Visit the new Web page at www.ReadMyBeacon.com.

After you check it out, send us an e-mail: Beacon@pba.edu. Let us know what you think of our new clothes.

All new Beacon content will appear on ReadMyBeacon. In the fall, it will be the place to go for news, features, opinion, sports and photo essays.

We’re excited about the opportunity to serve the school in a more contemporary format, so if you have suggestions about online features you’d like to see on ReadMyBeacon, leave us a comment and let us know.

Although the Beacon Blog won’t be updated anymore, we would like to thank everyone for making this fantastic experiment a great success.

Palm Beach Atlantic University students can “eat mor’ chikin” on campus this fall as Chick-fil-A replaces Common Ground on campus.

PBA President Lu Hardin announced food service company Aramark has scored the new dining contract with the university after Sodexo’s contract runs out on July 1.

Aramark is listed in FORTUNE magazine’s 2010 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.”

“I’m truly excited when I think about where PBA’s going in the next five years,” Hardin said.

Although Aramark representative David Gargione could not comment on the specifics of the new contract, he said Aramark is “excited about the possibility of working with the university.”

“The service we’ve received from Sodexo has been phenomenal,” Hardin said. “Not only do I have no complaints; Abbie [Rosemeyer] has been absolutely wonderful.”

“It’s been an honor and privilege to serve at PBA for the last 10 years,” said Abbie Rosemeyer, PBA’s on-campus Sodexo representative.

The decision was based on financial offers made by both companies, as well as dining schedules and a Student Government recommendation.

“We all knew this was a contract year and there was a possibility that the contract would not be renewed,” said student and Sodexo employee Erin Welsh. “All we could do was our part to improve PBA dining.”

A committee of PBA students visited Florida Gulf Coast University to witness first hand what Aramark’s dining would be like.

One of the features that impressed both students and administration was Aramark’s anytime dining from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Five-day and seven-day meal plan passes will be offered.

Students will be able to enter and exit the cafeteria all day by showing their meal passes and using their passes for the number of days specified.

Block plans for Southside and commuters will also still be available. Chefs will be on staff to prepare food fresh.

According to the Aramark Higher Education Web site, the company partners up with big-name food corporations like Starbucks, Einstein Bros., Jamba Juice, Burger King, Subway and Chick-fil-A.

Student Government representative Johann Lily said Common Ground will be replaced with a Chick-fil-A and Jazzman’s will become an Einstein Bros. by the fall semester.

A $1.3 million cafeteria renovation will transform the dining hall into “one of the most beautiful cafeterias in the country,” Hardin said. “It will be breath-taking.”

The student response so far has been positive.

“I’m pretty excited about it because now I feel like dining on campus is actually a viable option,” said sophomore Scott Voth. “A lot of people always went to the cafeteria for a last resort or because they were out of money, but I think now a lot of people will choose to eat on campus.”

“I think it’s a good decision,” commuter Jennifer O’Grady said as she stood in line at Jazzman’s. “The only thing I wouldn’t want is that it may be more expensive, and I don’t have a meal plan. I pay with my own money.”

PBA senior Jeremy Holizna, a musical theater major who has worked at Jazzman’s since September, said he knows he may have to reapply for his job.

“I’m hoping some deal will be made because I need this,” Holizna said.

In spite of the pricey cafeteria face lift, tuition will only increase 3 percent, a drop in the bucket compared to the University of California’s 30 percent for the upcoming school year.

“You are gonna be blown away when you return this fall,” Hardin said.

A few other points Hardin touched on were the construction of Hillcrest, visitation days, Christival, track, parking, future goals and the billboard.

Florida’s “Bright Future” is beginning to dim. As the result of state budget woes, legislators have proposed restrictions that would likely reduce the number of students receiving the Bright Futures Scholarship.

“The amount of students receiving the award next year will be significantly lower,” said Joseph Bryan, a part-time counselor for Palm Beach Atlantic University.  “It’s because the state of Florida is falling into major debt, and it’s a problem.”

Bryan is a guidance counselor at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, and previously worked with PBA Admissions.  He commented on legislation still under consideration by state lawmakers.

The Florida Senate has passed a bill containing a number of provisions to tighten the belt of the Bright Futures budget.  The House may come up with a different version.  That means the ultimate impact won’t be known until a final version makes it through a House and Senate conference.

Under the Senate plan, students could only receive the scholarship for four years, instead of the seven years currently allowed.  Students would also have to get higher SAT scores to qualify for the scholarship.

There are two levels of the scholarship, based on SAT scores. Students now qualify as Florida Academic Scholars by scoring 1270 on the SAT.  That qualifying score would rise to 1290 under the Senate plan.

Florida Medallion Scholars must now score 970 on the SAT, and that score would increase to 1050 under the plan.  Those increased score requirements would be gradually phased between 2011 and 2013.

“To my knowledge the current rates that students receive from Bright Futures will not change until we are notified,” said Bryan. “Institutions won’t be notified until the first of July.”

Currently 740 PBA students receive Bright Futures funds.

Bryan, who previously worked with PBA Admissions, says that his involvement with high school families allows him to help students who are enrolling in college to become better informed on scholarships and tuition fees.

Palm Beach Atlantic Financial Aid Counselor Geneveve Gort explained Bright Futures sets a static rate of $95 per credit hour for the Gold Medallion Award, and a $126 cap for Florida Academic Award winners who plan on attending college.

To put it shortly, Gort said “the student will receive a fixed amount that will depend on the student’s academic performance, whether they are in the 75 percentile or 100 percentile.”

Under the Senate plan, Bright Futures would only help pay for eight semesters of college. So if a student is behind a projected schedule for a four-year career, anything over eight semesters would not be eligible for scholarship funding.

The plan would not allow students to restore Bright Futures scholarships after losing them, though there would be exceptions for military service and documented emergencies.

The Senate plan also would offer incentives to students who graduate college early thanks to such things as advanced placement courses and dual enrollment.  The plan would require the SAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Ties, tuxedos, dresses, stilettos, surprise vendors and the Harriet Himmel all have one thing in common: Spring Dance 2010.

Spring Formal has struggled with success in the past, but this year Palm Beach Atlantic University is expecting it to be a hit.

“It is my understanding that the event will be free and attract 200 to 300 students as opposed to the 160 that attended last year,” PBA president Lu Hardin said.

Hardin was teaching a Law and Society class on Tuesday nights and lecturing on the concept of promissory estoppel when the issue of Spring Formal was brought to his attention. He was informed by PBA student Kelly Stoltzfus that there wasn’t going to be one this year due to lack of funds.

