HEMPSTEAD, NY VOL. 81 Issue 13
The Hofstra
Chronicle
Tuesday March 8, 2016
KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935
Expanded Takata recall revives memory of grad student By Laurel O’Keefe ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
A massive recall of Takata airbags, due to lethal explosions upon inflation, expanded last week as Toyota recalled another 198,000 vehicles in the U.S. Honda has been most effected however, and expanded their list of models in February resulting in more than 2.2 million cars recalled, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall that originally targeted 2008-2010 Hondas, now encapsulates autos as new as 2016. Jewel Brangman, a former graduate student at Hofstra University, was the eighth death caused by metal shrapnel from an exploding Takata airbag in a
rented 2001 Honda Civic after an accident on Sept. 7, 2014 in Los Angeles County. She was 26 years old when the malfunction took her life. The impact from the accident, a minor four car fender bender, led to an explosion from the driver’s side airbag that caused Brangman’s fatal injuries. Brangman’s death was the only one to come of the four-car accident and despite roughly 38 million airbag recalls issued by Takata, it was “the first to be linked to a defective Takata airbag in a rental car,” according to carcomplaints.com. Since the accident, Honda has admitted that the company was made aware of the defect in 2004 but did not recall cars until 2008. Still, the majority of the recalls
came in the summer of 2015. Shortly after her death, a lawsuit was filed by Brangman’s father, Alexander Brangman. The Chronicle attempted to reach out to Brangman’s family but was unable to find sufficient contact information. In an interview with CBS news after the accident, Alexander Brangman recalled her final moments, “She was at this particular event earlier and she texted me a picture like she always did,” Brangman said to CBS news. “She said, ‘I love my life.’ She said, ‘I love my life.’” The family’s attorney released a statement detailing the lawsuit.
Continued on A2
Photo Courtesy of CBS Jewel Brangman, pictured with her father, Alexander Brangman. Jewell was 26 years old when she was lost her life due to an airbag explosion on Sep. 7, 2014.
WSJ columnist gives lecture on U.S. foreign policy
By Marie Haaland STAFF WRITER
For this year’s Donald J. Sutherland Lecture, Bret Stephens, who is currently a foreign affairs columnist for the Wall Street Journal, outlined his view of the United States’ current role in foreign affairs at the Guthart Cultural Center Theater on Wednesday, March 2. Stephens started the lecture by talking about the years 2011 and 2012, when many people believed the world was moving in a positive direction. Phrases like, “the tide of war is receding” and we “left Iraq stable and secure” populated the news cycle, but Stephens was skeptical that this would last. President Obama’s foreign policy has been to redraw and retreat because he felt we were overextended in Iraq and lost resources in Afghanistan. Stephens used the 1920s and 30s as examples of what happens when the U.S. retreats from war.
He said even when we as a known as country tried to disengage from broken windows the world, the world did not leave policing. us alone. Instead, Stephens said Stephens the dangers of the world became claims that if the so great it was hard for us to U.S. has troops surmount. in countries Sophomore political science abroad, it would major Kenneth Mulvena, said, provide a sense “The first thing I took from the of security to lecture was that [Stephens] was the people in an intelligent man and makes the country by a good argument for a more showing that aggressive foreign policy.” someone is Stephens strongly disagrees there to enforce with the idea of isolating the U.S. the law. from the rest of the world. Instead, Antonio he believes the U.S. should be Grillo, a the world’s police force. He used sophomore the analogy of a broken window journalism to explain why this would be major, said, “I beneficial. do not think that Committing a small crime, America being like breaking a car window, then the world’s allows for more serious crimes to policeman is be committed, such Jesse Saunders/The Chronicle as taking everything out of the car. Continued on a4 Bret Stephens talks at the 2016 Donald J. Sutherland Lecture in the Guthart Cultural Center Theater This is a concept on Wednesday, March 2.
NEWS
A 2 • march 8, 2016
The Chronicle
Attorney speaks on interpersonal violence
By Casey Lamkin STAFF WRITER
As part of the Women’s Leadership Conference Keynote Address, Anne Munch, an attorney with 27 years of experience working as a prosecutor and an educator in the area of domestic violence and sexual assault, spoke about interpersonal violence on Friday, March 4. Munch explained that most people who work in the field of domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy do so because they, or someone they know, have experienced it; however, Munch’s reason is different. Back in Colorado, her home state, she worked as an intern at a family crisis center. Children were moved to the center after being taken out of their homes due to abuse and violence. It was Munch’s job to make the kid’s days a little brighter. She told the story of one child in particular. “It was a day like any other day, but on this day I was approached by a police officer,” Munch said. The police officer allowed her to read the reports on the child, after which Munch thought, “I don’t know what I’m going to be when I grow up, but it’s going to be something that helps [children like this].” She knew at that point she wanted to have some impact on interpersonal violence. Among the many things that Munch does, one is managing a statewide project that focuses on ending violence and is
facilitating specialized programs positive message to share. “She’s called “Fast Track Strategy for an influential person and she Domestic Violence Charges.” brought a lot of different perspecMunch also used to work on the tives to common and current matsexual assault case against Kobe ters, and spoke on what we need Bryant. to be doing as women in our “What surprises me after all society to prevent these things those years of prosecuting cases, from happening.” as long as I’ve been doing this Munch gave visuals displaywork, domestic violence has ing women and men how they’re been the leading crime against portrayed in the media. Dolce & women,” Munch said. Gabbana had multiple advertiseThe two misconceptions that ments of women being she aims to eradicate are that surrounded and women who dress a certain way held down by are asking for it, and that all men groups are the same and that society of men. projects an extremely low opinion of them as a gender. Munch feels it’s important that people recognize that both men and women are guilty of having these perceptions; she believes Photo Courtesy: The Hilltop Times it’s just as offensive to men as it is to women to Headlines of newspapers showed have preconceived notions about detectives and sheriffs being a person based on their gender charged with violence against or clothing. their own wives. Ava Danville, assistant director “Millions of women pick up the of the Career Center, said, “The magazine and absorb the meskeynote was excellent and on sages without even realizing it. point for touching on important Do they have an impact?” Munch issues of both men and women asked. “And my guess is, how both needing to be conscious of.” could they not?” Sunaina Batra, a junior marketShe displayed a quote that ing major, felt that Munch had a explained her issue with the
media. “Fish don’t know they’re in water.” This visual presentation branched into her lesson on objectification. Amy Smith, the associate director of external relations in the Career Center, helped coordinate the event. “I think the turnout was great and I was especially pleased to see so many Hofstra professionals. Discussing issues surrounding women as they go through their careers, professionals and students showing up alike is important. I really think that sent a great message about how Hofstra, as a whole, feels,” she said. Munch’s closing statement was a list of four things she would like for people to do. “Take a look at your own ideas and biases, because I promise you have your own. Learn how to find a voice that can be heard and step in for people who are being abused in one way or another. Seek out mentors who represent the very best parts of what you want to become and begin practice of self-care now. Violence is the ugliest part of our culture and that’s why I do what I do.”
Continued from a1 “On April 21, 2015, Panish Shea & Boyle LLP filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Takata, Honda, and other defendants in connection with the death of 26-year-old Jewel Brangman who died following an otherwise survivable motor vehicle accident when the driver’s side air bag in her rental car defectively deployed causing a severe laceration to her neck and brain injury,” the statement said. Despite both Honda and Takata issuing condolences to Brangman’s family, the rental
graduate degree in communications with a minor in economics from SUNY Cortland in upstate New York, according to her blog. She was in the process of pursuing a M.A. at Hofstra’s School of Communication. She served as the managing editor of the Long Island Report, a student-run multimedia news outlet at Hofstra, and dedicated advocacy efforts to combatting cyberbullying, according to her WordPress site. “In the future, I would like to work for nonprofits in providing a voice for those who are rendered voiceless in our society,” Brangman said in a blog post. “This project has taught me
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203 Student Center (516) 463-6921 Editor-in-Chief Lauren del Valle Managing Editor Kyle Kandetzki Business Manager Kristen Rodriguez News Editor Michael Ortiz Assistant News Editors Danny Nikander Laurel O’Keefe Entertainment Editor Brianna Holcomb
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Mohammad Muzammal
Sports Editors Mike Rudin Kevin Carroll Assistant Sports Editor PJ Potter @Hofstra Editor Janet Lee
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Assistant Editorial Editor
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Copy Chiefs Che Sullivan Medea Giordano
Airbag recalls linked to lethal explosions company Brangman used, Sunset Car Rental in Otay Mesa, California, never released a statement regarding her death. In the coverage of her case, The New York Times reported that Honda said, “Although the car had been under recall since 2009, its owners never got it fixed.” The New York Times also reported that, “Companies are not required to repair used or rental cars that are under recall before they sell or rent them. They are also not required to disclose to customers that the vehicle has been recalled.” Brangman received an under-
The
how many lives can be changed for the good when people join together to make their voices heard. I would like to utilize my writing skills in advancing arguments in social justice matters.” Takata airbags have been tied to nine deaths and additional severe injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has listed “approximately 28 million vehicles from 14 auto manufacturers involved in the recall.” With a 48.2 percent repair completion rate as of Jan. 5, 2016, Honda acknowledges that the recall mishap could take years to mend.
Photo Editor Jesse Saunders Social Media Manager Kimberly Gazdek The Chronicle is published every Tuesday during the academic year by the students of Hofstra University. The Chronicle is located in Room 203 Student Center, 200 Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y. 11549. Advertising and subscription rates may be obtained by calling (516) 463-6921. The Chronicle reserves the right to reject any submission, in accordance with our written policies. All advertising which may be considered fraudulent, misleading, libelous or offensive to the University community, The Chronicle or its advertisers may be refused. The products and opinions expressed within advertisement are not endorsed by The Chronicle or its staff.
