The Equinox: 12.12.2013

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SPORTS Preview for the indoor track season NEWS

A&E Âť SEE PAGE B1 Âť SEE PAGE B1

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The Equinox KARINA BARRIGA ALBRING / NEWS EDITOR / FILE PHOTO

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / RISLEY SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

ERIC GESUALDO / EQUINOX STAFF

The student voice of Keene State College

Vol. 66, Issue #13

Thursday, dec. 12, 2013

[ Keene-Equinox.com ]

Health care benefits at risk for DC employees BRITTANY BALLANTYNE

-

adminiStrativE ExEcutivE Editor

not.

Assistant Vice President of Student

from Sodexo employee, Gordon (Gordi) -

- course of a 52-week timespan.

-

RACHEL HEARD

Equinox Staff

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On Monday, December 2, Vice President of Student Affairs, Andy Robinson, sent out a campus-wide email

siders to be a full-time employee in

Community shares memories of Gordi

tices.

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Âť HEALTH CARE, A2

Final energy struggle of the year

64.

and it could be funny, it could be sarcastic, but it was -

-

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Âť GORDI, A3

KSC advisor prepares students for law school ANNA GLASSMAN

Equinox Staff

are aspects of law careers many

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN CANTORE / PHOTO EDITOR

world of law.

Mark

Some students at KSC says energy drinks help them get through study nights at the Mason Library during the last weeks of the semester.

different

avenues

Loevy-Reyes, Loevy-Reyes said.

-

KARINA BARRIGA ALBRING

-

“I wouldn’t say drinking them [energy drinks] gives me energy, I would say they just keep me up unhappy and stressed.�

nEwS Editor

Loevy-Reyes recently spon-

-EMILY FRANCIS KSC SENIOR

Emily Francis, said.

Âť LAW ADVISOR A3

-

-

-

-

-

Francis said.

Âť ENERGY DRINKS, A2 HALEY ERDBRINK/ EQUINOX STAFF

Mark Loevy-Reyes is KSC’s first pre-law advisor.

Index >> Section A: News....1-3 Opinions ............4-5 Student Life......6-10

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Contact Us >> Newsroom: 358-2413 Executive Editor: 358-2414 Advertising/Business: 358-2401 Newsroom: Questions? Contact jconlon@keene-equinox.com or bballantyne@ keene-equinox.com

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Black News / A2

CAMPUS SAFETY Report Log

Week of: Dec. 2 Monday, Dec. 2 12:52 a.m. Randall Hall: Odor investigation on the A side of the building.

9:02 a.m. Science Center: Female with asthma attack and chest pain.

10:50 p.m. Science Center Parking Lot: Car alarm went off in the parking lot.

Tuesday, Dec. 3 1:34 p.m. Winchester Parking Lot: Student used a copied permit for parking.

6:58 p.m. Winchester Street: Student reported that a vehicle struck her and then drove off.

7:45 p.m. Huntress Hall: RA reported odor of 706 [marijuana].

Wednesday, Dec. 4 12:02 a.m. Holloway Hall: Campus Safety received a call from a female reporting that her roommate needed medical attention.

8:11 a.m. Madison Parking Lot: Caller reported a ‘sketchy’ white van in parking lot.

Thursday, Dec. 5 8:10 p.m. Young Student Center: Student passed out in study lounge. Student in room called 911. Student was awake when officer arrived.

ThursdAy, dec. 12, 2013

[ Keene-Equinox.com ]

FOLLOW-UP Congress passes first gun law

(Cont. from A1)

“My experience in working with Sodexo and particularly this group of folks here, is that they do care about their employees and that they value their employees,” he said.

He explained that like most other companies across the nation, Sodexo is trying to comply with the Affordable Care Act. Yost explained that Sodexo adopted the guidelines of the bill to avoid penalties. According to Yost, if a business does not meet the mandate requirements, the company would be “penalized per employee.”

These penalties, for example, could occur if a worker, “Were to fall through the cracks,” and Sodexo was, “not making insurance available to

KAITLYN COOGAN

Contributing Writer As the anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting approaches, Congress reinstates the Undetectable Firearms Act on Monday, the same day it is set to expire at midnight.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the act on Tuesday, Dec. 3, and the U.S. Senate approved the act on Monday, Dec. 9.

Both passed the act on voice votes, meaning that individual members’ votes were not tallied,

Sodexo currently has 125,000 employees in the United States, according to Yost, so if the

Voice votes provide members with a type of invisibility, making

McCarthy said most workers can’t meet the new requirements to be considered full-time.

He said most workers are laid off during breaks, “Especially during the summer break— when they lose almost three months of work,” he said, but mentioned that aside from some catering jobs between semesters, most employees are not working during college vacations.

Striffolino said the shortening of hours during breaks is common practice, as the school year is the busiest time of year. at KSC over vacations at the time of the interview, but pointed out that nationwide, Sodexo caters for events such as summer camps that allow for employees to work.

However, “It’s certainly not to the extent or the amount that are during the regular school year,” he stated.

McCarthy said, “I’m not suggesting that the college or the president or anybody who works here [KSC] has the power to tell a private corporation what they can do with their employees.”

What he did say, though, was that there may be a possibility of putting a halt to the changes until the contract between KSC and Sodexo is evaluated.

According to vtdigger.org, University of Vermont put a hold on Sodexo’s employment status alterations. The article reads that UVM’s president said the, “university’s 320 food service workers will see no change in their employment status ‘until further notice’ as UVM looks into Also stated in the article was the reasoning given for the hold, including, “A very tight time ees to consider health care options,” as well as “Uncertainties regarding how soon current health care implementation problems will be resolved.”

An article on digital.vpr.net, Vermont’s NPR news source, read that, “According to a copy of the contract between UVM and Sodexo, ‘Sodexo [sic] shall not, without University’s prior approval, make any substantial changes

member voting for or against an act.

The act will last an additional ten years before needing renewal ton Post.

While democrats attempted to extend the act to include plastic magazines and lower receivers in light of the development of the 3D

TAYLOR CRONQUIST / EQUINOX STAFF

“If we’re an all-inclusive community, then we have to look at how every single person on this campus is being treated...”

-MICHAEL MCCARTHY KSC FACULTY MEMBER

According to both articles, administration

not the change is allowed.

McCarthy expressed his discomfort with the situation and said, “It’s surprising to me that no one has taken notice of this. I think there are plenty of people on campus who, once they’re aware of it, would be concerned and would want to see the issue addressed, and hopefully some action taken if it’s at all possible given the wording of the contract we have with Sodexo.”

Neither McCarthy, Striffolino, nor Yost could clarify what the contract between Keene State and Sodexo said. Director of Campus Purchasof non-management Food Service employees,’ ing and Contract Service at KSC, James Draper, unless required by law.” could not commit to an interview regarding the

contract as of press time.

Yost pointed out that Sodexo is, “Waiting for he is committed to helping workers throughout the transition by meeting regularly with the company’s employees.

Still, McCarthy said, “If we’re an all-inclusive community, then we have to look at how every single person on this campus is being treated, whether they work directly for the university system or whether they work for one of the contractors who provide services to the college.”

Friday, Dec. 6 12:50 a.m. Huntress Hall: Intoxicated male vomiting.

1:07 a.m. Carle Hall: Intoxicated male, unconscious.

1:10 a.m. Huntress Hall: Intoxicated female, vomiting.

3:13 a.m. Randall Hall: Unruly intoxicated female.

11:33 p.m. Huntress Hall: Odor of 706 [marijuana] Saturday, Dec. 7 2:14 p.m. Holloway Hall: Odor investigation.

2:46 a.m. Fiske Intoxicated female.

Hall:

3:19 p.m. Owl’s Nest 6: Odor investigation.

10:46 p.m. Sidewalks: Male urinating on building.

11:27 p.m. One Butler Court: Subject witnessed letting girlfriend in through emergency exit.

The Undetectable Firearms Act prohibits the ownership of walk-through metal detectors and x-rays typically used in airports, according to govtrack.us. This act was renewed in 2003 as well.

U.S. House of Representative, Steve Israel, of New York, was the original sponsor of the Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act. In an email, one of Israel’s staff members, Samantha Slater, said, “Security checkpoints, background checks and gun regulations will do little good if criminals can metal detectors with no one the wiser.”

Kaitlyn Coogan can be contacted at kaitlyn.coogan@ksc.keene.edu

Campus residents react to Bobcat

10:10 p.m. Carle Hall: Odor investigation.

11:43 p.m. Huntress Hall: Intoxicated male.

Brittany Ballatyne can be contacted at bballantyne@keene-equinox.com

Liberator, the 113th Congress only reestablished an act that has been in place since 1988, according to USA Today.

Within the time of their establishment, there has been a number of mass shootings (Sandy Hook Elementary School, Aurora Colorado Theater and Washington Navel Yard) and the production of

BETHANY RICCIARDI

(Cont. from A1)

amount of energy drinks sold cannot be provided because the system counts energy drinks (Rockstar and AMP) together with Starbucks coffee. Hossain indicated this number stays the same all throughout the semester.

“I don’t see there is an increase in the sales of energy drinks during last weeks,” Hossain said. However, Owl’s Roost employee and KSC senior, Zach Foley, said many KSC students consume these beverages regularly, and especially initely buy more energy drinks before that,” Foley stated.

Indeed, Francis said energy drinks are her go-to alternative only at the end of the semester. don’t drink them. I know it is not good for me, that’s why I only consume them when I feel I have to,” Francis stated.

Even though energy drinks are an option at hand for KSC students, when it comes to getting school work done, Keene State College health experts indicate this might not be the best choice.

As KSC students revealed some of their habits during the last weeks of the semester, Coordinator of Wellness Education, Tiffany Mathews and KSC registered dietitian Rebecca Briggs, addressed problems regarding the consumption of energy drinks and suggested healthier alternatives to keep powered up.

From a nutrition perspective, Briggs recommended students eat rather than drink to remain energetic. “Energy drinks aren’t necessarily the answer. If it’s one a.m.

equinox Staff -ZACH FOLEY KSC SENIOR AND OWL’S ROOST EMPLOYEE

and you are feeling your energy level is getting low, go ahead and have a snack, take something that will help you get through the night of studying,” Briggs said.

Briggs indicated students should have multiple snacks that have at least two food groups represented. “It could be a grain and a dairy product or a vegetable and protein.” For Briggs, the key is to, “make those snacks as healthy as they can be.” She suggested consuming fruits, vegetables, grains and low-fat proteins.

Regarding how energy drinks affect health, Briggs said, “Effects can be different for everybody. It’s certainly not a consistent, healthy source of energy.”

Briggs said in many cases, if individuals do feel poweredup after consuming an energy drink, that energy is not going to last long. “Calories are generally going to come from sugar. As most people know, with sugar you are going to get a spike in energy and then you drop off really quickly,” Briggs said.

Moreover, Mathews addressed some health concerns that should be taken in account when consuming these products.

Mathews referred to the taurine and caffeine added to energy drinks. “Because of the caffeine, there is a potential for addiction.

About the taurine, it is known to be a cause for heart palpitations.

Caffeine in large doses could do that any way. Some of the other ingredients in energy drinks have even more negative side effects,” Mathews stated.

According to an article in the

Washington Post, studies have indicated that the consumption of more than 500 milligrams of caffeine can lead to “caffeine intoxication.” This could cause insomnia, anxiety, irritability, upset stomach, increased heart rate or muscle tremors, the article stated.

Both Mathews and Briggs suggested students read labels and do research before ingesting any substances. Briggs said she believes that energy drinks, “can really be dangerous to some extend. They [energy drinks] are not nutritionally essential to consume. I always try to deter people from consuming them,” she said.

Mathews said ingesting substances the body is not used to could not only affect health state in the long run, but may decrease immediate performance. “It is usually a trial and error type of thing because people usually don’t know their tolerance level for these substances. Around your best, you don’t really want to be messing around with trial and error,” Mathews indicated. As dents’ sleeping and eating habits may come back to normal, however awareness towards making healthier choices should remain and grow, Mathews said. “I try to encourage students to think critically and make decisions that will be positive in a long term and not not care about their health.”

Karina Barriga Albring can be contacted at kbarriga@keene-equinox. com

“Don’t go near it!” Keene State College junior and resident of the Pondside 2 apartments, Scott DeMeo, asserted while he described the bobcat he sighted about four months ago, as it matched the bobcat that was sighted last week on KSC campus.

DeMeo said he found out about the bobcat sighting this month through an email that KSC Campus Safety sent out. The email stated that Campus Safety had received two calls within several minutes about a bobcat sighting near the Pondside 2 apartment buildings off Appleton St. The notice stated, “We have contacted N.H. Fish and Game regarding the sightings and they advise as we have, to leave the animals alone.

They will respond if the animal is ill or injured or if the animal becomes a threat to safety.” tember. He said didn’t even know he was looking at a bobcat. He recalled looking out his bedroom window in Pondside 2 building E and noticed a creature sitting, hanging out behind the apartment in the bushes staring at him for what felt like ten minutes. He said he thought it was a big cat, and didn’t think much of it and never reported it. When he got an email alert a couple days later that month, he said he realized what he had really seen.

“It looked maybe a little over a foot,” He said the picture of the bobcat attached to last weeks email matched exactly what he saw months ago and it was in the same location. Campus Safety said that additionally, it had been reported that the bobcat may have an offspring with her, so that may make her very territorial and increase her

protective instinct. Campus Safety advises that students and faculty or anyone on campus “DO NOT APPROACH THE ANIMAL” and “Avoid any movements or sounds they may consider threatening.”

Ashlynn Cedrone, another KSC junior living in the Pondside 2 apartments, said she did not believe her friend, DeMeo, when he told her he had seen an enormous light tan cat. She said she knew before the emails about the bobcat’s existence, but once word was out she said her professors were even warning her in class. She said the students that have been talking about it in class aren’t really nervous.

She said “I think we’ve gotten other sightings over the past years.

I’ve lived in New Hampshire for a few years now, so it’s not something that surprises me.”

Cedrone’s roommate in Pondside 2, junior Shannon Daley, agreed and said, “I know people who aren’t used to New Hampshire and wildlife are freaking out thinking, ‘Oh my god there’s a bobcat on campus that’s going to attack me,’ but a majority of my friends are from New Hampshire or near here so they’ve seen bears and wildlife all the time, so it’s not so scary.”

