The Chronicle The weekly student newspaper of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York www.strosechronicle.com - @strosechronicle
October 22nd, 2013
Clash of the Cupcakes 2.0
Volume LXXXII Issue 10
KELLY PFEISTER
Student bakers competed on Thursday night to see who was the sweetest of them all.
National Day on Writing Adult Spelling Bee Draws Young At Heart Connects Internationally By LAUREN HALLIGAN News Editor This year’s National Day on Writing was all about connecting. Writing in different cultures was Thursday’s theme as Saint
Rose celebrated the many forms of writing that brings people together. Established by the National Council of Teachers of English, National Day on Writing is an of-
News & Features
Continued on Page A4
By ZACHARY OLSAVICKY Opinion Editor
Spelling bees typically bring to mind the image of a young person, standing in a school auditorium speaking into a microphone. But while youngsters weren’t allowed to participate in last week’s
Arts & Opinion
Adult Spelling Bee at the Pine Hills Library, those participating certainly put their inner children on display. In a timed elimination round, spelling team The Sesquipedalians reigned victorious with a 22-second reverse spelling of “oscillating.” Nine groups par-
ticipated, and Jim Davies, who co-hosted the event along with Leah Lafera, was pleased with the event’s turnout. “It’s a comfortable number for the room,” said Davies, who works as a librarian at the Pine Continued on Page A5
Sports
Rigoberto González speaks at Saint Rose. See page A2
Fall Sitcoms 2013. See pages B9
Top 10 Players to Win This Year’s Heisman. See page D14
Girls for God “Guy Panel.” See page A6
No Excuse for Body Shaming. See page C13
Golden Knights Hall of Fame Induction 2013. See page D16
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The Chronicle
News
October 22nd, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 10
Rigoberto González Speaks at Saint Rose By MARIA GESEK Contributing Writer A well-known Chicano author who has published children’s books, poetry, and novels visited The College of Saint Rose on Thursday. Rigoberto González came to help promote National Day on Writing. He also spoke to help acknowledge the importance, his experiences, and his wisdom of writing. González is a writer who has published many bilingual books and novels. His visit helped to enforce the theme of “Writing Around the World” this year and to celebrate The College’s focus on internationalism. His first language is Spanish but after moving to the U.S. at the age of 10 he learned English. González said, “I write in English but I think in Spanish,” which proves how perfect he was to help The College celebrate the diversity of writing. González found an importance to write in both Spanish and English, because each language is unique and interpreted in different ways. González said his knowledge of two languages has enabled him to be able to understand the different meanings of language and writing in both English and Spanish. He has come to find that most of Spanish literature is not translated to its true meaning when put into English. He finds that even if the words are right, the meaning does not come through the same. González believes that the visions of Span-
Nester also said it was important to have González because he was a good fit for this year’s international theme. Rigoberto González is a good example of the importance of spreading internationalism. He achieves this through his writing and his speaking to students as he did at Saint Rose. This event puts into perspec-
KELLY PFEISTER
“Rigoberto’s career [is] interesting to [me] because he is more than just a poet.” Daniel Nester
nized the speaker series, said that he wanted to have González come to The College of Saint Rose for a long time. He admires the genres of his work and personality. He said he finds “Rigoberto’s career [is] interesting to [me] because he is more than just a poet.”
tive the importance of writing to students and everyone, along with the significance of internationalism in writing. Nester explained that the National Day on Writing is one day that people can appreciate something that tends to go unnoticed and realize that, “writing is in everything we do.”
Many different languages were represented at this year’s celebration of the National Day on Writing. ish speakers are usually lost when put into the English language. Just like González, writing is one of the best ways for other’s to connect thoughts. Each person has a different way of thinking about and interpreting writing. Jenna Herbert, a senior at Saint Rose, took part in organizing the event. She has read and enjoyed González’s poetry and one of his books. Herbert was excited for the event and listening to González speak. She realizes how important writing is and said, “Writing is such a big part of everyday life and we use it all the time.” Frequency North works to
have well-known writers, artists, and poets like González come to Saint Rose. They encourage students on campus to get involved with the National Day on Writing and attend events such as this one. Daniel Nester, an associate professor at Saint Rose who orga-
KELLY PFEISTER
Books from around the world helped celebrate the National Day on Writing and its international theme.
