Statesman: Volume 53, Issue 34 by The Statesman

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Volume 53, Issue 34 • Monday, February 22, 2010

STUDENTS ARE MORE INVOLVED AT PRINCETON REVIEW'S LEAST HAPPY CAMPUS By Erika Karp

Assistant News Editor

IN THIS ISSUE

Recently, student involvement is spreading as fast as a cold in a residence hall. Students who took a freshman seminar class or spoke to an advisor heard it before. The key to happiness at Stony Brook is getting involved. Tickets for the skitrip sold out in one day, free tickets to the Staller Center’s presentation of Groovaloo were gone in two minutes and Advisory Council meetings are packed with groups competing for the right to reserve event space. Susan DiMonda, associate dean and director of Student Life, has been at Stony Brook for the past 22 years. Since her days as director of Campus Recreation, she has seen the campus change and involvement grow. “SUNY students are more appreciative, more outgoing,” she said. “[They] see the responsibility to create community.” Bernie Lubell, an undergraduate member of the Student Life Advisory Council, started a group on Facebook for students who are against Princeton Review’s “Least Happy Students” list, in order to do “empirical research” on the issue enabling students’

voices to be heard. In the latest survey conducted by Princeton Review, Stony Brook ranked number three on the “Least Happy Students” list. The Student Life Advisory Council, a group of students, faculty and administrative staff members, aim to improve the quality of student life. “Students made very constructive comments,” Lubell said. “There is a stigma against Stony Brook. [The] stigma is fading, but it is still there. Something we are trying to counteract.” According to the Princeton Review website, the ranking is determined by students’ responses to the survey question, “Overall, how happy are you?” The 2010 survey is available online for students. The ratings do not seem to bother DiMonda too much. According to her, research has shown that student satisfaction has improved and her own personal observations further her proof. DiMonda saw students being turned away from the men’s basketball game against Binghamton because there were no more seats but thinks of it as a good problem. For students See REVIEW on 3

JC CHAN / STATESMAN FILE PHOTO

Student involvement is the key to a happy college experience, according to students and administrators.

Darwin Day: A Scientist's Holiday By Daniel Giorlando Contributing Writer

February is a month generally renowned for roses, hearts and chocolate. But on Darwin Day, Feb. 12, Professor Douglas J. Futuyma gave a lecture to about 300 people on the field of evolution and the progress that scientists have made in it. Scientists go largely uncelebrated for most of the year. Darwin Day, one of the few holidays recognizing the scientific community, is by no means a household name. Still in recent years, it has gained popularity. Stony Brook University has celebrated the holiday since 2007 and continued the trend this year with a number of Darwin-themed events. Among them was Futuyma’s lecture, entitled, “Evolutionary Biology: 150

Years of Progress.” The event was part of the Provost’s Living World Lecture Series and co-sponsored by the Department of Ecology. The lecture might best be likened to a State of the Union Address for evolutionary biology. Futuyma began by summing up Darwin’s original theories and the controversy they stirred. After “On the Origin of the Species,” Darwin was treated as a cult figure, and his theories disturbed many people. It was difficult for his theories to gain any acceptance at all. Darwin’s theories were placed under the intense scrutiny of the scientific method, and over 150 years scientests have expanded upon and refined his theories into modern evolutionary biology. Many are unfamiliar with the ways in which Darwin’s original theories differ from

modern ones. According to Futuyma, “The field has moved on in so many different ways” and has taken “immense strides,” so much so that even Darwin would not be able to understand a modern evolutionary biology lecture. Futuyma also addressed those who doubted the validity of evolution by saying that, even without a fossil record, we can be completely sure Darwin was right about all species evolving from a single organism. We know this by comparing modern species today. For example, humans share genetic similarities with creatures as different from us as flies. Both species share the gene Pax6, which governs eye development. Futuyma also noted that we now have hundreds of studies that demonstrate that certain genotypes survive better than others and direct

documentation of rapid evolutionary change. In closing the lecture, Futuyma expressed that we have learned much in the past 150 years, but there is still much we do not understand. Among the many mysteries evolutionary biology holds for us, we do not know definitively how species coevolve or why species die out if they possess the ability to evolve so rapidly. We may have to wait the next 150 years to find out.

