The New Paltz Oracle, Volume 81, Issue XVIII

NEW PALTZ ORACLE THE

PROPOSED NOISE LAW CAUSES COMMOTION

Volume 81, Issue XVIII

oracle.newpaltz.edu

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Mayor Dungan assures constituents that new law will have “zero impact,” but local residents still concerned over “subjective” legislation See Story on Page 3

New Paltz watchdogs say cops’ plan to get tasers is dangerous and unnecessary

INSIDE THE NEW PALTZ ORACLE • Student Activity Fee on the Ballot..........Pg 4 • School Board Proposes Budget................Pg 5 • Council of Orgs Elections Coming..........Pg 5 • Fires Planned for Mohonk........................Pg 7

Story on Page 6 PHOTO BY BABBLE.COM

Editorial on Page 10

The New Paltz Oracle

University Police Blotter

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

Date: 03/31/10 Location: Rt. 208/Cross Creek Rd. Male non-student arrested for driving while impaired by drugs and unlawful posession of marijuana.

established 1938

Pierce Lydon EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Julie Mansmann MANAGING EDITOR _________________

James Leggate NEWS EDITOR

Justin McCarthy FEATURES EDITOR

Zan Strumfeld

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Pete Thompson SPORTS EDITOR _________________

Felice Bernabo PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Alec Horowitz

ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Jon Aiello

CARTOONIST _________________

Maxim Alter Sunya Bhutta Pamela Vivanco Andrew Wyrich COPY EDITORS _________________

Elizabeth Damiano BUSINESS MANAGER _________________

Patrick Martz Kathryn Smith DISTRIBUTION MANAGERS

Andrew Carden, Emily Canty, Kaitlyn Day, Sarah Fine, Elexis Goldberg, Ryan Patrick Hanrahan, Emily Herendeen, Sarah Hurd, Michelle S. Kramisen, Emily Kurland, Chelsea LaDue, Becky Longley, 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, Chris Thurston, Nekaiya Trotman, Jennifer Von Willer, Harris Wichard, Kelly Young

STAFF

Corrections

Spot any errors? Let us know at oracle@newpaltz.edu

Incident: Warrant-Criminal Date: 03/31/10 Location: Rosendale Male non-student taken into custody on a warrant. Subject arraigned and remanded to UCJ with no bail.

Incident: DWAI

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, 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, room 418. Articles, photographs and illustrations are assigned to the pool of staff and contributors.

Incident: DMV Suspension Date: 03/31/10 Location: Rt. 32/Mohonk Ave. Female non-student arrested for a suspended vehicle registration.

Incident: Harassment Date: 04/01/10 Location: CRH Lounge Female student reported an incident concerning her boyfriend, a male student. Subject was arrested

Volume 81 Issue XVIII

for unlawful imprisonment, harassment and coercion.

Incident: DMV Suspension Date: 04/01/10 Location: Rt. 32/HAB Male subject arrested for a suspended driver’s license.

Incident: Petit Larceny Date: 04/02/10 Location: VH Male subject reported that his unattended iPhone was taken from the hallway table on third floor.

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

Five Day Forecast Friday, April 9

Index

News............................................... 3 - 7 Community Calendar........................... 9 Editorial.............................................. 10 Columns............................................. 11 Sunya Bhutta.......................... 11 Andrew Wyrich.......................11 The Gunk................................ 1B - 12B The Deep End....................................12B Sports.......................................... 13 - 16

Partly Cloudy High: 59 Low: 39 Saturday,April 10

Partly Cloudy High: 55 Low: 43 Sunday, April 11

Don’t Be Shy! Visit us online at

oracle. newpaltz.edu 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

Mostly Sunny High: 64 Low: 45 Monday,April 12

Partly Cloudy High: 63 Low: 44 Tuesday, April 13

Partly Cloudy High: 62 Low: 45

The New Paltz Oracle

NEWS

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Proposed Law Vocalizes Community

PHOTO BY ALEC HOROWITZ

Many New Paltz students are concerned with the language of the proposed law, but Mayor Dungan, who helped write the law, said that the fines are too high and need to be changed.

By Pierce Lydon Editor-in-Chief | Lydon47@newpaltz.edu

Decibel (dB) levels are rising around New Paltz as a newly proposed noise law has students up in arms over expensive fines and stricter guidelines for everyday noise levels.

The law would allow for decibel levels as high as 75dB in the commercial downtown area of New Paltz during the day and a 50 dB limit for residential areas during night time hours.

The new law would prohibit the use of noise to attract attention without a permit from the Village of New Paltz. It would establish specific guidelines for acceptable levels and hours of construction and home maintenance related noise. It also includes language about locations that receive complaints “where keg beer is served.”

Because of this kind of verbiage, some citizens are worried that the legislation is infringing on first amendment rights and targeting a certain section on the New Paltz community.

As one member of the “Say No to the New Paltz Noise Ordinance” Facebook group put it, “it becomes more and more obvious that this ordinance may in reality be a few ‘concerned’ citizens’ attempt to get those darn college kids under control, at the expense of all practicing musicians and first amendment enthusiasts in the area.”

According to Mayor Terry Dungan, the college community has nothing to fear. The new law has been proposed simply to set clear protocols for dealing with noise complaints and any keg related language in the legislation exists only to determine responsibility for an incident.

“The students that live next door to me have been better neighbors than the families that lived there before.

To say that this law is anti-student is just wrong,” said Dungan. “This law will have almost zero impact on [student] life. In a village like this, it is really important that people have the good faith to want to be respectful of their neighbors.”

Opponents of the law are not convinced that the community will transition smoothly into the new legislation.

“I feel that [the law] needs to be fair and equitable for the whole community,” said Village Board member and creator of the “Say No to the New Paltz Noise Ordinance,” Brian Kimbiz. “New Paltz is a very individual place so the law must adhere to that.”

The law was drafted by a task force consisting of several members including Dungan and New Paltz Police Chief Joseph Snyder, with consultation from the town’s tavern owner’s association about certain decibel level specifications. The task force used legislation from many different municipalities as a basis for the New Paltz noise law including the Town of Ithaca and the City of New York.

It includes fines that start at $250 for first time offenders but can go as high as $1,000 for repeat offenses.

Dungan said that he thinks these fines need to be revised because they are too high and that a system should be implemented that differentiates between minor and major infractions.

According to Dungan, the police supported the new law because the current noise law was “too subjective” and they wanted a code that left less solely up to police officer judgment.

However, Kimbiz believes that the law is still too subjective.

“If you have a person who listens to classical music and a person who listens to Swedish death metal, who is to decide which is noise?” said Kimbiz. “If you can be

Thursday, April 8, 2010

arrested or fined based on this subjective legislation, it creates a bigger divide.”

The new legislation includes exact decibel levels and the New Paltz Police Department has a decibel meter with which to measure to actual levels of a suspect property.

Fourth-year media management major George Selby is skeptical of the use of the deceibel meter as a standard for determining noise levels.

“Most decibel meters don’t go below 50 dB,” said Selby. “We aren’t sure what equipment they’ll be using.”

That being said, Kimbiz is not against a noise law in New Paltz.

“I do think that New Paltz needs a noise ordinance,” he said, “but creating a situation that restricts creative expression is not a solution.”

Dungan said that the problem with the current noise law lies in the lack of consistency of enforcement and that a new law with clearer protocols will resolve that.

“Consistency is key,” said Dungan. “The enforcement needs to be consistent so that everyone knows what to expect and the response is reasonably proportional to the incident officers are responding to.”

Kimbiz hopes that the response to this noise law will result in further student involvement in local politics.

“I’ve been dealing with this noise law for the last eight months and the only people who have been at Village Board meetings have voiced their support of it,” he said. “But the community needs the input of the members of the community and we need to take a more active role as students and young community members.”

The noise law will be on the agenda for the next Village Board meeting on April 14 for continued discussion of the legislation.

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NEWS

News Briefs

The New Paltz Oracle

Senate Allocates Money

National Roswell Independent School District officials say the district’s decision to bar students from distributing dolls that resemble fetuses does not violate the students’ constitutional rights. ***** A federal judge in Montana has ruled that a U.S. Forest Service plan to spray herbicide from helicopters over the Kootenai National Forest does not adequately protect dozens of grizzly bears.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy says the agency’s plan to allow multiple low-altitude flights goes against its own guidelines that say such frequency and duration would likely have an adverse effect of the bears. ***** The U.S. military says it can’t find its copy of a video that shows two Reuters news agency employees being killed by Army helicopters.

PHOTO BY FELICE BERNABO

The senate approved a piece of non-binding legislation that supports gender-neutral bathrooms wherever possible on campus.

A leaked version circulated the Internet on Monday and renewed questions about the attack.

Capt. Jack Henzlik, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, says forces in Iraq have not been able to locate the video within its files and are attempting to retrieve it. ***** Bristol Palin says that if girls knew how tough it was to be a mom, they’d think twice about having sex.

The 19-year-old daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she has chosen to practice abstinence herself, until marriage.

She gave birth to a son, Tripp, in December 2008 and says she “wasn’t prepared at all” for the dramatic changes in her life since then.

World Briefs, pg. 5

By Pamela Vivanco Copy Editor | Pvivanco57@newpaltz.edu

At the latest meeting of the 49th student senate, members of the body allocated money into general programming and approved a declaration for gender-neutral bathrooms.

Substituting for Vice President for Finance Yasmin El Jamal was Vice President for Programming Kevin Purcell, who requested that the body approve to move $3,000 from the research line, $5,000 from Transit, $1,000 from the Executive Board and $1,000 from Conferences. The body approved to allocate the total of $10,000 into General Programming.

The senate body also supported a declaration, a non-binding piece of legislation that puts forth the sentiments of the body requested by Executive Vice President Abe Uchitelle. The declaration expressed the importance of gender-neutral bathrooms and requested that SUNY New Paltz “adopt a policy of including provision of a gender-neutral bathroom option in all future construction plans and designate current single occupant lockable bathrooms gender-neutral wherever possible.”

After it was mentioned by Senate Chair Jennifer Sanchez, the senate approved to impeach Sen. Morgan Ander-

son, who will be removed from senate if she doesn’t attend the next meeting.

Because there is a high demand for the May 1 Six Flags trip tickets, Minds in Question appealed for $2,804. The senate approved the appeal, which would result in 74 more available tickets and another bus for transportation.

In her formal report to the body, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Governance Brenna Fearey announced that the academic senate approved the reconstructed academic calendar. Although the academic senate recognized the necessity for the new calendar, they proposed that a larger forum should have a discussion. As a result, President Poskanzer and faculty will meet in Lecture Center room 102 at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 9 where they will discuss the academic calendar. Students may attend the meeting, but in order to participate in the discussion, they must be approved by the faculty.

SA President Stephanie Samuel announced that tickets for the Senior Ball scheduled for May 21 are on sale: $10 for SUNY New Paltz students and $20 for non-students. Samuel also reported that the SA Graphics room will not be in used next year and is encouraging clubs and organizations to request the room, which is appropriate for an office space. Samuel is

Thursday, April 8, 2010

also encouraging students to meet and ask their administration questions on April 28 in Student Union 100 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Aside from presenting the declaration for gender-neutral bathrooms Uchitelle also reported that the president of UCAT will not commit to add a weekend schedule to the New Paltz Loop. Uchitelle also announced that SUNY New Paltz will renew their contract with Pepsi over CocaCola because they presented the better offer.

Purcell is still looking for people to volunteer for the April 21 concert. Applications can be found in the SA office in the Student Union.

Council Chair Hana Akimoto continues to encourage students to table on April 10 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Athletic and Wellness Center. She said that there are six spots left.

Student government elections will be May 3, 4 and 5. Sen. Eve Stern is encouraging students to attend and learn more about the student government and how to join on April 15 in Student Union 418. Lastly, student senators are asking students to stop by their tabling hours in front of the multi-purpose room with suggestions, requests, critiques, questions and a taste of what the student body wants to see on campus.

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NEWS

The New Paltz Oracle

NP School Budget Proposed

News Briefs World China’s president has warned officials to be aware of the temptations of beautiful women, money and power in a speech wrapping up a campaign on examining and improving the development of the Communist Party. ***** Weeks after a tsunami destroyed their livelihoods, some of Chile’s struggling independent fishermen are offering boat tours of the devastation.

PHOTO BY FELICE BERNABO

Despite the proposed budget increase, many items will have to be cut, including buses, 18.4 jobs and the first grade Spanish program.

By James Leggate News Editor | Leggat06@newpaltz.edu

The New Paltz Board of Education discussed a budget proposal Wednesday to be voted on May 18 for the 2010-2011 school year.

New Paltz School District Superintendent Maria Rice proposed a 1.1 percent increase, which the board got to alter before approving it.