Hardin was able to pull money from his discretionary fund to make the dance possible. Stoltzfus and Nu Delta Nu partnered together to research reasonable pricing for venues and other preparations.

The team chose the Harriet Himmel Theater in City Place because it is within a walking distance from campus, and set the date for April 16 from 8 p.m. to midnight.

The theme of the night will be “A Night in Hollywood.” Another bonus this year is the attire adjustment.

“The dress code this year is changing for formal events,” Stoltzfus said. “For example, girls are now allowed to wear strapless dresses, as long as they’re tasteful.”

“We wanted to get our name out there by bringing the school together,” Nu Delta Nu President Jared Stresen-Reuter said. “It has been really great working with Kelly because she has worked with Spring Formal before.”

“Her experience really helps us, and right now each of our members has a job to do so we can all contribute to make this event a success for the school and for our fraternity,” Stresen-Reuter said.

The fraternity sees Spring Dance as the perfect opportunity to get experience in event planning.

“I think that cost and location are huge factors,” Stoltzfus said. “Students have more access to Spring Dance this year. I was really excited when asked to plan this event because I think that Spring Dance is a staple every school should have.”

Hardin has stepped back and is allowing Nu Delta Nu and Stoltzfus to take the reigns, but they say his planning and determination cannot be ignored.

For the first time in the history of PBA’s Spring Formal, Ballroom Dance Club, the Swing Dance Club and the Bombsquad will perform every hour throughout the night.

“The Spring Formal at PBA is an important event and I believe it should be a yearly tradition rather than every other year,” Hardin said.

Tickets to the Spring Dance will be free this year. Organizers encourage PBA students to attend the dance on April 16 to help make Spring Formal 2010 a success.

Among the hundreds of cars for sale at this year’s Barrett-Jackson Auction, one stood out from the crowd.

“You don’t see a lot of these silver Trans Ams,” said 39-year-old Kenny Clair, a first-time seller from Massachusetts.

Clair sold a 1979 silver 10th Anniversary Edition Pontiac Trans Am.

Kenny Clair talking to his mother, Sue, about his 1979 Pontiac Trans Am. (All photos by Kristina Webb, Copy Editor)

The car went up on the auction block around 1 p.m. Friday, and although there had been many Trans Ams sold throughout the day, Clair was confident he could get a good price for his ’79.

“I’d like to make $35,000 or more, but I know if I get $30,000 for it I’ll break even,” Clair said.

Throughout the day, Clair had many bidders approach him, all interested in the car’s history.

Clair drives his car into line for auction

Clair purchased the car from a man in California, and spent almost $20,000 painting and repairing the vehicle.

When it was time for his car to roll onto the block in front of a crowd that one Barrett-Jackson official called one of the largest since the auction first came to Palm Beach, Clair drove his car for the last time.

The auctioneer listed the highlights of the car: numbers-matching engine; 220 horsepower, “which for 1979 made it one of the most powerful cars of its time,” the auctioneer said; four brand new tires mounted on the original wheels, a plus for any car owner; and the factory stereo, including an eight-track deck.

Clair drives his car for the last time

The bidding started off low, and as the first bid was placed at $5,000, Clair muttered to himself, “Oh geez.”

Soon enough, the price began to rocket higher. It went from $5,000 to $7,000, and from $7,000 to $15,000.

The bidding closed with Clair’s Trans Am selling for $30,000 to a millionaire from Puerto Rico.

Clair's car on the auction block, right before it sold for $30,000

Later, Clair said the experience was nerve-wracking, but he didn’t regret his decision to sell.

“I’m happy with how this went,” Clair said. “I still got to make the trip to Florida. I got a few days off of work. That’s pretty nice.”

With fees deducted from both the buyer and seller, Barrett-Jackson will make about $6,600 on the sale of Clair’s car.

Clair said he’ll receive a check in the next two weeks for about $26,000.

“I broke even, and that’s all I could ask for,” Clair said. “It was worth the trip. I’d definitely do this again.”

A four-day marine extravaganza filled with boats, marine products and accessories, the 25th annual Palm Beach International Boat Show took place at the West Palm Beach waterfront from March 25 to 28.

Presented by Merdeces-Benz USA and Palm Harbor Marina, it primarily targeted people considering buying a boat or marine equipment.

All photos by Evelyn Ticona, Managing Editor

“It is a buyers’ market offering highly unusual opportunities for great values,” said Show Management President Efrem Zimbalist III.

The show had 434 exhibitors displaying boats and yachts with prices varying from $10,000 for the cheapest to $14 million for the most expensive.

Though it can be hard to believe that this business has survived the tough economy, many people in the business had to strategize to survive the market crunch.

“We had to change our marketing strategy,” said Greg Terraglio, president of Sovereign Marine Group. “When the dollar was weakening and the euro was straightening we started advertising a lot in Europe.”

Terraglio said that approximately seven out of ten boats sold at the time were shipped overseas.

Greg Terraglio

Sovereign Marine Group tracks its sales monthly and is seeing more Americans starting to buy boats again.

“That needed to happen,” Terraglio said, adding that his company has attended the Palm Beach International Boat Show for at least 14 years.

“This is a great local show,” he said. “It’s not like an international boat show like in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, so there’s not a bunch of foreigners. It’s mostly local people.”

Terraglio said this is his favorite boat show because it is small and he gets to interact more with his potential customers.  As Terraglio walked along the docks, many people greeted him by first name and stopped for a few minutes to discuss the success of the show.

“With this economy any way to find business is needed and a good thing,” Terraglio said.

Sovereign Marine Group has recently changed its marketing strategy again.

“We started buying and selling inexpensive diesel boats, like $100,100 or $150,000 boats, and we’ve done a tremendous job with them,” Terraglio said.

All boats run on diesel because it is more convenient, diesel engines last a lot longer and they get much better fuel economy.

Sovereign Marine Group had two boats on display, one for  $114,000 and the other for $209,000.

“It’s a great family audience,” he said. “You can bring your wife, daughters, friends. It’s awesome!”

The show also had vendors selling furniture, marine equipment, inflatables and everything needed to decorate a boat.

Palm Beach Atlantic University alumnus Loren Broderick Kemp heard his calling from God to give back to kids through sports shortly after graduating.

Originally from Nassau, Bahamas, Kemp moved to Florida in 2003 to attend Grandview Prepatory High School.

Photo courtesy of Loren Kemp

Kemp applied to several universities in Florida. However, Kemp chose to start his college life at PBA.

“It was the fact of it being a Christian institution that put the icing on the cake,” Kemp said. “I was looking to stay involved with church in a Christian environment.”

