April 10, 2019
Est. 1948
Volume 71 | Issue 6
the pace press thepacepress.org
LOOK ON BACK FOR APRIL FOOL’S COVER!
INSIDE @thepacepress
ARTS
NEWS
FEATURES
Environmental art plants the seed for sustainability Page 3
New York to ban plastic bags
Climate change is not a joke
/ThePacePress
Page 4
Page 6
thepacepress.org
ARTS
2 www.thepacepress.org
April 10, 2019
Top six environmental books to read this Earth Day GRACE VESPA Arts Intern In honor of Earth Day on April 22, the following six books highlight the global repercussions of climate change and environmental issues. The books on this list are filled with scientific research, educational insight, and personal stories of people affected by the floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters caused by global warming. 1. “The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming” by David Wallace-Wells This nonfiction novel, published by Crown/Archetype in February 2019, details the major effects of climate change in years to come. In his research, Wallace-Wells argues that the effect of sea levels rising, wildfires in California, and natural disasters are barely scratching the surface of what climate change can bring. In the blurb, Wallace-Wells suggests that climate change will transform “our politics, our culture, our relationship to technology, and our sense of history.” He highlights the aftershock of climate change, such as food shortages and refugee crises, and ends the novel with a passionate call to action. The responsibility to end climate change, Wallace believes, belongs to this generation. 2. “Hot, Hungry Planet: The Fight To Stop A Global Food Crisis In The Face Of Climate Change” by Lisa Palmer Lisa Palmer argues that climate change brings us closer to a global food shortage, as the world’s population will swell to almost 10 billion people by 2050. Scarcity and global hunger is a major problem that will only worsen with climate change, so Palmer interviews organizations who are fighting the food gap. Palmer details how public policy in developing countries promotes the adverse effects of climate change. She focuses on reducing the negative environmental impacts of agriculture as well as laying a foundation for food security in the future. 3. “Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore” by Elizabeth Rush Elizabeth Rush uses both a scientific and a personal lens in her novel to describe the effect of climate change in the parts of the United States where global warming has had the greatest impact. Rush travels to the Gulf Coast, Miami, the Bay Area, and back to New York to examine how rising sea levels are transforming the coastlines of the United States. She takes testimonials from struggling communities, including a Native American tribe on the Isle de Jean Charles and various families still living in wetland
areas after frequent storms. Along with interviews from people in Staten Island, Florida, and Louisiana, she profiles wildlife biologists and climate change activists who are trying to reverse its impact on shorelines in the United States. 4. “Fevered: Why A Hotter Planet Will Hurt Our Health—and How We Can Save Ourselves” by Linda Marsa Rather than focusing on the effect climate change has on animals or the environment, Linda Marsa turns to humanity and their health. She examines how global warming can increase the rate of illnesses, such as asthma, allergies, and malaria, due to higher temperatures and changes in weather. Marsa highlights the impact that extreme weather temperatures can have on a human body, such as an increased rate of heatstrokes, lung diseases, and cancer. She explains her blueprint for reducing the likelihood of this major medical problem by combating the consequences of global warming on human health. 5. “Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island” by Earl Swift Earl Swift highlights a crabbing community in the middle of Chesapeake Bay as it struggles to stay alive amidst rising sea levels. On Tangier Island in the Bay, only 470 people live in a challenging environment that can only be reached through a 12-mile boat trip across tempestuous waters. They have lost almost two-thirds of their land since 1850 due to rising tides. He lived on the island for two years as a way to further understand their daily lives. Swift shows the damage that climate change wreaks on small communities, whose main source of income and life is in danger due to rising water overtaking the shoreline that may cause them to lose their homes. 6. “Sustainability: A Love Story” by Nicole Walker Instead of explaining the effects of climate change through scientific terminology, Nicole Walker uses lyrical prose to explain why humans should care about sustainability. Walker explains her personal commitment to sustainable living, while also suggesting that people do not need to completely change their lifestyles in order to make an impact. After all, Walker herself still eats bacon and uses gasoline on a regular basis. That being said, she believes that the planet can be saved “one plant at a time,” a message of hope for those climate change activists who want to protect the future without making significant lifestyle adjustments.
“Us”: not as a-Peele-ing as “Get Out” BART CARMODY Staff Writer
2017 was a surprising year for horror film fanatics. If anyone knew five years ago that Jordan Peele, cohost of the wacky comedy sketch show “Key and Peele,” was going to produce the most talked-about horror film of the year, they would most likely laugh in response. Jordan Peele did, however, go on to exhibit his directing abilities with the horror film "Get Out," a thrilling social commentary that frightened viewers with a surreal situation that touched on topical subjects such as racism, micro-aggressions, and cultural appropriation. One of the most admirable aspects of this film is the seamless blend between its masterfully executed horror scenarios and the underlying social message. This innovative storytelling style offers a unique and refreshing feel to a genre that often relies on clichés or jump scares. In an interview for Business Insider, Peele stated that he has four other social thrillers that he wants to unveil in the next decade. “I’ve been working on these premises about these different social demons, these innately human monsters that are woven into the fabric of how we think and how we interact, and each one of my movies is going to be about a different one of these social demons," Peele said. His follow-up "Us" takes on this concept, but prior to its release, filmgoers worried that it would not live up to its predecessor. Undoubtedly, "Us" does confront viewers with another equally horrifying scenario while commentating on current social issues—but one wonders if it can bridge the gap between the two as well as Peele's debut film did. At the surface, "Us" is a consistently unnerving horror film with many unforgettable moments, ranging from distressingly silent nail-biter scenes to intense and upbeat chase scenes between four or more people at a time. Almost every actor knocks it out of the park; Lupita Nyong’o in particular perfectly portrays the helplessness and utter confusion in her character
Adelaide as well as the isolated madness of her "clone" counterpart. The film's score also keeps audiences on edge—Peele makes the ingenious play of setting one of the movie's most crucial fight scenes to a goosebumpinducing orchestral remix of the hip-hop duo Luniz's "I Got 5 On It." In terms of social commentary, it's still up to interpretation as to what the overall message of "Us" was meant to be. Critics' reviews and online discussion boards agree that the underlying purpose of the film was meant to represent the widening gap between social classes in the U.S. For such a powerful subject, there are many other topics that accompany the main theme, such as the human soul and violence as a necessity to overthrow people in positions of power. When dissected, the message of the film is thought-provoking and devastatingly true. However, the film begins to fall apart when the movie's narrative begins to interfere with the broader social statement that it makes. What was so gripping about "Get Out" was the concise way Peele married the narrative and social commentary. In "Us," however, there are several points in the film where one aspect of Peele's talent holds back another. While following the main characters’ stories, viewers pose questions that are often left unanswered for the convenience of getting the point across clearly. As a result, the film is left riddled with plot holes. On the other hand, there are many elements of the film that aren’t used for social commentary, but rather are included to benefit character development or progression of the plot. Without this cohesion, Peele is left with a movie rife with unanswered questions and a too-complicated narrative. That being said, it’s difficult to perfectly execute a horror film while also presenting the audience with something so true to life that they lose themselves in the terror. If viewers are expecting a horror film full of tension and thought-provoking ideas, they are in for a treat. However, if viewers are expecting another "Get Out," they may be disappointed.