According to Rice, the increase is needed to cover increasing costs and the loss of $744,000 in state and $541,000 in federal aid.

“It’s impossible not to increase the budget,” she said. “All of our costs go up.”

Despite the proposed increase, Rice’s plan still involves cutting 18.4 positions (fractions represent part time employees) but only 8.6 of those would be actual layoffs. Also, class sizes would be increased and a few programs would have to be eliminated, such as first grade Spanish.

The largest cuts are to school buses, which would be completely

eliminated, and special education, which would be cut $291,800.

Increases would also be made in some areas, the largest being $757,500 for school employee benefits.

Some residents are not happy about the tax increase. Fawn Tantillo is a former Ulster County legislator who opposes a tax increase. As a realtor, Tantillo said that the increase, which would be 3.5 percent, could scare away potential home-buyers in the area and drive current residents to move elsewhere.

Instead, Tantillo said the school district should promote students to pursue more individual study.

“If someone is motivated, they can go on the Internet and learn all kinds of things,” Tantillo said.

However, Tantillo is also worried that if this budget is voted down, the board might propose another budget with an even larger increase.

“The school board has lost [the community’s] trust,” Tantillo said, citing rude blog posts she said board members wrote.

Council Anticipates Vote

By Maxim Alter Copy Editor | Malter42@newpaltz.edu

On Monday, April 5, a Council of Organizations meeting was held in Student Union 100.

At the meeting, the Student Association (SA) Executive Board addressed club and organization representatives with updates on important upcoming events, votes and projects.

SA President Stephanie Samuel began the meeting by informing students about the success of the Senior Committee’s first program, the fashion show that took place on March 25. Samuel said she is anticipating another success with the campus carnival, occurring May 1.

Following Samuel, SA Executive Vice President Abe Uchitelle spoke to students about the upcoming SA E-Board elections and the May 3-5 Student Activity Fee vote, which is put up for review periodically. “[The Student Activity Fee] only

counts if enough people vote,” Uchitelle said. “It’s really important that people vote in this election in order for the Student Activity Fee to get passed.”

Uchitelle also said an official decision has been made regarding the vending contract on campus, and Pepsi was chosen over Coca-Cola, because they made “the strongest offer.”

Next, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Governance Brenna Fearey said that students should be expecting an e-mail soon with information on how to get involved and run for positions on Senate, SA E-Board and Programming Board, which will require them to send in a Declaration of Intent.

“I recommend it,” Fearey said. “It’s way better than any class you’ll take here at New Paltz… If you’re looking to improve public speaking skills, this is the place to do it.”

Fearey also discussed the upcoming April 9 vote on proposed changes to the college’s academic calendar, which she

said is “more practical,” and will be rearranging the days in which students get off for holidays. For more information, Fearey asked that students contact her.

Concluding the meeting, Council Chair Hana Akimoto said elections for the new Council Chair are scheduled for April 19, and she is looking for students to run.

In an effort to get people more interested, Akimoto explained the role of Council Chair so students could better understand what is required.

“As far as commitments that Council Chair has, pretty much your main goal is to hold meetings biweekly and make sure that you take attendance… and send weekly e-mails,” Akimoto said. “Make sure you’re being accountable to the clubs and they know exactly what you’re doing because that’s who you’re supposed to be representing.”

The next Council of Organizations meeting will be held on April 19 at 8 p.m. in Student Union 100.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Sergio Rodriguez, a boat captain in the port city of Talcahuano, 300 miles (500 kilometers) south of the capital, Santiago, found tourists were eager to pay $3 for half-hour boat trips around the battered bay.

The idea began as “a semi-sarcastic way of inviting people for a cruise and showing them what has happened,” Rodriguez told the local news program 24 Horas on Wednesday. In the past two weeks, he has sold more than 600 tickets for his half-dozen daily tours. ***** Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Russia’s jailed former oil tycoon, testified for five hours in a packed courtroom on Wednesday, saying that none of the companies he is accused of stealing oil from ever reported the alleged theft.

He faces charges of embezzling more than $25 billion worth of oil from three subsidiaries of his former company, Yukos, and laundering most of the proceeds. His lawyers have called these claims ridiculous. ***** Researchers have concluded that a giant, golden-spotted monitor lizard discovered in the forested mountains of the Philippines six years ago is a new species, according to a study released Wednesday.

Compiled from the AP Newswire

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NEWS

The New Paltz Oracle

NP Police Ask For Tasers

By Pete Thompson Sports Editor | Pthompson51@newpaltz.edu

The New Paltz Police Department wants tasers, but some residents are worried about safety with law enforcement carrying around weapons capable of “neuromuscular incapacitation.”

The main goal of the proposal is to reduce injury to police officers, like in times of bar fights and other riotous activities. Tasers allow for incapacitation from a distance, securing a situation regardless of the subject’s size, strength or mental state.

If passed, exclusively the two officers on the Emergency Response Unit will be given tasers initially. The resulting goal would be to have everyone certified, so that there could be one taser per shift.

“The taser is designed as a less-than-lethal option for officers to handle emotionally disturbed, irate or violent individuals,” said Lieutenant Steve Osarczuk.

According to Osarczuk, tasers like the ones that would be used by officers on the Emergency Response Unit are classified as less-than-lethal, but not non-lethal. The steel, collapsible baton and pepper spray

officers currently carry are also less-thanlethal weapons.

Osarczuk said that in necessary situations a taser would be a less harmful option, as the baton can break a bone and the pepper spray requires a 20 to 40 minute decontamination process and will melt contact lenses. Rather than causing physical damage and leaving lasting effects, tasers incapacitate for five seconds and “basically take the fight out of you” by tightening the subject’s muscles.

However, some members of the New Paltz community, such as Ariana Basco, a member of the police commission, are uneasy because they don’t necessarily see the need for the implementation. Since she and the rest of the commission are each being given a vote on the proposal, Basco has asked the New Paltz Police Department for all recent cases where taser use would have been beneficial.

“I’m completely against it,” she said, “and if we don’t show a real need for it, then what the hell are we going to spend money on it for?”

Osarczuk said they are in the middle of researching such situations over the last

year, but are not yet finished.

“Do we experience these cases often?

Yes,” said Osarczuk. “Whether it’s with a machete, butcher knife, wooden board or physically fighting.”

Another point of opposition comes from fear due to the fact that tasers are less-than lethal-weapons but are, in some cases, lethal.

Fourth-year political science major Maria Davila started the Facebook group “Don’t Tase Me Bro…Keep Tasers Out of New Paltz!” as means of bringing awareness to this and all factors surrounding the proposal.

“It scares me,” Davila said, “and if I can prevent something that scares me, I’m going to try.”

Initially hoping to organize and educate people on the topic, Davila said she is overjoyed to see how the group’s roster has grown to about 350 people, many of whom she does not know.

“The idea is to keep us safe,” said Davila, whose good friend, Ed Daley, would be susceptible to harm being a bouncer at Snug’s, “and this isn’t safe.”

Daley is also in opposition, but this is not the stance all bar workers are choosing to take.

“Working in the bars you see the same people causing these obscene fights…[and it’s] usually people from the surrounding cities that ruin good nights for everyone in this town for everyone else,” said Brian Raughter, general manager of McGillicuddy’s Restaurant and Tap Room. “Just knowing the police have tasers would stop 80 percent of these fights from escalating the way they do without [them] ever using them.”

All community members are welcome to come and voice their opinions at the town hall meeting taking place Thursday, April 8 from 7 to 9 p.m., where Basco has arranged for “community spirit” time to take place at the beginning and end so comments can be made.

Basco, who’s been speaking to people and encouraging letter writing to the New Paltz Times, feels it will be a three-to-two vote amongst the police commission and is doing all that she can since the decision is ultimately up to the chief of police and town supervisor.

“I don’t like the path it puts us on,” said Basco. “It creates a level of intimidation that’s completely unnecessary, especially in New Paltz.”

PHOTO BY FELICE BERNABO

Police said the tasers will help prevent injury to them when stopping violence.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

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NEWS

The New Paltz Oracle

Controlled Burnings Help Mohonk Preserve

By Pamela Vivanco Copy Editor | Pvivanco57@newpaltz.edu

“We all grew up with Smokey the Bear saying ‘every fire is a bad fire,’” said Mohonk Preserve communication director Nadia Steinzor, but there is one type of fire that proves this statement wrong.

For the sixth season in a row, the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership (SRBP) has scheduled this season’s window for controlled burns for April 5 to Dec. 15. This means that controlled burns will occur some time between these dates when considered appropriate.

Controlled burnings will occur in several locations including 54 acres of the Mohonk Preserve in an effort to control the growth of small trees and maintain wood, vegetation and fields.

Fire is an essential tool for maintaining land, recycling nutrients, preserving habitats for animals, and other ecological benefits, said Steinzor.

“As a natural process, fire really helps regenerate the soil and minerals in the soil,” she said. “It also releases the seeds for certain plants and trees, particularly ones that we have right here on the ridge.”

Director of Shawangunk Ridge Program of the Nature Conservancy Cara Lee said that aside from the ecological advantages, controlled burns are the safe and careful alternative to natural fires which could transition into wild fire.

In order to avoid any dangerous or unsuccessful burns, highly trained fire teams, rangers and other crews work closely with meteorologists and other scientists to decide when weather conditions (wind and moisture levels) are right for the burn to happen. Steinzor said that all crews involved in the controlled burnings understand how fire works, and how fire spreads.

“They’re pretty vigilant and on top of it, but it does require tremendous train-

ing and a lot of safety equipment,” she said.

When the procedure was first introduced six seasons ago, people were concerned that it was dangerous and that the fire could escape and become a wildfire, said Lee. In order to avoid concern, local land owners and the state are informed about controlled burns during the window period of the procedure said Steinzor, because “before controlled burning became a really accepted practice around the country, people were very much afraid.”

Over the years of successful controlled burns, the public has come to understand the benefits of the procedure.

“The more times we do it, there is less concern about it and more support for it,” said Steinzor.

There is no official date for the controlled burns yet, but all crews continue to work together to find days they deem appropriate.

PHOTO COURTESY MOHONK PRESERVE

The burns will be started depending on the weather between April 15 and December 15.

Village and Town Finacial Dispute Escalating

By Maxim Alter Copy Editor | Malter42@newpaltz.edu

The Town and Village of New Paltz are currently in disagreement over past contracts, funding and fees Mayor Terry Dungan said the town has failed to pay.

According to Dungan, there is a long history that dates back years of financial impropriety with the town, and Town Supervisor Toni Hokanson has been “re-negging” on contracts.

An example, Dungan said, occurred when the village took on the roll of lead agency to finish the construction of a bathhouse and made an intermunicipal agreement (IMA) contract with the town.

Dungan said the town and village agreed to split the cost of construction, and that both municipalities would put the money forward for the whole project. After the project was closed, Dungan said, they agreed the money left would also be split between them. However, Dungan said the town shorted the upfront payment by $60,000.

“The bath house is done and this is going to be its fourth year open now and they still have not paid that money,” Dungan said.

According to Hokanson, the village’s claims are unwarranted and she has given no indication that they would not cover the last payment, which she said is less than $60,000.

“There has been an ongoing exchange of documents for review on both sides,” Hokanson said. “The ball is currently in the town’s court. This billing has been the topic of two joint meetings between the Town Board and Village Trustees and the town has made every indication that we will honor our commitment.”

According to Dungan, in the town budget, there are two general funds: the general “A” fund, which is town-wide, and the general “B” fund, which is only for taxes that assist parttown (the town outside of the village) residents.

Dungan said, when compared to other towns in the area, New Paltz’s “A” and “B” funds are being handled incorrectly.

“There are three towns in Ulster County that have a village within their borders: Wawarsing, Saugerties and New Paltz,” Dungan said. “Of the three, only the Town of New Paltz engages in illegal and unethical budgetary practices, which penalize those town residents who reside within the village.”

According to Dungan, the Town of Saugerties’ “A” fund is twice as large as its “B” fund, so that if all sources of revenue were removed except for the amount that is raised by taxes, both funds would be the same. However, Dungan said in the Town of New Paltz, the “A” fund is 13 times larger than the “B” fund, and if all sources of revenue were removed except for the amount that is raised by taxes, the “A” fund would be 33 times larger than the “B” fund.

Dungan said the Town of New Paltz is approximately 17 times larger than the village, and because towns are spread out, if a town is going to provide a municipal service, they are required to create a special service district.

According to Dungan, New York State Town Law Section 198 states that before the town can provide the service, they first have to create the service district. In order to pay for the service, Dungan said, the town can only tax the people in that district.

Dungan said that the town has improperly handled this law when managing water district charges.

“The town has been putting water district charges in the ‘A’ fund,” Dungan said. “So village residents are paying for town water services which they don’t receive… The controller has explicitly ruled that all water costs must be charged to the district and that they may not put water costs in the general fund, but they’re doing it.”

