The Vanguard » Op-Ed

Welcome Bentley University Class of 2016

gavanguard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:47 +0000

Dear incoming freshman,

Welcome to Bentley! Although your next four years are going to be filled with classes, group projects, and a lot of homework, there are still many things to look forward to in your time here. The next four years are some of the best years of your life, so make the most out of them.

First, a note about General Business (GB) classes. Don’t worry, the three classes above you have ironed out the wrinkles in the GB curriculum, so it’s not going to be as bad as it was in the past. That being said, good luck.

But now for the fun stuff. Most notably are the events that Campus Activity Board (CAB) (along with other organizations such as Class Cabinet) put on throughout the year. Some of the big ones include the Halloween dance, comedy shows, and Spring Day (spring concert with a lot of free food and fun activities). You’ve missed artists and comedians like Donald Glover, Bo Burnham, Nelly, Ludacris, and Lupe Fiasco, but there are still more of these events to come.

The Halloween dance this past year was a night club run by GrooveBoston. Hopefully the same happens this fall. Our comedy shows are always a big hit, with big names coming on to campus (most recently Jeff Ross and Anthony Jeselnik). You can all look forward to one of these each semester. And lastly, Spring Day is held on the last weekend before finals in the spring, which is a great day to have fun with your friends and relax before the stress of finals hits you. This day always ends with a great concert.

Other than these major events, CAB and our other 100+ organization hold events pretty much every week. You can go enjoy anything from food from around the world to fighting cancer at Relay for Life. Anything that has “Sponsored by your SAF” (SAF is the Student Activity Fee we all pay) is probably worth going.

There are also plenty of opportunities to go into Boston. Going to Red Sox, Celtics, or Bruins games (with discounted tickets sold by CAB) is always fun, as well as walking around Newbury Street and the North End. It’s all just a short shuttle ride away.

Other than these events, there’s always the green space. When it’s nice outside, there’s nothing better than hanging out on the green space, getting a little sun burnt, and enjoying your time with your friends. This is especially nice in the spring, once we all come out of hibernation from the winter.

So you’re just starting your collegiate careers. Take this time to enjoy life for the last four years before you enter “the real world.” You still need to focus on your education, but don’t forget that you still can (and need to) have fun. So once again, welcome to Bentley and we hope you enjoy your stay.

Scratching the Surface: The Final Run

gavanguard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:46 +0000

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.

Senior Spotlight

gavanguard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:40 +0000

Presented by The Senior Year Experience Committee

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.

Healthy Hart: Summer Hints

gavanguard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:39 +0000

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.

Notes from Abroad – Buenos Aires, Argentina

gavanguard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:36 +0000

Question: “What will you miss most about being abroad?”

By Danny Wong

Being in Argentina for the last two months has really changed my life. I certainly don’t say that lightly either. While it’s awesome to tell people I’m actually living in Latin America, the thing I’ll certainly miss the most are the casual bus rides around town. While public transportation is arguably better in my home, NYC, there’s something incredibly charming about these black-smoke fuming vehicles that have number-one priority on the roads, are

privately owned by tens of different bus companies with an overwhelming number of lines.

Within seconds of opening their doors, you’re inside in a hot mess with other commuters, and before you can even look back the doors are already closed. There’s no worry about if you’re “behind the yellow line,” nor are there limits to how many people they’ll pack on the bus. During rush hours, the buses get crowded pretty quickly, but people aren’t bothered by the anonymous hands, legs or purses brushing past their bodies. Not all Americans are comfortable with this loss of personal space, but from a local’s perspective, everyone’s just trying to get to their destination as quickly and affordably as possible. Getting off is often an interesting journey, nudging past porteños (Argentines), trying to politely and articulately say, “Permiso (excuse me).” But when those doors open, you have to make sure you’re out as soon as possible, or the driver will just keep going.

The drivers drive with a sense of urgency and have almost a “no nonsense” approach to their work. They’re hard-working, genuine people that do their job with dignity and are pretty awesome because they absolutely own the road, often forcing pedestrians to get out of their way. There’s no such thing as an arrogant pedestrian that’ll walk slower in front of a moving “colectivo (bus)” either.

Notes from Abroad – Thessaloniki, Greece

gavanguard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:33 +0000

Question: “What will you miss most about being abroad?”

By Danica DeVito

I will miss the new friends I have made while here in Greece. I enjoyed meeting all of the Greek students and learning more about their culture from them, while also teaching them about the United States.

