The Anchor - March 20 2017 by The Anchor

THE

VOLUME 90 | ISSUE XVIII

ANCHOR

MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2017

Honestly hilarious; a millennial’s brand of raw humor

“

Gianna Rocchio Anchor Editor

I’m never getting invited back to this college,” Pete Davidson, youngest Saturday Night Live actor, said repeatedly last Thursday night, the howling laughter of the crowd seemed to tell a different story. The very uncensored comedy of Davidson clearly resonated with the whooping, giggling audience at Rhode Island College. At 23 years old, Saturday Night Live’s “resident young person,” Pete Davidson knew how to tune into his crowd, hilariously acknowledging if one of his jokes bombed, a trait that only seemed to delight the audience more. The Anchor, along with Anchor TV and 90.7 WXIN, had the chance to chat with Davidson before his set. Not too far from his stage presence, Davidson was honest, goofy and humble to a fault.

Welcoming us into his dressing room, Davidson pulled up some stools and introduced us to his friends, who were his opening acts. Intrigued by the saran wrap and gauze going down the length of each of his arms, Davidson showed off the newest additions to his already well-inked arms. “Oh yeah,” he said, “I got seven tattoos today,” sounding like he had simply run some errands. What really got Davidson talking was when we started discussing music. He grew up listening to Kid Cudi and was influenced heavily by his music and the message he sends. Dealing with depression and anxiety, Davidson found solace in Cudi’s music. Kid

Cudi’s

recently

made public statements about dealing with severe depression and subsequently going to rehab, and Davidson spoke on how this affected him and if it influenced his recent lifestyle changes. Earlier this month, Davidson also publicly announced on social media that he “quit drugs and [was] happy and sober for the first time in eight years.”

This came as a shock tp many fans, considering his not-so-secret love for pot and alcohol. His standup routines often include material drawn from this high lifestyle, which he didn’t choose just for fun. Living with Crohn’s Disease, a chronic illness that affects your stomach and digestive system, since age 17, Davidson found that pot and drugs allowed him eat without pain and also relieved his stage fright when performing. But recently, he realized that he had traded the daily suffering of Crohn’s for another kind of pain-addiction.

honest. He discussed the cycle that became his life when substance abuse takes over, and how difficult it is to identify it. For people struggling with the possibility of addiction, he said you can never allow substance use rule your life, when drugs becomes something you so heavily rely on to get through your daily life, that’s where trouble begins.

For Davidson, the change in his own lifestyle has been well worth the time and money spent to get sober. He talked about the support he receives from his family, girlfriend and fans which

make him “a lucky man.”

When asked him how life is different now that he’s clean, and he knew his answer pretty quickly and ryely answered, “I’m fucking bored,” with a laugh. With his new-found boredom, he’s spending more time with his friends and reading the newspaper, a healthy exchange for a life free from addiction.

Though he is always appreciative and grateful for his success, Davidson is still getting used to his fame, he has accepted his small but present notoriety but he

doesn’t really understand it, he explained. “Look at me! If I can do it, so can you,” he told one student.

From the moment he asked the stagehands to bring up the house lights so he could see his crowd at the beginning of his set we knew we were in for an honest and hilarious night. After his show, Davidson kept saying, “I’m nobody,” to the crowd of student eager to take selfies with him but considering the various cardboard cutouts of him in the lobby and around campus, he probably was the biggest nobody on campus.

When asked about his choice to become clean, Davidson was timid but

NEWS 3 | A&L 10 | OPINIONS 12 | SPORTS 14 Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928

March 20, 2017

Editors EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR BUSINESS MANAGER SECRETARY NEWS EDITOR ASST. NEWS EDITOR A&L EDITOR ASST. A&L EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR ASST. OPINIONS EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR ASST. SPORTS EDITOR PHOTO EDITOR GRAPHICS EDITOR ASST. GRAPHICS EDITOR COPY EDITOR ASST. COPY EDITOR LAYOUT EDITOR ASST. LAYOUT EDITOR ADS MANAGER TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR ASST. TECH DIRECTOR CIRCULATION MANAGER

Jeremy Boutin Patrick Connolly Sophie Costa Catherine Enos Mary Fernandes Ryan Foley

Staff

Robert Gagnon Maeline LeBlanc Samantha Malley Marissa Marsella Sara Massa Thomas Sack

Derek Sherlock Matthew Toyota Derrik Trombley Jason Windrow

Professional Advisor

Advertising

Faculty Advisor

(401)456-8790 editorinchief@anchorweb.org (401)456-8544 ads@anchorweb.org

Jim Hummel The Hummel Report

Michelle Brophy-Baermann mbrophy@ric.edu

Send a letter to the Editor at editorinchief@anchorweb.org

The Anchor is student-run and published weekly during the academic year. Editorial decisions for The Anchor are made by a majority vote of its student editorial board. No form of censorship will be imposed by the college. Any material found to be unsuitable or unacceptable in the board’s opinion will not be published. The views expressed in The Anchor, unless otherwise noted, are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of The Anchor or of Rhode Island College’s faculty, administration or student body. The Anchor is not funded by and is independent from Rhode Island College. The first copy is free. Each additional copy is $2.25. Newspaper racks on the Rhode Island College campus are the property of The Anchor Newspaper. Only The Anchor Newspaper publication will be permitted on these racks. Any other publication or advertisement that is placed on the racks will be given one (1) warning for violating this policy. After two (2) violations, the business/publication will be billed at the rate of a full page advertisement. Copyright © 2016 The Anchor. All rights reserved.

Legalities:

March 20, 2017

News

Stories from our archives Shane Inman Managing Editor

ather ‘round the campfire, kids, and prepare yourselves for a tale of supernatural spooks and frightful phantoms—it’s 1971, and it’s time for some lectures on the occult.

The famous mediums Ed and Lorraine Warren, the speakers at these terrifying talks, are not officially affiliated with Rhode Island College, but have been asked to share some of their expansive knowledge of horrifying hauntings and other occult occurrences. Founders of the Warrens Occult Museum, a collection of alleged supernatural artifacts such as satanic altars, psychic

photography, and possessed dolls, the Warrens appear to be experts in the field of fear. Evidently, their lecture series was deemed socially important enough for the cultural committee to sponsor and fund it. But this is an open-minded and progressive time, in which, with the right substances, anything is possible—ghosts, ghasts, ghouls, and as many other words with a silent “h” as anyone could ever want. As such, we encourage anyone available at the time of these lectures to attend and learn something which is perhaps outside of their major, but certainly no less relevant to daily life. After all, who didn’t want to hunt ghosts when they were little?

