Oct. 3, 2017 Issue | Volume 69, Issue 1

the pace press

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October 3, 2017

Deconstructing the Master Plan The history of One Pace Plaza and its upgrades BROOKE LEROUX Contributor Every student at the University has noticed the massive amounts of construction occurring throughout One Pace Plaza, shutting down much of the west side of the building.

But what you may not know is exactly why this construction is actually happening, and to understand that, we must return to our University’s inception.

After its founding in 1906, the University (then called Pace College) was only one classroom its founders rented out of the New York Tribune Building, and had only 13 students. By 1966, the college had grown exponentially, and successfully purchased and demolished the Tribune Building as a part of the 1964 Brooklyn Bridge Southwest Urban Renewal Plan, to make room for what would become One Pace Plawza.

During this time period, New York City was a much different place than we know today. The 1960s were a time of upheaval for the city, featuring riots (some of the most famous being the Harlem and Stonewall riots), blackouts throughout the entire city, and an economic downturn caused by population migration to the suburbs.

Lower Manhattan in particular was in the process of two forms of rebuilding: The South Street Seaport District, and the World Trade Center, with the soon-to-be University caught in the middle. The Seaport District, famous for its historic architecture,

cobblestone streets, and some of the oldest buildings in the city, had recently become a museum and ,some sought to continue the historic precedent its development had set. On the other side the city was developing the World Trade Center complex, in an effort to revitalize Lower Manhattan and the Financial district, bringing it into the modern age.

In the end, the architects of One Pace Plaza chose a style of architecture popular for the expanding universities of the time time called Brutalism, characterized by its fortresslike appearance and exposed concrete. The building was originally designed to block out distractions from the outside city- hence the lack of windows in many classrooms- as well as to minimize the effects of any riots, especially popular on college campuses during the 1960s and 70s.

2017, however, is a different time; One Pace Plaza’s brutalist facade is dated and concrete does not hold up well in damp climates, leading to water streaks and stains. The new One Pace Plaza will feature larger staircases (to help the all-too-familiar common hour rush) as well as a modernized entrance to change the imposing structure into a more welcoming student center. The redesigned building will feature glass walls and windows to highlight its location, rather than attempting to block it out, while expanding its facilities and making them easier to navigate. This will make the space more useful to everyone here at the University.

Top and left: Images depicting the future of One Pace Plaza Pace University

How the construction affects the student body KRISTINE LUNA Contributor A new school year calls for new changes for both students and the University’s own infrastructure. As of this summer, the University is undergoing construction as part of the school’s “Master Plan” to change the campus’s giant concrete shell appearance--symbolizing a defense to protect students from the gritty NYC streets of the 1960s--to a modern college campus that’s incorporated with the city’s busy and ever-changing lifestyle. The $200 million project is expected to be completed in late 2018 with the newest additions of glass walls facing Spruce and Frankfort street, collaborative learning centers, tech bars, an art gallery, and modern decor to give the University a refreshing and welcoming ambiance to students, faculty, and visitors.

While large parts of the campus are under renovation, students and faculty must adapt to these giant changes until we get a taste of our new campus. With the campus main entrance, half of the first and B level floor, and the first and second floor of 41 Park Row out of commission, students and faculty are lost trying to navigate around construction.

Affected areas are important offices from One Pace Plaza, such as Financial Aid and Office of Student Assistance (relocated to the 5th floor of 156 Williams Street), the ID Office (currently at B level before moving to 156 Williams Street), and the Welcome Center (relocated to 1st floor of 153 Williams Street). As for 41 Park Row, the Barnes &

Noble Campus store has moved to 157 Williams Street, the Center for Academic Excellence and the Tutoring Center relocated to the 17th floor of 163 William Street, and the University Health Care Center moved to the 6th floor of Maria’s Tower.

In addition to the moving of important offices, students are left without spaces such as the Student Union, study rooms on B-Level, the front entrance, the small lounging areas by the West side elevators on the 1st floor, and even the Dyson Student Lounge on the 3rd floor has gone missing.“Whether you’re a freshman or senior this year, everyone feels like a stranger here,” expresses Catherine Salazar, who will be spending her final year with the university under construction. “It really is an inconvenience for me and other students, especially for seniors who won’t even get to experience the new renovation.”

Many students, like Catherine, must also deal with limited access to elevators on the West Side, which causes heavy traffic in staircases, battles for elevator space, and lots of floor transfers. Students still have the option to get use the East or West elevators to get to their classes, but be sure you have extra time before your class begins since with limited elevators and other students rushing to class, this results in long elevator wait times. One tip is to enter the elevator on the lowest floor to guarantee you get a spot in the elevator. Also, remember to always take the elevator up/down to the third floor and transfer to your designated elevator if you’re coming from the East wing. If all else

fails and you prefer not stress over elevators, stairs are the best option and will be for the remainder of this semester, whether you like it or not.

So how are students dealing with these new changes?

Compared to last year, many students have migrated to the Birnbaum Library’s second floor as the new hangout place as furniture from the Student Union has also been relocated to accommodate changes. However, space fills up quickly and the library becomes less of an ideal place to study. Others have considered the Setter Lounge and Fishbowl to dine and work. The courtyard is also open to meet up with friends but space is also becoming limited as well as construction progresses. Students don’t have much luck in finding ideal lounges on One Pace Plaza but this gives them the opportunity to explore around campus for other hangout areas such as the benches outside the Beekman dorm for a nice conversation with friends while enjoying the happenings of the city, or meet up at the Seidenberg Lounge on 163 William Street complete with board games for students to play during their free time, or use the newly renovated SDACA Lounge on the 8th floor of 41 Park Row complete with TVs, lounges, and private study rooms (given there aren’t meetings going on).

These inconvieniences and considerations associated with the University’s renovations have many hoping the end results of the Master Plan will be as rewarding as the administration has promised.

NEWS

October 3, 2017

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In wake of shooter scare, University aims to learn from mistakes CHRISTIAN HALSTEAD News Editor The University’s active shooter scare which took place on Thursday, Sept. 14, struck a nerve throughout the community including students, staff, faculty, and parents. Just three days after the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks just blocks away, less than a year out from the Chelsea bombings that put area Fashion Institute of Technology students directly at risk, and amidst the recent escalation of global geopolitical tensions, it took only moments for an outbreak of misinformation and fear to erupt throughout campus. The now-infamous bullet belt, which prompted the slew of misinformation, spotted at the ankles of a student in the bathroom on the sixth floor of One Pace Plaza, has since been called a “crime of fashion” by more news outlets than one, and for good reason.

While most are reluctant to place blame on either the bullet belt’s mistaken reporter or the belt’s owner, a sense of disappointment and concerns for safety, particularly in the case of a real active shooter scenario, has gripped the University community.

Sophomore University student Maria Cohen expressed this disillusionment for the scare’s handling and hopes for improvement in the future; “The miscommunicated incident that happened on Pace Campus, was very frightening.

In a New York City setting, I never would expect to think there was a shooter on our campus. You would assume that a school especially one in such a metropolitan area would be prepared for the unexpected but Pace was not. What was more alarming was what i found out afterword, which were the mistakes made in the delayed warnings given by our security team. I’m just hopeful that the security on our campus is better than their communication.”

Concerns that the University would not be able to handle, nor inform the study body of, an actual active shooter are common, and valid. Security was brought to the scene of the alleged shooter to examine the situation immediately upon it being reported. The concerns were quickly dismissed when the bullets were revealed to be a part of a fashion accessory, not actual ammunition.

Security’s attempts to quell fears were not enough to prevent numerous individuals from calling law enforcement to report what they believed to be an active shooter on campus after seeing posts on social media shared by the initial reporters, which had not been removed despite being disproven. Within minutes the New York Police Department was on the scene prompting a poorly communicated and half-hearted evacuation due to the lack of effective communications being diffused throughout campus. Students, staff, and faculty were left to the devices of rumors, social media, and hearsay, leading effectively to a mass game of telephone; each time the shooter rumors were passed along, the message was distorted further going first from potential shooter, to active shooter, to even talk of a bomb on campus. The incident was a massive blunder with few to blame.

The University community however has expressed the need to implement measures to prevent hysteria like this from occurring in the future, and making sure all would be handled properly in the case of a real emergency.

The University administration recognized their shortcomings in foresight and communication immediately.

University President Marvin Krislov released the day after the shooting highlighted this humility; “I understand the very real concerns that members of the Pace community have expressed as a result of the false alarm at One Pace Plaza yesterday. Particularly in these times, we recognize that yesterday’s events caused

real fear and anxiety.” University Media Relations, within hours of the incident, released a statement explaining, “We are also reviewing new communications systems to assist with timely and efficient communications to the entire community and will make upgrades as necessary.”

This particular plan which the University intends to implement to improve communications and emergency response efficacy was released in a statement to all University emails on Sept. 29, just over two weeks from the shooter scare.

The Pace Press had the opportunity to speak directly with Nichole Thompson, associate vice president for administration and technology, who is leading the effort to implement these improvements.

The emergency communications system is being significantly reevaluated and reworked according to Thompson.

She explained, “A major goal of the proposed security plan is to build a multilayer communications plan addressing key staff, new communication channels and executing messages that are clear, concise, and directional. We are evaluating new emergency alert tools that are mobile and leverage social media. Most immediately, we are utilizing additional functionality within our current alert system to reach the community faster.

We have also expanded and trained the number of administrators that have access to send alerts to the community. “ The same effort is being put into the preparation of emergency safety measures were an actual threat to appear on campus.

Thompson spoke on this too, as she wrote, “We are restructuring the security team and updating our safety, communications, and emergency education protocols. The University will undergo a comprehensive risk review of all campus locations to identify measures Pace should consider to improve our responses to emergency situations (including incidents that ultimately turn out to pose no threat to

the campus community). [...] In the short term, we will also update the performance measures for our contract guards and solicit bids from other security guard companies to compare their proposals with the services provided by our current security contractor. ” University President Krislov and associated administrative cabinet members have been reviewing and approving/advising in these matters, working closely with those involved. The President’s office released the following statement to the Pace Press on the matter; “We learned what did not work well and we learned how the community was receiving information, which was largely through social media. Our plans going forward include a multitude of ways to communicate vital information to the entire community quickly and efficiently.” The statement went on to emphasize the University administration’s “deep commitment to the safety of every member of the community.”

