spree day • clarkie of the week • holi • and more
volume xcv, no. 18 • april 22, 2016 | clarkscarlet.com | the.clark.scarlet | @Clark_Scarlet
A Race for Community Columbus Park and Clark Fundraise for Playground By Alexis Stabulas news correspondent
Columbus Park Preparatory Academy is a mere 15 minute walk from Clark’s campus. Despite its proximity to the University and its importance in the community, the partnership between Clark and Columbus Park has only formed over the past couple years. In a new effort to bring together the Worcester community, Clark will be hosting the Columbus Park 5K, which runs from the campus to the elementary school. The race will be held on April 24 as a fundraiser to get Columbus Park a playground. The initial idea for holding a 5K on Clark’s campus was a collaboration between two different parties: Melissa Tula, office manager and Clery compliance coordinator of University Police (UP), and Connor Guerin (’16) and Tim Conley (’16), two members of Gryphon and Pleiades Honor Society. Tula, along with other members of UP, is an avid runner who competes in
different local races, walks, and charity events. Tula was adamant about starting a 5K here at Clark, so she joined the University’s Wellness Committee to begin planning the project. Around the same time, Guerin and Conley met with UP Chief Goulet to discuss details for a 5K event. “When Connor and Tim walked in, it was amazing,” said Tula. “I was dying to do a 5K and here they were. The timing was amazing and we all ended up working together. They have been fabulous with organizing sponsors [and] volunteers.” Every year, Gryphon and Pleiades does something to engage with and give back to the Clark community through fundraising and volunteer work. This year, Conley came up with the idea of a campus-wide 5K with the mission of bringing all areas of Clark together. “During my tenure as both an RA and a member of the men’s cross country team...I noticed a visible divide within Clark’s student body,” said Conley. “I thought the creation of an annual event that brought together Clark’s separate
communities- athletics, Main South, faculty, alumni, and everyone else could work to solve this problem.” As this is the first time Clark is putting on a 5K, unexpected problems have come up along the way. It has been difficult for everyone involved to communicate effectively with administrative offices and campus leaders. There has been support and push from the community. Tula and some other members of UP have volunteered to work the event the day of in order to control traffic and make sure the runners are safe. Teachers, staff, and families from Columbus Park are volunteering and racing as well. Conley works at Marathon Sports in Shrewsbury, which will be donating time-keeping equipment, an inflatable arch, and prizes for the children’s lap of the race. While a 5K is quite an undertaking, the purpose of the event is to benefit the children. In order to get youth and Columbus Park students as continued on page 3
Eclectic Musical Masters Meet in Worcester Bela Fleck and Chick Corea Play Hanover By Matt Emmer living arts editor
Two masters converged in Worcester last Tuesday, April 12, when banjo maestro Bela Fleck and iconic jazz pianist Chick Corea played an intimate show of instrumental duets at Worcester’s Hanover Theatre. The often experimental or, as Fleck described it, “esoteric” program mixed inventive new compositions from both artists with challenging arrangements of contemporary and classical compositions. Two years ago, I wrote about Fleck’s performance with Brooklyn Rider, a string quartet at Mechanics Hall, which featured a banjo sonata that Fleck had recently completed. In between that project and Tuesday’s concert, he recorded and toured extensively as a folk-infused
acoustic duet act with his wife, famed clawhammer banjo player Abigail Washburn, and had a child. After completing the tour with Corea, Fleck will almost immediately begin a long-awaited summer reunion tour with the Flecktones, the hugely influential jam band he formed in 1988. An endlessly busy artist, Fleck has already redefined the banjo for generations of musicians of all stripes. Corea, a veteran of Miles Davis’ appropriately lauded Bitches Brew-era electric band, is certainly a musical master on par with Fleck’s virtuosity. The Massachusetts native is widely seen as responsible for the deep parallax of Davis’ revolutionary fusion between jazz, rock, and avant-garde music. On the aptly unadorned stage continued on page 8
2 | news
The Scarlet THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLARK UNIVERSITY
The Scarlet
APRIL 22, 2016
SASA’S HOLI 2016
CONTACT scarlet@clarku.edu | clarkscarlet.com
EDITORS Editor-in-Chief: Sarah Cramer Executive Editor: Ethan Giles Editor-at-Large: Anna Spack News Editor: Kate Summers Opinions Editor: Alex Grayson Living Arts Editor: Matt Emmer Sports Editor: Scott Levine Creative Director: Rose Gallogly Layout Editor: Christian Rentsman Photo Editor: Erin McKeon Managing Editor: Anashua Madhubanti
COLUMNISTS Molly Powers
CORRESPONDENTS News: Alexis Stabulas Living Arts: Alika Gillard
FACT CHECKER Daniel Juarez
SCARLET STAFF T.J. Anania Megan Baynes Molly Caisse Steven Castiglione Max Elias Pat Fox Jessica Macey Kayleigh McHugh Simone McGuinness Pooja Patel Lynn Pescaro Maria Rotelli Jenny Rubin Tyler Terriault Nikolas Wagner
LAYOUT & WEB STAFF Ann Kim Ryan King
PHOTO STAFF Jonathan Edelman Soraya Madlala Uyanga (Melody) Mungunchimeg Erika Schaper Julia Schroeder Bernie Tuson Krithi Vachaspati Emily Valante Illustrations: Santiago Jose Herdozia Ponce
Photos by Erin McKeon The Scarlet in no way endorses its advertisers. In addition, The Scarlet maintains the right to decline any advertisements it deems unsuitable.
