Zoos go Global (Updated zoo story)

On a sunny and cool Wednesday afternoon, the Staten Island Zoo is crawling with children fresh out of school for the day, peering into the cages and aquariums, calling over their parents to show them what they see.

Included in the zoo’s collection are animals that are rare, endangered or extinct, showing that New York City’s “biggest little zoo” is moving toward a wider range of efforts to conserve and save the very species that are in danger due to habitat loss and other problems in nature. However, this zoo is not alone in their efforts. The Staten Island Zoo is just a part of a widespread endeavor among zoos and aquariums around the nation.

The bigger picture

Further enhancing their dedication to conservancy projects, the Staten Island Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which, according to its Web site (aza.org) is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization, “dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.”

The Web site states that, “Over the last five years, AZA-accredited institutions supported more than 3,700 conservation projects with $90,000,000 annually in more than 100 countries.” AZA, founded in 1924, maintains specific requirements in order to received accreditation.  Members of AZA must meet and maintain meticulous professional standards for animal welfare, veterinary care, wildlife conservation, scientific research, education, expert staffing, and safety.

In the reptile wing each tank houses a different kind of snake and most remain curled around a tree branch or in the back corner of their small living quarters. At first glance, all looks quiet and still. Yet the tanks are teeming with the quick and elusive movements of the crickets, being eyed by their predator from above. Some of these reptiles, like the rhinoceros iguana, are an endangered species because of habitat loss.

Surrounding the animals and scattered throughout the exhibits, are signs offering information about wetlands and other habitats that remain at risk.

The Staten Island Zoo’s reptile wing is the home of the largest reptile collection in the world. This collection includes the Panamanian Golden Frog, which is extinct in the wild. Matt Lanier, the zoo’s collections manager and herpetologist says that any type of extinction is “detrimental to the whole world.” Lanier explained that amphibians such as the frog are an indicator species, which show that something in the wild may be wrong or in decay.

One of the many conservancy projects in which AZA fronts is amphibian conservation. The AZA Web site states, “At least one-third of amphibian species are threatened with extinction. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums have spent more than $1.3 million on amphibian research and conservation projects in more than 20 countries.”

Global acts of conservation

Within the state of New York there are a total of 11 zoos that are AZA accredited. Also in New York are Bronx, Queens Prospect Park and Central Park Zoos and the New York Aquarium, which belong to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Founded in 1895, the WCS addresses four of the biggest issues facing wildlife and wild places: climate change; natural resource exploitation; the connection between wildlife health and human health; and the sustainable development of human livelihoods.

One the many projects headed by WCS is the support and protection for wildlife in conflict zones around the world. Listed on the AZA Website is an article from Kabul, Afghanistan, which released it’s first-ever list of protected species in June of last year.

The snow leopard is one of the animals on the list. Also listed are wolves, and brown bears, but also lesser-known species such as the paghman salamander, goitered gazelle, and Himalayan elm tree.

According to the article, the list “provides legal protection to Afghanistan’s wildlife, which have been devastated by more than 30 years of conflict.”

At the Staten Island Zoo, which is not a member of the WCS, another kind of leopard, the Amur leopards reside in the African Savannah wing. These limber and curious animals are the first residents of the wing to be a part of the zoo’s conservation efforts. According to the zoo’s Web site, (statenislandzoo.org), there are about 30 individuals in the wild and about 200 in captivity.

Currently the leopards, the zoo has one male and one female, pace around a small habitat which loosely mimics their true living quarters in Africa. But according to Lanier the zoo has plans in the works for a brand new, more natural habitat, which will be more conducive to breeding.

Lanier excitedly offered insight into the conservation efforts of the zoo. He says that the leopards arrived at the zoo about ten years ago, getting the zoo back into the “conservancy game.”

However, since the 1980s, the zoos conservancy projects wavered. He explained that not all zoos combine exhibits with the effort to conserve endangered or extinct species, but the Staten Island Zoo is moving in that direction.

