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OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALANA MUELLER | HUDSONIAN
OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE misuse it,” said architecture stuBy: Tea’ Claus dent Robert Krupitza. Staff Writer
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Hudsonian
Legislation to make marijuana use legal has passed in Massachusetts. The cultural, economic and social impacts of such legislation will be felt in the capital region and beyond. According to News Channel 10, the law allows adults 21 and over to possess up to one ounce of marijuana outside the home, up to 10 ounces inside the home, and to grow up to 12 plants per household. Residents of Massachusetts cannot smoke marijuana in public, but smoking on porches is allowed. The new legislation also allows residents the power to buy an ounce from a dealer, but they can still face criminal charges for dealing the substance. Hudson Valley students have a diverse and varying opinion when it comes to the new legislation. Mortuary science student S.R. is against the new legislation, concerned that the legislation will only promote illegal activity. “Sure legalize it, but now you’re probably going to have drug lords coming in doing underground business to minors because you’re selling it legally now,” said S.R. “Well, on one hand I can see its benefits because medical marijuana can be useful, but I’m also worried that it’s similar to alcohol. It’s very possible for people to
Criminal justice student A.B. is okay with the legalization, but is more concerned with public usage, and marijuana use in the presence of children. “I’m not sure I want everyone doing it in public because that might have an affect on people,” he said. “I don’t want it around kids, but I’m fine with people using [marijuana] privately in their own homes.” Liberal arts student Amber Holt said, “[Marijuana legalization] might affect some of the laws they propose, but they may have to work around the legalization of marijuana.” “It’s gonna stimulate their economy like it did with the other states that legalized [marijuana],” said Branden C. A 20-year-old student named K.S. said the legalization of marijuana may have an affect on the capital region. “I think it will affect the area a little bit. We’ll probably see more more people smoking marijuana until it gets legalized here,” said K.S. Krupitza agrees that there likely be an effect in the capital region. “Massachusetts is pretty close to us, and there’s a tendency for states to pick up legislation in other states. If something becomes legal in one state, there’s a higher chance of it happening in the surrounding states,” said Krupitza.
The legalization of marijuana is a debated topic among students.
Students have displayed disapproval with the legalization of marijuana. S.R. believes it’s because marijuana has been seen as an illegal substance since 1952. According to “A Brief History of Marijuana Law in America” by Scott C. Martin, in 1952, the Boggs Act provided stiff mandatory sentences for offenses involving a variety of drugs, including marijuana. S.R. also said that changing opinions on the substance will
take an extensive period of time. “[The stigma against marijuana] is because of drug lords,” said S.R. “Now we’re slowly progressing to ‘well, it’s for the medical purposes,’ and a lot of people still grow it illegally.” Looking into the future, some students believe that similar legislation could make its way to the capital region. “I think it might happen here because New York is usually progressive in law making, so we
could be the next state, but I’m not completely sure,” said Holt. A.B. also agrees that recreational legalization is a possibility in New York. “If they do it in one state then that’s definitely something we can look at happening here,” said A.B. “If it works there it will probably work in other places, so it all depends on how it works in Massachusetts.”
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New privilege grant offers $2,500 to white males NEWS
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PHOTO BY ISAAC KAUTZ | HUDSONIAN
Vikings prepare for spring season
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President gives semi-annual All College meeting
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February 17, 2017
NEWS
This Week’s Events
Wed 15
Marketing Competition 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Science Center, Room 185 Security Guard Instructor Development Course Information Session 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm 400 Jordan Rd, 2nd Floor, Suite C
on Thurs Recruiter Campus: United Air Force 16 States 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Fri 17 Mon 20
State of college addressed at All College meeting
Recruiter on Campus: Valet Park of America 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Siek Campus Center, First Floor Lobby
Siek Campus Center, First Floor Lobby Transfer Advisor Visit: Siena College 10:00 am – 2:30 pm Siek Campus Center, Room 290 Spring Sports Challenge 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Siek Campus Center Lobby Clean Tech Early College High School Information Night 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm TEC-SMART, Hermes Rd, Ballston Spa, NY 12020, USA Transfer Information Table: Excelsior College 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Siek Campus Center, first floor lobby Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Awards Ceremony 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium
PHOTO BY ISAAC KAUTZ | HUDSONIAN
By: Anthony O’Connell News Editor The semi-annual All College Meeting delivered by President Andrew Matonak took place on Feb. 6 in Maureen Stapleton theater and via livestream on the college website. Remarks from student senate president, Emma Dillon, president of the faculty association, Gregory Sausville and Academic Senate member, Rosemary Schultz began the event. “We have a mission [to find new goals and objectives]. If you don’t like [the direction we’re heading], you can help change [it] so that together we can become the college we want to be,” said Schultz. President Matonak began his speech with an update on his retirement which was announced for Aug. 2018. Typically, the search for a new president lasts about one year. The board is aiming for May-June 2018 to introduce the new president. The search for new vice-presidents of administration and finance are also ongoing. Current vice-president for finance, Joel Fatato announced his retirement for March, as well as current vice-president of administration James LaGatta’s who hasn’t released a specific retirement date. The college has engaged professional search firm Isaacson, Miller to examine the résumés of prospective candidates.
