By Din Gjidija

It was 2 am on a Friday night around midtown and the only thing these clubbers could talk about was Molly. Molly isn’t the girl next door.  If a friend is speaking of “Molly” otherwise known as MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) chances are they’re speaking of the party drug.

Molly is the purest form of MDMA. The capsule’s popularity is rapidly increasing amongst teens and young adults and can be found hanging out with party goers.Molly often comes in a capsule, but is also found in pill and tablet form.

According to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) “Molly is a powder crystal form of MDMA, a chemical that’s used in ecstasy.” It’s a chemical made in labs across the boarders which is then smuggled into the U.S.

Salesian High School senior, Valentin Berisha, said, “For those who party, poppin’ a molly just makes the party better for that individual.”
Berisha was wearing a dark grey tank top and bright neon beach shorts, in the midst of March. He was asked by many other teens that night, do you know where they can find her. Berisha knew the crowd was referring to the party drug, when asked about his certainty, he smiled and said “Either that or the Cedric Gervais song.” The song he was referring to was “Molly” by  Dj Gervais. The introduction of the song ask listeners “Do you know where I can find molly?” in the popular Iphone siri voice.

“Celebrities sponsor this drug heavily, to the point where it’s in songs, public media attention, etc,” said Valentin Berisha.

There has been references by celebrities over the past few years. Madonna most notably referred to the drug at last year’s Ultra Music Festival when performing for Avicii’s set (Avicii is a dj/producer). She asked the crowd “have you seen molly”, which stirred up a bit of controversy. Young adults might think it’s alright when seeing celebrities such as Madonna referring to the drug especially at such a large event.

Gezim Bruncaj, a club promoter for clubs like Highland Ballroom and Webster Hall, said “These celebrity references are building a comfort zone for its drug users and turning a potentially dangerous thing into an okay thing.”

As the drug’s popularity increases, more college students turn to Molly when attending raves and festivals.

Anthony Lafiandra, sophomore at St Thomas Aquinas, said “Many college students use it to rage at parties.” To rage means to party really hard. Molly is found at raves (dance music festivals), Dance is usually the genre of music played at these raves.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration MDMA is a scheduled 1 controlled substance, what this means is it has the potential to be abused if used improperly.  

Mixing molly with other drugs can lead to very harmful results, including hospitalization. Molly itself isn’t very addicting, but can be overused.

Some of the drugs side effects are muscle tightness, tremors, teeth clinching, muscle cramps, and nausea. Dehydration may also occur depending on the environment and temperature.

According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, there was a 123% difference since 2004 to 2009 in emergency room visits. The visits were also because the user took in alcohol and other pharmaceuticals.

According to a Feb 2013 LA Times news article, there has been about 14 deaths involving Molly since September of 2006. Michael Benway Jr, 37, was the most recent; he died of heart inflammation and was found at a campsite while attending Electric Forest in June of 2012.

Bruncaj said, “It’s been proven to be safer than ecstasy since it’s in its purest form. Ecstasy contains a bunch of other crap.”

Bruncaj also said, “Molly usually starts with an awful taste but later gets better as the drug starts to kick in. Molly makes them feel like they have so much energy. It just makes everything that much better.”

Molly users have a tendency to be from ages 16-24. MDMA is not something new; in fact it’s been around since the 90’s and was very mainstream. It is also a reason why many of New York City’s old night clubs have been shut down. Some night clubs were Sound Factory and Club Exit.

Bruncaj, giggling said, “Molly is pretty cheap; you could buy a capsule from ten to twenty bucks” that’s what keeps them coming for more. And it’s pretty easy to take and not get caught.

Anthony Lafiandra said “I believe college kids use molly and think its okay to use recreationally because it isn’t harmful to their bodies.”

Lafiandra, smirking said, “For me all I need is some good music and I just begin to dance and have fun. Molly is not needed to have fun and get loose at a party.”

By Leon Moore

Between Burke Avenue and 219^th street Bronx, New York, there has been an annual rise in violent crime during the summer. During the summer of 2012 this epidemic met its peak with five shootings in one week.

Crime occurs throughout the entire year however during the summer violent crime always tends to escalate. According to the Daily News writer Patrice O’Shaughnessy, “long hot summer, that’s the catch phrase. When the weather gets warm there are more people hanging out and violence erupts.”

