NORTH ATTLEBORO - Attleboro High School graduate Eric Yeghian remembers working at State Line Scrap for $4 an hour as a young boy.
Now the president of Vikon Properties Corp., Yeghian's recent real-estate developments have created 22 jobs in the last three months.
Yeghian invested $1 million into his newest development, Olympic Fitness, which opened in October.
The Cumberland resident decided to take advantage of "wonderful commercial space" to open his first fitness club.
Olympic Fitness at 749 South Washington St. (Route 1), has taken over the site of the former Fitness Plus and Gold's Gym location near Showcase Cinemas.
Various weights are available at Olympic Fitness. Photo by John Ochiltree / For The Sun Chronicle)
The full-amenity health club charges members $25 per month with no money down. Members can access free motion weight machines, free weights and a racquetball court. The 28 pieces of cardio equipment include iPod docks and 17-inch television screens.
Members can find more fitness opportunities on the second floor of the facility. Upstairs they will find a 60-foot long turf track, a spinning room equipped with 16 spin bikes, and another weight-lifting area with increased privacy.
The men's locker room includes a sauna and the women's includes a steam room.
Olympic Fitness also offers a separate TRX membership, a higher-intensity program for members seeking a challenge.
The gym has an 800-square-foot room designated to TRX, which includes a 15-foot TRX "S" frame. In this program, members make use of their own body weight to build muscle.
The program, used by professional athletes and Navy SEALs, develops strength, balance, flexibility and core stability through various resistance exercises.
Membership in the TRX Program, which lasts four weeks, costs $120 and includes two classes per week, a total of eight classes a month. In addition, members have unlimited use of the TRX room during these four weeks.
The facility offers relief for members with aches and pains. An on-staff massage therapist is available to members by appointment, for $50 an hour. Beginning this month, Northern Rhode Island Physical Therapy will open a location within the gym.
"It's keeping with the overall concept of full luxury at a discount price," Yeghian said.
North Attleboro resident Robb McCoy, who works alongside Yeghian as manager of Olympic Fitness, has a background in fitness. McCoy has worked as a personal trainer in the past and has coached at Curry College and Bishop Feehan and Norton high schools.
The gym is open Monday through Thursday 5 a.m to 10 p.m, Friday from 5 a.m to 9 p.m, and weekends from 7 a.m to 7 p.m.
Published Friday, February 24, 2012
The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro, Mass.
Ethan McGahey spends a lot of time in his car. A student at UMass Boston, McGahey commutes each day.
Yet, with Massachusetts gasoline prices skyrocketing, McGahey might need to consider alternate modes of transportation.
"The main reason I commute is to save money," McGahey said as he pumped gas Thursday morning into his Honda Civic at the Cumberland Farms at County and Wall streets in Attleboro.
"When gas prices are like this, it makes me wonder if it's worth it," he said.
Cumberland Farms, which usually has among the cheapest gasoline prices in the Attleboro area, was selling regular for $3.63 a gallon Thursday, up 8 cents from Monday's price of $3.55. Last week, the station was selling regular for $3.43. This week marks the 10th consecutive week of increases, according to AAA Southern New England.
For drivers like McGahey, the worst is yet to come.
A sharp increase in gas prices is expected to take place over the weekend, according to senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan of GasBuddy.com.
"I expect stations to increase prices as much as 5 to 20 cents per gallon by the conclusion of the weekend, with some stations starting to raise prices immediately," DeHaan said.
The looming increase is attributed to problems with refineries, including one which caught fire, and continuing Mideast tensions - particularly with the nuclear stalemate with Iran.
According to analysts, gas prices are very high for this time of year. Costs tend to drop during winter months, increasing in the spring and summer. With prices already over $3.60 in some areas of Massachusetts, experts predict gas to hit record levels in upcoming months. This could mean over $4.25 a gallon.
For motorists like McGahey, a drastic increase in gas prices could mean less driving.
"I was already starting to consider public transportation, and that was before I knew prices were supposed to jump over the weekend," McGahey said. "There's no way I can afford to go through over a tank of gas a week with costs like that."
McGahey was not the only concerned motorist at the pumps.
"Car companies are trying to get you to buy a hybrid or a smaller car to save on gas," Judith Roark said. "In reality, no matter what kind of car you're driving, that kind of money is gonna add up."
Roark said her commute is only 15 minutes, but it takes her husband more than an hour to get to work.
"He drives a truck, a real gas-guzzler," Roark said. "I'm sure he's not going to be happy to hear about another increase."
Tana Reyes, who drives a Suburban, wasn't happy either.
"I don't even want to think about it," Reyes said, shaking her head. "This car eats gas. I fill it up and it's empty again. I'm definitely going to have to cut back on driving."
Reyes said gas prices might prevent her from seeing family in New Jersey this summer.
"My husband and I like to take our kids down during school vacations," she said. "With costs on the rise, that might not be affordable for us this year."
At the Shell station on South Avenue in Attleboro, regular was selling for $3.65 a gallon Thursday, up from $3.59 on Monday. Last week, it was at $3.53.
Published Monday, February 20, 2012, The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro
NORTH ATTLEBORO - Alyssa Caruso knows how to get the local community moving.
Founder of the Walk for Hope, the North Attleboro native has organized two successful local walks in the past few years to raise money for suicide and depression prevention programs.
This month, Caruso plans to fight suicide and depression in a different way - in a boxing ring.
On Feb. 25, Caruso and the Walk for Hope will team up with Striking Beauties, a women's boxing facility, for a fundraiser called "20-20-20." It will feature 20 minutes of boxing for a group of 20 people and a $20 donation by participants.
