6 The Loquitur Perspectives Thursday, Oct.

21, 2010

A sign of hope for most, Online presence

can lead to jobs
inappropriate to others By Natalie Crawford
Staff Writer

By Rachael Renz Breast cancer
Copy Editor awareness month is
during October. Odd-
ly enough, breast
cancer paraphernalia
was banned from a
high school in Othel-
lo, Wash. during this
month.
Brothers Alex
Castro, 16, and Buck
Castro, 14, sported
the common “I Love Boobies!” bracelet
on a daily basis until their school banned
them.
The principal of the brothers’ high
school told the boys that the bracelets
were “too provocative” and “offensive”
to students and teachers. Therefore, they
were banned.
Miles away at Baltic High School in
Sioux Falls, S.D. the “I Love Boobies!”
bracelets were banned as well, for “poor
taste.”
A young girl who goes to Baltic High
felt this was unfair since her grandmother
and five of her grandmother’s sisters bat-
tled breast cancer.
These “controversial” bracelets are
a product of the “I Love Boobies Cam-
paign” organized by the “Keep A Breast
Foundation.” All of the proceeds are do-
nated to the fight against breast cancer.
The organization’s mission is to “help
eradicate breast cancer by exposing
young people to methods of prevention,
early detection and support.” The purpose
of the bracelets is to spread awareness
of breast cancer among young boys and
girls. The choice of wording was chosen
because it is something that the younger
population can relate to.
“That's the whole idea, it's getting
people to talk about breast cancer, it's get-
ting people to share their feelings about
how this disease has impacted their life,”
founder Shaney Jo Darden said. “The
bracelet is doing what it's meant to do —
it's making people talk.”
Unfortunately, South Dakota and
Washington aren’t the only states forbid-
ding them. Schools in California, Colo-
rado, Idaho, Florida and Wisconsin are
also prohibiting them from being worn.
Although some schools don’t ban them
completely, they do allow the bracelets to
be worn inside out.
The fact that this is even an issue is ab-
solutely absurd. My aunt was diagnosed
with breast cancer when I was 10 years
old. I know that if these bracelets were
around when my aunt discovered her ill-
ness, that bracelet would have been glued
to my wrist.
What ever happened to freedom of
speech? Although these bracelets have
become a fad and are trendy, they are
also sending a loud message to the world:
awareness. Being aware in itself can help
save lives.
My little cousin owns a $4 “I Love
Boobies!” bracelet and I’ll be honest, the
first time I saw them I was taken aback.
I thought to myself, “okay, that’s a little
unnecessary.” But, then I realized that
this speaks to the younger population. It’s
something they can relate to rather than
a pink breast cancer ribbon, because it
comes in cute colors, has a heart graphic
and also says the word “boobies.”
Despite the fact that some may feel
that the word “boobies” is offensive,
it’s a slang for breasts, which is exactly
the point. Teens use slang all the time
through Facebook, instant messenger and
text messaging. Hell, I use slang some-
times too, so of course it relates to the
target market.
Girls as young as 10 years old have
been diagnosed with breast cancer and
the young boys and girls who are wearing
these bracelets are their friends.
The grandmother of the Castro broth-
ers friend lost a battle to breast cancer
and he wears his bracelet because of
her death. He feels that it represents the
strength that his friend has.
Although I am not a young teen, I still
stand behind the right to wearing this
bracelet. I have personally been through a
war against breast cancer more than once
and I think I reserve the right to rock a
piece of jewelry.
For me, wearing the bracelet stands for
hope that one day breast cancer will end
and that no one else will have to expe-
mct
Combining style and charity, the
bracelets proceeds go to cancer re-
search and they come in a variety of
colors to attract young consumers.
rience what I have. I have lost my aunt,
my grandmother has breast cancer and
my aunt was recently diagnosed this past
summer.
I agree that shirts that say “Spear Brit-
ney” and “FCUK Me” shouldn’t be al-
lowed in school, along with clothing that
has alcoholic beverage logos. But, for
something that is profound, brings com-
fort and is worn proudly, why take that
away? Maybe some wear them because
they want to fit in among their peers but
I’d say nine times out of 10 whoever pur-
chases this bracelet wears it for personal
reasons.
