The Lycourier

Students eat to win big at first-ever Super Bowl hot dog eating contest

2012-02-09T12:41:00.000-05:00

By Aliza Davner
Editor in Chief/ Lycourier

As if the dining hall was not crowded enough or loud enough during lunchtime, Lycoming found a way to up the excitement with last week’s Super Bowl Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Freshman Nicholas Bruno competes in the first-ever Super Bowl
Hot Dog Eating Contest during lunch on Thursday, Feb. 2.

The event, co-sponsored by Parkhurst Dining Services and the Lycoming College Food Committee, was held on Thursday, February 2 at noon in the dining hall.

This was the hot dog eating contest’s inaugural year, with plans in the works to make it an annual event.
Senior Kari Lenz, chair of the food committee, takes credit for the original idea, saying “I had always wanted to have an eating contest in the dining hall and after talking with the food committee and Nick Zolak, we finally put it into action.”

“[Zolak] suggested using hot dogs,” Lenz added.

In addition to hosting the event in the Wertz Dining Hall, “Parkhurst provided the hot dogs as well,” said Lenz.

The rules for the Lyco Super Bowl Hot Dog Eating Contest were based off of the rules used in the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest, a famous eating competition held every July 4 in New York.

The rules for the competition were simply to eat as many hot dogs as possible in 10 minutes. Students were provided trays of hot dogs, as well as cups of water.

Junior Ryan McClure walked away the winner, after having consumed 13 hot dogs.

He received a Super Bowl-ready prize pack, which consisted of six dozen wings with celery and blue cheese, two cases of soda, three large bags of Frito Lay chips and three jars of salsa, as well as a $50.00 gift card to Wegmans for additional snacks for the game.

Prizes were also given to the second and third place finishers.

Cody Butler, who placed second, received a smaller version of McClure’s prize, consisting of four dozen wings with celery and blue cheese, one case of soda, two large bags of Frito Lay chips and two jars of salsa, and a $25.00 gift card to Wegmans.

Butler consumed 10.5 hot dogs during the competition.

Sophomore Christos Arhontakis took third place, eating 10 hot dogs.

He also received a prize package, which included 2 dozen wings with celery and blue cheese, 1 case of soda, 1 large bag of Frito Lay chips and 1 jar of salsa.

He also received a $15.00 gift card to Wegmans.

The event proved to be quite popular with the lunchtime crowd, as students left their tables and gathered in the dining hall’s center aisle to get a good look at the competition.
“I was thrilled to see how many students showed up to either participate or watch the event,” Lenz said.
“[Zolak] and I chatted about it afterward and he estimated that over 500 people, students and faculty, had shown up to watch the event,” she added.

Overall, the competition’s organizers have deemed the event a success. “I am very pleased with the event,” Lenz stated.

“I must say that Parkhurst came up with outstanding prizes! The event was a big success,” she added.
While the majority of the participants were male, “my heart goes out to the only girl who participated in the contest, Andrea Eagle; she's a real champ,” Lenz said.

CAB sponsors spring Broadway trip

2012-02-09T12:37:00.000-05:00

By Cassandra Mainiero
Lycourier Staff

What’s your favorite Disney movie? Most of us can name our favorites right away. Some people say ‘Beauty and the Beast;’ other individuals such as ‘Pocahantas’ and sometimes people will just give their own rendition of the songs in ‘Tarzan.’

Regardless, one Disney movie that seems to be a popular favorite among many kids, teens, and even young adults is ‘The Lion King.’

This semester, at Lycoming, the Campus Activities Board (CAB) is offering you a chance to answer to your inner- child and join your fellow students to see ‘The Lion King’ (the Musical) on Broadway. That’s right, your favorite characters, like Rafiki, Simba, and Zazu, have come to the Broadway stage for their 15th year and CAB wants to make sure you don’t miss out.

“I haven’t seen it myself,” said Alexander Towle, Committee Chairperson for Travel/Leisure on CAB, “but I’ve heard it’s an artistic show, with great characters, and it has a wonderful reputation.”

Enough of a wonderful reputation that when Towle sent out survey to Lycoming students, about which show they wanted to see this semester, ‘The Lion King’ triumphed over not only ‘Chicago,’ but also ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and’ Wicked.’

“I always try to choose one classic show and one less-classic show each year” said Towle, “so I identified the four classic shows being offered right now: ‘Chicago,’ ‘The Phantom of the Opera,’ ‘The Lion King,’ and ‘Wicked.’ ‘The Lion King’ was the show the students responded to the most and ‘Wicked’ was a close second, but CAB just offered tickets to see that [Wicked] last year.”
There is no denying it, though, CAB’s selection of Broadway shows has gotten better each year and students have seemed to respond greatly to each event.

Last semester, when CAB sold tickets for ‘How to Success in Business without Really Trying’ (feat. Daniel Radcliffe) there was even a student overnight stake-out in Wertz just to get a ticket.

“From what I heard people really enjoyed it” Towlesaid, “it was a great musical and Daniel Radcliffe was actually really good.”

Additionally, the likelihood that ‘The Lion King,’ which holds the 14th worldwide box office ranking for Disney movies, would have any less of popularity when it moved to stage is highly doubtful.

The reviews on ppc.broadway.com just add to the show’s already enormous reputation, calling it a “pulsing spectacle, [with] unforgettable tunes (including Elton John and Tim Rice’s Oscar-winning “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”) and a jaw-dropping display of exotic African wildlife brought to life onstage.”

So, when asked if whether he thought another overnight stakeout was going to happen for ‘The Lion King’ tickets, as if did last semester, Towle agreed immediately: “Yes I do. I definitely see that happening.”

Tickets to see ‘The Lion King’ will be on sale for $25.00 starting on Friday, February 10, 2012 at 7:00 AM, in the Office of Student Programs, located on the 3rd floor of Wertz.

The show will take place on Saturday February 25, 2012 at 2 PM in New York and will be considered a day-trip, so attendees should plan their schedules accordingly.

Students that are attending will not receive their ticket until day of the trip, but will be required to pay and provide Student Programs with an email once the tickets go on sale.

Remember, CAB is only provided with 52 tickets to sell to students and, according to Towle, “we always sell out.”

Tickets will not be able to be reserved for any student that is not there at the time of the sale and, though there may be a list of who was in line first or not, CAB will not adhere to this system.

So, what’s some advice for making sure you get your ticket and will be singing ‘Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba’ [Here Comes the lion, Father] with everyone?”

Well,Towle warns, “just get as close as you can to the [Student Programs] door at 7 AM. That will be your best bet.”

Any questions about this trip can be answered by contacting Alexander Towle or The Office of Student Programs, on the 3rd floor of Wertz.

Science Column: Exploring the Moon

2012-02-09T12:35:00.000-05:00

By Suzanne Smith
Lycourier Staff

Just over a month ago two new lunar satellites achieved lunar orbit. NASA’s twin lunar orbiters, Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) A and B, are now known as Ebb and Flow, thanks to the fourth graders at the Emily Dickinson Elementary School in Bozeman, Montana. Ebb and Flow are each about the size of a washing machine. The satellites were launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on September 10, 2011.

In a test run of one of the twin spacecraft, GRAIL returned its first unique view of the far side of the moon. MoonKAM, or Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students, will be used by students nationwide to select lunar images for study.

Both Ebb and Flow are fitted with the MoonKAM. It was with Ebb’s MoonKAM that the first images were captured. Testing of Flow’s MoonKAM will be conducted at a later date.