Another disagreement has been occurring in the town and village’s trash management, which Dungan said is a centralized county function. According to Dungan, since the nearest landfill is several hundred miles away from New Paltz, garbage workers are required to bring trash to a local transfer station, where trucks then cart garbage off to the appropriate facilities.

In the transfer station agreement between the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency and the town of New Paltz, Dungan said, in return for hosting the transfer station, the town shall receive the sum of $1.33 as of April 7 for each ton of solid waste disposed of at the facility, of which 33 cents shall be paid by the town to the appropriate entity responsible for fire protection.

According to this agreement, Dungan said, these payments shall be made by the agency on a semi-annual basis, on or before June 30 and Dec. 31 of each year. Dungan also said the payment will be adjusted by the Consumer Price Index, every

Thursday, April 8, 2010

five years based upon previous June figures.

Dungan said payment to the village is required to be made within twenty days after receipt of the benefit by the town or within 10 days of the signing of the contract – whichever is later.

According to Dungan, state law establishes this payment formula, and whatever the county and town agree on, the village must be paid one-fifth of that amount.

“So if [the town] had an arrangement with the county to receive $1 for every ton, they would have to pay us $.20 per ton,” Dungan said… “[By not paying the one-fifth amount to the village,] they’re not simply in breach of the contract between the village and the town, they’re in breach of their contract with the county… They’re violating state law.”

Dungan said as of April 6, the town has failed to pay a total of $18,160.86 over five years. According to Dungan, $17,953.85 of that total has not been paid since Hokanson took office in 2006. During previous Town Supervisor Don Wilen’s term, Dungan said there is still $207.01 of unpaid fees.

According to Hokanson, these claims are false. “[Mayor Dungan] is assuming that the town is to pay into the fire reserve fund one-fifth of the total check we receive, which is inaccurate,” Hokanson said.

Hokanson said the village has sent the town a letter claiming inappropriate payment amounts since the year 2000, which includes four town supervisors.

“Does he really believe four supervisors have conspired to keep money from the village,” Hokanson said. “I plan to review all the payments to confirm accuracy, but it’s on a very long to-do list.”

Other important things on that to-do list, Hokanson said, are completing the research for the Moriello Pool payment, the town’s draft comprehensive plan, the high priority planning grant to study consolidation and shared services with the village, the new summer camp program and the grant applications.

Hokanson said Dungan making remarks to the local paper is “the least effective way” for him to collect unpaid debts, and his “accusations” have been occurring for two years.

“The only proof he has ever presented are his own inaccurate interpretations of whatever document he is reading,” Hokanson said… “Frankly, these continual unwarranted attacks are reminiscent of the Salem Witch Trials.”

Pg 8

The New Paltz Oracle

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Wolff Packs McKenna Theater

PHOTO BY MATTHEW ORTIZ

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB.COM

PHOTO BY MAXIM ALTER

Story on Page 6B

Student artist challenges gender roles!

Check out page 7B

FEATURES | 2B

Hooked on Yarn

By Kaitlyn Day

Staff Writer | N02212829@newpaltz.edu

This week, I’ll show you how to increase and decrease. This is key in making many crochet items like hats and sweaters. As an example, I’ll show you with the Single Crochet (SC), but it can be applied with any other stitch.

Increasing

Step 1: SC in first stitch. (Insert hook into stitch, pull yarn through Yarn Over (YO) and pull yarn through.

Step 2: Insert hook into the same stitch and repeat once.

Step 3: Repeat as many times as necessary in the row.

Remember: When doing two SC (or any other stitch) in one stitch you are increasing by one.

Decreasing

The New Paltz Oracle

Concerns Over Health Care Bill

NEW PALTZ QUESTIONS EFFECTIVENESS OF RECENT LEGISLATION

By Justin McCarthy Features Editor | Jmccarthy46@newpaltz.edu

As those who were for the recently passed health care bill celebrate its passing, some people wonder how this bill will benefit them.

Richard Gottlieb, owner of Rock & Snow on Main Street, has “no qualms” about letting the government intercede in the health care crisis; however, he questions how effective the bill will be.

“We don’t know how it’s going to shake out,” said Gottlieb. “Who is it going to affect positively? Is it going to work well?”

Gottlieb has plenty of questions. He isn’t entirely opposed to the health care bill signed

by President Barack Obama last month, but feels it was weighed down by individuals, groups and industries that didn’t put the American people’s health and security as their first priority.

Gottlieb thinks a conclusion that would benefit Americans the most is hard to achieve “when you look at things only in terms of dollars and cents and you stop looking at how things are integrated into a society, who’s going to be hurt by what you do, who isn’t, and how helpful it is to the general public,” he said.

At Rock & Snow, where he has worked for 25 years and has owned for about 10 years, Gottlieb provides his managers with full coverage and his full-time employees with “approximately half of their coverage.”

He said he understands the need for health care reform. One of his employees was given authorization for a surgery by his health

care provider and was denied coverage afterward because a particular material used in the surgery was considered “experimental.”

“This was after getting an approval,” Gottlieb said. “They should have been the ones compelled to say ‘we want to see the details of how the surgery is going to be done.’ They shouldn’t be able to come back at you and say ‘Oh, that wasn’t done the way we thought it was going to be done.’”

The elimination of pre-existing conditions that could deny someone coverage is something positive Gottlieb sees in the bill.

He doesn’t want the practices of health care insurance to resemble the practices of other insurance companies when someone becomes too expensive to continue insuring.

“They replace your house, they replace your car, and then they get rid of you. And it’s hard to get the next guy to cover you,” he said.

“Is that the way we want health care to be?”

While he largely sees the recently passed bill as a step in the right direction, he has trouble understanding how everyone is going to benefit from a bill that has been presented as something that “will make everyone a winner.”

Playing on the old business saying, ‘There is no such thing as a free lunch,’ Gottlieb said, “There is no such thing as a free check-up.”

“The bill is done, but we don’t know who won the race,” he said. “Who is going to benefit from this bill? Are there going to be any big losers?”

Many SUNY New Paltz students share Gottlieb’s skepticism and wonder how effec-

tive the bill will be.

Samantha Minasi, a third-year journalism major who has epilepsy and anticipates graduating this coming year, is concerned about whether her medical needs will be met in the future.

“I think the most concerning part is not knowing exactly what’s going to happen,” Minasi said. “It all sounds good and I know it’s being done with good intent. But as someone with a pretty serious medical condition, I’m just really worried that somehow I will fall through the cracks.”

Minasi said that she and her parents have had to do “a lot of hoop-jumping” over the years in order to keep her covered. Although the health care bill will allow college students to stay on their parents’ insurance plan until the age of 26, Minasi worries she might not meet certain requirements or might graduate before this protection goes into effect.

“Honestly, if there was some sort of gap I fell into between college and whenever I can get insurance of my own, I don’t know what I would do. Each bottle of meds costs like, $300,” she said.

Americans all over the country have questions to be answered and needs to be met.

And while many agree that the passing of the health care bill is a huge step in the right direction, there are many people who wonder how this will work out for them.

“I’m looking forward to a good government plan,” said Rich Gottlieb. “And I’m looking back on a plan that seems far from perfect.”

There are two ways to decrease: you can skip a stitch or you can crochet one stitch over two stitches. The first way isn’t wrong, but there is a hole left behind. The second way hides your increased stitch and allows it to blend with the rest of the piece.

Step 1: Insert hook into stitch pull yarn through.

Step 2: With two loops on the hook insert, hook into the next stitch.

Step 3: YO and pull through three loops are now on the hook.

Step 4: YO and pull through all three loops.

If you enjoy this, come to Le Knitty Gritty on Mondays at 4:30 p.m. in the foyer of the library.

Rich Gottlieb, owner of Rock & Snow, questions the effectiveness of the recently passed bill.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

PHOTO COURTESY OF FELICE BERNABO

FEATURES | 3B

The New Paltz Oracle

Solar Energy Shines in New Paltz ELECTRIC COMPANY SPARKS UP HOMES AND BUSINESS WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY

By Devon Lee Pope Contributing Writer | Dpope69@newpaltz.edu

Lighthouse Solar, a Utah based company providing renewable energy to both residential and commercial consumers, recently moved to New Paltz to further their business.

Founded by former SUNY New Paltz student Scott Franklin, Lighthouse Solar is a solar services company that has four branches located in Boulder, Colo., Carbondale, Colo., Austin, Texas and since Sept. 1, New Paltz, N.Y. Although the New Paltz branch has a very meager office, located two small rooms above the True Value hardware store, Lighthouse Solar has been successful at installing solar electricity in homes across Utah and Texas, and is already one of the top solar installers in New York.

Jordan Mills, the general manager of the New Paltz branch, graduated from SUNY New Paltz with Scott Franklin, which was one reason why they chose the area.

“We were both from New Paltz and wanted to start a business back home,” Mills said. “We also chose New Paltz because the rebate structure in New York is fairly good, and the solar market is gener-

ally overpriced, and Lighthouse Solar is a great product.”

The difference between Lighthouse Solar and other solar businesses in the region, Mills said, was that Lighthouse actually installs the solar equipment to buildings, while other groups are in the manufacturing business of it.

Mill went on to list some of the benefits of solar energy.

“Solar energy can completely offset the electric load in homes,” he said. “Even on a cloudy day with no visible sunlight, solar panels can produce energy.”

Mills and office manager Terrence McConnon said they are quite surprised about the kind of people that are installing solar energy systems in their homes locally.

They both said the discrepancy be-

tween the two states lies with the state governments and said that most of their customers are wealthy types while, in Colorado, most middle class people have some form of renewable energy installed in their homes.

They also said that while there are opportunities for rebates, the distribution of this money lies within the power of local municipalities.

Lighthouse Solar recently became partners with The Solar Energy Consortium (TSEC), a notfor-profit corporation joining solar power installers and manufacturers in New York, promoting and funding renewable energy jobs and companies. TSEC has been around since 2007 and their goals are to live in a world where solar energy is everywhere, supplying clean, reliable and

“Even on a cloudy day with no visible sunlight, solar panels can produce energy” -Jordan Mills

Lighthouse Solar, which was founded by SUNY New Paltz graduate Scott Franklin, opened up a branch in New Paltz in September.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

sustainable power.

Vince Cozzolino, CEO and founder of TSEC, is very happy with Lighthouse Solar’s recent move to New Paltz.

“We (TSEC) rarely work with installers,” Cozzolino said. “Lighthouse Solar is different though, because they are a national group, and they have the ability to produce solar farms.”

Solar farms are large fields with solar panels producing millions of watts of energy, Cozzolino said.

Cozzolino attributed New York’s lack of solar power to it’s already relatively low energy costs.

“It costs about 12 cents per kilowatt in New York for power,” he said. “It costs about 20 cents per kilowatt of solar power without a subsidy, so it isn’t as lucrative as in other states.”

Cozzolino said TSEC’s goal is to make solar power cost less so more New Yorkers will be able to install it. TSEC will improve this by being in partnerships with many different colleges, including SUNY New Paltz.

“SUNY New Paltz students are involved in solar projects all across the Hudson Valley,” he said. “SUNY New Paltz is the lead school in deploying solar energy in New York State.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF LIGHTHOUSE SOLAR

4B | FEATURES

The New Paltz Oracle

Nazi-Killin’ Good Guys Travel Through Time EDDIE UPNICK’S ‘TIME WILL TELL’ IS A FUN, FAUX-HISTORICAL SCIENCE-FICTION EPIC

By James Leggate News Editor | Leggat06@newpaltz.edu

They say that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But Eddie Upnick’s riproaring historical sci-fi novel, “Time Will Tell,” is the notable exception to the rule.

The cover, designed by fantasy artist Owen William Weber, features a man and woman clutching each other amidst a chaotic scene of battered alien skeletons, flying saucers, a giant flaming swastika and a cute puppy wearing a bandana. The inside of the book is just as awesome.

Without spoiling too much, the book is basically about an old man telling his life story. That sounds dull, except he spent his life fighting time-traveling Nazis and trying to assassinate Hitler to end the alternate history in which Germany won World War II. In order to stop Hitler, narrator Jeff and a team of scientists from the year 2133 travel through time and around the world while battling with Nazis and aliens including the Delp, Rell, Zera and Kraz.

So it’s fairly exciting.

One of Upnick’s biggest strengths is his ability to fit a lot of action into short

passages. He writes the kind of concise sentences that even a journalist can appreciate. His characters become interesting without over-explaining their background.

It’s like meeting them as you read about them. Upnick is a master of character development. He introduces a large number of characters throughout the story, yet the reader feels drawn to them all.

