Sept. 19, 2012
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Volume 64 | Issue 1
THE PACE PRESS SERVING PACE UNIVERSITY’S MANHATTAN CAMPUS SINCE 1948
CHELSEA SCHLOSS Contributor The university’s very own Starbucks Café opened Sept. 10. Located in Café 101, it is already booming with success. The newly added Starbucks is an instant hit and crowded with students waiting for their caffeine fix. Currently, there are Chartwells employees specially trained as baristas working the new Starbucks. The workers are overwhelmed with the constant flow of students demanding coffee and never ending lines, making the convenient addition, not-so-convenient. Winston Varona, a junior, adds “It’s a fabulous addition! However, the people that work there are slow and inefficient. There is no order and the place is losing the true magic we all love of Starbucks.”
STARBUCKS continued on PAGE 2
A New Campus For a New Year Pace Press Remembers 9/11 continued on PAGE 2
INSIDE FOLLOW US ONLINE !
NEWS Will young voters remain the lowest turnout rate at the polls? PAGE 3
ARTS K-pop till you don’t stop, how K-pop is taking over the world. PAGE 9
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FEATURES T.J. Byrnes, where everybody knows your name PAGE 11
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Sept. 19, 2012
Wage discrepancies still based on gender Women are still being consistently paid less than men for the same work SARAH AIRES News Editor
ulife.com
The Equal Pay Act was signed into law in 1963 by John F. Kennedy to abolish wage discrimination purely based on gender. Congress passed the legislation forbidding unequal pay between employees with similar skill sets, responsibilities and working conditions solely based on the difference of sex. Punishments for violators of the Equal Pay Act, mostly categorized as ‘having to pay the victim of wage disparity compensatory damages’ were not strictly enforced. Over forty years later, women are still being paid considerably less than their male counterparts in the same positions and a solution to the wage gap crisis still seems far off. On average, women working full-time are paid only 77 cents to every dollar paid to their male colleagues. The difference in pay is racially discriminatory as well, with African-American women making 62 cents to every dollar, and Latino-American woman earning a mere 54 cents for every dollar paid to opposite-sex counterparts. According to a Forbes article published on April 17, 2012, women in New York State lose an average of $24.3 billion every year as a result of the wage gap. Women would have an average of $750,000 extra to invest in retirement funds, in the event the wage gap was minimized as reported by the same article. President Obama re-proposed the Paycheck Fairness Act in June, a detailed piece of legislation that would amend the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to include harsher punishments for violators of the act, support disclosure of salary between coworkers and work to abolish systemic discrimination based on gender in the work place. The bill was originally considered in 2009 when the House of Representatives approved it to go to the United States Senate for a vote, where it was subsequently voted down. In June 2012, history proved to repeat itself. President Obama urged Congress to pass the bill along with the amendments to the original Equal Pay Act calling it a “common sense bill,” but the U.S. Senate failed to reach the 60 passing votes needed to approve it. The final vote was 52 in favor of the bill and 47 opposing it. All Republicans voted against it – including
female representatives from Maine, New Hampshire, Texas and Alaska. Much of the wage discrimination within the United States seems to stem from the way each gender is expected to perform differently from one another. Adam Gould, junior, stated, “I don’t necessarily think it’s right, but men are seen as leaders and mostly seen in higher positions in the work force.” A change in the perceived differences between men and women in the work force could have positive ramifications in terms of pay equality. While discrimination is a fundamental reason for the disparity between salaries for men and women, there are other factors that some believe to be responsible for the difference in wages. Daniel Fisher, a Forbes columnist, has criticized the bill stating that any disparity between the sexes, based on past experience, or prior salaries could be misconstrued as evidence of discrimination when the wages are not specifically gender related. Other criticisms have included the belief that women are paid less because of their choice to have a family and raise children and their need for time off for such duties. Scott Brown, Republican Senator from Massachusetts, states he believes the bill would prove to cause hardship for small business owners, according to the Huffington Post. Zoe Kulina, a Lubin junior, said “I think women are also not as comfortable with asking for raises, or expected to be as aggressive in the professional world; which is unfortunate.” There have been some advances in targeting businesses who have unlawful or discriminatory wage practices. For example, in 2009, President Obama signed into law the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, which offers those who were victim of wage discrepancies the chance to file formal complaints against their employer up to 180 days after their last received paycheck. Both women and men have rallied for equal pay for women. Joseph Robach, Assemblyman of New York State, has said, “Un-equal pay is un-American.” There have been subtle advancements in the fight for salary equality, but in the four decades since The Equal Pay Act was put into effect its goal has not yet been accomplished.
University brings Starbucks to Cafe 101 Continued from page 1 According to the official Starbucks website, the first Starbucks Café opened in Seattle in 1971. The Starbucks name is in honor of the first mate character in Moby Dick by Herman Melville. To match their oceanic name, their logo is also inspired by the sea; however, Greek mythology has been introduced as well as their twin-tailed siren has become a coffee icon. Their main mission has been and still remains “To inspire and nurture the human spirit—one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time”. Now, Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world with close to 19,000 storefronts in over sixty countries. Some of the countries where Starbucks has a presence include Japan, Canada, Taiwan, and Great Britain. There are over one hundred Starbucks in Manhattan alone. In fact, there are as many as ten within the general vicinity of the university. Luckily, we no longer have to venture outside the confines of our university to get a premium cup of coffee. There is an opening for two students to work at the café. According to Chartwells, there are already two students working for Café 101. They need an additional two people to add to the Starbucks payroll. One student
is needed for a morning shift and one for the evening. Students with work study through their financial aid package will be accepted but it is not required. If you are looking to apply for the position, you may go to Café 101 and ask for Tyrone. He is one of the main managers for Chartwells. However, if you simply want to enjoy the perks of the university’s new addition, the good news is that both meal plans and flex bucks are acceptable forms of payment. The new coffeehouse is said to be doing very well and should continue its profits. Students throughout the university are increasingly excited about the new addition. Sean Abernethy, senior, adds, “As a busy senior with little time between classes and an avid coffee drinker, I’m very excited for our new convenient Starbucks. But I am equally concerned about my caffeine levels”. Students are also excited about the new transformation the addition has made to the Café. Students are hopeful about the new university vision and what this could mean for the future. Lily Dilonex, senior, says “I think it’s cool. It gives Pace a new look. One that’s more modern and hopefully, we will continue to see these changes throughout the whole café and university. Café 101 closes at 10 PM. However, the Starbucks café is open as late as midnight on weekdays to continue its promotion. It is closed on the weekends. The university’s
new addition is expected to have great success. With a little more organization and the help of some student workers, the lines will get shorter and the students will be served at a faster pace. Overall, the students are ecstatic about having our very own Starbucks and they continue to show their support with meal plans in hand. Be sure to stop by Café 101 and grab a coffee to see for your self just how great the new addition is.