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The Chronicle
March 8, 2016 •A 3
Queer activist shares her experiences as a trans woman
By Marie Haaland STAFF WRITER
As a part of the Seeking Purpose series, Hofstra invited writer and queer activist Jennifer Finney Boylan to the Cultural Center Theater on Thursday, March 3, to share advice and life lessons drawn from her own experiences as a transgender woman who transitioned when she was 40 years old. Boylan is the author of 13 books, including “She’s Not There,” the first best selling book by an openly transgender American. She is a college professor, contributor to the “New York Times” op-ed section and is the national co-chair of the board of directors of Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the LGBT media advocacy organization. Boylan’s presentation started with her reading a short story she wrote called “In the Early Morning Rain.” The story described how hard it was to be transgender before transitioning. “I stayed in a motel one night that was officially closed for the season, but which the operator let me stay in for half price,” she said. “I opened my suitcase and put on my bra and some jeans and a blue knit top. I combed my hair out and looked in the mirror
and saw a perfectly normallooking young woman. This is so wrong? I said to myself in the mirror. This is the cause of all the trouble?” Boylan realized she was a woman from the age of five or six, but felt that living her authentic life came at too high of a price. She met her wife Deedie during college and said being with her was more important than anything else. However the feelings of being trans persisted, and now Boylan had two internal struggles: She was trans and she was keeping a secret from her wife. They were married for 12 years as husband as wife and they are still married today. For those who weren’t so sure, Boylan covered definitions for some of the common terms under the queer umbrella. However, she explained the difficulty in defining someone’s gender or sexuality, so there are always going to be exceptions. She also discussed how it is imperative to use someone’s correct pronouns. Graduate public relations student Ashley Zachariah found this part of the presentation especially helpful. “I thought [the pronouns] were really interesting, because it’s really weird how exactly you call someone.” Boylan focused on more than
just issues that affect the trans community. She gave life advice for everyone, no matter what they identify as. When asked what she hoped people could take away from her presentation, she said, “One, I hope people have a better sense of the range of transgender identity. That’s good work to do, but more importantly, that I hope people will find the courage to become themselves, whether they’re trans or gay or cis or anything else.” “I thought it was just very inspiring,” Zachariah said of the speech overall. “There are different ways you can look at a situation and just the way that she talks about her situation, it was so positive.” Chad Freeman, the assistant director of intercultural engagement and inclusion, said, “I would hope that they would take away inspiration to be more brave, to be who they are and to open their experiences – open the desire to learn about other people’s experiences and also more empathy towards folks who may have a different identity than themselves. And think about things like privilege and about gender in different ways. I know I’ve been speaking to a couple students who hadn’t thought about gender beyond the cisgender binary and there’s so
much more to it.” Boylan said, “I hope that people will realize that the journey to become yourself isn’t something that happens in a day, or a week,
or a month, and it’s a lifelong journey, and it takes courage, but it also takes love, and a sense of humor.”
Marie Haaland/The Chronicle Jennifer Finney Boylan talked about her experiences as a transgender woman at the Guthart Cultural Center Theater on Thursday, March 3.
NEWS
A 4 • march 8, 2016
The Chronicle
Humanitarian addresses Syrian refugee crisis
By Katie Krahulik STAFF WRITER
In an effort to address the refugee crisis that has crippled Syria and burdened surrounding nations, David Wildman, a direct witness of the events occurring overseas, came to Hofstra on Tuesday, March 1 to talk about his experiences meeting with four different Syrian refugee groups in Lebanon and Jordan. Wildman explained that with close to 11 million refugees, humanitarians are faced with an overwhelming dilemma. “The crisis with refugees today exists because there is no will to put people first, whether it’s the United States or Russian government or even the Europeans,” Wildman said. During his address, Wildman discussed the main problems with the current refugee crisis and suggested potential solutions that he asked the audience to consider.
He explained that the main issues in Syria revolve around four central concepts. “These are the rights of refugees to stay, safe passage for refugees, the welcoming of host neighboring communities and the right for refugees to return,” Wildman said. He described the following as the best options for civil resolution. “A cease fire allows for at least small amounts of humanitarian aid, but people don’t think it works because it’s not ongoing. The cease fire has to be longer.” Wildman also suggested negotiation tactics. “We need to get the right people at the table, people who are willing to end the fight,” he said. As for funding, he said “These people are suffering from malnutrition, and so we need to press the government to fully fund folks on the ground.” During the Q&A session, a student asked how college
students could help the effort. Wildman responded by saying, “Keep speaking out, put op-eds in student papers and talk about it.” One student asked, “How can students combat the fear of refugees?” To which Wildman responded, “It’s easy to fear people who are different. When there are fearmongers running for office, vote for someone else who breaks these barriers of fear because politicians have often found that fear gets them votes.” Students enrolled in Hofstra’s terrorism classes and seminars are currently learning about the victimization and condemnation of refugees in the Syrian area. Johannes Sorto, a senior political science major, was impacted by Wildman’s speech, admitting his realization that there is more to the issue than meets the eye. “I mean, I didn’t know, for example, how many refugees there are and that there is a
Journalist offers opinion on politics and policy Continued from A1 catastrophe for everyone.” Stephens ended the lecture with six pieces of advice for the next president. First, realize the distinction between morals and moralizing foreign policy. Second, do not assume the world thinks or operates like America does; other countries have people with different interests than us. Third, the Vegas rule – what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas – has no applicability to foreign policy. Fourth, it’s more advantageous to pick a side than to stay neutral. Fifth, understand the paradox of weakness, which is to say that economic problems will cause a country to become more
risk averse. And sixth, the next president should focus on their nightmares, not on their dreams. He has strong opinions about the presidential candidates. Stephens said, “Donald Trump is incoherent, when he’s not outright
heartened by the large number of people in the room, and particularly pleased with the sophisticated questions asked by Hofstra students. Several pushed him to clarify his claims, and I thought he took their questions seriously.”
“Donald Trump is incoherent, when he’s not outright scary on the subject of foreign policy.” scary on the subject of foreign policy. I would say that Hillary Clinton’s record as secretary of state was not a particularly inspiring one. And Bernie Sanders seems to be frighteningly naive about how the world works.” Dean of Honors College Warren Frisina said, “While I didn’t agree with many of the assumptions made by the speaker, I was
differentiation between those that are right outside of Syria and those that are in Syria, and that most of them are in Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Europe,” Sorto said. Freshman Ziad Al Zayer was born and raised in the Middle East. He is a native of Saudi Arabia and he spent a few years living in Bahrain. He said he was already aware of the refugee crisis and it is a well-known problem in the Middle East. “There are many refugees trying to escape Syria because of the ongoing civil war,” Al Zayer said. “It is based on religious differences between the Shia and the Sunni. These are things that most people in Saudi have a general grasp of.” Dr. Martin Melkonian, a professor of economics, helped coordinate the event. He addressed the important role that these types of lectures play in students’ education. “In general, it’s a good idea
for students to hear these experts who have had extensive experience outside of textbooks and the classroom,” said Melkonian. “This particular man has traveled throughout the Middle East and Afghanistan. He’s written books about what’s going on there. So, I think it’s important to get that eyewitness view of things.” Melkonian and his colleagues discovered Wildman at another lecture where he spoke about Afghanistan. It was at this event that Melkonian was exposed to Wildman’s “diplomatic, nonmilitary perspective,” an angle which he feels should be brought to the classroom. “I think it gives students a different way of considering things,” Melkonian said. “You hear these people who say, ‘Let’s go in there and bomb and fight,’ but [Wildman] was saying maybe there are some situations where instead, we can sit down and talk about it over a cup of tea.”
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NEWS
The Chronicle
March 8, 2016 •A A5
Appropriations Mid-Semester Report
SGA WEEKLY
Meeting
Requested
Allocated
Percent Allocated
Meeting 1
$20,499.94
$13,215.04
64.46%
Meeting 2
$38,404.93
$9,737.29
25.35%
Meeting 3
$8,985.61
$5,670.00
63.10%
Meeting 4
$28,994.24
$11,656.86
40.20%
Meeting 5
$7,216.12
$5,669.01
78.56%
Totals
$104,100.84
$45,948.20
44.14%
• H 2O for Life (Help to Others for Life) was denied SGA recognition in a vote of 1-17-3. • During SGA Student Appreciation Week, 1,038 undergrad students were asked about their experiences at Hofstra; the results are as follows: »» 67 percent of the students that were polled believe that to improve their experience at Hofstra, a change must occur in one of the following categories: food, parking, events/spirit, library/study space or residence halls. »» 42 percent of the students polled are unhappy with their dining experience but believe it can be improved if prices are lowered, additional food options are provided, or if the hours of operation were extended. • SGA passed a vote to amend the spring 2016 referendum questions for the SGA at the Corner event, on the topic of the smoking ban and a bike share program.
WRAP-UP Compiled by Casey Lamkin
Public Safety Briefs Compiled by Danny Nikander On Feb. 27 at 1:10 a.m., PS responded to a fire alarm in Quincy House. During their search of the building, they discovered the odor of marijuana coming from a room. After the fire alarm was restored, three students returned. One student admitted to smoking in the dorm and all three were issued referrals to the Office of Community Standards. On Feb. 28 at 1:40 a.m., a night shuttle driver reported a student who threw a beer bottle at the shuttle. PS responded, apprehended the student and issued a referral to the Office of Community Standards. There was no damage to the night shuttle. On Feb. 28 at 9:30 p.m., an
RSR in Alliance Hall reported a Hofstra student who piggybacked through the turnstile with another student into the building. The student who piggybacked was issued a referral to the Office of Community Standards. On March 2 at 12:15 p.m., a student reported to PS that the passenger side of her car was struck on Feb. 26 in the Alliance Hall parking lot. There were no witnesses and police assistance was declined. On March 3 between 7:15 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., the credit cards of a campus dining manager were reportedly stolen from their clothes, which were stored in their locker in the Student Center. No other items were stolen from them. The manager
declined police assistance and notified their credit card company. On March 3 at 8:45 p.m., a student reported she was being harassed by her ex-friend, a former Hofstra student. The person reportedly came to the girl’s room and harassed her. The student asked for the suspect to be banned from campus. An investigation is currently underway. On March 3, PS received a report of the odor of marijuana coming from a room in Hague House. PS responded and knocked on the door, to which no one answered. PS entered the room and found it unoccupied. The officers found two pipes with marijuana residue along with two grinders. The students returned
to the dorm amid the search and admitted to smoking in the dorm. The paraphernalia was confiscated and both students were issued referrals to the Office of Community Standards.
Key PS - Public Safety RSR- Resident Safety Representative
A6 • March 8, 2016
@HOFSTRA
The Chronicle
Overheard @Hofstra Compiled by the Hofstra Chronicle staff In New Academic Builidng: Guy: I know people who have taken eye and ear shots. Then, they were complaining how they were feeling sick. Like, really?
In the Breslin Hall: Girl 1: I literally need a shock collar for when I do stupid things because I love to sabotage myself.
In the Unsipan: Guy: Who thought it was a good idea to have that as a f****** mascot for Burger King?
In the Student Center: Girl: How was your day? Guy: Just one more day closer to retirement ... and death.
In the Netherlands Core: Girl: I think you have such a pessimistic view on America.
In Bits and Bytes: Girl: Guys, my entire toenail just fell off. I haven’t stubbed my toe recently so I’m very confused. I took my sock off and it just came off.
In Bill of Rights Hall: Girl: How satisfying is it when you poop more than once a day? In Bits and Bytes: Girl: Just like honestly so in disbelief of adult dating.
In the Au Bon Pain: Girl: I need to send positive hair vibes the week of my senior portrait.
