FIRST PLACE AWARD WINNERS
FROM THE
NEW YORK PRESS ASSOCIATION & AMERICAN SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION
Pace Chronicle The
VOLUME IV, ISSUE VI
PACE UNIVERSITY, PLEASANTVILLE/BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY
WWW.PACECHRONICLE.COM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014
North Hall’s Feces Vandal Finally Discovered DANDRE CHERY FEATURED WRITER A Pace student is currently undergoing university evaluation after feces vandalism was reported in North Hall earlier this month,
according to school officials. Smeared feces was found all over the third floor bathroom in North Hall and multiple messages were left by the vandal that spelled out “help.” The vandal struck multiple times and at all
Photo by Alexa Lauro
hours of the day. Despite student comments, residents consider it to be no laughing matter as multiple girls’ bathrooms have been vandalized in North Hall and similar incidents have been reported in Valley House. “It’s not fair to [the girls of North Hall]. It’s a bathroom; it’s a place where they should feel comfortable going into,” North Hall resident Alex Coma said. “Even if it is thought of as a prank, you can’t say that it is because it could be potentially a more serious situation than that.” Following an investigation period, the North Hall vandal is currently undergoing university judiciary procedure. The vandal of Valley has yet to be found. “Just like anything else that happens, there is a judicial process when it comes to students and when it comes to vandalism or anything like that,” North Hall Residence Director Sam Bassford said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 “FECES VANDAL”
Student Retention Discussed at Town Hall Meeting TAYLOR LONGENBERGER NEWS EDITOR The Town Hall meeting was held Thurs. Oct. 16 in Goldstein Fitness VIP room in order to present ideas regarding the correlation between student experience and retention last year. A slide show presented student quotes of concern and approval regarding current university academic programs and courses, administrative response, and utilities available to students. Some of the student quotes voiced concern including the lack of aid to Dyson College of Arts and Sciences students, poor professors providing little student aid, and engaging programs. Dr. Sue Maxam, Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Education, presented a proposed
I
N THIS
ISSUE
retention plan that has 50 students, faculty, and staff collaborating to create over 50 initiatives in order to help increase student retention. Based on reports regarding retention plans, in general, much of student retention is due to financial, academic, and social issues. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, retention for full-time first year undergraduate students between the Fall 2012 and Fall 2013 semesters was 76 percent. The committee that is drafting the retention plan will not be finalized until they have completed their “retention road show,” in which they will be presenting the plan at various venues and to multiple audiences including students, faculty, staff, the Board of Trustees, the president, and the
Provost. “Once we are done and are able to incorporate the recommended changes, we will finalize the retention plan,” Maxam said. “Having said that, we are in the process of already implementing a number of the initiatives, especially those not requiring any funding and that are more programmatic in nature just so we can get the ball rolling.” Some of the ideas that may be included in the retention plan involve first year advising, more learning communities, increased academic excellence recognition, co-curricular experiences, and communal space on the New York City campus. “If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn,” was just one of the quotes that the retention
Photo from pace.edu Dr. Maxim presented a proposed retention plan at the Oct. 16 meeting. plan committee incorporated into their presentation. A finalized version of the retention plan can be expected soon, and for any student, facul-
ty, or staff member interested in learning more about the retention plan, one should contact Dr. Sue Maxam.
YIK YAK
CHARTWELL’S PRICES
OPERATION HAT TRICK
Yik Yak: Is it a new cultural fad, or is it going to be here permanently? Is Yik Yak dangerous to our students?
One writer took the supposedly competitive prices of Chartwell’s dining service, and compared them to Shoprite’s prices. What was the result?
Pace Athletics has teamed up with Operation Hat Trick, a company dedicated to providing medical support for veterans. OHT hats are now available for purchase at the bookstore.
Feature Page 3
Opinion Page 6
Sports Page 10
NEWS
The Pace Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 PAGE 2
The Pace Chronicle 861 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, N.Y. 10570 Phone: (914) 773-3401 pacechronicle@pace.edu pacechronicle.com
EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EMILY WOLFRUM EW88712P@PACE.EDU
MANAGING EDITOR
CARLOS VILLAMAYOR CV14964P@PACE.EDU
SENIOR COPY EDITOR
ANDREAS CHRISTOU AC83556P@PACE.EDU
COPY EDITOR
OLIVIA ZUCKER OZ67585N@PACE.EDU
FEATURE EDITOR
“FECES VANDAL” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Whether the situation was a prank or not, the vandalism was handled by residential life and security. North Hall held three meetings in order to discuss the situation and guest privileges for residents were revoked multiple times due to the continuance of the issue. “The situation was dealt with the best that it could be dealt with
within the resources we had,” Bassford said. “It was a very stressful time; each time an event happened, facilities would come to clean it up and then we would try to go to sleep, which sometimes did not happen.” Students were asked to sign in and out of bathroom and 24-hour security was posted outside. Currently security cameras have been installed to replace security in order to keep watch over the residence hall. “It’s probably good that they got the security cameras because, should anything happen again,
cameras are now there so that justice can be served,” Coma said. The North Hall community has since settled and is returning to a state of normalcy now that the issue is being resolved. “As bad as the situation was, at times it really did bond the community,” Bassford said. “It’s always good to find a positive out of something really bad especially in a thing that you cannot control. We’re going to be able to look at this now, learn from the experience, and then go on with the rest of our year.”
Pace Makes a Difference Day
SARA MORIARTY SM98642P@PACE.
