December 15, 2016
Est. 1948
Volume 68 | Issue 6
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NEWS
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December 15, 2016
Per aspera ad astra
Astronaut John Glenn dies at 95 SARAH HARTZELL Co-Executive Editor John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth and a former senator from Ohio, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 8, at the age of 95. Glenn is considered an American hero and icon as part of the Mercury Seven, an elite group of test pilots chosen to be the first NASA astronauts. Glenn was a military pilot during World War II and the Korean War after which he served as a Navy and Marine Corps test pilot. His experience as a test pilot placed him in a very selective pool of participants for NASA’s recruiting program. After a series of extraordinarily rigorous physical and mental tests, Glenn was chosen as one of seven out of 508 applicants to take part in NASA’s first space flights. On Feb. 20, 1962, aboard the Friendship 7, Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth, circling the planet three times in just under five hours. Upon entering orbit he famously said, “Zero G, and I feel fine.” He was welcomed back as a hero, with New York City throwing him a ticker tape parade and President John F. Kennedy awarding him the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. He resigned from NASA in 1964 to pursue a political career at the recommendation of his good friend Robert Kennedy. After being forced to drop out of the 1964 senatorial race in Ohio due to a concussion, he ran again in 1970, which he narrowly lost in the Democratic primary. He won in 1974, beginning a 25-year-long tenure that included authoring the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978 and a run for the presidency in 1984. Glenn became the oldest person to go into space at age 77 in 1998, serving as a payload specialist on the Space Shuttle. The New York Times reported that Glenn had “won his seat on the Shuttle flight by lobbying NASA for two years to fly as a human guinea pig for geriatric studies,” though others called it a political favor from President Bill Clinton. Glenn helped found the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy at the Ohio State University, where he held an adjunct professorship. “John always had the right stuff, inspiring generations of scientists, engineers and astronauts who will take us to Mars and beyond—not just to visit, but to stay,” said President Barack Obama in a statement. “The last of America’s first astronauts has left us, but propelled by their example we know that our future here on Earth compels us to keep reaching for the heavens.” Glenn was married for 73 years to his wife Annie, his childhood sweetheart. His story was told in the film “The Right Stuff,” in which he was played by Ed Harris. For many, Glenn’s passing marks the end of an era. As the last surviving member of the Mercury Seven, Glenn represented a bygone era of space exploration that united the American people under a common cause. And for that cause to be such a constructive one—the pursuit of knowledge and the unknown—rather the destructiveness of war that America had seen almost nonstop for decades was invaluable. Now, with NASA’s budget cut to peanuts, our country more divided than ever, and the perils of war encroaching ever closer, the definitive end of that first mission to discover the stars can’t help but feel symbolic. With the loss of so many world icons in 2016—from
artists like David Bowie and Prince to athletes like Muhammad Ali and Arnold Palmer to political figures like Fidel Castro and Nancy Reagan—just about every aspect of our culture has experienced the end of a some kind of era, making the future all the more unpredictable. But in the face of the unknown and the fear it brings, perhaps some of the inspiration of that original space mission can be found in Glenn’s own words: “Don’t give in to complacency and cynicism. Don’t ignore what is bad, but concentrate on building what is good. Don’t take America and the values reflected in our form of government for granted. And never forget that in our democracy, the government is not ‘them’— it is ‘us.’”
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December 15, 2016
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Fetus burials mandated in Texas ANNA YESILEVSKIY Staff Writer Last July, following the Supreme Court case Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt Texas lawmakers proposed new laws that would mandate abortion providers and hospitals to bury or cremate fetal remains from miscarriages and abortions. On Nov. 28th, this legislation was finalized and will be put in effect on Dec. 19th. While this law will require abortion providers and hospitals to bury fetal remains from miscarriages and abortions, it will not apply to miscarriages or abortions that take place at home. Furthermore, this law will not require birth or death certificates to be filed. Texas’s Health and Human Services commission issued a statement saying that they believe that these new laws will result in “enhanced protection of the health and safety of the public.” However, there are many people who are opposing these laws and believe that this law will cause a lot of harm. “The rules target physicians that provide abortions and the hospitals that care for patients. It’s so transparent that what they’re really trying to do is denying access to abortion,” said Blake Rocap, who is a legislative counsel for the advocacy group NARAL Pro-Choice Texas. David Brown, who is an attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights, also shared his concerns over Texas’s new laws. Brown stated, “These new restrictions reveal the callous indifference that Texas politicians have
toward women.” In addition to that, critics of these new laws state that the process of cremating or burying fetal remains may cost hospitals and abortion providers several thousands dollars per case. Carrie Williams, the spokeswoman for the state’s Health and Human Services commission countered this argument. “What we found through our research is that the proposed rules wont increase total costs for healthcare facilities. While the methods descried in the new rules may have a cost, that cost is expected to be offset by costs currently being spent by facilities on disposition for transportation, storage, incineration, steam disinfection and/or landfill disposal.” Williams stated. Senator Don Huffines also gave his support of these new legislations at a public hearing this past August. Huffines said, “For far too long, Texas has allowed the most innocent among us to be thrown out with the daily waste” and added on that life “begins at conception.” Many women attended the hearing and one of them had had an abortion after she had been raped. She said that if she had been required to bury the fetus, it would have “essentially been the state of Texas rubbing my face in my own rape.” University students and faculty also shared their thoughts and opinions on this new legislation. Regarding Texas’s new law, Madaleine Lutz, a freshman at the University said, “I think that this is another attempt by states like Texas to make abortions more and more difficult
to obtain and by making the aborted fetuses buried they are trying to humanize them and guilt mothers into not having abortions.” Senior Rachel Salcedo said, “I think that this is another example of conservative politicians pushing their absurd agenda. It is a waste of time and money and I am appalled that politicians are spending time on legislation as outlandish as this.” She also added on that the law is “outrageous.” Salcedo added on, “A woman’s choice to have an abortion should not be accompanied by an embarrassing attempt from legislators to control her reproductive choices. Emily Bent, who is a Women and Gender Studies professor at the University also commented on Texas’s new laws. Bent said, “This law is another example of hundreds of anti-choice legislation being instituted around the country. It is dismissive of a woman’s right to abortion and equally as dismissive of her decision to terminate a pregnancy. Bent added on that, “Anti-choice legislation like this new Texas law intrude on women’s medical privacy and pro-choice activists have also argued that rules such as this do nothing to add to the safety or well-being of women terminating a pregnancy. Rather, it represents ongoing and increasing barriers to women’s reproductive care with the intent of shaming women in the process.”
