OWWR: Old Westbury Web Radio

Gossip Girls : Drama. Friendships. Peer Pressure. Teenagers.

by Rachel Kelly.

One of the newest shows to hit the CW channel is the series "Gossip Girl". Do you like drama? Cat-fights? Jealously or back-stabbing? This is the show to watch to get in on all the action. Gossip Girl is based on the novel series by author Cecily Von Ziegesar. There are several plot themes that the series revolves around. They must learn to deal with their dramatic love lives and the pressure to pick colleges. Friendship is also a big part of their lives. There is always the breaking and mending of their friendships. There is the pressure to fit in and do something they think is unlike them. Gossip Girl is about wealthy teenagers that attend prep schools in the Upper East Side of New York City. They are known as the elite. They are wealthy based on the association of their parents who can afford anything and everything. The show is told in narration at times by a character who entitles herself as “gossip girl”. She is never seen but always heard from. “Gossip Girl” goes to all the fancy parties and gets the inside scoop on these characters to share with the other teenagers who know them.

The show revolves around six main characters and at various times their parents and siblings. Blair Waldorf is one of the main attractions of the Upper East Side. Everyone knows her and everyone wants to be her. She is planning to get into Yale, her dream college. She is envied for her perfect longtime boyfriend and glamorous life. Blair’s life is just that - perfect. She has everything at her feet until her best friend becomes her rival; Serena Van Der Woodsen steals the spotlight. As senior year is dragging along and everyone is preoccupied with worrying about college, everything flips upside down for Blair once Serena comes back into the picture. Serena was Blair’s best friend for basically their entire lives. Serena left for boarding school without a word to Blair. Blair never knew why her best friend picked up and left without a word. Her younger brother had tried to commit suicide and that was one of the reasons she left, but it wasn't the biggest reason.

Nate Archibald has always been the main boy in Blair’s life. They were what always seemed to be the perfect couple, that is, until Serena got in the middle. When Serena comes back from boarding school, Nate’s feelings change drastically. Nate admits to Blair that he had slept with Serena during a drunken night before she went to boarding school. That was the main reason that Serena had left without a word to Blair, she didn’t have the heart to tell her what had happened. He cheated on her with her best friend and that’s when everything changed. That’s when two best friends became the two biggest enemies. Chuck Bass is Nate’s best friend. He is like Blair in a way. He likes to get sneaky and find things out about Serena to help Blair get revenge.

Jenny Humphrey is the youngest. She is pure innocence and very naive. Jenny is only a freshman - she is fourteen. Blair decides to take Jenny under her wing. She becomes pressured by Blair to do rebellious things so she can be her friend. Jenny wants to fit in and be cool more than anyone else. She loves the glamour and the exciting lives that Serena and Blair lead. She and her brother Dan are less wealthy than the others even though they attend the same school. Dan looks out for Jenny all the time. Dan becomes Serena’s love interest. Two opposites are attracting in the Upper East Side.

Can a down to earth Dan handle the dramatic life of Serena? Will Jenny forget her good side in exchange for the friendship of Blair? Will Blair and Serena make up? Or will the fighting continue? Will Nate fight for Serena or will he stay with Blair?

“I love the drama that Gossip Girl brings. My favorite character is Blair. She will always cause the drama that makes the show exciting. It’s fun to watch her every move!” says viewer, Kelsey Downey. The season has started on September 19^th but you can watch episodes on the official website. If you want more information about the show, check it out.

Shekinah Chorale Meetings

Do you like to sing? Would you like to develop your talent?  Then maybe you should consider The Shekinah Chorale. They meet every Monday & Wednesday between 7:00pm & 9:00pm in the Recital Hall located in the Campus Center. Come be apart of Something great! 

Last Call!!! Flu,Pneumovax and Meningitis Vaccine

Dear Old Westbury Community,

  Just a reminder that Student Health will be sponsoring a clinic for Flu, Pneumovax, and Meningitis vaccines on Wednesday, November 7th from 1-5pm in Conference Room A of the Student Union.  Since the company providing the vaccines would like an approximate count so they have an idea of how many of each vaccine to bring, I ask anyone who is interested to call our office at 516-876-3250 to put your name on our list if you haven't done so already.  Feel free to call with any questions as well.  Everyone is welcome, including members of the public, so your family and friends are eligible too.

Remember, they need to know how many people are coming so they can provide enough vaccines, so be sure to get in touch with Student Health Services and have us put you on our list.

Sue Mundy, RN, Director
SUNY Old Westbury
Student Health Services
PO Box 210
Old Westbury, NY 11568-0210
phone 516 876-3250
fax 516 876-3142

The Color Purple

Date: November 16, 2007

Time: 5:00pm Sharp. Show starts at 8pm.

Place: Student Union

Sponsored By: Aspiring leaders of tomorrow, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc, Step Tunes, and The Governess.

- Sign up sheet will be in building 4 Rm 111. $20 Non-refundable due at sign up

- For further information please contact Sade @ Ext 1195 or Whitney at Ext 3742

Facebook Changes Face

  by Fritz Jean Jr.