NEWS EDITOR
TAYLOR LONGENBERGER TL73212P@PACE.EDU
OPINION EDITOR
CATHARINE CONWAY CC16575P@PACE.EDU
HEALTH & BEAUTY EDITOR
KATIE SZILAGYI KS35391P@PACE.EDU
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
CRISTINA CUDUCO CC08636P@PACE.EDU
SPORTS EDITOR
NATALIA ALVAREZ PAGAN NA90243P@PACE.EDU
LAYOUT EDITOR
STEPH JACOVINO SJ73340P@PACE.EDU
WEB EDITOR
JONATHAN ALVAREZ JA26549P@PACE.EDU
OPERATIONAL STAFF BUSINESS MANAGER FACULTY ADVISOR
IMERLYN VENTURA IV77561@PACE.EDU PROF. KEVIN CZERWINSKI KCZERWINSKI@PACE.EDU
Photo from CCAR-PLV
STEPH JACOVINO LAYOUT EDITOR
The Pace Chronicle is published by Trumbull Printing: (203) 261-2548
This Saturday, October 18, Pace students participated in Pace Makes a Difference Day. It started at 10:00 AM, when students arrived at Willcox Gym, and were given the opportunity to watch videos of charitable organizations. Then, it was time for the students to do some charitable work. Participants were divided into
several groups, to volunteer at a local organization. Organizations included Rockefellar State Park, the Pleasantville and Briarcliff Public Libraries, the Sorting Shelf, and many more. The goal of Pace Makes a Differenec Day is to “challenge students, faculty, and staff alike to go into our community and lend a helping hand. This day is a great opportunity for the Pace University ommunity to learn how to become a part of the solution.”
In addition to Pace Makes a Difference Day, students were also given the opportunity to sign up for Paint A School Day. These select few students traveled to the Young Women’s Leadership School in Brooklyn, New York, to paint a mural and a classroom for the women. For more information on how to get involved with these organizations, email ccarplv@pace.edu.
services presented in Senate in order to have student response to the presence of IT on campus. The services are looking for student opinions, which will help them incorporate technological needs into classrooms, coursework, and extracurricular activities. The Administrative Outreach Committee will keep in contact with IT services. Senate approved the use of the student budget required in order to renew the subscription for digital and print copies of the New York Times.
Tunnel of Oppression is in need of volunteers for tour guides, actors, and others that would be willing to help with the general development of the event. Howard Weishaus, Legislative Advisor, announced that the community meeting would be held on Nov. 11 at 3:30 p.m. in Leinhard Lecture Hall. Students with comments or questions can find the SGA office located near the Higher One office in Kessel Student Center and can also attend the SGA meeting this Fri. Oct. 24.
SGA Meeting Update: Oct. 17 Written and edited by the students of Pace University, The Pace Chronicle is published weekly during the academic year. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of administration, faculty and The Pace Chronicle staff. The Pace Chronicle encourages responses to the opinions expressed herein, and welcomes letters and comments. The Pace Chronicle cannot guarantee publication of letters to the editor or unsolicited manuscripts, and reserves the right to edit or comment editorially on them. Appearance of an advertisement in The Pace Chronicle does not imply endorsements by the members of the editorial board, the advisor, or Pace University of the products or services offered. All photos and copyrights reserved unless otherwise indicated. Subscription and advertising rates available upon request.
TAYLOR LONGENBERGER NEWS EDITOR Student Government Association (SGA) met in Miller Lecture Hall on Fri., Oct. 17. SGA committees (Elections, Programming, Budget Allocation Committee, Judicial Board, Constitution Committee, Unity Committee, Administrative Outreach, and Academic Affairs) met this week to begin creating initiatives and discussing ideas. Information Technology (IT)
FEATURE
The Pace Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 PAGE 3
Ad Team Prepares for Nationwide Competition ANDREAS CRISTOU SENIOR COPY EDITOR One of the Lubin School of Business’s most challenging courses, Marketing 346: Advertising Team Workshop, better known as “Ad Team,” has recently been conducting research for the National Student Advertising Competition, in which they will be participating this spring. “I’ve been told by anyone who has ever taken this course that this is one of the most challenging courses at Pace,” junior marketing major Kathleen Hachmeyer said. “However, they all agreed that this was one of the most rewarding experiences, and probably the best career preparation they could have gotten.” This two-semester course, according its course description, is a “hands-on preparatory course for the American Advertising Federation (AAF) National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) that culminates in spring 2015.” The students work to make a marketing campaign for a real company that sponsors the na-
tional competition; this year’s competition is sponsored by Pizza Hut. The courses are led by Professor Paul Kurnit, who is a veteran of the advertising industry, having worked with big advertising agencies and one that quintupled in size following his joining. This year, Kurnit is leading a team of 15 students on the Pleasantville campus. The ultimate goal of this course is to present a quality marketing plan and presentation for a nationwide competition that includes over 150 colleges and universities, one of which is the team from the Pace New York campus. “We are all very eager, working hard, and excited to see what we will end up with” junior marketing major Sara DiGiovanna said. Ad Team I focuses on the planning and creation of a preliminary marketing strategy to accomplish the goals that the sponsoring company sets. Ad Team II focuses on applying and executing the strategy that they developed in the previous semester, and preparing for the NSAC
regional competition. At the competition in spring 2015, the team will submit and present their ideas to a panel of advertising industry professional judges. “Probably the best thing I’ve noticed so far about the class is that we all want to be there and everyone is dedicated and motivated,” Hachmeyer said. “It’s rare to find a class like that.” “The real joy of teaching these classes is the powerful experience our students have in seeing how the marketing and advertising businesses operate, and in stepping up to creative excellence on all levels,” Kurnit said. “Ad Team students exit these courses totally ready for the real world.” Currently, the Ad Team class is working on research and strategy development for Pizza Hut, trying to land on a big insight that will separate them from the rest of the participating colleges. Some of the research that has been conducted includes online surveys and taste testing regarding participant’s pizza preferences. It is important to note that this course is not only open to market-
Photo from pizzamarket.net Yum, yum! This year’s ad team is all about marketing pizza. ing and advertising students; it is one which skills from across a wide range of business and liberal arts disciplines are quite valued. The only prerequisites for the course are MAR 250 and MAR
321. The Ad Team students look forward to seeing their ideas come to fruition, and sharing them at the NSAC, and with the Pace community.
