The University rejected a proposal to have “Granite State of Mind” creator and viral youtube sensation Christian Wisecarver perform and speak at this years 2010 graduation ceremony in May. School officials said he would not be “appropriate” for the ceremony.

Wisecarver has gained national attention after making “Grantite State of Mind,” a spoof of the popular Jay-Z song, “Empire State of Mind.” Over a million people watched his video on youtube, he was featured on The Today Show, WMUR did a piece on him and he even got a personal phone call from N.H. native Adam Sandler.

by Nalina Shapiro
edited by Erica Jordan

At first glance, the land outside of Pierce Hall on April 27 looked nothing like a garden.

But Catherine Koning, environmental science professor and Eco Club representative, said by next year there will be a recognizable Native Plant Garden. “Over time, as the plants mature, this should be a nice spot to see firsthand what ‘biodiversity’ means—different species, providing different ecological functions for humans and wild creatures,” said Koning. “The plans we are growing are important for birds, butterflies, and other species.”

The garden will include over a dozen plants, all native to New England.  They include lupins, blazing star plants, and cone flowers. There is also a choke cherry tree, a few blueberry bushes and clumps of other various native plants. 

Koning said donations to Eco Club helped make the garden come to life. “Last year donations for Eco Club’s projects came from a house plant sale put on by students but this year let’s just say donations are anonymous,” said Koning.

Once the garden is fully grown, it will be used for science classes. “The idea is education and beautification as well as providing a habitat for birds and wildlife,” said Koning.

Freshmen Ben McDonnell stood on the future garden, tool in hand, helping remove weeds and break up the soil. “It’s important for the environment and it’s nice to have a nice garden around campus,” said McDonnell.

In a little over a year, the blueberry bushes will have berries that students can eat. As far as a vegetable garden goes, Koning smiled at the idea but said it would be hard to maintain. “First we would have to find the funding, and the growing season is mainly in the summer when school is out,” said Koning. “It would be cool though and I would be psyched if it happened.”

Eco Club’s Native Plant Garden Event was part of Earth Week 2010. The Club was supposed to finish planting on April 28, but rescheduled due to the weather. If anyone is interested in helping next Wednesday, Koning will be in front of Pierce hall from 12-2 p.m.

by Nalina Shapiro
edited by Erica Jordan

As the sun began to set over Pearly Pond, a handful of eight to ten students chowed down on Market Basket all Beef Franks, while learning the proper way to grill.

“Who wants a dog?” asked Corey Lawson, senior area experience director at residential life.

 Senior Nick Lenzo jumped right in. “It’s always better when it’s free,” said Lenzo.

Along with free food was free education. Lawson said he wanted to give students tips on how they can reduce cancer causing carcinogens formed when grilling food. “It is better to cook with heat instead of a flame,” said Lawson. “We scraped down this grill before putting the food on it, which also helps.”

There were five tips listed on Lawson’s handout. One tip was to flip frequently. According to the National Cancer Institute, cooking meat at a lower temperature reduces the formation of harmful chemicals like Heterocyclic Amines or HCA’s. Another tip suggested grilling veggies, tofu, quesadillas and even tortillas, because they are healthy BBQ choices.

Lawson said all food cooked over charcoal contains carcinogens. “It’s about reducing the amount of chemicals,” said Lawson.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year about 30 people die and 100 are injured as a result of carbon monoxide fumes from charcoal grills used inside. The CPSC warns since charcoal produces CO fumes until the charcoal is completely extinguished, do not store a grill indoors with freshly used coals.

Facts aside, students at the BBQ focused on the 40 free dogs, bags of marsh-mellows, graham crackers and Hershey’s chocolate bars.

“Alright you make a s’more, I’m making a hot dog,” said senior Mike Ciesla. 

