The Pace Press: Volume 68, Issue 8

February 23, 2017

Est. 1948

Volume 68 | Issue 8

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NEWS

February 23, 2017

Meet Marvin: University welcomes new president CHRISTIAN HALSTEAD News Intern “These are not easy times. Our social and political climate can have a profound effect on higher education and what we do. It’s no secret that there are deep political, social, and economic divisions in this country. Many of us are concerned about the future of our democracy and a pervasive sense of discontent seems to cut across all perspectives. Our society is facing transformations in the economy, in culture, in politics, and technology, in demographics, and world affairs. Yet despite the divisions and uncertainty, this remains a land of breathtaking opportunity which also makes this an extraordinary time to become part of Pace University.” - Marvin Krislov These opening remarks, delivered by soon-to-be eighth president of the University, Marvin Krislov, carry a certain weight of profundity with them as they echo through the Schimmel Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 16.

Krislov, for his first time as President-elect, addresses the New York City campus auditorium full of eager students, academics, and administrators alike with the intention of reassuring his audience that he understands full well the importance of decisive, prudent leadership in such a crucial time in society. In a sense, it could not have gone unsaid. Krislov, as evident in his rhetoric and past history, radiates a sense of moral certainty and optimism needed, but all too frequently absent, in leadership amidst today’s geopolitical tumult and ideological uncertainty.

Former Law School dean and current University President Stephen J. Friedman will officially retire from his position, which he has held for 10 years, starting in the summer of 2017; at which point Krislov will step in. Krislov has had a long career as a lawyer, educator, and college administrator. He was most recently president of Oberlin College, a liberal arts institution located in rural Ohio, for over 10 years. Before his work at Oberlin, Krislov was a teacher and administrator at the University of Michigan.

Krislov has two degrees from Yale, one undergrad and one from the Law School, as well as a Bachelor Associates degree in history from Oxford University. Krislov has additional experience outside of education working as a lawyer and in the public sector; working in numerous senior positions in the U.S. Department of Labor under the Clinton administration. Additionally, during his time at the University of Michigan, Krislov was heavily involved in getting the now-landmark case Grutter v. Bollinger to the Supreme Court, a case which was won in an effort to uphold the affirmative action admissions policy of the University of Michigan Law School.

Given his wide range of work in the past, and broadscoped understanding of the present, President-elect Krislov, in an exclusive interview with the Pace Press,

Pace University provides insight into how his experience, particularly as a teacher, can influence his leadership. Krislov explains, ”I find that by teaching and knowing students in the classroom, and outside, too, it helps me understand what’s going on, what their concerns are, things we can do to help them, things that are beneficial, and so forth.” Given this knowledge, Krislov, in focusing his attention towards the enormity of today’s student debt crisis, continues,

The short version is, I really need to learn more. One of the things I asked the students I met with is what they are concerned about.

-Marvin Krislov

President-Elect at Pace University

”Institutions are doing a lot of things to try and minimize the amount of debt burden. What Pace does which, I think, is very valuable is provide its students with internships and opportunities that will launch them and give them a

Pace University

leg up in the job process.”

Krislov remains hopeful about the future for University students. He explains, ”One of the things that I plan on doing is trying to raise money for scholarships to help relieve that burden on students.” At Oberlin, Krislov and administrators worked hard to launch the Oberlin Initiative which was started to help Pell Grant students, those particularly in need, gain access to higher education by fund-raising the scholarships necessary to cover the costs of education. The initiative, according to Krislov, began before the recession and petered out after the crash due to economic constraints, though it still exists today. Despite these challenges, Krislov was able to fundraise for his institution’s endowment tremendously, successfully garnering over $800 million. The presidentelect expressed his belief that, when it comes to University alumni, given the recent statistics of upward mobility in general and specific cases of success in particular, the prospect of fundraising endowments for the University is an enormous and, as of yet, an only partially sought after possibility.

Along with his ambition and vision, Krislov appears to carry with him a certain humility, specifically one characteristic of responsive leadership. Krislov says, “The short version is, I guess, I really need to learn a lot more. One of the things I asked the students I met with is what are the things that they’re concerned about.”

Students expressed interest in fostering a grander sense of community throughout the University as a whole, one which encompasses both the Westchester and NYC campuses. Given that Oberlin only had one campus, Krislov recognized this as a potential challenge, but one which could be overcome with effort.

Transportation concerns were prominent among students on both campuses, particularly among those who choose not to dorm. Another frequent concern involved diversity and acceptance within the University, an issue to which Krislov is no stranger. ”I do think diversity is critical in terms of making sure that students can find housing, students find community, and students find support,” Krislov concludes.

Krislov’s parents were both first generation immigrants and were both the first of their families to graduate college, despite growing up during the Great Depression. Krislov’s father’s work as an academic in their field of Labor Economics may have played a role in both his perspective and his pursuit of academia as he grew up. From the very begining, the path traveled by Krislov which has brought him to the position of University president has been paved with hard work and a passion for justice. In times as uncertain as our own in each and every dimension imaginable, the leadership of Krislov may be exactly what this University needs going forward.

NEWS

February 23, 2017

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De Blasio faces competition in upcoming election DEXTER JOHN SCOTT JR. Editorial Assistant Mayor Bill De Blasio has been preparing to make another run for New York City Mayor since Nov. 14, when he was endorsed by the Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association.

Since mid-July, his campaign has collected $1,073,908 in donations and has reportedly spent $592,606 on his campaign, according to his latest fillings.

De Blasio has collected mainly small donations of $250 or less, but at least onefifth of his donations have come from celebrities and past staffers. Actors Steve Buscemi and Cynthia Nixon, designer Diane von Furstenberg, composer Jonathan Scheffer, de Blasio’s former communications director Karen Hinton, and former senior adviser Peter Ragone have all donated the maximum allowable donations under campaign finance laws.

Even with the abundance of donations that De Blasio has received, he still was not the highest fundraiser of the filing period. Republican candidate Paul J. Massey Jr., a real estate developer in New York has raised more than $1.6 million in contributions from 826 donors over the past six months. Massey has also personally financed his campaign with

$1.2 million.

Massey has been meeting with prominent business and GOP leaders to gauge support for his campaign. In early 2016, he announced a political-action committee or PAC called 1NY Together to counter de Blasio’s agenda. “ This isn’t a tale of two cities. It’s one city and it can be great for everybody,” Massey stated during the launch of his PAC, referencing one of de Blasio’s signature phrases from his 2013 campaign.

Since the creation of the PAC, 1NY Together released a series of surveys.

These surveys appeared to show New Yorkers’ concern about rising crime and declining quality of life. Much of those concerns were formerly satisfied by Bloomberg’s initiatives that limited noise pollution, monitored the homeless, and cleaned up the subway. De Blasio has since strayed away from those concerns and focused on lower class families and affordable housing.

Massey has publicly criticized De Blasio’s handling of the homelessness crisis and said he could do a better job creating affordable housing because of his real estate experience. He also went on to compare being the mayor of a city to being the CEO of a company. “This is more a CEO manager job than a political job,”

Observer he said in an interview in late December.

He continued, “The focus should be on running the city.”

Despite the growing support Massey is receiving, many Republicans see his winning as a long shot. Bob Turner, the head of the Queens County Republican Party, said of the possibility of Massey winning, “There will have to be a very strong De Blasio backlash for Massey to

win.” In New York, Democrats outnumber Republicans six to one tipping the scales, on paper, in De Blasio’s favor. A recent NY1/Baruch College poll found that 58 percent of city residents approve of the job that the mayor is doing, which is up 14 points from last fall.

Still, Massey continues to rapidly gain traction as the the election grows closer.

President Trump’s cabinet begins to take shape CHASE BALLAS Co-Executive Editor Closing in on one month into the Trump Administration, the team still has yet to secure a working cabinet. In fact, on Feb. 16, fast food executive Andrew Puzder withdrew his initial nomination for labor secretary to President Donald Trump.

Puzder was a unique figure in that he was viewed critically by both Democrats and Republicans. Democrats attacked him based on his anti-union record and business tactics, while Republicans criticized him for hiring undocumented workers and for allegations of domestic abuse.

Puzder is the third prospective Trump administrator to withdraw thier nomination. Michael T. Flynn resigned from being the national security advisor over his controversial conversations with Russia, and Vincent Viola withdrew from being the Army secretary due to his business ties. However, several other controversial appointees have already been confirmed by the Senate, while others still await their hearing.

As of Feb. 17, just 14 of President Trump’s cabinet appointees have been approved by the Republican-majority Senate. Democrats have been blocking the approval of a number of President Trump’s cabinet members; taking to the Senate floor to voice their concerns over appointees such as Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Education Secretary Betsey DeVos. It is important to take a closer look at President Trump’s potential cabinet to learn more about his appointees, why the nomination process is being approached with so much opposition and what we can expect in the days to come.

Below is a summary of key appointees made by the Trump administration, some more controversial than others.

Secretary of State – Rex Tillerson; confirmed from a 56 to 43 vote on Feb. 1

Tillerson made his name known in the oil industry.

He started his journey at Exxon Mobil in 1975, and worked his way up the ladder to become CEO. Tillerson was also a former president of the Boy Scouts of America. He was praised by President Trump for having, “experience at dealing successfully with all types of foreign governments,” Tillerson was heavily criticized for his close connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2012, Putin awarded him the high honor “Order of Friendship” in Russia.

