From
left,
Assistant Administrative Supervisor Mary Stahowiak,
newly elected
SCG, Inc. Speaker Hillary Costa, Deputy Speaker Thomas Lima and President Travis Escobar Costa’s special election during last Wednesday’s Parliament meeting.
get right down to business following
President Carriuolo becomes SCG tackles broader ill during Mid-Year Review agenda
The speech, finished by Vice President Penfield, highlighted RIC’s accomplishments, future goals
By Nicholas J. Lima Anchor Editor
and
Sarah David
Anchor Contributor
Rhode Island College President Nancy Carriuolo began her Mid-Year Review in the Student Union Ballroom last Wednesday, but she did not finish it. During the annual speech, attended by many of the college’s faculty, staff and administration, Carriuolo stepped from behind the podium and asked Vice President for Student Affairs Gary Penfield to finish her remarks, before leaving the room with flu-like symptoms, it was later reported.
Week of February 20, 2012
Penfield, a veteran administrator who has held his post since 1979, stepped up to deliver the remainder of her address without hesitation. The speech boasted about the accomplishments of professors, students and athletes, announced the awarding of grants and hinted at a number of changes that could be in store for the college in the near future. The biggest announcement of all was Governor Lincoln Chafee’s recently released budget proposal that includes over $100 million in infrastructure improvements to RIC. Most of that funding – $65.2 million – is earmarked for a joint-nursing building with the University of Rhode Island, to be located off-campus. However, $44.7 million will go towards the renovation of two buildings nearly every student takes classes in – and which are often the subject of harsh criticism for their aging condition – Gaige Hall and Craig-Lee Hall. An additional $2.7 million will be
allocated towards improving building entrances, exits and pathways for persons with disabilities, and $1 million for infrastructure. However, there’s a catch – the funding in Chafee’s budget must still be approved by the General Assembly, and by Rhode Island voters through a ballot question. One new change Carriuolo featured in her Mid-Year Review was the general education program at RIC, which has been completely reconstructed for the first time since 1992. Instead of the usual lecture-style courses RIC students are used to, freshmen and sophomores will be enrolled in seminars that focus primarily on critical thinking and preparing students for the rest of their college journey. The class sizes will be smaller, with about 20 students per seminar, allowing for a better relationship between professor and
see
By Frank Wellington and Tara Lafond Anchor SCG Bureau
REVIEW page 5
www.theanchoronline.org
With mid-year officer elections finally behind them, Student Parliament resumed debate on a full agenda of issues last Wednesday, discussing a presidential veto, Greek life, Donovan food, academics and SCG’s budget. While no major initiatives were finalized, Student Community Government, Inc. members introduced four bills that could have long-lasting effects. The meeting was also significant because it marked the first for Speaker Hillary Costa, who was sworn in by President Travis Escobar during the three-hour meeting’s opening act. “Anyone filling into, for one, Aaron Buckley’s seat, and two, just the position of speaker, it’s a difficult task,” Escobar said. “I have confidence she will improve and she will get better as our meetings progress.” Costa was elected by an 18-3 margin in a race against Rep. Michael Hartley immediately prior to the meeting, succeeding two-term Speaker Buckley. While Costa had guidance from Deputy Speaker Thomas Lima, who is new to the Executive Council himself, and others in Parliament
see
AGENDA page 6
Anchor Photo // Angelica Dubois Vol. 84, Issue #21
The Anchor
February 20, 2012
This Week in Anchor History 2006
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A celebration ensued on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the opening of the Welcome and Information Center in Rhode Island College’s Student Union. The upgrade from information desk to hospitality home base was attended by President Nazarian, all four vice presidents, students and special guest yo-yo champion Larry Sayco. “It’s long overdue,” President Nazarian said, “We want to do everything we can to ensure the welcoming impression is a favorable one.” The event’s special guest, Larry Sayco, entertained students with his yo-yo skills prior to the center’s ribbon cutting.
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Rhode Island College received bids for the construction of the New Residence Hall and found them to be up to 20 percent higher than anticipated. The bond, voted on in 2004, which made the construction possible was approved before Hurricane Katrina took out the Louisiana port where 12 percent of cement used in the U.S. is imported. The U.S. relies on imported cement due to the fact that producers struggle to get zoning rights and permits in order to expand production and keep with demand.
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Helping students secure jobs and reach new “Destinations”
A comprehensive look at the Career Development Center
Enjoy volunteer work? The Career Development Center features an AmeriCorps program. Students who complete 300 hours of community service will receive a stipend of $1,524 toward their education. The program takes between 15 and 20 students. Students who are doing service “just because” should apply for the program at the Career Development Website. Register at http://www.ric.edu/careerdevelopment/jobfairs.php
specifically have work study and those who don’t. Although most on-campus jobs are meant for students who were awarded with work study, many places with extended hours, such as the Adams Library and Donovan Dining Center, accept all students due to the large number of students needed. Also, if a job requires a specific skill, offices may need to make an exception, such as, if they are looking for an art student to design flyers and no one with work study has the skill, they may be more inclined to accept a non-work-study student. Work-study students that cannot find on-campus work may use their work study off campus by searching for a job through Destinations. The center also helps students train for careers. During the months of March and April, the Career Development Center hosts many job fairs. The center also posts online which businesses are hiring, so students can decide whether to go or not in advance. She encourages students to apply in advance so they can receive helpful email reminders as well as name tags for the event.
“
We can help students best when we get to know them.
– Linda Kent Davis
“
Nearly 700 students are employed through on and off-campus campus programs run by Rhode Island College. Interested in becoming one of them? The Career Development By Katelyn Hurd Center, located in Craig-Lee News Editor Room 054, features many tools that students may not know about. Not only does the center inform students of the many on-campus and off-campus job opportunities available, it provides students with tools to help get a job. Job fairs, ways to better your resume events, interviewing practice help, and even conventions held at the center are all available for student use. All of the tools – even the job search feature – are available to students even after they graduate from RIC. “Because our office is not a mandatory place for students to visit, we are often overlooked,” said Linda Kent Davis, who has been the director of the center for over four years. “We aren’t just about helping seniors get jobs. We help students all the way through.” Davis explained that the Career Development Center is sort of the “middleman” when it comes to employment. The center processes confusing paperwork, such as W-9 and I-9 forms, and helps with financial-aid problems. “We are kind of a channel between getting everything done so students can, in fact, work,” said Davis. “It’s a cumbersome process if you’re going onto a payroll.” On the Career Development Center website, students can make an account and take advantage of the job search function called Destinations. By using Destinations, students can search for on or off-campus jobs, volunteer work, internships and even find a permanent job for after graduation. Students can also post resumes for off-campus employers to view, but for on-campus jobs, students are expected to be recognized by meeting with the office they wish to be employed at. Students can make an account at https://www.myinterfase.com/ric/student/. “If we know about a job, it’s there,” said Davis. “But this is the time of year you aren’t going to see much. Usually, a rush for jobs occurs at the start of the fall semester.” Davis encouraged students to not only look at the jobs listed online, but to make themselves known by making an appointment. Although all students have the same opportunities, if she were to see a job listed on the website, she could notify the student she feels is a good fit for it. There are different opportunities for students who
Davis also explained that she is working on bringing a job fair to RIC specifically focused on health and human services. This will be the first fair of its kind held at RIC, and she expressed excitement for the pilot program. The center also runs a program called Interviewing 101, where students bring in a resume and professionals prepare a mock interview. This strengthens students’ interviewing skills, and teaches them new strategies to use when interviewed. The center also helps students learn to love their major. The Career Connections guide allows students to search and match themselves up with an alumni mentor to learn about the mentor’s experiences in the field, and for students to make connections. The site also features free, downloadable books about the career, as well as sample resumes and cover letters. “Ride the Wave” is another upcoming program for students to use. It features mini interviewing workshops and a “Career Cruise,” including fun events such as “Dining with the Captain,” which teaches students professional edict, or “Gambling with a Professional Image,” a casinostyle game about facing challenges in a career. The event will be held with a theme of a cruise ship. It takes place on March 7, during Free Period in the Career Development Center. “We are trying different things this year,” said Davis. She said more and more students have made use of the center. The number of students the center has seen applying to graduate school and working towards a career has increased. She says she is happy about the success the center is having, and hopes to see more students set up appointments. “We are seeing more and more students come in,” said Davis. “This year it seems like there is an explosion.”
Upcoming job and internship fairs Brown University 2nd Annual ALPFA (Association for Latino Professionals in Finance) R.I. Career Fair Feb. 29 The Kasper Multipurpose Room, near the intersection of Brown Street and Waterman Street 4 to 6:30 p.m. Employers from various industries will be on site to meet with students from area schools to discuss full-time and internship opportunities. Hosted by the Rhode Island chapter of the Association for Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA) in collaboration with Brown University (CareerLAB and Third World Center).
Westfield State University 4th Annual Career, Internship and Graduate School Fair Feb. 29 Westfield State University 1:30 to 4 p.m. Please dress professionally and bring copies of your resume. Registration required.
Westfield University Teacher Job Fair March 7 Snow date: March 8 Westfield State University, Scanlon Banquet Hall 3 to 5 p.m. Please dress professionally and bring copies of your resume. Registration required.
Northeastern University NuCAUSE (Creating Awareness and Understanding of Social Engagement Careers) Career Expo March 14 Cabot Cage, 400 Huntington Avenue 2 to 5 p.m. NuCAUSE (Creating Awareness and Understanding of Social Engagement Careers) is a career service in partnership with the Center of Community Service and the Campus Sustainability Office, designed to help you learn about social change careers in the non-profit, private and government sectors.
RIC March Job and Internship Fair 2012 March 28 Student Union Ballroom 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Career Development Center’s annual Job and Internship Fair is a forum for employers to connect with RIC students and graduates seeking job and internship opportunities.
RIC Health and Human Services Job & Internship Fair 2012 April 11 Student Union Ballroom 3 to 5 p.m. New this year, the fair is for employers looking to connect with RIC students with backgrounds in nursing, counseling and social work for graduates seeking job and internship opportunities in the health and the human services professions.
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Speaker Costa takes her gavel By Frank Wellington Hillary Costa won Student Community Government, Inc.’s latest special election on Feb. 15, becoming the tenth different representative to serve on the six-member Executive Council this session. The new speaker of Student Parliament won in a landslide, 18-3, over opponent Michael Hartley. The election was brief, unlike the three-hour regular meeting which followed. Rep. Hartley, a seasoned veteran of Parliament who has run for office several time before, was first to give a speech. “I’m graduating this year, which is my third year, and I’ve been on Parliament since my first Freshmen Election,” he said. “The only thing I’ve wanted to do and haven’t done [at RIC] is be speaker.” Hartley said he’s applied to Roger Williams University School of Law for next year, and grew a “playoff beard” while he’s waiting to hear back. “I’m getting a good-luck vibe right now, and I hope it works for me,” the political science major said, referring to both his application and the election. While Hartley’s speech was clocked at 58 seconds, Rep. Costa spoke for closer to five minutes. “I’ve always wanted to have a leadership role within student government,” said Costa, “and I’m choosing to run because the opportunity presented itself.” That opportunity was the resignation of popular twoterm Speaker Aaron Buckley two weeks ago, who resigned due to time conflicts between Parliament, work and class. “I’m opened-minded, I’m a great listener and I love to take that walk in someone else’s shoes,” she said in her speech. Costa, a sophomore public and professional communications major with a minor in political science, said she was recently hired as the deputy news director at WXIN, and has been a paid news staff writer for The Anchor. She’s also the vice president of the Communications Club, student leader of the American Democracy Project at RIC, and a member of the #RICProblems Tweet Team. She filed a petition to join Parliament as a communications department representative last fall, but had too many invalid signatures and did not complete it within the 30-day window required. When a commuter-at-large seat opened earlier this semester, she took out the petition and quickly gained the 50 valid signatures required to become
Newly
elected
Speaker Hillary Costa
a member. Her first meeting was the election meeting two weeks ago for vice president, treasurer and deputy speaker (followed immediately by a regular meeting), so her election last Wednesday was just her second meeting as a member of Parliament, a point which she addressed in her speech. “I’ve spent over a dozen hours since I decided to run for speaker reading over material, reading past agendas and watching Parliament footage courtesy of Anchor TV,” she said, adding that her preparation included reviewing “Roberts Rules of Order,” the By-Laws, and SCG’s Adjudication Policies. Noting that April’s Budget Meetings are often the most contentious the speaker presides over, she said, “I’m confident that I can work with Treasurer Day and the rest of the executive board to facilitate them in an orderly manner and be able to have a sense of neutrality amongst the hearings…” “I have the desire and drive to be the best speaker I can be… knowing that I have tremendous shoes to fill by following Speaker Buckley,” she said. “With that I thank you for your time and consideration and hope that you will consider me for your vote.” Parliament voted 18-3 to elect Costa. There were also three invalid write-ins: two for Rep. Brendan Cardona and
was sworn in by
President Travis Escobar.
Anchor Photo // Angelica Dubois
SCG Bureau Chief
one for Rep. Marcia Diaz. “I hope this is the last election that I have to run this year,” President Travis Escobar said to begin the meeting. Parliament has now had elections to replace its vice president, treasurer, speaker and deputy speaker in the month of February. Costa became the first women to hold the job since the 2004-’05 year, when two-term Speaker Erica Hole gave way to Laura Colannino. John Fontaine took over the job before that session ended, and was elected two more times, serving through Sine Die in 2007. Michael McKenna served from 2007-’08, current Rep. Nicholas Lima from ’08-’10, and Buckley since. Compared to other Executive Council positions, such as treasurer and deputy speaker, the speaker’s office has been remarkably stable over the last decade. As speaker, Costa will chair the By-Laws/Adjudication Commission, which acts as SCG’s judicial branch and reviews amendments to and interprets the SCG By-Laws. “Thank you for believing in my speech and buying my sales pitch because that’s really what it is,” Costa said in her victory remarks. “I hope you keep this confidence in me throughout the rest of the semester, and I’m ready to do my job.”
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REVIEW
student. Among the changes to the program include fourfrom page credit courses in second language proficiency, advanced quantitative/scientific reasoning, connections and a first-year seminar, all of which take effect this fall for incoming freshmen. In addition to the overhaul of the general education program, the college is developing academic programs for students to earn a Bachelor of Arts in several new areas of study, including urban studies, youth development and public administration, among others. A degree in liberal studies is also under consideration by the Board of Governors for Higher Education. Michelle Valletta, 47, a RIC graduate student, wrote a letter to the NEASC accrediting group expressing her appreciation towards the faculty of Rhode Island College, which was read by Penfield. She said that the first semester of her college career changed her life forever, and that the professors were extremely helpful and sensitive to her needs as a student. “As an undergraduate and a graduate student the faculty encourages me to work harder, think deeper and achieve my personal best,” her letter to NEASC says. “So if you are interested in knowing how Rhode Island College is performing, take my comments as testimony of its accomplishments.” “We had a stellar NEASC review,” Carriuolo said earlier in the speech, “with the concerns being ones that we all share – better financial support, improved facilities, and greater emphasis on telling our very good story.” According to What’s News, NEASC’s full report will be released this spring along with its accreditation decision. “RIC educators make great leaders,” said Carriuolo, who noted that Rhode Island’s 2012 Teacher of the Year, Superintendent of the Year and a recent Assistant Prin-
1
cipal of the Year are all alumni of the college. RIC has also continued its multi-year program of going green. Not only has the campus been using environmentally friendly cleaning agents with no bleach or ammonia, but energy costs were also reduced at RIC by replacing lights in the Nazarian Center’s Sapinsley Hall with LED, rather than incandescent, lamps. Donovan Dining Center has also been cooperating, by turning used cooking oil into renewable, non-toxic fuel. Education is also part of RIC’s environmentally friendly plans. Students will be given the opportunity to enroll in a new class that focuses on the concept of going green and hopes to teach people how they can benefit their environment positively at work, school and at home. At the start of the spring semester, a new and environmentally friendly way to travel was made available to all RIC students. Zipcars are rentable on a daily basis, and they can be used for whatever the driver needs to do. There are two cars available to rent on campus, located in K-Lot, the Student Union Loop, and Carriuolo mentioned in her report that she hopes students will take advantage of the opportunity. Another opportunity that will be available to students is the chance to become a member of the Gold Key Society, which was formed in 1967 and disbanded in the early ’80s. It will be composed of a select group of students – no more than 25 – that will serve as ambassadors for the college and hosts for major events. The main purpose of the society is to promote an accurate, positive image of Rhode Island College. Along with the report, service longevity awards were given to professors and staff members, who were honored with a reception following the speech. Naysh Fox, a musical theater major, kicked off the event with a vocal performance of “Run Away with Me.” Fox, a junior, won the Richard Maltby Jr. Award for an outstanding musical theatre performance from the
World News Unclaimed Powerball jackpot still a mystery
A $336.4 million Powerball jackpot sold at a Stop & Shop supermarket in Newport still remains unclaimed as of press time. The ticket, sold on Feb. 18, will pay out $210 million in a lump sum option, according to the Washington Post. The jackpot was the third largest in Powerball history and the largest ever won in Rhode Island, officials said. The winning numbers were 1-10-37-52-57, Powerball 11.
