THE HILL NEWS e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1 9 1 1 at s t . l aw r e n c e u n i v e r s i t y
Inside the Trailers:
SPRINGFEST 2016
The Rebel Light,The Mowgli’s and NGHTMRE Spill Showtime Secrets SEE SPRING FEST ON PAGE 8 for exclusive one-on-one interviews.
Read Online: http://www.the hillnews.org
FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016
Tweet At Us: @hillnews
Or Facebook! facebook.com/ the-hill-news
VOLUME CVI, ISSUE 10
KELSEY MATTISON/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
OPINIONS
2 | THE HILL NEWS
Dear DUB:Womyn in Film By KRISTEN JOVANELLY STAFF COLUMNIST I’m a fan of those questions that sometimes (a lot of the time) elicit eye rolls and annoyed, “I don’t f*cking know,” on the second hour of SLU van trips as the Nalgene of the sleeping kid continues to slam into the back of the sauna/van. I like to ask people about movies, like, “if you were to be any character in Oceans 11, what would you be?” Or, “what character would you want to be in any film?” Yes, I am that person. Consistently, I find myself debating (to more eye rolls) why women are underrepresented in these films or why the few female characters are often hypersexualized, particularly in the films that garner the most budget money, attention, and influence. The site Polygraph recently undertook a massive screenplay analysis of over 2,000 movies to break down the dialogue in terms of gender and age. The report is striking, visually illustrating a number of ways in which sexism and ageism shape film. Across drama, animation, comedy, etc. women had the most dialogue, in only 22% of the films, and two women had major speaking roles in only 18% of the films. In over 80% of the films, two out of the top three characters with the most lines were men. Media attention has certainly shown within the past few months how Hollywood seems to be built upon stigmas, making it probably unable to budge from its white male dominated past. This, as some may argue, is not a difference of ability, it’s not for lack of paying dues, for rehearsing. It is discrimination, whether cognizant or not. It’s a systemic problem that enduringly perpetuates itself. The same opportunities for women or minorities simply do not exist in a marketplace completely erected by white males. Men are more likely than women to get distribution with the bigwigs, and big ears (looking at you Mickey Mouse), and thus women are left to independent companies with less money and clout. This results in a complete
gendering of film, with action movies that bring in large crowds falling into the hands of male directors, resulting in presumptions among agents and studio executives that women-directed films are less commercial, that women can’t handle large budgets, and the completely absurd idea that women simply don't want to make action films. Men make big-budget movies, men vote male-directed movies the best, these principles are maintained as normative, and the system perpetuates itself. The Annenberg Report, evaluating diversity in entertainment offers some remarkable insights into how female presence in the production of a movie will markedly influence the depiction of women in the film. When a female producer is on board, female characters are much less likely to be depicted in sexually revealing clothing (26.4%, rather than 35.9%) or with nudity (25.1%, instead of 33.3%). Films that have at least one female screenwriter as part of the production team feature a higher percentage of girls and women in significant roles (34.8%) than teams that only have male screenwriters (25.9%). So what do we do? Do we continue to argue in SLU vans until somebody vomits on you out of frustration and heat sickness? Perhaps building spaces to talk about and appreciate female film-makers outside of the dominant discourse will help. Films can prompt change, they can slither past your defenses and internalized stereotypes and really just shatter your heart. We need to make a concerted effort to ensure that a multitude of stories and voices are told from the perspective of those who have the best authority to portray them. As Ava DuVernay, the first black female director to have her film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, once said, “time will tell ... whether folks want to point and stare at the black woman filmmaker who made a certain kind of film, and pat her on the back, or if they want to actually roll up the sleeves and do a little bit of work so that there can be more of me coming through.”
THE HILL NEWS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emma Cummings-Krueger ‘16 MANAGING EDITORS Elle Lucas ‘16 Thomas Mathiasen ‘16 NEWS Rebecca Doser ‘16 Brenda Winn ‘17 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Alexa Mitchell ‘16
OPINIONS Emily Liebelt ‘16 FEATURES Caroline Seelen ‘17 SPORTS Lauren Weeks ‘18 PHOTOGRAPHY Kelsey Mattison ‘18 BUSINESS Ben Brisson ‘16
EDITORIAL POLICY The Hill News is published every Friday of the school year, except during holidays and examination periods, by the students of St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY 13617. Unsolicited manuscripts, articles, and letters to the editor must be typed and signed. Copy and advertisement deadlines are 12:00 p.m. on the Monday prior to publication. All materials submitted for publication are the property of The Hill News and are subject to revision. The Hill News office is located on the third floor of the Student Center; our telephone number is (315) 229-5139. We have the ability to receive e-mails at elcumm12@stlawu.edu. The comments and opinions of our readers are welcome. COPYRIGHT 2016 — VOLUME CVI, ISSUE 10
DIGITAL Brandon DiPerno ‘16 Jack Lyons ‘17 DISTRIBUTION Kristen Jovanelly ‘16 CHIEF COPY EDITOR Katie Pierce ‘17 COPY EDITORS Erin Hogan ‘19 Zayn Thompson ‘17 Jasmyn Druge ‘18 Claire Mendes ‘18 LETTER TO THE EDITOR SUBMISSIONS
Letters may be no more than 500 words in length. All letters must be typed, signed by the author, and include the author’s full name and telephone number. The name of the author may be withheld only for compelling reasons, and after discussion with the editorial board. The Hill News reserves the right to edit letters for space, clarity, style, and taste. The printing or omission of letters is entirely at the discretion of the editors and The Hill News. Any letter received after deadline will not be considered for publication in that week’s issue. All copy, advertisements, letters to the editor, etc., must be submitted as hard copy or e-mail by the above listed deadlines unless other arrangements have previously been made. This policy is strictly enforced. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the newspaper, the staff, or St. Lawrence University.
KELSEY MATTISON/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR KSLU, a merry band of audiophiles, relaunches its digital brand.
Video Didn’t Kill the Radio Star By BOBBY BAIRD STAFF WRITER
If you’re reading this in the student center, you may have noticed a new installation on the third floor railing. The colorful letters KSLU hang out in the open for everyone to see. To many of you, these letters are meaningless; to some, it harkens back to an era of amateur college radio. The purpose of this public service announcement is to let campus now that we’re back. KSLU has re-launched with a 21st century outlook that seeks to promote a more professional model of broadcasting by emphasizing recorded sound. KSLU is back, baby, and we’re using the web to engage you, the listeners, who make everything that we do possible.
Although things seem a little dark over at our little studio, we’ve been generating a variety of content to entertain and engage our listening base. Our plan is twofold: produce podcasts for on-demand entertainment and produce student music. Our podcasts focus around a variety of topics including student music, campus news, and causal conversation between friends. StudioCast, our student music podcast, takes musicians from campus and helps them produce an original song. Along the way, we learn what it is like to be a musician and get a little education about music production. Featured guests include Will “Captain Kulcher” Havens ‘18, Rudy Bentlage ‘16, and Chris Lule ‘19. Our News podcast, which has been running since last semester,
APRIL 22, 2016 is “Hill News Radio.” This radio news show informs St. Lawrence students about upcoming events on campus and also works to provide a more in-depth look at each week’s issue of the paper. Be sure to check out Jack Lyons ‘17, who brings in audio from SLU hockey games, and Colin Kirkland ‘16, who gives us a better look at the thought process behind his column. Our latest podcast is one you will not want to miss. “Chloe and April’s Coffee (Not Coffee) Hour” shows that even best friends can disagree on some important topics. Last week’s podcast focused on crying and some of the stigmas attached to the act. Next week’s episode promises a conversation about Harry Potter, so be sure to check it out Monday morning. KSLU has also embraced its opportunity as a place to record student music. Some of the biggest hits to be produced by our station include, Casey Pitcher’s ‘17 cover of “Surfer Girl”, “Ain’t A Big Deal” by Bentlage, and “Everyone Thinks They Can Change the World” by Captain Kulcher. Campus Musicians are invited to contact KSLU radio hosts for help producing original content. So where can you access all of this great content. Our SoundCloud account, KSLU Radio, hosts all of our audio content. We plan to expand our storage space to offer an even wider variety of content in the future. Also be sure to check out our Facebook page, KSLU Radio, which offers an opportunity for you, the listeners, to tell KSLU what you want to hear. Cheers, and thanks for listening.
When Your Vote Doesn’t Count, But It Should By HANNAH GAUTHIER STAFF WRITER In 2014, a study by a Princeton University professor and a Northwestern University professor determined that the U.S. is not a democracy, but an oligarchy where a select few control the government and proceedings therein. The 2016 election is proof of that if anything. This year’s election trail has seen some of the most blatant voter suppression and fraud since Al Gore wrongly lost the White House in 2000. Unlike the population of this country at its founding, in the modern age the vast majority of people are educated and we have the technological means by which to count all of their votes. Does that mean we’re counting every vote? In the words of Jordan Belfort: absolutely fucking not. This past week was the primary for the state of New York, and what a flagrant display of voter suppression it was. Three million people from New York City alone were denied
the right to vote, and records for 126,000 registered voters in Brooklyn were mysteriously wiped out. Hillary Clinton won the state despite not holding the popular vote. In a just and proper democracy the popular vote would be the determiner of who became president. The people are supposed to control their own government in a democracy, majority rules, and if you take the time to vote your vote is counted. That’s not how it works though. The powers that be can decide that every polling place in upstate New York will close many hours earlier than expected and shut out millions of people wanting to vote. They can decide to make POC jump through hoops to cast ballots. They can defraud the system, wipe records and throw away votes. It’s becoming increasingly clear that they can get away with it too. “Why do they get away with it?” you might ask. They’re rich. Their friends are rich. There are companies paying them a lot of money to do their bidding. We are living in
a broken system controlled by big business and their lobbyists. We need to take back our democracy. Our “democracy” is a façade and a horrid stain on the history of a perfectly good ideology that we couldn’t implement properly. It is not democratic for super delegates to vote against the desires of their constituency. It is not democratic to not let people vote for a candidate if they’re registered with a different party. It is not democratic to deny the right to vote to any citizen of this country who wants to cast their ballot. It is not democratic to make it harder to vote. If the people who control the government really wanted better voter turnout they wouldn’t put up a million roadblocks. We need to stop soiling the good name of democracy by couching our oligarchy in democratic terminology and instead fix our voting infrastructure to truly be democratic lest our government corruption give rise to despotism.