October 22nd, 2013
News
Volume 82 Issue 10
In Brief
Lark Street Crash Yields Three Arrests After a vehicle crash on Lark Street last Monday afternoon, three men have been arrested. Lieutenant Michael Barone observed a red sedan traveling east on Madison Avenue at a high speed. The vehicle then turned on to Lark Street, then Chestnut Street. As the officer prepared to make a traffic stop, he learned that the vehicle had lost control and crashed into a building. The three occupants of the ve-
hicle exited the car and fled the scene on foot. The three men, identified as Deion Austin, 21, Kenyatta Ingram, 24,and Darius Bonano, 25, were apprehended by responding officers near the scene. Austin was found to be in possession of a gravity knife and charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Obstruction of Governmental Administration. Ingram was found to be in possession
of a small bag of marijuana and charged with Unlawful Possession. Bonano, of Albany, was in possession of two bags (66 grams) of marijuana and charged with Criminal Possession. Austin sustained a fractured arm during the crash and was treated at the scene by medical personnel and brought to Albany Medical Center for further evaluation.
Shooting on Morton Avenue
After a shooting on Morton Avenue at approximately 10:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, officers responded to find a 24-year-old male victim from Albany, who
sustained a single gunshot wound to his upper leg. He was treated at the scene by medical personnel and brought to Albany Medical Center Hospital. Injuries were
non-life threatening injuries. The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Albany Police Detective Division at 462-8039.
International Human Rights Program The College will host a panel discussion entitled Promoting Human Rights Internationally: How It’s Done on how individuals in the Peace Corps, nongovernmental organizations and at the U.S. Department of State work to promote human rights worldwide. The event will be held at 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23 in the Carondelet Symposium of Thelma P. Lally School of Education. Admission is free and open to the public.
The Chronicle
Executive Editor Jackson Wang ‘14 wangj847@strose.edu
On the panel are Stephen Eisenbraun, editor-in-chief of the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices; Josh Machleder, Internews vice president for Europe and Eurasia Programs and the Global Human Rights project; Dr. Michael Brannigan, the George and Jane Pfaff endowed chair in Ethics and Moral Values at Saint Rose; and Colleen Flynn Thapalia, director of international recruitment and admissions at Saint Rose, who has served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Burun-
Features Editor Conor Shea ‘15 sheac613@strose.edu
di and United Nations volunteer in Nepal. Psychology professor Dr. Kathleen Crowley will moderate the discussion. She recently was involved in a two year American Association for the Advancement of Science fellowship at the State Department and has served as a foreign affairs officer for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, where she worked on promoting human rights in South and Central Asia.
