By Moussa Hassoun

Here we have it! The Republican Party must finally accept Mitt Romney as their nominee. Ron Paul didn’t have a chance, Newt Gingrich went down swingin’, then back up, then down again, and Santorum rallied the wrong crowds with his sweater vest (who else was running?).

Romney has managed to win majority votes in key states that have propelled him to the top. Rather than floating his campaign on fiery rhetoric (Newt), introduce 18th century reforms (Ron), and concentrate on divisive social issues (Rick), Romney used the economy to attract most Republicans.

Of course, he has addressed other things important to Republicans with caution, but so long as he had the people’s confidence in his economic policy, he tied himself to the nomination long ago. Now as Romney drafts his acceptance speech of the party nomination, most Republicans are reconsidering him.

In recent polls against Obama, the President has only had a three-point lead over Romney, within the margin of error. In a Rasmussen poll, Romney was even ahead by a point (also within the margin of error). With that said, the President does hold leads in more polls over Romney than not, but the fight will now move away from party squabbling to the general election.

I’m eager to see a strong general election to help myself and others challenge Obama’s policies. The only thing keeping us from that is Mitten’s image problem.

First, a recent poll showed that 56 percent of voters “like” Obama more than Romney.

Furthermore, in April, Mitt hit the lowest approval rating of a presidential candidate (since they began documenting). This is made even worse when measuring women, who are a majority of the voting bloc.

Among female voters, President Obama leads Mitt Romney by 12 points. Yet, Mitt’s female problem isn’t his entire fault. Republican attacks against reproductive rights have refueled the anger of millions of women around the country.

All-male panels in Congress on contraception and crazy state abortion laws have displayed Republicans as the anti-female party. Meanwhile, Republican women haven’t been very vocal in addressing these issues to give him and the party he will be leading more credibility.

Of course, all is not bad. Among married women, Mitt wins over Obama by 3 points, but with single women, Obama carries by an astounding 36 point lead.

On top of female problems, Mitt’s image is further troubled by his well-intended statements to relate to the common man. When asked about if he likes Nascar, he used the opportunity to connect with the average Joe by telling a story of his good multi-millionaire friend that owns a team.

When asked about his speaking fee, worth tens of thousands of dollars, he calmly tells the media that he doesn’t even make that much money. Meanwhile, he installs a car elevator in one of his mansions. An elevator. For his car.

He also struggles with his professional image as he’s usually depicted as the company crushing, buying and selling CEO he was at Bain. Finally, his article calling for the fall of Detroit didn’t really help him connect with voters.

Of course, none of this is to say that he should apologize for being successful. He’s provided marvelously for his family and deserves due respect. However, it does mean that for a politician as steadfast as a flag he does a horrible job at controlling his personal image and likeability.

President Obama built his last campaign on image. “Hope” and “Change.” Epic pictures of him staring off into the distance. The image of a young, smart, black man against an old, white, man. The contrast couldn’t be greater and more in favor of Obama.

Of course, most voters voted on policy, be it social or economic, but his image control sealed the deal. Mitt Romney needs that.

This is the final run to the Presidency of the United States. We all want to see a challenge to the current administration. That’s why Newt, Rick and Ron never made it. Captain Pragmatic will seal the nomination for the Republicans. He just needs to be more pragmatic about his image. Once he’s over that hump, substantive debate can be had when two likeable candidates run against one another.

Name: James Cruise

Major: Economics-Finance, Liberal Studies (Health and Industry)

Hometown: East Greenwich, Rhode Island

What are you involved in at Bentley?

For two years I was a Resident Assistant in the Trees, in the Office of Academic Advising I’ve been a First Year Seminar Peer Facilitator and Peer Advisor, over the years I’ve done some work with Service Learning, and last fall I was a member of the Fed Challenge team.

What are you looking forward to this year?

Well, we now officially have less than one month until graduation, which is so hard to believe. I’m looking forward to doing my best to make the most of my remaining weeks. Spring Day is this upcoming weekend and as the weather gets warmer I’ll try to get outside as much as possible. On the academic side, I’m looking forward to presenting the findings of my Honors Capstone project with Gregg Grenier after what has been a lengthy, challenging, and rewarding process.

What are your plans for the future?

Next year I plan to be working in Arlington, VA right outside Washington, D.C. with a group called Cambridge Associates. Having been a New Englander my entire life, it’ll be a bit of a change. If the Bruins can beat the Capitals in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, I think the transition will go a little smoother.

What is your favorite event on campus?

My immediate response is Spring Day, as it’s the one day of the year that best brings the campus together. Outside of that, I’ve enjoyed the Bentley Business Bowl and the way it has helped me to prepare work in a time sensitive manner.

What are your goals for this year?

By now, most of the work is done. I believe I’ve learned and grown in the last four years and I hope to have, in some way, helped to leave Bentley better than it was four years ago. Now, I’d like to make sure that I enjoy the remaining weeks of the semester and spend as much time with as many people as possible.

How are you feeling about graduation?

Nervous, excited, anxious…I think most of the same feelings that everyone reports. It’s often difficult close one chapter and similarly exciting to start a new one. I’m finding that I keep repeating the same words: “We’ll see what happens.”

Advice to seniors/ words of wisdom

I’m not sure I’m in a position to provide any sort of wisdom, but I plan to move forward with this in mind: Be confident and appreciative, but never complacent. Don’t underestimate your own self-worth or take for granted what you have, but try to be better tomorrow than today. Lastly, balance and love are the most important words in the English language. Of course, as noted, there’s always room for that idea and all ideas to be challenged.

What can Bentley do to help you with this year?

The only thing left that I can ask of Bentley is to serve as a facilitator for continued connection with my current classmates and friends. I hope to stay involved in some capacity and maintain some tie to Bentley.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned at Bentley ?

I’ve learned to continually challenge myself through being more open-minded to alternatives presented by other people and situations in life. I hope to never meet the day where I stop learning and growing. On a related note, I think I have also learned a bit more about what I deem to be one of the most important ideas in life, balance. Finally, they’re right when they say that four years go by fast.

By  Angela Hart

After an entire year of healthy advice, I am going to sum up my main points for you. Please keep these tips in mind this summer.

Drink lots of water.

Drink as much water as you can each day. Water is important to drink, in general, but during the summer, it is particularly important so that you won’t get dehydrated from the heat.