APRIL 22, 2016
The Scarlet
news | 3
The Scarlet/News Columbus Park Continued continued from page 1
involved as possible, the race will contain a children’s lap around the campus Green. The event is meant purely for fun, and all children who partake will receive medals for their effort. The actual 5K runs from the playground on Florence Street to Columbus Park, where the new playground will eventually be. “A playground has been in the works for a number of years now,” said Columbus Park Principal Siobhan Dennis. “We believe that a better space for our students to get outside and play is incredibly important. Obviously we don’t expect to raise enough after one race to afford the playground, but it’s a great start to the process.” The playground is currently on a two-year capital campaign. The structure will cost between fifty and sixty thousand dollars. Dennis hopes this goal will be feasible through the continued help of of the 5K as an annual event, along with fundraising and grants. The community has been helping out with the project, too. Jonathan Jalbert of Recreation Innovations LLC has been volunteering his time and services in order to help Columbus Park plan for the implementation of the playground. “This whole event has been a joint venture between the community and the schools,” Dennis said. “The kids really feel a sense of connection with Clark, and it is a neat way to bring it full circle. I am looking forward to seeing the event actually come to fruition and see the merge of the two communities [Clark and Columbus Park]. I hope people will leave feeling that connection and that it will continue to grow.”
CUSC in Brief By Nikolas Wagner scarlet staff
This week was the last meeting of the 105th session of Student Council, immediately after which the 106th session with the new Executive Board called its first meeting to order. Club budgets for next semester were approved during this meeting, so Treasurer Rohan Roger (‘18) and Finance Chair Andres Gvirtz (’18) both gave presentations on club funding prior to the voting process. Roger stated that the number of funded clubs and events had risen drastically in the past five years. Specifically, 119 funded clubs were registered this year and there was a total of 830 events this Fall Semester. The Student Activity Fee is $350 per undergraduate student, which creates a Student Activities Fund (SAF) of approximately $750,000. 52 percent of the SAF goes towards constitutionally funded institutions and 38 percent goes towards all other funded clubs on campus. Gvirtz’s presentation noted that since the Student Activity Fee has not changed since 2007, its purchasing power has decreased due to inflation. That, combined with the large number of clubs, meant the Finance Committee had to make a significant number of cuts to budget requests and worked more than thirty hours in total to do so. Specifically, the student body requested approximately $420,000 in clubs budgets this year, but only $250,000 was available to be given out. In spite of these constraints, Gvirtz stated that most clubs that submitted their complete applications had their events nearly or fully funded. A student representative from the Student Alumni Relations Committee (SARC) had complaints regarding the club’s lower budget allocation, due to what they said was a systems failure with LINK not allowing them to submit their proposal on time. Roger responded saying that LINK is secure and would have notified them if a failure occurred. Gvirtz said that the Finance Committee was not happy with the decision regarding SARC’s budget, but he stated he could not treat them any differently because of the circumstances. Afterwards, the budget allocations for next semester passed with 11 votes in favor and four abstentions. Laura Barker (‘17) of the Student Life Committee said that the last Boston buses will be running this Friday and that shuttles will be running to the mall during Reading Days. Judiciary Chair Lauren Howard (‘17) presented the charter for the African Dance Diaspora Association, as well as edits to charters of the Music Society of Clark University and the European Student Association, all of which were approved. Elections Chair Joya Hall (‘19) announced that there were only two applications for Major Events Committee
Chair. Minority Representative Josh DeMelo (‘18) agreed to send out an email asking for more applicants for the position. CUSC then passed two cumulative surplus requests: 105.01 for Film Equipment for Film Production Society and 105.02 for CUSC Office Renovations. At the end of the meeting, President Kevin Kim (‘16) thanked Council for all of their hard work during the academic year and presented a commemorative plaque in honor of the 105th session. It was at this moment that he inaugurated Cory Bisbee (‘19) as president and Gvirtz as Treasurer. Having done so, CUSC immediately adjourned and then readjourned for the 106th session. Bisbee appointed and Council approved William Heikes (‘17) as Finance Chair and DeMelo as Communications Chair. The Financial Reform and Cost Restructuring Ad Hoc Committees were all reestablished and Gvirtz was appointed chair of those as well. Grants: • $1,012 was allocated to Brittany Dennis (‘17) for camera equipment for her research on education policies and gender inequality in tea plantations and Gypsy communities in Sri Lanka over the summer. • $1,500 was allocated to Absar Ali (‘18) to pay for a portion of his living costs during his internship at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan in New York City. • $1,460 was allocated to Rohan Roger (‘18) and Siddhartha Dogra (‘18) to pay for their transportation and hotel expenses at the 2016 Summer Youth Assembly at the United Nations. • $1,600 was allocated Julia Carrasquel (‘16) to pay for her equipment and living expenses during her Sustainable Urban Agriculture Project in Bogotá, Colombia. • $2,625 ($875 per person) was allocated to Zion Bereket (‘18), Samantha Hinchey (‘18), and Anh Nhu (‘18) for the expenses of YourStory International Summer Expedition in Leogane, Haiti. • $320 was allocated to Alexander Vesenka (‘18) to purchase a metal cutting band saw, which will be used for his independent study next semester in which he will be making sets for the Theatre Department. The saw will belong to the Theatre Department after the independent study is finished. • $200 was allocated to Ben Berman (‘16) to purchase prizes for the Elephant Thursday Prize Cash-In. This will be the last cash-in for Elephant Thursday, as Berman will be graduating this May. • Monday will be the last day of grants spending. The remainder of the grants funding will go towards the cumulative surplus.