MEDIA CREDIT: SCRAPETV.COM

Scorsese's "Shutter Island" is a hit

Seawolves gear up for big game

INDEX

The dramatic suspense thriller “Shutter Island,” hit theaters this weekend, after months of anticipation for legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s latest project. It is a rarity for a movie

In what might be the biggest game in its history, Stony Brook’s men’s basketball team will take on the Vermont Catamounts at home on Wednesday to solidify first

News................3 Opinion...............5 Arts.....................6 Sports...............11

to have both a superb cast leading an intricate storyline and an ingenious director to put it all together, but “Shutter Island” does... See ISLAND on 7

place in the America East Conference. Stony Brook is 20-7 overall and 12-2 in the conference, a full game... See BIG GAME on 12

The Statesman

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Monday, February 22, 2010

The Statesman

Monday, February 22, 2010

NEWS Student Forecast Jan. 24 - Jan. 29

Monday: High: 43°F Low: 35°F Mostly Sunny

Tuesday: High: 40°F Low: 36°F Rain / Wind

Wednesday: High: 41°F Low: 32°F Rain

Thursday: High: 40°F Low: 29°F Rain / Snow Showers

Friday: High: 38°F Low: 31°F Snow Shower / Wind From weather.com

Students More Involved At Review's Least Happy Campus From REVIEW on 1 who say there is nothing going on DiMonda said, “They have their heads in the sand.” But for those who are skeptical of an administrator’s comment, The Campus Involvement Project, or CIP, which DiMonda calls a true “grass roots project,” may convince them. “The Campus Involvement Project [was] formed with the ultimate goal to help unify the campus community by increasing student involvement,” said Kirin Mahmud, CIP member. According to Mahmud,

CIP creates and promotes the “25 things to do at Stony Brook before you Graduate” list, which organizes a bunch of campus traditions and events. “This is a first step for students to try new things and meet new people,” Mahmud said. “We also present to incoming transfer students during Opening Weekend as well as Freshman 101 classes to inform and inspire them on being a student leader.” Mahmud, who is also president of the Commuter Student Association, said that the Princeton Review ranking is misleading. “I cannot even express how amazing my time here

MEDIA CREDIT: PRINCETON REVIEW

at Stony Brook has been,” she said. “As a commuter, I spend more time at Stony Brook than I do at home.” Lubell recognizes also

he is very lucky to have had a positive experience and have his voice heard while at Stony Brook but recognizes that others are

not as lucky. “You have to be proactive to have a voice of impact,” he said. “It is what you make of it.”

Have You Heard the Buzz? By Charles Costa Columnist

Have you been buzzing recently? No, I don’t mean buzzed in the sense of alcohol, but yet another verb brought to you via the inspiration of “Googling.” If you haven’t caught the gist, then go grab a Diet Coke and have a look at Google Buzz. Google’s most notable product of recent times lets you take drunk dialing to the next level -- by allowing you to post status updates to multiple sites from a single location. Before discussing the multiple site capabilities, I’ll just mention the tiny fact that when you sign up with Google Buzz, the company automatically allows people in your address book -- or even those you email – to view your updates. Essentially, Google Buzz melds together work with fun. But over the past

few days the tech world has been buzzing with controversy over Google’s new service. From investigations by the Federal Trade Commission to a review from the Canadian Privacy Comissioner's office and even a class-action lawsuit, all three focus heavily on the alleged privacy violations of Google Buzz. Overall, the feature set of Google Buzz has been very dynamic. The rollout has been happening to the approximate 175 million worldwide users of Gmail, according to Comscore. In a nutshell, Google Buzz can be thought of as the Facebook status, or Twitter’s tweet components, on steroids. The service allows you to post images, send messages to other members in your social network, post messages of any length of your choosing and view data from multiple social networks in one location. Google’s service is heavily integrated into your Gmail

