Is Accepting Applications for the 2012-2013

D. Llewellyn Evans $Scholarship$

A total of $30,000 is available.

Recipients will be chosen based on:

Academic Excellence

Financial Need

In the past, individual awards have ranged from $500 to $5000.

Applications are available for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who plan to continue their education at Becker in 2012-2013

Students with financial need and a C.G.P.A. of 3.25 or higher are encouraged to apply.

To print application go to:

www.becker.edu

Or visit: In Worcester: Financial Aid Office, 47 Sever Street

In Leicester: Student Accounts, Fuller Campus Center

HURRY! APPLICATION DEADLINE IS: APRIL 1, 2011

In the spring and fall  months, finding parking is really not that difficult and a short walk is  nothing to complain about when the weather is pleasant.  Though I can wish for year round tropical  weather, all that daydreaming is making me late for class. So when the leaves start falling off the trees and you  can feel a bite in the air, you know that the winter parking bans are  coming.  After a large snowfall, parking  on the street is a dream that’s not coming true.  The parking lots fill up rapidly, and extra  lots are opened to provide some minimal relief.  However those lots close at 6:00PM so anyone with a 6:15 night class is  again relegated to circling around campus wasting their $3.77-a-gallon  gas.  As the snow begins to melt, street  parking opens up. However there are so few spaces that one is always risking a  parking ticket that will lighten your wallet for the equivalent of about 10  gallons of that gas.

This doesn’t only affect the people of Becker.  In South Boston, it has become somewhat of a  tradition for people to “save” their parking spaces with objects like lawn  chairs, doors and even old wooden closets.  Just last week, after the major blizzard, the Mayor notified people that  if they did not remove their place holders by Thursday February 14^th  at 6PM, the city would forcibly take them.  Clearly these people don’t have the right to mark city property as their  own, but these bans and the lack of parking gives them little choice in the  matter.  This is a nightmare for people  who live there, and it seems outrageously unfair to give people parking tickets  for parking in front of their own homes.  In such highly populated areas these problems are unavoidable, but the  longer you have to contend with them the smoother the process becomes.  If only to save the reader from another rant,  the spring cannot come any faster!

Jesse Quigley; Staff Writer

I felt the pressure of this “inability” to act at the beginning of
the Fall semester. I took a class called Women of the World, with Dr. Howe and
Dr. Pallatto-Fontaine, which discusses the plight and injustice women face
throughout the world and how it affects everyone. I would highly suggest the
class for anyone who has a social conscience or has an innate desire to become
inspired.

During the semester we took several field trips to several
non-profit organizations and discussed those organizations we could not
visit.  One of these field trips was
dinner at the Catholic Worker House right down the street from our Worcester
campus, where we conversed and ate with several people who happened to be
homeless and the lovely people who opened their home to them. The class opened
my eyes and mind to such discrimination and prejudice that I could not continue
walking through life pretending I did not learn or witness these disturbing
issues first-hand.

Let me fill you in on a little history before I continue. The
Catholic Worker Movement is grounded in a firm belief in the God-given dignity
of every human person. Today 213 Catholic Worker communities remain committed
to nonviolence, voluntary poverty, prayer, and hospitality for the homeless,
exiled, hungry, and forsaken. Catholic Workers continue to protest injustice,
war, racism, and violence of all forms.

Catholic Workers live a simple lifestyle in community, serve the
poor, and resist war and social injustice. Most are grounded in the Gospel,
prayer, and the Catholic faith, although some houses are interfaith. Each
Catholic Worker house is independent, and there is no “Catholic Worker
headquarters.”

Income for Catholic Worker houses can come from outside jobs held
by members or by cottage industries developed by the community, but most houses
survive on donations.

Every Catholic Worker house can use donations of money and/or
specific items like food, clothing, etc.
Most can also use volunteers from the surrounding community to help with
the work.

Alright, now that you understand what the Catholic Worker House is
all about, I can proceed with my story. During the course of the semester I
felt a deep-seeded desire to help those people who were less fortunate than me.  I knew I had limited time and very limited
funds.  What could I possibly do to help
rid the world of these terrible things?

