T PURCHASE H E INDEPENDENT
ISSUE 274 OCTOBER 18, 2012
y o u r. i n d y @ g m a i l . c o m
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR editor-in-chief:
The cover this week is an homage to Purchase Late Night’s. Mike Cronin is absolutely hilarious and incredibly talented. Check out Purchase Light Night on Facebook! He took layout editor: M el issa Foster our cardboard cutout of Neil Patrick Harris out of the office without realizing the deadly consequences. senior staff writer: A l yc e Pel l eg r ino This week we have two new columns -- but really tho, our new advice column, and The Essence of Purchase, a writers: column discussing Purchase’s social scene. Al ex a Dil l en bec k We finally got good news regarding our printing E s s en c e M c C l an ahan situation! Judith Otero is a goddess and we have a meetNoel l e M oore ing with a sales rep about buying a new printer. Jake M ur phy I’m really excited to be able to print with no worCar a Nuz zo M ike Rel uz c o ries; that gives me more time to focus on further improvTom my Roach ing The Independent and everything surrounding it.
R ó i sín M c C ar ty
Sabr ina Sim s Ste phan ie Spen c er A ngel os Tr itar is R achel Weiss
print manager:
Tom my Roach copy editor:
Ste phan ie Spen cer: The Purchase Independent is a nonprofit news magazine, paid for by the Mandatory Student Activity fee. We welcome and encourage submissions from readers. The Independent is a forum for campus issues and events, to give students the voice they deserve. Any opinions expressed are those of the writers, not those of The Independent, its editors, or the PSGA. The deadline for submissions is every Friday before midnight, and accepted pieces will be published the following Thursday. Publication of submissions is not guaranteed, but subject to the discretion of the editors. No anonymous submissions will be considered, but we will accept use of pseudonyms on a case-by-case basis. Send all submissions and inquiries to your.indy@gmail.com. Back page quotes can be submitted to formspring. me/indybackpage or put in the Back Page Box that hangs on the office door. Our office is located on the first floor of Campus Center North, room 1011. Staff meetings are2held in the office every Monday night at 9:30; anyone is welcome.
cover photo by:
R óisín M c Carty web design by:
Tom my Roach C in dy Mack
y o u r. i n d y @ g m a i l . c o m
In This issue: Coyotes, Racoons & A Mountain Lion, Oh My Wildlife at Purchase written by Noelle Moore page 10
But really Tho? New! Advice column. page 16
The Essence of Purchase Review: “The Master� written by Dylan Green page 17
Submit Backpage quotes: formspring.me/indybackpage Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/purchaseindy Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/purchaseindy
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THE STOOD PROBATION BY ALYCE PELLEGRINO Incoming freshman to Purchase College seem to be getting the short end of the stick when it comes to “Purchase experiences,” or so most of the upper classman seem to believe. Not only is the Quad torn up from construction but the Co-op, located over the main dining hall, is being shut down as well. At least they have the Stood, right? Well, maybe. Greg Rutkin, Stood Coordinator, sent out a student body wide email Thursday September 27 with the title “Long Live the Stood/Keep Purchase Weird.” After a short introduction, Rutkin jumps right into the matter at hand. A matter that most seemed unaware of until this very email. “First thing is first: THE STOOD IS ON PROBATION THIS YEAR,” he wrote. “What does this mean? If there is just ONE incident in the space the Stood will be taken away from the students.” Though this email goes into detail about what students can do to keep the Stood from receiving any violations, (do not bring alcohol in, always have your More Cards and guests signed in), what it seems to lack is information on why the Stood is on probation in the first place. “The Stood has been on probation since November of last year,” said Stephanie Blum, Student Activities Coordinator. This is something that was not only left out of the email, but was not widely known on campus. However, it did shed some light on what exactly brought about this time of uncertainty. “The Student Center [Stood] is on pro-
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bation because of an incident that happened at Zombie prom last year,” she said. “There was a mic stand that was thrown into the crowd and it hurt a girl, I think it hurt her nose if my memory serves me correct. There was a law suit coming to the school about it but since they found out it was the drummer who threw it, the drummer is getting the bulk of the law suit.” “I think having the Stood on probation is kind of a good thing for all the students, because it makes all of the students a lot more conscientious,” Blum continued. “And if the Stood wasn’t on probation, since the Stood is the only programming space on campus it really makes students watch their ass.” This may be wishful thinking. Not just because the Purchase community is a rowdy bunch, but because information still seems to be limited. “They’re doing a really terrible job about telling people [about the probation],” said Julie Namack, a senior Sociology major. “The only reason that I know about most of the stuff that’s going on with probation is because I’m friends with people who are either in bands or work at the Stood, so I know what’s going on.” Not everyone has those conections to the Stood. Many flock there for different reasons: concerts, art shows, the practice space, to skate, or play games. It might be good to ask even half of these students if they know what is going on in their hang out hot spot. “They sent out one email,” Nemack continued. “All of last year the Stood was on proba-
news tion, and nobody knew that the Stood was on probation except for the people who work there. And all the things that are not technically allowed that have always happened at the Stood were still happening because no one was taking it seriously. Nobody tells us anything because it’s a student run thing so the students think that it will just go away, but they have to address it.” Hopefully, as the year goes on, the communication bridge between the working students and their peers will be built up better. Rutkin sure seems to be aiming towards a more positive year. After a list of things he is working towards in the student’s space, he left them all with a closing that tried to reach out the best he could. “I’m just trying to make this the best and not be the worst. I love you all.”
