The Chronicle The weekly student newspaper of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York Visit us on the web at www.strosechronicle.com
January 22nd, 2013
Volume LXXXI Issue 18
Senator Schumer Visits Saint Rising Textbook Costs Rose to Discuss Tuition Credit Brings Problems for
Students and Professors By JACKSON WANG Executive Editor
The only thing scarier for a college student besides their class at eight on a Friday morning is the sticker price of a textbook at the Saint Rose bookstore. For many higher education students, buying textbooks is now more expensive than ever, according to a report by the American Enterprise Institution. The research institution has found that
college textbook prices have increased 812 percent over the last three decades. “The costs associated with education are expensive,” said Haleigh Morgan, relation specialist for Follett, which operates the Saint Rose bookstore, “and we have seen textbook prices continue to rise over the past couple decades.” The inflation for the cost of Continued on Page A7
Students and Professors Try to Keep History Relevant at Saint Rose By BRIAN HUBERT Contributing Writer
KELLY PFEISTER
Senator Schumer speaks on Thursday, Jan. 17 in the Lally Symposium to an audience of faculty, students, and members of the media. He modeled his speech around two main points- financial aid and gun control. By JAMES KENNEDY Contributing Writer Senator Charles E. Schumer attended a press conference regarding tuition on the Saint Rose campus last Thursday. Attendance at the conference also
included Mayor Jerry Jennings, Patricia Fahy, who represents the College of Saint Rose in the legislature, and The College’s President, David Szczerbacki, all of whom Schumer thanked and commented on briefly. According to Schumer, there are many
News & Features
benefits to being a college graduate. College graduate students typically make more than double the income non-college graduates make. Schumer said “studies show Continued on Page A5
Arts & Opinion
Week of service to honor Martin Luther King Jr. See pages A2
Staff writer M. Williams Smith makes his list of the top 10 films in 2012. See pages B8-B9
Alumni Profile: Katherine Odabashian. See pages A4
The gun control controversy. See page C13
In the 21st century, it appears that history and civics education has fallen by the wayside as educational institutions have embraced the highly competitive fields of science, technology, and mathematics as the most important topics for students to study to be successful in today’s global society. Meanwhile, here at Saint Rose, history professors and students are trying innovative new approaches to make sure that history and civics remain an important part of a 21st century education. Students need the knowledge about our history to become informed citizens who can make strong decisions about issues that
impact all citizens like the debt ceiling and gun control. Professsor Bridgett WilliamsSearle, who teaches courses in Colonial and early American history, believes “informed citizens” are important to the future of the United States. “You need to be informed of the past. Especially, it’s important for students to know the world is changeable, and they can change it. You can exert force, and change things,” Williams-Searle said. “It’s important that students know they are part of history, and that it does not happen strictly to other people.” Dr. Benjamin Clansy, who has taught political science at Saint Rose since 1993, saw an increasingly diverse electorate bringing Continued on Page A6
Sports Staff writer Shawn Berman reviews the New York Giants’ 2012-13 season. See page D15 Men’s basketball takes down Bentley College at home. See page D16
News A2 Week of Service to Honor Martin Luther King Jr. The Chronicle
By LAUREN HALLIGAN Features Editor In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., student volunteers will join together this week with local organizations in improving many aspects of the Albany area. The College of Saint Rose Community Service Office is hosting the annual Martin Luther King Week of Service from Jan. 21 through 26 to provide opportunities for students to give back to their community. This week and its service events are in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., and is meant to remind students of his “selflessness and sacrifice,” during the 1950s and 1960s as he lead the Civil Rights movement for African Americans, as the official website notes. Saturday's event, a site clean-up of Albany's own Underground Railroad House, is especially related to King's goal of equal freedom for African Americans, which began with earlier efforts such as blacks escaping slavery through the Underground Railroad. With no classes in session on Monday, Jan. 21, in honor of the actual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, service events were scheduled all day, including con-
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Volume 81 Issue 18
struction through Habitat for Humanity, a Hurricane Irene rebuild in Schoharie County, at which students painted and helped with the removal of debris, and meal making at the Mercy House, a women's shelter located in Albany. Upcoming opportunities include meal preparation at the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, sorting donated home furnishings for Habitat for Hu-
“My hope is that this day of service, which we’ve focused the majority of our efforts on thus far in the semester, will be the first step towards a successful four months of student involvement and service in the community,” Carolyn Stallard manity on Thursday, a site-cleanup of the Underground Railroad House on Saturday, and recreation and youth mentoring at Saint Anne’s Institute for Girls on Sunday. Saint Rose will be pro-
ZACHARY OLSAVICKY
Students helping plant a tree for Office of Spiritual Life in September.
Students volunteering during Reach Out Saint Rose Day in early September. viding transportation services for all students to the various service sites. “My hope is that this day of service, which we've focused the majority of our efforts on thus far in the semester, will be the first step towards a successful four months of student involvement and service in the community,” said Carolyn Stallard, who works through the Community Service Office and helped in planning the service opportunities during MLK Week of Service. Stallard hopes for Saint Rose students “that [their] experiences on MLK Day have a positive impact on them and the people they are serving.” Junior Christina Strezenec, who did her part on MLK Day by making meals at the Mercy House, said that she volunteers simply “to do something good for somebody else.” Strezenec expressed that she is glad the Community Service Office arranges such opportunities for her to lend a helping hand. Student volunteer Linasia Turner, who is participating in the MLK Week of Service, said “anything that I can do to make
a difference is a priority to me.” Excited to play a role in bettering her surroundings, Turner said, “I love giving back to the community in any way.” The Community Service Office encourages all to participate by volunteering this week in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King,
ZACHARY OLSAVICKY
Jr. There are still available opportunities to help out! A more detailed service event schedule and online signup are available at: http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/508094FA5A92CA64-week1. Reach Lauren Halligan at Halliganl567@strose.edu
We’re hiring! The Chronicle is currently seeking individuals to fill open positions for the 2012-13 academic year. Individuals interested in the position of Business Manager are encouraged to apply. If interested, send an e-mail with your resume and two writing or design samples attached (or linked) to Executive Editors Sunshine Osella or Jackson Wang at chronicle@strose.edu. If you would like more information about what the responsibilities of each position entail, send an e-mail to chronicle@strose.edu. All positions are stipended. Interviews will be scheduled upon receipt of application.
January 22nd, 2013
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Volume 81 Issue 18
In Brief Stella. No one was injured, but the College was placed on lockdown and a shelter-in-place was implemented. The College sent out an alert via the RAVE system to inform students of the situation at 9:16 p.m. Albany Police and Saint Rose security searched the area, but the suspects couldn’t be located. Once they finished their search, it appeared the suspects had left the area prior to the arrival of Albany Police officers. Another alert was issued via
the RAVE system at 9:52 p.m. to lift the lockdown and shelter-inplace. According to the College, the apartment was not owned by the institution, and no Saint Rose students occupied the home. Albany Police are still investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Albany Police Department at 462-8039 or the College of Saint Rose Department of Safety and Security at 454-5187.