Yik Yak Anonymous Confessions Come to Pace CRISTINA CUDUCO ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR A new app called Yik Yak has risen from the ashes of all the online confessions pages started in 2013. Unlike the anonymous whistleblowing applications that came before it, including Secrets and Whisper, Yik Yak, launched in Nov. 2013 by Furman University graduates Tyler Droll and Brooks Buffington, is primarily marketed to college students. Yik Yak works by using global positioning to find your location and show you secrets posted by other users within a 1.5 mile radius of where you are, ensuring that what you read is most likely posted by members of your own community. Each post and response on Yik Yak is completely anonymous, creating controversy at multiple universities and school districts across the country. The Washington Post reported that over a dozen high profile incidents have happened this month as a result of the app. Two students at the University of Southern Mississippi have been charged with felonies because of Yik Yak-related posts. On Oct. 4, an 18-year-old freshman from Towson University was arrested and later charged with threatening to commit a violent crime and disturbing school activities after promising a “Virginia Tech Part 2.”
Abuse of the app from students in Chicago area schools has become so ruthless that Yik Yak moderators have decided to stop all operations in the area. Although it is unconfirmed, the idea for Yik Yak is believed to have come from the viral trend of confessions pages on platforms like Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter, started in the spring of 2013. Hundreds of high schools and colleges, including Pace, had their own pages online in which students could post their thoughts, opinions, and secrets anonymously. Within a month of its launch on March 21, 2013, Pleasantville’s confessions page, known as Pace University PLV Confessions, had hosted over 1000 posts made by students. For many, it became somewhat of a morning newspaper, with confessions being added by its moderator early each day. After the summer of 2013, however, activity on PLV Confessions garnered far fewer likes and responses per post. By the beginning of 2014, the page was barely active. The last official confession to be posted on the Facebook page, on March 12, 2014, was not nearly as scandalous as those from the year before it. Students on campus have shared different reactions to pages like PLV Confessions and the app Yik Yak. “Pace confessions seemed like a good idea at the time, but
it quickly became disrespectful,” junior nursing major Brittany Wolff said. “I was glad when it finally died down, but now this Yik Yak app can possibly start trouble up all over again.” Others on campus, like senior criminal justice major Brian Mclean, believe that Yik Yak is only a problem if students make it one. “Yik Yak isn’t intended to have a negative impact on Pace, or any school. It is what you make it,” Mclean said.
It is unclear as to when Pace students began “yaking.” However, for the most part, yaks from this community have involved midterms, weekend plans, and various topics trending on campus. Just as in other schools, there is always the possibility of yaks bordering on the offensive, or surpassing that line. Thus far, moderation of the app seems scarce. Users can flag a post for being inappropriate, but there doesn’t seem to be confirmation as to what happens
to those flags or how quickly they’re addressed. Educational Technology graduate student Charles Link predicts Yik Yak to be a temporary trend that will die out soon enough. “This is just another fad that has taken over social media,” Link said. “Yes, it’s fun now, but, in a year, everyone will have forgotten about it the same way everyone forgot about Pace Confessions.”
FEATURE
The Pace Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 PAGE 4
Meet Xiahong Hu, Document Services Librarian TAYLOR LONGENBERGER NEWS EDITOR From inter-library loans to reference desk help, assisting a travel course to sharing her knowledge in classrooms, this librarian exceeds the requirements of her title. “I am just a librarian, an ordinary woman from China,” said the modest Xiaohong “Sheila” Hu, Document Services Librarian at Pace’s Mortola Library. Growing up in China, Hu saw the politically restricted life that awaited her as she pursued her higher education to become a journalist. “It was hard for news people to report what was truly important, especially as a woman researcher and reporter,” Hu said. With new experience and opportunities in the United States, Hu began looking to new outlets of research and development. She attended Ohio University as well as Rutgers University receiving Master’s degrees in Women’s Studies and Library Studies, ac-
complishments she would never voluntarily boast. “I was lucky to come to the U.S. where information seeking is so different. When I was in China, I hardly used the library because it was so cumbersome to file through hundreds of clippings in order to find background information,” Hu said. “The use of the internet here made things easier and interesting for me.” Hu enthusiastically helps faculty and students alike at the library reference desk, where she may frequently be found, by finding journals and books needed for research. She also is in charge of all aspects of the inter-library loan system, the Worldwide Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), that Pace uses. But Hu’s contribution to the Pace community goes far beyond Mortola Library. This past summer she served as Dr. Lawrence Hundersmarck’s assistant in the planning and execution for the tenth anniversary of his “Rome: The Eternal City” three-week travel course, where she was able
to travel and experience the city with students from both Pace campuses and the professor. “I enjoyed everything, every part of it; working with Dr. H. and listening to him; and working with young people, so fresh, interesting, and full of beauty and vitality,” said Hu recalling fond memories of her trip to Rome.“The sound, the sky and the city itself, which is eternal, it is an unforgettable experience.” For Hu, it does not matter as much that people know what she has done, but can appreciate that information and libraries in particular extend outside of the walls. “My favorite thing is to see those I help grow and experience more in research and with life,” Hu said. “It’s rewarding to see people come in time and time again, watching them mature on their journeys of discovery.” Sheila Hu is a resource in the library available to students, and she is always willing to assist any student or faculty member with their research needs.