Striking Beauties President
Dena Paolino met Caruso at the Walk of Hope last August.
"Dena shared her story with me and expressed interest in helping with the cause," Caruso said. "We met over Christmas to plan the details of our fundraiser."
Caruso and Paolino hope the event at Striking Beauties, 18 Church St. in North Attleboro, will help participants find their inner strength and promote feelings of self-worth and accomplishment.
"Women who attend Striking Beauties walk away with a strong sense of self-empowerment," Caruso said. "It's about more than just exercise."
The Southern New Hampshire University senior said the Walk of Hope's mission is to raise awareness, as well as eliminate any embarrassment or shame associated with depression, which affects 17.6 million Americans each year.
"Suicide and depression are two things that no one wants to talk about," Caruso said in a previous interview with The Sun Chronicle. "I wanted to bring awareness about it to the community."
The walks have received strong support from the community and have taught local residents about the warning signs of depression and suicide prevention.
Caruso said she hopes the boxing event will receive the same level of community support and increase local awareness of the issues.
Participants in the fundraiser will be provided with food and refreshments, including beverages from Muscle Milk.
They also will have the chance to purchase "confidence beads," created by Linda Waters, which are meant to provide self-affirmation.
"Each bead has a different inspirational message, such as strength," Caruso said of the bracelets. "They're meant to serve as constant confidence boosters."
A portion of the proceeds from the bracelets, will go toward the fundraiser's donations to suicide and depression awareness programs.
The programs educate people about the warning signs of suicide and depression, as well as prevention.
To sign up or receive more information, contact Alyssa Caruso at AWalkForHope@gmail.com or 508-463-5065.
Published Tuesday, March 6, 2012, The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro
Mary Elizabeth Clark is not your typical soccer mom.
A member of Soldiers' Angels, Clark is holding a donation drive through the Attleboro Youth Soccer League to create care packages for soldiers overseas.
Soldiers' Angels, is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting deployed soldiers. The organization, whose slogan is "May No Soldier Go Unloved," allows members to organize fundraisers in any way they please.
"I'm combining my family's two passions - supporting the military and playing soccer - for this donation drive," Clark said.
The Attleboro Youth Soccer League has both in-town recreational teams and travel teams through the Boston Area Youth Soccer League. At the BAYS opening day pep rally on March 31 Clark will set up a donation booth through Attleboro Youth Soccer.
"I'll have examples of what the care packages will look like, along with more information about Soldiers' Angels," Clark said. "This will make people aware of the donation drive and let them know how they can help over the course of the season."
Throughout the season, a collection plate will be passed at soccer games to collect monetary donations. For those who wish to donate supplies, a list of preferred items will be posted on the Attleboro Youth Soccer website once the season kicks off.
"The money we collect will go toward the actual supplies for the care packages, along with the cost of shipping," Clark said. "Depending on the weight of the package, this can be pretty expensive."
Janice Cizskowski, a fellow Attleboro Youth Soccer mother, will help Clark purchase supplies at discounted rates.
An Avon representative, Cizskowski has been able to help get good deals on supplies such as lip balms, sunscreens and powders.
"Soldiers' Angels provides lists of supplies that soldiers may need, and many of them are Avon products," Clark said. "Janice has been fantastic in helping us save money on these items."
Clark said that by buying supplies at discounted rates and receiving donations at soccer games, she will be able to send a great number of care packages overseas.
Players on Attleboro Youth Soccer teams will be given the chance to show their appreciation for U.S. soldiers by creating cards and letters to put in the care packages. Each care package will represent a different youth soccer team, such as the Revolution, and will include a team shirt and team photo, along with the supplies.
For more information on the fundraiser and care packages visit AttleboroSoccer.com.
Published Friday, March 2, 2012, The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro
A new lottery game has hopeful locals dreaming of ways they'd spend their prize money - day, by day, by day.
Lucky for Life, the first multi-state lottery game offered only to the six New England states, will give players the chance to win a top prize of $1,000 a day for life.
"I'd start by getting rid of this thing and buying a new car," Briana Lamont said without hesitation as she pumped gas at the Cumberland Farms on Wall Street in downtown Attleboro.
Peering into Thursday's gray gloom and icy drizzle, she added: "I'd take a vacation somewhere warm to get away from this bizarre weather."
Robin Sollowin, another Cumberland Farms customer, wasn't so sure what she would do with the money. "I can't even imagine what I'd do with $1,000 a day," Sollowin said. "I'd be in shock, but I definitely wouldn't mind retiring a little early."
Bipin Patel, owner of the Sun Market on Union Street in Attleboro, expects the new lottery game to be a hit with customers.
"The odds of winning will be better for players in the Lucky for Life game than they are in MegaMillions or Powerball," Patel said. "The game will only include six states and there will be many ways to win."
According to the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission, the overall odds of winning a prize in the game will be 1 in 6.6 - one way, or another. There will be a total of 10 ways to win.
Players select five numbers out of a field of 40 and one Lucky Ball number out of a field of 21. Players who match all six numbers will win the top prize of $1,000 a day for a lifetime.
Lucky for Life will offer a second prize of $25,000, along with other cash prizes ranging from $2,000 to $2. Paul Sternburg, executive director of the Massachusetts Lottery, said the new game is the result of a year-long collaboration between each of the six state lotteries.
"We are looking forward to Lucky for Life's launch and the excitement that it will not only create with players here in Massachusetts, but throughout the region," Sternburg said.