The Scarlet
4 | news
APRIL 22, 2016
CLARKIE of the WEEK Scarlet: What was it like growing up in such a rural area and then coming to Clark? Gus: It was interesting, because where I’m from is fairly isolated. Growing up, I got used to driving at least a half hour if I wanted to see anyone or get anywhere. But it was also kind of nice to have that isolation. I found Clark randomly. I was really drawn to the feeling of it. It felt a lot like the community of people I was used to. I was homeschooled when I was a kid, so I had a fairly distinct community of people I grew up with. What solidified my decision in coming to Clark was that my grandfather knew a retired psych professor. I was planning on majoring in psychology, and talking to him made me realize Clark was the right fit for me. Scarlet: How do you like Clark so far? Gus: It was what I was looking for. I’ve found a solid group of friends. I’m on the club Ultimate Frisbee team and I am in Assorted Martial Arts at Clark (AMAC). Scarlet: How has Ultimate Frisbee been? Gus: It’s been great. We went to South Carolina over spring break. It was a great trip to get to know the team. We played ten games, and actually won the tournament. photo by jonathan edelman
Gus Bittenbender Gus Bittenbender (‘19) is a psychology and philosophy double major from Alstead, N.H. He is on Clark’s Ultimate Frisbee club team and is a member of Assorted Martial Arts at Clark (AMAC).
Scarlet: What position do you play? Gus: The structure of positions is kind of loose in Frisbee. I’m usually cutting on offense, so I’m farther up the field. On defense, I basically just try to block the Frisbee from being thrown at their target, or strategizing so the thrower can’t throw to anyone.
by Kayleigh McHugh
the most part I’m just going to wing it and take it as it comes. I danced when I was a lot younger. It would be interesting to try it again. Scarlet: What are your plans this summer? Gus: I’m working for a timber-framing company. I’ve been working there the past few years. It’s working in a shop where I help construct roof, floor, and wall panels. I really enjoy it. Scarlet: Is woodworking a hobby of yours? Gus: Yeah, it’s one of the few hands-on things I feel comfortable with. I like putting things together and creating things. Scarlet: Do you have any favorite projects you’ve made? Gus: Yeah, I do. It’s kind of just a really simple decoration, but I like it. It’s a cube with circles drilled out on the sides, with another cube trapped inside, but it is one solid block. It’s kind of hard to describe. It doesn’t really make sense, yet it does. It will be nice to start some more projects again this summer. Scarlet: Is there anything else you miss from home that you can’t do in Worcester? Gus: Two things that come to mind are stars and being able to get complete isolation. I think having complete isolation is something I need at times, and it’s hard to get that in an urban setting. I also miss my sister. Right now she is on a wilderness trip where her only form of contact is letters. She’s coming back in June and I’m excited to see her. Thanks for the interview, Gus!
Scarlet: What do you do in AMAC? Gus: That is a much more loosely structured club. People who know things will teach others. It’s mostly just a way for people to train with each other. It’s basically a space where Clark students can continue to practice martial arts. It’s co-ed, but right now it’s mostly guys. Scarlet: What kind of martial arts do you practice? Gus: Shell and kung fu are what I practiced before coming here. It’s been cool to see all the different styles people know. Scarlet: Are there any new things or clubs you want to try next semester? Gus: I definitely want to try something new. I was thinking possibly something dance related, but I’m not really sure. For
Email scarlet@clarku.edu if you have a suggestion for Clarkie of the Week!
The Scarlet
APRIL 22, 2016
opinions | 5
The Scarlet/Opinions Disagreement with a New York Times’ Columninst
The opinions enumerated in this section represent those of the author and the author alone. They do not reflect the opinions of the editorial board, The Scarlet, or Clark University.