Search Continues for the Next Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
The Chronicle
The search for the next Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs at the College of Saint Rose continues. According to Dennis McDonald, Vice President of Student Affairs, the search for the vacant position has entered the next phase. The Search Committee met last week to discuss the credentials
of the 60 applicants who have applied. Only 10 candidates were selected to move on to the next round of the search process, which includes reference checks and telephone interviews, according to McDonald. “We are impressed with the pool of candidates who have ap-
plied for the position of Provost/ Vice President for Academic Affairs at the College and look forward to the opportunity to learn more about them during the upcoming interviews,” said McDonald. The identities of the candidates are still kept confidential at this stage of the search process, added
Executive Editors Sunshine Osella ‘13 osellas452@strose.edu
News Editor Zachary Olsavicky olsavickyz977@strose.edu
Copy Editor Searching for Applicants
Faculty Adviser Cailin Brown
Jackson Wang ‘14 wangj847@strose.edu
Features Editor Lauren Halligan halliganl567@strose.edu
Business Manager Searching for Applicants
Managing Editor Rachel Bolton ‘15 boltonr413@strose.edu
Opinion Editor Regina Iannizzotto ‘13 iannizzottor407@strose.edu
Advertising Manager Caroline Murray ‘13 murrayc014@strose.edu
Layout Editor / Videographer John Janitz ‘14 janitzj140@strose.edu
Arts Editor Web Editor Chris Surprenant ‘14 Christopher Lovell ‘15 surprenantc572@strose.edu lovellc083@strose.edu
Assistant Layout Editor Jennifer O’Connor ‘16 oconnorj984@strose.edu
Sports Editor Joshua Natoli ‘14 natolij477@strose.edu
Staff Writers Katherine Bakaitis Shawn Berman Nicholas Buonanno Anonio Caban Gigi Diffenback Kellie McGuire Kevin Jacob Sam Maxwell Rachael Pollack Lauren Sears Michael Smith M. William Smith Theresa Taylor Zachary Williams
Head Photographer Kelly Pfeister ‘14 pfeisterk953@strose.edu
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Calendar of Events
Robbery on Hudson Ave. Puts Saint Rose on Lockdown The College of Saint Rose was placed on lockdown after an alleged robbery took place on Hudson Ave. on Saturday night. According to a security advisory released by Steve Stella, director of Saint Rose Security, three masked persons with guns allegedly entered an occupied residence on Hudson Ave., east of Partridge Street, at around 9 p.m. The masked gunmen then robbed the residences and fled the scene in an unknown direction, while firing a gun shot outside the house in the process, according to
The Chronicle
Tuesday, January 22 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Spring Activities Fair Standish Dining Rooms 11 a.m. APA Style Workshop Academic Support Center 4 p.m. MAPS ALB 109 7 p.m. G4G (Girls For God) Sanctuary 7 p.m. Theatre Guild Lima Basement 8 p.m. Outside the [Box] Lima Basement 8 p.m. Yoga Sanctuary Wednesday, January 23 3:45 p.m. Environmental Club Community Service Office 4 p.m. SEB Standish 5 p.m. Mid-Week Mass Sanctuary 5:30 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Merrimack Nolan Gym 6:30 p.m. Student Association Standish 7 p.m. Spectrum Standish 7:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Merrimack Nolan Gym 7:00 p.m. BASIC Sanctuary Thursday, January 24 10:30 a.m. Thesis Statement Workshop Academic Support Center 11:15 a.m. Speaker Eve Burton Lally Symposium 3:30 p.m. Mind, Body, and Spirit The Counseling Center Friday, January 25 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Certification Presentation for Education Majors Lally Touhey Forum Saturday, January 26 Sunday, January 27 3 p.m. Anna Lee - Solo Violin Concert Massry 6:30 p.m. College Mass St. Vincent de Paul Church Monday, January 28 11 a.m. Chicago Style Workshop Academic Support Center 3 p.m. Thesis Statement Workshop Academic Support Center 5:15 p.m. Yoga Sanctuary 8:30 p.m. CEC Lima Basement If you have an upcoming event you would like to see in our weekly Calendar of Events please e-mail chronicle@strose.edu. ANY student can join The Saint Rose Chronicle The Chronicle is published weekly on Tuesdays during the academic year and once during the summer months. The Chronicle is published at the facilities of The Daily Gazette of Schenectady, NY.
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January 22nd, 2013
Volume 81 Issue 18
Odabashian graduated from The College of Saint Rose in 1970, the year the school began admitting boys. She later finished graduate work with a Master’s in Educational Psychology. She taught for several years at Public School #3 and later at Public School #16. She has substitute taught in the North Colonie School System and the Menands School System. She taught a class on organizational skills at Shaker High School and taught graduate courses at UAlbany. Odabashian shares her love of teaching and of learning with her oldest granddaughter through “Nanny School,” which Odabashian described as one-on-one tutoring with the 2 ½ -year-old. Odabashian said, “If you educate a mom, you educate a family.” This is certainly true in her case. Odabashian is the mother of three children. Her daughter is a cardiologist and mother of two in New York City. Her older son
is her “Renaissance guy” and is a master of several languages, a tutor for standardized tests, and a law school graduate. Her youngest son graduated from NYU School of Business and he owns a business management company and helps Odabashian manage several of the properties that they own and rent to students in the Albany area. Outside of Albany, Odabashian coached tennis for three years to students 4 to 18 years-old at Bolton Landing. She continues to play tennis as well as read, sew, and bake. Because of her spirituality, her volunteer work, her family, and her hobbies, Odabashian feels she is living a full life. “I believe that I have been afforded the opportunity to experience so many vicarious experiences that I may not have had the chance to explore had I stayed within the classroom,” said Odabashian.
Alumni Profile: Katherine Odabashian By Alexandra Korcz Contributing Writer
Volunteering in the Albany area doesn’t have to end just because of graduation. Just ask Saint Rose alumna Katherine Odabashian. Odabashian, board member of Historic Cherry Hill, graduated from The College of Saint Rose in 1970. Historic Cherry Hill, located on South Pearl Street, is a 1780s home that has housed five generations and is open to the public. Odabashian, the other board members, and the staff are dedicated to the preservation of the home and the education of the community. Odabashian started as a docent and taught classes at Historic Cherry Hill several years ago. “We knew that she loved teaching and had a passion for it,” said Liselle LaFrance, director of Historic Cherry Hill. Three years ago, Odabashian was invited to become a trustee. As a trustee, Odabashian helps raise funds and attention for Historic Cherry Hill. “She is inspiring and motivating,” said LaFrance. Odabashian’s enthusiasm is another thing that the staff, trustees, and visitors to Historic Cherry Hill love. “She is one of the most enthusiastic people,” said Michael Beiter, President of the Board of Trustees at Historic Cherry Hill. Beiter described some of the difficulties that arise in fundraising, but said that Odabashian “is never reluctant” and teaches a “great lesson in approaching people.” Odabashian is dedicated to her work at Historic Cherry Hill. “One of the most important things is if you ask her to do something, you know it’ll get done,” said Beiter. She is passionate about her volunteer work. Prior to her position on the Board of Trustees at Historic Cherry Hill, Odabashian did other volunteer work in the Albany community. Odabashian served on the founding board for the Colonie Youth Center recre-
got to serve as an ambassador and attend many ribbon cuttings. The main reason that she chose Saint Rose was that her mother, Catherine Mary Holes-McTague, was a graduate in the class of
Courtesy of Katherine Odabashian
Katherine Odabashian ational facility. She also continues to volunteer at St. Peter’s Auxiliary where she volunteers in the gift shop. She also helped found the Sunshine Committee at St. Peter’s Auxiliary. The Sunshine Committee is a group of women who would come in and serve food and drink to the waiting friends and family members of patients who were in surgery. One of the reasons that Odabashian is such a passionate volunteer is her faith. Her spirituality is one of the most important things in her life. She regularly attends church and reads from the Bible daily. Odabashian also helped her husband, Harry Odabashian, Jr., at his cardiology practice for a year. Odabashian served as her husband’s secretary, interior designer, office manager, and anything else he needed, “to help him get started.” Together, the couple made Albany Associates in Cardiology the success it is today. Odabashian credits her love of community service to her Saint Rose education. While a student at The College of Saint Rose, she tutored handicapped children at the La Salle school. She also worked with a religious study group at St. Albanis Bay, “in a town that hadn’t had running water prior to 1962,” said Odabashian. While at Saint Rose, Odabashian wrote for the newspaper and sang in the glee club. Her sophomore year at Saint Rose, Odabashian was voted the Tulip Queen. As a result, she was granted numerous opportunities and
“One of the most important things is if you ask her to do something, you know it’ll get done.” Michael Beiter 1947. Odabashian always admired her mother and the education she got from Saint Rose. Holes-McTague’s memory lives on with a plaque dedicated to her in the Lally School of Education.
JACKSON WANG
The Historic Cherry Hill society is located on 523 South Pearl Street.
January 22nd, 2013
Volume 81 Issue 18
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The Chronicle
Schumer Visits Saint Rose
Continued from page A1
the average college graduate tends to be healthier, live longer, make more, and of course, be smarter. We need to have faith in America’s future.” Schumer’s college tax credit, The American Opportunity Tax Credit is just one of the few ways to make that happen. Just a few short weeks ago, the United States was heading for what could have been one of the worst financial crises in history, the fiscal cliff, which, according to many, would have surely forced us back into a recession. However, what many didn’t know, was that at the same time, Senator Schumer’s American Opportunity Tax Credit was also set to expire. However, through consistent determination and an unwillingness to give up, Schumer was able to successfully get his
“A college education is a necessity that is being priced as a luxury—and it’s breaking the bank for many students and families across the region.
