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The student voice of Keene State College
Vol. 66, Issue #19
Thursday, March 6, 2014
[ Keene-Equinox.com ]
Damages surpassing the $1,500 range
Cheshire Medical Center begins ER renovations ZACH WINN
SportS editor
The Cheshire Medical Center is planning a tenmonth emergency room renovation that is set to begin in early May. “The changes will allow for more comfort, more privacy, a better ability to monitor patients and more staff space, with everything located in a more logical manner,” Emergency Care Center Director, Amy Matthews, said. According to Matthews, the city planning board approved renovations in January, which will involve changing the layout of the existing emergency room, while adding 2,400 square feet to the department. Matthews said currently, curtains are the only things separating half of the ER’s 24 treatment spaces. Matthews expanded on why this separation was a problem. “There’s no privacy, there’s minimal infection control, there’s not very much space—which makes it loud and not very comforting to patients and family,” Matthews said. Matthews added the new model will feature identical single-bedrooms that are designed to increase
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / THOMAS LEDBURY
Above shows recently defaced Carle Hall property. There was a broken toilet, as well as damage to microwaves, shower heads and walls.
Theft and vandalism inside Carle Hall quickly adding up for residents NICOLE DANISH
[damage] to a smashed toilet on 4B, eggs
equinox Staff hall at Keene State College that houses over 300 students distributed among four sides; A, B, C and D. The KSC community expressed concerns after multiple instances of vandalism and theft occurred. According to Campus Safety Director, Amanda Guthorn, and Associate Dean of Student Life, Kent Drake-Deese, it is not unusual for there to be broken exit signs, along with posters and RA boards torn Residence Hall Director, Jen Napiorski said, “On the A [and] B side, the damage moved beyond the usual
out toilet damage included. According to Wayfair.com, automatic the walls—and two microwaves broken. toilets can cost up to $600 to replace, without including labor; therefore, with shower heads stolen from the entire A an addition of labor fees, possible costs [and] B side.” could reach total of $2,300 in damages. Napiorski expressed that the incimen’s bathroom or a women’s bathroom. dents took place well after residential Cassandra Carlow, who is housed on the 4B side of Carle Hall, said the damage is which ended at 2 a.m. Napiorski indian inconvenience, as students who live cated the toilet was smashed around 5 a.m. Guthorn said, “No one reported it damaged shower in their gender’s bath- [the damage] to Campus Safety until 1:15 room to shower with. p.m. later that day.” Carlow said, “I went to take a shower, Because the walls in Carle Hall are but something was wrong—I realized the thin, and the building is generally loud, shower head was missing and had to find students, including Carlow, expressed a new shower.” Napiorski estimated the they assumed it was their neighbors cost of damages is roughly $1,500 with- making noise.
Carlow stated, “I thought my neighbors were hammering. It was early in the morning.” Napiorski said she thought some of the damage was done intentionally. To combat the damage, Napiorski sent letters home to the parents of the students who live on the AB side. She said she scheduled a damage incentive cuss the issue. In additional response, students on hall council began making a public service announcement video. Bobbi Hinsman, Carle Hall residence control. Hinsman said students recently had damages that cost the entire residen-
» DAMAGE, A2
New Hampshire marijuana legalization bill still up for debate, voting in progress BETHANY RICCIARDI
aCting neWS editor Some interest has been expressed in New Hampshire House Bill 492, which would pass the legalization of marijuana in the state of N.H. Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana through a referendum, or statewide vote. New Hampshire does not allow statewide referendums. According to the Live Free or Die Alliance, “Opponents believe that since N.H. has one of the largest leg-
islatures in the world, citizens have ample access to their elected representatives and do not need the power of a referendum.” A marijuana legalization advocacy group, Marijuana Policy Project, wrote the bill. Representative Steve Vaillancourt sponsored the legalization bill and stated any bill that has taxes included in it has to go through The House Committee on Ways and Means after passing through the house. Then, the bill will remain there until it moves to the senate. After
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Section B: A&E..................1-4 Nation/World..5-6 Sports.............7-10
passing the senate, the bill will go to the governor. If the governor does not veto it, the bill will becomes a law, Vaillancourt explained. According to Vaillancourt, the Ways and Means committee will look at the bill and approve or disapprove it sometime in mid-March. However, he said, no matter what the Ways and Means committee decides, the bill goes to vote again in the house. Vaillancourt said the
» LAWS, A3
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Vice President of Clinical and Support Services, Paul Pezone, also said the increase in mental health patients being treated in the ER was a reason for the change. “We don’t have the most ideal layout to take good care of [mental health patients] and keep them segregated but in close proximity to the rest of the emergency department,” Pezone said. Matthews said America’s growing dependence on computer work stations were other reasons a more spacious department was necessary. “We looked at national guidelines and realized that our square footage was not going to meet our needs, so we are doing a minor expansion in terms of space,” Matthews said. Matthews reasoned that there have been, “growing pains and concerns” about the ER for several years, but said the hospital has made only minor tions. “You can only make so many temporary changes before you’re out of options, so we’ve really maximized the space we have,” Matthews said. Although
» ER, A2
BRIEF
Rwanda Ambassador Skypes with Keene State College KAITLIN CONLON
Contributing Writer On March 3, 2014, Keene State College Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Dr. James Waller, introduced several hundred students and community members to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Rwanda to the United States of America, Mathilde Mukantabana. The audience viewed a public conversation between Waller and Mukantabana via Skype in the Mabel Brown Room. Mukantabana shared her experience during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which according to Waller, claimed nearly one million lives in 100 days. Mukantabana explained her loss and said she lost her parents to the genocide, as well
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as four brothers and sisters and more than 70 other family members. “I was one of the lucky ones,” Mukantabana said. Mukantabana explained what is ultimately important to remember is she and others are all still Rwandans, and that though forgiveness may seem like a luxury, it is key. In the conversation, Mukantabana also added no government in the world has as much female representation as Rwanda. She concluded, “It’s forgiving ourselves, you really have to suffer to move forward,” Mukantabana said. “We have a story to tell,” Mukantabana concluded, “The truth will set you free.” Kaitlin Conlon can be contacted at kaitlin.conlon@ksc.keene. edu
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ThursdAy, MArch 6, 2014
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CAMPUS New Hampshire Senator Molly Kelly responds SAFETY to the Sanborn press conference held at KSC report log
Week of: Feb. 24 Monday, Feb. 24 9:21 a.m. Science Center: Email report of disorderly person that occurred last week. 9:41 a.m. Science Center: Building staff concerned about person’s behavior. Tuesday, Feb. 25 2:33 p.m. Carle Hall: 706 [marijuana] Odor leaving area as residents saw officer and went back into room. 4:34 p.m. Winchester Lot: Vehicle in lot with an open tool box. Officer pushed down but it will not latch. Wednesday, Feb. 26 1:31 a.m. Randall Hall: Odor investigation. 2:06 p.m. Carle Hall: Students clothes stolen out of the clothes dryer. 7:34 p.m. Carle Hall: RA called about a resident saying she has shaky hands and heart palpitations. Does not want an ambulance. Thursday, Feb. 27 10:20 a.m. Owls Nest 8: Possession of drugs. 3:50 p.m. Math Center: Suspicious person. 8:50 p.m. Holloway Hall: Odor investigation. 9:42 p.m. Carle Hall: Alcohol in room, and took possession of a knife. Friday, Feb. 28 3:38 a.m. Randall Hall: Female called stating she is having difficulty breathing. 4:51 a.m. Pondside 1: 706 [marijuana]. 10:00 p.m. Carle Hall: Suspected 706 [marijuana]. Saturday, March 1 12:22 a.m. Zorn Dining Commons: Officers with an intoxicated subject at the Hoot-N-Scoot. 1:24 a.m. Carle Hall: RA reports male subject vomiting in women’s bathroom 3B section. 2:12 a.m. Carle Hall: Intoxicated subject. Sunday, March 2 1:53 a.m. Butler Court Res Hall: Banned student on campus. 4:56 a.m. Carle Hall: The lights in the Carle Hall C & D connector hallway were turned off and two individuals entered a room on the right side of the hallway. C12 reports no problem.
PAMELA BUMP
Kelly added, “The bill did get passed out of the committee, and last week passed out of the senate. It will now go to the house for hearing. I think that students would be really interested in knowing that
Copy Editor Following the Keene State College press conference with Republican N.H. Senator Andy Sanborn, Democratic N.H. Senator Molly Kelly stated her views on topics which were brought up at the Feb. 12 event. Senator Kelly serves District 10 of N.H., which includes the city of Keene. Kelly stated that she had been sent The Equinox coverage of Sanborn’s press conference. Kelly said, “I approach my work in state senate from, maybe, a different place [than Sanborn], but one that I think is important. It’s probably the principal and premise of where I start from .... I believe that the purpose of government is to enable individuals to provide for themselves, each other, their families, [and] communities. What government needs to do is to provide the resources and the tools that do enable individuals to provide for themselves.” One major topic discussed at the Public Affairs Reporting press conference with Sanborn was N.H. House Bill 492. This bill proposes legalization of marijuana with government regulation in areas like sales and distribution. Senator Sanborn said he opposed the bill for many reasons, and stated he believed passing the bill would make government “bigger.” Kelly stated, “It [HB 492] passed in the house in session, but went back to Ways and Means [committee]. They have not come out with a recommendation yet....For me, to make a comment about HB 492—it’s a little early.” Kelly continued, “I’m not even sure what that bill will look like before it gets up to the senate. I think it’s really early for senators to be responding to that particular bill.” Kelly stated the passing of legislation involves a long process, which can cause its language to change as it moves through the house and senate. “If the bill looks different than the house bill, we get together with members to see if we can agree on that language. If we cannot agree, the bill dies. If we agree and the house and the senate both vote on that, the bill goes to the governor to see what the governor decides,” Kelly said. At the Feb. 12 KSC press conference, Sanborn stated on the topic of bills like HB 492, “Any of you that are willing to give up economic freedom for the perception of limited personal freedom deserve neither.” Kelly responded to Sanborn’s statement and said, “I think that what is important is that we recognize and that we also honor, the classes that we have in democracy— which is exhibited here in our state senate, as we propose legislation.” Kelly said, “It [HB 492] appears to be an important issue to students -- I do think it’s important that any legislation passed regarding legal-
STUDENT ASSEMBLY
Spring update STEVEN MIGNANO
Contributing WritEr Members of Student Assembly passed a motion to transfer funds of $8,952 from the Potential Funding account to the Contingency account incase funds are needed for spring events. Student Government Advisor Paul Striffolino said a $47,000 improvement has been made to the student center for a sound system replacement. In other news, Student Assembly will provide T-shirts for the spring carnival. Allie Bedell said elections for next year’s Student Government are scheduled April 28, 2014. Steven Mignano can be contacted at steven.mignano@ksc. keene.edu
FILE PHOTO KARINA BARRIGA / SENIOR REPORTER
Democratic N.H. Senator Molly Kelly poses for a photo in the Mason Library at Keene State College.
“I believe that the purpose of government is to enable individuals to provide for themselves, each other, their families, [and] communities.” -MOLLY KELLY DEMOCRATIC N.H. SENATOR
ization of a drug like marijuana would certainly need regulations made, like alcohol.” Kelly pivoted to policies and legislation outside of HB 492, which she stated were also important topics to students of N.H. Throughout her work and discussions with students, including those at KSC, Kelly said some of the most important policies to students have involved education. Kelly, a KSC graduate, shared, “For me, of the greatest resources a government can provide —the number-one resource is education and training. That has been a core of my work.” Kelly noted that policy makers, like herself, ask questions like, “‘How do we run our university sys-
tems in a fair, equitable manner?’ and, ‘How do we work and help with policy on different options with student debt?’” “New Hampshire, today, is the ing within the university systems. New Hampshire is number two in the nation for debt. We need to work on that—I’ve worked hard, and supported the budget towards almost all the funding for the university system,” Kelly said. One piece of legislature that Kelly recently sponsored was Senate Bill 215. “It’s a bill to authorize businesses to incorporate, in the state of New Hampshire, bene-
tion, as proposed in the legislature, social impact on the community,” according to Kelly. Kelly said college students have had a positive impact on this bill. “I will tell you that when students come and testify, people listen. were going to be graduating from college, and they were the future of our human capital, and that they were looking to work for compa-
that also have a meaningful impact Kelly stated the premise of a cor- on their community. That was very compelling,” Kelly stated.
could have an impact on their lives and on their future.” Another major piece of legislation that Kelly and Sanborn disagree on is the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, or the ACA. Sanborn, who stated in the KSC press conference that he does not support the ACA, said the legislation was “bad public policy.” Sanborn later added, “This will go down in history as the most damaging thing that’s ever happened to our state.” Oppositely, Kelly stated, “I have been working with plenty of the ACA agencies here in our state. I believe that they have a very positive impact on constituents. For example, students in New Hampshire can be insured up until the age of twenty-six [years of age] on their parents insurance—I would think that is a very positive impact.” Kelly added, “The Affordable Care Act also demands that insurance companies insure individuals who have pre-existing conditions— if you have a pre-existing condition, you can now be insured.” “We know that we can’t stay the same, here in our healthcare system, and we can’t go backwards. The Affordable Care Act is really moving us forward and making sure that we all have, as a community, access to good healthcare,” Kelly stated. Kelly also said, “I am sure that there will be glitches as we move forward, like anything when we put forward a new initiative. It is a good initiative, one where the premise is to ensure that we all have access to In response to Sanborn’s claims that hypocrisy existed in government, Kelly, an eight-year member of the N.H. Senate, stated, “I really have a lot of respect for the process that is democracy—which means that we do debate, we don’t always agree, but we do work together to come forward with legislation, and then, ultimately laws that really work in the best interest of the people that we serve. We work through communication with each other so that we can get to the facts. We all start with a different premise and so far, I have not agreed with a lot of senators. We don’t vote together, but I have a lot of respect for each of them and the people that they represent.” Kelly concluded and stated, “Democracy takes a lot of patience. It takes a lot of understanding, it takes a lot of communication. But then the results are better than anywhere else. So, I celebrate it on a daily basis.” Pamela Bump can be contacted at pbump@keene-equinox.com
(Cont. from A1)
(Cont. from A1)
both Pezone and Matthews insisted the changes were not the
tial hall an absence of guests until after spring break. “This is clearly a huge issue for Carle,” Hinsman said, “But hall council is trying the best we can to reduce damages. I feel as though the residents should be as well,” Hinsman said. Hinsman continued and said, “Hall council has come up with a few damage incentive programs to try and motivate people to either clean up after themselves
Keene Sentinel cited, “several violent incidents in recent years” may have been a factor in the renovation decisions. Matthews acknowledged working in the ER can be very stressful at times and sees a more open area as a way to alleviate some of that stress. The process of identifying problems with the CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC / AMY MATTHEWS
a long one. Matthews explained various hospital staff has been meeting with a senior project management team nearly every week for the past ten months, trying to determine the best approach to the renovation. “First we looked at, could we do it without a major renovation? Could we do something less comprehensive and less expensive?” Matthews explained, “We realized we really needed to do the right thing for our community, we had to do a major expansion.” From there, they submitted an application detailing the renovation plans to the state, which had a
Above, Cheshire Medical Center’s future design plans for an improved emergency room is shown.
committee tour the ER in January before approving. The last step is a public hearing in April that will allow citizens to scrutinize the plans and ask questions. Barring a major setback at the public hearing, construction will start less than a month later. Director of Keene State College Health and Wellness, Christine Burke, said the school has a close relationship with Cheshire Medical Center and indicated the two communities interact nearly everyday in some form or another.
