Volume 88, Issue 3

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Volume 88, Issue III

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Ulster County Legislator Proposes Minimum Wage Increase for County Employees STORY ON PAGE 3 | EDITORIAL ON PAGE 9

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF THE NEW PALTZ ORACLE

• New Paltz To Dedicate 9/11 Memorial Next Fall ...................Pg 4 •SUNY System Implements Diversity Policy.....................Pg 6 • SUNY New Paltz Ranked For Veterans’ Services....................Pg 5 • Refugee Crisis Hits Europe.............................................Pg 7

Kristen Warfield EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Nate Sheidlower

NEW PALTZ ORACLE THE

MANAGING EDITOR _________________

Melanie Zerah NEWS EDITOR

Karl Evers-Hillstrom FEATURES EDITOR

Russell Hartman

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Melissa Kramer SPORTS EDITOR

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Holly Lipka David Khorassani PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS

Stefanie Diers CARTOONIST

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Sam Manzella Monique Tranchina Anthony Orza Jack O’Brien Kintura Williams Jess Napp Michael Rosen Amanda Copkov Rachael Purtell COPY EDITORS

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Jackie Quaranto WEB CHIEF

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Emma Savic

BUSINESS MANAGER _________________

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About The New Paltz Oracle

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

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Minimum Wage Proposal Faces Controversy

PHOTO COURTESY OF STLUCIANEWSONLINE

By Melanie Zerah

News Editor | Zerahm1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

A proposal of establishing a $15-an-hour minimum wage for county employees spearheaded by Ulster County Legislature Chairman John Parete was met with concern by several other legislatures.

“Quite honestly, when I read that our county executive had gone to Albany and advocated for the living wage before the wage board, I thought that this could be an opportunity to find out where people in Ulster County are,” Parete said.

This proposal was brought to the Ulster County Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee. It was, however, rejected with four votes in support and two in opposition. Five positive votes are necessary for a proposal to go through the committee into effect.

The apprehensions of those in opposition circulate around the fear

that this raised pay could create is- rete said concerns over negotiated sues with negotiated union contracts. union contracts]. “Number 1, because According to an article in The Daily if the state passes the law it becomes Freeman, businessmen including Leg- law, which would be automatically islator Richard Gerentine, chairman reflected in the contract. I think that’s a bogus of the a r g u LegisMy interest lies with the workers lature’s m e n t , of Ulster county. As far as the Wa y s w e ’ r e a n d d o i n g New York level goes, that’s up to Means budgets the state senators and Governors.

Comr i g h t n o w mittee, in the s a i d John Parete c o u n t y. that he It is not a d o e s not agree with anyone dictating what problem if it turned out that we had minimum wage should be. However, to renegotiate the contract with the Parete has disclosed that he has no in- Civil Service Employee Association tentions of imposing a minimum wage (CSEA) or the unions.”

This pay raise would only affect on local businesses, he only aims to raise the pay of the Ulster County six to 10 people, according to Parete.

If this were to go through the Ways Government employees themselves.

“I don’t find that a problem,” Pa- and Means Committee, for the sec-

“

”

Thursday, September 24, 2015

ond time, Parete said that there will be no increase for the taxpayers of Ulster County to compensate for the raised wage.

Parete also said that raising wages for workers of Ulster County is as far as he wishes to go with the matter. The New York minimum wage, according to Parete, is a matter for the state senators and governors. Parete said that in regards to New York minimum wage, if Ulster County does agree to an increase for a living wage, then the likelihood of any other region in New York, or New York as a whole going through with this is not high.

“I am doing this for Ulster county,” Parete said. “I have to take care of myself and our workers. My interest lies with the workers of Ulster County. As far as the New York level goes, thats up to the state senators and Governors.”

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New Paltz Breaks Ground on 9/11 Memorial

EU AGREES MORE MONEY FOR AGENCIES HELPING REFUGEES NEAR WARS European Union leaders, faced with a staggering migration crisis and deep divisions over how to tackle it, managed to agree early Thursday to boost border controls to ease the influx and to send 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to international agencies helping refugees at camps near their home countries.

SYRIA, EBOLA FAILURES HIGHLIGHT UN SHORTCOMINGS The worsening war in Syria, allegations of child sexual abuse by U.N. peacekeepers and the mishandling of the Ebola epidemic cast a spotlight on the inadequacies of the United Nations in a globalized world, operating with a power structure that hasn’t changed since 1945. With age, the organization has grown bloated, say many who know it well. It is also underfunded and overwhelmed by the tasks it faces.

BREAKTHROUGH IN TALKS MOVES WAR-WEARY COLOMBIA NEAR TO PEACE President Juan Manuel Santos and leaders of Colombia’s largest rebel group vowed to end Latin America’s longest-running armed conflict in the coming months after reaching a breakthrough in talks that put the country closer to peace that it has been in half a century.

KENYAN AUTHORITIES FIND UNDECLARED WEAPONS ON FOREIGN SHIP Kenyan security forces searching a Norwegian ship at Mombasa port discovered undeclared weapons among the consignment of U.N. vehicles, local police and the ship’s Norwegian owner said Wednesday. Rifles and Russian-made rocket-propelled grenades were among a “cache of firearms,” Mombasa police chief Francis Wanjohi told a news conference. Kenya’s government is trying to determine whether it was a U.N. agency transporting the weapons and why the arms were not disclosed in the cargo manifest, said Wanjohi. Twenty crew members of the vessel will be charged with illegal arms trafficking, he said.

Compiled from the AP Newswire

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NEW PALTZ TIMES AND FACEBOOK

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA Butch Dener (middle) at New Paltz 9/11 Memorial groundbreaking ceremony.

By Jack O’Brien

Copy Editor | Obrienj2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The groundbreaking ceremony for the New Paltz 9/11 Memorial took place on Friday, Sept. 11. Former New Paltz Republican Committee Chairman Butch Dener spearheaded the effort to bring a symbol of America’s tenacity to the New Paltz community.

“I did this for the community and out of a love of this country,” Dener said.

“There was no government money involved in the planning of this project. This was for the community to commemorate and never forget what happened to us on that day.”

Dener said that each generation has its own associated national tragedy. Dener cited Pearl Harbor for the Greatest Generation, the Kennedy assassination for Baby Boomers and 9/11 for Millennials. The memorial is meant to stand as a continuing symbol of unity and patriotism.

In 2002, Dener planted the “Tree of Remembrance” outside of Fire Station Two on North Putts Road with former New Paltz Republican vice-Chairman Carmine Liberta. Dener said that the two of them had talked about eventually expanding the project into a larger memorial. Years after

Liberta passed away, Dener found inspiration while traveling in New York City and eventually renewed public interest in the project.

“I partnered with Kevin McGuire, the New Paltz Fire Department chief, and we obtained a piece of steel from the North Tower,” Dener said. “In addition to that, the New Paltz Police Department was able to contribute a four foot statue that had stood in front of the South Tower.”

The ceremony was also memorable for its inclusion of local resident Kevin Zraly. A former manager and wine expert at “Windows on the World,” the acclaimed restaurant on top of the North Tower, Zraly lost 72 friends and coworkers on 9/11. He had never spoken publicly about that day before this memorial ceremony.

“It was very powerful to have Kevin there,” Dener said. “I think the sense of community provided him with a comfortable place to share his story.”

Several prominent leaders in the community attended the event, including Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupack, who was struck by the turnout from the town.

“It was impressive to see this community come together under the guidance of private citizens and the fire department,”

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Postupack said. “I’ve attended quite a few 9/11 memorials, but this one felt different.

It was more of a remembrance for the community.”

Among others who attended the groundbreaking was town councilman Dan Torres, who knew Zraly’s son in middle school. Torres thought the ceremony spoke to the core of the character of New Paltz.

“This event was one of the things I love about the town,” Torres said. “It was important to acknowledge the tragedy and the effect it had on this community. Personally, I support the idea of making a town contribution, whether that is through maintenance or supplying money for the memorial. I think we should help out in whatever way we can.”

Torres also commented on how the proximity of the attacks has resonated with people around town, with many knowing someone who was affected by the attacks.

The memorial is slated to be dedicated on Sept. 11., 2016, marking the 15th anniversary of the tragedy.

Contributions can be made out to the New Paltz Fire Department, P.O. Box 656 New Paltz, NY 12561. If “9/11” is written in the memo section, then the contribution can be considered as tax deductible.

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SUNY New Paltz Serves Those Who Served

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PAPA! POPE STIRS EXCITEMENT IN DC, CALLS FOR CLIMATE ACTION Cheered by jubilant crowds across the nation’s capital, Pope Francis forged common cause Wednesday with President Barack Obama on climate change, immigration and inequality, as the popular pontiff signaled he would not sidestep issues that have deeply divided Americans.

XI TRADES FOOTBALL FOR HARDBALL POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA The Veteran & Military Services office in the Student Union Building.

By Matt D’Onofrio

Contributing Editor | Donofrim1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

SUNY New Paltz was ranked no. 18 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of “Best Colleges for Veterans” among universities located in the northern region. According to an article published in The Daily Freeman, this is a first time recognition of this distinction for the college.

The school’s Office of Veteran & Military Services was established in May 2014, starting off with 80 veterans, service members and dependents — children and spouses of veterans. Since then, the office has expanded its programs and now serves 189 veterans, service members and dependent, according to Jason F. Gilliland, Coordinator of Veterans Services and a former veteran himself.

The office offers a variety of services, including mentoring, admissions assistance, extended hours, special equipment and events.