I discussed it with my professors, and I took it upon myself to
obtain permission from Chartwells (the company who caters Becker’s food) to
collect any perishable goods when the Hawks Nest closes on Friday afternoons.
This went off without a hitch. The day I approached Robin for permission was
the same day I made my first solo delivery to the Catholic Worker House. I felt
such a genuine gratitude radiating from these people when I offered them
Becker’s donation. I have done this donation every Friday since…

I am sincerely extending an invitation to each and every person
who reads this article to act. I would like each of you to do one thing to help
out another person, animal, or organization. You need to be the change you want
to see in this world. It is as simple as picking up a box of food, driving two
miles down the road, and dropping it off.

Worcester is filled with those who are less fortunate than you. Do
not try to pretend as if you have never seen a homeless person while you were
walking to class. It’s upsetting. I want you to DO something about it! Be
someone who lives up to those core values!

If homelessness isn’t what you are passionate about, then find your niche! Join the Big Brother Big
Sister Organization; volunteer at an animal shelter; help an elderly person
cross the road; avoid littering; practice random acts of kindness. Just do
something! Anything! This world can be as dismal or as bright as you choose.
You are capable of making it brighter by caring about something. We are all
fighting our own battles. Lend a hand when you can.

Terri Boulier, Staff Writer

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Worcester, the Figueros
have been at Becker since 2007. They started out in housekeeping all while
they’ve been starting families of their own and studying at separate colleges.
Lynelis switched to the dining services in 2010, as she is more interested in
culinary arts.

Notable for their long hair, they may be easily spotted
around campus. They’ve kept it since they were young and don’t plan to make any
drastic changes any time soon. Lynelis says they “do everything together”
and are very alike; they’re twins.

Lynelis has been at Quinsigamond Community College since
2004 working for degrees in Culinary Arts and Nursing. She works every day at
Becker whether she’s in the role of cashier or cook behind the counter. This
spring, she took off a semester from Quinsig because of how overwhelming her
life has become. Soon to be 28, Lynelis has one child to care for at home.

As for Lynette, she has also studied Nursing. She hopes to
get her certificate from Salter College in Executive Office. Lynette would like
to find a nursing opportunity after graduation. Also a mother, she has two kids
at home and is pregnant with a third. Monday to Friday she cleans out three
residence halls and the Hawk’s Nest. On Saturday she has seven residence halls
to clean. As much as she enjoys her job, Lynette is not a fan of the messes the
students make. The most notable is the sports equipment that’s left out and
stinks up the halls.

Part of Lynelis’ previous position involved being a cashier.
The two would be equally ideal at that position as they are both naturally nice
and friendly. Unfortunately for Lynette, that’s not in her current job
description. In fact, students have been rude towards her and the maintenance
staff. They prank the staff and leave garbage for them to intentionally clean
up. Some have done it for they feel superior to her and treat her as a maid.
Students have also felt embarrassed to talk with her as they feel like they
are, as she says, “better” than the maintenance crew. Lynette has
felt alone during her shifts since she has no one to relate to; she’s the
youngest in housekeeping.

Lynelis’ previous tasks were not always hunky dory. Students
have been completely ignorant of dining hours, tried to get in free, and
attempted to get in after the doors closed. Lynelis says, “they don’t
read.” There are students who take cups, silverware, and food out of the
dining hall, which they’re not supposed to do. Staff in the dining hall must
clean tables, although Lynelis thinks some customers have a lack of manners.
Groups of students leave plates and food and dismiss the blame for the mess.

Starting in the fall of 2012, Lynelis was moved to the deli
station. She says it is better than swiping cards at the door. Although, once
in a while she gets attitude from new people about how they want their sandwich
made. Those who are positioned at the door also clean tables. Lynelis is glad
to have a new position; it is easier to clean up the deli after use. She also
has a say in what goes on in the cafeteria. Others who have used the deli that
did not clean up as well were moved. She also trains new employees.

Nevertheless, Lynette and Lynelis are grateful for having
their jobs and are friendly with most of the Becker community. In the long run,
they plan to move on from Becker. Each is looking forward to a career at a
hospital, either in deskwork or as a nurse. Lynelis fantasizes about moving to
Florida or even Georgia. That news left Lynette with a surprised reaction
during our conversation. Even with all of their life goals in mind, Lynette
said she might die here in housekeeping.