APRIL 22, 2016
OPINIONS
S u c h Jo u r n a l i s m , Wo w By DANIEL BANTA STAFF WRITER After becoming popular for churning out thought provoking and riveting content over the past year, The Odyssey Online was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism Monday. Many fans enjoy the way the online publication covers important stories in stunning clarity. The famous article, “7 Reasons You Know You____” epitomized the way Odyssey takes complex issues and distills them into easy-to-digest articles. The popularity of the articles is apparent on social media. “7 Reasons You Know You ____” was shared a staggering 34 times on Facebook and one of the shares received three likes and a comment from a proud aunt. Such traffic is unheard of from less important online news outlets like The Huffington Post or Vice News. One reader indicated that although she usually shares articles out of sympathy to her friend who posted it, she shared “7 Reasons You Know You ____” because it really resonated with her.
“I like how it takes only two minutes to read the article,” said Rofl Copter ‘16. “Such concision in the writing really makes for good journalism. If you can’t take an issue and boil it down to a few bullet points, is it really that important of an issue?” Other articles were also successful. “My all time favorite was 12 ‘Reasons You Know You’re From _____’,” said Ttyl Lol, an avid fan of Odyssey. “Not only were there 12 mind blowing reasons, there was also pictures. One was even a GIF! And aside from the fact I know I’m from ____, I had no idea that I was from ____.” Proponents of the website laud Odyssey for enabling anyone, yes literally anyone, to become an accomplished writer. “This is a powerful tool,” said Omg Biffle, a local journalism critic. “Now everyone knows what younger generations care about. The real issues are not wars or the economy, but should there be 12 or 13 reasons I know my roommate is ____.” By allowing any student with a laptop and a rudimentary writing ability to publish sto-
ries, Odyssey has paved the way for young people to share what really matters to them. Readers can access whatever content they want through Odyssey, not the shallow and corporate garbage churned out by The New York Times or the BBC. “Reading stories about some famine in a country I haven’t heard of is very depressing,” said Ttyl Lol. “Now I can always be happy and informed reading ‘The 13 Reasons My High School is Better Than the Rival High School.” Some analysts point out that since the writers for Odyssey have an opportunity to receive money, they are encouraged to produce better content. “Since authors get paid based on the amount of times an article is shared, you know the content will be good,” said Biffle. “This module definitely reduces click-baiting.” “5 Reasons You Know You Love ____,” and “500 Words on This Trendy Issue,” were also cited as reasons for the Pulitzer. Both of these articles garnered many clicks and shares and illustrated the future of journalism.
THE HILL NEWS | 3
Letter to the Editor To the Editor: I would like to correct a mischaracterization of adjunct faculty that is likely to be created by Jillian Andrews’s article “Peaks and Valleys of the Teachings of the FirstYear Program at SLU,” published in the April 15, 2016 issue. Near the end of that article, Ms. Andrews writes, “The adjuncts do not have the same connection with St. Lawrence that the regular faculty has, and therefore do not invest the same type of commitment into the class or students.” Before coming to St. Lawrence, I taught Freshman Composition as an adjunct for nearly a decade at Babson College (a business school outside Boston, Massachusetts). Never in that time did the strong commitment I made to my classes or my students slacken; teaching my students was then as passionate a vocation as it is now after more than a decade in my permanent position at SLU. I worked very hard not just to learn best practices for teaching but also to cultivate close bonds with my students. I felt—and behaved—as connectedly to them as I do now. The difference was not in my
commitment to my classes and students, but in the college’s commitment to me, which was nearly non-existent. I had a semester-to-semester contract, which meant that at the end of each semester, I didn’t know whether I would have a job for the next semester or not. My salary for the semester barely covered my quarterly health insurance payment—a common situation with adjuncts, which explains why so many have to teach six and seven courses at two or three different schools. I ask students please not to assume that their adjunct faculty are not committed to students and courses just because the college does not or cannot make the kind of commitment to them that it makes to permanent faculty. I see all of them at all First-Year Program faculty development meetings and retreats year after year, and I have as deep and searching conversations with them about teaching and students as I have with permanent faculty. Dr. Sarah Gates Associate Professor of English Chair, English Department
Po n d e r i n g Po l i t i c a l C o r r e c t n e s s By WILLIE McGOWAN GUEST WRITER I’ve thought about writing this article for quite some time now, but never knew how to start it. I still don’t, but I’m a senior. I am running out of time. I don’t have much space so this will be a bit more concise than I would like. I’ve met many people who have no idea what they are doing with their lives (self-proclaimed). I don’t think there is anything wrong with this: after all, we are young. However, I am absolutely sure of what I will do. I don’t think it’s because I am intelligent (tabula rasa) or narcissistic, I think it’s because I’ve been given very good advice and have sought wisdom on my own volition. Almost all of this advice contradicts the dogma I’ve been spoon-fed as a member of the snowflake generation. For example, self-proclaimed value systems mean very little. If I put 100 people in a room and asked them if they value their health, I’m sure at least 75% of the people there would say yes. But what if I asked them how many times they went to the gym this week or what their dietary choices were? What if I asked people if they valued intelligence and then asked them how many books they’ve read recently? What if I asked people if they cared about the superficial, and then asked them how long they spend shopping or on Instagram? What if I asked people if they valued their voice? I write this because I know
many people who self-identify as “good,” but somehow feel like they’ve been done a disservice by society. They eagerly await unanticipated alternatives because they are disgustingly entitled. They also champion snowflake doctrine: “everyone is special, everyone is smart, everyone is beautiful.” As Dash said in The Incredibles, “if everyone is special, no one is.” As someone who used to believe in these things, I assure you that it does not work. You just end up hating what you see in the mirror. These people await change, but change does not come from satisfaction. “I am beautiful, smart, and creative,” cool, then you have no urgency to do anything with your life. Your value does not need to grow. You’ve peaked. What a wonderful deception. Strength does not come from sunshine. If we are not dissatisfied, then we have no reason to innovate, no reason to mobilize. Snowflake doctrine is a lie perpetuated by those who want to take accountability of the individual and put it on society. They want to change the world rather than change themselves, a fool’s errand. The problem is that society doesn’t have to care. That’s because there is nothing to gain by adopting kindergarten mentalities. There is morale ethics, right vs. wrong, and then there is empirical rationalization, what one gains by being right and loses by being wrong. Now one could assume that I am developing some kind of superiority complex. I am, but it of an unorthodox nature.
It is better to be outside of the hierarchy than at the top. “What’s a king to a god, what’s a god to a nonbeliever?” But we cannot be free to make our own decisions until we are free from necessary approval, paychecks, and societal pressures. This freedom comes from achievement, from competence, not incantations. Dreams must be built. Self-reliance comes from empowerment, not entitlement. Dissatisfaction drives change and dissatisfaction comes from a lack of infatuation; the urgency to go to the gym, studio, and library. It is more pragmatic to ask for broader shoulders than lighter boulders. People do not lack strength; they lack the will and desire to acquire it. The world of the establishment (SJW Fortress) is the world of satisfaction. It is how harmony is maintained. With no agency, those championing snowflake doctrine are left to linger in abstraction. They make no progress because they are “right,” yet they have nothing to show for it. They might as well be wrong. They are on a perpetual journey, and no one feels more cheated than the indecisive. It is the difference between optimism and idealism. Idealists are hyper normative while optimists know that one has to get before they can give. Good deeds are put on the scoreboard, not good intentions. A man with nothing to give is just intentions, and it doesn’t really matter if they are good or evil because they never escape the mind. Idealists are entitled and delusional.
Creativity is the only delusion that helps more than it hurts, and it comes from gratitude. My point can be summarized as such: the reactive work for the proactive, and if life is comfortable, why change? Regarding being outside of the hierarchy, I believe that there are two types of confidence. There is contextual: “I am better than those around me or am confirmed by society.” This kind of confidence is based on a cohesive narrative that is usually wrong, and narcissistic. Plenty of people ignore criticism from the dumb and ignorant, but they do not reject praise. Then there is intrinsic confidence: “I have the ability to will things into existence if I put my mind to it.” The first one can be robbed by context: “I am good at football,” Peyton Manning walks into the room. “I am successful,” Bill Gates. It is related to the hierarchy. The second type, intrinsic, is outside of the hierarchy; it is not removed by the presence of a king or a god. This is the confidence that I wish everyone had, not the former. But it takes a lot more work and mental fortitude, so I watch people get robbed by context daily. I stress this because passion is what we do without qualification or validation. If integrity is how we act when no one is looking, passion is what we do when no one is looking. In finance, there are many kinds of risk, but I will relay two types to you now: the capacity for ruin and risk/reward. Attempting to step outside of the hierarchy is taking a risk/reward
approach. Being in the hierarchy makes you susceptible to ruin. If you’re wrong with the crowd, you are like everybody else. If you’re right with the crowd, you get leftovers. If you’re wrong alone, you get ostracized. If you’re right alone, you get a Nobel prize. I don’t want leftovers, and I don’t want to be like everybody else. When someone has taken all of the normal steps towards success and still fails, their story becomes a path and you don’t need to walk it. Nothing grows on a path. The inability to recognize insularity is the inability to conquer it. I’m not suggesting that we drop everything and become renegades, but mavericks. The only way to pass perfection is through innovation. Pragmatically, I do believe that people should do their day job until their night job pays, but I also know that most people can’t even moonlight. They are not free. They cannot pay with the naivete of a child. To conclude, here’s my advice on creativity. The medium is half of the message. Technical ability is just the means of arriving at a statement; creativity decides what that statement will be. I believe that everyone has a statement (which commonly manifests itself as angst), but they lack the technical ability to go from concept to reality. You will get discouraged if you try to increase your technical ability while also caring about the opinions of others. Like Jake the Dog once said, “sucking at something is the first step to being sort of good at something.”