Starting Your Child off on the Right Paw

When you picture a zoo, what do you think of? Most people think of a large variety of exotic and interesting animals, huge aquariums and bags of popcorn. Something seems to be missing though. Oh yes… the various hordes of loud, energetic, fascinated children.
With education being more and more stressed for young children, particularly ones that are still in grade school, it’s important to find ways in which you can show kids that learning is fun, and start them on the right foot so they find an early passion for education. Grade schools around the country are becoming more and more serious about finding fun ways to make education exciting, so that by the time graduation comes, young adults will have had a healthy education simply because (starting at a young age) they had found a passion for learning and had benefited from it. The Staten Island Zoo in particular is a zoo that specializes in the education of children. Instead of just teaching young ones about animal life, the zoo also stresses respecting what it means to be conserve the natural world. The zoo has a number of programs, including 45-minute visits to the zoo, where classes of all ages are encouraged to visit.
If unable to plan a hectic trip to the zoo, the Staten Island Zoo even has a traveling zoo program, where specialists bring live animals to the classroom to provide children with a close up experience of how animals operate.
The Zoo even offers many nature-related programs for Boy Scouts. The Zoo is willing to accommodate existing programs to meet the needs of any group regardless of age or topic. The programs are very interactive (great for kids) and include a minimum of three live animal demonstrations.
Kayla Murphy, a mother visiting the zoo with her 8-year-old daughter, loves bringing Sarah to the zoo. “It’s a great learning experience,” she explained. “My daughter absolutely loves it and I think she learns a lot more here than at school because she actually pays attention!”
Sarah watched the animals eagerly, and even asked her mom to read some of the signs so she could learn more about what animal she was watching. If that isn’t proof of a captivated young learner, than what is?
Murphy is planning on registering her child and a few friends in one of the zoo’s many programs for her 9th birthday. The program is called Zoo Snooze; it consists of a sleepover at the zoo where members of the staff provide fun educational games, videos and a midnight tour around the zoo. That’s a unique slumber party!
So parents, it’s time to start planning that trip to the Zoo your kid is dying to go on… just make sure to prepare yourself for the excited screams…
After all, no matter what fascinating facts you learn about rattle snakes, they’re still going to be scary.

Craft: Pizzaz, Anecdotes, and Profiles

To put more pizzaz in your writing and stylize it, here are some things you can do:

• use active voice, such as “chefs bake pizzas”
• have strong beginnings and ends of sentances
• use great verbs!
• use humor, such as sarcasm, truth, a self-depricating tone, exageration, and absurdity
• use a chatty, readable tone by utilizing colloquial language, but avoid cliches. Write exactly how you speak, say it in your head and then write it. Onomotoapoeias!!!
• cater to the reader’s interests
• use wit/intelligence, think while you’re writing
• use dialogue/quotes
• alliteration!
• assonance!
• syballance!
• anthropomorphism!
• tasteful rhyming
• hyperbole/exageration
• potmanteau
• neologisms (perfect words that just don’t seem to exist!)
• reason
• rhythm/flow
• words that roll off your toungue
• short sentances/detective style writing
• varying sentance length
• parallel structure
• pairings of three!

Remember to read your work after you finish, that way you can notice rhythm, discover errors, and make things sound better as a whole.

More anecdote stuff!

• an anecdote is a little story that illustrates a point.
• it relates a personal incident, it is a story within a story
• more than an example!
• helps to build an argument
• directly after the anecdote comes the ‘moral’, so to speak

Profiles! one should include:

• anecdotes
• a great lead!
• subheads are nice!
• quotes
• nuts and bolts info
• background
• where they’re from/childhood
• how they got to where they are now
• physical description/”signature look”
• likes/dislikes
• future plans/goals
• flaws
• defining moments/experiences in life
• self-description
• their personal philosophy/morals/ethics
• age
• where they live/are from
• a day in the life
• other peoples’ perspectives – what does their mom think about them? who do they hang out with?

It’s a Bird!… It’s a Plane!… It’s a Sculpture by British Artist Antony Gormley!

By Ashraf Hasham

                Atop the world-renowned Flatiron building on the corner of 23^rd Street, Fifth Avenue, and Broadway, stands a solitary figure gazing at the world in front of him. Silently facing Madison Square Park, fixed on the edge of one of the first skyscrapers ever built, he is oblivious to the scores of New Yorkers and tourists alike stopping in their tracks, nudging those next to them, and pointing at him in sheer awe.