“We obviously refer students [to the ER] in any kind of emergency situation, or if they need any medical care that is beyond our scope,” Burke said. Burke, who estimates that students are treated at Cheshire Medical Center nearly every day, from the changes. “Anyone who stays there—that’s going to benefit them and our students are included in that,” Burke said. Zach Winn can be contacted at zwinn@keene-equinox.com
Napiorski added, “If the damage continues, guests will not be allowed [to stay in Carle Hall].” In addition to Campus Safety, the Keene Police Department became involved with the investigation, which is still open. According to Drake-Deese, no one has come forward. However, Drake-Deese said he suspected, “It’s likely someone knows [who committed the damage],” and added that he thinks at least 20 students know who caused the damage for sure. Drakeinvolved with the vandalism will be found. “People like to brag. Eventually pictures will surface or something will get posted on social media,” Drake-Deese said. Nicole Danish can be contacted at ndanish@keene-equinox.com
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Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Thursday, March 6, 2014
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N.H. allegedly stops accepting out-of-state grants REBECCA MARSH
to have reciprocity with the state of Massachusetts for Massachusetts state grants to travel with The Massachusetts state grant students to out-of-state schools. has allegedly been disappearing According to Director of the Division of Higher Education award letters. Commission in N.H., Dr. Edward Senior Matt Schwartz stated he noticed this when he received out of New England to break out a letter from the Massachusetts of the reciprocity three years ago. Department of Higher Educa- MacKay said because of the Great tion. The letter allegedly stated Recession, the state of N.H. had the state of N.H. is not accepting to cut back on their funding for grants from out-of-state students’ some programs, one being the home states. When Schwartz N.H. Incentive Grant, which was a $300 grant given to students letter from Keene State College, going to schools outside of N.H. he said he saw a grant from Mas- for the academic year. The N.H. sachusetts for $300 that had been Incentive Grant cost around $3 there before was not there any- million every year, according to more. MacKay. “Since I started at Keene [State “Because of the Great RecesCollege] back in 2010, the state of Massachusetts has given me challenges facing the state, the grants, basically like a scholarship, to go to an out-of-state decisions, including eliminating school,” Schwartz said. the New Hampshire Incentive Schwartz asked, “What’s actu- Grant.” ally going on to have my home According to Abel, “Both state say that they’re not accept- states have to be in agreement to ing money from me or any other allow funds to travel from one student?” Schwartz is supposedly state in order for reciprocity not the only Massachusetts resi- agreements to work.” dent to have reported this hapAbel said, “Letters were pening to them. sent to students notifying According to Associate Direc- them of this change, but tor of Financial Aid, Deborah again it was a change, in Nichols, this information holds reaction to policies put in place in New Hampshire was told in January that the Mas- and in Massachusetts.” sachusetts state grant would not be offered to students going to possible to allow reciprocout-of-state schools for the 2014- ity to happen when N.H. 2015 academic year, Nichols said. took away state grants to “Starting in ‘14-15 Mass. resi- students going to other dents, Mass. students, will not be out-of-state colleges. getting their state grants if they According to Abel, come to N.H.,” Nichols said. Maine has recently The New England states made closed reciprocity with an agreement years ago to allow Mass. as well, and Mass. state grants from other New Eng- has been working on land states acceptance in colleges closing reciprocity with and universities in New England, both N.H. and Maine. Abel according to Nichols. also said approximately “The state of Massachusetts seven years ago, Maryland broke will not be funding students who reciprocity with Massachusetts. go out of the state with their state “In all three of these cases, it grants and it is because of the rec- has been other states to break iprocity,” Nichols said. reciprocity with Massachusetts,” According to Katy Abel, asso- Abel said. ciate commissioner for exterAccording to Nichols, the stunal affair for the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, Application for Federal Student the policy says that a state needs
Aid (FAFSA) for the 2014-2015
Equinox Staff
Mass. has eliminated the state grant. “These letters usually go ‘14-15 FAFSA already, not until usually March or April, so I’m confused by the letter [that Schwartz received],” Nichols said. According to Nichols, KSC does not cial aid. “If the state offers a student a state grant for an out-of-state school,” Nichols said, “we wouldn’t deny it.” Schwartz said he has not applied for
should listen to what the people have to say, and they [the people] want this.” Vaillancourt stated, “Even though we are not likely to legalize [marijuana] this year, we may decriminalize [it],” Vaillancourt added he is absolutely convinced that a proposed decriminalization bill will pass the house by a two-to-one margin. Vaillancourt shared he is more optimistic than ever the senate will pass the decriminalization bill. Vaillancourt said, “The Criminal Justice Committee recommended killing the bill, and we overturned it.” He continued, “For several years in a row, the New Hampshire House has passed decriminalization bills. They have died in the senate each year....New opinion polls show tremendous support for the bill….I have In a New Futures op-ed on legalization featured in the Concord Monitor, Tricia Lucas, advocacy director of New Futures, wrote, “As the New Hampshire Legislature prepares, yet again, to consider legislation to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana, I am reminded of the quote from H. L. Mencken, ‘For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple and wrong.’ Although the marijuana legalization issue can be easily stated for an opinion poll, in reality the issue is complex, with sigCASSIDY HUNKINS / EQUINOX STAFF
are going to their academic year, and is hopefully [Mass.] state, why should they ending his college career in May [Mass.] give their money to their students for our [N.H.] state?” 2014. “I understand that any dollars a student loses is hurtful,” Nichols said, “but you could also understand from Massachusetts’ point of view that if we [N.H.] aren’t giving money to our [N.H.] students that
Rebecca Marsh can be contacted at rmarsh@keene-equinox.com
After ten years in the making, Keene Ice reveals plans to build new rink NICK MARTIN
Equinox Staff The wheels have already begun to spin toward the new ice rink expected in the city of Keene, New Hampshire. group of local enthusiasts who currently work towards bringing the ice arena to Keene. An arena has been considered, by some members of the Keene community, due to the tourism it may spark in the surrounding areas. Having the ability to enjoy skating year-round THE EQUINOX / FILE PHOTO can allow people of all ages Keene State College athletes can benefit from this new rink for practices. to enjoy something that working with community struction begins.” Scully events that take place in the they would usually have to explained the location for arena,” Scully said. order to keep this momen- the arena and stated, “The Scully added, “I’m very The enthusiasm over tum going, as stated on the arena would be between excited about it. The comthe possibility of a rink in website. the police station and the munity has been trying for Keene has been displayed, Daniel V. Scully is Department of Public ten years to get an ice rink. as over 1,000 people have involved in the build- Works.” Scully added People travel pretty far discontacted Keene Ice and ing process of the arena. Keene Ice is responsible for tances to get to different ice voiced how excited they Scully said, “The are- a bulk of the funds raised rinks; having this one built are about the new arena, na’s opening day has yet so far. will bring it home for them.” according to keeneice.com. to be determined, but “Keene Ice has been rais- The “them” Scully refers to Members of the Keene Ice should be around eight ing money to fund the build. are Keene residents. organization have been to nine months after con- Also, they will manage all Another person
SoundoFF Brett Mastrangelo Senior Science Education
“That Shawn White didn’t [win a] medal in the half-pipe.”
stated, “With recreational marijuana use recently legalized in two states and increasing public pressure to ease restrictions on the drug nationWays and Means committee is full wide, the availability of this drug is of “Reefer Madness” types who will bound to increase. Only time will not pass it. He said if they disapprove, the bill still has a solid chance to pass perception of marijuana’s safety or through the house again. lack thereof. The key may be to do Vaillancourt indicated the senate a better job of educating America’s will probably say “no.” He said the youth about the value of their brains, governor has stated she plans to veto and how utterly important it is not to the bill. engage in behaviors that could per“I never expected this to pass the manently compromise that organ house to begin with,” Vaillancourt during a very vulnerable period in said, “In fact, we are a government its development.” (Cont. from A1)
Bryce Carlson Senior Graphic Design
“How bad the conditions were.”
involved with the process to get the arena is Keene State College’s Hockey Head Coach, Bobby Rodrigue. “I’m really excited for the rink to be built,” Rodrigue said, “I have participated in some of the design processes going on tours of different rinks to get ideas and sharing my experience from other rinks.” Rodrigue added having a rink in Keene will create more ice time for his athletes at a more convenient location. As it is now, KSC athletes must travel for practice. Other groups in Keene besides the Owls expect to use the rink. The Youth Hockey organization and high school teams at Keene High School and Monadnock Regional High School will all be able to access the local ice rink. Nick Martin can be contacted at nmartin@keene-equinox. com
health and safety of New Hampshire residents and our economy. It is time to move beyond rhetoric, simplistic responses, and legislation by poll to a serious policy discussion, supported by current research and data.” According to Joe Gallagher, communications coordinator for New Futures, “New Futures is serving as the anchor organization to Project SAM [Smart Approaches to Marijuana] in New Hampshire.” The New Futures information states the addiction rate is one in every 11 adults who have tried marijuana, and one in six adolescents who have tried the substance, according to the article in the Concord Monitor. Tricia Lucas also stated, “In 2011, 28.4 percent of high school students reported using marijuana one or more times in the last 30 days. Because legalization will increase access and convey the message that use is without risk, youth use will increase.” Keene State College’s Executive Summary for the fall 2012 semester showed 25 percent of KSC students have used marijuana within the last 30 days. Tiffany Mathews, coordinator of wellness education at KSC, said marijuana is seen by some as a safe and benign substance instead of being an addictive drug that has the potential to impede success and hinder people She said it is highly doubtful that the Center for Health and Wellness at KSC will dispense medical marijuana in the future for those reasons. “While it may lack apparent ill effects, it alters cognitive and social development and can lead to longterm effects on life and well-being,” Mathews said. Mathews also included some information from the NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) which
“What was the biggest surprise of the Olympic Games this year?”
Justin Yamet Senior Communication
“The U.S. not winning first in gold medals in total, because we have the best athletes.”
Cassie Stepanek Sophomore Elementary Education
“That they acknowledged their opening ceremony error by repeating it in the closing ceremony.”
Mathews indicated she does not think the legalization of marijuana she has had people come in and talk about using marijuana, and they talk about how it decreases their motivation to do the things they used to do. She said they lose motivation to follow through on things and that even with the use of marijuana overtime it becomes a habitual thing for students and they completely change their goals altogether. Mathews suggested that, “Marijuana isn’t usually connected to violent behavior, but if you did a little digging, possibly ask students who are leaving, transferring or dropping out...Ask them if marijuana may have had a role in that? Research does show as they become habitual users, even though they may seem laid back and relaxed, it’s often a disconnect with their goals that they once had coming in.” Aside from how students might be affected by this bill passing, staff and faculty have expressed possible change as well. Director of Campus Safety, Amanda Guthorn, said laws change periodically, so they have to adjust their procedures and protocols to Guthorn noted, “We stay on top of what’s happening in the law, and it would just change the manner in which we respond. So right now if we get a call for a potential marijuana circumstance, because it’s an illegal drug, we call Keene police, because we can’t legally possess the drug ourselves.” Guthorn continued, “That’s the protocol we’ve worked with Keene police on. So if it’s no longer illegal, for over 21 [year-olds], that eliminates that issue. But if it’s still illegal for under 21, we still need the police. So there are a lot of nuances to it. It’s not just a ‘yes it’s legal,’ ‘no it’s not,’ type of thing.” Guthorn said even if it became legal, the majority of the campus is under the age of 21, therefore Campus Safety would still face a number of issues. Campus Safety already receives many calls about potential marijuana use on campus, according to Guthorn, who said if the drug became legal students might start experimenting more with it. Guthorn said she does not think it will necessarily increase the number of people who use marijuana for whatever purposes, recreational or medical. “Whatever policies we’re going to enforce, we have to create them before they go into effect…I think it [laws changing] always presents challenges. Are professors going to be able to tell if kids are coming to class high? I would guarantee kids are coming to class high now,” Guthorn predicted. In addition to the changes New Hampshire faces, representative Vaillancourt said, “We are at the cutting edge of historical change. We’ve come a long way, certainly in my lifetime, and we are making progress that is good for all society.” Bethany Ricciardi can be contacted at bricciardi@keene-equinox.com
Compiled by: Alison Lamell Multimedia Director
Yana Riendeau Senior Psychology
“Some guy from my high school, his sister was in the Olympics for skiing.”
