WHAT THE HECK IS THE UNITY CENTER Found on the bottom floor of Donovan, the Unity Center is a space on campus for students with multicultural background and more.
Week of October 6, 2014 | Vol: 87 | Issue: #6
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Get to know Robert Healey Part three in our candidate series rYan FoleY
assistant editor
“M
ount a no money guerilla campaign to secure a cerebral revolution.”
mayoral candidates buddy cianci (i), jorge elorza (d) and dan harrop (r). — courtesy of WPRI
three feisty candidates argue it out First Providence mayoral debate takes place in Sapinsley eliSHa KaY aldriCH news editor @anchornews
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ou don’t have to live in Providence to understand the importance of this year’s mayoral election. With the state capital in what some would consider near shambles, whoever is elected to the position has a hefty workload already. Tuesday night, Rhode Island got to see the three men vying for the chance to repair Providence duke it out in Sapinsley Hall for their first televised debate of the election. Vincent “Buddy” Cianci, Jorge Elorza and Daniel Harrop each have their own very different ties to Providence, with very different backgrounds. Cianci has served as mayor two times already, and is running as an Independent this time around. Elorza, the Democratic candidate, was raised in the city by Guatemalan immigrants. Harrop, the Republican candidate, has run twice before already, and has his own psychiatric practice on Waterman Street. In comparison to the rest of the debate, the opening remarks were quite tame; each candidate simply stated why they were running for mayor. This wouldn’t last forever though, as question one dealt directly with Cianci’s past indiscretions with the law. “Let’s leave behind the corruption,” said Elorza. “I provide honest leadership for the future, and I have a forward thinking vision.” “I’m not apologizing for my last administration,” said Cianci. “It didn’t end in a pleasant way, there’s no doubt about that, and I apologize for it, but I was humbled by it.” Harrop, when asked if he believed Cianci’s apology, stated that
citizens support Cianci because he is familiar. “[It’s] the devil you know, not the devil you don’t know,” he said. Harrop also added that Cianci’s past administrations were filled with “recurrent, thuggish, criminal behavior.” The next several questions concerned Providence’s financial conundrum. Harrop believes that the city should go into receivership and then be fiscally renovated from the group up. Both Elorza and Cianci disagree with this, but want to solve the problem from different angles. “There’s a difference in being a Wall Street accountant and putting a budget together,” Cianci jabbed at Elorza, citing his year working on Wall Street. Elorza commented that he came home after the death of a friend and has stayed in Rhode Island since. Part of the city’s finances also include public safety, which has been a hot button topic due to the fact that 90% of Providence residents are concerned about crime rates. “I don’t see the city correcting its own finances without the necessity of receivership,” Harrop responded. He stated that by going into receivership for a year or two, they could reset the city’s contracts and by doing that, create more jobs on the police force. Elorza stated that his goal is to bring the city up to 490 police officers, and for them to be as diverse as possible, especially those in the police academy. He stated that he wanted cadets to be riding patrols on bikes, to get to know the city. “It’s about how we use those police officers,” said Cianci, who also stated that the police department is all but dead. He
wants to relocate the police into the neighborhoods so they could better serve and protect its citizens. The waterfront and port of Providence was another financial question. “Everything south of Thurbers Avenue could be a working waterfront,” Cianci stated, claiming that he wanted to bring in more companies that would use it and that Providence should be getting millions in revenue from the site. Elorza agreed, but wants to have a more industrial space there. “We need to be out ahead and allow for heavy industrial use on our waterfront. We can’t continue to miss out on economic opportunities.” He added that he also wished to make exports out of the port, which prompted a joking question of what could possibly be exported from Cianci. Elorza answered in full, stating that he wanted to export used cars, manufacturing goods and services, consulting services and design services. “He speaks very eloquently but doesn’t say anything,” Cianci jabbed back. Education was the final topic of the night, and all candidates surprisingly agreed that education in Providence needs serious reform on the public level. There was no discussion of the colleges in Providence, nor of college students. This debate swung open the doors on what promises to be a very interesting election. Filled with jabs and punchlines, the Providence mayoral race has only just begun, and the debate in Sapinsley Hall was the starting pistol’s pop.
