The Chronicle The weekly student newspaper of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York www.strosechronicle.com - @strosechronicle
august 26th, 2014
Volume LXXXiii issue 2
Welcome Back to Saint Rose See Page A9 For More Photos
Adjuncts Effort to Unionize By LaUreN sears News Editor Since March 2014, adjunct professors have been trying to form a union at The College of Saint Rose. This collective bar-
News & Features More Than a Student See pages A5 Hollywood takes over Albany See pages A6
gaining unit is in partnership with Service Employees International Union (SEIU). After collecting the required amount of signatures needed, the Organizing Committee filed for a request to have an election from
the National Labor Relations Board on July 10. These efforts are for eventual goal of the Organizing Committee unionizing. Adjunct professors make up 58 Continued on Page A4
Arts & Opinion Alex Pecha reviews Guardians of the Galaxy See page B16 The Life and Loss of Robin Williams See page C20
CHRIS ALVARADO
Saint Rose President’s Day By LaUreN sears News Editor Wednesday, Aug. 20 marked Dr. Carolyn Stefanco’s first President’s Day at The College of Saint Rose. President’s Day oc-
curs twice a year for community members to come together and hear updates that are happening, and have conversations about the Continued on Page A4
Sports Golden Knights Kick it in Europe See page D22 LeBron returning to the Cavs See page D20
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News
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August 26th, 2014
The Weekend Wrap-Up Your Top 5 Stories from Friday to Sunday
central chile rocked by earthquake
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck at 6:32 p.m. local time, officials said. Chilean national emergency office ONEMI said the quake shook capital Santiago and five other regions. No reports of fatalities or serious damage were made.
syrian rockets Hit israel
The Israeli occupied Golan Heights were hit by five Syrian rockets over the weekend. Three of the rockets hit a settlement and the two more landed in open space. No known group have taken responsibility for the attack. No injuries or damage were reported.
ebola
infection in WHo Workers The World Health Organization has stated that an epidemiologist in Sierra Leone has contracted the virus. 2,615 cases of the deadly disease have been reported. Ebola is spread by coming in contact with blood or feces of the infected. The US, Canada, and Japan are working on a treatment for the virus.
Man Jailed for Pirating Phillip Danks was sentenced to 33 months in prison for filming and uploading ‘Fast & Furious 6’ at a theatre in Walsall, UK. The illegal copy was downloaded 779,000 times. Danks, a computer programmer, made a thousand pounds off his scheme. He pleaded guilty to three counts of piracy and sentenced to 33 months.
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Fun Fact:
The German word “Backpfeifengesicht” means a face that's badly in need of a fist/punching.
Ukraine Boosts Defense President Petro Poroshenko of the Ukraine vowed to increase his country’s defence spending by three billion. Poroshenko announced his plan at a military independence rally in Kiev on the 23rd anniversary of Ukraine’s separation from the then Soviet Union. Conflict between Ukraine and Russian rebels continues.
Pics of the Week
Carly Zink celebrating a succesful move into Saint Rose.
Myles Clendenin and his residents enjoying their first day back.
*INFORMATION PROVIDED BY WEATHER.COM
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Hi: 88° Lo: 65°
Hi: 89° Lo: 66°
Hi: 83° Lo: 59°
Hi: 79° Lo: 59°
Hi: 78° Lo: 63°
Sunny
Scattered Showers
Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloud
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August 26th, 2014
News
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In Brief Flooding on
Dear Saint Rose Community,
damage to the floors and walls. Service Master was called in to work on drying out the affected buildings.
LAUREN SEARS
Fans outside of St. Joseph’s Hall
The Wellington Hotel Demolished
The Chronicle
The Wellington Hotel was imploded on Aug. 23. The building needed to be removed to make room for a new convention center that will be constructed to meet the area’s needs. The hotel was wired with explosives and detonated in front of over a thousand people. Those who gathered were eager to see the building be brought down and usher in a new chapter in the city’s history. The building was first constructed in the 1920s and served as additional housing in the downtown area. The building was
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Greetings from Student Association President Justin Whittaker
Saint Rose Campus On Tuesday, Aug. 5, the City of Albany experienced heavy rainfall in a short amount of time. This caused flooding across campus and overwhelmed the College’s pumps and flood prevention equipment. According to a press release from Dr. Stefanco, the buildings that were impacted included: the basements of Brubacher Hall, the Events and Athletics Center, St. Joseph’s Hall and the Lally School of Education. The houses were flooded as well, with water
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vacant prior to the decision that the building would be imploded to make room for the new convention center. Proponents of the project say that while the convention center is being built it will bring hundreds of jobs to the area.
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer away from school, but excited to start yet another chapter in your college career. As for the class of 2018, welcome to the Saint Rose community, which is something you will adapt to very quickly. My name is Justin Whittaker, and I will be the Student Association President for the 2014-2015 school year. This is my second year as president, and third year overall being involved in the action-filled club on campus. The Executive Board will all be returning for their second year, and will continue to bring new ideas and events to the college campus. The Student Association is the student government on campus, frequently referred to as “SA.” We oversee 40 clubs and organizations, which range from academic-related to special interest to communications to social activities. As a freshman or new student entering college you may be away from your families for the very first time. Some students will adjust within the first few weeks, and for others it won’t be
as easy. It is okay…at The College of Saint Rose there are various resources available to help you through your college experience. Within the Student Association is a comfortable place to be because you will be able to have a SAy, and meet many new friends. Student Association holds a major event at the end of September for all students to get together, and develop leadership and community skills towards one another. This weekend is called Fall C.L.A.S.S.I.C. (Community, Leadership, and Student Services in College). The weekend, held off campus in a retreat setting, brings together students, faculty, staff, and administrators to form a community and develop their leadership skills. More information will become available during Orientation and the beginning of the school year. If you have any questions you can always stop in the Student Association office. Director of Communications, Courtney Carr, brought a new twist to campus during this past school year, and had area food trucks come to campus to provide another food option to all. She is continuing this idea, and is in the
planning process to have them until at least the end of October. Student Association has an Executive Assistant position open to anyone who is interested in applying. Basic tasks are asked of this position mainly taking minutes at our general business meetings and helping around the office. Applications will be available on the Saint Rose Career Center website the week before school starts and will go until the end of the first weekend. If you have any questions please e-mail the sa@strose.edu email account. Finally, our general business meetings will be on Wednesdays from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in Standish A&B Conference Room. The first meeting will be Wednesday, September 3. If you have any questions be sure to stop at our information table during the Campus Involvement session at Orientation or stop in the office once school starts. Can’t wait for the school year to start! Sincerely, Justin Whittaker President 14-15
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The Wellington Hotel
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Arts Editor Alexander Pecha ‘17 pechaa188@strose.edu
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College and higher education. This President’s Day included updates about enrollment, academic affairs and facilities. The 2014 Community Service Award was also presented during the day. A key point of Dr. Stefanco’s remarks was about Saint Rose becoming a university. She wants the conversation to happen between faculty, staff and administration. By definition, Saint Rose is a medium-sized college, and Stefanco believes that the college can make this happen. Stefanco also mentioned she will lead honestly and directly. After Dr. Stefanco’s remarks came the presentation of the 2014 Community Service Award. The candidates for the award are nominated by their peers. This year, the award was presented to Dr. Donna Burns. Burns teaches educational psychology at the College. She volunteers with the Veterans at the Stratton VA Hospital in Albany. Saint Rose donated 500 dollars on Burns’ behalf to the Stratton VA. Then came an update from Academic Affairs. Dr. Hadi Salvitabar, Provost of the College. Saint Rose has seen an increase in the number of International Students on campus. 2013 the college had 30 international students, this year there are 80 international
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Adjuncts Efforts to Unionize
President’s Day
Continued From Page A1
August 26th, 2014
students at Saint Rose. Salvitabar encouraged faculty to work with students on research. Enrollment Managment was the next department on campus to give updates. Jeremy Bogan, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management. The applicant pool for the incoming freshman class was the largest in the College’s history. They are also working on developing new markets for recruitment. According to Bogan, two areas that have been producing positive results are with International and Veteran students. The last update came from Facilities. Marcus Buckley, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer. Buckley said that a key factor for students is the facilities, and it’s important to maintain and improve facilities. The following buildings have been updated: 429 Western Avenue is now a Center for International Programs, the Picotte Center for Art and Design digital photography lab, RCC had their HVAC upgraded, Charter Hall was renovated, EAC Hydro Room was updated, and Fontbonne Hall’s roof were all updated throughout the summer. There is also a new work request system for the campus community to use. Buckley said that there will be an update coming from facilities in Sept. 9.