Go running, take walks and stay active.

One of my favorite things about spring and summer is that you can go for a walk or be active outside. Unlike winter, you have no excuse not to go for a short walk around the neighborhood.

Go to the gym, if you can.

If you plan on staying at Bentley, utilize the gym; if you are going home for the summer, look into local gym memberships. Planet Fitness and Work Out World (WOW) are both approximately $10 to $15 a month during their special promotions, which occur a few times a year. Latitude is about $45 a month. There are also drop in classes one can take at local Yoga studies, Pilates studios, Spin and Zumba classes and more for only about $8 to $15.

Wear sunscreen when you are in direct sunlight or outside.

If you read my last article, I hope you will remember to wear sunscreen when outside side. Invest $10 in a basic sunscreen product; it will be worth it!

Eat healthy! Be aware of what you’re eating.

It is perfectly fine to treat yourself, every once in a while. But, please don’t over indulge. Eat salads (spinach salads, which have minerals and vitamins), salmon (O-mega 3’s), energy bars, (LARA, Nutragrain bars, etc.), and try to pick up fruit as a snack (Apples, Bananas, etc.).

And, please, if you see a flight of stairs, don’t shy away from them; you do, after all, have to walk them again come fall.

Have a happy, safe and healthy summer.

By April Gammal

During the past three years, many faculty members and students have let me know that they look forward to reading my column and it is with you all in mind that I have been writing this column each week.

Thank you for sharing your concerns and problems with me during these years. It is my hope that you have found the words in this column both helpful, and on occasion even entertaining.

Many of the concerns that have been brought to my attention, which have been addressed in my columns, are issues that I have struggled with as well over the past four years. In the course of answering your concerns it has enabled me to better deal with these issues myself.

I was able to do this because it is easier to look at a situation from an objective third party, with emotions removed, and logic as the only way of rationalizing the situation. Never rush into a decision. Take the time to unwind and calm down. If you seek advice, step back from the situation. Determine how you would help a friend in your position and you may just find your own answer.

Seventy-two advice columns later, I leave you with this last piece of advice.

Sincerely,
April

By Nick Vasiliadis

The Senior Year Experience Committee

Name: Steve Delano
Graduation Year: 2007
Major: Managerial Econ
Current Employer and Job Title: Maine Pointe (a niche Boston-based consultancy), Supply Chain Consultant

How would you describe your college experience?

I would give it a near perfect 10. I kept a good balance of academics, social life and extracurricular activities (e.g. resident assistant). I can’t forget the best six months of my life – studying abroad in Australia!

Who was your favorite professor at Bentley? Why?

It could be any of a half-dozen professors, however Dr. Susan Adams (Management) did a terrific job of prepping students for expectations of the “real world.” For example, in her Consulting course, presenting your best solution was not enough – it needed to be accompanied by a risk-averse and an aggressive plan as well.

What do you miss most about your college days?

I miss having friends so close and having so many events being put on for you. It makes you appreciate all that Bentley does for its students.

How did Bentley prepare you for success?

It’s something many students cringe at the sound of, but GB 301 was the single most helpful course. It pushed most to their limits – working tirelessly within a team, across multiple business disciplines, and presenting to an actual company who needed our help.

Can you describe the transition from college student to young professional?

Just when you think you’ve learned all that you need to conquer the world, you find yourself learning an incredible amount from your employer and truly being on your own. It’s an exciting time of your life with enormous amounts of opportunity.

If you could experience college again, what would you do differently?

Never be shy and never waste a minute. Bentley is the ideal place and the time of your life to meet others, learn new things and try something you’ve never tried. The high cost of higher education can be justified if you do these things.

Tell us something about yourself that we don’t know.

I’m part of a team that has been contracted to optimize a transportation network of Canada’s largest oil company in the oil sands of Northern Alberta. It is an unbelievably eye-opening experience.

The Kardishian Kingdom to takeover Glendale, Cali!

A totally determined Kim Kardashian told her sister Khloe, on a special clip of “Khloe and Lamar”, that she’s going to run for mayor of Glendale.  Luckily it won’t be for another 5 years so the unfortunate residences have time to move.

Forget Online Dating, Sniff and Shag is the way to go!

Judith Prays the mastermind behind “Pheromone Parties” explains the simple steps. Singles are invited to the party. Before attending they must sleep in the same t shirt for three nights and then store it in a plastic bag in the freezer to maintain the scent. Then the person brings their shirt to the “get together” where the bags are marked with numbers and labeled with either pink or blue tape, depending on gender. Participants browse the shirts, take a few sniffs and then choose the one they find most appealing.  And that’s how they are paired. To think my dog had this down for years!

All Dogs go to Heaven…except pit bulls

In Nashville, a 4 year old pit bull, Prada, was declared dangerous and ordered to be put down after she attacked several other dogs. Thousands of people came to the dog’s rescue signing a petition to keep her alive. After the consideration the judge spared Prada from doggy death row. However the judge claimed that if it was Louis Vuitton he would have put that sucker down.

American’s de-citizenize themselves!
Last year, almost 1,800 people renounced their U.S. citizenship, all claiming that it was for tax reasons. At least we have a solution to the immigration problem.

The Nuge, an angry Coyote ready to chop off heads

Ted Nugent, musician, spoke at a National Rifle Association convention and said that “if Obama becomes the president in November again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year. We need to ride into that battle field and chop their heads off next year. Any questions?”
Yea, who the hell gave you the microphone?
He then went on to say “if the coyote’s in the living room pissing on your couch, it’s not his fault, it’s your fault for not shooting it.” After his speech, Nugent was shot while peeing behind the stage when he was mistaken for a coyote.

Live from New York, It Might Be Mitt We’re Not Really Sure Yet!

Mitt Romney is mulling over the invitation extended to him by Lorne Michaels to appear on Saturday Night Live this season. Romney says it will depend on whether or not the skit is funny. If he does not accept the invitation, SNL will have to settle for the next best thing: a cardboard cutout of Mitt Romney.
These places were only cool when they were founded
The top hipster cities were just released by Travel and Leisure. However, they are already looking for the next best places because these are now too mainstream.

Nipped Newt

Finally, Newt Gingrich was bitten on the finger by a penguin when visiting the Saint Louis Zoo last Friday. But he said afterwards that not even this will stop him from competing for second place in the Republican candidate race.