As an update, I spoke with President Johnson. I wanted to
know how he goes about scheduling meetings with the maintenance staff. I was
struck with the idea that these are formal meetings that the twins had
mentioned. President Johnson informs me that he merely walks around campus
asking how the staff is doing. This is all that the Figueros ask for,
recognition and appreciation.

Brendan Testa, Staff Writer

*Reprinted with Permission

In 2008, most of the young voters ages 18-25 took to the polls and punched the blue ticket. Since 2008 those same voters were dissuaded from making the same decision.

According to a press release, published by Luna Media Group, the demographics for which President Obama received votes have changed since his first election.

According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), in the past election 98% of young black women voted for Obama, 41% of young white men voted for Obama, and there were many indications that some groups are either dissatisfied or angry with Obama.

According to the press release, most young white men who voted for Obama in the 2008 election are either dissatisfied or angry with Obama. In addition, young Hispanic women were detailed as the most liberal of groups during the 2012 election.

In a second study, CIRCLE and Tufts University released the following statements:

Young Black and Hispanic women provided the strongest support for President Obama. A majority admired him, much as they did in 2008. Young Hispanic women voters were the most liberal of all groups. Compared to older Hispanic voters, they were more liberal and less likely to be religious. Women voters were more liberal and supportive of President Obama than their male counterparts of the same race/ethnicity. Women also considered President Obama’s response to Hurricane Sandy an important factor in deciding their votes.

Young White women, the most influential youth constituency because of their size and turnout, were split in half on many issues that challenge our nation, including their choice for president, their view of the government, and abortion. Young White men, as a group, held a quite different view of the President, the role of the government, and how to move forward with immigration reform than all the other groups. They were unhappy with the way the economy was, and wanted Governor Romney to improve the economy. Young Hispanic men cast 9% of the youth vote, up from 6% in 2008.

Among the minority groups, they were most likely to affiliate with the Republican Party or consider themselves independents, but two-thirds of them voted for President Obama. Young Black men voters were somewhat more conservative and younger in 2012 than in 2008. Young Black men voters were less excited about President Obama than Black women voters in 2008, and the voters in 2012 were more likely to identify as Republicans and Independents than they did in 2008.

Although a majority of Black men voters supported President Obama again, a larger portion of them voted for the Republican candidate this year than the same group did in 2008. Young White women’s influence in the youth electorate has decreased since 2008, while Hispanic influence has increased: 42% of young voters were persons of color – and for the first time, the Hispanic vote share surpassed the Black vote share. In 2008, the Hispanic youth vote was 14% of the youth electorate.

This year, it increased to 18%. Asian-American voters now represented five percent of the youth vote. Male voters were generally more conservative and less supportive of President Obama. Among male voters, the most notable trend was a decrease in support for President Obama among young Black men since 2008. Young voters were generally supportive of abortion and same-sex marriage regardless of gender and race. President Obama’s response to Hurricane Sandy won back youth support, especially from young women of color.

At the conclusion of the 2012 election, President Obama was able to procure the presidency, namely due to his support from young voters and the support of all different genders and races. To find more information or read the press release, visit civicyouth.com.

Kevin Coyne, 2012, Features Editor (The Glacier)

About the Author

Kevin Coyne , Class of 2012, is the former Editor-in-Chief of the Becker Journal Online. Kevin now serves as a regular writer and Features Editor of The Glacier, student newspaper of Morraine Valley Community College of Illinois.

*Coyne, Kevin M.. “Young voters swayed since 2008 | The Glacier.” The Glacier | The Student Newspaper of Moraine Valley Community College. N.p., 7 Dec. 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2013. <http://www.mvccglacier.com/2012/12/young-voters-swayed-since-2008/>.

Becker’s Student Government Association Summary for Fall 2012

The first Student Government Association (SGA) meeting of the 2012-2013 year was on September 9, 2012 in the Boutin Student Center on the Worcester campus. Approximately 12 guests joined in to voice concerns, ask questions, or purely to watch the meeting unfold.