That’s the stance of Robert Healy, the Moderate candidate for governor and somewhat of a Rhode Island legend. A native of Providence, Healey is best known for founding the Cool Moose Party in 1994, not to be confused with the Bull Moose Party of 1912. The object of the party was to “break down the ideological barriers that keep common sense out of our government.” After receiving a BA from Rhode Island College, Healey went on to earn MA’s from both Boston University and Northeastern University followed by a Juris Doctorate from the New England School of Law. This isn’t Healey’s first time running for a State Office, contributing to his much gossiped about place in Rhode Island history. He ran for Governor as an Independent Candidate in 1986, securing just 1.8% of the vote. He ran as the Cool Moose Party Candidate for Governor in 1994, finishing with 9.8% of the vote. Healey ran for Governor again in 1998, winning 6.28% of the vote. After three unsuccessful bids for Governor, Healey ran for Lieutenant Governor in 2002, 2006, and 2010, on a platform of abolishing the office. He finished with 18.79% in 2002 and 13.41% in 2006, where he ran as an independent. He came in second place in the 2010 Lieutenant Governor election, winning 39.13% of the vote in a race with one democrat, four independents, and one republican. Healey decided to run as the Moderate Party candidate for Governor in 2014 after the original candidate, James Spooner, was forced to withdraw due to health
moderate candidate, robert healy. — courtesy of WPRI reasons. Although the legality was challenged, the Rhode Island State Board of Elections allowed Healey to replace Spooner on the ballot. Healey supports legalizing marijuana, but not taxing it. He also supports lowering the state sales tax and decreasing the corporate tax from 9% to 7%. He opposes raising the state income tax for the highest earners, issuing driver’s license to undocumented immigrants and repealing the voter ID requirement. He has not released a position on paying back the 38 Studios bond, The Rhode Island Retirement Security Act, or including standardized testing as a high school graduation requirement. He also wants to limit out of school suspensions and replace them with in school suspensions unless the student is a serious threat to the school community. Healey will face Democrat Gina Raimondo, Republican Allan Fung, and Independents Kate Fletcher and Leon Kayarian on Election Day. Healey’s official website is votehealey.com. He can be found on Facebook by searching “Robert J. Healey” and Twitter, under the handle @roberthealey. His campaign journal is located at votehealey.wordpress.com.
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alcohol results in sports hiatus eliSHa KaY aldriCH news editor @anchornews
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his past weekend, there were no practices, no training room sessions, not even study halls for student athletes. With the normal school spirit that accompanies such activities, it paints a rather bleak picture for Rhode Island College athletes. But according to Don Tencher, Director of Athletics and Assistant Vice President of the Administration, this is not an issue that is unique to the RIC athletics department. Tencher stated that there were four incidents involving alcohol; from the Sunday night of Labor Day weekend, all the way to the Sunday after. One incident was on campus, in the residence halls and the other three were off campus. Two of them involved Providence Police, but only one of those two was actually held by RIC students. Specifically, they were wrestlers. During that incident, campus police was asked to come assist Providence Police, since there were over 200 people at that party. “I take my time out of a very busy day to tell them how much I care for them,” Tencher said, highlighting the disappointment he felt.
He added that he expects student athletes to be leaders on campus, and that there are specific expectations that they should meet. But, although he stated he feels incredible disappointment, it is not an issue that students should be severely punished by he would prefer to educate them instead. During the hiatus, several speakers came to perform
I don’t think we have any bigger issues than any other athletic department.” Tencher also stated that the reason it took so long from the occurrence of the initial violations to the hiatus was purely planning purposes. Campus Police Deputy Chief Steven Casbarro was able to give more information about the possible criminal events that occurred at these parties. The one that is most concerning was the one held by RIC wrestlers, where one student was brought in by Providence Police for resisting arrest.
The [party] that is most concerning was the one held by RIC wrestlers, where one student was brought in by Providence Police for resisting arrest. workshops with athletes about the consequences of drinking. “We are proactive, and we are going to educate our athletes,” he said. He added that colleges around the nation are feeling such blows.
“We actually sent one of our officers from the midnight shift to help,” he stated. “Most of the kids, if not all of them, were cited with public drinking or underage drinking. One individual resisted arrest.”
The police report stated that there were over 200 people in attendance, and a court summons would be given to the homeowner as well. The athletes themselves have remained rather quiet about the issue, with most of them refusing to comment on the situation.
“I don’t think it’s that big a deal,
has been another possible case in Honolulu, Hawaii, that is also being quarantined. The hospital stated that while a case of ebola has not been confirmed, they wish to take every precaution possible.
E
bola hemorrhagic fever has officially entered the United States. The first case was confirmed in Dallas, Texas, where Thomas Duncan was diagnosed early last week. He had just returned to the United States from Liberia, but the Dallas hospital initially sent him home with antibiotics when he first went in, rather than admitting him immediately. Not only is it rumored that 100 people been exposed in
this way, but Duncan also lied on his exit paperwork when leaving Libera when asked if he was exposed to the disease. He will be prosecuted by Liberian authorities when he recovers. Another confirmed case involved a Rhode Island native, Ashoka Mukpo. Mukpo is a cameraman for NBC who went to Liberia to report on the breakout. He will return to the US on Sunday, Oct. 5, location undetermined. Mukpo was a Providence native and graduate of Moses Brown, where he was a co-editor in chief of the school paper, “The Quaker.” There
In his “60 Minutes” interview last week, President Obama stated that his administration underestimated the power that ISIS would gain. According to Obama, the intelligence community was warned about the threat, but never acted on it. ABC reported after the interview that there were three separate occasions in which the administration cited ISIS as a threat. The first was in Nov. 2013, the second was in January, and the third in February. In February, Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, the U.S. Army Director for the Defense Intelligence Agency, stated to the Senate Armed Services Committee that ISIS would be more than likely to take territory in Iraq and Syria, which has done since that time.