The University intends to create a safety advisory committee on campus.

Its prime goal will be to, “improve engagement in safety activities and training, share knowledge and communications and serve as a think tank.

Staff, faculty and student representatives will be asked to serve on the committee,” according to Thompson.

These changes, according the the University, will be implemented as soon as possible in regards to short term goals, and over the course of the next year in regards to the more involved overhauls of emergency communications and technological systems. While the events on campus involving the active shooter scare on Sept. 14 triggered terror and made headlines, administration and students alike are hopeful that the University community can learn from its mistakes and prevent any threats of fear or danger like this from ever happening again in the future.

Puerto Rico in darkness after Hurricane Maria CHASE BALLAS Editor-in-Chief The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season has been seen as one of the most powerful and destructive hurricane seasons ever witnessed. While the season continues officially until the end of November, a series of three storms hitting at major intensity (meaning a Category 3 hurricane or higher) has led to high costs and deaths; all three storms are projected to be in the top five most costly storms, and the season as a whole is projected to be the most expensive hurricane season ever in the Atlantic basin. Previously, Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 in the Houston area of Texas, costing an estimate $190 billion, which is more than the combined cost of Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Sandy in 2012, and puts it as the most expensive natural disaster in United States history. Hurricane Irma is set to cost an estimated $60 billion after rampaging through Florida. Now, Hurricane Maria has devastated Puerto Rico in a way never seen

before in the island’s history.

Prior to this, Puerto Rico was already in serious economic troubles. “[Puerto Rico] was acquired by the U.S. after the Spanish-American War of 1898, and in 1917, Puerto Ricans became American citizens and dependent on the United States,” explained Dr. Antonia Garcia-Rodriguez, chairperson of the University’s Department of Modern Languages and Culture. “Beginning in 1976, the United States offered tax exemptions to American corporations, especially the pharmaceuticals, to create jobs in Puerto Rico.

But beginning in the 1990s, Congress began to roll back the special tax exemptions, and in 2006, the tax exemptions ended. Many see that move as the beginning of the decline of Puerto Rico’s economy.

Companies have moved off the island and many of Puerto Rico’s educated workforce followed.” This made Puerto Rico dependent on outside investors, ranging from Wall Street hedge funds to everyday amateurs, to help fund government spending through bonds, which spent more than taxes being taken in. Ultimately, the territory has accumulated an

estimated $70 billion bond debt and $49 billion in unfunded pensions.

As a territory, Puerto Rico is not entitled to the same benefits of debtridden states, and increasing federal aid for Puerto Rico has been a daunting task in the Republican-controlled Congress. In 2016, under the Obama administration, Washington passed the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act, which delayed bondholders from suing the territory on back payments, and created a board to formulate a plan to solve the debt crisis. However, the main criticisms that were made of that board were that it was comprised of people who were not familiar with the Puerto Rican crisis and that it didn’t have the capital to fund its major initiatives.

Hurricane Maria was the most powerful storm to hit the island in almost 90 years. At near Category 5 intensity, the storm rammed into Puerto Rico on Sep. 20, damaging the island still recovering from Hurricane Irma, and completely destroying the power grid and most of the territory’s cellular towers, leaving citizens without power or means of communications. In addition, food, water and medical treatments became scarce following flash flooding and intense winds. Many have criticized the way in which President Donald Trump, who has promised to visit the island on Oct. 3, has handled

PUERTO RICO IN DARKNESS continued on PAGE 16

NEWS

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NYC sports symbols of hate ADRIANA CHIVIL Contributor NYC train stations had been adorned with the two-time casual spotting of a man wearing a black athletic Nike shirt, large white headphones, and sporting a small, black and red swastika pendant conjoined to a silver chain around his neck, beginning on Aug. 20. It’s what all the casual Nazis are wearing nowadays, obviously protecting their First Amendment rights with simplistic racism in silence. Troubled riders said the symbol was threatening; Astoria resident Craig Lenti documented the man while standing next to him on Queensboro Plaza subway platform. The man was spotted again by a 32-year-old New Jersey resident on an E train on 42st Street, Sunday afternoon on August 27, a whole week later. Many subway goers found this provoked behavior of discomfort in response to the obvious hate symbol, yet no reports of confrontations with the casual Nazi spotted on the subway train have been documented.

Wearing a swastika is protected under First Amendment Rights, so anyone can wear the Nazi symbol and not be arrested for public hate speech in New York. The wearing of a hate symbol however cannot lead to arrest, although the publically reported action of drawing, etching, or painting a swastika on public property, without the permission of the owner and/or operator of the public building, is considered a class E felony under United States law. Police statistics have stated that hate crimes have increased by 106% since President Donald Trump has been elected, due to his campaign featuring candid religious discrimination, racism, and sexism. Of the 128 hate crimes reported by March 2017, the largest compliant category was of anti-Semitic hate symbols, which found 65 instances total; the number of Nazi symbols have increased as well, beyond certain sightings in NYC subway stations. The recent Charlottesville march has since created uproar of newfound anti-Semitic symbols, primarily targeting religious places of worship. Witnesses from sightings of these hate symbols around America are unsure of which actions to take in order to protect the discriminated, but also unsure of what is considered a true form of free speech, although its cause was fought in a world war 72 years ago. When University students were approached to comment, a blend of responses came into place; numerous individuals heavily relied upon the First Amendment to justify those openly sporting swastikas in public, or leaving them the walls of public property. Opposing arguments, including Jewish minority groups detested the approach of First Amendment rights be protected when attacking religious groups such as Jews and racial minorities.

New York Regional Director Evan Bernstein, when asked to comment for The Gothamist on recent spurs of anti-Semitism found around New York, he remarked, “Hate speech is still free speech. Having said that, it is shocking to see someone wearing a swastika, the symbol of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. We continue to use our right to denounce hateful symbols; hate has no place in New York. The best answer to hate speech is more speech.” Freedom of speech, although a very controversial topic in our politically correct society, could eventually be deemed a proper sense of open mindedness doesn’t

correlate with the aspect of hurting the already belittled groups in society. Our First Amendment rights are unspoken privileges sweeping beyond the boundary of common sense, and in doing so, reveals the nation’s true feelings on any stance of topic. When, in the textbook definition of ‘abuse’- i.e., treat or use in such a way to cause damage or harm- we, as individuals, begin to acknowledge the power of our words especially those of abuse, there will be hope for change. University freshman, Sofia Jimenez, on her stance against the justification of using the First Amendment, said in response, “I just think it’s crazy people still believe that, like, that’s just okay, and their way of justifying that is the First Amendment, the freedom of speech, which is to an extent, kinda b*******. [...] In my opinion, it’s more un-American to be a f****** Nazi than to not have your freedom of speech.” Just to review, World War II ended in 1945; The Nazis were taken down and put away, at least we thought, for a good amount of time from the public eye, and 72 years later, an outburst of anti-Semitism and white supremacist marches became a credible norm for white men in America. The Charlottesville marches have shaken the nation, as we’re repeating history once again to regain the common sense that hate speech cannot be justified within our communication systems and how we acknowledge others different than ourselves. Swastikas causally worn as a fashion accessory may be shocking and unnerving to the average public, but, if not mistaken, there may be worse to come along in order to finish the fight for condoning Nazi hate speech.

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Another Congressional Obamascare LAURIANNE GUTIERREZ Contributor In the wake of the burgeoning fear that the bill that made healthcare incredibly accessible- the Affordable Healthcare Act, also know as Obamacare- was to be obliterated, things took a turn — to many people’s surprise — for the better. Repealing the Affordable Care Act is not a new undertaking, but rather a Republican party American pasttime. Ever since President Donald Trump took office, bills such as Repeal Without Replace, the “skinny bill,” and the most recent Graham- Cassidy bill have been introduced, consequently facing widespread backlash and inciting warranted anger.

Ted Eytan

The main difference between these bills may very well only be in name, for they all share the incentive to eradicate healthcare coverage from the lives of many people in the United States, while simultaneously raising costs and therefore diminishing people’s access to something as vital, fundamental, and unquestionable as healthcare.

The Graham-Cassidy bill, or, as John Cassidy of The New Yorker brands it, the “hastily-cobbled together Graham-Cassidy repeal bill,” is the most recent provision to the Affordable Care Act — and perhaps even the worst. This bill, in all its primarily Republican-supported glory, had the potential to cause irreversible damage had it gone into effect. Graham-Cassidy would have drastically harmed children, working families, people with disabilities, and the elderly by revoking funding for Medicaid and giving insurance companies the ability to charge people over the age of 50 five times more for their health insurance. Furthermore, the tax credits that had enabled more people to afford health care and therefore obtain coverage through the Affordable Care Act would have been rescinded.

In a moment of commendable vigilance and exemplary strength, the throes of the looming GrahamCassidy bill were impeded. On Monday, Sept. 25, the commotion surrounding the bill came to an abrupt halt, and people were able to let go of their bated breath, when Senator Susan Collins of Maine deliberately voted against the passage of the Graham-Cassidy bill not long before it met its legislative deadline on Sept. 30. Despite efforts to essentially bribe Collins out of her decision to not support the bill, the Senator remained resolute, stating: “... if senators can adjust a funding formula over a weekend

to help a single state, they could just as easily adjust that formula in the future to hurt that state. This is simply not the way that we should be approaching an important and complex issue that must be handled thoughtfully and fairly for all Americans.”

What distinguishes Susan Collins from her GOP colleagues is that she publicly acknowledges the positive impact that Obamacare has made. For instance, when voting against the skinny-repeal bill in July, Collins contended that the ACA “has allowed millions of individuals and families to obtain health insurance for the first time.”

Collins has been steadfast in her belief that the issue of healthcare ought to be taken more seriously and that actions regarding this matter be deliberate, not oblivious to the implications a repeal of Obamacare may have in the future. She expressed these concerns in July and suggested that being willing to unite disparities regarding views on healthcare may prove to be beneficial: “We are dealing with an issue that affects millions of Americans and one-sixth of the economy, and we need to approach reforms in a very careful way. That means going through the regular process of committee hearings, receiving input from expert witnesses, such as actuaries, governors, advocacy groups, and health-care providers; and vetting proposals with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle.”

