THE VOICE OF THE STUDENTS AT DeSALES UNIVERSITY FORTY-EIGHTH YEAR, ISSUE 7DECEMBER 11, 2013

A&EDan Beck’s top albums of 2013

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The Winter Independence Gala in photos

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EbEnEzEr scrOOgE suEs ghOsts in Act i christmAs PrOductiOn

There are too many adaptations of Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol out there, but Mark Brown’s The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge is unique, dragging Ebenezer Scrooge and his peers into a comedic courtroom procedural. DeSales’ theater students don their British accents for Act I’s current production of the show, directed by professor of theater Steven Dennis and starring senior Peter Danelski as Scrooge.

A year after the spirit of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come improved his Christmas spirit, Scrooge has relapsed into his curmudgeonly ways. He sues the four spirits for numerous charges such as breaking

By Adam ZielonkaThe Minstrel

and entering, kidnapping and infliction of emotional distress. The suit seems laughable until Scrooge begins to show he can prove his case, one of the many surprises in store.

Danelski shines as Scrooge, and senior Hal Miers is dynamic as the ghosts’ attorney Solomon Rothschild. Fellow senior Mark Marano also draws riotous laughter as the impatient, agitated Judge Pearson, whose dialogue with his eager bailiff (played by junior Matt Enters) hearkens back to how Scrooge treated his clerk Bob Cratchit in the novel.

Indeed, Brown draws plenty from Dickens’ original work besides its characters. He recycles many of its most recognizable quotes and sometimes feeds them to different characters. The play, while clever, does take some time to pick up speed.

sPOrtsFeatured Athlete: Alexiah Grant

pg. 8

However, this is not for dearth of talent. It is the strength of DeSales’ cast that makes Trial great. Of the several Dickensian characters who take the stand in the play, the standouts include junior Mike Franz as Scrooge’s ever-grinning nephew, Fred Fitzpatrick, and senior Meghan Shea as Christmas Past. Past channels the

cssJ christmAs PArty PrOvidEs hOlidAy JOys fOr yOuth

By Andrea GuarinoContributed Writer

entrance of the building as well as put up beautifully decorated Christmas trees with lights and ornaments. They set up an area for the children to get their pictures taken on Santa’s lap as well. When the children visit Santa, they receive a small gift after telling him what their biggest wishes are.

The CSSJ office has a program that allows DeSales students to volunteer with local schools and tutor young students throughout the year. It is a great opportunity to help those children that need a little more attention while also becoming a friend and role model. Every year, DeSales invites the children that are tutored to come to campus and enjoy a day filled with Christmas music, fun activities and relaxing with friends.

The Christmas party took place on Thursday, December 5 in McShea, beginning at 3 p.m. and ending at 5 p.m. In that short amount of time, the children were able to participate

in many activities such as making gingerbread houses, karaoke and playing various holiday games with their tutors.

There were a p p r o x i m a t e l y 70 middle school students from Francis D. Raub Middle School, Trexler Middle School, Boy Scout Troop 104 and Girl Scout Troop 62032. It was a great opportunity for the children to get away from their everyday lives to come and enjoy a few hours of holiday fun.

First-year student Rachel Costolnick spoke about her experience: “It was wonderful to see the kids come here and just relax with all of the tutors. It really allows the children to know their tutors on a more personal level.”

If you walked

It’s that time of year again– the weather is getting colder and Christmas movies and music are starting to flood the television and radio. It can be really hard to get into the Christmas spirit when there are endless piles of schoolwork that still have to be done. The combination of presentations, papers and exams are enough to make a person completely forget about the love and joy of the season. What better way to take a break and celebrate then by helping make childrens’ holiday wishes come true? Thanks to the Center for Service and Social Justice (CSSJ), this became a reality.

Every year in the beginning of December, Jaime Gerhart, director of CSSJ, and the students of DeSales decorate the McShea Student Center. They string lights at the

around McShea the week before the party, you may have noticed that

Photo courtesy of desales.edu

spirits of Scrooge’s sister Fan and ex-fiancée Belle, so Shea has triple duty, and she ably presents three great characters.

Danelski has acted in nine Act I shows in the last four years, but his role as Scrooge is his biggest yet.

“Working on the holiday show at DeSales has a special air about it,” said Danelski. “That sense of tradition and simultaneous gathering gets right at the heart of what we’re trying to do. Especially here with the Lehigh Valley crowd, that sense of coming together at the holidays is present.”

Dennis, who also directed last year’s Christmas play, A Christmas Story, agrees.

