Back on Campus 2023 - The Statesman

SEPTEMBER 2023

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THE STATESMAN

The interior of East Side Dining’s market, “The Emporium.” Prices across various campus dining locations have increased making it harder for students to eat. BRITTNEY DIETZ/THE STATESMAN

Increase in campus dining prices leads to student struggles

By Admir Radoncic

In the fall 2023 semester, Stony Brook University has seen price increases across various campus dining locations.

According to Diana Kubik, executive director of the Faculty Student Association, retail prices across the University have increased by about 8.6%, aligning with the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for Food and Beverage.

“Food prices went up and portion sizes decreased,” Caitlin Chio, a student worker at East Side Market, said.

While a couple of dollars may not make much of a difference to some, many students who already struggle to get by financially will be pained by the price increases.

“I feel [that if] the pricing could be a little lower, everyone could be happier,” Stuart Goldstein, a customer service

supervisor at West Side Dining and Market, said.

Although inflation is out of the University’s control, Kubik reiterated that price hikes for campus meal options have put a strain on students, especially those who have limited access to off-campus food options.

“I don’t have a car,” Vito Malaj, a junior technological systems management major, stated during a conversation about cheaper alternatives. “As the prices of food increased, I’ve been limiting dining dollars.”

The ripple effect of increased food prices has also affected other facets of campus life. As students work on balancing budgets, they are forced to either skip out on meals or lose necessities. Goldstein recalled a time when he had to help a student buy necessary supplies.

“A lot of kids struggle; I had to buy a kid toilet paper,” he said.

“Nationally, there have been supply chain issues which have contributed to increased volatility in import, export, producer, and consumer prices in the months following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States,” Kubik wrote in an email to The Statesman.

She also explained that the prices of meat, fish and dairy have been hit particularly hard in the post-pandemic economy.

“The cost to us for ground beef patties has increased by 9%, mayonnaise has increased [by] 23% and salmon has increased by 16%,” Kubik said.

“We do our best to offer street price comparisons to off campus vendors.”

Maintaining staff wages and benefits are also factors contributing to these price increases. Kubik explained that the University provides full health insurance and retirement plans to on-campus dining workers, benefits that many off-campus establishments do not provide to their employees.

With students struggling to navigate price increases, Kubik said the University is exploring options for the future.

“We are already reviewing meal plans and retail pricing for next year to be able to provide the most affordable options for students,” Kubik said.

Regardless of these efforts, students are not hopeful that food options on campus will become more affordable anytime soon.

“Unless the economy improves, I don’t think it’s gonna decrease,” Chio said.

Study abroad is back with students to and from SBU

By Sudhiksha Krishna Kumar This fall, Stony Brook University saw a flurry of suitcases, oversized Target shopping bags and excited students chatting in various accents. These students hailed from Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and more.

After a two year-long hiatus due to COVID-19, the Study Abroad Program — an initiative by International Academic Programs — is back in action. Students from Stony Brook’s various partner universities across the globe are attending their fall semesters in the United States.

United by the popular card game Uno at a dinner party in West Apartments, Hongkongers and Singaporeans shared trinkets and stories from their first weeks in America. Many of them missed out on

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in-person orientation programs held at their home universities due to COVID-19. Their first in-person orientation was hosted by Stony Brook.

“Orientation here is so different, there are so many clubs and avenues for students of the same major to meet,” psychology major Cheung Tsz Kin said. Kin was enrolled in the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

According to Stony Brook’s Study Abroad website, the program is “dedicated to expanding cultural horizons, cultivating intercultural understanding, and promoting academic growth for Stony Brook students and incoming international exchange/visiting students.”

Global studies major Rae Oh agrees with this sentiment.

“An exchange program is a great way to help reduce biases and prejudices that one may have,” Oh said.

With the reduction of said biases and stigmas, students can even draw parallels between their home countries and their new lives at Stony Brook.

Oh and Kin’s friend Vedette Ong, a mathematical sciences major from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore), said she saw several simThe study abroad keychain in students’ hands. The return of ilarities between Stony Brook’s and Study Abroad programs offers a world of promise to Stony NTU Singapore’s academic programs. Brook students to immerse themselves in cross-cultural “Studying here is similar to experiences. SUDHIKSHA KRISHNA KUMAR/THE STATESMAN that of Singapore because of the Continued on page 6

Carlos Santos Jr. putting himself and Stony Brook on the global map

BACK ON CAMPUS 2023

By Nayden Villorente

From becoming a hometown hero to carrying the weight of a nation on his shoulders, Long Island native Carlos Santos Jr. has already been on the winner’s podium and is living his childhood dream.

After winning the 2023 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Track and Field Indoor Championship in the Men’s 5,000-meter race, Santos was determined to prove himself on the international stage. Over the summer, Santos represented El Salvador in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador.

In front of the home crowd, Santos became a bronze medalist and is now training to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Before attending Stony Brook, Santos was already a highly decorated runner, winning county championships, a state title and earning a High School All-American selection. As he goes through the rigors of training to represent El Salvador in the Olympics, the road to wearing the nation’s uniform has not been easy.

Feeling the pressure from representing an entire nation, Santos started to question if he could even wear the El Salvadoran uniform on the big stage.

“I am going to be honest, I struggled a lot,” Santos said in an interview with The Statesman. “I felt like I wasn’t ready and that the name and the uniform was probably too heavy for me. Maybe it was better if I wore a United States [uniform].”

Born in America to El Salvadoran parents, Santos chose to represent their home country because of the sacrifices they made for his family.

“They’ve worked so hard to give me and my siblings everything for us to have a better life compared to what they had down in El Salvador,” Santos said. “So it was only fair if I did the same in return for them to be proud of me, to represent the blue and white of El Salvador.”

In 2021, Santos represented El Salvador on the senior level for the first time. During his first three competitions, he failed to win a medal. Santos decided to take a yearlong break from the national team to mature and develop as a runner.

In 2023, Santos was called up

by El Salvador to compete on the national team again in the Central American and Caribbean Games.

He was open to the prospect of representing his nation in the event, which is the second-oldest regional competition in the world behind the Olympics.

Before arriving at the games, Santos already had doubters.

“There were people down in El Salvador who were already down-talking me: a lot of reporters, a lot of media, were already doubting me before I had even stepped on the track,” Carlos Santos Jr. (foreground) runs in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games. Santos Jr. earned a bronze Santos said. “There were people saying medal in the competition. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE EL SALVADORAN NATIONAL OLYMPIC TEAM “Once I was down there … I knew I was debt that I owed to the country. Fearing failure ‘If he doesn’t achieve a medal in these ready; I’m not going to fail,” Santos said. “I games at home, he has to retire from the is what brought me my happiest moments.”

Santos’ Stony Brook coaching staff knew I had two great coaches who had done national team. El Salvador is too big for him.’”

After spending a year away from pumped him with confidence that he had everything they possibly can to make me the international competitions, Santos had previously lacked. He credited head coach Andy best runner I can be.”

On July 7, Santos stepped onto the track at Ronan and assistant coach Jason Headman for developed a debilitating fear of failure.

