2/9/17

February 9, 2017

Est. 1948

Volume 68 | Issue 7

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February 9, 2017

Science in an age of denial

Yahoo CHASE BALLAS Co-Executive Editor That is great. My hair looks OK. I got a little spray. Give me a little spray. You know you’re not allowed to use hairspray anymore because it affects the ozone. You know that, right? I said, ‘You mean to tell me’ — because you know, hairspray’s not like it used to be.

It used to be real good. When I put on that helmet — and by the way, look [pats own hair] it really is mine. Lookit. My hair. Give me a mirror. Today ya put the hairspray on and it’s good for twelve minutes, right? They say you can’t — I said, ‘Wait a minute, so if I take hairspray and I spray it in my apartment which is all sealed, you’re telling me that affects the ozone layer?’ Yes? I say no way folks. No way. – President Donald Trump Since announcing his campaign for president, Trump has made a focal point of his agenda to limit the Environmental Protection Agency and lift sanctions and regulations regarding the emissions of greenhouse gases, which lead to climate change. His main campaign promised to revive the coal industry, arguably propelling him to victory. President

Trump delivered that campaign promise in a big way last week by signing an executive order to move forward in construction with the Dakota and Keystone Access Pipelines. In addition to this, Trump also issued executive actions that said oil pipelines should be built with US materials, streamlined the regulatory process for construction, and shortened the environmental review process.

These executive actions are reflective of President Trump’s campaign trail promises.

He spoke often of putting America first, bringing jobs back to America and of course, making America great again. His Twitter continues to serve as his main platform to tell the American people what he feels is important. President Trump often says that in light of fake news, Twitter serves as the only place where he can give the American people the truth. In regards to his feelings on climate change, he infamously tweeted that it “…is an expensive hoax,” and that “the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.”

His pick for EPA Administrator, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, is a notorious opponent of EPA regulation

who has tried and failed every lawsuit he filed against the EPA. Within days of his inauguration, the Trump administration placed a gag order on the EPA who also had freezes on grants and contract budgeting, and the Department of Agriculture, both of which do significant research involving climate change, from communicating with the press and public. In President Trump’s first 100 days, he stated his intentions to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement and to reinstitute policy that lowers regulation and promotes American consumption of oil, coal, and other fossil fuels. Already, the Republican-controlled Congress overturned the Stream Protection Rule that prohibited waste and discharge from coal mining being dumped into rivers and streams.

On the day of the inauguration, as is tradition, the White House website switches over to the new president.

The “issues” page, home page and picture all change to represent the incoming presidency. Immediately on Jan. 20, media outlets were quick to pick up on some rogue changes that the Trump administration had made. The most notable was that any mention of ‘climate change’ had been removed from the website. It had instead been replaced with President Trump’s America First Energy Plan which discusses withdrawing from regulations on the energy industry such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the US rule. It also mentions taking advantage of the untapped oil and natural gas reserves; embracing the “shale oil and gas revolution.” Though there is no category for climate change awareness on the current whitehouse. gov website, President Trump does make a note in his First Energy Plan to say that responsible care of the environment is something that “must happen” and that he will “refocus

the EPA on its essential mission of protecting our air and water.”

On Jan. 26 of last week, it was leaked that the Trump Administration put gag orders on several government agencies preventing them from communicating openly with the public or the press. These agencies included the Department of Agriculture and the EPA. Trump has received criticism from his interactions with the press in the past and his tendency to silence outlets he did not agree with. This move, then only causes more skeptics to question the President’s openness with the public.

President Trump has also said multiple incorrect statements about vaccinations. In particular, he holds a firm and incorrect belief that there is a link between vaccines and autism.

During the Sept. 14, 2016 Republican Primary Election Debate, Trump claims that, “Just the other day, 2 year old, 2-and-a-half year old, a child, a beautiful child went to have the vaccine, and came back, and a week later got a tremendous fever, got very, very sick, now is autistic.” To this date, there is not a single, peer-reviewed and largely accepted study that shows this connection.

In response to the gag orders, rogue Twitter accounts have been popping up from what is speculated to be current or former federal employees. Since none of the account holders have identified themselves, however, it remains unclear if these are actual employees or just supporters of the cause.

Nevertheless, these accounts helped lead to the gag order being lifted from the USDA and has since led to more actual federally-sanctioned Twitter accounts. Additionally, scientists who are dissatisfied with President Trump’s approach to climate change have also organized a March For Science on Apr. 22, Earth Day.

Keep America Great! 2020 KELSEY NICHOLSON Features Intern President Trump filed papers with the Federal Election Commission for his reelection campaign in 2020 on Jan. 20, 2017. Trump’s statement on FEC Form 99 is as follows: “While this does not constitute a formal announcement of my candidacy for the 2020 election because I have reached the legal threshold for filing FEC Form 2, please accept this letter as my Form 2 for the 2020 election in order to ensure compliance with the Federal Election Campaign Act.” The President was able to file this form because he reached the $5,000 threshold required to file an official statement of candidacy as of Dec. 31. It is unheard of for an incumbent to file for reelection before midterms, let alone five hours after his inauguration. Comparatively, Former President Barack Obama filed for his 2012 reelection in April of 2011, and George W. Bush filed for his 2004 reelection in May 2003. Bill Clinton announced his campaign for reelection in April, 1995. Ronald Reagan filed his quite late, in Oct. 1983 for the election in Nov. of the following year.

By officially delcaring his 2020 candidacy, Trump can align himself with political action committees, businesses, and other organizations the President should not explicitly have ties to. If Trump was simply the President and not a candidate, 501(3)(c) nonprofits such as Planned Parenthood would be able to speak out against him. However, if these organizations speak against Donald Trump the candidate, they are campaigning against him and could lose non-profit status. Independent bloggers and news writers have declared the President’s filing for reelection as one of his smartest moves in politics up to this point due to the certain immunity being a candidate grants him. A Twitter account run by an election lawyer, The Resisterhood, has stated: “Likely motivation is raising $$ and using PACs for propaganda. Nonprofits know what they’re doing. But consider 1/28 events.” This is in reference to the President’s immigration ban that resulted in protests across the country. “Again, THIS IS NOT NORMAL. Stay vigilant, stay ready to fight. We’re going to have to defy our own norms to #resist” continued The Resisterhood.

As of Dec. 31, Trump’s campaign had far more than the $5,000 necessary to file for reelection. His campaign had $7.6 million in the bank, a number that has likely

grown since. Trump is going into his 2020 campaign with the slogan “Keep America Great.” Donors to President Trump’s 2016 campaign are continuing to donate, however, even though the election has already passed.

Possibly even more unusual is Trump and his advisers continual references to what they will accomplish over the next eight years, already implying that Trump will win the reelection. Counselor to the President, Kellyanne Conway had said on “Hannity,” “The White House and the media are going to share joint custody of this nation for eight years.” The Sunday before while swearing in his aides, Trump had announced that “we are going to do some great things over the next eight years.” Trump then went on to repeat, for emphasis: “Eight years.” Additionally, press secretary Sean Spicer instructed the media, “I would just tell you for the next eight years, stand by” when asked what was next. Even on Jan. 11, at his first press conference Trump had mentioned his children getting ready to run his business for the next “eight years.”

The Trump Administration has been moving at a rapid pace and is anything but traditional. Yet, 2020 is four years away so only time will tell to see if Trump will again be declaring victory.

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February 9, 2017

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Far-Right leaders see new popularity nationwide NOAM SCHULDENREIN Staff Writer A disappointing year that included the Brexit vote, numerous terror attacks, and the refugee crisis, left Europe in a stage of recovery.

