SPRING 2015 EDITION

TLANTICCAPEREVIEW

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Atlantic Cape Review

@ACReviewnews

The student newspaper of Atlantic Cape Community College, Mays Landing, N.J.

Twice named
Atlantic Capes
Teacher of Year,
and Faculty Pioneer

Remembering
Professor
Gerri Black
1949-2015

She believed in us
By TAYLOR HENRY, Staff reporter

This years edition of Rewrites is dedicated to Black.

Her influence has been everything to me. I am
erri Black, a pioneering English professor who
certain I would not be who I am had I not met her, said
showed she truly cared about the department,
Russell, who now advises Rewrites and teaches creative
taught at Atlantic Cape for more than twenty
writing and whom Black had called the new Gerri Black.
years.
I felt almost immediately that Gerri and I were kindred

Black, who was born in Alaska and came to live
spirits In her room, I found a list titled Things to talk to
in Egg Harbor Township, died on March 18. She was 62
Rich about, detailing some of the projects we were workyears old.
ing on.

What makes

Black was twice
Gerri such an exnamed Teacher of
traordinary educator
the Year, as well as a
is that she believed
Faculty Pioneer. The
in us, her students,
Gerri Black Creative
even when we did
Writing Awards at
not believe in ourthe annual Commuselves, Assistant
nication Awards are
Professor of English
named in her honor.
Richard Russell said.

When she wasnt

I felt rather
teaching, Black was
alone until I met
a published poet and
Gerri. She encouraccomplished book
aged me to transfer
worker. She was a
to New York Univermember of the Great
sity and move to the
Bay Gallery poets
city.
and the Delaware
AWARDS NIGHT, 2014 - Gerri Black, far right, at the 2014 Communication Awards with

Black earned Professors
Valley Chapter of
Effie Russell, left, Rich Russell and Leila Crawford.
a bachelors degree
the Guild of Book
in English and a masters degree in education from the
Workers whose work was often exhibited at the Riverfront
University of Pennsylvania. She was a DJ for Penn raRenaissance Center for the Arts.
dio station WXPN, and hosted the popular mellow music

Blacks 3D art exhibit, Geographies, will be feaprogram, Sleepy Hollow,on SaturdayandSundaymorn- tured at the Great Bay Gallery in Somers Point fromApril
ings.
22 to May 23.

She was instrumental in the success of Rewrites, the
Commissions from Geographies will be donated in
colleges literary magazine, for which she served as adviGerris name to the Cancer Center at Shore Medical Censor for several years.
ter in Somers Point.

Behind the building

name on the Mays
Landing campus

More than 600

attend A.C.
Restaurant Gala

Variety highlights
spring dance
showcase

Baseball team
plays home games
at Sandcastle

page 4

page 6

page 7

page 10

Atlantic Cape Review

Spring 2015

Staff
ACR Advisor:
Peter Brophy

Editor:

Jennifer Bell

Asst. Editor:
Billy McGuire

SGA Representative:
Nick Pappas

Business Manager:
Alma Albarran

Secretary:

Stephanie Rodriguez

Staff Writers:

Taylor Henry
Michael McDevitt
Stephanie Rodriguez
Sara Opuda
Eric Conklin
Dino Arhontoulis
John Sanchez

Contact us:

Twitter:
@ACReviewNews
Facebook:
Atlantic Cape Review
Email:
acreview@atlantic.edu
Disclaimer:
The Atlantic Cape Review
is a public-forum student
publication. The content
of this newspaper does
not reflect the
viewpoint of Atlantic
Cape Community College.
Any opinions expressed
in the publication are
solely the opinion of the
writer unless otherwise
stated.
Corrections Policy:
The Atlantic Cape Review
strives for accuracy and
fairness. If you notice any
incorrect information,
please contact us.
ACR reserves the right
to refuse any advertising
deemed unsuitable.

Cape Review photo by Sara Opuda

JUST LIKE THE REAL THING. Alumni Refresher Programs are now available at the Atlantic Cape Worthing-

ton Campus in Atlantic City. Students will work on a casino floor mockup.

AC campus mock casino floor

keeps employees up to speed
By SARA OPUDA, Staff reporter

game. This program will also include an intro

duction to computer to further enhance employ
The gaming industry is constantly evolvability.

