FEBRUARY 15

February 15, 2012

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Volume 63 | Issue 14

THE PACE PRESS SERVING PACE UNIVERSITY’S MANHATTAN CAMPUS SINCE 1948

University helps Giants celebrate Super Bowl victory Ceremony held at neighboring City Hall, parade on Broadway

Many University students, faculty and staff watched the Giants parade and ceremony from offices and classrooms at One Pace Plaza, 41 Park Row or from City Hall, located across from the University.

Main photo by HILDA ADENIJI | The Pace Press Side photos by Diana Martinez Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants celebrated with a Ticker Tape parade adjacent to the University.

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ARTS Australian Film Festival now accepting student submissions PAGE 6

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FEATURES The story behind Area of Knowledge courses PAGE 10

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February 15, 2012

TeachLivE program assists future teachers in the classroom

mclserver.eecs.ucf.edu

The digital students of the TeachLivE program interact via avatars to simulate a classroom experience.

CRAIG HELD Features Editor The University’s School of Education implemented TeachLivE at both the NYC and PLV Campuses last month. The program, which was created at the University of Central Florida, utilizes digital student avatars with differing personalities that mimic the experience of student teaching.

Originally known as TLE, the program began as a way to prepare student teachers to interact with middle school students in math and science classes without placing the students in an actual classroom.

It “is an iconic example of a best practice in education, using innovative technology to provide pre-service and inservice teachers the opportunity to learn teaching skills and to craft their practice without placing ‘real’ students at risk

during the learning process,” according to the TeachLivE website.

The digital students have personalities and back-stories with names such as Cyndi, Ed and Keith and allow student teachers to use critical thinking and problem solving in a safe environment. Students make an avatar to teach the class while using objects in real life that the program recognizes like a white board. The program allows students to encounter a variety of digital student situations such as “typically developing or not-typically developing students, depending on the objectives of the experience.”

TeachLivE also provides the opportunity to in-service teachers who wish to experiment with new techniques without worrying that the new method will come at a detriment to their actual students. Where actual students would become bored and unruly, the digital students from TeachLivE can be reset until the user is satisfied with the

outcome.

With programs already established at Florida State University, Miami University, Old Dominion University, University Center of Greenville, University of Kansas, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Utah State University, Western Michigan University and West Virginia University, the implementation of TeachLivE at the University is the first in the northeast and will set the scene for others to adopt the new practice.

TeachLivE is already making headlines around the country and has even been presented at international technology conferences in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, piquing the interest of potential overseas participants.

With a number of other universities and institutions interested in TeachLivE, the program has the potential to change the way teachers learn how to educate forever.

Subway passengers could ride hungry as proposed bill to ban eating is advocated SHANNON MCMAHON Staff Writer

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New York State Senator Bill Perkins is proposing a bill to ban the consumption of food on the subway. The bill includes proposing a $250 fine to be enforced upon individuals caught eating on the subway.

Discussion of a food ban on subway lines began in March 2011 after videos and pictures of food fights on NYC trains surfaced. After distributing 15,000 surveys to his Uptown district, Sen. Perkins claims that the increase of rats underground due to food left in subway stations is a common complaint of many New Yorkers.

There are claims that the constant littering caused by food consumption on public transportation is allowing the rat population to steadily increase, making it possible for rats to not only scavenge on subway tracks, but also on the platform.

Psychology Professor William Quinlan stated that NYC can learn how to enforce the proposed bill by looking at another U.S. city that already bans food on their public transportation.

“Whenever you make a rule, the question that you always have to ask is, ‘can it be enforced?’ And this rule certainly makes sense, and the question is how will it be enforced. I would certainly use Washington D.C. as an example and find out how they do it. We really have to take a look at respect and appreciation, we’re losing that,” Prof. Quinlan said.

The bill has some people questioning whether it can be enforced though because there are passengers who have no other choice but to eat on the train.

“What if you have a medical disability and you need to eat something on your commute? Do they want you to pass out on the train?” graduate student Matilda Kiwanuka said. “Obviously there are emergency situations, but do you think someone is going to die from hunger by not eating on the train?”

Kiwanuka added.

Sophomore Nick Torkos understands Sen. Perkins’ point of view. “It could be a good law for certain situations; eating pungent foods is not very courteous towards other commuters,” Torkos said.

However, some people do not agree with Sen. Perkins’ decision to fine passengers $250 for grabbing a quick bite to eat on the train. “I feel like that’s invasive, if you’re on your way to work and in a rush, especially that amount of money,” freshman Taryn Shank said.

“Personally, I don’t eat on subways because I feel it’s unsanitary. But that is an obscene amount of money, especially for those who have a long commute. There should be a larger fine for littering. Not everyone who eats on the train litters,” graduate student Melanie Bernier said.

While the Metropolitan Transit Authority is taking a closer look at the bill, Sen. Perkins plans to continue advocating for it, hoping to have it passed by the closing of the legislative session in June.

as ranked by

SESSION 1 May 31 – July 12 SESSION 2 July 16 – Aug. 16

February 15, 2012

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Uday Sukhatme appointed as the new University Provost Administration holds meet and greet to enhance transparency and innovation ANGELICA RAZACK Contributor University President Stephen J. Friedman announced on Jan. 18 that Uday Sukhatme has been named as the University’s new provost. His resume includes being a quantum physicist and Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculties at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. He will officially assume his duties as provost on May 21.

At a “Meet the Provost” reception for Sukhatme on Feb. 8, Pres. Friedman provided a brief introduction of Sukhatme and talked about the qualities that make him beneficial to the University community, “He has great talent…and is very valuable to us, to which I am grateful… he is thoughtful, flexible and decisive,” Pres.

Friedman said.

After Pres. Friedman’s introduction, Sukhatme then provided faculty and students with a few words on his feelings towards his appointment as the new provost, as well as how he will execute his new position.

“I am excited to learn more about what is going on at Pace…you need multiple skills to be successful… when you come to a new place, you come with new ideas, but not all ideas will work…having the will and desire to improve is what makes this job fun and I do welcome new ideas,” Sukhatme said.

The Pace Press had the chance to interview Sukhatme about his plans for the University.

The Pace Press (TPP): As the new provost, what will be your general duties and responsibilities?

Uday Sukhatme (US): My responsibilities include looking after the academic affairs at Pace, such as new degree programs, faculty hiring and promotion tenure and student success, meaning student retention and graduation.

Uday Sukhatme, the University’s new Provost.

TPP: What plans do you have for the University?

US: To maintain and enhance its strengths as well as eliminate the sources that hold back its progress, which could be teaching loads or salary space. I would like to enhance research on more opportunities and give Pace an international flow by providing more study abroad programs and encourage “2+2” programs, in which students spend two years abroad and two years at Pace, perhaps in China or India.

TPP: How will you impact their [students’] college experience directly?

US: I will try to enhance the educational experience of students by increasing the opportunities for research, study abroad, internships and other real-life co-

iupui.edu curricular activities. At any large university, excellent communication channels are very important between faculty, staff, students and Administration. We will all work together collegially on innovative ideas and implement them whenever possible.

TPP: What improvements do you think need to be made and what will you do to improve them?