In the video, the north pole of the moon is visible as the spacecraft flies towards the lunar south pole. Maria Zuber, principle investigator on the GRAIL project, hopes the images from MoonKAM inspire students as they explore the moon.

The MoonKAM is an integral part of the a program in which thousands of fourth- to eighth-grade students will select target areas on the lunar surface and send requests to the GRAIL MoonKAM Mission Operations Center in San Diego, California. Photos of target areas will be sent back by the satellites for the students to study.

The MoonKAM program is led by Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space. Her team at Sally Ride Science and undergraduates at the University of California in San Diego will engage middle school students across the country in the GRAIL mission and lunar exploration.

GRAIL is NASA’s first planetary mission carrying instruments fully dedicated to education and public outreach.
“We have had great response from schools around the country; more than 2500 signed up to participate so far,” Ride said. “I expect this will excite many students about possible careers in science and engineering.”
Ebb and Flow periodically perform trajectory correction maneuvers that, over time, will lower their orbits to near-circular ones with an altitude of about 34 miles. During their science mission, the duo will answer longstanding questions about the moon and give scientists a better understanding of how Earth and other rocky planets in the solar system formed.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, manages the GRAIL mission for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington, DC.

To view the 30-second video clip, visit: http://go.nasa.gov/zZXAPs.

‘Schemata’ offers publishing opportunity

2012-02-09T12:30:00.000-05:00

By Julia Cuddahy
Lycourier Staff

Lycoming students help map out blueprints for great departmental writing when they submit to Schemata: Student Essays Across the Curriculum, an online journal featuring student work and photography, a new issue of which appears each spring.

Faculty can recommend student work for publication, but the program depends on students to e-mail essays and photographs to Shanna Wheeler, Assistant Director of the Academic Resource Center and founder of Schemata (wheelers@lycoming.edu).

“My goal for the program,” said Wheeler, “is to produce a journal with real-life examples of student work that faculty and students can use as templates for specific writing assignments and citation styles.”
All Lycoming students are encouraged to submit, even freshman and recent graduates. “More work submitted,” said Wheeler, “means more competition, which results in a better product.” Submissions sent by the end of February are preferred, so the journal will be ready before the end of the semester.

Since the inaugural issue in Spring 2010, Wheeler and her student editorial board have attempted to showcase at least one essay from each department depending on the number of submissions and the quality of work. Occasionally, especially for History and English, there can be as many as four essays published in a single department. Students can be published in more than one subject or for more than one teacher, so a wide variety of submissions is encouraged. Submissions are not limited to a student’s major, or even to traditional essays. Schemata encourages submissions of all types of non-fiction, including lab reports, personal narratives, and research papers.

“Publication in Schemata is something to put on your résumé, especially if you are not an English major,” said Wheeler. “Writing is difficult, and a record of publication with Schemata proves you know how to write well.”

Also, unlike essay submissions, photographs are not limited to work produced for a specific class; Schemata would be happy to look at anything students feel proud of.

Students who have already submitted to Schemata or those who would simply like to help out should consider joining the editorial board. Positions include proofreading, graphic design, Web design, marketing and public relations. One of the reasons Wheeler created the journal was to give students another opportunity to gain experience in publishing. Most of the editing and designing for the Spring 2012 issue will take place in March and April, so there is still plenty of time to get involved.

Contact Wheeler at wheelers@lycoming.edu and visit the Schemata site at www.lycoming.edu/schemata for more information.

CAB welcomes comedians to Jack’s Corner

2012-02-09T12:27:00.000-05:00

By Samantha Ferraro
Lycourier Staff

Clapping and long bouts of laughter could be heard all throughout the Wertz Student Center on the evening of January 26. Jack's was rather full with tons of students who were there for the delicious smoothies and comedic entertainment. Both comedians even made cracks at the ever-going blender sounds that echoed through the room and the crowd was engaged and receptive of comedic acts that were relatable to everyday college life.

The night opened with Adam Newman's jokes, which featured topics such burritos, Disneyland rides, and the reflexes of a cat. “What's the worse thing you can launch into a crowd of people at a sporting event?” Newman asked. His response: “A burrito.”

Newman proceeded to inform the audience of a time in which this strange occurrence really did happen to him and how he was both excited and horrified to have a blend of meat and cheese wrapped in tortilla-y goodness being launched at his face.

He had mixed emotions on the subject. “It took a unique sense of humor to not be offended by some of the jokes,” noted Lyco freshman Sheryl Nelson.

Comedian Steve Hoffstetter

Later in his skit, Newman also asked the audience what they felt was the meaning behind the expression, “reflexes like a cat.” He argued that, “sure, cats can land on their feet when falling from trees, but can they flinch away from a ball being launched at them?” Or maybe a burrito? Cats are quick with their landings, but they're not the wisest of creatures.

Once being hit with the ball, cats tend to venture over and investigate what had just hit them. No human with any sense of reflex would allow something to willingly hit them, so Newman decided he'd “rather have the reflexes of...well, a human.”

Though some of the jokes were subdued and simple, others were meant to stir up some controversy and get people really thinking.

Both Newman and Steve Hoffstetter knew what they were talking about when it came to issues with the world. It was clear in their performances that both of them were well educated on their material and could bring light to popular social issues through humor in an interesting way.

“Some of the jokes were a bit edgy, but nothing that half of us probably weren't thinking,” added freshman Cara DiSandro.

After Newman finished with a brief stint of well thought out jokes, Steve Hofstetter took the stage bringing forth jokes about the Williamsport area as well as his own take on the controversies and humorous issues and happenings in everyday college life.

For instance, Hofstetter poked fun at his red hair, noting that nothing annoyed him more than “being called a 'ginger.'” He notes that only other redheads can refer to each other as 'gingers,' just as members of the rap community have certain things that they refer to each other as, as well.

Another of the jokes that stood out was the safety of the security at airports. Hofstetter had a lot to say about those working as a TSA. He shared a personal story explaining how he found out that snow globes are apparently not allowed on planes, and can't understand why shampoo can't be brought onto a plane in a bottle over the size of three ounces. If weaponry can be made of snow globes and shampoo, we have larger issues to worry about.

There were about forty members of the audience who had come out to see the comedians at work, which made for a more involved show.

Hofstetter took the time to get to know the audience by asking them a series of questions and poking fun (in a gentle way) at some of their answers. He was quick to come up with jokes off the top of his head, showing his improv comedic skills, which both comedians proved to be very good at.

Overall, the comedians were both very witty with material that both entertained and educated those who were present for the show. It was a good time to be had by all and everyone in the audience was both responsive and involved in what was being critiqued and played upon and it was safe to say that the evening was a lovely break to a dull, study-filled night.

Chieftain Award nominations due

2012-02-09T12:24:00.000-05:00

Members of the class of 2012 are asked to submit nominations for the recipient of The Chieftain Award.

This award, presented at Honors Convocation, goes to the senior who, in the opinion of the students, faculty, and staff, has contributed the most to Lycoming College through support of school activities; has exhibited outstanding constructive leadership qualities; has evidenced good moral character; and whose grade point average is equal to or above the median GPA of the preceding graduating class.

Students may access the nomination ballot on WebAdvisor under Student Elections. Please vote for up to 10 students.