The unanimous goal of the visitors was to have more campus activities. There did not seem to be a way for students at the time to get information on what events would be held in the near future. The major concern was the status of Cold Stone Creamery trips and movie trips. Also, students were concerned about the variety of foods available in the Boutin Student Center dining hall and Weller Building’s Hawk’s Nest. There was a proposal of distributing a survey for new dining hall hours as well.

SGA’s own Ray Sgambati was concentrated on having new rules implemented for smoking on campus. Proposed ideas included having smoking signs posted near entrances or possibly putting up a tent or gazebo for smokers. Clubs that attended included Tabletop Gaming, which seemed to be off to a good start, Campus Activities Board, Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), and the Mazunte Turtle Project, which had a Mexico trip planned for the future.

September 23 came around with fewer visitors, but with the same concerns. It had been decided that no trips to Cold Stone would occur in September. During the meeting, I was surprised to learn that the Worcester weight room was not open at the usual hours of previous semesters. It was rumored that the weight room would be closing. A guest came to discuss future activities for sophomore students and to construct a council, or committee, for the sophomore class.

SGA Vice President Kevin Finkelstein announced his plans for Becker to offer students free sandwiches during late-night hours. He was concerned that the dining hall was not open late enough and that students would go hungry before bed.

The meeting for club budgets was on September 30. The following clubs discussed their goals and received budgets: Animal Health Club, Black Student Union (BSU), Gay-Straight Alliance, Mazunte Turtle Project, Pre-Veterinary Club, SWAG, Ski & Snowboard Club, Student Athletic Advisory Committee, Tree Club, and our own Student Government Association. It was decided that more student groups should form and that SGA should provide adequate resources for those groups. Also, discount movie tickets would be available for October.

On October 14, the Gay-Straight Alliance announced results for surveys that had been handed out. Of the 129 students and staff who responded, 95% were LGBT friendly. Similar surveys were planned for the future. International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and Music Club both joined and announced plans to start up. Tabletop Gaming returned to announce growth in membership and to ask for funding. Approximately 11 guests attended. Their concerns this time were SGA members making rude comments against visitors, the low usage of the new Fuller Student Center on the Leicester campus on the weekends, and a nurse needed on the Worcester campus. Proposals made were a bike rack for Willow Hall, a fourth washing machine in Willow Hall, physical ads for upcoming activities, advertisements on HawkTV, more off-campus activities, and weekly on-campus Worcester activities on Thursdays and Fridays. President Johnson was said to visit at the next meeting.

The college President joined us on October 21. He wanted to know what our concerns were. A conversation began on an attempt to boost security on the Worcester campus. More lighting at night, possibly floodlights on buildings, was proposed. Christian Student Union joined to announce plans to start up again after seemingly being dormant. A number of SGA members were interested in inviting motivational speaker, Eric Thomas, to speak at Becker one night as well.

This meeting was interesting in that stricter rules for SGA members were discussed. A handful of members were missing on one too many Sundays. Probation and punishment for executives who misbehave was proposed and would lead into impeachment and removal from office. One of the SGA members was impeached for missing the majority of meetings. A grade point average of 2.5 was also added to the rules in order for someone to be a member. On November 4, training would begin for SGA members.

On November 4, the Student Nurses Club budget was approved. Sophomore Year Experience was said to have a good turnout, but needed to get the word out of its existence. SGA Vice President, Kevin, had been working on the midnight sandwiches idea for some time; the business plan was being created at that moment. Security cameras and lighting for parking lots in Worcester was discussed, and a Student Safety Committee was proposed. The Student Government has its own lounge in the Boutin Student Center that was not being used. Each member had office hours to overlook its running. Members were not completing office hours. They were advised to start doing so at the meeting.

On November 11, recycling in the residence halls was discussed. More bins were needed, or the bins available needed to be emptied more often. It was discovered that of the college activity e-mails sent out, 11% were opened. A meeting to discuss the long talked-about smoking signs was to be scheduled. It was also announced that an emerging leaders program, BLUE Crew, would be starting in the spring. As an update to the previous week’s problem with office hours, members were not able to enter the lounge because keys for the door were not available.