Business Manager Shawn Dixon dixons@strose.edu
Managing Editor Opinion Editor Chris Surprenant ‘14 Zachary Olsavicky surprenantc572@strose.edu olsavickyz977@strose.edu
Advertising Manager Shawn Dixon dixons@strose.edu
News Editor Lauren Halligan halliganl567@strose.edu
Arts Editor Rachel Bolton ‘15 boltonr413@strose.edu
Web Editor Christopher Lovell ‘15 lovellc083@strose.edu
Layout Editor / Videographer John Janitz ‘14 janitzj140@strose.edu
Sports Editor Joshua Natoli ‘14 natolij477@strose.edu
Head Photographer Kelly Pfeister ‘14 pfeisterk953@strose.edu
Assistant Layout Editor Jennifer O’Connor ‘16 oconnorj984@strose.edu
Copy Editor Jenessa Matis ‘14 matisj311@strose.edu
Faculty Adviser Cailin Brown
Staff Writers Tori Addison Katherine Bakaitis Blaise Bryant Asia Ewart Andy Gilchrist Tariq Kendall Katie Klimacek Kevin Jacob Lauren Klose Vanessa Langdon Alex Pecha Lauren Sears Michael Smith M. William Smith Staff Photographer Anthony Chapin
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Calendar of Events
Tuesday, October 22nd 11 a.m. The Legal Project Career Center 4 p.m. MAPS ALB 109 6 p.m. Men’s Soccer vs. American International Plumeri Sports Complex 7 p.m. Women’s Volleyball vs. New Haven Nolan Gymnasium 7 p.m. G4G (Girls For God) Sanctuary 7 p.m. Spectrum St. Joseph’s Hall 8 p.m. Outside the [Box] Albertus 216 8 p.m. Yoga Sanctuary Wednesday, October 23rd 11 a.m. NYS Senate Democratic Conference Career Center 2:40 p.m. Natural Science Association Science Center Room 352 2:45 p.m. Promoting Human Rights Internationally Carondelet Symposium 4:30 p.m. Student Association Meeting Standish 5 p.m. Mid-Week Mass Sanctuary 7:30 p.m. BASIC Sanctuary 8 p.m. Colleges Against Cancer Meeting Albertus Room 210 10 p.m. Karate Club Practice EAC Room 110 Thursday, October 24th 11 a.m. Capital District Community Gardens Career Center 4:15 p.m. Adventure Club Lima Basement 5:30 p.m. SEB Meeting St. Joseph’s Hall 7:30 p.m. Identity Main Lounge Friday, October 25th 9:30 a.m. Tools for Reducing Stress in Your Work and Daily Life EAC Saturday, October 26th 1 p.m. Women’s Soccer vs. Stonehill Plumeri Sports Complex 7:30 p.m. Saint Rose Camrata Instramental Chamber Massry Sunday, October 27th 6:30 p.m. College Mass St. Vincent de Paul Church 7:30 p.m. An Evening with Chris Thile Massry Monday, October 28th 12 p.m. CREST Colloquium with Dr. Ryane Straus Standish 3 p.m. Environmental Club Meeting Community Service Office 5:15 p.m. Yoga Sanctuary 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 New England Newspapers in Pittsfield, M.A.
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News National Day on Writing
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The Chronicle
KELLY PFEISTER
Several activities took place in the Main Lounge to celebrate the art of writing and all its aspects. Continued From Page A1 ficially recognized national day to show and appreciate writing of all sorts. In addition to the day’s message of connecting internationally, National Day on Writing is meant to serve as a reminder to students that there is a world of writing beyond academia, event director and Writing Center Coordinator Kristina Dufel said.
“Writing isn’t just writing essays, it’s writing to express yourself.” Kristina Dufel “Writing isn’t just writing essays, it’s writing to express yourself,” said Dufel. In a technology-ridden day and age, Dufel wanted to remind
students that, while they may not realize it, tweeting is writing too. The holiday’s official hashtag was #write2connect, which was tweeted nationally throughout the day. At Saint Rose, different activities in the main lounge included word searches, crosswords, word box creations (grab handful of random words from a box and rearrange to make sentence), a challenge to write a six word memoir on a post-it note, and a graffiti wall at the bottom of the dining hall stairs. All the activities were designed to incorporate languages other than English, to honor the day’s theme. All daytime events were sponsored by The College’s Writing Center in conjunction with the Writing Across Curriculum Committee. Dufel said that of the day’s activities, “The graffiti has been a really big hit.” This was Dufel’s first year in charge of Saint Rose’s National Day on Writing activities. Event volunteer Dana Iannizotto said that the graffiti wall is a medium “for people to express
themselves with whatever kind of message they want to send.” To go along with the multilingual writing theme, by the end of the day the graffiti wall had writing in English, Spanish, and
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Volume 82 Issue 10