SEnate UPDATE BY CARA NUZZO John Delate, Director of Res Life, spoke at the Senate this week about the dorms project. “When you see something let me know,” said Delate, “I want to deal with it on a personal basis, I promise you that.” Donna Salter returned this week to talk about the change in the Port Chester Loop. “The White Plains Schedule has spiralled out of control,” said Salter. Large numbers of students were left at the bus stops in White Plains, as a result the Port Chester Loop will no longer run from 4:47 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. so there can be two buses in the White Plains Loop at that time. “Five people [on the Port Chester Loop] compared to 75 people just doesn’t work,” she said. The appointment of the Athletic Senator was tabled, and Cam Corrado was appointed as the Liberal Arts Senator. “I feel like I am a diverse student,” said Corrado, “I know what it is like to be a transfer student as well as a commuter.” The Public Relations by-laws were passed this week after some debate about the Mandatory Student Activities Fee Logo. It was discussed to create a logo since it is difficult to fit “paid for by your Mandatory Student Activities Fee” on every poster. The moderation of the PSGA Facebook page was also brought up for debate, and it was decided that all content generators are responsible for documentation regarding censorship of social media. Derek Gaskill proposed a laser tag event at the Stood for a senator initiative. It has been an annual tradition for the past three years.
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Voter Fraud BY ANGELOS TRITARIS On October 11, Purchase College was the site of a talk entitled “The Myth of Voter Fraud & The Reality of Voter Disenfranchisement.” The talk was hosted by Keesha Gaskins, the Senior Counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice, located at New York University’s School of Law. Their mission statement affirms that the center is “dedicated to strengthening democracy and securing justice, through law, scholarship, education and advocacy.” The Red Room in the student services building was filled showing that Purchase students definitely have an ear for, and are interested in, politics, voting, and the issue of voter fraud. Or the non-issue, as Keesha Gaskins explains to the room. If one isn’t keen on the topic, here’s a primer: As the election looms closer and closer, many state governments have issued various new restrictions on voting. During the voter registration process, every state asks that one prove their identity before they’re allowed to vote. It is only recently that states are now asking that one provide only specific kinds of governmentissued photo I.D., leaving about 11% of Americans without one out of luck, according to a national survey conducted by the Brennan Center. The issue here is that these restrictions are being put in place to deter “voter fraud,” which Keesha Gaskins went on to prove to be a folly. When the Brennan Center looked into these new voter I.D. laws, they discovered that they only really stopped one type of voter fraud, and that is “Voter Impersonation.” This is some-
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one using someone else’s identity and voting under their name, or someone voting for someone who is dead. The problem with this type of voter fraud, as Keesha Gaskins goes on to explain, is that it is the least efficient way to steal an election ever. One trying to commit voter impersonation would have to spend all their time voting, risk thousands of dollars in fines, all for one singular vote. As far as the Brennan Center and others are concerned, there is no systematic voter fraud in this country because no one actually does it. “We haven’t seen this kind of sweeping restrictions on voting since the Jim Crowe Laws,” Keesha Gaskins explained. This is turning into something of an epidemic. Luckily, The Brennan Center of Justice has been making steps towards a solution. As of October 11th, eleven courts have either blocked or blunted serious restrictive voting laws and the Brennan Center and its allies are striving for more action to be taken against these laws. For more information on the Brennan Center for Justice and details on how you can get involved, visit their website at brennancenter.org
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Vandalism
Late night UPDATE
BY MIKE RELUZCO
RACHEL WEISS
Vandalism. I know you’ve seen it. It’s all over the place. There’s the weird Easter Island head that looks like it could have been a great guerrilla marketing campaign if it meant something, there’s all the stupid shit people do on the weekends, and for some reason you can’t go anywhere without having the words “balls deep” in your general range of vision. Overall, I think vandalism is pretty uncool. But there is one exception, and as long as you’re a living, breathing, and shitting human being I know you’ve seen it too (apologies to any non-pooping extraterrestrials on campus). It’s all on the stall walls, and honestly I love it to death. There is nothing more interesting than what people are thinking while they sit on the toilet, and if you really pay attention, you can learn from it. One enterprising male seems to be conducting a sociological study using the bathroom wall. A tally has begun on a stall in the bathroom asking males to add a tally mark if they like to poop. The consensus seems to be that everybody likes to poop. It gets even better if you read it aloud to yourself. When one person complains that the grass dies every year, just voicing the response on the wall, “Grass is perennial, bro,” brings tears of laughter to my eyes. The people behind the markers and pens of the Purchase stalls are the true heroes on campus. Just taking a seat can give you the knowledge you need, the knowledge you care about, and the knowledge you never really cared to know but is kind of interesting anyway. So keep at it, guys, you make pooping fun for everybody.