Nominating candidates for The Chieftain Award is an important responsibility for the Senior Class since the winner will be the recipient of the highest award that a student at Lycoming can receive. Students are encouraged to nominate ten seniors who most qualify for the award rather than on the basis of personal friendship or personal relationships.

The Chieftain is selected by vote of the student body, faculty, and administrative staff from the candidates selected by the senior class which will be held after Spring Break.
The winner of the Chieftain Award will be announced at the Honors Convocation on April 15.

The deadline for nominations to be received by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs is noon today.

Green Corner:It’s Recycle Mania time again!

2012-02-09T12:22:00.000-05:00

By Alyssa Tomaskovic
Lycourier Staff

While millions of Americans were tuning into the showdown between the Patriots and the Giants on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5th was also significant in another competitive respect. Sunday marked the kick-off of a ten week long nationwide recycling challenge known as RecycleMania.

Started in 2001, as a contest created by the recycling coordinators at Ohio University and Miami University, it eventually became a countrywide event to draw support for eco-issues from students who would otherwise not engage in recycling activities. (For those of you keeping tabs on the rivalry between the two schools, Miami University came away with the win during the inaugural year.)

The most recent competition (2011) included 630 colleges representing 49 states and 4 Canadian provinces. Over 7.5 million students and staff participated, collectively recycling 91 million pounds of recyclables and organic materials were recovered. This activity helped to prevent the release of 127,553 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E), equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 25,000 passenger cars, or the electricity use of more than 15,500 homes.

Lycoming College has traditionally put up good numbers in the competition. Several years ago, students, faculty, and staff placed first in the state and 11th in the nation (in Targeted Materials-Bottles and Cans) in the Seventh Annual RecycleMania contest. During last year’s competition, Lyco recycled almost 11,000 pounds of trash during the 8 week period!

Throughout RecycleMania, Lycoming's buildings and grounds staff collects plastic, glass, cans, cardboard and paper from receptacles across the campus. The recyclables are then weighed and data is recorded weekly by Alyssa Tomaskovic and Laura Walter, the college’s sustainability coordinator and co-coordinator, Chelsea Brewer, the vice-president of LEAF, and Michelle Herman, a member of LEAF.

While it can be a dirty job, the reward is visible and beneficial to the environment. “Anything recycled and kept out of the landfill extends the ability of the county to maintain a place for trash generated in Lycoming County,” said Dr. Mel Zimmerman, Chair of the Lycoming College Biology Department. “Recycling pays.”

The competition runs from February 5th to March 31st. The Sustainability Office and LEAF ask that members of the college community continue to be diligent in separating their recyclables and not to throw everything into one garbage can. The trash rooms in the residence halls have been labeled for convenience and clarity. Weekly updates of the results can be found by going to recyclemania.com or to Lycoming’s Sustainability webpage.

All statistics are courtesy of recyclemania.com and the Environmental Audit.

Crossing the Frames prepares film

2012-02-09T12:17:00.000-05:00

By Victoria Irwin
Lycourier Staff

The cameras are rolling in Williamsport. Lycoming College’s Crossing the Frames is working on this year’s film, Pumpkin, with filming slated to begin soon.

Crossing the Frames is Lyco’s student run film club. Each year, they put together an independent film project. Club president Christina Moliterno described the basic process. “We find the script, we make it into a storyboard, we cast it, we shoot it, we edit it, and then we air it at the CAC [Community Arts Center]. It’s student made and it’s marketed by the student body.”

This process began last September when the club started meeting. They go through a process in which script submissions are accepted and voted on by club members. Moliterno said, “In the first semester we have different groups to get the word out and say, ‘Hey, if anyone has a script that’s 10 to 15 minutes usually, 20 minutes tops, submit it to us,’ and then it goes by a voting process and we choose the top 3, and then Leah Peterson, she’s the advisor, she picks the best script that she thinks will work best for us.”

Members of Crossing the Frames Productions
gather to work on this year’s film project

After the script is selected, students are signed to committees based on their preferences and proclivities. As president, Moliterno will be co-directing this year’s film along with screenwriter and Lycoming student Chelsea Moore. Other students are parts of various committees that accomplish everything needed on a film set, from sound technicians to food crews.

In this year’s film, Moore shares the true story of her mother’s necrotizing fasciitis, a skin eating disease that had manifested itself in her leg and had begun eating away at her muscle tissues, leading to the necessity of an amputation. The film begins after the operation with Moore’s character in the hospital about to see her mother for the first time.

Moore shared, “The script is about the first time I got to see her by myself. I was afraid to go in there by myself because usually my mom is there for such things, so I had to pretty much make up in my mind what she would say. There’s some dialogue in the script about what she would say to me, and there’s flashbacks in the script.”

To tell Moore’s story, Crossing the Frames tried to work with Susquehanna Health to film relatively close to campus before securing permission to film at an even better site. Moliterno said, “We actually called Jersey Shore Hospital and right away they said we could film in the hospital…and that’s great [because] that’s where the story takes place.”

To attract attention to the project, an open casting call was sent via email as well as advertised by posters around town, specifically to fill the need of older adult roles. Auditions for the film took place January 14 and January 22, and the production committee for the film saw several actors, both from the Williamsport community and the college.

After the film’s premier, Moliterno and crew hope to take the project one step further. “We would like to submit it to student festivals, like Student Academy Awards, and see how far we could get with something we’re so proud of.”

For those interested in checking out the finished product, ‘Pumpkin’ will be screened April 11 at the Community Arts Center on 4th Street in downtown Williamsport.

BSU holds Black History Month dinner

2012-02-09T12:14:00.000-05:00

V. Chapman Smith, the regional liaison for the National Archives and Records Administration at Philadelphia, speaks during the Black History Month dinner. Chapman Smith graduated from Lycoming College with honors in 1972
V. Chapman Smith and President James Douthat pose with members of the Black Student Union during the Black Alumni dinner on February 4.

Greeks celebrate spring recruitment

2012-02-09T12:12:00.000-05:00

By Aliza Davner
Editor in Chief/Lycourier

‘Tis the season-- the season for bid returns, that is. For the past two weekends, Lycoming’s Greek organizations have actively sought, and selected, new members.

Spring recruitment for sororities took place the week of January 22 through January 27. Participating girls are sent in groups to each house, where they get a chance to meet the sisters and play games or other planned activities.

Sorority bids were handed out on the evening of Friday, January 27.

The members of Alpha Xi Delta welcomed 15 new girls to their organization this spring. Joining the Spring 2012 class are: Kristy Angstadt, Jenna Baker, Marisa Bayer, Megan Cunningham, Lynette Dooley, Tanya Farr, Jacqueline Heaney, Elizabeth Klejka, Cadence Murray, Bridget Norris, Elizabeth Perez, Shannon Pipes, Alyssa Riggle, Rita Sausmikat, Chelsea Taylor, and Kerry Then.

Alpha Rho Omega received six returned bids on Friday night. The Beta Lambda class consists of members Ashlynn Beacker, Courtney Baumer, Sydney Fondi, Sky Lucas, Michelle Neifert, Kari Pyles, and Jessica Szycht.

Gamma Delta Sigma also received a high number of bids this spring, welcoming 10 new members. Members of the Beta Tau class include: Emily Aderhold, Emily Barger, Sydney Chew, Kelsey Crowe, Bryanna Garnet, Kimberly Lesnewich, Carly Maestas, Kaitlyn Shank, Kasey Uppling and Jessika Van Sciver.