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Horoscopes: March toward the stars and the moon By Rachel Tyler STAFF WRITER
Aries (March 21-April 19) - A snap decision might lead you to regrets. Take some time to think through your choices before making them. Remember that this is a busy time of year – you do not want to stress yourself out by being in a rush. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Do not stress about money; you may have a big break around the corner. Embrace your ideas and don’t be afraid to take risks. They can lead you to your next big success. Gemini (May 21-June 20) You are not a fan of being alone. Go out of your way to bring people together. Your ability to form friendships is something people find comforting. Cancer (June 21- July 29) - It is time you follow your gut. You are always seeking advice from others for guidance and support;
take life into your own hands and trust in yourself. Only you know what is best for you. Leo (July 30-August 22) - The future is bright for you. It is important to stay organized and concentrated in order to see your goals become a reality. Virgo (Aug.23September 22) Embrace all relationships in your life. Friends and family will help to make your dreams come true. Thank them for having your back and always giving their support.
Libra (September 23October 22) - You are letting a problem with a loved one interfere with your happiness. Confront the issue and share your true feelings. It is OK to admit you are wrong. You will thank yourself for resolving the problem, and a better relationship will result. Scorpio (October 23November 21) - It is time to step out of your comfort zone. Try something new. You may be shocked when you find a love for something
more adventurous than you are used to. Sagittarius (November 22December 21) - You dream of being successful but are afraid to take a chance. Find support in others who have similar dreams and don’t be afraid to take risks. You will be surprised by what you can learn from others. Capricorn (December 22January 19) - You might get overwhelmed with time management issues. Do not be afraid that you are going to run out of time to complete your to-do list; take some time to enjoy some fresh air and clear your head. You will be more productive and less overwhelmed when you return. Pisces (February 19- March 20) - Fears have been holding you back. Do not get intimidated – confront them! Stop cutting yourself short because you are afraid. Tackle your fear and start conquering the world.
The Chronicle
@HOFSTRA
By Kaeli Van Cott
like respecting and worshiping nature can be found throughout all of Japan. I paid a visit to Nara Park, a public park that is home to hundreds of wild deer that roam freely and interact with the visitors. These deer are taken care of by the government and fed by locals daily. The
March 8, 2016 •
A7
Letters from the Pacific: A peek into Japan’s culture
STAFF WRITER
Japanese culture is rooted in tradition and what their ancestors started centuries before, yet it is still modern and expanding in technology and innovation. The hybrid of tradition and modernity in Japan makes any visit there an
interesting blend of old and new, with an ever-present, uniquely Japanese vibe. The religious roots of Japan can be found everywhere because of the abundance of both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Although Buddha is widely revered, Shinto ideas
deer actually bow as a sign of respect to visitors and have real relationships with humans. Respect for the environment also extends into everyday Japanese life. There are rarely garbage cans on the streets of the largest cities because it is understood that any trash should be disposed of at home. If someone is drinking or eating something, it is normally consumed in one sitting and the garbage is disposed of immediately afterward. Otherwise, people hold onto their trash because littering is unheard of. Interaction from person to person is typically very friendly, and people bow constantly as a sign of respect. Like New York, people mainly keep to themselves when commuting, but if a foreigner like myself needs help or directions, anyone is willing to help. In many of my interactions, people led me to where I needed to go or directed me to someone who could help. Some people on Semester at Sea have even had locals travel with them on train rides to
ensure that they reached their destination safely. Japan has moved forward into more modern thinking while still maintaining its values. The country is inclusive in its entertainment and activities, and rarely seems to restrict any age group from participating in social activities. Tons of arcades can be found on the streets, yet they are not designated for children or families alone. People of all ages are open to participate, and I even saw some older adults playing crane games and winning stuffed animals. Anime and publications like manga are typically not reserved for a certain age group and instead reach a large audience. The people I met while visiting Japan really helped me to see and understand the values that are practiced there as a society, which gives the country a feeling of togetherness. Whether I was zooming around in a taxi in the city or walking through a temple in the peaceful woods, culture could be found anywhere if you just took a closer look.
Paramount Studios tour. It’s a great trip for anyone interested in entertainment. It helps you grow
your network and make valuable connections that you could use throughout your whole career.
Hofstra in LA: Network your way to success Kaeli Van Cott/ The Chronicle
By Isabela Jacbosen STAFF WRITER
From NYC to LA, the opportunities are endless! The Hofstra in LA program gives communication majors the chance to see the heart of the entertainment world, and create lifelong contacts at the companies of their dreams. As a public relations major interested in entertainment PR, participating in the Hofstra in LA program was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made at Hofstra. The days are filled with meetings with the coolest professionals in the business. These professionals, who are all Hofstra alumni, not only have tons of valuable advice to share, but are also incredibly excited to help us current students out.
We visited “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “CNN,” Activision Blizzard, Dick Clark Productions and many more studios. The professionals from these companies took time out of their busy lives to give us tours, set up meetings, hold a Q&A and even gave us their business cards so we could stay in touch. After this trip, you’ll have a whole network of successful professionals at your fingertips. It’s a great way to get insight on your favorite companies, the entertainment world and get an idea of what life on the West Coast is like. As someone who had never been to California, it was the perfect introduction. I swore to myself I would never betray my beloved New York City, but after this trip, I fell in love with the Cali
sun and lifestyle, like pretty much everyone told me I would. One of my favorite parts of the trip was the panel of alumni, many of whom had graduated only a few years ago. The panel was filled with an overwhelming amount of support, encouragement and genuine advice about careers and moving to LA. They offered a helping hand and made us all feel more comfortable and excited about our potential future on the West Coast. The experience was something I will never forget. It made me feel excited to graduate in May and made my network grow a ton. Our stay at the Oakwood was beyond beautiful and comfortable, plus we finished the trip off with the most amazing
Isabela Jacobsen/ The Chronicle
A8 • March 8, 2016
@HOFSTRA
The Chronicle
Man on the Unispan What has been your favorite college expereince so far?
By Brianna Ciniglio STAFF WRITER
“The Grand Design Challenge where we got to showcase our [engineering] work.”
“Winter break.” Andrew Marti, Freshman
“Taking classes.” Yuyao Huang, Freshman
“[Going to the] Student Game Center.” Zhai Yuting, Junior
“I like going to the basketball games.” Marina Hatzi, Sophomore
“The parties.” Travis Fuller, Senior
Photos by Sarah Kocher
The Chronicle
@HOFSTRA
March 8, 2016 •
A9
The Humans of Hofstra
By Jordan Laird STAFF WRITER
Hannah Hayes, Freshman “I’m a feminist because I’m a decent human being. First of all, everyone should be. From an activist point of view, which I am, I consider myself to be. That’s one of the reasons I’m a journalism major. Women are at a disadvantaged point in society and they shouldn’t be. And feminism is inclusive to women of color and trans women and all of those kinds of things. Feminism is the belief that all genders should be on an equal level of socio-economicpolitical equality and they’re not right now. It’s the movement I relate most personally to. I consider myself a social activist so I like to be a part of the Black Lives Matter movement and LGBTQ issues. But I’m not of color and I’m not a part of the LGBTQ community. I don’t like to play favorites but I think feminism ties a lot of other issues together. Last semester was not a good semester for me, not because of Hofstra or anything. I was in a major that wasn’t right for me. I was majoring in biology. I love science and science is really cool, but I didn’t like practicing it. I realized I didn’t want to do it for the rest of my life. I just felt like I didn’t want to be in my classes ever. I wasn’t enjoying myself and I wasn’t motivated. This semester I’m in journalism classes and I’m working for the radio station. I’m excited about being happy with the direction my life is going in. Which is nice; it’s just a nice change.”
Brandon Higgins, Freshman “[I have] these necklaces [but] I’m not actually religious. You’ve got Mary and Jesus but it’s more sentimental just like my ring. I didn’t buy them; it’s a generational thing. Especially because all of these, except this necklace, that’s my mother’s side, Polish, but the rest of it is the Italian side, my father’s side. You know, the Italians are very close with family. This necklace is a cornicello. Most people say they think it’s a chili pepper because that’s what it looks like. But it’s a cornicello, it’s Italian good luck because it’s supposed to protect against malocchio, the evil eye. All I know: It’s another Italian heirloom. Unfortunately I’m the only sibling that celebrates my heritage. I was very close with my grandparents. My grandmother’s 100 percent Italian, the whole nine yards. I enjoy it, but my brothers and sisters, not really. They’re just mutts in their eyes. I grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey, right over Gothels. As soon as you cross the Gothels, you’re in Elizabeth. It’s not really Italian anymore. But it was predominantly Italian where I grew up. We knew everybody on the block, my grandma walked around cursing in Italian, the whole nine yards. There was never a lack of food. You would not leave the table until you ate everything off that plate.”
Genesis Rivera, Freshman “I have a lot of insomnia and I don’t go to sleep until like 4 o’clock in the morning. I usually stay up watching Netflix or reading something until four and then I have classes at 10. So my sleep schedule’s been off since I came back and I haven’t been able to get back on it. I’m tired in most of my classes and I have to go back to my dorm sometimes and take a nap in the middle of the day. I’ve always been interested in politics and I’m planning on going to law school. I want to be a civil rights lawyer. I’ve always been a proponent for equality on all sides so fighting for that and arguing for that has always been a passion of mine. Ideally I’d love to argue cases in front of the Supreme Court but we’ll see. I know I used to watch a lot of “Law & Order” as a kid and maybe that seeped into my brain a little bit. I don’t know, it’s just always been there. My dad is a role model for me. He was always pushing for me to become a lawyer since he realized that was what I wanted to do. And I really love Sonia Sotomayor. When she got into the Supreme Court, that was a huge win for Hispanics across America like me. Being Hispanic has influenced my desire to be a lawyer a lot because a lot of times Hispanics kind of get kicked aside as being a part of the “Mexican undocumented” group. But there are so many other kinds of Hispanics and most of us have papers. So you get a lot of discrimination. And a lot of the discussion is focused on black and white and you never really get the shade of brown perspective. That’s always been a problem for me.” Photos by Jordan Laird Photos by Jordan Laird
Hofstra Men’s Lacrosse v. New Jersey Institute of Technology
19 - 4 Hofstra Win Spread by Jesse Saunders / Photos by Cam Keough
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Hofstra celebrates annual Irish festival
Photo courtesy of Peter Soucy
By Jake Pellegrino STAFF WRITER
The sights and sounds of the Irish culture filled the air of the Mack Physical Education Center on Sunday, Mar 6. Irish soda bread, beer, corned beef and cabbage and of course, plenty of green were all part of the University’s annual Irish Experience Festival, now in its 18th year. Tony Jackson, who has served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event since its inception, stated that his favorite aspect of the festival is “seeing the same people year after year and how it forms a nice community of Irish Long Islanders.” Jackson also spoke about the evolution of the festival.
