Volume 88, Issue 16

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NEW PALTZ ORACLE THE

Volume 88, Issue XVI

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Thursday, March 10 , 2016

SPEAKING OUT SUNY New Paltz Students Demonstrate Around Town Against Tuition Increases STORY ON PAGES 4 & 5 - EDITORIAL ON PAGE 9

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF THE NEW PALTZ ORACLE

• College Council to Focus on Improvement Plan.............Pg 3 • Reconstruction of NP Police Commission Considered............Pg 7 • Local Woman Launches Clean Lunch Program.............Pg 6 • College Chooses New Provost..................................................Pg 8


Kristen Warfield EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Nate Sheidlower

NEW PALTZ ORACLE THE

MANAGING EDITOR _________________

Melanie Zerah NEWS EDITOR

Jack O’Brien FEATURES EDITOR

Sam Manzella

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Melissa Kramer SPORTS EDITOR

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Holly Lipka David Khorassani PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS

Stefanie Diers CARTOONIST

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Michael Rosen Jonathan Perry Jess Napp Monique Tranchina Anthony Orza Rachael Purtell Kintura Williams COPY EDITORS

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Jackie Quaranto WEB CHIEF

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Cam Collichio BUSINESS MANAGER _________________

Marisa Losciale

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER _________________

STAFF Sage Higgins, Matthew D’Onofrio, Nick Tantillo, Otto Kratky, Jake Berkowitz, Erica Ascher, Briana Bonfiglio, Jackson Shrout, Liam Baker

FEATURES

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About The New Paltz Oracle

A&E

The New Paltz Oracle is the official student newspaper of SUNY New Paltz. Our circulation is 2,500. The New Paltz Oracle is sponsored by the Student Association and partially funded by the student activity fee. The New Paltz Oracle is located in the Student Union (SU) Room 417. Deadline for all submissions is 5 p.m. on Sundays in The New Paltz Oracle office and by email at oracle@hawkmail. newpaltz.edu. All advertisements must be turned in by 5 p.m. on Fridays, unless otherwise specified by the business manager. Community announcements are published gratuitously, but are subject to restriction due to space limitations.There is no guarantee of publication. Contents of this paper cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. The New Paltz Oracle is published weekly throughout the fall and spring semesters on Thursdays. It is available in all residence halls and academic buildings, in the New Paltz community and online at oracle.newpaltz.edu. For more information, call 845-257-3030. The fax line is 845-257-3031.

Volume 88 Issue 16 Index NEWS THE DEEP END COLUMN

Kristen Warfield

SPORTS

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

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Five-Day Forecast Thursday, March 10 Light Rain High: 70 Low: 47

There were no incidents reported to the University Police Log between our last issue and this one. That said, as the weather gets warmer and the blood starts to flow remember to be cautious, safe and respectful to the law and your fellow students.

Saturday, March 12

SUNY New Paltz University Police Department Emergencies: 845-257-2222

Sunday, March 13

Friday, March 11 Partly Cloudy High: 60 Low: 31

Sunny High: 66 Low: 40

Cloudy High: 61 Low: 42

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THE GUNK EDITORIAL

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Monday, March 14 Showers High: 48 Low: 44


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President Christian Outlines College Improvement Plan

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

A view of the Atrium and Student Union Building

By Holly Lipka

Photo Editor | Lipkah1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

A SUNY Campus Performance Improvement Plan laid out several quantitative goals such as diversity, graduation rates, completion and enrollment for SUNY New Paltz to achieve within five years. President Donald Christian discussed the goals and challenges that may affect their achievement, such as lack of space and housing, with the college council on March 3. An overall theme stated in the plan involves goals like recruiting more diverse students, faculty and staff of all backgrounds and ethnicites. Increasing the percentage of incoming classes from historically underrepresented groups and the number of veteran and military students are also aspiring goals for the future. By also achieving an upward trend on Student Opinion Survey scores concerning race, sexual orientation or gender identity, it will act as a “reflection on changing our community,”

Christian said. More quantitative goals include improving graduation rates by raising the four-year graduation rate from the current 55 percent to 62 percent. The college also strives to improve two-year and three-year transfer graduation rates from 39 percent to 45 percent and 70 percent to 76 percent. “We have to remember a one percent change in our graduation or retention rate reflects 11 students staying or not staying, or not graduating,” Christian said. In order to improve completion at SUNY New Paltz, the college strives to develop new, flexible majors, increase the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded beginning in 2019 and increase the number of dual-degree bachelors and master recipients beginning in 2020. New Paltz retention rates are above national and state average, but SUNY New Paltz wants to continue gains in firstyear retention, stretching their goal of 93 percent by 2020.

SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher wanted SUNY to increase from offering 93,000 degrees annually to 150,000 annually by 2020 initially, but extended it to 2025. “I don’t know if any of us in the leadership team believe we can legitimately increase our degree production by 50 percent in a five-year period or even a 10-year period,” Christian said. However, Christian believes looking at other types of credentials like certificate programs and more 4+1 programs, which allow business students to receive a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years, could contribute to increasing the amount of degrees offered. The improvement plan also lays out enrollment growth; with plans for EOP growth, growth in military and veteran students, and increased 4+1 programs in different fields and adding new certificate programs. The budget did not increase this year for SUNY schools but the council is continuing to advocate for increased

Thursday, March 10, 2016

funding. “Our success on some of these goals is resource dependent,” Christian said. “If we have a budget cut, we can’t sustain all of these things.” From all the goals listed, the council believes enrollment growth and completions will increase the revenue for the expansion of opportunities for SUNY New Paltz. Enrollment growth in the chancellor’s vision welcomes people of the non-traditional age who do not have college degrees or have no college experience. By increasing the amount of high school graduates that are college ready, even though it’s declining, may also allow for enrollment growth. Space constraints remain a difficult challenge for improving goals for SUNY New Paltz. In order to grow completions for increased revenue, the council said SUNY New Paltz needs more housing and another classroom facility. If the college had more housing and classrooms, the council believes the economy of this improvement plan can be sustained.


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SUNY New Paltz Students

By Melanie Zerah

News Editor | Zerahm1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

On March 4 at noon, the New York Students Rising (NYSR) activism organization and about 100 other SUNY New Paltz students walked out of their classes to stand in solidarity with 20 other SUNY campuses protesting the five years of tuition increases under the SUNY 2020 Plan. This plan has caused tuition to rise $300 per year. After rushing the halls of the Humanities Building, participants gathered directly outside and recited chants in demonstration of their frustration. “Students united we will never be defeated,” “raise hell, not tuition,” and “fight, fight, fight, fight, education is a right,” are only three of the many shouts that filled the academic concourse. “Are you angry? I wanna hear you if you are angry!” exclaimed Kelsey Ryan, fourth-year international relations major at SUNY New Paltz and member of NYSR. Students stood with black balloons with paper chains attached to them tied to their ankles to represent the “ball and chain” that is living with student debt. One student dressed up in a black and white stripped prisoners uniform to emphasize the burden of owing thousands of dollars to banks as a young adult. “This is a statewide effort and it is huge,” Ryan said. “United we are super powerful and I think people are finally starting to wake up and see that they can make a difference if they get involved.” Ryan shared that she is $20,000 in debt from student loans, and her mother is still $10,000 in student loans from when she attended college. Nicole Striffolino, a fourth-year graphic design major at SUNY New Paltz and member of NYSR said that she will be $26,000 in debt by the time she graduates. Although a shocking number, this is the average national debt for students currently. “Yeah, I left my class to come to this, but here I’m taking into consideration what is important for my future,” said Robert Sanchez, a third-year at SUNY New Paltz with a large amount of student debt. “This is how protests make changes, with all these people

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

NYSR members and students take the protest to Plattekill Ave.

and organization.” Joe Barbarito, an active member of the New Paltz community stood wearing a “V for Vendetta” mask with a makeshift pizza box sign that read “debt is now 1.3 trillion.” Although long removed from his college years without any debt of his own, Barbarito said that his daughter has just started college and will be deeply in debt by the time she graduates. “This is going to be the cause of the next big crash for our economy, banks can’t keep paying out,” Barbarito said. “What will the job market be for you kids?” Brandon Missig, a fourth-year politial science major and NYSR member, Ryan and Striffolino led the chants until eventually grabbing the megaphone and taking turns urging students to take control and action of what is happening in Albany. Holding a large cut-out of Cuomo’s head, the three activists ex-

plained that he is not helping the situation. This summer, the State legislature passed the Maintenance of Effort bill, of which would guarantee government funding for future costs at CUNY and SUNY for necessities such as utilities on campuses. According to Ryan, Striffolino and Missig, Cuomo has not yet signed this bill into effect, and may not be planning to do so. “This institution would not exist without us paying for it,” Ryan said. “So let’s show them what it would be like without us. Let’s get the government to reinvest in our education!” Ryan urged all the students to join in marching through the town in order to leave the concourse empty as a symbol of the importance of students at an educational institution. Protestors then began walking into town while still chanting various statements of solidarity, attracting the atten-

Thursday, March 10, 2016

tion of the people of New Paltz, including the police. The protest group then continued up to South Oakwood St. before turning back and returning to campus. According to a NYSR press release, the group will be implementing their “20 Days of Noise” series of direct actions aimed at targeting the state legislature and Gov. Cuomo. This series will ask students who are participating to take part in a different action each school day in March to show their activism. “It is unacceptable that despite budget deficits the executive staff of New York’s public higher education institutions continue to receive annual salary raises,” Missig said in the press release. “How can SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher defend ‘irrational tuition,’ when SUNY officials make over $500,000 between their salary and benefits?”


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Protest Rational Tuition Hikes

PHOTOS BY HOLLY LIPKA

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NEWS BRIEFS WORLD

IRAN FIRES 2 MISSILES MARKED WITH ‘ISRAEL MUST BE WIPED OUT’

News

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Cleaning Up Lunches In Kingston

Iran test-launched two ballistic missiles Wednesday emblazoned with the phrase “Israel must be wiped out” in Hebrew, Iranian media reported, in a show of power by the Shiite nation as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s visited Jerusalem. IRAQI OFFICIALS: US CAPTURED TOP IS CHEMICAL ARMS ENGINEER U.S. special forces captured the head of the Islamic State group’s unit trying to develop chemical weapons in a raid last month in northern Iraq, Iraqi and U.S. officials told The Associated Press, the first known major success of Washington’s more aggressive policy of pursuing IS militants on the ground. The Obama administration launched the new strategy in December, deploying a commando force to Iraq that it said would be dedicated to capturing and killing IS leaders in clandestine operations, as well as generating intelligence leading to more raids. NORTH KOREA FIRES SHORTRANGE MISSILES AMID WAR GAMES North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Thursday, South Korea’s military said, a likely show of anger at continuing springtime war games by rivals Washington and Seoul and another ratcheting up of hostility on the already anxious Korean Peninsula. UN SHOULD PROVIDE DETAILED REPORTS ON IRAN NUKE PROGRAM The United States on Wednesday urged the U.N. atomic agency to continue providing details on Iran’s compliance with a deal crimping its nuclear work amid Western concerns that the agency’s newest report is too light on specifics. With the U.S. and partner nations that negotiated the deal with Iran keen not to jeopardize it, such concerns have mostly been voiced privately. But chief U.S. IAEA delegate Henry S. Ensher told the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency board Wednesday that continued “robust and detailed reporting on Iran’s implementation of its commitments” remains vital even with the agreement now in effect. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby echoed those sentiments, saying “we want these reports to be as thorough as they need to be, and as detailed as they need to be.” Compiled from the AP Newswire