LGBTQA Lunch Welcomed Transgendered Guests GABRIEL SOLANO FEATURED WRITER The LGBTQA lunch discussion on Wed., Oct. 15 with Rachel Simon was structured around the experience of being transsexual and all of the things that come with it. Two trans individuals from the State University of New York (SUNY), Purchase, came as
special guests, and shared their feelings and lifestyles. The individuals, KT and Beau, both consider themselves to be a part of the trans community, but expressed differences in how they identify personally. “I’m non-binary, so I don’t classify myself as male or female,” KT said. The term non-binary in the
queer community refers to an individual who rejects a dualistic gender system and the implications that come with it. Beau shared a similar distaste for gender norms, stating that she is open to dating either gender because the person inside counts more. Both KT and Beau have taken up masculine personalities, lean-
ing more to the male side. They both prefer to wear male clothes, and they take pride when people consider them to be men; yet KT and Beau don’t like being referred to as he, she, him, and her. “I don’t do gender, it doesn’t matter to me,” Beau said. For people like KT and Beau, categorizing or labeling others is not an option.
“Everyone is different. Know yourself and what makes you comfortable,” Beau said. Beau and KT wanted everyone to know that the choice of how people want to be viewed and called is entirely up to them. “Find a community; make a family of your own, so you always have support,” KT said.
FEATURE
The Pace Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 PAGE 5
Discovering Birth Order and How It Affects Us OLIVIA ZUCKER COPY EDITOR The psychology club held a presentation on Tues. Oct. 14 regarding birth order and how it can affect your personality, relationships, and academic habits. The psychology club’s vice president, Samantha Petfield, presented information based on Dr. Kevin Leman’s book, The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are. Petfield’s presentation centered around the different personality traits most commonly associated with people of different birth orders and offered tips as to how one can better themselves based on their respective birth order personality. Whether a firstborn, middle child, only child, or youngest child, each birth order presents itself with a unique set of personality traits with distinct strengths and weaknesses. Petfield spoke about her own experiences as a firstborn child and the obstacles everyone can face as a result of their own birth order. “As a firstborn child, I find it really hard to say no to responsibilities because firstborns are natural leaders who take on the most responsibility,” Petfield said. According to the presentation, firstborn children are generally over-parented, overprotected, and have a strong need for approval. Firstborns are usually reliable, organized, critical, and serious. Petfield advised firstborns to try and take smaller bites of life,
Photo from hilite.org to work on saying no, and to try to laugh at your mistakes rather than dwell on them. Only children exhibit qualities similar to firstborn children, but can generally fall into two distinct types: the rescuer, or the objective, critical type. The rescuer tends to want to solve everyone’s problems and take on other’s burdens as their own. The critical type, on the other hand, is usually cold or objective, with little tolerance for mistakes or failure. “As an only child, you have to take time alone for yourself, which sounds counterproductive,” Petfield said. “It’s important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself, not just everyone else’s
problems.” Middle children present their own unique sets of traits that sound contradictory but can play out simultaneously. Middle children are generally people-pleasers, manipulators, or controllers. Middle children learn to negotiate and compromise as a result of their birth order, and tend to be the mediators of the family. They also tend to have the most friends, and are the least likely out of all birth orders to seek help from a professional. “Middle children usually are the ones who spread themselves too thin. It’s great to have a lot of friends, but there’s a limit to what you can handle realistically,” Petfield said. “It’s
also very important as a middle child to make sure you’re getting professional help if you need it.” The youngest child of the family is usually the outgoing charmer, the personable manipulator, or the family clown or entertainer. Petfield cited examples of comedians who are the youngest sibling, including Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock, Jim Carrey, and Billy Crystal. While the babies of the family tend to be the biggest jokesters, they still have a need to be taken seriously. Petfield gave some pointers for the youngest members of the family on how to be taken more seriously. “The babies of the family tend
to take on the least amount of responsibility, so if you’re the youngest, try to take on more responsibility and make sure you’re pushing yourself,” Petfield said. Petfield concluded the presentation with a piece of advice for people of all birth orders. “Even if you don’t identify completely with your birth order personality, it’s still important to understand how it can affect you and how you can improve yourself,” Petfield said. “Everyone, regardless of birth order, should always be working to improve themselves.”
OPINION
The Pace Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 PAGE 6
Chartwell’s Falls Flat in Shoprite Comparison GEORGE DE FEIS FEATURED WRITER Chartwells, Pace’s dining services provider, is taking advantage of us, and the worst part is we seemingly have no choice but to take it. You see, the way that our system is set up provides a perfect environment for price gouging, which occurs when a seller sets a price above the market price because there are no alternative options. If you read that and thought, “This sounds awfully similar to a monopoly,” you are correct. It’s simple economics. Students are forced by the administration to buy a meal plan, and Chartwells is the only option for students to use their meal money on, so Chartwells, in effect, is a monopoly. Chartwells understands this, and instead of doing the ethically right thing by refraining from taking advantage of college students, they drastically increase the prices of almost all the goods they sell. I understand that the purpose of a for-profit business is to make as much money as possible, but this is outrageous. How outrageous? How about $8.59 for a 10.5oz box of Frosted Flakes, or $2.99 for one roll of Scott’s toilet paper?
