BLACKWOOD – Construction has been a recurring theme this semester at CCC Blackwood, as buildings; walking paths and parking lots have all been constructed in the past months. The newest addition to the campus is a video board at the entrance off of Ring Road. This video board was built the week before Thanksgiving and installed the following week. Now in use for two weeks, the board has displayed messages available for everyone to see quickly.

Assistant Director of Public Safety Steve Hetherington said he believes this video board will help communication. “This board is an effective way of delivering messages to a large amount of students,” said Hetherington. The board will display upcoming events and dates, school and road closures and sign-up dates for classes. “The purpose of this video board is to inform the students of notable events at the college in a fairly short period of time, such as last week’s flu shots,” said Hetherington.

The board was built at the entrance off of Ring Road near Jefferson Hall. This spot was chosen because it was believed the most traffic comes past that entrance.

Not only is the video board functional, it also adds to a quickly improving campus. “This is a high quality video board that adds color and functionality to the entrance of the college,” said Hetherington. The video board, along with the construction of the walking paths, has made this campus seem more like a large university campus to some.

“I think that the video board makes the school feel more like a four-year school. It makes it look like a real college,” said Heather Rios, 18, a student at CCC Blackwood. “All of the construction has improved the campus compared to just in September.”

With winter coming, weather alerts will be displayed on this board, alerting students of closures and class cancellations. The hope is that the video board will inform students of dates and events they have been missing.

BLACKWOOD – Who doesn’t love an extra holiday gift? Camden County Department of Health and Human Services gave many students and faculty of Camden County College the gift of protecting themselves from the flu. Thursday, Dec. 8 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the county provided free flu shots in the Atrium area of the Connector Building.

At the entrance of the Atrium, a county worker gave you papers that needed to be filled out prior to your shot. A gentleman stood in the room in case you had any questions while filling out the paperwork. After the paperwork was filled out completely, another worker initialed it and sent you to the nurse’s station where the shot was administered.

“The whole process took about 10 minutes. It was quick and easy, and now I’m protected for the coming flu season,” explained student Lauren Higgins.

Students were informed of the free service via automated phone call and email. All CCC students, faculty and residents of Camden County were permitted to participate in this free service.

All people 6 months of age and older are encouraged by the county and the Centers for Disease Control to get the flu vaccine. Influenza (“flu”) is a contagious disease that is spread by coughing, sneezing or nasal secretions. Each year thousands of people die from seasonal influenza and even more are hospitalized. By getting vaccinated, you’re protecting yourself and the ones you love. Protection lasts about a year.

The inactivated (killed) vaccine is given by injection into the muscle. Getting the vaccine as soon as it is available will provide the best defense. The flu can occur at any time, but “flu season” usually is from November through May. In recent years, January and February are when the disease peaks. Get familiar with asking your doctor questions to further your protection.

For any additional information, contact the CDC at 1-800-232-4636 or http://www.cdc.gov/flu. Camden County has other opportunities to receive your free flu shot. Check out its website for future clinics, www.camdencounty.com/health.

“Thanks Camden County for the yearlong gift of the flu shot!” a smiling Higgins exclaimed.

Some may be unaware of the fact that music is considered to be therapeutic for our health.

Music may have harmful and beneficial effects to human beings. It depends on which type of music is used.

Music therapy was first noticed back in the Greek and Roman era when people experimented with certain sounds. It never really became a “healing remedy” until hospitals during the world wars noticed patient progress when musicians were brought in as entertainment for hurt soldiers. This led to the growth of music therapy by many people who were intrigued by the concept. Ira Altshuler, MD, Willem van de Wall and E. Thayer Gaston brought music therapy to the profession it is today.

Music is used in many ways for helping patients get better. It is used from patients with cancer all the way to children with ADHD. It is said to exercise the brain waves using the different tempos of music so that it strengthens that part of the brain. It is also shown that music is a stress reliever and it is also used to make people have positive attitudes.

It is not necessary to use certain types of music to have better health. It is said that if you listen to the kinds of music that you like, whether it be pop, rock, heavy metal, etc., if it relaxes you and brings you to a positive state of mind, it is considered therapy.

Music therapy is also used to help maintain a healthy stress level. The world has more than 5,000 musical therapists who are able to evaluate your taste in music and suggest songs that will ease your stress levels.

Music also helps in vaginal births. Studies show that women who listen to music during labor often become more relaxed and have less pain because it serves as a distraction from the chaos.

For more information on musical therapy, visit the American Music
Therapy Association’s website at www.musicaltherapy.org.

BLACKWOOD — Let there be light! Students are now enjoying the floor-to-ceiling windows among many other changes in the newly renovated Barnes & Noble bookstore on Camden County College’s Blackwood Campus.

Work proceeds outside the newly renovated college bookstore on the Blackwood campus. By Nina Nowakowski, CCC Journalism Program

Renovations, which began last May, have just wrapped up and passed final inspection for the expansion of the on-campus bookstore. The bookstore added 1,000 square feet to the far end of the store as well as an exterior entrance for increased convenience for students.

“The idea was to add square footage onto the store and increase general merchandising,” said Amanda Howe, bookstore manager at Camden County College.

