THE
Philadelphia, PA December-January 2010/11
Amid Decorating Night Chaos, Classes Triumph
Olivia Marcinka
‘13
_____________
Sweat dripping in the bit-
ter air of a December night,
friends turning into enemies,
enemies into friends, and social
Erin Barnes ‘14 holds up one of the many snowflakes crafted by the freshman class
for the Dining Hall. The themes were, in reverse order: Fifth Avenue Christmas, A
Classic Christmas, Gingerbread and Dr. Seuss/Whoville. Photo by Kirk Martyn ‘14.
Carol Night: Resounding Success
Kerry O’Brien
‘14
___________
A celebration before finals,
a well-known tradition, and an
enjoyable night for the Chestnut
Hill College community; that is
what Carol Night is all about.
Held every year in the Rotunda,
Carol Night spotlights musicians
and their ensembles. On Dec.
3, new and returning students
along with faculty, staff, and lo-
cal community members gath-
ered to see performances by the
Chamber Orchestra, the Jazz
Ensemble, Hill Singers, as well
as soloist Jackie Trujillo, and
new all-mens singing group, the
Fontbonne Four.
Being a long-held tradition
at Chestnut Hill College, Car-
ol Night is a follow-up to the
Christmas Decorating Night
and usually precedes the Win-
ter Formal. While this night is a
great deal of fun for everyone,
it took a lot of hard work for
students performing to prepare.
There have been weekly prac-
tices since the start of the se-
News
The Free Student Newspaper of Chestnut Hill College
pandemonium were the sights
to see during the 86th annual
Christmas Decorating Night.
As a main attraction and pri-
mary event in the College’s leg-
endary “Holiday On the Hill,”
Christmas Decorating Night
mester. Hundreds attend each
year, and numbers appear to be
increasing.
The tradtion may be new to
first-year students, but much
of the audience is made up of
alumni. Fran Boshell, a 2009
graduate from Brooklyn, New
York, has attended since her
freshman year. “It is my favorite
event to return for,” she said.
Come performance day,
many musicians were anxious
The Hill Singers perform to the audience in St. Jo-
seph’s Hall. Photo by Liz Campbell ‘12.
2 STYLE
GRIFFIN
gave the student body a chance
to decorate their designated (by
class) areas on campus (i.e. caf-
eteria, outdoors, rotunda in St.
Joseph Hall, and Fournier Hall).
The outcome of the tumultu-
ous night almost always exceeds
for the night to begin. Junior
Laura Mraz said, “Carol Night
is always something to look for-
ward, to especially on the music
end. The acoustics in the Ro-
tunda help to bring to life the
Christmas spirit.”
This night gives students a
positive start to a joyful season
and also a chance to celebrate
with either newfound friends or
returning old friends before fi-
nals begin.
4 Opinion
the expectations of campus life
and visitors.
When we started to unrav-
el lights on the third floor of
Logue Library, we wondered
who knew taking apart jovial
decorations would be simi-
lar to solving an eighteen-part
math problem. About seven
students worked in the piazza
while three tackled the cano-
py posts on the third floor of
Logue Library and Fontbonne.
Yelling grew abrasive when we
started to string five sets of
Fitness Center to
Open August 2012
Kelly MCkay
‘12
_________
On Nov. 15, College Presi-
dent Sister Carol Jean Vale,
Ph.D., held a quick presenta-
tion for an enthusiastic audi-
ence of primarily student-ath-
letes on the proposed fitness
center renovations. She dis-
cussed that after meeting with
the Student Government As-
sociation last year, it became
clear that students had con-
cerns about the current fitness
center.
Although the College has
put new equipment in the fit-
ness center this year, the ad-
ditions did not appear to be
enough to satisfy the student
body. “A new fitness center
should have been built when
the school first changed to co-
ed. The equipment they add-
ed this year was a little better,
but one of every machine just
isn’t enough for all of us,” said
Nick Ricciotti ’11. “Ever since
freshman year I’ve had a mem-
bership at another gym be-
cause of the size of our fitness
center and lack of equipment.”
During Sister Carol’s pre-
sentation she stated, “This fit-
ness center can’t wait.” Origi-
nally the College planned to
build a new center in the next
few years, during the time
when the proposed student
center was to be created. After
re-evaluating the necessity of
having a larger, state-of-the-art
facility, the College decided to
6 Sports
lights from building to building.
The evening went on, however,
and frustrations subsided as the
sophomore class finally devel-
oped a plan.
I decided to float over to
other classes to investigate how
they were doing. The juniors
appeared calm while frivolous-
ly placing trinkets and charms
in their rightful places. It was
as if I walked into a ballet of
“Decorations”
Continued on 6
build a fitness center where the
“old gym” currently is. It is a
5,000-square-foot space with
relatively high ceilings. The
gym is located in the basement
of Fournier near the indoor
pool, and is rarely utilized. It
has continued to deteriorate as
years pass.
The “old gym” will be con-
verted into a two-story facility
with a lounge area, vending
machines, and cardio-vascular
equipment on the second floor.
Other essential machines and
mats will be found on the first
floor. The fitness center will
be air-conditioned with televi-
sion sets, and all windows will
be replaced with new, larger
windows to provide a great
amount of light in the space.
There will also be offices, vari-
ous storage rooms and bath-
rooms located in the gym.
“I can’t wait for the new
gym,” said Bubs Sabia ’13, a
member of the men’s lacrosse
team. “It won’t be as crowded
as the old fitness center and
now we’ll have a lot more
equipment to use.”
After receiving a $1.5 mil-
lion grant and $250,000 from
another source, the College is
ready to begin next month on
the construction. Although
$1.25 million more is needed
to complete the operation, Sis-
ter Carol has informed mem-
bers of the College that it is
planned for the fitness center
to open on Aug. 1, 2012.
8
2 The Griffin

