The Crier Date: December, 9th___________Issue:2___________________Fall 2009 HIV Vaccine By Devon Vert A clinical trial for a new HIV vaccine has proved some what effective in reducing the infection rate by approximately 31%. There has been on-going research and testing in Thailand by the U.S. Army since 2003, including tests on 16,000 HIV negative volunteers. It found that infections were prevented in over a third of the 8,000 people who received the placebo. In the final analysis, 74 placebo recipients were affected with HIV compared to 51 in the vaccine regimen group. Although 23 people is not a huge difference, the 31.2% decrease has given scientist hope for future research in that there could be a possibility of preventing this highly contagious virus that infects approximately 6,800 people a day. The vaccine and booster vaccine, which both have been used in the past and have found little or no effect with single doses. The combination of vaccines used numerous times shows that there is an improvement in the research an we are growing closer by the day. The only question of concern with this research is that it was used for the strain of HIV most common in Thailand. There are suggestions that the vaccine may be less effective in other regions of the world. For this reason, people should support HIV vaccination research globally that way someday there will be a vaccine or cure for HIV, which leads to AIDS. Photo By Kyle Coleman Winter Is Around The Corner By Jennifer Holton Snow, ice, cold weather, and it gets dark earlier and Coming Community College already has had multiple accidents this semester. College students are well known to stay up late studying and drive with less caution and with the road conditions worsening it is even more important to drive more aware. Speeding and reckless driving and sleep deprivation can quickly lead to an avoidable accident. Statistics from law-core.com say that 40% of driving accident deaths are due from drunk driving, 30% from speeding, and 33% from simply reckless driving often leading the car off the road or into other lanes. According to sleepdex.org sleep deprivation is very dangerous to your health. Losing one night’s sleep will generally make you irritable and clumsy during the next day. You will be tired easily or sped up because of adrenalin. After missing two night’s sleep, you will have problems concentrating and will begin to make mistakes on normal tasks. After three missed nights you will start to hallucinate and lose grasp of reality. Someone who gets just a few hours of sleep each night still needs their full eight hours of sleep and will experience many of the same problems over time. A 1997 study found that people who sleep only four to five hours per night for one week needed two full nights of sleep to recover performance, alertness and normal mood. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates conservatively that, during an average year, driving with sleep deprivation causes 100,000 automobile wrecks, 71,000 injuries and 1,550 fatalities. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that 20% of all drivers have dozed off at least once behind the wheel. Drowsy driving accidents are often more serious than other wrecks because they often occur on highways. It is very clear that taking care of yourself is important all around it can even save your life. Driving is a personal responsibility that must not be carelessly considered. It is important to remember to slow down, get sleep, drive carefully and aware of the road and cars around you. College is rough on students with homework load greater than high school and requires an adjustment. It is especially hard on those who have kids, jobs, or other activities that are necessary in their lives. It is important to manage your time well and know your own limits. With finals here and break soon after, it is important not to stress yourself out over studying. It is proven that students who are well rested before an exam do a lot better than students who stay up all night studying. Not only will you do better on those important tests, but you will drive more aware and maybe preventing an accident. Winter is around the comer and I close with this, drive carefully, get sleep, and best of luck to everyone on their finals. 2 Public Safety Lending a Helping Hand By: Anthony Popkin As members of the college community, it is important to understand the services that are provided to you as students and employees. One of these services that are important to the functioning of the community is the Department of Public Safety or DPS. DPS is located in the Commons Building on Main Campus and the first floor of the Elmira Campus. Contrary to what seems to be popular belief, DPS is here for the safety of the students and provides numerous services. Though there are numerous services that DPS provides, it’s important to understand the rules and regulations when parking on any of the CCC campus locations. As all traffic and parking laws, there is a need for the rules and regulations at CCC to keep