Kemp, who graduated PBA in May 2009, fell in love with sports at a very young age and gained a lot of experience during his college career at PBA.

Kemp started out studying business administration with hopes to take over a family business.

However, his love for sports convinced him to change his major to sports management.

Since he was a little boy, Kemp has had a huge passion for baseball. He tried out for PBA’s baseball team but didn’t make it.

He was then offered the position to manage PBA’s men’s basketball team, and ended up as the team’s manager for his entire college career.

One of Kemp’s major influences while he was attending PBA was men’s basketball Head Coach Terry Primm.

“Having Coach Terry Primm come in as head men’s coach really opened up my eyes to my potential,” Kemp said. “Working with him as team manager pushed my mental and physical being at times.”

Primm developed a strong relationship with Kemp while at PBA.

“Loren stood out to me,” Primm said. “He understood what was expected and needed of him and was respected professionally. It was also a blessing to see him grow spiritually.”

After graduating, Kemp returned to the Bahamas to what he thought were potential jobs, one of which was a position in the Bahamas Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

When that job fell through, Kemp became more determined.

He continued to pray, have faith and look for more options especially within the youth environment.

“Instead of going around with nothing to do I became more involved with the youth of our country,” Kemp said. “The Junior Baseball League of Nassau which I have been an active member of for 17 years was my calling, and I prayed to God to show me the road to take.”

The month after graduation, Kemp began individual lessons with kids in the baseball league. Kemp’s love for children grew stronger and this allowed him to pass on his love for sports.

Since then, he has been able to put together a group of over 25 kids.

He focuses on developing a strong, healthy relationship with them to help mentor in a positive direction in sports and life.

In addition to his work with the youth, Kemp has started his own advertising company.

Kemp’s Advertising Management started in October 2009. The company conducts advertising for different sporting complexes.

“I never imagined I would be my own business owner,” Kemp said. “It just goes to show that God does big things with people who think otherwise. I never doubted getting into it once I started and have managed to help the Junior Baseball League of Nassau in many ways.”

Recently, he became vice president of the youth group at his home church.

Although he keeps a busy schedule, Kemp always remembers the importance of young people, a bright future and the blessings in putting God first in everything.

For the billions of soccer fans around the world, the past four years have been spent in eager anticipation of the 2010 World Cup.

This summer’s World Cup will be held in Africa for the first time ever, a move that is historically groundbreaking and possesses the potential to be hugely influential.

When South Africa hosts the competition this summer, it will mark the first time the Cup has been played on the African continent. The World Cup has been held on every other continent except Australia, and multiple times on most.

South Africa will join Cameroon, Algeria, and the Ivory Coast in representing Africa in this summer’s tournament.

Despite never having won a World Cup, African teams have certainly been prominent enough to earn a position as hosts long before now.

The importance of this long overdue honor to South Africa and to the continent as a whole is immense.

Tumi Magadlela, a native of South Africa and a player on Palm Beach Atlantic University’s soccer team, sees the World Cup as an opportunity for unification and hope throughout Africa.

“For many South Africans, and Africans in general, hosting the World Cup is a symbol of hope for a nation and a continent buzzing with potential,” Magadlela said. “It is honestly the best thing after the country’s struggle for independence and the demolition of apartheid. To the people, it is a sign of drastic change for the better.”

Arno VanVuuren, another PBA student from South Africa, agreed that the effect on the country would be positive.

“The World Cup will be a huge step in uniting the country,” VanVuuren said. “Much of the political inconsistency in South Africa has left the nation with mixed feelings, but the World Cup is something that everyone can agree on, no matter what their tribal background, age or profession.”

While most acknowledge the competition’s potential for bringing the continent together, many in FIFA’s governing body are skeptical of South Africa’s preparedness to host. There is also worry that the country will not be ready in time, a fear that increases as the Cup approaches.

There is also worry that pouring billions into the requisite new stadiums will prove too financially draining, even with the certainty of an international tourism boost from the tournament.

In recent months, fear over teams’ and fans’ safety has mounted. In January an Angolan guerilla attack on a bus carrying the Togo national team left three dead and seven injured. Granted, South Africa is a far more stable and developed nation, but such violence does add to the pressure on the country to meet expectations.

“I have seen the work that has been put into the tournament — from new roads to new stadiums — and I disagree with the assumption that it will not be ready in time,” Magadlela said. “The only issue that may be of concern is the crime rate the country faces.”

African involvement in the World Cup began with only the second competition, when Egypt played in 1934.

But for decades after that, FIFA refused to arrange qualifying rounds for African teams.

It was 1970 before an African team was allowed to return, with Morocco winning the only spot allowed for the entire continent.

In 1974, Zaire became the first black African team to play. That World Cup was marred by instances of horrifying racism, a sad reality for black players in Europe for many decades.

Modern technology then allowed the sport to become global, as African teams were able to watch other teams from around the world and train accordingly. This brought African soccer from the realm of raw talent to the status of true competitors.

In 1994 Cameroon made it to the World Cup quarterfinals, led by the 44-year-old superstar Roger Milla, and Africa was accepted as contenders in the modern game.

The question then arises as to why an African team has not progressed any farther since 1994. What of Pele’s prediction that an African team would win the entire World Cup before 2000?

The globalization of club teams has helped create an environment in which African players can thrive.

Some of Europe’s biggest and most expensive stars — Drogba, E’eto, Adebeyor — are African. Additionally, African teams regularly do well in Youth World Cup competitions.

To Magadlela, the lack of World Cup success for African teams lies in their underdeveloped economy and the corrupt government involvement that occurs within many teams.

“Africa has nothing to blame but its economy,” Magadlela said. “Training facilities and development structures make a good team a better team. Africa has this constant battle with what happens with the money they receive for issues such as sports. Corruption tends to deprive many young athletes.”

The opportunity to host a World Cup is huge for the success of African teams.

Fan support will be astronomically high; often adrenaline alone can propel a team farther than they could possibly have gone otherwise. Home teams historically do well, and only one team has ever won the competition when playing on another continent.

But the pressure from African fans eager for long awaited success added to the pressure of outside forces to have a smooth competition could also be too much.

Just as a successful World Cup could impact Africa in extremely positive ways, any potential disasters — a bad showing by all African teams, lack of organization or unfinished stadiums, or excessive crime problems — could be equally devastating.

There is an unjust sentiment within FIFA that this World Cup is a sort of condescending favor bestowed by Europe and the hierarchal powers of soccer.

This attitude is both unfair and ridiculous.

Africa has performed at a higher standard and for a longer period of time than either Asia or North America, both of whom have hosted the competition without a parade of doubters.