Patrice O’Shaughnessy, author for the Daily News, gave some telling statistics during one of her newspaper columns. O’Shaughnessy wrote, “the murder rate has soared nearly 22% in the Bronx this year according to NYPD statistics.”There was an increase in homicides during the summer of 2010 as opposed to the summer of 2009. In 2009 there were 69 homicides and in 2010 there were 84 according to NYPD statistics. In 2012 that number increased to 97.

The continuous increase in violent crime has had an increasing negative impact on the entire community. Businesses are losing income because of earlier closing times and residents are not confident in their ability to be outside at certain times and because of this law enforcement agencies are under heavy scrutiny.

According to Ahmed Shabazz, “the five shootings between July 17^th and July 24^th forced me to close my bodega at 11pm as opposed to 12pm for safety concerns.” Many other bodegas have suffered similar conditions which has resulted in financial repercussions. According to Shabazz, “closing the store earlier resulted in me losing close to one thousand dollars in profit, in July, August and September.” Shabazz had a deep tone in his voice and the disgust on his face was clearly visible.

Residents say they are disgusted with the police and other law enforcement agencies. They have lost confidence in their police force and as a result of this, these residents will stay inside after dark during the summer.

According to Eric Williams “I have been living here my entire life and from my perspective the job the police are doing is terrible.” Williams suggested that police officers do not accomplish the task of keeping residents protected at all.

Gerry Fortuné had a similar but slightly different take on the job police officers are doing. “I think they are addressing the symptoms of crime without dealing with the cause.” Gerry expressed the desire for more police patrolling.

One of the biggest effects violent crime has, is its ability to dissuade individuals from participating within the community to their preferable extent.

Fortuné and  Williams both expressed concern for their safety. These concerns have compromised how willing both residents are to participate in social activities, particularly at night time. According to Fortuné  “generally speaking I feel safe, but at night time I avoid going out.” Williams stated that he always watches his back anytime he is outside.

Tracy Gordon sobbed as she told the story of having police officers, news reporters and coroners in front of her home. “I remember my dad taking me to see the dead body, a young man, my neighbor laying in front my house dead life less, I have never been so up close and personal to a victim of homicide it was surreal.” The traumatic experience continues to have an impact on Gordon’s daily life. “I work late at nights and coming home I have to watch where I walk.”

Derrick Kirk’s step father was one of the homicide victims during the summer of 2012. Derrick had tears dripping down his face as he recalled the phone call that changed it all. “I remember my mom who is a correctional officer calling to inform my siblings and I that our dad had been gunned down.” Kirk stated that his brother Andrew nearly fainted when receiving the news. The effect of that homicide is still being felt by Kirk until this day. Kirk had to drop out of college and pick up a job to help support his family.

All five of the residents have had personal experience and encounters with violent crime. Fortuné reported having his bike stolen from in front of his apartment building, Williams spoke about having family members who were assaulted during the summer of 2011 and the summer of 2012.

Residents do not believe that authorities will find a way to curtail the increase on violent crime. This disbelief stems from many different perspectives. Gordon implied lack of action “I don’t think the police are proactive in regards to dealing with kids hanging on the street.” Fortuné believes that the problem with police is their failure to launch community outreach programs.

There was a lot of advice from the five residents. Williams cited the lack of productive things for youth to do during the summertime, he also pointed out the lack of financial resources for residents, “I believe the economy affects how people behave especially with the recent drug war.” Shabazz suggested more frequent patrolling as a way to deter individuals from committing deviant behaviors. Gordon and Fortuné both suggested a community based outreach program as the only way to handle the issue. Gordon stated “ I remember having my home robbed in broad day light and no one would come forward with information, but yet everyone is so concerned with crime, the only way to eradicate this issue is for us to rise up as a community and fight back.” Fortuné suggested that the community reach out to its leaders and help out “residents need to contact Councilman Andy King and look towards him for answers but also give him suggestions, we all live here.”

Violent crime is something that can have a variety of negative impacts on a community. These impacts can span from lost loved ones to lost wages. It is important for law enforcement and residents to get this epidemic under control; otherwise this community can become a war zone.

By Rosario Barrera

Imagine sitting in a room with four toddlers and two infants. The laughter, the screams, the crying, the stomping of little feet here and there. These sounds would drive a person a bit crazy, but not Adela Tapia and her team of assistant caregivers.