Conversing with them every day made it easier to pick up the language and communicate with Greek people at stores and restaurants.

Even though I may not ever see my Greek friends again after coming home, I am grateful for the time I spent getting to know them and plan on keeping in touch.

Also, the people I will miss even more are my new friends I made from the U.S., who were in my study abroad program. There are 48 of us from all parts of the country, and most of us came here without knowing a single other person.

After living and going to school with them every day for four months, it will be very difficult to say goodbye at the end of the semester. I also plan on keeping in touch with them and hopefully even meeting up with those who live close by.

If I had not studied abroad in Greece, I would not have had the opportunity to meet and form strong relationships with all of these people. They each helped make my study abroad experience memorable, and I will miss them all.

April’s Advice

gavanguard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:27 +0000

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

Notes from Abroad – Manchester, England

gavanguard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:16 +0000

Question: “What will you miss most about being abroad?”

By Lauren Davis

What I will miss the most are my flat-mates! From the very start, they have been so kind and welcoming. I remember the day I moved in; I arrived to my flat at about 7 a.m. I was unaware that anyone was in the flat, as I assumed I would be the first to arrive.

I didn’t know that students who were attending the university year-round were living in my flat; I thought I would be placed with all study abroad students. So there I was, bright and early, practically throwing my fifty pound suitcases down the stairs, unaware that people were sleeping.

Once I was down to my room, a boy in a bathrobe came to my door, rubbing his eyes out of exhaustion. I was not only shocked to see someone standing there, but I was shocked that he was a boy. I had also expected to be in a single-sex flat. After he introduced himself as Cormac, he went back to bed. Over the course of the semester, Cormac became one of my best friends.

I met the rest of my flat-mates over the first few days after my arrival. A couple of them were from Singapore, one from Japan, a few from England, and one from Italy. We were quite the diverse bunch! Half of us were study abroad students, and the rest were full year. However, regardless of the amount of time we had been in England, we all got along like we had been friends for years.

Throughout the semester, we all spent time chatting in the kitchen, when we were passing by in the bathroom, and especially when we were outside of the flat when the fire alarms went off!

The fire alarms in the flats are extremely sensitive. Cormac was known for setting the alarm off in the kitchen as he frequently left his food on the stove unattended. Unfortunately, I became known for setting it off in my room when blow drying my hair without opening the door and the window. Setting the alarms off became the little inside joke for the flat. I can hear my flat-mates asking, “who set it off this time?!”

It will be the silly things like that that I will miss most. The little conversations and the laughs with my flat-mates truly made this experience worthwhile.

Notes from Abroad – Melbourne, Australia

gavanguard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:12 +0000

Question: “What will you miss most about being abroad?”

By Jeremy Koufakis

There are two things that I will really miss about being abroad. The first one is that I will really miss hanging out with Australians. Australians are typically laid back, full of national pride and love their sports. Being laid back means they are genuinely friendly, helpful, like to have fun and don’t take themselves too seriously.

You are always in a good mood when you hang out with them. In the Australian culture, you can tell if an Australian likes you when they joke around/make fun of you. So if they make fun of you because you’re from the United States and talk about how Australia is so much better, it actually show that they like you. I love sports and throughout Australia and especially in Melbourne, Australia they are not shy about what teams they support. They do follow American sports, mainly NFL and NBA but in Melbourne they love their AFL (Australian Football League). The first month I was here, my Australian friends would get into several arguments about what AFL team I should support. Sports are so big in Australia that the day The Melbourne Cup horse race in Melbourne is held is a public holiday and marketed as “the race that stops a nation.”

The other thing I will miss about being abroad is having so much freedom with little responsibility. When you’re still in college, you’re not married and don’t have a full time job yet so basically when you’re not in class you can do whenever you want. This is why when you’re abroad you have the unique opportunity to live in another country and travel with little to worry about. This is why I loved studying abroad and if you ever have the opportunity to study abroad, make sure you do it.

Briefcase Banter: Cat/Dog

gavanguard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:11 +0000

By Nick Vasiliadis

As of late I’ve been led to believe that there are two kinds of people in this world: Dog people and cat people. You might think that this isn’t an accurate way to categorize people, and that human beings are far too complicated to be placed into one of two categories based solely on what kinds of animal companions they prefer. If that’s what you’re thinking, then congratulations; you’re obviously a cat person. Welcome to the club; I’m a cat person, too. You probably enjoy things like solidarity, cynicism and intellectually stimulating discussions that ultimately lead nowhere. The wonders of being a cat person aren’t limited to these traits, however.