French, as well as drawings and even a mathematic equation. Notable phrases students wrote on the wall included “All you need is love,” “Discover your flaws and then embrace them,” and “If pro is the opposite of con, what is the opposite of progress?” An array of children’s bilingual books was displayed in the lounge to exemplify the connection between writers of all languages, with the message that “Picture books have global appeal.” Among these was internationally acclaimed poet and writer Rigoberto González’s bilingual book, Antonio’s Card/La Tarjeta de Antonio. Saint Rose was proud to welcome González as this year’s National Day on Writing special guest. González was invited to read and present his bilingual works by The College’s writing group, Frequency North. González is a poet and Chicano/Latino activist writer who presented Thursday evening in the EAC as part of the club’s visiting writer series. Frequency North is celebrating its ninth season, complete with a fully scheduled series of events, which can be found at www.frequencynorth.com. González has authored three books of poetry, two bilingual
children’s books, young adult novels in The Mariposa Club series, and the novel Crossing Vines (2003), as well as non-fiction work and a Latino book column for the El Paso Times. He is on the advisory circle of Con Tinta, a collective of Chicano/Latino activist writers. During a late afternoon talk with González, he shared words of wisdom on his writing process and advice to aspiring writers. “If you want to be a writer, you have to learn to love revisions,” he said. He also encouraged students to infuse themselves into their writing by using first person narration. His later presentation included a reading from his books of poetry, including his most recent works. The author shared powerful readings about his relationship with his father, who passed away in 2006. Copies of González’s latest work were available for purchase and signing at the free and public event. Although held on a college campus, National Day on Writing is designed to encompass all forms of expressive writing. In the midst of the day’s many events, “We’re celebrating writing, not just academic writing,” Dufel said.
KELLY PFEISTER
A graffiti wall was set up to allow students to write anything they wanted in celebration of the National Day on Writing
October 22nd, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 10
News
Adult Spelling Bee Continued From Page A1
Hills Library. “It’s enough where there’s a number of teams to compete… it’s the perfect number for turnout.” The event didn’t follow the norms of a traditional spelling bee, but cast itself in the mold of a team trivia night. Participants play in groups of three to five, and the bee featured five rounds of play. Although spelling bees are typically oriented toward younger players, the Bee hosted at the library was open only to adults 18 years of age and older. “We wanted to make it for adults because this typically occurs in schools and we wanted to cater towards college kids and young adults who might still enjoy that kind of fun but are used to the trivia nights in the area that are only for adults,” said Davies. The team trivia nights were a major source of inspiration for Davies and Lafera, who both en-
joy going to local trivia events with friends and co-workers. “I am a bit of a trivia enthusiast so we worked in more of a trivia style team competition,” said
“Every crazy idea for a spelling or word game we could come up with we wrote out.” Leah Lafera Lafera, who is library director at the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library. “Every crazy idea for a spelling or word game we could come up with we wrote out. “
Davies thought the event might be “too boring,” he said. So, “we tried to transform it into something more social and fun.” Groups began with a list of frequently misspelled words, having to find and fix misspelled words while leaving correctly spelled words alone. The next round saw teams try to construct the longest word from a selection of 14 letters. After that, groups were given a list of newer words and phrases, tasked with figuring out whether or not they were in the Oxford English Dictionary. The fourth round was described as a “Hot Potato” round, where teams combined to spell longer words, each team contributing one word at a time. Finally, teams sent up one representative to participate in a traditional spelling bee. The event originally had 10 rounds, according to Lafera, but she and Davies shrunk the number of games to shorten the event. Davies mentioned that the words chosen for competition were
ZACHARY OLSAVICKY
Members of The Spell Chequers watch the Adult Spelling Bee.
The Chronicle common, but often misspelled, in order to avoid confusion. Lafera and Davies met in 2005 when they both worked as library clerks. They both studied at the State University of New York at Albany’s library sciences program, and Lafera took a job at the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library while Davies began work as a librarian with the Albany Public Library. Both remained good friends, and began brainstorming the idea of the Bee over the summer.