Dining Etiquette 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Siek Campus Center, Room 150 Technologies Job Fair 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Siek Campus Center, First Floor
President Matonak speaks about the changes being made to the college in the coming months.
Executive director of the Faculty Student Association, Ann Carrozza is also on the list of 2017 retirements. Under Carrozza’s leadership, the construction of campus’ daycare center, parking garage, completion of the Outdoor Athletic Complex, renovation of Fitzgibbons Health Technologies Center and the campus’ partnership with Mazzone Hospitality have taken place. Alycia Courter, associate director of the FSA, will be promoted to executive director following Carrozza’s retirement. Court-
er has been with the FSA for 20 years. The college received full approval to launch a new degree in cybersecurity for Fall 2017. This will be an associate’s science degree program designed for students who want to transfer to a related bachelor degree program. The board of trustees approved a new degree and certificate program for community health navigation, to support the growing demand for trained professionals to assist patients in understanding health care. The program is still waiting for final
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High/Low 38/27 The Hudsonian Hudson Valley Community College 80 Vandenburgh Ave. Troy, NY 12180 Phone: 518-629-7568 Email: hudsonian@hvcc.edu Editorial Policy All views expressed in this paper are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the The Hudsonian or the College.
SUNY and state-ed department approval, but is anticipated to arrive by Fall 2017. Further key points discussed include a comprehensive transfer agreement with the University of Albany, information technology services enhancements, a website development and redesign project and reconnection to national grid in order to prevent power related issues. More info on the president’s All College Meeting can be found on the college website and the Campus Chronicle.
High/Low 33/18 Editor-in-Chief Jenny Caulfield Managing Editor Mikey Bryant Business Manager Tyler Betzwieser Copy Editor Shelby Collins Layout Editor Isabella Kokoszko News Editor Anthony O’Connell
FRIDAY High/Low 34/15 Creative Editor Julio Rodriguez Sports Editor Skylar Blankenship Photo Editor Vinny Croce Junior Editors Setodzi Avoke Dylan Haugen Staff Photographers Setodzi Avoke Zoe Denow Issac Kautz
SATURDAY High/Low 41/29 Alana Mueller Staff Writers Tea’ Claus Zoe Deno Issac Kautz Josh McCart Hunter Wallace Faculty Adviser Rachel Bornn
SUNDAY High/Low 46/30 Letters to the Editor Letters can be delivered to CTR 291 or emailed to hudsonian@ hvcc.edu. Readers may have their letters published anonymously as long as their identity can be verified. Letters will be edited for grammar, style, libel and length.
