Picture this: waking up bright and early, arriving at the ballpark three and a half hours before game time, coordinating and preparing routines for the fifth and seventh inning, all while having to make time for appearances in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, at events for businesses, community days and weddings.

For us, this is no ordinary routine. But for the Phillie Phanatic, this is just a walk in the ballpark.

How is there time for the Phillie Phanatic to make appearances during the on and off season while devoting his time at the Citizens Bank Ballpark? From making appearances not just in the Greater Philadelphia area, but around the world as well, the Phanatic has roughly 560-600 appearances a year.

“You name it, the Phanatic has been to about everything,” Tom Burgoyne said.

Burgoyne, who calls himself  “the best friend of the Phanatic,” has traveled everywhere from minor league to major league ballparks and has even made appearances in Japan, Australia and Europe. Burgoyne has even attended every All Star game since 1996. In his 22 years of bringing joy to the faces of Phillies fans everywhere, Burgoyne incorporates the character of the Phanatic to raise awareness in the Philadelphia area for a great cause.

Not only does the Phanatic parade around the ballpark bringing smiles to fans, but he is also part of a movement to encourage the importance of reading. Burgoyne launched the “Be a Phanatic About Reading” program to encourage kids ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade to read for 15 minutes or more a day. After they complete the program requirements, the kids fill out Phanatic-themed sheets to campaign for the mascot to visit the top 20-30 schools each year that participated in the program. The schools selected host a group reading assembly with the mascot.

When it comes to reading, Burgoyne isn’t all talk. He writes Phanatic-themed children’s books and just finished his eighth book, which comes out this spring.
“It keeps me busy a bit, but it’s all within the merchandise of the Philles and the Phanatic. I keep very busy and I enjoy writing books for children to encourage them to read,” Burgoyne said about his books.
The books can be purchased at the ballpark and, in the beginning of May, all the Barnes & Noble stores will have a special display for the books.

During game time, the Phanatic barely gets a break. The Phanatic isn’t just responsible for rehearsing routines; he has to create and coordinate them as well. Before each game, Burgoyne makes his way up to the control room, meets with the music operator and tells him exactly what he wants to do each night.

“It [game night] is a busy night, but it’s always different, and that’s what I like about the job. It’s crazy, but that’s what I like about it,” Burgoyne said.

Before Burgoyne gets suited up into the fuzzy green costume, he surveys his surroundings to get a sense of what’s going on. After he’s dressed, Burgoyne is out on the field on his red ATV, doing anything from messing with the choir singing the anthem to goofing off with whichever guest throws the first pitch. These acts are all to emphasize the comedic character of the Phanatic.

During the game, Burgoyne goes back out into the crowd, visits folks in the stands and then gets ready for his routine in the fifth inning. He has a break between his fifth inning performance and his seventh inning performance on top of the dugout.

“I could have Cabrini College dancers coming in to dance, other schools or dance groups at a time to come in, or another mascot to help out with another skit. There’s a lot of things that have to be coordinated,” Burgoyne said.
The Phanatic is preparing for the “Paint the Town Red” week, which is the last week of March. This is the fourth year for the event, and the Phanatic exchanges his typically green costume for a red one before the first home game to remind “phans” that baseball is approaching.

This year’s “Paint the Town Red” event will be especially important for the Phanatic. On March 29, the team will unveil 20 five-foot fiber glass statues of the Phanatic, all painted in different designs by various artists. These statues are going to be up all spring and summer throughout the city’s most popular tourist attractions, including the Philadelphia Zoo, Constitution Center, Liberty Bell, Love Park and more, all of which are open to the public.

The kick-off event for the “Paint the Town Red” week will be held at the Please Touch museum (Memorial Hall) and all information is posted on the Phillies Web site, Phillies.com.

Amidst his sea of responsibilities, the Phanatic still treasures his title as the most lovable mascot.

“I do feel like it has been an unbelieveable exeperience. I’ve lucked into it and it brings smiles to so many faces,”  Burgoyne said. “The best thing is to see reactions of the kids and seeing that the adults get just as excited as the kids do. By being the Phanatic, you’re bringing a lot of joy to a lot a of people and one day I’ll look back and say, ‘Wow that was an unbelievable experience!’”

Looking for a good time? Welcome to Play2, the next generation of sports bar entertainment.

Pete Ciarrochi, creator of the famous crab fry, is at it again with his invention of the latest hotspot. However, Play2 is the farthest thing from your typical sports bar. There are big-screen TVs, alcohol, good-looking servers and greasy food, but what sets Play2 apart from other sports bars is the interactive entertainment experience.

“Play2 is different because you create your own entertainment. You get to play the videogames you want to play or watch the game you want to watch. How your night turns out is completely up to you,” Casey Brown, employee at Play2, said.

Ciarrocchi said he actually got the idea from his 6-year-old son after losing to him in a game on Nintento Wii. He realized at that moment that everybody can play the games and everybody can have a good time.