For the Certidfied Surveillance Profesing and the Casino Career Institute at Atlantic
Cape is right there with a beautiful new mock
sional porgram, CCI has joined with the Intercasino floor at the Worthington Campus in Atlan- national Association of Certified Surveillance
Professionals to offer this extensive training
tic City.
opportunity.

Students get real-life, hands-on experiThis program prepares potential surveilence, and those already in the field can brush up
their skills, at the facility.
lance officers on the aspects of slot machines and

Got your certification already? Don't fall
table games that lend themselves to cheating and
behind or lose your skills. People who are already illegal procedures.
certified by the CCI can now refresh their skills

Surveillance officers are responsible for
with the Alumni Refresher Programs, which inmonitoring all activities for an entire facility.
clude classes in blackjack, craps, baccarat, poker They ensure gaming laws and employer internal
policies are followed and that suspicious or crimiand tournament play, pai gow tile, roulette, and
pai gow poker.
nal activity is investigated.

Some days it may seem that there aren't

The course will review table games, rules
enough hours to get done all that you would like
and procedures, types of slot machines, regulato in one day. So, CCI came up with a program
tions, game irregularities and recognizing pocalled The Lunch and Learn series.
tential and alleged cheats. At the conclusion of

The Lunch and Learn experience selects
training, participants will be ready to apply for a
blackjack, roulette, or poker. During
position in the surveillance department at gamPart one of the Lunch and Learn series, expeing properties anywhere in the world.
rienced table games instructors will guide
students through the fundamentals. Part two
consists of a lunch, included with the class.
And then on to Part 3, which is a return to
the gaming floor for a simulated Play Day
Event to practice the taught skills.

The next sessions will be on May 15
and June 12.

Also new to the CCI's programs are the
Multi Game Dealer with Technology (MGD)
and Certified Surveillance Professional (CSP)
programs.

The new multi-game dealer program
Cape Review photo by Sara Opuda
combines blackjack and craps to prepare
students for a position in the gaming industry ALL THE GAMES -Roulette is among the lineup of games
and entry to any other primary or secondary that the new mock casino floor features.

Atlantic Cape Review

Spring 2015

Penny drive pays off

for Atlantic Cape choir
Group performs Spring Showcase on May 7
By STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ, Staff reporter

Those songs were:

Can pennies truly make a differ- - Go the Distance by Michael Bolton
(From Disneys Hercules)
ence?

The Atlantic Cape Choir held its - You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban
- In My Life by The Beatles
first penny drive on March 11 on the
Cape May campus and on March 12 on - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by
Green Day
the Mays Landing campus.

We made a good amount of mon- - Dont Stop Believin by Journey
The dedication song
ey on the penny drive,
with 202 votes, both onsaid Randy Bock, a secline
and in paper vote,
ondary education major.
There is a lot of
was Dont Stop Believin

A large numchallenging
music
this
by Journey. The winber of people had been
semester, so its going to ning dedication song
unaware that Atlantic
Cape has a choir. But
be something everyone was sung at the Spring
Showcase on May 7.
now with the penny
will want to see.
Last semester the
drive and the dedication
Rachel
McGettigan,
choir performed six
song, the public is wita
performing
arts
major
songs. This semester
nessing a community of
the choir sang 15, not to
people coming together
mention a bit of chorefor the love of music.
ography for some of the

Overall, the penny drive raised
songs, and finally, a costume change.
more than $100 for the choirs expens
There was a preview showcase in
es.
the
afternoon
and the dedication song

I wanted a way to get all of the
by popular demand as the final number
students involved in something. It was
in both showcases.
exciting when I

There is a
pitched the idea to
2015 Graduation Songs
lot of challenging
the choir and they
music this semester
were really recepn
Go
the
Distance
by
Michael
Bolton
so its going to be
tive, said Robyn
(From Disneys Hercules)
something everyone
McCullough, choir
n You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban
will want to see,
advisor and office
n In My Life by The Beatles
said Rachel McGetn Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by
assistant in the
Green Day
tigan, a performing
admissions departarts major.
n
Dont
Stop
Believin
by
Journey
(winner)
ment.
Personally,

I enjoy
I just love performcelebration. Im an
ing,
so
any
chance
to
be on that stage
alumni of Atlantic Cape and one thing I
missed was a flurry of excitement lead- gets me pumped. I would like to think
everyone is excited for the showcase
ing up to graduation, she said.