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February 17, 2017
NEWS
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Privilege grant offered specifically for white males By: Isaac Kautz Staff Writer The Privilege Grant has been created exclusively for white males to support their post- secondary education. Conservative personality and Breitbart News senior editor Milo Yiannopoulos announced The Yiannopoulos Privilege Grant for tuition assistance in a news release on Jan. 28. Funded by Yiannopoulos and other private donors, the grant will award caucasian male college students with $2,500 each. The grant is currently in a pilot phase with the first application period set to conclude on Feb. 14. The grant’s first ten recipients will be announced next month. Yiannopoulos discussed the grant at California Polytechnic State University on the day of it’s launch. “It started as a joke, but if you’re a woman, if you’re black, if you’re disabled, if you’re muslim, if you’re a refugee, you can get free money. But the facts say that it is young white boys who are educationally underprivileged,” said Yiannopoulos. A report from the Universities and Colleges Admissions
Service of the United Kingdom as well as a 2012 study by Stephanie Ewert from The Journal of Higher Education, indicate poor white males are in the greatest need of tuition assistance. In a statement on the UCAS website, chief executive Mary Curnock Cook said, “Girls are doing better throughout primary, secondary and higher education than boys; poor white boys are the most disadvantaged group in entry to higher education and the gap is getting bigger.” “I don’t think it’s a bad thing to give college students money, but you know it can have it’s pros and cons just like everything else,” said construction technology major Michael Schatzel. Despite these arguments, many are infuriated by the Yiannopoulos Privilege Grant and its application requirements. Some are calling the grant “racist” and “sexist”, arguing that affirmative action grants seek to help historically disadvantaged groups. Others are skeptical of this notion and point to Yiannopoulos’s record of troublemaking in explanation of this recent controversy. “Even though it is technically a legit grant, it seems like he’s
GRAPHIC BY ISAAC KAUTZ | HUDSONIAN
Breitbart senior editor Milo Yiannopoulos closed his privilege grant for white male students on Feb. 14.
making more of a statement,” said computer information systems major James Bohrer. “I think it’s more of a social commentary on some of the grants that are oriented towards more race specific groups, which in a way could also be seen as racist because they’re targeting very specific racial groups,” said Bohrer. “I don’t necessarily think that it’s racist, but I do think that it’s wrong and I definitely think it is
politically motivated,” said psychology major Vincent Castaldo. Castaldo feels the grant is acting as a parody of how people of African-American descent will sometimes receive grants based on their socioeconomic backgrounds. “White males are among the most privileged ethnic groups out there and they really don’t need $2,500 to help go to college,” said Castaldo. “I mean, I’m sure there are
people out there who definitely need help who fit that demographic, but I don’t think they’re in the most need of help,” said Castaldo. Despite accusations of racism and misogyny, Yiannopoulos intends to go forward with his plan to help college students with his Privilege Grant.
Campus minster retires after four years By: Hunter Wallace Staff Writer
tary,” said George. George believed his primary role as chaplain was to hold a safe space for anyone needing to share, communicate or discover the deepest parts of themselves. “I would hold that space by being a companion who listened to their joys, fears, struggles and concerns with an attitude of non-judgement and love. Meeting individually with students, staff and faculty held some of the most precious moments for me,” said George. George has also led volunteer and group efforts. “Each year, I’ve had the privilege of leading the memorial service on campus for members of the community who died in the last year. This held such deep meaning for me and the families of those remembered. I also very much enjoyed leading groups of students in volunteer efforts such as Equinox and Schoharie county for storm clean up,” said George. While George does not know who will become the new campus chaplain, he does believe that whoever assumes the position
will bring change to the ministry. “I would imagine there will be changes since a different person will bring their style to the role. Also, they will have fresh eyes as to what’s needed in this moment and going forward,” said George. George plans to take time in the near future to become the best he can be in his new role at Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group. “Staying connected to ministry is also very important to me so
I will find ways to remain actively engaged in my faith community and the community at large,” said George. George said, “I truly believe the campus ministry is one of the many things that makes Hudson Valley so special. Since I’m still working in Troy, I’m very happy that I’m not far away from Hudson Valley and would love to visit from time to time!”
COURTESY OF TIMES UNION
Cylon George has resigned from his former campus ministry position as campus chaplain. “I resigned because I felt I was being called to something new. I had just celebrated my five year anniversary in my position here. I felt grateful for those five years, for all the relationships I’d developed and for all the good we accomplished together as a community,” said George in an email interview. Though George was happy during his time on campus, he experienced a sense of restlessness during his time as chaplain. “I did what any sensible Chaplain would do—I prayed for guidance and for help to understand the stirrings within me,” said George. “During all this, I was not actively looking for a new job but a new career opportunity was presented to me late last year. After much prayer and discernment, I decided to take the leap,” said George.
Following his resignation, George took a job at Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group. “Kaleel Jamison is a small consulting firm that helps companies, organizations, and nonprofits in their diversity and inclusion efforts. I will have many opportunities for personal and professional development that will hopefully help me make an impact to clients and the world at large,” said George. George describes the position of chaplain as a religious or spiritual representative attached to a secular institution. Chaplains represent their own traditions, however, because they serve in faithfully diverse communities. They provide spiritual guidance and emotional care to anyone who is open to engaging with them. “In my case, I was a representative of the Catholic tradition since I was employed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. There are chaplains serving from virtually every religious or spiritual tradition in places such as colleges, hospitals and in the mili-
Cylon George, of the Campus Ministry, resigns after five years of service.