Citizens are looking to their leaders for new solutions. Far-right parties attempted to take advantage of the economic and ethno-nationalist frustrations that have been plaguing Europe. In coming months, new elections are expected to show whether or not support of far right leaders can translate into actual power in politics.

Despite the fact that these parties are campaigning with a narrative that is attractive to the growing majority that will inevitably bring power back to their defined version of “the people,” there is certainly no inevitability about the gradual rise of the populist far-right. One classic piece of evidence that essentially supports this is when Norbert Hofer, the main candidate for the Freedom Party in Austria lost an election that he was expected to win.

It is also evident, however in recent polls that the populist far-right party in Europe is far from reaching the point of governmental power. It is gradually gaining power; even here in the United States with President Trump’s recent election and the public vote on Brexit.

“It seems that Europe is facing many of the same problems that we are here in America. While there are many issues and few solutions, I am afraid to see that fear and hysteria are galvanizing the voting population more than unity and compassion. I think that economic and social conservatism represents a healthy balance in the political spectrum, but I am skeptical of these extreme measures’ ability to uphold freedom based ideals,” said Shane Duda, a senior at the University.

The first election in Europe will be for the Netherlands on Mar 15, 2017. Geert Wilders, the populist leader who is against Islam and the head of the Party for Freedom, is

CNBC leading in the polls.

Wilders has defined himself through the process of opposition. He is against the general ideas of the European Union, the Euro currency, and the current immigration policy. Wilders is largely supportive of imposing a ban on the Quran, stopping immigration from countries that are majority Muslim, banning mosques, and tearing down schools that are Islamic.

In France, Marine Le Pen is emreging as the leader in the polls. Le Pen is largely in favor of increasing border security and bringing back various jobs from around the world. She supports possibly leaving the European Union.

Le Pen has apporximately 22 percent of the vote.

In Germany, Frauke Petry has gained a large

amount of media attention in the Alternative for Germany party largely because of her statements that are against immigration as well as her harsh criticism of her opponent Angela Merkel. The Alternative for Germany Party has grown in popularity under the power of Petry in part because she has essentially based a lot of her actions on the growing fears of terrorism and bringing refugees into the society of Germany.

Throughout the world, fear mongering and isolation are being used as effective political tactics. Voters affected by widespread turmoil are looking to the leader who can present the most radical change from what is in place right now.

A look at the first two weeks of the Trump Era CHRISTIAN HALSTEAD News Intern As of Feb. 2, 2017, President Trump has signed a total of 18 executive orders dealing with a wide range of issues, both domestic and foreign. Each order and other legislative action taken by Trump has been as divisive and politically contentious as his campaign was. In a climate of such political polarization it is important to understand exactly what each executive action is and what the respective possible consequences, positive or negative, of each will be.

On the day of his inauguration, Friday, Jan. 20, Trump issued Executive Order 13765: Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal. The order serves two purposes. Namely, it is the first step towards the full repeal of Obamacare, which the President promised on the campaign trail.

It sent the first message to the American public that the new administration would be an immediate break from its predecessor. While the specific measures of the order are vague, it is clear is that insurance companies, states, and employers will now be given as much leniency and freedom against the regulations set by the Affordable Care Act

as reasonably possible. On the same day Trump issued a full-on regulartory freeze via memorandum to all heads of executive departments and agencies which prevents the passage of any federal regulation.

Finally, in Proclamation 9570, Trump declared the day of his inauguration a “National Day of Patriotic Devotion.”

On Monday, Jan. 23, Trump issued a presidential memorandum announcing the withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations and Agreement. This highly contentious broad-base trade agreement would have facilitated free trade among 11 other counties in the Pacific region. It is likely that the Trump administration will negotiate trade deals on a case by case basis, rather than entire regions at once, based on this reneging.

In another memorandum on the same day, Trump froze all hiring of employees to the federal governmeeral payroll by way of attrition. Lastly, the Mexico City Policy, a Reagan-era policy, was reinstated and expanded greatly in another memorandum.

This restricts the use of all foreign aid money to support family planning organizations that promote abortion.

Tuesday, Jan. 24 for Trump was almost entirely aimed at federal environmental policy. In three separate memorandums, Trump spurred the then-

restricted construction of three major oil pipelines to be built on US soil, the Keystone XL Pipeline, the Dakota Access Pipeline, and a project known as the American Pipelines. What’s more, Trump issued Executive Order 13766: Expediting Environmental Reviews and Approvals for High Priority Infrastructure Projects which greatly restricted the ability to impede infrastructure projects on the basis of environmental concerns.

The following day was aimed mostly at immigration and immigration-related security concerns. Executive Order 13767: Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements was ordered to begin construction on the MexicanAmerican border wall construction, infamous in some circles, heralded in others. This will be paid for with a 20 percent tax on all Mexican imports which may lead to a decrease in trade or an increase in the cost of goods. Executive Order 13768: Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States has cut off all funding to numerous sanctuary cities through the US, including New York City, which have openly turned a blind eye to illegal immigration.

Executive Order: Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States issued the following day attempted to ban all immigration and travel

to the US from seven countries, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The order allows for the exception of the rule for religious minorities, particularly Christians as Trump openly said in a statement.

This order has been called into question by a total of three federal courts thus far, but on Friday in Seattle, US District Judge James Robert approved a temporary restraining order on a nationwide basis which prohibits federal employees from enforcing Trump’s order.

On the same day, Friday, Jan. 27, Trump issued an entirely unprecedented order known as the National Security Presidential Memorandum 1: Rebuilding the U.S. Armed Forces​. This has called of a 30 day review of “military readiness.”

The specific reason for this is still largely unknown.

While the above list is not all inclusive, nor will it be even a modicum of all that will result from the Trump presidency, it is indicative of what is to come. President Trump clearly seeks to institute radical change. The Trump administration has so far made history in unforeseen and unprecedented legislation and shows no signs of slowing down as the White House and the United States as a whole move forward.

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NEWS

February 9, 2017

Chicago Tribune

Trump issues executive order on immigration

MELANIE GUPTAR Contributor Eighteen executive orders have been issued in two weeks of a Trump presidency. President Trump issued a 90day ban on high-risk terorr countries from entering the United States. The countries included in the ban are Iran, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq and, Syria.

Additionally, the President suspended the United States refugee program for four months. Syrian refugees were suspended from entering the country indefinitely.

The order was issued in response to incresaing crime rates around the globe from nations which have allowed refugees to enter in massive numbers. The statistics, however, combat the Trump Administration’s theory that refugees and citizens of these nations are responsible for crime and terror. A leaked report from the Federal Criminal Office in Germany covered immigrant crime from January to December of last year. At the time, thousands of migrnats were arriving in Germany. The report found the number of crimes by immigrants rose in comparison over 2014 to 2015 by 79 percent and

the number of refugees increased by 440 percent. The nature of the offenses, however were mostly minor. 28,712 cases were from riding public transport without riding the fare, 52,167 incidents were from forging paperwork in a bid to get money, and 85,035 were from shoplifting.

The correlation between major crimes and immigration has yet to be proven.

A number of protestors have shaped the ban as a “Muslim ban” due to the countries on the list being Muslim majority countries. Some protests are centered around the idea that President Trump is targeting a specific group with this executive order. However, the ban does not include other Muslim majority nations like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. In Dec. 2015, Former President Barack Obama restricted visas for residents of Iraq and stated that the seven countries President Trump included in his ban were the top nations that terror threats were stemming from. When President Trump announced his executive order, he claimed it was an extension of the Former President’s policies. President Obama’s actions, however, derived from a legitimate threat.

Two Iraqi refugees living in Kentucky were arrested by the FBI for assisting terrorist groups. There has been no threat from any of the countries Trump has listed on his ban; with the exception of the Somalian refugee who executed the Ohio State University attack.