account, which may or may not be an issue, depending on your tolerance for combining email with social networking. While Buzz supports integration into your Twitter, blog, Flickr, Google Chat, and Google Reader accounts, Facebook is currently not supported. This certainly makes Buzz less appealing to many individuals. There are also plenty of quirks that make Buzz fairly difficult to use. From issues of differentiating public and private messages, automatically adding people you email to your Buzz lists, and problems with sorting messages, the service still needs time to improve. Despite the many downsides, there is a feature of Google Buzz where the odds favor Google becoming a leader. In this case, it is location based networking and geotagging, which shows your current location on a map

for your friends to see (via your phones GPS), or just simply sending a blurb message as a status update. Currently, Foursquare. com has been a key player in that field. However, Google has potential to take the lead, as Google

has a larger user set than Foursquare. Currently Google Buzz mobile is only available for the Android 2.0 and the iPhone. Other smart phones will likely be supported as time progresses.

MEDIA CREDIT: BRISBANETIMES.COM

Google co-founder Sergey Brin at a press conference about Google Buzz.

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Monday, February 22, 2010

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Monday, February 22, 2010

OPINION Statesman How Responsible Are We For Each Other? the stony brook

Editors-in-Chief Bradley Donaldson April Warren Opinion Editor Ravneet Kamboj News Editor Frank Posillico Arts & Entertainment Editor Ivanna Avalos Sports Editor Sarah Kazadi Photo Editor Kenneth Ho Copy Editor Yasmean Tamoor Business Manager Frank D’Alessandro Accountant Arthur Golnick First issue free, additional issues cost 50 cents. GET INVOLVED The Statesman encourages readers to submit opinions and commentaries to the following address: Stony Brook Statesman PO Box 1530 Stony Brook, NY 11790 Phone: Fax:

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Email: comments@sbstatesman.org To view previous issues, extra material, and to learn about how to get involved with the Statesman, visit out website at sbstatesman.com. For advertising inquiries, call us at (631) 632 - 6480 or visit us online at sbstatesman.com. WHO WE ARE The Stony Brook Statesman 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, writing, and photography staff are student volunteers while its business staff are professionals. The Statesman is published twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays throughout the fall and spring semesters. Disclaimer: Views expressed in columns or in the Letters and Opinions section are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Statesman. All content Copyright 2010.

By Elizabeth Brenner Contributing Writer

Peanut allergies are more common now than ever before. In schools around the country, administrators are taking special precautions to ensure the safety of those students who are allergic to peanuts. These measures are important. Young children cannot always be trusted to be careful. Schools can’t prohibit peanut butter from schools entirely because poor and low-income students often buy peanut butter People who are allergic try to avoid contact with peanuts because peanut allergies can often be very serious or fatal. However, schools cannot control everything. There comes a time when people have to understand not every personal encounter can be monitored. According to News 12, a recent lawsuit adresses this issue. The plaintiff is seeking $3 million in damages. Before she voluntarily quit, the plaintiff worked as a cashier in a Babies ‘R’ Us but became seriously ill after coming in contact with a peanut candy a customer was eating. She argues the manager should have moved the peanut candy, which was near her station. But a store isn't like a classroom where the teacher or professor has complete control over a specific area. The lawsuit cannot ensure that she wont come in contact with the outside wrapper or even the breath of someone eating it, which is sometimes enough to trigger a reaction in allergic individuals. Should the managers have eliminated peanut related products from the store entirely? If so, what would keep customers from bringing peanut butter prodcuts in the store to eat as a snack? This lawsuit clearly shows that individuals are ultimately responsible for their own health, and raises a question - At what point do managers stop being responsible? In a News 12 conference, the

www.rylawyer.com worker said, “You always have to look over your shoulder and look for your surroundings, of what’s around you.” She then goes on to say how fatal this allergy is to her. If she knew she had to be constantly aware of what people were eating, she obviously knew that getting extremely sick is always a possibility. Since it’s always a possibility, why is she suing a corporation that has no control over its shoppers eating habits? The incident could have happened anywhere. Does that mean people can’t eat a peanut butter sandwich during their lunch hour because the people around could be allergic? What if a woman was eating peanut candy she had in her purse? Can she be sued? The store isn’t responsible. The customer brought it in with them. The only person that would be responsible for the allergic reaction would be the customer.