traffic orderly and safe to all members that are present. Parking permits are available to students for each academic year expiring in August. So remember, to keep your permits current. If you have a blue parking permit, it is outdated. Updated and current parking permits are red and are available in the DPS office. Here are some helpful hints for parking (according to CCC Campus Parking Regulations) on campus and what or what not to do: • Any change of vehicle or license plate number must be reported to DPS. • If you have more than one vehicle, you must register all vehicles brought on campus and switch permits between vehicles. • All students/faculty must have a parking permit displayed where DPS officers can see. The amount of classes and times of the classes does not exempt students from having to purchase and display parking permits. • Student parking lots are lined with white paint lines and employee parking lots are lined with yellow paint. • Vehicles are not to be left on campus overnight without informing DPS. A valid reason is needed to leave vehicles overnight (i.e. breaking down, sporting events, etc.) With parking regulations out of the way, we will now move onto some of the other services provided by DPS. Vehicle Jumpstarts If you happen to accidently leave your lights on and your vehicle won’t start, we can assist you in jump-starting your vehicle. DPS is equipped with booster packs that will generally jump start vehicles on the initial attempt. Vehicle Unlocks DPS can also unlock your vehicle if you happen to lock your keys in your car. You will be required to fill out a vehicle unlock release form prior to DPS unlocking your vehicle. Lost and Found If you have lost something on campus, you can stop by or contact our office to see if it has been turned in. We also will log any item you may have lost that has not been turned in and contact you if DPS does come across it. General Safety There are numerous other services that DPS provides to students. If you experience any of the following issues, or have comments, concerns, or questions please stop by or contact DPS. • Motor Vehicle Accident • Stolen Property • If you see something that seems out of place let us know • Destruction of property • Feeling of being followed Call DPS on campus if emergency we can get 911 dispatched faster Remember that the Department of Public Safety is here for you. To contact us call 607 -962-9352 for general calls and questions or 607-962-9000 for emergency calls. Letter From The Assistant Editor: Jennifer Holton Everyone hears about accidents. Your friend flipped her car or the guy in gym class was in an accident the other day. We rarely think it could happen to us. Do we consider our own driving habits? Not paying attention to the road is becoming a problem. People are distracted while driving. Yes, driving is an everyday event, but it still holds responsibility. I was asking students about how they drive. Students admit to their dangerous habits ranging from texting while driving to speeding and not paying attention. They opened up especially when I said I will not be using any names. I am not trying to embarrass anyone because that is not what it is about. Everyone has bad driving habits. I heard students admit to driving in neutral down the hill because they are worried about having enough gas. Also discussed was the subject of texting. Texting while driving leads often to driving off the road or to an accident. Staying focused and driving the speed limit can save lives and maybe even yours. This is not about yelling at individuals on their personal driving habits. This is about reevaluating your styles and being more aware of other drivers. Some people are also too cautious and need to be aware that turning slowly can lead to an accident also. Basically caution and awareness is an important part of daily driving especially with winter approaching. Ice and snow makes paying more attention even more important. So the next time you hear a friend or stranger talk about a near accident or wreck, think carefully how you drive because you never know when it could happen to you. The Lost & Found By Sara Hawkins Have you ever lost something and didn't know where to find it? In a situation like this, the Public Safety Office (PSO) comes into play. The PSO is located in the commons building and is open Monday-Friday from 7 am-7pm. It is there you will find the CCC lost and found. The PSO is a central location for Coming Community College students to turn in lost items they have found, as well as to recover items they have lost. So, what happens to your lost items when they are found? The item is first logged onto paper. Next, it goes into the PSO computer, to better keep track of the item. The Public Safety Officer will gather information from the person who found then item, as well as ask where the item was found. Finally, the item is placed in a box, marked with its category, and securely locked into a cabinet, until the owner comes to claim the item. What steps will be taken when you claim an item? First, there