The last meeting occurred on November 25. A Commuter Committee was proposed and SGA gained a new Parliamentarian and a Sophomore Class Vice President. Both President and Vice President of the Freshman Class had positions up for grabs.

To end Fall 2012 for SGA, the members enjoyed dinner together on December 6 at Buca di Beppo.

Brendan Testa, Staff Writer

George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Campus Center

Bite of Becker

Leicester Dining Experience

 School lunches are notorious for being looked down upon as disgusting, as are the areas in which they are served. Luckily Becker College’s dining halls have yet to be seen this way.

In June of 2012, the student voices of Becker were heard, and Becker’s Student Government Association got the school to bring Chartwells to cater for the students. Chartwells works hard to turn the lunches into delicious, nutritious meals to get students through the day. Chartwells’ chef Dennis Brown says, “The new student center, opened in the fall semester of 2012, is a great improvement to what they had before.” Brown also says “The eight different buffet areas allow for a wider variety of foods because of increased space.” Chef Brown also loves how they can “feature a deli salad” or a student can “get a whole meal from the grill area.” Of these great new improvements Brown’s favorite part about the whole dining setup is the feature grill, where sautéed pasta or stir-fry can be found. Brown likes to call it the ethnic station because it often “features Indian, Italian, Korean, and other ethnic cuisines.”

A good atmosphere is one of the most important parts of any eating experience, and the Leicester dining hall has a comfortable one. It has glass walls to provide decent scenery and calming music to listen to while you eat. Freshman Tyler commented, “I like the music,” plain simple and satisfactory.

Another contributing factor to a positive eating experience is cleanliness. I was happy to see all the windows and glass walls free of fingerprints and smudges. At first glance the dining hall would seem clean; it was “good enough” for an anonymous male enjoying his lunch. I suppose as long as you’re not looking at the floors it would be good enough to me too. The floors, unfortunately, looked completely unswept at a closer look, and the cereal and toaster counters were infested with crumbs. Senior Kirsten states that she “wished they wiped the tables off more” as she sat down, staring repugnantly at a table strewn with salt and food. The counters and utensils near the hot and cold foods appeared much cleaner. The plates, bowls, cups, and silverware did as well.

Along with all this, food storage is a very important part of sanitation. There are six elements that promote bacteria in food when it comes to storage: food, acidity, time, temperature, oxygen, and moisture. The acronym is FAT TOM. There is a salad bar in the center of the other food stations in Leicester. All contents found here, from vegetables to compound salads to dressings, are meant to be kept cold. The cooling system keeps them at a proper temperature of 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Some desserts are also kept in a refrigeration unit. The thermometer there reads 40 degrees, which is barely, but still in, the temperature danger zone of 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the pies here are moist and set in the right temperature, they are a ticking time bomb. Some of the decadent desserts are also outside of the refrigerator for the taking with whipped cream sitting at a temperature of around 75.5 degrees, as reported by one of the Chartwell workers.

There is a more positive side to the food storage, however. The hot food has four main segments: grill, pizza, entrée, and specialty. There is a heat lamp to keep the pizza hot and steam tables to control the other three food stations. Chef Rus says, “The pizza is changed out periodically,” that way there is no chance of bacteria growing on the hot food. Brooke, senior and student body president says, “There is a great variety of hot meals that changes every day. Cultural differences and student needs are also met by Chartwells.”

There is a large selection of drinks to go along with the meals including milks, sodas, juices, and water. A group of freshmen says the drink selection is just fine. They say the selection sometimes seems larger than the food selection, though. Freshman Andrew stated that he would particularly like to see Pepsi and a non-alcoholic frozen drink bar. This is perhaps a farfetched idea, but a good one at that.

If you’re looking for a relaxing environment for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, head over to the Leicester dining hall. The lunch rush begins at 12:20pm, so come before or after to avoid the cafeteria being packed to capacity. “The crowds are crazy because this is when all the classes get out, save yourself.” (Sophomore Laura)

Join us next time for a look at Worcester’s dining hall and another “Bite of Becker”!

