The Pace Chronicle - Volume II, Issue XI

First Place Award Winners from the New York Press Association & American Scholastic Press Association

The Pace Chronicle Volume II, Issue XI

Inside News..............3 Feature.............2 Health...........5 Opinion.........6,7 Entertainment.....9 Sports...........11,12

The G-Spot: Page 6

Pace University, Pleasantville/Briarcliff Manor, NY

www.PaceChronicle.com

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012

Will Sandy Effect How Faculty Evaluate Final Grades?

Heather Askildsen News Editor

HAskildsen@PaceChronicle.com

Final G-Spot

News: Page 3

Rats in Valley

This semester Pace lost an overwhelming amount of class time to Hurricane Sandy. Even in the aftermath, many students did not have access to power.

As finals approach, the question looms over whether faculty will take these mitigating factors into account when evaluating final course grades.

“The superstorm changed my usual idea of deadlines and due dates,” said English professor Daniel Bender. “I gave one extension, then a second extension, and in some classes, a third extension—but only in the two weeks or so after the disaster. In terms of final grades, missing work caused by the storm follows the well-established policy: document to the Dean’s Office that an emergency made attendance and/or completion impossible.”

Other courses were able to get by without out much disturbance.

“Fortunately, my students and I missed only one day of class when Hurricane Sandy caused Pace University in Pleasantville to close,” said English profes-

Photo sor Edna Lief. “Remarkably, student attendance in my classes remained high in the week after the storm and except for allowing students more time to complete assignments, classes continued normally. So Hurricane Sandy will not affect the way I assess the final course grades of my students

from

CBSPeerblog.WordPress.com Finals.

this semester.”

For more hands on classes, faculty have taken other approaches to the loss of time.

“The storm only affected my Media Production I class, mainly because we missed a week due to Sandy and a week following because of the snow storm” said

Continued on Page 3

“Will Sandy Effect How Faculty Evaluate Final Grades?”

Advanced Artists in Pace “Project Studio” Art Show

Health: Page 5

Samantha Finch

Entertainment Editor SFinch@PaceChronicle.com

Pro’s & Con’s of Marijuana Sports: page 12

Eliott Johnson

communications professor Michael DeRario. “The first thing because we are a production department, my main concern is making sure the students have the foundation to go into the next

Photo by Samantha Finch/The Pace Chronicle Paton Hall will host the Project Studio course.

Pace Art Gallery, located in Choate House, opened its doors this past Thurs. Dec. 6 for the final art show of the fall 2012 semester.

The initial three and a half hour reception welcomed faculty, students, and staff to see the displayed artwork of three students who worked to create the exhibit entitled “An Exploration of Strength and Society.” These three students, Veronica Goin, India Burgess, and Alexandra LePage, were enrolled in a course called Project Studio.

Project Studio is a class that is not held on any regular schedule but rather depends on the art majors and minors who want to further practice in a specific medium.

During the fall 2012 semester the course was conducted by adjunct art professor Kate Marohn.

“I am the gallery curator so though I do not always teach the course I usually have a hand in

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the installation process. Learning to compile and exhibit a cohesive body of work is an important focus of the course,” Professor Marohn said.

Of the three artists, Veronica Goin, a senior art and English major, was the only one who worked solely in one medium for this project. Her collection of work that is part of the exhibit is all open and standard acrylic paint on handmade canvases.

“The focus of my pieces is on female strength and empowerment,” said Goin. “They’re all my favorite.”

Goin has been featured in several art exhibits throughout her time at Pace as well as had pieces of both art and poetry published in the previous editions of VOX Literary Magazine.

Senior art major India Burgess worked in several different branches of art for her collection in this art show including drawing, painting, oil pastels, and digi-

Continued on Page 9 “Advanced Artists in Pace ‘Project Studio’ Art Show”

Health

Feature

The Pace Chronicle

Page 2

Meet the Greeks:

Alpha Chi Epsilon (AXE) Arthur Augustyn

Feature Editor AAugustyn@PaceChronicle.com

The brothers of Alpha Chi Epsilon are not ignorant of their reputation on campus. Like other social fraternities on campus, AXE has been criticized for lacking contributions to the campus and simply existing just to exist. How AXE differs from other organizations is that they’re actively trying to change that perception.

“We’ve had a couple of rough semesters so we’re trying to get back into it,” said junior accounting major and vice president of Alpha Chi Epsilon, Chris Arnold.

A year ago, AXE had dwindling numbers due to graduating seniors and transfers. The organization pursued recruiting larger numbers and ended up pledging first-semester freshmen, which is against Pace University policy.

This past semester, AXE admitted to the violation of University conduct and was met with reprimands including community service and a probation from recruiting new members for a set period of time. The organization isn’t happy about their past, but the efforts have paid off and rejuvenated the spirits of the members.

“We’re trying to get us back on track in the school’s eyes. We might not be the hardest working people but we want to get back

on track with community service, philanthropy events and getting a better name for ourselves,” said Arnold.

So far the comeback tour has been successful. This past semester, each member of AXE logged 20 hours of community service, including Pace Makes a Difference Day. One of the community service events involved the organization going to a nearby nursing home and helping senior citizens.

The members enjoyed the trip so much that they intend to make it into a reoccurring philanthropic service and hope to involve the rest of the Pace campus as well.

AXE has also been expanding the number of events they hold per semester. Earlier this semester they presented the “wall of expression,” a makeshift wall where students could spray paint anything they wanted and express themselves. The event took place on 9/11 this year which led to some more heartfelt expressions than expected. This semester’s wall of expression was displayed on Miller Lawn for a short period of time but now hails in the fraternity’s townhouse. They intend to repeat the event again next semester.

In addition to the wall of expression, the organization wants to expand to other event ideas that have not been explored yet. These include a pancake eating contest,

Editorial Staff Ali Silver

Editor-in-Chief

Alexandra.R.Silver@pace.edu

Olivia Mapplethorpe Copy Editor

Alexandria Tribble Copy Editor

Heather Askildsen Arthur Augustyn Feature Editor News Editor Samantha Finch Christiana Lloyd Entertainment Editor Health Editor Ebony Turner Opinion Editor

CJ Dudek Sports Editor

Operational Staff Christine Gramlich Business Manager

Photo from Alpha Chi Epsilon Brothers of Alpha Chi Epsilon. where the profits go to philanthropy, and an inflatable jousting arena on Miller lawn.

These endeavors require a level of investment that AXE requires from its new members.

Arnold believes that AXE wants to recruit good people, but thinks that students who are interested should show how they can help.

“We look for people who want to be a part of something bigger than the Pace campus. People who want to do things and get involved,” said Arnold.

AXE’s members typically stay in touch with the active chapter even after they graduate. Arnold says there are 2-3 alumni who are actively involved on a daily basis and some other members who have left Pace are still around to

contribute. On one occasion, an alumnus helped coordinate the organization to attend a 5K walk for Make a Wish Foundation, they ended up raising over 600 dollars.

The alumni, members and Arnold all want to turn around the perception of what AXE was to what they are now. Despite being a local fraternity, Alpha Chi Epsilon started Greek Life at Pace Pleasantville in 1982, according to Arnold. Before them, there were no Greeks at Pace. The organization hopes to return to that ideal and lead by example of how a fraternity should be.

“I think this semester we’ve turned a new leaf and it’s all going to be up hill from here,” said Arnold.

Philosophy Club

Brian Keegan

Featured Reporter Brian.E.Keegan@pace.edu

C/D in Kessel. More importantly the group has attracted participation from more than Pace students, with faculty, staff, and even the families of some students participating in the discussions held at the club’s meeting and events.

Wrench stresses the openness and inclusivity of the club’s nature. He acknowledges that a subject with so little academic recognition on campus depends entirely on the involvement of those students who participate as a hobby. To be more accommodating to the scheduling needs of the diverse group of students from which the organization derives its support, Wrench scheduled the meetings for 5 p.m. on

Arthur Augustyn Distribution Prof. Michael Perrota Faculty Advisor mperrota@pacechronicle.com

Contributors Christopher D’Erasmo Christopher.DErasmo@pace.edu Veronica Goin Veronica.Goin@pace.edu Brian Keegan Brian.E.Keegan@pace.edu Khari Linton Khari.V.Linton@pace.edu Erin O’Gorman Erin.OGorman@pace.edu

The Pace Chronicle is published by Trumbull Printing: (203) 261-2548 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.