This additional space has allowed the store to expand the clothing section in the existing area of the store to four to five times its original amount. The expansion has also allowed for the new convenience section of the store, which offers snacks, drinks, condiments, utensils and a “heat and eat” area, which will soon include a microwave.

“This is sort of a ‘grab and go’ area where students are able to quickly get something to eat if they are in a rush and is not meant to take away from the options available in the cafeteria,” Howe said.

The bookstore has also relocated the reading section toward the back end of the store where the new windows are to allow more natural light for reading.

“This section of the store is much more well lit and makes the area more shop-able and generally allows us to display better,” Howe said.

Along the floor-to-ceiling windows is a bar area complete with stools and personal electrical outlets for students to sit and study or sit and eat.

“I really like the new bar area. I needed a place to plug in my laptop in between classes so this is great,” said Dana Ostrom, 19, a Camden County College student.

The new entrance to the bookstore will be opening within the next few weeks once the construction is completed on the concrete outside.

BLACKWOOD – Students and teachers from Camden County College came out this season and donated coats to keep people warm this winter.

Coat drives have traditionally been a way for organizations to get poor people the clothes they need to get through the winter and this year at Camden County College was no different.

The annual coat drive at Camden County College this year lasted from Nov. 1 until Dec. 9. Its purpose was to get members of the college community to donate new or gently used coats to people in need. This year, the college collected 136 coats donated by students and faculty at the college.

“It’s a great idea to have a coat drive for the people who need it. I wouldn’t want to be cold during the winter,” said Dan Ballas, a second-year student at the college.

According to the Office of Student Life & Activities at Camden County College, this is the eighth year the school sponsored a coat drive and every year has been more successful than the last. The coat drives are held every fall at the college. The office is looking forward to next fall in hopes of getting even more donations than this year.

Students like Kelly DiMarco, a second-year student at the college, showed they were happy to help out in people’s times of need. “It is nice to know that the coat that just sits in my closet will be able to go to a good cause. I like to help others out when they need it,” DiMarco said. Other students showed the same attitude as they donated coats they rarely used or just didn’t want anymore.

BLACKWOOD – Camden County College’s annual Food Drive ended on Dec. 9.

Camden County College collected food donations at all three of its campuses. By Remy Gardner, CCC Journalism Program

Each year, the college collects non-perishable food items from Nov. 1 to Dec. 9. The collection occurs at a time when many think about those in need, right before the fall and winter holidays. The college joins to collect items with the South Jersey Food Bank in Pennsauken. The Office of Student Life & Activities is in charge of collecting the items from all three campuses, the Rohrer Center in Cherry Hill, the Camden campus and the Blackwood campus. Anyone is welcome to donate to the organization.

This year’s food drive was very successful, more successful than last year’s. Renee Pollard, Office of Student Life & Activities secretary, said she did not feel anything was done differently this year; however; she felt people were more giving and generous. Although the specific number of food items donated were not counted yet, she said she felt content in knowing this was one of the most successful years for donations. An ample amount of canned goods lined the shelves in the Office of Student Life & Activities.

Pollard said one contributor stood out. “One student came in with an entire shopping cart full of items,” she said.

She said she did not feel anything has to be done differently next year, as nothing was done differently this year in comparison to last year, and felt the number of food items collected mainly depends on how openhanded people are feeling.

She stated, “This drive was a lot better than last year’s. People are more concerned with the status of our economy and also the people without jobs. People are in more need. Hopefully, it can help out a lot more people.”

BLACKWOOD – The Camden County College Library is in the process of completing major upgrades to its computer programs.

Many of the upgrades workers have been putting into the computers are the 2010 versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and Powerpoint so students can use them to complete assignments. Another upgrade is attempting to make the system for printing documents for all the computers easier and quicker for students. The library is also upgrading its website so students can search for books and sources the library doesn’t have but will be available online.

Barbara Laynor, a director of the library, says, “These new upgrades will help benefit the students because with these new renovations, students can search for more books much easier, they can print much better now with our new printing system, and also the fact that the 2010 versions of all Microsoft programs are in place for students to do their assignments with. I believe with all these upgrades, students will enjoy these programs and the library as a whole.” Laynor says the upgrades should be finished by the spring semester after workers get the new printing system into the computers.

Many students have taken notice of these new programs. One, Anthony Latrella, who uses these computers daily to do assignments, says, “I love that the library is making new upgrades to their computer programs because now for students and for myself, they can access the computers much better now without any hassle and for me, I can do my assignments for my classes very quickly and efficiently.”

“Students are realizing this and they will see once these programs get underway, they will be skipping away to those computers and seeing how great these upgrades will be,” Laynor says. She also explains students can find out more information on the college website at www.camdencc.edu and on the library website. “I can’t wait for these programs to be installed in our computers. It makes my job much easier now that students can access these programs more efficiently now,” says Laynor.

BLACKWOOD – WDBK radio station presented a turkey trivia game show Nov. 22 in the Cyber Café, playing music and providing prizes to participants.