It started out in the Mack Exhibition Center as a simple way to commemorate St. Patrick in the beginning of March every year, but then needed to move to a larger location to accommodate more people. As MC, his job entails announcing and introducing the musical acts and making sure they keep on schedule and stay organized. Prior to joining the Irish Festival staff, he was a host of “Irish Country,” which was WRHU’s longest running show. Many vendors came to the campus to sell traditional Irish clothing, silverware and souvenirs. Rachel Gwyn, of Rachel’s Celtic Treasures, could be found selling Irish soda bread mix, Irish four-leaf clover ties and Irish candles.
She said that while she has experience with other Irish festivals in her home state of New Jersey, this is her first time at Hofstra’s and she especially appreciated the fact that the event is indoors and that they have a booth to trace your Irish family genealogy. At said booth, the Irish Family History Forum were setting up maps, where visitors could track their family history by seeing in which region of Ireland their last name is dominant. Flyers were available to those interested in attending the organization’s monthly meetings, which are held at the Bethpage Public Library, currently housing 400 members. The organization frequently hosts guest speakers and uses the meetings to research Irish records with the ultimate goal being to afford people the opportunity to track their family history and create a family tree. They also have a social aspect, since all members have a common interest in genealogy. Several student groups were also in attendance, such as WRHU who were there to promote their two Irishthemed programs: “Long Ireland” and “That’s How I Spell Ireland.” A very enthusiastic WRHU member, Bradley Clarke said that although he is not Irish himself, he would love to be because he loves the culture and music. The pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta was also there selling crafts for children in an effort to raise money for “The Innocence Project,” an organization that is committed to exonerating wrongly incarcerated individuals. The Hofstra community looks forward to other festivals later in the year, such as the Dutch Fesival, held on May 7, and the Italian Festival, typically held in early September, to celebrate all the many cultures that are as diverse as the University itself.
‘Joy’ looks at happiness through knitting By Brianna Holcomb ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
The Chronicle/ Jesse Saunders A look at the knitted piece in “Joy”
Knitting has always been thought of as a relaxing and joyous activity. Hayley Blomquist takes the idea of knitting to a whole new level in her gallery “Joy.” Blomquist’s gallery is not a series of pictures, videos or even pieces of knitting. Nothing hangs on the wall of the gallery but her piece can be found spread across the floor as well as part of the wall of the gallery. “Joy” is a 25-by-20-foot knit textile completely made up of paper towels held together by their own intricate workings. The piece lies across the entire floor of the gallery. Its appearance comes off as a giant stiff blanket, something that one would imagine using to cover the floor of a room in order to make the space easier to sleep on. It snakes across the floor, making the gallery look as though construction had taken place in the room and the material used took over. Blomquist brings an alternative look to the world of art with this gallery. Many of the artists featured in the gallery have
used multiple ways to express the things around them. Blomquist uses her art to express what joy is to her. The intertwining of the paper towels represents the feeling of joy. “Joy is a process, a continual thread. Joy is finding comfort in the uncomfortable, finding happy in the mundane,” Blomquist said. “Joy” is a gallery that sticks out in the viewer’s mind. It’s a unique idea of what joy really is to the person experiencing the feeling. The notion of a series of events or moments intertwined within each other is the basic idea behind this gallery. An idea that we can all relate to. The “Joy” gallery can be found in Calkins Hall.
Cover: FORM Show by Hayley Blomquist
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Video Game Review: ‘Far Cry Primal’ By Rob Dolen STAFF WRITER
“Far Cry Primal” is familiar ground for fans of the “Far Cry” series, but stands on its own as a relatively fun experience aside from a pretty basic campaign. “Far Cry Primal” is an open world, firstperson action game set in 10,000 BCE. The player takes on the role of Takkar, the beast master of the Wenja tribe. After a hunt gone wrong, Takkar finds himself alone in the province of Oros, a fictional place based on prehistoric Central Europe. After meeting up with several Wenja tribesmen, Takkar is tasked with rebuilding the Wenja tribe in Oros and defending the village against the cannibalistic Udam tribe. The player meets many different characters that can enhance Takkar’s abilities and weapons, strengthen your tribe and expand your village. What’s typically par for the course in the “Far Cry” series is virtually removed from “Far Cry Primal,” but it doesn’t detract from
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the experience. Without any guns, vehicles or wingsuits, the player feels much more down to Earth and vulnerable, creating an authentically difficult experience. Reduced to just a bow and arrows, a spear and a club, weapons never give you an advantage over your enemies. The gameplay is nearly identical to “Far Cry 3” and “4” as you march through the world, liberating bonfires (the stone-age euphemism for outposts) and exploring the extra locations in between. The player also gains items and resources throughout the world that are used to craft better and stronger equipment. This all adds up to gaining experience, which is once again implemented into a skill-acquisition system that adds different mechanics to the game that enhance your experience as you maneuver throughout Oros. “Far Cry Primal” also features the supernatural motifs that the series is known for, featuring many different escapades from normal gameplay centered around a specific beast, which in turn teaches you the
ability to tame a specific animal. The “Far Cry Primal” story is a bit lacking in comparison to the rest of the series as it attempts to move away from mostly linear storytelling. The player doesn’t really learn anything substantial about Takkar, other than that he can tame animals and is a good-guy
protagonist. The basic synopsis of “Far Cry Primal” is that Takkar and the Wenja tribe are fighting for dominance over the Udam tribe. Most of the filler in between is uninteresting and forgettable. Nevertheless, these plot shortfalls take a back seat to the violently satisfying combat of “Far Cry Primal.”
Photo Courtesy of wccftech.com
B 4 •March 8, 2016
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The Chronicle
FORM Gallery: ‘Untamed’ compares human and animal emotion By Brianna Holcomb ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
The idea that as humans we have an inherent nature that is animalistic seems to baffle many. For Mia Cheung this notion is not baffling at all, it is actually quite comprehensible. Mia Cheung’s gallery “Untamed” is a series of photographs that looks at the blurred line between animals and humans. The idea that we all have a basic animal instinct is what makes us so close to our animal counterparts. Basic needs of survival including companionship and the need to eat and drink can be seen through these photographs. The constant theme of life and survival can be found amongst all of the photos in the gallery. Each set of animals is looking or striving to survive in their own habitat. A photograph of lions having sex is the first one adorning the wall of the gallery. Besides the shock value that this picture adds it also addresses this need for another person or companion. Another photo that showcases this need for companionship is one featuring two elephants in the middle of a grassy plain. They are using their trunks to embrace each other in what looks to be a hug. Known as the more passionate animals in wildlife, this loving photograph is a great example of the need for another person, or animal’s, touch. The photo displays a joyous emotion that we can interpret and relate back to the ones we love. That feeling of joy we get when we see a friend for the first time after summer break or going home to see family, the happiness is there.
This photo also showcases a nice contrast between the elephants grey skin and the tall yellow grass that they are standing in. Another contrast is the placement of the photographs. This picture is placed next to a dark image of alligators eating their meal. Animals are often seen as beast-like creatures that do not contain the same needs or wants that humans do. We think of our pets as playful and loving animals that are here to serve us as a form of entertainment or comfort. A picture of two gazelles butting heads may not come across as any form of human or basic need but it does have one. Survival amongst not only the elements but each other is a very common need. The picture depicts this necessity. In the background there is a muddy riverbank. What was once there, probably drinking from the riverbank, is now being ripped apart by two alligators. Two forms of survival have taken place here. The picture looks as though you can feel the river water move as the two alligators fight over what is probably dinner. Their green skin comes off as cracked leather in the photograph. The details that the camera has picked up are apparent in every photo. Another picture is of three monkeys. They sit on a rock, stone faces staring off in opposite directions. One of the monkeys is nursing; the child’s mouth holding on to its mother tightly looking for the nutrients it needs to survive. Each photograph shows simple life moments that can be translated into ones we see as human beings. My personal favorite photo from the gallery is a monkey sitting in the dirt head bowed and hands covering its face. The feeling of being overwhelmed and exhausted is one that can be felt by many across the board. We see so
many memes of animals doing crazy faces or poses but there is something about this photo that takes it away from the “crazy meme” and brings it to a more real life feel. Nursing, fighting, hunting and even companionship are all a part of our lives. So often we forget that there are many pieces that make us so similar to the world around us. As humans we tend take a superiority standpoint to other living things but this gallery reminds us that we are not as far away from animals as we’d like to think.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra FORM
A12 • March 8, 2016
EDITORIAL
Letter to the editor: A message from the Division of Student Affairs By Sofia B. Pertuz
Dean of Students and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs I am responding to the opinion piece, “Black History Month: Thanks, but no thanks” published in the March 1, 2016 edition of The Hofstra Chronicle. As Dean of Students, I value student opinions and want all students to experience Hofstra University as a welcoming and inclusive campus where all are free to express themselves. In environments that embrace free expression, occasional examples surface, such as this one, that demonstrate the need for additional education around topics of diversity. How we respond to these examples define us as individuals and as a community. Creating educational opportunities around areas of diversity has always been a high priority for me, so I am glad students have reached out to me and The Chronicle to share their thoughts. The Division of Students Affairs is working on many initiatives to actively engage the campus community and create spaces
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A statement from The Hofstra Chronicle
where students share and discuss their experiences with each other, while also honoring the fact that we all come from different backgrounds. The combination of our individual differences is what makes us a stronger community. With these differences, however, also comes many differing perspectives, some of which may be unpopular and even hurtful. We must become better as a community, in learning how to express differing opinions in civil ways that encourage dialogue and learning. During the last few months, Provost Gail Simmons and I hosted several student forums for discussions on diversity at Hofstra University and there are many more to come. A recent initiative designed to raise awareness about campus diversity issues and provide a structured voice for students was the formation of a Dean of Students Diversity Advisory Board that meets weekly to discuss ways to create an inclusive campus environment. This group hopes to coordinate some campus-wide diversity
discussions and programs promoting our diversity on campus. There are several campus resources available for students who want to discuss topics of diversity. A specific resource I would like to share with you is the recently formed Office of Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion (IEI) in the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement located in room 260 on the second floor of the Student Center. IEI staff include Gillian Atkinson, Associate Director, and Chad Freeman, Assistant Director. This week from Monday through Thursday, IEI staff will be hosting a series of Diversity Dialogues from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Additionally, I am available to meet with students by appointment, but I also have open office hours every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Students can stop in without an appointment during this time. I hope you can join us for upcoming diversity discussions and other events to be planned in the near future. Dates and details
will be shared with all students via email once we have them confirmed. Thank you for your time and this opportunity to share
my thoughts and my hope for continued student engagement and strong campus community.