Spring recruitment for fraternities took place during the following week, from January 30 through February 3, with bids handed out Friday evening.

Lambda Chi Alpha welcomed three new members this spring: Terry Laubach, Aaron Hufnagle and Domenico Giordano.

Tau Kappa Epsilon received 12 bids. The members of the Spring 2012 class are: Nguyen Bach, Nathan Bahn, Jake Greger, Josh Harsch, Jacob Kuppermann, Eric Malley, Charlie Marshall, Kyle Petchock, Jalil Samuel, Aaron Slagle, Greg Vartan, and Kyle Wilson.

Black History Month

2012-02-09T12:09:00.000-05:00

Friday, February 10th
Movie Screening ‘The Blind Side’
10:30pm
Heim G-11
Co-Sponsored by the Campus Activities Board

Saturday, February 11th
Movie Screening ‘The Blind Side’
8:00pm
Heim G-11
Co-Sponsored by the Campus Activities Board

Sunday, February 12th
Movie Screening ‘The Blind Side’
10:30pm
Heim G-11
Co-Sponsored by the Campus Activities Board

Monday, February 13th
“Student Historical Moments Through the Years”
Archive Display
Snowden Library

Saturday, February 25th
Read In, ‘The Help’
10:00am – 5:00pm
Snowden Library, Fireplace (1st Floor)

Monday, February 27th
Fireside Chat “Mourning in the Civil Rights Movement”
Presented by Dr. Richard Hughes
7:00pm
Snowden Library Fireplace (1st Floor)

Sponsored by The Black History Month Committee

Out with the old, in with the new

2012-02-09T12:07:00.000-05:00

By Cody Marshall
Lycourier Staff
Opinion Editor

The recent release, “Star Wars: the Old Republic”, produced by BioWare and LucusArts is gaining high ratings as the game hits the market during this past Christmas holiday. The game takes MMO gaming to a whole new level and gives gamers the experience they have been waiting for.

In past years, games like “World of Warcraft” have set records with 11.4 million subscribers at its peak.
In recent months this number has begun to decline as players have started moving away from this MMO game and taking their interests elsewhere.

Where better for these players to go than to “Star Wars: the Old Republic.” The game gives similar online experiences compared to previous online games but also enhances certain qualities that past games have lacked.

Besides the intense online play, there is an intricate story line behind every aspect of the game. The players are able to create their own story, which is why the game ratings have only been going up since its release on December 20th, 2011.

The game allows players to choose their own class and they have almost limitless choices, as far as character creation goes. Players are able to create their own stories based on their actions throughout the game.

The game takes online gaming to a whole other level. When I say the options are limitless, I mean it.
The maps in the game are gigantic and offer a wide variety of environments and story lines for players to follow. A lot of aspects of the “Star Wars” that people have come to love are incorporated into the game.

If players are looking for the same player vs. player aspects as in “World of Warcraft,” let me assure you that they are present within the “Old Republic.” Intense online battles between factions still take place in almost the same setup as Blizzard”s World of Warcraft. The story lines outside of PVP are what set this game apart from all other MMOs. There are not many games that can compare.

If you are worried about the costs, do not. The costs are the same between the two games and well worth the price, 15 dollars a month. This is not much considering the quality of gameplay that players are receiving. If players do not know if they will like it, do not worry, it comes with a free 30 day pass to allow players to test out the game before fully investing.

EA and BioWare announced that it had reached over 1 million users in less than two weeks on the market, a good accomplishment for PC games. It still has some time before it catches up with games such as “World of Warcraft” and “League of Legends” but, with the new gameplay experience, it should have no problem catching up.

PC games have been on the rise in the past couple of years and gamers can only expect better things to come in the coming years. As players move away from games such as “World of Warcraft,” due to Blizzard”s past and upcoming changes which many view as stupid, we will see these gamers pick up better built games such as “Star Wars: the Old Republic.”

‘Resident Evil’: the history of survival horror

2012-02-09T12:04:00.000-05:00

By Robert Rinaldo
Entertainment Editor

“Resident Evil,” known as “Biohazard” in Japan, is a media franchise owned by the video game company Capcom. Created by Shinji Mikami, the franchise started out as a survival horror game series that began with the groundbreaking PlayStation title “Resident Evil” in 1996. Since then, it has branched out to include comic books, novels, sound dramas, action figures, and live-action and computer-generated feature films.
2012 has been dubbed by fans “The Year of Resident Evil,” due to the recent release of “Resident Evil Revelations” for the Nintendo 3DS as well as the future release of two more games: “Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City” on March 20 and “Resident Evil 6” on Nov. 20. Looking at where the series started to where it is now reveals just how much “Resident Evil” has changed and evolved into the powerhouse franchise it is.

The franchise was born with the release of “Resident Evil” for the PlayStation on March 22, 1996. It was the first game to be dubbed a “survival horror,” and remains to be one of the most important games of all time. The player’s character is a member of a special law enforcement task force who is trapped in a mansion populated by zombies and other dangerously mutated creatures. The objective of the game is to uncover the mystery of the mansion and ultimately escape alive.

“Resident Evil” was praised for creating a genuinely creepy atmosphere and forcing the player to play conservatively in order to survive. It was ported across other consoles including the Sega Saturn and PC, as well as remade on the Nintendo GameCube.

The critical and commercial success of “Resident Evil” led to the release of a sequel titled “Resident Evil 2” for the PlayStation on Jan. 12, 1999. Upon its release, the game became the fastest-selling video game in North America, selling 380,000 copies and grossing $19 million in its debut weekend alone. Fans regard the game as the best in the franchise as it changed the setting from a mansion to an infected city to create an even more terrifying atmosphere.

“Resident Evil” continued to grow as a franchise with the release of “Resident Evil 3: Nemesis” for the PlayStation on Sept. 22, 1999. It followed the same formula as the previous games, taking place in the same city as “Resident Evil 2.” Capcom followed with the release of “Resident Evil Code: Veronica” as well as the first spinoff title “Resident Evil Survivor” for the PlayStation on July 27, 2000, which played as an off-rail light gun game, more resembling an arcade game.

Capcom released numerous spinoff titles including “Resident Evil Gaiden” for the GameBoy Color, “Resident Evil: Zero,” a prequel to the series for the Nintendo GameCube, and “Resident Evil: Dead Aim” for the PlayStation 2. Despite the numerous releases, fans eagerly waited for the next major installment that would continue the storyline while critics noticed that the formula used throughout the games had become stale and needed to be updated.

Capcom answered the demands of fans and critics with the release of “Resident Evil 4” for the Nintendo GameCube on Jan. 11, 2005. The game brought new life to the franchise with a revamped control scheme, brand new enemy and a groundbreaking over-the-shoulder third-person camera angle, a feature that would carry over into future titles as well as influence other franchises such as “Gears of War.”
Critics praised “Resident Evil 4” as the best game in the franchise, the game that ultimately saved the franchise, and one of the most influential games of all time. The game received numerous rewards including 2005 Game of the Year at Spike TV’s Video Game Awards.

After the release of “Resident Evil: Deadly Silence,” a port of the first game in 2006, and “Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles,” an on-rails light gun spinoff, Capcom released the next major installment titled “Resident Evil 5” for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on March 5, 2009. Borrowing gameplay elements from “Resident Evil 4,” the game was praised for its beautiful graphics and fast pace of action.

