The Purchase Independent - 11/18/10

the

Q&A

November 18, 2010 | Issue #226

y o u r. i n d y @ g m a i l . c o m

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

editor-in-chief: Ri l ey Ken ny s mith

In the scheme of things, it really wasn’t that big. There are far worse things that could happen in our lives, and there are far worse things going on in the world. Hell, our parents used to register for classes by waiting in long lines all day, hoping that the people queued in front of them didn’t fill up their dream classes first. But still. I expect better of you, Purchase.

Registration this week was absolutely ridiculous. The task normally takes me five tense minutes of copying and pasting, frantically praying for success. I went into it fairly calmly this time; I figured that with 86 completed credits, I was unlikely to be shut out of my top choices. At noon I sat on my bed with my laptop, dressed and ready for my 12:30 class, certain I’d finally have time to stop at Starbucks before tracking back to Humanities.

Within 30 seconds of entering my AAC code, the calm was gone.

The panic set in. What is this mean red message interrupting my registration?

layout editor: Ta r a C on n elly writers: H i l l a r y An d er s on A da m B reid b art Va n essa Cavan agh M a da me Q u er y G a by F iore Bolan d copy editors: E r i c a B as co A l ex Pros cia print manager: Ro byn Wilk in s cover photo by: K ate McCor mick

“You have tried to open a new registration session while another

artwork by: To ny Was h in gton

Excuse me? No. No, I do not have another registration session open, and I do not want to wait a few moments, and I am absolutely furious that you want me to try again!

It took me 45 minutes to register, as I eventually entered the courses one-by-one, which still took three or four renditions of the error message before it would allow me to successfully confirm each selection. During this time, I was forced to stare at two new mean red messages at the top of every page: telling me I was registered for less than 12 credits (the minimum to be considered a full-time student) and thus might lose my financial aid, telling me that I was registered for less than 14 credits and thus was not eligible for on-campus housing.

I admit: I cried.

I contemplated screaming. I threw Ulysses at my pillow (sorry, James Joyce!) and wondered what else I could throw without breaking anything. I cursed everything I could think of that I could possibly blame for this mess. By the end of the ordeal, I was 20 minutes late for Joyce class (sorry, Kathy!) and once again without time to grab a peppermint latte.

I know that many other students had to deal with the error message and its time-sucking consequences, and I write this letter for all of us who honestly did not have another registration session open.

web design by: D a n i elle Lemp p The Purchase Independent is a nonprofit news magazine, paid for by the Mandatory Student Activity fee.

We welcome and encourage submissions from readers. The Indy is a forum for campus issues and events, to give students the voice they deserve. Letters, articles, comics, ads, event photography and event listings are welcomed.

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. Send questions to Madame Query at formspring.me/ madamequery. 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 are held in the office every Monday night at 9:30; anyone is welcome to join.

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is still open for you. Wait a few minutes and try again.”

LETTERS

A LETTER TO THE CAMPUS

from a female Purchase student

I usually think about Purchase as a place, it’s the place where I live and go to school—but every once in a while I’m reminded that Purchase is an institution whose job it is to not only educate but also look out for its students. It’s like a surrogate parent, which I guess makes me the child—its daughter to be more exact. While I know in the back of my head that things like wristbands for Fall Fest and health and safety inspections are ‘for my own good’ I can’t help but resent Res Life essentially telling me I need to clean my room. On a more serious note, my recent experience with the new ID policy for the Purchase shuttle has made me even more keenly aware of these tensions.

Saturday, November 13th, I was waiting for the Purchase shuttle at the White Plains train station. When the bus arrived and the passengers got off so did the driver. He asked everyone getting on the bus to show their Purchase ID’s.

My friend and I (also a female Purchase student) didn’t know anything about this new policy and didn’t have our More Cards so we stood apart from the rest of the crowd. An older man and a younger male (who I assumed was a student) were also standing aside, and I overheard the bus driver insisting that they (the older man in particular) show their ID or they could not

get on. After a minute or so of some heated conversation, the bus driver turned to me and my friend and told us “ladies” to get on the bus.

He explicitly stated that it isn’t the girls he is concerned about, and that only the males need ID. While I was somehow insulted by this, and surprised at how candid he was being about the matter, I got on the bus relieved that I had a ride.