Faculty discuss student success

Shane Inman Managing Editor

hat can be ensure the rate of success Rhode Island students?

done to greatest among College

This is the question President Frank Sanchez sought to answer in the second part of his recent listening tour, aptly titled “Student Success.” Sanchez described this success as one of the “five different pillars” of the college, and said he wanted the listening tour to be “a conversation about the future of Rhode Island College.” “We’re really wanting to get some of the best thinking and ideas in order to focus our resources going forward over the next three years,” Sanchez said.

Most of those in attendance were professors interested in

discussing how best to help students reach their goals. One such attendee brought up that students often believe they know more than they do about course material, which ultimately harms their grade. Sanchez agreed, and drew attention to supplemental instruction such as a means of correcting this.

“A lot of campuses have tutoring and support, but when you have a certified supplemental instructor, there are direct correlations with the frequency with which students go to supplemental instruction and their grades in that particular course,” the president said. “I do know we have different targeted academic resources for students [such as] Learning for Life,” he went on, “but how do we scale that for all of our students?”

The problem of ineffective advising, particularly in regards to nontraditional students, was also raised. “In the strategic plan right now, one of the goals right now is reengineering the academic advising,” Sanchez said, before expanding on this statement.

“For decades, and many institutions do it today… you advise towards majors. If you want to be pre-med, or law, or psychology, here are the steps to become that major, regardless of your academic preparation, regardless of your likelihood of actually succeeding in certain level classes.” Sanchez pointed to analytic programs which are able to determine a student’s chances of passing a particular course or succeeding in a particular major, and raised the question of whether a

student with a low projected chance of passing classes should still be advised to take them.

Some of those in attendance expressed concerns over the use of analytics to determine what course options would be considered viable for a student. Sanchez acknowledged these concerns and said the subject would be an ongoing discussion. Regarding nonacademic difficulties for students, Sanchez also suggested creating a “one-stop” desk, which contains all services a student needs, from records to bursar to information and beyond. Much of what the president had to say also focused on reaching out to students and getting them to engage with the campus and its faculty. “Those students that have

a sense of connection… tend to want to stay. They feel like they can thrive, they’re encouraged, they’re supported,” Sanchez said. “How do we design experiences that virtually touch every single student?…Because of limited human resources, we’re going to have to leverage technology, we’re going to have to look at a very different way of doing outreach, of connecting with students and building a culture where there’s an expectation that students are part of a learning community.” The president’s listening tour continues at 4 p.m. on Mar. 23 in the Faculty Dining Center with a discussion on community partnerships.

March 20, 2017

Rhode Island promises to change college tuition game

Louisa D’Ovidio Editor-in-chief

n the basement hallways of the State House last Wednesday, crowds of teenagers, many still in their school uniforms with backpacks in tow, burst into cheering as Governor Gina Raimondo laid out her plan for the House Finance Committee to give all Rhode Island high school seniors a free college education. Gov. Raimondo’s plan, called the Rhode Island Promise, would give the 2017 graduating class of RI high schoolers 2 years tuition and mandatory fee free at Rhode Island

College, the University of Rhode Island or CCRI. Raimondo introduced the $10 million plan in her proposed 2018 fiscal year budget, and projects that the yearly costs by 2021 would be $30 million.

Over 100 students and supporters signed up to speak at the House Finance meeting, and close to 200 people showed up to watch the proceedings live in the over flow rooms and halls, no one signed up to speak against the article. “This is a game-changer for Rhode Island, it has the power to change lives,” Raimondo told the finance committee members in a

rare address at the meeting. “This proposal isn’t about giving something away for free, it’s about guaranteeing access to opportunity and job training for every Rhode Islander.”

Committee members remained cool to the plan, despite breaking into smiles as the high schoolers in the halls could be heard chanting and cheering, and questioned whether or not students would keep their degrees in the state after graduation as well as if a debt-forgiveness plan would be more effective.

The RI Promise plan is wide reaching, there are no income limits or GPA

requirements yet, students must only be in “good academic standard,” though that is not defined in the article. The article’s final fate is a ways off as the

proposed budget makes it through the hearing process. Learn about the details of the plan at www.ripromise. com.

Trump budget unveils priorities

Derrik Trombley Anchor Staff

ast Thursday President Trump unveiled his proposed budget for the next fiscal year which included spending cuts and spending increases both expected and surprising. The proposed $1.1 Trillion budget did see an increase in the budget of the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security with earmarks for the President’s proposed border wall with Mexico and funding for the

detainment and deportation of undocumented immigrants. This increased funding is in keeping with the promises made by the President during his campaign to improve national defense and enforce immigration laws. However, total overall spending remains at about the same level as in the previous year due to severe cuts to many administrative departments in the federal government. These

cuts

shrink

many departments; the Environmental Protection Agency was cut by 31%, the State Department by 29%, the Department of Health and Human Services by 16%, and the Department of Education by 14%. Though Social Security shall remain untouched in the proposal, there has been backlash from Democrats and moderate Republicans due to drastic cuts in afterschool programs, housing programs, government health research, grants to local communities, cuts to

United Nations funding, and elimination of the government’s efforts to curb climate change.

It should be mentioned that this proposal is not necessarily what will be seen implemented by congress. The process merely begins by having the President send his proposal to Congress it takes consideration and approval by both the House and Senate in order to pass funding resolutions for an annual budget. The difficulty in passing

this budget is that it is considered very partisan, as in the cuts are to programs liberals generally approve of and conservatives generally abhor. It is possible that barring compromise Democrats and potentially moderate Republicans may block the proposed budget from being passed leading to a government shutdown. Only time will reveal whether these spending increases and cuts will actually become public policy.

The Anchor

On Twitter @TheAnchorRIC Facebook & Instagram @TheAnchorRIC

March 20, 2017

Trump sticks by wiretap claims

Taylor Dame Anchor Editor

Trump so that no Americans would be involved directly.

he British Government has denied the accusations that their intelligence agency, GCHQ, had any part in the wiretapping of Trump Tower during the 2016 presidential campaign. The allegation came first from Andrew Napolitano, a Fox News commentator, and was later repeated at the White House Daily Press Briefing by Press Secretary, Sean Spicer.

