The New Paltz Oracle Volume 81, Issue X

NEW PALTZ ORACLE THE

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Volume 81, Issue X NEWS

Scholarship for Struggling Students

Thursday, November 19, 2009

SMALL-SCALE RECEPTIONS TO CELEBRATE DECEMBER GRADS

College Council creates new aid for economically disrupted students.

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FEATURES

Carefree Dance Classes Student Dance Association offers more dance classes in light of budget cuts.

Page 3B

A&E

The Haute Hawk Lands

Latest fashion tips and trends for SUNY New Paltz students.

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SPORTS

Equestrian Team Rides Into Second Team placed second at Centenary Equestrian Center

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EDITORIAL

Grateful Graduates Administration doesn’t leave December graduates out in the cold.

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PHOTO BY FELICE BERNABO

December graduates are invited to attend smaller informal receptions for each individual school, instead of a large ceremony.

By Pierce Lydon Managing Editor | Lydon47@newpaltz.edu

After removing the December graduation ceremony from the budget to save the school $100,000 in the wake of state budget cuts, the administration has worked to implement smaller graduation receptions.

Last semester, a petition was signed by over 500 students in effort to reinstate the ceremony. The Student Association (SA) and the Residence Hall Student Association also supported the cause.

SUNY New Paltz President Steven Poskanzer said administrators began considering alternative solutions after

hearing their concerns.

“We heard from students that just ending this by itself didn’t feel right to a lot of people,” he said. “We tried to come up with ways that we could respond to those legitimate needs without putting us back in a situation where we were just paying for something that we couldn’t afford to do.”

The new plan is for each individual school to have its own smaller informal graduation reception in place of a larger commencement ceremony. The provost, the dean of the school and the president will attend these receptions and give small speeches. Students who are eligible to at-

tend have all been notified by e-mail.

“We are going to mark the occasion. We are going to try and do it in a nice and thoughtful way,” said Poskanzer. “It’s worth, we believe, spending a little bit of money to try and respond to that need that people didn’t want to feel totally dismissed.”

According to SA President Stephanie Samuel, the receptions will be funded by each individual school, but there are some drawbacks with the smaller celebrations.

“The only downfall is that you can’t have guests,” said Samuel. “It’s for students and the departments are host-

ing it so it’s coming out of the departments budget and they can’t really open it up to too many people whereas at graduation you can get like seven tickets but with this you cant.”

Some students are glad that the event will be shorter.

“I’m glad I don’t have to sit through a bunch of nonsense,” said James Petrich, a fourth-year English major with a concentration in secondary education. “I went to college to get a job not for the glory.”

However, Samuel said she thinks the intimate setting will be valuable to graduates.

See Graduation pg.7

The New Paltz Oracle

University Police Blotter

Disclaimer: This is only a partial listing. For all incidents, please visit the University Police Department.

Employee reported the P/P’s unknown had broken and damaged the entry access touch key pad to one of the rooms. Company notified to make repairs.

established 1938

Kristen Henry EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Pierce Lydon MANAGING EDITOR _________________

Julie Mansmann NEWS EDITOR

Emily Herendeen FEATURES EDITOR

Zan Strumfeld

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Mitchell Epstein SPORTS EDITOR _________________

Felice Bernabo PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Christian Marra CARTOONIST _________________

Sunya Bhutta Steven Casale Justin McCarthy Nicole Papantoniou Pete Thompson COPY EDITORS _________________

Elizabeth Damiano BUSINESS MANAGER _________________

Jon Carlos Torres DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Maxim Alter, Steve Arenius, Allie Bernhard, Jeffrey Canino, Emily Canty, Sarah Fine, Aramis Grant, Elexis Goldberg, Alec Horowitz, Sarah Hurd, Michelle S. Kramisen, Emily Kurland, Chelsea LaDue, Becky Longley, Lyndsey Lovinger, Jessica Mingoia, Jesse Ordansky, Jessica Ostrow, James Petrich, Casey Quinlan, Danielle Quitoni, Michelle Ravit, Regina Rivers, Shawn Rubenfeld, Jordan Siwek, Alex Silverberg, Sam Speer, Alison Stevens, Emily Sussell, Ashley Thompson, Pamela Vivanco, Harris Wichard, Kelly Young

STAFF

Corrections In the article “Library Makes E-based Updates” it was reported that the books involved were textbooks.

Ebrary is not a collection of e-textbooks. It is simply a collection of ebooks.

Incident: Drugs Date: 11/12/09 Location: GH PCA reported that two F/S’s possibly overdosed on marijuana. One subject was transported to the hospital. Matter referred to campus judicial.

Incident: Criminal Mischief Date: 11/12/09 Location: SCB

About The New Paltz Oracle The New Paltz Oracle is the official student newspaper of SUNY New Paltz. Our circulation is 3,000. 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 Building, room 417. Deadline for all submissions is 5 p.m. on Fridays in The New Paltz Oracle office and by e-mail at oracle@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 editorin-chief.

The New Paltz Oracle is published weekly throughout the Fall and Spring Semesters on Thursday. 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 845-2573030. The fax line is 845-257-3031.

The New Paltz Oracle holds assignment meetings every Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Building, room 401/405. Articles, photographs and illustrations are assigned to the pool of staff and contributors.

Incident: Criminal Mischief Date: 11/12/09 Location: EH CDA reported that P/P’s unknown placed graffiti on the eastern side rear exterior door. FOC notified for removal.

Incident: Petit Larceny Date: 11/13/09 Location: VH COMPUTER LAB F/S reported that P/P’s unknown stole her unattended cell phone from VH computer lab.

Incident: Drugs Date: 11/14/09

Volume 81 Issue X

Location: CPH M/S arrested for criminal possession of LSD and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Incident: Disorderly Conduct Date: 11/15/09 Location: N. SIDE OF LC M/N/S arrested for unlawful possession of marijuana and disorderly conduct.

Incident: Petit Larceny Date: 11/17/09 Location: SCB Employee reported that P/P’s unknown stole five textbooks from unsecured mailroom.

SUNY New Paltz University Police Department Emergencies: (845) 257-2222 www.newpaltz.edu/police

Five Day Forecast Friday, November 20

Index

News............................................... 3-7 Editorial............................................ 9 Letters.............................................. 11 Cartoons........................................... 12 Columns........................................... 10 Steven Casale...................... 10 Sunya Bhutta....................... 10 Community Calendar......................... 8 The Deep End................................. 12B The Gunk................................ 1B - 12B Sports ........................................13 - 16

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Everyone is entitled to take one free copy of The New Paltz Oracle.

If you need additional copies, please contact the editor-in-chief at x3030 or at oracle@newpaltz.edu

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NEWS

The New Paltz Oracle

Goals Set to Curtail Energy Emissions

By Lauren Brois Contributing Writer | Lbrois86@newpaltz.edu

Energy consumption at SUNY New Paltz has actually decreased since 2007, even though there are more students, staff and faculty on campus. The college is taking strides in energy sustainability with participation in the Emergency Load Reduction Program and an upcoming large-scale metering system.

Along with other schools and businesses, New Paltz is part of an energy curtailment program created by the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO). The program’s main purpose is to balance the energy grid during times of high energy demand.

This grid transports and provides energy to the connected homes and buildings. For example, the power lines leading from a house to the street are part of the grid delivery system.

On the hottest summer days, extra pressure is put on the grid as more air conditioners are used in homes.

New Paltz responds to the call from Absolute Energy, an energy service company, by lowering its energy consumption on a large scale. The school is required to commit to a 300-kilowatt reduction to help balance the demand from homes.

“Since the energy grid is pressured just a few times each year this preventive program is more efficient than building extra power plants,” said Brian Pine, director of Facilities Operations at New Paltz. “It increases capacity for the entire grid. Reducing our load frees up a lot of energy on the grid to handle the additional demand.”

The program is tested twice a year and the college receives a payment from the NYISO of about $2,000. A test on July 28 reduced the energy demand from about 3,280 kilowatts to 2,740 kilowatts.

During the summer, Pine watches the weather closely to know when to expect a call from Absolute Energy. Results must be shown within an hour of the call, so immediate action is critical.

Pine sends e-mails to all staff and faculty offering tips for reduction. He has suggested turning off lights when possible, closing blinds, turning off any individual air-condition units, powering down any unoccupied equipment such as computers, printers and copiers and unplugging small appliances in break ar-

PHOTO BY ALEC HOROWITZ

In accordance with the Emergency Load Reduction Program, New Paltz is seeking to reduce the amount of energy used on campus. eas. Exhaust fans and air handlers are also shut off in certain buildings.

Kim Perillo, a second-year secondary education-English major, said she takes steps to reduce the impact she has on energy consumption.

“I always turn off lights before I leave my room,” she said.

Lauren Gold, a second-year undeclared student, said she also tries to save energy while living on campus. Gold tries to use the sun as a light source in her room rather than turning on lamps, often keeping the blinds open during daylight hours. She said small-scale actions like this could mean more in the long run when it comes to the school’s energy consumption.

“If everybody does a little bit then a lot can get done,” she said.

The campus must lower its energy demand by 300 kilowatts, as long as it is consuming more than 3,600 kilowatts per hour.

If the school does not reach the 300-kilowatt reduction for the 4-hour period, it will be fined the next year.

Pine said how a large-scale metering system project is reaching the final steps before implementation. The metering system will cost about $1.7 million and will use software to monitor the use of water and electricity demand from the heat, ventilation and air conditioning units in each hall.

Pine has been working on the project for the last two years and the administration secured funding through the SUNY construction fund, building the metering system into the capital plan.

Currently the amount of energy consumed in each specific dorm is unknown. Facilities Management only knows the total amount created by all the halls.

According to Pine, the quote on his office wall that reads “you can’t manage what you don’t measure” correlates with his job.

“The most important thing is what we do with the information once the results are in,” he said.

The metering system will allow Pine and his team to analyze both social and mechanical

problems. According to Pine, since the buildings on Parker Quad are all the same, they should be consuming about the same amount of energy.

Large disparities can explain if students are consuming more energy in a certain hall or if there are mechanical problems that are straining the system. Either way, the largest consumers can be flagged and then targeted for improvement.

Statistics from the metering available may also be made available online and in real time, so campus energy use can also be tracked by the college community.

Pine said he is pleased by the strides the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, a national effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, has allowed him to make.

“Investments in facilities are the behind the scenes things,” he said. “It’s the gutsy stuff that people don’t pay attention to, but it’s critical.”

ENERGY SAVING TIPS SHUT WINDOWS WHILE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON

CLOSE YOUR WINDOWS WHEN THE HEAT IS ON

UNPLUG CHARGERS AND OTHER DEVICES

USE THE SUN AS A LIGHT SOURCE

ONLY RUN A FULL LOAD IN THE DRYER

Leaving your window open while the air conditioner is on wastes energy.

The open window allows moist air to come into the building and hallways, which makes the entire system work much harder.

Instead of opening the window in your heated room during the winter to create a breeze, open your door.

Opening your windows only lets more cold air in, which uses more energy to heat.

Cell phone and mp3 player chargers still taking energy from outlets when they are plugged in, even if your battery is fully charged.

Using sunlight during the day is much more efficient than turning on the lights. Also, closing the blinds on a hot day can prevent a room from heating up.

To avoid wasting energy while using tumble dryers, only put full loads into the machine and turn it off as soon as clothes are dry.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

By Lauren Brois

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NEWS

News Briefs National The USS New York, built with steel from the rubble of the World Trade Center, was put into Navy service Saturday. ***** A 19-year-old woman was the driving force behind a youthful burglary ring that preyed on Hollywood’s rich and famous, often brazenly walking into unlocked homes to make off with cash, jewels and family heirlooms, authorities said. Rachel Jungeon Lee spearheaded the break-ins, motivated by a desire to own the designer clothes and jewelry of such celebrities as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton. ***** Americans have more than triple the debt they had in 1982, and less than half the savings. They spend 10 weeks longer off the job. ***** A police officer in a small Arkansas town used a stun gun on an unruly 10-year-old girl after he said her mother gave him permission to do so.

Now the town’s mayor is calling for an investigation into whether the Taser use was appropriate.

The New Paltz Oracle

Council Calls for New Scholarship

By Nicole Papantoniou Copy Editor | Papant63@newpaltz.edu

The College Council has been reaching out to members of the community to request donations for a new scholarship to assist students in need of financial aid in emergency situations.

According to Student Association President Stephanie Samuel, who serves as a student representative on the College Council, details of the scholarship have not been sorted out yet; the council is still in the preliminary planning stages. The creation of the scholarship is a means for the council to reach out to the student body in needy economic times and gaining recognition on campus.

“We wanted to be more than just a College Council,” said Samuel. “We want to actually give back to the college and show that we’re going to play an active role.”

The scholarship will be available for for students as of the Fall 2010 semester. It will be granted based on need through the Financial Aid and Foundation offices. It’s targeted for students who find themselves in unexpected family situations, like having sickness in the family, a parent losing a job, excessive medical bills, death in the family or bills at home. According to Samuel, it’s meant to fill the gap between what students can’t pay for and what loans don’t cover.

Financial Aid Director Daniel Sistarenik will review student files to award the scholarships.

Last year, $17,000 in undesignated scholarship funds from the previous spring allowed the college to fund similar scholarships, according to Samuel. Their efforts served as a motivating factor in the creation

of the new scholarship sponsored by the College Council. The Campus Auxiliary Services Board distributed $350 or more to 15 students last semester.

“We knew already that there was a need in this economy to have that emergency scholarship fund,” said SUNY New Paltz President Steven Poskanzer.

The decision to sponsor a scholarship was decided at the beginning of the semester. It was initiated by first-year president of the board and local banker Ken Abt, who had hopes that the council members could take on donor responsibilities. According to Poskan-

“We wanted to be more than just a College Council” — Stephanie Samuel zer, members would not act like a Board of Trustees at the private institution, but rather serve as examples and make it easier for the college to raise money.

