The Statesman 8-26-19 by The Statesman

Monday, August 26, 2019

Volume LXIII, Issue 1

sbstatesman.com

SBU sees new interim president

By Maya Brown

Assistant News Editor

Former President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. announced that Dr. Michael Alan Bernstein has been appointed to serve as Interim President of Stony Brook University in a campus-wide email sent out on June 20. His appointment became effective on Aug. 1 when Stanley left for Michigan State University, which was announced during a resolution at the SUNY Board of Trustees public session. In an interview with The Statesman, Dr. Bernstein said, “I’m excited for Stanley. He’s moving on to a great opportunity at a great university. I’m sorry to see him go, but I’m happy to see him move on to better things.” Bernstein was appointed Stony Brook University’s Provost in October 2016, in which he oversaw numerous initiatives aimed at supporting the university’s missions in research, scholarship, art-making and teaching. “Michael is an outstanding selection for this role,” Stanley said in the email. “During his threeyear tenure as Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Af-

SARA RUBERG / THE STATESMAN

A woman rolls a hand truck outside of Yang Hall, a suite-style residence building, on Sunday, Aug. 25. Students move into dormitories on campus over the weekend before the start of the Fall 2019 semester. fairs at Stony Brook he has made extraordinary contributions to every aspect of the University.” Dr. Bernstein has also served as the senior vice-president for academic affairs and as a professor of business, economics and history at Stony Brook University since 2016.

Prior to coming to Stony Brook, Bernstein held academic and administrative positions at Tulane University; The University of California, San Diego; Princeton University and served as a lecturer/ instructor at Yale University, Mills College and the University of Cambridge. He has also worked as a staff

economist for the United States Department of Energy. Over the course of his career, Bernstein has been the recipient of many awards and accolades, including the opportunity to be a Fulbright Scholar at Christ College in Cambridge, England. He also serves on various boards, including the Board

of Directors of Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Board of Trustees of the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics. “His decisive and energetic leadership has been welcome and needed, and Stony Brook University is fortunate to have his steady hand at the helm going forward,” Stanley said.

Minghua Zhang steps in as interim provost SBU releases budget update

By Brianne Ledda News Editor

Minghua Zhang stepped in as interim provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs following an administrative shake-up at Stony Brook University this summer. Zhang, who started the position on Aug. 1, comes with more than a decade of experience in administration as dean at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) and director of the Institute for Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheric Sciences. Though he’s not sure how long he’ll hold the job — the search for a permanent placement was called off indefinitely earlier this month — he plans to “look on the long horizon for the university” with new initiatives geared towards research and overall student success. Considering the university’s budget constraints in recent years — the university started making “modest investments” this summer after a series of budget cuts — Zhang plans to find ways to

generate new revenue, such as with more online courses, and use technology to improve efficiency. During his tenure, Zhang also intends to, among other things, focus on “research and scholarship” by facilitating individual-driven research projects and by organizing team research “around the important problems in science, in society [and] in the humanities.” “Given the digital revolution, there are also great opportunities for the science departments to collaborate with the social science departments and humanities departments to lead research that could really improve the lives of people,” he said. Zhang additionally plans to “optimize the pipeline of student [career advice], starting from the beginning to the end — from welcoming the arrival of the students to engagement starting in the first year.” His goals are to encourage more students to get involved on campus, help students get into the classes that they want and help them find internship and research

placements. Zhang pointed out, for instance, that some programs don’t have “sufficient support” for Ph.D. and graduate students. Currently, the university offers a career center with career assessments, resume workshops and advising, among other things. An online portal called Handshake, maintained by the university, connects students with potential employers.

“Excellence requires a team effort.” -Minghua Zhang

Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Zhang added that he hopes to facilitate more student feedback “regarding how [the university] can help with respect to classroom instruction, extracurricular activities and career.” “Excellence requires a team effort,” he said.

By Brianne Ledda and Gary Ghayrat News Editor and Editor-in-Chief

Stony Brook University will start making “modest investments” during the 2019-2020 school year, Interim President Michael Bernstein said in a budget update linked to a campus-wide email sent on Thursday, Aug. 1. The university has made “substantial progress” towards stabilizing the budget through efforts to reduce spending and grow revenue, he added. “We have slowed down hiring, identified operational efficiencies, and achieved some enrollment growth,” Bernstein wrote. “We have also received additional revenue in the form of tuition and fee increases and State funding related to the retroactive payments due under our labor contracts.” Some of the changes include raising graduate student stipends to $20,000, adding more than 2,800 seats to classes during the Fall 2019 semester and implementing initiatives to improve accessibility.

News

Arts & Culture

Opinions

A former grad student filed an amended complaint.

Jason Bader is one half of comedy duo, The Jasons’.

Professor explains flaws in university’s budget.

New complaint filed in SBU lawsuit. MORE ON PAGE 4

Stony Brook Alum releases music video. MORE ON PAGE 5

The university will support the expansion of several existing programs, with initiatives that include developing a speech pathology major on the Southampton campus through the School of Health Technology and Management, establishing a nursing residency program through the School of Nursing and growing the number of faculty and staff in several departments — among many others listed on the outline. “It is my sincere hope that such commitments may be part of a continuing effort to bolster our University,” Bernstein said in the email. “Moving forward, I will always try to be your capable and strategic partner in everything you achieve that makes Stony Brook an elite (but never an elitist) University — a striking example of what public higher education can, should, and must be.” Some of the changes address student complaints raised during the last academic year. Members Continued on page 4 Sports

Discussing SBU’s financial future

Football looks forward to new season.