“Number 18 in the nation? Wow. I didn’t even know they had a program like that for veterans. I wish that was a thing back then,” said local veteran Alan Semenovich, 61, who served the U.S. military in the ‘70s — post-Vietnam.

This semester the office launched their Veteran, Military and Dependents Mentoring, or VMDM, program, a peer-to-peer mentoring and student-to-faculty mentoring program for incoming veteran students.

Thirteen faculty mentors, 11 professional

staff members, 12 student mentors and 19 prodigies, or incoming students, were a part of it. Gilliland compared the program to a big brother and sister program. They had a fantastic turnout and received positive feedback from both the incoming students and their mentors, he said.

“When you’re a child, a teenager, a student or a soldier, you’re told what to do and you become used to that lifestyle,” said Gilliland. “It is difficult for veterans to transition from being told what to do to suddenly having all the control in their hands in this college setting,” The office provides assistance with the admission process to get into SUNY New Paltz, which is a problem for many veterans due to deployment or serving overseas. The office acts as a liaison, or a bridge according to Gilliland. Gilliland pointed out that veteran students have different needs than average college students since most are adults with families, a mortgage and a job, or are combat veterans who suffer from injuries or conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

In order to efficiently serve the bulk population of veteran students, the office normally opens at 8:30 a.m. yet stays open till 8 p.m. unlike most other administration offices, which close at 5 p.m. The office also provides special laptops with access to military domains for veteran students to use and holds events such as the annual Veteran’s Day dinner on Nov. 11, a ceremony on Vet-

eran’s Day and the Veterans Theater Project at Parker Theatre.

“It’s like Google, you come here and you’re pointed in the right direction,” said third-year Timothy Toomey, 24, a veteran student who served the New York Army National Guard for six years.

Toomey previously attended Dutchess Community College as well as Ulster County Community College’s Police Academy before transferring to SUNY New Paltz in Spring 2015. Toomey, who now works at the office under work-study, pointed out that the office at SUNY New Paltz had “extremely knowledgeable” representatives compared to other schools. These representatives actually convinced Toomey that SUNY New Paltz was the right choice for him, recalling a smooth transfer and Gilliland’s ability to “streamline” Toomey’s application process.

“This office is a resource and I recommend any and every veteran student at SUNY New Paltz or looking at SUNY New Paltz to use it,” said Toomey, highlighting that about 22 veterans commit suicide every day according to a 2013 study by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. Toomey said thankfully no veteran student at SUNY New Paltz has followed suit.

“To serve those who served,” Gilliland said. “That’s our slogan. This school, from the president down to the faculty, has been nothing but supportive in changing campus culture to be military friendly. It’s been great to be a part of this, a part of history.”

Thursday, Sept 24, 2015

With his feel-good tours of Boeing, Microsoft and a local high school complete, Chinese President Xi Jinping departs Washington state Thursday for the other Washington, where tougher discussions on cybersecurity, intellectual property protections and human rights await.

POPE PRAISES US BISHOPS’ RESPONSE TO ABUSE, ANGERING VICTIMS

Pope Francis praised American bishops on Wednesday for their “generous commitment” to helping victims of clergy sex abuse, drawing an angry rebuke from advocates who said the bishops acted only under the threat of hundreds of lawsuits. Addressing church leaders in a prayer service at the Washington cathedral, Francis said they had faced the crisis “without fear of self-criticism and at the cost of mortification and great sacrifice.”

SCIENTISTS: DROUGHT STRESSING CALIFORNIA’S GIANT SEQUOIAS Giant Sequoias growing in California’s Sierra Nevada are among the largest and oldest living things on earth, but scientists climbing high up into their green canopies say they are seeing symptoms of stress caused by the state’s historic drought.

Patches of brown, dead foliage are appearing more than in past years, say researchers studying the iconic trees, which only grow naturally in the Sierra Nevada. By taking stock of groves that are most vulnerable, scientists say they can better manage the forest through the hotter, drier droughts expected in the future.

Compiled from the AP Newswire

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy Updated

By Sam Manzella

Copy Editor | Manzells1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

State University of New York (SUNY) unveiled its updated Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy in a news release from Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday, Sept.

10. The new policy will allow students at any of the 64 SUNY campuses to voluntarily self-identify their sexual orientation or gender identity from a wider range of choices.

According to the SUNY news release, the new policy broadly defines diversity to include race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, age, socioeconomic status, status as a veteran, status as a student with a disability, first-generation students and international students or those transferring between colleges. Students who choose to share their sexual orientation or gender identity will have seven choices, along with a write-in box for an orientation or gender not previously listed. These choices include straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer, questioning or unsure of sexual orientation and man, woman, trans man, trans woman, genderqueer/gender-fluid, questioning or unsure for gender identity.

Dr. Kathleen Dowley, head of New Paltz’s Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) department, represented the university within the SUNY-wide Diversity Task Force. She and other representatives worked for a year and a half to collect data, review information and draft this policy, she said.

According to Dowley, students at New Paltz will be invited to confidentially state their gender identity and/or sexual orientation online via my.newpaltz.edu. SUNY administrators hope that this influx of demographic data will give them the information necessary to implement future diversity policies. Dowley cited a few of the policymaker’s biggest concerns, including hiring more diverse professors, developing more comprehensive diversity policies and offering diversity training to SUNY faculty and staff.

On behalf of the SUNY New Paltz administration, Media Relations Manager Chrissie Williams said that the school is prepared to implement the changes stated in the new policy. Williams referenced last year’s new Preferred Names policy as an example of New Paltz’s dedication to the diverse needs of the student body. This

policy allows students to request for their student IDs, class rosters, college records and other non-state regulated documents to reflect their preferred names.

“New Paltz is [now] able to offer the student body more options in its commitment to diversity and inclusiveness,” Williams said.

Yet SUNY’s diversity efforts are not without constructive criticism. Dr. Jessica Pabón, associate professor of WGSS, explained how these new opportunities for self-identification should be reinforced by support programs for LGBTQIA+ and gender nonconforming students.

“Ultimately, you can check that gender nonconforming box, or add in the way that you identify, but your experience once you arrive to the particular institution is still unknown,” Pabón said.

Pabón suggested that SUNY administrations hire faculty and staff who are more attentive to the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. She noted the allies program at SUNY New Paltz, a voluntarily run program which trains professors and administrators to be supportive allies to LGBTQIA+ students, as well as New Paltz’s new Rivera House Living Learning Community.

Inquire

Pabón believes someone should be hired and paid to run these important programs.

Hopefully, data gathered from these new policies will provide measurable evidence of a need for such positions and further support systems for students, she said.

Dowley also expressed her discontent with one clause of the new policy, which requires that each SUNY campus hire its own Chief Diversity Officer. According to the official news release, this administrator will work with all campus offices to implement more effective diversity-based policies. However, Dowley said that the funds allocated to this new administrator’s salary could be better spent elsewhere.

“That salary could probably fund two faculty lines,” Dowley added. “This is a big chunk of resources being dedicated to yet another layer of administration, when it could be funding more diversity in the classroom.”

Ultimately, Dowley and Pabón believe that this policy is a positive step forward for SUNY. Both hope that this policy acts as a catalyst for future diversity policies and programs for SUNY students and faculty. “[This policy] makes a promise I hope we can fulfill,” Pabón said.

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Syrian Refugees Flee Civil War

By Jack O’Brien

Copy Editor | Obrienj2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The mass exodus of Syrians due to a vicious civil war and a destroyed national spirit has seized the attention of the international press corps. The current flood of an estimated four million Syrian migrants across primarily neighboring Middle Eastern and southern European countries has stressed global immigration policies to its furthest extent.

With each passing week, western powers like the United States, France, Germany and Great Britain, have had to contemplate strategies aimed to stem the flow of migrants. At the same time, these nations must also consider the equally important task of internally stabilizing Syria.

Denera Ragoonanan, a second-year international relations major, stated that the most important aspect to address is why the refugees are leaving Syria.

“The crisis began during the Arab Spring in 2011, with the initial protests against [President Bashar al-] Assad,” Ragoonanan said.

“Since then, inequality has widened and the Syrian people have become polarized by the internal conflicts within their country.”

Botros Toro, a fourth-year political science and economics double-major, originally from Aleppo, Syria, said that after nearly five years of war it is understandable why people are migrating to Europe.

“The war is complicated because it’s not a two-sided war,” Toro said. “There are multiple sides engaged in this conflict. This makes it especially difficult because the government is fighting rebel groups that have turned into ex-

tremists. In addition to that, you have the creeping influence of ISIS and Al Nusra. There’s not just one end solution available to fix it.”

There are also lingering issues regarding how sovereign nations should be governed and be treated in the international community. Dr. Ryan Irwin, an assistant professor of history at the State University at Albany, addressed questions about how countries are choosing to deal with the immigrants in Europe. Irwin also highlighted the fact that most historical migration trends point to the fact that ultimately most refugees will return to Syria.

“Whether with the United States in the Middle East, or the European Union dealing with member nations, there are questions about if countries have the ability to tell other sovereign nations what to do,” Irwin said. “But the narrative shouldn’t be lost on that. This is a story regarding the Middle East. The European aspect is simply a microcosm of a larger issue.”

Focusing on the Syrian condition, Toro remarked that it has become a battle of lesser evils for the citizens who remain in the country.

“A lot of people have been going to government area because that’s where they have access to food, shelter, water, hospitals, among other things,” Toro said. “I think taking down Assad now would be the wrong move because it would open the opportunity to create a political vacuum.”

Blame has also been laid at the feet of states in the Gulf, who have adamantly refused to accept any refugees.