US: Improvements in research opportunities and retention and graduation of students will play a central role.

TPP: What can students and faculty expect from you?

US: Students can expect more open communication and innovation.

University discusses the line between faculty and student relationships CRAIG HELD Features Editor

Students and faculty met on Feb. 6 to discuss the inclusion of a policy in the faculty handbook to address the controversial topic of fraternization.

Philosophy & Religious Studies Department Chair Dr. Harold Brown moderated the colloquium with a panel composed of University Affirmative Action Officer Lisa Miles, Criminal Justice and Security Professor Susan Herman, History Professor and Honors College student advisor Dr. Bill Offutt and University alumni Quinn Haisley and Jake Jackson.

Dean of the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Nira Herrmann began by explaining the need for such an event. As it stands, the University’s faculty handbook has no fraternization policy in place. With revisions to the handbook occurring this year, as well as student concerns regarding appropriate interactions with professors, Dr. Herrmann noted that this would be the first of many discussions about the topic.

The panel then began to discuss the first topic— whether the faculty handbook should include a fraternization policy. The panel was in agreement that the University’s handbook needed a definitive policy addressing fraternization; however, Dr. Offutt was the first to make the distinction that the term fraternization was making the issue too broad.

Dr. Offutt noted that fraternization was the wrong term and that the panel should be discussing consensual sex between professors and students. In this, he stated that when a professor enters into a sexual relationship with a student, it “cuts at the integrity of the institution.” He continued by saying that this also calls the impartiality of professors to faculty in an evaluative position into question.

Attention then turned to the fraternization policy proposed by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), which states, “Amorous and sexual relations between students and faculty members with whom they also have an academic or evaluative relationship are fraught with the potential for exploitation.

The respect and trust accorded a professor by a student, as well as the power exercised by the professor in an academic or evaluative role, make voluntary consent by the student suspect. In their relationships with students, members of the faculty are expected to be aware of their professional responsibilities and to avoid apparent or actual conflict of interest, favoritism or bias.

“When an amorous or sexual relationship exists, effective steps should be taken to ensure unbiased evaluation or supervision of the student. No faculty member shall have an amorous or sexual relationship (consensual or otherwise) with a student who is either evaluated or enrolled in a course being taught by the faculty member or with an administration or staff member who is either supervising or being supervised by the faculty member.”

The wording of the proposed policy brought its own set of issues to the discussion. Dr. Brown suggested that the policy as stated made it difficult to know what an apparent conflict of interest truly means.

Moving the discussion on, Dr. Brown then asked the panel how the policy should be enforced. This brought a variety of answers. Dr. Offutt answered that enforcement should be treated like a breach of contract.

He then suggested that if the University did not ban sex between professors and students, there could be a way for professors to disclose their proclivities to the Administration. This elicited a passionate response from a professor in the audience who said that this would be a violation of his privacy and that a ban won’t stop these

relationships from occurring.

Dr. Herrmann addressed the educational issues that arise when a professor and student create a conflict of interest because it doesn’t allow students to freely explore classes around the University for fear of seeing that professor again.

Those who were against an outright ban suggested that the student could take other classes but Dr. Herrmann argued that this point was problematic because many departments have requirements that are only taught by one professor. It then opens the personal life of both the student and professor to whoever needs to adjust that student’s schedule.

The conversation took a sharp turn when a student stated that the policy in question is poorly worded and that it should address sexual behavior without consummation.

Dr. Brown relayed a story where he hugged and kissed a student that he had gone on an academic trip with after not seeing said student for a while.

The student, who was in attendance, stated that she saw no problem with the interaction but the situation made attendees uncomfortable. After going back to the panel, Miles stated that students are leaning towards a line in the sand. She continued by saying the word amorous is too broad and that the policy should “tell me what you don’t want me to do.” She ended by saying that the tighter the policy, the easier it would be to enforce.

The other panelists pointed to the school’s sexual harassment policy in cases where sexual behavior without consummation occurred. Miles responded that some students don’t have the power to report sexual harassment to an authority.

After three hours of discussion, Dr. Brown thanked the attendees and the colloquium ended. Although this event started the conversation, the discussion is far from over.

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Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation makes controversial decision Public outrage and political pressure attack Planned Parenthood’s proposed mission SARAH AIRES News Intern The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation made the decision this past December to cut funding for breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood under the pretext that there could be a connection between abortions and breast cancer. The decision was made public on Jan. 31 and withdrawn on Feb. 3 due to public outrage over the announcement.

According to Planned Parenthood’s website, their mission is to provide sexual and reproductive health education and services to millions of men, women and young people worldwide.

One of the many services made available by Planned Parenthood are abortions. Pro-life activists have long been criticizing Komen for the financial support given to Planned Parenthood because of the belief that their funding could be misappropriated to help fund abortions.

When the public was informed of the decision to cut funding, Komen was bombarded with an outpouring of support for Planned Parenthood, denouncing the decision.

According to a Feb. 3 article in The New York Times, there were over 1.3 million Twitter posts mentioning the Komen foundation, Planned Parenthood and other related terms.

The massive backlash caused Komen founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nancy Brinker to make a statement apologizing to Planned Parenthood, ensuring that they would reinstate all grants to the organization.

In a statement posted on the Komen website on Feb. 3, Brinker stated, “We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives. The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen. We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not.”

Now, the public is questioning whether or not the defunding was caused solely by political pressure.

“I am convinced the decision was politically motivated. Komen claimed that its reason for defunding Planned Parenthood from future grants for breast cancer screening programs was due to an investigation of Planned Parenthood by the government. However, the government investigation is a probe that was launched by Florida Congressman, Cliff Stearns, who is known for being

staunchly anti-choice and for actively seeking to defund Planned Parenthood,” Pforzheimer Honors College Director Sociology Professor Ida DuPont said.

Komen executives were also divided in the decision to reinstate funding to Planned Parenthood. Komen’s Vice President, Karen Handel, resigned because she felt the charity’s decision reversal “hurt its core mission.”

“I think Komen will lose some of their supporters...

Planned Parenthood is the victim in the situation.”

-Lauren Price, Freshman

There was also mounting concern about religious groups swaying members from donating to Komen for their support of Planned Parenthood. The Roman Catholic Diocese has been discouraging believers from supporting Komen as well, according to the Associated Press.

“Within 24 hours of the Komen decision to defund Planned Parenthood, 6000 online donors contributed $400,000 and the organization secured at least $500,000 in grants within 72 hours. This money exceeded the money that Planned Parenthood would have lost from Komen.

In my opinion, Komen’s decision to defund Planned Parenthood was a public relations failure and suggests that there is considerable support for Planned Parenthood’s services,” Prof. DuPont said.

Politics and healthcare have become increasingly related recently, especially with the ObamaCare debate that has been present in the news this election year. The public has grown weary of politics effecting non-partisan healthcare providers like Planned Parenthood. Not only has this publicity garnered support for the healthcare provider, but it may have had a detrimental effect on Komen.

“I think Komen will lose some of their supporters because of this and it will hurt the donations people send to them. If anything, I think it will actually raise more awareness about Planned Parenthood and draw more people towards it in the future. Planned Parenthood is the victim in the situation,” freshman Lauren Price said.