Secretary of the Treasury – Steven Mnuchin; confirmed from a 53 to 47 vote on Feb. 13 During the housing crisis in the 2008 recession, Mnuchin and his company, OneWest Bank, were accused of using dirty and unorthodox strategies in order to profit at the expense of homeowners. He also has ties to Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street firms. Similarly to Trump, he inherited his wealth and has run businesses accused of racial discrimination.

Attorney General – Jeff Sessions; confirmed from a 52 to 47 vote on Feb. 8 Arguably the most controversial of all of the Trump cabinet appointees, Sessions was notoriously appointed

by President Ronald Reagan to be a judge of the District Court of the Southern District of Alabama in 1986, but was ultimately denied by the Senate over rampant accusations of racism. He also has a shady track record when it comes to both legal and undocumented immigration, LGBTQA rights, and climate change.

Secretary of Health and Human Services – Tom Price; confirmed from a 52 to 47 vote on Feb. 10 Price has been accused by Democrats of violating conflict of interest laws and pushing for legislation that benefited healthcare companies he had stocks in. However, he denies knowing about any of this. He is also a member of the controversial Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, which is against Medicare and vaccinations. As Secretary of Health and Human Services, he would be in

charge of rolling back ObamaCare and promoting his own legislation. This is known as the Empowering Patients First Act. Critics speculate this new legislation will not be as successful or comprehensive as ObamaCare since it is based on tax credit, which does not aid in affordability.

Secretary of Education – Betsy DeVos; confirmed from a 51-50 vote on Feb. 7 For the first time in American history, the Vice President needed to split a vote in a cabinet hearing.

After protests from Democrats, including an all-night sit in that took place in the Senate, Vice President Pence voted to confirm the highly controversial Education Secretary Betsey DeVos. Noted as being inexperienced in the public education sector and in dealing with student protection laws, DeVos also championed charter schools and vouchers, which would allow tax dollars to fund private schools. Her work in education in Michigan was highly criticized, as well as her and her family’s records of donating to the Republican Party, which includes donations to the flawed “conversion therapy”.

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency – Scott Pruitt; confirmed from a 52 to 46 vote on Feb. 17 Despite new controversial evidence of emails that show the fossil fuel industry violating open records laws, Scott Pruitt was narrowly confirmed as the Head Adminstartor of the Environmental Protection Agency.

He has a record of suing the EPA while serving as the Oklahoma Attorney General, and has been skeptical of anthropogenic climate change and other environmental measures that are particularly popular in the public eye.

The completion of President Trump’s cabinet will allow for the administration to move forward in executing key policy decisions. Each appointee reveals a sense of the direction the Trump Administration is headed in for the next four years; whether that be within the department of education, energy or urban development.

NEWS

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February 23, 2017

Iran put “on notice” by the Trump administration

Daily Mail CHRISTIAN HALSTEAD News Intern On Feb. 1, 2017, the Trump administration officially put Iran “on notice.” This assertion was initially stated by former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn in a White House press conference. Given Flynn’s blunt debut, and President Trump’s reiteration of his exact words later that day on Twitter, the public has now been given a great deal of insight into the future of foreign diplomacy for the Trump administration.

Publicly denouncing a nation, let alone one with which the U.S. has a questionable relationship, without directly addressing them, marks a stark contrast in the Trump administration from its predecessor. Beginning in 2013, after the election of politically-centrist

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Former President Obama opened up a direct line of communication with the Iranian government via telephone. Rouhani’s period in New York at the U.N. General Assembly later that year laid the foundation for the Iran Deal, a U.N.approved nuclear nonproliferation agreement struck in April 2015 between Iran, the U.S., Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia.

This is the exact deal Trump vowed to “rip up” on the campaign trail, claiming that the deal benefitted Iran tremendously without imposing proper restrictions, nor benefitting the U.S. in any tangible way.

Despite this, career U.S. diplomats have told the Trump administration that Tehran has fulfilled its obligations under the agreement thus far without any indication that this may change. Regardless, Flynn explained during the aforementioned press conference,

“The Obama administration failed to respond adequately to Tehran’s malign actions—including weapons transfers, support for terrorism, and other violations of international norms.” In this view, while the Iran Deal may have tentatively dealt with the issue of nuclear proliferation in Iran, it fails to address the Islamic Republic’s other wrongdoings and, in doing so, indirectly expresses permissiveness.

Iran has continued to test missiles, though not nuclear ones, the most recent of which was a medium-range missile referred to as the Shahab. According to Greg Thielmann, a former State Department intelligence expert, Iran has had the capability to launch a nuclear-sized missile assault against Israel and southeast Europe for over a decade. Under the Nuclear Deal, however, Iran does not have the capabilities to acquire the fissile material necessary for nuclear weapons.

Iran’s weapon testing is taken as an act of defiance by the Trump administration either way. Iran has also openly backed Houthis rebels in Yemen by providing them with financial support and weapons. The Houthis are the primary militant group in opposition to Saudi Arabia in the region’s civil war. Given the United States’ alliance with Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, particularly in their most recent attack against a Saudi vessel, are working against the interests of the U.S. So too is Iran in their support of the group.

On Friday, Feb. 3, the Trump administration announced sanctions on companies and individuals deemed to be involved in Iran’s missile program and its support for the Houthis. The sanctions levied specifically target 12 firms, some of which are Chinese firms believed to have provided Iran with missile parts, and 13 specific individual investors. Iran has responded with its own blacklist of American individuals and companies. The Iranian foreign ministry explained, “The Islamic Republic will proportionately and reciprocally confront any action that targets the Iranian people’s interests.”

This increasingly combative relationship between the U.S. and Iran, seemingly an invention of the Trump administration, has led Dr. Satish Kolluri, of the University’s Communication Studies Department, to question the direction in which the future of U.S. diplomacy seems to be heading. Kolluri explains, “Given that the nuclear deal with Iran is working as it should and that it involves other major powers and not just the U.S., it has given pause to our administration, and rightly so. With Russia being a close ally of Iran, not to mention its highly controversial entanglement with promoting candidate Trump then and President Trump now, the U.S can only indulge in rhetoric at this point without upsetting the status quo.

Elizabeth Warren silenced while testifying to Senate CARLY BIVONA Arts Intern On Feb. 7, 2017, Elizabeth Warren was testifying against Jeff Sessions, President Trump’s nominee — now approved Attorney General of the United States. Her speech was cut short when Senate Republicans voted to silence her based on an obscure rule of the Senate called Rule 19. The rule, rarely invoked, prohibits senators from insulting each other on the Senate floor.

The purpose of Warren’s attendance on the floor was to read two letters written by Coretta Scott King and Edward Kennedy.

Both letters expressed disapproval towards Jeff Session’s nomination as a federal judge in 1986. King’s letter, which she too originally wrote for the Senate, was also blocked from congressional records

by Senator Strom Thurmond. It pointed to specific examples of Sessions’ racial bias which had been continually brought up during his hearings. Sessions was described as a “disgrace to the Justice Department” in Kennedy’s letter.

Though Montana Senator Steve Daines initially warned Warren that she was violating Senate rules, she still continued to read the letters. “The integrity of our Justice Department depends on an attorney general who will fight for the rights of all people. An honest evaluation of Jeff Sessions’ record shows that he is

not that person.” said Warren. Moments later, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell interrupted Warren, saying she had “impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama.” Although Warren was undoubtedly surprised, the Republican controlled Senate upheld the vote 49-43.

Rule 19 states that a Senator cannot “directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator.” The degree of “imputing” was much lower in this case, compared to the situation that led to the creation of this rule. Rule 19 was created as a result of a fist fight breaking out on the Senate floor in 1902.

The silencing of Warren was quick to trend on social media, and the public showed their support for her by the thousands. Her defenders used the hashtag #LetLizSpeak, and #Neverthelessshepersisted, a reference to McConnell’s negative use of the phrase, saying “She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.”

Supporters even shared Coretta Scott King’s letter on social media, spreading the message Warren intended for her fellow Senators and the American people to hear.

The reading of the Coretta Scott King letter was viewed particularly critically by Alveda King, Martin Luther King’s niece.

In an interview with Fox News, King

New Yorker accuses Warren of playing the race card.

She goes on to say that although some of her statements in the letter accuse Sessions of inappropriate conduct, it neglects to point out his work to end school segregation and prosecute members of the KKK. She believes that Warren’s choice to use the letter was to “use the King name to her advantage.”

The practice of Rule 19 meant that Warren was banned from speaking at all Senate meetings until Jeff Sessions’ nomination had been confirmed. Warren nevertheless persisted, however shocked, taking to social media to read Coretta Scott King’s letter. The reading was live streamed outside the doors of the Senate via Facebook. Her reading was viewed by over 5 million people, proving the GOP vote against her backfired.

In addition to the endless support for Warren by the American public, Democratic politicians came to her side in droves. A day after Warren was cut off from her speech, Senator Bernie Sanders took to the Senate floor to read Coretta Scott King’s letter. Sanders said the ban on King’s letter on the Senate floor was “incomprehensible.” Sanders gave his speech after other Democrats included the Coretta Scott King letter in their speech as well, including Senators Tom Udall, Sherrod Brown, and Jeff Merkley.

“I thought Senator Warren being silenced was a classic display of abuse of power and misogyny. Other Republican senators like Ted Cruz have called out other senators before, and never had Rule 19 pulled on them,” said University freshman Joan Audrey.

