The New Paltz Oracle

NEW PALTZ ORACLE THE

STANDARDIZED

Volume 87, Issue XXI

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

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Thursday, April 30, 2015

STRESS

Local New Paltz Residents Voice Opinions On Common Core Changes STORY ON PAGE 3 | EDITORIAL ON PAGE 9

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF THE NEW PALTZ ORACLE

• New Paltz Fire Dept. Discusses Formal Commissioners.....Pg 4 • Campus Vending Switches to Coca-Cola Products...........Pg 5 • Alt. Source For Aqueduct Closing Still Undetermined........Pg 5 • Student Senate Overturns Previous Budget Allocations...Pg 6

NEW PALTZ ORACLE THE

Abbott Brant EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kristen Warfield MANAGING EDITOR _________________

Anthony DeRosa NEWS EDITOR

Jennifer Newman FEATURES EDITOR

Russell Hartman

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Melissa Kramer SPORTS EDITOR

_________________

Maxwell Reide Holly Lipka

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS

Mike Sheinkopf CARTOONIST

_________________

Nate Sheidlower Sam Manzella Karl Evers-Hillstrom Melanie Zerah Jack O’Brien Amya Pinka Michael Rosen Amanda Copkov COPY EDITORS

_________________

Jackie Quaranto WEB CHIEF

Dylan Sheppard MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

_________________

Emma Savic

FEATURES

About The New Paltz Oracle

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The New Paltz Oracle is the official student newspaper of SUNY New Paltz. Our circulation is 2,500. The New Paltz Oracle is sponsored by the Student Association and partially funded by the student activity fee.

The New Paltz Oracle is located in the Student Union (SU) Room 417. Deadline for all submissions is 5 p.m. on Sundays in The New Paltz Oracle office and by email at oracle@hawkmail. newpaltz.edu.

All advertisements must be turned in by 5 p.m. on Fridays, unless otherwise specified by the business manager. Community announcements are published gratuitously, but are subject to restriction due to space limitations.There is no guarantee of publication. Contents of this paper cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.

The New Paltz Oracle is published weekly throughout the fall and spring semesters on Thursdays. It is available in all residence halls and academic buildings, in the New Paltz community and online at oracle.newpaltz.edu. For more information, call 845-257-3030. The fax line is 845-257-3031.

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8B

Incident: Village Open Container Law Date: 4/25/15 Location: Southside Open beverage container possession and unlawful possession of alcohol. Subject under 21 years old. Appearance ticket issued for New Paltz Town Court.

10 11-15

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Monday, May 4 Mostly Sunday High: 82 Low: 57

The New Paltz Oracle

News

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New Paltz School District Rallies Against Common Core Initiative

By Sam Manzella

Copy Editor | Manzells1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

On Tuesday, April 7, teachers, parents, students and activists from the New Paltz community and the New Paltz Central School District (NPCSD) rallied against new Common Core teaching standards and increased emphasis on standardized testing in K-12 education.

These new policies are the result of New York State (NYS) legislation, specifically education reforms promoted and initiated

by NYS Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo’s team unveiled a series of changes to Common Core on March 10 after Cuomo himself admitted that the original policy was “flawed” and “has resulted in frustration, anxiety and confusion for children and parents,” according to the governor’s online newsroom at ny.gov. Still, local educators and parents argued that these recommended changes are not adequate.

According to an article from the New Paltz Times, the rally was supported by the teacher’s union, the local PTA and local education activists. Ralliers told stories of “demoralized, over-tested kids” who continuously face overbearing workloads to prepare them for statemandated Common Core exams and standardized tests.

New Paltz Board of Education President Brian Cournoyer said the rally went very well, citing the attendance of over 100 locals as a major factor in the ralliers’ favor. Cournoyer was a panelist and speaker at the event. Most of his remarks dealt with “chronic underfunding public schools are facing in New York and the damage it’s doing to education.”

“Our district has lost approximately $11 million in state aid over the last six years from the Gap Elimination Adjustment alone,” Cournoyer said. “We’ve had to cut approximately 50 full-time staff positions, including teachers, psychologists, aides and maintenance staff.

This has led to larger class sizes and reduced services. To preserve our programs, we’ve had to expend our fund balance, which has led our district to be designated as fiscally stressed by the State Comptroller.”

Cournoyer explained that the new Common Core standards are “too rigid,” and that statewide ELA and math testing, which are designed to evaluate instructors, have “no value to student learning.”

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

“The whole system is flawed, and our students lose countless hours of learning time as a result,” Cournoyer said.

Many residents and parents of NPCSD students share his views, including Andrea Frank and Robyn Sheridan, who are both professors at SUNY New Paltz.

Frank, who is a professor in the photography department and the mother of a kindergartener in the NPCSD, said that she is not in support of the new Common Core teaching standards or emphasis on testing in NYS. She did not attend the rally.

Sheridan, a Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies professor, also has a young daughter who will be entering the NPCSD this coming fall. As an educator, Sheridan has issues with the fundamental model of education that Common Core feeds into and perpetuates.

According to Sheridan, Common Core places an over-emphasis on testing for overly-specific knowledge. These expectations stifle teachers and students and impose “very narrow and limited

ideas of what is important to know” as well as how students should learn this information.

“This model renders unimportant any valuable and unique knowledge that [students] bring with them to school and actually privileges particular ways of knowing that not all students have access to,” Sheridan said.

Sheridan also cited the dangers of standardized testing. These exams, she said, are based almost entirely around rote memorization. Sheridan, who came from a low-income family and was tracked away from college during grade school, was “never a good test-taker.”

Her test scores reinforced the notion that she was not smart enough for college or capable of handling the rigorous nature of college exams. She “felt like an imposter” during her higher education despite continuously making the Dean’s List at her university.

Sheridan also noted that her experiences are not unique and that this is a multi-faceted issue.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

“I have noticed that some of my students have a very difficult time with critical thinking . . . [which] really stems from such a narrow and limited focus in the K-12 classroom,” Sheridan said.

“And when we consider how schools are impacted by lack of funding, we really see how class and race play into how harmful [over-testing] is, [too].”

Sheridan said she did not attend the rally. Her decision was partly due to schedule conflicts and partly due to her issues with how the Common Core debate is framed. This discussion, Sheridan said, should “mark the connection between this model of education and the social consequences of racism, sexism, classism, homophobia and other forms of institutionalized oppression.”

Regardless, Sheridan praised the ralliers and their struggle against “a depleted educational model.”

“There is no perfect activism or no perfect way to resist,” she said. “I commend the rally organizers and participants.”

News

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NEWS BRIEFS WORLD

The New Paltz Oracle

New Paltz Fire Commission In The Works

AID BEGINSARRIVING IN NEPAL’S REMOTE QUAKE-HIT VILLAGES The first supplies of food aid began reaching remote, earthquake-shattered mountain villages in Nepal, while thousands clamored to board buses out of Kathmandu, either to check on rural relatives or for fear of spending yet another night in the damaged capital.

Frustration over the slow delivery of humanitarian aid boiled over in a protest in the city, with about 200 people facing off with police and blocking traffic.

GIRLS RESCUED FROM BOKO HARAM NEED PSYCHE CARE Some of the nearly 300 girls and women freed by Nigeria’s military from the forest stronghold of Boko Haram were so transformed by their captivity that they opened fire on their rescuers, and experts said Wednesday they would need intensive psychological treatment. The military was flying in medical and intelligence teams to evaluate the former captives said army spokesman Col. Sani Usman.

FRANCE INVESTIGATES ACCUSATIONS THAT SOLDIERS RAPED CHILDREN French military authorities are investigating accusations that French soldiers in Central African Republic sexually abused children they were sent to protect. The French probes follow an initial United Nations investigation into the allegations a year ago - all of which were kept secret until a report in the Guardian on Wednesday.

40 YRS ON, IMAGES OF SAIGON’S FALL REMAIN INDELIBLE Forty years later, the images remain searing: Throngs of desperate South Vietnamese civilians trying to scale the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, hoping somehow to squeeze aboard one of the helicopters evacuating U.S. personnel and their associates in the face of an onslaught by North Vietnamese forces.

Compiled from the AP Newswire

The front of the New Paltz Fire Department on Plattekill Avenue.

By Monique Tranchina

Contributing Writer | Tranchim1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The New Paltz Town Board, Village Board and New Paltz Fire Department are currently discussing the creation of a New Paltz Fire District, which would differ from village and town fire departments in its governance. This plan would change the governing body of the new district from general town and village board members to a trained board of commissioners. In this proposed plan, anyone could come forth and train to become a commissioner.

Trained commissioners would have direct knowledge of the fire department, statistics and related affairs.

Supporters of the plan believe that this could potentially benefit the community, as this knowledge could contrib-

ute to more effective communication between the departments, local political organizations and the public.

According to David Weeks, current chief of the New Paltz Fire Department, this plan would allow “elected people” to govern the fire department instead of the village board. “[Yet] we have to be able to get the town and village bodies to agree on the decision to make a district,” Weeks said.

According to officials from the fire department, the current split is 60/40 in terms of how the town and village are represented in decisions. If introduced, this new district would change this split to about 50/50, ideally creating a more balanced entity.

According to First Assistant Chief Dylan Babcock, this new district could

Thursday, April 30, 2015

PHOTOBY HOLLY LIPKA

affect the town’s budget.

“It is possible that our budget will increase, but we will have the ability to tax commercial entities and be able to deal with the tax PILOT program within the village,” Babcock said.

“Our taxes will be properly directed to what we need.”

This transition to a fire district would also affect the political system of the department and the department’s budget. However, Weeks, Babcock and Kevin Maguire, former chief of the fire department, all agree that this will not affect their positions or duties.