“I think the audience may bring a certain set of expectations to a play which is presented as a holiday offering,” said Dennis. “Perhaps there is a certain

sense of merriment that they hope to experience and a holiday cheer which includes a spirit of caring and generosity. So you want to embrace that in your concept of the play and try to suffuse the rehearsal process with as much of that tone and mood as possible.”

Dennis is proud of the top-to-bottom strength of his cast.

“In an educational theatre setting, the cast is in training. Those who are farther along in their development as actors can inspire those just starting out at the college level,” he said. “So it’s about the cast striving, as a unified ensemble, to extend themselves towards professional-level work.”

If you want to get in the Christmas spirit, I recommend The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge. Tickets are limited, but still on sale at Labuda Center for the Performing Arts.

Above: Photo by Justin GamboneBelow: Photo by Stef Schloo

decorations were going up little by little. The student volunteers worked tirelessly for one week straight to make sure the student center was transformed into a winter wonderland in time for the children to arrive.

The middle-schoolers all had such a wonderful time, but it was easy to tell how excited and dedicated the DeSales students were about putting on the best possible party they could.

Junior Jimmy Herrighty has been a part of the party since his first year at DeSales and has dressed up as Santa Claus for the last two years.

“The party takes a week to set up and lasts less than three hours, but the joy and happiness we bring to these kids will last us and them a lifetime,” said Herrighty.

Sometimes, all it takes is putting a smile on someone else’s face to get into the holiday spirit, and that is exactly what the students of DeSales did.

The Minstrel DECEMBER 11, 2013PAGE 2 The Minstrel PAGE 3DECEMBER 11, 2013

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at fEAturEsnEws

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vAllEy vOyAgE: christkindlmArktBy Kate Bortz

The Minstrel

AcAdEmic rEsOurcE cEntEr OffErs rAngE Of OPtiOns with tutOrtrAc

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and for the last two decades, one of the best places to celebrate the season is right in the Lehigh Valley. Christkindlmarkt, located in the PNC Plaza of the ArtsQuest complex, is regarded as one of the best holiday markets in the world. After visiting the market, it’s easy to see why. Between the festive foods, the constant presence of holiday music and the welcoming personalities of the impressive 125 vendors, Christkindlmarkt embodies the Christmas spirit.

Upon entering the market, visitors are

surrounded by local shops that sell a variety of homemade candies and foods, artisan crafts and any Christmas decoration you may need. Certain vendors have been featured in Christkindlmarkt for decades, including Käthe Wohlfahrt. Their selection of unique handmade ornaments and traditional German decorations has made Käthe Wohlfahrt the leader of maintaining Christmas traditions around the world. Also located in this part of the market is the one and only Santa Claus, who makes appearances for pictures and breakfasts.

Outside of the main pavilion is the courtyard market, where you can find the perfect Christmas tree or wreath. Take a break from shopping to drink hot

c h o c o l a t e and watch as sculptors transform a clumsy block of ice into a m a g n i f i c e n t sculpture using chainsaws and b low to rches . While outside, you can also watch a g lassb low ing demonstration and create your own ornament.

As soon as you walk into the second pavilion, the sound of choirs fills the air. This pavilion features performances from local string ensembles, a cappella groups and high school and college choirs. Walk along the back of the tent to witness the assortment of

mouth-watering foods being prepared, from homemade apple streusel to southern style barbecue.

First-year student Emily Williams is a native of the Lehigh Valley and has visited Christkindlmarkt almost every year since she was five years old with her family.

wintEr indEPEndEncE gAlA 2013

lifEtimE fitnEss And wEllnEss tO bEcOmE grAdEd cOursE

It’s a one-credit, mandatory course that has traditionally been graded based on a pass/fail system,” said Mills. “To make it a graded class would cause the class to be more difficult, especially on top of the large course loads that most students take.”

Sophomore medical studies major Melissa Tucker also expressed concern about the class’s workload.

“My view depends on if they change the curriculum or not,” said Tucker. “If it became more work on top of hard workloads, then I’m against it becoming a graded course. If the workload is not too intensive, then I would be happy to see it be a graded course.”

The Minstrel is DeSales University’s only student-

run news publication. It is published seven

times per semester and is advised by Karl Babij. The staff meets on scheduled

Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. in the McShea ResLife Lounge. All

meetings are open to the University community.

The editors reserve the right to edit all

submissions for libel or length. The views

expressed in this paper reflect the views of the

individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Minstrel or

the university.