Cat people enjoy being right about things. But more often than that, cat people enjoy when other people are wrong about things and it’s easy for us to point out. The pleasure increases tenfold when it’s obvious to us that you’re also a dog person. If you’re a dog person, it’s clear that you haven’t put all that much thought into your stances on “the important issues.” You were probably too busy drowning yourself in Cheetos and watching The

Daily Show to bother actually deciding for yourself what you think about things. See, that’s a typical cat person insult. Yeah, we’re a bunch of dicks.

Dog people function quite differently than cat people. If you have a lot of friends you like to hang out with, but you don’t actually know what their interests are outside of sports and drinking heavily, it’s likely that you’re a dog person. In fact, if you have a lot of friends at all, it’s likely you’re a dog person. If you’re the first one to start dancing at a party comprised entirely of brooding Brooklyn hipsters, you’re definitely a dog person. The bad news in that situation is that each and every one of those hipsters is a cat person, and they’re mentally pouncing on you between each sip of PBR.

Although I am, admittedly, a cat person, I’ll do my best to objectively describe dog people. From what I can tell, dog people enjoy enjoying things. Dog people aren’t concerned so much with analyzing what it means to have a good time and whether or not where you are and what you’re currently doing fits the criteria. Dog people are simply content just being. Dog people are generally friendly and inviting, but they have this way of making you feel like you’re not in on the joke. Maybe it’s just because cat people don’t get it. If you’re the only guy at the rugby party wondering why everyone is still wearing their dirt-caked game shorts, you’re probably a cat person.

It’s best to just let it go unanswered.

One thing most cat people won’t tell you is that we cat people both envy and loathe our canine counterparts. In a way, we wish we could be as blissfully ignorant as dog people. But in the end, we’re glad to be our neurotic, ego-inflated selves. We hate dog people for mudding up our nice clean carpets, and we can’t stand how they pretend to be so sorry afterwards. I mean it’s not like they didn’t know what they were doing. That’s the hand-crafted Persian rug I got while studying abroad in Tehran! I mean how could someone be so dense?

But that’s just it; dog people aren’t interested in the finer things in life. They’re perfectly content merely chasing cars and hoping one stops at a red light for long enough that they can feel some sense of accomplishment.

They’d be overjoyed if someone took out the trash for them or bought them ice cream for no apparent reason. We cat people could mostly care less. What we lack in happiness we make up for in indifference, however. When some serious shit goes down, we’re just going to brush it off. Unlike dog people, we formidable felines aren’t so easily derailed. Forget that; I’m a cat, we’ll say. I have better things to do than dwell on this crap.

Ultimately, what I think I’m trying to say is that it’s almost summer, and I really need the time off to think of some better ideas. Isn’t it exciting that another year is nearly finished? I mean if you’re a senior, I’m sure that in some ways graduation is a terrifying prospect. But I’m going to be highly unemployed in exactly one year from now too, so I’ll laugh at you all while I still can. Whether you love chasing cars or you fancy catching mice,

summer is nearly here so there’s plenty of time ahead to do all the hunting and hounding you please. Have fun everybody, and see you next year!

Senior Farewells

gavanguard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Writing a goodbye is never easy or pleasant, and this farewell will be no exception. Upon reflecting on this past year, one semester as Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper and one semester as a free spirit, I cannot help but notice how amazing both experiences were. Bentley has given me the opportunity to become any self of mine that I choose. With the plethora of options in student organizations to the laid back attitude of the herds of students on the Greenspace on a beautiful day, this university is exactly the college experience I wanted.

Like every other senior that is graduating in less than a month, I have been bombarded by family, friends, and other students about my feelings regarding leaving Bentley. How can I sum that experience up in a few short sentences? Being at Bentley has been my second home in every aspect. My friends have become my siblings in terms of companionship and annoyance. Seasons was my kitchen, and yes I am one of the few people that will forever sing Seasons’ praises. Some of the professors I have had these past four years have been mentors to me in an almost parenting way and given me wisdom that I will carry forever. This departure is like moving homes when you are a kid and made your life in one town for so long, and that is a tough pill to swallow.