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Mission... The Equinox exists to promote the free flow of information, to protect the First Amendment, to stimulate high standards in the practice of journalism and to foster excellence among student journalists.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
[Keene-Equinox.com]
EDITORIAL
Freshman residential hall could face potential $2300 in vandalism damages
Carle Hall, the largest freshman residential hall on the Keene State College campus, could face an estimated cost of $2,300 in vandalism damages. Students who live in Carle Hall are held responsible to pay for these damages. The Keene Police Department and KSC Campus Safety are currently investigating the destruction, which consists of broken shower heads, two broken microwaves, destroyed exit signs and now, a toilet. Associate Dean of Student Life, Kent Drake-Deese, told an reporter for The Equinox he suspected at least 20 students know who has caused the damage. However, no students have admitted to the crimes to authorities, or have yet shared names regarding who may Campus Safety and KPD will catch the students responsible because of bragging and social media posts. friends and fellow Carle Hall residents, but The Equinox poses this question: Is it worth it for each person in an entire building to pay the damages only a select few have created? There is a difference between protecting someone from political or cultural persecution and protecting someone to cover up an act of vandalism. Letters were sent to parents of residents, a damage incentive program was formed and a public service announcement stop the disruption in Carle Hall. If the damage continues, guests will no longer be allowed in the residential hall. Is this worth losing the privilege of having friends stay for Spring Weekend? We believe those who know of the people who have caused the damage should speak up. Withholding information about this particular investigation leads to more problems, none of A student’s residential hall is his or her home away from home, therefore it is unacceptable to act in this manner while away at school. It is also, of course, against the law to vandalize property. These acts display complete disrespect for personal and communal space. As KSC students, we expect more from our fellow colleagues. This destruction needs to stop. Nothing is humorous about ripping a toilet or shower head from the wall. Instead of protecting others from getting in trouble, students need to protect their home away from home.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN CANTORE / PHOTO EDITOR
STAFF COMMENTARY To contact The Equinox, email jconlon@keene-equinox.com BRITTANY BALLANTYNE Administrative Executive Editor JULIE CONLON Managing Executive Editor
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Ads Manager: Anna Glassman (603-358-2401) Equinox Staff: David Walsh, Katelyn Kelly, Betsy Thompson, Nicole Carrobis, Stephanie McCain, Denise Grattage, Haley Erdbrink, Brooke Stall, Cassidy Hunkins, Bree Kraus, Hannah Sundell, Kendall Pope, Nick Sonsini, Diana Pimer, Ray Waldron, Brian Clemmenson, Nicole Danish, Jordan Crowley, Anthony Munoz, Taylor Howe, Jacob Knehr, Eric Jedd, Rebecca Marsh, Nick Martin Copyright © 2014: All rights reserved Reproduction of The Equinox in whole or part in any form written, broadcast or electronic without written permission of The Equinox is prohibited. The Equinox is published each Thursday during the academic year by the editorial board of The Equinox, which is elected every spring by the members of the editorial board and acts as joint publisher of the paper. The Equinox serves as the voice of the students of Keene State College and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty, the staff and/or the administration. One copy of The Equinox is available free each week. Anyone removing papers in bulk will be prosecuted on theft charges to the fullest extent of the law. Inserting items into printed copies of The Equinox is considered theft of services and will result in prosecution.
Blackfish documentary shows SeaWorld’s mistreatment It’s no wonder SeaWorld would prefer the public to forget about the For many, SeaWorld is known death of Dawn Brancheau in 2010. to be one of the happiest places on However, the documentary Earth where imagination blends with nature. Their commercials that information. The media discov- make it nearly impossible to not ered that management at SeaWorld want to experience such a majestic was mistreating their employees looking place. and animals soon after Brancheau’s SeaWorld sucks the viewer in death—and it is a good thing the with the beautiful whales and dolmedia discovered this. phins jumping through water and Brancheau was an experienced penguins wobbling around. It’s trainer attacked by a killer whale a place where families can enjoy named Tilikum at the Orlando, watching and connecting with aniFlorida theme park. The incident mals that are rarely seen elsewhere. occurred right in front of bystandWhen Orlando SeaWorld opened ers watching the performance, but in 1973, it was seen as the biggest SeaWorld insisted the attack was and best marine mammal park to because of Brancheau’s ponytail that attend as well as to work at. The
animal trainers never had a reason to believe they were doing anything besides giving these animals the best life possible, while doing what they loved the most. There are a small amount of trainers of this kind, and SeaWorld is another monopoly in the world. If trainers want this job, they must do as SeaWorld wants them to do, as well as think the way SeaWorld cials kept Tilikum’s history of past attacks from the trainers he worked with daily. As much as the killer whale seemed to love working with his trainers, no one seemed to take into consideration everything he’s been through from the age of four.
He was captured as a juvenile, taken from his mother soon after, moved to Sealand where he was brutally attacked by other Orca whales and after killing another trainer, he was brought to SeaWorld. The worst part of Tilikum’s saga is that everyone involved, whether it was the diver who caught him in dealt with him, never realized what they were doing to these innocent animals was wrong. In the end, the trauma he’s been through resulted in violence and SeaWorld is left to blame. Jordan Crowley can be contacted at jcrowley@keene-equinox.com
Editorial Policy The Equinox is a designated public forum. Student editors have full editorial control over the entire content of the paper. All articles and opinion pieces are assigned, written and edited by students without prior review by administrators, faculty or staff. The Equinox is published Thursdays during the academic year with dates immediately preceding and following holidays omitted. The advertising deadline is 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication. The Equinox reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason. Advertising is not accepted until it appears in the paper. Letters to the editor must be written exclusively to The Equinox and are due by noon on the Friday prior to publishing. All letters must include name and phone number for verification. The Equinox reserves the right to edit for style and length, and refuse any letters to the editor. For clarification and additional information on any above policies call 358-2414. The Equinox business office is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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STAFF COMMENTARY
STAFF COMMENTARY
Abuse of power continues to fuel Venezuelan protests
Expand KSC health center for well-being
In any situation where too much power is given to one person or group of people, the society as a whole risks consequences. That does not by any means indicate that they deserve these consequences. People simply trying to live their own lives should have the freedom to do so without external forces of oppression. One example is the leadership of President Nicolás Maduro who has apparently rendered the Venezuelan
The City of Keene recently donated land on Gilbo Avenue to Keene State College for a potential Health and Wellness Center, in addition to the one located on the KSC campus. Although this potential Health and Wellness Center is not a priority for KSC at the moment, I think it
Civilians have struggled to afford the proper necessities and Maduro is threatening to raise gas prices as well. Venezuelans are so displeased with the economic consequences of Maduro’s leadership that many have been protesting, facing resistance from the national guard by Maduro’s orders. As life goes on for the Venezuelans that are not in protest, Maduro himself has ties with the media, controlling what is seen on television. This is a horror story for every society; what happens when the government that runs you abuses its power? It is the indifference to the risk of this oppression that often enables it. I feel it is situations such as this that remind us why we need to be more active in and critical of the world around us. Too often, we avoid politics because others’ views can often be passionate, and we simply want to “live and let live.” also lead to a level of indifference and avoidance toward our own government, as well as many real issues at hand. For instance, what will you do with the news of Venezuela? Will you share news articles on Facebook, or will you simply put the news down and say, ‘That’s too bad’? Will either actually accomplish anything? Raising awareness about an issue is crucial—but what is just as crucial is taking the steps to do something about it. This can be
This building would be located off campus and would contain facilities for health science students, including an indoor track and exercise equipment.
AP PHOTO
Streets in Venezuela are filled with protestors angry at President Nicolás Maduro’s leadership. Many civilians are struggling to survive because of Maduro’s control on the Venezuelan economy. “Raising awareness about an issue is crucial,” Munoz says.
a different power than our own. Who can you write to? What can they do? There are various answers to these questions, but none that are clear; it takes initiative to really do anything. Second, it has implications for any type Hence, I think Venezuela’s crisis brings of power. The story of the “corrupt corporatwo things to our awareness. First, it provokes us to wonder how we may be able to contexts. Often, the reason for success and help a situation that is so far away and under overtaking is the indifference of the people
they control. I wish I had a solid answer on stations—be critical even of those that broadwhat to do with the situation, or what to say cast your own view. about it other than, “That is so sad; I hope they turn out alright.” However, I do advise battle, but with a conscious mind-set and someone knowledgeable about politics. Write strong will, it may be possible to make some to a politician. Look up the names of people contribution to diffuse the situation, and prewho would do this. Look up the names of our vent ones from happening in our own society. own government and pay attention to what they’re actually doing. View multiple media
STAFF COMMENTARY
Bill proposes changes in firearm control laws, ‘smart guns’ The combination of technology and guns has recently reality—and some think this could be the newest form of gun control as well as gun safety—but, is this really realistic? At a press conference in Boston on Feb. 19, Massachusetts Democrat Ed Markey discussed a gun control bill requiring
“I believe there are too many unanswered questions in terms of the technology right now for this bill to become a reality. “ -TAYLOR HOWE EQUINOX STAFF
their owners and other authorized users. gun. Although Markey’s focus is to enact gun technology; I believe our focus should shift from guns to people. According to Boston.com’s Steve LeBlanc, Markey’s bill requires that two years after the bill’s enactment, all new guns would have to be equipped with this new technology, Three years after the bill’s enactment, all guns sold would have to be equipped with the technology. The law would go into act once the technology is developed and on the market. This bill does not include a grandfather clause, therefore collectors would have to have this technology added onto all of their guns no matter how old the guns are, causing collectThe Greeley Gazette. As stated at the press conference, Markey believes that deaths of children and the number of crimes conducted with There is no doubt that such technology would prevent some deaths and would make the gun safer in the hands of unauthorized users, but can we really trust the technology?
I believe there are too many unanswered questions in terms of the technology right now for this bill to become a reality. Technology does not always work 100 percent of the time—we experience this every day with our cell phones, laptops, tablets, GPS and more. This technology’s ability to work correctly could be life or death situation, and forcing all gun owners to trust this technology is questionable to say the least. Not only is the technology questionable, but so are the loss of rights this mandate would lead to. Such a mandate would cause gun owners to spend almost three times more on their guns than they do now without the technological add–ons. This change in price would have a great impact on the poor’s ability to buy guns—putting the lower class’ right to bear arms in question. The mandate itself is just as questionable. Should every gun owner really be required to have such technological gadgets? I believe this should be a choice among gun owners. Those who want to trust the technology and take the step in aiming to make their gun safer for their children should be allowed to. Gun owners should be allowed to conduct their own
research, in regards to such technology, and make their own educated choices about the guns they wish to own. Let’s focus on the people behind the gun. How can we help them? There are often events in one’s life that lead to their decision of resorting to violence. I am not suggesting that such acts like school shootings, mall shootings, massacres, drive-bys, suicides or any other facing, but rather it can help explain their choices. If we started to really think about how we can help that acts in our country. These people cannot be stopped with smart guns, but rather, may be stopped if we had a better mental health system in our country. In terms of legislation regarding smart guns, I think Markey jumped the gun on this one—pun intended. It is simply too early to tell if this technology is able to be trusted and there are too many unanswered questions. Markey is essentially proposing a bill for technology that simply isn’t ready yet. Taylor Howe can be contacted at
for KSC students, but it would be a great addition for the City of Keene. If we open up this building, we should open it up to the public as well as to KSC students in order to promote health, wellness and exercise for everyone in the community. I have heard that KSC once was very involved with the Keene community and other surrounding areas. However, in recent years, the involvement has become more oncampus oriented. Opening up this building to the tion. The health science programs at KSC are growing. Since we recently just established the simulation beds for nursing majors in Rhodes Hall, it would make sense that KSC needs this new building. As we are developing programs and facilities in the health science program due to all of the student interest, it also makes sense that this building could create great learning opportunities for incoming students and attract more perspective students to KSC. One issue with this building is that it would be located where students would have to walk to the building. It would also contain classrooms for health science students who will have to walk as well. However, it would be a short walk from the campus. As many students walk around in downtown Keene or live off campus, I don’t see any issue. The location would also help students exercise more, and de-clutter the Spaulding Gymnasium. Also, students who live off campus could still exercise without having to come to the campus and they wouldn’t have to pay for center in Keene. If we are going to open up this Health and Wellness Center to the to offer a discounted rate for people who live in Keene. This would allow families with lower incomes the ability to still exercise at this facility. Promoting a healthy lifestyle should be a priority for both KSC and the city of Keene. Jacob Knehr can be contacted at
COMMENTARY
Study abroad death reminds American students to be careful of their surroundings when traveling After spending four hours on a train, it is safe to say I Durkin was at was Sloppy Sam’s. This was the exact was quite thrilled to get off and stretch my legs. bar I went to. I remember when my friend brought my As I made my way off the train and through Roma roommates and I there I said, “We’re really going to a bar called Sloppy?” As soon as I read that was where he I saw coming out of the station was Rome police sur- was last seen, I got the chills. rounding a dead body. I can remember walking around Rome and having A person who appeared to be homeless was already to walk under these tunnels, and they really creeped put in a body bag, and was about to be removed from me out. They were dark and unsafe. the sidewalk. My roommates and I were shocked that It was like walking under the underpass of a highwe were really witnessing this. I can easily say that was walk under one of those alone, in the dark and intoxiThe week of Feb. 22, a terrible accident occurred in cated. Rome. A 21-year-old Bates University student from Rye, This story not only brought back vivid memories of N.H., John Durkin, went missing. The search only lasted my trip to Rome, but memories of my semester abroad a few days. According to The Boston Globe, Durkin was altogether. reported missing after he stayed behind at a bar and I cannot believe how lucky and fortunate I was to not never returned home. have anything happen to me while I was abroad. I spent four indescribable months the spring of 2013 studying investigation, Durkin’s body had already been found away in Florence, Italy. And there, I felt completely safe. I felt so safe in Florence, because it became a home killed by a passing train while walking under one of to me. I never once felt uncomfortable walking around Rome’s many tunnels. It is so sad that Durkin’s trip and during the day or at night. life was cut so short. However, I never walked around alone. I always This recent news hit me really hard for several rea- made sure my roommates or friends were right there sons. The most eerie of them all was the fact that I knew with me. The only times I ever walked by myself in the city was to and from class, all of which were during the vividly picture it. day. I too visited the Campo de’ Fiori square where I think this is extremely important, not only being Durkin reportedly went. This is a square full of pubs abroad in a foreign country, but in any unfamiliar setand bars, and I remember it being very busy and well lit. ting. No one should ever be wandering around alone, male or female.