4 | THE HILL NEWS
Security Blotter April 13, 10:13 PM Three drug policy violations at 54 Park. April 15, 1:50 AM Report of an ill student in Whitman Hall. Alcohol related transport of student to CPH. April 15, 6:00 PM Alcohol policy violation in 72 Park. April 15, 8:12 PM Alcohol policy violation in Rebert Hall. April 16, 1:15 AM Subjects on roof of Rebert Hall advised to get off. April 16, 3:23 AM Security observed an individual urinating in a trash can in Dean Eaton. April 16, 1:18 PM Drug and alcohol policy violation in Dean Eaton. April 16, 2:56 PM Intoxicated student at the Townhouses. EMS evaluated and student was signed off. April 16, 3:07 PM Intoxicated student at the Townhouses. Positive transport to CPH. April 16, 3:18 PM Intoxicated student at 54 Park. Positive transport to CPH. April 16, 3:49 PM Intoxicated student at Lee Hall. Positive transport to CPH. April 16, 4:23 PM Intoxicated student at Spring fest concert. Positive transport to CPH. April 16, 5:00 PM Intoxicated student at Townhouses. Evaluated and student was signed off. April 16, 5:32 PM Intoxicated student in Lee Hall. Positive transport to CPH April 16, 5:40 PM Fire alarm activation due to burnt popcorn in Rebert Hall. April 16, 6:00 PM Report of an intoxicated student at the Townhouses. EMS evaluated and student was signed off. April 16, 6:45 PM Intoxicated student in Lee Hall. EMS evaluated and student was signed off. April 16, 7:20 PM Non-SLU student was arrested at the Spring fest concert. April 16, 7:26 PM Intoxicated student in Gaines College. EMS evaluated and student was signed off. April 16, 8:34 PM Intoxicated student in Dean Eaton. Positive transport to CPH. April 16, 11:35 PM Report of an intoxicated student at Java Barn. Positive transport to CPH. April 17, 1:17 AM Report of an intoxicated student in Student Center. EMS evaluated and student was signed off. April 17, 1:18 AM Report of an intoxicated student in Student Center. EMS evaluated and student was signed off. April 18, 8:32 AM Fire alarm caused by burnt homefries in 32 Park. April 18, 10:37 AM Report of an ill student, not alcohol related, in Kirk Douglass. Positive transport.
SEMESTER RUNNING TALLIES: Bike Thefts: 3 | DWIs: 0 Open Containers: 13 | Alcohol-Related Transports: 17
What is Thelmo up to? Wednesday, April 20 Office Hours: President Joe Nickerson— Monday, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Vice President of University Relations Mark Jannini—Monday 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. OLD BUSINESS: -Pandora Business Model NEW BUSINESS: -Pandora Business Model: legally play music through the speakers at the Student Center -Trigger warnings: for syllabus - tabled
NEWS
APRIL 22, 2016
Saint:
When your Saint: Jenna Mead, Saint: 4/20 THN Springfest guests forget our Springfest reporting layout night, sorry if their leftover alcohol on MVP. this issue blows (get it?) campus.
Purgatory:
Purgatory:
Purgatory:
Sinner: Group
Sinner:
Sinner:
Springfest poisoning... Security tries to transport you but IRL sun, not alcohol. you’re just napping at the concert.
project due at 3pm on Sunday afternoon.
5 - h ou r
4/20: A day when people who smoke everyday smoke more.
We were study-abroad obviously still hungover orientation on Sunday on Sunday afternoon... afternoon.
New York Primary:
Trump, Clinton Win New York in Commanding Fashion By ANDREW WATSON STAFF WRITER This past Tuesday night the New York State primary was held for both Republicans and Democrats where Donald Trump and Hillary both defended their leads in commanding fashion. The former Secretary of State took approximately 58 percent of the vote, while Trump obliterated John Kasich and Ted Cruz, tallying around 61 percent of the vote. For Trump, it moves the narrative back towards him winning the nomination after news of Ted Cruz’s delegate courting and overall strategy was leaving Trump in the dust. Tuesday night however, Trump is expected to pick up at least 90 of the available delegates while Cruz will get zero, per The New York Times. For Clinton it also shifts the narrative after Sanders had won eight of the past nine primary contests and was building momentum after sizably shrinking a 48 point deficit in New York State from just a few months ago. Although he spent $5.6 million dollars on television ads in the empire state compared to Clinton’s $2.8 million, Sanders was unable to overcome the deficit and flew back to Vermont late Tuesday night for what he said was a day of rest and recovery. He will need to pivot immediately to Pennsylvania, the next Democratic primary voting state. Clinton
sounded like a woman looking toward the general election in her Tuesday victory speech, saying that the nomination was “in sight,” per The Huffington Post. As the New Republic points out, Trump’s New York domination makes it extremely difficult for Republicans to even consider blocking him from the nomination at the convention in Cleveland. They said it would seem “underhanded” and Trump has warned of “great turmoil” if he is denied the nomination. Trump had looked quite vulnerable to a contested convention before New York after Cruz was able to round up delegates in Colorado and other states with non-traditional primaries. Trump and his campaign complained of fraud, underhanded dealings and even “Gestapo Tactics” that Cruz used to secure delegates, according to Politico. However a simpler primary seems to favor the Trump campaign, a campaign that focuses on momentum, energy and speeches rather than organization prowess. In an odd turn, Trump was remarkably reserved (by his own standards) after winning the New York primary. As the New York Times points out, he never spoke about Hillary Clinton and refrained from using his moniker for Ted Cruz, “Lyin’ Ted,” instead referring to him as Senator Cruz. In what is perhaps a subtle signal of his pivot toward the general election, Trump spoke
more on the future of the country with regards to manufacturing and jobs instead of jabbing his downtrodden opponents. On the Democratic side, Sanders again struggled with minority voters. He tied Clinton in the white voter category in New York but suffered with black voters, a common problem of his campaign and the reason that, as Senator Sanders put it, his campaign “got murdered” in the southern primaries. He pinned the loss on the South being a conservative mecca and pointed to his wins in other states, however the makeup of southern Democratic Primaries, where large swaths of the voting population are black, suggests otherwise. Senator Sanders’ campaign manager Jeff Weaver said that if it were necessary that they will take the nomination fight all the way to the floor of the Democratic Convention. This was matched by equal fervor on the Clinton side, where a Clinton aide told Politico, “we kicked his (expletive) tonight. I hope this convinces Bernie to tone it down.” Although many see a Republican contested convention as a real possibility no one thought a Democratic one was possible at the outset of the primary season. Now it looks like the bitterness between Clinton and Sanders coupled with Sanders’ donation and grassroots organizing are in it all the way to the Convention.
NEWS St. Lawrence Shows Pride, Embraces SAFE Spaces THE HILL NEWS | 5
APRIL 22, 2016
By BRENDA WINN NEWS EDITOR and JACK VIELHAUER GUEST WRTER Pride Week has been a week dedicated to showing support or pride for students on campus that don’t identify as heterosexual. The week has been full of events from tie-dying to faculty training to a drag show happening tonight at 7 p.m. in the Winston room. Monday featured President Fox addressing students and faculty on Millennium Way in front of the Student Center, highlighting St. Lawrence’s role in the growing conversation regarding diversity and inclusivity of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer) community. “We committed to seeking common ground, or, more pointedly and personally, to understand better the experience of different-ness,” Fox said in reference to the University’s adoption of a formal statement on diversity. The President implored Laurentians to assume leadership in order to advance positive change. “Only if done here first,” he said, “can the nation or the world create the larger scale of community life that protects the dignity and worth of all people, as if our common ground is also sacred space.” Inclusive in these communities are Lydia Kenney ‘18, Brandon Studler ‘17 and Taylor Sukdolak ‘17 who worked to make Pride Week as amazing as it has been. Gabe Warner ’18, a previous officer position holder on SaGA and who is running the @herewegoSAINTS Instagram account this week, said that the
week is “a time when those of us who ‘swerve’ (as I like to say it) can just be happy and inform those who know less about the community.” One of the most impactful ways SLU has seen improvements to the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, querr) environment on campus is with the initiation of the SAFE Space grant. A SAFE Space is a safe and inclusive area designated on the St. Lawrence campus for members of the LGBTQ community and their allies. Although SLU is supportive of LGBTQ issues, more steps can be taken to ensure the privacy of students who may or may not, openly identify as LGBTQ. When you think of a SAFE Space for LGBTQ students, then, you probably do not think of an area above your campus bar. But currently, the SAFE Space is headquartered in the offices above Pub 56. The issue of having the SAFE Space above Pub 56 concerns SAFE project coordinator, ‘Rolake Odetoyinbo. “Alcohol can lead to violence, and LGBTQ students may be less willing to come to the SAFE Space if they have to walk through a bar of people drinking,” said Odetoyinbo. Work orders have been submitted to relocate the SAFE Space to another area of campus. Furthermore, Odetoyinbo says, “While we do not want to be hidden somewhere, we do not want to be in a place such as the Student Center, which is a hub of activity, because then there is a privacy issue.” As of 2015, Campus Pride Index has given St. Lawrence three out of five stars in overall campus pride, while Clarkson University is not even acknowledged. Al-
EMMA CUMMINGS-KRUEGER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
“We do not reserve the work just for the special times that celebrate diversity,” said President Fox Monday.