Besides the typical bar, dance floor and tables, Play2 has little nooks, known as “apecs” or “pods.” Within these pods is where the entertainment has been taken to a whole different level. Each group of players has its own pod.

Whip out the guitars and drums and rock out with your friends with Rockband. Bowl a strike or serve an ace. Beat your friend in a race in Mariokart. Compete with other people in different pods and battle them on the big screen for everyone to see. Loser buys the next round.

“Most people don’t find their jobs fun, but I do. Working here is crazy. It’s a rush running around here serving people. I come here all the time when I’m not working. I don’t know; none of the other bars around here even compare to this place,” Brian Stokes, employee at Play2, said.

If the employees are having a good time working, you can only imagine the amount of fun the guests are having.

“It’s more fun than a typical bar. I’m a huge video gamer, so if you give me video games, alcohol, food and good-looking girls, I am living the dream,” Tony Bloom, customer at Play2, said.

Play2 is a great place to just hang out as well. You can grab some good food and drinks and just enjoy a Phillies or Eagles game with all of your friends. Play2 is an extension of Chickie’s & Pete’s, so all of the menu items that are found there are also available at Play2.

Looking for a good time? Pete Ciarrocchi and Play2 have the answer. Head down to south Philly for good food, good drinks, good friends and good entertainment.

Photo Illustration

Imagine waking up, unconscious of your whereabouts from the night before, feeling pain and confusion. In the back of your mind you know something wrong has happened, and you are unsure whom to turn to and what people will say or think. You keep your distance from others, trying to forget about what happened by avoiding people or situations that remind you of the unthinkable.

These thoughts are not uncommon for victims of sexual assault. Victims of sexual assault tend not to report their assaults to campus security officers or to the police, according to a nine-month investigation by the Center for Public Integrity.

Sexual assault is present on college campuses across the nation. The Rape Treatment Center (RTC) at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center states that one out of six women reported being a victim of sexual assault. Roughly 30 percent of the women surveyed were between the ages of 18 and 24 during the time of the assault. RTC also claims that most of these incidents occur by the victim knowing their assaulter.

Between 2005 and 2007, four reported and confirmed forcible sex offenses happened to students at Cabrini College. Statistics are low, and one of the reasons may be that students do not come forward to report sexual assault.

“It [sexual assault] is the most unreported incident that will ever happen on campus, and it’s the most unreported crime. If it is reported, we encourage the victim to go to the hospital and we’ll guide them towards services if they refuse to go to the hospital,” Diana Pohl, captain and assistant director of Public Safety, said.

Students and officials say that sexual assault is the most under-reported crime. Only if victims come forward and report the assault can action begin to be taken against the perpetrator.

“The sad part is we sometimes will never know, it all depends on the victim,” Lil Burroughs, director of Public Safety, said.

With the victims feeling anxiety along with psychological trauma, most cases of sexual assault amongst college campuses are put in the dark, without being discussed or reported.

“They [victims] won’t report sexual assault for a couple of reasons,” Ransom Cozzillio, sophomore communication major, said. “One would be embarrassment and they would feel very vulnerable. Second, they may feel as though they may get in trouble.”

“It seems that when it does happen, young girls are sensitive to come forward to report sexual assult,” Justin Ferkler, Public Safety officer, said.
For a year that Ferkler has been an officer at Cabrini, no one has come forward to him. Ferkler says there have been a few scares, but no actual reports have gone through in the past year.

In order to go from a report to a crime, Public Safety works in cooperation with local police departments. “When a crime is committed, we have to alert the authorities and bring enough information from the assault as possible. However, most investigating is done by the police,” Ferkler said.

“We see these kids day in and day out. We just want the students to feel comfortable enough to talk to us,” Ferkler said.

RTC states that reporting the crime can help the victim regain a sense of personal power and control. This can also help to ensure the safety of other victims. If not reported, the assault will step in with the victims’ ability to live up to academic responsibilities and decrease their participation in social activities.

The Counseling and Psychological Services at Cabrini created a public service announcement titled “What you can do to prevent sexual assault” that will be aired on WYBF “The Burn.” The PSA presents tips and facts to bring awareness to sexual assault. This PSA includes eight steps to stop acts of sexual assault before it happens.

Dr. Sara Maggitti, director of counseling services, along with Public Safety, agrees that there is help and assistance provided for victims. The victim has a choice to press charges through the local police department or through Public Safety. Regardless, Maggitti encourages the victim to seek support for this trauma.

“It is important for the student who has been sexually assaulted to regain a sense of safety and control in their world,” Maggitti said. “It is possible for them to resume normalcy in their lives through reliance on their support systems and/or seeking mental health treatment from a qualified provider.”

Both Public Safety and the Counseling and Psychological Services hope that if any incident of sexual assault occurs, students will come forward knowing that their information is safe and confidential. If you or a friend have been assaulted, there is on and off-campus assistance. Talking about the assault can help relieve some of the control it has over the victim to start the process of recovery.