Even as I write this farewell, one of my facilities friends asks me about my feelings on leaving. I will miss every face that I have seen on a regular basis these past four years. Being a part of this stressful, exciting culture has made me a part of something so much bigger and more important than myself, and that experience has been extremely humbling and rewarding. Knowing that I will not have a community quite like Bentley again, brings sorrow to my heart. Being able to call on so many people and have reactions in a moment’s notice and a quick walk across campus will be something to remember of my college years.

But I cannot dwell on the sorrows of saying goodbye because I have become exactly the person I want to be here at Bentley, and I don’t believe looking back I could have become a more truer version of myself than I have here. Of course it is competitive and exhausting at Bentley…hanging out with all Type A personalities does have its drawback! But it has pushed me to limits that I could have never envisioned before I came here. I have been pushed to my absolute brink some semesters and that’s a hard thing to deal with when you’ve never known such a struggle. But that is what college is, a collection of very bads, bads, goods, amazings and mind blowings. You take the good with the bad, and you learn to let live.

If I were to do it all over again, the one thing I would change is how fast I ran out of my discretionary every semester. Curse you, faux Starbucks! But seriously, I know I’ve cursed Bentley’s name in the past for pushing me to such mental extremes but I could not have imagined a better college experience than I have gotten here in Waltham. Thank you to everyone I became so close with in The Vanguard, on the rugby team, at the Info Desk, in the Service Learning center and all those who just made my day every day in passing. Even if you feel like you don’t make a difference some days at Bentley, know that you do make someone’s day with a passing smile so be kind and enjoy these four years with a smile on your face, because it will go by in the blink of an eye. Goodbye, Bentley…these four years were one for the books.

- Leslie Dias, Class of 2012

Alumni Experience

gavanguard — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:51 +0000

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.

E-Board Entertainment Update

gavanguard — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:45 +0000

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.

April’s Advice

gavanguard — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:26 +0000

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.

Mend Student Leader Elections

gavanguard — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:22 +0000

First of all, The Vanguard would like to congratulate all those who won their respective student leader election race last week. That being said, this editorial is not about the candidates, but the election process itself. The process is flawed, and takes away from the main point of elections: Picking the candidate who is best for the position. This is not a new problem, but is still one that needs to be addressed.

The process starts off with each candidate having to get 100 signatures from fellow students, to prove that they have the potential to receive votes. Although a good idea in theory, this process is simply an unnecessary step and additional time commitment. Candidates can get these signatures very easily, which does not mean that those who signed will vote for them.

The next issue is the fact that students do not know many of the candidates that are running, and get very little exposure as to who those candidates are and what they plan on going if elected. The only information that students receive is the small blurb alongside each candidate’s picture featured in The Vanguard’s election issue the week before elections are held. But fewer than 100 words are not nearly enough to understand a candidate’s position.

Because of the lack of knowledge about the candidates, elections have become a popularity contest. Candidates campaign by putting hundreds of posters and flyers around campus, trying to get fellow students to vote for them instead of communicating what they can do for the student body. Although many other elections are also popularity contests (other student organizations, some political elections, etc.), Bentley’s student government elections should be focused on the abilities and goals of the candidates.

Additionally, the lack of candidates takes even more importance out of the election process. This year, Junior and Senior Class Cabinet elections both had eight people running for seven spots. Although the seven that were selected are going to do a good job, the only way to have a fair election is to have multiple candidates for each position so that students can pick who will best represent them.

Out of the other elections (Student Government Association (SGA), Association of Bentley Activities (ABA), and Allocations and Internal Audit Committee (AIA)), which included SGA, ABA, and AIA presidents, SGA senators, ABA vice presidents, and SGA Executive of Internal Affairs, the only contested election was for SGA president. There wasn’t even a candidate running for the SGA Executive Vice President position.

Again, these candidates are going to do a good job as well, but the only way to make sure that the best person for the position is elected is to have contested elections.

There are ways that these problems can be fixed. Getting more candidates is difficult, but involving the student body more when it comes to elections could do the trick. An easy way to do this would be to hold some kind of forum, where candidates let students know what their goals and intentions are if elected. This would better inform students, and get them more involved with the election process. The more students participate and contribute to our student government organizations, the more effective those organizations will be.

Notes from Abroad – Seoul, Korea

gavanguard — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:14 +0000

Question: “What has been the most meaningful part of your time abroad?”

By Ann Situ

The most meaningful part of my time abroad was definitely learning to become independent. Overall, I am a pretty independent person, but I was never used to traveling alone in a place I didn’t know or couldn’t speak the language of.

