Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Music In His Veins

By Tori Bender

Recently, I met with a well-known rapper in Albany. He goes by the name Dephyant, but his close friends and loved ones know him as Alex Micheli. When I asked him to do the interview, he suggested that we meet in his natural environment. I was thinking something simple like maybe his house. However, we sat down at Bogie’s, a bar in Albany. He was attending a show, something he does on a regular basis along with numerous open mics and he invited me.

He looked comfortable in his dark-wash jeans, white Iron Bar Collective t-shirt, Carhartt jacket, and black hat. His facial hair wasn’t shaved, but it definitely fits the part. The music was loud, which was difficult at first, but I quickly got used to it. People were on every side of me. It’s not something I was too comfortable with, but it didn’t seem to distract him at all. He was focused and ready to give me honest answers.

Tori: What would you consider the most valuable thing in your life?

Alex: It's very hard to find one thing that I would consider to be the "most valuable" in my life, but I can give you a few examples of some things that mean the world to me. The connection that I have with my brothers keeps my blood flowing. I know of a lot of families that are unable to maintain a stable relationship with siblings the way I have. Music is also very important, even when things are heading downhill to the extreme, a few hours with a pen and paper will almost solve the problem, if not allow me to approach the situation logically. And maneuvering throughout society efficiently is essential. And honestly, laughter... (he paused) pure enjoyment or something that makes you happy. We are all in this life to smile and enjoy the time spent and make the most out of it. When you are laughing I feel you are doing that, which leads me to being optimistic. Optimism is key. You are the company you keep. Keep positive energy in your circle and you become that way.

T: How did your music become a part of you?

A: I wasn't really accepted in high school very well. I was skinny, nerdy-looking, glasses, long hair and very shy. But something about hip hop music ignited a whole other side of me. I was always extremely competitive, so when I started really understanding the concept of "battle rapping" (exchanging verses in a competitive manner) I was able to really satisfy my own interests. I was able to sit behind a computer screen and pretty much hide, not be judged, and still be able to express my skill as an artist. It's honestly so difficult to truly pin point what grabbed me about hip hop music, but it got me. And I feel I’ll be doing it forever, regardless of me being successful or not.

I think he could tell I was having a hard time hearing him, so he offered to step outside. I agreed and we got up and walked by two men about to start a fight. He just looked back and smiled at me. I’ll admit I was a little nervous. His smile reassured me that it was normal. Once we got outside though he urged me to continue as we sat at a table near Madison’s Pizza right next door.

T: You are part of a rap group called Iron Bar Collective. Can you tell me a little bit more about it?

A: Iron Bar Collective is more than a rap group; it was always more than that. Two of my best friends who just so happen to have the same passion for being lyrical ended up making music together. Nothing planned, it just naturally occurred… so to me Iron Bar Collective is just a few of my friends who like rap music. We decided the name in about 2007-2008. It actually just kind of appeared out of nowhere. We just wanted to be called and recognized together as a "collective”. Emcee Graffiti is a phenomenal beat boxer, Gorilla Tao is very skillful with writing, and I, Dephyant, have always been strong with free styling and improv. Eventually we all decided that we needed to make some music together and attempt to make a movement and utilize our skills as a unit. Our biggest influence I think for the most part is the Wu Tang Clan. They gave us such a backbone I feel as far as working together, and always featuring each other, and just being strong from every angle. We wanted to make an impact with longevity for being skillful, and not sell out our music for money. We wanted to keep it original and true to ourselves. So once again, regardless of our success we will always have what is true to us. Iron Bar Collective has been my entire focus and escape for the past few years. The meaning, the motives and the music have kept my head on straight for a long time. Now we are doing shows with some of our favorite artists, being recognized all over the country, and are slowly building up to making a name for ourselves.

T: Where did you get the name “Dephyant”?