Shannon Keough

Chinese government to help reduce emissions

The Chinese government pledged to reduce its growth of greenhouse emissions on Thursday, Nov. 26. This followed the Obama administration’s provisional target to reduce U.S. emissions.

Indian tribes attend largest gathering

President Obama said that the meeting that brought roughly 564 American Indian tribes to Washington was “the largest and most widely attended gathering of tribal leaders in our history.”

The meeting was held to accommodate their needs, the main topic being health care.

American Indians are hoping that the meeting will result in negotiations that may provide money to Indian health care while granting more options for treatments.

As the progression of the American Indian health care emerges, Obama proposed an increase of 13 percent to the Indian Health Service, a service that assists 1.9 million American Indians to free care.

Initiative in place to fix Dubai finances

The United Arab Emirates made an initiative that may have been prevention to financial problems within banks in Dubai. The initiative that was decided on Nov. 30 alleviated markets by lending money out to suffering banks.

This action leads to concerns of boundless borrowing around the world. The reason behind the United Arab Emirates contributing financially was because of fear that credit markets would be frozen once again resulting to using money that had been safely invested by the civilians, which would lead to a global financial crisis.

More troops to be placed in Afghanistan

An announcement made by President Obama on Dec.1 changed the hope of families awaiting troops to arrive home from Afghanistan in the near future. 30,000 extra troops are heading to Afghanistan within the next few months, and they all will make their way home in 2011.

The decision was made while Obama explained that the “United States could not afford and should not have to shoulder an open-ended commitment.”

However, Obama believes that he has the confidence to bring the war to a successful conclusion.

His action is to stop the Taliban’s plan in taking large regions in Afghanistan. With that, the Afghan people would be securely protected and would push them to structure their own military as well as a more efficient government to abolish Al Qaeda in Pakistan.

The end is near for the fall 2009 semester, as we all wait for these long four weeks to pass us by. Many of us, if not all, are excited for the holiday season. It’s a wonderful time of year where people give without expectation of receiving, especially to those less fortunate.

Well, in the sense of that thought, wouldn’t you expect your college to give back to students financially? Of course not.
Even though private institutions have been ripping off students for years, they would never grant you with any sort of compensation.

Even though in the predicament, we as students who are struggling with payments are the “less fortunate.” Now listen, I’m not asking for my 40 grand back, I’m just asking that the business office be a little more people-friendly during the holiday season, I mean, during all seasons.

And yes, I’ll be the first to say it aloud (or at least in text) that I am fed up with seeing that I cannot register semester after semester due to a hold on my record. Come on now, let’s be real. It’s not like I have money to throw in the faces of the tuition management collectors, because getting a loan is impossible due to the not improving economy, and trust me I’ve tried.

The point I want to make is this, just because we go to a private Catholic institution that is highly recognized for numerous accomplishments, doesn’t mean that we need to be talked down to by the business office.

I don’t appreciate having my feelings hurt by being insulted just because I cannot make a payment on time. They should know that times are tough and many students, if not most, pay for college or are not provided with financial help from both their mom and dad. It’s sad enough that my mom works here and I can’t even get a discount because she’s “part-time.”

I don’t need the business office to tell me that they cannot do anything for me in order for me to register to take classes for next semester. Instead, I would be thankful if they could offer help, rather than make me feel hopeless.

They should change their attitude and find ways for students to apply for extra financial help, grants and scholarships since they know the ins and outs of all this stuff. I mean, that’s their job, right? To be kind to the students of Cabrini when they’re in need of help and assistance.

With all the stress we face with our classes and other responsibilities, we don’t need anymore negative attention. To the workers of the business office, I ask respectfully if you could try to take this into some consideration.

I assure you that if you would be a little less intimidating and a little more helpful, then you’ll feel the giving holiday spirit.

Shannon Keough

Cabrini College was one of five universities to receive a prestigious award that approximately 70 colleges and universities applied for.

The first annual award, titled the Higher Education Civic Engagement Award, was presented by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars on Oct. 19.

Jane Margaret O’Brien, former president of both Hollins College and St. Mary’s College of Maryland, presented the award to Cabrini president, Dr. Marie Angelella George.

O’Brien commented on the college motto, “service beyond one’s self,” saying that “it says so much and confirms so much of Cabrini’s powerful commitment to social engagement.” O’Brien noted that social justice was the central unifying concept and experience for students at Cabrini.

During the acceptance speech, George spoke of the new core curriculum launched this year known as Justice Matters. The curriculum educates students about the root causes of injustice in the world and empowers students to work for lasting change.

“Every student, not just some, not just those who are engaged in service learning courses but every student will be exposed to a developmentally linked series of seminars that exposes them to themselves, their concepts, beliefs and to the world so that they can then begin to identify some of the systemic issues and then go and change the world,” George said.