“I didn’t want to fail at home in front of making him feel like his moment of glory in the Jorge “Mágico” González Stadium in San Salvador packed with 35,000 people with millions of people,” Santos said. “It was a great San Salvador was upon him.

Continued on page 8

Opinion: Stony Brook desperately needs to improve course selection

By Vinod Kripalani

Throughout my time at Stony Brook, I’ve strived to achieve academic success and have enjoyed my experiences with my professors and the resources they’ve provided me. However, one issue has continued to pester me each time I plan my class schedule in anticipation for the upcoming semester: course selection.

The first issue regarding course selection is that the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) list hasn’t been updated in regards to the classes available that fulfill each requirement. SBCs are the general education requirements at the University that every student must complete.

The goal of these requirements is to make sure that Stony Brook students are proficient in academic fields outside of their majors or minors.

However, there are courses that fit the requirement to be part of the Stony Brook curriculum, but are not on the list.

For example, this semester I am enrolled in SUS 318 (American Environmental Politics).

Even though this is an interdisciplinary course

bridging the academic fields of Sustainability Studies and Political Science, SUS 318 is still not a course you can enroll in to fulfill the Understand the Relationship between Science or Technology and the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences (STAS) interdisciplinary requirement.

This outdated course selection policy could unnecessarily delay the graduation of students, as a class they could have taken to fulfill an SBC requirement isn’t registered in the undergraduate bulletin. Furthermore, its arbitrary requirements often result in students taking courses they are not interested in just to reap credits, potentially affecting their grade point averages.

Another issue with course selection is the requirement that you have to be an upperclassman to take certain courses — mainly upper-division courses. While it is possible that Stony Brook doesn’t want underclassmen to perform poorly in an upper-division course that is too

challenging for them, the University lacks available avenues to let students enroll in such courses even when they complete necessary pre- or corequisites. For instance, last semester I asked the Political Science department if I could take POL 352 (Current Political Events) in the fall, as I had completed the prerequisite with an A-. However, because I am a sophomore, I was not allowed to take it.

Additionally, while updating the Stony Brook bulletin is part of the solution, the administration will also have to invest more money in academics to increase course offerings for underclassmen.

Though Stony Brook is currently experiencing a budget deficit, the University should try to get more money from New York State to hire more staff and increase the pay of instructors, which would lighten the workload for faculty members. Underclassmen, including myself, are eager to take upper-division classes. However, we are

The Undergraduate Admissions office located in the Administrations building. Changes to the course selections should be made to expand educational opportunities for underclassmen.

BRITTNEY DIETZ/THE STATESMAN

not able to do so because of the lack of monetary resources Stony Brook possesses since more lecturers can’t be hired and current lecturers are not being paid enough.

These changes to the course selections should be made in order to expand educational opportunities for underclassmen. The improvements would be beneficial for students and allow them to curate their schedules to take classes when they feel it’s the right time to do so.

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THE STATESMAN

COVID-19 cases rise once again, students react

By Mariam Guirgis

Suffolk County is monitoring an increase of COVID cases affecting Stony Brook faculty and students.

On Aug. 29, Stony Brook University sent out an email notifying both students and faculty members of another rise in COVID-19 cases and listed resources for those affected by it.

Although cases on campus are no longer being reported on the University’s COVID-19 dashboard, reports on New York State’s dashboard show that Suffolk County has seen a nearly 22% increase in the number of cases from the current seven-day positivity rate.

As of Sept. 5, Stony Brook accounted for 0.11% of the 18% increase across Suffolk County according to an email sent to The Statesman by University officials.

However, since that email was sent, the current rate of increase has now jumped up to 22%.

“I don’t feel the effect of COVID-19 increasing,” Juliana Salcedo, a junior human evolutionary biology major and religious studies minor, said. “I am scared of it, though, in the back of my mind because it’s a big school.”

Likewise, junior biology major Tania Kodavali is not as concerned.

“At first it was such a big deal because we didn’t know how to deal with it,” Kodavali said. “We didn’t have any medical treatment.

“I don’t think realistically any of them,” Salcedo said. “I feel like they We didn’t have any structure for how we treat the disease. Now we’re definitely starting to get one institution can truly cater to just don’t care about COVID. They’re [everyone],” Kodavali said. “I think that kind of just like make sure you get your an idea of how to handle it.”

University officials have explained the they’re doing a pretty good job of vaccines and deal with it when you deal changes they have made since the handling it, because realistically they have with it.”

University officials also explained that start of the pandemic in 2020 and to enforce this on so many students.”

Salcedo, however, feels that the students who test positive should visit the how they now handle positive cases.

“While the COVID-19 Response and University does not have accessible resources for Student Health Services Center to be given Recovery teams who worked diligently students dealing with financial problems or isolation instructions.

“I feel like the help that they’re giving during the pandemic are not meeting as displacement problems due to COVID-19.

“I’m sure that they’ve provided resources is very much thoughts and prayers, but it’s regularly as they were [in 2020], designated members representing but I feel like I haven’t been made aware nothing tangible,” Salcedo said.

Student Health Services, Environmental Health & Safety and other key areas on campus are closely monitoring cases reported on campus,” University officials said in an email to The Statesman.

Students are highly recommended

by University officials to follow good hygiene practices in order to prevent spreading the illness.

“We continue to educate on the importance of hand hygiene, staying out of classes and campus activities when feeling ill and considering COVID vaccine boosters to prevent more severe infection,” University officials said in an email to The Statesman.

Students like Kodavali think the Students on Stony Brook campus walking through Mendelsohn community. Stony Brook accounted for 0.11% of University’s staff are doing all they can. the 18% increase of COVID-19 cases across Suffolk County. IRENE YIMMONGKOL/ THE STATESMAN

USG discusses campus concerns for upcoming semester

By Adrienne Esposito

Stony Brook University’s Undergraduate Student Government (USG) has big plans for this school year, ranging from hosting multiple student-life events to addressing the ongoing campus parking dilemma.

USG President Devin Lobosco, senior biochemistry and women’s studies double major, spoke about USG’s initiatives and the events happening on campus this semester, and addressed issues USG is facing.

In terms of club budgets, USG is being stretched to its limits. The company who

assisted in creating its budgets for clubs suddenly shut down, which led to a transition to a new company. The organization is attempting to navigate this and sufficiently provide for club budgets.

However, Lobosco explained that the USG budget is shrinking while it is met with increased demand for funds.

“We have been basically getting less and less money every single year because our fees haven’t been increasing. And over the past few years, we felt it more than ever and club

leaders have felt that more than ever,” Lobosco said. “There’s [been] more student life at Stony Brook since the pandemic and one of our biggest challenges is just figuring out […] how to make a shrinking pool of money continue to do more.”

Yuchen Zhang, an at-large Senator for USG, added that this is leading to decreased club budgets because of the budget cap.

Lobosco mentioned that the Student Activity Fee has not changed in over ten years, while the number of clubs on campus keeps increasing. He proposed a small increase to the Student Activity Fee to combat the constraints the clubs are feeling, noting that, “We want to keep that fee as low as possible but still do the most for the students.”

Lobosco acknowledged that the budget cap is “something that [USG is] not really happy about, but it’s kind of a necessary thing to make sure that we’re able to fund our clubs equitably.”