For Derek Shane Garcia, inspiration for a film can strike at any moment. “I like to start with the characters really, and kind of work my way around them,” he said. “It all starts with that one character, and then the film comes to life.” Derek is a senior Film major this year at Purchase, and what better way to present his impeccable talent than in the Late Night Network’s Student Film Showcase? SFS is noted for its outstanding short films, sketches, and music videos. Derek has written, directed, and shot many films in his college career. Four of them have already been featured on SFS, which were entitled “Stuffed,” “At Night Only,” “The Brooklyn Bridge,” and “Girl on Fire.” For some of these films he collaborated with fellow students to form the ideas, while for others he would “workshop” the ideas and develop the films by himself. Born and raised in the boroughs of New York, Derek often draws from personal experiences when filming, and even goes back home once in a while to shoot some scenes. “All my films have a big environmental theme of New York City,” he said. “I like to shoot in Brooklyn and places around my house. I like to repeat images sometimes.” His style of filming varies with everything he shoots. His cinematographic range stretches from a light-hearted film involving a girl serving an imaginary feast to her stuffed animal friends, to a serious personal narrative.
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POKÉMON BLACK AND BLUE BY MIKE RELUZCO Pokemon is more than a game; Pokemon is a lifestyle. Most who grew up in the 90’s fondly remember watching Ash and Pikachu travel together on a journey to be the very best. I’ll always remember my first Charmander, and watching it evolve all the way to a Charizard, because let’s be real, the fire types are always the best. Charizard was my friend, but PETA begs to differ with their recent Flash game, Pokémon Black and Blue. In a quest for the rights of imaginary animals, PETA has pitted Pokémon against their not-so-beloved trainers, using violence and force to convert popular characters to the woes of being a Pokémon. Pikachu leads Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott to defeat actual characters from the Pokemon games, and television show. The music, people, and play-style of the current Pokémon games remains largely unchanged. As far as I can tell, PETA is begging for lawsuits. My big issue here is the twisting of the core elements in Pokémon. I recall each game testing not only a trainer’s skills in raising their Pokémon to fight, but also their skills in maintaining a healthy relationship with their Pokémon, whom they consider friends. The final villain in PETA’s game is the age-defying Ash Ketchum, the hero of the Pokémon television shows , and friend to Pokémon everywhere. PETA depicts him as a greedy, powerhungry monster whose love for fame is topped only by his love for hurting his Pokémon. Watching PETA pit Pikachu and Ash against each other is saddening. I remember a
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time when Pikachu’s tears brought Ash back to life. I remember when Pikachu charged into a flock of Spearows poised to kill Ash. I remember the days when I wanted to be Ash Ketchum, not an abuser, but instead a friend, and a hero. It’s always sad to watch the things you love twisted into something misinformed. PETA uses the shock and outrage from the Pokémonloving community to spread their agenda, and they always have. But I’m not shocked. I’m not outraged. I’m just sad, not only due to the misinformation that PETA is spreading, but also because PETA seems to have shifted their focus from the rights of real animals to the rights of imaginary animals. Once again, PETA has made a really big stink about nothing, and I can only hope that the spread of this game does not hinder the spread of Pokemon as a source for children’s entertainment. Pokemon was a large part of my childhood, and I’d hate for this poorly-interpreted commentary to be the undoing of one of the most beloved franchises in the world.