Us film poster
Universal Pictures
ARTS
April 10, 2019
Professor Eve Laramee’s “Halfway to Invisible”
www.thepacepress.org
3
Wikipedia
Environmental art plants the seed for sustainability GRACE VESPA Arts Intern
The environmental art movement began in the late 1960s, where artists used their artwork to celebrate and explore their connection to nature. Artists like Agnes Denes, who is considered to be the godmother of the ecological art movement, and pioneer Nils-Udo created sculptures made from natural materials on specific sites. Nils-Udo would photograph his work to showcase the beauty of nature, while Denes used her artwork as a functional ecological system. In “Wheatfield, A Confrontation” (1982), she planted an entire field of wheat on the plot of a landfill. Over the course of six months, 1,000 pounds of wheat were harvested and sent to 28 cities around the world, where they were distributed. Her art installation shows that it is possible to be socially engaged and create artwork that is interactive to the community and a cornerstone of the ecological art movement. More recently, in 2012, Naziha Mestaoui created “One Beat One Tree,” which projects virtual forests onto city skylines, blurring the line between the natural world and man-made industrial creations. Her art installation reconnects viewers to nature through technology, and it “invites the public to plant a seed of light that grows at the rhythm of the heartbeat” to grow their own unique tree. Since the creation of the project, 15,000 virtual trees have been grown, amounting to the same number of trees planted in the Amazon rainforest. Each visitor can track the growth of their tree, and as a result, becomes a part of reforestation in the Amazon. Barry Underwood is another artist who highlights environmental issues such as light pollution and deforestation. For his photographs, he has built sculptures on-site in Ohio, surrounded by woodland, where he uses LEDs to call attention to an environmental blight. Underwood uses luminescent material in his photography to turn an ordinary landscape into a new visual experience and bring forth his connection to the nature around him. In a statement on his website, Underwood aims to “foster awareness of environmental change by engaging viewers in unexpected visual hypothesis” through the use of abstract landscapes. Professor Eve Laramee, artist and director of the
Dyson College Center for the Arts, Society, and Ecology, is one faculty member who embodies social change through art. Laramee is a multimedia artist who expresses the relationship between climate change and the natural environment through art installations, and she is also the founder of ART/MEDIA for a Nuclear Free Future. CASE’s mission is to promote awareness of environmental issues through art and science collaborations, and “energize action to initiate positive social change” for the Earth. Laramee’s main inspiration for her art installations is in relation to nuclear power plants and weapons waste. One of Laramee’s main concerns is the historical military waste, most of which is produced by uranium. One of her major works, “Halfway to Invisible,” combines videos, photography, kinetic sculptures, and government documents that expose the environmental effect of uranium mining in the southwest. Between 1949 and 1989, mines produced over 225 million tons of uranium ore, which affected the Native American tribes living and mining in the area. In the desert, toxins would be released into all water surfaces from erosion, and the mining of the uranium ore caused Native American children to be born with birth defects. Laramee states that nuclear waste is “the most dire climate change related issue,” because nuclear waste, such as uranium, takes about 4.5 billion years to decay. As climate patterns change in the midwest, nuclear power plants are built on bodies of water that could potentially put industrial facilities at risk for breaches during stormy weather. In one nuclear plant, radioactive waste was dumped in evaporation ponds and the plant was breached for 16 months. After waste got in the river, the Native American women using the river had sores on their legs, causing their children to be born with birth defects. Typically, an energy infrastructure to reduce nuclear power use, such as solar panels or geothermal energy, would be connected to the electrical grid. However, for the University to reduce nuclear power, Laramee believes that solar power off the grid would be better. Laramee also suggests making the University’s energy use transparent so students can make the University accountable, as well as aid in the educational experience for students through detailed data. She emphasizes that this current generation’s belief is that they “inherited this problem and we’re going to fix it” will be a vehicle for change, and now
her generation’s job is to “facilitate sharing information and looking into their own behaviors.” Environmental art is meant to make a statement on ecological issues such as climate change. Now University students can minor in Environmental Art and Social Practice Art for 18 credits. Students are required to take “Art as a Vehicle for Social Change” and “Environmental and Ecological Art in a Contemporary Context,” both courses that promote environmental awareness in an artistic context. For electives, students can take courses in social responsibility in nature, environmental practices, and the creation of social change from global environmental issues. Laramee, who also created the minor, states that the minor prepares students for a social practice strategy that involves environmentalism, and “prepares students for future jobs that do not exist yet.” The minor covers issues that students are passionate about, such as the bee colony collapse, rising coastlines, and disposable fast fashion, by involving students in sustainability projects about their issues.
Professor Eve Laramee
Pace University
NEWS
4 www.thepacepress.org
April 10, 2019
De Blasio vows to cut city car fleet ALEXANDRA PUGA News Intern
Everyday traffic in New York City Pxhere
Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an executive order on March 28 to cut the city’s car fleet and address the climate change issue within New York City. The objective of the plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 and eliminate 1,000 cars from the city streets by June 2021. The Clean Fleet Plan is not only intended to tackle the effects of climate change but also aid in reducing the traffic congestion the city experiences daily. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services plans to work alongside the Mayor’s Office, providing support and necessary efforts to finalize the project. The department will also have a “Fleet Manual” that includes rules and authorization forms signed by commissioner Lisette Camilo. Carbon emission reduction is the primary goal for the city, with the increased implementation of electric cars. “The climate crisis is real and it’s urgent, and that is why we are scaling back and greening up the city’s vehicle fleet,” said Camilo. The vehicles planned to be taken off the roads are only a fraction of the approximately 5,000 that contribute to the city’s overwhelming street congestion. Currently, the NYPD takes up most of the fleet, followed by the Department of Sanitation. In the fiscal year of 2015, the DoS produced the most vehicle air emissions. “1,000 fewer city vehicles will help our city get greener and taking those vehicles off the streets will help with congestion as well,” said de Blasio. New York City streets, known for their congestion, will soon be regulated due to the plan. City vehicles will be removed or replaced with electric vehicles noting the effects it has on climate change. By 2025, the city plans to add 2,000 on-road electric vehicles. Doing so would give the city the largest electric vehicle fleet in the United States, and would be a step in the right direction toward solving climate change within the city, which may influence other majorly congested cities to draft similar plans.