Lawson said the money used to purchase the food came from residential life’s budget. “We will be having another BBQ before the end of the semester,” said Lawson. “It will be on reading day right before finals.”

photo : http://blogs.abcnews.com/campuschatter/2010/04/graduation-goes-green-in-texas.html

by Nalina Shapiro

This years 2010 graduating class will be draped in plastic bottles as they walk across the stage, which is getting national attention.

According to USAToday columnist Mary Beth Marklein and Patricia Garrity, Director of Marketing and Communications, the University Cap & Gown will provide the new gowns. “Ceremonies at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H. will feature graduation wear made of 100 recycled plastic bottles,” said Marklein and Garrity.

Following graduation, the gowns manufacturing company will provide drop-off containers so used gowns can be returned, reused and recycled for future graduations.

“I have not seen the gowns but have heard that they are nicer than our normal gowns,” said Garrity.

Senior Giovanna Harshaw agrees with Garrity.

“The fabric is softer then normal gowns and it was easy to move around in. It also did not have any creases on it when I took it out of the package,” said Harshaw. “It is also good for the environment which is a plus.”

FPU is not the only University taking part in going “green” for graduation.

According to ABC News on Campus reporter Allison Ignacio, the University of Texas in Austin is also using recycled caps and gowns.  Ignacio also said Michigan State University is printing diplomas and graduation programs on recycled paper, Texas State University will be using artificial flowers and Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania is offering biodegradable robes that will easily degrade after one wear.

Senior Lauren Casaletto thinks the green gowns are a great decision.

“The quality of the gown is very impressive considering it was made from recycled plastic. I think it’s a great decision institutions are providing these gowns for this years commencement,” said Casaletto.

According to the Los Angeles Times and Researchers at Wayne State University conducted a study, using information from the Baseball Register. They looked at photos of 230 players who began their careers in professional baseball before 1950.

What they did next was enlarge the players’ pictures and rated their smiles, big smile, no smile, or partial smile. Then the smile rating were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. To be as accurate as possible, the researchers accounted for other factors associated with living longer like body mass index, career length, and college attendance.

So what they found was this:  According to the LATimes and the reachers, the players who had died, their longevity ranged from an average 72.9 years for players with no smiles to 75 years for players with partial smiles to 79.9 years for players with big smiles. In other words, smiling added about seven years on their lives.

The researchers in the LATimes article claim this is no joke. Smiles reflect positive emotion which has been linked to both physical and mental well-being.

This study is published in the journal Psychological Science.

by Nalina Shapiro
edited by Erica Jordan

Inside the Parkman Bandstand Gazebo in Boston Common on Saturday April 10, hairdressers chopped and buzzed away.

With help from volunteers dressed in bright orange t-shirts, The Buzzing for Change Foundation along with Starlight Children’s Foundation of New England, recruited supporters and collected ten dollar donations in exchange for hair cuts.  

Jonelle Prill-Tate, Community Development Officer for Starlight works with children and teenagers living with cancer. “What we do is provide sick children entertainment, education and anything to put a smile on their face,” said Prill-Tate. “They are already going through so much, and anything we can do that will prevent them from taking additional mediation, depression mediation for example, is our goal.”

Junior Rob Harpin is in cancer remission after going through six chemotherapy treatments for non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Harpin said events like Buzzing in Boston matter.“I feel lucky because my case was curable, it only took me six months. You have to realize that you’re always better off than other people in life, and even something small like cutting your hair is going to make a difference,” said Harpin.

photo : http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rharpin/journal

Back in August 2009, doctors found tumors in Harpin’s lungs, one the size of a grapefruit. He also had tumors in his abdomen, kidneys and had an enlarged spleen. In Harpin’s case, he was lucky. His dad works for Pfizer and through connections sent Harpin to Yale-New Haven Hospital.

“I know not everyone can be treated by the best doctors,” said Harpin.

That reason is why Harpin said giving back is so important. “They saved my life at Yale. Even though my cancer was curable, at one point I was in the ICU for three days, with internal bleeding, dying, because of a cancerous cell on my intestines,” said Harpin.