Obama establishes new policy on the uprisings in Syria With the United Nations paralyzed by Russian and Chinese vetoes, the Arab League proposed what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called the new “Friends of Syria” group as a way to coordinate the next steps on Syria. The group, which includes U.S. Arab allies as well as Turkey, has goals of tightening economic sanctions, exploring ways to deliver aid, and forging a political solution in Syria. Clinton is expected to discuss potential additional measures to stem the crisis when she travels to Tunis on Feb. 24 for the first meeting of the new Syria contact group, according to Reuters.
American College Theatre Festival in January. In addition to Fox, Dan Larson and Kelli Noonan, who are also theater students, were semi-finalists in the Irene Ryan Acting Competition. Students weren’t the only members of the college community honored during the Mid-Year Report. Prof. Angelica Vessella, director of dance, wrote, directed and choreographed the production, “A-Mirror-Ca, A Reflection on America’s Media-Driven Culture,” which won the Outstanding Writing, Ensemble, and Execution Award at the festival. Accolades given to the English department were also recognized. Prof. Emily Danforth, successfully completed and published her first novel, “The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” a young-adult story about a teenage girl struggling to come to terms with her sexuality. The RIC women’s basketball team has also made history this year. After defeating Western Connecticut, 66-38, the Anchorwomen secured their first Little East Conference Regular Season Championship in program history. RIC will host the 2012 LEC Tournament semifinals and finals on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24 and 25. Although Carriuolo couldn’t deliver the remainder of her address due to her illness, she chose to conclude her report, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, with what she referred to as “love letters from students to RIC.” “I lack the vocabulary to express how I could have done this without RIC,” said former Speaker of Parliament Aaron Buckley, who is graduating this semester with a double-major in psychology and political science. “I greatly appreciate everything that RIC has done for me.” As of press time, a transcript of President Carriuolo’s Mid-Year Review was not made available to The Anchor. – With additional reporting by Editor-in-Chief George Bissell
Victory for Obama: Legislation passed to extend tax cuts for workers Legislation was passed last Friday to extend a tax cut for 160 million workers through December and continue long-term unemployment benefits. Although it will add $100 billion to the U.S. deficit, according to Reuters, it is aimed at further stimulating the economy and received bipartisan support in an election year.
Apple announces more iOS devises sold in 2011 than Mac Computer has in company’s history According to Apple Insider, in 2011 Apple sold more iOS operating devices – iPhones, iPads and iPod touches – in the 12-month span than it has sold Mac computers in the company’s history. “To put it in context, it took us 22 years to sell 55 million Macs,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive. “It took us about five years to sell 22 million iPods, and it took us about three years to sell that many iPhones. And so, this thing is... on a trajectory that’s off the charts.” Over 55 million iPads have been sold, to which Cook admitted in a speech at this week’s Goldman Sachs Conference exceeded even his most optimistic of expectations.
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AGENDA
Anchor Photo // Angelica Dubois
Chambers, several members commended her at the meeting’s conclusion from page for providing a relatively smooth transition. Topping a list of five items of new business were two resolutions co-sponsored by Escobar, Secretary Kyla Pecchia and Rep. Brittany Boilard concerning College Dining Services. The first was a request for Donovan Dining Center’s deli and grill lines to include bacon as an option for sandwiches. A friendly amendment was made by Rep. Nicholas Lima to also request Monterey or cheddar Jack cheese. After a brief discussion, the resolution passed overwhelmingly (Rep. Jack Adamo later said he voted no because he is a health education major). The second resolution “encourages Donovan Dining Center to allow students to be able to use their dinner board at the Café after the service hours of Donovan Dining Center,” a frequent student complaint, particularly among those who have classes between 4 and 8 p.m. Escobar said he wrote the resolutions in part because he wanted to “demonstrate to Parliament that even small issues that affect students can be brought up for discussion.” The president has repeatedly requested that Parliament members introduce their own legislation, though few have. Both resolutions will be forwarded by the Executive Council to College Dining Services for consideration. The second item of business was a long-anticipated “Rhode Island College/SCG Greek Life Agreement,” introduced by Escobar and Treasurer Jordan Day. The Student Activities-written proposal, which has far-reaching effects for SCG and every current and future Greek organization at RIC, creates a hybrid structure for SCG and Student Activities, through its Greek life coordinator, to oversee fraternities and sororities. Rep. Lima raised concerns over some of the draft agreement’s seven subsections, and said he hoped Parliament would table it until those concerns could be addressed. In a half-hour speech, he said he couldn’t vote to “send our Greek organizations off to Student Activities” without first knowing the structure and rules of the existing Greek Community Council, and added that the proposed agreement failed to mention the Student Organizations Committee’s role in monitoring student life. He also took issue with SCG’s current lack of representation on the GCC, and asked for clarification over a proposed rule that would have new Greek organizations go through the institutional recognition process first before being approved by SCG – opposite of the current structure – and questioned whether SCG’s approval or
1
From
left,
disapproval of new organizations would then be binding or just a formality. However, Lima said his biggest point of contention was over Section 3 of the draft agreement, which says, “Existing local organizations may to [sic] continue to function in their current form and are grandfathered in under this agreement, but because of the significant liability and risk management issues associated with being responsible for Greek life, students interested in starting a new group must affiliate with a national organization.” “That’s one of the reasons that this body in the 2010’11 academic year passed a resolution calling for a Greek life coordinator,” said Lima, “was to deal with those liability and risk-management issues. Not to say no more new local fraternities or sororities are allowed on this campus.” “I think the three sororities we have active on campus right now are good examples of locals that have started here, and then gone on to be successful. To handcuff ourselves and say, ‘No more of that, ever, under this policy,’ … is concerning to me, and is one of the key sticking points I have on this proposal.” “Look at our Greek life now,” Escobar said. “It all started with a group of students coming to student government and saying they want to start a local organization.” Dean of Students Scott Kane, who is SCG’s advisor, said that what SCG and the college were trying to do was “unusual,” as Greek life at most other academic institutions has little – if anything – to do with student government. Still, he agreed that tabling the issue for further discussion outside of Parliament was a good idea. “I take Representative Lima’s suggestions very constructively because he’s said a lot of things I have no objection to,” Kane said, though he cautioned that some rules must be in place due to the structure of national organizations. Before the agreement was tabled, Day said she would work with the Executive Council and representatives from the college to answer the questions raised by Parliament, and would propose amendments, before the agreement is brought back to Parliament on Feb. 29. Budget business The Executive Council introduced his SCG budget for the next fiscal year for Parliament’s approval. Totaling $83,873.20, the budget represents a 16 percent increase from the current year’s $72,083. The budget does not include payroll for the corporation’s employees, funding for the STORGY Awards (which is budgeted at $1 and requested by the SCG secretary during the school year), or other SCG-related costs, such as the Washington Internship and Cooperative Preschool.
Rep. Nicholas Lima, Vice President George Bissell
and
Rep. Jack Adamo.
The budget includes a record $47,268.20 for SCG officer, Cabinet, committee and Parliament stipends, accounting for most of the increase. The current year’s original operating budget did not include $5,000 for the newly created Cabinet or $1,080 for the Student Entertainment Committee. Escobar said he added a ninth stipend-receiving month for next year’s president, secretary, vice president and treasurer to compensate the officers for work done over the course of the summer. While the changeover of officers occurs on June 1, SCG’s fiscal year doesn’t end until July 1, during which time the office remains open. Currently, the officers don’t receive their first of eight stipends until late September. But it was one of the budget’s smaller line items that caused the most debate: a $645 maintenance fee for SCG’s timeshare. “We’ve owned it since the early 1990s, and I think it’s an embarrassment for Student Community Government to continue to own this timeshare,” said Rep. Lima. “Many attempts have been made in recent years to at least address it in Parliament, and only one or two attempts have actually been made to sell it.” He continued, “I think if we made another attempt to sell it, or get rid of it, or donate it – or maybe light it on fire – I think that would be prudent.” “I would strongly recommend… that SCG enacts some sort of proposal to eliminate this timeshare expenditure, because I really don’t think it is in our interest to continue to own and operate one,” Lima said. A lengthy debate across Parliament followed – including a heated exchange between Treasurer Day and Staff Rep. Mark Paolucci. The two argued about what process SCG follows to rent out the Loon Mountain timeshare, which sleeps six, until calls for Speaker Costa to bring the meeting back to order were made by several members. “I feel that we’re all getting out of hand,” Escobar said. “This is the first meeting for our newly elected speaker. Can we please respect who has the floor, and can we please throw away all of the theatrics regarding this timeshare?” While no decision on the timeshare will be made until later this semester, one program that started under Escobar will be coming to end. Rep. Robert Santurri questioned the elimination of funding for the Books for Community Involvement program, and said he will consider developing legislation to replace it. The two-year program that gave students a RIC Bookstore coupon in return for attending student organizational meetings and events turned out to be too cumbersome, and failed to meet its goals. It was canceled by the Executive Council earlier in the session when fall semester numbers fell below minimum expectations. SCG is also asking for a $500 increase in office supplies and $50 increase in its florist line item, bringing each to $3,550 and $250, respectively. The florist item is most often used to send flowers or condolences to members of the college community suffering a death in the family or serious illness. The corporation asked for level funding across its 17 other line items. Some of the largest are: $6,000 for a required annual audit; $5,000 for accountant fees; $5,000 for food service; $4,300 for repair and maintenance to office equipment and computers; $3,200 in attorney fees; $2,500 in advertising; and $2,000 for Web services. While Parliament passed the budget unchanged last Wednesday, it may have been amended over the weekend at the Budget Hearings. Parliament will finalize SCG’s operating budget, along with all other student organizational accounts, in April. The final new business item was a proposal by President Escobar and Secretary Pecchia to create a standing
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Anchor Photo // Angelica Dubois
Nancy Carriuolo. She had Penfield take over for her when she left her Mid-Year Review – in mid-speech – due to illness earlier in the day. “Well, she went home, of course, and… I’m not a medical doctor,” said Penfield, which generated laughs from the members. “I just had to finish her remarks, that’s all. True to form, she was sending me some emails tonight… we have cancelled her appointments for tomorrow and Friday, so I think she’s going to take the rest of the week off.” Escobar’s first veto
From
left,
Vice President
for
Student Affairs Gary Penfield, Dean of Students Scott Kane and Staff Rep.Mark Paolucci at last Wednesday’s Parliament meeting.
Academic Affairs Committee, to be comprised of Parliament members, non-Parliament members and the vice president for academic affairs, or designee. Escobar said the charge of the committee will be to investigate college academic issues and policies, seek improvement of those issues, and act as a liaison for the student body to the vice president for academic affairs – current Vice President for Academic Affairs Ron Pitt requested that SCG take up the proposal. “I think things like this are really important because it’s really an issue that affects a lot of students,” said Pecchia. The proposal was passed unanimously, and will be reviewed for implementation by the By-Laws/Adjudication Commission before returning to Parliament for a final vote. Another agenda item, an “Alcohol Policy Revision Proposal,” was not discussed. Rep. Buckley, who had an approved leave for the meeting, is still chair of Parliament’s Ad-Hoc Alcohol Policy Committee, so Escobar decided to pull it from the agenda. “We felt like it would be unfair to introduce a proposal without his guidance on the issue,” Escobar said. Announcements and hearings Escobar said that the Council of Rhode Island College passed a resolution – which Parliament unanimously condemned at its previous meeting – changing the way college committee appointments are made when SCG fails to appoint a student within the first three weeks of the fall semester. He added that he told Council about the faculty’s two vacant seats on Parliament. “I hope that all of this gesturing by student government will generate some faculty interest, and we’ll hopefully fill those seats before Sine Die,” he said. Vice President George Bissell, who is also editor-inchief of The Anchor, updated the body on the recent Town Hall Meeting, and said the next one will be on March 6 in the Student Union Ballroom. The meeting is an open forum, however the main topic of discussion will be College Dining Services. The final Town Hall is scheduled for April 10, and will tentatively focus on parking and transportation. Secretary Kyla Pecchia said the annual STORGY Awards are confirmed for April 27 at the Providence Biltmore, which has received its first deposit from SCG. She added that she still has two open seats on her Student
Organizations Committee, one for a Parliament member and one for a non-Parliament student. Treasurer Day began her announcements by expressing her dissatisfaction with attendance at a recent SCG retreat. “We had our Student Parliament Retreat on Feb. 4, and to be honest with you only about seven people showed up,” Day said. “You guys talk about the faculty having apathy. You guys talk about the students having apathy. I’m calling you out right now.” Day said 20 SCG members had signed up to attend the daylong workshop with the American Student Government Association, of which SCG is a member. “I’m dismayed at the fact that a number of you signed up and chose to disrespect our guest speaker, who we paid to have come here and teach us techniques to be a better student government.” “You want to make a difference?” Day asked the members. “Be a student leader. Be proactive.” As of Feb. 6, Day said all of her books were up to date – within two weeks of being elected treasurer – and updated account reports for all funded organizations would be sent out by Feb. 17. According to Day, SCG brought in $432,509.93 in Student Activity Fee revenue last fall, and anticipates another $393,996 this spring. The numbers are critical because her Finance Commission held Budget Hearings from Feb. 18-19, and can only budget 90 percent of anticipated Student Activity Fee revenue for 2012-’13. She said $743,036.83 was budgeted at the hearings last spring. In about two weeks, funded organizations will receive the Finance Commission’s recommendations, and have an opportunity to accept them or appeal to Parliament when it holds its own Budget Meetings in April. “I just want everybody to keep in mind we’re doing what we have to, not what we want to,” Day told Parliament. “People like to inflate their budgets. There are things we have to cut.” Deputy Speaker Lima said he would be following up with the administration on the issues raised at the last Town Hall, and would report back to Parliament at the next meeting. He added that his Conditions and Services Committee, which is still lacking four Parliament members, would be meeting this week. Before he read his appointments and vacancies for the meeting, Escobar asked Vice President for Student Affairs Gary Penfield, who sits on Parliament as an administrative representative, about the condition of President
During a review of the Finance Commission minutes of Feb. 1, Rep. Nicholas Lima asked Treasurer Day for her take on President Escobar’s veto – the first of his two-year presidency – of an allocation granted to Out of Bounds. Day said the organization’s president and treasurer owe over $1,000 to College Dining Services for orders placed when Out of Bounds did not have an active budget. According to the minutes, Out of Bounds “had been informed in October that their funds had been frozen until they held a valid election and had a full officer list, and as a later result, lost their funding. However, the organization still held events and incurred invoices that they were responsible for paying.” Escobar said at that meeting that he had seen “a lot of issues with Out of Bounds and that they need to start doing what they are supposed to do,” according to the minutes, and that “until these invoices are paid” the college accounting office has a block placed on their EMS account. At Finance, Day – who at the time was briefly a voting member of the Commission – spoke against the $1,000 operating budget the organization requested. In a voice vote, she was the only member who voted no, though in retrospect Day said the commissioners “accepted [the veto] as valid.” “Out of Bounds has had a lot of financial issues over the last three years that they’ve been a funded organization,” Day said. “I had a real heart-to-heart with the organization’s president, Stephanie Gyamfi-Darkwah. She understands the situation, and she respects the decision.” “Because of that situation,” Day told Parliament, “President Escobar felt it most necessary to veto their allocation because that $830 they were allocated couldn’t have been used until they paid off their debts with Donovan Dining Center.” In a presidential veto, Parliament has the right to override with a two-thirds vote, though no opposition was voiced in this case. “I fully support what President Escobar did,” Day said. “He made the right decision in that aspect because that $830 could be used for something else. Out of Bounds has been fiscally irresponsible and had been granted plenty of opportunities. We’ve given them many chances and repeated the policy over and over again.” Resignations and appointments Later in the meeting, it was announced that Rep. David Valerio, who resigned as deputy speaker earlier this semester to run against Bissell for vice president, was hired to the Cabinet position of communications director, which reports to the vice president. Bissell also said that all 12 seats on his Public Relations Committee are now filled, and all 10 seats on his Elections Commission will be filled by the next Parliament meeting. Escobar announced Thorpe Hall Rep. Victor Martelle resigned from Parliament due to a class commitment on Wednesday nights. Finance Commission non-Parliament
see
VETO page 8
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Sustainability, more than just about going green
VETO
member Robert Roy, a former SCG treasurer, resigned his seat “due to other obligations from page and commitments.” Roy also stepped down as comptroller, a Cabinet-level position, which Escobar said he hopes to have filled by Feb. 28. The president announced that Deputy Speaker Thomas Lima also officially left the Finance Commission, Elections Commission and Public Relations Committee, due to his new obligations as chair of the Conditions and Services Committee and as recording secretary of the By-Laws/ Adjudication Commission. Likewise, Vice President Bissell, who now chairs Elections and Public Relations, vacated his seat on By-Laws/Adjudication, and Treasurer Day, who now chairs Finance, left her seats on Elections and Public Relations. The vacancies were due to an unwritten rule, begun under President Nicholas Lima’s administration in 2007, that elected officers should not serve on the committees of others – formerly a common practice. With some excep-
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spatial justice, it would make the world a better place to live in. “The problem isn’t the science, we’ve got that,” said Agyeman. “It’s the social aspect.” The Rhode Island Council for Humanities sponsored this event along with many other similar events throughout the state, supporting programs which emphasize ideas about society and culture. The program is also put on by the Sustainable Communities Initiative, which is hosting eight events this semester focusing on the topics of sustainability. This public lecture series is surveying the field of sustainability, hybrid learning, and the cultivation of volunteer sustainability groups and leaders throughout Rhode Island. The middle ground for many people who are looking for various solutions to problems can be reached. Agyeman believes by bringing all of the activists together to focus on one problem – the big picture – there would be a better solution, rather than arguing against each other over who is right. “Find what you can agree on rather than what you can’t,” said Agyeman. Agyeman’s topic branched into six different areas he was looking to address. The first is the importance of diversity and how it should be cultivated in students by creating cultural acceptance classes for students. He explained these ideas are important for our diverse world to blend ideas from different cultures together to create solutions. The next aspect Agyeman presented was the idea of using our environment fairly. Four percent of the U.S. population consumes about 25 percent of the world’s natural resources, he explained.