He added, “It’s our goal to charge students

The Undergraduate Student Government Senate council in a meeting on Sept. 7. USG has big plans for the 2023-24 school year.

STANLEY ZHENG/THE STATESMAN

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as little as possible and give back that money as effectively as possible.”

Lobosco also spoke about the parking situation on campus. Last semester, Mobility and Parking Services (MAPS) proposed charging students $100 to park in the South P Lot and up to $500 for premium parking permits. This plan was ultimately not implemented after the University failed to reach a deal with the different unions present on campus. While Lobosco is pleased with the situation, he is aware it could change rapidly. To ensure that students have a voice in the matter, he established a student committee to liaise with MAPS. “At the end of the day, any sort of paid parking model where students are paying as much as their faculty members who get paid a salary right next to them is entirely unfair,” Lobosco said. Despite the frenzy of managing budgets and negotiating with MAPS, USG’s ultimate goal is to ensure that undergraduate students have exciting and memorable collegiate experiences.

Lobosco emphasized the fact that students are at the core of USG’s initiatives and events, and encouraged them to share their thoughts about what USG can do to enhance everyone’s experience.

“We love having students coming to our office [… and] hearing from them,” Lobosco said.

Continued on page 11

Students question effectiveness of ReportIt training

BACK ON CAMPUS 2023

By Beth Gatto

Despite efforts to address sexual enforcement, compared to 32% of women ages misconduct. Harvard Business Review CAPS, here at SBU the Survivor reports that these programs can make Advocate is positioned within CPO,” misconduct on campus, the ReportIt program 18-24 who are not in college and do report.

“The ReportIt training program’s objective men more likely to blame women for Szaraz said. shows little evidence of making Stony Brook The common misconception that the is to encourage all members of the sexual misconduct or believe women University a safer environment.

Survivor Advocate is directly related to community to report are overreacting.

ReportIt: Ending Sexual Misconduct is University reporting can make it even the mandatory training program more difficult for students to onboarding students must complete access resources after a before fully enrolling at Stony Brook. traumatic experience.

Implemented by the Office of “Stony Brook has a sort of Equity and Access (OEA) nearly a unique system,” Szaraz said. decade ago, ReportIt is required on “This can make students feel an annual basis for faculty, staff and like they’re being shuffled residential assistants. The program around from one department outlines the University’s policies on to another.” sexual misconduct and resources However, students also saw such as the University Police, Title the benefits of ReportIt in IX and Counseling and Psychological providing access to resources Services (CAPS), all of which on campus. students can report incidents to.

“I believe that the system Training programs like ReportIt of ReportIt is actually very have become increasingly common beneficial and useful for Stony ever since 1998, when the Supreme Brook students because it Court ruled that anti-sexual provides an easy to access harassment policies and trainings route to gaining information,” are essential to determining freshman biology major Priya an institution’s liability in Persaud said. accusations of sexual misconduct.

Leonard also reported Completion rates for the program that the ReportIt training have steadily grown, with the program has had an impact on OEA reporting over 90% of the amount of reports made to employees and over 80% of Title IX. students having finished ReportIt. “We have observed reporting But rates of sexual violence in periods immediately following and harassment on campus times when the ReportIt have not changed much since 2020. website or training program are In 2020, the OEA recorded 93 A graphic showing Stony Brook University’s ReportIt Program.

The program is showing little evidence of making Stony Brook a advertised or assigned both to allegations of sexual harassment and safer campus. ILLUSTRATED BY JERRY WEINTRAUB/THE STATESMAN students and employees,” 13 allegations of sexual violence.

Leonard said.

Meanwhile in 2022 alone, the OEA Students generally reported feeling safe Earlier this year, a group project known and provide information recorded 108 allegations of sexual harassment incidents on Stony Brook’s campus, albeit with little on other options,” Title IX and ADA as Hold SBU Accountable conducted a and 27 allegations of sexual violence. survey where 104 students reported their connection to ReportIt. An article released by The Statesman Coordinator Marjorie Leonard said.

“I do believe it’s a very safe campus, RAINN also reported that 9% of sexual confidence levels in knowing who to earlier this year also stated that the number of Title IX reports recorded at Stony Brook misconduct survivors who did not report report to on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most Persaud said. “I believe that the students here is more common among schools that have a believed the police would not do anything confident). Seventy-four students reported do take into account being safe and they’re just generally honest and trustworthy.” their confidence level to be at a five or lower. about their case. larger enrollment of students.

The New York Times reported that a Moran also explained that she does Some students are speculating that Knowledge of reporting resources on campus is particularly pertinent in utilizing resources for reporting could be too not remember the resources listed by the more effective alternative to programs like ReportIt is bystander training, where the the first few months of the semester. The trivial because of the amount of people that ReportIt program.

“I don’t remember a single thing there, trainee is instructed on how to disrupt Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network report their cases.

“I just don’t trust institutions, because like who we could contact,” she said. situations of possible sexual misconduct.

(RAINN) has reported that more than 50% of Researchers on bystander training also sexual assaults on college campuses occur I feel like they get so many [reports] that “If anytime I want to contact somebody, encourage intervening early, which includes or someone on campus, I would just from August to November, and students are at they probably won’t pay attention to mine,” search up Stony Brook, whatever I need.” speaking against inappropriate comments senior psychology major Valerie Moran said. an increased risk during their freshman year.

The Center of Prevention and Outreach or not allowing harassment to be ignored Training programs like ReportIt have However, the Bureau of Justice states that across all college campuses, only 20% also been criticized for having the (CPO)’s survivor advocate Christine Szaraz by peers.

“Regardless of whether the impact is big that the role exists to of female college students report to law adverse effect of trivializing sexual stated guide students or small, the Office of Equity and Access’ in navigating commitment to a safe and accessible options fol- non-discriminatory Stony Brook University for all students and lowing sexual experience members of the University community misconduct.

“While at will remain unchanged,” Leonard said.

Stony Brook provides several resources some schools confidential and non-confidential an advocate — role may be — for survivors of sexual misconduct.

“CPO hosts a weekly drop-in space on connected to reporting areas Thursdays at 1 p.m. for folks who may want like Title IX to connect with the Survivor Advocate,” or counseling Szaraz said. “A place where folks can gather areas like to focus on coping, connection, and healing.”

Graphs illustrating faculty and student completion of ReportIt training from 2020-2023. Since 2020, there has been a slight increase in the number of student completions. DATA COURTESY OF STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF EQUITY AND ACCESS

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THE STATESMAN

Thiago Dualiby finds a home as head coach for Stony Brook women’s tennis

By Kenny Spurrell After moving his whole life around to be a part of the game, it is only right that Thiago Dualiby has landed the head coaching gig for the Stony Brook women’s tennis team.

Dualiby first discovered tennis at the age of 10 when passing by a court in his home city of São Paulo, Brazil.

He decided to give it a shot, but little did Dualiby know how far the sport would take him. Tennis ultimately brought him to the United States, where he became a collegiate player. He rose through the college ranks and became an assistant for multiple programs before becoming the Seawolves’ head honcho.