“I really admire him for taking that leadership position and beginning that discussion,” said Poskazner. “It was a very good thing and a very leaderly thing for him to do.”

The College Council is made up of nine

governor-appointed members who serve a seven year term. All are local community members whose professions range from bankers, lawyers and business owners. Samuel sits on the board as a student representative, as does Poskanzer, although he is not a voting member. The council meets once a month.

“Everything is running smoothly,” said Samuel.

The idea of having this scholarship available is appealing to students who said they are worried about what’s to come for the economy.

“You don’t know what will happen in the future,” said Bina Fronda, a fourth-year photography and public relations major. “You might plan your entire life. You might plan your entire college career, but something is going to happen down the line when something unfortunately comes between you and your goals. Having something like a scholarship is a really good backup plan when your plan a doesn’t work.”

Fronda also said that she likes that the scholarship isn’t limited to a specific group of people because something unexpected can happen to anyone.

The scholarship will be funded by donors. Though the exact amount has yet to be decided upon, it will likely total in the $10,000 range.

The scholarship fund will be available for a two-year trial period. However, Samuel said she hopes it will be renewed anually.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” said Poskanzer. “I think it’s very generous, very noble and admirable. I really salute the council for wanting to do something like this.”

Campus Groups Voice Environmental Concerns

***** Prosecutors in western Missouri filed 15 additional sex charges against a family already accused of sexually abusing children as a newly released search warrant claims some of the suspects forced their victims to help kill and bury a man in 1988. ***** Researchers at the Mid American Heart Institute have found signs of heart disease in 3,500-year-old mummies. They used CT scans, a type of X-ray, on 22 mummies kept in the Egyptian National Museum of Antiquities in Cairo.

World Briefs, pg. 5

On Friday Nov. 13, members of the Recycling Club and NYPIRG met Congressman Maurice Hinchey at the Environmental Consortium at Vassar College. Hinchey said he is currently working on a bill that will reduce CO2 emissions by 17 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. If this bill passes through Congress, it will return the nation to 2005 emission levels by 2050.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The New Paltz Oracle

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NEWS

Senate Funds Senior Committee

By Justin McCarthy Copy Editor | Jmccarthy46@newpaltz.edu

The student senate approved three appeals from campus organizations, confirmed nominees for the Academic Affairs committee and the University Police Committee and voted to grant the senior committee $5,000 at their last general meeting.

The senate voted to approve an appeal made by the Latino Culture Center after sorting out some complications with paperwork, as well as an appeal by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics club after it had forgotten to fill out a necessary charter.

However, the senators had a more extended discussion regarding the appeal made by the SUNY New Paltz Ski and Snowboard Club.

Representing the club, Matt Keyes appeared before the senate in hopes of securing additional funding for 30 season ski passes, which would be open for purchasing by any SUNY New Paltz student on a first-comefirst-serve basis. The club was already given $1,500 in order to reduce the individual ticket prices from $200 to $250. Keyes said that an additional grant of up to $1,500 would make the price more affordable for students.

“I don’t think, personally, that this should be funded,” said Student Association (SA) Executive Vice President Abe Uchitelle. “What you’re going to have is a small group of people who were able to sign up on that day that are going to be able to go whenever they want. It doesn’t build that same kind of community of people going to something together that a lot of other clubs do when they have things funded.”

The senate debated the appeal for about an hour, asking Keyes to speak before the body for a second time for further clarification. The senators questioned whether the 30 passes would include more than just a core group of skiers and snowboarders. While some senators said they were undecided about how to act, others like Sen. Caitlin Ryan supported the club’s funding request.

“I don’t think it would be a bad thing

World U.S. and Afghan authorities investigated Saturday whether a botched NATO airstrike was to blame for the death of Afghan soldiers and police during a search for two American paratroopers missing in a Taliban-infested area of the country’s west. ***** PHOTO BY FELICE BERNABO

Three senators were confirmed to the University Police Committee on Tuesday, Nov. 17. for all of the members of this club to get this pass, because they’re the people on campus who are going to use it,” said Ryan. “If people aren’t in this club, they might not be snowboarding that much.”

Keyes, who currently sits on the Budget and Finance Committee, compared this appeal to other funding requests.

“I’ve seen us give over $2,000 to a group of students for one meal,” said Keyes.

“So, I just felt that a season pass that lasts five months long for 30 students was worth it.”

After discussion ended, the senate voted 11 to four to approve the SUNY New Paltz Ski and Snowboard club of the additional $1,500.

At the meeting, the senators also confirmed nominees to the University Police Committee. Sens. Caitlin Ryan, Kondwani Jackson and Jeff Fonda were all confirmed to the group.

The legislative body also voted to confirm Ayanna Thomas to the Academic Affairs committee.

“I think she would be very good for this

committee,” said Sen. Allie Bernhard. “She was very well prepared and well dressed.

I think she shows a lot of motivation as a freshman.”

Representing the Senior Committee, SA President Stephanie Samuel appeared before the senate to make a request for $5,000. The money had originally been saved for a SA Formal, but as the formal had been disbanded due to poor turnouts in the past, the $5,000 still remained unused. Samuel requested that the unused funds go to the senior committee to go toward various senior activities including a “Look the Part” fashion show meant to show students how to dress for job interviews.

Samuel also addressed concerns that the funds will not be used to benefit the entire student body.

“Yes, our target audience will be seniors,” she said. “But we will not close off the event for seniors only.”

The senate unanimously voted to grant the Senior Committee the funds they requested.

Programming Seat Filled at Council of Orgs

By Steven Casale Copy Editor | Casale75@newpaltz.edu

At the Nov. 16 meeting of the Council of Organizations elections were held for a vacant seat on the Programming Board.

Houses were also broken into round table discussions.

E-board reports commenced the meeting. Student Association (SA) Executive Vice President Abe Uchitelle discussed his continued efforts to extend hours for the Loop shuttle service. Vice President of Academic Affairs and Governance Brenna Fearey announced last week’s passage of two bylaws by the student senate. Vice President of Finance Yasmin El Jamal read the SA budget. General program-

News Briefs

ming is at $17,318.39 and the conference budget is at $7,028.29.

Elections for the vacant Programming Board seat were uncontested. Vice Council Chair Jonathan Freifeld was nominated for the seat but rescinded his nomination when Stephanie Sanchez was nominated.

Sanchez was voted to the position thereafter.

Sen. Allie Bernhard announced the putting together of a club handbook. The handbook would outline campus clubs and organizations and allow students to have a reference place for information about club life.

Senate Chair Jennifer Sanchez announced the upcoming senate elections.

Jennifer Sanchez expressed the need to go through the technicalities behind senate duties and emphasized the importance of students in the senate vote. Senator responsibilities include establishing and disbanding ad-hoc committees, hear appeals and review and approve events.

Council Chair Hana Akimoto once again broke council representatives into round table discussions. The purpose of Monday’s discussions was to talk about the newly passed bylaws, voice issues or suggestions for the club handbook and talk about house-related issues.

The next meeting of Council will be held on Monday, Dec. 1 in the multipurpose room of the Student Union.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Colombia’s police director said the son of notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar was directly involved in cartel business, even killings, rejecting the denials of a man whose reappearance is creating a sensation in Colombia 16 years after his father’s death. ***** Iran’s foreign minister on Wednesday said his country would not export its enriched uranium for further processing, effectively rejecting the latest U.N. plan aimed at preventing Tehran from building nuclear weapons. ***** Germany will extend its mission in Afghanistan for another year, the government said Wednesday, despite the growing unpopularity of the war at home. ***** An Iranian doctor who went public with reports of tortured protesters he treated at Tehran’s most feared detention facility dies, amid conflicting reports of a heart attack, a car accident or suicide, raising opposition accusations that the 26-year-old was killed. ***** Israel broke ground on a new housing complex for Jews in east Jerusalem on Wednesday, brushing off President Barack Obama’s criticism that construction in the disputed part of the holy city undermines efforts to relaunch Mideast peace talks.

Compiled from the AP Newswire

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NEWS

The New Paltz Oracle

Pop: Lock and Stock It

CAS Board to Consider Beverage and Vending Contract

By Julie Mansmann News Editor | Jmansmann60@newpaltz.edu

A different brand of soda may fill fountain cups and vending machines across campus now that the Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS) Board began an evaluation process of the beverage and vending contract.

According to CAS Director Steve Deutsch, a contract was signed approximately seven years ago with the Pepsi company of the Hudson Valley because it had offered the college best pricing, service and offered donations to the college. Since then, Pepsi products have been sold by the bottle and distributed in fountain and vending machines at campus eateries.

Members of the CAS Board sitting on a selection committee are now working to decide which companies should stock soda in residence hall vending machines, Hasbrouck Dining Hall and other dining facilities.

“We’re throwing it back to the market to see who offers the best deal,” Deutsch said. “It will depend on how companies bid.”

The committee can ultimately select to work with up to three companies, as there are different components of the contract. Pouring rights for fountain machines will ultimately fall to either Pepsi or Coke. However, soda produced by smaller companies could be offered in vending machines or by the bottle at retail outlets.

Deutsch said that the factors the committee is considering while evaluating smaller companies include product mix, the overall quality of the company, the financial state of the company, special deals or offers, the quality of customer service and whether they engage in sustainable practices or not.

Student Association Executive Vice President Abe Uchitelle, a student representative on the CAS Board, said that the board will continue to decide what values it considers most important in these preliminary stages of the selection process.

Uchitelle said that whether the board decides to “mix it up” or go with an exclusive contract similar to the one currently in place, its choice should benefit student consumers who will buy

PHOTO BY ALEC HOROWITZ

Approximately seven years ago, a contract was signed with Pepsi to fill fountain and vending machines on campus. beverages on campus regardless.

“I want people to be healthy and feel good about their purchases. There definitely is a certain quality of variety that I think that we are going to consider to be important to think about,” Uchitelle said. “I know that I would like to advocate that there are more options than just a handful of beverages from a single company.”

Diana Bodolato, a third-year industrial organizational psychology major, said she would like to see the presence of a smaller but more sustainable company on campus.

“I feel like sustainability is important,” she said. “People who buy bottled soda should have environmentally friendly op-

tions.”

Deutsch said the committee will work to find the best deal available to the college as they continue with the selection process.

“We want to do the best by the campus,” he said. “We’ll choose whoever proves to be the best fit.”

According to Uchitelle, students are not likely to see any changes made during this academic year. If the board decides to work with another company, transition costs associated with processes like moving vending machines need to be taken into account. For now, the board will continue to work on a proposal and will process response received from beverage companies.

SA Seeks to Call Attention to Available Research Funds

By Natassia Donohue Contributing Writer | N02132637@newpaltz.edu

After a $25,000 line was put toward undergraduate and graduate research last semester, members of the Student Association (SA) and others are working to make students aware of the available funds.

Vice President of Academic Affairs and Governance Brenna Fearey has been working with Maureen Morrow, professor and director of the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities program (RSCA), and Ray Schwartz to finalize the application process for requesting funds. Fearey said that while it will be a little less intensive than the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) and Academic Year Undergraduate Research Experience (AYURE), projects are still subject to approval from the Institutional Review Board and require student collaboration with a professor.

Last year, the student senate voted to Morrow, this money could be useful because put the money aside specifically for research SA may have more flexibility than the RSCA in distributing funds. after former SA This is due in part to President Ben Olthe fact that the SA sen approached the line is a collection body about creating of student money, the line. Olsen said whereas the RSCA the idea was born is state-funded and out of discussions subject to stricter with members of the rules and regulaGraduate Student Association.

The tions.

Morrow also money comes from said that this line funds received by — Maureen Morrow of funding could be the Student Associaparticularly useful tion from the student to graduate students, activity fee. who cannot request Fearey estifunding from the mates that projects will have a limit of $500 to $1,000 over the RSCA, SURE or AYURE as well.

“I think that the $1,000 limit is going to course of the year, although this hasn’t been approved by the student senate. According to be very important to graduate students,” Mor-

“I’m happy to see that student research is getting greater recognition”

Thursday, November 19, 2009

row said. “These are students who are working on theses, and this money can help increase the quality of their work.”

Although Morrow feels that the research line could prove to beneficial to SUNY New Paltz students, Fearey said it has yet to be taken advantage of. She said she has made announcements about the availability of these funds during meetings of the student senate, Academic Senate and the Council of Organizations to help spread awareness.

“Currently I am working to get a shortterm review board together so the money does not just sit in the line unused,” Fearey said.

In addition, Fearey and the RSCA may collaborate during the review process to ensure even distribution among departments, and prevent overlaps in student requests. Both Fearey and Morrow said they would encourage students to access these funds.

“I’m happy to see that student research is getting greater recognition,” Morrow said.

NEWS

The New Paltz Oracle

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Grassroots Group Assesses Health Care

By Emily Herendeen Features Editor | Herend56@newpaltz.edu

Young Invincibles once referred to those 18 to 29-year-olds who were uninsured and whose youth and health would protect them from needing care. Now, a group of young individuals have taken this title and turned it into their slogan for a campaign on health care reform.

Young Invincibles were founded by a small group of family and friends, and now consists of students and citizens nationwide seeking health care coverage and reform.

They are made up of 18 to 34-year-olds.

On their Web site, the group said they believe in access, universality, affordability, fiscal responsibility, choice in programs and effectiveness and efficiency in health care coverage.

In New Paltz, former SUNY New Paltz NYPIRG Project Coordinator Amanda Sisenstein has brought Young Invincibles to the area. Sisenstein participated in a lobby day on Oct. 11 with other Invicibles who went to Washington, D.C. and sat in the offices of elected officials to try to get their voices heard.

“They organized this to respond to the media and get into the radar of politicians par-

ticularly in Congress to let them know that, ach pumped,” she said.

Juszczak, who had never heard of the hey, we’re the group that was so powerful a force in the November election,” Sisenstein Young Invincibles, added that she would be inclined to join them or a group like it if she said.

