Throwing in a film, popping popcorn and settling down for a movie night can be a fun weekend event, but one college student said this weekend routine becomes boring.

 “Movie nights are fun a lot of the time . . . sometimes it can get really monotone, just sitting in your dorm doing homework,” Margaret Hislop said.

Hislop is a sophomore at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania. She said their on-campus dance club TRAX is a great place to meet people and get out of the dorm.

“[It’s like a] dance party. Usually there is enough room to move around, they have a light systems like strobe lights and colored lights and just disco ball things . . . People just dance the whole time and hangout,” Hilsop said.

At the school of roughly 2,000 students, with most people living on campus, the school is very different from Keene State College’s population of over 5,000 students with many off-campus residents.

“We don’t have off-campus housing . . . So we are definitely a lot quieter than Keene State.  A lot of my friends go to Keene . . . I know you guys are inherently louder,” Hislop said.

Despite the school’s differences some KSC students said an on-campus dance club would be successful.

Sophomore Tatiana Fernandes said an on-campus club would facilitate a safe spot to socialize.

“I think that’s a good idea. I feel like I could see more people that I don’t usually see,” Fernandes said.

Many KSC students said they feel the need to go out because their friends do. Shahar Resmen, a junior at KSC, said though he spends most of his time training for the swim team, he makes time to go out to maintain his friendships.

Amanda Guthorn, the director of Campus Safety at Keene State College said she agrees that there is a need to design a space for students to safely party.

“I definitely think there is a need for some type of alternative for students going off campus, whether it’s a dance club or some other type of facility for students to go to,” Guthorn said.

Guthorn specifically identified the need to create a space for students who have not yet reached the legal drinking age.

“I think there is a need for some place on-campus for students to go and gather where they don’t have to be twenty-one in order to have a good time,” Guthorn said.

Hilsop said TRAX is great for first-years and sophomore students still looking to make friends and provides a perfect safe party scene.

“It gives a good space for people who want to go party . . . It’s also for those students who want to meet more people but don’t want to feel like they have to go to [off-campus house] parties,” Hilsop said.

TRAX is open from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and hosts many events sponsored by clubs, fraternities and sororities.  The dance club is supervised by student staff, which Hilsop said provides a safe, controlled atmosphere.  There is also free alcohol served to of-age students every hour.

“So everyone who is over twenty-one can leave their ID and get a bracelet and every forty-five minutes get a free drink and it’s a cup of what ever you want,” Hilsop said.

The students at Susquehanna University are able to get drinks, but in a controlled fashion.

  “It’s not like a bar where you can get what ever you want.  It doesn’t let it get too out of hand.  They aren’t serving you cup after cup after cup,” Hislop said.

KSC junior Mackenzie Kelm said alcohol would be an incentive to make an on-campus dance club successful.

“I think if you provided a spot that would provide alcohol and you would need to show your ID and stuff like that and only eighteen plus could get in.  I think that kind of incentive would work,” Kelm said.

She went on to recognize the drive to drink.

“I think unfortunately people on Friday and Saturday night just want to drink so if they had a place they could safely drink I think that would work and they’d want to go,” Kelm said.

Guthorn also raised the question about the need to provide alcohol in a dance party space.

“The key thing is that alcohol does not have to be served at every events. Is that the kind of business we want to get into?” Guthorn asked.

Anna Glassman can be contacted at aglassman@kscequinox.com

Smooth legs, muscles defined by slight shadows and a shine traveling from the tan calf to the upper thigh. Your eyes take in the bare skin, moving to her flat stomach, your gaze resting on her large chest. Next, two girls: bodies tight and shining, cleanly shaved.  Next, a strong chest, collarbone highlighted by the muscles of his shoulders. This man’s strong hands grab a girl and push her down; she is his.  His hips press into her violently.

You look at her face, you see it as if it were a mirror displaying your lust.  You are in a daze of this garneted satisfaction; you look back at the motion of the two bodies spotting her face again.  She is grimacing, suddenly her identity no longer blurred by your lust, and you recognize who she is. The girl on her hands and knees is your sister. The girl being used is your best friend or your mother. The man in the scene is your brother, best friend and father.

You flashback to long car rides with your sister where your dad told you both to be quiet because your laughter is too loud, you are laughing so hard you can’t make eye contact. Your best friend; you played soccer with her, you remember her legs sprinting on the field and going for the goal. Your mother, your father; they use to hug you when you were afraid of the dark, tears streamed down their faces the day you left for college.

But those tears are different now. They are tears of a person who has lost humanity. The face of this girl, this guy, they are people who become objects through the need to satisfy sexual desires. Some may say the effects of porn are insignificant, explaining that it is just an instrument to satisfy a natural human desire.