Photo by Damien Morgan
NEWS
Sept. 19, 2012
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Uncertainty surrounds expected young voter turnout SHANE KIRK Staff Writer
On Nov. 6, the democratic process of electing the next leader of the United States of America will take place in local voting precincts throughout the nation. Millions are expected to tune in to various news outlets to learn the results of the 2012 Presidential Election. For many university students, this marks the first time they are able to vote in a major election. Initially, the Constitution was written so that only white male property owners could vote in political elections; however as America has evolved, various amendments have been made to further guarantee that the voices of all its citizens be heard and disfranchisement be abolished. In 1870, the 15th Amendment passed prohibiting the restriction of voting rights to any adult male citizens “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” American women gained the right to vote in 1920 with the passing of the 19th Amendment, during the climax of the Women’s Suffrage movement. Then in 1924 the Indian Citizenship Act granted all Native Americans the rights of citizenship, including the right to vote in federal elections. Despite these advances in civil liberties it wasn’t until 1971 that young citizens were guaranteed the right to vote. The 26th Amendment was passed as a response to student activism against the Vietnam War and to overturn the Supreme Court’s Oregon v. Mitchell decision in 1970 that permitted a state to set age restrictions on voting in state elections. Citizens of voting age, 18 and over, represent 206 million people in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, voters 18 to 24 were the only age group to show a statistically significant increase in voter turnout, reaching 49 percent as compared with 47 percent in the previous 2004 election. Although this seems like a great stride for young voters, the fact still remains that on the whole, young voters are one of lowest demographics that participate in elections. Dr. Cathy Dwyer, Computer Science Professor and Social Media Consultant, commented on the lackluster participation of young voters, “Traditionally college students aren’t always excited to vote because most candidates don’t focus on the issues that affect students the most. They talk about things like social security, and tax reform, rather than the cost of higher education or the average graduate’s debt”. Newly graduated students, who may find themselves deep in debt with little to no rewarding
rocketxl.com career opportunities in the foreseeable future seem uninspired by the electoral process Daniel S. Botting, Assistant Director of Pace University’s Center for Community Action and Research (CCAR), weighed in on the reality that many students will face. “Jobs are much more scarce for young people now than they were when I graduated in 1999 and many of those that get jobs are underemployed -taking jobs that pay them less/ challenge them less than they should expect.” Many college students allow the current uncertainty of issues road blocking their future to deter them from voting. “Every election I poll my students in class to see who went and voted, and am always shocked at how few hands get raised,” says Dr. Dwyer. Zahid Mahir, junior, won’t be contributing to the statistic of non-voters. “I’m definitely voting this November,” he said, “The issues that I’m most worried about are same sex marriage, immigration rights, and most importantly, education because I know that our education is lacking behind the rest of the world and it is something that we need to worry about now. The good news is that the University has no classes on Election Day, meaning that students should find ample time to get out and vote. Wilfredo Pena, University
“American democracy is a system that is shaped and guided by the people who engage in it. Get engaged.” -Daniel Botting, Assistant Director of CCAR
Student Liaison and Program Manager, suggests that friends make a date to go and vote together, “Turn it into a social event and see where that takes you, your friends and your community.” Dr. Dwyer also commented, “Not voting is a big mistake, because you are essentially letting other people decide your future for you. By voting students will be giving more legitimacy to the whole political process, playing a role in the community and acting as a citizen of this nation.” Mr. Botting challenges the university student voters, “American democracy is a system that is shaped and guided by the people who engage in it. Get engaged. Get educated. Vote. Volunteer. Protest. Lobby your elected official. Write letters. Sign petitions. Join community groups. Speak up and speak out. This is your future and your responsibility in a democracy, and it is stronger for it!” Where can students get more information? The CCAR has planned a series of events on campus under the header ‘Democracy in Action’ Election 2012 where they will be manning informational tables to help answer any last minute voting or candidate questions. Students are also encouraged to visit the CCAR Office in room Y31 in 1 Pace Plaza to register to vote before the October 12th deadline. Political Science Professor Chris Malone is also planning Presidential Debate events and any student interested in getting involved should email him for more details at cmalone@pace.edu.
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Sept. 19, 2012
NYC considering decriminalization of marijuana Officials expresses concern over unfair punishment for marijuana possession SARAH AIRES News Editor Andrew Cuomo, New York state governor, has proposed a new stance on the decriminalization of marijuana, citing the current approach to prosecuting marijuana users as ‘inconsistent.’ The new proposal would make being in possession of up to 25 grams in marijuana a mere violation which would avoid the unnecessarily harsh misdemeanor charges that ‘disproportionately effect black and Hispanic youth,’ according to Cuomo. Cuomo has gained the support of both New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the New York Police Department Commissioner Ray Kelly. Currently, anyone in possession of less than 25 grams of marijuana would be subject to a violation, while anyone in possession of any amount of marijuana that is in use or can be seen publicly, would be charged with a misdemeanor which is kept on their permanent public record and could also be put in jail for up to 90 days and have to pay a hefty fine according to TIME magazine. In 2011, there were nearly 50,000 arrests made in New York State alone, and according to the Drug Policy Alliance, the NYPD has made more marijuana related arrests between 2007 and 2011 totaling over 227,000 which is more than the amount of arrests made during the 23 year period between 1978 until 2001 which came in at just over 226,000. Much of the concern surrounding marijuana possession arrests is the money being spent on the man power and incarceration of the perpetrators of the marijuana related misdemeanors. According to the DPA, New York City spent at least $150 million in the last
two years. Nearly $340 million in the last five years of Bloomberg’s administration has been spent as a result of arrests for marijuana possession and use. Michael Mead, junior, disapproves of the tax dollars being spent on making marijuana arrests for something he perceives to be essentially harmless. “By decriminalizing this, you are essentially wiping out the number one crime in the state and preventing a lot of tax dollars from going to waste. Alcohol and cigarettes are legal so I have no idea how an herb that can be used for food, medicine clothing etc is so illegal. With the decriminalization or legalizing of it [marijuana], it will allow more established scientists to be a part of grow centers to create healthier ways to smoke,” he said. Under the new proposed legislation, those found in possession of less than 25 grams of marijuana would be subject to a small fine, somewhat like that of a parking ticket and may be subject to taking drug and alcohol awareness courses if they are found to be repeat offenders, once again, much like classes needed to reduce the amount of points on one’s license. The new bill would free the NYPD of spending the manpower to arrest and convict those in possession of the drug who are not serious criminals and those found with miniscule amounts of the drug. Robert Neuweiler, junior, expressed support for the potential new law. “I do thing [the decriminalization of marijuana’] is fair. You never know why someone has it on them... For example if you were in a crowded place like in a club and grabbed a jacket that looked similar to yours,” Neuweiler said There are some critics of the potential legislation. David Evans, an advisor for the Drug Free America
Foundation, believes that the new bill would trivialize marijuana usage and make young people feel like it’s okay to smoke pot because they won’t be as harshly punished for doing so. Evans said, “if [the bill] is going to lessen young people’s perception on the dangers of marijuana, we’re against it.” New York is not the only state to have brought up the issue of marijuana decriminalization. Neighboring New Jersey has passed a marijuana decriminalization bill through the assembly that would make anyone carrying less than 15 grams of marijuana subject to a $150 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense and $500 for a third offense and every offense thereafter. According to nj.com, 15 grams of marijuana is equivalent to approximately just over 30 joints. In order for the bill to come to fruition, it would have to also be passed through legislative chambers and Governor Chris Christie, who has stated that drug counseling is a better option in handling non-violent marijuana users, but fears that the new bill is ‘too permissive.’ If New York and New Jersey were to permit the decriminalization of Marijuana, they would join the dozen states that have already done so including near-by Connecticut. Police Commissioner Kelly specifically stated in a memorandum given in 2011 that officers were to cease the charging of marijuana possession violators who ‘disclosed their contraband at the insistence of an officer,’ which would not be counted as the “seen in public view” statute of the original bill. NYPD stop and frisk policies have also come under scrutiny. Governor Cuomo has also asked for a decrease in marijuana-related arrests that result from police stops.