A: I recently changed my name to Dephyant due to some recent conflicts with another artist that resides, I believe, in Ohio. He already had my previous name, Sapient, trademarked and legally bonded to him. Therefore, in order to avoid any legal issues and the possibility of losing potential fans, I was forced to change. Oddly enough when the name changed, it actually was perfect for me. Something as small as a name change altered my music just enough to give it that extra kick.

T: What music have you released?

A: I have released two complete full mix tapes, 518 Chronicles Vol. 1 and 518 Chronicles Vol. 1.5: The Breath Between. I’m currently working on projects with some of Albany’s finest producers such as Critikal Beats, DeeJay Tone, White Lotus, Lofi Lobo, JB, Vynlcologist to name a few.

T: Would you say you use rap as an outlet?

A: Absolutely, it is the only outlet I have at the moment. I'm a broke kid from the 518. (upstate New York) Stress and depression are not foreign, and being financially fortunate seems to be way out of reach sometimes. But I can always rely on hip hop to maintain and settle my nerves. Even if I’m not making music all I have to do is play a few songs that resemble my mind frame and it balances myself. It's not just an outlet to me, but the only outlet to me.

T: When do you complete your best writing?

A: I write better when I’m to the extremes of emotion. Whether extremely happy or very sad, they both push my pen. Being emotional is the fuel to everything I write. When I get overly excited I write that way. When I get very sad and depressed the flow changes, the beats change, and the delivery changes. Being emotional creatures plays a enormous part in the creative process at that time. This is why music is a immediate reflection.

T: Where can we hear your music?

A: You can find all of our music at www.emceegraffiti.bandcamp.com, www.gorillatao.bandcamp.com, and www.dephyant.bandcamp.com. You can also search Iron Bar Collective on Google. And check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ironbarcollective.

T: Is there anything that disappoints you about the hip hop culture?

A: Yes, yes and yes. Hip Hop is the culture, the music, the mind state, the direction, the stress, the life, and the urban. Real hip hop does not disappoint me. It was music created to express the lives of less fortunate individuals, and that music is real, it’s true, it’s authentic. The way the media has manipulated this beautiful culture disgusts me. People place so much into the dollar that instead of making the music you love and want, that people will conform to the industry’s needs, rather than express and understand their own. What disgusts me is people have extraordinary talents, amazing writing abilities, and beautiful minds. But for a paycheck they sacrifice the art and make horrible music. They make the stereotypical rap music that gives it a bad name. People forget that what they are doing takes skill and it is an art. If you tell a painter what and how to paint a picture, than you are no longer painting self, and art should be a reflection of self. It’s only created to satisfy others. When this is reality, the culture dies and it's sad. People who have amazing talents and are very intelligent will never be noticed for what they deserve because they may not fall into this year’s trends... (he paused) The media is what I hate about the music. I love hip hop culture.

T: Is there any advice you would give to aspiring rappers?

A: Be yourself! If you are broke, single, and insecure about speaking to females, stop acting like you have a thousand women and drive a Maybach when you take the CDTA! Be 100% all the time, every time. Understand just riding a beat doesn’t make you nice. Appreciate your pen, and put time into your writing. Make it mean something. This is an art form, not a pit stop for your boredom. Stop conforming to what others tell you to do. Make the music that truly moves you.

T: Where do you wish to see yourself in three, maybe four years?

A: Ideally, I would like to be living off of my music. Not rich, not in a million dollar mansion, but living off of my music. I want to be happy and feel like me making the music that I do is appreciated and recognized the way it was created originally.

T: What is the most fulfilling part of making music?

A: The respect that comes with being talented. Walking through Crossgates Mall and having "fans" come up to you that you have never seen or met before, but they know your music. Recognition is beautiful, regardless who it is by. Also, this may not sound very positive but exploiting my dominance in such a competitive genre of music. As far as it goes for now, this is what satisfies me. Being consistent and respected for being creative and unique.

T: What do you do when you're not in the studio?

A: Work, school and honestly rap. I don’t spend a lot of time in the studio. I love taking part in ciphers on the street randomly, I love doing shows, I love rapping at open mics. I just love the music. Because I am apart of and respect the hip hop culture there is no separation as far as being in or out of the studio. I bleed this (used hand gestures to emphasize).