Refuting “Study Abroad’s Seven Deadly Sins” By Rose Gallogly By Jonah Naghi scarlet staff
Last year, I had the privilege of studying abroad in the Middle East for about seven months. The first five months I lived in Haifa, Israel where I attended the international school at the University of Haifa for a semester and for the summer. I went back and forth between Jerusalem and Ramallah for my journalism internship. My time abroad was beneficial for me academically, professionally, and for my personal growth. That being said, I was outraged to read the New York Times’ Peter Coclanis’ comments in his article, “Study Abroad’s Seven Deadly Sins,” a few weeks ago. Coclanis essentially argues that there are many distractions living abroad and that the academics are so laid back that studying abroad may cause more harm than good. In addition, he writes that studying abroad does not promote personal growth, but rather reveals our maturity level. I will admit that there is some truth to his first claim; academics while studying abroad are generally far more laid back than those at your own university and it makes it difficult to transition back into the system. I felt I was suffering from the “study abroad hangover.” But, in retrospect, this was beneficial. Studying abroad exposes you to issues that you may have not
been aware of in your home country and compels you to study them. When I studied abroad in Israel, I realized that there is not just an issue between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza; there is also a minority status issue for Israel’s Arab citizens. Israeli-Arabs are those who reside within Israel’s sovereign borders and have Israeli citizenship and posses all their basic rights, but are perceived to be marginalized in practice. The status of the Arab citizens of Israel is a related, yet distinct sub-topic issue in the IsraelPalestine conflict, and after befriending many Israeli-Arabs at the university I became compelled to study more about the issue. In addition, when I went to Istanbul, Turkey for a weekend, I knew I was going to come across Syrian refugees, but I did not stop to think how their conditions might have been in an urban environment. Seeing the Syrian widows with their children lying on the streets with no food or water revealed to me that not all refugees live in UNHCR camps that you see on the media, but there are also urban refugees, the refugees who found themselves in the cities and are now on their own. After speaking with many Syrian urban refugees about their stories and hardships, I was motivated to take a class with a focus on refugees in the urban context, rather than the typical camp, when I came back to Clark. Only while studying abroad could I establish this emotional attachment with Israeli-Arabs and urban Syrian refugees that would compel me to study
about the dynamics of their situations in order to help them. Coclanis also argues that study abroad does not enhance your personal growth, but only reveals how mature you are based on your actions. This could not be more false. The first time I crossed the border from Israel to Jordan with a tour group, I realized I did not have all the visa documents to keep me secure, though it did work out in the end. Nevertheless, I was embarrassed to be the only one in my group to not be prepared and this experience motivated me to always check for visa requirements in advance if I was ever to cross a border into another country. A couple of months later, I found myself going to Turkey and to Jordan a second time on my own with no problems. It is now an instinct for me to check visa requirements for US citizens whenever I think of traveling. Now, I am not suggesting that studying abroad does not have its downsides. I plead guilty to suffering from the study abroad hangover, “reverse-culture shock,” when I came back to Clark, the difficulty of re-orienting yourself to your country and institution. However, in retrospect, I believe it benefited me academically and promoted my personal growth. Thanks to my experience, I know more about the status of the Arab citizens of Israel and uniqueness of urban refugees. And perhaps most importantly, I am more self-reliant whenever I travel. So please, go out and travel the world because it could very well change your life for the better!
creative director
In my first two weeks working for The Scarlet, I learned just about everything I have ever needed to know about the culture of this school. I was a shy first-year and I knew what I liked doing the best (graphic design), but I had no how I would fit design work into my life here, and I had even less of an idea of how I would start to fit in here, in general. The answer to both questions came in the form of a text from Anna Spack (‘16) during our first week of classes. Apparently, she had just gone to the first Scarlet meeting of the semester, hoping to join their staff of writers. There she had found the wonderful Claire Tierney (‘14) and Jeremy Levine (‘15) scrambling to put together a paper after the rest of the E-Board, including all of the newspaper’s layout staff, had graduated the previous spring. Luckily, Anna and I go way back, and she knew that any opportunity to do graphic design would make me show up to a club meeting, even if I only had a vague interest in the actual purpose of the club. So, the next Wednesday at 7 p.m., I showed up in the Libby Lounge of the Geography Building, ready to design the entire newspaper from scratch if they needed me to. And, as it turns out, that’s exactly what they needed me to do. All I had to go off was a printed copy of The Scarlet from the previous year, Adobe InDesign on my computer, and my gut instincts about what a newspaper should look like. And from there on out, I was The Scarlet’s official Layout Editor, in charge of every detail of the newspaper’s design from start to finish. A lot has changed since then, both in The Scarlet and in my own life. Most importantly, the design of the newspaper has gotten way better since that first issue (I re-designed the whole template and logo at the beginning my sophomore year, able to make much better design decisions after a year’s worth of layout experience). This past year, I’ve stepped back from my initial role as Layout Editor, passing on the torch to the very talented Chris Rentsman as I focus on the endless lists of other design continued on page 6
6 | opinions
The Scarlet
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APRIL 22, 2016
Shouldn’t they be?
Scarlet Letter Continued continued from page 5
projects that fill up my schedule. But the things that those first few weeks with The Scarlet taught me about this school and its people have stuck with me in a big way. It may be over-said, but Clarkies truly are so passionate — Claire and Jeremy had barely anything to go on at the beginning of that year,
”
by Santiago Jose Herdozia Ponce
working with few resources and even less faculty support, but they cared enough about this newspaper to keep on going until 4 a.m. every single Wednesday (both metaphorically and literally). They were deeply kind, taking me under their wing and making me feel like I had a home at this school, even in my first few weeks here. And they believed in me. I came to them with no newspaper layout experience, and barely any print design experience, and said, “I can design this newspaper for you.” And they believed me. That is the kind of place that Clark has been for me, every single
week since the first one I spent as part of The Scarlet. It has been a place filled with passion, kindness, and with people who have supported me endlessly. And so, this letter is my small way of saying thank you. Thank you to Claire, Jeremy, Anna, Sarah, Chris, and everyone else who has made showing up at that very first Scarlet meeting one of the best decisions of my entire four years at this school. I can’t say I’ll miss the 4 a.m. nights, but I’ll be forever grateful for this newspaper and the wonderful, wonderful people who have put their heart and soul into making it what it is today.