The Pace Chronicle, Pace University 861 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, N.Y. 10570 Phone: (914) 773-3401 PaceChronicle@pace.edu www.PaceChronicle.com

Photo from UChicago.edu What’s your philosophy? everything.

Philosophy isn’t just for philosophy majors anymore either.

“Most of the students involved with the club are neither majors or minors, but enjoy discussing topics usually ignored in everyday classes,” said Wrench.

Wrench asserts that such discussions give students, a population that as a whole tends to get wrapped up in day to day concerns, “a chance to take a step back and think about things they so often neglect”.

The veracity of his statement is evident in the fact that the club, whose associated major includes only a handful of students, is able to easily fill Conference Room

The Pace Chronicle

Tafasha Pitt Gabrielle Saulsbery Managing Editor Layout/Web Editor

Club Feature: One of the newest clubs on campus is looking for answers to some of the oldest questions.

Philosophy Club is more than living up to its name, bringing the discussion of ancient concerns to present day students. Despite the extremely limited number of philosophy majors on campus the group is regularly having robust and energetic discussions on topics that scientists, accountants, and nurses couldn’t hope to find real answers to.

At one recent meeting the topic of discussion was the value of life and the idea of self-sacrifice for a loved one. Philosophy Club president John Wrench posed the question, “If you knew a person you love was going to die but you could give up your life to save them, would you? Does it matter to you even though you’ll be dead?”

From here the discussion evolved and grew to touch on such controversial ideas as the inclusion of age as a factor in determining the value of life, the goals members and guests had for their lives and the bearing that had on their own evaluation of what their life was worth, and whether or not the end of a life is the end of

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012

Fridays.

But like so many organizations on campus that have gotten a great start with significant initial momentum, the longevity of the club is still uncertain.

Asked about the long term goals of the organization Wrench was fairly open minded, primarily concerned about the continued growth and presence of the club on campus rather than focusing on specific concrete goals.

Fortunately for Philosophy Club, there will always be more students with hundreds of questions that have no clear answers.

If the organization can only capitalize on this fact, it is almost certain that Wrench will get his wish.

The PaceChronicle Meetings: Monday 9 p.m.

3rd floor of Willcox Hall.

Open to all students!

Health

The Pace Chronicle

Page 3

Rats in Valley

Christopher D’Erasmo Featured Reporter

Christopher.DErasmo@pace.edu

Over the past few days, Valley House has picked up more than a few unwelcome guests. Rats and mice have been seen and heard all around the basement and in the kitchen.

While they are usually quiet during the day when people are present, they can still be heard moving through the walls if you go down to the basement at night.

Not surprisingly, no one is happy about the infestation.

However, with all the garbage thrown on the floor and left there to rot, the situation seems inevitable. On the first floor men’s hallway, garbage bags full of spoiled food and other waste are left open on the ground. At times, it is necessary to walk over the trash because it is everywhere.

The stairwell and bathroom are no different.

All this garbage gives off a putrid smell that attracts the mice and rats. Others agree that this is the main reason why they have arrived.

“There weren’t any last year,” said sophomore biology major Alex Salitta, a Resident Assistant.

“Due to the destructive mess of Valley, [the rodents] are attracted to Valley.”

Other students have also heard the rats screeching as they go by or get startled.

“A rat or a family of rats gets stuck in the heaters,” said freshman nursing major Jessica Szymanski. “They squeal when the heater gets turned on. It’s scary.”

While most are scared of just encountering a rat as they try to study for finals, few realize the health problems that come with rats living in the residence halls.

The fact that the rats are in the kitchen is troubling news for anyone that uses it. The diseases that the rats carry could contaminate the area and materials used in the kitchen. These rats carry with them a list of diseases and health concerns. If these rats get into food, they can spread serious diseases.

If the rats were to bite a student, they would be at risk for a serious infection such as rabies.

Even their fecal matter is a health concern.

In response to the infestation, the maintenance crew on Briarcliff has put in place several rat traps. One rat was trapped on a sticky paper in the kitchen on the first day they were put in place.

Although there are ways to get rid of the rats in Valley using traps and pesticides there are also preventative measures that must be taken into account in order to keep the rats from returning in the near future. First and foremost, the reckless throwing of garbage and garbage bags throughout the men’s section and stairwell has to stop immediately. This garbage is seen as an all you can eat buffet by the rats and attracts them to the section.

Clean dorm rooms and bathrooms are also a necessity. If these rooms and bathrooms are not kept clean then rats will smell the rotten food and ammonia from a great distance away and investigate to see if there is food in the area. When they find what they are looking for, they stay where they are, making it their home and multiply by the hundreds in a mere month.

Only by taking these measures can the community ensure that the current rats get taken care of and that future pest problems don’t arise.

Photos

by

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012

News

Christopher D’Erasmo/The Pace Chronicle Rats and trash in Valley.

Will Sandy Effect How Faculty Evaluate Final Grades? ... continued from page 1 classes…in order to go into Media Production II, there’s a certain level of information and skills they need, and my main goal for the semester has been not to lower that standard.

“But I’ve been sympathetic to students who might have needed to miss class because of issues related to the storm. Documentation

allows me to see that,” continued DeRario. “But what I’ve actually done—because I can’t drop that standard and I can’t allow it to happen—is I’ve met individually with all students who’ve missed classes, outside of class. So I’ve pretty much spent an additional class period with students one on one, just rearranging based on

their schedule and my schedule, to make sure they obtain those skills. I can’t move my class onto blackboard. See, a lot of other classes you can include an online portion. I can only go so far. They need to be here for me to show it to them.”

In regard to finals grades, for DeRario it is more a question of

making sure students are on track before the evaluation process begins.

“By the time I’m in the position of evaluating them, it will be equal to all other semesters.

Right now, it’s stressful for me because I’m trying to get it all in,” said DeRario. “It’s been the most hectic semester, it’s been

the most crammed semester, and it’s exhausting. I can see it in the students, but I’m working with them and I think we are able to find a happy medium. I just want to make sure they’re prepared.”

Health

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Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012

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Health

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Page 5

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012

Health

Masturbation Leading to E.D in Young Men Christiana Lloyd

Health Editor CLloyd@PaceChronicle.com

In today’s society, it is hard for any man to admit that he isn’t up to handling one of the few tasks that well, make him, a man.

While erectile dysfunction isn’t that uncommon in men approaching their late 60s and 70s a young man in his 20s and 30s is a different story all together.

“I have never had a sexual partner that has ever had a problem staying hard, but I have heard other girls talking about their partners having it happen” said freshman psychology major Kasie Corcoran.

But what is the cause? Is it really ED and what is causing it in college age men?

“I think it could be performance jitters” said junior psychology major Morgan Allen, “or it could just be stress, it is hard for guys to handle stress and it effects the body hormones.”

Allen is correct. There are six major causes to ED in men. Performance jitters, depression, condom troubles, booze, drug abuse,

Photo and obesity (obesity is not a direct cause but through obesity leading to diabetes causes ED in men).

In a study done by the National Institutes of Health they estimate that erectile dysfunction strikes as many as 30 million men in the United States. 4 percent in their 50s, 17 percent in their 60s, 47 percent in their 70s and over a total of 5 percent in their 20s and 30s. (While 5 percent may

from SciencePhoto.com Keep it up boys.

not seem like a large number, know that until the early 2000s this number of young men was .2 percent) In a study done by Carlo Foresta, head of the Italian society and anthropology of sexual medicine they found that the cause for young men who suffer from ED is “Sexual Anorexia” which comes from excessive porn use/ masturbation. In his study he

found of 28,000 users, that many males started an “excessive consumption” of porn sites as early as 14 and after daily use in their early to mid-20s became inured to “even the most violent” images.