though St. Lawrence lacks in areas such as LGBTQ Recruitment & Retention Efforts, scoring only one out of five stars led students to begin taking action. Admissions Ambassador Samantha Colton ’16 is leading the project. “I am working with Admissions to create inserts for the fold-
ers that every prospective student gets when they come visit SLU, containing all campus resources,” says Colton. “It is unfortunate we received such a low score, and we really need to work hard as a university to become more inclusive and open to diversity.” The Campus Index is an online database, created to help colleges make their campuses safer and more welcoming for the LGBTQ community. Odetoyinbo expresses that St. Lawrence’s Campus Index scores were not impressive, and the SAFE Space was a result of a recommendation by the index. The SAFE Space is meant to be an area for students to access services and resources. Student groups such as LGBTQ, etc. and SaGA also use this space for their meetings frequently. Professor and Coordinator of Gender and Sexuality Studies, Danielle Egan, acknowledges SLU’s efforts towards bettering the LGBTQ communities experience on campus. Egan says that “we are very appreciative that St. Lawrence has given us this space, and we hope that they continue to increase diversity and inclusivity.” While the campus still needs to improve their Campus Index,
students are noticing the effects of the SAFE Space on campus. “I have seen clear improvements during my short time on this campus so far,” said Warner. “But I feel like there is still quite a ways to go. The SAFE program is great but it doesn’t really help when most problems occur, which is usually during the weekends at parties or in passing.” Warner said he hopes by the time he graduates, there will be great improvements to the campus. Events like PRIDE Week and more knowledge about the SLU SAFE Space will help. “I just want people to be more open-minded about things they may not understand, and stop calling each other names, it’s really just not funny,” he said. St. Lawrence University is fully committed to making its campus safer for every student, but there is always room for improvement. The St. Lawrence University SAFE Space is located above Pub 56, and staffed Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. All students are welcome to utilize any resources provided, please contact SAFE Project Coordinator, ‘Rolake Odetoyinbo, modetoyinbo@stlawu.edu. Additional reporting by Managing Editor Elle Lucas ‘16.
features
6 | THE HILL NEWS
APRIL 22, 2016
PHOTO COURTESY OF KINGS OF A&R
Bachelors of the Week: The Rebel Light
Wisdom from:
Hamlet
By SARA MINOGUE COLUMNIST “My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!” Hamlet, Act IV Scene 4 This is one of my all-time favourite quotes. I first discovered this sentence my senior year of high school in my British Literature class. For those who did not read Hamlet in high school or at SLU, at this point in the play, Hamlet realizes that he must act on his thoughts in order for his life and his kingdom to move forward and succeed. Let us consider this idea in the context of a college campus. A junior boy, let’s call him John, is tanning on the quad on a warm spring day in Canton (speaking hypothetically, of course). As he looks up from his relaxed bronzing position, John notices the girl who he has had a crush on since the fall of his first year. There have been countless days like this one where John has wanted to reveal his true feelings. Despite liking her for three years, he has said nothing to her. Let us consider another scenario. A college student, let’s call her Katie, arrives at St. Lawrence and does not participate in any activities, intern-
ships, or work opportunities while on campus. She goes to class, mostly, and parties or drinks almost every evening. Maybe she thought about trying out for the soccer team or joining the student council, but she was too scared to go outside of her comfort zone. The conclusion for these two scenarios is the same: each student does not do what he or she really wants to do. Yes, these students might have stress- or anxiety-related issues that would prevent them from doing these activities. However, the point that Hamlet makes is that there is no point in thinking about something within your reach over and over again without trying to accomplish it. This leaves people in a rut; the fear of getting hurt or of disappointment clouds their judgement and they do not accomplish what they want to. If there is one thing Hamlet reminds us, it is this: life is short, and if we think about taking action rather than doing so, nothing gets done. If we, as humans, can, to the best of our ability, combat our fears or anxieties, our thoughts would ideally turn into actions of which we can be proud. So, let your thoughts “be bloody” or be put to the test.
The Rebel Light compiled answers to make the dream man. Zodiac sign: Cancer Spirit Animal: The Snoop Dog, The Bison, or maybe Blue, our band dog. What is your go to Netflix and Chill TV series? House of Cards, The Walking Dead, Daredevil and Master of None. I liked the first season of Orange is the New Black, but then I kind of lost interest. What are your music guilty pleasures? Air Supply, the cheesiest band, there are the “I’m all out of
love, I’m so lost with out you” guys. Kesha, Katy Perry, old school Britney Spears. What are some of your hobbies? Long walks at night alone in the woods. I do enjoy back packing. We are all kind of outdoorsy. What is your go to pick-up line? I lost my teddy bear, can I sleep with you? What is your dream date? No brainer, get on a private jet. Fly to Paris, take her up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, then
push her off. What is something you don’t like about dating? We don’t like that girls never want to go on a hike for a first date, and we get it you never know who is going to murder you. You can’t offer a hike on Tinder. What can a St. Lawrence girl do to get your attention? Buy me/us a beer. And show me your boobs. No, no, come say hi with a warm smile. Or follow us on Instagram. Or better yet follow us on all platforms @therebellight.
SAFETY SQUARE
APRIL 22, 2016
features
Boot ‘n’ Paddle: Are You Feeling Fit? By KLARE NEVINS COLUMNIST It’s finally spring enough for us all to enjoy being outside during the day without getting cold, just as we all are being acutely reminded of the fact that we are once again becoming whole bodies. For the first time in months, we are actually seeing bare feet, legs, bellies, shoulders, necks, ears, etc. The OC has geared up for this shift in season by pumping out trips for various hikes, opportunities to sleep outdoors, biking, tramping, tromping, paddling, wading, you name it (oh hold on, that actually that reminds me you all should be naming it.* Along with the exposure of various body parts, we also have recently gotten reacquainted with our internal bodies as we realize that what we know to be our winter fitness does not always correspond with what we know to be our summer fitness. But we all get it. Regardless of the season, we all should be fit,right? We should all work to get and be in better shape. We should be concerned about how long it takes for us to feel out of breath (or not) when we run, whether or not our muscles are big (or lean) enough, and
on how we really measure up when we are compared to others. It’s spring, and most of us are thinking wistfully about those hot summer days to come, when we have the time to adventure on full-day (or multi-day) adventures that let us, if even for a moment, forget the time of day or the obligations of work, school, families, and friends. And honestly, even if we are not hardos for exercise, I think we not only feel the pressure to appear fit, because most activities are easier if we are fit. But what is fitness? How do we construct attitudes, perceptions, and ideas about what fitness truly is? Where do these beliefs come from? I question ideas of fitness that are portrayed in magazines, on TV, and amongst our peers because even though we can agree that it is so important to be fit (we know the long-term health benefits), I think the popular construction of what fitness is rarely goes beneath a surface, or skin deep, definition. Yes, I go to a liberal arts school. Yes, I’m majoring in the humanities. Yes, I’ve taken enough sociology and anthropology classes to understand that the way we view the world and determine what is important, worthy, or meaningful,
is all socially and culturally constructed, because without society and culture we would not be able to attribute significance to arbitrary opinions of what “fitness,” “image,” or “shape,” really are. With that being said, and spring being upon us, I am challenging myself to think about fitness through a slightly different lens. One that allows me to see that true fitness is being able to move my legs and climb up a mountain (regardless how long it takes me to reach the summit), my ability to grip a paddle with my hands and use the strength of my core to guide a canoe through water, or the visceral feeling of when I can feel my heart rate increase when I bike up a slope, run through the woods, or hug a dear friend just a little bit tighter. Let’s be fit together this spring, take to the wilderness, and see how our bodies respond – just as we are today. *If anyone has ideas or aspirations of adventures this spring the OC wants to hear them! Email me (kbnevi12@ stlawu.edu) if you have trip ideas or need a little extra help planning – that is what we are here for! We will pose trip ideas to house members and do our best to figure out putting them into ACTION.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NCFF FACEBOOK
Laura Stevenson & the Cans performed at the North Country Folk Festival 2015.
Feel the Beet:North Country Folk Festival By DUNCAN FORT COLUMNIST
Hey there, ho there, ladies and gentlemen! How do your legs feel about a fast paced finger-plucking tune making
its way out of a banjo and into your cranium? Do you like moving and grooving to some local beats while experiencing a taste of good ol’ North Country culture and art? Are you all about learning about
what’s going on just outside of the infamous SLU bubble? Well if you feel good about those three questions you’re in luck! This Saturday the North Country Folk Festival will be hosted right here on your very own St.