Does this mean anyone can be in danger of paying a huge fine? This lawsuit is walking a fine line of setting a dangerous precedent. It brings up the serious issue of responsibility and the difference between individual and group responsiblity in a society. I believe the solution in cases like this is to determine whether or not the action malicious. Someone who knows of an another person's allergy and purposely presents or exposes them with the allergen is liable However, what in the world does the plaintiff need $3 million for? I highly doubt the medical costs of one incident could equal $3 million. This case is more than just about allergies. It is about individual liability. McDonalds wasn’t liable for making people fat for eating their food. In a world where people are already cautious, maybe it is time for people to refocus their energy on making sure

organizations actually do hold safety responsibilities and adhere to them. Making sure the FDA inspects our food and drugs will insure a large company treats its workers properly and follows ethical guidelines. All too often, we hear about people who are injured due to government agencies and private companies shying awayfrom protecting their customers. A good example of this negligence is the e.coli outbreaks, which are often on the news. From the outside, this case might seem like it is pointless. However, the case opens the floor to debate. It forces us to examine everything - how we take care of ouselves and how and we hold those who really are responsible for us accountable. Hopefully, in the future, we wont have to worry about being liable for wanting a snack and can rest assured knowing our legal system is being put to good use, prosecuting those who are really putting us in harms way.

Guidelines for Opinion Submission Letters to the editor or op-ed contributions can be submitted by e-mail at Op-Ed@sbstatesman.org, on our online submission tool at www.sbstatesman.org, by hand at our office in the Student Union Rm 057, or by mailing it to us at the address in the left column. They must be received at least two days before the next printed issue. The Statesman reserves the right to edit or not print any letter based on appropriateness, length, timeliness, or other reasons at the discretion of the editorial board. Letters should be no longer than 350 words, and opinion pieces should not exceed 550 words. Please include your full name (which we may withold if you request it), phone number and email address for verification. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses will not be printed. Letters submitted anonymously or under false names will not be considered for publication.

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Monday, February 22, 2010

ARTS Video Game Courses Teach Students About Modern Culture By R.J. Huneke Staff Writer

What is it about gaming that enthralls the senses, and in many ways, transcends more well known forms of popular culture? What role do video games play in many people’s lives as they continue to have intricate experiences that appeal to the brain and senses? Though there might be an occasional person that does not watch television or movies, you would be hard pressed to find someone in the United States who does not partake in videogaming activities, watches friends play games, or does not know relatives who are involved in gaming activities. A variety of vastly different game courses will offer students the opportunity to study various techniques with which to think critically toward this popular medium. Video Game Culture Professor, Raiford Guins sums up the need for gaming studies, "It’s where our students spend a great deal of time…We need to provide a more critical framework so they can understand games in a larger context.” The wave of popular opinion that has questioned the legitimacy of studying such “a popular medium” is starting to ebb. MIT Press, and many of the most academically credible institutions in the country currently offer the study of gaming

Arts at the Brook This is a new section in Arts & Entertainment that

and many scholarly works are published about the subject. Video Game Culture is one of the current courses in games studies offered at Stony Brook for the spring semester, its only prerequisite is heavy reading. Guins stresses the use of critical thinking based off, as he describes it, “scholarly takes, popular takes [and] biographical takes” of gaming studies. The class, like the Video and Computer Games History course, which was taught in the fall semester, has students clambering to gain entrance. Since gaming has become a fulcrum in popular culture and a base stone of society that affects players and non-players alike, the Video Game Culture class tackles the myriad aspects of gaming that attract so many. According to Guins, one of the aspects looked at closely in the course is “games as societal issues." What does playing the “Grand Theft Auto” series of games say about society? The game allows the player to infiltrate realistic representations of cities and decide to play along with a gangster storyline, or to go off on their own. Guins says, “you don’t have to play the story.” One can just as easily traverse the streets, buy food. The player makes moral decisions, and in doing so, they take on a fictitious persona that has gone with or against the norms of society. As Guins teaches, morality often has stark

