April 7, 2016
Est. 1948
Volume 67 | Issue 10
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NEWS
April 7, 2016
Clinton staffer gets immunity from the government melanie GUptaR Staff Writer
Earlier this March, Bryan Pagliano, a former staffer of Democratic Presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton was granted immunity by the Department of Justice in exchange for information on Clinton’s private email server. Clinton’s emails have been a cause for concern in recent months, as the legality of her actions is put into question. With presidential primaries underway, there has been a tremendous amount of pressure on the presidential hopeful to release all her emails to ensure that no classified information was put at risk. The DOJ granted Pagliano immunity in the hopes that he would be willing to give up all the information necessary. By granting Pagliano immunity, it means that the DOJ cannot bring any charges against him either now or later pertaining to this case, should they find any wrong doing on his part. It is unlikely that charges against Pagliano would have come about in the first place, since the DOJ decided to grant him immunity after he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against selfincrimination. University student Prabjoot Lally says, “It’s just makes her look very suspicious that one of her own staffers needed immunity against the e-mails case, which were classified after becoming a presidential candidate.” At the March 9 Democratic debate, Clinton was asked if she would quit the presidential race if she were to be indicted. She responded with, “I’m not concerned; I’m not worried about it, and no Democrat or American should be, either.” Clinton emphasizes that the private sever she had set up was permitted, as well as the fact that her predecessors had used the same methods. The investigation is centered on whether Clinton or her staffers knew that they were sending classified emails through an unsecured server. This causes concern amongst other presidential hopefuls, such as Republican Senator Ted Cruz who commented on “The Kelly File” earlier this week saying that Pagliano’s immunity, “suggests that the legal jeopardy is getting greater and greater.” Whether this could hinder Clinton’s chances of being elected in November is up to the court. University student Alec Struvera says, “There is a lot of corruption that’s keeping Clinton from being indicted, she has a lot of people backing her to ensure that she stays in the presidential race.” As pressure continues to build, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Clinton’s boss, says she will not allow Clinton to be indicted, since it is up to her whether or not Clinton will be put in front of a grand jury. Former Attorney General Michael Mikasey does not agree with Lynch, writing in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that, “bringing criminal, charges against Hillary Clinton is justified as evidence mounts of malfeasance in her handling of classified information on her private email server while secretary of state.” Many politicians have spoken out against Lynch, calling her refusal to bring charges a “political move” until after election season is over. Democrats in the House and Senate are hopeful Clinton will take the win in November, so the delay for an indictment would be in their best interests. Clinton continues to maintain her innocence and said that she is “100 percent confident” that nothing will come of the scandal.
Bryan Pagliano, a former staff member for Hillary Clinton
The Washington Times
NEWS
April 7, 2016
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Texas abortion law reaches Supreme Court HB2 threatens the rights of women in Texas
autostraddle.com anna yesilevskiy Staff Writer Three years ago, Texas legislators passed HB2, a law that enforces restrictions on abortion clinics, including requiring doctors to obtain admitting privileges at local hospitals that are not further than thirty miles away and abortion clinics having to meet building requirements to be considered mini-hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers. Due to this law, 19 out of 41 clinics in Texas have been forced to close, and there has been an increase in costs in the remaining abortion clinics. In addition, women now have to go through extra steps to get a safe and legal abortion. In April 2014, the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit claiming that the requirements of the law are a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution, as they create barriers to safe and legal abortions that unduly burden women’s rights. In August, the federal district court found that the requirements of the HB2 law imposed an unconstitutional burden on women’s access to abortion. Following this, in October, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a ruling that stated that the law would be enforced while the case moved forward. During June 2015, the Fifth Circuit ruled in favor of the requirements. Thus, Texas was authorized to enforce the law and all abortion clinics in the state were required to follow these news standards. A few months later, the
Whole Woman’s Health abortion clinic in McAllen filed a petition for the Supreme Court to review the case. This case reached the Supreme Court last week and there is currently a split in decision among the Justices over it. If a split were to happen, then the Texas law would stand, but there would be no national precedent set. Justice Anthony Kennedy’s decision is anticipated to be the deciding vote. If the court splits 4-4, then the law would still be enforced; clinics that are not ambulatory surgical centers would have to close and admitting privileges would still be required. However, if Kennedy votes against the HB2 law, the Texas law would be declared unconstitutional and all of the requirements under the law would be overturned. Texas politicians, including Governor Rick Perry and State Representative Jodie Laubenberg, made their opinions regarding the HB2 law clear. Perry commented, “An ideal world is one without abortion. Until then, we will continue to pass laws to ensure that they are rare as possible.” Laubenberg similarly said, “I am so proud that Texas always takes the lead in trying to turn back what started with Roe v. Wade.” In opposition, Amy Hagstrom Miller, the chief executive of Whole Woman’s Health, said, “These laws are tantamount to an outright ban for too many.” Dr. Willie Parker, who performs abortions in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, said that if the Texas law is not ruled unconstitutional, “it won’t mean fewer
unintended pregnancies. It won’t mean fewer fatally
I am pro-life, but then again every woman should have a say over her body.. -Rebecca Sikar, Freshmen
flawed pregnancies. It will mean women will be left without a safe and legal means of ending pregnancy.” University students also gave their opinions on the case. Senior Kristina Mema said, “I think abortion is a topic people will never see eye to eye on. I am pro-life, but then again every woman should have say over her body and what she wants.” Another University student, freshman Rebecca Sikar, commented, “I am pro abortion. I think that every woman should have the right to do what she wants. There are many different circumstances that one may have where having a baby is just not an option. For Texas to close down almost half of their abortion clinics is just not right.” The outcome of this case we will be known in a few months as the decision should be made and announced in June.
