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Week of March 23, 2015 | Vol: 88 | Issue: #22 Special Op-Ed from President Barack Obama Editorial

R.I.C’s Budget Increase

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Cutbacks from the student union, bookstore and research fund News

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Why Tinder is actually quite creepy Opinions

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All-American Steve Vazquez−Courtesy of goanchormen.com

Steve Vazquez earns consecutive All-American honors rashaWn vassell sports editor @Theanchorsports

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teve Vazquez was the most exciting basketball player on my intramural team last fall. On fastbreaks he was a highlight machine, throwing in high level dunks because of his ability to jump. Steve, during every game, was the most athletic player on the floor at any time but had legitimate basketball skill too. He can handle the ball and shoot it with range. One of the best track and field athletes in the history of Rhode

Island College athletics, Steve desires to play basketball for the school at the start of the winter season.

“It was semi new to me because I hadn’t played official basketball in around three years.(He previously played for Central Falls during high school) However, it was nothing new from a basketball prospective because the game doesn’t change much from high school to college. I made friends and learned to appreciate the game.”

Although he didn’t make the team Steve still used the tryout process to get into shape for his upcoming Track and Field season.

He had a big freshman year and was putting in the work to avoid a dreadful sophomore slump. Last spring, Steven qualified as an AllAmerican in the High Jump event, finishing 2nd with a 2.09m jump. His hard work earned him conference Rookie Of The Year and AllECAC honors.

“I felt no pressure from anyone coming into this season. No coach, no competitor.

The only pressure that I had about achieving All American status was from myself. No person can be more disappointed with a poor performance from myself then myself.

I knew from my summer dedication and

sacrifices that, I ,a former 5’9” high jumper could potentially win and become a National Champion.Instead of the number 1 spot , I got the number 2 spot again. However last year I tied for 2nd, this year I didn’t tie.”

Vazquez takes full responsibility for the good and the bad during his career and is an tireless hard worker. He often stays after practice to put in additional work with his coaches and by himself and finishing # 2 is not acceptable to him. Vazquez was named LEC Men’s Track and VAZQUEZ Field athlete of the year and received All- see back cover

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Raimondo budget gives RIC a $3 million increase

spring, is especially worried about the bookstore and student union funds, which have the capacity to effect students directly.

Money taken from bookstore, student union, and research funds elisha kay aldrich news editor @anchornews

economic development opportunity and prosperity.”

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ver the course of the year, many have said that the state needs to put more money towards higher education. Now that Governor Gina Raimondo has released her 2015-2016 budget plan, it looks like prayers have been answered. Overall, Rhode Island College will receive a $3,359,678 increase, putting state funding at $178,476,879. But, taking a closer look at the package, everything may not be as it appears.

The expenditures by program breaks down exactly how much is being given to what RIC programs in comparison to last year. The education and general, residence halls, and Donovan Dining Center programs all received increases, taking up around $164,280,345 from the total $178 million that RIC will receive. But, the bookstore, student union, and both the federal and state funded research programs were cut, only totaling up at $14,196,534. It should be noted that many of the increases and expenditures were for faculty, staff, and administrative salaries.

“My entire administration is energized by Governor Raimondo’s commitment to higher education,” said President Nancy Carriuolo. “Like her, we believe strongly that education and training form the linchpin that positions the state for

Carriuolo was one of the administrative members to receive a salary increase, receiving an extra $6,156. The Vice Presidents total salaries were cut $26,116.

Students, on the other hand, are not as energized as the administration, especially after taking a look at the numbers.

Linda Lin, a sophomore graphic design major, commented that money should not have been taken away from the equipment line item when she examined the expenditures by object.

“I don’t understand why they’re taking money away from capital purchases and equipment when our equipment isn’t that great,” she said. “If you look at what RIC has equipment wise, it’s all broken and old.”

She also stated she believes more money definitely should have been allocated towards research.

“With research and development, that brings people to the school, and that brings funds,” she said. “It’s funny how the college mission statement says it’s committed to a high quality education but it’s really not.”

Sam Peloquin, a technical theater major who will graduate this

“The student morale at RIC is awful,” she said. “With these budget cuts [to the student union], I’m worried that they’re going to have to get rid of [student] trips.”

Noah Carsten, another sophomore, believed differently, stating that he believes RIC knows how to handle the money.

“Nothing is standing out, I’m not flabbergasted by anything.

I feel like the college knows how to run itself and it’s been improving itself each year. They’re working with what the state is giving them and it’s working.”

Carriuolo remained positive about the increase, noting that Governor Raimondo has shown that she is committed to higher education in Rhode Island.

“Her commitment is reflected the $3.7 million increase in RIC’s budget allocation from this year’s revised budget to next year’s recommended budget,” Carriuolo said. “Her commitment is also reflected in two proposed key programs: a restructuring of grant programs to provide financial support to low-income college students and a college loan-forgiveness program for college students graduating in selected high-growth sectors.”

If students wish to read the budget in its entirety, it can be found online at http://www.budget.ri.gov/CurrentYear/ BudgetVolumeIII.php

The saving grace of student veterans their withdrawal won’t reflect poorly on their transcripts and that they won’t be financially penalized by the college or the V.A.

melissa gieck

anchor contributor

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ould you believe anyone if they told you that Rhode Island College is currently home to almost 300 veterans and service members? Probably not. Being the daughter of two Army National Guard veterans, Specialist Darlene Gieck and Staff Sergeant Vincent Gieck, I am acutely aware of the issues that plague veterans. I take notice of service members wherever I go, from the veteran license plates I see every day on the roads, to the men and women walking around our very own college campus. But, what are the issues that student veterans face?

That’s what I plan to discuss here over the course of several weeks.

Most student veterans at RIC receive the GI Bill, which is money from the military to assist veterans in paying for their education. Before a veteran can take advantage of this money, they must first see Cindy Salzillo in the Records Office. As the Eligibility Technician, Salzillo is responsible for tackling the daunting task of certifying all of our student veterans in the beginning of the semester so they receive their tuition assistance. In 2008 when she first began, Salzillo only dealt with

approximately 90 student veterans. Six years later that number has more than tripled.

As the only technician to work with RIC veterans, Salzillo stated that she battles the “accounting nightmare,” that is the GI Bill and military service tuition waivers. With different regulations and system changes taking effect every few months, Salzillo must monitor and keep up with the constantly morphing procedures; certainly not a task for the faint of heart. However, within a few days at the beginning of every semester, she is able to certify all of the student veterans on campus.

With continued involvement in conflicts across the globe, student veterans are being activated, deployed, and are forced to leave school. This is not only a challenge to them, but also to Salzillo who must consult with the Dean of Students to ensure

Let’s get technical

STEM competition comes to RIC during spring break jennifer sancheZ anchor staff

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lthough Rhode Island College students were on spring break last week, middle school and high school students from various regions of Rhode Island participated in the Rhode Island Technology Student Association (TSA) State Competition. At the same time, the Tech Expo, which was also held at the RIC campus, showcased laser cutting, 3D printing, and model helicopters. It was an experience hosted by the RIC STEM and Technology Education Program at RIC for children and teens to learn more about areas of science,

Students from STEM −Photo by Jennifer Sanchez

technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The TSA State Competition, held in Whipple Hall, is a student organization for middle and high school students that have enrolled in or completed a technology education course.

Every year the competition aims to provide hands on experience in STEM concepts to real-world situations. For the second year in row, Rhode Island College was selected as the location for the TECH EXPO/TSA Competition. President Carriuolo was also present at the Tech Expo.

“I am proud that the expo is being held at RIC. Many of the best jobs in RI are in the technology field, “President Carriuolo shared.

“I am pleased that our school partners are working with RIC to give visibility to the efforts to attract students to STEM fields and develop their technological knowledge and skills.”

Salzillo has been a cornerstone for veteran support on campus, shown by the walls of her office, where rests pictures from all around the world, money from several countries, and photos of children. According to Salzillo, these are all tokens of appreciation from those she has helped over the years. She has even gone as far as buying textbooks to share with veterans who cannot afford to purchase their own. When student veterans from other colleges or universities need assistance with enrollment, they are referred to Salzillo for advice from RIC veteran alumni.

