Originally published in Blind Brook High School's FOCUS (October 2006).
By Benjamin Engle
It was a beautiful summer night in the Georgetown area of our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. I strolled leisurely down Pennsylvania Avenue, a street lined with exclusive stores and stylish eateries. From Coach to Abercrombie & Fitch to Steve Madden, I felt as if I was in one of the classiest places in Washington—that is, until I passed a man who, in his silent sleep, stopped me in my tracks.
This man was asleep in the doorway of a Georgetown building, clutching a blanket in one hand. The other held nothing, and a shopping cart filled to capacity stood to his
left. It seemed as if his whole life was crammed into that shopping cart, his home on wheels. The man’s untidy, mangy beard and the fact that he was lying in the middle of the sidewalk indicated that he was homeless. But this was no ordinary homeless man, a man unlike any I have ever seen in New York City. The steps on which he slept did not lead to a posh store or a snobby café, but rather to the entrance of the Salvation Army National Capital Offices.
The fact that this homeless man was sleeping on the steps of one of America’s longtime symbols of aid and hope struck me as a sad commentary on the state of our nation, for this poor man clearly did not expect assistance or hope. It opened my eyes to the true problems of poverty and homelessness in the United States and how we, as Americans, are not doing enough to give less fortunate people
the opportunities and assistance to live better lives.
During my visit to D.C., I made my way to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. While walking through this outdoor monument dedicated to one of the best presidents in U.S. history, I noticed that various quotes issued by Roosevelt during his four terms in office were engraved in the stone. One quote seemed to speak of both the homeless man and how our country looks today.
“I see one-third of a nation illhoused, ill-clad, and ill-nourished. The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little,” Roosevelt said in his second inaugural address. This quote
raised the question in my mind, “Can’t we do more?”
We live in an affluent community in nice, spacious homes; we eat three meals a day (yes, Blind Brook cafeteria food counts); and we receive our education in one of the country’s finesthigh schools. We buy new clothes, we go out on weekends, and we spend hours on our computers. It seems as if the rich only get richer and the poor only get poorer. Roosevelt recognized the pathetic look of the nation during his time in office, and it is time for us in the Blind Brook, Rye Brook, and American communities to make a difference in helping to stop one of America’s biggest problems: poverty.
If numbers will help paint the picture of American poverty, consider these: in 2005, 37
million people lived in poverty. Of those 37 million people, 12.9 million were under the age of 18 and 20.5 million were between the ages of 18 and 64. (U.S. Census 2005.) It’s clear that poverty affects not only adults, but entire families as well. As I watched in awe at the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, a ceremony honoring and remembering unidentified soldiers who gave their lives for our county, my mind wandered back to the hopeless man at the Salvation Army who, when he is entombed in an unmarked grave in Potter’s Field, will forever remain as he lived—unknown and forgotten.
In a song entitled “Eleanor Rigby,” The Beatles asked, “All the lonely people. Where do they all come from? All the lonely people. Where do they all belong?” And there’s only one way to find an answer: get involved.
We must not let these lonely and forlorn people vanish before our eyes and remain unknown. Our country has a problem when it comes to ignoring the needy, and it’s definitely time for a change. Roosevelt believed that the development of the United States should be assessed by the situations in which its citizens live, not by materialistic and political advancements.
We as members of the American and Blind Brook communities must not let impoverished people remain unknown, uncared for, and forgotten. These people live hopeless and difficult lives; live one meal at a time, often not knowing where the next meal will come from; they have no support and nobody to put them on the right track. It is our responsibility to improve our country and its people in a time where the world can, at times, feel like an uncaring place.
Fortunately, we as a community can help. Blind Brook has numerous clubs whose missions are to help others, improve other people’s lives, and make the community better as whole. By serving hot meals at the Blind Brook Soup Kitchen or even carrying some rocks at a Habitat for
Humanity build site, we will bring hope and promise to people less fortunate than us.
We should feel lucky that our addresses are not on the stoop of the Salvation Army. I know we can help end loneliness and hopelessness one person at a time.
http://www.blindbrook.org/our_schools/high_school/Focus/archives/06-07/FOCUS_Oct_06.pdf
Monday, March 23, 2009
High School Articles: "Fitness Made Simple"
Originally published in Blind Brook High School's FOCUS (January 2006).