MORE ON PAGE 12

Preview of the 2019-20 Seawolves team.

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Monday, August 26, 2019

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Monday, August 26, 2019

FREE PJ/SBU SHUTTLE

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NEWS

SBU graduate dies at 22 Stony Brook plans 'modest investments' By Maya Brown

Assistant News Editor

Jade Idalis Diaz, loving friend and recent Stony Brook University graduate, died at the age of 22 on June 18. Jade’s family wished to keep the cause of death private. Diaz was born on April 4, 1997 in Manhattan, N.Y. to Ana Maria Arias and Juan Pablo Diaz. She was Dominican and Puerto Rican, and came from a family of six siblings. She received her psychology degree from SBU in May 2019, after attending the High School of Fashion Industries and Mott Hall Middle School. “What I’m most proud of is the way that she pushed herself to complete her degree,” her mother said. “That’s my proudest moment because it was all hers.” She was passionate about understanding the way people’s minds work, according to long-time friend and Stony Brook graduate, Noelia Abreu. Diaz loved to compare what she learned in her psychology classes to reality, and to connect people’s motivations with their actions. “She was an extreme realist and did not believe in ‘what ifs’ because she lived in that exact moment,” Abreu said. “This is why I know she would’ve been the best psychologist one could ask for.” During her time at Stony Brook, Diaz “took pride” in her work as an event coordinator for the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), Abreu said. Diaz organized the annual Café Con LASO in 2017 and 2018, and the club’s first Universal Beauty Pageant in 2019. Diaz was also a member of the Transfer Advisory Board (TAB), where she used her own experience transferring from Hunter College during her sophomore year to offer counsel to other transfer students. Diaz’s friends knew her for her loyalty, honesty, beauty, infectious smile and kind spirit, Abreu added. In pictures featuring Diaz, she was usually smiling. Even growing up, Diaz

was the same friendly and spunky person as a child as she was in her adult life, her mother said. According to Abreu, Jade would often say “aowwwww,” “gang, gang, gang” and “make it make sense,” showing the friendliness and spunkiness she had. Friends also knew Diaz for her positive attitude and mindset. “I know people have bad days and end up having a bad attitude, but Jade never had bad days,” Eileen Escobedo, a sophomore health sciences major and former e-board member of LASO, said. Her smile always brightened the room, Hazel Herrera, a close friend, said. “Jade literally is one of the few friends that I can say made a huge impact on my life in the most positive way ever,” Herrera added. According to Abreu, with Diaz’s caring and loving spirit, she would often spend her time involved in acts of community service along with her best friends: Aurelina Reyes, Yamilex Taveras and Abreu. In addition to her studies and extracurriculars, Jade was a part of the marketing team and the students personnel team at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center from 2018 to 2019. Durron Newman, her supervisor at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, said that Jade was an amazing young lady to work with and was always willing to help out everywhere she could. “Having her as a part of our Operations Team was a great pleasure,” he said. Abreu shared that Jade had planned to take a short break after her graduation in May before going back to school for a Master’s degree in psychology. Her goal was to open her own psychology practice, possibly focusing on marriage counseling. Eventually, she planned to have two children and dogs — her favorite animal.

COURTESY OF ANA MARIA ARIAS

Jade Diaz at SBU's commencement ceremony in May 2019. The graduate earned a degree in psychology.

Continued from page 1

of the Graduate Student Employees Union (GSEU) held at least two protests last semester, including one on Admitted Students Day, to protest a $90.25 per semester fee increase for graduate students. They argued that fees, which total nearly a month’s pay, are unsustainable for students at their current average annual salary between $20,000 and $25,000. An email sent to faculty and staff on May 20 signed by former President Samuel L. Stanley initially announced the graduate student pay raise. “Consistent with faculty and staff input from across the campus, we will provide additional resources to improve course availability for undergraduate students and will include funding to increase the stipends for graduate students earning less than $20,000 to that level,” Stanley wrote in the email. Andrew Dobbyn, campus chair of GSEU, pointed out that the raise only applies to a small percentage of the graduate student employee workforce. Graduate students make between $19,000 and $29,000, with most

sitting around $22,000, he said. That’s below a living wage in Suffolk County, according to the MIT living wage calculator, which estimates that number to be about $32,301. “It was a win, but not the earth-shaking change they’re going to claim it to be,” Dobbyn said. “Stanley announced it after our protest, no doubt to mollify us and mollify the faculty after increasing fees.” He added that GSEU hopes that the university will start paying a living wage and stop making graduate students pay to work. Activists from the Peer Mental Health Alliance (PMHA) and the Disability Rights Coalition (DRC) protested last semester as well, arguing that the university was violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They most pointedly criticized the university’s accessibility and mental health policies. One complaint was that the handicapped buttons to open doors were frequently broken. DRC co-founder and senior business major Naji Nizam said that the university hasn’t reached out to the DRC, but that the group would “surely be reaching

out to the administration to offer [its] input and feedback.” The announcement further marks a shift from budget cuts in recent years. Facing a nearly $35 million deficit, the university slashed courses and implemented a hiring freeze. Classes and majors — including speech and language pathology courses and the undergraduate pharmacology program — were axed. Adjunct professors and lecturers from the foreign language and Writing and Rhetoric departments were let go. An independent budget analysis sponsored by university professors found that, contrary to claims, Stony Brook has had a positive net cash flow for the past 10 years. University officials criticized the report, which they said was missing crucial details, skewing the results. Bernstein wrote in the budget outline that Stony Brook does not expect New York State to “provide significant new resources to the SUNY system in the coming years.” “We will continue to manage our resources efficiently — striving always to link funding decisions with key strategic plans and priorities,” he said.