                With the recent upsurge of the long-awaited, yet somewhat sporadic, clear springtime weather, New Yorkers have been spending as much time as they can outside, from lunch breaks to weekends. Those who wander into Madison Square Park in the Flatiron district looking for a place to bask, read, or grab a bite to eat under the sun can expect to be under the watchful eyes of a new public art installation by London-based artist Antony Gormley called Event Horizon.

                Thirty-one nearly-identical life-size derivative sculptures of Gormley’s body are thoughtfully placed around the historical Madison Square Park, focal point of the district-wide installation. Twenty-seven of these naked men are situated on rooftops while the remaining four are at ground level.

Event Horizon is presented by the Madison Square Park Conservancy’s Mad. Sq. Art program and is the 59-year-old veteran artist’s “first public art exhibition in the United States,” said Chelsea Bahr, Art Assistant at the nonprofit organization that is behind the installation.

The sculptures bound on the skyline are cast of fiberglass, while the ground-laden ones are cast of iron; they weigh 66 lbs and 1,433 lbs respectively and are all 6’2”. Gormley used his very own body to cast the sculptures, an arduous but self-proclaimed meditative process that requires the artist to stand completely still and breathe through a straw for almost two hours while the plaster dries, said Bahr.

“He works a lot with the human body in his work in an existential kind of way,” she added.

The Turner Prize-winning artist originally created the Event Horizon installation for an exhibition entitled Blind Light in London’s Hayward Gallery in 2007. It received great public response there, the 31 sculptures placed on bridges, rooftops, and streets around the south bank of the Thames River.

Debbie Landau, president of the Madison Square Park Conservancy, has been trying to bring Gormley’s public artwork to New York since the early 2000s, and finally succeeded with Event Horizon.

                “[The installation is] meant to make New Yorkers aware of their everyday surroundings and look up once in a while, as well as highlight the historicalness and architecture of the buildings on which the sculptures are placed, because [Gormley] handpicked them because of their rich history,” said Bahr. The edifices that the sculptures rest on include the Flatiron Building, the New York Life Insurance Building, the Clock Tower Building (formerly the Met Life Building), and the Empire State Building, among several others.

                In a press conference regarding the installation on March 23^rd, Gormley said: “There are two kinds of things going on: one are the inert, silent sculptures, and the other is what’s happening on the ground and how people stop each other and say, ‘Hey, what’s going on? You know, what’s this guy, what’s this silent guy who’s got no clothes on, what’s he doing here? Oh my God, there’s another one!’

                “I like engaging people… to think about this, the built environment, in a way as a picture of a world, and we being part of that picture.”

                And in an interview with the New York Times published on March 18^th, Gormley explained further: “You could almost say the insertion of the sculpture is like the insertion of acupuncture needles within a collective body. And seeing how the body as a whole reacts to the presence of this irritation is very much the point.”

                It seems to be working, people in and around Madison Square Park are ecstatic about the installation of the “naked guys”, as one bystander so aptly labeled them.

                “This is definitely the best art project the park has done,” the bystander who preferred to remain anonymous said.

                Around the perimeter of the park, every few minutes someone jerks their head towards the sky and fully extends their arms, pointing to a sculpture they haven’t yet seen, sometimes panning their arm to show someone next to them another location.

                A mother and a daughter stand with a map listing all the sculpture locations, attempting to locate every one, crossing them off one by one.

                A tour bus passes, the guide’s amplified voice gets the tourist passengers to follow his arms, “There’s one! There’s another! And another! They’re everywhere!”, and cameras at the ready snap pictures accordingly.

                At the corner of 26^th Street and 5^th Avenue, the location of one of the four ground-level sculptures, a woman gives her camera to a friend, interlocks arms with the blank-faced sculpture, smiles, and her friend takes a picture.

                “The public response has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Bahr. “We’ve been working with NYPD extensively [prior to the sculptures’ installation] to make sure they know that these aren’t people contemplating suicide.” However, according to the New York Post, there have been several 911 calls reporting a possible jumper on some of the buildings, the Empire State Building being one of the most called in.

                To this, the anonymous bystander replied: “Anything that stops people in their tracks and creates a dialogue and allows for interaction is good art.” Mayor Michael Bloomberg has also defended the installation.

                “I understand the police are just doing their job,” Gormley said to the New York Times. “I never wanted to freak anyone out. If people think of death and suicide, it’s a sad reflection on evolution. This is meant to be an amazing celebration of New York.”