Rate my professor: liberal edition CHRISTIAN HALSTEAD News Intern
“We believe these people need to be exposed.” If asked, most would attribute those words to former Republican Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy, who in 1950 made an infamous speech claiming that he had a long list of high-profile government and public officials who were either Communist, homosexual, or both. Those words, however are not McCarthy’s, nor are they from the 1950s; they are Charlie Kirk’s words and they were published just last month. Kirk is an upcoming figure in conservative activism who is the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization Turning Point USA. The organization, which Kirk founded in 2012 at the age of 19, is dedicated to the proliferation of farright sentiments among college students. In early fall 2016, Turning Point launched website known as the Professor Watchlist. This website works to publicly denounce college professors who are found by the organization to be oppressive of political conservatism due to their own biased, left-leaning beliefs. For Kirk, it is teachers with a leftist agenda that refuse to acknowledge the conservative point of view who need to be “exposed.” According to their website, Professor Watchlist’s mission is to “expose and document college professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom.” Besides merely putting an end to bigotry in the classroom, Kirk wishes to see more specific changes in academia as well. Kirk feels as though “America’s college professors are totally out of line.” He believes an immediate shift in college teaching is in order, “towards fiscal responsibility, limited government, and free markets.” Today a wide range of over 200 professors from all across the nation are listed on the Teacher Watchlist. There are, however, instances in and around the classroom that raise questions about being, “watchlist worthy.” Distinguished Professor of Bioethics at New York University, Dr. Arthur Caplan landed on the list because he had openly come out against president-elect Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric in the past. Dr. Charles Strozier, a Professor at the City University of New York, is on the list for believing that climate change poses a threat to national security. Detractors of the Professor Watchlist often cite the website’s poorly sourced information and quick, often exaggerated judgments. Even conservative superstar Bill O’Reilly, upon having Charlie Kirk on his program, questioned the website’s legitimacy, hesitantly claiming that the Teacher Watchlist is only authoritative, “so long as the facts are straight.” However, there are cases that show the polarization of politics at an extreme; political differences being taken to the point where left leaning professors are silencing dissenting voices unnecessarily. Take the case of Melissa Click for example. Click was a Professor of Communications at the University of Missouri who in Nov. 2015 accrued internet infamy after a video of her blatantly threatening an allegedly conservative journalist surfaced. The journalist was merely covering a Black Lives
Matter demonstration on campus when Click began harassing him and demanding his removal solely based on possible political disagreements. Click is one example of many in which liberal professors have attempted to ban conservative beliefs in one way or another. Kirk’s Teacher Watchlist takes both inspiration and information from conservative author David Horowitz’s 2006 book “The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America,” which slanders numerous academics on the basis of being politically left and goes so far as to accuse some of being terrorist sympathizers. While Horowitz’s work was published ten years ago, immediately following the recent election of Republican Donald Trump, sales have reportedly skyrocketed, a testament to the fact that political polarization has become increasingly prevalent in American politics and classroom. In fact, 90 percent of teachers have reported that since the election they have had increased trouble in their classroom. As a result, enthusiasm for rigid conservatism and, conversely, disdain for even just the center-left is clearly on the rise in some circles, while the opposite is true in others. Dr. Daniel Barber, the University Philosophy Department’s latest addition, expresses his thoughts on the matter, “A space of pure freedom is evidently absent in our world. This fact only amps up the necessity of study; study of those powers that absent freedom, and of the means by which such freedom might be constructed. There’s a real desire for such study, as seen in the Occupy movements, the support for Sanders, and. most essentially, in the Black Lives Matter movement. The Professor Watchlist, despite its rhetoric of a ‘fight for free speech,’ demonstrates a concern for something quite different than such study.” Following Joseph McCarthy’s falsely contrived Communist “exposure” in 1950, witch-hunts against those faceless, nonexistent enemies quickly ensued, resulting in the trial and termination of employment for innumerable innocent public figures and civilians, purely on the basis of McCarthy’s “Red-scare” brand terror. This era became known as “McCarthyism” in American politics. Today, America is faced with similar prospects of fear and repression in the American classroom, as a Democrat or a Republican. Being an outspoken professor and encouraging debate in the classroom comes at a high cost. While liberal exposure campaigns like the Professor Watchlist gain in popularity, proponents of political freedom in education question the existence of a platform that openly targets leftist beliefs and puts professors who admittedly have an agenda in their class at risk. Conservatives, however, have repeatedly voiced their feelings that their ideologies not heard in the typical college classroom and moreover, are shut down due to popular opinion and sometimes aggressive teaching methods. Turning Point USA’s answer to the conservative call for action is to expose behavior in the college classroom in a strikingly similar manner to the McCarthyist era. Platforms like the Professor Watchlist will continue to change the future of the American classroom and American politics.