Salzillo credits Disability Services, Admissions, Jayne Knightingale and Susan McAllister from OASIS, and Micaela Black Estrella from the Veteran Resource Center with assisting student veterans as well and helping to ensure their enrollment at RIC is as stress free and beneficial as possible. Student veterans face a variety of other issues, from homelessness to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and physical ailments from war, all of which this team is more than willing to battle alongside them.

High School. “I got into robotics in Science Olympia, a program like this one (TSA) but I wanted to build robots in a team environment so I joined this program.”

Thepsimoung, along with his peers Eric Coburn and Amber Seminick worked together to build, “Ascention,” which is a robot they started working since October last year with constant modifications to have it well prepared for this very important day.

Other areas in which students competed were bridge building, where judges weighed bridges once students completed building their bridge. Students worked in groups under the supervision of their teachers and use tools such as wooden sticks, thin paper and glue to create the bridge.

The teams competed in Mechanical CADD, robotics, CO dragsters, bridge design, animation, graphics, web design and boat building.

Thomas Harngreaves, a technology teacher for Martin Middle School shared that he started to prepare his students three months ago so they can feel confident and knowledgeable about the competition. He also shared when students are exposed to STEM concepts they have an interest to further their education in fields of technology and engineering. “A student of mine is planning to go to University of Rhode Island for engineering,” Harngreaves said.

“I like hands on work,” said Anuvong Thepsimoung, a student from Woonsocket

In terms of students pursuing a career in technology, President Carrioulo shared that

RIC is capable of providing “great value” with reasonable tuition for students, compared to other institutions.

“RIC has generous donors who have contributed over $1 million to purchase new equipment for a center devoted to technology under the supervision of Professor McLaughlin, “ President Carriuolo said. “RIC has, for example, now three 3-D printers on campus (one in Alex and Ani Hall and two in the center). We also house the RIC STEM Center on campus.”

Although it was a competition, students, teachers, and judges shared one thing in common about the event- a love of science. Beth Starring, a technology teacher for Woonsocket High School and a RIC Alum shared that she hopes her students will learn “perseverance, problem solving and engineering skills.”

Another RIC alum, Jennifer Robinson, who is a technology teacher for Winman Jr. High School and coordinator for the TSA Statewide competition, expressed that this competition is a “practice place for students but most importantly to have fun.”

Once the TSA competition concluded, judges announced the winners at the TECH Expo location. The Tech Expo, held in Alger Hall, also included representatives from Igus Inc, R&D Technologies, and the Rhode Island Aeromodelers Club.

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Tucker Talks Nutriton Dining Service’s Resident Dietitian will be offering a HEALTY EATING and NUTRITION Session on Wednesday April 1, 12:30pm in DDC Room 204. Bring your lunch and take a bite out of nutrition together with Bethany Tucker RLD. The next Food Service Advisory Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 12:30pm in DDC Room 204. We encourage you to join this committee and share your ideas.

Your Suggestions in Action!

Dining Services in conjunction with Student Community Government has purchased a mobile device charging station to assist DDC guests whose mobile devices need to be charged. We hope to have the unit installed by April 7, 2015. AS always we thank you for your suggestions!

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elcome back! I hope spring break was relaxing for you as it was for me! Can you believe the spring semester is half way over? I don’t know about you but this weather has me all out of sorts!

As know, March is national nutrition month and with that I would like to invite you to come participate in a class on healthy eating, and basic nutrition facts. It will be held in DDC 204 Wednesday April 1, 12:30pm.

Please feel free to bring any questions with you…Bring your lunch and let’s take a bite out of nutrition together….

If interested please email Bethany at Btucker@ric.edu . As always Bethany is available for one on one counseling Mondays and Wednesdays by appointment. Looking forward to working with you !

-BETHANY TUCKER

Do you have questions about nutrition? Contact:

Bethaney Tucker RD, LDN. Located in the faculty Center, DDC Phone: 401-456-8477 btucker@ric.edu

Are you a Commuter Student, Faculty / Staff member seeking to purchase a MEAL PLAN? If so, you are in luck! Non Residents may purchase Dining Points or anyone of the four Meal Plan Options offered to Residents. These options offer a convenient, cashless method to enjoy your favorite foods and beverages! For more information please stop by our office located in DDC Room 209 or email DiningServices@RIC.EDU

− Graphics by Tyler H. Vigeant, Art Director

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news

louisa d’ovidio Anchor Contributor

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s the technology generation, we’ve all heard our parents woe over the lack of friendliness that has come about with smartphones and laptops. But, perhaps it isn’t so bad. Author Marc J. Dunkelman came to Rhode Island College on Tuesday, March 3 to discuss his book “The Vanishing Neighbor: The Transformation of American Community,” where he talks about exactly that. Dunkleman’s book outlines how Americans are spending more time with their “inner ring relationships,” family and close friends, as well as more time with those “outer ring relationships,” which are people who share niche interests & opinions with them.

Dunkleman is a researcher at Brown University, fellow at the Clinton Foundation, and was a political journalist for many years in Washington. His thesis focused on the changing American community. During the discussion, he described the changes from his father’s generation to his own.

“He would take a tour of his old neighborhood, we would drive around the block and my father could tell me the story of each family. Whose kids went to what school, what the father did for work,” Dunkleman said.

He went on to talk on his experience with his neighborhood growing up.

“I got a paper route when I was in the fourth grade and when I got the roster of names, I didn’t know a single one of them. They would have been strangers if I had bumped into them at the grocery store.”

The thesis explains the significance of this change, as well as introducing the concept of “social capital” or in his words,

Author of “The Vanishing Neighbor”, Marc J. Dunkelman−Photo by Louisa D’Ovidio

Changing relationships in American society that “interpersonal connections are worth something.”

“People have measured social capital essentially like it’s the temperature. Certain communities have more social capital; certain communities have less social capital.”

What this means is that in some communities neighbors feel a sense of connectedness and responsibility to each other, which he went on to explain.

“I don’t think we should think of it as something like a temperature.

We should think of it as something that we each individually possess.

We each have a certain amount of agency in where we select to invest our social capital. Over time we have chosen to invest our social capital in different kinds of ways…

We have taken the social capital that used to be invested in our middle ring relationships- and invested more heavily in our inner ring relationships. We are spending more time with the people we love.”

This emerging trend in our country coincided with The General Social Survey and supported Dunkleman’s own ideas on inner ring relations.

“The percentage of Americans that recently have eaten a meal with a family member has actually risen over the past few years.”

In addition to re-investing in the inner ring relations we have, he also saw the pattern of Americans investing more in “outer ring relationships.” Being part of the niche communities filled with people that, thanks to technology we can easily find and partake in, share common interests or opinions with us.

Dunkleman explained that he doesn’t view it as necessarily negative trend.

“There are many more opportunities to be with the people who we are close to. Many more

opportunities to connect with people who agree with you on whatever it is you are interested in,” he said.

However, he does believe that positive things come from

interactions with people whom we have little in common with.

the “genesis of good ideas” is about groups coming together.

“Talking to someone who has a different view, moderates your opinions. This opens you up to other ideas.” He also thinks that

“Good ideas come more frequently when people have different points of view come together and share them.”

RI Supreme Court rides the circuit to RIC take advantage of this opportunity.

ryan foley Assistant Editor

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he Rhode Island Supreme Court is establishing a new kind of precedentcoming to visit Rhode Island College! They will be coming to campus on Thursday, April 2 as part of the Court’s Riding the Circuit program, in which the justices travel to schools and other locations in Rhode Island to hold their sessions.

“This is the first time that the Court has come to RIC”, said Dr. Thomas Schmeling, who is chair of the Political Science Department and the college’s pre-law advisor. The court is coming at the invitation of the Political Science Department and the office of the President of the College.

Dr. Schmeling encourages all students to

“The work of the courts is just as important as that of the governor and the legislature, but it is often less visible to the public. This is a great opportunity for the RIC community to see their government and work,” he said.

The Court’s visit was suggested to Dr. Schmeling by Rebecca Partington, an Assistant Attorney General for the state.

Partington teaches upper-level courses for the Political Science Department as an adjunct faculty member. Another Assistant Attorney General, Michael Field, also teaches for the department.

“We are very fortunate to have these two experienced litigators share their knowledge and experience with our students”, says Schmeling.

According to Schmeling, this is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“Many people have seen trials in person or on television. Appellate oral argument is quite different from a trial, and many people never get the chance to see it.”