Anchor Graphic // J.W. Kmieciak
The world isn’t just looking for env ironmental solutions, but solutions in a wide variety By Katelyn Hurd of problems in News Editor order to better human life and society. Julian Agyeman, who came to Rhode Island College last Thursday to discuss his ideas on sustainability, does exactly that. Agyeman is a professor and chair of urban and environmental policy and planning at Tufts University in Boston. His presentation, titled “Just Sustainabilities: Re-imagining Equality, Living within Limits,” discussed the importance of living within our limits and respecting not only our ecosystem, but each other. Students and faculty filled the entire lecture hall in Room 128 of Clark Science. The demonstration focused on the question of how to balance the quality of human life that we value with environmental quality. He explained this is what sustainability is. The concept is not only about going green, it is about sustaining a better quality of life in all aspects to better your living environment. “I am not going to focus on the science of sustainability,” he said. “I am going to focus on the social aspect. If we don’t think these things are possible, then they won’t happen.” Co-originator of the concept of “just sustainabilities,” Agyeman explained the topic includes a combination of problems which can be fixed by thinking of a solution as a whole. By creating a better social and
Saul Lopez
Julian Agyeman kicks off Sustainable Communities Initiative at RIC
“That’s the most dangerous statistic on the planet,” said Agyeman, “we are bloated with construction.” He went on to explain that Germany is twice as efficient as the U.S., using half the amount of resources. He hopes that by the year 2050, when the global population is expected to reach 10 billion people, we will each use one billionth of the resources – a lot less than what Americans use but far more than what other countries use. He thinks it is possible, but not socially accepted, due to consumerism. “We need to develop a de-materialistic American dream,” Agyeman said. His third idea is creating an overall happiness by allowing people to realize their full potential through revamping education. Agyeman also discusses the ideas of increasing urban agriculture, which is important for providing locally grown
tions, the tradition has been followed since, and ensures seats remain open for rank-and-file Parliament members. According to the SCG By-Laws, the main exception is the president, who serves on every committee as a non-voting, ex-officio member. Kevin Martin was appointed by Escobar to nonParliament seats on Elections, Public Relations and the Student Entertainment Committee. Escobar also appointed: Martelle, Richard Hurtz, Adrianna Fargnoli and Nicholas DeSimone to Conditions and Services; Nathan Bissell and Reps. Adamo and Aleksa Liaugaudas to Elections; Reps. Nicholas Tabis and Brendan Cardona to Finance; Rep. Robert Santurri to the Personnel Evaluation Committee and to the college’s Academic Standing Committee; Kaitlyn Burke and Reps. Adamo and Tabis to Public Relations; Rep. George Selwyn to the Student Organizations Committee; and Reps. Marcia Diaz and Boilard to the Alcohol Policy Ad-Hoc Committee. The high volume of appointments was due to a variety of factors. Parliament has seen an influx of new members this month, while some were due to fallout from the recent
food, and emphasizing sharing, which is important in our society through places like the Internet, to share our ideas and even to share things like vehicles. Zipcars, a community vehicle sharing program which came to RIC last month, is a way to share in a positive way. His last idea discussed the need for spatial justice. Public places need to be designed in a more harmonious way, he said. Agyeman spoke about the importance of looking into the future. He explained conservation shouldn’t be frozen in one particular place and time. Now shouldn’t be the priority; the years to come are important. “We have the science of sustainability but we don’t do it,” said Agyeman. “How do we get the public to believe it is possible?”
resignations – and elections – for speaker, deputy speaker, vice president and treasurer. All of the appointments and resignations were accepted with unanimous consent. During Issues of Parliament Members, an open forum at the end of the agenda for the members, Rep. Andrew Augustus expressed his displeasure with the turnout at basketball home games. “Everyone says this campus is boring and there’s nothing to do, but it’s up to us here,” he said. “We have two of the best programs in the country right now in men’s and women’s basketball… yet we rank fifth in the conference for attendance. It’s pathetic.” Augustus continued, “You pay an Athletics Fee. See where your money goes. Take advantage of it. I talk to the team constantly. They get embarrassed sometimes when fans from other schools are louder in the Murray Center than our own fans.” “It starts with people here…,” he said. “We all have friends around campus. Let’s try to get some people out there.”
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Extraordinary RIC student UPCOMING EVENTS advocates bully prevention Feb. 20 Amanda Hannon receives 2012 Emerging Leader Award
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Student Union Ballroom
In
honor of the
BLOOD DRIVE in Perspective: Dr. Charles Drew (1904-1950)
African American
inventor of
the modern blood banking process that revolutionized blood procurement and saved the
While managing her own business and focusing on graduating from Rhode Island College with a teaching degree in elementary and secondary education, Amanda Hannon, 20, the winner of the 2012 By Katelyn Hurd Emerging Leader Award, is News Editor nothing less than extraordinary. Thanks to Hannon’s leadership skills and ideas in bully prevention, she truly has touched the lives of others in the Ocean State, and was honored by Leadership Rhode Island with the award. Despite her busy schedule, Hannon finds the time to speak at schools all over the state to address the issue of bullying. Her self-run program has reached out to over 30 organizations and after-school programs, as well as elementary and middle schools across Rhode Island. Additionally, Hannon is a peer-mentor for students with disabilities and vice president of RIC’s chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. “Doing the workshops for kids is truly my passion,” said Hannon. Leadership Rhode Island gives out a few different business-related awards, along with one for a person who is an emerging leader. Hannon started working with disabled students and volunteering at the Special Olympics after being named Miss Teen Rhode Island in 2009. She explained that she had always wanted to find a way to focus on preventing bullying in schools, but had never had the opportunity before. “I used to be really shy growing up,” said Hannon. “After becoming Miss Teen Rhode Island I really opened up.” When a student at her high school committed suicide as a result of bullying, Hannon, 17 at the time, decided she needed to do something about it. That was when she started her own program, called Stop Bullying Now!, an organization that helps prevent bullying in Rhode Island communities by educating both students and adults about bullying through workshops and community events. The program aims to raise money for grants for schools to create bully-prevention programs.
“Due to budget cuts many schools don’t have bully-prevention programs,” said Hannon. “When money is scarce, those programs are the first to go.” The schools reach out to Hannon, who designs all of her own workshops, forming her presentations around the school’s specific needs. Whether addressing a small group of students at an after-school program for a few weeks or speaking to the whole school during an assembly, Hannon and a board of helpers perform at the schools when requested. “We are constantly thinking of new ways to improve bully prevention,” said Hannon. The program’s upcoming events she highlighted include an Annual Family Fun Day, which is being planned now. It would be free to the community with games, speakers and bully prevention info. Hannon said it will be “a fun way to approach bully prevention.” Hannon also hopes to organize a 5K for the spring, or even hold a conference. Stop Bullying Now! hosts free events for elementary and middle school-level students, yet Hannon also works with students at a higher level, as well. Although not as involved in this program, Hannon is also member of Partnerships to Address Silence, which prevents bullying at the high school and college level. Hannon also works on the RIC campus at the Sherlock Center, working with disabled students under the age of 21 through a high school transition program. Hannon currently helps two students who are in their first year at RIC. “We try to get them as socially active on campus as we can,” said Hannon. From Lincoln, Hannon graduated with an associate’s degree from CCRI before transferring to RIC to major in elementary and special education. “Since I was a little girl I’ve wanted to be a teacher,” she said. Hannon also owns her own event planning company, called Creative Touch, which she founded when she was 19, specializing in just about everything from bridal showers to birthday parties. Hannon will be starting a one-year student teaching program before she graduates from RIC next May.
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The Transformation of Malcolm X
Feb. 21
4 to 5 p.m. Adams Library Fortes Room Rhode Island College student, Peterson Carto class of 2012, presents research on the life and death of Malcolm X, the iconic human rights activist whose story is a lesson in critical thinking.
“Native or Introduced? Pinning
Feb. 23
4 p.m. Fogarty Life-Science down a cryptogenic 050 ascidian” Lauren Stefaniak
University of ConBiology Symposia the spring semester.
from the
necticut hosts the second
Series
Feb. 23
4 p.m. Adams Library Reinhardt Room
of
Film: “For Colored Girls”
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February 20, 2012
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Donovan Dinning Center dilemma Last Monday, I walked into the Donovan Dining Center at 12:30 p.m. Those who know me know that I almost always sit at the tables on the Mezzanine Level of the building. So, of course, By Jonathan Lamantia this is where I found myself Opinions Editor last week. While there, I was looking around, as I normally do, and a problem came to mind. Now generally, I don’t complain about the Don. For the resources available to them, the staff does a relatively good job. Indeed, they seem to respond to requests and are, on the whole, quite pleasant. And I don’t care what you say; the RIC chicken patty is also quite good. However, I do have one qualm; the seating at the Don is not all that efficient. How so? Well, consider the seating which the center currently has. More specifically, ask yourself this: what is the fewest number of people a table is able to hold? The answer: about 4. Now, yes, it is true that most people, who frequent the center, are social eaters. But from my many observations over the past three years, it seems to me that there are
also a fair number of anti-social eaters, including me, within the community. While you have probably never thought of us in such terms – you know who we are. Anti-social eaters are those who annoy you by eating at a table with a capacity of eight people when your group of eight can’t find a spot. The truth is we anti-socials don’t have much of a choice when at the Don. We live in the Northeast; I’ve watched locals give dirty looks to those who had the audacity to say hello to them on the street. Even for those who want to make new acquaintances, which we should all try to do more often, the reality is most of us don’t have the time. Most of us take a very brief on-the-go lunch, about 10 or 15 minutes. Plus, some among us prefer study lunches. In any of these scenarios, it’s good to be anti-social. But the Don isn’t designed for this. Two weeks ago, I stopped in for lunch and tried to find a table on the second level only to find that the line of tables closest to the President’s Dining Room were all filled with only one person. No wonder groups of people have to leave during peak hours. What should we do? Well, first let me say, I understand that everyone is on a budget and the suggestion I’m about to make is not usu-
ally conducive to such things, but I write with a long-term view in mind. We ought to devote one area of the building to smaller tables. This would reduce the number of single people sitting at multi-person tables, freeing those tables for groups and thus reducing the overall density throughout the building. Another benefit, to the studious, anti-social student, is that of a better environment in which to study. So, rather than sitting in the midst of several groups of people, you would sit next to one other person who probably isn’t talking. For the social eater, you won’t have to worry about finding a table for your herd. Everyone wins. Also, it may be worth considering the installation of lunch counters. This would further improve efficiency. First, counters can service more people for the space. Remember, you have to space tables appropriately to allow proper clearance. Second, they’re great for those who don’t want to bring their meal out, but don’t want to stay for more than 10 minutes or so. Granted, this solution is probably not in the cards in the near future, but it’s a start. See you at the Don, although I probably won’t sit with you.
Conservative Candy Land Rick Santorum is now the clear leader in the GOP primary, according to the Real Clear Politics (RCP) average, an average of major national polls, gathered from Feb. 8-16. Santorum’s lead over By Robert Santurri Jr. Mitt Romney is 6.4 percent Anchor Columnist with Santorum garnering 34.2 percent overall. Romney is in second with 27.8 percent, Newt Gingrich is in third with 14.7 percent and Ron Paul is last with 12.3 percent. This comes on the heels of Santorum recently taking the lead in a number of polls for individual states coming up in the primary. Only two weeks ago, Rasmussen polls projected a victory for Romney in Arizona with 48 percent of the vote and Santorum with just 13 percent. As the Feb. 28 winner-take-all primary draws closer, Santorum now has 31 percent and Romney has 39 percent. In even bigger news, the RCP average places Santorum ahead of Romney in Michigan by a spread of 8.2 percent. This is a state in which Romney had been heavily favored to win before the primaries even started. For him to lose this state would be a huge blow to his campaign and call into question whether or not he is still truly the party’s frontrunner. Santorum also has taken over the lead in polling for Ohio, which is a crucial battleground state in the general election this fall. However, this does not mean it is the end of Romney. If anything, he will certainly come out swinging hard
these next few weeks and throwing everything he can into stopping Santorum. The rise of Santorum in recent weeks, I think, highlights one of the biggest problems that not only plague the GOP now but will continue to going forward. The GOP base simply doesn’t trust Romney. However, that distrust also extends to other “establishment” Republicans. In the GOP, there is a phrase for those who are not considered to be conservative enough: Republican in Name Only, or RINO. One of the biggest insults that a Republican can throw at a fellow Republican is calling them a liberal. For example, Paul has attacked both Santorum and Romney as being liberal. One would be hard-pressed to find any liberal who would count Romney or Santorum among their ranks. However, in the GOP, there is a certain obsession with ideological purity which is entrenched with a no compromise attitude. At times I feel I’m reading a Harry Potter novel, where they are simply replacing the word muggleborn with liberal and pure-blood with conservative. The type of New England moderate Republicans seems to be a dying breed in the party with Romney being one of the few remaining. Indeed, there are many Republicans throughout the country who wouldn’t consider Republicans in states like Rhode Island or Massachusetts to be real conservatives or even Republicans. The result of all this is the current state of affairs in the GOP. Things are so uncertain that there has been even been talk of a brokered convention, which could occur if no one candidate were able to secure enough delegates. In fact, two possibilities have already been floated, Jeb Bush
and Sarah Palin. Meanwhile, as I have said in previous columns, the biggest winner in all of this continues to be President Obama. Romney, for example, is going to use a lot of resources trying to beat Santorum, or even Gingrich again, which obviously detracts from what he could have spent against the president. The economy also continues to improve, and this is certainly helping the president’s numbers. Even Obama’s recent controversial decision on contraceptives and contraceptive coverage has benefited him by bringing the issue to the forefront of the GOP primary. All four GOP candidates now have to walk a tightrope where they can’t explicitly say they’re against contraceptives in order to not lose the moderate vote, all while being against it to pacify the base. The longer this uncertainly persists, the longer candidates will have to go ultra-conservative to keep the base on board. The farther to the right the candidates go, the farther they run from the moderate bloc, who the winning candidate must win. President Obama is playing chess; the GOP candidates are playing conservative Candy Land. They’re all racing one another to the magical number of delegates required to become the party nominee. However, in the process, they will likely destroy each other while alienating moderates. They truly have a lack of foresight.