7 | THE HILL NEWS
Students Prepare for SLU’s First-Ever “Lip Dub” By ALLISON PILCHER STAFF WRITER On Sunday, April 24, St. Lawrence will film its first lip dub. A lip dub is a lip-syncing music video that is filmed in a single shot. An audio track is dubbed over the video during editing. In most lip dubs, a camera travels through different spaces filled with people. The videos are high energy and often very silly. They have increased in popularity over the last few years and have been created by high schools, fraternities, sports teams, and even as marriage proposals. A committee of students headed by Floor Fiers ‘19 has organized SLU’s lip dub. The planning has been entirely the responsibility of student volunteers, with assistance from administrators when necessary. Plans to nail down the song, route, and order and location in which different campus groups will appear have been in the works since the beginning of the semester. The song is “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves. The route begins at the quad and travels through Dean Eaton and Sykes, ending outside the front of the student center. All student organizations and athletic teams on campus were invited to participate in the video. Each participating
group has been assigned a location along the route as well as a section of the song. It is up to these groups to bring a poster or banner to advertise their organization, have a designated member learn their assigned lyrics, coordinate outfits, and bring fun props. More than twenty groups have registered. These groups include athletes, Greek organizations, theme houses, dance groups, academic and political clubs, and more. The goal is to show the diverse interests of our community. Even if you are not participating with a group, all Laurentians are encouraged to show up in school colors or crazy costumes for this event. Do you have some cool dance moves? Can you do a backflip? We encourage everyone to come out and show off your energy and enthusiasm! The more people there are to fill the large spaces, the more impactful the video will be. Feel free to go crazy, but remember that this is a university sponsored video. Two or three takes will be filmed between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. If you are not part of a group, meet on the quad at 1 p.m., and bring your friends along. Feel free to contact Floor Fiers at ffiers15@stlawu.edu with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Lawrence University campus. For those of you who don’t know what a North Country Folk Festival entails, keep reading. All day, yes that’s right, ALL day long on Saturday, there will be live bands, local vendors, demonstrations, and a Biergarten (for those with valid ID and some dolla dolla bills ya) on the Java Quad. Also, Dana will be serving up some local recipes guaranteed to tickle your taste buds (in the good way, of course). The Green House has been working tirelessly to put on what is sure to be a wonderful, fun-filled, relaxing day of music and local culture that is sure to get you tuned up and ready to face whatever exams or papers for which you desperately need to procrastinate. Folk Fest is tons of fun, but it also serves a greater purpose in the St. Lawrence community. We are a privileged bunch of individuals here at SLU, but many of our neighbors in St. Lawrence County have to contend with some harsher economic realities than our own. By opening up our campus to North Country locals, we are building and maintaining bridges with a community that
is very easy to become isolated from in the day-to-day routine of being a student. The bubble that exists here on campus can lead to damaging perceptions of both communities, and Folk Fest serves as a reminder that SLU exists within a larger environment than our campus and even Canton. We are a small part of the North Country’s incredible array of artistic and scientific talent. Recognizing the beautiful culture that exists in Northern New York’s farmland, mountains, lakes, rivers, towns, schools, and cities can only serve to increase our empathy for those living all around us. So come one, come all! Everyone young, old, and in between are welcome to join in on the fun. And while you are there, be sure to strike up a conversation with a North Country local. Listen to their stories and learn how much happens outside of SLU. If you have any questions or impending emergencies on Saturday, find your nearest Green House member. We will be wearing awesome hats and selling some of the sexiest t-shirts north of the Mason Dixon line.
8 | THE HILL NEWS
ARTS & entertainment
APRIL 22, 2016
On Day Jobs, Playlists and Star Wars: The Mowgli’s, NGHTMRE & The Rebel Light By JENNA MEAD GUEST WRITER This years Springfest brought three bands to campus. The Mowgli’s are a band that is made up of seven members who perform like a cool family. Katie Jayne Earl, vocals and percussion, and Josh Hogan, vocals and guitar, were able to sit down with me, as well as NGHTMRE’s DJ Tyler Merenyl and The Rebel Light, which is a four-piece band that is really just a group of friends making music together and having a great time doing so. It was hard to ignore the dog, Blue, who travels with the band, a symbol of relaxed feel of the group. I was able to talk to each about what it is like being on tour and how they have been able to use their fame for function.
The Mowgli’s
Are you are tour right now? Katie: We are on tour. We’re on a small kind of club run to try out some of our new material. We’re actually in the middle of working on our third record right now. We’ve recorded about half of it and we’re writing and recording the second half now. Where is home for the band? Katie: Home is Los Angles for us. We are all based out of L.A. We all met in LA, a lot of us grew up together. Then we met Josh and Colin through the music scene. Did you find it difficult to break into the music scene? Josh: Yes, it was very difficult. LA was hard. There are so many bands and so many clubs and so many things happening every single day so it was just very hard. Katie: Josh, has been a musician for a lot longer and just has more experience. We just played non-stop. Josh: We played a million crappy shows. Katie: We didn’t feel like we were trying to break into anything, we were just playing a lot and then suddenly we were there. Was there a moment you felt like you had made it? Katie: The moment that was a big shift for us was when we all got to finally quit our day jobs. For the first three years of the band, we all went to our day jobs then we would get off work and rush over to the bar we were playing at that night and play a show and clear out at 2, 3 a.m. We’ve had so many jobs, you take any job that allow you to do what you love to do at night or what you need to do to feed your passion. We’ve done everything, from dog grooming to flowers to video production. I worked in a pot shop. Who writes the music? Katie: I think Josh and Colin are predominantly responsible for curating our sound. They are both really strong songwriters. And both have different influences that when they get together, it makes what the
NGHTMRE pumps out jam after jam at Saturday’s concert.
KELSEY MATTISON/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Mowgli’s sound is. Then the rest of the band puts their details on it and that solidifies our sound. Josh: With this new album, we are really trying to get back to our roots, where we all write the songs in a room together. I really think these new songs we have been writing as a band are great. We are all in the room together, at first we have nothing then someone plays a rif and we build a song out of that. Those are best songs we have in my opinion. What is the style of music you are going for? Katie: We want our music to affect people. We don’t want to close ourselves into any box. The other night we were working on a song and in its early stages it was like a fullblown country song. Then we get it into the studio and everyone starts doing their thing, it just evolves. It isn’t until everyone adds their piece that it becomes a Mowgli’s song. Tell me about the “Room For All of Us” track you have out. We wrote it for our second record, but we had another song that was very similar. So when decided on the other for the record. But we always really loved Room for All of Us; we wanted a special place for that song to go. So when we learned about the Refugee crisis, we wanted to do something. And we had this song that wasn’t doing anything. So we put it out and the proceeds of the
happens (here)? Are there any pre-show rituals? Katie: We try to make physical contact and connect. We usually take some kind of inside joke and all put our hands in and scream something to get that weird energy out before we hit the stage. Pre-show snack of choice? Josh: Today its bagels from the Bagelery. Anything you want the fans to know? We do this for a living, so if they like the music, hit up stations, hot up Alt Nation and makes you like it, so that we can keep coming back and doing what we love for a living. We need the fans support.
song go to the IRC (International Rescue Committee). It’s been really awesome; they (the IRC) do great work. We played the song a lot on our last tour; we collected donations and sold a poster with proceeds going to the IRC. The organization helps people resettle in places where they don’t have to live in fear. What’s your feel for St. Lawrence? Katie: It is cold and we saw some big bugs. It’s beautiful. We sound checked and from what I can tell, the energy of the students here is really high and fun. Even just sound checking at 10:30 in the morning the kids were dancing and woke me right up. Playing college shows is a great way to stay up on our skills when we’re not touring. And they let us reach a large audience of people from different places who are all going to eventually go to different places. And students work hard, they need a break every now and then, let it all out. Students deserve a good concert. Is there a favorite song you have to perform? Katie: Playing some of the new ones have been really fun. Josh: A new called “Freaking me out” that we just released is so fun to play. There’s another banger called “Monster”. Those two are just so fun to play. Katie: The news keep us on our toes and its really, really exciting and fun to have to ask yourself wait what
NGHTMRE:
Where does the name Nghtmre come from? It comes from my name. My name is Tyler Merenyi and when I played sports growing up everyone called me T-Mare, then that became Nightmare. I was making music for a long time as that alias name then once I got to the point when I felt my music was on another level professionally, I decided to rebrand with Nghtmre. How long have you been making music? I’ve been playing instruments since I was young, playing piano, and drums. It started producing music near the end of high school.
I’ve been engineering producing for about eight years. I’m 25 now. What type musical performance will the show be? The performance will be mostly DJing so it is a set of my music, other people’s music, and play a little bit of everything using digital turn tables basically. I mix really quickly, play a lot of different songs and try to keep it moving. How did you learn to mix? I had a couple friends who could do it, then I bought the equipment. I ask my friends to show me how to do stuff then just sat down with it for three to four months. Learning how to be a good DJ is way easier than learning how to produce an entire record. But it’s easier to get book for shows (as a DJ) if you have a record that everyone knows. Up on stage what are you doing in the moment? Basically I have a general list of songs I want to play. So I have three turn tables and a mixer in the middle. The mixer controls the volumes of each turn table. So I’ll have one song playing, and in my headphones I can hear that song and the set next song that is coming up. I match up the beats and adjust until its ready when I then bring it in for the crowd. I do a lot of there. If I’m playing 75 minutes then I’ll play close to 75 songs or more. What artist do you like to play the most? I love DJ Snake, Skrillex, Diplo. I’m a big fan of GTA and RL Grime. Do you do a lot of college shows? Not like this. What kind of pre-show preparations do you do? I always make a new playlist of music. Depending on where I am. I’ll do more hip-hop for college shows. I tailor the set to the audience. But no rituals that I keep to, maybe take a few shots. Are you currently on tour? This is one of the last stages of the Lighters Up tour. I just put out my first solo EP, with all of my own music. Right now everything that I’m doing to now mostly collaborations, one with Dylan Francis and one with Gas Leak. Anything for the SLU fans? I’m anxious, I’m never been out here. I grew up in North Carolina and went to college there. Then out to LA. It’s going to be a great show!
The Rebel Light:
How long have you been making music together? About four years and Tim (Bass guitarist) joined the band in November. He inquired about the position and one thing lead to another, he applied for the job and then he was with us. Where does the name Rebel Light come from? The name the Rebel Light is actually a Star Wars reference. The Mowgli’s get the crowd going with some pleasers.