The session will be held in Sapinsley Hall in the Nazarian Center, beginning at 9:00 AM. Late arrivals will have to wait for breaks in the argument to enter the auditorium, so be sure to arrive on time. It should also be noted that there will be metal detectors at the entrance.

Three cases will be heard. One of the cases involves an appeal of the denial of a permit to carry a concealed weapon. The second case involves an appeal of a criminal conviction for sexual assault. The final case involves an appeal over an insurer’s duty to defend a policy holder. Arguments are expected to last until 11:30. There will be no witnesses. Instead, lawyers representing the prosecution and defense will present their

oral arguments. The justices have already received their written arguments.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and four associate justices.

The justices are appointed by the governor with the state legislature’s consent. Chief Justice Paul Suttell has been serving on the court since 2003 and was elevated to his position as Chief Justice in 2009. The associate justices are Maureen McKenna Goldberg, Francis Flaherty, William Robinson, and Gilbert Indeglia. Justices are appointed to serve for life. The Rhode Island Supreme Courthouse is located on Benefit Street in Providence.

For more information, contact Dr. Schmeling at tschmeling@ric.edu or visit the Political Science Department in Craig-Lee 209.

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Parliament double header SCG continues previous talks, wants to bring new members up to bat louisa d’ovidio Anchor Contributor

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tudent Community Government, Inc.’s past two Parliament meetings saw a new Speaker elected, the beginning stages of small changes coming to campus, passionate advice from representatives and discussion around controversial donations.

New Speaker Laurie Cepeda was elected and conducted her first Parliament session on the 18th.

President Robert Santurri informed the body about the resolutions taking place. “We will have a charging station installed in a couple weeks. Installed in Donovan on the first floor.” His plans also include the formation of a peer mentoring program, and extending library hours. “We’ve been discussing the idea of a peer mentoring program under some capacity…We will be talking about the idea of extended library hours, this conversation is already happening… the idea is to have the hours extend to eleven.”

The body also attempted to pass a by-laws change that would appropriately scale the number of signatures needed on a petition to join student government to the size of the population it was being drawn from. The change was tabled until next meeting and if passed will not be effective until after next year.

Vice President Philip Brodeur reminded the body about the next Town Hall Meeting. On March 25 at 6pm in the Student Union Café the town hall will be held for students to voice any concerns or express opinions they have, refreshments will also be provided.

Treasurer Robert Smith stressed the importance of returning the Club Budget recommendations that went out the previous week.

“If you don’t turn one in we automatically mark you as unsatisfied, and then you are required to show up to an unsatisfied meeting, and if they don’t show their club budget will zero out and it’s always very heart breaking to see a club just go out like that.”

President Santurri −Photo by Everton Carter

Alumni representitive Costa −Photo by Everton Carter halls for renovation or possibly new construction. Regardless of whether its renovation or new construction, I think we are talking about several years out in the future to get a project like that done.”

Dr. Kane also encouraged the body to begin thinking about their legacy. “Start the process now of recruiting members for next year to this body… Pass the torch, get folks ready.”

Dean of Students Scott Kane discussed new projects coming to the campus dorms, which would be several years into the future, if it were to happen.

President Santurri echoed this sentiment. “Now is the time to recruit, I know I won’t be coming back next year but I would like to see this Parliament body even more built up than when I was the President.”

“You all know that the college is beginning to look at the residence

Vice President Brodeur gave out info the about the filing period to

join Parliament next year, “Pick up a new petition for March 23rd to get on Parliament.”

Alumni Representative Hillary Costa gave impassioned advice on joining and participating in SCG. “You got to leave the egos at the door. SCG has nothing to do with your individual names. … You’re not doing it to get credit or a pat on the back or to get your name in the paper about what you did. You’re doing it because you love RIC. It’s not about advancing yourself, it’s about advancing RIC…People will remember the good things they did, working together as a team because they loved RIC.”

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four-story, 200 room hotel proposed by Twin River would cost between 30 and 35 million dollars to build. The construction would last approximately one year, and would create 200 temporary construction jobs and 100 permanent positions. Twin River officials hold that they are not attempting to create a resort destination, but simply trying to persuade gamblers to choose their casino.

melissa gieck

anchor contributor

RIC hosts American College Dance Association Conference While most students were relaxing during spring break, over 400 students and faculty from 30 different colleges were on the RIC campus for the ACDA conference.

This was an exciting affair for the college, as this has been the first time in more than 30 years that RIC has hosted this event. From March 11 to the 14, more than 40 professional dance classes, workshops, lectures, demonstrations and master classes were taught by faculty. Six different spaces in the Nazarian Center were converted into dance studios, while the Recreation Center, Gaige Hall, the Student Union, Donovan Dining Center and Alger Hall were also utilized. The conference focused on varying dance forms, from ballet to Brazilian. Four concerts were held during this time, in which 44 dance pieces were featured. Each participating college had the opportunity to present a maximum of 2 pieces. Following the performances, a panel critiqued the dancers and choreography. An informal concert was also held, which featured 12 dance pieces. Some of the participating institutions included: Boston College, Curry College, Roger Williams University and the University of Maine.

“Affirmative Action in the Age of Inclusion” On March 18, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Alger Hall, Attorney Shirley Wilcher presented the Dialogue on Diversity Spring Lecture at RIC. Wilcher is a graduate from Harvard Law School, and has worked in civil rights law for more than 35 years. Her resume includes testifying before the House and Senate committees of the U.S. Congress, writing at length on the issues surrounding equal opportunity, acting as a staff attorney for the National Women’s Law Center in Washington D.C., and performing as civil rights counsel for the House Committee on Education and Labor during Reagan’s administration.

Wilcher was also part of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs with the Department of Labor as deputy assistant secretary. Her lecture, “Affirmative Action in the Age of Inclusion” focused on the history of affirmative action, the impact it has had and continues to have on the workforce in our country, issues with compliance in higher

education and future implications. Her event was co-sponsored by RIC’S Feinstein School of Education and Human Development and the Diversity Committee. Shirley Wilcher is currently executive director of the D.C. based American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity. She is president of Wilcher Global, LLC, a consulting firm.

South Kingstown technology company making waves with CO2 Enhanced Energy Group, a South Kingstown technology company, has received a $100,000 grant to further develop their apparatus. The large sum of money has come from the Slater Technology Fund, which according to their news release, has now invested a total of $250,000 in the Rhode Island based business. Enhanced Energy Group is a technology company which has been commercializing a patented non-emissive, co-generation system centered on a family of technologies called SemiClosed Cycle engines. These technologies produce electricity and carbon dioxide suitable for industrial markets. Enhanced Energy Group’s intellectual property was initially licensed from the United States Navy, but has now been extended to the piston engine with fillings in not only the U.S, but globally. These technologies are applied to internal combustion engines and turbines to produce energy and capture the carbon dioxide for productive, cost effective re-use. These new technologies, according to the company, enhance oil-recovery efforts.

Enhanced Energy Group targets companies in the petroleum production industry.

Twin River to create new hotel and jobs On Tuesday, March 17th, the House Finance Committee passed a bill that would allow Twin River in Lincoln to build a hotel on the premises alongside the casino. Without debate, the measure was unanimously passed.

There was a previous restriction in place which banned the casino from constructing a hotel on the property. This ban was enacted because the Providence hotel industry was in fear of the new competition which a hotel at Twin River would create. However, in June of this year, Massachusetts will be opening a slots parlor just 12 miles from Twin River. This presents an even bigger competition, and the casino is scared of losing their costumers to not only another casino, but another state.

The loss of these costumers would not only be a potentially crippling blow to Twin River, but to the state of Rhode Island as well. The

7 from the Facebook page. The fraternity is offering no comment. Those found to have posted on the Facebook page could face misdemeanor charges of invasion of privacy or harassment. A fine is the most common penalty for such charges resulting in a guilty verdict. According to the police warrant, the Facebook page had 144 active members, from current students to alumni.