“The commitment to social justice education has been a part of our history in providing a Catholic, Cabrinian education, but now it is gaining wider recognition,” George said. “It was exciting to travel to Washington, D.C. with students, faculty members and Wolfington Center staff to accept this prestigious award. I am so proud for Cabrini that we received this honor in recognition of our new core curriculum, Justice Matters.”

George accepted the award held at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.

Two students were recognized during George’s speech, Shannon Keough, senior English and communication major, and Beth Briggs, senior psychology and sociology major, for their outstanding involvement in social justice.

“I think that it’s important for students to become involved in social justice issues because the world needs more voices to advocate for change,” Keough said. “Social justice isn’t something that you do just in college; it’s something that can affect the rest of your life as well.”

The Cabrini education incorporates social justice into the college curriculum to show that students can change the world by applying their knowledge and first-hand experience from civic engagement.

The other four colleges acknowledged for enhancing student learning through civic engagement were Elon University, Tennessee State University, Villanova University and Wartburg College. These colleges and univeristies serve as models for the nation’s colleges and universities by involving students in civic engagement and community service, according to the Washington Center.

The event had an attendance of 500 people and raised an estimated $400,000, for The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. These funds will contribute in placing students from around the world and the United States in internships throughout Washington.

The Washington Center has placed approximately 45,000 students in civic engagement internships. Cabrini students have been granted internships through it, including an internship in the White House. Students interested in the Washington Center should contact Dr. James Hedtke, professor of history and political science.

“The Washington Center recognized that Cabrini’s curriculum is groundbreaking because we are trying to reach every single student to develop critical thinking, so that our students can address the root causes of injustice in the world,” Dr. Jerry Zurek, chair of the communication department, said.

“Social justice affects many aspects of my life, including the way I think and the choices I make,” Keough said.

“I think that spreading social justice messages are extremely important and I try to spread those messages to my family, friends, classmates and co-workers.”

From growing up in South Philadelphia and living down the street from the unforgettable Veterans Stadium, I have witnessed numerous encounters that have made history in Philly sports throughout my life. Now I know what you could be thinking, this isn’t the sports section, so why is she leading to Philly sports?

As most (or hopefully all) of you know, the Phillies clinched the National League East title for the third consecutive year in a row. Although there were some mistakes made in 2007 that didn’t lead the Phils to victory, they proved their doubters wrong as they captured the 2008 World Series, which happened to be the greatest night of my entire life.

I remember the night as if it were yesterday, the rush of adrenaline as I watched Brad Lidge throw his last pitch in game five. I immediately ran out of my grandfather’s row-home down to Broad Street with my friends trailing by my side shouting words of praise as we faced the crowded streets of red and white.

So, what’s the point here? Although I’ve had an experience of a lifetime saying that I have seen the Phillies win a World Series title in my youth, I have always said I could never get enough. That’s right, I’m praying for another title; but what’s really on my mind is this: can the outrageous ongoing celebration be as unbelievable as last year?

It’s hard to think about, since it has only been about a year since the Phillies were handed the glorious 2008 trophy. I’ve asked around the town of South Philly and many locals believe it cannot top last year’s celebration; I beg to differ.

The only thing that can break the hopes of another unforgettable parade is that Philly is and has been in a major budget crisis that may have a huge impact on any celebrations for the near future. Did you know that just last New Year’s the city tried to stop the Mummers from marching down 2nd street? How could they take that away from us?! Because it costs a lot of money to clean the streets after hours and hours of continuous New Year’s partying.

What crosses my mind is this; hopefully if we win again, will the city try to stop the parade? Or if they cannot stop it, will they cut it short? What could we do to possibly try to convince the deal-makers of the city’s budget management to allow us to rightfully celebrate in honor of our home team?

I know the victory celebration amongst fans in the streets can cause cars to flip, bottles to break and some screaming here and there but it’s all natural actions of real devoted Phillies fans who have waited many years to root for their home team in concurring the title. No, I do not promote cars flipping, since I was in a car after game four and many raging fans attempted to flip it – while I was in the car! However, I do claim that I am and have been a fan ever since my entire family made me watch the games on TV after dinner instead of watching cartoons or Disney movies.

So, to the real Phillies fans, we want to see another victory as well as celebrating on Broad Street, right? Not including the band-wangoners who packed the train stations on Oct. 31, 2008 to rush to the parade, nearly 85 percent of them only tuned in to the series expecting to come out and represent as a long time fan. I am talking about the ones who have been to more than a few games in the season before post season, the ones who actually talk knowledge about their thoughts on the game no matter if it’s a win or loss.

Who says we’ve had enough? This is not meant to be a jinx and I am not trying to boycott the city to force a parade amongst us. All I am saying is this, let’s be in high hopes, “high apple pie, in the sky hopes” that if we are able to attain such an astounding achievement again, we will celebrate in high hopes on the streets of Philadelphia until the street cleaners take us to the sidewalks or until the cops ask us to leave. Good luck to the Phillies during the 2009 post season and let’s win it for Harry.