For nearly six years, Tapia, 49, has been operating her family group daycare out of her bedroom/living room. The bone white-colored walls of the daycare area allow the children’s artwork to become a color explosion. Two 15-month old toddlers each look at the blue car a third child clutches to his chest.

Tapia, who held a position in corporate sales before making the switch to running her own daycare, says that she would have never been able to be as successful as she is today if it had not been for the NYU/University Settlement program.

In 2010, the NYU/University Settlement launched its campaign to recruit and train individuals who were interested in becoming child care providers, working from their homes to provide care for New York University’s network of individuals which includes: faculty, staff, and students. Although the network of child care providers has now grown to six members, they hope to expand that number to include at least two more providers, says Kezia Carpenter, the Program Director of the NYU/University Settlement Family Child Care Program.

“Our providers have done such a great job so far that we would love it if more individuals joined our network,” Carpenter says as she holds in her hand a list of the providers she currently supervises. “Even though it’s my job to do bi-weekly visits to their programs, give them guidance, and give them training support, they’ve done all the job themselves. These past few years have been incredible,” Carpenter says beaming. Clearly, Carpenter isn’t the only one who has been impressed with the quality of care the providers have given families. Parents say they have been very pleased about the care their children receive.

“Boris’ vocabulary has exploded — literally — since he started at Adela’s. I think it’s incredible. At home we speak Bulgarian to him, but he’ll say some words in English to me sometimes. I’m amazed,” Mariana Dobreva said, a parent from Tapia’s program, when she picked up her son. Mariana greeted the group at the park down the street from Tapia’s program, and spoke with Tapia for a few minutes to know how her son’s day went.

“I like that I can know what Boris did throughout the day; I can know how he’s progressing,” Dobreva says. Three other parents arrived to Minetta Lane Park and each had a mini-meeting with Tapia before taking their child home. Before each child left home, the three female providers sang the children a good-bye song.

“We sing the children their good-bye song because through the training we’ve received, we’ve learned that its important for the children to have closure as they leave home for the day,” Tapia says as she quickly glances over at Dylan, “the last pick-up,” Tapia says. The training Tapia refers to are the training sessions provided by the NYU/University Settlement Family Child Care Program.

“We not only give individuals assistance so they can get their license, but I talk to each of them and ask what kind of training they would like, to make sure we can get it for them,” Carpenter says as she shakes her hands in mid-air as if attempting to grasp a sample of a training booklet. “We’re not just passionate about child care, we really want our providers to succeed and so we help them along the way as much as we can,” she says relaxing into her chair.

The NYU/University Settlement provides interested providers with guidance and support from early childhood professionals. “We give our providers start-up grants so they can purchase equipment and materials. We get them started and continue to hold their hand throughout the whole process,” Carpenter says of the role the program plays for the providers.

NYU faculty, staff, and students who need child care can seek assistance from the University Settlement, which then refers them to a provider closest to them. “Our providers are all over, some live on the Lower East Side, West Village, and Washington Square Village area, so for NYU families, it’s perfect,” Carpenter says.

Natalie Flores, who works with Tapia as an assistant, says she likes working from Tapia’s home because it’s a very laid-back, but professional environment. “It’s hard to explain,” Flores begins, “we do a good job of caring and guiding the children, but it’s not like it’s a pain to come to work,” she says.

Emily Francis, a high-school senior, smiles brightly at all the children, staying quiet in a corner playing with one of the smallest children of the group, 6-month-old Noah. “I’m really lucky to be here. I come once a week, but the children are so cute and fun,” she says in a sweet, welcoming voice. “With her round face and messy ponytail it’s no wonder the children gravitate towards her,” mentions Tapia, “the kids like seeing a friendly face like theirs, Emily is perfect, she’s great with them.”

Natalie also works part-time at a daycare in Queens, which is in a commercial space, not a private home. “I enjoy working at both places, obviously, but you can definitely feel a difference when you’re working from someone’s home. Even though it’s work,” she says, “it feels so much more like home.”

Individuals interested in joining the University Settlement’s network of Child Care Providers are invited to call 917-337-3214 and speak to Kezia Carpenter for more information on how they can join.

“I’ve been so lucky and blessed with my team. The children love them, and I love them,” Tapia says as she looks at Flores and Francis. “I mean, we work really hard here. We’re not sitting down eating bonbons all day, we’re working!”