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FAKE LETTERS, FREE STUFF BY ANGELOS TRITARIS Hello dear readers whom I love. There are many things in this world that are important to us. Friends, family, cigarettes, and those sticks with the spokes at the end that one uses to scratch their back. But those things cost money, and without money there would be no things. If things didn’t cost money there would be no wars probably. In order to strive for peace on this Earth, we proudly present: Fake complaint letters to large companies in order to get free stuff. Tangerine Confectionery is one of the UK’s leading brand of sweets, candies and other good stuff. Also popcorn. This is a letter of fabricated complaint regarding their brand of marshmallows, Princess. To whom it may concern/Hello Princess, It is with great regret that I put pen to paper to spill my inky complaint. Your marshmallows have been a huge part of my life, and my family’s life for many years now, and it is only now that they have truly let us down. They have always been wonderful to us, whether on a picnic, in my son Fraser’s lunchbox or as an accurate representation of my wife’s eyes on the model of her on our wedding cake. It is my son Fraser about whom I write to you now about. We purchased a packet of your giant marshmallows during a recent trip to a funeral, and Fraser was giddy with excitement about tucking into what he describes as “a nice bag of Yum Pillows.” When he tore into the bag, we discovered that nestled amongst the giant marshmallows, tucked into a cleft toward the
middle, was a tiny marshmallow. To anyone else, this would be vaguely amusing. But Fraser is a sensitive lad, and he became worried that the smaller marshmallow was being bullied by the bigger ones. He has been learning about bullying in school and thinks that, just because a sweet is smaller, it shouldn’t be picked on. Fraser himself has been bullied in the past, and this situation has reminded him of it. Admittedly, he wasn’t bullied because he was a smaller marshmallow, it was because he had a big face, but that is neither here nor there. I have enclosed the marshmallow in this letter because, frankly, I’m fed up with keeping it in my pocket to protect it from the bigger boys. If you could please send some photos of the marshmallow [or as Fraser calls him, “lil’ buddy”] having fun, perhaps on a roller coaster or doing karaoke, just to set Fraser’s mind at rest, it would be greatly appreciated most likely. Anyway, I will let Fraser finish this letter, as he needs practice with his writing. Dear Sweets, Please look after my friend and stop him from being bulled by any other sweets, especially the coconut snowballs because they are the most horrid. by Fraser
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Wildlife at purchase BY NOELLE MOORE One of the Purchase perks is the fact that the campus rests within a cloistered woodland area. With such proximity to nature, inspiration can come easy to the fine arts students, but so can access for woodland creatures. Situated where the campus is, it’s not so unusual to encounter the occasional raccoon or skunk. And contrary to the alert e-mails we get every time a coyote is spotted around campus, these occurrences may soon become as common as a raccoon run-in. Coyotes lead the way in the emerging urban carnivore parade, what with being highly adaptable and easily encouraged. When people think of coyotes, they tend not to associate the canine cousins with urban areas. That way of thinking is changing. For example, a study has shown that some 2000 coyotes live in the urban Chicago metro area. The immersion of this trend can be attributed to the fact that as cities expand they move into the territory of wild animals. And, like all city slickers, the animals enjoy the convenience of having everything at their fingertips – um, pawtips? We make it so easy for them to walk among us. Garbage is a veritable feast, just ask the raccoons behind the Hub. And when we encourage their contact with humans, we are putting ourselves and, regrettably, our pets at risk. Coyotes are notorious for preying on family pets like cats and dogs. With that said, it’s a good thing that Purchase professor Gary Waller keeps his adorable, enormous calico indoors. While it may not seem like code red right now, coyotes are paving the way for the other big
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carnivores in our area. We can all remember the incident last year with the mountain lion. The big cat had been spotted around campus before being killed by a collision with a car near the airport. Coyotes are little threat to humans, but mountain lions, also known as cougars and pumas, are another story. Mountain lions are dangerous, easily one of the most dangerous large predators in the United States, capable of killing a human with little more than a bite to the neck. The same can be said about the more fr quent sighting of bears in suburban areas. When people think of bears, they probably think of the far-off wilds like Alaska, Yellowstone Park, and Colorado. That is no longer the case. For example, my father, an officer with animal control for Chappaqua, a town a mere twenty-five minutes from Purchase, had the pleasure of hosting its own black bear. In situations like these, the best option is to capture these large predators and relocate them far away from people. Next time you see the skunk army making their rounds through the Olde and Alumni, ponder the thought that one day that battalion may not be comprised of skunks, but of coyotes. There’s a groundhog that lives behind my apartment on J-Street that we’ve affectionately named Harold. While Harold is a nice reminder of our position on the crux of the woods, I’m glad he isn’t a grizzly.
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The PORT CHESTER loop BY SABRINA SIMS Although it was running last semester, the Port Chester Loop is now in full swing with the start of the new school year. It picks and drops people off at all on-campus bus stops and runs hourly, just like the White Plains Loop. Last year the service was more limited, only taking trips about three times a day. Donna Salter, Director of the School Transportation Office, explained this change saying, “Students asked for it last year. We added more local stops and hourly service so students can do their shopping and go to more places in the area.” Unlike the White Plains Loop, which is often packed and in some cases completely full, leaving people stranded, the Port Chester Loop is empty most of the time. Why? Many people are unaware of its existence or just see it as the bus that doesn’t go to White Plains. It’s the bus they have no interest in taking, however it is much more than that. The Port Chester Loop goes to different places such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, A.I Friedman, an art store, several supermarkets, a movie theater and a handful of Hispanic restaurants. There are also multiple job opportunities, as one can see from the abundance of help wanted signs in local stores at Rye Brook Plaza. John Fallot, Coordinator of Public Affairs, also has some possible news regarding jobs in Port Chester. “We’re trying to partner with the Port Chester Chamber of Commerce to help create more knowledge of jobs available.” Considering the fact that jobs would only be a short ride away, working in Portchester would be a good alternative to an on-campus job.