Charles E. Schumer
legislation approved for a five year extension, and in the 11th hour of fiscal cliff negotiations. For those who may be unaware of the bill and have parents that have either a modified adjusted income of $160,000 or less (and you live in the Capital Region), OR $80,000 or less if they are single, then chances are that this
legislation could save them a lot of money. Through Schumer’s American Opportunity tax credit, up to $2,500 in college tuition and tuition related expenses (including course materials) can be refunded, or “credited” back when filing your federal income taxes for the first four years of post-secondary education (again, assuming income requirements above). The first $2,000 is 100 percent refundable. Therefore, if you spent this amount or less on, for example, tuition and books, you (or most likely your parents) can claim this credit and get the full amount back under your taxes. In addition, the credit also provides a 25 percent refund back on additional tuition and tuition-related expenses for up to an additional $2,000 paid during the same taxable year. So, if you incurred an additional $2,000 relating to these costs, you can get an additional $500 refund. Originally signed into law under the American Recovery and Investment act of 2009, (which essentially modifies the original HOPE tuition credit through increased availability), the bill was set to expire in 2010. However, at this time, the Senator was able to get an additional two-year extension, which was set to expire at the end of 2012. Through this extension, college students can now look to relief for an additional five years or relief (until 2017), which can make a huge difference for students, especially at private colleges, including Saint Rose. Schumer says his credit will even save Capital Region families up to $150,970,000 annually in tuition and tuition-related costs. “A college education is a necessity that is being priced as a luxury—and it’s breaking the bank for many students and families across the region. That’s why I fought the American Opportunity Tax Credit at year’s end so that it will continue to provide up to $2,500 in tax credits to middle class families in the Capital Re-
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Liz Benjamin from YNN interviews Senator Schumer after the press conference at the college. gion for the next five years,” said Schumer at the press release. In addition, the Senator also mentioned that many people (one third of those eligible, according to Schumer), didn’t even apply for the credit, largely because they or their families were unaware of the bill, or simply didn’t have the time. There is also a method of resolving this. According to Schumer, up to three years` of costs relating to tuition can be claimed through filing a simple Form 8863 (Education Credits), and attaching it to Form 1040 or 1040A. Before finishing his speech on the topic, Schumer urged President Szczerbacki to notify many people about this credit, to which Szczerbacki said he would make
sure to do. Szczerbacki then commented that nearly 30 percent of current college students are eligible for this credit, many of whom may currently be unaware of just what they are missing out on. It is also important to note that costs such as; room and board, transportation, insurance, medical expenses, student fees (unless required as a condition of enrollment or attendance) are the same expenses paid with tax-free educational assistance, and the same expenses used for any other tax deduction, credit or educational benefit do not qualify. Before finishing his conference, Schumer commented specifically on Saint Rose and its benefits not only to the students, but also to the homes
that it purchases and reforms. He then mentioned that the College is a “huge difference in your life”, and that our current college education system is among the best in the world. Now, his legislation is just one of the valuable resources available that can help many students achieve this “huge difference,” as well as the benefits that college will continue to bring students for the rest of their lives. For more information regarding Schumer’s American Opportunity Tax Credit, and to see who may qualify, please visit: http:// www.irs.gov/uac/American-Opportunity-Tax-Credit:-Questionsand-Answers
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The Chronicle
History at Saint Rose Continued From Page A1 about this type of change during the 2012 election. Clansy noted that if this trend of increased turnout among Hispanic and Asian voters continues, it could turn Southwest states that are red or purple to blue states by the 2020 election. Turnout was especially high in Florida and Ohio, where voter suppression efforts proved futile, Clansy said. The GOP should be concerned that radical conservatism is on the decline, Clansy added. Saint Rose history education student Joseph Conway believes a strong knowledge of history is crucial to our future. “Studying history is important to understanding who you are, and where you came from, and I think that’s important to every person, because if you understand where you came from, that gives you a schema of how you interact with other people,” Conway said. Clansy also believes history plays an important role in us “knowing where we came from”. Kevin Towle, a dual major in political science and psychology, believes it is important to balance the past and present. A “balanced person” knows their heritage and how events in history shaped the present day, Towle said. Towle stated the lack of focus on history in the 21st century may have to do with an obsession with the latest technology. Sometimes people see history as less important because it is “past,” Towle stated . To engage 21st century students in schools and colleges, the Saint Rose history department is increasingly turning to innovative approaches to teaching history that dust off the perception that history is static and boring, and irrelevant to the modern world. Conway envisions history classes that replace straight lectures with interactive activities involving technology, including internet activities, Blackboard, and even social media components. Conway wants to mix interactive activities into his
lectures that engage students intellectually, and get them to think and ask questions, while giving them a good understanding of important concepts. “If they’re bored in history class, they’re not going to want to study history later,” Conway said. Professor Williams-Searle agrees that history classes are becoming more interactive. She mentioned history classes where students use primary documents, artifacts, played games, and reenacted events. Williams-Searle mentioned a Service Learning project that involved cleaning Revolutionary War graves in area communities. “When it’s something you authentically want to know, and you find it in a form you want to hear, that’s when you learn,” Williams-Searle said. Williams-Searle is going to hit the road in Spring 2014 to teach students about America’s Colonial period with a travel class called “Colonial Cities”. Williams-Searle plans to take students to Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Williamsburg, Virginia. Students will visit museums and other cultural attractions in these cities, which were all important urban areas during the Colonial period, Williams-Searle said. Williams-Searle believes traveling to places where events really happened is important because these are memorable experiences that can be had only on site, and not in the classroom. “I can’t recreate an artisan’s workshop, but nothing helps a student understand both the limits of 18th century communication technology and its possibilities like a trip to an 18th century print shop,” she said. The travel portion of the course also gives students an opportunity to have some fun and travel with other people who have similar interests. “Anything that disrupts that teacher-in-front-thing” is good,” Williams-Searle said While she is working on new ways to reach college students, she also believes that it is important for people involved in history
News education to find innovative ways to reach the 60 percent of adults who do not attend college. Towle is not so quick to rid history classes of the traditional lecture. He believes lectures are still an important component of history education, noting that his favorite courses at his community college were lecture courses. He notes that teachers and professors should know how to organize and present the material to tell a “captivating story.” Despite these innovations in teaching history, plans to cut history education in schools remain and are greatly concerning to Williams-Searle. She calls this move a “dangerous idea” and notes that history also teaches students critical thinking and comparative reasoning. Conway believes liberal art classes like history should not be cut because they give students the ability to adapt to the needs of different jobs. “It’s really hard to adapt if you’re only good at one thing; if you’re good at multiple things you can adapt,” Conway said. Towle believes history is often targeted with cuts because schools focus on science and mathematics. “People are outraged when schools threaten cuts to art and music, so that leaves only history to be cut,” Towle said. Another threat that concerns Williams-Searle is cuts to public history sites. Most people learn about history from public history sites like Fort Crailo in Rensselaer, Williams-Searle said. These sites help to build an interest in history among children before they come to college, she adds. They also allow adults who do not read history books to learn more about the past, WilliamsSearle said. She also noted the negative
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impacts that could arise if state archives are closed to the public like the ones in Georgia were last fall. Archives are important for transparency, Williams-Searle said, mentioning a case where the Times Union used the New York State Archives to get records about the Spitzer Administration. While the number of students taking history has declined at other universities, Williams-Searle is not concerned about the future of history at Saint Rose. She calls the program “very robust”, and notes that people who majored in history work in a variety of careers, ranging from public policy and advocacy, to careers at historic sites like Fort Crailo. Conway stands strongly by his choice to major in history and education despite the trend of top10 majors that get graduates a job right out of college, and a tight job market in education. “If I went to Albany, and got into nanotech, there’s a lot jobs coming out, but I would not enjoy it; I’m not interested in it,” Conway said. Towle is not concerned with his job prospects, either. “I’m here to learn history, because I want to learn history, because that’s what I find interesting,” Towle said. While these two students and the professors all displayed a clear passion for history, the reaction to history among other Saint Rose students was a bit more mixed. A passion for history in high school prompted Amanda Rozavolgyi to major in history and education at Saint Rose. “I think it’s important to know something about history. Students should take U.S. or New York history so they know something about where they’re living,” Rozavolgyi said. Kevin Pinto, a sociology ma-
jor, also had a positive experience in his history classes and he noted how the concepts could be applied to his sociology courses. Hurrying to the Camelot Room, Bobby Primo, a business major, talked about the course in Immigration history he was taking. Primo liked the course and the professor. “I think it’s interesting, but not necessary,” Primo stated. Other students are not as inspired by history, and question the importance of history courses to their major, or just try to avoid them altogether. Robert Snyder, a transfer student in business, asserted the history courses he took at Hudson Valley Community College were a “waste of time.” “If you’re a history student that’s fine. If not, then you should not have to take history. It’s like asking a history student to take accounting. It doesn’t work for them, and it doesn’t work me,” Snyder said. Stephanie Green is also not a fan of history. She transferred in her required history credits from advanced placement courses in high school and does not plan on taking any history courses at Saint Rose. “I’m not going out of my way to take it,” Green stated. History is also not a favorite of John Kowalski, who is considering majoring in business and marketing. Kowalski took a modern Britain course but he ended up dropping it. “It wasn’t my thing. History is not really my area,” Kowalski said. Despite this experience, Kowalski said liberal arts courses are important because they expose students to different ideas.