SAINT ROSE
President Stefanco, shown just outsde the office of president.
Continued From Page A1 percent of the faculty at the College. Low wages, lack of benefits and lack of job security are some of the reasons that members of the Organizing Committee believe are important factors for unionizing.
“We are paid wellbelow the national median average for our teaching and are among the lowest paid adjuncts in the capital region” Bradley Russell “We are paid well-below the national median average for our teaching and are among the lowest paid adjuncts in the capital region. An adjunct professor teaching three-hour classes is paid just $2,400 dollars per class,” says Bradley Russell. Russell is an adjunct professor of anthropology and sociology at the College. He also is a member of the Organizing Committee. Another strong motivating factor to unionize is the statistics on wage disparagement, which have shown that on average, unionized adjuncts earn 25 percent more. Some of the more active members of the community recently released a documentary detailing the low wages and lack of job security. Saint Rose professor Jennifer Marlow and adjunct professor Megan Fulwiler created the documentary, entitled Con Job: Stories of Adjunct and Contingent Labor. The film, which consists primarily of interviews with adjunct staff members and labor activists, was intended to cast light on the conditions of adjunct workers for a larger audience. The pay disparagement was highlighted by a number of poignant interviews. In an interview
with The Chronicle, Marlow made a point to specifically reference a particular story shown in the film--that of Julie Demers, an adjunct professor with the English department. “There was a day, not too long ago, when I was looking at my bank statement and I needed to buy groceries. I thought, well, I'll have to wait till the end of the week to get my check,” said Demers in Con Job. Marlow and Fulwiler believe that this is a clear example of the difficulties faced by adjuncts, as a direct result of their lower wages. Communication issues between adjuncts and the administration are other reasons why the Organizing Committee believes adjuncts need to unionize. “Adjuncts want to unionize so that our voices and concerns are brought to the attention of the administration. The Union will be the “big guns” in our bargaining table. We need the administration to communicate and heed our concerns with the respect and dignity deserved of the adjunct faculty, if everyone in a collegial communi-
“We need the administration to communicate and heed our concerns with the respect and dignity deserved of the adjunct faculty” Linda Wolfe ty is treated fairly then the moral of the school is at its height; this is why a third party is absolutely necessary,” said Linda Wolfe. Wolfe is an adjunct professor who teaches Business Law I and II, as well as criminal justice classes. Russell says that, “We are locked out of participation in faculty committees that decide
the future direction of the school and its employees. All of these and others’ concerns will be the subject of contract negotiations if and when we win the right to
SAINT ROSE
Megan Fulwiler, one of the directors of Con Job. bargain collectively.” Wolfe also said, “Was Martin Luther King less effective than, say, Mahatma Gandhi because one worked more hours than the other in their missions to motivate others for peace? Any type of discrimination or disparate treatment that needs to be addressed takes communication and solidarity to come to fruition. I believe this is how the idea came about, from the discrimination and disparate treatment of adjuncts across the country. We finally had to have a voice, because we make up the majority of professors at many of the colleges.” Wolfe says that during their committee meetings, “We all stress how much we love teaching at the College--we are just opting for fair treatment, our voices and concerns fell upon deaf ears for too long and we believe that a third party voice is our only option.” According to a press release from Dr. Hadi Salavitabar, provost of the College, President Stefanco supports the establishment of the committee which would help facilitate dialogue about common concerns of adjunct faculty, both among adjuncts themselves and with the College. Election ballots will be sent to over 300 adjunct faculty members on September 5.
News
A5 More Than a Student- Part of Her Community
August 26th, 2014
By: Jessica LePore Contributing Writer Feb. 24, 2014 - Juggling a college career, a part-time job, extracurricular activities and trying to have a life all at the same time is a hard task to accomplish, but this 21-year-old makes it seem easy. Ashley Graham is a student at The College of Saint Rose, and works at the Pumpkin Patch Early Learning Center in Guilderland about 20 hours a week. Graham is also part of Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, Delta Epilson Iota Honor Society, the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and is head of the Alternative Spring Break Trip to New Orleans this semester. A senior resident at Saint Rose, Graham has been living on campus since freshman year where her first dorm room was in Brubacher Hall. Originally from Poughquag, New York, Graham wanted to go away to school out of town, but still somewhere in her comfort zone. Graham applied to a variety of colleges and decided on Saint Rose because of the Communications Sciences and Disorders department, which has a good reputation and she felt that the small class sizes were a perfect fit for her. Graham knew she wanted to get her degree in CSD from sim-
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ple observation. “I was watching my cousin practice her speech therapy techniques one day and I thought it was so interesting. I knew I always wanted to help others better their lives and I love working with children. So, I looked into the field more and it was just so fitting for what I wanted to do,” she said. Graham knows now she wants to help people. Many would say that this major is a challenge on its own, but Graham takes it the extra step and participates in a variety of clubs. Graham thought it would help her college career to become involved in as much as she could. “Ashley is a very hard worker and continues to be a dedicated student,” said Kaylyn Ciullo, who is in the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. By junior year of college Graham was able to balance her work load and everything else in her life, so she decided it was time to find a job. After researching daycares, Graham originally committed to a daycare prior to working at The Pumpkin Patch and ended up having to leave because of the negative environment. She then received a call from the director of The Pumpkin Patch, Chris Rinella, who offered her a job as a part-time teacher’s assistant. “It was all fate and worked out
for the best,” Graham said. Rinella thinks highly of Graham and believes she really fits in the classroom atmosphere. “Ashley lights up a room with her smile and maintains the kids with a calming presence that invites a child to want to be with her. She is able to create an environment that promotes creativity, adventure, literacy which can only equal learning,” Rinella said. Graham needed to find a job that permitted her to build her shifts around her busy school schedule. Rinella understands that Graham is a college student and allows her to be flexible with her schedule, which really helps ease her stress level. Even when she has to rush out of class to make it to work on time, Graham said that because of how upbeat the kids are, they can really brighten her day. At the daycare Graham talks about how funny it is to have a conversation with the children because although they are only 3 years old, they are so smart. “One day I said something that made the kids laugh and one of the younger preschoolers out of no where says, ‘Oh Miss Ashley, you crack me up!’ It was so funny,” said Graham. Approaching her last year of college, Graham said she likes Centennial enough to live in it
Jessica LePore
Graham seen here with students from the The Pumpkin Patch Early Learning Center.
The Chronicle
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The Pumpkin Patch Early Learning Center where Graham works. again with her roommates for her senior year. She is one of four in her apartment and is viewed as the one who always has a plan. “When it comes to the four of us being together, Ashley is always the person to keep us in check,” said Olivia Rickenbacher, a roommate. Graham especially appreciates cooking in her suite instead of re-
lying on the dining hall. With about a year left, Graham is anticipating going to grad school in the city, because she has always seen herself living there. Although Graham is very excited for the future, she still has some doubts. “The real world is a scary thought. I don’t feel prepared to go out there yet,” Graham said.