Port Chester really stands out in its culture. It has a quiet suburban feel, a strong contrast to the somewhat claustrophobic, full hustle and bustle White Plains. There’s always something new to do and experience and one can do it in a nice, compact area. The thriving art scene in Port Chester is another reason people should visit it more. The Port Chester Council for the Arts holds events celebrating local artists throughout the year. In addition, it has the Capitol Theater, a newly reopened venue that hosts popular and rising musicians such as Fiona Apple, Citizen Cope and Regina Spektor. Students have the opportunity to experience quality shows and support the arts without going to New York City. Fallot, who is the person behind the Port Chester Loop Awareness posters around campus, regards the village as an ‘enclave of Purchase culture.’ If you do intend to travel to Manhattan, taking the Metro North at the Portchester train station is a good option while in a rush or when the White Plains loop is crowded. The future of the loop is contingent on how many people ride it. Salter said, “If we see ridership still is low, the Port Chester loop will be cut next semester.” On a more positive suggestion, Salter continued, “The bus makes sense. Why wouldn’t you take it?” Update: As of October 19th, the Port Chester Loop will not be running from 4:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m..
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LACROSSE AT PURCHASE BY SABRINA SIMS From going to Starbucks and other places on campus, one can see how visible the Purchase athletic program is. Student athletes proudly wear workout gear with school colors and are eager to talk about how they contribute to sports scene here. Purchase is a Division III school, which means that it chooses not to offer athletic scholarships. Thus, sports here serve as an extracurricular purpose and allow students to focus on their academic work. This is fitting for the school’s conservatories and other difficult fields of studies. People don’t have to choose between their passions, whether they enjoy things like music or lacrosse, acting or swimming. One example of a student who manages to pursue her interests and excel is Julie Sonne, 20, a cello performance major. She is dedicated to the music conservatory, along with being on the both the women’s swimming and lacrosse teams. When asked how she devotes her time to so many things, Sonne said, “I know what my focus is.” She explained her choice to join lacrosse, “It was a sport I always wanted to try, especially since this is the first year it’s actually a team.” Indeed, this year is the first that women’s lacrosse will be an official varsity team. The team, consisting of 23 members, will debut in Spring 2013, but meanwhile the players, led by Devon Whalen, have already begun practicing so they’ll be competitive and ready for the season start. The first game is at home on March 7, 2013 versus SUNY Maritime. There is also a men’s lacrosse club, which is the same way the women’s lacrosse team start-
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ed off. It has approximately 15 members and is coached by Dennis Butler, according to Bisignano. “There seems to be a growing interest in the club… Hopefully it will become a varsity team soon,” he said. If interested in either group, the coaches can be contacted at 914-251 with extensions of x5943 for Coach Whalen and x6530 for Coach Butler. Although Purchase is mainly recognized for its’ conservatories, liberal arts programs or its eccentric character, it certainly has a thriving athletic life that give students the opportunity to try new things and help foster a competitive and fun school spirit.
