September 17, 2014
Est. 1948
Volume 67 | Issue 1
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Ahmed Mohamed arrest for bringing in science project Page 2
Lady Gaga takes on colllege sexual assault in new video Page 11
University’s new dorm still targeted by union protestors Page 10
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October 8, 2015
High schooler arrested for bringing in a “bomb” Ahmed Mohamed represents fight against Islamophobia GIULIA DISTRAVOLA Contributor Ahmed Mohamed is an American 14 year old thought it might be a bomb, because it looks exactly like and the Kenya Mall bombing, among others. Maher then teenager who dreams of attending the Massachusetts a f***ing bomb”, and agreed with the teacher’s call for brought up the incident at the Prophet Muhammed Art Institute of Technology and becoming an engineer. In authoritative forces, which instigated a hostile uproar Contest in the city of Garland, outside Irving, where ISIS Irving, Texas, Mohamed was excited to bring his science against Maher. However, what the media didn’t include sympathizing gunmen killed two security guards. Maher fair project to school, but his day went beyond expected. was Maher’s argument on the lack of perspective the says how these incidents are not reason enough to justify Mohamed was arrested because his project, a homemade media and its followers had in regards to Ahmed’s arrest. the teen’s arrest but precaution is inevitable due to past clock, had a striking resemblance to a bomb. As the project American schools are known for having zero tolerance incidents and our current international circumstances. was proved harmless, In addition, Maher asks the liberals Mohamed was who scrutinized his commentary about released of his charges, their position on the fact of how there resulting in frenzy are Muslims that are victims of other by the media and its Muslims, such as Ali Mohammed followers. The incident Alnimr. Alnimr was a 17 year old boy gave incentive to two who took part of anti-government rally distinct perspectives. in Saudi Arabia and was beheaded in One justifies result. Kyle Gilchrist, student at the Mohamed’s arrest as University, stated that, “Mohamed another example of didn’t handle the situation as well Islamophobia in the as he could have and that regardless, United States and the there are bigger issues to be concerned latter acknowledges with”. In addition to Gilchrist’s Mohamed’s arrest comment, Mark Cuban, guest on as wrong but says Maher’s show, mentioned how he there is defensible spoke to Mohamed after the arrest, and reason for his arrest. noted that the boy had the opportunity Darcy Flanagan, to defend himself prior to his arrest but student at the felt discouraged for whatever reason. University, said, “I Mohamed spent approximately think this story is an two hours behind bars, however example of racial in response to this absurdity, both profiling and that the the government and community muslimobserver.com school took the wrong responded quickly to apologize to approach in dealing Ahmed Mohamed was arrested for bringing this project to school Mohamed through social media. with the issue”. Many In addition, he received gifts from believe Mohamed’s Microsoft, invitations from Facebook, accusation and arrest was related to his ethnicity. Though for suspicious activities present on school grounds. For Twitter, and even the White House for a meet-and-greet. Flanagan wouldn’t take it to the extreme of calling the example, there is the story of both Alex Stone, South All of this in effort to correct the injustice made and to incident a hate crime, Mohamed’s story was largely Carolina teen who was arrested for writing a paper where ensure Mohamed’s dream of becoming an engineer. covered as a prime example of Islamophobia. Research he shoots his pet dinosaur, and 15 year old Dontadrian Whether it was a hate crime against Muslims or a has shown that hate crimes in the U.S. have skyrocketed Bruce, who was suspended for unknowingly holding out reasonable action of precaution, this story has shown after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2000, and continue to haunt our a gang sign during a group project picture. Maher was that there is a majority of people who are willing to community in response to our international circumstances. not afraid to say how the Muslim culture has an infamous undertake serious measures to ensure justice and the In contrast to the initial perspective, on the show Real reputation of ‘blowing things up’, including incidents such demise of prejudice in our community. We, as a nation, Time with Bill Maher, Maher said, “People at the school as Sept. 11, the Madrid Bombing, the London Bombing continue moving forward as we fight for equality.
Mohamed being taken into custody
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Mohamed greeting his supporters after being released
October 8, 2015
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Fifteen charged in frat death NIVETHA NAGARAJAN Contributor On a cold December night in 2013, a Baruch College freshman, Chun “Michael” Deng, 19, pledged Pi Delta Psi, an Asian American cultural interest fraternity, at a retreat in the Poconos. A few hours later, he was dead. Along with other freshmen pledging the fraternity, Deng was made to undergo a violent hazing ritual known as “The Glass Ceiling”, where participants were repeatedly tackled while made to run across a frozen field, blindfolded and carrying backpacks full of twenty to thirty pounds of sand. The ritual was supposed to symbolize the difficulty that Asian Americans experience when trying to break into the mainstream. Of all the freshmen, Deng in particular was singled out because he fought back against the tackling, and refused to take it quietly. This angered the frat brothers and he was beat into submission. After they were done, Deng was suffering from multiple brain and bodily injuries. According to the police report, when Deng proved unresponsive, they carried him inside the house they were renting and laid him on the couch, but did not call an ambulance because the bill/cost was “too high”. When their phones were later confiscated and examined, it came out that they had done various Google searches on their phones such as “Concussion, can’t wake up” and “Pupils don’t dilate”. Eventually, three brothers finally drove him to the hospital more than 90 minutes later. When questioned, it was reported that they had called the president of their fraternity, and he had told them their first duty was to hide any letters or banners with their fraternity’s symbols on it. The president of Pi Delta Psi, Andy Meng, was one of five frat brothers charged with third-degree murder, among several other counts. Meng scolded the chapter, saying that they, “violated the values and rules of our organization, including our strict no hazing policy. As such, they shall no longer be recognized as having any association with Pi Delta Psi.” Ten more men were charged just last week, bringing the total to 15 men charged so far in this case. 22 others were also recommended by a grand jury to be charged with crimes such as assault, hazing, hindering apprehension, and providing false statements to law enforcement, bringing the number of men prosecuted in the Deng case to a whopping 37. The incidence of violent hazing deaths have been increasing over the years,
with one or two deaths a year happening regularly over the past decade. Among these deaths, there are very few happening at sororities and the overwhelming majority take place in fraternities. There is no doubt that such aggressive practices are directly related to models of masculinity that fraternity culture promotes. The stereotype of the fraternity brother is a brawny, hypermasculine male who plays sports and drinks excessive amounts of beer. This is reflected in the number of hazing deaths that were caused due to extreme physical activity and alcohol poisoning. This incident, as well as many others like it, testify to the deep roots that violence has in our society. When a group of young, college-age adults can brutally beat someone up as part of a regular annual ritual seemingly without conscience, it calls into question the very nature of human beings themselves.