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NEWS
You’re Fired
December 15, 2016
TM
Conflicts of interests plague the Trump administration before assuming office
Many have speculated that the Trump kids will have a substantial influence in the Trump presidency
Salon
NOAM SCHULDENREIN Staff Writer As Donald Trump enters the White House on Inauguration Day of next year, there will inevitably be conflicts of interest on his part. These kinds of conflicts of interest have never occurred in American history before. Trump owns and manages a very wide gamut of businesses. Although all of the previous presidents have put their businesses in a blind trust if they had owned any businesses before, Trump is deciding to deviate from the norm and is turning his businesses over to his own children. His oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has not wasted any time and decided that the business holdings of his father would go into a trust that is managed by him and his two younger siblings Eric and Ivanka Trump. All three of Mr. Trump’s children as well as his son-in-law Jared Kushner are close advisers to Mr. Trump’s transition team. Brandon Kirshner, a senior at the University shared his feelings on Mr. Trump’s transition into the White House so far. ”Yes, the move not to put his business in a blind trust is completely unprecedented, but so are all things with Trump. The promise to be completely separated from his former job is a bold face lie -- another one to add to the list. His children say they won’t be involved in government yet they’re on his transition team. He will see them for get togethers and holiday and
business will be discussed. I wouldn’t be so concerned if he didn’t have his hands in so many different pots, like the Dakota Access Pipeline company he’s invested in. Luckily, Obama got in there before he did but these are the kinds of things that make me worry about his conflict of interest. And there’s no way I can trust him to be impartial about it,” said Kirshner. Indeed, Trump and his business own hotels all over the country as well as in international locations such as Istanbul, Vancouver and Seoul. All of the logistical details of the hotels will now be worked out between the provider of the hotel and with Mr. Trump’s children. Based on the financial records of Mr. Trump, he is said to be a shareholder in multiple international entities including Excel Venture LLC which is located in the West Indies and Caribusiness Investments SRL which is located in the Dominican Republic. Although it is uncertain what kind of impact these holdings will have in those nations, these nations are well-known for avoiding taxes. “Having an international business enterprise, would certainly influence most peoples decisions, especially when it came to decisions such as trade agreements, and tax codes. A president should pass laws for the interest of the nation, instead of the interest of their business. It would be difficult for anyone to remove themselves from
a business they spent their whole life creating,” said Ronald Harness, a senior at the University. There is also the issue of Trump having holdings in the Energy Transfer Partners, which is a company affiliated with the Dakota Access pipeline. On the campaign trail, Mr. Trump had initially vowed to take away every potential blockage or hindrance to the pipeline. This has been reason for multiple protests that have been staged in North Dakota. Though Mr. Trump has said he respects Americans’ right to peacefully protest, he has not shown any change in his plans to move forward with his support for the pipeline. Although this kind of conflict of interest with the new president-elect might potentially result in problems for Donald Trump, they are not likely to contribute very much to his already existing list of legal problems. Although the president generally gets immunity to being prosecuted for most crimes, there is still a system of checks and balances to make sure that the president does not exert too much power or influence and does not perform too much misconduct while in office. This system will certainly be tested out when a former business mogul such as Trump becomes president on Inauguration Day.
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Officer ruled to be justified in Lamont Scott shooting KELSEY NICHOLSON Features Intern On Sept. 20, 2016, 43-year-old black man Keith Lamont Scott was fatally shot in Charlotte, North Carolina. The fatal bullet was shot by black city police officer Bentley Vinson. Scott’s family says he was waiting in his truck for his son’s school bus to arrive when he exited the vehicle with a gun in his hand. Officers were looking for someone with an outstanding warrant when they saw Scott. According to the police, Scott refused to drop the gun when instructed to. Recordings of the event have officers telling him to “Drop the gun!” and Scott’s right hand appeared empty, though it is unclear if he was holding something in his other hand. Scott’s family has stated that he was reading a book while waiting for the bus, but no book was recovered at the scene. Scott’s wife Rakeyia Scott also said that her husband was disabled due to a brain injury he sustained in a motorcycle crash the year before, and had just taken his medicine. Officers at the scene described Scott as being in a “trance-like state,” behavior consistent with his medication. It was after Scott exited his vehicle that Officer Vinson fired four shots, which hit Scott in the abdomen, wrist, and rear shoulder. In North Carolina, open carry of handguns are legal, yet the Scott family’s lawyer has said that Scott did not own a gun. However, a Colt .380 handgun was recovered at the scene of the crime with
a bullet loaded in the chamber. Scott’s intentions with the weapon are unknown, but the year before his wife had filed a restraining order against him, accusing him of threatening to kill her and their child with a 9 mm. handgun. In 2004, Scott was sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in a shooting that took place in 2002, and was then released from custody in April 2011. The shooting of Scott had launched widespread protests throughout the state, some of peaceful nature, and some that got violent. One man, Justin Carr, was shot during a protest days after Scott’s death. Protesters were calling for officers to stop firing on black people, others requesting for greater transparency in police departments nationwide. Many called for the entirety of the dashboard camera tapes to be released, as the audio was cut out in portions of the video. Recently, however, more protests have sparked in response to the ruling on the charges for Officer Vinson. Andrew Murray, the district attorney for Mecklenburg County, has cleared Officer Vinson of all charges, deciding that his firing on Scott was lawful because he feared for his life. On Vinson’s use of deadly force, Murray has said, “What he saw was a man who had drawn a gun when confronted by police, exited a vehicle with a gun in hand, and failed to comply with officers who commanded him at least 10 times to put the gun down.”