17 tourists killed in Tunisian museum shooting Frat suspended over Facebook investigation On Tuesday, March 17 Penn State suspended a fraternity for a year after police began investigating claims that they created an inappropriate Facebook. The fraternity in question, Kappa Delta Rho, is accused of creating a private, invitation only, Facebook page in which the members posted photos of nude and half nude females, some of which appeared to be unconscious or asleep. A former member of the fraternity approached the police in January, telling them the Facebook was used not only to post photos of nude, unsuspecting females, but also to document drug sales and hazing. According to police, the individuals in the photos appeared to be unaware that they were being photographed. Some of the postings involved nude women in “sexual or embarrassing photographs.” The former member also provided police with print outs

At noon on Wednesday, the 18th of March, gunmen wearing military uniforms stormed Tunisia’s national museum killing 17 tourists and two Tunisians. This is being reported as one of the worst militant attacks in the history of the country. Tunisia has eluded extreme militant violence for the past four years, since an uprising in 2011. The Bardo museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Tunisian capital. Tourists from Japan, France, Poland, Spain, Australia, Colombia and Italy are among the dead on Wednesday. The gunmen opened fire at the unsuspected victims as they departed buses in the parliament compound in central Tunis. This compound is said to be heavily guarded, despite the attack. As people began to flee, the gunmen took hostages inside the museum. Two hours later, security forces entered, killing two gunmen and releasing the hostages. One police officer was killed during the operation. After the shooting, hundreds of Tunisians gathered together in the streets of Tunis. They waved the country’s flag and recited chants against terrorism.

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“fix these pixilated buildings.” −Photo by Dannie Franciosi

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FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME STUDENTS WHO FIT THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT A COMPLETED APPLICATION FOR CONSIDERATION: Students must:

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Or pick one up today to join Parliament before the end of this semester!

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week of march

eDiTorial

23 , 2015

9

EDITORS

To the Editor, The readership of this paper will recall that in the last issue of The Anchor (3/2), the front page was dedicated to the “Sexual Assault on Campus Bill” (H5034) currently in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. I write this in order to encourage those who feel strongly about the threat of sexual assault on campus to look at the specific provisions of the law. At the moment, the entirety of the bill is only three pages in length and prescribes no consequences for those who violate it. Suppose that a professor at this school did not report a sexual assault. Under this law, neither they, or the college, would face any legal repercussions.

In short, this will have little effect upon the treatment of reported sexual assaults at Rhode Island College. I ask you, don’t we deserve better of our government? Shouldn’t they take real, meaningful steps to stop sexual assaults from occurring on our campus rather than an empty, vapid bill that allows the government to save face? This law is clearly disingenuous and because of that, I must declare that, in my opinion, this should not be made law.

Derrik Trombley

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR BUSINESS MANAGER ART DIRECTOR NEWS EDITOR RIC LIFE EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR PHOTO EDITOR GRAPHICS EDITOR COPY EDITOR LAYOUT EDITOR ADS MANAGER TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR CIRCULATION MANAGER

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week of march

23 , 2015

opinions

disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Anchor.

New York: The good Valuing devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the bad vicTor marTelle opinions editor @anchoropinions

T

he elevator finally arrived, quickly opening its doors.

I, and the woman standing next to me, entered only to be almost crushed by the closing doors. “Oh wow, that was quick!” She said.

To which I replied, “Yeah, it’s like everyone and everything is rushing us in this city, even the elevators.”

New York is indeed a city that never sleeps. It’s like that overly anxious friend who chugs Red Bull one after another. I visited New York City for the second time as of last week, and unfortunately, my experiences have only complimented each other. I cannot speak from the experience of those who have lived there, but I at least can talk about it from my naivety as being a tourist.

Upon arriving, I once again found the hotel rooms to be smaller than most hotel rooms I’ve been in.

Nonetheless, venturing out in the city gave me little room as well.

Being almost shepherded by the

wall of people surrounding me on my walks, I found myself only to be uncomfortable most of the time.

Even walking into the restaurants and stores, there was no finding peace. People were everywhere.

I also noticed that everything was double the price. That dollar hamburger you can get at McDonalds in RI, or that ten dollar shirt at Old Navy? Prepare to fork over almost double the price to the intrusive hustlers on the streets of New York. And while you are paying double the price, you can hear the beautiful symphony of the car horns while dodging the taxis who force their way through the crowds of people in the crosswalk.

Negatives aside, I was astounded by the culture. From the hustle and bustle, to the diversity of people walking the streets, I couldn’t help but almost fall in love with it all.

My favorite thing however, oddly enough, was the truck food. It was cheap and the tastiest food I have ever had. But, awesome truck food aside, I suggest you try not to get caught up in the tourist traps that many people often fall into

ashley araBy assistant editor

o you ever wonder why D there is daily mass? Do you ever wonder why the doors

are never locked? Do you ever think about God when you’re not obligated to? After having a child, a parent’s love for him or her is unexplainable.

They make sacrifices for their child’s wellbeing and happiness.

Likewise, and even more so, Jesus does the same for us. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is about recognizing the love Jesus has for us, most known through the Holy Eucharist where Jesus actually gives Himself to people. By receiving the Holy Eucharist at mass, people are united directly to God. He is in their hearts, their souls and His grace becomes a reflection in their lives.

Sometimes we don’t see how precious it is to receive the “bread” at the end of mass. After the blessing, the “bread,” a thin wafer, becomes the actual body and blood of Christ through graces from God’s Holy Spirit that come through the priest.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is about recognizing the constant love Jesus has for us, despite our own indifference. It is about returning that love back to God. Further details are in Father John Croiset’s book: “Devotion to

the Sacred Heart of Jesus: How to Practice The Sacred Heart Devotion.” This practice is about remembering how much God loves us; from His death on the cross for our salvation, through His constant presence in our lives at each moment, and also

by His continuous presence in the Holy Eucharist, each day and night. Even after mass is over He remains in the Tabernacle (a gold or stone box) that sits on the altar.

After recognizing how much God loves us and that many people overlook or do not realize it, people who have a devotion to His Sacred Heart visit Jesus more in church. They adore Him during those quiet times between mass when no one is there. They receive Him in the Eucharist at mass. They just say an extra rosary or spend a little more time each day in conversation with God, reciting prayers directly to His heart. Especially, they turn to Him in times of need, confident that Jesus will help them with a situation.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart was made known by Jesus Himself to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in the mid to late 1600s and has continued through the present day. Jesus also included twelve promises to those who honor His Sacred Heart, most of which we all can benefit from.

Some of them are: “I will give them all the graces necessary in

Summer Sessions 2015 www.ric.edu/summersessions

A lot of people say that they do pray to God, that they do love Him, but that they don’t need the church. Actually, they aren’t truly loving God as He wants to be loved. Jesus wants people to receive Him in Holy Eucharist where His Sacred Heart is present. Jesus said: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.” (John 6: 54-56).

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their state of life…I will comfort them in all their afflictions…I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings…sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy…

Lukewarm souls shall become fervent…I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored...Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart. …I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.”

May 18 – June 26 June 29 –August 7

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week of march

23 , 2015

11

President Obama’s Op-Ed

I

n an economy increasingly built on innovation, the most important skill you can sell is your knowledge. That’s why higher education is, more than ever, the surest ticket to the middle class.

But just when it’s never been more important, it’s also never been more expensive. The average undergrad who borrows to pay for college ends up graduating with about $28,000 in student loan debt.

That’s why my Administration has worked hard to make college more affordable. We expanded tax credits and Pell Grants, enacted the largest reforms to the student loan program in history, and fought to keep interest rates on student loans low. We’ve acted to let millions of graduates cap loan payments at 10 percent of their incomes, so they don’t have to choose between paying the rent and paying back their debt. I’ve sent Congress my plan to bring the cost of community college down to zero, because two years of higher education should be as free and universal as high school is today.

I recently unveiled another way that we can help more Americans afford college. It doesn’t involve any new spending or bureaucracy. It’s a simple declaration of values – a Student Aid Bill of Rights.

It says: Every student deserves access to a quality, affordable education. Every student should be able to access the resources to pay for college. Every borrower has the right to an affordable repayment plan. And every borrower has the right to quality customer service, reliable information, and

fair treatment, even if they struggle to repay their loans.

That’s it. Just a few simple principles. But there’s a lot that colleges, lenders, and the people you send to Washington can and should do to live up to them.

Consider the other actions I took two weeks ago. We’re creating a way for borrowers to ask questions about their loans or file a complaint and get a fast response. We’re going to require businesses that service loans to provide clear information about how much students owe and their options for repaying it, and help them get back in good standing if they’re falling behind, with reasonable fees on a reasonable timeline.