THE Griffins Take Tufflepuffs to Task at World Cup

GRIFFIN
Vol. I, Issue 4
The Free Student
Newspaper of
Chestnut Hill College
Max Kaplan ‘11
Editor-in-Chief
Jarreau Freeman ‘11
Managing Editor
Westly Mandoske ‘13
Layout Co-Editor
Michael Bradley ‘14
Layout Co-Editor
Mary Marzano ‘12
News Editor
Olivia Marcinka ‘13
Opinion Editor
Jill Sanger ‘11
Sports Editor
Kyle Bachmann ‘10
Sports Editor
Jen Jones ‘12
Style Editor
Bleu Lane ‘12
Style Editor
Aizaz Gill ‘14
Online Editor
Jess Veazey ‘13
Photo Editor
Dana Consalvo ‘12
Copy Editor
Susan Magee, M.F.A.
Advisor
The Griffin strives for accuracy
and fair representation in all
of its publications and cor-
rectness. If an error is found,
e-mail the issue number, the
StePH Reif
‘13
_______
The Griffins soared on Nov.
13 and 14 when 17 players and
countless fans made the drive
from Philly to New York City’s
Dewitt Clinton Park to partake
in the fourth-annual Quidditch
World Cup. The team, com-
prised of players selected from
those who participated in the
Brotherly Love Cup, practiced
for weeks in preparation for the
event. It showed beginning with
the team’s first match against
Transylvania University of
Kentucky: there were excellent
shots made by first-year Brad
Amerman and also by captain
Devin Devoue as the team
played with finesse and skill. In
the end, CHC beat Transylvania
80-10.
The Hill’s second match was
against the College of Charles-
ton. This was by far one of the
fastest matches in CHC’s histo-
ry on the field, with senior Alex
Garcia catching the snitch only
four minutes into the game for
a 50-10 victory.
That night the Griffins
played their most anticipated
game yet against Stony Brook
University of Long Island,
New York. The team was rar-
ing to go and had a strong start;
the crowd was cheering for the
team and the energy was high.
There were great plays made Above, Griffins march in the the Opening Parade of the Quidditch World Cup. The
by the team’s newcomers Tom Parade stopped Manhattan traffic for about five minutes. Photo by Jim Kiernan.
Weigel and Ray Haig, as well as Below, Kelly McKay ‘12, Max Kaplan ‘11, and Devin Devoue ‘11 are interviewed on
by the veterans, KayCee Flore
ESPN News’s “The Beat” prior to the Cup. Photo by Max Kaplan ‘11.
and Jeremy Miles. The team
seemed to flow through the University Tufflepuffs in single- way. Both teams were evenly back to Philly. Although the
entire game and defeated their elimination play. matched; athletic prowess was Griffins did not win the World
opponent in a fierce 100-nil vic- After warming up, the Grif- as prevalent as strategic organi- Cup, they did win a “Best
tory. fins wooed spectators by run- zation. When the snitch entered Dressed” award voted on by
On Sunday, the team came ning around the Quidditch the pitch the score was 50-30 @MuggleQuidditch Twitter
back ready for another win- pitch and high-fiving fans along in favor of the Griffins. In a followers. The championship
filled day on the pitch. Because the way. The Griffin mascot highly contested play, the Tufts game was between three-time
of their valiant play on Satur- himself even made an appear- seeker caught the snitch and de- defending champs Middlebury
day, the team was given a “bye” ance to root for his favorite feated the Griffins 60-50. College and the Tufflepuffs. In
into the second round. This team. After the team chant and Shortly after the match the the end Tufts caught the snitch,
time they were to face the Tufts huddle, the match was under Griffins packed up and came but Middlebury won 100-50.