The numbers by themselves do not tell the whole story. To see just how abusive the prices set by Chartwells are, I visited the local ShopRite in Thornwood, six minutes away from Pace. With the prices from the Briarcliff cafeteria in hand, I strolled through the aisles of ShopRite—which already marks up its prices to make a profit—and compiled a list of prices. That same 10.5oz box of Frosted Flakes was $3.39, and that same roll of Scott’s toilette paper was $1.19. It was worse than I had imagined. Overall, I found that all of the products sold by Chartwells were marked up significantly higher than that of ShopRite (refer to table). I wonder why they don’t post these comparisons at the Café? As if marking up their prices wasn’t enough, Chartwells is inconsistent. There is a discrepancy in prices between the Westchester campuses and the New York City campus. For example, a Naked juice that is priced at $2.99 at the NYC campus, costs $5.99 at Pleasantville and Briarcliff. How does this make any sense? Why is there such a discrepancy? Unfortunately, Chartwells is not the only culprit. Pace holds just as much, if not more, responsibility. They have allowed students to be taken advantage of, and that is not acceptable.
In a recent comparison of Chartwell’s prices versus the prices of Shoprite, Chartwell’s comes out as a clear loser. Not one of the products compared were cheaper in the dining hall, compared to a local shopping center.
Online Classes Are Classes, Too, So Try to Punctuate EMILY WOLFRUM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF At Pace, all three credit courses are certainly not created equal. This disparity in quality, however, is no more visible than through student “participation” in online courses. Like many students, I chose to take online classes to spare myself the rigid, weekly three hours of class time. With a full schedule and other responsibilities, being able to tackle coursework on my own time seemed ideal. My decision was all about maximizing convenience, not about minimizing effort. I try to take my online classes as seriously as any other (“try” being the operative word here). But, it does become difficult to keep up my motivation when I’m reading through last-minute, unedited posts by fellow students in my classes. In nearly all cases, I can attribute their sloppy shortcomings to nothing more than laziness. If the week’s lesson is even referenced at all within a post, the student’s writing is still riddled with careless misspellings, lack of capitalization, and informal, cringe-
worthy language. News flash: Blackboard doesn’t spell check. You’ll have to do that yourself. Broad generalizations are an easy solution for the student who wishes to pass on the required readings, and additional research is always treated as an option and rarely credible when included. In no other class could I even imagine students being permitted to write without cited evidence. But, somehow, week after week, I continue to read paragraphs of personal opinion and speculation. Perhaps the most frightening, however, is the inattentiveness demonstrated in peer comments. I’m not sure that there is a way to master student replies. Certainly, every student in an online class knows the awkwardness that is critiquing another student’s work. I’ve heard others refer to it as a formula: say something nice, critique them if you have to, and then end on another compliment, so they forget the insult. I’ve adopted this tactic for the most part, but it does become quite difficult. Every now and then, I have to actively refrain from commenting on a student post because I simply have noth-
ing nice to say about it, and I’m certainly not going to lie. But some do. Or, at least I like to think they do, because simply replying “good job” on a piece of writing I would have been ashamed to turn in as a fourth grader, should never ever be authentic. Regardless, I try to respond as frankly as I might in any other class discussion, reading each post carefully, and trying to find
both positive and negative in the student’s thought process. With this consideration in mind, I am always eager to read the feedback others give to me. Yet, these responses often do not relate to my ideas at all and feature, once again, vague generalities that “kind of, sort of” pertain to my initial posting. Without valuable critique, it is very hard for me to measure any form of progress within my
online classes. And, judging by the lack of improvement by other students in those courses, I cannot imagine that they are gaining much either. College is supposed to be that last big step before we enter the professional world, and assignments, no matter what class they are for, should be treated as such. So, read over that post, maybe throw in a good reference, and seriously think before you submit.
HEALTH
The Pace Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 PAGE 7
Ebola Report at Phelps Hospital Declared False KAITLYN SZILAGYI HEALTH EDITOR On October 8, media reported an outbreak of Ebola at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center in Sleepy Hollow, NY, just four miles from Pace’s Pleasantville campus. Not long after, however, a letter was released by hospital administration, reassuring members of the community that this report was false. While the rumored case of Ebola at Phelps was declared to be untrue by President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Saifan, the hospital is reportedly doing what it can to prepare for any potential case of the disease. In his letter to the community, Saifan assured that Phelps Memorial had developed a plan to prepare and a implement a set of procedures for the treatment of Ebola. In attempting to identify cases of Ebola, Phelps professionals are required to ask patients about their travel history. If patients display symptoms of the disease, they are to be immediately placed in an isolation room. Once in the
KAITLYN SZILAGYI HEALTH EDITOR University students experience several forms of stress. Family expectations, domestic conflicts, emotional crises, academic and professional pressures, and relationships all take their toll on individuals. In addition, occasional spontaneous or circumstantial anxiety, depression, or emergencies can take place. If neglected, these stresses can be detrimental to mental and emotional well-being as well as productivity. In an effort to help and provide resources for students, Pace’s Counseling Center has begun offering “Let’s Talk” sessions in addition to counseling appointments and the Relaxation Room. These sessions, unlike formal appointments, are “a drop-in service where students can have an informal consultation with a therapist.” The Counseling Center provides examples of situations in which these sessions might be advantageous. If a student is hesitant about counseling and wonders what it’s like to talk to a therapist, if he or she is uninterested in continuous therapy but would like the chance to talk to a professional, if he or she would like to converse with a
isolation room, these patients “would not pose a threat to anyone in the hospital,” Saifan said. Westchester Health Commissioner, Dr. Sherlita Amler, has also told the public all hospitals in the lower Hudson Valley are prepared for potential Ebola cases. However, hospital nurses and doctors have voiced their skepticism. Junior nursing student, Jennifer Robertson, has spoken to doctors amidst her clinical experience and has a similar view. “Apparently, Westchester Medical Center staff said that they would get all the cases at a trauma center,” Robertson said. “Seeing how it is difficult to know how Ebola spreads, [whether] airborne or droplets, it becomes difficult to know exactly how to be prepared.” Ebola, caused by infection of strains of the Ebola virus, is a deadly disease that has received much media attention following an outbreak this year. Research has shown the disease is most likely hosted in animals native to Africa. Signs and symptoms of Ebola include high fevers, head and muscle pain,
professional regarding a specific or time sensitive issue, or if he or she is concerned for a friend, “Let’s Talk” is a an easy, convenient option for students. Open on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the first floor of Mortola Library, no appointment is needed for a student to consult with a therapist. The Counseling Center stresses that students who already partake in continuous counseling and therapy continue to do so. “Let’s Talk” is not a replacement for existing counseling, nor is it advertised as such. It is simply an option for those who might be hesitant to make a formal appointment or who are attempting to cope with a relatively brief problem. After all, it is not uncommon for individuals to be wary of counseling. Having been implemented in September of this year, “Let’s Talk” is still a relatively new initiative on campus. Still, Staff Psychologist Mariesa Cruz-Tillery has claimed the program “is increasing the Counseling Center’s visibility to students, especially those who are hesitant to make that initial contact with [them].” For more information, visit the Counseling Center page of the Pace website.