“Since wealthier nations like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar aren’t taking in refugees, they’ve turned their attention to Europe,” Toro

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA Syrian refugees strike at the platform of Budapest Keleti railway station.

said. “It’s where they find hope. If these nations in the Gulf had accepted refugees, particularly poor ones, then there would be less refugees elsewhere.”

Ragoonanan was equally as critical of the Gulf States, as well as the global response to the crisis.

“There isn’t likely to be an end to the crisis until there is peace from within Syria,” Ragoonanan said. “I think the biggest misconception some people have is that the U.S. should have a clear cut military solution for this crisis. The civil society development aspect of this story is of crucial importance, too.”

Irwin further extended on that narrative,

questioning whether the U.S. has the current capabilities to solve the Syrian conflict.

“We seem to lack a framework for answering the question of what we should do,” Irwin said. “It begs the question as to whether history has caught up to us. We learned in Iraq that ordering ground troops doesn’t always work.

Then are we going to use airstrikes like we did in Bosnia? It’s been difficult to emulate those effects because we don’t have the same coalition countries to mobilize like we did with Yugoslavia.”

Senate Discusses Committee Elections

By Amanda Copkov

Copy Editor| Copkova1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The 60th Student Senate met Wednesday night to discuss elections within the Senate, the Judicial Board, Alumni Affairs Committee, University Police Department (UPD) Committee, Arts and Aesthetics Committee, Honors Advisory Council Committee, Student Concerns Committee, Academic Senate Committee and Academic Affairs Committee.

Before elections began, Senator Rookie Reynoso encouraged students to vote and also talked about declining statistics of black students. She said that black students continue to apply to New Paltz and get accepted but choose other universities because they are more competitive and offer more diversity.

Reynoso also mentioned that Major Coleman of the Black Studies department wants to create a committee of both faculty and students who will help hire new department professors now that some professors are retiring or transferring departments.

The objective of the committee would be to have more students have a say in their major department. She said the department is also trying to hire temporary adjunct faculty for the spring semester.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Nicole Striffolino spoke next, informing the Senate that construction of Sojourner Truth Library (STL) will not be going on during final exams. The hard deadline for the project would be before final exams but the contractors are hoping to be finished before Thanksgiving. She explained that there were two different contractors for the project - one through

Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS) for the new cafe, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, and another contractor through the university that was focusing specifically on library renovations. Construction delays were caused by a merging of the two projects into one because CAS preferred the work of the STL contractor.

When elections began, Senate Chair Paul Brown mentioned that the Senate only had 22 senators but needed 25. Senators voted in first-year Amir Haghi, second-year Stephanie Liew and firstyear Judy Lin. For Judicial Board elections, the senators voted in fourth-year Xiao Mei Su as the interim associate justice and third-year Austin Alvarado as the interim alternate justice.

First-year Andrea Paredes was elected into

Thursday, September 24, 2015

the Alumni Affairs Committee; second-year April Hannah was elected into the UPD Committee; fourth-year Drew Parker was voted into the Arts and Aesthetics Committee; first-year Winnie Guo was elected into the Social Justice Coalition (SJC); and third-year Arjeta Prenaj was elected into the Honors Advisory Council Committee.

No one showed up to be elected into the Student Concerns Committee, the Academic Senate Committee or the Academic Affairs Committee.

Chairwoman of the Council of Organizations, Esoshani Barton, also said that charters for clubs are due Monday, Sept. 28 at 11:59 p.m. She said that the charters are time stamped and that any club that sends in their charter late will be penalized. The next Council of Organizations meeting is Monday, Sept. 28 in SUB 62/63 at 7 p.m.

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The terms Latino and Hispanic are used interchangeably to reflect common usage in media and research. The debate surrounding correct usage, while necessary, exceeds the boundaries of this article.

Three months have passed since television personality, Donald J. Trump, son of real estate developer, Fred Trump, announced his candidacy for President of the United States. During that time, Trump has managed to recreate the past success of his 2004 television show, The Apprentice. That is: to draw an audience. His polarizing brand of unapologetic claims has created strong camps on both sides of the political aisle. Those who approve of Trump, tune in to watch their candidate push his “Make America Great Again!” campaign forward. Others tune in because Trump continues to shape the rhetoric of the 2016 presidential race. Headline news is made or lost with each racist, sexist or xenophobic claim he delivers. In either case, we are watching you, Mr. Trump.

His product is simple. He amplifies the frustrated voices of the largest ideological share of the U.S. electorate: conservatives.

And what better candidate to do so? Save the most recent debate, he is a genius self-promoter capable of debasing fellow candidates who promises to shut down policy antithetical to conservative beliefs such as President Obama’s Executive Action on Immigration.

The confusion that stems from the

public’s belief of claims, validates Trump’s factless ramblings. Take for example, Trump’s well cited comment “when Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best … They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us.

They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.

And some, I assume, are good people.” Here lies the issue that many have queued into: Do beliefs have a place in politics?

Trump’s equation of undocumented immigrants to rapists, to no one’s surprise, invited a media firestorm unto the Trump campaign. The majority of journalists asked the logical question: How will this influence the Latino Vote?

A survey published by the television broadcasting company, Univision, found the claim largely repelled Latino voters. To illustrate this point, another research group, Gallup, designed a bar graph that measured each GOP candidate’s favorability among Latino voters.

Trump received a favorability rating of -51, while the next most unfavorable candidates were Former Governor Rick Perry and Senator Ted Cruz, both received a rating of -7. This doesn’t look good for Republicans who have historically lost the Latino Vote to Democrats, but need to claim 47 percent of the Latino Vote in order to win this Presidential election.

Despite the research, Trump’s comment doesn’t worry some Republicans. “I don’t think Hispanics

respond in a monolithic way,” Lt. Gov. John Sanchez of New Mexico told The Los Angeles Times in a July article claiming Trump will not lose the Latino vote. Sanchez offers that Trump’s claim will resonate with Latino immigrants who gained citizenship legally and feel that others should do the same.

So, projections indicate Trump — or any other anti-immigrant GOP candidate — will lose the Latino Vote in 2016. What, then, was his angle? Why say it?

Trump critics have long advocated that his language reflects the conservative right’s fear of the unknown. The comment, undocumented immigrants are rapists, taps into American xenophobia around the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. right now. Without the proper mechanisms to label, categorize and track them, this fear tells us that they might as well be dangerous or suspect to commit a crime, right? Check out Philip Bump’s Washington Post article published on July 2, “Surprise! Donald Trump is wrong about immigrants and crime.” The evidence against the correlation between undocumented immigrants and criminal activity is staggering.

What we know of undocumented immigrants isn’t much.

According to a Wall Street Journal article published on April 7 — two months before Trump announced his candidacy — as many as 40 percent of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the

Thursday, September 24, 2015

U.S. are individuals who entered the country legally and overstayed their visas. This means that about four million immigrants, from across the globe, passed the health and background exams to become temporary residents of the U.S. President Obama’s Executive Action on Immigration — the one Trump plans to stamp out when he becomes President — aims to improve the path to citizenship and allow some of the 11 million to gain recognition. The fact of the matter is this: fear makes for a great campaign tool in Trump’s belt. It registers immediately with an electorate who believes there is a stranger in our midst. It is far more effective to provide an immediate solution, like mass deportation, so long as it addresses that fear. After all, it is the President’s job to eliminate uncertainty. But it is our job to be alright with it.

Nick Tantillo

Third-year, Journalism

Tantilln1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The views expressed in op-eds are solely those of the student who wrote and submited it.

They do not necessarily reflect those of The New Paltz Oracle, its staff members, the campus and university or the Town or Village of New Paltz.

THE GUNK

Thursday, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

For the vinyl time?

Story on page 3B

H u d s o n Va l l e y r e c o r d r i o t c o m e s t o N E w pa lt z PHOTO BY DAVID KHORASSANI

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Keeping The Vinyls Spinning

RECORD RIOTS ARRIVES AT NEW PALTZ

By Amanda Copkov

Copy Editor | Copkova1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

There is a certain romance about buying and playing a new record: whether it be the alluring scratchiness of their sound, their vintage, musky scent or the way the fragile vinyl feels in the palms of your hands.

Some people enjoy records so much that they make careers out of buying and selling them. One of those people is Stephen Gritzan, the owner of Iris Records, a record store in Jersey City which he opened in 1996.

After being laid off from a job as a retail stockbroker on Wall Street in the mid ‘90s, Gritzan figured he could make some extra money by selling some of his old records. And thus Iris Records was born.

Gritzan and Iris Records, like many other record buyers and sellers from across the east coast, came together for the annual Record Riots -- traveling through Jersey City, Brooklyn, New Haven and Cromwell, Connecticut and also making an appearance in the Hudson Valley on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Previously located across the Hudson in Beacon, Gritzan decided New Paltz would be a better place to host this year’s Hudson Valley Record Riot because of the diversity of the people and because of the town’s well-known and simple location: right off the New York State Thruway and close to other metropolitan areas like Poughkeepsie, Newburgh and Kingston.

The pivotal deciding factor for Gritzan was that in the heart of New Paltz lies the College, home to students, who make up a large demographic of record buyers today.

“The idea was that college students are buying records now in a way they weren’t at one point,” he said. “Since all new music comes out on vinyl now, we figured that would

PHOTOS BY DAVID KHORASSANI

be a good drawing card.”

This year’s Record Riot hosted over 35 tables of record buyers and sellers, offering up vinyls from every genre under the sun including rock, funk, jazz, hip hop, country and more.