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January 22nd, 2013
Volume 81 Issue 18
News
Rising Textbook Prices Continued From Page A1 textbooks has out run the increase of tuition and fees over the last 30 years, which sat at 559 percent, according to the American Enterprise institution. According to Morgan, the price of a textbook starts with the cost from the publisher. “Basically, it boils down to the initial cost from the publisher, plus an agreed-upon contractual margin between the school and bookstore operator,” said Morgan. According to the National Association of College Stores, for every dollar that is paid for a new textbook, it pays out in five different directions. One dollar for a new textbook is divided up in the following way: 77.4 cents goes to the textbook wholesale cost, another 10.7 cents to the college store personnel, 3.7 cents supports the college store income, 7.2 cents covers the college store operation, and one cent pays for freight expenses. With some textbooks breaking the bank for college students, some professors are being careful on what books they have their
students purchase. Cailin Brown, an associate professor in the Communications department at Saint Rose, said she always tries to have students buy the less expensive textbooks.
“It’s a big challenge for teachers.” Cailin Brown “It’s a big challenge for teachers,” said Brown. “I really do think teachers are comprehensive about it.” Brown also added she uses online readings and PDF files to cut back on asking students to purchase additional course materials. “Textbooks are very expensive,” said Eric Eslinger, a geology professor at Saint Rose. “Some students are even reluctant to buy textbooks,” he added. He said one of his students told him that the Intro to Geology book for his geology class
cost $160, which surprised him because it was only a beginner’s book. Eslinger said one problem with textbooks is that publishers always come out with updated versions of the material. And once that comes out, the old edition becomes useless and most bookstores won’t buy it back. “I don’t know what the solution is,” said Eslinger. Morgan said her company recognizes the pressure that’s placed on students and their family to stay within a tight budget. She said that many students are trying to complete courses without the proper material, which she finds disturbing. But Follett is trying to help students save money on textbooks by offering choices like rental, digital, and used books, according to Morgan. She said used textbooks are generally discounted at 25 percent, while renting a textbook usually marks down 50 percent or more of the original cost. Follett also has a buyback program for used textbooks, which they can pay back up to 50 percent for the old textbooks’ initial cost, according to Morgan.
Some students have opted to not buy any course materials because of rising textbook costs.
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KELLY PFEISTER
The Saint Rose bookstore offers rental, digital, new, and used books. Follett’s CafeScribe digital textbooks helps students save anywhere from 40 percent to 60 percent compared to purchasing new print textbooks. “While some students opt to keep course materials, especially if related to disciplines within their major, we encourage students to sell back any unwanted, purchased books to pocket even more total savings,” said Morgan. There are other options out there besides the Saint Rose bookstore. Some students have rented books from Chegg, while others use Amazon and eBay to purchase new and used books. Niki Smith, a junior and Communications major at Saint Rose, said she rents her course materials from Chegg because it’s cheaper than the Saint Rose bookstore. She also said that if she buys a textbook, the bookstore usually gives a lot less money back for it than what she paid.
“I actually rarely, if ever, purchase books from the bookstore,” said Themba Knowles, a transfer junior at Saint Rose. “They are all marked up and when you try to sell them back, you get barely a fraction of your money back.” Knowles said he usually buys textbooks from places like Texbooks.com or Amazon. He said he normally buys used and older versions of textbooks to save even more money. Morgan said it’s hard to predict if textbook costs will increase or decrease in the future because the price of the material starts with the publisher. “In all scenarios, pricing will continue to depend on the cost of resources required to create course materials, both print and digital,” said Morgan. Reach Jackson Wang at Wangj847@strose.edu • Twitter: @TheJacksonWang
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The Chronicle
Arts
January 22nd, 2013
The Top Ten Films of 2012
Volume 81 Issue 18
A look back at some of the year’s most memorable cinematic achievements By M. WILLIAM SMITH Staff Writer Hey guys, guess what? 2012 is over! Over the last 366 days (it was a leap year!), the world didn’t end, Obama remained president, Disney bought Star Wars, Clint Eastwood started talking to chairs, and a short Korean man taught us how to dance a merry jig. But we’re not talking about that! As someone who fancies himself something of a film critic (or at least pretends to be), I’ve compiled my list of the top ten films 2012 had to offer (everybody else gets to do it, so why not me?).
“Like any year, 2012 saw a wide variety of films from experienced auteurs to young directors making their debut films...” Like any year, 2012 saw a wide variety of films from experienced auteurs to young directors making their debut films; from massive star vehicles to small-scale independent productions. To be clear, this list is not to single out which films were definitively “the best” of the year, as that would be downright impossible. This list is my personal ten favorite films of the year (with some honorable mentions thrown in). You may agree with some, you may disagree with some. That’s part of the fun! And, obviously, there are still films out there for me to see, as many of the smaller films that have gained praise just haven’t reached the Albany area yet or, if they have, I haven’t gotten the chance to see them. Films that probably had a good shot at this list that I couldn’t see (or haven’t had the chance to) include Holy Motors, Amour, Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, and a few others.
Honorable Mentions Skyfall, Killer Joe, The Avengers, Sound of My Voice, Seven Psychopaths, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Your Sister’s Sister, Flight, Looper
10. Sleepwalk With Me – dir. Mike Birbiglia
9. ParaNorman – dir. Sam Fell/Chris Butler
For comedy nerds, Sleepwalk With Me was the film of the year. Based on Mike Birbiglia’s oneman show on Broadway, the film depicting a struggling standup comedian turned out to be one of the most insightful and entertaining stories of any film this year. Add to that appearances from several awesome comedians like David Wain, Kristen Schaal, and Marc Maron, as well as one of the best central relationships of any film this year, and Sleepwalk With Me becomes a winning film that I’ll most certainly be revisiting soon.
Hands-down the best animated film this year, ParaNorman is a wellspring of creativity and visual style, and just a ridiculous amount of fun. It’s take on the tropes of horror films adds a surprisingly emotional backstory to the proceedings. At its most inspired, it reminded me of The Goonies mixed with Night of the Living Dead, and if that doesn’t appeal to you, then I do not care to know you, sir/madam.
8. Django Unchained – dir. Quentin Tarantino
There are few filmmakers whose work gets me as excited as I am when I see a new Quentin Tarantino film. Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and Inglourious Basterds all rank among my favorite films of all time. Now, Tarantino has brought his distinctive voice to one of my favorite genres, the spaghetti western, and the result is exactly what one would expect. It’s a film that won’t turn Tarantino’s detractors, but it’s precisely what his fans love while the filmmaker finds new ground to cover in his crazy, twisted universe. Couple that with terrific turns from Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, and a surprisingly sadistic performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, and Django Unchained earns its place among Tarantino’s filmography.
7. Killing Them Softly – dir. Andrew Dominik
As someone who usually detests obvious symbolism in films, it’s surprising to me how much I loved Killing Them Softly. The film isn’t exactly subtle, but that’s part of the point it’s trying to make. It slams its message over the audience with a hammer, and it does so with confidence, style, and a terrific cast. It’s short, sweet, and to the point, and it’s one of the most satisfying filmgoing experiences of the year.
GEORGES BIARD/ WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Director Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained tops M. William Smith’s list of best films of 2012 for its unique approach to the spaghetti western genre, as well as some great performances.
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January 22nd, 2013
Arts
Volume 81 Issue 18
The Chronicle
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The Top Ten Films of 2012 (Cont.) 6. The Master – dir. Paul Thomas Anderson Few films this year were as polarizing as Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest release, The Master, but even fewer were as rewarding as this one is. I remember leaving the theater unsure whether I even liked the film, only to discuss it and reflect upon it for hours on end. It’s a oneof-a-kind movie bolstered by a trio of great performances from Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and giving the single best performance I’ve seen this year, Joaquin Phoenix. It’s a mesmerizing, hypnotic film, and one that I can’t wait to experience again.