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MUCH ADO ABOUT “MUCH ADO” BY Rachel Weiss Recently, I was able to attend my first ever Purchase College Repertory Theatre Production, and I was not disappointed in the least. Directed by Jenny Bennett, the plot of “Much Ado About Nothing” centers around four main characters: Beatrice, Benedick, Claudio, and Hero. While Claudio and Hero are madly in love and to be married, Claudio is tricked into believing that Hero has been unfaithful to him. Meanwhile, Benedick and Beatrice are fooled into thinking there is a spark of romance between them, and end up falling for one another. The Design and Production team staged this play beautifully. The set itself, along with the set pieces and costumes, were beautiful and quite historically accurate. The lighting color changed with the time of day and the motifs of the characters that were onstage at the time, which I thought was very clever and helped the audience follow along easily. During the daytime scenes there were bird-chirping sound effects, and crickets during the nighttime. It was just one of those clever little touches that every play should have, and I definitely appreciated it. As for the direction of the play itself, Bennett did an excellent job with putting modern twists on certain scenes and dialogue. Many present-day gestures were used by the characters; including thumbs-up, snapping, and even air quotes. Little quirks such as these were received well by the audience. Physical humor was a large aspect in “Much Ado.” Benedick would often skip around, jump over set pieces, and at one point, pulled off a pretty stellar cartwheel. Bennett definitely took advantage of the size and set-up of the theater. The actors would come into the audience quite frequently. Benedick, played by Morgan Auld, even sat down
and made small talk with an audience member (in character) during a scene in which he was trying to hide. The balconies were accentuated as well, as many of the characters would travel and deliver scenes across them. This entire cast was incredible, and each of them gave star-quality performances. Quite a few of them played more than one character, which was commendable considering the huge ranges some of them had to provide. This was exemplified beautifully by Meghan St. Thomas, who played both Conrade and Friar Francis. She had to go from portraying a calm and collected religious figure with a climactic soliloquy to an explosive young man proclaiming to Master Constable, “YOU ARE AN ASS!” Standout performances were given by Morgan Auld and Jennifer Mogbock, playing Benedick and Beatrice respectively. Bennett truly hit the nail on the head with the casting of this show. Morgan and Jennifer had incredible chemistry together from start to finish. They lit up the stage and commanded all attention every single time they entered, and the audience reacted wonderfully to their characters. Jennifer had impeccable timing with her jokes, as well as the emotional depth that caused real tears during one of her more dramatic scenes. Overall, the quality of this performance was brilliant. The lighting, costumes, set, and actors were all spot-on, and they should all be very proud of what they have accomplished. The audience was on their feet by the end of the night, and that in itself can be considered a huge BRAVO to this marvelous cast and crew.
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MACKDOWN SMACKDOWN: THE LEGACY OF “FRIENDS”
FREE FALLIN’
BY CINDY MACK
BY STEPHANIE SPENCER
The 90’s were an iconic time. The scrunchies, the middle part, the mood rings. The 90’s were interesting to say the least. Although there were a few lapses in judgement when it came to fashion, it was an amazing decade for television. There is one show that, as far as I can see, has zero flaws. Being a whopping 1 year-old when “Friends” began, I rarely watched the show as a kid. I now find myself watching the show constantly, and I can see why it lasted for 10 seasons. The first of these many reasons is the theme. As soon as that theme starts I know I’m in for twenty-two minutes of fun and delight. It’s just so uplifting and happy and it kind of makes me wanna dance, and don’t even get me started on the clapping section. Not only does this show have a badass theme song, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Of course there’s drama and bad break-ups, but there’s always humor to keep the mood light. There are flashback sequences, Phoebe’s twin sister, and episodes featuring character’s parents. Regardless of it’s goofy nature, it has been a model for sitcoms following in its footsteps, and those are pretty big footsteps. After all, how many TV shows have spawned a hairstyle as recognizable and popular as “The Rachel”? Though “Friends” may not be the most realistic portrayal of everyday life, the support and love that the character’s have for one another keeps this show timeless. No matter what trouble someone has gotten into, everyone is always there to help regardless of the situation. Whether you’ve seen every episode, or you just like the theme song, “Friends” became the defining sitcom of the 90’s, and after 238 episodes, still lives on in the hearts of bored college students looking for something to watch while doing homework.
As Felix Baumgartner poked his feet out of the tiny metal pod that situated itself at the edge of space, my heart was actually beating out of my chest. Watching Baumgartner’s Red Bull astronaut suit peel through the sky made me wonder if I was watching a man who was about to die. A million things could have gone wrong. It is impossible to neglect that it was one of the most significant events to take place in history. To see a man free fall 24 miles to the ground below may be desensitizing to some of us. It is not uncommon for our generation to overlook the importance of what humans as a species can do; however it is one of the best moments in history. Inevitably, it was a prime example of what human beings were capable of, therefore replacing our faith in humanity. The fact that the average airplane flies about one mile in the air is one only one of the remarkable elements of Baumgartner’s fall from space. When someone truly appreciates this man’s profound experience, his adrenaline-fueled trip can touch on one’s empathy. The same way Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon redefined human boundaries in the universe, Baumgartner’s journey through space convinced viewers that courage was infinite.
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entertainment
Getting Schooled
SELF-IMMOLATION IN TIBET
BY MELISSA FOSTER
BY JAKE MURPHY
My first semester in college I was ‘learning’ about things I already knew. It was really annoying because I knew I was wasting my time, and I was angry because I just wanted to skip over it. I mean, come on, I’m in college! I’m smart. This is for babies. Why do I have to draw that, why are you making me read this, I don’t want to talk about this. It’s dumb. I hate it here. I’m not learning. I want to go home. I want to transfer. I had to write in a journal everyday, I had to draw still lives, I had to read excerpts out of extraneous and random books, and I wasn’t learning. I had a mountain of homework every night. Then I was in class one day, and it happened. It was weird, and so I just sat back and listened. I heard it. Then I saw it, and I felt it. In late October, I had to write in a journal everyday. I got to read ingenious articles my teachers had found in their travels, and I had projects I was excited about. I started doing what my professors told me to do, even if it sounded stupid. I was told to sit in front of a window for a six hours and draw what I saw as the lighting changed. You wouldn’t believe the drawing that turned into! I even made a pretty sweet book by the end of the semester. Two years later I can hardy explain how much I have grown. I see things now. Don’t worry, you’ll see it too. This letter goes out to not only VA kids, but everyone here at Purchase. One day you are going to get it, and you’re going to go, “Holy crap!” The professors here at Purchase are pretty amazing, and you just have to be patient. Whatever it was that came over me, I realize one thing: I don’t know.