In the study they found that because of excessive masturbation, men were suffering from a loss of libido when it came to being with an intimate partner because the female sex organ didn’t

have the same roughness as a guys hand when he masturbates, pair that with the loss of intense stimulating images that he is used to pairing with the action and the onset of erectile dysfunction comes out.

“Once young men first begin suffering from the loss of an erection it becomes a psychological blow and 3 out of 5 will turn to drug enhancements to help them perform,” stated Foresta in his study.

But the solution is simple, ease back on how often you masturbate and find other ways to release your tension by playing a sport, going to the gym, or hanging out with friends. And to help with the need to release your seed, find a partner. But whatever you do don’t turn to performance drugs. Doctors warn against men in their early 20s and 30s turning to Viagra or other stimulants because the overuse of them in your younger age can be harmful. While considered safe, taking these medications in un-prescribed doses can lead to serious complications.

Health pro’s and con’s of Marijuana Christiana Lloyd

Health Editor CLloyd@PaceChronicle.com

While many of us know of those who may use marijuana for recreational or medical purposes, the side effects both good and bad seem to be lost in a haze of facts and myths.

Marijuana is a crude drug that is made from the Cannabis plant, and is most normally smoked in order to create a mind altering effect. The cause of this outcome comes from the ingredient called THC or in scientific term, delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol. It is this ingredient that causes the effect to be stronger or weaker depending on the amount of it found in the marijuana that is being used.

While there are no deathly side effects to the use of marijuana, the use of the substance can cause a faster pulse rate and heartbeat, dry mouth and throat, and bloodshot eyes. In a study put out in 2011 by the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Center they found that the use of marijuana can lead to some short term impairments such as reduced short term memory and can reduce the ability to do things which require concentration. So things like studying for a test or driving a car can become difficult.

Marijuana is used for many medical purposes including the relieve and/or treatment for AIDS, cancer, ADHD, multiple sclerosis, nausea resulting from chemotherapy, Crohn’s disease, glaucoma, epilepsy, insomnia, migraines, arthritis and lack of appetite.

Doctors have also used medical marijuana on terminally ill patients, as a way to alleviate some of their pain and improve their

Photo overall quality of life. The effects produced include a reduction in anxiety and pain, as well as a feeling of being high. Furthermore, research has shown cannabinoids to be successful at slowing the growth of certain types of cancer.

Although several states have

HerbalMission.org Know the facts.

from

authorized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, pharmacies aren’t allowed to supply it. For the same reason, doctors write recommendations for marijuana use instead of actual prescriptions.

As with the use of any drug,

know the truth about it along with any side effects that it may cause.

Also note that while the use of marijuana has been legalized for recreational use for adults 21 and over in Washington and Colorado, it is still recognized as an illegal drug by the federal gov-

ernment as well as here in New York State.

For more information on marijuana facts and legal uses, please visit: www.drugpolicy.org

Opinion

The Pace Chronicle

Page 6

The G-Spot B : G y

abrielle

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012

Davina

Finding Your Voice Both In and Out of Bed What’s The-G-Spot About?

"College is run by sexual tension. Many of us like sex, have sex, and have walked in on our roommate having sex. Why ignore it?

Let’s be honest instead. In college, learning doesn’t only happen in the classroom, it happens in the bedroom. Don't be shy, now, welcome to the G-Spot." - Gabrielle Davina As I was giving direction to a lover in bed one evening, he smirked at me and said, “What are you, a guru?”

I smirked back down at him and said, “Nah, I just know what I like.”

A 2009 study done by researchers at King’s College London found that smarter women have more fun in bed. The researchers attributed this to the fact that women of higher intelligence tend to communicate their sexual wants and expectations to their lovers more than women of average intelligence.

Regardless of your IQ score (because who cares about that anyway) I want to encourage you to do the same. At the time I read about this study, I was somewhat shy both in and out of bed—I had only had any sexual experience with my high school boyfriend, and I don’t recall ever speaking up about what I liked, didn’t like, wanted to try, etc. I was also unaccustomed to speaking up and causing a stir in general.

Not only was I a virgin to controversy, I was only one five-minute experience past being an actual virgin.

Fast forward nearly four years to this moment, and here I am, writing my very last sex column telling you to be the vocal girl (or guy…oh, hey guys) I read about in that study instead of the timid girl I was when I read it.

In bed and in life, two things tend to be true. 1) If you don’t ask, you don’t get (unless you’re very lucky); and 2) If you want to address something with your partner or another human being and you don’t bring it up yourself, it won’t get addressed (unless you’re dating a clairvoyant).

There you have two reasons, two solid motives to take personal responsibility for what you want out of life and what you want in bed. And by taking personal responsibility, you will be saying to yourself: “I have to speak up if I want that job,” or “I have to speak up if I want him to go down on me.”

Taking personal responsibility in any aspect of life is accepting that you have the power to actively better your life and then grasping that power. It’s your responsibility to communicate what you want and need to those around you because, face it— our lives are all intertwined, but sometimes we’re so busy all we can think about is dealing with our own b.s. You have to look out for number one.

So many people don’t speak up in bed because they’re embarrassed, whether it be by their desires specifically or the fact that

they have desires at all. You’re quicker to let someone put their hands on you than you are to tell them what works and does not work for your pleasure. If you’re comfortable enough with someone to put your mouth on their nether regions, you should feel comfortable enough to make your own requests.

A key component to enjoying your life, sexual and otherwise, is not being afraid to say what you want to say. This is where I tie in my column: the reason it’s been able to continue for the past year and a half despite a few Letters to the Editor demanding such smut be taken out of the paper is because many of you think the same things that I type. You’ll talk about it among your friends, but the difference is that I’m not afraid to say it “out loud”: in the paper, with my name on it and with many of you knowing who I am personally.

Since everyone’s thinking it and I’m the one saying it, I’ve received an overwhelming amount of support for this column. From a girl that came up to me in the Victor’s bathroom and thanked me for covering topics so relevant to her life to the gentleman who walked up to me in Kessel telling me he found my work to be noble and worthy of respect, I want to thank you all for being so supportive. At first, I was nervous—pretty damn nervous, actually, and I’ve been nervous to publish the more controversial topics (see: Threesome, Anyone?) throughout my tenure as sex columnist. The support has boosted my personal morale in relation to this column a great deal, but even without it, what keeps me writing is that everything I put into this column is written with honesty, integrity and respect.

If you’re speaking your own personal truth, never be ashamed.

Everything written in this column over the last year and a half fits that bill.

Rounding it back to the bedroom, never find shame in telling someone what you want out of your sexual experience. Everyone has wants and needs; express them. Most people’s desires are not out of the ordinary enough not to be considered and accommodated by their lover. Speaking up will empower you and give you a more fulfilling experience. If your lover isn’t willing to accommodate, are you sure you’re sexually compatible?

Find your voice. On top of maximizing your sexual pleasure, who knows? Finding your voice in other arenas—work, classes, social movements, whatever— could literally change your life.

Ebony Turner

Featured Columnist ETurner@PaceChronicle.com

MIA & The Transformation of Islamophobia What is 40 Acres and a MacBook?

Whether it’s the questionable news headlines on Fox News or when we walk into Kessel and see all the same kids sitting comfortably on opposite sides of the cafeteria, it’s time to stop ignoring racial issues within our youth with our 40 acres and a Macbook - a modernized compensation for the world in which we are forced to live in.

Our country has never been the same since 9/11 but something that never crossed my mind was the fact that our entire world was stunned by the events of that fateful day—stunned enough to begin a worldwide phobia that would come to life should any individual so much as wear a burka, turban or hijab into an airport.

Racism takes many forms and often times people think that only prejudice and discrimination can occur against the Black community. That limits our subconscious when we treat others within the confines of that mindset; it convinces us as a society that so long as we’re not hosing down Black people in the streets, we are moving forward into a post-racial country.