By April Gammal

Question: I have no idea why I do this, but I eat when I’m not hungry. I’ll do this especially around times when I’m stressed out. Can you tell me why I feel this way and how I can stop this bad habit?

This sounds like emotional eating to me. Sometimes when we are stressed we will turn to food for comfort and sometimes we do this unconsciously. This is because when we are stressed out, our cortisol levels will increase.

Cortisol is known as the stress hormone and creates cravings for salty and sweet foods.

Also, when we are stressed out we may seek support from our friends and get together and eat junk food and bond over what is making us stressed out. While it is helpful to talk about our stress and externalize it, it is certainly not helpful to overeat in the process.

Alright, so how can we fix this problem?

Reduce Your Stress

If stress is causing you to emotionally eat then getting rid of the stress may help. Easier said than done, I know. Try going to the gym when you are stressed out and channel all of your stress into a good work out. Also, you can try relaxing by doing some yoga or meditation.

Write Down What You Eat

If you keep a food diary of what you eat and how you feel when you eat then you’ll be able to see the patterns and hopefully be able to eliminate eating when you’re feeling a certain way.

Distract Yourself

If you are feeling stressed and don’t have anything to do besides study then try to do something else to take your mind off of eating. You can take a walk around campus, read, listen to some music, or just take a nap.

Get Rid of It

If you know you resort to junk food when you’re stressed out, then don’t buy any junk food at all. If it is not there then you can’t eat it.

Also, if you do have a moment where you emotionally eat then you’ll just have to forgive yourself. If you put your hands up in defeat then you will never get out of your habit. Lastly, if you feel as though you need something in your mouth then instead of eating, chew on a piece of gum. I hope that some of these will help you. Good luck.

By Zack Hoffman

Every time we look outside, walk around or sit down, we see the world as it really is. In its raw state, there is inherent beauty about nature, from the way the earth is shaped to the way our cities are built. What we see is what we get; these things are just there. Until now.

The god of all things information, Google, recently launched their newest Research and development initiative, Project Glass. A part of the Google Goggles concept, Glass is the next step in humanity’s desire for knowledge.

Goggles enables mobile phone users to use a camera to search the web. They can take photos of a building and the app will load the Wikipedia page, snap a part of a menu in a foreign language and have it instantly translated.

Similar to how Shazam made it possible to find music based on a short recording, Goggles allows one to find anything by simply seeing it. When it was first released in October 2010, the reception was overwhelming. Tourists no longer needed a book, campers could identify toxic plants, and shoppers could scan a barcode and then have a list of shops that sold that identical item for less.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art embraced the app to help visitors get the most out of their trips. In collaboration with Google, the Met adapted it to give self guided tours of exhibits. Patrons could now interact with the art, and learn far more than they otherwise could with a group guide.

Project Glass takes this convenience though to another level. In video games, users have what is known as a HUD, Heads Up Display, which gives the player information about their surroundings, objectives and their current situation. Google took this idea and made a set of futuristic looking prescription glasses. But instead of enhancing one’s ability to see, it gives the wearer information about everything around them.

As demoed in their video, which has been viewed over 13.5 million times, the glasses resemble the operating system of a phone, but one that is operated by your eyes and voice. When you look at the weather, the temperature and chance of rain pops up. If you receive a message, the text appears, and by simply speaking your response, your reply is sent.

The innovation doesn’t stop there. On his way to the subway station, Glass alerts the user of a delay and prompts him with walking directions that guide him step by step until he reaches his destination. Another scene shows the user taking a photo simply by touching the frame of the glasses. The video ends with him Skyping a friend and showing her the sunset that he is actually seeing.

The Internet, being the Internet, had parody videos of Project Glass within a day of its release, some with legitimate worries. One had the user running into everything that was in his path as he viewed his Facebook; another portrayed the awkward situation of being in a conversation and sending a reply that wasn’t intended for a recipient.

While the videos are comedic, they take away from the true potential behind Project Glass. The idea isn’t completely original; three years ago an MIT student demonstrated his Sixth Sense technology at a TED conference.

Using a pendant like device, one could project a computer screen on a wall, display messages on white paper and even check the timing of airplane flights using a boarding pass.

But Glass’ genius is in its simplicity. It isn’t attempting to take a phone and make it into a high-tech piece of eyewear. Instead, it takes the things that we use for convenience -texting, emails, reminders, directions and to an extent photos- and literally changes the way we look at them.

There are obvious problems with it, namely why do we need yet another piece of technology? But think about how much time you are on your phone. With Project Glass, you can stop looking down to find your way and start actually seeing what is going on around you.

By Moussa Hassoun

By Moussa Hassoun

We live in a very critical society. From the media to our parents and ourselves, we criticize every aspect of people’s lives. We criticize our presidents, family members, food, doctors, actions, beliefs, celebrities, athletes, academics, professionals and neighbors. We even criticize how many people a friend (or president) has slept with or the philosophical basis of some theologian from the 18th century (not at Bentley). The spectrum of topics put under the lens without a second thought is truly eye-catching. Religion always evades serious criticism on the larger scale despite its importance in our lives – we are a religious nation notwithstanding criticism from other more conservative circles – both privately and publicly. While I certainly understand the privacy one feels toward their faith, privacy is certainly not the reason we avoid criticizing it. If that were the case we wouldn’t judge people for their private actions in the bedroom. Imagine the relief government leaders, celebrities, and regular people who cheated and lied would feel if society just stopped criticizing those aspects of our lives. While I would completely support the abandonment of such judgment, realistically, it isn’t going away.Despite this, religious belief unjustifiably orders a deeper sense of respect. This baffles me as most people in the world never chose their religious system of belief. Greater than any other measure, religious belief can be most accurately paired with geographic location.In other words, location determines the faith of the majority of the people in the world. Of those who believe they’ve made the choice, societal (specifically family) pressure gives them no real choice. The comfort and convenience provided with believing in a faith that is mainstream in a society is immeasurable (No, confirmation isn’t a choice; it’s a tribal coming of age ceremony).Only a nearly-nonexistent minority actively makes their choice. Even without a choice, people still insist that religion cannot be criticized. Denunciation and intimidation quickly follow after one criticizes anyone of the thousands of “holy” books or leaders that claim the voice of some deity.If faith is a choice, as most contend, then why isn’t it appropriate to judge a person based on their decisions? If judgment can’t be passed on those grounds, then our entire legal system and the “justice” system of religion is defunct.To be clear, judgment is certainly passed. Atheists are the least trusted minority in the United States behind gays and Muslims. It is also no secret that the most outspoken atheists are quite judgmental of believers as well. The former seems to be widely accepted, yet the latter riles up the emotions of even the most irreligious Christian/Muslim/Jewish/Hindu/Buddhist frat boy. Why can’t the few criticize the masses that believe in books and stories that are thousands of years old, written by the illiterate for the even more illiterate, aimed at denouncing other books and stories that serve the same purpose?Is there nothing to discuss when the masses believe in the sanctity of the stories (whether literal or metaphorical) conjured up by people we rarely have records on and were written decades after their time, yet demand proper citation in Wikipedia?When is it appropriate to criticize religion? When its believers kill gays for breaking with teachings? Or when its leaders order the death of others? Or even when, in order to “modernize” their faith, followers ditch the majority of their religious teachings to work on Sundays, or not fast, or disrespect their parents, or refuse to be sold as a bride to repay a family debt.Of course that last one is a welcome change, as are many like it that have been ditched (at least in the U.S.). It emphasizes the diluted nature of 21st Century Faith and I hope that 22nd Century Faith will be stripped even more of its absurdity till nothing but pure human intellect is discovered as the basis of all our stories, judgments and systems of belief. We need to expand the discussion about religious belief and offense can’t be taken, and a higher respect can’t be claimed every time someone dares to declare: Faith in God is Faith in Human Creativity; that is exactly what it is, now let’s talk.