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Sept. 19, 2012
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Tutoring and Writing centers ready for fall University’s academic assistance helps students “work towards greatness” COURTNEY JOHNSON Contributor
The university’s Tutoring Center officially opens on Sept. 18th. The Tutoring Center is located in 41 Park Row in room 204 and is home to 47 tutors who cover a diverse array of subjects and are available to help students with any of their classes. The entire service is free of charge and is used each year by nearly one out of every three students. Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Economics, Finance, Mathematics, French, Spanish and Italian are just a few of the subjects that the center has tutors available for. Simone Kearney, English Professor, believes that these tutors have a profound effect on the success of students: “Tutors can help students with whatever particular concerns a student may have. Tutors are also helpful in that they are one other reader to help students revise their writing. Every semester I recommend that students visit the tutoring center,” said Kearney. “It gives the students a chance to have one on one attention with someone besides their professor.” The Tutoring Center serves a diverse array of the student body that includes both freshmen and upperclassmen. The process of scheduling a session with a tutor is as easy as walking into the Tutoring Center and filling out a brief form. Narendra Ramcharan, the temporary director of the Tutoring Center, advises students to come in as early as possible to get a tutor for their specific subject saying, “Math and Accounting subjects are the most sought after tutors, but for students with subjects that aren’t as popular, there are only certain times where tutors are available for them. Students should come in and check the schedule to see what time tutors are available in their subjects.” Students can use the Tutoring Center as often as they need to, without any commitments. According to Ramcharan, the tutoring center is busiest around midterms and finals. The tutoring center also offers group tutoring services, semester-end reviews, study skills workshops, and peer led team learning discussion groups. Ramcharan recommends that students not only visit the tutoring center, but do so consistently throughout the semester. “A majority of students wait until right before their tests to come to the center, when they should visit often to reinforce what they’ve done in class,” said Ramcharan. “Research shows that grades improve when students visit the center over four times per semester.”
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One of the lesser known aspects of the tutoring center is that the tutors also offers help with time management, test preparation, test-taking strategies, class preparation, organization and note taking. “If a student is having difficulty with how to study, then a tutor can help brainstorm techniques they can use,” Ramcharan continued. The tutoring center also offers a plethora of study brochures that are specific to a certain class or area of study. In Professor Kearney’s opinion, the tutoring center has nothing to improve upon. Kearney especially favors their choice of tutors. “Their choice of tutors is efficient,” said Kearney. “[The center] really works hard to find good ones.” Another great resource for students is the Writing Center. Although the two are not affiliated, The Writing Center located in room 327 in the Birnbaum Library at One Pace Plaza, also officially opens for the semester on September 18th. The Writing Center is also free of charge and offers many one-on-one sessions that students can utilize to help strengthen their writing and editing skills. There are in-person, online, and walk in appointments available to help even the busiest of students. While the writing center can help any student in need, it especially accommodates students in English 110, 120 and 201. Some tutors at the writing center are also english-as-a-second-language instructors who can help students in English ESL as well. Amy Dupcak, Writing Tutor and English Professor, is very fond of the programs made available to students at the Writing Center. “I like engaging with students to closely discuss their work, in any stage of the writing,” said Dupcak. “This is beneficial not only to the student in question, but also to myself as a teacher, since I am exposed to a wide range of students in different classes.” Dupcak strongly encourages all students who are having difficulties to seek tutoring with The Writing Center. “I think that many ESL students take full advantage of the Writing Center, and as well they should, but I find that students in standard core English classes are more hesitant to seek out tutoring,” said Dupcak. “I do feel that the students who come to the Center quickly realize its benefits and make good use of their time here.” With the rising costs of university tuition, it is in the best interest of every student to fully reap the benefits of all the resources made available to students to ensure academic progress. Keeping up to date on the best ways to “work toward greatness” is the simplest way to make the most of the four years spent at the University.
Memorial for Pat Woodward - OCT. 15 A memorial celebrating the life and work of Patricia Woodward, Performing Arts Department Activities/Recruitment Coordinator, Student Advisor and Adjunct Lecturer, will be held on Monday, October 15 at 7:00 pm in the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts. Pat, who died suddenly last April, was a member of the Pace community for the past forty years. An alumna of the Speech and Drama Department, she headed the Torchbearers drama club, acted in and directed countless productions, and received the Best Actress Award as a student and the Director’s Award as a graduating senior. She was Speech and Drama Department Secretary during and after her college career and she continued to work in various capacities for the department as it evolved throughout the years. She directed numerous plays and musicals, publicized department shows, coordinated Performing Arts activities and productions, managed the theater major recruitment program, and advised hundreds of majors. Outside of Pace Pat was a founding member and Artistic Director of Stage Left theater company in New York City; director and choreographer of musicals at Montclair and Clifton High Schools; founding member of Showstoppers theater group at the Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair; and instructor at the New Jersey Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Adult School of Montclair and the Performers Theater Workshop in West Orange. Pat will be greatly missed. Her friends, colleagues and students are invited to attend this celebration of her life.