According to Sisenstein, part of their knew more.

The recent health care bill passed in the goal is to keep the youth’s voice heard.

“We’re still here and we still care,” she House includes all the reforms the Young Invincibles are pushsaid. ing for, said SisenOne of the misstein. conceptions, she “We are now said, is that healthshifting our focus to care is for old peothe Senate to make ple. sure that these re“First, we want forms remain in to make sure that afthe Senate’s bill as fordability is really well,” Sisenstein held true in these said. reforms,” she said.

“We want to make Those reforms — Amanda Sisenstein include affordabilisure there is low inty, no discrimination come quality reform and preventive care. for families or indiThey want to viduals.”

Third-year political science major Kim tap health insurance premiums at 8 percent, Juszczak said that students often don’t take is- which is much more affordable than the 12 sue with health insurance coverage until it’s percent that it is currently at.

They would also like a nationwide allowtoo late.

“I think [young people] care when they ance for young people to stay on their parents’ are $4,000 in debt after they need their stom- health insurance until their late twenties. In

“It’s good to get them feeling the pressure”

December Grads Get Smaller Receptions Graduation continued from page one “It means a lot to have an intimate environment with your friends and people you’ve taken classes with and built relationships with for the past four to five years so I think on that end of the stick it is beneficial,” she said.

December and August graduates are still welcome to march in the May commencement ceremonies despite the logistical problems that students may face in trying to attend that ceremony. Samuel hopes that in the future December graduation can return.

“I don’t think that is beneficial for the families, but then again, December graduation was fairly new. It wasn’t even 10 years old so before this, they didn’t even have a ceremony,” said Samuel. “So it was a privilege in a sense even though it should be something that is given to all students at all times. Hopefully over the next couple of years it could possibly come back.”

The administration said they have made strides to accommodate students.

“This is a good example of a place where I think we tried hard to listen to what we were hearing from students,” said Poskanzer. “This is an attempt to try and be responsive.”

The recognition and awards ceremony for the School of Business will take place on Dec. 4 in the Coykendall Auditorium. Graduating students who wish to attend must register in the Office of the Dean prior to Nov. 23.

The School of Fine and Performing Arts will hold a student toast from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building Rotunda on Dec. 9.

The School of Science and Engineering will hold a reception on Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m. in the Coykendall Auditorium.

The schools of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Education will hold a combined reception from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the Student Union multipurpose room.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

New York, young people can stay until the age of 29.

“That’s great for New Yorkers but we want to see that on a national level,” said Sisenstein.

Juszczak said that while things are bad for students, health care relates issues affect citizens across the country.

“I’m sitting here with a massive sinus infection waiting to go to the dumpy school clinic because not one doctor in this area takes my insurance,” said Juszczak. “I’m lucky I’m a student and I have an option. So many other young Americans don’t.”

Young Invincibles are also seeking the ability to swap health insurance policies for one that better fits their needs. As of now, most employers only give one option. This is another way Sisenstein said that the market will be further regulated.

Young Invincibles also want no discrimination clauses in health insurance plans based upon gender or a preexisting condition.

“We are looking for people to get educated and contact elected officials through petitions, letter writing and photo petitions,” said Sisenstein. “Get educated and let them know what their thoughts are on the reform.

It’s good to get them feeling the pressure.”

Pg 8

The New Paltz Oracle

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Rebel Palooza!

November 19 7- 10 p.m. at the College Terrace The Little Rebellion launch party with free food, raffles and lots of fun. Featuring musical guests Absolut A Capella, Sexy Pitches, Male Call and Sophia Wortzel. Open to students, alumni and faculty. Go to www. thelittlerebellion.com for more information.

“Rethink Afghanistan” November 20 8 p.m. at the Elting Library October 2009 marked eight years of war in Afghanistan. In his new film, progressive filmmaker Robert Greenwald examines the US escalating military presence in the country. Greenwald documents experts from Afghanistan, the U.S. and Russia discussing the financial cost of the war, Pakistan’s role in the conflict, civilian casualties, the plight of Afghan women, the spreading of terrorism and the lack of an exit strategy. The filmmaker’s ultimate goal to raise the level of public awareness, and prompt people to ask key questions about the war. The screening will be followed by a short discussion. For more information contact Teresa Dixon at 845 255-4815, or via e-mail at tellall45@yahoo.com.

M Gallery Holiday Kick-off Celebration November 21 6 – 8 p.m. at the M Gallery on Main Street in Catskill It’s everything for the eye as M Gallery celebrates the start of the holiday season with the addition of Collectables! Art Deco beer steins, California Pottery and 1950s martini sets will be introduced to appeal to a wider audience of art fanciers just in time for gift-giving and holiday parties.

These unique pieces will join the backdrop of original paintings by Patrick Milbourn and friends. Join us and make merry! This event takes place during Saturday Studios, when galleries along Main Street stay open late hosting receptions and open houses.

More information is at 518-943-0380. Feel free to visit our website www.mgallery-online.com.

Turkey Trial November 21 1 - 2:30 p.m. at the Minnewaska State Preserve Come to the Nature Center for a fun-filled afternoon featuring one of our favorite

birds, the turkey. A brief discussion about turkeys will be followed by a scavenger hunt activity near Lake Minnewaska. You will discover exactly how hard it is to live the life of a turkey, and maybe gain some appreciation for the bird that many say thanks over each year. This program will feature coloring, running around and fun for everyone over five years of age with their parents. Pre-registration is required.

For more information and to register for programs, please call the Park Office at 845-255-0752.

Family Day at the Dorsky Museum November 21 1 – 3 p.m. at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art Guest educator Judi Esmond will give an age-appropriate tour of a current exhibition at the museum, followed by an art activity.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Call 845-257-2331 to register and for additional information. Cost is $5 per child.

Comedian Myq Kaplan!

Saturday Nights @ the Terrace November 21 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. at the College Terrace Come check out Myq Kaplan- appeared on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham”, winner of the 2009 Caroline’s March Comedy Madness Tournament and voted 2008’s Best Local Comic in Boston. Free drinks and desserts will be served. Enjoy free weekend entertainment @ the College Terrace!

Faith Forum at St. Andrew’s Church November 22 9 a.m. at St Andrew’s Church St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 163 Main Street, New Paltz, will hold a Faith Forum on the role of faith communities in combating rural poverty on Sunday (between its 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM services). The Rev. Richard Witt of Rural & Migrant Ministries will conduct the Forum. He will also preach at St. Andrew’s 8:00 and 10:30 AM services. All are invited to join us in our Parish Hall for this important discussion.

For more information about Faith Forum, please call the church office at 255-5098.

12th Annual International Pickle Festival November 22

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Rosendale Community Center Various vendors, many countries represented with food and culture. Contests, prizes and pickles.

For more information call 658-9649 or visit www.picklefest.com Marketing Secrets of an Entrepreneur Wine Event December 9 5 – 8 p.m. at the Samuel Dorsky Museum The SUNY New Paltz American Marketing Association (AMA) is hosting “Marketing Secrets of an Entrepreneur” wine event cosponsored with the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce. The event is open to everyone older than 21 including students, faculty, staff and business people.

Space is very limited, so we encourage everyone to sign up early. Guest speaker Yancy Stanforth-Migliore from Whitecliff Vineyard will discuss entrepreneurship in the wine industry to be followed by a tasting and then networking opportunities at which wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. The cost is $15 for everyone except AMA members and $10 for AMA members. To register for this event please contact the President of the AMA Bridgette Muller at muller56@newpaltz.edu or the Faculty Advisor Professor Ted Clark at clarkt@newpaltz.edu or visit his office in Van den Berg Hall 311.

Join the University Police Committee The Student Association is looking for students to become part of our University Police Committee. The committee is meant to improve relations between students and the police and to raise awareness around campus about relevant issues such as police conduct and the recent assaults on and around campus. Any interested students may contact Abe Uchitelle at executivevp@newpaltzsa.com.

CAS Internship Stipend Students participating in a Spring 2010 internship or student teaching placement may be eligible for a scholarship in an amount up to $1000! Don’t delay! The deadline to apply is Dec. 4. Contact the Career Resource Center at 257-3265, visit us in HUM 105, or go to newpaltz.edu/careers for more information and to download an application.

To submit an announcement write down the name of the club/event, date, time and location. Then e-mail it to oracle@newpaltz.edu. All submissions are due by Sunday at 5 p.m. Submissions are printed at the discretion of the editor-in-chief.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

OASIS OASIS is a student-staffed counseling and crisis intervention center and telephone hotline. OASIS volunteers are trained and supervised by the Psychological Counseling Center to respond to anonymous telephone calls and walk-in requests for support, information and referral. Peer crisis intervention is provided in college-related areas such as academic stress, loneliness, sexual orientation, suicide, drug and alcohol-related problems, relationship and family conflicts.

OASIS, located in the Deyo Hall basement, room G13C, is open from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. while classes are in session, and the extension is x4945.

HAVEN HAVEN of OASIS is the studentstaffed hotline and walk-in center, supervised by the Psychological Counseling Center. HAVEN volunteers provide support, information and referral for students who have been the target of rape, attempted rape or any unwanted sexual experience.

HAVEN is located in the Deyo Hall basement, room G13c and is open from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. while classes are in session, and the extension is x4930.

Call or stop in when classes are in session. The 24-hour HAVEN beeper is 845-455-6093.

Campus Escort Call x3338 for an escort from anywhere on campus to anywhere on campus. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. every night. Not a taxi service — for safety, not for the lazy!

Safe Rider Need a ride home from the bars?

We provide FREE rides home or back to campus please give me a call at 845-834-2213.

Facilities Management Having facilities related issues?

Please call x3301.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Gunk RALPHIE MAY BRINGS BIG LAUGHS

By Justin McCarthy Copy Editor | Jmccarthy46@newpaltz.edu

He’s rude, he’s crude and he weighs 385 pounds. Ralphie May came to SUNY New Paltz on Nov. 18 to do stand-up at a sold out performance for 470 students. In a white, long-sleeved shirt and jeans, May poked fun at himself, Americans and pretty much everyone in between.

“It’s great to be in New Paltz,” said May, opening his performance. “I think that’s where we are.”

May admits that he is far from politically correct. His jokes are racially charged, insensitive and disgusting to some. But the obese first-runner up from Last Comic Standing still knows how to connect with a young audience and draw a big crowd.

“He’s really relatable,” said Han-

nah Sliva, a second-year secondary English education major. “He has jokes that everyone can laugh at.”

According to Kevin Purcell, vice president of programming, scoring a May performance at New Paltz was not only a crowd-pleaser, but a huge bargain as far as funding. While some comedians the Programming Board had considered would have cost up to $15,000, May’s performance was only $7,000. After Student Association (SA) Productions member Mark Krasnov looked him up online, the board knew May was the right choice.

“We pulled him up on Youtube and we were like, ‘he’s really funny,’” said Purcell.

Because of May’s performance, students who attended now know how to secretly smoke marijuana on the

TO

streets of Chelsea, how to blame a puddle of one’s own urine on a dog by simply crumpling a dog biscuit next to it, and how fat people can be considerate to those they sit next to on airplanes.

May acknowledges that he is not a “safe comedian.”

“I wish I was a safe comedian. If I was, I’d be more popular and I’d be performing in the gym at New Paltz,” said May, joking at the small size of the Lecture Center 100 he performed in.

Instead, May takes risks on stage.

He uses words that make many people cringe, gasp––or storm out. But he reassures his audience that while his humor is controversial, they’ll like his jokes as long as they bear with him through the parts that would normally offend them.

May’s jokes largely include marijuana. He spoke about having smoked it

The Last Comic Standing runner-up’s jokes are racially charged, insensitive and disgusting to some.

NEW PALTZ with Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, before his SATs, before watching the “Miracle on the Hudson” in person while in New York City and in a hotel room with a baby. He’s been stoned, “stoned-ed-er,” “stoned-ed-est” and “stoned like a biblical whore.”

“Yes, he was offensive,” said SA President Stephanie Samuel. “But at the end of the day, the things that make you cry are the things that make you laugh.”

While some may have been offended by May’s jokes, he concluded his performance by showing respect for the same people he’d mocked for over an hour and pointed out the stupidity in small mindedness.

“God hates fags? Well, then why does he keep making so many of them?” he joked. “Is God trying to redecorate the Earth?”

PHOTOS BY FELICE BERNABO

2B | FEATURES

The New Paltz Oracle

Matt Owens Owns His Art

GRAPHIC DESIGNER DISCUSSES THE ART OF SUCCESS

By Jennifer Von Willer

Contributing Writer | Jvonwiller76@newpaltz.edu

Confident and articulate, graphic designer and guest art lecturer Matt Owens stands behind his Mac and in front of his slideshow, “Type & Image.”

He hosted a presentation in LC 102 to showcase his colossal amounts of personal graphic designs and recognizable client advertisements. With a charismatic voice, a bright red shirt and both of his arms sleeved in tattoos, one might never guess that Owens is the man behind many popular media advertisements. His work includes commercials for clients like MTV, ESPN, VH1 and CMT. Last Thursday evening, Owens invited the students into his visual imagination.

Owens is the creator of Athletics, his second graphic design company. In his new office in Brooklyn, his team fulfills expansive projects, including green screening and photo shoots. Owens is grateful for his business partners who led Athletics towards its immediate success. With relatives added in the mix, his brother, Mark, and his wife, Amy, help run Athletics with a team of six talented graphic designers.

His love for graphic design is deep rooted in stories of personal success and failure, dedicating the “Type & Image” lecture to his major inspirations, Paul Rand and Bob Dylan, or artists he considers “self-made men.”

Athletics were recently offered pitch money from CMT to create new commercials for an upcoming show that never aired. Although Owens insisted CMT loved his company’s zany graphics, the network cancelled the program altogether.