Griffins Look to Improve Game

article in which the error was
found, and the correction
that needs to be made. The
resulting correction will be
printed in the next edition of
The Griffin.
Make your opinion heard by
submitting letters to the edi-
tor or contributions to The
Griffin. Submissions become
property of The Griffin and
are subject to editing for style,
clarity and space concerns.
Interested in writing, photo-
graphing, layout or design?
Fill out a short form on our
Facebook and The Griffin will
contact you.
Email The Griffin at:
the.griffin.chc@gmail.com
or visit The Griffin on Face-
book.
Kevin Crawley
‘14
___________
Chestnut Hill College’s head basketball
coach, Jesse Balcer, is in his seventh year
coaching the team. He is holding high ex-
pectations for players and the team cap-
tains, and is turning to other coaches to
gain knowledge.
The men’s basketball team had a slow
start with a 1-3 record. According to Bal-
cer, the toughest challenge this season will
be winning with consistency, which he
hopes this will help make his players better
on the court.
For Balcer, a successful season doesn’t
only mean wins. He doesn’t expect players
to slack off academically: “They should be
thinking about their class work instead of
basketball. The only time they should be
thinking about basketball is during practice
and games.”
Full effort and hard work are expected
of Balcer’s players on the court and in the
classroom. His goals for the season, and
for future seasons as well, is to win a cham- The Office of Residence Life is excit-
pionship and get in to the NCAA Division ed to begin the Resident Assistant
II tournament. Selection process for the 2011-2012
Balcer spoke highly of the captains on academic year.
his team, Dan Comas and Trenton David-
heiser. “I do believe they will have a strong Students are encouraged to attend an
effect on the team," Balcer said. "Their role upcoming Information Session
is to be leader s on and off the court, to learn more about this rewarding
with their work ethic and their demeanor campus leadership opportunity.
off the court. Coaches always want their
captains to be an extension of the coach to January 21, 2011
the team.” 2 to 3 p.m.
Balcer considers his team to be the most
Martino 324
dedicated he has ever worked with and can January 25, 2011
tell the team is working hard to achieve the 7 to 8 p.m.
goals they set. Balcer also promises two St. Joe’s 245
things this season: his players will give their January 31, 2011
all this season, and they’ll be stellar repre- 2 to 3 p.m.
sentatives of the College while doing it. Martino 324
News
The Griffin
Students Demand Premium
Coffee Shop on Campus
Kelly McKay
‘12
_________
As everyone knows, cof-
Intern Diaries fee is a necessity for many col-
lege students to help them get
through their long days and
rough nights full of homework
and papers. Currently, the Col-
lege offers students, faculty
and staff coffee options in the
Griffin’s Den in the morning, in
Many students at the college are involved in excit- the Piazza Perk in Fitzsimmons
ing internships. In the Intern Diaries, students with Hall at night and in the Fourni-
internships are invited to share their experiences. er Dining Hall during its sched-
This issue’s diary entrant is Ashley Pavone ‘11. uled hours. Although it appears
that all members of the college
I’m Ashley Pavone, a senior English and communications community may have their cof-
major. I knew that I wanted to do an internship not only fee fix at any time of day, it isn’t
for the experience, but to help me gain a better understand- always simple and the options
ing of what direction I’d like to pursue; it seems to be most are not particularly appealing to
likely communications rather than English, but it’s too early some.
to know for sure. I applied to a few places listed on Black- Michael Bradley ‘14, a first-
board under the “Internships” tab. The majority of intern- year student at the College who
ships involved work in the public relations field, but then I claims that he requires at least
came across the Chestnut Hill Local. three cups of coffee to make it
through a weekday, wishes that
there was a better alternative on
I contacted Larry Hochberger, the associate publisher
campus for students to get cof-
and contact person listed, to inquire about possible intern-
fee. “The Perk is a poor excuse
ship opportunities. I told him about my major, my intent
for a coffee shop; the last time
with the Chestnut Hill Local and I sent him my resume. He
I was there, there was one pot
called me, interested to know which career field I found most
of coffee,” Bradley said. “Stu-
intriguing. That was the problem–I wanted an internship to
dents need somewhere to go in
figure that out. I told him I could not pinpoint one specific
between classes, not just from 6
field, but rather three: public relations, journalism, and mar-
keting. He contacted me afterwards to inform me that he was
definitely interested. E-readers Top Holiday Wish Lists
I currently work remotely from my Lincoln Woods apart-
ment, but visit the Chestnut Hill Local’s office every week.
Along with the associate publisher, I maintain and update a
blog geared toward students attending colleges in the area.