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Bryant University student is being held without bail after breaking into a dorm and sexually assaulting a female student. 20 year old Daniel Jaramillo was arraigned on charges of burglary, seconddegree sexual assault and disorderly conduct. Smithfield Police confirmed that the incident occurred on Sept. 25 at 3:43 a.m., which is when they received a call from the victim. The victim reported that she was awoken by a man at her bedside and that he sexually assaulted her. She did not know Jaramillo. She and her roommate chased him out of the dorm, and then proceeded to call public safety. Jaramillo was detained by public safety officers until Smithfield Police arrived on campus to take him in. Police stated that Jaramillo is an international student.
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ith all the excitement surrounding Illumina Live, it should be noted that an event like this may not happen in the spring. After the fiscal failure of the “Timeflies” concert last year, SCG President Robert Santurri, Jr. has looked into other options for a show in the spring, including, but not limited to, a speaker, a magician, or even a comedian. Most of these options would be considerably more cost effective, as the “Timeflies” concert put the Student Entertainment Committee under by $24,000. Instead of being able to use $70,000, they can only use $45,000, which limits the options for a spring event. However, Illumina Live did cost half of what Groove Boston did last fall, at $20,000 rather than $40,000.
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EDITORS
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Jim Brady | EDITORINCHIEF@ANCHORWEB.ORG Josh Estrella | MANAGING@ANCHORWEB.ORG Ashley Goldberg | BUSINESS@ANCHORWEB.ORG Liz Di Ruggiero | ARTDIRECTOR@ANCHORWEB.ORG Elisha Kay Aldrich | NEWS@ANCHORWEB.ORG Zach Mellin | RICLIFE@ANCHORWEB.ORG Victor Martelle | OPINIONS@ANCHORWEB.ORG Rashawn Vassell | SPORTS@ANCHORWEB.ORG Dannie Franciosi | PHOTO@ANCHORWEB.ORG Tyler Vigeant | GRAPHICS@ANCHORWEB.ORG Greg Maynard | COPY@ANCHORWEB.ORG Sam Mandeville | LAYOUT@ANCHORWEB.ORG Franklin Patton | ADS@ANCHORWEB.ORG Alex Palazzo | TECHNOLOGY@ANCHORWEB.ORG Patrick Carney | CIRCULATION@ANCHORWEB.ORG
STAFF Charlotte Abotsi Ashley Araby Jacob Bedard Janine Boiselle Everton Carter Colleen Cartwright
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A strong new member of this year’s team, Alex has been an anchor for our sports section. Her articles are informative and to the point, and her consistency is greatly valued. Her future is bright, as is her warm smile. Congratulations, and thank you for all your hard work.
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Editor of the Month Lish is a pure team player. Her dedication to covering campus events and publishing them as they happen, regardless of the time of day, is only one reason she is being honored for the month of September. Her ability as an editor and journalist has guided the News team to success thus far, and there is no visible limit to her potential.
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Car chase ends in SU Loop foot race Joe King
Mediocre Investigative Journalist In a whirlwind of traffic violations and psychotropic drugs, The Anchor’s editor-in-chief, Jim Brady, returned to Rhode Island College last week with an impromptu police “escort.” According to multiple student eyewitnesses, the chase ended outside of Horace Mann Thursday night, with all involved walking away unscathed, but severely exhausted. Brady, who is being fingered as the possible culprit behind a large amount of missing student funds earlier this semester, fled to Atlantic City with his dog a few weeks back. It was alleged that Brady was seeking help at an area rehab center, but when initial reports broke regarding a police chase on Rt. 44 in Johnston, the editor-in-chief’s name spread through police scanners. With news of his arrival reaching campus
minutes ahead of him, Brady was met by RIC campus police. Lieutenant Jeff Brunelle, an old family friend of Brady, pleaded with the anchorhead via cellphone to turn himself in, but was unable to coax the severely inebriated chief editor. “The chase reminded me of my
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around corners, narrowly missing student and resident pedestrians alike. After plowing through President Carriuolo’s much prized rhododendrons and a few campus turkeys, Brady sped along College Road at top speeds of 30 mph before hopping the curb and crashing his vehicle into a parked Donovan Dining Service’s food truck in the
“[Brady] ran past our office, toward WXIN, with his dog under one arm, wearing yellowed tighty whities and a Hawaiian print Santa Claus jacket, yelling, ‘It’s okay, I’m a paraprofessional!” The foot race took to the SU Loop once more a minute later, where police and campus administrators tried to corral Brady. While the chase took an all-too-familiar cartoonlike encircling of Lot K, WXIN blasted “Yakety Sax” over their outdoor speakers, allowing all in attendance to truly appreciate the humor of the situation.
[Brady] ran past our office, toward WXIN, with his dog under one arm, wearing yellowed tighty whities and a Hawaiian print Santa Claus jacket, yelling, ‘It’s okay, I’m a paraprofessional!”
younger days, when I used to pal around with his old man. Now those were some times–talk about fast cars and being inebriated… Anyway, there was just no getting through to him.” Brady piloted his wood paneled ’92 Buick Century wagon down Fruit Hill, blindly careening
Student Union Loop. Providence, Johnston, and campus police converged on Brady’s abandoned vehicle and continued the chase on foot, which saw the mind-altered student leader run into the Ducey Media Center. The Anchor’s Josh Estrella shared his account of the foot chase.