New York to ban plastic bags KELSEY NICHOLSON Executive Editor In true Earth Day spirit, New York has introduced a new state law banning most singleuse plastic bags statewide. The law is set to go into effect in March 2020. It was introduced a year ago by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and its adoption would make New York the second state to ban plastic bags, behind California. All counties in Hawaii also banned singleuse plastic bags, making it an effective statewide ban. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year, which require 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture. Only one percent of those plastic bags are returned for recycling, with the rest ending up as litter or in landfills. Since single-use plastic bags are nonbiodegradable, they will not decompose and will remain in landfills for at least 500 years. Even then, they do not decompose fully—they break down into “microplastics that absorb toxins and continue
to pollute the environment” Additionally, 100,000 marine animals are killed by plastic bags every year. The bill itself would have plenty of exceptions for certain businesses, including food takeout bags, plastic used for wrapping deli meats and cheeses, newspaper bags, garment bags, bulk garbage bags, and bags for bulk items, according to The New York Times. Counties in New York could also opt to pay a $0.05 fee for paper bags as a way to replace plastic, though the overall goal is to encourage the use of reusable shopping bags. 60 percent of the money made from the paper bag fee would go towards New York’s Environmental Protection Fund, with the rest going to purchasing reusable bags for New Yorkers. Democratic state senator and chairman of the environmental conservation committee Todd Kaminsky emphasized that transitioning from plastic bags to paper bags will not help the environment as
much as switching to reusable shopping bags would. “There is going to be a level of coming to grips with, I understand, ubiquitous part of our lives,” Kaminsky told the New York Post. Banning single-use plastic bags and taxing paper bags will not only help minimize the amount of litter on our streets and in our oceans but also will drastically reduce the greenhouse gases that are a result of plastic and paper bag production. Mayor Bill de Blasio is on board to support the plastic bag ban in New York. “I do believe that we have to get away from paper bags, too, so I want to see the details of how it would be structured, but as a broad notion, we need to get away from paper bags,” de Blasio shared during his weekly segment on WNYC radio. De Blasio attempted to sign a “bag tax” bill into law in 2017, but it was stopped in its tracks by state legislature. When it comes to making clean living accessible to lowerincome citizens, de Blasio says the city will have to step
Plastic bags used for shopping up its game. The New York Post reported that “welfare recipients and those receiving WIC and SNAP benefits would be exempt from paying the 5-cent paper bag fee.” “Being environmentally friendly is really expensive,” said University junior Sophia Carlin. “Judging by where
Peter Uetz
we’re going in terms of taking care of our planet, I’m here for it.” Carlin is glad that welfare recipients will not have to pay the extra fee, making clean living more accessible. So, be prepared to see the plastic “Thank You” bags disappear from Café 101 starting March 1, 2020.
April 10, 2019
NEWS
www.thepacepress.org
5
What’s the deal with the Green New Deal? ALEXANDRA PUGA News Intern When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced plans for the Green New Deal, it was met with both backlash and outstanding support. She said it would not be only a climate change policy, but also a better way of living for every American. The GND could be associated with the term ‘green globalism,’ which was created in 2007 by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman. AOC and Sen. Edward J. Markey plan to enforce a deal with five major goals: promote justice and equity, achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, create millions of high-wage jobs, invest in infrastructure and industry, and secure a sustainable environment for all. Those who are in support of the deal include presidential Democratic candidates; Cory Booker (NJ), Kamala Harris (CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Elizabeth Warren (MA), and Bernie Sanders (VT). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not yet officially endorsed the legislation. “The deal is bold, ambitious, and mainly aspirational,” said University professor of Environmental Science and Philosophy Robert Chapman. “I see it as a sincere effort to confront the dysfunctional social institutions that have intentionally or unintentionally caused the acceleration of the destruction of natural systems that support all life on the planet. The plan is broad in application, including items such as universal health care, a green jobs program, labor rights, indigenous rights, and greater income equality.” Chapman continued, “Is it practical? Is it an idea whose time has come? Is it
too closely connected to the left-populist agenda? Time will tell! The one essential point that the Green New Deal emphasizes is that in the 21st Century environmental environment policy is economic policy.” When asked how the deal would be paid for, AOC replied, “The same way we paid for the original New Deal, World War
II, the bank bailouts, tax cuts for the rich and decades of war- with public money appropriated by Congress.” She also said she considers the plan an investment, as it produces jobs and new infrastructure and improves the negative side of health care cost. The youngest woman ever elected
into Congress has three major tasks to complete before celebrating a win: paying for the deal, convincing the public, and winning over Democrats and the majority of Congress. Although it only took weeks for the Green New Deal to get traction, AOC still has more work to do.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks on the Green New Deal in front of the Capitol
Senate Democrats
6 www.thepacepress.org
FEATURES
April 10, 2019
Climate change is not a joke BARBARA RUCCI Features Intern April may be a month of fun pranks and spring memories, but the month is also used for reflection about our actions regarding the world we live in. While we may not want to take many things seriously throughout the month of fools, the current political climate stresses that the wellbeing of the environment is not a joke. Americans hold divided beliefs when it comes to how climate change influences the Earth. The Trump administration decided not to renew the charter of the Advisory Committee for the Sustained National Climate Assessment’s in 2017, which was originally created by the Obama administration in 2015. However, the committee members have started meeting to consider the future of environmental change. According to KSAT12, Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently invited the committee to reconvene and become known as the Science to Climate Action Network, and most of the original members decided to continue working together. Despite the current debate about climate change, scientific evidence shows that the earth is being negatively affected. While natural causes such as the sun and volcanoes do contribute to climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that “human activity has been the dominant cause of warming since the mid-20th Century.” The fossil fuels we not only use but depend on influence our environment and the flow of climate change in negative ways. Fortunately, there are ways University students can help reduce its effects. Things as small as leaving our chargers plugged into the socket longer than needed and forgetting to turn A polar bear on a melting ice cap
off the lights snowball into the big-picture damage of climate change. When asked about how students can work against climate change, University Assistant Professor Michael Finewood says, “I would say reduce your consumption and carbon footprint as much as reasonably possible.” One practical goal for University students is to diminish their dependence on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are a large component of climate change because they are used in excess. They are necessary for everyday productivity and survival such as transportation, electricity, and heating. The damage has already started to show, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine claim that the United States gets 81 percent of its energy from fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas. Instead of relying on these harmful substances, students can support organizations that allow them to utilize renewable and clean sources of energy. Since this practice can be challenging for individuals, there are ways to support businesses who fight for a greener world. This could mean investing in an environmentallyfriendly vehicle, using solarpowered lights, or eliminating the use of plastic bags and water bottles by carrying our own reusable ones. Slowing climate change is a challenge, but all it takes is an intentional commitment to make sure we follow through in taking these helpful actions. It is useful to consider the future of our planet by protecting it accordingly now.