This is an issue that transcends party identification and does not discriminate according to political affiliation.

Susan Collins’ resilience, along with that of many others fighting for human deceny, in handling this matter, reinforces the importance of acting with integrity, allowing the fear of scrutiny to be outweighed by the driving force of empathy.

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Governor Cuomo claims subways are improving

The University weighs in on the state of public transportation in New York City SOPHIA TAN Contributor According to New York governor Andrew Cuomo, subway systems are improving! Rejoice! If you were to ask a few of the approximately 600,000 daily commuters, however, they may tell a different story.

It’s no argument that the subway system has been notorious for its exhausting inconveniences, what with consecutive delays, trains not going to their usual stops, elevators not working, overcrowded carts, and other extreme circumstances like power outages or trains getting stuck in the middle of tracks. In a generation of such advanced technology and mechanization, one would think these underground battles would be long in the past, but city dwellers are still faced with a multitude of them on a daily basis.

One of the subway’s current most prominent issues revolves around the lack of service for those with disabilities; all the construction currently taking place accounts for things like elimination of seats, and things like broken elevators and large gaps between the platform and the trains create unimaginable strife for wheelchair users. Activist of Disability Pride and wheelchair user Mary Kaessinger has reported that “more than 75% of New York subway stations would still lack elevators, lifts or other ways to make the subway available to people who can’t navigate stairs.”

Back in July, the MTA announced a 30-point Subway rescue plan that would bring relief to the sea of passengers on their daily commutes, but Cuomo confirms it could take up to another year to really start making changes. The governor has made minimal comments on the circumstances, stating that the Subway is improving if you’re “looking hard enough.” Specifically, he has said that if you “look closely, you see improvements,” followed this by saying, “I hear from people who say the tracks look cleaner or the service seems better, so I’m hearing it already.”

Regarding the $800 million relief plan that is pending for execution, as discussed at the most recent MTA board

meeting, there still lies discrepancies on whether Cuomo or Mayor Bill DiBlasio are picking up the fundings.

MTA chairman Joe Lhota did say however that the only way the subways are getting fixed is if the city splits the costs. Cuomo proposed that the city should pay for half of the $800 million plan, suggesting to impose congestion pricing, wherein drivers would be charged to enter central Manhattan. DiBlasio aimed to impose a tax on millionaires. Each party seemed to find the other’s idea impractical or inequitable, still leaving the methods of funding in the air.

Another hike in fare prices had been proposed as a way for citizens to fund the repair plan, however, MTA board member Mitchell Pally had conceded that “we’ve gotten to the point where we have charged our customers the maximum we can charge them for the service we are providing.”

When University students were asked to comment on the current state of the subway, they had similar responses.

A first-year student remarked, “The energy it takes to keep up to date with how the subway works and which lines are going where can really just f--- someone’s day over,” along with, “it’s just annoying and I don’t think they’re doing anything to change it [...] Construction workers are doing their job and trying to get things back up to par, but in the meantime is it really accomplishing anything, or is it causing more struggle for us people?”

Another student spoke about a recent subway experience, wherein the subway announcements were continuously changing and contradicting one another, and certain trains were not going to their usual stops, forcing her to transfer multiple times, and turning a what would be 10 minute ride to a 45 minute one.

It has been announced that the MTA will be releasing an online dashboard that tracks Subway routes, notifying riders of delays and the reasons for them. This new implementation will hopefully provide a sense of transparency of the Subways’ issues, letting people see into what’s going on behind the train’s delays, or if incidents occur that prevent them from getting them where they need to be. Although this certainly doesn’t solve the

issues for these predicaments, it is at least a step in the right direction on giving the community insight on their travel situations.

It appears that the outrage over the unreliable subway systems and poor handlings on the reparations for them highlight both governor Cuomo and Mayor DiBlasio’s disconnect from the New York community; Cuomo has been known to stick to cars and motorcycles, and focus more on the commute of suburban residents than those dependent on underground transportation. On the other hand, DiBlasio otps for an “NYPD-chauffeured SUV” to navigate him about the city. Many New Yorkers feel that these two heads may be lacking the true awareness of the hardships of the daily commuter life and the environment they must direct their lives around in order to successfully begin and complete their work days.

When it all comes down to it, the subway is an essential part of New York City life, and everyone wants it to be able to operate at an optimal standard. Strides are being made to provide the proper efficiency and accommodations that the city is looking to see, but the process of getting there is one that we must all endure together, one day at a time.

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The first social media president: Trump’s lasting legacy ADRIANA CHIVIL Contributor Trusting the media for current news coverage is a hit or miss; biased journalist tactics lead their readers into a frenzy of hesitation regarding whom to trust with breaking information; CNN has become one of the prime culprits. Their “top notch” reporting- a highly contested judgment, depending of where you fall on the political spectrum- has dove into unrestrained reporting on the one and only President Donald Trump. With the recent opening of the “Trumpmeria” news section on CNN’s website, Donald Trump is the only President of the United States ever to have a chunk on CNN dedicated only to him, tracking his responses to the media as well as his economic policies, healthcare, tax plans, along with his infamous tweets.

The President is well known for his backlashes on social media divulged using his Twitter account, which, incidentally, people have taken seriously as resource material for his reactions to major geopolitical events including what America is faced with and/ or situations around the world. Political correctness has never been Trump’s forte, so to speak; whenever the media and Trump come face to face, the execution and meaning behind his agenda is muddled into anti-PC sentence structures facing the current situation he’s speaking toward. An example of poorly executed speech can be found in his debates against Hillary Clinton, simple interruptions, such as mentioning “wrong,” in the middle of her rebuttals. Simplicity in response that doesn’t display maturity in patience has made Trump a constant struggle to take seriously from a democratic viewpoint, as his responses are graced with overflow of negative media coverage, although these public outbursts don’t carry much weight.

Many- like CNN- question why the President’s commentary should be taken seriously when he considered the Nazi marching, torch holding white supremacists of Charlottesville people with open minds that wanted their voices to be heard, yet our country was in the process of defeating these ideas in World War II. Realistically, what can be considered/protected under the First Amendment is being called to question, when as a nation it was brought to the attention of some to fight this hate, as the beliefs or cause s associated with Trump’s alt-right following has made even innocent people die.

University freshman Sofia Jimenez said in response to Trump’s position with the media that Trump’s portrayal in the media has caused an uproar that didn’t necessarily regard actual importance, while putting the country at a real risk, noting that the media’s partially responsible for his position in office being accomplished.

The lack of seriousness going toward Trump’s position in the media causes an entire drawback to the attention he achieved during his campaign; all the Internet memes caused more harm than good in proposing the election against his favor, and only drew more supporters defending his cause. The larger issue at hand is our attention being turned to the wrong sources for news and information.

University Senior Nick Gordon, when asked to comment on how social media contributes to the way our generation views Trump, responded, “Not everything on social media is wrong because it is just opinions to have; as well as the news to kind of clarify what’s going on in the media…but we can definitely tell the media in today’s world is definitely a little bit one-sided, depending on who you listen to, and who believes in what. I think that comes a lot from social media, and the ability to say whatever you want, as you can see from Mr. Trump. [laughs] He says a lot of things that aren’t correct and believes in a lot of things that aren’t what this country is based on, and it upsets me.”

Both sides of the argument mention there are better executions of our American rights of freedom of speech, including the argument upon what values that this country is counting for to progress and move forward as a nation.

The University community and New York have spoken about their reactions towards the obvious debacle between the media and President Trump. If a simplistic consideration was to have someone conceal the idea that Twitter is an absolute source of response from the President, instead of hearing a verbal response meant for the press, than a majority of what the President says online would be ignored; another issue arises that if we ignore what the President says online, anything could be released into the public and not spoken against. Reactions are necessary to protest and speak out against what the media and Trump publishes for people to acknowledge and hear, but what to consider and be taken seriously is another animal that leaves many confused on how to understand the world around them and take action.

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THE PACE PRESS

OPINION AND EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL BOARD Chase Ballas Editor-in-Chief Katrina Alonso Executive Editor Amoreena Crispino Executive Editor Christian Halstead News Editor Caroline Cardoso Arts Editor Kelsey Nicholson Features Editor Justin Knoepfel Graphic Design Nathan Siegel Social Media Dr. Kelley Kreitz 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

To the Pace Community, Welcome to the 2017-2018 academic year, and more importantly, welcome to the first print edition of The Pace Press. On behalf of our entire staff, I would like to thank you all for your readership, and hope you will continue to enjoy our coverage of the University, New York, the nation, and world at large as you vigorously work towards your academic and personal goals and achieve.

This year, we are hoping to bring a new, exciting dynamic to the Press. We want to bridge together the many different backgrounds, disciplines and schools that encompass the University to create an organization that is truly inclusive to all, and is a place where ideas and discussion can thrive without judgment or prejudice. We want everyone to know that their ideas, their input and their participation is welcomed at The Pace Press, and is what will help make us a successful organization. We want to hear from our Lubin colleagues. We want to hear from our Performing Arts colleagues. We want to hear from our Seidenberg colleagues. We want to hear from our Dyson colleagues. We want to be the student voice of the Pace community.

In addition, while unfortunately our printing-based coverage is now only going to be once a month, we are excited to announce that we will be focusing on our web content like never before. We have reimagined our website to be sleek, engaging, and dynamic, and will be heavily promoting on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We will be bringing our coverage to a whole new dimension, and hope you will enjoy it in the same capacity you do with our print product. This is journalism in the 21st century.

We want to be the news media for everyone. Please stop by our weekly pitch meetings on Mondays at 12:30pm in our office, Park Row suite 906, or email editor@thepacepress.org with any questions, comments or concerns. We want writers, editors, social media managers, photographers, advertisers, illustrators and cartoonists, graphic designers, etc. If you have an idea, we will make it work Remember to keep calm and pace yourself, Chase Ballas Editor-in-Chief

DISCLAIMER: These opinions are expressed by contributors (students, faculty, administration and staff) to The Pace Press. These opinions are solely those of the individual writers and do not reflect the opinions of The Pace Press, the members of The Pace Press staff or Pace University. The Pace Press is not responsible and expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind of arising out of use or relevance to any information contained in this section.