Jeff Rubel, a record buyer and

seller from the Manhattan borough of Queens, also came to buy and sell records. The influence of his older brother introduced him to the eclectic world of vinyl records, where he discovered classic, counterculture rock bands like The Beatles, The Grateful Dead and The Doors.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Rubel, whose daughter studied women’s gender and sexuality studies at SUNY New Paltz, influenced him to create a category of all LGBTQIA+ artists, which includes artists such as Joan Armatrading, a British singersongwriter and guitarist of the rock, pop and blues genres.

Like Gritzan, Rubel also believes that records are becoming more popular today, despite the highly digitized world we live in.

“A lot of private record companies are releasing vinyl, so it’s making a comeback,” he said. “People want to spin discs again. The sound is better than CDs.” Gritzan feels that there has been a rejection of CDs as of late because of a “backlash” towards technology.

He thinks people like records more today because it takes them back to an older, maybe even simpler, world.

“Records are unique, tangible items in a world that’s becoming less tangible,” he said. “I think there’s a more sensuous kind of feeling about them than the clinicalness of mp3s and iPods. People like holding a record. They like the idea of the cover and turning it over. These are all quaint things in this modern world we live in, so it’s nice to have some old fashioned stuff going on.”

In terms of Record Riot, Gritzan said that this event is a good annual opportunity to get people together who have similar interests and to build a community.

“It’s a chance for people to share a passion and to share ideas and music and to have fun,” he said.

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Features

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A Taste of New Paltz

BY KARL EVERS-HILLSTROM

3B

PHOTOS BY DAVID KHORASSANI

The 25th annual Taste of New Paltz event brought food vendors from all over the Hudson Valley and beyond. The all-day event hosted over 60 different vendors, including popular New Paltz restaurants like P & G’s, Main Street Bistro and McGillicuddy’s. The event not only provided a massive variety of food and drinks for eventgoers to choose from, but exciting new exposure for caterers and restaurants alike. Many of the stations offered two or three dollar samples of their product so people could try as much food as possible. The event organizers enlisted the help of many volunteers to be at waste stations to educate people on what kind of waste goes where. Featured here are four different vendors we talked to and ate at while at the event.

Colleen Taylor (left) and Jillian Grennan (right) selling apple products for Hurds Family Farm.

Megan McCoy (left) of the Craft Beer Guild reccommended pumpkin cider to all the fairgoers.

Hurds Family Farm has been operating for over 20 years in Modena, NY. They grow and sell all kinds of apple products ranging from apple pie to apple cider doughnuts. They have tough competition from Tantillo’s Farm, who were awarded best apple cider doughnuts from Hudson Valley Magazine, but Taylor and Grennan are convinced theirs are better. The farm also hosts events for kids to come to the farm and learn about picking and growing crops, as well as have playtime.

Founded two years ago, the Craft Beer Guild is a major distributor of craft beer for the Hudson Valley. Located on Putt Corners Road, the guild offers an astounding amount of beers from Belgium and Germany, but also offers local brews. McCoy said the distributor prides itself in only delivering quality products. They also offered ciders, imported beers and a soda for people not yet of age.

Renee Mitchell (right) and Meghan Wagner (left) were all smiles while serving ice cream to customers.

Darryl (right) and Ryan (left) Schoonmaker offered delicious ribs and sound advice on how to make great BBQ ribs.

Brothers Darryl and Ryan Schoonmaker have been working together as the Brotherly Grub BBQ for over two years. They run a mobile operation that caters for large events such as parties and weddings and will stop by any farmer’s market they can. Just three dollars can get you a single pork rib and from personal experience I must admit it was delicious. Darryl Schoonmaker said the secret of great BBQ ribs starts with a good rub. “We use a well balanced rub with a good combination of sugar and pepper,” he said. “It’s called the Brotherly Grub Rub.” Schoonmaker also explained that it is important to slowly smoke the meat so it’s tender and easy to eat.

Renee Mitchell and Meghan Wagner took over ownership of Village Pizza last year. Located on Route 32, Village Pizza offers all kinds of slices with a variety of toppings. However, on a hot summer day Mitchell and Wagner focused on providing different flavors of ice cream, including the popular apple cider ice cream. According to Mitchell, Village Pizza doesn’t draw as many students as similar restaurants on Main Street. They’re trying to change that by offering deals such as four dollar pitchers of beer every day from 3 to 6 p.m. Mitchell also mentioned that they serve more than just pizza, including pasta, sandwiches and omelettes.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

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Features

Potato Power

RETIRED PROFESSOR GIVES STARCHY LECTURE

By Monique Tranchina Copy Editor | Tranchim1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Coykendall Science Building auditorium was filled with public visitors and students eager to listen to and digest a lecture on potatoes, presented by Linda Greenow, retired geography professor at SUNY New Paltz.

According to Greenow, myths surround the potato, such as “potatoes are bad for you” and “potatoes are boring.” Of course, fast food french fries and potato chips aren’t going to top any healthy foods list and we usually don’t daydream about the growth cycle of a potato. However, potatoes are a sustainable food source that can provide nutrients and starch, which aides a healthy diet. The potato is also a cornerstone of food security for many households over the world.

For example, the Andean potatoes may be grown in cold climates and are not as susceptible to pests and disease. There is cultivation history and scientific information about the potato that we dismiss when we view them from a consumer standpoint.

Many cultures still rely on potatoes as one of their main food sources, including the Andean culture in South America.

The Andean also invests research and preservation of the many different types of potatoes, dedicating The International Potato Center in Peru as an important organization to preserve ancient strains of potato so future generations may still enjoy them. This organization helps to sustain an increased population growth with a limited fertile land supply and

land turnover. With modernization in farming technology, they are beginning to seek new means to cultivate traditional potatoes.

History professor Chris Albi agrees that the potato is interesting from an intellectual side.

“I am interested in Latin America and that the potato was a part of the Andes, specifically the Chuno,” he said. What drew him to come to the event was his connection to Professor Greenow and he “likes to support campus events.”

The after event was crowded with audience members and colleagues of Greenow, who were eager to converse with the retired professor and ask more specific questions about her lecture.

“In geography, we study how people use the land, especially foods and agriculture. But I was interested in student’s questions [that led to the potato], so why would we encourage farmers to grow them,” she said of the lecture.

According to her lecture, she also has taken a personal excursion to South America, where she has tried potato meals with native recipes. This leads to the “personal” end of the lecture: how

are our economic relationships affected by a potato? In South America, culinary preferences affect local merchants and how they choose to grow which crops.

How much commercial property a farmer has to plant large quantities of potatoes can affect the nutrient value of the potato, therefore affecting the health of consumers.

This lecture was self-prepared based on critical thinking and experience, less about research and statistics. Greenow said this type of lecture can cultivate a growth in curious independent thinking and questioning, especially about everyday matters that foster multitudes of economic and social connections which stem down to basic living habits.

This lecture was a dedication to Dennis O’Keefe, alumnus of SUNY New Paltz 1973 according to Morgan Gwenwald, SUNY New Paltz librarian.

“One of the ways I evaluate this event is to ask myself ‘Would Dennis have enjoyed the lecture?’

In this case I can say he would have loved it. It was an engaging lecture full of interesting information and presented in a witty and personal way,” Gwenwald said.

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ESK D Y COP KOFF: COO

Ramen Pizza

By Jack O’Brien obrienj2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

One of the members of The Oracle shares their culinary chops with you. Bon appetit!

Ramen Pizza: Once only dreamable, it is now achievable. The cheapest and most satisfying meal you can have on a college student’s budget is now available for the masses. Celebrate in the streets!

Necessary ingredients for peak deliciousness: One package of Instant Ramen, a.k.a. noodle gold, a.k.a. 38 cents sent from heaven.

Shredded cheese, preferably taco or mozzarella cheese because they’re the best, it’s not even debateable.

One egg, must be cracked to be effective.

Pizza sauce, get Prego if you’re serious about this endeavour.

Any pizza toppings you like. I prefer peppers, onions, sausage or pepperoni.

Steps: Cook ramen for just a little less than you normally would. If you boil your ramen, then I commend you. If you cook it in the microwave, then you’re not a cheap noodle traditionalist.

Drain the noodles and put them in a bowl. Make sure you have a colander for this step. Otherwise, mistakes will be made.

Add an egg, mix it nice and well. Make sure there is no more visible yolk before you proceed.

Add olive oil to a frying pan and cook the ramen. Why olive oil instead of other cooking oils? Because Rachael Ray is from my hometown.

Cook until golden brown. It should begin to look like a McNugget.

Flip over and apply pizza sauce to the top. Apply liberally for maximum flavor potential.

Add cheese and toppings. Make sure you apply each proportionally unless you don’t want to, don’t let me tell you what to do.

Cook until the cheese has melted and the bottom is crispy. It should look like a pie from Little Caesar’s and you should not hesitate to exclaim, “Pizza, Pizza!”

With a spatula, not your hands, place your delectable creation on your plate and proceed to eat it.

Final step: pat yourself on the back and ride into Flavortown.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

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5B

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A Very Happy Holiday!

TRIBUTE TO THE ONE AND ONLY LADY DAY ROCKS MCKENNA THEATER

By Jess Napp

Copy Editor | Nappj1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

On Thursday Sept. 17 at 8 p.m., SUNY New Paltz adjunct instructor and musician Teri Roiger performed a celebration of Billie Holiday’s work at McKenna Theatre.

The evening commemorated the acclaimed jazz singer’s centennial year. Roiger played the part of Ms. Holiday while her husband, SUNY New Paltz professor John Menegon played bass and Wayne Hawkins played piano. Other special guests joined the stage as well.

“When I first heard Billie Holiday, I felt emotions I had not remembered feeling before,” Roiger said. “She could make a normal pop song sound like a masterpiece.”

