The Statesman informing stony brook university for more than 50 years
Volume LVI, Issue 21
Monday, March 11, 2013
sbstatesman.com
Men's hoops falls to Albany
University announces new fee increases By Rebecca Anzel Staff Writer
Midday on Thursday, Stony Brook University revealed its proposed Comprehensive Fee increase for the academic year of 2013-2014 in an email sent by Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dennis N. Assanis. This tuition increase is a part of the NYSUNY 2020 initiative signed into law in 2011. The program’s goal, according to the university’s website, is to replace “an era of dramatic tuition increases with a system that is predictable and empowers students and parents to plan for college expenses.” Prior to its introduction, the average annual SUNY tuition increase was 6.7 percent, resulting in a higher tuition cost as compared to increases created by the steady $300 increases as part of the fiveyear NYSUNY 2020 plan. The proposed $24.50 Comprehensive Fee increase is a collective number based off five departments’ combined fee increases—health services, intercollegiate athletics, recreation, technology and transportation. At the media briefing held on Wednesday, each of these department heads discussed why exactly the increase for their department was needed and what the money would be going toward. Also mentioned was the use of department-specific student advisory boards to help determine what improvements need to be made. Student Health Services Dr. Rachel Bergeson, medical director of Student Health Services, described the $1.50 increase for her department as going toward four main areas—free seasonal flu shots for students, HIV testing, nicotine cessation products and counseling services and increased personnel in the pharmacy and front-desk areas of the Student Health Office. Working to get smokers who are interested in breaking the habit nicotine-free was a strong point Bergeson made. With Stony Brook’s campus working to ban all smoking as of Jan. 1, 2014, she said the goal was one that had been in the works and that the health center has “been involved in for a Continued on page 2
Seawolves lose in semi-f inal game of America East Championship By David O’Connor Managing Editor
EZRA MARGONO / THE STATESMAN
The Great Danes defeat the Seawolves 61-59 in the semi-final of the America East tournament.
Campus dining returns to normalcy By Hanaa’ Tameez Assistant News Editor
The Kelly Dining Center roof is repaired. According to the Faculty Student Association website, “On Monday, March 11, 2013 Kelly
Dining Center is scheduled to resume full food service operations and all other Campus Dining locations will resume normal hours of operation.” After an inspection of the building, “it was determined that the upper level of the building may be opened,”
NINA LIN / THE STATESMAN
Kelly Dining Center reopens after extensive roof leaks.
according to FSA's website. The Dining Center closed on Wednesday, Feb. 13 due to “extensive ceiling leaks in customer areas,” according to FSA's website. While the roof and the building itself were “structurally sound,” according to FSA's website, the university hired DNA Roofing to install a temporary membrane to ensure no further leakage. The task, which FSA estimated to cost between $90,000 and $100,000, took three weeks to complete. Despite the snow this weekend, “FSA and Campus Dining will complete final preparation of the kitchen and customer areas in Kelly Dining Center. Equipment, furnishings and staff temporarily moved to other campus locations will return to Kelly Dining Center and food product will be delivered and prepared for Monday’s opening,” according to FSA's website.
The Stony Brook University men’s basketball team fell to the University at Albany Great Danes on Sunday evening, 6159, in the semi-final game of the America East Championship. “This year they were two points better whereas last year they were two points better,” senior forward Tommy Brenton said. The challenge before Stony Brook was immense. The Great Danes, despite being the lower seed, had the home court advantage and their fans were only too willing to make use of it. “It didn’t hurt us,” Brenton added, “But it definitely helped them.” It was an ideal start for the Seawolves, who scored the first seven points of the game, but the Great Danes weren’t going to embarrass themselves in front of their home crowd. The game tightened further until the teams were tied at 10 points apiece. They then remained neck-andneck for the next few minutes, both squads playing tough ball down underneath the basket. Albany then pushed ahead as it's maintained a steady attack while Stony Brook was only able to score one basket in a space of approximately eight minutes. The home team hit four of its eight three-pointers to make this experience even more unpleasant for the fans who had made the journey from Long Island. Albany had a stronger presence down low and from outside the three-point arc throughout this stretch, going 11-2. “When you get behind like that,” head coach Steve Pikiell said, “You just need to get to the basket.” Continued on page 20