                The $400,000 project has received support from various art funds and trusts, as well as the City of New York, the AXA Art Insurance Corporation, Bloomberg, the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership, the Sean Kelly Gallery, the Ace Hotel, the Shake Shack, SD26 Restaurant & Wine Bar, The Wall Street Journal, and Time Out New York.

                The installation runs from March 26^th until August 15^th. There will be an information booth in Madison Square Park throughout the season dedicated to giving out informational booklets (with a map!) produced by Time Out New York, as well as selling Event Horizon shirts, hats, totes, and pins, the procedes of which go towards bringing more public art to Madison Square Park.

Save the Animals, Save the Earth

A favorite pastime for children and adults alike from all over the world is going to the zoo. Whether one likes looking at the different species, or learning about animal habits and lifestyles, the zoo always has something unique and fun to offer people of all ages. As it continues to entertain, there is a new trend emerging in zoos across the country which has made an impact on helping endangered species.

Animals fearing extinction are at risk because for many reasons, for example hunting, risk of diseases or illnesses, loss of habitats due to industrialization, and increase in predators. Also, as global warming has continued to affect the earth, animals are feeling the negative impacts of the warming planet.

More and more species are falling victim to extinction, but to counteract this occurrence many zoos around the world have started to step in. The wildlife conservation society is just one of the many organizations working hard to help save endangered species by implanting breeding programs into many zoos around the country. In 2007 there was a successful bald eagle breeding program at the San Francisco Zoo which helped to reintroduce over 100 bald eagles into the wild. It was a 16 year program which increased the total number of eagles found in the wild by 50 percent.

Being one of the most endangered mammals in North America, the black-footed ferret has been breed in captivity for years. Loss of habitat due to industrialization caused this species to dwindle down to only two percent remaining. Black-footed ferrets are currently being bred in captivity at the Louisville Zoological Gardens in Kentucky, and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado. As stated on the website, www.blackfootedferret.org, “to date, over 7,000 kits have been born since captive breeding was initiated in 1985”.

The Staten Island Zoo is another famous zoo which recently began making changes in order to save animals who are in danger of extinction. The zoo has started breeding endangered animals in captivity, and some are even reintroduced into the wild.

“Always sensitive to the care of the animals, the zoo’s goal will continue to be providing naturalistic settings for the animals on display,” the zoo’s website states.

The Staten Island Zoo originally opened in 1936 to help educate children about animals from around the world. Since its opening there have been many additions and changes to the layout and function of the zoo. The zoo now contains over 858 animals with 222 different species.

Doug Schwartz has been a zookeeper at the Staten Island Zoo for the past 20 years and has seen “a lot of changes over the years” such as making efforts to become more green by using energy efficient light bulbs and recycling daily as a way to make their conservation efforts more effective.

Schwartz feels that the biggest effort the zoo has made, and a major trend he sees in zoos around the world, is breeding endangered animals in captivity.

A sign that hangs at the entrance of the reptile area regarding endangered species. It describes a survival plan “which entails breeding and managing animals which may soon be extinct… Captive breeding may be these animals only hope for survival.”

The zoo recently obtained a red panda named Henry Ford which they are trying to help guide away from extinction. This endangered species has only 2,500 left in their natural habitats. Another animal the zoo has who may soon be in danger is the serval, a wild cat threatened by extinction due to a loss of their habitat.

The Amur leopard is also an animal in need, and has been one of the zoo’s biggest project‘s. The zoo has current plans to build a brand new facility just for the purpose of breeding the endangered Amur Leopards in order to help move the species away from extinction.

Caring for these endangered animals can be difficult , but Schwartz talked about the bond that zookeepers form with the animals after working with them for so long. “If it doesn’t look like my animals are OK I will stay all night if I have to. I call the wife to tell her.” He was recently most concerned about their endangered Serval who had fallen ill that day. “When problems come up we need to make a fast judgment call. For example, the Serval is sick so do we call the vet? We don’t want the other animals to catch whatever it has.” These endangered animals are watched closely in order to make sure they stay healthy and can breed easily. “I’m the one who has to sound the alarm…Animals depend on someone with a certain degree of intelligence. They are always aware.”