Tickets for Lucky for Life can be purchased starting March 11. The first drawing will take place March 15. Drawings for the twice-weekly game will take place every Monday and Thursday at 10:38 p.m.
Cumberland Farms on County Street in Attleboro was buzzing Thursday as customers crammed the counter to buy tickets for the $540 million Mega Millions jackpot.
Employee Deb DiGiampietro joked with the lottery customers.
"I made them promise to share the money with me if they won," DiGiampietro said. "If I won, I'd absolutely share it."
DiGiampietro has plenty of plans if she wins a share of the half-billion dollars.
"I'd pay for my twin girls' college education for the next four years," DiGiampietro said. "And I'd pay off my house."
Numbers for the multi-state lottery will be drawn tonight. Meanwhile, lots of area residents are dreaming of riches.
Cumberland Farms customer Jimmy Stewart admitted he had no strategy when picking his numbers.
"Whatever happens, happens," Stewart said. "I'm just hoping for the best."
Stewart said he would use the money to take care of his family.
Steve Barris, a regular lottery player, shrugged his shoulders as he walked out of Cumberland Farms with his ticket.
"Why not? It's worth a shot. A jackpot this big might be once in a lifetime," Barris said. "And somebody out there's gonna have a pretty life-changing weekend."
Cumberland Farms was not the only place filled with lottery hopefuls.
At the Sun Market on Union Street in Attleboro, ticket sales started building Tuesday night.
Customer Phalla Sem gasped when she saw the Mega Millions sign reading $500 million.
Sun Market owner Bipin Patel that's been a common reaction among customers.
"This is the highest the jackpot has ever been, and customers have noticed," Patel said. "Most people that come into the store will buy at least one ticket, some people are buying five or more."
Nina Dacey, another Sun Market customer, said she buys lottery tickets fairly often, but is hoping to increase her chances for such a big prize.
"I usually buy a ticket, but I'm definitely going to buy more for a half a billion dollar jackpot," Dacey said.
After no winner was drawn on Tuesday night, the jackpot grew from $376 million to an estimated $476 million. The next drawing will take place at 11 tonight.
Patel is optimistic.
"Someone is definitely going to win this time around," Patel said. "I have a good feeling it will be someone from the state."
Lottery officials and mathematicians estimate the odds of winning Mega Millions to be about one in 176 million.
The odds of getting struck by lightning are one in 280,000, according to the National Lightning Safety Institute.
That means a person is five time more likely to be struck by lightning than win the lottery.
Michael Shackleford, a gaming mathematician and actuary, says there is no clear strategy to increase your chances of winning.
"Your chances of winning the jackpot with Mega Millions will always be the same," Shackleford said. "It doesn't matter what numbers you pick or the jackpot size."
Although there is no way to increase your chances of winning, there are ways to avoid sharing prize money.
Shackleford said that people tend to choose familiar numbers.
"Everyone was born in a month from one to 12 and days are 1 and 31, ignoring the late 30s and 40s," Shackleford said. "If someone were picking birthdays, they have a greater chance to split it with other birthday pickers."
The 2010 Text for Haiti campaign started a new means of giving back to charity, donating via text message.
Other charities have tried the same thing, without the same success, leaving people wondering if this type of donating is the future of charitable giving, or if the Haiti campaign was a one time sensation.
According to the Pew Research Center, 75 percent of those who donated to the Text for Haiti campaign felt that it was a spur of the moment decision, with 50 percent donating immediately upon hearing about the campaign. That meant donors did little background investigation on where the money was going and how it was going to be used.
These impulse donations may have been prompted by images on TVshowing the damage from the earthquake, said Stonehill College Communications Professor Angela Paradise.
“Visuals are incredibly powerful, especially when they show real life devastation. When they show people in trouble, especially young people, that can really open people up and get them to donate,” Paradise said.
Being able to text a donation is also innovative, she said.
“At that time we had all of these visuals and sound clips that pulled at people’s heart strings. Combined with the ease of texting to donate really attributed to the success of the campaign,” Paradise said.
Meg Lewis, a Stonehill sophomore, and some of her family members, were among the 75 percent of first time mobile donors who gave to the Haiti campaign. The images played a major role in Lewis’ decision to give.
“I think that the commercial that gave you the number to text showed really jarring images, so I felt persuaded to text,” Lewis said.
Lewis said texting donations could be the future for charities.
“Our society is based on things that are easy to get to and very accessible. Donating to charity the old fashioned way, actually sending in money, is just less convenient than being able to text a number,” Lewis said.
However, some think it can only work in a crisis.
“When people really need the help, like in a natural disaster, I feel like that’s when people will text. But I don’t think everyday type of charities would benefit from it as much,” sophomore Samantha Rose said.
Charities like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure set up text based donation campaigns, but not with the same success as the Haiti campaign.
The Susan G. Komen foundation received more than $300 million in public donations this past year. However, income from text donations was so small, that it was not even mentioned in their annual reports. Their most notable sources of income were from mail in donations, sponsorships and race entry fees.
The same goes for the Make-A-Wish foundation. According to annual reports, the foundation received over $100 million in public support last year. Yet nowhere in the reports was there a mention of text donations.
Sophomore Sarah Figalora, of Massapequa Park, New York, said the average person does not initially think to text a donation. “I think when people want to donate to charity they want to do something active and physical, like volunteering or physically giving money,” Figalora said.
Charitable donations still come by mail from people and foundations, since only nine percent of US adults having actually sent in a text donation, according to the National Center for Charitable Statistics. However, if you do decide to donate via text, the Better Business Bureau recommends that you research the charity before giving, that way you know where your money is going and who it will be helping. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8wlwnQuEbo&context=C465cedfADvjVQa1PpcFO-eT3rTvakjgjPyhdQANefOojSuPI9m1A=
Stonehill officials say they are cracking down on binge drinking on campus.