Dualiby’s hiring comes in lieu of former head coach Gary Glassman’s retirement following the conclusion of the 2023 season. The six-time America East Coach of the Year left a big void to fill, and it is Dualiby’s job to keep things rolling at Stony Brook.

“For me, it’s basically a dream job,” Dualiby said in an interview with The Statesman. “I couldn’t be happier with the situation here. Everyday I wake up ready to practice.”

After spending the first 17 years of his life in Brazil, Dualiby was attracted to competing at the collegiate level in the United States.

The idea became more enticing when he received a full-ride athletic scholarship from Martin Methodist College — now University of Tennessee Southern — an NAIA school in Pulaski, Tenn. Not even a legal adult yet, Dualiby decided to take the leap.

Dualiby spent two years at Martin Methodist before transferring to Mount Olive College — now University of Mount Olive — an NCAA Division II school in North Carolina. It was during his time with Mount Olive that Dualiby came into his own on the court, earning First Team All-Conference honors in 2009.

During his time in college, Dualiby interned at a pickle factory in quality control. His disinterest in the job helped him narrow down his future career options.

“It was an interesting experience, but I didn’t want to be stuck in the lab,” Dualiby said.

Study abroad

Following his last season playing collegiate tennis, Dualiby needed one more year of schooling to fulfill the requirements of his scholarship. With no remaining NCAA eligibility as a player, he landed a position as a student assistant for the men’s and women’s tennis teams at Mount Olive.

The experience as a student assistant was eye-opening to Dualiby, as he identified differences between coaching and playing.

“That was the first time that I was like ‘Okay, maybe this is what I want to do,’” Dualiby said. “[As a player] I felt like sometimes I needed to be more grounded and just have a little more reassurance. I felt like [as a Head coach Thiago Dualiby at a practice on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Dualiby was recently hired as the new coach coach] I could kind of support the of the Stony Brook women’s tennis team. PHOTO COURTESY OF STONY BROOK ATHLETICS players … and hopefully I can sense that “It was a great experience to learn returned to Long Island and served and give some advice and try to help them do something different and something new,” another short stint with Sportime, this time in better than I did.”

Dualiby said. “But for me, college tennis is Lynbrook, N.Y. Though it was his second The Trojans’ men’s tennis team won what I wanted to go back to.” stint with Sportime, neither his goals nor the Conference Carolinas championship in During Dualiby’s time at Sportime, feelings changed.

Dualiby’s lone year on the staff.

“When teaching in private leagues, it’s he took a shot at emailing Glassman about After graduating Magna Cum Laude with the possibility of being an assistant coach at like ‘Yeah, it’s good,’ but it becomes a a bachelor’s degree in environmental science Stony Brook. Though Dualiby was a good barrier,” Dualiby said. “If it’s not your and business management, Dualiby served candidate for the job, it fell through due to main passion, I think it goes hand in hand. as an assistant tennis department head at circumstances that were out of his control.

If you’re happy with your work, then it doesn’t Camp Vega in Fayette, Maine. He “The visa was an issue,” Dualiby said. “I feel like work.” evaluated the performance and provided think the position was open, but [Stony Brook] Dualiby’s time giving private reports of campers, which provided him with didn’t sponsor visas.” lessons on Long Island allowed him experience that prepared him for his next To get himself back through the door of to develop a love for the place. Once stop in collegiate coaching. the NCAA, Dualiby enrolled at Illinois State Glassman retired and his position at Stony In 2012, Dualiby moved to Boston to University in the summer of 2016. There, Brook became available, Dualiby looked into serve as an assistant coach at Fairleigh he served as a graduate assistant the job. With his younger sister — Tatiana Dickinson University. He saw even more on the coaching staff while pursuing a Dualiby — already attending the school as a success with the Knights, as both the master’s degree in sports management. graduate student, he felt further incentivized men’s and women’s programs won their Dualiby finished his second degree in to join her as a Seawolf. respective Northeast Conference tournament 2018, Luckily, Director of Athletics Shawn but he did not have a championships in 2013. bigger coaching job lined up. He moved Heilbron felt that Dualiby was the perfect fit Dualiby was introduced to back to Long Island and spent his for the program.

Long Island in the summer of 2013 time giving tennis lessons to younger “We’re really excited to have Thiago on when he began working at Excel Tennis players. Aspiring for more, he grabbed board,” Heilbron said in a press release. “He Camp for Sportime Quogue in East a cup of coffee with St. John’s women’s brings tremendous energy, passion for the Quogue, N.Y. Starting as a director, tennis head coach Lauren Leo. The game and a real desire to mentor our young he made his way up to senior meeting went exactly how Dualiby women and help them be great both on the professional tennis operations, where he needed it to, and it ended in an court and in the classroom.” coached top players and supervised the agreement for him to serve as one of So far, Dualiby is loving his dream job. coaching staff.

“Being in a place that has such a great Leo’s assistants.

He worked for Sportime for three years.

His time ended at St. John’s after just one environment motivates me to be here,” Dualiby Though he enjoyed his time at the camp, year because he had to renew his green card. said. “I’m happy to be working and doing what it helped him realize his true desire.

Once his green card was renewed, Dualiby I’m doing.”

academic rigor. Singapore is a fast-paced country in terms of education,” Ong said.

Continued from page 2 In addition to partner university programs, Study Abroad also features faculty-led programs where students can give back to developing or less-developed countries while conducting research alongside esteemed professors.

One such program involves spending a summer in Tanzania. The President of the Stony Brook Students for Tanzania club, Leya Khan, spoke about her Leya Khan (left) and Chloe Saquing (right) from SBU experience with the program, which Students for Tanzania. The club held workshops on how to has been running for 20 years. make cloth pads. SUDHIKSHA KRISHNA KUMAR/ A typical week in their Summer THE STATESMAN at Tanzania program looks like

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brainstorming assignments to help better the conditions of schools in Tanzania in terms of basic infrastructure and facilities, aside from participating in cultural excursions and community outreach programs.

“Women in Tanzania don’t have access to pads or tampons like we do in developed countries like America,” Khan said. “They have to make their own cloth pads.”

Stony Brook Students for Tanzania then held workshops on how to make cloth pads for women to make up for the lack of access to sanitary products in the country.

Khan’s colleague and Event Coordinator for the club, Chloe Saquing, added that the club raises their own funds for the next

generation of Stony Brook students headed to Tanzania.

“We hold raffles and bake sales and post them all over social media to raise money for the program, and being able to see the funds go directly into action in Tanzania is really meaningful to us,” Saquing said.

Students hiked up Mount Kilimanjaro and went on a three-day Safari to parks such as Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. They also visited several hospitals and clinics, acting as volunteers.

“There is so much you take for granted in America and these types of Study Abroad programs really open your eyes,” Saquing said.

BACK ON CAMPUS 2023

The Paul W. Zuccaire’s new exhibition “The View from Below.” The gallery is dedicated to acclaimed visual artist Shimon Attie, with a focus on celebrating diverse culture. PHOTO COURTESY OF VANESSA LUUTRAN

Artist Shimon Attie’s exhibition explores migration, identity and human stories

By Clare Gehlich

The Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery introduced a new exhibition running from July 20 to Oct. 21 titled “The View from Below,” dedicated to internationally-acclaimed visual artist Shimon Attie. With a focus on celebrating diverse cultural and ethnic identities, Attie’s site-specific monumental media installations merge geography, history and memory through his captivating large-scale video and photography art.