February 20, 2012
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My turn on gay marriage There is no legitimate and well thought-out argument opposing gay marriage; at least, there isn’t one present in the article printed in The Anchor last week, “A conservative take on gay marriage,” By Justin Goslant by Sarah Fruci. Anchor Staff Writer At the outset, it should be noted that Fruci was remarkably respectful – insofar as she avoided vitriolic language, but the fact is she still argued that society not grant equal legal protection to an entire segment of the population, and this cannot be ignored. “Whenever the topic…comes up,” Fruci says she “begin(s) to worry,” and feels “pushed into a ‘conservative corner.’” She should, because when you’re wrong, that’s where you go to hide the shame. She must be given some credit since she expressed her distaste for religious zealots who claim that homosexuality is evil. We both agree that it’s not. She next explains that her view of marriage developed during childhood from seeing men and woman exchanging rings and vows. Well, I’ve seen lots of images on TV, but I also realize that USS Enterprise NCC 1701 is not actually “boldly going where no man has gone before.” Images don’t always present a culture fully and accurately. “Society has been based on this idea [of heterosexual marriage], and changing something so core to the institution would defeat its purpose,” claims Fruci. I assume she means contemporary American society, since there are other societies which practice polygamy, polyandry, group marriage and same-sex marriages. Numerous nations recognize polygamy: Egypt, Libya, Bangladesh and nearly the entire Middle East region. Polyandry, the practice of a woman having more than one husband, is less common, but still practiced across some
Pacific Island nations and tribes like the famous Masai in Africa. The point is different marital institutions are practiced according to a society’s sex ratios, resources and other variables which make whatever form they practice the most practical. With so many groups and societies practicing different marital systems, it can hardly be argued that in a country as large and diverse as ours that heterosexual marriage can be an immutable, unchanging pillar of society. And same-sex marriage would “defeat the purpose” of what exactly? Men and women could still get married. What’s the problem? No discussion of marriage would be complete without including myths written by Bronze Age societies: religion, which Fruci, despite claiming she wouldn’t, does discuss. Christians believe it’s a violation of God’s law to engage in homosexual acts. There are also other religions that believe this, too. However, there are also plenty that don’t, and even some sects of Christianity which have no issue with same-sex marriages. She goes on to say that the government is supposed to leave religion alone, which I concede is true. She argues, “If the government is allowed to define marriage, it is crossing its boundaries,” and continues by saying “the Amish wouldn’t like it if the government said they had to use electricity, nor would Catholics like the government interfering in religious ceremonies.” But I’d be willing to say that gay people don’t like being told they can’t get married. Besides, the government is already involved in marriage by allowing for laws including tax benefits, hospital visitation rights and other legalities. The government shouldn’t care what type of wedding you have, but if you want to have a legally recognized marriage, you need to fill out those marriage forms and register with the state. This isn’t a case of government trying to influence religion, but rather religion trying to influence legislation – separation of church and state goes both ways.
The next fallacious argument posits that families emerge from heterosexual marriages and that families can function better if “both parents are stable in their bond to one another,” implying that gay couples would have insecure bonds. I have seen no evidence for gay relationships being more unstable than straight ones. As for the families, it is true that a gay couple will not be able to produce a child on their own, and thus no children or line of continuation. She also argues that one of the main purposes of marriage is procreation. It seems as though Fruci forgot, or doesn’t know, about surrogates. What about couples who are infertile and cannot have children – is their marriage legitimate? Or couples who do not want children? Families are just people who care for each other and can take on some crazy forms. Traditions and history, she argues, support only heterosexual marriage. In this case, I must agree. Historically, at least in the U.S., heterosexual marriage has been the norm. Yet there is another tradition that discourages gay marriage, and that is our long history of American hypocrisy. Blacks, women and other minorities couldn’t vote in the land of “equality.” Also, blacks and whites couldn’t get married, either. But is this a tradition we want to continue? The sanctity of marriage argument is also present in Fruci’s article, stating, “If marriage becomes open to anyone, it’s no longer a privilege and will no longer be treated as such.” Basically marriage won’t be taken seriously anymore, which would be a shame because I know how seriously it is taken by Kim Kardashian. The view of marriage presented in last week’s paper presents a very limited, ethnocentric view of marriage while demonstrating a lack of reasoning. Support for civil unions is a matter of semantics and still sends a message a negative marriage, akin to saying, “You can get married, get all the benefits of being married, but we have to call it something else because you make us a little uncomfortable.”
Our issues, Your issues
February 20, 2012
12
editorinchief@anchorweb.org
Op-Ed
This letter is probably not the first you’ve received in regards to the article “A conservative on gay marriage” [Opinions, Feb. 13], and I should hope that it will not be the last. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, thanks to the First Amendment, and hence the appropriately named “Your Opinion Matters” section. My issue with this article thus, has less to do with the opinion and more to do with the contradictory content and unsubstantiated arguments. (This is especially unfortunate as the title of an article only two pages further reminds contributors to, “Research before [they] write.”) Sarah Fruci writes that the “primary factor” in her opinion towards gay marriage has to do with, essentially, availability heuristic – the fact that the media throughout her lifetime has displayed marriage as a union between a man and a woman. She explains, “All of the images I grew up with showed heterosexual couples exchanging rings and committing for eternity. These images have constructed the way I presently view marriage – as a heterosexual union. I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. Society has been centered on this idea and changing something so core to the institution would defeat its purpose.” Were this logic of our forefathers, slavery would still be acceptable and women and African-American citizens would not have the same rights as white men. Our ancestors were raised during a time in which such inequalities were the norm in society. Does the frequency in availability of such incongruities then justify them? Of course not! The funny thing about change is that it is necessary in order for us to grow. I don’t quite understand Ms. Fruci’s argument for the fact that she discredits both politics and religion. If neither religion nor the government can constitute marriage in our society, then what can? Marriage began as a religious sacrament and for many it still is. However, it is the government’s acknowledgement of such an institution that allows for financial benefit and stability, among other things. Yet, at the same time that the author discredits politics and religion in her opinion, she mentions both within the article: “…even though religion is not a primary component in my view… Religion is a factor in the heterosexual view of marriage,” she writes. Fruci then goes on to explain how the Church and God taught society about marriage’s special relationship between a man and a woman, a definition which she has adopted. How is it that religion is not a part of Fruci’s argument, when it clearly defines her perception of marriage? She continues to support this religious definition as historic, mentioning, “If government is allowed to define marriage, it is crossing its boundaries and interfering in an institution which has historically been religious.” Again, what purpose would marriage serve if it weren’t defined or recognized by the government? What benefits would there be to gain in this life, other than the uncertain promise for spiritual or eternal satisfaction? The answer is simple: none. “Every day, marriage links men and women to one another for life,” writes Fruci. Does this mean that they are linked even when divorced? She makes another bold statement: “Families are able to function more efficiently when both parents are stable in their bond to one another.” Forget heterosexual or homosexual unions. In fact, forget unions altogether! This statement claims that all families with single parents are inefficient. This certainly cannot be true in all cases! Fruci is thoughtful enough to point out the rapidly rising heterosexual divorce rate before arguing, “…if more marriages took place, the divorce rate would increase, discrediting the institution further.” Again, forget about homosexual or heterosexual unions! Why not end the concept of marriage altogether? Problem solved. No more discredit or divorce! “If marriage were to become open to anyone, I feel that it only loses its value…” Hold it right there! What value is there to be lost? According to Fruci’s previous statement, marriage between a man and a woman has already discredited itself all on its own. “If we want our children to understand the true meaning behind marriage, we must make sure it retains its value,” Fruci instructs. If the value of marriage lies in
the concept of a unified man and woman, then our children must also understand that we as people do not support change; Marriage is never about changing, because marriage between a man and a woman has been a more familiar concept in our day, than marriage between a man and a man or a woman and a woman. I also do not understand how someone so adamantly against the concept of gay marriage would support civil unions. Though not equal, civil unions are a step towards the same thing. I do, however agree with the statement, “Marriage has been the norm in the west for thousands of years and it can’t be expected that society automatically legitimize civil unions.” Certainly, all change takes time and what’s the point in “legitimizing” something that is not equal? Why not wait until gay marriage becomes a more prominent probability? Fruci opened her argument with a question: “Once I explain that religion is not the primary factor behind my view, I’m asked what is?” To be honest, after my analysis, I’m not sure her article answers it. She certainly did not use a “bible verse” to back herself up, but marriage in Ms. Fruci’s eyes has clearly been defined by religion, which is mentioned several times throughout the article, as well as government. In fact, Fruci did not support her arguments with anything but, as she closes with this: “Separating civil unions and marriages is important if marriage is to remain a symbol of religious and heterosexual commitment as it has historically been.” As you may have guessed, I am in support of marriage equality. However, I have not written to express this opinion or any hard feelings towards Ms. Fruci. If a conservative would like to express that they do not support marriage equality, then they have every right to do so. Next time, however, it may be beneficial for such a conservative to give credit to their political stance – a byproduct of the government and religion which has defined their concept of marriage. Does Sarah Fruci’s opinion, then matter? Sure it does, but it matters a whole lot more to readers when there is substantial research to support consistent arguments.
Jen Albanese The author is the president of HOPE, a student organization at Rhode Island College, and a former deputy speaker of Student Parliament.
The Anchor Newspaper
“A conservative on gay marriage” with contradictory content and unsubstantiated arguments
repapsweN rohcnA ehT
Our issues, Your issues
February 20, 2012
13
editorinchief@anchorweb.org
Op-Ed
It’s not what you wrote, but how you wrote it I was both shocked and appalled at Sarah Fruci’s “A conservative on gay marriage” that was printed in the Feb. 13 issue of The Anchor. Upon first reading through the article, I thought it was badly written satirical piece and was surprised to learn otherwise. I fully support that The Anchor promotes freedom of expression in its resurrected opinions section, but this article was both unorganized and poorly researched. The author should have taken more time to concisely build her arguments before submitting it to print. First off, Fruci accuses the government of “crossing its boundaries” and violating the separation of church and state if they were to dictate the definition of marriage. I hate to break this to you Sarah, but marriage has been a separate, state institution since the origin of this nation. One does not have to get married in a church, nor does being married mean that you are a Christian. If we were to tell non-Christian couples that were not married in a church that their marriage was now called a “civil union,” do you think they would be happy? No, they wouldn’t be. The term “marriage” has become permanently linked to family and commitment, whist the phrase “civil union” still stands bland and undesirable. According to Marriage Equality Rhode Island, “Marriage is more than simply a collection of legal rights; it tells the community that two people love each other and are a family.” By restricting two people from defining their relationship as they so choose, we are infringing on their personal beliefs and values. The church has nothing to do with this. The church does not have to wed same-sex couples in their parish. The church and the government are completely separate in this matter, and just because a couple is seen as married by the government does not mean that a church has to recognize it. The government would not be infringing on the rights of the church by allowing same-sex couples to wed. In case you’ve never picked up a history textbook, the Supreme Court decided in 1954 that “separate is not equal.” Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka led to a unanimous vote that declared racially segregated schools as unconstitutional. Separate buildings existed that were essentially supposed to provide the same service to school aged children, but it became very clear that the “white” schools, which existed first, were far superior. The same goes for marriage and “civil unions.” Just because they are both
supposed to have the same rights and benefits does not mean that they are equal. Civil unions are not recognized on the federal level, and because of the Defense of Marriage Act, other states do not have to recognize these unions at all. Another poor argument from Fruci stated that “if more marriages took place, the divorce rate would increase, discrediting the institution further.” Ironically enough, Ms. Fruci, data from the Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control shows that five of the 10 states with the lowest divorce rates per thousand people are also among the nine jurisdictions that currently perform or recognize gay marriages. Because same-sex couples are currently fighting for marriage equality, they take the commitment seriously and are very consciously committed to becoming a family. What bothered me the most about this piece was that Sarah claimed “religion is not the primary factor” of her views, but then goes on to mention that “Religion is a factor in the heterosexual view of marriage” and continues for five paragraphs. Not only is this contradictory, but makes the author look extremely ignorant. If your only strong argument is religion, but you claim to not be religious, then why are you stating this opinion in the first place? Sarah, I suggest you educate yourself on LGBT issues, and then learn how to better approach sensitive topics when submitting your writing to a college publication. Your opinions are your opinions and that’s fine by me, but what matters most is the way that you present them. Next time, take the time to do the research to support your ideas, or at least put your real name on your submissions so that you can take responsibility for what you choose to write.
Mandy Wray Dion Ms. Dion is the business manager of The Anchor and a communications major at Rhode Island College. She is also an LGBT rights activist and feminist blogger. Her thoughts are her own and do not reflect those of The Anchor.
Letters to the Editor Policy The Anchor welcomes letters of up to 450 words. The editor reserves the right to reject letters or edit for clarity brevity, good taste, accuracy and to prevent libel. No poetry, attacks on private individuals, or letter-writing campaigns, please. Due to the volume of letters, writers are asked to limit submissions to one per week. Include a phone number where you can be reached during the day.
E-mail letters to: editorinchief@anchorweb.org
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57 65 (18-7, 10-4 LEC)
STARTERS
STARTERS
Ryan Martin Anthony Mariano Rashad Wright Ollie Hunter Eric Fazio
14 13 6 4 3
Montel Walcott Nicco DeMasco John Boyatsis Steve Boudreau Tom Doyle
senior center
14
Mike Akinrola Tom DeCiantis Mason Choice Ethan Gaye Tahrike Carter
11 10 6 5
BENCH
BENCH
RIC
(20-5, 10-4 LEC)
8 4 3 2 0
Michael Palumbo Avery King Kadeem Francis Steven Roberts Chris Burton
8 6 3 2 0
Mike Akinrola puts up a hook shot in the second Keene State. Akinrola finished with 14 points.
Anchor Photos // David Okon
half against
RIC
sophomore guard
Tom DeCiantis
attempts a running layup in
the second half against
Keene State.