I think many will agree with me that this was Durkin’s downfall. Even though he had been living there for a month, and he may have been a linebacker for the Bates football team, he should not have been left alone, especially at night and not being in his right mind-set. I do not think studying away is dangerous by any means. These places are just as dangerous as anywhere in the United States—a city is a city. I do think that you need to be very smart to come home untouched, though, and not book smart, but street smart. I think Americans are big targets in foreign places, especially for pickpockets. Italy is known for its gypsies. These people have completely mastered their art of distraction and robbery, so when they see someone remotely acting unaware of their surroundings, they will see them as their next victim. Half the time these people will not even know they were robbed until much later. nitely the sketchiest place I visited. I was lucky enough to have had a friend living there who was able to show my roommates and I around. My time abroad was the best experience of my life. I would not change it for anything. I made it home safely and untouched because I was smart. I never walked around alone, I was aware of my surroundings at all times, and that is what I would suggest to all those who are interested in going to a foreign AP PHOTO country. John Durkin was studying abroad in Italy when he Shannon Flynn can be contacted at was killed by a passing train.
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“It’s important for Keene [State College] to recognize other cultures,” Shea said, “It spreads diversity and helps us connect with the rest of the world. I loved having the chance to learn about different cultures right here on my small college campus.” Shea said KSC is doing well in terms of globalization. “We do a fantastic job in bringing in different foods and letting our students try them,” Shea said, “This all relates to globalization, which is a big topic right now.” Zack Creamer, a KSC sophomore, stumbled on the Chilean food in the student center and was delighted by the different tastes. “I tried all of the options and I liked something different, but it’s good to be able to try something else.” Creamer continued, “I think I might want to try other types of Chilean food now.” Opportunities like the Chilean week on campus give students the chance to connect ties with other cultures. Vitale kept an open mind when she gave the Chilean food a try. “My father is a great cook who always tries out new ingredients,” Vitale said, “I’m always willing to try new tastes, even if they don’t look like something I’d typically eat.” Boris said the outcome of his visit was positive as it neared its end. “I am so happy to have been given the chance to show my food to Keene State College,” Boris said, “I love being able to visit America and more importantly, I love being able to show America a tiny bit of my culture.” Stephanie McCann can be contacted at smccann@keene-equinox.com KARINA BARRIGA / SENIOR NEWS REPORTER
Global Chef Carol Boris Flores Godoy stirs up Chilean-inspired dishes to KSC, including “Samples of Santiago” and “From the Pacific to Patagonia,” according to a Keene State College Dining Services flyer. “I love being able to visit America and, more importantly, I love being able to show America a tiny bit of my culture,” Boris said.
enter the job market following graduation. “I don't feel terrible about it. I have a lot of friends that just graduated in May and a good handful of them have found jobs within the (Cont. from A10)
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good turnaround for an entry level position. It’s
easy for someone looking, especially at a public
“It made me think more about my purpose...” -JULIE FLYNN KSC SOPHOMORE
of color, he is able to show a positive image of color, someone who’s educated, successful and pursuing what he loves.” Garcia’s second reason pertained to Johnson’s knowledge of mental health. “It is something we all need to talk more about,” Garcia said. “We need to remove the stigma from there because then we will all be healthier in so many ways,” she added. Garcia said she was thrilled to witness the success of Johnson’s speech. Kaitlyn Kelly can be contacted at kkelly@keeneequinox.com
HALEY ERDBRINK / EQUINOX STAFF
Speaker and motivator Joe Johnson talks about pursuing one’s purpose, not one’s dreams, in the Mabel Brown Room, Friday Feb. 28.
for it,” Corkery said. Corkery continued, “Graphic designers do everything. We are branding, we make logos, a philosophy student is equipped with can be we are advertising and we put company’s utilized in a variety of ways. names out there.” Corkery said graphic design “There is not a particular job that someone students are pupils who are bound to be noticed. studying philosophy would naturally go to “Whether or not people want to admit it, they with just a philosophy degree,” she said. need us. They are stuck with us,” Corkery said. While students who study within KSC’s There are also growth opportunities within Communication and Philosophy Department graphic design. According to The Wall Street Journal, the average mid-career salary rises research indicates they will be successful wherever it is that they land. Hart Research Associates (HRA) worked in The Wall Street Journal reported a philoso- conjunction with the AAC&U and surveyed 318 employers who hire college graduates. The data grow more than double that of the average start- discovered employers agreed that, “Having ing salary, which equaled the growth of mathematics majors. There are other ways to measure a broad range of skills and knowledge is most success aside from salary potential. “Philoso- important for recent college graduates to phy has consistently scored as one of the high- achieve long-term career success.” est of people taking the GRE,” Mount said. The HRA data also listed that, “Employers According to data from Educational Testing are highly focused on innovation as critical to Services (ETS), the organization responsible for the success of their companies and they report the GRE testing, philosophy applicants rank that the challenges their employees face today highest in the verbal and analytical writing set than in the past.” quantitative category. KSC Associate Professor The HRA survey found that nine percent of of Art, Robert Kostick, said he recently attended the companies surveyed, “endorse the concept a conference in Boston with the AAC&U. Forbes of a liberal education,” and believe it produces students who “demonstrate both acquisition of “worst” majors to get a degree in, Kostick said. knowledge and its application.” However, according to literature from the According to Corkery, students studying libAAC&U, provided by Kostick, jobs that require eral arts are not to be pushed to the side. the skills possessed by graphic design gradu“Don’t ever underestimate a graphic designer,” Corkery said. graphic design student at KSC, said she believes the graphic design program has prepared her to
David Walsh can be contacted at dwalsh@keene-equinox.com
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Sixteen hour time difference does not prevent student from enjoying Australia MOLLY MCCARTHY
University of newcastle, aUstralia After about 34 hours of traveling, I arrived in Sydney, Australia on February 12.
noticed that Australians abbreviate everything and anything.
would say “two-thirt.” with other CIS abroad students and learning how to what is good. survive in Australian society. -
at the famous Bondi Beach, which was amazing. -MOLLY MCCARTHY KSC JUNIOR
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Top Left: KSC junior Molly McCarthy with a group at Bondi Beach learning to surf. Bottom Left is a photo of Newcastle Beach. Above: McCarthy is studying in Australia this Spring semester 2014.
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Newest group on campus promotes student involvement in stock market KAITLYN KELLY
unit of IPG Mediabrands-Interpublic; which is traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). At press time, the group held
Equinox Staff Keene State College students recently founded the Keene State Investment Group in the 2013-2014 academic year. The mission of KSIG is to gain
of development to be made. “The ble," Vallerie said. He mentioned the group was asked to leave their initial meeting place and had to search for a new one. The group hopes that if they are not able to gain funding this semester, they will be able to by next academic year. “We’re going to build a faux portfolio. If it works out well, then we’re hoping next semester to actually get
markets and the investment processes. The group will also work towards sustaining an equity portfolio. The newfound Board of Directors consists of Chairman John Snider, Vice-Chairman Zachary Ryan Scrivano, Portfolio Manager Anthony Diorio, Chief Adminis-
Other
hopeful plans for the ent investment groups. Group members said they hope to tour the Federal Reserve Bank of both Boston and New York and visit each city’s Financial District. Their potential meetings include companies like Fidelity Investments, Prudential Financial, Ameritrade and Scottrade. Although group members mentioned it is important for the group to remain close for the time being, members of KSIG expressed their hopes to expand. “We want to get more people, while also keeping it close-knit. We want to make sure
J. Humer. The group expressed a shared goal to develop and eventually put to use —the goal of obtaining new investment skills. Oberst, who claimed to be at the top of his class in Keene’s State College’s School of Economics, talked from being a part of the club. “Snider said it would be a good learning experience, and after going to the said. “Right now, we’re working on understanding the basic workings Member Mariah Crisp is a sophomore at KSC and is majoring in economics. She said she became interested in the group when her professor told her class about the student interest in starting KSIG. “I took a class in high school where we played a stock market game. I’ve Crisp said as she explained her initial interest in the group. The group is broken down into different sectors: commoditrial, retail trade, technology and telecommunications. These sectors allow for each member to research and understand the different verti-
said. If students at KSC are interested in joining KSIG, they must maintain a minimum semester-by-semester GPA of 3.0 and contribute written reports. CASSIDY HUNKINS / EQUINOX STAFF
cals that go into the investment proCrisp elaborated more on the seccesses. tors and said, “Sometimes it’s hard Crisp, for one, found interest in the retail sector. “I research which Junior Pete Vallerie, who is also stocks would be good to invest in, an economics major at KSC, specializes in the industrial sector.
and read annual reports, which tell you everything you need to know about the company—who’s leading the company, what their future plans are, what has worked out in
According to the Keene State College Investment group’s website, 1984 alumnus Brian McMahon has become the advisor of KSIG. McMahon is the CEO of Orion Holdings, a
Chairman John Snider is the Business Manager for The Equinox. Vice-Chairman Zachary Koehler is the Web Master for The Equinox. Kaitlyn Kelly can be contacted at kkelly@keene-equinox.com
(Cont. from A10)
“We’re not quite like other countries informal and formal language...” -MICHAEL MCCARTHY COMMUNICATION PROFESSOR
now each member of my household has their own personal cell phone which is our primary form of comchology student, Kourtney Poland, said. Poland said she does not believe texting affects her academically. “I do not text in class, because I have a realization that I am paying a lot of money to be in school and strive to do well. The only way I see it affecting me negatively when it comes to my academic life is when I write papers or formal letters, and I have to rethink the way I spell words and make sure I write correctly and not with my texting Arts and Humanities Assistant Professor, Emily Robins Sharpe, said the advances in cell phone use have added to the amount of time students spend writing. “I have noticed more and more that there isn’t that gap between getting over that anxiety of sitting down to write, because so much of the day is spent writing emails, texting, Facebook statuses, tweets and all of that. That doesn’t necessarily translate into it being easier to write a paper for class, but I definitely think that it can be really
certainly very aware of. It is something that we all do all the time anyway, and now we are Although McCarthy said he sees the advantage of technology, he also said it may be harmful. “I think it is damaging, in some way, a person’s ability to use ciently as possible. When texting, plete sentences, but sometimes I get lazy and say, well, ‘I don’t need a period there…I don’t need a comma.’ My favorite expression is ‘lemme,’ even though it’s McCarthy said. The professor continued, “I think if we keep doing that, we're going to take what I think is a pretty interesting language— English—and we’re going to “There is not just one English— and there never has been just one
Sharpe continued, “Our language is also constantly evolving to adapt to new situations and new social norms. So whether or not it is because of a small pocket computer that everyone starts carrying, we are going to end Bonin agreed with Sharpe. “I up with new words in our lanspell everything out when I text. guage and we are going to end The only abbreviation I ever use is up with new constructions that LOL, and I only use it on special occasions. Most of the apps I have not, she said. are word games so I don't think “While I don’t always love my academic life has been affected the distraction or the annoyance of cell phones and text speak, Bonin said. texts and social media, I think Sharpe said the language used that the best thing that we can through social media has created a do is try to harness the innova“heightened awareness of commu- tions that go along with it and be a part of this inevitable develop“It is something that we all do all the time, anyway. Target what you are writing to what you are saying Nicole Carrobis can be contacted at nicole.carrobis@ksc.keene.edu Sharpe continued, “Not everybody knows how to send an appropriately formal email. But that is something that our students are
DENISE GRATTAGE / EQUINOX STAFF
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KSC disputes Forbes Magazine statistics Keene State College shows liberal arts programs are profitable after graduation DAVID WALSH
Equinox Staff In today’s competitive job market, Forbes magazine released a report which debates whether or not a liberal arts education will lead students to a successful career. Keene State College is one such institution that provides a liberal arts education. “Not all college degrees are created equal,” according to Jenna Goudreau of Forbes, in her 2012 article titled,“10 Worst College Majors.” Gouogy, engineering and math) tend to lead to higher initial employment and higher initial earnings than what she calls “non-technical” majors such as arts, humanities and social science. Georgetown University’s Center for Educalected during 2009 and 2010. Other studies tell a different story— for example, The Association of American Colleges and which states that liberal arts disciplines do in fact create successful employees. According to the report, “Students who pursue their major within the context of a broad liberal education substantially increase their likelihood of achieving long-term professional success.” Continued research found that humanities and social science majors, between the ages of 56-60, earn more annually than those who major study within the realm of the STEM programs. During this peak earning time, humanities and social science majors earn about $2,000 more annually than their counterparts, according to The unemployment rates for recent liberal arts graduates is 5.2 percent, and “mature workers” with liberal arts degrees have an unemploypercent higher than the professional and preprofessional unemployment rate. Additional factors students may consider are how graduates apply their education in the workforce. KSC Associate Professor of Philosophy, Allyson Mount, said, “Philosophy is a pretty common preparation for law school. I’m not sure if they [study subjects] can be counted as unemployed if they are in law school three years from now.” Mount continued, “In general, I think it is BETSY THOMPSON / EQUINOX STAFF
Global Chef provides students with the fresh flavors of Chile Equinox Staff Spices, worldly ingredients, and a strong, South American aroma swept through the Keene State College campus as a piece of Chile arrived in Keene, New Hampshire. For four days in the last week of February, the KSC community had the opportunity to try Chilean foods in both the L.P. Young Student Center and the Zorn Dining Commons. Chilean chef, Carol Boris Flores Godoy, served up his culture’s cuisine and taught the campus about his tradition of taste. The chef, who goes by “Boris,” expressed his excitement to be able to share his dishes with the KSC community. “It’s great to be able to cross borders of different countries,” Boris, who was born and raised in Chile, said. “I think eating my food will help students better understand my country that I come from,” he added. Students expressed excitement over trying
new and different foods that they may not have had the opportunity to try otherwise. Victoria Vitale, a KSC senior, said she likes to try new foods. “It’s nice to switch it up and try other culture’s foods that are not typically available in the student center or in the DC,” Vitale said, “I think I ean food again now that I’ve had it once before.” According to Boris, KSC dining, which is completely run by the multinational food services corporation Sodexo, generally tries to bring worldwide chefs, like Boris, to campus for students to try out. “For me, I’m a global chef for the Sodexo company,” Boris said, “I work with a lot of other countries, including America, trying to spread my culture through my food.” Boris continued, “It is important for everyone to get to know other cultures, other ways to live and other foods to eat.” KSC senior Kristen
KAITLYN KELLY
Equinox Staff Motivational speaker Joe Johnson shared a quote his mother always said to him on Friday, Feb. 28 in the Mountain View Room of Keene State College’s L.P. Young Student Center. “This is not your world, but you can do anything you want in life,” Johnson stated as he repeated his mother’s words. Johnson recalled how often his mother spoke those words to him while growing up and how this quote stuck with him throughout his life. The quote connected with the main point of Johnson’s speech, titled, “Pursue Your Purpose, Not Your Dreams.” According to his website, joejohnsonspeaks.com, Johnson’s initial dream was to play professional football, but that dream “faded away and Johnson was lege grade point average and no plans about his future,” until he realized his purpose. Johnson said his goal is to help people answer the question, “Who are you and why are you here?” According to his website, Johnson has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business, a Masters degree in Counselor Education, and is currently pursuing his phD. in Counselor Education. KSC junior Stephen Forziati, who attended the event, noted his favorite part of Johnson’s speech. He explained part of Johnson’s talk about “fear was what I [Forziati] found most interesting. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how true it was,” he said. “I really got a lot out of it,” Forziati continued. Johnson focused on four main points throughout the speech, as he conveyed a message of positive self-esteem and good mental health. focused on higher self-esteem. The next point Johnson con-
» MAJORS TO CAREERS, A6
STEPHANIE MCCANN
Speaker advises students to pursue purpose
Professors say social media affects the spoken language NICOLE CARROBIS
Equinox Staff With the increase in accessibility to talk and share with friends and family through technology, questions are raised about how the immediacy of conversation will affect the millennial generation in the future. According to John McWhorter’s article on Time Ideas, “Is Texting Killing the English Language?” “there is no evidence that texting is ruining composition skills. Worldwide people speak differently from the way they write, and texting — quick, casual and only intended to be read once — is actually a way of
think with the advent of instant messaging—now texting, and because people can come up with shortcuts when they are texting, language will be affected,” McCarthy continued, “Shortcuts are always going to be found by people looking for shortcuts; in some ways you’ve got to admire that.” McCarthy then said, “We may be adding words because of technology, but we’re also encouraging people not to think in complete thoughts, write in full sentences, write in coordinated and subordinated points and have a good parallel structure when writing or speaking. So, I have concerns about that, but I try to address that in the ways that I teach.” Sophomore English student,
Members of the Keene State College community explained they have differing opinions. before she relied on a cell phone.