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February 23, 2017

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Romanian citizens protest government corruption

Al Jazeera ANNA YESILEVSKIY Staff Writer On Jan. 31, Romania’s government signed a nowoverturned executive order that would have legalized abuse in office by officials. The order would have decriminalized any financial damage caused by officials that was less than $48,500. Furthermore, it would have also decriminalized discrimination that was committed by government officials who had constrained the rights of people based on race, religion, disability or HIV status by decreasing the prison sentences of these officials.

In addition to that, this law would have granted amnesty to Romanian people who were sentenced to prison for less than five years. It also would have decreased the prison term in half for inmates with young children, pregnant women, and anyone over 60.

Following this executive order, many Romanians were upset that these laws would legalize corruption and, so, protests erupted. These were the biggest protests Romania had seen since the revolution of 1989 that had overthrown dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

Mariah Sirupsan, a University freshman said, “I think it’s awesome that citizens come together to protest in what they believe is right.”

Among the protesters was journalist Lucian Mindruta.

Regarding the new law and the protests, Mindruta said, “It’s an incredible manifestation of disappointment from these people who feel that they have been cheated.”

Mark Toner, a State Department spokesman also issued a statement following the executive order. Toner said, “The United States is deeply concerned about the government of Romania’s recent measures that undermine rule of law and weaken accountability for financial and corruption-related crimes.”

After six days of protests, the government relented and decided to repeal the decree. Regarding this decision, Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said, “We will hold an extraordinary meeting on Sunday to repeal the decree, withdraw it, and cancel it.”

Despite repealing the law however the government plans to introduce another version of the law into Parliament.

One student named Miahai Saru in Romania

commented on the repeal and said, “I felt a bit better, but it isn’t enough. They lost our trust when they release this emergency ordinance in the night. How do we know it won’t happen again in two weeks, a month? But tonight is a little victory.”

Also following the government’s announcement to repeal the decree, there were several hundred people gathered around the presidential palace who were protesting the president’s decision to repeal the law.

Even after the law had been repealed, Romanians who had been protesting the law gathered around the Victory Square right outside the government offices. They waved Romanian flags, blew horns and had with them giant puppets of politicians dressed as convicts. These protesters yelled out “You thieves!” and “Resign” at the politicians.

Maria Veliz, a junior at the University gave her opinion about the decree and the protests. Veliz stated, “I agree with those who are protesting this order since it seemed it was a way for those who were in office and charged with corruption to get let off the hook and not face any consequences.”

Study shows nationwide decrease in abortion rates MEGHAN BROWN Contributor The Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization committed to national and international sexual and reproductive health, recently released a study showing a decline in abortion rates in the United States. The study stated that for the first time since 1975 the number of abortions in the country has decreased to under one million. The rate is now 14.6 abortions per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, the lowest number ever recorded.

The institute looked at how the subject of reproductive health is approached throughout the country. In the northeast, between 2011 and 2014, the abortion rate decreased 11 percent while the number of clinics increased 14 percent. The rise in access to abortion clinics and other resources proved helpful in reducing the abortion rate.

This relationship reveals a negative correlation between abortion rates and the access to safe, legal abortion procedures. It also draws resemblance to the direct negative correlation between the availability of contraceptives and abortions rates, which is seen in another, similar study published in The Lancet in 2016. The Lancet study showed that abortions rates globally declined while the availability of contraceptives increased. The study especially focused on the decline in third world countries where contraceptive possibilities are becoming increasingly accessible.

Although the relationship between abortion rates and access to clinics are evident in the Guttmacher Institute study, the study also shows a relationship between restrictive procedures and the abortion rate. In the South and especially

in states such as Texas and Mississippi, legislation is in place that forces women to go through a number of invasive and convoluted processes intentionally aimed to shame women out of the idea of abortion. The abortion rate, however, has decreased 16 percent.

The majority of women seeking abortions services come from a low-income environment. Two thirds of these women are also already parents. These factors affect the women arranging for transportation, child care, and time off work, as Rachel Jones, the lead author of the study points out via Guttmacher Institute.

“While many find ways to access care despite these obstacles, some of the abortion rate decline is likely attributable to women who were prevented from accessing needed services.”

The study also showed that 95 percent of abortions were performed in clinics even though clinics providing abortion services has declined 6 percent between 2011 and 2014. This shows that women are seeking safer abortion procedures even though the access to clinics have declined. Since more than half of women in 25 states live in a county that lacks a clinic that provides abortion services, this statistic proves women are still finding access.

Communication Studies major and University senior Jada Jackson hopes the study means “more couples are having babies when they’re ready, financially, or otherwise.” She says, “the study could mean more pregnancies being controlled and planned.”

Data provided from organizations such as the Guttmacher Institute ensures the country knows which methods work and which do not. It also helps provide information that keeps women healthy and safe. It is critical that these organizations continue publishing their work and releasing new studies so that we can learn from them in order to prove and grow as a country.

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THE PACE PRESS

February 23, 2017

OPINION AND EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL BOARD Maximilliano Onofre Editor Chase Ballas Executive Editor Sarah Hartzell Executive Editor Jessica Kovac News Editor Amoreena Crispino Arts Editor Katrina Alonso Features Editor Adam Manfredi Graphic Design Nathan Siegel Social Media Dexter John Scott Jr. 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

And the Oscar goes to... white people DEXTER JOHN SCOTT JR Editorial Assistant The Oscars are around the corner and everyone is wondering what is going to win Best Picture. This years two frontrunners are “La La Land,” a film about an aspiring actress and a jazz musician trying balance success and a relationship, and “Moonlight,” a film about a young gay man trying to reconcile with the tragedies of his past. Both films have been held in very high esteem, with “La La Land” being considered a beautiful technical feat and “Moonlight” being considered a complex melodrama that poses nuanced questions about manhood and sexuality.

In this year’s Best Picture race, one of Hollywood’s major problems has reared its ugly head: the problem with the representation of people of color. Almost every film nominated either has clichéd POC characters or POCs that are represented in a negative light. The white savior cliché often seen in films about race is evident in characters like Saroo’s adoptive mother (Nicole Kidman) from “Lion” and Al Harrison (Kevin Costner) from “Hidden Figures.” “Hell or High Water” has one Native American character, which Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) makes prejudiced jokes towards the whole film. “Hacksaw Ridge” and “Manchester by the Sea” have no POC characters whatsoever.

Out of all the Best Picture nominees, “La La Land” is the biggest offender in this regard. The main characters of “La La Land” are Sebastian Wilder (Ryan Gosling) and Mia Dolan (Emma Stone). Sebastian is obsessed with jazz and feels that it is losing its feeling because too many artists are selling out. He

eventually sells out himself so that he can make money to support his relationship with Mia. Damien Chazelle, the director, and his composer, Justin Hurwitz, makes jazz a central theme to music of the film. For a movie where jazz is a main theme of the film, its originators are heavily underrepresented.

For example, there are very few black characters in the film. In fact there is only one major character, Keith (John Legend), who is a person of color. This character is supposed to be indicative of the people who sell out their dreams, which Sebastian frowns upon. There is even a moment where Sebastian calls out Keith for bastardizing jazz. Let me repeat, a white character calls out a black character for changing a form of music that was created by black people. The film also has no other black characters and relegates any black extras to playing jazz for the white characters. It takes jazz away from black history and blames black people for its degradation. “La La Land” has since been nominated for 14 awards, becoming only the third movie to do that.

“Moonlight,” a more nuanced approach to black representation, has received eight nominations. A movie like that being nominated is a huge accomplishment, but is instead being overlooked by a film that disrespects black people’s major contribution to music. “La La Land” sends a bigoted message about black people and their effects on the current state of music and continuing to praise it would reaffirm a Hollywood culture that ignores and sometimes demonizes people of color.

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.

February 23, 2017

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ARTS

Beyoncé’s pregnancy makes history AMOREENA CRISPINO Arts Editor On Wednesday Feb. 1, the one and only Beyoncé saved the world. She made a special and unexpected announcement via Instagram that she is pregnant with twins. The caption read, “We would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. - The Carters.” With just over 10 million likes, this pregnancy announcement has become the most-liked picture posted on Instagram and has stirred up many comments.

After Beyoncé posted this picture, people became so excited, maybe even more excited than they might be when having their own children. This picture got so much praise not only because it is a picture of Beyoncé, but also because the nature of the picture. She is pictured holding her stomach with both hands, wearing blue underwear, a bra, and a green veil. There is a Virgin Mary vibe to this picture, as Beyoncé is surrounded by a halo of flowers. Many press articles have appeared after the picture was posted, trying to decode the symbolic meaning behind it. The New York Post went as far as dedicating its front page to Beyoncé, calling her pregnancy the “Beymaculate Conception.”

And let’s be reminded she posted this picture on the first day of Black History Month. Since the Virgin Mary is usually depicted with very pale, white skin, Beyoncé is re-appropriating white femininity and making a statement while at the same time announcing her pregnancy.

This picture challenges racism and depicts a larger message.

This picture is also different from traditional pregnancy photos. Usually, pregnant women take pictures wearing all white or wrapped in white cloth if they’re

Consequence of Sound

done professionally. In a more casual setting, pregnancy announcement pictures are taken in the comfort of their own home, maybe even a mirror selfie showing their baby bump! Beyoncé has definitely changed the game and set the bar high.

Many students at the University had great things to say about this special announcement. University sophomore Julia Coloso mentions, “at least one thing is going right in America.” Similarly, sophomore Lulu Chu says, “Beyoncé single handedly saved 2017.” Most people believe these statements to be true, and some even throw in some light-hearted humor to describe how they feel about it.