“Stonehill isn’t trying to eliminate alcohol, we just want to help students make good choices and drink responsibly,” Pauline Dobrowski, associate vice president for student affairs at Stonehill, said.
Binge drinking is a problem at most colleges but especially at Stonehill because of its Catholic affiliation, predominantly white student body and its northeastern location, Dobrowski said.
Maria Kavanaugh, director of the counseling and testing center at Stonehill, said she thinks the largest percentage of Catholic colleges are in the northeast so it appears as if their high binge drinking rates are related to their Catholic affiliation.
“Correlation doesn’t mean causation,” Kavanaugh said.
There are also high binge drinking rates at colleges where there is “Greek life” –– sororities and fraternities and prominent athletic teams, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The institute reports there is less binge drinking at colleges that are two-year institutions, commuter schools and previously Black.
At the start of their freshman year, 34 percent of students binge drink, compared with 20 percent nationally, according to the Cooperative Institutional Research Program survey, part of the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA and the Core survey, produced by the Core Institute at Southern Illinois University. At Stonehill, this increases to 54 percent by the end of the students’ freshman year. Across all four years at Stonehill, 65 percent of students participate in binge drinking, compared with the national average of 47 percent.
“Historically, Stonehill has had higher binge-drinking rates relative to peer institutions,” Dobrowski said. “High-binge-drinking schools tend to attract high numbers of binge-drinkers.”
Students are surprised to discover Stonehill’s rates are so high, Dobrowski said.
“Ninety percent of Stonehill students think there is less drinking or the same amount of drinking at other colleges,” Dobrowski said.
Nationally, college students overall are drinking even more. According to a new study done by the Centers for Disease Control, college-age drinkers average nine drinks when they binge drink. Binge drinking typically refers to having four or five drinks per sitting.
Dobrowski said, however, this year’s freshman class has a lower rate of binge drinking than years past, and there is a higher rate of wellness housing.
According to an online survey conducted this fall by Jessica Greene, health and wellness coordinator at Stonehill, 32 percent of students said they have one drink or less in a typical week.
Beth Devonshire, director of community standards at Stonehill, said about 18 percent of students who drink get in trouble.
Dobrowski said because of Stonehill’s small size, it is easier for departments and divisions to work together.
“We have to recognize it is a big problem,” Peter Carnes, chief of police at Stonehill, said of binge drinking.
But things are improving.“Three years ago we’d transport about a dozen at mixers. Now there’s usually only one or two. It’s a good sign,” Carnes said.
Emily Schumacher, sophomore, said peer pressure hasn’t been a “huge problem” for her.
“This is a community that is non-judgmental. There’s some social pressure to drink but it’s not as bad as at other schools,” Schumacher said.
Kevin O’Connell, manager of Shovelshop Spirits, in Easton, Mass., said his business is determined not to sell to anyone who may be buying for someone underage.
“If we see a group of underage people waiting in the parking lot, we don’t sell,” O’Connell said.
Carnes said across the country, 25 percent of students have experienced academic problems due to alcohol abuse. Nationally there are about 600,000 unintentional drinking-related injuries per year, and 97,000 have to do with sexual assault and/or date rape, he said.
If students cut back by one drink, it would drop their potential damage to themselves and to others by 60 percent, according to a study done by Bentley University.
Peter Pigulski, senior at Stonehill and an Emergency Medical Technician in Boston, said many students don’t realize the risks of becoming highly intoxicated.
“From my experience working as an EMT in Boston, a lot don’t know that if they go to sleep while intoxicated they can go into respiratory arrest,” Pigulski said.
“There are always a large number of transports to hospitals to get stomachs pumped to lower blood-alcohol levels,” Pigulski said. “On a typical Saturday night in Boston, there are usually about four to six students who need medical attention.”
But it is a difficult problem to address, he admitted.
“Stonehill’s policies have excellent intention but in reality it’s a campus and it’s going to happen,” Pigulski said.
Maura Kelly, senior, said it can be difficult to regulate drinking.
“They try but it’s hard,” Kelly said. “Students will find a way to do it if they want to.”
Kelly said binge drinking is a typical problem at colleges. “No matter where you go there will be drinking,” Kelly said.
Devonshire said education is important. “Students say, ‘Well, it’s just colleges in general with this problem.’ Well, no, it’s not,” Devonshire said.
Carnes said Stonehill binge drinking is not pretty. “At the beginning of the year there was a lady outside in the bushes lying in a pile of vomit,” he said.
Making Stonehill a dry campus won’t stop drinking, Dobrowski and Devonshire said.
“Brigham Young is a dry campus, and they have problems with it too,” Devonshire said. “Once you leave college you are faced with these kinds of choices, so learning how to make them is part of the college experience,” she said.
More worrisome are cases of drunk driving.“Two students were arrested for drunk driving after they were stopped for speeding significantly,” Carnes said. “The driver was well over .08.”
Carnes said 2.1 million students across the country have driven drunk in the past year.
Maureen Coakley, police dispatcher at Clark University, in Worcester, Mass., said there are fewer binge-drinking problems at Clark than at most schools.
“We’re a small school, so we don’t get a lot of calls,” Coakley said.
She said about 60 percent of students at Clark take part in drinking, and only about 15 percent get in trouble for it. “There’s no warning here. Your first strike is your last,” Coakley said.