KARINA BARRIGA / SENIOR REPORTER
Chilean Chef Carol Boris Flores Godoy prepares an avocado and shrimp salad in the student center. Chef Boris shared his passion for Chilean cuisine on the KSC campus the week of February 24.
Shea said she under- through the foods that are stands the importance of made available for tasting. globalization on a college » GLOBAL CHEF, A6 campus, even if it is just
how technology, social media and cell phone usage affects language, Communication Professor, Michael McCarthy, shared how he believes language through texting may affect daily language. “We speak both formally and informally,” McCarthy said. “We’re not quite like other countries where there is a complete and mal language, and you’re supposed to know which to use and when. I
that I got when I was thirteen. I was the only one of my friends that had a phone at the time, so my only contact was my mom. I could only sages per month. Those were the good days,” she said. “I remember being young and having a house phone, that was our primary way of communicatwe got rid of our house phone and
» LANGUAGE, A9
called “your cool.” Johnson said every individual in high regard about a person as well as themselves. “My ‘cool’ was learning,” Johnson said, as he discussed the idea of individuality. "Finding Excuses About Reality" was an acronym Johnson used to illustrate his third point. As Johnson spoke on the topic of fear, he encouraged the audience not to run from problems. presentation was what Johnson called, “The Four P’s,” or the phrase, “You are a product of the people you place in your presence.” Johnson illustrated this lesson by sharing the story of how his cousin was murdered after spending time with the wrong crowd. “All of these points are interrelated,” Johnson said. “He [Johnson] really had a way with the crowd. He was really relatable,” KSC sophomore Julie Flynn stated. “It made me think more about my purpose and what I can do to get there,” Flynn added. Sandra Garcia, coordinator of multicultural student support at KSC, said she was hoping students would gain reactions, similarly to Flynn’s, from the event. Garcia said she invited Johnson to speak in hopes of helping struggling students, particularly ones that she works with in position at KSC. Garcia continued, “I think it is important to have speakers like Joe Johnson come to campus for two reasons,” she said. She continued, “First, as a man
» JOE JOHNSON, A6
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Would you like to gain some newsroom experience? Contact the A&E Editor at artsandentertainment@keene-equinox.com if you are interested in writing for A&E!
Turn to B4 to try our newest crossword puzzle!
Check out what students are listening to this week on B2!
Arts & Entertainment
Thursday, March 6, 2014
a&E / B1
[Keene-Equinox.com]
OSCARS REVIEW
‘How I Learned to Drive’ collides with truth, pain and forgiveness
Academy Awards results disappoint as well as please ZAK KOEHLER
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MICHAEL PORTRIE / CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Above is the cast of Keene State College’s production of How I Learned to Drive. Students tell a story of sexual abuse using the metaphor of learning to drive.
Performance displays controversial topics and delivers a story rich in morals ANTHONY MUNOZ
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Anthony Munoz can be reached at amunoz@keene-equinox.com
Zak Koehler can be reached at zkoehler@keene-equinox.com
Keene Fresh Salad Co. tosses together wholesome ingredients and customer service -
sandwiches.
Keene Fresh Salad Co., located at 44 Main Street, is a unique restaurant
KARINA BARRIGA ALBRING / SENIOR REPORTER
A Keene Fresh Salad Co. employee serves a sandwich to a customer.
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» FRESH SALAD, B2
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Diversity the big winner at the Oscars JAKE COYLE JESSICA HERNDON
to AIDS and to those of you out there who have ever
AssociAted Press
tonight I stand here in front of the world with you and
Diversity was perhaps the biggest winner at the 86th annual Academy Awards. ity” — took home best director in a ceremony presided A study by analyst Kevin B. Lee found that last year’s over by a lesbian host and overseen by the academy’s went to Americans.
haps those of us in the industry who are still foolishly
acceptance speech. they earn money.” and acting categories. John Ridley picked up the trophy
editing. Some in his native Mexico have been critical that since the attention came for a Hollywood release and same kind of importance.
The screenwriter is only the second black writer in the category. high school study. in February that the book is now mandatory reading.
The entire Oscar ceremony had the feel of a makeover for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sci- can understand who we were and who we are now and ences — an institution that has sometimes seemed stuck in the past. After a Los Angeles Times report revealed the acaddent Cheryl Boone Isaacs has pushed for a more varied opportunity.” membership. been reluctant to tell a wider range of stories.
AP PHOTO
this is real life.”
Jared Leto poses in the press room with the award for best actor in a supporting role for “Dallas Buyers
- Club” during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles. from Cambodia. - ings of communists and ethnic Chinese in Indonesia in
such a tale.
win for Kenya (the president of Kenya congratulated
- the audience later. It’s since been retweeted more than neres sought to make celebrities more like plain folk. She passed out slices of pizza to the front rows at
a heterosexual rodeo rat (McConaughey) and a transgender drug addict (Leto) united by HIV.
Smith also said that she loves the (Cont. from B1)
ice cube in it.
Another aspect of their drinks that I found unique is they have specialty ice cubes for their drinks.
in the city of Keene right now that that’s also local and healthy and I
ice cubes to strawberry cubes. This gives your drink an extra cold and refreshing. Aside from their extensive menu and unique
added. She also said that she wishes it was open later so she can enjoy their food for dinner and Saturday nights. (They are open until 6 p. m.
out what else makes this restaurant stand out from the others on Main Street.
and are closed on Sunday).
some of our own soft cheeses; we grow all of our own herbs in season and a great deal of our vegetables in season and we buy as much local as we possibly can.” I found this to really set Fresh Salad Co. apart from other restauand local all of their food is. Drake also said he think this is what keeps people coming back. Keene Fresh Salad Co. brings in
Keene Fresh Salad Co. It has a calm and welcoming atmosphere and a Their food is always fresh and
KARINA BARRIGA ALBRING / SENIOR REPORTER
Keene Fresh Salad Company, photographed above, is located on 44 Main Street in downtown Keene.
have an enormous number of regutourists.
to talk about her experience at this restaurant.
Christine Badalamenti Smith said she comes to Fresh Salad as often as she can. She said the pesto is world-renowned and that she’ll
Brandon Chabot Senior Film Production
“Black Rainbow” Mac Lethal
Compiled by:
Ryan Mahan Junior Communication
“Kings” Sammy Adams
purchase it and use it at home all the time. She said she also enjoys the
foods and drinks. Drake said he hopes people take away memories of well-made food and that is exactly what I took away from this restaurant. Brooke Stall can be reached at bstall@keene-equinox.com
Kelly Welch Junior Elementary Education
“The Power of Love” Huey Lewis and the News
Madison Calabria Senior Dance
“The Way” Ariana Grande
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Artists aim to inspire others
Ellen’s celebrity selfie a landmark media moment; crashes Twitter DAVID BAUDER
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BRITTANY BALLANTYNE / ADMINISTRATIVE EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Top: artist John Lloyd stands next to his artwork. At bottom left, Kerrianne Thomas examines one of Lloyd’s metal sculptural works. At bottom right, Aysha Peltz stands beside a piece of her pottery.
Sculptors and potters comes from near and far to spread their love for art JENNICA MARTIN
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A&e editor HANNAH SUNDELL
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Hannah Sundell can be reached at hsundell@keene-equinox.com
Actors front row from left, Jared Leto, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Ellen DeGeneres, Bradley Cooper, Peter Nyong’o Jr., and second row, from left, Channing Tatum, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong’o and Angelina Jolie as they pose for a “selfie” portrait on a cell phone during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles.
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[Keene-Equinox.com]
Review: Lea Michele is so-so on debut album MESFIN FEKADU
ing “Burn With You,” where she sings: “I don’t wanna Blanco, John Shanks, The Messengers, Anne Preven, go to heaven if you’re going to hell/I will burn with Christopher Braide and more. you.” While they’ve produced hits for others, from ClarkShe also shines on the slow piano tune “Battlewith a tighter and smaller group of collaborators. Sia Furler (Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” Beyonce’s “Pretty Michele closes the album with the ballad “If You Hurts”). Say So,” which was inspired by one of the last converInstead of yelling, she works her voice nicely on sations she had with her “Glee” co-star and boyfriend, “Thousand Needles,” building it up when needed, but Cory Monteith, hitting softer notes to provide balance. Monteith passed away after overdosing on heroin But, all in all, “Louder” is jagged. The songs don’t and alcohol last year. play well together, and the collection sounds more like The track is somewhat chilling and worth a listen, while other songs echo Kelly Clarkson, but lack the a demo, instead of a Golden Globe- and Emmy-nomi- but while the rest of “Louder” features a big voice, energy that Clarkson’s learned to build on her songs. nated singer-actress’ debut album. most of the time Michele isn’t saying much. Lea Michele’s new album titled ‘Louder’, Michele, who has appeared on Broadway in “Spring That may be due partially to the group of producreceives mixes reviews. Awakening” and other shows, gets it right on the pierc- ers and songwriters, which include Stargate, Benny
AssociAted Press
On some of the songs from her debut album, Lea Michele is convincing. On others, it’s like she is acting. The “Glee” star, known for her big voice, provides the pipes on “Louder,” but some songs sound empty and don’t show much emotion or personality from the 27-year-old talent. table, as is “Don’t Let Go.” ‘’Empty Handed,” co-written by singer Christina
AP PHOTO
KSC Movie Channels Check out these titles playing this week! To Kill A Mockingbird
Elysium
Prisoners
White House Down
Mar. 7 - Mar. 13 -Channels 3.1-3.7-
Arts and Entertainment Crossword Puzzle
Don’t miss local upcoming events Events starting on Thursday, March 7 through March 12
Colonial Theatre North Shore Comedy presents: Dueling Pianos Sat. March 8 The Chieftains Tues. March 11
Redfern Arts Center
Check back next week for events at the Redfern Arts Center!
Fritz
Putnam Theatre
The Place to Eat
J-Bob & Lefty Blues, swing, R&B and originals 6:30 p.m.