University junior Julia Molinaro jokes, “I can’t believe Beyoncé is pregnant with twins! Can’t wait to welcome Red Algae and Green Moss into the world!”

These will be Beyoncé’s second and third children with her husband Jay-Z, and they will be joining the Carter family, also consisting of their 5-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy. Beyoncé has truly been blessed, due to the fact that before Blue was born, she suffered a miscarriage, which was revealed in her HBO documentary, “Life Is But A Dream.”

While also winning the award for Best Urban Contemporary Album, Beyoncé performed at the Grammys on Sunday, Feb. 12, and her pregnancy stole the show. Her performance was based on of motherhood and her outfit accentuated the theme well. She wore a beautiful gold dress with another Virgin Mary inspired headpiece. Many viewers might not have noticed this, but Beyoncé’s face was also printed on her dress in the middle of her torso. The jewels were large, like her stomach, and channelled Cleopatra’s luxurious style.

Beyoncé is scheduled to perform at Coachella in April, so if she is still pregnant, we will not only be blessed with her presence, but another amazing, motherly performance.

Instagram/Beyonce

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February 23, 2017

“Fifty Shades Darker” somehow worse than original CHAAHAT KACHHIA Contributor “Mr. Grey will see you now…” Everyone’s favorite BDSM lover is back in “Fifty Shades Darker,” and this time, he’s in love. Based on the trilogy by E. L. James, and directed by James Folley, the sequel to “Fifty Shades of Grey” was released on Feb. 10, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The movie made almost $160 million in the box office by the first week since the release.

The first film of the trilogy ends with Anastasia “Ana” Steele (Dakota Johnson) leaving her billionaire boyfriend, Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), who carries a dark secret. She breaks it off with Christian because she was in love with him, while he seemed incapable of loving her back. After reluctantly parting with him, Ana begins an internship position with Seattle Independent Publishing under Jack Hyde (Eric Johnson). A heartbroken Christian soon comes back into Ana’s life and promises a real relationship without “rules, punishments, and secrets.”

She agrees and they try to carry out a normal relationship, but old and new love interests enter the plot. Jack, Anna’s boss, begins to show interest in Ana and flirts with her, which ignites jealousy in Christian, who warns her of Jack’s intentions. After this, Ana notices a reappearance of a woman everywhere she goes. This woman, Leila Williams (Bella Heathcote), is a former submissive of Grey’s. Leila wanted more from him, which is why they broke it off. She goes on to marry a man and gets widowed which causes her mental health to decline. Feeling envious, she seems to be stalking Ana. Along with that, Ana meets Elena (Kim Basinger), the woman that brought Christian into the BDSM lifestyle. She warns her that she will never find happiness with Christian. Trouble begins to

stir as Christian’s exes are introduced.

Along with new characters, production designer, Nelson Coates, adds new elements to the set design. He amplifies a fantasy-like feel to Christian’s apartment.

Besides his apartment, the Grey Mansion (where a masquerade takes place) is an important set for the movie. Overall, Ana’s pastel colors and Christian’s dark, masculine colors are paired together very well in both set designs and costumes. The soundtrack for “Fifty Shades Darker” has a very eclectic group of artists. The soundtrack features well-known artists such as Halsey, Tove Lo, John Legend, Sia, Nick Jonas, Nicki Minaj, and more. The lead song, “I Don’t Want To Live Forever,” by Taylor Swift and Zayn, was released on Dec. 9, 2016.

The plot itself is weak and only provides excuses for the two leads (whose on screen chemistry is nonexistent) to have sex.

Dornan’s acting is dry.

Unfortunately for him, his incredibly good looks do not make up for it. Johnson is just as gawky and pitiful as she was in the first movie.

After watching “Fifty Shades Darker,” University freshman Mirando Baldo says, “They’re both very awkwardly shaped puzzle pieces that just don’t fit together.

Aesthetically, they both look good. But their sexual relationship

does not scream passion and erotica.” Rotten Tomatoes rates the movie 3.3 out of 10 and says, “The limp ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ wants to be kinky but only serves as its own form of punishment.” The heat between the couple is supposed to be erotic, but comes out as pathetic. University freshman Terri Herrod says, “The only way ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ will seem enjoyable is if someone watches it as a 2-hour comedy instead of what it actually is: an ‘erotic romantic drama.’” Rumors have already been confirmed about the actors returning to complete the trilogy and the release of “Fifty Shades Freed” in February of 2018. The audience will surely feel a sense of freedom from this appalling trilogy after the final movie.

Nylon

Oops, she didn’t do it again

The Edge TRISTAN BIGLER Contributor It can be said by many that Britney Spears is an icon. From the snake to the the matching denim, the Madonna kiss to the head shaving, umbrella attacking, short-lived rehab incident in Feb. of 2007. Spears’ bald, angry face was everywhere for months with the headline, “What happened to the sweet innocent school-girl from Kentwood, Louisiana?”

Many questioned what was going on behind the scenes of her public meltdown. Shortly after the umbrella incident, Spears posted an apology on her website and excused the behavior as preparation for a role she would be playing in a movie, which many dismissed as a thinlyveiled excuse. However, there are other theories that could

be applied to Spears’ incident. Though unconfirmed, many believe Spears struggled with postpartum depression after the birth of her first child, Sean Preston Federline. Her mental state was already fragile when Sam Lufti, Spears’ manager, swooped into her life. Spears’ mother, Lynne Spears, wrote a memoir entitled “Through The Storm” in which she recalls how Lufti would sneak drugs into Spears’ meals, causing her to be constantly exhausted and dependent on him. He would hide her dog in the house, and when Spears cried and begged Lufti to help her, he would retrieve the dog and present it to her with a heroic, what-would-you-do-without-me stance. Lufti ended up suing both Spears and her mother for these allegations.

Supposedly, the case was settled last year when Spears paid him off so that he would go away and stop bothering her. While her conflicts with Lufti were damaging her mental health, her aunt died, she divorced husband Kevin Federline, and she had seventeen assigned paparazzi that camped outside of her house and followed her at all times.

It was a lot of stress placed on the famous pop star.

Spears has greatly improved since 2007. In April 2015, she and her two sons were on the cover of People with the quote, “I’m in a real good place,” which not only refers to her healthy mental state, but also her large mansion. Her Instagram is full of memes, inspirational quotes, love for her sons, and the occasional Vegas show promo, which was named the “Best of Las Vegas” in 2015. Whether or not you believe any of the alternative reasons behind her meltdown, many believe Spears has lived an incredible life, in spite of the “Glee” episodes and endless Internet jokes that mock her. Her rise back to the top seems inspirational to many, but many others feel the mocking mugs and stickers trivialize everything that Spears went through.

Lifetime is coming out with a movie this month that retells Spears’ life story. However, she does not condone the movie. The film will focus on the downs of the roller coaster, including her breakup with Justin Timberlake,

her tumultuous marriage to Federline, her child custody battle, the suffocating paparazzi, and more. Spears would rather capitalize on her current success.

Though fans may respect Spears and her work, many will still tune into the film and analyze every piece. If you do end up watching it, take it with a grain of salt.

Many should understand that what she went through was extremely tragic yet ridiculed. She has grown in the past ten years, and most importantly, know that if you want a Maserati, you better work.

PopSugar

February 23, 2017

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The Queen of Soul announces retirement HANNA MORRISSE Arts Intern The artist that made sure we would never misspell respect is planning her retirement.

An icon of the music industry, Aretha Franklin has won the hearts of various people over a career spanning fifty years. Franklin, “the greatest singer of all time,” according to Rolling Stone in 2010, plans on making one last album before her retirement this upcoming year. The soul singer and musician will be collaborating with Stevie Wonder to create this new album. Hopes are high from fans who crave Franklin’s soothing and jazzy voice for one last recording, and one last tour.

Franklin confirmed in her interview with Rolling Stone magazine, “I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert. This is it.”

The 74-year- old singer started her career singing in front of her congregation in Memphis, Tennessee as a child. Franklin had her first child at the age of 14 and later moved to New York to start a career in music. One of five children, Franklin found her niche in the music industry. Her first album, “Aretha,” was produced by Columbia Records in 1961. Her worldwide success as a musician lead her to be the first female artist to be inducted into the 1987 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Franklin’s fan base stands by her in the last year of her career. Victoria Estoque, a musician and dedicated fan of

Franklin’s work, commented, “Aretha has been an encompassing inspiration for colored women who dream of becoming singers. She is a national treasure.” The melancholy feeling surrounding the retirement has left her audience in surprise.

In 2014, Franklin released an album in which she sang “The Great Diva Classics,” which included covers of songs by Adele, Gloria Gaynor, and Chaka Khan. Her recent work has been widely popular. Although people are not looking forward to her retirement, there are others who are excited for her new album.

University student Diedra Ronnow states, “She is such an influential artist, and I’m

Getty Images

ecstatic for the new album. Her music makes my heart smile.” Ronnow, like other fans, are patiently waiting for new music material.

“It’s sad to think an icon like Aretha is leaving the music business,” said University student Krysten Chavez, reminiscing on the influence Franklin had on the music industry.

Caught off guard, fans have been preparing for her leave and the new album release.

Franklin has been overwhelmingly excited to get into the recording studio, to finish her music career, and give her fans one last set of songs. In an interview held with WDIV in Detroit, Franklin states, “I feel very, very enriched and satisfied with respect to where my career came from, and where it is now.”

The satisfaction that she describes is one that communities have also experienced.