But what is the action of watching porn actually grooming humanity to do?  The overuse and misuse of porn trains us to view each other through the lenses of physical appearance that can lessen the quality of relationships.

Watching porn is an addictive activity that trains our brains to react to physical appearance in a particular way.  Like external addictions to alcohol and drugs, watching porn induces the same chemical release.  The Fight the New Drug website explains the parallels between the manipulation porn and drugs hold over our biology.

“Once they’re in the body, they all do the same thing to the brain: flood it with a chemical called dopamine. That’s what makes them addictive. And porn does the exact same thing.”

Watching porn activates the brain’s mating instinct, convincing us that it is a good thing according to the Fight the New Drug website.

The website continued, “When a person is looking at porn, their brain thinks they’re seeing a potential mating opportunity, and pumps the brain full of dopamine. And unlike healthy sexual relationships that build up over time with an actual person, porn offers an endless stream of hyper-sexual images that flood the brain with high levels of dopamine every time the user clicks to a new image.”

Kelsey Caron a Keene State College junior, studying nursing said that over-watching porn could definitely impede initial encounters with new people, “I feel like they would be looking at the screen of all the different videos you can watch and they [frequent porn users] see this person that they meet for the first time in the same way.”

Caron links initial encounters with a real person to someone who is picking their preferred style of porn.  “They see a video and they’re like, ‘Oh I like that, that girl looks good. I want to watch that video,” Caron said.

It is quite possible that we are incapable of viewing each other without physical appearance affecting our original opinion. But, if plausible, how can viewing someone without focusing on appearance enhance first impressions? Tarissa Dunham, a KSC junior, said when talking to a guy for the first time the she feels nervous because of how her looks are being perceived.

“A lot of girls in the industry are the perfect women figure. They are tiny with an ass and boobs and for a person who doesn’t have that it makes you think, ‘What is wrong with you?’  And makes you think you can’t get this kind of person, you’re not going to be able to do this kind of thing.

It definitely alters someone’s self worth.  [It alters your] self confidence in a certain situation when it comes to someone confronting someone you’re attracted to,” Dunham said.

So, if pornography does affect human interaction is it possible to be less affected by someone’s appearance if you don’t watch porn? Caron said she is not sure.

“I feel like we all would want to say that we can do it [view someone without judging their looks]” Caron continue, “I feel like you automatically act different when you look at a guy then a girl.”

Caron said she would like her initial opinion not to affect her perception of someone. “I wish you could talk to them without seeing them,” Caron said.

Is it possible to remember that the person you are meeting for the first time is just like the people who are of value to you.  Going up to a person without seeing, and slowly creating a depiction of who they are through intellectual conversation, is that possible? In order to accomplish this we must reach past the surface and try to define people based on their intellect.  Will Holden, a KSC junior said he believes it is possible to view people as people, without physical appearance becoming a huge distraction.

“It’s a cognitive bias you just have to become aware of it,” Holden said.

Ryan Weaver, a KSC junior, explained that at the time in his life that he watched the most porn, intellectual relationships with girls did not concern him.

“In terms of me actually watching it often or watching it more so than I ever have in my life, it was at an age when a relationship with a female wasn’t important to me.  It was about me maturing and finding that stuff a little attractive and probably at an age where a lot of people were doing it,” Weaver said.

Weaver went on to recognize that porn could negatively affect interactions but noted that it is only a problem when it becomes an addiction.

“If you have a good head on your shoulders and you’re just not obsessed with it to where it does have a little bit meaningful part of your life than it probably shouldn’t affect [your life],” Weaver said.

KSC junior Jake Dimeglio,  said it is imperative that we as a community try to make a shift in cultural perceptions created by porn.

He said his opinion is practice makes permanent. “It’s like we said before, if you start doing something over and over again or if you practice watching porn over and over again that practice of judging someone on their physical appearance becomes a habit.  So when you see someone that habit just comes out.  What you do over and over again; that just becomes a habit.”

So extend your hand and take your best friend, sister, mother, father, brother out of the lustful dissolution that porn creates.  Recognize the humanity in all people and strive to know them for their minds, it’s time to train ourselves to see without the distraction that over focusing on appearance creates.