Photo from Statistica lethargy, digestive distress such as diarrhea or nausea, stomach pain, or inexplicable bleeding or bruising. At this point, eight cases
have been recorded in the United States and were treated in Nebraska, Maryland, and Texas, according to BBC News Africa. Of these cases, three patients recovered,
four are currently in treatment, and one passed away in Dallas, Texas. Thus far, no cases have arisen in New York.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
The Pace Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 PAGE 8
Choate Gallery Displays Faculty Art MAYRA MARADIAGA FEATURED WRITER The saying “those that can’t do, teach” clearly has its exceptions with regards to Pace faculty. The Choate House Gallery is currently displaying paintings, photographs, and sculptures submitted by the faculty and staff of the art department. Despite the size and the location of the exhibition, the quality of the art is enough to garner the attention of the entire Pace community. “I think it’s great that we have an art gallery like this that can showcase our professors and
show their talent,” gallery assistant and junior English major Jessica Haylock said. “I never knew that the professors do art. I know they teach and know about art, but I didn’t know that they could do some of these art works and it was really interesting. It actually made me appreciate our art professors.” Upcoming exhibitions at the Choate House Gallery will include additional artwork from Pace faculty and the surrounding community. In November, Professor Mark Cassata will be displaying his landscapes, seascapes, and classical figures in an exhibition titled
“The Story of Working in Watercolor.” During the spring semester, the annual Small Works Invitational presents artwork from students in the surrounding high schools. Submissions for this exhibition have increased every year, with more than 200 pieces shown at last year’s exhibit. Those interested in submitting artwork may do so using various media including CDs or slides, which are then reviewed by curator Kathryn Marohn and staff assistant Yvette Jones. They then decide whether the art pertains to what the department wishes to offer at the moment.
“I see the gallery growing,” Jones said. “I’m seeing that a lot of the work coming in from students [has] grown and become very professional.” Artworks currently displayed include drawings and sculptures by Professor Nicholas Rispoli and a painting by the gallery curator herself. The Choate House Gallery is currently open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours are subject to change next semester and will be updated on the Pace Resource and Research Centers website.
Photos by Mayra Maradiaga
GABRIEL SOLANO FEATURED WRITER Pace Pride (formerly known as the Gay Straight Alliance) held a movie screening on Thurs. Oct. 16 at 9 p.m. of The Celluloid Closet, a documentary that surveys the various ways in which Hollywood has portrayed homosexuality in cinema since the inception of filmmaking. Roughly 15 students attended the event. The Celluloid Closet showcases many different scenes of classic and recent films that portray homosexuality in various ways, and the way American society views the gay community and its affiliates. “It’s crazy to see how so many people didn’t really know or understand homosexuality,” accounting major Samantha Henry said. The audience reacted to the different scenes with varying levels on discomfort. Sophomore computer science major
Madeline Barrios shrieked and uncomfortably shifted positons in her seat as she saw scenes from films of the late 60s demoralize homosexuality for both women and men. The main focus of the film centered on how death seemed to always be the outcome of homosexuality when it was portrayed in early movies. It was thought of as a dirty form of living, and anyone associated with homosexuality was a plague to society. The Celluloid Closet made its message very clear and understandable; that America was not supportive or tolerant of homosexuals. “[The film was] very emotional. It’s crazy to see how society viewed homosexuality back in the day and how all those who were considered gay in early films died,” sophomore psychology major Mercedes Major said.
As the Cookie Crumbles... A bite-sized taste of the Netflix menu MAYRA MARADIAGA FEATURED WRITER These days, when you watch a horror movie trailer, you think you know how everything will play out. However, this is not the case when it comes to the film The Cabin in the Woods, which is currently available for viewing on Netflix. The movie presented in the trailer follows the story of five college kids who decide to take a vacation to a remote cabin in the woods, where eventually things take a turn for the worst. Sounds cliché enough, right? However, the story that writers Drew Goddard (who is also the director) and Joss Whedon (who directed The Avengers) translate onto the big screen takes every horror movie cliché and gives it a twist that the audience would never expect. From its unexpected opening scene, Cabin in the Woods will throw off any idea you have of how this movie will play out. Goddard and Whedon managed to pull off that sense of ambiguity through the entire film by keeping the audience engaged and anticipating what would happen next. The characters, though seemingly mere archetypes, are actually used by the writers as a satire of all the typical horror film characters. Clever writing and character development, alongside great casting, have the audience rooting for these characters rather than their downfall. If you’re looking for a standard slasher horror movie, this film may not be for you. Without giving too much away, all that can be said is that this film is a fantastic example of how to poke fun and get rid of audiences’ horror movie expectations. It may seem a bit much sometimes throughout the film, but it is exactly what it needs to be. The writers dared to show a different type of horror flick, and they delivered.