All three students living in Pondside 2 said they have not seen any damage around the area that might have been caused by the bobcat. They advise, just as N.H. Fish and Game and Campus Safety has, to not approach the bobcat and to back away slowly and cautiously.

“I still feel safe, I think the cat stays around here because there’s a lot of grass and bushy areas, I see rabbits dancing around P-two [apartments], so it’s a great spot for a bobcat,” DeMeo said.

Bethany Ricciardi can be contacted at bricciardi@keene-equinox.com

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News / A3

[ Keene-Equinox.com ]

ANNELISE KLOSTER

Equinox Staff

lets KSC

Relay For Life, a fundraising event for The American Cancer Society, takes place in different communities all over the country. Keene State College’s Relay For Life puts in time and effort, year after year, to plan this event on campus. They have inspired and touched many of those who are directly or indirectly affected with cancer, the students behind this event said.

Participants form teams to walk laps around a track, and ever y wher e. participate in activities at the 12-hour overnight event. Relay for So that keeps me Life’s mission during the event is to celebrate those who surgoing,” Heinze said. against cancer.

A long-time According to information provided by KSC junior Ashley Relay For Life Preston, chair of the Planning Committee for Relay For Life, the participant, organization started at KSC in 2010 because of 2013 KSC gradDJ Caligiuri, uate Becca Lazinsk, who started the committee her freshman spoke at the year. kickoff event of why she $18,000 with almost 200 participants. Their latest event in 2013 continues saw an inrcrease in numbers. to attend A total of $25,000 was raised by 32 teams and 400 particiRelay For pants, which also included 19 cancer survivors who attended Life each the event. For the next Relay For Life, scheduled for April 2014, year.

Preston said she hopes the numbers will continue to grow.

“Si nce “We haven’t set goals yet but we want to have at least thirtyI started relay four And as far as the money, I’d like to do maybe thirty-thousand dollars just to up it. So we’ll see how that goes,” Preston said.

I’ve had a lot of To begin spreading the awareness of Relay For Life, the friends and family members get diagnosed with cancer.

Relay For Life Planning Committee at KSC hosted a kickoff Having such a close relationship with this, going through these event Wednesday, December 4. aliments makes me think that they’re doing all these things to American Cancer Society representative, Kelly Heinze, stay alive the least I can do is stay up all night,” Caligiuri said. spoke of Relay For Life at the kickoff event. “The event is an Relay For Life at KSC strives to celebrate, remember and overnight event. We will start with the opening ceremonies, which is huge for the survivors. We invite survivors to come “I feel like it brings people together because I know a lot of and be recognized during our opening ceremonies and they do people have known someone who’s had cancer at one time. And the good thing about relay is no matter who’s in the room, you tons of entertainment, activities and games,” Heinze stated. all know what’s its like to see someone go through cancer. It’s Heinze said she started with Relay For Life at University of really an emotional bond. I know I connected with a lot people New Hampshire as a team captain and walked for four years in that I didn’t know were affected by cancer in the same way,” a row. Now working for The American Cancer Society, Heinze Preston said. referred to why she is inspired to continue her work with Relay For Life.

Annelise Kloster can be contacted at “My mom has battled cancer on and off since I was eleven akloster@keene-equinox.com [years old]. Cancer affects everyone. Directly, indirectly, it really is

“[Gordi] was so engaging and he was truly interested in getting to know everybody.”

(Cont. from A1)

lems and KSC Confessions, both paid tributes to Gordi tweeting: “#RIP Gordi the DC will never be the same” and “The DC should be renamed the Gordi Davis Dining Commons. Retweet if you agree. #RIPGORDI.” Not only did students love talking to and knowing Davis, the feeling was mutual. “[Gordi] was so engaging and he was truly interested in getting to know everybody. If he had a conversation with you, it was

-JOSEPH QUIRINALE DINING SERVICES GENERAL MANAGER

because he was truly interested in having the conversation and he was extremely very focused on people, he was focused on everybody,” said Quirinale.

KSC sophomore, Alecia Canpoint to go through Davis’s line

entering the DC because of his friendly aura and upbeat comments.

Some students will remember Davis for his ‘policing’ of the DC. Quirinale said Davis’s want to make sure all DC rules were enforced stems from his connec-

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / SODEXO

Gordon “Gordi” Davis dresses up as King Henry on a British cuisine-themed night at the Zorn Dining Commons.

SoundoFF

KARINA BARRIGA ALBRING/ FILE PHOTOS

In the spring of 2013, Relay for Life at KSC raised $25,000. Over 400 people participated in the overnight event held at the Spaulding Gymnasium.

tion to the college.

“Students want to take food out of the DC so Gordi would want to be the police man and we’d say ‘You know Gordi, that’s not your place even though we appreciate the fact that you tell them.’ He’s a Keene State alum, so he had a great deal of loyalty to Keene State and loyalty to the dining commons,” Quirinale stated.

Davis was a 1972 graduate of KSC and had been working for the dining commons for seven years. Davis also had a radio show on Thursday nights on WKNH, which Quirinale said he was a to be very clever and opinionated.

Quirinale also mentioned he had a knack for DJing. “[Gordi] had a way of being able to thread music from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s together and make it work, it was a pretty amazing thing, and I know he was enjoying that radio program very, very much.”

A dinner was held on Monday, December 9, to commemorate Davis’s legacy at KSC. Quirinale said Davis once prepared his own favorite meatloaf recipe for students two years ago and that same dish was served to students Monday night, along with other foods that were selected by a tally of student votes at each station in the dining commons.

Quirinale said the idea stemmed from the fact that Davis would always be interested in students likes asking, “What’s your favorite meal?”

Rachel Heard can be contacted at rheard@keene-equinox.com

hoped the fair helped students with the decision of pursuing a law career.

Also, Loevy-Reyes has scheduled individual pre-law advisory sessions with students to discuss course selection, possible internships and preparing for the LSATs. Halloran also commented on Loevy-Reyes work when she said he is collaborating with an advisory board made up of faculty from different departments on campus.

Halloran said, “This is a real, integrated interdisciplinary approach to pre-law advising which is pretty exciting and really works well at Keene State.”

Jake Miller, a KSC senior, said he wishes this had been established earlier on in his college career. “I’m sure it would help me more if I wasn’t a senior…unfortunately, I’m graduating,” Miller said.

Halloran said the need for a prelaw advisor at KSC was noticed in 2012 when incoming students indi-

Jess Laundry Senior Psychology

“I like decorating the tree with my family.”

“I love that on Christmas Eve, we have a Polish feast at my friends house!”

David Draper Senior Psychology

“I love having my whole family come over on Christmas Eve.”

program, students were receiving advising from a number of different people,” said Halloran.

Halloran indicated that this caused a problem when she said, “we were were receiving was relatively inconsistent,” said Halloran.

According to Halloran, “In order to recognize that our students, successful Keene State College graduates could go on to law school, we decided to formalize the process.”

That is when KSC hired LoevyReyes, Halloran said. The new positions seems to be increasing the number of students expressing interest in pre-law, according to Halloran.

She also said Loevy-Reyes is working closely with the Academic and Career Advising Center.

“I think that is important for stu-

our area,” she said.

Loevy-Reyes said he recognized the interest in pre-law as well. “I have been able to identify really a lot of students who are interested in possible common application.

“Given that information, we were legal careers I think harnessing that obligated and certainly wanted to energy would be a nice goal to have,” support students in their area of inter- Loevy-Reyes stated. est, so we created groups around that Anna Glassman can be contacted at interest and connected students with aglassman@keene-equinox.com faculty,” Halloran said.

“I have been able to identify really a lot of students who are interested in possible legal careers...”

-MARK LOEVY-REYES KSC PRE-LAW ADVISOR

“What do you enjoy most during winter break?”

Emerald Smith Freshman Psychology

Despite those efforts, Halloran explained it was not enough. “Because

(Cont. from A1)

Jenna Foley Senior Music Education

“I love going to Florida to see my grandfather and going to Disney on Christmas day.”

Compiled by: Haley Erdbrink

Beth Cote Sophomore Elementary Education

“ I like opening presents with both my mom’s and my dad’s sides of the family.”

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OpiniOns / a4

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, dec. 12, 2013

[Keene-Equinox.com]

EDITORIAL

Asking administration to consider Sodexo employees

Starting January 1, 2014, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will be in effect—and Sodexo, Keene State College’s Dining Service provider—has started to make changes in employee health care access.

The Equinox stated that 16 workers will lose their eligibility to qualify for health care because of these changes. Currently, Sodexo employs 170 workers at KSC. Forty-six will switch from a full-time position to a part-time position, leaving 16 workers without health care coverage that they currently choose to have.

Although the college does not employ the workers directly, we believe administration should examine this issue further. The passing of Gordon (Gordi) Davis, beloved Sodexo employee, has proved that these workers are very important to the college campus. We care about the workers and we care about their rights, regardless of who employs them.

We understand that Sodexo is also making these changes with other colleges, such as the University of Vermont, where administration is taking the time to examine the contract between their university and Sodexo. We encourage any school to follow suit, especially Keene State College.

We believe that KSC needs to further examine what the contract entails between Sodexo and the college.

After all, we want to support the workers employed by Sodexo, considering that some employees are KSC students. The Equinox believes KSC administration should look into any changes like this that are being made in the future as well.

Whether or not these workers are directly employed by the college or an outside company, they deserve to be treated fairly.

We believe it is important to notify the KSC community of these changes, just as it is important to address the effect these changes will have on community members.

BRITTANY MURPHY / OPINIONS EDITOR

STAFF COMMENTARY To contact The Equinox, email jconlon@keene-equinox.com BRITTANY BALLANTYNE Administrative Executive Editor JULIE CONLON Managing Executive Editor

NEWS EDITOR

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WEBMASTER

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Emma Contic

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Student passes on the knowledge gained throughout KSC college years When we reach the end of our mate that shows you the importance college career, we reach a time of of self-expression, the best friend that discusses complex ideas about what we have actually obtained is the universe with you for hours on a wealth of knowledge learned outside the classroom. Knowledge is you forget about your high school fueled by passion, and often times boyfriend or girlfriend. In college, that passion is not found in the aca- somebody may take your heart demic paths we choose for ourselves. when you offer it and then break it, The passion is found in the extra- and another may teach you how to curricular activity that becomes a truly love and receive love in return. family, the elective classes that we In the hundreds of years that the take from a major that we almost university system has existed, the wish we had declared, and the late curriculum has been ever-changing. nights we spend with friends who Historic events have taken place

our exams will be irrelevant when we’ve aged, but our grandchildren will undoubtedly attend college and experience the same successes, failures, friendships, relationships, heartbreaks and revelations that we have had.

There is no advice that can be given to make the overall experience easier, because the hardships bring us personal growth. However,

so, I have some advice to give for any college student reading this.

Go to the stereotypical collegetown coffee shop, order an overmade, forcing the rewriting of class- priced espresso and listen to indie away from campus as we were. room materials. Subjects of our music on your iPod. Go to the party, The passion is found in the roomdrink the keg beer but never the

punch and dance on a table. Change your major four times until you feel passionate about what you are studying. Experience heartbreak with betrayal, and experience love of the fact that your entrance into the so called “real world” is coming sooner than you think, and enjoy every moment that you have so that you are prepared for the ups and downs that life will inevitably throw at you. Take this advice, or don’t take it at all. What is important is that you make your college experience your own, and that you make it count.

Leah Mulroney can be contacted at lmulroney@ksc.keene.edu

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.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITER

STAFF COMMENTARY

Student says homosexuality is not a choice

Barbie’s more than just a doll, she’s a role model

I’m sure a majority of us like to believe that our society is changing and becoming more open to different types of people.

I know I like to think that being straight isn’t the norm anymore, and being gay is just as common and

Barbie has been around for over 50 years.

In that time, she has received much criticism for her body type.

Her proportions are not quite that of an average woman. As a matter of fact, they are actually next to impossible to achieve. If Barbie’s proportions were blown up to human size, she would look somewhat like an alien.

It is important to note that if she were real, Barbie would actually be dangerously underweight. So many feminists are anti-

college classes, I am reminded that there are still hateful people out in society today.

body images found in young girls. A lot of the focus is put into changing Barbie so that she has a more human-like and average body type.

It would be great to see this happen, but we also have to remember that dolls are not people. They are dolls. There really is no need to make a big deal over the body type of a doll, seeing as it is in fact only a toy. Barbie receives all of this criticism for her body type by people who are supposed to be against bashing of any body types—which is very interesting to me.

Part of feminism is supposed to be about being accepting of others despite differences in body type. It’s ironic that a group so focused on positive reinforcement for all body types would bash

junior year, I enrolled in a class that assessed visual rhetoric of gender and sexuality.

As a communication major, I get the opportunity to look into a lot of out why they are appealing.

In this case, I’m viewing straight, gay, and femininity and masculinity as they are viewed in mass media. ing about Ellen DeGeneres and her

a rather unpopular opinion.

think about something that actually

voters believe that Barbie would be considered a good role model.

The rest think she should be put to rest because her appearance is detrimental to young girls. This is not where the focus should be.

While I do agree in seeing a wider variety of body types represented through Barbie dolls, I think many are missing the positive things surrounding Barbie. Probably the best thing about Barbie is how driven she is. There are so many representations of Barbie doing jobs that are usually dominated by males, proving that she is an icon for feminism and an all-around good role model for young girls.

Barbie is a lot like the Guerrilla Girls, a feminist group that preaches ideas of feminism anonymously. They wear gorilla masks to hide their identities while releasing posters and publicly speak-

Why does anyone have to come out? Why do people who are gay or transgender or bisexual have to come out? I don’t think it’s fair.

My class is working with a local organization known as PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). PFLAG’s purpose is to promote the health and well-being of anyone who is gay, bisexual, transgender and so on. The leader of the Keene chapter, class about the organization. During her meeting with us, she conducted a mini activity.

She had three students (including myself) sit in front of the class where we pretended we were on the Oprah Winfrey show and she was Oprah.

She had told us before the fake panel that we were just going to pretend that being straight is the minority and is not accepted.

She then asked us questions where we had to answer as if being straight was embarrassing and hated.