Anna Glassman can be contacted at aglassman@kscequinox.com

There is an instinctually genocidal group plaguing Iraq and Syria. These terrorists have become notorious for beheading civilians and aid workers, and more recently for the murder of the Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, who they burned alive. Unlike other acts of terror their actions are complex, motivated by underlying intentions. These perpetrators of terror are known by many names, such as ISIS, Islamic State in Iraq, ISIL, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Lebanon. But no name displays their radical ideology better than their self-declared name IS, or the Islamic State. The title Islamic State quantifies their genocidal intentions. The actions the world has witnessed are atrocities on humankind and a natural part of the ideology of ISIS. It is a group destined to commit genocide. Genocide was officially defined in the United Nations 1948 convention as, “Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group as such.” The definition continues with the specific acts needed to be committed in order to constitute the classification of genocide. One, “Killing members of the group.” Two, “Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group.” Three, “Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.” Four, “Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.” Five, “Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”

The victim groups in question are defined by the ideology of the terror group perpetrating the hate crimes. Members of the extremist group ISIS identify as Sunni Muslims. This classifies ISIS as a religious group. Through their faith their goal is to create a unified “nation under Islam.” This religious group’s nationalistic goal constitutes the perpetrators as a nation, as well. Under this description are all members of society whom ISIS’s version of the Sunni Muslim faith deem outsiders, according to ISIS. This classification forbids the practice of Christianity, Judaism or other segments of Islam. In an NBC article, “Deviant and Pathological What do ISIS Extremists Really Want?” Alex Johnson refers to ISIS’s claim that their leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is the direct descendent of Mohammed and therefore is the undisputed leader of Muslims. The June document explicitly declares that the new caliphate is established “for the purpose of compelling the people to do what the Sharia (Allah’s law) requires of them.” In ISIS’s view, that means anyone who doesn’t believe in its severe interpretation of Sharia law is classified as the ‘religious other.’ To understand why ISIS is at its core a group destined to commit genocide, is the presence of intent inspiring their atrocities. ISIS expressed their intent to destroy through their ideology. However, their ideology encompasses more than a written belief — they have acted on their discriminatory doctrines. ISIS gives minority groups one of three options: convert to Islam, leave or die. In an article called “Iraq: ISIS Abducting, Killing, Expelling Minorities” from the Human Rights Watch website, ISIS’s actions in areas in the Middle East are displayed, “The armed Sunni extremist group has seized at least 200 Turkmen, Shabaks, and Yazidis, killed at least 11 of them, and ordered all Christians to convert to Islam, pay ‘tribute’ money, or leave Mosul by July 19.” This quote refers to last June, displaying the requirement of genocide to kill groups and forcing conversion to another group. Though casualities are small in number, ISIS’s clear intent to commit genocide is evident. The article later quotes statistics from a different city under ISIS control, “ISIS has summarily executed Shia captives several times in Iraq, for example killing soldiers. It reportedly killed at least 40 Shia Turkmen, including children, in four communities near the city of Kirkuk, about 100 kilometers southeast of Mosul, on June 16.” Since then American air strikes have pushed ISIS from these areas. Regardless, their ideology and actions committed so far in order to create a caliphate express the genocidal ideology of ISIS. If allowed to establish their caliphate, ISIS will commit genocide.

Anna Glassman can be contacted at aglassman@kscequinox.com

September 4, 2014, was my twentieth birthday.  The day was long and full of school and homework, which led me to say up until 1:42 in the morning.  The decision to remain awake into the early morning was not motivated by my need to finish homework.  Instead, I was unable to sleep because of the amazing people I have in my life. 

I walked into my suite in Pondside III, tired and drained.  Little did I expect the annual birthday decorations that brighten the birthdays of all of my roommates.  The decorations and thoughtful note cards arranged in a large “Two-OH” struck me.  Every note card held a message, a message of love from my roommates to me.  Some joking, teasing me for “always” being on time, while others described what they love about me, “Genuine friend, never lets you down, my biggest cheerleader.”

All of the cards were captivating in a unique way.  They initiated my late night of contemplating the traditional dynamic of a birthday.  The layout of my birthday schedule and the preceding months were clear.

My mom asked me what I would like for gifts so she can slyly pass along the missive to my relatives, who always scramble for ideas for all of our family birthdays.

Then the day comes; 12 a.m. hits and it is my birthday.  Realistically, on my birthday 20 years ago I hadn’t been born by 12 a.m.  My mom wouldn’t push me out for another nine-plus hours.

So why do we celebrate the day?  Why do we rejoice the day of our birth before the time we were even born?  Why do we celebrate at all?

Some may say to receive presents and be the “prince or princess” for the day.  However, that’s not how I wanted to spend my birthday.

Philip Bergeron / Graphic Design Editor

This summer I worked with an amazing young woman, Bosmat.  She was my Israeli co-worker at Camp Shalom, the Jewish summer camp I have worked at for two years.  She enlightened me with many different ways of thinking during our time together.