New complaint filed in lawsuit against SBU

By Brianne Ledda News Editor

In an ongoing legal battle with Stony Brook University, former Stony Brook University (SBU) student Danielle Sutton claims she was denied her 14th Amendment rights when she was “yanked” mid-semester out of her Fall 2017 student teaching internship without a hearing or signed, formal letter in the mail. Sutton objected to a motion from the university in a letter filed on Aug. 19 to dismiss her amended complaint, filed April 15, against the university, two faculty members and former university president Samuel Stanley. Sutton was dismissed from the graduate English education program, according to the complaint, for refusing to sign a teaching contract that was presented to her by the program director after she complained about her internship supervisor, Thomas Mangano. The contract requested that among other things, Sutton compose and turn in written lesson plans, dress and behave professionally, regularly communicate with her supervisor and refrain from absences and tardiness. Sutton is requesting a preliminary injunction that would reinstate her student teaching internship, allow her to complete her degree in the education program, expunge her records of the dismissal and compensate her with $5 million. The university has argued that Sutton was dismissed from her student internship because she demonstrated “serious issues of lateness, lack of preparation, and lack of professionalism from her first day of the placement.”

In the amended complaint, Sutton claims that Mangano subjected her to a hostile work environment during her internship after she refused repeated invitations to breakfast off-campus with him, both alone and with other students, and ignored repeated texts and phone calls from him. Around Sept. 29, 2017, according to the complaint, Sutton complained to defendant Nicole Galante, lecturer and associate director for the English education program, about Mangano’s behavior and requested to switch supervisors. Sutton claimed that Galante notified Sutton that she should begin reporting to a different supervisor on Oct. 9, 2017. According to the amended complaint, Galante held a grudge against Sutton for making the complaint and was concerned that the “Plaintiff might muddy the reputation” of the teaching program. On Oct. 11, 2017, according to court documents, Galante notified Sutton that she would no longer be representing SBU as a student teacher, although she could choose to remain in the program. Sutton claims that she did not receive a formal letter explaining why she was removed from her student teaching placement, nor receive a hearing before her dismissal. According to the complaint, around Oct. 16, 2017, Galante emailed Sutton a teaching contract for Spring 2018. In an Oct. 16 email mentioned in court documents, Galante wrote that if Sutton did not sign the contract by Oct. 24, she would be dismissed from the program. Sutton did not sign the agreement and was dismissed on Oct. 25. She appealed the decision on Nov. 5.

In the amended complaint, Sutton claims that “[Ken] Lindblom abused his power as Dean [in the School of Professional Development], by asking [defendant Charles] Taber and Melissa Jordan to bypass the written [appeal] policy.” She points to an Oct. 17 email from Taber to Jordan, senior assistant dean in the graduate school administration, in which Taber, former vice provost for graduate and professional education and dean of the Graduate School, asked, “Has a policy decision been made that SPD will not handle appeals through academic standing committee as written in the policy? Or has that already happened for this student and I just haven’t seen it?” The complaint argues that Sutton’s treatment was a violation of Title IX regulations, which prohibits discrimination based on sex in federally funded education programs and activities. It further argues that the proposed contract violated Sutton’s First Amendment rights by “forcing Plaintiff to agree to terms and conditions — including a gender-based dress requirement that was gender bias stereotyping and that infringed on Plaintiff’s right to First Amendment free expression to choose how to dress.” The amended complaint goes on to claim that the lack of a hearing, formal dismissal letter and proper appeal violated Sutton’s right to due process of law, as outlined in the 14th Amendment. The complaint argues that these actions also violated an “implied contract” between the university and individual students — in which students are allowed to complete their semester — and indicated negligence on the university’s part.

ARTS & CULTURE

Comedy duo that includes Stony Brook Alum releases new music video By Alexander Bakirdan Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

Hawaii is a dream vacation destination for many people, including musical comedy duo, The Jasons. The pair — featuring Stony Brook alum, Jason Bader, and childhood best friend, Jason Blackmon — were so excited about their trip, they made it the subject of their most recent comedic music video, “Hawaii.” The video starts with a chipper tone but soon starts taking twists and turns and The Jasons’ trip doesn’t go quite the way they had planned. The pair use the upbeat attitude of the song for a hilarious effect and will certainly bring a smile to your face. Well-shot and well-edited, the video thrives on the strong comedic timing of the duo. “Hawaii” is the type of piece that can genuinely surprise and open people’s minds to the potential of musical comedy. Their unusual brand of musical comedy often meets resistance from some crowds when they first get up on stage, but The Jasons say that’s their favorite part of the gig. “Our favorite thing is seeing those people with their arms crossed not wanting to like us going right to laughout-loud belly-laughing and