“Logistics of an event like this are usually the most time consuming.” Leah Lafera Davies described the event as “difficult” to organize, saying that he and Lafera met on three consecutive weekends to revise rules and decide which games would be part of the event. “(Lafera) and I tested it Friday night and it went over quite well,” said Davies, “but there (were) some things we needed to emphasize more than others and rules we had to implement, so it’s
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taken a lot of work to get there.” Davies explained that the Pine Hills branch was chosen to host the event in part due to the large student and faculty population in the neighborhood. “Logistics of an event like this are usually the most time consuming,” explained Lafera, who organized a variety of events at the library and museum in Canajoharie. “How do we make something educational, interactive, fun, and memorable?” For participants, a joy was taken in the event’s old-fashioned feel in a world of autocorrect. Sarah Hicks, who attended the Bee with a group of friends, enjoyed the challenge of spelling without the aid of correcting software. “We’re young, we’re in our twenties, we remember a little bit before the computer was out and everything you typed had a zig-zag underneath it… So, you know, I definitely believe that kids are a little spoiled nowadays with that… It’s so ridiculous to me.” That nostalgic feeling was one of the main draws for Lafera. “As we get older, we often lose that wonderment we had in our youth. Wouldn’t you welcome the chance to capture a little of that magic again?” Reach Zachary Olsavicky at olsavickyz977@strose.edu
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The Chronicle
Girls 4 God “Guy Panel”: Not What You Might Expect
BY CONOR SHEA Features Editor When first hearing a name like “Girls 4 God,” what exactly do you imagine a group with such a title does during their meetings? Reading passages from scripture, confessing of sins, or insistence on further religious involvement? Not necessarily it would seem, for as it can be in so many aspects of life, expectations are far from the reality. This past Tuesday, Oct. 15 Girls 4 God (G4G) held their second “Guy Panel,” a meeting devoted entirely to opening an AMA (ask me anything) style dialogue between Saint Rose men and women. G4G, while not an official club at The College of Saint Rose, prides itself on being a close community and resource for any sort of support regardless of spiritual or religious association. The community was founded in 2011 by Tinamarie Stolz, and since then has grown popular on campus through their online presence at g4gyourebeautiful. blogspot.com. The panel was comprised of four male Saint Rose students (although nine were contacted to participate), selected based upon their ability to give candid answers to some difficult and potentially embarrassing questions. The topics discussed ran the gamut from preference of body type in women, to asking what their most memorable experience in college had been so far. All answers were prefaced with the reminder that answers given from those on the panel should only be taken as an individual opinion, not as a statement representative of the entire male gender. Surprisingly the topics of religion, faith, and spirituality were hardly addressed. When they were, it was typically done so indirectly through the answers of those participating in the panel (thus without being prompted). The panel seemed to have the effect of encouraging transparency between men and women, and in
the process many misconceptions and areas of confusion for both sexes had surfaced. “We consider ourselves spiritual, not Christian or Roman Catholic. Most importantly we try to encourage girls to love themselves and each other,” said a head member of the leadership team, Ashley Sweet, on the topic of group diversity and activity. While some of the questions were undoubtedly serious in nature, others were more lighthearted. Take for example one anonymous attendee who really wanted to know whether the guys “prefer Megan Fox or Scarlett Johansson” (This received an almost unanimous response favoring Johansson). After the questions aimed at the representatives on the panel were exhausted, the men were allowed a period of reflection to draft and write down any questions of their own. For the most part, these seemed to be the mirror image of some of those asked by the girls. For instance, “What annoys you most about guys?” was one of the first questions asked. One response that seemed to be endorsed by all the girls was when a man “Immediately thinks he’s ‘friendzoned.” “It was very unique,” said Saint Rose junior Cameron Miller, a member of the panel. “While some topics touched upon aspects of religion, the questions largely focused on general topics that I think many girls must wonder. I think it was a very productive panel, and everyone got a lot out of it.” If anyone is interested in the next “guy panel,” there are plans for one to be held sometime next semester, so contact Ashley Sweet or Tinamarie Stolz for more information. For those students interested in attending regular meetings, they are held on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the basement of the Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary. These sessions tend to run about an hour to an hour-and -a-half, and attendance fluctuates between 20 and 25 members.