This is a pretty exciting task since I have never worked with
blogs before. The blog is appropriately titled “CollegeTown”
and was founded by Hannah Campbell, a Chestnut Hill Col-
lege senior, who was an intern last year. Included in the blog
is an events calendar with more than six schools’ daily events,
activities, and sports; articles from The Griffin; blog posts
about freshmen and what college students can do in Chest-
nut Hill and so much more.
I cover all aspects of the blog. For the public relations I
write press releases; for journalism, I will soon write on the
blog and I will engage in the marketing field once I find in-
terested advertisers. Colin Weatherbee
‘14
My goal is to include posts from writers at other schools ______________
as well on the college newspapers. These posts, however, E-readers have become in-
would be approved and posted by myself. I would like to in- creasingly popular with the
clude “75 Acres of Awesome,” the college admissions blog. holiday season in full swing.
Also, I want to showcase more than just the Chestnut Hill Many college students are add-
area, considering the schools range from Erdenheim to Blue ing e-readers, like Amazon’s
Bell and Philadelphia. I will eventually line up some compa-
Kindle and Barnes and Noble’s
nies interested in advertising directly on the blog.
Nook, to their Christmas lists.
“CollegeTown” is linked on chestnuthilllocal.com under Others, though, are unwilling
“Blogs.” The direct link is http://collegetown1.blogspot. to make the leap to electronic
com. readers because they prefer
the old-fashioned feeling of
holding a book in their hands.
Join The Griffin on Facebook Some even fear that with the
easy accessiblity of texts on
Catch news updates between issues e-readers and its instant gratifi-
on The Griffin’s Facebook page. cation, books in print may be-
come extinct.
Search for “The Griffin”.
There are widely publicized
pros and cons of e-reading.
p.m. to midnight.”
The Piazza Perk, located on
the ground floor in Fitzsim-
mons Hall, has been the Col-
lege’s primary hot spot for cof-
fee since the spring of 2008,
and is advertised to have sev-
eral flavors of coffee. It is open
Monday through Thursday eve-
nings, limiting daytime options
to the Griffin’s Den or local
spots like Starbucks and Wawa.
“It would be wonderful for
the intellectual life of the Col-
lege to have a place where stu-
dents, faculty, and staff could
encounter one another and
converse casually,” said Suzanne
del Gizzo, Ph.D., an English
professor at the College. Del
Gizzo believes that this type
of environment often provides
for the best conversations. She
continues: “Plus, as a student
of American expatriate writing
in 1920s Paris, I am simply a big
fan of café culture.”
Max Kaplan ‘11, an avid
coffee drinker, suggests that
the Fournier Hall Social Room
would be a perfect spot to
house a new coffee shop:
“We desperately need a
dedicated coffee shop that isn’t
bound by a particular residence
You may purchase books with-
out leaving your house, or hav-
ing to books. Of course, there
are cons: pricey e-readers range
from $139 to $399. Retailers
often charge a book’s hardback
price, despite no resale value
and its intangible nature.
E-reader fanatics are quick
to point out the cons of bound
books: they lack portability
and are environmentally de-
structive to print. However,
if you’re unsatisfied, you can
resell a book and/or return it.
Also, many find it more satis-
fying to turn a book’s paper
page rather than “swiping” to
advance to the next.
Senior Kyle Bachmann,
who plans on getting an e-
reader for Christmas, agrees. “I
3
hall,” he said. “When I studied
at Regent’s College in London,
their coffee shop closely re-
sembled the Social Room with
hardwood floors and wood
paneling, plus marble tables. It
served premium coffee drinks,
pastries, and light lunches like
croissant sandwiches and was
always packed. With its cen-
tral location, the Social Room
seems like a perfect fit for a cof-
fee shop staff, faculty, and the
students could mutually enjoy.”
The Social Room, along
with the Redmond Room and
East Parlor in St. Joseph Hall,
is currently used for various
events including conferences,
lectures, dances, and Saturday
Visits for prospective students.
The Perk and Griffin’s Den
are also lacking the variety
found on menus of traditional
coffee shops. Several students
have expressed interest in other
drink options beyond drip cof-
fee: “I think a place where you
can get something different, like
lattes or Frappuccinos, would
be a great spot for students to
go to,” said Christina Squillante
’13. “I’d love for the College to
get a better coffee shop. I would
go there all the time.”
feel that having an e-reader will
save space within your own
home. However, having owned
several books, it certainly does
make you feel more intelligent
with more books on the shelf
rather than a hard drive.”
Senior Hannah Campbell,
an English major, agrees with
Bachmann about the conve-
nience of e-readers but has
some reservations about mak-
ing the e-reader switch. “I do
see the convenience and that it
can be cheaper,” she said, “but
I like having a big shelf with a
bunch of books I can look at.”
 Style
4 The Griffin