Out of the many songs suggested just for the plain fact that its something we all have been working really
to be this years dedication song, the
Atlantic Cape Choir voted for the top 5. hard on, she said.

Jones-Carmack to be featured speaker

The 10th Annual Women In Business Conference will feature
Dr. Joy Jones-Carmack, from Atlantic Cape Community College,
speaking about Power in Public Speaking and Gender Differences in
Communication on May 14, 2015 in Ocean City at the Flanders Hotel.
Jones-Carmack is an assistant professor of communications at Atlantic
Cape.

The conference will showcase the nontraditional roles both men
and women fill in todays business world, with the theme being Evolution in the Workplace.

The conference runs from 8:30 a.m. util 2:45 p.m.

More info:
http://chamber.capemaycountychamber.com/events/details/2015-women-in-business-158516

Atlantic Cape Review

Spring 2015

Behind the campus building names

Youve read the names on the walls of the Mays Landing campus buildings as you hurried to class, maybe even turning them over in your head
before forgetting them and moving on. Here, we take a look at three of them. Thanks to Dennis Niceler and the Egg Harbor City Historical Society for
contributing to this months research.

By TAYLOR HENRY, Staff reporter

Silas R. Morse

Daniel Leeds
Daniel Leeds, the namesake of
Building D1, was a controversial author and, according to legend, may have
sparked the legend of the Jersey Devil.
Born in England in 1651, his family sailed to the New World and landed
in Burlington County in 1678. He was
a member of the Assembly in 1682, and
was appointed a councilor of New Jersey
in 1704.
Leeds was a publisher whose
work included controversial anti-Quaker
books on his former religion. His series
of almanacs were the first publications
ever made in New Jersey and caused
further conflict with the Quakers due to
their pagan-like, astrological content.
It is said that in Estelville, Leeds
wife gave birth to their 13th son, a deformed child with a horse head and
batwings. It killed its mother, escaped
to the Pine Barrens and became the
Jersey Devil. This rumor may have been
started by the Quakers as revenge for
Leeds feud with them, and it continues
to haunt those in the Pine Barrens.
Leeds was the first surveyor general of New Jersey, and began the compilation of the first almanacs in the New
World. Benjamin Franklin, in his Poor
Richards Almanac mentions Daniel
Leeds as an astrologer.
Leeds eventually moved his family to what is now known as Leeds Point,
in Atlantic County. He died in 1720 in
Burlington.

Building B1 is named for Silas
R. Morse, who was curator of the New
Jersey State Museum in Trenton and
superintendent of Atlantic Citys schools.

Morse was born
on March 12, 1840
in Livermore, Maine,
and moved to his
sisters residence in
Hammonton in 1862
for health reasons.

While recovering, he fell in love
with a woman he was tutoring and
married her in 1865. That year, Morse
became principal of Atlantic City High
School and, six years later, was elected
superintendent of Atlantic Citys school
district. Throughout his life he held
multiple educational positions in Atlantic County and New Jersey.

Morse developed an interest in
photography and took more than 4,000
scenic photographs of early Atlantic
County, which were donated to the Atlantic County Historical Society in 1945.
He died in Atlantic City in 1928.

Dr. Jonathan Pitney

Dr. Jonathan Pitney, for whom

Building E is named, was born on Oct.
29, 1797 in Mendham, Morris County,
and studied medicine at Columbia College.

After spending two years at a
hospital on Staten Island and then back
in the Morris County area, Dr. Pitney
relocated to Absecon in 1819 and began
a practice that covered the Egg Harbor
area. He was nominated to the Legislature by the Democratic party around
1848, but didnt win, it is said, because
the residents of Atlantic County, not
wanting want him to quit medicine,
voted against him.
Samuel Richards

Dr. Pitney was the Atlantic
County delegate in the New Jersey

Samuel Richards, the namesake
Constitutional Convention in 1844. He
of Building B3, was a prominent iron
helped develop Atlantic City by building
master during the Revolutionary War
the Atlantic Railroad and the Absecon
and owner and operator of Atsion FurLighthouse. He also served as his school
nace. He founded the community of
districts trustee and Absecons postmasAtsion, now part of Batsto Village in
ter.
Wharton State Forest.