PHOTO COURTESY OF KINGSTON CLEAN LUNCH’S FACEBOOK PAGE

By Rachael Purtell

Copy Editor | Purtellr1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

As a life-long healthy eater, Ann Marie Woolsey-Johnson was disenchanted by the baby food she was feeding her now 4-year-old daughter Sabine and began making her own. Years later, after finding disappointing research on school lunches, Woolsey-Johnson is on a mission to provide healthy lunch options to students throughout Kingston. Since she was between jobs and looking for something to do, Woolsey-Johnson took a course at Cornell University to become certified in plant-based nutrition, rented a commercial kitchen, put up a website and started Kingston Clean Lunch Company, a business aimed at providing an alternative, healthier solution to lunches offered at public schools. The business was originally named Hudson Valley Clean Lunch and covered Dutchess and Ulster counties, but she scaled back her geographical influence to solely Kingston. A portion of every purchase is donated to a food pantry or other service that targets food insecurity in Kingston. “I started off with a fundraiser,” Woolsey-

Johnson said. “I had quite a few contributors and the focus was very nonprofit when I started out. I knew I wanted to create a business model that was based on donations so for a while I kept going down that path and recently it has gone in more of a business direction and I’m still at the very beginning stages.” According to Woolsey-Johnson, most of the business’ advertising has been done through Facebook which she claims has generated a lot of interest. The kitchen is open Tuesday through Friday every week and operates on Kingston City School District’s schedule. Currently, three sandwiches are available for order: the Vegan Humdinger which has hummus, avocado, carrots, and tomatoes on a sprouted wheat or whole grain wrap; the Applegate Farms Turkey Avocado Wrap with cilantro, tomatoes and Vegenaise dressing; and the Applegate Farms Organic Roast Beef with Vegenaise and salad greens on Bread Alone organic bread or a whole grain wrap. “If you look at my mission statement, it’s really rooted in providing kids with healthy food and keeping things as local and sustain-

Thursday, March 10, 2016

able as possible,” Woolsey-Johnson said. All sandwiches are made with organic and regionally-sourced food and are available gluten free upon request. Cheese can also be added for an extra 50 cents and a R.W. Knudson juice box is one dollar. Each sandwich also comes with a side of raw organic local fruits and vegetables depending on what is in season. Woolsey-Johnson is still awaiting her first customer. Orders must be placed five days in advance to ensure quality and can be placed up to a month in advance with payment due at the time of the order. Lunches are typically prepared the same day the order is placed (or the next day if order is placed after hours). Home delivery is available for Kingston residents and there is no charge for delivery. Due to state regulations, delivery to public schools is impossible at this time. The Kingston Clean Lunch Company also has a no return policy, but offers a partial refund in the event of a school cancellation. Woolsey-Johnson would also like to add a same-day pickup service, but has yet to settle on a location. For more information or to place an order, call 845-332-2026 or visit www.king-


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Police Commission May be Reviewed

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NEWS BRIEFS NATIONAL

‘WEEDMAN’ SAYS CLOSING POT TEMPLE VIOLATES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

After battling the legal system on two coasts and spending time in and out of prison, New Jersey’s loudest champion of marijuana went legit last year when he opened up a restaurant across from city hall in this state’s capital city. Ed Forchion, better known as NJ Weedman, said Wednesday that Trenton police infringed on his religious rights after shutting down the cannabis temple attached to his restaurant for operating too late at night last weekend. NANCY REAGAN BEGINS FINAL JOURNEY TO HUSBAND’S SIDE

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NEW PALTZ POLICE COMMISSION’S FACEBOOK PAGE

New Paltz Police Department Building.

By Melanie Zerah

News Editor | Zerahm1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The New Paltz Police Commission (NPPC) has been subject to review and reconstruction over the past few years due to changes between a commission board of civilians to a board of town officials. NPPC is an organization which has responsibilities concerning matters such as personnel issues between police and residents and financial oversight. An example of this oversight is the commission aiding the New Paltz Police Department (NPPD) in purchasing new patrol cars if needed. The vote to change the structure of the commission from appointed citizen positions to its current structure of the town board, was passed unanimously by the town board in 2014 and took effect that year. The town board, as the police commission, meets monthly with the leadership of the NPPD. According to Town Council Member Jeff Logan, the current structure has tremendously improved the communication between the leadership of the NPPD and the town board.

“The ability to hire, do budgets, make budget requests, discuss assets and celebrate the hiring of new individuals has paid back and saved the community in efficiency and actual dollars,” Logan said. “In my research I found that the Police Commission is an added layer of bureaucracy that created more work and reduced transparency and efficiency for department leadership, rank and file, labor attorney, town attorney, town employees and the town board.” According to Deputy Supervisor Dan Torres, the removal of the citizens from the board was because these citizens should not be entrusted to be responsible for the finances of the commission. However, Torres disagrees with this notion and argues the fact that the citizens never had the authority to use any town funds without the recommendation and approval of the town board. Torres said that there are a few routes for the commission’s potential reconstruction. Of which include a full citizen board, as it was in past years, or a “mixed” board comprised of New Paltz citizens and the town officals.

“Having citizens of New Paltz on the commission is positive because it removes the political aspect of it all,” Torres said. Logan said that he has proposed for several years the creation of a civilian review board that would work with the NPPD on interaction and outreach in the community. However, Logan pointed out that NPPC meetings are open to the public and they do not have high attendance of New Paltz citizens, therefore it may not be plausible. “I am more than happy to continue and propose but in the past it never seemed to get the majority of board to support,” Logan said. “I have been discussing the restructure of the police commission from appointed to town board since 2010 when Supervisor Hokensen was our supervisor. I proposed at the same time and wrote the resolution to create a civilian review board.” Further conversation on the commission’s potential reconstruction will take place at the next NPPC meeting on Thursday, March 17.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Nancy Reagan began her final journey to her husband’s side Wednesday as a police motorcade carried her casket down an empty freeway lined with saluting firefighters and mourners holding hands over their hearts in tribute to the former first lady. The roadside reverence reflected her late husband’s touch with the common man and followed some of the route his own funeral procession took in 2004, eventually winding its way up to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where volunteers in blue jackets stood behind a guardrail festooned with small American flags.

2 MUSLIMS SETTLE LAWSUITS OVER CHURCH SERVICES IN OHIO JAIL

Two Muslim women who said they were forced to attend Christian services at a county jail in Cleveland while being held there have settled federal lawsuits with county officials, according to settlement agreements released Wednesday. They show Cuyahoga County paid $48,500 to Sakeena Majeed and $32,500 to Sonya Abderrazzaq. TESTS ON KNIFE LINKED TO SIMPSON ESTATE TO TAKE WEEKS

A law enforcement official says the knife reportedly found at O.J. Simpson’s former estate likely isn’t connected to the killings of his ex-wife and her friend, but it will take at least three weeks to know for sure. The official with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press that Los Angeles police detectives doubt the knife was used in the 1994 killings. Compiled from the AP Newswire


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Potential Bill Demands Labeling of GMO Foods

By Matthew Nash

Contributing Writer | Nashm1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, a representative of Dutchess and Ulster County, addressed a bill that would mandate the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on Thursday, March 3 in Kingston. Marissa Bramlett of Food and Water Watch, Amy Little of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG) and Liana Hoodes of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) joined Cahill in Kingston for the press conference. Together, they discussed the growing coalition of businesses across the Hudson Valley that have come out in support of the GMO labeling bill. “More than 60 countries throughout the world have recognized the importance of labeling genetically modified foods,” Cahill said in a press release issued on March 1. “New Yorkers have the right to choose what

they’re willing to pay for and consume, especially with something as vital as their food supply. This is about making informed decisions – those that impact our overall health and well-being.” The the summary of the bill (A617) states that its mission is to “provide for the labeling of raw agricultural commodities, processed foods, seed and seed stock produced with genetic engineering; defines terms; imposes penalties for false labels and misbranding.” According to an ABC News poll, an overwhelming 90 percent of Americans believe that mandatory labeling of foods containing GMOs is necessary. Although Americans have finally reached an unprecedented level of agreement on the issue, passing legislation regarding the labeling of foods containing GMOs remains incredibly problematic, according to Cahill. Large biotech companies such as Monsanto and Dow have pumped millions into blocking GMO labeling leg-

New Provost Appointed

islation like bill 617. It is the fear of companies such as these that Americans will stop buying genetically engineered products if they know what they are eating. According to supporters of bill 617, biotech companies want to continue keeping consumers in the dark in regards to what they are eating and providing for their families. Supporters say that these companies do not want consumers to have the ability to make informed decisions about their food because that would mean fewer profits for them. There have not been any studies done on the long-term health effects of eating genetically modified food, therefore the majority of consumers simply do not know what GMOs could be doing to their health. “We’re not talking about banning anything, or changing what you buy at the grocery store – unless you want to,” Cahill said in a Mid Hudson News article. “I see no harm whatsoever in creating an opportunity for shoppers to know exactly what it is that they are

By Melanie Zerah

News Editor | Zerahm1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Since SUNY New Paltz Provost Philip Mauceri’s decision to step down from the position, the college has appointed Dr. Lorin Basden Arnold as the College’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs. She will begin her new duties on July 1, 2016 as well as holding a tenure and professor rank in the Department of Communication. According to SUNY New Paltz News, Arnold currently holds a position as dean of the College of Communication and Creative Arts at Rowan University in Glassborow in New Jersey. For 18 months, Arnold served as interim dean of the the College of Communication in 2010, which became the College of Communication and Creative Arts in 2012, before taking her position as dean of that college. “SUNY New Paltz is so clearly a college where there is a true focus on students and their success, and everyone that I met was clear about that priority,” Arnold said in the SUNY New Paltz News article. “I was impressed with the dedication and enthusiasm of the faculty, the staff and the students. I’m looking forward

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEWPALTZ.EDU

to joining the SUNY New Paltz community and moving forward together.” Arnold will be taking over the position from Stella Deen who was appointed Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs on Aug. 1, 2015. Mauceri has returned to SUNY New Paltz as a political science professor, but declined to comment.

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buying, and then decide if it’s something they want. We don’t have to argue the science; other people can do that.” According to Food Safety News, bill 617 will not ban the sale of foods containing GMOs, and if it passes, 80 percent of processed foods in the country will still contain GMOs. The difference that will be made, however, is that New Yorkers would no longer be kept dining in the dark, and they would have the right to choose to eat or to not eat genetically engineered products, according to opensecrets. org. Supporters say that mandated labeling of foods containing GMOs is just the first step towards a more fair and transparent food system in America. Biotech companies are lobbying federal government officials to pass legislation prohibiting state-enacted mandatory labeling laws. The bill is still in legislative session and has not yet been voted on.