Murder, Music, and Money in the City of Chicago

COLIN WEATHERBEE transformed into their roles. The play was well casted
‘14 with Charlotte D’Amboise as Roxie Hart, accompa-
nied by Leigh Zimmerman as Velma Kelly and Brent
Chicago the Musical is a story of murder and adul- Barrett as Billy Flynn. Of all the castings, however, I
tery mixed in with macabre humor and off-color jokes. believe that the most brilliant was Raymond Bokhour
The play centers around Roxie Hart who is in jail after as Amos Hart. He adapted the role to make it his own
being accused of her boyfriend’s murder. The story while still remaining true to the character.
follows her as she meets Velma Kelly, a woman accused The set of the show was very simple. There was a
of killing her husband and sister. Roxie competes with bleacher-like seating in the middle of the stage where
revived in 1996 and fared much better, sparking rendi-
other inmates for the attention of lawyer Billy Flynn in the orchestra played. The only “set changes” that
tions of the play all around the world. In 2003, Hol-
hopes that he will take on her case. occurred were chairs taken on and off of the stage.
lywood took a shot at the musical in the Rob Marshall
The musical was actually first released as a straight The simplistic set did not hinder the performance, but
directed movie. It has just recently been revived again
play in 1926. That play was based on true events based rather helped keep the attention on the actors.
on Broadway.
in Chicago. In 1924, Beulah Annan, the real-life person There were points in the play where I believe things
I saw this revival of Chicago on Nov. 7 as part of
whom was depicted by the character Roxie Hart, killed could have been done differently. The directing in
the College’s New York City day trip. The play itself
an intruder in her house who turned out to be her lover. the Cell Block Tango number could have used a little
moved rather fast but was easy to follow, even for
Also, police arrested Belva Gaertner, whom the charac- work. Some of the line deliveries in that number were
those who are unfamiliar with the storyline.
ter Velma Kelly represents, for killing her husband. The off and I attributed that to directing, not the actors.
I have enjoyed theatre productions since high
original play was written by the journalist who covered I would give the musical four out of five stars. I
school, and, from my experience with the drama club,
these stories. wouldn’t recommend making a special trip to Broad-
I tend to look for how successful the actors are at per-
When the musical first opened on Broadway, it re- way just for this production, but if you happen to be
forming their parts and interpreting the characters. I
ceived harsh reviews and only lasted a short run. It was headed to New York City, it’s worth the experience.
noticed throughout the play, that certain actors really

Winter Movie Lineup is Sure to Impress

AIZAZ GILL that isn’t enough to get you to the movie theatre, early buzz surrounding the movie
‘14 points towards Bale’s portrayal of Ecklund being the crown jewel of his fantastic act-
ing career.
For most of us, December means the imminent arrival of the long awaited Christ-
mas break. However, once it arrives many of us are left wondering about to what to
do during it. Staying at your house or going over someone else’s means maintaining
contact with your or their annoying relatives, who always give you terrible presents
such as sweaters or clothes which they think make you look dapper. Well, I’m here to
help you avoid those terrible moments where you are forced to take part in awkward
conversations. You see, December brings an influx of quality (including Oscar con-
tenders) movies to your local movie theatre. Those movies provide you with the per-
fect opportunity to steer clear of unwanted company and kill time while getting some Tron Legacy – Will Release December 17th
enjoyment. Here is a list of movies you should consider checking out. Nearly twenty years after Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) was able to overcome the
Master Control Program at the end of the first movie, the world gets a chance to re-
turn to the digital world of Tron, once more. However, as the first trailer of Legacy
quickly demonstrated, things have not been idle since Flynn was able to escape the
clutches of MCP. It turns out that CLU 2 (an updated version of Flynn’s original
hacking program) has trapped Kevin in the virtual world again. Now, it’s up to Kevin’s
grown up son (Sam Flynn) to help his father break out again. Disney has invested
tons of money on the sequel to a cult classic at best. Nevertheless, dazzling visuals,
an amazing soundtrack by Daft Punk, and Pixar writers may end up saving Disney’s
Black Swan – Released December 3rd massive investment. Oh and let’s not forget that Avatar (another movie that attracted
Director Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler”, “The Fountain”) returns with an- viewers based on visuals) came out at the same time last year.
other mind bending film. For his new project, one of the most unique directors in
Hollywood, tries to outdo himself combining the horror genre with a psychological
drama. The story focuses on the life of Nina (Natalie Portman), a successful ballerina,
set to play the part of a lifetime. However, just as our protagonist seems to be on the
verge of attaining stardom, she is met with her rival; Lily (Mila Kunis). The rivalry
between the two soon turns into a twisted friendship and it threatens to destroy every-
thing Nina has worked so hard to attain. Early reviews indicate that the film is already
a lock for acquiring a nomination in the Best Film category this year at the Oscars.