consequences in modern video games. Just play “Fallout 3” to witness this or take the class to find out more about what critical thinking and society bear on games and vice versa. Currently there are no dedicated classrooms given to Video Games Courses that require seating for dozens, large PowerPoint screens for lectures, plasma screen televisions, electrical outlets for game systems and proper display setups for projectors that are needed to enlarge screen imagery. Once there was a time when movies were not considered worthy of study by academic institutions of higher learning, but the attitudes toward this have been irrevocably reversed. According to Guins the video game industry now generates more revenue per year than the television and the movie industries combined. Guins puts his spin on the importance of studying popular forms of media. “I don’t see [games] as threatening the study of film or the study of television," said Guins. "I think we have to do all of it." He is currently preparing to open a Video Game Archive at Stony Brook University, where students will have access to game consoles from the 1970s - early 1990s for research and academic purposes. If the proponents of Video Games Culture have their way, they can be studied in an interactive museum type atmosphere.

will announce the weekly events on campus to keep the student body informed on the latest in music, movies, theatre, dance and art at Stony Brook.

area of the TAC. Tuesday, Feb. 23, Michal Tal, will perform a piano recital at 8 p.m. in the Staller Center.

Music: The Tabler Arts Center is hosting its first Open Mic Night of the spring semester on Tuesday Feb. 23 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the cafe

Art Galleries: The Univery Art Gallery is hosting the "MFA Thesis Exhibition 2010" on the first floor of the Staller Center now through Feb. 27. The

R.J. HUNEKE / THE STATESMAN

Professor Guins teaches a course on the history of video and computer games.

exhibition is showcasing the artwork of MFA students, Joseph Andrew Esser, Julianne Gadoury, Kristine Granger, Elizabeth Dee Heifferon and Danielle Rago.

MOVIES: "Mid-August Rush" is playing Friday, Feb. 26 at 7:15 p.m. in the Staller Center. "Coco Before

Chanel" is playing Fridayy, Feb. 26 at 9 p.m. The film, which features English subtitles, chronicles the story of the famous French fashion designer, Coco Chanel, from her humble beginnings as an orphan to her rise as a leading iconic fashion figure.

TElevision: SBU-TV, channel 20, is

continuing its celebration of Black History Month with a presentation of "The Strange Fruit". The documentary, based on Billie Holiday's classic song of the same name is airing daily beginning Feb. 14 to Feb. 28, at 4:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. "Race-The Power of an Illusion" is airing throughout the month of February every day at 12:30 a.m.

The Statesman

Monday, February 22, 2010

ARTS ARTS ARTS ARTS ARTS ARTS ARTS ARTS ARTS ARTS ARTS ARTS

Scorsese's "Shutter Island" is a Box Office Hit By Ivanna Avalos

Arts & Entertainment Editor

The dramatic suspense thriller “Shutter Island,” hit theaters this weekend, after months of anticipation for legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s latest project. It is a rarity for a movie to have both a superb cast leading an intricate storyline and an ingenious director to put it all together, but “Shutter Island” does. The main character's complex storyline could have easily gone wrong and could have confused viewers, yet it worked. The movie follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and his newly assigned partner, Marshal Chuck Aule, played by Mark Ruffalo, as they investigate the disappearance of a murderess whom escapes from a hospital for the criminally insane in 1954. The hospital is located on a remote costal area known as Shutter Island. A terrible storm strands Daniels and Aule on the island as they continue to search for the truth behind the supposed disappearance of the murderess patient. Right from the start, “Shutter Island” pulls