News A6 Hollywood Takes Over the Capital District The Chronicle
By ALEX WHEELER Features Editor The capital district set the stage for a little piece of Hollywood over the summer when the cast and crew for Tim McCann’s No Beast So Fierce used locales such as Amsterdam, Schenectady, and even Albany as their stomping ground. The film, initially working under the title Kill For Me, was changed to No Beast So Fierce during production. The film stars Bailey Chase (Longmire, Saving Grace) and Dylan Baker (The Good Wife) in a revenger thriller about a father searching for his son after twenty-plus years in prison. The Chronicle was able to sit with one of the film’s producers, Benjamin Brant Bickham, and speak about independent filmmaking and why his team chose the capital district. Bickham, a non-union producer, was able to assume the position of a unionized position such as unit production manager by forming his own company, in this case KFM LLC. before production took place.
The UPM is typically a PGA- and DGA- approved producer, but after assuming his own company title, Bickham was able to assume the title. The unit production manager handles a lot of different things behind the scenes of the film set. They are mainly a problem solver who handles everything from cutting the checks, sealing locations, and countering numerous problems that come up during shooting. Production officially began on July 20. Pre-production work on the film dates back to early June and even earlier when the writing of the screenplay, by Raymond Kwok, is considered. Before the cameras can roll, locations have to be set, insurance has to be purchased, and everyone on set has to actually get to set. Bickham, who hails from Louisiana, arrived in the capital district in early June to assist with everything from scoping locations to casting and fundraising for the film’s estimated $500,000 budget, an estimated $300,000 of which was said to have been poured into the local economy.
August 26th, 2014
Actors on set, inside a barber shop on Madison Avenue. Regina Katz and Micah Gottleib, two of the production office’s main assets, were able to explain more about the production itself. Katz served as the Production Coordinator while Gottleib worked as the Production Supervisor. It is
ALEX WHEELER
Production staff preparing for the shoot.
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no secret that a film costs money, but there are a lot of processes that go into managing the film’s books, especially on an independent feature. While things can get chaotic behind the scenes, Katz and Gottleib reassured me that the “production was going smoothly” and that “the local people helped make it easy.” The director, an independent filmmaker, Tim McCann and company couldn’t be happier with the footage they received and with the morale of everyone in the capital district who helped out. McCann’s filmography includes a lot of independent pictures such as Revolution #9, The Poker Club, and Nowhere Man. McCann’s next plans include a few new projects including a possible film set in New Mexico, details were scarce but enthusiasm was high. Bickham, McCann and company decided to film in the capital district because the region had a lot of variety when it came to locations. New York State also grants filmmakers a 10 percent tax return for coming and filming here, which in Bickham’s words, “really sealed the deal.” What makes No Beast So
ALEX WHEELER
Fierce an interesting film, besides the fact that it was filmed in the capital district, is that the method of independent filmmaking on display was a mix of union and non-union rules and procedures. The picture itself cost a lot less money than other films seen in theaters and featured a lot of local talent in front of and behind the camera. Bickham and company plan on taking the film through the festival circuit while eventually doing a local premiere somewhere in the capital district. Bickham informed me that, “The film will be wrapping post production in the coming months and be released sometime within the next year.” Regarding the film’s footage, Bickham only had good things to say, going as far as to say: “It was an exciting feeling. You always hope to capture what is in your head and it is really special when the footage is better than you could imagine – and it is better than we could imagine.” Regarding whether the production team would ever be back, Bickham left me with this: “This was such a good experience; if the script fits, we’ll be back.”
News A7 Still a Student-Already a Journalist
August 26th, 2014
By CONOR SHEA Executive Editor The Chronicle’s News Editor Lauren Sears is making a name for herself as a journalist, and she hasn’t even left the world of academia. On June 5, Sears was presented the Women’s Press Club of New York State’s annual scholarship. The Women’s Press Club of New York State Scholarship is awarded annually to a student or students who are or will be enrolled full-time in a college or university located within New York in a communications-related field of study. The awardee must be able to demonstrate strong writing skills, leadership abilities, academic integrity, and have clear career goals. The scholarship application was sent to the Communications department at Saint Rose. Sears applied three weeks before the deadline, submitting an essay on the 24-hour news cycles, and how she would maintain her journalistic standards if a major event happened on campus. In addition to the essay, Sears was required to submit two recommendations, for which she used Saint Rose pro-
The Chronicle
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fessors. Saint Rose assistant professor Paul Conti, while not a member of the Press Club, was there to support Sears for her win. Conti was also the individual Sears contacted for a recommendation first, something that Sears said was always the plan. “There are no words to describe how thankful I am for him teaching me so much about the news industry and the opportuni-
ties he has given me both in the classroom and outside the classroom,” said Sears on Conti. Conti, the first faculty member from Saint Rose Sears met after transferring, attended the ceremony to support Sears and her accomplishment. “It’s always a great pleasure to support our students, especially when their achievements are honored in such a public and an im-
I call and verify information with PIO's. I put together the next day's assignment board with potential events/stories out station can cover that day.” Sears’s responsibilities also include helping producers make calls, updating the station's website, Facebook, and twitter pages, and sending out reporters, and photographers to cover anything that needs to be covered for the
Paul Conti, Sears, and Dori Marlin immediately after receiving her award.
LAUREN SEARS
Sears, and Lauren Halligan, the 2012 recipent of the WPCNY Scholarship
portant way,” said Conti. Dori Marlin of CBS 6 Albany (WRGB) was at the ceremony to present the award, which was of particular importance to Sears. “She’s someone that I look up to very much,” said Sears on Marlin. “It was a wonderful evening and I’m still very honored that I had won this award and was in the same room as people I grew up idolizing,” she continued. The scholarship did more than just help her academically, as she was able to leverage the award in her search for a part-time job. Sears currently works part time at WNYT channel 13, an Albanybased NBC affiliate. “I work at the Assignment Desk, which means I listen to police/fire/EMS scanners for news,
LAUREN SEARS
day/night.” “When I started working at WNYT I met Jim Kambirch, who I’ve been watching on the news since I was little. Now he’s a coworker, so hard work does pay off.” Jackson Wang, the former Executive Editor of The Chronicle, further gave Sears a glowing review, saying, “Lauren is a hardworking journalist. I believe her
actions speak for itself. She has definitely earned the job and I wish her the best as she enters her last year of college.”
“I’m still very honored that I had won this award and was in the same room as people I grew up idolizing” Lauren Sears Mary Alice Molgard, a communications professor and former president of the Women’s Press Club of New York State said she was very excited for Sears’ accomplishments. Sears said she was pleasantly surprised that WNYT was so receptive of bringing on an undergraduate student into what is a job typically reserved for more seasoned journalists. Despite this, Professor Molgard said that she had heard from a number of people at Channel 13 that Sears has been a very successful hire already. “The Channel 13 reporter Dan Levy commented on how good a job she was doing already… and he sought me out to tell me this of his own accord.” Sears is looking forward to a long career in journalism or broadcast journalism, and it seems she is well on her way already.
Advertise with Us! Is your business looking to corner the college market? Perhaps advertising in The Chronicle would help you do that? Contact Advertising Ashley Sweet at sweeta984@strose. edu for rates and publication schedule.
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News
Campus at a Glance
August 26th, 2014
Photos by Chris Alvarado
The campus quad, a place to enjoy the good weather.
The Neil Hellman Library, a second home to students during finals week.
The College of Saint Rose sign.
St Rose of Lima on her namesake building.
Massry Music Building.
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August 26th, 2014
News
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Move in Day
Eric Tracey, always ready to help his residents.
Crowds ready to help the freshmen.
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Photos by Chris Alvarado
R.A. Aideen Hanlon, holding down the fort.
Saint Rose students helping to make moving in a lot easier.
Victor Paredes, making moving in look easy.