We’re also going to take a hard look at whether we need new laws to strengthen protections for all borrowers, wherever their loans come from.

If you believe in a Student Aid Bill of Rights that will help more Americans pay

for a quality education, I’m asking you to visit WhiteHouse. gov/CollegeOpportunity. Sign your name to this declaration.

Tell your families, friends, and fellow students. I’m going to ask Members of Congress, and lenders, and as many business leaders as I can find. Because making sure that students aren’t saddled with debt before they even get started in life is in all our interests.

This issue is personal to me. My grandfather had a chance to go to college because this country decided that veterans returning from World War II should be able to afford it. My mother was able to raise two kids by herself in part because she got grants that helped pay for her education.

And Michelle and I are where we are today because of scholarships and student loans. We didn’t come from families of means, but we knew that if we worked hard, we’d have a shot at a great education.

That’s what this country gave us.

In America, a higher education cannot be a privilege reserved only for the few. It has to be available to everyone who’s willing to work for it.

President Obama’s Points Every student deserves access to a quality, affordable education at a college that's cutting costs and increasing learning.

Every student should be able to access the resources needed to pay for college.

Every borrower has the right to an affordable repayment plan.

Every borrower has the right to quality customer service, reliable information, and fair treatment, even if they struggle to repay their loans.

12

week of march

23 , 2015

opinions

disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Anchor.

shane inman

Anchor Contributor

“

Hypocrite” is a word that gets thrown around quite a bit, especially when it comes to ideological debates. The general idea behind its use is that if the accused person can’t even maintain or live by a consistent set of beliefs, their position is invalid.

But really, let’s face facts here: I’m a hypocrite, you’re a hypocrite, we’re all hypocrites.

It’s a basic aspect of being human.

We’re all capable of astounding mental gymnastics to ensure that no matter what we do, it still lines up in some way shape or form with our system of beliefs. An outside observer has neither the ability nor the desire to perform those same leaps of logic, so where we see nuance, they see hypocrisy.

And that’s alright, because that outside observer does the exact same thing all the time. Like a bucket of saltwater in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, pointing out hypocrisy in the course of an argument just isn’t worth very much.

So what’s the point of all this? If we’re all hypocrites, why does it even matter? Well, just because everyone does it doesn’t mean it’s not a problem in need of a closer look. To quote a timeless American icon: Knowing is half the battle.

None of us will ever be 100% hypocrisy-free and it would be

futile to attempt such a feat. What is not futile, however, is raising our own awareness of the issue. Armed with the knowledge that one is a hypocrite, one can quite easily begin to spot discrepancies in their ideals, actions and beliefs. Really, try it right now. Think of any position you hold, (on anything, big or small) then try to find conflicts within your other stances or actions. If you dig deep enough, you will always find something that doesn’t match up.

Now, once you’ve made yourself aware of a conflict—and here’s the important bit—you don’t have to do anything about it. To put it simply, consciously deciding to alter your beliefs is probably not going to work, so that’s right out the window. All you really have to do is accept and live with the hypocrisy, whether temporarily or indefinitely. While this might seem pointless, acknowledging the discrepancy whenever it arises is a much healthier way to live than denying there’s a problem at all.

There’s no shame in taking this route, (hell, I’m living with a few major hypocrisies right now) so long as you really do accept that the conflict exists.

As an added bonus, if you maintain awareness a particular hypocrisy, there’s a good chance that the beliefs or actions in question will naturally start to align better as time goes on—something which can’t happen if you pretend they’re already perfectly in line. So be a hypocrite, it’s alright. Just don’t lie to yourself about it.

Tinder is really scary REBECCA PITZER Assistant Editor

I

have strange feelings about Tinder. On one hand, I have a list of things to avoid on Tinder (shirtless boys who took their picture in a mirror, people who have more than one person in all of their pictures or anyone named Mike) and on the other hand, I want to avoid it all together.

I’ve recently become single, and in this completely weird and confusing time of my life, I’ve found myself swiping left and right, checking out boys and girls, but, to my surprise, I actually feel completely and utterly horrified when one of them actually contacts me. If only because they usually say something like, “Hey, cutie,” which irks me because I would strongly rather have my name used than “cutie” especially if I’m talking to a complete stranger. You have to earn the

level of comfort that comes with me being okay with you calling me “cutie.”

The thing that I think unsettles me about Tinder is the pressure of meeting someone new and having automatic expectations about that person. Especially someone like me, who has an anxiety disorder, these thoughts are terrifying. The thing is, when you’re meeting up with someone who you know finds you attractive, and you, yourself find that person attractive, and when there is the potential for that relationship to become something more, there is pressure. This is a pressure to not act like a total weirdo, to “be cool,” to not reveal too much of yourself too soon and to try your hardest to make this person like you. The whole experience is riddled with worry.

I’m not saying that Tinder is totally unusable, just not for me. I’d rather meet people in person first, where there are no expectations and no stranger danger. Caps off to those brave enough to scale the mountain that is meeting people on Tinder.

−Graphic by Tyler Vigeant; Art Director

We’re all hypocrites

comics

week of march

23 , 2015

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Active Minds wants to heal your heart elisha kay aldrich news editor @anchornews

A

rt is used as a healing method for many people, and next Tuesday, Active Minds will be embracing that fact at their Healing HeArts event. According to Madelin Schlenz, the Vice President of Active Minds, the event will use a combination of art and education to allow attendees to speak out against sexual assault, domestic violence, and other traumas.

“Basically, the first half of the event is going to be a combination of performances and presentations,” Schlenz said.

The performances will range in variety, from poetry and dance, to music and storytelling. The presentations will be more informational, and will be given by several sexual assault advocacy groups, including Green Dot, One in Four, Sojourner House, and the Rhode Island Coalition for Domestic Violence.

The second half is more of a community discussion, according to Schlenz. During this time, Active Minds hopes to see students talk about rape

culture, supporting survivors, challenging the myths around sexual assault, and getting through the roadblocks survivors may face. “Talking about it is the most important thing we can do to change our culture,” she said.

Schlenz also mentioned that bringing an event like this to the RIC community is especially important, because college aged students are the most at risk for domestic violence and sexual assault. “Campuses are high risk just because of the age groups,” she said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean they are unsafe, just that they have to be careful.”

Denise Smith, a psychologist at the Counseling Center, as well as Active Minds’ advisor, will be giving a presentation at the event discussingthe psychological aftereffects of trauma, and how it is normally treated. Smith stated that there is a wide variety of responses to trauma. “Some responses are internal and emotional, and others are behavioral, and effect relationships,” she said.

“There are certain experiences that people have that can trigger memories of the trauma.”

A Vegetarian on the Go krisTen o’conner anchor staff

healing to connect with other survivors, because they will be around others that understand their experiences. An event like Healing HeArts would give survivors a place to feel empathy.

“It is the mission of Active Minds to encourage discussion of mental health issues on campus, and to erase the stigma,” Smith added.

“Many college students are under a great deal of stress, and Active Minds has taken on the role of putting on destressing and educational programming.”

As far as student speakers go, Schlenz stated that she too is a survivor, and will be sharing her own story at the event. “I will be sharing a personal story, but it will be through a poem,” she said. “My story will not be very detailed, it will mostly be about the healing process.”

Healing HeArts will take place on Tuesday, March 24, from 7-9 pm in the Student Union Ballroom.

Performances and presentations begin at 7, and healing arts activities begin at 8. Students are invited to both, and are encouraged to contact activeminds@so.ric.edu if they have any questions.

Smith added that it can be

ric life

“

You want what now” I was asked by a confused worker at a fast food establishment this past week down in South Carolina. Lucky for me, I was used to this kind of reaction. Ordering a burger without the meat is not something they were used to hearing. But to all the vegetarians out there, this is nothing new.

The toughest part of being a vegetarian is living out the lifestyle while on the road. It is a whole lot easier to eat vegetarian at home when you can cook your own meals. Traveling comes with its challenges and finding food that pleases everyone is one of them. Most fast food places do not accommodate for vegetarian diets, which can make finding a place to stop difficult. The trick to eating vegetarian on the go is to get creative and not be afraid to ask if things can be modified. A handful of fast food places do offer veggie burgers on their menus, such as Burger King. Due to popular demand, places that did not initially offer vegetarian options are beginning to follow suit. At the place I went over break, their idea of a veggie sandwich was lettuce and tomato between two pieces of bread. This may not be ideal, but is much better than trying to make a meal out of just French fries.