Pixabay
Joe’s vs. Rosella’s BARBARA RUCCI Features Intern
Google Earth
Luis Vazquez-Willhelm
New York City may be home to the world’s best pizza, and we know that each part of the city serves it with its own unique spin. University students are guaranteed to find quality pizza in the Financial District, and luckily enough, there are some notable slices served within blocks of the University. Rosella’s Pizza on William Street is well-known and loved among University students. Not only is it just steps away from 33 Beekman, but they also accept Flex dollars. Rosella’s is popular for its sweet-tasting sauce and pasta slices. The service is quick for the students who are in a rush, but the restaurant also provides plenty of space to hang out and enjoy pizza with friends. What University students may not be aware of is another pizza place that recently opened on Fulton
Street in January: Joe’s Pizza. According to Eater New York, Sal Vitale, grandson of the founder of Joe’s Pizza, said, “We had a lot of people asking us to come down to FiDi.” Vitale also helps manage Joe’s Pizza and is familiar with its various locations. The small but wellutilized space at 124 Fulton Street provides countertop service, similar to Rosella’s, with window seats and a few round tables in the center of the restaurant. They do not serve pasta pizza like Rosella’s, but their fresh mozzarella pizza, plain cheese slices, and Sicilian squares are popular picks among customers. University junior Gabby Boone says, “I love their supreme slice because it tastes like a proper New York pizza.” Joe’s Pizza in FiDi is open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday to Wednesday and from 10 a.m.
to 4 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. To get more feedback, we asked University students, “Which do you prefer: Joe’s or Rosellas?” University students replied to polls on Instagram and Twitter, where they were able to cast their votes. On Twitter, the results showed 50 percent for Joe’s and 50 percent for Rosella’s. However, on Instagram, the results came out to 20 votes for Joe’s and 14 votes for Rosella’s. Joe’s Pizza is a popular spot to get pizza all throughout New York City. The independently-owned pizza business originated in Brooklyn, and they now serve their pies in neighborhoods such as Williamsburg, the West Village, and Park Slope.
FEATURES
April 10, 2019
www.thepacepress.org
7
Mini opinions BROOKE SALAMONE Features Intern In order to incorporate the voices of the University community, The Pace Press surveyed students on social media about various controversial topics regarding the University. The opinions of the students below represent the winners of each poll.
Angel Hermosillo Favorite Café 101 station? “My favorite station in the Café is the salad station. It varies by season and mood. However, salads are the safest option at the time. I normally get a mixed green selection with egg and crispy chicken and ranch. You can’t forget the ranch! The station is super healthy, so that is always a plus!”
On or off campus life?
Maria’s or Broadway?
“I think commuting from home has its perks. I love being home and seeing my family and friends, but now that I go to school, intern, and work, living oncampus would definitley be more convenient. For now, I love commuting and spending as much time as I can with my family!”
“Freshmen should live in Maria’s because it’s their time to live in a wonderfully weird place. The community you build in Maria’s will change your college experience for the better. Sure, you have to share the showers, but you also get the chance to share in other’s lives.”
Alex Tasev
Emily Conklin Is OSA helpful? “I understand the volume of students they see, but the process of handling issues at OSA is not efficient. They are too understaffed to be equipped to deal with the needs of the students at Pace. I’d love to see them dedicate time to this office more in the future because it’s so vital to the students.”
Grace Jacobs
Phil Sgobba John Street or Beekman? “I prefer living in Beekman better than John. Most of my friends are in Beekman, so it is more convenient to see them. I find the room spaces and lighting much better in Beekman and its an easier walk to Pace. My roommate also preferred Beekman, so the decision was easy to live there.”
Swinging into the season BROOKE SALAMONE Features Intern
and Mike Piazza. In 1992, Seaver was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Seaver has also been in recent news, with an announcement that shared he will be stepping away from the public life, due to worsening dementia. Some notable players throughout the years for the Mets, other than Seaver and Piazza, are David Wright, Dwight Gooden, Gary Carter, and José Reyes. With both teams located in the area, University students are just a subway ride away from the excitement of endless stadium snacks and fan favorite players. Students had a lot to say about the start of the season. “Baseball season is the best time of year,” shares sophomore Gene Casazza. “There is nothing like waiting for pitchers and catchers to report, and spring training. Watching the players run out of the dugout on opening day makes me teary-eyed.” Emma Note, University sophomore, feels similarly. She says, “I think the start of baseball season is less important than any other part of the season, but cannot be taken lightly. Baseball season is long and every game counts, so racking up lots of wins early can really help a team in the long run.” With two home teams come rivalries between fans, and even University students get in on the friendly competition. “I prefer the Yankees because of the legacy,” Note emphasizes. “I think the history the Yankees have within NYC is something so special and unique in any sports team let alone in NYC. The Yankees are also my family’s favorite baseball team, so there is an emotional element to my support.” Casazza had a different opinion. “I support the Mets because my grandparents were Mets fans, and I followed in their footsteps.” For students who are interested in going to a baseball game, check out the University’s discounted ticket website for available seats, or check online for Henry Mestre cheap seats in the early season.