Some of his designs were full of

vibrant oblong shapes simultaneously forming into one another as threedimensional dolphins suddenly swam across the widescreen. There were some familiar ads including the silhouettes of DKNY Jeans models and Zoo York logos.

“Design graphics is making and executing graphic things, and my first love, by using graphics, motion and a script to show information. Graphic design is discipline learned in the workforce,” Owens said after showing his clip about how much money has been spent to help the War on Terrorism.

Owens’ lecture was themed selfdiscovery—proclaiming that one’s career should be what one enjoys doing and not to think of it as work. He loves what he does for a living, suggesting that, “It’s not about what you do, but how you bring it to the studio.”

From creating Web zines with his brother throughout high school or running an art gallery for six years in New York City, art has always been his passion. The short lecture was also filled with free gifts, including advertisement examples from previous client work, psychedelic stickers, postcards and booklets. The lecture ended with his recent work, “The Road Less Traveled,” a music video that can be found on his Web site at www.volumeone.com. Lastly, as the anxious students awaited their free gifts, Owens quickly quoted his favorite “self-made man,” Bob Dylan: “May your hands always be busy, may your feet always be swift. May you have a strong foundation when the winds of changes shift, may your heart always be joyful, and may your song always be sung; may you stay forever young.”

Students reacted positively to the lecture. “I thought it was absolutely

PHOTO COURTESY OF VOLUMEONE.COM AND INTERACTIONDESIGN.SVA.EDU

Owen’s work includes commercials for MTV, VH1, ESPN and CMT. awesome! I’m an undergrad, going into said, “I thought it was interesting to graphics so it got me really excited to be hear his views and [see his work] like doing graphics,” said Jillian Klasko, a MTV and VH1, you know you see those second-year art major. “I’m happy that I graphics all the time. It’s kind of intergot to hear what he had to say about the esting to see the guy behind that. You field and everything.” kind of get an idea of what goes on beFirst-year art major Mike Hanna hind the scenes.”

Gala Concludes Celebration of Hudson History

PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENT TO GO TO LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT

By Steven Casale Copy Editor | Casale75@newpaltz.edu

The SUNY New Paltz Foundation will be hosting its seventh annual Gala this Sunday, Nov. 22 at 5 p.m. The event will be “the premiere closing event of this year’s Hudson 400 celebration,” according to the foundation’s Web site.

Proceeds from the event, which is not free, are put towards a scholarship endowment for local students from Ulster, Dutchess and Orange counties.

“Hudson’s voyage opened this region for European settlement,” said Sally Cross, executive director of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation. “The Gala is celebrating New Paltz’s earliest recorded history, its settlement by the Huguenots in 1677.”

The Gala began seven years ago to commemorate the college’s 175th anniversary, which also coincided with the town’s 325th anniversary. Originally intended to be a one-time event, its popularity led it to be held every year since.

The Gala’s purpose is fundraising for local scholarships geared toward students who will be attending New Paltz from the local area.

“The past six years, Galas have raised nearly a quarter million dollars in endowment for the scholarship fund,” said Cross. “Endowments are permanent investments, and the interest earned funds scholarships each years – forever.”

The recipient of this year’s award is first-year art studio major Laianna Ferruggia. Ferruggia, who will be attending the event, said she had not known about

the award until she won it. She was told that recipients are chosen as incoming student files are reviewed.

“I feel very blessed and grateful for receiving this award,” said Ferruggia. “Without it, I would not be able to make the most of my college education - which is very important to me. I will always remember how others have helped me in this way.”

Ferruggia said that fundraising for such awards is highly important and that the awards “change lives.”

The theme of the event coordinates with the Hudson Valley’s ongoing celebration of Henry Hudson’s discovery of the river that was named after him.

The quadricentennial recognition of Hudson’s voyage has garnered many local events and developments, including the opening of the Walkway Over

Thursday, November 19, 2009

the Hudson. An English explorer sailing for the Dutch, Hudson, although not the first European to discover the river, navigated it in 1609. His voyage to present day New York was important because it began the framework for starting Dutch settlement in the lower New York area – a cultural legacy that is seen to this day.

“The committee felt that celebrating our community’s founding and founders was in keeping with the spirit of both the Gala and the Hudson 400th celebrations,” said Cross.

The event was spearheaded by the SUNY New Paltz Foundation and a committee chaired by Linda DelgadoBaker. Tickets are $175 per person, $325 per couple and $1,750 for a table of 10. More information can be found at http://www.newpaltz.edu/gala/.

FEATURES | 3B

The New Paltz Oracle

Students Dance Through The Stress DANCE ASSOCIATION OFFERS STUDENT RUN DANCE CLASS

By Annie Yu Contributing Writer | Annie.yu45@newpaltz.edu

On Wednesdays, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., stressed or curious students find an outlet in choreographer Simone Bart’s contemporary dance class located in the dance studio by the Elting Gym. Students under pressure from their workload or other frustrations take the opportunity to forget about their problems and relieve their tensions through dance.

Sam Grossman, a second-year English major, attends Bart’s contemporary class every week. “It’s a good release after a long day. I love dancing,” she said.

As the song “The Lioness Hunt,” from “The Lion King” on Broadway, blared from the sound system, Bart taught her choreography step-by-step as students imitated her moves and glided across the floor.

Bart’s class is one of many classes that the student-run Dance Association offers and students do not need any dance experience to attend. The organization also offers lyrical, hip-hop, vogue, jazz and belly dancing classes, among many others.

E-board members also organize events to have professors, alumni and professionals teach classes. Joe Walston, a Culture Shock alumnus, returned to campus to teach a hiphop class. Jason Marquette, the choreographer for last year’s musical, “Company” and a professional at the Broadway Dance Center, taught a class about dancing in musicals.

Bart is a second-year theatre arts major and co-president of the Dance Association, stresses the importance of dance

classes on campus.

“People want more dance. It’s a great way to get physical and it’s fun,” she said. “We offer classes of all different styles and students don’t need any experience to come.”

“Simone choreographed a bunch of dances that just help us let things go. It’s very therapeutic” -Ian Brodsky Yoav Kaddar, the faculty advisor for the Dance Association, also agreed that it is important to offer dance classes to students.

“It’s a great way that the student Dance Association is

supplementing the shortage of dance classes on campus,” he said. “It’s sort of like dance underground. As credit-offering dance classes die out, the Dance Association gets stronger.”

In terms of what the dance classes offer, students seem to come to the consensus that it is a major stress-buster.

Ian Brodsky, a first-year theatre arts major and the public relations representative for the organization has been trying to promote Dance Association classes through fliers, posters, word-of-mouth and Facebook events.

“It is a stress-reliever,” he said. “Simone choreographed a bunch of dances that just help us let things go. It’s very therapeutic.”

Other than helping students deal with stress, Kaddar also thinks the dance classes “give students the opportunity to express their creativity, learn about their body and interact with other students.”

This semester was the first time co-presidents Bart and Samantha Taylor, a fourth-year secondary education major and the choreographer for lyrical classes on Fridays, decided to hold student-choreographed classes twice a week. The Dance Association plans to continue offering dance classes to students next semester.

Students who are interested in becoming choreographers should e-mail Bart at sbart61@newpaltz.edu. Interested choreographers should prepare a one-minute choreographed routine for their audition.

“The Dance Association is for everyone,” said Bart.

“You don’t even need to have any experience to become a choreographer. We just want to make sure they can teach other students. That’s what’s important.”

Bart’s class is one of many classes that the student-run Dance Association offers. Students do not need any dance experience to attend.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

PHOTO BY ANNIE YU

4B | FEATURES

The New Paltz Oracle

Paltz Secret Queer Action Coalition members took a note from the popular book series “Post Secret” and made their own artistic confessions, which are now hanging in the corridor of Sojourner Truth Library.

-Emily Herendeen

Thursday, November 19, 2009

FEATURES | 5B

The New Paltz Oracle

Women Voice Health Care Concerns NEW PALTZ COMMUNITY HOPE FOR CHANGES IN POLICY

By Jordan Okon

Contributing Writer | N02128521@newpaltz.edu

Heather Stewart, a student at SUNY New Paltz recently watched her physically active mother go from working out at the gym to not walking without the aid of a cane.

Stewart’s mother was diagnosed with multiple slipped discs in her spine after countless doctor procedures and visits. Her mother received back surgery a few months after her diagnosis where a metal brace was attached to her spine which would prevent further slippage of her discs. After recovering from surgery, her mother is able to walk a mile without the help of a cane.

Recently, Stewart’s mother was contacted by her health insurance company, which she purchased through the independent market. They explained that her back procedure was not covered under her policy.

“Her insurance company said that her back surgery was an elective procedure,” Stewart said. “They explained to her that basically walking is a luxury that she didn’t need.”

Stewart’s recent experience in watching her mother be denied coverage by her health insurance opened her eyes to the disadvantages that many women struggle with when trying to access health care.

In 2008, 46.3 million Americans went without health insurance, which breaks down into 25.2 million men and 21.1 million women according to the US Census Bureau.

While more men went uninsured, according to a number of organizations, like ahrq.gov, women are more likely than men to encounter discrimination—paying higher premiums, being dropped from policies or not having yearly check-ups covered—when trying to access or receive health care.

“Health care reform, when and if it gets passed, will be extremely beneficial in terms of women being able to receive health insurance at affordable costs,” Stewart said. “I feel that the stigma often associated with women though won’t change doctor’s mindsets which will still lead to women obtaining improper care.”

Earlier this month the House passed a version of the Affordable Health Care for America Act which is currently awaiting passage in the Senate. The bill, which was a revision on the earlier Affordable Health Choices Act. The bill proposed in the House, would end insurance exclusion against Americans that have pre-existing health conditions, provide more affordable costs and offer a choice between public and private insurance coverage. If the Senate version of the bill passes,

then both bills will have to be renegotiated to form one bill that would enter the process again.The House and Senate versions of the act are currently undergoing mark up in Congress. According to healthreform.gov, if passed, this bill would prohibit the individual insurance market from calculating premiums based on pre-existing health problems.

Women both uninsured and insured have expressed a general need to changes to better aid women’s issues.

Katie Bartelt is a student on campus and a wife and working mother of two children who faced health care issues during her pregnancy. While Bartelt was pregnant with her first daughter, she attended and gave birth at a hospital at the West Point Military Academy.

She said that the treatment she received at the hospital at West Point differed from the experiences of her pregnant friends who were seeing civilian doctors.

“I had high blood pressure during my pregnancy with my first daughter, but my urine was never checked regularly to determine if I had developed preeclampsia,” she said. “My urine was only checked twice, once in the beginning of my pregnancy and again when I was in labor. Since my blood pressure was high during labor the doctors decided to check my urine for preeclampsia, and it turned

Thursday, November 19, 2009

out I did have it.”

Some women of New Paltz expressed that even though they support the passage of health care reform, immediate change to ‘women friendly policies’ will not necessarily happen. Sandra Hamlett, a student on campus said that her big concern is the patient-doctor relationships that exist which are the caused by the way doctors are taught and trained in med school.

“Beyond just giving health insurance to everyone, the way medicine is taught to doctors needs to be taught in a different way,” Hamlett said.

Professor Amy Kesselman has taught Women’s Studies at New Paltz campus since 1981. A strong advocate for health care reform, Kesselman expressed similar concerns akin to Hamlett’s––with treatment of women patients by their doctors as a separate issue from health care reform. A doctor of Kesselman’s in New Haven, Conn. teaches “power relations” at Yale New Haven Medical School.

“She teaches a class on power relations, which is the power imbalance between patient and doctor,” Kesselman said. “The class is really focused on trying to eliminate this power difference and she herself is an excellent model of what she teaches to her students.”

6B | FEATURES

The New Paltz Oracle

Multicultural Conference Educates Students LECTURER TAMARA SOBER DISCUSSES EDUCATION AND ECONOMY

By Andrew Cardon Contributing Writer | Acardon06@newpaltz.edu

Tamara Sober, executive director of the Office of Teaching and Learning at the Virginia Education Association, served as keynote speaker at SUNY New Paltz’s 15th Annual Multicultural Educational Conference on Friday, Nov. 13.

Sober, a former high school teacher of government, history and economics, gave a presentation entitled “How Economic Class Impacts Teaching and Learning.”

The speech focused upon the timeliness of teaching economic justice in the elementary and secondary school classrooms.

“Due to our current economic downturn, more people are beginning to ask how and why we got here,” Sober said.

“This is an opportunity to teach our students to ask and answer these same questions.”

According to Sober, the conference, which aimed to specifically address how the current economic crisis is affecting students, families and educators, was fitting to her message on the teaching of economics.

“We need to explore practical ways to address class and its’ relationship to other multicultural identities, such as race and gender,” Sober said. “If we can view income and wealth through gender and race lenses, we can really begin solving some of the key questions on economic justice.”

In her presentation, Sober lavished criticism upon schools methods of teaching economics class.

“Our schools are using a curriculum that often keeps students locked in their economics class and hinders learning, particularly in the case of poor students,” said Sober.

“We need to stimulate dialogue and encourage active participation in the classroom.”

Sober is the co-author of “Teaching Economics As If People Mattered: A Teacher’s Curriculum Guide to Today’s Economy.”

The book provides real world lesson plans on income, wealth, globalization, wages, taxes, the stock market and CEO pay.

For Sober, the success of “Teaching Economics” played a key role in her involvement with the conference.

“I was contacted by New Paltz’s planning committee and asked to speak at the conference after being recommended by an editor of Rethinking Schools,” said Sober.

“The staff at Rethinking Schools recommended me based on my co-authorship of the book.”

In the 15 years since its creation, the conference has worked to bring together educators, students, parents and activists to assemble new, fresh ideas and to make connections with others who are hard at work to create schools that will allow for all young people to succeed.