“Regardless of whether it was Komen’s support of Planned Parenthood that was in debate or funding of another less controversial group, my opinion of Komen has changed that they allowed their entire organization pressured to do something based on the opinions of certain people in politics,” sophomore Elisa Jankoski said.

Komen has not only since retracted their defunding, but has been working diligently to contain the backlash against the foundation. The Komen and Planned Parenthood issue may give rise to other organizations becoming weary of using political agendas to dictate where and how they invest their funds.

Talks of higher minimum wage may close gap between rich and poor in New York Speaker Sheldon Silver proposes a bill to increase wages at a yearly rate for workers in the state SHYAM NOOREDEEN Contributor New York State (NYS) Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver proposed a bill in Albany, NY. on Jan. 30 which would increase minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $8.50 an hour. Unlike previous bills proposed by other lawmakers, this bill plans to increase minimum wage at a yearly rate depending on inflation.

The last time NYS increased its minimum wage was in July 2009 from $7.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour. Many Democratic lawmakers agree with Speaker Silver’s proposal that NYS is overdue for an increase in minimum wage because of the growing gap between the wealthy and poor and the cost of living.

According to The New York Times, many states across the country have pursued similar measures. Lawmakers in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri and New Jersey have considered increasing their state’s minimum wage. Currently, neighboring states such as Connecticut have a minimum wage of $8.25 an hour, while in Vermont it is $8.46 an hour and in Massachusetts, $8 an hour.

Both NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo have shown signs of support

for Speaker Silver’s bill. Gov. Cuomo added that he would have to see the actual bill before he can make a concluding decision as to whether he supports it or not, according to The New York Times.

Republicans and businesses seem to be against this new proposal, citing that it may hurt job growth in an already fragile economy. Businesses who have hired workers in the struggling economy at the minimum wage might not be able to compensate an extra $1.25 an hour for their employees.

“The increase in the minimum wage is meaningless to the average American. It affects younger employees, especially high school dropouts and those with only a high school diploma as their highest educational credential.

Within these groups, those who retain their jobs will benefit significantly. However, many will lose their jobs as some firms cut back on the minimum wage workers that they employ,” Economics Professor Mark Weinstock said.

“It will also make it even more difficult for unskilled workers who are entering the workforce for the first time to find these jobs as the quantity of unskilled workers employed shrinks throughout the economy. Although policy decisions regarding the minimum wage can have a substantial impact on the individuals who are directly affected by these policies, the impact on the broader economy, including inflation is null.”

Speaker Silver and fellow Democrats who support the bill argue that an increase in minimum wage will not affect the current state of the economy. The extra money people would earn from working minimum wage jobs would likely go back into the economy as they are seeking ways to better their lifestyle. With more spending, Democrats say the bill will generate more jobs and the ongoing spending habits of consumers will benefit businesses in return.

“The gap between the wealthiest and poorest people in America is at it’s widest since the 1920’s. Increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 [an] hour to $8.50 [an] hour will help stimulate the economy by giving lower-level consumers more money to increase their standard of living.

I also feel that increasing the minimum wage keeps up with the pace of inflation as well as decrease government funding of social welfare programs. Overall, I am pro raising the minimum wage which in the end might be just what the economy needs to help further stimulation,” senior Mariola Suchorzepka said.

Finally, as the state legislation decides on passing this bill, there’s a lot to take into account. As experts Prof.

Weinstock and Democrats have stated, the overall impact of raising the minimum wage has little to no effect on hurting the current state of the economy.

February 15, 2012

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Asperger’s Syndrome the latest in history of fad disorders

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THE PACE PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

KATHRYN BOSCH Circulation Manager With Internet assisted self-diagnosis becoming a trend, it’s easy for individuals to carelessly toss around diagnoses.

As the trend continues, however, individuals who truly suffer from the diseases and disorders that many easily claim to have find it difficult to deal with their actual diagnoses. After Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Bi-polar Disorder and Schizophrenia, the latest “trendy” disorder that many claim to be suffering from is Asperger’s Syndrome.

The trend drives healthy individuals to identify with illnesses and behavioral disorders in order to excuse personal inappropriate or odd behavioral traits. According to sophomore Christopher Budesa, who has Asperger’s, Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), “People know about autism but they don’t know the situation we’re actually in. They don’t get how we really feel about it.

It’s something you have to suffer through in order to really understand it.”

Dr. Mary Cohen Riggs, the Director for Teaching and Research in Autism Center at the University, noted that, “people with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome process information differently. They are detail-oriented and do not process social information the same way as others do...

The term autism encompasses several different conditions of which one is known as Asperger’s Syndrome (named for Dr. Hans Asperger). There is a great range of functioning in these disorders and that is why we now use the term Autism Spectrum Disorders to reflect the immense diversity of individuals with autism.”

She also stated that, “People with Asperger’s Syndrome are high functioning in most areas of life and may even have exceptional talents; however they also have some features of autism which affect their functioning. Individuals at the other end of the spectrum may be nonverbal and very withdrawn seeming to be ‘in their own world.’ There are some in the field of autism that feel that Asperger’s Syndrome is so high functioning that it shouldn’t be thought of as an autism at all.

This debate is ongoing and will probably continue for some time.”

Contrary to the extreme outbursts and misguided thought process of the uninformed, people who actually have Asperger’s, as opposed to those who do not, are dealing with actual stressors and daily struggles that do not go away with the introduction of a new trend. Budesa explained how important it initially was for him to try to keep his disorder hidden. He did not want to risk feeling the repercussions and change of attitudes from friends, which he said he felt in high school.

For Budesa, college was a time for change and a new beginning. He felt cheated in both social and educational opportunities in the past, and believed in progressing by presenting a “normal” front. Mayoclinic.com states that, “Asperger’s syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others… there’s no cure… [although] treatment can help him or her learn how to interact more successfully in social situations.” The people who take on the title of this disorder casually are not taking into consideration the entire community of people it represents.

Kim Bui Editor-in-Chief Kaitlynn Blyth Associate Editor Ivonna Thompson Managing Editor Hilda Adeniji Creative Director Fotini Sachpatzidis News Editor Stephanie Hansen Arts Editor

northernwestchester.lohudblogs.com Temple Grandin speaking at the 2010 Convocation.

Craig Held Features Editor Kate Hamzik Copy Editor Leucepe Martinez Advertising Manager Nazary Nebeluk Web Editor Kathryn Bosch Circulation Manager Michael Oricchio Faculty Consultant

EDITORIAL INTERNS

cwtv.com “America’s Next Top Model” contestant Heather Kuzmich who has Asperger’s Sydrome.

A public figure that managed to rise above Asperger’s and find success was model Heather Kuzmich, who competed in Cycle 9 of “America’s Next Top Model.” Fighting through her insecurities on the reality show, Kuzmich managed to find a way to work through her social anxieties and set-backs and placed ninth in the competition.