Napolitano claims that three sources inside the intelligence community said that the Obama administration used GCHQ to conduct surveillance on

A spokesperson for GCHQ said that the allegations “are utterly ridiculous and should be ignored.” The NSA and GCHQ have worked closely together in a pact with other intelligence agencies from Australia, New Zealand, and Canada known as “Five Eyes.”

President Trump has still not backed down from his claims that the Obama administration spied on his campaign during the elections. At the daily press briefing, Spicer told reporters that the president “stands by” his wiretapping claims that he made in a series of tweets on March 4.

The Chairman and leading Democrat on both the Senate and the House Intelligence Committees have come out and said that they have yet to see any evidence that supports the claim. Congressman Devin Nunes, who serves as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and is a long time supporter and ally of Trump talked about the tweets saying,

“Are you going to take the tweets literally? And if you are, then clearly the president was wrong. But if you’re not going to take the tweets literally – and there is a concern that the president has about other people, other surveillance activities looking at

him and his associates, either appropriately or inappropriately. We want to find that out,”

Some Republican lawmakers are growing exasperated at the claims. Congressman Tom Cole of Oklahoma said to reporters on Friday that he has seen no evidence supporting the president’s claims saying, “And so it’s not a charge I would have ever made. And frankly, unless you can produce some pretty compelling proof, then I think the president, you know, President Obama is owed an apology in that regard.” Cole is ranked fourth in the Republican House leadership.

British politicians are also not happy being dragged into what had largely been a domestic issue. The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party and a Member of Parliament, Tim Farron, said that the president was “compromising the vital UK-US security relationship to try to cover his own embarrassment.”

Former President Obama is reportedly upset at the claims being thrown around by Trump. The Wall Street Journal reported that the former president was “furious” while NBC reported that Obama “rolled his eyes” when he heard the allegations.

HE SAID , SHE SAID Help me, Gianna & Jeremy...

you're my only hope Find your inner peace, email ask@anchorweb.org

US open to military strikes in North Korea S

Taylor Dame Anchor Editor

chool children hiding in a school gym while alarms blare in the background might be reminiscent of 1950s America, but it is a reality in northern Japan. The Japanese Government has become increasingly more worried about North Korean ballistic missile tests. Just this month North Korea fired four missiles into the sea between them and Japan.

The Japanese are not the only ones worried about North Korea. United States’ Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was in South Korea this week and in a joint press conference with the South Korean Foreign Minister, Yun Byung-se, said that “all options are on the table.”

Tillerson also mentioned that the Obama administration’s plan of strategic patience was over. Strategic patience was the plan to simply wait until the

sanctions in North Korea crippled them so much that the Kim regime would be forced back to negotiations.

Yun seemed to be in support of military action in the North saying, “If imposing diplomatic pressure is building, military deterrence would be one of the pillars of this building. We plan to have all relevant nations work together more closely than in the past and make sure that North Korea, feeling pain for its wrongdoings, 5

changes its strategy.”

Yun is not likely to remain in his position for much longer as he is a holdover from President Park Geunhye who was impeached and removed from office earlier this month. South Korea will elect a new president in May. Tillerson will visit Japan, South Korea, and China at a time when tensions in the region are very high. The recent deployment of THAAD anti missile defenses by the United

States in South Korea has angered the Chinese and sunk the South KoreanChinese relationships to a low point. The Chinese claim that the system is a threat to their national security.

It is unknown what will happen going forwards, however it will not be easy sailing for the new Secretary of State especially when it comes to trying to get the nations of East Asia to come together to oppose the North Korean missile program.

March 20, 2017

Thursday Mar. 23 Education Innovation Research Network Launch

College & University Research Collaborative announce education grant & take questions. Providence Public Library

Free // 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. Searle Design Group

Celebrating 40 years with their new creative studio Hope Artiste Village Free // 4:30 - 8 p.m.

Network After Work

Meet & greet with other professionals in the community Hanley’s Ale House $15 // 6 - 9 p.m. Billy Crystal

More fun than storming the castle PPAC

$45 // 7:30 p.m. Emotional

Debuting their new album “The Band”

Machines with Magnets, Pawtucket $5 // 8:30 p.m. Luv U Better

R&B bumpin’ all night Aurora

Free // 9 - 12 a.m.

By: Gianna Rocchio

Friday Mar. 24 I Voted?

Screening from the Tribeca Film Festival

International Charter School Free // 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Artists Salon: Digital Memory Shapes Our Future

Featuring author Abby Smith

Providence Athenaeum Free // 5 - 7 p.m. John Primer

A natural bluesman

Chan’s, Woonsocket $20 // 8 p.m.

Providence Improv Guild

Featuring house teams & student groups Southside Cultural Center $5 // 8 p.m.

The Cutting Room

Reggae, hip-hop, R&B presented by DJ Siskavitch

The Salon Providence Free // 10 p.m.

Hardcore Comedy

More rowdy and lewd than your normal act

Saturday Mar. 25 Spaghetti Dinner

Support local organization Direct Action for Rights and Equality DARE Providence $5 // 3 - 6 p.m. Popa Chubby

Guitar blues and rock to soothe your soul Chan’s, Woonsocket $25 // 8 & 10 p.m. Glenn Miller

Hear your favorite classics or some new rock and country tunes Java Madness

Free // 11 a.m. Donuts & Drafts

6 donuts paired with 6 craft beers? Say no more. Foolproof Brewing Company $25 // 7 - 9 p.m.

Wham City Comedy Tour

Absurdist comedy on a whole new level The Columbus Theatre $8 // 9 p.m.

Magic Mike Live

Obviously from Las Comedy Connection RI Vegas, bring your dollar bills $15 // 10:30 p.m. Platforms Dance Club

Saturday Mar. 25 Let’s Dance Kizomba with Loony Johnson Celebrate Brazao’s Birthday Bash Lupo’s

$35 // 10 p.m. March Madness “Rated ‘S’ for ‘Sinsational”

Tantric Nightclub

Ongoing 42nd Street

Classic musical comedy at its finest PPAC

$34 // March 24 - 26 Moby Dick: Then & Now A modern adaptation of this nautical tale

Free // 10 - 2 a.m.

Mixed Magic Theatre

Salon Saturdays Upstairs

Sticky Stories

Featuring DJ Heavy Rotation

$15 // March 29 - 31

Hear some truly interesting situations The Salon Providence and share your own AS220 Free // 10 p.m.