Another zoo, The National Zoological Park, states on its website that it is “proud to participate in the recovery efforts for endangered and threatened species. Our scientists, biologists, captive breeding specialists, and veterinarians have contributed to the recovery of giant pandas, tigers, golden lion, cheetahs, and black-footed ferrets, to name only a few.”

The trend to raise and breed endangered species from around the world has its challenges, but the Staten Island Zoo, like many other zoos around the country, is happy to take it on. With a devoted staff and new breeding facilities on the way the zoo hopes to truly help these animals in need. “[Breeding animals] is not an easy thing…we are willing to take that on,” Schwartz concluded.

For more information about the Staten Island Zoo and their breeding efforts visit their website at www.statenislandzoo.org.

State Budget Cuts are Affecting both People and Animals at Zoos Around the Country

“In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught.” This is the quote by Baba Dioum that is painted on one of the walls of the Staten Island Zoo. The Staten Island Zoo has many different animals from ponies, to reptiles, to leopards, and much more, but the recent recession has had a negative effect on the zoo’s income.

“Over the winter we have no ticket sales,” said one of the zoo’s keepers of 20 years, Doug Schwartz, “It’s like Broadway, without ticket sales the show is in trouble.”

The Staten Island Zoo has a federal rule, along with many other zoos, where they have to have free admission at least one time during the week. On Wednesday after 2 p.m., the Staten Island Zoo is free to get into and they rely solely on donations as their income for that time. This is so the zoos can get federal money to expand their grounds and add more animal habitats. However, does this free admission time period pay off in the end?

“Last week school was out and we got a lot of people after 2 p.m.,” said one of the zoo’s gate cashiers, “From watching what people put in the donations box, it isn’t nearly enough.”

Sometimes because of the economy, the zoo does not even receive the federal money they were promised. At the beginning of this year, The Staten Island Zoo had plans to expand their exhibits and to start breeding Amur leopards. According to the zoo’s Web site, www.statenislandzoo.org, these leopards are endangered because of habitat destruction, poaching for fur, and loss of prey. There are about 30 individuals in the wild and about 200 in captivity. Unfortunately because of the economic conditions last year, much of the federal money that was supposed to go towards the breeding of this endangered species was pulled.

The Staten Island Zoo is not the only one affected; cutbacks are happening to many zoos and other habitats, such as aquariums, all over the country. According to a CNN article titled “Budget cuts force Bronx Zoo to ‘fire’ animals”, written by Christine Romans and Jennifer Bragg, New York’s 76 zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens lost $9.1 million in state funds during 2009-2010.  The Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium lost $3 million to budget cuts. Also according to the same article by Christine Romans and Jennifer Bragg, the Los Angeles Zoo in California stopped work on its $42 million elephant exhibit last year, and there were big budget cuts for zoos in Maryland, Missouri and North Carolina.

“The Cleveland Zoo has been affected by the decrease in property values, which has eroded their tax base,” wrote Karen Mittleman in her Examiner article titled The aquarium hobby, Cleveland, and the recession, part one: retail stores and the zoo, “ Though they aren’t counting on it, some zoo officials are hoping that people will make more day trips this year in lieu of costly vacations.

These budget costs are also causing zoo’s to have to “fire” animals as well as people. Many zoos, such as the Bronx Zoo, are not going to replace the animals that have short “life cycles” and are sending some of their animals to other shelters.

The article by Romans and Bragg said that despite the fact that the state of New York funds just 2.7 percent of the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium’s budget, it was still expected to be difficult for the two habitats to make up the money gap. Both the zoo and the aquarium were expected to have to lay off 120-130 people in 2009.

There are many things that specifically, the Staten Island Zoo’s staff is doing to try to solve this problem of lack of money.

“We have to turn the PR up a notch,” said Doug Schwartz, “We make sure we are friendly, visible, and helpful.”

Even though times are tough for both the workers of the Staten Island Zoo and the animals they love, that does not stop any member of this zoo family from working just as hard as they ever did.

When asked how much time he usually spends each day at the zoo, Schwartz responded, “If my animals aren’t okay I’ll stay over all night.”

Gandhi Day is Great Success!

Wednesday, April 21 was business as usual for the Wagner College community on a brisk spring day. The expected flurry of activity took place on the patio outside of the Student Union building, as students, professors, administrators and other college employees brushed past one another, walking to and from the dining hall below.