The Virginia Education Association is a statewide community of more than 60,000 teachers and school support professionals working for the prosperity of public education in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Rethinking Schools is an independent, nonprofit publisher of educational materials.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

PHOTO COURTESY OF DOLLARSANDSENSE.ORG

The conference aimed to address how the current economic crisis is affecting students, families and educators.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 7B

The New Paltz Oracle

‘FARO’ Unimpressive New Comic Book Releases HOOLIGAN COMICS RELEASES NEW BOOK

By Aubrey Nolan Contributing Writer | Anolan22@newpaltz.edu

“FARO,” an online comic by Hooligan Comics, makes a valiant effort to convey a deeper meaning in its colorful panels. However, this effort only partly succeeds because of the often amateur nature of its drawings, corny dialogue and sexist portrayals of women. These were only three of the many problems I found with “FARO,” and because of this, I found it difficult to focus on the storyline.

Most readers of comics and graphic novels are hoping for something fresh and new, and “FARO” did not deliver.

Although there were areas that were effective, I was just too distracted by the constant focus on the male characters and the crude portrayal of the one female character, who was scantily clad in nearly every drawing. Other females appeared for about three frames until some circumstance prevented them from wearing their clothes. The consistency of this occurrence astounded me as I read each comic.

The art in the comic was more amateur than I expected, and the color choices were garish. There were a few panels in which the art was striking, but these moments were too rare to make up for the rest. The background color was often distracting and drew attention away from the figures in the foreground, as well as the dialogue between characters.

Despite this, there were many instances in which I was impressed with more subtle color schemes. The overall style of the drawing had a slightly unfinished appearance, but when more detail was applied, it resulted in more professionallooking images. I found myself wishing that the same attention could have been given to each panel.

The plot seemed unfinished, in addition to the artwork. A basic plot synopsis: the main character, Faro, is a guardian angel of sorts, sent back in time to the Civil War era by his scien-

The art of “FARO” comes off as amateur.

tist father from the apocalyptic future.

Injected with some kind of largely unexplained serum that makes him superior to other humans, he is sent back to the 1800s as FBI agents arrive to commit some unsavory act, also unexplained.

Before there is any opportunity to figure out what time period Faro has landed in the bitchy goddess Majesty, a sexed-up blonde, is introduced into the story. She is taken with Faro and therefore decides to hold him captive. Some of the more amusing scenes occur in this part of the story, when Faro is surrounded by naked women, wondering to himself why someone would ever say you can’t have too much of a good thing. The beginning scenes are some of the most beautifully drawn in the comic, as well.

Later in the story, the historical aspect of the comic is given more detail, spicing up the story significantly. The Booth brothers, including the infamous assassin of Abraham Lincoln are introduced, and Faro attempts to prevent this assassination and therefore alter the timeline of history. However, these efforts are impeded by the presence of another villain in addition to the evil Majesty, Muzio the Mauler and their dramatic fight scenes seem to take up a large fraction of the second issue of “FARO.” The presence of this historical context intrigued me as I read the comic, but once again, I was wishing the writers delved into it more extensively.

Despite the negative response I first had to “FARO 1 and 2,” upon a second reading I found there were some positives that I had initially overlooked.

There are a few choice panels that are visually stunning, and although I couldn’t decide if the price of downloading it online was worth it, I hope the series continues and the potential the storyline has is fulfilled. Hopefully the story will By Sunya Bhutta evolve from its current state, which was Copy Editor | Sunya.Bhutta94@newpaltz.edu a little too unimaginative, and the charThe Little Rebellion is hosting Rebel acters are developed. If this is the case, Palooza, a night of music and entertainI would give “FARO 3” a chance. ment, on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 7 to 10 p.m. @ the College Terrace. The featured acts will include Sophia Wortzel, Sexy Pitches, Male Call and Absolut A Capella.

Dinner will be served and there will be raffle tickets for $1.

“Metamorphoses” will be playing from Thursday, Nov. 19 to Sunday, Nov. 22 at the McKenna Theater. The event is sponsored by the Department of Theatre Arts and will be at 8 p.m. for the Thursday to Saturday showings and 2 p.m. for the Sunday showing. It combines beautiful language with arresting visual images with themes of love, loss, caution and recklessness. Tickets are $14 for seniors, faculty and students and $16 for general reserved. For further details call 845-2573880 Monday to Friday 11:30 a.m. to 4:30

“Jesus Hates Zombies, Lincoln Hates Werewolves” Vol. 3 GN (of 4) from Alterna Comics “Black Coat Or Give Me Death” #3 (of 4) from Ape Entertainment

“Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic” #47 (Demon part 1 of 4) from Dark Horse “Batman: Streets Of Gotham” #6 from DC Comics “Cowboy Ninja Viking” #2 from Image Comics

What’s New in A&E

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOOLIGAN COMICS

Thursday, November 19, 2009

p.m., or visit newpaltz.edu/theatre.

The Jings are playing at the Muddy Cup on Friday, Nov. 20 from 8 to 11 p.m.

The band plays a series of catchy covers and originals. The soothing voice of lead singer Oscar Bilger is entrancing with thoughtful and harmonious lyrics. To find out more about The Jings visit their Facebook fan page.

QUARTERBACKS, an indie pop-soul band, will be playing their first show this Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Cantina at 7 p.m.

Other performances include John Warren and Family Lumber. The show will be $3 at the door.

On Saturday, Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. singersongwriter Diane Cluck will be playing for the New Paltz Cultural Collective at 60 Main. Cluck has toured internationally and has recorded six albums. Her music is refined and elegant neo-folk, with witty and wise lyrics. Her powerful voice and introspective tunes are captivating. For more information on this event visit 60main.org.

8B | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The New Paltz Oracle

THE HAUTE HAWK

Welcome to the first installment of the Haute Hawk! I am dedicated to bringing you a new trend in beauty, fashion and lifestyle from this season’s fashion trends. This is your quick fashion and lifestyle update. Please read, enjoy, be inspired and make it your own.

Until next time,

-Emma Clarke, Contributing Writer

Fashion One popular color this season is violet. With tones from lilac to deep rich hues of purple, violet has been seen in clothing, handbags and other accessories. Yet, what makes this typical fall color new this year? Its regality and sophistication.

For women, this season’s textured violet dresses in silk and velvet bring a vibrant rebirth to classic femininity. Christian Dior, Anna Sui and several high fashion labels let the vibrant color stand out by pairing it with black accents. One big bold color is in trend while complexity is toning down to simplicity.

For men, in keeping with the classic style, a clean tailored suit is the soup de jour. Take a cue from Donald Draper in “Mad Men” and invest in a solid slim cut suit. For more examples, look at high fashion label Salvatore Ferragamo. Crisp, classic lines, as well as funky textures and patterns dominated its runway. Topman (the men’s line at Topshop) has midpriced items and plenty of options. Check out “GQ” magazine online for a suiting guide.

Beauty One of this season’s beauty trends is the mod look. Chanel Fall 2009 combined ice princess with “twiggy lashes,” adding a modern twist to the bold look.

Create a quick basic version of mod makeup: Begin with a clean face and clean lashes. The cartoon-like eyes are going to be the focal feature.

Place white matte eye shadow on the lid of the eye only. After the color stands out, with a thick dark liquid liner follow the lash line continuing out as much as desired turn the end up. For the bottom lashes either follow the eye line or accent eye lashes by drawing a series of vertical stripes. Finish off with a few coats of volumizing mascara. The rest of the face should be finished neutrally and lips with lip balm or matte, white lipstick. Make it your own by experimenting with different colors, textures and adding false eyelashes. Suit it to your look, complexion and needs.

Lifestyle This winter break, see if you can travel to the city of Paris. Be sure to visit the classic sites: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Champs-Élysées and also check out the Musée d’Orsay, the Basilique du SacréCœur and Versailles. For shopping there is nothing like Paris; visit small boutiques, designer flagship stores and stop by the two major department stores: the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. Also enjoy the array of cafes and restaurants by devouring the excellent food, drink and atmosphere.

PHOTO COURTESY OF Z.ABOUT.COM, NEWS.XINHUANET.COM, TOPSHOP.COM, FOREVER21.COM, HTTP://IMAGES.CONTACTMUSIC.COM, MODCULTURE.TYPEPAD.COM,

Thursday, November 19, 2009

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 9B

The New Paltz Oracle

‘Metamorphoses’ Aesthetic Beauty Moves Audience A VARIETY OF OVID’S ANCIENT TALES ARE TOLD... IN A POOL

By Emily Sussell Staff Writer | Esussell62@newpaltz.edu

Students, faculty and guests gathered at McKenna Theater last Thursday, Nov. 12 for the opening night of the Mainstage production “Metamorphoses,” ready for an inspiring night of mythological tales. As the audience settled into their seats and waited for the show to begin they gazed at the set, a stunningly beautiful inground swimming pool that took up most of the stage.

Libby Fair, who played “Woman by the Water” among other roles, laid elegantly by the pool with lovesick eyes, enticing the audience with the promise of a romantic evening.

“Metamorphoses,” a contemporary adaptation of Ovid’s tales written by Mary Zimmerman, will show at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 22. It tells nine ancient tales including Midas, Orpheus and Eurydice, and Eros and Psyche. The play is a creative and moving piece about love and transformation, using water as a metaphor for the ever-changing tides of human emotion.

“It’s a love story,” said Gianna Cioffi, a third-year student and member. “It has so much to do with humanity. Who doesn’t want to see a pool on set?”

Indeed, even more hypnotizing than the romance of the show was the breathtaking set design.

Jake Ewonus, a fourth-year theatre arts major designed the entire set.

“I hadn’t even read the script yet when they said,

‘you’re gonna have to design a pool,’” said Ewonus.

He worked on it constantly since June and faced a number of challenges. “We had to have this pool on stage at all times for different scenes and settings.

That was the biggest difficulty but we figured it out.”

Working with the pool was not only a challenge for Ewonus as the designer, but for the actors as well.

The pool was installed on stage only two weeks before the show and was only heated a week before.

“It was very cold,” said Patrick Kiernan, a second-year student and leading cast member. “A few got he flu. It took a while to get used to.”

“The first day we were all freezing,” said Cioffi. “Pat and I were dripping wet. That puts you in a state of being vulnerable.”

Despite their difficulties, the cast enjoyed working with the unique set.

“Even when it was cold, it wasn’t that bad,” said Cioffi, “It was incredible. We’re so lucky to be presented with that opportunity.”

“Once you get used to it, it’s second nature,” said Kiernan.

Kerri Clayton, a fourth-year biology major who attended the show on opening night felt that the cast did an excellent job of interacting with the set.

“I was amazed by the fact that nobody slipped!” she said, “How did they not fall?”

Slippery or not, the cast had to jump right in on opening night.

“You just go moment by moment,” said Cioffi about the excitement of opening night.

Another cast member, Nikki Golde, agreed that the first night flew by.

“I barely remember details of opening night,” she said.

Overall, the show came together beautifully.

“The show moves you both to laughter and tears,” said Kiernan, “I think it’s a great thing to do in an hour and a half’s time.”

Tickets for “Metamorphoses” can be purchased at the Box Office in Parker Theater. Students can get half price tickets for Thursday night shows.

“The show moves you both to laughter and tears. I think it’s a great thing to do in an hour and a half’s time”

-Patrick Kiernan

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SCHOOL OF FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS

“Metamorphoses” will be showing from Nov. 12 to Nov. 22.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

10B | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The New Paltz Oracle

Best Albums of 2009. Period.

By Pierce Lydon

Managing Editor | Lydon47@newpaltz.edu

Real Estate - Real Estate Bucking all the current Brooklyn lo-fi trends in favor of something pristine and relaxing, Real Estate has created one of my favorite releases this year. Every single song on here reminds me of this summer. It’s unfortunate that their debut album didn’t come out until the fall, but all of these tracks have been floating around for a while. The hazy calm of “Suburban Beverage” and “Fake Blues” makes me long for summer afternoons. The rambling pop of “Beach Comber” actually makes me want to go to the beach—and I hate going to the beach. No one should sleep on this record. You should sleep with it on though, on your back porch in August with a straw hat over your face and a Budweiser in your hand.

Childish Prodigy Kurt Vile

Lies in Sepia (single) Sunshower Orphans

Kurt Vile (Yeah, that’s his real name. Yeah, I know it’s awesome) has finally arrived with his label debut Childish Prodigy. I was a huge fan of his last record Constant Hitmaker and he improves on his reverbed out Neil Young-isms with more full band songs in the vein of T. Rex. “Hunchback” would make Marc Bolan proud and “Freak Train” makes me wonder why he even bothers being in his other band, The War on Drugs.

But the ballads are still there. Nothing on this album is as good as “Classic Rock in Spring” from Hitmaker, but “Heart Attack” is fantastic. Now if only he would play more solo shows without his Violators.

Yes. A single consisting of only two songs is on my top ten list. But I didn’t listen to many bands more than I listened to Sunshower Orphans. Granted, these guys are my friends, but they prove that The Ramones and Kevin Shields were not the only good musicians to come out of Queens. This is shoegaze.

This is pop. These are nostalgic nuggets of pop prowess played with blaring guitars and humble vocals. This is not just another band who loves using the whole wall of sound approach to their songs. Their music shimmers. They even got a shout-out from Brooklyn surf-popsters and labelmates, The Drums, on NME.

The Smith Westerns The Smith Westerns

The Keys to Cat Heaven This Is My Suitcase

Losing Feeling EP No Age

It has been said that rock ‘n’ roll is for the young. Such is the case with The Smith Westerns. All between the ages of 15 and 18, these kids play ‘70s glam inspired garage rock and they are fucking good at it.

Just as much influenced by the Nuggets collection as T. Rex, they sing about the things teenagers sing about: girls, falling in love with girls, boys wanting girls… you get the idea. It may seem like they have a one-track mind, but didn’t you? These little lo-fi ballads sometimes sound like sideways 50s pop songs (“Diamond Boys”) and sometimes they sound like big anthems (“Be My Girl”). We’ll see what happens when they realize that girls aren’t the only thing.