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February 17, 2017
NEWS
New dean appointed to health sciences COURTESY OF HVCC.EDU Carol Bosco, the new Dean of Health Sciences.
By: Setodzi Avoke Junior Copy Editor Carol Bosco has been named Dean of Hudson Valley’s School of Health Sciences as of Jan. 27, 2017. Bosco has been a member of campus faculty since 2002 as a part-time instructor. Bosco was formerly employed in practicing and admin-
istrative roles within the nursing field, as well as teaching at Excelsior College, Russell Sage College and Maria College. She also served as chair of Hudson Valley’s nursing department for eight years. Bosco said her experience helped her enter the deanship with the guiding “philosophy” of the health sciences community in addition to the faculty and administrative relationships relevant to her office. She considers her new responsibilities a “progression.” “Coming into this position, it was a broader position but even as a department chair in nursing, there are many pieces of it that you had to look bigger [on]. You had to know what was going on within the whole college to be able to function and meet the needs of the students,” said Bosco. As dean, Bosco will fully implement and further pursue initiatives that began during her time as interim dean. Bosco aims to expand the partnerships Hudson Valley has developed with high
schools in pursuit of providing students a path toward achieving their educational and professional desires at their own pace. Bosco is currently processing a new partnership with the Mohonasen Central School District. “[Mohonasen] was building a brand new science center and they needed a college to partner with. We certainly have some wonderful programs and it certainly gave us some opportunities and ideas too,” said Bosco. “We’re looking at bringing health sciences into the high school so that students have a pathway to go from high school into college and then continue on for higher degrees if they need to or want to,” continued Bosco. Bosco encourages students to take advantage of opportunities the college has to offer as she did when she was a student. “When I first was in high school, education wasn’t important to me. I went to a [Boards of Cooperative Educational Services] program. It was a program in high school where you could
get additional education that you couldn’t get in high school and I went for licensed practical nurse,” said Bosco. Bosco continued, “I realized school was important from that very first college class. Now it counted for something.” After completing high school, the BOCES program and six months of college to become a practice nurse, the desire to “do more” required that she further her education. “I went to a college that was very similar to Hudson Valley [named] Mott Community College. There, I continued my education and became a registered nurse with a two-year degree. Then I wanted to take on a leadership and management role, so I got my bachelor’s and master’s at Sage,” said Bosco. Bosco thought she had her terminal degree when she got her master’s in nursing, but decided she also wanted to get her Ph.D. “I wasn’t sure what it was gonna’ buy me, but I wanted that terminal degree.”
Bosco furthered her education at the University of Arizona. “It was the best education I’ve ever received. It made me look at things differently and be able to process differently. I didn’t think that was possible, but apparently, it was,” said Bosco. With her early education, the environment and mission of Hudson Valley in mind, Bosco’s desire to serve the campus community with her talent and skills strengthened. “If I hadn’t had a good education in an associate’s degree program, I wouldn’t be here,” said Bosco. Bosco continued, “What I found here at Hudson Valley when I worked as an adjunct before becoming a department chair was that I love what we offer. I love our outcomes, I love what we bring to the community. I could go other places, I did go other places and make a lot more money, but I didn’t bring to it and get out of it what I get out of this job here and what we can do for our students and for our community.”
How your faulty car can benefit automotive students By: Setodzi Avoke Junior Copy Editor
“We have found over the years that we are unable to do a lot of German imports: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi,” said Raneri. “We often find that [for] the very complicated cars, we just don’t have the tools for them.” Raneri’s program isn’t equipped to service customers who need full engine or transmission rebuilds, which require more demand than the program provides. “We usually open right after the first or second week of the semester. We close about four weeks before a semester ends,” said Raneri. Lecture, video and technical document study are integral to the student’s understanding of vehicle repair, but getting under the hood of a weather worn car is what turns study into skill. Raneri said that you can know a diagram of how something should work, but dealing with that same system when it’s buried beneath a panel or underneath the vehicle takes things, “beyond the book.” “Head knowledge is wonder-
ful. It’s a great basis, but [you need to be able to] take what’s in your head and bring it down through your hands, then apply it to, what I think are the most important, critical thinking skills,” said Raneri.