Finally apprehended, Brady was placed under arrest and released on his own recognizance the next day, when he was rumored to have distributed large sums of cash to local law enforcement officials. While Providence and Johnston
This is a fake news story. Pleae do not believe it. police departments declined to comment on the transfer of funds, they did confirm they will not be pressing charges. “The comedic end to the day’s events provided more than enough entertainment to compensate for the damages and man power, so we see no reason at this time to press charges,” said Chief Fife. As of Sunday, it is still unclear as to whether RIC will press charges against the dangerous student leader.
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RIC students and faculty stunned at
Janine BoiSelle anchor Staff
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he biggest buzz around campus last week was certainly the massive party known as Illumina. Hosted by Student Community Government and RIC Programming, this laser light show, possibly an alternative to a similar dance-party event held during previous years (GrooveBoston) may have been the most mispronounced event RIC has ever had. Commonly referred to as “Illuminati”, this brightly colored festivity drew in a large number of students, with the disbursement of roughly 900 tickets (10% of all tickets sold being donated to the Hasbro Children’s Hospital Oncology Department). As someone who had not attended an event like this on campus before, I was nervous about how much fun I would have, having heard from friends that GrooveBoston was much more enjoyable during the 2012 iteration than it was last year. But I prepared myself: dressed in neon clothing, got together with
a few friends, went in with an open mind, and of course, arrived fashionably late (approximately around 8:30 p.m.). And as it turned out, I wasn’t disappointed with the event, and will admit that based off of my experience, I had a great time. There were two things that I noticed when I first stepped through those Rec Center doors: the crowd and those blue foam light sticks. At the time that I arrived, the party was well and alive. And those light sticks, held by many hands, did not stop brightening up the pit until the end of the last song. In every which direction, lasers flashed while the bass of the music rippled through the building. With the occasional sight of female performers with light-up hula hoops, and a towering figure that looked like a lit up Daft Punk member on stilts, I stayed for the rest of the event, and enjoyed every minute of it. And for the rest of you that attended, I hope that your experience went as well as mine.
FREE SCREENING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22
Noon & 7PM at Rhode Island College 600 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Providence Filmmaker and concerned father Jeremy Seifert is in search of answers about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and how they affect our children, the health of our planet, and our freedom of choice. His journey takes him to Haiti, Paris, Norway and even agri-giant Monsanto as he poses perhaps the ultimate question about what we eat: is it still possible to reject our current food system, or have we already lost something we can’t get back? To learn more, visit gmofilm.com.
University Heights
To register for free seats: NOON: gmoomgrhodeislandcollege1.eventbrite.com 7pm: gmoomgrhodeislandcollege2.eventbrite.com
[above] students enjoying the night of lights and dancing. [below] one of the highlights to the night were a light up “robot.” - Everton Carter, Anchor Staff
Q&Anchor: What were your thoughts on Illumina Live? derek Shorey accounting, 2017
Harrie Salk Youth development, 2016
Pat Hurd Computer Science, 2017
Brianna ruggiero accounting, 2016
it was actually pretty fun.
i went for 25 minutes and left because it felt awkward.
omigosh it was so much fun!
it was fun, i think it was a good turnout, and better than groove Boston.
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ADVISING AND YOU:
ASA to Making the most bring a of your advisor Festival of Lights T ZaCHarY Mellin riC life editor @anchorriClife
Event preview
JaSon JoHnSon anchor Staff
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hursday Oct. 9 in the Student Union ballroom from 4 to 10 p.m., the Asian Students Association is putting on a great event which is open to both RIC and non-RIC students called The Festival of Lights; a charity event meant to assist Hasbro Children’s Hospital and the Rhode Island Hospital’s Hep. B vaccination symposium with their research. Think of it as a large, in-house carnival; filled with games, prizes, music, t-shirts and much more. I spoke to the treasurer of ASA, Landa Lan, along with others, to learn more about it. Admission into the festival is 10 dollars at the door, with a bracelet given upon payment. The games mentioned before are helmed by the student organizations co-sponsoring with ASA for the Festival. These game booths will give tickets for the players to win prizes from a prize table. This festival is meant for the people attending to have fun, laugh, and come together as a community to take a few hours of their time to enjoy others around them. Landa mentions that “it’s not about the awards or recognition, it’s about quiet charity, the best kind of charity. That’s the kind of thing that the RIC community should come together for.” Students who attend will be able to make either a lantern or paper boat at the event, like its traditional counterpart. Thanasansombat Srisoontorn (otherwise known as ‘Top’) taught me a little about the events larger counterpart, which in Thai culture is celebrated to rid people of their curses and bad luck, and allow new luck to enter the body to cleanse them. Finally, Landa highlighted what ASA really is - “ASA is an organization to promote and educate others on Asian culture, and anyone is welcome to join, just like any other organization. This year though, we’re reaching out to the other orgs. to make a difference.”
hat’s right, it’s that glorious time of year; midterms are starting up, and everyone is systematically ignoring their advisors as the registration date for next semester approaches. My advice here is plain and simple – don’t do this. Every student at Rhode Island College has an advisor – the only exception is undeclared students and nursing and elementary education majors who haven’t entered their program yet. For those three groups, OASIS is your haven, and serves as your advisor.