The majority of local and chain restaurants have vegetarian options on their menu, but not all of them are as accommodating. I have been to restaurants where the options were so limited that the only thing I could order was off of the kid’s menu. As much as I love grilled cheese and fries, I prefer having the luxury of choosing from a lot of options. Numerous establishments provide a salad option, but eating this every time you go out can get boring after a while.

When I first became a vegetarian I would only order things that were specified vegetarian. After getting tired of the limited possibilities, I started to switch things up by adapting the menu to my diet. If I saw an item like buffalo chicken mac and cheese, instead of mentally crossing it off, I would ask the waiter if I could get it without the meat. In my experience I have never had any problems making substitutions, as most restaurants are usually happy to comply with your requests.

Some places will exclude the meat, but still charge you the same price. In order to get around wasting money, you can request the meat on the side and give it to your friend.

Eating vegetarian on the go is not always the easiest option, but it definitely is possible. All it takes is a little creativity, an open mind, and a willingness to try new things.

The Spring Break Blues h, Spring Break. For about half of the student body, it’s a time for vacations and endless debauchery. For everyone else, it’s a week where you can actually sleep a reasonable amount of time instead of juggling classes and work. But Spring break was over a week ago, I’m not giving you life advice on how to handle your time off.

This is kind of late advice now, but keep it in mind in the future. Do some work over break.

I know you don’t want to, but on some level, it keeps you in a working mindset. I’d like to think this is why professors give assignments over spring break, and even if they don’t, I’m sure you have some sort of final project due in a few weeks that you had no excuse to work on besides abject laziness (I know I do!)

ric life editor @anchorriclife

A

See, between Monday and Tuesday, I had four classes. Not counting my lab, with its near compulsory attendance, each class was missing 25-50% of its students. And for one of those classes, I got that information second hand because I wasn’t even there. So why is it so hard to return from Spring Break, and what can we do about it?

Try not to sleep all week – I think the biggest problem with spring break is that it breaks the habits we spent the first half of the semester forming, and it’s a lot easier to break a habit than it is to make a new one. Coming back from winter and summer break, this is less noticeable - classes are doing introductory material at the same time that everyone is regaining

Keep working – A common trend I see, due to what I mentioned above, is to start going bare minimum in your classes, doing just enough to get by. Well, a big way to refresh old habits and regain your momentum quickly is to work more often. Only have one class today? Do some research for that paper. You know the one.

Have 3 or 4 classes in one day? Yeah, maybe it’s best to relax when you can. But, especially for upperclassmen, your schedule is probably a bit easier than that. Do some work every day, be it a large project or homework, and you’ll get back into that college mindset much more easily.

Keep your eyes on the finish line – By the time this is published we’ll have 6 weeks of classes left. For the majority of students, who have a

Monday-Thursday schedule, that’s 24 days.

That’s really not bad. Just keep that in mind as you slog through. Keep the right mindset, and stay positive. The weather is getting brighter, warmer, greener, and summer isn’t so far off. We can do this.

Sun? I only know snow.−Courtesy of hub.com

Zachary mellin

their college mindset. But after that week of relaxation mid-semester, you need to pick up right where you left off, with no time to build your momentum back up.

anchor staff

week of march

ric life

23 , 2015

15

M

ost of us are familiar with the traditional tropes found in movies about artificial intelligence.

One can usually expect to find theological parallels, the dilemma of the creator’s responsibility to the created, and questions of morality and the nature of consciousness.

Chappie has all these things, but they are tertiary to its true, less conventional focus on the tragedy of the urban youth.

Through the lens of director Neill Blomkamp’s signature brand of grungy sci-fi, the film explores the tragically inescapable nature of the cycle of violence—both individualized and cultural—in seriously impoverished areas. Some might suggest that approaching such a weighty issue by way of an action flick starring a robot is crude or insulting, but Chappie manages

doesn’t even have a face; the robot’s movements are so emotive and so human that this seemingly major omission does nothing to detract from its relatability.

Character-wise, while “relatable” might not exactly apply to the band of thugs driving the plot, the movie does an admirable job of coaxing the audience into sympathizing with their difficult situation. In sharp contrast, the titular Chappie (a former police drone abruptly given sentience) is one of the most compulsively likable characters to grace the big screen this year.

Funny, clever, and downright adorable, but becoming dead serious at all the right moments, it’s almost impossible not to succumb to the AI’s charm (something the movie understands and exploits in powerful ways). Watching Chappie grow and learn to mimic the habits of the humans is practically worth the price of admission in and of itself. This is all made even more impressive by the fact that Chappie

True to Blomkamp’s form, Chappie is not without problems— some minor, some less so. The plot contains a few significant conveniences which gloss over seemingly major obstacles, one early example being the invention of the AI software itself, which just sort of… happens, and then the plot moves on. This sense of brushing past important things carries to other aspects as well, leaving the film to feel a bit crowded as its multitude of big ideas vie for attention (there are definitely threads I would have liked to see fleshed out which were simply dropped in favor of moving on to something new and shiny). Of all of Chappie’s flaws, however, perhaps the most glaring is the central villain, whose motivations are confusingly weak at best, and

Cinderella anchor staff

I

’m not a big fan of Disney’s animated interpretation of “Cinderella.” If somebody gave me the choice of watching either that or “Beauty and the Beast,” I’d pick the latter without a doubt. With that said, this interpretation of “Cinderella”—under the beautiful direction of Kenneth Branagh—is a solid re-telling of the story, filled with terrific performances that tell it with unapologetic sincerity.

Ella (Lily James)—who is renamed Cinderella later— lives with her stepmother (Cate Blanchett), and her stepsisters (Holliday Granger and Sophie McShera), and they all treat her like a slave. Before the ball, they ridicule her by tearing her dress to make it look unfashionable to wear.

Fortunately, her fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) arrives to make sure Cinderella goes to ball, and go she does. You know the rest: she dances with a prince (Richard Madden), loses a glass slipper, and so forth. Why spend the $8.50, right?

Well, as with most stories told nowadays, it’s all about the execution, and this interpretation of “Cinderella” is executed with a surprising amount of emotional depth and intelligence. For instance,

the animated classic only had the prince saying approximately three lines in the whole film. In this interpretation, the prince—named Kit here—not only gets several more lines, but also has scenes that make the story’s themes richer than they ever were before. It’s refreshing to see a “Cinderella” story where the men are treated as legitimate equals, and not as onedimensional archetypes.

The performances are cast well for their respective roles.

While I slightly prefer how Lady Tremaine is interpreted in the 1950 classic, I still think Cate Blanchett’s performance of the character is excellent; she’s able −Courtesy of Disney

PaTrick connolly

to convey plenty of details about her character simply through facial expression alone. The standout for me, however, is Lily James as Cinderella. With a beautiful presence, while maintaining an earnest sensitivity, her portrayal of Cinderella is the best that I’ve ever seen (Side-note: I don’t care how popular Cate Blanchett is; any woman portraying Cinderella should get top billing in the Cast list of the end credits).

For the most part, the film is gorgeously mounted, particularly the scene involving the first waltz between Cinderella and Kit; Kenneth Branagh knows how to capture a beautifully choreographed waltz on film.

However, I’m not a fan of some of the creative choices for what helps Cinderella get to and back from the ball. The humanoid versions of the animals—particularly the Lizards— could cause a few nightmares for the children. I know I would have been slightly creeped out by one of the lizards if I was seeing this at a young age.

Aside from that critique, as well as a couple of others—it just… ends?—this interpretation of “Cinderella” is gorgeously realized, filled with terrific performances and unexpected depth.

B+

borderline unbelievable at worst.

Amazingly, these issues—which could very well cripple another film—still can’t bring Chappie down. In spite of the flaws, its complex, emotional core shines through brightly enough that the problems fade into unimportance.

Alternatingly brutal and heartfelt, funny and grim, violent and introspective, Chappie isn’t perfect, but it delivers a powerful experience nonetheless.