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Arts
August 26th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 2
Top of the Week For August 18 - 22 Movies at the Box Office
T.V. Shows
1. TMNT (28.5M) 2. Guardians of the Galaxy (25.1M) 3. Let’s Be Cops (17.8M) 4. The Expendables (15.9M) 5. The Giver (12.3M) 6. Into The Storm (7.9M) 7. The Hundred-Foot Journey (7.2M) 8. Lucy (5.5M) 9. Step Up: All In (2.7M) 10. Hercules (2.1M)
1. Americas Got Talent (Wednesday) 2. Americas Got Talent (Tuesday) 3. NCIS 4. 60 Minutes 5. The Big Bang Theory 6. 20/20 Robin Williams 7. Under the Dome 8. Big Brother 9. Blue Bloods 10. Unforgettable
*Source: RottenTomatoes.com
*Source: Nielsen.com
Books
Music
Fiction: 1. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki... (Haruki Murakami) 2. Love Letters (Debbie Macomber) 3. The 6th Extinction (James Rollins) 4. Big Little Lies (Liane Moriarty) 5. The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt)
Albums: 1. GOTG: Awesome Mix Vol 1 (Various) 2. TRXYE (Troye Sivan) 3. Frozen (Various) 4. Get Hurt (The Gaslight Anthem) 5. The Hunting Party (Linkin Park)
Non-Fiction: 1. America (Dinesh D’Souza) 2. One Nation (Ben Carson) 3. In the Kingdom of Ice (Hampton Sides) 4. The First Family Detail (Ronald Kessler) 5. David and Goliath (Malcolm Gladwel)
Songs: 1. Rude (Magic!) 2. All About That Bass (Meghan Trainor) 3. Stay With Me (Sam Smith) 4. Break Free (Ariana Grande w/Zedd) 5. Fancy (Iggy Azalea w/Charli XCX)
*Source: New York Times Best Sellers
*Source: Billboard.com
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Arts
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Guardians of the Galaxy Review
By ALEXANDER PECHA Arts Editor According to these very legitimate statistics I have on hand, if you are a human living on the planet Earth, you have seen Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy about 2.5 times. The actionpacked space opera was without a doubt the runaway hit of the summer, earning over $94 million its debut weekend and becoming huge on social media and in popular culture. Even its soundtrack, a mix of old 60’s and 70’s hits, has been staying steady as the billboard number one top selling album. To put it simply, Guardians of the Galaxy was huge hit. Considering all the hype surrounding Guardians it’s probably not that surprising that I, like many others, loved it to death. It’s almost hard to believe that Marvel not only got a movie like this made, but that it managed to actually make it as good as it is. Though in a way it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise considering Captain America: The Winter
Soldier, which came out earlier this year, was also an amazing movie. Marvel seems to know what its doing, and its doing it very well. Let’s talk about what makes Guardians such a good movie. Guardians’ plot follows a human named Peter Quill (Christ Pratt), also known as Star-Lord (by himself at least) as he stumbles his way into a rag-tag team of misfits including an alien assassin named Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Groot the sentient tree (Vin Diesel) and Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper). Together they get wrapped up in a race to figure out the purpose of a mysterious item Quill was hired to find simply called the Orb. However an intergalactic terrorist named Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace) and his second in command, Nebula (Karen Gillian), are hot on their tales so that they can use the orb for their own nefarious purposes. While the overall plot of Guardians is rather basic it does
its job well. Where the movie really shines however, is with its comedy. Guardians’ hits all the right notes in the humor department, between its excellent comedic timing and oddly effective 70’s pop culture references, keeping me laughing all the way through the movie. Perhaps the movie’s greatest
“The real standout is Chris Pratt who is an endless delight to watch.” strength however is its versatility. Guardians is capable of seamlessly going between laugh out loud humor, to nail biting action, to one or two truly touching moments. Finding a balance where you can do all three of these distinct things is extremely tough but Guardians pulled it off with apparent ease.
The actors are what bring this blend of humor and action to life. The real stand out is Chris Pratt who is an endless delight to watch, though the entire cast brings the movie together. Even Lee Pace, who plays the humorless Ronan the Accuser manages to get a few laughs from time to time. Guardians is also surprisingly gorgeous. From the dense scifi metropolis of Xandar to the backwater titanic skull mine of “Knowhere” the movie is a visual treat. Guardians’ oozes style unlike a lot of newer sci-fi which just keeps with the grey and dead motif that’s been popular since the early 2000s. Star-Lords ship in particular is interesting for its design and mechanics. However, as I don’t read the comics it’s hard to tell how much of this artistic vision comes from the movie creators and how much of it comes from the comic books themselves. I could spend pages and pages spilling why I think Guardians of the Galaxy is an amazing movie. However, like a lot of good things I feel that Guardians of the Galaxy is a movie that has to be dis-
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James Gunn, the director of Guardians of the Galaxy. covered and experienced on your own. This is the best space opera that’s graced the theaters in years (I’m looking at you Star Trek reboot) and is a ton of fun from start to finish. Your only complaint will be that it was over so soon. So do yourself a favor and go see Guardians of the Galaxy, and thank me later.
We’re hiring! The Chronicle is currently seeking individuals to fill open positions for the 2014-15 academic year. Individuals interested in the position(s) are encouraged to apply. If interested send an e-mail with your resume and two writing or design samples attached (or linked) to Executive Editor Conor Shea at sheac613@strose.edu. If you would like more information about what the responsibilities of each position entail, send an e-mail to chronicle@strose.edu. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Chris Pratt, who stars as Peter Quill, at the premiere of Guardians of the Galaxy in London.
All positions are stipended. Interviews will be scheduled upon receipt of application.
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I Can’t Believe You Watched That: Hansel & Gretel:Witch Hunters By Rachel M. Bolton Managing Editor Sometimes there are movies that try to be good and come off as god awful despite the intentions of the director and screenwriter. But sometimes a movie that knows it will never be the world’s greatest, and will deliberately run with it. That is Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. The film is a gory, warped fairy tale, but it milks its premise for all its worth. Our story starts by showing how Hansel and his sister Gretel escaped from the child- consuming witch with the candy house. It goes how we expect the story to go, Hansel eats too much, and Gretel burns the witch. However it skips ahead a few years. Now adults, the siblings save the day by killing witches all over a fictionalized version of Germany with steam punk weapons. Try not to over think it. This is where the movie starts to get fun. As a result of his time with the witch, Hansel has come down with a medieval version of diabetes, called the sugar sickness here, and must take shots of insulin every few hours. Children are disappearing in the city of Augsberg, and their faces are drawn on the labels of milk bottles. Sounds familiar huh? Hansel and Gretel are hired by the mayor of Augsberg to find the
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Jeremy Renner, who stars as Hansel.
missing children. Another thing that does this film credit is the fact that there is a developed mystery. Hansel and Gretel both struggle to find answers with the help of a fan named Ben, and are hindered by the jerk of a town sheriff. The siblings start to wonder why their father abandoned them in the woods in the first place, and if all witches are truly evil. The films special effects are fun, if very campy. There is a monster, whose identity I won’t spoil here; that looks like he is from the Jim Henson Creature Shop. It’s always pleasant to see a film that does not solely rely upon CGI effects. Gore-hounds will like some of the curses the witches use on their enemies. I found them to be blackly comedic and gross. Jeremy Renner plays Hansel like he walked off the set of The Avengers as Hawkeye (not that that is a bad thing). Gemma Arterton goes a good job as the kickass Gretel. She gets as beat up and as messy as the guys- a refreshing departure from action films were the woman does nothing. X-Men star, Famke Janessen is hammy as Muriel, a wicked witch, despite having a name that sounds like your grandma’s. Action and horror fans will certainly find something to like about Hansel& Gretel. I enjoyed it because some of the humor is straight out of a Mel Brooks film. Hansel & Gretel does the twisted fairy tale better than some recent films like, Mirror Mirror. While critics panned this movie, it has become a cult favorite. Since it tripled its budget, a sequel is planned for 2016.The film is not a masterpiece, but if you are looking for a funny self-aware actioncomedy, this is it. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is available on Netflix stream.