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OPINION AND EDITORIALS DISCLAIMER: These opinions are expressed by contributors (students, faculty, administration and staff) to The Pace Press. These opinions are solely those of the individual writers and do not reflect the opinions of The Pace Press, the members of The Pace Press staff or Pace University. The Pace Press is not responsible and expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind of arising out of use or relevance to any information contained in this section.
Sept. 19, 2012
THE PACE PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD Nazary Nebeluk Editor-in-Chief Fotini Sachpatzidis Associate Editor Nicole Morales Managing Editor Damien Morgan Creative Director Sarah Aires News Editor Olivia Beteta Arts Editor Erick Mancebo Features Editor Brian Rentas Web Editor Kathryn Bosch Circulation Manager Michael Oricchio Faculty Adviser
STAFF Patrick deHahn Mona Khaldi Julia Yeung
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.pacepress.org editor@pacepress.org Copyright 2011
Sept. 19, 2012
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ARTS
Graffiti: An oral history of the art that plagues the streets DAMIEN MORGAN Creative Director NYC is well known for cultivating some of the best artists and artwork, along with influencing many around the world. What many viewers may not know is that when they look at graffiti they’re seeing a lot of wellconstructed art. Graffiti has been a widely popular form of experiencing art that has grown since the early 1970’s. Spreading through the streets of New York City a person will notice the multiple creations of cartoons, inspiring words, or iconic figures that reside on buildings or even in subway lines. It may seem difficult to imagine the art form of graffiti growing as a movement, but it did indeed spread from one state to another. Modern graffiti is said to have originated in Philadelphia, PA in the early 1960’s. Some of the first forms of graffiti made its appearance shortly after the death of famous jazz saxophonist, Charlie Parker, died and the words “Bird Lives” were placed around the city. Within a decade, this art became more and more apparent as artists, such as TAKI 183 and Tracy 168, came to the surface of NYC. These two artists became very well known when they went to a train and tagged it multiple times in the attempt for it to travel around the subway lines with their art. The art of the subway was tagged with their unique names which were derived from the street that each artist resided on, such as Tracy living on 168th St. As many new graffiti artists came out within the late 70’s and early 80’s, the simple tagging of one’s name was not enough to get recognition. Creations of scenery, illustrations, and infamous cartoon characters became new ways for artists to add to their ideal images to the public. Tracy 168 serves true to this when he created his famous tags of a drawing titled the “Purple Haze.” This construction was Tracy’s own way of paying homage to the famous musician Jimi Hendrix. Another style of graffiting that was being introduced at the same time was the Wildstyle form. Said to have been established by Tracy 168, this style is what one might usually think of when hearing the phase a graffiti tag. With over lapping letters and shapes, the complexity of the look of the words are often hard for a person to read unless he or she is more familiar with it. These tags may also include a technique of arrows, spikes, and elements that can decorate the art to truly be original. What makes Wildstyle a unique form of art all on its own is the numerous layers and shapes that go into the creations to make each piece more original than the last and extremely difficult to replicate. Just as graffiti was becoming more known to the city and people were being recognized for their spirit and tags, many others weren’t happy to see the city becoming painted over. In 1972 Mayor John Lindsay declared war on graffiti. By 1980 police were put on a tighter alert in hopes to stop the graffiting, which at that point had grown into associations with a few gangs. Winning the war, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 1986 had taken off the last graffitied train from service. Some might have thought that this crack-down on graffiti was the first step in scaring away any new artists in this field, but to others it was the opposite. Many sought out to overcome the challenge that was set before them. Nothing could have proved this more than with some artists printing their names in a place where everyone in the city could see. Not since 1998 when President Clinton was in office has any attempted to tag the Brooklyn Bridge until just recently when Lewy BTM put his name up for all to learn. Not only is this a feat that may surprise all because for Lewy BTM to construct this piece he would’ve had to hoist himself 119-feet over the East River, but that it is highly illegal. The act of vandalizing a national landmark, such as the Brooklyn Bridge, is a felony. As graffiti seems to test the limits of the big canvas
piece known as New York City, it has not stopped artists from drawing on it. Through the hard times of the early 1980’s, this art form has stood the test of time and multiple changes to become what it is today. No one can deny that their ride to the University wouldn’t be the same without the creative styles of the graffiti tags on all walls they pass.
MICHELLE LEWIS Contributor Graffiti is one of the rare art forms that can either make a person famous, get them arrested, or both. To the artists, or “writers” as they call themselves, graffiti isn’t just spray paint and clever nicknames, but an entire cultural movement with it’s own styles and vocabulary. Its messages can range from inspirational to offensive or simply be a writer’s “tag” - their signature. Emma Laramie, sophomore, said “I think graffiti can be considered art if it’s done well and with a purpose,” said “If someone takes their time and puts effort into it, such as mural or a political statement then it’s art. Scribbling your name on a subway wall is not.” However not everyone considers graffiti to be a form of expression, some find it to be an eyesore. Rob Salloum, sophomore, said “I feel like it makes things look run down and uncared for,” “I don’t think the artist’s are making the statement their trying to make clear. Graffiti takes more away from the community than it adds.” Many of graffiti’s harshest critics see it as more than just a mere annoyance, some would go as far as saying it is detrimental to the community and day to day life. According to nyc.gov, Mayor Bloomberg believes graffiti has “insidious effects on our quality of life” and has taken major steps to remove graffiti. One such way was the creation of an Anti-Graffiti Task Force, which works to remove graffiti across the five boroughs. Penalties for graffiti artists can now range from a fine to imprisonment. Preventative measures are being taken as well. The law now prohibits the sale of spray paint to anyone under the age of 18. The Brooklyn Museum even canceled a scheduled graffiti show in 2011 citing lack of funding but also expressing fear that it would incite acts of vandalism in the surrounding areas. Not everyone shares this view though. Whether a member of the art community or simply an art lover, graffiti art is just as legitimate an art form as surrealism or impressionism. It is not vandalism, but something to be studied and admired. Many museums and galleries have even begun to feature graffiti art. The Klughaus Gallery on Monroe Street is one such location that features graffiti style art and even has artists available for hire. There are not only opportunities to see this kind of art, but to create it as well. The well-known 5Pointz outdoor graffiti exhibit in Long Island City provides a space for graffiti artists to share their talents and their passions in a way that won’t get them in trouble with the NYPD. Graffiti artists don’t always use dirty subway walls or abandoned lots as the stage for their art, though. Sometimes, they work on a much bigger scale. This past summer, one of New York’s most iconic landmarks, The Brooklyn Bridge, served as the canvas for the artist Lewy BTM’s graffiti art. Though the bridge has been buffed and the graffiti removed, the news of the tagging is not so easily cleaned up. It can sometimes be difficult to determine wither graffiti is a historical movement, vandalism, or an art form. Graffiti’s place in New York City is up to one’s own interpretation. Wither graffiti art happens to be one’s trash or one’s treasure, it can’t be denied that it is part of the culture of New York City and isn’t going away anytime soon.