Hosting the World Cup, a competition that should be global and inclusive by its very definition, is not merely a gift or reward to Africa, but an overdue acknowledgment of equality.

Will an African team win the World Cup this summer? It is certainly possible, but ultimately unlikely.

A more important and lasting victory will come in destroying old perceptions of the continent in removing still existing prejudice.

The influence of the competition will be more about unification and hope than about victory on the field.

Team handball recently joined the list of club sports offered at Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Team handball, or European handball, is not to be confused with American handball in which players hit a rubber ball against a wall with their hands. Team handball has been around since 1896 and is a unique sport that incorporates running, jumping and passing. It is played within a 40-meter indoor court.

Coach Dominique Dumont is an alumna of Palm Beach Atlantic University. She is now the Eastern Regional Director for USA Team Handball, an organization that is licensed by the U.S. Olympic Committee to run and develop the sport in the country.

Dumont’s vision for PBA’s handball team started last year.

“Living up the street from PBA and being an alumna, it made sense for me to come knock on the door and see if we can get something started here,” she said. “When you develop a project, you always start in your backyard.”

Unfortunately for Dumont, by the time she held her free clinics for handball, students were stressing about exams. The project slowly dwindled.

Not one to give up, Dumont came back this year with a new tactic.

“This time around, I ran a video for about a month, there, at the front desk,” Dumont said. “And all of a sudden, I got a dozen guys who are very, very keen.”

With a group of “keen” guys in place, a question arose: How was Dumont going to shape a team for collegiate nationals in a month when none of the people on her team had played handball before?

“It’s a challenge,” Dumont said.“Out of the teams that are going, some of them are experienced. We have army teams that have been around for a while and UNC. But the thing is you have got to start somewhere.”

And “somewhere” for Dumont starts with the basics.

“You didn’t step on the court until you had the basics. And that’s how I am training these guys,” Dumont said.

Corey Walker, a sophomore at PBA and member of the newly formed team, is optimistic about collegiate nationals.

“College nationals was a scary thought at first, but there are a bunch of starter teams,” Walker said. “It will be scary to play teams like Westpoint and Penn State who have had teams for 40 years, but we are progressing really fast and have a lot of potential.”

Freshman Jordan Wulz shares Walker’s feelings about nationals and believes the experience will be great for PBA’s athletic department.

“Nationals will help expand our athletic department’s vision,” Wulz said. “We got a team together in a month and a half for a sport that is not very recognized nationally. It shows the power of determination and the open-mindedness of the students.”

With high hopes going into nationals, Dumont is excited for the future of handball at PBA.

“I think after the guys make a presence at collegiate nationals and it spreads around campus that there is a handball program started, I think [there will be] double the guys, a girls team and that hopefully the school itself will allow handball to be a part of intramurals or an official sport with recognition from the school,” Dumont said.

The team will attend Nationals April 23-24 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The Lord calmed the storm and asked them in response, “Why are ye so fearful?  How is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

This scripture shows that having fear of something means having no faith in the Lord.

In one of my classes, I was given an assignment requiring me to research and describe the relationship between fear and faith.

Artwork by Samone Davis

When I first heard “fear and faith,” I automatically assumed that they had no relationship, but in the next thought, recognized that we must fear God to prove our faith in him.

My professor divided the class into groups, based on opinions.  The group I was in agreed that fear and faith had no relation, since one was only present when the other one was absent.

After a little research, I noticed that many people believed that fear weakens faith and that fear is a failure of faith.

It is true that we must fear the Lord, but if we live fearful of the world, then we stop ourselves from living.

When we live in fear, we lock ourselves down; we feel burdened and limit ourselves.

Artwork by Samone Davis

However, when we live in faith, we free ourselves and allow God to use us. It is then that we live in fear of him alone.

I would like to conclude with thoughts from Pastor Michael Youssef of a ministry called Leading the Way:

Faith that conquers fear depends on absolute trust in God.  It is the kind of faith that has an open heart to whatever God provides for us.  It is a faith that is manifested as an utter dependence on the sovereignty of God.

When we live by faith, we know that even when the storm is at its worst, we can trust that God is working out His purposes for us.

When we walk close to God and trust Him daily, our faith will conquer our fears. When we put our focus on God, fear fades into the background.  At the first sign of fear, our plan of action should be seeking God in prayer.

Students protest PBA’s ‘socialist’ health care

By Wristina Kebb
Copy Editor

Students protested Thursday in hopes of forcing Palm Beach Atlantic University to drop the requirement making it mandatory for all students to carry health insurance.

“We’re tired of the socialism,” said Brittany Blonde, a fifth-semester senior at PBA.

Blonde stood at the corner of Pembroke Place and Olive Avenue clutching her surfboard in one hand and a sign reading, “We Shalt Overcometh!” in the other.

“Requiring us to have health insurance is a violation of our ninth amendment rights,” Blonde said.

Fifty students gathered throughout the day, many holding signs with slogans similar to Blonde’s: “Don’t Make Me Healthy,” “I Don’t Care About My Teeth,” “What Would Jess Moody Do?” and the popular “What Happened to Free Enterprise?”

Vance Miller, director of Health and Wellness at PBA, said the requirement is not a sign of socialism, but rather of care for students’ health.

“We don’t want any student to get sick and not have access to care,” Miller said. “That’s why we have the Health and Wellness Center. A sick, untreated student can infect the rest of the population, especially if they live on campus.”

However, many students feel the Health and Wellness Center is an extension of the socialist principles currently governing PBA.

“My tuition shouldn’t go to pay for a doctor’s visit for someone,” said one student who wished to remain anonymous. “If someone gets swine flu, that’s their fault. My tuition dollars shouldn’t go to pay for a quarantine area.”

Many students shook their heads and shouted to disagree while passing the protestors.

“I don’t get it,” said Thomas Perry, a biology major suffering from asthma. “How are we supposed to learn if we’re not healthy? And how can we be healthy if we can’t go to the doctor?”

Still, the chants and signs attracted many students who joined the protest.

“This school has a class dedicated to capitalism and a day dedicated to free enterprise,” Blonde said. “How can we not protest to protect the values on which our university was built?”

Tebow comes to PBA

By Nike Mobel
Contributing Writer

Palm Beach Atlantic University is finally getting a football team. On March 12 President Hue Loudon and Athletic Director Ray Brite made an executive decision to develop the new Hillcrest into a new football superdome.

“I think it was about time we got some good ‘ole fashioned football spirit around here,” Loudon said. “We need to start giving FAU a run for their money.”

Artwork by Ristina Ernik, Photoshop Master

The new superdome will seat over 160,000 people, not including business suites on the first through fourth levels, making it the largest stadium ever built. This is over twice the capacity of the new Cowboys stadium built last year.