By Benjamin Engle
While perusing through the channels on T.V. one afternoon, I found myself watching a “Fitness Made Simple” advertisement on ESPN. When “Pardon the Interruption”finally came back on the air, I was immediately bombarded with sports jabber. The reporter’s first word, BALCO, the now infamous laboratory in California, was followed by the daily mantra heard so often in the sports
world: Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Marion Jones, all professional athletes, each interminably related by the “s” word.
Steroids.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when another “Fitness Made Simple” commercial appeared at the very next commercial break. Along with pictures of the “buff” John Basedow, the lyrics of the song went something like this: “Fitness made simple…made for real people…changing real lives.” I couldn’t help but notice the juxtaposition of the steroid story between the two “Fitness Made Simple” commercials. Clearly, this was more than just a coincidence.
For the eleven baseball players who tested positive for steroid use during the 2005 season, the shortest route to physical fitness meant bypassing the long time it takes to get results from good old fashioned sweat and hard work and go straight to steroids. For these athletes, and the millions of Americans who have turned to steroids as a “get physically rich quick scheme,” the term “no pain, no gain” is so passé.
But why should people exercise? What incentive is there to work for long periods of time when steroids can have you built up faster than Blind Brook’s new construction project? Ok, bad example. The numbers do not lie – according to the American School Board Journal, 16% of teens are obese while another 15% are considered at risk of becoming obese; the only choice these kids see is steroids.
Those numbers made me run – literally. To stay in shape, I started to run cross-country at Blind Brook. Okay, maybe run is not the best word to use, but I did jog my way to Hillandale and back to Blind Brook during the fall. I’m not going to lie; I might not have been the fastest on the team. However, our head coach, Mrs. Judith Mella, encouraged all of us to work hard. Working hard are the key words. By playing a sport (Math team’s finger exercises do not count) competitively or just for fun, or by working out at the “Y,” or just by eating right (don’t worry, Wendy’s and Garden Catering are fine in moderation), teens and adults alike can prevent obesity and therefore preclude the need for steroids.
The difference between working hard and “juicing up” is while the former has positive physical and emotional results, the latter carries with it serious and detrimental physical side affects. Studies have shown that steroid use can lead to cancer, heart disease, and strokes (not to mention smaller testicles and breast development in men, and facial hair and deeper voices in women), while the hackneyed and outdated exercise program can lead you to enjoy a healthier, longer life.
Furthermore, a 2004 study from California found that the students who eat nutritious diets and engage in moderate exercise have higher test scores. The National Association of Sport & Physical Education says that exercise has been shown to lower stress, boost alertness and energy levels (great for Mock Trial), and improve sleep.
While Congress and professional athletes often get mixed together in the maelstrom of steroid use, the truth is that high school students use steroids as well. Teen surveys of personal steroid usage range from as low as 0.5% to as high as 11%. Either way, something needs to be done. Professional sports, such as the Olympics committee, are trying to set a good example by enforcing stringent anti-drug policies. Blind Brook, too, has a drug policy that mandates if one is “under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or other substances while on school grounds or at any school activity…will be suspended from school…and prohibited in all extra-curricular activities.”
Board of Education policies are one thing, but what are your values and the values of your community? Why risk getting sick or being suspended from school to make your body look like John Basedow’s? There are better ways to achieve a level of healthiness. Let’s face it: driving over walking is inevitable, particularly in a suburb, and eating a burger is bound to be chosen over a fat-free yogurt, but there are steps to live a healthier life. While Blind Brook has already taken a major step with the soon-to-be built fitness center, it is only a small first step in the right direction.
Fitness is a community goal. Together we can live healthy lives for years to come, so what are the possible next steps? Perhaps the institution of “Open Gym and Fitness Center Nights,” a weekly event that would virtually cost nothing and would give students the opportunity to build life-long exercise habits. Different community groups and student clubs could sponsor it; varsity athletes could help middle school and elementary students with their jump shot, speedball technique, or exercise regimen. While the fitness center will be incorporated into the general physical education curriculum, it’s only a first step because, as proposed, the after-school fitness center will only be available after school hours to athletes of Varsity teams. One possible solution would allow all students to use the fitness center after school two times a week as costs and space availability for every day use just are not practical.