Victoria Horning, Staff Writer

Gun Control Policy in the United States

AR-15 Semi-Automatic Assault Rifle w/ 30-round clip; Weapon used during Aurora shooting

Policy surrounding the legal ownership and usage of firearms has provided for an extraordinarily complex political argument. Unlike most other civil issues, there is no one defining aspect of “gun control”; the idea is broken up into different aspects. Of these components (which include distribution restrictions, magazine capacity, and efforts to keep guns away from the mentally ill), perhaps the most controversial element is the proposed restriction on “Assault Weapons.”

Contrary to popular belief, the term “Assault Weapon” does not necessarily refer to an automatic firearm. Automatic weapons have not legally been produced in or imported to the United States since the Hughes Amendment of 1986. According to The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, an “’Assault weapon’ means any Semi-automatic rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine (and has one or more features such as a pistol grip or thumbhole stock, a folding or telescoping stock, or a shroud attached to the barrel…), or a semi-automatic pistol… with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition.” It should be noted that this definition is given by a biased organization primarily interested in limiting gun ownership and usage.

Those opposed to such restrictions may contest that an “Assault Weapon” should not be deemed a term of legal standard, as the differences between such weapons and hunting rifles are seen as minimal. While similarities can be found between hunting rifles and semi-automatic “assault weapons” – such as the internal structure of the weapon as well as its basic function – The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence shares an opposing viewpoint. The organization claims that “Assault weapons are distinguishable from other semi-automatic firearms based on the combat-style features that allow a shooter to control the weapon while rapidly spraying large amounts of fire,” referring to the above-mentioned elements of an “assault weapon” that enhance rapid-fire capabilities by reducing recoil and increasing the user’s stability and control over the weapon. Again, there is a counterargument to this view; is an increase in recoil stability and control dangerous? Or, in reality, does it improve accuracy, thereby reducing accidental misfire and increasing overall public safety? It seems that the core of the argument is based upon whether or not one believes in the alleged significant combat advantage given to the user of the firearm.

Recently, President Barack Obama proposed legislation that the capacity of magazines in such firearms be limited. The reasoning behind this proposal is fairly obvious; if a criminal does not have to reload while using a firearm, more damage can and will be incurred. The strongest counterargument to this limitation involves personal safety. A gun ownership advocate may contest that criminals will always have access to high-capacity magazines, and therefore will have a significant advantage over law-abiding gun-owners in the case of a firefight. This contention brings about the central point in this entire discussion: what is the necessary number of bullets in a magazine to serve the purpose of the defense of one’s family and property?

If one doesn’t possess enough bullets in a magazine, then he or she is at a defensive disadvantage against an attacker; but if too many bullets are available per clip, criminals will have a new advantage at their disposal. At what point is this median determined?

The same principle can be applied to the types of firearms available to the public. Few would deny that citizens should have the right to possess enough firepower to defend themselves, but how much firepower is enough, without giving criminals the upper hand? At what point is this line of necessity drawn?Assault rifles? Machine guns? Cannons? Tanks? With new legislation well underway, we’ll find out soon enough.

Kevin Finkelstein, Staff Writer

References:

Agresti, James D., and Reid K. Smith. “Gun Control Facts.” Just Facts. N.p., 13 Sept. 2012. Web. 14 Feb. 2013. <http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp>.

Klimas, Liz. “So What Is an ‘Assault Rifle’ Really? We Look at the Definitions and How the Term Is ‘Demonized’ | Video | TheBlaze.com.” Breaking news and opinion on TheBlaze. N.p., 11 Jan. 2013. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/01/11/so-what-is-an-assault-rifle-really-we-look-at-the-definitions-and-how-the-term-is-demonized/>.

Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “Model Law to Ban Assault Weapons and Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines.” Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. N.p., 1 Dec. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <smartgunlaws.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Law_Center_Assault_Weapons_LCAMs_2012_Model_Law.pdf>.

Singer, Alan. “Does the US Constitution Prevent Gun Control?.” Huff Post: Politics. Huffington Post, 10 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. <www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-singer/gun-control-constitution_b_2657841.html>.