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55th New York Film Festival

The film festival the city has been awaiting for gets its close up SAMANTHA UNGER Contributor After constant exposure to high-budget Hollywood entertainment, the selections at the New York Film Festival are a breath of fresh air. The films are understated, modest, and make you feel without fail. Not to mention, the diverse selections from countries all over the world, and the increasing presence of female directors have been highly anticipated. The 55th annual film fesival, opened Sept. 28 and will be running until Oct. 15 at theaters across the city run by the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

The festival premired with Richard Linklater’s “Last Flag Flying,” to kick off what will be an array of film and art to come. Apart from the Main Slate of 25 films, the festival includes short films, documentaries (including Spielberg and lost concert footage from Bob Dylan’s 1980 tour), panels, and discussions with the filmmakers and actors. All of these films capture simple fleeting moments, or profoundly meaningful moments, and succeed in their quest to turn them into so much more. 55 years after the first New York Film Festival, the initial belief that cinema is the world’s storyteller, remains timeless. To name a few, these films have been put in the spotlight of some of the most anticipated and featured films in the Main Slate.

LADY BIRD

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

Director: Greta Gerwig USA Saoirse Ronan is Christine in Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut, Lady Bird. A senior in a catholic high school in Sacramento, dying to escape to the “creative northeast,” she often butts heads with her passionate mother, leaving her desperate for change. Ronan’s character is much like the beloved free-spirited Gerwig in Frances Ha; her lighthearted humor in times of chaos, as well as her eclectic personality is embodied pristinely in Christine. An honest coming of age film, proving growing up is never like it is in the movies, that received universal acclaim (and standing ovations) is one that everyone must see.

Director: Luca Guadagnino Italy/France This film centered around the development of a romance between an American teenager. Elio (Timothée Chalamet) is trying to find meaning in his life and an older graduate student, Oliver, (Armie Hammer) his professor’s father invites to their vacation home in Italy, has made headlines.

Originally a book written by André Aciman, this sincere and simultaneously heart wrenching adaptation depicts the confusion of young adulthood, falling in love, and challenging the limits of expression in an unaccepting

WONDER WHEEL

THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE

Director: Woody Allen USA Woody Allen’s film gets its world premiere on the closing night of the New York Film Festival, a premiere that has received large exposure in the media. 1950’s Coney Island, sees James Belushi and Kate Winslet as a married couple who make their living on their boardwalk, operating a carousel. When their estranged daughter (Judo Temple) returns, situations arise and the foundation upon which the family has built their life on after years without each other begins to dismantle. A true period piece; one that instills a nostalgia for a time we never even knew.

Director: Aki Kaurismäki Finland In a subtly political and comical film written about the migrant crisis, Aki Kaurismäki manages to capture the resilience that exists within the human spirit through Khaled, a Syrian refugee who escapes to Finland in hopes of finding security, and Wikstrom, a recently separated restaurant owner. Much like the other NYFF selections, these two lives intertwine to give depth to difficult human experience.

WOODSHOCK

Director: Todd Haynes USA The centerpiece selection of the festival, starring actress Kirsten Dunst, is an adaptation of the novel by Brian Selznick (Hugo), that follows the intricate connection between the lives of one child in 1927, and the other 50 years later, in 1977. A beautiful balance of the times between color and black and white, this film instills the childlike curiosity in viewers, as the two children remain hopeful in their attempts to uncover the past.

FACES PLACES

Director: Agnes Varda and JR France 88-year-old director Agnes Varda joins forces with visual artist JR, on this tour of rural France. The film’s description in itself is vague, although the New York Film Festival describes it as a piece that “celebrates artisanal production, workers’ solidarity, and the photographic arts in the face of mortality.” Two generations come together to form a masterpiece about timeless appreciation.

Top Row, right to left: Film Experience, Apple, Den of Geek Bottom Row, right to left: IndieWire, IndieWire, Film Experience

Ticket and Venue Information:

Film Society Venues: Alice Truly Hall, Walter Reade Theater, Elinor Bunin Munroe Theater, and The Metropolitan Opera House. Non-Member tickets are on sale for $25, and student tickets are available for $20. Some of the films on the Main Slate are on standby. A standby line forms one hour prior to any sold out movie screening, and tickets are given on a first come first serve basis.

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October 3, 2017

University’s Hana Malik is “Within the Raw” RUMIYA MALIK Contributor

The University is filled with a plethora of students that have gone above and beyond that serves as a platform for visual art whether that be in the form of fashion, design or the set standard of an active student and have made a name for themselves at such a writing. As a full time pre-med student, this blog is her home for creativity, innovation young age. In the past 3 years here in New York, University senior Hana Malik, has truly and expressing opinions through new mediums. The name ‘Within the Raw’ comes taken advantage of opportunities that others might not have even realized were available. from the yearning for people to be able to express themselves as they please and feeling Not only has Malik created her personal blog “Within the Raw” on Instagram with freedom in doing so; To value individualism.”

9,000+ followers that she extended into a website, but she has also written and released a Malik’s manager, Asif Sabri, is there every step of the way to guide Malik with poetry book that has sold over 2,500 her decisions; but, do not get it copies, created two clothing lines, wrong, Malik is still the boss lady and became a freelance writer for in charge.

MuslimGirl.com all while being a “Anything that comes to her full time pre-med student who works mind she gets, it’s just my job as a Senior Resident Assistant. to help any of her ideas come to Primarily, Malik created her fruition,” Sabri said. instagram and transformed it into Sabri is a very supportive a personal blog with a look that is and hands on manager who helps very aesthetically pleasing. To date with everything from modeling she has 9,396 followers and it is oversights to marketing for her growing everyday. Her instagram book and clothing to finding (@WithinTheRaw) consists of her financials for it all. He was able different outfits that she wears while to offer more of an insight into living it up in New York City, adored the sweat and tears that go into new makeup products, sections of her maintaining it all. At age 21, book, and more. It is almost difficult Malik has already sold over to fathom that someone so young can 2,500 copies of her poetry book, be so professional. WithinTheRaw “Within the Raw,” which is sold has now become a place for not only all over bookstores in New York Malik’s individuality and inspiration, City including Barnes and Noble but also her followers and viewers. and is available for purchase on “I knew I wanted a place to Amazon. Her book has gotten hone my hobbies and interests aside hundreds of reposts on Instagram, from being a medical student so the Tumblr, and Twitter; supermodel Hana Malik Instagram @WithinTheRaw website just became a platform for that to happen,” Malik said. “I’ve been inspired Hailey Baldwin even put one of Malik’s by so many people I can’t keep up. I’m inspired by the people on the street just as verses on her Instagram story. For much as I am by individuals that are already established. I try to pay more attention to Malik, “being raw means to be yourself, fervent and truthful,” and she truly demonstrates small business owners and underrated people because they truly deserve to be.” that in everything she does.

Malik continued to expand her brand “Within the Raw” into its own website where “All I can say is stay tuned,” Sabri said. “You never know next month, two months, she goes into more details about fashion, lifestyle and her writings. Malik then added three months, anything can happen. The world is her oyster.” merchandise on her website withintheraw.com. She sells items based off her brand such From books, to clothing lines, to motivation on individuality, Malik is definitely on as crewnecks and t-shirts and did so with two different clothing lines. It is not a small our radars for what she accomplishes next. endeavor to do two clothing lines in such close time proximity to each other. Malik’s “You have to do it. If you want it, you have to do it,” Malik said. “Where’s your blog’s message is, “‘Within the Raw’ is a New York based lifestyle blog by Hana Malik self-discipline? Expect better of yourself.”

Fight for your body rights with ELISE CAROLINE CARDOSO Arts Editor

Get your priorities queer with RSFU’s new political fashion project ELISE. RSFU is a Swedish non-profit organization that stands for “Riksförbundet för sexuell upplysning,” which translates to Swedish Association for Sexuality Education. This month, RSFU has created ELISE to empower people to stand for their rights. The ELISE collection Body Rights for the political fashion project has unisex items made of organic cotton and all proceeds go to RSFU’s strive to fight for body rights. The name ELISE came from none other than the O.G., bosslady, and women’s rights advocate Elise Ottesen-Jensen, who founded RSFU in 1933.

“I dream of the day when every newborn child is welcome, when men and women are equal, and when sexuality is an expression of intimacy, joy, and tenderness.” OttesenJensen said at the time of the organization’s start. Unfortunately, in 2017, the rights of women and minorities are still under threat all around the world.

Since Nov. 8, fashion has changed from thrifted overalls and beat up combat boots to jeans and t-shirts with political slogans. From “The Future Is Female” to “Choose Life,” 20 somethings to 90 somethings are sporting empowerment tees, sending a message to everyone against hate and division. ELISE has created everything from t-shirts to totes that emphasize every individual’s freedom to love who they want and make their own decisions about their bodies by expressing their own messages. Fighting for body rights has been on RSFU’s agenda since 1933, and now in 2017, they are making themselves even more known and heard.

In light of the current political climate, the fashion project is hitting it off and creating a lot for the public to talk about. With slogans such as “Social Climate Change,” “My rights don’t come off with this t-shirt,” and “Masturbator,” ELISE is here with a message and here to stay. Think what you will about the outspoken tee’s, but ELISE’s effort to change the world and fight for body rights is louder than any negative comments. It is safe to say that we will be seeing many of RSFU’s ELISE at the next protests advocating for body rights and promoting self love and love for others.

ELISE photographed by Arvida Byström.

i-D VICE

October 3, 2017

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Hollywood hits the stage CHASE BALLAS Editor-in-Chief Within the past decade or so, Broadway has received a substantial boost in popularity and coverage. New musicals have managed to infiltrate the American entertainment in a way now seen since the 1940s to the early 1960s, prior to the emergence of the rock era and when show tunes by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, dominated the airwaves.