If you aren’t sure who your advisor is, the information can easily be found on MyRIC, under My Academics. So what do advisors do, exactly? The main goal of academic advising is to help you plan your classes correctly, and to make sure you understand the requirements in your program, and to graduate. Advisors have different ways of doing this – some will request that you arrange an appointment using the MyRIC system, while others will send out a mass email with their office hours, or post an appointment list outside their office. If you don’t hear from your advisor soon, it’s your responsibility to email them to arrange an appointment. Why is it
to stick with it, or interested in adding a minor, your advisor should be the person you go to see. One of the best relationships you can build at RIC is the one with your advisor. And I know that isn’t always possible – for some, you just don’t click with your advisor. Sometimes, you have a problem with them, or have some other reason that you aren’t comfortable with spending time with them. —Tyler Vigeant, Graphics Editor so important to see your advisor? Because all RIC students have an automatic advising hold on their accounts – you can’t register for classes each semester without seeing your advisor, and, especially at higher level, it is important to be able to register as early as you can. But ideally, an advisor should be more than that. A good advisor should be someone you’re comfortable with seeing anytime you have a problem or a question. If you are unfamiliar with your program, or unsure if you want
Here’s the dirty secret of advising – you aren’t usually locked into your assigned advisor. If you meet a professor in your program that you like more than your advisor, you can discuss with them the idea of making them your advisor. Some professors will agree to this, while others will have reasons for turning you down – certain advisors are assigned for a reason. Nursing and education majors will often have a rougher time changing advisors, as their advisors are trained to make sure they do the right classes at the right times to succeed in their intensive programs, and you should never try to choose an advisor outside of your major.
Write for us! We’re looking for beat writers: clubs, food, fashion, movies. You name it, we want it. Email Zach at riclife@anchorweb.org
trending at riC: Yik Yak
Similar to most forms of social media, users have the ability to “like” their own and other’s posts, but Yik Yak is a little different. With this app, you have the ability to “up” a post, signifying a positive reaction comparable to a “like” on Facebook, but users also have the ability to “down” it as well. Any post consisting of a ranking of -5 or higher on the negative spectrum is instantly removed for the feed. Users also have the ability to make specific replies, which can also receive ups and downs based off of the reactions of readers.
Janine BoiSelle anchor Staff
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ith the continuously changing technological industry, more specifically with cell phones, every year there always seem to be a few apps that rapidly spread through Apple and Android users like wildfire. Unfortunately, for the time being, the new and trending app for cell phone users, Yik Yak, has become a new hit at RIC and surrounding higher education institutions. This green colored app with a cute Yak on the front looks harmless, but the true feelings behind users of this unique form of social media aren’t as innocent as they appear. I first heard about Yik Yak through one of my RAs, having it described to me as “an anonymous Twitter”, and I figured that it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. When you first download the app and turn on your location accuracy (anonymous, but not 100% anonymous), a feed of posts pops up on the screen from people who have posted nearby your current location. For example, if I was on Rhode Island College soil, the yaks in my feed would primarily be from RIC, PC, and sometimes JWU students. But if I traveled back home to Connecticut, near Mitchell and Connecticut College, the posts I’d read
country (RIC unfortunately not being on that list), the posts users will find are only from the people around them.
What are some of the things you’ll read on this app? As a frequent user of Yik Yak, it’s different every day at different times of the day. On Wednesdays during free period, sometimes I’ll read a lot of posts about Donovan or passing by students that users yak about as being attractive. On other days, it will be a flood of references, often to Spongebob, thought Oct. 3 saw a flood of Mean Girls quotes. On Thursdays or Fridays, you’ll be likely to see people seeking a party or… companionship.
would be completely different. Though there is a section of the app that allows you to peek at yaks from a list of other universities across the
Like many other forms of social media, there is always the good, the bad, and the ugly. But regardless of how explicit and bizarre some of the post and comments following can get (seriously people, TMI), this has to be one of the most amusing apps out there. But regardless, to all of those who are avid “yakers”; be mindful about what you post, because again, this app has your exact location.