What happens when you get a kid who loves The Beach Boys and cats to record an album for over two years? Perfection. Previous releases from TIMS were lessons in what bedroom pop could be, like “Hey, My friend has a French horn come record it in my room” bedroom pop. This time TIMS went all out rerecording old favorites like “L-O-V-E” and “Two Expletives” in addition to fantastic new songs like “Mean Fish” and “Fishes and Dishes.” Do you like Ben Folds, random yelling, big pop arrangements and adorable lyrics? Do you miss The Format? Do you like music? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need this album.

In a year without a Japanther release, No Age stepped in. Picking up right where Nouns left off, Dean and Randy rip through four tracks of power pop punk like only Spuerchunk could do it. Of course, this EP does see some expansion to their sound. There is a little more experimenting with soundscaping and sampling that we didn’t see as much on Nouns and harkens back to their Weirdo Ripper days. This EP sees No Age building their songs up individually rather than using in-between tracks to build the record’s suspense. It’s good and “You’re A Target” is clearly the standout track.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MYSPACE.COM

Thursday, November 19, 2009

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT |11B

The New Paltz Oracle

Hips Swing With The Jings POP-ROCK BAND RIDES THE NEW PALTZ CIRCUIT

By Sunya Bhutta

Copy Editor | Sunya.Bhutta94@newpaltz.edu

The Jings have swooned their way into the hearts of local music fans in New Paltz. The alternative pop-rock band with a slight folk influence has escaped from their low-key status and attracted an enthusiastic group of followers to their recent shows at 60 Main, the Muddy Cup and Oasis. The band has played shows with locally renowned figures Los Doggies and Mother’s Borsch, but The Jings have created their own style and added a new twist to local independent music.

Band members include third-year music theory and composition major Oscar Bilger as lead vocals and guitarist, second-year media production major Ryan Resko on bass and third-year physics major Joe Ruotolo on drums. The Jings got their name when Resko was inspired by an Asian philosophy lecture about vibrating strings that hold the universe together called “jings.”

The room’s atmosphere became instantly complacent once The Jings took the stage at their 60 Main show on Friday, Nov. 6. They successfully captivated the quaint café audience’s attention with Bilger’s soothing voice and alluring lyrics and Resko’s genuine and soft backup vocals.

Fourth-year TV/radio production major Lisa Montanaro thought the show was amazing.

“He had such a wonderful voice. He filled the room with warmth,” she said.

The song that fully captured their bewildering abilities was there cover of “Till There was You” from the Broadway musical “Music Man.” Resko chose this song because he felt it exemplified Bilger’s vocal capability.

“I think his voice fits perfectly for it,” he said.

The Jings electrified the stage at their Oasis show on Tuesday, Nov. 10 where there wasn’t a still body on the dance floor.

Making Music History The Who signed to play during halftime at Super Bowl XLIV.

:: After more than six years, The Cranberries performed their first U.S. concert in Baltimore.

:: Performing her first concert since her Feb. 8 altercation with Chris Brown, Rihanna performed a 45-minute set featuring hits and new songs off her upcoming album, Rated R, along with two special guest appearances by Jay-Z and Young Jeezy.

The Jings will be performing at the Muddy Cup on Friday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m.

“We want people to sing along. We like good songs that are memorable,” said Bilger.

The band played more upbeat songs at this show to coincide with the bar’s vibe.

Their music can be identified closely to their influences which include The Shins, The Strokes and The Beatles. When writing a song they tend to focus on relatable aspects of everyday life.

“Sometimes they happen to be love songs. They are related to frustration and happiness. Sometimes it’s about personal difficulties. Some are just imaginary and about random stuff,” said Bilger.

Third-year communication disorders major Madeline Lima found their performance to be heartwarming and honest. “[Oscar] really looked into people’s eyes. They were in sync with one another

PHOTO BY KATE BRADY

The Garage Sale’s Top 10 Picks of the Week

1. “Treat Me Like Your Mother” - The Dead Weather 2. “As Noise” - Monotonix 3. “Mirrored & Reverse” - White Denim 4. “Higher Than The Stars” - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart 5. “Do The Chop” - The King Khan & BBQ Show

::

and stayed focused, which kept everyone dancing,” she said.

Since Oasis’s split in August, guitarist/ The Jings look forward to continuing songwriter Noel Gallagher has been busy to play shows in New Paltz. readying a solo album, while his brother, “This is what we really love doing.

Liam, focuses on his new clothing line, The more we perform the more I realize Pretty Green. Liam has announced that he I really enjoy it a lot. It’s really exciting,” too will start a new band. said Bilger.

They are also searching for a lead guitarist, so anyone interested should contact them through Facebook. Currently they are working on a demo CD but some of Grizzly Bear’s tour bus was involved their music is available on myspace.com/ in an accident after a show in Munich, thejingsmusic. The best way to gain acGermany. According to a post on the cess to their music is to attend a live show. band’s Web site, “the bus and trailer were They will be performing at the Muddy hit and rendered immovable. The trailer Cup on Friday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. For more was wrecked and the bus engine split.” information on events, check out their Lucikly, no one was hurt.

Facebook fan page.

6. “Naked With You” - Turbo Fruits 7. “Quick Canal w. Laetitia Sadier” - Atlas Sound 8. “Blue Header” - These Are Powers 9. “Flying Undead Overhead” - Lid Emba & Bob Crane 10. “Modern Girl (...With Scissors)” - Alec Ounsworth

List compiled by DJ Neighbor Jon His show is every Monday night from 9 to 11 p.m.

Only on the Edge!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

::

::

The Velvet Underground cohorts Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker and Doug Yule are set to appear in the same room together, something that doesn’t happen very often.

The three will talk about Velvet Underground on Dec. 8 at the New York Public Library as part of their “Live from the NYPL” series.

All information derived from Rollingstone.com, Pitchfork.com and Spin.com.

12B | THE DEEP END

The New Paltz Oracle

This Week in the Deep End:

Kerri Dornicik

NAME: Kerri Dornicik ART: Digital Photography YEAR: Fourth MAJOR: BFA Photography INSPIRATION: Travel FAVORITE ARTIST: Garry Winogrand DREAM: See the world

PHOTOS COURTESY OF kERRI DORNICIK, CAPTION BY FELICE BERNABO

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The New Paltz Oracle

OPINIONS

Pg 9

EDITORIAL

STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATION: A WINNING TEAM 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.

We were saddened in the spring when we learned that the December commencement would be canceled due to budget cuts. Participating in a celebratory ceremony five months later, — and nine months for August graduates, — wasn’t fair to students who worked just as hard as May graduates. Rather than simply complaining amongst ourselves, students spoke out and the administration listened.

We applaud their reactive efforts in attempting to honor the graduating class of December 2009.

While the December graduation commencement will still not occur as a large ceremony, small receptions will take place for the college’s five different schools.

The celebrations will be organized by the faculty members of the individual departments. Their efforts are voluntary and noteworthy. The responsibility lays on them as delegated by the administration.

Although these banquets don’t fully tribute student accomplishments like walking across a stage does in a cap and gown, they do offer a temporary sense of recognition and closure to students for years worth of hard work. There may not be any swishing tassels, but champagne with the president may make up for it temporarily.

The administration realized the harsh impact of canceling the December graduation through students who actively spoke out. Many were very upset and even felt cheated. Petitions were created and Facebook groups were formed. A total of 531 people signed the online petition and 195 people joined the Facebook group. Such information was noted by the administration.

Only two third-year students were involved in creating these outlets at the

time. Their voices were strong and had a powerful effect. If two students can obtain the involvement of half a thousand people, one can only imagine how much of an impact three, four or even 20 proactive students can have. Threads spread quickly if students are interested and morale is raised.

On a bit of a larger scale, we at the New Paltz Oracle published an editorial last semester emphasizing our dismay. In a recent interview with President Steven Poskanzer, he acknowledged our opinion as a motivating factor in holding the banquets. He recognized student opinions as “legitimate needs,” which asserts the

notion that our voices will be heard if we speak up.

As students, we may not have much say in the outcome of budget cuts, but we can propose more cost efficient alternatives. For example, Poskanzer said that the receptions will cost money, but not nearly as much as a graduation ceremony would cost. Other examples include not cutting the nursing program entirely, but slowly phasing it out and upholding faculty contracts instead of just ending them.

It would have cost a whole lot less to simply let both go, but students and faculty were highly considered in these decisions.

Energy costs have also been cut on campus due to efforts on behalf of the students and administration. Such measures wouldn’t have been possible without the cooperation of both parties. Once again, students must be aware and interested to gain positive results. This kind of awareness can be spread among students and should be encouraged.

With all the budget cuts, the College Council is still seeking ways to give back to the community. They recently announced a scholarship that they have raised with the help of the community; it will be available to students in emergency situations. This scholarship is another example of the results that can be achieved when students and the administration come together to evoke change. Community members were even included in this effort, which allow the outcomes to be even greater.

We’re impressed by the strides the administration has taken thus far. It would not be possible without the support of the student and faculty bodies. Everyone’s opinion matters and can have an effect if voiced. We hope, that in thiecurrent economic climate, students and faculty will voice their opinions to work with the administration to make changes that will benefit all of us.

Are you satisfied with how the administration handled December graduation? Is there anything else that you think they should do?

Letters to the editor can be submitted to oracle@newpaltz.edu or via mail to SUB 417 by Sundays at 5 p.m.

We ask that letters are no more than 250 words, for spacial limitation issues.

We reserve the right to edit letters for length and letters may not be printed if they are slanderous or offensive. Letters are printed at the discretion of the editor-in-chief.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Pg 10

OPINIONS

The New Paltz Oracle

COLUMNS For the Love of Tea

Steven Casale Copy Editor Casale75@newpaltz.edu When I was about 10 or 11-years-old my family took a vacation to Charleston, S.C. where we stumbled upon the Charleston Tea Plantation, which regarded itself as “America’s Only Tea Garden.” Granted there were not many people wandering the camellia sinensis rows as I would imagine there are in Assam, India, the Fujian Province of China or the highlands of East Africa — it was still a momentous event. My love affair with the caramel-colored brew began and has been going strong ever since.

Growing up, I watched my mother in the early morning drink a cup of Lipton with a floating lemon wedge, and I have to admit, I was a bit repulsed. It wasn’t

until later on that I realized the sheer diversity of the beverage itself. And I’m not just talking hot or iced here — I’m talking Darjeeling, peony white or Earl Grey.

Native to tropical and subtropical climates, the tea plant has been revered by various cultures for ages. Today it is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world after water, and before beer.

According to a Chinese tale, a legendary emperor named Shennong who, by the grace of the wind, had a few tealeaves fall into a cup of hot water he was drinking, discovered tea. Tea had been consumed for centuries in Asia before the Dutch brought it to Europe in the 17th century.

From there, it became a standard drink, especially in British and Irish life, before coming to the US, and today the American tea market accounts for $6.8 billion.

Tea is classified based on region, processing and production. After tealeaves are plucked from the bush, they begin to oxidize and wilt before being dried.

Whenever the drying begins will determine the type of tea created. White tea, the most delicate, and antioxidant-rich, is unoxidized and wilted, and primarily comprised of buds and younger leaves.

Green tea is unwilted and unoxidized, while oolong tea is partly unoxidized,

also unwilted, but bruised as well. Black tea, the most familiar to the West I fully oxidized, wilted and usually crushed.

Certain teas, such as pu-erh, are fermented in open air for short periods time, to long periods of time. In fact, some blocks of pu-erh dating from China’s last reigning dynasty are still purchased for thousands by tea connoisseurs. Teas like Assam Chai hail from eastern India, while delicate brews like sencha and kukicha are well loved in Japan. The final product depends on whether the leaves are scented with fruits or herbs, roasted or toasted, or left whole or ground to a powder.

But what does tea offer me? In the morning, it is my first drink — giving me that boost we all crave as we roll out of bed, and waking my throat from sleep.

But that is not the only cup of the day.

Afternoons always call for some green tea and tea completes any dinner meal as well. In the cold, tea is comforting.

When I’m sick, tea is soothing. When I’m stressed, it calms me down and when I’m sluggish, it provides a little jolt. It truly is a versatile drink.

Tea is also a very healthy addition to the diet. For almost 5,000 years, tea has been the subject of research regarding its health effects. Compare that to cof-

Music Makes Me Lose Control

Sunya Bhutta Copy Editor Sunya.bhutta94@newpaltz.edu Music is my drug. There is nothing like the high I get from sound waves breaking their way through my headphones and into my brain. I can literally go through my entire iPod twice in one sitting. Just to clarify, I only recently maxed out my 4GB red nano and have switched to downloading onto my iPhone, which will soon suffer the same fate. I actually prefer walking home from school just so I can strut down the streets, sway my steps and head bob to the beat while listening to it. I may get some awkward stares from passersby, but I honestly don’t care.

I don’t solely stick to mp3s, I am among the rare breed of people left who actually still buy CDs. I feel like it’s my way of supporting the musicians that have enlightened my life.

Although I do not own a vinyl record player, I harass the hell out of my friends who do by constantly using theirs. In my opinion it is the purest and most serene form of listening to music through a device. I don’t mean to sound pretentious, but it just sounds better to me.

However, the ultimate and most electrifying way to listen to music is live. I cannot fathom a better experience to justify this other than watching Animal Collective perform at the Prospect Park Bandshell this summer for the Celebrate Brooklyn Performing Arts Festival. I own every Animal Collective CD, EP and mp3 and have heard them through vinyl vicariously as well, so it’s safe to say that I am a huge fan who has utilized several sources to obtain their music. I was ecstatic when I received tickets to their show as a birthday gift and knew that the live experience would be a thousand times better than any other exposure.

Some people attend the shows of their favorite artists because they want to watch them play with fancy effects or other visual aspects

of a performance. They go to see them for how they appear, but for me it’s more about what I want to hear. I didn’t just want to see the love of my life Avey Tare (Dave Portner) bellow out his ballads, I wanted to hear his voice sharper, smoother and closer than I ever could. The trippy lights, outlandish decorative pieces and funky stage props were admirable accessories to the performance but I still would have been captivated even if all of that was stripped away.