PUBLIC DOMAIN

The Jasons' Album Art featuring Jason Bader (left) and Jason Blackmon (right).Bader is a Stony Brook University Alumnus and graduated from the film program here. just having like the best time,” Bader said. “And that happens like every show,” Blackmon added. “And it’s so great to see that, that’s

where we get real fans and people who will come up to us after the show.” Bader has had a variety of jobs, including working for “The Ellen

DeGeneres Show” as a producer and currently working for the new social media app TikTok. Yet among it all, Bader says he loves being a part of The Jasons

the most. Blackmon, who also worked on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” as a writer, says that The Jasons is his favorite thing he’s ever done. “When it comes down to it, everything I do outside of the Jasons is to support the ability to still do The Jasons,” Blackmon said. The pair have worked with a variety of different comics, including Adam Sandler, Whitney Cummings and Ray Romano. Bader, who studied film at Stony Brook, said he enjoyed his time at the university, even though he was one of a few film students. “I think, as a lot of people know, Stony Brook is not like a big film school. All my friends were in like a business program or they were becoming doctors,” Bader said. “It’s a very small community of people doing film there, but I think it’s a strong one and they have a great program. It was really great to be a part of that.” Bader and Blackmon also say they’re interested in returning to Stony Brook to perform as The Jasons. “We’ve just started to do shows at colleges, and I’d love to reach out to somebody there and see about that,” Blackmon said.

13 Reasons Why Continues Important Conversation with Third Season By Melissa Azofeifa Arts and Culture Editor

The third season of the controversial show, “13 Reasons Why” came out on Netflix on Friday, Aug. 23, and it does not disappoint. For those of you who haven’t caught up yet, don’t worry, there will not be any spoilers in this article. We know from this new season’s trailer that the villain of the show for the past two seasons, Bryce Walker — played by Justin Prentice — has been murdered. The question on everyone’s mind is, who did it?! You can’t go wrong with a classic murder mystery. I will say that Hannah Baker, played by Katherine Langford, isn’t in this season. Season two seemed to give her character the closure we all needed. The show is being told from the perspective of Liberty High’s “new girl,” Amorowat Anysia Achola, played by Grace Saif. She may be the “new girl,” but you quickly realize that she is shady. The first scene is her washing a bloody shirt. The show starts off dramatically with Clay Jensen, played by Dylan Minnette, being arrested as he’s walking into school for Bryce’s murder, but as the season goes on, we discover the whole truth behind Bryce’s murder. Clay and all his friends have grown and changed so much, they are no longer the same kids that we met on the first season of the show. Jessica Davis, played

Public Domain

Official poster for Netflix Original Series "13 Reasons Why" released third season on Friday, Aug 23rd 2019. by Alisha Boe, has gained determination and strength to prove to herself and the people around her that she survived the rape she

endured at the hands of Bryce. She had so much desire for change that she made decisions that were naive and unrealistic,

but towards the end of the show, we see growth because she realizes that you don’t necessarily have to scream for your story to be heard. Another story of growth that we see in this season is the most surprising one. Despite Bryce’s horrendous sins, in this season we see a side to him that catches the viewer off guard. He’s actually repentant. He attempts to make amends and have a fresh start before he is murdered. At first, as a viewer, I found it difficult to trust him because of his past. But in this season you see him take genuine steps to try and understand exactly how much damage he has caused. He listened to Hannah Baker’s tapes and was profoundly changed by them. I believe that it’s never too late to try and change, and despite all the horrific things Bryce did, he didn’t let them define him and attempted to become better. This is extremely important to the series because it shows that despite him being depicted as a monster, it reminds the viewers he is a human being. The visuals of the show also changed. This season differentiated the past from the present in a very interesting way, with the lighting in the scenes. The past always seemed to be bright and have warmer colors, while the present was dark and with bluish-gray colors. This acts as a visual representation of everyone’s general mood and feelings during Bryce’s murder investigation.

“Clay and all his friends have grown and changed so much, they are no longer the same kids we met on the first season of the show.”

There is so much more I want to mention, but that would spoil the show. Despite all the graphic images and triggering circumstances our characters find themselves in, “13 Reasons Why” sticks to its nature. This season is worth a watch not just because of the drama and the terrific acting done by the entire cast. They treat all these sensitive subjects with care and bring such depth to the circumstances their characters go through. But another reason to watch the show is that it continues the very important conversation on bullying, rape and drugs that it began in season one. We see that although there is a vast difference in production in this new season, a lot of reccuring themes remain the same.

MULTIMEDIA

Many members of the Stony Brook University Marching Band participated in the Annual New York LGBTQ* Pride March over the summer on Sunday, June 30. The band was part of a State Universities of New York (SUNY)-wide cohort marching in the parade. Photos by Gary Ghayrat

The Statesman

Multimedia

Monday, August 26, 2019

Returning Stony Brook University students moved onto campus on Sunday, Aug. 25. First-year and transfer students made their way into the residence halls days earlier on Friday, Aug. 23. Photos by Sara Ruberg and Emma Harris

OPINIONS Editor-in-Chief ...................Gary Ghayrat Managing Editor .............Chris Parkinson Managing Editor .................Karina Gerry News Editor .............................................................Brianne Ledda Arts & Culture Editor ..............................................Melissa Azofeifa Sports Editor ................................................................Ryan Pavich Opinions Editor ..........................................................Gabby Pardo Multimedia Editor .......................................................Sara Ruberg Copy Chief .........................................................Alexa Anderwkavich Assistant News Editor..................................................Maya Brown Assistant News Editor......................................Samantha Robinson Assistant Arts & Culture Editor..........................Alexander Bakirdan Assistant Multimedia Editor.....................................Emma Harris Assistant Opinions Editor...........................................Cindy Mizaku Assistant Sports Editor...........................................Andrew Zucker Assistant Sports Editor...................................................Ethan Tam Assistant Copy Editor.....................................................Karla Rios Assistant Copy Editor..............................................Michelle Wong Advertising Manager ............................................. Kaylee McAllister

EMMA HARRIS / STATESMAN FILE

The outside of the Administration Building at Stony Brook University. Even as Stony Brook's enrollment increased steadily, the university apparently went broke.

