December 10, 2014
Est. 1948
Volume 67 | Issue 5
the pace press
CITY ERUPTS IN PROTEST Page 5
protests around the world
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INSIDE @thepacepress
NEWS
ARTS
FEATURES
Students lose confidence in traditional news, turn to social media Page 5
Nightlife: The Underdog’s killer cocktails
Internet goes rogue in search of justice
/ThePacePress
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pacepress.org
WORLD NEWS
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MELISSA VARGAS News Editor
December 10, 2014
World erupts in protests Venezuela
• In February, Venezuelan students had started protesting all over the country. The protest began getting international coverage when three people were killed. • CNN has reported that the “protestors are demanding better security, and [an] end to goods shortages and protected freedom of speech.” • Many blame President Nicolas Madurm for the problems • The police force and government under Maduro have been very violent towards the protestors, with many encounters ending in dangerous incidents
Brazil
• Protests initially erupted in opposition to the billions spent preparing the country for the World Cup • Protests flared once again after a hotly contested election declared a winner by a very small margin • Brazilians also took a stand against “corruption, and against what many see as the poor quality of public services despite a heavy tax burden,” according to Al Jazeera
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Palestine
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Mexico
• On Sep. 26, 43 Mexican student protestors disappeared • Many suspicious mass graves have been found, but police report that none of the bodies belong to the missing students • The government has named “Gerreros Unidos,” a Mexicoan gang, as responsible for the missing students • Through these events, President Enrique Pena Nieto has been criticized for not only acting slowly on the case, but also for not doing much about it • Many politicians have stepped down from their positions. Mayor of Iguala, the city the students were reported missing in, Luis Abarca and his wife Maria de Los Angeles Pineda both went into hiding after the students were reported missing. On Nov. 4 they were both arrested in Izatapalapa in Mexico City. According to the Latin Times the couple is being held responsible for ordering the attack on the students.
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• Over the summer, on June 12, three students were reported missing in the West Bank. Israel set out on a violent search of the West Bank, looking for the victims • On June 30, the bodies of the Israeli teens were found. • According to the Washington Post “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Hamas is responsible, and Hamas will pay.” • Two weeks later a Palestinian teenager was found dead and many have argued that this may have been an act of revenge over the three murdered teenagers. • This incident has sparked great violence between Israel and Palestine. According to Bustle, the Hamas government sent rockets into Israel. In response, Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. All of these actions resulting in the death of over 100 Palestinians. • As of now, a draft resolution has been made demanding that Israel withdraw to the 1967 lines by 2016. This resolution is to be presented to the United Nations Security council by mid-December.
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Sweden takes a stand against sexist video games MARC SAGGESE Advertising Manager
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The Swedish government, in accordance with major game developers in Sweden, is planning to launch a new rating system for video games in their country that focuses on sexism. A grant of 272,000 Swedish kronor—around 350,000 USD—has been awarded to the trade association Dataspelsbranschen in order to analyze sexism within video games and create a regulating system. They will work with game developers in order to examine the way women are represented in games, and use that research to develop a standardized system to classify games based on sexist content. In the wake of recent controversy within the video game industry, this decision by Sweden is a welcome one. Since Aug. 2014, sexism in games and game culture has been at the forefront of major news publications because of the Gamergate scandal, which is comprised of an anonymous or pseudonymous collective of self-identifying gamers on the Internet that are making it their mission to silence women in the video game industry. This includes both defending sexist tropes in games, and harassing women who decide to speak up about better gender representation within games, in real life. Because much of the focus in the media has been on those women facing horrible threats, it is a necessary change in the overarching narrative of the games industry to see Sweden’s government attempt to provoke positive change within it. Details about the actual system, however, are sparse. So far, it seems to be no more than an idea with government funding behind it. Whether the system will include an age
limit, numerical score, or a detailed message explaining just how a given game engages in sexism is still a matter of speculation. There is also no word of when exactly the system will be released, or how far its reach will be in terms of covering both blockbuster games as well as independent games. Sweden is home to major game franchises such as Battlefield, Hotline Miami and Minecraft, all of which are massively popular in the United States, so the chances of the new rating system affecting gamers is the U.S. is certainly a possibility. Since many choose to buy their games digitally, and sometimes directly from the publisher, these ratings may in fact matter to international consumers. The most important thing about this initiative, though, is that Sweden is making a statement by backing research into sexism in gaming. The fact that the government has stepped in means that games exhibit sexism blatantly, making people upset. Sweden is setting an example in taking the content of video games this seriously, and hopefully more countries will follow in being just as progressive. It’s unclear whether developers will either ignore the rating system, rely less on sexist themes due to fear of a bad rating (and not learning much as a result), or cause developers to see how offensive and alienating it is to experience sexist themes in games as a woman, and change their design philosophies in accordance, bringing about positive change within the video game industry While the rating system is not yet in effect, and it is not clear as to exactly when it will, and what form it will take, it is comforting to know that an attempt to end sexism in a major media industry is present.
December 10, 2014
WORLD NEWS
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Berlin Wall 25th Anniversary A day of rememberence in Germany
8,000 balloons along the 9 mile stretch where the Berlin wall stood. KOBE Y. JACOBS Staff Writer Earlier this November Germans and others around the globe, celebrated the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, who grew up in East Berlin, said on the day of the anniversary that, “the fall of the wall showed us that dreams can become reality. Nothing has to stay as it is no matter how high the barricades are.” She later added that, “Germany would always be grateful for the courage of East Germans who took to the street to protest the communist dictatorship.” Merkel was not the only one to weigh in. Pope Francis remarked on the event as well as Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader whose policies of Glasnost, or openness, and Perestroika, or restructuring, resulted in the fall of the Soviet Union. Nov. 9 was the specific date of the anniversary. Germany commemorated the event by releasing 8,000 balloons along the nine mile stretch where the wall was. More than 300,000 supporters congregated to celebrate the historic date. Germans were not the only ones celebrating this anniversary, as the fall of the wall signified the beginning of the end of communism for all those who lived in the Soviet Eastern bloc. The event was a significant change in world politics, ending the ideological binary that the world had been trapped in for 40 plus years. University economics professor Anna Shostya grew up in the Eastern Bloc. She was raised in Kiev, now the capital of Ukraine. When asked about whether or not the communist economic principles succeeded in eliminating poverty she replied, “officially there was no poverty, we were not poor, but I never thought of it until we were exposed to openness [and I realized that] this country just gives so much more than the country where I was born.” She continued by describing the poverty that characterized life in a closed society, even if it didn’t reflect material wealth it was still a poverty of freedom. She said she first felt the effects of the shift away from communism in 1985, but when the wall eventually fell it was truly a “shock,” a word she felt most adequately described the experience. “For those of us who lived in a closed society, blocked off from Western philosophy, to suddenly be exposed to it was just a major shock,” she described, almost at a loss for words. The fall of the Soviet union left the world with four remaining communist states, the most successful of which is China. China is the most successful communist state, arguably because of its open markets. Professor Shostya, who also teaches a class on Chinese economics and has taken many students there in travel courses, says she believes the Chinese succeeded where the Soviets failed because, “When China began to open in 1978, it made changes one by one, on a micro level while retaining their political
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structure. In the former Soviet Bloc, because the political and economic philosophies were so closely tied together, people rebelled against both and left a vacuum.” Professor Shostya also indicated that she believes that while Russia is no longer a communist country they have still not learned to fully embrace capitalism, a result of “several generations [being] stripped of the entrepreneurial spirit.” Though the Cold War ended many years ago, this has not stopped tensions from rising between Russia and the west in recent months. Most recently President Obama has been negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12 nation trade agreement that excludes both China and Russia. This has lead to China and Russia initiating their own trade agreement with other Pacific nations. Tensions have also been aggravated by Russian occupation in Ukraine and their annexation of Crimea, the ensuing sanctions by the European Union and the United States, the Russian refusal to continue carrying American astronauts to the international space station, and Russian willingness to build nuclear reactors in Iran, which the west has worked hard to prevent. Mikhail Gorbachev warns that the world is, “on the brink of a new Cold War.” He noted that it is important to, “make sure that we get the tensions that have arisen recently under control.”
“The fall of the wall showed us that dreams can become reality. Nothing has to stay as it is no matter how high the barricades are.” -Angela Merkel,
German Chancellor
Recent events aside, the fall of the Berlin Wall is unanimously considered one of the most significant events of the 20th century. Zaina Aitenbenbella, sophomore at the University, related the event to current struggles for freedom, noting that, “The fall of the Berlin Wall signifies much more than the fall of communism but is relevant to many other struggles against oppressive governments, like what is happening now in Hong Kong” Even 25 years later the fall of the Berlin Wall has been recognized as a trans-generational emblem of resilience globally.
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NEWS
December 10, 2014
Body Local promotes healthy living options SHANNON MCMAHON Copy Editor
Group networking circles at Body Local Socials
Body Local
Goodies at a Body Local Social.