Alyssa Tsiros, freshman at WPI, in Worcester, Mass., said there is less drinking at WPI compared to at Clark and other nearby colleges because they have seven-week terms instead of semesters. “Every week is critical for good grades so a lot of students here restrict their drinking to the weekends,” Tsiros said.
Tsiros estimated about one third of WPI students drink to some extent. She said, based on hearsay, drinking at fraternities used to be a problem but now stricter rules are in effect.
Allison Gill, assistant dean of campus life at Merrimack College, in North Andover, Mass., said Merrimack has a drinking culture but it is not much different from other colleges in the area.
“Having worked at both Stonehill and Merrimack, I believe the amount of drinking to be comparable,” Gill said.
Dobrowski said Stonehill is trying to stop binge drinking. The SGA hosts weekend activities beginning at 9 p.m. to prevent early-night drinking, and there are courses and committees to prevent drinking on campus, she said.
When students get in trouble for drinking on campus, each case is reviewed individually, Dobrowski said. Sometimes the BASICS program, which incorporates motivational, interviewing techniques to enlighten students, is used, community service is required, parents are notified or there are weekend restrictions.
Should parents push their children to specialize in one sport or embrace the well-rounded athlete?
Rachel Sederberg, a junior at Stonehill College, said she has been playing golf for 15 years and captained her high school team to two state championships in her four years at Notre Dame High School Academy.
“My parents started me in golf when I was six years old and now I have tendonitis in four joints,” Sederberg said. “It’s tough when you have kids who are 16 or 17 with permanent injuries from specializing in a sport too early.”
Sederberg said that it was all worth it, however. “I wouldn’t trade my state titles for good joints. Although I’m only 21 while I’m saying this.”
An ongoing study by Neeru Jayanthi, medical director of primary care sports medicine at Loyola University, found that young athletes with injuries—such as Sederberg— tended to have more specialized training in one sport.
In some cases a young athlete gains a significant edge over the rest of the by specializing at a young age. But that can cause the athlete to sustain a permanent debilitating injury or experiences psychological burnout, the report said.
Neeru advised parents, in his report, to be cautious about “intense specialization” in a single sport for youngsters. Instead, he encourages putting children in multiple sports.
Some parents, such as Phil Sharkey, a father of two and an assistant coach for the Norton Boy’s seventh grade basketball team, share that belief.
“At this age kids should still be playing more than one sport. It teaches them multiple skill-sets and allows them to develop into well-rounded athletes. There is no need to become a robot at age 13, where all you are capable of doing is one thing really well. I would say that high school is the right time for kids to start making that decision [to specialize] and it should always be up to the kid.”
That sentiment is shared by members of Sharkey’s basketball team.
“I play four sports,” said 13 year old Kyle Periera, “football in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball and soccer in the spring. Football is my favorite but I’ve never thought about specializing in just football. The other sports keep me in shape during the offseason and they are still really fun.”
Periera said he never had a serious injury that kept him out of athletics for an extended period of time.
Mike Sheehan, 13, said he suffered a bad knee injury in the last game of the football season this past year, keeping him out of the first three weeks of the basketball season. “It stunk having to miss some of basketball, but I’m alright now,” Sheehan said. “I wouldn’t want to play just one sport… I think that I would get bored.” Zach Charbeneau, 13, would prefer to focus on one sport. “Baseball is my favorite sport. I'd play all year round if I could. Basketball is pretty fun too. It's probably my second favorite sport. But my goal is to get really good at baseball and eventually make the high school team,” Charbaneau said.
Noah White, 13, said he plans to give up one sport. “I play four sports but I'm probably going to give up on football soon to focus more on soccer, basketball and baseball. I’m not that good at football and I don’t want what happened to Mike [Sheehan] to happen to me,” White said. “My dad said that it's my decision. I don't think he is too disappointed because he is more of a basketball guy anyway.” Noah’s father, the head coach of the Norton seventh grade boys’ basketball team, said he would be sad if Noah gave up football but would accept it. “If he is ready to commit to basketball and baseball then that’s his choice,” he said.
Stonehill professor, Robert Rosenthal, put an economic spin on the debate, saying parents may be looking at potential college sports scholarships for their children. “Parents are probably becoming more and more motivated to push their children to specialize in one sport in order to keep up with the rising cost of college tuition,” said Rosenthal. “There are a lot of scholarships opportunities out there that can make college more affordable.”
As a father, however, Rosenthal said it is still very important for the athlete to decide if and when to specialize. “If you push a child to specialize in just one sport, there is a possibility they will build resentment toward that sport,” Rosenthal said. “Then you will have an unhappy child and nobody wants that.” Stonehill College sophomore, Jordan Howley, said mixing it up is best. “Specializing in sports at too young of an age eliminates part of a kids childhood. You see examples of burnouts and these really talented kids, who by the time they are old enough, really don’t have a passion for the sport they are specialized in,” Howley said.
“Playing multiple sports allows you to explore things that you may have fun with and eventually leads to deciding what you want to pursue.”
Howley was a three sport athlete until age 15 when he decided to focus strictly on lacrosse.
MANSFIELD, Mass _ Senior Molly Jenssen said she’s noticed a change on sports team since Mansfield
High School started charging athletes to play.
“When they started making us pay for track, not as many girls joined, especially in the winter,” Jenssen, the track captain, said.
A growing number of schools, such as Mansfield High School, are charging student to play sports. A 2009 survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations showed pay-to-play fees were used in 33 states.
Under pay-to-play, public schools charge a fee to participate on school sports teams to offset budget cuts and help pay for sports-related costs, such as travel and equipment.