Temple Grandin, a past convocation speaker at the University, is another person whose life has been directly affected by this disorder. As specifically mentioned by Dr. Cohen, “There are many accomplished people with Asperger’s Syndrome who have written books about their lives and how they were able to improve their autistic characteristics as they got older. Temple Grandin is one such person, who earned a doctorate, runs her own business, is a University professor, author, and world-renowned animal scientist and autism advocate.” Grandin’s success, as well as the continued thriving of others with Asperger’s, proves that they are just as capable as anyone else in society.

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ARTS

Calling all filmmakers for Aussie Film Fest Tropfest Australian Film Fest holds competition in New York City for the first time OLIVIA BETETA Arts intern Tropfest, the world’s largest short film festival is coming to NYC’s Bryant Park from June 21-23. The festival began 20 years ago in Sydney, Australia in a small café with an audience of 200 people. After such a large turnout, Tropfest founder and director John Polson decided a full-fledged festival was the next step.

Since its humble beginning, the festival has grown in size and notoriety. Today, the festival is known worldwide and was just recently held in Abu Dhabi.

NYC will be the newest location for the festival, but is just one of the many locations the festival committee plans on adding.

In its native country of Australia, Tropfest attracts a live national audience of over 150,000 people. The festival is live streamed via satellite to outdoor locations in major cities around the country. Tropfest also features the films of former finalists on a YouTube channel which has generated more than 10 million views.

Several famous actors, writers and directors have gotten their start at Tropfest. A few of the big names that have appeared in the festival include actor Sam Worthington of Avatar fame, director of the film Sanctum Alister Grierson and the mastermind behind the hit FX series “Wilfred” Tony Rogers.

The festival prides itself on its inclusiveness. It encourages filmmakers of all backgrounds and levels of experience to summit a project. Some of the biggest festival winners had some of the smallest budgets and were filmed on mobile phones.

“We are excited to be fostering filmmakers talent by taking this global phenomenon to emerging filmmakers across America and providing them with the groundbreaking opportunity to showcase their skills in front of such a large audience. Anyone looking for a

tropfest.com/ny Tropfest New York logo in the shape of a bagel. platform to be creative, regardless of production budget, should enter Tropfest New York,” Polson stated on the festival’s website.

Any short films submitted are required to be produced specifically for the festival. It can be no more than seven minutes in length and must include the Tropfest Signature Item (TSI). The TSI helps to ensure the film was made for the festival. In honor of the inaugural Tropfest New York, the TSI is a staple of NYC’s culinary culture, the bagel.

Filmmakers should begin work now, as all submissions are due May 10 at 6 p.m. There are very few restrictions on entries; anything from an animated film to a documentary can be submitted. Applicants can turn in a variety of projects and an infinite number of submissions in whatever format they prefer. The only real restraint is that the film be new and unique to the

festival, which means it cannot have been released in any format before its viewing at Tropfest.

Prior to the judging, there will be various events leading up to the premiere including live music and a filmmaker symposium. The main event will take place June 23 and is open to the public free of charge. On that night, a panel of film industry and celebrity judges will select the winning films. During the awards ceremony, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will be announced as well as the awards for Best Actor, Best Actress and a People’s Choice Award.

The first place winner will be awarded $20,000 cash, not to mention the publicity a festival like Tropfest can provide. Considering how easy it is to submit, all filmmakers should jump at the opportunity. Previous judges have been comprised of some of the biggest names in the international film community. Some of them were Toni Collette, Geoffrey Rush, Samuel L. Jackson, Keanu Reeves, Salma Hayek and Ewan McGregor just to name a few. Actors such as Hugh Jackman, Russell Crow and Nicole Kidman are ambassadors for this specific festival.

It would be safe to assume that whoever the judges are, they will be well versed in their field. Regardless, this kind of exposure could launch a filmmaker’s career.

Tropfest is an internationally renowned festival; showing at such a huge event would certainly be enough to put anyone, whether they are an actor, director or writer on the map.

VISIT To find out more about Tropfest visit: tropfest.com/ny

Troubled graffiti artist spray paints himself to fame

highsnobiety.com Portrait of President Obama in the White House.

DAMIEN MORGAN Arts Intern David Choe, an American painter and graffiti artist of Korean descent, was asked in 2005 by the then president of Facebook, Sean Parker, to paint the walls of the social network’s original headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif.

Normally, any artist would ask for payment up front for their work, but when it came to this up and coming social

slashgear.com

artattacksonline.com

Facebook’s original HQ with creators.

One of Choe’s pieces of artwork.

network that Choe thought was “ridiculous and pointless,” he asked to be given stocks instead. Receiving about 0.1 to 0.25 percent of the company at the time, today those stocks are now valued around $200 million.

Even though Choe could have made his living from just this one project alone, he has made a name for himself as a well-known artist. He has done pieces such as the album cover for the Jay-Z and Linkin Park collaboration Collision Course and also the portrait of President Barack

Obama that is now currently hanging in the White House.

His art is displayed in gallery shows, museums and his self-titled book, “David Choe,” features multiple murals from Facebook.

Although Choe’s life seems glamorous on the outside, early on it wasn’t so easy to become a graffiti artist. Raised

GRAFFITI ARTIST continued on PAGE 9

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s d r a w A Academy e

h t n i w o t s e t vori a f r i e h t k c i Students p

2012

STUDENTS VOTE ON TOP 3 CATEGORIES Best Picture The Artist-47% Moneyball-12% The Help-17% The Descendants-6%

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close-6% Tree of Life-6% War Horse-6%

Best Actor Gary Oldman-12% George Clooney-53% Jean Dujardin-18%

Best Actress

Meryl Streep-41% Rooney Mara-29% Viola Davis-12%

DAMIEN MORGAN Arts Intern The 84th Academy Awards will once again bring out the Oscar statuettes on Feb. 26. With a packed line up of nominated movies such as The Artist, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and The Descendants, along with nominated actors like Brad Pitt, Gary Oldman and Meryl Streep, this is sure to be one of the more memorable award shows.

Bestowed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (AMPAS), the Academy Awards honor those that have displayed excellency in the film industry, including actors, writers, editors and directors. Every year, movies are nominated for certain categories in which they excel, then the exclusive organization votes on each category such as Best Picture or Best Actor so the winner can be awarded an Oscar.

With the Academy Awards coming up soon and the nominees already announced, many University students are voicing their opinions about the show itself and who should be walking away with an award.

Freshman Brittany Katz talked about her love of movies and favors Streep for her role in The Iron Lady to win Best Actress. Katz also stated that she thinks some actors got ignored for their work. “An exciting Oscar surprise this year was the nomination for the uproariously funny Bridesmaids star Melissa McCarthy. Hopefully she will be basking in the Oscar gold this year. But the biggest Oscar snub this year is Leonardo DiCaprio. His performance in the biopic film J. Edgar was nothing short of flawless. It is a shame that he will not be recognized for his stellar performance.”

Sophomore Steven Sosa talked about how he likes to watch the Academy Awards, but that sometimes movies are overlooked. “[I] enjoy watching the Oscars but they do have [their] flaws. They overlook many movies such as Warrior with Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton. I wouldn’t mind Rooney Mara winning [for The Girl with the Dragon

Brad Pitt-12% Demian Bichir-5%

Michelle Williams-18% Glenn Close-0%

Tattoo], that is her Oscar winning role. But compared to Meryl Streep and Michelle Williams, they are probably more favored,” Sosa said.