KELSEY MATTISON/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
CONTINUED on Page 9
APRIL 22, 2016
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
THE HILL NEWS | 9
Is“...at the still point...”in Your Week? Well,Dance on Over Here BY CATHERINE FLORES STAFF WRITER A beloved and highly anticipated St. Lawrence tradition is upon us! This weekend, the PCA department, dancers,choreographers, videographers, and singers will present the spring dance concert, “…at the still point….” This year’s show is certainly not one to miss, as it features work from students all four class years, choreography from a wide array of dance styles, along with special features and new effects that will be debuted in the auditorium this week! This semester’s dance show begins without a dance, but a brief video to introduce the audience to the show’s theme, but here’s a second plot twist: there’s no way to sum up “…at the still point…” with just a singular theme or mantra. When asked to describe the show, dance professor of the PCA department, Kerri Canedy, commented, “It’s just so eclectic,” after a thoughtful pause. traditionally teaches two dance classes per semester which are featured in the show, but she also worked with me in an independent study to present an en pointe ballet piece. This year she is even dancing with her Advanced Modern class in the final number of the production. In addition to Canedy’s diverse work this semester, there are small group dances choreographed by students. Student works in contemporary, lyrical, and even tap dance are featured. To perfect the sounds of the dancers’ tap shoes, the students from Nathan Torres’ stagecraft class built a special stage. In addition to our SPRINGFEST FROM PAGE 8 The Rebel Light is a name of ship of the Rebel Alliance. That’s where the name came from. What’s the vibe you guys try to go for? I’d say since the rest of these guys have decided to move to California, it’s become a combination of early 60s music with a lot of other things to get that vibe of summertime and trying to be carefree amongst craziness. Tell me a little bit about your single, “The Stranger”. We recorded it all ourselves. We put it out there and Alt Nation picked it up. We are going to have a five song EP out in just a few weeks. We’ve been touring with the Mowgli’s and opening for them and we have their fans responding. It’s beyond anything we could have imagined. Seeing people sing along is a trip. What’s the favorite song of the group to perform? There are a couple new songs we’ve been playing. It’s the newer one that become your favorites. “After Life” is a great one. We like the songs that people react to, whatever the vibe of the crowd is really.
hard working dancers, who work hard to give a spectacular show the show would not be possible without the stage crew who are responsible for the magnificent light shows, sounds, and props that enhance the audience’s experience. As you watch the dancers this weekend, do not forget to take notice of the crescendos in the music, the dramatic lighting, and what is going on around you not only from the stage but also in the aisles in the theater. Canedy’s Jazz class is performing two dances, one to a current pop song and one to a classic musical theatre piece, during which not everyone makes it out alive! A student piece features a goose bump-inducing performance from the Laurentian Singers, and the final piece is crazy fun, wacky, and silly, and you might break a sweat just from watching your fellow classmates jump, twist, and turn, choreographed by guest, Jenna Del Monte. No matter what you are looking for in a dance performance, this weekend’s “…at the still point…” is sure to deliver. Have I given too much away?! You decide after this weekend! Come join your fellow classmates as we celebrate our hard work and passion for the arts! The performances are at 8:00 pm this Friday and Saturday in Gulick Theatre in the Noble Center. Admission is ~*fo free*~, but to attend, you must pick up tickets in the box office outside of Gulick from 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. TODAY, Friday, April 22nd! On behalf of the performers, choreographers, crew, and all lovers of the arts, we hope to see you this join us weekend for our final hoorah!
BART MACKEY/GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER
Seeds and the Stumps shred and slay at the Java Barn.
Don’t Be Scared Off By Seed and His Stumps BY CORY LATOUR STAFF WRITER Of the many popular student bands on campus, one group of several seniors took to the stage in their final weeks at St. Lawrence. Seed and the Stumps, managed by Todd Moores, consists of “Seed” (Reed McLeod) and the “Stumps” (Christian Houk, Kirk Ryder, and Tyler Breckenridge). McLeod provided the vocals, Houk melted faces on the electric guitar, Ryder tickled the bass guitar, and Breckenridge banged on the drums like the Dean Eaton extension bangs on a Saturday night. Just to clarify, while they do play Metallica songs, ‘Seed and the Stumps’ is not strictly a Metallica cover band. The band chose to play two heavier tunes: Metallica’s “Seek and Destroy,” and Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name.” The intensity of the songs quickly got the heads banging in the audience, and this reviewer
scurried in to the corner in fear of an all out riot. Furthermore, the visual aspect of the band was frightening, although it truly represented the hard rock coming from the speakers. Donned in a bathrobe, sunglasses, and headband, McLeod let out his best vocals for, “Killing in the Name,” telling his listeners: “F**k you, I won’t do what you tell me!” Message read loudly and clearly Seed, I am going to watch out for you on campus. Houk was equally as ridiculous, as he wore an all gray Dickie’s jumpsuit, accompanied with a seventeenth century Plague Doctor beak. The result looked like an axe wielding auto-mechanic, getting ready for some sort of Stanley Kubrick Eyes Wide Shut orgy. His dynamic shredding complemented the bass and the drums, and the only thing missing was an iconic guitar smash at the end, to stir things up. Ryder was hard to miss on the bass, as his physically intimidating
stature made even the tallest of audience members feel small. His bulky yet delicate fingers worked the strings in such a way, it made you say: “Hey, no wonder this man has such big forearms.” Breckenridge cracked sticks on the drums, and one could almost feel his sweat shoot out on to the crowd at each individual smash. Overall, the audience was left wanting more, demanding an encore, as they banged their heads and showered beer on each other. I know that I want more—their music makes you feel alive and empowered. The band has an active stage presence, and the only shame about the show was that the crowd was not bigger. Hopefully Seed and the Stumps will play to a larger audience soon, although the intensity of their music might turn too large of a crowd into a dangerous weapon. The band is open to booking gigs, and inquiries should be directed to band manager Todd Moores (tkmoor12@stlawu.edu).
Behind the Red Picket Fences: Moon-Hooch Trio the Tops By BRIDGET FLEMING COLUMNIST I want to draw a parallel between this band and Christmas morning. To that feeling of pure, sober, blissful, childhood ecstasy. When you received the alien droid ship that took the seven triple-A batteries Santa DID NOT forget to include. When all you did all day was jump up and down in your new power ranger Velcro jumpsuit and listen to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” on repeat while shoving M&M’s in your tiny mouth. Now, I am not sure of the details of your memories, perhaps I am reading into it, but I know for a fact each and every one of you has had at least one BOMB, two dollar bill, steak on the first date, Christmas morning. And I
want to you to remember that feeling, and copy & paste that onto your mind’s internal hard drive Moon Hooch document and BOOM, you now have all the feelings, the sensations, the romance, of Saturday night (post Springfest) at the Barn. And similar to when you finally asked mom and dad, “YO, for real, is Santa legit?” and as they were dually dumbfounded and speechless, I am speechless; I do not know where to start describing and telling you about this band. They are so talented, were so phenomenal, and also, are such fascinating people off stage, I feel like I have to quickly choose where I, Jack, am going to have my 20 second fling with Rose on the Titanic before it all hits the iceberg fan. We will start with the show. The guy on drums, James
Muschler, was LITERALLY on Buddha planet; he was in the zone. Playing split second notes I do not know the name of, his ability to play so intensely, while so focused, was mesmerizing. The other two in the trio, Mike Wilbur and Wenzl McGowan, played multiple, huge, brass horns, and were doing a breathing technique where, while blowing air through their mouth to play, simultaneously inhaled so that they could continue to play, non-stop, for minutes on end. Try that the next time you play your fifth grade recorder and you will see, this is an incredibly difficult talent to learn. This was the best Java band and show all semester, hands down (hands up the entire time), no questions asked. Not to mention their
personal philosophy is mind BOTTLING. If you check out their TedX Conference talk in Atlanta, you will learn that Moon Hooch should have failed, with Mike and Wenzl always full of dissonance and anger towards each other, such that they began meditating and studying psychology together in order to mend their dysfunctional relationship. Through these efforts and the music they have been creating together, they were able to become a successful group of musicians. Can I add they are all vegans who are passionate about the environment and agricultural sustainability? You smooch, you gooch, you booch, you are gonna have to go to the shower with a douche after sweating your brains out at the post-Spring-Moon Hooch. Do not make sense. Be sense.
NEWS
10 | THE HILL NEWS
APRIL 22, 2016
Ecuador Disaster: Nation Continues to be Rocked By Earthquake, Death Toll Above 500 By ANDREW WATSON STAFF WRITER
PHOTO COURTESY OF ABCNEWS
John Kasich advises female students not to “go to parties where there’s a lot of alcohol.”
Damn Republicans, Back at it Again With the Victim-Blaming By KATIE WILSON STAFF WRITER
This past Friday, John Kasich graced the small, upstate New York haven of Watertown with his presence-- little did he know that within a mere hour, he would make one of the greatest faux pas in his campaign thus far. It all began with a question from SLU student, Samantha Clemmey ’19, regarding the dangers of sexual assault on college campuses. Clemmey, a self-proclaimed political junkie, started off her questioning by asking Kasich, “Being that I’m a young female college student, what are you going to do in office as President to help me feel safe and more secure regarding sexual violence, harassment, and rape?” Kasich’s answer to this question alone was brimming with ‘beating around the bush’ tactics. He referenced his efforts in Ohio to ease the struggle for college victims in reporting sexual harassment and seeking aid, while simultaneously ignoring the essential aspect of the question: what his plan would be after assuming office. It was Kasich’s follow-up, though, which is garnering nationwide media attention. After expressing his own concern about the issue and declaring that he “doesn’t even like to think about it,” being the parent of two soon-to-be college daughters, Clemmey followed up her question by saying “It’s sad, but it’s something that I have to worry about.” Kasich then responded with
the end-all, be-all of ‘dad’ statements: “Don’t go to parties where there’s a lot of alcohol. OK? Don’t do that.” After uttering these words, the crowd broke out into enthusiastic applause. So, where is the issue in such a statement? It is true that a large number of college sexual assaults are coupled with the use of alcohol. 43 percent of victims report having been intoxicated at the time of assault, whereas 69 percent of perpetrators report consuming alcohol prior, according to Campus Safety Magazine. However, it is also true that alcohol usage is not, in any way, inherently linked to being assaulted on a college campus. Moreover, intoxication does not provide an excuse for an assault—if someone does not actively consent (and continue to consent) to a sexual act, then the sexual encounter is an assault. Furthermore, the insinuation by anyone, especially a presidential candidate, that a woman must avoid drinking alcohol or engaging in common behavior on college campuses, such as attending an event characterized by a large level of alcohol consumption, is outright appalling. The concept of victim blaming, or transferring the blame for an assault onto the victim based on what he or she was wearing or drinking has plagued our society for decades. And while multiple groups, organizations, and individuals have attempted to right this wrong, the aforementioned
misinformation and projection of blame continues to pervade discourse on sexual assault worldwide. Rather than telling potential perpetrators “don’t rape” or focusing on better educating young minds on the concept of affirmative consent, our society, and our presidential candidates, have opted to tell the victim to avoid putting him or herself in situations that could lead to rape: a fairly peculiar concept, according to John Kasich, that would require individuals to avoid the college social scene in its majority. Although much of the nationwide coverage on the issue has illustrated the ways in which Kasich’s comment will negatively impact his campaign, Clemmey hopes that the conversation generated by her question will instead turn towards highlighting the unfortunate realities of college sexual assault. Nearly one in four women in college will experience an assault during their four years on campus, and the rates increase in the LGBTQ and African-American communities. While there has been an increasing level of discussion regarding sexual assault on college campuses in the last few decades, there is still much work to be done, as illustrated by John Kasich’s comments. After all, if a presidential hopeful is unable to see the possible ramifications and projections generated by such a statement, when will the rest of society begin to see them as well?