Her family has a tradition of saying thank you and appreciating the blessings in one’s life rather than focusing on materialistic gains we wish to have.  The focus of an American birthday is overwhelmingly materialistic.

While focusing on what we want the most, we neglect to appreciate our lives as they are.

For that reason, despite my childhood dream of marrying a prince, attaining the status of a royal  is not how we should spend our birthdays.

My parents are the reason I have this day.  I would be nowhere without my mom and my dad, who this past summer graciously reminded me that he did all the work in birthing me.  Nice try, dad!  But the thought of my parents and all they have done and still do to make me successful reinforced my recently formed belief that my birthday is a day for being thankful.

As a result, I am writing this article.  I am saying thank you to my parents for raising me with so much love.

For people I once considered to know nothing about me, I have discovered they are wise in infinite ways.

One thing that truly highlights my parents’ wisdom is the purchase of my father’s uniform.  Otherwise known as his “DADD” shirt or “Dads Against Daughters Dating.”

Unfortunately, for the sanity of my father, that advice has never really sunk in.

However, on a serious note, my parents along with my brothers are the ones who drive me crazy and protect me at the same time; they are my world.

My friends, who are kind and eternally accepting, I am thanking them for being accepting of my lateness, weird behaviors, forgetfulness and often-goofy affection.

Being accepted fully by people who do not have to love me because they are my family, but love me because of honest friendship; that is an amazing feeling.

Searching for a group of people who can look at someone and accept them fully is a challenging task.

I have those people in my life. I have those friends. I have those amazing relationships.  I want to thank them for being a part of my life in that way.

I go on from here praying that in a world where negative judgment and cruelty is prevalent, people can be grateful.

My hope is that people go forth doing what they can to give other people something to be thankful for.

Anna Glassman can be contacted at aglassman@keene-equinox.com

Shaking the white box filled with the newest technology from Apple, a first-ever recipient of the iPhone 6 vigorously opens the box.  The phone then flies off its stage, slamming to the concrete below, in the Youtube Video. 

Since the newest phone from Apple slammed to the ground, there have been reports of several faults with the product.

In addition to  its light-weight, one can also expect flexibility.  USA Today reported that the phone is meeting standards of aluminum,  “[The phones] live up to that other characteristic of aluminum: malleability.”

Interestingly, the pressure needed to leave you with a warped iPhone is insignificant. Lewis Hilsenteger from Unbox Therapy displayed the iPhone malleability, using only his thumbs to bend the metal in an online video. “It is an aluminum phone—it is going to bend if you apply enough pressure.  Will this happen in your front pocket?  It depends on how tight your pants are and how often you are wearing this in your pocket,” Hilsenteger said. Apple claimed the phone is, “Bigger and better in every way.” However, that point is up for debate. The phone is proving to be easily breakable.  The question remains: will the physical weakness of the phone be reproduced in its virtual vulnerability?

A new-and-upcoming feature called the “modern wallet” is appearing in October. Apple Pay is a new way of storing credit cards virtually on your phone.  You will never have to worry about losing a credit or debit card again—or will you?

Similarly to the weakness of the actual phone, storing your credit card data through this technology is a dangerous strategy.  Credit card information will be stored in a “secure element,” which is a chip dedicated to the phone. Though the credit card information is supposed to be located only in the body of your device, it is dangerous to trust this virtual wallet.

The danger of losing financial control through stolen credit card information is prevalent today.  Home Depot recently released a statement warning their customers to monitor purchases on their cards.

After malicious software was discovered in the check-out windows, Home Depot suspected 56 million cards may be compromised. The more faith we place in online sources to store our personal information, the more risk we take of losing it.  Based on the physical success of the iPhone 6, you should be suspicious when placing trust in its soon-to-premiere feature Apple Pay.

Anna Glassman can be contacted at aglassman@keene-equinox.com

Women exist in all areas of society — women are democrats, republicans and independents. However, on Tuesday, April 8, differences were set aside as a women’s rights issue was passed by executive order through the hand of President Barack Obama.

The Keene, New Hampshire American Association of University Women (AAUW) President, Dawn Andonellis, commented on this legislation.  She said the issue that affects women in society is not a partisan issue that prevented it from following the typical legislative process, but instead, it’s a human rights issue.  “Women are every demographic, every party, every color, every state,” Andonellis said.

Andonellis continued with the idea that partisan ties impede progress of the government.  “Why are we making our allegiance to a party more important than a particular part of our society, i.e. women?” Andonellis said, “So many things don’t get passed and don’t get done.”