forgotten. While the Yankees may have been the first team in Manhattan, they are not the only team in the concrete jungle today. In 1962, the next baseball team to grace Manhattan was introduced. The Mets joined as part of the National League’s expansion in the 20th century. The Mets have won two total World Series’ since they were established. Their first official World Series appearance (and win) was in October 1969 where they defeated the Baltimore Orioles. Their second World Series win was in October 1986 against the Red Sox. In the history of the Mets, Tom Seaver is arguably one of the most prominent players to come out of the bullpen. Seaver’s career with the Mets spanned over 10 years, from 1967–1977. The star pitcher was chosen to play in 12 All-Star games and also played for the White Sox, Red Sox, and the Reds. Seaver left an undeniable mark on the history of the Mets. In fact, on July 24, 1988, Seaver’s number, 41, was retired. He is one of only three Mets players to have their number retired—the other two are Casey Stengel
Baseball season is in full swing as of March 28, and just in time for the recent warmer temperatures. With the city’s two popular teams, the Yankees and the Mets, there is an abundance of history to appreciate as this year’s season begins. In honor of the season kickoff, let’s take a look back at the origins of these teams, and how they forever shaped the culture of sports in New York. On March 12, 1903, a Baltimore franchise team, which was purchased and moved to New York by Frank Farrell and Bill Devery, was approved as a member of the America League. This team, originally named ‘The Highlanders,’ had no idea the legacy they were about to leave create. With a home base in an all-wood park at 168th Street and Broadway, the games began. In April 1913, the team was renamed, gaining the iconic title, “The New York Yankees.” Perhaps one of the most famous individuals to come out of the Yankee Bullpen was Babe Ruth. Ruth was traded from the Boston Red Sox on Jan. 3, 1920. Ruth, since that day forward, forever became a staple of the Yankees. In his career, he hit a total of 714 home runs and had his number retired at Yankee Stadium’s 25th Anniversary celebration in 1948. Ruth died a few months later from throat cancer at age 53. In addition to his accomplishments, Ruth was named the greatest baseball player of the 20th Century by Sports Illustrated. From 1903 to 2018, the Yankees have won a total of 27 World Series, their most recent in 2009. Some notable players throughout the years besides Ruth are Derek Jeter, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Mariano Rivera, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Alex Rodriguez, and many more. Today, rookie Aaron Judge is leading the pack as one of the star faces of the team. The Yankees have since left a Yankees player Curtis Granderson batting against the legacy on New York that will never be Mets’ Dillon Gee
8 www.thepacepress.org
THE PACE PRESS
April 10, 2019
OPINION AND EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL BOARD Katrina Alonso Editor-in-Chief Kelsey Nicholson Executive Editor Sam Unger News Editor Brooke Sufrin Arts Editor Megann Martinez Features Editor Dylan Share Graphic Design Duke Huang Photo Editor Brianna Adkins Social Media Jake Cameron Business Manager Dr. Seong-Jae Min Faculty Consultant
Carbon footprint calculators in class: Should we stamp them out? E. MELANIE DUPUIS Chair, Environmental Studies and Science
AWARD WINNER FOR BEST IN SHOW 2019
The Pace Press is the student newspaper of Pace University’s New York City Campus. It is managed and operated entirely by members of the student body as it appears above. The Pace Press welcomes guest editorials and letters from students, faculty, administration and staff. The Pace Press reserves the right to not publish any submitted material, both solicited and unsolicited. All submissions must include the author’s full name and contact information. The Pace Press 41 Park Row, Rm. 906 New York, NY 10038 www.thepacepress.org editor@thepacepress.org Copyright 2019
In many of our environment and sustainability classes, we have students calculate their carbon footprint as a class exercise. One of the objectives of this exercise is to encourage STEM literacy: it’s a real-life situation where students need to gather data, estimate when data is not available, and analyze what they come up with. It’s a way to teach students how to incorporate basic math and estimation into their lives. But another reason we ask students to do carbon footprint calculators is to make them “aware” of their impact on the environment, to maybe convince them not to fly to Berlin to see their favorite band, or to think about the environmental effects of their hamburgers. Students often tell me they did not know about their effect on the environment before my class. They promise they will do better in the future, to live more lightly. Do my students actually fulfill that promise once they find out their carbon emissions? Do they fly less, eat less red meat, turn down the thermostat and off the lights? In fact, after more than 10 years of footprint calculations in dozens of campus sustainability classes besides my own, the answer is not clear. Does awareness change behavior? It’s time for environment and sustainability educators to ask themselves this question, and to think about the ways in which we assume that behavior is a
product of knowledge. As academics, we are knowledge producers, and we like to think that the thing we produce – knowing – makes a difference. Clearly information is important, since a world in ignorance cannot act. Understanding, for example, how Lyme ticks live has been important to understanding how to avoid Lyme disease. I fully support the wonderful work of The Cary Institute and others to uncover more knowledge about Lyme ticks so that I can walk through the woods with the confidence that I know how to do so without getting a chronic illness. And it’s important to give students technical knowledge, like how to do quick, back-of-theenvelope estimations. My environmental studies students need to know about biogeochemical cycles, how to tell a maple from an oak, and why maples tend to be at the end of forest while oaks are more likely to be in the interior. I try to teach my students skills that will enable them to observe and analyze the world. But the relationship between knowledge and personal behavior is pretty tricky, especially when one group brings knowledge to another group in order to convince that other group to change their behavior. As I show in my history of the politics of dietary advice, Dangerous Digestion, the implication is that one person’s behavior is bad and the other’s is good – a moral claim about
who is virtuous and who is not. Saving energy is obviously good, but declaring a person’s lifestyle as bad and that another lifestyle is good has a long and problematic history, which gets us back to the issue of morality and democracy. It is the role of the university to teach civic virtue? If not, should we get rid of carbon footprint activities in environment and sustainability classes? Should we stamp out the footprint? Beyond its ineffectiveness, using the classroom to inculcate virtue into citizens can do outright harm. It can lead to a politics of purity that is bad both for those who urge this form of moral order on others and for those who are urged. In Dangerous Digestion, I show that exhortations to purify behavior captivate a small number of people, who get caught in a “purity treadmill”: obsessed with everything from colonics to eliminating yet another substance from their diet. Because purity is an impossible dream, it can lead people into endless rounds of self-purification through self-control. Conversely, there is a type of reform activism that treats those who refuse to get on the self-control purity treadmill as less deserving, not worthy of civic participation. The history of racism in America is filled with arguments that particular groups are not capable of selfcontrol and therefore not worthy of full participation in a democracy.
continued on THEPACEPRESS.ORG DISCLAIMER: These opinions are expressed by contributors (students, faculty, administration and staff) to The Pace Press. These opinions are solely those of the individual writers and do not reflect the opinions of The Pace Press, the members of The Pace Press staff or Pace University. The Pace Press is not responsible and expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind of arising out of use or relevance to any information contained in this section.
ACTIVITIES
April 10, 2019
April Sudoku
www.thepacepress.org
9
April Horoscopes
KELSEY NICHOLSON Executive Editor
KELSEY NICHOLSON Executive Editor
ARIES: Happy Birthday, Aries! Thanks to the new moon on April 5, this month will be one of rebirth and new beginnings. Check in with your values and past to make sure your new beginning isn’t a rocky one. TAURUS: Doors are opening for you this month! Make sure to consider any social opportunities as they come, but make sure to take time for yourself. Integrate these new aspects of your life with the new moon. GEMINI: Mercury, which rules Gemini, is newly direct in April, and this will bring clarity to some uncertain situations. You will have the chance to guide your life in the direction you want it to go. CANCER: You will be at the top of your professional game this month, Cancer! Be sure to show your authority at work, but don’t be afraid to ask for help and guidance if you need it.
