The Statesman: Volume 57 Issue 6

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The Statesman informing stony brook university for more than 50 years Monday, October 7, 2013

Volume LVII, Issue 6

sbstatesman.com

NINA LIN/ THE STATESMAN

Senior football players Jawara Dudley, left, and Matt Faiella, right, shake hands with young fans before Saturday's Homecoming game on Oct. 5. The Seawolves defeated the Bryant Bulldogs 21-13, putting an end to Stony Brook's three-game losing streak.

New Stony Brook marching band Student health fee increases to aid smoking cessation director looks to raise the bar

By Elsie Boskamp Contributing Writer

On Sept. 18, Shayna Stahl accepted the position of Director of Athletic Bands at Stony Brook University, completing a nationwide search to replace longtime music director and founder of the Spirit of Stony Brook Marching Band, John J. Leddy, who retired last year. “At the end of the day, and having searched all across the country, we found our future right here at home at Stony Brook with Shayna Stahl,” Jeffrey A. Barnett, assistant dean of students, said in a press release. “[She] has the perfect combination of experience to suit our program, [and] I am confident that the band will continue to experience great success under her leadership.” From marching with the Diamond Marching Band while working to achieve her bachelor’s degree in music education, Stahl said she is fully aware of the important position she holds within the campus. “While studying at Temple University I knew I wanted to be a music director, and coming to work here I could see myself doing so much more,” Stahl said. Stahl was involved with the athletic

bands at SBU since they were founded by Leddy in 2006. She originally joined as a graduate assistant, during which time she said she “collaboratively created a vision for the band” alongside Leddy. In 2008, Stahl accepted the position of part-time assistant director while maintaining a full-time position with Middle Country School District as music educator, band director, musical choreographer and later, administrative dean. Although Stahl received considerable credit for her work within the Middle Country School District, becoming the director of athletic bands at SBU has always been her dream. “Being the Director of Athletic Bands became my goal, and something I wanted to strive for here at Stony Brook University,” Stahl said. With her new role leading the marching band, she aims to “have musical and marching precision, a community feeling within the band, and an overall performance that entertains and that the students enjoy.” Stahl said that looking toward other athletic bands within the league drives her and the band to provide “a stronger and fuller sounding band

By Kelly Zegers Staff Writer

PHOTO CREDIT: SBU

Stahl has been involved with The Spirit of Stony Brook since its inception in 2006. that looks sharp on the field with a clean, crisp and tight performance.” Within the upcoming weeks, students can expect to see the marching band appear at the all home SBU football games, the Columbus Day Parade in New York City, the SBU basketball tournament and many community outreach projects and events.

As the legislation that aimed to ban tobacco on New York State campuses by Jan. 1, 2014 was put on hold, the $1.50 fee increase per semester for Student Health Services will still cover nicotine cessation products, counseling and workshops for student smokers in addition to other programs, according to Program Evaluator for the Center for Prevention and Outreach Ahmed Belazi. “As a public health person, I would say that I’m always interested in being creative about the tools that I have available to me [for solving public health issues],” Belazi said. “And while policy and enforcement are an important set of tools, they’re not necessarily the most powerful in and of themselves.” For Belazi, campus culture is most useful in addressing public health issues. This includes supporting students who want to quit smoking or are in the process of doing so and letting non-smokers know that Stony Brook University has community expectations concerning tobacco

use. One way the university is providing support is by offering free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products for students who are trying to quit smoking.

“The $1.50 fee

increase per semester for Student Health

Services will still cover nicotine cessation

products, counseling and workshops for student smokers.

-Ahmed Belazi

Center for Prevention and Outreach Program Evaluator

Health Educator and Peer Education Program Coordinator Kathleen Valerio from Student Health Services said NRT products include gum, lozenges and patches. A two-part workshop series open Continued on page 3


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