News
October 22nd, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 10
The “Sweet” Smell of Success
By CHRIS CRUCETTI Contributing Writer
A job at Rite Aid earns Ashley Sweet $9 an hour, helping her pursue her plan to work as a market researcher in the food and beverage industry. Sweet's work ethic at Rite Aid and in the classroom help her excel. Sweet hopes her educational and employment background can help her attain her aspirations. At work, Sweet is responsible for preparing the prescriptions for customers. She counts pills, checks dosage amounts, gives patients instructions, and puts the slip on the pill bottle. She explains to customers the instructions for their medicine. Sometimes she has a hard time, as most customers are elderly or ill. Sweet, a junior at The College of Saint Rose, is a communications major with a public relations and advertising concentration and a minor in business administration. Sweet works at Rite Aid as a pharmacy assistant to help pay for college. “She was fast in learning what needed to be done and also completes them in a fast but efficient manner,” said Janelle Bashaw, one of the pharmacists at Rite Aid. Bashaw said working with Sweet is always a pleasure. “We try to keep the energy positive in the pharmacy and she contributes to that,” said Bashaw. She also credited Sweet’s ability to learn tasks very quickly, as many are very detailed and complex. She works about 20 hours a week while learning about public relations and advertising techniques in the classroom. Sweet would love to do research in the food and beverage industry because “it is constantly changing. I wouldn’t want to do it for something like cars because they are too similar,” said Sweet. She hopes to learn the keys to advertising and how to market a product effectively. Sweet was born on Apr. 3, 1993 in Troy. She currently lives in Raymertown with her family. Sweet attended elementary
CHRIS CRUCETTI
Junior Ashley Sweet is pursuing a degree in Communications. school at St. Jude the Apostle School in Wynantskill, and then went to Tamarac High School, where she graduated in 2011. Sweet chose Saint Rose because she had a family friend who attended Saint Rose. She saw the interesting assignments he was tasked with. Sweet would watch him complete his work and realized all of the great things Saint Rose had to offer. Saint Rose was the only school Sweet applied to. She was accepted and has never looked back. On campus, Sweet is a co-supervisor in Girls for God (G4G), an organization created for girls to gain more self-confidence. Sweet develops workshops and activities for the group on a weekly basis. She enjoys the work because she feels she is really making a difference. “It’s very rewarding to create a place for girls on campus to come and feel comfortable and be able to be themselves in a judgment-free zone,” Sweet said. The other G4G supervisor,
who created the group, Tinamarie Stolz, said “Working side by side with Ashley is truly like working with my sister in Christ.” Stolz is thrilled to have Sweet as a co-supervisor, who will run the program when Stolz graduates. Sweet’s personality and work ethic give Stolz the confidence the group will succeed when she is no longer at Saint Rose. Sweet’s activities both on campus and in the workplace make her stand out in the crowd. In fact, Sweet recently had a research paper accepted and she will be presenting it at the National Communications Conference in Nov. in Washington, D.C. Her peers and colleagues enjoy spending time with her because of the warm energy she gives off. Sweet is a good student, worker, supervisor, and friend. She makes an impression on those around her. “She is a great employee and I am very lucky to have her working for me,” said Bashaw.