That is not true at all, and a woman that has not taken too kindly to these assertions is Sri Lankan native and rapper MIA. Fortunately for her, and many other artists that are socially aware and politically conscious, she is able to use her platform and have a sit down with the agents of change - the youth. However, as the decade turned so did the days of music videos as a political structure. Now these moving interpretations of lyrics are nothing more than soft core porn and not-so-humble bragging; even artistically, artists are afraid to take a chance and actually say more than what they’re lyrics will allow. The directors are no better and consistently take the convenient route rather than taking advantage of the level of influence and power they have over entire generations. This seems to be an ongoing trend for a lot of people in power nowadays, but few are able to actualize that music and media are the two major structures in our society that can change the mindset of a people.

MIA’s first hand attempt at using music and videos to generate a political consciousness within her audience was with her minimockumentary ‘Born Free.’ The treatment for the music video was entirely inspired by the killings of young Tamil males by the Sri Lankan army that went viral just the year before this video’s release. She adapted the themes of political oppression, excessive military force and racial genocide into nine minutes of film directed

by Romain Gavras. Rather than taking the literal route, MIA and Gavras decided to allow the audi-

ence to use their brain by depicting genocide against young men and women with red hair. They were stripped from their homes, some of them even hiding from their fate even though they would all be found, and driven to a barren desert plateau. It was then that the video took a turn and the redhaired teens were instructed to run while being shot at by rifles.

The film-video was just as defiant as MIA herself, in that nothing was left to the imagination. She wanted you to feel every bullet that went through their skulls, she wanted you to see the pain of your life being in someone else’s hands; she wanted her audience and the world to finally see what another countries reality truly is, and in a way that they can understand and not allow preconceived notions to hover over their common sense.

It was a necessary moment in music, because finally an artist wasn’t hiding behind fashion, tattoos and Instagram momentos as their way of broadcasting just how rebellious they were she was doing it creatively and through her music.

Before ‘Born Free’ she only gave her listeners a glimpse of her culture through colorful, Sri Lankan inspired graphics with music videos that took you from the shanty towns of Ghana to the sweaty, bass-infused clubs of the West Indies. She is a woman obsessed with culture that are not even her own, and is not embarassed by her intelligence and awareness, and refuses to allow the mainstream culture to mute her in any fashion. Just a year after this single was released with the video, France enacted a law that banned burka’s and niqab’s from being worn in public. Full face veils could lead to a fine of anywhere between 80 and 140 euros. The law was a blatant violation of the personal freedoms of Muslim women in France who wear burkas, a population that in 2011 was estimated at 2,000; the Muslim population in France, however, was estimated between four and six million. Why was their form of religious expression deemed unfit for society and not nuns? What is the fundamental difference aside from the fact that only their eyes are visible? The entire religion was being held responsible for the actions of militant radicals, which only proves that Islamophobia is everywhere.

The United States has taken the subtler route by enforcing a more strenuous TSA screening and the silent skepticism from Americans when the sight of any individual wearing a turban or burka boards the plane. Little insight was given to Americans, or any person who was not from that culture, on who they were as people. They were only associated with the violent actions that they had no part in which is not represented in their faith, and MIA returned to put in her effort to change that state of mind. In ‘Bad Girls,’ MIA teamed up with Gavras again to serve up another video that was more fun in execution but still at its core had a message.

Imagine another over done installment of Too Fast, Too Furious: Middle East Ghost Riding. While it may seem a little farfetched, that was essentially the treatment for ‘Bad Girls.’ The lyrics in the song were a bit redundant, infused with the same level of narcissism and bragging that hip-hop is no stranger to, but the video had a message that was less familiar. People of the Middle East are human beings. They feel the judgment they receive when they walk into a room of weary eyes, and their culture is so much greater than our fears. They also have excellent taste in vintage BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes and can soup up a Mercedes wagon with neon lights and a transparent body kit.

They also can ghost ride a whip with such finesse, E-40 may have to remove the original credit from the Bay Area. The video was so intoxicating, watching it once was not enough, and I can only imagine the bigots all across the world saying: “I almost forgot they were Muslim.”

The point MIA wanted to make was that you shouldn’t forget who they are or what they’re culture is; forgetting is what led to the discrimination they have been subjected to all along. No culture is defined by the mistakes by individuals of their past or even the mistakes of their near future unless they allow themselves to be. The only way anyone can grow from a moment of error is to acknowledge it, use it as a point of reference to learn from, and move forward. It is no one’s place to keep others from moving forward from mistakes that are not representative of the collective.

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The Pace Chronicle

A Change of Heart:

The NCAA Needs to Have One, Too Ebony Turner

Opinion Editor ETurner@PaceChronicle.com

I have always been very passionate about whether division I athletes should get paid or not.

My reasons were pretty valid and some of the points I still stand by today. Yes, I still believe that paying athletes could potentially blur the lines between professional and college, making the education aspect null and void. Education is very important and should be the most valued selling point of the experience for college athletes being that most of the sports in question for being paid are going to these prestigious universities for free. However, the recent incident at Hofstra University proved to debunk my opinion in a way that has caused me to go back to the drawing board.

The reality is that most of these athletes are only allowed to make a total of 1,000 dollars for the entire year, should they have the time and ability to hold down a job, classes and a demanding schedule for their sport. When the figure is broken down to the year, athletes are only allowed to make 83 dollars a month, or 27 dollars a week, according to the NCAA. Meanwhile, their likeness is being used by the association who

brings in over 700 million dollars a year from March Madness alone. So when the story of how four Hofstra basketball players were arrested in relation to a string of dorm thefts between Oct. 4 and Nov. 5, wherein iPods, laptops, cash, headphones and iPads were stolen and sold on Craigslist, I hung my head in disappointment until I read the statement from one of the players.

According to lead scorer for the Pride, freshman Jimmy Hall, he stole the laptops because he needed to pay his 350 dollars phone bill and needed money for food. Not only was this the most practical excuse for such a grave offense that could cost him a 200 thousand dollars scholarship and his college career, but this could have all been solved should he have had the chance to make more than what the NCAA allowed, and had the time to work.

The reality is that while these athletes are essentially going to school free of charge, what they have to sacrifice for that luxury is not equal in value at all. What we have seen these players resort to is petty theft, illegal betting and exchanging contracts with dirty agents should they make it into the draft.

A reality I am fully aware of is that these players are coming

A Problem That Cannot Be Blamed on Mental Illness Opinion Editor ETurner@PaceChronicle.com

The relationship between the NFL and mental illness has been an acknowledgement by the league that was more than overdue. Little is still being done to advance the futures of rookies, current players and future hopeful’s in terms of equalizing the protection from the impact they receive and give on a daily basis, but progress no matter how big or small is still progress. What has remained mum and pushed over within this institution is the issue of domestic violence which has plagued the league and the players within it for decades.

However, our worship and reverence for athletes have surpassed our sympathy for the often times nameless victims and no progress has been made in changing that.

Out of the 31 teams in the NFL, 21 of them this year alone have hired at least one player that has been charged with domestic violence or sexual assault.

For the less knowledgeable on matters of domestic violence, the documented cases are not representative at all of the actual statistics of DV and most of the cases brought against the abuser, especially if they are a high profile individual, are dropped or withdrawn. So while this figure is stark in its own right, we can only imagine the amount of women who were, or are still, in abusive relationships and have not yet

come forward.

When the topic of domestic violence in relation to the players of the NFL is addressed, many of the people in the higher-up positions such as the general managers and even the commissioner have an excusatory tone and language when addressing it and do not even put a name to the victimized spouse; while they are not defending the action, they are certainly defending the player.

“We don’t condone any kind of domestic violence of any kind in any way,” said Giant’s GM Jerry Reese during a press conference regarding his signing of Michael Boley and Rocky Bernard.

Bernard was arrested and charged in 2008 for punching his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child in the face at his birthday party; she was punched so hard that the impact threw her against a glass divider. Boley was charged that same year for beating his wife Chantelle. The details of Chantelle’s beating were that she was thrown over a couch, pushed against a wall and shoved against a kitchen cabinet door leaving her entire upper back bruised.