AP Photo:
President Barack Obama gives two thumbs-up as women’s rights activist Lilly Ledbetter, left, acknowledges him in Washington D.C., Tuesday, April 8, 2014, during an event marking Equal Pay Day

Keene State College first-year student and biology and secondary education major, Madison Rice, said she was under the impression fair pay was established years ago. “I feel like a lot of people think there has been a lot of progressive movement towards women and their salaries.  It’s shocking that it has taken this long,” Rice said. Even after the original fight for equal pay in the 1960s, the 2013 U.S. Census Bureau stated that women working full-time throughout the year earned 77 percent of the salary of men, according to the National Committee on Pay Equity website. The 2013 Census also stated that, even professions that employee primarily female workers; women earn less in their occupation.  This leaves women and their families with a wage deficit between 700,000 to $2 million a year.

According to the National Partnership website in their article, “Pay in New Hampshire, New Hampshire Women and the Wage Gap,” life without a pay gap would provide benefits for women and their  families. The article continued and said common concerns like food, mortgage payments and gas would be less of a worry. It also read that women would be able to pay for 92 more weeks of food, seven extra months of mortgage and utility payments and 3,535 more gallons of gas. KSC freshman, Kyle Hastbacka, said when men and women are working the same job, they should receive the same pay.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like, guy or girl — if you are doing the same job, maybe even better, you deserve to be paid for how you are doing the job,” Hastbacka said.

Laura Bassett of The Huffington Post reported on the details of Executive Orders in an article titled,  “Obama To Sign Executive Orders On Equal Pay.”  The article stated the second executive order “will instruct the Department of Labor to develop new regulations that require federal contractors to report wage-related data to the government.” According to the article, this is in hopes it will hold federal contractors more accountable for salary differences based on sex or race. Andonellis explained why she fights for women’s rights and said she has a daughter attending University of New Hampshire.

The fear of graduating to unequal pay that is stated on the AAUW website in the “Graduating to a Pay Gap” explains the reality for women in this day and age.

Andonellis said she believes unequal pay is unfair for women, and people she cares about.  “I don’t think that is fair for my daughter…This is, maybe, something I can do to help my kids,” Andonellis said.

According to the website shaheen.senate.gov., Senator, Jeanne Shaheen expressed her support of the Equal Pay Day proclamation. “Pay discrimination is not fair, is not right, and every day that it persists is a day when we do an injustice to hard working American women. Equal Pay Day is a stark reminder that while we have made progress in the last several decades, pay discrimination continues to hurt women, families and the economy,” Shaheen said.

Andonellis said she is optimistic because of recent conversations with the New Hampshire Mayor, Kendall Lane that the City of Keene will support Equal Pay Day.

Anna Glassman can be contacted at aglassman@keene-equinox.com

Today’s student could be considered more plugged-in than ever. Textbooks have gone digital and laptops have replaced notebooks in many lecture halls and laboratories. Even the classroom itself has gone electronic. However, Keene State College students still prefer the “analog” classroom over the virtual alternative.

According to an informal poll of almost 500 KSC students, 82 percent prefer the traditional classroom over the newer online adaptation.  “You don’t get the same experience from a tiny screen as you get from living and breathing in a classroom environment. For some classes, the online setting may work, but nothing beats physically being in the same room as your professor and classmates,” KSC student Matthew Bergman stated.

A 2013 Washington State University study uncovered similar results, as described in an editorial in the New York Times. “Lacking confidence as well as competence, students need engagement with their teachers to feel comfortable and to succeed,” the study proved.

Sophomore secondary education major Matthew Ahlberg said, “Traditional classes promote social interaction, not the kind you use online today but traditional one-on-one discussing in real life. They allow students to develop communication skills, social interaction skills and help assist with public speaking.”

Traditional classrooms also offer the ability to make connections that may lead to professional opportunities. Accredited Online Colleges (AOC) is an organization that informs students of accredited online programs to help avoid enrolling in a “diploma mill.”

Allie Norman / Equinox Staff

According to the AOC, the traditional classroom creates much better networking opportunities and far more face-to-face interactions. AOC said in an article titled “Online Versus Traditional Schools from a Student’s Perspective,” “University professors remain one of the biggest assets traditional programs have.”

The article continued, “Regardless of the number of webcasted lectures, informative videos, or insightful studies online services can offer, the role of the professor will remain a benefit that traditional programs hold.”

Additionally, trends emerged among reasons for choosing traditional classrooms. One of these is the physical burden learning from a computer creates.

“I like the personal interaction with a professor. I don’t like staring at a computer screen,” senior Stephanie Murray said.