Body Local
For students looking to experience healthy living outlets off campus, Body Local Socials by the Body Local group should be their first stop. Started by two friends who were inspired to take on what wellness meant in their own lives, the Body Local partnership offers an assortment of healthy living options presented by a variety of independently run healthcentered businesses around New York City at special events called “Body Local Socials.” Services are showcased and offered at these socials range from massage therapy to sportswear sales and samples of healthy food and drinks. Each vendor has a unique touch, and Body Local Socials have a distinctive positive energy due to their extensive network of individuals who have a major passion for health. These independent health vendors run promotional tables at Body Local socials, welcoming individuals of all backgrounds and offering freebies and health-oriented information all night long. Body Local Social events are offered each month at different venues around New York City that individuals can register at for online at the Body Local website for as little as $15. Attendees receive a health swag bag valued at $50 and higher, and a chance to mingle and talk with different health vendors, getting new ideas for products they may want to use and making many beneficial connections and collaborations with fellow attendees and health vendors. They can also enjoy free massages, cognitive therapy, and aromatherapy, in addition to samples of health products. Junior Irene Schultz described her experience attending a Body Local Social event and networking with fellow health
enthusiasts as a positive one saying, “When it comes to business and private practice, marketing, public relations, and entrepreneurship are all key skills to have, but networking is most important nowadays in anything. One connection with the right person could change your entire future career path, and when it has to do with your health, it’s all the more important.” Body Local Socials also allow students to narrow down off campus options for the times when stress gets the best of them, because not everyone knows where to go for an outlet to relieve stress, or what health products work best for them. Students may be sluggish from the university cafeteria food, lack of sleep, and not know how to deal with problems in a healthy manner. Freshman Nairoby Espinal is no stranger to student stress and the exploration for healthy living options, saying “I would definitely try Body Local Socials, because it would help me relieve stress and give me more options for healthy living.” In terms of information on healthy living and healthy food in the university cafeteria, Espinal said, “I’d like to see more healthy options.” Schultz also spoke highly of the helpful selections of health vendors at Body Local Socials, saying, “In terms of just regular students going to get info on healthy life, living in NYC it is easy to become overwhelmed by the abundance of fitness and nutrition offers and fads that constantly surround us in the streets. This can make it difficult to choose the right for us and really dive into the healthy lifestyle change. So if you want to learn more about how to eat right and kill it at the gym, what better way than to be introduced to hundreds of trainers and nutritionists all under one roof that all offer something unique and different that could be tailored just to you! Body Local’s mentality is that fitness and wellness apply to individuals in all walks of life, and that every healthy lifestyle is unique, whether it is practicing dance, vegetarianism, or walking in the park. The strongest message at Body Local is to keep fitness and health options local and help keep independent businesses active and thriving. For more info on Body Local socials, please visit bodylocal.com
United States and China announce historic deal KOBE Y. JACOBS Staff Writer
In a major surprise, President Obama and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, made an unprecedented announcement of a climate deal between the United States and China, the world’s two largest economies, on Nov.12. This comes as a shock because prior to this, each country had simply blamed the other for inaction on the issue. This is a major achievement for President Obama who has been able to do little in the way of climate policy since a bipartisan cap-and-trade bill nearly missed passing Congress in his first term. Since then the issue has become much more polarized. At this point its a non-starter considering the fact Republicans will take over both houses of Congress in January. Obama was sharply criticized by Republicans in June for using his authority under the Clean Air Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to create standards that will cut carbon emissions 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. The deal is ambitious, forcing the United States to cut carbon emissions by 26 percent to 28 percent form 2005 levels by 2025. This is nearly double the targeted pace between 2005 and 2020. What is even more important about the deal, however, is that it is the first time China, now the world’s biggest carbon emitter, is on record pledging to cut its emissions. The deal requires China to peak its carbon pollution around 2030 while striving to do so earlier. It also requires China to commit to making non-fossil fuels a 20% share of its economy by 2030. At first glance the deal might seem to go easy on China, but the logic is that they need the production capabilities since they are still the poorer country. China had also refused to set a deadline where they will peak their carbon emissions prior to this deal. The deal is significant domestically because it commits the U.S. to cutting emissions despite the political turmoil surrounding
the issue. Since nearly reaching a bipartisan deal, Republicans have dragged their feet on climate change by making one of two arguments: The first is denying the existence of it despite overwhelming consensus in the scientific community that climate change is induced by humans. The second, is blaming China. The argument goes that we shouldn’t cut our emissions at the possible expense of economic output if the world’s other top emitter (i.e. China) isn’t going to act too. John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, wrote a New York Times article saying that, “By doing this – together, and well before the deadline established by the international community – we are encouraging other countries to put forward their own ambitious emissions reduction targets soon and to overcome traditional divisions so we can conclude a strong global
China’s carbon emissions linger in the air
climate agreement in 2015.” He continued, saying that, ”Our announcement can inject momentum into the global climate negotiations, which resume in less than three weeks in Lima, Peru, and culminate next year in Paris.” The climate talks began in New York City in September, directly following The People’s Climate March and Flood Wall Street Sit-In protests. The People’s Climate March promptly emailed its supporters claiming that the protest, “helped pave the way for the historic agreement that happened.” Though this deal is an important step it is by no means a solution to the climate change crisis. The deal falls short where many other deals seeking to curb climate change have fallen short in the past in that it is not legally binding. It is, however, significant progress that the world’s two worst offenders have reached consensus on taking action.
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NEWS
December 10, 2014
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Students lose confidence in value of traditional news Social media emerges as a viable alternative for on-the-ground coverage COURTNEY MICHELLE JOHNSON Features Editor As the situation derailed in Ferguson, MO and New York City following the grand jury decisions to not indict police officers accused of needlessly killing unarmed black teenagers, social media played a massive role in the demonstrations. Those following the controversial events in Ferguson are able to stay up to date using hashtags such as: #Ferguson, #TheyGunnedMeDown, #MikeBrown and can even grieve with those in Ferguson using the hashtag #NMOS14. Across the country, demonstrations and protests in cities such as Los Angeles, New York and Baltimore are connected through the use of social media and the popular Ferguson and Eric Garner hashtags. These followers, protesters and social media documenters are swapping national news network coverage for the gritty, uncensored social media accounts of the events on the ground, sometimes countering claims from mainstream media outlets and government officials. Authorities on site in Ferguson discourage the use of social media to document breaking news—The Associated Press broke an exclusive early this fall claiming that authorities used a Federal Aviation Administration “no-fly zone” directive to block journalists from covering the demonstrations from the air. A St. Louis Alderman Antonio French was arrested on Nov. 26th for recording the protests and police reaction. After being released, French promptly posted more photos of the protests on his Instagram. French’s first tweet after being released from jail the next morning has been retweeted more than four thousand times to date. “It’s opened everything up, changed how the media decides what’s worthy of coverage—and who to trust,” said David Karpf, assistant Professor of Media and Public Affairs at George
Washington University. The wave of social media coverage is also very similar to that of protests in other countries such as Egypt and Turkey, and even coverage of the new terrorist group ISIS. Ferguson has been mentioned over 6 million times over social media since Mike Brown’s death, and the #DontShoot hashtag has also been used to raise awareness about police brutality and excessive force. College students are a large part of the audience for social media coverage of this controversial event and favor this untraditional coverage. “I’ve seen more livestreams over social media showing the peaceful parts than the news networks showing the craziness,” said Junior Ayana Karin. “I definitely think that social media coverage is better because you get both sides of the story, you get more out of it, said Freshman Ahjah Gage. “It makes you want to retaliate.” Social media coverage also allows for a more in depth and realistic experience in collecting information on an event or controversy such as that which is present in Ferguson. “They’re actually there,” said Karin. “A lot of the people giving out the information are actually there, instead of the news networks just putting a camera there to ‘see what happens.” Social media coverage may also present less possibility of bias and legal interference, especially in the midst of a controversial event such as Ferguson or the Eric Garner protests. “I see more of my news on social media than I ever see on a news network,” said Karin. “Its harder to get news from networks, because they are not even saying what’s going on.” Gage feels that social media is a great outlet for news, despite the fact that officials discourage it. “I think definitely because social media is so big and people check their like instagram’s ritually it would just be so easier to get news from there and I trust it more.”
University prepares for finals week SHANNON MCMAHON Copy Editor Students can expect ample study time and space to be available for finals in the last month of the semester, as Birnbaum Library will begin offering extended hours on Dec. 1 to Dec. 18, from 8 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. During this time, however, the circulation desk will close at 11:00 p.m., and the Collaborative learning Room will close at 9:00 p.m. During the 11:00 p.m. time period, a security guard will be stationed in the front of the library. Students should take note that due to the closing of the Circulation desk at 11:00 p.m., they will not be able to check out books past this time. Students may, however, take advantage of the study space in the library, which includes access to printers, computers, and upstairs and downstairs study areas. The schedule at Birnbaum Library varies during certain days in December, so students should stay updated by checking the library website and signs outside of Birnbaum. Senior Kirstie Valdez commented on the update, noting that it will be a relief to students who need to study late, but do not have space to do so, saying, “I feel like it’s greatly effective and it revolves around student study time because we do study really late.” Speaking of her own utilization of the extended hours, she said, “I commute, but if I did live on campus I definitely would.” These changes at Birnbaum come
during a time of many new updates at the university library. Recently, a book drop was installed outside of the library so that students may return books when the library is not open, or if they want to avoid waiting in a long line at the Circulation desk to turn in items. “I don’t think students are taking advantage of the book drop. I do think that students will take advantage of the extended hours, but I also think it would be helpful if a librarian was here,” says sophomore and student assistant at Birnbaum library, Jordan Gonsalves. University librarians are also offering support for students who need assistance doing research for finals. They are available to help students find important texts, navigate online databases, and format papers correctly. For more info on assistance, please email: birnbaumref@ pace.edu and visit pace.edu/library
For more info on assistance, please email: birnbaumref@ pace.edu and visit pace.edu/library
December 10, 2014
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THE PACE PRESS
OPINION AND EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL BOARD Erick Mancebo Editor Christian Gomez Executive Editor Marc Saggese Advertising Manager Shannon McMahon Copy Editor Melissa Vargas News Editor Ashley Spencer Arts Editor Courtney Michelle Johnson Features Editor Maximilliano Onofre Editorial Assistant Dr. Stephanie Hsu Faculty Consultant
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. 902 New York, NY 10038 www.pacepress.org editor@pacepress.org Copyright 2014
KOBE Y. JACOBS Staff Writer Upon Jon Stewart’s return from his Thanksgiving hiatus he opened The Daily Show with a segment on the week’s top news story––the fact Darren Wilson was not indicted for the murder of Michael Brown. The segment made a mockery of many of the commentators on Fox News for their minimization of the civil unrest in the black community. The segment mocked the litany of Fox commentators, including former New York City Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, who claimed that the civil unrest was not a product of actual racial injustice but was caused, rather, by “racial arsonists,” who have “worked these people up so much with propaganda.” Stewart’s segment highlights the fact that Fox News has amounted the civil unrest happening about the country–– from the Michael Brown case to the Eric Garner case––to propagandists victimizing the black community into a frenzy. The position of people who believe we live in a postracial society raises questions as to the veracity of this postulation. In a much-talked-about cover story for The Atlantic, “The Case for Reparations,” Ta-Nehisi Coates persuasively makes the case that the black community has yet to be vindicated from “Two hundred fifty years of slavery. Ninety years of Jim Crow. Sixty years of separate but equal. [And] Thirty-five years of racist housing policy.” As such, we are still indebted as a society to the black community. Coates’ article makes clear that blacks are still disadvantaged on the socioeconomic level from the years of injustice. He cites fact that, “From the 1930s through the 1960s, black people across the country were largely cut out of the legitimate home-mortgage market.” The result of which is that black people were denied one of the most widely known secure financial assets and tools for saving––homeownership––thus making it more difficult to accumulate wealth. In order to relate this issue to modern racial disparities, it is relevant to note that black families have been denied mortgages at much higher rates than all other races. According the Urban Institute, “in 2012, at least 40% of all African American applicants…[and]14% of white...applicants were denied GSE [government-sponsored enterprise] loans.” Elizabeth Warren, Senator from Massachusetts, has buttressed the case for racial discrimination in housing ownership by citing that a mere 16,000 black families received home-mortgages last year. All of this indicates that blacks are still persistently denied opportunities for wealth accumulation in modern
America. Thus, Coats’ argument that we are still indebted to the black community is certainly reasonable but I am hardly convinced that some direct pecuniary recompense for centuries of abominable treatment would serve any purpose other than a symbolic one. Assuming it were politically feasible it would only allow the white members of society to feel that their consciences are clean by way of some instantaneous resolution. This would only perpetuate the problem. The only way to avenge the treatment of generations of blacks is to ensure that generations of blacks going forward are given the opportunity to accumulate wealth. As The Economist notes in a recent article on Ferguson, “Blacks’ biggest problem is now poverty…Solving the problems of places like Ferguson is less about passing more anti-discrimination laws than about rekindling economic growth and spreading the proceeds.” By targeting discriminatory mortgage practices which would allow for accumulation of wealth we could start closing the college education gap––“In 2013, about 40 percent of whites between the ages of 25 and 29 had a bachelor’s degree or more, compared to about 20 percent of blacks,” according to Ben Casselman of FiveThrirtyEight.com. Furthermore, by investing money in public school systems in poorer neighborhoods––which would disproportionately aid minorities––rather than spending it on one time reparations, we could ensure that black students reap the associated benefits of elementary education. By investing in this way rather than by reparations we can affect the variables that most closely correlate with higher incomes (e.g. education) and savings opportunities (e.g. homeownership), creating intergenerational wealth rather than a one time payoff. The founders of our nation infamously made the grave mistake of counting black people as 3/5 of a person for voting purposes. In the years since we have taken major steps to rectify our errors and past injustices––from ending slavery to the Civil Rights and Voting Rights acts. However, racial injustice is not yet a thing of the past. The recent unrest has proved that there is systemic dysfunction from our criminal justice system to our socio-economic wealth distribution. To take the position that we have moved beyond racial inequities is to compromise with ourselves and allow the status-quo to remain unchanged. I call this position The 4/5 Compromise. It signifies that we have moved beyond the severe injustices of our early days but we have only improved marginally, and the process full recompense is not yet complete.