PhD Comics By Jorge Cham

Comics

the audience in, from the introduction of Daniel’s mysterious new partner to the overall eerie presence of Shutter Island and its inhabitants. Once on the island, the marshals find things are a lot more complicated than they appear to be. One of the marshals begins questioning the doctors, his partner and his own sanity. From the trailer, it is obvious that everything is not as it seems in the hospital nor with the lead protagonist. Yet, Scorsese keeps the audience wondering exactly what is going to happen next. The audience finds themself questioning what the truth is and what secrets are lurking on Shutter Island. It becomes increasingly clearer throughout the film that Daniels is a rat trapped in a cage, becoming more and more paranoid as he tries to uncover the truth, while also attempting to escape the island. Leonardo DiCaprio perfectly plays the role of Teddy Daniels as the audience watches him go from a controlled and determined, authoritative figure to a man overstressed, fatigued and growing more insane. DiCaprio looks the part of a man plagued by

horrific nightmares of a past he is trying desperately to forget. At times, the 138-minute movie. However, it still manages to hold the audience’s attention. According to Variety, the film has grossed an estimated $40 million in its weekend debut, making Scorsese and DiCaprio’s fourth collaboration yet another success. Award-winning Director, Martin Scorsese does a phenomenal job of portraying the era in which the movie is set. From the character’s vernacular and Bostonian accents to the film’s score and the inhumane theories behind psychological treatment for the mentally disturbed the movie is a psychological suspense thriller that will keep the audience wanting more. “Shutter Island” is a beautifully constructed film about the fine line between sanity and insanity that should not be missed. Running Time: 138 minutes Rating: R Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley and Michelle Williams.

www.empirerecords.com

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio's fourth cinematic collaboration, "Shutter Island," is the film adaption of Dennis Lehane's novel. In its weekend debut, the film grossed over $ 40 million.

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Monday, February 22, 2010

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Monday, February 22, 2010

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OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION

In Science and Math, America is Losing Its Edge By Ravneet Kamboj Opinion Editor

The days of unquestioned American dominance over the world are over. Other countries seem to be pushing their way onto the global scene, edging America out. One reason that America seems to be losing its edge is due to the lack of emphasis on an education in science and mathematics. However, India and China are churning out scientists and engineers at an unprecedented pace. Companies are importing workers and exporting their research and development to other nations. The U.S. has always been the main source of innovation in the modern world. Most of the advancements have improved the global quality of life. However, as we lose our ability to compete with the number of foreign scientists, America is making fewer innovations. The world's future economy will will be determined by the nation that takes advantage of new ideas and technologies. In the near future â&#x20AC;&#x153;green technology" will likely explode as the need and demand for environmental stewardship grows. The world knows it is on the brink of an era of explosive research and growth. Green technology, as it is known, is seen as the saving grace of the world. Whether or not people believe in global warming, they cannot deny the economic power

www.thecolor.com that these technologies will garner. Whatever nation is in control and has ownership of a majority of innovations will have a distinct economic advantage, Due to a number of factors, the number of American students who pursue an education in mathematics and science is declining. Many Americans believe that the U.S has no other superpower

or dominant nation to compete with. During the Cold War, there was massive amount of innovation in America. During that time, the Soviet Union was an obvious competitor for international power. The U.S. won the Cold War, partly due the government's stability and the countries ability to absorb massive debt,

which the arms race incurred. Today, American culture is spreading through the world. Kids everywhere are wearing the latest fashion and listening to American music. However, popular culture could influence our perception of careers in the scientific field. Pop culture often portrays scientists and researchers as boring and socially incompetent. They are usually the ones at the butt end of jokes and can never seem to find a date. This alone might be enough to keep the impressionable youth away. Children do not want to do something that will make them supposed nerds in society. Whatever the cause, it is clear something needs to be done, whether it be including youth based programs, government spending or increasing parental guidance. First off, the government can ensure an education in science and mathematics is a major priority in our schools. There also should be an increase in the amount of science based after school programs schools offer. Highschool students are the ones who need a targeted education the most. The kids who are about to enter college need to understand these fields offer a solid career. Parents should also make sure their kids understand that experts in the scientific and mathematical field are not nerdy and are responsile for much of the positive change that occurs in the world.