The Pace Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 PAGE 9
SGA Announcements Priority Event Request Deadline: October 27 Greek Events Request Deadline (All events): October 27 Willcox Party Applications Deadline: October 31 Non-Priority Event Request Deadline: November 10 Applications are being accepted for Student Leader of the Month. The form can be found on OrgSync. Senate and BAC will be meeting in the new multipurpose room in Kessel next semester.
Upcoming Events Residence Halls will be participating in RHA’s hall decorating contest Tuesday, October 28 at 9:30 PM. All are welcome. Happy Hour is Thursday, October 23 in the Setter’s Lounge. the Human iPod, John Rush, will be performing. Believe in Beauty is Wednesday, October 22 in Pace Perk. Prices vary at the door.
CLASSIFIEDS: Pace Chronicle The Pace Chronicle is looking for a Distribution Manager. You would be in charge of distributing the Chronicle. For more information, email Emily Wolfrum, Editor-in-Chief, at ew88172p@pace.edu. Information Technology Services The User Services Department of Information Technology Services is looking for a part-time Student Communications Assistant. This individual will be assiting on creating high-quality communication materials for online and in-print communication, such as newsletters, social media, and e-mails. Communications, Public Relations, or Marketing majors are preferred. Must contribute between 10-15 hours a week. $10/ hour. To apply, visit the Pace eRecruiting website. Applications will be accepted until December. Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Sotheby’s International Realty Inc is searching for a part-time office coordinator for their downtown Manhattan office. The ability to work nineteen hours a week is preferable. For more information, visit the Sotheby’s International Realty website, or the Jobs and Internships Pace University Facebook page. Finance and Planning The Department of Finance and Planning is looking for a student assistant. Tasks will be assigned based on the student’s major, skill level, and willingness to learn. The depart- ment will work around a student’s schedule, and the student will not work more than 20 hours a week. To apply, visit the eRecruiting website. Tunnel of Oppression The Tunnel of Oppression is looking for volunteers to help with planning and execution of the event. For more information on how you can be involved, email VP of Unity and Social Justice Rachel Aviles at unity@pace.edu. Mortola Library Mortola Library is looking for a part-time Interlibrary Loan Assistant. This is a nonwork study position. To apply, visit the eRecruiting website at pace.experience.com. They will be accepting applications through November. Environmental Center The Environmental Center is looking for a part-time Animal Keeper. Responsibilities will include feeding, cleaning, and medical care for the animals at the Environmental Center. Applications will be accepted through November. Programming Board Emails Want something included in the weekly programming board emails? Email SGA’s VP of Programming, Tameka Bazile, at programming@pace.edu with any flyers, information, or announcements you want included. All materials must be approved by SDCA before submission.
SPORTS
The Pace Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 PAGE 10
Pace Enlists Operation Hat Trick for Soldiers NATALIA ALVAREZ PAGAN SPORTS EDITOR Honoring the men and women who fight to serve this country is something that many take pride in. One particular organization, Operation Hat Trick (OHT) has been doing this at the collegiate level for the past 7 years. Now it’s Pace’s turn to enlist as they bring the program to campus. This partnership, involving the Pace Bookstore, Pace Athletics, and OHT will bring the campus new opportunities for Pace to show their patriotic side. It’s been about two or three years in the making, according to Assistant Athletic Director Zach Dayton, and it seemed like now was the right time. “Athletics wanted to provide additional support for those that fight for our country,” Dayton said. “It’s a great program to get involved with and we just felt the timing was right to get in there and be more supportive.” The program will also see involvement from the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC). They will provide the program with additional means of promotion while also allowing student athletes to get involved with the cause. Some research was done in order to make this possible, with Athletics looking at samples of different schools in order to see what they were doing in order to promote the program. Special military themed Pace hats will be sold at the bookstore as well as games throughout the year, beginning with a basketball doubleheader next year. “It’s a great opportunity
because it will allow us to have more military appreciation days with our various sports,” Dayton said. Student athletes will get their chance to support the troops with the possibility of wearing the hats during their practices. However, it’s not just for the student athletes, as anyone can make a purchase and show their support. Director of Athletics Mark Brown agrees, saying that it’s a great way for all members of the Pace community to get involved. “We know our fans and alumni both love Pace and appreciate our military, and this program allows them to support both at the same time,” Brown said. Part of the proceeds will go back to the Operation Hat Trick program, where the money will go towards medical funds for veterans. The program was founded in 2008 at the University of New Hampshire, with members wanting a way to memorialize Mike Koch and Nate Hardy, two U.S. Navy Seals who lost their lives in Iraq that same year. Currently there are about 200 universities across the country involved with the program. The name Operation Hat Trick formed from the initial idea of producing collegiate caps that would be provided for the soldiers that suffered from head injuries. Now it has weaved its way into the collegiate world, with the leading collegiate headwear company‘47 Brand manufacturing the hats. Pace members will be able to purchase the hats in the beginning of November at the bookstore.
Pace students are now able to purchase the above hats at the bookstore. Part of the proceeds will be donated back to Operation Hat Trick, which helps service men and women with medical bills.
Photo from operationhattrick.com Operation Hat Trick at a Memorial at West Point Military Academy in West Point, New York.