Reese later assured the public that he was fully aware of the players’ past and the public should speak more on the community service they are involved in. Not only was this utterly dismissive and irrelevant to the fact that they were at one point abusive to another women, but it in no way addressed the bigger picture: domestic violence is only

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012

Fpinion eature OOpinion

His Hard Truth: Eros Boys to Men?

It astounds me the way that certain young “men” act in college. Everyone is on different maturity levels and everyone is certainly allowed (and capable) of being immature while they’re in college. The issue I have is when it truly affects other people.

I’m a firm believer in being in a relationship with a person because it’s where you want to be for an extended period of time.

Call me old fashioned, but I don’t think a person needs to be with someone else at all times in order to be happy.

When you break up with someone and you run to someone else, it doesn’t do anything but shrink the legitimacy of your previous relationship and show that you can’t be happy while you’re by yourself.

Yes, some people actually find true feelings shifting from one person to the next but we all know the people that are constantly involved with someone else. I’ve heard “she has a new boyfriend every couple of weeks,” quite a few times here but it doesn’t stop at the women. I’ve seen numerous men bounce from one girl to another with little-to-no disregard for their feelings. How were you raised? I can’t imagine spending my time with one woman and dropping her like sand on a beach just to go grab another handful after a few more feet.

Maybe I was just raised better than some of the other guys here, but between the indecisiveness of what they want and the general being encouraged by the NFL the idiocy that I’ve seen, I don’t even more this excusatory language know how women get involved takes place. with them. Take a look at a guy’s Both the NFL and the NBA track record before jumping into include in their rookie transition program training on how to avoid getting trapped by “certain” and family used the terms “a women in collaboration with their good person,” “nice,” “genuine,” financial management training. “pleasant,” “hard-working,” “a Tony Perkins was the speaker family man,” to describe Belcher. during the rookie training for the They insisted that what happened NBA, and his message resonated between Kasandra and Belcher well with the crop of newcom- that night was a result of alcohol, ers on how to avoid the groupies drug abuse and sustained head inlingering around at their hotel juries - enter in the mental illness lobbies and stadiums, as well as meme. This “family man” shot infidelity from women, sexu- his girlfriend nine times in front ally transmitted diseases and gold of their three month old daughdiggers. While this information— ter, Zoey, after returning home that with proper parenting and a from another woman’s house. decent male figure in the home The shots rang off after Belcher would not be necessary—con- claimed that his live-in girlfriend nected well with the young men, I was not being faithful to him and wonder how a message on avoid- coming home late after returning ing patterns of an abusive partner home from a Trey Songz concert would have resonated? at 1 a.m.; mind you Belcher himWe consistently glorify the self came home late from dinner, athlete, excusing the behaviors drinks and a night cap at another as a product of their environment woman’s home. After he killed and not reflective on who they are his girlfriend he kissed her on her as individuals, but at some point forehead, apologizing for what he something has got to give. Enter had done and Kasandra’s mother in Kasandra Perkins and Jovan walked in as he was adorning Belcher. The details of the grue- Kasandra’s with his embrace. some events that led to KasanKasandra, a Texas native who dra’s death were enough to leave graduated from Anderson High me shocked as to why all of the School in Austin, Texas in 2009 attention was paid to Chief’s line- was a member of the Lone Star backer Belcher who saw suicide Dance Team, taught praise dance as a way to control his already in her church and was a member of doomed fate. the Chief’s women’s organization Noted in an article by Jessica and participated in community Valenti for the Nation, the New service efforts and organizations.

York Times, friends, colleagues The 22-year-old was attending from single parent homes, with less than a glamorous upbringing that encouraged the “by any means necessary” attitude that made education the least of their priorities. Getting out of their respective environments was the mission, and getting into college only to find that you are financially suffering just as bad with parents who are more than likely still stuck in the situation you left is not appeasing at all. I’m not excusing what they did, or saying that all players in protest to the NCAA should steal from other students.

What I am saying is that there needs to be a program of sort in place for student-athletes that allows them to not have to resort to such a desperate means of making money to do what their fellow classmates are doing. If they are to be seen as students first, than they should be treated to the same standard as students and given the same priority list as students.

If the emphasis is always on the sport by subconsciously encouraging this state of mind with long practices, hectic game schedules that leave little room for homework and often result in missed practices than how do they expect the student-athletes to see themselves as students when they are not living like one?

NFL & Domestic Violence: Ebony Turner

a relationship. If they’ve been consistently going between girls in the past, there’s a great chance that it’s not going to change with you.

Men: this is why women think that we’re all the same or that we’re all scum. It’s because they either see their friends getting emotionally destroyed over a guy that swore he wanted to be with her, or they see it firsthand where a boy acts like a man for a few months until resorting back to his natural state. But don’t be scared because when they’re ready, a real woman that’s looking for a real man will be able to recognize the difference.

Women: this is why men don’t want to hear you complain about men. This is because you consistently put yourselves into unfortunate situations that result in you and your friends getting hurt. When you have serious doubts about a man’s character, that should be your big red warning sign telling you to investigate before digging in.

There will of course be problems for each sex. Men will be played by women who seem to not know what they want while women will jump from one guy to the next if they’re not satisfied. My point is that as a young man, raised by a gentleman, I believe it’s our duty and privilege to be honest with our intentions, and be the man that we would allow our daughters to date. I don’t know about any of you, but if I have a daughter and she’s old enough to date (around the age of 30 or 35) her boyfriend better not act like a boy, he better act like a man. college to become a teacher and was a loving mother to her newborn child. Rather than facing the consequences of his actions as a man, he killed himself in front of his general manager Scott Pioli, the authorities and other team employees the following morning in the parking lot of the practice facility. He even told the authorities that the women he was with before he came home and killed Kasandra was his girlfriend, and stayed at another women’s home after he murdered her.

This is not to say that the NFL is at all responsible for the actions of the men who work for them, but to say that the same amount of effort they put into training their rookies on avoiding gold diggers couldn’t be put into avoiding abusive patterns in a relationship.

This is a problem that even commissioner Roger Goodell recognized, but it took this sad chain of events for the reality of domestic violence to resonate with the league. This is not an issue that can be blamed on mental health or head injuries. Belcher and all of the men like him have a problem that with intervention and accountability. The abolishment of excusatory language from men everywhere can be the little step forward they need

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Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012

What Have You Done to Me Sandy?

Khari Linton

Featured Reporter Khari.V.Linton@pace.edu

As soon as I heard reports of the tides rising and crashing on the boardwalk of the Jersey shore, my concern started to grow. This was before Sandy was even close to hitting our coast. This could possibly be worse than Hurricane Irene.

As we all braced for the unknown implications, I was busy cooking in my kitchen and watching Sunday night football in my townhouse. Power outages on campus are common when bad weather comes to town, so when the power went out around 11 p.m. I was not surprised.

When I woke up the next morning and just found leaves scattered and a couple branches on the ground, it was exactly what I expected it to be: not a whole lot. But when my roommates and I finally left campus a couple of days after the hurricane and took a left out of entrance 1, I saw the real effects of Sandy. Gas lines were at least 30 cars and a mile long, more than half of the town without electricity, businesses closed, and Con Edison was nowhere to be found. Sandy was trying to teach us something.

Sure everyone headed to the supermarket and stocked up on food and water, but was that enough? Even though the reports of the storm warned us about the potential dangers and our elected

officials tried their best to evacuate citizens, did we believe them?

Did we expect some expert to come and fix it all right away? I don’t know, but we could have taken more preemptive measures.

When I visited my aunt in Sayreville, New Jersey, she simply said, “We did not think it would happen to us.” Too many of us had that same mindset. On the eleventh day after the storm, 473 thousand people in New York and New Jersey were still without power. Powerful flood waters took out poorly placed utilities.

Some of us lost access to some of the very basics: shelter, food, and even clean water. We thought very short-term for the effects of this storm, nothing past a couple of days. For many of us, this is the first time we experienced a natural disaster. In the northeast, we are so used to seeing such catastrophes in our living rooms on TV. This was a wake-up call from Sandy to tell us that we are vulnerable as well.