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PHOTO BY ALANA MUELLER | HUDSONIAN
Automotive technical services students earn real-world experience through servicing students automobiles in the senior automotive lab. The senior lab gives students the opportunity to work in a garage space equipped to handle problems the automotive technical services students may face when working in a commercial garage. “[For] people who are usually spending $100 for a labor hour and hundreds of dollars in parts, we’re trying to make it more affordable,” said assistant professor of automotive technologies and lead instructor for the senior lab, George Raneri. “We do tires, brakes, alignments, exhaust systems, cooling system checks, oil leaks, engine diagnostics for all those annoying little lights that turn on,” said Raneri. Raneri says that while the program stands to serve the campus community, his students are
also benefited by the opportunity to work on cars affected by real-world conditions. For $15 plus the cost of parts, faculty, students and alumni can request their cars be worked on by students guided by qualified professionals on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. “If you were to bring your car to a real shop, you would expect them to give you an idea of when [the car work] is going to be done. We only operate for 3 ½ hours a day for only three days per week,” said Raneri. With this hands on experience between students and professors, the work can take twice as long as a real shop to complete. “We’re over the students shoulders making sure they’re doing it right [while] explaining things that they don’t understand. We’re making them think through problems as we help them work through the problems,” said Raneri Instructors also face the need to keep students up-to-date with car maintenance while staying within their program’s budget.
Students can get their car repaired at the Automotive Senior Lab on campus.
CREATIVE
February 17, 2017
WEED
5 PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALANA MUELLER | HUDSONIAN
FROM PAGE ONE The legislation would have a larger influence on students at Hudson Valley who live in Massachusetts, and those who smoke marijuana. Branden C. uses marijuana
for recreational use, but feels it has had an effect on his health. “It’s been known to cure diseases, It can help people with mental disorders, It helps people fight through the side effects of chemotherapy,” said C. “It has a lot of benefits, and it can do a lot for people.”
C said that he doesn’t see any real limitations in his everyday life, but has noticed it affects him if he smokes before work. C believes you should treat marijuana similarly to alcohol. “I’m not gonna’ get drunk before I go to work,” said C. “If you’re responsible, you can smoke weed without any issues.” PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALANA MUELLER | HUDSONIAN
Students are torn between the pros and cons of marijuana legalization.
Students utilize multiple forms of marijuana paraphernelia.
The method of Katherine Eisenried
By: Setodzi Avoke Junior Copy Editor
Katherine Eisenried aims to research the science of art through her work. What thoughts and concepts inspire your work? “I don’t see inspiration as a motivational factor in my work. Rather, I make art as a means of working through ideas by physical research. My interest is in the brush mark as a mechanical product of the body. The actions and restrictions for creating a brush mark lie within a standard set by the human body. The abstract expressionism movement showed interested in the hand and body as a single unit. These works incorporate brush marks as both a means of process and image. In relation, I explore the brush mark as a singular product. This product is then available for repetition and reviving the creation process by expending time.” Could you describe any formative experiences that are reflected in your work? “In December 2016, I had an opportunity to meet with David Reed, an artist who gained recognition in the mid-70’s. Reed is also interested in brush marks as an act reflecting the impossibility of being entirely present in the moment. Reed has been an artist of my study and someone we have read about in our advanced studies course at Hudson Valley under Professor Thomas Lail. Some friends and I drove two hours to the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University in Waltham, M.A. to
PHOTO BY SETODZI AVOKE | HUDSONIAN
hear him talk about his work. We were able to meet with him before and after his talk to ask questions, show our work, sign our sketchbooks and take a picture together. It was definitely an experience that fuels my ambition.” Would you describe yourself as an aesthetically oriented artist, or a message oriented artist? Do you think it’s fair to make such a distinction between artists and their work? “As I mentioned before, I view art as a means of working through an idea. If there is a concern for aesthetically pleasing the viewer, then they are not working through their own research. This is not a bad thing. I believe it is just a distinction between an artist and an illustrator.” Would you mind speaking about the work you’re most proud of and the process that went into making it? “It’s funny to me to pick one I am most proud of, because I’ve only actually completed one work! My ideas are constantly flowing and it’s a never ending struggle to keep up with them. The piece I’m currently working on lends itself most directly to the ideas I’m interested in. The piece is 60”x64” on canvas with two brush mark centers, each measuring 48”. I created a large paint brush for this by combining two floor brooms. The marks are then covered with a thin layer of gesso before charcoal pencils draw on top recreate the brush mark.” What’s your favorite medium to work on and with? “I don’t have a firm answer
Katherine Eisenried (pictured left) expresses herself through her artwork. PHOTO BY SETODZI AVOKE | HUDSONIAN
for this since I don’t view myself as either a painter or a drawer. I’m caught in the middle. My work cannot be limited by a medium since the brush marks I create are with paint and the replication process is with charcoal. This may change in the future depending on the work. Upon meeting David Reed, he referred to a work as a drawing even though the brush marks were made of paint. I asked for his reasoning and he simply said ‘Because it is on paper. It was a straightforward response, but I was not expecting it. I believe this also influenced my simultaneous interests in drawing and painting. This is also why I don’t limit myself to a single medium.”