Presented by The Senior Year Experience Committee

What are you involved in at Bentley?

I’m the Events Coordinator for the Senior Class Cabinet, a member of Bentley Hillel (previously the Public Relations Chair), and Bentley Marketing Association and a sister of Alpha Phi (previously Director of Sisterhood and Director of Recruitment).

What are you looking forward to this year?

This last month and a half is stacked with fun events for the seniors. After just attending the Harbor Cruise with my class, I am so excited to spend days in the Bahamas with everyone! Of course I could not leave out the infamous Spring Day. Because it’ll be my last one (and I used to love Nelly back in the day) I know my friends and I will have a blast.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to work at a public relations/advertising agency either in Boston or New York City. I’ve been interning throughout my college career and know this path is right for me. Because I’m from the North Shore of Boston, and go to Bentley, I want to try another city. New York City is a media hub, and provides endless opportunities for what I want to do. I also want to travel as much as possible; I’m visiting Israel and Colombia this summer.

What is your favorite event on campus?

Greek Week! Every year all the recognized fraternities and sororities compete in a week long competition to determine the best. The week includes Greek Olympics, swim races, a scavenger hunt, penny wars, and tons more. I just hope its beautiful weather for it!

What are your goals for this year?

To stay in touch with everyone after graduation! I have made such great friends here and definitely will remain connected, even if it can only be through social media!

How are you feeling about graduation?

Many of my friends I would say are in denial, but when graduation rolls around I know I’ll be ready to move on. I have been thinking about my career for some time now and am looking forward to being completely independent.

What is your advice to seniors/words of wisdom?

Your life is what you make it. Have a blast these next weeks with your class and close friends. No need to be bogged down in stress or drama.

What can Bentley do to help you with this year?

I just was made aware of Bentley’s Young Alumni Association. The chair is trying to help students connect with alumni before they graduate. I would like to see this association create more events for emerging student leaders and graduating seniors.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned at Bentley?

Dr. Cook, or “Cookie” as we all call her, said it best: “Be yourselves – creative, funny, truthful, authentic. Rock the world.” Cookie was one of my favorite teachers at Bentley and inspires me to just be myself and go for it.

Entertainment more than ever is pushing across countless platforms. Music on the go has been around since portable cassette players (Remember when those existed? Of course not.) In the last decade, we were able to take videos and games with us too.

Now it’s just getting ridiculous. And by ridiculous I mean a level of awesomeness never before fathomed. The newest app is the podcast. It’s not really an app, but isn’t it cool to just say things are an app? No? Oh, OK, never mind.

While political podcasts are riveting, they have also found a dedicated niche audience in the comedy world. In a radio-type setting, comedians, actors and performers have found a new way to connect with their fans.

Three podcasts in particular have taken over the podcast comedy scene. Doug Loves Movies is hosted by comedian Doug Benson. Such guests have included Jon Hamm, Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Nick Swardson and various other celebrities who come together to talk of, you guessed it, their political views. No, just kidding, movies.

Adam Corrolla has also found a new outlet to let loose his voice. His self-titled podcast brings in stars to discuss their profession and some of the things happening in their lives. Corrolla brings with him an already deep audience and up and coming stars like Ben Schwartz and Paul F. Thompkins bring their own devoted audiences making the podcast that #1 iTunes downloaded podcast.

Maybe the most popular podcast among the comedy community is WTF with Marc Maron. The widely respected Maron is a standup comedian who enjoyed great success in the 90s and has rejuvenated his career on a platform that perfectly fits his conversational comedic style. Conan O’ Brien, Chris Rock, Amy Poehler, and Jimmy Fallon have graced the mic with Maron to make him one of the most popular figures in the podcast scene.

But, once again, that’s not all! There is a seemingly infinite amount of podcasts hosted by someone in the comedy scene. Nerdist has branched out into a variety of different shows. In the Nerdist family there entertainment shows like Comedy Bang Bang and improv4humans which features improvisational performers taking Twitter suggestions and creating scenes.

Nerdist also features two interview style podcasts similar to those of Maron and Corrolla. Making it with Riki Lindhome and the creatively titled The Nerdist interview celebrities and up and comers on what it takes to make it in the comedy and Hollywood worlds.

We now live in a time where there are countless types of entertainment that can be brought anywhere and can be controlled by a click. Podcasts, though not new, have begun to climb higher and higher in popularity in all aspects. It kind of makes you wonder where we are headed next. I already got it, 3D podcasts.

By April Gammal

By  Angela Hart

By Nick Vasiliadis

The Student Center is the heart of activity here at Bentley. Located conveniently in the middle of campus, no matter where your dorm is, the student center is seldom more than a stone’s throw away. Given the exceptions that you live on north campus or off campus somewhere – in which case nobody cares about you anyway – there’s a pretty good chance that you pass by or through the student center once each day at the very least.