“This [will not affect] emergency fire response time whatsoever, whether [we] are a fire district or a village fire department,” Babcock said. “It will just change the status of the district.”

The New Paltz Oracle

News

Alt Water Source Yet Determined For Aqueduct Closing

By Melanie Zerah

Copy Editor | Zerahm1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

With the 2017 Catskill Aqueduct shutdown drawing close, town and village officials continue a ten year search for an alternative water source for the 10 weeks the aqueduct will be closed for repairs.

According to the 1929 contract between the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Village of New Paltz, the DEP is under no obligation to provide or pay for water for the village or town, said New Paltz Town Supervisor Susan Zimet.

“I believe the DEP will come up with a solution on how to get water to the Community. The question is how it will be delivered and at what cost,” Zimet said. “Basically for ten years this aqueduct shut down has been known to the village and unfortunately no concrete action has been taken until we literally have our backs against the wall.”

The village reservoir off of Mountain Rest Road will be unable to fully supply the 7,000 village customers and 300 town customers during three 10-week shutdowns in 2016, 2017 and 2018 while the city repairs the aqueduct, according to The Daily Free-

man.

According to Zimet, the DEP provided the town with a study they had done — costing about $150,000 — that showed there was a potential water source located at Plains Road in the town.

“The town got involved at the very tailend of this in trying to facilitate and ensure that there was a solution,” Zimet said. “The town got involved because we would have to create a water district for this water to be used with the village water system.”

In regards to 2017 aqueduct shut down, Zimet said currently there is a plan on the table requiring the town and the village to enter into an Inter-Municipal Agreement (IMA).

The IMA serves as an agreement between the town and the village to work together toward a solution for the shutdown and supply water as listed in the IMA. According to Zimet, when the IMA is up, the town and village will enter into an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with the DEP. This will lay the ground work for how New Paltz plans to acquire an alternative water source during the shutdown.

“There are some steps that have to happen in place, for example one of the things

that has to be done is there has to be a creation of a water district on Plains Road and the Plains Road people would have the opportunity to petition for a referendum,” Zimet said.

“Depending on the vote would depend on whether or not we can use that water source.”

Some residents of Plains Road have expressed support for the plan, while others are completely opposed, opening the possibility that the plan be voted down. Should this be the case, alternate plans would require type of engineering plan that would be very dangerous for the DEP to implement, Zimet said.

According to Zimet, if the water district plan is voted down, one option the DEP has discussed is bringing water trucks into the town — about 175 water trucks a day. The town and village would have to purchase the water which would be much more expensive than the water user pay now, Zimet said.

“It is not only the cost [to be worried about] if this water back up system doesn’t fly. There is going to be many shut downs, this being only one of many,” Zimet said. “If we don’t create a water back up supply, we are going to have to figure out how we are going to continually get water to the community during the future shutdowns.”

Campus Vending Makes Switch To Coca-Cola

By Nathaniel Sheidlower

Copy Editor | Sheidlon1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

SUNY New Paltz has ended its 25-year long relationship with PepsiCo of the Hudson Valley to enter into a five-year drink and vending contract with Coca-Cola. The decision was made by a 7-1 vote by the Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS) Board during a special meeting on Wednesday, April 29.

Starting in the fall, all vending machines, coolers and fountain drinks will be supplied to the campus by Coca-Cola.

Snacks will be supplied by a third-party vendor under contract with Coca-Cola, Triple J Vending of Poughkeepsie, New York.

The contract iterates that Coca-Cola would not provide a signing bonus, unlike the $25,000 promised by Pepsi, but they will be providing CAS with a sponsorship fee of $80,000 a year adding up to $400,000 over the life span of the deal. Since CAS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit thereby all money that comes in, like that of this contract, will be redistributed to various additions to campus.

A minimum commission guarantee of $43,315 from drink sales and $23,000 from snack sales, also included in the contract,

amounts to $66,315 a month from Coca-Cola to CAS during years one and two of the partnership. The commission is proposed to increase to $71,955 a month during years three to five.

Coca-Cola has also proposed $10,000 in annual scholarship donation and the offer of a summer internship valued at approximately $17,500.

“Students in particular feel it was time for a change,” Executive Director of CAS Steve Deutsch said at the meeting.

Along with these monetary changes, product changes are set for the near future as well. Pepsi products currently sold at SUNY New Paltz, including, but not limited to; Pepsi, Mt. Dew, True Leaf Tea, Amp Energy Drink, Gatorade, Lipton Tea, Naked and Bottled Starbucks Beverages, will be replaced by Coca-Cola drink.

Coca-Cola, Sprite, PowerAde, Dr. Pepper, Barq’s Root Beer, Seagram’s, Honest Tea, Vitamin Water, Fanta, Minute Maid, Fuze Tea, Odwalla and Nos Energy Drink will be the new brand names filling the vending machines and retail coolers all over campus.

Coca-Cola also offers a new fountain beverage machine known as the Freestyle, and its partner the Legacy. These machines hold above 100 different flavors of Coke products for the user to choose from on a touch screen, including sodas, carbonated waters and juices. The Freestyle machine only serves one at a time, while the Legacy can accommodate up to five, making ideal for heavy foot traffic areas such as Hasbrouck Dining Hall.

The machines offer a variety of classic flavors such as cherry and vanilla additions to Pibb Xtra, formerly known as Mr. Pibb and traditional flavors of Coke, like lime and lemon, along with new ones raspberry and orange.

The machines, however, are costly because of their sophistication and the potential risk of damage. The locations and number of these new machines are not yet known.

Triple J Vending, the snack providers, carry Doritos, Cheetos, Pop Corners, M&Ms, Hershey’s Chocolate, Oreos, Pop Tarts, Twizzlers, Skittles, Big Texas Cinnamon Rolls, Lays Potato Chips and others.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

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NEWS BRIEFS NATIONAL

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS SAYS HE’S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT Promising to fight what he deems “obscene levels” of income disparity and a campaign finance system that is a “real disgrace,” independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Wednesday he will run for president. In an interview with AP, Sanders confirmed his plans to formally join the race Thursday.

THOUSANDS PROTEST DEATH OF BALTIMORE MAN Thousands of people hit the streets in Baltimore and several other cities from Boston and New York to Indianapolis and Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to protest the death of a black man who died of spinal injuries after his arrest

by Baltimore police and to demand reforms to police procedures. While protests of the death of Freddie Gray were mostly peaceful, there were some arrests, including 16 in Baltimore.

FORMER US COMMANDER: TAKE NUCLEAR MISSILES OFF HIGH ALERT

Taking U.S. and Russian missiles off high alert could keep a possible cyberattack from starting a nuclear war, a former commander of U.S. nuclear forces says, but neither country appears willing to increase the lead-time to prepare the weapons for launch. in response to a false warning of attack.

JAPAN PM OFFERS CONDOLENCES FOR WWII DEAD IN HISTORIC SPEECH Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered condolences Wednesday for Americans killed in World War II in the first address by a Japanese leader to a joint meeting of Congress, but stopped short of apologizing for wartime atrocities. Abe came to Capitol Hill after a morning visit to a Washington memorial to more than 400,000 American service members who died in the conflict.

Compiled from the AP Newswire

6 oracle.newpaltz.edu

News

The New Paltz Oracle

Senate Overturns Previous Budget Alllocations Deemed Unfair

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

By Karl Evers-Hillstrom

Copy Editor | N02541514@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The 59th Student Association (SA) Senate met on Wednesday, April 29 to discuss changes on campus, budget issues and constitutional changes.

Sen. James Auer announced that CocaCola will be the sole provider of beverages on campus for the next five years starting in August, replacing Pepsi. According to Auer, the Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS) Board chose Coca-Cola because Pepsi lacked sufficient communication and flexibility.

“We all knew that Pepsi was the better option financially, the deciding factor was the difference in services,” Auer said.

“Pepsi’s communication with Sodexo and the school has been subpar. We all felt that we needed a change, someone who would better accommodate students.”

Sen. Paul Brown accepted a nomination for Senate Chair, the position responsible for running meetings and creating the agenda for each meeting. He will be replacing current Senate Chair Carissa Moore and ran

the meeting in honor of his selection.

Senate discussed the proposed 20152016 SA budget, which had many changes, including cuts for General Programming (GP) and the New Paltz chapter of the New York Public Interest Group (NYPIRG), and a large increase for the SA Productions (SAP) budget.

GP is all of the money given to clubs that don’t have budgets. Dozens of clubs at New Paltz rely on GP to fund their activities. SAP is the money used to bring in talent for performances such as musicians for the annual spring concert.

Many senators felt that NYPIRG was too important to students to get cut, and that the cuts were unfair.

“A lot of clubs are still getting funded even though they didn’t hand in their paperwork on time,” Sen. Nick Watkins said.

“Why are we punishing an organization like NYPIRG that did do their paperwork?”

In order to fund NYPIRG, senators brought up the idea of taking money away from GP or SAP.

Vice President of Programming Goldie Harrison disagreed with any notion of taking money away from SAP, which received an increase of $40,000 on the proposed budget.

“We didn’t have enough money this year to bring in good talent,” Harrison said.

“SAP budget increases were needed.”

Vice President of Finance Rosemary Owuo mentioned that since many clubs failed to get budgets for next semester, they will need money from GP, so cutting the GP budget means those clubs will get even less funding.

Senate voted to overturn the budget cuts for NYPIRG. Senate took $5,500 out of conferences, and $2,000 out of senate’s discretionary funding and the rest out of GP to give NYPIRG the funding they wanted.

“I’ve served on senate for two years and this is the most unethical budget debate I’ve ever seen,” Sen. James Auer said. “This debate was literally SAP versus NYPIRG, at the expense of everybody else. You look at the budget as a whole, not just an individual

Thursday, April 30, 2015

organization.”