“Sitting and reading from a computer screen hurts my eyes after a while,” sophomore Amanda Williams said. Furthermore, another trend among students was for them, it is easier to focus in a traditional classroom.

“I learn better doing hands-on learning and focus better in a classroom setting. It would be hard not to get distracted doing an online class,” sophomore Amber Long said.

The article “Online Learning in Higher Education,” from the Education Next website stated there is a concern that online classes provide a low quality of learning and take away from a personalized education experience.

Despite the concern, the article’s authors specified differences in success rates were irrelevant.  “There are no groups of students that benefited from or were harmed by the hybrid format consistently across mutiple learning outcomes,” the article reads. Later, the article presented evidence that showed students reported a low level of appreciation for online classes.  The researchers tested students from State University of New York, the University at Albany, SUNY Institute of Technology, University of Maryland, Towson University, City University of New York, Baruch College and City College.

It reported more students from the tested universities preferred traditional classrooms.  Online students reported they learned less and they experienced more difficulty in the course.

One KSC student expressed a similar opinion about online classes.  Jonathan Musci, a junior education major said, “I am more motivated to do well with a traditional class.  Also I find instruction from the professor to be helpful.”

In contrast, Joseph Piselli, a sophomore at KSC, supported online classes.  “I would be able to retain more and learn the material at a pace that I would feel more comfortable with,” Piselli said.

However, while a large number of students chose traditional classroom setting, 14 percent of students did choose virtual/online classes.

There is evidence that online classes may be utilized in the future.  The “Online Learning in Higher Education,” article reported, online classes reduce the expense of education and can be used to teach people of diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. Other potential benefits include economic savings.

The article stated saving could range from thirty-six percent to fifty-seven percent.  “These simulations confirm that hybrid learning offers opportunities for significant savings,” researchers said.

They continued saying in order for savings to be seen, the online program needs to be implemented for a few years before results would be seen.

The article “10 Advantages to Taking Online Class” from the Open Education Database website stated online classes are an effective way for professionals who are attempting to earn another work degree  around their schedule.

KSC sophomore Tyler Mckelvie agreed that online classes are flexible. “You can take it on your own time,” Mckelvie said.

Junior Harrison Hollingsworth said, “I can work at my own pace.” In addition, students admitted to leaning towards the simpler setting.

Nicole Gregory is a first-year history and theater student. She said, “I have done both and have found that virtual classes work better for me personally because I can work at my own pace, and when it is more convenient.”

Other students who take classes online do not see the computer as a barrier to getting a quality education. Christopher Dejohn stated, “I feel I can get the same level of education on the Internet as I do in the classroom.”

Nonetheless, the W.S.U. study produced results which went against online courses.

“The study found that those who took higher proportions of online courses were less likely to earn degrees or transfer to four-year colleges,” it stated.

Despite this debate, it is beneficial to take note of those who would prefer a blended course, where the class meets in a traditional classroom but also does work online. Three percent of students surveyed chose a blended option.

Regan Driscoll, a senior, said that the value of a blended class depends on variables such as the quality of the professor. “I’m in a blended course right now that meets every other week.  My experience in an online only course was great but I also had a great teacher and it was very appropriate for the subject,” Driscoll said.

Further, the study showed blended courses have been proven beneficial.

According to the study, “Students in hybrid classes — those that blended online instruction with a face-to-face component — performed as well academically as those in traditional classes. But hybrid courses are rare, and teaching professors how to manage them is costly and time-consuming.”

The informal poll was conducted by Keene State College Print Journalism 230 students. 

Ellissa Coburn, Kathryn Raymond, Sabrina Lapointe, Jenn Zinka, and Zach Fournier contributed to this article. 

David Walsh can be contacted at dwalsh@keene-equinox.com

Diana Pimer can be contacted at dpimer@keene-equinox.com

Growing up attending the smallest public school in Connecticut, I was unaware of the things I would be exposed to in the future. I graduated with a class of 63, dated the same boy for two years and never drank or used drugs. Most of the people I knew in high school lived clean lives.  My sheltered perspective on people and what they worshiped was due to the small window into the world that my town provided.

Keene presented a new population to me; the disciples of nightlife, who long for the drama of risky behavior, experimenting with drugs and loose sex.

The stimulation that seems to carry some people through the weekdays, is the anticipation of performing this ritual on the weekend.  This anticipation is similar to a believer’s craving to read the word or pray to God — these people long for their weekend pattern.

The days of drinking, drugs and sex become some people’s master.  When they finish their last class on Thursday, they scream out thanks for the weekend. Continuously following the same rituals; dress up, pregame, find a party and look for an easy hook-up.