The importance of the student center is paramount. Because it’s such an active, bustling location, it’s the first place anyone would look to advertise an event or to try and sell you something. Everyone’s seen the makeshift stations constructed out of tables which line the glass wall just outside of Seasons, otherwise known as the gauntlet. Walking by them and paying almost no attention is a daily occurrence; it’s just become a part of life at

Bentley after a few weeks. If there are posters on the wall or a phone in your hand, you can usually avoid eye contact altogether.

Although they’re generally easy to brush off, it’s hard to fight the twinge of guilt you feel after looking away when someone is trying desperately to get your attention. It’s in that moment when you suddenly realize that these people are your peers. Sure, we’ve all had plenty of practice ignoring people throughout or lives. It’s easy to walk by the ethnic gentleman in your local mall trying to shove a Metro PCS pamphlet down your turtle neck. It’s much harder, however, to knowingly avert your gaze from the cute girl in your stats class as she’s coaxing you into buying tickets to some event you didn’t know existed until she yelled it to you just now.

In one instance, you feel as though you have all the power in the encounter. Someone’s bothering you and it’s their problem if you’re rude. You’re entitled to your own serenity, and someone is taking that away from you for a moment and that’s not fair. I mean this is your day and you don’t need some schmuck bombarding you with crap, right? In the “real world,” you might saunter casually by a kiosk without a pause in your stride. “No sir, I already have a satellite phone with an unlimited plan and 26 different cases,” you remark haughtily as the vendor chases desperately after you as his gold chains clang violently against one another.

But sometimes it isn’t so easy. How exactly does one maintain their integrity when they shun Girlscouts trying to peddle their delicious little wares? How can you live with yourself after you’ve just stiff-armed a sorority girl who wants nothing more than to sell you tickets to the Fall Squall or the Summer Bummer? We can tell the guy who sells wallets to screw off easy enough, but not our fellow students or small children. No, we’re cut from a different cloth, and that cloth is most definitely not made of stolen leather.

Ultimately though, isn’t it kind of wrong that we don’t feel any obligation to those people selling wallets or flags or cell phone plans or subscriptions to the Boston Globe or whatever? I mean these people can be annoying sure, but this is their job. Girlscouts might be cute, but they aren’t feeding a family with those cookies. I mean by selling the damn cookies and using the money to buy real food—they definitely aren’t doing that. And what about all those students selling tickets to events? Why bother thinking up an excuse about how you forgot your wallet or you’ll come back later? Just say no and put them out of their misery. You don’t make excuses for anyone else.

What I’m saying isn’t necessarily that we should be nicer to people who are trying to sell us things on the street or in the mall. That would be great, but ultimately we just owe them the same basic level of respect we give to everyone else, fellow students and children included. If that means politely saying “no, thank you,” then that’s encouraged. If it means screaming in someone’s face and chucking their wares as far as you can throw them, that’s ok too. Just make sure to flip the tables and hurl the thin mints next time or you’re enabling a double standard.

Question: I was selected as a tribute from the CIS District for the 74th annual Falcon Games. Do you have any advice for me?

By April Gammal
Welcome, welcome to the 74th annual Falcon Games! To begin, you will be trained in the fine art of business strategy and planning. Your goal is to be the last business standing and in order to do this you will need to come up with an idea and strategy for a successful business. First and foremost you need to have no mercy, realize that alliances are temporary and you will either undercut your competition or be undercut.

The game makers are located in the Trading Room and will try to mess with you. Just when you think you’re doing well, they will tank your stock or send the economy into a recession and you will need to know how to respond. They are ruthless and cold-hearted and are not afraid to end your business in any moment. They are notorious for setting loose into the arena the soulless IRS auditors who will rip your books to shreds. Don’t try to resist, it will only make it worse.

The next three days before the games will be focused on various seminars. You only have a minimal amount of time, so focus your time on the following seminars: Smart-talking VCs into Investing in your Business, Tax Avoidance and Lies and Deception. You can forget about the seminar on Ethics and Social Responsibility – you don’t have time for that.

The top students, aka the Career Tributes usually band together so be aware of that. They are usually volunteers from Beta Gamma Sigma and the Falcon Society and have been training for this moment since they were freshmen and they are fierce. Business strategy and competition is all they know how to do. They form business partnerships initially but when competition gets too fierce they are not afraid to backstab each other. Whatever you do, do not strike any deals with them and avoid being a direct competitor in their industry. They will crush you before you open for business.

The ones you don’t need to worry about are the poor little freshman who get chosen, no matter their major. A few usually get chosen each year and their lack of knowledge leads them to typically come up with some absurd business idea which typically fails on the first day. Take for instance the freshman tribute from the mathematics district who thought Bentley students would actually buy customized fanny packs. Come on man, that is SO GB101 know your target market! Needless to say he didn’t last very long. Like I said, they will go under by themselves so don’t focus on them.

On the day of the games, you will each be lined up along various points on the Greenspace and the Cornucopia will sit in the very center. Flowing out from the Cornucopia are items you will need desperately such as bags of money, calculators, books of business ideas and strategy, the IRS code book, iPads, and most importantly there will be only a few VCs lounging in the very back waiting for an idea to invest in. One sure way to die is to approach a VC at the very beginning when you barely have an idea. If you are rejected by a VC, you’re dead, game over so you better have a solid idea before you approach them. But if you approach them too late and do not get funding you will also be gone from the game. It’s all about the timing.

As soon as the game begins grab as many things as you can from the Cornucopia and find a safe place to start formulating your business idea. People will steal your idea if you are not careful. They will come for you in the night. Once you secure funding and begin building your business you will need to heavily advertise your idea. If you are too ruthless and undercut people too much, you will not get business from the rest of the campus because they will not like you. Tread lightly. Suck up to those who will help you and pretend to work together if you can, but be on your guard. It won’t last long.

You need to play on your strengths. Since you are a CIS major, create a company where you can utilize your programing skills and create something that the other tributes will not be able to compete with.

You will be tired and hungry. You will experience exhaustion that you have never experienced before but it is worth bringing home the winning title. If you win everyone in your district will received a job or internship offer in that year. You cannot afford to lose this for them or yourself, especially in this job market.

Good luck, and may the net profit be ever in your favor.