It’s really hard to navigate the streets of Seoul since there are no real streets. Everything is just connected with each other with no signs or street names. Not being able to speak the language definitely deterred my exploration of the city.

Even though I still don’t know much and we are forever warned of traveling alone, I finally built up the courage to do just that. No more waiting for people or staying out later than I want to. I can finally take a cab alone or ride the train alone and be okay with it.

Tech Talk: Project Glass

gavanguard — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:13 +0000

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.

Scratching the Surface: Ditat Deus

gavanguard — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:11 +0000

By Moussa Hassoun

In Latin, “Ditat Deus” translates to “God Enriches;” the phrase serves as the official state motto of Arizona. Unfortunately, God seems to have deprived this state of rational leaders. The issue at hand is a set of new laws passed by the state government concerning abortion.

I hope that even my friends against expanded abortion rights can appreciate the absurdity of Arizona’s recent abortion laws. Recently passed, it has become official state policy to:

Prohibit abortions after 18 weeks of pregnancy, protect doctors who withhold pregnancy information from woman who they think might get an abortion (not telling her) and define life of an embryo as two weeks before pregnancy.

The first measure of an 18 week restriction is the earliest in the nation and unconstitutional when considered against the controversial Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. Yet this doesn’t seem so unexpected. Opponents of abortion rights have always sought to restrict the window allowed for the procedure since they can’t ban it.

The second measure protects doctors from law suits who hide pregnancy information from women if that information could cause a woman to abort. How a doctor can determine if a woman is going to have an abortion before she discovers she is pregnant or any of the conditions of her pregnancy is beyond me.

A woman’s support for abortion rights isn’t even a solid indicator of their likelihood of using that right; nor should the political and social values of any patient be any business of the doctor. It’s one thing to advocate for abortion rights and quite another to decide to do it on your own. One advocates for access, the other advocates for its use.

Pro-choice does not necessarily equal pro-abortion because there are a large array of factors that tie into the decision: Finances, lifestyle, needs and wants, age, education and more. The idea that a practitioner would be protected for breaking the trust between patients and their doctors and violating their oath is a repulsive one.

Doctors that hide crucial information should have their licenses banned, not protected. Doctors must inform their patients, not keep them in the dark until the female has no choice.

The third measure is perhaps that most shocking. The gestational age is officially calculated by the law “from the first day of the last menstrual period of the pregnant woman.” Health professionals have interpreted this to mean that “life” can be defined by up to two weeks before pregnancy.

For the “party of freedom” Republicans seem hell-bent on restricting the privacy and personal freedom of women and their doctors to make the right decision for the health of the patient.

With all this passed by the government what could be the ramifications? Well first, the laws are similar to some extent to those of Nebraska. In that state, women have been forced to give birth to babies that were expected to die right after separation from the mother.

How could this happen? Doctors can determine serious health risks for the mother or baby until the 20th week of pregnancy. In Arizona and Nebraska, abortions are essentially banned by the 18th week; Hence the forced birth of practically dead babies.

When claims of a War on Women are made I usually brush it off, but States are making it more difficult to argue against it. I hope even my anti-abortion friends can support us when I say that before pregnancy, there is no life.

If we can’t agree on that, then we all need to take a serious crash-course on the birds and the bees.

Governments can’t and shouldn’t make health decisions for patients. This was, of course, the rallying call of conservatives during the Obama-care debate. Yet here we stand, conservatives (in Arizona and friends) embracing the comforting knowledge and the soothing power of a government hand grabbing a woman’s uterus and telling her what to do with it.

The debate about what constitutes life is important but let’s save it for another time. The discussion in Arizona threw out reasonable judgment long ago. In the state, female menstruation cycles can constitute pregnancy and a live baby. If God has enriched anyplace on earth, it certainly isn’t Arizona.

Letter to the Editor

gavanguard — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:11 +0000

Dear Editor,

We are writing in response to the Vanguard article of April 5, 2012 titled “Roastmaster General Jeff Ross Roasts Bentley. “

This article raises important concerns about how we, as a community, provide a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for all students. We are writing to speak for the men and women on campus who cannot speak for themselves, those who felt uncomfortable, and those who found this type of humor offensive.

Although the comedians targeted many groups, the Vanguard’s review focused on the use of sexual assault and rape as a topic for laughs. As staff and faculty who work directly with students, we know firsthand how hurtful “jokes” about sexual violence are to survivors, their friends, and their families. What many don’t know is that these types of “jokes” also hurt the whole community by making it less safe for everyone, even those who have not yet been touched by sexual violence.