Anchormen’s stifling defense stymies Owls
RIC finishes third in Little East Conference Senior center Mike Akinrola scored a team-high 14 points as the Rhode Island College men’s basketball team held off a late rally from Keene State By George Bissell College, hanging on Editor-in-Chief to defeat the Owls, 65-57, in the regular season finale for both teams in the Murray Center on Saturday, Feb. 18. The Anchormen held a 10-point, 60-50 lead with 3:05 left to play in the contest before Keene State battled back, cutting the deficit to just four points after a 3-pointer from sophomore guard John Boyatsis with 1:16 remaining, but that was as close as the Owls would get. RIC sophomore guard Michael Palumbo converted one-of-two free throws and Akinrola knocked down three-of-four attempts from the line in the final minute while the Owls failed to score despite getting quality chances on their final two possessions of the game. “It was an enormous win for this team,” said RIC head coach Bob Walsh. “I’m really proud of the intensity and the defensive effort we displayed today. We held a team averaging 83 points-per-game to nearly 30 points under their season average and put ourselves in great position heading into the Little East Conference Tournament.” With the victory, RIC (20-5, 10-4 Little East Conference) finished the regular season in a three-way tie for second place along with the Owls (18-7, 10-4 LEC) and Western Connecticut State University (20-5, 10-3 LEC.) RIC also finished the regular season undefeated (13-0) at home in the Murray Center. The Anchormen enter the 2012 Little East Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed and will face the No. 6 seed Plymouth State University in the quarterfinals at home on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Keene State entered the contest with a chance to lock up the No. 1 seed in the Little East Conference Tournament, but fell to the fourth spot with the loss. The fourth-seeded Owls will host fifth-seeded UMass Dartmouth in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. In addition to Akinrola, who finished the afternoon just one-point shy of 1,000 for his career, senior forward Mason Choice (10 points, seven rebounds, six assists) and classmate guard Keith Hamilton, who was drafted by Vaqueros de Bayamon of the Puerto Rican National Basketball League on Feb. 3, were all honored prior to the game on Senior Day. “It means a lot to beat a team as talented as Keene State at home on Senior Day,” said Akinrola. The Anchormen’s ferocious defense, which dominated for extended stretches of the contest, was fueled by memories of a heart-breaking 92-91 loss to the Owls on the road earlier this season.
“We had anger, it was built up in our hearts,” said Akinrola. “They cut us deep last time we played them, scoring 17 points in the final 1:25 to come back and beat us.” The Anchormen’s tenacious defense right out of the gate, led by physical play from junior guards Tahrike Carter and Ethan Gaye at the point of attack, allowed RIC to force 10 turnovers and jump out to an 18-point, 23-5 in the first ten minutes of the half. “Our defense and our intensity controlled the game from the opening tip,” said Walsh. “Our guards were great today, Tahrike and Ethan really dictated the tempo of this game. Walsh also highlighted the outstanding effort of seldom-used reserve, sophomore guard Kadeem Francis, who played a key role with three points in a season-high 10 minutes off the bench. RIC forced 15 first half turnovers and took a commanding 33-24 lead into the half. The Anchormen held a double-digit lead for a majority of the second half before Keene State, a strong second half team all season long (including a comeback victory over the number one ranked team in the country at the time Middlebury College on Jan. 31) began to mount a late charge. Junior guard Anthony Mariano buried a 3-pointer to cut the RIC lead to six-points, 60-54 with 2:53 left. Fortunately for the Anchormen, they were able to convert from the free throw line and despite getting quality scoring chances, the Owls were unable to capitalize on them in the final two minutes. RIC shot 44 percent (25-for-55) from the floor, getting solid efforts from sophomore guard Tom DeCiantis (11 points and four rebounds), Palumbo (eight points), sophomore guard Avery King (six points), Gaye (six points) and Carter (five points). Keene State shot 39 percent (18-for-47), but committed 22 turnovers in the loss. The Owls were led by junior guard Ryan Martin (14 points) and Mariano (13 points.) The Anchormen are one of five teams in the country at the Division III level to advance to the NCAA Tournament in five straight seasons and will have a tough time repeating as Little East Conference Tournament Champions for the third straight season in the only conference in the nation with three 20-win teams this season. Barring an upset to Plymouth State, the Anchormen will take on No. 1 seed Eastern Connecticut on Saturday, Feb. 25 looking to upset the hosting Warriors on their home court. “I’m going to miss playing here,” said Akinrola as he reflected upon his four-year career. “We still have some business to take care of before I leave, but it was a great experience to play at RIC.”
Sports
February 20, 2012
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The goal was set and with a 66-38 win over Western Connecticut (16-9, 8-6 LEC) combined with a 62-54 win over Keene State (16-8, 9-5 LEC) the goal was attained. The Rhode Island College women’s basketball team won the first-ever Little By Dan Charest Anchor Sports Writer East Conference regular season title in program history. “It was goal number one,” said RIC head coach Marcus Reilly. “We were never shy about it, we set our goals high. During the year we had a lot of expectations set from the outside but they were never as high as the ones we set for ourselves.” On Saturday, Feb. 18 in the Murray Center, the visiting Owls took a 15-11 lead off a jumper from senior forward Courtney Cirillo 4:51 in. Then RIC hit the Owls with a 13-point run over the next 5:13, sparked by two 3-pointers from senior guard Nicole Girard. Senior guard Stephanie Coro buried a 3-pointer with 1:43 left to give RIC its largest lead of the day at 42-19 with a layup on the Anchorwomen’s very next possession. Girard and Coro bolstered RIC into hitting 10 of their 17 3-point attempts en route to a 44-24 halftime edge. “We just had to continue to defend,” said senior Cynthia Gaudet on the second half strategy. “All season long we have been building off of our defense. Coach Reilly told us to play good defense and that will carry into offense.” RIC’s lead stood at 20-points, 50-30, with 13:31 left after Gaudet made two free throws. Keene State then began its comeback attempt. 3-pointers by freshman guard Lauren Brucks and senior guard Sara Laudano helped bring the RIC lead down to 51-43 with 10:03 left. “Keene is a tough team and a well-coached team. They were never going to stop playing and they just made shots at a higher rate in the second half, said Reilly. With 5:15 to go, Keene State freshman forward Courtney Roberts’ two free throws brought the Owls within two points,
54-52. Enter RIC senior forward Rachel Riley. The team’s second leading scorer had just four points up until that point, but only needed two possessions to seal the game. First, Riley worked her defender down to get herself an easy layup for a 56-52 RIC lead. Next on defense, she blocked Cirillo’s layup. A 3-pointer from junior guard Ashely O’Dell and free throws from Coro and senior guard Cynthia Gaudet gave the Anchorwomen a 62-54 win. “I credit our group, certainly our five seniors who took care of business when the game was on the line there at the end.” said Reilly. In a touching moment before the final buzzer sounded, Reilly took out his five seniors Girard, Riley, Coro, Gaudet, and guard Brittany Saccoccio to receive a standing ovation from the Anchorwomen faithful that packed the Murray Center. “The seniors have come together to be a rock solid class and they are going to go down as one of the greatest classes in the history of Rhode Island College basketball. I cannot thank them enough for the contributions they made,” said Reilly of his talented group of seniors. Riley managed only had six points in the contest, but her 12 rebounds put her over 1,000 for her career. Riley is just the third player in program history to tally 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Coro finished Senior Day with a team-high 20 points and four steals. Gaudet and O’Dell both scored 11 points. Girard added six points and 4 assists. Not only did RIC win its first-ever LEC regular season crown, their 22 wins on the year are the most in program history. With two more victories in the Little East Conference Tournament, the Anchorwomen will advance to the Division III NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Anchorwomen will play the winner of fifth-seeded UMass Dartmouth and fourth-seeded Western Connecticut in the Murray Center on Friday, Feb. 24. If they emerge victorious, they will play for the Little East Conference Tournament Championship the following day.
RIC
junior guard
Ashley O’Dell puts up a Keene State.
floater in the lane against
54 62
(16-8, 9-5 LEC) STARTERS Courtney Cirillo Siobhan Carnell Meghan Farrell
Anchor Photo // David Okon
Sara Laudano Nikki Cote
BENCH Rachel Brucks Nikki Stacy Courtney Roberts Sarah Phelan RIC
senior guard
Cynthia Gaudet attempts a 3-pointer in the first half against Keene State. Gaudet finished with 11 points.
14 9 8 5 3
(22-3, 13-1 LEC)
STARTERS Stephanie Coro Cynthia Gaudet Nicole Girard Rachel Riley Courtney Burns
20 11 6 6 5
BENCH 6 5 4 0
Ashley O’Dell Melanie Cline Katie Donovan Brittany Saccoccio Megan Sewall
11 3 0 0 0
Anchor Photo // David Okon
Anchorwomen lock up first-ever LEC title
February 20, 2012
it's a way of life
18
lifestyles@anchorweb.org
What are Roots?
Upco min g St ude n t Act ivit ies
see page 20 see page
New eats: of Soban
The RIC
When: Feb. 21 7:30 p.m. Where: Murray Center Cost: Free Sponsored by Athletics
When: Feb. 22 12:30 to 2 p.m. Where: Adams Library Fortes Room Cost: Free Sponsored by Open Books – Open Minds
A c c ou n t i n g A s s oc i a t i on Excel W ork s h op When: Feb. 23 3 to 6 p.m. Where: Alger 102 Sponsored by the Accounting Association
rights activist guest speaker
David Martin
see page 21 see page
survival
guide part
Gay
review
II
see page 21 see page
was an audience hit when he discussed his involvement in the
YPI
Anchor Photo // David Okon
Little East Conference Basketball Tournament
P ea c e & R em em br a nce: R ei m a g i n i ng/ R et h i n k i n g Rh ode Is l a n d ’s A u gus t H o li d a y wi t h Lloyd M a t u s m ot o
your
program.
RIC has H.O.P.E. It took six months of planning and executing for the Rhode Island College club H.O.P.E. to pull this Friday evening event together. On By Deidre Greene Lifestyles Staff Writer Friday, Feb. 17 in the Student Union Ballroom, the members of H.O.P.E. held a networking event which held a main purpose of including any individual of any sexual orientation. The night included dinner, a presentation by David Martin on Youth Pride and the opportunity to browse a few of RIC’s organization tables. The night started at 7 p.m., the time of check in. Stepping into the Student Union Ballroom, one could feel a sense of unity and celebration. Tables were numbered and everyone who attended had reserved seat. Each table had a famous individual on it that has played a role in LGBT; famous individuals including Lady Gaga, Rosie O’Donnell and Kathy Griffin. As check in was taking place, hip music such as Katy Perry and Ke$ha was being played with a slideshow in the front of famous celebrities and their role in LGBT. Opening remarks began at quarter past seven by each of the board members of the club. President Victoria Siegel opened the night with a quote by Harvey Milk. Siegel’s
role of president has done nothing less but improve the club and her peers have said so themselves. “When Victoria became President, the club completely pre amped making students feel welcome,” said Vice President Jillian Sevigny. Each board member discussed their role in the club as well as thanked those who had helped them along the journey with their families and friends proudly being part of the event. On top of thanking her family and friends, Treasurer Keyshla Melendez-Rosado pointed out “I’m not just gay. I’m a student, a daughter, an athlete and many more things.” After the opening remarks by the board members were made, dinner was served followed by a presentation by David Martin. He stated toward the beginning of the presentation “we live in a world that is pretty much heterosexist.” With that being said, he introduced himself, raised in Central Falls, Rhode Island. It wasn’t just his information and slideshow that caught the audience’s interest but also his sense of humor he openly communicated. Martin, who was born and raised in a religious atmosphere, became more interested in the gay community as he was on a silent retreat in Nebraska. The program he is now a part of, YPI, helps youths around the state have a safe atmosphere they can go to. This atmosphere helps not just teens, but can also help the families of teens cope through the struggles of finding out their son/
daughter is gay. This atmosphere also gives youth the opportunity to have fun-through events like movie nights, dances and support groups where there is a bond they can all share together. Martin also stated how YPI is also a drop in place. Youths can drop in to just hang out, do homework and there is even a kitchen. It sounded to the audience that what Martin is a part of is practically a home away from home for many teens that are forced to face daily struggles, simply for being either gay, bi sexual or transgendered. Shortly after the Youth Pride Presentation, it was time to browse around to a few tables and get information on different clubs and organizations Rhode Island College has to offer. Tables included organizations/clubs such as the Women’s Center, the Resident Student Association and Student Activities. The night slowly came to an end at approximately 10PM. Secretary Caitlyn Kay, who is now in her senior year at RIC, stated excitedly, “I think this is just the beginning. I am so happy and so proud!” This event is just the beginning and the clues are clear that there is going to be a lot more of H.O.P.E. and empowerment around campus. This club is in it full throttle and Friday night’s event is only the start of what is yet to come. For more information on H.O.P.E or how to get involved,contact hope@ so.ric.edu or call 456-8121.
February 20, 2012
it's a way of life
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By Courtney Woods
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February 20, 2012
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drowning after a rogue ox knocks his carriage into a river. This boy ends up being a young prince whose father rules over the kingdom. As she is dragged further into this complicated plot of conspiracy against the young prince by none other than his own father, the second queen (the young prince’s mother) hires our heroine to protect the boy at any cost. That’s where their journey begins. The above paragraph barely even scrapes the surface of the intrigue one can find in this storytelling masterpiece. The world is lush and full of character and histories, making it seem as if this place could have existed sometime long ago and the characters themselves are no push overs. Their aspirations and motivations will make anybody watching emotionally invested in their tale. In short, what makes the story of “Moribito” so thrilling is its ability to grab the viewer and not let them go. As a writer, there’s so much I can learn from this to put toward my own stories. I’m not exactly sure what spurred be to become a writer. Honestly, it’s not going to make me any money, but I did find that there was a certain satisfaction when everything in a story comes together perfectly in the end. Over the years it took me a bit to figure out how exactly I should go about writing a compelling tale that would garner all sorts of readers. At first I had trouble coming
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In today’s television world it seems like originality has been thrown to the curb in favor of the tried and true formula that will guarantee viewers. It’s kind of sad, actually. I can’t flip through the channels without stumbling By Ashley St. Louis T.I.L.T. across a crime scene or some reality television show about people who don’t get along. Perhaps I’m just not looking hard enough but whatever happened to that spark that made me want to turn on the television to see what would happen to Susie, who was dangling precariously off a cliff the last time we saw her? Is the magic gone? No, not completely, there are still those few hidden gems every now and again. It’s the stories that have ceased to amaze me. So, how does one make a great story? Well, let’s turn to a show called “Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit”. “Moribito” follows a woman named Balsa, a freelance bodyguard that travels the country side in search of work. When she enters a foreign kingdom, she stumbles across quite the predicament. However, being at the right place at the right time, she ends up saving a boy from
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The secrets of a good story
up with ideas, and then how do I go about making interesting characters, etc. It’s quite the process but I know I can safely say that I have improved in some way. I’m nowhere near the end of my road to improving, but the small accomplishments I have made are plenty enough to keep me going for years to come. Since I learn something new every time I turn on the television, one day my stories may make history. Until then, though, there is still much learning to be had.
couple hundred pages I had to keep track of all of them with a pen and paper. However, what kept me intrigued by this saga wasn’t necessarily the story line as it was the author. Haley wrote in such a way which made me feel so connected to his characters. I’d be up hours at a time reading and before falling asleep I almost became obsessed with these characters wondering what was going to happen. Never in my years of enjoying reading have I ever had a book become more a part of me than this one. My mother clearly wasn’t going to stop me from reading a book; she was the one who actually bought it for me for Christmas. Her question was, “How would I deal with reading such a thing?” I understand completely why she would ask this. However, reading in depth about the brutal rapes, torture and the forced separation of families, Haley’s characters were still human beings. By this I mean he gave each character a personality, let the reader into his or her thoughts and whoever was forced to leave, the reader continues to follow him or her throughout the saga. My heart really became part of these characters. When something positive happened, I smiled and when something horrible happened, tears filled my eyes. Even though I know I’m not related to these characters, I still think about them. And my goal as a future author is to get readers to have the same impact. I can hear through the words Nyo Boto’s voice telling stories to all the African children in the village. I still think about Chicken George and his passion for raising chickens. I imagine Kunta and everything he went through from
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I wasn’t going to let the month of February drift by without writing a column dedicated to Black History Month. Over winter break, I decided to read the novel “Roots” by Alex Haley. I’ve never once come across a book that changed and By Deidre Greene The Simple Things motivated me to continue to write my own book. “Roots” is a story on Haley’s ancestors growing up during the time of slavery in this country. It starts with Kunta Kinte (Haley’s fourth great-grandfather), a boy born and raised until his young teen years in Africa. He was captured and brought by a slave ship to the Americas, where he served as a slave until the day he died. The story goes from Kinte’s journey all the way to the next generations of ancestors up until the very end, and it comes full circle when Haley was born. What made Haley’s story of his ancestors so intriguing wasn’t the book, but it was the mini-series that aired on television in 1977 on ABC. It was a problem that was never really shown on television before, so for the actors and the television network, airing the show was a huge risk they took. The result was mind blowing, earning the title of highest ratings than any former entertainment show in history. At first, it was a little difficult to read the saga. There are a lot of characters that are important, so for the first
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What are your Roots?
getting his foot chopped off back to the vivid description of the slave ship which still break my heart, as if it happened to somebody I knew. Maybe this saga will help you in a way it’s helped me. It has motivated me not to hold back on anything I have to say. For others I know it’s motivated them to find their own roots. Maybe for you it will do the same. Maybe it will promise you into knowing whatever impact you leave on the world will stay and pass on. Or maybe it will get you to reflect a little more on the importance of a legacy. Whatever it is, I hope you give this saga a try. I guarantee you won’t regret it if you open the first page with an open mind.