According to Roiger, the show came into fruition because she is working on an album in tribute to a hundred years of Billie Holiday’s (known as Lady Day) soulful sultry sound. Her album “Billie 101” will debut on April 7, 2016; what would have been Holiday’s 101st birthday.

The concert began with a bang as Roiger, cloaked in a black evening gown, sang “A Fine Romance.”

In the spirit of jazz music, spontaneous instrumental solos scattered throughout the performance while she belted out iconic lyrics like, “But you’re as cold as yesterday’s mashed potatoes.”

In the middle of the set, Roiger gifted the audience with a suite of Holiday songs. The “Lady Day After the performance, an ear Suite” seemingly transformed McK- shattering applause rang throughout enna theatre into a swinging jazz the space. One audience member nightclub and lyrics lay suspended bellowed, “Yeah!” in the air like a cloud of smoke.

Later, Roiger brought down the

PHOTOS BY DAVID KHORASSANI

house with the beautiful ballad, “Good Morning Heartache.” Then, just as quickly as the somber notes ended she burst into the upbeat tempo of, “I’m Gonna Lock My Heart

Thursday, September 24, 2015

and Throw Away the Key.” Roiger began scatting after just a few notes, then she proceeded to turn around, hand the microphone over to her husband and in one seemingly choreographed motion, he retorted with a few staccato scats of his own. Only the quiet rattle of the drum accompanied their mesmerizing conversation.

According to Menegon, he too shares a personal connection to Holiday’s music. His favorite songs of the evening were: “Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?,” “You Don’t Know What Love is,” and “Wholly Earth.”

“All of the tunes in the performance reflect a vast history of my own personal experience listening to Billie Holiday records.” Menegon said. “That’s over 40 years of listening.”

As the night came to a close Roiger made it clear that not all of the songs were Holiday originals.

There were quite a few by other jazz vocalists, including the finale, “Wholly Earth” by Abbey Lincoln.

Roiger strongly believes that Lincoln carried on where Lady Day left off and after the concert she sold copies of her album, “Dear Abbey: The Music of Abbey Lincoln.”

Third-year anthropology major Molly Massiello attended the concert for her History of Jazz class taught by Roiger. Massiello found the event to be a wonderful opportunity to recognize what she has been learning in class.

“When musicians really love what they do and have good energy it goes right back into the crowd,” she said.

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Arts & Entertainment

The New Paltz Oracle

... And All That Jazz CAFETERIA’S JAZZ SUNDAY SOOTHES CUSTOMERS

By Sam Manzella

Copy Editor | Manzells1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Cafeteria Coffee House is a Main Street mainstay in New Paltz. Local residents, tourists and students alike flock to the independent coffee house, which boasts a full menu of coffees, teas, espresso beverages and milk shakes. With its exposed brick walls, mismatched furniture and ever-changing artwork, Cafeteria offers a certain je ne sais quoi that Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts simply cannot rival.

Yet Cafeteria isn’t just a coffee shop: on Sundays, it doubles as a concert venue.

Every Sunday afternoon, Cafeteria hosts Jazz Sundays, a music event featuring live jazz. The shop welcomes different musicians to come play their favorite jazz tunes for four hours. As music fills the air, students congregate to work on schoolwork, and frequent patrons gather to enjoy the music with a perfect cup of joe.

Tanner Townsend, 34, owner of Cafeteria Coffee House and The Crafted Kup coffee shop in Poughkeepsie, New York, said that Cafeteria has hosted Jazz Sundays regularly for two years. Townsend and Caf-

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By Sam Manzella Manzells1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

eteria’s shop manager schedule the live music events and post them to the shop’s online event calendar.

Since its beginning, Townsend has received positive feedback about the event.

“People seem to truly love the atmosphere that is created between the music and the space itself,” Townsend said.

Samantha Wahl, an employee at Cafeteria, said last Sunday that the weekly event attracts a large crowd; people often come to the coffee shop particularly for Jazz Sundays. Every weekend, Wahl notices New Paltz students and families from the local community who come inside to enjoy the free entertainment.

“I think it’s a really nice thing,” Wahl said. “I have customers come in all the time who ask, ‘Where’s the jazz?’”

Usually, the same musicians play the event, Wahl said. The bassist, John Drechsler, and the guitarist, Bill Nastasi, perform almost every week, and other musicians fill the empty spots within the band.

First-year fine arts major Emily Feigelman attended this past Sunday’s jazz show. She said it was her

first time at the event, and she enjoyed the music. She loves studying at Cafeteria, which she called a “great social hub.”

“It’s easy to study here,” she added. “It’s a good environment.”

Liz Dragan, a first-year art history major, also attended the weekly performance for the first time. Dragan said she usually listens to jazz anyway while she studies, so she loved not having to wear headphones to enjoy some tunes. Though she said Cafeteria can be a little loud at times, Dragan still prefers the coffee house over her dorm room.

Other students are Jazz Sunday regulars. Ali Dahlem, a second-year sociology major, and Michaela Mudaro, a second-year psychology and sociology major, can often be found at Cafeteria on Sunday afternoons. Both agreed that the live music (and Cafeteria’s comfy, friendly atmosphere) is conducive to studying. Mudaro said she visits Cafeteria at least once a week, and Dahlem agreed.

Coffee enthusiasts can bask in the glory of strong java and smooth jazz every Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at 58 Main St.

twigs Hits It Big

I’m so excited to review British singer, songwriter and dancer FKA twigs’ music. It brings me so much joy to see talented women rocking the music world, especially women of color. Sadly, twigs is often touted in the media as actor Robert Pattinson’s partner ... and not much else. I want to highlight her music because I believe her talent and prowess speaks for itself. twigs hardly needs Pattinson’s fame to succeed in the music industry or gain welldeserved celebrity. twigs has been on my radar since late 2014. In fact, it was her septum piercing and the beautiful, elegant gold jewelry she wears in it that inspired me to get mine pierced. Of course, I can’t rival her perfect pout or artistic prowess: twigs is a talented dancer and singer, and beautiful to boot. Before launching her music career, she worked as a backup dancer in music videos for artists like Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran and Jessie J, according to twigs’ Wikipedia page. twigs landed on the music scene in 2012 with her debut EP, “EP1,” and followed up with another EP in 2013, “EP2.” According to her Wikipedia page, she

signed on to the record label Young Turks for “EP2” and has stuck with the label ever since. Her first fulllength studio album, “LP1,” landed in 2014 and her music career started to pick up steam.

In August 2015, twigs released her most recent EP, “M3LL155X” (pronounced “Melissa”). With singles titled “I’m Your Doll” and “Figure 8,” the EP is reminiscent of the xx’s spacey, synthy pop instrumentals. twigs’ voice is haunting, almost a whisper, and fits perfectly with the creepy vibe of this EP. In “Figure 8,” twigs paints a haunting image of an aggressive, domineering angel with lyrics like, “My back wings give the hardest slap that you’ve ever seen.” Her vocals echo throughout the song; paired with mechanical-sounding synth tracks, the song hits the listener hard. Similar instrumentals bleed into “I’m Your Doll,” which is one of my favorite of the five tracks on the EP. I can’t quite put my finger on why I love this track so much. Perhaps it’s twigs’ marriage of unsettling lyrics with distant, disharmonious instrumentals that makes for a song that truly packs a punch.

“In Time,” however, is my ultimate favorite

Thursday, September 24, 2015

track from “M3LL155X.” The song is definitely catchier and easier to listen to than the previous two tracks. twigs’s vocals in the chorus, which are edited into a robotic chant, juxtapose beautifully with her soft, high-pitched background vocals and the spacey instrumentals in the song.

“Glass & Patron,” though musically interesting as a whole, is my least favorite track. The track feels too disjointed for my listening pleasure, almost as though twigs crammed three or four different songs into one four-minute-long track. It’s a little too experimental for my music taste, with too many layered electronic tracks and too much background noise. The EP’s last track, “Mothercreep,” really allows twigs’ vocal skills to shine through. This song ends the EP on a strong note, while still sending that same haunting chill up the listener’s spine. twigs’ music is something I wouldn’t normally gravitate towards, so I’m surprised by how much I love her musical style. I love how her music seems to defy specific categorization; twigs’ style walks the line between electronic music, dance music and synth-pop.

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7B

The Greatest Game on Ice EA’S NEWEST INSTALLMENT IN THEIR LONG RUNNING NHL SERIES IS A HIT

By Russell Hartman

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

After last year’s atrocity of a game, EA had nowhere to go but up with its newest installment of its long running NHL series. NHL 16, while not a perfect hockey game, brings the NHL series back to relevance.

Many fans were upset at last years release and rightfully so; NHL 15 was a bare bones game with many of the features fans loved ultimately cut from the game.

NHL 16 brings many features back, though not all of them, which was slightly disappointing, but enough to make the game worth buying and worth your time if you’re a fan.

From the moment the game loads up and you play through a simulation of last season’s Stanley Cup Final (between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning), you can tell the difference from last year’s installment. Smoother and slicker skating make the players feel more fluid than they have in years.

Passing the puck feels more crisp with players now being much more receptive to receiving a pass than they have been in the past. Taking a shot at the net never felt so good and the game has never visually looked better.