Nothing compares to hearing music live.

Your headphones might go directly into your ears, but a live performance is the sincerest way to allow a melody into your mind.

Whether it’s the local band at the bar or the artists you idolize, watching them live will give you a better perception and connection to their music.

Sunya Bhutta is a third-year English education major. She loves the color yellow, sunflowers, roast beef sandwiches and patterned apparel. Her hobbies are reading, writing and buying decorative socks. Her life goals include traveling the world and hugging a penguin. One day she would like to have a pet turtle.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

fee, which was only first recorded to be used in Yemeni Sufi monasteries during the 15th century. Tea is full of antioxidants, which aid against cancer, it boosts metabolism and immunity, lowers stress hormones and is good for the cardiovascular system, among many other findings.

Interestingly, polyphenols in tea inhibit the growth of bad breath bacteria, according to a University of Illinois at Chicago study.

I can’t remember the last day that I went without tea. I’ve been known to drop $10 on honeydew scented loose white tea and I can’t even count all the boxes of the drink that fill my cabinet.

I’ve tried everything from yerba maté to Tibetan yak butter tea — but at the end of the day a cup of jasmine tea is just the finishing touch I need.

Steven Casale is a fourth-year journalism major. Aside from delighting in the world of tea, he enjoys fine food, travel, ice cream and being on the porch. He rarely watches television and would rather walk to the places he needs to go.

If he has to drink coffee, it must be a caffe latte.

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.

Do you have an opinion?

Share it with us!

Letters to the editor can be submitted to oracle@newpaltz.edu or via mail to SUB 417 by Sundays at 5 p.m.

We ask that letters are no more than 250 words, for spacial limitation issues.

We reserve the right to edit letters for length and letters may not be printed if they are slanderous or offensive. Letters are printed at the discretion of the editor-in-chief.

The New Paltz Oracle

OPINIONS

LETTERS

Pg 11

UUP Vice President Addresses Adjunct Article Dear Editor, Thank you for your extensive coverage of UUP’s recent observance of Campus Equity Week. Improving pay and working conditions for our contingent (non-tenure track) faculty is an important focus of our union activities on campus. Together our adjuncts and lecturers comprise nearly half of our teaching faculty, many of whom have been serving New Paltz students for over a decade. They are indeed dedicated and hard-working, and are often the first

professors students will have as incoming freshmen.

I would like to address a few statements from the article. President Poskanzer said that since adjuncts are “not expected to serve the same kind of duties as full-time professors, like advising, research and committees” and they should not receive the same amount of pay per course. Lecturers, however, are not expected to engage in research or serve on committees, and are paid, typically, around $41,000 to teach nine or 10 classes a

Always Ready for Change Dear Editor, I do not believe that there is any such thing as “not being ready” for change.

Change can happen at any time. For example, countries in Europe have abolished capital punishment despite public opposition to them doing so, and nothing bad happened.

There were no civil wars, widespread violence, or economic recessions. They survived and so can we. That is why we could have allowed things such as same-sex marriage and the Employment Non-Discrimina-

By Henry Cavanaugh I was elected Oracle editor in the last weeks of the spring semester of 1968. I was the latest in a long illustrious line of pretentious weak-kneed boobs who thought they could change the world.

I felt no compunction to change the world. It was changing all around us, with the Vietnam war polarizing the campus and politicizing academia; the sexual revolution well launched, drugs beginning to pervade and distort campus reality; women and blacks both feeling their political power, and Bobby Kennedy, the presidential candidate who seemed to be the one who would reconcile all this confusion, shot to death barely two months after Martin Luther King Jr. The Oracle would not cover national issues. The student body was as informed as it could possibly get.

Summer semester began with almost everyone going home for a few months, including the staff who just elected me, and the Student Government who controlled my budget. I had no staff, no money and no audience. It was assumed that I would go home like many an editor before me and work as a bagger in a grocery on Long Island, and not take the reins ‘till Fall semester as things fell back into their customary order. The only staff members staying the Summer were Jeffery Allan Chester (now a proeducation lobbyist in D.C.), Advertising Manager Mike Rubenfeld, and Dominick Albanese,

tion Act long ago, because American society would not have crumbled even if we did go against the “tyranny of the majority,” which greatly delays, and is against, progress. Democracy is not about going by the “tyranny of the majority.” Rather, it is about doing what is right.

Thank You Very Much, David Zornetsky

year. A lecturer would earn about $4,100 per course, while an adjunct, teaching the same course, now earns about $2,900. There are individuals who have taught the same course as a lecturer one year and as an adjunct the next, making about 30 percent less for the exact same work. How can this be justified?

The argument that New Paltz pays as much or more than any other college in the area does not justify the inequality. A number of department chairs have expressed embarrassment and frustration when trying to at-

Sincerely, Yvonne Aspengren Vice President for Part-Timers

UUP President Responds Dear Editor, I am writing in response to your November 12 article on “Adjuncts Advocate for Improved Working Conditions.” In the article you state “that one argument that Kelder stands by is that adjunct faculty should be paid the same amount of money per class as full-time professors.” At no time in the interview did I say that nor did I imply it. From the press release, which I gave to the interviewer, I did say that adjunct compensation “lags far behind full time faculty.” That statement does not suggest that their salaries

OP-ED

New Paltz Tapestry, Part 19 in charge of circulation.

I was elected on the promise of wages for the staff in the fall (a platform promise common to all candidates for editor). I felt no obligation to retain anyone who voted for me. I had not bought their votes, but surely, they had sold them. It seemed they were all in on a kind of conspiracy to take the Oracle off campus and make it a for-profit business! A former editor had the plan ready for hatching, and I had stumbled into it through my own inadvertence. My election had no meaning in the larger picture, as he would be “publisher’’ and the student government a mere client! And me, Employee in Chief.

The idea of a publisher, with other clients, printing and typesetting jobs, etc. was totally novel — so novel, no one had ever dreamed of making it illegal. Oracle staff would be paid as employees of the publisher. Oracle policy would be set by the student government, like any other client would conduct it’s internal affairs, but the Oracle would have no where else to take it’s business...and have to pay whatever price the publisher asked.

All this and more was laid out for me in an apartment on Front St. where I was told I had actually been elected to be liaison between the publisher and the Student Government, starting in the fall. We stepped outside and crossed Chestnut St. to look at $80,000 worth of computer typesetting equipment the would-be publisher

tract adjunct faculty from the area, including New York City, given the meager salaries, lack of job security and no opportunity for advancement. While adjuncts will continue to enrich our programs and provide top quality education at SUNY New Paltz, all faculty would be strengthened if adjuncts’ pay were made truly equitable.

had bought on credit, stressing his connection with the college. This would be our office. Everyone would get rich, starting in the fall.

Frankly, Rubenfeld and I were tempted.

Jeff Chester was appalled and wanted to tell someone. Summertime. Everyone was gone.... and any way, tell who? It was all perfectly legal, or at least not illegal, since no one ever thought it would be done. Confidently, the boy publisher went upstate to run a bar for the summer, leaving Jeff, Mike and I to create unprecedented trouble of our own.

I had never heard of the Faculty Student Association, because no one was supposed to.

But my ace snoop reporter Jeff Chester had and brought me into their unmarked office. There sat Silvio Passevento, who I mistakenly felt had gotten me into New Paltz in the first place. He caught look on his face, as if to say, “Ok, you found me—what do you want?’’ Jeff knew exactly what “we’’ wanted, and did all the talking.

I was only there as a duly elected something.

We wanted a loan of $500.00, payable in the fall. The money was to run a summertime Oracle, a way for us to practice getting out a paper. It all seemed perfectly reasonable to Silvio Passevento, who cut us a check. We would print administration notices, poetry, letters, whatever.

A summer semester Oracle would be unprecedented, and probably about time. Silvio Passivento mentioned in passing, that the Student

Thursday, November 19, 2009

should be equal to full-time faculty. Full time tenure track faculty are hired for their research and scholarship and, as President Poskanzer mentions in the same article, they are hired after a nationwide search and fulfill many other duties including advising, research, committee work and curriculum development which adjunct faculty do not. I stand by my arguments, but only when I make them.

Richard Kelder, UUP President SUNY New Paltz Chapter

Government owned the title “The Oracle,” and since they were out of town, we would have to use some other title. Otherwise, no problem.

We rushed to town and opened a checking account, probably illegal even then, before anyone changed his mind. Then we went to the college print shop and arranged to pay workers there overtime to print the paper....on harder, whiter stock, than newsprint, 17’’ by 11’’ so it looked pretty distinctive. A bottle of good Scotch went to Bruce Pulver, head of printing.

The ban on the Oracle title suited us just fine, and solved our first problem. We certainly didn’t intend to run a serious paper.

There was, in fact, very little conventional news, plus events and such. A single folded sheet seemed enough. Mostly, we wanted to sell ads. No merchant had any idea what the campus population was, so the rates could be good, especially in advance for the whole Summer. Then we recruited a few wild artists to do the ads in the “head shop’’ style of the day, and began writing fake articles to put between the ads. We expected to come out with about five issues, each one with a different title. The distinctive shape would be the trademark. Mr. Silvio Passevento and the Faculty Student Association got their $500 back in about a week. We four staff people split the remainder. The first issue of the Summer semester Oracle was the Daily Planet, 1,000 copies.

Pg 12

OPINIONS

CARTOONS

The New Paltz Oracle

Christian Marra Cartoonist marra17@newpaltz.edu Christian once drew a comic for his high school newspaper, but it was rejected. Swearing revenge, Christian came to SUNY New Paltz and became a visual art major. When he’s not drawing comics for the newspaper and running the New Paltz Gaming

Society, he is drawing in his sketchbook and playing video games with his friends.

He also posts all of his comics on tristianarram.livejournal.com for further ridicule. Christian does not enjoy long walks on the beach if it is too hot out.

Do you have cartoons that you want to see printed in the New Paltz Oracle?

Send them to us at oracle@newpaltz.edu!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The New Paltz Oracle

Pg 13

SPORTS

Field Hockey Completes Best Season in Five Years

By Pete Thompson

Copy Editor | Pthompson51@newpaltz.edu

The Field Hockey team had a solid showing this season, making it the best since 2004. Although the team’s record was 8-11, first-year head coach Shanna Vitale had the girls playing strong in each match.

The season ended with a 2-1 overtime loss at Stevens and featured a number of hat tricks in various matches and three Hawks earning themselves positions on the 2009 All-SUNYAC teams.

“The record doesn’t justify what we became,” said Vitale, who came from coaching Div. I for six years at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania.

She was more than pleased with the team’s performance for her first season at New Paltz. “It went very, very well,” she said.

In the eight wins from the Hawks, they prevailed in a 2-1 overtime struggle at Western Connecticut and shutout Brockport, 6-0, Vassar, 3-0 and Wells, 3-0. Their last win came at Ramapo, 3-2.

Of the 11 matches where the team suffered a loss, they challenged their opponent into overtime in four. One even went into double overtime and other than a tough match against Skidmore, every loss was within a two-goal margin.

In order to get the team going, Vitale employed a variety of nonconventional practice techniques such as yoga and watching films.

“Every once in a while you need a mental day,” said Vitale of the break from the field. “It was great. My expectation was to bring out the best in them and get them together as a team.”

These exercises kept the energy and focus in the right direction and helped to keep the girls level-headed. Vitale noted that one of her goals was to keep spirits high and help the team to “not focus on the wins, but focus on us.”

“This group is the foundation of what’s to come,” said Vitale in light of the upcoming recruitment of her first class here.

It’s a strong foundation with solid athletes across the board. Two such players are Sarah Schloss and Caitlin Ryder, each of

whom were named to the first All-SUNYAC team.

“I honestly couldn’t be happier with the way this season went,” said Schloss, a third-year communication disorders major with 13 goals and 10 assists throughout the season.

“Of course it was frustrating to be so close in so many games, but I’ve seen something from this team that I haven’t seen in my past two years experience playing at New Paltz.

The heart and will to win demonstrated by my teammates has been extremely admirable and I’m proud to be playing alongside of them,” she said.

Schloss, whom Vitale called the team’s “playmaker,” was also named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-Region team.

Caitlin Ryder, a third-year student la-

“It feels really good to finally have our record show what our team puts into our season”

—Caitlyn Ryder

beled as “our spark plug out there” by Vitale, was also overjoyed to see some progress being made.

“It feels really good to finally have our record show what our team puts into our season,” said Ryder of the improvement on past seasons with records like 3-13, 5-13 and 6-12. “This year we finally did it and our teamwork and new coaching was the reason.”

The team seems to be pleased with Shanna Vitale as its head coach.

“I can’t be thankful enough that Coach Shanna came to us. She’s been the turning point that this program has needed for a long time,” Schloss said.

Ryder said that Vitale’s past experience as a player helped her as a coach.

“If you look at her background you’ll see that she was an amazing player, so she was able to bring a lot of new skills to our team,” Ryder said of her coach.

Vitale shares the team’s enthusiasm and hopes for further improvement and understanding in the future. She is aware of the tight-knit group’s potential and hopes to continue challenging top ranked teams with it.

“Having them know they can compete on this level and give a top ranked team a run for its money is important,” she said.

Wellness and Recreation Events and Activities

Become a Fan of Wellness and Recreation on Facebook:

kenneyk@newpaltz.edu or 845-257-6956 for more information.

http://www.facebook.com/ NPWellnessRecreation Web site: http://www.newpaltz.edu/ recreation/

Intramurals- Turkey Trot 5K Run

Spring Break Costa Rica Expedition 2010 March 13-20, 2010 Expedition mission Inspires and develops leadership, compassion, responsibility, respect for the environment and commitment to serve through adventure-based wilderness experiences led by the most skilled, safetyconscious staff.