Farmer and Professor Jocelyn Apicello spoke to senate about an upcoming program called the Ecological Citizen’s Project. The project entails a one-week retreat for student leaders in the Ulster County area to live on a farm and learn how to create a sustainable food source through farming. Apicello said the project was to build ideals of sustainability and civic engagement. The retreat will take place in August, and will be tuition free for its initial run thanks to a grant from the Endeavor Foundation.

Senate discussed potential changes to the SA constitution. Although they cannot make the changes until next semester, the bulk of potential changes had to do with revising election guidelines.

The new proposed election guidelines state that executive board candidates must have at least 100 signatures supporting them in order to run and restricted the time period in which they can campaign. It also stated that two candidates cannot campaign together on a flyer.

The New Paltz Oracle

Please join me in voting for Sally Rhoads for Mayor on Tuesday May 5th. As a Village Trustee, I have worked closely with Sally for the last four years and I know she has the skills needed to get the job done.

Sally has a proven track record of following through on her commitments. She has had a career of volunteerism and through her positions on the School Board, Library Board, Police Commission and Village Board, she has been a bridge-builder and a community collaborator, bringing people together to accomplish goals for the community as a whole.

I have watched her fill in the gaps and pick up the slack where it has been needed. A good example of this was when we needed someone to lead our negotiation team for the new union contract and Sally stepped up and took charge. She has never hesitated to volunteer for committees and attend additional meetings.

Sally and I have not always agreed on everything, but we have always been able to talk about our differences in opinion with respect and honesty. I appreciate that very much about Sally and it has made for an incredible working relationship.

Sally has had a lifetime of volunteering for and giving to this community. I cannot imagine a better way for her to end her career of volunteerism than by being the first female Mayor of New Paltz.

Ariana Basco New Paltz Resident Years ago as a young mayor in his first term, Jason West became a national figure. Along with him we learned that although celebrity is temporary, the opportunity to make a positive contribution to our world is renewed every day. And beyond the civil rights issue of marriage equality, Jason understood that to be successful the story of his service to our community would have to go elsewhere.

That’s why Jason has tackled municipal water and sewer infrastructure concerns, prepared careful annual budgets, addressed environmental issues, worked to promote new affordable housing, thoughtful rezoning and the routine matters of making our village a safe, healthy and successful community. These are often complicated matters that probably have very little sex appeal for most of us, but the fact is that Jason is tenacious about the details of managing the affairs of our village. As the leader of our most local New Paltz, Jason has earned my trust and confidence in his ability to guide us through the challenging and difficult times that lay ahead. I hope you will join me in voting to re-elect Mayor Jason West.

Rich Cussano The Oracle is a great college newspaper for many reasons. I want to thank the 2014-2015 staff who in addition to articles about campus life also assigned articles about events and issues in the larger community. Student lives are enriched when they can read about the community their college is part of. When SUNY New Paltz students reflect back on their college experience they will remember how they were part of a larger slice of life than just within the perimeter of the campus itself. THANK YOU! Congratulations to the graduating seniors and I hope the staff who will be back in September continue this practice to enrich student awareness and understanding of life in New Paltz.

Rosalyn Cherry New Paltz

Opinion

Op-Eds

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I am writing this letter to share some very exciting news about an environment issue in our community: MILLBROOK PRESERVE. The preserve would run from North Chestnut Street near Stewart's up as far as the area around Woodland Pond. In other words, walking distance from campus.

Members of the community who have a strong commitment to the environment have been working since 2006 to form this preserve, an environmentally significant area with rare species of plants, animals and amphibians. It also includes a long portion of tributary 13 which feeds directly into the Walkill River. The intention is for it to be forever wild for public use.

One part of it has already been purchased. A second portion, part of Woodland Pond, has already been designated forever wild. The pivotal piece which connects these two areas and missing until now, is 38 acres which are currently privately owned.

The owner has been receptive to reaching an agreement with the Town to sell the parcel at well below market rate even though its location is highly desirable and very attractive to developers.

When SALLY RHOADS learned that the owner, after a long period of negotiation, was intending to submit a development plan to the Town Planning Board, she proposed to the Village Board that rather than losing this critical parcel, the Village purchase it.

The proposal passed 5-0 and Mill Brook Preserve will finally become a reality. Once part of the project is complete, the work of planning and developing trails and any other infrastructure will begin. That will include knowing the areas that are too fragile to access, knowing particular features of the property that need special consideration - for example, any wetlands and tributary 13, knowing specifically what plants and animals are present and how they need to be protected. If ever there was a project in the making that can and should involve students all the way

through, this is it. SOLAR TRASH COMPACTORS - Through Sally's efforts to deal with litter in the Village, the Board agreed to experiment with solar trash compactors like those already in place on campus. One is already installed at the entrance to the municipal parking lot. Two more are included in next years' budget. This won't solve all of our littering problems, but it certainly should help.

THE SHADE TREE COMMISSION - This Village commission was reconstituted by Sally when she became Village Trustee 4 years ago with 3 of 5 members SUNY students. One was named Chair. He has since graduated and is still Chair of the STC and his commitment is undeniable. Sally is the Village Board liaison to this commission.

STREAM DAYLIGHTING - Proposed by Mayor Jason West, Sally was an advocate for the stream daylighting project when much public sentiment was against it. She was there to point out the win-win aspect of that situation: not only was it more cost-effective in both the short and long run for maintenance, safety and tax expenditure reasons, but we all ended up with a visually pleasant stream enjoyed by all in the center of the Village.

Finally, some candidates for Mayor have criticized SUNY students as lacking concern for the Village. Sally has always disagreed, citing how much students do by volunteering for the Fire Department and the Rescue Squad, assisting at our local library's annual fair and other events, and most especially helping for many years with Clean Sweep. Sally reported that this year two thirds of Clean Sweep volunteers were SUNY students.

A vote for SALLY RHOADS is a vote for all of us who call this Village home.

Why You Should Vote for Sally Rhoads as Village of New Paltz Mayor. ​​Let me assure you, Sally’s advocacy for college students is not election year lip service. She has been a long time advocate for student input into Village activities and, by the same token, has advocated that Village and Town residents have greater participation in on-campus activities. An example: Sally is a founding member of the Lifetime Learning Institute of SUNY New Paltz.

For years, Sally, along with Ariana Basco, both Village Trustees, have facilitated greater cooperation and communication between “Town and Gown.”

Sally is especially concerned with maintaining safe, affordable and livable housing standards. She has concerns that tenants are being taken advantage of by some landlords - those landlords who may have more concern for their bottom line than they do for the health, safety and welfare of their tenants or the conditions in which they live.

When Sally’s candidacy brochure lists her goals as Mayor, for example: "Enforce zoning, housing and other Village codes equitably.” She means exactly that. Equitably. Sally recognizes you, the student, as a Village resident and as such you are due the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities as any other Village resident. Sally wants the Village code applied equitably to all housing units. Not only for student tenants….. but for all residents of the Village.

When she says "preserve and improve our neighborhoods and Village,” it means Sally wants to improve our neighborhoods and Village. That’s us! Not just me, not just you… us, the Village residents!

Having been born and raised here, I have first hand knowledge and experience with Sally’s plethora of community contributions and accomplishments: School Board and Elting Memorial Library Board just to name two. She was part of the group that advocated for and was instrumental in getting the BlueLight/ Emergency call box at the top of Plattekill Avenue and improved street lighting along the rest of Plattekill Ave. Sally is also the Trustee liaison to the Shade Tree Commission.

When Mayor Jason West proposed daylighting the stream in Peace Park, Sally was instrumental in getting Board approval when much public sentiment was against it. She was there to point out the win-win aspect of that situation: not only was it more cost effective in both the short and long run for maintenance, safety and tax expenditure reasons, but we all ended up with a visually pleasant stream in the center of the Village that is enjoyed by all.

Please join me in voting for Sally Rhoads as Mayor.

Sincerely, Liz Harschow

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Sandie Kaplan

Opinion

8 oracle.newpaltz.edu

I write to urge your editorial page to oppose the plan to continue to jack up SUNY’s tuition and instead to urge Albany to freeze tuition.

SUNY2020 is expected to become one of the top issues to get debated this session, scheduled to continue until the middle of June.

Despite the fact that the law doesn’t expire until next year, advocates are making a big push this year for lawmakers to extend the program now.

A central component of the SUNY2020 program is annual tuition hikes that can be as much as $300 per year. And tuition has gone up $300 every one of the years that the law has been on the books since 2011, totaling a whopping 24% increase with one more year to go.

As part of the deal to hike tuition, the state agreed to a “Maintenance of Effort” promise. Essentially, the state promised not to cut its support for SUNY and CUNY, and that the new revenues generated by the tuition hikes would go toward enhancing college programs, not filling in budget cuts.

But that promise turned out to be a weak one. For example, the Maintenance of Effort pledge did not include things like salary increases or inflationary costs. In SUNY, that means that $130 million for those increases had to come from somewhere, likely students’ tuition. And the impact has been real: in 2008, before SUNY2020 went into effect, students covered 50 percent of SUNY’s budget; they now cover 70 percent – thanks to the tuition hikes and the stagnant state support.

In 2010, the state’s overall budget totaled roughly $130 billion.

The current state budget has grown to $142 billion. The state’s financial picture has improved. Both the state’s and the nation’s economies are humming.

Why continue to shift the burden of SUNY’s costs to college students and their families?

Typically, the second half of the session is supposed to be one that grapples with non-budget issues, but extension of the SUNY2020 plan obviously would be a rare departure. Whether the “college tax”, aka tuition, continues to jump could be determined by June.