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NEWS
A “Fight for 15” protest in New York
April 7, 2016
labornotes.org
New York raises minimum wage and adds paid leave asia letlow Features Intern New York City’s minimum wage is set to reach $15 dollars an hour by the end of 2018, as declared in a budget agreement signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in accompaniment of other state legislators. Though minimum wage will rise for the city, the increase will not be seen statewide for a longer time. According to The New York Times, it will take longer for suburban counterparts to catch up to the change; places such as Long Island and Westchester will not see a wage increase until around 2022, in which their minimum wage is projected to be a mere $12.50, rising seventy cents every year until then. New York City follows behind other states and cities to reach fifteen dollars an hour; San Francisco initiated the change shortly beforehand, as did Seattle, with the entirety of California following suit. As of December 2015, the New York State Minimum Wage Law in Article 19 of the labor law mandated that all workers receive pay at the rate of 9 dollars an hour, with modifications between workers in the fast food, hospitality, and domestic
spheres. The standard 2016 increase, up 25 cents from its original $8.75 an hour, is not consistent with other parts of the state-there will be as many as six different hourly wages, statewide, in the coming months. They range from $9.70 to $12.00. Factors taken into consideration when determining the respective amounts were tips, where applicable, made by employees in the aforementioned fields, and the number of workers staffed in a company. Despite recent protests in the city urging the change, this reformation has mixed reviews; as per the Empire Center for Public Policy, the increase may eliminate 200,000 jobs in New York State. In a New York Daily News article by Glenn Blain, Cuomo refuted this data, stating, “Our proposal will lift families out of poverty and create a stronger economy for all, and I urge lawmakers to help us fight for fair pay for working families this year.” Hesitance to jump aboard this economic increase is not just central to New York, but in its predecessor, California, as well. Inflation is a common concern-noted Ben Zipperer, in a New York Times article, “Just as the benefits of this
policy are likely to be greater because it covers a greater share of the work force than for past minimum wage increases, the risk of these costs is also higher.” The Fight for 15, having gained popularity through social media and myriad other platforms, rallied for such an amendment in thousands of cities. The movement began in New York in 2012, with city fast food workers spearheading the cause by going on strike. Despite the potential avenues it can create for those in financial distress, the new imposition still fails to convince skeptics. “The thing is, minimum wage jobs are not meant to be careers,” said University sophomore Sierra Cossingham. She continued, “They are not meant for people to live on them, so to raise [minimum wage] to fifteen dollars an hour is not helping anyone.” Some have experienced the challenges a low minimum wage can pose firsthand. “As a girl who grew up with a parent who’s trying to make a living on three different minimum wage jobs, I do think that it should be raised at some point,” said sophomore Charlotte Wright, who later expressed her mother’s difficulty
under such circumstances-she works three jobs, all of insufficient pay. “My mom has two degrees but cannot find a job in her field. We need to have somewhere to live, and needs to make ends meet,” she stated later. Wright concurred that increases in wages ought to reflect the worker’s progress and loyalty to the company. Another point in the new budget plan is a 12 week paid family leave, the most comprehensive in the nation. This plan includes caring for a newborn infant, ailing family member or to stay with loved one before they are called to military duty. Small businesses are not except from this rule. Like the wage raise, this program will be gradually phased in to reach the full 12 week program, as well as full paid leave, by 2021. Within two years, workers will be eligible for eight week leave at half of their pay, and then 10 weeks at 67% of their pay by 2020. In the wake of such political charge, people have an array of views regarding the wage increase, and it seems as though the prospects of it will be murkier before they are clearer.