The fate of Stony Brook's financial future By David McKinnon Contributing Writer

Contact us: Phone: 631-632-6479 Fax: 631-632-9128 Web: www.sbstatesman.com To contact the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editors about organizational comments, questions, suggestions, corrections or photo permission, email editors@sbstatesman.com. To reach a specific section editor: News Editor.....................................news@sbstatesman.com Arts & Entertainment Editor.............arts@sbstatesman.com Sports Editor..................................sports@sbstatesman.com Opinions Editor..........................opinions@sbstatesman.com Multimedia Editor..................multimedia@sbstatesman.com Copy Chief.......................................copy@sbstatesman.com The Statesman is a student-run, student-written incorporated publication at Stony Brook University in New York. The paper was founded as The Sucolian in 1957 at Oyster Bay, the original site of Stony Brook University. In 1975, The Statesman was incorporated as a not-for-profit, student-run organization. Its editorial board, writers and multimedia staff are all student volunteers. New stories are published online every day Monday through Thursday. A print issue is published every Monday during the academic year and is distributed to many on-campus locations, the Stony Brook University Hospital and over 70 off-campus locations. The Statesman and its editors have won several awards for student journalism and several past editors have gone on to enjoy distinguished careers in the field of journalism. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @ sbstatesman. Disclaimer: Views expressed in columns or in the Letters and Opinions section are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Statesman. The Statesman promptly corrects all errors of substance published in the paper. If you have a question or comment about the accuracy or fairness of an article please send an email to editors@sbstatesman.com. First issue free; additional issues cost $1.

A 10-year period of continuous expansion of the U.S. economy began in 2008, as part of a broader global economic expansion. The stock market rose nearly 300% and New York state coffers were filled with finance industry dollars. State allocations to the State University of New York (SUNY) remained relatively stable, despite large declines in support for state universities across the country. Student enrollment at Stony Brook increased steadily and the university received historically large philanthropic donations. These can be fairly described as unusually favorable economic conditions, yet we apparently went broke. What went wrong? From the perspective of many long-serving faculty, the primary cause of the chronic financial problems within the university is quite clear: incentives for upper management are poorly aligned with the long-term best interests of the institution and have been for some time. The high-profile projects that, at least in principle, get upper management new and more prestigious jobs elsewhere are exactly the same projects that have been steadily bankrupting the university. To give one example, there was no pressing institutional need to develop Division I sports at Stony Brook University (SBU). The local area was already over-endowed with professional teams competing for the sports entertainment dollar and it was well known at the time that Division I sports are a net financial drag on all but a select few universities. Football has proven particularly problematic with football-induced brain damage (chronic traumatic encephalopathy [CTE]) creating a moral, legal and financial hazard. Yet, we now have Division I sports and a large stadium to support despite lacking the funds to sustain core academic programs. Over subsequent years many of these “initiatives” have been more or less egregiously out of alignment with the university’s actual needs.

Stony Brook is the spiritual successor to City College of the 1950s and this is a role that we should embrace with pride. During the middle of the last century, City College provided an elevator for the advancement of the poor and working class of New York City, while also creating an outstanding academic environment. Stony Brook comes closest to that ideal among the NY state universities and we should build on that role, rather than reach for other unattainable goals. If our finances are managed appropriately, we can be both academically outstanding and a significant engine of social mobility. Unfortunately, over the last two decades, a cultural cringe has plagued SBU’s development as one administrator after another has attempted to remake us in the image of other universities. Many of these other universities are not models to emulate; they are cogs in a corrupt and broken system. Most of them are driving up tuition costs much faster than the rate of inflation, making a good education unattainable for an increasing fraction of citizens. And, as the recent admissions scandal has shown, the big brand name private universities are, in some ways, just as corrupt as the Church before the Reformation. Compared to these places, Stony Brook is “the shining city on the hill” — a relative refuge of egalitarianism and student scholarship. We do honest work. I have taught students who worked two jobs to be the first in their families to finish college, students who overcame intergenerational drug addiction to attend medical school and students who simply worked their butts off to fulfill academic and professional ambitions. This is the “American dream” in action. Our students want the best possible faculty to give them a leg up in an economic system that appears to have become increasingly rigged against them. The continuing financial crisis within our university puts our mission at considerable risk. In particular, we risk losing a generation of young faculty who have been