$10 // Thru March 31 Mr Burns: A PostElectric Play

What if the world ends and all that’s left are old “Simpsons” reruns? Wilbury Theatre

$15 // Thru April 1 She Would If She Could

“An alternative theater experience” full of humor AS220 Black Box Theatre

$15 // Thru April 2

$25 // 9 - 11 p.m.

PVD Event Calender

March 20, 2017

Donovan Dining Services Dining Center Hours

Tucker Talks Nutrition

Meal Zones (Monday - Friday, 6:30am- 7:30pm) Breakfast: 6:30am - 10:30am Lunch: 10:30am - 3:30pm Dinner: 3:30pm - 7:30pm

March is National Nutrition Month and this year the Academy Of Nutrition and Dietetics is encouraging everyone to “Put Your Best Fork Forward”. The emphasis being that, by holding your fork you are in control of making healthier food choices. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, “All food and beverage choices matter. Choose a healthy eating pattern at an appropriate calorie level to help achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, support nutrient adequacy, and reduce the risk of chronic disease.” So what is a healthy eating pattern? Lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low fat dairy. Follow the My Plate© guidelines and make half your plate veggies, ¼ whole grain carbohydrates or starchy vegetables, ¼ low-fat protein. Limit added sugars, saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium. If you need any help with making this happen, why not set up an appointment with an RD. There is one right here on campus!! Source: foodandhealth.com

Meal Zones (Saturday - Sunday, 9am- 6pm) Continental Breakfast: 9am - 10am Brunch: 10am - 3:30pm Dinner: 3:30PM - 6pm

Monday-Thursday: 7am - Midnight Friday: 7:30am - 10:30pm Saturday: 3pm - 10:30pm Sunday: 5pm - Midnight

The Galley

Do you have questions about nutrition? Contact Bethany Tucker RD call (401) 456-8477 or email her at btucker@ric.edu

Monday-Thursday: 8:00 AM -8PM Friday: 8:00AM - 3:00PM Saturday/Sunday: CLOSED

Quick Mart Hours

Monday-Thursday 8:30am - 8pm Friday 8:30am - 4pm Saturday 11am - 4pm Sunday 2pm - 8pm

Visit our website at ricdiningservices.com *Sponsored by the Donavan Dining Center* 7

March 20, 2017

Student Community Government Secretary Roundtable Meetings March 1st at 5:00 p.m. SU Ballroom April 5th at 5:00 p.m. in SU 307 Attendance is mandatory for all SCG Funded Organization Share Creative Ideas and Network Voice the concerns/challenges your organization faces

Help with: Ads, Recruitment, Marketing, Event Planning and Officer Transition Student Union 401 Secretary@ricscg.org (401)456-8547 8

March 20, 2017

Do you have the experience to get a full time job? Internships give you the skills you need to succeed. Bridge.jobs helps you connect with employers in Rhode Island and find the perfect internship for you. Create a free profile, attach your resume, read the blog and start searching for available opportunities in Rhode Island today.

Visit www.bridge.jobs to register. Or download bridge.jobs in your app store!

March 20, 2017

Arts and Lifestyle

Madeleine LeBlanc Anchor Staff

hode Island College is home to over 30 different student-based clubs, all with unique backgrounds that help to make RIC a diverse college. However, clubs that often deserve recognition are overlooked; including one that helps to make sure that, no matter who you are, you feel accepted.

The club HOPE, which was renamed to Pride Alliance, was revamped by Vanessa Ruggieri when she felt RIC was lacking representation for the LGBT community. “I felt that an alliance between as many LGBT folks would create a support system and friend group that could be the refuge that students needed.” Due to the club only being in the early stages of creation, it focuses on conversations on what they would like to complete in the future. During the past couple of months, they have been trying to promote

Hope never dies

the club as much as they can on campus.

When I asked Vanessa why students of RIC should join, she already knew her answer before the question was finished. “I believe that students should join Pride Alliance because we are trying to create a safe space for the LGBT community on campus.” She also added, “we are a group of friendly, fun-loving students who are doing fabulous representations of what a diverse, productive and vibrant LGBT community looks like.” Interested? It is easy for anyone to join. Currently with 25 members involved, the club is always looking to expand. The only guideline is anyone interested in joining must be an active, paying student. If you meet this one requirement then you are free and urged to join. Meetings are scheduled to be convenient to all students, meeting once a week on Mondays at 6 p.m. in the Unity Building. A typical

Monday night meeting starts with fun, easy-going icebreakers, followed by executive board members talking about various important topics and then open discussion about ideas for new events. Look out

for some of the the club’s upcoming events, including their co-sponsoring of the Asian Student Alliance Drag Show on April 18. Keep an eye open for other events before the semester ends, such as Day of Silence,

April 21, which will take place campus wide. Vanessa urges anyone interested to stay tuned for upcoming events by reaching out and emailing pride@so.ric.edu.

(From Left to Right: President Vanessa Ruggieri, Vice President Brendan Melody, Public Relations Coordinator Carley Loiselle, Treasurer Jessica Fleming, Secretary Nate Banks)

“Lion King” still packs a punch

Patrick Connolly Anchor Staff

s someone who has seen “The Lion King” on stage three times now, take my opinion with a grain of salt. I saw the show on Broadway in middle school, when it came to The Bushnell in Hartford, CT back in 2010, and now, finally, at our very own Providence Performing Arts Center. So, whatever criticisms I have for this particular production come from my experience with the show, and aren’t intended to take away any of the pure, magical goodwill that the musical has provided for nearly two decades.

Case in point: the “Circle of Life” sequence that opens the show. This grand entrance sets the show’s tone with a number that is nothing short of indescribable, especially for anyone who is sitting in the Orchestra section. It is musical theater of the highest caliber, and will remind you of the power of the theatergoing experience. The rest of the show

remains faithful to the 1994 Disney animated feature we’ve all come to know and love. The story focuses on Simba (BJ Covington as a child; Dashaun Young as an adult), who is destined to someday become king of Pride Rock. But, when Simba is manipulated by his uncle, Scar (Mark Campbell), the young cub believes that he is responsible for the death of his father, Mufasa (Gerald Ramsey). Wrought with guilt, Simba runs away from the Pridelands, giving Scar the opportunity to take over the throne. Pride Rock grows uninhabitable under the rule of Scar and his minion hyenas, while Simba learns more about his destiny as an adult. Ultimately, Simba returns home to take his rightful place as king, with the help from a few friends.