News A7 Senses Fail: Redefined and Returning to Upstate Concert Hall
October 22nd, 2013
By Lauren Halligan News Editor Smack dab in the middle of Senses Fail’s national fall tour, Clifton Park is the next stop on their journey. Along for the ride are Before the Fallen Dreams, Expire, and Being As An Ocean. Frontman Buddy Neilsen and his band have been at this for a while now (11 years to be exact), but show no sign of stopping. In March of this year, Senses Fail released their fifth full-length CD, Renacer, which has a much different tone than the band’s usual angsty, emo sound. Neilsen said he’s always had the desire to drop the pop-driven aspect of their music and explore a heavier genre. Translated from Spanish, Renacer means “to be reborn,” which the band undoubtedly achieved with this full-length album. Neilsen hopes that fans will embrace the change and be a part of Senses Fail’s bold new chapter. “I think we went in a completely different direction than most of our other records,” he said. “It’s a lot heavier. It’s a lot darker, but
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the lyrics are way more positive.” In regards to the songwriting on Renacer, which has redefined the band, Neilsen said that he was actually more involved than he’d ever been before, along with other band members and friends. He described the process as a collective effort.
“While Renacer came as a surprise to everyone, the heavier progression was not entirely illogical, as the band’s sound has been steadily maturing since their Depths days.” Since the band’s inception in 2002 (the same year of their debut EP from the Depths of Dreams), Senses Fail has since added five full-length studio albums, and a
COURTESY OF SENSES FAIL
The album cover for Renacer, the newest release from Senses Fail. The band will be performing at Upstate Concert Hall on Oct. 24th.
greatest hits compilation entitled Follow Your Bliss: The Best Of Senses Fail to their discography. Next year will mark the ten year anniversary of 2004 fan favorite release, Let It Enfold You. While Renacer came as a surprise to everyone, the heavier progression was not entirely illogical, as the band’s sound has been steadily maturing since their Depths days. However, the unpredictability of Renacer, complete with incorporation of the Spanish language and fan-focused lyrics rather than the self-loathing, but relatable tunes Neilsen usually sings, proved that Senses Fail has no boundaries. Senses Fail’s new lyrics not only connect with listeners, but engage them in the meanings of the songs. As far as plans beyond this tour, which ends in November, Neilsen said the band doesn’t have any. However, Senses Fail have been at this for more than a decade, and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon, Neilsen assured fans. Neilsen said it’s the travel aspect of touring with his band that keeps him going, personally. “It’s fun to be able to just go off and do something exciting like that every couple months or so.” The New Jersey native now lives in Los Angeles, but doesn’t want to feel stuck there. “I don’t want to be sedentary yet,” he said. “There’s a lot of excitement in the travel and I still like playing music.” A lifelong traveler, Neilsen said that he’s familiar with the upstate area, from his vacations to Lake George, and stays at Schroon Lake. Though it’s been approximately five years since Senses Fail played a show in the Albany area, Neilsen said they’re glad to be coming back. With a similar enamor for the California-based Being As An Ocean’s guitarist Tyler Ross said "We've never felt more love than
Jonathan Weiner
Members of Senses Fail from left to right: Buddy Neilsen, Zach Roach, Dan Trapp, and Matt Smith. when we're in New York." Senses Fail have never played with any of the other bands on the bill before that start of this tour in early October. Confident in the fall’s lineup, Neilsen encourages fans to come check out the supporting acts. Senses Fail will be playing a variety of different songs on the tour, Neilsen added, promising some older songs that they haven’t played live in a long time. “It should be fun,” he said, just before they embarked on tour, adding that shows are always en-
ergetic and a positive experience. Senses Fail will be performing with special guests Before the Fallen Dreams, Expire and Being As An Ocean at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park. Tickets are $13.50 in advance at the venue’s box office, Northern Lights Smoke Shop on Fuller Road, or any Ticketmaster locations, or $17 at the doors. For more information on Senses Fail, visit www.sensesfail.com or www.stepuppresents.com.
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News
October 22nd, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 10
Clash of the Cupcakes 2.0 Photos by Kelly Pfeister
The cupcakes created ranged in flavors from classic vanilla, to a flavor inspired by Starbucks. The bakers mixed, whipped, and made sure the icing on their cupcakes was just right.