The visuals in this game are second to none. From the arenas, to the mascots, to the players and fans, NHL 16 delivers the best visuals to date. The arenas of teams now feature teams actual goal horns and in some cases, the actual goal song, When you score a goal with the Rangers in Madison Square Garden, you’ll hear the famous “Goooooooooooooooal, Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!” song. If you play as the Islanders and score a goal at the Barclays Center you’ll hear their now traditional “Yes! Yes! Yes!” chant after a goal is scored. Little things like that add to the realism of the NHL experience and help make the game that much better. Mascots are now in the series and during games you’ll see them jumping around in the crowd and after a team win. Some of them even run out and celebrate with their team. The arenas have never looked better and most of them are licensed now, meaning that instead of seeing “Chicago Blackhawks Arena” painted at center ice, you’ll see United Center. Almost all of the arenas look like their real life counterparts and include things their real life counterparts have such as the giant flamethrowers in the Scotiabank Saddledome (home of the Calgary Flames).

One of the biggest improvements to the game is the new On-Ice Trainer feature. It can be turned on or off but for newcomers to the series, it is essential.

The Trainer, using colorful indicators, shows you the angle and direction your passes will go, how open or blocked your shooting lane is and will provide you control tips for your current situation including which

PHOTO COURTESY OF theprovince.com

button to press for either a stick check or to lift someone’s stick. Beginning players will find this feature irreplaceable and I honestly think the Trainer feature was one of the best things to happen for the series. For those like myself, who have been playing for years, the tracker feature isn’t the most necessary but in certain game situations (such as during Be A Pro mode) it can be helpful in its own way.

Speaking of Be A Pro mode, in NHL 16 its best it’s been. Last years installment was absolutely horrible and many long time EA NHL players didn’t touch NHL 15’s Be A Pro mode. For those that don’t know, in Be A Pro mode, you create your own NHL player. You choose what he or she looks like, decide what kind of player you want to be (whether it be a sniper who scores goals or a two way player who plays a more defensive game) and can choose to start in the minors, or put yourself immediately on an NHL team. You play as your character and work your way up to becoming a hockey legend.

This year’s game brought back the ability to skip to the parts of the game where your character plays.

In last year’s installment, you couldn’t simulate shifts and you were stuck watching a game for over an hour, where you played for less than a third of the time. It was infuriating and it was one of the things that made

Thursday, September 24, 2015

NHL 15 so bad. The coaching aspect of the game is very good as well. Your head coach will tell you exactly what you need to do to improve based on the type of player you are. If you’re a sniper, he’ll give you more offensive oriented goals. If you’re a defensive forward or a defenseman he’ll give you more defensive oriented goals. Depending on how well you play during a game, or how well you complete certain assigned tasks, you will earn experience points (XP) and your player will grow and get better as the games and seasons go on. The coaching system is quite intuitive and it’s better than it has been in earlier installments.

Be A GM (General Manager) mode is back and includes some minor improvement including the fact that you can call team meetings and speak with certain players at different points during the season. The shootout mode makes its return to the franchise as it was left out of last year’s installment. I really liked that they brought the shootout mode back to the series because sometimes it’s just fun playing that minigame with friends as opposed to an entire game.

Hockey Ultimate Team returns as well and although much has remained the same about it, it is still the ultimate fantasy sports mode.

EASHL (EA Sports Hockey League) was brought back this year and with minor improvements which include seeing what types of matchup your opponent will present you with in the coming game. In its last installment, you could use microtransactions to level up your players and have the edge over people who didn’t spend actual money. Player class has replaced this and it’s better since everyone is now on a level playing field. This change makes the EASHL the best it’s been yet.

EA Sports’ NHL 16 brings the franchise back from the depths of gaming. Last year’s installment seems like it was just a roadbump and EA is beginning to right the ship with this series. Is the game perfect? Not at all, as it is still missing one of my favorite modes (Winter Classic mode) and it seems like the series has completely forgot about Be A Legend, which I thought was a really awesome feature in previous games. Even without those two features, the game plays great, looks great and will bring smiles to hockey fans faces both old and new.

NHL 16 pS4/Xbox one Score: 8/10

8B

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The Deep End

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THIS WEEK IN

THE DEEP END W I L L I A M

R O D R I G U E Z

Major: Sculpture

Year: Third

Inspriation: Salvidor Dali, Jim Lee, Stan Lee, Jackson Pollack, Walt Disney “I’m inspired by mythology... I love the concept of mythology and how it survied through the ages. I like to focus on ancient and modern mythology. I like to focus more on Greek mythology since its such a big and popular aspect of mythology ... and then theres also modern mythology, which for me is comic books. I love comic books and I feel they are very underappricated. They are todays mythology since they are just stories that can inspire or entertain when you need it.”

Photos courtesy of William Rodriguez| Captioning by David Khorassani

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Editorial

Coming

In August, Ulster County Legislature Chairman John Parete made a proposal to establish a $15 per hour minimum wage for county employees. The proposal, which is supposed to take effect Jan. 1, 2016, was blocked recently by the Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee. The Committee voted 4-2 in favor, but needed five votes to approve the legislation.

We at The New Paltz Oracle are in favor of Chairman Parete’s proposal that Ulster County workers should be earning at least $15 per hour, as the current state minimum wage of $8.75 simply isn’t enough to support a good quality of life for one’s self and their family.

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology living wage calculator, the living wage, one that is high enough to maintain a normal standard of living for a single adult in Ul-

ster County, is $10.92 per hour. Add a child into the equation and the living wage more than doubles to $24.91 per hour. For a household of two adults and two children, both parents need to make $24.03 per hour to support themselves and their children.

A 2012 study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research argued that the federal minimum wage should have reached $21.72 per hour in 2012, if it had kept up with increasing worker productivity.

With that said, while $15 per hour may not provide the best quality of life for Ulster County residents, it is an enormous step in the right direction.

Recently, it was proposed that the minimum wage for fast-food workers in New York be raised to $15 per hour. This proposal singled out workers in one industry, much like Parete’s

of

Wage

proposal, which only increases pay for county workers. While this proposal is as much as can be done at this level, it is concerning that much of the population is being left out.

According to data from the Current Population Survey, about 20.6 million workers are earning “near minimumwage.” The most common occupations of near-minimum wage workers are cashiers, retail salespeople, cooks, waiters and waitresses and janitors. Parete’s proposal does not cover any of these workers.

Ulster County and most of New York have a higher-than-average cost of living in comparison to the rest of the nation. It is troublesome that minimum wage legislation is not on the table for all workers in New York.

Of course, we cannot ignore the legitimate concerns that come with rais-

Thursday, September 24, 2015

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9

CARTOON BY STEFANIE DIERS

ing the minimum wage. An increase in minimum wage for state employees will require additional taxes and/or cuts in programs. A minimum wage increase for all workers could put pressure on small businesses to cut jobs or raise prices.

This proposal is not perfect, but we at The Oracle feel that a minimum wage increase for Ulster County employees is necessary in order to ensure a sufficient quality of life for those workers and their families.

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

OPINION

10 oracle.newpaltz.edu

The New Paltz Oracle

COLUMNS

KARL EVERS-HILLSTROM Features Editor

N02541514@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The entire baseball world was filled with sadness Wednesday morning after hearing the news that Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra passed away at age 90. Everybody loves Yogi Berra, not just because of his incredible play on the field but because of his jubilant personality and charming wit off the field. This is personified through his Yogi-isms, famous quotes that are considered to be somewhat silly in nature. Most people feel that these lines butcher the English language, and aren’t to be taken too seriously.

But what if I told you that Yogi-isms are absolutely brilliant, and reflect upon important aspects of life in subtle ways?

In this column I’ll go into my favorite Yogi-isms and explain why they are works of genius.

“It ain’t over till it’s over.”

Easily Berra’s most famous line, this is an expression that is used in all walks of life, whether you are watching your

“It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over” favorite team play or attempting the cinnamon challenge.

Berra said this in 1973 when he was managing the Mets, who were in last place in their division. Reporters assumed Berra was going to lose his job, and one of them asked him, “Is it all over, Yogi?”

Berra’s response turned out to be appropriate, because the Mets would come back to win the division and make it all the way to the World Series.

This Yogi-ism has a simple but crucial meaning: Never give up, no matter how bad things look. Life is full of crazy twists and turns. Just like how the ‘73 Mets won their division with a measly 82-79 record, you can experience lots of failure and still turn yourself into a success.

“It’s déjà vu all over again!”

Yogi apparently exclaimed this when his teammates Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris hit back-to-back home runs. Ever

experienced déjà vu multiple times? I’m sure Berra did, because in the 1961 season Maris and Mantle combined for 115 home runs, still an all-time record. He would have seen them hit a lot of home runs together.

“I usually take a two-hour nap from 1 to 4.”

This epitomizes a college student, or any lazy person in general. ever told your friend “Yeah, I’m just gonna take an hour long nap” only to wake up two hours later with them yelling at you? No? Well I have.

“Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.”

So, if the mental half is 90 percent of the game, that implies that the physical half is also 90 percent. This means that Yogi gave roughly 180 percent in all of his games, something that no other baseball player can ever honestly say they’ve done. Berra proved it in 1962 when he

caught all 22 innings of an extra-inning game, as a 37-year-old. This is the combination of heart, spirit and intelligence that is required to be the greatest catcher ever.

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

Where most people see a fork in the road as only two options, Yogi sees beyond into a world of endless possibilities. Don’t limit yourself to choices that you or someone else deemed your best or only options. Break off the predetermined paths and create your own.

Karl is a fourth-year journalism major who has been a baseball fan his entire life. Raised a Yankee fan, he always had massive respect for Yankee legends. Yogi Berra was always an inspiration to him because of his dedication on the field and great attitude off the field.

Want to write for The Oracle?

Send us an email at oracle@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu for more information!

Thursday, September 24, 2015

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SPORTS

SPORTS

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The New Paltz Oracle

PHOTO BY RAECHEL MANZLER

The field hockey team has earned their first national ranking in program history.