In order for people to live healthier lives, we must trade the “couch potato, gameboy” culture that currently exists for a “sweat potato, play the game” attitude. This requires a community effort. Having gyms and a new track is nice, but it is enhanced when the community can use them together. Will we all look like “Fitness Celebrity” John Basedow? No, but we will begin to look and feel better.
And our testicles won’t shrivel.
http://www.blindbrook.org/our_schools/high_school/Focus/archives/05-06/FOCUSJan06.pdf
By Benjamin Engle
While perusing through the channels on T.V. one afternoon, I found myself watching a “Fitness Made Simple” advertisement on ESPN. When “Pardon the Interruption”finally came back on the air, I was immediately bombarded with sports jabber. The reporter’s first word, BALCO, the now infamous laboratory in California, was followed by the daily mantra heard so often in the sports
world: Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Marion Jones, all professional athletes, each interminably related by the “s” word.
Steroids.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when another “Fitness Made Simple” commercial appeared at the very next commercial break. Along with pictures of the “buff” John Basedow, the lyrics of the song went something like this: “Fitness made simple…made for real people…changing real lives.” I couldn’t help but notice the juxtaposition of the steroid story between the two “Fitness Made Simple” commercials. Clearly, this was more than just a coincidence.
For the eleven baseball players who tested positive for steroid use during the 2005 season, the shortest route to physical fitness meant bypassing the long time it takes to get results from good old fashioned sweat and hard work and go straight to steroids. For these athletes, and the millions of Americans who have turned to steroids as a “get physically rich quick scheme,” the term “no pain, no gain” is so passé.
But why should people exercise? What incentive is there to work for long periods of time when steroids can have you built up faster than Blind Brook’s new construction project? Ok, bad example. The numbers do not lie – according to the American School Board Journal, 16% of teens are obese while another 15% are considered at risk of becoming obese; the only choice these kids see is steroids.
Those numbers made me run – literally. To stay in shape, I started to run cross-country at Blind Brook. Okay, maybe run is not the best word to use, but I did jog my way to Hillandale and back to Blind Brook during the fall. I’m not going to lie; I might not have been the fastest on the team. However, our head coach, Mrs. Judith Mella, encouraged all of us to work hard. Working hard are the key words. By playing a sport (Math team’s finger exercises do not count) competitively or just for fun, or by working out at the “Y,” or just by eating right (don’t worry, Wendy’s and Garden Catering are fine in moderation), teens and adults alike can prevent obesity and therefore preclude the need for steroids.
The difference between working hard and “juicing up” is while the former has positive physical and emotional results, the latter carries with it serious and detrimental physical side affects. Studies have shown that steroid use can lead to cancer, heart disease, and strokes (not to mention smaller testicles and breast development in men, and facial hair and deeper voices in women), while the hackneyed and outdated exercise program can lead you to enjoy a healthier, longer life.
Furthermore, a 2004 study from California found that the students who eat nutritious diets and engage in moderate exercise have higher test scores. The National Association of Sport & Physical Education says that exercise has been shown to lower stress, boost alertness and energy levels (great for Mock Trial), and improve sleep.
While Congress and professional athletes often get mixed together in the maelstrom of steroid use, the truth is that high school students use steroids as well. Teen surveys of personal steroid usage range from as low as 0.5% to as high as 11%. Either way, something needs to be done. Professional sports, such as the Olympics committee, are trying to set a good example by enforcing stringent anti-drug policies. Blind Brook, too, has a drug policy that mandates if one is “under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or other substances while on school grounds or at any school activity…will be suspended from school…and prohibited in all extra-curricular activities.”
Board of Education policies are one thing, but what are your values and the values of your community? Why risk getting sick or being suspended from school to make your body look like John Basedow’s? There are better ways to achieve a level of healthiness. Let’s face it: driving over walking is inevitable, particularly in a suburb, and eating a burger is bound to be chosen over a fat-free yogurt, but there are steps to live a healthier life. While Blind Brook has already taken a major step with the soon-to-be built fitness center, it is only a small first step in the right direction.
Fitness is a community goal. Together we can live healthy lives for years to come, so what are the possible next steps? Perhaps the institution of “Open Gym and Fitness Center Nights,” a weekly event that would virtually cost nothing and would give students the opportunity to build life-long exercise habits. Different community groups and student clubs could sponsor it; varsity athletes could help middle school and elementary students with their jump shot, speedball technique, or exercise regimen. While the fitness center will be incorporated into the general physical education curriculum, it’s only a first step because, as proposed, the after-school fitness center will only be available after school hours to athletes of Varsity teams. One possible solution would allow all students to use the fitness center after school two times a week as costs and space availability for every day use just are not practical.