True Grit – Will Release December 22nd

The Fighter – Released December 10th
Another lock for Oscar night, The Fighter brings the true story of boxer Mickey
“Irish” Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and his brother Dicky Ecklund (Christian Bale) onto a
theatre screen near you. Upon first glance, the film seems like another perennial under-
dog rising to the top the story. However, upon further examination, it becomes clear
that Director David O Russell (“Three Kings”) is not shying away from the serious
issues that surround the underdog whether it’s his toxic relationship with his brother,
the crushing burden of expectations, or the consequences of what failure means. If
Christmas is a season filled with joy and for film lovers, True Grit might be the big-
gest joy of them all. The film features a splendid trifecta of actors; Matt Damon, Josh
Brolin and Best Actor winner Jeff Bridges, in a violent Western about a girl persuading
a retired marshal to hunt down her father’s killer. The bonus: it’s directed by the Coen
Brothers. Remember when we mentioned that December is full of films that have
Oscar expectations? This Coen Bros latest project is another film that is guaranteed a
nomination for Best Film of the Year. Moreover, this movie might even bring Oscar
gold to deserving actors; Josh Brolin and Matt Damon. Just why does everyone have
such high expectations from True Grit? Part of it has to do with the fact that the Coen
Brothers are extraordinary filmmakers who set a high standard for any genre that they
touch. Combine that with the fact that the Western genre hasn’t a produced a classic
in many years and it’s easy to see why people are expecting so much from this revenge
tale.
 The Griffin 5

The Who’s Who of 2010 Pop Culture

BY KRISSTEN APPENZELLER

Lady Gaga’s meat iPad Willow Smith’s ChatRoulette Conan O’Brien’s

dress
Lady Gaga is a walking
fashion statement, but no
one expected her to pro-
vide ideas for dinner when
she arrived at the 2010
MTV Video Music Awards.
Gaga wore a dress made
entirely of meat with shoes,
a purse, and a hair acces-
sory to match. As always,
there was a message behind
her outlandish attire: “If
we do not stand up for our
rights, we’d be nothing but
meat on our bones,” she ex-
plained. Tongues were wag-
ging and stomachs were
growling.
Apple did it again. With
three million iPads sold in the
first month of release, it is
safe to say that Steve Jobs and
company have a successful
product on their multi-touch
hands. Gadget gurus every-
where sang the praises of the
mobile computing device, and
the iPad is widely considered
the best invention of 2010 by
reputable news publications.
“Whip My Hair”
At just nine years old
Williow Smith, daugh-
ter of Jada Pinkett-
Smith and Will Smith,
has become a pop
music sensation by de-
manding you to whip
your hair back and forth
in the year’s catchiest
song this side of “Ale-
jandro.” Her Jackson
Pollock-meets-Britney
Spears music video and
premiere performance
on Ellen generated me-
dia buzz, but will her
career make it past the
playground?
return to late-night
Millions of the world’s web-
cam-equipped were “nexted” in Conan O’Brien made
early 2009 on Chatroulette, the a triumphant return to
service developed by a 17 year- late-night television after
old Russian student. By mid he was fired from NBC.
March, 33% of the site’s 1.5 In November 2010,
million users were American, “Conan” premiered
and one in eight conversations on TBS. “Team Coco,
included “R-rated” content. stronger than ever, was
The instant gratification ended thrilled when their leader
on Aug. 23, when the site went returned to television to
offline and college students make them laugh every
worldwide had one less excuse night.
to procrastinate.

Holiday Gift Guide 2010 Midnight in the Garden of

CASSANDRA GUTTIEREZ
‘14

For the generation of tweeting, Beiber Fever and “Skyping,” crafting a holiday wish
list is an art form. The perfect list blends practicality and retail knowledge, lending
thought to what essentials will carry you into the new year. We’ve compiled a list of
bare essentials that will surely please every table in the Fournier Dining Hall.
For pop-country crooner Taylor Swift lovers, her new album is now available and
can be added to your list. On October 25 Swift came out with her fifth album, Speak
Now, featuring fourteen new made-for-radio singles including “Mine” and “Sparks
Fly.” Before we risk any “Kanye moments,” we’ll swiftly move to the next item...
Apple has released yet another iPod Touch, the umpteenth product in their lineup
that competes directly with iPhone. The new Touch is the “thinnest and lightest iPod
ever made” at 7.2mm wide. (For the record, it’s thinner than a candy cane.) Users may
now FaceTime their friends over a retina display at the supersonic speed of an A4 pro-
cessor while recording (and editing) HD video. The iPod Touch starts off at $229 for
8GB, $299 for 32 GB, and $399 for 64 GB. In case we’ve forgotten, Apple has branded
iOS4 with the tagline, “The Most Advanced Mobile Operating System in the World.”
The practical and Arctic-friendly Australia-born “Classic Tall” UGG boots are the
go-to gift for the chic and the chilly. The boots, which began their career as a winter sta-
ple for Australians, trickled from the feet of fashionastas to department store shelves.
They come in a pull-on style, which is available in six different colors: black, grey, navy,
sand, chestnut, and chocolate. The boots’ Eva sole adds extra support for slipper-like
comfort. UGG boots are only available in whole sizes and are priced at a cool $179.95.
If you’re in the market for a thinner, faster, and more portable laptop to replace a
decrepit Dell, Apple has released a new MacBook Air available in either an 11” or a 13”
model. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has sung its praises in his signature black turtleneck, but
we can’t argue: it’s equipped with an iSight camera, surprisingly crisp resolution, and
has a multi-touch track pad that mimics the iOS touch experience. This 0.19” laptop
has up to five hours of power on the 11” model and 7 hours on the 13” model. Save
yourself an anxiety-inducing trek to an Apple retail store and order the new Air on
Apple’s website.
For Call of Duty video game fanatics, the newest game in the series, Black Ops, is
now in stores. Missions are set around the world with plausible deniablity, where forces
fight in secret wars set during the Cold War era. Series devotees may appreciate its new
features, including CoD points to purchase new equipment; new wager matches; and
a new theater mode. Call of Duty: Black Ops is available for PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii,
and DS. The game retails at $59.99.
This holiday season, ask for the youth lifestyle market’s watch du jour, a Nixon,
available in both analog and digital styles. Depending on the display you choose, the
band material ranges from canvas to leather and comes in an array of colors. View the
collection at www.nixonnow.com.
Good and Evil: A Review
ELIZABETH CAMPBELL
‘12
An accent speaks for itself. An accent denotes the temperament of the speaker,
where they are from, their personality, their demeanor—if you think about it, an ac-
cent says it all. To many Northerners, the South is a land of bizarre accents.
What they fail to realize is that an accent is a reflection of a culture. In this case,
it is called a “Southern Drawl” for a reason. A true Southerner will not talk quickly,
and they will never have a short supply of words.
Northerners have never been quite sure what to think about people from the
South. This is what makes the concept of a New Yorker, John Berendt, moving to
Savannah Georgia, such an interesting event. Naturally he would want to write about
the strange new world he encountered.
Georgia, Savannah in particular, is rich in history and tradition. Savannah is a city
based on an individual group temperament, an unbreakable community, which can-
not be found anywhere else in the world. Berendt captures the spirit of a city, no easy
task; especially for a city like Savannah which thrives on a certain eccentricity and an
eclectic vibe that makes it that much harder to replicate. However, Berendt is success-
ful in this daunting task. The essence of Savannah is portrayed through the eyes of
an outsider, making it all the more poignant.
This compilation of vignettes details the real lives of a selection of the memo-
rable residents of the river side city. A sassy and sweet talking drag queen, a proud
and affluent man at the center of a murder investigation, a lawyer turned shyster
piano player, and a woman who practices Voo Doo in the cemetery at midnight are
just a few of the of the fantastic and hilariously true characters of this (surprisingly)
non-fiction bestseller.
The personality of each character shines through Berendt’s writing so much that
each of them becomes a physical presence. They become tangible figures; standing
with their Mint Juleps while finding relief from the hot summer sun under the sway-
ing Spanish Moss that engulfs every tree—mouths and minds at the ready to discuss
the latest gossip in their sweet, deep-South way, bless their hearts.
This book outlines the real lives of real people, the citizens of Savannah Georgia
in the 1980’s. It is that aspect that is the clincher for the story. Fiction is easy, captur-
ing the essence of reality is hard; and Berendt did that masterfully. He captured the
accent of the place, the time, and the people, and filtered it into a book that you will
not be able to put down.