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it's a way of life lifestyles@anchorweb.org
New eats: A restaurant review of Soban
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I was recently taken by surprise on Thayer Street this past weekend when I stopped for dinner at a place called Soban. Soban offers delicious Korean food and is close enough to campus that I can encourage that students try it out. By Rashaa Al-Sasah Dishing Out: A Food Initially I thought it would be Lover’s Guide a sit down, dine-in restaurant but instead it was set up more like a McDonalds (i.e. order at the counter and dine in or get it to go). Despite the fast food atmosphere the food itself was really delicious. I ordered three things for myself and my boyfriend: The Korean BBQ spicy chicken, Bibimbap which is a rice bowl with a meat of your choice, mixed vegetables and a fried egg on top, and 6 pcs chicken wings. The Korean BBQ spicy chicken came with white rice and three sides: squid salad, tofu, and kimchi (a spicy fermented cabbage). All were delicious; I was surprised especially by the squid salad which I, at first, was reluctant to try due to having bad experiences in the past with squid. If you’re afraid to be adventurous I would tell you to go for the
chicken alone. It was everything I imagined it would be after reading the description: crunchy, sweet and a little salty. The only downside to this place would have to be the atmosphere. It really has the feel of a fast food joint, which is deceiving considering the amazing food. Don’t let the fast food appearance fool you; the prices are up there with a regular restaurant and all that I named above cost around $40. That seems steep, but the portions are more than enough. Also, anyone who stays to dine in gets to have complimentary miso soup, though it’s not the best miso soup I’ve ever had, it certainly is a perk to get something for free. With everything that we ordered, we ended up bringing half of the food home with us. I’d recommend only getting one thing to split if you go on a date, with one or two friends or alone. So if you are looking for something different to eat that’s close by I’d definitely recommend Soban. I love Korean food and this place, though small and quick, scores top marks in the food department, which in my opinion is the one that counts.
and Kennedy Plaza. So in the event that either you don’t have a license or if you’re having car trouble, you’ll still be able to get to class; check out the RIPTA website for more information, and you can also get discounts on bus fare cards through the campus bookstore. Sometimes commuting can be a challenge, sometimes home ends up being a hard environment to study in and having your parents load chores and errands on you can be distracting. If you’re not quite ready or financially able to get an apartment, the dorms provide both a great environment to study as well as a mini lesson in home management. New Hall is a nice dorm, but it’s a lot more expensive to live there which provides us with a lesson in budgeting. When you eventually go to look for an apartment, you don’t want to live somewhere with a rent that’s out of your price range. For $1000 less, if you’re female you can live in Browne hall and have access to a full working kitchen, which comes in handy if you don’t particularly care for what the Donovan is serving that evening. Just keep a box of dry pasta and a jar of sauce handy and you have a quick and easy meal. In addition to teaching you responsibility, living in the dorms can be a fun and enjoyable experience. There are several events on campus designed for students
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There are several differences between college and high school. In high school you’re responsible for showing up By Heather Nichols to class, parHelpful Heather’s Advice ticipating in extracurricular activities and meeting your friends at the mall on Friday nights. If you were really ambitious you took advance placement classes or did volunteer work. Depending on your parents, you would have dinner on the table every night and you’d never run out of clean underwear because they took care of your laundry for you. The fact is, in high school the majority of us had very little in terms of major responsibilities. However once you hit college, whether you commute or live on campus, you find yourself loaded with new responsibilities. When I was in high school I was in chorus, symphonic band, drum corps, tech crew and anime club; thus I had little to no time to practice driving. Luckily one of my cousins had time during the summer to teach me how to drive; but that doesn’t happen for everybody. The fortunate thing about going to RIC is that both the 26 and 55 lines go back and forth between RIC
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The RIC survival guide Part II
who live on campus. Last semester the movie “Bridesmaids” was projected outside next to Weber Hall. In the springtime there is a carnival held in the Weber beach area complete with games, free food and balloon animals. My personal favorite is a little game called duck hunt; it’s where rubber ducks are scattered outside the resident halls and each one is marked with a number that corresponds to a prize. The prizes range from small bags of candy to gift cards and DVDs; the grand prize last time the event was held was an iPod shuffle. In addition to these large events, each hall has their own events planned. During the Superbowl each hall had some sort of
party held in their lounge where residents could come and watch the game together while enjoying some free refreshments. The dorms can provide a lot of fun in addition to responsibilities. Remember to be conscious of your roommates, and go by the golden rule: do onto others as you wish they do onto you. If you don’t want to hear them with their significant other, don’t carry on as two howler monkeys would when you’re with yours. Also try to be friendly with one another and if things aren’t working out, talk it out or ask to be moved into another suite. We’re all human and we all have needs. Join us next week for some health and wellness advice.
February 20, 2012
it's a way of life
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Your answers in 30 words or less
The sophomore sector Special Question of the Week
Dear Ari, What is the exact definition of a “hookup”? – Billy, RIC sophomore Dear Billy, A “hookup” is to have a sexual encounter with someone. It means something different for everyone, so feel the vibes out if someone speaks of a hookup next time.
Dear Ari, I can’t seem to stay awake in any of my classes! Anything I can do to help myself? – Jessica, RIC sophomore Dear Jessica, Make sure to get at least Ask Ari seven hours of sleep every night. If your classes are boring, find some way to spruce them up. Bring food to keep your energy up.
By Arielle Rogers
Dear Ari, Why does it seem that no one graduates from RIC? – Becka, RIC sophomore Dear Becky, It does seem that way, doesn’t it? Different majors have many different requirements, so sometimes getting out in four doesn’t happen. Indecisiveness doesn’t help either.
Dear Ari, My boyfriend of like a million years just told me he’s only with me because he’s “comfortable.” What the hell does that mean? – Justin, RIC sophomore Dear Justin, Talk to him. Maybe you both should take a break. Sometimes a break will help a couple realize how good they have it with each other.
Dear Ari, What are the best ways to keep a healthy immune system while on a budget? – Health Conscious, RIC sophomore Dear Health, What people assume (and what we’re told) is that influenza season is only in the winter time. That’s false. All diseases, infections etc. are year round. Some are strongest at different times, so to protect from the current things going around follow this checklist: -Make sure you’re dressed properly when heading outside. A warm coat, gloves/mittens and a scarf are awesome; scarves especially, because they protect the neck, vocal chords and throat (the area that is prone to get sick first). -When walking outside, make sure to breathe through your nose rather than the mouth. Breathing through the nose allows the air to warm up before it hits your throat, lungs and diaphragm. Warm air is better for your body temperature than cold. -Make sure to stay hydrated! This is probably the most important one. We often forget to take in as many fluids in the winter as we do in the summer because we aren’t trying to cool down our bodies and our immune systems. Since we don’t take in as much fluid, it leaves our body susceptible to catching something faster. Hydration helps our immune system stay in the best shape possible. These three things will definitely help. One thing that doesn’t help, but is for the more paranoid people, is hand sanitizer. What hand sanitizer does is kill 99.9 percent of germs, including the good germs that fight off infections, colds etc. The one germ it doesn’t kill so well is the germ that you don’t want in the first place (germ that leads to colds etc.) So try washing your hands as an alternative. I hope this helps and may the winter treat you kindly.
Q & Anchor
What is one thing you wish the RIC campus had?
Name: Alba Vargas Major: Social Work Year: Sophomore
“An open, 24-hour place to study and have some snacks while doing so.”
Name: Mary Milner Major: Second Education and History Year: Sophomore
“Prettier buildings. Some of the buildings are kind of odd looking.”
Name: Eloy Velasco Major: Computer Science Year: Sophomore
Name: Richard Meza-Lopez Name: James Sunaquist Major: Biology Major: Art Year: Sophomore Year: Sophomore
Name: Anthony Boutsady Major: Biology Year: Junior
“One thing that I wish the campus had is a decent arcade.”
“An open music room where bands can just jam out.”
“I wish this campus had a DDR machine.”
“Some pianos for anyone to use strewn about.”
February 20, 2012
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funny? graphics@anchorweb.org
Classified The Cooperative Preschool is looking for Rhode Island College students with children between the ages of 3-5 for current enrollment. The child must have turned 3 before September 1, 2011, and must be potty trained. Students can come into the preschool for an application Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8 a.m and 4:30 p.m. The preschool is the located in the tan building next to Whipple Hall and the tennis courts.
For your entertainment
February 20, 2012
24
arts@anchorweb.org
Performances Now Playing Feb. 24-26 7:30 p.m. Sapinsley Hall $15
7:30 p.m. Roberts Hall Free Art: Acquire/Inquire: A Group Exhibition March 1-29 Reception: 5-8 p.m. Bannister Gallery Free
Upcoming Campus Arts Calendar
Music: RIC Chamber
Feb. 26
Performing Arts Series: Pianst Frederic Chiu March 4
2:30 p.m.
Sapinsley Hall
$5 RIC, $34 non- RIC
Music: RIC Spring Choral Concert March. 9 8 p.m. Sapinsley Hall $10
see page 26
see page 28
“Breaking the Code” astonishes Forman Theatre While the setting of the RIC Mainstage production “Breaking the Code” was minimal, the play itself was By Kyle Grant A&E Editor phenomenal due to the portrayal of its characters. The bare stage and meager props proved to be a blank canvas, allowing the actors and actresses to paint their roles in with outstanding skill. Those on stage did more than simply play their parts; they created endearing characters that captivated the audience. Written by Hugh Whitmore and directed by Michael Ducharme, “Breaking the Code” tells the story of tells the tale of Alan Turing, a brilliant British mathematician who broke the Nazi Enigma code and brought significant progress to computer technology. In 1952 Turing was arrested for Gross Indecency after authorities discovered he was homosexual. Forced to take estrogen pills that led to chemical castration, Turing committed suicide in 1954. “Breaking the Code” was not a dry chronological biography of Turing’s life, however. Rather than watch Turing’s life envelop predictably, the audience was plunged directly into the memories of Turing, jumping from scene to scene. The play started with a reported robbery, leaped to his youth, jumped back to a pub, and then back to Turing in the police station. This style kept you on edge and interested, and the more the play went on the more everything made sense. Alan Turing, played by Nathanael Lee, proved to be a character that was very easy to fall in love with. Socially graceless yet passionate, Lee’s portrayal of Turing was truly remarkable, from the mathematician’s stutter to his timid body posture. Watching Lee perform made me forget I was even watching a play, and the seeming effortlessness of his acting reveals how much work went into this production.
Nathanal Lee
and
Dana Haley
“This play was absolutely wonderful,” said Rachael Perry, a sophomore majoring in theatre performance, “it is evident that the actors worked very hard on the production. They did a phenomenal job and they should be proud.” Nathanael Lee was not the only remarkable actor in the Forman Theatre, every single person who took the stage played their roles to perfection. Turing’s loving yet eccentric mother Sara (played by Dana Haley), his juvenile casual lover Ron Miller (played by Rob Roy), his admiring friend-zoned colleague Pat Green (played by Colleen Farrell) and the other important characters of Turing’s life were played fantastically. “This is an excellent production, the cast did a good job creating the characters,” said Michael Martins, a senior theatre and history major. “It is clear a lot of research went into developing the characters, and I applaud them.” “This play is intriguing and features very good character development,” said David DiPilato, senior psychology major, “The character of Mr. Turing was very well formulated, and the plot design keeps you on your toes.” The play was very minimal as far as scenery was concerned, but this would
on stage during
“Breaking
the
Code.”
work in “Breaking the Code’s” favor. A couch, table, telephone, and small bar were the only things on stage, but the limited scenery allowed the characters themselves to dominate the stage. Dialogue between characters was humorous and thoughtful, leaving the audience chiming with laughs and gasps alike. At some parts “Breaking the Code” did seem to drag a little, and Turing’s grand monologues on mathematics were incomprehensible for those not math-savvy. However, Turing nonetheless was adorable with his passion for something most human beings would be incapable of grasping. RIC Mainstage Theatre’s first performance of this semester proved to be a great success, and the cast was well-deserving of the standing ovation they received at the end of the production. Thought-provoking without being too heavy, “Breaking the Code” let the audience into the life of one influential person, whose tarnished legacy deserved to be recognized. The life of Turing is one that can be reflected in all of our lives, and as one of the last lines spoken by Mr. Turing goes: “In the long run it’s not breaking the code that matters; it’s where you go from there, that’s the real problem.”
Anchor Photo // Sarah Gilpatrick
Spring Dance Concert
Ensembles
Just out of “Reach”
Impressive acting brings characters to life on stage
Dance: 53rd Annual
Orchestra and Small
Grammy’s not very thrilling, still happened
February 20, 2012
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Gym Class Heroes coming to RIC
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Whether you are a fan of hip-hop, alternative rock, or good music in general, RIC students will be keen on finding their way to campus on Friday, May 4 for the year-end concert. The concert, which is the first put on by the Student By Kyle Grant Entertainment Committee, A&E Editor will be headlined by nationally renowned rock/rap hybrid Gym Class Heroes. Gym Class Heroes will be joined by their tour mates Oxymorons along with local hip-hop/ rock group Audio McSwagger. “I’m very excited for the show,” said Rep. David Valerio, chair of the SEC. “Honestly, I feel that this concert is the biggest to be held at RIC since Kanye West. I feel the pressure of topping 2010’s J. Cole concert and 2011’s T-Pain show, but I feel that the concert committee has been a great success. Much thanks to Mark Paolucci for being the glue that holds us together. Couldn’t make this deal without his enormous support.” The Student Entertainment Commission was formed at the end of last year by SCG President Travis Escobar to bring a large event to campus by the end of the school year. The SEC was given $70,000 to work with in creating the event, and used campus surveys to gauge what type of group students wanted to see. “I believe the SEC trend will continue,” said Valerio. “A committee surveying the genre, finding the top three, and combining them to satisfy the whole campus is great! We pulled off a good deal this year and have much work ahead of us upon the day of the concert.” Gym Class Heroes started in 1997 in Geneva, N.Y.,
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The popular rap/rock band to play Roberts Hall May 4
and is made up of front man Travie McCoy, drummer Matt McGinley, bassist Eric Roberts and guitarist Diashi Lumumba-Kasongo. A smooth blend of hip-hop and alternative rock, Gym Class Heroes had their first breakout album with “As Cruel as School Children” in 2007, featuring the tracks “Clothes off!” and “Cupids Chokehold.” Their most recent album, “The Papercut Chronicles II,” has seen great success with songs such as “Stereo Hearts.” As of right now, the year-end concert will be taking place in the Roberts Hall Auditorium. However, if the Recreation Center is finished by May, the concert could
be moved their instead. A date to pick up tickets for the event is yet to be announced, though an announcement will be made in the coming weeks. No tentative name has been given for the event, though names like “RIC-apalooza” or “RIC Fest” are more than likely out of the question. “The name is in the works. We’ll give it something catchy and not corny,” Valerio said. Nonetheless, the end-of-the-year concert still looks to be exciting, with a major act coming to campus that is liked across several genres.