NEWS
April 7, 2016
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Violence in Europe continues with Brussels attack Chase Ballas News Editor On Mar. 22, suicide bombers ignited at least one bomb in train, and at least two in an airport, in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium. In the attacks, claimed to be executed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, killed a total of at least 35 people, and injuring at least 270; at least four Americans abroad died in the attacks. The attack put the European continent on high alert, still in shock over the November attack in Paris, France. On Apr. 3, 12 days after the attack that destroyed the main terminal, the Brussels Airport reopened to service flights in and out of the country. The opening is being seen as a symbol of hope and recovery, with new security measures being added to the airport, including vehicle spot checks, closing the drop off parking outside of the terminal and screening all people, their identifications, travel documents and baggage prior to entering the facility. In
addition, nine people have been arrested with connections to the attacks in Brussels and Paris. The Brussels attack has refocused the American election to focus on national security. Republican candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz has reinforced their agendas about MuslimAmericans, with Cruz commenting, “We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized… If you have a neighborhood that is plagued by gang activity, it is standard and good law enforcement to stop the gang members and take them off the street.” There was also criticism about President Barack Obama, who was visiting Cuba during that attack. The Democratic candidates both opposed the Republican ideas of patrolling MuslimAmericans, with Hillary Clinton saying that, “I want them [the Muslim community] to feel like they are part of our defense, not that they’re being insulted and isolated and left out.”
washingtontimes.com
saRah haRtzell Arts Editor
Christie endorses Trump
Governor Chris Christie, once the darling of brash New Jersey politics, is quickly losing favor in the Garden State. After his lackluster presidential campaign came to end on Feb. 10 and his subsequent endorsement of Donald Trump, Christie has found himself in hot water with New Jerseyans. Six newspapers across the state have called for his resignation, citing his prolonged absence from the state and his surprising endorsement of Trump. The Gannett-owned papers published a joint editorial on Mar. 1, saying there were “fed up” with Christie’s arrogance, opportunism, hypocrisy, and neglect of his constituency. Christie spent 261 days out of state in 2015, travelling on the taxpayers’ dime, and continues to travel even though his own campaign is over, to stump for Trump. The papers also cite Christie’s disrespect of journalist and refusal to answer questions as evidence of his misunderstanding and disdain for proper democracy. “Press conferences in which reporters have had an opportunity to question Christie on any subject have been a rarity since the George Washington Bridge fiasco more than two years ago,” wrote The Asbury Park Press. “Christie fails to acknowledge the role the Fourth Estate plays in a healthy democracy. Reporters have an obligation to ask questions on behalf of the public; government officials have an obligation to answer them… In refusing to be accountable to the press, he is refusing accountability to New Jersey’s citizens.” The outrage comes on the heels of Christie’s endorsement of Donald Trump, someone “who disagrees with him on virtually every important issue,” said the papers. Trump has been a controversial figure in New Jersey for years due to his involvement in the long decline of Atlantic City. Trump has owned several properties in Atlantic City over the last 30 years, many of which have since gone bankrupt. Trump Plaza closed in the summer of
2015 and Trump Taj Mahal has been on the verge of closing since filing for bankruptcy last May. These bankruptcies left creditors, contractors, and vendors with less than one percent of what Trump Entertainment Resorts owed them. Trump frequently clashed with local and state lawmakers over development of the city. In 1997, Trump sued to block the construction of a tunnel connecting the Atlantic City Expressway to the Marina District because it would lead closest to a proposed casino from one of his competitors. He publicly disparaged efforts to improve roadways leading into the city from Brigantine, NJ, and a monorail along Missouri Avenue. Christie has also become notorious in the Garden State for his mishandling of the Atlantic City economic crisis. Trump’s fallen Atlantic City empire was not a singularity: starting in the late 1990s, casinos started opening in the Philadelphia metro area, Las Vegas went through a renaissance, and casino mogul Steve Wynn pulled out of his proposed Mirage Atlantic City. Tourism dropped as Atlantic City failed diversify its attractions as other cities did—boxing went to Las Vegas, WrestleMania to Los Angeles, and any number of beaches are a mere plane ride away—and the recession in the 2000s halted any planned expansions. The state legislature offered tax credits to new investors, despite major public opposition, and in 2010, newlyinaugurated Gov. Christie offered Revel Entertainment Group $261 million in credits to build the Revel Casino. In Feb. 2013, less than a year after it opened, the Revel filed for bankruptcy, and re-filed a year in June 2014 after a failed restructuring. It was put up for sale but received no suitable bids and closed permanently in Sept. 2014. In 2010, Christie and state lawmakers made what amounted to a bad bet: they took control of the tourist half of Atlantic City, including all 11 casinos, and put it in the hands of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, a state agency funded by casino taxes. Thomas Carver, the then-head of CRDA, publicly spoke out