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.
December 10, 2014
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NEWS
Immigration reform in the near future Obama plans for executive action
KOBE Y. JACOBS Staff Writer On Thursday, Nov. 20, President Obama gave a primetime speech from the White House addressing his executive order on immigration. The action was promised after immigration reform was officially announced dead in the House in June, but was delayed twice at the behest of Democrats running for reelection who didn’t want presidential action to hurt their chances. The move comes approximately a year and a half after bipartisan immigration reform passed the Senate with 68 votes, including votes from Democrats, Republicans and independents. The President pressured John Boehner to call the bill for a vote but Boehner and other house leaders never did so for fear of being see as weak by their base. After House Majority Leader was upset in his primary race by an opponent who challenged him for being too soft on immigration Congressional action on immigration became hopeless. In a year that began with the President announcing his “the pen and the phone” strategy, essentially a strategy to bypass a supine Congress when the opportunity was possible, Republicans have been lambasting the President for overreach of executive authority. “By ignoring the will of the American people, President Obama has cemented his legacy of lawlessness and squandered what little credibility he had left,” responded Speaker Boehner after the speech. The president addressed his critics in the speech, saying emphatically, “To those members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: Pass a bill.” Here the ordinarily equanimous Obama displayed evident frustration at the inert House. The President defended his action by noting that it is no more broad than the precedent set by “every single Republican President and every single Democratic President for the past half century.” The most notably similar action taken by a President was that of
Republican George H.W. Bush, who started the Family Fairness Program which granted about 1.4 million immigrants deferral from deportation, or about 40% of the unauthorized population. Though Obama’s action affects about 4 million immigrants, that is now approximately 40 percent of the unauthorized population which makes it similar in scope to Bush’s action. The executive order allows parents of legal residents who have been in the U.S. for 5 years or more to apply to defer action for three years and get a work permit. It also expands Obama’s earlier initiative, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to immigrants over 30 but who arrived before the age of 16 and to those who arrived between 2007-2010. This expansion affects an additional 270,000 people. Obama was also careful to point out that the action increases boarder security and prioritizes the deportation of criminals. He noted that, “over the past six years, deportations of criminals are up 80 percent.” Adding that the prioritization would follow the motto: “Felons, not families. Criminals, not children. Gang members, not a mother who’s working hard to provide for her kids.” In a controversial move, the major television networks––ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox––refused to air the speech. The decision was likely related to November being a “sweeps” month where networks try to drive up ratings. In an appeal to air the speech the White House tried to compare the speech to an immigration speech by George W. Bush in 2006 which the networks did air, but the networks apparently saw this as more of an overtly political speech than Bush’s. The speech did air on Univision and Telemundo, audiences that the White House most wanted to reach with this speech. Though some Americans were more interested in The Big Bang Theory, others had sincere interest in the speech. Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who famously came clean about his undocumented status in an essay in New York Times magazine, tweeted, “I can now have temporary status, a work permit--and see my Mama in Philippines after 21yr separation @DefineAmerican #ImmigrationAction,” following the announcement. Many celebrated their new opportunity to, “come out of the shadows,” as Obama put it. The program is expected to launch in the spring of 2015.
OPINION AND EDITORIALS ZOEY E. BRUCKER Contributor Dear Pace Community: An initiative to increase the number of A.D.A. accessible, single stall, all gender restrooms and changing rooms on all of Pace’s Campuses is underway. After a proposal was submitted by the Pace LGBTQA & Social Justice Center, the task to identity campus locations in need of additional A.D.A. single stall restrooms is underway. For example, currently there are no A.D.A. compliant single stall restrooms on floors two through six in One Pace Plaza. As such, individuals requiring or preferring the use of such facilities must travel to floors 1 or to the B-level. The goal of the proposal is that there will be at least one single stall facility within a reasonable distance to classrooms. All gender restrooms are important to ensure safety, comfort and equity in access to public facilities on campus. Though many will benefit from the increased privacy that such facilities afford, the facilities will positively impact transgender and gender non-conforming folks, guardians or parents accompanying folks of a different gender into a gender specific facility, and folks with certain disabilities who may have an attendant who is a different gender from them. Specifically, individuals who may not be perceived to belong in a certain gender-specific restroom may experience harassment or discrimination when accessing multi-stall gender specific restrooms. The provision of more options for all to choose from is paramount to equity and safety on our campuses. Going to the restroom is something we all do on a daily basis. More single stall, all gender, accessible facilities on campus allows a greater swathe of individuals to experience this basic human reality with a greater amount of integrity, safety and equity. The conversion of specific multi-stall restrooms into single stall facilities will positively impact all folks on Pace’s campuses. Currently the University is continuing to work on identifying prime locations for these facilities and to ensure that all new constructions have single stall accessible restrooms. To demonstrate support of these initiatives and to ensure that such constructions are a priority, more than 250 students have signed the petition in support of this initiative. This growing support is vital to demonstrate the needs for all gender single stall accessible bathrooms on all Pace campuses. For a current listing of all gender restrooms on Pace’s campuses, check out the following link: http://www.pace.edu/lgbtqa-center/gender-neutral-bathroom-locations.
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ARTS
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December 10, 2014
From Google+ to Scotland, Daria Musk tells all Singer Daria Musk advises student musicians.
SHANNON MCMAHON Copy Editor The Pace Press had the chance to sit down and chat with singersongwriter, Daria Musk, who recently visited the university to share her musical success story with students. Musk rose to Internet stardom after broadcasting her music live across the globe via the unique platform of Google+ hangouts. Musk was interested in music from an early age, having been raised by a family of musicians. “I started singing seriously when I was nine. I started playing guitar around thirteen and everything took off from there,” she says. Musk’s mother, a Julliard alumna and classical flutist, and her rock ‘n’ roll oriented father encouraged her pursuit of music. Musk tried her hand at violin, piano, and flute before confirming her passion for guitar and singing. In a Google+ hangout session with the Press, Musk recalls her eagerness to get into the music scene. “In eighth grade there were these boys who had a band but they wouldn’t let me join, and I was so bummed. So I asked my parents for a guitar that year for my birthday. I was like, ‘I want to rock out!’” Musk laughs, gives a wide smile, and reflects on where the “boys only” band is now and says, “So that ended up being my first guitar and I started singing and playing, and I don’t think any of those boys play music anymore, and here I am.” Musk began her career by playing open mics in her Connecticut hometown, and gradually moved graduated to playing gigs in New York City at venues like The Living Room, Rockwood Hall, and Mercury Lounge. “I had those little flashes of glory for half a second, but they didn’t ever turn into, ‘now I’m big.’ There was still that void of having to find my real break. And that’s what ended up happening online.” she says. Musk initially intended to get her start in music at Berkeley College of Music in Boston, but financial constraints, and an uncomfortable amount of structure surrounding the creative process interfered, so Musk took matters into her own hands. She decided to concentrate instead on her artistic identity, improving her music theory skills, and promoting herself online, noting that, “The internet is the most amazing school.” Three days before she was set to audition for popular singing competition show “The Voice”, she broadcast her first “hangout concert.” Musk was the first artist to use Google hangouts as a platform for musical concerts. By the end of the night, Musk had played for 100 people across the globe. She attributes the public interest to the exclusive vibe
that the hangout session had. “It had a little bit of an underground club feeling going on. You needed a beta invite to even get in,” she says. After the hangout concert was a success, she reconsidered her audition and decided against taking part in “The Voice”. At this reflection Musk pauses for a moment and smiles, then says, “Something in my heart told me doing something new is more powerful.” Musk now regularly plays hangout concerts where she can bond with fellow artists and fans. “People come and they stay for a few songs and we laugh and we talk and they leave so someone else can join. It’s an honor system— that’s why I started doing six hours, seven hours, and eight hours.” Pausing to think about how much time she has really committed to hangout concerts, Musk laughs and says, “I remember once somebody had told me that they had watched me, gone to sleep and gotten up for work and I was still going.” Currently, Musk’s online concerts vary between 4 to 5 hours
After word spread on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, Musk decided to truly commit, following and commenting back to every person who showed support. Tech blogs picked up the story. There were nights when she gave marathon concerts and corresponded with fans in a multitude of time zones. Musk recalls once playing 24 hours straight on New Year’s Eve. She played half an hour sets for every time zone as the New Year struck, alternating fans in and out of the hangout, which only allows ten people at once. “I kind of didn’t sleep for a year. I was on there talking to everybody, making friends with everybody,” she says. Now, two years later, Musk is sponsored by Taylor Guitars, proudly showcased by Google, and has traveled to Europe for TED Talk Global in Scotland, along with a European tour. She has played the Google offices in London and was flown by sponsoring companies to play a multitude of shows throughout Europe. While
Pace University Musk is as relaxed as she is during her Google+ hangout sessions.