He died on August 7, 1869. Pitney

Richards was born in 1769 and
raised in Philadelphia. Road in Absecon is named in his honor.
His father, William
Richards, successfully Charles Shimer Boyer
operated Batsto Furnace until he handed

Charles Shimer Boyer
much of his business
Building B2 was named for Charles
dealings to his son to
Shimer Boyer, a well-known historian
manage.
and Camden businessman who was
In 1824, Richards
considered an authority on New Jersey
bought Atsion Ironhistory. He was president of the Camworks outright and
den County Historirefurbished the forge and furnace. He
cal Society and wrote
built a mansion for his family as well
many historical books
as a church, a store, and worker housabout early New Jering for more than 120 workers; the area
sey.
became the community of Atsion.
Born in Bethlehem,

He bought and built other furPa., in 1869, Boyer
naces in the area, including Weymouth
grew up in PhiladelFurnace, and created an iron dynasty in
phia and graduated
the Pine Barrens.
from the University of Pennsylvania in

Atsion is now a ghost town in the 1891.
Pine Barrens, and tours are available

Some of his writings include Old
for the Atsion Mansion. Richards died
Forges and Furnaces, and Old Inns
in 1842 as the iron industry began to
And Taverns In West Jersey, both of
decline.
(See BOYER, Page 5)

Atlantic Cape Review

Spring 2015

Mays Landing building

names continued
Ruth M. Lee

The Allied Health building, or H building, was named
in honor of Ruth M. Lee. Lee, an instructor as well as chairperson of the ACC Allied Health Technologies Division, developed the nursing program and several allied health degree
programs in 1967. She was also a combat nurse during World
War II.
Lee was instrumental in acquiring funding
for H building so that nursing and allied
health students had a place to learn and
program faculty had office space.
Prior to that faculty were housed in a
trailer on campus, said Professor of Physical Education & College Skills Dr. Joyce
Groman. Moving into the new building
was exciting. We had large classrooms, a
nursing practice lab, a conference room, kitchen and faculty
offices.

Lee wrote her own textbook in 1978, "Orientation to
Health Services, which she used to teach her classes. She
retired, and now enjoys traveling in her RV.

Chris Devine named

Communication Major
of the Year at 8th Annual Ceremony

Charles Shimer Boyer

(Continued from Page 4)
which are standard references in todays historical community.

Boyer also served as president of the Sons of the American Revolution of New Jersey, president of the Camden Club,
a charter member of the New Jersey Harbor Commission, and
a member of Trimble Lodge, F. & A. M. He died in 1936 at his
home in Moorestown.

Effie Russell, of English Department,

voted Faculty Member of the Year

Professor Effie Russell of
the English department was
honored as Faculty Member of
the Year on April 24th, during
the Student Government Association annual banquet.

Students voted for their
favorite faculty member online
during the SGA elections of early March.

I value every one of my students and I respect
my students and I know that theyre all going to do
great in life because theyre very committed to their
education, Prof. Russell said.

It means that I am doing many things right in
my classroom, which is my goal to teach students to
help to make sure they get their moneys worth because I know they are hard-working students.

Professor Russell, a resident of Ocean City, has
bachelors and masters degrees from the University
of Pittsburgh and has been at Atlantic Cape for more
than 30 years.
-Dino Arhontoulis

Chris Devine, a member of the Radio Club, was voted the 8th
Communication Major of the Year at this years show held on
May 1. Taylor Henry, Radio Club president, was the runner-up.

Atlantic Cape Review

Spring 2015

Cape Review photos by Taylor Henry

A FOOD CELEBRATION - Members of the ACA, left photo, gather in front of the podium during Aprils Restaurant Gala. At right, Atlantic City
Mayor Don Guardian is served by members of the Academy.
.

Gala raises scholarship money

Annual event at Ballys in A.C. draws more than 600

By TAYLOR HENRY and BILLY McGUIRE,

Staff reporters

Atlantic Capes 32nd Restaurant
Gala at Ballys Casino Hotel in Atlantic City on March 26 gave attendees a
chance to sample a variety of foods while
supporting student scholarships.
The gala is the largest fundraising event
held by the college, and is one of two
annual events that the Atlantic Cape
Foundation holds to raise money for student scholarships. The second event is a
golf tournament held in the fall.

Tickets were $225 per person
for this years event; more than 600
attended,according to Kelly McClay,
deanof the Academy of Culinary Arts.
The theme was Under the Sea, featuring beautiful, oceanic decor and seafoodbased dishes.