Instead, NYPIRG and its allies will be lobbying to give students a break by freezing SUNY’s tuition, instead of jacking it up.

We urge your editorial page to support the tuition freeze effort.

Eric Wood NYPIRG, Project Coordinator SUNY New Paltz I first met Jason West when I moved to New Paltz 16 years ago, and there's no one I trust more to help protect, preserve, and enhance all that makes New Paltz such an incredible place for me to raise my family.

There are two huge gains under Jason's leadership that stand out for me. One is specific, and the other more general. Both equally durable, and why I support Jason West's re-election.

The first was Jason's defense of the Village, and even the Town, which would have seen a major tax increase, against an egregiously poorly researched rush into consolidation. He stood alone on the Village Board for proper diligence, and survived punishing retribution that literally

Op-Eds

I have had the pleasure of serving as Mayor of New Paltz for eight years: it would be my honor to serve another four.

I’d like a Village as sustainable and self-sustaining as possible. I’d like to see our whole community “off the grid” and there are steps we can take in that direction, including exploring a public power utility that could give us some control over our energy infrastructure.

I’d like to see the Village become a ‘Zero Waste Community,’ and have begun work exploring the feasibility of a municipal sanitation department to “municipalize” our garbage collection, allow us to have greater control over what we recycle and enable curbside compost collection. As a possible step in that direction, the Village is currently discussing whether or not to contract with one company to collect all the waste in the Village.

I’d like a Village that is once again affordable; the cost of both renting and buying a home has doubled and tripled in the twenty years I’ve lived here. Too many of us are forced to move to less expensive communities instead of putting down roots in New Paltz. Those who rent (nearly three-quarters of the Village) now have added protections since the Village Board passed a law I wrote which gives more flexibility to the Building Inspector while protecting tenants’ rights.

At the same time, the everyday work of the Village continues, with millions of dollars’ worth of water and sewer system improvements over the past four years – including a $4 million overhaul of our water treatment plant.

Our audits are complimentary, our bond rating is high, and our “fiscal stress” was recently given a very good 5% ranking by the New York State Comptroller, all signs that our fiscal health is excellent and should remain so.

The role of the government – especially local government – is to both think big and maintain our basic infrastructure. Solar panels on Village Hall, the same-sex weddings, even the daylighted stream in Peace Park and our soon to be installed first solar street lights are the business of government just as much as making sure our aging sewer lines are replaced.

If you elect me Mayor once again, I can promise to keep trying new ideas, keep exploring new ways of doing things while keeping a firm grasp on the financial and infrastructure work that forms the backbone of Village government.

Jason West

challenged his ability to stay housed and fed.

But he was right, and the matter was urgent, so he persisted, and empowered community members to prevent terrible policy. In so doing, he not only saved the very existence of the Village, but helped build upon his legacy of government through community engagement.

Which brings me to my second point. Jason West introduced a new kind of leadership to the Village in which the public has become increasingly active and self-empowered. Just look at the size and scope of the field of current candidates for Mayor and Village Board and you'll see proof of that. Meeting attendance and volunteer service is high. I for one have been inspired

The New Paltz Oracle

I am aware that in most places across America, college students are not very much engaged by local political issues. New Paltz, however, is sometimes different; this may be one of those times. There are also reasons to think that the student vote will count, since there are four candidates and no good reason that I know of why any one of them is running away with the vote. This could be a very close one.

I am voting for Sally Rhoads and I hope you will too. Sally is a passionate advocate of College-Community collaboration.

Over and over again, since I have lived in New Paltz, I have heard public figures complain about the College, its aloofness from the affairs of the village and the effects of student housing and student parking on the life of the other residents. I have heard Sally Rhoads speak a hundred times about the importance of the College to the economy and the cultural life of this community and the need to work with the students and the administration to deal with the problems that have come to be a cliche as in “town/gown problems.” Sally is a realist with a positive outlook. She knows that there are real problems but that there is always the possibility of improvement. She would help make that possibility a reality.

Sally Rhoads has had an intimate relationship with the College for forty years as a faculty-spouse. Even more importantly, she is passionate about the mission of teaching and learning: she is one of the founders of the Lifelong Learning Institute and served for fifteen years on the NP school-board including six as its president. At the same time, she was one of the founders of the present Elting library and has for many years worked to assure its financial security. She is a highly effective proponent and guardian of educational institutions for our community.

For the past two years, I have served on the Village Board with Sally Rhoads. She is the most astute and effective manager of public resources we have; she knows the law; she knows our Village code; she understands budgeting; she has negotiated the current union contract; she has drafted the current policy manual and organisational chart. She has already demonstrated all of the skills of a very good leader of local government.

A vote for Sally Rhoads is a vote for good government, effective leadership, and sound collaboration between SUNY New Paltz and the Village. I hope to see many of you at the polls on May 5.

Tom Rocco

during both his terms in office to volunteer for the Village. Discussion of all major proposals is engaged in through social media, maximizing community involvement. New Paltz today is widely considered the most engaged, informed, and outspoken community in the region. Thanks to Jason's commitment to open government and civic engagement, we may well be the most widely, and most positively known small municipality in America.

Jason also excels in being forward-thinking and comprehensive in all of the ongoing issues of Village management. During his time in office he's set ambitious goals (e.g., passing the first affordable housing law, re-zoning North

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Chestnut Street to support small businesses and pedestrians, installing solar panels on Village Hall, daylighting the stream in Peace Park), all the while dutifully performing the less sensational but no less demanding day to day responsibilities of running the Village. Jason is the only candidate who has the skill set and talent to both manage practical matters and spearhead progressive ones. He has a clear and inspiring vision for the future of New Paltz and a proven track record of getting things done. Please vote for Jason West for Mayor on May 5!

Feebe Greco New Paltz

THE GUNK Th ursday, April 30, 2015

Bringing the music

bac k Story on page 2B

Photo by Maxwell Reide

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FEATURES

Imperial Homecoming MUSIC SHOP RELOCATES BACK TO NEW PALTZ

Imperial Guitar & Soundworks returns to New Paltz.

By Amanda Copkov Copy Editor | Copkova1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

As swift and fluid as the fingers move off the steel strings of a G chord and return down to those of a C, Imperial Guitar & Soundworks has returned to New Paltz after nearly 30 years.

Covering the walls of the shop at 2A Cherry Hill Rd. are lines of brand new, used and vintage axes — Fenders, Washburns, Gretschs, Gibsons and more — of all colors, shapes and sizes.

After three decades in Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, owner Bill Imperial wanted to return to the artistic village for its musician-oriented and “shop local” atmosphere.

When Imperial decided to move his shop out of New Paltz during the mid– 80s, he was hoping to grow and expand his market and figured Dutchess County

PHOTOS BY MAXWELL REIDE

would be a better location to do so.

Imperial did just that — the shop began selling not only guitars, but drums, keyboards and even guitar lessons — until the nature of the business changed due to online shopping.

“We like the one-on-one interaction,” he said.

Despite the location change, he said customers from Ulster County continued to drive down to Newburgh to get the hands on, “shop local” feel that the shop has to offer.

When Imperial mentioned that he would be bringing the shop back to New Paltz, Ulster-regulars would exclaim, “Oh, you’ll be closer to us now.”

“Ulster is unique in that the customers appreciate more face-to-face interaction,” Imperial said. “There are lots of musicians and artists here who are more

hands on and ‘shop local’ oriented rather than ‘click-and-buy’ on the Internet.”

While moving back to New Paltz, Imperial Guitar & Soundworks sold the rest of its drum stock to CHBO Drums at the other end of town on Water Street, and is also in the process of weaning out what is left of its keyboard stock.

He said that back in this location, he wants to focus more on guitars and sound reinforcement.

The shop sells, buys, trades, repairs and appraises new, used and vintage guitars, as well as designs and creates sound systems for churches, schools and other public places such as restaurants. Imperial said that their job is to “clean things up and make them sound good.”

Imperial Guitar & Soundworks sells other musical accessories as well, in-

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cluding pedals, amplifiers, guitar straps and other fun instruments such as sitars, ukuleles and lap steels.

The shop also rents out guitars, amplifiers as well as a variety of orchestral and band instruments such as violins, cellos, French horns and so on — hoping to rent out to local schools.

Imperial said that he opened the shop in 1976 originally as Rainbow Music because he wanted to be surrounded by musical instruments for a living.

“Music is a part of human nature,” he said. “I’ve been playing guitar since I was a kid, and I just like the way good music makes people feel.”

Imperial Guitar & Soundworks is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Monday by appointment only. For more information, visit their website at imperialguitar.com.

Features

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Fresh Paltz

Thursday, September 15, 2011 FRESH PALTZ’s mission is to document what some stylish people are wearing around the campus of SUNY New Paltz. #FreshPaltz Name: Victoria O’Connor Year: Second-year

Major: Digital Media Prodction Hometown: Warwick

victoria o’connor

Victoria has a unique style, which she describes as eclectic. Although she always matches, her rock-n’-roll look mixes her personality with quirky additions to offset her outfits. In this case, she is wearing Crocs she found in her backyard. It’s a daring fashion choice, but it kind of works! I know, right? Victoria usually goes shopping at T.J. Maxx to get clothes for her mix match looks. Her outfit is like a step back in time, and we love it!

By Jennifer Newman, Jnewman46@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

INTERESTED IN SEEING MORE OF “FRESH PALTZ?”

CHECK OUT oracle.newpaltz.edu TO SEE MORE OF WHAT NEW PALTZ IS WEARING!

Own Your Future.

A MASTER’S DEGREE. The name itself speaks volumes. By its very nature, possessing it demonstrates you’ve “mastered” something. And at SUNY Old Westbury College, we take that very, very seriously.