The normality of this seemingly ordinary day was disrupted by a group of about 20 individuals sitting patiently at the center of the lunch-time rush, with empty stomachs growling with jealousy. This congregation consisted mostly of the members of HI340, a.k.a. “Gandhi and Modernism,” a history course dedicated to studying the life and politics of the late, great, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

The objective for their hunger, according to Dr. Chinniah Jangam, the course’s professor, was a 12 hour fast “inspired by Gandhian methods to bring awareness about the issues of hunger and poverty.” Central to their fast were the ideas of nonviolence and religious tolerance, both ideas that were championed by Mr. Gandhi.

While the Wagner community is responsible for several fundraising events throughout the academic year, this event was unique because it was not sponsored, or mandated by a Greek or club organization. This project was organized, advertized, and carried out solely by the students of HI340. Dr. Jangam, wishing to have his class present something for the betterment of the Wagner community, encouraged his students to come up with a more proactive and constructive alternative to individual projects due at the end of the semester, and “Gandhi Day” is what they came up with.

Here’s how it worked: students reached out to local businesses, college administrators, and friends to sponsor their sacrifice by making monetary or edible donations, or even by fasting along with the class. All of the proceeds collected in the Gandhi Day food drive were donated to Project Hospitality of Staten Island, a charitable, interfaith organization dedicated to feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and giving care for people suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Aside from the collection of donations, Gandhi Day events included a visit from a local Buddhist monk, who read from Buddhist scriptures to an audience including students, professors, and a Catholic priest. In keeping with the Gandhian theme, and perhaps showing its universality, he spoke about world hunger, the notions of family and community, and gave some poignant perspective on the necessity for charity work, “we should think that we cannot be truly happy if there are people suffering.”

Flyers, posters and letters distributed about the event all carried Gandhi’s famously inspirational quote “be the change you want to see in the world,” which served as inspiration for hungry participants and full-bellied patrons alike. Although, perhaps more inspirational for the fasting students, many of whom had never attempted to go hungry before, was the prospect of the Applebee’s menu, as they meticulously planned their dinners for when the fast was over.

This type of experiential learning was certainly effective for students to understand both Gandhian values, and the suffering of the poor, and the campus community definitely took note of the group’s efforts. The class drew more than just a few curious stares, raising over $250, and collecting three large boxes of food, easily worth another $300. “I was really surprised by everyone’s generosity,” said Laura Bellotti, a member of Dr. Jangam’s class as she counted the proceeds, “I honestly thought this was going to be a huge flop.”

Thankfully, Gandhi Day was a runaway success, the group’s efforts worthy of a shining A+. After cleaning up their stand and safely storing the donations, the remaining class members broke their fast with orange juice, the very same way in which Gandhi broke his own fasts, ending the triumphant day in true Gandhian fashion.

Using AP stlye

Feeling comfortable using the AP stylebook is very important for an aspiring journalist. These are some of the most basic and commonly used AP style points.

*Ages- Always use figures. Example: A 5-year-old boy or the boy is 5 years old.

*Numerals- One through nine are spelt out while 10 and above written as numbers. Example: The girl ate three hotdogs in 12 hours. Also, spell out a number if it is at the beginning of a sentence.

*State Names- Spell out the names of the 50 U.S. states when they stand alone in textual material.

*Street Name- Abbreviate only with a numbered address. Example: 24 Ocean View Ave. Spell out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without a number. Example: I live on Ocean View Avenue. Route and Road are never abbreviated.

*Times- Use figures except for noon and midnight. Use a colon to separate hours from minutes, like 3:30 p.m. The construction 4 o’clock is acceptable, but time listings with a.m or p.m are preferred.

*Percentages- Expressed as numerals, followed by the word “percent.” Example: Gas prices rose 15 percent last month.

*Dollar amounts- Written as numerals, with the “$” sign used.

*Dates- Written as numerals. Months August through February are abbreviated when used with numbered dates. March through July are never abbreviated. Months without dates are not abbreviated. “Th” is not used.

*Job titles- Capitalized when they appear before a person’s name, but lowercase after the name. Example: President Barack Obama… or, Barack Obama is the president.