One of her questions put me into an almost shocking state of mind. She

tion the ideological construction of idealized femininity as suband Visual Form,” claims.

Barbie’s message is similar to that of the Guerilla Girls because she is a way for feminists to express equality in the work place without putting themselves out there personally. By publicly releasing these female dolls that work in these careers, Barbie speaks out against the patriarchy, letting everybody know that she is capable to have these jobs as well. Barbie is not submissive by any means— she is a hard-working, independent representation of a woman.

Barbie has had many careers from the time she was released in 1959. For example, she has been a doctor, astronaut, a football States. This represents a large number of jobs, most of which are usually reserved for men. She has also had many roles in the mili-

you know that you were straight?” that you are born gay and that it’s not a choice. Think about it, why would anyone choose to be humiliated and chastised by the public?

When Barry asked me that question though, I paused. I’ve always known I was straight. It just happened that way.

After this meeting with Barry, we read an Ellen article. When Ellen was feel good. Now people can’t hurt me anymore.”

What upset me was the fact that place. Why does society have such a hard time understanding anyone who isn’t straight?

Straight people do not have to come out because it just happened. So why do gay people?

The author of the Ellen article, communication scholar, Bonnie Dow, explained coming out as a homosexual is discussed as a liberation or a celebration.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY: BRIAN CANTORE / PHOTO EDITOR

sions, females are not what comes to mind. a message to young girls telling them they are able to do anything that boys can do, essentially tearing apart the gender binary. One

-DANIELLE HOADLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

She explained that coming out cal comfort in a deeply homophobic culture...” Everyone should have the right to be happy with the person they are.

What upsets me, though, is that when someone comes out about being gay or transgender, they should not have to worry about what people are going to think of them.

When I started liking boys in elementary school, I never worried about what anyone (including society) was going to think of me. I was just being myself and was taught that there is nothing wrong about being who you are.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR The same government that can intercept any digital communication on the face of the earth does not seem to be able to process the information that citizens voluntarily provide about their eligibility for health insurance. The NSA surveillance controversy and the tortured rollout of the Obamacare website are two sides of the same coin. They explain why Americans are so angry about government.

But, as a rule, we get the government we deserve. Political institutions work well when citizens are engaged: following the news, electing good representatives and pitching in ourselves to address serious national problems like health care and national security. When people are detached, governments generally fail. So where are we going to get more active and responsible citizens?

That’s where you come in; you can be an effective citizen. Civic engagement that improves the world almost always has three characteristics. It is deliberative: citizens talk and listen to fellow citizens who may disagree with them. It is collaborative: citizens actually roll up their sleeves and work together, building or saving or producing goods. And it creates civic relationships, partnerships among people who want to improve the world together. If you are not doing civic work, you should think about getting involved. Many thousands of college students are volunteers and activists.

If you are already active, you should connect with other people who are also involved. Even if they work on different issues or come from different communities, they face the same challenges. For instance, why does our political system cater to professionally-led, well-funded interests instead of citizens who deliberate and collaborate? Why do schools and colleges offer so little civic education? Why is so little funding available for citizens’ groups?

Why do the news and entertainment media rarely depict citizens working together to address problems?

You need to sit down with other active citizens to discuss how to change policies, laws, funding streams and media coverage so that citizen work can citizens, which is the only thing that can improve our democracy.

Peter Levine is a professor at Tufts University. Levine can be contacted through Larissa Ackerman at larissa@clariemckinneypr.com

It wasn’t a big deal if I liked boys. that way. Our society has turned So, why would it have been a big deal every human being that isn’t straight if I ended up liking girls? That’s what into evil, which is disgusting.

I believe that humans are humans live in a deeply rooted homophobic whether they are straight, gay, black, society. white, purple, triangle or square.

I’m happy to see that it can be per- Gay, lesbian and transgender people sonally relieving to come out, but should not have to worry about public being gay should have never been ridicule.

Everyone needs to accept being It should be just as easy when gay and transgender just as if it was someone coming out being straight.

It should be embraced, not put had to come out. It just happened and down. not a single person questioned it.

So let’s get started.

It should not have to be a scary thing to realize you are gay, but our Danielle Hoadley can be contacted at homophobic society makes us feel danielle.hoadley@ksc.keene.edu

This was an early example of women being able to be a part of the workforce. This was so important because little girls could then learn from Barbie that they do not need to conform to the ideas of society, but instead is able to do anything they want to do or be anything they want to be.

Barbie should not be torn apart for her body type, but rather who you wanna be.”

This is an extremely important message for young girls to hear.

If Barbie can do it, then why can’t anyone else? Too much focus is put onto Barbie’s appearance and not enough on her accomplishments—something that happens all too often with real women in society as well.

She is a driven role model that girls should follow not because she is thin, but because she is an intelligent feminist that shows girls that they can be whoever they want to be, and does not adhere to the patriarchy…and she does it all in designer high heels.

Devon Roberts can be contacted at droberts@keene-equinox.com

STAFF COMMENTARY

Dunkin’ Donuts needs to expand to show Starbucks that they are superior ‘joe’ New Englanders are extremely particular when it comes to their coffee of choice.

Coffee-drinking is no joke; diehards are either Team Starbucks or Team Dunkin’ Donuts, and damned if they cross to the dark side. Dunkin’ Donuts, founded in Canton, Massachusetts, has 7,200 locations nationwide, but is predominant in the Northeast.

Starbucks is even bigger, according to the Boston Globe, with 11,200 locations.

The Seattle-based chain picks up the slack of Dunkin’ Donuts on the map, having many locations in the Midwest and along the West Coast.

But for the sake of coffee-drinkers everywhere, Dunkin’ Donuts must expand their franchise to show that Starbucks is far from superior.

The color scheme for Starbucks includes hues of pine green, beige, black and white: these are classy colors when applied to a palette.

Pair those chic colors with a few chalkboards donned with elegant cursive writing, recessed lighting, leather love-seats and wooden tables and you’ve got yourself what seems like a high-

end coffee shop.

But this is not the case.

This is a stark contrast of the bright oranges, pinks and bubble letters at Dunkin’ Donuts.

The ideology at Starbucks is to seduce the customer with the idea of its coffee. This is the ultimate form of consumerism, according vert’s Guide to Ideology.”

While customers feel bad about the overpriced cup of java ($1.85 for a plain small), Starbucks reassures the customer they’re doing a good deed since a small portion of each purchase goes to some humanitarian cause. With this cup of twelve times since 1994. Twelve. ist without a bad conscience.”

A prime example of the fauxThe bribe we are offered is that we can save the world and enjoy swank is New York City. It seems ourselves at the same time, accord- in NYC, there is a Starbucks chain store around every corner without a Dunkin’ Donuts to be found.

In reality, there are over 100 is already included in the cup of coffee—and thus we are doing more Dunkin’ Donuts locations our duty to the environment, or than there are Starbucks, accordwhatever it may be—we can ful- ing to the Boston Globe.

Chris Christopher, the Direcconscience-free,” according to the tor of Consumer Markets for IHS Global Insights, said Starbucks review.

Businessweek also disclosed that Starbucks has raised prices Manhattan.

AP / PHOTO

Elsewhere are the Dunkin’s.

There is marketing and there is manipulation.

Starbucks likes to approach the former by using the latter, tricking customers into thinking they are spending their money wisely gant coffee experience.

In truth, the merchandise is far overpriced. And frankly, Dunkin’s just tastes better.

Kattey Ortiz can be contacted at kortiz@keene-equinox.com

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KSC weighs in on winter break NICOLE CARROBIS

Equinox Staff As a man named Fred Rogers, but more wellknown as Mr. Rogers once said, “I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense and the familiar climax and ending.” are geared up to head back home for the holidays and month-long break. Though relaxation is need, there are discussions about plans and worries about what to do with all of the extra time.

Between work, relaxing, the holidays and all hard to remember what it is like to be a student when they return, struggling to avoid succumbing to the possible cabin fever that accompanies being home for four weeks.

Talking to several Keene State College students, the variety in plans and coping vary wildly.

Stefanie Diskin, a KSC senior, is using the time off to take care of her future plans. Diskin said, “I tions,” and added that she, “would like to line up a substitute teaching job.”

However, she, like many students, recognized those necessary part-time jobs in order to make money. but I don’t think that’s going to happen. It’s really hard,” Diskin said.

She added that, “I have tried working retail, but it’s not my favorite, and now that I am in my major—I’m an education major—and I love it, I would like to do that all the time and not do anything else.”

Besides working, having time off from fulltime academic work leaves some students both loving and hating the free time.

KSC student Kim Feener said, for example, “The break is torture because I like being busy. So when I get back I am like, ‘yes! Work!,’ and then I hate it again,” she said.

Also talking about what the break has to offer, another KSC student, Alexzandria Coon, said, “I just wrote a forty-seven page portfolio for one of my classes, so being able to go home and just take a break from everything is really cool. The only thing I will really miss is just hanging out with people. I get bored just sitting at home.”

How students combat that boredom varies.

Sophomore Mary Allen said her plans included, “going to the gym with my friend Justin…I am also working at the elementary, middle and high school as a tutor and am visiting family over Christmas.”

Allen also said, “It’s always tough to come back to school, but I will be here a couple days before as an RA [resident assistant]. So, I will get beaten track of working out, but I will get back on.

I will survive.”

As students begin leaving campus, it is important to appreciate the time away from school to work, rest, or visit family.

In the meantime, as television personality Giada De Laurentiis said, “The holidays stress people out so much. I suggest you keep it simple and try to have as much fun as you can.”

Nicole Carrobis can be contacted at Nicole.Carrobis@ksc.keene.edu

write for

T N E D STU LIFE!

Join our staff meetings on Sundays, 9:30 p.m. in room 309 of the Student Center FREE Pizza!!

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KSC education stretches from Colorado to Costa Rica giving MARISSA STRONG

ColoRado

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

KSC senior, Marissa Strong, explores “Cave of the Winds” in the Colorado Springs.

Traveling Central America helps student gain perspective before going home BILLY LAKE

Costa RiCa

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

KSC junior, Billy Lake, stands at the top of Volcán Irazú, a volcano that famously erupted on the day President John F. Kennedy started a state visit to Costa Rica.

Left, St udy aw ay Costa RIca. Ab student B illy La birds. ove: An ke in N excurs icarag ion in ua du CO NT Ecuado RIB UT ED PH r allow ring his sem ed Lake ester in OTO to see exotic

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(Cont. from A10)

The cycle started when he had to drop out halfway through sophomore year.

Sturgill came from an impoverished family, which work and found an apartment for that year…But I had an irresponsible roommate who never paid rent so we got evicted…” Sturgill paused, “But I got a positive recommendation from that place,” he smiled. both types of aid to go to school. According to an arti“Next, I went and lived with some friends of mine cle in Time Magazine, fewer “than 0.3 percent of students receive enough scholarships and grants to cover months we found out that a roommate was more than the full cost of attendance…Only 1 percent of students a thousand dollars in debt to the landlord. We didn’t have 90 percent of their costs covered, while 3.4 percent get evicted, but they wouldn’t let us renew our lease.” have 75 percent of their costs covered.” This means that From there, Sturgill couch-surfed for a few weeks, almost everyone who expected their costs to be covered - aged to purchase a cheap car and was granted a few

“It’s very important to have a college degree. It’s the only way to really make money. But the only way you can get the chance

He, like many others, had to turn to student loans on

The summer after freshman year, Sturgill lived in an apartment, worked as a deli clerk and waited for sophomore year. His apartment’s lease ran out in August and he had a housing spot guaranteed in Pondside One with some friends. However, weeks before move-in day, he received a letter saying he was $200 short of the full cost of housing. He scrambled to get the money together, housing and was placed on a waiting list to move onto campus. “I never got a phone call, never got an email and suddenly the semester was starting and I had to move out of my apartment…I was working thirty-eight hours a week to make my rent and I was enrolled in four classes, which I couldn’t keep up with so I dropped down to a part-time student.”

He was angry. He felt cheated. Within a month, he had lost his apartment and was still working. He had classes and nowhere to come home to. But dropping cial aid, leaving him with even more debt. “At the time, thank god my ex-girlfriend who knew my situation, let me stay with her.” For an entire semester, he worked between 30-40 hours a week, couch-surfed and was enrolled in two classes.

“Eventually, on top of the fact that I dropped down to a part time student, I was already on academic probation because I had too much fun in freshman year...a

sTudenT Life / a9

[Keene-Equinox.com]

-QUINN CULTON PRENTISS STURGILL FORMER KSC STUDENT

months asylum in his aunt’s lake house in Alstead. It didn’t last a month. Two weeks after moving, he got into a minor car accident. His car was totalled and he was

is already being asked to leave by the landlord.

“One of the initial people I went in to get an apartment with moved out, and the people we found to replace him were incredibly irresponsible, which eventually led to us not getting evicted, but the landlord asking us to leave.” Again. The cycle in part is because with when you’re not in school, so you don’t get a lot of options, Sturgill said.

Now, he’s still there, waiting for the lease to run out or to get evicted. He’s trying to get back into school, but it’s tough. “I’d want to go back to school given the opportunity. I’ve been trying to, my plan’s been right now to take the money I get back from my security deposit to take one class next semester, to at least get my foot in the door, so I’m at least making progress.”

When asked about what he could’ve done to avoid the situation as a whole, he gets a distant look.

“I could’ve probably taken a year off before I went with employment, just in case something went awry… and if I had taken a year off, I could’ve taken more time

He entered college without a clue as to what he led to me not getting the grade I needed in one of my wanted to do. “I wasn’t declared, I was just taking classes to see what I wanted to do,” Sturgill said.

And I haven’t gone back. And I can’t go back, and life He ended up taking classes varying from design, to sucks.” He dropped out of KSC in December of 2011. A few weeks later, he began receiving phone calls asking when he would start to pay back his student loans. “I “I work at a deli in a grocery store making mediocre tell them that I’m doing what I can, but I’m not very - anyone reliable to live with and I don’t make enough ment plan. All my loans were consolidated and the money to live on my own...” Sturgill frowned, almost minimum payment went down, but I still can’t start.”