5 Points in Long Island City Queens is still to this day one of the most famous graffiti spots in the world. notorietyinc.com
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ARTS
Sept. 19, 2012
Summer festivals heat up crowds from coast to coast
Breathe Carolina at Vans Warped Tour in Uniondale, NY OLIVIA BETETA Arts Editor Summer has come and passed and all throughout the summer as the temperature rose a barrage of music festivals took place throughout the world. Most of the bigger festivals, such as Cochella, Bonnaroo and Lalapollzaza took place in faraway cities. However, NYC and the surrounding areas were home to a variety of outdoor concerts that took place this summer. With the genres of these festivals ranging from indie rock to hardcore rap there was indubitably something for everyone. There is everything from nation-wide touring festivals to localized three-day extravaganza, camp-outs to tailgates. Each festival was a little different as far as location, price and dates and all these things should be taken into consideration before choosing which festivals are the “must sees” of the summer. The summer was abundant in festivals along the tri-state including the CBGB Festival, The Village Voice’s 4Knots, and The Governors Ball. This year however, summer went out with a bang and the second half of the season was filled with some of the most interesting shows to date. The first of which is the Vans Warped Tour. One of the only touring music festivals, Warped tour brings alternative rock, pop, and punk music across the U.S., Canada and even has a stop in London England. For over fifteenth years Warped Tour has brought affordable music to the masses. At about $35 a ticket it is one of the cheapest festivals that took place all summer. It is not just a show for rock fans though; in the past the lineup has featured artists such as Katy Perry and Mike Posner, All Time Low, We the Kings, Yellowcard and New Found Glory are just a few of the big name artists who performed this year. Warped Tour is a traveling tour yet is still one of the most environmental conscious festivals. Since 2006 the tour has had the Warped Tour Eco Initiative otherwise known as WEI. WEI recruits volunteers to help with recycling throughout the venue and in turn gives them free admission to the show. In the short time WEI has been on the tour the buses have been switched to run on bio-diesel and solar power has been utilized on some of the stages. According to the Warped Tour website they are responsible for diverting about 700 lbs. of recycles from landfills a day. Throughout the vendors of the tour there are countless non-profits that seek not to just sell their merchandise but also to inform the masses about important issues on a global perspective. Among the non-profits are Keep a Breast, Action for Animals, Art Feeds and Music Saves Lives just to name a few. They also feature Klean Kanteen which offers free filtered water at every stop on the tour. Warped Tour is probably the only place someone can go and mosh in a circle pit and then register to vote. It is one of the liveliest tours of the whole summer and each year it seems to grow in size. For over fifteen years Warped has been a summer institution and it looks to continue this tradition for another fifteen. The Newport Folk Festival, in none other than Newport, Rhode Island, was a major hit this summer. The two-day folk fest took place on July 27-29 and for New Yorkers it was definitely a longer trip but for fans of indie music well worth it. Wilco, the alternativeindie powerhouse, had a special performance on Friday July 27th before the actual festival festivities began on the following day. Once the weekend started it jammed packed with big names in folk such as Iron & Wine, My Morning Jacket and Jackson Browne. Tickets for folk-fest sold out for both Saturday and Sunday weeks before the festival actually began. Those who weren’t lucky enough to get tickets found themselves in good company as groups of people tailgated in the parking lot.
Next on the festival line up is the Catalpa Festival. 2012 marked the inaugural year of the festival but it garnished a great deal of attention as both early bird and advanced weekend tickets sold out for the two-day affair quickly after going on sale. The festival took place on July 28th and 29th on NYC’s own Randall’s Island. The lineup for the festival was impressive to say the least, even more so being that it was the festival’s first year. The Black Keys along with Snoop Dogg acted as co-headliners to packed crowds. With an astonishingly long set The Black Keys played for well over an hour on Saturday night. As a special treat to all of the classic Snoop fans he preformed music solely from his No. 1, debut album Doggy Style. Accompanying headliners were a slew of diverse artists, from indie and folk rock to R&B and hip-hop. Other artists included: indie rockers, TV on the Radio, deejay, Girl Talk, up and coming rapper, A$AP Rocky, indie pop duo Matt and Kim, along with many more. Catalpa was meant to be more than just a music festival; it was heavily influenced by art and interactive media and presented a great deal of it in the festival. The festival featured a huge art installation known as the Aracadia Spectacular. The piece shoot 30 ft. flame balls with a DJ playing from within it. Along with that was the Frisky Church of Sham Marriages, where anyone looking to get hitched for the day could just walk in and get “fake married.” Another exciting tent was the silent disco, in which people were given headphones that were linked up with a DJ. It appeared as if everyone in the tent was dancing to soundless music. In addition to all of the unique tents there was a farmer’s market and an assortment of other classic New York eateries. This two-day festival looks like it could definitely become a New York summer staple and the first year was something that shouldn’t have been missed. Afropunk Festival took place pretty close to the university, held in Brooklyn’s Commodore Barry Park August 25-26 it was a great way to end the summer. This festival had music for the masses and for a low cost there; was no reason not to attend. Last year the festival was canceled due to hurricane Irene and festival organizers attempted to makeup for it by the impressive line-up. Erykah Badu, Janelle Monae, Bad Rabbits and Body Language were just a few of the stellar artists who preformed. The festival aimed to give a voice and an image to the growing Afro-punk movement while giving up-and-coming artists a place to present their music. In addition to the range of musicians who played there was also the Nike Battle For the Streets Skate and BMX Competition. It served as the largest street skate and BMX competition in NYC. Amateur skaters and BMX riders throughout the nation came to Brooklyn for the competition that was judged by some of the top professionals in both sports. Rock the Bells was the festival hip-hop and rap lovers were waiting for. It was a three part festival series that had it’s final weekend in Holmdel, NJ September 1st and 2nd. This festival was a huge blowout with both old school and new age artists performing. While the tickets were a bit pricey and there is no option to buy one day tickets it was definitely a worthwhile purchase for any hip-hop aficionado. The first day featured DMX & Eve, Jadakiss, Method Man & Redman, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Ice Cube and Big Sean to name a few. Sunday had just as many if not more incredible artists performing including Nas, Common, Slick Rick, Salt-n-Pepper, DJ Quck and Big Daddy Kane among others. The summer and it’s corresponding festival season maybe over, but music fans should not be disheartened as the fall is full of tours to keep nights full. Not to mention the fall marks the release of countless new albums and EPs.