Our goal is to help you prepare to own your future through one of 20 master’s and graduate certification programs:

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Accounting - M.S. Taxation - M.S.

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For further information and application materials, please contact: Office of Enrollment Services Ph: 516-876-3200, E-mail: enroll@oldwestbury.edu

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Features

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Work Together For A Safer Campus

FILM SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS SEXUAL ASSAULT ISSUES

By Nathaniel Sheidlower Copy Editor | Sheidlon1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu Sexual assault on college campuses is a serious issue that has lately gained a lot of recognition by the media, the public and colleges themselves. Many discussions focus on how to help victims feel comfortable talking about and reporting their experience and others are about the definition of consent and the need for intervention from bystanders.

While all of these are important aspects of the issue, the documentary “The Hunting Ground” illuminated the troublesome treatment of reported cases by colleges.

Screened at SUNY New Paltz on April 27 and co-sponsored by the Take Back The Night Club, the film was directed by Kirby Dick and was followed by a Q&A and discussion with panelists. The panel consisted of Sam Lacovara, a third-year Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies major and co-coordinator of the Take Back The Night Club, Tanhena PachecoDunn, the Title IX coordinator on campus, Student Association President Osato Okundaye and sociology major Katherine Zinc, whose recent thesis focused on sexual assault.

This event was part of the Week Against Sexual Violence which started April 26 with the New Paltz Walk Against Rape.

The film follows two former University of North Carolina students, Andrea Pino and Annie Clark, who worked to punish UNC for the mistreatment of reported cases. Both Pino and Clark were sexually assaulted on the Chapel Hill campus, as explained in the film, and after a lot of hard work filed a violation of Title IX complaint to the Department of Education against UNC. Title IX dictates that no students regardless of sex, be “excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits or any education

Film screened for Week Against Sexual Violence. PHOTO COURTESY OF THEHUNTINGGROUNDFILM.COM

program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Clark and Pino found that since a safe educational environment is promised by schools, by choosing not to be strict and thorough when investigating cases and determining punishment, the college was contributing to an unsafe environment.

After the film students expressed their concerns with our school’s prevention tactics and treatment of reported cases. Dean of Students Robin Cohen-La Valle expressed that a bystander intervention course is mandatory for many people on this campus, starting this year, including resident directors, faculty and

some athletes. She also noted that sexual assault awareness and prevention are topics discussed at freshman orientation.

The panelists gave their take on the movie and the issue itself.

“Why are we putting a framework around what rape is?” Okundaye asked in his critique of the film.

Clark and Pino rallied other students from other schools, victims and others to study Title IX and possibly file complaints against their institution as well. Currently 95 schools are under investigation by the department of education, according to the film.

Students from schools like Harvard,

University of California at Berkeley, University of Tulsa, Occidental College and others shared their stories in the movie of how they were treated by administrators after reporting. Many said they were blamed being asked questions like, “Why didn’t you fight back?” or “What would you have done differently if put back in that situation?”

The documentary also displayed shocking statistics, which the panelists said may not be entirely accurate, that showed a severe lack of punishments for the already small number of reports. It also claimed that although less than four percent of college males are athletes, they commit around 19 percent of sexual assaults, as well as mentioning the large number of reported cases of women being assaulted at fraternity houses.

Lacovara said that only eight cases were reported in 2013 on the SUNY New Paltz campus, and only one ended in the expulsion of the student responsible.

Students in need of support or wanting to report an act of sexual violence have many on-campus resources available including University Police, 845-257-2222, Psychological Counseling, 845-257-2920, Office of Student Affairs, 845-257-3261, Office of Residential Life, 845-257-4444, Title XI Coordinator, 845-257-3675, OASIS (Peer Crisis Hotline) 845-257-4945 and the peer hotline HAVEN, 845-257-4930.

All of the panelists agreed that this is an issue that will not even be close to resolved if we all do not work together and stand up against it. Even then, there is only so much that can be done.

Retired Lieutenant of Notre Dame’s Security Pat Cotrell said in the film, “There really is a percentage of just absolutely horrible people.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT oracle.newpaltz.edu

Bringing The Best To Spring Fest ACTION BRONSON AND BEST COAST DELIVER AN AMAZING SHOW

By Melissa Kramer

Sports Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The double silver doors of Elting Gym swung open as spectators of the 2015 SUNY New Paltz Spring Fest were greeted by DJ Phaze already perched on the stage behind his turntable. He shouted to the crowd to get pumped for the awesome lateevening show to come as the lights dimmed low.

Starting off the two-act concert on Saturday, April 25, was Best Coast - The American rock duo of songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Bethany Cosentino and guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno formed in Los Angeles, California in 2009.

Their 16-song set opened with the song “Last Year.”

Their California vibes filled the air as they performed songs from their newest album, “California Nights,” which will be coming out on May 4. The album’s title track was performed surrounded by its album mates, “Feeling Ok” and “Heaven Sent.” Songs from all three of their studio albums were also performed to the hyped up crowd.

In between artists, Student Association Productions (SAP) spread the energy by tossing “Spring Fest” t-shirts into the vast and roaring sea of over 1,000 students filling the gym.

Next up to perform was the American hip-hop recording artist from Flushing, Queens, Arian Arslani, better known by his stage name, Action Bronson.

Bronson brought his energetic stage presence to SUNY New Paltz, while rapping songs off his March 2015 release “Mr. Wonderful,” which debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200. Top hits such as “Easy Rider,” “Actin Crazy,” “Terry” and “Baby Blue” were all in

his one hour set.

Halfway through, Bronson left the stage to engage with the crowd, eventually parting the audience to make it all the way up to the bleachers full with eager fans.

Goldie Harrison, vice president of programming and concert organizer, said the fest turnout was great and that next year’s concert will be even better.

“I feel really awesome and satisfied,” Harrison said. “I’ve never seen students so excited for a concert before. Action [Bronson] was nuts. I’m so happy the students were satisfied.

Next year is going to be twice as better. We got an increase in our budget so it’s going to be nuts. That was the first time that we’ve ever had such a packed house. Usually the concerts Action Bronson performing at the Spring Concert are half-packed, but it was actually really packed and it was beautiful.”

Bronson said he heard about New Paltz from his friend who attended school here.

“It was incredible, it was beautiful,” Bronson said, referring to the New Paltz crowd. “Good times.”

Jake Wiener, fourth-year biology major, said he loved when Bronson walked into the crowd and rapped from the bleachers, right next to the students.

“All of those people didn’t expect to see him so close,” Wiener said. “I thought that was pretty cool, he got really into the show and he involved everybody. I’m a huge fan of Action Bronson, so I’ve been hoping for this all year.”

Best Coast’s live performance made the night for second-year soci- Best Coast performing at the Spring Concert ology major Jackie Shannon. from 8 a.m. to noon for the evening’s “They come all the way from spectacle. After the show ended at California,” Shannon said. “I’ve 11 p.m., the crew worked for over loved them for two years, so I was two hours to take it down. The proreally stoked about it.” duction took the work of everyone, A crew of student volunteers Dariah Duncan, Volunteer Chair of helped to set up the elaborate stage Thursday, April 30, 2015

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARISA LOSCIALE

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARISA LOSCIALE

SAP said.

After it was over, students left the gym with amused grins and sweat on their faces, enthralled by the performance.

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Arts & Entertainment

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From April 24 to april 28, BFA’s at suny new paltz had their works on display in the dorksy museum of art HEre are some highlights of their work:

Allison DeBritz BFA - Photography “We Release”

Nicolette Cannavale BFA - Painting and Drawing “Demon Bbys” Elizabeth Melnyczuk BFA - Printmaking “Haus am See”

All PHOTOS by KArl Evers-Hillstrom

Kathryn Kost BFA - Painting and Drawing “Yellow Onion”

Katya Temidis BFA - Photography “Toska”

Mike Sheinkopf BFA - Painting and Drawing Assorted Drawings (2013-2015) Thursday, April 30, 2015

next BFA thesis exhibition : May 1-5 the Dorsky Museum

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Arts & Entertainment

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Youthful Performance Of Classics YOUTH SYMPHONY CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL TALENT

By Amya Pinka

Copy Editor | Pinkaa1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

On Sunday, April 26, at 7 p.m., Julian J. Studley Theatre hosted a concert filled with talent of all ages from the Hudson Valley known as the College Youth Symphony.

The College Youth Symphony is a spring concert that was conducted by both Professor Carole Cowan and wind ensemble conductor, Victor Izzo. According to the concert’s program, the College Youth Symphony gave three long-time members of the orchestra and two piano students from the music department at SUNY New Paltz a chance to showcase their talents. The concert featured an array of styles and historical periods such as the baroque, classical, (Mozart and Beethoven) Romantic and 20th century.

“This concert had more soloists than usual,” Cowan said.

The concert featured three large ensembles and five pieces for solo-

ist and orchestra. The soloists were three winners from the College Youth Symphony Competition in the fall and piano students from the music department.

The first prize co-winner of this year’s College Youth Symphony Competition was the first soloist to take the stage. According to the program, Miriam Rose Silver-Altman is a seventh grade student at the Woodstock Day School who has played the violin since the age of three.

The show opened with a wind ensemble piece and then Altman followed and took front and center.

The orchestra began to play Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , and Altman joined in with every note memorized.

Alex Garcia, second-year mechanical engineering major at SUNY New Paltz was taken aback by Altman’s performance.

“For her age she was very good.

I did not expect that,” Garcia said.

The other two winners of this year’s competition to perform a solo were Olivia McCarthy, an oboist and senior at Newburgh Free Academy as well as Jonina Kellerhouse from Rosendale who began playing the cello at nine years old.