He has not made a single payment. He hasn’t been affordable at all, it’s a little outrageous. Yes, the salary able to. According to CNBC, in 2011 only 53 percent of you might get might make it worth it within a couple people with outstanding student debt were making pay- of years out of college, but out-of-state tuition is what, ments on their loans. The other “47 percent were either twenty-thousand dollars a year? Unless it’s the case still in school, or in deferral, forbearance or grace peri- where you have some money coming to you, getting out ods.” Sturgill was in the 47 percent. He lives hand-to- of college eighty-thousand dollars in debt is not a good mouth, on nearly minimum wage, struggling to make way to start your life.” Up until it closed last month, rent every month. Sturgill wants to go back to school, Sturgill was employed at Shaw’s supermarket as a deli but getting started is the hardest part. “I’m trying to clerk. Now he works at Hannaford’s as a deli clerk. He live. That’s the cycle, I’ll get close to getting back on my feet and being able to start to pay back loans, but then I

still wants to go to college.

Augustus Stahl can be contacted at augustus.stahl@gmail.com

AUGUSTUS STAHL / CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Sturgill, a former KSC student, shares his desires for going back to college and his reasons for dropping out. After bouncing from home to home, Sturgill hopes to make his way back to campus grounds.

everyday.”

Countless students arrived at the student center for the notorious fountains of chocolate that only come once a year.

Caitlin Cormier, a KSC junior, explained that the fountains are always her favorite part of the winter celebration.

“Oh, I came straight to the food,” Cormier said, “I’ve come to the carnival the past two years I’ve been at Keene and it’s always a blast—especially the food.”

Not only was there a chocolate fountain for students to get a taste of, KSC clubs and student organizations had tables set up also.

Some tables, such as the set-up

(Cont. from A10)

LEAH MULRONEY / EQUINOX STAFF

A table of students decorate and display holiday cards for soldiers at the winter celebration.

offered free gloves. Other clubs and organizations showed off what they have been working on this semester.

Katie Featherston, biology lab specialist and keeper of KSC’s greenhouse located on the roof of the Science Center, represented the Biology Club’s table full of plants grown on campus

grounds.

“A lot of people don’t know about the greenhouse on campus or have never heard of our Biology Club, so the winter carnival is nice for us. I mean, we raise all the plants seen today right over in the Keene State greenhouse.

This is just a really good time for us to get out information about biology and the importance of our greenhouse,” Featherston said.

The Biology Club’s goal was accomplished when Abbate arrived.

“I’m actually a biology major and I didn’t even know what the Bio-Club did until today. I love plants and I’m pretty interested in looking into that now,” Abbate said.

The numerous tables set up throughout the student center gave winter celebration-goers a chance to interact with groups and learn more about the involvement of their fellow students on campus.

Ashlynn Cedrone, KSC junior and member of the ceramics program, felt strongly about the event’s effect.

-

nitely shows people who don’t know about the ceramics programs what we are capable of. A lot of people go into the art buildings, but don’t realize that everything there is legitimate, studentmade art,” Cedrone said.

Tasla Feuerbach, KSC senior and fellow member of the ceramics program, chimed in. “Our program keeps getting bigger and bigger, and I think events like these help,” Feuerbach said. dents together in a way, but at the winter carnival you’ve got the free food, the different clubs on display and everyone’s here,” she said.

“No one is segregated in their own buildings, we’re all here, and it’s nice to have students checking the tables out,” Feuerbach continued.

The celebration seems to be all about making connections with clubs and organizations, taking a moment to breathe before exams, and overall, for students to enjoy themselves.

Stephanie McCann can be contacted at smccann@keene-equinox.com

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Tell them to join our study away column!

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Students dip into the holidays for a study break STEPHANIE MCCANN

Equinox Staff Freebies, fun, friends and of course, a chocolate fondue fountain equipped with delicious dip-able treats were all a part of Keene State College’s Ninth Annual Student Center Winter Celebration.

This event was held on the KSC campus tion before the semester comes to a close.

Students gathered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in P. Young Student Center to take a moment and unwind from the stress that students said has been lingering over them before this year’s exams.

Meredith Trabilsy, senior and member of KSC’s Social Activities Council, commented on the importance of this event.

“We are students, we work really hard, we have classes, we have exams, but we also have lives. There is so much going on with us, espe-

cially right before the holidays, that it’s just nice that Keene acknowledges that and gives us this time that can bring us all together in one place,” she said.

The event is always exhibited at the end of the fall semester, and is intended to give students a chance to commend their hard work throughout the term with free food, free goodies and a venue open to the entire KSC campus community.

Alexandra Abbate, a sophomore at KSC, said she believes the celebration gives everyone a chance to breathe during the stress.

“This is just a nice, happy environment I know I am. We all can relate, and I think the carnival kind of lets everyone breathe for a second before the stress of exams starts up again,” Abbate said, with a chocolate covered strawberry in hand.

She continued, “You know, I have to say it would be nice to have a chocolate fountain

» WINTER CELEBRATION, A9

LEAH MULRONEY / EQUINOX STAFF

LEAH MULRONEY / EQUINOX STAFF

Student organizations participate in arts and crafts in the flag room of the L.P. Young Student Center for the Ninth Annual Student Center Winter Celebration.

Students enjoy a chocolate fondue fountain with marshmallows, strawberries and chocolate biscotti, among other treats.

BRIEF

Student shares financial struggle after leaving KSC Printer opens in Elliot for convenience of the night owls AUGUSTUS STAHL

Contributing WritEr “I signed my life away when I was seventeen, and I didn’t realize what I was doing.”

That was four years ago in Charlestown, New Hampshire.

his mother, as a high school senior Quinn Culton Prentiss Sturgill izing the $15,000 student loan for him to enroll in Keene State College.

He was excited, but nervous.

This loan represented the next four years of his life. It was an investment, Sturgill recalled. College was important. According to a poll by Americans said a college education is necessary.

He was right.

The problem was that the same most people cannot afford the cost of a public college education.

“It’s very important to have a college degree. It’s the only way to really make money. But the only way you can get the chance to make

“I had no money from anyone to go to school. I did it all on my on.”

-QUINN CULTON PRENTISS STURGILL FORMER KSC STUDENT

any money is by having money in justed his hat when he said those words, simply lifted it, then placed it in the same spot, a motion he does when he’s upset about something.

“I wasn’t able to pay. I had an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of zero dollars, which meant I had no money from anyone to go to school. I did it all on my own,” he said. With luck, he would be able to graduate in four years and start paying back his debts.

But it did not work that way.

Nearly four years later, Sturgill, 21, is one of the millions of Americans who has over $10,000 in outstanding student debt. Tall and thin, he speaks softly, and offers opinions only when asked. With closely cropped black hair, he has a slight chip in his front tooth and until

recently, his black rimmed glasses needed packaging tape to stay together.

Sturgill was raised by a single mother in Charlestown, N.H., and moved multiple times before age ten. Eventually, his mother married when he was 14 and she gave birth to his two half siblings. Sturgill does not like to talk about his mom. For the past couple years, she has been ill, according to Sturgill, receiving blood transfusions every few weeks. She always does as much as she can to help him, but it the age of 12, he said.

College was always Sturgill’s goal, but there was no way he would be able to afford it out-of-pocket.

According to Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA,

» PERSONAL STORY, A9

SABRINA LAPOINTE

Equinox Staff Students are now able to print before their 8 a.m. classes due to popular demand. The printers are Elliot Center. The printing is available from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., Monday through Friday morning.

In the past, students were not able to print before their 8 a.m. classes because the printers were located in the library, which does not open its doors until 8 a.m. Many students expressed concerns about this, given that many would work on their assignments late the night prior to a deadline and would not have access to a printer in the morning before their class began.

KSC freshman, Jolene Hauptman, has an 8 a.m. class every day of the week, so she is looking forward to taking advantage of this change. “Some people don't have enough time in the morning if they're staying up late, so it's really helpful,” Hauptman said.

KSC senior Stefanie Diskin said the change is good because many students typically procrastinate and this allows for a realistic option for them. “It will

we're just trying to get everything done so it'll be one less thing we have to worry about,” Diskin said.

Seraichick, said she believes students will appreciate the change. “I think it's helpful for students who don't have a printer in their room and who have an

HALEY ERDBRINK / EQUINOX STAFF

A printer is now available for use before 8 a.m. on the third floor of Elliot Hall.

on what they were doing to be able to print because the library is only open until midnight. It's another option for them,” Seraichick said. The change is fairly new and has only been in use the past two weeks. So far, not many students have taken advantage of this alteration.

the next,” Seraichick said. She said although the was a little effort to be able to provide it for a half hour so it helps some students out,” Seraichick said.

Sabrina Lapointe can be contacted at slapointe@keene-equinox.com

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Inspiration through dance [Keene-Equinox.com]

Choreography Showcase allows students to display their own visions

were performed by dancers chosen from around the Keene State College campus.

“They [students] are given choreoEmotion, talent, passion and creativity graphic problems to solve or challenges to transformed the Mabel Brown Room stage overcome by creating movement,” Professor of Theatre and Dance, William Seigh, at this year’s Choreography Showcase.

- said.

Those out-of-class assignments, he ence while pieces of dramatic music and said, are then shown in class and given intricate dancing moved their minds.

The movements of the dancers captured feedback.

He continued and explained that the the eyes of those who attended, showing the passion of the choreographers them- course also helps get students fully comselves as well. The work of these talented fortable with giving and receiving feedback.

Olivia Lynn, a KSC communication artists was certainly not overlooked.

The Choreography Showcase took major and dancer in the showcase, said place Thursday, Dec. 5, and Friday, Dec. 6, she auditioned to be a part of the show because she is taking the class next at 7 p.m.

Both nights consisted of nine to ten semester and wanted to gain experience.

Lynn, a junior, added that the choreogpieces that dance students worked on and composed in a choreography class. The pieces HALEY ERDBRINK

Equinox Staff

raphers really incorporated the dancers into their works. She explained and said when it came to the song, the dancers overall theme. She added that it was a little like trial and error.

The trial and error feeling did not last long, Lynn said. She said rehearsals excited her because Lynn as well as the other dancers could display what they had been working on.

“I haven’t performed like this since the beginning of high school,” Lynn said. “The natural feeling of that came back when I got back into dance.”

Alexander Davis, theatre and dance major with a concentration on choreography and perfor-

mance, was also a member of the class.

The KSC senior choreographed one work for the showcase titled, “Slight Displacement,” which will be performed in a choreography concert in January.

The piece is a quartet with a length of about ten minutes, he noted.

Davis said he had been working on the piece since August, and since school began he has been working with the four dancers two times a week for hour-and-a-half periods of time.

He said he worked in a different manner on this piece than pieces of the past. Previously, Davis said he kept the choreograthe movement and the structure of the piece.

“This quartet came from a really organic place,” Davis said. He stated that he began ated in a time-crunch atmosphere.

The solos, he continued, were created He added that these solos came very naturally for him, but he had to work them into visionary theme.

“Music gives me a lot of inspiration, but inspiration from,” Davis said.

He explained he goes for the structure of the song or the essence of a phrase in it to create a number.

Davis said movement and the drive to perform the motions is what creates the

» SHOWCASE, B2

ERIC GESUALDO / EQUINOX STAFF

Student dancers (left to right) Margaret Leary, Erin McNulty and Ally Laperriere showcase pieces choreographed by fellow KSC students. Other dancers in the Choreography Showcase include Lianne Rempelakis, Claire McRae, Olivia Lynn and Michelle Hayes.

STAFF COMMENTARY

Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Robertson’s ‘Duck the Halls’ and wish all a ‘Hairy Christmas’ rendition to be produced at KSC REBECCA FARR

manipulation—that does include family members,” is the issue at hand, Johnson said.

February 2014 , Keene State College With such controversy and parwill bring a Pulitzer Prize-winning ticular characters involved in the play, production, “How I Learned To Drive,” Johnson said this was one of the most to the campus.

Professor of Theatre and Dance has had in her recent years.

[TAD], Peggy Rae Johnson, is the direc“The demands of the play are so tor and said she and the TAD depart- intense,” she said, ”We worked really ment chose this production because, hard on challenging the actors during “It won every single theater award […] the audition process.” and it is a really unique treatment of, Those who seemed to have overunfortunately, a universal subject.” come the challenges are lead roles Johnson said the 1997 play had Cara Gerardi, KSC sophomore, and recently been brought back to Broadway and that one review said the play Johnson explained the story of was no longer current or relevant in “How I Learned To Drive” is told society. through the memory of Lil’ Bit, played The director said that was another by Gerardi. Lil’ Bit and her Uncle Peck, reason that made her take a second played by Howell, are the two who look. indulge into a deeper kind of relationShe explained the relevance of the ship. sexual violence prevention play that According to Johnson, the origiis performed during Freshman Ori- nal playwright, Paula Vogel, had the entation, “No Zebras,” as well as the image of Lil’ Bit looking through her fact that “How I Learned To Drive” is rearview mirror and, “seeing the person who molested her as an image and universal problem that still exists that stuck with her,” and that’s how today. the driving metaphor initiated.

“Manipulation—abusive, sexual

a&E Editor

» PLAY PREVIEW, B3

EMMA CONTIC / GRAPHICS EDITOR

DEANNA CARUSO

sound like something the infaEquinox Staff mous Robertson family would sing.

“Hunt you down a Christmas Believe it or not, the “Duck tree, thank God mama’s cookin’ Dynasty” clan has just recently is free, round up your redneck family and watch Rudolph the album labeled, “Duck the Halls: A Red-nosed Reindeer,” are Christ- Robertson Family Christmas.” mas song lyrics that can only The million-dollar family

became famous for inventing a top-of-the-line duck call. They are more acclaimed with their television show, “Duck Dynasty” on the TV network “A&E,” grossing more than “eight million viewers,” usatoday.com reported.

Willie’s growing business ideas,

Phil’s fatherly advice, Mrs. Kay’s delicious recipes, Uncle Si’s oddball philosophies and Jase’s endbrothers. They are the family that works together, plays together and of course, eats together,” the

» DUCK DYNASTY, B2

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[Keene-Equinox.com] (Cont. from B1)

description of the show on aetv.com stated. by surprise and created their very own Christmas album using all of their own vocals.

The album presents 14 songs from the traditional

Bryan about growing a beard.

In addition to Bryan, blue-grass country singer, ent on the album, the album became a smashing hit, “debuting at number one on the Country Albums trymusicislove.com noted.