While I don’t have a problem with the ID policy itself, I can’t quite sort out my mixed feelings about it. Even though logically I know that it is an appropriate response to the assault we were recently e-mailed about, l still find it patronizing. It treats male students like mischief-making sons that we need to keep an eye on, and female students like daughters that need be protected from the neighborhood weirdo. Of course this ‘gender profiling’ is not completely unfounded since it is a less common occurrence for a woman to (sexually) assault a man or another woman, but I think it’s at least worth acknowledging the fact that even the most well-intentioned an warranted precautionary procedures can have the negative effect of making those it seeks to protect feel harmless and helpless rather than safe.

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SENATOR INITIATIVES

BY ADAM BREIDBART

The Purchase Senate is comprised of more than 20 students, each representing a different constituency on Purchase campus.

Each year, senators strive to push forth initiatives to make campus life better for the students they represent. This year, as Senate pushes midway into the semester, over half of the senators already have plans for initiatives of their own.

Here are some of the things that Purchase senators are trying to do for you: Tom Dauer – Senator of Art & Design

Tom has two initiatives going this year.

The first is to create art shows for freshmen and sophomores who normally don’t get to showcase a lot of their work in shows. The second initiative is to put a program into all of the computers in the VA that will make the user not have to search through all the folders to find a font they want out of the 13,000 to choose from.

Stephanie Blum – Senator of Outback

Stephanie is trying to get more garbage cans and recycling bins around the Outback area, as well as benches outside for Outback students to lounge on.

Adrien Behn – Senator of the Olde

Adrien is trying to put more plants and flowers around the campus to beautify it.

Marianna Grady – Senator of the New

Marianna is trying to get vending machines put in the New. She is also trying to get benches placed in the New as well.

Scott Galina – Senator of Big Haus

Scott is trying to get pocket bus schedules for Purchase students to carry in their wallets, so that they’ll always have the times of the loop on hand.

Rory McEntyre – Senator of Alumni Village

Ben Schachter – Senator of the Olde

Ben is trying to get doorstop insulators for the apartments in the Olde that will save heat and keep everyone toasty.

Reed Corbett – Senator of Music

Reed is trying to get more music stands in the practice rooms of the music building.

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Rory is trying to get multiple garbage cans placed in Alumni Village to reduce littering.

Dan McCartney – Senator of the New

Dan is trying to restore the stone BBQ in the center of the New.

CAMPUS

PHO T O BY K AT E M CCO RM I CK

GET FUNKEE

BY VANNESSA CAVANAGH

Del the Funkee Homosapien teamed up with Red Bull for the month of November, our charming little brick Bastille the first stop on the tour of colleges. As he sat and answered questions from a group of students before his performance, the rapper lived up to his rumored aversion to fame and excess. He never looked into the camera, kept his head down, yet still clearly, assuredly answered all the questions asked of him. He was calm and collected. He was smaller than we all expected.

The “Red Bull Live From Somewhere” event has Del travel from Purchase to Princeton to New Paltz to NYU. Almost a decade ago, Del (real name Teren Delvon Jones) started attending Red Bull academies at Berkeley College, doing small performances here and there, and creating the relationship that made this tour possible.

When asked about what he was looking

forward to about touring in Europe next month, he half-smiled and said that he doesn’t like traveling. But he admitted he’s excited to share his new music, which he said is “better,” and then laughed; he feels most artists would say the same thing. His new album Event II will convey a more precise message, but a lot of fans may not like the new direction. He knows it’s necessary for an artist to be aware of the changing scene:

“As you get older, you realize it’s not just about throwing a bunch of paint on a canvas and calling it art,” he said.

He spoke about his greatest influences coming from funk music: Parliament, Brides of Funkenstein; as well as science fiction, surrealism, manga and anime. When asked about the hip-hop scene now versus the one present at the start of his career, he didn’t necessarily say one was better than the other.