Shannon Keough

Cabrini College’s slogan, “Do something extraordinary,” comes into effect as the College reaches out to a variety of programs in need of help and assistance.

One of the programs is Camp Kismet, a camp for disadvantaged children in West Virginia.

Since 1982, Cabrini College Alumni Association, joined by students, faculty and staff, volunteer as camp counselors every July.

Along with Camp Kismet, Cabrini College works in part with Project Appalachia, also in West Virginia.

Cabrini’s mission in helping and reaching out to those less fortunate continues as members from the college support and volunteer with Camp Kismet.

Hollie Havens, Cabrini alumni ’98, coordinates volunteers, fund-raising and donations for Camp Kismet and has volunteered for five years. Havens, along with Colleen Poole, education field supervisor and education professor, with her daughter Caitlyn Poole, Lauren Bariglio, sophomore elementary and special education major and Jessica Jaxel, Cabrini alumni ’09, were the five volunteers from Cabrini this past July.

“It’s a very intense experience for one week. It feels like we were there for a month,” Poole said. “It was amazing how quickly relationships develop.”

Each year, Camp Kismet brings in around 125 children from poor financial backgrounds in West Virginia to spend a week in the facilities held in the state park in Fayetteville, Va.

“There are some kids that come with only one or two outfits, one pair of underwear, no socks, no sheets, no pillow, et cetera. It’s really sad, but at the same time, you feel the impact you can have. Giving things to people who really need them is so very rewarding,” Jaxel said.

The camp provides educational seminar activities which teach the children awareness with safety, hygiene, environmental and drug and alcohol programs in affiliation with community groups in West Virginia.

The children experience a vacation like none other as they have planned a week filled with activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, white water rafting in New River, Va., roller skating and rock climbing.

Jaxel recalls on her experience entering the Kismet camp. “As soon as I walked into the dining hall the day we arrived, I was greeted with not only smiling, cheerful people, but with hugs from total strangers. The whole air of the atmosphere is just different there. I cannot wait to go back,” Jaxel said.

“In the beginning, the kids were calm, but towards the end they were upset because they realized they had to go home,” Poole said.

The group of Cabrini staff, faculty and alumni counselors bring donated clothing, new sneakers and a brand new backpack filled with supplies for each child participating in the camp.

“I think the most important thing for this camp, the thing it needs most, is publicity. There is literally no way someone could go there and not want to return. The experience is truly moving,” Jaxel said. “Not solely because you’re there helping kids who genuinely deserve your help and time, but the amazingly strong sense of family presented by the volunteers of Fayetteville County.”

Poole hopes that the awareness of participating in Kismet will spread throughout campus so hopeful students and staff will become involved.

“I think the biggest impact for me is relationship and how intent it is in five days. I only knew them [children in the Kismet camp] for five days and they will be with me for life,” Poole said.

“It’s so funny, but when I came back from just one short week, I really missed the girls I had spent literally every moment with. We became more than just counselors, we were their friends,” Jaxel said. “As we stood there saying goodbye to them, Lauren and I couldn’t stop the tears from coming. I could feel myself welling up and thinking, ‘How could I not go back and see these kids again next year?’ There’s just no way; I have to go back.”

Without counselors, Camp Kismet cannot operate. Students and faculty interested in volunteering for Camp Kismet 2010 can contact the Alumni Office at alumni@cabrini.edu.

Shannon Keough

Looking for a coffee shop to hang out at that is different than Starbucks? Then MilkBoy Coffee Shop is the place to go.

This student-friendly coffee shop has a relaxing environment, providing free Wi-Fi internet service and free shows.

With two locations on the Main Line, getting coffee can be more enjoyable without waiting in those long lines with nowhere to sit and relax.

Originating in Ardmore, Pa. in 2005, MilkBoy got its name from MilkBoy Recording in 1994 by musician and recording engineer, Tommy Joyner.

Shortly after, a smaller shop opened in Bryn Mawr, connected to the historic Bryn Mawr movie theater.

Selling more than just coffee, the MilkBoy Coffee Shop serves a wide variety of breakfast and lunch.

Both shops are known for their free live acoustic shows, which are open to the public.

The MilkBoy Coffee Shop have been voted The Best of Life 2007 and 2008 for Best Coffee House for Main Line Life Reader’s Choice. The MilkBoy main stage is located in the Ardmore shop and the Bryn Mawr shop holds the acoustic cafe.

Just like Cabrini, MilkBoy in Ardmore has Open mic nights.

The sign-ups are free and are requested before 6 p.m. of each show.

Shows are weekly and anyone is eligible to sign up via phone or by walking in. Monthly calendars are available online at milkboycoffee.com.

“We have great food and good coffee and the open mic nights are great for aspiring musicians,” Gillen, server at MilkBoy in Ardmore, said. “The shows give the aspiring musicians a chance to play with professional musicians.”

These coffee shops accommodate students with a quiet atmosphere that makes it easy for them to study and read.

