take part in the festivities. In addition, Coal Ben patrons began to get involved.

Betsy Cardona, prepared for the original event. But she, like so many others, was not going to let a little rescheduling keep them from a good time. It was the game that drew her and her friends that night. “The singing is the best part because some people aren’t very good, or they’re really good. Either way it’s awesome,” Cardona said.

Sundeev Gill was one of the first to jump on the drums. He summed up the feelings of many that night: “It’s excellent. It’s a relief from the stresses of collegiate life- exams and stuff. It’s just the atmosphere. It’s an oasis from the studying period.”

Now that Rockband is over, the Student Programming Board is responsible for the spring dance. The Board will also host their usual “Snack Attacks” to keep everyone sane during finals.

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Pass the Popcorn…it’s Movie Night at BU
By Kristine Guzik
Guest Writer

Nothing says “relaxation” from studying like some snacks and watching a movie on a big screen with your best friends. Movie Night is not only for Benedictine University students but for the community as well. Families can come to enjoy a flick at the Rice Center gymnasium. They were able to do that Saturday, April 19th.

The movie choice for the event was Bee Movie. Susan Dobes, mother of Benedictine’s Nick Dobes, junior, attended with her family. Her favorite thing about this event is “just coming to Benedictine. The movie doesn’t really matter. It’s just fun that we get to come.” The Dobes family attends every Movie Night.

Families, with younger kids, also enjoyed the movie. The kids had a great time staying active and watching a movie, that was age appropriate for them. There were also students from local Junior Highs and High Schools.

The Programming Board’s Eric Guthrie also attended. He said his favorite part of the event was, “being able to see all the people who come out from the Community,” Like Dobes, he also attended every movie night since the beginning of his career here at Benedictine. “We let Programming Board pick the movies. I’m usually staffed,” Guthrie said.

The event began at eight o’clock p.m. and lasted until the movie was over. An annual event, Movie Night has been going on for a few years. It is a tradition many families with kids of all ages seem to enjoy.

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FEATURES

Zen Gardens Relieve Stress on BU Campus
By Sarah Zavodny
Guest Writer

The feeling of anxiety rushes over your body when you struggle to finish your homework that is due the next day. All you want to do is to get this last assignment done before the deadline. You are stuck at a spot and you do not know where to turn to. What do you do?

Do not panic, Benedictine University’s Student Health Service is here to help you relax and get back on track. On April 15 and 17, the wome of the Health Service supplied students with Zen Gardens to help them relieve their stress during the last couple weeks of school. “Having a Zen Garden is a good way to relieve you mind from your studies while you calm yourself down”, says Barbara Allanach of the Student Health Services. “The stress level at BU is so high lately, and we wanted to find a fun and creative way to distract themselves before getting back to working on their homework.”

The idea of a Zen Garden is part of the Buddhist culture. Buddhists use a giant land mass covered in sand, which they rake patterns to ease their minds. The Student Health Services made a simple version of the garden. Start with a small container, add sand, even it out, rake your path in the sand, choose either colored rocks or any object that you desire and see if it will put you in a better mood. Elizabeth Skarr, a sophomore at BU, also enjoys the idea of a Zen Garden. “I’ve had one since my freshmen year of college. I use it when I’ve had a bad day and I want to relax.”

So if you are to the point of pulling your hair out, take out your Zen Garden and rake a path. If that does not work, you can always go to the Student Health Service Office in Krasa 116 to find other stress relieving procedures.

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The Show Must Go On. . .
By Barrie Oliver
Guest Writer

On Saturday, April 19, 2006, the Benedictine University Theatre Club presented their very first performance of Euripides’s Medea which was held in the Krasa Presentation room. Euripides’s Medea is a tragedy that tells a story of jealousy, betrayal and infidelity. Jason cheats on his wife Medea, the main character and with much contemplation; Medea murders her own children to get back at her husband for his infidelity. Benedictine University Theatre club reenacted this story, but with a little twist.

“I titled the play, Euripides’s Medea: A Director’s Nightmare,” said Nora Manca, the director. “So it’s Medea with a twist. Everything that could possibly go wrong did.” But the show must go on.

One of the main characters, Jason the husband, unfortunately had to quit the play. But this is what inspired the “The Director’s Nightmare” idea. The performance was filled with comedy; kids running around the stage, objects crashing; character’s playing multiple roles, missing lines, the works. It was a clever idea and the show ran smoothly. The elaborate costumes designed by Margaret Roth were also a huge plus for the shows enhancement.

With all the chaos, the show still stayed consistent with the original plot, and the overall performance was very entertaining.

The cast consisted of: Gabrielle Tufano, student, as Medea; Olfa Souissi, professor, as Queen Aegeus; Jerry Urbik as Messenger; Stefan Turcic as King Creon; Danielle Swanson as Jason, Tutor, and Assistant Director; Tim and Phil Urbik as the children; and Izabela Mieszczanska and Kerrilee Meeker as the Chorus.

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PUZZLE/SUDOKU ANSWERS

WHERE IS THIS ON CAMPUS?

Answer: The stairway behind CoalBen.

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