The projected cost is $800 million. This will be $500 million less to construct than Cowboys stadium.

Brite said, “To make sure this happens, the President and I will offer Workship hours for students to assist in the construction of the facility. If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right.”

PBA has begun recruiting the top five players from FAU, Georgia Tech and Texas A&M. However, the biggest addition is new head coach Tim Tebow, a former quarterback for the University of Florida who has decided to postpone his career in the NFL and head PBA’s football team.

“I’m excited to grasp such a great opportunity,” Tebow said. “I have always wanted to coach for a Christian university.”

Tebow’s contract cost $1.3 million for two years, and with his coaching the team is anticipated to be the best in nation.

“Teams will be quivering in their gear so bad, their helmets will shake right off their faces,” Loudon said.

Tryouts will be held on the intramural field on April 1.

Dorms at PBA come crashing down soon

Flagler Towers is being demolished on Thursday, April 1 at 6 a.m.

By Mick Nurray
Contributing Writer

Flagler Towers residents came home to an unpleasant surprise last week: an eviction notice.  Their aging building will be demolished April 1.

Photo by Messica Joure

Flagler Towers has long been the eyesore of the otherwise attractive Palm Beach Atlantic University campus.

An ancient edifice with a brick façade, it houses many students who have been dealt fate’s short straw, sentenced to reside in a building whose linoleum floors creak like the worn and weakened bones of a man who has seen too many years.

Now, Flagler Towers will follow in the footsteps of its southern brother at 1515 S. Flagler Drive.  The 1515 building was imploded on Valentine’s Day to make way for a planned 299-foot tall luxury condominium.

Now Flagler Towers must fall. What structure will rise in its stead? Who but God can yet say?

Not to be outdone by that neighbor at 1515, PBA will replace Flagler Towers with a 301-foot tall luxury dormitory apartment complex.

In order for the university to meet its construction deadline, students must vacate the old building immediately.  Those who do not will be subject to a $1,000 per day fine.

Tuesday could be your last chance to soak up the wisdom of a man who has had more impact on your life than you may realize.

Dr. Donald E. Warren, one of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s founders, will address the PBA community at the Founders’ Day chapel in the Greene Complex tomorrow at 11 a.m.

At 83 years old, Warren said it would probably be his last time addressing the public, saying there is a time to walk away and for new people to step in.

Dr. Donald and Bebe Warren, courtesy of Becky Peeling

He will share his wisdom about God’s calling in the past and future for students who believe they are being called and those that don’t think they are called.

Warren and his wife Bebe have been active in West Palm Beach since they first moved here in 1956.

Warren had a cardiology practice, became chief of medicine at St. Mary’s Hospital and served on staff at Good Samaritan Hospital.

He became the first member of the board of directors for the Florida Heart Association and later its president.

“My plate was full, or so I thought. God disagreed,” Warren said in his book “Miracles and Wonders.”

In 1963, Dr. Jess Moody, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, asked Warren to help him start a Christian college.

“I think the call from God came when I saw a study by the president of [Florida State University] that the lower side of Florida was the fastest growing part of the U.S. and also the most unchurched part of the U.S.,” Warren said.

As U.S. college campuses were shaken by unrest during the Vietnam War, PBA’s founders sought to open a college that would serve as a haven in South Florida.

“We now are really at a moral decline in America very similar to the decline and fall of the Roman Empire and other empires,” Warren said. “I think a Christian college has a chance to produce moral leaders of their communities and lay leaders of their churches.”

He served as chairman of the board of trustees and continued to do so until 2006.

Warren worked to balance his schedule between his cardiology practice and his work for the PBA board of trustees.

“It was extremely difficult,” Warren said. “I’m very organized. It was very hard doing two at one time.”

PBA’s enrollment has quickly grown from 90 to over 3,000 in 42 years, and Warren gives all the credit to God.

“If it glorifies me, I’m a failure.” Warren said. “If it glorifies God, I’m a success.”

Bebe has also been “a very vital part of it. She’s very gracious and everybody likes her,” Warren said. “

In addition to helping start PBA’s annual Women of Distinction luncheon, it was Bebe who encouraged her husband to write down PBA’s history.

Warren made a habit of recording miracles and decided to include many of them in his book “Miracles and Wonders.”

“Miracles do actually supply a lot of the history of the school,” Warren said.

One miracle in the founding of PBA was obtaining the finances necessary to open the school.

While a practicing cardiologist, Warren set aside time to give over 1,100 campus tours to potential donors.

“I just showed it to them,” Warren said. “I’m not a fundraiser. I’m a storyteller and I can tell the story pretty well of why we need this kind of college. I never asked for specific amounts. Just told them what was needed and what it cost and God raised a ton of money through me.”

“I believe that PBAU was his ‘magnificent obsession’ and he has brought hundreds of friends and donors to the campus to share the dream of a truly Christian university,” said former PBA President Dr. David W. Clark of Warren’s accomplishments.

In 2007, PBA named its library after Warren in celebration of his work for the school.

“I thought it was awesome,” Warren said of entering the finished library for the first time. “I think the library is the finest college library I’ve ever seen … I think the Warren Library advances the college a great deal.”

Warren’s impact extends beyond PBA. In 1999, he was named one of the Palm Beach Post’s “100 People Who Change the Way We Live.”

Warren has witnessed enormous growth at PBA, from its humble beginnings to today.

“I think we stuck to the course we charted,” Warren said.

Acreage resident Gail Bass never expected what she saw from her window about five months ago.

The creature perched on her bird feeder looked like a squirrel, but it was covered in tumors.

“It was strange because I noticed the one and it kept getting worse,” Bass said.

Photo courtesy of Gail Bass

The tumors covering the squirrel varied in size, and the number of tumors increased over the next three months. Then, Bass said, the cold snap came and she hasn’t seen the squirrels since.

The Acreage, a pastoral community in western Palm Beach County, is the focus of a state investigation into whether or not a pediatric cancer cluster exists in the area.

Bass wonders if there is something making animals in The Acreage sick.

Dr. Vanessa Rolfe, a veterinarian with the Bird and Exotic Hospital in Greenacres, said the tumors on the squirrel were most likely caused by myxomatosis — a disease usually seen in rabbits and very rare in the United States — or one of several bacterial or fungal infections.

“Chances are not great that is a non-infectious neoplastic condition, but certainly possible,” Rolfe said.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), neoplasia is “the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells or tissues in the body,” and the resulting growths may be either benign or malignant.