Despite praise from critics, fans looked upon “Resident Evil 5” as a major disappointment. The game felt like a departure from its survival horror roots with the emphasis on large-scale action than a creepy atmosphere. The addition of co-operative play, while enjoyable, took away from the feeling of facing the danger alone and resulted in frustrating AI performance during solo play.

Apart from the disappointment of “Resident Evil 5,” fans began to think that Capcom was losing interest in the franchise as it developed a pattern of releasing one game per year, normally a sup-par spinoff. More recent comparisons were drawn towards Electronic Arts” franchise “Dead Space,” which plays similar to “Resident Evil 5” while still maintaining the core elements of survival horror.

Hope that the franchise hadn’t completely abandoned its true genre was restored for fans when Capcom released “Resident Evil Revelations” for the Nintendo 3DS last Thursday. The game features elements from “Resident Evil 5” while providing some throwback to the original games. Critics and fans praised the game as a great return to what the franchise was best known for as well as its impressive performance on a handheld.

The future of the “Resident Evil” game series remains a mystery. “Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City” looks to be a different take on the genre while “Resident Evil 6” hopes to provide the next terrifying console experience that fans longed for. Only time will tell if the franchise can ultimately return to the survival horror roots that made it famous or if it will stray too far and become something different entirely.

Super Bowl lead-off programs: a retrospect

2012-02-09T12:01:00.000-05:00

By Robert Rinaldo
Entertainment Editor

The Super Bowl is considered by many to be the largest event in sporting history. Every year, fans wait in anticipation for the two teams that duke it out to be declared the champion team.

But if we really look at the big picture, the Super Bowl is more than a sporting event. Since it”s inception on Jan. 15, 1967, the Super Bowl has evolved into a massive staple in entertainment. From the high energy halftime shows to the sometimes overproduced commercials, there is no doubt that the Super Bowl is just as much of a media platform than it is a sporting event

One interesting factor of the Super Bowl happens after the game finishes: the lead-out programs. Since the first competition, it has been tradition to feature a show directly after the game.

Just as the Super Bowl is typically the highest-rated U.S. television broadcast of any given year, the program aired immediately following coverage of the game in the U.S. is typically also one of the year”s most watched shows.

The judges of “The Voice” from left to right: Cee Lo Green,
Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton.

The Super Bowl lead-out is typically aired across most U.S. markets simultaneously, and is usually one hour in length. Originally, it was common for longer programs to broadcast after the game because kickoff was at an earlier time.

When the game moved toward its standard kickoff time of just after 6 p.m., the game and its post-game programming would be scheduled until 10, allowing for only one hour of programming until the late local news.

These programs are almost inevitably delayed, due to the extended length of the pre-game, halftime and post-game festivities. It is common for affiliates in the home markets of the competing teams to delay the lead-out show further, until after additional local post-game coverage.

During the mid 1980s ad 1990s, the slot was used to showcase a new series or movie, such as “The A-Team” or “The Wonder Years,” or broadcast a special episode of an “up-and-coming” series. Unfortunately, many of the series were ultimately unsuccessful, with some being canceled within a matter of weeks such as “MacGruder and Loud.”

Since then, virtually all of the programs in the post-game-timeslot have been special episodes of series that had already aired for at least one season, such as “Glee” after last year”s Super Bowl.

Despite the fact that Fox almost never programs time slots after 10:00 pm, except on Saturdays, Fox has aired lead-out programming after the Super Bowl ever since it began airing them in 1997, preempting local newscasts.

Currently, a regular-length episode of a drama series will usually air, although in some cases a one-hour episode of a sitcom, or two episodes of different sitcoms paired together, may air instead. Quite often the selected series is one of the “prestige” shows for the network showing the game that year, or a moderate hit, such as “The X-Files,” “Criminal Minds” and Grey”s Anatomy,” which the network wants to give a higher profile.

“The Simpsons” have aired in the slot twice, with both airings being paired with the premieres of animated sitcoms, “Family Guy” in 1999 and “American Dad!” in 2005.

An occasional practice used to maximize the effect of the lead-out is to make the Super Bowl episode a cliffhanger, with a story that concludes later in the week in the program”s regularly scheduled timeslot.
This year, the Super Bowl lead-out program was the season premiere of “The Voice,” an American reality talent show on NBC. The show scored the best rating for a show following the game since 2006, when ABC aired an episode of “Grey”s Anatomy.”

The show”s 16.3 rating among 18 to 49-year-old viewers overshadowed the performance last year of “Glee” on Fox, which scored only an 11.1 rating. “The Voice” also attracted 37.6 million viewers, 40 percent better than the 26.8 pulled in by “Glee.”

As the years go on and more Super Bowls play out, it will be interesting to see if future lead-out programs can meet the same success as “The Voice,” or if they will sink into mediocrity.

Giants beat Patriots,again

2012-02-09T11:55:00.000-05:00

By Justin Ossont Lycourier Staff

The New York Giants won their second Super Bowl in four years. Once again Tom Brady was foiled by Eli Manning, who won the game’s MVP award for the second time. The Giants won 21-17 Sunday February 5th and capped off another successful season. This game was a rematch from four years ago when Patriots, which were heavily favored, heading for an undefeated season back in 2007 were defeated by the under dogged Giants in Super Bowl 42.

This Super Bowl on the other hand was almost a mere image of the last time these two power houses met. Brady was intercepted, Manning threw a spectacular ball for a huge gain, Giants score, Giants defense shuts down Brady and Patriots offense to seal the victory. Could you ask for anything else when these two teams go at it?

The game was a very intense battle going back and forth. On the opening drive the Giants drove for a bit but were forced to punt the ball away. Weatherford, the Giants punter, hit a huge 36 yard punt to place the Patriots on their own 6 yard line. On the Patriots first possession Tom Brady received pressure early form the monstrous defensive line of the Giants, led by Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul. With the pocket collapsing Brady chucked the ball down field where there was no receiver within a mile forcing an intentional grounding penalty that resulted in a safety giving the Giants an early 2-0 lead.

With the ball back in the Giants hands Eli Manning went to work on a 78 yard drive capped off by a 2 yard touchdown pass to Victor Cruz to have the Giants up 9-0. But you can’t keep a good Tom Brady down, driving down the field twice in the second quarter. The second possession of the Patriots, Brady was able to drive down the field but only held to a field goal. After a Giants short drive, not being able to move the ball on their third possession they were forced to punt the ball away with just enough time left in the first half for Brady to drive down the field and score the Patriots first touchdown of the game and heading into halftime 10-9 as well as getting the ball back on the first possession of second half.

With Madonna, Cee Lo Green, Nikki Minaj, LMFAO, and M.I.A performing an entertaining half time show, both teams took the field to continue this intense battle. Tom Brady and the Patriots started off the second half the way they ended the first, finding a way down the field and scoring yet another touchdown. Increasing their lead to 17-9 with only shaving off about 4 minutes off the clock.

The Giants did not go down quietly and were able to move the ball on a long drive and score a field goal, cutting New England’s lead down 17-12. Then the Giants defense displayed their force with a quick three and out, giving the ball back to Giants who were able to turn the drive into another 3 point drive and cutting the lead down to two with a score of 17-15 in favor of the Patriots heading into fourth quarter winner take all bout.

Now in the last two quarters the Giants defense did not have an answer for the Patriots but more specifically Tom Brady, who was tearing the secondary apart. But the Giants found the answer after Brady threw a deep ball 49 yards into Giants territory that was intercepted by Giants linebacker Blackburn. This was the first turn over of the game. The Giants would drive but forced to punt once again giving Brady the ball and time now becoming the enemy.