The reason why I became interested in environmental issues is because I do not want us to live in a society where we only have one option when environmental catastrophes impact us, even if it is now or in the future.

In Cuba, the Caribbean’s largest island deals with natural disasters on a yearly basis. Due to lack of funds for infrastructure improvements, citizens are adequately prepared for hurricane season and the government is

Photo from Kathy Willens/AP How did Sandy affect your life? quick to respond when disaster strikes. With climate change predictions, we cannot be sure what our own new normal will be. Unlike Cuba, we have the means to improve our infrastructure. What we need to change is our attitude, especially toward our relationship with the natural world and especially toward climate change. As we recover, we can change how we think. Change starts with the general population. If we become proactive in the community and realize that we are susceptible to more natural disasters, then our elected officials will work harder to make better, sustainable changes for our future. While the lessons of Sandy are largely around climate change, it is also symbol-

It’s Not Goodbye, It’s See You Later Gabrielle Saulsbery

Managing Editor GSaulsbery@PaceChronicle.com

Photo by Irene Saulsbery/The Pace Chronicle “Fortune favours the brave.” - Virgil

ic of our other attitudes: that we can continue to use fossil fuels without consequence; that we can throw out trash and expect it to be buried forever; and that we can flush clean water away down our toilets and never run out.

Sandy taught us that we were not ready for her destruction. She also taught many of us that climate change is real. Even though he was highly critical of both, Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed President Obama based on Hurricane Sandy and his climate change agenda. We should not have to wait for a major misfortune to happen to us to finally believe that climate change is real.

If we act now, we can save ourselves from the most devastatIt’s 12:30 a.m. As I sit in the Pace Chronicle office for one last time before I graduate next week, I look back on the crazy f%#@ing semester I’ve had and the ridiculous amount of 5 Hour Energy I’ve consumed. What an amazing way to end my college career—constantly high on the rush of going from one thing to another, living off four hours of sleep a night and good vibes from the universe.

I spent 16 hours a week in the city interning for Cosmopolitan, spent one and sometimes two allnighters a week in the Chronicle office with my co-captains Ali Silver and Tafasha Pitt, and took 16 academic credits. I also went out too many Thursday nights, partied at the houses in sweatpants and Pace t-shirts, and for the first time in my life lost five or so pounds with absolutely no clue how or why it happened.

I’m actually not too sure if I’ve slept at all. Or maybe I just never woke up.

One part of me is like, “Hey guys, NEVER GRADUATE!” but the other part of me is like “Hmm, this is fun. My life is going 100 miles a minute. Maybe I could keep this inertia up after graduation to, you know, find a job.”

We’ll see.

In my three and a half years here, I’ve heard a hundred different people complain about the size of Pace, the location, the people, the teachers…you know people, though. They like to bitch and moan. Complaining gives

ing losses of human life, homes, business, and power if something like this was to happen again.

When these disasters hit, politicians always advocate that we will ‘rebuild’ the devastated area.

Maybe we should cut our losses and not rebuild in those areas. If we are going to truly learn from this, more precautionary measures have to be taken and climate change adaptations must be considered. Finally, she taught us that we need to fundamentally change our naive attitude towards the natural world, including our access to clean water. We are vulnerable.

us something to talk about. I’ve been one of the weird ones—I actually loved the size and loved the people.

The way I see it, Pace is small enough to have that close-knitfamily feel but large enough to meet a new person every day.

The one thing that freshman and sophomores get right more than juniors and seniors is their level of sociability. Upperclassmen are so busy that we just go from place to place on autopilot, saying hello to our friends but disregarding everyone else. To freshmen, every face is a new face. Each person is a new friend to make… that’s how I felt, anyway. I still feel the same way in my heart but I’m just as guilty as my peers of going less and less out of my way to meet people just for the sake of meeting them. Underclassmen, continue to do that—you never know who you’ll meet. Upperclassmen, if you have more than a minute to breathe, consider doing the same.

If I had more than 15 minutes to write this, it might have turned out to be less of a ramble.

I’ve been running on four hours of sleep for the past 20 hours, though, so a ramble it is.

Ahh, well…see you on the flip side, guys. Thank you for being wonderful. I made some truly incredible friends here and could write a book on the strange experiences college has allotted me. If I ever do, I’ll share the royalties. Regardless, I will keep you with me forever.

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Advanced Artists in Pace “Project Studio” Art Show ... continues from page 1 tal design.

“My aim was to show the importance of our voice in society,” Burgess said. “There are several sociological problems in our world today and that’s why it’s so important that we use our freedoms as American citizens toward change in our nation and the world.”

Burgess has also been featured in a number of other art shows including one that displayed on her work from an independent study course she took with Professor Marohn and one as a student presented with other students.

Of her several pieces of this art show, Burgess’s favorite is entitled “1 vs. 99” “My favorite piece is the “1 vs. 99.” I had heard the phrase that the 1 percent is greater than the 99 and I wanted to find a creative way to display just that. I enjoyed using several mediums to create the picture and I love that it displays the tyranny in our society in a different way,” said Burgess.

Burgess additionally has been published in VOX. The final artist that has work represented in this art show is Alexandra La Page. As a senior art major, La Page also included

many mediums to build her gallery.

Some of the methods that La Page worked in include charcoal, black and white photography, craypas, pastels, acrylic and oil paints, and pencil. She even incorporated the use of dry point and construction paper.

“Ironically, my other favorite piece I created the day before the installation. It combines a black and white photo I printed in high school with technology. In Matthew Ganis’s Introduction to Information Technology class this semester, we were introduced to Arduinos, a prototyping platform,” La Page said. “I take a lot of pride in this as well because I have never incorporated technology or anything like this into my art before and I am really excited to go into greater depth with these Arduinos in Project Studio B next semester.”

La Page has also had her art work shown in student art shows on campus including the student art show last semester.

There is a total of twenty-five works of art shown in the exhibit.

While the pieces of art covered many different mediums, the collection was able to combine to tell the stories of the artists wanted to

portray.

Last week’s opening brought in close to thirty people, a great turnout. The artwork will remain on display until Dec. 14.

“I have found this show to be a particularly rewarding experience on a personal level as I have worked with each of these students in multiple classes and have really enjoyed watching them grow as artists. I am very pleased with the quality of their work and have found it has been well received for both technical achievement and content,” Marohn said.

While art majors and minors are no longer offered at Pace Pleasantville, Project Studio, the course from which the creative project were derived, will be held next semester and will be taught

by Professor Duston Spears.

The Project Studio gallery is on display in Choate House Art Gallery. To view this collection of artwork, please visits Mon., Tues., Wed., and Sat. between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. and Fri. between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. The exhibition and reception are free to the public.

For more information about upcoming shows or how to become involved, please contact Yvette Jones at yjones@pace.edu.

Artist Veronica Goin Speaks Up for her Art Veronica Goin

Featured Reporter Veronica.Goin@pace.edu

There is a time and a place for some judicious muckraking. This is that time, here is the place.

A few weeks ago, I was told that Pace will soon no longer offer a Bachelor of Sciences in Art on the Pleasantville campus.

Maybe this isn’t a big deal; the Visual Art BFA program is still offered on the New York City campus, and Pace will continue to offer an Art minor on the Pleasantville campus.

False; this is absolutely a big deal.

I am an art major, and have been since I joined the Pace community in the 2010 fall semester.

(I have added an English major since I’ve been here, but the idea of leaving art behind was unthinkable.)

Pace’s decision to no longer offer my program of study means that they do not want students like me to apply to this school. By extension, it means that students like me are unwelcome on this campus.

This decision means that they don’t want students who bring creativity, questions, or color to this campus. It means that they don’t want someone walking across campus with paint on their jeans, weighed down by an enormous handmade canvas. It means they don’t want my art in the Choate Gallery (where it will be until Dec. 14, whether anyone likes it or not).

Photo

by

Samantha Finch/The Pace Chronicle Veronica Goin.