At the same time, there are a lot of bigger events happening that affect the characters. The politics of the various alien races come into play, adding a lot of depth to the story. Also, real-life people and events are a part of the plot, so the biggest brain-tickler of all is that this could actually be true.

That’s right. It could all be true. Upnick breaks down the fourth wall and leaves the reader left in a hallway of dreams, unsure whether it’s fact or fiction.

Did he really meet Jeff and pass along this account of the dystopian Nazi future that will no longer happen, or is it simply a fun story? Fans of Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” series will enjoy this aspect. So will stoners.

A deeper consideration of this will likely require a copy of Stephen Hawk-

ing’s “A Brief History of Time” and a viewing of the “Back to the Future” trilogy in order to discuss the nature of time.

If these things did happen, and history was changed, did they cease to happen?

If they did not then happen because they happened, will they happen in the past?

Confusion aside, it’s exactly this kind of theoretical thinking that makes “Time Will Tell” such a unique book.

The most enchanting part of this whole book may be its plot and general “universe” it takes place in (assuming that it is fiction, of course). It would make a great sci-fi movie, and other stories of the struggles of various aliens and humans would also be entertaining as books, movies or even video games.

Think along the lines of everything they’ve made out of “Star Wars.” There’s just so much going on that doesn’t get fully explored, it’s fun to imagine what else Upnick could come up with.

Regardless of what follows this book, Upnick’s writing is up-tempo and keeps the reader engaged throughout the course of his debut 221-page book. It’s an easy read for a sunny afternoon on the quad. Put it on your summer reading list.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

PHOTO COURTESY OF EDDIEUPNICK.COM

“Time Will Tell” is a simple, leisurely read.

FEATURES | 5B

The New Paltz Oracle

What Does the Future Hold After College?

GRADUATING SENIORS OF SUNY NEW PALTZ GAZE AHEAD

By Pamela Vivanco Copy Editor | Pvivanco57@newpaltz.edu

Unemployment is the word that already haunts the lives of many soon-to-be graduating seniors. But although fearful and concerned, many SUNY New Paltz seniors are finding alternate paths to succeeding and enjoying the “real world.”

Traveling, volunteering, giving and “chilling” were only some of the activities that these “ready to graduate” seniors are excited to indulge in.

Fourth-year anthropology and Black Studies student, Heather Slivko-Bathurst said that after graduation, she is taking a road trip to Alaska with her dad, a trip they’ve been talking about since she was 15.

After her trip to Alaska, Slivko-Bathurst is doing a volunteer program, City Year where she will be working in underprivileged schools in New York City.

“Volunteering is very important especially now because I feel like college graduates aren’t getting any jobs,” she said. “Somebody mentioned that the enrollment for the application for the Peace Corps doubled this year. The enrollment was really high because we have nowhere to go and no money.”

Slivko-Bathurst said she always wanted to volunteer after college and City Year was the perfect way to give back to the community she spent more of her time in, her home, New York City.

Fourth-year English student Valentina Luccardi said that because she is worried about the job market, she doesn’t plan on starting a career right away, but does have some expectations.

“I know several foreign languages. I can do foreign

By Maxim Alter Copy Editor | Malter42@newpaltz.edu

correspondence, journalism and I could teach English in another country,” she said.

Organizational communication alumnus, Jonathan Ruderfer who left the scene of New Paltz last December continues to contact temporary agencies and employment offices, but is still unable to fight the scarce job market.

Unemployed for four months, since his graduation in December, Ruderfer said he lives above a nail salon in a small, inexpensive Brooklyn apartment, living off his savings and “just trying to enjoy life.”

“I graduated in December and the degree I got in the mail is stuffed somewhere in the back of my closet,” he said.

“I feel the material was a waste of time but the experience was very positive, probably more from the actual living in school overall.”

Unlike Ruderfer, fourth-year psychology student Rafael Weidenfeld believes that the major he chose is helpful in his every day life and is confident that he will do well after graduating.

“Just learning about crisis work has really helped me and can possibly help in the future, in disaster like situations,” he said. “I think that I’m going to do whatever I want to do, travel a lot and eventually make a lot of money.”

Director of the Career Resource Center Tonda Highley said that many graduates are finding jobs after college. “The economy is picking up, businesses and non profits are beginning to hire more people. It’s just a matter of perseverance and flexibility,” she said.

Highley said that there is no timeline that says students must find a job a month after college. Although it is encouraged to look for jobs, volunteering for programs like the

Peace Corps and City Year is also an essential way to gain experience and skill.

“It’s really slightly more than a volunteer experience, its an engaged internship that continues to build skills and certainly something for many graduating seniors to consider.”

Aside from the happiness of graduating, some seniors, like Luccardi are not looking forward to the “real world.”

“The real world means finding a career and falling into a system of debt and not being happy with the job choice that you were forced to choose. The real world sucks,” she continued. Jokingly she said, “I will stay in school forever and marry rich!”

Slivko-Bathurst said that although she plans on going to graduate school, it is not as easy as the transition from high school to college.

“It’s much more than just the school, it’s your life and I don’t think that really gets driven home as much as it should,” she said. “My fear is not finding the right graduate school, not finding an environment that I will be able to pursue what I want.”

To Slivko-Bathurst living in New Paltz has its advantages and a lot to miss.

“We definitely live in a bubble here and it’s a great bubble,” said Slivko-Bathurst. “New Paltz is the kind of college that attracts such a diverse assortment of people…It’s really not difficult for people to find a small to medium sized group of friends that really care about them and they can count on and become a community with.”

Slivko-Bathurst said that the community aspect of New Paltz is probably what she is going to miss the most. “And Hasbrouck of course,” she added.

Soapbox: I asked SUNY New Paltz seniors their hopes and fears of graduating and how their final semester is affecting them. Here’s what they had to say.

Grace Myers Elementary education, concentration in Spanish

Irene Savage Art education, concentration in Photography

Angela Newland Media management, communication

“I actually don’t have senioritis. This has been my hardest semester because I’m student teaching, which has forced me to prioritize myself more than I ever have before. If I don’t work, it’s not just on me. Now I have the responsibility of teaching young children how to read. My biggest fear is what’s next. I feel like I need someone to coach me through the rest of my life. It also really scares me that jobs are scarce and there is no way I will be able to financially support myself.”

“I do have senioritis in the sense that I don’t want to graduate, but I haven’t been much of a procrastinator. I have no idea what I’m going to do next year and it’s impossible to find jobs on Long Island – especially as an art educator. The idea of graduate school also freaks me out. In order to keep a teaching certificate, you need to get your masters in five years and I don’t have the time or money to do so.”

“If anything, I’m petrified to graduate. I’m definitely scared I won’t be qualified for a job come the end of my four years here. It’s a mixed bag because, on one hand, I can’t wait to finally be done as a student and maybe travel and start my life. On the other hand, I realize in many ways I’ll always be a student of something and I want desperately to stay in college and be with my friends in the process.”

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Charlie Scirbona Journalism “I know I have senioritis because some days I wake up and don’t want to go to class. I know a year ago I would force myself to do it. Now, I just shut the alarm off and go back to sleep. I did my internship last semester and was actually a full time journalist, but now I’m just a student again. Honestly, I’d rather be working.

I’m obviously worried about the job market, or the lack thereof, but I just want to get on with living my life. I don’t have any set plans. I just want to be done.”

6B | FEATURES

The New Paltz Oracle

Acclaimed Author Comes to Campus TOBIAS WOLFF, LATEST GUEST IN THE ‘DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES’

By Sunya Bhutta

Wolff also discussed the “voice in your head” that decides who you are and who you aren’t. He wanted to investigate the Novelist and memoir writer Tobias question of identity beyond nature vs. naWolff, renowned for his works “In Phature. He said he believes imagination is unraoh’s Army: Memoirs of the Lost War” derestimated in having a role in determinand “The Barracks Thief,” visited campus ing who we are. on April 1 as the fourth speaker in the col“In the end we can only become who lege’s Distinguished Speaker Series we imagine we can become… we to discuss his most recent novel “Old are limited by our ability to imagine School”. ourselves in another way,” he said.

Wolff started by sharing his gratiThe talk ended with Wolff antude to SUNY New Paltz for assigning swering questions from the audihis book “Old School” to incoming ence about his various works. When first-year students for their composiasked about his thoughts on the tion classes as part of the Common movie adaptation of his book “This Summer Reading Program.

Boy’s Life” where he is played by “The supreme compliment that Leonardo DiCaprio, Wolff said it you have paid me in choosing my book was diffi cult to deal with all the as your freshman requirement [and]… changes that were made but that he to know that I have at least one 19 year would do it again if given the opold reader means that in 40 years I’ll portunity. have one reader alive,” he said.

Wolff was asked about his reAccording to Coordinator of the action to Alice Sebols’s description Composition Program Pauline Uchof him in her memoir “Lucky.” As manowicz, the Common Summer a memoirist himself Wolff said he Reading Program’s goal is to engage was “very gratifi ed to find that Alall first-year students in a shared readice remembered the events pretty ing experience to enhance participation much as [he] did.”

He explained in the intellectual life of the entire camthat there is a fi lter of experience pus. when we turn our memories into “By encouraging first-year stustories.

Sometime things are heightdents to engage in critical reading, ened and sometimes things are left discussion and thinking about a shared out, he said. text—whether in classroom or extraWolff was mentioned in curricular settings—the reading initia“Lucky” as one of Sebold’s profestive invites dialogue among students, sor at Syracuse University where as well as between students and facshe was raped as a freshman. ulty,” she said.

“Her story was so moving to Wolff’s book was for his mastery me…the fact that she could turn of great contemporary literature and that horrible thing that happened to short stories. His ability to sentimenher into a piece of art,” he said. tally connect to the audience made his Attendees found that “An Evespeech an intriguing and comfortable ning with Tobias Wolff” was an enexperience. He discussed the self servlightening and interesting contribuPHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTHWESTERN.EDU Wolff lectured students about his experiences with writing. ing tendencies memoir writers have by tion to the “Distinguished comparing the process to RobSpeaker Series.” Wolff ert Frost’s poem “The Road Not was able to actively enTaken.” The poem is often used Partial Bibliography: gage his listeners with as a Hallmark card to encourage his expressive, compeltaking the tough route in life and “Ugly Rumors” (1975), a collection of short stories ling and humorous stobeing independent, Wolff said. rytelling.

He is currently But, it is a common misWard W. and Priscilla B. “The Barracks Thief” (1984), a novella conception amongst those who Woods Professor in the think that taking the road less School of Humanities traveled by makes all the dif“Back in the World” (1985), a collection of short stories and Sciences at Stanford ference. In Frost’s poem he deUniversity, where he has scribes how one day he will tell “This Boy’s Life” (1989), a memoir which was later made into a fi lm taught classes in creative the story with a sigh as if the dewriting and English since cision was very difficult for him 1997 and served as the “In Pharaoh’s Army” (1994), a memoir about his experiences as a soldier in the Vietnam War to make, even though the roads director of the Creative are “really about the same.”

Writing Program from Wolff explained how the poem “Old School” (2003), a novel about a student attending an elite boarding school 2000 to 2002. is actually about the whimsical Copy Editor | Sunya.bhutta94@newpaltz.edu

He said that when we tell stories we tend to “confer glory upon us.”

In his youth Wolff would write so many stories that he would give some to his friends to turn in as extra credit in class.

One of his friends had received a C on a story Wolff wrote about a family of Italian acrobats. He went to the teacher and said

he thought the story deserved an A and the teacher agreed, but said she knew it was actually Wolff who wrote it. “I felt a swell of pride. She knew my work,” he said.

Another one of his friends who he gave a story to was the first person to tell him “you ought to be a writer.” It was something Wolff said he always remembered.

choices made in storytelling.

Information compiled from Wikipedia.com

Thursday, April 8, 2010

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT |7B

The New Paltz Oracle

Fanatic Finds Solace in Photography STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHER BREAKS THROUGH GENDER ROLES, AIMS FOR SURREALISM

By Zan Strumfeld A&E Editor | Sstrumfeld34@newpaltz.edu

Sitting quietly at a Mac in the Old Library, photography major Matthew “Matty” Ortiz holds a blank piece of photo paper, 13 by 19 inches, and sticks it in a printer.

“I have to print 12 photos by tomorrow and it takes about 15 minutes for each photo to print,” said Oritz.

He shows the photos he has to print, each meticulously shot and well-modeled by his friends. The project, for his contemporary issues and photography class, was given for students to choose any topic that pertains to a contemporary issue.

“I decided to do a series on gender roles. I wanted to juxtapose girls surrendering to and breaking their stereotypical gender role,” said Ortiz. “I shot them in dresses that are referenced to 50s housewives doing stereotypically male things; sports, being outdoorsy, welding.”