Tom Brady was going to do it again and win a fourth Super Bowl title, but then he met the Giants defense again. The defense for the Giants forced the Patriots to punt the ball away and Eli made his presence scar Brady again. Manning connected with Manningham for a huge 38 yard gain and a catch that was just as amazing as the last time these two played four Super Bowls ago. The play was reviewed because of a Patriots’ challenge but was confirmed. The Giants drove down the field and scored with 57 second left in the game.

The Patriots had one last chance and Brady had a chance at redemption. But a Hail Mary pass, that was almost caught, was incomplete and the Giants had ended the dreams of Tom Brady and the Patriots. The Patriots had to watch once again the Giants walk away with the Lombardi trophy, and Eli take home the MVP.

Senior Spotlight:Victor Marchetti

2012-02-09T11:50:00.000-05:00

By Kelly Prendergast
Lycourier Sports Editor

As the weather begins to get warmer the 2012 Lycoming College Men’s Lacrosse season approaches and looks bright for number 11, senior captain: Vic Marchetti. Marchetti, a close defender, is looking forward to having another successful season with the Warriors after being a key contributor to the squad in the past 3 seasons.

Marchetti started playing lacrosse in the 7th grade where he developed a love for the sport and a taste for competition. With good coaching, family support, and hard work he developed into a noteworthy athlete who set goals to compete at the collegiate level.

“My lacrosse career has been greatly influenced by Ric Beardsley. He was a four time all American at Syracuse and also played professionally. My younger brother Joe and I have done a significant amount of training with him. He has helped me specifically in the summertime and prior to each of my spring seasons. Keeping in contact with him not only helps me with the mental aspects of the game but improves my attitude and keeps me on top of my defensive techniques.”

Marchetti attended Homer High School in Cortland, NY and was an outstanding high school athlete. He participated in soccer, hockey, and lacrosse and was named captain and received All Conference honors for all three sports.

Senior close defender Vic Marchetti

Marchetti’s exceptional career continued in college. He worked hard as a freshman and scored himself five starts and 11 appearances during which he had six groundballs and caused one game changing turnover. His sophomore year he started in 15 games, caused six turnovers, grabbed 15 groundballs and scored one goal. Marchetti’s sophomore year was also honored for his academic achievement by being named a member of the MAC Academic Honor Roll. His junior year the lockdown defender led the team with 21 caused turnovers and added 36 groundballs, which was fourth on the team. He also posted a game-winning goal against Manhattanville on April 9 and earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the week of April 25. This year Vic Marchetti will remain to be a key defensive player for the warriors and Coach Hodgson expects great things from the 2012 captain and his teammates.

As well as being a key contributor for the Warrior lacrosse program, Vic is also quite the scholar. He is finishing up his business administration major with tracks in finance and management as well as receiving dual minors in economics and Spanish and should graduate with a 3.6 cumulative GPA. His success landed him a prestigious internship this past summer in Washington DC. In the future he would like to return to the area and work in management consulting.

Vic believes that being on the team has been a driving force to his success. “Lacrosse is the reason that I came to Lyco. The family that is the lacrosse program influences everything I do, I love the opportunity to be a member of this team and work with all my teammates who share the same goals and interests.” In the past three years he has created some very fond memories with his beloved teammates but he believes this year will outdo them all. This season holds great promise for the Warriors and a special opportunity for Vic who gets to finally share the experience with his brother Joe. The Marchetti brothers will undoubtedly be an impenetrable force on defense and a unit not to be reckoned with.

His message to the underclassmen is this: “Compete every day, and always look to push yourself harder. That’s the best way to get involved and be successful.”

Men’s lacrosse springs into season

2012-02-09T11:43:00.000-05:00

By Justin Ossont
Lycourier Staff

Lacrosse season is rapidly approaching and the men’s team is ready to make a run at the MAC title. The team is getting a lot of buzz as well as three member of the team were already placed on the pre-season All-MAC team. Junior Steve Romano, who last season was crowned MAC player of the year, senior defenseman Vic Marchetti and faceoff specialist senior Tim Clemente. These three players will be key to help not only bring a fifth straight winning season but also a chance for a MAC title.

Marchetti is also one of the two captains of the team along with senior Ethan Payne, who gained an Honorable Mention All-MAC nod after placing fourth last season in points with 2.82 per game as well as fifth in goals with 2.12 goals per game. These two are both leaders on and off the field and hoping to end their careers with a MAC ring on their finger as well as a possible trip to NCAA Division 3 Post-season play.

Yet their road to the coveted MAC title will not be an easy road. The 14 game season will some tough challenges along the way. One of the challenges will be the three non-conference games the Warriors will be playing Dickinson, SUNY Geneseo, Ithaca, Kings, Scranton, Elmira, and powerhouse St. John Fisher. But the Warriors have high hopes in accepting the challenge.

Once league play opens up the Warriors will host home games to Elizabethtown, Albright and Messiah. Their road games will consist of Lebanon Valley, Widener, and Alvernia. The Warriors are hoping for another successful season to add to the club which will be playing in its 16th season once play opens up.
The Warriors didn’t lose much from last year’s team. But nine seniors are preparing for the last time they will be playing as Lycoming College Warriors.

“I’m really looking forward to this season especially since it will be my last and we have a very promising team this year. So far practices are going well thanks to the extra help from Coach Nies and Coach Rat. We can’t wait for the opportunity to step on the field for our home opener against Susquehanna,” says senior midfielder Luke VanEmburg.

Also this will be the second season that Todd Hodgson will be the head coach for the Warriors. After posting a 9-8 record only a season ago Hodgson is aiming for the title. Last season he was able to help the team make it the programs fourth straight Middle Atlantic Conference playoff berth. One point last season the warriors won eight of nine games also helping the team through last year’s tough non-conference action.
The Warriors will bring home action live at Shangraw Complex on Saturday February 25 at 1:00 PM as they take on rival Susquehanna.

Student Spotlight:Stephanie Robinson

2011-09-15T18:39:00.000-04:00

By Paige Cole
College Life Editor/ Lycourier

Students at Lycoming College tend to hail from small towns, scattered across the East Coast.However, when classes are out, some students journey to other regions of the country to expand their horizons in rewarding ways. For Lyco senior Stephanie Robinson, an internship in Chicago was such an experience.

Robinson, an International Business and Marketing major, spent her summer working at Bass/Schuler Entertainment, a talent agency located in the hustle and bustle of the Windy City.

The agency scouts up and coming acts in a variety of genres that exist among the entertainment industry, a profession in which Robinson said she is interested.

“I looked at internships with a variety of talent agencies,” Robinson said. “My interest came from my involvement with CAB.”

The Campus Activities Board is responsible for bringing various forms of entertainment to campus. Robinson has served as entertainment chair, secretary, and concert chairman.

“Last Spring, I brought Ke$ha to campus,” Robinson said. “The concert exceeded prior school records in the form of attendance and other aspects.”

Robinson received two follow up interviews with the company. She was selected as one of two interns.

Robinson worked for minimal payment sending out promotion material, answering phones and reviewing talent submissions.

“My favorite part of the job was viewing submissions from new artists,” Robinson said. “One night we even got to see one of the comics perform at a local comedy club.”

People such as comedians, speakers, and musicians often submit tapes to the agency. From there, the agency either rejects or expresses interest in signing an act.