Thursday, March 10, 2016

Now Playing Story on page 7B

a view from the bridge

PHOTO BY JACK WADE


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FEATURES

Confidence Against Corporations DEDRICK’S UNFAZED BY CVS EXPANSION PLANS

By Jack O’Brien

Features Editor | Obrienj2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Over the course of their 159 years in the Hudson Valley and 48 years at 190 Main Street in New Paltz, Dedrick’s Pharmacy has endured through waves of change and CVS is not going to pull them under. With the impending encroachment of a proposed CVS Pharmacy and Five Guys Burgers plaza project on the intersection of North Putt Corners Road and State Route 299, Dedrick’s may soon face its steepest challenge. And yet, after months of public outcry, political opposition and petitions aplenty against the project, Dedrick’s appears to be handling the situation with relative ease. The pharmacy, a staple in the New Paltz community and a traditional small business in every regard, doesn’t have any drastic rhetoric or bombast towards the plan. “The one concern we have is why there,” co-owner Bill Sheeley said. “The traffic issues that we have here at this location will only be intensified at the location they’re proposing to move to.” Bill Sheeley has co-owned Dedrick’s with his brother Jack since 1974. He cited Dedrick’s prominence in community service as one of the several reasons why the store has such a loyal customer base. He added that it’s a rarity for Dedrick’s not to donate to local causes. Whether Dedrick’s is sponsoring the Springfest concert at SUNY New Paltz or donating to support local golfing tournaments at New Paltz Country Club, they have a significant level of involvement in the community at-large. The willingness of Dedrick’s to direct its financial influence for beneficial

reasons in a community like New Paltz is why it has reaped praise from generations of locals. Sheeley spoke proudly of the fact that Dedrick’s 20 employees collectively made $1.2 million last year. It’s that kind of engaged small business leadership that has cultivated public support with the possibility of a multinational corporation moving in half-a-mile down the street. “We try to be different enough,” Sheeley said. “We’ve found that when chains move in they usually just hurt other chains. So we’re not trying to be better than CVS, we’re just trying to be the best experience out there.” Sheeley compared the situation fac-

ing Dedrick’s to that of the local restaurants facing the fast-food chains in town. While there are fast-food restaurants in town, they mostly serve off-exit traffic. This still allows for local sitdown restaurants to exist in the village, which he expects would be the same situation if CVS moved in. The larger looming challenge to Dedrick’s are mail-order prescriptions. Due to the faster competition, Sheeley has focused his attention on that issue rather than CVS. To make up ground in their battle to retain customers, Dedrick’s has focused on offering medication therapy management in addition to every legal

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PHOTOS BY PIXABY USER MOAKETS

immunization on the market. Noting that Rite Aid plaza has been around for years and that CVS has tried to move in across the street from Dedrick’s years ago, Sheeley referred to the construction of the CVS/Five Guys plaza as “inevitable.” However, this has not caused Sheeley any outward anxiety as he is confident in his customer base to still shop at Dedrick’s. “I have a lot of people from all over, from Highland even, who do a lot of shopping here,” Sheeley said. “We try to offer a different experience here than at CVS. We treat this as competition to do a better job.”


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A Toast for the Fallen

MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE HOSTS WINE TASTING By Monique Tranchina Copy Editor | Tranchim1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu The Conference Hall at Mohonk Mountain House was packed with New Paltz residents, travelers, uncorked bottles and one of the most influential wine connoisseurs in the world. The scene was set for those attending to enjoy both an afternoon of tasting wine and to commemorate those who perished on Sept. 11, 2001. Event coordinator Butch Dener and host Kevin Zraly worked hard to make an afternoon of wine tasting fun, informative and dedicated to the memorial of the September 11th tragedies. While Zraly dropped plenty of hilarious oneliners and wise-cracked with many audience members about sneaking in sips too soon, he made sure to include a heartfelt dedication to 73 co-workers he lost during the 2001 terrorist attacks. And with a full house in a large conference room, many people had a full-bodied experience of enjoyment while giving to a charitable cause. Zraly introduced himself travelling as a wine enthusiast and wine studies professor who began his early career when he grew grapes in his small apartment setting as a New Paltz college student. In reference to the weather, soil conditions and humidity, Zraly stated that “you really have to work at it.” Since then, he has authored a best-selling guidebook to wines, “Windows on the World Complete Wine Course,” and he has educated many about wine tasting. John Novi, a High Falls Chef, stated that Zraly taught the first wine class accredited by SUNY New Paltz. When asked about his opinion of Zraly’s guidebook, Novi stated, “he makes it comprehensible.” Before any of the attendees could sip from the first wine glass, he asked the audience to notice the differences in vibrancy and clarity. He then instructed everyone to swirl and smell twice, then cover the glass with a hand, swirl and experience the enhanced smell. Zraly also dispelled myths that surround wine tasting and testing. When trying wines at common or upscale restaurants, he states that sniffing the end of a cork that was submerged in the wine bottle won’t do justice to the smell and taste of the wine. And, if you do go to an upscale restaurant and

order mussels, clams or lobster, you may try a more acidic wine that will complement the taste of the main course. Think of drinking the wine as an alternative to squeezing a lemon over a deep-sea delight. Other wines affecting food consumption are ones with high tannin. One audience pipes up from the crowd and reminds everyone, “tannin has no taste, you sense it!” According to Zraly, tannin is also found in teas, which dry the mouth and give a courser tactile sensation. For a population that does not drink with expensive fares, including Dener, this event can be viewed as an opportunity to complete a charity mission. “The wine to me is only a means for me to raise funds for memorial. I wouldn’t know Manischewitz from Sonoma County. Zraly just reached out to me because he saw my memorial ad in the paper,” Dener said. Novi hopes that through this event, people will

Thursday, March 10, 2016

PHOTO BY MONIQUE TRANCHINA

honor those from the September 11th tragedy and build a communal foundation to support those affected. “I hope they see how it takes a community of people to help build a memorial ... I don’t want this to be forgotten. If you forget, it could happen again,” Dener said. The evening wrapped up with empty wine glasses, leafed instruction booklets and plenty of warm smiles and hearty laughs. Families and friends left the dining-room style conference room with elusive bouts of euphoria but kept the reminder to commemorate those less fortunate. All profits from Zraly’s book sale were donated to the memorial. For those who attended the event, check out the Facebook page dedicated to the region’s September 11th memorial: facebook.com/newpaltz911memorial/


4B oracle.newpaltz.edu ESK D Y : ES K COP KOFFD COCOOPY OF F: OK O C

Nanner Puddinʻ By Kristen Warfield Warfielk1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

One of the members of The Oracle shares their culinary chops with you. Bon appetit! Anyone with a maternal family member from the South knows that banana pudding (a.k.a. “nanner puddin”) is pretty much a gift from the great lord above … right there next to other southern gifts like sweet tea, Matthew McConaughey and NASCAR. Despite being a New Yorker by birth, being surrounded by great southern cooking throughout my life has changed my world for good – and now I’m about to change yours. Though traditional nanner puddin’ is made from scratch by your mom or grandmom, you can recreate this tasty dessert all on your own with just a few fine ingredients. In true southern fashion, upon making this dish you’re required to greet anyone that enters your residence with “Y’all want some nanner puddin’?” until it’s all gone. Seriously – throwing out even a little bit of this dish is a sin. This recipe makes a whopping 20 servings, so dial up your friends and show them all a lil hospitality! Let’s get cookin, y’all. For this simplified nanner puddin’ recipe, you’ll need: 2 packages (3.4 oz each) of vanilla cook’n’serve pudding mix 4 cups of milk 6 bananas sliced 1 box of Nilla Wafer cookies Step 1: Fire up the stove. Whisk together the pudding mix and milk over medium heat in a saucepan, stirring constantly as it comes to a full boil. If the pudding starts to catch fire, you’ve gone too far. In that case, just stick to cosmic brownies for dessert. Step 2: If your first shot at making pudding succeeds, then remove that luscious pan of goodness from the stove and find yourself a fancy glass dish of some sorts to display your creation in. Step 3: Place a layer of the cookies along the bottom of said fancy glass dish. Then, place a thin layer of bananas over the cookies, followed by pouring some warm vanilla pudding over the top of it. Sounds dreamy. Repeat this step until the entire dish is filled. The dessert should be topped off with a layer of the pudding and be served warm. In its purest form, this dish is known as the nectar of the south. Much like Ambrosia to the Greek gods and goddesses, nanner puddin’ is rumored to be the long-sought after secret behind Willie Nelson’s immortality. In just three simple steps, you too can achieve this sweet banana bliss. Just don’t forget to share!

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College Dining on a Dime MAIN STREET BISTRO IS MAINSTREAM

By Sage Higgins Staff Writer | Higginss1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu Main Street Bistro is considered a buzzword here in New Paltz. To locals, we just call it “The Bistro.” Doug Thompson, the owner of Main Street Bistro started from humble beginnings in the dining industry. “My dad owned a restaurant on Long Island called The Bounty Inn. I started working there at a very young age doing food prep and washing dishes. When my dad sold the business, I became a prep cook and busboy at an Italian restaurant in East Rockaway for two years. When I attended New Paltz in 1984, I worked at Hasbrouck Dining Hall for two years, working my way up from dishwasher to student chef,” Thompson said. But Thompson wasn’t always just a foodie, he did also dabble in the music world. “In 1987, I left school and joined a punk band called Murphy’s Law, and toured with the Beastie Boys, Fishbone and Public Enemy,” Thompson said. “When I returned from the road, I started working at The Bistro as a prep cook.” “The owner would let me leave to tour when needed and after many years in the music business and managing the Bistro kitchen, I decided to buy the business from him. That was 1993, so this July will be 23 years. How time flies!” Twenty three years later, Doug and his crew are still churning out some of the best food New Paltz has to offer. In my group of college friends, we all go gaga for his $1.95 breakfast special, which makes eating breakfast a financial no-brainer. “We offer the Breakfast Special for $1.95 for everyone. Two eggs, home fries and toast. Best deal in New Paltz, since 1993,” Thompson said. With specials, The Bistro is always switching things up. “We run 4-5 different specials

PHOTO BY SAGE HIGGINS

everyday. Our cooks have free reign on choosing specials which revolve around seasonal items available,” Thompson said. As many places in New Paltz, The Bistro uses many local products. “I am lucky to have Ginsberg’s Foods, who uses many local New York vendors,” Thompson said. “Much of the produce we use is local. We purchase our granola from Raspberry Fields Farm in Marlboro and try to purchase from as many New York, Tri-State area vendors as possible.” Even some of the Bistro’s decor is local. Local art lines the walls of the Bistro creating an experience for those sitting to eat. “Right now we have one artist, Ryan Cronin,” Thompson said. “My former art director and employee Nathan Ganio moved on to purchase A Tavola so I decided to give the space to Ryan, who has a shop in Water Street Market and is a band mate and past employee, as well. His work complements the Bistro very well!” The Bistro in my circle of

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friends is known for their delicious breakfast. But instead, I stopped by during my lunch hour for one of their “Really Good Sandwiches.” I decided to try the “Santa Cruz” ($9.95), which according to the restaurant’s website is: “a triple-decker sandwich with grilled chicken breast, avocado, red onion, muenster, lettuce, tomato, sprouts & basil-pesto mayonnaise on toasted 12-grain bread.” In the end, I feel what makes The Bistro special is the love Thompson has for his staff and his restaurant. “I am grateful for an amazing and hard working staff, most who have been with me over 10 years,” Thompson said. “We are a family. I am grateful to our loyal customers and this wonderful community. We live in such a great area, with so many amazing people and businesses, and I am lucky to be part of it.” Main Street Bistro can be found on mainstreetbistro.com. Check out my Instagram @ cheapcollegecuisine for the best Hudson Valley cuisine has to offer for $10.00 or less.