It seems Mara, nominated for Best Actress, is a favorite amongst students along with the movie itself. “I just have to say that I think that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo should have been nominated for Best Movie,” junior Devan Briggs said.

Freshman Brigida Lee is hoping that certain nominees will win for a kind of personal victory. “I hope Rooney Mara will win since the Giants won [the Super bowl] and her family owns them, [...] meaning that it would be the perfect win-win situation,” Lee said.

For Best Picture, it seems as if The Artist, winner of multiple awards already, has captured some students as the movie to win. Shot as an old style silent film, it has definitely left its imprint to win an Oscar.

When it came to who would win the Best Actor, the nominees were all over the place. With familiar names such as Pitt and George Clooney up against actors such as

Demian Bichir and Jean Dujardin, it looks as if the award can be in anyone’s grasp.

Sosa said he was in a pickle when it came to answering who should win the award. It finally came down to Oldman for Tinker Tailor Solider Spy and Clooney for his role in The Descendants. After debating, Sosa chose Clooney for being a regular at the Academy Awards.

For the Best Actress, some students didn’t have to give a second thought for who would win. When it came down to it in the end, Mara captured a lot of attention for her role as Lisbeth Salander, but when asked who they think would win instead of who they wanted to win, some students said Streep or Williams would win.

Nothing has been set in stone though about who will win the Oscar. With the Academy Awards only a few weeks away, the tension is tight with actors and directors preparing for their big night to see if their hard work really paid off. Only time will tell if they will truly be recognized for their talent with a small gold statue of a man.

additional reporting by Brittany Katz | POP TV

ARTS

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February 15, 2012

Lana Del Rey releases second album Born to Die Despite croaking on “Saturday Night Live,” Del Rey maintains a solid fan base ERICK MANCEBO Features Intern Mention Lana Del Rey in conversation and the effect is profound. Some perk up, interested and fascinated, while others barely manage to contain snorts of derisive laughter. In the months leading up to the release of her second studio album Born to Die, NYC native Del Rey has managed to become a figure as polarizing as the ever-controversial Lady Gaga.

The controversy surrounding Del Rey stems from her debut into the mainstream last summer.

Even as her homemade music video for “Video Games,” the first single off the album, went viral on YouTube, critics were calling her boring, fake and once it was revealed that she was signed to Interscope Records, manufactured.

The atmosphere was toxic and by the time Del Rey finished doing the rounds on European television and made her U.S. television debut on the Jan. 14 episode of “Saturday Night Live,” expectations were high. Del Rey, for lack of a better term, choked. The performance was forced, painful to watch and mocked universally. Del Rey’s other performances however, showed a truly talented singer with a unique and nostalgic voice. The album itself echoes Del Rey’s more successful television appearances, showing variety, while maintaining a definite thematic vision.

Born to Die opens up with the strings of

Del Rey’s third single of the same name. The Philadelphia Orchestra’s arrangement sounds like the soundtrack for an old Western. Del Rey’s voice, sometimes breathless, cuts through the waves of the orchestra’s strings creating a beautiful and sad record that mysteriously manages to remain within the realm of pop music.

In “Off to the Races,” Del Rey seems to be racing alongside the instrumental. In a deliberate breathlessness, Del Rey practically exhales her final lines: “And we’re off to the races, places/ Ready, set the gate is down and now we’re goin’ in/ To Las Vegas chaos, Casino Oasis, honey it is time to spin/ Boy you’re so crazy, baby, I love you forever not maybe/ You are my one true love.”

The effect is a truly unique piece of music that promises to set Del Rey apart from her contemporaries—the quality of the instrumentation and arrangement and vocal performance is such that she did not need to use a dance beat or hi-hat and synthesizer as gimmicks to get someone to listen.

After the likable song “Blue Jeans,” the album segues into “Video Games,” the song that made her a household name, at least in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The record begins with a church bell tolling while a harp is plucked romantically before the deeper iteration as Del Rey’s voice takes over. Again, she manages to draw on a number of inspirations and mold them into a clear and nostalgic piece of music.

The accompanying music video, which may

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stereogum.com seem random because of the vintage film strips tacked on in-between shots of Del Rey voguing and pouting, actually makes perfect sense.

Del Rey isn’t necessarily interested in the content of the film—boys playing by a pool in the summertime, a pink rose unfurling, paparazzi footage of actress Paz de la Huerta stumbling to her car after a night out—but rather the emotions they evoke and the response the quality of film garners. In an age where artists download high definition music videos on to YouTube and Vevo, Del Rey is trying to do something different and it works for her sound.

For an artist who was unknown a year ago, Del Rey has a definitive and interesting sound. In “Diet Mountain Dew,” kick drums and jazzy piano dance around while Del Rey half drawls questions like, “Do you think we’ll be in love forever? Do you think we’ll be in love?” The result is a pop like track with a steady heartbeat of drums and strings serving as the track’s backbone, resulting in a fascinating combination that is inherently catchy.

In one of the best tracks from the album, “Million Dollar Man,” Del Rey’s voice seems to come straight from a ’20s era phonograph.

Her affinity for different, grainy film, audio and photographs has translated into a ballad that recalls live radio performances from a time in which families sat around a receiver at nighttime, welcoming sultry songstresses into their homes. In the track, Del Rey again pines after a lover, “It isn’t that hard boy to like you or love you/ I’d follow you down, down, down.”

In another standout from the album, “This Is What Makes Us Girls,” Del Rey remarks coldly, “This is what makes us girls/ We all look for heaven and we put our love first/ Somethin’ that we’d die for, it’s our curse.” She sounds bitter, but there’s something else in her voice—a fascination or admiration or camaraderie. She seems to, at the same time, loathe yet idolize her “freshman generation of degenerate beauty queens.”

In the final track on the album, “Lucky Ones,” Del Rey manages to hold her own until the very last note. Singing alongside the Philadelphia Orchestra once again, she proves to have perfected the formula for an indie-pop love song. “Every now and then, the stars align/ Boy and girl meet by the great design/ Could it be that you and me are the lucky ones,” Del Rey asks.

Born to Die is one of the best albums of the past year and will definitely receive much more acclaim in 2012 as it spreads and reaches a larger audience. Del Rey’s music is not derived from the same DNA as today’s music. She’s the cog in the machine that might bring a different element into the current soundscape. With songs like LMFAO’s “Sexy And I Know It” and yet another Katy Perry song, from her already dated two-year-old album, dominating the airwaves, we soon may all be thanking Del Rey for delivering us from synthesizer and auto-tune hell.

February 15, 2012

ARTS

www.pacepress.org

9

Encore presentation of arts lecture draws a crowd

PLV Pforzheimer Honors College Director Janetta Rebold gives insight on art history OLIVIA BETETA Arts intern Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton is no stranger to art history, especially when it comes to the work of Michelangelo.