According to Robinson, CAB is looking at booking some of the acts this year.

Overall, the internship gave Robinson some valuable insight for the future.

“I got to see what a talent agent does,” Robinson said. “It makes me rethink what path I want to take after graduation. I think I might be more so interested in event planning, rather than casting.”

In addition to knowledge, Robinson made contacts with a variety of people. Before coming to Chicago, Robinson did not know anybody. But she was soon able to bond with her coworkers and roommates.

“UIC (The University of Illinois), provided intern housing,” Robinson said. “There, I had three roommates. One was from San Francisco, another was from Michigan, and the last was from Greece.”

She and her roommates, Robinson experienced the sights and sounds of Chicago.

Tourist stops included the Art Institute, Brookfield Zoo, the Aquarium, and even the annual Taste of Chicago Festival, where Robinson tasted the infamous Chicago –style hot dog and deep- dish pizza.She also saw the 26- foot Marilynn Monroe statue.

Overall, Robinson’s experience was positive.

“Chicago is clean and the people are really nice,” Robinson said. “It differs greatly from the small town I am from. There is always something to do.”

Robinson, originally from McConnellsburg, doesn’t discourage small town living though.

“They are two totally different experiences, Robinson said. “You make life what you want. There may be a lot to do in the city, but it’s also expensive. There are some benefits to a small town as well. I definitely encourage you to try both.”

They Said WHAT?! Overheard at Lyco

2011-09-15T18:38:00.000-04:00

- “I don’t know how to eat the nucleus”
- JP’s

- “Just thrust it, now”
- Clarke Chapel

- “I want to have babies with Katy Perry”
- Rec Center

- “If I find out you didn’t make these corrections, see this red pen? Insert in your ear.”
- Lycourier Office

- “During the earthquake I was in bed and it felt like my vibrator went off!”
- Wertz Dining Hall

Lycoming student connects with cultural roots on summer trip

2011-09-15T18:37:00.000-04:00

By Aliza Davner
Editor-in-Chief/The Lycourier

An old cliché says that college is a time for finding one’s self, an idea which Lycoming Senior Samantha Silverberg took to heart this summer.

Silverberg, a senior archaeology major and anthropology minor, spent 10 days in Israel as part of Taglit Birthright Israel, a program which sends young Jewish people to Israel at no cost to the student, “because going to Israel is considered by many an essential part of being Jewish.”

Silverberg learned about the program and applied for the trip “after my sister got accepted and went on her trip … a couple years ago and she had a wonderful time -- I wanted the same thing.”

Over the span of the trip, Silverberg and the other travelers visited numerous sites in many regions of Israel, including “Manara … Tsfat, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Jerusalem, Sderot and one night we stayed in a Bedouin tent in the desert.”

“The morning after [the Bedouin tent] we went to Masada and the Dead Sea. We also went hiking in a forest of sorts called the Jilaboon.”

Silverberg noted that the greatest observable differences between daily life in Israel and the United States could be found “at the Kibbutz and the Bedouin tents.”

She elaborated that “at the Kibbutz everyone works together, it’s its own little community, and whatever job someone has they give their money to help everyone who lives on the Kibbutz.”

“And of course at the Bedouin tents, when we ate dinner on the floor with small mats for chairs. Our food was served on large platters placed on a wire ring in the center of the place setting. It was a very wonderful and interesting experience,” Silverberg said.

In addition to cultural experiences, Silverberg listed “riding on a camel in the desert” and “the group sing-alongs on the bus ride” as highlights of her trip.

While the trip ties into her Lycoming studies in the sense that “the archaeology program here deals mostly with the ancient Near East, and Israel falls into that category,” it certainly served a more personal purpose for Silverberg “The trip helped me to figure out where I want to take my Jewish faith and identity in future years.”

Faculty spotlight: Gene Donati

2011-09-15T18:35:00.002-04:00

By Paige Cole College Life Editor/ Lycourier

He didn’t get any sleep the night before, yet he still eagerly entered the classroom Monday morning. A lot of students were already there and he wondered if he was late, but quickly dismissed that sentiment as nerves. Who can blame him for being nervous though? After all, it was his first day of school.

Members of the Class of 2015 aren’t the only new faces you’ll see on campus this fall. In addition to the incoming freshmen, some new faculty members will mark their first semester at Lycoming. One such is Professor Eugene Donati.

Donati is joining the Department of Communication, where he will teach Corporate Communications. He earned degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, American University, and the University of Toronto taught at New York University and the City College of New York.

“I entered the classroom six years ago,” Donati said. “Lycoming is definitely a different atmosphere from New York, but I am originally from Pennsylvania, so it’s like coming home.”

Donati was attracted to Lycoming after researching its corporate communication program.

“This program is stunning,” Donati said. “It is right on spot and the perfect combination of business and communication. If I had a blank sheet and had to construct a program, it would be this one.”

Although new to Lycoming, Donati is no stranger to the field of corporate communications.He has worked as a Capitol Hill press secretary for two members of Congress and as a spokesman for political campaigns in four U.S. States. In addition, he held senior communication positions at Mellon Bank, Equitable Capital, and MasterCard and also served as a consultant at the advisory firms Hill & Knowlton and Clark & Weinstock.

“Corporate communication is a life-long profession,” Donati said.“My experience has taught me that every case is different and that your job in the field is a continuous learning process.”

Donati said he plans to use less of a case studies approach and more of a bottom line structure in the classroom.

“Communication is about knowing how to talk the talk and speak the language,” Donati said. “All of students in the classroom will have different intentions for their degree.Case studies won’t apply to each individual, and I plan to teach courses in which every student has a take-away.”

He plans to compliment his teaching with lectures and reading.

“I plan to cover a lot of material,” Donati said. “My goal is to maximize knowledge. I want each student to recognize what is most important to their career goals.”

Donati joins the department with change. But he said that he believes that the transition is a strength rather than a problem.

“For the first couple years, I will have to teach some of the basics in all courses, no matter the level,” Donati said. “But you can also count on other courses to teach them, which is one aspect that makes this program so fantastic.”

Although confident for the upcoming school year, Donati was still anxious about his first day.

“Part of my job is to entertain,” Donati said. “I still get stage fright. And I can guarantee that I didn’t sleep the Sunday night before my first day.”

Lycoming Warrior Football: Season Preview

2011-09-15T18:35:00.000-04:00

By Andrew Wagner
Lycourier Staff

The Lycoming Warrior Football team is looking to bring the MAC Championship home.

“I feel like team chemistry is at an all-time high. We brought in a great group of underclassmen, and new coaches as well, who will together help us fulfill our vision of winning the MAC title,” said junior starter Jamie Reitzi.

The seniors earned a championship ring their freshman year in 2008, so nothing would conclude their years at Lyco better than repeating history. With 10 returning starters on defense, opposing teams can plan on rarely seeing the end zone.

“ I believe we will be successful because we are a lot more experienced this year and have plenty of weapons, which will make it hard for teams to game plan against us,” said senior starter Ray Bierbach.

Lead by Senior Capt. Anthony Marascio, the defensive line has proven its effectiveness in stopping opponents running and passing game.

Bierbach added, “Defensively, we are returning 10 starters so we should have lots of experience. We have a number of defensive linemen who are really strong, along with linebackers who have improved greatly.In addition, our Special teams returns freshman all-conference punter Zach Czap who is a big help as well.”