Women's Hoops Takes On Second Seeded Vermont Tuesday By David O'Connor Staff Writer

KENNETH HO / THE STATESMAN

Sophomore guard Tameil Murray takes it hard to the bucket during a Seawolves home win.

With the season quickly coming to a close, the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball team has the privilege of playing its last two games in the warm confines of Pritchard Gymnasium. The Seawolves look to shake up rankings right before the start of the postseason with a win against a tough Catamount team, that will visit Tuesday. The last time the two teams went head to head, the Seawolves traveled up to Vermont in late January. The cold outside must have found a way into Patrick Gym, chilling the team in red. The Seawolves shot only 35 percent from the field and failed to cash in from long distance, going 0-for-8

from three-point territory. On the other hand, the Catamounts shot 46 percent from the floor and built a comfortable lead, eventually winning by a lopsided 67-45 margin. The Seawolves are hoping for a different outcome this time around. They come into the matchup after falling to the Boston University Terriers, despite junior forward Kirsten Jeter (Elmont, NY.) reaching a 1,000 careerpoint milestone. Vermont comes into the game after routing UMBC on Sunday, extending their winning streak to six games. The Seawolves will try to end the streak and build momentum heading into the conference championship tournament, which kicks off in early March. Tip off for Tuesday night's game is slated for 7 p.m.

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Monday, February 22, 2010

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The Statesman

Monday, February 22, 2010

SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS

Off On The Right Foot: Men's Lacrosse Takes Season Opener By Sam Kilb

Assistant Sports Editor

Junior Jordan McBride (New Westminster, Canada) scored eight goals as the Stony Brook men's lacrosse team won its 2010 season opener, 21-14, over visiting Siena. Stony Brook dominated early, scoring nine of the first 10 goals to grab a 9-1 lead. The Seawolves took a 3-0 lead before Siena could even take a shot towards a goal. The Seawolves managed one more goal, McBride's first of the game, before Siena finally found the scoresheet. McBride, who was named a preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse, also had two assists. Kevin Crowley (New Westminster, Canada), who was also named a preseason All-American, contributed four goals and five assists, including four first-half assists to McBride. Stony Brook's quick start yielded a 12-3 halftime lead. The Seawolves came out of the locker room looking like

the second half would be the same, as they scored the first two goals of the third quarter. Siena, who last year was an NCAA tournament team and MAAC league champion, fought back, scoring six unanswered goals to close the gap to five with 3:36 to go in the third. But Stony Brook, who is a favorite in the America East this year, buckled down and took care of business with McBride, Crowley and senior Tom Compitello (Hauppauge, N.Y.) combining for the Seawolves' last six goals on the way to victory. Compitello scored three goals and had three assists in the game. Junior Adam Rand (Niantic, Conn.) won 29 of his 39 faceoffs for the Seawolves. Stony Brook (1-0) now has a week off before traveling South to take on #3 Virginia at 3 p.m. next Saturday. The Seawolves return home on March 6, for a game against Towson at LaValle Stadium.

KENNETH HO / THE STATESMAN

Junior midfielder Timmy Trenkel hustles during the Seawolves win on Saturday.

Extra Points:

Tiger Apologizes... Again

JOE SKIPPER / REUTERS

Tiger Woods bows his head while reading from his written apology.

By Constantine Loizides Columnist

If one thing can be said about Tiger Woods, it’s that people care. The morning of his apology, I received text after text telling me to turn to ESPN to watch him speak. I sat there, from 11 to 11:15, listening for something, anything, that would incite a feeling of sympathy, of understanding, even of forgiveness. Unfortunately, it seemed that in the past two months Tiger learned nothing from his ordeal. He regressed back into the man who always needed to be in complete control of every situation. Rather than bulletpoints or scribbled notes, he read a prepared speech,