As an author of eight books, a Distinguished Professor of Art History and the Director of the Pforzheimer Honors College on the PLV Campus, it is surprising how Dr. Benton even has the time to hold a lecture series. Based on her presentation though, it is obvious it is something she thoroughly enjoys.

Dr. Benton has lectured for multiple museums and institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters, The Smithsonian Institution and National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Regardless of her many accomplishments and accolades, Dr. Benton still finds time to host lectures here at the University.

Her lecture series last semester was so successful, that she was asked to host another this semester. Throughout the month of February, Dr. Benton will lead a lecture on some of the most influential painters through time. Each of the four lectures focuses on one of four painters. Her first lecture of the series was on “Great Painters and Their Masterpieces,” which centered on the work of Michelangelo that was held on Feb. 8.

The lecture was slow to start, but once the technical issues were resolved Dr. Benton jumped right into the discussion. Through the lecture it is revealed Michelangelo was not only a painter and sculpture, but also an architect and poet.

Michelangelo lived during the height on the Renaissance and his work depicted that. He followed the more classical style of the Greeks and the Romans that was popular at that time. However, he did not depict the multiple gods the Greeks often would. Michelangelo was a Christian and most of his most popular works depicted seem to be from the “Bible.”

He was a child prodigy that left home at 13-yearsold to study art in Florence, Italy. He differed from other artists of his time like Leonardo Da Vinci and Raphael.

Michelangelo wasn’t interested in Da Vinci’s science or Raphael’s grace, instead was fascinated by the human body. He felt it was his task to depict the human body and

oberlin.edu Michelangelo’s Adam from the Sistine Chapel displays his popular talent of depicting the human form. therefore reveal the human soul.

Michelangelo is best known for his talents in depicting the human form. With works like “David” and the “Pieta,” he carved beautiful people in marble that were full, rich and sensuous. With his murals in the Sistine Chapel, he displayed God as a powerful violent giver of life.

In all of his work, regardless of the medium, he was greatly skilled in making the people he depicted come to life. The expressions and musculature of his figures were so great that they created an instant emotional response in viewers.

However, as talented as he was he was still the typical tortured artist, where Michelangelo was very critical of his work. Before his death, he began sculpting a piece featuring Mary and Jesus but just as it was being finished, Michelangelo destroyed part of the sculpture before his students stopped him.

When his murals at the Sistine Chapel were criticized, Michelangelo painted the critic into his depiction of judgment day. He placed the critic in hell surrounded by

serpents. He took his inner turmoil and created some of his best work.

After Dr. Benton finished her lecture, she entertained her guests with a lunch. To the guests she posed the questions to keep the conversation going. One of the questions was, “What would one ask Michelangelo if they had the opportunity to talk to him?” She then asked was he more of a sculptor or painter. Michelangelo always considered himself a sculptor and felt painting was a woman’s past time, sculpting however, was purely a man’s job.

Throughout Dr. Benton’s lecture, the audience was brought on the journey that was Michelangelo’s life. Her descriptiveness and sheer knowledge left the impression that she had actually spent time with the painter. That intimate knowledge was then passed onto the audience by the end of the lecture and left the listener feeling as if the artist himself was a distant friend or relative.

Dr. Benton’s next lecture will Feb. 15 about Peter Paul Rubens and his work during the Baroque. Tickets for students are $5.

Choe rebounds from hard life to a successful graffiti career continued from PAGE 6 in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, Calif., the young artist learned quickly how to steal after his bike was repeatedly stolen from him. During his teenage years, inspired by graffiti artists such as Mear One and Hex, Choe learned how to channel his anger and emotions into sketches across benches, billboards and alleyways throughout the city. Instead of drawing his name over and over again, he tried a style of graffiti by spray painting faces, figures, cartoon whales and philosophical quotes.

Once he graduated from high school, Choe spent the next couple of years of his life hitchhiking and hustling around Europe, the Middle East and Africa. At the age of 21, he finally returned to California to become a “real” artist by enrolling in the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, Calif. After learning about dirty school paintings, which Choe is most known for, he dropped out of school.

While in Tokyo, Choe was arrested and put in jail for three months on the charges of punching an undercover guard that had approached him. Because of a language barrier, Choe thought the person had threatening intentions that made him react obscenely. While in a jail, he was not allowed to be in contact with family, friends or art. Suffering from loneliness and anxiety, Choe made over 600 drawings with small pieces of paper and a single pen that each cell had access to, along with using soy sauce, tea, blood and urine to add color. Choe was released from prison with the

condition the he would never return to Japan.

After his time in jail, he began illustrating for magazines such as Hustler and Vice, but soon wanted to write a comic book. In 1996, he wrote a 35 page comic in a single night that would be known as Slow Jams and became his first success as an artist. The book became widely popular as a cult obsession and Choe was asked to make a second version.

With the success of his book, Choe began catching the attention of many advertising industries and was then asked to create multiple commercial illustrations and graphic designs. With his wealth and popularity as an artist growing, he then went back to his fascination with traveling while painting graffiti and murals around the world for the street culture brand Upper Playground.

With his return to the U.S., Choe had a new perspective on life and rebuilt himself through his work. Working hard from the ground up, he has shown his pieces in solo shows in San Jose, Calif. and San Francisco, Calif. and accepted mural commissions from people such as Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss.

Using unorthodox methods to become a famous artist most known for murals and graffiti paintings, Choe came from a depressing and struggle-filled life to becoming a millionaire. With the recent fame from the media coverage of his paintings for Facebook, Choe shows no sign in slowing down with his pieces of art.

upperplayground.com

Grafitti artist David Choe.

FEATURES

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February 15, 2012

Area of Knowledge courses seek to create well-rounded students

Classes allow students to understand the context of their major courses by broadening horizons NICOLE MORALES Features Intern Although once a predominantly business oriented school, the University has expanded in recent years to offer more options for liberal arts students. As a result, students are able to take courses outside of their major and school. To further the idea, the University has a system of Area of Knowledge (AOK) courses incorporated within the University’s core requirements.

AOKs are split into five different categories; where students must take at least one in each and a minimum of 24 credits total. AOK 1 courses are Civic Engagement and Public Values, requiring students to partake in a community-service activity. The courses in this category target different community service aspects like non-profit web design or urban planning, proving that they can still be relevant to one’s field of study.

Professor of Modern Languages and Cultures and Associate Dean of Dyson College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Adelia Williams stated that the “aim of these courses are to aid students to be involved and responsible in the community, to act with informed awareness of contemporary issues in their historical contexts and to understand and value diversity.”

AOK 2 courses are Western Heritage, which are historical focused courses dealing with Western culture in North America and Europe, allowing students a better understanding of these cultures. Similarly, AOK 3 is World Traditions and Cultures, which integrates

“

the importance of other non-western cultures into the curriculum that spans from anything such as political science and history to anthropology classes.

AOK 4, Humanistic and Creative Expressions, consists of art based courses that may include digital design, oil painting and photography in order “to develop an informed understanding and appreciation of humanistic, literary and artistic creativity,” Dr. Williams said. Lastly, AOK 5, Analysis of Human, Social and Natural Phenomena courses deal with living sciences including studies of economics, anthropology and chemistry.