March 7- March 12 Friday & Saturday 7 & 9 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday 7 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 2 p.m. matinee
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Deal could allow gays in Boston St. Pat’s parade RODRIQUE NGOWI
AssociAted Press BOSTON (AP) — The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston is easing its two-decade ban on gay organizations under a tentative deal to allow them to march in an event that once went to the Supreme Court to keep gays out, a marriage equality group said. MassEquality Executive Director Kara Coredini said a group of gay military veterans can march under its banner as part of a tentative deal with parade organizers brokered by Boston Mayor Martin Walsh. Marchers from the gay-rights group would not, however, be allowed to wear clothing or hold signs that refer to sexual orientation, Coredini said. “The LGBT community faces
ALEXANDER F. YUAN / AP PHOTO
People light up candles and pray for the victims on a square outside the Kunming Railway Station where more than 10 assailants slashed scores of people with knives the night before in Kunming, in western China’s Yunnan province, March 2, 2014.
China knife attack leaves 33 dead DIDI TANG
AssociAted Press KUNMING, China (AP) — Authorities on Sunday blamed a slashing rampage that killed 29 people and wounded 143 at a train station in southern China on separatists from the country’s far west, while local residents said government crackdowns had taken their toll on the alleged culprits. Police fatally shot four of the assailants — putting the overall death toll at 33. Police captured another after the attack late Saturday in Kunming, the capital of Agency said. But authorities were searching for at least
State broadcaster CCTV said two of the assailants were women, including one of the slain and the one detained. “All-out efforts should be made to treat the injured people, severely punish terrorists according to the law, and prevent the occurrence of similar cases,” said China’s top zhu, who arrived in Kunming early Sunday, an indication of how seriously authorities viewed the attack. The attackers’ identities have not been
Uighur (pronounced WEE’-gur) population, and the government has responded there with heavy-handed security. Police in Kunming on Sunday were rounding up members of the city’s small Uighur community, believed to number no more than several dozen, for questioning in the attack and information about the assailants. “How do we know them?” said a Uighur
But Saturday’s assault happened more than 1,500 kilometers (more than 900 miles) to the southeast in Yunnan. Yunnan has not had a history of such unrest. Kunming residents expressed dismay at both the attack and the conditions within China that could have allowed it to happen.
attackers were “worse than animals.” But he also expressed sympathy toward “We could not tell if the assailants were ethnic Uighurs. Uighurs as they were all dressed in black. He said their region has come under that it was “a terrorist attack carried out by We did not like the attack either.” severe security crackdowns in recent months Most attacks blamed on Uighur separatping. home to a simmering rebellion against Chi- between Uighurs and police or members of nese rule by some members of the Muslim China’s ethnic Han majority are frequent. » ATTACK, B6
Syrian government pursues local cease-fires DIAA HADID RYAN LUCAS
Conn., NY up heating, preserve food stamps STEPHEN SINGER
AssociAted Press
AssociAted Press
BEIRUT (AP) — In one besieged neighborhood after another, weary rebels have turned over their weapons to the Syrian government in exchange for an easing of suffocating blockades that have prevented food, medicine and other staples from reaching civilians trapped inside.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut and New York have found a way around federal budget cuts that played a central role in the massive farm bill passed this month: bump up home heating assistance a few million bucks in return for preserving more than a half-billion dollars in JEFF ROBERSON / AP PHOTO
in at least four neighborhoods in and around the Syrian capital in recent weeks have brought an end to the shelling and most areas. While deep distrust lingers on both sides, in some neighborhoods the lull has prompted residents displaced by earlier violence to return. The government touts the truces as part of its program of “national reconciliation” to end Syria’s crisis, which has killed more than 140,000 people since March 2011. But activists and rebels
than this parade, but the parade has been historically been the symbol of those challenges that we face,” Coredini said. “It’s been 20 years since openly LGBT people have been able to march in this parade.” The Boston parade, sponsored by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, has had a long and torturous history on the question of whether gay groups can march. State courts forced the sponsors to allow the Irish-American Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group of Boston to march in the parade in 1992 and 1993. In 1994, the sponsors canceled the parade rather than allow the group to participate. In 1995, the sponsors made participation by invitation only and said the parade would commemorate the role of traditional families in Irish history and protest the earlier court rulings. But several months later, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Massachusetts courts had previously violated the parade sponsors’ First Amendment rights when they forced them to allow the gay group to participate. Walsh, the son of Irish immigrants, had threatened to boycott the city’s annual parade unless gay groups are allowed to march. A message left for a parade organizer was not immediately returned. Walsh’s predecessor, Mayor Tom Menino, boycotted the parade after the Supreme Court ruling.
AP PHOTO
Syrian rebel, right, stands with two soldiers from Syrian government forces, center and left.
alike in opposition-held areas into submission. With two rounds of United Nations-brokered peace talks with the political opposition in exile failing to make any substantial progress, and neither stage of a ruthless tactic Pres- side able to clinch a military vicident Bashar Assad’s gov- tory, Assad may be counting on ernment has employed to devastating effect: shelling and point areas around the capital. The deals carry two addi-
free up troops in his overstretched military to be shifted the country; and they allow the government to present itself abroad as a responsible actor actively trying to broker peace at home. “It’s important for the regime to have reconciliation,” said an activist in Damascus who goes
by the name of Abu Akram. “They want us to submit or be hungry. They want to free up their troops for other battles.” The exact terms have varied depending on the balance of power in each area, but the truces generally have followed a basic formula: the rebels relinquish their heavy weapons and
» CEASE-FIRE, B6
The moves by Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo — with the possibility that more governors could follow — cheer social service advocates who say the deep recession and weak economic recovery have pounded low-income workers and the unemployed who rely on heating assistance and food stamps. The $100 billion per year farm bill cut $800 million annually in the food stamp program by ending some state practices that give recipients minimal heating assistance — as low as $1 per person — to promise legislation requires states to give recipients at least $20 in heating assistance
Corn slips through Larry Hasheider’s fingers as his load of corn is delivered to a grain elevator in Okawville, Ill.
“The extra money being spent is an artiis receiving, but they’re doing so though a policy analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington. As much as 95 percent of food stamp funding is from Washington and “states don’t have a concern about increased food stamp costs,” she said. “We need to be sure that money spent goes to those most in need rather than states using a loophole to boost money
Anne Foley, an undersecretary of the kick in. Connecticut and New York have both ment, said increasing heating assistance is moved to bump up heating assistance “absolutely not a loophole.” in order to preserve the food stamp ben“It’s a way in which we identify households that have extraordinary needs and panned by critics who say it’s just a way to legitimately ought to have additional fedcircumvent the point of the bill passed by eral funding for nutrition assistance,” she Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama. » FOOD STAMPS B6
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said. An order by Malloy will spend about $1.4 million in federal 50,000 low-income Connecticut residents from $1 to $20 so they do not lose $112 in monthly food about $67 million in food stamp about $6 million more in federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding to main$457 million. “The state has intervened on behalf of these low-income New Yorkers to make sure they can get food for themselves and their families,” Cuomo said in announcing his decision. Fourteen other states and Washington, D.C., participate in the so-called “heat and eat” program. Low-income residents will not likely feel an immediate impact on heating assistance, which is funded well in advance. Connecticut Rep. Joe Courtney called it a “next-winter issue.” But failure by the states to act on the program could cost a lowincome family $90 a month in
EMILIO MORENATTI / AP PHOTO
A woman wearing a Ukrainian flag stands at a memorial for people killed in clashes with the police at Kiev’s Independence Square, Ukraine, Monday, March 3, 2014.
Moscow: Troops in Ukraine defending Russians JOHN HELIPRIN
AssociAted Press GENEVA (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov neighboring Ukraine’s Crimea region as a necessary protection for his country’s citizens living there. The use of Russian troops is necessary “until the normalization of the political situation” in Ukraine, Lavrov said at an opening of a month-long session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. “We are talking here about protection of our citizens and compatriots, about protection of the most fundamental of the human rights - the right to live, and nothing more,” Lavrov said. Ukraine has accused Russia of a military invasion and has called on the Kremlin to withdraw its troops. Lavrov dismissed the criticism, and said that “information is coming in about preparations for new provocations that are being committed, including against the Russian Black
“Instead of a promised national unity government a ‘government of the victors’ has been created.” -SERGEY LAVROV RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
these are the same partners who have been consistently and vigorously encouraging the political powers close to them to declare ultimatums and renounce dialogue,” Lavrov said. “We call upon them to show a responsibility and to set aside geopolitical calculations and put the interests of the Ukrainian people above all.” Lavrov will meet later Monday with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to discuss the situation. Lavrov called on Ukraine to return to the Feb. 21 agreement signed by pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych aimed at ending his country’s three-month political crisis.
dismissal. Lavrov said Yanukovych kept up the agreement, but the opposition “did nothing.” “The illegal arms have not been relinquished, the government buildings and streets of Kiev have not been completely freed, radicals maintain control of cities,” Lavrov said. “Instead of a promised national unity government a ‘government of the victors’ has been created.” Ban said he would emphasize to Lavrov ways of defusing the crisis and may seek creation of a “contact group” led by Swiss President Didier Burkhalter in his role as chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
foreign ministers of France, German and Poland to hold early effectively under Russian control. “Those who are trying to interpret the situation as a sort elections this fall and surrender much of his powers. But opposition supporters kept pushing for his immediate of aggression and threatening us with sanctions and boycotts, phone. But he added that it is still unclear whether there is any organized Uighur militant group. Roberts said that attacks so far do not put too much pressure on them since appear linked to any “global terrorist netXi Jinping took over. They are under so work, because we’re not seeing things like much pressure they do not want to live, sophisticated explosives or essentially sophisticated tactics.” and they did that.” The U.N. Security Council on Sunday Another Kunming resident, Jiang Hua, said the attack has made people scared to issued a press statement that “condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack” go out at night. on the train station. “I think we should chase off the The statement reiterated that “any Uighurs and let them be independent,” acts of terrorism are criminal and unjusJiang said. “And local authorities should be held accountable for providing public safety,” and underlined the need to bring those responsible for the attack to justice. Jiang continued. The violence in Kunming came at a Witnesses described assailants dressed in black storming the train sta- sensitive time, with political leaders in tion late Saturday evening and slashing Beijing preparing for Wednesday’s openpeople indiscriminately with large knives ing of the annual legislature, where Xi’s and machetes. Student Qiao Yunao, 16, was waiting work report. Willy Lam, a political observer at the to catch a train at the station when people started crying out and running, and then Chinese University of Hong Kong, said saw a man cut another man’s neck, draw- the attack coming so close to the National People’s Congress dented Xi’s message of ing blood. “I was freaking out, and ran to a fast a “Chinese Dream” coalescing under his food store, and many people were run- rule. “Pockets of dissatisfaction, groups ning in there to take refuge,” she told The Associated Press via Sina Weibo, a Chi- of people with grievances, appear to be increasing. After 1 1/2 years of more nese microblog. “I saw two attackers, both men, one heavy-handed control (in Xinjiang), the with a watermelon knife and the other report card does not look good,” Lam said. Xi called for “all-out efforts” to bring with a fruit knife. They were running and the culprits to justice. chopping whoever they could.” The Security Management Bureau, Alarms over a possible spread of militant attacks to soft targets beyond the which is under the Ministry of Public Security, said in a statement that police October when a suicide car attack blamed would “crack down on the crimes in accordance with the law without any tolincluding the attackers, at Beijing’s erance.” The attack was the deadliest violence Tiananmen Gate. Sean Roberts, a cultural anthropologist at George Washington University riots in the Xinjiang capital of Urumqi who has studied Uighurs and China for in 2009, in which Uighurs stormed the two decades, said the Kunming violence streets of the city, targeting Han people in would be a new kind of attack for ethnic seemingly random violence that included Uighurs — premeditated, well-organized the killing of women and children. A few days later, Han vigilante mobs and outside Xinjiang — but still rudimenarmed with sticks and bats attacked tary in weaponry. “If it is true that it was carried out by Uighurs in the same city. Nearly 200 people died. Uighurs, it’s much different than anything we’ve seen to date,” Roberts said by
ATTACK (Cont. from B5)
estimates. “For a family of four, that’s a week or more of groceries,” said Marissa Parisi, executive director of Hunger Free Vermont. Vermont, for example, would increase spending on heating assistance to $400,000 from $75,000, “which we think is a very worthwhile thing to do,” she said. Parisi said she expects the state to budget the additional heating assistance funding to maintain $6 million in food stamp money. But Robert Greenstein, founder and president of the Center on Budget and Policy Pripolicy and programs that affect low and moderate-income families and individuals, criticized some state food stamp policies. Greenstein wrote in an analysis that some states are stretching the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formula to not only simplify paperwork for recipiassuming those households pay several hundred dollars a month in utility costs that they do not actually incur.”