frequently using clichés and automated responses, instead of speaking from the heart. He said all the right things – he was irresponsible, he had been selfish. Of course, he also said he was sorry. Yet, it was in a speech rather than an interview, the usual choice of the disgraced sports star. That right there was mechanical in nature. There was no chance for ad-libbed feelings or emotion of any kind. He just read and read and read, and when he attempted to shed a tear or pause for effect, it just seemed empty and rehearsed. Finally, when he was finished speaking, he didn’t take any questions, missing any chance to seem spontaneous or even

human. He was basically telling the world, “Look, I’m going to come clean, just under my terms.” If I’m going to watch a machine perform, I’d rather it be on the golf course, winning title after title, rather than trying to convince me how sorry he is. Before all is said and done, we will undoubtedly be fed more staged photos, additional rehab stories and even the obligatory interview with someone who wouldn’t dare ask any hard hitting questions. And then, when the dust finally settles, like A-rod and Barry before him, Tiger will go back to doing what he does best. We just have to endure the weeks, maybe months, in between.

SPORTS

SAMANTHA BURKARDT / THE STATESMAN

Seawolves guard Eddie Castellanos (right) and center Andrew Goba (left) are two of the seniors that will be honored prior to Wednesday's game. Pritchard Gymnasium is sure to be sold out for the contest, just as it was when Stony Brook took on Maine a few weeks ago.

Seawolves Gear Up For Huge Game Wednesday By Doric Sam Staff Writer

In what might be the biggest game in its history, Stony Brook’s men’s basketball team will take on the Vermont Catamounts at home on Wednesday to solidify first place in the America East Conference. Stony Brook is 20-7 overall and 12-2 in the conference, a full game ahead of second-place Vermont. The Seawolves have been red-hot lately, running over the rest of the conference on their way to a nine-game win streak, with six of those wins by double-digits. Their latest victory came

on the road against Albany. Led by senior Muhammad El-Amin (Lansing, Mich.) who scored a game-high 19 points, including the gamewinning jumper with 1.8 seconds left, the Seawolves squeezed out the tough win and remained atop conference standings. The Catamounts are also on a hot streak, winning seven straight games for the second time this season. They defeated Fairfield University on Saturday for their second double-digit win in a row. The last time these two teams faced each other, the Seawolves were able to defeat the then first-place Catamounts on their home court with 20 points from sophomore Bryan Dougher

(Scotch Plains, N.J.). It was Vermont’s first conference loss of the season, and it began their second threegame losing streak. Noticeably absent from that game was sophomore Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.), who scored four points to go along with only 4 rebounds, well below his conference-leading average of 9.6 rpg. The Seawolves will need him to step up in this game if they want to duplicate the results of the last meeting. Stony Brook will need to play superb defense to stop the offensive juggernaut that is Vermont, who ranks second in the conference with 70.0 ppg and first with a .433 field goal percentage. In order to win this

game, the Seawolves must contain Catamount's superstar, Marqus Blakley. The senior forward ranks second in the conference with 17.6 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per game, and is tied for first in the conference with a field goal percentage of .532. Blakley is also one of the top defenders in the conference, ranking first in steals (2.6 spg) and blocks (2.0 bpg). This 6-foot-5 225 pound beast is the reigning America East Player of the Year and America East Defensive Player of the Year, winning both awards in back-to-back seasons. In the first meeting, Blakley was able to score 17 points and grab 11

rebounds. Look for him to be matched up with ElAmin or Brenton for most of the game. This is the first time Stony Brook has won 20 games since joining Division I 11 years ago. They hold victories over every team in the America East, something they haven’t done since they joined the conference in the 2001-02 season. A win on Wednesday would clinch the conference for the Seawolves, giving them a first-round bye in the America East tournament. Winning the tournament will give them an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in March, something the program has never been able to achieve.

Wednesday’s game will be televised on MSG Plus. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. The Seawolves will honor their four seniors— El-Amin, Andrew Goba (Durban, South Africa), Eddie Castellanos ( Jersey City, N.J.) and Desmond Adedeji (Landover, Md.)— prior to the game.

CORRECTION In the Feb. 18 issue, the article on the lacrosse preview was incorrectly credited. The piece was written by Statesman staff writer Doric Sam.