The two SUNY New Paltz students to perform a solo were piano players Danielle Strassman, a fourthyear at New Paltz and Theresa Orr, a second-year studying pre-music therapy and piano performance and human services.

At the conclusion of each soloist performance, each musician was handed a bouquet of flowers and took a bow in front of the audience.

Matt Fusaro, a first-year student studying chemistry at Dutchess Community College said the background where all the soloists come from is really interesting. “Their skill was impeccable,” Fusaro added.

Cowan said The College Youth Symphony has junior high (especial-

ly talented ones), high school, college, faculty and community members. Performers ranged from ages 12 to roughly 65.

Cowan determined the concert’s pieces by choosing pieces she liked, some that she remembers playing when she was younger and pieces she thought everyone would enjoy learning and playing.

“The pieces are hard for the orchestra, because in addition to knowing your own part, you have to listen carefully and follow what the soloist is doing,” Cowan said.

Cowan hoped audience members loved the variety of pieces, styles and composers and will look to listen to them again. She hopes the orchestra and soloists’ enthusiasm translated well to the audience.

“It was a difficult concert and we lost some rehearsals from snow days, so it was a testament to everyone’s hard work that it sounded so good,” Cowan concluded.

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The Deep End

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THIS WEEK IN

THE DEEP END Katie Kost Major: BFA Painting & Drawing

Year: Fourth

Inspriation: Cell & disease slides, topographical maps, Women’s studio workshops, & sustainable art.

“Intertwining the organic natures of art with my own health concerns, I am following natural methods and materials in an attempt to replace harmful materials and create a deeper understanding of art using other alternative resources. These resources include homemade inks from fruits, vegetables, and spices, as well as collected eggshells. Considering what takes place in and out of the body, I attempt to create a sense of space where the macroscopic and microscopic worlds hold tension with each other, pulling the viewer in for close inspection, only to expand beyond the boundaries of a canvas.”

Photos courtesy of Katie Kost | Captioning by Maxwell Reide

The New Paltz Oracle

Wrong Answer

Earlier this month, many members of the New Paltz Central School District convened to rally against the Common Core education standards that have been implemented in New York State. The goal of Common Core is to teach students by state standards in English and mathematics to prepare them for entry level collegiate courses or jobs available to those without a college degree.

There are two main aspects that parents, teachers and students shared concern about: teaching methods and the standardized tests that students have been required to take up until this year, when they became optional. Many parents made the decision to have their children opt-out of these tests this year.

We at The New Paltz Oracle are glad to see members from our local community taking action for the sake of the future of K-12 education and defending their children from what they feel are unnecessary and stressful means of evaluating the quality of their teachers. Although the Common Core’s standardized tests did not exist during our elementary and middle school years, we agree with critics who say that the state’s methods of testing creates a stressful and demanding environment that does not

allow for the growth of young minds or evaluation of students themselves.

The Common Core standards appear to be a very appealing idea – at first. That is because their “goal” is one we can all sympathize with: get our children ready for life after high school.

However, it is apparent that the implementation of these standards may not accomplish this because, as dedicated and professional as they are, teachers will not share the goal of the Common Core. The goal of the teachers may stray from real-world prep and move towards test-prep.

Although they are not the only element of teacher evaluation, student results on Common Core tests do currently account for 20 percent of teacher evaluation. Gov. Cuomo has pushed to increase this to 50 percent.

If a large group of students perform poorly or opt-out, teachers are the ones who pay the price. Ultimately, teachers may obtain the goal of students passing the tests, and students may be less prepared for college or the workforce as a result of the changing teaching methods — changes which are also difficult for teachers to adapt to.

If those implementing the standards do not share the goal of the standards themselves, the

standards will not have the desired effect.

Common Core encourages students to approach their work through new methods and challenge the “traditional” ways of learning.

But when teachers, who are trained in educating, claim that Common Core is not benefitting their students, how can the state continue to advocate for these standards.

Last August, The Washington Post reported on the 2014 results of the New York State Common Core-aligned exams along with commentary from two state educators on what the results mean to students. In the article, the two teachers explained that upon review of test questions from the 2013, many were “far too difficult for many students” and didn’t actually provide information on what the students had learned.

The writers also noted that the tests were particularly challenging for students with disabilities, where the bottom percentage of test takers scored similar to results one would receive by randomly selecting answers.

We at The Oracle are concerned that the students of New York and all other states subjected to Common Core are being represented unfairly through the results of standardized test-

Thursday, April 30, 2015

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CARTOON BY MIKE SHEINKOPF

ing. Every student retains information differently and has varying levels of comfort during test taking. By suggesting that young students take these tests, the state is prioritizing skill in memorization over comprehension.

Though the tests have concluded for this year in New York, the clash between students, parents and teachers and the Common Core system still remains controversial. We do not believe that these tests help young learners, but rather hinder their abilities to learn practical skills and knowledge that will supplement their lives outside of secondary education – and we hope that educators and officials will work together to create new policies that are more conducive to personal growth and engaging, inclusive learning.

Editorials represent the views of the majority of the editorial board. Columns, op-eds and letters, excluding editorials, are solely those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of The New Paltz Oracle, its staff members, the campus and university or the Town or Village of New Paltz.

OPINION

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COLUMNS

JENNIFER NEWMAN Features Editor

n02514746@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Disney Trivia, final round. One more question stands between me and victory. Picture round.

Which Toy Story movie is it from? BAM. Toy Story II for the win. I come home with a stuffed animal three times bigger than my head. Flounder from “The Little Mermaid” was my prize. I leave with no regrets as I get a good number of stares on the walk home.

This kind of love for Disney is an outlet of expression for young adults like myself and oftent imes enjoying this “childish” passion helps us get through our adulthood.

This year, with record attendance and revenue at Disney parks, admission price has now reached the triple digits for the first time in history. With one of the company’s newest animated movies, Frozen, taking the spot as the number one animated film of all time, and Big Hero 6 winning an Oscar, the Disney fan phenomenon is as current and widespread as ever.

But why doesn’t the Disney magic fade away along with baby teeth and Easter baskets?

I come from a Disney-loving family. Everything that can be Disney, is Disney, from vaca-

ANTHONY DEROSA News Editor

N02385288@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Seated crosslegged in front of the television, I watch in suspense as a low voice growls a threat from the shadows. A pair of eyes narrow against the dark, predicating his attack. The crooks only have time enough to look toward the noise before a pair of black boots makes contact with their sternums, sending them through a window, or off a scaffold, or into the water. “IT’S THE BAT!” they cry through volleys of automatic gunfire before a flap of wings and a fist to the jaw silences them. Pow. Batman has, for as long as I can remember, been my idol. And I don’t just mean as a youngin’ flinging Saltine Batarangs whilst draping a towel over my shoulders and wearing underwear over my boy-shorts (if the clothes make the man, the tights must make the hero, I thought). No, Batman informs many of decisions today even after 22 years on Earth.

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The Happiest Place On Earth tions to towels. That’s how it has always been and that’s how it always will be. It makes me happy.

According to a Brigham Young University study on prosocial behavior in Disney animated films, there is a scientific reason why Disney makes us feel so good.

The 2013 study found that Disney animated films were surprisingly high in the frequency of positive actions that benefit others, even when using more traditional definitions of selflessness.

The findings suggested that Disney movies contain at least three times more of this prosocial, positive behavior than regular children’s programming.

But the Disney passion is more than nostalgia for Disney fans like myself. It is a positive passion and community of support and encouragement.

I’m not going to lie ... I am convulsing with joy over the fact that I have recently been hired at Walt Disney World as a cast member. Disney has always been there for me. My parents divorced when I was eight. As an only child in the middle of a lengthy legal battle, three moves and the

world I knew crumbling down, Disney was the main outlet that got me through.

Now, with finals, four jobs, relationship drama and family hardships, it has helped me through the hardest time of my young adult life.

I get a lot of crap for my Disney obsessions (way too many “Let It Go” jokes). So I really want to address the Disney critics.

People who identify as women are typically thrown into the stereotype of being the ones getting swept away in this “silly” Disney world. Yet in comparison, men are able to freely obsess over sports without criticism, which stereotypes in the opposite spectrum of manly men. This obsession is somehow more culturally acceptable.

There is also an argument that Disney is simply corporate escapism that uses conventional images of women as stereotypes.

However, Disney films are character driven — largely by females. Some of the highest grossing Disney films have been about the princesses.

These princesses overcome challenges, show their cunning, speak their mind, make their own decisions and go after what makes them happy.

If anything, Disney has only been getting better incorporating positive role models with “Frozen” and “Big Hero 6” showing love between siblings rather than Prince Charming and the Damsel.

If you have a passion, like I do with Disney, it really doesn’t matter if people see it as childish. It doesn’t matter if you get stared at walking home with a giant Flounder and a bigger smile.

The only thing that matters is if you get something positive out of it all.

As Walt himself said, “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Pursue your passions.

Jennifer Newman is a fourth-year journalism major who is spending a year working at Disney because of reasons. When she’s not working (which is mostly all she does), Jennifer enjoys watching re-runs of “Parks and Rec,” eating way too much cheese and stressing out about graduating. She loves the color blue, corgis, cuddles and getting a good deal on a new dress.

Son Of The Batman And to be honest, I couldn’t have hoped for a better role model to have stuck with me.

I won’t bother detailing what defines possibly the most recognizable (next to Supes) and relatable crime-fighter to ever have been drawn to page; rather, I want to talk about why the hilariously absurd idea of a loner dressing as a flying rodent and punching purse-snatchers is so damn appealing to me.

Past the colorful villains, cool one-liners, and tragic backstory, is a man — a fact that cultural scholars and comic nerds alike have identified and praised as the reason why Batman remains so important to millions of fans.