By Navita Nauth

A sound dinged overhead and the pilot announced the plane was cleared for land­ing. After two months of filling out tedious and repetitive paper-works, waiting on long lines for my visa, and making over $3000 in payments, I still could not believe that I was really here.

The plane descended faster now. I could tell because the change in air pres­sure affected my ears. The plane turned to one side and then the other after a few min­utes. I could see the night sky through my window; the city lights glimmering just be­low. The lights were getting closer by the minute.

There was a final push forward and we were on the ground. The tires screeched as they touched concrete. There was a hard break and I was pushed back into my seat. The plane started to slowdown un­til it came to a steady pace. The pilot an­nounced, “Welcome to Beijing.” I arrived a few minutes after 12 a.m. Thurs Jan 3. Despite all of my preparations and the 16-hour flight, it still felt unreal to be in China.

I gathered my book-bag as I rushed to put my jacket and hat on. I retrieved my duffel bag from the overhead bin and ex­ited the plane. I came to China to learn about its his­tory through a study abroad program, but I was honestly not sure what to expect. I was one among 60 students who were just as curious at being in China for the first time. I waited on line for about an hour to see the immigration officer and then I was off to find my suitcase. It was another hour until I reached the hotel, and by that point I was tired and groggy. I was only able to sleep for two hours.

That same morning, we left the hotel at 7 a.m. We were going to visit the Great Wall of China. It took me a while to wrap my head around that fact because the Great Wall was something I had heard of only through my history classes or TV. It is one of those marvels that you always say you want to visit, but don’t know if you ever will.

The bus ride to the Wall was not too bad either. The tour guide, Mark, was en­tertaining. He was a scruffy looking guy. Mark was below average height for a guy; I was about the same height as him and I’m 5’4’’. He had smooth black hair that hung a bit in front of his eyes and creamy yellow skin. He wore a cobalt blue bubble jacket and black slacks with sneakers.

He was friendly and didn’t talk us to death by explaining the history of the Great Wall in every intricate detail possible. In­stead, he pointed out important monuments here and there as we were driving and told us stories about China. When he got tired of talking, we took a nap.

A few minutes before we arrived, Mark said there is a tradition in China that says a person does not truly becomes a man if he does not climb the Great Wall. That got my attention. I wondered if that custom ap­plied to women as well.

I noticed the mountains outside my window. Each one was covered with trees in hues of green and brown, with ever­green trees scattered across in blotches. Each mountain curved into the other. The taller mountains almost touched the clear blue sky.

As we drove closer to the site, I saw there was something that snaked along the tips of some of the mountains. It was barely noticeable. I had to squint to see it from a distance. I realized that it was the Great Wall.

After straining my eyesight for a min­ute or two, we arrived at the tourist spot at the bottom of the Wall. The only thing I noticed, however, was the bitter cold wind. My fingers became stiff after a few min­utes. My cheeks felt prickly and my ears started hurting from the chill. I wore a vest, a thermal, a sweater and a jacket with my scarf, hat and gloves, yet I shook from the freezing wind.

But despite the icy atmosphere, I felt awed because here I was, standing at the foot of the Great Wall. I was eager to climb the wall because I secretly believed the story Mark told us on the bus. But then I noticed that the Great Wall was not exactly a wall; it was more like a very long and steep stir case.

The clay bricks were patchy, with piec­es missing. There was an ancient feel to the place, even though I passed a gift shop stand on my way up the stairs. Mountains surrounded the stairs; the same ones that I saw earlier. Walking up the stairs literally took my breath away because as I started climbing it became harder to breathe.

My knee would bend at a 90-degree an­gle at random intervals to climb the steps. Some steps were inches apart, while others were at least a foot apart. It was like a built-in cardio workout during my climb. My lungs hurt and my nose burned to breathe in the dense cold air. I took periodic breaks, so that I wouldn’t faint from light-headed­ness. By the time I reached the top of one of the stair levels, I was bent-over panting for breath.

I rested a little for five minutes, and then took my gloves off. I touched the brick wall because I wanted to touch his­tory. I stayed there for a while to take in the view and the fact that I was standing on the Great Wall of China.

The journey going down was just a dif­ficult. I was afraid that I might slip and fall from one of the uneven steps. By the time I reached the end, my cheek and toes were numb; I could not feel them. I stopped shaking because my body was frozen. By 3 p.m. we were ready to leave. As the bus left the site, I was thankful for two things. The first was that my body was able to thaw and the second was that I was able to have this experience.

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