Though there were no protests against Former President Obamas six month ban, there has been a hostile response to President Trump’s ban. President Trump issued a statement defending his executive order saying “This is not about religion- this is about keeping people safe.”

However, President Trump stated Christian refugees would be receiving priority, saying, “If you were a Muslim you could come in, but if you were a Christian, it was almost impossible. And I thought it was very, very unfair. So we are going to help them.” He did not offer any evidence to state this was true but continued to assert his commitment to prioritize Chrisitan refugees over other groups.

The protests started almost immediately after President Trump’s Executive Order.

Airports around the nation filled with protests once refugees, tourists and Green Card holders were held up. In the midst of these protests on Jan. 28, federal judge Ann Donnelly issued stay of President Trump’s executive order. Due to the provisions in the ban, thousands of people had to have their statuses reevaluated. Pro-bono lawyers were working around the clock at airports in order to aid those detained. Immigration services have been, since the Obama administration, on orders to extremely vet incoming people from these seven countries in order to ensure maximum security in the United States.

In fact, the average processing time for a refugee application is between 18 and 24 months. Under the Obama administration, the United States had the strictest vetting process in the world yet terror lurks around the corner. The Trump administration has said the goal of the ban is to ensure a safer

America for its citizens.

University senior Gabrielle Garcia said, “I honestly think Trump is looking out for our best interest. We need to protect ourselves before we begin worrying about how to save the entire world.”

The president’s executive order outlines information regarding foreign nationals and their radicalization after receiving entry into the United States and have engaged in terror related acts. The Trump administration felt it was imperative to take full action in ensuring that the safety of the American people are being put before anything else.

University junior Jonathan Padilla says, “I think as a nation we’ve progressed a lot. We don’t have a perfect history but we should learn from our mistakes. The ban is in direct opposition with American values.”

In response to the United States’ immigration ban, Iran issued a statement saying that they too would be barring United States citizens from entering Iran.

The Trump Administration has received mixed reviews not only from the United States, but other countries around the world.

As the days have passed and with increasing pressure from the left, a federal judge in Seattle approved a temporary restraining order on a nationwide basis which prohibits federal employees from enforcing Trump’s order. President Trump tweeted, “What is our country coming to when a judge can halt a Homeland Security travel ban and anyone, even with bad intentions, can come into the U.S.?” Trump later went of to say that the judges order was a “terrible decision.” The Department of Homeland Security has suspended all activity in regards to the executive order, but The Justice Department has filed an emergency appeal in response to stop the judge’s order and continue with the original plans of the administration.

Attention: 2017 New York City Graduates!

Student UG Commencement Speaker & UG/G Singer An UG student speaker will be chosen from among the candidates for undergraduate degrees who apply for this honor. Speeches are to be approximately three to four minutes in length (about 400 to 750 words depending on rate). If you are interested in applying to be the commencement speaker, please contact Ms. Mary Stambaugh in the Communications Studies Department (212) 346-1510, 41 Park Row 5th floor, by March 4, 2017. Auditions will be scheduled by Comm. Department, usually the first week of April!

UG/G SINGERS If you are interested in auditioning to sing the National Anthem and Alma Mater for Commencement 2016 please contact the Dean for Students Office, (212) 346-1306, located at 41 Park Row, Room 907 to arrange an audition appointment. Groups or individual singers are welcome (we need singers for undergraduate and graduate ceremonies).

NYC GRADUATION IS MAY 23, 2017

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February 9, 2017

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University ranked second in upward mobility Percent of students from the bottome fifth of the income distribution who end up in the top three-fifths

Top 10 Colleges for Upward Mobility

1. New Jersey Institute of Technology 85% 2. Pace University

82%

3. Cal State, Bakersfield

82%

4. University of California, Irvine

81%

5. Cal Poly Pomona

81%

6. Xavier of Louisiana

80%

7. Stony Brook

79%

8. San Jose State

79%

9. Baruch

79%

10. Cal State, Long Beach

78%

Data from The New York Times

JESSICA KOVAC News Editor

In a new study called “The Equality of Opportunity Project,” economists compare college students’ earnings to their parents’ incomes. As part of the study, colleges were ranked by percent of students from the bottom fifth of the income distribution who end up in the top three fifths. The University not only made the top 10, but was the second highest school on the list, with 82 percent of students having ended up in the top three fifths of wealth distribution post graduation. New Jersey Institute of Technology outranked the University with 85 percent of students in the top three fifths of wealth distribution.

This study derives its motivation from the American Dream; the idea that children have a higher standard of living than their parents. However, the study reveals that children’s prospects to earn more than their parents has fallen from 90 percent to 50 percent. The study looks at why the ideals behind the American Dream are falling and how it can be pieced back together in the future.

The study looks at colleges across the country that are excelling at this aspect of the American Dream and others that are falling behind. The numbers for the

University reveal that the average family income for a student is $80,400. 36 percent of students come from the top 20 percent.

Most notably, 8.4 percent of students came from a poor family but became a rich adult.

36 percent of students moved up two or more income quintiles; among the highest in New York and among selective private colleges. These numbers are among the highest in New York State and among selective private colleges.

To compare, at Pepperdine University, a highly selective private school, the median family income is $128,700. 56 percent of students come from the top 20 percent.

Finally, 1.9 percent of students came from a poor family but became a rich adult. 15 percent of students moved up two or more income quintiles, among the lowest in California and about typical among highly selective private colleges.

This study gave underrated colleges their due recognition. A school that is more highly recognized or harder to get into does not guarantee success after graduation. These statistics show giving more opportunity rather than less leads to higher rates of success.

Yemen raid turns into disaster MAXIMILLIANO ONOFRE Editor-In-Chief On Jan. 28, a United States Special Operations raid was carried out in Yemen, but the details surrounding its validity and impact are still being disputed. The current speculation is that the raid was compromised. However, the Pentagon and The White House defend the planning and execution, while more detail is still being brought to light.

That night, the Navy’s SEAL Team Six was sent to carry out a raid on an AQAP compound in Yemen’s Bayda governorate, hoping to use the darkness to hide. Unfortunately, the assault forces were ill-fated from the beginning. The al-Qaeda fighters had been tipped off before the attack and, although the commandos knew their mission had been compromised, they kept moving forward.

With no surprise element, they engaged in a gun battle, with al-Qaeda fighters positioning themselves in houses, a clinic, a school and a mosque, using women and children for cover. What the commandos did not expect was that some of the women would also fire at them. Airstrikes were brought in, but a MV-22 Osprey aircraft experienced a “hard landing” and had to be destroyed to prevent it from being used by the wrong people.

During this time, Chief Petty Officer William Owens died while three other elite commandos were wounded.

Originally, Pentagon officials denied the civilian casualties, but on Feb. 1, US Officials formally acknowledged that an investigation team “concluded regrettably that civilian non-combatants were likely

killed,” including children, which the Pentagon had confirmed just days before.

Medics at the scene, however, said 30 people, including 10 women and children died.

One death, of eight-year-old Nawar al-Awlaki provoked anger among Yemenis. Her grandfather believes that it was not the intent to kill Nawar, but did tell news outlets that his granddaughter was shot in the neck during the raid. In 2011, Anwar al-Awlaki, Nawar’s father, was killed in a drone strike ordered by Former President Barack Obama, as he was a cleric and suspected senior alQaeda leader who had been considered a possible replacement to Osama bin Laden. Two weeks after, his sixteen-yearold son was killed by another US drone.

Both were American citizens.

While President Donald Trump hailed the counterterrorism operation a success, claiming that important intelligence was captured, there are many doubts about whether the operation was carried out properly due to the high number of casualties. Even though the operation was discussed during the Obama administration, former Obama administration senior officials, the military and the Trump administration argued over who had really planned and approved it after the controversial nature of the raid came into fruition.