Washington Post The Wednesday night that the ruling was announced, protesters congregated outside of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, where four people were arrested: three for disrupting traffic and one for disorderly conduct. They chanted against “Dirty racist a** cops we don’t need ‘em, need ‘em. Back up, back up, we want freedom, freedom,” and holding signs that read “How to get away with murder: become a cop.” Protests like this are not uncommon in cases involving the shooting and death of black people by police officers. Similar
protests broke out around the country after the deaths of Michael Brown and Tamir Rice, among others. However, this case differs from the others in the facts that Scott himself was armed, and the officer that killed him was black as well. The Scott family has expressed their disappointment with the ruling, calling for supporters to help them “fix the system” that caused Scott’s death in the first place. The Scott family has also stated that this is not the end for them and they will continue to seek justice for Lamont-Scott.
The 2nd Avenue Subway: a New York fable CHASE BALLAS Co-Executive Editor On New Year’s Eve, the city of New York is going to be celebrating more than just the end of 2016. A century in the making, the city’s longest running joke, the 2nd avenue subway line is still on track to be completed. However, there are many reports and speculations that that project is once again going to be held up momentarily by train traffic. The main goal of adding this new line is to alleviate the heavy burden on the Lexington Avenue line (the 4, 5 and 6 trains), which is the only subway line in the Upper East Side. This is going to eventually be done by adding a new 8.5 mile track stretching from 125th Street in Harlem to Hanover Square in the Financial District on the East Side. It will also connect to the Broadway Line (the N, Q and R trains) at 63rd Street. To accommodate this, the Q train is going to be rerouted, and the W train has been restored to full time service on Nov. 7, after being discontinued in 2006. There will also be a new T train to run the line.
The extention of the 63rd Street subway station as part of the project
Mashable
The project is designed in four phases. The first phase, which connects the Q train from 63rd Street to 96th Street, is the one that is scheduled to open by the end of this year The second phase will connect the Q train from 96th Street to 125th Street. The third phase will introduce the T train, and will complete service from 63rd Street down to Houston Street. The fourth phase will complete the project by connecting Houston Street to Hanover Square. The T train is scheduled to service the entirety of the new line, while the Q train is proposed to service from 63rd Street up to 125th Street. The line will consist of 16 stations, and cost more than an estimated $17 billion. The first phase cost roughly $4.5 billion, and consisted of three new stations at 72nd Street, 86th Street and 96th Street, and an expansion of the 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue station. The project has been notorious for its many delays in completion, and reports of malpractice and dangerous working conditions. It failed to launch after its proposal in 1919 because of the Great Depression, and a revival effort in the 1970’s was squashed by the near bankruptcy of the city. In 2013, it was reported by the New York Daily News that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued 18 safety violations from the time of construction between 2011 and 2013, including reports of uncontrolled and unknown blasts, and issued $61,000 in fines. The same report also noted that the project has become scaled down because of financial crises, eliminating the idea of the line stretching into the Bronx. The completion of the subway is also expected to increase property value along the line, which is set to increase housing costs and lead to gentrification, particularly in parts of Harlem and Yorkville. While the project is slated to open at the end of the year, there is still some concern that the project will be delayed until well into 2017. As of Nov. 14, The New York Times reported that all three stations are behind schedule, with only the one at 96th on schedule to be completed in time. Governor Andrew Cuomo has pressured the MTA to complete the project on time in order to restore its credibility in the public eye, citing back to delays in opening of the Hudson Yards station on the 7 line in 2015, which had problems with leaking mere six months after opening. There are also concerns about the construction skewing safety procedure to meet the deadline, as well as criticism for opening on New Year’s Eve, one of the busiest days for subway usage, since there will probably be train delays. As of right now, MTA is still sticking with the Dec. 31 start date. So, everyone get on board and be aware of the closing doors.
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THE PACE PRESS
December 15, 2016
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
EDITORIAL BOARD Maximilliano Onofre Editor Chase Ballas Executive Editor Sarah Hartzell Executive Editor Jessica Kovac News Editor Asia Letlow Arts Editor Katrina Alonso Features Editor Adam Manfredi Graphic Design Traci Thomas Social Media Amoreena Crispino 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. 906 New York, NY 10038 www.thepacepress.org editor@thepacepress.org Copyright 2016
Happy Holidays from the Pace Press As the year closes and the semester comes to an end, the Pace Press would like to wish everyone a happy and successful finals season. We also want to wish goodbye to those leaving this semester and those graduating, especially to our Social Media Manager, Traci Thomas, for all her hard work. Without her, the Press’ social media presence would not be what it is today. The enthusiasm for the newspaper are a culmination of all her efforts. Traci, thank you for everything. I also want to thank our readers for giving us a chance as we keep growing. It is thanks to you that the Pace Press continues to flourish. As the years goes on, this team continues to get better so we thank you for sticking with us through our rough patches. And lastly, a thank you to the wonderful team I work with. I understand that spending coutless hours working in the office isn’t easy, but you put your heart to it and because of that we have made some of the issues I have been proudest of. Thank you for your dedication to the newspaper and for working with one another to publish better and better issues. We would again like to wish you the best in your exams and during your holidays. We hope that everyone’s time during the break is wonderful and that we will see many returning readers and writers next semester for more exciting issues. Happy Holidays, Maximilliano Onofre Editor-In-Chief
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.
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ARTS
In Meme-oriam 2016
Every year Tumblr compiles a list of memes that were made within that year. Memes are graphics shared across the Internet that go viral. They range from irrelevant trends, to satire on the political climate of the nation. Some last months before dying out, like Harambe, the gorilla who was murdered in the Cincinnati Zoo and earned a few votes in the 2016 election, while some last no mire than a few days or weeks before dying phasing out, like the “Hillary Shimmy.� Either way, memes are well known across the Internet by most, particular Generation Y. Although the phenomenon started with millennials, there are memes that anyone can relate with. The Pace Press decided to choose their go-to meme for this issue to commemorate what we thought were the best of 2016.