Even if I set my personal feelings aside, I fail to see the benefits of this decision.

Are there any? If so, I would like these benefits explained to me. As a paying customer, I am owed at least that. Is this a financial decision? The art department has survived on a shoestring budget ever since I’ve been here.

Art students demand nothing financially from this school; we pay for our own supplies and required museum visits out of pocket and without complaint.

We work in a building that is falling down around our ears, with no natural light. We ask for nothing; we get by.

Perhaps the administration feels that there is a lack of interest

in the art major. If that is the case, maybe they should ask the students. I have encountered many students who are interested in the visual arts, both as a minor and as a major. Unfortunately for these students, most of the classes are not available. Classes like Human Anatomy and Life Drawing, in which many of my fellow students were interested, are offered once, and never repeated. Classes like Painting I and Watercolor Painting are filled to capacity.

I am left with nothing but my original conclusion: Pace does not want diversity in its student body.

Instead, the school is streamlining its programs toward the ultimate goal of total homogeneity.

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012

Entertainment

Book Review: The Life of Pi

Photo from PBS.org The Life of Pi was written by Yann Martel and was published in 2001.

Erin O’Gorman

Featured Reporter Erin.OGorman@pace.edu

Survival, hardships, and religious themes all intertwine in this fantasy about an Indian boy who, on his way to Canada, ends up lost at sea.

With him are just four animals: a tiger, an orangutan, a zebra and a hyena. These animals are all from the zoo the boy’s father owned in India and the family intends to sell them once they reach Canada. Obviously that doesn’t happen.

For nearly a year the boy, Pi, floats on the water with his animals. When I first picked up this book I thought it would be much different than it was; I thought it would be more of an adventure story with Pi and the animals.

And while it has nothing to do with that, the way it is written makes an almost dry theme appear interesting.

In the first part Pi, raised a Hindu, discovers Christianity and Islam and practices all three of them until his parents and the three Priests demand he choose one. It makes you wonder what is so bad about a person wanting to practice more than one religion.

Growing up in a zoo is what fuels Pi’s love for animals and zoology later on in his life when he attends college. We know he is very bright when he enters college at the age of sixteen and interestingly enough, his majors are zoology and theology.

Among all of the animals on the lifeboat the only one who survives is the tiger, named Richard Parker. Throughout the book you occasionally question Richard Parker’s authenticity. Almost godly, he hides for a portion of

the book and like God he pops out when you least expect him to.

At one point, Pi comes to an island that is inhabited by a group of meerkats and, in the midst of the scene’s beauty, Richard Parker comes in and kills every single one of them and it makes you remember his true nature.

When Richard Parker first gets on the boat, Pi is terrified of him after an experience he had as a child. To scare his children out of ever going into the cages of the tiger, Pi’s father ordered the zoo’s largest tiger not to be fed for a few days, had him locked up in his small indoor enclosure and brought the children.

The large ferocious hungry tiger roaring combined with the dark room and small space makes for a terrifying experience that evidently left its mark on Pi even ten years after it occurred. After the boat lands in Mexico, Richard Parker runs off into the jungle and the officials who find Pi don’t even seem to notice him or send anyone after him and that is when you really wonder if he was ever there.

The Life of Pi is what I call an “iceberg” novel; your eyes only see a small part of it, but most is deep within. To know the whole story is to be able to think about it and separate what is real and what are mere hallucinations. The delicate joining of these two forces is what drives the reader to keep going and discover a new world alongside the infamous Pi. The Life of Pi is a novel written by Yann Martel and was published in September 2001 by Knopf Canada. A film version of the novel opened in theaters on Nov. 21, 2012. For more information please visit www.lifeofpi. co.uk.

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FEATURED READER: Helena Marie Viramontes, award-winning Latina novelist

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Exploration of our theme: Light versus Dark Student Readings Announcement of Contest Winners/Presenting prizes Showcase newest Vox Fall/Winter 2012 Issue LUNCH WILL BE SERVED.

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Sports on the Side: Viva Viagra?

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012

Sports

Setters Pounce on Panthers

CJ Dudek

Sports Columnist CDudek@PaceChronicle.com

Sooner rather than later, we could see an NFL player barred from playing the game for having an erection lasting longer than four hours.

Adderall has landed two Seattle Seahawks and a Giant in hot water, but perhaps the newest drug of choice for NFL athletes, Viagra, could help them play better on the field and between the sheets.

In a sportingnews.com article, Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall said that he has heard of NFL players taking Viagra to help them get an edge on game day. Granted that Marshall let on this little golden nugget of information because he was asked about Adderall, but now Viagra is in the news again.

Now the debate regarding whether or not the little blue pill should be illegal in professional sports is on like Donkey Kong.

Naturally, your curiosity has been piqued. Since the average age of an NFL player is 27, it would be hard pressed to think that these guys are taking Viagra for its scientifically generated purpose: helping old men across America reawaken their own one-eyedwonder weasels for a strained go-around while their partner wonders whether or not their bottle rocket will pop off midlaunch.

Now that you have that image burned into your brains, there actually is scientific evidence that suggests that this is completely possible. An article published by magicbluepill.com said that Viagra dilates blood vessels and forcing the body to pump more blood through the lungs and get more oxygen to the muscles.

The New York Daily News also reported that Viagra can

counteract the impotence created by testosterone injections and other performance-enhancing drugs.

The burning question is whether or not the NFL should look into banning Viagra. To date, the World Anti-Doping Agency has not barred the little blue pill from being used because the effects of the drug at sea-level have not yielded the same results as high altitude usage. Although in an interesting plot twist, the WADA has banned ExtenZe because it contains the steroid Dehydropiandrosterone.

This is fantastic marketing for the NFL while the drug is still in play. Slogans like “Viagra: Because anything that lasts longer than four hours is a sporting event,” or “Viagra: The male enhancement drug all our players are using,” or “Need to get up on game day?

The NFL does with Viagra,” or “Viagra: Helping NFL players get third and long,” and finally “In a game of inches, Viagra gives you the edge on Sundays,” Have come about.

The possibilities for these slogans are nearly endless.

If the NFL actually does go out of its way to ban the old man mast rising drug they will be able to hide behind the notion that Viagra could be used in a PED cocktail and would use it to beat drug testing.

Well that and every player doped up on Viagra would make fumble pile-ups incredibly awkward. And it could re-define the “illegal contact” penalty.

But other than those reasons, NFL players will be saying “Viva Viagra!” unless it gets banned. Or they suffer from the side effects, whichever comes first.

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Willcox 3rd Floor

Photo from CSI Photos Men’s Basketball defeats Adelphi.

CJ Dudek

Sports Editor CDudek@PaceChronicle.com

While the days are dissolving and the nights are getting colder, Pace men’s basketball is starting its December road trip off well.

The Setters took care of business against the Panthers of Adelphi 56-49 on Dec. 4. The victory was Pace’s second on the young season and the first of two straight away from Pleasantville.

A couple of statistical anomalies occurred in Pace’s favor. For one thing, both the Setters and Panthers went 19-51 shooting from the field, which is the first time Pace and their opponent have had the exact same shooting percentage all year. The second odd stat was that the Panthers notched up 10 assists compared to just two from Pace, but the visiting team won.

Two important factors that

lead to Pace’s victory was the combination of good rebounding and capitalizing on second chance opportunities. The Setters out-rebounded the Panthers by a total of 42-32 throughout the game. Also, Pace put up 11 second chance points while the home team did not get a single second chance basket.

The usual suspects were at it again for the Setters. Senior business management major Keon Williams lead the Setters in scoring with 18 points and also had seven rebounds on the night. Williams also recorded three steals and shot 8-12 from the free throw line.

Pace received a great contribution from junior business major Denzel Primus-Devonish as well, with 10 points and two rebounds on the night.

Although the Panthers had 30 bench points in the game compared to just 15 from Pace, it was

the bench balance of the visiting team that made a difference. Junior marketing major Chris Frank lead the Setters in points off the bench with six while freshman finance major Eric Dansby added five points of his own.