against the decision and was forced out by Christie. “The people involved in this, if you took a thimble and put their knowledge of Atlantic City in it, it wouldn’t fill it,” Carver later told The Washington Post. The CRDA spent millions of dollars on public art projects and new slogans that were heavily mocked by New Jerseyans. The city’s slogan “Do A.C.” was translated by locals into “D.O.A. A.C.” Casino revenue dropped by nearly half from 2006 to 2013, which amounts to an 8% tax revenue decrease for the state, funds which are allocated to senior citizen and disabled citizen programs. Rather than try a new tactic, Christie doubled down on his bet. The state legalized online gambling in 2013. This helped quell casino tax losses, but did nothing to bring people to Atlantic City. Christie then legalized sports betting in Atlantic City’s casinos, but federal law prohibited such betting. The state’s challenge to that law is now in the federal court of appeals. The state government is considering a complete takeover of the city and has already announced that it is taking control of Atlantic City’s finances for the next fives years. Throughout this battle, Christie has made enemies of just about everyone in his path: the Republican mayor of Atlantic City resents the big-government approach to his constituency, developers and politicians in North Jersey— particularly the Meadowlands—are angered by his refusal to end the state-sanctioned gambling monopoly in Atlantic City, and South Jersey unions and Democrats are frustrated with his handling of their biggest source of jobs. Now, after finding his approval rating at an alltime low, Christie has spent considerable time out of the state on the presidential campaign trail with the man whose name is plastered all over Atlantic City’s failures. And New Jerseyans are fed up. “New Jersey needs someone whose full attention is devoted to making life better for New Jersey’s citizens,” wrote The Asbury Park Press. “That won’t happen until Christie steps down or is forced out.”
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April 7, 2016
THE PACE PRESS editoRial BoaRd Christian Gomez Editor maximilliano onofre Executive Editor ashley spencer Advertising Manager Chase Ballas News Editor sarah hartzell Arts Editor natalie Carolina Condrillo Features Editor deniah Cagara Graphic Design traci thomas Social Media dr. stephanie hsu Faculty Consultant
April 5, 2016 Peter Fingesten Art Gallery Pace University 1 Pace Plaza, B Level New York, New York 10038
The Peter Fingesten Galley is pleased to present “Loss | Connection,” an exhibition that features new works of art by current Pace University students from different academic majors, diverse backgrounds, and distinct points view. The show is curated by Courtneigh Summerrise and is the first exhibition at Pace University to be curated by an undergraduate student and Art History major. The exhibition will be on view from April 5 to April 15, 2016. The opening reception will take place on Tuesday, April 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. 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. 902 New York, NY 10038 www.thepacepress.org editor@pacepress.org Copyright 2014
The theme of the exhibition addresses the connection that people have to objects, others, and parts of the past, that have been lost. The vertical bar in the exhibition title, in the context of computer programming, represents a redirection. It is applied to the title of this show to conceptually represent the redirection and change associated with a lingering connection to something lost, a memory, a way of being or an attachment, which is transformed into something new. Each piece in the show is related to a specific type of emotional tie to a way of life that took place before a traumatic loss. The inspiration for the show draws on contemporary video art and documentation. Brooke Stoker’s video, Where Mud Abounds, Living and Capturing on the Long Trail (2016) evokes the narrator as a victim of lost time. Elisabeth Chambry deals with the theme of regret for a lost opportunity in her work, Be (2016). An expression about the loss of normality can be seen in Ashley Epping’s work, Restriction (2015). Sometimes individuals and communities are able to use loss as a catalyst for transformation - a transformation that must occur to guarantee survival. The works of art are part of the process of recuperating, reinventing, and recreating the loss into a new way of being. About the Curator Courtneigh Summerrise is a senior Art History major graduating in May, 2016. She is the President of the Pace University student club called Collage, the Art and Art History Club. In addition to her work in Art History, Courtneigh has completed a minor in Arts and Entertainment Management. In New York City, she has worked as a gallery assistant at the Peter Fingesten Gallery, the Gallery Nine5, and the Richard Tattinger Gallery. This show is dedicated to her grandmother, Dorothy Locke, who inspired the theme of the exhibition. The exhibition, “ Loss | Connection,” is supported by the Art Department, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Pace University, and sponsored by the Art History faculty member, Dr. Lisa Farber.