Congress passes budget for now CHASE BALLAS News Editor Congress voted on Sept. 30 to temporarily fund the government, avoiding a potential governmental shutdown. The new budget, passed largely because of the Democratic votes, will expire Dec. 11, giving Congress another 10 weeks to pass a long term fiscal budget. The controversy surrounding the potential shutdown revolved around the allegations of malpractice by Planned Parenthood. The allegations surrounded around videos, which were widely discredited, showed Planned Parenthood officials selling fetal tissue. Republican congressmen tried to use the new budget to defund Planned Parenthood, which was passed in the House of Representatives, but blocked by Democratic senators. The new budget was passed without defunding of Planned Parenthood, but a separate bill regarding that matter is being discussed. It expected to not come to term because it will eventually be blocked by Democrats in the Senate. Due to the ongoing separation and realignments in the Republican Party, and influenced by Pope Francis’s trip to Congress, House Speaker John Boehner set his resignation at the end of October. This will cause a new speaker to lead the debate on the new budget. However, President Barack Obama is not pleased with the delay on the budget. He has stated that he, “…will not sign another short-
sighted spending bill like the one Congress sent me this week.” He also noted that it is going to be a challenge to pass the next budget, due to concerns by both parties over military and domestic spending. In addition, the Treasury Department will also need to raise the debt ceiling by November to avoid defaulting on national obligation. Boehner, Obama and Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority leader, are currently planning a meeting to discuss the new budget, as opposed to discussing it with Democratic Senate leaders. While Planned Parenthood may have been the limiting factor now, Obama has vowed to increase measures of gun control and regulation. In the wake of the Umpqua Community College shooting on Oct. 1, the president warned that he will discuss guns in America, “…on a regular basis. I will not politicize it because our inaction is a political decision that we are making.” It is speculated that a gun control measure will be added into the budget, and will lead to another polarized debate between the Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Throughout the Obama administration, there has always been difficulty in Congress to discuss a budget. With one governmental shutdown in the administration’s history in 2013 over Obamacare, Congressmen cannot jeopardize their ratings and public support for the Democratic Party, especially with a high profile election coming up in 2016, with another failure in communication between the parties.
thedailybeast.com House Speaker John Boehner is set to resign from Congress
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October 8, 2015
Hospital attacked by airstrike American raid hits Doctors Without Borders
The rebel after the hospital was caught between battle
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CHASE BALLAS News Editor A Doctors Without Borders hospital was attacked on Oct. 3, killing 12 staffers and ten patients, including three children, while injuring 37 others. The charity was founded with emphasis on caring for those affected by war, famine, epidemic and disasters. The air strike, carried out by the United States, is going to be investigated by the United Nations, with cooperation of the American government, as, “inexcusable, and possibly even criminal.” The attack continued for over an hour, even after both American and Afghan authorities were notified about the hit on the hospital, which served as a crucial medical lifeline in northern Afghanistan. The city of Kunduz, Afghanistan, where the hospital was located, was recently seized by the Taliban, and fighting has continued in the area to regain control. Herman Hagarathnam, the head of the charity’s programming in northern Afghanistan, talked about the attack in fear. “The bomb hit and then we heard the plane circle round,” he remembered, “There was a pause, and then more bombs hit. This happened again and again. When I made it out of the office, the main hospital building was engulfed in flames.
Those people that could had moved quickly to the building’s two bunkers to seek safety, but patients who were unable to escape burned to death as they lay in their beds.” Due to the nature of Doctors Without Borders, the investigation will be covered as a war crime. President Barack Obama, deeply saddened by the event, expressed his condolences. “The Department of Defense has launched a full investigation, and we will await the results of that inquiry before making a definitive judgement as to the circumstances of this tragedy,” he said in a conference. General John Campbell, commander of American forces in Afghanistan, instructed the attack on others firing at American forces, and tried to clear the area of the rebel group. The attack has also reprised discussion into the use of air strike by American military in the Middle East. Taliban forces blamed the event solely on American forces, calling it a barbaric, deliberate attack. The charity is demanding a full, transparent investigation into the matter. Meinie Nicolai, president of Doctors Without Bordersw, demand, “…total transparency from Coalition forces. We cannot accept that this horrific loss of life will simply be dismissed as ‘collateral damage’.”
Hospital attacked by airstrike SERGIO FERNANDEZ Contributor Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon and republican presidential candidate made a comment stating “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that.” Since making this comment his numbers on the polls have increased and he has experienced a swell in donations for his campaign. However, Carson has also been criticized as a racist for his remarks. During a press conference in Sharonville, Ohio on October 20th, Ben Carson once again defended his statement by saying, “I don’t care what a person’s religious beliefs are or what their religious heritage is. If they embrace American culture, if they embrace our Constitution and are willing to place that above their religious beliefs, I have no problem with that. I said that. Why is it so impossible for people to hear that?” Ben Carson has since argued that a person of Islamic faith would have to reject parts of his faith to be a viable
candidate and avoid a theocracy. In an interview with Fox News Ben Carson said, “If, for instance, you believe in a theocracy, I don’t care if you’re a Christian. If you’re a Christian and you’re running for president and you want to make this into a theocracy, I’m not going to support you. I’m not going to advocate you being the president.” He later further defended his comments “I guess it depends on what that faith is. If it’s inconsistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter. But if it fits within the realm of America and consistent with the Constitution, no problem.” His comments have caused reactions from every spectrum of the board and particularly offended and angered Minnesota Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, one of two Muslims in Congress who said, “For Ben Carson, Donald Trump, or any other Republican politician to suggest that someone of any faith is unfit for office is out of touch with who we are as a people,” Ellison said in a statement. “It’s unimaginable that the leading GOP presidential candidates are resorting to fear mongering
to benefit their campaigns, and every American should be disturbed that these national figures are engaging in and tolerating blatant acts of religious bigotry.” Closer to home people also reacted to his comments. Clayton Tice, A student of Pace University said, “Even though his comments go against a founding value, there’s more to the sound bite. Ben Carson explained that he would not vote for an Islamic candidate because of sharia law. Large portions of American Muslims believe that sharia law outweighs and should replace the constitution. There is a greater problem with that belief and the destruction of traditional American culture that has upheld peace and diversity. America deserves only the greatest of leaders and new citizens and not bottom class refugees.” Ben Carson’s comments are hot topic issues in today’s political spectrum, giving him attention from the media and exposure. We reached out to his campaign for a comment and they said “……..” Regardless of where one might stand in the political spectrum it is clear that Ben Carson is beginning to be a contender and should be observed carefully.