He talked about electronic music versus more traditional kinds of music, and how it’s hard to create any kind of music without using electronics. Asked about new hip hop, Del noted, “I like Drake. I don’t have any problems with him, but I like underground stuff too. I really dig Tanya Morgan. I don’t care what they’re rapping about specifically, but their personality has to come across to me. I’m not picky or choosy about the sport, but I’m just a hip hop lover. To someone else, a rapper might just be talking a bunch of nonsense. But that’s the fun of it!” (continued on page 9)

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THE EVENTS BRIGADE

BY HILLARY ANDERSON

Friday, December 3rd is bringing back the cover shows—with a twist. “We’ve had applications for Joy Division, a 90’s cover band, Weezer, and the Jonas Brothers,” says Elise Granata, GPC. To apply, you only need to send them an email with your name and cover band idea by 11/26. The show is to be booked on a first come, first serve basis.

“We’re all about being open,” says Elise. “Exclusivity is the devil.” She and Cameron Wisch are the General Programming Coordinators, and she’s talking about their policy on student involvement with events.

When it comes to the phenomenon of booking events at Purchase, no one GPC will ever please every single student. For example, the secret shows have been a new implementation of the current administration, and are receiving mixed reviews. “I originally thought that secret shows were silly, but it doesn’t seem to matter—if the performer is popular enough, it draws a crowd that overcomes keeping the show information secret,” says Ryan Galloway.

Events Collaborator Stefan Fink is the most recent TBA on the bill of the secret shows project. His senior project is involved with the idea of D.I.Y. venues, creating a venue out of anywhere that is large enough and could be equipped to hold a show. His show is to be a multimedia project involving puppets, and on the bill are Bees, Weekends and Kilimanjaro.

Keep your eyes and ears open for more details about the event this Sunday.

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Somewhere between taking opinions into consideration, contacting bands, examining the available funds and advertising for the shows, a niche forms. The niche isn’t necessarily large so much as expansive. So far, Cameron and Elise have put on well-attended and successful events like Lightening Bolt at Theatre X, Dark Dark Dark in Whitson’s and Kayo Dot in the Cinema.

“I’m really pleased with the events that have been put together. There’ve been a lot of shows that feature really good music, and I’m glad that that’s being offered,” says Megan Manowitz, but, “I would prefer if the students had a little more say in what’s going on. They have meetings where we can voice our opinions, but it seems as though not always taken into actual consideration.”

The GPCs are taking particular strides to bolster student participation, starting with a night of showmanship for conservatory students in the Student Center on Thursday, December 2nd. Matt Van Asselt, Food Co-op Events Intern, is helping to book the event.

The planning of the evening has been largely based on recommendations from professors and deans of the schools, and according to Matt, the night will feature dance performances, film showings, music recitals, a skit from members of the acting conservatory and an art gallery. In the main room, you’ll find the orchestra, klezmer ensemble, and chamber groups along with dinner and hors d’œuvre. Whitson’s will feature studio composition and dance performances.

CAMPUS The cinema will hold the actors and film, and the art gallery will show the work of VA students. “We hope to have more events like it if all goes well, and open that up.”

Friday, December 3rd will be the covers show and Night of 1000 Donuts. The following night will bring back the roller disco, turning the Stood into a functioning roller rink with rentable skates. Not to mention 100 pizzas, homage to Neil Fridd (GPC circa ’07-’08), the founding father of the Night of 100 Pizzas. Mokaad is booked for musical entertainment, and according to Elise there are still more musical acts to be added to the bill. “It’s going to be the best weekend ever,” says Elise.

Many of the past and future events have been booked in the Stood, and the added traffic is encouraging for the Stood staff. “Stood Coordinator Cameron Thompson is putting a lot of his own work in but also encourages every employee to do stuff too, like host an event, paint something, or buy cool new things.

We got all the new pool tables and air hockey tables, and I think repainting the murals is making a big difference,” says Allison Mapes, a Stood Employee. “I’ve definitely noticed way more freshmen coming here than last year. I remember when I was a freshman, I thought the Stood was so cool. I hope new students are getting that same impression now.”

CONTACT INFO:

Suggest bands and give your input!

• http://purchaseeventsbrigade.blogspot.com • purchaseeventbrigade@gmail.com • search “suny purchase events brigade” on fb

UPCOMING EVENTS: Sunday, November 21st @ TBA Bees, Weekends, Kilimanjaro (members

of As Tall As Lions)

Monday, November 22nd @ the Stood Cinema Nat Baldwin (of the Dirty Projectors), Travis Laplante, Kurt Weisman

Monday, November 29th @ Whitson’s The Missoula Oblongata (experimental theater company)

Tuesday, November 30th @ Whitson’s Buoyant Sea, I Love You, more TBA

Thursday, December 2nd @ The Stood Conservatories’ Student Showcase: Music, Dance, Theatre, Film, Art.