abroad, her global fanbase from hangouts became her tour guides. Part of the positive nature of Google hangout concerts, Musk points out, is that meeting fans is also easygoing since they’ve already met in hangouts. “For me the concerts I do online are exactly like this. I totally get who you are, we’re talking and we’re friends. So that’s the way it is for me when I meet people.” With only a handful of individuals comprising her artistic team of support, she is currently getting ready to not only independently record her first record, but also film the process. It will go live early next year. “If I have the opportunity now to bushwhack a trail I want to do it, because nobody did that for me. I always try to do it the way I wish it had been done for me.” After her fanbase started to grow, so did Musk’s resume. She set out to forge a path for herself as an artist. She Googled how to write a press release, studied how to most effectively use social media, taught herself Photoshop and Keynote, and made promotional posters that she stapled up around the city on her own, noting, “I was my own street team. I was learning.” It didn’t take long for individuals to reach out to Musk, and for Google to ask around for an agent for her so they could—as she puts it—“stop taking all her calls.” Musk found her agent, George Ruiz, with Google’s help. The last two members of her team are vocal coach Mark Baxter and record producer Fab Dupont, who owns Flux Studios, where she’ll be working on her first record. Most important in her circle of support, she notes, are her family and friends— one of which is her family friend and producer, who she refers to simply as “Ram.” She kindly calls those who comprise her current professional team “uncles and aunts.” For aspiring artists, Musk gives this advice: “It’s all about figuring out who you are and what you’re passionate about. Once you know what that thing is, then it’s all about getting at good at that as you can, and dedicating as much time as possible to that as you can. Don’t let anybody else make your choices for you. If you want to make money doing what you love, try to take that on.” Daria will be organizing a coffee session with students in late Dec. Her next hangout concert will be Nov. 29. Watch on www.google. com/+dariamusk and youtube.com/ dariamusk. For more info, visit Musk’s twitter account @DariaMusk or website, www.dariamusk.com
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Jenny From The Block gets a Book MELISSA VARGAS News Editor On Nov.4, the internationally renowned singer and actress Jennifer Lopez released her first book, titled “True Love.” The books publisher, Penguin Publishing describes the book, as one that “Explores one of her life’s most defining periods—the transformative two-year journey of how, as an artist and a mother, she confronted her greatest challenges, identified her biggest fears, and ultimately emerged a stronger person than she’s ever been.” The book, written in a memoir form, or with “diary flair,” features many photos of Lopez private life. These photos have never been seen before, which was something her fans appreciated. In her memoir, Lopez opens up about being a powerful career woman, and her past divorces including her divorce to singer, Marc Anthony. Although, she does not give too many personal details, fans should not expect a tell all. Instead she talks about what she has learned about love through the good and hard times. She shares a few details like the memory of when she first met Anthony, as well, as the rough patches she encountered in her relationships, like the times where she had felt “mentally, or verbally abused.” “I think that with this book she shows us how human and normal she is just like any of us, and how she has gone through her own obstacles to get to where she is now. There is a big emphasis on love. She shares her thoughts and feelings and it is nice to see that side of her” said, senior Marielle Torres. People magazine ran an interview with Lopez, where she reveals how she started writing the book. “It started out as fan book, a diary of the years I went on tour,” “But it turned into something else. As I started looking at things, it helped me face a lot. I would never go into specifics about my relationships, and I don’t. But the idea was that I learned something.” Lopez has been known for keeping a very private personal life, something that is a challenge for
many artists who are constantly in the limelight. She has grown into an international super star that does it all, from acting, to clothing lines, to being on the cover of many prestigious magazines. Six years ago she gave birth to her twins Emmy and Max, which she has described as a life changing experience, and the truest love she has ever encountered. The singer had many media appearances in support of her book. One of them was an interview with NBC’s Today Shows’ Maria Scriver. She said that early on in her career, when she was first becoming famous, “What I realized was missing was something in myself. It’s like ... getting comfortable on your own, being on your own and feeling like, I got this, and not needing somebody to fill
that hole for you.” On Instagram, Lopez has reposted countless of photos her fans have posted. Her fans have accepted the memoir with open arms and excitement. Eager to learn a little more of the woman they have looked up too for so long. Writing this book is one extra thing that Lopez can add to her impressive list of accomplishments. Sophomore Marlenne Baez, said, “This book is able to change any opinions you might have had, subconsciously or not about Jennifer Lopez. True Love exposes her long journey towards loving herself while living her successful career and failed marriages. It’s filled with inspirational moments that many women both young and mature, can learn and reflect from.”
Sting’s Broadway musical is sure to rock the boat MAXIMILLIANO ONOFRE Editorial Assistant “The Last Ship” has finally arrived to Broadway after its world premiere in Chicago, where it played for just over a month. After its tryout at the Bank of America Theater, “The Last Ship” sailed into the Neil Simon Theater in New York. With its official opening night on the Oct. 26, there was much speculation on whether or not the show would live up to the talent behind the music. The show has received much hype due to the original music and lyric being written by Sting, previous musician of the popular rock band The Police. The story is based on Sting’s own childhood experiences as well as Sting’s 1991 album The Soul Cages”. The story centers around a community and the detriment of the shipbuilding industry in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, as their own shipyard begins to close. The Last Ship is Sting’s first musical, even though he had previously co-written the score for the Disney film, The Emperor’s New Groove. The album for the musical was released before the show, as part of Sting’s eleventh studio album, featuring music from the musical as well as pieces that didn’t make it. The show’s two main characters are Gideon Fletcher, who is played by Michael Esper, and Meg Dawson, portrayed by Rachel Tucker. Both actors were part of the original Chicago cast, playing the parts of two lovers separated for fifteen years when Gideon runs away from his father. Gideon faces two obstacles during his return home; trying to win Meg’s love back, and joining with Jackie White, played Jimmy Nail, to save their shipyard.
Junior Kurt Hines-Williams states that he found the musical to be, “beautiful art. An amazing musical.” The audience reacted very well to the music, and like HinesWilliams says, “The music and acting was tremendous.” Of course, there has been much speculation that this show was just a shot at making money. Zoe Kaseman, a senior, however, doesn’t believe that is the case. “I wouldn’t say that it’s propaganda,” Kaseman states, “I
think I admire people who do autobiographical work because you’re putting a lot of yourself out there and it takes a lot to do that.” After various reviews, however, the show is suffering. There are plans to have Sting join the cast from Dec. 9 to Jan. 10 in order to help the falling ticket sales, replacing Nail’s character. “The Last Ship” is set to run until the end of March for now, at the Neil Simon Theater.
The men of the shipyard join together to build one last ship.
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December 10, 2014
Andrea Gibson speaks her truths to the University Gibson illuminates audience with spoken word poetry MAXIMILLIANO ONOFRE Editorial Assistant
Dondre Stuetley Gibson passion for their poetry sparks their movements.
On the evening of Nov. 13, Andrea Gibson performed at the University for the first time. Invited by the Stonewall Coalition, with the support of the LGBTQA and Social Justice Center and P.A.C.E. Board, Gibson brought in a large crowd, filling the Bianco Room. Gibson was received happily, with claps and finger snaps following their every poem. Their performance did not sway from their usual politically and personal based work. As Gibson executed their work, they begin to grow more impassioned, fervently expressing their truths to the world through their spoken poetry. As junior Ayana Nedd exclaimed “It was enlightening and it made me connect with myself more and my identity and developing myself as a person.” Although there was a technical difficulty halfway through the show, did this not stop Gibson from interacting with those in the crowd. Instead, they used this time to begin their question and answer session a little early. Students had the chance to ask Gibson questions pertaining to their work as a full time poet, what their inspirations were, and how they dealt with unpleasant crowds. Even with this minor technical difficulty, Gibson was able to continue reciting their work. There was not a moment of silence thought the performance again until Gibson forgot the next line of their poem. However, friends of theirs that had come in support started trying to help by giving them the line. Gibson took a small moment from this to tell the audience of their fear of forgetting their lines that they used to
have when they used to perform. Nevertheless, from this point on the show continued smoothly. After the show was done, Gibson continued her question and answer session, and finished by letting people know that their books and albums were on sale. Gibson sat at the table during the sales, giving the audicne a chance to speak to them about anything from how they found out about Gibson’s poetry to how the show made them feel. Everyone’s purchases were autographed, and some even had the chance to get a picture with Gibson. Students at Pace University were quite glad to have Gibson, as they had been a long awaited request of many of the attendants of Stonewall Coalition and Lavender Ladies as well as the visitors of the LGBTQA and Social Justice Center. “I feel like it was really good because they’re a poet who really care about what they’re writing and saying,” stated Freshman Larissa Szilagyi, an avid listener of Gibson’s poetry. She continued by clarifying what it was that made her enjoy Gibson’s poetry, “you can feel the passion thought their movements and how they spoke.” “They were very magical,” says Freshman DaSean Young. “I’ve never been truly that engrossed in poetry before and it made me explore different sides of myself that were hard to come to terms with but yet very enlightening to do.” As the evening came to a close, the attendees stayed longer to congregate and between conversations, it was obvious that they enjoyed the performance. Gibson definitely struck a poetic chord with many people, as visitors came from around the city to see them. All in all, the show was a success that even technical difficulties could not take away from.