rattled by SBU’s constant financial problems. Sending notices of nonrenewal to young tenure track faculty during the reorganization of some of the College of Arts and Sciences departments was unconscionably stupid. However, the refusal to resolve the structural budget deficits has also contributed to the creation of considerable doubt in the minds of younger faculty about the governance and future of the university. The focus of management on faculty attrition to resolve the crisis has been unhelpful. We have lost outstanding colleagues, some of whom moved to lesser institutions simply to escape the chaos. Upper management does not seem to fully grasp how corrosive this has been on faculty morale and how this undermines the university as a whole. To right our ship, two things need to change. First, we have to return to the fiscally conservative policies of the Marburger Era, when the primary focus of the administration was to support and advance academic research as well as improve the quality of education. Second, financial power has to devolve from the administration back to the department heads. While individual department heads are certainly capable of making poor financial decisions, it is unlikely that they would collectively create a situation where we have multiple half-populated buildings and rock bottom faculty morale. Ultimately, we need sympathetic leadership — leadership that genuinely understands what is already valuable about SBU. Leadership that doesn’t try to remold us into something that we can and should never be. In the future, we should look for leaders who understand and value our culture, and we should make a firmer case to reject efforts to change that culture. The future of the country depends critically on developing a more egalitarian educational system that maximizes all talents, provides a rigorous world class education and doesn’t leave students with crippling debt. Stony Brook University plays an import-

The Statesman

Opinions

Editorial: Introducing "Just Ask," a column By The Editorial Board

With over 16,000 undergraduate students on our campus, it can be difficult for all students — especially freshmen — to have the courage to ask questions. Even a freshman who is new to adulting and the college experience can use “Just Ask” to ask actual students questions on how to get involved in the SBU community and make it through the semester. Please note that none of our staff at The Statesman are licensed counselors, and will only provide advice based on personal experience and online sources if necessary. Being a student at a top 100 nationally ranked university can be very stressful whether you’re a commuter or a resident. The ultimate goal of the column is to provide helpful and accurate information for the student body, while also being your personal guide through your college experience. To answer any questions anyone has about any major or minor issues they may be having, the Opinions section of The Statesman is launching “Just Ask.” Opinions only has one other column, “The Onion Bagel,” a satire column that is released occasionally. While “The Onion Bagel” is for satirical humor, “Just

Ask” will be used to offer a second perspective to issues students may be facing and answer questions they may have — whether it be academic or personal. Students can submit questions through a Google form. You can ask us questions with a display name of your choice, but you also have the option of submitting your name if you want to be public. The form is confidential, and all the answers to questions will be answered by the Stony Brook community and the column will be published in both our print and online issues.

The “Just Ask” answers may actually cover some of your questions, even if you’re too shy to send them in. The column is meant for students and answered by students and serves to strengthen our community in helping others in any way we can. All questions are welcomed, and they are not limited to just academic issues. Grades are extremely important, but so is our mental and physical wellbeing. Share the tips that helped you, and it just might help someone else.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Just Ask

By Gabby Pardo and Cindy Mizaku Opinions Editor and Assistant Opinions Editor

Hi from Just Ask! We would like to welcome all of our new students to Stony Brook by giving some helpful information about how to make your mark. Coming to a new school can be overwhelming, so here are some helpful tips! Q: What should I do if I didn’t declare a major yet? A: First and foremost, there’s no rush! It is completely okay if you haven’t decided what you want to study yet. From being surrounded by fellow Stony Brook peers to career fairs, incoming students feel pressured to declare a major within their first two years. Once getting over first-day jitters, it is important to take advantage of Stony Brook Curriculums (SBC), a specific set of classes that every student has to take. Take the time to find SBCs you’d be interested in, and explore the majors that your favorite SBC is associated with. College can be worthwhile, you just need to have faith in the process. Q: How do I get more involved on campus? A: There are plenty of opportunities to be an active member of the Stony Brook community. It really comes down to having a “can-do” attitude about finding a space that fits you. So get ready to head over to the involvement fair these next two upcoming Wednesdays during campus lifetime (1-2:20 p.m.). While bustling your way through, be sure to get to know your student body by taking a look at the material they have laid out for you and asking a lot of questions.

THE STATESMAN FILE

"Just Ask" is a new advice column. It offers advice and helpful information to the entire student body.

Q: Where can I turn to for guidance? A: Adjusting to a new school can be quite challenging, but it’s crucial to know that you are not alone. Asides from getting support from your close circle of friends and family, get the chance to find safe outlets on campus. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides free counseling to students who come in during walk-in hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CAPS counselors are available after hours if you want to vocalize your thoughts and are in need of support. You can also find comfortable spaces for dialogue down the hall with your RA, at a club meeting or even in a room with students/faculty in your major.

Spoiler Alert: Netflix's "When They See Us" is more than just a history lesson

By Maya Brown

Assistant News Editor

On May 31, I watched the Netflix miniseries, “When They See Us.” The show, created, written and directed by Ava DuVernay, was inspired by the true Central Park Five case and exposes the breakdown of the amoral U.S. criminal justice system during this time. It evoked so many emotions at once — anger, disgust, despair and anxiety. The case involves five young boys between the ages of 14 and 16 years old — Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam and Korey Wise. They were wrongfully convicted of the rape and assault of Trisha Meili, a 28-year-old white woman who was jogging in Central Park on Apr. 19, 1989. While all five had initially confessed to participating in the Central Park attack, the boys were coerced by white investigators into giving false statements during their interrogations. Imagine being 16 and going to a police station with your friend to keep him company, just to end up being wrongfully accused of rape and being tried and sentenced to prison as an adult. This was, unfortunately, Wise’s reality. The finale showcases his experience in adult prison and going through physical, mental and e motional pain. It wasn’t until over a decade later, in 2002, when the court vacated their convictions after Matias Reyes, a convicted murderer and serial rapist who was serving life in prison, confessed to officials that