5. The Cabin in the Woods – dir. Drew Goddard This year, Joss Whedon broke out of his cultishly-adoring fan base and came out with one of the biggest films ever made (in terms of financial success), The Avengers. But, just one month before, his longdelayed screenplay The Cabin in the Woods finally hit theaters, and it’s a straight shot of everything Whedon’s fans love him for. Endlessly clever, hilarious, and strange, this may just be the most fun I’ve had with a film all year. It deconstructs the horror genre while standing alone as an example of how to do it justice, and it does so with a skip in its step, a song in its heart, and a zombie torture redneck family for the ages.
4. The Grey – dir. Joe Carnahan Not the film the trailers made it out to be, The Grey is so much deeper than its “Liam Neeson fights wolves” surface level. It’s an existential, emotional drama, and Neeson gives one of the finest performances of his career as a man who no longer wants to live, until he has to fight to survive. It’s a harrowing, intense experience that had me leaving the theater visibly shaken.
3. Moonrise Kingdom – dir. Wes Anderson If there were an award for “Film Most Likely to Put a Smile on Your Face” at the Oscars (which would be ridiculous, but bear with me), Moonrise Kingdom would win. The film is an absolute delight, as Wes Anderson creates a world that at once seems both fantastical and grounded, a world in which anything can happen, but only to those who make it happen. It’s quirky, it’s fun, and it’s something I’ll be coming back to again and again.
2. The Dark Knight Rises – dir. Christopher Nolan Christopher Nolan completed what has come to be known as his “Dark Knight Trilogy” this past summer, and though the film may falter a bit under the strain of its own ambitions, there were few others this year that really took me in and emotionally drained me like this one did. Over time, I’ve grown to love this film all the more, flaws and all. The film thematically ties together everything from the previous two films and makes for a mostly satisfying conclusion to the best franchise Hollywood has seen in over a decade.
1. Cloud Atlas – dir. Andy Wachowski/Lana Wachowski/Tom Tykwer I talked about this film at length in my review, so I’ll try to keep it short when I say that Cloud Atlas is one of the most significant achievements in cinema I’ve seen in recent years. There is so much to admire in this film, from the blending of various genres to the well-rounded cast members playing up to six roles at a time. The Wachowskis and Tykwer have crafted a thematically resonant and wholly satisfying film that absolutely floored me. It’s an ambitious, often misunderstood masterpiece that hopefully will grow in the public consciousness in time (since none of you people went to go see it when it was in theaters). I can’t imagine we’ll see another film like this for quite some time.
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MARVELOUS ROLAND/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
A fan-generated poster for The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolan’s final film in the acclaimed Batman trilogy.
Top of the Box Office Jan. 14th-21st 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Zero Dark Thirty ($24.4M) A Haunted House ($18.1M) Gangster Squad ($17.1M) Django Unchained ($11.0M) Les Miserables ($9.6M) The Hobbit ($9.2M) Lincoln ($6.3M) Parental Guidance ($6.1M) Texas Chainsaw 3D ($5.3M) Silver Linings Playbook ($5.0M)
Hope you Like It. Source: RottenTomatoes.com
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The Chronicle
Arts
High Octane People Fuel: The Frugal College Student Edition By ZACHARY WILLIAMS Staff Writer
ably will soon, which means I won’t have to review an IHOP like I thought I would have had to last year (that was both a legitimate option and one that made me want to test how quickly a man can evolve wings by jumping off a bridge). So what have I been up to in the interim? Well, over the winter the only really noteworthy place I ate at was the Undercover Eggplant, a sandwich shop in Oneonta, which is really only convenient news if you live near where I live, or are incredibly devoted to the pursuit of the World’s Best Sandwich (and let’s face it, if you aren’t devoted to the pursuit of the World’s Best Sandwich, you probably need to re-evaluate your life). Undercover Eggplant recently re-opened after a kitchen fire shut the place down several years ago, and it came back with a bang and produces some of the most delicious sandwiches I’ve ever had the pleasure of consuming. The fare changes from day to day and season to season, depending on what local butchers supply, but the bread is all baked on site and is some of the crustiest, most delicious bread I’ve ever had the joy of eating in my life. And a sandwich there is only $7.25, factor-
ing out side and drinks. They also offer salads and dessert, which are awesome as well. (For more Hello, audience. It’s been a about Undercover Eggplant, visit while, hasn’t it? Sorry about that, www.undercovereggplant.com.) but the life of an English maAt the opposite end of the jor, while deeply interesting and spectrum, last semester I had the intellectually stimulating, also pleasure of eating at Albany’s comes with the tiny sidebar of beown Mingle, which is a fusion ing practically as useless as a phiItalian/Korean (strange, right?) losophy student (HA) in today’s restaurant at 544 Delaware Avemodern society. As a result of not nue. A small, nondescript creamhaving any idea what I’m doing and-brown building hides great in the real world, I haven’t had atmosphere, with a dark, seema decent paycheck since the last ingly candlelit interior, welledition of HOPF came out and I polished wood furniture and a had to retire for a bit. well-stocked bar for those overBut, like a bad case of shin21-types that may read this colgles or that crazy ex of yours umn. The food is wildly varying that stands outside your window and delicious, but don’t expect to every night with a knife in their eat cheap—this is doubtlessly a hand, I’m back! And apparently high class restaurant that knows the state thinks I’m better than it’s a high-class restaurant, so exever, seeing as last year they gave pect to pay anywhere from $20 to me a shiny plaque basically say$45 for a meal there. The upside ing “you did stuff and did it better is that the portions are what you than other colleges in the state.” I would expect for a $20-$50 meal, personally still hold that this is a so you won’t be going home huntawdry rip-off of Anthony Bourgry, and they also offer a wide dain’s No Reservations set in the selection of teas in addition to confines of a newspaper column standard fare. (For more about and limited to the geographical Mingle, or to check the menu area of metropolitan Albany, but visit www.minglealbany.com, or if that boats the NYPA’s float, call (518) 915-1468 to make resthen I’ll take it. ervations.) Unfortunately, I still have no And that’s all I have for now, money. But fortunately, I probpeople. You can expect me to revisit Mingle What’s Happening @ the . . . at some point in the future RESUME COLLECTION INFORMATION TABLES for a better explanation, but Corporate Consulting it’s only been Intern & FT Marketing a week since & Sales AFLAC I got here and Outside Sales Executives 1/22/13 11-2PM in EAC I’ve still got to Business Environments by RAS Apply via eCareerCenter job ID # 16295 get back into the by 1/25/13 Careers with the Army swing of things. NYS Army National Guard I hope you’re 1/23/13 11-2PM in EAC looking forward Delta Epsilon Iota to this year as Academic Honor Society much as I am, with a focus on career Valet Attendants readers, because Interested in joining? Valet of America Watch your home it’s bound to be 1/24/13 11-2PM in EAC mailbox for application! a wild ride, and it will be deliwww.strose.edu/careercenter career@strose.edu 518-454-5141 cious.
Career Center
January 22nd, 2013
Volume 81 Issue 18
I Can’t Believe You Watched That
Hate Watching: Do We Like to Suffer? By RACHEL M. BOLTON Managing Editor
yet we continued to watch it for several nights in a row. My thenroommate and I would comment People normally watch shows that we would “never do someor movies because they like them thing like that to our own chilor because they find them inter- dren,” giving ourselves a sense esting. However, there is a recent of moral superiority over the pagtrend of consuming media that is eant moms. No matter what we considered “bad” just to be able did, we would not be as bad as to complain about it. Why do they were. we do this? What makes TV like We watch The Kardashians Keeping Up With the Kardashi- and Honey Boo Boo to tell ourans or Honey Boo Boo so popular selves that we aren’t we aren’t and, dare I say it, enjoyable? as self-absorbed as Kim K. or as I do not watch the Kardashians bizarre as that redneck family. or Miss “Boo Boo” and her fam- They are easy to make fun of and ily, although I have seen we wonder why they let a few episodes out of cameras into their lives “I believe that morbid curiosity. like this, knowI did not enjoy people watch bad TV ing what viewers what I saw, but I think. understand why especially, reality TV, If there is one people view it. to feel better about show that people Keeping Up With to watch, their lives and their hate the Kardashians it’s Glee. Two of decisions.” is a soap opera of my good friends entitlement and watch it just to Honey Boo Boo complain about Rachel M. Bolton how horrid it is is practically redneckplotation at each other. for our nosy amusement. They write essays about I know that I am really one to its problems to each other. One of talk. I write a column that lam- them is my roommate, and I get poons bad movies every other to overhear her grumbling, and article. It gives me a chance to anguished cries of “Why, GLEE, rip on something bad in an ac- Why?” as she watches the most ceptable way. Movies don’t have recent episodes. I asked Emfeelings, and everyone wants to ily why she continues to watch embrace their nasty critic persona it even though she considered once in a while. Writing that col- it crap. “It’s really fun to watch umn allows me to do that and so something critically,” she says. does hate watching television. Bad storytelling on TV is picked I believe that people watch apart easily and it’s a distraction bad TV, especially reality TV, to from doing homework. feel better about their lives and Besides my bad movie coltheir decisions. Freshman year, umn, I don’t hate watching TV my roommate and I would end consistently. Yelling at whiney up watching Toddlers and Tiaras Lady Mary on Downton Abbey before we fell asleep. We would really does not count. But hating make fun of harpy mothers and on something bad will always be fake tan orange children fighting fun; there’s a little devil in all of over something that was stupid, us.