insight and intelligence. To imply that a Snapchat geofilter is indicative of the importance of black history shows the lack of knowledge presented in the article. Comparisons as trivial as National Wine Day and filters are ridiculous defenses for the reason why Black History Month is no longer relevant; the article lacks a valid argument. To go even further on her statements of equality where she states, “equality has become a sort of mantra for the modern era,” I want to be clear on what equality she is referring to. Could it be the equality of blacks who face racial profiling more than any other race or the equality of blacks shot to death by the police while unarmed or the equality of blacks who face racial discrimination on a daily basis? Where are the answers to these
questions? Where is this equality hiding? If there is such equality, then why is Black History Month the only one under attack and speculation? If this is the case, then National Women’s History Month in March, Asian Pacific American Heritage and Jewish American Heritage Month in May, Gay Lesbian Pride Month in June and Hispanic Heritage Month in September should not be celebrated either. If there is so much equality then there is no need to celebrate any race or cultures history; however black history is constantly under interrogation. Blacks are the only race of people that cannot show pride without others being intimidated or fearful and claiming reverse racism is at play. Ultimately, the thought process behind the article signifies
intimidation by and fear of black pride. The desire to eradicate Black History Month has nothing to do with equality because it is plain to see that it does not exist according to Trayvon Martin, Freddie Gray, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Tanisha Anderson, Aiyana Jones, Tarika Wilson and the list goes on. Another tactless strategy was the [writer’s] decision to use Morgan Freeman’s interview from “60 Minutes.” She was swift to point out the phrases that supported a weak argument but lacks insight so she missed the point. Morgan Freeman’s statement that “black history is American history” came after he questioned how black history could be relegated to a month. His purpose was to state that black history should be fully integrated into American history
because blacks are just as a part of American history as any other culture or race. It is not solely about the termination of the “race” talk to end racism; it is also about the movements taken to end racism. However, I wonder how a 60 second video of an entire interview on YouTube could provide insightfulness on the subject matter. Needless to say, the [writer] did not provide any solution to integrating black history in the curriculum or media to ensure equality nor she did do her research. She merely suggested the elimination of the month in favor of dismissing black culture altogether. In short, miseducation is no education; one must gain understanding before expressing information.
To Our Readers: The editorial opinion piece “Black history month: Thanks, but no thanks” published in last week’s issue of The Chronicle sparked a controversial dialogue about the relevance of Black History Month. As a staff we acknowledge the absence of a counterargument supporting the importance of Black History Month. We encouraged the Hofstra community to submit rebuttals to offer the opportunity to present varying viewpoints on the subject. As a result, we received numerous letters to the editor. This week’s Editorial section is a compilation of a few of these submissions. We would like to reiterate that we neither support nor endorse content published in the Editorial section. The standard policy of The Chronicle has always been and continues to be one that allows all undergraduate students to submit content to any section of the publication. As a news organization we will continue to aim to provide a forum for debate. - The Hofstra Chronicle Staff
Letter to the editor: Black history year
By Sabrina Parker
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The publication of the article, “Black History Month: Thanks, but no thanks” is entirely pitiful. The [writer’s] tone appears to be more mocking of Black History Month rather than informative. Comparing a month of historical information on a race of people who have made strides that impact the world we live in today to National Pizza Day and Valentine’s Day is unwarranted and disrespectful. To read in between the lines, the [writer] has a meager understanding of black culture and how it has shaped the world we live in today. Her perspective of racism in America is unsettling because she believes that what she is saying is right. The article lacks empathy,
The views and opinions expressed in the Op-Ed section are those of the authors of the articles. They are not an endorsement of the views of The Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors.
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March 8, 2016 •
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Letter to the editor: Black History Month - education is key
By Marcus Reynolds
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
It takes nationalization of a problem to impose an adequate solution, and there are people who in 2016, are still ignorant to the issue of race in this country. A recent op-ed in The Hofstra Chronicle suggests that Black History Month (BHM), “has served its purpose.” The First Amendment allows free press and speech of one’s beliefs even if those beliefs are misinformed. Even if that opinion falls short in substance and awareness.
The purpose of BHM is to recognize the contributions of black people, which are often forgotten, unappreciated, and expunged from education systems across the world. BHM gives children an understanding of their history so they can defer to different and more positive images of blacks other than mass incarceration and slavery. Dr. Carter G. Woodson believed in the idea of “knowledge of self,” and that the only true education is self-education. It’s important to know who you
are, where you came from and where you’re going. Why take away a great opportunity to educate people of all races who may not understand how this country became the one we live in today? Black history is intrinsic to understanding American history. While I agree with the article’s writer saying that a lot has changed since 1926, it would be jumping the gun to say we are living in a post-racial society. Especially when the same injustices that plagued the country then, like police brutality towards
people of color, are still relevant today. If National Pizza, Wine and Margarita Day are, “what’s important to the younger generation,” than frankly I am highly disappointed in my comrades. While I understand that my peers may be enthralled with social media hashtags and geo filters, that is by no way a means to justify swiping left on BHM. BHM is the last of what black people have left to call their own, and if anything it should be longer.
This is a great opportunity to initiate productive dialogue amongst students and faculty at Hofstra University. The issue of race is not about myself or the article’s writer. This type of situation can bring people of all backgrounds together and on the same accord when approached in a proper manner. Furthermore, I would like to say that any form of rebuttal should remain within the confines of journalism. Verbal attacks and threats of violence towards the article’s writer shouldn’t be tolerated.
Letter to the editor: Getting rid of BHM, thanks but no thanks
By Foyinisi Adegbonmire SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Earlier this week, I was confronted with the reminder that some way, somehow there are still those in these United States of America who fully believe that Black History Month has served its purpose and that the first step in solving the issue of racial tension in this country is getting rid of it. Some even go a step further and believe that we have finally “achieved the integration of black and white history into education.” Let’s pause there for a second. Part of the problem here lies in the belief that by mentioning slavery and the Civil Rights movement, schools have done an effective job in teaching black history. Now, while it is important to learn about those aspects of history, it is also just as important to learn about the contributions that black people have made in this country beyond having it built on our free labor. How about educating us about people other than Martin Luther King
Jr. and Rosa Parks? How about teaching about Assata Shakur and Huey P. Newton? Or that the Black Panthers were not terrorists and nowhere near the level of the KKK and how they actually held many free programs to benefit their communities? How about teaching about Garrett Morgan who invented the traffic light, Daniel Hale Williams who performed the first open heart surgery or Phillis Wheatley who was the first published black woman poet? The high school I attended not only didn’t teach beyond the standard “slavery equals bad, Civil Rights equals good” route that most teachers employ but there was hardly any mention of black history even during Black History Month. In all my four years at that school, I don’t recall a single program held to commemorate it. At times, it wasn’t even until near the end of February that I realized BHM had already come and was almost gone. My sister attends that same high school now and she
can confirm that this is still true. Now I’m sure you’re wondering what backwards middle of the country state that I attended high school in. Guess what? It was in Pennsylvania. Let that sink in. Another belief that was shared in that dreadfully uninformed op-ed about the uselessness of Black History Month is that so-called holidays like National Pizza Day “get much more hype” on the unarguable basis that the writer’s friends quickly alerted her about it. I won’t even comment on the comparison of black history to pizza. That one speaks volumes for itself. Nor will I ask for receipts on just how many of these friends who were so eager for National Pizza Day were black. I promise you, I won’t. But what I will question is how you can arrive at the conclusion of getting rid of BHM on the reasoning that it didn’t get a lot of “hype” (after all, the BHM Snapchat geofilter wasn’t even available anymore). Bear with me as we pause again. Since we’re evidently using
completely personal and limited experience for the basis of our entire argument, then I can tell you firsthand that the idea that not enough people were hype for BHM is not true. At all. In fact, this has arguably been the most eventful BHM we’ve had since its creation. There was the release of Beyoncé’s unapologetically black anthem “Formation,” Kendrick Lamar’s performance at this year’s Grammys with songs like “The Blacker The Berry” and “Alright” and so much more. I think anybody who is part of the area of Twitter known as “Black Twitter” will attest to the sense of solidarity experienced this year. But please tell me more about how little hype BHM received. Supposedly, the existence of BHM only serves as a “reminder of the rift between race relations.” That’s right, a month dedicated to reminding us what black people have done in this country is what contributes to that racial tension. Not the fact that black people are killed by police every eight hours or the fact that people of color
are constantly victims of racial profiling or even the fact that there are still instances where black women are punished for wearing their natural hair. Nope it’s definitely the month. People need to let go of the idea that something that is pro-black or singles out black people to praise them is inherently anti-white or anti any other group. That is simply not true. The month is called Black History Month, not “I hate white people” month. The hashtag is “Black Lives Matter,” not “ONLY Black Lives Matter and screw everyone else.” Sometimes, once in a while, it’s just not about you. Additionally, the way to end racism and racial tensions is not to just “stop talking about it” as if it will magically go away. If only. There are so many other issues to discuss but the bottom line is that Black History Month is definitely still necessary, as evidenced by the very article saying that it is not. The day everybody realizes this, I will raise my own glass in celebration.
deforestation anyway, they say, everyone has to take life science. However it’s still unacceptable for society to distract itself from the very real losses that are occurring in the Amazon and the devastation it will cause to the entire ecosystem, even if it might not affect one personally today. Black History Month is no different. Actually, I stand corrected. It is an even worse mistake to dismiss given the atrocities that African-Americans have experienced throughout this country’s history. People of color have been trampled upon and subjugated from the moment white explorers set foot on North
America. Millions of Africans were ripped from their homes and families to be property for white landowners. They were dehumanized, and the effects of this nefarious discrimination continues to this day, where black men are six times more likely to be arrested as white men and unemployment amongst African-Americans as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is double that of Caucasians, with the real unemployment gap probably much higher if one measures those who are working part-time but want to work fulltime or have given up looking for work. People of color are
still in many ways second-class citizens in the United States, and the country still has a long way to go in recognizing both the forms of systematic racism that exist today and the magnitude of what has happened in the past, both of which have largely been swept under the rug by the white establishment. Hollywood continues to whitewash historical events, with one of the most recent notable examples being the 2015 film based on the Stonewall riots, a watershed event for the LGBTQ community that largely occurred thanks to the efforts of black trans women.
Pre-American history itself as taught in schools is also largely whitewashed, with little focus on African civilizations and their accomplishments. Regardless of the progress that has been made, the United States’ collective consciousness is focused on the accomplishments of white men. Black History Month serves as a reminder to the white people of the United States such as myself that we owe an infinite debt to those that were and still are being subjugated at our benefit. We took hundreds of years of freedom and millions of lives from the black community; the least we can do is give them a month.