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You’re Getting Very Sheepy ANIMAL HYPNOSIS IS POTENTIAL KEY TO UNLOCKING HUMAN BEHAVIOR

By Jonathan Perry Copy Editor | Perryj1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

In the face of potential danger, some animals play dead, some freeze in place and some roll over and show their bellies. Have you ever wondered why this happens? Of course you have. But what do these behaviors say about the instinct of animals? How much of this instinctive behavior can be found in humans? Gordon Gallup, a professor in the Department of Psychology at Albany State University, has the answer. “Uncovering the relation of the extreme behavioral instincts of animals and humans can be modeled by putting animals through induced hypnosis,” Gallup said. Gallup delivered this idea through a lecture called “Animal Hypnosis” at SUNY New Paltz Monday, March 7, at 6 p.m. in Lecture Center 102. According to Gallup, studying such occurrences in controlled conditions may have implications for how these states are dealt with in applied settings. Animal hypnosis, referred to as ‘Tonic Immobility (T.I.),’ was first reported in 1636 when a man subdued a chicken after it ran away. After submission, the chicken stayed in place after the man let go. Further testing around this behavior concluded that the chicken’s involuntary submission was triggered by the physical contact of restraint. Since then, T.I. has been found in a diverse cross section of different species. According to Gallup, further testing on other species revealed profound behavioral inhibitions which have been shown to be highly sensitive to variations in fear. Gallup referenced the Defensive Distance Hypothesis, stating that species with prey/predator relations respond to their predator in different ways; freezing if seen by a predator, attempting to flee if being chased, struggling if contact is made and T.I. if the predator is near or causes submission. According to Gallup, such laboratory procedures that are designed to increase these fears prolong the response while those that alleviate these fears antagonize the response. “Under natural conditions, tonic im-

mobility may be involved in predator-prey relations and serves as the last response in a series of distance-dependent antipredator tactics,” Gallup said. According to Gallup, these types of extreme behavioral inhibitions have also been noted with individuals who have been in medical clinics (catatonic schizophrenia), who have been sexually assaulted (rape-induced paralysis) and who survive airplane disasters (behavioral inaction). There are similar cases of these inhibitions that happen to humans in many ways. People can feel paralyzed, be scared stiff of impending danger or suffer from shell shock after traumatic events. In such instances of extreme behavior, Gallup said that a concept called Adaptive Advantage can be used to stop these inhibitions or potentially deny them altogether. The Adaptive Advantage concept, referring to predator/prey relations with animals, can be applied to wild animal attacks

PHOTO BY FLICKR USER RAY SCRIMGEOUR

and potential sexual assaults. According to Gallup, predators require the prey to struggle in order to deem it acceptable to consume. If the prey submits or ‘plays dead’ in the presence of the predator, the predator can’t take the chance of possibly ingesting disease or decay from a potentially dead animal. In a real-world sense, the Adaptive Advantage concept works the same way. In the case of crash victims from airplane disasters who suffer from behavior inaction, Gallup suggests that a change in stimuli such as a blaring noise can snap people out of the T.I. In the case of predator/prey relations, he points out that forest rangers often tell people to lie down and ‘play dead’ in the face of grizzly bears. Also, people under attack from potential sexual assaults can lie down and ‘play dead’ to end the predator’s advances. “If the predator in both cases cannot

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get a struggle from the victim, then they are less likely to commit the act,” Gallup said. The audience, who packed the room, was pleased with Gallup’s knowledge of the subject and how to address certain stimuli. C.J. O’Brien, a third-year psychology major, said he found the numerous applications of antipredator tactics fascinating. “The numerous ways to immobilize oneself can create many good ways to deal with predators,” O’Brien said. As Gallup closed his lecture, he pointed out how further studies will provide substantial information on how to deal with predators in extreme situations. He said there won’t be an unnatural interference in natural human responses, despite how advanced the research becomes. “Technology is evolving, but hopefully further studies will allow us to understand and anticipate these inhibitions without undermining adaptive human responses,” Gallup said.


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Features

The New Paltz Oracle

Bullet Points From REACT to FILM

FILM ENGAGES NEW PALTZ STUDENTS ON RACIAL INJUSTICE By Liam Baker Staff Writer | N02530440@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu In our culture, film can be seen as a medium for entertainment and a means of escaping the harsh realities and injustices of day-to-day life. However, its dynamic use of auditory and visual storytelling endow it with the unique ability to force viewers to think critically about social issues that they often use cinema to get away from. This is the goal behind director Marc Silver’s documentary “3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets,” which was screened in room 102 of the Lecture Center on the SUNY New Paltz campus on Thursday, March 3. The film examines the tragedy, trial and turmoil surrounding the 2012 death of Jordan Davis, an unarmed black teenager who was fatally shot by white 45-year-old Michael Dunn at a Florida gas station, months after George Students address racial comcerns at the showing of “3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets.” Zimmerman’s acquittal in the death of Trayvon Dunn’s perceived need to respond with consume information they connect with it more.” Martin. violent force to teenagers who were simply being After the screening, a panel discussion was The incident initiated when Dunn, who was teenagers underlies a cloaked racism prevalent opened up in which members of the audience parked next to Davis and his friends, objected to the volume of the ‘thug music’ that was coming across America which unjustly stereotypes black could engage faculty from the sociology from their car. A heated exchange ensued that eventually led to Dunn drawing a loaded handgun from his glove compartment and firing 10 rounds into the adjacent car. Three of the bullets struck Davis, leaving the 17-year-old dead at the scene. Dunn and his defense claimed that he felt his life was in danger and therefore the shooting was justified

males as hostile threats, making their right to

department in a discussion about the film and the

life disposable while the Second Amendment is

racial and social questions raised in it.

propped up on a pedestal.

Reflecting on one student’s question about

PHOTO BY DAVID KHORASSANI

cultural force that can cause many well-meaning people to hold unfounded biases as well as an institutional force that leads to black men being locked up at disproportionately higher rates.” Many of the students in attendance were profoundly impacted by the film, such as fifthyear marketing student Andrew Joseph.

The screening was hosted by the SUNY

what could lead a person like Michael Dunn to

“I got chills at some points,” Joseph said.

New Paltz chapter of REACT to FILM, a

hold such prejudices, Assistant Professor Tyrrell

“We see this type of discrimination towards

nationwide, non-profit organization that aims to

Connor pointed to a secondhand understanding

minorities happening daily in different shapes

spark student engagement and dialogue on social

of black people.

and forms. I felt sad for his family but as the

issues through documentary films.

“When there’s a lack of interaction with

documentary went on I think I got more angry

“I think film is an effective medium to get

people of color [for white people], they fill in

The film shows the emotional anguish

students to think about social issues because it’s

the gap with pop culture,” Connor said. “Which

Fertig believes that it’s not just enough to

endured by the parents of Jordan Davis as well

a simple way to humanize complex situations,”

in the case of black people, often paints them as

merely watch and spectate, but that there must

as Jordan’s very normal and stable upbringing,

said Hannah Fertig, a fourth-year student and

drug dealers and gangbangers.”

be an open and robust dialogue on these types

devoid of any criminality. Simultaneously, we

President of the REACT to FILM New Paltz

see the slow unraveling of Dunn’s covert racism

chapter. “I think when people read about things

over the course of the trial, during which he was

in the news they are able to separate themselves

“We teach kids that racism is an act that an

found guilty of all counts.

from the problem; whereas when people visually

individual performs with hate, but racism is a

under Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law.

Connor also stressed the need to redefine the way we think about racism.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

than anything.”

of issues, which is why she encourages people to join discussions about diversity and race relations at the Sojourner Truth Library every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.


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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“A View from the Bridge”

THEATRE DEPARTMENT WOWS WITH SPRING PERFORMANCE By Jess Napp

Copy Editor | Nappj1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

It only takes 90 minutes in a Brooklyn tenement for five people to experience the whole gamut of human emotions. In honor of the 100th anniversary of Arthur Miller’s birth, the SUNY New Paltz Department of Theatre Arts decided to perform the prolific playwright’s tumultuous masterpiece, “A View from the Bridge.” Directed by Jack Wade, chair of the department, the play is the first of two Mainstage productions this semester. The Miller tragedy presents itself with no intermission and throws any onlooker through an emotional wringer. A lawyer named Alfieri tells the story of Eddie Carbone, an Italian American longshoreman living with his wife Beatrice and orphaned niece Catherine. Everything appears fine until Beatrice’s two Sicilian cousins come to town. “It’s a play about betrayal, sexism, homophobia and illegal immigration,” Wade said. “It deals with so many issues that still exist today.” “A View from the Bridge” became an obvious choice for Wade as the spring semester drama. The reasons being: the 100-year anniversary of Miller’s birth, it’s a great play and it’s a perfect vehicle for actors to learn about interior realistic acting as well as modern stage combat. Andres Rodriguez, second-year theatre major, plays the lead role of Eddie Carbone. He prepared for the part by watching films suggested by Wade. A notable movie recommen-

PHOTO BY JACK WADE

dation was “Raging Bull” for his boxing scene. The combat-heavy production required fight choreographer John Patrick Hayden’s assistance. He is now notorious in the theatre department, and for this performance, he worked alongside the actors in two sessions. “He made three hours feel like an eternity,” Rodriguez said. “It was great working with a professional actor who is so detail-oriented.” Wade said that for this show, the actors embarked on an emotional journey with their characters. As a result, he stressed the importance of technique over method acting. Second-year theatre major Ciarra Fragale acts as Catherine in

this theatrical roller coaster ride. Fragale said that her character goes from a very vulnerable state to an emotionally charged mindset rather quickly. She felt challenged by this concept of rapidly shifting moods every night. “So many actors tend to lose that separation of character and self,” Fragale said. “You have to take a step back and tell yourself to leave it all in the rehearsal room.” According to Wade, every aspect of this show from the lighting to the set design and sound score came to fruition through hard working students. In previous performances, professional guests have been involved in the design aspects, but for this production the students

Thursday, March 10, 2016

took the reins. “There’s me and then everyone else is a student,” Wade said. “It’s the thing I’m most proud of. Their work has been phenomenal.” Second-year theatre major Madison Anthony attended the gala performance, the evening before opening night, and she loved watching the characters develop. Anthony cited the performance as her favorite Mainstage production thus far. “I was definitely nervous and completely hooked on what was happening next,” Anthony said. “A View from the Bridge” will continue to keep audience members on the edge of their seats in Parker Theatre from March 10-13.


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Arts & Entertainment

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Puppetry Through the Ages

ART HISTORIAN LECTURES ON PUPPET THEATRE IN ANTIQUITY By Sam Manzella

A&E Editor | Manzells1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Art historian and archaeologist Maya Muratov came to campus with a message: in terms of our questionable tastes in popular entertainment, people have not changed at all, even since antiquity. Muratov, a professor at Adelphi University, spoke on Thursday, March 3 to a crowd of more than 50 people about her studies of puppet theatre in the ancient world. Professors from the Art Department introduced her and thanked the history, theatre and art departments at New Paltz, who with the help of other offices funded Muratov’s lecture. Channeling an evening at the theatre, Muratov broke her presentation down into five acts. She put her topic of choice in context: compared to other forms of entertainment in ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt, puppet theatre was considerably more “low-brow.” It was popular culture for the uneducated masses and people on the lower end of the social strata. As such, the subject matter often opposed the formality and decorum of elite civilization, revolving instead around immoral and indecent comedy. Muratov’s discipline is something of an anomaly: according to the art historian, puppet theatre is rarely addressed in scholarly works about ancient culture and entertainment. “No contemporary books on

PHOTO BY DAVID KHORASSANI

Greek or Roman theatre even mention puppets,” she said. Ancient forms of popular culture came in many shapes and sizes, including entertainers like musicians, magicians, poets, dancers or fire eaters. According to Muratov, these entertainers could be found in unexpected places, like schools, temples or even funerals. Many were simply poor, uneducated people trying to make money on street corners. She linked these entertainers to more contempo-

rary circus performers or street artists, many of whom have physical differences that made them unique. Performers even in antiquity would capitalize off of their unique appearances, using their bodies as a “form of currency” in their performances, Muratov said. One of the few allusions to puppets or marionettes in ancient texts came from the writing of a Roman noble, Muratov said. The nobleman described elaborate dinner parties filled

Thursday, March 10, 2016

with entertainers, some of whom were said to have brought metal figurines resembling puppets to the party. However, Muratov doesn’t believe that these figurines fall under the art world’s definition of puppets. Most ancient art scholars would tend to agree with her too, and as such, there aren’t any universally recognized examples of ancient puppetry to date. For potential evidence of puppets in antiquity, Muratov pointed instead to ancient clay figures from a private, unpublished art collection in New York City. The art historian said she was granted access to this collection under strict conditions. She asked the audience to refrain from photographing the ancient clay puppets, garnering a few curious looks from attendees. The privately-owned clay puppets were, for the most part, fully intact. The way their bodies were constructed and held together led Muratov and other ancient art scholars to believe that the New York City puppets were attached to small puppet theaters and operated by hand. Funnily enough, the puppets’ sex was indicated by their exceptionally large phalluses — something Muratov noted was a common feature of comical art and theatre in antiquity. It would seem that even ancient Greeks and Romans could get a good laugh out of a crude joke.