Dancing for all the marbles With the start of a new semester, the beginning of a very exciting lineup of dance concerts is scheduled and ready to dazzle the audiences of Rhode Island College. One anticipated show will take place Friday through Sunday, By Timothy Hordern A&E Staff Writer Feb. 24-26 and will be the Rhode Island College Dance Company preforming their 53rd Annual Spring Dance Concert. This concert brings the talents of the Rhode Island Dance Company along with several special guests to put on a unique and exciting show. The show features several talents from around the nation to blend different styles of dance and artistic media. These choreographers are Adele Myers, Danny Buraczeski and Colleen Cavanaugh. The show also features the talents of RIC’s own Professor Kathy Smith and Angelica Vessella, along with multimedia artist Jamie Jewett. “We usually start one year in advance researching and looking for choreographers in hopes to give our stu-
dents a diverse language and perspective on dance,” said Angelica Vessella, showing her excitement for the event. Choreographer Adele Myers is no stranger to the RIC stage, as last season she lent her talents in an October show. Danny Buraczeski was a former artistic director of JazzDance as a renowned Jazz dance performer. With his experience, the comments about his part of the show are already creating a buzz. “The most high energy piece is a jazz dance choreographed by Danny Buraczeski and is entitled ‘Swing Concerto,’ music by Artie Shaw. It is a beautiful piece that comments on Jewish immigration into America and how the youth of that period changed, integrated themselves, or became integrated into the American Culture,” said Vessella. “It is a beautiful work.” The final choreographer featured in this show is Colleen Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh is locally known for her masterpieces in contemporary ballet. The Spring Dance Concert is the biggest event of the year for RIC’s Dance Company, and will explore multiple genres and styles of dance. “This year’s performance is eclectic, featuring jazz, swing, modern, tap and ballet,” said Vessella. “Each piece
brings with it a different perspective on dance as an art form. Some choreographers are commenting on sexuality and our present human condition, while others are utilizing film and historical references. Each piece brings with it an interesting and thought provoking message for discussion. This particular show speaks to history of Jewish Culture, Sexuality, Young Adulthood, Comedy, Film Studies, and Individuality to name but a few topics.” “Also this show features a piece ‘Dualing-isms’ which was choreographed by faculty member, Kathy Gordon Smith, and was recently chosen as one of the GALA pieces at the American College Dance Festival last week in fact,” Vessella added. Overall, this show is drawing a lot of excitement on campus and is proving to be one not to miss. It will take place in Sapinsley Hall in the Nazarian Center and general admission is $15. For more information, call the Box office at (401) 456-8144 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Grammys not very thrilling, still happened For those who weren’t aware, the 54th annual Grammy awards were held in Los Angeles and By Kyle Grant A&E Editor had 39 million viewers, the award show’s biggest audience since 1984. While I myself am not a major fan of today’s mainstream music, one cannot deny the allure the awards show has to millions across the world. While most of the awards show was predictable and domestic, there were a few gems in the hours of airtime. We’ll start off with the performances of the night, which proved to be pretty lackluster. One of the biggest questions going into the Grammy’s was how will British popstar Adele would cope after throat surgery last year. Well, to nobody’s surprise the singer still has the voice of a Norse goddess. While I feel she is grossly overplayed and I am by no means a fan of her music, I cannot deny that Adele is an amazing singer and it is good to know her voice hasn’t lost a beat. It’s also good to note that if the Grammy’s were a competition, then Adele won. The singer won six Grammy’s on the day, including the pivotal “Song of the Year,” “Record of the Year,” and “Pop Solo Performance.” I could sit here and tell you I’m not a fan all I want, but she wouldn’t hear me over all the Grammy’s she won. Also performing on the night was Chris Brown, which led to major
controversy. In 2009 Brown was convicted of domestic abuse after beating now exgirlfriend Rihanna. Many people believe that allowing Brown to perform sent a message saying that domestic abuse is okay if you have high record sales. Brown won a Grammy for best R&B album. An interesting compilation occurred between two genres, with Rihanna taking the stage with Coldplay. I used to adore Coldplay, but I find their new material intolerable. As for Rihanna, she falls in the Adele category of “yeah she’s a good singer but she doesn’t need to be every other song, radio.” Rihanna took home a Grammy for her role in Kanye West’s “All of the Lights.” Other performances of the night included the Foo Fighters (which swept the rock category, taking home five Grammy’s), Bruno Mars, Foster the People and Katy Perry. Perhaps the biggest performance came from Jennifer Hudson, a last-minute add on who sang “I Will Always Love You” to commemorate the death of Whitney Houston. Other big winners of the night include Kanye West (who won four Grammy’s) Cee-Lo Green, Skrillex and Taylor Swift (all winning two). However, in my opinion perhaps the biggest winner of the night was a name not many known before the awards show. Bon Iver is a songwriter from the backwoods of Wisconsin, signed on a small label and released a self-titled album last year. Despite his small-time roots however, last week Bon Iver won the “Best New Artist Award” Grammy, beating out the heavily favored Nicki Minaj (I’m pretty sure you know who she is). Despite having enough monetary and commercial support to build a fleet of stealth bombers, Nicki Minaj played the Goliath to Bon Iver’s David. This was extremely refreshing giving hope that sometimes talent comes into play at the Grammy’s after all. All in all, the Grammy’s were all that you expected it to be. The big names won the big awards, but there was some refreshing twists that happened as well.
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Adele sweeps the Grammys and other complaints By Edward Taylor Music Spotlight
The Grammys are hit or miss for any music critic especially myself, since I hear so many lesser known acts every year that usually blow most of the music industry’s top players out of the water. The Grammys as the years have gone on are less about awarding the best music out there but instead a popularity contest of who gets the most plays on Pandora or whose music was featured in more Honda commercials. I could write an entire article on my animosity towards, “music’s biggest night,” but the reality is that sadly artists such as Katy Perry and Coldplay will always win out since there music is the only songs average listeners hear. When the Grammys finally turn the corner I always realize how easily I lose track of time. It seems like I’ve been listening to Bruno Mars’ single, “Grenade,” on the radio for the past three years, so I was shocked when it was nominated record of the year this past week. In fact most of the songs and albums that graced the nomination lists I felt have been out much longer than they actually have been. Especially Adele’s, “21,” which I was certain had been barraging my ear drums on the way to campus every day since the cavemen invented fire, so I was surprised when she swept the Grammy’s leaving with more gold than a hooker on a pirate ship. I may not be a fan of Adele, simply because I’ve heard each of her singles countless times over the car radio, but I wasn’t surprised when she walked away sweeping every category that she had been nominated. She may not be the greatest artist, but she certainly was the best majorly popular artist of the year. One highlight of the night was seeing Skrillex walk away with two Grammys, one for “Best Dance/Electronica Album.” Which I was shocked that the award show actually had two categories dedicated to the genre, since
pure electronic music can still be considered less mainstream since Deadmau5 and Kaskade really don’t grace major radio stations unless in a collaboration with an artist such as J Cole or T-Pain. Skrillex definitely deserved to win over Deadmau5’s, “4x4=12” which I felt was a lackluster album. Where the Grammys really lost me was the winner of Best New Artist Bon Iver. Never even hearing of the artist I immediately did a YouTube search to see why this artist won over The Band Perry. I was shocked when I heard Iver’s songs featured high pitched wailing, especially for a man, which are so piercing that I cannot even make out most of his lyrics and leaves me killing my computer’s speakers to stop the pain. I’ll admit Iver puts out some solid instrumentals, but Iver’s vocals are just unforgivable. Especially since I get the feeling his music is meant to be relaxing but instead leaves me cringing in anguish. I never thought I’d say Nicki Minaj deserved to win a Grammy over an actual winner, and the fact that this artist beat out Radiohead in the “Best Alternative Album” just makes my blood boil. I have a lot of complaints over this year’s Grammys but it just isn’t even worth putting into writing. There are so many great groups that go undiscovered such as Scattered Trees, but every year groups like the Foo Fighters dominate their categories every year. The only artists I was truly happy to see win was Skrillex and Adele, and everyone else I just don’t have the energy to contest. I also thought R Kelly was dead for some odd reason, so it was nice to see his name pop up a few times.
February 20, 2012
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“20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” misleading and sad By Ashely Massotti
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I wish every copy of this book was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Unlike Jules Verne’s characters, I am not “indefatigable,” because reading this book wore me out. For a novel with such a charming premise, I found myself praying Captain Nemo’s submarine would sink. I was excited to read Verne’s novel originally. It follows the life of Captain Nemo, a man whose hatred of those around him drives him into hiding beneath the sea. He takes Dr. Pierre Aronnax, his servant Conseil, and Ned Land captive, plunging into the depths of the ocean. Yet the book never provides insight into Captain Nemo, a bitter and lonely man who could easily be made intriguing. Instead, chapters are devoted to classifying fish and describing the interior lighting of his submarine, the Nautilus. There is nothing redeeming about Nemo, as he attempts to sink ships and refuses to let his captives go free. Verne’s passion for the sea shows in his gleeful explanations of terminology – his novel reads like a textbook, categorizing countless shells and sea creatures. Yet I never experienced that same sense of delight. Instead, I found myself occasionally “blacking out.” I would be on a new chapter without any recollection of how I got there, and would then have backtrack several pages to regain my footing. Setting the book down was a near impossibility – not
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because it was so fascinating, but because it proved impossible to resume. I could never remember where I left off, nor was I particularly excited to continue on. I gave this book a chance. Three hundred pages in, I still held out hopes that it would turn around, that this would be the chapter where things got better. Unfortunately, not all dreams come true. The characters also prove impossible to get behind. Aronnax is a scientist at heart, placing data and research over human connections. Nemo seems to relate to him, and continuously prods Aronnax to stay behind and live beneath the sea. I continuously hoped that this would lead to Nemo forcing Aronnax to the “dark side,” and potentially choke out Conceil using the force – but alas, Verne true talent in this book
proved to be wasting opportunities. Instead of creating a plot of substance, he merely managed to create dislikable monsters for characters, and place them in an impossibly boring situation. Ned Land is the most human character in the novel, but his desperation to escape too greatly mirrored my desire to escape reading. Those interested in seafaring novels should stick to classics such as “The Old Man and the Sea” or “Moby Dick”, the Herman Melville novel Verne was clearly attempting to best. I wanted to love this book for so many reasons. It is considered a beautiful literary classic, was said to contain a seafaring adventure, and my copy had a giant squid on the cover. Sadly, my high hopes for this novel drowned.
Local Events Ice skating in Downtown Providence Jan. 23 - Mar. 17 Bank of America Skating Center Free One of the most exciting and popular winter events in Providence is back for all to enjoy. Ice skating at the Bank of America Skating Center during the winter months can be charming date for you and that special someone.
“The Merchant of Venice” Feb. 3- Mar. 4 Trinity Repertory Company $15-66 The timeless classic from William Shakespeare comes alive at Trinity Rep with a modern retelling of a man who must pay a debt with a pound of his own flesh. This dark medieval comedy has entertained audiences for centuries in finds new light on the Chace Theater.
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February 20, 2012
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“Ouran High School Host Club” Well hello everyone, I’m back this week. “Technically you never left because, I mean, you and I are the same person.” Shut up, they don’t know that. This week I’d like to review an anime that, By Christian DeCataldo well, may appeal more to those Christian’s Anime Corner anime lovers of the female persuasion… so, to girls. “Ouran High School Host Club” has no, well very little, action and focuses on a bunch of rich pretty-boys who spend their time entertaining the girls (also rich) at the prestigious Ouran academy; they are a “Host Club.” Basically ditsy girls get to hang out with guys they think are cute or hot. Now you may be asking yourself two questions right now, one: is that really the entire premise of the show? And two: Hey Christian, why did you watch it? Well to answer both of those: no there is a great deal more to it than what is mentioned above that’s simply what it looks like at first glance and I watched it because it’s hilarious.
“Ouran High School Host Club” may center on the Host Club as a whole but the main character, Haruhi Fujioka, is who drives the story. You see, unlike all the other members of the Host Club Haruhi is what most of the academy students refer to as “a commoner” which basically means not rich. Haruhi got into Ouran academy through exceptional grades but made the mistake of wondering into the Host Club and breaking an expensive vase. In order to pay off the hefty debt, Haruhi is forced to work as a “host” for the club. This wouldn’t be a problem except Haruhi is a girl. Luckily Haruhi is kept ambiguous in the beginning (which is why the Host Club “requests” she become a member) and isn’t at all opposed to dressing and acting as a boy. As the anime progresses many of the other Host Club members begin to develop feelings for Haruhi but aren’t sure how to act on them. This causes some comical situations along with deep-felt sympathy for the characters. There are some fourth-wall-breaking moments which add to the laid back and overall happy feel which this anime emanates making the few serious moments all the more extreme. Ouran High School Host Club blends
comedy and, well, I wouldn’t really call it romance, it’s more like heart, really well and I quite enjoy the art style and animation too. “So, and I really have to ask, what made you start to watch this anime? I mean you said that it appears, at first glance, to be far from something you’d go for.” Well I admit I had a little motivation to watch it. “Oh, such as?” It’s just a recommendation from a friend, nothing special. “So recommendations work? If I recommend an anime to you you’ll watch it?” Yeah, probably, I don’t see why not… hint, hint!
Just out of “Reach” Rob’s Game Shelf
“Halo” series. The game tells the story of the beginning of the war between humans and the alien race called the Covenant on the planet Reach. You play Noble Six, a member of special squad called Noble Team sent to investigate why a communication relay has gone out. They discover that the Covenant was behind it and that they are beginning to attack the planet. Now Team Noble must find a way to fight back and help the people of Reach escape before a full-scale war begins. The story is what really turned me off. Almost nothing is explained as to what’s going on, which is really bad because this is a prequel. I was expecting some explanation as to why the Covenant have declared humans to officially suck, but we never learn that. Plus, I was at a loss more often than not as to what my goals were. I had to keep going to the screen explaining the mission. There’s also no real attachment to any of the characters. I seriously did not care one bit for them or what they were doing. They may as well have just been silent stick figures with nametags. And then the game just becomes a contest as to which character can have the most epic death. Anyway, let’s move on to gameplay. It is pretty solid for the most part. The game is a first-person shooter. You’re
only allowed to carry two weapons at a time from a very balanced variety of weapons. You also have regenerating health and an assortment of power-ups it’s a pretty standard fare. At some points you also operate vehicles such as trucks or tanks. I’ve never been a real fan of the “Halo” series’ vehicle controls. It only uses the left analog stick for all of its movement. The idea sounds good in theory, but you’re all over the place with it. It’s just not sound vehicle control. Your allies’ A.I. has always bugged me throughout this series as well. But here, it actually seems to have been improved. They’re actually attacking enemies rather than the threatening trees of Halo games past. However, the enemy A.I is another story. It’s just that in later levels it seems to get too smart. There are enemies literally dodging bullets Matrix style and it’s almost impossible to get a hit. And they need to take a lot of bullets before they actually go down. I also found playing the campaign alone to be pretty tough, which is why I opted for co-op with some of my friends. It was a little easier since I was playing with people who knew what they were doing, but I just couldn’t picture the game being able to be beaten with one person playing alone. Admittedly, I liked the last level as you’re taking a last stand against the Covenant in a battle you are going to lose. And this is not a spoiler; the first image you see in the game is your broken helmet in
the middle of a wasteland. It would have been better if there was a goal to accomplish in it, perhaps holding out until a certain point like for a ship to escape. Instead, it’s just fighting until you die. However, I did enjoy the multiplayer system. There’s a great variety of games to play with your friends or other people online, almost all of them great fun. I’m not the best player online. In the end, “Halo: Reach” just doesn’t hold up for me, at least in terms of its single player campaign. The gameplay is all right for the most part, but there is just no investment in it for me. I don’t care one bit about what’s going on, and the game doesn’t seem to either because they don’t explain anything. I’ll always be up for its multiplayer, but otherwise, “Halo: Reach” is truly a reach. Zing!