Please feel free to contact us at minstrel.desales@gmail.com

Editor-in-Chief:Dan Beck

Layout Editor: Adam Zielonka

News Editor:Kate Bortz

A&E Editor:Hutton Jackson

Feature Editor:Garrett McDivitt

Sports Editor:Matt Metzler

Editors & Staff Fall 2013

By Jaclyn SilvestriThe Minstrel

With finals just around the corner, it is safe to say that panic and stress is on the horizon. Before you completely freak out, take a deep breath and visit TutorTrac.

TutorTrac is a 24-hour software program offered by the Academic Resource Center (ARC) that allows students to sign up for tutoring in any of their classes. This program is an easy and accessible way to schedule an appointment with a tutor or a staff member down in the ARC.

The ARC offers three types of tutoring: peer tutoring, professional tutoring and Academic Resource Center support. In peer tutoring, a student who has previously taken the course will walk you through the material. This is the most popular choice of all three tutoring options. Peer tutors

are available for 60 different DeSales courses.

Professional tutoring pairs a student up with a staff member of the ARC. These tutors are available for chemistry, biology and math courses.

Academic Resource Center support includes help from Ann Michael, who specializes in writing; Barbara Hausman, who specializes in reading; and Yalitza Davis, who is a learning specialist and focuses on time management and study skills.

Sophomore Stefany Tranchitella believes that TutorTrac is a great resource for students. “TutorTrac is accessible at any time, and you can make an appointment for the day of or way in advance,” said Tranchitella. “It is really convenient and really helpful. TutorTrac also really helps you to practice time management and organizational skills.”

If you are looking to

By Adam ZielonkaThe Minstrel

contemporary information concerning the beneficial effects of a positive healthy lifestyle.”

It is still unclear whether this policy will apply to students taking PE-100 next spring or if it will start in the fall 2014 semester. Lifetime Fitness and Wellness will remain a one-credit course. Physical education activity classes will remain pass/fail and one credit each.

Students have mixed reactions about the change. While PE-100 classes are made up of primarily first-year students, sophomore criminal justice (pre-law) major Kaitlyn Mills is one of several who have yet to take the class.

“I think that’s ridiculous.

Last month, the DeSales faculty voted in favor of a proposal that would make PE-100 (Lifetime Fitness and Wellness) a graded course as opposed to a pass/fail. The issue was voted on at the monthly faculty meeting on November 20.

Physical Education instructor George Crampton proposed the idea to Dr. Mary Elizabeth Doyle-Tadduni, chair of the Department of Nursing and Health. Doyle-Tadduni says she found the proposal to be important.

“Mr. Crampton really felt the material offered [in the class] is important, the type of

Staff Writers:

Austin Berner, Kellie Dietrich, Will Edwards, Alexa Manzo,

Jaclyn Silvestri

Formal this year, was a hit with all who participated. Photos by Zac Bajan

friends. The Winter Independence Gala, which took place of the Semi-

Center in Philadelphia to enjoy a night of dancing and spending time with

On December 7, DeSales students gathered at the National Constitution

material that should educate and help students throughout their lives,” Doyle-Tadduni said. “So he feels it should be a graded class because the material is really crucial information.”

Doyle-Tadduni then brought the proposal to Academic Affairs, where the committee decided to let the faculty vote on it.

“Physical fitness is a lifelong skill you learn,” she said. “We feel the way it’s taught at DeSales should reflect our mission of Christian humanism and emphasize life skills and strategies.”

The current Undergraduate Course Catalog describes Lifetime Fitness and Wellness “an examination of

“My favorite part about going to Christkindlmarkt is taking the time to walk through all of the vendors. The atmosphere is just great,” says Williams. “If you’re going to make a trip over there, you definitely need to watch the ice sculpting. It’s so cool!”

If you’ve visited all of the vendors and have filled up on Christmas treats, join in on a tour of historic downtown Bethlehem outside of the entrance to Christkindlmarkt.

Christkindlmarkt is open every Thursday through Sunday until December 22. Times vary depending on the day (Thursdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Costs are reasonable, ranging from $9 for adults to $5 for children.

schedule an appointment with one of these tutors, be sure to log on to TutorTrac as soon as possible. The tutors are organized by instructor; you can choose a tutor that has taken the course with the same professor you have. If a tutor for a specific course is not available, do not hesitate to visit the Academic Resource Center. They will work with you to find one.

“The Academic Resource Center tries to serve each student individually,” says ARC Coordinator of Tutoring Ann Koefer. “Come and see us so we can find out what your needs are and then set up a program to address your needs.”