The Scarlet
APRIL 22, 2016
living arts | 7
The Scarlet/Living Arts Sinfonic Sounds Clark Sinfonia Presents Spring Show By Max Elias scarlet staff
Clark University boasts an impressive population of talented musicians, some of whom came together on April 16 to put on a concert of classical and traditional pieces. Clark Sinfonia, the University’s string ensemble, impressed audiences with an hour and a half of expertly performed music, ranging widely from Baroque to traditional folk pieces. The evening began with “Garry Owen- Merrily Kiss the Quaker,” an uptempo and driving traditional Celtic tune with a jolly feel to it. From there, the ensemble moved on to more typical symphony fare; a somewhat obscure classical piece by English composer Bernard Barrell, followed by works by mainstays of the baroque and classical worlds. Their performance of Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 6” was instantly recognizable and technically impressive as well as melodic. A highlight of the performance, and probably a factor in the high attendance, was the participation of children affiliated with the Neighborhood Strings program, a free after-school offering that gives violin, cello, and viola instruction to kids who live in Main South and Downtown. These children usually per-
form at other venues as well. They joined Sinfonia for a few shorter pieces. The young students were impressively skilled, and it was without doubt a generous gesture to invite them to the Clark performance. It definitely went over well with the audience. The guest ensemble left, and after playing another piece or two, the band paused for a five minute intermission. They closed out the first part of their concert with Beethoven’s “Ode To Joy,” which was a logical and recognizable choice. They seem to have played it a bit slower than normally though, which made it more cinematic and less jubilant. The remainder of the concert was around fifteen minutes long. It included “Give Me Your Hand,” another Celtic piece, Vivaldi’s “Violin Concerto in E-flat Major,” and even a spirited rendition of several movie soundtracks. Overall, the Sinfonia performance reflected hours upon hours worth of practice and dedication on the part of the students. It was directed by Peter Sulski, who also performed along with the students on the night of the concert. The performance had the hallmarks of a “professional” performance—poise, skill, flow.
Spreecap Clark Hosts Annual Day of Revelry
photo by jonathan edelman
By Matt Emmer living arts editor
Spree Day was once again upon us as a rainy Tuesday led to a sunny day of celebration on Thursday, April 14. Packed full of food and events, the annual introduction to the joys of Spring weather was an uncontested success. On the Green, students enjoyed an arrangement of inflatable
attractions over the course of the morning, as people filtered from their dorms and apartments into the common space. The customary Jell-O wrestling pit sat alongside various slides and climbable apparatuses. Food trucks of varying origins and nationalities were staged in the area between the two parts of the Goddard sculpture, making the Atwood plaza a potpourri of culinary odors. Students lined up for
tacos, cookies, popcorn, and more, crowding the region with hungry Clarkies. As has been the tradition for the past three years, the day was filled with student performers from a variety of musical genres. Alt-jazz combo 3 Piece Meal started things off with breezy melodies and tight rhythms. Van Ward (‘16) continued on page 8
8 | living arts
The Scarlet
APRIL 22, 2016
Spree Day Continued continued from page 7
by Tyler Terriault
My proposal for New Hampshire’s new state motto is: Live Spree Or Die
joined as a guest vocalist for the second half of the show. Later in the day, the Pub Entertainment Committee (PEC) hosted open-air concerts from The Gray Company and Vacationer. With female-led harmonies and soaring anthemic tunes, The Gray Compa-
ny surely won over some new fans with their afternoon set. Vacationer dazzled the crowd with their upbeat indie-pop compositions and mix of acoustic and electric elements. The Green was filled with dancing Clarkies throughout their performance. As the music faded, the once
jubilant crowd, now subdued after their former expressions of joy, dissipated into the mid-afternoon glow. Seeking rest or renewal from a morning of revelry, the University, so recently connected in a blind release of anonymous exultation, was now scattered.
Heyyy it’s almost time for finals, as much as you dislike that, sorry
photos by jonathan edelman
But, heyyy again, it’s summatime after that, so you can chillskies hard The days grow longer as the masses struggle to defy convention
Bela Fleck Continued continued from page 1
of the ornate Hanover, the two legends created a sound that defied the superficially unexpected combination of their instruments. At no point in the evening did the tone of Fleck’s intricately picked resonator banjo clash with the softer sounds of Corea’s acoustic grand piano. While solo passages provided dynamic contrast throughout the evening, the program’s strongest moments happened in instances of almost indistinguishable collaboration between artists. Corea’s Latin-infused “Señorita” incorporated conversational instrumental interactions that involved the composer brushing and strumming the strings of his piano. Fleck’s delicate “Waltz for Abbie” reflects his
feelings while flying to his son’s unexpected early birth. Perhaps the highlight of the entire concert came in the second set, when the duo played a bold reimagining of bluegrass founder Bill Monroe’s “Jerusalem Ridge.” Featuring a cinematic introduction for Corea, the standard bluegrass instrumental became a panoramic landscape of music, with Fleck showcasing the more traditional role of the resonator fivestring banjo in all of its melodic and percussive splendor. The evening’s convergence of universally respected musical geniuses certainly did not disappoint. While the complexity of the evening’s music sometimes bordered on academic, moments of genuine beauty emerged from the occasionally challenging repertoire. Truly great art has the power to transcend genre, joining the prized canon of Great Art. At last Tuesday’s show, Bela Fleck and Chick Corea demonstrated their rightful claim to that coveted aesthetic space.
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EMAIL SCARLET@CLARKU.EDU
The Scarlet
APRIL 22, 2016
sports | 9
The Scarlet/Sports Senior Session: Men’s Lacrosse with Alex Turgeon by Steven Castiglione Alex Turgeon (‘16) is a co-captain of the Clark University Men’s Lacrosse team. Off the field, Turgeon has made himself familiar to Clark over the years through being a business management major and entrepreneurship minor, being an ITS employee, being a Peer Advisor, founding the student start-up WooConnect, and hosting the annual flag football fundraiser tournament. Turgeon is also a Game of Thrones nerd, plays a lot of Pokemon, explores different foodie spots across the city of Worcester, and hides away at the Bickman Fitness Center.