April 7, 2016
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ARTS
Aaron Carter back at it again Sarah Hartzell Arts Editor Definitely call it a comeback. 2000s heartthrob Aaron Carter released his first solo single in over a decade, “Fool’s Gold,” an apt title for its April 1 release. The song is a Zayn Malik-esque electronic R&B track, the first off his upcoming album “LøVë.” Carter also released the video for the song costarring his on-again-off-again girlfriend of two years Lee Karis. At the height of his career in the early 2000s, Carter had a triple-platinum album and was opening for two of the biggest pop stars in the world: Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. But by the time he turned 18, he found himself in deep financial trouble, as his parents had taken a large portion of his earnings and had $5 million in tax liens. Nine years later, Carter received Chapter 7 bankruptcy, an act of mercy from the judge because Carter said he did not want his parents to be sent to prison for violating statutory laws and labor laws.
US Magazine
The former child pop star has been slowly re-emerging into the public light, but generally not for artistic reasons. In 2014, he publically declared his undying love for fellow former child star Hilary Duff, which Duff called “weird.” Carter was caught in a love triangle with Duff and and Lindsay Lohan in 2002, before his star began to fade. Carter also made headlines for endorsing Donald Trump in February, tweeting “Does America want to have a
president who FOLLOWS or someone who leads? I vote For @realdonaldtrump.” He received quite a bit of negative feedback for his comments, but he defended his right to an opinion, as well as the right of his followers to disagree. But now Carter is capitalizing on his former heartthrob status, going full Bieber in his new video and building a more mature image than the prepubescent fame that has followed him to this point; the halfnaked models and body paint in “Fool’s Gold” are far more “Pillowtalk” than “Aaron’s Party.” It even uses a similar kaleidoscope effect to Malik’s video. Despite his past financial trouble, Carter has continued to make music and self-fund his work. He produces his own music, designs his own merchandise, and even directed the “Fool’s Gold” video. “LøVë” has been 14 years in the making for Carter’s label Rakkaus Records. “'The ‘LøVë’ album and ‘Fool’s Gold’ era has been D.I.Y. hustle since day one,” Carter told Billboard. “Everything from the production, songwriting, mixing, photoshoots, music videos, packaging and distribution have been a collective involvement from a team I like to call ‘Team Fool’s Gold.’” The album will be released later this year and “Fool’s Gold” is now available for purchase on iTunes.
ARTS
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Dolce & Gabbana debuts “Slave Sandal” amoReena CRispino Editorial Intern Dolce & Gabbana, a worldfamous Italian fashion brand, just recently released their Spring 2016 collection on their website. Dolce & Gabbana have never failed to impress with their high-end apparel, but there have been some controversial issues brewing ever since the general public saw one particular item in this collection: the $2400 “Slave Sandal.” The company has been in the spotlight for controversial issues previous to this year. They have been questioned for many aspects of their company, such as earrings depicting African women and Asian models representing tourists in Italy. Dolce & Gabbana is clearly no stranger to criticisms of racism, but this newest topic might be their most controversial yet. The word “slave” is used to describe the heavily-adorned laceup strappy sandals. That term has a negative and racist connotation, so the name for these types of sandals has generally been replaced by the term “gladiator. Outside of D&G, there are other companies using the term as a fashion statement. This past February, online marketplace ASOS faced controversy because they had the word “slave” printed on t-shirt, modeled by a black man. The “Slave Sandal in Napa Leather with Pompoms,” or more simply the Slave Sandal, is available online on the Dolce & Gabbana website for $2,395. The brand describes the shoes as “a declaration of love to Italy.” Social media has boomed with tweets and posts from furious and appalled customers all over the world. Not only are Internet users criticizing the name of the sandal, but also the appearance. One tweet reads, “That’s a ‘Slave Sandal’? It looks like a tragic accident between some craft materials and a hot glue gun.” After the Slave Sandal gained a large amount of negative attention, Dolce & Gabbana seemed to notice.
The brand has since changed the description of the sandal to just “Decorative Flat Sandal.” This change of description and the whole sandal situation gained so much attention that some celebrities started to get involved. Sir Elton John actually started a boycott against Dolce & Gabbana and many others hopped on the bandwagon. The brand is regularly seen on the red carpet and in celebrity tabloids, but now those able to afford the luxury designs are refusing to represent something that involves racism. After students at the University got word of this controversial topic, they began to speak out. Freshman Averi Thummel says, “I have never been big into name brands, especially really expensive ones, but this is kind of ridiculous. Comparing a shoe to slavery is not okay in anyway, especially in today’s society. Even if the shoes were $10 and looked cute, I would not purchase them just because of the name alone.” Another student, Julia Coloso, says, “Dolce & Gabbana is such a well-known company and it surprises me that they didn’t think twice when naming these shoes. Aren’t they smarter than that? I mean I guess their job is to make clothes, not be politically correct, right?” Dolce & Gabbana has a history of shirking political correctness; their Spring 2013 collection featured earrings in the image of black women’s disembodied heads, and designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana made headlines last year after their disparaging remarks about same-sex couples and in vitro fertilization sparked a boycott of their products. Their Spring 2016 show also featured Chineseinspired designs worn exclusively by Asian models. Cultural insensitivity may be a trend for this brand, but its designers may do well to learn that for the rest of the world it is certainly not en vogue.