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What the heck is the Unity Center? Charlotte Abotsi Anchor Contributor
You are competing in an oncampus scavenger hunt, and the last destination holds the $1,000 grand prize. With no maps allowed, you must locate the Unity Center. So, do you win? If yes, congratulations, you know where The Unity Center is! If no, you must be asking yourself, “What the heck is The Unity Center?” and “Why am I not $1,000 richer?” The Unity Center is located on the ground floor of the Donovan Dining Center. You know, downstairs next to the really good bathrooms? For the past 20 years, The Unity Center has providedvs. It’s a place for support, community, and education through real life experiences. The Unity Center believes in education being a twoway street; so often in educational spaces, there is someone who knows it all, and someone who is there to absorb it all. At the Unity Center, there is collaboration between faculty, staff and students. Historically, the Unity Center was erected to function as a safe space for multicultural students, providing an open forum for
discussion that pertains to diversity, equity, and inclusion, while enhancing cultural awareness. The Unity Center extends its arms to whoever needs it, offering support for Residence Life Staff, LGBTQ students, student organizations, and just about anyone and everyone. Antoinette Gomes, the director, is a fearless leader who has never turned anyone away. By and by, she has employed students who needed jobs, provided support and encouragement to students from all walks of life, and has been such an important force in the Rhode Island College community. At the Unity Center, it is always a good time. Whether we’re engaging in discussion about the latest headlines, or rapping Biggie lyrics with our wise director, there’s always something happening. There are resource rooms (ahem, free printing), a lending library (there are actual textbooks here that people have needed for their classes), and the comfiest couches. So when your stomach is feeling a funny way, run to the nice bathroom, and on your way out, stop and say hello to the folks at the Unity Center.
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Promising practices conference seeks to help students Nathan Silva
Anchor Contributor
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ulturally Responsive Curricula in STEM, the 2014 Promising Practices Conference at Rhode Island College will bring together a diverse audience to develop, share and promote cutting edge strategies for advancing equitable opportunities for youth in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The conference will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include 23 workshops followed by a dynamic keynote address delivered by nationally recognized educator,
Dr. Christopher Emdin. “We anticipate a dynamic address from Dr. Emdin. In addition, the workshops that have been chosen for this year’s conference will complement the day with a wealth of education and interaction for all attendees,” said Dr. Stefan Battle, Promising Practices’ Co-Chair. Dr. Christopher Emdin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University. He also serves as Director of Science Education at the Center for Health Equity and Urban Science Education. He is
author of the award-winning book “Urban Science Education for the Hip Hop Generation” rooted in his experiences as student, teacher, administrator, and researcher in urban schools and the deep relationship between hip-hop culture and science that he discovered at every stage of his academic and professional journey. Copies of Dr. Emdin’s book will be available at the conference. “We are so fortunate this year to have Dr. Christopher Emdin, a nationally acclaimed expert on urban public education,” said Antoinette Gomes, Director of the Unity Center. “No one with an interest in 21st century education, youth development and closing the achievement disparities in STEM education in and outside of the classroom should miss this conference.” Dr. Emdin is the co-creator of the #HipHopEd social media movement which seeks to promote, preserve and protect Hip-Hop and inspire, initiate and intellectualize Hip-Hop as a means of sustained education and youth development. Registration for the event is open. The cost is $15 for RIC students and $20 for the general public.
For more information, visit the Promising Practices libguide at http://ric.libguides.com/promising-practices2014 or contact Stefan Battle (sbattle@ric.edu).
Scar Symmetry Celebrates Their 10th Anniversary With “The Singularity, Phase I” jacob bedard Assistant Editor
Do you know a student, faculty member or a student organization that does good work around campus?
Nominate them for a spotlight! email riclife@anchorweb.org
We, as a culture, have become really attached to technology in recent years. Smartphones, tablets, the internet, virtual reality and other such inventions seem to be produced at a quickening pace. However, what would the world be like if we were able to upgrade ourselves with this technology? To find out, look no further than Scar Symmetry’s newest album! Last Friday saw the European release of “The Singularity, Phase 1: Neohumanity,” which is the first of a three-part story about a dystopic future where mankind, facing its own extinction, develops a nanobot technology to serve as mechanical augmentations. This new technology is so advanced that it is used to defy death itself, creating ‘digital immortality.’ The album features a style that combines Scar Symmetry’s well-established melodic death metal sound with a newfound progressive twist. The album opens up with the intro track, “The Shape of Things to Come,” which seamlessly transitions into the heavy riffing of “Neohuman.” “Neohuman” chronicles the rise of the first person to combine his body with the new nanotechnology.
This track also features some impressive keyboard composition by the band’s guitarist, Per Nilsson. Next, “Limits to Infinity” is about humanity’s idea to colonize other planets and to leave the lower classes on the decaying planet Earth. This song, the album’s first single, is incredibly catchy.
-amazon.com
“The Singularity, Phase I” Scar Symmetry $29.47 (amazon.com) October 14, 2014 The fourth track is “Cryonic Harvest,” which explains the awakening of cryogenically frozen people to become augmented by the nanobots. Up next is “The Spiral Timeshift,” in which regular humans are becoming
outnumbered as bionic humans are the new norm. This song includes one of my favorite guitar solos on the album, in which Nilsson transitions through a few different moods seamlessly. Track eight is “The Children of the Integrated Circuit.” This song is purely instrumental and features dazzling guitar work over an eerie, desolate soundscape. Up next is the album’s penultimate song, “Neuromancers.” This song hits hard and fast, delving into the philosophical implications of sacrificing mankind’s humanity by relying on technology. The album’s final track, “Technocalyptic Cybergeddon,” is an ambitious 10-minute epic that reveals that the modified humans have been programmed to cause the extinction of the old human race. With this intense peak, the album is left with a cliffhanger that leaves the listener wanting more. This album is a really ambitious effort and features a dark, twisted storyline set to a well-composed, larger-than-life metal soundtrack. After hearing these 8 songs, I’m really excited to hear what comes of “The Singularity, Phase II” and “Phase III.” I give this album 5 stars out of 5. “The Singularity, Phase I” will be released in North America on October 14th and marks Scar Symmetry’s 10th anniversary as a band.