Jenssen’s older sister Michelle Jenssen, who was a student athlete at Mansfield High School, never had to pay a fee to play.
“When I would talk to people from other towns they would all say that it was unfair that we had no fees,” Michelle Jenssen said. “People from other towns said that Mansfield had an advantage because anyone could join and didn’t have to pay.”
The elder sister said the fees may keep the less serious players out of the game.
“I think pay-to-play fees are separating who is really dedicated to the sport and who is just doing it for fun, which is good for the serious athletes because they get more time with the coaches,” Michelle Jenssen said.
“Not as many girls quit track now that we have to pay for it, which is a good thing, and not as many girls skip meets since they have to pay to participate,” Jenssen said.
Mansfield High School senior athlete Ryan Fuller agreed paying to play may make kids stick with a sport because they are paying to be there.
Pay-to-play fees range by town and, in some instances, the sport.
At Norton High School, students are charged $250 per sport with a $500 limit per family per year, Norton High School Athletic Director, Nathaniel Gorbet said.
At Mansfield High School, students are charged $140 per sport with a $400 limit per family per year, Mansfield High School Varsity Track Coach, Pete Schuder said.
At Canton High School, the fees vary by sport. Most student athletes are charged $195 per sport, Canton High School Athletic Director, Danny Erickson said. However, hockey players are charged $445 and swimmers are charged $245 as the rental fees for those two sports are added in their total cost, Erickson said.
Even though athletes have to pay-to-play, some feel the fees are reasonable.
“Mansfield’s $400 flat rate makes paying to play more reasonable for my family. I am a three-season athlete and both my sisters in the high school play multiple sports too. Paying one flat rate ends up being cheaper for us over all,” Mansfield High School track co-captain Dana Foley said.
Fuller shared at sentiment, “Pay-to-play ends up being less expensive for me because I’m a golfer. If I wasn’t on a team I would have to pay to join the country club and now I can go a whole season for one rate.”
Since prices do add up, some schools offer reduced rates for families experiencing financial trouble.
“Pay-to-play should not cause financial difficulties for low income families in Mansfield,” Schuder said. Mansfield has reduced rates for families in need, he said.
Norton also has waivers for families in financial hardship, Gorbet said.
Some schools, such as Mansfield High School, are relatively new to pay-to-play with fees instituted two years ago, Schuder said. Other schools, such as Canton, are veterans with sports fees for at least 10 years, Erickson said.
“I see it as a necessary evil. I do not like the idea of it. I believe athletic participation should be free to students enrolled but with the rising costs to support athletic programs, I do not see an alterative that would provide adequate funds for sports,” Norton’s Gorbet said.
Mansfield’s Schuder said the fees appeared fair.
“As a tax paying Mansfield resident with no children in school, I like it. From a philosophical point of view, I don’t like it as it reinforces that extra benefits that have great value for our student athletes now need to be paid for,” Schuder said.
Pay-to-play is likely here to stay.
The athletic directors said the alternative to paying for sports is raising the taxes or cutting the programs – something no one wants.
“High school athletics are very important to kids and parents will find a way to pay the fee – even if it means less Christmas presents or turning the heat down – it’s that important,” Erickson said.
Kevin Burke is used to the look he gets when he says he’s a philosophy major.
“I kind of answer that question expecting a ‘what are you gonna do with that when you’re done?’” said senior Kevin Burke, vice president of the Philosophy Society at Stonehill College. Burke is one of a small but growing number of philosophy majors in the area.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, of the 597 students who graduated in 2011 from Stonehill, only three graduated with a philosophy degree. At nearby Bridgewater State University, five students left with philosophy degrees out of 1,680 graduates during the same year.
“The thing is that very few students come in with the intent of majoring in philosophy,” Richard Capobianco, department Chair of the Philosophy program at Stonehill, said. Stonehill sends off on average 10 philosophy graduates per year, he said.
But the numbers are going up slightly from 40 years ago. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, in the 1970-1971 graduating class there were 8,149 philosophy and religious studies graduates, compared to the 12,444 in 2008-2009. So over 40 about years, there were 4,000 more philosophy graduates.
Philosophy pales when compared to what many consider a more “practical” degree, such as business which showed a 230,000 graduate increase in the same time period.
Adam Carmichael, adjunct philosophy professor at Stonehill and a 2002 Stonehill graduate, said not finding a job in the field one majored in isn’t that unusual. “Lots of students get degrees in certain fields where they don’t end up doing anything in that field. So, I decided I might as well
study something I enjoy,” he said.
Josef Velazquez, Stonehill philosophy professor, and Capobianco said many philosophy majors go on to law school or another law related field. According to data released in 2009 by the University of North Texas Department Of Economics which compared LSAT scores of different majors, philosophy students were among those who scored the highest along with economics, engineering, and history majors. Philosophy and economics majors tied for first with an average score of 157.4, engineering majors came in third with 156.2, and history students fourth with a score of 155.9.
“I’m applying to law school, I sent my applications out last week. But it’s not like the philosophy degree is for nothing it really helps your arguing skills, writing skills, and speaking skills so I think that will be a real asset,” Burke said.
Other graduates go into teaching, publishing, medicine, or the business fields said both professors. “I’ve heard that certain accounting firms look for philosophy majors because they learn how to think. Maybe you won’t find a job right away but it equips you with so many skills necessary for everyday life,” Burke said.
Senior Christine Powers, president of Philosophy Society, plans to eventually enter bioethics, a field involving mediation between doctors, nurses, and patients; and also ethics boards which decide on issues such as end of life care.