he had raped the jogger. Before binge-watching the four episodes until four in the morning, I had never heard of the Central Park Five case, but after watching, it was all I could wrap my mind around. To say I was speechless is an understatement. What I took from the miniseries was much more than just a history lesson — it was a deep and tragic reminder that the criminal justice system has long dehumanized people of color. Although the ratification of the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the idea that people of color mean less and are not equal to whites never went away, leading to the prejudices minorities face today. Racial profiling stems from the stereotype of blacks being guilty of convictions and a danger to society, and the racial dynamics of criminal justice practices. The miniseries shows the ongoing problem of mass incarceration of people of color. Today, the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Although the rate of minorities in prisons is going down, they’re still the most incarcerated group. Blacks represented 12% of the U.S. adult population in 2017, but 33% of the sentenced prison population. Hispanics represented 16% of the adult population yet 23% of the sentenced prison population. Meanwhile, whites represented 64% of adults but 30% of prisoners, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. Yes, some of the incarcerated are truly guilty for their crimes, but “African Americans are crim-

inalized at more than five times the rate of whites,” according to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Police stops continue to constantly accumulate and be highly racialized. Throughout the United States, black drivers are more likely to be pulled over at a traffic stop than white drivers, according to a Justice Department study released in 2013. Regarding juvenile arrests, in comparison with white youth, black youth were more than five times as likely to be detained or committed, according to data from the Department of Justice collected in October 2015. As a Hispanic and black girl, I was taught that things may not always be fair for me because of my race. I was taught that I should always comply with law enforcement because “you never know who is racist.” One of the hardest scenes I watched in “When They See Us” was when Donald Trump, our current president, took out an advertisement that called for the execution of the boys. Watching the moment when Salaam’s mother reacted to the advertisement broke my heart. I started crying when she couldn’t bear the thought that someone wanted her son dead for something he didn’t even do. The miniseries highlighted how the protection and justice of a white woman were unequivocally prioritized over the rights of wrongfully accused black men. I realized that the only reason the boys were set free, was because Reyes, a convicted criminal, had more empathy for the

innocent kids than our corrupt justice system. The title of the miniseries, in my perspective, symbolizes that when racist people see people of color, they don’t see human beings, but savages. It shows people that you can’t always believe what you hear or see. It stressed

that the truth may take time to come out, or in other words, it may take time for justice to be served. The only way we’re going to have a better society is if you continue to fight this injustice and discrimination. “When They See Us” is a must watch because the

PUBLIC DOMAIN

The official poster for "When They See Us," a Netflix miniseries. The miniseries premiered on May 31, 2019.

The Statesman

Monday, August 26, 2019

The Statesman

Monday, August 26, 2019

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SPORTS

Stony Brook Football full of confidence heading into new season By Andrew Zucker Assistant Sports Editor

Stony Brook University (SBU), renowned for a stellar academic reputation and award-winning on-campus hospital, can now place another feather in its cap as an up-and-coming athletic powerhouse that strikes fear in the heart of opponents. This year, college football is marking its 150th anniversary, but the Stony Brook Athletic Department has its own milestone achievements that will inspire them to greater heights this season: 20 years of Division I athletics; seven players received NFL rookie minicamp invites last year, following six invites the year before; they’re coming off two consecutive FCS playoff appearances and there’s a chance Stony Brook finally has a player drafted into the NFL come April. Elvis Presley crooned “home is where the heart is.” While that may be true, for the SBU football team, “home is where the wins are.” In the past two seasons, the Seawolves were a combined 11-1 while playing under the bright lights at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium and were one of only 17 teams in the nation to go undefeated at home during the 2018 season. The team’s success, on-and-off the field, led the school to extend head coach Chuck Priore’s contract last November, adding two more years to his deal; he is now signed through the 2022 season. “We talk about defending the Wolves Den, and if you’re going to come into that stadium, you’re going to have to claw your way out of there,” Priore said at Stony Brook Football Media Day. “It becomes really apparent because we have seven home games this year, so if we can hold serve at home games, we should be able to compete correctly.” OFFENSE Coach Priore recently stated that “[e]ven though we graduated some key playmakers the past couple seasons, we probably have a deeper team with more experience on offense.” Stony Brook scored 20 rushing touchdowns and ran for over 2,000 yards in 2018; every player who accounted for those touchdowns has moved on, including the duo of Jordan Gowins and Donald Liotine, better known as the “Long Island Express.” However, Running Backs Coach Omar King is not worried. “We have a real good group that is very talented,” King said. “The only thing is that we don’t have the experience that we’ve had in the past couple of years. We have to train these guys and make sure they are doing everything neces-