Harpin said foundations like Starlight that provide emotional support along with others that donate money towards cancer research, are lifesavers.  “Ten years ago when people heard the word cancer, many thought you could not recover, now that is possible,” said Harpin.

In the meantime, children living with cancer or going through treatments rely on foundations like Starlight to help them and their families pull through difficult times.

Prill -Tate said nothing is more satisfying then bringing a little joy back into  the lives of sick children.

“One time we took the kids and families to a Celtics parade on St. Patty’s day. That was really fun for everyone,” said Prill-Tate.

Now that Harpin has gotten through chemo, he is back at school, and said he could not feel any better. “I feel one hundred percent right now,” said Harpin.

Harpin, a media production major, said he is looking forward to the future. “This summer I have an internship at Fox National News in New York City and also might be taking over the sports re-cap with my friend next year,” said Harpin. “I look at this as another experience in my life, and you just move on.”

She Said

Every time I sign onto Facebook or other social networking sites I ask myself, why?

Why do I get satisfaction looking through people’s pictures, commenting on silly photos and updating my status? One thing is for sure, I am not alone. Any day of the week, on most computer screens around campus, people are logged onto a social networking site.

Is it worth the time?

Personally, I limit myself to a few brief times a day. It may seem like a lot, but I use Facebook for networking purposes as well as social. I have found that everyone from my internships is connected through Facebook, Linkedin and sometimes Twitter. For that reason, I think it is a great tool.

On the other hand, I believe that some people abuse social networking sites. In this day and age, all types of technology that helps connect people should be taken advantage of, but not for the wrong reasons. Anything in excess is not good for you, and that includes Facebook. There is a fine line between social networking and obsession. I notice a lot of youth transferring most of their personal social interactions online, which is not healthy. As a result, relationships, romantic and platonic fail or at least culminate extra drama that without Facebook for example, would not exist. It is also not healthily for human beings to take too much direct contact away from one another. Something I am guilty of myself is falling into the easy trap of using messaging, Facebook chat or other forms of impersonal forms of communication to form new relationships or address conflicts. The problem is, when you have direct contact with the person, everything changes and the relationship was not the same as it was online.

How can we balance the advantages of social networking sites with the negatives?

Similar to anything else in life, people need to prioritize and use self control. Every time I have the urge to log onto Facebook or Linkedin I waita second, ask why I am doing it, and sometimes treat it like a reward. On days when I accomplished a lot and am very busy I spend time connecting with old friends or goofing around. The problem is when Facebook and other sites begin to harm people’s grades, goals and life. At this point it is time for cyber detox. I am still waiting for the day a rehab center opens that specializes in social networking addiction.

by Jeff Payne

He Said

I definitely spend too much time on social networking sites. The proof of that is that I am writing this He Said at 5:13 AM as a break from a dense collection of homework assignments. Why is this? Because during the daylight hours when I should be getting this work done I was spending time on facebook and twitter seeing what’s going on with friends and celebrities who I don’t even know but wish I did. The appeal is obvious; it’s so fascinating to see what’s going on everyone’s lives from your close friends to old acquaintances from the younger school years. However it’s starting to take over people’s lives! I know this isn’t just my problem either.  I can see that there are four other people available for facebook chat even at 5:13 in the morning. The people who are available keep changing too so there’s an even greater number of people who spend a little too much time social networking. It’s a problem that hopefully I and all of the other social networking junkies may one day quit.

photo: diseaseproof.com

by Nalina Shapiro

Placing an order for an extra cheesy large pizza or a juicy double cheeseburger, might leave a bitter taste.

Somewhere, in the massive U.S. health care bill, there is a new law requiring restaurants with 20 or more locations to include calorie counts on menus, menu boards and even drive-throughs. The law also requires the Food and Drug Administration to create new national standards for menu labeling.

The goal of the change is raise customer awareness and allow them to process the calorie information. Right now, many restaurants post nutritional information on a side wall but now calorie counts will be hard to avoid.