CEASE-FIRE (Cont. from B5)
ernment to allow aid into the communities. “Part of the regime strategy, virtually since the beginning of the armed struggle, has been to separate the people from the rebels. To try to break the connection between the rebels and their popular support base,” said Jeffrey White, a defense fellow at The Washington Institute. The authorities have relied on individuals with good government ties from the respective communities to act as middlethe agreements. Damascus suburb of Moadamiyeh, where residents raised the two-starred governSANA FILE PHOTO / AP PHOTO The latest truce took hold last week in the capital’s Babila neighborhood, where news Residents of the besieged Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp wait to leave the camp, on the southern edge of the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria. cameras captured footage of armed opposition was rife. Residents resorted to eating to families from the nearby town of Daraya, - boiled grape leaves and raw olives because which is still under government siege. forms. they had run out of food. Activists said chilDaraya provides a stark example of the dren and the elderly were badly affected struck in Beit Sahim, Yalda, Barzeh, as well and frequently fell sick with illnesses exac- government helicopters have conducted a as a shaky agreement in the Palestinian erbated by hunger. brutal aerial campaign to devastating effect, camp of Yarmouk in Damascus. With little hope of breaking the siege, pounding the suburb with massive barrel the town west of Damascus agreed in late bombs — large containers packed with fuel, shipments in and civilians out of the Old December to the government’s terms. Since explosives and scraps of metal. City of Homs. then, conditions have improved, and some Rebels in Barzeh, a strategically located neighborhood in northeast Damascus where But the government hasn’t lifted the paint the “reconciliation committees” as - siege. Rather, it permits food shipments to peace makers. mate, wrangled the most favorable terms. enter in small batches, a tactic that allows “It’s a submission strategy,” said a rebel in Fighters there have kept most of their the authorities to maintain their leverage the besieged neighborhood of Mleiha who weapons, and now man joint checkpoints over residents. goes by the nom de guerre of Abu Mansour. with government forces. “The siege wasn’t broken, they still have While Mleiha has held out so far, Abu In most of the other areas, however, the their tanks and troops and checkpoints,” Mansour said he understands why some truces swing heavily in the government’s said Qusai Zakarya, an activist from Moad- neighborhoods opt to accept the governfavor. ment’s terms, even if they are unfavorable. In Moadamiyeh, for example, the mili- being held by authorities for 17 days. “Every“The people are tired. They will do anytary pounded the community with artillery body who wants to go in and out should thing to let in food,” he said. and airstrikes for nearly a year. have their permission. It’s like a prison.” “I’m not talking about rebels. I’m talkGovernment forces eventually encircled He said authorities stopped food ship- ing about people: the barber, the grocer, the the town with checkpoints, then refused to ments into Moadamiyeh this week after housewife. They are the people who are allow in food, medicine, clean water and the rebels refused to hand over all of the blockaded. They don’t have water. They fuel. weapons the government demanded, and don’t have food. They have no communicaConditions turned desperate for the esti- for siphoning some of the aid for residents tion with the outside world. There’s nothing.” mated 8,000 civilians still inside. Malnutri-
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STAFF COMMENTARY
ZACH WINN
SportS Editor The Athlete of the Week this week is sophomore lacrosse player, Tyler McKelvie. The attacker was an instrumental part of the Owl’s seasonopening upset over eleventh-seeded Western New England Tuesday, February 25. The Acton, Massachusetts native started the Owls’ season off on goal just a minute and 14 seconds into the match. McKelvie scored two more goals in the second quarter to give the Owls a solid 6-2 lead going into halftime. McKelvie scored again in the third and broke a 9-9 tie in the fourth, gave the Owls a lead they would never give up. McKelvie followed that game up with a three goal performance less than a week later in a loss at Rensselaer. As a freshman last year, McKelvie started all 17 games and led the games are any indication, McKelvie ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO
Joe Torre, executive vice president of baseball operations for the MLB, speaks to the media after a meeting about the new instant replay rules on Friday, February 21.
MLB’s new instant replay system will cause more problems than it solves BRIAN CLEMMENSON
Equinox Staff Many people are calling the addition of instant replay in Major League Baseball long overdue. However, there is no place for replay, besides reviewing disputed home run calls. The 2014 MLB season starts off with something that has never been done before: Allowing a manager to challenge the call of an umpire. This is not the NFL or the NHL. The Equinox Staff Writer, Ray Waldron, wrote a column in favor of the replay. He is correct on one thing: “Questionable home runs,” as he calls it, should still be reviewed. With the way new stadiums are being built, home run calls have been blown. As a result, umpires have missed these calls. That change is perfect. However, the others are not. An MLB press release from January 2014 states that there are 13 types of reviewable plays. These include home runs, ground rule doubles, fan interference, stadium into stands triggering dead ball), force plays on a double play), tag plays (including steals
(whether a runner scores before a third out), touching a base, passing runners, and record keeping (ball-strike count to a batter, outs, score and substitutions). According to the release, all clubs approved the changes for expanded instant
replay. Under the plan, managers would have one challenge per game. A manager would be awarded one more challenge if lenge correct. Also, after the seventh inning, if a team or manager was out of challenges, it would be up to the crew chief, or head umpire, to review the play at his own discretion. The new plan will limit the amount of manager and umpire confrontations over blown or questionable calls. Also with the up his team after a questionable call. Many teams have gone on winning streaks after their manager got thrown out after a questionable call. like when Joe Girardi charged out of the dugout when Alex Rodriguez was hit by a Ryan Dempster pitch in August of 2013 after Dempster was not ejected by home plate umpire Brian O’Nora. However, that is the least of the league’s worries about manager and umpire confrontations. One thing Waldron did not mention was the fact that baseball games take an average of two hours and 58 minutes, according to an ESPN article from June 2013. Game times have been on the rise for a number of years. With the addition of instant replay and reviews the games will only take longer amounts of time. It might not be a problem for the die-hard baseball fans and the fans with longer attention spans. It is going to affect younger and new fans. According to that report, children are
not falling in love with the national pastime anymore. A July 2013 ABC news article points to the decline in little league enrollment in the United States. If children are not playing little league, they are also not as likely to be watching the MLB. Also, when watching a game on television some ballparks are just empty. utes to review a call. This may occur similarly in the NHL when a goal is reviewed. Can you imagine how many angles will need to be looked at to determine whether or not a runner was tagged? Also, how many angles will need to be looked at for a close fan interference call? The biggest problem with expanded replay is it eliminates the human element of the game. Over the years there have been blown calls. However, it is part of the game. Waldron points out the Armando Galarraga perfect game that was taken away from him from umpire Jim Joyce. Galarraga did lose his perfect game on what would have been clearly grounded out three to one to the end the game. Afterward, both managers said it was part of the game. Galarraga also understood the human part of the game. Joyce felt horrible about what had happened. In addition, Joyce and Galarraga wrote a book together about what transpired that day. It was titled, Nobody’s Perfect: Two Men, One Call, and a Game for Baseball History. Waldron said if it were this season, the perfect game would have been preserved. However, that is part of the game: The
human element. One thing that is a little extreme and of the bad umpires. In any other profeshave never really been any consequences or bad calls. One call that should have had an umpire is the call by umpire Jerry Meals on July 26, 2011. That is, in my opinion, by far one of the worst calls that has ever been called by an umpire. The game was between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves. In the 19th inning Pirates catcher Michael McKLugo a few feet in front of home plate. However, Meals ruled that McKenry did not tag Lugo and the Pirates lost the game. Video of the play clearly showed McKenry tagging Lugo not once to start on the leg, but also on the arm before Lugo got to plate. The new system would let umpires get calls wrong and have the replay to save them. The only thing it will stop is the egos of umpires such as Angel Hernandez, C.B. Bucknor and Joe West, who have consistently been rated the worst umpires by the players. Baseball has been a favorite pastime for America, and unfortunately extended replay is going to turn baseball into America’s modern day pastime.
KSC athletic team records Men’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball
STREAK
OVERALL CONF.
HOME AWAY (neutral)
STREAK
OVERALL CONF.
HOME AWAY (neutral)
13-13 5-9
7-6 4-7 (2-0) Lost 1 8-17 5-9 7-7 1-10 (0-0) Lost 1
vs. UMass Dartmouth
at Eastern Conn. St.
1 2 Total Box score
Box score Umass Dartmouth
25 45
Keene State College
31 31
75 62
1
2 Total
vs. Eastern Conn. St. Box score
Keene State College 18
35
53
UMass Dartmouth
47 48
Eastern Conn. St.
33
67
Keene State College
43 53
34
at Western Conn. St.
1 2 Total Box score 95 96
1
2 Total
Keene State College 29
39
68
UMass Dartmouth
41
81
40
Men’s and women’s swimming and diving
Name
New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Championships Event 200 Free
1:42.76
1ST
Drew Ledwith
400 IM
4:14.59
1ST
Dan Oliveira
50 Fly
23:08
1ST
Lexi Houser
50 Fly
26.24
1ST
Alison Bartlett
200 Free 1,000 Free
1:56.29
1ST
10:43.86
1ST
Shahar Resman
Caitlyn Shea
Baseball
Lacrosse
Home vs. Roger Williams
Saturday, March 8, 1 p.m.
Friday, March 14, 9 a.m.
Home vs. Roger Williams
Fri., March 14, 11 a.m.
Home vs. Tufts
Time
Swimming
Home vs. Tufts
Saturday, March 8, 1 p.m.
NCAA Championships Wednesday, March 19, TBA
Place
Contact zwinn@ keene-equinox. to the weekly
year. -is senior runner Ryan Widzgowski. Competing at the New England Open and Masters Championships against competition from different divisions, Widzgowski came within .4 seconds of setting a new Keene State College record in the mile. It was Widzgowski’s personal best and it was good for fourth overall. Widzgowski then teamed up with fellow KSC runners Devin Sanford, Eric Dietz and James Sturgis-Cox to break a school record in relay that was set earlier this year. Now only one meet separates the Owls from the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, which Widzgowski will compete in. -Our second runner-up this week is sophomore center Nate Howard. Howard was the lone bright spot in an 81-68 loss at UMass Dartmouth. Although the team shot just 34.8 percent for the night, Howard hit half of his 12 shots and led the team with 16 score with six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Unfortunately, the round loss in the Little Eastern Conference tournament. As the six seed, the Owls weren’t expected to make much of a splash, but the young squad will have many more chances to leave their mark on the league in coming years. Zach Winn can be contacted at zwinn@keene-equinox.com
Brian Clemmenson can be contacted at bclemmenson@keene-equinox.com
Collins comes home for first time back BRIAN MAHONEY
it will just be about basketball,” he said during the middle of last week. Collins thought it had already Jason Collins has been warmly reached that point, mistakenly believing received in his historic return to the that Saturday’s victory in Milwaukee NBA. Now it’s time for his own fans to wel- want to talk to him after the game. come him back. Not quite yet. Collins may just be a More than a week after becoming 14th man on the roster to the Nets, but - he’s still far more than that to the fans he inspired from the moment he decided to Monday night when the Brooklyn Nets come out in a Sports Illustrated article host the Chicago Bulls. last April. “It will be a lot of fun,” Collins said. “I “I think it is a big deal. He’s showhave some family and friends coming to ing a lot of courage. You’re talking to a the game. I’m looking forward to seeing guy who was around when Jackie Robinson came in. What’s the difference? game.” It’s just as groundbreaking. I just hope He has played hundreds in a Nets he’s judged as a basketball player,” said uniform, though it was a white, red and Butch Pye, 69, of Castle Rock, Colo., who blue one, and the home games were in attended the Nets’ victory in Denver on New Jersey. Plenty of fans and employ- Thursday. ees of the organization remain from Collins’ debut is currently his only when Collins played there from 2001- guaranteed home game. 08, so he will likely be greeted by a loud He’s nearing the end of the 10-day ovation if he gets into the game. contract he signed on Feb. 23 before “I’ve always said I’m not worried facing the Los Angeles Lakers. NBA about the reaction,” said Nets coach rules allow teams to sign players to two Jason Kidd, who played with Collins 10-day deals, then have to sign them for when the franchise reached consecutive the rest of the year if they want to keep NBA Finals in 2003-03. them. “I think they will always support There are plenty of reasons to retain a Net. He’s been a Net before. I think Collins. He has brought positive attenthey’ll be excited to have him, but the tion and is making an impact in the gay big thing is him being able to help us and lesbian community, with the NBA defensively.” pledging to donate all proceeds from Collins and the Nets have kept the focus as much on basketball as possible. They all view him as a big man Foundation and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. he has racked up 10 of them already in But those have little to do with basketball, and the Nets stressed in the 12 years of NBA experience to younger press release announcing Collins’ signteammates such as Mason Plumlee and ing that the move was a basketball deciAndray Blatche. sion. The fact that he’s gay makes him He can still do enough to make it a much more than that outside the Nets’ wise one, even with just one basket so locker room, but he thinks that story far. With Brook Lopez lost for the season line will die down soon enough. and Kevin Garnett’s minutes being “There’s only so many ways you can monitored, Kidd needs a big man he write the story, or tell the story, and then
aSSociatEd prESS
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19 million dollars in grants for promoting children to have healthy lifestyles. Jeter’s retirement signals the end of an era of many sorts for the Yankees and their fans. During their dominant era of the late 1990s, the Yankees had a group of four players who emerged as both fan-favorites and team leaders. Pitcher Andy Pettitte, catcher Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and of course, Derek Jeter. They all made their pinstriped debut together in 1995. Fans affectionately called these guys the “Core Four.” Rivera and Pettitte both retired this past off-season and Posada retired in 2011, leaving Jeter the lone survivor of the Core Four. There is no doubt Jeter will just view this season as a going-away party. When Rivera announced his retirement at the start of the season, he still went out and made 44 saves for the Yanks, tying the most he’s made since 2004. more chance to prove he is the best in his position, and Jeter will no doubt go out and try and have the best season he can. On a personal level, Jeter has been the reason I love the game of baseball since I was a child. There I was, nine-years-old at a little league game trying to dig into the batter’s box exactly like Jeter did. I even called for time-outs the same way he did. So sure, Jeter retiring leaves a hole in the Yankees’ franchise that When his number-two is retired, Jeter era, and the Core Four era of the Bronx Bombers. But moving forward, generations of ballplayers, no matter the age, will be playing baseball with the image of Derek in their minds, doing exactly what I did when I was a little-leaguer. Emulating his style of play in the hopes that one day, they’ll be the best at their position and capture the hearts and minds of a city. Ray Waldron can be contacted at rwaldron@keene-equinox.com
BILL HABER / AP PHOTO
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a news conference before the skills competition at the NBA All-Star basketball weekend, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, in New Orleans.