“We get a large number of college students that come in with their books and laptops and feel comfortable to relax and study in here, knowing that they aren’t in an overcrowded area,” Gillen said.

“The environment is chill,” Lisa, manager of MilkBoy in Ardmore, said.

“A lot of coffee shops don’t have much space and constantly want people to keep moving. Here we have a good amount of space to accommodate our customers to make them feel welcome to stay and kick back,” Lisa said.

Shannon Keough

Catchy and cute ads displayed all over Philadelphia, identified as the “With Love Philadelphia” campaign, are an eye-catching hit to travelers seeking out new ventures in the “City of Brotherly Love.”

But are these seemingly innocent ads inviting out-of-towners to stay overnight or is there a pretty penny to go along with it?

The official visitor site for greater Philadelphia, gophila.com, has been up for over 10 years. The Go Phila corporation launched a new ad campaign, “With Love Philadelphia,” which kicked off in May 2009.

“Our office is a separate group [from Go Phila],” Cara Schneider, Media Relations Director for the “With Love Philadelphia” campaign, said. “Our job is to promote travel in the city through a pretty aggressive campaign.”

Last year, Go Phila attempted the “Philly’s more fun when you sleep over” commercial advertisements, which did not attract as many people as expected.

“The city is in a pretty significant budget crisis,” Schneider said. “We spend money to make money. For every media dollar spent on an ad, we receive $185 that is generated on an economic impact.”

“I think they should do more advertising,” Pedro Perez, senior business administration major, said. “They should have more publicity in airports. I think it is a great way to put Philly out there for travelers.”

“The marketing campaign has been a huge success,” Schneider said. “Different events and groups want to piggy back on it.”

It seems as though this ad campaign will improve Philadelphia’s budget crisis by attaining a steady flow of visitors, but what do residents of Philadelphia think of this new approach?

Kurt Gibson, a resident of Philadelphia, believes that although the campaign seems friendly, the main objective for the “With Love Philadelphia” campaign is to make money -and that’s it.

“They’re being your friend so you’ll spend money here,” Gibson said. “What they are doing is a desperate attempt to make money for the city,” Gibson said.

“Each year they are coming up with different ways to campaign to come to Philadelphia and each year they have to set the bar higher and make more money in advertising than they did the previous year,” Gibson said.

“They keep doing it over and over again but with different themes for the campaign. People are coming to Philly, but are not spending enough money, so they want travelers to come out and stay overnight in the city,” Gibson said.

“The ‘With Love Philadelphia’ campaign goal is working both in terms of awareness and hotel occupancy,” Schneider said. The ad implies having travelers come and stay overnight in Philadelphia. The more people coming to stay at hotels, the more profit the city will make.

“You don’t see ads for places in the city such as Geno’s or Pat’s steaks because people know of those places and want to go to them because they’re both famous and historic,” Gibson said, about the ‘With Love’ campaign’s newest ad featured on the Go Phila Web site titled “Dear What’s a BYOB?”

“The campaign is trying to get people to go to big restaurants to spend more money,” Gibson said.

Alfred Krawitz, owner of the Blarney bar and restaurant in Philadelphia, thinks that advertising in Philadelphia is a waste of time.

“Why do they advertise in Philadelphia? They should be advertising outside of Philadelphia to bring travelers in,” Krawitz said.

Krawitz believes that businesses shouldn’t promote or join the campaign because he is not aware of how the “With Love Philadelphia” funds are provided for other businesses.

“Unless the state gave them [businesses] money, where do the funds come from? Are they coming out of Philadelphia tax dollars?” Krawitz said.

The taxes for Philadelphia increased from seven percent on the dollar to eight percent over last year and both Krawitz and Gibson agree that the “With Love” campaign is just another marketing tactic for Philly to get money for the city and to benefit the mayor.

Supporting or not supporting the “With Love Philadelphia” campaign may differ between residents of Philadelphia and outsiders, but who knows what ad campaign will launch next? The advertising campaign is content as long as the revenue goal is reached and the city’s sights and hot-spots are earning a pretty penny.

Shannon Keough

The idea of saying goodbye to your parents is not emotional until the day it actually happens. The class of 2013 has surely anticipated their arrival on campus over the summer, but the emotions did not kick in until Thursday, Aug. 20.

Students and their families were unpacking cars and unloading belongings into the residence halls while being welcomed to Cabrini College with activities, ceremonies and events throughout the hot and muggy summer day.

Cabrini students welcomed the class of 2013 and their families by helping with luggage and showing families around campus, which was a relief for many families.

Cindy and Michael Olsen, parents of Kristin Olsen, felt that Cabrini provided a lot of assurance for the families and made move-in a stress-free event.

“The college made it so much easier. Cabrini is like a resort. It’s so beautiful,” Mrs. Olsen said.

The excitement and mixed emotions were shared between the Olsens while reminiscing on their daughter’s important day.

“She is the first one out of the kids to go to college; this is an eye opening experience for us,” Mr. Olsen said.