A Tibetan man named Tamdrin Dorjee committed suicide by self-immolation Saturday in Northwestern Chinas Gansu province. The deceased, who is reported to be related to a famed Buddhist religious figure, set himself on fire at a protest against Chinese rule after exclaiming his belief for freedom for Tibet. This is not uncommon for Tibet as there have been protests against Chinese rule like this for a long time. Many people around the world, especially in the U.S., remember a Vietnamese Buddhist monk lighting himself on fire with a group of onlookers in 1963 to protest the persecution of those who have faith in Buddhism. This event was documented and circulated around the globe, as was this one. Pictures have been published on many websites in favor of human rights. The event has been criticized by the Chinese government as being the work of exiled Tibetan religious figure, the Dalai Lama, yet he has since stated that he did not order anyone to commit suicide. Many rumors have been going around on the Internet that the Dalai Lama did in fact order these suicides in the name of Tibetan freedom. The struggle continues daily as Chinese military battles Tibetan protests and self-immolations around their provinces.
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B u t R e a l ly t h o ? HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT, WHEN AND WHO TO DO What do I do if I have a crush on some guy? How do I know if he likes me?
I like him. He likes me. He has a girlfriend. I don't want to be the homewrecker here, but I feel like they've always been on the
Boys are notoriously vague when it comes to expressing their emotions and things can seem super confusing in the first stages of a relationship. There are so many questions that are probably circling around your head, Is he just friendly? How do I take this to the next level? To be honest, there is no fool-proof answer to the question “How do I know if he likes me?” because everybody has a different way of acting on their likes and dislikes. The key isn’t knowing whether he likes you, it is making him like you (if he doesn’t already). My advice for you is to take some control in the situation. If you don’t already have his number or talk to him, then talk to him and ask for his number. Ask him to hang out. If you have classes with him, then ask him to study. It sounds old-fashioned but if you have chemistry then that awkward Starbucks study-session will turn into two people getting to know one another over coffee. If you’re already friends then try to take things to the next level by inviting him to hang out away from your usual group of friends and alone. It can be as simple as asking him if he’d like to watch a movie in your room, or as creative as asking him to a concert of band you both like. You can continue questioning yourself but if you make a move, I guarantee your confidence will focus his attention in the right direction.
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rocks. What do I do?
Do nothing for as long as possible. This might sound like the crappiest advice ever, but the logic behind it is that the ball is not in your court. You have to wait and be wary of his actions but most of all, control yours. If he wanted to leave his girlfriend as much as you “don’t want to be a home-wrecker” then the outcome would be simple, he would leave her for you. But if this triangle of emotions has gone on for any significant amount time then you must consider the question: “Is he worth my time?” The truth is that if he’s unhappy with their “rocky” relationship and he can’t help himself get out, so he’s available for what he really wants then there’s a good chance he won’t be able to give you what you want. And if he’s been giving you what you want on the sidelines of his relationship then you can bet that there will be sidelines in your relationship with him too- they might just be newly-painted on the grass. Until he’s single, you don’t want to be “that girl” in his eyes, her eyes or your eyes. And if he does break-up with his girlfriend, take things slow so that you don’t become a casualty called the “rebound.”
advice&essence
THE ESSENCE OF PURCHASE BY ESSENCE McCLANAHAN Hello all, For those who know me, this column has truly been in the work for some time now. But for those who don’t, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Essence. I’m not a role model and yes my name is actually Essence. I don’t believe in using pen names or altering oneself for an audience. I’m not a performer. I’m a senior journalism major, and I have spent the past three years navigating the Purchase social scene attending performances, Neuburger exhibitions and sporting events alike and now I’d like to open my final year up to the public. The Independent has given me this column to provide you with advice, voice your concerns, and keep you in the mix of what I’d like to call Purchase social politics. It will be my main focus to provide readers with reviews of on campus events and performances, as well as introduce students and people of interest within our community. I’d like to take this opportunity to bring something new to the Purchase community; a column that covers your concerns and discusses the issues you can only read about on bathroom walls. I will also review some of the late night events that take place over the weekend. While on the subject I must say that S.O.C.A’s turn up the Pink event last friday night, was a success. This was a step in a new direction for the club showing us all that the key to effective fundraising is fun. Pink bracelets were sold at the door, all proceeds from which will be donated, so I hope you all partied with a purpose.