Super Bowl XLVII Exemplifies the Reality of Momentum

     

Superbowl XLVII*

Those of us that took physics in high school may know that momentum is defined as “the quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity.”¹ But what is momentum as it relates to sports? It is a collective mentality of confidence. Momentum (in sports) is gathered by a team that consistently makes game-changing plays. In team sports, such as football and basketball, this collective mentality is utilized by successful teams on their way to victory. Super Bowl XLVII provided viewers with a prime example of the reality of sports-related momentum.

To adequately understand this example, some background should be provided about the match-up. The San Francisco 49ers faced off against the Baltimore Ravens. The teams were very similar, as they both possessed league-leading defensive units, inconsistent quarterbacks, and unbelievable rushing attacks. This game had the makings of a low-scoring, defensive showdown; it turned out to be the polar opposite. The high-scoring affair saw both sides accumulating many points through the air. That being said, the game would not be seen as a “shootout,” as the scoring was accomplished at completely different times of the game. The Ravens, led by cannon-armed quarterback Joe Flacco, offensively dominated the first half. The incredible turnaround that took place after the first half is the focus of this article.

To open the second half, the Ravens continued their dominance; they returned their first kickoff return opportunity for the longest touchdown in NFL history (Jacoby Jones, 109 yards). Then, after 49ers’ quarterback Colin Kapernick was sacked to the turf, something unprecedented occurred; the stadium lights blew out. There was total darkness, nothing worked; not even the scoreboard. After the power surge, it took the stadium maintenance crew at least thirty minutes to turn the lights back on. This is where momentum comes into play. The Ravens, after a dominant first half and a great start to the second, had plenty of momentum before the loss of electricity; their defense was “lights out”. This thirty minute break, however, seemed to be enough to end their momentum, and give the 49ers another chance.

Kapernick took full advantage and came out firing. After a touchdown over the middle to receiver Michael Crabtree, the 49ers defense held Flacco and the Ravens to a three-and-out, and punt returner Ted Ginn Jr. took a punt right back into enemy territory. Frank Gore finished off that drive with a ten yard run, and just like that, it was a one-posession game. Several drives later, Kapernick ran in for a touchdown, bringing the game within two points; they didn’t score on the two-point conversion, though, as Kapernick overthrew receiver Randy Moss on a hitch route. Only up two points, the Ravens scored a field goal and established a five point lead, giving the 49ers one last chance

The 49ers made great use of their last drive. Crabtree and Gore were instrumental in moving the ball down the field, and giving Kapernick several chances to score from within the Ravens’ 10 yard line. The last attempt is a controversial play that will live in infamy in the eyes of San Francisco fans; the Ravens’ defender clearly held Michael Crabtree during a play that should have been called pass interference. The call wasn’t made, and the Ravens effectively ran out the clock, leaving the 49ers only with a punt return opportunity. The 49ers didn’t capitalize, and lost Super Bowl XLVII.

San Francisco didn’t come back and win, but their strong attempt proved a phenomenon that has been evidenced many times throughout sports history. The power outage of Super Bowl XLVII shows that momentum does exist in the world of sports. It is a collective mentality of confidence that must be understood and utilized by all teams that have an interest in victory.

Kevin Finkelstein, Staff Writer

^{1 Definition obtained from Oxforddictionaries.com}

*Photo courtesy of colorlines.com

Becker College invites cancer awareness group, 15-40 Connection, to introduce programs to entice students into regularly undergoing medical assessments. The 15-40 Connection was created to share insight on an alarming statistic; individuals, ages 15 to 40 (hence the name 15-40 Connection), are not contributing to cancer awareness and prevention.

Individuals whose age falls in the 15-40 category are feeling as though they are invincible. As a result, simple symptoms are overlooked, and therefore, at times, cancer diagnosis is overlooked as well. The mission of 15-40 Connection is to raise awareness of all cancers. By raising awareness of all cancers, the group becomes a catchall for folks whose lives have been affected by cancer.

At Becker College, the group is being led by five students, and some of its programs are already being planned and will be implemented in the near future. The idea of 15-40 Connection is to allow students to see the importance of being checked regularly by a doctor. Through this program, students are able to join together despite the effect cancer has had on their individual lives. The 15-40 Connection is always open to new members, and the group will set up a table after the holiday break to get the word out about the 15-40 Connection.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Kevin M. Coyne, Editor-in-Chief