The restaurant industry supports the bill, which will vary from state to state. New York City was the first in the country to put the calorie posting law into place. Since then, California, Seattle and other places did the same.

According to the Associated Press and Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said it is one step in the fight against obesity.

“Coffee drinks can range from 20 calories to 800 calories, and burgers can range from 250 calories to well over 1,000 calories,” said Wootan.

 According to the AP, there are meals excluded from the law like specials on a menu less than 60 days. Also, other nutritional information in addition to calories will have to be available somewhere else in the restaurant.

 Vending machines will also be required to post calorie counts as well as other vendors that do not have visible labels on the front package.

 Currently, the effect of labeling is unclear. According to the AP and the online journal Health Affairs, only half of customers in poor New York City neighborhoods with high rates of obesity and diabetes even noticed the new labels. To an even further extent, the accuracy of the calorie counts may be off. The American Dietetic Association published a survey of 10 chain restaurants and found calories in 29 meals and menu items averaged 18 percent higher than listed.

Taped outside the community service office, a sign read “pop it, wiggle it, donate, save it.”

Paula Slowe organized a drive to collect can tabs which will benefit the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Springfield, Massachusetts.  Slowe is a sophomore and Community Service Coordinator.

For Slowe, helping children holds personal meaning.

“Over the summer I worked at a church with kids who were really sick. I know that the smallest things can help,” said Slowe.

This semester, Slowe’s goal is to collect 25 pounds of tabs, something that should not be hard to accomplish, considering last semester 55 pounds were donated.

“A few changes I made this semester were making flyers I put in students mailboxes and also contacted Jim Earle who sent out a campus wide email,” said Slowe.

She hopes with more publicity, the number of tabs donated will exceed her current goal.

“Students end up of having lots of empty cans after their weekend parties. They are going to throw them out anyway, so why not donate them to a great cause,” said Slowe.

Senior Derek Flodin said he likes the idea.  “I would donate my tabs if I knew exactly what they were going towards. If it was not an organized event, I probably would not,” said Flodin.

Once the tabs are collected, Slowe is bringing them to Shriner’s, and the money collected goes towards medical and non-medical needs. Items the hospital will purchase include a trailer to transport medical needs and infusion pumps used to dispense pain medication. Since 1922, Shriner’s has provided free medical care, specializing in burn victims, clef lips and orthopedics, for children up to 18 years old.

The only challenge facing Slowe is the lack of student motivation.  “A lot of times people forget, even when they are told several times,” said Slowe.

Marabeth Farmer, Assistant Director for Community Service, said, “Anyone who wants to throw in a dollar instead of a tab is more than welcome to do so.”   A table will be set up March 22-26 in the glass foyer.

photo: provided by Bloomberg

by Nalina Shapiro

Experts warn this is not a new diet. 

 A new study found that women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol do not gain as much weight as those who refrain.   On Tuesday, March 9, the Archives of Internal Medicine were the first to find that alcohol may curb weight gain in women.

 Unusual, is the word to describe the new findings. Typically alcohol consumption is not advised for people trying to lose weight. 

 Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston conducted a study over a period of 13 years. They examined 19,220 women who enrolled in the long-running Women’s Health Study.

 What they found was surprising.

 Women, who drank 15 to 30 grams a day, or a drink or two, were 30% less likely to be overweight or obese at the end of the study period. 

 A 5-ounce glass of wine contains about 125 calories, and a regular 12-ounce beer has about 150. 

 How could this have happened?

 The researchers are still unclear what accounted for the results, but did come to possible conclusions. Women burn more calories than men do after drinking, which provided researchers with a possible biological explanation.  Also, researchers found that women who drink have different lifestyle habits. They were more likely to consume fewer calories in a day, and chose less fating foods.  Women were also more likely to smoke, which lead health experts to advise the research should not translate into advice for women, rather new findings.

Beer, red wine, white wine and spirits were consumed for the study but in the end red wine had the biggest effect.