B

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 andreW o’niel anchor staff

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here are a bunch of comedy films that are so bad that they’re funny. And several of those are usually sequels of truly good comedy films. Unfortunately, Hot Tub Time Machine 2 falls under this category as well. Full of incredibly explicit content and poorly thought out jokes (and a lack of John Cusack), this doesn’t hold up to the first Hot Tub film. It does have some moments, but otherwise it’s disappointing.

The story is more or less the same concept as the first. Although since

−Courtest of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

shane inman

anchor contributor

to handle the subject matter with a surprising amount of grace and tact. A few moments may feel a little heavy-handed, but the film is never insensitive or patronizing.

−Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Movie Reviews Chappie

they went into the past in the first one, Lou Dorchen (Rob Corddry), Nick Webber (Craig Robinson) and Jacob Dorchen (Clark Duke) had nowhere to go but the future.

They were trying to stop Lou from getting killed by someone from the future. As the film progresses, all it really features is a bunch of crude sex jokes, a couple plot holes, and not a lot of real progression for the characters. They more or less are

following the same paths they were in the first film - they see how they are in the future and end up wanting to change it.

There are a couple funny moments though, including a fourth wall gag that references the first movie.

There was a funny reference to the chalkboard scene from Back to the Future Part II (since this is a movie about the future it seemed like that was a given). One part that’s going to be stuck in your head for weeks to come is a catchy song and dance Nick does called the “Webber Strut.” There’s also a humorous time travel montage during the credits featuring the stars as the Beatles, among other historical figures.

The cast itself was fairly decent.

Robinson was hands-down the funniest in the film, that’s usually the case in any film he’s in (with his strut and sarcasm). Corddry continues to play the jerk that, despite having some funny moments, you really hate because throughout the film he’s just asking for someone to shoot him. Duke is still the lovable nerdy dude he was in the previous film. Replacing Cusack is Adam Scott, playing Cusack’s son in the film. It appears he’s trying too hard to be a replacement for Cusack. There were some celebrity cameos like Lisa Loeb, Chevy Chase (reprising his role as the repairman from the first film) and Christian Slater that were fun.

If you’re into the kind of bad humor, constant swearing and blatant sexual dialogue that Hot Tub Time Machine 2 uses, then this is definitely the film for you.

Otherwise, you’re better off only seeing it once and then not seeing it again for a while, if at all. Like most sequels, it simply doesn’t hold up the first film.

C

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Binge Report: Archer Zachary Mellin RIC Life Editor @AnchorRICLife

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ike any good college student, I spend a less than reasonable amount of time watching Netflix, leading me to this bad habit of watching entire series in a few weeks. So I’m going to talk about some of them, and hopefully give you new ideas for what to watch next!

I’m a big fan of cartoons as a medium for comedy. And no, I’m not talking about whatever drivel Cartoon Network is pumping out this week. I mean the cartoons very clearly intended for adults, thing like the Seth McFarlane series, Bob’s Burgers and Archer.

And that last one is what I’m talking about today. Archer is available on Netflix, and actually just got the new season put up, so now is a great time to get into the series.

Archer follows the title character, Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin), an agent at ISIS, a dysfunctional parody of an international spy agency. His coworkers include the Amazonian agent Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler), the deviant secretary Cheryl Tunt (Judy Greer), the gossipy HR rep Pam Poovey (Amber Nash), the clerkish comic foil to Archer,

Cyril Figgis (Chris Parnell) and of course, ISIS director Malory Archer (Jessica Walter), Archer’s mother.

These characters, and a couple others, change throughout the series, but for the sake space and spoilers, I’ll refrain from going in depth. This cast of deeply flawed characters is the driving force behind the shows plot – namely, what happens when a group of idiots and office drones need to run covert operations.

As the series progresses, these characters change and evolve – no one’s personality, or role, is locked, and it’s enjoyable to watch the haughty and hedonistic

−Graphic by Tyler Vigeant; Art Director

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Archer realize that deep down, there is some humanity in him.

The show’s comedy is very clever, though it tends to be dry at the best of times, and is straight black humor at the worst.

Similar to shows like Arrested Development, the best jokes tend to be those that are recurring, or require a season’s worth of buildup to understand. The show is worth watching over and over again, and you will always spot something new, or find a new dimension to an old joke or plot.

A-

A new way to pay for fighting games jesse YIP

Anchor Staff Several weeks ago, Dead or Alive 5: Last Round was released on all major current generation and last generation consoles. What I found interesting about the release was that, in addition to the retail version, which runs players forty dollars, Tecmo Koei also released the Core Edition for free. The key difference between the two versions is that the Core Edition only has four playable characters (Kasumi, Ayane, Hayabusa, and Hayate) on the roster, and no story mode. Each additional character will run players $4.99 and in the end it is cheaper to buy the game for $40 as a whole. While it might seem like the Core Edition overall is a rip off, I think it actually provides fans of fighting games a way to save cash and enjoy the game.

Here is something to consider: fighting games generally carry a $40 to $60 price range and have rather bulky rosters. For example, Ultra Street Fighter IV has a 44 fighter roster, the largest to date in the series.

But most avid players of fighting games only use a handful of characters from the roster. For instance, in Ultra Street Fighter IV, I only use Blanka and Chunli. That’s only 2 characters out of a roster of 44. In terms of overall value, it could be argued that I’m not

getting my money’s worth and there is a lot of wasted content. Sure, it’s nice to have the option to pick 42 other characters but realistically, I don’t have the time or the will to really learn all those other characters.

This brings us back to the concept of the Dead or Alive 5 Core Edition. Of the 34 fighter roster, I get 4 characters for free and have the option to add as I please. This allows to me to start playing the game without dropping a lot of money. I very rarely find myself playing every character in any fighting game so this ends up being a tremendous value. Dead or Alive is not the only fighting to try this either. Notably, Killer Instinct was released in 2013 for free with only the character Jago available for use. If they wanted to, players could purchase additional characters.

Alternatively, if they want all the fighters at once, they can purchase all of them at one fixed price which is typically cheaper than buying each character individually. Additionally, the game rotates a free character week to week for players to try out. I hope more and more fighting games consider this model.

In an interview with Eurogamer, Microsoft Studios producer Torin Rettig questioned the idea of paying $60 for a 55 character fighting game and only using two of those characters and I’m inclined to agree with his point. Fighting games should reconsider their pricing model. Gamers will save money and the games can still be just as profitable.

ric life

Anchor Contributor

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“Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” tournament has a major turnout −Courtesy of Valve

Alycia Zenga Anchor Staff

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ver a million eyes were on the e-sports event occurring at the Spodek arena in Katowice, Poland over the weekend, where 16 teams battled virtually on the PC game, “CounterStrike: Global Offensive.” The game, developed by Valve Corporation and Hidden Path Entertainment, is described as an online tactical first-person shooter, and provided some tense, hair-raising moments for the physical and virtual audience. The teams went head to head until only two remained, Fnatic and Ninjas in Pyjamas, both player teams from Sweden. They did three matches, and Fnatic came out on top to win the grand prize of $100,000.

While there was a large turnout at the arena itself, around 600,000 players were watching the event from inside the game. Although this may have not been sincerely for the e-sport, as players could acquire rare weapon skins for watching the tournament virtually, not unusual for larger CS:GO events. Regardless, considering the event only pulled in 250,000 viewers last year, the game has made a huge improvement in the e-sports world.

Games like League of Legends and DOTA 2 certainly still pull in much higher audiences for their tournaments, however CS:GO is certainly gaining more popularity as an e-sport. Some believe this is due to the mix of first-person combat, which helps viewers feel more immersed than the birds-eye view that League of Legends and DOTA 2 share, along with the tactics and strategy that many players employ within the game.

The winning team, Fnatic, was founded in 1997 and is a

worldwide competitive gaming team. While they participate in Counterstrike events, they have also played in numerous other online multiplayer games such as World of Warcraft, Warcraft 3, League of Legends, and Battlefield 4. They were

−Courtesy of Stream

named Team of the Year in both 2006 and 2009 as well.

To check out some of the highlights of the matches, you can head on over to Fnatic’s website, www.fnatic.com, or check out www.pcgamer.com for a more extensive list of videos.