Arts
August 26th, 2014
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Campus Playlist
This week The Chronicle asked students around campus what songs they are currently listening to and why: 1. “Funky at the Heart” by The Studio Killers: "It reminds me of the summer." - Alex L. 2. “Sweatpants” by Childish Gambino: "He’s really come into his own as a rapper, and isn’t just an actor anymore." - Zack B. 3. “Undefeated” by Jason Derulo: "It puts me in a good mood regardless of how my day is going." - Tori L. 4. “Riverbank” by Brad Paisley: “Because it's the perfect song to roll your windows down and drive to with your friends!” - Maria H. 5. “Bloodshot” by Jack’s Mannequin: “It’s so sad, but also uplifting when you know the story behind the lyrics.” - Eileen H. 6. “Break Free” by Ariana Grande: “Ariana really knows how to make me want to get up and dance!” - Kathyrn M. 7. “Gimmie Shelter” by The Rolling Stones: “There’s nothing better than good old fashioned classic rock.” - Mark B. 8. “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor: “The message is so positive, it stands against American standards in saying that every body type is beautiful.” - Brittany T. 9. “Lion” by The Felice Brothers: “It’s a folky song with a beat you can really get into.” - Kathleen R. 10. “Anaconda” by Niki Minaj: “Because I love really bad pop rap music” - Courtney C.
Arts
B13 The Life and Loss of a Legend: Robin Williams
August 26th, 2014
By NicK DresLiNsKi Contributing writer These past weeks have been a stressful time for all of us; making sure school is paid for, packing 18 years of life into a small room, and moving somewhere new. However, for many of us, this stress is simple and usual, and we can easily get rid of it. Maybe you might read, listen to music, play sports, or watch a movie to relax. Usually, a comedy, because laughing relieves stress. When I think of a movie to watch when I want a good laugh, I pull up Good Morning, Vietnam. This movie is unbelievably hilarious, with a plethora of jokes that, while they are funny, would probably make your father blush. The true backbone of this wonderful movie is the superbly improvised lines of the late comedian, Robin Williams. Williams was born in July 21, 1951, and grew up on the streets of Chicago, Illinois. His moderately wealthy family meant he was no stranger to privilege- being raised by maids, and his parents were rarely home. After graduating High School, and a few years in a pursuit of a career in acting, he was accepted into the Julliard School for preforming arts in
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New York. He would eventually leave during his junior year after realizing his style of acting was different than the more traditional style Julliard taught. After leaving the school, Williams moved to San Francisco, and he began to perform stand-up comedy at various local clubs. Williams was known for having a voice for everything, and every voice fit perfectly with the role. He also was known for being delightfully raunchy, often accused of having no filter. Williams started to grow in popularity, and eventually began to act on television, and later in movies. He was an immediate success on the big screen and many were soon doubling over in laughter. However, Williams soon began to head down a slippery slope, becoming reliant on substance abuse. He developed a strong addiction to cocaine, and drank excessively. It wouldn’t be until the sudden death of his good friend, John Belushi, did he realize he needed to stop. So Williams quit drinking and cocaine use for a number of years, and continued to make his wonderful movies. A few of these notable films include Jumanji, Good Morning Vietnam, Hook, Goodwill Hunting, Alad-
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Williams, signing autographs for his fans in the military.
din, and other classics that still make people smile and laugh to this day. It is sadly ironic, however, that although able to make many people laugh and smile, he couldn't be happy in his own life. He was reported to have started using cocaine again, in the early 2000's, and started aging much quicker. One of his most recent roles was Theodore Roosevelt in Night at the Museum, and was very well received. This, like so many of his other stand out roles, makes it hard for anyone to believe that such a witty, clever man would be unhappy in life. With Robin gone, I feel like we all are missing a part of us. Anyone who has seen a Robin Williams film at some point in their life knows the positivity he can bring. I know this is certainly true in my experience. There are many times that I've had my day made better by watching Aladdin, one of my favorite movies since I was young. And it was because of Robin Williams' role as the Genie that it is so memorable. I find it remarkable that one man was able to brighten my day so easily; make me smile. It makes me sad knowing I couldn't do the same for Robin when he so desperately needed it. Because of this, I think we all owe Robin a debt, which we can pay forward by trying a few simple things. 1. Always say hello to someone you walk by, even if you don't know them. A simple hello can make a person's day. 2. If you're too nervous to say hello, at least smile. Like a simple hello, a simple smile is comforting. 3. Make a fool of yourself sometimes. There is nothing like laughter to help someone out. If you decide to do something funny, even if it means embarrassment, it could make somebody's day. These guidelines are some tips given to me from my grandfather, and are somewhat rough, broad
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Robin Williams performing standup at a charity benefit. terms. However, the underlying theme that my grandfather was trying to convey was that as long as you can make a person to smile without causing harm to others, you should make it a point to do
so. So, if you want to help create a world full of more people Robin Williams- people who truly care for others- just try and make someone smile. It can mean a lot.
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Opinion
August 26th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 2
Fountain Of Youth: America’s obsession with a culture of anti-aging
By KATIE KLIMACEK Opinions Editor When you are out in public, look at the people around you. Survey them and try to accurately tell what their age is. I bet that you can’t. No matter how good of an eye you have for wrinkly skin or firm thighs, it is hard to pinpoint someone’s age. Whether it is a young teenage girl or an elderly man, the structure for age has changed significantly in the past 65 years. It appears as though the minute a baby is born, someone is doing something to try to make him or her look younger. To me the culture around “age” has changed so drastically that it is almost impossible to precisely assume someone’s age. I never thought of “anti-ageing” to be a topic of concern in our culture today, until I saw a news segment that just floored
me. A woman was getting plastic surgery on her hand in order to take a better picture of her engagement ring for social media. She was unsatisfied with the minute wrinkles and small imperfections on her left hand that she decided to go under the knife to change it. I was honestly shocked when I heard of this story. Thousands of dollars spent, physical pain, and recovery time all just to take a more satisfying picture to show to people that probably don’t even care about her life that much anyway. That was when I came to the realization that we are living in a culture of unrealistic youth, one that never seems to want to age. Every day, no matter where you are or what you are doing, somewhere somehow you see an ad for an anti-ageing product. Whether it is a new cream from Aveno or a super food from the jungles of
Brazil, you name it a company is trying to sell it to their consumer. Nobody wants to look old, but why? Its not like we have figured out a magical cure or pill to stop you from getting old internally.
“It is incredibly hypocritical of us to say love yourself, but on the other hand have lines out the door for cosmetic surgery.”
Even change your face to look one age, your biological clock will pay no attention to the outside, and just keeps on ticking on naturally like it is suppose to do. So why not just let life run its course the way it was intended to. It seems like everyone is finding some way to look younger, and most of them are turning to plastic surgery. Not only can you not tell people’s ages anymore, but you can’t even tell them apart. Everyone is beginning to look like each other. I feel like whenever I watch the Real House Wives of Orange County I am looking at the same person, and can only tell them apart due to their husbands. No one is original anymore, and that is the frustrating part. In a society that seems to keep on pushing “Be you”, “Love Yourself” down your throat all the time, I find it hard to discover originality when at the same time everyone is the same. We, as a society, preach to the youth that they need to be comWIKIMEDIA COMMONS fortable with who they are and L’Oreal, just one of the many cosmetics giants cashing in on the what they look like on the outanti-aging trend.
side. But how are they able to fully commit to that belief and lifestyle if the very people that they look up to such as celebrities, athletes, and public figures are unable to enforce that type of living themselves? Our society has become an incredibly vain one, and as much as we would like to think that we promote one of self-acceptance and beauty, it is false. It is incredibly hypocritical of us to say love yourself, but on the other hand have lines out the door for cosmetic surgery. It is as if we need to be updated every so often to fit with the time, and if you don’t get a little nip here or tuck there, you are no longer in style and considered outdated. Until you stop getting in line for the “Early Bird Special” package at the local plastic surgery clinic or rubbing your face with carrot root oil, our stigma against beauty is going to continue to fester. I feel it won’t be until our greediness toward anti-ageing lessens, young girls will still pass
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Collagen extract, just one of the anti-aging producs found on shelves. by mirrors and wonder if they are pretty enough or walk with their head down because they are ashamed of who they are or what they look like. People need to understand that they need to take a long hard look at themselves and realize that one small action to make them feel a few years younger, might just be having a lasting effect on others for the rest of their lives.