TutorTrac can be found at tutor.desales.edu or by visiting your myDSU portal and finding the hyperlink on the right-hand side under the “Applications” columns. To log into TutorTrac, use the same user name and password as your DeSales email and myDSU portal.

Photo courtesy of artsquest.org

Photo courtesy of christkindlmarkt.org Photo courtesy of discoverlehighvalley.com

Photo by Adam Zielonka

Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel lend their voices to the Disney animated film, Frozen.

The story revolves around the relationship of Elsa (Menzel), the heir to the kingdom of Arendelle, and her younger sister Anna (Bell). The two sisters have grown estranged after Elsa isolates herself from the outside world in an effort to keep her ability to freeze anything she touches a secret. The sisters look forward to reconciling their relationship when the castle gates are opened to the public and Elsa is crowned queen. However, Elsa’s powers are accidentally revealed. Elsa flees the castle and in doing so, inadvertently puts Arendelle in a state of eternal winter. Anna, with the help of a rugged mountain man, Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his reindeer Sven and the talking snowman, Olaf (Josh Gad), embark on a quest to find her sister and save the kingdom.

From the very beginning, the film feels like a classic Disney movie, which is in

large part due to the musical score created for it. Frozen is very much a musical and the fantastical world of Arendelle harkens back to classic Disney films such as Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. Yet, Frozen manages to do exactly what both those films did at their time: be a unique and memorable take on a classic story.

Although the film is loosely based on Hans Christian Anderson’s short

Photo courtesy of imdb.com

The Minstrel PAGE 5DECEMBER 11, 2013The Minstrel DECEMBER 11, 2013PAGE 4

a&

eArts & EntErtAinmEnt

On the street...By Will Edwards

The Minstrel

...What is your favorite Christmas song?

“‘This Christmas’ by Chris Brown

because its cheerful”

“‘Same Old Lang Syne’ because its a hopeful song about two lovers meeting up after a long period of time”

--Emily McAuliffSophomore, Nursing

--Ryan KoberSenior, TV/Film

“‘Carol of the Bells’ because the beat is

awesome”

By Dan BeckThe Minstrel

a&

e Arts & EntErtAinmEnt

--Evan BurnsSenior, Sport and Exercise

Science

“Anything by Trans-Siberian Orchestra because

its so upbeat and makes me happy!”

--Maranda McGovernFreshman, Physician Assistant

“‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ by Bruce Springsteen edition, because it’s Bruce”

--Brendon PowerJunior, TV/Film

December usually means one thing for most people: Christmas. While I mostly agree (I love the Christmas spirit, the gift giving and the presence of family and friends), it also means the culmination of a year in music and a list of year’s best. Space limitations prevent me from providing a more comprehensive list, but here are five albums that best exemplify the year 2013 in music:

Drake – Nothing Was the Same

There really is not much competition for Drake these days as far as mainstream hip-hop goes, and Drake will be the first to tell you that. Nothing Was the Same feels like a victory lap for a victory lap. Drake’s last album, Take Care, saw a star emerge into a superstar, and his latest album grows him into a legend. He truly “started from the bottom, now [he’s] here.” Drake complements his usual gloating (“Tuscan Leather,” “Started from the

Bottom”) with songs that show a little uneasiness with his rapid rise to the top (“Too Much,” “From Time”). Still, I think he relishes the spotlight and will continue to stay on top.

Foxygen – We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic

The past few years have been a transitional period for music, one that finds bands experimenting in the realm of electronic music and trying to stand out. Foxygen came around to tell us that the classics are all we need. The band channels the best of ’60s psych-rock, and lead singer Sam France sounds like a young Mick Jagger. Songs like “On Blue Mountain,” “San Francisco” and “No Destruction” could serve as lost Rolling Stones tracks with a splash of 2013 tossed in for good measure.

Haim – Days Are GoneHaim is a California band

comprised of three sisters – Este, Danielle and Alana Haim. Their debut album, Days Are Gone, synthesizes some of the best pop-rock of the last 20 years, ’70s folk rock and current R&B. The

result is equal parts Shania Twain and current indie rock sensation Phoenix. It makes for one of the best record releases of the year.

lOOking bAck On thE bEst Albums Of thE PAst yEAr

I could write an entire article on what to do over Christmas break. It would be cliché and filled with little words of advice that you probably wouldn’t follow. I could fill it with talk of building snowmen and New Year’s fun. I could also make an adventure list as long as that of Phineas and Ferb. Instead, I’ll give you a vague piece of advice: relax.