NBA commissioner showing signs he is ready to take the league in new direction ZACH WINN the league needed a fresh start. SportS Editor And so, in comes Silver, a former league lawyer who has long been the right-hand-man of Stern. While it remains to New NBA Commissioner Adam Silver took the reigns be seen how effective he will be in the long haul, early signs of the league over the time period of the all-star week- show that Silver will be taking a different approach to runend. Across the league, ticket sales are up, TV deals have hit ning the league than his predecessor. Under Silver’s watch, the NBA has explored out-of-the-boxclimb. The NBA has also established itself as the most internationally popular of the “Big Four” American sports (MLB, shot. While it remains doubtful that any of these ideas will NFL, NBA, NHL). ever gain any traction, Silver has demonstrated that he isn’t In a lot of ways, it would appear former commissioner afraid to shake things up and exhaust all options for improvDavid Stern’s message to his protégé is simple: don’t screw ing the league. this up. It’s hard to believe league advisors would have felt comBut there have been compelling cases made that Stern has fortable introducing these ideas to Stern, who was notoriously been holding the league back more than he has been propel- set in his ways and allegedly prone to angry tirades. ling it to its newfound heights. Silver has also shown more transparency, something he In a passionate and informative article, ESPN’s Jason has said he would stress for months now. A couple weeks ago Whitlock pointed to the basketball hoops in every American a Bleacher Report article revealed that Silver has been senddriveway as proof that the NBA has fallen short of its poten- ing teams regular reports that detail mistakes by the referees. tial popularity. Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, who has long been The 2011 lockout, coupled with Stern’s controversial block a vocal critic of Stern’s, told the Bleacher Report, “There’s been of the Chris Paul trade between the New Orleans Hornets more changes in 15 days, or whatever it is [since Silver took and Los Angeles Lakers in the same year, were also signs that over], than I saw in 14 years.”
The transparency is an important improvement, but it also represents a key difference between Stern and Silver’s leadership styles. Stern would rule with fear, at one point drawing the astonishment of players and owners alike when, according to Yahoo Sports, he proclaimed, “I know where the bodies are buried,” during an intense debate during the aforementioned lockout. Stern was referring to league secrets that could be damaging to people in the room, but he was also asserting his superiority. It’s not a stretch to call Stern’s relationship with players and owners contentious. Things were going to go the way he wanted them to. Silver seems to be working with the league, acknowledging flaws within the system and taking input from everyone while trying to find ways to improve it. Only time will tell, but early signs indicate the NBA is in good hands with its new commissioner. Zach Winn can be contacted at zwinn@keene-equinox.com
Boston Red Sox keep spring training rolling with 8-6 tough loss to the division rival Baltimore Orioles MAUREEN MULLEN
ASSociAtEd prESS The Hall of Famer in a Red Sox warmup jersey met the Orioles rookie wearing No. 85 behind the cage during batting practice. They hugged, sharing an embrace and able names in baseball history. sat in the stands for another special moment Sunday. major league spring training game and scored a run for Baltimore in an 8-6 loss to Boston. said. “Just proves that a lot of hard work will take you a long way. He’s worked hard all his life. He wanted to be a player and he put the time and effort into it.” 14th-round draft pick last June from Vanderbilt. He hit .273 with three homers and 25 RBIs in 57 games in short-season Class A. The 23-year-old entered as a pinch runner in the sixth inning, scored BaltiWhen he entered the game and was the name and gave him a warm ovation. A left-handed hitter like his grandfather, Mike was hitless in his one at-bat. Despite his pedigree, he said he gets no special treatment. “The coaches all try and look at me the same as they look at any other player,” he said. “They don’t take name in the factor. If you can’t play, you’re not going to get the chance. If you’re performing, then you’re going to get up.” “As I’ve grown up and gone through I don’t get treated any differently. Everyone looks at you as a baseball player rather than the name.” The Red Sox picked him in the 36th round of the 2009 draft when he graduSTEVEN SENNE / AP PHOTO ated from St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Mass., but he went to college. He stayed in school Daniel Nava hits a home run in a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, March 1. when the Mariners took in the 30th round had signed, there would have been a lot of with the minor leaguers. more in high school,” he said. in 2012, and he graduated last year. pressure. He likes Baltimore and he’s with a After the death of his son — also named His advice before that: “When he was Mike — at the age of 43 in 2004, Carl began growing up, Little League and stuff like that, was for the best that his grandson didn’t The 1967 Triple Crown winner has been helping his grandson develop his game. go out, swing the bat, and have fun.” sign with the Red Sox. “I didn’t really start working with him While it helps to get coaching from an “Without a doubt,” he said. “I think if he an annual visitor to Red Sox spring training, until maybe he was a freshman or sopho- all-time great, the two also have a regular
grandfather-grandson relationship, Mike said. “It’s been great,” he said. “We talk about a lot of other stuff other than (baseball) — And how does the grandfather view the grandson’s potential? “I think he has a shot because he has the desire and determination,” Carl said. “That can take you a long way. He’s always worked hard and you can’t rule that out as being a big factor.” STARTING TIME Red Sox: Felix Doubront pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three and giving up a hit. “This today was pretty simple,” he said. “I was trying to play with my location, mechanics. Go out there and try to get my work done. When you’re throwing strikes your tempo is a little faster. I’m going out there to throw a strike. up two hits in two shutout innings. He’s likely destined for the bullpen. “I felt excited to be able to get back out there on the mound again and get started being able to start from the windup,” he said. over excited and I wasn’t exactly hitting the spots like I wanted to, but overall felt good. I was able to throw all four pitches and fortunately had a good changeup today. That was the key to be able to be successful and get out of two innings.” TRAINER’S ROOM Ohlhman were supposed to travel to Philadelphia on Monday to have warts removed Ohlman from his right hand. That has been delayed because of the winter storm forecast for the Northeast. . the trip to Fort Myers because of a sore right shoulder. Red Sox: Right-hander Jake Peavy, who was scheduled to start Monday in Bradenton against the Pirates, was scratched Manager John Farrell said Peavy had a procedure on Sunday to clean the wound to prevent infection. Peavy will be idle for the next three days, ding for his glove hand.
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Interested in writing for the Sports section? Email Equinox Sports Editor Zach Winn at zwinn@keene-equinox.com
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thurSday, March 6, 2014
Students show passion for the mountain KENDALL POPE
Equinox Staff The smell of snow and crisp winter air calls a snowboarder to the tops of mountains. On many weekends and even some weekdays students load their cars, carry their boards and leave the Zorn Dining Commons in full snow gear— boots and all. Keene is relatively close to places to ski and snowboard, like Okemo Mountain Resort, Stratton Mountain Resort and Mount Snow in Vermont, and Granite Gorge, Pats Peak and Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire. These less-than-an-hour commutes may be the main reasons why some students are choosing Keene State College over other schools. Some students even base their class schedules around times when they get to the slopes. KSC freshman Maddie Rice is one example of a student who has manipulated her schedule for the slopes. “Tuesday and Thursday I have class eight [a.m.] to eight [p.m.], and only one class Wednesday, so I can night ski on Wednesday and have Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday off to go during the day,” Rice said. Junior Nick Piro also said he based his schedule around time to go boarding, but when he can’t make it to the mountain, he turns to his backyard. Rails and jumps have been set up on Winchester Court, which may be visible to students while taking a walk on the trail toward Walmart. For Piro, he idea for the mini terrain park all
started with a doodle during class. “It started from this basic design to this palace of features,” he said, “After looking into materials and prices, I thought, ‘I could do this,’ and figured it would be a fun thing to do during the winter.” Piro noted that random students have even approached him and his friends to use their set up. Piro said some have donated items to make the backyard terrain park more interesting. “This one guy brought a rail and another brought a conveyer belt (which helps give speed on drop-ins),” Piro said. Piro is not the only student on campus with a backyard park. Junior Cade Nauman has created his own park as well. Nauman’s creation is located on a Coolidge Street property that he shares with his Alpha Pi Tau brothers. “It’s basically a rectangle made out of two-byfours. We have a platform set up that’s about tenfeet tall and we use a ladder to climb up,” Nauman continued, “There is a piece of plywood that we use when it snows to create a ramp to drop in on. When you ride down, there are two jumps on either side, and one connects to a box which is two rails with a piece of plywood in the middle, so it’s easy to ride on.” However, physical materials are not the only element that goes into creating these backyard masterpieces — there has to be passion. “Me and my friends set up
jumps all around town, so I guess being in college has allowed me to pursue snowboarding more and have more fun,” Nauman said. Rice, Piro and Nauman all snowboard at least two times a week and agreed they have noticed the number of students who ski and snowboard is rising. “It seems like every year the freshman class is getting bigger and everyone that comes here has at least skied or snowboarded once in their life,” Nauman said. Junior Chris Crothers agreed, “I feel like everyone I know skis or snowboards.” KSC’s close location to many mountains may be a reason why more freshmen are coming to KSC. Like Piro and Nauman, Rice said having mountains close by was a key factor in deciding where she wanted to go to school. Rice said he looked into Plymouth State College as well as KSC before choosing KSC. “I thought I would check it out [Plymouth State College], and I didn’t like Plymouth—and loved Keene,” Rice said. Kendall Pope can be contacted at kpope@keene-equinox.com
NICK SONSINI / EQUINOX STAFF
Above, a snowboarder grinds a street rail in Wolcott, Connecticut. KSC junior Nick Piro has created a mini terrain park on Winchester Court. “[I] figured it would be a fun thing to do during the winter,” Piro said.
After falling short last year, women’s lacrosse wants to reclaim LEC reign DIANA PIMER
Equinox Staff
NY Yankees icon Jeter prepares for last season after illustrious career
As the start of the Keene State College Women’s Lacrosse season approaches, each group of players has a different task to worry about. Seniors enforce team cohesiveness, offensive players try to strengthen their plays and coach Katie Arsenault teaches the importance of playing with heart. One thing, however, may be on the mind of every member of the team: winning back the title of Little East Conference Champions. In a match-up on March 4 against Tufts University, the Lady Owls began their chase for the championship, a title won by KSC in 2009, 2011 and 2012. Last year, the Owls were barely out-scored tournament. According to Arsenault, her team is on a mission to end this season differently than their last. “We want to get to LECs. Right now we’re focusing on our non-conference games, conference matchups don’t come until about halfway through the season. We’re just trying to take those and learn from them—some are tough, some are a little easier. We’re looking to just build as a team slowly but surely,” she said. One thing Arsenault expressed she does not worry over is getting her senior leaders on board with her goals. According to senior goalkeeper Erin Taylor, her class of players wants to end their collegiate lacrosse year with one more title. “Last year, it was pretty awful when we lost in
years before that we won the whole tournament. It’s just an awful feeling; none of us want to go through that again,” Taylor said. While the seniors recognize the thrill of success and the agony of defeat, the underclassmen players still look towards the same goal. Freshman Maureen Moran said, “I know we have a lot of potential for this season—we all bring in a lot of qualities. We’re still working on clicking everything, but once everything has clicked, I think we’ll have a really strong team in every position this year.” As the chance to reach their goal of being LEC Champions approaches, the Owls are gaining
THE EQUINOX / FILE PHOTO
Sophomore Kaitlin Nolan avoids a defender in 2013’s season opener on Monday, March 4.
already. I think we’re prepared mentally and physically for anything that can possibly be thrown at us,” Taylor added, “I think last year we kind of went into it with expectations. This year we know we have to work for everything if we want to get to the LEC championship.” Despite the drive and positivity of her athletes, Arsenault said she understands there are still aspects of the game that need to be worked on in order for the team to achieve their goal. For example, Arsenault said the offense is very talented, but it is vital for them to work together as one cohesive unit. “ We have a lot of different players with a lot of different styles coming together. We’re still trying
challenge. “You have to be creative with what you do— you can’t just run straight through. You have to make moves,” Moran said. “If someone is going to move, you have to make sure no one else is going
While hard work is a vital part of being successful, Arsenault ensures that her girls know the real route to another LEC championship title. “You can have all the talent, be the best team, but in the playoffs it’s mostly heart,” Arnesault said. “It’s a matter of all working together,” Taylor added, “If we do that, we can go out and play every game to the best of our abilities, we can walk off the field without saying, ‘Oh, we could to make them gel. Once it clicks, we know it will have done this better, we could have done that “We have the tools to do it, we got a few good be good. So it’s just a matter of trying different better.’ Instead, we can just come off and say we freshmen. The team seems to be really clicking. things to see what works,” she said. played the best we could.” We have seven seniors, so there’s a good amount Moran added it is especially challenging for of leadership there,” Arsenault said. the freshmen to mesh with the other players. Diana Pimer can be contacted at “We have come together so much as a team Nonetheless, she said her class is ready for the dpimer@keene-equinox.com
The end of an era. The Captain’s last ride. On Wednesday Feb. 12, 2014, Derek Jeter announced that 2014 will be the end of the road for him. On his Facebook page, he made this announcement with a lengthy post explaining his decision. On his post, Jeter wrote, “It was months ago when I realized that this season would likely be my last. As I came to this conclusion and shared it with my friends and family, they all told me to hold off saying anything until I was absolutely 100% sure. And the thing is, I could not be more sure. I know it in my heart. The 2014 season will be my last year playing professional baseball.” This decision is one that will impact baseball on a league-wide level. This marks the second year in a row that a player of this magnitude announced his retirement. Last season, Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer the game has ever seen, announced his retirement. He said the 2013 season would be his last after suffering an ACL injury in 2012. It became a league-wide effort to thank Rivera for his efforts, as each ballpark he visited gave him a ceremonial gift before each game. The Red Sox even gave Rivera multiple standing ovations when the Yankees came to town. league in recent history, as he has been the face of a franchise that has won more World Series in the past 18 years than any other team. Statistics-wise, Jeter has had a fantastic career. Aside from 3,000 career hits, Baseball Almanac lists Jeter as the recipient of 29 major MLB awards, including World Series MVP, Hank Aaron Award, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. He’s But on top of all this, Derek Jeter is widely recognized as one of the good guys, and that’s why this retirement will have such an impact across the league. Ask Red Sox fans and they’ll say that Derek Jeter is the only Yankee they’ll ever like. On top of earning league-wide respect, his TURN 2 foundation helps children play sports and get active and motivate them to stay away from drugs and alcohol. According to the MLB website, TURN 2 has awarded more than
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