This pattern of going out, getting high and hooking up, is akin to some people’s urge to pray to God, thanking him for their life.

Photo Illustration By: Brittany Murphy / Opinions Editor

I did not learn the devotions of the modern-day-lover quickly, I trusted, looking for the innate good in people.  Finally, I started to realize some people I met in the party scene were following a different Lord.

Their Lord seemed to lead these college students to form backwards relationships, developing physical intimacy before a mental connection.  I never thought making love, which I believe God intended to be a gift between a husband and wife, would become the first form of introduction.

The new rituals followed by some college students in the party scene make relationships difficult for the people who follow the traditional path.  “Party-scene worshipers” expect more than they deserve on a first encounter.  Their high expectations cause them to overlook people who live a more conservative lifestyle.

My initial perspective lead me to misjudge some guys’ motivations towards girls.  In my high school if a guy had a crush on a girl his goal would be to ask her on a date, perhaps being lucky enough to snag a kiss at the end.

I stepped on campus unaware of the intentions behind the eyes of people who were checking me out.  I would catch someone’s gaze and believe he was interested in getting to know me, instead he was following a different motivation.

One boy asked me to lunch.  After a long conversation he looked at me quizzically preparing to say something momentous.  Apologizing, he informed me that he had not expected me to be smart.  “I thought you were like every other Keene State College girl, hot, dumb and slutty,” he said.

Now, this is not to say that is an accurate description of girls at KSC, for it is far from the truth.  I live with, have met and play softball with wonderful girls who carry themselves with class.  However, there is a stigma around college girls that describes them as easy.

One person I talked to attempted to develop a premature physical relationship with me.  We had been talking for a few weeks, hung out a couple of times; I enjoyed spending time with him.

However, one night, when we were together, he attempted to have sex with me.  I stopped him with mirth jumping inside of me, as I realized I was a part of the backwards ritual of the modern-day-lover.

He asked me why I refused to enter into what I saw as the college ritual, I simply told him he did not deserve it.

My response may have been blunt, but it was truthful.  People who are not infatuated by your inner beauty do not deserve the benefits of your physical beauty.

I believe something so intimate, as making love, is truly a gift that God gave us to share with a person who deserves the experience.

My hope is that people learn to restrain their initial desires and realize that loving their inner person is meant to be the key to unlocking physical love.

Anna Glassman can be contacted at aglassman@keene-equinox.com

Residential halls broken locks jeopardizes students’ safety

With a few hard tugs on the Owls Nest residence hall doors, they fly open, alarms sound and one can now access the residential hall without an ID card.  The broken doors leave students wallets and safety in jeopardy.

Owls Nest resident Andrea Pauza commented on the safety hazard when she said, “It definitely makes me feel nervous. We are suppose to live in a safe environment and anyone can get in if they know just to pull it hard enough,” Pauza said.

Megan Barbato, Resident Director for the Owls Nest and Butler residential halls said she recognized the danger the doors put students in.  She stated this is a new issue.

She said she took immediate action when the issue was brought to her attention.

“Immediately, we had the carpenters go back and take a look at it and they have been able to fix it,” Barbato said.

However, the doors continue to present a problem after breaking multiple times.

Leah Mulroney/Equinox Staff: Owl’s Nest’s door locks can be opened without using a resident’s ID. Students complain about safety issues in the residence hall.

Keene State College’s Associate Director for Facilities and Housing Operations, Jim Carley, said there is discussion about potentially replacing the faulty doors with a new door system.

Carley said the school is looking into its options.  “One of the things I am going to look into is, will it be necessary to take out the entire door and the door jam, so not only take the door itself but do we need to take out the jam that is attached to that whole frame?” Carley questioned.

In the meantime, both Barbato and Carley said they insist students lock their doors.  Unfortunately, Barbato said the Owls Nests that require a key cause a problem for students.  She said students will leave their doors unlocked to go use the bathroom, but there is no reason personal doors should ever be unlocked.

“It’s really about students [that] just don’t want to bring their key,” Barbato said.

At the moment, Owls Nests three, eight and nine use codes, but the other six Owls Nests require students to carry keys with them.

Carley said he recognizes the benefit of switching all the inside doors to codes but commented that the cost may be too extreme to take any action.

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of doors over there. It takes not only a lot of time but it takes a lot of money because the door and the lock has to be replaced,” Carley said.

Despite the consequences, Carley said the problem is going to be looked at this summer.

In the meantime, both Carley and Barbato encourage students to lock their personal doors to ensure their security.

“It doesn’t matter if you have a key door or if you have a combo door. It’s always good practice if you’re there to leave your door closed and locked,” Carley said.