Philosophy college graduates earn a modest income according to Payscale Inc. which reported the starting median pay for the 2011-2012 year at $39,000 and an increase at the mid-career level to $75,600.
Philosophy comes from a Greek word that means “love of wisdom.” Capobianco said that what sets these students apart is a “questioning habit.” They are “a little more courageous to challenge the status quo, and that’s a good thing in all kinds of jobs. It’s not just about following the rules and being obedient to the prevailing way of doing things, but questioning that in a constructive and productive way,” he said.
Joe Dacey, associate dean of Admissions at Stonehill and a 2002 Stonehill graduate, said he learned skills unique to philosophy. “I didn’t even realize it until I’d been doing it for awhile—it’s subtle—it's knowing how to apply a theory. To be able to learn critically, adapt information, and present it,” he said.
Carmichael started out as a biology student, yet felt unsatisfied by the regurgitation and memorization expected of the science classes. “With philosophy it was more think for yourself, critical thinking. I found that more rewarding.”
Velazqez recalls a few philosophy alums going on to odd careers such as moving furniture and being a pastry chef.
In the end, it’s up to the student to make the most of the degree, several said. “Don’t limit yourself,” said Dacey. “I got a job at an investment company because of an alum. Be prominent, ask your professors about their connections, who they know. You can do anything with a philosophy degree, with any degree in fact.”
According to statistics from the National Center for Education, more men major in philosophy. Nationally in 2003-2004 there were 7,046 males and 4,106 female philosophy majors. “There’s not a lot of female philosophy majors—at Stonehill it’s not that obvious—but in grad school there’s definitely a lot less female majors and probably at bigger schools,” Powers said.
“We don’t really have any good idea for why that’s happening. There’s something weird going on,” Velazquez said.
Students said most parents supported their children’s decision—that their parents wanted them to study something that captured their interest.
Carmichael said he always got the question “why?” when he told people he was majoring in philosophy. However, he said people eventually encouraged him after realizing how interested he was in it.
Burke and Powers got interested in philosophy after taking the same philosophy class early in their college careers. Carmichael and Dacey began as science majors then realized science wasn’t a fit and eventually switched to philosophy.
Carmichael said he’s glad he decided on philosophy. “It’s made me who I am today and all that kind of stuff. I don’t think I would do anything differently.” He said, even if majoring in philosophy ends up being a practical “dead end,” it’s invaluable since “it offers something more important than any monetary or practical value. Philosophy asks a lot of basic questions that many other studies just assume—philosophy digs deeper.”
Easton, Mass- Freshman at Stonehill College are not allowed to buy parking decals to park on campus. “I feel that freshman should not have their cars on campus because during your first year on a college campus it is important that you become familiar with walking and learning more about your campus rather than driving from place to place,” said senior Tim Mathews.
A poll for class of 100 freshman students regarding whether or not they should be able to
have a car on campus showed 77 students agreed they should be allowed to have cars
while 20 students disagreed and three who had no preference . “I think it's ridiculous that
freshman have to pay the same tuition as the upperclassmen but we cannot have our cars on campus,” said freshman student Nathan Robitaille.
Another poll found 25 upperclassmen questioned on whether or not freshman should have cars on campus showed that seven disagreed and eight agreed. leaving 10 who had no preference. Stonehill upperclassmen had also voiced their opinions.
“I think that plenty of freshman already have their cars here and it takes up spaces that belong to upperclassmen and the faculty at Duffy especially and the other parking lots as well,” said Junior Kevin Diamond.
Although the majority of freshman cannot park on campus, there are a few exceptions.
To purchase a parking decal you must be either a senior, junior, sophomore, or a commuter student at Stonehill College. In order to purchase a parking decal, you must pay for one with your Hill Card at Campus Police.
Freshman education majors are allowed to have cars on campus because they have to travel off campus to Brockton in order to work with educational youth programs. Those freshman who are not education majors, if ticketed, have to pay a 75 $ fine or pay a larger fine in order to get there car back from the towing service.
Police Chief Peter Carnes said, “We have a lot of issues regarding parking violations that usually end up in students appealing the tickets. The only way to get a parking pass as a freshman is by having a medical condition or otherwise a really good excuse,”
Others said it shouldn't be restricted to education majors as freshman athletes and freshman who are biology majors angered that they cannot have a car on campus.
“Living in the sem, it's difficult to get back to my room to take a quick nap or grab a book
because it takes away too much time for in between classes,” said freshman biology major Nina Johnson.
Freshman soccer player Ryan Rincon argued, “I believe some freshman athletes should be able to have there cars because it requires us to something have to drive off campus for team bonding or workouts”.
Stonehill's policy is not unique. Wheaton College campus police director , Jay Blanchard said "Yes, we allow our freshman to park on campus as long as they purchase parking decals,”.
At Bridgewater State University, students are only allowed to purchase a parking decal if they have fifteen or more credits as a freshman college, otherwise your vehicle is subject to tow. Stonehill's campus police reported that they usually issue a good amount of tickets per month.
“It happens very often. However, try and get in touch with the student before having the car towed, especially if it is a freshman,” said Katherine Giobanni from Administrative Services at Stonehill College.
“I think a lot of freshman have their cars on campus anyway” said Stonehill College sophomore Garrett Lessard. Some freshman said they bring their cars because the penalty you face is a ticket that can be appealed. “There are definitely more than enough spots on campus between lot 17 the library, and the sem parking lot so I don't see the issue with freshman having spots on campus as well,” said senior Patrick Greene.
EASTON – The orange light from the street lamps illuminates the camouflaged uniforms of the group gathering in the parking lot. They pass the time with small talk, checking their equipment as they begin to form into rank. At 6 a.m., the group is called to attention.