As a second-year student, Ortiz is currently waiting to hear back from the Bachelor in Fine Arts program.

“I spent a few weeks putting together my portfolio, writing an artist’s statement and shooting new work to include in it. You’d think that summing up yourself in 500 words would be easy, but it’s not,” he said.

Ortiz has not always been a photographer. He dabbled with painting and realized it’s not for him, but he enjoys drawing with charcoal.

“I was always interested in art. I was that baby that drew on the walls with crayons,” said Ortiz. “It wasn’t until I was a junior in high school when I took my first photography class and I immediately fell in love with it.

From then on out, I knew that’s exactly what I wanted to do.”

Ortiz’s first photography class was working with film in a dark room, where he used the same camera his mom used in high school.

“It’s still the camera I use now when I take film. I didn’t own my own digital camera until this past December,” he said.

Ortiz spent over a semester researching DSLR cameras in order to find just the right one. He finally chose a Nikon D700.

“It came down to price range and quality. This camera knows me so well. It knows exactly what I want to

Matty Ortiz uses photography as a form of self-expression and he tends to focus his photos on the human figure.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

shoot and it understands what I want to do,” said Ortiz.

“I’m in love with it, it’s my baby.”

Like the photos taken for this particular project, Ortiz focuses on one particular aspect: the human figure.

“I’ve almost solely been working with the figure; whether it’s nude, posed inside or outside. I’m obsessed with photographing people,” said Ortiz.

Ortiz mainly focuses on using people to express his thoughts and concepts.

“I use art and photos to express things I can’t or don’t want to express with words. This is my first project expressing my thoughts on gender roles and how I think women should be perceived. It’s an exploration for me,” hee said. “There’s an emotional content I try to achieve in my work that I relate to personally and that I try to get other people to relate to.”

As of now, Ortiz is exploring surrealism. He finds Chip Simons’ “Bunny” photos a step in the right direction to be guided to new ideas.

For the future, Ortiz hopes to graduate as a BFA photographer and then explore what’s out there, trying to find a job in Manhattan or working as a dark room printer.

“I’m going to try to get my work out there, submit places, visit galleries. See how far that takes me,” he said.

Until then, Ortiz will continue to take photos and stay passionate about it.

“For me, photography is an outlet I use to help connect to a world that I often feel isolated from. That’s my main reason for doing art and taking photos,” said Ortiz.

“It’s a therapeutic form of self-expression that enables me to express my deepest emotions without using words.

I don’t think I’m able to do that in any other medium of art.”

ALL PHOTOS BY MATTHEW ORTIZ

8B | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Getting

The New Paltz Oracle

By Maxim Alter

Copy Editor | Malter42@newpaltz.edu

Season 6 Episode 10:

“The Package” Last week’s episode of “Lost” titled, “The Package” – not to be confused with “Jersey Shore’s” “the Situation” – took a look at our favorite Asian duo, Jin and Sun Kwon, as they proved that destiny is final, no matter what reality. Confused? Let me explain.

Rewind a bit back to the episode “Sundown,” in which the parallel reality Sayid took on the sleazy Martin Keamy. After kicking some major mercenary butt in an abandoned restaurant kitchen, Sayid heard a strange noise coming from a refrigerator room. What he discovered was our good friend Jin – only he wasn’t getting a snack. Instead, he was tied up with a nice gash in his head and begging for his life. After four episodes, we finally understand what the heck was going on.

“The Package” kicked off with Jin and Faux-Locke (aka Flocke) discussing the names of the “candidates,” also known as the six names written on the walls of Jacob’s cave.

Kwon is one of those names, but whom is it referencing? Jin? Sun? Both? Regardless of who it is, Flocke tells Jin that the only way anyone can leave the island is if all the “candidates” go together, which is exactly why he sets out on a mission to find Sun. After Flocke leaves, however, all goes wrong and Widmore’s men sneak in and tranquilize the entire camp, dragging Jin away with them.

Transitioning to the parallel reality, Jin and Sun are in Los Angeles together, but they’re not actually “together.” In this reality, they are not married. What we do learn, though,

is they are secretly sleeping together. I guess there’s no stopping that Kwon chemistry.

In the island reality, Flocke confronts Sun while she is alone in the jungle. He tries to convince her to join him and the rest of his group. If she agrees, he promises she will see Jin again. Sun, making the smart decision, decides to run away instead.

But just when you think she is half intelligent, she smacks face first into a tree. When Ben finds her unconscious body and wakes her, he learns that she can no longer speak English.

Sun can understand everything Ben is saying, but can only respond in Korean. I believe this lack of English is a sign that the parallel reality is seeping into the island reality, creating a connection and hinting at a more profound meaning.

Back in the parallel reality, Jin and Sun are taken captive by Keamy.

When Keamy realizes that he must kill Jin because Sun’s father has learned about Jin’s relationship with Sun, Keamy tells Jin, “Some people just aren’t meant to be together.”

Luckily for Jin, Sayid is brought into the kitchen and saves the day, allowing Jin to be reunited with Sun. No matter what reality, it looks like Keamy was wrong.

In the island reality, Jin is confronted by Widmore with a chart of all the areas on the island that contain electromagnetic energy. In the final seconds of the episode, it is revealed that Desmond is Widmore’s secret weapon against Flocke, and was “the package” refrence previously. As for Desmond, it looks as though the island isn’t finished with him just yet. I guess I’ll see you in another episode, brotha.

Season 6 Episode 11:

“Happily Ever After” The episode “Happily Ever After” was “Lost” at it’s absolute finest.

500 or so words cannot do it justice, but I’ll do my best.

In the fourth season, Desmond was shot by Ben Linus and brought to a nearby hospital. As he was wheeled away to the emergency room, he promised his beloved Penny that he would never leave her again. Looks like he was wrong because, under unknown circumstances, Desmond was forcibly taken back to the island

by Widmore.

At the Hydra station, Widmore and the rest of his team have built a massive electromagnetic microwave, which would kill any normal man within its walls. According to Widmore, Desmond has the ability to be unharmed by electromagnetic energy. However, surviving isn’t the only thing Desmond can do after being hit with electromagnetic energy – his mind can travel to another reality.

After being placed in the device, Widmore tells Desmond that he must make a sacrifice, and if he chooses not to, everything that he loves will be “gone forever.” When the device is turned on, Desmond opens his eyes and is no longer on the island.

Instead, he is now in LAX and in the parallel reality. This means we are finally going to see a connection between both realities and all the flashsideways plotlines haven’t been for nothing.

In the parallel reality, Desmond is unaware of the island reality. We soon learn that Desmond is an employee of Widmore and is asked to pick up Charlie from jail. In this re-

Thursday, April 8, 2010

ality, Charlie is scheduled to play at an event with Daniel Faraday, who instead of being a scientist is now a concert pianist like he had always dreamed of pursuing.

Once Desmond and Charlie are together, Charlie explains that when he choked on his bag of heroine in the airplane bathroom, he saw something “beautiful.” This something was the island reality, and since Charlie is dead in the island timeline, he begins to realize he shouldn’t actually be alive at all and everything they are seeing isn’t “real.”

This statement shocks Desmond into seeing flashbacks of the other timeline as well, which sends him on a search to find Penny (whom he has never met). On the way, he runs into Eloise and her son Faraday, who is now known as Danny Widmore.

Once Eloise realizes that Desmond is becoming aware that this reality isn’t “real” she pulls him aside and tells him to “stop.” This means she knows exactly what is going on.

After finding and introducing himself to Penny in the same place where he first met Jack, the connection between the two becomes obvious. Just like Jin and Sun, they are destined to be together. The moment he touches her hand, he passes out and awakens back in the island reality. After his experience, Desmond is now on board with Widmore’s plan and is completely aware that both realities exist. Although questions were answered, many remain. How did Eloise know about both timelines? How is Desmond planning on telling the others when he goes back to the other reality? Good thing “Lost” is only once a week, because my brain thoroughly hurts.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT |9B

The New Paltz Oracle

‘MLB 10: The Show,’ Almost Playing With The Pros NEW PS3 GAME HITS A HOMERUN WITH THE MOST REALISTIC BASEBALL YET

By Lynn Marie Impagliazzo Contributing Writer | Limpagliazzo62@newpaltz.edu “MLB 10: The Show” for PlayStation 3 (PS3) is not for the weak at heart, or for people with no hand-eye coordination.

Compared to “Bases Loaded” for Nintendo, which came out in Japan in 1987 and the United States in 1988, “MLB 10: The Show” is miles ahead. It is like watching a real baseball game. Your player can get thrown out of the game for arguing with the umpire, you can go to the bullpen and the catcher will show disappointment or anger on his face if you give up a home-run.

Here’s the how-to: As a player, you can choose any team that you want, whether it be the Boston Red Sox or Cleveland Indians.

You learn the ins and outs of the team you choose: which pitcher is the best, who has the most power in the line-up or which relief pitcher to put in at the end of the game. The whole point is to become solid with that team.

Or, you can play “Road to the Show.” Here you can create a character, from glove color to facial hair, get drafted to a team and then complete all the tasks your manager asks you to and work your way up from the minors.

With “MLB 10: The Show,” there is an online community where you are able to upload a picture and view your statistics and trophies. PS3 gives out challenges on each game and if you complete the challenge, you are awarded a trophy.

You can upload the Sports New York (SNY) theme song or use the songs that come with the game. You can even use the old-school “Meet the Mets” song. You can also create your own sounds in the game. For instance, if your name is Mike, you can get the crowd to chant “Let’s go Mike,” by just using a blue- tooth head set and attaching it to the PS3.

“MLB 10: The Show” is difficult, but the graphics are realistic.

“MLB 10: The Show” allows you to play online against other players. You play an actual ball game, all nine innings plus extra innings in case of a tie; you play until someone wins. That is the whole point of picking a team and getting good with them.

You also bat with each player on the team. Your batting must be accurate otherwise you will strike out. You can either use a power swing, or you have an accuracy swing. If you have trouble with batting, they allow you to go to batting practice.

At the beginning of a game, you pick a pitcher. Each pitcher has different pitches, like they do in real life. You select the pitch and use a meter to determine pitch pow-

PHOTO COURTESY OF OPERATIONSPORTS.COM

er and accuracy, which is where hand-eye-coordination comes in handy. After you throw the ball, the pitch will either be a strike or ball, like in real baseball.

If you do get a hit, you go on base and it is up to you to run the bases and not get out. If you are in the field, it is up to you to throw to the bases using the different buttons on your controller.

Overall, “MLB 10: The Show” is one of the most difficult baseball games on the market. It is also one of the best.

The graphics in the game are out of this world. PlayStation also did an amazing job in making the game feel like an actual ball game.

New Pokémon Lets You Catch Even More

PLAYERS WILL HAVE HEARTS OF GOLD AND SILVER SOULS AFTER PLAYING THE GAME

By Pierce Lydon Editor-in-Chief | Lydon47@newpaltz.edu Year after year we are constantly sold the same bastardized nostalgia in a shiny new packaging. Do you like GI Joe? Here’s a shitty movie. Do you like Transformers?

Here’s a marginally better movie. Do you like Ninja Turtles? Well, it was recently the 25th anniversary so let’s sell you the same junk you kind of already have.

But never fear. Nintendo is actually selling us a remake you don’t have to feel guilty buying. Pokémon has returned with the release of “Soul Silver” and “Heart Gold.” On the surface, they are just remakes of 2000’s “Pokémon Gold” and “Pokémon Silver.” But as the generations of Pokémon have progressed and our Game Boy Colors have evolved into Nintendo DS’s, we have been blessed with an entirely upgraded adventure.

Now I never played Pokémon “Gold” and “Silver.”

They existed in that void where I thought I was too cool for Pokémon (I know, I know. How could I?!). So for me, this is an entirely new experience.

You know the drill. A professor with an arboriculture-related name gives you a starting Pokémon, you give your rival a name (usually something involving the fellatio of the specific part of the male anatomy) and you get on your way catching ‘em all, fighting gym leaders

PHOTO BY FELICE BERNABO

The new Pokemon game brings the series to new heights.

(16 in this one!) and losing your shit when it seems that everything you fight is super effective against you.

In this incarnation, you carry a cell phone and you can re-battle old foes after they call you and tell you how good their Rattata is. Unfortunately, that gets pretty annoying as you rack up numbers pretty quick (What a playa!) and most of these people have nothing good to

Thursday, April 8, 2010

talk to you about. I’m looking at you Joey. If you keep calling, my girlfriend is going to think something is going on. I don’t care that you defeated Pidgey!

The touch screen of the DS is implemented flawlessly, adding a little bit more fun to battles and making navigating your bag a lot easier. With game play on the DS, we get to see improved graphics akin to “Pokémon Platinum” and relatively similar sound.