Are School Lunches at Colonie Central High Just That Good?



By Todd Lawson


It seems that public high schools have strayed away from a more nutritious approach when serving meals. Are public schools delivering an adequate lunch for students? Eric Downey, a Colonie High School junior answered this question in the West Wing Cafeteria at Colonie High. He seemed eager to give out his opinion. He simply responded and said, “I’d like to see more variety, nothing less.”

When it comes to eating healthy at CCHS, it seems very difficult to find a regular student that goes with the lunch from home approach. Many students go with the buying lunch choice. Typical foods, bought by most students, are the wraps, pizza, chicken and french fries, nachos, ice cream, and pretzels. All of which, with the exception of the wrap, are unhealthy lunch choices according to most dieticians. Downey believes there should be a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins in our lunch menus. In his opinion he believes students are being denied the basic principle of a healthy choice when sitting down for lunch. Downey said, “Athletes tend to eat healthier at lunch.”

Athletes are not the only ones who can make a healthy lunch choice, anybody can. That difference is what separates a healthy student from an obese one. For Downey, more options at the lunch table are a want for him. He’d love to see a salad bar, pasta bar, and sushi bar at CCHS before he graduates in 2013. He said, “Lunches are good depending on the type of day,” but why can’t our public schools change his saying to, “Lunches are good, every day?” Nutrition is something that most Americans in the United States have struggled with in the past decade. We are becoming more of an obese nation. If we can fix nutrition in our public schools by offering healthier foods and supplying more options, then the healthy nutritious choices can be made easier for a student like Downey. The ultimate goal is a healthier lunch. Before he left West Wing Cafeteria though, Eric picked up his wrap and said, “Lunch is a mouthful.” With that last saying, you are left with a single question: what will happen to improve our cafeteria here at CCHS?

Some Advice for Incoming Freshman

By Amanda Tran


In middle school, everyone got along with each other, teachers still held your hand to help guide you in the right direction and the highlight of your day was recess. But all of that changes when you enter an entirely different world- high school.

Its time to start over; build new relationships with new friends and teachers, make a name for yourself and most importantly, discover something that you did not even know about yourself before. As you enter through the doors of what may seem like the biggest building you’ve ever seen, don’t forget:

· Do not be afraid to ask questions. If you have a question about anything, do not hesitate to ask! You might not be the only one with a question and no one will look at you differently if you do ask. It’s the snowball effect- if you don’t ask questions now, you become confused and for every day you do not clear it up, it gets worse so ask now and save yourself the stress and confusion.

· Stay organized. Buy a planner or a notebook with a calendar. Yes, it may seem “dorky” at first but you’ll have the last laugh when all your friends are having a hard time remembering when and what was due.

· Do not procrastinate! Ask any upperclassman about procrastination and they will all tell you the same thing- don’t do it. The earlier you start something, the sooner you finish and less stress that you have to deal with.

· Choose your friends wisely. Be careful with whom you choose as a friend. You might think you know someone but they can be your worst enemy if you’re not smart and cautious.

· Get involved. Becoming involved in sports, clubs or organizations in the school will most definitely make high school a more pleasant experience. Not only will you have fun doing something you love but it’s a great chance to meet new people.

· Stay positive. As you continue on with your high school career, it will get harder and as it does, the most important thing to remember is to stay positive. Not only does being optimistic help you get through the roughest times, it can reduce the amount of stress that you’ll inevitably get. There will be days where you will be completely overwhelmed but if you stop to think about being optimistic, the stress, believe it or not will seem to disappear.

· Respect your peers and teachers. Just because you’ve moved out of middle school does not mean you can forget about the rules they taught you there. “Treat others the way you want to be treated” is still one of the most appreciative rule there is, even if there aren’t a million posters tacked on every wall to remind you.