Pierce the Veil at Vans Warped Tour in Uniondale, NY. All photos by Olivia Beteta and Nicole Morales of Pace Press
Sept. 19, 2012
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K-pop grows in popularity throughout the US and Europe 2NE1, Big Bang and Psy are just some of the K-pop artists taking over the world
Psy has been everywhere ever since the release of his video for “Gangnam Style.” ygfamily.com STEPHANIE KEMPADOO Contributor From the VMAs, to sold-out concerts across the United States, to collaborations with big name American artists, it seems like Korean pop music has swept the nation. “K-Pop” as it is commonly referred to has entered the U.S. markets with groups that specialize in catchy tunes, unforgettable dance routines, and remarkable beats. Most people have at least heard of or are talking about this phenomenon. K-Pop stands out with its ability to surpassed critical language barriers in several countries around the world and continue to make a niche for itself in today’s Top 40 market. K-Pop music has a completely different process and culture than what is found in the U.S. These artists/groups are discovered when they are around the ages of 15–16 and are put through the rigorous process of cultivating their skills for years before they are able to debut. This insures that there are no “one-hit” wonders, as exemplified by the long careers of artists such as BOA, a female solo act who has been in the industry for almost 12 years. Multilingual skills are a must when it comes to groups success in Southeast Asia as well as the West. Most of these artists know more than 3 languages. South Korea encourages genre fusion that appeals to a wider audience and this has become a unique trait of the music industry. K-pop music videos consist of a wide range of visuals that complements this genre fusion. “K-pop music videos are very colorful, not only in the physical sense but more lyrically. It’s definitely a genre that is influenced by many genres. Jalin Gibbs, sophomore, said “It’s a melting pot of everything. No one can dispute that their style is unlike the norm in America, and that is the reason why so many different types of people have gravitated towards it.” American artists such as Akon and Will.I.Am have taken key Korean groups under their wings and are using their influence to have them break into the American Top 40. Akon has recently helped and was featured on the
Wonder Girl’s debut single “Love you Like”. This isn’t the Wonder Girl’s first appearance in the U.S., they were seen on the Billboard’s Hot 100 for their single “Nobody” in 2008. Along with the success of their single came opportunities to tour with the Jonas Brothers, and make guest appearances on the Wendy Williams Show and So You Think You Can Dance, not to mention their Teen Nick TV special. Their Korean-English album and world tour is set to be released later this year. A fairly new group that has crossed the seas into the American music industry is 2NE1. This girl group is known for combining electronic, pop, R&B, and rap music into one. This summer was the first time they went on tour in the states yet already they have had sold-out concerts in New Jersey and Los Angles along with a variety of other shows in East Asia and Europe. Will.I.Am has been collaborating with them for about a year and in that time, under his guidance, the group has won the Iggy’s Best New Band in the World. Most of their songs are in Korean and this just proves that English is not needed for a band to be widely successful. Big Bang, 2NE1’s male counterparts and fellow YG Entertainment Artists, are also coming to America for the first time this November. Big Bang shy’s away from norm of a “pretty boy band,” placing more focus on music versus sex appeal. Juliette Nieves, sophomore, said “What makes Big Bang unique is that each member has their own individual style, and they have a swag that compliments each other giving them a wider appeal.” The most recent event of Korean pop music taking over daily life is the new dance craze that has taken over Youtube. “Gangnam style” is a strange dance that has a LMFAO- vibe to it that has everyone hooked. Dr. Stephanie Hsu, English professor, said “If you look at the viral video of “Gangnam Style,” for instance, you can see how K-pop artists can use irony, parody, and hyperbole to entertain audiences, even if an audience can’t follow every lyric”.
It is the “Call Me Maybe” of Korea, and has led artist PSY to be invited to the VMAs where of course, he couldn’t leave without showing the viewers at home a little bit of his eye-catching dance. He is not the typical pop star of Korea because of his age and personal style but he was signed to Schoolboy Records just 7 weeks after his song debuted on YouTube. Korean pop music has a long way to go to be number 1 on the Billboard’s Top 100 but in the next few months expect to see more of these innovative groups on the radio, TV, and sold-out concerts. Before you know it music in the United States will be even worldlier than ever before. It’s worth it being on the K-pop wave, they have so much to offer. They have taught us the “invisible horse” dance, how to combine all genres into one, how to have unique style, and to break several language barriers around the world. It seems like American artists have even more competition in the music industry.
Upcoming K-pop Appearances Psy Performance The Ellen DeGeneres Show September 19 Big Bang World Tour Newark, NJ November 9 For more info check out: www.allkpop.com
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Sept. 19, 2012
Center for Community Action and Research helps students to vote Amid confusing and ever-changing rules, the University’s CCAR seeks to make voting easier ANGELICA RAZACK Contributor “How can I register to vote? Can I find something online? Do I need to go somewhere? Is the form going to be extremely hard? Is there a reason my registration would be denied? What are the rules for voting? Do you need a photo ID?” These are all questions asked by Boski Patel, senior, and also a resident of New Jersey. Since Boski is not a resident of New York, she is dubious as to whether she is eligible to vote in New York. Fortunately, the university’s Center for Community Action and Research (CCAR) offers information and assistance on voting for students who are in Boski’s predicament: they provide students with voter registration forms as well as an awareness of registration deadlines. When asked how university students who are not residents of New York should approach registration, Daniel Botting, the Assistant Director of CCAR, said, “If they are living in New York they can register in New York. They can go to [room] Y31 and fill out the registration form. Registration is based on where you live.” Botting also pointed out that college typically takes up nine months of the year, so students living on campus or in an apartment in the city are eligible to vote in New York State. Botting encouraged students to go to Y31 to get a registration form, rather than from an outside authority, because the CCAR takes the extra step of checking forms to see that they are filled out completely and accurately. As an alternative, students have the option of going online, downloading the registration form themselves, and mailing it to the New York Board of Elections. Botting warned, however, that an unseen error on a registration form could potentially cause students to be unable to vote. If students have already mailed their applications to the Board of Elections, Botting
suggested that they visit the Board of Elections website to see if they are registered. If students are still unsure, then they can reprint the form, fill it out, and bring it to room Y31. Botting also reminded students that every state has its own deadline. “In New York, if students are not registered by October 12th, then they cannot vote in the election.” In addition, students who will not be 18 on Election Day or who are non-citizens cannot vote. Students who commute from nearby states can also register in their home-state, said Botting. “Students have a right to register wherever. ...Let’s say I am registered in Connecticut, but ...[attending] school here. The option would be to register where you are voting. Or they can fill out a voter registration form for their state and apply for an absentee ballot (a vote cast by someone who will not be attending their region’s official voting station) application.” For all other voting questions that apply to a specific state, students can go to their state’s Board of Elections website, and students can find the absentee ballot application online as well. Once the absentee ballot is filled out, and sent to the corresponding Board of Elections, the voter will receive a ballot in the mail depending on where they will be on Election Day. There are different deadlines for absentee ballot applications and Botting said that filling out these applications is more work.