Scarlet: Can you talk about the most tangible reward from playing lacrosse at Clark? Alex: The most tangible reward I have experienced from playing lacrosse at Clark has been the opportunity to see the overall growth and development of our program under Coach Cohen. Rob [Holden (‘16)] and I were among a squad of gentlemen that, in our freshman year, included only 26 players. Over the years, the incoming classes dedicated themselves to this lacrosse program and has developed our team to a near forty player roster with talent we have never seen at Clark University before. For me, being a part of this firsthand and having the opportunity to lead this team has been my greatest reward. Alex Turgeon with teammates Rob Holden (‘16) and Bradley Paul (‘16).
Scarlet: Can you explain what has been the most tangible reward from playing lacrosse at Clark? Alex: The most tangible reward I have experienced from playing lacrosse at Clark has been the opportunity to see the overall growth and development of our program under Coach Cohen. Rob [Holden (‘16)] and I were among a squad of gentlemen that, in our freshman year, included only 26 players. Over the years, the incoming classes dedicated themselves to this lacrosse program and has developed our team to a near forty player roster with talent we have never seen at Clark University before. For me, being a part of this firsthand and having the opportunity to lead this team has been my greatest reward.
photo by steven castiglione
Scarlet: What impact do you hope to leave after playing for all these years? Alex: Thinking back after all these years playing at Clark, I hoped to have helped shape a supportive environment that pursues excellence on and off the field. A major impact I believe we as a team have strived to achieve has been shaping a culture in which we challenge the stereotypical “lax bro” stigma and have instead promoted a diverse collection of students who dedicate three-plus hours a day to an athletic passion. In regards to my time after this year, I hope to have an impact amongst the teams to come in the future. While I finish my master’s degree in the accelerated program here at Clark, I would love to give back to the [lacrosse] program through my experience in the weightroom and continued support to the Cougars. As an alumnus, I would hope to support the Cougars and the rest of the athletic department in any way that I can.
The Scarlet
10 | sports
APRIL 22, 2016
Baseball
SPORTS RECAPS
By Jonah Naghi
Lacrosse
Women’s Rowing
By Scott Levine
By Anna Spack
scarlet staff
sports editor
editor-at-large
Clark Lacrosse lost in another nail-biting overtime game against MIT. Much like in the Coast Guard game, Clark led after one half of play. However, the almost robotic production of MIT consisted throughout the second half, as they scored no more and no less than two goals each quarter to tie the game at eight apiece after regulation. The game almost stood at 8-8 after one overtime until an Engineer snuck one past Clark with six seconds left to put the final score at 9-8. While this might be a crucial loss for the Cougars, who now are a game behind rivals MIT, Wheaton and Babson, and two games Springfield at 2-2, the greater loss had to be from cocaptain and attackman Nick Johnson’s (‘17) ACL tear. Johnson has been leading the team in points so far with 22 goals and 24 assists. It will be on the rest of the attackmen and midfielders to make up for the offense that Johnson created, but the team has a wealth of talent at both positions to assume some of this offensive responsibility, and have benefitted from strong defensive play all year. Clark was able to notch a win against Mass. Maritime last Wednesday, with attackman Brandon King (‘19) playing his best game of the season. He got his first start of the season to replace Johnson in the lineup, and scored three goals. Rob Holden (‘16) also scored three goals. The offense seemed hum along, however the real test will happen this weekend against the 3-1 Babson Beavers. The 2-2 Cougars will take on Babson at home this Saturday at 1 p.m. as they look to create some separation from the middle of the pack in the NEWMAC standings.
Despite a fourth place finish, Clark Women’s Rowing set a school record on Sunday, April 17 with their time of 7:14.41. The team’s varsity lineup – Brooke Wilson (‘16), Sarah Fisher (‘16), Niki Lew (‘17), Kate Barnett (‘17), Lydia Warters (‘17), Cailyn Keely (‘18), Emily Ladda (‘19), Halley Glier (‘19), and Emily Thibault (‘19) – faced off against three of the best teams in the nation. Tufts, the winner of the race, is ranked seventh and finished with a time of 6:48.1. William Smith College, which came in second place (6:54.2), is ranked 15th in the country, and third-place finisher WPI (7:01.9) is ranked tenth. “Everything we have been working on these past few months and all the hours of training we put in over the winter finally paid off,” wrote Wilson, one of the team’s captains. “Since Coach McDonald became head coach in fall 2012 the rowing program [at] Clark has made a huge transformation, and I think the results from this past weekend indicate that.” The Cougars’ novice boat also came in fourth place with a time of 7:57.1. Clark will compete in the NEWMAC Championships this coming Saturday at Lake Quinsigamond. Wilson says last weekend’s race gave the team an important confidence boost and is looking forward to competing in the championships. Wilson is also sad to see her Clark career come to an end but has high hopes for the team. “I think Clark Rowing has a very bright future, especially with all the talent the underclassmen have,” she wrote. “I am excited to see where the next few years take them and cannot wait to watch them race in the years to come.”