The family has their Christmas website up, duckSadie Robertson, daughter of Willie, interviewed -the-scenes footage of recording the album is displayed.

Also on the website, fans can purchase the album for $25.

To wrap the whole album up, it would only make that so many people are hearing it. The response to

Sadie proves that she can sing as the lead vocal- the family gathers around the dinner table and ends the show with a closing prayer and meaningful morals by both Phil and Willie. the men of the Robertson family to sing, “Hairy “I think we kind of impressed ourselves with it the cut to sing on the album. In an interview with [the album] to be honest, we would never sing in To clear things up, the Robertson men are notorious for their long beards and they are certainly skin in our family because they will make fun of proud of it. One of the key lyrics in this particular the worst singer. you until the day they die. We were very surprised

album, but many prominent country singers are fea-

ERIC GESUALDO / EQUINOX STAFF

The two-night Choreography Showcase took place on Dec. 5 and 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the Mabel Brown Room. Both the choreographers and the dancers work throughout the semester to get to the final product.

Some pieces will also be performed in a choreography concert later in January.

I saw it coming, she [Missy] said I can be the direc- view.

Deanna Caruso can be contacted at dcaruso@keene-equinox.com

STAFF COMMENTARY

(Cont. from B1)

best pieces.

Seigh said he considered himself to be a model of feedback for the course, along with being the one to assess what the He added that he wants to be a big supporter. He continued to say that there are many one-on-one meetings held throughout the week to further his role as a mentor.

Seigh stated. “I need an environment that allows me to take Seigh said he treated the course as more of a workshop.

He said the students are choreographing all the time, which gives them the opportunity to dance in every class.

He added that the course has a strong focus around craft and how students can do research to make movement.

Haley Erdbrink can be contacted at herdbrink@keene-equinox.com

Celebrities pay tribute to Nelson Mandela ASSOCIATED PRESS

“One of the great honors of my life was to be invited to Nelson

the same time. He will always be my hero. His life was a gift to RINGO H.W. CHIU / AP PHOTO

“Today the world lost one of the true giants of the past century. Nelson Mandela was a man of incomparable honor, unconquerable strength, and unyielding resolve — a saint to many, a hero to all who treasure liberty, freedom and the dignity of

Messages on a tree are seen at a memorial rally and car cruise in Valencia, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, to remember actor Paul Walker and his friend Roger Rodas, who died in a fiery car crash last Saturday.

Recent celebrity deaths spark dramatic reactions, mourning JENNICA MARTIN

Copy Editor

“What a sad day that such a great man has passed on and -

“What I will remember most about Mr. Mandela is that he was a man whose heart, soul and spirit could not be contained

tion. But more than anyone, it was he who rebooted the idea of Africa from a continent in chaos to a much more romantic view, ity of even its poorer inhabitants.

He was also a hardheaded realist, as his economic policy demonstrated.

To him, principles and pragmatism were not foes; they went hand in hand. He was an idealist without naiveté, a comprocian Bono on Time.com.

Regardless of who it is, a victim of death is always mourned. But does it the person at all?

There is a screen that separates famous individuals and their lives not only talking about a movie screen.

One can never really tell who an actor is. Yes, we know their names, their roles and maybe even their favorwho they are as a person.

If you knew every detail about a heavy drinkers, or whether or not they pay their child support, would an individual still be such a diehard fan of that celebrity?

The question is not whether or not we can mourn for these people after

their deaths—we absolutely can. The Someone loves Paul Walker uncon- you are blessed to have never felt that question is whether or not we should sort of pain to reference the feeling of treat it as something so tragic, so dif- and drives fast in them, and not According to census.org, roughly someone close to them.

They love him for the person he is, 150,000 people die each day.

After the recent deaths of Paul the father he is, whoever he truly may What about these people?

Walker and Nelson Mandela, photo- be. graphs instantly hit social media.

My heart ached for his family. every single day for you and your People everywhere paid their I had heard one too many times the rights as an American? respects to their fallen role model als had felt almost felt like a family thought? course, these individuals could have member died.

Reliance on movies stars and musiI pose a serious question to my fellow Facebookers when I ask how with. like us and have good morals to live But, when does paying your member to them. If you really knew by? respects cross the line towards a dra- Paul Walker like a family member, I Mourning for celebrities is somematic eulogy, or even worse—a cry for think I would know it. thing all individuals will do at some attention?

Clearly, the individuals who state point—we all have our favorites.

When Paul Walker passed away on November 30, 2013, my heart began being a family feels like. for you, and the lessons they taught Making this sort of statement him, not because I believe we should because in the eyes of someone who Jennica Martin can be reached at but because someone loves him. has actually lost a family member, jmartin13@keene-equinox.com

THE BEAT OF THE WEEK Kelsey Schild Senior Communication

Christmas”

McKenna Caldwell Junior Communication

The Rolling Stones

Freshman Secondary Education

Miley Cyrus

Compiled by:

Sociology

Drake

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PLAY PREVIEW (Cont. from B1)

Not only that, Johnson also explained, “Sexual manipulation of a young person is often hidden by good deeds, by saying things to the person to show as if they are going to be helping with something. Like, ‘I’m the one who cares for you,’ as if it’s a favor, like teaching a person how to drive.”

By Uncle Peck teaching Lil’ Bit how to drive, “He gets to spend time with her and gets something more, while Lil’ Bit also gets to feel good about something,” Johnson added.

Gerardi said that she feels the story has a lot more to it than just “sexual and inappropriate.”

“It’s also the real feelings behind it,” she said, “and what drives each of them to act in this manner.”

Both Gerardi and Howell said they foresee one of the roles as remembering not to judge the characters for their actions or behaviors.

“I think we’re going to have to remind ourselves of the sympathy that you can feel for both characters, because it’s not a black and white story at all,” Gerardi said.

“What he [Uncle Peck] is doing is terrible, and the play is not condoning that,” Howell added.

“But I can’t approach it in a judgmental way. I just have to rely on the text and give the audience the chance to draw their own conclusions on what they think of him and his relationship with Lil’ Bit,” he continued.

While auditions were about

campus returns for the start of spring semester.

According to Johnson, this is a “regular” amount of time for rehearsals and such.

“It’s a lot more easier said than done,” Howell said. “But that’s part of the work.”

Both lead roles, as well as Johnson, agreed that a distinctive part of this production is that the interpretation is fully in the eyes of the beholder.

Howell said, “Part of the uniqueness of the show is that we’re not necessarily approaching it with an agenda, but being true to the script and PR [Peggy Rae Johnson] and the process at the end of the day it’s ultimately up to the audience to choose what they just saw.”

“Response from the audience,” Gerardi began, “getting something, making them think or feel is what I love

“Sexual manipulation of a young person is often hidden by good deeds, by saying things to the person to show as if they are going to be helping with something. Like, ‘I’m the one who cares for you,’ as if it’s a favor, like teaching a person how to drive.”

-PEGGY RAE JOHNSON DIRECTOR OF “HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE”

think they will feel something after this show.”

Johnson included that there will be a talk-back between the cast and the audience following at least one of the performances.

When it comes to rehearsals upon the return of the cast after the New Year, “It is often misspelled,” Johnson said. rehearsal. It means to re-hear, re-hear, re-hear. A pause can completely alter someone’s perspective.”

With such passion for the-

play in the air, Johnson quoted playwright Paula Vogel.

“It is a mistake to demonize the people who hurt us,” through the cast endured was and it seems such concepts not until last Sunday, Dec. 8. and interpretations will be The play is scheduled to be up for debate in the coming of performed February 25, 2014 “How I Learned To Drive.” through March 1.

Though actors have all of winter break to read through scripts and memorize lines, Rebecca Farr can be contacted the true characters will not at come to form until a week rfarr@keene-equinox.com before the rest of the KSC

EMMA CONTIC / GRAPHICS EDITOR

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Chris Wallace marks 10 years as Fox host DAVID BAUDER

Jon Stewart ripped Wallace for comparaSSociatE PrESS ing the impact of the botched health care plan rollout on President Barack Obama Chris Wallace may have fewer Sunday- to Hurricane Katrina for President George morning viewers than his rivals on the W. Bush. Yet Wallace angered Republicans weekly political chat shows, but he con- by dismissing their charges that an Obama cedes nothing on quality. statement after the Trayvon Martin verdict stoked racial tensions.

News Sunday” host said. “I think we sepaThe point is, there’s always something rate what’s important from what isn’t. If you one side or the other can cite when a politilook at our interviews, I think they tend to cal favorite is being challenged, said Tim be tougher, more informative, more inter- Graham of the conservative media watchesting and produce more news. I like where dog group Media Research Center. we stand.”

“People (in the conservative movement) George Stephanopolous — you can discuss “but I certainly don’t think of Chris Wallace this among yourselves. Wallace is in a cel- as a home team host.” ebratory mood. This weekend marks the 10-year anniversary of when the longtime Reporting, like other liberal media watchdogs, believes the Sunday political talk shows skew Republican in their guests and ABC’s “This Week,” NBC’s “Meet the age between 2.5 million and 3 million view- lace asks tough questions, like when he ers on Sunday morning, according to the interviewed Secretary of State John Kerry about Syria, but he’s not unfair. million.

It is rebroadcast three times Sunday Doing a partisan show on Sunday mornafternoon, evening and overnight on the ing would marginalize it. A big part of the Sunday game is the booking wars, and that viewers. depends on building relationships.

Work at Roger Ailes’ news division carWallace has failed to get Obama as a ries with it an inherent suspicion about political motives among Democrats, as president, but members of his administraillustrated when former President Bill Clin- tion and Democratic lawmakers come on ton was angered by Wallace’s 2006 question the show. about why his administration didn’t put While he takes pride in pointed quesOsama bin Laden out of business. Clinton tions, “if they feel they’ve been cheap shotted, then you’re not going to get them back Wallace confesses annoyance when that on,” Wallace said. “It doesn’t mean you go attitude is turned on its head and insults his easy on them. They have to think you’re tough but fair.”

“I have to say it bothers me a little that it gets more attention when I do a tough, prob- uses research conducted on his guests to ing interview with a Republican,” he said. map out where an interview will go. Making “There are people who don’t know better news is a key consideration. who think there’s a man-bites-dog story — The interviews themselves require - many in-the-moment calculations. When can. Look at my history.”

Sarah Palin clearly ducked one of Wallace’s There’s the Clinton episode, but also questions about presidential appointments the show where — to his later regret — he recently, he had to make a decision: Do I bluntly asked Republican presidential can- bore in and try again? Or is it best to move on to another topic with the limited time at

AP PHOTO

This photo provided by FOX News Channel shows Chris Wallace, who marks his 10 year anniversary hosting “FOX News Sunday” this weekend.

hand? This time, he moved on. was almost 90.

Wallace, 66, who covered the White home stretch of your career.”

“When I was hired by Roger 10 years ago, House for NBC News during the Ronald I said, ‘Looking at my father’s career, I can Reagan administration and also moderated a relative term. His dad, Mike, who died last only give you 30 years,’” he said. year at 93, worked at “60 Minutes” until he “So it’s 10 down, 20 to go.”

STAFF COMMENTARY

‘American Gods’ brings fantasy to reality NICK BUNDARIN

Equinox Staff What if the Gods of ancient times were right under our noses? What if the American people somehow created gods that they once didn’t think they were even aware of?

Neil Gaiman, author of some of the greatest supernatural books such as “Stardust” and “Coraself, divinity and belief.

This week I am reviewing his novel, “American Gods.” Shadow, the main character, is an ex-convict who had served his time in prison, only to ultimately learn of his wife’s death. Shadow meets Mr. Wednestant. Mr. Wednesday sends Shadow to recruit other people who he learns are from mythologies all over the world such as the Indian Goddess, Kali and the African trickster, God Anansi.

Their mission is to go to war with the new gods. In

Gaiman’s book, Gods are created by belief. There are many American God’s such as the T.V. God, who is an actual living being. There is also a god of credit cards and one even one of technology, among many others. friends are and that everyone has their own agenda.

This book takes a thoughtful look at what belief is and how human beings think so strongly about it.

This story brings us back to the roots of religion and polytheistic ideas, showing that even though we may have out grown them, they have never left.

The Good: This novel had great imagery and description. The settings and the characters are realistic, even though they come from fantasy. The villains are compelling and the action very suspenseful.

The Bad: I felt it needed more old world Gods,

Nick Bundarin can be reached at nicholas.bundarin@ksc.keene.edu

Oops, she did it again: Spears fails on new album MESFIN FEKADU

aSSociatEd PrESS You want to release a good album? You better work harder, chick.

A lot harder.

Britney Spears’ latest release, “Britney Jean,” is a total letdown.

It’s not that we expect Adele-styled songs from Spears — or even Rihanna-like ones — but Spears was once a pop powerhouse who

made music considered a must-listen, from “Toxic” to “I’m a Slave 4 U.” Listening to this album makes you nostalgic for those days — nothing on “Britney Jean” would be contenders for any future greatest hits package.

The 10-track set lacks so many things: oomph, swag, sex appeal, as well as addictive, memorable hooks.

It’s almost like Spears isn’t even present. Tracks like “It Should Be Easy” and “Till It’s Gone” are techno

AP PHOTO

This photo provided by RCA Records shows the album cover for Britney Spears’ “Britney Jean,” from RCA Records.

misses — and messes — even though David Guetta helmed both songs. The light ballad and second single, “Perfume,” is laughable, with Spears warbling: “And while I wait, I put on my perfume, yeah I want it all over you, I’m gonna mark my territory.”

It sounds more like a commercial than an actual song (it should be noted that Spears has released a dozen perfumes, including two this year).

“Perfume” was co-written by Sia, the ultra-talented singer who has found success writing Rihanna’s “Diamonds” and tunes for Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry and Eminem.

Another star, will.i.am, is the executive producer of Spears’ eighth album. Are they purposely giving her C- and D-level material?

While “Britney Jean” has its upbeat moments, the album is one of Spears’ slowest.

The singer said some songs draw from her recent breakup, but she doesn’t capture emotion that will make you a believer with this batch of tracks.

The album follows in the robotic standout tracks. Aside from the sexually charged, T.I.-assisted “Tik Tik Boom” and the lead single, “Work B----,” Spears isn’t putting in any real work.