Franklin’s music has been widely influential and prosperous since 1961, and her career has soared. She is notably ranked as amongst the greatest musical artists of all time, Franklin has been an important part of the music industry as a talented singer and musician. She is an icon, a face of jazz and R&B, and she has exhibited female empowerment through her success. Her true adoration of music can be seen through her music, and her words. “I am doing what I love to do, and you cannot beat that, especially when the audience appreciates what you prepare for them. It's very, very gratifying,” she once said. The date has yet to be released for Franklin’s new album.

Kehlani’s new album is sweet, sexy, and savage CHAAHAT KACHHIA Contributor Kehlani is an American singer and songwriter on the rise. She released her newest album, “SweetSexySavage,” on Jan. 27. “SweetSexySavage” is her debut studio album from Atlantic Records. Prior to this album, Kehlani became a finalist on “America’s Got Talent.” She has released two mixtapes called “Cloud 19,” in 2014, and “You Should Be Here” in 2015. “You

Should Be Here” was nominated for the Best Urban Contemporary Album Grammy Award in 2016. Her song “Gangsta” was also featured in the hit movie “Suicide Squad.”

Prior to her entrance into the music world, Kehlani was homeless and struggled with depression. Despite her rough past, this new album oozes confidence and selfassurance using her R&B music style. The title of the album arises from a prior album, “CrazySexyCool,” by American girl group

Galore

TLC. Besides “Intro,” Kehlani wrote all the songs on the album herself. The first single released was “CRZY” in July of 2016. Later that same month, she released “Distraction.” Both made Billboard’s Hot 100 list. The cover of the album was finally released on Nov. 30, 2016. Along with the release, she put out a message to her fans: “Thank you to the fans for believing in me... for receiving me... for growing with me and giving me the confidence to keep going and get this album done. I hope you enjoy my journey, my growth, and my stories. SSS season.” Before releasing the cover, she had secretly alluded to the album name in her tweets by calling it “SSS.” “SweetSexySavage Deluxe” has 18 songs in total. “Intro,” written by Reyna Biddy, begins with a spoken-word poem of Kehlani apologizing and pointing out that she wants her fans to understand her.

Followed by this, it goes into the first song, “Keep On.” She emphasizes her flaws and how she should’ve done things. The next song is her single, “Distraction,” which fans rave as the best song on the album.

Throughout the album, she expresses deep feelings in her songs. In songs like “Piece of Mind,” “Personal,” “In My Feelings,” and “Not Used To It,” she refers to former lovers and relationships that left her wounded. The song “Undercover” has a snippet of Akon’s “Don’t Matter” in the beginning and talks about being with her lover no matter what, as does Akon’s

song. “Everything Is Yours,” “Hold Me

By The Heart,” and “Thank You” are more sentimental songs that show her softer side. “Escape” and “Do U Dirty” go in the other direction of her nostalgia and both are more against relationships. “Advice” is more optimistic about bad relationships but being smarter about them in the future.

Towards the end of the album with “I Wanna Be” and “Get Like,” listeners get a taste of Kehlani in love. “Too Much” is a fierce song that talks about confidence and the power of being a woman. Each song has a defined sound that alternate between R&B and pop. University freshman Disha Ghandi says, “The album spoke to me on a personal level and this is the best work I’ve heard from her.” Another University freshman Miranda Baldo says, “As a devoted fan, I’ve been waiting patiently for this album and I’m so proud of it.”

Followed by the release, “SweetSexySavage” went to the top of the Billboard’s R&B Albums chart.

Metacritic gave the album a 76 out of 100.

Entertainment Weekly grades it a B+. The album continues to receive complimentary reviews. As a first solid album, it has been fairly successful. The album will be followed by the “SweetSexySavage” World Tour, which Kehlani announced in Dec. 2016. It will begin on Feb. 18 in California and run until June 18, doing a full circle back to California. The tour consists of 50 shows in North America and 22 in Europe.

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From rumor to revival, classic TV makes a comeback

TV Guide HANNA MORRISSE Arts Intern The trend of reviving past television shows, either cancelled or completed, has surprised viewers. Beloved programs that audience members invested their time and lives into have entered the world of entertainment once again. From rumor to revival, fans on social media followed cast members, gathering information about their favorite shows about to be revived. Cast member of “Gilmore Girls” Lauren Graham tweeted on Oct. 15, 2015 in response to a comment that turned out to be true about the show being rebooted. Graham said, “I can’t confirm this, but I also can’t deny this.”

This ambiguous response left audience members with pure excitement for Netflix’s revival of “Gilmore Girls,” entitled “Gilmore Girls: A Year in The Life,” which came out this past year.

University freshman Maggie Carucci, a passionate fan of the television series, responds, “The ‘Gilmore Girls’ revival was enchanting and tied loose ends from the original series. However, it left me wanting more since the last four words were a cliff hanger.” Netflix released four episodes, ninety minutes long, of the show, and has not confirmed if there will be more to come.

“Gilmore Girls” was one of many shows to be revived.

“Fuller House,” a reboot of “Full House,” was another project released by Netflix. University student Mackenzie Merriman commented, “‘Fuller House’ brought back a piece of my childhood.” Many fans along with Merriman felt similarly, making their feelings public on social

media. Carucci, however, expressed her disappointment with the series, “It has potential to be good, but seems like they’re trying to recreate iconic moments of the past and trying too hard to do so.” “Fuller House” had a majority of the “Full House” characters, but unfortunately did not include the Olsen twins, who played Michelle.

The program follows the next generation of Tanner kids.

TVLine The dysfunctional, uproaring sitcom is nostalgic. “Fuller House” premiered on Netflix Dec. 9th, 2016.

“Fuller House” and “Gilmore Girls” started a trend, and now other platforms aside from Netflix are recreating popular TV shows. In 1990, a science fiction television series, “Twin Peaks,” aired on ABC. Showtime will be recreating the show, which will premiere May 21 and contain 18 episodes. Originally the show was not popular, but has gained a cult following since its end. This upcoming sci-fi comedy, about murder mysteries will leave audiences laughing. Fans can expect throwbacks to the original in the revival. Following this popular Sci-

Fi show, NBC is said to revive the ‘90s sitcom, “Will & Grace.” The show is about friends, Will and Grace, and their dramatic, interesting lives. University student Val Hughes, a dedicated audience member, states “It’s family friendly, and a show I sit and watch with my sisters on Thanksgiving every year as tradition.” The remake will be ten episodes directed by James Burrows, according to Variety. Currently the premiere date has not been released.

Audience members are ready for these revivals, wanting to rekindle the nostalgia of the past. Companies like Netflix, Showtime, and NBC seem to want to meet the audience's wishes.

Fans on social media reach out to the platforms daily with new ideas for reboots of their favorite old TV series. Reviving shows has become an apparent trend in the past two years.

Slate The trend is popular, but criticized by some. University student Gigi Vallone states, “I think it’s interesting how many shows have been revived in the past couple years, including old movies turned into TV shows.” Vallone, interested in the new remakes, is also overwhelmed. With remakes still being brought to the attention of the viewer, it seems as if this is going to be an ongoing trend in the entertainment industry. Revival television is upcoming and a popular topic of discussion.

From rumor to revival, the fans and critics are ready and waiting.

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Fans are in “LØVE” with Aaron Carter’s new EP CARLY BIVONA Arts Intern When most people hear the name Aaron Carter, most remember the bleach-blonde teen heartthrob singing “I Want Candy,” and of course the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards. However, at 29 years old, Aaron Carter is stepping back into the spotlight with his new album “LØVE.” After years of maintaining a low profile, Carter has been working on what he calls “a massive music reinvention.”

The former pop sensation had his first hit song at the age of nine, though he’s been an active part of the music industry since he was seven years old. Carter quickly became a multi-millionaire off his platinum albums and by touring the country with his Backstreet Boy brother, Nick Carter. As a result of his 2000 album “Aaron’s Party (Come Get It),” which sold over three million copies in the U.S. and included his now nostalgic song “That’s How I Beat Shaq,” Carter had officially become a household name and a teen superstar. After his 2002 album “Another Earthquake,” Carter has mostly kept his distance from the public eye, until now.

“LØVE,” which was released on Feb. 10, consists of five new songs, the most popular being “Fool’s Gold.” His new EP consists of EDM music, a fresh departure from his pop music of the past. “Back in the day, if you were listening to my music when I was younger, that’s one thing.

Essentially, I’m coming back out as a new artist. This is different,” says Carter in an interview with FOX News Magazine. Working on the EP for over a year with complete creative control, Carter co-produced and wrote all of his own songs. His EDM sound has been heavily influenced by other popular artists such as Tycho, Flying Lotus, and Petit Biscuit.

Before the release of his full EP, Aaron Carter released “Fool’s Gold” and “Sooner or Later.” Already getting positive reviews, the songs he wrote have personal meaning to his experiences living life out of the spotlight. They talk about the pain of his past relationships, and moving forward in love and in life. In the same interview, Carter says of his new music, “Hopefully, my music and the content that I’m talking about, how I’m generalizing it, maybe they’ll find some sort of relevance with it in their own lives. I hope that’s the case. And it can help people get through their breakups, especially if they’re not feeling love.”

As Carter’s lifelong fans rejoice for his new music, recognizing the hurdles he’s jumped over the past 14 years makes his newfound success that much greater. Carter has opened up in the past about his depression, which hindered his ability to keep up with the bar that was set so high for him as a child star. A large setback also occurred when he was 18: Carter owed over $4 million in back taxes. After joining the off-Broadway cast of “The Fantasticks,” Carter found an agent and was able to get back on his feet. He built a life for himself to restart his career with a style that is authentic to him and that his fans can truly enjoy.