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October 8, 2015
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Obama and Putin showdown at the UN
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Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin akwardly shake hands, despite their problems
NOAM SCHULDENREIN Contributor In his recent address to the United Nations on Sept. 28, President Barack Obama spoke in opposition to American adversaries in Russia and Syria. This is because leaders, like Vladimir Putin in Russia, tend to use force to get what they want, whereas Barack Obama is known for his use of diplomacy. Naturally, this leads to a lot of conflict between the global leaders. President Obama took direct aim at Putin and Bashar al-Assad, president of Syria. He said that their actions had broke international rules and brought their countries back in time. In counter argument, Putin blamed the United States for a lot of the conflict and turmoil that is going on in the Middle East. Additionally, he blamed the U.S., and all of its allies, for creating a power vacuum in the Middle East and North Africa and for waging a campaign against Russia using economic sanctions and NATO expansion. He also mocked the U.S. for failing to deploy moderate opposition fighters in Syria to fight ISIS. “Honestly, at this point, I’m not surprised by any of the awful stuff Putin does or says. He’s trying to be some kind of shirtless warrior king and someone needs to tell him to sit down,” said Sonny Stollman, a junior at the University, about the American-Russian debate. This mindset is evident in most of Putin’s criticism of the Obama administration. The two leaders clearly differ on how to approach world conflicts, and as much as Putin might disapprove of Obama’s diplomatic approach to resolving such conflicts, the fact is that Obama has achieved multiple foreign policy wins using the diplomatic approach. Most
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notably, he was generally able to negotiate with Iran regarding the nuclear deal, as well as strengthen ties between the U.S. and Cuba. Despite both of those major diplomatic wins, Obama still faces a lot of pressure in regards to getting further involved in resolving the ISIS situation. That is a large part of the reason why leaders like Putin are criticizing Obama. Obama is planning to meet with Putin to have a face-to-face conversation regarding all of these issues. This will be the first time that Obama and Putin have engaged in a face-to-face discussion since Russia annexed part of Ukraine in 2014. The meeting will involve discussing advancement on ISIS as well as the current situation in Ukraine. “Both Putin and Obama make good points. Obama wants to handle everything in a democratic way, while Putin would rather use force and military means. I mean I think at the end of the day you need both to be successful in conflicts such as these. Of course they are not going to agree since Russia and America stand for two completely different things, but at the end of the day the Ukraine, Syria, and the ISIS crises need to be dealt with and the only way to do that is by working together. ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend’ and for right now Russia and America have to put aside their differences, understand where the other is coming from, and compromise like they are in a relationship, so that the greater enemy is taken care of. After all that is said and done, they can go back to hating each other,” said Carly Gottfried, a senior at the University. Although Obama and Putin will most likely not come to a complete agreement on how to resolve conflict, they should still try to reach a temporary truce on how to handle certain world conflicts.
Woolly mammoth found in Midwest CHASE BALLAS News Editor
The remains of a woolly mammoth were recently found in a field in Chelsea, Michigan, by farmer James Bristle, who was cultivating a soy field. The remains were then examined by researchers at the University of Michigan, who dated it as a male in in his 40s from between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago. Daniel Fisher, curator at the university’s Museum of Paleontology, was
enthusiastic about the find, saying that, “I saw a part of a shoulder blade and there is a certain curve on a certain part of it that goes one way if it’s a mastodom [a related species] and another way if it’s a mammoth. I recognized that and said ‘humm, I think we have a mammoth here’.” While the fossil was incomplete, they also found stone tools. This led Fisher to believe that this particular find is a leftover carcass from a hunt by ancient people, the Paleo-Indians.
The pelvis of the woolly mammoth being lighted from the ground
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THE PACE PRESS
October 8, 2015
OPINION AND EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL BOARD Christian Gomez Editor-in-Cheif Maximiliano Onofre Executive Editor Asley Spencer Advertising Manager Chase Ballas News Editor Sarah Hartzell Arts Editor Natalie Carolina Condrillo Features Editor Deniah Cagara Graphic Design Traci Thomas Social Media
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.
In Memoriam It is with deep sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and colleague, Frank Marchese, passed away at home on Monday, September 21st. Because of his love of academia, his research and his students, he continued to teach until this fall, when he had to go on short term disability. We extend our heartfelt sympathy and prayers to his family. He will be truly missed by his family and all of us in Seidenberg, particularly those in the Computer Science department in New York. Frank joined Pace in 1983. He was Assistant Dean from 1985 – 1987, and then Assistant Chair of the Computer Science Department in New York from 1987 – 1990. He was passionate about his research and his Digital Galley as co-director. We will continue that work in Frank’s memory. It was Frank’s wish not to have any memorial services. His family is honoring this request. We, in Seidenberg, will plan something during the year.
The Pace Press reserves the right to not publish any submitted material, both solicited and unsolicited. All submissions must include the author’s full name and contact information. The Pace Press 41 Park Row, Rm. 902 New York, NY 10038 www.pacepress.org editor@pacepress.org Copyright 2014
DISCLAIMER: These opinions are expressed by contributors (students, faculty, administration and staff) to The Pace Press. These opinions are solely those of the individual writers and do not reflect the opinions of The Pace Press, the members of The Pace Press staff or Pace University. The Pace Press is not responsible and expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind of arising out of use or relevance to any information contained in this section.
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October 8, 2015
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John Oliver: comedian, host, televangelist Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption open for worship
SARAH HARTZELL Arts Editor John Oliver is changing the late-night game. The Daily Show alum— and, briefly, host—is making waves with his solo venture, Last Week Tonight on HBO. Now in its second season, Oliver’s show mimics the style of satires before it, making jokes about politicians and humorizing serious topics, but he has taken the well-known format one step further. Last Week Tonight is decidedly more activist than its predecessors. The main segment of each episode focuses on one current issue, generally one that goes unreported by major news outlets. Not only does Oliver expertly explain the issue from big picture to individual consequence, he takes action in brilliant and hilarious ways. The Last Week Tonight team regularly reaches out to political candidates on relevant issues and reports their (usually unresponsive) findings, as well as recruiting famous faces to appear in segments like a ‘90s-esque sex education video and a more realistic version of cop show Miranda warnings about public defenders, starring familiar TV cops like Regina King, Jeremy Sisto, and Dennis Quaid. In an episode that aired back in April, the topic of the week was child labor in the fashion industry. Oliver’s main issue was the willingness of America consumers to buy remarkably cheap clothing without questioning how it was made or where it came from. To close the episode, Oliver announced that he would be sending suspiciously cheap lunches to the heads of major fashion retailers to dare them to consume a product that they did not know the origins of. Whether or not they actually ate it is irrelevant; the question had already been raised and the hypocrisy brought to the forefront of viewers’ minds. In late August, Oliver began his biggest statement yet, this time against megachurches and the gaping tax loopholes they abuse. He began by sending $20 of “seed money”—money given to the church that will, in theory, be multiplied and returned to you in blessings from God—to televangelist Robert Tilton. Oliver received letters, oils, and pieces of fabric from Tilton’s mailing list, as well as requests for an additional $319 over the course of a few weeks, but he never saw any money returned to him. While his point had been made rather clearly from that alone, Oliver seized the opportunity to really drive it home. Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption opened for worship on August 16, led by Mega Reverend and CEO John Oliver and his “wife” Wanda Jo (played by Rachel Dratch). A legally recognized church, Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption was set up as a tax-exempt religious organization under the Internal Revenue Service’s very broad guidelines. He accepted seed money from viewers/parishioners in return for blessings, a practice that he emphasized was completely legal. Viewers sent in money from all over the world, as well as literal bags of seeds and, well, seed of another kind. In return, Oliver sent donors blessings in the form of letters and outline of his buttocks, mocking Robert Tilton’s gift of an outline of his foot that Oliver received while on his mailing list. With his point made rather powerfully, the Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption closed its doors a month later and all money received was donated to Doctors without Borders. “We have still, miraculously, not broken any laws by promising you untold riches in return for sending us money,” Oliver said in the Sept. 13 episode. “We’re also not closing down because you all kept sending us actual seeds, even though we explicitly told you not to. We’re closing because multiple people sent us sperm through the mail. And when someone sends you jizz through the mail, it’s time to stop whatever you’re doing.” Oliver has succeeded in blurring the line between satire and activism, between television and the real world. While his church was clearly not a real religious institution, it was treated as such by the institutions in power, thereby exposing their own absurdity. It is parody in its truest form: the imitation of an accepted practice taken to an extreme length (though, honestly, Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption, is not much more extreme than real megachurches) to highlight its flaws. It is Jonathan Swift for the 21st century; a cable Modest Proposal, if you will. Praise be, John Oliver. Praise be.