January 22nd, 2013
Volume 81 Issue 18
The Carrie Diaries is Just As Much Fun as Sex in the City By ASIA EWART Staff Writer Upon first seeing the promotional posters for The Carrie Diaries, my left eye twitched. It was very, very bright, and covered in paint and graffiti, which isn’t what the inside of the 3 train in Manhattan looks like (on a normal basis, anyway). However, because the series stars AnnaSophia Robb, who stole my heart as giant blueberry Violet Beauregarde in 2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and I was still mourning the end of Gossip Girl, I decided to sit down last Monday night and try watching it. The Carrie Diaries, which began as a book series in 2010, is the prequel to the popular Sex and the City series (and the even more popular television series starring Sarah Jessica Parker). As someone who never watched Sex and the City when it was on TV, I didn’t think I’d be able to follow the plot. However, The Carrie Diaries seems to be its own story and, according to a friend, made no reference to anything in the original plotline. Episode one takes us back to 1984 Connecticut, when Carrie Bradshaw was only a high school junior. After the recent passing of their mother, Carrie and her rebellious younger sister Dorit are learning to adjust to life without her. However, even the support of her friends Mouse, Maggie, and Walt, the obvious flirtationship she has with new student Sebastian Kydd (Austin Butler, Zoey 101) and the advice of her father not to let mourning interfere with her life can’t make Carrie as happy as she once was. Through her
father, Carrie scores an internship at a law firm in her Mecca of Manhattan, and her eyes –and the potential doors to her future –are soon opened. For devotees of Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw has, and always will be, the symbol of a fashion-forward woman. From patchwork coats to watermelon dresses, she’s always had an eye for looks that made audiences look twice. During her lunch break, Carrie meets Larissa, a fashion editor for Interview magazine. After bonding over the latest issue and a stolen blue dress from Century 21, Carrie is invited to a night out on the town, and the rest is neon colored history. With its nicely balanced mix of style – though the clothing choice does not seem at all 80s, with the exception of the obvious oversized hair bows and shoulder pads, cattiness (bad girl Donna LaDonna looks itching to hurl some insults!), romance, and her friends dealing with their own drama, The Carrie Diaries promises to have viewers coming back each week for at least two of these reasons, if not all of them. AnnaSophia Robb’s natural energy makes teenage Carrie as fun as I’m sure adult Carrie is. British actress Freema Agyeman (Doctor Who) as sassy Larissa makes viewers question her intentions with Carrie; what adult makes a teenager shoplift for them? That can only be answered Mondays at 8pm on The CW. A lively soundtrack of Madonna and Cyndi Lauper in this fun backdrop of 1980s NYC officially seals the deal for me. The Carrie Diaries is my new go-to show!
“AnnaSophia Robb’s natural energy makes teenage Carrie as fun as I’m sure adult Carrie is. ” Asia Ewart
Arts
The Chronicle
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Kickin’ It With KJ: Playing a Little Catch-Up Edition
By KEVIN JACOB Staff Writer
Welcome all to another glorious edition of Kickin’ It With KJ. Last week, we had the pretty lengthy end-of-the-year lists. With that, I have missed a couple of albums/projects that I haven’t gone over yet, so I’ll recap on those and a few other things this week. A$AP Rocky Long.Live.A$AP Rocky’s major label debut landed in stores recently. But we all know that before it came out, you definitely rocked with it before January 15, as it leaked a little before Christmas. It was one hell of a Christmas present, because this album was everything it promised to be, and maybe exceeded some of those heavy expectations. Being a Rocky fan, I was impressed with the album. The title song intro sets off the album really well and tracks such as “LVL,” “Hell,” and “Phoenix” all have the dreamy sort of production style that A$AP has been well known for. And lyrically? Rocky’s on his A-game. Tracks like “Suddenly,” “Ghetto Symphony,” and “Angels” all show Rocky just killing it. I also really enjoyed Gunplay’s verse on “Ghetto Symphony”. Now, even though a lot of the tracks on here are really good, there were some I just wasn’t feeling. I wasn’t too high on “Wild for the Night,” and for some reason I can’t stand “Pain,” which was disappointing because I thought this could be a breakout moment for the group featured, which is Overdoz. But the song’s just lazy, and nobody’s really
saying anything. Overall, A$AP not only shows that he has room to grow, but makes one hell of an entrance into the game with Long.Live. I’d definitely recommend it. Rating: 9/10 Toro Y Moi Anything in Return Toro, mostly known for being one of the main innovators of what’s labeled “chillwave,” moves away from that territory a little bit with his more 80’s popsounding “Anything in Return”. I think that the change fits Toro nicely because the music is amazing. Toro’s always been a strong singer, but his producing makes the whole project. Sonically it’s just laid back and chill to listen to. “Harm in Charge” starts off the album and it sounds literally like a dance jam you could find in the early nineties. “So Many Details,” the single off the album, brings a lot of funky synths and a haunting bassline and other songs such as “Rose Quartz” and “Cake” all make for an enjoyable listen, and in my opinion they help carry the album. Towards the end of the album I thought it faltered just a little bit. I don’t really have a specific reason, but I just can’t seem to really get into some of the end tracks *shrugs*. In the end, this album, although maybe a little different, is still some of the best music I’ve heard recently. Definitely check this out. Rating: 8/10
Secondly, R.I.P. again to Pro Era Capital Steez. This project contains some of his final tracks. It’s a damn shame too, because besides Joey Bada$$, this kid had to be the second best in the group with so much potential ahead of him. And third? This tape is dope. Joey brings along his crew for the tape, and they show, and unlike the A$AP crew, they ALL can spit. From Kirk Knight to Dessy Hinds, who’s easily the next to look for from the era, all of them have tight rhymes. The tape starts off with the somewhat somber “Like Water,” which features a bone chilling verse from Capital Steez, and a great beat from Statik Selectah. Other strong tracks on the tape include “Vinyls,” “Bun N Cheese,” “Natural”, and my favorite song off the project in “F A Rap Critic,” which I’ve literally had on repeat since I’ve heard it. There’s not a lot I didn’t like on the tape but if I had to choose, I didn’t really care for “Run or Fly” or “Florists”. Pro Era has definitely impressed me with this group collective debut. They sound like kids having fun rapping while bringing back the old vibe of nineties hip-hop. Sounds like a win to me. Rating: 8.5/10 And there’s another edition of Kickin’ It. Hopefully we’re back next week with something, although I have no idea what’s supposed to be coming out. If there’s anything you think I should review, hit up the Twitter link. Until next time.
Pro Era Peep the aPROcalypse First off, it’s spelled right.
Reach Kevin Jacob at Jacobk622@strose.edu • Twitter:@KJTheKing30
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The Chronicle
Arts
January 22nd, 2013
Volume 81 Issue 18
MATH the Band, Kid is Qual, Drew and The Grand Spectacular, and Party Boat Performed at Jack’s Place on Friday Night Photos By KELLY PFEISTER
Collin Reynolds of Party Boat.
Drew and The Grand Spectacular kept the audience entertained by encouraging viewer participation, including a pillow fight, and a chance to break a pinata.
Drew and the Grand Spectacular played third on Friday.
Jonathan Sullivan, of Kid is Qual, performed Friday night.
Party Boat opened Friday’s show at Jack’s Place.