Don’t miss local upcoming events Fritz The Place to Eat David Ross and Friends Friday, Dec. 13 6:30 p.m.

Putnam Theatre Thursday, Dec. 12 7:00 p.m.

Dan Fyffe Friday, Dec. 20 6:30 p.m.

Events starting on Thursday, Dec. 12 through Dec. 20 Colonial Theatre

Redfern Arts Center

Brian Regan

Comedian Thursday, Dec. 12 7:30 p.m.

Stay tuned for spring 2014 events and performances!

Met Live in HD: Saturday, Dec. 19 1:00 p.m.

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Battles, bravery and triumph Far from home, student faces cancer challenge

BY TAYLOR THOMAS

contributing Writer She was part of a two percent, a three percent,and a 15 percent.

Emily Alfano spent her high school years raisinside her a cancerous tumor was growing.

Two years ago, she was a senior in high school fashion show to raise money for the Jimmy Fund.

The fundraiser was started to raise money to help and improve chances of cancer survival. for a few years. “I got involved because I knew a lot of people who were affected by cancer and I wanted to do something myself to make a difference.” According to Alfano, her grandfather died from cancer and her aunt had breast cancer.

At age 19, on April 24, Alfano heard the words “lung cancer,” a few months into her freshman year imagined that I could be on the other side of this,” Alfano said, “You just don’t think things could happen to you. I raised money for other people but never thought it could be to help me.”

Fall of 2012, Alfano left her home in Methuen, lina for a hospitality degree. She said she wanted to go to a school with new people and to travel to a the ways of the south, she joined a sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, whose philanthropy is breast cancer month about meeting new people and I was homeCONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Above, former KSC student Kim Dippo poses, cancer-free. Dippo was diagnosed with Lymphoma after her freshman year at KSC. Dippo is now cancer free.

SHANNON FLYNN

“Once you’ve had it, it sticks to you. I’m not going to stop because I am done myself.”

Social Media director Pre-Cancer “It started out as Bronchitis. I had a wicked bad cough and couldn’t breathe,” Kim Dippo, a 21-year-old college student said. Her life was about to turn completely upside down.

It was early June, and she had just moved back to Salem, New Hampshire for the summer.

Dippo had just wrapped up her lege, where she was studying to become a teacher. She was gearing up for summer and anxiously awaiting her new start as in Nashua, N.H. in the fall.

The Diagnosis Just after arriving home

-KIM DIPPO FORMER KSC STUDENT AND CANCER SURVIVOR

for the summer, Dippo said she started feeling under the weather. Her doctors told her it was Bronchitis. However, Dippo said she could feel a hard lump in her throat, and knew something was not right. She went to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts for further examination.

After undergoing numerous tests including PET scans, blood tests, ultrasounds and needle press biopsies, the doc-

but did not know what kind it was.

According to Dr. James Nickerson, an Oncologist at the to diagnose cancer. Dr. Nicker-

specializes in cancer and hematology (the study of blood). Dr. Nickerson said many people get their diagnosis with cancer when they are being checked on her windpipe. Dippo said the for something else. doctors knew she had cancer “They mimic other symp-

toms,” Dr. Nickerson explained, giving reason as to why Dippo was continuously told she had Bronchitis. ing out about her diagnosis.

She was put under so the doctors could examine her throat.

The doctors told Dippo about her diagnosis, but she was still under the effects of anesthesia.

“I was still wicked woozy,” she said. According to Dippo, she was “knocked out” for 28 hours.

‘am I going to lose my hair?’” she said. On June 10, 2011, Dippo was formally diagnosed with stage-three Lymphoblastic lymphoma, a type of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. When formally diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma, there are four different stages, or levels of the cancer. According to an article from macmillan.org.uk, stagethree lymphoblastic lymphoma is when the lymphoma is in the lymph nodes above and below the diaphragm.

It didn’t hit me ‘til the next day.

“My dad was more upset

» DIPPO, B7

KSC junior advocates for sun protection after treatment for melanoma saves his life MORGAN MARKLEY

contributing Writer The one word everyone fears when they visit the doctors or look up their symptoms under WebMD: cancer.

So many people know someone who has cancer or has had cancer. Andrew DeLuke knows the feeling of being that person with cancer, and being diagnosed is a different experience altogether.

At the young age of 18, DeLuke, a junior Athletic Training major at Keene had melanoma before entering his freshorg, “Melanoma is a cancer that starts in a certain type of skin cell.” It is also the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

Melanoma is one of the most common cancers found in people who are under 30-years-old, although according to cancer.org it is most commonly found in older adults and men are more likely to CONTRIBUTED PHOTO have it.

Above, KSC junior Andrew DeLuke lives without cancer after being treated DeLuke was told by his doctor that if for melanoma. he had not gone tanning in high school, he would never have melanoma in the booth could have killed him. During his about to leave the house with my friends and my dad had just gotten home from he would go tanning about three to worked as a lifeguard, adding more time four times a week, because everyone at in the sun. DeLuke found out he had to you in your room?’ And I was like, the time was doing it. He said he now melanoma one night when his father ‘I’m going, I’m going, can this wait until realizes time he spent in the tanning returned home from work. “I was just later?’ And he was like, ‘No, I’ve got to

Alfano said she was 19, had never smoked, and family when a doctor told her she had lung cancer.

She said, “I just kept thinking, ‘Oh my god, why me? What did I do to deserve this?’”

Alfano found out her right lung had collapsed through an x-ray, caused by a cancerous tumor.

talk to you now.”

“He [DeLuke’s father] was like, ‘Your biopsy came back of that mole you had removed...and they found melanoma.’”

DeLuke could not believe that he had skin cancer and immediately thought his father was joking. DeLuke said, “It was really say anything for a while.”

DeLuke continued to go out with his friends after receiving the news, but another reaction came from him later that night, he said. “I was in so much shock that I didn’t just have a reaction right away. Then I remember coming home way later that night and just crying for a really long time being like, I don’t know what’s going to happen.” because I just had the mentality that people do, that it could never happen to me.” DeLuke said his family feared for him but tried not to show it for his own sake. “My family was shocked, but I think they were trying not to act upset or nervous about it because they wanted to be strong for me,” he said. DeLuke said support like this helps with such heavy news.

After the news of the cancer settled with DeLuke, the process of getting rid of the cancer had begun. He said, “I had

» DELUKE, B7

scan), her pulmonary doctor said the carcinoid tumor had been growing slowly for two or three years, like most lung carcinoid tumors. Only three out of ten tumors in the lungs are carcinoid tumors, and there are two different types. Typical carcinoid tumors are nine out of ten lung carcinoids, however atypical carcinoid tumors can spread cancer to other organs. It was unclear which type Alfano had, she said.

Dr. James Nickerson, an oncologist at Norris

When you hear about lung cancer, it’s not usually that type.”

Both types of carcinoid tumors only account for one to two percent of all lung cancers. Alfano was part of that two percent.

Back in September 2012, about a month into her freshman year, Alfano had a bad cough. A month later, she found out she had pneumonia. “I felt really alone and small. I was far away from home and I was really sick and I didn’t have anyone to really help me,” she said, “It was really hard because I wasn’t super close with anyone down there yet.”

Virginia Alfano, Emily’s mom, said she did even though she had never had any major health issues. “We [my husband and I] were with Emily ured that’s why she got it,” Virginia Alfano said, “But it lasted so long.” was as good as new…until April,” Alfano said.

In April, doctors told her the pneumonia came back. During an x-ray, they saw the right upper lobe of her lung collapsed. Alfano said she did not realize it was anything more than pneumonia. “I couldn’t take deep breaths, but that was the only difference I noticed,” she said. By the time the tumor was found, her lung had been collapsed for a few weeks.

A tumor in the right upper bronchus of her lung, which was blocking the airway, caused her lung to collapse, according to Alfano. After this came a lung biopsy, where a small sample was removed, examined under a microscope and determined whether it was cancerous. Alfano’s mother where they inserted a bronchoscope through her mouth to collect pieces of lung tissue. Results came back a few days later—cancerous.

“I was sitting in my dorm room alone doing homework when the doctor called,” Alfano said.

She immediately called her mom, then texted all her close sorority friends to come over.

Virginia Alfano said her daughter called her while she was at work to tell her the news. “I fell

» ALFANO, B7

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Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Special Section / B7

(Cont. from B6)

time I saw him cry,” she said.

According to Dippo, both her parents took the news hard because they were nervous, did not know what to expect and they found it hard to watch. “It hit him [her father] when I lost my hair because it upset me,” she explained. She said her mom was making all the phone calls to doctors at the hospital, and that made her nervous. “Eventually they would joke about it to keep me laughing through it. It was hard in the beginning.

I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t see anyone else go through it. I didn’t want to do this anymore. My family and friends kept me going. I didn’t want people to look and say ‘How are you living with something so awful?’ This is my life now. I need to adapt.

What can you do?” she asked.

What is Lymphoblastic lymphoma?

According to the article “Lymphoblastic lymphoma” from macmillan.org, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s immune blastic lymphoma is a cancer in white blood cells. The article states that the lymphatic system is made up of organs such as the thymus, spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes (or lymph glands). These lymph nodes are located all over the human body. There is lymphatic tissue in the skin, lungs and stomria, viruses and cells the body does not need.

Also, lymph nodes are made up of white blood cells known as lymphocytes. There are two types of lymphocytes: B-cells and T-cells. B-cells are located in bone marrow and T-cells are located in the thymus gland which is behind the breast bone. Lymphoma is a disease that occurs when either of these cells grows uncontrollably. Lymphoblastic T-cells grow out of control.

Life with Lymphoblastic lymphoma “June to December (2011) were the worst,” kept in the hospital for a week and started chemotherapy right away. This, according to Dippo, was the “maintenance phase.”

thurSday, dec. 12, 2013

[Keene-Equinox.com] Dippo was taking oral chemo pills and vis- possible for pediatric oncology units. iting Mass General once a month for spinal Just months after creating her busitaps and chemotherapy. ness, Dippo climbed Mt. Monadnock. “I don’t know why I climbed undergoing chemotherapy, Dippo began to a mountain. I guess to say I could,” watch her hair fall out. “I was uncomfort- she said. She came back up to able. People would make comments about Keene for the weekend to stay me not having hair. People are judgmental with some friends and she decided in college,” she said. She did not decide to to accompany them on the climb. shave her head until September, after having According to Dippo, she had help cancer for three months. “I didn’t want to see getting up and down the mounit go,” she said. Once her hair was gone, she tain, but she still accomplished received one free wig, which was covered by it. “I was still really weak,” she her insurance. However, she said she hardly said. wore it. “I didn’t want to wear a wig. It was hot and itchy.” ing cancer for two years, She said the only time she wore her wig was when she went to places where baseball “The type I had doesn’t usuhats were not acceptable. ally come back. Once it’s Dippo was always a very skinny person.

Before getting sick, she weighed 120 pounds. ter at KSC, Dippo started noticing herself losing weight. By that time she was down

(Cont. from B6)

one hundred-twenty [pounds],” she said.

According to Dippo, during her maintenance phase, she dropped to a shocking 96 pounds.

Because of her illness, Dippo was unable to return to school. She was losing weight six months of having cancer, she was completely bed ridden, so she was only able to take online classes. By the summer of 2012, Dippo was taking two courses on campus at Rivier and by that fall, she was a full-time student taking four classes.

Despite being diagnosed with cancer at such a young and vital age, Dippo did not let it stop her or bring her down. According to Dippo, the year 2012 is when she began regaining her strength both physically and emotionally. “By January 2012 I was back on my feet,” she said.

It was at this time that she wanted to give back to all the people at Mass General that were helping save her life. So, she created “Kim’s Cookies,” a small business where she bakes cookies and sells them to customers.

There are seven different types of cookies to choose from at seven dollars each, she said.

“I just wanted to give back to Mass. General for being so good to me,” she said. According to Dippo, she came up with a logo and created her own website for the business (www.kimscookiesfocancer.org). She said

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

gone its gone,” she said. On the last day of her treatment she collected all of the empty medicine bottles she had collected over the two year period and spelled out “cancer sucks!” Currently, Dippo has to be checked at the hospital, where she spent her years

Above, Kim Dippo receives treatment for Lymphoblastic lymphoma. Left, a healthy, cancer-free Kim climbs Mount. Monadnock.

“We raised about seven thousand dollars,” she said. Nowadays, Dippo has regained her make sure she is still healthy and cancer- strength (and hair) and she is continuing her free. She goes to Mass. General once a month studies to become a teacher at Rivier College. for these checks.

Dippo said she is going to continue to raise awareness of cancer. “Once you’ve Life after cancer had it, it sticks to you. I’m not going to stop After being cancer-free for three months, because I am done myself,” she said.

Dippo was named the honored hero at the Leukemia and Lymphoma walk that she had but to helping the hospital provide programs been attending every year since her diagnoShannon Flynn can be contacted at sis. Not only was she the honored speaker happy. According to the website, the goal of at the walk, she and her team of friends and “Kim’s Cookies” is to raise as much money as family raised the most money this year.

(Cont. from B6)

apart,” the mother said, “But I was being strong for her, she was crying and I didn’t cry while she was on the phone.” give them hugs.” She said she is grateful that by this time, she had a group of supportive school friends. tumor when undergoing testing for another illness— in of people with carcinoid tumors do not have symptoms, academic medical center. Carcinoid tumors are made up of neuroendocrine cells, which are found throughout the body.

They produce hormone-like substances such as adrenaline.

Sometimes these neuroendocrine cells grow too quickly and form a tumor mass known as a carcinoid tumor.

Lindsey Mercer, one of Alfano’s longtime friends, said she was shocked when she found out the tumor was cancerous. “I was angry,” Mercer said, “She never smoked and she was perfectly healthy and young. Too young.”

The average age for lung cancer is 71 and only three according to MedicineNet.com, a healthcare media publishing company. Alfano is part of that three percent.

The cause of carcinoid cancer is still unclear and there is no known relationship between the tumor and smoking, air pollutants or other chemicals. Nickerson said the cause in most cancer cases with young people is lifestyle or hereditary issues. Alfano’s could not be traced back to either.

Last spring, her freshman year was winding down and she missed going out with her friends and to class.