Letter to the editor: Elimination of BHM is myopic whitewashing By ENG Jole
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The Amazonian rainforests are losing upwards of 80,000 acres daily, according to a 2009 “Scientific American” article. This means that every day, hundreds of species are lost to the greed of deforestation. It would be absurd to think that, when confronted with these numbers, one would reply that other forests are being deforested too and that too much time is spent focusing on rain forests. What about the forest in my backyard, they say, as a tree is trimmed for its health? Everyone knows about
A 14 • March 8, 2016
SPORTS
The Chronicle
No. 8 men’s lacrosse sinks from late Georgetown rally By Gio Annatelli STAFF WRITER
The Pride received two goals each from Josh Byrne, Korey Hendrickson and Brian von Bargen, but it wasn’t enough as a comeback surge from Georgetown downed Hofstra 11-6 at Shuart Stadium Saturday. “We didn’t deserve to win today,” Hofstra head coach Seth Tierney said. “We didn’t play with the attention to detail that we did in the first three games. ” The eighth-ranked Pride lost its first game of the year as they fall to 3-1 while the Hoyas get their first win and improve to 1-3. This is the second game this year where Hofstra was held to one goal in a quarter (once at North Carolina and three times this game). Georgetown was led by freshman Daniel Bucaro with a hat trick and an assist, and also by Peter Conley who tallied two goals and six points.
The Hoyas took control for most of the first quarter. They scored two goals in the first 11 minutes thanks to Joe Bucci. The Pride didn’t go down easy, as they scored four unanswered to take the lead. Von Bargen scored on a feed from line-mate Hendrickson with about two minutes left to cut the lead to one. Hendrickson got the ball rolling with a goal on man-up from a feed by Brendan Kavanagh just 42 seconds into the quarter to knot the game up at two. Von Bargen scored again to put Hofstra up and then Byrne would get a backwards-betweenthe-leg goal right in front of the Hoyas net to give his team a two score lead. Down but not out, Georgetown responded with five straight goals to close out the first half and into the second. Bucaro scored on a man-up goal and was followed up by a
goal from Zeke Morrill, also on man-up, to knot the game up at four. The teams went into the locker room tied. The Hoyas jumped right out of the gates in the second half thanks to goals from Bucaro, Devon Lewis and Stephen Quinzi all within four minutes of each other. Byrne closed the deficit to two with his 14th goal of the season with the third quarter winding down. Yet, to close out the third and fourth quarters, Georgetown scored three more unanswered goals to bring the score to 10-5. Conley scored with 12 seconds left in the third while Bucaro and Matt Behrens scored in the beginning of the fourth. Hendrickson made his second man-up goal of the day with under five minutes left in the game before Conley sealed the game with a goal at 3:11 to give Georgetown the 11-6 victory.
Cam Keough/The Chronicle Josh Byrne (42) hugs teammate Brian von Bargen. Byrne tallied two goals.
Jack Concannon received his first loss of the year, allowing 11 goals with 14 saves while Nick Marrocco allowed six goals on 15 saves for the victory. The Pride won the ground ball battle, 32-30, and the battle at the face-off X, 13-8. The Georgetown defense was
sound, forcing 17 turnovers and shutting down star Sam Llinares without a single point. Hofstra will be back in action next Saturday, March 12th, as they host the Ohio State Buckeyes at James M. Shuart Stadium. Game time is set at noon.
Wrestling’s Hudson & Hughes thrive in EIWAs
By John Napolitano STAFF WRITER
The 112th Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships saw Hofstra graduate student Jamel Hudson and junior Michael Hughes finish fourth and third in their respective weight classes in Princeton, New Jersey this weekend. Hudson and Hughes also qualified for the NCAA Championships, marking the 20th consecutive year Hofstra has sent two or more wrestlers to the Big Dance. “I still believe that these guys can win the tournament,” Hofstra head coach Dennis Papadatos said. Next season will be a challenge for Hofstra considering Hughes and Hudson won’t be on the roster. “Mike Hughes is going to redshirt next year,” Papadatos said. “He’s a part of a five-year program and he has to. Jamel is done with his master’s so this is probably his senior year, even
though he has another year of eligibility … we’re going to have to step up with other guys.” Hudson entered the tournament unseeded and finished Saturday with a 2-1 record after an opening round loss to Bucknell sophomore Tyler Smith. He later recorded victories over Binghamton’s Dylan Carauna, 9-3, and junior Logan Everett from Army West Point, 9-4, in wrestlebacks. On Sunday, the 141-pound Pride wrestler went on to defeat American University’s Tyler Scotton 6-3 in the consolation round and Princeton junior, Jordan Laster, 3-1, in overtime. Hudson then met a huge roadblock in the third-place match in the form of Randy Cruz of Lehigh. The Bay Shore native was blanked by Cruz, 8-0. Hudson finished the season 20-8 overall. He was one of six 141-pound shooters and one of two Hofstra wrestlers to qualify for the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Michael Hughes of Smithtown, New York, qualified for the NCAA
Tournament after two victories on Saturday, but his work in the EIWA Championships was far from over. Hughes, the third seed, majored American University’s Jake Scanlan, 12-1, in the first round and pinned Princeton’s Ray O’Donnell in the quarterfinal match. The semifinals saw the 285pound Hughes handed his first defeat by second-seeded Max Wessell of Lehigh University, 7-3. A pinfall victory over Franklin & Marshall’s Antonio Pelusi in the consolation bracket sent Hughes to the third-place match. There, he defeated the sixth-seed O’Donnell for a second time, 10-1, to solidify his third place finish. Hughes’ 10-1 victory is the third best finish by a Hofstra wrestler during the Pride’s tenure in the EIWA. The EIWA Championship was secured by Cornell for the 10th straight year and 24th overall. Lehigh came in second with 160 points, just 10 and a half shy of Cornell’s 170.5. Bucknell finished in third with 84 points and Hofstra
Victoria Mickens/The Chronicle Michael Hughes will be redshirting next season after the NCAA Championships.
placed 13th out of 16 EIWA teams. Hofstra University will compete at the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at
Madison Square Garden from March 17-19. The NCAA will award 46 at-large bids on March 9 to complete the field of 330 wrestlers heading to the Garden.
The Chronicle
SPORTS
March 8, 2016 •
A 15
Women’s lacrosse hits four-game snag vs. Terps By Steven Wolff STAFF WRITER
After a tough one-point loss against Fairfield, the Hofstra women’s lacrosse team fell to the No. 1 Maryland Terapins in College Park by a final score of 20-5 on Saturday. The Pride has still not found a way to get a win, as it has started the year at 0-4. Nine different players scored for Maryland, including Megan Whittle and Zoe Stukenberg who scored four goals apiece. Also, Maryland’s Kacie Longo and Taylor Cummings contributed to the action as they each recorded a hat trick. Cummings, the 2015 IWLCA National Midfielder of the Year, also added six draw controls to her stat line. The Terrapins scored a quick six goals in the first five minutes and they kept pouring it on, as Maryland posted a dominating 12-1 halftime lead. The lone bright spot for the Pride was attacker Lindsay Scott, who scored four of Hofstra’s five
goals. The Terps, however, tripled Hofstra’s total shots as Maryland held a 30-10 advantage and a 26-9 advantage with shots on goal. They also dominated the free position shots, as they held Hofstra scoreless, outscoring them 11-0. Scott, a transfer from North Carolina, recorded a hat trick in her first four games at Hofstra. She’s tallied 17 goals so far this season to lead the Pride offense overall. Scott now has 11 goals in the past two games as she scored seven goals in the last contest. Entering the weekend, her goalsper-game average led the CAA. Hofstra’s Becky Conto scored the other goal for the Pride, an unassisted score with 13:31 left in the second half. Maryland, the two-time defending national champion, improved to 5-0 alltime against the Pride. Turning the ball over was a thorn in their side, as Maryland forced 13 Pride turnovers compared to just eight for the
Terps. The Pride has done a better job closing out games this year than it has starting them. Hofstra has only been outscored by 10 goals total in the second half of games, while it has been outscored by 20 goals total in the first half. The Pride also had 13 more turnovers than they caused in the first half, but caused two more than Maryland in the second. If the Pride can get off to better starts it will help put less pressure on goalies Maddie Fields and Alexis Greene. Maryland remains undefeated with a 4-0 record now, the same as it finished the last two years. Hofstra will look to get its first win when the team travels to Baltimore to face Johns Hopkins on Sunday at 1 p.m. To see how Hofstra Baseball did, go to: http://thehofstrachronicle.com/category/ sports/
Victoria Mickens/The Chronicle Lindsay Scott scored four of the five Pride goals against top-ranked Maryland.
SPORTSNOTES: The warriors of Shuart Stadium By Abby Strusowski and Regina Volpe STAFF WRITERS
In lacrosse, like any other sport, the object is to score the most goals. Including the goalkeeper, there are 12 players on the field for women and 10 players for men for each team. The positions are attackers, defenders, midfielders and goalkeeper. Listen up lax bros, here’s what you need to know to play with your sticks: Clamp: when two players hold the ball in the netted part of their sticks. Clear: when the ball is moved from the defensive half to the offensive half of the field. Head: the netted top part of the stick. Cradling: technique where the player twists the stick while running in order to keep the ball in the head. Face-off: at the beginning of each period or after a reset; opposing players clamp the ball in between each other and fight for possession.
Feed: another name for an assist. Ground ball: ball is on the ground (shocker, right?). Poke check: not when someone pokes you on Facebook; when a defender tries to get the ball from the other team and uses their stick to knock the other player’s stick in order to get the ball loose. Scoop: the act of picking up a ground ball – not ice cream. Spin move: when an offensive player is trying to evade the defense and channels their inner Michelle Kwan. Penalties include tripping, unsportsmanlike conduct, illegal body checks, slashing and cross-checking. Slashing: hitting another player with the stick Cross-checking: using the portion of the stick in between a player’s hands to hit another player’s stick Frequently Asked Question Q: What’s the difference between men’s and women’s lacrosse? A: Men’s lacrosse allows for
Cam Keough/The Chronicle Shuart Stadium is the home of Hofstra’s men’s & women’s lacrosse teams. It’s the only athletic venue on south campus.
a much more physical game. Cue Olivia Newton-John’s “Let’s Get Physical.” They wear more padding and helmets, whereas, women’s lacrosse does not allow body checking and they do not have to wear helmets or padding. Different sticks are used in women’s lacrosse. The
men’s team has a deeper net, allowing for a rougher play style. Therefore, the women’s game encourages more passing while the men’s game focuses more running for long distances. As mentioned, there are 10 players on the field for men’s and 12 players for women’s.
Fun fact: Shuart Stadium is one of the largest lacrosse venues in the area due to the fact that it was once a football stadium. The lacrosse season has only just begun. Now go forth with your newfound knowledge and cheer on the Pride!