The goal of AOK courses is for students to gain experience in fields outside of their majors. Dr. Williams described these course in detail by stating, “The areas of knowledge offer broad exposure to a variety of approaches and perspectives in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences, and to different modes of analysis and understanding. These courses are intended to develop a sense of social, civic, and global awareness and responsibility.”

Some students are unsure of what field they plan on pursuing upon entering college. Although some students may be certain of their intended career paths, they may discover a new passion in a different field that they may wish to integrate into a future career.

A business student may take for instance, a non-profit web design course and love it so much that they decide to pursue non-profit business as a career field. AOKs are

intended to give students a chance to find other passions to correlate with their majors.

Some students may just simply find it refreshing to escape the regimen of similar classes required for their majors. “I’m taking painting, Art 145, right now. I think it’s a lot of fun. It’s a chance to try out other things,” freshman business major Wing Yi Ng said.

AOKs seems to be a middle ground, however some students feel that it is a waste of time. “We have to take a lot of classes we really don’t need...we should focus more on major classes,” sophomore Kayla Rivas said.

AOK courses should not be looked at in a negative light, however. In the competitive job market it looks best for students to be well rounded. Experience in a totally different field of study is not necessarily a bad thing. It may look good on a resumé to have classes outside of one’s major. Not only does it give the employer a chance to see what one’s interests are, but it may also serve as a conversation starter. One never knows if an interviewer may have an interest in one of the courses taken to supplement an AOK. As part of the core curriculum, AOKs courses expand on the University’s goal to create more rounded students.

AOK courses also allow students a chance to experience courses in other majors, possibly helping them to decide what career path they wish to take or to develop a concentration in another field of interest.

”

What do you think about the Areas of Knowledge courses?

“I guess it’s good that they kind of enforce that we take advantage of the liberal arts here...that we take different kinds of history courses and AOK 1s...that we reach out and do something active.”

-Christopher Nolan, Sophomore

“I think it’s smart to have AOK classes because it branches you out into other fields of knowledge.”

-Perla Fernandez, Freshman

“I only took one AOK, it was on Latin American History…I think I would have liked it more if the teacher was different. The information in it was really interesting and I did learn new things. I could probably use it…if I was in a conversation.”

-Nicole Rocetti, Freshman

“I think AOK classes are good because it makes you more of a well rounded person and it gives you a better résumé for business or whatever area you want to follow through.”

-Jacob Gottlieb, Freshman

FEATURES

February 15, 2012

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11

University alumna conquers pageant world while balancing work and charity NICOLE MORALES Features Intern Over the years, the University’s list of alumni has grown to be quite impressive from careers in the entertainment industry to chief executive officers of Fortune 500 companies being some of the highlights. However, it is not often that one can add beauty pageant contestant to the list.

2010 alumna Kristi Hey is making her own mark on the world as Mrs. Bristol 2012 in the Mrs. Connecticut America Pageant. Hey boasts an impressive balance between glitz and glam pageant queen to her career at the U.S. Probation Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).

Hey is from Terryville, Conn., a small town with a high school of only 500 students.

Growing up, she envisioned a different path from what she leads today. “I have always seen myself as a physical therapist. When I was in middle school, I had a science fair project entitled ‘Does vision impair balance?’ where I researched proprioception. The University of Hartford allowed me to use their research facility as an eighth grader with test subjects and conduct testing on their balance boards which charted movement in a blind test,” Hey said.

However, Hey’s passion for the sciences was hardly a surprise. “I have always had such a passion for anatomy and the body sciences; being a gymnast for most of my childhood,” Hey said.

While most pageant contestants begin as toddlers, Hey got off to what one might call a late start. “I am not your typical pageant girl who has competed in pageants all my life. I did not start until my sophomore year in high school where I competed for Teen Hartford County where I placed in the top 10 out of 50 girls,” Hey said. This early on success was quite a feat prompting her to continue forth competing in more pageants.

Although both stressful and exciting, Hey said that, “Competing in pageants is nothing you could ever imagine unless you give it a try. There is a serious amount of preparation before you even begin the competition.” Pageants require that contestants contribute to their communities which may at times involve fundraising for the Children’s Miracle Network for the Miss America Organization. However, fundraising is just one of the many rituals that are a part of competing.

With such prestige comes an enormous amount of pressure. “The competition is divided into five different parts; interview, swim, talent, evening gown and on stage question. But before you can even think about competing you need to have a cause,” Hey said.

Her motivation towards a cause however, is more meaningful than the fulfillment of winning the crown and title. Pageants have helped mold Hey’s view of the organizations. “[Pageants are] more about bringing awareness and community service rather than who has more money to buy the most glamorous dress. Your cause becomes your inward focus.

It makes you think about others and what good you can bring to them as well as developing you as a wholesome person inside and out,” Hey said.

Hey decided on choosing a cause that hits close to home. In 2007, an unfortunate event caused her to shift her efforts towards the prevention of a tragedy that affected so many around her. “My cause has always been driving awareness after losing one of my closest friends to a car accident in 2007, claiming four teens’ lives and injuring three adults in the other car. In essence, you’re competing for others you want to create change and awareness [for],” Hey said.

Pageants allow Hey to bring awareness to the cause. While it may be difficult to remember the tragedy, her extensive efforts to prevent such tragedies prove to be for the greater good. “As a friend of the driver, the amount of pain is excruciating. There were and still are so many questions about why that I continually attempt to process but they will never be answered. On the anniversary of the crash and his birthday you’ll find me at his grave. And I will never be able to talk to him or see him again,” Hey said.

Hey preserves the memory of her friend as she continues to advocate for the cause, “I don’t want other people to hurt like everyone who knew all of the teens lost that night.

I want change to happen! Don’t risk your life, your passenger’s lives and anyone who is traveling on the road with you. It’s not worth it! Slow down, stay alive and enjoy another day,” Hey said.

In the end, the pageant stress proves to be a positive experience. As Hey stated, “Pageants have always positively affected my life.” She cannot be accounted for as a pageant queen horror story, as depicted in multiple reality shows. Hey decided on her own to begin competing in an organization in which she feels positively impacts women.

“The bulk of my pageant experience has been from the Miss Connecticut America Organization, preliminary to Miss America. There are certain values as a contestant you hold competing for such an amazing organization,” Hey said. “They are the number one scholarship organization for women,” Hey added.

She also carefully divides her pageant time between other competition tasks. Hey describes that one would, “…have to focus on your pageant paper work, fact sheets, cause information, finding your dress, swim wear, interview outfits, shoes, jewelry, hair and makeup artists, you name it. There is a lot of preparation.

“Don’t forget your mock interviews! I would say you need at least 100 hours of prepageant prep before considering going into your interview or on stage,” Hey said.

A transfer student from Iona College, Hey became very involved with activities upon her transfer to the University as a criminal justice major. She was busy traveling to Italy with a criminal Justice class, later becoming president of the Criminal Justice Society; traveling to Fiji for a civic engagement course, participating in intramurals, all while maintaining school spirit at games and pep rallies.

Even during her final semester of her senior year, she traveled to Greece where her college sweetheart and University alumnus John Hey, “proposed on our last night in front of a Grecian castle in Nafplion! I think that pretty much sums up how I took advantage of

every opportunity I could here at Pace!” Hey said.