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February 17, 2017
OPINION
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“Split” offers redemption for Shyamalan By: Mikey Bryant Managing Editor M. Night Shyamalan’s “Split” returns the director to his seat as master of the psychological thriller. An impressive performance by James McAvoy leads viewers through the film as McAvoy takes on the role of Kevin, a man with dissociative identity disorder. McAvoy truly displays his acting prowess in this film as he portrays four key alter-egos or “alters,” each with their own distinct personality. These four alters are introduced to the audience as Dennis, Ms. Patricia, Hedwig and Barry. McAvoy displays his acting abilities through his extremely convincing portrayal of each separate character. Between McAvoy’s stellar acting and Shyamalan’s writing, the story keeps you engaged for the nearly two hour run-time. During the film, Dennis captures three teenage girls. Casey,
played by Anya Taylor-Joy, definitely stands out compared to her counterparts Claire played by Haley Lu Richardson and Marcia played by Jessica Sula. Initially, viewers might struggle to separate McAvoy from his recognizable role as Professor Xavier in Fox’s “X-Men” films. McAvoy taking on such a drastically different role added to the campiness of the film, but as the the story progressed and tensions rose, it was easy to separate McAvoy from his previous work. In true Shyamalan fashion, the secondary characters of Claire and Casey are unimportant to the main conflict. Shyamalan does an excellent job in telling Kevin’s backstory, while humanizing the character through his interactions with his therapist, Dr. Fletcher (Betty Buckley). Shyamalan alludes to several previous works throughout the film. The director uses a series of vague flashbacks to show Casey’s backstory. At the close of the film, the flashbacks all come together in a culmination reminiscent of
SCREENSHOT FROM “SPLIT”
M. Night Shyamalan back on top with new release ‘Split.’
Shyamalan’s “Signs”. Another element that adds to the creepiness of the film is the cinematography by Michael Gioulakis who is best known for his work on “It Follows”. Camera shots throughout the film were intimately close to the characters, almost as if the characters in the film are trying to interact with the audience. As a viewer, you quickly become im-
mersed in the world Shyamalan has created on screen. “Split” is not immune to Shyamalan’s plot-twists to trick the audience. While some of these twists do seem a bit predictable, there are a few strong twists which definitely catch the viewer off-guard. “Split” is definitely not a perfect film, but it is a redemption story for Shyamalan after box
office flops such as “The Happening”, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Visit.” Presently, it appears that Shyamalan has returned to his roots with “Split.” Time will tell if the film’s success is an outlier amongst Shyamalan’s recent work, or truly representative of a new step forward for the director.