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Music, Memories and Mochas

LOCAL CAFE HOSTS WEEKLY OPEN MIC NIGHT By Erica Ascher

Staff Writer | Aschere1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

If you’re looking for a place with good coffee and good vibes, Cafeteria is the place to go. Local artists and musicians gather at the coffee shop on Main Street in New Paltz for open mic at 7 p.m. every Monday. Open mic has been an event at the café ever since it was known as The Muddy Cup, its original name, according to the owner Tanner Townsend. At Cafeteria, open mic nights are noncompetitive, encouraging anyone and everyone to perform. John Westphal, a first-year jazz performance major, has performed at open mic a few times. He finds it to be therapeutic and a nice break from schoolwork. The last time he performed, he played two original songs he wrote, called “Portlander, Washington” and “Lenses.” He forgot the lyrics, so he came back the following week to perfect his mistakes. “When I get up there with my guitar, it’s more personal and I can say a lot more that I normally wouldn’t,” Westphal said. Westphal opened last week’s open mic with his two original songs. He sang and played his acoustic guitar with authority and passion. When Westphal is at school, he’s typically playing and recording jazzstyle music. “This is different from the music I record because this music is a lot more personal to me,” he said. “When I record, for instance, it’s more about texture and sound.” Dagen Julty, a Rosendale resi-

PHOTO FROM WIKIPEDIA.ORG

dent, performs at Cafeteria almost every week. He took note of Westphal’s performance. “He plays from the heart,” Julty said. Julty has been privately teaching music and composition for 35 years. He performs at Cafeteria under the name Oglesby the Clown and plays all different instruments and sings.

Audience members who attend open mic regularly know Oglesby’s routine. For this performance, Julty used a synthesizer to create a beat for him to rap and play flute. He made up the lyrics on the spot and played flute similar to Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. “Open mic fosters people to

Thursday, March 10, 2016

bring out their uniqueness,” Julty said. “I know how to vibe with the audience.” The talent each week continues to impress not only Julty, but audience members and employees as well. Maddy del Caño, a first-year French and public relations major, has attended and performed at open mic nights before. The variety of talent continues to impress her. Her favorite performance this week was Oglesby the Clown. “I never expected to see something like [it], but nevertheless, it was impressive in spite of how weird it was,” del Caño said. The first time she performed at open mic night, del Caño played cello and her friend, Heather, sang “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse and “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People. Compared to other open mics, del Caño said this one didn’t feel as competitive. “It’s amazing to see the range of performances and the amount of talent that’s in this small area,” del Caño said. Townsend speaks for Cafeteria and its audience members when he says they appreciate anyone who can get up on stage. “It takes a lot of guts,” Townsend said. “When you’re here listening to open mic, you may hear spoken word, stand-up comedy, instrumental, a singer/songwriter or groups of people playing together. We just want everybody to come up, express themselves, have a good time and enjoy the show.”


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Give “Superhot” a Shot

NEW INDIE GAME IS A SUREFIRE STANDOUT By Otto Kratky

Staff Writer |Kratkyp1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

“Superhot,” a new indie video game released on Feb. 25, brings something new to its genre. The game is at heart an action movie scene creator with a few interesting rules. There are no health bars, no slowly fading to red screens, nor any warnings of your imminent demise, only one shot to kill you and your enemies. There aren’t any ammo meters or drops; when your gun goes “click click,” that’s it. And finally, time only moves when you move, making this game a combination of interesting ideas that result in one of the most addicting and fun shooters I’ve played in a long time. The story of “Superhot” is inter-

esting, albeit slightly confusing. It follows the story of your character, who is given an illegal copy of the game by a friend. Slowly, the game begins to become more and more serious, with words popping up on the screen as if someone is watching you and judging you as you play. However, the storyline becomes convoluted, incorporating some interesting yet poorly delivered metaphors relating to the evolution of virtualreality technology and what our bodies really are. At the end of the story, which comes in around two or three hours of gameplay, all the levels in game are unlocked to replay, along with an endless mode and a challenge mode.

In this game, endless mode is exactly what it sounds like. With nine different levels to choose from, it’s just you, your abilities and an endless array of enemies, leading to an endless amount of fun. The challenge mode opens up a wide array of different challenges for the player as they go through the story levels once again. The first challenge limits the player to only using a katana during the whole game. No punching or shooting, just you and your trusty sword, giving each level a new breath of life and challenge. At its base, “Superhot” is about one thing and one thing only: the action. I can’t think of any other game that lets you pick off three enemies

with your handgun, throw it at another enemy aiming at you with a shotgun who then throws it in the air, catch it and blast a hole through him. That is just one example of the many situations the game has put me in by itself, which is one of the defining attributes of “Superhot.” The game has a fantastic ability to create memorable, unscripted action sequences that just arrive out of the blue. Going back and watching your performance after a mission is like watching your own personal action movie. If you’re a fan of shooters, action movies or just plain interesting games, I’d recommend giving “Superhot” a play. I give this new game an 8.5 out of 10.

A Trip to “Zootopia”

DISNEY’S LATEST ANIMATED FILM IS WORTH SEEING By Jake Berkowitz

Staff Writer | Berkowij3@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Maintaining a creepy mustache is a lifestyle. One of the unfortunate consequences of this lifestyle is being forced to feel awkward whenever you go see a children’s movie, alone, in a dark theatre, filled to the brim with excited youths. “Zootopia” makes almost all of that awkwardness worth the trip. Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) is an ambitious, young bunny, looking to prove herself as the first rabbit police officer in the bustling metropolis of Zootopia. Seen as little more than meek prey by her coworkers, peers and even her family, she must learn to overcome these prejudices. She must also with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a cunning fox, to

crack an impenetrable case. From Disney, you’d expect nothing less than top notch animation, and “Zootopia” undoubtedly delivers on that front. The colors are vibrant, playful and inviting, as we move from dense, jungle rainforests, to blisteringly icy tundras, to urban cityscapes. The lighting, especially, is awe-inspiring during Mr. Big’s (Maurice LaMarche) daughter’s wedding. It makes the entire sequence feel ethereal, if not like an altogether blatant homage to “The Godfather.” The voice acting, too, is excellent. Idris Elba is an intimidating presence as Chief Bogo, and Ginnifer Goodwin is totally endearing and lovable in a role that could have, in lesser hands, devolved into something saccharine and obnox-

ious. However, the real standout is Jason Bateman, who consistently reminds me how he is one of the most versatile and underrated workhorses in Hollywood. He delivers a brassy, jaded performance, that is somehow imbued with the charisma and charm of a young Robert Redford. Bateman’s Nick Wilde is a total jerk, but goddamn it if I don’t love that jerk. As it claws tenaciously at greatness, “Zootopia” is tethered to the realm of merely good Disney films by its script. Sure, there are a handful of legitimately funny jokes (and one bizarrely out of place “Breaking Bad” reference) peppered in for some strong laughs, but the plot is generally predictable and sticks to tried and true Disney formula. If that formula were perfectly executed, then all

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would be forgiven. Unfortunately, sloppy, rushed third act, and an unbearably heavy-handed message that is handled with the nuance and discreteness with which crocodile might attack its prey, really hamper the film. It is almost cringeinducing at times, yet a slightly longer running time and a little dialogue revision would have done the film a world of good. Don’t let me scare you off, though. “Zootopia” is a fine film that definitely earns your money. Whether you’re a parent looking for a cheap diversion that’ll entertain you and your kids, or a student looking for a harmless, inoffensive flick to watch after midterms, you could do far worse. Just promise me you won’t go see “Gods of Egypt.”


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“House of Cards” FOURTH SEASON OF HIT NETFLIX SHOW DELIVERS By Jack O’Brien

Features Editor | Obrienj2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Like any other obsessed and impatient politico, the season four premiere of “House of Cards” ranks up there with Super Tuesday and Election Day. In the face of incredible hype that grows exponentially year after year, season four did not disappoint in the slightest. Still sheik and devious as ever, the series harkens back to plotlines from seasons one and two far more than the narratives of season three, which was intriguing and refreshing in a way. A complaint I heard from several other fans was that season three was too focused on political drama and not as much on the Shakespearean social drama that is the personal lives of the Underwoods. Season four returns to those backroom hushed conversations and the introduction of new members to their campaign. It progresses powerfully, bringing back earlier minor characters without it feeling like an unnecessary nostalgic trip down memory lane. Taking place in the midst of the contentious 2016 election cycle, Frank Underwood has to campaign against both a feisty primary challenger in former solicitor General Heather Dunbar and the imminent Republican challenger, New York Gov. Will Conway. Facing political, personal and medical crises, Underwood resorts to his relentless, primitive nature to achieve the goals he sets out for. Failure has never been an option, but in season four the stakes have

Shrowrunner Beau Willimon accepts a Peabody Award for the show.

never been higher. A loss in any aspect of his life, whether in marriage or politics, would shatter the image he has risked to cultivate. Even when the show deviates from the politically plausible, it makes up for it with blistering writing and compelling character con-

PHOTO FROM WIKIPEDIA.ORG

flicts. Sex, death, adultery, murder and addiction all remain as the core tenants of the series. And the lauded triumvirate that have propelled the series through three exceptional years, Spacey, Wright and Kelly all deliver hallmark performances. Their strengths

Thursday, March 10, 2016

in solitary moments or in contrast to minor characters justify the honors they have received. They never let up from the three-dimensionality of their personas, captivating viewers through another season of megalomaniacal plotting. That being said, some of the acting this season left much to be desired. Joel Kinnaman’s turn as Gov. Conway comes off as too stiff at times and I’ve never been impressed by Sebastian Arcelus as the defeated journalist Lucas Goodwin. On a positive note, however, several new cast members or recurring characters add a vibrancy to the series. Guest actress Ellen Burstyn steals the season as Claire’s dying mother, unearthing character elements in the First Lady that had only been alluded to in earlier seasons. Now, they are finally on full display while watching her mother go through the emotionallywrenching hospice care process. Repeated from previous seasons, the year in which production takes place has a marked impact on the nature of the storyline. The 2015 Charleston shooting, the continued rise of ISIS and the celebrity candidacy of Donald Trump all craft the story, and in a potentially prophetic moment, a brokered convention takes center stage. The season ends on another cliffhanger, one of the most stunning ones yet, but already keeps viewers on edge for next year’s season five. What becomes of their empire, the one they have schemed against democracy to achieve, remains to be seen.