Its really a great way for the
community to give back to the students,
Atlantic Cape President Dr. Peter Mora
said.

The night began with a cocktail
reception hosted by students of the
Academy of Culinary Arts (ACA).

Its really exciting to see Atlantic Citys future chefs, cooks and bakers
learning a trade and doing a presentation, said Atlantic City Mayor Don
Guardian, who has attended about a
dozen Atlantic Cape galas. Guardian
was honored for his more than two de-

cades of leadership as executive director

of the Special Improvement District, his
community participation and activism,
and his vision for Atlantic City.

The role of the ACA, according to
McClay, is to supply talented chefs to
the South Jersey area, which weve done
remarkably well. And youll see at the
dinner tonight that most of the people
working in the dining room, representing the different restaurants, were students of the academy at one time.

One of those ACA graduates,
Nicole Gaffney, was honored. Gaffney, of
Brigantine, is a chef, writer and television personality who was a finalist on
Food Network Star.

Gaffney focused on her coastal
cuisine, cooking up dishes that boasted
bright, clean flavors, using fresh ingredients and simple preparations. Her signature dish, Seared Scallops with Romesco and Crispy Prosciutto, was recreated
by the ACA students for the reception.

The main courses were prepared
by more than 40 restaurants from
the region. Culinary specialties were
crafted by restaurants including Gordon Ramseys Pub and Grill, Guy Fieris
Chophouse, Assagio! and Sofia.

The gala is used for restaurants
and chefs throughout the area as an
outlet to showcase their signature
dishes. An eclectic variety of food and

styles were on display including salmon,

swordfish and tuna.

Desserts were crafted by the ACA
as well as 18 local restaurants and bakeries, including Jennicakes, Samian
Sales and Baked Pastry Shop. Dancing
followed the feast, with entertainment
provided by Dont Call Me Francis and
The FM Band.

Students played a key role in
helping to make the night possible.
Aside from the ACA students, who
helped host the cocktail reception, hospitality majors and member of the colleges
TV Club also volunteered their services.

We spend all year planning, said
Restaurant Gala Committee member
Roger Nielsen.

Its always nice to see the fruits
of our labor coming into form and to see
what we do to help students achieve
their dreams.

This year $8,900 was raised from
the 50/50 raffle alone. One hundred and
seventy-eight raffle tickets were sold; the
money was split among three prizes. The
top prize was $5,340 to Greg Koshland
of Sea Isle City, second prize was $2,670
to Tom Ward of Moorestown and the
third prize was $890 to Michael Devlin
of Hammonton.

In total, the event has raised
more than $3 million since its creation in
1984.

Cape Review photos by Taylor Henry

THE PRES AND THE BAND - Atlantic Cape President Dr. Peter Mora addresses the audience; two bands were on hand for dancing.

Atlantic Cape Review

Spring 2015

Variety highlights spring dance showcase

dance to be a part of, jazz dance student Rachel McGettigan said. It was a very fun way to end the show and I

Atlantic Cape Community Colleges spring dance
absolutely had a blast performing it.
showcase, entitled Swing into Spring III, featured a

McGettigan also went on to describe why she entotal of fifteen dances from various students that ranged
joyed being apart of the showcase.
from African, Native-American to Contemporary.
I think it is important to me to support the arts here at

Hosted on April 22 by the dance department, the
Atlantic Cape. It is vital to have these programs because
event offered student dancers a chance to perform their
it is crucial for students to express themselves in a way
own original dances or faculty choreographed ones. Danc- that they may not be able to in their everyday lives.
ers were excited to be able to perform their own works in

A variety of cultures were depicted throughout the
front of an audience.
show.The first act opened with a west-African work by

For me personally, this is a time where I can
student choreographer and dancer Christina Noble.
express myself, and to show people who I am through

My dance was a traditional western African dance
my dance, said modern and jazz dance student Megan
named Sunu, Noble said. It was named after a woman,
Quam, who performed her own original dance called An- because she had danced so well and her fluid movements
ti-Gravity.
flowed like water.
I also love being able to work with new faces, and learn

Like McGettigan and Quam, Noble discussed why
about each individual, she said.
she loved having the opportunity to perform in spring

The main purpose of my dance is to try to describe showcase.
my life being a victim of bullying through the motions
It pushes me to work harder, she said. Also, it allows
of body, she said. I had a lot of encouragement from
me to tighten my technique. I love performing because I
my boyfriend to develop and perform the dance, so I can
enjoy spreading joy and positive energy to people by doing
spread my message to other people. I like to call it Spread what I love to do, which is dancing.
my Wings.