Community outreach that goes beyond the binds ASIA LETLOW Contributor Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, located on 126 Crosby Street in SoHo is part of a big mission dedicated to ending AIDS and homelessness in NYC. What is unique about Housing Works is their focus on these two crises as a joint issue. Housing Works started as a branch of Act Up, an activist group comprised of Keith Cylar, Charles King, Eric Sawyer, and Virginia Shubert formed in the 1990s that fought for healthcare. They rallied for the government to take action in regards to helping those who are homeless and living with AIDS, as the two are not uncommonly paired together. Today, this belief is upheld, and all involved can agree that both need to end, starting with a community of caring individuals dedicated to this cause.
According to their mission statement, “Housing Works is a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Our mission is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts.” Their goal is to end AIDS as an epidemic in NYC by 2020, and in New York State, 2025.
It’s so easy to support us. We’re a unique place. -Heidi Tamenbaum,
Housing Works bookstore Manager
Housing Works is not solely a bookstore-it is a multi-purpose company comprised of 12 thrift shops located throughout the city that sell furniture, clothing, accessories, etc. They are also a catering company. Additionally, to help clients obtain the medical attention they need, there are health care and counseling centers located in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
nyclocal.com
There are several nights a week dedicated to public events held at the bookstore in order to raise funds, as they cannot operate on grants alone. Author readings, panel discussions, story telling, and various marathons are public events enjoyed by all. Weddings and receptions are and have been held commonly on the weekend. The company obtains funds by donations and the helping hands of dedicated volunteers. There is much interaction with clients who seek help from the organizations by Housing Works. Clients are taken in to learn job skills, and may be tracked for a position. “The idea is that we are a community working toward a single goal,” noted HW bookstore manager Heidi Tannenbaum. “It’s so easy to support us. We’re a unique place. You don’t have to make a big donation. For me, I am a booklover, and that’s how I came to Housing Works,” Tannenbaum later stated. She believes that Housing Works Bookstore is a union of two things-keeping bookstore culture alive, and valuing literature. Indeed it is, and they are making a difference, one person at a time.
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Nightlife: The Underdog’s killer cocktails NIK BHARAT Contributor The Growler has been a go-to spot for University students for years—a solid beer collection and consistently great food has made this place a staple. Beneath the Growler, however, there is a new cocktail bar that has quietly been churning out some of the city’s best cocktails. Called the Underdog, its quite brilliant. Walk through the door conveniently labeled ‘underdog’ and you’ll find yourself in an intimate room, a few small tables and mostly seating at the bar. Small groups work best here, preferably a date or maybe that one friend we all have that appreciates the finer things in life (as should you!). This place serves up some killer cocktails and has one of the friendliest teams in the city—nowhere near as pretentious as elsewhere in the city. As with most cocktail bars, there’s no standing here, these people mean business and value ambience, only vinyl’s are played here and no you cant connect your iPod…its almost like you’re not in the city anymore. It’s a nice break after a long day. On my last visit I spoke to Joshua baker, one of the Mixologist’s and all around great guy, here’s what he had to say. Nik Bharat: So you’re coming up on your one year anniversary, tell us a little about the bar and its conception. Joshua Baker: Hurricane Sandy flooded this whole place, this was originally just an overflow and event space for the growler. [But] With the success of our friends over at the Dead Rabbit, we realized a cocktail bar could work in the FiDi neighborhood. So we renovated and implemented our cocktail program and changed the name from ‘the pound’ to the underdog. NB: How do you go about coming up with a new menu? Can you describe some of the steps in the
process? JB: The only thing I would say is it is a team effort in building these concoctions, when you’re creating cocktails in a vacuum you’re only creating cocktails for yourself. Working with a team creates a wide palate range, which allows us to create amazing cocktails. NB: One of the things that set you guys apart is that you only play records. Tell us a little more about why that is? JB: This room is over 200 years old, and having the record player really brings an old school ambience of the bar scene. NB: Sometimes cocktails and cocktail bars can be seen as pretentious and gimmicky…especially among a younger crowd. What would you say to them? JB: Absolutely it can be perceived that way, I think the main thing is the bartender’s attitude... I would have to say our bartenders here are down to earth and wont judge you on what you drink or don’t drink…. Its not about what’s in your glass but about the time you’re having.
NB: What cocktail do you recommend to first timers? JB: Our San Francisco milk punch is what I would recommend to first timers, don’t let the term ‘milk’ discourage you, if I didn’t tell you there was milk in it you’d never know, it is a delicious winter time and summer time drink, it stays with the underdog theme and dates back to 1812. NB: What’s your favorite cocktail and why? JB: My favorite cocktail is a Sezarec. I’m a big An Underdog cocktail, served in a frozen apple whisky drinker I love whisky and absinthe drinks; this Nik Bharat | The Pace Press is a classic style cocktail that I really like, because it includes both spirits. Here at the underdog we make it the traditional way, which is one part rye whisky, and Herbsaint. This is the original recipe that dates one part Cognac, Peychauds bitters, Demerrera sugar back to the original Sezarac house in New Orleans.
Video Game High School proves to be a hit SARAH HARTZELL Contributor
It is virtually impossible to step outside in New York City without seeing a bus stop or subway car advertising the new face of YouTube. “Video Game High School,” a television-style web series, is a game-changer in the world of online content creation. Now in its third and final season, VGHS is a testament to the growing business model of digital content based on crowdsourcing. VGHS launched in 2012 after raising almost four times its $75,000 goal on Kickstarter. The fundraising website uses a system of “perks” in return for donations. Perks include VGHS merchandise, signed scripts, and Skype calls with the cast and crew, depending on the amount donated. The current season has a budget of $2.5 million, $900,000 of which was raised on Indiegogo, a similar fundraising website. The YouTube channel for Rocket Jump—the studio behind the series—on which VGHS airs has over a billion views and over seven million subscribers. VGHS takes place in a world where video gaming is the most popular competitive sport and prodigious young gamers are sent to what is essentially gaming Hogwarts. Rocket Jump describes it as, “An action/comedy series about surviving high school, fitting in, and landing that perfect head shot.” The show is like a futuristic “Degrassi,” focusing as much on the students’ teen angst as on their studies of first-person shooter and drift racing games. What started as a cast of unknown actors has since grown to include celebrity guest stars like Stan Lee and Tony Hawk. Even so, VGHS and its producers are very much rooted in their Internet origins. The creator of videocopilot.net, a site that provides expert level tutorials in video editing and effects, helms the third season’s visual effects. Much of the show is filmed at YouTube’s own studio, YouTube Space in LA. The series has amassed a huge cult following and has expanded into the mainstream, thanks in part to YouTube’s ad campaign. The show’s directors Matthew Arnold and Freddie Wong have appeared on “Conan” to promote the new season and commercials featuring VGHS have aired during hit shows like AMCs “The Walking Dead.” Wong and co-creator Will Campos have even been featured on Forbes.com for their contributions to the monetization of online content. As the final season of VGHS comes to a close in the coming weeks, it will be worth keeping an eye on Rocket Jump to see what they do next. As television seems to be undergoing a sort of revolution in the way it distributes content, so too is digital content constantly evolving, and it may not be long before the two cross paths.
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December 10, 2014
From Comedy Central to the Big Screen
Comedian Jon Stewart makes directorial debut with Rosewater KOBE Y. JACOBS Staff Writer The summer of 2013, Jon Stewart took an extended three-month hiatus from his post at The Daily Show, and gave his seat temporarily to his colleague John Oliver and went to Jordan. He brought with him a film crew and shot his debut film—“Rosewater.” He adapted the script himself from the memoir “Then They Came for Me” in his free time. The film tells the story of Maziar Bahari, a journalist living in London who covers the 2009 Iranian election for Newsweek. While in Iran, Bahari is detained by Iranian officials, in part because of a satirical interview segment he had done for The Daily Show. In the interview segment Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones pretended to be an American spy, a bit of humor that the Iranians didn’t seem to understand. This misunderstanding resulted in Maziar Bahari being imprisoned for espionage and tortured, both psychologically and physically, for 118 days by the Iranian government. Stewart replaced the original title; a reference to a famous poem by Martin Niemöller about Nazism, with a title he felt was more specific to Bahari’s story. Rosewater is the name Bahari gives to his interrogator because of his scent; the only way he can identify him. Though the film was dramatic, the Daily Show host didn’t allow the film to lose a sense of humor. Interactions between Bahari, played by Gael García Bernal, and Rosewater, played by Kim Bodnia, contain both gripping intensity and humor. Rosewater’s complete ignorance in the face of any so-called “Western” concept is comical in that he completely misunderstands all references that Bahari makes. The real life Bahari has described him as “exaggerated in whatever he did,” and said that Rosewater eventually became his “muse.” Bahari manipulates Rosewater’s extreme fascination with New Jersey, of all places, and Bahari exploits his ignorance to make up fantastical things. He convinces Rosewater in the film that New Jersey was a paradise of massages and beautiful women. Bernal and Bodnia have wonderful chemistry in these prison cell scenes, making the audience giggle in the midst of tense circumstances. The levity helps humanize the story and bring perspective to what Stewart called, “the stupidity of evil,” in an interview with Bahari––a play on the phrase, “banality of evil.” The dialogue, written by Stewart, is also rife with humorous jabs. When confronted with the footage of his Daily Show interview Bahari’s character quips, “Why would a spy have a TV show?” This, of course, goes over the head of the exceedingly serious Rosewater. Finally, as Bahari’s character boards a plane after his release he sits next to a man who pulls an eye cover over his face similar to the one Bahari is forced to wear in prison. This causes Bahari’s character, who retains his sense of humor throughout, to chuckle. Bahari has described laughter as his “defense mechanism,” during his time in Iranian prison. The film’s watershed moment for the protagonist happens when Bahari is allowed a phone call to his pregnant wife. The Iranians hope that he will tell her to stop causing a fuss in the media but the call, during which he finds the baby will be a girl, ends up empowering Bahari. Bernal plays the following scene brilliantly, his face illuminating with laughter as he glides about his cell dancing and revitalized by this contact with the outer world. The film’s laughter-ispower moral might best characterize Stewart’s own views as a satirical social critic, and may be what compelled Stewart to make the film. Stewart has said that he made the film because it has “an urgency and a relevance,” he felt needed to be seen. Stewart also included some real footage of the protests shot by Bahari prior to his detainment. Shot with what Stewart referred to as a “skeleton” crew, the film is aesthetically reminiscent of a documentary. The camera moves with the action in what cinematographer Bobby Bukowski calls “pure documentary filmmaking.” He added that he, “wasn’t going to stand in the way of that
blogs.wsj.com kind of storytelling,” which ended up being an engaging way to involve the audience in the story. Jon Stewart’s directorial debut has been a critical success for the most part, despite some negative reviews. Stewart’s work received a standing ovation at the Telluride film festival and was called, “powerfully
acted political drama about human endurance in the face of ideological oppression,” by Variety magazine. Much like Stewart’s work at “The Daily Show,” “Rosewater” is both entertaining and meaningful. It’s a powerful story and contains critical messages regarding torture and media oppression.