Friday, December 3rd @ The Stood Cover Show & Night Of 1000 Donuts! (email purchaseeventbrigade@gmail.com if you want to be one of the event’s cover bands!)

Saturday, December 4th @ The Stood Roller Disco & Night Of 100 Pizzas!

Music by Mokaad And The Flex Points, and more to be announced!

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THE HOUSINGBY GABY CRISIS FIORE BOLAND

While the majority of us are biting our nails over registration and finals, some students are still battling with Res Life over their housing situations.

The Purchase LiveJournal community is flooded with requests from returning students hoping to be pulled into an open space, though some aren’t even eligible to do so. Out of the 12 students that have posted, at least four are returning from abroad, two from academic leave, and the others either didn’t specify or cited alternative reasons such as currently living off-campus or transferring in. One student has allegedly been couch-surfing despite the fact that he paid for housing this semester, and just never received a housing assignment.

Senior Brittany Shutts is returning from studying in the Czech Republic. She wants to be pulled into an apartment, but thinks she may end up being randomly assigned. “I’m just worried I’ll end up spending my last semester in a suite in Big Haus or a remote hotel somewhere far away from campus.”

According to Emily Balcom, the Associate Director of Residence Life, only active students can be pulled in. Students coming back from studying abroad are guaranteed housing and have the ability to request an open space or be assigned. The students that have been on medical or personal leave can’t be housed until they are active students, and consequently aren’t ensured a space.

“We will house them as space allows,”

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said Balcom said of those students.

For Lila El Naggar, a junior, this is a problem. She has 122 credits and had to take a personal leave to work. She was surprised that Res Life wasn’t more accommodating.

“I’m angry,”El Naggar said.

“I think I deserve housing, and a good room at that!”

It’s not just the students from off-campus that are frantically searching to find a new room.

The 18 students that are currently living in Campus Center North and students that were housed in the AKA Hotel on Martine Avenue in White Plains will be moved into dorms next semester. Since they’re active students, they too can be pulled into available rooms.

Elmes Gomez is a junior living in the hotel. He says that living in the hotel has given him a completely different experience from campus life. The students in the hotels have maid service and Gomez says with White Plains social scene, there’s always something to do. But as any commuter knows, there are problems with living off-campus. Gomez says, “Most of us have to take the bus an hour before our first class, because it comes 10 minutes before most classes start.” Plus it costs money to do laundry at the hotel, so “many students have to carry bags of laundry back and forth.”

your.indy@gm ai l.com

Gomez says he feels separated from the campus community and is ready to move on campus. He says they didn’t hear about moving very often from the Res Life office, and that “most information comes from our R.A.”

Aurora Fowlkes, a sophomore who has been living in CCN, agreed. “We have to rely on our R.A. or by ear a lot for info.” She says out of the 18 students living in CCN, she has been the only one able to find a room for next semester.

Residence Life rents the rooms in CCN from the PCA; guests, such as visiting professors, are usually housed there. Balcom believes that next semester there will be enough spaces for the students from the hotel and CCN. She said, “We need to utilize our spaces rather than spending additional funds.”

This midyear switch is a big upheaval for the students. Fowlkes said, “It’s bittersweet to be leaving the friends I made here. I’ll miss them.”

(continued from page 5: Get Funkee)

Toward the end of the interview, someone asked if it’s possible to listen to Del for the wrong reasons. He thought for a few seconds before answering: yes, an artist feels like there is a particular purpose to his art and wants it to be interpreted as he sees fit. “I feel like you should be getting this out of my music, not this or that...

I feel like some people listen to my stuff and expect it to be a certain way... Selling out to me isn’t interpreting new or different styles of music, it’s doing something you normally wouldn’t do for money.”

Record sales aren’t his priority. It’s more about the message he’s trying to convey and who he’s trying to convey it to. Making the music and releasing it is enough payment for him.

This article is published courtesy of Her Campus. http:/hercampus.com/purchase

NEED HOUSING HELP?