“It was really comforting when the parents left her room and she turned around all excited to us and said ‘yay!’” Mrs. Olsen said.

Inside of the residence halls, throughout the day, families organized rooms while greeting their child’s new dorm room neighbors.

The Lehr family was relieved to finish unloading their daughter Lindsey’s belongings before most of the other freshmen were halfway finished.

“I anticipated it being chaotic, the heat doesn’t help but moving in is not so bad,” Lindsey said. “I’m pretty nervous to start college, but now that I am here and settled in I am pretty excited.”

Lindsey’s father, Hal Lehr, enjoyed the festivities outside of Founder’s Hall as well as the Philly Phanatic, who made an appearance for the big day.

“We’re going to miss her, but it is a new experience and we’re all looking forward to it. The Philly Phanatic was helpful,” Mr. Lehr said.

After the relieving feeling of moving in, the freshmen socialized and started to feel at home. Roommates Adam Conte and Andrew Layne anxiously waited for what would come next after unpacking.

“I’ve got some pretty cool roommates and new stuff for our room. I’m anticipating what’s next like all of the cool people and professors I am going to meet,” Conte said.

“I’m excited, I’m playing lacrosse here and I visited twice so I am ready to start school and start playing,” Layne said.

The day ended with the Matriculation Ceremony and Liturgy which brought students and their families together before the emotional goodbyes were shared.

Dr. Marie Angelella George gave a heartfelt welcome to the class of 2013.

“Cabrini is a place to learn, reflect and grow. This year you’re making history at Cabrini,” George said.

The ceremony displayed a video of selected 2009 graduates and how appreciative they are to have had a Cabrini education.

The long day finished with a picnic on the commons, which welcomed families and students who realized that their Cabrini education starts now.

Bonnie Uditsky was not nervous or sad to leave her son Billy at Cabrini, knowing that he is ready for his college experience to begin.

“This is the best thing for my son,” Mrs. Uditsky said. “As a parent, leaving him at Cabrini is the best fit for him and I won’t miss him because I know he is happy and that he doesn’t have any rules but his own. I told him, college is the best part of your life, so enjoy it now while you can. As a parent I am very happy that he is here and I am glad that he’s really happy.”.

The Cabrini men’s golf team is swinging into action, currently ranked third in the mid Atlantic region.

Four main starters on the team include Mike Ryan, Chris Lawler, Tim Harner and Conor Trainor, an exchange student from Ireland. Trainor is enjoying the transition from Ireland to America and is creating everlasting friendships with his fellow teammates.

“The great thing about the four main starters on our team is that we are all as equally as good as each other and we know that if we are all on our game then nobody will defeat us,” Trainor, senior human resources major, said.

“We play off each other’s strengths and help each other when we are playing. Although it is a team game, individually we try to compete with each other and that can only be healthy for our team in the long run,” Trainor said.

The team has been ranked favorite in the CSAC this season.

“With a little more tweaking, our team shouldn’t be far off in the CSAC,” Trainor said. “Let’s just hope we all keep at it and make it down to Miami for the national championship in May.”

Trainor started playing golf at age 11 with his uncles and cousins.

“Since then I have been a member of a golf course called Ardglass. It is a small seaside resort built on the Irish Sea coast line,” Trainor said. He described Ardglass to be the best scenery.

Trainor won a scholarship to a college in America for a year.

“I picked Cabrini due to its location, campus, the fact that we have a great golf team and the added incentive was Coach, Tony Verde,” Trainor said. Verde has welcomed Trainor with open arms. “Verde and the team have made me feel like I have been here for the past three years,” Trainor said.

Adapting to the style of golf in America can be difficult to adjust to coming from another country, but Trainor is progressing throughout the season.

“Personally I started last season quite slow, but I am starting to get the feel for American golf now and slowly but surely I am beginning to stamp my authority on the golf course. Just last week I won the MVP of the week.”

“So everything is looking great for the last few weeks of the season,” Trainor said.

Playing in America for Trainor is not only a privilege, but an honor.

“I love playing golf due to the relaxation feel I get from it, the exercise of walking for four straight hours, the amount of friends I have made worldwide from playing golf and the added incentive of getting to play on glorious golf courses,” Trainor said.

Patrick McGowan

Laughter broke out when nine contestants experienced their five minutes of fame while performing in the second comedy competition, Funny Fest, where the winner landed a five-minute gig at Comedy Cabaret in Northeast Philadelphia.

Jake Verterano, junior English and communication major, received the most votes and earned the crown as king of Funny Fest.

The stand-up comedy battle sponsored by Cabrini’s radio station, 89.1 WYBF-FM The Burn, brought students and locals together in amusement on April 3.

The Burn’s general and executive staff helped set the stage in preparation of a successful show.

“We decided to give it a second run and it was really successful,” Caitlin Friel, English and communication major, said.

Friel is the promotions director for The Burn and was in charge of planning the event.

Heather Fullerton, general manager of The Burn and Jessie Holeva, junior communication major, thought of the event last semester.