The production was directed by dance faculty mem
The showcase also featured a variety of different
bers Michelle Bayard Gross and Kelly Harris.
group dances including the jazz and modern dance classThe performance was like a beautiful quilt, Gross said.
es.
The individual artistic voices of the students came toThe modern dance class presented a performance titled,
gether and were interwoven to create a wonderful afterDifferent Trains. It depicted passengers going to various noon of dance.
places by train. The jazz class featured a dance to music

The dance department at Atlantic Cape Community
from the hit Broadway show Jersey Boys. The dance
College will continue to offer dance courses in the fall.
was an upbeat way to end the showcase.
Classes will range from jazz, modern, and introduction to

It was a very fun, lighthearted, and theatrical
dance.
By ERIC CONKLIN, Staff reporter

Atlantic Cape Review

Spring 2015

At Cape Campus, unexpected joy:

A Review of A Comb and a Prayer Book

The Cape May campus hosted the 32nd Annual Holocaust Awareness Program together with Stockton University.
Students from Professor John Alvarez's theater classes, Professor Fran Rauscher's English class, and fifty students
from Middle Township Middle School with their teachers attended this moving and compeling performance that told of
Elizabeth Blum-Goldstein's chronicle of courage, endurance, and survival.
Student Steven Callahan, from Professor Rauscher's class, was so moved by the performance that he wrote this
review.

In the moments that led up to the play I had the
good fortune of meeting Grant Bolopue, the company
manager. We talked about the modern horrors and tragedy in modern politics. It wasnt until the play was over
that I would realize how insightful was our conversation.
Adapted from the book Of a Comb, a Prayer Book,
Sugar Cubes, & Lice, by Shana Fogarty, the play was
stripped down, providing an intimate and personal experience. The actors were not in costume, nor were there any
props or visuals, but the stage in the minds eye needed
none. The acting was powerful and engaging, with emotion dripping from each line. We see Shana interviewing
her grandmother Elizabeth, whose perspective dominates
the play, and we hear of Elizabeths heart-breaking journey through six concentration camps.
The characters dialogue (which was the driving
force of the story) was interwoven with dramatic readings of actual Nazi documents, providing us with a gruesome and gut-wrenching backstory of the Nazis mindset
regarding the Jews. Due to the lack of a stage, the power
and emotion laid heavily upon the backs of the actors,
who drew me into the story, which made me weep and,

surprisingly, laugh. Elizabeths struggle to survive and

her incredible will to live was an inspiration and a revelation.
Tone of the performance was dark, ominous, bleak,
horrific and beautiful, painting a vivid picture in chilling shades of black. This was, right until the end, where
a glimmer of joy shone through a mountain of despair.
After telling her story of the camps, Elizabeth tells Shana
that horrors such as Auschwitz can happen now, and they
are; the actors stood and listed recent and current genocides and other evils happening around the world.

Elizabeth expressed her desire with great emotion
that one day the world might change. This was the most
moving part of the play, for Elizabeth to find hope and joy
after Auschwitz, and the five other death camps she survived, is breathtaking. If you like seeing things that open
your eyes and make you think and make you feel, A Comb
and a Prayer Book should be next on your list.

My only complaint is that I do not have the time
to see this production in all of its theatrical glory. Many
thanks to the cast and all those who were a part of this
production, you made a grown man weep.

Review: Its worth your time to see Birdman

By JOHN SANCHEZ, Staff reporter

Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance

won Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay and Cinematography and has garnered tremendous
critical praise.
But is that praise warranted?

Birdman is an excellent commentary on the popularity of superhero films, but it takes a rather negative
look on their impact on the film industry. With big blockbuster films constantly being released, acting has taken a
backseat to visual spectacles.
Its ironic that a film about how the comic book genre
has damaged the film industry has assembled a cast that
has major ties to comic book franchises (Michael Keaton
in Batman, Edward Norton in The Incredible Hulk,
Emma Stone in The Amazing Spiderman). Despite the
fact that several actors take on iconic roles in superhero
films, they are still actors at their core, and should not be
confined to the genres that popularized them.

Birdman is a technical and acting tour de force.