Confused Mr. Krabs, March 9
Ted Cruz, Zodiac Killer, Jan. 2016
Dat Boi, April 3
Spongegar, May 16
J. Cole Platinum Album, May 2016
#FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes, July18
Harambe, Summer 2016
Arthur Fist, July 27
Conceited Reaction, Sept. 15
HIllary Shimmy, Sept. 27
Evil Kermit, Nov. 6
Biden/Obama Friendship, Oct. 2016
ARTS
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December 15, 2016
Pålegg exhibit debuts at Peter Fingesten gallery MAXIMILLIANO ONOFRE Editor-in-Chief On Dec. 6, the latest Project Studio Exhibition opened up their latest exhibition at the Peter Fingesten Gallery, “Pålegg*.” Students displayed their artwork in different mediums, from print to multimedia to installation pieces. Their goal, was to create and question different aspects of life around them. As one walks into the gallery, you are greeted with “HELLO, WORLD,” a custom coded video with digital paintings and animation by Tomer Alon. The piece is an illustration of technology and the power humans have given it by becoming dependent on it. It questions how the development of Artificial Intelligence replacing human beings can be dehumanizing. For Alon, is a way to express the effects of technology on humans the way to explore how the development of artificial intelligence Alexis Garces created a shrine in mixed media collage titled, “Cuando Estas En Mi Casa,” that was composed of archival prints and other found objects. He displayed these pieces within a hand-built frame reminiscent of a divine sanctum. It was his way to, “explore the ever-changing landscape of identity.” He wanted to focus on bringing out the traits that make up an identity. As he sees it, media has whitewashed his culture, among others and he wanted to explore the realities of his own lived queer Latino experiences. A large scale installation piece was created by Chris Fontakis, titled “Patriarch.” Fontakis wanted to make his installation impose on his audience, to invoke fear, power, judgement and disapproval from the twenty-three repeating frames. It stems from the dying breed of male patriarchs who have created those feelings. It is not a celebration or rejection of the patriarchy but an acknowledgement of the role in a classic nuclear family. Senior Ariel Ottey displayed her piece, “Queer Peers,” a multi-channel video with text overlay. Her personal goal was to create a “documentary series exploring how LGBTQIA+ students identify and interact with their community.” The series hopes to not only challenge viewers but have them participate as a living art experience. The clips explore recent experiences and the history behind them in the queer community. These pieces and many more are displayed in the exhibition and can also be previewed on the Art Department’s Facebook page.
Chris Fontakis, “Patriarch”
Alexis Garces, “Cuando Estas En Mi Casa”
Ariel Ottey, “Queer Peers”
Kicking sexual harassment to the curb ASIA LETLOW Arts Editor People flocked like pedestrians at a scene for “Step On Street Harassment,” an exhibit that was shown at the University on Wednesday, Dec. 7. created by Dr. Emily Bent’s Intro to Feminist Activism class. Students created a campaign and event on a subject they wished to pursue that reached a local, national, or global level. What resulted was organization dedicated to informing others on street harassment, bearing the same name as the exhibit. Its primary focus centered on raising peoples’ consciousness about street harassment. The showing included a variety of media, from sound to mixed visual art such as paint, cutouts, and video that depicted street harassment through a medium that would resonate with all. Christine Birch’s “Safe Space” encompassed two pictures, the first of which depicted a woman appearing blurry due to the unfocused nature of the camera. The other photograph was of an empty subway car eerily displaying the creative irony of the piece’s title. One would not think of an empty subway car as a safe space; rather, it is one of great anxiety as it is the scene of so many instances of harassment. Birch’s piece allowed for the reclamation of such typically nerve-wracking spaces, with its black and white tones enabling reflection of the everyday spaces we occupy as people, and our dispositions within them. Ashley Epping’s “She Is More Than Her Gender” uses blues and greys that transition into fiery oranges and reds to denote the dark essence of a room where a woman stands at a window, gloomily. The blotched, patchy black and blue shadows that blend to form her hair highlight the tension of the woman’s
self-reflection, compounded with the fact that people may only look at her in a superficial, gendered lens. The transition to yellow seemingly signals a sense of hope; though others may define her, it is ultimately she who defines herself. She embraces that duty wholeheartedly. Serena Romana’s use of mixed media in “Mouthwash” gives a colorful and sharp critique to the issue of catcalling and unwanted sexual attention on the street. A fraction of a face from the nose upward is embedded into the street. A thought bubble stems above, which says, “Kiss your mother with that mouth?” The piece uses guilt to address catcallers by almost yelling this statement that asks the question of whether or not someone would express love for his mother and in the same breath disrespect the gender that played a primary role in his upbringing. Interactive and electronic arts were also on display in tandem with artist pieces. “The Sound Experience” room called its visitors to be introspective and to listen to the stories of sexual abuse and assault through poetry. The small, pitch-black room allowed people to sit, stand, or lie down and fully immerse themselves in the world of those who spoke about their experiences. “I really like the sound experience because not that you’re just supposed to sit there and think about nothing else but what you’re hearing, [but] that’s what people experience on the street,” said University junior Aimee Ratka. With no light or surrounding sound except the speakers themselves, there was nothing to do but listen, a function that rarely happens to people whose narratives are drowned out or shut down entirely by chastisement and victim-blaming. University junior Cole Bedford took part in arranging the exhibit, making flyers and procuring further information to the public. “We wanted to
“Mouthwash, ”Serena Romana help educate people before they came into the event about some of the issues that were happening,” he stated. Brochures and other interactive media such as coloring served to inform exhibit-goers of street harassment statistics. As a whole, “Step On Street Harassment” awakened the consciences of its visitors, urging them to change the way they view harassment and encouraging them to become aware of its impacts on everyone.