6 The Griffin
Subjective Scrutiny
Video Game Regulation
Kyle Bachmann
‘11
___________
Violent video games may be
all the rage, but many parents
refuse to purchase or allow their
children to play them. In many
video games, the player can kill,
dismember, and sexually assault
opponents. The video game in-
dustry rates the game, which
stores use to decide whether to
sell a particular game to a minor
with or without parental consent.
Earlier this year, a California
law that regulates sales and rent-
als of video games to minors was
reviewed by the Supreme Court.
Parents determined whether
their children should play violent
video games or not; the parental
controls, ratings awareness and
retailers’ support all provide so-
lutions to prevent children from
playing violent video games.
The myth that video games
cause violent behavior in chil-
dren is undermined by scientific
research. If this were the case,
violent video games would not
be available for purchase at all.
These games have been accused
of influencing children to inflict
pain on their opponents and win
at any cost. The video game rat-
ing system is similar to the movie
rating system and helps inform
parents what games their chil-
dren should not be playing.
The Federal Trade Commis-
sion rates the games appropri-
ately based on the gameplay and
material. Avoid mature-rated
products for children which
are clearly and prominently dis-
playing rating information and
restricting children’s access to
playing or viewing mature-rated
Travis Wolfe ‘12
products. Typically, any video
game that involves minimal vio-
lence will be rated “T” for teen
or “E10+” for everyone 10
years-old and older.
With these restrictions in
place for certain ages, retailers
support the rating system by de-
manding an I.D. to be presented
for certain purchases. It seems
to be a stretch to make sure that
all of the U.S. retailers are work-
ing to help ensure that children
are not exposed to violent video
games by enforcing these restric-
tions. Through my own experi-
ence, a video game store did not
allow the sale of a violent video
game to an adult with a child
present. This store did not want
to risk the adult handing the in-
appropriate game to the child.
There are parental controls
on most video game systems to
help ensure “family-appropriate”
gaming. This enables parents to
block video games they do not
want their children playing. In
order to play a violent game, you
would need to be on the parent’s
account and know their pass-
word. With this technology in
place, parents are given more op-
portunities than before to watch
what their children are playing.
As the production of video
and computer games increase,
the protection in these games is
decreasing. Even though video
games are all around us, no child
should be exposed to violent
gaming due to graphic nature.
Parents have the right to monitor
and prohibit their child’s use of
violent or inappropriate games.
Opinion
HP7:P1 For Readers Only?
Aizaz Gill
‘14
________
SPOILER ALERT
Chestnut Hill College was
gracious enough to provide
the winners of Potter Trivia
Night with free tickets to a pre-
screening of Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hallows Part I. As
a fan of the series, I was ecstatic
about getting an early look at a
film that was widely anticipated
across the nation. Upon leaving
the movie theater, the bus full
of Potter enthusiasts was abuzz
with how the penultimate Pot-
ter film was an absolute mas-
terpiece. Surrounded by Potter-
mania, I agreed with the general
sentiments and comments re-
lating to one of the film’s final
scenes being absolutely heart-
breaking. Nevertheless, the film
enthusiast inside of me (having
taken a screenwriting course at
the Philadelphia University of
the Arts) kept on asking the
question of what if I hadn’t
read the book beforehand.
After another viewing, I
realized the answer is that the
movie would have made abso-
lutely no sense. The fact of the
matter is Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows Part I is utterly
inaccessible if you haven’t read
the books or watched the pre-
Decorations
Coninued from 1
graceful intention: if the stu-
dents were not scattered across
the floor filling tiny ornaments
with ribbon, they were by the
entrance adorning the molding
with delicate poinsettias.
Junior class president Alyssa
Miller and vice president Anna
St. Hilaire both agreed that dec-
orating the rotunda has, by far,
been the greatest experience.
“We have been very anxious to
decorate the rotunda since our
first year here. Alyssa and I feel
incredibly privileged to be put-
ting all of this together for a
wedding next week,” St. Hilaire
said.
It seemed the only conflicts
the juniors faced, with the ex-
ception of creative limitation
due to wedding details, was the
lack of elevated support. While
one staff member requested
that he be given a ladder, Travis
Wolfe ‘12 stated that “as one of
the tallest people in the class, I
feel as if my abilities are being
taken advantage of.”
vious movies. Director David
Yates and writer Steve Kloves
fail miserably in providing any
semblance of a decent nar-
rative structure to the movie.
Moreover, the duo ends up
violating the cardinal rule of
film-making, which is “show
rather than tell.” The best ex-
ample of their contravention,
in both instances, is the role of
the Elder Wand throughout the
movie. The ending shot of the
film displays a triumphant Lord
Voldemort raising his prize to
the heavens and basking in the
power that it offers him. Fans
of the book understand the
magnitude of the scene be-
cause they are already familiar
with the background. On the
other hand, the movie audience
is never really shown why the
Elder Wand is so significant for
Voldemort to possess; they are
simply told through a strange
animation. Instead of coming
up with a creative way of dem-
onstrating to the audience why
the chosen ending is significant,
Yates and Kloves rely on expo-
sition as much as James Cam-
eron relied on visual spectacle
when it came to Avatar.
Fans will cite the fact that
Yates and Kloves did include
the “visions” as Voldemort’s
pursued the powerful item. It’s
true that those scenes were a
After the enchanting rotun-
da experience, I made my way
to the cafeteria. There I found
tables of first-year students
working diligently to decorate
the dining hall. Some were
stringing lights and streamers
from one end of the cafeteria
to the other. The theme of the
decoration extracted scenery
from Dr. Seuss’ “The Grinch”
and several other animated
schemes. The only thing that
seemed to be out of place was
the worried look on freshman
class president Stephen Wolf-
ert‘s face. He explained that he
couldn’t find the large figure of
the Grinch that was necessary
to complete their masterpiece.
Wolfert and I decided to make
our way to the “decoration
closet” near the old gym.
Most students know that the
only feasible way to arrive at the
old gym is to take the steps in
Fournier across from the se-
curity desk. As frantic as we
were, we stepped into the main
entrance to Fournier without
a second thought. Before we
knew it, we were shooed away
part of the movie, but they
happened to be as jumbled and
confusing as the actual plot of
the film. Simply put, the regu-
lar audience is not familiar with
background characters (from
the books) such as Grindelwald,
Olivander or Gregororvitch.
Consequently, there is no con-
nection or understanding, for
the audience to make when we
see Voldemort interrogating the
wand makers [Ollivander and
Gregorovitch] or when Grin-
delwald finally discloses the lo-
cation of the prize that Volde-
mort was chasing after. In
order to increase the impact of
their chosen ending, the direc-
tor and writer needed to flesh
out those scenes. For those who
argue time constraints, one can
easily debate the necessity of
the time devoted to the camp-
ing scenes. The characterization
for Harry, Ron, and Hermione
had already been set up dur-
ing the first forty or so minutes
of the movie. The time from
the camping scenes, which ap-
peared to go on entirely too
long, could have been devoted
to fixing the film’s narrative is-
sues and actually making the
film’s ending matter. Left in its
place is a movie that had the
potential to be something spe-
cial but just couldn’t resolve its
issues.
like rats by the senior team of
decorators. After cautiously ex-
plaining that we only needed
decorations, we were granted
the right of passage as long as
we temporarily blinded our-
selves from the seniors’ opera-
tion.
The night eventually drew
to an end as all of the anger,
frustration, secrecy, and care-
ful contemplation laid to rest, if
only until next year. Christmas
Decorating Night is a beloved
tradition for the College’s un-
dergraduates and is a continued
way of encouraging the dedica-
tion and perseverance of stu-
dents involved.
Make your opinion heard by
submitting letters to the editor
or contributions to The Griffin.
Submissions are subject to
editing for style, clarity and
space concerns.
Submissions represent the
opinions of the author(s) and
do not necessarily represent
The Griffin’s position.
Please send all letters or ar-
ticle ideas to Olivia Marcinka
at marcinkao@chc.edu.
 The Griffin 7