Counterterrorism officials state that the operation had been planned for months and that the stage was set prior to the inauguration in anticipation for the Trump administration. Their goal was to find and neutralize top al-Qaeda leaders and retrieve intelligence on future plans.

Trump officials argue that the raid

Wall Street Journal was planned under Obama, with former National Safety Council spokesperson Ned Price tweeting at current White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, “the specific operation in question was never presented to or considered by the Obama Admin for approval.” Colin Kahl, the former national security adviser for Former Vice President Joe Biden, tweeted that the NSC had not recommended to proceed with the plan. “I have no doubt DoD (Department of Defense) had plans, & discussed internally, but no specific CONOP/raid (concept of operations) briefed or approved. I was in the room.”

The media alleged that President Trump approved the operation without sufficient evidence, which led to both military and civilian casualties. This has been a point of discord for the former and new administration. The Pentagon and Spicer have both disputed these claims. Regardless of the strike’s contemptuous success, the Pentagon is said to be drawing up plans to be considered by the White House, that if approved, would delegate the decisions for operations in Yemen to lower levels in the government with the goal of accelerating the fight against AQAP.

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THE PACE PRESS

February 9, 2017

THE MASTER PLAN

EDITORIAL BOARD Maximilliano Onofre Editor-in-Chief 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

The administration’s deafening silence KATRINA ALONSO Features Editor

The Master Plan, also known as the Five Year Plan or the Strategic Plan for 2015 to 2020, has been in motion for almost two years now. The administration has drawn up plans alongside architectural firm FXFOWLE, assembled budgets, and even, in some ways, started the physical work to change the layout and appearance of the University’s New York City campus. The one thing they have forgotten to do thus far is, perhaps, the most important: the administration has neglected to inform the students of what will be done to the school they attend.

The first stage of the plan, budegeted at $45 millionincludes a complete overhaul of the front entrance of One Pace Plaza, a separate entrance for the Lubin School of Business, a new home for the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences in 41 Park Row, and new layouts for the entrance areas for each of the campus buildings—will supposedly be put into action starting this summer and will continue in phases. Considering the large undertaking that this project involves, students are clamoring for information.

Jean Gallagher, Vice President for Strategic Incentives at the University, told The Pace Press that information would be released on Feb. 8, 2017. Thus far, almost nothing has been released to the public. Some preliminary illustrations and project goals are available deep into the University’s website, though they provide little concrete information. Either way, the student body knows almost nothing about these plans that might affect school and dorm life for the next four to five years.

The gist of what it says is this: between 2015 and 2020, the University intends to make considerable structural changes to One Pace Plaza and 41 Park Row. Besides the new entrances and home bases for the Lubin and Dyson colleges, the school will also build more lounges and social spaces on the B-level and the first floor of One Pace Plaza, displacing the administrative offices like the Office of Student Assistance and Auxiliary Services, and also create new research and classroom space.

This knowledge is only available to those who know to look specifically for the Master Plan. In an online survey, 57% of University students polled said that they were not aware of the Master Plan at all. Of the students who had heard of it, 45.5% had only heard about it through word-of-mouth from other students. Meetings had been held for University staff, on the condition that all information provided remain confidential.

It certainly seems that the administration has made no real, conscious effort to give students the information that is owed

them in the several years that this project has been in the works. While the Master Plan Advisory Committee contains both faculty and students, an official townhall meeting for the general University has not been held since the spring of 2015, while planning has continued with litte update to the student body.

In an interview, Gallagher said that the project will move forward with its first phase this summer. “What we decided to start with was the most visible part of our campus and the part that we felt could be the most advantageous to students, and so that is the first floor, west side of One Pace Plaza, so everything from the plaza to the courtyard and B level, where the union is now. We’re also looking at the interface of the courtyard to Williams Street, so the courtyard entrance. And then the B-level, first and second level of 41 Park Row,” she said. They intend to have the construction for the B-levels and first floors of both One Pace Plaza and 41 Park Row finished by August 2018.

When polled, however, only 16% of University students found that working on the exteriors of campus entrances was the most important part of the Master Plan. 26% of students thought the addition of social spaces was the most important, so if the August 2018 deadline includes revamped social spaces in the bottom floors of One Pace Plaza and 41 Park Row, then hopefully that much of the population will be satisfied with the changes.

One thing Gallagher did not speak much about, however, was new classroom and research space. 31% of University students polled said they prioritized getting more learning space over exterior improvements, new entrances, and social spaces.

With classrooms being booked back-to-back with classes, this need for more classroom space is understandable. And yet, it seems to have taken a backseat to the administration’s immediate plans. Plans for the later stages of the construction do include adding two floors to the west wing of One Pace Plaza, but with a construction project as massive as this, it is difficult to know when this will happen or if it will even happen at all.

If the University had chosen to be openly communicative with its students, then perhaps they would be addressing changes that students actually want made in the Master Plan.

Students were asked what they thought the University should change in the next five years, and 30% of responses involved making the cafeteria bigger and offering better, more varied meals for less money.

continued on PAGE 7 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 9, 2017

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THE MASTER PLAN continued from PAGE 6

“There needs to be either a second cafeteria or an extension of the current one. Both seating and option wise. There are always too many people and extremely long lines,” said Leah Collier, a sophomore University student.

John Buckley, a sophomore in the Performing Arts program, said, “Get a different meal provider or switch plans to a meal swipe program to allow for more affordable dining. The quality can become a bit more mass-produced as long as the food is actually affordable. No food is worse than okay-ish food.”

Other popular responses to the question included increasing library hours and library space, fixing the elevators in One Pace Plaza, and improving classrooms by getting better desks and upgrading the classroom technology.

Hopefully, as the project continues and more of the University is upgraded or modernized, the administration will choose to open lines of communication with the student body, not just to find out what kind of changes they really want, but also to inform them and update them on the process that will be affecting their daily lives.

University student Nick Krawczeniuk said, “I'd like the University to be a bit more transparent with the plan. Not necessarily giving hard deadlines for when things will be done (things happen, deadlines can get pushed) but at least releasing the latest architectural renders and some of the rationale behind the plan would be nice.

I emailed a member of the Master Plan committee about the renders and never received a response.”

History does not rule in favor of the administration being more transparent, though, since there are several instances in which they were resolutely silent when it mattered most.

The most recent example of this is the administration’s neglect to inform the Pace Performing Arts students that their access to 140 Williams Street, the Performing Arts building, will be restricted on the weekends.

A petition from “Pace Students for Student Theatre” was circulated via Facebook accusing the performing arts administration of being “outright hostile to the student theatre community.” Because 140 Williams Street will be closed during the weekends, actors, directors, and other student theatre

members seeking to rehearse for shows, both for the school and outside of it, will have to find space elsewhere to do so, which limits their ability to improve themselves and their craft considerably. This new policy, according to the petition, was done “without consulting the students to find a solution and has led to students having nowhere to rehearse or present their work.”

In Nov. 2016, the media reported that over 1,000 University emailed had been hacked by a man who was combing through students’ personal accounts to find “embarrassing content,” according to U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. Though The Pace Press tried contacting the administration numerous times, they stayed mum about the issue. Students never even received an e-mail on behalf of President Friedman to assuage their fears of their privacy being violated and their personal information being stolen.

In fact, there was no communication from the University addressing the issue at all.