Lego Batman returns with his own film By: Taylor Sikorski Staff Writer
Nightwing, the sidekick character becomes troublesome in the second half of the film. However, it can be argued that not only does this trait reinforce his role in the overall storyline while embodying the nervous, sometimes apprehensive feelings that many viewers experienced in their . The actual events of the story progress at a dynamic pace, leaving some moments feeling drawn out, while other moments explode in a violent sugar rush of action. Those explosive and action packed moments are accompanied by some of the most visually captivating CGI I personally have ever seen. Computer graphics enthusiasts will be blown away by the visual fidelity of this movie, without a doubt. However, the animation lacks consistency in a way that isn’t attached to any specific design decision, or aesthetic merit. Despite the numerous ebbs and flows of this film, there is never a point where the audience becomes bored from lack of visual or aural stimulation. After giving the movie a chance to marinate for a day or so, I can really appreciate the effort that went into making “The
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Lego Batman Movie” successfully resonate with all age groups in a really memorable way. It seems a trend has developed for many family-marketed movies to specifically target the youngest audience, sprinkling in maybe a few tongue in cheek puns or references for the older viewers, which to many can come off as very cheap or uncandid. “The Lego Batman Movie” managed to avoid this common path, instead offering a genuinely
interesting and dynamic cast of characters set in a world that oozes with personality and childlike enthusiasm. Whether you find yourself looking for a family friendly night at the movies or searching for the feeling of true childlike vitality. “The Lego Batman Movie” is sure to satisfy with a diverse cast of entertaining characters, set in an immersive and addicting universe. SCREENSHOT FROM “LEGO BATMAN MOVIE”
In direct contrast to many recent films, “The Lego Batman Movie” shows us a much more light hearted perspective of America’s most iconic hero. Over the past 50+ years, the LEGO company has in one way or another impacted millions of people, bridging multiple generational gaps with an ideology that enables curiosity and creativity through play. Their good standing as corporate citizens, along with the personal responsibility that is taken to ensure that children are only exposed to violence or conflict in a purely fantasy setting makes the LEGO brand something truly respectable. In further support of these values, “The Lego Batman Movie” takes viewers to a whimsical and lively depiction of Gotham City which might disorient some well versed Batman fans at first. However, throughout the film the city of Gotham becomes less of a typical comic book universe and serves as a playground for numerous cross-dimensional cameos.
It should also be noted that LEGO has already developed the Batman character we see in this film during “The Lego Movie” from 2014. Although “The Lego Batman Movie” does not take place in the same universe, Batman’s most defining features from 2014 form the basis of the hero we are greeted with in this film. Bruce Wayne, an emotionally turbulent billionaire who loves helping people almost as much as he loves embracing solitude in the darkest corners of Gotham, forever struggling to fill the hole left by the passing of his mother and father. Voice actor Will Arnett does a fantastic job reflecting Batman’s dynamic personality which throughout the film is always evolving, but never in a way that feels disingenuous or unnatural. This wonderful expression of each character’s personality is consistent throughout the film. In addition, Zack Galifanakis manages to give us an extremely entertaining caricature of the Joker. The Joker raises the entire movie to another level of craziness, as well as childlike anarchy. But it must be said, that some of the characters in this movie can become annoying overtime.
The LEGO Batman Movie, second in a new line of LEGO films, is sure to please kids of all-ages.
February 17, 2017
SPORTS
7
Head athletic trainer shares story PHOTO BY ZOE DENO | HUDSONIAN
By: Josh McCart Staff Writer Keith Thomas is the new head athletic trainer for the Vikings’ athletic department. Thomas describes the position as providing care, treatment and prevention of injuries for student athletes. “After an injury, the athlete is in a pretty tough spot, and seeing them come full-circle through recovery and able to participate back 100 percent helps me learn far more from them than I think I have the opportunity to teach them,” said Thomas.
According to Thomas, a typical day starts with athletic training room hours where he offers treatments for student-athletes. During and after athletic events are when trainers care for the student-athletes the most to ensure they are ready for competing. Thomas enjoys how his job is always changing due to constant changes in student-athletes, coaches, staff, and administration. When Thomas was in high school, he was interested in math and science as well as being involved in football, wrestling, and lacrosse. After enjoying his experiences in these interests, Thomas
decided to find a career in them. “I wanted to find something where I could blend the healthcare field and athletics.” said Thomas Thomas had the opportunity to play lacrosse at the collegiate level when he was accepted to Alfred University in the Athletic Training Curriculum. Thomas first worked at La Salle Institute after earning his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Alfred University in 1998. After four years of working at La Salle, Thomas went back to school and earn his master’s degree in curriculum development
and instructional technology from SUNY Albany. After earning his master’s degree, Thomas was hired at Union College in July of 2004. Shortly after, Thomas decided to apply for the athletic trainer position at Hudson Valley. Thomas believes the only difficult thing about his job is dealing with conflict such as seeing athletes in pain, however he is relieved knowing there are ways to get the athletes healthy and back on the field, court or course. New athletic trainer, Keith Thomas combines love for sports and science to assist student athletes.
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Vikings appoint new media coordinator COURTESY OF HVCC.EDU
Lawrence Snyder looks to be more student-centered as Sports Information Director.