Mathew Stevens controls the sound board as students enjoy the trivia game show. By Jamie Eglin, CCC Journalism Program

WDBK’s turkey trivia game show, which took place from noon to 1:30 p.m. and was sponsored by the radio station and the Office of Student Life, consisted of games such as “question and answer” and “name that song.” Answer sheets were given out and students were asked to make team names. Certain categories were given, such as urban legends.

“We only do it for fun, to hang out and chill. It is to enjoy the music and get in the Thanksgiving spirit to have some Thanksgiving fun,” Mathew Stevens, who controlled the sound board, said about the purpose of the event.

Ang Lobis, a sophomore at Camden County College who attended the event, said, “I had a really fun time participating in the games and listening to the good music. I can’t wait for the next event they host.”

Some other events that WDBK hosted were in February for Black History Month and music for spring fling.

The radio station’s office is in room 110 in the Community Center, right behind the bookstore, and is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday.

WDBK started in the late ’60s and early ’70s as an AM station, then it converted to an FM station. It is the radio voice of Camden County College and has been serving Camden County College and Camden County since 1977. WDBK is a 100-watt, non-commercial radio station broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 91.5 FM from its studios on the Blackwood campus. WDBK’s job is to give a “real-life radio” learning environment for the students of Camden County College who hope to pursue an occupation in broadcasting and communications.

WDBK is made up of Camden County College students, along with assistance from college faculty and administration. The station manager supervises the daily radio station operations. They provide their listeners with a diverse musical format, news, sports and public service programming. They used to play only alternative rock before they changed it to anything they want, such as techno, rock, classic, hop-hop and pop music.

“We plan to broadcast on the Internet and get access from anywhere,” Stevens noted.

WDBK student volunteers will learn rules and regulations. Those who wish to be on the air will have the chance to learn how to work the broadcast equipment and host a show. Students will learn how to use production equipment, produce promos and public service announcements, among other things. They’ll learn about all the different departments that make up a radio station and have the opportunity to get involved in them.

Nearing completion of her second semester at Camden County College, Julianna Owens, 19, is working hard to move on to a 4-year school. A very bubbly woman, she enjoys shopping, going to concerts, partying and hanging out with her friends.

Owens graduated from Clearview Regional High School in 2010 and attended the University of West Virginia in the fall. After the fall semester, she left West Virginia and began attending CCC Blackwood in the spring of 2011. Transferring back home has allowed Owens to be around her family and friends.

Since coming to CCC, Owens has been getting her general courses out of the way. “I’ve had to take mostly general courses. I don’t like reading and writing, but my favorite class has been psychology,” said Owens.

Next semester Owens is looking forward to taking classes more geared toward her major. After leaving West Virginia, she changed her major to nursing and is anticipating the new classes in the spring. “I would like to become a RN (registered nurse). I’m really looking forward to taking more science and nursing classes in the spring. Hopefully then I will be able to transfer,” said Owens.

After the spring semester, she plans to transfer to a 4-year school, but hasn’t made up her mind. “I haven’t really decided where I’m transferring yet. I want to stay close to home, Rutgers is my top choice,” she said.

While CCC may not have the amenities that a 4-year school has, Owens is glad she decided to attend school here. “I’ve learned a lot of skills that will help me in the 4-year university,” Owens said. “I got a lot of my general courses out of the way for much cheaper than at West Virginia. The classes I take next semester will put me closer to transferring and getting my degree.”

BLACKWOOD – The Camden County College men’s basketball team is eight games through its 23-game season and has a record of 6-2. The Camden County College Cougars’ next game is against Gloucester County College who, in their first game of the season, handed them one of their two losses by a margin of 70-56.

Head Coach Lou Abbattista says, “This next game is a big one, GCC beat us pretty good last time and we need to show up ready to play.” Abbattista thinks the Cougars’ chances are much better this time around considering their record of 3-7. “No team can be taken lightly,” says Abbattista. “We’ve been on a good run here and I’m really liking how the team looks. We’ve got a good shot at winning this game but we need to play hard, like I said no team can be taken lightly.”

The Cougars have won 4 of their last 5 games, their one loss being to a 7-0 Brookdale Community College by a margin of 83-70. The Cougars’ leading scorer, forward John Chesmond, looks to have yet another big game. “It should be a great game, they got us good last time around but we’re gonna come out swinging for sure,” Chesmond says. Chesmond is a sophomore out of Triton High School and towers over the competition at 6’7”. Chesmond has 122 points through eight games and averages just over 15 points per game.

Timothy McDaniels is second in line when it comes to scoring with a total of 112 points in eight games. He averages 14 points per game. Says McDaniels, “I think we have a great shot at beating this team. We’ve got something special going here through the past five games or so, and there’s no doubt in my mind that we can beat Gloucester, we just have to execute.”

The Cougars are only a third of the way through their 23-game season and know that there is a long road to travel. “It’s a long season, we’ve got 15 games to play, and that’s a lot of basketball. We just have to take it one game at a time,” says Assistant Coach Bob Wright. Clearly the Cougars have their work cut out for them; their next big challenge will be against the league-leading Brookdale Community College Jersey Blues. “That will really be the best way to measure the character of our team. Going up against the best team in the league will show us what we’re made of,” says Wright.