The Deep End

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The New Paltz Oracle

THIS WEEK IN

THE DEEP END

K A T H R Y N Major: Phography

D R A P E R

Year: Fourth

Inspriation: Mary Ellen Mark

“The photographs displayed here come from my thesis work, titled “The At Your Service Project.” For the past year I have been documenting restaurant industry workers through portraiture and recorded interviews. The restaurant industry is relevant to most of our lives, whether firsthand through work experience or secondhand through dining out, yet many of us do not consider the voices and backgrounds of the people serving us our food. If you or anyone you know is interested in being photographed please contact ktdrapes@gmail.com.”

Photos by Kathryn Draper | Captioning by David Khorassani


The New Paltz Oracle

Editorial

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C ontinued C ommitment In an age of ongoing political unrest, SUNY New Paltz continues to uphold its long­held tradition of student­-led activism. Year after year, New Paltz students gather in solidarity to support causes they believe in. The last two years of activism on campus have included a vigil for the death of Michael Brown, protests in advocacy of the Black Studies Department’s growth and importance and frequent walkouts against proposed tuition hikes within the SUNY system. Just last week, over 150 students staged a walkout in front of the Humanities building to protest the SUNY­wide push for rational tuition increases. Reports from SUNY say that the tuition increases will amount to about $300 per year, with the increases spaced out to avoid a sudden jump in tuition costs. However, some students here at New Paltz and across SUNY’s 64 campuses would say that these tuition hikes are anything but rational. We at T​he New Paltz Oracle​ would like to commend New Paltz students for their courage to speak their minds publicly and gather in defense of their access to education. The ability to voice our opinions is a right guaranteed under the First Amendment, a fact undeniable regardless of individual political stance. As journalists, we fully understand the importance of the First Amendment. This amendment protects our right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, but also our right to freedom of the press. Without freedom of the press, we would not be able to publish this editorial. We at T​he New Paltz Oracle s​upport the right to use our freedoms to protest the injustices that occur around us and we believe that the walkouts represent an appropriate use of this right.

At the same time, we would like to recognize the privilege we have to publicly express our opinions without fear, both in the context of our country and our campus. Other spaces are not as open to criticism or dissenting voices. Students at Mount Saint Mary College, a private Catholic college in Newburgh, New York, reported feeling silenced and censored after a change in hands of administration. A recent article from the T​imes­ Herald Record ​quoted students and faculty at Mount Saint Mary College, who expressed their discomfort and fear of censorship after the appointment of President Anne Carson Daly in 2014. The administration was said to be extremely conservative and restrictive, which the Record a​ttributed to their deci-

sion to fire two professors who vocalized their opposition to the new administration’s leadership. On Tuesday, March 8, 2016, Daly announced her resignation from the position after a year of prolonged controversy. We believe that incidents like this highlight the importance of student activism on college and university campuses. Whether or not these demonstrations will actually spur change cannot always be determined. However, peaceful protests, sit­ins and walkouts allow student voices to be heard. Protests have shaped the history of this campus. From recent demonstrations in support of changes to the college’s drug policy, to town­wide shut­downs against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War during the 1960s, New

Thursday, March 10, 2016

CARTOON BY STEFANIE DIERS

Paltz students have always made their voices heard. Activism isn’t easy work, either. Campus activists pour tremendous amounts of time, energy and effort into making large­scale demonstrations happen. Here at T​he New Paltz Oracle​ newsroom, we don’t always agree on all things political, but we can agree that exercising our freedoms is a cause for celebration. 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.


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KRISTEN WARFIELD Editor-in-Chief

Warfielk1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The other night I was walking to my car in the snow, parked pretty far away from the building I’d just concluded a meeting in a few minutes before. Classes were canceled for the rest of the evening, leaving the lot relatively empty aside from my small white chevy parked underneath the streetlamp. I approached my car noticing a good few inches of snow that would need to be cleaned off. I opened the door, threw my backpack and laptop inside and searched around for my snow brush. I found it, and reached over to start my car to get my defroster running. Turning my key, the engine switched on – and instead of slowly following the rest of this routine, I quickly snapped back up into straight posture and found my eyes darting across the dim, empty parking lot. My heart jumped as I gripped the small plastic snow brush like a weapon. Leaning over the front seat of my car, all I could think of was how easily someone could have snuck up behind me, kicked me into the vehicle and driven away with me inside. I strategized in my head how I could injure someone with that snow brush if I had to. This plan made me feel a little less uneasy. My fingers burned from the cold as I quickly swept away the snow and rushed into the warmth of my car, making sure to lock it as soon as I shut the door.

OPINION

COLUMN

The New Paltz Oracle

When Worry is a Woman’s Secret Weapon Whenever I’m out and about, especially at night, my mom’s voice is always popping into my head: “Always be aware of your surroundings. Never get preoccupied with something while walking alone. If someone grabs you, don’t be afraid to raise hell.” These words are things my sister and I have heard countless times; before we would go out with friends in high school, after we got our first part-time jobs, when we started college and weren’t home much anymore… Despite how much I’ve grown accustomed to my independence, and regardless of how much I’ve aged, I know I’m always going to have these thoughts. Mind you, these visions don’t come into my mind all of the time and I don’t really consider myself a worrier. I’m comfortable with driving and walking alone, I’m confident being by myself and I have no problem crossing paths with people I don’t know from day to day. But unfortunately, I still have to have these thoughts; women have to have these thoughts. It’s actually pretty bleak. I get chills thinking about how one day I’ll have to teach my own children these same lessons. But together, I feel that we continue to especially worry more about our daughters; the “precious and fragile little souls” that will grow up to be afraid of dark parking lots and strange cars that slow down as they

drive past. These are the daughters with sweet faces that serve as an open invitation for old men to look them up and down and command them to “smile, honey.” And sometimes, these are the daughters that obey because they don’t want to be hassled any further. These are the same daughters that carry pepper spray and play out horrible scenarios in their heads because they’re constantly made aware that they’re seen as simple and vulnerable targets. And these are the women that try to push these worries to the back of their mind, not talking about them because we refuse to succumb to anyone who thinks that they can mess with us – we don’t want to show any weakness. I include myself in all of these situations, because all of them have happened to me. And I’m sure my female readers can at least share one of these common feelings. With this, I’m not looking to harbor fear. I’m here to tell you that being alert, thinking about your safety and recognizing that you are your biggest defense is not being overlyworrisome. It’s being practical. Having these thoughts infuriate me at times. Why should I worry that some creep is going to try to snatch me up even when I’m wearing a huge puffy jacket that nearly reaches my ankles? Why should I second-guess myself on going to in-

terview a man for a story? Because we planned to talk outside, but now that it’s raining, he’ll probably invite me into his truck? Having these thoughts are powerful. Having these thoughts show us that not everyone we come across is going to have good intentions. And having these thoughts gives me enough hope that I can react in a way that could save my life if I had to. No matter how old my mom and dad’s little girl is – their youngest daughter – they’re still going to see me as that lanky, curly-haired 5 year old staring back at them, and they’ll worry over whether I’m safe and whether I’m doing everything I can to protect myself. They will always tell me to be careful, out of worry that I’ll end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. And when their little girl has grown up, independent, going through life alone, she will worry, too. I can tell you for certain that I think about it almost weekly. But the instinct to always consider the worst of what could happen gives me confidence. My eyes are always open, and I am always looking out for myself. Kristen is a fourth-year journalism major that hopes this piece can help others to be more alert in the world. While she hopes no one ever finds themselves in danger, she feels that worry is a sign of proactivity, not weakness. Put it to good use.

Want to advertise with The Oracle? Email us at Oracle@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu for more information! Thursday, March 10, 2016


SPORTS

The New Paltz Oracle

SPORTS

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The New Paltz Oracle

KILLING STREAK

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

Hawks fourth-year middle blocker Christopher Husmann sets up for a pass.

By Michael Rosen

Copy Editor | Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The men’s volleyball team extended their win streak to 19 after winning four matches over the weekend and one this week. The Hawks have not lost a match since Saturday, Jan. 16 when they were down on their Puerto Rico trip. First, the team swept No. 15 Juniata College on Saturday, March 5, 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-17). New Paltz swept Juniata earlier this season on the road back on Saturday, Feb. 20, 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-11). New Paltz hit .392 (29-9-51) compared to Juniata’s hitting-percentage of .167 (19-12-42). The Eagles did have the advantage defensively, posting five blocks to the Hawks’ four and 12 digs to New Paltz’s 11. Hawks third-year middle blocker Steven Woessner tallied a team-high seven kills and hit .750 (7-1-8). Fourth-year outside hitter Andy Fishman and fourth-year middle blocker Christopher Husmann were second on the team with six kills, with Husmann posting a game-high .857 (6-0-7) hitting-percentage. Hawks fourth-year co-captain Christian Smith notched a game-high 21 assists, and held down the defense with second-year outside hitter Anthony Bonilla as both tallied four digs. Later that day, the Hawks swept No. 7 Dominican University 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-21).

New Paltz posted a .500 (48-10-76) hittingpercentage, the first time this season the Hawks have posted a .500 or higher hitting-percentage against a nationally-ranked team. Third-year opposite Joe Norman led the Hawks with 16 kills and hit .667 (16-2-21) with five digs and three service aces. Woessner was second on the team with 10 kills and hit .500 (102-16). Smith posted a game-high 42 assists, and Bonilla held down the defense with a game-high 10 digs. The following day, New Paltz defeated two United Volleyball Conference (UVC) opponents, as they started the afternoon with another sweep when they defeated Penn State Behrend 3-0 (2519, 25-17, 25-19). New Paltz hit .446 (49-12-83) in the match. Third-year middle blocker and opposite Jake Roessler led the Hawk attack with 16 kills and hit .625 (16-1-24). Second-year middle blocker and outside hitter Ryan Cole was second on the team with nine kills and posted a careerhigh 11 digs. Second-year setter Mitchell Kennedy dished out a career-high 39 assists and hit .714 (5-0-7). “I loved seeing the guys that don’t always start getting a chance to play and really excelling,” Hawks fourth-year co-captain Kevin Nardone said. “They did a tremendous job of controlling the match and playing New Paltz volleyball’s type of volleyball. This can be very

challenging for people who are not always used to having game time reps.” After that the Hawks concluded their weekend with a 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-15, 25-22) victory over No. 13 New York University (NYU). The win bumped New Paltz’s record up to 19-2 and an undefeated 5-0 in conference play. The Hawks have yet to lose to a Div. III school this season. The first set saw NYU take the early lead and gain a 16-8 advantage, but an 8-2 run by New Paltz brought the score to 18-16. Husmann followed with two consecutive kills to even the game at 18-18. Two straight attack errors by Violets third-year outside hitter Chase Klein and a service ace by Norman gave the Hawks a 21-18 advantage and they would go on to win the set. The second set was close as well, as the two teams were locked in a 17-17 tie. A 6-2 run by NYU propelled them to victory in the set and tied the match at 1-1, but New Paltz did not have much trouble in the third set, as they were victorious by a score of 25-15. The Hawks looked poised to win the match in four, as they held a 17-12 advantage in the fourth set. But a 8-3 run by the Violets cut the deficit to 20-19. After that, two NYU errors and kills by Woessner, Norman and Husmann clinched the set and the match for the Hawks. “I really liked how we responded when we dropped a set to NYU,” Smith said. “I thought the

Thursday, March 10, 2016

team did a great job of regrouping and responding in that third set because we had not lost a set in quite some time. I thought we did a great job of coming out firing on all cylinders and really feeding off of the crowd. There was great energy in the gym throughout the games this weekend.” New Paltz hit .304 (48-17-102) in the match. Fishman and Norman were tied for first on the team with 12 kills each. Husmann also contributed with nine kills and a .571 hitting-percentage (9-1-14), and Bonilla also hit for a .571 (5-1-7) clip. Nardone held down the defense with 10 digs. Smith posted a game-high 43 assists. “With these two victories, we are at the top of our conference and our chance to host the UVC Tournament increased considerably,” Hawks Head Coach Radu Petrus said. On Monday, March 7, Husmann was named UVC Player of the week for the period ending March 3. He hit .714 (21-1-28) and notched 2.10 kills per set on the week. The following day, it was announced that New Paltz remained ranked No. 2 in the latest AVCA poll. On Wednesday, March 9 the Hawks swept No. 1 Springfield College 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 2517). With a record of 20-2, the Hawks will next host Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in a UVC matchup on Saturday, March 12 at 1 p.m. in the Hawk Center.