will be an identity check, and The PSO will also gather your personal information. The reason for this is in case someone else also tries to claim the item. (The PSO claims this has never happened before). Lastly, you will be asked to describe and identify the item. This process altogether, ensures a safe return to the rightful owner. So, now you know where to find your lost items on the Coming Community College campus. With the help of the Public Safety Office and your peers, you have a better chance of finding lost items. CCC Hand Sanitizers Stations By Reynaldo Rios When it comes in preventing the spread of germs and the recently know to the public “H1N1 Influenza Vims”; also know as the Swine Flu, Coming Community College with the help of Student Government has come up with an ingenuous way in rapidly reducing the spread of germs and infectious diseases. Mrs. Candance Rosing, head nurse at Coming Community College had implemented to Student Government and Student Administration the need and use of complimentary touch-free hand sanitizing stations that are throughout the CCC campus facilities. Mrs. Candance Rosing stated, that “these sanitizing stations would help to stop the rapid spread of infectious germs in high risk areas; for instance, in the commons building, the classroom building, and cafeteria” and many other well populated areas throughout CCC. Touch-free hand sanitizing stations decreases the risk of spreading infectious diseases and ensures safe and healthy facilities, also enhances a better satisfaction for students and employees on our campuses. Hand sanitizers are clinically proven to kill 99.99% of most pathogenic micro -organism on the skin’s surface, which eliminates bacteria in as little as 15 seconds. These 2000 dose complimentary Tazza sanitizer units that are in well populated areas on campus works by stripping away the outer layer of oil on the skin, which usually help’s on preventing bacteria present on the body from coming to the surface of the hands. Alcohol-free based hand sanitizer is effective against bacteria pathogens, such as, MRS A, Hepatitis A, influenza “H1N1”, and many other viruses. Hand sanitizers don’t necessarily work as well as soap and water. In fact, the longer it’s been since you’ve washed with soap and water, the less effective a hand sanitizer is likely to be. Either plain soap or antimicrobial soap will also reduce the amount of viruses or bacteria on the hands, a recent study found that washing hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-free or based hand sanitizers were both highly effective in reducing a seasonal strain of influenza on the hands. Hands should be washed thoroughly in a vigorously mechanical friction with soap and water for at least 1-2 minutes. In general, hand hygiene is an important tool in preventing infection from influenza and other viruses, and is an easy and effective way to prevent contracting infectious diseases. Interested In Joining the Crier?? We accept articles, photographs, poetry, or artwork from all students, faculty, and staff, and pay $10 for all articles and $5 for any photographs. Crier meetings are held every Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:40 in the Crier office (All members are not required to attend a meeting to make there contributions) Email: rrios89@yahoo.com with any article, questions, or concerns pertaining to the Crier. Photo By Jen Holton 4 Public Safety Announcements By Kyle Coleman • Remember to always lock your vehicle. Also, if you leave valuables in your vehicle do not leave them in plain view. • Please slow down and drive with caution. Winter weather is on the way and road conditions can change rapidly and without warning. Also, leave ample time in case of possible delays. • Public Safety offers a free escort service to your vehicle. Walk in well lit areas and in groups. • If you see something, say something. The Public Safety emergency line is 962-9000. • There are red phones on every floor of the main campus building and blue light phones at off campus locations. These phones are a direct line to Public Safety for emergencies. • Do not leave book bags or other personal items unattended. • If your wallet, credit cards, or cell phone is lost/ stolen be sure to report it and cancel them. • Know the locations of emergency exits and fire alarm pull stations. • For information regarding school closing or delays, information will be posted on the college website and broadcasted on television and radio. Please do not call Public Safety as, we need our phone line open for emergencies. Sit or Stand on the Commute to CCC By Devon Vert Do you know anyone that rides the Chemung County Transit bus? It drives back and forth from Coming to Elmira, and I am sure you have heard some complaints. According to the supervisors of the local transit system, they are doing everything in their power for the most appropriate schedules and proper transportation coinciding with their contract with CCC. For the most part, they have done a decent job, but morning bus riders have