To convince students to lock their doors Barbato said she has initiated a “Post-It Note” program.

Barbato said residence assistants are going to walk around the dorm knocking on doors.

If the room is vacant the RAs go in the room if the door is unlocked. Then they will leave Post-It notes on everything of value that someone with malicious intent might have taken.

Barbato said she hopes to promote awareness by implementing the new program.

“It is something that I have done at other schools and I think is really helpful here,” Barbato said.

Barbato stated the biggest issue is that every student is being charged for the broken locks when only one person is responsible. The Resident Director of Owls Nest and Butler said, “Unfortunately the residents of that nest are the ones who would be charged for those damages to redo those doors every single time…The goal is not to charge every student for one students problem,” Barbato said.

Barbato said if residents of Owls Nests witness a person breaking into an Owls Nest to inform Barbato or Campus Safety so the person responsible can be charged.

Anna Glassman can be contacted at aglassman@keene-equinox.com

In the world record books and in trouble for next year, Keene Pumpkin Fest might be in danger of being canceled.  The Keene community came together to reach a goal and in return, beat a world record.  However, a segment of the community may have lead to a troubled future for Pumpkin Fest.

“The point [of beating the record] was it gave an opportunity for the community to come together and to work towards achieving a goal,” Mayor Kendall Lane said.

Lane reflected on his excitement for the town’s success.

“I was thrilled that they achieved the goal but that wasn’t the point. The point was that the community to work together to make Pumpkin Fest successful,”  Lane said.

Despite the success, there were some downfalls as well.  Mayor Lane commented on the acts of some of the community members during the weekend of Pumpkin Fest.

“They were throwing beer cans, there were people on roof tops dancing naked and there were people who thought it was a big joke to be on roof tops pouring beer on people underneath them,” Lane said.

Brian Cantore / Photo Editor:
More than 70,000 people attend the 2013 Pumpkin Fest Saturday, October 19. That day, Keene broke the Guinness Book of World Records for the most lit jack-o-lanterns in the same place at the same time.

Ruth Sterling, the owner of STERLING Design & Communications and primary organizer of the festival, said important people are withdrawing their support of Pumpkin Fest because of the damage it caused.

“One of the fifteen city councilors who had previously voted for Keene Pumpkin Festival said he can no longer support the Pumpkin Festival after what he saw and took pictures of in his neighborhood this past weekend,” Sterling said.

Sterling stated that without the council member’s vote, Pumpkin Fest funding is in trouble. “I mean that is a real jeopardizing situation to not only the license to the festival but also the funding to the festival,” Sterling said.

Sterling said she is not going to let people who don’t know how to celebrate ruin the future of Pumpkin Fest.  “I am not going to sit by and let out-of-control alcohol-induced behavior change the future of Keene Pumpkin Festival,” Sterling said.

Sterling stated that she is planning forums to tackle the issue caused by partiers.  She stated that she needs people from every constituency to attend in order to discover the root of the problem.

“I need students who believe in partying to show up. I need students who don’t really advocate huge parties to show up…. I need members of the parent group, the alumni group. I need members of every constituency that has information about the root of this problem.”

Sterling said she believes finding the root of this problem will allow them to stop people from ruining the festival.

“So that we can not roll over and let the minority of people who do not know how to celebrate kill the best celebration that Keene could ever design,” Sterling said.

Despite the trouble caused by a segment of the community, there were a lot of people who worked together to make Pumpkin Fest successful, said the Pumpkin Fest organizer.

“I think there were a lot a lot of people in the city that deserve a lot of credit for having put that together,” added Lane.

Sterling said she gives attention to those who worked hard during Pumpkin Fest.

“People who work in the Pumpkin Dump Derby, the people who carve pumpkins, the people who are really polite to all of our guests the people who care about Keene Pumpkin Festival, the multi-generational!” Sterling said.

Mayor Lane reflected on Pumpkin Fest as a success,  “It was an extremely positive festival. There were 70,000 people that had a wonderful time.”  Lane said that the people who participated in the festival were happy about winning the record.

Even people who were unable to participate were happy about the accomplishment.

Stephanie Durvin, a KSC student, was at work during Pumpkin Lobotomy and did not have the opportunity to carve a pumpkin, but she was happy about the success.   “I was mad because I had to work, I was mad because I didn’t get to do it, but I was glad that we broke it,” said Durvin of the record.

“And all who participated in the festival by bringing pumpkins or by lighting pumpkins those people were excited and absolutely thrilled by winning the record,” said Lane.

Anna Glassman can be  contacted at  aglassman@keene-equinox.com