Now, one sees the cast album of LinManuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” being used to teach high school history, and the team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul controlling the stage with “Dear Evan Hansen,” film with the multi-Oscar winning “La La Land” and the upcoming “The Greatest Showman,” and television with an upcoming live special of their musical adaptation of “A Christmas Story.” Likewise, major actors, singers, and stars are seeing the prestige of appearing on stage, boosting media coverage.

In the past year, New York has seen Bette Midler lead the parade in Jerry Herman’s “Hello, Dolly!” and Jake Gyllenhaal paint pointillism in Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George,” and this year will see Bruce Springsteen in concert, Uma Thurman tackle the political quo in Beau Willimon’s “The Parisian Woman,” and Denzel Washington struggle with alcoholism in Eugene O’Neil’s “The Iceman Cometh.”

However, what is also being seen on stage is Hollywood producers and music studios dominating the stage with musicality and dramatic versions of their back-catalogs and revivals of the classic crowd pleasers, instead of promoting the next generation of playwrights.

In the 1990s, there was a huge controversy over Disney producing its first

Flickr musical venture on Broadway, “Beauty and the Beast.” Epitomizing corporate greed and the capitalist mindset of entertainment, many prominent theater critics thought it would bring an end to the creative thrive of Broadway, which at the time was virtually bankrup. The show was universally panned by theater critics, but ended up being one of the biggest successes in the history of Broadway, launching the Disney regime onto New York with subsequent productions of “The Lion King,” “Mary Poppins,” “Tarzan,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Aladdin.” This also paved the way for other Hollywood studios to make a profit on stage. With studios like Paramount and Dreamworks, and producers like Scott Rudin, heavily investing in theatrical productions, either being adaptations of their classic movies such as DreamWorks’ “Shrek the Musical,” limited engagements usually of classic play bolstered by a major Hollywood film star. Then you have the goldmines: “Hairspray” and “The

Producers” (which won the most Tony Awards for any production in history) are two of the biggest musical hits this side of the millennium, and are constantly done in regional productions all over the nation.

Similar to studios adapting their catalogs, another trend in 21st century Broadway is the emergence of the “jukebox musical”: a musical that highlights the career of a pop music artist using their greatest hits, or at minimum creates an original story tied together by their songs.

In the next year, a musical using the songs of Jimmy Buffett, and a bio-musical about Cher.

Now, it should be noted that most of the greatest musicals ever written were based on some sort of preexisting material.

Lerner and Loewe’s legendary “My Fair Lady” is based on the equally legendary play “Pygmalion” by Bernard Shaw. The Sondheim-Leonard Bernstein-Arthur Laurent masterwork known as “West Side Story” is based on Shakespeare’s

“Romeo and Juliet,” and all of the works

by Rodgers and Hammerstein were based on books or films. However, these were adaptations with artistic merits on their own right that went well and beyond the scope of their source material. If anything, this new model has led to Broadway almost discouraging new, innovative works, rather pushing them to off-Broadway and then transferring if they end up being successful or popular. That is what has been seen in the past three Tony-winning Best Musicals: “Fun Home,” “Hamilton,” and “Dear Evan Hansen.” Yes, “Fun Home” and “Hamilton” are based on books, but they are artistic achievements in their own right similar to “West Side Story” and “My Fair Lady.” Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for plays, which have a much more limited audience than musicals, and at this point, need a major star to be successful. This past year, the two most acclaimed plays of the season that tackled hard-hitting, current issues closed at a loss because they could not find an audience: Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Sweat” about the economic collapse of the working class, and Paula Vogel’s tale of censorship, “Indecent.”

It has to also be noted that being a theater star is not what it used to be. In the 1950s, people like Ethel Merman, Mary Martin and Alfred Drake would be able to sell out shows solely by being a name in the theater industry, with no film or television credits. Now, producers have to outreach to film and television stars, who have bigger name recognition within the public, in order to guarantee ticket sales because people simply do not follow theater in the same capacity as before, and if a name actor cannot be found, then a name title or name songbook must be used. This may be the best way for theater to thrive commercially, but from an artist measure, everything is not “coming up roses.”

You wear what you eat Fast food reasturants collaborate with the fashion industry for a new trend BROOKE SUFRIN Contributor When it comes to fast food we usually say, “everything in moderation,” right? Well it seems that food has just about taken over. It is more than just eating to live, we are now living to eat, and that is evident with some risky fashion choices taken lately. Big Mac sweatshirts, Coca Cola sneakers, Bud Light tank tops, hamburger pillows. Are these a cute, trendy, and clever form of marketing? Or does this convey something quite darker?

Fast food has tightened its greasy grip on humanity’s noose and we now wear what we eat.

Are we “loving it” as Ronald Mcdonald would say cheerfully? Mcdonald’s has recently begun its own fashion line to promote their collaboration with Uber in the new Ubereats; a Mcdonald’s delivery service, serving Big Macs, Mcflurries and other McClassics right to your door. Now hamburgers, the classic red box of French fries, chicken nuggets and more can all be worn, the question remains; is this stylish? The question still remains if Mcdonald’s new clothing will become the next obsession like Air Jordans or Converse. This “Big Mac merch” includes sweatshirts, sweatpants, tank tops, pillows, and even socks. Some contain the quickly catching phrase, “World Famous,” next to a trademark red box of french fries.

Pace University students seem to be intrigued by the fashion line with the golden arches but also are perplexed about the intentions of the home of the Happy Meal.

“I think it’s a unique attempt at trying to relate to millennials yet it confuses the message of healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle,” University sophomore Miranda Baldo said. “It seems as though they are trying to make fast food cool even though it’s super

horrible for you.”

Along with the theme of promoting unhealthy foods, Budweiser has also marketed its beer brand in the form of clothes. This endorsement of alcohol is popular among all ages. Celebrities, like Lady Gaga, are seen wearing casual clothing with the title Bud Light written across their chests. Will this trend become so common that public schools will allow this as acceptable dress code?

For companies, this idea of having consumers being the ones to promote their brand is a genius double business type of method. Customers who see celebrities and friends wearing trendy clothing with popular logos will then purchase said clothing from the company, then further the company’s success by wearing the clothes and indirectly encouraging others to not only buy the product but wear it as well. This sort of business is productive, economical, and beneficial for not only the business but for the lovers of both new trends and common food/drink establishments.

The collaboration of the food industry and the clothing industry seems to be a promising but almost threatening deal as this dynamic duo may in fact be unstoppable.

That’s of course only if the consumer agrees with the new trend. Throughout history, is has been known for clothes and style to influence language, society, and even human interaction. Will the new form of communication start with the letters “Mc?” Of course, fashion is relative and so are trends. Let’s see how well Lady Liberty can pull off a Big Mac.

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October 3, 2017

The Powerpuff Girls: A new hero is created CAROLINE CARDOSO Arts Editor Sugar, spice, and everything nice just got even nicer.

We know Bubbles, Blossom, and Buttercup for being the heroines of Townsville and saving the citizens from the forces of evil. These three powerful ladies were accidently created in a lab by Professor Utonium, and now the girls have a new long-lost sister. The remarkably feminist 90s cartoon has become more diverse with the addition of Bliss, a brown-skinned, blue-haired character. Dressed in purple, Bliss joins the trio (now quartet) in buttkicking with her super powers that include flight, teleportation, telekinesis, and super strength.

Bliss’ race has still yet to be confirmed and her voice over will be done by different actresses in different countries. The new sister will first appear in The Powerpuff Girls’ new five-part movie event, said to be titled “Power of Four.” The creation of Bliss is a huge step forward for Cartoon Network, and a step that will be duly noted by the shows original fans.

There are lots of questions about what is to come for the new Powerpuff Girl and her journey; however the important question is, where has she been all this time? The show first premiered in 1998, so why did it take nineteen years for Professor Utonium to find his blue-haired heroine. Rumor Utonium created her before Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup were in the picture.

Chemical W, instead of Chemical X, was used when Bliss

came about, change her superpower complection. Her superpowers then became tied to her emotions; whenever she becomes upset, Bliss damages everything around her and everything she can touch. However; this storyline is not resting very well with many.

“Why does she have to be ‘emotional’ and ‘moody?’

Because she’s a woman, and women are hysterical and their emotions take over their bodies?” senior Molly Gretchen said. “The concept started off well with their overdue diversity, but the sexism and stereotypes can go. Where are my powerful little feminists at? Tough independent girls? Is that not what the show was meant to be?”

Despite the the disagreement of how the new cartoon came along her superpowers, the legacy of Bliss starts with her presence alone. In the US and South Africa, Bliss will be voiced by the South African rapper Toya Delazy.

According to i-D Magazine by VICE, Delazy was ecstatic about the role of Bliss because of her tomboyishness connection to powerpuff girl Buttercup.

“It feels amazing; there’s nothing more I can say, to fill girls, especially young black girls, with that energy to say you can do anything,” Delazy told South African Elle when asked what the role means to her. “That was the point of Powerpuff Girls. It was to make young girls dream that they can be superheroes. If the representation counts to

the fact that everybody’s speaking about it to this extent, that means it was very necessary, and it’s beautiful. It’s exciting putting a spotlight on Africa as well.”

In light of taking harsh feedback and soaking in the good reviews, the writers of The Powerpuff Girls, Craig McCracken and Amy Keating Rogers, have made it an effort to tackle any problematic issues the show may have had in the past before the reboot. The show has had some issues with their sexist portrayal of Miss Bellum, the Townsville mayor’s assistant and any stereotypes the three girls may have had as well in the show. McCracken and Rogers have shifted the characters away from the archetypes of “the smart one,” “the tomboy,” and “the ditzy one,” and have brought the show to be more down to earth.

“By developing them as stronger personalities and understanding them more as characters, we were able to write stories that are more relatable to people,” executive producer of the reboo Nick Jennings told i-D. “I think [the fans and the viewers] will connect with them better.”

From Mojo Jojo to the new reboot’s villain, Manboy, it seems like these independent buttkicking girls will be able to take it all on. We’ve seen Blossom do it, we’ve seen Bubbles conquer it, we’ve seen Buttercup kill it; let’s see what you’ve got, Bliss.