Covington as Young Simba performs his lines with a lack of emotion and purpose, particularly during the scene when he finds out that his father is dead. That’s a serious flaw if the audience is supposed to follow him as the main character of the story. However, these criticisms are small in the grand scheme of things; and boy, is the grand scheme something to revel in. Setting “The Lion King” for the stage is an

I’ll get my few criticisms out of the way before my praises. The puppets for Pumbaa and Zazu were sometimes not working properly for the performers to operate which was disappointing. Also, BJ

artistic experiment within itself, making it a visual, emotional masterpiece. This production is at its very best when it’s set in the jungle, where Simba is officially an adult with his loyal and hilarious friends Timon and Pumbaa. The artistry of the costumes, puppetry, and scenic design explodes with color and imagination. The best song in the latter half of the show is “Endless Night,” during which Simba is lost, trying to find his way,

wishing his father was there with him again. Dashaun Young’s performance of the song is nothing short of moving, delivering a rendition of the song that is filled with struggle and ultimately determination. Oh, and Buyi Zama as Rafiki? Perfection. Utter perfection. Whether it’s on Broadway or touring the world, “The Lion King” is a masterpiece for the eyes and the heart. Go see it immediately.

Photo courtesy of Providence Journal 10

March 20, 2017

Ali Interviews:

Herbivores have more fun

Kristen Salemi LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER

Ali O’Gara Anchor Intern

t Rhode Island College, the Student Union organizes many events and activities. It is the headquarters of student organizations, such as Greek life and Programming, which plans trips and events. Kristen Salemi is the director of the Student Union and her primary responsibility is to oversee student organizations, the facility and the program budget. Kristen has worked in the Student Union since September 1988. After speaking to Kristen about her responsibilities I asked what she liked most about Rhode Island College, and Kristen said, “The students and the diversity of the RI College community. I meet so many kinds of people with so many different backgrounds and life experience— all working toward their education and their futures. I also like working on a campus because I can go all around and interact with different departments and units.” An improvement Kristen would like to see at RIC is a better way to communicate with students about all the great opportunities offered at the school.

Ali O’Gara

Kristen enjoys photography, cooking, crafting and event planning. Her favorite food is “Death by Chocolate cake from Gregg’s restaurant.” If she could meet anyone, Kristen said she would like to meet Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys because she was a nun from France who helped colonize Montreal, Canada. One of Kristen’s favorite books is “Tuck Everlasting,” written by Natalie Babbit, which she read while taking a Children’s Literature class at RIC in the 1980s. Kristen says the book is eloquently written and brings up themes of life and mortality.

Sophie Costa Anchor Staff

here are various “diets” out there that are unhealthy or just don’t work for everyone, but eating a plant based diet is more about changing your lifestyle than making just another quick fix. Many people are used to eating processed food pumped with preservatives and high amounts of salt, sugar and artificial ingredients. The great thing about eating fruits and vegetables is that you don’t have to worry about any of that, you know that what is going into your body is pure and nutritious. When people hear the words “plant based” they usually think that this means food with no flavor that just won’t keep you satisfied, which is just false. Plant based means that your diet is about 80% plants, nuts and whole grains and

about 20% of anything else that you would like. It is all about balance.

Here are some benefits of a plant based diet that may sway you toward this lifestyle. The first benefit of eating clean is lower cholesterol. Cholesterol comes mainly things like from red meat, ice cream, eggs and processed foods. Eating a plant based diet will lower your cholesterol in a short amount of time, which is a serious indicator of better health. Dark leafy greens, such as kale, are a great way to lower cholesterol and get in some essential vitamins at the same time. Another benefit of eating a plant based diet is improving cardiovascular health. It is no secret that dairy products and meat contain large amounts of saturated fat, which has a direct correlation to poor cardiovascular health. After eliminating dairy and meat,

or at least cutting down on it, and replacing that with vegetables, nuts and whole grains, your blood pressure will instantly improve.

Some physical benefits of this lifestyle are weight loss, more energy, healthy skin and sometimes even relieving or reducing migraines and allergies. Not only will this lifestyle directly improve your short term and long term health, it also has many other benefits, such as being better for the environment and animals, and eliminating the chance of infections, such as E.coli, mad cow disease and salmonella. Eating a plant based diet is great for your physical and mental health, has a positive impact on the environment and can improve global food supply. This lifestyle may not be for everyone, but we could all surely use some extra vegetables in our diets.

Kristen was a pleasure to get to know and is great at her job in the Student Union. Photo courtesy of Allison Raymond

March 20, 2017

Opinions

The views expressed in The Anchor, unless otherwise noted, are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of The Anchor or of Rhode Island College’s faculty, administration, or student body.

Millennials are not the bad guys

Amanda Rotimi Anchor Contributor

hat is it about Millennials that people dislike so much? Are we truly the entitled, overrewarded, underemployed degenerates that older generations label us? There seems to be a rising wave of criticism that is being directed toward Millennials, and I have read through various think pieces written by older people who seem to have a jaded view of us. When I read these think pieces, I observe that a lot of people are looking at the effect, but not the cause of why Millennials appear a certain way to them. I have noticed that the word “entitled” is thrown around a lot within these rants and, if I am being honest, the world is used unreasonably. We get called entitled for wanting things like free and or lower public college tuition; yet, many do not

Mary-Ellen Fernandez Anchor Staff

resident Donald Trump and the GOP should not completely remove Obamacare. Instead, they should improve upon the existing Affordable Care Act, or ACA. Trump made it very clear during his campaign that one of his large priorities was to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, which was enacted by former president Barack Obama in order to ensure American would be have access to health care. Trump and the GOP have recently created their replacement plan for Obamacare and it has politicians on both sides of the aisle and Americans alike doubtful of its ability to sufficiently provide healthcare for everyone.

stop and analyze why these things are being requested. Yes, older generations did have to pay for college but, as is widely understood, college was significantly cheaper for these older generations. A lot of them were only required to have a part-time job to pay off a semester’s-worth of tuition and fees. That is nearly, if not completely, impossible nowadays. And, a lot of people graduating are so overburdened with loans that they can not even enjoy the salary from their new career without worry about paying off their debt. A second counter critique I want to make is about the remark that Millennials are over-rewarded. One argument that I hear the most that makes me want to pull my hair out is that we receive participation medals when playing sports or within other competitive challenges, therefore, making us “over-

rewarded.” Whoever came up with that argument must be a celebrity amongst older people, because older generations sure love using this argument to vocalize, as well as, justify their disdain for Millennials. One important fact to point out about participation medals is that often times these medals aren’t given to everyone, which is the common misconception. These trophies are more rewards for commitment than they are simple validations as an athlete. I can use myself for an example because, when I played softball in middle school, I didn’t show up to practice, I missed most of the games and the games I did attend I spent most of the time on the bench. Guess what I got for my participation in the sport. Absolutely nothing, and it was fair because, even though I did play in softball games sometimes, I did not commit to the sport.