The semester is over and you probably worked really hard. Use this time to refuel, kick back and get ready to do this whole school thing again next semester. Get some hot cocoa, find a fireplace and watch hours upon hours of Netflix (preferably watch Breaking Bad in its entirety).

PACEr Break and Thanksgiving Break are great and welcomed, but don’t they just fly by? I no sooner arrive home and greet my family before I’m out the door again and back in Center Valley. For as much as anyone loves his or her college, everyone needs a break from the seemingly endless pile of work.

Do a lot of nothing and emerge from your

From the editor’s desk...

hibernation in mid-January ready to work hard in the spring semester. You have earned it. And even if you didn’t, enjoy the break anyway.

The holidays can get hectic and it is easy to come up with a million things you need to get done in three weeks. I’m sure the car needs to be inspected and the dog needs to be groomed, but don’t forget to chill out. This isn’t just the laziness peeking out in me (OK, maybe it is), but my advice is sincere. I’m not advising you to eat only Christmas cookies and never leave the couch. Just don’t stress too much break.

I wish the DeSales student body good luck on finals, a merry Christmas and a happy and relaxing break. We’ll see you next semester.

Keep keepin’ it real, DeSales,

Dan BeckEditor-in-Chief - The Minstrel

Photos courtesy of amazon.com, haimtheband.com and vampireweekend.com

By Hutton JacksonThe Minstrel

disnEy’s Frozen tAkEs wOrld by stOrm

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

S.H.A.R.K Grade:

(Rates, on a scale of 1-5, how much Suspense, Humor, Action, Romance and Kid-

friendly material is in the movie)

1- None to Very Little, 2- Little, 3- Average, 4- Much, 5- Very much

S: 4 H: 4 A: 3 R: 3 K: 5

Kanye West – YeezusForget what you think

about Kanye West the person – the egoistical, sometimes uninformed, but always

opinionated pop culture icon – and focus on the art. The fifth album from West is quite a work of art. Yeezus is vastly different than anything he

has ever undertaken, and his minimalist tendencies on his latest album are a big change from his maximalist 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark

Twisted Fantasy. Both diehard and casual fans of West may be instantly turned off by the pulse-pounding opener “On Sight,” or the potentially blasphemous ballad “I Am a God,” but West’s creativity shines through. Kanye pushes boundaries on the insanely catchy and in-your-face track “Black Skinhead.” The production is vastly different on Yeezus, but Kanye shows he has not changed much in terms of his creativity and tendency towards controversy.

Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City

No artist or band has established a more recognizable sound over the last five years than the New York City quartet Vampire Weekend. “A-Punk,” the hit single off their debut album, is arguably the catchiest guitar rift of the millennium. The group’s latest album is just as “Vampire Weekend” as their last albums, but it finds them moving from eloquent collegians to mature post-grads. Modern Vampires of the City is still quirky and fun, but manages to show a clear growth of a great band.

Disney’s classic comedic duos like Timon and Pumba with the ignorant yet caring Olaf constantly firing off one-liners. The humor is constant and offers many laughs throughout for audiences of all ages.

Overall, the film is placed highly alongside many other classic Disney movies, and audiences can relish in what appears to be another return to greatness for Disney Animation.

Frozen is rated PG for some action and mild rude humor.

story, “The Snow Queen,” the film is very much its own story with original characters. The sister dynamic featured in the film is also one that has not been explored by a Disney animated film, breaking the traditional mold of “princess and prince fall in love” storyline. The characters of Anna and Elsa have an interesting relationship, with Elsa facing a feeling of loneliness and fear from her powers and Anna feeling neglect from

her sister. Watching each character develop makes for a memorable experience. Santino Fontana and Groff also both do a great job as the voices of Prince Hans, a prince from a neighboring kingdom, and Kristoff, respectively.

Though these characters are important to the development of the story, the characters that steal the show are the naïve and bumbling snowman, Olaf, and the clumsy reindeer, Sven. This duo channels

The Minstrel PAGE 7DECEMBER 11, 2013The Minstrel DECEMBER 11, 2013PAGE 6

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To find the solution to this Sudoku puzzle, visit our Facebook (DeSales Minstrel),