Interested in writing for Opinion? Here are some questions that may spark some interest. Send them in to chronicle@strose.edu!
+Is there a teacher here that has had an impact on you? +Should Saint Rose have online classes? +What are your steps to studying? +What are your ways to deal with stress? +What is your favorite holiday and why? +What is your favorite Saint Rose event? +What would you like the next word search to be about? +Who else has seen the bugs in the dining hall!?
Opinion
C15 Ice Bucket Challenge: Slacktivism or Activism?
August 26th, 2014
By NICOLE BAKER Staff Writer We’ve all seen it—the endless Facebook videos of our friends dumping ice water on themselves, and then challenging three other friends to either do the same, or donate money toward the ALS charity. This “Ice Bucket Challenge” as it has come to be known, aims to raise awareness about ALS and its devastating effects. However, has it actually made people more cognizant of the disease, or has it just become a way for Facebook users to get their ten seconds of fame and popularity? ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, but it is most commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease—a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Gradually, ALS robs its victims of the ability to walk, speak, eat, and breathe, and sadly, no known cure yet exists. While this illness has mostly been under the radar before now, the Ice Bucket Challenge has opened the public’s eyes to the disease and its effects. Or has it?
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So far, the Ice Bucket Challenge campaign has raised $22.9 million for ALS, and it has brought in 453,210 new donors. Of course, any positive attention given to this disease (or any disease for that matter) is welcomed with open arms. Yet, many critics of the challenge question whether those dumping ice water over their heads have actually donated money or even know what ALS is. Some are calling the challenge “slacktivism”—an action to raise awareness without spending a lot of time, effort, or involvement. But is the Ice Bucket Challenge even raising awareness? Few of the videos posted on social media sites contain any substantive information about the disease, why money is needed, or how it will be used. Many even suspect that those taking the challenge are spending more money on bagged ice than on donations to ALS research. After all, getting drenched with ice is the alternative to contributing actual money to an actual cause. Why not take those few extra bucks that a bag of ice costs, and spend it on something worthy, like a donation?
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To raise awareness for ALS, nominees dump ice water on their head and post the results to social media platforms
With social media today it seems important for people to show the world who they are and what they stand for. By publicly supporting well-known causes, social media users aim to send the message that they’re good people. Yet, if users don’t rise to the challenge and do the bucket dump or donate money, they’re no longer seen by their friends as having good intentions. As a result, many of those doing the challenge or making donations are doing so not because it comes from the heart, but because they feel peer pressure from social media. Georgetown University conducted a study that showed that people who promote causes on social media are twice as likely to volunteer their time than someone who doesn’t post about a cause digitally. This can be seen from two different angles. Either the people who post about such causes are more engaged and involved with the cause and are hard-core activists, or they’re just looking to get positive attention from as many of their followers and friends as possible. If the former is true, then I genuinely applaud those involved. Yet, if the latter is true, the fate of the modern world seems questionable. After all, those who do the challenge just to get attention aren’t raising awareness about the disease in the right way, and they’re not donating money for the right reasons. While the Ice Bucket Challenge is a fun way to “raise awareness,” the fact of the matter is that it is only making people aware that ALS exists. While this is a good thing, it’s not enough, and more needs to be done. More people need to discuss ALS in their videos, share what they’ve learned, and give ideas on how others can help. Only then can a real conversation get going, and can real action be taken. Furthermore, the “rules” of the challenge should be reconfigured. For instance, instead of challenging
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Sports radio personality John Maino participating in the challenge. others to douse themselves with water or donate $100, why not challenge social media users to each donate $25 before dumping cold water on their heads? After all, giving people the option to dump OR donate leaves most people choosing to dump water on themselves to avoid forking over their own money. By changing the rules, more money might be raised while still keeping the challenge fun and entertaining. Overall, the Ice Bucket Chal-
lenge has certainly opened the public’s eyes to the fact that ALS is a mounting struggle. While more progress is needed, the challenge is undoubtedly a great conversation starter, and it is a step in the right direction. In the end, it all proves to be a learning experience—the more we learn now about the most effective ways to raise money and awareness, the more efficient we will be in the future at funding research for all different types of diseases.
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MRI scan of a parasagittal flair, consistent with the clinical diagnosis of ALS.
Opinion America Health Care: Falling Behind?
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By KYLE PRATT Contributing Writer We hear over and over again about our rights as human beings. Whether it’s people saying they are being protected, or others saying they are being taken away, they are at the center of almost every national and international debate. For some, one of the most important rights is the “Right to Bear Arms.” Many supporters believe it is their “God-given right” to own a gun. While there is no doubt the gun debate is very important and is a talk we as a nation need to have, it is shameful that this issue overshadows so many that are much more important, namely the debate on Health Care. As of right now, basic Health Care is not a right in the United States, it is a privilege. It’s unaffordable to so many, and often to those who need it most, yet many people across the nation are more concerned on whether or not they can keep their semi-automatic rifle. People avoid going to the doctor because if they do, they
can’t afford to feed their children that week. Americans with chronic illnesses don’t seek medical attention because there is no possible way to afford it. The controversial piece of legislation known as Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act, aimed to curb these atrocities when it was signed into law in 2010. The Act didn’t make healthcare much cheaper, but it made insurance more affordable for some. It also forced people to buy health insurance to avoid paying a fee. This fee is what caused uproar among some Americans, especially those who dislike Obama. Again, America is focused on the wrong problem. There are millions of Americans who still cannot afford health insurance, and still do not have access to health care without going bankrupt. People who can afford health insurance but don’t want it are upset about being forced to buy it, and people who need it are upset because they can’t afford it. The Affordable Care Act is praised by the left for bringing the price of health insurance down, and despised by the right
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A screenshot of the “healthcare.gov” website, where U.S. citizens are encouraged to enroll for health insurance. because it gives the government too much control over the citizen’s everyday lives, and there are the millions of people stuck in the middle who still do not have the means to heal their illnesses, and in many cases, save their lives. Critics are definitely on the right track by questioning the intentions of the Affordable Care
Act, but are as far off as can be for their reasoning. Obamacare isn’t an over-step of the government’s power. It isn’t a way for the white house to control every aspect of our lives. What it is, though, is a flawed piece of legislation that leaves an astronomical amount hard working Americans in the dark when it comes to being about to afford to live. Health care should not be a privilege. Not anywhere, and definitely not in the nation that praises itself for being the “beacon of freedom.” A nation where it is someone’s right to carry a gun through the streets, but not someone’s right to go to the hospital when they need help without paying an absurd amount of money is a nation that needs to do some serious reconsideration. There is a lot of talk of what the founding fathers would think if they saw laws restricting firearms, but there is no question of what they would think of people dying in their homes of treatable illnesses because they simply
cannot afford to get the help that the rest of us take for granted. Fortunately for their citizens, many countries in the western world have taken the step towards nationalized medicine, and these nations are way ahead of the United States when it comes to the rights they provide for their people. Nations like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Japan all put their citizen’s right to seek medical attention before their privilege to carry a firearm. In none of these nations is there a “Right to bear arms,” and in none of these nations do people have to chose between eating and going to the hospital. The United States is supposed to be the best nation in the world. The sad truth is that this is only true to those who can afford the perks. For those who can’t, those other nations that are miles ahead of the U.S. are looking pretty darn good. When will we catch up? Better yet, when will we wake up?
ATTENTION CLUB MEMBERS!
President Barack Obama signing The Affordable Care Act into law.