Those who did commit, no matter how awful they were at the sport managed to get trophies because they always worked on bettering themselves and they were dedicated. So, to those who love using this argument, understand that not everyone gets a participation medal.

people to remain on their parents’ plans until they are 26.

This lowers the likelihood of the healthcare act being passed, which only wastes time in the continual process of creating a fair healthcare system. Instead of wasting time spiting our previous president’s plan, Trump and the GOP should do what’s best for the country and improve, not gut, the ACA.

Lastly, I want to break down the criticism about the unemployment of Millennials, which is the argument many people use to justify calling us lazy. I have a quick, fun fact: did you know that most entry level jobs available for high school graduates that existed 20-40 years ago, no longer exist? That’s right, no longer can an 18 year old walk into a factory, ask for a job and make a wage that can support themselves and an entire family. Nope. Most of these entry level jobs have either been outsourced, automated or are simply obsolete. Currently, the economy is still recovering

Don’t replace—reform

care program. However, these are things that can be changed and improved; we don’t need to start completely over. By doing this, Trump and the GOP are disregarding many positive aspects of Obamacare, such as not denying coverage for patients with pre-existing conditions, or allowing

The new health care reform has many people, including a bipartisan group of senators in Congress, doubting the current proposal. They argue that the plan is making cuts to too many important systems, like Medicaid.

Obamacare is not perfect. In fact, many portions of the ACA could be improved. Issues of high insurance rates and other matters of cost are understandable causes for concern in regards to the current health

from a recession. So, even people who have bachelor’s degrees are taking up positions that most high school graduates can easily acquire. Employers do not even want to concern themselves with college graduates with no experience, and many are lucky to even find a job in their field within 6 months after graduation. It is a very difficult time right now for people to build their careers; especially, if they are young and inexperienced.

All in all, I truly believe older generations will always criticize younger generations. Who knows, in 10-20 years I’ll probably be the one writing think pieces about how the younger generation is lost and entitled. I just hope when I make grand statements about the generation following mine that I’ve done my research, instead of just parroting the inaccurate headlines about Millennials.

By simply improving upon the plan, it saves time and creates a higher likelihood of the Act being successful. With support from a united Republican government, the president is simply attempting to make good on his campaign promises— but it isn’t worth the cost.

Photo courtesy of theblaze.com 12

March 20, 2017

When does a protest become a riot?

Catherine Enos Anchor Editor

t Middlebury College in Vermont, one of the most liberal states in our country, students stood up against a conservative author who was invited by a group of students to speak. Their protest, however well-intended, soon turned violent and one of their own professors ended up being injured by some of the

students in attendance.

Much larger groups of people have managed to peacefully protest without injury. Perhaps the most recent of the peaceful protests were the woman’s marches that occurred all over the world in late January, earlier this year. Millions were involved and there was no discussion of violence having occurred, only praise for the lack thereof.

So, when does a rally turn into a riot? The difference between the two may be more ambiguous than the definitions would lead us to believe. One is violent and the other is non-violent. But since both rallies and riots include a large group of people, the distinction is up to media interpretation, as well as our own. If just one protester, amongst hundreds, thousands or possibly

even millions, intends to physically injure another person of dissenting views in the name of their cause, it does some damage to the credibility and reputation of all of the protesters. To those with differing beliefs about the cause, one of their main goals is likely to impugn the image of the group.

Violence should never be condoned, but a majority of these protesters most likely don’t support violence -- specifically regarding the cause mentioned herein against allowing conservative author Charles Murray to speak on the Vermont campus. Nonetheless, they and the protest itself are marked by the acts of a violent few. Perhaps the difference between the protest and riot is a combination of different things. Perhaps it depends simply upon how people act and react

Photo courtesy of theupsidedownworld.com

Get involved if you care Taylor Dame Anchor Editor

e, as Rhode Islanders, take our access to our politicians for granted. In other states it is a rare event to see the governor or a senator, but in Rhode Island it is almost odd to not see them at least once a month. Governor Raimondo has come to Rhode Island College several times this academic year alone. Congressman Cicilline has also visited the campus. Our entire congressional delegation regularly holds town halls, and accessing our state representatives in the legislative and executive branch is incredibly easy. Yet, many people do not take this amazing opportunity to talk to and influence these decision makers. These events are being held, but with a low turnout, especially among college-age people. We can and should do better. As responsible citizens of Rhode Island and the United States, it is our duty to contact our representatives, whether they are in

Congress, Providence or in our local communities. These people work for us and we need to get involved. In order for anything to change, people have to do more than complain about it on Facebook. I, myself, am guilty of sharing a link on Facebook and thinking that I have done enough -- I’ve informed others -- but it is not enough. We need people to get involved in politics. Attend a town hall meeting, call your Senator and testify at a hearing in the State House. These are some of the things that take just the bare minimum effort. For those who really want to effect change, volunteering in a campaign is a good option or, better still, running for election yourself is something that you should strongly consider. If our current President can hold his office with no prior political or military experience, than you can certainly hold office at the local or state level. Another way students can get involved is by joining Student Community Government, here on campus. This

group advocates for the students and controls how student activity money is spent. Joining the student parliament is the best way to have your voice heard on campus. It is not too much of a time commitment and can be a good first step for those who want to test out the world of politics.

If being a member of parliament is too much of a commitment for you, then you can consider joining one of the many college or student government committees. These committees want to hear from students, and the work you do in them can affect how the college will run in the future even after you’re gone.. Getting involved may seem hard and overwhelming, but the hardest part is the first step. Once you’re in, it gets easier and easier to move up and work on bigger and more impactful projects. We need good, educated people in government and RIC students are, in my opinion, are some of the hardest working and kindest people in the state. Get involved, whether it be on campus or off. We need you. 13

during assemblies. For one, there is a great amount of political polarization in our country today. So, when a conservative author was scheduled to visit a liberal college in a liberal state, there was a great deal of tension. Protesters did not want the college to give a platform for Murray to promote his views, which they thought were wrong, and conservative media was quick to brand the protests as “liberal intolerance” and “liberal tantrums,” as it was described by more than one website.