Twitter (@TheMinstrelDSU) or our website at

www.TheMinstrelDSU.com

Across1- 1982 Disney film5- Long stories10- Corn syrup brand14- San ___, Italy15- Cathode’s contrary16- Breezes through17- Bakery worker18- Jazz pianist Art19- Renown20- Probability23- CD earnings24- “Lovergirl” singer ___ Marie25- Orchestra section27- Maker of Pong29- Narrow inlet31- Actress Farrow32- Doc bloc34- Round object, often used to store computer data35- 007 creator Fleming36- Flimsy40- Genetic material41- Drinks (as a cat)42- Bar bill43- Web address ending44- Blood letters45- Designer Geoffrey49- Subatomic particle51- Juridical55- 1950 film noir classic56- Curtailment in spending59- Somewhat60- Fads61- Footnote abbr.62- Intro to physics?63- Make up for wrongdoing64- Capital of Italy65- Mid-month times66- Gossipmonger67- Worry

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nEw POliciEs mAy lOwEr cOst Of cOllEgE

A new study done by The Project on Student Debt revealed that the average debt for a college student is over $29,000, which is $10,000 more than it was a decade ago. There are a variety of factors that cumulatively have created an education system that is teetering on the edge of being unaffordable for many families.

In a study done by Harvard University’s Institute of Politics, Americans were polled on who they blame for the exponential growth of college education. Thirty-nine percent of people polled blamed the colleges and universities themselves for raising tuition. Many believe that schools should reevaluate their ethical standards and take a more personal initiative on what is becoming a major national issue. Millions of dollars are thrown towards athletics at bigger schools, while others are building pools for residence halls and rock climbing walls for gyms. Surprisingly, 10 percent of those polled felt that the students themselves were to blame; this could include reasons such as not saving enough money or not doing well enough academically to earn a scholarship.

An outlier within the study was the states themselves,

By Garrett McDivittThe Minstrel

hauling in only eight percent of votes. An important aspect of controlling the cost of higher education is the individual states’ budgets for education. With states slashing their budgets on everything from municipal projects to funding for public health clinics, public universities will of course take a hit.

Receiving 32 percent of the blame, the federal government holds a large portion of the angst held by the American people. In 2013 alone, the Department of Education earned over $42 billion from graduates’ outstanding loans and, until recently, showed no signs of stalling their extremely high capital return.

Sallie Mae, the nation’s leading provider for loans and banking for college students, has a particularly close relationship with the Department of Education. Sallie Mae loans money to students to complete their college education. They pay the company back when they have the money at a later date with added interest. The Department of Education uses Sallie Mae to handle a fraction of their loans that result in tens

of millions of dollars of revenue for Sallie Mae.

Sallie Mae has recently come under fire by a number of politicians and advocacy groups for misleading their

customers in favor of their own personal gain. The Department of Education has kept loose tabs on the loan providers, presumably because their intentions are the same and the two camps make millions off of each other’s services. Recently, Sallie Mae has been accused of unfair and discriminatory lending of money to people, specifically active duty soldiers, and purposely

Sallie Mae to carry out these services.

Hopefully the new oversight given to the federal government over these business practices will create more transparency between the borrower and the supplier of loans. The average American, especially one in the midst of a college education, does not have time to research the intricate workings of a multi-million dollar corporation and how they deal with their individual customers.

In another effort to put an end to the mounting pressures of paying for a college education, two senators have drafted a bill that would make it possible for students to get their books for free. The bill is based on a grant policy that would be given to each school for them to create an electronic textbook that is free to access for their students and the public as a whole. This eliminates the threat of outdated textbooks; too often do students get no money back from a book that cost hundreds of dollars because a new chapter was added to the end, deeming the older editions pointless. With a new online interface that is readily accessible for all, thousands of students will start saving money immediately with a cost-effective bill for both the government and individual schools.

complicating monthly payments in order to prolong the borrower’s payment plan. For the first time in history, the federal government will closely monitor loan providers

that are not banks, such as Sallie Mae. The Consumer F i n a n c i a l P r o t e c t i o n Bureau was given the authority to expand its oversight in the hopes to deter these corporations from swindling their uninformed customers.

D e s p i t e the poor image constructed around the corporation, it is being reported that Sallie Mae

will renew its contract with the Department of Education next summer. Sallie Mae made $84 million last year and is looking to increase this number. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission released their annual report and expect the Department of Education to handle over $1 billion in servicing loans to the millions of Americans that have them, with a large portion of this money being given to

crOsswOrd PuzzlE

Photo courtesy of theguardian.com

The Minstrel staff wishes you and your families a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

thE trOublE with finding thE PErfEct hOlidAy gift

By Kellie DietrichThe Minstrel

Photo courtesy of bestfinancenetwork.com/

With Christmas rapidly approaching, people are fleeing to stores, blasting holiday tunes and looking for worthy gifts to give their friends and family. However,

with a new semester approaching, students are going to have to spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks. Joy to the world right there. These expenses mean some students may be looking for cheaper gifts this year. Does spending $25 or

less per person sound like a good deal? Hopefully. But what can actually be bought with $25?