Whether or not breast cancer takes
lives it still affects the person it’s attack-
ing. I know from first-hand experience
that when my aunt was fighting her nine-
year battle with breast cancer, not only
was her health affected but so were her
husband and children; they had to fight
the battle with her.
So, if you or someone you know has or
is fighting breast cancer, keep your head
up and your faith strong. Raise your wrist
high and proud, rockin’ that “I Love Boo-
bies!” bracelet because even if they take
away your right to wear them, they can’t
take away your hope.
rr724@cabrini.edu
Being a senior com-
munication major, on-
line presence is crucial.
Social and media net-
working are extremely
beneficial. You could potentially find your
career this way.
The only social networking program I
have used has been Facebook. Facebook can
be a great way to pass the time by checking
people’s status and photo uploads. However,
it can be much more beneficial than that.
I use it especially when I need to get
in contact with someone or to just keep in
touch with old friends from the past. I know
that if I ever need to get in touch with some-
one and I don’t have his or her telephone
number, I can always rely on Facebook to
keep me connected.
If you are hosting an event, one of the
best ways to get the word out is to make an
event on Facebook. When there are dances
and special events going on around Cabrini,
I always find out through the event posted
on Facebook. It’s a useful way to inform and
network people.
Besides creating events, you can also
create groups. Most of the groups I am in
on Facebook are school related. The people
I’ve heard stories of how stu-
dents keep in touch with peo-
ple in the field they hope to
pursue a career in and land-
ing a job from it.
who create certain groups encourage people
to join it or to “like” it. It gets the word out
for whatever is happening and keeps every-
one connected.
Besides Facebook, the other online social
networking website that students can use in
their favor is Twitter.
From what professors and friends have
told me, Twitter is the most valuable form
of online networking, especially if you’re a
communication major.
I’ve heard of stories of how students keep
in touch with people in the field they hope to
pursue a career in and landing a job from it.
Just by getting to know someone on Twitter
can lead to so many other contacts.
I don’t have a Twitter account right now

New friend request, it’s your mom

Attention: there is a new and entertain-
By Sarah Luckert
ing way for parents to stalk your every
Staff Writer
move. That’s right, our beloved Facebook
is being used in offices, homes and coffee
shops all over the place by parents who
now dedicate all of their time to making
their children’s lives miserable. Let me
clarify, more miserable than before.
Now it is obvious that not all parents
are guilty of tormenting their children.
Some parents mind their own business
and don’t even acknowledge they have
children at all, let alone children with Facebook profiles.
Imagine your excitement when you receive a new friend re-
quest. Now imagine opening your new friend request on Face-
book and finding a lovely photograph of your mother, father or
crazy Uncle Louie.
I am here to tell you that it does happen and for me the very
thought of it makes me cringe.
Parents used to spend their time reading the newspaper, cook-
ing dinner and grocery shopping, doing “normal” parent things.
They have now allowed Facebook to consume their lives.
I believe in equal rights for everyone just as much as the next
person but sometimes there is a time to draw a line. In this case
the line is humility; humility for everyone, for the parents who
are posting ridiculous statuses and for their offspring who have
to witness them.
The first thing that is important is whether you accept your
parent in the first place. Thank goodness for my parents lack of
time and knowledge of technology because I don’t think I would
be able to accept the request.
For those of you who are brave enough to venture to the other
side and do it, you may want to be aware of the support that is
out there for you.
The awkwardness of receiving messages filled with slang
words from your mom when she should be doing other things is
difficult to deal with. So it’s a good thing Erika Brooks Adick-
man and Jeanne Leitenberg, creators of MyParentsJoinedFace-
book.com, have created a safe haven for all of those suffering
from the growing epidemic.
On their website they offer an area to vent as well as ex-
amples of other sufferers who may just have it worse than you,
even though that may be hard to believe.
The idea of having parents’ who post everything about them-
selves on their Facebook so the 22 people they went to high
school with, who also have profiles, can see what they are doing
now-a-days is sad.
But, don’t fear, you are not alone. There are hundreds of kids
in the same boat. We can learn to think before we post. Together,
survive this epidemic.
skl37@cabrini.edu
nor do I know how to use one, but if mak-
ing one could potentially lead to me meeting
someone and getting a job, then I am putting
it on the top of my to-do list.