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October 8, 2015
Super Mario Maker is the Sequel we Deserve CHRISTIAN GOMEZ Editor in Chief In the past Mario was championed as the definitive name in platforming. From defining the 2D platform genre all those years ago on the NES to defining and pushing video games forward with 3D platforming in Super Mario 64. Mario games have defined every generation of Nintendo consoles with a definitive iteration of the 3D platformer along side the millions of spin offs that Nintendo have shoehorned Mario and his cast of characters into. The Wii U is the only exception to this rule. With multiple Mario platforming games coming out yearly with still no sign of the true successor to Super Mario Galaxy 2, the last big 3D Mario game. With Super Mario Makers release we are seeing a new direction for Nintendo with its most valuable series, instead of following the lead of Super Mario Bros. 3D World the last big Mario game for the Wii U, Nintendo has gone the route of rom hacks and gives the power to the players with custom made levels from users that will generate the games levels.
More and more games have begun going down this route of user creation creating products that are less games and more platforms for developers and users to create and constantly expand opposed to the typical $60 game that will be updated a few times and eventually forgotten. The idea of creating custom Mario levels isn’t anything new for the gaming community, going on YouTube and simply searching Mario rom hacks brings up millions of videos of hacked Mario games with impossible levels and YouTube personalities attempting to defeat them. It is surprising and refreshing that a major company as big as Nintendo would embrace such an idea of born out of disassembling their game, in this age of triple A games removing features from games its nice to see a major developer give players the power. Simply playing Mario Maker feels refreshing, with a delightful UI and extremely active community from around the world it is astounding how quickly the community has taken the idea of making your own levels and run with it, this is going to be seen as one of Nintendo’s bigger successes with the Wii U as the console continues to sell poorly and under
impress. While this is not a major entry into the Mario franchise on the surface this is arguably the true successor to the Mario series and points to a newer Nintendo, it is going to be interesting to see where the company goes form here with their most beloved franchises.
Review: The Martian
Ridley Scott’s space-disaster is feel-good movie of the fall SARAH HARTZELL Arts Editor Over the course of modern history, few endeavors have captured the hearts and minds of people the world over quite like space exploration. From successes like the Apollo 11 moon landing and the recent discovery of water on Mars, to tragedies like the Challenger explosion and Pluto’s planetary demotion, space programs around the world have reminded us of our common humanity in even the most divisive of times. The Martian, the latest in the space-disaster genre, brings out the best in mankind at a time when it often feels like our best days are behind us. Based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel of the same name, astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is mistakenly left on Mars when his crewmates (led by Jessica Chastain) believe him to be dead during an emergency evacuation. Once NASA figures out he is alive, the world rallies to bring him home alive, despite problem after problem threatening to ruin everything. Weir’s novel garnered critical acclaim and a cult following for Watney’s first-person narration that emphasizes his sense of humor and scientific ingenuity, both of which are vital to keeping him alive in the face of deadly adversity. These qualities are minimized in the film, though, since Watney’s explanations and calculations are not conducive to a visual medium and his banter is underutilized in the adaptation of his logs. While Damon’s performance is honest and grounded, his character becomes far less of a leading man than his literary counterpart. Far more authority is granted to the team at NASA doing its best to rescue Watney, both in regard for his life and to avoid a public relations nightmare. Conflicting forces threaten the mission from all sides, from the NASA director (Jeff Daniels) trying to do preemptive damage control and the improbable logistics of the Jet Propulsion Lab, to the flight controller (Sean Bean) and Mars director (Chiwetel Ejiofor) willing to do whatever it takes to get Watney home. Each
attempt requires more of a miracle than the last and the feeling that all is lost constantly lingers. There is clear inspiration from Apollo-13 in the astronomically high stakes, both in the sky and on the ground. Director Ridley Scott is no stranger to sci-fi (Alien) or sentimentality (Thelma & Louise), and his familiarity with both is evident in the visual style that manages to underscore, not overwhelm, the range and nuance of emotion that is the real heart of the story. First-person narration is not easy to adapt and Scott faces the added difficulty of a character who has no one to converse with. Recent Oscar nominees Gravity and All is Lost managed it to great effect; The Martian is somewhat more mainstream in its methods, opting to recreate Watney’s written logs as video logs in some places and using voiceovers in others. It’s hardly groundbreaking, but Damon nails the confessional-style delivery and the understated technique allows the cinematic beauty of Mars and the narrative beauty of one man’s resolve to shine through. That theme—the resiliency of the human spirit—is the one part of The Martian that truly lives up to its potential. Where the dialogue, scientific detail, and balance of characters are no match for their source material, the emphasis on the miraculous triumphs of humankind is undeniable. The Martian is the kind of movie that gets kids into science, makes adults wish they liked science more, and inspires everyone to just be a little bit better. In an age where film seems obsessed with superheroes, the teams of ordinary people working to save one man—not to mention the man himself—are nothing short of heroes themselves. Donald Glover’s astrodynamicist and Mackenzie Davis’s satellite engineer are underlings-turned-saviors and even the extras comprising the Jet Propulsion Lab and mission control are inspiring in their talents and dedication. In The Martian the results of a tragedy are what we should aspire to in everyday life: a global community that can put aside its differences, its politics, its proselytizing, to do what is undeniably good. Even if it isn’t a man lost in space, tragedy will strike on this planet and how we react to it is what defines us.