Looking back even further, to April 2016, the University also remained quiet regarding Scott Lane, the former executive director of donor relations and fundraising for the University. Long before the University addressed the student body, the media reported that Lane had been arrested by the FBI and Homeland Security for watching a livestream of a young boy being sexually abused. He was charged officially with possession of child pornography and the sexual exploitation of children. Though the University did send a four-sentencelong email about the subject that only vaguely regurgitated facts that the media had reported, it certainly was not enough to handle a situation of this caliber.

For as much emphasis is placed on this University's business education, its administration refuses to recognize a very important principle of business: transactions go both ways. Students are more than just students; they are consumers. By choosing to enroll in this school, University students engage in a transaction between themselves, the professors, and the administrators, which should ensure open lines of communications between all parties to guarantee the fair exchange of the product, which is an education from a private institution in New York City. The administration’s reticence about issues that affect the students should not, and will not, be tolerated.

For extended coverage of Pace’s Master Plan, visit thepacepress.org. If you have questions or comments about the Master Plan, please email editor@thepacepress.org.

Left: New collaboration areas on the first floor of One Pace Plaza Top: Exterior of One Pace Plaza Middle: The first floor and basement level of new student area of 41 Park Row Botton: The new entrance from the B-level of One Pace Plaza to the Lubin School of Business All designs by FXFOWLE

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MTV announces “My Super Sweet 16” revival NATHAN SIEGEL Social Media We all know “My Super Sweet 16” as a classic MTV program from the 2000s. If you are in college now, you have watched, or at least heard of, the series that followed teens throwing tantrums over their 16th birthday parties. If you happen to have missed the phenomenon that was “My Super Sweet 16,” the eclectic series of episodes ranged from hosts sobbing at their own parties, distraught over the color of the Lexus their parents bought for them, uninvited schoolmates arriving at parties and being thrown out (but not before a screaming match), and early 2000s hip hop star Bow Wow leaving his dignity at the door and performing at wealthy teens’ parties, confirming their super sweetness.

In an infamous spinoff of the thrilling reality program, “Exiled,” which began in 2008, former sweet -sixteeners were sent to “Survivor”-like locations where they were filmed throwing tantrums in a much less lavish environment, with Bow Wow nowhere in sight. After watching the spinoff flop miserably, MTV took a break from “Super Sweet” altogether and turned to more drastic issues on pregnancy reality shows, including Teen Mom,

its sequel, Teen Mom 2, and Catfish in which internet couples who have done very little research on one another come face to face, all of which included fights, screaming, crying, and avid viewerships.

But as much as our generation loved those shows, there was still something missing until now: sweet sixteens.

Unlike recent revivals such as audience-bashed “Fuller House,” the already-canceled “Girl Meets World,” and the upcoming “Will and Grace” reunion, it seems as though a return of “My Super Sweet 16” was not a TV show that fans were begging to bring back.

Oddly enough, it seemed the show’s rebirth was faced with more confusion than excitement. Viewers are in for a treat, however, because the recentlyannounced series will drop the 16. My Super Sweet, coming soon, will include all sorts of celebrations, and will not limit itself to sweet sixteens. Bar mitzvahs, weddings, and perhaps even funerals, are all fair game.

In the face of numerous revivals gone bad, MTV has decided to take on the challenge. Is nine years too long a break for a reality show? Time will tell. But we

“My Super Sweet 16” host finding the perfect dress.

can be assured that no matter how good or how horrendous My Super Sweet proves itself to be, we are guaranteed to see countless tantrums, tiaras, and Lexuses.

Classic comic “Archie” is back as a new TV series

Cole Sprouse as Jughead on “Riverdale”

SARAH HARTZELL Co-Executive Editor Gone are the days of malteds, Sadie Hawkins dances, and celibate love triangles. The era of sex, murder, and secrets is very clearly here to stay when it comes to teen drama on TV. If it weren’t for the shock of red hair on its leading man, the CW’s “Riverdale” would be all but unrecognizable as an adaption of the wholesome and beloved Archie Comics, which, until last year, had hardly changed their appearance or content since the 1940s. “Riverdale,” despite having 70 years of source material to pull from, instead draws its inspiration from the likes of “Pretty Little Liars” and “Gossip Girl” with

MTV

TV Guide their twisty plots, objectively inappropriate sexuality, and statistically improbable number of deep, dark secrets lurking within one small town.

Archie Comics have reached iconic status as they follow the lives of the title carrot top and his two (possibly simultaneous, it’s never really clear) girlfriends, Betty and Veronica, along with a vast supporting cast that includes Jughead the eating machine and Josie and the Pussycats.

“Riverdale” certainly had its work cut out for it in adapting the classic comics, since the signature love triangle is, by modern standards, horribly tired and at times problematic (teenage girls fighting over a guy is so 2007). Surprisingly, “Riverdale” approaches this touchy subject with sensitivity— the unrequited crushes and insecurity of adolescent love are

remarkably nuanced and relatable. Unlike so many of its predecessors, the show really seems to understand the problems that high schoolers face— when they’re not trying to solve a murder or hide their affair with their teacher, that is.

Objectively, “Riverdale” is certainly not a bad show. It has the right balance of suspense and high school angst, of tropes and subversion.

But in the crowded field of teen dramas, there is nothing that makes it unique. This is especially obvious when you consider that there is a certain expectation attached to it to begin with. Adaptations have a reasonable degree of responsibility to their source material and “Riverdale” seems to be doing everything in its power to break the connection to its past. Sure, the characters have the same names and personalities (and they are very well cast), but the similarities end there. The rest of the show seems devoted to getting as far away from the G-rated comics as possible. It might feel genuine if it were for the purpose of maturing the characters or bringing them into the modern day, but what is the purpose of Betty and Veronica making out in the middle of cheerleading tryouts? We understand that this is “not your parents’ Riverdale,” but we don’t need the lazy titillation that so many of these shows seem to think passes for good writing.

“Riverdale”’s compelling plot and brand recognition are enough to keep it on the air for the rest of the season, so there is plenty of time for it to carve out its identity in this age of sex, murder, and SATs, but it will have to show a level of respect for its origins to really find a reason to return for a second season. The first two episodes have shown hints that this is possible: the upgraded cover of The Archies’ 1969 saccharine love song “Sugar, Sugar” in episode two is truly fantastic. The days when an animated band could top the Billboard charts for four weeks may be gone forever, but some things never go out of style.

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Stand up, or sit down, for stand-up CARLY BIVONA Arts Intern Before Netflix heard the demand for access to great stand-up specials, comedy fans were lucky if they happened to catch their favorite comedian performing for a half-hour on Comedy Central.

Now, streaming services like Netflix are providing hundreds of specials spanning decades. With so many names to choose from, the list can be overwhelming at times. However, there are some specials on Netflix that stand above the rest, and bring humanity (and of course, laughs) to their dynamic sets.

For comedy fans, the quote “I am a proud Asian American woman” will most likely ring a bell. It’s a quote from John Mulaney’s 2012 special “New In Town.” Mulaney, who is a former “Saturday Night Live” staff writer (most notably for Bill Hader's character, Stefon), focuses on his childlike innocence and moments of insecurity to make observations most would not catch. Mulaney uses the first part of his special to talk about his childhood. He ponders the emphasis on quicksand as a child, and how he was bullied in grade school for being Asian American, despite not being Asian American.

While many popular comedians will take on a more tough and unpolished persona, John Mulaney’s on-stage presence is sweeter, and slightly timid. In addition to being the butt of his own jokes, Mulaney takes on the New York Post, “Law and Order SVU”, Xanax, and Delta Airlines. His fresh take on even mundane topics is consistently witty, and could easily stand the test of time. “‘New In Town’ is my favorite

special because of Mulaney’s style of comedy. He doesn’t rely on gimmicks or comedic tropes. Everything is founded in really strong writing. Also, it’s just super funny,” said University freshman Kaitlin Owens.