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Would you like to have your club’s voice heard in The Chronicle? Contact Opinion Editor Katie Klimacek at klimacekk546@strose.edu
August 26th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 2
Opinion
A New Semester, a New Start
By eMiLY caLLMaN Contributing Writer
I often find myself guilty of rushing into the next period of my life. I couldn’t wait to graduate high school, I couldn’t wait to finish my first year of college, and I currently can’t wait to start this fall semester. As a new school year comes upon us, a new beginning awaits. Even though our long, lazy days of spending hours in the sun have come to an end, something unexpected and thrilling invariably awaits each of us. A chance to start over, a chance to become closer to the person we want to be, and an opportunity filled with endless amounts of hope. It’s no surprise that new beginnings are always filled with the anticipation of being able to start over. A new semester, a birthday, a new year – are similarly all viewed as the opportunity to serve as a “life altering” turning point. Especially for us, here at Saint Rose, this new beginning is especially big for some of us. The freshmen and transfer students of course have anxiously waited for this day to see new faces and begin a new chapter all together. There are the freshmen that are no longer freshmen, and congrats to all of you for becoming this much stronger. And there are the upper classmen who are another year closer to their future and another step further in shaping it. In reality, every day holds the same opportunity to begin to see the world, and ourselves, in a new light. We don’t need a holiday or a special occasion to start our lives over. Everyone has the power each day to start over again. And it is unfortunate that we are not able to see that for ourselves this early in life. As many of us are waiting for this beginning to fix, erase or create things for us, we forget that we have had the power to do that each day. I find that in many situations, those that are aware of the power of each new day have a solemn story behind that recognition. It
is often a realization of mortality. A realization that the fact that our clock is ticking, it all the more reason to slow down. It is why those with cancer are just appreciative of being able to celebrate their birthdays, versus the advantages that come with being another year older. It is why Make a Wish Foundation children ask to meet their idols instead of stressing about becoming famous. It is why your grandparents tell you not to rush into relationships, jobs, or responsibilities… because they have already raced the clock and are trying to pass the advice of savoring a moment. And, it is why those who have lost someone close to them, are all the more willing to trying to make amends and peace with those close to them. Being aware of how many opportunities come along in a single day is impossible when you are in a society that rushes the way we do. It’s not entirely our fault either. When you were a junior in high school, someone asked you what college you were going to go to. When you are a freshman in college people want to know all about your chosen career path. When you are a senior in college people need to know your plans for a job and where you’re applying to. Then, once you put school days behind you, you are asked when you’ll be promoted, settle down, have kids, get married, etc. So, it’s no surprise that none of us know how to slow down and literally smell the roses from time to time. We are all just anticipating the next question and expectation. Then, in all of that, we for-
get to expect ourselves to relax. We never think that this moment is our new beginning, because we have the aforementioned list of goals we are so focused on reaching. Yes, we may all run on by the EAC trying not to be late for class, but today you will walk (or run) by it, for the first time of the rest of your life. Does that make a difference now? Maybe you should look into the garden, sit on the bench, or just stroll with no stress about your next step. Remember to let yourself breath and enjoy this new beginning that is NOW. The clichéd sayings, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life,” and “You will never be as young as you are today,” still ring true. We are given each day for a reason- are you making the most of it? Are you taking advantage of the day to work towards the person you want to be? It is always motivating and beneficial to have something to look forward to, and set attainable goals, but it’s equally important to slow down and enjoy the simple, meaningful accomplishments that we make every day. Do you have plans to wear a new color, try a new food, stopping a bad habit, or finding the courage to make a big decision? No sweat. It is all possible because of this moment right NOW. So, as we start this new school year, I challenge each of you to stop wishing away this moment, take a second to breathe, and take advantage of today and the precious opportunities we have to find change and begin our lives over again!
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Sudoku
Tic Tac Toe
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The Chronicle
The Return of the King: LeBron James Heads Back to Cleveland By VICTORIA ADDISON Sports Editor
After watching the Heat lose to the Spurs in the NBA Finals, the basketball world could do little but wait in agony as LeBron James’ long awaited free agency decision took center stage. Many had hoped his fate was sealed the moment Miami snagged James’ “favorite player” in the draft in former Connecticut point guard Shabazz Napier, but unfortunately they were sadly mistaken. It was on Friday, July 11 that the lives of Heat fans would change forever as they lost their beloved King or in other words, the only player that was keeping them on the Miami bandwagon. All the breaking news we witnessed as sports fans this summer became completely irrelevant the minute LeBron James announced his homecoming. Not only did James’ decision nearly shut down social media, but it completely blew up ESPN. To say that the network over did it with the reporting of James’ return is an understatement. For almost the entire week following his decision, Sports Center gave the LeBron James decision more coverage than his receding hairline could dream of getting from his infamous headband. I do not know about you, but I was much more concerned about important matters such as how the NFL was handling the Ray Rice situation as opposed to analyzing how what LeBron James ate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner affected his return to Cleveland. Yet, my biggest problem with the whole James to Cleveland scenario is how ridiculous the so-called Miami Heat fan base is. You cannot say that you are a fan of a team and then jump ship as soon as your favorite player leaves. Even worse are the fans that justified their actions by claiming that they are strictly a fan of James as a player and
therefore can ditch Miami and cheer for Cleveland all they want. The last time I checked, you have to be able to actually name more than one player on a team’s roster before you can declare your fandom, but many of the so called “Heat fans” never understood that concept to begin with. On the other hand, James’ decision to return to Cleveland is one that will benefit the Cavaliers tremendously. For such a big name player to haven chosen the struggling city of Cleveland over the recent two-time championship winning city of South Beach is a huge deal, especially for the worn-out Cavalier fan base. It is about time that Cavaliers surrounded their all-star point guard Kyrie Irving with actual talent that is capable of producing a more than subpar record. Unfortunately for first-round draft pick Andrew Wiggins his time in Cleveland was short lived as he was shoved out the door to make way for Kevin Love, adding yet another all-star to the team’s roster and further proving that if there’s one thing James is good at, it is gravitating towards teams that will not only help him win championships, but will also make him look good in the process. When it is all said and done, I hope that Cavalier fans can look beyond the broken hearts that James left them with as a result of his past decision in 2011 move forward with their hometown hero guiding the way. While some are already going as far to declare Cleveland next season’s national champions, let us not forget that James still has to win not one, not two, not three, but four more titles before he catches up to Michael Jordan, and deciding to go back to wearing the number twenty-three is not going to help him get any closer than he was before.
Sports
August 26th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 2
NBA Free Agency Recap
By: Matthew Woods Staff Writer Free agency, in any sport, is always an interesting time for sports fans. The NBA’s free agency period proved to be quite a historic one this summer. We witnessed “the betrayal” back in the summer of 2011 as LeBron James turned his back on his hometown of Cleveland and took his talents to South Beach to play with the Miami Heat. This year, we saw the “Return of the King” as James came back home to the delight of Cavs fans (even the bandwagon fans as well). This is a huge deal for not only the struggling city of Cleveland, but the NBA as well due to the large television deal in the near future that will have all sides in this case making more money; which in turn is really what free agency is all about, right? Let’s not forget the other piece to the Cavaliers puzzle. That being the acquisition of Kevin Love from the
lowly Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for highly praised rookie out of Kansas, Andrew Wiggins, and perhaps the biggest bust for a #1 overall pick since Kwame Brown in Anthony Bennett.
“We witnessed ‘the betrayal’ back in the summer of 2011...This year, we saw the ‘Return of the King’ ” But after the “LeBron” domino fell, so did many of the other big names. Perhaps the second best player on the market, behind James, Carmelo Anthony kept the home-town theme in tact as he re-signed with the New York Knicks. Anthony’s gigantic deal is worth $124 million over five years; not including bonuses and
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LeBron James will make his way back to the Cavaliers next season.
incentives. This was by far the largest deal in this year’s free agency class, proving that money really does talk as Anthony turned down a deal with the more competitive Chicago Bulls who offered him a 4-year/$72 million deal. But let’s be serious for a minute, nobody would turn down an extra $52 million. The aftermath for the Miami Heat left them missing their “Big Kahuna” out of the “Big Three”. To make up for the absence of James, the Heat made a number of minor moves adding veterans Luol Deng from the Bulls and Danny Granger from the L.A. Clippers. Meanwhile, the team narrowly kept Chris Bosh, who now takes the place of James as the number one threat on the Heat.