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Vulture
Screaming for Scream Queens Horror-comedy brings the thrills and the laughs
AMOREENA CRISPINO Contributor “Scream Queens,” created by Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk, and Ryan Murphy, premiered on Tuesday, Sept. 22 and instantly became a hit. The series is about a fictional college called Wallace University that has been filled with murder around campus because of a sorority pledge gone wrong in the 90’s. Everyone is a suspect in this comedy-murder mystery series. Big names like Ariana Grande, Nick Jonas, Lea Michele, and Emma Roberts are an immediate draw to the show, especially for a young adult audience. The sorority, Kappa Kappa Tau, contains four members including Chanel Oberlin (Chanel #1) played by Emma Roberts, Chanel #2 played by Ariana Grande, Chanel #3 played by Billie Lourd, and Chanel #5 played by Abigail Breslin. There used to be a Chanel #4, but she died from meningitis. In this first episode, the Dean of Students Cathy Munsch, played by the original scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis, tells Chanel #1 that the sorority must accept all students who are interested in pledging to the sorority. The dean does this to her and all the other Chanels to get revenge for Chanel allegedly killing a previous Kappa Kappa Tau leader with a spray tan machine filled with hydrochloric acid. Clearly, there are many misconceptions and scapegoats in this hilariously horrific show. Other members of this diverse cast include Nick Jonas, who plays a gay, golfing student named Boone who wishes to eventually join the bitch-filled sorority, and Glen Powell, who plays Chad, Chanel’s on-again-off-again boyfriend. Keke Palmer and
to believe something different and left a real cliff-hanger for next week’s episode. “Scream Queens” has already become a hit series only after one episode. It is a combination of Murphy’s other popular shows “American Horror Story”and “Glee,” and the mixture of comedy and creep fit perfectly into this quirky TV show. Although there are many young actors involved in this series, it can appeal to people of all ages, thanks to Jamie Lee Curtis’s nods to old-school horror, and could be a great show to bond families (maybe not the young ones. Put those kids in bed!). After the premiere ended, freshman Averi Thummel turned to her roommates and asked, “Can this be our show we watch every week?” And every week is sure to offer a new batch of WTF moments and livetweetworthy shockers that will have everyone asking the next day, “Did you see ‘Scream Queens’ last night?!” Be sure to tune in Tuesdays at 8pm for more murder, comedy, and watercooler fodder to stay in the ever changing pop culture loop.
After seeing the end of the episode, everyone on my floor ran out of the TV lounge and literally started screaming. -Victoria Eaton Skyler Samuels play roommates Zayday and Grace, who wish to be in the sorority, but are very skeptical about the Chanels and all the murders occurring. Anotherfamous actress involved in the show is Lea Michele, who plays a comical, accidentprone nerd named Hester who later asks the Chanels if she may call them “mom”. The series premiere was filled with murder, including Chanel’s maid and a very well-known character, who shall not be named for the sake of spoilers. Not many people know who the murderer is, but a select few characters and the audience see the killer portrayed as someone in a devil costume, dubbed the Red Devil by watchers on social media. The masked murdered seems to have interesting methods of leaving his mark, such as the phrase “sluts will die” written on the wall in blood. At the very end of the two-hour premiere, viewers found out some very shocking information and were met with an unexpected surprise that left everyone speechless. Freshman Victoria Eaton said, “After seeing the end of the episode, everyone on my floor ran out of the TV lounge and literally started screaming.” This scene led viewers
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Sabado Gigante says ‘adios’ MAX ONOFRE Executive Editor Sabado Gigante, a staple of every Hispanic Saturday evenings for 53 years, has just left the air after its last show on Sept. 19 and along with it, we lose the nightly host, Mario Kreutzerger, commonly known as Don Francisco, who had appeared as the host on the show for every episode except for one in 1974 after his mother’s death. The show began in Chile, in 1962, as Kreutzberger was inspired by television shows he’d seen in Argentina and he United States. However, he wanted something different; “My idea was mixing all the programs that I saw into one program.” The original show aired on Sunday’s, “Show Dominical” and then was moved to Saturdays and renamed to it’s now famous “Sabado Gigante.” Gaining millions of followers, and being the longest running show in history worldwide, the show entered the Guiness World Records. Since it’s beginning, the show contained a variety of segments, from singing contests to beauty pageants to heartfelt human interest stories. Students at the university felt the end of era come for them with the last episode. Rebecca Cuebas, Senior, said that the last episode made her feel, “like my childhood is really over now.” Melissa Vargas, alum, felt emotional about the experience as well. “I will miss Sabado Gigante so much! I really started watching since I was a little girl with my grandma. Sabado Gigante was on every Saturday.” She repeats the sentiments of many as she recalls why it was such a special show for Hispanic and Latino
families, “It was a fun family show and it really made us Latinos feel close to home.” Kreutzberger recalled his night before the last show in an interview with the New York Times. “I didn’t sleep Friday night. Not one minute. I had a dental emergency…..Everything was closed because it was Saturday but [my doctor] sent me to a specialist. And I said to the specialist: “I need to end my show after 53 years. What can you do for me?” He had an emergency surgery, small, but it left his cheeks swollen and he prepared himself by taking hot salt water and ice and celebrating with the cast and crew. One of his most emotional moments during that time was his talk with his orchestra director, who had been on the show with him for 47 years. He’d broken his hand a few days prior, but asked to play the last show with him with only one hand. Breaking his supersticious routine, Kreutzberger for the first time ever went out through a different door. He’d always gone into the studio trhough one door and left through that same door, but the night of the final show, he says “I went out through a different door. That was the first time I had ever been through that door.” He celebrated with the cast again after the show but went home after, to a home full of visiting family. “We built out family during those television years,” he said, “My older son is now 52, my daughter 50; my other son is 48.” Nevertheless, Kreutzberger does not plan to stop working, as he will continue to host his telethon for underprivileged children and other work with Univision. His dream however, is “to travel to more places for pleasure…something I did not do”
Don Francisco, the charsimatic host, during the 50th anniversary New York Post
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PopPride
Lady Gaga video addresses sexual assault ANNA YESILEVSKIY Contributor
Lady Gaga’s new song, “Till it happens to you,” -which she co-wrote with Diane Warren for an upcoming documentary called “The Hunting Ground,”- debuted a few weeks ago, depicting the reality of sexual assault across university campuses. The issue is important to the pop singer as she has recently revealed that a music producer sexually assaulted her when she was nineteen years old. In an interview, Gaga commented on her assault and stating, “It didn’t affect me as much right after as it did about four or five years later. It hit me so hard. I was so traumatized by it that I was like, ‘Just keep going,’ because I just had to get out of there.” The music video begins up with a warning that for the audience, as it will take on the graphic nature of the assaults. It highlights the various college settings in which victims become another part of this volatile culture. Statistics of sexual violence incidents are given at the end of the video and victims of sexual assault are prompted to call a help hotline. Lady Gaga plans to donate her earnings from the music video to charities that help survivors of sexual assault. University students were questioned on their