In order for people to live healthier lives, we must trade the “couch potato, gameboy” culture that currently exists for a “sweat potato, play the game” attitude. This requires a community effort. Having gyms and a new track is nice, but it is enhanced when the community can use them together. Will we all look like “Fitness Celebrity” John Basedow? No, but we will begin to look and feel better.
And our testicles won’t shrivel.
http://www.blindbrook.org/our_schools/high_school/Focus/archives/05-06/FOCUSJan06.pdf
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Campus vandalism on the decline
Benjamin Engle
Despite recent acts of violence at Wold House and Psi Upsilon, vandalism has been slowly declining across the Union campus.
According data provided by the Facilities Services Department, both the number of incidents and money spent to repair vandalism damages has fallen since the 2004-2005 fiscal year.
In 2004-2005, Facilities Services spent approximately $101,000 on vandalism repairs across the campus. However, vandalism expenses were down to $72,000 in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
Director of Facilities and Planning, Loren Rucinski believes that the most vandalism, which as defined in the Union College Handbook as the “intentional or reckless destruction of college or private property,” occurs in the independent residence halls, particularly the freshmen halls of Davidson, West, and Richmond, which have been subjected to students tearing posters, signs, and bulletin boards down.
However, Rucinski believes that drop in vandalism during the past four years is continuing: “In general, the vandalism has been decreasing over the past 4 years and this year so far looks like it will be below [previous years], which would be great.”
Rucinski credits the active work of the Residential Life staff for the decrease in the number of vandalism reports in the independent housing on campus.
“I think that Residence Life has been doing a good job trying to get the message across with appropriate billing,” Rucinski added.
Joe Melendez, Residence Director of Davidson and Webster Halls, believes that vandalism has a rollercoaster affect in the sense that it comes in waves. According to Melendez, in addition to bulletin boards, ceiling tiles, exit signs, walls, and hallway lights are primary targets of vandalism in residence halls.
In order to prevent these types of crimes, Melendez and the rest of the residential life staff continually work to build a positive community and inform their respective communities of the consequences associated with destruction of property.
Matt Goodrich, a Resident Advisor in Davidson Hall used a unique strategy to combat vandalism and destructive actions on his floor after a weekend that resulted in the destruction of numerous ceiling tiles as well as the bulletin board. Instead of listing the ways the college tries to prevent vandalism, Goodrich asked his residents to write on the bulletin board ways to “keep the floor clean.”
Michael Jacobson (’12), resident of Goodrich’s floor, believes that the bulletin board was effective in reducing the violent acts of vandalism on his floor, “Matt works hard to build a tight-knit community and it is a direct insult to him when people tear down his boards. It is frustrating to walk in the hallway after a Friday or Saturday night and see my home at Union destroyed, usually by people who don’t even live there.”
In addition to vandalism decreasing in the residence halls, Minerva Houses have seen significant decreases in acts of property destruction. The most recent act of destruction that has occurred, according to the Office of Minerva Programs, was the destruction of a ping-pong table in Wold House. Sometime during the middle of the night on a recent weekend, a group broke the legs of the table causing the playing surface to cave in. According to Benjamin Foster, Assistant Director of Minerva Programs, the group of individuals has not, and probably will not be caught.
However, according to Foster, vandalism in Minerva Houses is “incredibly sporadic” and is almost non-existent. When it does occur, vandalism is billed to the respective house’s operating budget.
Dean Tom McEvoy, Director of Minerva Programs, believes that for buildings that are approximately eight years old are in good shape for buildings on a typical college campus.
“I find that the nicer the building, the less students vandalize,” McEvoy explained.
However, according to Foster, the small amount of vandalism still affects residents, “Wold House residents were very upset. They felt violated and it takes away from the community.”
McEvoy also believes that vandalism is a direct insult to the custodians and trades people that have to clean up and fix the damages, but at same time students must remember that they are vandalizing their own homes, “Students need to be responsible for each other. Your home is the face you show to the world and people should behave in the way they would want others to behave in their house.”
As for the Psi Upsilon, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Timothy Dunn reports that the mural destruction is still under investigation, though in general most acts of vandalism occur during social events and are usually not done by the members of the particular house.