been dealing with a dilemma for the entire semester with the transportation lacking available seats. Apparently, on certain days, the bigger buses are used for other bus routes, leaving the Corning-Elmira bus with a short 16-seater attempting to pack over 20 passengers. Seats usually filled up before leaving the station, students are left standing (or sitting on a dirty floor) in a crowded 5 by 5 foot space for the entire 40 minute trip to Coming. This can cause somewhat of an uproar in the morning among students who unfortunately have to ride this bus to school. Between the conflicts of giving up your seat to another passenger to the uncomfortable, potentially dangerous space students are forced to travel in, something should be reviewed and adjusted for the future. In the time being, our students shall remain confined to the shackles of the short bus of 7:30 am. }/' *> * A :% .. j+’ *y. . ■ •>« : n W * ,. * ■’<» 4 !) " s, > •*.. > , <6 4^* Word of 2009: Unfriend” By Devon Vert New Oxford American Dictionary declared “Unfriend” as word of the year Monday, November 16. The word has been chosen from a list of finalists including new words such as: “hashtag”, “funemployed”, “sexting”, and “intexticated”. “Unfriend”, defined as a verb meaning to remove someone from a social network website, the ending of a social networking relationship. Senior Lexicographer for Oxford, Christine Lindberg states that the word was chosen because it “has currency and potential longevity” and “... has real lex-appeal”. Rebecca Ford, senior OUP blog editor, explains that the master list is compiled from blogs, magazines, books, and new words that are buzzing in interesting ways. Then the list is discussed, deciding which ones are most important, concluding the word of 2009, “Unfriend”. In a humorously ironic way this is symbolic for modem times and the world we live in, as goes for most of the new words that made it to the finalist list. These new words have a lot to do with current modem technology, trends in the world, as well as the economic stability. Got Opinions??? The Crier welcomes them all. If so, Contact us at The Crier Office (607) 962-9339 Or E-mail: rrios89@yahoo.com starfaithl6@yahoo.com 5 Driver Safety: The Safety of Others in Your Hands By: Anthony Popkin, Department of Public Safety As the winter months have descended upon us so have the risks of weather related traffic accidents. You may be thinking to yourself, I’ve been driving in New York for years and never been in an accident, so why worry? There are plenty of reasons to worry even if you are that “good driver.” It’s important to remember that we are located on a hill where traffic is continuous from about 6AM until 9PM. Students, staff, faculty, and our neighbors are all vying for a position on the roadways, whether it’s on Spencer Hill, Powderhouse, or Bailey Creek Road. CCC is isolated from the city and there are numerous animals in every comer you look and there’s not going to be a warning when they decide to jump in front of your vehicle. Throw in some snow, ice, slush, and cell phones and you’ve got the potential for a dangerous situation. So how do you ensure that when you hit the road you are taking responsibility not only for yourself but others? There are the easy answers that may come to mind such as drive slow, pay attention to what you’re doing (sorry no cell phones), and be attentive to your surroundings. Yet, there is much more that you can do to ensure that this winter goes smoothly. Vehicle Preparedness Before leaving your driveway you want to make sure that your vehicle has been thoroughly prepared. Though this may mean getting up thirty minutes early (which can be tough for some), it is vital. Make sure you clear all of that snow that's covering your vehicles whether it is the roof, windows, or side view mirrors. Don’t forget to start your vehicle and let it warm up. You should get a regular maintenance check of your vehicle to ensure that tires, battery, belts, etc. are properly prepared for harsh weather conditions. Ensure that you have a winter survival kit prepared just in case something does happen. This can include road flares, jumper cables, extra clothing and a blanket, ice scraper, first aid kit, and whatever else you may think is pertinent. Most importantly, your safety is priority number one and if you don’t feel safe going out in the weather, it is up to you to make a judgment call. Handling Your Vehicle Equally as important as vehicle preparedness, is understanding how to handle your vehicle in dangerous weather. It is advised to take a driver training course to prepare oneself for inclement weather. Below are some tips for handling your vehicle during the winter months. When stopping, do not brake suddenly. If you do not have anti-lock brakes pump them gently and ensure that you give yourself enough distance to come to a complete stop. Slamming the brakes can cause you to go into a skid. No matter the type of vehicle you have, you should drive slowly. Though you may think your car is good for the winter, how a vehicle