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Netflix will keep you warm KELSEY NICHOLSON Features Intern During finals, college students never stop working. Winter break, then, is a time to become rejuvenated—after all, there are no classes to attend every day. Many students don’t have to deal with the stress of a job, and those who do rarely work full-time. This leaves University students with a lot of time on their hands. The obvious solution is Netflix. The company’s streaming services are a perfect way to avoid the winter blues and pass the time. Sure, it may feel like you’re wasting your days, but isn’t that what winter break is about? So curl up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate and enjoy these winter break recommendations. Netflix is becoming more notable for the programs they produce. Well-known ones you have probably already seen are “Orange is the New Black” and “Stranger Things.” If you haven’t, those should be first on your binge-watching list. Fans of the latter, a creepy thriller, might want to hunker down and watch “Black Mirror,” another one of Netflix’s originals. Each episode tells a different story with new characters, settings, and mysterious circumstances. Think of it as a modern-day “The Twilight Zone” with technology as the root of most evil. The cult-classic black and white horror show “The Twilight Zone” is also available for streaming online. Another Netflix show you should dedicate some time to is “The Get Down,” which focuses on hip-hop and gang violence in the Bronx during the 1970s. Popculture fans will recognize some of the charismatic stars, such as Jaden Smith, son of Will Smith, and Daveed Diggs of “Hamilton” notoriety. For students living in the city, it shows some of the history in a fun way involving DJs, graffiti, and funky disco music. Its director is also a famous one, Baz Luhrmann, the man behind “The Great Gatsby” and “Romeo + Juliet.” No matter what draws you in, the show is definitely worth a watch with only six hourlong episodes. For a more classic show available on Netflix, sciencefiction fans should take a look at “The X-Files.” The show follows FBI agents Mulder and Scully, the former
A scene from“Quantico”
TV Guide
being a UFO fanatic and the latter, a skeptic. It’s a great look into the ‘90s, with nine seasons, two movies, and a recent revival that premiered in Jan. 2016. A more time consuming watch, the X-Files will cater to fans of conspiracy theories and aliens. Check it out, or risk being oblivious to many pop culture references in the future. For a more recent FBI drama, “Quantico” is an ABC show following FBI hopefuls training for the job at the FBI testing facility known as Quantico. The story is split between past - and present-day where FBI trainee Alex Parrish has been framed for a terrorist attack on Grand Central Station. It’s diverse, well written, funny, and surprisingly complex. Mysteries abound, like discovering who really bombed Grand Central and who’s leaking information from inside Quantico. The show’s second season will premiere in late Jan., so break is the perfect time to catch up. For students looking for something a bit more comedic, the mockumentaries “Parks and Recreation”
and “The Office” are definitely worth watching. Both are often hailed as the funniest shows of this century, starring “Saturday Night Live” veterans and up-and-coming comedians. Both are available on Netflix, and with short enough episodes that your binge-watching will fly by. Winter break is also a good time to catch up on shows that will have their mid-season premieres in the new year. Take January to finally watch those shows you’ve been meaning to, like “The 100,” which will premiere in early February on the CW, and “Reign,” the story of Mary Queen of Scots, which will premiere its fourth season on Feb. 10. Finally, for a truly relaxing winter break experience, check out “Chill with Bob Ross,” a feel-good favorite where the calming artist teaches us how to paint wintry scenes. You should probably follow along with using Microsoft Paint and listening to some smooth jazz.
The Queen reigns again KATRINA ALONSO Features Editor
Business Insider
Queen Victoria of England is one of England’s most well-known monarchs for several reasons: she and her husband Prince Albert introduced the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, launched the Great Exhibition which encouraged international trade, and funded the sciences so much so that several important scientific discoveries were made during her reign. History sees Victoria as the grandmother of Europe, but only “Victoria” by Daisy Goodwin has explored the queen’s colorful history, especially when she first ascended to the throne. Goodwin’s novel, though written in the style of historical fiction, borrows facts from Victoria’s personal diaries and retells her story in an engaging and emotional way. Alexandrina Victoria, daughter to the Duchess of Kent, spent her childhood shut away in the Kensington House where her only company was her mother, her dog Dash, her governess Lehzen, and her mother’s advisor, the unpleasant Sir John Conroy. When Alexandrina Victoria’s uncle, King William III, passed away a month after her
18th birthday, she was called upon to take over the English throne. At her coronation, she chose to abandon the name Alexandrina, which her mother and Conroy called her as a child, and became Victoria I, Queen of England. The novel continues to outline the first three years of her reign, especially her relationship with her Prime Minister Lord Melbourne. “Victoria” stays faithful to period novels of the era by magnifying every lingering glance, every graze of the hand, and every fleeting moment of solitude that was shared by this largely frowned-upon match. Melbourne was more than twice Victoria’s age and a widower of ill repute, but the muchneeded guidance he gave Victoria watered the seeds of their relationship, which bloomed into one of unwavering support and a love that neither one of them could ever forget. Simultaneously a love story and a coming-of-age story, Daisy Goodwin’s “Victoria” explores the queen’s complicated inner life, her struggle to break from her sheltered childhood into an adulthood in front of the world’s limelight, and, most importantly, the love she had for her country and the sense of duty she felt to make it great.