Bass’ two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers both had cancer by the time they were 2 years old, and both died after suffering from autoimmune disorders for several years — one from thyroid problems, the other from Cushing’s disease.

“They were always in the pond [on my property] swimming and drinking,” Bass said, adding that the dogs did not come from the same litter.

The AVMA reports cancer is the cause of death in nearly 50 percent of pets over 10 years old, with cats having fewer cancers than dogs.

Susan Coffman saw the signs of a potential cancer cluster years ago.

Coffman, vice president of Doberman Rescue Concern (DRC) in West Palm Beach, lives near the intersection of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and Okeechobee Boulevard in The Acreage.

In her home, Coffman keeps urns of all the dogs who have passed away under her care.

“This is Eli,” she said. “Eli had head cancer.”

Coffman noticed a large number of dogs with cancer coming out of The Acreage when she began working with DRC in 1985. She said “warning sirens” began to go off in her head when she attempted to adopt several dogs from Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control (ACC).

“They were euthanizing any dog that came from The Acreage and had a tumor,” Coffman said.

Coffman said she does understand the need for such action.

“They did not want to house and spend money on animals that are not adoptable,” Coffman said.

ACC officials could not be reached for comment on their euthanization policy.

Before long, Coffman began to notice other signs of a problem in The Acreage.

According to the Doberman Pinscher Club of America, cardiomyopathy — weakened heart muscle — is the number one killer of Dobermans nationwide.

However, Coffman has kept records for almost 15 years that show cancer as the number one cause of death among Dobermans in The Acreage.

“Cancer has always been a problem out here,” Coffman said.

Several of her dogs have passed away, and one is currently undergoing treatment to remove a malignant tumor.

Coffman said she has also noticed an increase in autoimmune problems in Acreage dogs.

“I have tried to tell people about this for so long, but they seemed resistant,” Coffman said. “You can look at it as dead Dobermans, or you can look at it as a warning.”

According to state investigators, there are many potential causes for the cancer cluster, including pesticide run-off from farms and orange groves.

The area is also surrounded by several industrial sites, including Pratt and Whitney to the north and the Palm Beach Aggregates to the west.

A lawsuit filed and then dismissed in federal court last month accused government contractor Pratt and Whitney of causing the cancer cluster in The Acreage.

According to a Palm Beach Post article from 1999, the Pratt site on the Beeline Highway just north of J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area has been the focus of federal environmental clean-up efforts since the 1980s.

Corbett and the Pratt property are directly north of the affected area in The Acreage.

Lake Worth resident Brandon Zapf goes hunting and fishing at Corbett a few times a month.

According to Zapf, he was hunting at Corbett about a year ago when he encountered a “strange” deer.

“I shot the deer, and between the skin and the meat there was green slime,” Zapf said. “I started to dress the deer, and ended up just leaving it there.”

Zapf said he has also run across deer with growths.

A spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission could not comment on sightings of abnormal animals at Corbett because, she said, none has been reported to her.

By Michael Noble
Contributing Writer

Florida residents can finally put away their sweatshirts and jump into a bathing suit for a warm and welcome spring. The winter solstice ended in February, but the cold seemed to linger a bit longer than normal.

“El Nino and a stubborn high pressure system over the central U.S. contributed to the cold this winter,” said NBC’s WPTV meteorologist Steve Weagle.

The average temperature of West Palm Beach decreased 3.2 degrees this winter, making February the tenth coldest winter month on record, with an average of 64 degrees.

Photo by Christina Cernik, Photo Editor

According to Weagle, weather statistics from most main weather sites were recorded as the lowest temperatures since 1981. The reason why the temperature dropped so low is due to the increased amount of snow that accumulated in the northern hemisphere.

This caused all of the south-bound forced air from the northern hemisphere to significantly cool things down enough for Floridians to notice a big difference.

According to Rutgers University Global Science Lab, the monthly snow accumulation for North America was 18.58 million sq. km., 2 million sq. km. more than normal.

David Athey’s students at Palm Beach Altantic University have more than one reaon to listen when he talks about writing.  Athey is not only a professor, but also a published novelist.

An English and creative writing professor, Athey wrote the novel “Danny Gospel,” the story of a young man searching for romance and heavenly glory no matter what he most endure.

Photo by Christina Cernik, Photo Editor

The inspiration for the novel came from an interesting man Athey encountered.

“I met a man who believed that mosquitoes could be used by God to help him fulfill a mission,” Athey said. “I knew that was unique enough to propel a story.”

The mosquito plays a large role in “Danny Gospel,” a story that took Athey 18 years to write and publish.

“I rewrote the story over and over, trying to find a good balance of artistry and faith,” Athey said. “It was very difficult to find a publisher. My writing is too Christian for most secular publishers, and too literary for most Christian publishers.”

The publishing company Bethany House eventually decided to publish the novel released in 2008.

It became an audio book and was also published in Dutch.

“Now I’m hoping for someone to turn it into a movie,” Athey said.

Athey believes a writer gets to play God to a certain extent, which is why it is difficult for him to pick a favorite character in “Danny Gospel.”

“I love all of my characters,” said Athey. “I wish they’d act smarter sometimes, and get along better, but I tend not to interfere very much. I’m happiest when my characters do well without need of too many miracles.”

Athey was hired full-time at PBA after working as an adjunct and teaching at Dreyfoos School of the Arts.

Even though he loved writing from an early age, he had no desire to one day be a teacher.

“Writing is a gift, a passion and a calling, and I first took it seriously in tenth grade,” Athey said. “I had no ambition to be a teacher, because I’ve always had a phobia about public speaking. But here I am, speaking to rooms full of people every day.”

He enjoys teaching at PBA, due in large part to the students with whom he deals on a daily basis.

“The students are amazing,” Athey said. “I appreciate how they take their faith seriously and are open to serving God through their creativity.”

Athey cites the Holy Spirit as his biggest spiritual influence, but adds C.S. Lewis, Flannery O’Connor and G.K. Chesterton among many others as his earthly influences.

His favorite book after the Bible is the dictionary.

“Just as musicians must love notes, writers must love words,” Athey said.

The advice he would give to young writers is, “read as many great books as you can, practice writing for at least an hour every day and pay attention in your humanities classes.”

Athey has three works that are in the closing stages: a collection of poetry, a book of reflections for Christian writers and a new novel.

Silk, shimmer and sky-high stilettos dominated the runway during the 12th Annual Miami International Fashion Week.

About 700 people, including press, buyers and audience members came out to support designers from all over the world in Miami’s Art District from March 18 to 21.

“This was my first time at Miami International Fashion Week,” Indian designer Michelle Salins said. “I was totally overwhelmed at the fabulous response my collection received.”