By Michael Rosen

Copy Editor | Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The field hockey team has earned a national ranking for the first time in program history.

On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the three-time defending State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Champions gained the No. 17 slot in the 2015 Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) NCAA Div. III National Coaches Poll with 190 total points.

New Paltz is off to their best start in program history with a record of 6-1.

In recent play, the Hawks defeated a nationally-ranked opponent for the second time in less than two weeks when they defeated then-No. 5 Skidmore College on Saturday, Sept. 19 by a score of 3-2.

For the first time in 12 meetings dating back to 2004, the Hawks were on the winning end of a game against the Thoroughbreds.

The Thoroughbreds jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals by second-year forward Kayla Rose and second-year midfielder

GETTING NOTICED

Caroline Saros. Hawks third-year forward Erin Landy pushed a pass from fourth-year co-Captain Jessica Caruana into the Skidmore goal to make it a 2-1 game after the first half.

In the second half, the Hawks dominated possession as they outshot the Thoroughbreds 16-4 and held a 4-2 advantage in penalty corners. All of the shots eventually led to Caruana scoring the game-tying goal. It wasn’t long afterwards that third-year forward Kayla McKeveny gave the Hawks a 3-2 lead with her seventh goal of the season.

“The win against Skidmore was a confidence builder for our program,” Hawks Head Coach Shanna Vitale said. “It gave us an understanding that we belong at that level and that we’re capable of accomplishing great things like we did.”

Hawks fourth-year goalkeeper Alayna Wageman tallied 11 saves in the victory and was named State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Sept. 20. This is the fourth time in her career that Wageman has received this honor, with her most recent recognition

awarded earlier this season on Tuesday, Sept.

8.

Caruana was also recognized, as she was named SUNYAC Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in her career. Caruana scored three goals and notched an assist between the Hawks’ victory against Skidmore and their 6-0 victory against Union College on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Caruana credits the team’s diversity as an asset that has led the Hawks to their success.

“This year the team is more motivated and understanding of the task at hand,” Caruana said. “It is almost better that half the team are returners and the other half freshmen because we are constantly learning from each other and growing together as a new team. We are teaching them the meaning behind our program and they are teaching us new ways to build our program.”

Before their 2-1 victory against then-No. 11 Montclair State University on Wednesday, Sept. 9 the Hawks had never defeated a nationally ranked team in the regular season.

“I am so incredibly proud of my team for beating both Montclair and Skidmore,” Hawks

Thursday, September 24, 2015

fourth-year co-Captain Dani Ackerman said.

“In the past we have never been able to come out on top against these two talented teams.

Seeing the team come together like this so early on in the season, is incredibly rewarding and exciting. We have such a talented group and I am looking forward to all of the amazing things we are going to accomplish this season.”

The Hawks will open up State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play on the road on Friday, Sept. 25 when they face off against SUNY Oswego. The following day the Hawks will face SUNY Cortland.

Despite conference play starting up, Vitale is not making any changes to the team’s focus. “[We are preparing the] same way we always prepare,” Vitale said. “We need to play hard and up the level of competition at practice. We will continue to fine tune our strengths and continue to create that competitive environment and not let down because we did something great, we are moving on from that.

That’s what’s going to be important. To train at the level that we’re capable of and reaching to go further than that.”

12 oracle.newpaltz.edu

Sports

The New Paltz Oracle

Women’s Volleyball Takes Three Of Four

By Melissa Kramer

Sports Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

After winning three out of four nonconference matches in under a day at the Roadrunner Invitational (hosted by Ramapo College), the Hawks improved their record to 8-6 in Mahwah, New Jersey.

On Friday, Sept. 18, the Hawks fell to Ithaca College 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-17, 13-15).

Despite the loss, New Paltz finished with a .313-to-.251 edge in hitting percentage, an 11-9 cushion in service aces and a 6-1 margin in total team blocks.

Hawks second-year setter Maddie Zwickl tied her career-high in assists with 59 and along with Hawks third-year libero Rachel Pierson landed three service aces.

Fourth-year outside hitter Becca Borquist and Zwickl finished with double-doubles, as the two tallied 15 and 10 digs, each.

Pierson’s 16 digs served as the team-high.

Third-year middle hitter Morgan Roessler chipped in with four total blocks (two so-

los, two assists).

Borquist, Roessler and third-year right side hitter Katy Braddon notched 23, 17 and 16 kills, respectively.

During the nightcap, the Hawks defeated host Ramapo College 3-1 (25-23, 17-25, 25-17, 25-22).

Borquist led New Paltz with 15 kills and 13 digs, while Roessler also reached double figures in kills with 11. Zwickl distributed 34 assists, while Pierson racked up 19 digs to pace the back row defensively.

The next day, the Hawks were victorious in a pair of straight-set sweeps — first against the University of Scranton 3-0 (2516, 25-23, 25-23).

Borquist hit for a match-high 18 kills and added 10 digs to complete the doubledouble.

Pierson recorded a match-high 12 digs. Zwickl dished out a match-high 32 assists for the Hawks.

Defensively, Roessler was involved with all six New Paltz blocks, posting one solo block and five block assists.

After the conclusion of their match against the University of Scranton, the Hawks were straight-set winners against St. Joseph’s (LI) College 3-0 (25-5, 26-24, 25-23).

The Hawks hit .368 (46-11-95) for the match as they shutout the Eagles 7-0 in service aces. Individually, Borquist hit for a .563 percentage and racked up 10 kills.

Braddon matched Borquist in the kills category. Pierson contributed a match-high in digs (17) for the second-straight match.

Hawks Head Coach Matt Giufre said he was really pleased with how the team played this weekend, especially with the win against Ramapo College after the fiveset loss against Ithaca.

“I was really pleased with how we bounced back against Ramapo,” Giufre said “We were playing until almost 11 p.m. that night and to stay focused playing back-to-back like that after a tough loss, I was really proud of how we continued to compete and focus and block out how late it was and just keep playing hard. I was

really pleased with much of the way we played this weekend.”

The Hawks next begin State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Pool Play at Buffalo State, playing three matches in less than 24 hours.

On Friday, Sept. 25, the Hawks will face SUNY Fredonia — a rematch of last season’s conference championship in which New Paltz earned the win. The following day, they will take on SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Geneseo.

Braddon said the Hawks will look to regain their SUNYAC Championship Title this season and will take Pool Play one match at a time.

“Our determination and drive to defend our championship is very strong and I see this eagerness as a great opportunity for our team to be successful this weekend,” Braddon said. “I am excited to play and confident in my team’s capabilities mentally and physically to compete and win, without ever looking past our competition.”

Women’s Soccer Stays Confident

By Anthony Mitthauer-Orza

Copy Editor | Mitthaua1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Women’s soccer team’s record dropped to 1-7 after suffering a 2-0 loss against Vassar College.

Ever since their season opening win against Purchase College on Sept. 1, the team has not managed to add to the win column.

The team lost both of their matchups this week as they went up against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Sept. 19, and Vassar College on Sept. 22.

The Engineers defeated the Hawks 1-0 in an overtime win. Despite the efforts of Hawks third-year goalkeeper Mikaela Sticklickas — the Engineer’s third-year forward Cori Winslow sealed the game halfway into the overtime period by getting a shot past Sticklickas.

Sticklickas was a large factor in the defense, as she stopped every shot faced in regulation to keep the Hawks alive.

The Hawks were outshot 13-7 and outnumbered 5-4 in corner kicks. Hawks third-

year midfielder Hannah Moran led the way with three shots on goal and third-year midfielder Skye Kaler and second-year midfielder Danielle Grossi added two shots apiece.

Sticklickas stood strong between the post by making five saves and playing 95:55 in her first start this season after returning from an injury.

The Hawks went on to face Vassar College in the hopes of ending their six game losing streak. However, the team was unable to win as they were defeated 2-0 on two second half goals by Vassar first-year forward Audrey Pillsbury and first-year midfielder and forward Rebecca Andrews.

Vassar outshot the Hawks 32-9, but only nine shots were on goal. They also held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Hawks second-year forward Gabriela Cabello and Kaler led the offense with three shots. Hawks fourth-year midfielder Chelsea Weir, second-year defender Alexa Appel and fourth-year co-Captain Kristina Gandolfo each tallied one shot as well.

Hawks Head Coach Colleen Bruley said she has never seen the team fight as hard as they did in the game against Vassar.

“I see them working harder for each other, which is a major improvement from the first few games,” Bruley said.

Despite not getting their way in the first few games, there is still a sense of optimism among the players as they are finding their touch, especially going into SUNYAC play.

Hawks fourth-year co-Captain Allie Festa said the team chemistry has been improving.

“We are finally getting into a rhythm,” Festa said. “We are playing more cohesively together and the team is starting to mesh. We need to tweak a few things such as finishing, shooting and staying tight in the back but the speed of play in the overall game is much better.”

The improved play the team has despite their losing efforts is exactly what the players need going into SUNYAC play.

Bruley said that the team has been work-

Thursday, September 24, 2015

ing on moving forward and system of play. In order to keep doing so, she said the players have to score goals.

“We have the talent, we just have to continue to put it together,” she said. “Every practice has been really productive. Hopefully when we get that goal that we haven’t scored in weeks, the players will feel like they won the World Cup. It makes triumph better when you are going through adversity.”

Festa believes that the team can take their work ethic and apply it to their upcoming games.

“We have been practicing hard and been working out everyday,” she said. “We have to mentally prepare ourselves and push our abilities to the limit. The teams are always tough, but I believe in the talent and work ethic this team has.”