However, even more empirical to Batman than his humanity are his ideals — unshakable life values that guide on his mission for justice.

Let me back up a bit. Batman may be my fantasy role model, but before he ever perched on the gargoyle of my mind, there was another

man whose ideals taught me how to, well, be a man. My father, like the Dark Knight, preached ideals, not truths (or at least that was what stuck with me).

Growing up, I was taught how life should be, rather than how life was — and I’m glad he did. Harsh realities are notions that in time I’ve come to understand and accept. I can’t say that I would have known what was wrong with those realities if it wasn’t for my father. Justice, fairness, and equality. The gravity with which he said the words weighed on me with all the seriousness in the world, and I absorbed them into my heart and mind.

Batman embodied the ideals my father instilled in me but used them as justification for action, making a difference in a world he saw as flawed. As a child, his ability to use force to correct society seemed much more impressive than my father’s paltry words. I couldn’t have

Thursday, April 30, 2015

been more wrong.

With all the violence that exists in the world today, I see just how flawed and ignorant Batman’s methods are, even if he does follow a moral code. As much as we don’t want to believe it, Batman can only exist in a fictionalized world where literally back-handing the gods of chaos is a viable option in solving one’s problems. My father, though following ideals himself, came to the decision to do so faced with the real world and not a scripted universe. There’s a strange validity in that that I can’t explain but it means a lot to me.

Anthony DeRosa is a fourth-year journalism major whose viligante career was not nearly as successful as he had hoped it would be (he got attacked by a stunk while stalking the night). His favorite food is honey mustard.

SPORTS

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SPORTS

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LAST

Men’s volleyball lost their second-straight semifinal game in the NCAA Tournament on April 25.

By Jack O’Brien

Copy Editor | Obrienj2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

For the second-straight year, the Men’s volleyball team made it to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament, only to be knocked out in a hard-fought match.

The Hawks won their quarterfinal match against No. 6 Kean University on April 24, by a score of 3-1, (25-16, 18-25, 25-18, 25-17).

Hawks’ third-year co-Captain and First Team All-American setter Christian Smith led the team with 25 assists and finished with 12 kills for a double-double.

First-year outside hitter Anthony Bonilla finished with 13 kills and nine digs for the Hawks. Hawks’ third-year First Team All-American middle blocker Christopher Husmann had 10 kills, and fourth-year setter John Lutjen had 21 assists with a matchhigh four aces. Second-year middle blocker Steven Woessner added crucial kills to spur on the Hawks’ offense in the first set.

Despite trailing in the third set, the Hawks gathered themselves to win the set decisively and gain back momentum in the

tensely-played match.

Head Coach Radu Petrus said Kean started to serve harder and play tougher as well as have more motivation than the Hawks. Despite that, the Hawks played to their strategy and kept their discipline to win the match.

Husmann said the game against Kean was enjoyable to play in.

“Many people stepped up and played well and everyone was enjoying themselves on the court,” Husmann said.

In the semifinals match on April 25, the Hawks played host team No. 1 Stevens Institute of Technology, in a rematch of the United Volleyball Conference (UVC) Tournament Finals two weeks earlier. In their third matchup this season, the Hawks lost once again by a score of 3-2, (18-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 13-15).

The Hawks ended the season with a record of 27-6.

Woessner led the team with 18 kills and also tallied five digs and two aces.

Smith finished with a triple-double, accounting for 11 kills, 12 digs and a match-

MATCH

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

high 28 assists. Third-year co-Captain Kevin Nardone had a match-high 17 digs.

Fourth-year setter Misa Garo finished with five assists and ended his career with the fourth-most assists in school history. Lutjen finished just behind Garo in terms of assists at fifth-place all-time in program history.

Husmann said most of the team was devastated because of the poor finish.

“We fought hard, but not hard enough,” Husmann said. “Now we have to look forward to next year and come out stronger and better. The NCAA Tournament is always a great experience whether it is for the new first-years coming in or players that are returning to the tournament. Unfortunately, it did not pan out the way we had hoped. The season overall was great, but it all matters how you finish and we did not finish where we wanted to.”

Petrus said the game was close, but a ball here or there makes a difference, and it ultimately did not work out.

Reflecting on the season as a whole, both players and coaches felt proud of what

Thursday, April 30, 2015

they had accomplished, despite losing half of last year’s team to graduation.

“It was a great season for us. I’m motivated for next year, and I’m excited to see how this hard work pays off,” Petrus said.

“They have to work hard and earn results.

We needed some time to accommodate some of our new players to our system. We had to build a team, and make everything come together. From there, we started to win.”

The Hawks ended the year ranked No. 3 in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Men’s Coaches Top 15 Poll, announced on April 28.

Looking to next year and the future, the team is confident in their ability to put together a title run, Woessner said.

“Even though we didn’t reach our goal of a national championship, we fought hard to the very last point and I’m so proud of everyone on the team,” he said. “We expect nothing less than a national championship next year and we are bringing back the weapons capable of doing so.”

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Sports

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Softball Concludes Season Strong

By Melissa Kramer

Sports Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The softball team finished their season with an overall record of 19-16 and State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) tally of 9-9.

The Hawks record was not enough to clinch a playoff berth in the 2015 SUNYAC Tournament. However, it was nine wins better than last year’s finish.

On Friday, April 24, the Hawks began a six-game homestand to close out the season as they split a doubleheader with SUNY Geneseo.

In the first game, the Hawks defeated the Knights 4-2. Second-year pitcher Katie Rutcofsky earned the win, yielding two runs off 11 hits, a walk and a hit by pitch while striking out two in six innings of work. Rutcofsky also added to the Hawks’ offense by hitting a tworun home run in the second inning — the first of her career. Second-year pitcher Taylor Corwin was credited with the save, tossing one hitless inning of relief.

This snapped the Knights’ 18-game winning streak.

In the nightcap, the Hawks lost a 7-2 game in nine innings.

In the bottom half of the seventh, the Hawks were thrown out at home in back-toback at-bats following base hits, and the score remained tied to force extra innings.

In the ninth inning, the Knights broke a 2-2 tie score by plating five runs.

Fourth-year co-Captain Meg Brewer batted 2-for-3 with two RBI and a double to lead the Hawks offense.

The following day, the Hawks dropped both games of a doubleheader to The College at Brockport.

In the first game, the Hawks fell 8-1.

Hawks’ third-year third baseman Nicole DeCosta drove in the lone New Paltz run of the game.

Second-year co-Captain Kiersten Carlomagno and first-year first baseman and pitcher Lauren Cappello paced the New Paltz bats by going 2-for-4 and 2-for-3, respectively.

The next game, the Golden Eagles shutout the Hawks 5-0. A pair of hits by the Hawks were the only offense of the game.

With the pair of losses, the Hawks were officially eliminated from postseason contention.

SUNY Fredonia clinched the sixth and final playoff spot with 10 wins in conference play, while the Hawks recorded one less.

The Hawks’ came out on top as they took both games of a nonconference doubleheader against Brooklyn College on April 27.

In the first game, the Hawks earned a 7-1 victory.

Hawks’ fourth-year co-Captain Shayna Burgess went 2-for-2 on the game with three runs scored, two hit by pitches and a triple, while Brewer went 2-for-4 with three RBI, a double and a run scored. First-year shortstop Samantha Colca came off the bench to bat 2-for-2 with one run scored and a double.

Fourth-year first baseman and pitcher Erika Traina earned the win in the circle for the Hawks, yielding one unearned run off four hits and a walk while striking out four.

The nightcap saw the Hawks walkoff with a 5-4 win to conclude their season.

Hawks’ first-year outfielder Danielle Bruno brought in fourth-year outfielder Juliette Verso who crossed the plate with the winning run in the home half of the seventh inning.

Traina earned her second win of the day in relief duty, scattering just two hits in two and one-thirds innings of work on the mound.

Traina finished the season recording a 5-4 record. Her ERA of 2.65 was a career low this season.

Burgess finished out her career with 64 hit by pitches. Burgess closed out the year with 20 hit by pitches, which is tied for the sixth-most absorbed by a player in Div. III history in a single season.

Brewer finishes her career with a .297 batting average.

Head Coach Brittany Robinson said the Hawks need to learn how to be consistent throughout the entire season.

“We have to figure out how to maintain,” Robinson said. “At the beginning of the year we started off really strong, and we didn’t finish as strong as we started. We have to figure out how to continue our strong starts and maintain it through the season instead of falling off at the end.”

Five fourth-years will be graduating this year, including Brewer, Burgess, Traina and outfielders Alex Verso and her sister Juliette.

Robinson said she is going to miss their work ethic among their personalities.

“They come to practice wanting to work every day and try to get better,” she said. “I’m going to miss them as people. They were definitely good leaders for our team and their personalities will be missed.”

Softball finished season with improved record.

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

Five players will be graduating from the Hawks softball roster

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

Thursday, April 30, 2015

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Sports

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Tennis Serves Success In Finale

By Michael Rosen

Copy Editor | Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The tennis team finished up their regular season last week with a 7-2 victory over Union College on Thursday, April 23.

The game was originally scheduled to be played on April 4 but was postponed due to inclement weather.

The win bumped the team’s record up to 12-7 for the season.

This was the final match for Hawks’ fourth-year co-Captains Devin Tracy and Jessica Schmidt, who finished their collegiate careers by notching an 8-2 victory in the doubles competition at flight one. The Hawks won the remaining matches in the doubles competition, as first-years Brittany Grandville and Carol Tyson won by a score of 8-4 at flight two.

Then Hawks’ third-year Laura Tierney and second-year Olivia Ammirati pulled out their own 8-4 victory at flight three.