thoughts of Gaga’s new song and the accompanying video. Sophomore Alexandra Arnaiz said, “I think that someone as iconic as Lady Gaga taking action on something as horrific as sexual assault is inspiring....I watched the video and thought that it was graphic but necessarily realistic. People will only pay attention if you make them. This marks the beginning of an even bigger discussion on the problem,” when asked on what she thought of the video and if she believes that the video captures the harsh realities of sexual assault. “It’s wonderful that she takes time out of her life to empower others. It’s remarkable and I’m sure many people appreciate it, because I do,” Arnaiz commented on Gaga donating to charities for sexual assault victims. Another University student who gave her opinion on Gaga’s new song and video was freshman Jo Farshi. She believes it was a good idea to create the song and the video because they will help raise awareness about sexual assault. She added, “If more people are aware of the problem, changes can be made.” Unlike Arnaiz, Farshi did not watch the video but has a similar opinion on the importance of the video showing us a realistic portrayal of sexual as-
sault as she said, “I believe that it is important to show the realities of sexual assaults because it is an everyday problem that will only worsen if not enough people are aware.” Regarding Gaga donating earnings to charities that help sexual assault victims, Farshi said, “I think that it will benefit both the survivors and the cause. Unlike other celebrities, Lady Gaga is showing that she truly cares about the victims.” Junior Tyler Hurvul said that he had neither heard the song nor seen the video but had a similar opinion on the production of both the song and the video as the aforementioned students. He said, “I think it is a good idea for celebrities to bring up controversial ideas like rape around college campuses.” As for the donations, Hurvul said, “I think it’s great that the proceeds will go toward something that will help them rather than go into Gaga’s pocket.” He is certain that this video will raise a lot of money, which in turn will be beneficial to all of these charities. Though Lady Gaga’s new song and music video have helped portray the realities surrounding sexual assault, it is still a huge issue that has to be more thoroughly discussed and examined.
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Brooklyn has fleas KATRINA ALONSO Contributor As the lazy, warm days of summer are replaced with the busier, chillier days of fall, residents of the city begin to crave the nostalgic taste of home. Whether they dream about their mother’s homemade pecan pie and apple cider or days spent antiquing when they were younger, people remember and cherish the days of the past. At the Williamsburg Flea Market, where tables are lined with vintage cameras, old pictures, and classic finds, you can get a little taste of history and enjoy a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline. From the Fulton Street station, you can take the 6 train up to 14th street - Union Square and transfer to the L and when you resurface above ground at the Bedford Ave station in Williamsburg, you’ll find yourself in another world. The walk from the station to the market—a quick eight blocks—was in itself an experience. The streets and shops of Williamsburg lent less to a metropolitan atmosphere, but more to chic suburbia; here, small businesses ruled the town. There were coffee shops, tea shops, indie clothing brands, and so much more. Even to an outsider, Williamsburg could feel welcoming and homey. The view upon arrival at the market is breathtaking. Just beyond the roofs of the tents that were set up in the open-air space, you could see the East River and, beyond that, the skyline of midtown Manhattan with the Empire State Building glinting proudly in the afternoon sun. A fence enclosed the sale space and right at the entrance sat an ATM machine where a line was quickly
forming. Though some vendors might take your credit cards, most only accept cash. This is probably for the best; it will be easier to manage your budget if you can physically feel how light your wallet is getting. Once you enter the flea market, the sheer number of stalls and people can be overwhelming. According to their website, Williamsburg Flea boasts 150 vendors who set up at a lot near the water every Sunday during the summer and the early weeks of fall. The variety of products for sale at the market is absolutely astounding. Katrina Alonso There were stalls dedicated to the food stalls were all set up and a row of picnic wooden furniture and vintage clothes. Others sold customizable tote bags and t-shirts with tables equipped with sun umbrellas to block the heat cute, quirky designs on them. Some had jewellery from lined up together next to the stalls. Food vendors 70 years ago and jewellery that could be engraved for included Dough, Brooklyn Soda Works, The Red you by hand right in front of you. Vendors sold Persian Hook Lobster Pound, and other market favorites rugs, hand-woven mats, carved wooden vanities, and whose signature offerings were sure crowd-pleasers. Whether you’re on a tight budget or have money more. There were even stalls dedicated exclusively to burn, you’ll definitely find something at Williamsburg to books and records and some with whole shelves reserved specifically for teaching material from the Flea to tickle your fancy. Even if you’re not out to spend 1950s. It was amazing how the old and the new melded anything, walking around, checking out the merchandise so beautifully under the white canvas tents of the market. and daydreaming about a life in which you could afford to After walking around all day, exploring the buy a 50-year-old armoire is still considered a good way shelves, trying out every vintage camera you could to spend an afternoon. If you miss it, don’t forget to check find, there was a spot on one side of the market where out brooklynflea.com to learn more about their other
Pope Francis vists major US cities
www.theguardian.com NICOLE ANNA PICINICH Contributor Last week was a very eventful week, not only for Catholics but for the world. Pope Francis embarked on his journey to the United States from his home in Vatican City. This was Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States, but the fourth time a Pope has met with a United States President and the United Nations. Pope Francis left on Tuesday, September 22nd and his first stop in his United States tour was Washington D.C. He landed at Joint Base Andrews and was welcomed by President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, their two daughters, Sasha and Malia, and many other public officials. Large crowds of children and young adults cheered the Pope on as he stepped on to American
soil. Pope Francis left the airport base in a small black Fiat which became his motorcade for the rest of his trip. During the next two days, Pope Francis had a personal meeting with President Obama, a Papal parade along the Ellipse and the National Mall, midday prayer with some United States bishops, and a Canonization Mass, but most importantly he became the first Pope to address a joint session in Congress. He also visited the Catholic Charities before he left for New York at 4:00pm on Thursday, September 24th. The Pope arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport at about 5:00 in the afternoon and shortly after, at 6:45pm, he had his first evening prayer service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Rows of people were lined up along 5th Avenue just to get a glimpse of the pope. While in New York, the Pope resided at the Papal Nuncio, a 5 story townhouse on the
Upper East Side. Friday, September 25th was a very busy day for the Pope, as he started his day by addressing the United Nations General Assembly at 8:30am, followed by a multi-religious service at 11:30am at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero. In the afternoon, he visited a Catholic school in East Harlem and then had a Papal motorcade through Central Park on his way to Madison Square Garden where he said mass to more than 20,000 people. On Saturday, September 26th the Pope boarded a helicopter to go to John F. Kennedy Airport where a plane awaited to fly him to Philadelphia. While on the helicopter he asked for a detour to fly over the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. He was very moved by the Statue of Liberty because one of his main papacy issues are immigrants, along with climate change, economic equality and religious freedom. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who joined Pope Francis on this flight out of Manhattan, told reporters, “You could see he was very, very moved. And he said ‘You know, Buenos Aires was a city of immigrants too.’” After arriving in Philadelphia, and on his way to the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Pope stopped his motorcade to get out and kiss a child he saw. While in Philadelphia, the Pope visited Independence Mall and the the Festival of Families at Benjamin Franklin Parkway. At the Festival of Families, Pope Francis stressed the importance of families and was later serenaded by Italian singer, Andrea Bocelli as well as Aretha Franklin. On his last day in the United States, Pope Francis had a a papal meeting with Bishops at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and was the first Pope to visit a United States Correctional Facility. He then celebrated his final mass in the United States for nearly a million people at the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families Festival in the city of brotherly love. At the end of his six day journey, Pope Francis boarded the American Airlines plane filled with hope and gratitude. He gave his last wave to the American people through the airplane window, but not before he thanked everyone in his final speech and asked everyone to re-