In what BBC has called the country’s “biggest tragedy…in the past seven decades,” Ecuador suffered from a 7.8 magnitude earthquake this past Saturday, April 16. The earthquake struck off of the pacific coast at a shallow depth of 19.2 kilometers and was felt as far away as Colombia according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake hit towns such as Portoviejo and Pedernales, leaving a confirmed 480 people dead and close to 3,000 injured. More than 300 aftershocks that reached a height of 5.1 followed the quake, furthering structural damages. Per CNN, all six of the provinces along the Ecuadorian coast are in a state of emergency. In the early morning of Wednesday, April 20, another 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook Ecuador, raising the official death toll to 525. It destroyed and damaged about 1,500 buildings, triggered multiple mudslides and left 20,500 people homeless and needing to sleep in shelters. Ricardo Penaherrera, a member of Ecuador’s national emergency management office said that the biggest problems are the state of transportation routes to deliver aid, a lack of water, communications in rural areas and the effect of heavy rain from El Nino. Many rural areas are still lacking electricity and supplies and “aid had still not reached some areas,” according to Al Jazeera. Some aid areas have been set up for those who lost their homes, including a hub of activity in the national football stadium where volunteers were distributing water and food supplies. However the scope of the disaster is widespread and thousands of people are still essentially living in the streets, as they are afraid to re-enter their homes, or whatever is left of them. According to Al Jazeera there is some threat of looting but it is not widespread. Most of the incidents occurring are the theft of water and food from convenience stores since most of the homes are lacking any source of running water at the writing of this article. The Spanish
Red Cross estimates that 3-5,000 are homeless as a result of the quake. Per the New York Times, the UN Refugee agency is sending a supply plane from Denmark equipped with “900 tents, 15,000 sleeping mats, kitchen sets…and 18,000 repellent soaked mosquito nets.” They said they have supplies to give aid to around 40,000 people. Ecuador has a small population of 16 million and is one of the poorer Latin American nations. President Rafael Correa was strong willed but not optimistic in his assessment of what is to come, saying that “reconstruction will cost billions” and that the dent the earthquake would put in the country would be sizeable, per the New York Times. A source told Reuters that Ecuador is less equipped to handle the aftermath than Chile, whose earthquake in 2010 caused 30 billion dollars worth of damage. The tourist area of Pedernales has lost most of their hotels and businesses to the quake and Mayor Gabriel Alcivar said that “the entire town” was in shambles. The United States, the European U n i o n and Latin American Allies have all offered their assistance in any way possible. So far the surrounding countries have sent more than 400 rescue workers. The US is sending disaster experts from the area, Cuba is sending a medical team, and Switzerland and Spain combined to send 83 earthquake specialists to the affected areas, per Al Jazeera. Although aid is arriving fast, there are concerns about reaching affected areas and what the longterm plan for rebuilding will be. With Correa facing reelection in February and the country shaken to its physical and economic core, the next few months will be critical. The IMF predicted a 4.5 percent decrease in the country’s economy this year. That prediction coupled with President Correa’s estimate that at least three billion USD in aid would be needed to rebuild is a sign of the coming struggle for Ecuador and its people. If you are looking to donate to help the affected citizens of Ecuador, organizations such as care.org, OXFAM, Global Shapers Quito, and UNICEF are all running fundraising campaigns to aid.
Ecuador is less equipped to handle the aftermath than Chile, whose earthquake in 2010 caused 30
billion dollars worth of damage.
Saints Sports
LATEST RESULTS
4/19 NBA ATL 89 BOS 72 4/18 NBA GS 115 HOU 106 4/19 MLB TB 3 BOS 0 4/19 MLB OAK 3 NYY 2
WWW.SAINTSATHLETICS.COM
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEADSPIN
Several members of the U.S. women’s national soccer team are involved in the lawsuit.
Women’s Soccer Suit Stirs Debate Over Wages By THOMAS MATHIASEN MANAGING EDITOR In a story that broke earlier this month, five players on the Women’s national soccer team, including Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and captains Carli Lloyd and Becky Saurbrunn, have filed a suit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) citing a wage discrimination complaint. In the lawsuit, the five brought forward the issue of compensation when it comes to men’s and women’s international soccer competition. The five, acting on behalf of the entire Women’s National Team, detail
their stellar performance in last summer’s World Cup and the payment they received, in which some cases as much as 40% less than what men made in similar international competitions After hearing the news of the suit filed with the EEOC, U.S. Soccer, the governing body for men’s and women’s soccer in America, responded to the complaint. In their response, they citied the tremendous improvements that have been made in women’s soccer in recent history with Title IX in effect, such as more being done to develop the game for young girls in the United States and internationally. Furthermore, US Soccer argued that the current compensation deal under which women’s soccer
operates under was something that was collectively bargained for. This collective bargaining agreement is based off a salary security for women, as opposed to the bonus based system the men bargained for in their agreement. Under this current agreement, which US Soccer continues to argue was collectively agreed on, the numbers tend to fluctuate, but according to a New York Times info-graphic, men receive bonuses of $17,625 for a win against a top ranked opponent and $5,000 for a loss or tie. For the women against a similarly ranked opponent, they receive $1,350 while getting nothing for a loss or tie. The Women’s National Team is not alone in the fight over wage
discrimination in professional or organized competitions. Last summer, during the Western and Southern Tennis Open, reports came out following the tournament about the winnings the champions received. On the men’s side, champion Roger Federer received $731,000 for his winnings while the women’s champion, Serena Williams, only got $495,000 for her performance. Last month, tournament director Raymond Moore was fired due to his comments regarding women’s compensation in competitive events, saying that they “ride the coattails” of men in similar events. Complaints have also been filed against the NCAA regarding complaints over a lack of funding towards women’s athletics in college. Since the passage of Title IX over 40 years ago, many have argued that little has been done to create equality in the funding that men’s and women’s programs receive at the collegiate level. With the suit filed earlier this month, prominent people in the soccer community have come forward in support for the Women’s National Team’s suit, most recently being U.S. Men’s goaltender Tim Howard. In an interview last week, Howard expressed full support to the women, encouraging them to fight for their right to equal pay. Also last week, Women’s Captain Carli Lloyd wrote an op-ed in the New York Times explaining her fight for equal pay. In the article, she explains that they are, “sick and tired of being treated like second class citizens,” and points to the high amounts of revenue the Women’s team generated for U.S. Soccer in
last summer’s World Cup, the highest ratings for any soccer event in American history. She also illustrates the disparities in compensation between men and women’s soccer in travel expenses and sponsor appearances. Along with the fight being put up by current players, two members from the 1999 Women’s World Cup team, Michelle Akers and Julie Foudy, have also thrown their support behind the women taking on U.S. Soccer. Akers and Foudy are no strangers to wage discrimination fights, as they too fought for similar reforms to U.S. Soccer back in ’99. Having accomplished very little back then, the two are currently lobbying US Soccer and the court of public opinion to enact change. Democratic Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has also been a vocal advocate for wage discrimination not only in corporate and business America, but also for the Women’s National Team. Last week during a campaign event in New York City, she appeared on a panel with Rapinoe advocating for women’s pay equality. By sitting with Rapinoe, she too has praised the efforts of the women taking the fight to EEOC. While no further legal action has been taken on either side since the suit was filed, public debates over wage equality have surged. Op-eds, interviews, and media appearances by those involved have brought the story to the public’s eye. With the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio quickly approaching, the debate will surely take center stage as the Women’s National Team prepares for the summer games.
Kobe Finishes With 60 in Final Game By GRANT HAFFENDEN STAFF WRITER When people speak of the greatest NBA players of alltime there is no denying that the now retired Kobe Bean Bryant will be up in many top tens. Game 1,346 turned out to be the Laker legend’s last game and he failed to disappoint. Last Wednesday, the 18-time AllStar selection went back to his glory days and dropped 60 points against the Utah Jazz. While Bryant ended up taking 50 total shots, the 5-time NBA champion looked like he was 27 instead of 37, as he continually drove past defenders and was able to successfully hit trademark step back on multiple occasions. The lead up to Bryant’s final game had more of a playoff atmosphere surrounding it as the cheapest resale tickets on Stubhub were $750.