January 22nd, 2013
Volume 81 Issue 18
Opinion
The Gun Control Controversy By KATHERINE BAKAITIS Staff Writer Let’s discuss everybody’s favorite controversy; Gun control, or lack thereof, depending on whose side you are on. New York has become the first state in the U.S. to introduce, and pass, strict gun control legislation since the Sandy Hook massacre. This new law is rarely applauded amongst the public, despite the fact that it is pure common sense (you do not go deer hunting with an assault rifle). The NRA, and some other people, speculates that Governor Cuomo has made this bill his own ticket into the 2016 presidential election, and even though playing politics probably is not below our Governor, he still said what he meant and meant what he said in his State of the State Address. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this new law, it is called the NY SAFE Act: “This legislation will protect New Yorkers by reducing the availability of assault weapons and deterring the criminal use of firearms while promoting a fair, consistent and efficient method of ensuring that sportsmen and other legal gun owners have full enjoyment of the guns to which they are entitled. A thoughtful network of laws provides the toughest, most comprehensive and balanced answer in the nation to gun violence. Through this legislation, New York is the first in the nation to completely ban all pre-1994 high capacity magazines; to ban any magazine that holds more than seven rounds (rather than a limit of ten) and to both track ammunition purchases in real time to permit alerts on high volume buyers, while also checking on the buyer's background.” Yet regardless of these loud, exhausting complaints, this new gun control measure could be a fresh model for the rest of the nation. President Obama has already unveiled some gun control proposals that he and Vice-President Joe Biden have worked out. Obama and Biden support requiring criminal background checks
on all gun sales (including private sales), banning "military-style" assault weapons, limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds, and strengthening penalties for gun trafficking. Being a true liberal means to see and understand where your opposition is coming from and acknowledging that your views are not perfect. I, at least, know opinions are not flawless, especially when they contradict the common view of the rest of America. Out of all my opinions, I think that mine on gun control is probably the least popular, or even correct, so just bear with me. First of all, most people in this country are not properly educated. What do you really think helped us win the American Revolution? Armed citizens, or the help of the French? I am going to have to go with the latter. We never would have won the revolution with just our amateur soldiers and guns against the most dominant military power in the world at the time (a title the United States now holds). The Founding Fathers probably could have never predicted the astronomical controversy that surrounds the second amendment today. If some people are so intent on having a militia, then why don’t they keep their high-capacity guns safe in an armory where it should be for that particular purpose? There is enough evidence to suggest that the second amendment could have been ratified to seek the Southern vote. In the South during the 1750s, a slave patrol militia was created, consisting of all white men. We all know that the African slaves outnumbered their white owners in the south, so fear of a slave rebellion was high. This slave patrol militia would confiscate any firearms found in slave’s quarters, and be on constant duty if a rebellion were to arise. If this were the original intention of the Founding Fathers, then the second amendment is no longer valid because we do not practice slavery in this country anymore. The federal government is part-
ly to blame. Some of their previous actions have caused citizens to distrust their motives (hence why some people insist upon their second amendment rights to protect themselves from the government and other threats). But the government is not here to frighten or suppress us (at least not our government), so why are we treating it like it is? We need to develop a better relationship with our government. After all, government leaders are supposed to work for us, the citizens (not corporations or special interest groups). We need more trusting politicians (an oxymoron, I know), but who do we know to trust in this blackened world? This is all a matter of personal ethics and trust. My own theory is that when society puts more emphasis on the positives (make love, not war) and makes well-informed decisions, over time it might form into a less-corrupt society. For example; more positive reinforcement in schools, a better quality education in public schools, making college more affordable, and helping to eliminate domestic and child abuse will greatly help the future generations who will, eventually, be running the country. Not only will it benefit them in terms of their goals, but it just might shape their total outlook on life in a very optimistic way. Then again, I am not A psychologist or political expert, so anything goes. It may sound like I am getting off track, but there is a point to all of this, and my point is that everything we do as a nation is connected in some way because all of these “little” issues are catalysts of a bigger problem we need to handle. If we just fix one problem, that is great, but there are countless other difficulties we need to overcome. If we find and tackle the one giant matter that is causing all of these catastrophes, we just might see some real change. Reach Katherine Bakaitis at Bakaitisk161@strose.edu • Twitter: KTattack
The Chronicle
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A Transfer’s Perspective Welcome Back, Rosebuds!
By LAUREN SEARS Staff Writer The first week of the new semester is always exciting and filled with anticipation about seeing friends for the first time in a month, new classes, new professors, and of course, new opportunities. It is also filled with the fact that the academic side of school already is filled with homework, projects, and quizzes due the following week. I was so excited to drive to campus to see some of my close friends on Monday! I mean it has been a month – 30 days is a long time. I have classes with some of them, which makes it easier when you have professors you have never had before or are taking a difficult class. Catching up in-between classes in the lounge was a great way to kick off the semester. I cannot wait to see what happens throughout the semester! As for my new classes, I have enjoyed them so far. In COM 217, we are learning about website design and how to make our own website. I have never done that before. It is always exciting to try something new. Broadcast News is also interesting because learning how to write for a copy story is very different from writing for
a newspaper. In fact, we have a quiz on copy rules for broadcast writing next week! Business Law is also interesting, but requires a lot of reading outside the classroom. My favorite class so far is definitely Managerial Accounting. The readings are very interesting and will come in handy when I take over CBS News one day! The professor is so nice, and uses real world examples to help us understand concepts. Plus, the class is in the new Huether School of Business and the classroom is gorgeous. My least favorite class so far is probably Intro to Computer Science, but I think it is because we have not begun the hands on portion of the class yet. However, the professor is hilarious and tries to make the content interesting. Overall, the first week back was great. I am glad break is over and I can jump right into all of the organizations I am involved in. It is great to be back. For students who might have just transferred in, I would like to say welcome to Saint Rose and hope you have a great semester! Reach Lauren Sears at Searsl534@strose.edu
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The Chronicle
Opinion
January 22nd, 2013
Volume 81 Issue 18
Winter Word Search
Guy in CCIM: “I could be the Brawny lumberjack salesman when I wear my flannel.” Guy in CCIM: “I’ve had lobster pizza. It’s better than lobster mac and cheese.”
Guy 1 in CCIM: “The Library of Congress catalogs my tweets.” Guy 2: “Just yours? Or everyone’s?” Guy1: “Nope, just mine.”
Girl in Centennial: “Her name is Bri, like the cheese.” Guy: “There’s a cheese called brie? All I know is cheddar.”
Guy in Centennial: “Any game with Goofy in it should be burned.”
Girl in Centennial: “I just listened to my voice. It’s annoying.”
Girl in Centennial: “You almost hurt him!” Guy: “No I didn’t, we’re friends.”
Guy in Centennial: “Is that Carrot Top?” Girl: “That’s a woman” Guy: “It’s not Shawn White?”
Guy in dorm: “I hate this song. If they spoke like cultured human beings I couldn’t care, but they don’t.”
Guy in dorm: “‘Yuppers’ got autocorrected to ‘turpentine’!”
Guy in dorm: “Is this dubstep? Is this what Skrillex does? That’s a tragedy.”
ATTENTION CLUB MEMBERS! Would you like to have your club’s voice heard in The Chronicle? Contact Opinion Editor Regina Iannizzotto at iannizzottor407@strose.edu.
January 22nd, 2013
Volume 81 Issue 18
Sports
The Chronicle
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A Giants Season in Review
By SHAWN BERMAN Staff Writer
For the third time in the last five years, the New York Giants have yet again failed to make the playoffs. Instead of hoisting up the Vince Lombardi trophy like they did a year ago at this time, the Giants are at home trying to figure out how they let a division title slip right before their eyes. The Giants started out the first half of their season rather strong, like always, going 6-2. But as the trend seems to go, they then went 3-5 to mark another second half collapse, allowing a redhot Washington Redskins team to take their division title from them. Albeit, injuries plagued this time from the beginning of the year, but perhaps there is a bigger problem with this team as a whole. Maybe you have to look at the coaching staff. Starting in 2004 when Tom Coughlin was
hired as head coach, the Giants have finished the second half of their season at a collective 28- 42. Maybe Coughlin is a part of the problem, but he does have two Super Bowl rings with the Giants. Even though the Giants made the playoffs and won a super bowl last year at 9-7, that record just was not good enough for them this year. In all actuality, maybe it is even time for offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride to be let go. All season long, Gilbride has made questionable play calls and has failed to adjust to defensive coverage packages. This season, the Giants ranked 14th in the league with yards gained. It also just never really seemed that the offense clicked at all this year. Some players may have reached the end of their stay with the Giants as well, most noticeably, Corey Webster. Webster’s continuous struggles throughout the year made this 30 year-old
veteran look like a rookie. Even though he is not a lock-down defender, nobody would ever guess that he would allow a 62-completion percentage against him for 973 yards and eight touchdowns. Another cornerback who will most likely be let go is Terrell Thomas. Nobody in the league wants a corner who is coming off his third ACL injury. Mathias Kiwanuka will probably be let go as well. Of the Giants’ four major pass-rushers, Kiwanuka garnered up only three sacks, the fewest out of all the players. With his constant foot injuries and unwillingness to participate in practice, Ahmad Bradshaw may be looking for a new home as well. Bradshaw is under contract for the next two seasons, and although he is coming off a 1,000 rush-yard season, it may be time for the torch to be passed to David Wilson. Wilson proved that he can handle the spotlight,
and rushed for 358 yards and four touchdowns with 247 yards and three touchdowns coming in the last four games of his rookie season. Yes, the Giants do have a lot of room for improvement, but
as they have shown us countless times in the past, don’t hit the panic button quite just yet. This is a team that accepts adversity and will be back next year without a doubt.