But there are two factors that make these the best Pokémon games ever. First, whichever Pokémon is first in your party FOLLOWS YOU AROUND just like in “Pokémon Yellow!” Secondly, the game comes packaged with the Pokéwalker which is similar to that old Pocket Pikachu Tamagotchi-esque thing that came out back in the day. With the Pokéwalker you gain Watts by walking around and then can use those watts to explore areas not in the game and catch Pokémon much earlier than they would usually be available. Let me put it this way, I had a level eight Kangaskhan before the first gym. Plus the Pokémon you carry with you can gain levels!

Pokémon is one of the greatest RPGs of all time and one of the only games that has held my attention for over a decade. The biggest flaw in this game is that it takes forever before you can catch a Pikachu so I had to make an egg in my other game and trade it to “Soul Silver.”

Boo hoo. I must really have my priorities straight.

10B | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The New Paltz Oracle

An Exploration With Robots VOCALIST COLLIN WOOLCOCK DELVES INTO THE BAND’S ORGANIC SOUND

By Shawn Butler Contributing Writer | n02217624@newpaltz.edu Collin Woolcock takes a sip of his coffee, sits back on the couch and observes the ambience at the Muddy Cup Café.

“There is nothing better than entering a room full of musicians and showing each other what we have to offer,” said Woolcock.

Woolcock is the guitarist and vocalist for the West Park/Highland-based band, Robots. His musical influences were first introduced to him while growing up in Highland.

“When I was around seven years old, I remember looking at my mom’s Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin albums and thinking what are these things with funny looking pictures?” Woolcock said.

This was just the beginning of Woolcock’s journey into music. His mother, Anne Phillips, introduced Woolcock to her entire collection of rock, folk and jazz albums ranging from Hendrix, The Beatles, Dylan and Miles Davis while his older brother, Robbie Phillips, introduced Woolcock to Black Flag, The Dead Kennedy’s, Misfits and Bad Brains.

Eventually, he realized that the “funny looking pictures” carried a deeper meaning. It was the lyrics and music that gave him a view into someone else’s world.

“It is an interpretive analysis of each other’s feelings

and emotions. The essence is constructed by one’s own experience,” said Woolcock.

Woolcock was eight when he lived with his father, Basil Woolcock, in Poughkeepsie. Basil was living in low-income housing. It was a one-bedroom apartment with a few other people. This experience changed Woolcock’s perception of the world.

“The financial differences and conventions of status and how people should live are silly things that people make up. Societies and governments have created these prejudices,” said Woolcock.

After a year, he moved back to Highland with his mother Anne and his curiosity with music grew into the realms of experimental, electronic and Eastern music.

“I was exposed to a lot of things, which is why I do not have a distinct feeling toward one genre,” Woolcock said.

When Woolcock was 17, he moved to Brooklyn with a few friends. He received another wave of inspiration from the rapid pace of the city, the easy access to art and the various styles of music.

“Music should be the reflection of your environment.

People walking down the street, the cars, horns and the birds chirping,” said Woolcock.

After spending two years in Brooklyn and playing at various venues, bars and loft parties, he moved back to Highland to rekindle with Robots. Woolcock wanted to create something that would be an expression of his con-

nection to city life and rural, mountain life.

“Our canvas consists of musical instruments, people and raw material,” said Woolcock, referring to Robots or as he calls it “one big art project.”

Robots have a steady ensemble of four people and they frequently ask other musicians to join them in order to grasp the spontaneity of the present moment. Any organic sound you have to offer is what they will play.

“There are weird, quirky absurdist layers and ambient textures that co-exist with the natural elements of life,” said Woolcock.

The creative process for Robots is the foundation for everything. It is the most important element that generates the audio and visual output.

“We are trying to accentuate the truth of the human spirit. If we force or rush anything it will be lost,” said Woolcock.

They remove the subjectivity and strip it down to pure emotion in order to connect directly with the soul.

The intertwining and the blending of sounds form one synchronous entity.

“If we were to pick up our instruments and play in the woods, it would not sound out of the ordinary,” said Woolcock.

Whether you are a participant or an onlooker at a Robots performance, you become connected to them; an extension of their “canvas.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK.COM

Robots present their music as reflections of their environment.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT |11B

The New Paltz Oracle

Making Music History

Soars with Second Success ‘VOLUME 2’ BRINGS WARM MELODIES WITH THE SUN

By Sunya Bhutta Copy Editor | Sunya.bhutta94@newpaltz.edu

relaxing lullaby.

Volume 2 brings thoughtful and warm melodies to the sunny seasons set ahead. Deschanel keeps her optimistic role in unrequited love and brings even more inspiration than she did in Volume 1.

Her self-written lyrics are sensitive and honest, giving the listener a relatable view of the unfortunate circumstances experienced in relationships but also providing the advice and understanding to overcome the obstacles in romances.

Ward provides substantial support with his layering and perfectly compatible tunes. These synthesized songs will keep you smiling throughout the spring.

Volume 2 Tracklist: 1.“Thieves” 2. “In the Sun” 3. “Don’t Look Back” 4. “Ridin’ In My Car” 5. “Lingering Still” 6. “Me and You” 7. “Gonna Get Along Without You Now” 8. “Home” 9. “I’m Gonna Make It Better” 10. “Sing” 11. “Over It Over Again” 12. “Brand New Shoes” 13. “If You Can’t Sleep”

The Oracle’s Top 10 Songs of the Week 1. “Summertime” - Beyonce 2. “Kim and Jessie” - M83 3. “Graze” - Animal Collective 4. “Melrose Diner” The Wonder Years 5. “Fix It” - Black Flag

While many know the late Shel Silverstein as an author of classic children’s books like “The Giving Tree” and “Where the Sidewalk Ends,” he also moonlighted as a country singer-songwriter.

His musical legacy will be honored on the upcoming Twistable, Turnable Man, which finds acts like John Prine, Dr. Dog and Andrew Bird putting their own spin on Silverstein’s compositions.

:: Last year, Jack White anonymously donated almost $170,000 to refurbish the baseball fields at Detroit’s Clark Park.

Pretty awesome. But now, according to a Fox report, 700 feet of fence has been stolen from the same park, rendering the fields unsafe to play on. Not awesome.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHE&HIM.COM

The serene sounds of indie-pop duo She & Him have returned with the release of their second album Volume 2 on Tuesday, March 23. Cute and quirky singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel shines vocally with her smooth and charming voice, while producer M. Ward contributes his folk flavor with occasional back-ups. Volume 2 offers refreshing springtime melodies similar to Volume 1 but with brighter illumination.

“Thieves” is a wonderful display of Deschanel’s soft and ethereal singing ability. Like most of the other tracks on Volume 2, the lyrics are heartfelt and emotional. She sings about a faulty romance that just can’t be fixed, saying, “I know and you know too, that a love like ours is terrible news.” But, even when she sings sadly, her messages are uplifting and affectionate like when she says, “We two are makers. Just made this mess. Two broken hearts don’t beat any less.”

Their debut single “In the Sun” and the third track “Don’t Look Back” radiate with upbeat and positive tones.

Some songs are about lingering feelings while others focus on being strong and moving on such as “Gonna Get Along Without You Now.” “Me and You” and “Home” are calm and comforting. In “Home” Deschanel is delightful as she sweetly sings, “I wanna be where your heart is home.”

“Brand New Shoes” has a lighter harmony with delicate rhythm and a slower tempo. “If You Can’t Sleep” is the final track and admirably ends the album with gentle humming that continues throughout the song, sounding like a

6. “Roxanne” - The Police 7. “Siberian Breaks” - MGMT 8. “Promised Land” Bruce Springsteen 9. “Summer’s Cauldron” - XTC 10. “Voodoo Lady” - Ween

List compiled by the E-board.

Their “show” is every Wednesday night from 7:30 p.m. to ?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

:: An investigation into the South Carolina jet crash that killed four people and seriously injured Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein has found that under-inflated tires were to blame for the September 2008 accident.

:: Update on Lil Wayne in jail: He has a job!

He is currently on suicide watch for the “crazier” prisoners and make sure they don’t kill themselves. He’s also started a prison blog.

:: The Rolling Stones will lend support to independent music stores next week, releasing a limited edition 7” single featuring a previously unreleased track from the upcoming Exile on Main St. reissue on Record Store Day, April 17.

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:

Dana Glover

NAME: Dana Glover ART: Illustrations YEAR: Fourth-year MAJOR: Visual Arts and Art History INSPIRATION: All over, from other artists, media, literature, music FAVORITE ARTIST: Albrecht Durer DREAM: Be living in the city and interning at a museum or gallery and showing and/

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANA GLOVER, CAPTION BY FELICE BERNABO

Thursday, April 8, 2010

The Pg 8New Paltz Oracle

The New Paltz Oracle Pg 9

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Haiti Presentation April 11 6 p.m. at New Paltz Village Hall Speaker Mark Schuller accompanied one of the first medical teams to arrive after the disaster and he will have just returned from a second trip. His presentation will update and detail the urgent need for new development models in Haiti. The CUNY anthropologist has worked in Haiti since 2001. At last count, six of his post-quake articles have appeared on HuffingtonPost.com. Admission is free.

“Coping with Diversity: French Universalism Meets Cultural Particularism” Featuring Mark Kesselman April 8 5 p.m. at SUNY New Paltz Lecture Center 100 The French Club and the Department of Foreign Languages will be hosting “Coping with Diversity: French Universalism Meets Cultural Particularism,” a lecture by Professor Mark Kesselman of Columbia University on April 8 at 5 p.m. The lecture, which will be held in Lecture Center Room 100, will touch on topics such as national identity. For more information, contact Mercedes Rooney at rooneym@newpaltz.edu.

Defend Democracy Street Rally April 10 12:30 p.m. at Elting Library Stand up to the recent Supreme Court ruling that will allow unlimited corporate money to influence our elections.

Street theater, music and jugglers.

Chabad @ New Paltz Presents Shabbat 118!

April 16 7:19 p.m. at SUNY New Paltz Honors Center in College Hall There is a candle lighting at 7:19 p.m. followed by services at 7:45 p.m. and dinner at 8:30 p.m. Bring a friend. Bring 10 friends! Share in the celebration of life as we welcome the Shabbat Queen.

Sixth Annual Symposium on Energy: The Energy Highway

April 16 8 a.m. at the The Links at Erie Village “Efficient, Secure, Reliable and Environmentally Sensitive Transmission and Distribution of Electricity” with Dr. Rhea Jezer, chair at “The Links at Erie Village,” The fee is $40. For more information and to register, go to www.cazenovia.edu/energy.

p.m. in Lecture Hall 100. He will discuss how our current economic crisis offers an opportunity for transformation and describes ways each of us can employ our individual passions and skills to prosper. Admission is free. If you are a person with a disability who will require accommodations, please contact Zach Dreyfuss at npeconomicsclub@gmail. com by April 15.

“Transilluminations” Opening Reception April 17 6 p.m. at the M Gallery in Catskill “Transilluminations” is a show of photographic images printed on various media including backlit transparencies, metal, and traditional paper. Woodstock photographer, Jonas Caufield, will display his subjects - transvestites, drag queens, and androgynous alternative fashionistas – in an intimate setting along Main Street, Catskill. Jonas Caufield, photographing under his pseudonym Jack Flack, captured these images from underground clubs, nightlife events, and nightlife personalities from New York, London, and the Hudson Valley. “Transilluminations” will focus on the concept of gender identity and sexuality in dress.

The subjects and the illuminated images themselves will shine light on the observer and our concept of non traditional self expression in relation to gender roles.

14th Annual New Paltz Clean Sweep April 24 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Clean Sweep is a great way to help make the community sparkle by giving it a fresh spring cleaning. Have fun and join area business owners, residents, local politicians, community organizations, and schools to tidy up the parks, sidewalks and streets of New Paltz. There are two ways to sign up for this event: individually or with a group. You must sign up no later than Friday, April 16!

To sign up individually, please e-mail Erica Wagner at wagnere@newpaltz.edu with your name, e-mail, phone number and class year. To sign up with a group, please e-mail Erica Wagner at wagnere@newpaltz.edu with your name, email, phone number, class year and the name of your group.

Relay for Life April 17 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. at SUNY New Paltz American Cancer Society’s fundraiser for cancer research, prevention and patient services. For more information visit www.relayforlife.org/sunynewpaltz.