By: Skylar Blankenship Sports Editor Lawrence Snyder, the assistant director of athletics, was appointed to the position of sports information director in Novem-
ber, 2016. Snyder has a bachelor’s degree in sport management, with a minor in sport studies from SUNY Cortland and a master’s degree in sports industry management from Georgetown University. What is the job description of a sports information director? “The main responsibilities of the sports information director include promotion of the Hudson Valley Community College athletic teams’ achievements and to share, through various venues, the talents of our student athletes. To accomplish this, a marketing strategy is used to highlight each collegiate competition and to publicize to the college community the athletic accomplishments of the student athletes.” What is the job description of an assistant director of athletics? “As with any department, the
main goal is to be operationally efficient and student-centered. In the position of interim assistant director of athletics, I work directly with Justin Hoyt, the interim director of athletics, to manage specific projects that support the mission of the department and the college. This can include preparing compliance documentation, reporting to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and managing open gym sessions.” Why was this position created? “The sports information director and assistant director of athletics position was previously held by interim director of athletics, Justin Hoyt. The Hudson Valley athletic department prides itself on strengthening the presence of all Viking athletes and athletic teams. At the same time, as a competitive collegiate institution,
there are compliance benchmarks and processes that must be followed. To effectively accomplish all of the goals and objectives of the department, the position is needed to supplement and support the processes.” Do you have any plans? “My plan is to assist the interim director of athletics with his vision of positioning the Hudson Valley athletic department as one of prominence within the region. This will be achieved through additional internal and external marketing strategies and targeted projects.” Do you expect to run into any obstacles? “With every new venture, there are challenges. I have had a wonderful start in this position and when faced with any challenge, I have been able to seek guidance and support from several people here at Hudson Valley.”
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What are you looking forward to? “Every team competition is exciting to watch. To see student athletes excel in their sport and then be able to highlight those accomplishments is a truly positive experience. Student athletes are determined individuals and I look forward to working with them to be successful as athletes and as students.” Any other comments? “The entire administration, faculty, staff and students at Hudson Valley have been very welcoming. I feel fortunate to be part of the Viking team.”
February 17, 2017
SPORTS
8
Vikings prepare for spring season
By: Zoe Deno Staff Writer
Snow may be covering the fields, but coaches for spring sports teams are planning for the upcoming season. The men’s baseball team has the bar set high for them this year due to the success of their past two seasons. Currently, the team ranks in the top five nationally for base percentage, slugging percentage and batting average. “I’m really excited for this season, we only have seven players returning, but all the guys on this team are guys who just want to win,” said Alex Jurczynski, the head coach of the baseball team. Tryouts had a turnout of 30 players with 11 students making the team. They practice five-to-six days a week for two hours, following the National Junior College Athletic Association guidelines. George Rafferty was hired recently as the coach for the women’s softball team. Due to his recent arrival, Rafferty is trying to increase recruitment for his team. “I have only one returner from last year’s team and our numbers are extremely low,” said Rafferty. Nine girls have tried out this
season, and the team will continue to have open tryouts until the roster is full. “There is an inherited need to increase our numbers to ensure that we have enough depth to compete in a competitive league,” said Rafferty. Since their beginning of practice in October, Rafferty has been happy with their progress, as well as impressed with their work ethic and talent. Men’s lacrosse Head coach Matt Johnson is modeling their training after the Navy Seals, preferring to have a smaller team made up of ‘higher caliber’ members. The lacrosse team’s main goal of this season is making the playoffs. The women’s golf program is about to start practices while looking to add members to its team. “The indoor practices are going to allow everyone to kick the rust off of their golf swings and begin to get their golf swings back into playing shape,” said head coach of the women’s golf team, Alyssa Ruggiero. N
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Ruggiero’s goal for the season is to improve her members golfing skills both physically and mentally to enhance their love of the game. “I expect my players to work
hard at every practice and be fully invested in the team,” said Ruggiero. The golf team practices near the campus at Pheasant Hollow Golf Club.
The Men’s lacrosse team will have their first game March 15., the women’s softball game on March 28., the women’s golf game on April 8. and the men’s baseball game on April 4.
PHOTO BY MARISON TOPINIO | HUDSONIAN
Women’s softball is set to have their first game of the season on March 28.
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cobleskill.edu/hvcc pace@cobleskill.edu Women’s golf is set to start off their season on April 8.
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