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Roosevelt Island Deniah Cagara
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Broadway Station in Astoria Deniah Cagara news.siteintelgroup.com
Non-touristy New York City attractions DENIAH CAGARA Lead Graphic Designer Places in New York City like Times Square and Grand Central Station are pretty nice places to visit in NYC, but the tourists could be as bothersome as the overpriced souvenirs and food. Luckily, there are places outside of Midtown that is not crowded by rude tourists and $5 bland hotdogs that are still part of NYC, and show what NYC really is. Flushing Meadows, Queens NY Flushing, aka “the Valley of the Ashes” for all the Great Gatsby fans, is similar to Chinatown only with much more space to walk around. Being the last stop on the scenic commute off the 7 train, you can seriously get everything and anything done in Flushing within walking distance. You could get your hair done, and then go shopping, then get some groceries done, and then get a bubble tea or even a beer all within walking distance. Stores, restaurants, and everything in between in Flushing are also very affordable, making it pretty hard for someone to get bored and broke there at the end of the day. The night scene is as
Tamashii Ramen Deniah Cagara
entertaining as the day scene in Flushing, really affordable Karaoke Bars and good eats. Flushing is overall the best place to go for those on a budget and want to avoid tourist crowds, while still having fun. Keep in mind: The intersection of Roosevelt Av. and Main St. is a big MTA transportation hot spot having the 7 train, LIRR, and many bus stops. So don’t stay around that intesection for too long. Roosevelt Island, Queens NY A tiny island between Manhattan and Queens that is perfect for those who want to get out of Manhattan and the annoying tourist crowds, but not really get out of NYC. Although Roosevelt Island may have amazing (and expensive) condos and great restaurants, this tiny land is home to the late Franklin Roosevelt, hence the name “Roosevelt Island.” In a beautiful park at the very end of the island lies Roosevelt’s home. What’s even cooler is that underneath the park is a huge tunnel system stretching from the park to Cornell Tech Campus building (originally the Coler-Goldwater hospital) due to Roosevelt keeping his polio a secret. Unfortunately the tunnels are off limit to the public, but the entrance to the tunnel
system is still up for display at the park across from Roosevelt’s home. There are two ways to get to Roosevelt Island: the scenic route (the tram off of Lexington) or the not-scenic-route (the F train). Astoria, Queens NY Astoria is bigger than Roosevelt Island and Flushing, making it twice more things to do at the edge of Queens. Home to Ditmars Blvd., Broadway, and Steinway St., Astoria is home to most locals and even some college students from other NYC schools (specifically from the CUNY schools), making it almost difficult for someone to bump into tourists or even a colleague from school (like a university student, for instance). Want to hit some bars? Steinway is a strip full of bars (like Studio Square Bar), lounges (lots of hookah lounges), and restaurants that are wellsuited for the night life. Want to just go to dinner with a few friends? Broadway has a lot of great restaurants and food trucks— like Tamashii Ramen, Aliada, or the King of Falafel & Shawarma stand—that will leave an impressing mark on your friends and will not disappoint any foodie. Got a sweet-tooth and want to go somewhere low-key? Ditmars Blvd. has a Martha’s
Bakery that will not disappoint any sweet craving one may have. Tired of the MoMA and the Met? Museum of The Moving Image on 35th St. (right off the Steinway stop on the M or R) is a great place for film and art enthusiasts. You don’t really need an uber to get to Astoria, since the N,Q, R, and M trains run throughout Astoria. Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum on E 91st If you’re an aspiring artist in a creative rut and the MoMA, the Met, or the Museum of The Moving Image didn’t fulfill that creative craving, then the Cooper Hewitt is the perfect place to go. Smacked between Carnegie Hall and Central Park, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum is for people who want to learn more about how design really works. The Cooper Hewitt is usually not swarmed by tourist mobs, so it’s the best place to find some design inspiration. Most of the exhibits are interactive, making it a very cool, fun, and educational experience. The Cooper Hewitt is cheaper than the MoMA, only paying $16 online, $18 at door. With a student I.D., however, it’s $7 online, $9 at door.
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Alpha Beta Who? AMOREENA CRISPINO Contributor The words “let’s go to a frat party” will probably never be heard on campus here at the university. This is because it is thought of as unnecessary to many students. If future college students are looking for a huge Greek life social scene, they should probably find a school down south. There are only a couple sororities and fraternities here at Pace, but that doesn’t mean they’re not important either. Sigma Delta Tau, Kappa Delta, and Kappa Sigma are all examples of Greek organizations at Pace University at the New York City campus. There are a couple of more, but a bigger selection would be found at the Pleasantville Campus. Many of the Greek life organizations do a lot of volunteer work and hold events for students involved, as well as some nonGreek events. One really good aspect about the Greek life at the university is that hazing is prohibited. There are New York laws and university policies pertaining to it, so recruitment is a stress-free process. The way it works around here is if students are interested in joining Greek life, they will know about all the events and information pertaining to it, but if some students are not that adamant about joining, they probably won’t even know that sororities and fraternities even exist. Since this school isn’t exactly a traditional college, this system works out quite well. People don’t need to be involved if they don’t want to be. Junior and Resident Assistant Julia Cattani commented on this and said, “My friends and I were actually thinking about starting our own sorority, but it never really happened. It’s nice
because if you want to join, you have access to all the information, but if you want nothing to do with it, you don’t have to know anything”. Students to who go to bigger schools have a huge selection of different Greek life organizations with several frat houses that line the streets, and that’s honestly what they expect. Many state schools that don’t have towns or cities near them basically need Greek life to have any sense of a social scene or community. But, in the case here, Greek life isn’t a dire necessity and we don’t need a large forced social scene. The social scene is New York City. On the topic of fraternities, the typical college lifestyle and movies portray them as jerks who party all the time. Considering we’re not the type of school that allows such behavior, the fraternities are full of well-educated guys who all have common beliefs and want to make them known to our school community. Freshman Connor Magee says, “Personally I never thought about being apart of one, but they’re a great way to meet new people and honestly one of the biggest perks of being apart of one is the connections. You get a lot of life experience while in a frat and since getting a job is heavily based on connections and the people you know, Greek life is a great way to get yourself out into the world”. Freshman Averi Thummel adds, “If I went to any other school, I would probably be in a sorority, but since there are so many things to do in the city, there isn’t really a reason for me to join since I already have friends and so many things to do around me”. Many students at the university believe the same thing and are happy with whatever they choose, Greek life or not.