· Enjoy your first year. This is probably the most important thing you should never forget. As you know, the one thing everyone can say about high school was that it was over as soon as it began. Every year after this one goes by so fast and by the time you know it, you’re ready for your cap and gown. Make every single year count, starting with this one.

Finally, the last bit of advice- be aware of failures. Not every single student will pass with flying colors but in order to be successful, you must not be afraid to fail. Middle school is a different league than high school. Not everyone will get a good grade or become successful but it’s important that you know that. In middle school, teachers were there for you to guide you through every little step of the way. They were there to catch you if you fell but teachers in high school will not prevent you from falling but they will help you back up after you fall. High school is a place where you get to explore to find out what you want in life and you discover things about you, people and the world that you never knew before. So be ready for the four most important years of your life and always remember that high school is what you make it.

Survivor


By Amanda Tran

While most adolescent girls typically worry about friends, boys, and their social life, one girl gets ready to flee her home and make the biggest and longest trip of her life to a new country almost 9,000 miles away. Now recently married and moved into a new house, Thy Tran answers some questions about her journey from Vietnam to America 23 years ago.


Q: How old were you when you left?

A: I was 13.


Q: How long was the trip, and were you scared?

A: About 2 years and no.


Q: Why weren’t you scared?

A: In the eyes of a 13-year-old, there wasn’t fear, it was more like excitement. But for the parents, they were scared and uncertain for the things that lie ahead.


Q: Did you make any new friends or make enemies?

A: You know to me that’s 2 totally different questions (laughs). The people who really impacted my trip were the ones I didn’t get to meet.


Q: And what makes you say that?

A: The whole trip was in secrecy. You only meet people through connections. I didn’t get to meet the mastermind behind the whole escape plan. I stayed at her house but I’ve never actually met her. But I have met her daughter and we became best friends.


Q: Was it just our family that escaped or was it a group of people traveling together?

A: It was like a huge caravan-family and strangers of about 54 people. The longer the trip went on, the more people joined.


Q: For the people there or even our family, was the decision to leave against our/their will? Why or why not?

A: No, it was for our own good. Based on the living conditions and harsh punishment that the government forced on us, we decided that the best thing for us was to leave. We wouldn’t have had a bright future if we stayed.


Q: How bad were the living conditions there? Is there a time that sticks out of your mind when things were really bad?

A: It depends. If the parents brought home money or food at the end of the day, it was a good day. But if that didn’t happen, we had to go hunt for food.


Q: Hunt for food. Like bow and arrow hunting?

A: (laughs) No! Like going fishing. Sometimes we’d have to do an “IOU” to local vendors.


Q: Wow, so it was tough, did the trip get any easier along the way or was it non-stop fleeing?

A: It didn’t get any easier. The point where we left Vietnam was when we weren’t fleeing anymore. Once we left, things became harder, more complicated. It was more about survival than escape.


Q: Oh, wow survival? What do you mean by that?

A: Try not to die! (Chuckles). First we ran out of fresh water on the boat and then on the island that we hid on. Then we got picked up and dropped off at a refugee camp and stayed there without knowing when we were going to leave. We lived off of just rice, bread, soy sauce and pretty much anything we could find.


Q: Was it just one refugee camp or multiple camps? Where were the camps located?

A: Multiple camps but they were all in Thailand. There were (counts slowly out loud) 1, 2 camps. There was a war going on against the Thai and the Cambodians and the refugees got caught in the middle. That was what I was talking about by survival.


Q: At any point did you or our family have to fight?

A: Yeah, almost but not in a total fight. Back in the island, we had to engage in fighting against the Thai pirates. We had to prepare and get ready but we never actually fought (in the war).


Q: Is Thailand the only country you stayed at? If not, were there any other countries you went to before you got to the United States?

A: Cambodia and the Philippines.


Q: Out of all the countries you’ve been to, which was the worst one and why?

A: (Pause). Thailand. I wouldn’t say that my experience was horrifying or scary, I’d say it was exciting. I’ve never experienced war so the fighting between Thailand and Cambodia seemed almost fun, not scary or anything.