Telling or laughing at “jokes” about rape, sexual assault, molestation, or date rape drugs trivializes sexual violence and contributes to an unsafe environment for everyone – even if unintended. It is well documented that when sexual violence is trivialized, survivors may avoid asking for help or protection, and perpetrators of violence may think their behavior is something funny rather than harmful. No one in our community should tolerate this type of trivializing “humor.” It is our hope that Bentley students will think about jokes of this kind and make a decision to speak out instead of laughing.

National statistics indicate that 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will survive a sexual assault in their lifetime (National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 1998.). Over 2/3 of all survivors will be assaulted by a friend, acquaintance, or intimate partner. When we apply these statistics to the approximately 4000 Bentley undergraduate students, we estimate that about 256 current female and 72 current male students have been or will be survivors of sexual assault. Your best friend, sister, mother, roommate, father or brother may be someone who has survived a sexual assault.

There are many ways students can support survivors and prevent violence on our campus:

Learn about why sexual violence occurs and its impact. Visit Bentley’s sexual assault information website:
bentley.edu/campus-life/health-and-safety/information-sexual-assault

Or The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center:
barcc.org

Or the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network:
raain.org

Participate in Prevention. Get involved with Consent Day, Take Back the Night, or the HerCampus discussion about the Ross/Jeselnik show. Prevention is for men too – check out:
mencanstoprape.org

Do not support trivializing of sexual violence through jokes, video games, movies, or music. Choose creative outlets that celebrate life rather than condone violence.

Provide supportive and nonjudgmental listening. Believe survivors and if needed refer them to one of many campus resources, including The Center for Health and Wellness, Counseling and Student Development, and University Police.

We hope each and every Bentley student will take the time to discuss this issue and engage in one of the above action steps.

Together, we can make Bentley a safer, more supportive place for everyone.

Thank you.

Stephanie Kendall
Counseling and Student Development

Gerri Taylor
Center for Health and Wellness

Jessica Roche
University Police

Co-Chairs, Bentley’s Coalition on Sexual and Relationship Violence

Scratching the Surface: Religious Criticism

gavanguard — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:55 +0000

By Moussa Hassoun

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.

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.

Notes from Abroad – Buenos Aires, Argentina

gavanguard — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:48 +0000

By Danny Wong

Question: “Tell us something about your host country that only a local would know.”

Inflation is a b*tch. I felt misled when I arrived in Buenos Aires and paid about $15usd for a coffee, a ham sandwich and a coke. While it’s not an exorbitant amount of money for a modest lunch, and might even rival a nicer mid-day snack I might have at some fancy Manhattan café, it really took me by surprise.

Inflation in Buenos Aires certainly makes it a more expensive city than I originally budgeted for. Locals have said that the government downplays how high inflation really is, and that prices have doubled over the last few years. In fact, a local hot dog, or pancho, establishment I used to frequent increased their prices by 15 percent within my first three weeks in Buenos Aires.

A local friend of mine made the statement, “Don’t be surprised if a nice restaurant or coffee shop you like to go to jacks up their prices each month.”

They’re not even stealthy about it anymore, sometimes whiting out or simply crossing out the last price on the menu and handwriting the newest price. While I do take for granted the $0.25usd bus rides and the ~$0.50usd subway rides across town, it kind of sucks when your local empanada place increases prices from $1usd to $1.25usd per empanada without warning.

Among the locals I know, it also doesn’t seem like salaries and wages are keeping up with inflation either. That’s a bit of a bummer for them, the individuals that help make the local economy work. Clearly, I do sound a bit spoiled, not wanting to pay an extra 15 percent on a hot dog or 25 cents for an empanada, but to be fair, my budget certainly wasn’t warned of all this inflation.

Notes from Abroad – Buenos Aires, Argentina

gavanguard — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:45 +0000

Question: “Tell us something about your host country that only a local would know.”

By Danny Wong

A local friend of mine made the statement, “Don’t be surprised if a nice restaurant or coffee shop you like to go to jacks up their prices each month.”

E-Board Entertainment Update

gavanguard — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:33 +0000

Welcome back everyone. Thank you for joining us last week. If you did not join us last week, you better pray to God you can find a newspaper from last week and catch up. This is your last opportunity to get your head straight. Game on.