The exhibition serves as a retrospective, showcasing Attie’s six most significant works spanning the last 25 years.

Attie’s art explores the impact of contemporary media that reshapes and reimagines new relationships between place, memory and identity. The exhibition also touches on other ongoing explorations such as migration and displacement since he engages local communities previously persecuted, displaced or traumatized, weaving together history and memory.

Curated by Karen Levitov, director of the Zuccaire Gallery, “The View From Below” has received support from many well-regarded contributors, including the Paul W. Zuccaire Foundation, the Friends of Staller Center, the Humanities Institute at Stony Brook and the Pollock-Krasner House.

Attie’s immersive exhibition features a series of video portraits that draw from

his previous projects, including “The View from Below” (2021), “Night Watch” (2018), “The Crossing” (2017), “The History of Another” (2003), “Between Dreams and History” (1998) and “Portraits of Exile” (1995).

The exhibit opens with the titular collection “The View From Below” presented through a single-channel video with sound.

This three minute and 20-second video series captures the reflections of individuals’ faces in water, serving as a symbol of historical and contemporary migration experiences as it includes the faces of twelve people who were granted asylum in the United States.

The individuals arrived from Nigeria, Honduras, Columbia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Jamaica and Peru.

“A number of Shimon Attie’s projects show individuals reflected in water,” Levitov said. “Some of these individuals were forced to flee their home countries due to war, political situations or persecution because they are members of the LGBTQ community; some of have been granted asylum.”

The gallery hosted an artist talk by Attie on Wednesday, Sept. 20, followed by a reception which included light refreshments and small bites.

Levitov highlights the inspiration behind bringing this exhibition to life at the Zuccaire Gallery, citing the Stony Brook

University community itself as a contributor.

She describes how visitors are transported to a new state of mind as they enter the gallery with dim lighting, a large video projector on the wall spotlighting large photographs. The sound of water envelops the gallery, creating an immersive experience for visitors.

Additionally, the gallery’s two opposing walls have a video projection, allowing visitors to position themselves in the middle and listen to the water gently splashing against a boat. In a dimly lit side gallery, a large video presentation shows people gathered around a black and green roulette wheel.

Levitov said that the clapping sound of the spinning wheel was “very powerful.”

Since viewers engage with the different projects, they can reflect on their individual and historical perceptions of migration.

After previously showcasing Attie’s work in solo and group exhibitions in museums and galleries around the globe, including New York, Boston and Paris, he was appointed as the Inaugural Bergman Visiting Professor of Studio Art at Stony Brook in 2020. Levitov explained that this accomplishment gave her the opportunity to reconnect with the world-renowned artist before beginning to explore the possibility of a solo exhibition for his artwork.

With a focus on individual narratives of immigration and refugee experiences, Attie’s commitment to supporting people in need is evident in his artwork.

“I tend to respond to the issues that I care most deeply about, and I don’t think that I’ll start caring less about helping those that are most in need,” Attie said in an interview with PBS NewsHour in December 2021.

One of Attie’s notable works featured in the exhibition is the silent short film “Night Watch” which places New York’s refugees and asylum seekers at the forefront. Featuring a 20-foot-wide by 12-foot-tall LED screen, it embarks on a journey through New York City’s waterways, traveling atop a sizable, unhurried barge and tugboat in the Hudson and East Rivers. The waterways are essentially safe havens used as rescue and escape for LGBTQ+ community members and unaccompanied minors.

“I hope that visitors to the gallery take a moment to reflect on the layering of history, geography and memory and the individuals who bring these ideas across the world and across communities,” Levitov said.

“The View From Below” is open to visitors from Monday to Friday between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the Zuccaire Gallery on the first floor of the Staller Center. The exhibition will end on Saturday, Oct. 21.

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THE STATESMAN

Survey shows involvement in arts on campus has positive impact on stress

By Jenna Zaza

respondents indicated participating occasionally.

Notably, no respondents reported abstaining from artistic engagement entirely.

Shifting focus to how often students go to campus events and engage with the arts, six of the respondents participate in arts activities several times a week and two partake once a week. The other three respondents indicated that their involvement is relatively infrequent.

In the second part of the survey, participants were asked about the potential impact of their involvement in creative outlets on their stress levels. Every respondent rated their engagement with such activities as having a positive impact, with four indicating a positive effect and seven indicating a very positive effect on their emotional and mental well-being.

Unsurprisingly, 10 of the respondents reported experiencing reduced stress as their A graphic showing the four questions asked in the survey and students responses to it. Through involvement in the arts and on campus, students are developing an emotional and academic support system involvement in artistic activities increased. they need to grow in college. ILLUSTRATED BY BRITTNEY DIETZ/THE STATESMAN “I struggle with mental health issues, Stony Brook’s division of student affairs hop dance team, Deja Vu, I have felt a but after auditioning for the Stony Brook hip tremendous change in my mental health,” one reported that 2022 to 2023 club e-board members had an average cumulative grade respondent commented.

The survey concluded by asking point average (GPA) of 3.5. Students who respondents to share their personal feel a strong connection to their school and experiences with stress and forms of build a community on campus is a “key artistic expression. The consensus predictor” of academic success. Through among respondents was apparent: involvement in the arts and on campus, actively engaging in the arts or students develop an emotional and attending events hosted on campus academic support system they need is associated with reduced stress to flourish in college. In addition to academic support, students are able to levels and enhanced mental well-being.

“I attended an LGBTQ+ Alliance craft enhance their social skills by building night and found that it was very relaxing connections with others around them.

“If I hadn’t gotten involved in clubs and after a week of classes,” another respondent reported. “I also find that knitting alone in campus events, I probably would have been (or with friends) has the same effect.” super depressed and not as happy as I am Some respondents highlighted their now,” one respondent said.

These findings underscore the involvement in arts in helping them establish new connections and signifcant role that both engagement in the develop a sense of community at Stony arts and participation in campus events have on the wellness of college Brook. Student involvement goes beyond enhancing improvements to one’s well-being and students. Creative outlets offer an invaluable new connections. It has been linked to opportunity to take a step away from A graphic showing the results from the “Role of Arts in Campus Wellness Survey” asking students how they a multitude of benefits besides lowering strenuous studies, and provide a moment engage in different art forms. Creative outlets offer opportunities to take a step away from strenuous studies and of inner tranquility — all while having fun in stress levels, including improved academic provide a moment of relaxation. ILLUSTRATED BY BRITTNEY DIETZ/THE STATESMAN the process. performance and personal growth.

Stress is no stranger to college students, especially at a research institution like Stony Brook University. Nationally, over 55% of college students report experiencing chronic stress, and six out of 10 students endure acute stress according to Inside Higher Ed. Arts engagement is a creative option to help relieve and manage stress. From painting and dancing to music and writing, engaging in the arts has been shown to reduce stress levels and boost overall wellness.