Flyers twice, and the Toronto Maple Leafs once. Many believe the Flyers, Penguins, Bruins, along with the Rangers, are the top four teams in the Eastern conference. This means the beginning of the season will be crucial for the Rangers. If they fall behind in the standings, there are much fewer games to make up the gap. However, the NHL schedule makers were kind to the Rangers otherwise. According to Dirk Hoag from ontheforecheck.com, who analyzed the NHL schedule, the Rangers travel a total of 12,048 miles- second fewest in the league, and play just six backto-back game sets- fewest in the NHL. In a shortened, sprint to the finish season, this puts the Rangers in great shape because fatigue and jet lag will not be as much of a factor as other teams. In fact, they only leave the Eastern Time zone once all season when they play at Winnipeg. While that is in
their favor, the Rangers will still need to perform on the ice. In my opinion, the biggest storyline coming out of the lockout is the health of the team. Nobody suffered major injuries while playing overseas during the lockout, and that is something to be thankful for. The other major headline from the offseason is the acquisition of forward Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Rangers acquired him in a trade during the summer to bolster their offensive attack. The Rangers ranked eleventh in the NHL last season with 2.71 goals per game, and the acquisition of a proven scorer like Nash should only help in that category. During his years in Columbus, Nash scored at least 30 goals seven out of nine seasons, scoring 40 goals in two seasons. However, scoring goals on the Blue Jackets does not automatically mean scoring goals on the
Rangers. Chemistry and knowing how your teammates play is more important in hockey than in any other sport. Having only one week of training camp and 48 regular season games does not give Nash a lot of time to develop chemistry with his teammates. I am most looking forward to seeing how that chemistry develops, and how long it takes. Another interesting aspect of the Rangers I am looking forward to seeing is the development of the younger players. Carl Hagelin, Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, Ryan McDonough, and Michael Del Zotto are all under 24 years old, and are key to the Rangers’ success. We know what to expect from older players such as Brad Richards, Marc Staal, Marian Gaborik, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi, and Brian Boyle. However, along with the insertion of Nash, how the young players develop may determine the Rangers’ fate.
I have not forgotten about the most important man on the Rangers, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The defending Vezina trophy winner gives the Rangers a chance to win night in and night out, and as he goes, so does the team. The goaltender position in hockey is one of the few positions in sports where one player can single- handedly win a game, and the Rangers should be happy they have Lundqvist, as he is one of the best. In terms of my projection for the team, Rangers fans should expect nothing less than a top two seed in the conference, and a Stanley Cup birth. Obviously, injuries during the season can dismantle a team’s season. But, if the Rangers stay healthy, if Nash finds his niche, and if the young players continue to progress, the Rangers should be hoisting the Stanley Cup in June.
SHAWN BERMAN
David Wilson may see plenty more reps at running
Rangers Season Preview
By SAM MAXWELL Staff Writer As mid-October came and went, and the New York Rangers were not on my television, I told myself I was done. I was done with the greed of owners, the sideshow that is Gary Bettman, and with trying to understand why grown men were acting like children again. If and when a new CBA was adopted, I was boycotting the NHL until they proved to me why I shouldn’t. However, it turns out I was lying to myself. Hockey is back! Before we look at the Rangers’ personnel, lets look at the nuances of the Rangers’ schedule. The Rangers should know where they stand as a team fairly early in the season. Between Saturday, Jan. 19 and Thursday, Jan. 31s the Rangers play the Pittsburgh Penguins twice, the Boston Bruins twice, the Philadelphia
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Sports
The Chronicle
January 22nd, 2013
Volume 81 Issue 18
Golden Knights Snap Five-Game Skid By JOSHUA NATOLI Sports Editor
Fans nearly packed the Nolan Gymnasium this past Saturday afternoon to watch The College of Saint Rose Golden Knights take on the Falcons of Bentley College. The Golden Knights were looking to break a fivegame losing streak heading into the contest. When the final buzzer sounded., it was the Golden Knights who came out on top with a 74-67 victory in a game that had plenty of NE-10 Conference meaning. Three point field-goals began to fall early for the Golden Knights, dropping in four in the first few minutes of play. The Golden Knights also had to deal with the long-range ability of the Falcons who were able to conjure three three-pointers of their own in the opening minutes. After tightening up their defense and rebounding, the Golden Knights began a transition offensive attack against the Falcons. Straying away from perimeter shots, Saint Rose was able to get high-percentage looks which got
junior center Dominykas Milka going early. The Golden Knights tried hard to bury the Falcons in the first half but Bentley would not go away easily. After forcing turnovers and tough looks, Saint Rose would be met with stifling defense on the other end, causing missed shots. Both teams remained ice cold as the first half ended with the Golden Knights leading 37-32. Milka lead Saint Rose in scoring during the first half with twelve points. Senior guard Andre Pope was not far behind him with nine points, all from behind-the-arc. Rounding out the Golden Knights scoring front were junior guards Kareem Thomas and Dan Mundweiler with six points apiece. The Golden Knights seemed like a completely different team opening up the second half. Turnovers, second and even thirdchance points allowed the Falcons to make a comeback. Head coach Brian Bruery emphasized smart choices and getting defensive stops to his squad during timeouts, to which the Golden Knights listened well.
JOSHUA NATOLI
Coach Brian Beaury emphasized smart decisions late in the game.
JOSHUA NATOLI
Dan Mundweiler stepped up big for the Golden Knights with 17 points and a key loose ball recovery. Three-point field goals once again allowed Saint Rose to gain an advantage over Bentley late in the second half. Defensive stops and drives to the hoop on the offensive end kept the Golden Knights on top with two minutes left to play. As the game winded down, it seemed as though every time the Golden Knights could produce a field goal, the Falcons would take advantage of a defensive mishap and bring the game closer. After a diving recovery of a loose ball by Mundweiler forced a jump-ball in the Golden Knights’ favor, Pope capitalized off an inbounds play for an electrifying slam dunk to solidify the victory. The Golden Knights contributed plenty of scoring in this game. Milka finished ahead of all scorers with 21 points, Dan Mundweiler finished behind him
with 17 points; 15 of them from behind the arc. Andre Pope netted 14 points; 12 of them three-pointers, and Kareem Thomas finished with 10 points. Not only was the scoring impressive, but the efficiency of the offense was also on point. The Golden Knights finished with a field goal percentage of nearly 48 percent, a threepoint field percentage of 45 percent, and a free-throw percentage of 90. The Golden Knights also capitalized on key advantages over Bentley in both defensive and offensive rebounding, as well as turnovers. Head Coach Brian Beaury thought very highly of his players after the game; “I thought our guys were plugged in. I thought our guys responded to the things we asked them to do on the offensive end of the floor and the defensive end of the floor. We knew that if we were going to
have success today it was going to be down the stretch and it was going to be a matter of three or four plays which is really what this league is about.” Beaury also feels as though this game was a great building block for success in closing out the season strong; “There are no let-ups. There’s never a chance in this conference to build momentum. It’s one game at a time. It’s learning from the things that we can do better and building on things that we’re doing well.” Looking ahead, the Golden Knights’ next match-up will be another NE-10 contest against the Merrimack Warriors at the Nolan Gymnasium this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Reach Joshua Natoli at Natolij477@strose.edu • Twitter: @JustJoshinYa845