By Moussa Hassoun

Kony 2012 is an exceptional awareness campaign and Invisible Children is a decent, though not perfect, organization. Despite this, there has been a troubling trend since the campaign gained significant traction to counter it. People seem to be mad and are building arguments against the organization and its campaign. Let’s walk through a few of them.

Kony2012 is misleading because it oversimplifies the facts; Kony isn’t even in Uganda and it perceives Africa as the war-ravaged continent it isn’t.

Yes, the campaign does oversimplify the nature of the conflict. Kony isn’t in Uganda anymore and his LRA is now an empty shell of what it used to be; the directors admit this openly. However, that doesn’t detract from the truly noble cause that this group is trying to highlight.

Had the video been saturated by traditional means of NGO awareness, it’s unlikely it would have been successful. The sad fact is, the majority of people don’t care to think of the troubles in Central Africa. The Kony 2012 film seeks to present the conflict with a simple good vs. bad story to catch your attention.

Kony 2012 is just another white man trying to fix Africa. People can’t just march in and try to change things.

Agreed. This is an effort to raise attention about Joseph Kony, the most wanted man on the ICC’s list for crimes against humanity. However, Invisible Children didn’t just start their campaign, they have been invested in the region for around 6 years.

They’ve publicly denounced LRA attacks throughout the Central African region. They’ve built a school and helped establish an early warning radio system to provide high quality information of LRA attacks. They also aid in post-conflict assistance for LRA affected regions. Furthermore, the overwhelming majority of the ground workers in Uganda are local leaders and activists, not White Evangelical Christians absorbed in the Savior Complex.

Kony 2012 uses a white child when they should be putting more emphasis on the stories of the children soldiers. The story doesn’t spend enough time detailing the African suffering; even Ugandans hate it.

It is no lie that at a Ugandan screening of the film, the crowd was very angry because they believe the movie doesn’t spend enough time detailing their struggles.

Although it did include a local story, I’d agree that greater emphasis on their plight and history is important, however let’s consider who the movie is for: the 1st world. How does one best relate to such a crowd? By bringing in someone they can more easily relate to, to pull at the heartstrings of the viewer: enter Mr. Russell’s son.

This young, blonde, white child showed cuteness and innocence viewers have seen. Strong emotions arise when we have to teach kids such horrible stories. This is the catch and intent of the child.

Kony 2012 doesn’t put enough emphasis on the statistics and real numbers to explain the scope of the problem.

The video does include some basic numbers that, in themselves are rather misleading; however the overwhelming majority of the video is dedicated to story lines. Nonprofit 101 starts with an emphasis away from numbers and towards stories.

When studied by scientists, numbers are far less effective at gaining donations and catching people’s interests because the numbers are bare – there is no human connection. With story lines, this campaign focuses its attention on pulling on emotions to gain activists to its call to action.

Other concerns surround their financials when all their documents can be found online and, as the Nonprofit Society can inform you, people can make decent amounts of money working for NGOs and so Mr. Russell’s earnings shouldn’t be a concern.

The fact that I’m even writing this is a testament to the effectiveness of Kony 2012 awareness campaign. Invisible Children moved away from idealism and worked with reality. It made a video that appeals to comfortable young ignorant people that don’t care for conflicts in Africa, to mobilize for a cause. It seems that opponents would prefer that millions of people had never known of Kony, for which I must ask, who is the greater danger, Kony 2012 or its opponents?

By  Angela Hart

Working out can feel tedious or boring. When you are on the treadmill or on any machine, for that matter, you need something to keep you entertained. Some gyms have four or five TVs with different stations to choose from, such as Planet Fitness, while others, such as Latitude, have individual televisions allowing you to select your channel. The people who work out longer are usually not focusing just on the machine or the workout, but are being entertained by a show or are reading a magazine.

Personally, while I’m at the gym, I use my iPhone all the time. I’ve made it through several television shows watching Netflix’s instant que; Malcolm in the Middle, Glee, Drop Dead Diva and a few others. Watching a 20-minute show, such as Malcolm in the Middle, allows me to plan my workout accordingly. I’ll do 20 minutes on three different machines, a new episode for each machine. I can keep track of my time and ensure that I get some variety, without counting the seconds left to complete.

If you use the Stairmaster, try bringing a magazine. It keeps you entertained and busy while allowing you to maintain a certain level or pace. You can “kill two birds with one stone” – work out and learn something.

Personally, I can’t read a book while working out; I can’t concentrate and eventually lose my place. If you can concentrate and maintain your workout, pick the most interesting book you can find. Then you will be motivated to work out to read the ending.

Also, a lot of people bring their iPads to the gym. Download a new application, do some work, watch something entertaining, read for fun or entertainment, and a variety of other options that the iPad offers. If you have an iPad use it. If you have an iPhone or iPad download an application to keep track of your calories for the day (Counter Plus, Calorie Count, Calorie King), keep track of your workout (Run Coach, My Fitness Pal, Fitness Free,) and overall healthy ideas (Everyday Health).

Then, while doing your free weights, listen to your iPod! Some of my favorite songs to listen to include (in no particular order):

1. Sexy and I know It by LMFAO
2. Eenie Meenie by Justin Bieber Featuring Sean Kingston
3.  Right Round by Flo Rida
4. Georgia Peaches by Lauren Alaina
5.  All the Small Things by Blink-182
6.  Dream On by Aerosmith
7. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
8. Here for the Party by Gretchin Wilson
9. Wildflower by The JaneDear Girls
10. Leave Me Alone by Pink
11. Breakfeast at Tiffany’s by Deep Blue Something
12. Beautiful Liar by Shakira and Beyonce
13. Turn on the Radio by Reba McEntire
14. Rockstar 101 by Rhianna featuring Slash
15. Follow You Down by Gin Blossoms
16. Mr. Brightside by The Killers
17. Dirty Dancer by Enrique Iglesias Featuring Usher
18. Kissed you Goodnight by Gloriana
19. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by the Eurhythmics
20. Hell Yeah by Montgomery Gentry
21. Never Let You Go by Third Eye Blind
22. D.J’s Got Us Falling in Love Again by Usher featuring Pitbull
23. So What by Pink
24. Crushcrushcrush by Paramore
25. Tik Tok by Ke$ha

Presented by the Bentley Republicans & Bentley Democrats

It has being two years since President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, dubbed “Obamacare” by its critics, into law. The act was intended to accomplish three goals: Provide patients with more choice regarding healthcare providers, check some of the most abusive health insurance companies’ policies and lower healthcare spending in the long run through more efficient patient care. The advantages that the new law provides are numerous.