will react to snow and ice is unpredictable. Also it is not recommended to accelerate into turns. When skidding, give up on the gas and turn your wheel in the direction you desire to go. Just do not overdo the turn or you may cause yourself to spin out. Turning the wheel the opposite way can lead to ending up in a ditch or hitting another car. Now that you have some tips on how to prepare yourself for winter driving, get out there and do a bit of research for yourself. Check out http://www. fema. zov/hazard/ winter/wi durins.shtm for more information or check with the DMV to see where possible training may be available. Enjoy the winter that is before us, but please be safe and be careful. Student life upcoming events • December 10th- Experience South Africa 12:15—1:40 pm Triangle Lounge Commons: Jean Anne Dull CCC Associate Professor, will present a review of her sabbatical experience in South Africa last spring. Bring your lunch and enjoy your refreshments. •December 12th- Children’s Holiday Party 11am- 1pm Commons: Clown Caricatures Music Pictures with Santa Coloring AND MORE!!! Must R.S.V.P. in student life. First come first served so register early! •December 12th- Women’s and Men’s Basketball vs. Adirondack : 1& 3pm HOME Devon’s Opinion By Devon Vert My plans for an organized and on-task semester this fall has undoubtedly been off course, as it always seems to appear around this time of year. Specifically for this article, I wanted more student-body participation to conclude a topic to write about. Ineffective usage of my time along with a little disorganization led my planned hopes to off-path dissatisfaction. Of course I did alright, but that’s what makes the difference between alright and spectacular, that little bit of extra effort everyday can make it or break it! And since I have not put that extra effort in and found a way to reach out to the students of CCC effectively enough to result responses, even with the little time and limited resources available, I apologize for not bringing you more newspapers and a stronger energy from The Crier this semester. In addition, because I will not be here for the spring semester and cannot show you how much I could turn things around, I would like to share a few things that I have recognized this semester. I have noticed a few tendencies amongst people that tend to lead towards the same qualities that I have suffered from. Some people get overwhelmed when playing multiple roles in life and come crashing down. Whether you are a combination of student, spouse, employee, parent, or someone’s aid, you have to be able to manage your time and actions to keep ahead of everything life throws at you. Procrastination seems to be a problem as well, students can’t just rest and take a break because something isn’t due this week. This is more than just a learning experience it is a test to ourselves, living proof that we can do this on our own; it is up to us on how we do. Another common one is proper listing of priorities, some people get too involved and caught up in other things that they lose focus on what is important. Letting things slide is how things get out of control and before you know it your lost and unsure what to do. I could go on for days preaching, but it is up to you on how far you go in this life and every minute you waste is another opportunity you pass up. At the end of the day, you should be your own friendly criticism and put yourself in check with the things you need to work on. 6 LEISURE TIME ACROSS I. Any agreeable harmonious sounds 6. Drink served with marshmallows II. Petrol 14. Heath 15. Express a thought 16. Tear 17. Translator 19. Bother 20. Shrewd 21. Proposal 23. Consecutive 27. Spreads sleeping sickness 28. The act of sending a message 32. Stones 33. Wooden pin 34. Male sheep 37. Lyric poems 38. Melancholy music 39. Indian music 40. Apiece 41. Fliers in V's 42. Birds of peace 43. Falsify 45. Renter 48. Things that happen 49. Showers 50. Language of Persia 53. Anger 54. Favoring social equality 60. And so forth 61. What we're called 62. Bing, bang or boom 63. Third person pronoun female 64. Hellenic language 65. Chubby Checker's dance 1 2 3 4 5 ■ r 7 8 9 10 ■ r 12 13 14 s 1f ■: I 8 20 21 22 23 24 2(5 2(5 27 28 29 30 31 02 00 04 05 06 37 38 39 "ID 41 42 43 44 45 4S 47 48 40 50 51 52 53 ■ 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 ■ 62 63 I 64 65 DOWN 1. Japanese apricot 2. Ashes holder 3. Seat oneself 4. Frozen water 5. The dead body of an animal 6. Maize 7. Not closed 8. Large town 9. A single thing 10. Spray can 11. Payola 12. Anagram of "Aside" 13. Fem-to-be 18. Inner surface of the hand 22. Marsh 23. Sharpen 24. Wear away 25. An Indycar or FI car 26. Writing fluids 27. Neckwear 29. Do-nothing 30. A drunk 31. Push a broom 34. Black bird 35. Spy 36. Sail supports 38. Not worst 39. A thorny flower 41. A Chinese herb 42. Degenerate 43. An adult male 44. Repose 45. Attempts 46. Our planet 47. Kinswoman 50. Renown 51. Out of the wind 52. Hazard 55. Needlefish 56. Propel a boat 57. Three in Roman numerals . Donkey 59. Mesh