Titanic in 3D fared well in its opening weekend with $21 million. After the show several fans agreed that it was such a different experience in another dimension and without the commercials from TNT. It was beat by The Hungry, Hungry Hunger Games which is ironically hitting Titanic like numbers. I love irony.

Speaking of The Hunger Games, their director was in danger of withdrawing from the sequel. Newswires started buzzing when it was reported he was upset when the studio rejected his idea to make it a documentary.

Universal leaked new clips of their summer slugger Battleship last week. It is a little different from the game we are used to in that involves an attempted alien takeover. It is also one of only two really boring, tactical board games that can be awesome as a movie with aliens. Yes, I am looking at you, Risk.

ABC just announced its summer schedule. Bachelor Pad returns for a third season to try and match up the rejects from the past seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. My guess is it probably won’t, because they are mainly competing for a cash prize.

Luckily it will air as soon as The Pauly D Project comes to an end. What good Pauly D’s show did do was FINALLY settle the argument of which member of The Jersey Shore cast is the least moronic.

In divorce recovery new, J-Lo has bought her new boy toy a new toy. For his 25th birthday she got boyfriend Casper Smart a customized Dodge Ram pickup. The gift initially ran into trouble when the DMV thought she was registering the vehicle to a pretend sixth grader.

Glee had a big news week. Not only did they get renewed for another season but they just cast Lindsay Lohan to guest star. She brings some versatility to the show as she can play more than one depressing high school stereotype.

Adam Sandler will now increase his record update appearances to two. For Grown Ups 2 ( Yeah, there’s going to be another one) he has cast Taylor Lautner to co-star in the film. Though with a PG rating, he will have the challenge of a different, more clothed role than he is used.

Well that’s all we have for this week. Tune in next week for a chance to win $20,000 dollars.

Senior Spotlight

gavanguard — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:29 +0000

Presented by The Senior Year Experience Committee

Interview for Senior Spotlight

Name: Lauren Zinn

Major: IDCC (Information Design & Corporate Communication)

Hometown: Ipswich, MA

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.

Podcast comedy: Hilarious shows held in the palm of a hand

gavanguard — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:26 +0000

By Mike Lovett

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.

Missing Out on Technology

gavanguard — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:24 +0000

Anyone who visits Bentley can see the technology that has been implemented throughout our campus. From the classrooms to the high-tech facilities like the trading room, technology is definitely evident. Bentley prides itself in the technology we have, yet, with all of these advancements, many still have not taken advantage of it.

MyBentley has been used very well over the past few years. Having course and housing registration as well as many other polls, forms, and tools online has made these processes simple and easy. But, just like a lot of the other technology we have available, it still has not been used to its full potential.

Take the registrar, for example. When dealing with the registrar, whether it’s a major declaration or a transcript request, it all has to be completed through hard-copy forms. Instead of embracing MyBentley and the other online tools that we have here, the registrar is still riding the old-fashioned trail.

Using some kind of online system would not only make filing any of these requests simpler and quicker, but would make it easier for the registrar to file and address them. Considering the large amount of declarations and requests that the registrar deals with, it must take a lot of man hours to go through everything in a timely manner, as opposed to an online system that would do it automatically. It’s surprising that an online system has not yet been introduced here.

Many professors have also failed to embrace the technology available to them. Despite the wide use of Blackboard, many professors do not use the website to its full potential, and some don’t use it at all. Instead, they still rely of hard copies of assignments and e-mail for communication. Not to mention, the other technology that professors do not use, such as the Smart Boards and camera projectors many classrooms are equipped with. The same goes for students as well, as many of the textbooks we all use are available online, yet most still buy the print editions.

Another example of this can be seen in the expense reports and reimbursement forms that student organizations have to deal with. Placing this system online would make the process easier for the organizations (as well as AIA), and would also make the process quicker.

This type of change was implemented quite recently with great results. Changing SETs from hard copies to an online system was a big step in the right direction. Not only did it reduce the amount of class time spent on the evaluations, but it also made collecting and compiling the information easier. This saves a lot of time from those who used to deal with the evaluations, which has made the whole process much more efficient and useful for both professors and students.

And other than the efficiency and effectiveness benefits to implementing and using more technology, reducing the amount of hard-copies we use is much more environmentally friendly; another aspect that Bentley places a lot of focus on. Getting rid of the paper SETs alone saved tons of paper. Think of what would happen if the same was done campus-wide.

In an age where technology is reigning king, and our whole lives have shifted towards the use and reliance on our laptops and smart phones, it’s very surprising that so many here still stay away from the technology they have at their fingertips.