The Hawks look to rebound in their upcoming matches this weekend as they begin SUNYAC play for the rest of the season. They will host SUNY Cortland on Sept. 25 and SUNY Oswego on Sept. 26 at Alumni Field.

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Sports

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13

Men’s Soccer Continues Program-Best Start

Men’s soccer bounces back after first loss of the season.

By Rachael Purtell

Assistant Copy Editor | Purtellr1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Men’s soccer team has had their best start in program history with a record of 5-1.

Previously undefeated with a record of 4-0, the Men’s soccer team suffered a 1-0 loss at home in the final minutes of Saturday afternoon’s contest against Vassar College.

The Brewers outshot the Hawks 5-2 and held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks. Jordan Palmer, a fourth-year midfielder from Woodland Hills, California, scored the lone goal for Vassar. New Paltz was unable to retaliate before the final buzzer.

Although the Hawks had their winning streak snapped, the team and coaching staff remain optimistic while approaching conference play beginning next Friday, Sept. 25.

Hawks fourth-year co-Captain Angelo DiMatteo said in his four years as a Hawk, he has never felt more confident going into SUNYAC play.

“Coach has really been pushing us past our physical limits and has really been stressing our possession,” DiMatteo said. “After our first five games, I know we can play with anyone and fi-

PHOTO BY RACHAEL PURTELL

nally I think the rest of the conference is worried about us.”

Hawks Head Coach Gene Ventriglia believes that winning games at home early has boosted the team’s confidence and said he hasn’t been this excited in a long time. He also said that losses and dips are part of every season.

“No matter how good you are or how good you think you are, over the season you’re going to have dips,” Ventriglia said. “A good team can overcome the dip, the hiccup, and get right back up. We’re going to have hiccups, there’s no question, everybody does. The question is, can we overcome them? Good teams do.”

According to Ventriglia, Vassar is traditionally a good team and was a good test for the Hawks. The contest was physical throughout, as nine fouls and a yellow card were called on the Brewers and eight fouls and a red card on the Hawks. It was good preparation for the teams that the Hawks will face during conference play.

“The conference that we play in is a very physical conference, it’s not very pretty soccer,” Ventriglia said. “We’re a very technical team, we’re not really a physical team, but we can be now with some of the boys we have.”

Hawks fourth-year co-Captain Joe Hughes said that everyone on the team is a key player.

“Everyone pushes each other at practice and it just makes us better and want to work harder,” he said.

In the contest against Vassar, Hawks thirdyear midfielder Charlie Versen and third-year midfielder and forward Tucker Stern each fired off a shot for the Hawks. Hawks second-year goalkeeper John Guzzo played all 90 minutes and kept the net empty until Vassar’s Palmer fired a shot into the top right of the goal.

DiMatteo said the loss was a learning experience.

“We didn’t have many shots at all and we need to work on being more dangerous in the offensive third,” DiMatteo said. “I think with a few technical changes we will be ready to go for conference play. Although we lost there is no reason to put our heads down. Vassar is a good team coming out of a strong conference and honestly was our first test this season coming up to conference play. We knew it was going to be a hard fought battle and that’s what it was.

I’m proud of everybody on the team for the way we played, the intensity was awesome and we

Thursday, September 24, 2015

all felt it on the field. Everybody played with their hearts and there is not much more I could ask for.”

In conference play last year, the Hawks won one game and tied two.

Ventriglia said that he hopes that the boys will be able to overcome their past and forget how they performed last year and live up to the excitement the team feels.

“I hate the word ‘potential,’ it’s a very dirty word, I don’t use it,” Ventriglia said. “It means you’re not there yet, it’s like fool’s gold, it hasn’t happened! You want reality. This year, this team to me, is the first real glimpse of what we should be like. It’s not the finished product, but it’s a good feeling and I would like to leave them on a high note.”

On Wednesday, Sept. 23 the Hawks beat Bard College 2-1.

With a record of 5-1, the Hawks will next begin State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play and will face SUNY Cortland and SUNY Oswego on the road on Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 26, respectively.

SPORTS

14oracle.newpaltz.edu Orange And

Blues

Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Mets fans have a tendency to expect the worst, no matter how well things are going for the team. As October approaches and the New York Mets inch closer to their first division title since 2006, it seems that the fans are only getting more paranoid.

It wasn’t all that long ago that the fans didn’t have a worry in the world. Back on Monday, Sept. 7 the Mets began a three-game series against the Washington Nationals, who were a mere four games behind them for the division lead. Many people thought this would be the beginning of yet another September collapse for the Amazins’.

Instead the exact opposite happened.

The Mets won all three games in spectacular comeback fashion to go up seven games in their division and put a final nail on the Nationals’ coffin. The toughest game for the Nationals was the second game of that series. With the Nats’ up 7-1 going into the seventh inning it seemed like a Washington win was a formality.

But the Mets rallied for six runs in the inning to tie the game up at seven. Then in the eighth inning, Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a pinch-hit homerun to give the Mets an 8-7 lead that they would hold onto for a stunning victory.

After their three-game sweep of the Nationals, the Mets went on to win five straight games against the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves. During that stretch on Sunday, Sept. 13 the Mets had another insane comeback, this time against the Braves. The Braves were up 7-4 in the ninth inning with two outs before two Mets batters reached base. Daniel Murphy then came up to bat and blasted a three-run game tying homerun to stun the Atlanta crowd. The Mets would go on to score three runs in the 10th inning for another unbelievable win. Mets announcer Gary Cohen said it best when he simply said, “This team doesn’t know how to lose.”

But since that eight-game winning streak, there has been panic in Queens.

After winning the first game of a threegame series against the Marlins, the Mets lost the next two games to third-place Miami. The Mets then hosted the Subway Series against the New York Yankees from Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20 and promptly lost two of three games. The team’s recent skid has installed fear that

The New Paltz Oracle

Mets Look To Clinch Division

Mets magic number is now five.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR USER KEITH ALLISON

an unbelieveable collapse is still probable.

A lot of concern has surrounded the team’s pitching staff as well. There has been controversy surrounding team ace Matt Harvey and how management should handle his innings limit. Harvey is coming off of Tommy John Surgery and his agent Scott Boras doesn’t want the Mets to damage his future by overusing his fragile arm.

As a result, the team has skipped a few of his starts and shortened the length of his other starts. It’s not just the “Dark Knight” that has been monitored. Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard have had their starts skipped, and there is concern about overusing their talented arms. There has been talk of even shortening the amount of innings these three pitchers throw in the playoffs, especially Harvey.

As unpleasant as this is to hear, I’m not as concerned as others. I have no prob-

lem with the team limiting the amount of innings their three star pitchers throw the rest of the regular season. As for the playoffs, I would be shocked to see management not use their three best pitchers as much as needed. Harvey has guaranteed that he will pitch in the playoffs, and with his bulldog mentality you know he will want to be out there as much as he can.

As for deGrom and Syndergaard, if it’s a 1-0 game in the seventh inning there is no way either of these guys will come out of the game. The team understands how rare it is to have an opportunity to win a title. If they didn’t, the Mets wouldn’t have made so many trades over the past two months.

Even if the team decides to limit the amount of pitches these guys throw in the playoffs, here is something to keep in mind. In Game 7 of the World Series last year, the San Francisco Giants held a slim

Thursday, September 24, 2015

3-2 lead over the Kansas City Royals after four innings. The Giants were five innings away from their eighth title in franchise history. They brought their ace starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner out from the bullpen to pitch the last five innings.

Bumgarner would go on to shut down the Royals and clinch the Giants’ third World Series title in five years. Sometimes it’s not the amount of innings that you throw that’s important, but when you throw those innings. If the Mets limit Harvey to one start per series, that would mean he is well rested enough to come out of the bullpen in another game or two of that series. If Harvey comes out of the bullpen to pitch the final few innings of a crucial game or two, well that may be even better than giving him an extra start. If the Mets truly decide to limit the amount of innings their aces throw in the postseason, that just opens the door for a lot of strategy that should scare their opponents.

As for the potential of an epic collapse to keep the team out of the playoffs, well that is just a scenario that is almost guaranteed to not happen. The Mets currently have a 6.5 game lead in the National League East. This means the team’s magic number is five. Even if the Nationals win all 11 of their remaining games, the Mets only have to go 5-5 in their last 10 games to clinch the division. This is assuming that an underachieving Nationals team that hasn’t won more than eight straight games all season suddenly wins their last 11 games. Sure, the Nationals’ last three games will be against the Mets, but they would still have to enter that series three games behind to even have a shot at the postseason. Not to mention the Nationals would then have to win all three games against the Mets and then defeat them in a one-game playoff. Given the fact that the Mets are 10-6 against the Nats’ this season, that nearly impossible scenario becomes even more impossible.

Relax, Mets fans. The team lost a few games and has a little bit of concern over their insanely talented pitching staff, it’s not the end of the world. This isn’t 2007, the Mets will hold onto their division lead and will make the playoffs. If they don’t, well, my email is on this page and you can send me all of your hate then. But I’m not expecting to receive any hate mail.

SPORTS

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TUESDAY, SEPT. 29 11AM–3PM STUDENT UNION MULTIPURPOSE ROOM Refreshments will be served!

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SPORTS

WHAT’S INSIDE

Women’s Volleyball Improves Record PAGE 12

Men’s Soccer Continues Strong Start PAGE 13

NATION WIDE FIELD HOCKEY EARNS FIRST-EVER NATIONAL RANKING : PAGE 11

MAIN AND UPPER PHOTOS BY RAECHEL MANZLER LOWER PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

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