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December 15, 2016
Liven up your class schedule ANNA YESILVESKIY Staff Writer College is four years long and one of the constant decisions a student has to make is what classes they want to take. The University offers many different classes and some of the most interesting classes will be offered next semester, in the spring of 2017. One such course is PSY 233, a psychology course called Psychology of Civic Engagement: The Plight of the Aboriginal/Indigenous People. Through this course, students will be introduced to the field of psychology that deals with civic engagement and service learning. Students will critique and analyze issues related to civic engagement that will come up in text, class discussions, and the outside world. In addition, students will learn more about the community and pro-social agencies in Australia and the United States. Through this course, students will also get the opportunity to go to Sydney, Australia during spring break. During this trip, students will be able to apply what they learned about civic engagement psychology in class to real life and will also have opportunities to interact with people from different cultures. They will also assist in supporting the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and participate in academic lectures at the University of Sydney and in different Australian activities. Another interesting course that is offered in the spring semester is LIT 211Y, a literature course called Travel Course: Greece, a Modern Odyssey. It is a course in which students study the mythology, literature, architecture, archeology, philosophy, history, sports, geography and the lifestyles of the classical Greeks. The course will culminate in a trip to the Greek islands following the
end of the spring semester where students will observe the same places that Plato and Aristotle described in their works. Students at the University shared their thoughts on which classes they found interesting and which classes they would recommend. Maria Veliz, a junior at the University, said that she would recommend taking Gender, Race and Class and Men and Masculinities. “For both classes, I found their readings to be interesting and topics that we discussed to be stimulating. You will leave these classes still thinking about the topics and maybe looking up further information.” Veliz said. Veliz also said that some interesting classes a student can take at the University are art classes. She said, “I took a drawing class last semester, and even though I was a bit frustrated at some points, I did find the class rather enjoyable and learned many drawing techniques. I also took a mixed media class and some projects were a bit unusual, however, I did find them fun to make and I am looking forward to taking more art classes in the future.” When asked what classes she would recommend, junior Andrea Gracias said, “I think it’s necessary for a student to be well rounded in every subject. Having knowledge in each field is important.” Gracias elaborated that students should take courses such as public speaking, a science class such as biology or chemistry, a writing enhanced course, and a basic math course, such as algebra. Kevin Zhou, a senior at the University, said that he would
recommend students to take TAX 503 and 504. “They are the basic framework for any student who is an accounting or tax major. Also, they are important for the new learners to understand how the United States tax system works,” Zhou explained. Junior Marisa Sierra also gave her opinion on what classes a student should take. She said, “I would recommend that students take classes revolving around different cultures and their histories. This way students are exposed to cultures and customs that are not their own.” She listed Latin American studies classes as an example. Though registration has long since started and most of these classes are probably already full, it just goes to show that there is more to the University than meets the eye. When the next registration period rolls around, don’t be afraid to try out one of the more unique classes that are offered here. You might be surprised by what kind of things you get to learn if you really look.
Beacon Holidays
SantaCon came to town NATHAN SIEGEL Social Media Intern It is officially December, and therefore the Macy’s windows have been adorned, the Rockefeller tree is strung with lights, thousands upon thousands of tourists are crammed into Midtown, and, most recently, on Dec. 10, the infamous SantaCon took over the city. What began as a San Francisco bar crawl in the ‘90s has now become a nationwide festival that expanded to 300 cities all over the globe, such as New York City, London, Vancouver, Belfast, and Moscow. Originally a fun, innocent bar-hop in San Francisco, the more recent SantaCons have evolved into a hellish annual Christmas festivity. Luckily for us, however, New York’s is the largest Santa gathering, with over thirty thousand participants, giving the Santa-suit industry a run for their money. SantaCon, while beloved by its red-velvet and synthetic fur-clad participants, is one of the most despised and openly criticized public events in the city. It is not uncommon to walk down the street during SantaCon and
be faced with the challenge of avoiding vomit on the sidewalk and obnoxious cliques of Mrs. Clauses crying on side streets. The New York Times is a prominent skeptic of the holiday tradition, stating that SantaCon is a series of “incidents of public vomiting and urination to fill an infinite dunk tank”, and that it has no contribution to society. The Village Voice described the day as “a day-long spectacle of public inebriation somewhere between a low-rent Mardi Gras and a drunken fraternity party,” which arguably almost every New Yorker not donning a costume on the infamous day resents, for one reason or another. Many see the drunken parade of New Yorkers as a parasitic and violent occasion due to the alcohol and candy-cane infused offenses, which include, but are certainly not limited to, public indecency, violence, and outdoor vomiting. However, for many, SantaCon is a fun concept gone tragically awry. Every year, SantaCon turns the nightmare of a city of Santa Clauses, Mrs. Clauses, and scantily-clad reindeer into a reality that would send the real St. Nick turning in his grave.