April’s Advice

gavanguard — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:23 +0000

By April Gammal

Question: I have a few job interviews next week and I’m getting pretty nervous. What if they ask me a question that I do not know how to answer? What if I can’t think clearly? What if I make myself look stupid?

Wait a minute … YAY… You just got an interview with a company! That is a big achievement in itself and I’m sure there are many people who did not even get the opportunity to interview. So relax; the company has already reviewed your resume and thinks that you have the qualifications to do the job. Ok, so let me give you some tips that will help you ace the interview.

Research

Yeah, doing research will follow you outside of your academic classes. Go on the company’s website and learn about them, such as their past performance and future plans. Understand how the company operates and what is attractive to you about the company. Also, type in the name of the person or people who will be interviewing you and read about their background and what they have done. Be prepared to answer the question, “Why do you want to work here?”

Practice

Practice answering potential questions with a friend, or even better with Career Services. This will get you to start thinking about different activities you have been involved with and how you can answer potential questions from the experiences you have had. Also, make sure you know what is on your resume in case they ask you a question about it such as your experience with a particular organization.

Prepare

How do you prepare for your actual interview? Well, make sure that you look decent and that you are wearing something professional. The worst thing you can do is be late to your interview. Plan to arrive there ten to fifteen minutes early. It is always a good idea to bring an extra copy of your resume and a list of questions you want to ask your interviewer. Also, when you meet the person who will be interviewing you make sure you have a nice strong handshake and look that person in the eye. The worst thing to do is to have a weak handshake. It will make a bad first impression.

Relax

I know that you will be nervous during the interview but try to stay as calm as possible. Remember that you have the qualifications for the position and that each person asking you questions has been in your position before. If you are unsure of a question just ask the person to clarify for you. Try not to fidget in your seat but appear interested and eager to be partaking in the interview. It is better to lean in towards the person interviewing you or sit up straight than slouching back against the chair.

Make sure to end the interview with a thank you and follow up with a personal thank you note. I’m sure you will be fine, and if you do not get the job then hey, I’m sure they are missing out on a great employee. Good luck!

Healthy Hart: Summer is Coming Soon!

gavanguard — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:14 +0000

By Angela Hart

Many people enjoy going to the beach, tanning, swimming and just being outside in general. According to a recent study done by Mail Online, three-quarters of us prefer a tanned look, and as many as one in seven still want a tan even after experiencing the worry of potential skin cancer. If you want to go tanning, be careful. If you’re like me, and you burn easily, then you need to be extra careful. Always, always, always, wear sunscreen.

Ladies, it is a noted fact that more women put on nighttime moisturizer than daytime moisturizers. In general, nighttime moisturizers are more important according to many aestheticians. But, during the summer, one needs to wear a daytime moisturizer with sun protection factor (SPF) in it, too. This precaution prevents your skin from not only drying out or becoming too oily, but helps ensure that you will not get burned. Just taking a walk, running, or being outside for a short period of time, can be just enough time to get a light sun burn.

Stores, such as Sephora and Ultra, as well as, several others carry sunscreen brands that are expensive. The brands they carry do have some benefits, but being in college and on a budget you don’t need to splurge on them.

Aveeno and Neutrogena both carry wonderful spray sunscreens that are perfect for someone who enjoys being outside or is going swimming or waterskiing. If you plan on being in direct sunlight for hours at a time, plan accordingly. Buy an SPF lotion with a high ultra violet ray (UVA) count; Banana Boat Ultra Defense Lotion has an SPF100 and costs about $10.00.

My personal favorite is Hawaiian Tropic. I love this brand because it feels just like you’re wearing a lotion. It has a nice shine and a golden sheen to it, combined with an SPF40. Sometimes during the winter I would wear it just to have the shine it offers. I also really like this brand because they have a line specifically designed for sensitive skin; these products are oil-free, fragrance-free, and dye-free products that provide the protection you need.

There are also a variety of lip balms with SPF20, such as Hawaiian Tropic’s Aloha Kiss, and their Vanilla Mint Lip Balm has SPF45. Burt’s Bees has a Sun Protection Lip Balm with SPF8, for only $4.00. Burt’s Bees and Hawaiian

Tropic can be found in your local CVS, Walgreens, and other convenience stores, such as Shaws and Stop & Shop.

Please don’t take chances with the rays from the sun; your health is too important.