A 16 • March 8, 2016
SPORTS
The Chronicle
Women’s basketball CAA Tournament predictions
By Gio Annatelli
By John Napolitano
By Joe Barone
STAFF WRITER
STAFF WRITER
STAFF WRITER
By Steven Wolff STAFF WRITER
By Joe Fay STAFF WRITER
CAA Champ Pick: Hofstra
CAA Champ Pick: JMU
CAA Champ Pick: Hofstra
CAA Champ Pick: Hofstra
CAA Champ Pick: JMU
The popular opinion when it comes to CAA women’s basketball is that James Madison is the best team in the conference and will win the CAA tourney. I agree, James Madison is the best team in the conference, but they won’t win the tourney. I think it will be Hofstra cutting down the nets come mid-March. For one thing, the Pride might have the easiest path to the finals. The first round game is against Northeastern, which they have swept in both games this season. Then for the semifinals, it’ll either be Drexel, William & Mary or Towson (but most likely Drexel). This season, the Pride has gone 5-1 against those three teams, just recently beating Drexel. Then it’s big bad James Madison, which can be handled. Hofstra ranks second and third in offense and defense respectively, while also being near the top in shooting percentages. This is thanks to the shooting of Kelly Loftus and Krystal Luciano, who are both shooting above 30 percent in both categories. For the players, six different Pride members are averaging just above seven or more points per game. They have two of the best postpresences in the conference in Ashunae Durant and Anjie White. Durant has always been consistent for Hofstra, averaging 11.4 points and 9.3 rebounds, nearly a double-double. White has just come into her own, averaging just above eight points and rebounds per game. With a mix of all that plus the depth of the Hofstra Pride bench, there’s no reason why the Pride won’t be raising the CAA trophy.
March 9 marks the start of the CAA Women’s Basketball Tournament in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and when it is all said and done, the James Madison Dukes will stand victorious. The Dukes have won four of the last six CAA Championships, beating Hofstra in the finals last year. They have fostered a winning culture in Harrisonburg, Virginia, that no other CAA team can seem to breach. This year, JMU marches into Upper Marlboro with a 17-1 (.944) conference record. With the exception of William & Mary, no one in the Colonial has found a winning formula to beat this Dukes team. It is worth noting that JMU is 14-0 at home this year, and with the close proximity from Harrisburg to Upper Marlboro, it is safe to say that the barn will be packed with JMU fans. Redshirt senior Jazmon Gwathmey will assure the Dukes’ success in this tournament. The CAA Preseason Player of the Year finds herself ranked 21st in the country in points per game with 20.9. With the help of Ashley Perez (13.9 PPG) and Angela Mickens (11.4), JMU has a well-balanced offense. It’s no wonder why they have the best offense in the CAA and average over 70 points a game. Perhaps most telling about JMU’s potential to win it all is their massive winning streak. They ride into the CAA Tournament with 17 successive wins. JMU will steamroll into this tournament with an incredible amount of momentum.
How easy would it be to pick JMU to repeat as CAA Champions? Easy. How hard would it be for JMU to repeat as CAA Champions? With Hofstra breathing down their neck, it’s going to be difficult. Despite JMU winning both matches against the Pride during the regular season, there is a very good chance that Hofstra will upset the Dukes for the title. There are many factors that could swing the matchup in the Pride’s favor. Yes, JMU outscored the Pride 128-96 in both games. Yes, Hofstra was embarrassed shooting 35 percent from the field in the first match and 29 percent in the second. However, the Pride match up with the Dukes better than any other team in the CAA. Hofstra’s depth carried them throughout the 2015-16 season. Asia Jackson maintained close to 50 percent shooting accuracy from outside the arc. Sandra Dongmo used her height to grab five boards per game this season. Plus, Jakelle King-Gilchrist came off the bench and reached double-digits in points on numerous occasions. Depth on the bench will also continue to benefit this team, not to mention the Pride’s superstars: Ashunae Durant, Krystal Luciano, Darius Faulk and Anjie White. The Dukes are a powerhousebut they are not invincible. In JMU losses, opponents limited the Dukes’ shooting from beyond the arc, putting tremendous pressure on Jazmon Gwathmey and Ashley Perez. Lock down one of them, and the Dukes will be scrambling for answers. Hofstra will be very decorated this year in women’s basketball.
The Hofstra women’s basketball team faces the Northeastern Huskies on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. to open up the CAA Tournament in the quarterfinals. The Pride won both games against the Huskies this season and Hofstra will edge past them again. Hofstra (22-7, 13-5 CAA) and James Madison (24-5, 17-1 CAA) are the two best teams in the tournament and will ultimately face each other in the CAA championship round. They have faced off against each other twice this year, where the Pride fell in both contests. The Dukes defense suffocated the Pride’s offense as Hofstra shot fewer than 40 percent in both games. However, Hofstra will pull off the upset and edge past the Dukes in a low scoring affair by a final score of 55-51. Free throws will be key down the stretch in this tight contest. Asia Jackson (should she play) has been the Pride’s best free throw shooter all season, shooting at just under 80 percent for the year. Plus, a balanced offense has been a key for Hofstra. In its last game of the season against Northeastern, four players scored in double figures. Darius Faulk had 10 points and also dished out eight assists. Ball movement will be another factor to help aid Hofstra’s success. Also, if the Pride has any chance of beating the Dukes, it has to hold James Madison season leading scorer Jazmon Gwathmey to less than 20 points. In the end, the Pride will bring its A game, beat the Dukes and come out of the CAA as champions.
The CAA is very competitive this season as the second through the fifth seeds have been closely knotted together throughout the season. The one team who has not been stopped is James Madison University. JMU ended the regular season on a 17-game winning streak and as the regular season champions. Meanwhile, Hofstra will make a push in this tournament, but they simply do not have the resources to make it through the entire weekend and still have enough to knock off JMU. Hofstra will easily get by Northeastern in the quarterfinals on Thursday and has a fighting chance against their semifinal opponent on Friday. The third-seeded Pride will most likely face second-seeded Drexel, who will beat William & Mary or Towson in the quarterfinals. The Pride went 1-1 against Drexel in the regular season, and it’s a toss up whether or not they can pull it off again. The semifinals match-up will be a closely contested game decided by less than five points. Should Hofstra make it through to face JMU in the championship game, look for the Pride to struggle. Hofstra lost to JMU twice in the regular season; both were blowouts of 15 or more points. Plus, the Pride has the difficult task of playing against arguably the best offense and defense in the CAA. JMU averaged 15.2 points more than any other team and the Dukes specifically averaged a higher scoring margin of 16 points. The Pride will be hungry for the championship, but they will come up short this year to the hottest team in the CAA.
The Chronicle
SPORTS
March 8, 2016 •
A 17
Pride has tough CAA to tame to claim title
By Joe Fay STAFF WRITER
This coming weekend the Hofstra women’s basketball team will have their shot at the CAA Championship. The team will travel to Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and face some tough conference competition. This year’s Hofstra team is a solid group, but the road to the CAA Championship is tough. The Pride enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed and will face sixth-seeded Northeastern at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evening. Hofstra ended the regular season with a three-game winning streak, including convincing wins over No. 2 seed Drexel and the same Northeastern team they will face in the quarterfinals. The win over Drexel near the end of the season will give Hofstra confidence going into the tournament should they meet again. With a 13-5 conference record this season, the Pride looks like it is ready to make a run at the title. Hofstra’s postseason success will be determined by how they play as a team. Everyone will need to be at
their best for this team to have a shot at the title. When the team is firing on all cylinders, it’s a force to be reckoned with. Senior Darius Faulk (5.1 APG) and junior Krystal Luciano (4.0 APG) will look to use their veteran presence to kickstart Hofstra’s offense each possession. Using their court vision and passing abilities, they will be looking to get Kelly Loftus (if she is healthy) and Ashunae Durant (11.4 PPG) into the flow of the offense early in games. Contributions from the bench will be key to grabbing wins in this weekend’s tournament for the Pride. If Hofstra can keep their starters rested by getting production from bench sparks like Asia Jackson (17.6 MPG, but also hurt) and Jakelle KingGilchrist (12.9 MPG), they can maintain competition at a high level. If the Pride tries to rely on just a few players, it will have nothing left late in the weekend to try and compete. The effort as a team will drive the Pride to success. Hofstra will also need to play both sides of the ball. The team
Cam Keough/The Chronicle Head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey (center) draws up plays with her players during a timeout earlier this season.
needs to continue its strength in the defensive end. During the regular season, the Pride held its opponents to just 55.9 points per game – third-best in the CAA – on 36 percent from the field and 27 percent from the arc. The quick hands of Faulk, and Anjie White’s rim protecting will take possessions away from opponents.
The Pride will need to be at top form to get through three different teams and 120 minutes of regulation in a span of three days. Hofstra cannot afford to slip up against a lower seed such as Northeastern or Delaware, to whom it lost to on Feb. 21. If the Pride reaches the championship game there is a good chance it will face the topseeded James Madison Dukes
who beat Hofstra both times they played during the regular season. The road ahead is tough, but the Pride is ready for a challenge. Starting Thursday night against Northeastern, Hofstra will look to make its run towards the CAA Championship. If Hofstra can beat the odds and come out on top, it will notch a ticket to the NCAA tournament later in March.
HOFSTRA ATHLETIC CALENDAR Away
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2016 CAA Tournament - Upper Marlboro, MD.
women’s Basketball men’s lacrosse
Ohio State university 12 p.m.
women’s lacrosse
Johns Hopkins university 1 p.m.
Softball
baseball
Army West Point 3 p.m.
Hofstra Invitational 1:30 & 4 p.m.
Hofstra Invitational 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Longwood university 12 & 3:30 p.m.
Longwood university 1 p.m.
A 18 • March 8, 2016
SPORTS
The Chronicle
Men’s basketball misses first CAA crown in OT loss
By Kevin Carroll SPORTS EDITOR
Baltimore, Md. – The highoctane offense that powered the Hofstra men’s basketball team all season finally ran out of gas Monday night, as the Pride came up mere inches short of its first CAA championship, losing to UNCW 80-73 in an instant classic at the Royal Farms Arena. “My heart’s broken for these guys … sometimes, life doesn’t give you what you deserve,” said a visibly dejected Hofstra head coach Joe Mihalich after the loss, Hofstra’s second loss to the Seahawks this season. “In my heart of hearts, I think these guys deserved it.” Ameen Tanksley led the Pride with 24 points, after his 22-point performance in Sunday’s semifinal led Hofstra past William & Mary. Rokas Gustys added 18 points and 23 rebounds, coming just two points shy of a 20 point20 rebound performance.