Q: You make it seem like it was more of an adventure for you, did you even worry at all?

A: Yeah well I didn’t have much to worry about. All I had to worry about was getting sick or not having enough food. I was 15 by the time we arrived at Thailand and I didn’t worry about anything- no school, no job, no nothing. I had more of an adventure in Thailand. (Pause) I had more of a “childhood” in Thailand than in Vietnam. I even feel in love with a Thai soldier!


Q: So since you were already excited in Thailand, how did you feel when you came to the U.S.? Where did you arrive first?

A: Los Angeles. I felt (pause) disappointed.


Q: Really? Why?

A: L.A. was very crowded with Asians! (Laughs) No blonde hair, blue eyed people. It wasn’t what I had in mind when I thought of the United States. It made me want to go back to Vietnam.


Q: Well since I’ve never seen L.A., we must have moved, where else did you guys go?

A: We then came here. Well, actually Schenectady, but you already knew that.


Q: So overall, what are your opinions on your trip? Were you glad you made the trip? If you didn’t, how different would you think your life would be?

A: (smiles). Of course you’d ask that question. (Pause). I think about it all the time but I can never seem to find the answer. I’d maybe be poor, have no education, no freedom to speak my mind, married at an early age with 5 kids with poor living conditions? I don’t know. I could only imagine what my life would be like if we didn’t leave (pause) just the opposite of what it is here.

Raiders Soar Over Eagles


by Adam Yule


The halls of Colonie Central High School were filled with raider pride the day after the Colonie Garnet Raiders basketball team, upset the number one seeded Eagles from Bethlehem. Tuesday night, the heavily packed MUG at Colonie was the battleground for the suburban council rivalry, as Bethlehem was eager to give Colonie their third consecutive loss. However Colonie came to the game ready to play and with their home crowd fans “The Tribe” closely behind them, the Raiders took to the hardwood with one goal in mind, win and don’t look back.

The pace was set early as the Garnet Raiders couldn’t miss, taking a 19-5 lead coming into the second quarter. This showing got their home fans into the game, becoming a noticeable sixth man on the court for the home team, looking for their first win in conference. This potent first half offense led by Godfrey Freeman and Robbie McGuirk, couldn’t find the basket in the second quarter only putting up four points against a rejuvenated Eagles defense. After a brief timeout, starting the second quarter right was no problem for the Eagles, as they scored 17 points after a couple key baskets and free throws by Matt O’Keefe. Nate Kane also helped pull the Eagles out of their deficit by drawing three fouls, bringing him to the line to make three out of five free throws. The halftime score was set at 23-22, in favor of the Garnet Raiders. The home fans were anxious to get their team back into the game after seeing the potential of their team in the first quarter. The efforts were almost matched in the third quarter as Bethlehem and Colonie put up nearly similar numbers, Bethlehem scoring 16 points and Colonie scoring 20 after a couple key three pointers by Devon Edwards and Robbie McGuirk. “The Tribe” cheered with enthusiasm as the last quarter started with their raiders ahead by five points, Vinny Tashjian made two baskets under pressure, and Mark Papuzza hit a three pointer with three minutes left to help pull the Garnet Raiders out ahead of the Bethlehem Eagles. Sonny Benson and Jon Buhner also contributed six points each to the total score, and as a team the Raiders were 6-7 from the free throw line. The final score was in favor of Colonie winning 55-47.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Are Students Getting Enough Sleep?