With her role as Gina Linetti on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and past staff writing for Parks and Recreation and Kroll Show, it’s easy to see why Chelsea Peretti’s

of the Greats” dives into misplaced confidence, terrible small talk, googling oneself, and the difference between men and women in comedy. “I’m awesome!

People probably want to hear what I have to say! I’m probably gonna do something great today!” Peretti says in a deep voice, impersonating what she imagines is going through a man’s brain every morning.

Turning true personal struggle and

to the stage.

The story focuses on Birbiglia meeting the love of his life, and the often heart-wrenching setbacks they faced.

Much of the story is spent depicting the catastrophes of his past relationship attempts, making every small success he has with his girlfriend (now wife) Jenny that much sweeter. “‘My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend’ is a great example of how standup has evolved from just a setup for a joke. The whole special is story based, so it’s hilarious, but also has a plot that you can emotionally invest in. It’s awkward, sweet, and hilarious, and I’ve probably watched it 11 times,” said University sophomore Augusta Fitzgerald.

For fans of classic comedy, Eddie Murphy’s 1983 stand up special “Delirious” stands the test of test of time (as does it his 1987 special “Raw”, also on Netflix).

Murphy’s dynamic and lively stand up was what truly transformed him into one of the first superstars of standup comedy. Murphy’s confidence shines through his set, telling detailed stories of his often dysfunctional family and childhood antics. Although his stories are solid, Murphy’s delivery is what makes this special in particular so passionate.

Medium Mike Birbiglia in “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” In his classic skin-tight leather suit, Murphy played a key role 2014 special “One of the Greats” was a misfortune into gut-busting laughter is in putting HBO on the map as a prime success. One of the few specials produced not an easy feat, but that is just what platform for comedy. Although filled with

by Netflix, Peretti’s special starts with Mike Birbiglia pulls off so well in his a record-breaking number of profanities a themed opening (which lives up to her 2013 stand up special “My Girlfriend’s (too many to find one suitable quote), ambitious title) to set the tone for the rest Boyfriend.” Unlike most comedy specials, “Delirious” does not rely on them to get of the set.

“My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” is a complete major laughs. Murphy even breaks into Most of Peretti’s special discusses story. A natural storyteller, Birbiglia songs and impressions, most notably his common annoyances and everyday starts and ends the show by describing James Brown. His jokes are hard-hitting observations. Her style is mostly downa car crash he was in a few years prior. and his forceful, authentic delivery can not to-earth, with a small hint of an ego she Switching the audience’s emotions back be reproduced. mocks in her opening monologue. “One and forth, he brings a compelling energy

“A Dog’s Purpose” gets controversial ANNA YESILEVSKIY Staff Writer A week before the film, “A Dog’s Purpose” was released, TMZ leaked a video that has now been disproved which has provoked concern about the treatment of animals on set during the filming and sparked up a lot of debate. The video shows a two-year-old German shepherd named Hercules forcibly being put into rushing water, fighting with a trainer by trying to get out of a pool, and then briefly sinking before being lifted out of the water.

Following the release of this video, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called for a boycott of the film. Studio and filmmakers canceled media interviews and the film’s premiere, however, the film was still released.

Those involved with the film have responded to the animal abuse allegations. Dennis Quaid, who plays one of the characters in the film, stated that “the video does not tell the entire story.” Quaid also added that the animals on set “were treated with the greatest respect and care and compassion.”

“The dog was fine. This was a piece of video that was shot during the making of this.

Some unknown person at the time. He also spliced, edited, and manipulated that to make it look as if the dog was being abused. The dog had been in that water happily, and even afterwards too,” Quaid said.

Gavin Polone, the film’s producer, also responded to the allegations. Polone said that Hercules was eager to swim during rehearsal and was even “desperate to jump in.”

Polone stated the dog had to be held back by a trainer so he wouldn’t go in too soon. He added on that the footage seen in the TMZ video was taken after someone had requested that Hercules jump in from the other side of the pool and at that point, the dog became uncomfortable.

Birds and Animals United also responded to the accusations, saying that Hercules

had been trained for months for the swimming scenes and “was chosen for the film based on his love of the water.”

The company also acknowledged the second scene of the leaked video, which showed the German shepherd submerged under the water and said, “the current carried him closer to the wall at the end of the pool than it had in previous takes.”

Polone mentioned that this scene was filmed after Hercules had willingly jumped into the water. He stated that the dog was underwater for only four seconds before a diver and handlers lifted him out of the pool. Polone reiterated that Hercules was not supposed to have gone underwater as he stated, “seeing that distraught dog in the video did not comport with what I had observed in the prior weeks of production.”

After Hercules went underwater, he was put in a warming tent and got a full veterinary checkup to make sure that he was healthy. The German shepherd did not show any signs of stress.

Nick Carpou, Universal’s president of domestic distribution, also responded to the allegations. Carpou claimed that the leaked video was “highly edited” and came at “a very inopportune moment in the build-up to the release of our movie.” He stated that they knew the leaked video would affect their performance at the box office. Eventually, he was proven correct while the movie ended up underperforming at the box office.

Elizabeth Ukilis, a junior at the University, commented on the leaked video and the animal abuse allegations. Ukilis said, “I think that this can be viewed from different points of view. I feel that there is not enough proof that the dog was abused but also can see why the producer would lie.”

University junior Tyler Stofer had seen the video and mentionedw, “I think it is always important to know both sides of a story, however I feel animals should not be subjected to unpleasant situations for a movie.” He added on, “I don’t think I would see this movie, to be sure I wasn’t supporting a company allowing the abuse of this dog or any others.” These reactions remained constant until the video was proven false.

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February 9, 2017

(Un)Plug and Unwind How modern University students use ASMR to relax KATRINA ALONSO Features Editor Think about your morning routine: you wake up to the irritating blares of your smart phone’s alarm clock. You immediately open up your favorite social media apps to catch up on what you missed while you were asleep. As you continue to prepare yourself for the day ahead, your eyes remain glued to your phone, drinking up the latest news about this celebrity or that new member of President Trump’s cabinet picks. Even over your first cup of coffee, you probably pore over work emails as they filter in from people who are just as attached to technology as you are. As people become increasingly dependent on Twitter and Facebook to keep themselves stimulated, it’s no wonder that everywhere you look, you are being told to “unplug” to reset your brain and allow it to relax. But how many people actually do that?

According to a study by the American Psychological Association, millennials are the most stressed out people in the country.

With student loans looming over their heads and the number of job opportunities on the market quickly dwindling, it’s clear why this specific group is so stressed out.

Having grown up alongside the biggest technological boom ever seen, this Internet-attached generation has cobbled together its own routine to decompress.

To that end, University sophomore

Nicki Kern finds a balance between unplugged and logged-in. “Relaxing for me does tend to involve technology.

Visiting Reddit, YouTube, and Netflix for the most part. The other main thing I do to relax is yoga. There is a website that I use from time to time that has free online classes,” she explained. Like many other college students, she uses the Internet to relax in ways that fly over the heads of those who condemn technology. Before, one would have to attend classes in person to learn how to do yoga, but Kern learns the craft online and can practice yoga in the comfort of her own bedroom.

Marla Teixeira, a commuter student at the University, went a more traditional route: she prefers taking baths or going for long drives when she’s home in New Jersey to calm down. She added, however, that these methods still involve technology, like the Netflix show she watches in the bath, or the Spotify playlist she blasts in the car. Her dependence on technology isn’t a problem for her, though. “I see how people can get overwhelmed with technology, but I think that if you foster a healthy relationship with it and don’t let it consume you, it’s a great tool,” Teixeira reasoned.