“Economic Crisis: the Hit Men Strike Home, What Next and How to Deal with It.” April 22 7 p.m. at the SUNY New Paltz Lecture Center, Room 100 John Perkins, New York Times Bestselling Author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and The Secret History of the American Empire, will be speaking at SUNY New Paltz, April 22 at 7

“Celebration of Writing” April 30 3 to 5 p.m. at SUNY New Paltz “Celebration of Writing” will be held on April 30 from 3 to 5 p.m. Students are asked to submit writing samples and read an excerpt of their writing at the event. Awards are given for the best writing in each category. We encourage submissions from students in all disciplines, including science, technology, social science, art, history, education, or other disciplines where writing provides a necessary analysis tool. We welcome critical reviews of arts and cultural activity, social and political analyses, news stories, book reviews and science reports. Of course, we welcome creative fiction, drama and verse. Additional information and the 2010 COW application can be found at www.newpaltz.edu/ WritingBoard/#events.

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, April 8, 2010

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 student-staffed 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.

Pg 10

OPINIONS

The New Paltz Oracle

EDITORIAL

DON’T TASE US, NEW PALTZ The recent proposal for the New Paltz Village Police to carry tasers has sparked much debate among the SUNY New Paltz community, and has us quite disturbed.

While the main goal of the proposal is to reduce injuries to New Paltz police officers, we feel that this should not come at the price of our safety, especially when there is no apparent need for such a drastic step.

If the proposal is passed, the two officers in the Emergency Response Unit would be given tasers, but eventually more could be given out, which would heighten the risk of taser use becoming the norm in the calm and mostly peaceful Town of New Paltz.

The main purpose of tasers is to disable a prospective assailant from a distance and allow a law enforcement officer to gain control of the situation regardless of who the assailant is. But in a town where things are always quiet, peaceful, and full of mostly non-violent students, the need for such an aggressive, and potentially lethal, addition to the polices arsenal should not be required.

The idea of a taser being used on students, or citizens, is frightening. In March, there were a reported 70 taser related deaths since the beginning of 2009, and according to Amnesty International, 334 people died in the United States from 2001 to 2008. Many opponents of tasers say that abuse is the largest issue, because many times tasers are used not as a last result, but rather an intimidation tool.

Even more alarming, Amnesty International’s study found that 90 percent of those who died in a taser related incidents were unarmed and many did not appear to be a serious threat to law enforcement officers.

When the town is supposedly strapped for cash, and is willing to fill in the gaps by fining people who violate a 50 decibel noise law, why should they waste money on tasers when there is no immediate need for them.

Students on campus are also outraged at the idea of tasers being used by New Paltz police. We urge students to become more informed by joining the Facebook group that is aimed at making students more aware of the factors surrounding the proposal.

If New Paltz had a repeated history

CARTOON BY JON AIELLO

of violent crimes, where the use of taser would have significantly aided an officer to apprehend an assailant, this would be a different argument. However, New Paltz is a quiet and small community made up of families and peaceful students. Using tasers would be a step that New Paltz is

not required to take.

The job of the police is to keep the village safe, and stunning us with electricity does not achieve that goal.

On April 8 a town meeting will be held for members of the New Paltz community to voice their opinions regarding

the proposal. We urge students and residents of New Paltz to attend the meeting and express their disapproval of the idea of police officers carrying yet another potentially lethal weapon in a town where the need for even one is often too much.

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.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

The New Paltz Oracle

OPINIONS

Pg 11

COLUMNS

Taking Back Their Identity Andrew Wyrich Copy Editor Andrew.wyrich63@newpaltz.edu Some of you may or may not know that pop-punk legends Taking Back Sunday are finishing the seemingly endless revolving door of new members and reuniting the original five band mates that started the band all those years ago. It feels like forever since we were graced with John Nolan’s lyrics and backing vocals that captured the emotions of many fans (including myself) back in the day.

Since the original band mates left, Taking Back Sunday has never been able to reach the pinnacle that they reached with their first album, Tell All Your Friends, and

after the atrocity they released last year (New Again) it was starting to seem like Taking Back Sunday was finished. While this re-uniting is not confirmed, Twitter comments and various other media outlets have all but announced that the Long Island natives will be reuniting.

While I hope that the current alignment of musicians will be able to re-create the beauty that is Tell All Your Friends, and that they will be able to survive Adam Lazzara’s ego for more than thirty seconds, that is actually not why I am writing this column.

I’m writing about how awesome Tell All Your Friends really is.

Tell All Your Friends is an iconic album in the pop-punk genre, and truly defined the scene when it was released in 2002. It is regarded by many to be one of the best albums of the last decade, and you would be hard pressed to find someone who did not know the words to “Cute Without The E.” It is a piece of angsty, angry, and emotional art that is relatable to anyone who has had the misfortune of being in an ill-fated relationship or just loves pop-punk.

Tell All Your Friends’ influence is seen throughout the genre, but unfortunately has been lost in the latest trend of neon headbands, v-necks, new era caps and basketball shorts. Hopefully when this trend dies and bands like Cobra Starship (Gabe Saporta you are an asshole for destroying Midtown) and All Time Low “get what they deserve,” Tell All Your Friends will finally be something people universally recognize as noteworthy and relatable.

But honestly, every time the weather turns nice (much like it has been in the last few weeks) I find myself unable to pry myself away from Tell All Your Friends. I find that the perfect way to kill a few hours is to drive around aimlessly, with the windows down, listening to the lyrics that seemingly were written for me – only The Starting Line’s Say It Like You Mean It and The Wonder Years’ The Upsides have ever affected me like Tell All Your Friends has. It is truly an awesome album. “Your So Last Summer” is honestly one of the best summer songs ever written, and I listen to it non-stop every time the temperature hits 70 degrees or more. Many times

I wonder if I was born a few years too late, if I wasn’t I would have been able to enjoy the Tell All Your Friends Era as a teenager.

I’m hoping this current re-uniting will lead to a Tell All Your Friends Tour, where Taking Back Sunday plays the album straight through, while bringing along bands from the time period along with them (maybe The Starting Line? Or The Early November? Brand New?) much like New Found Glory did to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their self-titled with Saves The Day (which was an awesome show by the way).

So this is me, “with the words on the tip of my tongue,” saying go fucking listen to this album.

Andrew is a first-year student and will be a journalism major soon enough. His vices include drinking more coffee than is healthy for him, watching way too much “Scrubs” and listening to a disturbing amount of poppunk music. He also loves the New York Metropolitans to death, and wishes that they didn’t lead him into a deep dark depression every October.

Finding Faith in Psychedelic Art

Sunya Bhutta Copy Editor Sunya.Bhutta94@newpaltz.edu I came across the entrancing and mystical art of Alex Grey when a close friend of mine filmed him and his paintings for a documentary. The intense colors, lively graphics and extraordinary images had me stunned.

The art recently found a new home in Wappinger Falls called the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM). Alex Grey and his wife Allyson Grey have hosted hundreds of spiritual and cultural events at their former CoSM location in New York City. They plan on reopening a magnificent new chapel exhibition which would display Alex Grey’s majestic and psychedelic paintings, meant to allow seeing the divine reflections of one another. It is a place where people of all ages, ethnicities, cultures and faiths can come together to unite with nature and art. Their mission is to encourage the creative spirits with events such as the monthly Full Moon gatherings and equinox celebrations.

The Full Moon ceremonies build a sense of community by embracing diverse cultures through music and poetry.

Everyone is encouraged to bring a drum

or instrument to play. There is also dancing, singing, meditation and prayer. The atmosphere will open your heart and mind to love and tranquility. Admission is $10 and all are welcome.

Alex Grey’s inspirational paintings portray the intricate anatomy of the human body, mind and spirit. His life-size work is vivid in detail and displays both the physical and energetic systems within the body through human evolution, unity and consciousness.

The painting “Kissing” is one of my absolute favorites. It is a beautiful work of art which elegantly and astonishingly reveals the interior view of two bodies connecting physically and spiritually through a kiss. The fire ignited through their veins and the energy radiating from their skin emits passion and love. Grey’s other works incorporate sacred or reli-

gious symbols such as chakras and auras through tessellations and geometric shapes. His work allows you to see a sublime perspective of human grace.

CoSM will throw a benefit party on Earth Day April 22 with Ken Jordan from the Crystal Method. There will be a fire performance, belly dancing, flower dancing and floral sculpture. Alex Grey will also do a live painting. The next Full Moon gathering is April 24. For more information on these events or others visit cosm.org.

Sunya is a third-year English and adolescent education major with a minor in journalism.

This is her second semester on The New Paltz Oracle. She loves sunflowers, patterned apparell, the color yellow and alternative music.

She also enjoys dancing everywhere.

Do you want to be a copy editor for The New Paltz Oracle?

Come to our elections on on Sunday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Student Union 417!

For more information about the position, contact the editor-in-chief at oracle@newpaltz.edu Thursday, April 8, 2010

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The New Paltz Oracle

Hawks Players of the Week For the Week Ending April 11 Fourth-year Dale Cornelius finished 4-for-10, raising her batting average over a 100 points in a four game conference set this past weekend against Oswego and nationally ranked No. 9 Cortland.

In the Friday series against Oswego, she was 2-for-6 with one run and two RBI. Against No. 9 Cortland, she was 2-for-4, including a 2-for-2 performance in game two with one run and two RBI. She came up clutch in the first inning with a two run single.

First-year Thomas Pinnola finished with a 5-for-7 performance in the doubleheader sweep of St. Joseph’s College on Friday.

In game one, Pinnola was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI and was perfect from the plate, 3-for-3 in game two with three runs and an RBI. For the year, Pinnola is hitting .538 with a double and a homerun, including seven RBI and eight runs.

Wellness and Recreation Events and Activities Outdoor Pursuit Trips

Group Fitness Schedule

Rock Climbing: Saturday, April 24 - Multi Pitch Cost: $25 Multi-pitch rock climbing trip to the Gunks, there is a 12 person max for this trip. This trip is intended to the intermediate and advanced climber.

Registration will close on April 19.

Horseback Riding: Saturday, April 17 Cost: $12 Take an hour long trail ride, all levels are welcome. Registration closes on Monday, April 12. Registration is in room 220 in the gym.

Paintball: Sunday, April 18 Cost: $20 Grab your friends and play paintball!

There is a 40 student max. Registration is closed on April 13 for this trip.

Monday

Hawk Announcement Event The new Hawk will be named Thurs.

April 7 on the athletic field. The event will take place during the baseball game from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday

12 p.m.

Cycling with Corinna 3:30 p.m.

Absolute Abs with Bianca 6:30 p.m.

Vinyasa Yoga with Lana, Room 101 7:15 p.m.

Dance Groove with Elisa 7:30 p.m.

Cycling with Lauren N. 8:30 p.m.

Belly Dance with Amy 4:30 p.m.

BOSU Strength with Corinna 5:30 p.m.

Zumba with Jen 6:00 p.m.

Vinyasa Yoga with Lana, Room 101 7 p.m.

Jujitsu with Lauren, Room 101 7:30 p.m.

Willpower & Grace with Saara, Cycling with Starr 8:30 p.m.

Hip Hop Cardio with Danit Wednesday 7 a.m.

Cycling with Corinna 5 p.m.

Vinyasa Yoga with Lana, Room 101, Boot Camp with Bianca 6 p.m.

Cycle Strength with Lauren Z. Belly Dance with Amy 7 p.m.

Cycling with Stephanie Thursday 12 p.m.

Cycling with Corinna 5 p.m.

Vinyasa Yoga with Lana, Room 101, Zumba with Corinna 5:30 p.m.

Cycling with Starr 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Friday

Willpower and Grace with Saara 7:30 p.m.

Cycling with Jessica 8 p.m.

Hip Hop Cardio with Danit 2 p.m.

Dance Groove with Elisa 3 p.m.

Willpower and Grace with Shelbie 3:30 p.m.

Cycling with Starr 4 p.m.

Vinyasa Yoga with Lana, Room 101 4 p.m.

Boot Camp with Bianca

The intramural department is always looking for input to stay up to date with the latest trends sweeping the campus. If you have any ideas, questions or concerns, feel free to contact the Coordinator of Intramurals Joe Deck at deckj@newpaltz.edu.

The New Paltz Oracle

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SPORTS

Spring Break, South American Style

By Pete Thompson Sports Editor | Pthompson51@newpaltz.edu

The Athletic & Wellness Center opted for something other than a traditional party trip this spring break. Hosted by Costa Rica Outward Bound, Director of Wellness & Recreation Keith Kenney and 13 students traveled to the South American country for a seven-day, multi-element course.

Aside from the local outdoor pursuits and the first-year camping trip in the Catskills, Kenney said he had always wanted to put a destination trip together and saw the opportunity for an “alternate spring break trip” when he was contacted by Costa Rica Outward Bound last year.

“The main goal for me was to have students engulf themselves in another culture and a new country, and not just do the touristtype vacation,” Kenney said. “We all got so much out of it.”

Everyone everyone partook in a number of outdoor and educational activities from March 13 to 20. Specifically, they spent three days learning about the environment while hiking through the rain forest, two days surfing and exploring a national park at Manuel Antonio Beach and the final two days whitewater rafting on the eighth fastest river in the world and walking around the city of San

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEITH KENNEY

Kenney and thirteen students embarked on a seven-day, multi-element course.