While eradicating vandalism from campus buildings is not an easy fix, Rucinski is encouraged by the improvement in the number of cases of vandalism, “It's an ongoing issue, probably like it is on other campuses, but so far we have been seeing a nice trend of improvement in that area.”
Originally published in Union's Concordy on February 19, 2009.
Despite recent acts of violence at Wold House and Psi Upsilon, vandalism has been slowly declining across the Union campus.
According data provided by the Facilities Services Department, both the number of incidents and money spent to repair vandalism damages has fallen since the 2004-2005 fiscal year.
In 2004-2005, Facilities Services spent approximately $101,000 on vandalism repairs across the campus. However, vandalism expenses were down to $72,000 in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
Director of Facilities and Planning, Loren Rucinski believes that the most vandalism, which as defined in the Union College Handbook as the “intentional or reckless destruction of college or private property,” occurs in the independent residence halls, particularly the freshmen halls of Davidson, West, and Richmond, which have been subjected to students tearing posters, signs, and bulletin boards down.
However, Rucinski believes that drop in vandalism during the past four years is continuing: “In general, the vandalism has been decreasing over the past 4 years and this year so far looks like it will be below [previous years], which would be great.”
Rucinski credits the active work of the Residential Life staff for the decrease in the number of vandalism reports in the independent housing on campus.
“I think that Residence Life has been doing a good job trying to get the message across with appropriate billing,” Rucinski added.
Joe Melendez, Residence Director of Davidson and Webster Halls, believes that vandalism has a rollercoaster affect in the sense that it comes in waves. According to Melendez, in addition to bulletin boards, ceiling tiles, exit signs, walls, and hallway lights are primary targets of vandalism in residence halls.
In order to prevent these types of crimes, Melendez and the rest of the residential life staff continually work to build a positive community and inform their respective communities of the consequences associated with destruction of property.
Matt Goodrich, a Resident Advisor in Davidson Hall used a unique strategy to combat vandalism and destructive actions on his floor after a weekend that resulted in the destruction of numerous ceiling tiles as well as the bulletin board. Instead of listing the ways the college tries to prevent vandalism, Goodrich asked his residents to write on the bulletin board ways to “keep the floor clean.”
Michael Jacobson (’12), resident of Goodrich’s floor, believes that the bulletin board was effective in reducing the violent acts of vandalism on his floor, “Matt works hard to build a tight-knit community and it is a direct insult to him when people tear down his boards. It is frustrating to walk in the hallway after a Friday or Saturday night and see my home at Union destroyed, usually by people who don’t even live there.”
In addition to vandalism decreasing in the residence halls, Minerva Houses have seen significant decreases in acts of property destruction. The most recent act of destruction that has occurred, according to the Office of Minerva Programs, was the destruction of a ping-pong table in Wold House. Sometime during the middle of the night on a recent weekend, a group broke the legs of the table causing the playing surface to cave in. According to Benjamin Foster, Assistant Director of Minerva Programs, the group of individuals has not, and probably will not be caught.
However, according to Foster, vandalism in Minerva Houses is “incredibly sporadic” and is almost non-existent. When it does occur, vandalism is billed to the respective house’s operating budget.
Dean Tom McEvoy, Director of Minerva Programs, believes that for buildings that are approximately eight years old are in good shape for buildings on a typical college campus.
“I find that the nicer the building, the less students vandalize,” McEvoy explained.
However, according to Foster, the small amount of vandalism still affects residents, “Wold House residents were very upset. They felt violated and it takes away from the community.”
McEvoy also believes that vandalism is a direct insult to the custodians and trades people that have to clean up and fix the damages, but at same time students must remember that they are vandalizing their own homes, “Students need to be responsible for each other. Your home is the face you show to the world and people should behave in the way they would want others to behave in their house.”
As for the Psi Upsilon, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Timothy Dunn reports that the mural destruction is still under investigation, though in general most acts of vandalism occur during social events and are usually not done by the members of the particular house.
While eradicating vandalism from campus buildings is not an easy fix, Rucinski is encouraged by the improvement in the number of cases of vandalism, “It's an ongoing issue, probably like it is on other campuses, but so far we have been seeing a nice trend of improvement in that area.”
Originally published in Union's Concordy on February 19, 2009.
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