After starting the season 2-8 in their conference, the Clark Baseball team finds themselves heading into the end of the regular season with a four game win streak. In the past four victories, they have combined to outscore their opponents 46-18. Their last victory on Tuesday against Babson kept them in the playoff race, which makes their final three conference games against Coast Guard beginning this weekend ever more crucial. The Cougars had lost a few close games earlier in the season to Wheaton and WPI, but beating Springfield three times last week helped give them a boost. “In the Springfield game we knew we had to win in order to stay alive in the conference tournament,” said starting third-baseman Zach Richall (’16). “The WPI games were very close games and we had chances to win and we just couldn’t pull it out, same as the Wheaton ones... It was just a matter of being able to go the extra mile against Springfield.” The Cougars will play Coast Guard three times, once on Friday and twice on Saturday, and they need to win at least two out of the three games to earn a spot in the tournament. Heading into the weekend Richall said, “We just need to take it each game by game so we can focus on Friday first…and after Friday it goes to Saturday… We need to win two out of three.” Indeed, the Cougars have played a lot of back-to-back games and double-headers this season, but the team has been able to cope with it well. “Our pitching is pretty solid… Our starters can always give us a good outing so the bullpen never really gets taxed,” added Richall. Their recent success has come in light of the absence of Jack Kenney (’16), one of their stronger pitchers who is sidelined with a shoulder injury. “It hurts because he was one of our best pitchers,” said Richall. “He beat Wheaton last year…he would always go out there and give it his best.” The game Friday starts at 3:30 p.m. and the two games Saturday beginning at noon to cheer our Cougars on and help them clinch a playoff spot.
Softball
Men’s Tennis
By Kate Summers
By Scott Levine & Alex Grayson
news editor
The Cougars started the weekend off slow with a 6-0 loss to Springfield College in game one and a 8-4 loss in game two. The following game they turned their luck around, with a 6-4 win to Coast Guard. “The team was really motivated to win and we put our hearts into it, and we played extremely well as a result,” Captain Rachel Kraytenberg (‘16) wrote in an email to The Scarlet. Unfortunately the Cougars lost the second game 7-3, but they came back strong on Sunday with two wins against Worcester State. During game one the Cougars had good defense with a 4-0 win. Game two was closer with a 5-4 win. “Those were great wins and they really can’t be reduced to just either maturity or luck. We have been working really hard this entire season,” wrote Kraytenberg. She added that she was glad that the team is keeping up the intensity regardless of their qualifications for the NEWMAC Championship. “The main focus of the season was never really on the playoffs, but if we happened to be qualified for playoffs then that would have been icing on the cake. “Since we obviously are not going to playoffs, there really isn’t a shift of focus. We go through each day the same way, we prepare for every game the same way, and we always try to have fun. For the rest of the season, we’ll just play like we have been,” wrote Kraytenberg. The team will play its last home games of the season today, Friday, April 22, at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. It might rain this afternoon, but don’t let that stop you from heading over to the field next to the Arboretum and watching yourself some Cougar magic.
sports editor & opinions editor
Clark Men’s Tennis hit a NEWMAC wall against Springfield last Wednesday. The team lost 7-2, but the three doubles matches were especially close. “Our team was highly competitive and it showed potential in the doubles games,” wrote Teodor Nicola (‘19) in an email to The Scarlet. Nicola played number three doubles with Lenny Siegel (‘18) and lost in a close 8-6 match. The #1 doubles of Fernando Pinoargote (‘16) and Spencer Pinkney (‘17) lost 8-5, and the #2 doubles of Mateo Gomez (‘19) and Andrey Samodaev (‘19) lost 8-4. A bright spot of the match was the performances of the young players, namely Nicola and Gomez, who both won their singles matches at #5 and #6 respectively. These performances were an encouraging sign for a team primarily comprised of first-years. “We obtained some valuable individual wins that add up to our confidence. In the future, we hope to further develop our skills and use the experience gained to bring success for Clark University,” said Nicola. They will play their next home match on Wednesday, April 27 against Coast Guard academy as they continue to gain NEWMAC experience.
All statistics courtesy of clarkathletics.com
The Scarlet
APRIL 22, 2016
sports | 11
COUGAR of the WEEK Scarlet: What got you started playing lacrosse? Pat: I started playing lacrosse in second grade. All my friends played and it was something to do. I wasn’t good at baseball, and lacrosse seemed like the right thing. Scarlet: How has your first year in college been? Anything in particular you weren’t prepared for? Pat: I think my first year is going pretty well. I definitely wasn’t prepared for the workload. Over time, I have become accustomed to it, and it just becomes routine. Scarlet: How has your first year on the lacrosse team been, anything noteworthy? Pat: I think the season’s going really well, besides the two overtime losses they were heart breaking. Other than that we‘ve been doing great I am hoping on making the NEWMAC conference finals. Scarlet: What were your expectations of the team before you started school? Pat: I was afraid they were going to be too much like stereotypical “lax bros.” I couldn’t be any more wrong, they are really kind and cool. They are really accepting of all the freshmen which is really great. I was really afraid we were going be hazed, but there was none of that. photo by steven castiglione
Pat Campbell men’s lacrosse Pat Campbell (‘19) hails from Duxbury, Mass. and is pursuing a pre-med track in biology. Campbell has only been on the team for a little bit, but has made huge strides in making a name for himself on the field as a formidable defenseman.