Winter festivities at Chestnut Hill College

JESSICA VEAZEY
‘13

The holiday season can bring a new sense of beauty to the word winter. In
these photos one can see just how beautiful a time so cold can become. With
festivities such as Carol Night and the legendary Christmas Decorating Night,
winters at Chestnut Hill College are all that much better.

photos submitted: Jessica Veazey ‘13, Liz Campbell ‘11 and Kirk Martyn ‘14

8 The Griffin
Current Record
Also, Previous 2 Contest Results
Men’s Basketball 2-7
On 12/11 vs. Goldey-Beacom
L 64-84
On 12/7 vs. Philadelphia U
L 71-74
Women’s Basketball leads Great Opener
MArilee Gallagher
‘14
______________
It’s the time of year when
everyone on campus has bas-
ketball fever. Luckily for them,
the College’s girls team is mak-
ing that fever infectious by their
great play in the early games of
the season.
Through their first couple of
games, the girls looked strong
and ready for what everyone
hopes to be a March playoff
run. They are playing well, are
focused, and are determined to
succeed and put their previous
season in the past. The 2009-
2010 season was disappointing
for the Griffins, who finished
last in the south division of
the Central Atlantic Collegiate
Conference (CACC) with a re-
cord of just 5-22. This year, the
Griffins are determined to pro-
duce a different result.
The girls have their eyes set
on a winning record and, more
importantly, a chance to be in
the playoffs. “My goal for the
team is to make it to the play-
offs,” Jessica Pruiti ‘11 said.
Pruiti, one of the senior cap-
tains, along with Cecilia Her-
ald, is very enthusiastic about
the season and about the team.
CHC Athletes Give Back to Community
Jarreau Freeman
‘11
_____________
The holiday season is the
time of year when many people
take time to help those in need.
For Kelly Dennis ’14 and Ryan
Weber ’11, the holiday season
is not the only time of the year
when they are servicing others.
Dennis and Weber have made
active involvement in organiza-
tions, like Unified for UNIFAT
and World Vision, a part of
their daily lives.
Dennis, a tennis player and
business management major,
has been involved with Unified
for UNIFAT (U4U), since high
school. U4U is a non-profit
organization that sponsors 130
poverty-stricken children in
Uganda and helps them attend
the primary school, UNIFAT,
in the northern region of the
country. It costs $300 per year
to support a child in Uganda.
The funds provide the child
with a pair of shoes, two school
uniforms, medical care, and one
meal a day.
Women’s Basketball 3-6
On 12/11 vs. Goldey-Beacom
L 49-63
On 12/9 vs. Georgian Court
W 77-63
For more information, visit:
griffinathletics.com
*Current as of 12/12
“We have high hopes for this
season,” Pruiti said. She also
added that the team has more
“depth and talent” than in pre-
vious years and that the girls
“expect to do big things.”
Pruiti is not the only one
that has high hopes and goals
for the team.
Coach Kiesha King also ex-
pects a lot from the team and
wants to see them succeed. “I
expect every player to play to
the best of their ability,” said
King, adding that she believes
they have the talent needed to
win it all. King knows that if
they give it all they’ve got and
above all be consistent, the
journey shouldn’t be too tough.
“Choose to play your best ev-
ery night,” King says, “and
never give up.” With the right
attitude and effort, the playoffs
are within the team’s reach pro-
vided they go out and grab the
opportunity.
Although the team is primed
for the playoffs, it is not go-
ing to be an easy task getting
there. Standing in front of
them is a conference stacked
with winning teams including
Holy Family, who went 19-0 in
conference play last year and is
off to a good start this year as
Dennis became involved
with the organization after
watching the film Invisible Chil-
dren. “After watching the film,
and learning about the war in
Uganda, I realized I wanted to
become proactive,” said Den-
nis. “I also got the opportunity
to meet the woman who started
the UNIFAT primary school in
Uganda. Once I met her and
heard her story, I had to get in-
volved. So, I started a club at
my school to raise money for
UNIFAT.”
Dennis started a U4U club
since she has began at the Col-
lege. The club hopes to host an
event in the spring to inform the
College community about the
atrocities in Northern Uganda
and how the student body and
community can help.
Dennis is not the only stu-
dent that is sponsoring young
children overseas. Weber, a
baseball player and computer
technology major, is involved
with World Vision. World Vi-
sion, an organization that seeks
sponsors to support destitute
sports
well. “The hardest team to beat
in this conference is no doubt
Holy Family,” Aiesha Smith
‘13 said. Pruiti also thinks
Holy Family will put up a fight.
“They are nationally ranked so
they will be our toughest com-
petition,” she said.
The Griffins know that
they need hard work, determi-
nation and, most importantly,
teamwork to succeed this year.
They have come together from
different backgrounds but are
joining as one unit. “We are all
different people but became
such good friends through this
experience,” Pruiti said. The
girls also have a great level of
“team chemistry” according to
sophomore Lindsay Alexander,
which will no doubt help them
succeed in the long run. There
is also a reliance on one another
which helps the girls create the
strong bonds they have with
one another. “We [the team]
can count on each other day in
and day out,” Smith said.
The girls have developed a
family-like bond that, accord-
ing to Victoria Mazzeo, makes
them like sisters. Mazzeo is the
only freshman on the team but
is learning a lot from the girls
she calls “older sisters.” Mazzeo
children throughout the world.
Weber was drawn to join the
World Vision team when he
was watching TV one evening
and saw a PSA showing a child
with no food or suitable drink-
ing water. “After that I decided
to find a legitimate organiza-
tion I could sponsor a child
through,” said Weber. “Once I
found World Vision I went on
their website and signed up.”
Weber supports an eight-
year-old girl by the name of
Deshira from Albania. The $35
he donates each month helps
with her school fees and pro-
vides her with clean drinking
water, healthcare, and food.
Weber believes that it is im-
portant for college athletes to
give back because they are so
fortunate to have the oppor-
tunity to go to college, play a
sport, and have the blessings
that life in the United States
bestows upon them. “I think
it is important for athletes to
give back because they are so
blessed,” said Weber. “Every
day some kids struggle to eat
said, “They always look out for in the team’s future. Although
me especially because I am the underestimated, the team of tal-
youngest and a lot of things are ented girls has learned from the
new to me.” past and is ready for the here
This year is a chance for and now. They have discipline,
redemption and, according to character, team chemistry and
King, the team has certainly a passion for the game which
improved and has big goals will get them far and hopefully
for the rest of the season. “I to a championship, because this
like a lot of what I see,” King year, according to Smith, “we
said, adding that her girls have want it all!”
shown a lot of teamwork and
have worked together very well.
They have also shown dedica-
tion to academics, which is im-
portant to King. “I expect them
to be students first and athletes
second,” King said, “as much
as they desire a championship,
a degree is that much more
important.” The team has the
drive, determination and schol-
arship to go far but still has to
give an all-out effort the rest of
the season because, according
to King, “until you’re number
one, there’s always work to be
done.”
For the girls, this season is
a chance to do something spe- Above, Cecelia Herald ‘11,
cial. With records already set left and Chanta’l Hardy ‘10
in most points per game (90) right are pictured at the 2009
and tying the greatest margin Empty Bowl Dinner, volun-
of victory (50) in the school’s teering their time to help out
history, both in the same game, at the event. Photo by Max
there is a lot of good fortune Kaplan ‘11.
Above, Kelly Dennis ‘14 is pictured with a child she
worked with while involved with Unified for UNIFAT.
Photo Contributed by Kelly Dennis ‘14.
and don’t have the same oppor- is good to be well-rounded,”
tunities as we do. Even though said Dennis. “So many athletes
some college athletes may not let their sport define them, but
have money to donate to orga- I think U4U defines me more
nizations, there are other ways than my sport. As a student ath-
they can help out.”
lete at the College, it isn’t likely
Dennis shares Weber’s views
you will go pro. However, you
and thinks it is important for
college athletes to dedicate time could change someone’s life by
to more than just sports. “I giving back. It is important that
think it is important for student they be a part of something
athletes to give back because it bigger than themselves.”