The Statesman decided to investigate how arts engagement could be linked to student wellness. Over the past two weeks, The Statesman sent out a Google Form to 11 Stony Brook University students from different majors and years, asking them questions regarding their artistic involvements as well as their stress levels.

The first part of the mini-survey gauged overall student artistic engagement.

Nine out of 11 of respondents reported active participation in artistic activities such as painting, music and theater; the remaining two

Santos Jr. Continued from page 3 only one thing on his mind: getting on the winner’s podium.

Energized by the national crowd, Santos’ elite bursts of speed carried him to a bronze medal. He ran an 8:51.92 in the Men’s 3,000-meter Steeplechase and became the first male athlete to win a medal in the event for El Salvador.

After struggling to deliver a medal for his nation during his first three competitions, Santos felt relief for proving his doubters wrong.

“Seeing the people, the joy, and how much love and support they gave you, that’s what made me fall in love with representing El

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Salvador,” Santos said. “I did it for the country. Once I won my medal, it was like a curse being lifted.” Santos was one of 29 medalists for El Salvador.

Santos is also a local hero on Long Island, as he grew up in Patchogue, N.Y. and attended Patchogue-Medford (Pat-Med) High School.

His father was a semi-professional soccer player in El Salvador and influenced Santos to first play soccer at six years old.

By the time he reached middle school, he was zooming past his teammates on the pitch, leading to suggestions from coaches to give track a shot. Reluctantly, Santos joined his middle school boy’s track team. Santos’ fleet feet raced him to stardom with Pat-Med’s track and field program and ultimately put him on several Division I coaches’ radars.

Santos received scholarship offers from schools such as Cincinnati, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. However, Headman’s recruiting pitch motivated him to choose Stony Brook. “[Headman] stuck his neck out for me and got me into Stony Brook,” Santos said.

“He genuinely cared about me as a person compared to other schools who only saw me for my running ability.”

Throughout his tenure with the Seawolves, Santos has recorded plenty of impressive running times and accolades. One of his most recent accomplishments was winning the CAA Men’s 5,000-meter race in February 2023.

During the fall of 2022, he also helped the Stony Brook men’s cross country team win the institution’s first-ever CAA championship.

Santos also holds the fastest 3,000-meter Steeplechase time in Stony Brook history, recording a time of 8:48.87 at the Larry Ellis Invite in 2022.

Beyond his competitive athletic career, Santos aspires to be a Spanish teacher. In 2022, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Spanish Teacher Preparation. However, given his success as a runner, Santos said he expects to keep competing until his late 30s.

Even after he hangs up the running shoes, he will surround himself with competition forever.

“Sports is something that is going to be in my life forever,” Santos said. “Down the line, when I have my own kids, they’re all doing sports. Sports is definitely what relieves me from all the outside stress of life and school.”

BACK ON CAMPUS 2023

The 1957 Club helping Stony Brook athletes pursue NIL opportunities

By Anthony DiCocco After almost two years of waiting, Stony Brook University student athletes will finally have the chance to capitalize on their name, image and likeness (NIL) through a brand new third-party organization.

In June of 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States made a landmark decision in the NCAA v. Alston case that completely changed the landscape of college sports. The Court’s nine justices ruled unanimously against the NCAA for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act, opening the door for collegiate athletes to be compensated for their work on the field. Though the wait was long, Stony Brook’s student athletes can finally earn NIL deals of their own through the 1957 Club.

The 1957 Club — named after Stony Brook University’s founding year — is a third-party, non-profit organization whose main goals are to bring NIL opportunities to student athletes and get them involved in the institution’s community. It officially opened for business on May 17.

In New York, colleges are prohibited from arranging third-party compensation for their students, meaning Stony Brook is unable to implement its own system to foster NIL contracts. This dilemma inspired Rob Gitto — a real estate developer — to establish the 1957 Club to help provide student athletes at Stony Brook with financial opportunities that they could not legally receive through the institution itself.

Gitto — who serves as the organization’s president — is also the vice president of the Gitto Group, which is a real estate agency based in Port Jefferson, N.Y. Despite not attending Stony Brook as a student, he grew up in the area and has been an avid supporter of Stony Brook Athletics for years.

Gitto is both a multi-sport season ticket holder and a member of the Ramsey Leadership Society, which “recognizes the Seawolves’ most ardent and generous supporters.”

While working in real estate, Gitto has been able to establish a good rapport with numerous people from the Seawolves’ community, including players, coaches, staff members and nurses.

Recognizing that many of his clients are involved with the University, he saw the 1957 Club as a way to give back to them.

“I’m a big fan of this community and a big part of this community is Stony Brook University,” Gitto said in an interview with The Statesman. “This is one part where I feel that maybe I can make a difference and help out a bit.”

Alongside Gitto on the 1957 Club’s Board of Directors are Scott Middleton and four former Stony Brook students. Middleton’s law firm — Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP — was instrumental in creating all of the bylaws to properly run the non-profit organization, according to Gitto. Joe Catapano, who graduated in 2009, serves as vice president.

Kylie Ohlmiller serves as director

and Sean Chamberlain as secretary and treasurer; both of whom played lacrosse at Stony Brook. Former Stony Brook cross country runner Dale Sommerville is also on the board. All board members are volunteers.

Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron emphasized how crucial it is for former student athletes to aid the new generation.

“I think it’s always outstanding when you can have alums involved and have alums who want to be involved,” Heilbron said in an interview with The Statesman.

“Kylie, Sean and Dale Sommerville know what it’s like and they’ve been very supportive of the department since they’ve graduated.”

Heilbron said that one of the club’s goals is to provide opportunities to athletes from teams with less popularity, as well.

“Having Kylie, for example, signals that women’s sports and women’s lacrosse in particular, are important to us,” Heilbron said. “Creating President of the 1957 Club Rob Gitto (center) speaks to other members of the club during an event at the opportunities outside of … some of the organization’s headquarters in Port Jefferson, N.Y. Gitto founded the club to help Stony Brook athletes gain other sports that get most of the attention financial opportunities. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE 1957 CLUB numbers that are involved and the level of helping the club’s signees progress as both is what we’re trying to do.” players and people.

Though Stony Brook Athletics had NIL that’s involved, even in the CAA.” “This is something that we felt good about,” While the basketball portion was key, no part in creating the 1957 Club, the two organizations remain in constant Gitto also found it necessary to make Gitto said. “Not only are we working with a communication with each other in or- Stephenson-Moore the 1957 Club’s first charity, but we’re engaging these student athder to ensure compliance of state laws. signing. He was the first player that Gitto letes to work with a charity. We thought it was Heilbron knew that his department reached out to and he put pen to paper almost a nice, important piece that we want to make sure is a part of our mission moving forward.” needed to start adapting to the new rules in immediately after the club’s formation.

In recent months, however, donations “On and off the court, we appreciate what college sports in order for them to stay caught up. He was thrilled that Gitto took charge to he’s been doing,” Gitto said. “We just thought flowing into the 1957 Club have stalled a bit. it was the perfect person to provide the first Originally, anyone who sent a donation to help them make that happen.