Earth Day Word Search KELSEY NICHOLSON @KELSEYNIX26 ON VENMO SEND ME $$$ Executive Editor
LEO: You’ve been through some big changes recently, but this month you’ll gain a new perspective that will help you get your footing. Make sure you’re honest with your needs and wants as you ground yourself. VIRGO: April will be a month of reevaluation for you, Virgo! You’ll have to take a deep look into your relationships. Make sure you go beyond the surface level in your fantasies about love. LIBRA: You might come across some big revelations this month, Libra. Keep the big picture in life and focus on your long-term goals to avoid getting sidetracked. Remeber actions speak louder than words. SCORPIO: You’re going to experience some rapid changes in your life this month. Consciously cut out some of your toxic habits, as you have the power to better yourself this April. SAGITTARIUS: The April 5 new moon will mark a new cycle for you; try to get back to your roots. You might feel asked to take risks this month, but make sure to put your happiness first. CAPRICORN: As you enter April, you may want to focus on domestic matters. Give yourself a little time to relax, but make sure to address any lingering home issues. AQUARIUS: Stop and smell the spring roses this April, Aquarius! The realization that certain pursuits are coming to an end has never been more present. Try to wrap up any loose ends.
APRIL CONSERVATION EARTH ENVIRONMENT
GREEN PLANET PLASTIC POLLUTION
RECYCLE REDUCE REUSE
PISCES: This month will have you developing your self-esteem and well-being. Stay true to your values and the scales will tip in your favor; just make sure everything lines up with your end goals.
10 www.thepacepress.org
APRIL FOOL’S: NEWS
April 10, 2019
Lucky Luciano announces 2020 presidential run KELSEY NICHOLSON Executive Editor
On March 8, prominent internet personality and cultural icon Lucky Luciano announced his run for the 2020 presidential campaign. Luciano will be running as a Republican, according to his campaign announcement on Twitter. “You know I had to run for office...” he tweeted. The tweet was accompanied by an image of him suited up in front of an American flag. Luciano has not held any political positions in the U.S. government up to this point, but he doesn’t believe it will detract from his potential to win. Luciano pointed to current President Donald Trump’s success in the polls despite his lack of political experience. Luciano was first thrust into the public eye after posting a photo of himself on Twitter posing on a street sidewalk. Luciano was clad in a light pink collared shirt and matching shorts, with an obvious sock tan above his ankles. He finished off the look with brown boat shoes and a shiny gold watch. The caption, which has since become Luciano’s catchphrase, read, “You know I had to do it to em.” (@LuckyLucianoOG). The image was first tweeted on Sept. 2, 2014, and remained relatively unknown for its first two years of existence. That is until Twitter user @ExhelonWinter reposted the photo with a new caption on July 1, 2016. The new caption read, “Young thug is so gay, I listen to real hip hop. You know G Eazy? When its dark out lowkey a classic bro [sic].” The image then received a large amount of memeification, with internet users adding various captions, all alluding to Luciano’s image as a stereotypical rich white boy. Luciano plans to use his quick ascent to fame as a means of gaining political support. However, it has been notoriously difficult to
pin down his ideology, as well as his stance on several key issues. His slogan offers no answers, simply reading: “You know I had to do it to em, you know I had to run. You know I had to do it to em, now I’m just having fun.” When asked about his views on immigration, Luciano replied: “Y’all ever found a video that u watch when u feeling sad or down and it automatically changes your mood for the better? I think I just found mine [sic].” It’s difficult to grasp Luciano’s exact meaning from this quote, and speculation remains as to which video he was referring. In a similar vein, Luciano was asked about his views on same-sex marriage. “It’s crazy how many references I use throughout my day from The Office,” Luciano said. Considering “The Office” contains a gay character named Oscar, it’s possible that this is a nod in support to the LGBTQA+ community. If so, this would make Luciano one of the only Republican candidates that openly supports LGBTQA+ rights. Luciano may face some friction in his race going up against current President Trump, as well as former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. Other Republicans who have expressed interest in running, but haven’t taken the final leap into declaring their candidacy, are Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), Gov. Larry Hogan (RMD), and Gov. John Kasich (R-OH). It remains unknown if Luciano will ever take any hard and fast stances on policy issues, or if his middle of the road approach will be enough to win over the Republicans looking for a less extreme candidate in 2020. However, we can expect to see him at upcoming rallies and debates as the 2020 presidential run advances over the next few months.
Kelsey Nicholson
APRIL FOOL’S: NEWS
April 10, 2019
www.thepacepress.org 11
White House cancels climate change
SAMANTHA UNGER News Editor
In what was exceptionally poor timing, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced on April 1 that the United States government has signed an executive order to end climate change. The announcement was first tweeted by Sanders’ via a screenshot of the Apple Notes app (at right) that read, “President Trump will sign the climate change cancellation bill, and as he has stated before, he will also take other executive action- including allotting extra funding to off-shore drilling and deforestation efforts. The President is once again delivering on his promise to protect our citizens from climate change and help our great country flourish. Sarah Sanders.” The announcement came one week after President Donald Trump tweeted, “I walked outside with a jacket on but it was Hot! It’s only March! Can’t we just cancle [sic] Climate Change?” While the idea was mostly met with backlash and ridicule, Congress unexpectedly voted to pass the legislation, working diligently into the night (with some occasional live-tweeting). The nation has since begun taking
noticeable steps to cut funding from obsolete programs and practices. The Environmental Protection Agency closed down last week, while new government programs have led to the removal of solar panels and windmill farms. Within the House, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recanted her Green New Deal, citing that the act provided “unnecessary reforms to an already-perfect system.” It is unclear whether or not this will
have long-term effects on our planet or if, perhaps, the plan is an idealistic attempt to convince ourselves that we aren’t heading towards an inevitably disastrous end, regardless of whether we recycle or not. Until then, the most we can do is keep our lights on a bit longer, use excessive amounts of paper, and rely on iOS applications to announce serious government proposals going forward.
President Trump holds press conference on the latest update on climate change
University’s rat infestation worsens KELSEY NICHOLSON Executive Editor
The White House
The White House
12 www.thepacepress.org
APRIL FOOL’S: FEATURES
April 10, 2019
Daniel Orth
Live green at the University BROOKE SALAMONE Features Intern With Earth day around the corner, it’s time to start being conscious about how we treat the world. Littering continues to weaken our progress in making the planet a safer, healthier, and happier place for all its citizens. According to “Litter Costs You,” 9 billion tons of litter ends up in the ocean every year. Littering is not the only thing that endangers our planet. As students living and attending school in New York City, it is often hard to find time in our busy lives to think about ways in which we can protect the planet. Well, lucky for you, The Pace Press has put together this short set of tips to help students develop some quick and easy habits to save the environment. 1. Order three tall Starbucks coffees instead of one Venti. Good old Starbucks: a definite University favorite. A treat that is so good you might want more than one, and we think that’s a wonderful idea! College can be stressful, and coffee sure helps with those late nights. So why not order three? Carrying three cups of coffee will also make it look like you have friends, instead of bringing your one Venti to drink by yourself in the sixth-floor bathroom. Make sure you pick up three straws too, one for each drink! And don’t worry about recycling once you’re done, just throw it right in the trash; no one will notice anyway. 2. When you’re on the subway, just throw your trash anywhere in the station or on the train to give MTA workers more stuff to do! For commuter students, this is a perfect tip. Life can get so busy that you need to eat a snack on your subway ride to class or work. When you open that pretzel bag and enjoy it during your travels, take a good look around. Chances are, the subway will already be dirty, plus it’ll give bored MTA workers more stuff to do. They’d love that, plus they get paid for it. It may even create more jobs! So why waste your time throwing your wrapper in the trash when you can just leave it where you are?