By: Lexie Fuhr

Whether or not students realize it, sleep is just as vital to their well-being as the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the food they eat. To be able to function properly during the school day, it is essential for teenagers to sleep for about 8 ½ hours. Not getting the right amount of sleep can limit teens’ abilities to learn, listen, and concentrate in school, and can also generate the aggressive and inappropriate behavior some bring into the classroom. Some studies reveal however, that only 15% of students are getting the necessary amount of sleep each night. With time consuming activities such as school, practices, meetings, part-time jobs, in addition to the excessive amounts of homework some teachers assign, it is near impossible for students to get this much needed rest. When asked to comment on the issue of teens and their sleeping habits and how sleep affects their well-being, Colonie High School Senior, Aimee Bacher explains, “I usually get about seven hours of sleep on school night, and days that I don’t get enough sleep are unproductive and painful.” Research shows that a student’s internal clock, or their circadian rhythm, makes it difficult for them to fall asleep before 11 p.m. Students would need to sleep until at least 7:30 a.m. to get a good night’s sleep, but very few high schools in the country begin after 8 a.m. However, several schools throughout the nation have noted this research, and pushed back the start time. The faculty and staff of these certain institutions believe this has brought about immense change in their students behavior. Not only do students miss class less, pay more attention and perform better in class, but students have also reported lower levels of depression. Bacher believes this would be beneficial to this school district as well. “I think productivity as a whole would increase, because it’s been proven most teenagers don’t mentally wake up until about third period anyways,” she says.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Colonie Varsity Basketball Season Opener Results in Sadness

 By: Brandon Castle


COLONIE
         Colonie hearts were broken at the first boy’s varsity basketball game of the season. It was a nail-biter to the finish in this season’s opening game but sadly for the fans of Colonie who call themselves “The Tribe”, it ended in a Mohonasen victory.

The game began with two quick three point shots, one for each team. The Colonie three point shot was put up by Colonie Guard, Mark Papuzza. The excitement for his basket ended quickly, as Mohonasen took the lead and didn’t give it back. Though the Colonie Raiders fought hard they were unable to bring the game back.

I sat down with Mark Papuzza after the game.

Brandon: What was going through your mind before the game?

Mark: I was excited to prove to everybody how hard our team has worked and how we have improved over the year.

Brandon: How were you feeling during warm-ups?

Mark: I was anxious before the game but once I hit the court for warm-ups I was ready to go.

Brandon: Were you hitting your shots in warm-ups?

Mark: My shot felt good, and that’s why I had the confidence to take that first shot for the three.

Brandon: What were you feeling when you hit that first shot?

Mark: I felt relieved that I got my first shot down. It definitely boosts your confidence to hit that first shot.

Brandon: Explain what happened to your Raiders team after that.

Mark: We had a tough offensive night, our defense was solid and everyone hustled and worked hard the entire game, sometimes shots won’t fall, and that’s the kind of night we had unfortunately, 34 points isn’t going to cut it in Suburban Council, we have to do better than that to come away with a win.

Brandon: Where do you see your team going this season?

Mark: One of the soccer players contacted me after the game and reminded me their team lost their first game, and their team went on to the section finals. We plan on having a successful season making a run in sectionals.

Brandon: Thank you for your time and good luck to you, for the rest of the season.

Mark: Thank you, we appreciate the support, especially from “The Tribe.”

Are School Lunches at Colonie Central High Just That Good?



By Todd Lawson

It seems that public high schools have strayed away from a more nutritious approach when serving meals. Are public schools delivering an adequate lunch for students? Eric Downey, a Colonie High School junior answered this question in the West Wing Cafeteria at Colonie High. He seemed eager to give out his opinion. He simply responded and said, “I’d like to see more variety, nothing less.”

When it comes to eating healthy at CCHS, it seems very difficult to find a regular student that goes with the lunch from home approach. Many students go with the buying lunch choice. Typical foods, bought by most students, are the wraps, pizza, chicken and french fries, nachos, ice cream, and pretzels. All of which, with the exception of the wrap, are unhealthy lunch choices according to most dieticians. Downey believes there should be a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins in our lunch menus. In his opinion he believes students are being denied the basic principle of a healthy choice when sitting down for lunch. Downey said, “Athletes tend to eat healthier at lunch.”