“About 115 people were in attendance and we had nine contestants,” Friel said. “That is awesome and I could not have asked for a better Funny Fest.”

The host for the evening, young and rising comedian John Poveromo, broke the ice by performing stand-up for the attendees and contestants. Poveromo has been featured in The New York Times, Comcast On-Demand stand-up, Sirius satellite radio and a part of Punchline Magazine’s 2008 Comedian’s New Year’s Resolutions.

His energy and sense of humor made the contestants feel comfortable and at ease to take the stage.

Poveromo participated as a judge for last semester’s Funny Fest.

Students cast their votes by placing tickets into bags that displayed the names of each contestant.

The atmosphere of the event is perfect for students to come out and show off their humor by entertaining their classmates and friends.

“For anyone who wants to start stand-up, this is the best environment to do it,” Poveromo said.

“The Funny Fest is just an all out fun event to promote our radio station and give the students a good laugh,” Friel said. “It is a good event because people get to let their funniness shine on stage while their friends get to watch.”

All of the contestants who participated share a love for comedy. “Stand-up comedy is my favorite thing on earth. All I watch is Comedy Central,” Billy Bacovin, senior human resources management major, said.

Bacovin was one of the nine contestants to take the stage. “I might do stand up as a hobby after college to keep my public- speaking skills.”

One contestant stood out from the rest by performing a rap song that he created.

“I did the song for my boss and he really liked it,” Spencer Henry, freshman English and secondary education major, said. “Everyone from my work convinced me to do it for Funny Fest and I thought I had nothing to lose.”

After all of the contestants performed their best to make the audience laugh, a winner was chosen.

Verterano will perform a five minute stand-up act at Comedy Cabaret.

“I thought the event was very good. I was pleased and had a great time,” Joe Windt, senior criminology major, said. “I didn’t expect it and I thought the contestants were very funny.”

“It’s a good event to have each semester because it gets the students involved and it promotes the radio station to the college,” Friel said.

“This is a really nice little get- together. It’s great how many people come out and how classmates support each other,” Poveromo said.

Many people wonder, do you get the full experience of college if you’re a commuter?

My answer is that getting the full experience is what you make of it, whether you’re a commuter or not.

I have been commuting since freshman year. Now that I am almost a junior, I have adjusted easily to the whole commuting back and forth to school sort of thing.

In my opinion, commuting isn’t all that bad. As long as you become involved in activities, hang out occasionally on campus and obtain social and friendly qualities, you’ll fulfill the college experience.

You don’t need to live on campus to experience the typical college life. Let’s face it, the “college life” is a superficial illusion. It’s not as wild and crazy as they portray it in the movies. Well, Cabrini isn’t for the most part.

Of course during freshman year, college is new and exciting, so it may seem that way at first. However, after adjusting to your freedom, partying on campus gets old after awhile. Which is one of the reasons why commuting can be a plus, since you won’t have that feeling of missing home and being stuck on campus.

So you may be thinking, how would I know about freedom and being on my own if I commute?

Although I still live at home, that does not mean that I live a Cinderella-curfew lifestyle. My mom has been lenient since I have started college, so I don’t feel like I’m being babied. And plus, I get the reward of home-cooked meals after a long day at school.

A disadvantage of commuting is parking. Cabrini’s parking lots are usually over packed with cars and it gets annoying after awhile searching for a spot. I do not have a car of my own; however, when I get the privilege to use my mom’s car I can say that I have trouble finding a good spot.

Depending on rides is another disadvantage of commuting and not having a car of your own. Sometimes it becomes frustrating when I have to compensate with my mom or brother’s schedules. Waiting for the Cabrini shuttle bus isn’t convenient either, since it runs on a timely schedule.

The Center for Student Engagement and Leadership (SEaL), provides a commuter club, which benefits commuter students. The commuter club hosts events and contributes to commuters, providing giveaways and snacks. So at least us commuters can feel appreciated.

Being a commuter does not mean you will not have as much fun as students living on campus and it does not mean that you will not get the same privileges.

If you are a commuter, or plan to be a commuter, there are ways you can go about making your one and only college experience worthwhile.

Get involved. That is the key to fulfilling a college experience. Yes, getting involved requires a lot of time and dedication; but all of the hard work pays off in the long run.

There are many benefits of getting involved. By getting involved in sports, clubs and extracurricular activities on campus, you’re creating an opportunity to make new friends and create lasting memories.

On campus, I am involved in the newspaper, radio station and work with video. It may seem like a lot to handle, but I am learning and experiencing so much while making life-long friends in the process; and all of this experience is preparing me for life after college.

Find something that you love doing. Whether it is playing a sport, joining or creating a club, being a DJ for the radio station or reporting for the news show, the possibilities are endless.

It all depends on you and you’re determination to engage in all that Cabrini offers.

Why not make the best of your college experience? It only happens once in a lifetime, whether you’re a commuter or not you might as well enjoy it while you can.