3. Print as many pages as you need for class; the more the merrier. As the semester rolls on, assignments pile up, which means the printer may be your new best friend. Don’t feel guilty about printing 30 pages for your class reading; it’s important for you to be able to highlight a whole novella to make it look like you actually read it. If your professor asks you to submit a paper via email, print out a copy anyway for your records! At the very least, it would be fun to burn all your old papers after the semester ends. P.S.: Do not print things double-sided, no one likes to have to flip the page over to read it. 4. Leave all the lights on in your residence hall before you leave. When you’re running late to class, it’s easy to forget to shut the lights off. Don’t beat yourself up about this, it’s totally okay. In fact, leaving the lights on in your residence hall is a great idea. When pedestrians look up at your room from the street, they will have a much better view if your light is on! Maybe, if they see your tiny dorm room all lit up and decorated, they might want to enroll at the University just to stay in the res halls. More enrollment means more money for the school, and for students! So, leave those lights on all day long. Trust us, it’s worth it. 5. Buy water bottles instead of using reusable cups! Helps save time washing. Our final tip for University students is to throw out reusable water bottles you ordered online and buy Smartwater from the caf! You have your meal plan anyway, might as well use it. Buying water bottles can also save you the hassle of having to wash your personal portable bottle, and you save water! So take advantage of what the caf has to offer and buy yourself a water bottle on the daily. And whatever you do, do not recycle. In following these short set of tips to help to save the environment, you can get one step closer to a green lifestyle.
Pexels
Mohtashim Mahin
APRIL FOOL’S: FEATURES
April 10, 2019
www.thepacepress.org 13
Pace goes paper- and plastic-free on April 22 BARBARA RUCCI Features Intern University relations are set to announce that the entire New York City campus will be going “paper and plastic free” on Earth Day, April 22. This announcement means that all paper and plastic products in the University will be BANNED. This includes plastic utensils in Café 101, straws, Starbucks cups, library books, and syllabi. These destructive products will be making their way out of the University and into the city’s recycling bins—never to see the light of day again. Since plastic and paper have always been widely used on campus, it may be expected that University students will object to the change of lifestyle, but climate change is no joke. University relations expect ALL students to comply with this new policy and encourages students who already use reusable straws to share the wealth. While Café 101 was planning to invest in metal, reusable utensils, it was argued that the chefs and Café 101 workers should not have to spend all day washing dishes and wasting water. Instead, students are encouraged to eat with their hands. Of course, no napkins are permitted on the premises, so students should bring personal towels for cleanliness. Despite concerns about the spread of potential illnesses, this decision was felt to be the most environmentally friendly. Local shops and Flex dollar locations will also adapt to the environmental trend that the University has proposed. There shall be no more plastic or paper
products for their customers. These restaurants encourage customers to bring their own Tupperware containers for food storage and be chefs will no longer be wearing plastic gloves. However, the winter mittens they’ll wear will prevent allergen contamination and the spread of germs. As for Starbucks, hot and cold beverages will now be served in your choice of reusable University merchandise from the campus bookstore. Plastic and paper cups will no longer be served, and the purchase of University merchandise is mandatory for every cup of coffee you buy. These purchases will help fund this initiative—to hopefully be continued for years to come. Plastic bottles that contain water, soda, or any other beverage will also be banned from campus. To replace the refrigerators in Café 101, the University will be installing dispensaries filled with a variety of soft drinks. University students will need to position their heads at the bottom of the dispensary and catch their drink of choice with their mouths. “Carrying around plastic bottles is so inconvenient. I never know where to dispose of them when done. It seems I always jump a fence to find a recycling bin,” says University sophomore and 2019 Bachelor Colton Underwood. Printers on campus will also be removed throughout the process of going paper-free, so University professors must make sure that all assignments and major projects do not require printed paper. All books in the Henry
Pxhere
Santa Clara University Birnbaum library will be burned at a University bonfire on the Pleasantville campus, which will hopefully bond the two campuses (one University). Instead of sending physical pamphlets for prospective students, the University will be sending excessive emails to each member of the prospective family to make up the loss of physical mail. Campus tour guides will also be visiting the homes of prospective students. When told about this new initiative, next year’s Student Coordinator of the Welcome Center Stelci Rosario responded, after a long silence, “No.” All departments that make up the University use excessive amounts of plastic and paper, especially students who conduct, create, and store their work in these sort of disposable bags or folders. From now on, everything must be contained in glass mason jars. University professor Ms. Valerie Frizzle agrees and asks, “Why didn’t we think of this a long time ago? This will change everything.” Not only will this benefit the environment, but it will improve the overall aesthetic of the classrooms, labs, and faculty offices. Mason jars will also be provided at the dipping sauce areas in Café 101. From now on, plastic and paper pollution will be taken seriously at the University. If there is even a hint of plastic or paper seen, students will be asked to leave campus to dispose of their trash. Recycling plastic and paper on University grounds will not be an option anymore. The University looks forward to a greener future and strongly believes that enforcing a plastic-free and paper-free campus will further a fresh and clean New York City environment. Due to this new initiative, The Pace Press will no longer be permitted on newsstands, therefore this will be our last issue. Because an online presence would support the production of other newspapers, and the mass production of paper supplies, we will no longer be online either. Bye.
Spruce Street closed indefinitely MAE MARTINEZ Features Editor The Pace Press has just been informed that Spruce Street will be officially closed for the rest of the semester. After an intense investigation, it was discovered that the street will be closed due to extended filming. Students can attest to a commotion on Spruce Street last Wednesday when a camera crew suddenly appeared. It was rumored that a scene of Nicole Kidman’s HBO special, “The Undoing,” was to be filmed on the frequently used street. Kidman has directly requested that the street be closed down after hundreds of University students bombarded her with
cameras and questions such as, “How’s Keith Urban?” and “Where did you get that coat?” Television security will be creating a human fence to keep students away from Kidman. Following this news, the University announced that students must now use a rope ladder provided by the school to climb up the side of One Pace Plaza from Franklin Street and enter through the rooftop entrance on the fourth floor. However, this system will be delayed until further notice, as security has yet to find the key to the door.