There were many festivities outside the Lakers’ home arena, Staples Center, to mark the occasion, while many celebrities, including regular fan Jack Nicholson, came out to see the legends last game. Finally, the Lakers produced three tribute videos of Kobe’s career highlights that were shown prior to the game. No one knew what to expect from the aging Bryant, who had struggled the past few years with injury and old age to find his scoring touch. However, Kobe dispelled any doubt of his showmanship as he scored 22 points in the first half. The fourth quarter was where Bryant really shined when he scored 23 points and hit two clutch threes in the final minute to finish off a comeback victory for Los Angeles. In a rather forgetful season for the Lakers in which they have posted the most regular season
losses in franchise history, Bryant’s last season has provided an escape for fans to rally behind. Every road trip that the Lakers took this year was a another chance for NBA fans to congratulate and watch the NBA great one last time. Bryant finished his career third all-time in career points with 33,643, a five-time NBA champion, a two-time Finals MVP, eighteen All-Star selections, four All-Star Game MVPs and eleven selections to the All-NBA First Team. While Kobe only won the regular season award MVP once in 2008, there is no denying the accomplishments that the kid from Lower Merion High School has done. With nothing left to prove, Bryant summarized his finale the best way he could when addressing the crowd, “Mamba Out.”
Bryant retires after 20 seasons in the NBA.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SCIENCE--ALL
Saints Sports
LATEST RESULTS
4/19 Men’s LAX W 15-5 4/16 Women’s LAX, W 18-0 4/17 Softball L 7-9, L 5-6 4/19 Baseball L 2-18
WWW.SAINTSATHLETICS.COM
Lacrosse Q & A with Abby Owens ‘16 By KRISSY DI PERNO STAFF WRITER Name: Abby Owens Age: 21 Hometown: Shelburne, VT Sport: Lacrosse Position: Attack Major: Biology, Sports Studies Minor
Courtwright ‘19 strikes out a career-high eight batters against Union.
PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Saints Softball Strikes Out Cancer By SAMARA SAUSVILLE STAFF WRITER St. Lawrence University Softball concluded their home schedule this past weekend with games against RPI and Union. On Saturday, the Saints held RPI scoreless through eight innings in the first game. First year pitcher Allie Courtwright allowed one run on eight hits during the eighth inning. The final strikeout came in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded for RPI. Courtwright froze RPI’s pinch hitter Christine White with a pitch to the outside corner. This allowed the Saints keep the game scoreless until the ninth inning, when RPI scored three runs. It started with a leadoff double, and back-to-back bunts, followed by two more hits in the inning for a 3-0 loss for the Saints. Elle Gray ‘19 led the Saints with two hits during the first game, while Emma Reakes ‘18 and Mylea Mann ‘19 each recorded a hit a piece. Game two started off with RPI scoring three runs in the first two innings. They added three more in the fourth for their 6-0 win. Emma Gailey ‘18 took the loss in the second game. Gailey threw one and two-thirds innings; she allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Hannah Sears ‘17 relived Gailey and allowed three runs on six hits with three strikeouts. On Sunday, the St. Lawrence
Softball team struck out cancer and swept Union during their final home games of the 2016 season. To kick the day off, the Saints held their second annual “Strike Out Cancer” event, honoring Jordan Sheridan ‘17’s brother Jack, and classmate Carly Dziekan’s father Carl, along with all those affected by cancer in a pre-game ceremony. Jack and Carl both threw out ceremonial first pitches to start the game. During the third inning, Gray put the Saints in front with a 1-0 lead hitting a RBI double to left field bringing in Dziekan. Union took the lead afterwards with two runs in the top of the fourth, making it a 2-1 advantage. In the bottom of the fifth with one out, Kylee Knight ‘18 singled up the middle to put a runner on for Gray, who hit her first collegiate home run with a two-run shot over the wall in center field, helping the Saints come from behind and take a 3-2 lead to get the win. The second game started with Union scoring three runs in the top of the first inning off of starter Sears. Gailey relived Sears and allowed 11 hits and six runs while striking out six. Down 3-0, St. Lawrence answered with six runs. Mann drove in two runs with a double to left field, scoring Knight and Reakes, before scoring the Saints third run on an RBI single by Allie Courtwright ‘19. A pitch hit Abrianna Schlickenmayer ‘19 and
Dziekan earned a walk loading the bases. Jacqueline Dufour ‘18 pinch hit for Sheridan and would reach on a fielding error, allowing two runs to score, advancing Dziekan to third. The next time St. Lawrence was at bat, Knight beat out a throw with an RBI single to third base, giving the Saints a 6-3 lead. During the next two innings, Union added four runs, taking a 7-6 lead, but St. Lawrence responded during the third scoring five runs. Schlickenmayer started off the inning with a single to left center, and backto-back errors put Dziekan and Sheridan on to load the bases. Gray worked an RBI walk, tying the game at 7-7. Reakes followed with a two RBI single to center field. Three runs came next, with Gray taking home after an errant throw for the Saints’ 10th run of the game. Kelsey Murphy ‘18 plated the 11th with an RBI single through the right side, driving in Reakes to round out the inning. This put the Saints solidly in front with an 11-7 lead. Union scored a run during both the sixth and seventh innings, but could not put together a rally to close the gap. The 12th and final run of the day for St. Lawrence came off the bat of Gray, as she doubled down the left field line-scoring Knight. The Saints will travel to Alfred State College Saturday for a double header starting at 12:30 p.m. Good luck, ladies!
Preview Schmeview, Here’s the Real Deal By KATIE PIERCE CHIEF COPY EDITOR If you are reading this article it is safe to say you read the article last week giving an outline on what the writer believed would be the outcome of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year. While reading, you probably thought to yourself, does this person watch hockey? Naming the LA Kings as the champions when they are already struggling in the first round, crazy. So, here I am to tell you what will actually happen during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as last year my prediction article yielded 14 out of 15 correct picks,
with the incorrect one being a tough first round match. Time for some real hockey. As we have seen in the Western Conference so far, the Sharks are handing it to the Kings currently, as expected by (almost) everyone. Therefore, I have the Predators and the Sharks moving on to round two, consistent with the play so far. To no surprise, I have a feeling the wildcard Wild will fall to the Stars and, shockingly, I do not think we will see last year’s champs take down the Blues. Our round two match-ups featuring the Stars against Blues and Predators against Sharks will send the Blues and Sharks into a round
PHOTO COURTESY OF ICETHETICS
3, sending the Sharks to the Stanley Cup final the represent the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference does have some tricky first round matchups this year. Nonetheless, whoever would think the Rangers would beat the Penguins in the first round and go all the way to the final should get an award be being the most die-hard fan ever (cough cough). With that being said, the Penguins and the Capitals will both make it through the first round as two strong teams. On the other side of things, the two Florida teams,
How long have you been playing Lacrosse? I started playing as a freshman in high school. What inspired you to join the PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS team here at St. Lawrence University? Lacrosse was the sport I had been playing for the least amount of time. I wanted to go further with it and SLU seemed like the perfect fit for me as a school and allowed me the opportunity to keep improving as an athlete. What is your favorite memory of being on the lacrosse team at SLU? My favorite memory was having to play two of our big league games on the football field one weekend, because the turf had frost heaves. It was a last minute switch and pretty jencky, but I think that’s what made it so fun. Ringing the bell after a big win with my team felt pretty great too. Who is your biggest fan and why? My biggest fan is probably my dad. He coached me in a lot of different sports growing up and still always knows what to say to pull me out of a rut or get me fired up before a game. No matter how I play on any given day I know he will find something to be proud of me for. Do you have any big plans for this semester - bucket list fulfillments? I am trying to take the semester one day at a time and just take in every moment with graduation coming up. But ultimately I would love to be a part of taking my team to the Liberty League playoffs. Do you have any superstitious pre-race rituals? I actually don’t really believe in superstitions. I know it sounds kind of cliché, but I think it comes down to putting in the work during practice and coming out hard for games. Confidence and grit beat luck any day. What is your favorite thing to order from the pub? Lately my go to has been two eggs over medium with spinach and tomato on top and a piece of toast. I like it because it’s quick and good for any time of the day. What are your suggestions for this weekend’s playlist? Our team swears by any playlist created by our teammate, Jacqueline Sovie (check out her Soundcloud you won’t regret it). But I’m also a 90’s girl so I’d have to throw “She’s So High” by Tal Bachman in the mix. Do you have any advice for student athletes? Form strong and meaningful relationships with your teachers, classmates, coaches, teammates, and friends. You will be grateful for all of them when your sports season and your classes inevitably get tough from time to time. Always remember why you go to SLU and why play your sport; appreciate every minute of it because it goes quick. Anything else you’d like to say? The experiences I’ve had and the relationships I’ve formed through playing a sport in college are unbeatable. I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of the best team anyone could ask for. Also, my sister Emma just committed to coming to SLU next year, so look out for her! the Panthers and Lightning, will both come out of the first round. While there are rumors that Steven Stamkos could make a return, it is not guaranteed and I feel that the Panthers will be able to come out on top either way. His return is possible, but it would be a full return in spirit and a partial return in strength, which is not enough to keep going. As for the round two match up with the Capitals and the Penguins, that is a tough one. After a lot of going back and forth, I feel that the Penguins will be the one to come out on top, and will beat the Capitals and then the Panthers to go on for a spot in the Stanley Cup final representing
the Eastern Conference. The final round is a no brainer, Penguins over the Sharks. Last winning the Stanley Cup in 2009, this will sure be a big year for them if they win, making Pittsburgh proud. So there you have it, another look at what will most likely follow the first round this year. All we can do now is sit back and watch the games unfold to see who actually comes on top. While my bracket was on point last year, I will say nothing can be guaranteed this year, beginners luck can only get you so far. Only time will tell, and who knows, maybe the Kings will win (but probably not).