dolcegabbana.com
April 7, 2016
ARTS
April 7, 2016
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Child star Patty Duke dies Sarah Hartzell Arts Editor
NPR
Oscar winner and former child actress Patty Duke passed away on March 29 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She was 69 years old. A native of Queens, New York, Duke survived a difficult childhood with a clinically depressed mother and an alcoholic mother. At the age of eight, she was put in the care of talent managers John and Ethel Ross. The Rosses were exploitative managers, lying about Duke’s age and credits, giving her alcohol and prescription drugs, making sexual advances towards her, and forcing her to change her name from Anna Marie to Patty. Duke was successful, though, landing spots in soap operas and television commercials, as well as winning $32,000 on “The $64,000 Question,” about which she later had to testify before Congress regarding the rigging of the game show. Her big break came with the role of Helen Keller in the Broadway play “The Miracle Worker” costarring Anne Bancroft. Duke won an Oscar for best supporting
actress for the 1962 film adaptation. She went on to star in “The Patty Duke Show” and won Emmy awards for several made-for-TV movies, including “The Miracle Worker,” this time playing Annie Sullivan. Over the course of her career, she was nominated for ten Emmy awards and won three, as well as two Golden Globe awards. She was elected president of the Screen Actors’ Guild in 1985, making her only the second woman to hold the position. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1982, Duke became a vocal advocate for mental health causes. She was one of the first public figures to speak openly about her experiences with mental illness and used her fame to lobby Congress and work with the National Institute of Mental Health to increase awareness and funding for mental health research. Duke is survived by her husband Michael Pearce and sons Sean Astin, Mackenzie Astin, and Kevin Pearce. They have asked for contributions to the Patty Duke Mental Health Initiative in their mother’s honor.
Zaha Hadid, influential architect, dies of heart attack Amoreena Crispino Editorial Intern Mar. 31, Zaha Hadid died from a heart attack at the age of 65. The heart attack was a result of bronchitis, for which she was being treated in a Miami hospital. Hadid was the first female and Muslim architect to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which she received in 2004. She was also the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2012 and became the first woman to be awarded the RIBA Gold Medal in 2015. Hadid was born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1950 and later studied mathematics at the American University in Beirut. She moved to London in 1972 and began to study architecture at the Architectural Association. When she graduated in 1977, she joined the Office of Metropolitan Architecture. During this time, Hadid also taught at the Architectural Association. In 1980, she began her own practice in London and won the competition for the Hong Kong Peak Club, a leisure and recreational center in 1983. Along with her private practice, Hadid continued to be involved in academics. She held chairs and guest professorships at Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Columbia University, and universities across Europe. Hadid never married nor had children. She claimed, “If architecture doesn’t kill you, then you’re no good… I mean, really – you have to go at it full time.” A large number of Hadid’s works are held in museum collections and her architecture has been shown in exhibitions worldwide. Some of her most accomplished works include the aquatic center for the London 2012 Olympics, the Broad Art Museum
in the U.S., and the Guangzhou, China opera house. She was known as a pioneer of parametricism and an icon of neofuturism. Hadid was also known to have a formidable personality, making her easy to collaborate with and talk to. A woman of many accomplishments, she will be greatly missed.