“Sleeping Beauties”: Stephen King’s new timely horror DYLAN SHARE Contributor Many men have wondered what a world without women would be like. They give a sigh and an exasperated “women” every time their female counterpart gets mad. Well gentlemen, be careful what you wish for.

Stephen King, in collaboration with his son Owen King, released a new book called “Sleeping Beauties” on Sept. 26. In this chilling new story, an outbreak of an unknown sleeping disease plagues a small West Virginia town. Strangely, the only ones affected seem to be the women. The virus, later named Aurora after the classic Disney princess, causes those infected to fall into a deep sleep and be encased in a cocoon of a sticky matter of some unexplained origin. Though the virus is named after the gentile sleeping beauty, don’t try to wake the women up with true love’s kiss. Any disruption to their cocoon causes the women to awaken in zombie like homicidal rage which can’t seem to be reversed.

It is up to the female sheriff Lila Norcross who appears to be the only woman in town unaffected by the Aurora disease. With the help of her baffled husband, Lila must uncover the mystery

of this strange disease all while battling off a group of men in her town who have put a target on her back. Can she sooth the panic of the appalachian town, discover the source of the plague, and cure those affected in this apocalyptic dystopia?

Sorry, folks. You’ll have to read it.

The King’s new book is a statement

of current cultural issues that face our nation today. The politics of “Sleeping Beauties” includes police brutality, toxic masculinity, gender politics, and fake news parallel our own societal drawbacks. This suspenseful and supernatural thriller is sure

to make one fear not only the unexplained supernatural phenomenons but the all-tootrue future we are headed towards.

“Stephen King is an unmatched talent who drags you into his stories and leaves your skin crawling,” University freshman Emily Latshaw said.

It was reported in April that “Sleeping

USA Today

Beauties” was going to be adapted into a television show. Though a great deal of Stephen King’s works have be translated into film, none have been nabbed so quickly. Though it is too early to know anything concrete such as casting, it was

reported that Anonymous Content, a production and management company, has landed the rights to “Sleeping Beauties” and will be partnering with the King’s to create a thrilling paranormal television series.

After the remaking of the cult-classic “It,” King’s younger following has grown.

Many University students have bought his books and intend to read his newest one.

“He was the first author I ever liked and his books are the only ones I genuinely enjoy reading,” University freshman and connoisseur of the horror genre Sarah Coker said. “I’m really looking forward to reading his new novel.”

Like Coker, University freshman and avid fanatic of bloody thrillers Leonardo Rosas is just as excited for the new book release and possible television series adaptation.

“He revolutionized the horror genre as we know it,” Rosas. “His style of writing is perfectly suited for giving one chills.”

The words of Stephen King have instilled such vivid pictures that have frightened many of us. The fact that this book was grabbed for a television show even before its release date only furthers its credibility as a literary sensation. We can expect this story to become an even greater cultural phenomenon than “Stranger Things.”​

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Reality spin-offs enter a down hill spirl An obituary for the beloved reality television spin-offs we all knew CAROLINE CARDOSO Arts Editor

&

Over the last few years it seems that the “real” has been taken out of “reality,” at least for television. America’s most popular reality television shows typically reach a comfort level in their success and attempt to branch out further. “I Am Cait,” “The Pauly D Project,” “The Kandi Factory,” “Manzo’d With Children,” and most recently, Life of Kylie; remember them? These were just a few of the short lived shows with limited rates no resurrected for more seasons.

The lip kit and makeup queen, “King Kylie,” ventured out from under Kris Jenner’s wing and participated in an documentary series, “Life of Kylie,” which only lasted eight episodes. This is where Kylie Jenner gets “real” and admits—on a self-developed reality show about herself—that she’s “just not into the ‘fame thing.’” The show, premiering on the E! network on Aug. 6, was meant to introduce the more personal side of Kylie Jenner to the world rather than what’s on her Snapchat story. For example, her major dilemma in the first episode was that her private jet malfunctioned before take off so she either had to fly commercial or order a larger jet to get to the prom. With dramatic music playing in the back, Jenner makes a negative comment about her new jet being not the right shade of blue. Pace University freshman Colleen McGovern, refused to even watch the failed spin off.

“I think she’s kind of fake. She doesn’t use her fame to inspire young women the way she should be,” McGovern said.

Understanding that Kylie Jenner was born and raised in the spotlight does hinder sympathy from viewers, but the exposure of her innate narcissism defeats any kind of supposed viewer relatability and empathy. At least with the original reality show, “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” the audience is able to accept and learn to appreciate their gossip and drama. While Kylie stands alone, ratings did not seem to speak the same.

“Life of Kylie,” is not the only failed spin-off from a rather more successful series.

In July of 2015 the highly anticipated “I Am Cait” series premiered starring Caitlyn Jenner. Jenner revealed her emotional struggle transitioning from a man to a woman while battling public scrutiny. With such a controversial topic, Jenner focused her show on embracing her new life and bonding with family and her new group of girlfriends.

The very first episode promised success with a whopping 3.9 million viewers. However, audience response died down and the second season premiered with a mere 745,000 views. The show was canceled shortly after with Jenner taking to twitter that “it’s time for the next adventure,” and that she would be seen sporadically with the Kardashian clan, now celebrating their “Kardashian decade.” After the cancellation of the show, it was almost as though its premiere success wasn’t even enough.

“I forgot it was even a show,” University freshman Emily Latshaw said.

Khloé, Khloé, Khloé. Khloé Kardashian, her family, and Sharone Hakman (Kardashian’s main bartender on her show) were all equally surprised and disappointed to learn that her show, “Kocktails with Khloé,” would be cancelled after just one season.

Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna, attempted to exploit and publically benefit from their relationship with their show Rob and Chyna, also only lasting one season. Though Rob and Chyna had better luck than Khloé with their show, the failure theme of reality spinoffs prevailed in the end. Even “momager,” Kris Jenner, could not stand on her own for very long with her self titled show, Kris. Ultimately, it seems standing alone, the family’s spin-offs are not as rating greedy as the original.

In addition to the KUWTK spin-offs, other shows such as “Jersey Shore,” showed America the spin-offs are short lived. “Jersey Shore” is a reality show filled with hair gel and suntan lotion, following the relationship of six young adults and their summer adventures in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. The drama filled series stood tall six successful seasons. However, Pauly D, a member of the Jersey Shore family, later branched off into his own reality series, “The Pauly D Project.” The 2012 spin-off only lasted one season with little to no ratings at all.

“The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” is another popular reality entertainment brand with continual successful ratings. Playing off of its success, New Jersey housewife of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” Caroline Manzo, her husband, and three adult children, created a series around the drama and struggle of raising adult children in “Manzo’d With Children.” With a longer lifespan than most spin-offs, the show lasted three season and was later canceled in February of 2017. In addition to “Manzo’d With Children,” the Manzo family did not stop there and created Boys to Manzo, featuring Manzo’s sons Albie and Chris Manzo. “Manzo’d With Children” sadly outlived Boys to Manzo as it only lasted six episodes.

New Jersey is not the only state with real housewives craving their own spotlight.

Atlanta housewife of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Kandi Burruss, attempted with not just one but three spin-offs. “The Kandi Factory,” Kandi’s Ski Trip, and Kandi’s Wedding, all short lived, did not survive the reality television realm.

Overall, it seems as though spin-offs are not always a success, and many do not even want anything to do with them.

“I hate these kinds of shows. The only reason people watch [them] is because they like to watch other people fight,” University freshman Ethan Hixson said. “They just watch these shows because it makes their own drama seem less significant.”

BROOKE SUFRIN Contributor

Despite these failed shows and the common, negative opinion associated with the reality stars, these shows are still around for a reason in modern pop culture. University freshman Collette Loveys is much more open and confident about her praise for the Kardashian clan than others.

“I think they’re very entertaining and I think they’re smarter than people think they are,” Loveys said. “They know how to get views and make money.”

Past spin-offs unfortunately were very short lived, but what about future spin-offs?

“Reunion Road Trip,” is a future spin-off to feature all the guidos and guidettes of the successful Jersey Shore. We then jump from the east coast to the west coast and visit old friends from The Hills. The Hills, a reality show following the drama of seven young women in Los Angeles, California, will soon be welcoming its own spin-off as well.

Stars from the show, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, announced they will be starring in a reality show of their own about their life together. A date has not yet been set for the said “Speidi” relival, we will just have to wait and see.

Despite the failures, and sometimes comical, end to many spin-offs, the outlook and escape from reality into a different form of reality all in thirty to sixty minutes is almost still worth the watch; if only there weren’t those damned commercials.

FEATURES

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October 3, 2017

Dress for (scary) success Halloween costumes that are sure to be in this year JUSTIN KNOEPFEL Graphic Designer With Halloween approaching, ideas for costumes are in bloom as much as the season of fall itself. Every year trendy and topical visuals grace the walls of Spirit Halloween and Party City, and, as such, these trends are eaten up by the general populace. People of all ages and backgrounds flock to the stores to buy ready-made costumes, or get more creative and find all the pieces by themselves for a more detailed and authentic looking ensemble. Wigs fly off the shelves so people can truly embody their characters. Whether it’s TV, movies, or even politics, the Halloween season is never short on interesting characters and 2017 is no different.

One of the top grossing films of the year thus far, Stephen King’s “IT” has clearly struck a nerve with people in many different ways, one of which being the copious amount of interest in Pennywise the Dancing Clown as one of the 2017’s most popular costume ideas. Obviously, given the fact that he’s a clown, the scare factor is already present. However, what makes Pennywise such a great character to want to portray for the holiday is the personality and room for characterization by whoever decides to be the demonic entity himself. While Pennywise costumes are being sold at chain stores, it is the makeup that will make anyone’s ensemble really shine. Bill Skarsgård’s iteration of King’s frightening character involves all over white face paint, a bright red lip with a dramatically low bottom lip, and red lines snaking up through his eyes, and a red nose.

The eyebrows are important as well; they are incredibly thin and curved, so it’s a good idea to use a glue stick or gel to smooth down your hairs, apply the white face paint over them, and draw on the brows yourself. For a more classic Pennywise, Tim Curry’s version is just as easy to emulate. A redder wig will make Pennywise look different. His version also has a larger red nose and two small lines going vertically underneath his eyes. His brows are thicker and black, too.