Since then, Hey has competed in a different division of the pageant­—Mrs. Connecticut America, where on Feb. 4 she took part. “As Mrs. Bristol 2012, I competed [and] represented my town in the best way I could. I was lucky enough to place in the top 10,” Hey said. She now divides her time between pageantry, adding for her cause and her career working for the U.S. Probation SDNY. Her interest for this position peaked as a freshman at Iona College. “One morning USPO [Prof.] David Mulcahy…walked in to talk about his job and the duties he performs.

It was like a light bulb. I took his business card and folder about the agency and ran with it,” Hey said.

From that point, she was accepted for an internship with U.S. Probation SDNY where she was, “given [the] opportunity to intern out of the White Plains office close to Pace where I monitored the computer activity of federally convicted sex offenders. I helped investigate my first successful violation of probation and new federal conviction of one of the career sex offenders I was monitoring. It’s history from that point on,” Hey said.

Currently, Hey is awaiting exciting news concerning future job prospects. “Since then, I have had an interview with the FBI and [I] am waiting to hear back from the Department of Homeland Security for a cyber security fellowship in D.C.,” Hey said. Her impressive career in the criminal justice field only compliments her interest in improving the lives of those around her.

As part of her involvement with her cause, “Families Against Dangerous Driving Decisions,” Hey has created a 5k charity run/walk taking place on March 24 in Terryville, “3.1 Miles of Memories is a charity 5k run / walk / kids race. The purpose of this race is to bring awareness to safe driving and the need to eliminate motor vehicle accident fatalities.

Along with the running, walking and kids run events, there will also be a safe driving expo where local groups and businesses will have safe driving information, food, games, prizes, etc…I would love and encourage the Pace community to consider coming out to this event.

“I know that motor vehicle accidents do hit home in the Pace community after the tragic loss of DJ Henry. The proceeds of this 5k run/walk will benefit a non-profit organization in CT that educates families on the dangers of ‘distracted driving’ called the Mourning Parents Act (!MPACT),” Hey said.

Hey’s life has been filled with the glamour of pageants, but always included an interest in the human condition. As a child aspiring to be a physical therapist, it was clear she would grow up to somehow help those in her community, whether it is in her current career at the U.S. Probation SDNY or as an advocate of “Families Against Dangerous Driving Situations.”

Currently, Hey continues to use her crown to improve awareness in her community.

Her accomplishments in pageants do not define her; they are instead the platform for which she uses to reach the hearts and minds of those around her.

MIKE CHAIKEN | The Bristol Observer

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February 15, 2012

FEATURES

PASSES NEEDED FOR

FREEDOM OF PRESS WITH NYPD

Media blackout, unattainable passes and unclear rules interrupting flow of information.

Journalist John Farley arrested in Sept. 2011 after an OWS march.

J

ERICK MANCEBO Features Intern

ournalists across the city have been up in arms the past few months, quietly gathering and uniting against a common unexpected enemy: the NYPD. The relationship between the two, which has always been contentious at best, reached a boiling point at the end of 2011, fueled by the NYPD’s actions against reporters covering the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement.

In separate incidents, when confronted by police, journalists carrying NYPD-issued press passes who were covering developing news stories were forced to vacate the area, bullied, or in the worst case, arrested while in the line of duty.

While some reporters managed to flash their press badges and evade arrest while covering OWS’s march on the Brooklyn Bridge on Oct. 1, others were not so lucky during the Nov. 15 police raid of Zuccotti Park, which included the arrests of five press pass-carrying journalists.

Since the arrests and consequent fallout, the relationship between the two groups has reached a difficult patch of uncertainty and mistrust.

A press pass, according to the NYPD public relations office and Gothamist.com, is a police department-issued pass that allows journalists special entry into areas normal citizens would not have access to. This includes City Hall, crime scenes and areas that have otherwise been cordoned off for public safety or to aid an investigation.

The problem with the system is that journalists and publications all over the city continue to complain of a vague and questionable system that doesn’t efficiently issue passes, essentially blocking access to crucial news events and scenarios to journalists.

Gothamist.com detailed on their website the eightyear long quest to receive recognition from the NYPD in the form of a validated press pass. In an article on their

website, they revealed that after being rejected twice, their third attempt was met with resistance and a general lack of helpfulness from the NYPD’s press relations office or “Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information.”

Expressing frustration that many journalists throughout the city feel, Gothamist’s article also called into question the entire press-credential process. The article quotes Elizabeth Spiers, Editor-In-Chief of the New York Observer, who said, “I don’t think NYPD should be credentialing press….It’s as if the government is effectively licensing journalists, which I find disturbing.”

Spiers, who has written for New York magazine, The New York Times and The New York Post argued that it doesn’t make sense for the government to essentially be accrediting journalists and bestowing upon them the full rights journalists need to cover breaking news situations.

Critics of the system argue that jurisdiction and honor should arguably be the responsibility of the universities, schools, employers and publications that educate and publish journalists.

Sophomore Mary Diaz said she’s more prone to side with the NYPD when it comes to press issues. “At this point I agree with the cops. I think it’s better if the reporter did have passes, it’s more legitimate,” Diaz said.

“I think that [system] can [still] cause a lot of issues. I’m not for how cops treat reporters sometimes, but it’s come down to the safety of the community,” Diaz added.

When asked whether she thinks the NYPD or schools and publications should issue press passes, Diaz said, “It should be both. You want to make sure whatever is being done, [that] it’s being safeguarded. You want the school[s] and [police department].…on the same page.”

Graduate student Christine Liu said she also thinks both the NYPD and schools and publications should collaborate to issue press passes. Admitting that she didn’t know much about the situation, Liu stated she

metrofocus.com didn’t want to completely take the NYPD out of the equation. “It should be government-issued. [I] trust them more,” Liu said. She advocated for the dual accreditation system, arguing that with both entities collaborating on the passes, “its two parties, the other party will keep an eye on the other.”

Even with the challenge of becoming accredited by the NYPD, it’s no promise that being a credentialed reporter will grant the holder full access to breaking news stories. The midnight raid of the OWS encampment last November led to some tense moments between journalists and police.

Village Voice writer Rosie Gray detailed one such encounter through a series of live tweets throughout the night, one of which included a conversation between herself and a police officer. The tweet read, “Me: ‘I’m press!’ Lady cop: ‘not tonight’.”

Gray later elaborated on the Village Voice’s website, stating, “The press was not allowed in [to Zuccotti Park], even with NYPD press credentials. There were a number of arrests, I’m not sure how many.” Gray was not alone; many more journalists issued reports to their superiors of pushing, shoving and harassment by police.

The reports prompted Gabe Pressman, president of the New York Press Club Foundation, to send a letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg that read, “The actions of some police officers were not consistent with the longestablished relationship between the NYPD and the press,” according to CBS New York.

The damaged relationship between the NYPD and NYC press underscores a deeper fissure between the two, demonstrating a shift in thought from the police as far as regarding press as comrades and equals who share civic duties to protect all citizens and to report the news, respectively.