The Hawks were also victorious in four of the six matches in the singles competition. Ammirati won by scores of 6-3 and 6-2 at flight one.

Tyson then prevailed with 6-4 and 6-1 victories at flight tree. Tierney earned the win with scores of 6-2 and 6-2 at flight five. Hawks’ first-year Emi Lewis followed Tierney with scores of 7-5 and 6-4 at flight six.

Head Coach Rob Bruley was very pleased with his team’s performance against a tough team, and in some tough weather conditions.

“This was a big win for us,” he said. “Union is a strong and improving team and they play in the Liberty League, one of the top Division III tennis conferences. They made a coaching change before the season and he brought in some strong players. We also had to battle against the

elements, as it was snowing during the match.”

The Hawks participated in the New Paltz Tournament on April 25 to conclude their season. The Hawks got the chance to play a series of doubles matches against teams who they do not normally get to face.

Schmidt explained the importance of doubles matches during a game and why practicing them is so crucial.

“Winning doubles takes less pressure off for when we go into singles so it is really important to get as many doubles wins as possible,” she said.

“We all played really well in the doubles tournament and for the rest of our season. It is a good sign for things to come for the team next year.”

One thing Schmidt says she will remember from her time at New Paltz was the Hawks’ rivalry with Geneseo and how every time they faced the Knights, the Hawks wanted to play their best.

“Beating them my sophomore year and doing so on our home courts was such a great feeling,” she said.

“We unfortunately could not do it again in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) final that year but it was still a great accomplishment. I will also remember losing a heartbreak doubles match to them my junior year in the regular season and then coming back to beat the same team in the SUNYAC final.

It just always meant something to play them and it was something I will never forget.”

The Hawks were defeated by the Geneseo Knights earlier this season in the final round of the 2014 SUNYAC Tournament on Oct. 12 by a score of 5-0.

Tracy also reflected on her memories as a Hawk. She explained what her favorite moment of this season

Tennis finished their spring season with a win.

was.

“What I’ll remember most from this season is beating Ithaca,” Tracy said. “Since I have been here we haven’t lost to them and they make nationals every year. It’s good to show other teams that we can beat schools who make it to nationals.”

Looking ahead to next season, Bruley was very encouraged by the improvement he saw from his team this past year.

“I’m very pleased with the way we have improved in our doubles play, not only on Saturday but dur-

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

ing our spring season we have improved in all areas of doubles,” he said. “This has been very positive for me as we move forward into the fall.”

With these improvements, Bruley has high expectations for his team next fall. “[Next season] we look to establish ourselves in the northeast tennis region and compete for the conference championship,” he said. “Hopefully winning the conference and representing our program at the NCAA Championships in the spring.”

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By Michael Rosen

The New Paltz Oracle

Baseball Strikes Out

Copy Editor | Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The baseball team finished off their season by playing State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) three games against The College at Brockport over the weekend. The Hawks lost all three games and concluded their season with a record of 7-22.

The two teams played the first game of a doubleheader on April 25. The Hawks lost by a score of 2-1 in 10 innings.

Fourth-year co-Captain Mike Sparacino went 2-for-4 on the day and knocked in the Hawks lone run with a single in the first inning. The Golden Eagles tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning when fourth-year infielder Sean Geisel knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly. The game remained scoreless until the 10th inning, when Golden Eagles third-year outfielder Eli Carrera notched a walk-off hit to give Brockport a 2-1 victory.

Fourth-year pitcher Shaun Hansen started for the Hawks and pitched six innings surrendering just four hits and one run while striking out one. Fourth-year pitcher Tyler Mitts pitched three and one-thirds innings before third-year pitcher Christian Huertas

By Jack O’Brien

Sports

took over on the mound and surrendered the walk-off hit. The run was charged to Mitts.

Golden Eagles third-year pitcher Tyler Clifford pitched all 10 innings for Brockport.

Later that day the Hawks lost by a score of 9-0. Mitts and first-year right fielder Chris Moran notched the only two hits for the Hawks in the game.

Then on April 26, the Hawks ended their season with a 16-7 loss to the Golden Eagles.

Hansen led the offense as he went 2-for-4 on the day with four RBIs. Third-year catcher Tyler Bell knocked in two more runs for the Hawks as he went 2-for-3 in the game. Sparacino and second-year first baseman Anthony Diana also tallied two hits in the game.

The Hawks scored three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 5-0 lead. Brockport scored in the bottom half of the inning to make it 5-1, but then the Golden Eagles exploded for nine runs in the fourth inning to take a 10-5 lead that they would not surrender. Golden Eagles third-year first baseman Chris Davis tied the game with a double that knocked in two runs. Fourth-year second baseman Jake Kennedy then lined a single into left field to score Davis and put the Gold-

en Eagles ahead for good.

Despite the fact that the Hawks lost all three games to Brockport, Hawks Head Coach Matt Righter looks at the team’s performance in the first game as a positive and said that it set the tone for the rest of the games.

“The first game against Brockport, we took the early lead 1-0, then they came back on a hit and run and tied it 1-1,” he said. “After such a tough season we were right there playing that first game. I think if you win that first game you’ll have momentum go to your side. We were right there, we win that game then anything can happen.”

The team’s 7-22 record this season was a downgrade from the 14-22 record the team posted last season. The Hawks had to deal with many canceled games among other issues this season.

“We were faced with a lot of adversity between not having our field and the tough schedule we had to play with,” Righter said.

“The weather, the field, the strength of schedule, it was a lot of adversity.”

Looking for improvement next year, the Hawks will be without Sparacino, Hansen and Mitts as they will not be returning to the

Hawks next season, along with fourth-year co-Captains Richard Guido and Brian Solomon. Fourth-years Stanley DeLaCruz, Jesse Vahamonde, Roy Missall and Matt Lawson will also not be returning next season. Mitts noted what he will miss the most from his time at New Paltz.

“I will remember all the road trips, practices, and games with my fellow seniors and teammates,” Mitts said. “It wouldn’t have been the same without them.”

Righter hopes that his team carry over their hard play from the end of this season to the beginning of next season.

“We want to have a better start next year than we did this year,” he said. “Finding a way to do that will help for a better overall season. That same work ethic and toughness will ultimately help us find a way to win close games.”

Looking ahead to the next season, Mitts also noted the development of the younger players for the Hawks in the future.

“The most positive thing we can take from the season is the experience the younger guys have got,” he said. “That will be big for them moving forward.”

Lacrosse Looks Forward

Copy Editor | Obrienj2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The lacrosse team ended their season at home with a loss to SUNY Brockport by a score of 20-11 on Saturday, April 25.

The Hawks ended the season with a record of 3-11 overall and 1-7 tally in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC).

After the Golden Eagles jumped out to an early 10-3 lead, New Paltz cut down the deficit with back-to-back goals from fourth-year midfielder Lianne and fourth-year defender Julia Johnson.

Valdivia proved a crucial part of the Hawks game plan, finishing the game with two goals, five ground balls, three caused turnovers and three draw controls. Third-year midfielder Alexa Vitale provided the Hawks with a woman-down goal, followed by goals from Valdivia, fourth-year attacker Jackie Wilkom and fourth-year attacker Kelsey Healy. Valdivia and Johnson

each scored three goals each.

Second-year attack Melissa Wagner also scored for New Paltz The Golden Eagles held a slight 30-24 edge in shots. Brockport finished with a 24-9 advantage in draw controls.

They also played well in transition, going 9-for-12 on clear attempts.

Hawks Head Coach Liz Student reflected on the season, saying that while it was not what she or the team expected, it leaves room for improvement in the future.

“No one is content with what happened, but the goal is always to continue to get better,” Student said.

Student said that while the team had an influx of 12 new players and have at least nine recruits on the way next year, they will still miss the graduating players. One of those seven graduating players is fourth-year co-Captain Jackie Ulanoff, who made nine saves in her last game. Ulanoff finishes her career with 456 career saves. She led the SUNYAC conference with 11.64 saves

per game.

Valdivia said the fourth-years wanted to make sure that they left their mark on the program.

“Unfortunately, we came up short in several winnable games and those losses carried with us throughout the season,” Valdivia said.

When asked about the highlights of the season, Student said that playing close games with several top 20 schools was a positive note for the team to look back on.

“We can play with the best. Those were the games to be proud of, but we didn’t finish those games and win,” Student said. “So we still have to work harder to be able to finish in the future.”

The Hawks took on No. 4 SUNY Cortland. No. 17 SUNY Geneseo and No. 19 SUNY Fredonia this season.

Valdivia said the team had to prove to themselves and the conference that the Hawks could play with some of the best teams in the country.

“Our record may not show it, but

Thursday, April 30, 2015

this was truly the best team I’ve been on in my four years at New Paltz,” Valdivia said. “We may not have accomplished what we set out for, but we did instill a diligent mentality for the program.”

Valdivia finished her career with 126 goals. Hawks’ fourth-year co-Carissa Citro concluded her career with 109 goals.

Players said that this last game was an emotional affair given that for most of them it was the last lacrosse game they would ever play, including Hawks’ fourth-year Johnson.

“Every girl on and off the field fought hard throughout the game and I feel confident in saying that we left it all out there,” Johnson said. “My hope is that we have instilled our mindset, competitiveness and drive to succeed into those following behind us. My hope is that one day this program is going to reach its full potential and the girls on the field will feel the joy of a winning program and see all of their hard work turned into success.”

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SPORTS

WHAT’S INSIDE

Softball Walks-Off In Final Game PAGE 12

KNOCKED

OUT Tennis Aces Competition PAGE 13

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFFS : PAGE 11

MAIN PHOTO BY ROBIN WEINSTEIN UPPER AND LOWER PHOTOS BY HOLLY LIPKA

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