dezeen.com
Heydar Aliyev Centre in Azerbaijan
CoDesign
features
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April 7, 2016
Inside the Actor’s Studio Law & Order: SVU’s Christopher Meloni appears in latest episode traci ann thomas Webmaster For almost five years, fans of the long-running procedural drama, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, have been begging for the return the show’s other leading half, Agent Elliot Stabler. While the internet went wild with nostalgia when Christopher “Chris” Meloni took a picture reuniting with former SVU co-star, Mariska Hargitay. Unfortunately, it was a beacon of false hope; as Meloni returned to the city--not to record a muchanticipated episode of SVU. The actor actually took time out to sit down with James Lipton for another installment of “Inside the Actors Studio”. On March 15th, Meloni visited the Schimmel theater to share his personal journey through to and through Hollywood to several hundred guests, including studentsfrom the University and Meloni’s alma mater, the Neighborhood Playhouse. While many “Actors Studio” guests come with interesting rousing life stories, the actor made sure to illustrate his upbringing as much more easygoing than most would or could speculate. Growing up in the D.C. area, Meloni described his childhood and preteen years as laid back as he desired it to be; a lesson taught by his father, who encourage making choices for oneself and not relying on others. Meloni’s easygoing demeanor continued throughout the interview, with his unfazed approach to difficult and personal questions asked by Lipton was contrasted by his dry, yet impressive wit and overall natural charm. Although he struggled academically early on, Meloni made a full turn-around once he joined the football team in high school. His drive to keep his team successful resulted in improved grades and leading his team to championships twice. When moving on to college, Meloni had a knack and strong interest for History. He also started to show a newfound love of acting, something he feared exploring before university life. The more he got involved with theatre, the clearer his decision became to move back and forth between Los Angeles and New York to find acting jobs. A couple unsuccessful sitcom stints actually lead him to the first staple in his career: Chris Keller in the early HBO hit, “Oz”. The role of Keller would go on to be a well-received figure in the LGBT community in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. One of the most anticipated subjects to be brought up for the night was Meloni’s run on “Law & Order: SVU”. Starting when the series premiered in 1999, Meloni would go on to play Agent Stabler for 12 successful years, earning an Emmy nomination in 2006. When asked about his departure from the show, Meloni had nothing but praise for the production crew and his entire experience working with them. He would go on to say that despite his need to find new,
diverse projects, leaving “SVU” after twelve years was “the hardest thing [he’s] ever done.” A well-known fact about Meloni’s start on “SVU” is the he began working on the show while simultaneously filming “Oz”; he would go on to work both shows for three years, until “Oz” ended its run in 2003. Surprisingly, Meloni was able to comfortably work such a hectic schedule, but the emotional and sensitive content explored on “SVU” started to take a toll on the actor. As a way of balancing out the intensity of the show’s production, Meloni would go on to take on less serious dramatic characters, even some surprisingly unexpected comedic roles as well. One of his most infamous, non-“Law & Order” role was in the satirical camp-comedy, “Wet Hot American Summer”. The deranged, sexually-repressed Gene Jenkinson, a Vietnam veteran working as a summer camp chef is easily one of his most recognizable and hilarious roles; and a popular subject of discussion brought up by both audience members and Lipton. The crowd was also taken aback by the listing of other unexpected projects taken by Meloni, including “Runaway Bride”, “Sin City: A Dame to Kill for”, and his unrecognizable performance in “Harold and Kumar go to White Castle”. One of the most humorous highlights from the recording was Meloni’s explanation for his absence from a previous “Actors Studio” session. He mentions that he was scheduled to appear along with Dick Wolf and other cast members of Wolf’s other shows. He was only able to stay on the stage for the first few minutes until he had succumbed to a flu he contracted from his family, who had been very ill the week prior to recording. He notes that he passed out outside at theater entrance and waking up in the bathroom on B level. One of the main objectives of Meloni’s visit to “The Actors Studio” was to promote the premiere of his new show on WGN America, “Underground”. The 10-part series tells the story of the early development of the Underground Railroad, the infamous escape plan for black slaves in the 1800’s. Meloni plays a farmer who plays devil’s advocate and helps escapees whilst protecting his family in the troubled South. He voiced a hope that television viewers who watch the show are vocal with their responses and hope to see the program as a “quality story told in a vibrant manner,” especially in a period where diversity in Hollywood has become a strong topic of discussion. So far, reviews for “Underground” have been favorable from critics and audience members alike. After wrapping up three-and-a-half hours of recording and interviewing, Meloni could only describe the experience as “lovely.” He was humbled by the turnout and enjoyed being able to answer the students’ questions the most because “[Meloni] would much rather talk about acting than about [himself].“ It will be interesting to see which direction he chooses to go in the upcoming years, and whether or not we will see Benson and Stabler reunite onscreen again.