Photo by Jen Herring

On Friday, March 19, the audience piled in, leaving many guests standing against the back walls to catch a glimpse of women’s swimwear by Columbian designer Antonia Saenz.

“What’s better than beautiful women with clothes that fit so well?” said model Wayne Patrick.

As the models strutted down the runway in bright, colorful bathing suits to the French song “Baby, Baby, Baby” by Make the Girls Dance, the audience cheered.

Metallic fabrics, sequins and high heels with lots of straps seem to be a reoccurring theme with many of the designers, such as Franco Montoro. Montoro chose to use high slits, several straps and cutouts.

Many dresses were made of a light, sultry silk with bold black lines. Thick bracelets and accent clutches accompanied the outfits.

Men’s clothing designer Arcadio Diaz from the Dominican Republic stole the show when one of his models walked out on the runway with a baby as an accessory.

Photo by Jen Herring

“We tried our best to create something interesting for Miami Fashion Week,” Diaz said.

His clothes were light and airy, and consisted of blue, pink and yellow pastels. Diaz chose to design “guayaberas,” light linen shirts worn in some Latin American countries.

“It’s a line for elegant men,” Diaz said.

Designer Nicolas Felizola won the 2010 Miami International Fashion Week Men’s Style Award with his fitted silk suits and soft scarves.

“[The brand] creates a lifestyle that’s more than just fashion,” Felizola said. “This lifestyle is for people in the real world — people who have children, executives and people who understand fashion.”

Aside from fashion, the event featured a variety of performers. Surrounding the main event, tables were set up showcasing jewelry from Latin-inspired designers.

“I like the show and I think it’s getting better and better every year,” Patrick said.

Many local celebrities came out to show support, including Ariel Stein of Bravo’s “Miami Social;” and Vincent de Paul, a Versace model and actor in AMC’s “Mad Men.”

Former model Beth Sobel, founder of Miami Fashion Week, told NBC Miami, “New York Fashion Week is only three years older than us.”

Although New York reigns supreme when it comes to fashion, Miami is certainly catching up.

By Anna Zetterberg
Assist. Managing Editor

Your health may be one of the last things you worry about until you get sick. You’ve got more important things to worry about … right?

Actually, preventing sickness and optimizing how your body works will help you do better in almost every aspect of your hectic life, including school, work, volunteering and sports.

And if you are living well, you are saving money. You are preventing expensive doctor’s visits, antibiotics, missed classes and missed work.

Photo by Christina Cernik, Photo Editor

Wellness is about feeling your best, preventing illness and prolonging life.

Dr. Jason Deitch, co-author of the best-selling book “Discover Wellness,” says the 16 to 24-year-old age group is the hardest to reach. The college lifestyle poses challenges to your health, like lack of rest and a lot of caffeine.

“I don’t want to tell them something I know they’re not going to do, but use good judgment,” Deitch said.

Many outlets for regular exercise and nutrition are available right here at Palm Beach Atlantic University.

It’s just a matter of seeking them out and being proactive about your health, rather than waiting to get sick.

“Usually it’s not something you don’t have access to,” Deitch said.  “Choices are available whether or not you choose them. The key is awareness and desire.”

Some ways to maintain and strengthen your health include proper nutrition, regular exercise, sleep and relaxation (try yoga as a fun way to unwind), prayer (don’t forget about your spiritual well-being), chiropractic, massage therapy, and acupuncture.

Deitch considers “healthy alignment” to be one critical element of wellness.

He is referring to two kinds of alignment: your body’s spinal alignment (chiropractic), which optimizes nerve flow and consequently your entire body’s function; and aligning your values and actions.

If you’re ready to start making changes to live well, let’s start with nutrition.

Nutrition is a way for your body to get the nutrients it needs to function and fight off bacteria. The right foods provide energy and strengthen your immune system.

A healthy weight should be a result of your ultimate goal — to live well and be healthy.

Some powerful foods to load up on include berries, beans, nuts, wild salmon, eggs, vegetables, apples, onions and garlic.

Look for juices with pomegranate for a burst of antioxidants or grab a green tea for some energy and cancer-fighting.

Many of the listed power-foods are readily available in the cafeteria here on campus. So don’t make a bee line for the pizza. Get creative and go for nutrition!

Raw veggies are essential and can be found at the salad bar. Add some beans to your salad for fiber and to help prevent diabetes, colon cancer and heart disease.

You can kill three birds with one stone at the omelet station: eggs promote eye and brain health and are loaded with protein.

If you ask for veggies and cheese, your meal will knock out three sections of the food pyramid.

Forbes reports, “Along with broccoli, tea and apples, onions and garlic are among a select group of foods found to reduce mortality from heart disease by 20 percent.”

Your stomach will thank you.

You’ve heard apples keep the doctor away, but did you know they also keep lung cancer, asthma and diabetes away?

Pass the soda and go for an apple as a healthier alternative for the extra energy kick you need. Not to mention, the anti-inflammatory nutrients are a lesser-known perk of the often-unappreciated apple.

Living well begins with a mind-set. If you’re motivated, you’ve already won half the battle.

All serious athletes know the adage “practice makes perfect.” Dedication, hard work and persistence will always help in the long run — just as they have for Palm Beach Atlantic University’s senior softball pitcher, Ashley Jones.

Jones’ outstanding accomplishments have been recognized and honored not only this season, but also many times over the past four years.

“It is awesome to see her hard work paying off,” Head Coach Kimmy Bloemers said. “She deserves every single award and positive recognition.”

Photo by Lori Richards

Although PBA is relatively new to  NCAA Division II, Jones was recognized as a National Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 22-28. The award was a first for PBA athletes.

In addition to this achievement, she was also awarded the NCCAA National Player of the Week, an honor she also received during her sophomore and junior years.

Jones was at first unaware of the magnitude of her achievement, but feels blessed to have received the award.

“At first I did not realize what it was, but after talking with my coaches I found out,” said Jones. “I was very humbled and excited to be the first PBA athlete to have received this award.”

Jones is certainly not a new face to PBA’s softball team or to the sport itself. She has been playing for PBA since she was a freshman, and playing the sport since she was 8 years old. It was not until her sophomore year at Jensen Beach High School that she realized she wanted to pursue the sport in college.

The Player of the Week award is  an addition to the numerous honors Jones has received during her college career.

All-Region Honoree, All-American First-Team selection honor, and All-Region Team are just a few of the awards and honors she received.

She was also named the Independent Collegiate Athletic Association (ICAA) Pitcher of the Year and a member of the ICAA First-Team for the second consecutive season during her junior year. The NCCAA honor this year is the second of the season for Jones and the sixth of her career.