If you’re an active Purchase student looking for on‑campus housing, try the Purchase LJ comm (http://community.livejournal.com/purchase) and keep in contact with Res Life. The official period for pulling a student into a vacancy on campus starts December 1st, and all paperwork must be turned in by December 3rd.

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MADAME QUERY

HAS YOUR REMEDY

Umm, let’s just say my milkshake hasn’t brought any boys to the yard in the last year. My friends have tried to teach me.... but my yard is still empty. Mme. Query, can you help me?

I have a crush on this girl. I want to ask her out but don’t know how. Do I just ask her “Hey sexy, you me & a movie this Friday ;) ?” Is there a more sly way of going about this?

There is definitely a more sly way to go about this. When Madame is being wooed, she would love to have something clever. However, when dealing with most men, she finds that they keep it simple and stick with “Uhh, you want to see a movie or something?” The truth is there is no real prince charming and if there is he has a hidden agenda. Why am I telling you this? So you know there’s nothing to fear. You don’t have to stand in front of the mirror and practice some speech for this girl. Just go up to her and ask if she wants to go on a date. By not practicing she’s seeing and hearing who you really are, not some fake model you believe she wants.

An ideal partner is someone who is real.

They don’t make up speeches to purposefully charm you. If a person does that, eventually the cat will be let out of the bag and they’ll go from charming to asshole. If you’re straightforward, you’ll always be seen for who you are.

The more sly way of going about this?

Do not that awful pick-up line, and say what you really mean.

It’s quite okay, Kelis hasn’t been bringing boys to the yard since that song came out six years ago. But I hear since the divorce from Nas that things may be turning around in her life, and so your life can turn around as well.

An easy way to bring the boys to the yard is to wear skankified clothing, such as low cut shirts or booty shorts. Or you could try sashaying around campus, doing your best Tyra impersonation. If any of these male specimens speak to you make sure you use your best baby voice, they love hearing that cute stuff. (Who doesn’t want to believe they could screw a baby?)

The boys will definitely be following you, but not just because they’ll be staring at your booty, but also the fact that they’ll be laughing hysterically.

When trying to get cock, d o n’ t p e a c o c k yo u rs e l f.

Stop trying so hard, no one wants to get with someone desperately trying to catch the attention of the male gaze. Getting the boys to the yard is something your friends can’t even teach you. However, it is always something Madame can advise you on. Be confident, wear clothes that you can work, speak with your voice, walk your walk. You do this, then the right boys will come to your yard.

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS

TO MADAME QUERY http://www.formspring.me/madamequery

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A DV I C E I have been going out with my best friend’s sister for the past 2 years and think it’s time to tell her. I just don’t know how to do it without her getting upset with me. Also her mom is a MILF too.

Are you sure you’re really dating her sister? If you guys are best friends and you have been seeing her sister for the past two years, don’t you think she would have caught on to the affair by now?

Either way, you are not being a good friend by not letting her know. Since this has been going on for the past two years, she is not going to take this news lightly. She is going to be upset with not only you, but her sister as well. But if she honors your friendship and her relationship with her sister, then I think with time she will get over your relationship.

Seriously though, are you sure you’re dating her sister? This might be some sort of delusion you have been having since you met your best friend’s family. You think her mom is hot too, so maybe you have just been fantasizing a little too hard. What’s next, you’re going to find your muse in the family dog as well? You need to snap out of it! If you don’t, you may lose your best friend—she will never want to speak to you after she finds out about your hidden fantasy.

It’s okay to fantasize about certain women, but to go so far as to believe that you are actually in a relationship with one of them points to signs that you’re crazy.

If I’m wrong and by some weird chance you are in a relationship with her sister, then you have two problems. You need to tell the best friend and stop checking out the mom. Just take a good look at what you’re daydreaming and what you’re living.

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE INDY? do it.

SUBMIT YOUR STORIES, EMAIL y o u r. i n d y @ g m a i l . c o m WEEKLY MEETINGS: MONDAYS @ 9:30 PM CCN ROOM 1011

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SUBMIT BACK PAGE QUOTES VIA THE BOX OUTSIDE CCN 1011 OR ON THE WEB AT: HTTP://FORMSPRING.ME/INDYBACKPAGE

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