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Tarantino bids film industry farewell The controversial director announces plans to retire
DIANA IZIZAGA Contributor Following his tenth film, Quentin Tarantino is set to announce his retirement from directing films. He stated, “I don’t believe you should stay onstage until people are begging you to get off” in Santa Monica to an American Film Market audience. Tarantino also said, “It’s not etched in stone, but that is the plan,” while describing directing as, “a young man’s game.” Despite the great idea of leaving behind a ten-film canon, if a new idea gives off a big enough spark, he will go through with it. At 51 he has decided that he would spend more of his time and the remainder of his career writing plays and books. At this point, he has two more films to go and he hopes to go out with a bang. “It seems very unlikely,” said freshman Rebeca Sanchez. Although having only seen a selection of his films, Sanchez knew about the famous director and his cult classics such as “Pulp Fiction”: “He cannot tie himself down to only books and plays.” Over the course of his movies, Tarantino has shown some his true colors regarding his career. Many actors have played in more than one of his movies or in other projects he has helped with. Kurt Russell, who was also in Death Proof, plays John “The Hangman” Ruth a bounty hunter in his recent film project, “The Hateful Eight.” Upon hearing this news he said, “You don’t actually believe that shit, do you?” Ruth has not been the only one who can’t imagine the retirement. Samuel L. Jackson, who acted in over five Tarantino films, does not believe the director could only write for the rest of his time. His new western movie, “The Hateful Eight,” is scheduled to be released by the fall of 2015. The movie follows the journey of a group of strangers who become snowbound, while traveling across the harsh winter of Wyoming after the Civil War. Said to be produced in the 70-mm format, aside from the standard 35mm motion picture format, the film will feature a higher resolution, better special effects and more. “If we do our jobs right by making this film a 70-mm. event, we will remind people why this is something you can’t see on television, and how this is an experience you can’t have when you watch movies in your apartment, your man cave or your iPhone or iPad,” he said. The goal is to stop the momentum of digital stuff and make people appreciate the quality. This will make ticket prices higher but he hopes people will realize it’s worth saving for. In the beginning of 2014, the director decided to put one of his projects on hold and then ultimately dropped it after having his script leaked. He soon became depressed. After giving it to six people, three of them actors, the script spread through Hollywood and film websites. Although only a first draft, many Hollywood agents started to get in contact with Tarantino to
popsugar.com pitch their acting clients, which is how he found out about the leak. Tarantino had already started to practice with the actors when deciding to pull the plug. “It’s his script, idea, and movie. I think he does have the right to do what he wants with the script. But I see why he is upset since one of the actors betrayed him especially if he trusted them,” freshman Berenice Lee argued. Later on, the director hosted a reading of his leaked script in Los Angeles; alongside actors Samuel L Jackson, Bruce Dern and Michael Madsen. He also decided to sue a gossip website, Gawker, for contributory copyright infringement after posting a link to the screenplay. Quentin Tarantino is most known for “Pulp Fiction,” winning best writing at the Academy Awards, best screenplay at the Golden Globe Awards, and more recently, the film “Django Unchained” starring Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx. The director, producer, and actor himself has won and been nominated for many awards since his debut film “Reservoir Dogs” premiered in 1992.
Above and Beyond set to release new album
TAYLOR GORUSSO Contributor
British trance icons Jono Grant, Paavo Siljamäki and Tony McGuinness, better known as Above & Beyond, have announced their new album “We Are All We Need,” set to release on Jan. 20, 2015 on Anjunabeats and Ultra Music Records. The trio has been producing electronic music since they launched their own label, Anjunabeats, in 1999, and for the past decade, they have hosted a wide followed weekly radio show titled “Group Therapy” that boasts roughly 25 million listeners in more than 30 countries. “I love Above & Beyond. They have a huge following and are legends in the EDM community”, says Sophomore Logan Alucci. As expected Above & Beyond have planned wonderful things to be in store for their devoted fans in the upcoming year and many more to come. On Oct. 18, they broadcast the show’s 100th episode from a DJ booth in the center of New York’s Madison Square Garden. The benchmark show sold out in 12 hours and provided the audience with a sneak peek at the group’s forthcoming album, “We Are All We Need.” Hope
Reichard, a sophomore says, “I have seen Above & Beyond twice and each time I was blown away. The lighting effects from their performance along with their amazing energy always leave people in awe. Their songs are wonderful and are catchy without sounding mainstream. Can’t wait for their new album.” The streets of New York City were streaming with colors as fans with their flags and ribbons were all out in anticipation for a night with Above & Beyond. McGuinness, Siljamäki and Grant joined 13,000 fans at the renowned Madison Square Garden to celebrate ABGT100, the hundredth episode of their Group Therapy radio show. The Garden was lit up with the smiles of fans that were decorated in variations of both homemade and official Above & Beyond merchandise. Ahead of becoming the first British DJs to have headlined and sold out New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden, Above & Beyond have announced details of their highly anticipated third artist album. Fans that pre-ordered the album were able to immediately download recent hits “Sticky Fingers” and “Blue Sky Action,” with the title track “We’re All We Need” available as a third instant gratification download
from October 18. Above & Beyond have worked with Andrew Bayer on the production of the album and among its’ 16 tracks are vocal collaborations with Zoë Johnston, Alex Vargas and Justine Suissa. “As the writing process unfolded we kept noticing a recurring theme,’’ says Above & Beyond. “Zoë hit it on the head with the beautiful song ‘We Are All We Need’ and, after a minute’s thought, we had our album title. It’s very Above & Beyond and feels to us like a development of Group Therapy: you are most certainly included in our ‘We’.” No song on the album embodies these themes more than the title track “We Are All We Need,” sung beautifully by Zoë Johnston. The official music video was premiered on October 18, in Times Square in New York, with the track available to download at midnight that same night. After their remarkable show at The Garden, everyone either left with a smile, teary eyes, or both, all of which were signs of a memorable night. ABGT100 was streamed online for fans all over the world to experience, and is available for viewing on YouTube and on their personal website.
FEATURES
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December 10, 2014
Intersession presents students with limitless options NATALIE CONDRILLO Contributor
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University students are presented with many options for spending their intersessions: Take a course – Even though your 18-credit semester was brutal enough, taking a winter-session course can really benefit you. You can transfer up to 66 credits back to the University from a two-year institution. Taking one class over the winter break really isn’t as bad as it seems – community college intersession courses are extremely laid back. Winter session courses are usually 3-4 hour-long classes Monday through Friday. Professors are normally lenient, as the semester is extremely quick and goes by very fast. It’ll be a cake-walk compared to a regular full-time semester. Another upside to attending a community college for intersession is that it’s substantially less expensive than attending a winter course through the University, although that option is also present. Get in shape – With almost a month and a half of free time there’s no better way to the start the new year healthy! Getting in shape doesn’t have to be a chore, or something we even need to feel obligated to do in order to feel better about ourselves. Living an active lifestyle will make you a happier person. The cold winter months may not motivate you to work on your beach body quite yet, but there’s plenty to do to keep moving. Doing in-home workout videos is probably the simplest option. You don’t even need to leave your room, realistically. Swimming, cycling, yoga, and other practices that won’t tire you out as much as high impact workouts, are also another good options. Catch up with family and friends – Use this time at home to spend with your family, and friends you grew up with. If you live far from away from New York, there are people who miss you. As university students
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Ice skating at Rockefeller Center is a winter favorite in NYC we often get too wrapped up in our own lives and we forget our parents are growing older too, and other family members. They can understand that going to school full time is very time consuming, but you can do the courtesy of making the effort to spend quality time with them. Despite how much you bicker with your parents and siblings, they love you and want to know what’s going on in your life. Friends who go to schools far away don’t know all the drama and accomplishments you have during the semester. Childhood friends know you the best, and dishing it all to them will make you feel more at home Work a job – Considering all of us are completely broke by the end of the semester, if not in the mid-way point of the semester, working a job over the break can put some money back into your pocket. Many businesses hire seasonal employees, specifically for the holidays and the month of January. Stores such as Lush, Foot Locker or Abercrombie all hire seasonal employees. Babysitting is another form of income, which not only pays extremely well, but also is fairly easy. In some cases there are winter-session internships as well, either earning you an income or college credit.
Intersession classes help University students jump towards graduation
Spending it on-campus If you happen to be spending the winter break on campus, there are still plenty of ways to spend your time; you live in New York City, after all. Even though the below freezing temperatures will make you want to stay indoors forever, this city offers a lot to do. The Metropolitan Museum of Art still offers discounted rates to college students and the Rockefeller Center’s ice rink opens up when the weather becomes cold enough. One could go out and see the newest movie in theaters. One could even pick up a skill, like cooking or painting. Spending time at the New York Public Library is fun too, being able to read in nice warm library with a good book. Students have many options to stay warm and occupied during the 2015 intersession.