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Sports

The New Paltz Oracle

Past and Present New Paltz Runners Compete in Marathons By Michael Rosen

Copy Editor | Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Running 100 kilometers is no easy feat. For those of us that do not utilize the metric system, that is a little over 62 miles. A run like that is not even considered a marathon, it is considered an ultra-marathon, which is any running distance that exceeds 26.219 miles. That may seem nearly impossible, but earlier this year on Jan. 9, three members of the New Paltz community did just that. Jason Friedman, Kali Bird and Phil Vondra all participated in the Bandera Endurance Run down in Texas. The run went through the Hill Country State Preserve near San Antonio. The course is mostly desert, and runners exceeded more than 7,000 feet of elevation gain. The blistering temperatures of the ultra-marathon only make it all the more difficult, but thankfully the weather was mild this year. Despite the challenge, all three runners fared very well. Bird finished 12th in the female division with a time of 13:31. According to an interview from The New Paltz Times, Friedman explained that this was “her first run ever, longer than 31 miles.” Vondra came in second in the men’s 45-to-49 age group, earning him a lottery ticket for the Western States 100. The Western States 100, one of the four races that make up the U.S. Grand Slam of Ultrarunning, is so exclusive that less than 400 runners are allowed to participate. But 270 of those slots are awarded via lottery, and Vondra earned one of the 3,000 lottery tickets that are handed out. Friedman, who finished with a time of 9:23 which was good for fifth overall for the men and second in the Masters’ division, explained that part of his decision to compete in the Bandera was for a chance to compete in the Western States 100.

“One of the main reasons I chose Bandera is because it’s one of the qualifiers for the Western States 100, which is the largest and most prestigious 100 mile race in the country,” Friedman said. After his performance in the Bandera, Friedman earned a spot in the 2017 Western States lottery. Friedman also has ties to the Athletics Department at SUNY New Paltz. He served as an assistant coach and a volunteer coach for current Hawks cross-country head coach Mike Trunkes from 2007-08, Trunkes’ first two seasons as the head coach. “The program had been struggling a bit and Mike [Trunkes] really got them on the path back to success,” Friedman said. “He and I disagreed at times on our approaches — I was usually advocating slower, easy miles, where Mike [Trunkes] generally wanted the teams running fast, and hard workouts more often than I would’ve liked. But I think we found a nice balance and started to build a good program.” One of the runners Friedman worked with was Nichole Wischoff, who graduated from SUNY New Paltz in 2013. She is a member of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Hall of Fame, and to date is the only runner in program history to compete in the NCAA Div. III Cross-Country Championships. Currently, Wischoff is preparing to participate in the Boston Marathon that will take place on Monday, April 18. She explained that the transition from running in college to running in a marathon is a transition from working with a team to working as an individual. “Running in New Paltz was running for a team,” Wischoff said. “I was a part of something. When I wasn’t motivated for myself, I

found that motivation in my coach and my team. We all showed up. It wasn’t just me out there all alone training like a crazy person for no reason. Running post-college has its perks. I don’t have to run a workout if I don’t want to. [But] it’s truthfully a lot harder to stick to something so tough when you’re doing it alone. The difference now is that no one really cares how I do, but I care. No one is at the finish line but me. In a sick and crazy way, that’s all that matters to me at this point.” Trunkes, who has competed in a number of marathons, said that it mainly takes desire to run such great distances. This is why he stuck with marathons and never competed in an ultra-marathon, it was not something that appealed to him nor did he have the desire to do so. “It takes a lot of willpower and a lot of mental fortitude,” he said. “I think more than anything, physically most people are capable of covering the distance. It’s that desire and drive that motivates you to do something like that. What motivates anyone to do anything out of the ordinary? Why do people climb Mount Everest? Because they want to and think they can do it. The average person who is a couch potato sees a buddy or coworker of his complete a marathon and he’s saying ‘If they can do it, I can do it.’” Trunkes said he never had any desire or interest to [run an ultramarathon]. His pursuits were in shorter distances, so he never really saw himself as a marathon runner. “I think it takes a lot of patience and you have to really plan for it,” he said. “It was never something that really appealed to me.” Not surprisingly, preparation for a marathon or ultra-marathon is brutal. It’s not something that you can just decide to do one day,

Thursday, March 10, 2016

it takes a year or two of preparation. Friedman, who has also competed in a number of marathons, explained what the preparation process is like for such long runs. “Preparation and training for Bandera was similar to what I’ve done for other ultra-marathons,” he said. “I ran just about every day, averaging about 70-80 miles a week. In the months leading up to Bandera, I upped that to an average of 95-105 miles per week, with a peak of 125 miles in a week. The longest runs I did were 35-40 miles at a time.” While accomplishing such a feat may seem out of the realm of possibility for many of us, some people see it as a goal to accomplish. Members of the New Paltz community have shown that it is possible to run a marathon or even an ultra-marathon, it just takes passion. When fourth-year member of the cross-country team Danielle Halikias was asked if she would ever consider competing in a marathon or ultra-marathon, she responded with an answer only someone who is truly passionate about running could understand. “I could definitely see myself running a marathon by the age of 25,” she said. “An ultra-marathon is something I would like to accomplish one day in my life, but it will not be a priority. A marathon is a race that I would prefer because it is a long distance that can be done in three or four hours while an ultra-marathon takes twice the amount of time, which means twice the amount of training.” She said in the middle of a long run, marathon, or ultra-marathon, runners will doubt themselves. “If you can overcome that doubt, then you can overcome anything and do amazing in your race,” she said.


SPORTS

Women’s Basketball Loses First Round Game The New Paltz Oracle

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Allie Festa SPORT: Soccer YEAR: Fourth MAJOR: Elementary Education HOMETOWN: Centereach, New York

H OW DID YOU FIRST START PLAYING SOCCER?

I first started playing soccer because of my parents; they let me try and play any sport I wanted when I was younger and soccer just stuck with me. I loved the sport and the game. OUTSIDE OF SOCCER WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO?

Outside of soccer I like to workout, be around my friends and family and just the little things in life. I like to hike, be outside, ski and enjoy being on the beach! I am enjoying life one day at a time and enjoying every second of it. WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST ROLE MODELS? Hawks third-year co-captain Kit Small dribbles the ball up the court.

By Melissa Kramer

Sports Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The women’s basketball team has concluded their season as the Hawks fell to host Rowan University, 93-75 in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Div. III Tournament on Friday, March 4. With the loss, the Hawks finished the 2015-16 campaign with a 21-7 overall record and 14-4 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) tally. Hawks head coach Jamie Seward said the season was enjoyable, however it ended a lot quicker than they would have liked. “We thought we had the type of team that could have made a run,” Seward said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t play out that way.” Rowan held the lead throughout the duration of the game. However, the Hawks were able to tie the score 22-all at the 9:53 mark of the second quarter. New Paltz shot 35.6 (26-of-73) percent from the floor, held a 49-40 edge in rebounds and tallied 43 bench points. Rowan made 47.8 percent of their shots from the floor. Hawks first-year guard Lindsay Bettke tallied a team-high 20 points coming off the bench. Bettke convert-

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

ed 8-of-12 from the field, 2-of-4 from the 3-point range and 2-of-3 from the line. Third-year co-captain Kit Small recorded 15 points for the Hawks. Third-year guard and forward Morgan Roessler contributed 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench. Hawks third-year co-captain Courtney Irby matched Roessler’s rebound total. Rowan’s third-year guard Valerie Garofalo and graduate guard and forward Kaitlin Schullstrom both tallied 18 points that night. Seward said the Hawks did not play their best game and could not figure out how to attack the full-court pressure. “They played faster than anybody that we played,” he said. “We would like to think that we played pretty fast. They played in a different way. They didn’t give you any time to take a deep breath. It got us in some scramble type of situations defensively.” Irby said playing in the NCAA Tournament was a great feeling, which was a result of hard work by the team. “I was blessed to have had the opportunity to experience it,” she said. “I’m glad to have experienced it with my team, we were all excited and very happy.” The Hawks have three graduat-

ing players who will not be returning next season. They are fourth-year cocaptain Goldie Harrison, fourth-year guard Colleen Ames and fourth-year guard Dariah Duncan. Harrison finished her Hawks career with 632 points. Ames wraps up her career recording 407 points, including 82 converted 3-pointers. Seward credits the leadership of all three seniors and fellow co-captains Small and Irby to the team’s success this season. He said with Harrison being the only player to compete in the Hawks only other appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2013, experience is a key to success. “I think that makes a big difference,” he said. “I’m also glad that we got to get some experience for the younger players and hope that we can navigate our way back into this point. Now the challenge is getting back there because it is no easy task.” Up next for the Hawks will be a couple of weeks off followed by individual postseason meetings. They will begin their 2016-17 season on Oct. 15. “The team coming in that day [Oct. 15] has that chip on their shoulder,” Seward said. “They want to take it steps farther and get back to where we ended up this year.”

Thursday, March 10, 2016

My biggest role models are my parents. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without their constant love and support. They have pushed me to do my best and I can’t thank them enough for everything. They are truly the best and the rock to my foundation of life.

ARE YOU A FAN OF ANY TEAMS? I am a fan of many sports teams and don’t necessarily have a favorite sport or team. However, I do love the women’s national soccer team and find them very inspiring and truly amazing.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS?

I listen to music before every game. However, there are two songs I have to listen to before I step on the field, Wake Me Up by Avicii and Rather Be by Clean Bandit. Those two songs are my jam! WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS MEMORY? My favorite sports memory is from this year, when we won our senior game against Fredonia. Sloane Lipshie scored two goals to take the win and it was just a great way to end the season. It was such a bittersweet moment and I can’t thank my coach and my team enough for such a wonderful time!

DO

YOU WANT TO BE ...