Both the political left and right believe that the other wants to destroy the country, which certainly is not the case. However, if the country continues to be so polarized, these protests turned riots may become more common and could damage our democracy.

Vegans need more options Derek Sherlock Anchor Staff Whether you go to the cafe or the Donovan Dining Center, RIC has a lack of vegan options, which is especially difficult for those living on campus.

The entrée line does offer on some days vegan entrée options such as, Tofu Turkey or Vegansomething-Cutlets, but most of the time they offer steamed vegetables or rice as the only vegan meal option. While these can be considered a meal, they aren’t always enough, and there need to be more vegan options for those of us on campus who enjoy vegan life. The dining center should regularly include actual vegan burgers instead of veggie burgers—not just as a “special” for the day, but as a standard option. They should also add things such as vegan hotdogs to the grille menu in addition to the meat hot dogs that are offered. In the cafe, pizzas should provide the option of vegan cheese.

These are not outlandish requests, as there are many vegans on the RIC campus,

all of whom have just as much right to a decent, tasty meal as everyone else. For vegans such as myself, it is often difficult to find a filling meal on campus due to our dietary restrictions. As a result, I am usually forced to buy food off-campus and bring it onto campus or wait until I get home to make a meal that will fill me up. This may not be the end of the world, but it is a regular inconvenience that simply should not be the case.

I would like to enjoy the food that the hard-working women and men in the dining center and the cafe prepare daily, but due to the lack of options on campus I am often unable to enjoy meals with my fellow students. Implementing more vegan options on campus is a nobrainer, especially given how simple the process would be. There are a great many vegans at RIC who would not only enjoy seeing more options than either a salad or a particular “special” for the day, but also feel more welcomed by the college’s efforts to accommodate their dietary restrictions.

March 20, 2017

Sports

Barcelona complete epic comeback

Julian Borges Sports Editor

panish soccer team FC Barcelona took a page out of the New England Patriots’ handbook when they made their epic comeback against French side Paris Saint-Germain.

The two teams first faced off against each other in the round of 16 a month ago in the UEFA Champions League. The Champions League is a soccer competition that pits the best teams in Europe against each other. Excluding the final, with every round that teams participate in, they must face the same team twice. This means that the team with the most goals by the end of those two games advances. Right off the bat, it was clear that Barcelona were in hot water after losing the first leg against PSG 4-0. The players were humiliated, fans were devastated, and everybody who hated Barcelona was rejoicing. It seemed that the best soccer team of the past ten years was done for.

The year before Neymar even joined Barcelona, the team got trashed in the semi-finals 7-0 on aggregate to German team FC Bayern Munich--losing the first leg 4-0 and the second leg 3-0. Bayern went on to win the Champions League that year and it was not until 2015 where the Spanish side re-emerged as the greatest

team in Europe after beating Italian club Juventus F.C. in the finals.

Yet this first leg against Paris was different. The thing is...Barca had no reason to lose as badly as they did. The chances of Barcelona making a comeback weren’t small--they were non-existent. They were already too far behind in the Spanish league to catch up to rivals Real Madrid and the pressure got to coach Luis Enrique, who announced shortly after the excruciating first leg defeat that he would be leaving the team by the season’s end.

scored shortly thereafter and the Camp Nou stadium was nearly silent. At this point in the match, the aggregate was 5-2 in PSG’s favor. Barcelona had dug themselves into a deeper hole and the ground ahead of them was beginning to cave in all over again. Then came Neymar.

A stunning free kick from the Brazilian two minutes left in regulation put Barcelona back into competition. Just two minutes after that, in the last minute of regular

time, another controversial penalty was awarded to Barcelona and Neymar scored to tie the aggregate with PSG. Sergi Roberto scored the last goal for Barca with seven seconds left in overtime. The Camp Nou erupted as PSG hung their heads and walked off the field following their collapse. It was a game that no fan of the team will ever forget. No matter what happens from this point on, nobody will count Barcelona out. Nobody will ever truly believe that this team is

incapable of overcoming any deficit.

Next month, Barcelona will face Juventus once again. This time in the quarter-finals.

Despite the comeback, the Spanish side still have a long road ahead of them. Their coach is leaving, they have a Spanish championship to focus on, and now they’re going to play the best team in Italy. Yet, it’s the Champions League. Anything can happen. Just ask Barcelona.

The second leg between Barcelona and PSG was a few weeks ago. Barcelona had to beat PSG by at least four goals in order to advance. They beat them by five.

What should have been a failed comeback attempt turned into the greatest comeback in Champions League history. Luis Suarez scored in the first three minutes, and an own goal by PSG’s Kurzawa at the end of the first half certainly helped the Blaugrana gain footing at their home stadium. When Barcelona returned to the field in the second half, they had to give it their all. A controversial call led to Messi scoring on a penalty kick five minutes in. However, Edinson Cavani, one of PSG’s best players,

Photo courtesy of ESPN

Wrestling Season ends at National Championship Enrique Castaneda-Pineda Assistant Sports Editor

he Rhode Island College Men’s Wrestling team’s season has come to a close after competing in the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship, where John Georges and Michael Gallagher earned a spot at the NCAA Division III National Championship.

First off, at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship, Gallagher

and Georges received AllNortheast Region awards, with Gallagher earning a second place finish in the 184 lbs. class, with a 3-1 record on the weekend and a 24-8 record on the season.

Georges ended the weekend with a 5-1 record for his efforts, securing third place and boosting his overall record to 31-10 for the season. Together, Gallagher and Georges led the team to a total score of 35.5, ranking 12th amongst the rest of the 19 teams involved in

the Championship, with Johnson & Wales University taking first place.

After earning their spot at the NCAA Division III National Championship, Georges and Gallagher traveled to the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. In the 285 lbs. class, Georges had an 0-2 record, after a close bout that ended in a 4-3 setback. Being pinned shortly thereafter cut his time at the competition short.

Head Coach Jay Jones said, “I am very proud of 14

the efforts of senior captain John Georges, he went on a miraculous run to get to the NCAA’s and came up short out here in Wisconsin. However, what he did as a leader to help turn the culture of our program around on and off the mat will never be forgotten.”