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disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Anchor.
stopping riC sports due to alcohol, then hosting a clubbing event viCTor MarTelle opinions editor @anchoropinions
Let’s put all of our sports games and teams on hold to appreciate the fact that we are a dry campus, and to emphasize that alcohol and drug use is bad. It all seems like a good message, until Illumina was invited to our campus to perform. “Illumina Live” is a light show and dance party, or as I like to call it, a traveling nightclub. So why are we inviting this organization to our campus yet we stop sports due to drug use? I remember going to the Macklemore concert last year. It was an amazing concert to say the least, but the students
showed otherwise. I found it odd that I could smell weed and see drunk students stumbling about as Macklemore sang deep songs like “Wings.” The problem here is that despite telling ourselves that we are a dry campus and trying our best to promote ourselves as such, it seems hypocritical to have “Illumina Live” put on a show for us, yet at the same time, pause sports to remind people about alcohol and drug use. Let’s be real here. There will be drug and alcohol use at “Illumina”, no matter how tight the security may or may not be. The question is how much of this will get in the event, or if we even should have an event like this on campus at this time. We need to realize that this is an unfortunate reality in
college society. It seems insane if you don’t drink and participate in some drug activity. It has been this way for many years and it doesn’t seem to have any signs of stopping. The point here is that pausing sports and having students take alcohol and drug informational sessions won’t curb the problem in the slightest, and bringing some night club on campus will definitely not have any positive impacts regarding this issue. It also seems rather unusual that we punish everyone for the actions of a few careless individuals. I really think we should retake a look at ways to effectively reduce the alcohol and drug use of college students. Having a nightclub while pausing sports to raise awareness for drug and alcohol activities? More like a slap in the face.
What’s with this radio music? aSHleY araBY anchor Staff
Has anybody noticed that almost all music on the radio has the same reoccurring theme? Let’s face it: all verbal music is about relationships one way or another. Is this a good thing? Well, sometimes. It’s true that songwriters want to express their emotions to someone. Then, we as listeners can relate to it and that music could have a positive effect on the relationships we’re in. If people honestly relate songs like this to their own lives, then music has meaning. I like these songs. But not everyone can relate to this music, especially those without a boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife. That’s why I think it’s important for music to have variety. There are songs like this out there, but unfortunately the radio doesn’t air them frequently enough. People may claim that radio stations are biased, but I think the real reason is that musicians aren’t creating enough music that has variety. Sometimes, music about relationships can actually negatively affect you. Take some of Taylor Swift’s songs. You may like the beat, but if you think about it, what’s the point of writing music about past significant others? Yeah, the song might sound good, but really there’s no important reason to write about it. It just shows that person is still affecting Swift, even though they’re out of her life. Music like that shows that an old relationship still bothers them and rekindles their upset or anger. “All music promotes values one way or another. There’s more
to life than negative thoughts about relationships,” said Nicholas Bilodeau, a student at Rhode Island College. I agree. People can actually take something good from any relationship, even if it ended badly. Take it as a learning experience. I think these songs are only meant for the musician to show off their talent and make money. It’s a way for the musician to say what they’re thinking, but without directly speaking to the face of the person they’re writing the music about. That’s cowardly. Then people listening to the music and going through break ups relate it to their life and have that negative viewpoint. “It promotes these values of hate and a long cycle ensues through her fans all over the world and that’s not right,” said Nicholas. Though the beats of these songs are catchy, there are listeners breaking apart the meaning of the verses and not finding one way to connect to the song. It seems like songwriters are saying ‘if you don’t like songs about relationships, that’s tough.’ True, we as listeners have the power to turn the radio on or off, but it’s important to feature different types of songs. Nicholas also said, “Writers should make songs that promote well-being instead of always relationships because people find a lot of wisdom through music and sometimes music is that outlet for consolation to that troubled kid who all they have is an iPod.” This is true. It’s important for music to have a meaning for everyone. Musicians should write more songs to reach out to the community. That is the creativity of music.
THEN TELL US.
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RIC softball hosts alumni game aleX Wall anchor Staff
my teammates again. I feel like I played my last regular season game yesterday.” Sophomore pitcher Lauren DiScuillo also reported about the game: “In the beginning of the game seeing the girls was a great feeling, especially being able to be back on the field with them. At the same time it was a little odd having them playing on the opposite team.”