There is the gift of little creativity like gift cards or the winter-theme gift that says “I don’t know what you like, but everyone loves this

time of year, so have some Christmas ornaments.” These gifts are all OK, but there is nothing unique about them. Want to be creative and make homemade gifts? Food is always a good option. It won’t last too long, but hopefully it tastes good.

Gifts.com has some unique gift ideas under $25, but they are so bizarre that they verge on being awful. Aunt Debbie is an animal lover? There is a book featuring over 150 suicidal pets entitled Pets Who Want to Kill Themselves. Your best friend is in a relationship? There is the I Love You activity book for couples. Uncle Mark has a beard? Buy the beard ruler T-shirt for only $20. Cousin Steve is into music? Buy him finger drums to get his passion started.

Your sweet Grandma Lucille likes homemade gifts? Try making the paper plate clock.

Is this seriously the result when searching for unique gifts? Google is worth more than these poor results. At the end of the day, most friends would rather take 20 candy canes than a book on suicidal pets. The safe gift route of gift cards or the traditional route of mittens and hats may not be so bad after all.

Remember, these gifts are for dear friends and loved ones that have been in your life for a long time. You know them. Think about what they like and their hobbies and you can honestly come up with a lot better than temporary finger tattoos and light up shoelaces. Christmas isn’t all about the presents, but it truly is the thought that counts.

The Minstrel DECEMBER 11, 2013PAGE 8

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By Matt MetzlerThe Minstrel

fEAturEd AthlEtE: AlExiAh grAntAthlete: Alexiah Grant

Year: Senior

Sport: Basketball

Major: Computer Science

Minstrel: Why did you choose to come to DeSales?

AG: I thought that it was a great academic school and it wasn’t far from home. I really liked the teacher-to-student ratio in the classroom; I didn’t want to be just a number in a classroom on a campus with 30,000 people. On top of that, I knew the women’s basketball program here was great, and it matched my style of play.

Minstrel: What is your background in the sport of basketball? How long have you been playing?

AG: My dad played basketball, and when he took me to a court with him, he saw something. I was eight years old then. From that point, I have been playing organized basketball. I have played for multiple teams in the inner cities and the suburbs. From eight years old to now, I have not missed a year of basketball. Usually, I play year round. I played for three high schools in four years, so I have had the most stable basketball career

The Bulldogs’ 84-49 loss to the Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Devils on Wednesday night is not an accurate representation of the team’s successful season thus far. Despite efforts in both halves to overcome immense deficits, the Bulldogs could not recover against last year’s Freedom Conference champions.

FDU-Florham began the game on a 10-0 run as a number of open looks would not fall for the Bulldogs. Key baskets from seniors Alexiah Grant and Sondrine Glovas brought the Bulldogs within four points, 18-14.

The Devils answered with a 24-2 run as the first half ended, leaving junior Alex Suk’s mid-range

jumper as the Bulldogs’ lone basket in the half’s final six and a half minutes. Facing a 42-18 half time deficit, the Bulldogs started the second half on a 10-2 run. FDU matched DeSales’ efforts with a 16-0 run of their own, ultimately posting too large a scoring gap for the Bulldogs to overcome.

In preparing for their first conference game of the season, the Bulldogs expected a hard fight against the reigning champs.

“We felt prepared and I think we were looking forward to the challenge,” said head coach Fred Richter. “FDU played well and we just fell apart.”

Freshman Megan Baird led the Bulldogs in points, finishing with eight, and junior Glovas added seven points of her own. DeSales will look to even the score when they

Hometown: Nazareth, Pennsylvania

Awards: All-Freedom Conference First Team, 2012-13

wOmEn’s bAskEtbAll shOws PrOmisE dEsPitE cOnfErEncE lOss

By Brittany PierzgaContributing Writer

Photo by Pat Jacoby

face the Devils a second time in mid-February, just three games before the Freedom Conference Playoffs.

The team still maintains a winning record of 5-2, their only other loss coming from a back-and-forth battle against Moravian College on November 26.

After dominant victories against Lycoming College and Stevens Institute of Technology in DeSales’ opening tournament, the tip-off champs added two more strong victories to their record, scoring 80-plus points against Gwynedd-Mercy College and Immaculata University.