She has a point. Though some may see technology and its way of connecting people to their whole social circle instantaneously as a stressful factor in one’s life, others consider it the key to a

network of support systems. “I like venting my emotions about something just as it happens to my friends instead of holding it for myself all day. I feel happy when I get texts from people or Snapchats, it makes me feel less alone in a society where individualism is almost synonymous to thriving,” she said.

This concept of an online community, whether fostered organically through reallife connections or built entirely online as a result of mutual interests, has become a large part of most people’s usage of the Internet, and in some cases, has contributed to their list of ways to relax. Take the autonomous sensory meridian response community on YouTube, for example.

Autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, is a sensory phenomenon where specific sounds trigger a reaction in certain people. For those who are sensitive to it, triggers like nails tapping softly on a surface or the crinkling of plastic can induce a tingling sensation in the scalp that spreads to their arms and backs, which is followed by a deep sense of calm. Because the videos are typified by soft sounds, whispering, and slow movements, even those who aren’t ASMRsensitive can still be lulled to sleep.

The community has grown to such a size that even the likes of The Washington Post have explored it. The publication did a feature on the most popular ASMRtist, as they like to be called, on YouTube.

They spoke to a woman named Maria whose handle is GentleWhispering about the work she does as an ASMRtist and about how she discovered it. She briefly mentioned the humble beginnings of the ASMR community¬ in the article: a thread of comments on a whispering video in 2009 describing the “tingles” people felt turned into a community of people who not only named the phenomenon themselves, but also helped each other come up with ideas for possible triggers.

Madison Oberndorf, a psychology student at the University, finds ASMR fascinating. Of the online community that it caters to, she said, “Ideally, people would be comfortable enough with themselves to be alone [to relax]. However, since this is not the case, and often times people seek therapy in order to achieve that level of comfort, we should not devalue the relaxation that is found through technology and social media.”

These days, whether it comes down to watching ASMR videos on YouTube, checking out free online yoga classes, or FaceTiming your friends to vent about your life, the Internet has become less a tool to be disconnected from and more a tool to plug into when you’re at wits’ end.

Take it from these college students: strike a balance between connected to the Internet and connected to “real life” and enjoy the benefits of a less-stressed lifestyle.

Get ready for Doomsday in style MAXIMILLIANO ONOFRE Editor-in-Chief Since 1947, members of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Science and Security Board have been maintaining The Doomsday Clock. On Jan. 26, the clock was moved closer to midnight, leaving humanity to only two and a half minutes to doomsday. Only a few decades ago, the clock was 17 minutes to midnight, and it has been inching closer ever since.

However, due to recent events, the Bulletin’s board of directors decided to fast-forward the clock’s hands from three minutes to two and a half minutes before the final hour. This is the closest the clock has been to midnight since 1953, after the US and Soviet Union conducted tests of their hydrogens bombs.

Rachel Bronson, the executive director and publisher of the Bulletin made the announcement on Thursday while accompanied by theoretical physicist, Lawrence Krauss; the climate scientist and meteorologist, David Titley; and the former US ambassador Thomas Pickering.

Their decision was based on what Bronson said was an acknowledgement to “what a dangerous moment we’re in and how important it is for people to take note.” The dangers that motivated them were

based on Trump’s pledge to impede social progress, threats to develop nuclear weapons, and refusal to recognize climate change.

“Never has the Bulletin decided to advance the clock largely because of the statements of a single person, but when that person is the new president of the United States, his words matter,” said the Bulletin to The New York Times.

Now the only question that remains is, how do we prepare for this apocalypse? The first step is to build a bunker. The best place to find a bunker is online, as there are many shopping choices. There is a wide range of bunkers, from one-family bunkers to multifamily bunkers. They vary in price and some can be quite luxurious, costing billions of dollars but including gyms, theaters, and even swimming pools. Of course, there is a small downside to not being able to see the real estate before purchasing.

Some bunkers are underground while others are not.

Most experts suggest buying underground bunkers, as they will be good for most situations, including nuclear blasts.

After buying the bunker, food and water become the next priority. Many have found ways to grow food underground, but the most popular way to stay healthy is by keeping “bunker food” or “emergency food,” which is dehydrated and freeze dried food. A month’s supply can cost over a hundred dollars per

person, but it’s a small price to pay to stay alive. As for water, most people will opt for a water purification system. Though they are costly, most kill waterborne bacteria, viruses and protozoa. However, none have been made to prevent radiation poisoning yet.

Now, there’s no telling if doomsday will bring forward an interactive “Walking Dead” episode, but it’s best to be prepared. While many opt for the conventional weapons, such as guns, others feel like it may endanger those who live with them. Some people prefer to keep bows and arrows as well swords even if they’re not as practical. Regardless, most bunkers will have a good arsenal to keep their loved ones safe.

Other practical and necessary supplies include gas masks, gas powered lamps, flashlights (preferably hand cranked), first aid kits, radios, blankets, medicine, batteries, soap, tape, matches, soap, lighters, cooking tools, makers, glow sticks, and clothes. Make sure you’ll have enough of everything to survive for a few hundred days, give or take a few.

And lastly, don’t forget to grab a bit of entertainment by bring books, puzzles, board games, and any scrapbooks supplies so you can make great picture books of your family in the bunker and keep yourselves from going insane.

GameStop

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Finding the truth in a world of fake news KELSEY NICHOLSON Features Intern We live in what some are branding a “Post-Factual World,” a world in which people spread lies in order to create mass panic, or further increase our distrust in the government. Websites like Facebook, Twitter, and other social media hubs have users sharing articles with claims that sometimes seem outrageous.

Though there have been articles riddled with falsehoods in the past, they did not seem to multiply quite as quickly as they have in the past year. We can link this to the presidential election, which became a heated race early on. President Trump’s aides even say we should not take the President literally, specifically during his November meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister. Kellyanne Conway, Counsellor to the President, is sharing “alternative facts.” Even now it seems that everyone is on different sides, and some have

gone as far as crafting “fake news” with the goal of giving their candidate an advantage.

In Nov. 2016, the Stanford History Education Group published an executive summary entitled “Evaluating Information: The Cornerstone of Civic Online Reasoning.”

It is 29 pages long, and explains that across the United States, many students are unable to discern the difference between a real news article, an opinion piece, or a corporate ad.

Believing fake news is beginning to have real consequences. It is capitalizing on the public’s mistrust in the government, helping push the nation toward a state of panic. For example, in early Dec. one man fired a rifle inside a Washington, D.C. pizza parlor he believed to be involved in a conspiracy theory. In rare cases, reputable newspapers and websites accidentally reprint fake news because they mistake it for actual fact.

So, how can we tell fact from fiction when it comes to the news?

The first thing to look for is the name of a journalist in

A vigil for the”Bowling Green Massacre” and facts is held in NY city

JUSTIN KNOEPFEL Features Intern

NY Daily News

the byline. Fake news, including corporate ads, will most likely be lacking a name. If there is one, you may want to look up the name of the journalist to verify their identity and make sure they work for a reputable publication.

Another way to discover the truth about fake news articles is to look closer at the site. Some sites like The Onion intentionally post satirical articles meant for entertainment purposes. If you have any doubt about the notoriety of the site, look for the “About” page or a disclaimer. Make sure to actually go to this disclaimer page, because some sites have text claiming they have a disclaimer and then provide broken links.

Certain news sources are historically known for reporting false information, such as The Sun or The National Enquirer. The latter has published articles covering Hillary Clinton’s six-month death sentence and Barack Obama’s divorce from Michelle, which are both stories that have never actually happened.

Furthermore, many fake news sites may have URLs that look like that of a proper and famous news source, but are actually counterfeit variations.