Cafeteria improves student experience University invests in new dining features
ASIA LETLOW Staff Writer From the start of the school year, university students saw a significant change in the services offered by the dining hall, Café 101. Various extensions and amendments have been made to suit the needs of its patrons. “We make adjustments to stations and programs every semester in order to keep the café up to date with current dining trends as well as to improve our service level to the [university] community,” stated Senior Director of Dining Services, John Olsson. Olsson collaborates with the Auxiliary services team and the Dining Advisory Board to impose changes he and others believe will positively impact the experience of the patrons in the cafeteria. Such adjustments have clearly made an impact. The newly established Wall Mall is located on the west wing of the building. The stand vends snacks and common household items, from toothpaste to Tide, for students migrating from class to class. This timely option allows students to obtain basic necessities without having to wait in the extensive line in the dining hall that often occurs during common hour. “It wasn’t crowded, and it was very efficient. I just picked something up and I went to class,” said University sophomore student Koula Von Hoppe, recalling her experience. Cafeteria additions students have also enjoyed prior to this year include the Birnmbaum Setters Lounge, and the Fish Bowl, a 24-hour space for studying and socialization between peers. The Collaborative Learning Room, located on the second floor of the library, also allows for students to have access to various technology and media, providing services such as laptop and camera rentals. Some students also agree that while changes have been made, organization and layout have also improved. However, despite the efforts made to reduce the wait time
during busy hours, management of traffic still needs to be reformed. A potential solution to this, one student proposed, would be to increase staff in popular areas such as the smoothie bar, Wicked Spoon Yogurt. “I really wish that they had another person in the smoothie bar, just because the line is always so big. It was nicely established at first…I haven’t had a single smoothie since I came, just because of the line. It’s always packed, and it’s always slow,” said university sophomore Stephanie Orta. Among the new additions, several establishments cater to the specific needs and restrictions to diets, such as gluten-free and allergy-sensitive items. These can be found in various sub-sections of Café 101. With all these changes, one stands out the most; the university is now a “Coca-Cola” school, and with that, several products affiliated with Pepsi have been replaced with ones that are affiliated with the brand. This switch has students adjusting to new products and potentially finding new favorite items in the current selections made available to them. Those who are fans of the much-loved beverages associated with the company have expressed varying degrees of disappointment to see the products they enjoyed switched out for others. All the changes implemented have the students in mind, with the idea that a changing dining scene will facilitate a better experience for students, socially, nutritionally, and otherwise.
“We make adjustments to stations and promgrams every semseter in order to keep the cafe up to date with current dining trends as well as to improve our service level to the unviersity community.” -John Olsson,
Senior Director of Dining Services
October 8, 2015
GREAT WALLS OF NEW YORK NATALIE CAROLINA CONDRILLO Features Editor DUMBO Walls by Matt W. Moore The Legacy of Mother Cabrini: Story of Immigration by Yana Dimitrova Human Support by Kit Sailer Informed, Empowered by Katie Yamasaki
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Lena Dunham interviews Hillary Clinton The issues surrounding privilege and white feminism ASIA LETLOW Staff Writer Lena Dunham, most commonly associated with her HBO television show “Girls” and her critically reviewed book, “Not That Kind of Girl,” interviewed First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. A preview of the interview made its way through various social media websites, and the full version made its way to Lenny’s Letters, an online newsletter founded by Dunham and Jenni Konner that premiered on Wednesday, September 29th. The site title is presumably a fusion of Dunham and Konner’s names. Dunham opens the interview by asking Clinton if she is a feminist, to which Clinton responds emphatically, “Absolutely.” In response, Dunham contorts in joy as though she is responding to an enticing story told by her grandmother (complete with a lollipop). Clinton defined feminism as the belief that, “Women have the same rights as men, politically, culturally, socially, economically. ” She questioned to Dunham why so many young women are negligent to claim the title, as it does not indicate alienation, but entitlement to basic human rights that ought to be bestowed upon all. Other interview highlights included Clinton’s pre-occupational life, how she met her husband, and the expectations of her life that she was supposed to fulfill but overrode to achieve her life goals. On a more broad spectrum, Dunham asked Clinton how she felt about the recent death of Sandra Bland, a woman who was stopped by police this July and arrested for a failure to utilize her turn signal during a lane change in Texas. Bland was found dead in her jail cell three days later- mixed speculations continue to circulate on the legitimate cause of her death. “We’ve made progress, but not nearly enough,” mused Clinton. “And we can’t continue to make progress if we’re not even honest with ourselves that we still have problems,” Clinton noted to Dunham, in regards to the tension between persons of color and the police force.
Through the email-driven site, the preview is the only available footage of the interview Dunham conducted with Clinton. The full interview was solely a transcription of their exchange, which is accessible through signing up for the newsletter. Dunham collaborated with several persons and organizations besides Konner; among notable organizations is Planned Parenthood. The site focuses on issues of interest among the demographic of women in their late teens and early twenties. Fashion, health, and advice are frequent highlights in the newsletter. Though both Dunham, Clinton, et al appear very enthused about feminism in a generalized sense, some express that there are several missing points to their mission, namely, the “brand” of feminism that is being discussed. The seemingly low degree of intersectionality Dunham is concerned with when it comes to feminism does not have everyone’s vote. “She’s never done a good job representing feminism. She has no idea how women of color feel,” stated junior Rachel Ndubuisi. Ndubuisi concurred that, though Dunham is a feminist, she and Clinton are both in positions of power that make them unrelated to a majority of middle-class women, especially those who are non-white. “We struggle every day just to have [their] humanity. We don’t give a [sic] about your armpit hair,” she concluded, referencing the Tumblr- and Twitter-famous media gauges women have used to show their support for equality of the sexes. “They already have the privilege,” said junior Jonelle James, who noted that Clinton was predisposed to a well-suited lifestyle that equipped her with the advantages to advance her career without the burdens of racial bias or struggle. While the critiques of Dunham run the gamut of feminism from eccentric to bland, it seems undeniable that she is a notable figure in the growing, ever-changing concept, allowing a plentiful audience to reinvent and reclaim feminism in a modern world with the support of several notable people.