Despite the offense graduating a few key players, the Warriors are returning its entire offensive line.

“Offensively, I think one big weapon for our team will be Warren Oliver. It’s clear that he put a lot of hard work in during the offseason to improve his game. We have multiple running backs in Parker Showers, Tyler Floyd, and Andrew McGreevy who should all contribute,” said Bierbach.

Lead by Senior Capt. Tim Okken, the linemen all have a significant amount of starts under their belt. Though others were not starters previous years, the starting lineup is comprised of experienced players. While the returning players have proven to be skilled athletes, the 50 freshmen are sure to add to the team. Throughout preseason some have proven themselves and are contending for playing time in the regular season games.

Men’s soccer welcomes Coach Stahl

2011-09-15T18:34:00.000-04:00

By Allison Tripoli
Lycourier Staff

Doug Stahl is the new head coach for the men’s soccer program this season. Stahl has 11 years of experience from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y. where he received Coach of the Year honors in 2008 as well as being the college programs all-time leader in coaching wins.

The season so far has been a success for Stahl. The team’s opportunity to showcase its progress made during preseason play will be during its first game today, home against PennState, York.

Stahl plans to continue the season with high intensity and will make sure his players remain true to their goals on and off the field.

He believes his boys should get their schoolwork done first and keep in mind that their academics are the primary reason why they chose Lycoming College.

Stahl’s coaching philosophy is, “We want to win of course. Winning is why players play games and why coaches coach, but it is a continual process of growth and development that requires dedication and hard work.”

As well as being a knowledgeable coach, Stahl is aware of the pressures involved with collegiate athletics because he was a four-year varsity starter at Manchester College in Indiana. He was named captain in his senior year and was awarded First Team All-ICAC.

Additionally, Stahl is a family man first and a coach second. He and his wife Jody have three daughters: Ava (8), Sophia (5), and Hannah (3).He admits balancing his responsibilities can be a challenge but he loves coaching the sport and his family is supportive of his profession.

This season will definitely be challenging for Stahl and the team. They are in a tough conference and have limited time to transition into Stahl’s vision for the team but the coach remains optimistic despite these hardships.

He is blessed with an eager team that embraces this positive change and believes it will benefit their program.

Defensive starter, William Reiber, a junior, believes that with the new coach comes a new rhythm that creates optimistic energy for the upcoming season. Reiber said, “Coach Stahl’s good at motivating our team and pushing us to work hard on and off the field. I think this season will be great!

Senior Spotlight: Jussae Hanford

2011-09-15T18:32:00.000-04:00

By Kelly Prendergast Sports Editor/ Lycourier
The season looks bright for Lady Warrior soccer senior Jussae Hanford, No. 24. Hanford is known as Juice to her teammates and friends. She has been a very important member of the team since her freshman year.

Hanford started playing soccer when she was five years old and through her dedication to the sport she has become an excellent player over the years. Hanford’s passion for the sport was largely fueled by her father.

“My dad has influenced me a lot throughout my life. He coached me in basketball and soccer since I was little. He’s a big part of my life and I don’t know what I would do without him. He is a great role model and coach. But most importantly he taught me to work hard and never settle for being mediocre. He has shown me to always be my best, which I can use in all aspects of my life,” Hanford said.

Hanford is from Hughesville, and during her impressive high school career she was a four-year letter-winner, one-year captain, and received all-conference honors.

So far her college career has been equally as impressive. As a freshman she contributed both offensively and defensively by playing center midfield; and started in 10 games. Throughout her entire soccer career, Hanford has filled a central role on the field.

Sophomore goalkeeper Caitlin Dougherty said, “Juice has an incredible work ethic and is always extremely fit. She constantly practices and plays hard, which helps the entire team by challenging each player and giving them the ability to improve.”

This year the Lady Warriors and Coach Matt Dunn are looking for her to take on the attacking center midfield position in hopes that she will be able to generate offensive opportunities and ultimately help win games. Hanford not only contributes to the women’s soccer team, she also contributes to the college by working in the Public Relations office for the Sports Information Director. She plans to graduate this May with a degree in psychology and education certification.

“After Lycoming I am hoping to find a teaching position in a first grade classroom,” Hanford said.

She added, “Soccer is something that I will always love and will miss playing. My involvement in this sport has greatly influenced who I am today. Playing here at Lycoming was one of the best experiences and in some ways characterized my overall college experience. It challenged me, allowed me to have fun, but most importantly it allowed me to create amazing memories and build life-lasting friendships.”

Horror movie remakes keep audiences screaming?

2011-09-15T18:31:00.001-04:00

By Robert Rinaldo
Entertainment Editor

The recent release of the remake of the 1985 horror film “Fright Night” marks the

continuation of a trend of horror film remakes. This trend has brought about the release of hits such as “Dawn of the Dead” (2004) and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (2003) while also creating flops such as “Prom Night” (2008) and “The Stepfather” (2009).

With the upcoming releases of “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” and “The Thing,” it’s a wonder whether these films will match the quality of their predecessors or fall completely short. Here are some examples of horror film remakes that may have even surpassed their predecessor.

“The Thing” (1982) : It’s almost hard to believe that this film is a remake, but it is a reimagining of the 1951 film “The Thing From Another World,” both of which were adapted from the novel “Who Goes There?” by John W. Campbell Jr. Directed by John Carpenter (“Halloween”) and starring Kurt Russell (“Miracle”), the film proved to be a more faithful adaptation than the original film.

Despite a poor box office run, “The Thing” developed an immense cult following and is widely considered to be the best horror remake and one of the best horror films of all time.

“The Fly” (1986) : The original 1958 film is one of the most influential science fic-tion/horror films of all time, so a remake of this movie was a risky move. Fortunately, this version starring Jeff Goldblum (“Jurassic Park”) lived up to the quality of the predecessor while retaining only the basic premise.

The film is best known for its critically acclaimed makeup and creature effects as it captured the horrifying transformation Seth Brundle (Goldblum) from human to fly.

“The Blob” (1988) : Thirty years after the first film, this remake wonderfully renews the sense of popcorn fun, bumping up the action from the occasionally plodding original, thanks to a more aggressive alien blob, and adding both gory effects and more believable “teenagers” than Steve McQueen The film was praised for its update of special effects, in particular those used for the Blob itself.

There are rumors that another remake will be made, but nothing has been confirmed.

“The Ring” (2002) : Considered the best remake of an Asian horror film, “The Ring” captures the original’s ghost-story creepiness with atmospheric direction from Gore Verbinski (“Pirates of the Caribbean”) and a critically acclaimed performance by Naomi Watts (“Mulholland Drive”). The success of the film opened the way for American remakes of several other Japanese horror films, including “The Grudge” and “Dark Water.”

The story continued in the sequel “The Ring 2” and a third film, “The Ring 3D,” is scheduled to be released sometime in 2012.

“Dawn of the Dead” (2004) : Zack Snyder took a big risk by taking on the remake of the classic by George A. Romero, but it paid off. The most noticeable difference between the two is the change of the zombies from slow and lumbering to fast and sprinting.

With Sarah Polley (“Road to Avonela”) and Ving Rhames (“Mission Impossible”) staring, the film proved that even a highly esteemed classic can be updated and still hold up in a new generation.

Films such as these provide hope that horror remakes can stand on their own without much comparison to their predecessors. Only time will tell of whether or not upcoming remakes will be able to follow in the footsteps of these successful films.