Some students at the University have gotten wind of Carter’s new music and had nothing but positive and excited comments about it. “I love

the song ‘Fool’s Gold.’ I was actually surprised I like it. He sounds a bit like Zayn Malik. It just has such a modern pop vibe,” said University student Shep Ashchepkova.

Aaron Carter has also released the music videos to some of his songs, making this his first video in ten years. Carter’s teenage music videos are just as memorable as his catchy songs, so it would make sense to any fan why Carter would include visuals with his new EP. Whether you’re listening out of enjoyment, nostalgia, or just pure curiosity, “LØVE” is not to be ignored by those who grew up with his music.

Twitter/@AaronCarter

Reviews are “Split” over M. Night Shyamalan thriller NATHAN SIEGEL Social Media I went into “Split” expecting to leave with my head spinning, my mouth agape, and my fingers furiously typing texts telling my friends to drop what they were doing and run to the movie theater. Maybe that is why I left the theater disappointed.

After seeing M. Night Shyamalan’s pervious works, “The Village” and “The Sixth Sense” to name a few, both of which have earth-shattering, pull-the-rugout-from-under-you, historically mindblowing endings, I expected nothing less from “Split.” The film’s trailers looked insane and action-packed, and they were not wrong. “Split” is full of action, a lot of panting, and even more screaming.

However, that was where Shyamalan chose to stop the thrills. “Split” lacked the wow factor his work is notorious, or,

to some, infamous for.

The film, which runs exactly two hours, a bit long for a horror movie, follows three girls who are abducted after a birthday lunch and held hostage by Kevin, a man who harbors over twenty different personalities, which Shyamalan refers to as dissociative identity disorder.

Controversially, the film turns Dissociative Identity Disorder, a real mental illness, into a fantastical horror element. Film goers are not new to DID. Norman Bates’ “Psycho” character suffers from a similar condition in which he develops his dead mothers personality along with his own.

The cast in “Split” is, for the majority, forgettable. Although horror films do not usually boast an Academy Award winning cast, the girls cast as the three abductees are run of the mill scream queens; girls cast to run, head darted backward, eyes wild with fear, stringy hair behind them, as they are chased by whatever monster,

vampire, axe murderer, or, in this movie’s case, mentally unstable captor is pursuing them. “X-Men” actor James McAvoy, however, does an impressive job embodying so many personalities, ranging from a nine-year-old boy to an elderly British woman. Although his personalities are cliché in choice, McAvoy switches impeccably between his identities.

My biggest problem with the film was the lead up to seemingly nothing.

While the action and slight suspense lingers throughout the length of the film, between the girls in captivity (whose hair, makeup, and outfits impressively never looked unpresentable despite their condition), Kevin’s therapist visits, and protagonist Casey’s flashbacks to childhood, nothing much comes of the disorganized sequences. The film shifts between time and place, but never comes to a climax. Instead, Shyamalan resorts to distracting the viewer from plot holes

by inserting a five-minute “Paranormal Activity”-like rush of blood, guts, gore, and even more screaming than the first hour and forty-five minutes of the movie, as the final thrill.

Countless articles on the movie have praised its magnificent twist ending, but the ending is far from a twist. Without spoiling the film, the big scare is blatantly revealed for the majority of the movie.

Viewers in the audience seemed to be surprised, but if even the slightest bit of attention is paid to the less thrilling scenes, it is clear what the mediocre climax is going to consist of.

From a respectable master of movie twists, “Split” was not what I expected.

For first-time Shyamalan viewers looking for something to watch and scream to at a sleepover, “Split” is a good choice. For someone looking for a movie that follows through with its build-up, I advise they save their money.

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Sunday brunch day!

A look inside the history of brunch culture KELSEY NICHOLSON Features Intern You must have heard it before: your friends go out for brunch, taking pictures of their food, drinks, and the restaurant, posing with their coffee mugs or orange juice. These pictures are shared to social media sites like Instagram or VSCO, using the pleasing aesthetic of the brunch restaurant to get likes and social fulfillment.

In recent years, brunch has become more popular among millennials as a way of replacing an earlier breakfast, as well as a chance to snap some cute photos. But it’s only come around fairly recently; brunch was almost unheard of, unless you belonged to an affluent family with societal needs to fulfill. However, now a younger demographic is taking control of this versatile meal.

Brunch usually occurs on the weekends, and often after a night of going out and partying. The clubs and bars may leave 20-somethings with quite a hangover, and giving them a few extra hours to sleep before going out to eat is a blessing. Instead of being awake and ready at eight or nine, millennials can wait until 11 or 12 to go out and enjoy brunch. Brunch also makes people look “classy”—they may have been out late drinking at a dive bar the night before, but now they’re looking put together at brunch! There’s nothing more mature than that. And for those who really love alcohol, brunch offers a chance to drink morning cocktails, usually mimosas or bloody marys. What was called “the hair of the dog” once upon a time is now an hour and a half of champagne and orange juice to go with your hangover craving of French toast.

Brunch was actually first popularized in the 1930s at the Pump Room in Chicago’s Ambassador Hotel. In 1939, the New York Times declared Sunday a day with only two

meals: brunch and dinner. In the ‘60s, special brunch cookbooks came out, and Saturday brunches became a trend in the 1990s. It’s been around for a long time, and steadily gaining popularity over the decades. We can attribute the popularity of modern brunch culture to social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter, VSCO, Facebook, and Pinterest. Young people go out to brunch if only for the pictures (even if the food is amazing, which it usually is.) Many brunch places, especially in a modern city like

New York, have a clean, minimalist aesthetic that people try to embrace online.

Even just in Lower Manhattan, there are brunch places on almost every block. Part of the popularity of brunch and the increase in restaurants offering brunch menus is due to people packing into urban areas, especially millennials moving into large cities. Just in Tribeca there is Little Park, complete with wooden accents, white walls and lots of plants, and Two Hands, full of art, exposed

brick walls painted white, and light colored wooden benches and tables that blend into the architecture. For a meal that can keep your hunger at bay for the majority of your Sunday, brunch is pretty cheap. You’re getting two meals (breakfast and lunch) wrapped up in one delicious package. Most meals cost from $10-$20, but at Two Hands Café there is banana bread for $6 and granola for $9, so cheaper options are available. If you consider that you’re actually getting your food for the first half of the day, it’s easier to rationalize the spending.

For college students, something to look forward to on Saturday or Sunday can help them get through the week. After days filled with homework, essays, and exams, a calm meal with friends on the weekend can help you recharge. Grace Tralongo, a freshman at the University, enjoys brunch because “it’s perfect for college students who don’t get up until noon anyway. It’s also cheaper, because you’re buying one meal that’s standing in for two.” It doesn’t hurt that some restaurants also offer bottomless mimosas.

Another large part of brunch culture is the health aspect. Brunch locations usually offer gluten-free food, as The Infatuation well as omelettes with egg whites or pancakes made with spelt flour and coconuts. Greek yogurt with granola and fresh fruit are common, as well as vegan meals and low-calorie dishes.

It is these popular fad foods that draw the younger crowd towards brunch. Saying you had a cappuccino and açaí bowl filled with granola and chia seeds makes it look like you have your life together, instead of the reality of all of us struggling through college and adulthood. So this weekend, head to one of the hundreds of brunch locations in New York City for a meal with friends.

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February 23, 2017

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Perspective of a second-generation immigrant Elma Cardenas wants to change the world, starting with Guatemala OLIVIA CLARK Contributor Sitting in the back of the classroom, Elma Cardenas might seem like your average college student. But she has a lot more than just her Communications degree on her mind. Now a junior at the University, Cardenas was raised in Rochester, New York by her two Guatemalan parents who left their country to have a better life for themselves, and their family. As she grows up and understands the struggles her parents faced, Cardenas is just one example of a first-generation student who wants to use their American privilege to make a difference in their home country.

As an educated young woman, Cardenas knows she wants to do something to give back to the Guatemalan people. Recently, she has been brainstorming about

possible startup company ideas with values in charity. One of her most promising business plans is a service parents can subscribe to in order for their children to be sent a gift package at college around the holidays. For every package ordered, another package is given to someone in need. “If my parents had been given a way to succeed in their home country, I know they wouldn’t have come to the U.S.,” said Cardenas. “If I could make a difference in a Guatemalan’s life, it would be super cool.”

Located in Central America between Mexico and Belize, Guatemala is one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Guatemala has one of the most violent crime rates in Central America due to a history plagued by poverty, weak government, and strong criminal organizations. The Guatemalan Civil War ended 20 years ago, but its effects have not left. In 2000, OSAC reported that 56 percent of Guatemalans lived in poverty. According to Center for Strategic and International Studies, there

were a reported 96 murders per week in 2014, making Guatemala’s homicide rate one of the highest in the Western world. Additionally, Guatemala has issues with children’s and women’s rights. Two thirds of all children in Guatemala live in poverty. In 2011, the Law Against Femicide and Other Forms of Violence Against Women reported thousands of rapes and other attacks, with over 6,500 murders since 2000.

Elma has never visited Guatemala, partly due to her fear of flying, but largely for a fear of what lies in her country. Her parents left 25 years ago, when Guatemala had four cities on the list of Latin America’s most murderous places. Escuintlá, Guatemala landed at number one with 165 murders per 100,000 citizens, CSIS reported.