VISIT The University’s Center for Community Action and Research is located at One Pace Plaza in Room Y31. Students can contact Assistant Director Daniel Botting by email at dbotting@pace.edu or by phone at (212) 346-1791.
Borough featurette: “Everyone knows your name” at T.J. Byrnes GRACE TEXTER Contributor Maggie the bartender chats with all of her patrons at T.J. Byrnes as if they all grew up together. A construction worker who has had one too many Coronas asks her, “Do you know the difference between a stage coach driver and a bartender?” Maggie replies, “No! Why don’t you tell me?” He manages, “A stage coach driver only has to look at four horses asses at one time!” before he and his friends leave in a fit of laughter. This is a regular occurrence at T.J.’s, no matter what time you come in. Ass jokes aside, nothing provides comfort more than a neighborhood restaurant where “everyone knows your name.” T.J. Byrnes is that place. Located at 77 Fulton Street, T.J.’s is a traditional Irish bar and restaurant, equipped with a fully stocked bar, traditional comfort food and homey red pleather benches. For the past 18 years T.J.’s has been catering to university students just out of their night classes by providing a late night bar menu guaranteed to satisfy your post class cravings for fried calamari or chicken tenders. Open until 2 a.m., the intimate setting provides students with a place to wind-down and catch up with friends. For those of us who are on a budget, T.J.’s averages seven dollars for their late night menu and eight dollars for lunch. Thomas Hutchinson, junior, said of a recent visit, “I really liked the environment at T.J.’s. I went there for the first time recently and I didn’t know what to expect at all. I liked it because it’s a really happy environment inside. Everyone was happy and having a great time which put me in a positive mindset. I thought it was really nice in the bar itself. A nice place to be versus a sports bar.” The atmosphere inside T.J.’s is of an old-style Irish pub, with wood furnishings and stained glass ceiling lamps. Even the wait staff is authentic—most are originally from Ireland, complete with lilting brogue. Rebecca Paganini, junior, said, “T.J.’s has just the right amount of classic Irish pub and New York City feel.” Among the top shelf liquors behind the bar, in between the Jamesons and the Bushmills, a rosy cheeked
Leprechaun smiles down on all the patrons as they enjoy their afternoon coffees and skinny fries. If you happen to stop in one afternoon for lunch or for relief from the elements, you’re likely to find all kinds of people: businessmen and women sipping cocktails or coffees while reading the various newspapers available; construction workers and locals ordering their usual corned beef sandwiches on rye with a Coke, or a group of old friends sitting at a table to catch up or reminisce about the good old days. While Maggie continues to serve those at the bar, she remembers something her godfather once said to her while on his deathbed, “Always take care of yourself.” At T.J. Byrnes, you are certain to be taken care of and they will always know your name.
Photos by Shanna Ravindra
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Sept. 19, 2012
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Rising cost of higher-level education a concern for both parties Politicians use convention time take aim at cost of education in hopes of luring young voters JESSAMIN CIPOLLINA Contributor
This year’s Presidential Election is being touted as a big one, with President Barack Obama and opponent former governor Willard “Mitt” Romney battling their way to the Presidency, challenging America and promising a better future for all. Each candidate has high hopes for America, and they made their individual goals very clear in the recent National Conventions. One question that is on most college students’ minds is, “What will my President do to improve education?” With a struggling economy and thousands of people and families on the brink of poverty, being able to afford college and find a good job is a constant concern of many university students. The Republican and Democratic parties have unique views for the United States. A blog from NPR described how the Republican Party “emphasizes the individual and the concept of liberty,” while the Democratic Party “stresses the importance of larger social frameworks.” In his speech, Romney related personally to those Americans who have large families and strong religious values, and said he believed that individuals should have the “freedom to build their own life.” The Democratic Party stressed the importance of cooperation in the U.S. as a whole. In his convention speech, former President Bill Clinton stated that Americans need more of Obama’s “preference for inclusion and partnership over partisanship” in Washington D.C. Romney also discussed America’s “special kinship” with the future. He talked about freedom of religion and the ability to run a business, as well as the importance of “free enterprise.” Romney said he wants each student’s education to be worthwhile; he stated that
his personal goal was to create as many as twelve million new jobs in the U.S., including jobs for graduating college students. Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan stated in his speech that Romney “believes that parents and the local community must be put in charge—not the Department of Education.” According to an article from the Huffington Post, he feels that student loans and other aid, including Pell Grants and private school vouchers, should be mandated by the state and local education departments. Pres. Obama mentioned in his speech that, “Education was a gateway of opportunity for me”. He talked about workers being able to obtain the skills they need through community colleges so they can find better jobs. Over the next ten years, he wants to cut the growth of college tuition costs, and, according to First Lady Michelle Obama, he wants to continue to fight for lower interest rates and higher student financial aid. He wants any and all Americans who want access to higher education to have an opportunity to do so. As far as careers after college, Obama stated that he wants to bring work to America, “because we work harder and smarter than anyone else.” Both of the candidates’ moving speeches reveal that they each have big plans for the next four years. Romney wants to provide America with a new plan for our future that will provide protection and support for generations to come. Obama challenges the people of the United States to work together to rebuild the country. The good news is that both men want to provide students and young people with a better education, and in just a few weeks the U.S. will find out which man is going to lead us there.