Athletes are not the only ones who can make a healthy lunch choice, anybody can. That difference is what separates a healthy student from an obese one. For Downey, more options at the lunch table are a want for him. He’d love to see a salad bar, pasta bar, and sushi bar at CCHS before he graduates in 2013. He said, “Lunches are good depending on the type of day,” but why can’t our public schools change his saying to, “Lunches are good, every day?” Nutrition is something that most Americans in the United States have struggled with in the past decade. We are becoming more of an obese nation. If we can fix nutrition in our public schools by offering healthier foods and supplying more options, then the healthy nutritious choices can be made easier for a student like Downey. The ultimate goal is a healthier lunch. Before he left West Wing Cafeteria though, Eric picked up his wrap and said, “Lunch is a mouthful.” With that last saying, you are left with a single question: what will happen to improve our cafeteria here at CCHS?

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Critical Thinking: A Conversation

By: Nick Sanders

COLONIE— Foot steps echo and reverberate around the fire lit den. Enter Colleen Sanders, in her pajamas with a glass of pinot nior. Colleen is the Writing Center Coordinator at Fulton-Montgomery Community College. She exhaustedly lounges on the couch, as we exchange several pleasantries. And now, we begin our interview, where she voices her concern about the modern curriculum implemented in high school, and the affects of this curriculum on her freshman composition, and literature students.
Question 1: Where did you attend High School?

I went to South Colonie High School, (with a degree of antiphrasis) proud graduate of 1987!

Question 2: How was this experience?

High school (PAUSE) it was mediocre. It was okay, exceptional. I enjoyed most of my classes, and my deceitful peers. I was adequately prepared for college. I was a GREAT writer!

Question 3: What did you pursuit after high school?

I went to Cobleskill Community College. Then I went to SUNY Albany, which I hated. Then I finished my two year degree at Hudson Valley Community College for Business Administration. I then returned to college to pursuit a degree in English at the College of Saint Rose. I began teaching in 2003, I have been the Writing Center Coordinator for four years.

Question 4: What degrees do you hold?

I hold an Applied… AAS in Business Administration (sic). I also have a Bachelors of Arts in English with a minor in Business. I also have a Masters Degree in Literature.

Question 5: What is your profession?

Teaching college (sic).

Question 6: Select a layer depicted in Dante’s Inferno. Why?

Vanity is a sin right? (listing) Gluttony… Sloth… Greed… Greed I think. Greed would be the sin. I think it is ironic that 13th Century society depicted greed as a sin against humanity. And in 21st amongst a capitalist society, greed eventually plagues our society and it actually is endorsed by the public, corporations, and the government.

Question 7: Who is your favorite author?

(PONDERS) Mary Wollstonecraft, one of the classic authors who has influenced the way I think, and perceive the world. Even though she wasn’t the best writer (SIC).

Question 8: What made you want to become a College Professor?

Ironically I began my pursuit of literature in pursuit of becoming a high school educator. But I was quickly turned away from the bureaucracy of second education, particularly in terms of the curriculum requirements I feel that the curriculum are very rigid and do not expose students to critical thinking and analysis.

Question 9: How do you view high school education?

I view high school education as a quintessential component in adolescent development. I believe that high school teaches students how to learn but not necessarily think autonomously or become self directed learners.

Question 10: Do you believe such courses as AP Literature and Composition, and AP Language and Composition illustrate the content and rigor of Introductory College Level Courses?

I believe the content is college level, I believe that students loose freedom in an interpretation of a text because of the necessity to score on the exam. And so the need to teach for the test consumes the educator.

Question 11: Do you believe the Regents English program has prepared students for college?

Well, first of all, consider that I teach at a community college, which typically means I have a diverse body of students, I have many “regent learned” students they come to class prepared read to engage at the college level writing, and homework. As an instructor I encourage imagination and creativity and try to move away from the traditional 5 paragraph paper.

Question 12: What would you change in the high school Regents program in order to better prepare freshman for the rigor of introductory college courses?

I don’t believe it would be a curriculum change, but rather encourage critical thinking in the high school class room. As it is a critical component of higher education.