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By Robert Lefebvre
I have something to get off my chest, so get out your pitchforks and light up your torches. I don’t like “Halo: Reach.” There, I said it. Okay, I guess I should explain why. “Halo: Reach” came out in September of 2010 for the Xbox 360. It was one of the fastest and highest selling games of all time. It was the prequel to the best-selling
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Coming Soon Choosing to “Read or Die” to Theaters First of all, I have to admit that “Read or Die” is technically a three episode OVA (Original Video Animation), but due to its total run time of approximately one-and-ahalf hours, I always watch By Matthew Leo it as a movie. Matt’s Movies Now, “Read or Die” tells a very unique story, but first I would like to ask you all a little question. What do Beethoven, Genjo Sanzo, Gennei Hiraga, Jean-Henri Fabre, Ikkyu Sojun, Mata Hari, Otto Lilienthal and Stephen Wilcox have in common? Well, besides most of them being important in their fields but mostly unknown (with the exception of Beethoven), they all serve as antagonists in “Read or Die.” It’s quite something. The “Read or Die” universe is an interesting one. In this alternate reality, Britain maintained its preeminent position in the world after World War II, mainly due to the influence of the mysterious Mr. Gentleman. Britain’s power is directed through the British Library, who makes use of the super powered members of its Special Operations Team. Yomiko Readman is one such agent. Her power is the ability to manipulate paper at will, such as turning paper into blades and turning paper ribbons into tethers as strong as steel cables. She is a ravenous Bibliophile who also happens to be afflicted with Bibliomania. One day, while out buying books, she purchases
volume one of a mysterious book. Soon after, she is attacked by Jean-Henri Fabre, who attempts to steal her book. Yomiko defeats him, and her boss Joker assigns her to stop the Ijin (super powered clones of famous persons from history). To this end, she is partnered with Nancy (Codename Ms. Deep), another agent whose power is the ability to phase through solid matter. Together, they must stop the insidious Ijin before they can bring the world to its knees. Do they succeed? You’ll have to watch to find out. Now, I really enjoyed “Read or Die.” As an anime, I will praise its humor and fun. And as for action, each episode features a climactic fight between the brave agents and an Ijin, in addition to the action scenes and fights in between, but each is unique. In episode one for example, Yomiko and Nancy have an aerial battle with Otto Lilienthal, the “Glider King.” He in a steam powered glider-like machine, and they on a giant paper airplane. While in Episode three, Yomiko and Gennei Hiraga fence to the death. The dubbing is one of the better I’ve heard. You can tell that the cast is having a lot of fun. And better yet, you can learn a bit about history from this series, something that can’t be said of every movie or anime. I’m giving it 5 Stars out of 5. It’s one of my favorites. And for those who enjoy it, the story was continued in a television show entitled “ROD The TV.” If you like the OVA, it’s worth a watch. Until next time, enjoy the show.
Friday, Feb. 24
Featuring close work with actual U.S. Navy SEALs, “Act of Valor” tells the story of an elite team on a mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent. However, this mission soon leads a discovery of a horrendous global catastrophe on the horizon, and the team is sent on a secret operation in which the world depends on. If you’re a fan of ‘Call of Duty-esque’ cinematics and grand military tales, you’re going to want to see this movie. Rated: R (Strong violence, Torture, Language)
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“Gone” Jill Parrish survived a kidnapping from a serial killer, but one year later her sister gets kidnapped by the same man. Fearing her sister will be dead by nightfall, Jill goes on a chase to save her sister, expose the killer and fight with her demons before it is too late. Rated: PG-13( Violence, Terror, Sexual material, Brief Language, Drug references)
Lost Relics
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www.plumtree.ca
Plumtree
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The nineties were an eclectic time for music, and one new aspect brought to alternative rock was the all-girl grunge band. Chicks with guitars and singing angstridden lyrics became prominent during this period, and one all-female group in particular started young and up north. Formed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Plumtree first met through music teachers, Made up of Lynette Gillis on drums, Carla Gillis on guitar and vocals, Amanda Braden at guitar and Catriona Sturton on bass, all members of the band were between 14-17 years old and started playing their instruments before they hit puberty. At first playing covers of bands such as Iron Maiden and Jimi Hendrix, Plumtree became recognized in Canada quick with singles such as “Follow You,” “You Just Don’t Exist,” and “Go.” One song in particular went on to inspire a graphic novel series and a movie. The name of that song? Scott Pilgrim. Heavy in guitar yet catchy in lyrics, Plumtree is the kind of band that you just want to dance to. The songs are very simplistic, but fun at the same time. Carla Gillis features an enchanting voice, and the guitar has a certain appeal as well. After a well-established career in their homeland, Plumtree separated in 2000, though reunions happen every once in a while. While they grew famous in Canada, their popularity never quite crept southward, which is a shame. This catchy band can be perfect -Kyle Grant to lift up a day or just to dance around to when no one is looking.
Upcoming Concerts The Anchors The Met Wednesday, Feb. 22, 9 p.m. $8
Winter White Tour Lupos Heartbreak Hotel
Friday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m $31
Lions Lions The Met
Friday, Feb. 24 7:30 p.m. $8
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RIC looking to pin McCloskey down NEWA title runs the Anchormen finish regular season show for with three conference wins Anchormen
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The Rhode Island College wrestling team had their final regular season competition of the season on Saturday Feb. 11 when they visited By Geoff Riccio Bridgewater State set Anchor Sports Writer to do battle with the host Bears, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Trinity College in a NEWA Conference quad match. RIC would wrestle The Bears of Bridgewater State first, in what turned out to be the closest match of the day. RIC won the first four weight classes, starting with wins by sophomore Kevin Barruccui (157 lbs.), freshmen Rob Sotelo (165 lbs.) and Caleb Crump (174 lbs.), and finally junior Jesse Posl-Rhinehart (184 lbs.). The Bears battled back, but a come-from-behind, last second, victory by senior captain Brandon Gauthier (125 lbs.) brought the Anchormen back to lead the match 15-12. RIC would score wins from freshman Johnny Short (133 lbs.) and junior Alex LaBeef (141 lbs.) to end the dual with a win 21-18. Next up for RIC was Coast Guard, a young, but very competitive team in the NEWA Conference. RIC started the match with a major decision by senior captain Geoff Riccio (157 lbs.), and one match later Crump would earn his second victory of the day with a pin in the first period. RIC would go on to run through Coast Guard, winning every weight class from 174 lbs. – 149 lbs. Sophomore Adam Lynch (184 lbs.) bested his opponent, winning 10-4, and sophomore Brandon Regnault (285 lbs.)
This
year the
would pick up a first period pin. Freshman Pat Healy (133 lbs.) would earn a last second victory, and the match would close out with senior captain Mike Trasso (149 lbs.) winning in dominating fashion 6-2. RIC would route Coast Guard 37-5. In the final match of the day, RIC was set to wrestle Trinity College. The Bantams didn’t stand a chance, as RIC came firing out of the gates, with Sotelo picking up his second win of the day, this time by major decision. Crump followed suit, winning his third of the day, this time by a score of 6-2. Jesse Posl-Rhinehart would score a technicalfall in the second period, 17-2. Freshman Kyle Humphries (197 lbs.) would out last his opponent winning 4-3. Trasso would close out the match with a first period pin, ending the regular season for the Anchormen, winning their final three dual meets. Not a single varsity wrestler lost on the day for RIC, and of the total twenty-two matches wrestled on the day, RIC would win 19 of them. RIC has a lot of momentum going into the post-season with these three wins, and their biggest tournament of the year starts on Saturday, Feb 25. The New England Wrestling Association Conference Tournament is the NCAA Nationals qualifying tournament. The tournament runs two days, with the wrestlers having to qualify to make it to the second day. When all is said and done, the Anchormen had an up and down year. Injuries were unfortunately consistent throughout the season, and it hurt the Anchormen in competitions. Everything can be forgotten with a great NEWA tournament performance, and RIC is looking to deliver just that.
Anchormen
managed three conference wins in the
NEWA.
Braboy continues to impress for Anchorwomen
By AJ Clark
Anchor Sports Writer
RIC junior Conor McCloskey continued his impressive season by placing seventh in the mile event with a time of 4:18.37 and earning All-New England honors in the process. His performance for the Rhode Island College men’s indoor track team comes just one week after earning a pair of N.E. Alliance honors in the 3,000m and 1,000m events. McCloskey was the only Anchorman runner to take home honor at the 2012 New England Division III Men’s Track and Field Championships. The Anchormen finished 22nd out of 24 teams at the meet, which was hosted by Springfield College. Bates won the meet with a total team score of 103. McCloskey was also a part of the 4x800m relay team with juniors Kevin Carey, Austin Pena and Shawn Stadnick. The team walked away with a 10th place finish after running a time of 8:13.63. Sophomores Craig Amado and Blest Norris teamed up with freshmen Aleno Gomes and Jarell Forbes to place 8th in the 4x400m relay event with a time of 3:28.69. Stadnick and Amado also competed in other events during
the meet as Stadnick placed 18th in the 800m and Amado finished 9th in the triple jump and 20th in the 400m events. The Anchorwomen also competed in the New England Division III Track and Field Championships which were held at Smith College and were led once again by freshman sensation Daria Braboy who continues to impress during her first season of indoor track and field. She was coming off of a sensational N.E. Alliance Championship performance in which she earned honors in three different events including a first place finish in the 400m. This time around Braboy earned All-New England honors in the 400m after running a time of 58.65 which was good enough for fourth place. As a team, the Anchorwomen placed 18th out of 22 teams and Williams won the meet with a total score of 143. Braboy also individually competed 200m and the triple jump in which she placed 11th and 13th respectively. Also placing for the Anchorwomen were freshmen Kayla Cataldo and Chelsea Key and sophomore Natasha Miller, who teamed up with Braboy for an 11th place finish in the 4x400m relay with a time of 4:09.18. The Anchormen and Anchorwomen will be back in action at the New England Open Championships held at Boston University on Friday, Feb. 24 -25.
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The third period lasted longer than most after a referee took a hard shot to the face at 11:38 that resulted in a 45 minute stoppage of play. The Anchormen hoped this would be enough time to regroup and refocus on the game and scoring at least one goal to tie it. That goal came with 1:27 left in play from Dicomitis after he reflected a hard slap shot in from Warnock at the point. The Anchormen were back in it for a moment before the Hawks netted their game winner off an unusual bounce coming on a puck thrown from the corner towards the net. The Anchormen were left stunned with their first playoff loss since 2009. They will lose just three seniors to graduation and will be back in the mix for next season.
CKS I P K QUICQUESTIONS
O ADAM r K C A J Edito s
Sport
L ISSEL B E G GEOR in-Chief r-
Edito
st ark ts Writer an Chare ts Writer AM ALLEN ts Writer l C J A D S r r r r Spo r Spo r Spo Ancho Ancho Ancho
Will women’s basketball win the Little East Conference Tournament?
YES This team is tourney bound
YES Coro, Gaudet and Riley lead
YES Finally ranked
YES Taking no prisoners
YES Big wins on home turf
Who has the most points for men’s basketball against Plymouth State?
CHOICE He lives for tourney time
AKINROLA Dominant in the paint
CHOICE Leads RIC to victory
AKINROLA Finally gets to 1,000
AKINROLA
PC Council goes off for 22
PC DePaul is worse in Big East
PC Easy victory
PC Don’t feel good about it
PC
MARCHAND #LittleBallofHate
SEGUIN Gotta heat up eventually
BERGERON
KELLY Benfits from injuries
BERGERON Sorry Seguin
18-15
19-14
17-16
15-18
18-15
Who wins? Providence College or DePaul? Who has the most goals for the Bruins this week?
Career Record
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Gymnastics picks up win in third place finish at Ithaca Invitational The Rhode Island College women’s gymnastics teams battled their way to their first victory of the season while posting the team’s second highest score on the year. The team rallied to post a 172.050, their second highest tally of the year. The Anchorwomen enjoyed a steady amount of scoring from both By Jack Adamo the consistent seniors as well as some newly Sports Editor discovered freshman standouts. Freshman Jessica Mushinsky helped pave the way with a top notch production in her first time competing in the all-around for the Anchorwomen, posting a 33.925. Mushinsky has been somewhat of a bars specialist throughout this season, competing in the event during five of the six meets this season. The freshman’s day was highlighted by a stand out performance on vault which was the only even she had yet to compete in this season. Her 9.075 was bested on the team score card by only by fellow freshman Mary Ocel who posted a 9.200 on vault. Ocel took the week off of her all-around competition and focused on her vault and bars routines. The focus paid off as she posted scores higher than her season averages in both events. Ocel’s performance was rewarded with a 5th place finish on vault and a 12th place notch on bars. Although some of the gymnasts took the week easy to get back to health of the senior co-captain Kate Bachelder continued her campaign to compete in every even in every meet this season as she finished the day with an all-around score of 33.550 The senior highlighted by her highest score on her beam routine this season with a 8.750. Fellow senior co-captain Sarah Chrane continued her dominance on floor for the Anchorwomen with a 9.350, good for seventh place in the event. Chrane’s consitancy on her floor routine has been quiet impressive. Her 9.350 at the Ithaca Invitational was just her third highest score on the even on the year, but she has not dropped below the 9.000 mark since the first meet of the season. Chrane consistency goes beyond just scores, the senior leader has stayed healthy all year and has not missed either of her events (floor and beam) all season. The Anchorwomen take a positive spin out of the quad meet at Ithaca with the win over Wilson College but as with any sport, the taste of victory is usually just shortly enjoyed. The team will be back to work all week preparing to take another long trek down to West Chester University in Pennsylvania for a quad meet with the hosts, Wilson College and Ursinus College.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Stephanie Coro Senior Guard Women’s Basketball Coro scored a team-high 20 points in a 62-54 victory over Keene State College as the Anchorwomen secured the first Little East Conference regular season title in program history on Saturday, Feb. 18. Coro has been on fire down the stretch leading the Anchorwomen in scoring in four of their final five games. Coro, the Anchorwomen’s third leading scorer, finished the regular season averaging 11 points per game. “Winning the LEC title feels truly amazing. Rachel Riley and I have been striving for this goal from the moment we stepped onto the court our freshman year. All of our program’s hard work is finally paying off and will continue to pay off.”
RIC senior forward Robert Isabella camps out in front of the Roger Williams net during the NECHA Championship game.
Anchormen fall short in title game The Rhode Island College hockey team got a goal on a beautiful tip from senior captain Greg Dicomitis with just 1:27 to play in the game to tie the score at one before Roger Williams netted the game winner just 22 seconds later ending the By Sam Allen Anchormen’s bid for a third conAnchor Sports Writer secutive New England Collegiate Hockey Association title. The Anchormen made it to the finals for the third straight year but this year it did not end as planned. The past two years, the Anchormen took home the NECHA trophy and this season they wanted the coveted third year. The Anchormen played three games and only ended up winning two of them. Despite the loss, the team felt like they had a good and strong season and overcame a dozen injuries to make it to the finals. The Anchormen defeated Springfield College on Tuesday, Feb. 14 in their the quarter finals on a shutout victory from sophomore goal tender Mark Bushy. Anchormen moved on to drop Worcester Polytechnic on Saturday, Feb. 18th. The Anchormen were on their way to face Roger Williams in the finals. The in state rivals faced off on Sunday for the NECHA Colonial championship. The Anchormen and Roger Williams split their season series with the Anchormen getting the best of the Hawks just two weeks ago. The Hawks seemed to have struck first after getting a puck to the back of the net that was ruled no goal just minutes into the period. The Anchormen had their first chances on a power play at 16:29 after a Hawk hooked hard hitter Warnock; there were only two shots on net during the whole two minutes. Sawia had the best chance to score with 31 seconds left but he was the lone man in the offensive zone and no one was there to get the rebound. The game remained scoreless going into the second period. The second period started out with the Anchormen holding down the forts and keeping the puck in their offensive zone throughout the first 10 minutes, but as soon as the puck got down the other end, the Hawks were first to reach the back of the net at 10:26 in the period. Brett Morra had the best scoring opportunity on a break away before four Anchormen were given penalties 30 seconds apart. The Anchormen would be down two men for the first two minutes of the last period of play and the beginning of the third.
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