President Obama delivering his keynote at the Democratic National Convention usatoday.com
Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann Romney kpbs.com
LGBTQ critics find problems with Obama’s pro-gay stance ERICK MANCEBO Features Editor President Obama drew mixed reactions around the world earlier this summer when he made history and became the first sitting U.S. President to publicly announce his support for same-sex marriage. Obama, who had previously been said to be “evolving” on the issue, made the announcement to ABC News, telling Robin Roberts, “…I think about [gay] members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships …I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained…because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, [and] at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.” The lead-up to the announcement caused a stir on Twitter, where hours before
the ABC News segment aired, news broke that the president had welcomed Robin Roberts to the White House. Many correctly guessed the president had been hastened by pro-gay marriage comments made by Vice President Joe Biden the previous Sunday, and would be making an announcement about gay marriage. The buzz it caused proved gay marriage is still a polarizing topic for Americans, with the announcement immediately facing criticism from a wide range of people. Brian Brown, of The National Organization for Marriage, told ABC News, “Voters...have adopted state constitutional amendments defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. “President Obama says that although he personally supports gay marriage, he still supports the concept of states deciding the issue on their own. However, that is completely disingenuous. His administration is already trying to dismantle the nation’s marriage laws by refusing to defend the Defense of Marriage
Act in court.” While the president may have expected these criticisms from conservative groups and Republicans, what he may not have expected was the backlash he would receive from some members within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer community. Within minutes of the announcement, some members of the gay community had written it off as nothing more than a political move, going as far as accusing Obama of using the gay community to gain votes come November. Some wondered if a timelier announcement could have altered the results of North Carolina’s May 8 vote on gay marriage, which instituted a muchharder-to-fight statewide constitutional ban on such unions. R. Clarke Cooper, Executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, who supports gay marriage, said to ABC News, “That the president has chosen today, when LGBTQ Americans are mourning the passage of [North Carolina’s] Amendment One, to
finally speak up for marriage equality is offensive and callous.” Other members of the LGBTQ community staunchly disagree with these assertions, and defend the president from these attacks. Elizabeth Hernandez, senior, doesn’t buy that the President timed the announcement solely for political gain, saying, “I don’t think Obama was saving this announcement, I think he genuinely switched his position. It would take a special kind of cynic to believe he planned this out.” Hernandez continued to defend the President, saying, “I think it’s incredibly unfair to say that Obama is using the LGBTQ community to gain reelection votes. …As an individual who identifies as queer, I am very disappointed in my peers. We are constantly fighting the rest of the world for acceptance and equality yet when we are finally presented with a victory we find some way to reject it. We all need to stop making things more difficult for ourselves.”
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Sept. 19, 2012
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University undergoes innovative and high-tech summer renovations ERICK MANCEBO Features Editor With the Fall semester underway, returning students and faculty may still be discovering that some offices and departments aren’t where they left them at the end of the Spring semester. Determined to be of use to all within the university community, The Pace Press has taken it upon itself to spell out all of the major changes that took place throughout the school during the summer break. Performing Arts moves to 140 William St.
In Spring 2011 the university formally announced plans for a 21-year residency at 140 William St. allotting the 49,200 sq. ft. space to house the school’s growing Performing Arts department. The seven-story building, known as Fulton Crossing because of its location on the corner of Fulton and William streets, is set to open sometime in September. Once the renovations on the building are completed, the university will have built new classrooms, new practice spaces, a TV studio, and what is being described as a state of the art 100-seat theater on the first floor, according to the National Real Estate Investor’s website. The building will be taking over 41 Park Row as the home base for the Performing Arts Department, leaving a significant amount of space to be occupied by offices or other departments in the 16-story building which sits steps from One Pace Plaza.
Financial Aid Office moved to OSA
New Clinical Education Labs for the College of Health Professionals
The university’s College of Health Professionals unveiled new classrooms this summer. The new Clinical Education Labs, located on the 5th floor of 163 William St, are said to be state-of-the-art. According to the university Press Room, the labs occupy, “17,000 square feet with simulation centers, laboratories and classrooms containing advanced equipment that simulates real patients in a hospital room or other health care setting.” With a cost of $2.2 million, the project is said to be expansive, with 1978 alumna Maymarie Conte making a donation to be used for “the purchase of high tech video capture and playback systems used in the simulation rooms.”
University Courtyard still undergoing renovations
In a July email to students, Kenneth J. Faron, Construction Manager for university Facilities Planning and Design said of the renovation project, “The contractor will arrive on Monday, July 9 to install the construction fences and provide protection of the glass walls and the existing sculpture.” “Shortly thereafter he will begin the removal of the existing tree, plantings, and pavers throughout the Courtyard,” said Faron. The Courtyard renovation project was slated as an eight-week long endeavor, putting the project’s completion at shortly before the Labor Day holiday, but delays have extended the project for an undetermined amount of time. Students and faculty continue to report hearing light construction in the immediate area. Displaced students have taken to hanging out in front of One Pace Plaza, something many say makes the school look livelier than ever before.
Students stopping in to visit the financial aid offices this summer or during the fall semester found that the offices are no longer located near the admissions office on the first floor of One Pace Plaza. Instead, the offices have moved to OSA, where students can find a number of booths set up for consultation with the office.
LGBTQA and Social Justice Center expands in 41 Park Row
The university’s LGBTQA and Social Justice Center was able to expand into a second location on the 9th floor of 41 Park Row this summer. The new space is only feet away from the original office in room 901. According to the Center’s May 2012 Newsletter, “The Center now boasts a separate student lounge to hang out, create community, study and use our many resources.”
Starbucks joins Cafe 101 offerings
Students returning to campus were hopefully pleasantly surprised by the new addition of a Starbucks coffeehouse to Cafe 101. The new Starbucks replaces the Pace Yourself Kiosk, which was located just past the security checkpoint on the north side of One Pace Plaza. That kiosk appears to have been dismantled, allowing for an easier flow of pedestrian traffic in the area.
An early stage of construction in the university courtyard The Pace Press|Nazary Nebeluk
NYC UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR S A T U R D A Y SEPT 22
T H U R S D A Y OCT 11
Fanfare Ciocarlia Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts 7:30 p.m.
“Stop & Frisk: Who’s Policing the Police?” Hosted OMA Multipurpose Room 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
S U N D A Y SEPT 23
F R I D A Y OCT 19
Brooklyn Book Festival 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn NY 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
RHA Haunted House C-Level Gym 7 p.m.
F R I D A Y- S U N D A Y OCT 5-7 The New Yorker Festival Various location throughout NYC
T H U R S D A Y OCT 25 The Maine Best Buy Theater 6 p.m.