Travel options help students escape the winter cold BRIANNA WILLIAMS Contributor As the fall semester comes to an end, most students are getting ready to head back home for the holidays. However, for many, going away on a winter getaway has become a popular choice for students. The January intersession is the perfect opportunity for students looking to go away on vacation with over four weeks to travel. Traveling to a warmer destination is a favorable choice for students living in colder areas. The arctic temperatures in New York City have students yearning for the warm sun. University junior, Kayla Bazile said, “The winter in New York is brutally cold and can be quite depressing. Going to Puerto Rico is my ideal winter destination because of the beautiful, warm weather.” For students looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of New York, a warm tropical destination is a great choice for a relaxing, serene getaway. Traveling to the Caribbean is an ideal location for students looking for a warm destination that won’t break the bank. Turks and Caicos Islands are a notable location for college students looking for a budget friendly option. The Turks and Caicos Islands are located in the Caribbean
that is known for its miles of sandy beaches and the vibrant culture. This popular destination has a number of all-inclusive resorts and hotels that allow students to vacation stress-free. An all-inclusive resort allows visitors to pay for their daily meals, drinks, gratuities and other services in one fixed price. The Bahamas has also become the new hot spot for college students, especially Paradise Island that is home to the famous Atlantis Resort. The Atlantis resort may not be an all-inclusive but it has everything a visitor would need. This expansive megaresort has a water park, entertainment complex, several walk-through aquariums, and multiple beaches and pools. Freshmen, Larissa Szilagyi said, “ Going to London and other cities in Europe is the perfect time during the winter because it isn’t packed with tourist compared to the summer time.” A winter vacation in Europe is a great alternative to ideal tropical vacation. Cities like Paris are gorgeous to visit during the winter season with its picturesque scenery. It also gives visitors the opportunity to see the major attractions without the crowd. Another bonus is that airline tickets for Europe are often cheaper in winter than in peak season like the spring and the summer. For those that don’t want to be stuck outside in the cold while in Europe, opting to visit indoor attractions like cathedrals or museums such as the Louvre Museum, are great alternatives while visiting Europe in the winter.
FEATURES
December 10, 2014
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A freshman’s dreams take flight at the University Freshman Naresh Hing balances aviation career and school
ARIZE LEE Contributor
Freshman Naresh Hing is a Computer Science major by day and an aircraft maintenance technician by night. His career officially began in August at an undisclosed airline and he works 10 hours a day, 4 days a week. Despite the workload, Hing still finds time to sharpen his programming skills in Java and Python, plus teaches physics and calculus on the weekend at New York University Upward Bound. The Pace Press has interviewed this multifaceted student. The Pace Press: Whether from our parents or popular television series, we all receive inspiration to pursue our dreams. Who or what inspired you to become an aircraft technician? Naresh Hing: I was inspired by just watching an airplane fly above my house. I always wanted to know ‘how do these planes fly so high?’ and ‘what makes them function properly?’ TPP: The usual teenage job involves cashiering at a supermarket or working at a fast food restaurant. How did you land a job in aircraft maintenance? NH: Well I went to Aviation High School on Long Island City where they train you through rigorous classes. I would spend half my day doing aviation maintenance and the other half would be doing my regular academics. I usually had to be in school from 7:15am and finished at 4:30 in the afternoon. TPP: While everyone else is asleep, you are on the job from 9pm to 7:30am. What motivates you to get up and work? NH: Just seeing the planes take off and land safely is my biggest concern. Knowing that the passengers are not going
to be harmed is what really motivates me. Seeing people enjoy all the amenities, knowing that the airplane won’t encounter any maintenance problems. TPP: What are the greatest challenges you face at work? NH: Visual inspection. To work on an aircraft you have to look out for everything, making sure that nothing has been damaged on the airplane to cause further damage to all mechanics in operation. Finding malfunctions is a time-consuming process. Whenever an airplane comes into the hanger, we first do something called the walk around, where we start from the cabin door and we make our way around the aircraft. We make sure that nothing has been damaged to the external system affecting the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft, and then we work our way to all the hydraulic systems.
on college. TPP: As an aircraft technician, how will a Computer Science major benefit you? NH: Computer Science is my hobby. I have had a passion for working with computers since I was four years old and
I’ve been doing computer programming since the 8th grade. I feel that Computer Science has a lot to do with the technology we see in today’s market, so learning the science behind it will help to solve the problems we have in the modern day world.
TPP: How often do airplanes need to be checked? NH: Every 100 flight hours we do something called the 100 hour inspection. We also do something called the progressive inspection where every certain amount of hours it goes through a certain check, instead of doing the full wait for the 100 hours. As you can imagine the planes would start backing up and we’re in the business to keep the planes flying. So we do part of the check at a certain time period and check it as it goes further. TPP: You fix commercial aircrafts, teach students and complete college assignments every week. How do you keep your life organized? NH: I try to plan out all my sleep periods and see what I can get done during class breaks. I made my work schedule in a way that it would allow me time to work
Photo: Arize Lee | The Pace Press Naresh Hing 18’ is a student by day and an aviation technician by night.
As finals loom, stress relief options take precedence ALVARO GAMBOA Contributor Stress has a compound effect on people, specifically college students that can make one want to pull out their hair or curl up into a ball and watch Netflix. It affects some more than others. With so much going on around our environment such as living in the city, taking rigorous courses, college dating and a plethora of other problems, it is of the utmost importance to be sure that one can handle all of the stresses ahead to make the most out of The College Years. Learning to deal with stress can lead to healthy and unhealthy habits. For example, some students involve themselves in healthy exercise. “I like to jog,” said Freshman Nadine Mahmoud. “I go for runs to help me with stress. It helps me clear my mind.” Hitting the weights could also be a great way to take out some excess energy and nerves out of your system all while being beneficial to your body. Yoga has been shown to have huge benefits in reducing stress. Some unhealthy habits could be taking up smoking, drinking your problems away or finding comfort in food. All of us have come in contact with some of the dangers of unhealthy ways to manage stress whether it was the dreaded Freshman 15, a hangover after a wild night or even worse. These are dangerous to our health and in the long run are not be as beneficial as it appears to be. A good strategy to manage stress is to find relaxation on a daily basis. The train ride home could be where you unwind from the avalanche of homework and studying you have to get done by tomorrow morning. Some music can definitely alter your mood and can create that shift in mood that is needed to counteract the pressures of college. Head out for a walk in the park. Get a well-deserved manicure and pedicure with a stylish French-tip finish because it was earned. “To be honest, I listen to music to escape what I’m going through at the moment,”
said sophomore Khabari Philips. Music calms the soul and eases the tension. Depending on how the Spotify playlist is set up or if Pandora just so happens to be playing all the hits, it can make that much of a difference on how the day is going and lead to more positive outlooks on life.
I go for runs to help me with stress. It helps me clear my mind -Nadine Mahmoud, Freshman One of the best and most obsolete ways to handle stress it to change the negative and start thinking of the positive aspects in life. Positive affirmations can serve as daily reminders that you are good enough. Post-it notes on your refrigerator, laptop, journal, locker etc. are sometimes needed when it’s impossible to keep going. One great way to avoid stress would be to avoid those that invite stress with them. If someone is negative one should strive to avoid them. There are several ways to manage stress and keep it at a bare minimum. To summarize, avoid negative thoughts and negative people with negative vibes. Try finding something that can take time away from the stress and keeps you busy. Exercise, relaxation, and a change in perspective can create a huge boost in morale, leading to less stress and more confidence to handle the crazy roller coaster ride that is this University. One should strive to share their positivity with others and remember: college is a marathon, not a sprint feel free to pace yourself.
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December 10, 2014
As justice system fails, Internet users go rogue
MAXIMILLIANO ONOFRE Editorial Assistant With the announcement of the no indictment in the killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown, there hasn’t been a shortage of commentary on the situation on social media. But as people from all over the country and world speak their opinion, some may find that speaking insensitively on the case will lead to severe consequences. With several cases coming to light of Internet users being “doxxed,” or having their personal information released and then used against them, it may be that using racial slurs and offensive language online will quickly become a thing of the past. The idea of doxxing has quickly spread, becoming a popular way to stop those who speak offensively or express unpopular opinions and punish them. It’s a form of social
justice work, which has come to affect many people as it is the practice of obtaining and revealing personally identifying information-such as names, addresses, places of employment, relatives- of people who use the Internet, typically in a highly public manner as a call to arms against the target. Doxxing cases include users being fired from their jobs after their bosses were made aware of their comments, to death threats being made to them. Though doxxing has been around for many years, it rose in popularity during the #gamergate debate, when people from both sides of the argument began placing other people’s information on the Internet. The original intent was just to let those whose information had been released to know that if they continued doing whatever it was they were doing, they would face serious consequences. In light of recent events, such as the Ferguson protests, vigilantes have gone out of their way to find those who post racist comments and doxx them, releasing addresses, work places, credit card numbers and even social security numbers into public websites. One of the most recent cases of doxing has been the case of Tumblr user “communismkills” who was targeted after posting racist remarks. Since being targeted, “communismkills” has stated that she has had her “private, unlisted number...given to a Tumblr user by a man who thought he was entitled to sex with [her] and has a vendetta against [her] for not having sex with him.” Not only that, but she has confirmed that since she posted her comments, her mother’s home address and work information have been leaked, with threats to get her mother fired, raped, have her house burned down, or killed. There is a lot of debate over the ethics behind a movement like this. Though many people believe it is one way to deal out justice, others do not believe such extreme measures need to be taken. Sophomore Brittany Ziarko believes that this way to take justice is not the proper way because, “Overall, I think it’s wrong. I think what people’s thoughts are in regards to issues like Ferguson are very ignorant but I think it’s just as ignorant to put out their information.” Groups such as Anonymous have taken to doxxing others before and recently did so again by releasing information of the leader of the Loyal White Knights of the KKK and his wife. It is examples like these that have led to an increase in doxxing, especially when anyone’s information is potentially available with just the click of a few buttons and a quick Google search. Though there are many people who believe this is a fair way to balance out the commentary on the Internet, some people have gotten doxxed perhaps unfairly, as people post the target’s information to get revenge on them. One of the most recent cases has been that of Brianna Rivera, a young woman who was targeted by her ex-boyfriend after he made a profile on Facebook as her, posted racist comments and then screen captured them. His goal was to set these out on the Internet along with her personal information in hopes of getting her kicked out of school and fired from her job. While he was caught in the act and people began to quickly spread the truth via social media, there were still some consequences as her school and job continued to receive calls with false information. Doxxing seems to be an expanding practice that will continue to gain popularity as the Internet grows and gives easier access to previously private information. But while many observers appreciate the sense of justice that doxxing may bring in a seemingless justice-less situation, there are clearly pitfalls to this form of vigilante justice.