     In this new generation of technology, computers have become a way of life for people across the globe. The internet has connected the world for more than 10 years and its use in our daily activities --from business to education to leisure -- is endless. In 2005, the social networking service MySpace (created by Thomas Anderson and Christopher Dewolfe) took over the market by connecting vast numbers of people from all walks of life. Another social networking site, Facebook, has grown to challenge MySpace's dominance and is currently the second most popular site in its category with more than nine million users.

   Facebook (created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg) began as a site for college students to connect with other students. “When I first got on Facebook it was more about networking with other students….not about fun,” says Mellissa Coleman, a student at Baruch College. College students around the world use this site as a way to network with potential employers and create opportunities for their prospective futures. In recent years, Facebook has changed its self-proclaimed “professional image” and become more of a mirror image of MySpace. “MySpace started out like how Facebook started as a site for students….but as more people got on, they made it more reckless,” says Gabriel Hill a student at Queens College. Facebook has now introduced many new features that have taken away from its initial style. These features include a top Friends list (similar to that of MySpace), uploading video (YouTube), and allowing non-college students, for the first time, to access accounts on the site. “I feel that its getting out of hand because now people are putting nasty stuff on their pages…..its become a circus like MySpace,” says Stacey Peters, a student at Pace University.

Facebook will remain on top of the social networking market for years to come, in part because of Microsoft's 10 billion dollar stake in the company. The software giant sees value in this site and has invested in it for marketing purposes. Whatever the case, the expansion of Facebook will mean more for its loyal users. For those who want Facebook to separate itself from the ever-popular MySpace and maintain its unique identity, it may be too late.

Stopping the Staph

by Lauren Pinola

The headlines on Long Island and around the tri-state area in recent days have been filled with stories about Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), commonly known as staph infection.  MRSA is a skin condition which can be treated with alternative antibiotics but can be deadly if the infection enters the blood stream.

The antibiotic resistant staph infection is believed to have caused the recent deaths of two students, one in Virginia and one in Brooklyn and it is continuing to spread across Long Island.  School officials in Glen Cove are the latest to report that a student was diagnosed with the infection, bringing the number of cases on Long Island to ten.  MRSA cases have been reported in Southampton, Baldwin, Freeport, Connetquot, Longwood, Roosevelt, and Sachem East.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, MRSA is responsible for more deaths in the United States each year than AIDS.

Celeste Toscano, who lives in Nassau and has three school-aged children, says her nerves are definitely rattled, "It is a very scary thing to have to send your kids to school knowing that this terrible disease can be contracted from anywhere.  Fortunately, doctors are saying that washing hands frequently can prevent the spread of this disease."  Unfortunately, MRSA is common in school environments.  "I can't keep my kids out of school forever, but I can do my best to make them practice good hygiene", says Dolores Tucci who has two children in a Long Island school district.

In order to prevent the spread of the infection, doctors are recommending frequent hand washing with soap and warm water and they strongly advise against sharing personal items such as razors and bed linens.  Also, keep wounds cleaned and covered at all times.  Experts say that practicing good hygiene can be the best defense against this disease.

The Circle of Life Interrupted

By Fritz Jean Jr.

     Roe v Wade is the landmark decision that effectively made abortion legal in this country. The US Supreme Court ruling was in 1973 but in the 34 years since, the national debate has not subsided. It motivated me to write a poem on the subject.

the_circle_of_life_interupted_mixdown.mp3

CSTEP presents Careers in Law

CSTEP will be presenting a workshop teaching a variety of positions which exists in legal professions, the dissimilarity’s among the areas within the legal line of work, as well as the numerous paths which lead to a legal profession. This program will feature a presentation by Martin Applebaum. Mr. Applebaum is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and has practiced with the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. He has held a variety of positions in the business world and is presently an independent legal recruiter, working to place attorneys with law firms both domestically and internationally.

This event will take place in the Natural Sciences Building, Room S-100 on October 31 at 12 p.m. For more information contact the CSTEP Office at 516-876-2706 or by email [email protected]

Source: oldwestbury.edu/

SOARS (Story About A Rape Survivor)

SOARS is a performance about one woman 's  journey to reclaim her body, sexuality, spirituality, and self esteem after being sexual assaulted in college. Performed by a diverse cast of women and featuring photographs taken by her sister during the recovery process, SOARS uses modern dance, spoken word and music to educate the public about sexual voilence and to ease the shame, guilt, and self blame that rape victims too often feel with a story of hope and healing. This performance wil be on Wednesday, November 14,2007, from 12pm-2pm in the recital hall.

Fight the Yawn, Stay up til Dawn

Old Westbury is in need of your help to fight the nationwide campaign against Childhood cancer. St. Jude's Children Research hospital has put together a student led fund raiser to help St. Jude patients in hope that they too will attend college.

Stay awake writing letters and raising money for children with cancer. "Up til Dawn" will take place November 9th from 7pm-11pm in the Student Union Multipurpose room. There will be music, games, giveaways as well as food.

To take part in this event, signup sheets are available in Suzanne Mcloughlin, the Director of Student Activities office located in the student Union.

"Fight the Yawn, Stay up til Dawn"