Brianna Adkins
APRIL FOOL’S: ARTS
14 www.thepacepress.org
April 10, 2019
University students turn filth into fashion
GRACE VESPA Arts Intern
University students are wearing trash as a form of ethical fashion. Climate change is still a hotbed issue, and the nation is split between those who deny its existence and those who believe it is the biggest problem of this generation. Global warming, caused by natural gases that retain heat in the atmosphere, is affecting the way we interact with the world. While some trash, such as plastic bottles and paper, can be recycled or used for compost, a large majority of trash goes to landfills. The trash in the landfills takes a very long time to decompose, which releases greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Fashion, especially luxury fashion, leaves a large carbon footprint that can be dangerous when those clothes are only worn for a short period of time. Some University students are taking action for the fight against climate change by wearing non-cotton clothing. Bob Sponge, a University student, claims that he is wearing nature itself in order to join the fight against global warming. “I’m throwing out every piece of clothing I own,” Sponge said. He is taking on this initiative as a way to prevent any further clothing from causing harm to the environment. His new outfit includes a shirt made out of leaves from Central Park and tree bark pants from City Hall Park. “The trick is that you can’t go to just one park and steal their leaves,” Sponge said. “You have to go to different parks, and gather as much nature as possible, in order to have the full activist experience.” Many University students see this trend as the future of ethical fashion and sustainability. Amanda Pleese, an
Environmental Studies major at the University, wears every piece of garbage she owns. She wants to make other University students aware of sustainable fashion, without the expensive organic brands that make it harder to join the movement. “A lot of people don’t know this, but luxury fashion has a massive carbon footprint,” said Pleese. “I want to make people aware of how much clothes they waste when they only wear brand-new clothes for a season. I tried going thrift shopping, but I believe wearing garbage bags is an intense way of focusing on the problem.” She is wearing CVS plastic bags on her arms and various pieces of trash from the cafeteria to support sustainable fashion. “This is one hundred percent recyclable,” said Theo Suse, an Arts and Entertainment student at the University who wears nothing but Glad garbage bags. “I’m saving the planet one garbage bag at a time,” said Suse. He continued to say that he plans to wear Glad garbage bags for the reminder of the semester, but declined to comment when asked if he planned on wearing the garbage bags in the winter. Not only are some University students using fashion to fight climate change, but they are controlling the amount of water they use and the how many material possessions they own. One student has already pledged not to shower for a full year to save water, while another has pledged to limit his possessions to 80 material goods. Another person is limiting his food intake in order to prevent food waste by stealing boxes of food from dumpsters. It seems that University students and the general public alike are joining the fight against global warming in their own sustainable way. Bob Sponge shows off his leaf shirt Dave Rittinger
J.K. Rowling rewrites University's reality? BRITNI DUNN Staff Writer J.K. Rowling, the renowned author of the “Harry Potter” series, has taken to Twitter to expand upon the “Harry Potter” universe. Rowling has nearly run out of things to change about the original series, so she’s started stating facts about novels that are not her own as well as commentating on real life. Even the University was not safe from her Twitter re-writing of reality. Following are some examples of Rowling’s tweets. The University’s “Pleasantville campus” does not exist. Rowling announced on Twitter that the University’s Pleasantville
campus is an elaborate hoax created by the University in hopes of making the University seem larger. After further investigation into the case, it seems all of the photographs of the campus were really stock photos of various colleges. Dobby the House Elf picks the Rockbot songs. Rowling shared that one of the series’ most beloved characters Dobby has been in control of the caf music all along. It was originally thought that students selected the music on the Rockbot app, but it was England’s favorite house elf all along. After he was freed in “The Chamber of Secrets,” Dobby needed to find new employment, and the University was happy to oblige.
“We thought giving students the illusion of choice would make them stay longer and buy more food,” Rowling said in her tweet. The CVS on Fulton Street is a group hallucination. The CVS on Fulton Street is every University student’s go-to place for anything and everything. CVS is only a couple blocks away from the main building—or so it seems. According to Rowling, it never actually existed, except for a brief moment during “rounds of editing,” implying that Rowling actually has the power to edit real life. University President Marvin Krislov resigns to pursue his singing career.
It seems Café Karaoke was not just a hobby for President Krislov. Rowling revealed that the University’s relatively new president has found his calling—vocal performance. Krislov will be touring with the 2019 Setter Jam headliner X Ambassadors starting in July. The University will become the next American school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Rowling has been eyeing the NYC campus as a spot for the American version of Hogwarts, called Ilvermorny. However, all muggle students must transfer out by the end of this year. It’s been real, and I’ll see you all at SUNY Purchase.
Twitter/J.K. Rowling
APRIL FOOL’S: ARTS
April 10, 2019
www.thepacepress.org 15
Baby Shark added to the Library of Congress GRACE VESPA Arts Intern Hit children’s song “Baby Shark” has made waves in popular culture recently. The famous tune was created by Pinkfong, an education group in South Korea. The song first gained traction after it spurred an online dance challenge known as the “Baby Shark Challenge.” The iconic “Baby Shark” song has been officially added to the Library of Congress, alongside timeless classics like “La Bamba” and “Sweet Caroline.” In an official statement, the Library of Congress said that Baby Shark marks a “culturally significant” time in our lives and brought momentary peace to the entire nation. The process to join the Library of Congress is very selective. The board chooses songs that enrich people’s lives and makes them appreciate the laborious process of music production. “The lyricism in ‘Baby Shark’ is undeniable,”
Baby Shark’s music video said Library spokesperson Remy Gusteau. “It’s comparable to ‘Landslide’ by Fleetwood Mac, or even Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’.’” Gusteau continued,
YouTube/Pinkfong “‘Baby Shark’ has the same level of raw, emotional intensity. It is absolutely baffling why anyone could hate this song.” Some University students
are excited about this prospect. University freshman Louis Stylinson remarked, “Whoa, I didn’t know that ‘Baby Shark’ is going to be in the Library! How
are they gonna make it a book?” However, not all University students are pleased with this development. Petunia Mulaney said that the song is “mad annoying.” Mulaney continued, “This song plays everywhere. It’s in the city, in Rockbot, and in the library. It’s even appearing in my dreams.” Gusteau stated that they hope to add “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley and “All Star” by Smash Mouth next year. Currently, there is a petition going around on Change.org for the Library of Congress to add other iconic songs like “Toxic” by Britney Spears, “Take a Hint” by the Victorious Cast, and “What’s New Pussycat” by Tom Jones. “Baby Shark” is currently available for listening on most major music streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as enjoying the music video on Youtube.
Victoria David
April 10, 2019
Est. 1948
Volume 71 | Issue 6
the space press
INSIDE @thepacepress
thepacepress.org
NEWS
FEATURES
ARTS
White House cancels climate change
Pace goes paper- and plastic-free on April 22
University students turn filth into fashion
Page 11
/ThePacePress
Page 13
Page 14
thepacepress.org