At 6:05, weapons are distributed. Each cadet takes a rifle from the back of a truck parked nearby, breaking the silence of the morning air as they call out the weapon’s number. The rifles, only replicas, are a strange sight against the backdrop of the sleepy Catholic campus behind them.
At 6:10, the cadets are given instructions and march from the library parking lot, past the tennis courts and up the hill leading behind Donahue Hall.
“When I get to Heaven, St. Peter’s gonna say, ‘How’d you earn your living, boy? How’d you earn your pay?’” The cadet leading the march begins a traditional Army cadence, or marching song, each line repeated by the group behind him.
In a few years time, these cadets at Stonehill College will march down the same hill as part of a graduation ceremony.
The best way to understand the experience of ROTC cadets is to spend a morning observing them. The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps – ROTC – is an Army program affiliated with colleges and universities around the country. The goal is to develop cadets who learn the leadership qualities of an officer while earning a college degree.
These cadets are part of Bravo Company of the Charles River Battalion. The company includes cadets from Stonehill, the host school, Bridgewater State University, Curry College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Massasoit Community College. Out of the entire company of 35, eight cadets are Stonehill students; one freshman, four sophomores, one junior, and two seniors.
As they move across campus one early morning, the camouflage of their uniforms seen next to the purple of their alma mater, the unique experience of these eight cadets is easily understood. As soldiers, they learn to salute, handle live firearms during select trainings, and must pass an Army physical fitness test. As students, they must fulfill the same curriculum requirements as others. They must maintain a 2.0 GPA; for those who drop below 3.0, weekly study halls are mandatory.
“The Army is meant to be a profession,” said CPT Lindsey Elder, program officer and assistant professor of military science at Stonehill. “We’re big on education, but we try not to be in competition with it. It’s about finding a balance”.
Elder, an Army officer for the last 10 years, was a member of the ROTC program at UMass Amherst while serving in the Massachusetts National Guard.
“Being an ROTC cadet first and coming back, I think I’m a better assessor now of the ROTC program,” Elder said. “ROTC cadets have to be motivated. They have jobs and other real-life things. You prove to yourself how much you can handle. I think it helps you even more.”
John Smoot, 20, of Hingham, Mass., is a sophomore at Stonehill currently completing his second year in the ROTC program. For him, ROTC offers a number of opportunities.
“If you properly take advantage of it, you’ll get huge values out of ROTC your peers can’t get from regular school. In general, you learn how to take responsibility for yourself and, in my opinion, you’re much more prepared for the real world,” Smoot said.
ROTC also offered him a second chance at serving in the military.
Smoot initially tried to enlist in the Marine Corps. Due to a medical condition, he wasn’t accepted, Smoot said. A number of his friends entering into ROTC programs told him that the ROTC was looking for candidates, and, more importantly, would be willing to look into getting him a medical waiver. After applying, he was offered a three-year scholarship to Stonehill College through the ROTC program.
“It’s not about the free tuition for me,” Smoot said. “I love the Army and I’ve always wanted to serve my country.”
While an ROTC scholarship can help with tuition costs, for Smoot and many of his fellow cadets, the desire to serve preceded the possibility of financial aid.
Sophomore cadet Ryan Forte, 19, of Franklin, Mass., hoped to get into the Air Force Academy. When he didn’t, and when he didn’t hear back from the Air Force ROTC, Forte turned to the Army where he was offered a four-year Army ROTC scholarship to Stonehill. Like Smoot, the program offered him a second chance.
“I decided to select Stonehill,” Forte said. “I finally had the opportunity to serve my country as an officer.”
For other cadets, the decision to join ROTC came after college began.
Taylor Viotto, 20, is a sophomore at Stonehill from Washington, N.J., who joined the program during the first week of his freshman year.
“I have always wanted to serve in some form of the military. Growing up it fluctuated between the branches until my senior year in high school,” Viotto said. “It was then that I decided I would attend college and go through Army ROTC. On the first day on campus I walked over to the detachment. I signed the papers right away.”
The Army ROTC program, alongside academies such as West Point and the Officer Candidate Schools, are meant to graduate commissioned officers. The goal of every cadet, including the eight currently attending Stonehill College and the 27 others in Bravo Company, is to graduate with both a college degree and an Army commission.
The future of ROTC, however, may be towards a smaller program, said Elder.
“In the past, if we have 30 people that were healthy, happy and passing all the requirements, we would have 30 lieutenants,” she said. “Now, we can be even more selective.
Future classes could see a size cap, setting the limit of possible cadets. Until then, the program is being more stringent on allowing cadets time to bring things like their GPA or physical fitness scores up to the requirements.
“Now, knowing there is not the need for the amount of people we already have, they will just be disenrolled if they cannot meet a standard,” said Elder.
Last year the company commissioned 22 cadets. This year they expect to commission 24, Elder said.
For Stonehill cadets like Smoot, Forte, and Viotto, the future is full of possibilities.
“I don’t fully know how my Army career will turn out,” said Forte. “But I do know my experiences with ROTC will benefit me. I will develop the leadership skills needed to be an officer in the Army, in whatever field it may be.”
For them, graduation from Stonehill College will come with more than a degree and a walk across the stage. These select few, to be commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Army, will have serve in the military for eight years.
“Getting commissioned at the end of my senior year is really only the beginning of my learning experience,” Smoot said. “When I get assigned my platoon I’m going to want to remember to know my place. I’ll be a young guy expected to lead guys that know more than me and have been through a lot more.”
