Brown and White Vol. 117 no. 10

              Vol. 117 No. 10
Friday, October 2, 2009
‘All the Lehigh News First’
THE BROWN AND WHITE
Lehigh University’s Student Newspaper Founded in 1894
SPORTS
Hawks take Saints to church
Page 20
ONLINE
Check online for breaking news
www.thebrownandwhite.com
Footprints around the world: Spain
Page 9
LIFESTYLE
Table games may be approved at Sands
By ADRIENNE GERARD
The Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem might be getting table games such as poker, craps, and blackjack next year as Pennsylvania state leg­islators look for ways to raise money for their new $27.8 billion budget plan.
Legislators are considering legalizing table games at casinos because the revenue will help them meet the budget.
The installation of table games at the casinos throughout the state of Pennsylvania is project­ed to increase revenue by $200 million in the next year and by about $121 million by 2011.
According to an article in The Morning Call on Sept. 13, after the law passes to legalize gam­bling, it will take six to nine months to get table games on the casino floors.
Jason Nibauer, vice president of brand mar­keting at Sands Casino, said although he cannot discuss the details of the budget plan just yet because details have not yet been finalized, the addition of table games to the Sands Casino will have a tremendous effect on the business of the casino.
“Table games are the No. 1 request we get from our guests,” Nibauer said. “It completes our offering. What is nice about the table game’s guest is that they stay longer and utilize more amenities like restaurants and shopping,” he said.
See GAMING Page 5
B&W photo by CHAUCY DIXON
Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem may be offering table games to guests, once the state and gaming control board approve the addition.
By MICHELLE SIBLEY
During the week of Sept. 21, many students who rely on Lehigh’s buses were out of luck.
Both Lehigh buses, which transport students around the Asa Packer and Mountaintop campuses, were undergoing repairs and maintenance.
One bus had transmission and turbo problems and the other needed general main­tenance, Brynn Buskirk, as­sistant director of marketing for Lehigh University Business Services, said.
The buses are now repaired and running on schedule.
Faculty, staff and students said the out-of-service buses were an inconvenience.
Jon Harrison, ‘12, uses the bus system several times a week and was inconvenienced when the two large buses were out of commission.
“I only have a window of two hours that I can eat lunch, get to Mountaintop for my research class, get back down from Mountaintop and get to my afternoon classes,” Har­rison said.
Harrison said he schedules his day around the bus service.
“If the buses are broken down, it really restricts what I can do, and if I’m rushed or not,” Harrison said.
Jim McSweeny, ‘11, uses the bus system at least once or twice a day to get to and from his house, Lambda Chi Alpha, and classes, he said.
“The bus breakdown af­fects my campus life especially around noon and high vol­ume times,” McSweeny said. “When I have short breaks, it’s crucial to get where I’m going in as short a time as possible.”
The two large buses were replaced last week by 15-pas­senger TRACS vans.
Transportation and Parking Services only uses the TRACS vans when the larger buses are temporarily immobilized, Bus­kirk said.
“The 15-passenger vans are for back-up when one or both of the larger buses are out for repair or maintenance,” Bus­kirk said.
Buskirk said the vans are not meant to be used on a regular basis.
“Temporary is the key word here. We rely on the buses for everyday travel, and only rely on the passenger vans when absolutely needed,” Buskirk said. “This was a situation in which the buses were out of commission for a day or two, so this was our back-up plan.”
Many Lehigh students feel that the vans are not a good alternative to the buses.
“Not only do they have sub­stantially less room, but they’re also a hassle to get in and out of, especially if there are more than a handful of people on
See BUSES Page 4
Bus breakdowns leave students upset
By HUBERT DAGBO
Last week, the Global Union brought Lehigh a taste of adversity and stories of despair, tragedy and hope of good fortune, as five refugees from around the world came together to tell their stories and answer ques­tions from intrigued listeners.
The Global Union brought this dis­cussion together to teach people about the struggles of refugees and to give students a chance to appreciate the freedoms they have.
A refugee is someone who is forced from the country in fear of persecution.
The refugees spoke about why they left their country.
A refugee from the Democratic Re­public of the Congo said, “There was no peace. There was war, and there are two governments within one coun­try, so I fled to Zambia.”
A refugee from Iraq said war was constant in his country.
“It was futureless,” he said. “War finishes, and another begins. It was a continuous cycle. Until they stop kill­ing each other, there is no future. So I left everything there.”
“I know for me, if I die it’s all right, but for my children, what kind of life will they have?” he added. “So we had to start a new life for the kids.”
The topic shifted to the refugees’ feelings and opinions on the United States and life here compared to life back home.
“I don’t believe any government in this world, there is no complete free­dom,” another Iraqi refugee said.
“Americans don’t understand how Iraqis feel,” he said. “I watch American television and news and for six months I don’t hear about Iraq, just about a couple bombs here and there.”
“It’s just all singing, movies - the government doesn’t feel what the people feel,” he said.
One refugee compared Americans to refugees.
“In terms of the American people, I feel nothing. It’s normal. All of the United States are refugees. It’s just the Native Americans who are not. However, for government, Saddam Hussein has failed us; the U.S. army has failed us.”
The most powerful moment of the discussion came when the five refu­gees were asked how distance from family affects them.
“I miss my mother; I don’t know where she is,” one said as she started to cry.
Another interrupted and said, “Ex­Refugees
tell stories of fear, hope in discussion
See REFUGEES Page 3
n Last Thursday, refugees from countries in turmoil shared their experiences and perspectives with students.