April 7, 2016
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Embracing global female empowerment and International Women’s Day Natalie carolina condrillo Features Editor Since the beginning of time, women in many cultures from around the world have considered them to be the lesser sex. Patriarchal societies exist virtually everywhere, from Africa to Asia, and of course the United States. International Women’s Day is a holiday known for the social, cultural, economical, and political achievements that women have provided for the world. Despite how far feminism movements have come to change the male superior attitudes, women all over the globe and some feminist men alike still fight until this day for equality. March is officially Women’s History Month, along with International Women’s Day as a celebrated holiday, taking place on March 8 every year. In countries mainly in Africa, Europe, and Asia is celebrated more so than it is in the US. In foreign places such as Armenia, Cambodia, China, India, Poland, Afghanistan, Laos, Madagascar, Mongolia, Russia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and many more commemorate this holiday by males showing appreciation and love towards the important women in their lives such as their grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives/significant others; as well as showing gratitude for the strides feminism has
turned the world into a more peaceful place. Activities like political rallies, festivals, and business conferences take place honoring girls and women. Some cultures include women-only events, dinner parties, and parades. This year’s celebration in India, the President addressed a message on the even of the holiday. Shri Pranab Mukherjee, “On the occasion of International Women’s Day, I extend warm greetings and good wishes to the women of India and thank them for their contributions over the years in the building of our nation.” Most countries in the Middle East and Southern Asia widely respect International Women’s Day because of the significant amount of progression that’s happened there within the past few decades. However, rallies and commemorations have seen violence and controversy. In 2007, in Tehran, Iran, hundreds of police officers physically beat men and women who planned a rally for the internationally known day for women. Dozens of protestors were arrested and subjected to solitary confinement, starvation, and interrogation. Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day will continue to be recognized, with the help of feminists and progressive countries.
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April 7, 2016
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City decriminalizes public urination New Yorkers question the sanitation issues to follow new legislation JoRdan little Contributor The recent passing of the Criminal Justice Reform Act has set New York City abuzz with discussion; the most controversial bill in said act being one that seemingly “legalizes” minor offenses such as public urination and public drinking. These bills in fact, do not legalize anything, but do significantly reduce the punishment for certain minor offenses. Before the passing of the act, public urination would lead to a criminal summons, and then potentially an arrest. With the Criminal Justice Reform Act established, the NYPD decide, depending on the severity of the offense, whether or not the perpetrator should be passed through the criminal or the civil justice system. A person who is caught in the act of public urination or drinking may be ticketed, asked to perform community service, or fined, rather than issued a summons and jailed. This act is steeped in controversy and many other outlets, such as The New York Post, have run articles harshly criticizing the bill. Proponents of the “broken windows” approach to policing believe that the allowance of minor offenses such as public urination will eventually lead to heightened crime by normalizing deviant behavior, signaling a lack of social cohesion, and allowing people to act with impunity. Pace student, and English major Noella James believes that people contest the act due to a sense of propriety, “they think that making [minor offenses] not as serious will encourage people to not
care as much.” She added that the changes enacted by the Criminal Justice Reform Act “make so much more sense than being so heavy on minor offenses and not actually being tough when it comes to real problems”. On the other end of the spectrum, many people believe that the practice of “broken-windows policing” does little for public safety, and often leads to the unfair and harmful targeting of certain groups, specifically people of color in low-income communities. Pace Professor Jason Whitesel believes that “public urination is mostly a victimless crime, like many minor crimes that needlessly swoop people up into the criminal justice system, especially men of color.” He believes that “Criminalizing petty behaviors achieves the opposite of decreasing crime. Such initiatives are not sustainable and accomplish nothing, except perhaps contributing to more crime as a type of coercive control that limits a community’s capacity to thrive.” Among those individuals who have irreparable harm done to them by “broken-windows policing” is the New York City homeless population. The criminalization of homeless people not only harms the legal records of said people, it also communicates a message about the way in which the homeless of New York deserve to be treated. If a homeless person urinates in public out of necessity, and is subsequently treated as a criminal, this is indicative of the way in which homeless people are viewed. And unfortunately they often are not seen as people who have been systematically disadvantaged by a faulty economic system, but as burdens, eyesores and delinquents. The way
in which policy makers, and police treat homeless dictates the way in which the general public will treat them, and often this treatment is absent of empathy. Attempting to lessen the aggressive tactics of policing by lessening the severity of certain offenses is both a welcome and necessary change in order to aid those who are disadvantaged. However, even those who support the bill acknowledge that it is far from being perfect. Professor Whitesel asked the important questions “Why clog up the courts at all, with minor, non-criminal, cases like this?... Working-class folks and homeless folks do not need the further stigmatization of having such an infraction on their record…Moreover, is a homeless person able to pay a fine?” Both are very good questions and further raise the issue of whether or not these bills do enough. What happens to homeless people who are fined for public urination and unable to pay the fine? And how are the job prospects for homeless people, working-class people, and people of color impacted when they have committed harmless, and sometime unavoidable infractions? As professor Whitesel stated, these regulations and sanctions “create the illusion that sleeping on the street and doing these things is a choice, not a last resort.” And while the bills lessen the punitive action taken against those who break these rules, there is still punitive action for these infractions. Overall, while the Criminal Justice Reform Act offers a good first step, decriminalizing the homeless population will require much more drastic change.