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FEATURES
December 10, 2014
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Catching a Dream Program continues its success at the University Students engage adults on the autism spectrum
ASHLEY SPENCER Arts Editor All semester long the students in Professor Lawler’s CIS1O2W class could be observed animatedly chatting with their partners discussing everything from the best video games to politics. Huddled around iPads and computers the students have spent the semester working to make dreams a reality. Web design for nonprofits (CIS102W) is a civic engagement course offered through the Seidenberg School, is a course that works to connect students with member’s of our local community in away unlike any other civic engagement course. Students work with members from AHRC, a local organization that provides assistance, programming, and advocacy to Adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, to promote awareness and advocacy to a population often forgotten.
Christina showed me that I have to believe in myself -Mel Mills,
AHRC MANHATTAN
In the fall semester of 2007 Professor Lawler first began his partnership between the University and AHRC. Since then the course has been offered each semester, with a number of sections each targeted at different segments of the population. Students have had the opportunity to learn and work with high school students to Young Adults and seniors, aiding them in reaching their goals and exploring new opportunities utilizing technologies such as Apples iMovie and iPad devices. Junior and Communications Major, Christina Carminucci a student in CIS102 this semester is currently working on a project with her partner Mel, to create a Dancing with the Stars inspired video. When asked what she’s taken away from this partnership, Christina said, “ Working with Mel has been really interesting because he showed me a video and he told me that he used dance to speak, it was really interesting because he expresses everything through dance. It opened me up to what dance could do for people.” Responding to the same question Mel said. “Christina showed me that I have to believe in myself”.
Professor Lawler cultivated this program with a goal in mind. “My engagement with AHRC New York City, a non-profit organization for helping individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, began as a method of pedagogy for involving students with a neglected population in the city. Most of my undergraduate students in my AOK CIS 102W community engagement courses and programs have not encountered people with disabilities until they have partnered with the people of AHRC New York City. This is important as the goal of a professor is to impact students in area of study tangibly. This is my motivation for involving students of the university as mentors in one-on-one partnering with the people of AHRC New York City – they learn about people that they would not often meet in societal or academic setting. The engagement with AHRC New York City definitely helps the people with disabilities to be proactive for self-advocacy; and the engagement helps the students to be proactive and to be sensitive to this population in society, as current students and importantly as future graduated students in society”, said Professor Lawler. Each year student and teacher pairs work together on research project in topics range from gender studies to business. This year I have had the opportunity to work with Professor Lawler on a grant project studying the Role between the Arts and Technology and its affects on individuals with disabilities. “Art empowers individuals with disabilities, as artistic creation discernably engages if not excites people with disabilities or without disabilities. Art especially furnishes infinite opportunities for engaging individuals with disabilities in expressing their dreams and hopes as genuine members of the community. Artistic products of individuals with disabilities are inevitably pleasurable and powerful stories about the skills of those frequently ignored by others in society. The integration of multimedia technology with the art of individuals with disabilities offers an expanded dimension of functional presence to the artistic projects, such that the pride of the individuals is increased in the presentation of their results. Both art and technology are compatible mediums that provide an expanded scope for identity and self-advocacy for those with disabilities ”, said Professor Lawler. In reflecting on my involvement in the research and having been a student in Professor Lawler’s class, having worked with and learned from various participants from AHRC, I have found that our wants and desires as college students are no different to those with disabilities. We all want to be accepted and recognized. Especially in a city as large as NYC, we are all navigating new waters for the first time whether learning to take the subways to get around the city or starting our first jobs we all are growing and exploring ad advocating for something. On Dec. 16 an art exhibit featuring Art from talented artist from AHRC will be held in the Bianco room from 10:30-11:30 am all are welcome to attend.
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Subway violence on the rise
December 10, 2014
Students share views on rise in subway incidents
Huffington Post A massive brawl took place on a Jamaica bound F train, four arrested at W 4 St. ARIZE LEE Contributor With a student body of approximately 60 percent commuters, subway safety is paramount at the University. Recently, the NYC subway system has been the scene of fatal and violent incidents. On Sunday Nov 16th, a 61year old Chinese immigrant was pushed onto the 167th and Grand Concourse track and fatally run over by an oncoming D train. His wife was with him and told police that her husband and the attacker had no preceding interaction. Authorities noted that the attacker fled the subway, entered a BX35 bus, exited after a few stops and disappeared into a convenience store. On Tuesday Nov. 19, Kevin Darden, 34, was arrested as a suspect. Freshman Michael Zuzunaga seldom hears about train accidents on the news. He is a native of NYC and has commuted his whole life. “It’s rare but you do hear it a couple times,” he said.
Zuzunaga pointed out that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority regularly informs passengers about safety practices.“They always have the announcements saying ‘Don’t run on the tracks,” he recalled. In recent years, three other fatalities relating to persons being pushed onto train tracks have occurred. One case in April 2013 and two others in Dec 2012. The MTA noted that the recent collision was the 50th fatal train strike this year. The figure also includes suicides and accidental slips. Jessica Roy, writer for nymag.com, with the aid of math professor David Spiegelhalter, calculated the probability of a commuter being pushed in front of a NYC train and killed. She concluded that it was a 1 in 1.7 billion chance. Roy did an extra calculation to account for the average commuter and the possibility appears quite slim. “If you ride the subway to and from work every day, that’s approximately 500 trips per year. If you divide the total number of
rides per year — 1.71 billion — by 500, you get 3.42 million. So, every year you have a 1 in 3.42 million chance of getting shoved by a stranger,” Roy deduced. Violence has erupted in subway stations as well. On Wednesday Nov. 19th, reporter Doyle Murphy posted on the New York Daily News website about a brawl he witnessed on the eastbound A train in Brooklyn. Murphy posted, “Stomping through the subway car, shouting about the cops, [a man] keyed in Wednesday on a young guy sitting alone and rammed him with a head-butt.” “Next up was a 71-year-old man sitting quietly on the other side of the doorway. Olive hoodie pounced on him, knocking him to the floor before I could reach him,” Murphy continued. “We waited for help, but our tormenter wasn’t done. He suddenly bounded down the aisle and socked the young man in the eye,” Murphy said. “It took five, maybe six of us to force him to the ground and pin him against the door.” The emergency cord
was pulled and the assaulter was arrested at Nostrand Avenue. Freshman Catherine Salazar considers subway violence uncommon. She has commuted on the MTA trains since high school and has only witnessed one fight. If she were to witness another, Salazar said she would intervene. “If a man tries to hit a woman, then I’d be like ‘that’s wrong.’ Why would you hit a woman… especially on public transportation? She could really hurt herself or bang herself on the poles and that’d be very dangerous,” she explained. Salazar affirmed that she would do the same if it were an allmale altercation. “It’s dangerous,” she repeated. Regardless, both freshman feel completely safe while waiting on subway platforms and riding in train carts. Senior Lucas Hernandez, another NYC native, is a bit more worried about his safety. Hernandez rates his sense of security while traveling “eight out of ten.”
FEATURES
December 10, 2014
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Winter must-binge
programming
dccw.com
moviepilot.com
fanpop.com
Erick Mancebo, Editor in Chief
Christian Gomez, Executive Editor
Maximilliano Onofre, Editorial Assistant netflix.com
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wordpress.com
Ashley Spencer, Arts Editor
Courtney Michelle Johnson, Features Editor
Melissa Vargas, News Editor
Netflix wins over Hulu at the University ANNA YESIVESKY Contributor Both Netflix and Hulu are online companies that allow individuals to stream movies and television shows. While Netflix allows online streaming and DVD rental, Hulu is mostly used to stream movies online. Other differences exist as well. For example, whereas Hulu has two options, which are free Hulu service or the Hulu subscription, Netflix only has one. Though they do have differences, both websites offer one free month of service. Many students concede that Netflix is the better option. When asked about what website she prefers, Junior Courtney Liburd said that she prefers Netflix because it has more variety. Freshman Lina Huang agrees with Liburd because she said that, “There are more options available on Netflix.” Freshman Tara Dantonio had a similar opinion. Her reason is, however, for preferring Netflix is a bit different. She states that she believes Netflix to be a lot cheaper than Hulu. Another student, freshman Alejandra Pérez had similar opinions to those of the other students. She said that she also prefers Netflix because, “I believe it to be more
accessible.” Senior Nicol Paresi also said that she prefers Netflix. She says that Netflix has better and more choices. Furthermore, she says that she can watch the television show, Orange Is The New Black on Netflix, which she cannot watch on Hulu. Paresi also said that Hulu could improve by adding more television shows or movies that are currently popular. Freshman Kimi Patel was another student who was also asked about her preference and said that she also prefers Netflix. Patel says, “Netflix has more options that I like.” When asked how she thinks Hulu can improve, Patel says that, “Hulu should add a lot more shows and channels.” Patel also said that she thinks Hulu could improve with more variety and when asked what types of show she would like to see on Hulu, she said, “Hulu should add the show, Gossip Girls.” She also said that it would be great if Hulu would add newer movies to their streaming options. Overall University students prefer Netflix to Hulu. Students take in considerations such as options, variations, and affordability and therefore, Netflix trumps Hulu.
December 10, 2014
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Financial District gets new transportation hub COURTNEY MICHELLE JOHNSON Features Editor The Metropolitan Transit Authority debuted the finished Fulton Center on Nov. 9th. The shiny new glass and steel transportation hub rests on Broadway between John and Fulton Streets connecting commuters in the downtown area to the A,C,J,Z,2,3,4,5 and R trains with more ease and efficiency. The digital center will feature entertainment, stores, general public space and the art that New York City’s subway system is known for. This downtown transportation hub will allow commuters to transfer between train lines with ease, solve major overcrowding, train loading and unloading delays and help connect the downtown area to the rest of Manhattan and the other four boroughs. There are also plans for the center to improve access to the PATH, E and 1 trains.
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Downtown Magazine