Additionally, you can look at the sources the article uses. Real online articles often link to primary sources, such as government websites, documents, videos, among other things. Fake news sources contain nonsensical links and fake sources, as well as facts that can be easily disproven.

A good idea when questioning the validity of a news article is to check with other news sites you know to be factual, such as ABC or Fox News. If you can’t find an article on the same topic on any reputable sites, it is safe to assume the article is false.

Finally, use your head. Ask yourself, does the website look valid? Does the article make logical sense? Fake news articles are designed to grab your attention and make you angry, so if you feel an impassioned rage against what you’re reading, take a second and think about whether it actually could be true. And, most importantly, don’t trust everything you read.

Café 101 gets an upgrade

The spring semester has officially begun, and if you’ve been to the cafe lately, you may have noticed some notable additions to the options provided by the University.

In addition to the pasta, sushi, and taco bars and the grill, Chartwells has added a ramen bar into the mix. The pizza bar got a small upgrade as well, with the addition of a dessert pizza option that didn’t exist in the cafe before. While these changes and new additions add variety to the cafe’s offerings, is it actually what students want?

The ramen bar is the most noticeable and talked-about change to the cafe. The reaction seems to lean positive, but students still have some concerns. Sophomore Trevor DellaVynnesczo says, “Personally, I guess the ramen bar is okay, but I’d rather see lower prices than to add a new section and a price increase.” The potential rising or stagnating of prices at the cafe, which most agree are already fairly expensive, is a common concern. The notion of lower costs being more of a priority than variety of foods is one felt throughout the University. However, portion size is also important. Junior Christoper Furcick says, “I haven’t had anything from the ramen bar yet, but it’s kind of cool to have. What does it for me is the amount you get and the size of the container for the price.”

In speaking with John Olsson, Director of Dining Services, it seems continuously making positive changes to the cafe is very important. “What we try and do as much as we can every semester is introduce something new. We’ve essentially done that for five and a half years. As you look at the cafe you’ll see an addition to a station, or a possible renovation to a station,” he said. Olsson pointed to the

changes to the fairly-popular pasta bar as an example of these implementations. “We try doing renovations throughout.

The idea being, any time there’s a winter break or summer break, we do as much work as we can to polish and change up the cafe to offer more variety and hop on trends. In the case of the ramen station, you know ramen is very popular at the moment, so we thought it’d be a welcomed addition.”

When asked about student feedback of these recent changes so far, Olsson had to say, “It’s been good! We’ve had some good and bad in the sense of things we still need to work on. For example, how soft the noodles are, making sure the broths are perfect, things of that nature.” In the future, he said that he and his team will work on finding a better spot for the ramen bar in the cafe. Olsson wanted to make sure it would be “a star” and that it would not be considered “just a part of the grill station.” Their target to use the summer break to identify an area where they can grow the ramen bar into more of a premiere station. “As of right now, we’re making the best of the area we have.”

As the cafeteria continues to change it is important not only to take the student’s desires into account, but also how difficult it truly is to keep the operation of the cafe running smoothly while satisfying the student body. The recent additions are to simply give students variety, and a flourished amount of options in their lunch, dinner, and even dessert. Perhaps, during their development of the ramen bar and future additions to the cafe, they could also expand the seating area to accommodate more students and make their dining experience even better.

Once the spring semester draws to a close, those working in the cafeteria will already be planning on what’s new for the fall and beyond, which hopefully will make dining in the cafe a more enjoyable experience for students.

Justin Knoepfel

12 www.thepacepress.org

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Where are they now?

A look into the accomplishments of famous University alumni ROMAN CHIARELLO Contributor Many graduates of the University have gone on to have noteworthy careers after their time here. These are the former Setters who have moved, shaken and broken the status quo since they walked these hallowed halls.

After receiving bachelor’s degrees from Harvard and the London School of Ethics, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. continued his studies at the University and received a master’s degree in law. Throughout his career, he has advocated for environmental causes, including protection of water and renewable energy. He is currently the senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, and recently protested the Dakota Access Pipeline. He also believes that there is a link between vaccinations and autism, and that, as explained in his 2015 film “Trace Amounts,” the government is possibly covering up this link.

Ivan Seidenberg is known by University students as the namesake for our school of Computer and Information Systems. His notability, however, stems far beyond this. After earning his master’s degree in business administration and marketing from the University, he went on to become Chairman and C.E.O. of Verizon Communications, Inc. Under his leadership, Verizon has become a powerful global corporation used today by countless consumers.

Born on Long Island in 1956, Joy Mangano received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University in 1978. Since then, she has gone on to become an inventor and entrepreneur.

Mangano appeared with her first product, the Miracle Mop, on QVC in 1992, signaling the beginning of Mangano’s long career in product development. She has since invented numerous other products, including Huggable Hangers, Rolykit, and the Piatto Bakery Box. In 1999, she sold her company to HSN. Her life story was the basis for the 2015 biopic “Joy,” in which Mangano was played by Jennifer Lawrence.

James Quinn himself may not be famous, but his company’s products are very highly-sought after. After earning his MBA in Financial Management from the University, Quinn went on to play a large role in jewelry company Tiffany and Co. He first joined the company as Vice President for Corporate Sales in 1986 and quickly rose through the ranks, as he was added to the Board of Directors in 1995 and became President in 1998.

It is widely known that Rachael Ray can finish cooking a meal in 30 minutes, but many of her fans would be surprised to find out that she did not finish college.

She began attending the University in 1986 and majored in Literature and Communications, but then left after two years to save her money and consider options for her career. She moved back to Albany and began teaching cooking classes at a local grocery store. Soon after, she took these demonstrations to television, beginning with a Today Show appearance in 2001. This ultimately led to her many Food Network TV shows, cookbooks, and cooking products. Today, she continues to appear daily on her self-titled talk show.

Viewers of shows such as CBS’ “Hawaii Five-0” and ABC’s “The Forgotten” would easily recognize actress Michelle Borth. The actress graduated from the University in 2001 from the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. She majored in Theater and Art History.

Dancer Val Chmerkovskiy has appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” for 11 seasons. He is also known in the dance world for having won numerous dance competitions. Before his career as a dancer, he attended the University’s Lubin School of Business. His knowledge of business was put to good use when he opened Dance With Me Dance Studios in locations throughout the tri-state area.

Honorable mentions go to George A.W. Bundschuh, former President & ViceChairman of New York Life Insurance Company; James N. Fernandez, Executive Vice President & CFO of Tiffany and Co.; James E. Healey, former Executive Vice President & CFO of Nabisco Holdings, Inc. and former Vice President and Treasurer of Hellmann’s and Best Foods; and Marie J. Toulantis, CEO of Barnes&Noble.com.

All of these people and many more have had success in their careers and industries after attending Pace University.

With each graduating class, the list of successful alumni keeps growing. Someday in the future, hopefully we will be covering the upward trajectory of one of the University’s current students.

In fact, according to The New York Times, it’s very likely that we will, since the University has been voted second on their list of Great Working-Class American Colleges because of the upward mobility rate of University graduates.The study reported that 82% of students who belonged to the bottom-fifth of income distribution moved up to the top three-fifths after graduating from the University.

It can certainly be considered reassuring to attend a school that, according to The Fiscal Times, “turns poor kids into wealthy ones.” The evidence lies in the accomplishments of alumni who have each carved their place into the world and continue to set examples for current and future Setters alike.

February 9, 2017

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks to the media at an anti-Keystone pipeline march. Feb. 2013

Huffington Post Food Network Rachael Ray gets ready to prepare a meal on the Food Network. Aug. 2016

Joy Mangano poses with her products on HSN. Dec. 2015

Parade

Val Chmerkovskiy shows off his moves in “Dancing with the Stars.” June 2015

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