Scarlet: When you started to get to know the team and play with them were your expectations met? Pat: Definitely. I would even say they exceeded them. We have really come to mesh as a team. All the freshmen know the role they fill in order to achieve success. Scarlet: Which player has been the most impactful or influential on you? Pat: I can’t really say anyone in particular, everyone is in it for everyone else. We are all in it to win it. If I had to choose, I would say the captains: Pat Burke (‘16), Nick Johnson (‘17), Rob Holden (‘16), and Alex Turgeon (‘16). Scarlet: Being a first-year I imagine you are well acquainted with your fellow first-year teammates. In your opinion who is the funny guy, the most serious, and the most laid back among them? Pat: The funny guy is definitely Tyler Sullivan (‘19), he is an absolute goofball 24/7. Stuart [Bleck (‘19)] is super serious, we call him Crazy Stu cause he’s absolutely insane. The most laid back has to be Tyler Sullivan, yet again. He takes the cake. Scarlet: If you had to eat one meal everyday for the rest of your life what would it be? Pat: This is a tough one, but maybe spaghetti carbonara only if my grandma makes it. Every time she makes it it’s perfect and
by Steven Castiglione
everytime I eat it from somewhere else it’s awful. Scarlet: Do you have any hidden talents? Pat: I’d like to think I am a good singer, but I don’t think people will agree with me. Also I’m the best out of the freshman on the team at NHL 16. None of them can beat me. Scarlet: What’s your favorite song to sing out loud? Pat: Anything by Destiny’s Child, really. Scarlet: Do you have a thing for Beyoncé? Pat: Yeah, you can say that. Scarlet: If you had to be any animal what animal would it be, and why? Pat: Ooh! This is a tough one. Maybe a sea turtle because they live for a really long time and they get to travel through the ocean, I can see myself having a bunch of adventures. Scarlet: What is your favorite position to play in lacrosse? Pat: Either long stick middie or close defense. I’ve played them both for most of my career. Scarlet: If you could play another sport what would it be? Pat: Easily hockey. All my family plays hockey except me and my little brother. I have a special place in my heart for hockey. Scarlet: Is the training regime what you thought it would be? Pat: Yes, kind of it’s a little bit more of a commitment than I thought it was, but it’s not a problem for me. Scarlet: Do you have any pregame rituals? Pat: Before each Saturday home game, my roommate Eli [Zempsky (‘19)] and I go to Chipotle the night before. It seems to be working. Scarlet: If you had to choose between Chipotle and Moe’s what would you choose? Pat: 100% Chipotle, I think they have better ingredients. I’d like to look past the E. coli incident since I never got sick from them. I can respect going to Moe’s, though, since it’s cheaper. Pat: Do you prefer Chipotle or Moe’s? Scarlet: Easily Chipotle. Not a doubt in my mind. Thanks for the interview, Pat!
The Scarlet
12 | extras
Police Logs Compiled by Maria Rotelli Thursday, April 14 9:47 – Assisting Worcester Police with video footage of an incident. 12:32 – Caller reports a group of students on the roof of Maywood Hall. 14:32 – Officer looking to ID a student who interrupted a funeral procession. 14:38 – Units assisting WPD/WFD with a structure fire on Birch Street. 16:50 – Caller reports a loud party in the Maywood Street area. 17:26 – Caller reports a loud party in the Oliver Street area. 21:49 – Caller reports an aggressive panhandler in the Main Street area.
APRIL 22, 2016
What happens in The Scarlet office stays in The Scarlet office... sort of “I’m missing a period there. Damn my periods aren’t consistent.” – Giles “You should really start tracking them.” – Sarah “My family wears nametags at family reunions.” – Rose “We should have a pow–wow where we sit around and talk. That’s where we get the real good ideas.” – Scott “So I’m going to be living in the quiet house next year.” – Alex “Turn up! Oh wait, you can’t.” – Anna
Friday, April 15 0:14 – Units assisting WPD with a loud party on Dewey Street. 0:51 – Units assisting WPD with someone who threw a brick into a window on Charlotte Street. 19:09 – Caller reports people on dirt bikes driving recklessly down Beaver and Oliver Streets. 21:12 – Caller reports two parties attempting to get into the IDCE building.
“I saw my mistakes, I should have used less fire.” – Alex
Saturday, April 16 0:56 – WPD received a call of a disturbance in the Florence Street lot. 1:00 – Units out with individuals on top of the parking garage lighting hot air balloons. 4:14 – Parties removed from the Goddard Library. 15:59 – Caller reports an aggressive panhandler in the area by the UC. 23:45 – Units out with a loud party in the Beaver Street area.
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Giles.” – Sarah
Sunday, April 17 1:07 – Caller reports an intoxicated female in the Bistro spitting in food containers. Monday, April 18 12:50 – Caller reports a male party on Downing Street attempting to open vehicles. 15:29 – Units assisting WPD with gunshots in the Illinois Street area, no reported injuries.
“Can I leave my balls in the office?” – Scott “Can I write this verbatim or am I plagiarizing?” – Sarah “Our office is like Google. We’re cool, I can play hackey sack [throws hackey sack against a wall].” – Scott
“Recaps are my favorite sport I like to know what happened on the tennis court Whether it’s a win, or a loss I cover baseball, softball, and some lacrosse I like women’s rowing when it’s in the lake 200 words is all it takes I like the interviews, I like reporting news Cause it’s recaps, y’all, RECAPS LET’S GO!” – Scott “I am so excited for the new Ariana Grande album... She sings so nice. And is hot.” – Chris