*Film, Book & Song Titles-Capitalized and placed in quotation marks. Do not use quote marks with reference books or the names of newspapers or magazines.

Also remember to be gender neutral. For example the word “weatherman” should be “weather person” and policeman should be police officer.

These are just a few of the topics covered in the AP stylebook which should make our “spidey senses tingle.”

“It’s a Great Day to be Alive”

Her door is always open. That is the message the new Director of Co-Curricular Programs, Sabrina Slater, wants students to know. Having worked as the Resident Director of Harborview Hall since the summer of 2007 Slater has started settling in to her new role on campus. As she prepares to embark on this new chapter in her Wagner career Slater keeps herself grounded by remembering where she came from and where she hopes to go.

Natalie Wagner, a current sophomore at Wagner College, recently went on a EYH trip to Kenya with Slater. Spending two weeks together in the African country Wagner remembers the good times they had together. “She was like my mentor and a sister figure on the trip. I look up to her now,” Wagner recalled. In one instance she remembered seeing Slater dance with an Africa family to a Chris Brown song called “Miss Independent” which put smiles on everyone’s faces who observed.

Wagner said that Slater inspired everyone on the trip always telling them that “if you put you whole heart and soul into something how could it ever be the path.” Wagner explained how her view on Slater has changed. “Last year I was scared of her because she seemed like such a scary authority figure in Harborview. Now that I have gotten to know her I have seen a different side…she is a role model for girls” Wagner stated.

Pictures from her past and present cover the walls of Slater’s warmly lit office. Two cushy white couches and several colored chairs allow students to feel comfortable when meeting with her. Although she doesn’t consider herself “girly” a pink lamp on her desk sets the mood of the room.

One of her favorite songs which she tries to live by, and was playing in her office during the interview, is “It’s a Great Day to be Alive” by Travis Tritt. Listening to these lyrics softly playing in the background one hears the refrain: “And it’s a great day to be alive! I know the sun’s still shining when I close my eyes. There’s some hard times in the neighborhood. But why can’t every day be just this good?” With words so inspirational its no wonder Slater can always keep her warm, open composure toward students and staff.

Being one of the most approachable faculty members on campus, Sabrina loves to meet new people. She enjoys “having the opportunity to hear stories” from people’s lives. “I believe everyone has inherent worth…I want to be that safe place for someone,” Slater explained. Throughout her life Slater has always found personal security from family and her faith which has allowed her to relate with others so easily.

Growing up in West Spokane, Washington, Slater always considered her family “the biggest blessing.” Her parents, still together 30 years after having to elope, and her younger brother, continue to give her love and support everyday. “We lived a simple life,” Slater explained. “Didn’t watch television, had a rotary phone, no answering machine, no computer and one car for all of us.” Every Friday night was considered “family time” at the Slater home where they would enjoy a meal at the local pizza parlor together.

A hard worker who got along with everyone, Slater enjoyed being involved within the school and community. She played trumpet for her jazz and marching bands, enjoyed being on the softball, basketball, volleyball teams and was part of her church’s youth group. Once in college at Lehigh University Slater continued to stay involved by being part of the crew varsity team for all four years. Only one of two people to successfully graduate with her major of cognitive science in her senior class, Slater knew she wanted to accomplish great things in her life. “I cant imagine myself in one place,” she exclaimed. “Life is meant to be lived. The journey is your life.”

After spending the past three years as Residential Director of Harborview Hall Sabrina was thrilled when she stepped into the role of the Director of Co-Curricular Programs. “Co-Curricular Programs should be the fun on campus. I advocate for the students,” Slater said. “There should be more regular, open communication and trust between the administration and the students.”

She hopes to work hard in order to bring Greek life, as well as all the clubs and organizations on campus, to the next level. She wants to put an end to the “competition” different groups have with each other. “See in the world what you are looking for…the world would be a better place if everyone had someone supporting them”

Throughout her life Slater has always let her family and faith guide her. “The core of who I am is my faith…God first, family second.” she explained. Her love for working with people continues to fuel her dream of traveling the world. Already being accustomed to moving every couple years she “cant imagine herself in one place.” Within the next decade Slater hopes to be living internationally and helping as many people as she can. “I am here at Wagner College for now, but not forever.” Slater concluded.