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK? Contact Michael Rosen at

Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu


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Sports

The New Paltz Oracle

Lacrosse Falls in Opening Games

By Matthew Ferremi

Contributing Writer | Ferremim1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The lacrosse team is looking to improve on the 3-11 record they had during the 2015 season. This season started out for the Hawks on the road with a 15-5 loss to Vassar College on Saturday, March 5. Hawks head coach Liz Student said the team did not get off to a good start in the first game and were never able to dig out of the hole they were in. “We’re still learning how to play together as a team,” Student said. “We’re playing a more high-paced offense this season, so we still have to get the hang of it.” After second-year attacker Storm Sideleau scored for Vassar just 20 seconds into the game, Hawks third-year attacker Melissa Wagner countered 21 seconds later to tie the score at 1-all. The Brewers followed up with two more goals. Next, Hawks third-year attacker Nicole Stackpole tallied her first goal of the game at the 25:29 mark of the first half. From then on, the Brewers answered with seven straight goals. Stackpole would score the final three Hawk goals and finish with careerhigh of four. Second-year attacker Caitlyn Morris tallied two assists in the loss. Wagner added an assist to her line as well. Hawks third-year goalkeeper Colleen Roemer turned aside six saves in her first start as a women’s lacrosse student-athlete. Despite the season-opening loss, Student

said she still has high expectations for the team as their conference games approach. “This season, I want the team to be competitive in every game, especially in conference play that will take place later on in the season,” she said. “I want us to make the conference tournament.” Last year, the team went 1-7 in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) conference play, which is a mark that they would have to improve on in order to qualify for the SUNYAC Tournament, Student said. This year’s team is going through a roster transition, as seven seniors and two juniors graduated last spring. This season, the team has six incoming freshmen and no seniors on the team. “In my time of being the head coach here, this is the hardest working team I’ve had,” Student said. “We had a great preseason. I think the team realizes that they are not just working hard for this season, but they are also laying the foundation for next season, and the following seasons.” Before the start of the season, the team named three new captains, including third-year Nicole Gottschalk. She said that the preseason the team had was tough, both physically and mentally, but it will help the team. As a result, the entire team is in great shape. Gottschalk said the team is looking to be faster and hopes their work will be evident in their games.

“I am very fortunate to be one of the team’s captains this year and I really enjoy this responsibility,” she said. “The team has responded really well to the leadership of the three of us captains. We work well together and each of us brings something different to the team.” In their second game, the Hawks fell to Mount Saint Mary College 12-11 on Wednesday, March 9. Hawks first-year midfielder Rachael Purtell scored her first-career collegiate goal and netted a hat trick. She also added two assists. Student said she likes the way the incoming freshmen have adjusted to the team setting, as the captains help them on and off the field. “Our veteran players have helped the new players adjust to not just on-field things, but with how to handle the life of being a student-athlete,” she said. The Hawks begin their season on the road for eight out of their first 10 games. With a big roster transition, this can be a season for the Hawks to surprise teams and make an impact that will lay the foundation for the upcoming seasons. They will next host Penn State Abington on Thursday, March 10 at 4:30 p.m. on the North Turf Field. Despite the younger roster transitions, Gottschalk said she likes the potential of this year’s team. “We lost a lot of good players, but we also gained some good talent this year and a lot of

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

girls have really stepped up,” she said. “We are a young team and many people may think that puts us at a disadvantage, but we are looking at it as an advantage. We have a fresh start and it has made us become a closer team as a whole. The girls get along really well and we couldn’t ask for a better team dynamic.”

Tennis Drops Spring Season Opener By Anthony Mitthauer-Orza

Copy Editor | Mitthaua1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The women’s tennis team opened the spring portion of their season with an 8-1 loss to No. 32 Vassar College on Saturday, March 5. With the loss, the Hawks’ overall record dropped to 6-4 while the Brewers improved to 5-2 on the season. New Paltz looks to rebound in their final upcoming games in order to have a strong season against conference opponents in the fall. New Paltz’s only win came from second-year Carol Tyson in a flight three singles match against Brewers second-year Morgan Fitzgerald 6-4, 4-3. Despite the loss, Hawks head coach Rob Bruley feels the team played very well against a nationally ranked Vassar group even though there was not much time for adjustment for the New Paltz players. “It was a tough matchup,” Bruley said. “We’ve only had six practices and they have a very good team. Even their girls mentioned that it takes them two weeks to get used to the surface over there. We

go in there 90 minutes before the match to try and adjust to it, but I thought we played very well against them considering they’re a nationally ranked team. With all things considered, I was very happy with the way we played.” Third-year Olivia Ammirati and fourth-year captain Laura Tierney fell 8-1 in flight two doubles to fourth-years Kelsey Van Noy and Lauren Stauffer. In flight three, first-year Lindsay Haley and second-year Emi Lewis dropped an 8-1 decision to Brewers thirdyear Connie Yoo and second-year Dasha Ivenitsky. The Hawks do not play again until Wednesday, April 6 against Stevens Institute of Technology, a team New Paltz hasn’t lost to since the 2008-09 season. Ammirati said that with the next few weeks being dedicated to practice, she does not see a reason why the Hawks would lose to their nonconference foe. “I think that with how our practices have been going, we have a good chance against Stevens next

month,” Ammirati said. “If we stay focused and continue giving it our all I don’t see why we couldn’t pull out a win.” Although there are no conference matches left to play, the Hawks still have four more matches this season before the NCAA Tournament begins on Monday, May 23. With a young roster consisting of Tierney being the only fourth-year player, the coaching staff is looking for her to pass on her leadership skills to the younger players since this is her last season. Bruley said that Tierney can be an influential leader in getting the team to get some big wins down the road. Not only are wins important, but the display of teamwork is crucial in the recruiting process as well. “Laura Tierney is our captain, she’s as enthusiastic in the spring as she is in the fall,” Bruley said. “She wants to leave the program in great shape and to make sure our program is left in a good state. We also have some of our potential freshman coming to

Thursday, March 10, 2016

our upcoming games. The girls have to be on top of their game because not only do we want to win the match, we also want to highlight how good the program is to a high school senior who hasn’t made a decision yet.” The Hawks may have a few weeks until they play again, but they are also looking to strengthen their doubles performance. This is also an individual goal for Ammirati, as she is looking to finish her junior year off strong in doubles play. She said that success in doubles matchups makes the singles matchups easier because it takes the pressure off to stay alive against their opponent. “I want to really work on my doubles game,” Ammirati said. “Doubles points are so important because if you win your doubles it takes some pressure off the singles. With our practices, I think getting more doubles points is definitely a goal for me. We have been playing a lot of doubles because that is what we need to focus on. Just playing and hitting with each other does so much.”


SPORTS

The New Paltz Oracle

Home Isles Advantage Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Islanders have returned from their seven-game road trip with a record of 6-1-0. Playing several games in a very short amount of time can lead to an exhausted team. This has shown with the injury bug taking a toll of some Isles recently. Since coming off the All-Star break, they have a record of (12-4-2). They are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. Most recently, the Isles have played the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs all in a span of just over 72 hours, which just shows how packed their schedule is. One key for the Isles is playing a full 60 minutes. Also, they possess the second-best penalty kill percentage, (86.4) in the NHL, only .2 points behind the St. Louis Blues. In recent weeks, the Isles just have not been able to crack the code of the Eastern Conference and league-leading Washington Capitals. However, the team has shown its resilience and ability to play with the best of the best. During the Feb. 17 game at the Barclays Center, the Isles were down 2-1, until forward Frans Nielsen tied the game at 2-all with 1:44 remaining in the game. The Isles earned a point and forced overtime. However, the offensive firepower of the Capitals was too much. A turning point in the season was the March 6 game against the cross-town rival Rangers. The Isles lost a 3-0 early first period lead, which they established less than five minutes in. Eventually, the game was tied 4-4 in the third. Isles Head Coach Jack Capuano made the decision to put the energy line of Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin out on the ice. Some fans thought this was a questionable decision. Why not put the first line in to try to tally the game-winning goal? With 1:28 remaining, Cizikas won the face-off back to Clutterbuck. Clutterbuck took a look and sniped the puck right over the knob of Anti Raanta’s goalie stick. When you have a team where anybody can be a scoring threat, even on the fourth line, that makes them a legitimate contender. As a team, the Isles rank fifth in the league in the goals per game department (2.86). Scoring from the blue-line has also

oracle.newpaltz.edu

15

Isles Return Home as Road Trip Victors

Isles forward Kyle Okposo sets up for a play.

been a factor in the Isles’ recent success. Johnny “Rocket” Boychuk netted two goals in that game against the Rangers, leaving him only two goals away from his season-high in 2014-15 (9), with an entire month of the regular season left to play. The Islanders received 34 goals from their defense last season, including 19 from the tandem of Boychuk and Nick Leddy. This season, the scoring from the defense has been much more consistent, with all of the back-line getting in on the action. Travis Hamonic, Marek Zidlicky, Thomas Hickey and Calvin de Haan all have registered at least 10 points this season. Young defenseman Ryan Pulock, 21, finally made his long-awaited NHL debut in the game against the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 28. Pulock skated 14:46 (2:37 on the power play) and went minus-1 with a hit and two blocked shots. Pulock will get his time to shine soon enough. Something that has been concerning is the health of fellow defenseman de Haan.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR USER DINUR

The Carp native has been plagued by injuries in recent weeks. The Isles most consistent defenseman this season returned on Tuesday, March 1 in Vancouver after missing five games with a lower-body injury. He apparently aggravated the injury with a long flight home and a rare day off on Friday, March 4, and is now listed as dayto-day. Missing the game against the Rangers on March 7 brought him up to a total of six games absent this season. Leddy is the only defenseman to play all 64 games. The longest the team has gone playing the same six defensive pairs is nine straight games. Besides defense, the Isles’ last line of defense, goaltending, has still been solid. With the tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss, the Isles never have to worry about consistency between the pipes. Greiss currently leads the entire NHL with a .930 save percentage. He hasn’t permitted more than three goals in a game since early January. Halak has played reasonably well since being pulled after allowing six goals

Thursday, March 10, 2016

to Carolina on Feb. 13, but he appeared very uncomfortable in the win against the Rangers, allowing two goals in less than a minute. However, in the game against the Penguins on March 9, Halak recorded career win 200. Unfortunately, he obtained a lower-body injury and is now out at least six weeks, which is the remainder of the regular season. Forward Kyle Okposo has also been an important figure. He has surpassed last year’s season-high of 51 points already. Recently, he scored the overtime-winning goal against the Winnipeg Jets on March 4. Brock Nelson has proven himself as a goal scorer as well. The pickup of forward Shane Prince from the Ottawa Senators was a decent one by Islanders General Manager Garth Snow. Prince is a solid third-line forward who can chip in a point or two every once and a while. Last season he totaled 12 points in 42 games played with Ottawa. Another accolade to mention is Capuano’s 200th career win as a head coach, which he earned in the overtime win against the Jets. In the New York sports scene, coaches always receive criticism now and again. The second a team goes on a losing streak, fans are always ready to fire their head coach. Despite the criticism, Capuano has turned around an Isles team from the brink of failure, into a close-knit group who now has the ability to go far in the playoffs. So far, he has brought them to the playoffs twice — in 2012-13 and 2015-16. Now, the goal is to get this more experienced team past the first round and make it all the way to the Finals. With 17 games remaining in the regular season, the Islanders currently stand in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 82 points. The Isles will be taking on the Rangers and the Capitals one final time in April. These games will be crucial to the standings, especially because they are back-to-back, both on the road and within the final five games of the season. Isles fans need to hope the team can get back their injured warriors and stay healthy throughout the rest of the season and into the playoffs. They cannot afford to fly off the rails and collapse, especially while in such a competitive conference.


Sports

WHAT’S INSIDE

Women’s Basketball Concludes Season PAGE 13

Lacrosse Opens Season PAGE 14

SPRING CLEANING

ALL PHOTOS BY HOLLY LIPKA

The New Paltz Oracle

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL WINS 18TH STRAIGHT MATCH : PAGE 11


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