Business Insider
FEATURES
December 15, 2016
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Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s YouTube KELSEY NICHOLSON Features Intern In the past, makeup has been seen as just another step in a girl’s daily routine and a luxury made for movie stars and fashion shows. But in 2016, makeup has become an art form and the industry has truly taken off. More makeup artists are popping up all over the country, either professionally or in the form of YouTube vloggers. Even people on Instagram are either shooting quick videos of their makeup routine or uploading images of their newest look. One Instagrammer that has recently found fame is James Charles (@jamescharles). The 17-year-old has been selected by major makeup company CoverGirl to be their first male ambassador. The job has previously been held by Katy Perry, Ellen DeGeneres, and Drew Barrymore, among others. Charles first skyrocketed to fame after posting an image of himself retaking his senior portraits with his own ring light so his “highlight would be poppin.” Charles is only one success story out of the many millenials who have begun posting their makeup daily. YouTube is the breeding ground for these makeup tutorials, gathering millions of viewers daily across the site. Much of its attention comes from the video format, allowing users to follow beauty vloggers step-by-step through tutorials of their favorite makeup looks. One of the most popular beauty YouTube channels is hosted by Netherlands native Nikkie De Jager. Her channel, @NikkieTutorials, exploded after a video of hers entitled “The Power of Makeup” went viral. The video showed her doing only half a face of makeup, leaving the other half of her face bare. De Jager is a professional makeup artist, having taken courses since the beginning of her YouTube channel. Zoe Elizabeth Sugg, more commonly known as Zoella, is another YouTuber that reached fame due to her makeup. She runs a channel that includes makeup tutorials, but also lifestyle blogging and collaborative videos with other YouTubers like Troye Sivan and Tyler Oakley. Other beauty gurus include Summer McKeen, Bethany Mota, and Michelle Phan. But why has makeup become such a popular form of expression in the modern age? Many insensitive people will say it is because this is the selfie generation, that most young adults are self-absorbed, so they wear makeup for attention. However, it’s much more than that. While a great face of makeup certainly comes in handy for all of the snapchats they take, or the Instagram posts with their friends, makeup has become a symbol of power for many young women and men. It is being used for self confidence rather than arrogance. Many high school and college students face a judgmental society, and wearing makeup can help give them the confidence to face the world. Makeup is also becoming more of an art form, rather than just a simple way to even your skin tone. University freshman Jessica Duque says that makeup is “like arts and crafts but on your face.” Contouring, winged eyeliner, and perfectly-shaped eyebrows are hard to do, and it takes practice to master the art of makeup. There are many people who are not very good at applying makeup. Good news for them: in New York, there are many places one can go to learn how to use makeup correctly for the best results. Any makeup counter in the city will do your makeup for you, but for a
The Independent price. The artist that applies the makeup will instruct you along the way, and then you pay to take the products used home with you. Other locations include the Make-up Designory, which is right around the corner for University students at 65 Broadway. MUD provides training to young artists, offering courses and programs, lasting from 3-6 weeks for courses and 12-24 weeks for programs. However, makeup counters and special classes can be especially bank-breaking. Rouge New York has a unique choice called the Ransack package for $125. You bring your own makeup bag, and employees will tell you what to keep and what to dispose of, as well as provide advice on what products to add. For a cheaper place, E.L.F. Cosmetics, which can be found on Fulton Street, offers a free 1960s makeup tutorial. Currently, that is the only look offered, but certainly an option for broke University students. Whether you just want to freshen up your face or dazzle your friends with your glam new face-beat, as they call it, using makeup is a great way to express yourself and boost your confidence.
Glamour
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December 15, 2016
FEATURES
Barnes & Noble taps into its magical side
Anna Yesilevskiy
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ANNA YESILVESKIY Staff Writer This year has been full of magic for Harry Potter fans. In July, fans revisited the beloved wizarding world through the lens of Potter’s son Albus Severus in the sequel, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” and a few weeks ago, they witnessed the magic of the wizarding world in the new film, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” a prequel that tells the story of a wizard named Newt Scamander in 1920s New York. Additionally, for the first time, on Dec. 9, Barnes and Noble stores hosted a free “Harry Potter” themed event that was inspired by the Yule Ball that Potter and his friends attended in their fourth year at Hogwarts. Every branch of the bookstore participated and opened their doors at 7 P.M. for excited “Harry Potter” fans. The retail bookstore promised an evening of “Harry Potter” crafts, games, music, and surprises. The event would include a craft-making station where fans could make “Potter”-themed ornaments and owl fans. Furthermore, there would be other activities that included wizard charades, trivia games and photo stations. In addition to that, the first 100 guests would receive special “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The Illustrated Edition” posters at all Barnes & Noble locations. Certain stores also promised free samples of a festive sugar cookie and a seasonal caramel apple spice drink from the Barnes & Noble Café. Fans who were interested in attending the event were encouraged to contact their local store to find out if there were any special instructions they had to follow.
The East Side News
Furthermore, they could come in festive clothing, dress up as their favorite Harry Potter character or just come as they are. Jonnie Bissell, a freshman at the University, was very exciteed about the event, saying, “I think it’s great. I love ‘Harry Potter,’” and added on that she would definitely attend Barnes & Noble’s Magical Holiday Ball. Senior Yollyce Ayala, another student at the University, also thought the event was great. She said, “This is an amazing idea. I know many people who enjoy the books and the movies. It’s an interesting way to involve those who like this and some who may just want a fun time in a book store.” Yet, for many “Potter” fans this event turned out to be quite a disappointment. As a Potter fan myself, I was very ecstatic upon finding out about the event and getting to attend it. I arrived early and wandered around the store a bit before the event started. Finally, around 7 P.M., we were told to gather around on the second floor. As we waited, we saw staff bring out three small tables (only suitable for children) for arts and crafts. There were hundreds of us waiting in that small corner for the event to begin and, because there were so many of us, we were told to wait in a different section of the store. Eventually, after the event started, we were allowed back in. The group of fans however had not dispersed at all and security guards tried to control the chaos. We waited in line to get to the arts and crafts table and, as we walked by the table, a staff member gave out
free “Harry Potter” bookmarks and postcards. A few other tables had “Harry Potter” themed coloring sheets and word searches, but most of the tables didn’t have many sheets left, as they had already been occupied. Because there were so many of us in such a small space at the store, there wasn’t a lot of space to move, and trying to get out of the arts and crafts station was quite difficult. Following the arts and craft station, we were told that that there was a Potter themed performance on the other side of the store. Yet, that turned out to be a show only for children. And later on in the evening, we were told to go to the fourth floor where the store would have a dance-off in lieu of the traditional Yule Ball. By that point of the event, many of the fans chose to opt out of the dance-off, though several did end up participating. This event turned out to be a bit of disappointment because there were no wizard charades, trivia games or photo stations which all Barnes & Noble stores promised to have. Furthermore, there were no giveaways of the “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The Illustrated Edition” posters. Perhaps this particular store thought this event was only marketed toward children and that is why most of the activities were designed with children in mind. Yet, the poster advertising the “Harry Potter” Magical Holiday Ball called for all ages. The fact that Barnes & Noble’s event did not live up to fans’ expectations was disheartening, but hopefully next year they will choose to go bigger for the “Harry Potter” Magical Holiday Ball.
McCall