The all-star cast assembled by director Alejandro
Gonzlez Irritu is fantastic. Michael Keaton gives
one of his best performances. Keaton understands the
struggle of stepping away from a superhero franchise, but
never escaping its shadow. After all, Keaton is famous
for walking away from the Batman franchise and has
never really recovered.

Edward Norton plays the typical actor who is
praised through various critics. His character is a contrast from Keatons character. Keaton seeks popularity,
while Norton seeks prestige.

Emma Stone also has a key role as Keatons daughter. Her scenes are emotional and the chemistry between

Stone and Keaton feels genuine.

One of the most surprising performances was from
Zach Galifianakis. He sheds the type casting he is constantly associated with and delivers a fine unrecognizable
performance compared to his previous work.

Birdman is shot beautifully with long scenes that
are edited to make the film
appear to be one continuous
shot. Each scene lasts 10
minutes or even 20 minutes
with no noticeable cuts. It
is impressive the amount of
detail given to achieve continuity from scene to scene.
It was also difficult to see
where an edit was made at
times.

While the acting and
the technical aspects are
superb, Birdman isnt
without its own flaws. While
the films score is energetic,
it can at times clash with the
film and not gel well. There
are times the films pace
The Unexpected
slows, but it quickly picks up
Virtue of Ignorance - Birdman
and
leads to an ending that
won big at this years Oscars,
can be interpreted in many
winning four including Best
ways.
Picture.

Birdman was the
best film of 2014 and deserves the critical praise its been receiving.Birdman is
currently available on Blu-ray, DVD, and video on
demand.

Atlantic Cape Review

Spring 2015

Very few take advantage of fitness center

Facility is available to full-time students on the Mays Landing Campus

At times, I may see at least three or five different people
come in, maybe a maximum of five. Santana also describes why having the fitness center is valuable to Atlan
As many students know, the Mays Landing Camtic Capes campus.
pus of Atlantic Cape Community College offers a fitness
center in the E building that is located in the rear of the Its a great way for kids to get in better shape if you have
time to, he said. Most students seem to have a gap begymnasium.
tween their classes, and often choose to spend it in the
There is no membership required. As long as students or
staff show their Atlantic Cape ID, they can have access to cafeteria or in the student life center, instead of spending
the time in the fitness center. But they are paying for (the
the gym during its active hours.
However, there are few who take advantage of the fitness fitness center) through their tuition.

Santana addresses what he thinks could be a way to
center.
make
more students and staff aware of the facilitys exis
Theres a fair amount of students that go from
tence.
their car to classes, and back to their car and never take

I think that flyadvantage of the serers posted around the
vices on campus,
school could be benefiAthletic director Mike
cial, he said. UsualRennick said.
ly, I see flyers around

Although there
the school for almost
is a low number of
every event that the
people using the fitschool hosts, and stuness center, Rennick
dents are made aware
believes that there will
of those events. If flybe no need to remove
ers could help promote
to close it.
the fitness center to

We are able to
the students, it would
run the fitness center
benefit the school
year-round through
because more people
the use of the schools
would use the facility
work-study program,
that they offer.
so keeping the services

The fitness cenopen is an inexpensive
ter features a varicost for the college.
ety of machines and

Rennick also
workout instruments
said that the college is
for students and staff.
planning new ways to
It offers three treadhelp promote the fitmills, an exercise bicyness center and incle, and three ellipticrease its use.
cal machines. Users

Weve adverwho are interested
tised it for the past
in strength trainyears, and are looking
ing can find a rack of
to make new adverweights that range
tisement moves this
from two and a half
summer, he said.
to 50 pounds, two leg

The process of
machines, a device for
new advertisement for
both chest and shoulthe fitness center will
der press exercises,
begin shortly, as it will
and a unique piece of
be closing the week
equipment called a
before finals week;
Smith machine that
work-study students
allows for users to
will stop their properform a variety of
gram before the spring
basic exercises such
semester concludes.
as squats and chest
Work-Study stupresses.
dents that work at the

The facility
fitness center also feel
also offers its users
that students and staff
four separate televishould take advantage
sion sets; three are
Cape
Review
photos
by
Eric
Conklin
of the service.