She still had pneumonia, a collapsed lung and a cancer diagnosis. “All my teachers were really understanding, except for one,” Alfano said, “My English teacher still failed me for attendance even with my doctor notes. I should have had an A, but it went to a B. So it wasn’t too bad, but it still wasn’t fair.” Alfano said that her social life changed, as well as her mindset. “Everyday when I woke up, I thought, ‘This is going to be the day that I die,’” Alfano said. said, “I felt like my body was gross, I hated everything about it.” She said knowing she had a cancerous tumor inside her made her feel even more self-conscious. However, she said support from friends and family helped her through it. Alfano said, “I got so much love pouring in from friends between phone calls, social media, text messages from people telling me that they were always there for me.”

Alfano said this made her realize she had to cherish and make the best of everyday.

“I was literally living like I was dying everyday because it could be my last. It could be the last day to have fun and enjoy myself,” she said.

Nickerson said it is common for a young patient diagnosed with cancer to change. “It changes their outlook, they appreciate day-to-day living a lot more,” he said.

It was May 2013 and Virginia Alfano picked Emily up from school for the long drive back to Massachusetts.

Virginia Alfano said she had a hard time knowing her daughter was sick, especially because she is the youngest of four children. “When I picked her up it looked like she was going to collapse on me any second,” Virginia Alfano said, “I

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Above, Emily Alfano poses with her mother. Alfano, a Mass. native, found a cancerous tumor in her lung during her freshman year of college at Eastern Carolina University.

could tell she was completely drained.”

Friend Mercer said she saw that Alfano was in denial for a while when she was home.

Mercer said, “Internally, she was scared, but she didn’t really show it.” Mercer added, “She broke down to me one day. She cried and told me it wasn’t fair, I knew she was still in shock.”

On June 10, Alfano had surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital to remove the tumor and the right upper lobe of her lung. “I knew I was in the best hands but it was probably the scariest ride into Boston.” Alfano said,“You never know what can happen in surgery. It was really horrifying.”

For her situation, the less-invasive surgery using robots was not an option. Carcinoid cancer in the lungs can be treated with surgery alone unless it is atypical and has spread. Doctors were still unaware which type Alfano had.

It is usually done by sleeve restriction surgery, removing sections of the airway above and below the tumor, then reconnecting the airway, or Lobectomy, the removal of a portion of the lung called the lobe.

Alfano had both procedures. Her ribs were cut open to get the tumor, along with the whole upper lobe of the lung and then the airway was pieced back together.

Now, it is attached from the top of the right bronchial airway to the middle lobe of her lung. Luckily, the middle and lower parts of her lung were saved.

She said, “I’m grateful I live so close to the best hospital in the country.”

Virginia Alfano said surgery went very well and her daughter only had problems with nausea from pain medi-

cations.

She said Emily cried when she was alone in the hospital room, but almost constantly had company from friends.

“She had someone with her twenty-four seven [hours, days a week],” Virginia Alfano said, noting this helped her recovery because she was surrounded by positive energy.

Although grateful the surgery went well, Emily was not happy with its aftermath. “Recovery was awful,” she said, “Probably the worst two months of my life.”

She said friends picked her up to do little things, like get food or go to the movies, but she couldn’t do anything on her own.

“I felt trapped,” Alfano said. “There was no one home all day and I was on narcotics so I couldn’t drive. I just felt trapped and hopeless.” Alfano said her family and friends were a huge help in her recovery.

Alfano said she is still self-conscious of her scar that touches across her right shoulder blade, along her side and under her right breast.

She said if a shirt shows the scar on her back, she’ll hold it to cover the scar or use her long, blonde hair.

She said the scar is going to take about a year to fade.

Alfano said her rib is still cracked and she loses breath easily, out again, but cannot run or do contact sports.

Alfano said she knows this whole experience changed her to be a stronger person. “I’ve been through this, I know I can get through anything now,” Alfano said, “You need your lungs to breathe, that’s the simplest thing of living and if I can conquer this, I can make anything happen for myself.”

She’s also learned some life lessons. “I don’t worry as much about the little things, like the petty things anymore,” Alfano said, “I look at the big picture now.”

Mrs. Alfano said this life lesson has rubbed off on her too. “One day Emily looked at me and said, ‘You know what mom? You need to relax.’”

Virginia Alfano said she took this advice. “Now things don’t upset me like they used to, what we went through, that’s what matters,” she said.

Emily still resents smokers. “I see someone walking down the street smoking and I think, ‘Why does this happen to me when they’re perfectly okay?’ They’re so ignorant,” Alfano said. of lung cancer found in non-smokers. She said, “I’d like to say to all the smokers out there, that not being able to breathe is not fun.” Alfano said she fears getting sick again.

She said, “In the back of my head every day I think, ‘when will I get sick again, when is it going to happen?’” She goes to Mass. General Hospital once a year in May for testing.

Virginia Alfano said the day that Emily got back from the She was leaving Rite Aid when she got the call. He told her it was a typical carcinoid tumor and Emily was completely cancer-free. She cried all the whole way home. being cancer-free, during National Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Virginia Alfano said, “It’s always hard for me to leave her, but was easier this time. She deserves a good sophomore year after all she’s been through.”

to go back to the doctors and they wanted to plan out what kind of surgery they were going to do...They decided to go into where it was on my leg and remove a bunch more tissue that was around the surrounding area.”

DeLuke learned that the melanoma was at the most minute stage, but his experience during the surgery was one he will always remember. “It was weird, because I wasn’t asleep for the surgery but they numbed it so I was there kind of seeing it, and it didn’t really hurt. But, afterwards, my leg hurt for a really long time.”

DeLuke said after his surgery, the recovery process was long and he had to keep the area on his leg covered for three weeks. “I couldn’t walk or anything for two days, I didn’t want to mess with the stitches or anything because they went in really far, it was at the muscle almost.”

He added, “I could take a shower.

That was about it. I couldn’t go in the water at work or anything.”

During the weeks of recovery to help ease the pain, DeLuke on his friends to lift his spirits by coming over to hang out or taking him on drives.

He added that a lot of his friends were still shocked about his situation. “I think a lot of my friends couldn’t believe it was happening, because we are like, seventeen or eighteen [years old], this doesn’t happen to people your age...A lot of them cried too because they thought I would die.”

He added that his mother was very delicate with him during recovery and would often make his favorite meal during his recovery, mac ‘n cheese.

Good news came after weeks of recovery for DeLuke. While learned the melanoma was gone, and he was cancer-free. The tissue surrounding where the melanoma was found was all clear. His reaction to the news was good but he relieved, but still like it’s always in the back of my mind.”

DeLuke is now 20-years-old and his experience with cancer has changed the way he lives his life. “I take more precautions in my life, I think..I’m a huge advocate of sunscreening and not being in the sun too long,” he said.

DeLuke is not alone when it comes to suffering from melanoma at the hands of a tanning bed, as “The numbers are striking—hundreds of thousands of cancers each year are attributed to tanning beds,’’ senior study author Dr. Eleni Linos, assistant professor of dermatology at the University of California—San Francisco, said in a written statement, according to a CBS news story. In the state of New Hampshire, no person under age 18 is allowed to use a tanning bed without parent or guardian permission. Any person under age 14 is not permitted to use a tanning bed unless given permission from a physician.

According to Dr. James Nickerson, an Oncologist at the Cheshire Medical Center, Kingsbury Pavilion, most young people don’t look down the road concerning their health. DeLuke considers himself lucky he said, “It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but it still left a pretty nasty scar and was a pretty serious experience for me at eighteen [years old].” DeLuke now has to visit his dermatologist every two months for a full body check.

The visits have become routine for him and he always hopes for the best. Throughout the entire experience and all the tears and pain ,DeLuke said, “It never crossed my mind throughout the entire thing that it would be fatal.” tacted at

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Black SportS / B8

thurSday, dec. 12, 2013

[Keene-Equinox.com]

ZACH WINN

SportS Editor is sophomore basketball player Nate last week, Howard has been consis-

an unheard of “20-20” game. Howard made eight of his 15 shots for 20 points while pulling in 23 rebounds and blocking four shots. Howard put the team on his back while playing nearly

rebounds and most of their blocks.

Howard followed that game up with

ERIN D’ALEO / EQUINOX STAFF

COMMENTARY Owls second win of the year.

-The runner-up this week is junior was a big part of the women’s swim-

ference

championship meet on Sat-

records at the meet: the 200 meter freestyle and the 500 meter freestyle.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN CANTORE / PHOTO EDITOR

what they’re doing, it’s a totally different (Cont. from B10)

“It’s rewarding to know I can play with

award means a lot.”

Nossiff, a sophomore, was surprised she

Lady Owls won that day.

-The second runner-up this week is senior swimmer Jared Hyde. Hyde

senior goalkeeper on the men’s soccer team, changing roster and only being with the team one year prior to this season. good to feel recognized by the coaches and league.” ognition despite a losing season this year and freshman year.

“I think it’s a huge transition. Freshman year an injury that forced him to miss the end of the season.“I’m proud to be recognized, it shows you don’t know what to expect. It’s how far you want to take it, how good you want to be in the off-season, putting in the work,” she said.

Hyde also competed in the 200 meter Zach Winn can be contacted at zwinn@keene-equinox.com

Stephen Aruilio can be contacted at saruilio@keene-equinox.com

“It’s fun to play with girls who really know

Thomas rearranges how each athlete trains in the winter to better prepare them for So far, the coach has been encouraged with the indoor distances. The team is hoping to what he has seen. build off of a successful cross country season place in the spring. teams had strong cross country seasons and hopefully it will continue with better indoor all there are more connecting distances,” Thomas acknowledged that winning the seasons,” coach Thomas said.

Thomas explained. “[Indoor] is a little more ary 15, is a big goal for both teams this season, Zach Winn can be contacted at extra relays.” zwinn@keene-equinox.com

KSC athletic team records

OVERALL CONF.

Men’s Basketball

4-3 1-1

HOME AWAY (neutral)

2-1 2-2 (0-0) Lost 1

vs. Rensselaer Box score Rensselaer

21 32 43 38

53 81

1

OVERALL CONF.

2 Total

Box score

at U-Mass Dartmouth

1 2 Total Box score

Keene State College 31

25

56

Colby-Sawyer

34 39

36

66

Keene State College

40 39

73 79

1

2 Total

Keene State College 41

52

93

U-Mass Dartmouth 34

42

76

Men’s and women’s swimming and diving

Name

STREAK

2-5 1-1 1-2 1-3 (0-0) Won 2

U-Mass Boston

30

HOME AWAY (neutral)

vs. Colby-Sawyer

at U-Mass Boston

1 2 Total Box score

Keene State College

STREAK

Things like the Redskins or the Indi-

Remember the game “Simon Says?”

Let’s play a round. Simon says: change your name. You thought Simon would say something along the lines of, “Stand on one foot,” didn’t you? That is a hefty ite childhood game. Well, let me throw a wrench in the loop. Simon is Barack Obama. You are Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins football team.

know little about.

For mascots, Destani said, “That is somebody that is dressing up to emualistic dances and war paint and things sacred to the cultures that you are emulating. Only people of respect can do those things.”

a name change to the NFL team.

offended by the exploitation of their culthe term “Redskin” is a racial slur and said he wanted the team and Redskins fans to step back and realize the impli- and merchandise sold. But therein lies cations of the name, the chants and the another issue—the issue of identity. dances. Seymour told Gigi Barnett of public image,” Destani said, “When it past its time. The NFL and the owners of comes back down to it, you’re selling out the Redskins need to step up and do the right thing.”

Destani also noted the issue of stereo-

against the stubborn Dan Snyder. The loudest group speaking against Snyder when left in the hands of rowdy fans. is the Oneida Indian Nation, who with “It seems safe but then the fans can’t be controlled with how they use it, and “do the right thing and bring an end to Destani said. He added that ultimately, the use of the racial epithet,” according to the site changethemascot.org. of their public image, and no one else.

In a recent press conference, Oneida referred to the term “Redskins” as the reotypes that we see not only in sports “R-Word” and said his mission to change the name was not about the Washington team or owner Dan Snyder per se, the stereotypes through the use of these names and these mascots in sports,” Halbritter told the NFL the use of the Destani stated.

“R-word is not a unifying force.” But according to Snyder, a man who falls these reasons, the team should consider a the owner of the team and I knew that May of 2013, Snyder lashed out against criticism for his team name and stated

Jared Hyde

Event 200 IM

1:51.57

Time

1ST

Place

Drew Ledwith

400 IM

3:59.42

1ST 1ST

Shahar Resman

200 free

1:41.26

Caitlyn Shea

200 Free

1:57.22

1ST

Alison Bartlett

50 Free 100 Back

23.99

1ST

59.50

1ST

had a storied history — was offending a sizable group of people, I’d think about changing it.”

skins fan...I think that the Redskins fans understand the great tradition and what it’s all about and what it means…We’ll NEVER—you can use caps.”

If that’s where Snyder stands, then the backlash certainly will not end. Tessa

Men at MIT Invitational/Women at LEC Championship

Taylor DaSilva

not necessarily tracing these tribes to their roots. Destani said groups may be offended by the dress and dance of mascots because in that form, regular people are pretending to be sacred, respected

- teams was in no way meant to be offen-

(Cont. from B10)

Women’s Basketball

JULIE CONLON

Managing ExEcutivE Editor

Dennis Seymour, a member of the Bal-

Nossiff won all-state in high school and said she plays better when her entire team is com-

Redskins face pressure to change name

cans refer to the term, “Redskins” as the “R-word,” I cannot help think of people referencing the “N-word” and wonder if they hold the same weight of offense.

that was created for proof of Indian kill,” she said, saying the term references “the

Destani commented on this notion In a statement released by Snyder, the - ton ‘N’s’.” This is what blew my mind. I cans, informing them the name of his makes claims of “respect for tradition” or uses excuses of “heritage” to keep this change the name. “We owe it to our fans sort of thing going. I can imagine Dan and coaches and players, past and pres- Snyder is shaking in his boots just conwrote. Snyder’s idea of “heritage” is com- cially if he were to make any change in pletely misguided, according to Fitni his team’s name. Sure Snyder, it’s nice Destani, a physical education professor you think you are fooling us with your Destani said the issue surrounding - name that really symbolizes the scalping teams like the Washington Redskins

Saturday, Dec. 14, 2 p.m.

does anybody care? Snyder is trying

Wednesday, Jan. 1, 4 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 5, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 7, 12 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 2, TBA

heritage “tradition” or “heritage” by the use of their names and their mascots.