Luckily, Elma’s parents made it out safely, but for most Guatemalans that is not the case. “It’s a third world country that most people never hear about,” Cardenas explained, “and that’s something I want to change.”

The Internet hive has swarmed around real life JUSTIN KNOEPFEL Features Intern The world is tightly connected through social media. Over the past several years, communication and interactions have thrived with the advent of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and, more recently, Snapchat. These advancements in largescale communication bring an excess of influences on reality through trends in the digital world. However, it is interesting to understand what exactly makes a social media trend grasp the attention of the populace, mostly through the millennial demographic, and why these trends transcend social media and make waves in the real world.

The Internet is a vast hive of culture, with subcultures reigning throughout the digitized realms of the Internet and its users. As a result, social media has created a structure of defining imagery, sound bites, and videos that have started to bleed into society. Users of social media started a heavy crusade against body shaming around 2011 with a movement bostering the plus-size community. As with many social movements, the general public picked up on the message of the campaign and started supporting those involved. The idea that plus-sized people are just as beautiful as the typical and generic model-thin woman is one that has revolutionized the fashion industry. Advertisements for ready-to-wear fashion have diversified enormously in the last few years in that now, so many more body types are represented in the mainstream media. The outcry of people through social media against body shaming directly influenced such a change in the industry. Representation on the runways has also dramatically increased over several years, the greatest accomplishment of which was plus sized customers being able to shop where they could not previously. For example, since the body positivity movement began, stores like Forever 21, H&M, and Target have started carrying extended sizes and plus-size lines both in-store and online. A cause started through hashtags created a movement that helped an entire group of people.

It is no question that social media has also pushed the desire for an advancement in virtual technology. The most notable of these desires is augmented reality, or virtual reality. Although it is a smaller section of the broader Internet culture, social media companies have continuously driven forward the concept of virtual reality through their platforms and onto users. Many industry insiders believe this is the trend to look out for the most in the coming future. Newsweek even suggested that 2017 will “almost certainly” be pivotal for virtual reality.

As far as how social media itself has influenced this real-life industry twisting notion, look to Facebook for the foremost example of implementation of this idea. Whether it is noticeable or not, Facebook does utilize virtual reality and holds it in high regard as being the jumping off point to vast enhancements of how people communicate and “escape.”

Further examples of how augmented reality has influenced an industry through the social climate of the Internet is “Pokémon Go.” “Pokémon Go” is a culmination of the Internet,

Tested / YouTube social media, and the quickly-advancing technology that served as the backbone of the most popular and talked about mobile application of 2016. Previously, “Pokémon” games could only be played on stationary video game consoles like the GameCube and handheld gaming platforms like the GameBoy or Nintendo DS. With “Pokémon Go,” Nintendo tapped into the concepts that make social media a practical tool in current society–like instantaneous communication and support for group-based interactions–and applied it to the “Pokémon” brand. The widespread attraction millennials had toward “Pokémon Go” is, in essence, an attraction to augmented reality. It is very likely that Facebook, attempting to remain relevant, will become a major leader in the augmented-reality scene.

Live video, augmented-reality lenses, and filters are direct industry influences of social media and its ever-changing wants and needs.

Both the sudden spread of augmented reality-geared technology and the sizing revolution within the fashion industry are perfect examples of how social media can influence industries to produce exactly what consumers want to purchase. With millennials spearheading the usage of social media and simultaneously acting as the target market demographic, companies look to them and the movements they start online for cues on how to maintain relevant and advance mobility. Technology is always changing, however, and with every change, users demand more and more. In ten years, the most popular media platforms and gadgets will probably be completely unrecognizable from what is on the market today.

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FEATURES

February 23, 2017

BroadwayCon brings down the house

BroadwayCon Opening Ceremony

KELSEY NICHOLSON Features Intern The second annual BroadwayCon took place on the last weekend in January, from Jan. 27 to Jan. 30. The convention was held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Hell’s Kitchen.

Having been a success the previous year, BroadwayCon drew a crowd of over 5,000 people and many famous Broadway stars such as Darren Criss (“Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” “Glee”), pop singer Josh Groban (“Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812”) Andrew KeenanBolger (“Newsies,” “Tuck Everlasting,” “Mary Poppins”), Anthony Rapp (“Rent,” “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “If/ Then”), and Michael Cerveris (“Sweeney Todd,” “Evita,” “Fun Home”).

BroadwayCon was arranged by Mischief Management, the same company that organizes other conventions such as LeakyCon and Con of Thrones. They arranged a schedule that was tightly packed, with anywhere from three to seven events in one hour, forcing convention goers to pick and choose their own carefully-crafted and crowded schedule. It was comprised of autograph signings and photograph opportunities, available to those who had purchased tickets earlier, and workshops

Playbill

to those who submitted an application months prior. There were also panels with actors, composers, directors, and writers, and performances on the MainStage and Marketplace Stage.

One notable event on the larger MainStage was “Twenty Years on Pride Rock,” a conversation with Julie Taymore, the creator of the third-longest running Broadway musical “The Lion King,” and actress Whoopi Goldberg, who voiced the hyena Shenzi in the animated “Lion King” film. Another event held was the “BroadwayCon Cabaret” in which guests sing showtunes that make them “geek out,” according to the program. Some of the performers from that show were Daisy Egan, Darren Criss, and Nick Adams.

Saturday had a “Cosplay Fashion Show” in which attendants who had dressed up as Broadway characters were able to get on stage and show off the outfits they had crafted. While there were many more events on the MainStage, one that stood out was the Opening Ceremony that took place Friday afternoon. Songs from “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Gypsy,” and “Hairspray” were performed. Each song was playfully changed slightly to fit the BroadwayCon setting: for example, “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from “Hairspray” was changed to “You Can’t Stop the Show.”

One seminar that was funny yet

heartfelt was held by Melissa Errico on Friday morning It was titled “The Art of Perseverance” and was about Errico’s experience in building a lasting theatre career as well as juggling life with two kids and a husband. Errico has played a role in many productions over the years, notable ones including Eliza Doolittle (“My Fair Lady”), Tracy Lord (“High Society”), Cosette (“Les Misérables National Tour”), and Candida (“Candida,” Off-Broadway).

Errico is passionate about performing, saying, “Musicals for me can almost be like poetry in motion.” She sang four songs while accompanied by Ted Firth on the piano, including “How Are Things In Glocca Morra” From “Finian’s Rainbow,” “On Your Toes” from “On Your Toes,” “Real Emotional Girl” by Randy Newman, and “Secret o’ Life” by James Taylor.

When asked about auditions, Errico shared her perfect mezzo-soprano audition song, “The Boy Next Door,” sung by Judy Garland in “Meet Me in St. Louis.” She also shared audition advice: the most obvious, yet sometimes ignored, “Be yourself,” as well as a Bruce Springsteen quote that applies to both auditions and performances: “You have to have two thoughts before you go onstage. One: this is the biggest night of your life, and two: it’s only rock and roll.”

After her panel, Errico went to sign autographs in the BroadwayCon

Marketplace, the most crowded location at the convention. It was full of stands with vendors and theatre companies.

One notable stand was Teerico, which is the brainchild of “In The Heights” and “Hamilton” creator Lin Manuel-Miranda.

The booth was manned by Miranda’s brother-in-law, Luis Crespo, who was selling t-shirts, magnets, postcards, and other merchandise, as well as handing out free high fives and handshakes.

For the uninitiated, conventions like this may sound overwhelming.

With performers holding seminars and workshops almost constantly, the marketplace teeming with goods that are screaming your name, and hundreds of fans taking up every conceivable inch of space, conventions can be a little scary. But when you go to one centered around something you love–in this case, perhaps, Broadway– and you take a couple of friends with you who are as crazed about it as you are, it can be a truly fantastic experience.

While BroadwayCon 2018 has not yet been announced, keep your eyes peeled for updates about buying passes in advance (trust us, these sell out quickly).

In the meantime, catch up on your libretto readings, go over that tap routine, and support that belt, because the next round of BroadwayCon will surely be an event to remember.

FEATURES

February 23, 2017

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NHL opens acceptance to LGBT players KELSEY NICHOLSON Features Intern On Feb. 2, the National Hockey League named their diversity ambassadors in accordance with the You Can Play Project to bring inclusion into the hockey world. The goal of the project is to bring diversity into the sport and make locker rooms and rinks a safe space by giving the movement specific faces and names who will lead the discussion and advocate.

The You Can Play Project “is dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation and/or gender identity,” as stated in their website’s mission statement. Since sports often shun LGBTQ youths, the NHL is working to give all athletes a fair opportunity to play and compete without mockery or discrimination. It was established in 2011 when Brian Kitts, Glenn Witman, and Patrick Burke met at a forum for athletes at the University of Denver. Throughout their hockey small talk, the men decided to create the You Can Play Project by funneling their beliefs on ethics and what they knew about sports into their foundation.

Though the NHL and its Players’ Association have been partnered with the organization since April 2013, this is the first time they have named ambassadors from each of the 30 NHL teams. The ambassadors are in charge of “being a leader in the locker room and in the community on diversity, equality, and inclusion. These players have agreed to lead the way in their markets and fight homophobia in sports; some will be featured in local public service announcements,” as the NHL website has announced.

Throughout the month of February, dubbed “Hockey Is For Everyone” month, select clubs will dedicate one home game to be a You Can Play night. It will celebrate members of the local LGBTQ community for each club, including ceremonial puck drops, anthem singers, hometown heroes, and a “Pride Tape” used during warm ups that you can find on the You Can Play website. The director of professional sports outreach for the You Can Play Project, Wade Davis, has stated that “these You Can Play/Pride games and PSAs during Hockey is For Everyone month are a powerful reminder of how partnerships like the one between the NHL, NHLPA, and You Can Play can have a major positive impact on millions of players, staff members, and fans worldwide.”