Hike miles up mountains and through clouds and rainforests surrounded by exotic plants and animals – see monkeys, sloths, parrots and maybe even the endangered tepezquintle. Stay with local families in villages deep in the rainforest and experience a completely different lifestyle. Raft down Class III/IV rapids that slice right through tropical forests.

Learn to surf in warm water breaks on the Pacific coast. Leave the familiar and take the adventure.

• Challenge and Adventure • Compassion and Service • Social and Environmental Responsibility • Character Development • Learning Through Experience Contact Keith Kenney at

Saturday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m.

There is no registration fee, but everyone that wants to participate is asked to bring in a canned food item that can be donated next week. Sign up with Joe Deck at deckj@newpaltz.edu or go to the front lobby of the Athletic and Wellness Center at 1:45 p.m.

Thanksgiving Food Drive Two organizations, the Wellness and Recreation Committee and the OffCampus Student Union, are hosting a food drive for Thanksgiving. All food that they collect will be donated to Queens Galley of Kingston.

If you are interested in donating you can bring non-perishable food items to the Athletic and Wellness Center through Friday or to Student Union Building Room 100 on Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Perishable food items can be dropped off to SUB Room 100 on Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thank you in advance for your generosity, it is greatly appreciated.

Visit the Queens Galley Web site at: (http:/www.queensgalley.org/wish-listmainmenu-39.html)

Interested in a club sport?

Visit the Web site http://www.newpaltz. edu/recreation/clubsports.html to see the list of all club sports and contact information. To reserve a facility or field for your club sport contact Deck at 845-257-2343, or deckj@newpaltz.edu or Elting Gym 206.

Thanksgiving Break Hours Tuesday, Nov. 24: 7 a.m to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 25 to Saturday, Nov. 28: Closed Sunday, Nov. 29: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Interested in Getting a Health Assessment?

If you want to know where you stand, health assessments are available using the Wellness and Recreation’s Polar BodyAge System.

It’s an assessment tool, which tells an individual how their chronological age compares with that of their “body age.”

The more healthy the lifestyle and the more fit you are, the lower the body age.

The Polar BodyAge system can assess the following: body fat, weight, body size, flexibility, strength, blood pressure, cardiovascular, heart rate, nutrition, stress, lifestyle, disease risks and more.

It can produce an individual profile summary of yourself and e-mail it to you along with specific nutrition, wellness and

Thursday, November 19, 2009

workout recommendations.

Interested in a Personal Training Session?

Do you want to workout, but don’t know where to begin? Are you interested in an initial fitness consultation and assessment?

Are you interested in talking to a certified personal trainer who can answer your fitness and wellness questions?

Then, sign up for personal training sessions. You will get an initial assessment, a personal training session and you have the option to sign up for up to three personal training sessions.

It’s free as long as you’re a student or a current Athletic and Wellness Center member.

Just fill out the Wellness and Recreation personal training form and return it to Elting Gym Room 220 or 207.

Weight Loss Myths: It’s in My Genes This myth stems from the nature vs. nurture issue, stating that if you’re doing everything right and still not losing weight, then it must be your parents’ fault. The fact is only a small percentage, around 1 percent, of people can legitimately blame their genes. For most it is really a lack of exercise and poor eating habits. Be honest with yourself.

Pg 14

SPORTS

The New Paltz Oracle

Equestrian Team Building a Successful Program

By Anthony Mancini

Contributing Writer | N01754378@newpaltz.edu

The New Paltz Equestrian team placed second in a major event on Oct. 31 at the Centenary Equestrian Center in Long Valley, N.J. The team added this second place finish to its growing list of achievements as it previously pulled off a win during an event on Oct. 18 at Briarwood Farm in Readington, N.J. The New Paltz Equestrian team competes in shows where English-style equitation is judged. In equitation events, judges evaluate riders instead of the horses.

Competitors in these horse shows are organized into six divisions based on skill and can compete in either jumping runs called fences or a non-jumping run called a flat. A single “point rider” is selected to represent their division for their team and is the only member who can score points for their particular division.

Standout members of the New Paltz team at the Centenary horse show included third-year student Carolyn Smith who placed first in the open division, the highest of the six competing divisions in the flat category.

Second-year student Emilee Raynor placed first in flat and second in fences in the intermediate division, which is one division under open. She received the distinction of high point rider of the day, the point rider who scores the highest throughout the competition.

“It’s all in how easy you make your course look. It should look effortless. You

must have complete control over your horse, while still making it look nice,” Raynor said about how one can succeed in these competitions.

Practice is a key part to Raynor’s success.

“We spend a lot of time at the barn. We ride all year round” said Raynor about the team’s practice routine. “Our coach is really good, really supportive. She’s taught everyone a lot.”

Currently, the team is ranked second in their region and is competing against such colleges as Vassar, Drew University, Sarah Lawrence, Bard, United States Military Academy at West Point and Centenary.

The team’s recent success led them to be invited to the Tournament of Champions at Centenary.

Only 30 college teams are invited to this event, out of the about 300 teams that are part of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, of which New Paltz is a member. Among the 30 invitees, New Paltz was the only SUNY school to be included.

“It’s a little nerve-racking competing,” first-year member Ashley Lavery said. “I haven’t done it a whole lot yet, but it’s a real bonding experience.”

The equestrian team’s coach, Susan Clark, has been with the team since its establishment 10 years ago. Team members, both privately and in groups, practice at her stables in Gardiner, N.Y. using her horses.

“Susan wants us to do well,” Lavery said. “She really holds the team together and she’s really devoted to the horses.”

Looking ahead, the team is focused on one thing in particular.

PHOTO BY CHRIS THURSTON

The Equestrian team placed second at a show on Oct. 31 in Long Valley, N.J. “Our goal for the year is to go to nationals in Kentucky during spring semester,” Raynor said. “We have a few qualifiers this year for regionals. We’re hoping that some make it to nationals.”

Nationals host the best competitors from around the country. Riders can compete individually or as a team.

New Paltz faces a tough challenge to make it that far, as they must take part in regionals first and zonal competitions after this before qualifying for nationals. Last year, team captain Amanda Bender reached nationals and placed fourth in the intermedi-

ate division.

The New Paltz Equestrian team has come a long way since it began a decade ago. “The team started out with two people in the beginning, now there’s 25,” secondyear member Kathryn Colavito said.

The team is scheduled to ride at additional shows at Centenary on Saturday and Briarwood on Sunday.

“We work hard, but we all love it. We put in a lot of time,” Raynor said. “Every horse show is different. Even though it’s a long day we still love it.”

Hawks Weekly Sports Update

By Pete Thompson

Copy Editor | Pthompson51@newpaltz.edu

The Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams competed this past weekend at the NCAA Regionals in Letchworth State Park.

The women improved on last year’s performance by placing eight spots higher, finishing 16th out of 33 teams, and the men placed 31st out of 38 teams.

Fourth-year Lisa Cassaro led the women’s team, coming in at 23 minutes, 37 seconds with a 48th place finish, while thirdyear Danielle Harmon placed 60th with a time of 23:47. First-year Nichole Wischoff came in at 24:38 for a 95th place finish and fourth-year Alex Berenis placed 126th with a time of 25:15.

The Hawks’ top five was rounded out by first-year Jessica Abrams who crossed the finish line at 25:41, placing 138th.

Third-year Joe Gentsch led the men’s team, placing 66th with a time of 26:48.

Second-year Dexter Larsen finished 187th with a time of 29:03, while first-years Jeff Raab and Shawn Gannon each crossed at 29:17, placing 198th and 199th respectively.

Fourth-year Nick Avello rounded out

the top five by placing 209th with a 29:35 finish.

Three players from the Women’s Volleyball team were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region team in the New York region.

Fourth-year students, setter Stephanie Bova, outside hitter Brittany Coyle and right side hitter Alison Kiernan earned the 2009 honors.

The Men’s Basketball team suffered a 101-89 loss to Norfolk State in a preseason game on Saturday night.

The Hawks hit six three pointers and lead by as many as 14 points in the first half, but this fell to a mere four point lead, 47-43, at halftime.

New Paltz was up by six, 71-65, after a layup by second-year Shereef Taylor with only 9:24 remaining. However, Norfolk State answered back with a 15-0 streak over four and a half minutes, taking control of the game.

Second-year Harris Wichard led the Hawks with 24 points, with Taylor contributing 21.

New Paltz won its season opener

Wednesday night 60-56 over Mount Saint Mary at the Kaplan Center.

Wichard nailed two three pointers in the final minute to give the Hawks the lead.

First-year Matt Devine sealed the game with two free throws with two seconds remaining.

Taylor scored a game-high 21 points with six rebounds, three assists and four steals. Second-year Jayquan Anderson netted 10 points with four rebounds.

New Paltz trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half, but the team cut th e deficit to one point with 1:02 remaiing.

The Hawks have their home opener on Friday at 8 p.m. in the Rino’s Pizza Tip-Off tournament against St. Joseph’s. The twoday tournament concludes on Saturday.

New Paltz then heads to SUNYIT on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. game followed by a road matchup against Keene State on Sunday, Nov. 29. The Hawks return home on Tuesday, Dec. 1 when they host Vassar in the first of three straight home games to close out the semester.

They continue their season in early January after the holiday break.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Women’s Basketball team prevailed over host Mount Saint Mary as well, 63-56 on Wednesday.

Fourth-year Nicole Sarcone tallied a team-high 13 points with three assists.

Fourth-year Maggie Farrell contributed 11 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Fourth-year Kristen Caban returned after missing last season with an injury and added nine points with a team-high four steals.

The Hawks ended the first half with a 7-2 run to take a 26-21 halftime lead. In the second half, New Paltz scored six of the first seven points, but Mount Saint Mary cut the lead to one, 32-31, with 17:23 remaining.

That was the closest that the Blue Knights would get though.

The women are also hosting the Rino’s Pizza Tip-Off tournament and will play Tufts on Friday at 6 p.m.

After the tournament, the Hawks head to Lehman on Tuesday and return home on Friday, Dec. 4 against Plattsburgh. They close out the semester the next day as they host Potsdam and continue their season in early January.

The New Paltz Oracle

Pg 15

SPORTS

Record Breaking Season for Women’s Volleyball

By Pete Thompson

Copy Editor | Pthompson51@newpaltz.edu

The Women’s Volleyball team bumped, set and spiked its way to victory this season.

With a few records and an abundance of kills along the way, it was definitely a season to remember. The team reached a 33-6 overall and 7-1 SUNYAC record and accumulated a 23 game-winning streak up until their last match.

Led by head coach Matt Giufre, the Hawks made it into New Paltz athletic history by winning the 2009 SUNYAC championship for the first time ever and set a school record with 33 wins. They won 31 of their last 33 matches.

“I told the team before the game that it was everyone’s responsibility, including coaches, to get the crowd into the game through celebrating every point and encouraging the team,” Giufre said in the match’s press release. “If we were able to do that, we would walk out champions.”

The Hawks held true to this with a victory against the Cortland Red Dragons in straight sets 25-16, 25-11 and 25-18.

Such an outcome could have been expected with the Hawks’ exceptional performance and statistics leading up to the championship, but the team never got ahead of itself.

“My goal was to keep our focus on the season, rather than ourselves and expectations,” Giufre said. “The team just stayed humble the entire time.”

During the regular season, the team

PHOTO BY CHRIS THURSTON

The Women’s Volleyball team won a school record 33 games this season. handed Vassar their first loss of the season and won the Stevens tournament, Hawk Invitational, Wellesley tournament and Skidmore tournament.

Giufre, who has been coaching at New Paltz for eight years, attributes the team’s success to the talent of its athletes.

“There’s really no big secret,” he said.

“We try to dissect ourselves from the angle of an opponent. It’s a wonderful group of 16. That’s an honor to coach because of how seriously they take being student athletes.”

With the SUNYAC title, the team advanced into the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season and second time in the program’s history. Although making it that far was an honor in itself, the team could not improve on last year’s performance in the tournament where the Hawks fought their way into the Elite Eight, tromping Hunter, Union and Fredonia along the way.

This year, they swept Roger Williams, 25-19, 25-19, 25-11 in the first round to run their winning streak to 23 games. The team

followed that though with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Salisbury in the second round.

In the match, the Hawks put up a strong fight. Three players reached double digits in kills and four did with digs.

Fourth-year Stephanie Bova earned herself a double-double with a game-high 38 assists and 10 digs, while third-year Stephanie Skrobach did the same with a team-high 13 kills, 11 digs and three blocks.

Fourth-years Brittany Coyle and Alison Kiernan played strong offensive games with 12 kills each and the defense was led by second-year Loren Crabbe and fourth-year Priska Wilson who had 27 and 25 digs respectively.

“I think the season went very well,” Skrobach said. “We met our goal of going to the NCAAs by winning SUNYACs. That’s all I can ask for.”

Now all that’s left to do is prepare for next year by practicing and maintaining and building on the attributes already present within the team. Although a lot of talent will be lost when the fourth-years graduate, Giufre remains optimistic.

“We have a very, very strong freshman and sophomore class,” said Giufre, who is confident that the team will be able to make up for the skills of the leaving players.

Skrobach echoed her coach’s confidence for next year.

“I can’t wait to start our next season,” she said. “It’s going to be different without our graduating seniors, but we will be fine.

I’m sure of it.”

Women’s Volleyball team -33-6 overall, 7-1 SUNYAC -SUNYAC champions, first time in program history -33 wins, single season record -season-high 23 game-winning streak -advanced to second round of NCAA tournament

PHOTO BY CHRIS THURSTON

Second-year Melinda DiGiovanna goes up for a kill in the SUNYAC championship match.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

SPORTS THE NEW PALTZ ORACLE

Early End to Record Season

Women’s Volleyball Loses Heartbreaker to Salisbury, History Made With 33 Wins and SUNYAC Title

PHOTO BY CHRIS THURSTON