Jose.

“I had never been to another country, so it really opened my eyes,” said undeclared second-year Meghan Walsh. “To see everything first hand is amazing.”

Since the trip was a culturally focused, environmental preservation was heavily promoted. Walsh said that vast deforestation was

pointed out while white-water rafting.

Staying in a range of places including the Outward Bound beach house, their lodge and even a local family’s home, the group was accompanied by two guides at all times.

Kenney said Outward Bound actually noted them as one of its best groups.

“I feel like we laughed for about seven

Thursday, April 8, 2010

days,” Kenney said.

The program put forth a physical challenge for its participants, requiring three days of hiking through the jungle upon arrival. Getting the difficult part out of the way, everyone had the privilege of taking it easy and enjoying the beach and city for much of the remainder.

“I don’t think it would have been as amazing if these people were not there,” Walsh said. “Everyone was so different, but we all just meshed.”

At the least, Kenney wants things to run as they were from year to year, but he’d like some improvement in order to provide more students with the opportunity, specifically regarding pricing. Currently totaling $1,178 for tuition and flight, Kenney is putting together a presentation for administration in hopes of lowering the price a little, possibly by having the school pay more and the students less, or even have students receive academic credit since it is classified as a course.

Over 60 students attended the general interest meeting, but many could not afford the trip. The interest was there, but for many, the money was not. Kenney would also like to allow more time for planning and logistics.

“It’ll definitely be easier next year,” Kenny said, “Now I’ll know what to expect.”

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The New Paltz Oracle

SUNY New Paltz Weekly Sports Update

By Andrew Wyrich Copy Editor | Andrew.wyrich63@newpaltz.edu

Baseball April 6: The New Paltz Baseball team had 19 hits and scored 14 runs en route to a 14-4 win over the King’s College Monarchs. The Hawks improved to 12-6 overall. Thomas Pinnola went 4-for-5 and scored four runs with one RBI and Clinton Boettcher was 3-for-5 with one run and two RBIs for the Hawks.

April 3: The Hawks split a doubleheader with the Briarcliffe Seahawks with a 4-3 loss and a 7-5 victory. After the double header, the Hawks fell to 11-6 on the season.

April 2: The New Paltz Baseball team out hit the Golden Eagles 24-10 in the doubleheader en route to 5-4 (9 innings) and 10-4 wins. The Hawks improved to 10-5 overall and St. Joseph’s fell to 8-13 overall.

March 27: The New Paltz Baseball team defeated the Brockport Golden Eagles 3-2. After the game time was pushed back on several occasions, the Hawks and Golden Eagles kicked off conference play at 3:20 p.m. The Hawks improved to 8-5 overall and 1-0 in the league.

March 23: The Dolphins of the College of Staten Island clobered the Hawks, 7-0. The Hawks fell to 7-5 overall with the loss. Clinton Boettcher, Dylan Franco, Steve Pinckney and Mike Sherlock all had a hit a piece for the Hawks and Franco added his first triple of the year.

Softball April 3: The New Paltz Softball team came up short in a doubleheader against nationally ranked No. 9 Cortland State Red Dragons. Cortland beat the Hawks by the score of 1-0 in game one and 7-5 in game two.

In game one, Erin Fitzpatrick was 1-for-2 for the Hawks and Courtney Costello pitched a complete game, and allowed one run, one earned, on seven hits while striking out one.

April 2: The Hawks picked up two wins this afternoon against Oswego State.

The Hawks defeated the Lakers 6-0 in game one, and 7-5 in game two. In game one, Samantha Barra was 2-2 with two RBI and Erin Fitzpatrick was 1-3 with two RBI along with her first homerun of the season.

had a game-high four service aces and chipped in with four kills.

March 26: The New Paltz Men’s Volleyball team fell to Division I Sacred Heart in three sets to fall to 18-15 overall. Kevin

Stross led the team with 17 kills and Sean Foley added 10 kills. Mike Van Tyne finished with nine kills and Jonathan Van Dyke and Jake Moore each had six kills.

Men’s Volleyball April 5: The New Paltz Men’s Volleyball team had two players earn North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) all-division awards. Jake Moore earned First-Team All-Metro Division for an outside hitter. He tallied a team-high 428 kills and 73 service aces, including 56 blocks. Kevin Stross earned First-Team All-Metro Division for a middle hitter. He tallied 412 kills, 98 kills and led the nation in hitting percentage with a .467 mark.

March 31: The New Paltz Hawks had double-figure kills from two players and hit .330 as a team to improve to 19-15 overall with a win over Division I New Haven. Before the game, the Hawks honored Jake Moore, Daniel Liberto, Eric Rothbard and Mike Fink as they played their final home game as a Hawk. Liberto and Kevin Stross each had a game-high 14 kills, while Liberto hit .500 and Stross finished with a .722 hitting percentage.

March 24: The New Paltz Men’s Volleyball team defeated Mount St. Vincent 3-0 to improve to 18-14 overall and 7-2 in the NECVA Metro Division. The Hawks were led by Mike Van Tyne with 13 kills and three blocks, and Jonathan Van Dyke has a .833 hitting percentage. Jake Moore

Come write for The New Paltz Oracle!

Our next meeting will be held on Sunday, April 11 at 7 p.m. in Student Union 418 Thursday, April 8, 2010

The New Paltz Oracle

SPORTS

MLB 2010 Season Preview

Pg 15

Andrew Wyrich Copy Editor Andrew.wyrich63@newpaltz.edu

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AFTERMATHOFTHESTORM.COM

AMERICAN LEAGUE (AL)

NATIONAL LEAGUE (NL)

Boston Red Sox: 95–67, The Red Sox improved their defense greatly this offseason, and should reap the benefits of their choice to do so. Their moves will solidify their quest for the AL East title.

New York Yankees: 94–68, (Wild Card) The Yankees strengthened their rotation this offseason, but I don’t believe Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson will be able to replicate the production Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui provided. Nevertheless, the AL East will come down to the final series of the season between the Yankees and Red Sox. Tampa Bay Rays: 89–77, The Rays will just fall short of competing with the two power houses of the east, but will be in the hunt all year Carl Crawford will NOT be traded at the trade deadline.

Baltimore Orioles: 79–83, The O’s greatly improved in the offseason by acquiring solid veterans, but this year is a stop gap for their young players such as Nick Markakis and Adam Jones to develop into stars. Next year, the O’s should compete.

Toronto Blue Jays: 62-100, It’ll be a while before Toronto is relevant again, but the prospects they acquired when they traded Roy Halladay should have an impact sooner rather than later.

Philadelphia Phillies: 92–70, The Phillies, as much as it pains me to say it, are the best team in the national league. With the addition of Roy Halladay, they now have the second best pitcher in baseball heading their rotation to compliment their dominant lineup.

New York Mets: 87–75, With the addition of slugger Jason Bay, and the return of Jose Reyes the Mets will surprise the baseball world this year. When Carlos Beltran returns, he will be the catalyst for a final push at the end of the season that will inevitably fall short of a playoff berth. Also, expect Bronson Arroyo to be a Met this summer through a deadline deal.

Florida Marlins: 83–79, The Marlins are young and dangerous. Hanley Ramirez is a legitimate all-star and their rotation is extremely promising. However, they say pitching and defense win championships (unless you are the Yankees) and the Marlins do not have the second part of that equation. Their defense will be their downfall.

Atlanta Braves: 82–80, Jason Heyward is destined for stardom, but Chipper Jones is destined for retirement. The Braves made some moves that caught people’s attention this year, but due to their age, their bullpen will fail them late in the year.

Washington Nationals: 61–101, Stephen Strasburg can’t come soon enough. Also, Adam Dunn should be wearing red sox in the latter half of the year.

Minnesota Twins: 88–74, The Twins made upgrades around the diamond for the upcoming season, but they will miss Joe Nathan more than they realize. Luckily, only the White Sox and possibly Detroit will challenge them for the AL Central title.

Chicago White Sox: 85–77, The White Sox finally found their leadoff man when they acquired Juan Pierre from the Dodgers. This coupled with a full season of staff ace Jake Peavy will make the Sox relevant again. However, I think Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzinski will begin to show their age this season, limiting the Sox success.

Detriot Tigers: 82-80, They traded Curtis Granderson earlier in the off season, and received some young prospects in return. Former Yankee farmhand Austin Jackson is expected to start, and Max Scherzer, formerly of Arizona, should become a star someday.

Kansas City Royals: 75-87, The Royals were a trendy pick to be successful at the beginning of last season; however they reverted to their usual losing ways. However, this is another year in their rebuilding plan, and the Central is a weak division. They could surprise.

Cleveland Indians: 74–88, The Indians are a shell of what they once were. Many of their players, including former star Travis Hafner, just don’t do the same things that they used to do. The Indians should begin to rebuild – fast.

St. Louis Cardinals: 90–72, The Cardinals have two very good 1-2 punches. Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter will dominate the top of their rotation, and Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday will be a great middle of the lineup threat.

Chicago Cubs: 84–78, The Cubs really are not that good, but neither is the rest of the division. The Cubs are just lucky to play in the Central Division.

Cincinnati Reds: 81–81, The Reds have been rebuilding for years, and this year they will finally show some promise. Signing Aroldis Chapman from Cuba this year will pay dividends later in the year, but Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang will be dealt for some Major League ready pitching at the deadline.

Milwaukee Brewers: 80–82, The Brewers can hit. Prince Feilder and Ryan Bruan will provide the Brew Crew with many big hits, but unfortunately for Milwaukee fans, the Brewers cannot pitch.

Pittsburgh Pirates: 75–87, The Pirates are seemingly the leagues perpetual bottom feeders, however finally their never ending rebuilding mode should show some dividends.

Houtson Astros: 70-92, The Astros are a mess. Their minor league system and picking are thin and their offense is borderline. Roy Oswalt could be a sought after this deadline.

Texas Rangers: 90-72, The Rangers added star pitcher Rich Harden to anchor their staff, and Vladimir Guerrero to slot in the middle of their lineup. Guerrero should be a productive hitter in the Rangers bandbox of a stadium. The Rangers should benefit from a weak offseason from their rivals, the Angels, and could capture the AL West crown.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: 87–75, The Angels lost their ace John Lackey, to the Red Sox, and their leadoff hitter, Chone Figgins to the Seattle Mariners this offseason, and did little to replace them. Hideki Matsui should provide some of the offese lost by Guerrero heading to Texas, but it will be difficult for the Angels to repeat in 2010.

Seattle Mariners: 83–79, The Mariners are this year’s trendy pick to have a big year, however I don’t think the Mariners are quite ready to compete in the AL West. Seattle acquired starter Cliff Lee from the Phillies, and stole Chone Figgins from the Angels, but the team still has holes at the end of their rotation that could hurt them later in the league.

Oakland A’s: 79–83, The A’s added former ace Ben Sheets this offseason for a tidy sum of $10 million per season. However, I expect that Sheets’ stint in Oakland will be short lived and he will shipped to a contender at the trade deadline, netting the A’s some much needed prospects.

San Francisco Giants: 88–76, The Giants finally added some offense this offseason.

The additions of Mark DeRosa and Aubrey Huff should help the offense assist the stellar pitching staff they have had for years.

Colorado Rockies: 87-75, (Wild Card) Troy Tulowitzki is a legitamite leader, and should propel this team to the playoffs. Their young pitching, coupled with their young offense, should lead to a strong season from the mile high club.

Los Angeles Dodgers: 84–78, The Dodgers did not do anything to address their needs this offseason, and it will pay in the standings. If they do not perform, the D-Backs could make a move towards the end of the season.

Arizona D-Backs: 83 -79, The D-Backs are a young team, and have some of the game’s best young stars, but they are still missing something. Recently acquired Edwin Jackson should provide a stable arm behind Brandon Webb, and could make a playoff push if things go their way.

San Diego Padres: 69–93, Adrian Gonzalez will not be batting cleanup for very long.

All offseason Gonzalez was the center of trade talks, and by July 31 he should be the Red Sox cleanup hitter.

PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS DIVISONAL SERIES AL: Red Sox over Twins, Yankees over Rangers NL: (one game playoff) Rockies over Mets – Phillies over Rockies, Cardinals over Giants

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES AL: Red Sox over Yankees in 7 NL: Cardinals over Phillies in 5

Thursday, April 8, 2010

WORLD SERIES Red Sox over Cardinals in 6

SPORTS THE NEW PALTZ ORACLE

INTO THE

WILD Students Have Academic Adventures in Costa Rica See Story on Page 13

2010 MLB Preview just in time for the season opening

Column on Page 15

PHOTO COURTESY OF MLB.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEITH KENNEY