This initiative will help many LGBTQ youths overcome their fear of being an athlete, especially in hockey. As a hyper-masculine sport, it is one of the main culprits of discrimination against LGBTQ players that many quit or forfeit playing the sport

at all. Hopefully, “Hockey Is For Everyone” month will inspire queer individuals and even bring more athletes into the sport. For those wishing to be a part of the You Can Play Project and its partnership with the NHL, fans can join the conversation and share their stories of how hockey has made a positive impact by using the official hashtag #HockeyIsForEveryone on sites like Twitter and Instagram.

The ambassadors for each of the NHL teams are as follows: Anaheim Ducks — Ryan Kesler Arizona Coyotes — Oliver EkmanLarsson Boston Bruins — Brad Marchand Buffalo Sabres — Anders Nilsson Carolina Hurricanes — Eddie Lack Calgary Flames — Matt Stajan Chicago Blackhawks — Trevor Van Riemsdyk Colorado Avalanche — Gabriel Landeskog Columbus Blue Jackets — Scott Hartnell Dallas Stars — Curtis McKenzie Detroit Red Wings — Frans Nielsen Edmonton Oilers — Matt Hendricks Florida Panthers — Shawn Thornton Los Angeles Kings — Dustin Brown Minnesota Wild — Charlie Coyle

Montreal Canadiens — Andrew Shaw Nashville Predators — Colin Wilson New Jersey Devils — Andy Greene New York Islanders — Casey Cizikas New York Rangers — Mats Zuccarello Ottawa Senators — Dion Phaneuf Philadelphia Flyers — Claude Giroux Pittsburgh Penguins — Chris Kunitz San Jose Sharks — Chris Tierney St. Louis Blues — David Perron Tampa Bay Lightning — Brian Boyle Toronto Maple Leafs — James van Riemsdyk Vancouver Canucks — Henrik Sedin Washington Capitals — Braden Holtby Winnipeg Jets — Jacob Trouba

The forgotten heroes of Black History ROMAN CHIARELLO Contributor When people are asked to name a black historical figure, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Harriet Tubman are all common responses. Though these people have all made tremendous contributions to our world, they are only a small fraction of those who deserve recognition.

Sadly, many of these figures go unnoticed, and are less recognizable as a result. Here is just a small selection of the unsung heroes of black history.

Benjamin “Pap” Singleton was born into slavery in Tennessee in 1809. He escaped to the north in 1846 and became an activist for the abolitionist movement. He later returned to Tennessee while it was controlled by the Union, but then left again, concluding that blacks could not reach true equality and freedom in the southern states.

After the Civil War, Singleton worked to establish AfricanAmerican settlements in Kansas. He also promoted Blackowned businesses in Kansas and was interested in the Back to Africa Movement.

Robert Smalls was born into slavery in 1839, but was not a slave for his whole life. During the Civil War, he led an uprising aboard a Confederate transport ship, eventually

Ida B. Wells

Bayard Rustin

sailing the ship north to freedom. This accomplishment led President Abraham Lincoln to allow African-American soldiers to serve in the Union Army. After the war, Smalls served as a politician, notably writing legislation that gave South Carolina its first free public education system.

Though Rosa Parks’ bus protest is widely taught, few know that another woman actually had a similar experience just nine months earlier. On March 2, 1955, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin was arrested and escorted off of a Montgomery bus for sitting in the whites-only section. She was booked at the local jail for having defied Montgomery bus segregation laws. This chain of events ultimately provided influence for the actions of Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Colvin is currently 77 years old and lives in New York City.

Born a slave in 1862, Ida B. Wells later became free and established herself as a controversial journalist.

Throughout her career, Wells reported on the lynching of black people as a manifestation of the white panic that arose after emancipation. Similar to both Rosa Parks and Colvin, Wells also caused a stir when she refused to give up her seat on a Memphis train. She police then arrested and escorted her off the train while she kicked and screamed in protest. She later sued the railroad company with the help of a black attorney and won her case.

Benjamin Singleton

Bayard Rustin, born in 1912, served as a leader for the civil rights movement. He was part of the Freedom Riders, organized the March on Washington and New York City School Boycott, and was friends with Dr. King.

He was arrested in 1953 for being a homosexual, but was later released and became a champion for gay rights in the 1980s. He believed that gay people were in need of similar social improvements that black people were in need of in the 1950s.

All of these people, and many others, have made great contributions to our world and inspired major change.

Despite their accomplishments, they are rarely recognized.

When asked how many black historical figures on this list she had heard of, University student Malina Persaud admitted, “I don’t know a lot of people when it comes to that,” reflecting the sentiment of much of the general public. Persaud blamed the over-advertisement of Black History Month for people’s ignorance on the topic. “I feel like it’s advertised enough, but a lot of people don’t pay attention to it. It’s advertised on TV, on social media, everywhere,” she said. She believes that the month’s pronounced media presence desensitizes the public to the actual history behind it. Nevertheless, learning these stories makes people more informed on our nation’s past and gives them hope for change to come in the future.

Robert Smalls

Claudette Colvin

FEATURES

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February 23, 2017

Trophy wife, feminist icon, or none of the above How do we talk about first lady Melania Trump CHASE BALLAS Co-Executive Editor The Trump family has been a very active part of Donald Trump’s campaign and presidency. Sons Donald Jr. and Eric have taken over the Trump enterprise, and daughter and son-in-law Ivanka and Jared Kushner have taken an active and controversial role in his administration—the Department of Justice even needed a ruling to determine that the hiring of Kushner as senior advisor did not violate anti-nepotism laws. However, the one person that has been silent happens to be the one that should be the most active: the first lady of the United States, Melania Trump.

Born in a part of Slovenia that was formerly Yugoslavia, first lady Trump is the second foreign-born first lady in the history of the nation (Louisa Adams, wife of President John Quincy Adams, was the first, born in London), and the first one to be born in a communist nation. During the inauguration, her hometown of Sevinca had a three-day celebration to commemorate her ascent to first ladyship. She speaks five languages, but many have speculated that she prefers to stray from the public light and refrains from making speeches because of her thick accent. Her reclusiveness as first lady is unusual since it diverges so much from the modern template of a first lady’s behavior that Eleanor Roosevelt created.

Roosevelt’s model demands that the first lady move away from the position of a mere hostess to that of a social and national activist and spokesperson. Since Roosevelt, the first lady typically had her own agenda to promote aside from their husband’s presidency. For example, Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson pushed environmentalism in the 1960s, Betty Ford fought for women’s rights in the 1970s, Nancy Reagan attempted to curtail drug use in the 1980s, Hillary Clinton rallied for health care reform in the 1990s, Laura Bush advocated for literacy in the 2000s, and Michelle Obama encouraged healthy living in the 2010s.

Prior to the inauguration, Melania Trump has hinted that she would tackle cyberbullying as first lady, noting that “it is never okay when a 12-year-old girl or boy is mocked, bullied or attacked. It is terrible when that happens on the playground and it is absolutely unacceptable when it’s done by someone with no name hiding on the internet.”

President Trump has also suggested his wife would focus on “women’s issues” during her tenure. However, a

The President and first lady dancing at the inauguration concrete agenda has yet to be announced by the first lady.

Even so, when Melania Trump does enter the spotlight, there is usually some backlash, like the notorious accusations that she plagiarized her speech at the Republican National Convention in Aug. 2016 from former first lady Michelle Obama. Others have suggested first lady Trump is breaking ethic codes for planning to lend her name to brands and products as an attempt to profit as a political figure. She has also been criticized over her initial reluctance to move into the White House from her New York City apartment in Trump Tower. She is now set to move to Washington with son Barron at the end of the school year.

This has all begged questions and concerns on how first lady Trump should be addressed and discussed to the public and in the media. Many satirical media outlets have used impersonations of Melania on their programs, in particular Cecily Strong on “Saturday Night Live” and Laura Benanti on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

But some, notably Gigi Hadid at the American Music Awards, have sparked outrage over accusations of racism and intolerance from liberals because it mostly relied on mocking her accent. However, in light of Michelle Obama being called things such as “a monkey,” “man-ish,” and “disgusting” by conservatives during her tenure as first lady, calling the media circus “racism” is questionable.

Metro

Still, the media branding her as a “pornstar” for modeling nude, being falsely accused of working for an escort service, and generally being portrayed as a brainless trophy wife—despite knowing five languages— is unsettling to say the least. The Independent reported that she is “miserable” in her new role and has yet to play the typical roles of first lady because of it. Notably, she has refrained from posing for photos at the White House and has yet to join Akie Abe, wife of the Japanese prime minister, on a tour of the Capitol. There is also speculation that she will be sharing first ladyship with step-daughter Ivanka, who is seen as a more popular figure in the Trump administration. It seems as though the public’s perception of the presidential pair has improved, however: in a survey conducted by Politico within the opening days of Donald Trump’s presidency both the first lady and her stepdaughter polled favorably for almost half of the voters queried, which is up from the measly 37 percent that Melania had during the election campaign.

Many have tried to urge people to “give President Trump a chance” in the last few months, though many others think he has already had it. As someone who has largely been ignored in favor of her husband’s moves in office, Melania Trump does deserve to have the chance she never got in the first place.

LA Times