Prior to the passage of the law, health care companies had a tremendous influence on a patient’s ability to choose healthcare providers, afford preventive care or continue long-term care for expensive chronic conditions such as cancer and diabetes. Health insurance companies used a variety of methods to avoid having to pay for these treatments. Some methods used among many were annual/lifetime caps on coverage, exclusion of pre-existing conditions from coverage and patient copays/deductibles.

An insurance company could classify any health condition it wanted as a preexisting condition and structure the new policy so that the disease would be excluded from coverage. Patients undergoing costly treatment, such as chemotherapy, and have reached their lifetime coverage cap could be denied coverage for the remaining treatment length at a time when the insurer services are most desperately needed.

Furthermore, health insurance companies charged deductibles for preventive services such as cancer screenings, which can bar lower-income families from seeking care. Under the new law, these practices would be regulated. Annual/lifetime caps were eliminated, denial of coverage based on pre-existing conditons were barred, and co-pays for preventive services were forbidden, ensuring that patients can get the care they need without having to struggle with their insurer.

The new law also provides greater flexibility to patients. Starting in 2014, patients would be able to choose a health plan from state-run, federally regulated, online exchanges that fit their needs and budget.

All current Republican presidential candidates have promised to repeal “Obamacare” if elected, claiming it is too costly and a “jobs-killer.” Although the new law is not perfect, the extreme act of scrapping the law altogether is not viable. Rather, the law can be improved, for example, by tying compensation with quality of care provided. Rather than working against Obama, the GOP candidates should be working to seek to improve the law within its current framework.

By Moussa Hassoun

President Barack Obama’s promise for greater transparency and open government seems to have failed. Built to differentiate his administration from his predecessor’s, Obama made some strong promises like televising the healthcare negotiations and opening up White House contacts with lobbyists.

Watchdog groups like the Center for Public Integrity have been calling out the White House on failing to meet its promises. As we all know, the recordings on C-Span of the healthcare negotiations never happened and a significant portion of the administrations work has been hidden.

By its own numbers, the Center calculates around one percent of all meetings with the President during the first eight months of his administration were made public. The Administration is even considered worse when petitioned for information by the Freedom of Information Act.

Judicial Watch has filed 45 lawsuits against the government for the difficulty in receiving information and made 325 different requests for information. Some requests, unrelated to Judicial Watch, have been pushed off since they were made in 2005.

In fact, watchdog groups have begun to describe this administration as worse than the Bush Administration. Frustration with the constant barriers has made accountability almost impossible and resulted in lower ratings on the scale.

Some examples of worse transparency begin with the administration’s “unprecedented wave of prosecutions of whistleblowers and alleged leakers.” The Justice Department is even trying to force a New York Times Reporter to identify his direct confidential source used in a story.

For those weary to take a stance, confidentiality in this case brings about transparency when whistleblowers know they can safely report abuses.

Departments have also begun increasing their fees for their requests, and creating entirely new ones.

Transparency is so blurry that even left leaning organizations like the Center for Responsibility for Ethics in Washington, which tend to attack Republicans over Democrats, have had to concede “The policies for disclosure are in place, but the applications of the policies do not exist.”

By his own words, Barack Obama writes on the Whitehouse.gov website “Government should be transparent. Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing.”

He carries on the write about enhancing public engagement, and making information readily available to the public since the information that the Federal Government holds is a national asset.

Unfortunately, his actions and words seem to have split at the fork in the road. The Administration needs to follow through with Barack Obama’s promise to create a more transparent government.

Barriers to information need to be reduced and can be, most immediately by getting rid of unnecessary and unfair fees. “Czars” should also be subject to strict regulations and treated more like Department heads that must disclose certain information.

The call of national security-sensitive information needs not be made so often otherwise it loses its weight. During times where bomb plots are a constant threat, overusing such excuses is deadly.

In their effort to protect the country, they will simultaneously destroy our freedom to information and right of governmental accountability. Let’s stop going down this path and demand our government act appropriately by releasing petitioned information.

Furthermore, let us remove barriers and provide more protections to whistleblowers that are reporting abuses by the government and let’s not try to reveal the confidential sources that the media uses to publicize government information.

How can we demand other governments such as Syria, Egypt and Iran free up their media and avoid prosecuting whistleblowers and activists when our government seeks the same end but by more humane means?

How can we stand by enforcing whistleblower protection and accountability laws on the private sector and not expect our government, the largest most powerful collective body in the world’s history, to properly list who visits the President?
Although not near the grotesque levels of Syria, Egypt and Iran, hypocrisy is never a strong suit of any nation, and we are no exception. Demanding conditions on others while maintaining our own standards for government only promote unfairness, and ultimately a worse society.
Obama subtitles his Memorandum with: Government should be transparent. Government should be participatory. Government should be collaborative. Indeed they should be Mr. President.

By The Senior Year Experience Committee

What made you decide to attend Bentley?

The small, community-like feeling on campus paired with a “real-world” business education.

Who positively influenced you while you were at Bentley (a professor, a staff person, a friend)?

Professor Gheer, a history professor – he exemplified passion in life and work and genuinely believed in me. He went beyond his job as a professor; he personally gave me the confidence to achieve anything I wanted (he would even come to my lacrosse games to offer his support!)

Did you have a favorite spot to study on campus?

Yes, an empty classroom in Smith.

How has your career developed since graduation day?

Working in both finance and accounting, from a software company (where I held my college internship) to BCG, a management consulting firm, I have been fortunate enough to have exposure to many different things, allowing me to continue to grow into roles with increasing responsibility.

Do you have any advice for Bentley’s current students?

Don’t take Bentley for granted. Take advantage of the resources the school has to offer.

How do you stay connected to the university?

Volunteering for and attending alumni events, but mostly through the women’s lacrosse team (I love coming back to support at games!)

As an alumna, what makes you most proud of Bentley today?

The reputation and value that my degree holds.

By Mike Lovett

Question: So I went to Skellig for the first time on Thursday. Guys are coming up and grabbing me because they want to dance. When I say no they look at me like I just slapped them across the face. What is proper club/bar etiquette and were they out of line?