Usually I see the READILY AVAILABLE - Some of the equipment featured in the Mays Landing located on the walls by
campus Fitness Center.
the treadmills, bicycle,
same people when Im
and elliptical machines.
doing my work-study sesChanging and showering facilities are also available.
sion, student Joan Santana said
By ERIC CONKLIN, Staff reporter

We are able to run the fitness center year-round through the use of the schools work-study program,
so keeping the services open is an inexpensive cost for the college.
- Mike Rennick, Athletic Director

BUCCANEER SPORTS

10

New season, new home

Baseball team plays home games in A.C.s Sandcastle

By MICHAEL McDEVITT, Staff reporter

tlantic Cape Community Colleges

baseball team, with head coach Rodney Velardi, has a strong outlook for
this season.

Velardi is an experienced coach,
have led teams such as Egg Harbor Township High School, Elizabeth High School,
Ocean County College and his alma mater,
Toms River South High School.

Jeff Ball, his assistant, previously
was the manager for the Atlantic City Surf
independent league team, and had a brief
stint with the San Francisco Giants.

The majority of Atlantic Capes players are first-year. Only Jon Bruccoleri and
Joseph Palmisano return as sophomores
among the 19 players on the roster.

A major point for both players and
coaches, however, is that bonding has been
crucial to the play of the team this season.

Everyone came onto the team at
least knowing someone else whom they
Cape Review photo by Michael McDevitt
have played with, or against, during high Teed-up - Silas Nixon takes a swing at the batting tee during a preseason practice session.
school, Palmisano said.

Team bonding is essential in hav- nal five games of 2014, the team played all winning recruiting battles and has also
brought former baseball player alumni to
ing a well-rounded team supporting each their games in Margate.
talk to players about the benefits of being a

Margate
was
gracious
enough
to
let
other mentally and helping each other stay
focused. It helps players give their best ef- us use their field, it was a great facility, Buccaneer.
Weather issues have forced
fort and not let mistakes become a
the team to practice inside a great
burden for the rest of the game,
deal. Practice activities include
said Palmisano, an outfielder who
Team bonding is essential in having
hitting in the batting cages, bunmajors in aviation.
a well-rounded team supporting each other
ting, defensive drills and working

Not only are many on the
mentally and helping each other stay focused. on batting techniques. Velardi emroster new this year, but so is the
phasized that repetition is a major
- Joseph Palmisano
place they call home. With the help
advantage.
of Atlantic Capes administration,
The goal for the team this
which made contact with the Atyear is to make the playoffs, which
lantic City mayors office, and a
they fell short of last year due to
unanimous vote by the city council Bernie Robbins Stadium, also known as Velardi said. Our players have used it in the weather making them play eight games
Surf Stadium, became the teams new summer leagues, so they knew its quality. in six days. The team is young, the stadium

Atlantic Cape is in its fourth year is new, and the opportunities for growth
home venue for the 2014-2015 season.
since
the
baseball program was restruc- are only beginning.

Velardi said of the thing that excited
Those are some established long
him most about the stadium: Just the at- tured, and has seen vast improvement each
mosphere, its probably one of the best ven- season. The competition the school plays is running programs, were just four years
ues that these guys will play on. Its not a some of the best in the region and includes in, Velardi said.
county park or a school field, were playing Camden, Gloucester, Ocean and Cumber- We are getting to the point where we are
competing with them, but there is a lot of
land counties.
in a stadium, he said.
Velardi said the school has been room for growth.

A lot of these kids growing up were
watching Surf games, so its great memories for them. They remember the fireworks
Stadium facts
and the games, so for them to go on that
field is like a first-class operation. It lets us
n The Sandcastle has also been known as Surf Stadium and as Bernie Robbins Stadium.
build the program to where we want it to
n The Atlantic City Surf, an independent league baseball team, played there from 1998-2008.
be.
n The stadium has a capacity of 5,500 people.
n The field size is 309 feet in left and right field, and 400 feet in center.

The Buccaneers first got the OK
n The stadium broke ground in 1996 and opened in 1998.
to use the stadium at the end of the 2014
n The coast for the stadium was 15 million.
season, which they went 5-0 in their final
n It has been mostly closed since 2009, except for some individual events and now the Atlantic Cape
five games. The Atlantic Cape baseball proCommunity College baseball team.
gram had been shut down for a few years,
n It was host to the Atlantic League All-Star game in 1998 and 2005.
n It was the venue for the Atlantic Regional Qualifying for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
but when it was reborn in 2010, the Bucs
played all their games on the road.

From the 2011 season until the fi-