After this promising start to the season, the Bulldogs’ loss to FDU is only a small blemish on the team’s record, one that will be easy to recover from. “It is always good to have a game within

a few days of a tough loss,” said Richter. “The ladies practice well and are ready to move on.”

On the Saturday prior to finals week, the Bulldogs will match up against Muhlenberg College before a short break leading up to the Juniata College Holiday Tournament. Three non-conference games over Christmas break will test the Bulldogs before the start of the team’s 12 straight conference games to close out the season before playoffs.

The Bulldogs’ 17th straight appearance in conference post-season play will hinge on the team’s performance in this crucial 12-game stretch.

The team will depend on efforts from veterans Grant, Glovas and Megan Gallagher alongside Suk to

lead the Bulldogs through this competitive conference play. This group of starters contributes on all areas of the floor, as Grant and Glovas currently lead the team in scoring with 16.3 and 15.3 points per game. Suk and Gallagher are the team’s top rebounders with 8.7 and 5.0 boards per game. Efforts from underclassmen will also prove critical as the ladies continue to work towards building strong team chemistry.

“We are preparing by working hard at practice every day so that we can play our best game for the whole 40 minutes,” said co-captain Gallagher. “We are looking forward to working together as a team and having a really successful season.”

here at DeSales.Minstrel: What are some

differences between this year’s team and teams in the past?

AG: We are much younger this year, but we have so much potential. We also have great chemistry. Coach Richter puts together quite a few combinations of players and they all seem to work well. I believe our team this year has clicked very well and very early. It also happened much faster this season.

Minstrel: What are your goals for both the team and individually this season?

AG: Individually, I would like to have better shooting percentages. I want to be more of a consistent offensive threat. Most of my goals are very team-oriented. We have four seniors on the team and I want us all to go out with a bang.

Minstrel: How far do you think this year’s team is capable of going?

AG: I believe we are a championship-caliber team. I definitely think that we have the skill and talent to get us a conference championship win. With that said, I know that

we can make it to the NCAA Tournament. We haven’t been there since my freshmen year, and I would love to get there one last time.

Minstrel: How do you feel about your team being picked second in the Freedom Conference preseason poll?

AG: I honestly think we could have been number one. Being number two, every other team knows that we are a contender and they have to respect that, which makes me very happy. It is fun going into games knowing that everyone wants a piece of you because you’re not the underdog. I love knowing that other teams have to respect us.

Minstrel: As a senior, how are you leading your team both on and off the court?

AG: Right now, I’m just trying to be more vocal. I get frustrated a lot and have to battle with myself to remember that if I get down, it affects whole team. I’m trying to be that spark that keeps the engine running by staying positive, and supporting my teammates as well as being more vocal on and off the court.

Minstrel: What do you enjoy the most about being a basketball player here at DeSales?

AG: I enjoy people coming up to me asking about how we’re doing and what we look like this year because I’m always proud of being able to positively answer those questions. It’s really an honor to be able to represent a whole university. Also, DeSales has such a supportive community that I enjoy playing for.

Minstrel: What is the biggest

personal change basketball-wise (on and/or off the court) you’ve made between your freshman year and your senior year?

AG: I’ve matured a lot mentally from three seasons ago. It actually has carried over into my life outside of basketball. I’m much stronger mentally than I was when I first arrived at DeSales.

Minstrel: What is the one word you would use to describe your play and why?

AG: Defensive. I use that word because it actually describes my personality. It’s a blessing and a curse, but it’s who I am. Defense is also the face of our women’s basketball program. That word perfectly describes my game and my team.

Minstrel: What advice would you give to younger basketball players such as high school seniors or college freshmen?

AG: I would tell them that it’s not so much about how you start, but how you finish. On and off the court, when you begin something, there is always redemption after a mistake.

But when you’re finished all you can do is reflect. My advice to younger athletes and students is to be strong finishers and never leave any room for “I should have, could have, or would have.”

Minstrel: Do you have any pre-game rituals, superstitions or specific music selections?

AG: I actually do. Before every game, I have a pre-game nap for about an hour (or as long as the bus ride is, while I listen to slow music and exactly when it’s time to change), I switch to fast music that pumps me up. I eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich about an hour before every game and have a Gatorade, and then I’m ready!

Minstrel: Where do you see yourself in a few years down the road?

AG: I see myself doing what I love, which is working with technology. I also want to coach and build my own AAU basketball program, so I see myself doing that. Hopefully, I can find a good women’s team that I can play with when I graduate just for fun. Basketball will forever be a part of my life.