Another popular men’s costume this year is bound to be Jon Snow from HBO’s “Game of Thrones”. The Warden of the North wears a thick coat with black fur on top, which is sure to keep anyone warm during the late October nights. Pair it with a black shirt, black pants, and large black boots. A curly black wig is helpful, but not really necessary if you are a brunette. Finish it off with a sword resembling Snow’s.

Halloween is typically a mixed bag when it comes to women’s costumes. Mostly being horrifically objectifying or simply tacky, the spectrum is fairly short. However, not only would Wonder Woman make for quite the costume piece, but she’d be powerful, important, and just fun to pull off. Wonder Woman, like all superhero costumes, is already a popular pick and has been for many years, but with her long awaited big screen debut shattering expectations and the box office this summer, there’s no better time for Wonder Woman and her lasso of truth. You can go for Gal Gadot’s darker toned costume, or stick with Linda Carter’s bright, classic version. Either way, this costume sure to be empowering and relevant.

Movies always create great opportunities for costumes, but TV is just as ripe with shows like “Game of Thrones”, giving multitudes of options for fans or those wanting to pull off Westerosi style. Of all characters, Daenerys Targaryen is a popular and visually striking one with her bleach blonde hair and intricate wardrobe. A fun touch is to attach a stuffed toy dragon on your shoulder. For this costume, a decent wig is critical. An obviously fake wig looks cheap and trashy. This isn’t to say you need to buy Emilia Clarke’s actual $7,000 wig, but splurging a little can separate the imposters from the real Mother of Dragons. Not only would she make for a great solo costume choice, but it could easily serve a couple’s costume for any Halloween party or occasion, whether the couple be with Snow or her first husband, Khal Drogo. Other “Game of Thrones” costumes sure to be popular this year are Sansa and Arya Stark, sisters who have recently reconvened on screen after seasons of being apart.

Group costumes are another fun way to spice up the holiday. Grab some friends and the possibilities are endless. You can go as the “Scooby-Doo” gang, the Golden Trio from “Harry Potter”, or even a box of different Crayola crayons. Friends might also partner up and dress as the kids from “Stranger Things”. Folks might even want to dress up like the Sanderson sisters from the family-friendly Halloween classic, “Hocus Pocus”, or the iconic red, green, yellow, and blue-clad ladies from the ‘80s cult classic “Heathers”. Dressing up together like different Disney princesses is always a safe and glamorous option.

There is never a lack of great ideas for Halloween costumes, be it from a current box office hit like “Spider-man: Homecoming”, or a horror classic like “A Nightmare on Elm Street”, Halloween is a time to be anybody but yourself and endulge in a strange, scary, and other worldly; pick your costumes wisely.

A creepy Pennywise costume

Wikimedia

FEATURES

October 3, 2017

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Battle of the big screens Which movie theatre in FiDi is better?

KATRINA ALONSO Co-Executive Editor For many, going to the cinema to watch a movie is considered a dying practice, one reserved for the rose-colored days of poodle skirts, milkshakes, and class rings. Of course, that’s partly due to the widespread availability of movies on the Internet—whether through authorized platforms or through pirating websites— which makes it impractical to go out when you can watch a movie in bed, in your pajamas. Another reason, arguably the biggest, is that movie tickets are so expensive these days, especially in New York City. To that, however, I would argue that you are paying to physically see the movie, but you’re paying for the dark, quiet atmosphere of movie theatres; the big, cushy seats that can now recline; the strong smell of buttered popcorn permeating the air; and the sense of camaraderie you feel when watching a movie with a big group of people.

Students at the University only really have two options if they want to enter that distinct atmospheric space: they can either walk one way, to the Regal Battery Park Stadium 11, or towards South Street Seaport, to the iPic Theaters at Fulton Market. These two cinemas offer vastly different experiences at different price points, so it was up to this intrepid reporter and her love for horror movies to figure out which experience was truly worth the money.

The Regal Battery Park Stadium Up until the iPic Theater opened at Seaport in October of last year, the Regal Cinemas at Battery Park was the go-to movie theater for University students.

Even before the new competition, however,

The former Fulton Market, which is where iPic now resides the Regal Cinemas was a perfectly decent theatre, and it has since upped its game.

Every seat at this theatre reclines and includes a button-triggered foot rest.

Recently, the theater also implemented a reserved seating system, meaning you get to choose your seat when you purchase your movie ticket. With this system, you can arrive just before the movie starts and still have great seats. A single adult movie ticket at this theater will run you $16.80 excluding tax, and their concessions menu is generally limited to standard movie theater fare: popcorn, hot dogs, sodas, boxed candies, and a few special snacks like Cinnabon desserts. The fact that this cinema is connected to the Conrad Hotel, a beautifully-designed, upscale hotel makes

A Regal Cinemas location in Springfield, Virginia

Wikimedia

it a good place to meet up with friends, and the area immediately surrounding the entrance offers great choices for dinner before the movie.

The iPic Theaters at Fulton Market iPic Theaters are actually few and far between in the United States: only 16 iPic Theaters exist in the entire country, but each promises “the ultimate theater experience”. The Fulton Market location definitely delivers, but I would be remiss to gloss over the fact that you absolutely get what you pay for here. Like the Regal Cinemas at Battery Park, the iPic Theaters also offers reserved seating, but for a different reason: there are 3 different types of seating at iPic, each of which coming it at a different price and including different

Mark Heckathorn

amenities. First, there is the chaise seating, which are small, bed-like seats that are built for two people. Tickets for the chaise seats cost $20 each, but must be bought together. These seats are at the very front of the theater, but the vantage point they offer isn’t uncomfortable, since they are built at a recline anyway and are still a ways away from the screen. Just behind the chaise seats are the premium seats, which are just like traditional movie theater seats. They don’t recline at all, but they are comfortable and can be bought individually. These, too, cost $20 each.

Finally, there’s the premium plus seating, which takes up most of the theater and offers the best view of the screen and the best service. These seats come in pod-like structures with two seats to a pod, but each seat can be bought individually, unlike the chaise seating. These plush seats recline and include pillows, blankets, unlimited popcorn, and VIP service that will add $12 to each $20 premium plus ticket, putting one seat at $32. That extra $12, however, gives you excellent food service at your seat, where you can choose from a complete (and somewhat pricey) menu of small bites made by award-winning chef Sherry Yard. The theater itself is a swanky-looking maze of plush carpeting, escalators, and edgy art installments.

With all these differences in prices and amenities, it’s nearly impossible to decide which experience is better. The Battery Park cinema is slightly cheaper, and all the seats recline, but the iPic cinema offers a more attractive atmosphere and cooler seats for $5 more. Personally, I prefer the iPic cinema because I believe moviegoing is a full sensory experience and truly elevates the practice of going to the movies. At the end of the day, these are both excellent places to see movies, and your experiences in them will be influenced more by the movie you’re seeing and the people you’re seeing it with than by the amenities of the theaters themselves—however fancy or comfortable they might be.

FEATURES

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October 3, 2017

Making our own quad Finding grassy spaces when Pace has none NATHAN SIEGEL Social Media There’s no denying that, as a city school, the University has fewer places to sit after some friends, walk over the bridge, and enjoy the day while overlooking the Manhattan class with your friends and catch up, do homework, or read a book. There’s no grassy skyline. The park, located in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, is made up of piers quad or rec center; the closest thing we have is the front steps of One Pace Plaza, the and grassy areas surrounding them and looks out onto the East River. After a relaxing Honors Lounge, and the courtyard. Due to the construction, however, the front steps, the afternoon at the park, the neighborhoods near the park are also great for fall walks, and benches by the old Wall Mall, the student union, the Spruce street ledge, and the courtyard lined with trees that will give you that specific yet fantastic leaves-crunching-under-yourshoe feeling that only fall can bring. are all unavailable. So, when you want to hang with a friend City Hall Park (pictured), directly across from One Pace but don’t necessarily want to be cooped up in a tiny dorm room or Plaza, is small but close to campus, and you’re bound to see some apartment, where should you go? fellow Setters students utilizing Here’s a list of five fall-friendly public spaces near campus to take the ceramic benches around the advantage of in the fall while the fountain as a place to read, talk on the phone, or do homework. renovations take place: There are also always hot dog The Bowling Green is a stands surrounding the entrance, small park at the southern end of Broadway, and the oldest park in so there’s nothing stopping you New York City. For University from grabbing a quick snack from somewhere other than the caf. students, the historic grassy Seaport is, of course, one of stretch serves as an excellent the most popular places to spend location to sit around the large time in the Financial District, fountain at the center of the park and study while enjoying the and with a plethora of stores and many trees surrounding the park eateries nearby, the elevated acre and benches by the water are an that will surely give off vibrant ideal place to spend a day, and fall vibes once the leaves change. maybe even catch a movie at the The Brooklyn Bridge Park on the Brooklyn side of the iPic theaters down the block after bridge is a perfect place to gather City Hall park, which has benches for students to sit on Wikimedia your homework is done.

Hurry to Hester Street MAE MARTINEZ Contributor The Hester Street Fair is a one-of-a-kind cultural and community gathering, showcasing the most talented and great-tasting elements the New York City community has to offer. The fair was founded in 2010 by three Lower East Side locals with a mission “to empower pursuits of passion.” Without a doubt, the Hester Street Fair does just that.

The fair is home to various businesses that have set up to share their products to the public, so you never know what treasures you will find when you walk under the Hester Street arch. You can discover anything from

People enjoying the Fair on Saturday, Sept. 30

handmade fanny packs to delicious macarons! Enjoy all of this under the canopies of trees with changing leaves and fall in the air.

You won’t be disappointed because the fair has every vendor and event you could imagine; they even hosted a runway fashion show during fashion week. Whether you’re working a booth, coming to visit, or just a simple passerby, The Hester Street Fair is bound to be a fun time for any person.

The fair also has various themed events which contributes to the amazing cultural aspect of the community get together. A popular theme this year was Wellness Weekend, where an outdoor yoga class was

Mae Martinez

held, as well as a dance class, and a self-defense class.