My suggestions for this upcoming weekend, wear a scarf and head out to Neon Lights this Friday night. Neon Lights has been an annual event for the past four years, it’s a moving laser light show and has always provided the best glow in the dark party accessories and props for those who show up early. I hope you enjoy yourselves this weekend and I leave you with a final bit of advice: don’t ignore warnings if you can’t handle repercussions.
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Green Team & Cheese Club
Kombacha & Bean Sprout Growing Workshop Cheese Provided
Thursday, 10/18 at 10pm In the Stood
Latinos Unidos Present: NEON LIGHTS Thursday, 10/18 at 10pm In the Stood
PTV’s Night of Premieres: Ep. 1,1 A screening of the first episode of all PTV’s Fall shows Saturday, 10/20 starting at 6pm In the Stood Cinema
G.R.I.O.T Takes the Main Stage Saturday, 10/20 7pm Hip-Hop After Party 11:30pm Student Center Main Stage
Art Co-op Rummage/Art/Craft Sale Saturday, 10/20 9pm-12am Student Center at Whitson’s
RPGA Live Action Event Sunday, 10/21 9pm-12am Hub Basement, CCN 0016
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Mondays History Club: Commuter Lounge at 7 pm The Indy: CCN 1011 at 9:30pm
Thursdays LGBT Spoken Word: Stood at 7pm GRIOT: CCN 0025 at 9pm Transaction: Ft. Awesome at 10pm Green Team: 6:30pm Contact Brittany Bollenbach and Jonathan O’Connell for more info OAPIA: CCN 0016 at 10pm
October Blood Drive Monday, 10/22 2:30-8:30pm Tuesday, 10/23 2:30-8:30pm The Gym
Freeheld: LGBT History Month Screening & Discussion Thursday, 10/25 7:30pm Cholral Hall, Music Building
HOLDING AN EVENT? Email us the information at YOUR.INDY@GMAIL.COM
info
KNOWING YOUR HOME: THE FOOD CO-OP
ALT CLINIC QUESTION OF THE WEEK: GENITAL HERPES
BY TOMMY ROACH
BY ALEXA DILLENBECK
Hey Purchase lovers! How’s your October going? Mine’s pretty good. Wait, that’s not what this section is for... Anyway, this week I’m talking about another “dead” place on campus. This one may strike some rough chords with some people. I’m warning you now, if you loved the Food Co-Op, grab some tissues, because that’s what this is about. The Food Co-Op was, up until this semester, the only completely student run and operated space on campus. Students could go to just hang out, put on shows of the music or theatrical varieties, and buy really, really cheap tea. At least, up until the beginning of this semester. This year, the school decided that a student run space that had been run as such since 1972, should no longer be a space controlled by students. All you need to know is that the school took the space over, and that’s really not okay. So let’s get down to the logistics! Where is it?: The Food Co-Op was located in the same building as the Main Dining Hall. It was that room off to the side with all the really funky looking chairs and that awesome loft. It was badass. Why should I care?: Look, the Co-Op was one of those things that made Purchase, well, Purchase. It was student run. It was a safe space for students to go to to relax, listen to some music, and drink tea. It’s pretty much gone now. The school is taking spaces like this away. That’s not cool. And it’s high time we told them to stop ruining this school. Next week, I’ll be giving you a walkthrough of the Amityville Horror House!
Finding out that you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI)-previously known as sexually transmitted disease (STD)-can cause a transformation within yourself. You may feel sad or unsure. Of course, no feeling is unnatural unless it will cause harm to you or another person. Specifically, being diagnosed with genital herpes can be difficult because there is no cure. Please remember that it is very common and will not kill you. Common feelings can be that you feel dirty or not-so-sexy, but we at the Alternative Clinic do not want you to feel this way. Everyone has their own sexual feelings, decisions, and complications. This is just a chapter of your story that is being written. You are not your diagnosis and will be able to have sex again. Your partners may feel uncomfortable. Give them time and if they have a problem with your diagnosis, then they are probably not worth it anyway. Besides, what really changes about you? You are still going to be the same person you were before! You may be on a medication, but almost everyone needs to take a pill daily, so it’s completely normal. If you feel depressed or can’t escape your negative feelings, you have the privilege of having a counseling center right on campus! You can make an appointment with them just by calling (914) 251-6390. As always, be safe and yourself ! And ask us questions at alternativeclinic.tumblr.com/ask! Love, The Alternative Clinic 19
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