Gallagher then competed in his 184 lbs. class and managed a 4-3 win for his opening match. The Anchorman then lost a 10-0 major decision, followed by a 3-1 setback in overtime against Grant Wedepohi

from Wisconsin-Platteville, which ended his run.

Coach Jay Jones admired Gallagher by saying, “He beat a wrestler in round one who ended up on the other side of the bracket and became an All-American.” He added, “It’s the nature of the beast sometimes.” Georges and Gallagher led the team to an overall record of 7-9 for the season and a 6-5 record in the New England Wrestling Association.

March 20, 2017

Women’s Lacrosse fall to Simmons

Marissa Marsella Anchor Staff

he Rhode Island College Women’s Lacrosse team faced defeat in a 12-3 loss against Simmons College at the National Training Center on Saturday, March 11th. The Anchorwomen fought the Sharks, who led the entire game, to no avail. However, the Anchorwomen individually performed well throughout the game.

Directly leading into the second half of the game, RIC senior midfielder Jessica Trautman scored an unassisted goal for her team’s first appearance on the scoreboard. With just 29 minutes left on the clock, the girls worked together to score a pair of goals against Simmons, both made by RIC senior midfielder Betsy Heidel. The Anchorwomen fought hard to keep the Simmons Sharks from furthering their

score. Unfortunately, the Sharks ended up sealing their victory ahead of RIC by nine points--ending the match with a score of 12-3.

By the end of the match, Simmons ultimately held a 38-8 advantage in game shots, as well as a 33-20 advantage in ground balls. This allowed for RIC sophomore goalkeeper Julia Eaton to save an impressive 20 shots from members of the opposing Simmons Lacrosse team.

Photo courtesy of goanchormen.com

Women’s Gymnastics break records Enrique Castaneda-Pineda Assistant Sports Editor

uring spring break, while most students were enjoying their vacation, the Rhode Island College Women’s Gymnastics team was busy breaking records.

In an interview with gymnast Erin Shea, she stated: “For the team it means so much…because of limited time and resources, we have to make the absolute most out of everything and to have a small team that got cut in 2011 and just 6 years later starting to have a solid base in such a competitive sport is a great milestone.”

DiBiase, and Kyndel Yett contributed to the total 47.15 score. As for the beam record, the team included Murphy, DiBiase, Grace Davis, Alexandria Otis, Violet Pinola and Cailee Mallory. Yett had a score of 9.575 on the vault and is also now the fifth highest scorer in the program’s history. Grace Davis became the second-highest score holder on the beam, and Corrine Paul scored a 9.550 on the vault, tying her for the sixthhighest score in the team’s history. RIC ended up facing Bridgeport, Brown and

Southern Connecticut State-teams which are a division higher than Division III. RIC and Brown are a part of the highest division: Division I. Unfortunately, with the competition that the Anchorwomen faced, RIC placed 4th overall out of the four teams. However, this is still a turning point for the growing RIC program as these numbers have not been seen since the 2001-02 season. The Anchorwomen rode the record-breaking wave to their next meet in Springfield, Massachusetts, competing against Brown,

Springfield College and SUNY (State University of New York) Cortland. The team scored a total of 182.575, just .4 points away from breaking their record yet again.

Though the team scored so high, Brown took the title with a score of 193.425, with second place going to host Springfield College and SUNY Cortland locking in third place with scores of 189.05 and 188.425, respectively. Grace Davis went on to best her previous score of 9.5 on the beam with a score of 9.525, making it

the second-highest in the team’s history. DiBiase had a career best 37.075 score all-around for a fourth-place finish, including career high scores on the vault and bars with a 9.550 and 9.175, respectively. Alexandria Otis had a career best 9.4 score on the beam and Corrine Paul finished with a score of 8.975 on bars and 9.3 on vault. Erin Shea secured a 9.475 on vault and a 9.125 on floor, with Kyndel Yett scoring a 9.450 in the same event. Congratulations to the Women’s Gymnastics team for their continuing success!

RIC broke the record for highest overall score on March 7th at a meet in Bridgeport, Connecticut with a score of 182.95. The Anchorwomen also broke the record for the overall vault with a score of 47.175 and the beam record with a score of 46.025. These scores included six gymnasts from each competing team, but the only scores tallied towards the total include the top five of those teams.

For the vault record, Miranda Murphy, Corrine Paul, Erin Shea, Allie

Photo courtesy of goanchormen.com

Men’s Baseball team returns

Marissa Marsella Anchor Staff

The Rhode Island College Men’s Baseball team recorded an impressive start to the season, returning from their trip down south with an 8-3 record. Their success was noted, as the

Anchormen were named the Navigant Credit Union/ Athletic Director’s March 14th Team of the Week.

RIC senior athlete, Nate Cahoone, led his team in their victories averaging .458, making five RBI’s four runs, and an incredibly

perfect 1.000 percentage.

fielding

His teammate, RIC junior athlete Frank Pettinato managed a close .457 average to Cahoone, also completing seven RBI’s and six runs during the trip. RIC senior, Austin Berry, 15

hit at a .421 average, recording the best team lead with 11 runs and an astounding 9 RBI’s. The team batted with a .330 average altogether, averaging six runs per game.

Anchorman freshman, Erry Baldayak was titled

the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week as he is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA. Baldayak also managed a 2-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Congratulations to the Men’s Baseball team on their recent accomplishments!

March 20, 2017

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Jens Norman|Sculpture major Charred Roll (left)

“This first work was a material study using a charred wooden tree trunk section that I then rolled across a paper to see how the marks changed overtime.It is lined up as a progression from the top left on to the bottom right.”

Twenty Drop “This next work is a performance piece that results in a linear progression of movement across the floor to highlight separate moments in time when my bodies interaction with the material took place and evolved. It is made of a custom wooden cargo cart, and it leaves piles on the floor of crushed stone and dust.”

Gravity Vessels

“This last series of pieces uses my personal limitations combined with a materials' properties to play with the idea of a clay vessel, one of the first type of human expressive functional object. They each start as a solid 100 pound clay block (the largest mass of damp clay I can physically lift) and are dropped on the floor repeatedly to let my fingers and the floor show marks on their surfaces. I then stand each block up and proceed to dig out the center to form the vessel shape which expands as I scrape the insides free of excess clay. They are presented from 1 to 3 from left to right and the remnants of the process I went through to dig the vessels out are discarded to the floor and left to dry in front of each one.” 16