If April isn’t the best person to answer this question, then I am your absolute worst nightmare. But I, too, shall don my advisory cap and give it a shot.

Were they out of line? Absolutely. In all honesty there is only one place where that type of behavior is generally accepted and you need to be 18 years or older to witness it. Its short hand is also three X’s. Hopefully you have caught my drift.

In the real world, however, these are people who are living actual lives and need to be treated as such. So gentlemen, talking to a woman you would like to dance with is typically a good start because when doing so you could actually get to know who they are as people. What an incredibly novel idea!

Surprisingly dancing with you is not your God given right. It is a privilege that must be earned. Normally this is done with a statement ending with an upward vocal inflection. For your sake I’ll call it a question. “Would you like to dance?” It’s only five words and still fewer syllables than sexual harassment so it’s a double win.

Unfortunately there is no book or “how to” guide on conducting yourself properly in a bar. Or maybe there is I don’t know. If so it would tell you to not become so drunk that you turn into a belligerent jack clown.

Let’s all say this one together: mod-er-a-tion. If you decide to drink, one or two will do, besides anymore will scientifically put you at a point of poor judgment which is what we are trying to avoid. A few drinks calms the nerves sufficiently and keeps the question of “Who is that idiot dancing terribly to Sexy and I Know It?” out of everyone’s heads. Another double win!

Sometimes though even a little bit of liquid courage isn’t enough to get the job done. In this case I recommend a wingman, a profession as old as time or at least fighter planes. Ideally, you want your wingman to be the voice of reason to keep you out of the terrible situations you are trying to avoid, like trying to dance with a girl by just grabbing her.

I think we can all agree that the point of going out is to have fun. Meeting someone is an additional bonus, but one that should not be forced. If this article wasn’t a help let the question guide you. If a girl looks at you in horror be aware that you are doing something wrong.

Question: So I went to Skellig for the first time on Thursday. Guys are coming up and grabbing me because they want to dance. When I say no they look at me like I just slapped them across the face. What is proper club/bar etiquette and were they out of line?

I can’t say I’m the best person to answer this question, but I can try. =)

The short answer to the second part of your question is one word: Yes. No one ever has the right to put their hands on you without your stamp of approval and I will address that more as you keep reading. Here are my top tips on club/bar etiquette.

Tip Number 1: Know your limits! You don’t want to be that person stumbling around the bar, grabbing onto other people to hold yourself up. Keep in mind that you can always have fun without alcohol….shocker, right? It takes a little while for your body to process that shot you just took. So give yourself some time before you down more drinks than your body can handle.

Tip Number 2: Stick together. Stay with your group of friends and don’t wander off. Your friends will just be pushing through crowds of people in order to try and find you…or they will be if they are good friends. That’s just no fun for anyone involved.

Tip Number 3: Dress appropriately. You can still look good and keep the goods to yourself, if you know what I mean. Here is a great test to figure out if you are appropriately dressed ladies. Stand in front of the mirror and….bend over. If your chest falls out of your shirt…it’s a problem. If your bum pops out from the bottom of your skirt…it’s a problem. This also goes back to your second question. If you dress this way then men just might get the wrong idea and since you just look so inviting then maybe they just can’t resist. (I’m not excusing their actions in any way, though). My grandmother always says, “These kids these days, they just don’t leave anything to the imagination.” So, listen to grandma and leave room for some imagination.

Tip Number 4: Be prepared. Have you ever played dodge ball in school? This is the same idea. Instead of people purposefully chucking balls at your face, they are aimlessly flinging their hands around and you may just get smacked in the face or get covered in a lovely red mixed drink.

Tip Number 5: Bring your savior: This is generally for the ladies. This is the person, guy or girl, who saves you from some guy who is trying to dance with you and you don’t want to or they won’t stop talking to you. This person is essential to have with you. Do not leave the house without them.

Tip Number 6: Ask, ask, ask! If you see someone who you want to dance with, go ask them! Never just go grab them and start dancing with them and expect them to be okay with it. They’ll just think you’re a creeper, so don’t do it.

Tip Number 7: Dance, dance, dance! If you’re on the dance floor do NOT just stand there and not move. If you’re on the dance floor you should be dancing. It’s not rocket science. It’s crowded enough. If you don’t want to dance then please escort yourself off the dance floor and make room for those of us who need the space to dance.
I hope this helps. Enjoy the night!

By Nick Vasiliadis

By April Gammal

Question: I can’t seem to concentrate on my work, and I know I’m getting plenty of sleep. Is there anything that can help me focus?

As college students, we seem to divide our time among going to class, studying, sports and clubs but fail to focus on what we put in our bodies. While sleep will certainly help you concentrate and focus in class, it is not the only thing that will help you.

Did you know that there are foods that can help you think better? Many different foods will provide the nutrients, minerals or antioxidants that will help with thinking, concentration and brain functionality. There are five important foods that you should keep in mind when choosing what to eat.

I’m sure your parents always made you eat your vegetables when you were younger, not because they enjoyed seeing your tiny face scrunch up when you plopped a carrot into your mouth, but because they know they are healthy for you. Vegetables are important because they contain high concentrations of the nutrient choline. Choline is a precursor molecule to acetylcholine; basically it is a brain chemical involved in memory. A lack of this nutrient will make it harder for you to memorize vocabulary words as you’re taking your next exam. Vegetables that are high in this nutrient are cauliflower, mushrooms, broccoli and peppers.

Instead of grabbing a glass of soda, go for the water instead. Not enough water can lead to headaches and a lack of focus.

While all fruits are very healthy for you, blueberries are loaded with antioxidants and seem to be the best for supporting brain functionality and battling memory loss.

Most people try to eliminate fats from their diet and try to get fat-free foods. There are such things as good fats! Omega-3s are the good fats. They can help with mental health and can be found in fish such as salmon.

A great snack to take on the go is nuts and seeds, which are rich in protein and critical fatty acids that keep your mind healthy.

Keep in mind that foods that will reduce brain concentration are alcohol, saturated fats, hydrogenated vegetable oils (try to get foods that say zero grams of trans fats), alcohol, processed sugar, salt and did I mention alcohol?

Also, if you’re someone who can’t resist the sweets, it’s ok because dark chocolate is proven to be good for you.