A crowd favorite and hopefully annual theme was the Ice Cream Social, where New York’s best ice cream vendors competed for the title of “Best Ice-Cream.” This particular theme drew in 5,000 people in one afternoon, including Leonardo DiCaprio and his mom, according to the Hester Street Fair website. The fair hosted Jamaican Independence Day, which celebrated the occasion with live music and culture and also supported the Lower East Side Girls Club during their Girl Power event with all female vendors.

Not only does the Hester Street Fair provide a fun outing for New Yorkers, but it also supports the diverse community around it. Supporting difference in the community and the many passions these vendors are working towards is a great aspect the fair offers. Visitors will leave the fair knowing you not only enjoyed yourself, but made a difference in the atmosphere and development of the community.

The Fair is weekly, every Saturday, with special events on selected days throughout the week. One of the most popular is HBO Monday Night Movies in Bryant Park. Hester Street Fair provides the food scene for the movie nights, which is a summer long event that hosts over 10,000 people each week. Don’t forget to check this out after you Saturday spent at the Hester Street Fair!

There is no denying the Fair’s success. Last year, the fair welcomed over 350,000 visitors and among the many business at the events, nearly 40 of them making their first dollar. In fact, some of these businesses established locations in the city and beyond, such as Macaron Parlour, Melt Baker, Gordos Cantina, Osako Grub, Peetie’s Pie, La New Yorkina, Arancini Bros, Cheeky Sandwich and many more.

The Hester Street Fair is a family friendly event and will create memories to last the year. Come to enjoy some intriguing food, visit antique shops, listen to some live music, and usher in autumn.

FEATURES

October 3, 2017

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Master Plan Fast Facts KELSEY NICHOLSON Features Editor

Phase One is to be completed fall 2018 The whole plan is to be completed in 2020 Phase One costs $53 million There is a $100 million construction fund The total Master Plan will cost $190 million One Pace Plaza • • • •

41 Park Row

Large Student Center and bookstore on the first floor, with offices in the basement New “modern” entrance with grand staircase on first floor New Lubin entrance from the courtyard with a Lubin lobby and graduate student lounge Long term plan adds two floors to the west side

• • • •

First and second floors are Dyson spaces, with advising and a lounge New Spruce Street entrance There will be an art gallery to display student work There will be a lower level den for students to relax in

Getting rid of the filter Why we all have finstas

SOPHIA CARLIN Contributor As we all know, you can learn a great deal about a person by looking at their Instagram, but in actuality, you can learn only a little. That is, if you are looking at their Rinsta. But if you peek at their Finsta, you may learn everything you never knew you wanted to know. People share their deepest secrets, regrets, and dayto-day occurences, often partnered with a candid photo or a meme. So, why do we care to follow or have a Finsta? What is the appeal here?

For those of you who are still wondering as to what a Finsta or Rinsta is, a Finsta is a “fake Instagram account,” and a Rinsta is a “real Instagram account.”

The words “real” and “fake” should be inverted because on a Finsta, the content is private, only followers can view, and is very unapologetically candid. A Rinsta account is the type of Instagram you normally encounter with heavily filtered images of a person and their best friend, posing in an outfit perfectly complimenting the color scheme of the background, and smiling gloriously with a mouth full of blindingly white teeth. The appeal of a Finsta account comes from the following things; effort, the protection of privacy, and our undying need for connection, If you were to look at my Rinsta, you would conclude that I

am passionate about theatre, love my family, am a bit goofy, and work with a lot of inspiring and wonderful people. There is enough quirk in my Rinsta that makes me stand out a bit, but nothing harmful or off-putting that I could not show to potential employers, my utilitarian family members, or strangers. A lot of effort is taken in what I post on my Rinsta to maintain this image. Most of my posts are promotions for shows or projects I am in, so they must include all the ticket information, dates, what the show is about, and appropriate hashtags. The photo selected is approved by all of us involved, and any edits I make do not distort the image in any commercially unappealing way. To post one of these images, it takes me, on average, at least fifteen minutes, which is as long as one episode of “Adventure Time”, to put it in perspective.

However, on my Finsta, I do not spend more than one minute on a post because my content on that account is essentially my authentic self. My captions are what I am feeling, what I’m concerned about, what I’m thinking, and just about anything and everything I would share with my close friends, which are the ones who follow it. It has photos of me that I would never post on my Rinsta, double-chins, pimples, and crossed-eyes galore.

When I arrived for my freshman year at the University in 2016, I had just gotten a Finsta

for the sole purpose of being able to update my friends back home on all my adventures here in New York City, without the worries of people I do not trust or who are not familiar with me judging my posts. I have found that my Finsta has morphed since then into more of an open-book diary, with more captions ending in the realm of “am I right?” than a period. Finstas have become a way for someone to feel direct validation. Every like is validation of your opinions, emotions, or statements without the worry of backlash from outsiders. Even if a Finsta follower does not agree with you, the follower is still a person you are comfortable enough with to talk about it or be cordial to, despite the difference. There is no risk in Finstaland, except maybe losing a few likes.

Your Finsta becomes your safe space. A place to blog to an audience who you know will listen. A place to show off your cute self to an audience who you know will support you. A place to rant to an audience who you know will comment “AMEN!” and “I love you!!!” every time. Finstas give us the feeling that people love us for us, not a fake carbon-copy of us that you see on our Rinsta. You get immediate validation in return for spilling some tea, dropping some bombs, or throwing some shade here and there, and who doesn’t want that?

An example of a post that would go on a “Rinsta”

Sophia Carlin

An example of a post that would go on a “Finsta”

Sophia Carlin

16 www.thepacepress.org

October 3, 2017

FEATURES

Falling into fall KELSEY NICHOLSON Features Editor Summer 2017 was abhorrently hot, and the high temperatures continued straight into the beginning of fall. The first day of autumn was Sept. 23, and the week after was filled with highs of 85 and 90 degrees. Even with the elevated temperatures, it is not too hard to get into the October spirit.

While temperatures stay hot, it will be difficult to transition into sweaters, leggings, and warm jackets. Until it cools down, students can wear darker lipstick colors and thicker eyeliner, as well as dye their hair darker or paint their nails maroon, black, or brown. Even if people are still wearing shorts, boots are never a bad option, and scarves with tank tops or t-shirts can still look great. It is time to break out the flannel patterns and corduroy, whether it be in shirts, jackets, skirts, or pants.

Another way to get into the fall is to decorate your dorm or apartment. Many stores like Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, or even Lot Less are selling inexpensive decorations that can make your living space feel cozier. Pumpkin or apple scented candles will work wonders (in an apartment—University housing forbids lit candles inside residence halls). For those in dorms, Glade wall plug-ins or incense can provide the same aroma with more safety. Live or plastic pumpkin decorations can also set the tone for the season, while ghosts, witches and bats can show that you are ready for Halloween to come. You can also buy fake cobwebs to put in corners or drape on top of desks and dressers.

A good way to really start embracing the season is to watch the best Halloween movies. While “It” conquers in theatres, and “mother!” provides a creepy escape, there are also scary (or just spooky) films on streaming services. Netflix has family-friendly movies like “Coraline”, “Scooby-Doo”, and “The Addams Family”, and horror favorites like “The Shining”, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, and “Children of the Corn”. There are also creepy shows to stream, like “American Horror Story”, “Scream”, and “Bates Motel”.

Great Halloween movies that are elsewhere include “Hocus Pocus”, “Beetlejuice”, “Edward Scissorhands”, and “Casper”. University sophomore Xander Tielemans said, “My favorite Halloween movie is ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’. Tim Burton is so creative, and all the Halloween characters are enjoyable.”

Here in the city, there are also many fall-themed activities you can participate in. A walk through Central Park can set the mood once the leaves start changing colors. The ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center opens on Oct. 7, and there’s nothing that says the weather is about to get colder like ice skating. There are also several parades (including

Union Square when the leaves changed colors

James and Karla Murray

a dog parade) that will help University students welcome fall. It is also a good time to go into the country to a pumpkin patch. Make sure to pick out one that will fit in your dorm, or leave it outside your door as if there were trick-or-treaters coming.

The best part of fall is undoubtedly the food. While it is not time for Thanksgiving yet, autumn recipes can make you feel at home. While the pumpkin spice latte is a fall favorite, there is also hot apple cider or hot chocolate you can buy at most mainstream coffee shops. However, don’t ignore all of your chances to go apple picking in the country.

You can use it as a fun fall activity, and then use the apples in plenty of fall recipes like apple crumble or caramel apples.

Autumn is the best season of the year, and a great time to spend with friends. Make sure to bring people along on your autumn adventures. Fall is a time of togetherness, and there are plenty of opportunities to make lasting friendships.

I S S S M E O R P B ILE E H T

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continued from PAGE 2 the situation: Trump openly criticized Puerto Rican leadership and media handling of the storm on Twitter.

Dr. Garcia-Rodriguez notes, “While some politicians are congratulating themselves about the great job that is being done to aid Puerto Rico, the images that I see on the news channels tell a different story. It seems like the aid has been slow in arriving and in being distributed to the people. Certainly, [Carmen Yulin Cruz], the mayor of San Juan, which is the capital city, makes daily pleas for help… It is a region of the world that is often referred to as ‘hurricane alley.’ Were there resources ready in case of

a natural disaster? It doesn’t seem so. Was there a federal plan in case of such a disaster? It doesn’t seem so.”

As of right now, details about Puerto Rican recovery are vague. It is estimated that some parts of the island will be without electricity for up to six months, and over half the population does not have access to clean drinking water.

Numerous celebrities, notably Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and Lin-Manuel Miranda, have made prominent donations and released promotional items to aid in relief efforts, as the Armed Forces continues to deploy federal resources.

Dr. Garcia-Rodriguez also notes of another situation that

Maria will bring, “Now, the hurricane will probably send many more Puerto Ricans to the U.S. mainland. Is another ‘West Side Story’ possible? Probably not, since Puerto Ricans are not coming to NYC as they did in the past, but have migrated to other states, especially Florida.” The Puerto Rican population has been steadily decreasing, with many relocating to the continental state in search of work, and a dramatic drop as a result of Hurricane Maria will only worsen the territory’s depleted economic state.