“In today’s world of intercollegiate athletes, deal to. He’s stayed with the school, he’s been the collective would benefit by receiving a tax identifying NIL opportunities for student through good and bad, so we wanted to do deduction. Right before Gitto and his board athletes is critical,” Heilbron said. “Several something nice for him. It was us thanking unveiled the 1957 Club to the public in May, the IRS put a stop to this. of our donors understood what that meant him for his dedication.”

With the sudden change, the 1957 Club has Heilbron reiterated Stephenson-Moore’s and took the step to form the 1957 Club. It’s been forced to shift course slightly and find outside of the athletic department, but it’s importance and dedication to the program.

“He deserved to be the first one,” Heilbron creative ways to help raise funds to reward certainly something that we knew needed to happen. I’m grateful for the fact that we had said. “I think we all agreed that if there was its signees.

“We’d love to receive donations from people, a dedicated group step up and lead that effort one student athlete who represents the very best of Stony Brook and has given so much of but we understand that, without the tax for us.” benefit from it, it’s going to be challengThus far, the 1957 Club has signed himself, it was definitely Tyler.”

When signing a contract, each student ath- ing,” Gitto said. “Now, we’ve moved towards five athletes to contracts, all of whom play for the Stony Brook men’s lete receives an undisclosed amount of money fundraising with events, we’re going to be basketball team. The list includes center that can vary from player to player, which the setting up a membership program and then Keenan Fitzmorris, forward Chris Maidoh, 1957 Club collects from donations. Donors can we’re also going to hopefully work with guard/forward Andre Snoddy and guards choose the player their money goes to, as well corporate partners.”

The 1957 Club’s first fundraising event is as the sport they want to see it invested in.

Aaron Clarke and Tyler Stephenson-Moore.

Contracts that Seawolves receive from the going to be a casino-themed gathering that The upward trend of basketball players being signed to contracts is no 1957 Club are very straightforward, but there will take place on Thursday, Oct. 12 at Club coincidence. When forming the 1957 Club, is a unique clause that is applied to them. The 57 in Port Jefferson from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Although the 1957 Club primarily Gitto quickly realized that men’s student athletes must work with a charity, basketball is where Stony Brook needed such as the Stony Brook Children’s Hospital benefits student athletes and Stony Brook or the Guide Dog Foundation, in order to earn Athletics, Heilbron believes it will benefit the the most help generating NIL opportunities.

These efforts have already been instrumen- a donor’s compensation. Currently, Gitto and entire University.

“When the University climbs the rankings tal in both keeping and adding a number of his board have been making arrangements to aid certain charities. However, if an athlete … it shines a spotlight on everyone,” Heilbron players to the men’s basketball team.

“It’s already helped retain several members or donor has a specific cause that is close to said. “It just signals that Stony Brook is of our men’s basketball team and that’s a fact,” them, the 1957 Club will try its best to work going places. We’re aspirational, we’re bold, we are visionary and I think it just makes more Heilbron said. “It’s helped us recruit others, with that group.

Though NIL deals do not require this student athletes interested in learning about as well. I do think in men’s basketball, it is absolutely essential just because of the clause, Gitto felt that it was a key step in Stony Brook.”

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Staff Editor-in-Chief.................Viola Flowers

Top Staller Center events to look out for this semester

By Jenna Zaza

Fall is finally here at the Staller Center. Spending the night at the Center immersing yourself in live Managing Editor.......Lori Saxena music or enjoying a comedy show are News Editor.............................................Sonya Gugliara perfect ways to de-stress and enjoy your Opinions Editor..........................................Sara McGiff free time while engaging in campus life. Here are the top events happening Sports Editor...........................................Mike Anderson at the Staller Center to mark on your Arts & Culture Editor..................................Jenna Zaza calendars for this semester.

1. Disney Pixar’s “Coco” Live-toMultimedia Editor..................................Brittney Dietz Film Concert Copy Chief....................................................Olivia Erndl In celebration of Hispanic Asst. News Editor..................................Mariam Guirgis Heritage Month, there will be a live-to-film screening of Pixar’s “Coco.”

Asst. News Editor.......................................Sky Crabtree The film follows a 12-year-old boy Asst. Sports Editor.................................Kenny Spurrell named Miguel who dreams of being a musician, but his family follows a Asst. Sports Editor...................................Alex Streinger strict no-music rule. When Miguel Asst. Sports Editor.............................Anthony DiCocco accidentally crosses over to the Asst. Arts & Culture Editor...................Clare Gehlich Land of the Dead during Día de los Muertos, the audience is taken on a Asst. Multimedia Editor................Mackenzie Yaddaw journey with him back to the Land of Asst. Copy Editor.......................................Sarah Aguiar the Living while trying to reverse his family’s music ban. What makes this Asst. Copy Editor................................Alyssa Pascocello screening special is the presence of a 20-member music ensemble, consisting of Oscar and Grammy Award-winners who will be performing “Coco’s” musical score live alongside the To contact the Editor-in-Chief and Managing film. The event will take place Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. on the Staller Center’s Editors about organizational comments, questions, main stage. suggestions, corrections or photo permission, email 2. Emerson String Quartet Grand Finale editors@sbstatesman.com.

Join the nine-time Grammy Award-winning Emerson String The Statesman is a student-run, student-written Quartet for its farewell performance

Managing Editor.......Skylar Sena

Contact Us

at Stony Brook University. For its grand finale, the Quartet will perform Beethoven’s String Quartet in Bb Major and Schubert’s String Quintet in C Major with special guest David Finckel on the cello. Be sure to save the date for Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. to attend the spectacular concert at the Staller Center. All attendees are invited to the celebratory reception after the performance. The Emerson String Quartet will be performing for the last time at a sold-out show at the Lincoln Center the following weekend from Oct. 21 to Oct. 22.

3. Evan + Zane Performance The duo Evan + Zane will perform their album “DREAMS” on Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. Evan Rachel Wood, known for her roles in “Westworld” as Dolores Abernathy and “Frozen II” as Queen Iduna, joins forces with Zane, known for his role in U2’s “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” on Broadway and collaborations with singer-songwriter John Mayer. The duo will explore the realms of beloved and familiar music through a combination of jazz-infused rock and roll sounds.

4. Tom Segura Comedy Sketch Want a night full of laughter?

Tom Segura will be making a stop at the Staller Center on his “I’m Coming Everywhere” tour on Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. Segura, known for his Netflix specials such as “Ball Hog” (2020) and

“Disgraceful” (2018) will certainly deliver a hilarious performance.

Most recently, the stand-up comedian published a #2 New York Times bestselling book titled “I’d Like to Play Alone, Please.”

5. LeAnn Rimes Concert LeAnn Rimes will be coming to the Staller Center on Nov. 18. With a career spanning over two decades, Rimes has sold more than 48 million albums worldwide and earned an impressive collection of awards, including two Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards and the esteemed American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) Golden Note Award. ASCAP Golden Note Awards are given to artists who have “achieved extraordinary career milestones.” Her extensive catalog of chart-topping singles includes the sensation “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” which charted at No. 1 in 11 countries.

Beyond her musical achievements, Rimes is recognized for her dedication to advocacy, receiving awards such as the Ally of Equality Award and the ACM Humanitarian Award.