Blogging can also be a useful way to
express your writing to the public. What’s
great about blogging is that you can write
about all of your ideas and interests. While
blogging about things you care about, you
can simulatenously improve your writing
skills, which can also help with getting a job
if the right person reads it.
Back tracking a little bit. Sure anyone can
use these online networking websites, but it
seems like the key necessity to achieve a
professional appeal is to have effective writ-
ing skills.
By having these online accounts you rec-
ognize the way people write, professional or
not. I think that’s helped me to find my own
affective writing style.
Being a well-rounded communication
major entails being able to speak, write and
think. You don’t really realize it but so much
of the media is convergence. You can find
everything online. So to have those abilities
to be able to communicate to the public are
extremely important.
ngc24@cabrini.edu
Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010
Student athletics:
a way of life
By Allie Rodolico
Staff Writer
Throughout my en-
tire life, sports have
always had a large im-
pact on me. For the ma-
jority of it, swimming
and basketball were my two main sports.
They took up most of my time and I was
joining every team to improve. When I got
into eighth grade I took up field hockey just
for fun. I played for the high school team
and began to love the sport more and more.
Eventually field hockey and basketball start-
ed to become my two main sports.
During my senior year of high school,
my team ended the season with the best re-
cord in school history. We made it to semi-
finals in the playoffs where the Cabrini field
hockey coach, Jackie Neary, first saw me
play. My mom told me she had talked to her
and she was interested in having me coming
to Cabrini. I had heard from people from
my hometown that Cabrini was a suitcase
school and everyone always went home on
the weekends so I had never even consid-
ered applying.
I decided to meet with the coach any-
way and it turned out to be one of the best
choices I’ve ever made. Between Jackie’s
enthusiastic attitude, the communication
department and the gorgeous scenery that I
would be walking through every day, there
wasn’t a doubt in my mind that Cabrini was
the right choice for me.
As the summer flew by and preseason
got closer, I began to get even more anxious
about going to the place I’d spend the next
four years. I was already at an advantage
from all the other freshmen that didn’t play
a sport because I was there a week earlier
and had already met a big group of people.
The first three years flew by and the field
hockey team grew to be not only a group of
girls I played a sport with, but they became
my second family. We are all friends on
and off the field and have shared laughs and
memories that will last a lifetime. Two of
the girls on the team in particular turned into
my best friends at Cabrini and roommates.
Now during my senior year, I couldn’t
imagine life without Cabrini field hockey. I
hear from my friends that also play sports
at their colleges complain how much of a
hassle it is with the crazy practice schedules,
it’s not fun for them anymore or they can’t
stand their coach. I’ve never had a single
complaint. All three of my coaches under-
stand how important it is to be a student-
athlete and give us the freedom to be able
to be both.
By making the decision to come to Cabri-
ni and play field hockey, I have met some
of the greatest people that I know will stay
in my life forever. Although Cabrini is a
small school and people do go home on the
weekends a lot, I couldn’t imagine myself
going anywhere else or playing for any one
besides Jackie Neary.
The happiness that field hockey has
brought me, the memories I have made and
the people I’ve shared them with wouldn’t
have been the same at another school.
Everyone in my family always thought I
would go to college for basketball or swim-
ming, especially my dad. However, now
that they see how field hockey has shaped
me into to the person I am today, they are
all happy that I chose the path I did. I don’t
know what I’ll do once the final buzzer
sounds in my last game, but I know that no
matter what, Cabrini field hockey will al-
ways be a part of me and stay in my heart
forever.
amr729@cabrini.edu
Perspectives The Loquitur 7
Apple staying on top
By Jimmy Crowell
Staff Writer
With their sleek
iPhones, versatile
iPads, popular Ma-
cintosh personal
computers and ever-
present iPods, Apple
is always top news in technology blogs,
featured in top newspaper publications
and highlighted in cable television news
programs.
According to the Pew Research Center
Project for Excellence in Journalism in
their research published Sept. 27, Apple
gets more coverage from the media than
any other technology-based company.
Apple has a carefully crafted and or-
chestrated public relations strategy. There
is no question about that and their mar-
keting strategy maintains itself as iconic
and instantly recognized for its 35-year
existence.