What a great night it was for a softball game on Friday night. The game featured two teams between the current softball players and the alumni softball players. Among the alumni were players Kristina Gingell (RIC ’14), Maria Darling (RIC ’14), Stacy Pokora (RIC ’14) and Michelle Sylvestre (RIC ’14). The game was followed by food and drinks as the team reminisced about old softball memories. - Maria
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When asked about the team for this upcoming year, Darling said “I think this team is going to be great this year as long as they support each other and all keep that drive to win. The Little East Conference is tough but with solid defense and offense it is beatable. DiScuillo also has high hopes darling ‘14 for the team this year. “I think this season is going to go great just like last year. We have a young team that has amazing chemistry and there’s only more to improve with us for the regular season.”
think this team is going to be great this year as long as they support each other and all keep that drive to win.
According to Darling, “Playing in the alumni game definitely made it feel real again. You don’t know how much you miss a place until it’s gone. It was amazing to see all
maria darling ‘14 was one of many returning alumni - Anchor File Photo (2013)
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huber, deluca score in season opener for riC hockey aleX Wall anchor Staff
Friday night marked the beginning of the RIC hockey season. They held their own against Merrimack college and kept with them for the first period. The starting line consisting of senior goalie Vinny Tudino, junior forward Ryan Huber, sophomore forward Max Johnson, junior forward Alex Nadiger and senior defenseman Mike Martinelli and Alex Murray came out racing and eager to play. Merrimack got the first goal of the game but it wasn’t long after that Ryan Huber scored, tying the game. By the end of the period the score was 3-1. The second period started the same as the first when Merrimack scored at 19:03 making the score 4-1. RIC came back fighting when
freshman forward Nick McGuirl scored at 14:40. Shortly after, RIC got another goal scored by sophomore defenseman Ben Deluca, making the score 4-3. To finish off the second period, Merrimack scored two more goals making the score 6-3. It wasn’t over yet for the Anchormen when they came out ready to go in the third period. Junior goalie Patrick Noke was put in goal and did not give up any goals. Freshman Jared Vadenais finished off the period at 10:08, ending the game 6-4.
of the season is looking good for the team. “As a team, we just need to get used to playing with each other. Some guys haven’t played in several years and to play like we did last night was great. It’s great to have guys who want to work hard and battle everyday. Once we get the chemistry down we will be unstoppable.” The Anchormen will play again on Friday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. against UMass Lowell at the Dennis Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.
When asked about the game, Huber seemed hopeful. “It always feels good to get the first goal out of the way. Especially the shift after the other team takes the lead. We all kept positive attitudes throughout the game and kept working hard especially in the third period where everyone stepped it up.” The rest
the ric hockey club. — Alex Wall, Anchor Staff
Anchorwomen bounce anChorMen faLL 3-1 back with two big wins to Keene state aleX Wall
JerZY PolaK
anchor Staff
assistant editor
At an away game at Keene State, New Hampshire, freshman forward Akiel Legall put up the only point for the Anchormen. With Keene State’s 3 goals, this wasn’t enough as the RIC lost a Little Eastern Conference game on Saturday afternoon.
Volleyball lost their first match of the week to Johnson and Wales on Tuesday (25-22, 25-14, 25-22). The team held their own for the first match and was keeping up with the Wildcats. The second match was also not a bad loss. They picked their spirits up in the third set only losing 25-22. During this game, junior Michelle Malboeuf had a total of seven kills. After a day of hard practice, the Anchorwomen took control and beat Eastern Nazarene (25-14, 25-17, 25-19). Junior outside hitter Lauren Palazzini had a team high of 15 kills during the game. Freshman setter Abigayl White also played a great game with a total of 37 assists. Malboeuf had a team high of two aces this game as well as nine kills and 10 digs. The Anchorwomen continued their winning streak on Friday when they faced University of Saint Joseph’s (25-21, 28-26, 19-25, 2522). Freshman outside hitter Megan Stanzione had two great kills in the last set to secure the win for the Anchorwomen. She has a team high hitting percentage of .750. Palazzini finished the game with 14 kills and 22 digs. Stanzione gave a positive outlook on the game, “I think the game
Early on, the boys had two close opportunities, one coming from Emmanuel Asiedu missing the net just barely. The next came from defender Kwasi Boateng who ripped a shot that hit the post in only the fourth minute.
freshman outside hitter
megan stanzione. — Courtesy of GoAnchormen.org
went well. It showed we’ve come a long way but we still have a long way to go. We really came together in the final set and finished as a team which is the most important thing out there. I’ve been working really hard and it’s just been great to be out there with such skilled teammates!” The Anchorwomen travel to UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.
The Owls struck in the 30th minute when a loose ball was taken advantage of, and swiftly put past goalkeeper Adam Ghazal, giving Keene State the lead. The Owls took this lead into the half, Ghazal already having made 4 stops. In the 53rd minute, KSC buried another goal taking advantage of a PK. A 3-0 lead came in the 65th minute, all but ending the game for the Anchormen. It was in the 84th minute that RIC scored their only tally when Ricci fed Legall who headed it past the keeper, breaking the clean sheet. The Anchormen will play Plymouth State at home on Saturday, October 11th at 1 p.m., continuing Little Eastern Conference action.
senior midfielder david ricci. — Courtesy of GoAnchormen.org