Unrest: A New Take on a Classic Formula shane inman

Anchor Contributor

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ole-playing games don’t get much less conventional than Unrest. Set in the fictional Ancient Indian city of Bhimra, it is a narratively driven RPG with virtually no combat, in which you play a rotating cast of ordinary people with not a single hero in sight. Let me tell you right now that it’s not a game for everyone.

If you’re looking to save the world, slay a dragon, or explore a sprawling fantasy landscape, you may want to give this one a miss. If you want to try something genuinely different, however, you could do a lot worse than Unrest.

The central conflict of the game revolves around a seemingly endless drought, and its devastating effects on the people of Bhimra. Over the course of the game, players navigate treacherous palaces, bleak slums, and troubled farmlands by way of branching dialogue trees.

In fact, Unrest’s gameplay consists almost exclusively of these interactions. There is very little combat, and in the few cases where violence does show its face, there is always a solid narrative reason for it (and, with permanent character death, choosing to engage in a duel to the death carries a tangible weight). None of the dialogue is voiced, so the game revolves around a considerable amount of reading. If that sentence alone makes you wince, this probably isn’t the game for you, but, otherwise, rest assured that the character interactions are written well enough that the dialogue never really feels like a slog.

Unrest’s primary draw is without a doubt its sheer originality. In an industry where people complain constantly of homogenization, Unrest cannot be said to take anything but the road less traveled. As the story progresses, the player will find themselves in the shoes of a child starving in a disease-ridden slum, a peasant girl whose parents have arranged a marriage with a wretched and potentially violent man, a priest questioning the moral integrity of his own temple, et al. While there are some characters that hold more power than others, for the most part each character’s goal is not a grand ideal such as ending the drought or uplifting the slums. Most of the time, your goal will simply be to survive as best you can—whether literally or figuratively—when faced with an ever-worsening (and entirely believable) situation. Based on the choices you make, things can end very badly for the people you control.

Unfortunately, the game is not without its share of flaws. There is a reputation system embedded in the dialogue trees that is never properly explained, the looping soundtrack quickly becomes grating, and the game ends abruptly and without warning. In the grand scheme of things, however, these flaws can be easily overlooked in favor of the compelling, legitimately complex story told by Unrest. It’s rough around the edges, it’s experimental, and it’s almost certainly worth a look.

B+

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ric life

Your friend, Ken: Speeches and presentations ken salhany jr. anchor contributor

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here you are, standing in front of the class, about to give an important presentation, but so nervous that you flub the speech. Or maybe you’re walking down the hall and you see an old acquaintance you no longer talk to anymore, and it’s just you and them alone walking towards each other. We’ve all been in awkward situations like these, but hopefully I can give some tips to help you guys out. By no means am I an expert at social encounters, but I have acquired dozens of techniques and tools from these experiences. Hopefully, they will help you equip yourself to maneuver through social and professional situations.

Let’s first tackle the big fish: speeches and presentations. Your first enemy will be adrenaline. “But adrenaline is great in survival situa-” NO. Not here. Not when you just end up sweaty and tripping over your own words trying to spit out what’s left just to be done and run off the stage.

Not when you have a grade at stake and DEFINITELY not when you have the potential to be impressive.

I make a habit to negate any adrenaline build up before and during my speech by taking the thumb of my hand and touching it to the tips of my fingers on the same hand in the following order: pointer, middle,

ring, pinky, ring, middle, pointer, middle, ring. It is subtle enough that your train of thought isn’t disturbed while you present and at the same time, effective in taking up enough of your excess conscious that you retain a more reasonable heart rate.

No help for the ladies who might be wearing heels, but gentlemen can choose to compound this effect by rocking on their feet. Lean your whole body forward enough that there’s sufficient pressure on the balls of your toes that you need to rise slightly to lean back. It is crucial that either of these methods, especially rocking back and forth, must be practiced when reviewing your speech to achieve reasonable subtlety.

Losing eye contact. What a tragic way to lose the power of your presentation. Pick three or four places reasonably spaced in the room from where you will be standing.

These spots could be corners, an empty desk, anything that’s at the eye-level of the audience. Now during the presentation, look to those spots. To everyone else, your gaze will seem to be fixed on people in the crowd.

And of course, always prepare. It’s only logical that the more you focus on understanding and rehearsing the subject, the more confident you would feel, but you already knew that. I hope the next time you find yourself slapped with this assignment, you try out some of these tips..

JOB & INTERNSHIP FAIRS Meet employers who are hiring!

Employers from a variety of industries

RIC

Wednesday, April 8 11:30am – 1:30pm S. U. Ballroom

Employers from Health, Human Services and Education Wednesday, April 15 3:00pm - 5:00pm S. U. Ballroom

Register to attend on Destinations www.ric.edu/careerdevelopment/destinations.php

Details: Career Development Center (401) 456-8031

comics

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23 , 2015

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Upstage, Downstage

MAuvins

SUDOKU

Fill in the blanks so that each row, column and each of the 9 3x3 grids contain one instance of the numbers 1–9.

Easy

Hard Answers in next week’s issue.

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23 , 2015

Anchormen 6-4 after annual trip to Florida for Winter Haven Invitational aleX Wall assistant editor

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he RIC baseball team had a successful spring break. They headed back to Rhode Island with a record of 6-4. I was able to watch a couple games in Florida and saw a lot of potential from the freshmen and growth from the returning players so I am excited to see how their season turns out. Despite their young team, the Anchormen showed a lot of talent and are hoping to make it to LEC’s this year.

Senior relief pitcher Joe Brooks is very hopeful about this season hoping it will bring him a championship. It was a bittersweet moment for him and the other seniors coming down to Florida for the last time. “It’s a weird feeling but I love it. The younger guys look up to me and being a leader is always a good feeling. I appreciate putting on this jersey a whole lot more now, each game and each practice mean that much more now that it’s coming to an end. I came here and won LEC’s my freshman year and to go out as a champion would be a dream come true.”

Senior Tyler Santaniello also has high hopes for the season. “We showed a lot of good signs, and

sporTs

Softball starts season off in Florida aleX Wall assistant editor

showed area of improvement.

The best thing we showed was our potential and when we reach that we are going to be able to play with anybody.”

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he softball team traveled down to Florida this week to start off their season. They came home with a record of 1-7. Their only win was against Salve Regina University. They faced other local schools such as WPI and Emerson. This team has a lot of potential and is looking to take another trip to LEC’s this season. They are somewhat of a younger team and are only graduating two seniors this year. This means that we will see a lot of growth in the next two years in the program.

The team is lead by senior All-Little East shortstop Katelyn Sykora who is the all-time leader in assists in Rhode Island College softball history.

In upcoming play, the Anchorwomen will host Wheaton College Tuesday, March 24th.

The team is currently 6-4 in the early season and plays their next game Tuesday March 24 against Salve Regina University.

Lacrosse aleX Wall assistant editor

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he women’s lacrosse team took a nice vacation this spring break and was able to travel down to Florida to play 2 games. They lost both of them against Sweet Briar and Washington University.

Their first non-conference game back in Rhode Island was against the Coast Guard Academy where they lost 3-15. Senior attacker, Danielle Landon, scored a hat trick on Saturday scoring the team’s only goals.

Freshman goalie, Alasondra Apici, made 11 saves in the game.

The Anchormen travel to Florida−Photo by Shaun Vigeant

The women’s lacrosse team will travel to Becker College on Tuesday March 17 at 4 pm hoping to pick up their first win of the season.

VAZQUEZ from front cover

American honors but that does not satisfy his drive.

“To finish first in the nation is my goal this season,” Vazquez told me prior to the start of the season “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”.

“As for the spring semester I am planning on becoming an All American again, hopefully at the number 1 spot this time around. I’m also looking at the big picture with track

and field because everyone knows we are not making money and money is an absolute necessity. So with that being said, my plans are to continue helping myself with this dream and join a summer track club and potentially compete around the nation. The way I’m jumping now I could possibly qualify for Olympic preliminaries. Then so on if God forbids.” But,Steve knows this is no easy task.

“I need to train twice as hard at a correct manner. On the Division lll level it can be difficult because of the lack of personnel but the coaches still want to extend their athletes abilities. At the level I’m at I always try and mold myself through whatever workout I have that day.”

It seems Vazquez is going to take on everyday, one opportunity at a time. This is an effective way to live life and is one of the reasons for his success in the sport.