SPORTS
The Pace Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 PAGE 11
En Garde: Fencing Club Faces Off Spring 2015 NATALIA ALVAREZ PAGAN SPORTS EDITOR Advance. Attack. Engage. En Garde. The reintroduction of the fencing club on campus will provide students with a whole new way to engage in sports while also relieving some stress. One of the heads of the resurgent club is sophomore computer science major Kaleigh Kessler. Kessler has a more personal involvement with fencing, but she wants everyone to experience what she has experienced with such an intricate sport. “I found out this past spring that there was equipment from a fencing club that used to be active here at Pace. I instantly knew I wanted to get it up and running again,” Kessler said. “Fencing personally changed my life in so many ways and opened so many
doors for me, and I want others to have the same experience.” A quality that members said intrigued them about the sport was its demand both physically and mentally. “I think that fencing and many other things like it, including martial arts, involve both physical fitness and strategy,” said John Wrench, one of the founding members. “When someone is fencing, they›re thinking as much as they›re moving, it›s a great workout for both.” Another founder, sophomore childhood education major Shaina Weir, just put it plain and simple. “Who wouldn›t want to stab someone with a sword,” Weir said. “On a serious note, I think Pace should offer more unique activities so students can experience more things that they might
not have ever been around to try.” Kessler has a host of people who are behind her and what she is trying to accomplish with the fencing club. Just like any organization on Pace, it’s open to anyone. According to Kessler, fencing is also a great stress reliever. “Fencing is an amazing sport and workout,” Kessler said. “And, you don›t need a specific body type to do it; fencers come in all shapes and sizes. You learn a lot about yourself and challenge both your mind and body in a fun environment.” Kessler’s had a couple of friends who’ve asked about it and she’s been showing them the ropes in the aerobics room. She hopes that through events and even publication it will get more notice as the leaders continue to prepare the club. As of right now, the club is in
the “paperwork” phase. This paperwork will be necessary to be recognized by Student Government as a club. The club is anticipated to surface between the end of this semester and early spring
semester. Wrench, who also serves as SGA President, encourages students to contact him, Kessler, or visit the SDCA office to sign up or learn more about this club.
Last Week in Athletics Women’s Soccer lost to Southern Conn. October 15 with a score of 0-2 Women’s Volleyball won against Saint Michael’s October 17 with a score of 3-2 Men’s Football lost to Stonehill October 18 with a score of 0-33
On October 20, Pace University’s softball team hosted PS 22 Middle School from the South Bronx. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders were taught certain drills, and were able to bat in the university’s batting cages. Individual members of the univeristy’s team even coupled with the middle school students to give them one-on-one instructional time. Pace’s season starts in Spring 2015, with double-headers against Southern New Hampshire University and Franklin Pierce University in March.
Women’s Soccer won against Southern New Hampshire October 18 with a score of 2-0
The Pace Chronicle
TWITTER: @PACECHRONICLE FACEBOOK: THE PACE CHRONICLE ISSUU.COM/THEPACECHRONICLE PACECHRONICLE.COM/SPORTS PLEASANTVILLE/BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY
S PORTS
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“I’VE NEVER LOST A GAME. I JUST RAN OUT OF TIME.” -MICHAEL JORDAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014
ONLINE AT PACECHRONICLE.COM
Setter’s Madness Kicks Off Basketball Season NATALIA ALVAREZ PAGAN SPORTS EDITOR The annual “Setters Madness” was held on Tues. Oct. 14 in the Goldstein Gym, signaling the official kick-off to the men’s and women’s basketball seasons. Over one hundred students and family members gathered together for a series of events involving both teams. Fans were entertained with the introductions for both teams and coaches, followed by a friendly competition between the players as they tried to get the most shots in the allotted time while moving around the court. The fans got a chance to get involved shortly after that. A tagteam style shooting contest was set up, with four members of the basketball teams—two from the men’s and two from the women’s—teaming up with fans they picked up from the stands. After a dunk contest from the men’s team and a performance from the cheerleading squad, the night wrapped up with the $10,000 half-court shot. Women’s Lacrosse member Najma Jones took her shot for the ten grand only to fall short. It was a fun night for all, including junior marketing major Kathleen Hachmeyer, who attended for the first time. “As a basketball fan I had fun watching the teams compete in the three-point shootout, plus the giveaways were pretty cool,” Hachmeyer said. Those giveaways included
Pace shutter sunglasses; the Pace Setter Squad shirts were also sold at the game, serving as promotion for a new initiative that Athletics is starting for the upcoming basketball season. While Madness has been going on for several years, the Athletics staff always tries to look for new and fun ways to get fans involved during the event. “Our goal is always to create a lot of fan engagement,” Assistant Athletic Director Zach Dayton said. “We always look at trends that are going on in the business and look to see what other schools are doing and then we see if they can fit what we do here. But with the campus transforming it will provide a lot more opportunities for us to do more things.” Madness is also a great way for the players to get introduced to the school. Sophomore guard and native Brazilian Marcos Oliveira participated in the event for the first time, showing that he had as much fan as the fans did during the event. But Oliveira saw it as much more than just being introduced, for him it brought feelings about how good it is to be able to represent Pace. “I think that Madness serves as great reminder that we are not only playing for ourselves, but we are also defending the university in a way,” Oliveira said. The season kicks off in midNovember, with the first home game on Nov. 19 as both teams face-off against Saint Rose.
Accomplishment: Zeoli scored both goals against the Southern New Hampshire Penmen Saturday, October 18. The sophomore sealed the win with a goal in the 53rd min- ute of play, and a second goal in the 89th minute. In total, Zeoli delivered four shots on goal, making two of them.
Name: Alyssa Zeoli Sport: Soccer Position: Forward
The team won the game 2-0 against the Penmen. Sarah Bendl, Meghan Haslett, and Geena Kooder are credited with assists on the goals. Photos from Stockton Photo Inc.