“This year’s free agency moves have surely shaken up the outlook for the NBA this upcoming season ” We also saw the likes of Pau Gasol and Carlos Boozer trade places through free agency, as the lengthy scorer in Gasol moves to Chicago to team up with injuryprone point guard Derrick Rose, while Boozer is now with Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers. This year’s free agency moves have surely shaken up the outlook for the NBA this upcoming season. Perhaps we’ve sparked a new rivalry in the Miami Heat vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers? Or will the Phil Jackson ensemble, known as the New York Knicks, change their losing ways behind Anthony and rookie head coach Derek Fisher? And who knows; with a healthy Derrick Rose, just how far can the Bulls make it this year? All these questions were lit through free agency and only on the court will we have our answers.
Sports D19 The Rise of Rory, The Fall of a Legend
August 26th, 2014
By ALEX HORTON Staff Writer The rise of the world’s new number one golfer in Rory McIlroy hasn’t come easy for the world of golf. It’s seen the decline of maybe the most iconic figure in modern day golf, Tiger Woods. Woods is considered one of the greatest golfers of all time, and to some even the best the game has ever seen step onto the tee box. This year has seen Woods pull out of The Masters before he could even sniff the warm Georgia air, he feel apart at The Open after a respectable 69 in his first round.
The Chronicle
Volume 83 Issue 2
Woods didn’t even make the cut for The PGA. Woods is even now sitting out of the sport until he feels like his body is ready for him to return to the game. A seemingly smart decision that may be just a little too late, Tiger Woods is not getting any younger and the competition isn’t getting any easier. Woods had this to say though about his recent back injury that will have him sitting out until December “I've been told by my doctors and trainer that my back muscles need to be rehabilitated and healed. They've advised me not to play or practice now.”
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Tiger Woods, whom was unable to make the cut for the PGA this year.
Jack Nicklaus’ record is so close to Woods he can taste it, but it’s getting harder and harder to believe that he can beat that record. I personally don’t believe he is going to do it. The facts are staring us in the face and every major comes around and time and time again the predictions of him finally pulling his game together just come to a halt as he disappoints. Woods needs to win 4 more majors to even just tie Nicklaus record of 18, I maybe just overreacting he did win 5 tournaments last year and did earn the most money, but unfortunately for Woods they weren’t the wins he really wanted. In last years Majors, Woods finished T4th at the Masters after falling apart and shooting a 73 in round 2, he finished 32nd posting scores of 76 and 74 on Saturday and Sunday ending with a (+13). At The Open, Woods finished 6th after shooting a 74 on Sunday at Muirfield, and at the PGA Championship he finished 40th ending his tournament at a (+4). Woods basically is doing himself some justice and actually listening to some of the people in his camp and taking a break from the game of golf. I like Tiger Woods, next to my man Phil Mickelson he’s up there in my favorite golfers, and so far I haven’t really done him any justice but Woods has worked and still works very hard to be where he’s at. Tiger revolutionized the game of golf into the sport of golf. He lifts and trains just like other professional athletes so that he can be in the best shape. But this isn’t about Woods relentless work ethic, this is about his recent terrible play and his eventual decline from the sport. Now I mentioned Rory McIlroy earlier and how he is the next up and coming golf star, and when I say star I really mean stud, the kid just won three straight tournaments including The Open, and PGA Championship. He’s the best golfer right now and if
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Rory McIlroy, consistently giving Woods a run for his money. his recent play doesn’t convince you of that I don’t know what would, maybe all the money he’s made this year will do the trick. The last time I saw someone sinking putt after putt the way Rory has was well Tiger back when he was doing the same thing. What I want to say about McIlroy isn’t about his right now though. What I want to say is that I think he’s going to be the one to break Jack Nicklaus’ record of winning 18 majors. Now if you ask me if I think McIlroy will be better in his prime then Tiger you’d be getting the same response as if you asked me if Lebron will ever be better then Jordan and that a
big fat NO. But I do think that when Rory McIlroy is really on his game there is nobody in the field that is even going to come close to beating him. He drives the ball further then just about everyone except another favorite of mine Mr. pink driver himself Bubba Watson. And by far has the best putting game on tour. If I’m wrong about McIlroy oh well, but I’m going to appreciate watching some of the best golf I will ever see played and just pray to some higher power that the next time I play I can even shoot that low on the front nine, and maybe keep a ball for more then just two or three holes.
D20 Sports Golden Knights Women’s Soccer Team Kicks it in Europe The Chronicle
By VICTORIA ADDISON Sports Editor
The dream of traveling half way across the world with a group of your closest friends is one that not many are able to fulfill during their lifetime. For the Saint Rose women’s soccer team, such a dream became reality when they took a trip to Europe earlier this summer. After fundraising for the past year and half, the team was ready to take their fourth international trip under Coach Laurie Gutheil. “We travel to Europe once every four years as per NCAA regulations,” she explained. The team took their first trip to Europe in 2002, and followed suit in 2006 and 2010. This system allows for each player to have an opportunity to travel abroad at least once during their four year tenure on the team. The trip lasted for almost two weeks as the team left on Sunday, June 29 and returned on Saturday, July 12. While in Europe, the players participated in a total of three international friendlies or noncompetitive games that acted as scrimmages. They ended up winning the first game 2-1, losing the second 3-1, and winning the third 1-0. All three games were played against teams from Italy. Apart from playing soccer, the ladies also made sure to partake
in as much sightseeing as possible. The trip’s itinerary was in part determined by input from the players and mainly focused on touring the countries of Italy, France, and Switzerland. As Coach Gutheil remarked, “This is a wonderful opportunity for our players. It is a cultural experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.”
“[This will be] one of the last times that we will all be together. I am super excited to just explore.” Niki Smith
August 26th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 2
that I will be visiting with my best friends.” Although it was many of the ladies’ first time traveling out of the country, there were others who were fortunate enough to be embarking on their second trip with the women’s soccer program such as recent graduate Niki Smith. “This is my second time go-
ffel Tower in Paris, the Academia Gallery in Florence, and Doge’s Palace in Venice to name a few. Amid the many sightseeing opportunities the trip offered, senior Meeghan Arno was most fond of an opportunity found while in Venice. “My favorite part of the trip was glass blowing off a little island in Venice,” she said, “We got to see how they handmade each piece of china which was really interesting.” All in all, the trip was a success as the ladies were not only able to experience the thrills that come with traveling to another country, but most importantly were able to do so as a team. Although they have now started a new journey in preparing for the upcoming season, their trip to Europe is an experience that they will never forget. At the end of the day, the team will always come together to compete as Golden Knights, whether it be at home or thousands of miles away. The women’s soccer team will kick off their season on Thursday, September 4 as they host Nyack at home.
The players stopped for a group photo while in Nice, France.
Meeghan Arno
The team played on fields such as this one located in Lake Como, Italy.
Coach Gutheil was not the only one who was excited about the trip of course, as senior Emily Benjamin noted, “I have never been out of the country and we are traveling through Italy France and Switzerland, three beautiful countries that I have always wanted to visit.” Junior Erin Felix also added, “I am most looking forward to experience the different cultures of the various cities and countries
“We are traveling through Italy France and Switzerland, three beautiful countries that I have always wanted to visit.” Emily Benjamin
Emily Benjamin
ing to Europe with the team, I also went my freshman year,” she said, “I am looking forward to having a great trip with my teammates, coaches, and parents for one of the last times that we will all be together. I am super excited to just explore and make some amazing memories with everyone.” The trip’s itinerary included stops at various attractions throughout Europe such as the Ei-
Weekly Safety Tip Always keep your residence safe: Make sure that your windows and doors are kept locked and secure. Don’t assume that your housemates have maintained the security of your residence.