In 2009, Jones led the PBA softball team to their first NCCAA National Championship, ending the season with a record of 22-9.

Jones also holds school records for wins in a season, complete games played (27), shutouts (10), saves (3), innings pitched (223.2), and strikeouts (281).

“She is an awesome athlete, but more than anything she is an incredible person,” Bloemers said. “I couldn’t ask for a better senior captain to lead this team.”

Not only does this star athlete juggle softball practices, games and training, but she is enrolled in a senior seminar at PBA, majoring in elementary education and student-teaching at Lighthouse Elementary in Jupiter, Fla.

Photo by Christina Cernik, Photo Editor

Student-teaching forces her to wake up every day at 5:30 a.m. Each day of the week begins early for Jones and ends late, with practices and workouts for the team. A glance at her schedule only proves how dedicated this player is.

The accomplished pitcher thanks her head coach Kimmy Bloemers for helping in her success.

“She is so supportive and excited for me,” Jones said. “[Since I student-teach] she would work with my schedule. I would drive to games and sometimes even arrive late to practice. She was very helpful; she will do anything for the girls.”

Jones’ fourth and final season looks promising, but she does not plan on playing after college.

“I’ll be done once I graduate,” said Jones. “I’ve had some great years playing softball and I am going to miss it, but this is it. I plan on going into coaching.”

Her team will certainly miss Jones, but will remember the success she helped them acheive.

“I will be very sad when she graduates,” Bloemers said. “But I know she will bless more people in the future.”

The Palm Beach Atlantic University baseball team easily handled Nova Southeastern University Wednesday night, beating the Sharks 8-0.

Sophomore pitcher Logan Thomas provided a dominant pitching performance to lead the Sailfish to their ninth win of the season.

Thomas pitched a strong seven innings, striking out four batters and not allowing a single run or walking any batters.

Coming into Wednesday night’s match up with the Sailfish, the Sharks were riding a six game winning streak.

PBA has proved a tough opponent for the Sharks this season, posting a 2-1 record against Nova so far.

The game moved at a frantic pace for a baseball game as the two opposing pitchers threw a lot of strikes that led to easy outs for their defenses.

The offense didn’t pick up until the fourth inning when the Sailfish batters got hot.

After seniors Vasilios Mila and Scott Urbanek singled to start off the inning, Tony Livelsberger singled to left field, sending Mila home for the first run of the game.

Designated hitter Justin Sizemore also singled to score Urbanek and put the Sailfish up 2-0.

Senior Neil Hardon did the most damage as he hit a pitch from Nova’s James Martinez deep for a three-run homerun that extended the lead to 5-0.

Another offensive explosion for the Sailfish arrived in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Although the Sailfish held a significant lead, Jonny Herrera made matters worse for the Sharks when he tripled deep off the left field wall, scoring two more runs.

Later in the inning, Peter Graffeo got his first hit and RBI of the season, singling through the left side to make the final score.

Graffeo started at second base for the first time this season after previously pitching.

Center fielder Scott Urbanek had a great night at the plate finishing 3-for-4.

Hardon also had a productive night as he batted in three runs and scored two.

By Ashley Duchesneau

Contributing Writer

If you’ve ever backed down unassertively from someone who mistreated you or lashed out uncontrollably against someone who meant you no harm, you know: Talk isn’t cheap.

The price you pay for not saying what you mean or saying something you didn’t mean can be dear indeed: guilt, anger, loss of self-esteem. And that doesn’t include the hurt feelings and other emotional “claims” of the guy who falls casualty to your unruly tongue.

Photo by Anna Zetterberg

Experts see the results of inappropriately expressed emotions every day.

Some people are afraid to speak up for their needs at all. You can tell something is gnawing at them. They frequently complain of headaches, depression, boredom or anxiety.

The other type of person is the one who is too aggressive. She has the opposite problem. Her needs are expressed, but they come out as angry, accusatory, judgmental bursts.

People like this stop listening and you wind up with one-way communication, which is as good as no communication.

The courage and ability to translate feelings, thoughts and needs into language so others can know you, and you can know yourself, is a powerful, exciting way of communicating.

Unfortunately, clear and honest communication with others is unusual for most of us. Learning how to say what you really mean is for everyone.

Fortunately, the experts pretty much agree on how to go about improving your communication skills. Oddly, they begin with listening.

The biggest mistake you can make in trying to talk convincingly is to put your highest priority on expressing your ideas and feelings. What most people really want is to be listened to, respected and understood. The moment people see that they are being understood, they become more motivated to understand your point of view. That’s half the battle won, right there. Once you have correctly summarized the other person’s thinking, acknowledge the feelings he/she might have. Ask questions to be sure you haven’t misread the emotions.

Of course, your natural impulse all the while may very well be to lash out and try to prove how wrong your opponent is.

Resist. With all your might. Instead, find some grain of truth in what he or she is saying and agree with that. Yes, it’s difficult to do that, but it’s worthwhile, especially when you feel attacked.

That’s because when you agree with what the other person is saying, and feeling, you paradoxically take the wind out of his sails and you end up the winner. He’ll usually feel like a winner too and will then be much more open to your point of view.

Here is an example of how this works: On the playground were two kids, we’ll call them Joey and Will.  Joey was causing trouble, so Will’s mom went to Joey’s mom to complain.

Joey’s mom listened, even though it was unpleasant to hear. One week later, the same kids got together, and this time Will did something that upset Joey. Joey’s mom brought Joey over, first to apologize for the previous week, but also to explain that now Will was being disruptive.  However, Will’s mom did not listen; she blew up, saying, “I’m not going to deal with this type of back and forth and I don’t want to hear it!”

This happens in any situation, in a marriage, or at work or whatever, when one person refuses to listen, an argument breaks out. What do you do!

The object is to make your point without being accusatory, threatening or judgmental – without hurting the other person’s feeling or putting them down.

First of all, don’t overlook the other’s good points. They’re there. Nobody wants to hear continuously what’s wrong with them.

You can soften the blow even more by delivering your thoughts in the form of I-messages instead of you-messages.

Here is an example: A boss can say, “You never do this or that,” or “You always this and that.”  Instead, it’s better to say, “I’d really appreciate the next time this or that happens, that it be solved in this manner, rather than that manner.”

By switching from the accusatory “you” to the non-threatening “I,” you raise the chances that your employee, partner or friend will hear you without becoming defensive and combative. Once you turn off the other person, he or she will fail to hear what you’re saying – no matter how effectively you think you are coming across.

They say you will never understand until you have walked in another person’s moccasins, and that starts with listening.