On the Standard & Poor’s 500 mar-
ket index, Apple is close to eclipsing the
market value of No. 1 global company, Apple has been a growing company since its inception in 1976. In its over 30
Exxon. years it has become one of the largest American companies.
I currently own an iPhone, an iPad, a pany and in my view has some of the best bought many Apple products and I will
MacBook Pro and I at one time owned cell phones and personal computers avail- say that I seriously enjoy taking apart
several iPods. I will say without any able on the market today. Yes, it is true the packing contents of a new iPhone, or
doubt in my mind that Apple is a com- that the cost of iPhones and iMacs is ex- when I unboxed my MacBook Pro for the
pany that has reached me and told me that pensive and may not be within the grasp first time, I really liked how simple and
buying their products is worth their high for many people. I will argue however uncomplicated the product was placed in
prices. I own many Apple products and that for the quality and the lifespan of the box.
am not surprised to read that a large chunk their products, Apple’s technology cannot And now that I think of it, that ex-
of media coverage goes towards covering be outdone by Sony or Dell or Microsoft plains why Apple is so popular and why
the colossal technology corporation based or any other company. the media covers the technology company
in Cupertino, Calif. I think that Apple has been and will so much; it is because simple and uncom-
Steve Jobs has been the CEO of Ap- continue to be a very successful company plicated is one of Apple’s approaches to
ple Inc. since its inception and has been in terms of making excellent computers, their products. The words ‘simple and
the driving force behind all of their huge phones and iPods, and in terms of being uncomplicated’ explain all of the actual
product launches since the first iPod able to market why their products are bet- reasons why many people like to buy and
launch in 2001. Jobs is a powerhouse ter and worth more than Sony’s devices, own Apple products.
when it comes to painstakingly taking Google’s phones or Dell’s desktop com- I have my own belief; products made
part in design and crafting the products puters. by Apple just work.
that come out of Cupertino. The actual “unboxing” of any Apple
Apple triumphs as a technology com- device is an experience itself. I have jfc46@cabrini.edu
Student insurance:
more hassle than help
Today we learn of health care issues that
By Michelle Costa personally affect homes around the world
Managing Editor every single day. In the classroom, topics
often focus on developing countries and
the hardships of sustaining just resources.
I find that learning of these situations hits
jamie santoro / perspectives editor
This and other pamphlets, available at the heath services
a nerve in my body that is hard to explain.
section of www.cabrini.edu, lays out what is and is not
I want to help understand and speak
covered by Cabrini’s student insurance plan.
on behalf of these countries, but how can
I possibly do so when my own family is mouth County, N.J., the insurance does not accept any of my
being subjected to the lack of health insur- primary physicians.
ance? I feel as though many students do I have a hard time understanding why a school would pro-
not comprehend the complexity of what it vide a service that is so inconvenient and stressful on families.
means to be uninsured and essentially pay out of pocket. Medical fees on top of the $1,000 for each semester, seems in-
Coming from a hard-working, comfortable middle-class conceivable and ultimately frustrating. Health care reform is the
family, does not override the pressures and complications of be- obvious answer. We need a more accessible way for students to
ing a child with self-employed parents. Being self-employed get their hands on credible and effective coverage.
does not offer the benefits that larger and corporate companies I see the medical bills pile up with large past-due balances.
would offer to families. I spend hours with the so-called customer service representa-
The financial expectations to cover a family are simply unac- tives who share more advice through whimsical hold music than
ceptable and reach over a couple thousand each month for the information and guidelines. College insurance may as well not
most minimal coverage. even exist. It is hard to believe that something so necessary to
Cabrini College mandates each student to have health insur- students’ lives has become a chaotic mess, not serving the prop-
ance in order to be considered a student. Cost wise my family er medical needs.
and I felt as though purchasing my health insurance through the I wish there was another way for students like myself to hold
school would be more beneficial financially. Boy, we were so respectable health insurance that would eliminate family stress
wrong. and high outstanding past-due balances. Things need to be
Now on the plan for my second year, with not much of an changed, that’s the bottom line. The health systems at colleges
alternate outlet, we owe more money than ever imagined. It need to come to their senses and provide positive and functional
feels as though the little card that I hold in my wallet, entitled plans.
Devon Medical, covers no more than me simply opening the
door of a doctors office. Especially being a resident of Mon- mmc78@cabrini.edu