The Pride simply ran out of gas down the stretch, as UNCW’s pressure wore them down. Hofstra had five players register more than 37 minutes in the game, including 41 from Juan’ya Green, his third straight 40+ minute game, and 44 from Gustys. The backbreaker came from the hands of UNCW’s Denzel Ingram, who buried a threepointer with 34 seconds left in overtime, putting the game out of reach and putting an end to Hofstra’s CAA season. The crowd at Royal Farms Arena came to see some good basketball, and they were treated to an intense showdown as the two teams battled hard down the stretch. The Seahawks had the lead for the better part of the second half, after the Pride controlled most of the first. UNCW was led by Craig Ponder with 20 points and Chris
Flemmings with 19. The two were a large part of the Seahawks’ ability to fend off the Pride as the minutes ticked off the clock in the second half. A large part of Hofstra’s struggles in the second half were from beyond the arc, where the Pride shot just 1-9 in the second half. However, as was the case in both contests between these two teams over the course of the season, no lead was safe. The Pride refused to go away, scratching and clawing at the Seahawks with the CAA title hanging in the balance. Juan’ya Green, who had been quiet for most of the game, knifed through the defense for an easy layup to make it a 68-66 UNCW lead with just 1:43 left in regulation. After a key stop, Green tied the game up with two free throws. Down the other end, Brian Bernardi drew a huge charge,
Alex Mitchell/The Chronicle Juan’ya Green went 2-for-16 on the court but shot 9-for-10 at the charity stripe.
giving the Pride the ball with five seconds left and a chance to win the game. However, Green’s three-pointer caromed off the backboard and the fans in Baltimore were treated to free basketball. Yet, the fatigue and depth issues that have been the story of the second half of the season for the Pride became apparent
from the start of overtime, as the Pride looked weary and unable to keep up with the Seahawks. “The dream we had didn’t come true,” Mihalich said. The season doesn’t end here for the Pride, despite the loss. By virtue of winning the CAA regular season title, Hofstra has earned an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament.
Men’s basketball gets revenge vs. Tribe in semis By Anders Jorstad STAFF WRITER
Baltimore Md. – A rematch of epic proportions for the Hofstra Pride lived up to expectations as the Pride came away with a close 70-67 victory over the fifthseeded William & Mary Tribe at Royal Farms Arena on Sunday. After falling to the Tribe in the CAA semifinals last year 92-91 in double overtime, Hofstra had something to prove against the same foe. The Pride swept the season series against the Tribe but sought the postseason victory to seal the deal. The crowd was expectedly electric directly from tipoff. It was easy to sense the rivalry brewing in the building. Every basket, turnover and foul call was met with a combination of roaring applause and deafening boos. Emotions were flying on the court just a minute into the game when Rokas Gustys got fouled by CAA Defensive Player of the Year Terry Tarpey, and the two wrestled to the floor. A flagrant foul was called on Tarpey and the tone for the contest was set.
There were 22 total foul calls and dozens of travels, palm balls and double dribbles over the course of the game. “I thought last year’s game was probably a better played game for both teams,” William & Mary head coach Tony Shaver said of the difference between this year’s semifinal game and last year’s. “I thought this game was a slugfest. Neither team was great, but both teams played with desire. Very contrasting games, I thought.” The contest was extremely physical as the squads went back and forth throughout the first half. The Tribe closed the first half out on a 9-3 run to give William & Mary a 34-30 lead heading into the locker room. The Pride came into the second half with a lot of energy on offense. It only took Hofstra three minutes to retake the lead 43-41. The teams went back and forth until the Pride used a 7-0 run to stretch to a 65-59 lead with 4:13 remaining. As anyone who watched last year’s contest remembers, a lead like that is anything but safe. Hofstra led 66-59 with 5:13 to go
in the game during last year’s semifinal and couldn’t hold onto it. Coming out of the media timeout, Daniel Dixon and Greg Malinowski each hit a three to tie the game 65-65. A layup by David Cohn and a pair of free throws by Juan’ya Green knotted it back up at 67-67. The Pride then had possession with just 38 seconds to go. With the shot clock winding down, Green considered attempting a shot before deferring to Denton Koon in the post for an easy layup. William & Mary had eight seconds to get down the court for a shot. Cohn attempted a desperation three that clanked off the rim. Ameen Tanksley hit a pair of free throws to seal the 70-67 Hofstra victory. “We’ve thought about this game for 364 days,” confessed Hofstra head coach Joe Mihalich. “Yes, it was a tough loss last year. A heartbreaking loss. It was the kind that stays with you. In this profession, that’s what you sign up for. So yeah, we’ve thought about it for a year. We were thankful to have the chance
Alex Mitchell/The Chronicle Ameen Tanksley (2) celebrates Hofstra’s win over the Tribe in CAA semifinals.
to make up for it. We’ve got a team that just refuses to lose. We should have lost this game. It’s because of these guys [that we won].” Tanksley led the way for the Pride with 23 points while Green and Brian Bernardi each had 14. Gustys had a rough night as he attempted one field goal but
collected 13 boards. For William & Mary, Malinowski came off the bench and scored a career-high 22 points. Other than he and Dixon (10 points), no other Tribe player got into double figures on the night. Hofstra’s win sent to the CAA championship game for the first time since 2006.
The Chronicle
SPORTS
March 8, 2016 • A 19
Bracket breakdown for CAA women’s basketball
Photo Courtesy of dailypress.com The official logo of the Colonial Athletic Association. #3 seed Hofstra Pride will compete against #6 seed Northeastern Huskies in the CAA quarterfinals this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Upper Marlboro, MD.
By Mike Rudin SPORTS EDITOR
The women’s basketball Colonial Athletic Association Tournament is around the corner and the conference standings are set in stone. Here’s the complete rankings of the CAA teams for the upcoming tourney, from the top dog to the bottom of the barrel. All 10 CAA teams are ranked based on the seed and how they ended up in their slot. No. 1 seed: James Madison (23-5 overall, 16-1 CAA) Scouting Report: JMU took the title as CAA regular season champs – a season without Precious Hall from the start due to injury. The trio of Jazmon Gwathmey, Ashley Perez and Angela Mickens emerged and depth has made this team strong. The team’s top scorers, Gwathmey (20.9 PPG), Perez (13.9) and Mickens (11.4), will lead the No. 1 offense in the conference. Plus, JMU’s defense is just as dangerous as its offense, limiting CAA opponents to 54.7 points per game, the second best in conference. Bottom Line: The Dukes are the team to beat. The defending CAA champions are ranked 34th in the latest NCAA RPI standings, which is the highest in the CAA. The one conference matchup they lost was against William & Mary in overtime and they defeated the Tribe by 20 the
second time around. No. 2 seed: Drexel Dragons (17-12, 13-5 CAA) Scouting Report: The Dragons exceled in the CAA through their defensive play, despite not having the strongest overall record. Drexel has the best defense in conference, allowing 52.4 points per game against CAA opponents. Drexel’s offense, however, isn’t as strong, averaging only 60.8 points a game, which is fifth best. Sarah Curran is the team’s star player leading on both the offensive (15.4 PPG) and defensive (5.3 RPG) fronts. Bottom Line: Don’t count out the Dragons. This is a team riding high, winning five of the last six games, and its defense has been lights out. Four CAA rivals have scored 53 points or less during that stretch against Drexel’s defense. No. 3 seed: Hofstra Pride (22-7, 13-5 CAA) Scouting Report: Hofstra’s depth of talent and versatility landed it the No. 3 seed but it’s ranked second in RPI among CAA teams. The starting five – Kelly Loftus (13 PPG), Ashunae Durant (11.4 PPG), Krystal Luciano (9.4 PPG), Anjie White (8.4 PPG) and Darius Faulk (8.3 PPG) – maintained a well distributed offensive front in the regular season. The Pride’s defense has kept teams under 60 points on average (third best in
conference) and the bench steps up when other players struggle. Bottom Line: Despite being 0-2 vs. JMU, Hofstra can take the CAA title if everything goes right. This is a team that has the second-highest RPI at 67th. The only issue right now is that Loftus still hasn’t played since an injury over two weeks ago. But this is a team that made the championship last year; retaining that experience and the rest of the pieces coming together will be key. No. 4 seed: Elon Phoenix (18-11, 11-7 CAA) Scouting Report: This team’s strongest aspect is the offense with Shay Burnett. She’s averaged 13 points per game while averaging 7.9 boards too. Coupled with Jenifer Rhodes (9.1 PPG and 5.7 RPG), Malaya Johnson (8.4 PPG and 6 RPG) and Lauren Brown (9.2 PPG), Elon’s offense is third-best in the CAA but the team’s defense is middle of the pack. Bottom Line: On paper, Elon isn’t one of the elite CAA teams but it’s definitely the wild card. For Elon, six conference games were determined by five points or less, win or lose. At its best, Elon can go toe-to-toe with JMU – the Phoenix lost in OT and by one point in both matchups. No. 5 seed: Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens (15-14, 10-8 CAA) Scouting Report: Delaware
is on a similar level to Elon, but flipped, with a strong defense and not so strong offense. The Fightin’ Blue Hens have the fourth-best defense, letting up 57.2 points on average. But Delaware has the fourth-worst offense, scoring 58.2 points on average. Courtni Green (12.3 PPG) and Erika Brown (11.4 PPG) are the two main scorers but after them the numbers dip down on offense. Bottom Line: Delaware’s head coach Tina Martin has the track record (four NCAA and seven WNIT appearances) to maximize the team’s success but the team can only go so far. It has gone back and forth to split the last six games right down the middle. If it continues the trend, the team will be eliminated in the semifinals. No. 6 seed: Northeastern Huskies (14-15, 9-9 CAA) Scouting Report: Despite winning its last six games straight, Northeastern lost to Hofstra in the season finale and will face the Pride again in the quarterfinals. The Huskies are ranked sixth with a scoring margin of -1.4 points because
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they have the fourth-worst defense against CAA rivals, letting up 63.6 points a game. Bottom Line: Northeastern is where the bottom tier of conference teams start and any chances of them going further than the quarterfinals are slim pickings. The Huskies lost both times to Hofstra this season because of the Pride’s balanced offense capitalizing on Northeastern’s defense and the third time won’t be the charm. No. 7 seed William & Mary Tribe (15-14, 6-12 CAA) Scouting Report: This might’ve been the sole CAA team to beat JMU, but it still has the secondworst defense in the conference. This is the starting point which CAA teams fall out of the top 200 in RPI; William & Mary is ranked 201. Bottom Line: William & Mary has lost seven of its last nine games and it will exit out at the quarterfinals at best. Even if the Tribe pushes past Towson, it will face Drexel and the Tribe hasn’t won a game, let alone score over 55 points, once this season against the Dragons.
Back Cover: Rokas Gustys compiled 23 rebounds and 18 points in the CAA title round against the Seahawks.
The Hofstra
Chronicle Down, (Not) Out
Men’s basketball loses CAA Championship to UNCW, looks ahead to National Invitation Tournament Alex Mitchell/The Chronicle