sary to get caught up to what it is that we are trying to do.” Team captain, senior running back Isaiah White, makes his return to the offensive side of the field after spending two years on defense and redshirting last year. White, as well as redshirt-freshmen running backs Ty Son Lawton and Seba Nekhet, will be the featured ball carriers this season. Although the offense has only three returning starters, those three have a combined 58 starts under their belts. Senior right guard Mason Zimmerman, as well offensive linemen senior Joe Detorie and sophomore Kyle Nunez will be part of the group tasked with keeping the quarterback safe and the run game flowing. Nunez’s play last year earned him a spot on the AllCAA Football second team, as well as HERO Sports Freshman All-American team and a spot on this year’s CAA Football Preseason All-Conference team. With the graduation of quarterback Joe Carbone, the starter for the last three-and-a-half years, coach Priore is faced with the challenge of selecting a new field general for the first time in years. Junior quarterbacks Tyquell Fields and Jack Cassidy have been battling for the position since spring ball and only time will tell which of them will get the starting nod. Whoever Coach Priore picks to lead the team, he will have many weapons armed and ready at wide receiver. Returning senior wide receiver Nick Anderson is joined by Brandon Benson, a junior who transferred to Stony Brook in the spring from Southern Methodist University, as well as graduate transfer wide receiver, Jean Constant, from Bryant University. Constant, who is known for his speed, was recently named a STATS FCS first team Preseason All-American. This is not Constant’s first, or even second time having his name on the All-American list, having been honored in 2017 and 2018. The offense is not the only big and shiny attraction for this hungry Seawolves team. Opponents will have to prepare to face-off against a rock-solid defense. DEFENSE Towson Football head coach Rob Ambrose knows that when his team plays Stony Brook, the Seawolves defense will present a significant challenge. “Stony Brook plays fantastic defense,” Ambrose said in an interview with The Statesman. Coach Ambrose’s sentiment was echoed by Richmond head coach Russ Huesman who stat-

EMMA HARRIS/THE STATESMAN

Head coach Chuck Priore at Stony Brook Football Media Day on Aug. 9, 2019. His contract was extended and Priore is now signed on with Stony Brook through 2022. ed that “Stony Brook is the most physical team that we play in the CAA. They have that mentality. They’ve played really well. They play really good defense. Never out of position. Physicality on special teams. Chuck has a tough blue-collar mentality. He’s done a tremendous job turning the team into what they are now. I want Richmond to play like Stony Brook.” The captains on defense, senior defensive lineman Sam Kamara and defensive back Gavin Heslop, lead the return of a mostly intact group that allowed an average of only 193.2 passing yards per game and 122.1 rushing yards per game, good enough to rank 20th in the nation. Kamara, who recorded 42 total tackles, including nine sacks, is joined on the defensive line by senior Keegan Henderson, junior Brandon Lopez and sophomore Casey Williams. Henderson played in all 12 games last year, while Lopez started 10 games in 2018 and Williams recorded 43 total tackles, including six sacks and three blocked passes. Coach Priore raved about the depth the team has this year. “This is the deepest team I’ve ever had, by far, at every position, with the exception of linebacker.” Meanwhile, Kamara likes what he sees from the defense. “Because we have a lot of experience, these guys have seen a lot,” Kamara said. “With that being said, we all know what is going on and we are clicking on all cylinders. In the short time we’ve been together [in] (sic) this camp, everybody has been in tune with each other and we are on the right path.”

Most casual NFL fans — New York Jets, in particular — have heard the expression “Revis Island” repeatedly over the last decade. The moniker symbolized the work-ethic and play of cornerback Darrelle Revis, and how receivers felt stranded when he covered them. Add “Revis Island” to the “Bash Bros,” and you’ve got the backfield duo of Heslop and junior cornerback TJ Morrison. One could even include senior defensive back/rover Augie Contressa in the mix. But Heslop and Morrison are like diamonds that have been formed from the same piece of coal. Since the age of eight, Heslop and Morrison have been on the same football team. “He’s my brother for life. We didn’t think we would meet up in high school,” Heslop said, but they did and won the CHSFL AAA Championship in 2015 while at Archbishop Stepinac High School. “We push each other, he teaches me about his game and I teach him about mine.” Morrison said about his “brother for life,” Heslop. The two combined for 101 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one interception, a crazy 87-yard fumble recovery touchdown and much more. Add in Contressa and his 73 tackles, 10 for loss including three sacks and one interception, and the defense is ready to go. PLAYERS TO WATCH White, a CAA Football Preseason All-Conference team selection, looks to help rebuild the run game; while senior free safety Synceir Malone is coming off a hot 2018 in which he had 53 total tackles, five for loss including a sack. Defensive Line Coach Rob Noel talked about

the defensive group that included Malone. “We have a lot of fourth and fifth-year guys in our twodeep. That’s probably the most I’ve ever had coaching anywhere and it is showing in camp … the technique is very polished because they have been doing it a long time. I’m excited to see the development of some of these guys as they enter the last couple years of their careers.” Of the players on the roster who might have their dreams of playing in the NFL come true, three names stand out: Kamara, Constant and Heslop. Constant could easily be a staple on a special teams unit while Kamara projects to be solid depth on the defensive line, but the diamond in the rough is Heslop. His speed, athleticism and physicality translates strongly to the NFL’s style of play. According to DraftScout, Heslop is projected in the range of seventh-round draft pick to priority free agent (PFA). If any player gets drafted and makes the 53-man roster, they would follow in the footsteps of Stony Brook alumni Will Tye, Victor Ochi, Timon Parris and Chris Cooper. This might be the most important season for the Seawolves since joining the CAA. Coming off two straight FCS playoff appearances but having been bounced in the first round last year, many within the media expect it to be a “rebuild” year for the Seawolves, but don’t tell the team that. They’re preparing for a championship run. The season kicks off on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium versus Bryant University, an interesting matchup for transfer Constant: new versus old. Stony Brook hopes the phrase “new is always better” plays true.