At the end of Staller’s fall season, don’t miss the electrifying jazz performances by Isaac Mizrahi and Jane Monheit on Dec. 1 and Dec. 9, respectively. This fall semester at Staller seems bursting with an abundance of entertainment and exciting performances.

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.

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.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in columns or in the Letters and Opinions section are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Statesman.

For more Statesman content, visit us at sbstatesman. com and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sbstatesman.

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A graphic showing Staller’s upcoming events for the fall semester. The events at Staller are bursting with an abundance of entertainment and exciting performances. ILLUSTRATED BY JERRY WEINTRAUB/THE STATESMAN

Navigating the transition to college: do’s and dont’s

BACK ON CAMPUS 2023

By Xingling Yu

Xingling Yu is a freshman at Stony Brook University.

As we said goodbye to the carefree days of summer and prepared for the crispness of fall, I began my journey at Stony Brook University and ventured into an unfamiliar environment with 26,000 fellow students.

When I arrived at the campus, I slowly realized that my life was on the cusp of a transformative journey. The nervousness and excitement of attending Stony Brook, mingled with the apprehension of leaving my memories and home behind.

In Brooklyn, everything is easily accessible. I live in a neighborhood with numerous stores and supermarkets nearby and a train station just five minutes from my house. The longest I’ve ever waited for a train was about 20 minutes. Even my friends live close to me, which makes it easy to plan meet-ups without hassle.

When I stepped off the train, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would thrive in this suburban environment, which felt vastly different from the bustling nature of the urban setting I was used to. I’ve also never seen so much nature in one area. If you’ve lived in a suburban area for a long time, Stony Brook’s environment might be more familiar and navigable.

Welcome Week was dull for me. Every freshman had to attend mandatory events or else they would get an orientation hold on SOLAR. Eating at the dining hall, rather than my own dinner table, was jarring. You must have your Student ID card swiped through a machine when you want to eat at any of the dining locations. Regrettably, the food was consistently mediocre and lacked quality.

Day after day, the menu remained the same and made me long for more variety. Luckily, you can visit off-campus restaurants and try them with your friends if you start to hate the food options on campus; it’s only a 20 minute walk to most places.

The dorm life I’ve always dreamt of has turned out to be just that: a dream. I envisioned a clean living space, but unfortunately, the dorms fell short of those

USG plans

Continued from page 4

Lobosco expressed that town halls were created in an attempt to have more open communication with students, adding, “When we hear feedback from students, we act on it. Your comments don’t just go into a suggestion box and then […] collect dust.

These are real students fighting for these changes.”

Lobosco said that many USG meetings are open to the student community.

Senate meetings occur on Thursdays from 7-9 p.m., while executive council meetings happen on Fridays from 8-10 p.m. and Student Activity Board meetings take place on Mondays from 1-3 p.m.

They all take place in the USG Suite, which is on the second floor of the Student Activities Center.

expectations. Dirty bathrooms and showers, as well as spots of mold latched onto the carpets were unwelcome surprises that made it painful to transition from what I was used to. If you decide to dorm, bring lots of cleaning supplies and scent sprays to make your room smell pleasant. I implore you to get an air humidifier and a small vacuum, too.

The process of structuring a collegiate schedule compared to building a traditional high school one was a whole new experience for me. Unlike in high school, where classes and teachers were often predetermined, at Stony Brook, I could choose my courses based on their times and which professors suited my preferences. This newfound experience allowed me to take classes within my range of interests and has improved my academic experiences.

Through my own personal experience during these last few weeks, I’ve collected some words of wisdom for any Stony Brook student, freshman or otherwise.

Maintaining friendships is a vital role in staying positive. Being thrust into a new setting can feel scary. Camaraderie makes the experience enjoyable rather than isolating.

Keep your friends close — you never know when you’ll want to lean on them for support as the school work piles up.

When the burden of maintaining connections and balancing school work boils over, it may feel like there’s no way out of the pit. Mental health is no joke, and we must take good care of ourselves. If you are ever struggling with mental health, there are support centers on campus. Finding friends and classmates who can support you is also crucial. Remember that by supporting one another, we can create a community that thrives on inclusivity, innovation and personal growth.

Not only is maintaining your mental health important, but it’s also crucial to be aware of your physical health. The weather sometimes reaches 80 degrees in the summer, which can feel more akin to a sweltering 98 degrees on

campus. With these high temperatures, you should not be wearing a sweater outside and make sure to stay hydrated.

Remember not to stay inside your dorm for too long. Buildings on campus that have air conditioning will be your new best friend.

These places can include your hall’s lounge, the Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library, the Student Activities Center, the Stony Brook Union and campus dining locations (at East Side or West Side).

If you’re not an early riser, don’t force yourself to be. Going to 8 a.m. classes in high school isn’t the same as in college. If you can’t handle early classes, don’t risk your mental health; take classes at 9 or 10 a.m instead.

With these tips in mind, make sure to enjoy the experience. It might be scary, but this entrance to campus life marks a new chapter in your book. Even though it can be a struggle to balance your school work, friends and mental and physical health, make sure to enjoy the transition. There are four years to make your mark on this new era — don’t waste it.

By moving away from the hustle and bustle of urban life to a suburban campus, I’ve been able to find comfort in discomfort and deeply value the relationships I formed during this transformative experience. I’m confident that my experiences from the past few weeks will make this an eventful next three years.

“I will always have faith that people are going to keep learning and keep implementing policies … and ideas that will keep everything running in a way that can work for everyone in the future,” said Celeste Parks, vice president of the LGBT+ Alliance and a junior psychology and health science double major.

Lobosco highlighted some USG-sanctioned events that are coming up this semester. He brought up an increased presence at Homecoming and an upcoming Halloween event called Spooky Brook.

Spooky Brook is currently set for Oct. 28. “We’re planning to do […] a huge haunted house. We’re gonna have costume contests, performances [and] music going all night,” Lobosco said.

Lobosco is especially excited about an event called Light the Brook, which will

occur in November. The event involves lighting trees and lamp posts around the campus for the winter holidays and getting the campus community into the holiday spirit. There will also be hot chocolate, crafts, performances and more.

While Light the Brook occurred in the past, Lobosco said, “This year, we’re really hoping to go bigger and better than ever. Just […] getting everybody decked out in lights is really the goal, just to create a festive spirit around the time of winter.” More information about Light the Brook and other events will be released throughout the semester.

Stony Brook Vice President for Student Affairs Rick Gatteau noted that between improving attendance at sporting events and showing up at the involvement fairs, USG is continuously making an effort to

reach out to students. He noticed that USG has been active and visible at a plethora of events, even ones that were not sponsored by them.

“USG’s leadership team has shown a tremendous presence on campus already,” Gatteau said. “USG effectively represents the voices and needs of undergraduate students.”

Xingling Yu (front right) and their friends taking the train from Port Jefferson to Stony Brook before the fall semester began. During this transformative experience Xingling was able to find comfort in discomfort and grew a new confidence. XINGLING YU/THE STATESMAN

USG Senators at a USG meeting on Sept 7. USG meetings are open for attendance by the campus community. STANLEY ZHENG/THE STATESMAN

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