Save the Leopards !

Lined with inspirational quotes, the gray colored walls of the Staten Island Zoo guide the public through many exhibits of various animals, and insect species.  A large quote said by Baba Dioum, a famous environmentalist,  really sticks out to zoo visitors stating, “In the end we will conserve only what we love.  We will love only what we understand.  We will understand only what we are taught.”

Animals have adapted to caring for themselves but the zoo keepers at this particular zoo really bring their job home with them.  Doug Schwartz, a zoo keeper for 20 years, reveals the close relationship he has with the animals he cares for.  “The best part of the job, says Schwartz, is making judgement calls and deciding what is going to help you next.  As a zoo keeper you want to make sure the animals get the care they need.  Twenty years of experience definitely helps because you see a lot of things.”  Many times, the directors rely on Schwartz to sound the alarm or not when making a decision.  However, he offers his opinion but ultimately it is the decision of the zoo directors.

Among the most popular and exotic animals are the Amur leopeards and the Serval cat.  Commentators stand in awe at the sight of these creatures.  But on a recent weekday the two animals seem distressed.  It may have been due to the change in their enviornment.  Schwartz the caretaker of these animals, had to call the vet for the Serval, a medium-sized African wild cat, causing the leopards to become cautious and be on guard, prowling and scowling at onlookers.  “The animals are more dangerous when they are on guard,” says Schwartz.  “These guys, (pointing to the leopards) are what they are, predators.”  This exhibit provokes both sympathy and awe.  The animals look like they need more space to run.  However, the Zoo plans to expand the exhibit but due to budget concerns these efforts could be delayed.

The Zoo displays describe the agency’s efforts to breed endangered species to prevent the animal from becoming extinct, most recently the Amur leopards.  Since there were no ticket sales during the winter months, the Zoo was in trouble.  “By the zoo keepers being visible, professional and intelligent, it can turn up the PR of the program a lot.  We want to get grants” says Schwartz.  The zoo will be breeding the Amur leopards hopefully by the end of the year, however if the money comes short the leopard advancement will be postponed.  A separate building will be built for the leopards.  “There are very few zoos who are willing to take on the danger,” says Schwartz, “if you don’t love or like animals, you better stay away all right.” According to ALTA Amur Leopard Conservation zoos involvement in the conservations of the Amur Leopards is essential.  Zoos play a very valuable role in promoting the awareness of the Amur Leopards and urging the need for improvement for their conservation.

However, the Staten Island Zoo is not the only zoo that harbors the Amur leopards  In the United States the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago also exhibits these endangered species , while 29 other zoos and organizations in the United States and Canada are supporters.  There is a world wide effort for the conservation of these endangered species. “Zoos have provided about 40% of the funds that have so far been made available to conservation NGOs for Amur leopard conservation” (www.amur-leopard.org).  In European and North American breeding programs there are approximately 300 Amur leopards.

Zoos can aid in increasing public awareness, providing funding, generating useful data and skills, and maintaining a “genetic reservoir” for reintroduction or supplementation.  Amur Leopards aren’t as well known as their cousins the Amur Tigers.  Due to the fact that the habitats of the remaining Amur leopards population is not connected where the Amur tigers can be found , the Amur leopards have gained very little from the efforts that have been enforced for the Amur tigers.  Since 1996, North American zoos (AZA) have contributed approximately $150,000 in total to ALTA partners.  The category of generating useful data and skills is a very diverse one.  ALTA states, that this category pertains to the “development of safe anesthesia techniques, pugmark measurements for calibration of field signs, blood samples for genetic studies, pelage photos for taxonomic research and much more. Husbandry and veterinary skills developed in zoos will be of great use in managing onsite breeding for reintroduction.”

While efforts continue, the Amur leopards are still classified as a critically endangered species according to the World Wild Life Federation, (WWF).  The WWF implements programs to stop the traffic in the areas where the leopard is present.  In 1998, the Russian government,  adopted a strategy for the conservation of the Amur leopard.  Although the species has lost 80% of its former range this should not discourage supporters in their continuous efforts to conserve the Amur leopard.  All hope isn’t gone for these large creatures.  You too can aid in the conservation by donating to the cause by visiting local zoos and contributing to organizations such as ALTA in their continuous efforts to preserve this endangered species.