The biggest contributor for the Panthers was Anthony Libroia who led Adelphi in scoring with 21 points on the day.

Yet even with Libroia’s big day, Pace’s starters put up 41 points compared to just 19 points from Adelphi’s starting five.

With the win, the Setters improve to 5-3 overall and climb back to 3-3 in the Northeast-10.

Currently, Pace finds itself in the number eight position in the NE10 standings. The next game for the Setters will come on Dec. 16 when they travel to Mercy College to take on the Mavericks at 7:30 p.m.

Health

The Pace Chronicle

Page 12

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012

Sports

Play Hard Work Out Harder CJ Dudek

Sports Editor CDudek@PaceChronicle.com

If you were not with senior criminal justice major Eliott Johnson shooting in the gym, there is a good chance you saw him training during his off-season.

Johnson is a member of Pace’s lacrosse team and has been getting ready for the season opener on Feb. 23. While he only started playing lacrosse as a junior, Johnson has been a frequent weight room visitor throughout his life.

“The first time I ever set foot in a gym I was 11 years old,” Johnson said. “It was at a sports camp, my friend and I were playing basketball and we went into the weight room just to check it out. We saw this guy benching, I tried to bench what he did and the weight collapsed right on my chest.”

Since that day, Johnson has gotten to work, bulking up in order to play sports at a high level.

While the Corinthians stated that the human body is a temple, Johnson believes that the inner sanctum of the human body holds the keys to remodeling the outside.

“Your mind, body, and soul all need to be focused when working out,” Johnson said. “The first thing that people see is your body, you need to be comfortable with yourself and how you look, so the three most important muscles are your mind, body, and spirit.”

Johnson’s mind, body, and spirit all appeared to be in focus under the banners of Goldstein Gym. This day was to be spent honing the upper body.

In between benching and pushups, Johnson reflected on his time as a former two-sport athlete at Pace. In Johnson’s freshman year he played both football and

Photo from Pace Athletics For Elliot Johnson, there is more to working out than lifting weights. baseball before switching to lacrosse halfway through his undergrad career.

Still, for Johnson, each sport presents its own unique chal-

Big Blue Dancer CJ Dudek

Sports Editor CDudek@PaceChronicle.com

The Maras are aware that senior communications major Sarah Friedson and her teammates exist.

Friedson is a part of the Gotham City Cheerleading squad (GCC) that can be found at MetLife Stadium on Sundays in support of the New York Giants.

While the GCC is not the official dance squad of the New York Giants, they do dance at Sunday tail gates and have performed at charity events across the tri-state area.

The senior from Pace became a part of the GCC back in the days of 2011 when they were called the NY UnOfficials.

Friedson heard of the open audition the then UnOfficials were having on Facebook and tried out. She made the “Ref Squad” and helped spread the word of her squad through social media and word of mouth.

After officially making the team last spring, Friedson has spent most of her time cutting rugs at the home of the defending Super Bowl champions—a change, Friedson said, that has shaped her as a person.

“Being a part of a pro team in general has really changed my life,” Friedson said. “You learn how to carry yourself in a professional way both on and off the field.”

Like any passion, Friedson’s love of dance began at an early age. From being involved in mu-

Photo

from www.UnOfficials.com

Sarah Friedson is a part of the Gotham City Cheerleaders. sicals during her adolescent age in middle school to just dancing in the dark with her friends, dance has been with Friedson for most of her life.

“Most dancers can tell you exactly when they started, but for me it was different,” Friedson said. “In eighth grade I wanted to dance in a talent show with my friend, even in high school I only took a couple classes, I was really self-taught.”

For Friedson, teaching herself to dance like the dancers in YouTube videos came with an additional commitment to physical fitness. She learned the importance of core strength in order to help her increase the variety of moves she can make.

“Dance isn’t this free form type of art, every type of dance has a technique for it,” Friedson said. “People just don’t realize the type of training that goes into it, your muscles alone will affect the look of your dancing.”

Flash forward to the present and the name Gotham City is becoming slightly less synonymous with Batman, and more with the dancers at MetLife Stadium. According to NYUnOfficial.com the GCC has been sponsored by organizations like Victoria’s Secret and Pink. Friedson recognized the difference a year of promotion, events, and a viral music video can make.

“Last year was a lot about trying to spark interest and this year is about the brand we are building up,” Friedson said. “We’ve really built up more of a fan base, I do see the team itself growing and becoming better known.”

While the GCC tries to build to the heights of the New York City skyline, Friedson still has her studies to worry about at Pace.

The constant balancing act between Friedson’s dance life and her school life has presented its own set of challenges. Sometimes Friedson has to find a way to New York City for a 9:00 a.m. event on Sunday when the first shuttle from Pleasantville leaves for Memorial Plaza at 8:25 a.m.

Regardless of the challenges, Friedson has accepted one important fact about taking on this type of life.

“Dancers don’t get much sleep,” Friedson said. “It’s a crazy life, but that’s the way it is.”

lenge.

“They are all equally demanding,” Johnson said. “They all require speed, strength, and stamina. In football, size is very important, with baseball you focus more on your core strength, and in lacrosse you focus a lot on your stamina. They are all different.”

While some men and women want the bodies seen on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show or that of their favorite athlete, Johnson said that is not the purpose of working out. He said everyone should try to establish his or her own physical goals.

“The best thing is to just figure out what you want and just to start slow,” Johnson said. “Have somebody to help you out. It’s always good to workout with a partner because you are less likely to skip a set or cheat your weight, you hold each other accountable.”

The weights were put down and the vital pushups ensued.

Johnson said that pushups were a good body workout for wherever you are.

In the few moments the workout stopped, athletes from different teams stopped by to say hello to their fellow gym member.

“It’s easier to hold each other accountable being on a team,” Johnson said. “You all have the same goals and you are all keeping each other motivated, we push each other to get better in a positive way.”

After the final abdominal workout of the day, Johnson left the fitness domain and walked out into the rain. He, like his fellow athletes at Pace, will be heading back to Goldstein soon enough.

Setters Fall to Adelphi CJ Dudek

Sports Editor CDudek@PaceChronicle.com

While the Setters have been almost invulnerable at home, the road has been far less kind.

Pace’s women’s basketball team fell to the Panthers of Adelphi by a final of 74-54. The loss is Pace’s second in a row away from the friendly confides of Goldstein Gym. The Panthers were able to utilize good ball movement and take advantage of mistakes to propel themselves to victory.

Adelphi had 17 assists throughout the game, including 12 from Sade Jackson, compared to just 10 from the Setters. The Panthers were also able to score 12 points off of turnovers compared to Pace, who managed to put up only nine.

When Adelphi had their shots, most of them went right through the net. The Panthers hit 30 of their 60 shots on the evening to total 50 percent shooting on the night. In contrast, the Setters were only able to make 21 of their 51 shots for a shooting percentage of 41 percent.

A two-headed panther was the primary reason that Pace fell on the road. Adelphi got a huge game from Jessica Kitrys who had 28 points on the night and

“Start Spreading the News”

Kelly Mannix scored 19 points of her own. Although the Setters notched 19 bench points compared to just 14 from the Panthers, it did not matter. Kitrys and Mannix alone outscored all of Pace’s starters 47-35 throughout the game.

In addition to having more bench points, the Setters were also able to out-rebound the Panthers.

Pace got a total of 35 rebounds on the evening compared to just 32 from Adelphi. However, Pace also had 15 turnovers on the night while the Panthers had just nine.

The Setters were able to get a big night from the low post once again. Graduate political science major Brittany Shields led Pace in both points and rebounds with 13 and seven, respectively. Pace was also able to get a solid lift from senior criminal justice major Kera Bretney who scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds on the night.

With the loss Pace drops to 5-2 overall with a record of 4-2 in the Northeast-10 Conference.

As of that loss, the Setters rank number six in the NE-10 standings. The Setters fell once again on the road to Long Island University on Dec. 8, but since LIU is outside of the NE-10, it did not affect the NE-10 standing. Their record now stands at 5-3 overall.

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