“The original issue comes back all the

shield. Open your eyes, Snyder, because your shield is weak and your opposers are telling you they are not buying your story.

Julie Conlon can be contacted at jconlon@keene-equinox.com

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Black Thursday, dec. 12, 2013

sporTs / B9

[Keene-Equinox.com]

Seahawks crumble to 49ers

night until an Ortiz home run tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. Six innings later, Ortiz came through again with a walk-off single. This time the game took

JANIE MCCAULEY

AssociAted Press Offensive coordinator Greg Roman saved the special “G’’ play for Frank Gore to pull out at just the right time. rival, the 49ers needed a big gain from their go-to running back.

Gore’s misdirection 51-yard burst set Dawson with 26 seconds remaining, and two-time defending champion San Francisco denied nemesis Seattle a chance to clinch the NFC West on Sunday at Candlestick Park with a 19-17 win.

Statement game? You bet.

“You guys kind of counted us out already.

I felt like Seattle had our number,” 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman said. “It was a statement game to the world. As you guys know, this is still our division. Until a team takes that from us, we will continue to rep this division the right way.”

On Gore’s run, Roman called the play before the 2011 season.

“I have to say thanks to my O-line, who did a great job all game,” Gore said.

Both the Seahawks (11-2) and 49ers expect another matchup before season’s end, next month in Seattle.

San Francisco (9-4) has been outscored Northwest.

“We didn’t project it to be this way,” Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman said.

“We expected to blow them out but throughout the game, and that helps you especially on third down.”

“We will see them again and it will be a different result.” day’s NFC West showdown that saw the end to Seattle’s seven-game winning streak: BIG-PLAY BOLDIN: Anquan Boldin keeps making clutch catches by the week.

And it sure helps having the defense focus on a healthy Michael Crabtree.

93 yards, his fourth straight game with at He became the 30th player in NFL history to surpass 11,000 career yards receiving (11,080).

The emotional Boldin didn’t let the boisterous, trash-talking Seattle secondary get to him.

“If guys want to pretend to be tough, then I look forward to it,” Boldin said. “Talking, that’s just what they do. So, I let my play speak for itself.”

AP PHOTO / STEVEN SENNE

Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino and COO Sam Kennedy hold the World Series Championship trophy on the Red Carpet of the Wang Theatre before a screening of a DVD on the team.

(Cont. from B10)

Fenway Faithful.

The team would be coming back to Boston with three days to rest before game three. things around, right?

Wrong. In fact, the Red Sox had one of the season’s worst performances: a 19-8 loss that got out of hand when New York scored it’s eleventh run in the fourth inning.

The team had been badly embarrassed at home.

In the long history of the league no one -

(Cont. from B10)

cit that the Red Sox now found themselves in.

Boston fans just wanted to avoid a sweep to the dreaded Yankees. No one believed the lovable losers that affectionately called themselves ‘The Idiots’ had a chance…Well, almost no one.

“Don’t let the Sox win this game,” Millar told Boston Globe reporter Dan Shaugh-

dence every underdog needs.

Still, as Millar walked to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning, his team trailed

But pinch hitter David Roberts stole a base, and Bill Mueller poked a single into Fenway Park was alive again.

The game was played through 12 frigid

with every word.

David Ortiz launched a fastball into the Millar reiterated the thought to teammate Alan Embree as they stretched in the The Red Sox were not going down withthing to anyone who would listen in the clubhouse after that.

But they certainly didn’t make things - easy on themselves, either.

miraculously continued.

Game six was a 4-2 win and game seven a blowout as legend started blending with reality for this Red Sox team.

Roberts’ game-four stolen base was forever immortalized, reports that the team was taking shots of Jack Daniels before every game surfaced and people who had treated Millar like he was crazy now regarded him as a prophet.

Some might see the World Series sweep against the St. Louis Cardinals one week later as anti-climactic, but after the greatest comeback in playoff history there was simply no way the team was losing again.

The Ranking The win went beyond baseball.

Fans whose loved ones never got to see the Red Sox win (it had been 86 years, after all) put newspaper clippings and memorabilia on graves.

“My mom didn’t get to see it. There isn’t anything else I can do for her,” New Hampshire resident Neil Van Zile told “Sports Illustrated.”

When a parade date was announced over three million people showed up to stand in the freezing rain and watch The Idiots roll by in duckboats.

The players would go their separate ways; Ramirez wore out his welcome and was traded, Millar signed with the Orioles and Damon even played for the Yankees.

But the team seemed frozen in time.

The players were constantly being stopped on the streets by Red Sox fans that just wanted to say “thank you.” Even Roberts, who didn’t play in the World Series at all, received a standing ovation every time he came to the plate in Fenway for the rest of his career.

Looking back on it, there is a sort of transcendent quality about the team.

People have tried to capture it in books, documentaries and movies. It couldn’t have simply been a lucky baseball team.

There had to have been some divine intervention to explain it all.

That’s the great thing about sports: you can remember it how you want to.

The Lasting Image The whole team, jumping and rolling around the pitcher’s mound after the final out of the World Series. They were screaming and laughing and looking utterly dysfunctional.

They looked like idiots.

Zach Winn can be contacted at zwinn@keene-equinox.com

Summers described herself as determined, and her coaches make it clear they expect that from her.

“Our diving coach pushes her like I’ve never seen him push anyone because he knows that she can handle it,” diving teammate Josh Tuller said.

“She puts in the effort that he wants her to.”

Tuller admitted he couldn’t play two sports like Summers does, but said there may be some similarities between soccer and diving.

“It’s a lot of leg work, so the fact that she’s got a strong soccer background helps with the power you need to come off the board,” Tuller said.

But Summers sees more differences than similarities between the sports.

“They’re actually a lot different, soccer is such a team sport whereas diving is so much more individual,” Summer said.

season, which is an everyday commitment.”

The shift from soccer to diving has been made easier by the coaches of both teams.

Because Summers is from Keene, she has known both coaches for years.

“Coming in, they’ve really helped me with the transition from soccer to diving, and the both understanding of it,” Summers said. “I come in and miss a good chunk of the diving season.”

Head swimming and diving coach Jack Fabian tells Summers not to worry about diving until the soccer season has ended, allowing her to completely focus on each sport separately.

Still, Summers admits sometimes her schedule can be hectic.

“I don’t get a break, sometimes I wish I get a break said every year it gets easier.

Her teammates are also supporting her. but at least it keeps me on a schedule,” Summers said.

“Everyone’s really welcomed her back,” DaSilva said.

The schedule is actually remarkably consistent.

Diving practice takes place at the exact same time as “She’s coming in late and working really hard.”

With a work ethic like Summers’, everyone seems soccer practice, so Summers maintains the daily routine of class, practice, then the library from the beginning of convinced she will keep it up. the school year through March. [in the Spring] I didn’t know what to do with myself, I was lost I had so much time on my hands,” Summers remembered.

Zach Winn can be contacted at zwinn@keene-equinox.com

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Interested in writing for the Sports section?

Email Equinox Sports Editor Zach Winn at zwinn@keene-equinox.com

thurSday, dec. 12, 2013

[Keene-Equinox.com]

All-LEC awards honor Keene State College Fall 2013 athletes STEPHEN ARUILIO

Equinox Staff

for their achievement and athletic ability.

“The main thing is, it is great recognition for a great season,” Ratliff said.

As boxes of All-LEC awards sit in Director campus have reason to be proud.

Many awards are given throughout the year, such as, “Athlete of the Week” and “All Academic LEC.” However, the All-LEC award is given to select players on each team that have had superb seasons.

“It feels really great,” sophomore volleyball player and recipient of the award, Madeleine Nossiff, said. “Being a sophomore you don’t really expect to get it.”

The athletes are selected by their coaches

a big award.”

The number of players selected per team depends on how many athletes are on the team. lacrosse could have up to 11 players selected.

Field hockey had both offensive and defensive players of the year in Katlyn Simula and Samantha Smith respectively.

Athletes who received the award said they feel that apart from their skills on the their behavior as well.

plaque and are usually recognized in public

» LEC, B8

COMMENTARY: PART FIVE OF FIVE

Naming the 2004 Red Sox the best championship team of 21st Century ZACH WINN

SportS Editor

PORTRAIT BY BRIAN CANTORE / PHOTO EDITOR

The two lives of Shannon Summers ZACH WINN

SportS Editor On November 23, Shannon Summers stood three meters above the Tufts University swimming pool for one of her six dives that day.

Although she would be judged against divers who had been training all season, Summers had less than a week to prepare for the meet—the sophomore had been busy helping the soccer team win the Little Eastern Conference championship.

It was the swimming and diving

team’s fourth meet of the year, but Sum-

Now the Keene-native is in her second year of playing soccer until the season Nevertheless, her score of 207.85 was ends, followed immediately by joining enough to qualify her the New England the swimming and diving team.

Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving While her soccer teammates are still Association Championship meet in Feb- basking in the big LEC victory, Summers ruary. never had a day off.

“I love them both, but I’d probably say I prefer soccer over diving,” Summers said. swimming and diving teammate Taylor “I started diving in high school and just DaSilva said of the transition. decided to stick with it.”

“She doesn’t have much of a break. She Summers said she has been playing starts preseason for soccer, goes through soccer “forever,” but did not want to give the season and jumps right into the dive up diving in college. » SUMMERS, B9

upset the Bronx Bombers and their 183 million dollar payroll.

Manny Ramirez spent the season belting more elaborate explanation of these rankings, online (keene-equinox.com). I’m attempt- Kevin Millar drove his motorcycle to the ing to rank Boston’s championship teams of park everyday and looked more like a counthe 21st century by measuring three criteria: each team’s playoff run, team likability and Mark Bellhorn, Pokey Reese and Bill the historical implications of each title. It’s also just plain fun to relive some of the great- ers that weren’t known for winning, and est seasons in Boston sports history. We’ve spawned bumper stickers asking “WWJDD”, Red Sox. or “What Would Johnny Damon Do?” The Recap They didn’t look like the stars fans thought It was the season that changed every- they needed to drag the franchise out of a histhing. Sensationalistic headlines read, “Best torically long title-drought. Then again, they team ever” and, “Hell freezes over”, while didn’t look nervous about another year of more conventional papers printed something failure, either. equally improbable about the hometown They looked and acted—truthfully— team: “Champions of the world!” normal.

And it was that carefree mindset that they Sox fan. People joke about the Curse Of The entered the playoffs with.

Bambino now, but it hung over everything the team did back then, serving as an ugly round, but the late game heroics of Orlando reminder of nearly a century’s worth of mis- Cabrera and Ortiz made the series seem more haps. one-sided than it actually was. The Red Sox The Red Sox had a way of prodding the would need stellar pitching performances faith of their fans, stirring up false hope only from Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe to win. to stab them with heart-wrenching letdowns.

And then came the series fans had been Throughout the years, they found countless waiting for all season. ways to twist the proverbial knife.

The Red Sox arrived at Yankee Stadium couldn’t blame people for waiting for things game one. You can imagine their disappointto go wrong—that’s simply the way fans had ment, then, when Schilling was shelled until been conditioned. manager Terry Francona mercifully pulled Even as an ace was established (Curt him from the game in the fourth inning.

Schilling) and a deadly lineup emerged, no Boston would drop game one. one was thinking that it could be the year. ever. The Red Sox had scored seven runs in the American League, winning 98 games to game one—proof that they could hit with secure the two seed in the playoffs. anybody, fans reasoned. That idea was shot The problem was not the Red Sox. The down the next day, however, when Boston problem was the only team in front of them.

The New York Yankees, winners of 101 3-1 loss. games, had knocked the Red Sox out of the playoffs the year before with a game seven walk-off home run that was still burned in » CHAMPIONSHIP, B9 most people’s minds. If Boston was going

Indoor track season gives Keene State runners an opportunity to maintain conditioning in winter months ZACH WINN

SportS Editor For most Keene State College runners, the end of the cross country season only signals the beginning of another season— indoor track. The men’s and women’s At a point when most athletes could probably use a break, KSC runners embrace the opportunity to maintain their conditioning.

“It gets you in shape, it helps with endurance,” freshman runner Lindsey Terry said. “I know past runners who just did track, and then they try cross country and end up doing really well, and it goes the same way the other way, you never know if you have a hidden talent in track.”

Track and cross country coach Peter Thomas agreed with Terry’s assessment.

“It’s just continuous, you get better by running, by the consistency of training,” Thomas said. “The more you train, the better you are.”

Thomas does not explicitly require his runners to participate in indoor track, but he makes it clear that it’s a smart move if they want to improve.

“If they’re going to get better they continue with indoor track,” Thomas said. “The season is mostly mandatory.” That doesn’t mean he has to put much pressure on his runners—most seem to want to run year-round anyway. When three freshmen were asked about indoor

track, all three said they came to KSC expecting to participate in the indoor season and indicated they will be running indoor all four years at the school.

“I like track, I did it in high school so I always just assumed I’d do it here as well,” freshman Katelyn Terry said.

Aside from keeping everyone in shape, indoor track can also strengthen team chemistry.

“I think as the year progresses, we just bond more,” freshman Carli Davis said. “In the beginning of the season there were ten freshmen for the girls team and all the freshmen were always together and were shy, but as the season goes on we’re all coming out of our shells and now that indoor is starting we’re all really close.”

Lindsey Terry said team chemistry makes it easier to run year-round.

“The team’s so close and we’re all really supportive of one another,” Lindsey said. “It keeps you encouraged and motivated to come everyday.”

Sometimes athletes get used to the routine of practice and it helps them with their schedule. Katelyn Terry said running actually motivates her to do school work.

“When I’m running I make sure I get my homework done,” Terry said. “It’s weird, it helps me with my time management.”

Aside from the weather, there are many differences CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / RISLEY SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY between indoor track and outdoor track, which takes Junior Kaitlin Wheeler placed first in the 800 meter and mile to help the women’s indoor track team in

» INDOOR TRACK, B8

their first meet at Smith College on Saturday, December 7.

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