The teams of two created their cupcakes entirely from scratch, from batter to finish.
Some bakers decided to add a sweet suprise to their confections.
October 22nd, 2013
By ANDY GILCHRIST Staff Writer
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while trying to keep each other out of trouble. Dads Stars: Giovanni Ribisi, Seth Green, Peter Riegert, Martin Mull Airs: Tuesdays at 8:00 on Fox Grade: C
Back in the Game Stars: Maggie Lawson, James Caan, Griffin Gluck, Lenora Crichlow Airs: Wednesdays at 8:30 on ABC Grade: B+
From the creators of Family Guy and Ted, this show focuses on Warner and Eli, the owners and managers of an on-the-rise video game company. But their lives are thrown into chaos when each of their fathers moves in with them.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine Stars: Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Melissa Fumero, Terry Crews Airs: Tuesdays at 8:30 on Fox Grade: B+ From the producers of Parks and Recreation, this series follows a laid-back team of detectives thrown for a loop when the ultra-serious Captain Ray Holt is brought in. Holt clashes with Jake Peralta, the precinct’s best, and laziest, detective, while trying to keep the streets of Brooklyn safe.
The Chronicle
Fall Sitcoms: 2013
After reviewing many of the season’s newest drama series over the past weeks, The Chronicle looks at several of the fall’s newest TV sitcoms:
After a nasty divorce, Terry and her son must move back in with her father. When her son fails to make any roster in his local Little League, Terry, a college softball star, steps up to coach him and a team of misfits.
Arts
The Goldbergs Stars: Jeff Garlin, Wendi McLendon-Covey, George Segal Airs: Tuesdays at 9:00 on ABC Grade: B Return to the 1980s with the Goldbergs, an average American middle-class family just trying to get through the day. With neurotic parents, teenage children, and a grandfather whose mind is going, the family tries their best to stay together without killing each other. The Michael J. Fox Show Stars: Michael J. Fox, Betsy Brandt, Wendell Pierce Airs: Thursdays at 9:30 on NBC Grade: B
The Crazy Ones Stars: Robin Williams, Sarah Michelle Gellar, James Wolk, Hamish Linklater Airs: Thursdays at 9:00 on CBS Grade: B-
Mike Henry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease five years ago and left his job to become a stay-at-home dad. Having finally grown restless of home life, Mike decides to return to work as a news anchor at a New York City TV station.
From the creator of Ally McBeal, this show follows Simon Roberts, the very eccentric head of an advertising firm, who works alongside his conversely serious daughter, Sydney. Along with a group of equally crazy and diverse characters, they handle multi-million dollar accounts
The Millers Stars: Will Arnett, Jayma Mays, Margo Martindale, Beau Bridges Airs: Thursdays at 8:30 on CBS Grade: B From the creator of Raising Hope, Nathan’s parents find out
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that he has gotten divorced and decide to divorce themselves after 43 years of unhappy marriage. Nathan and his sister must now deal with their newly single parents while also dealing with their own lives and struggles. Mom Stars: Anna Faris, Allison Janney, Nate Corddry, French Stewart Airs: Mondays at 9:30 on CBS Grade: AFrom the creator of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory, Christy is a newly sober single mother of two working as a waitress when her out-of-control mother walks back into her life. The family works together to deal with real-world issues like addiction, relationships, money, and teen pregnancy. Sean Saves the World Stars: Sean Hayes, Thomas Lennon, Samantha Isler, Megan Hilty Airs: Thursdays at 9:00 on NBC Grade: B Sean is a gay man raising his daughter as a single father after his ex-wife leaves town due to her job. But his serious and demanding new boss causes Sean to be pulled in too many different directions as he struggles to balance his family and work lives. Super Fun Night Stars: Rebel Wilson, Airs: Wednesdays at 9:30 on ABC Grade: BPitch Perfect standout Rebel Wilson stars as Kimmie in this series about three lifelong friends who have set aside Friday nights as their weekly “Super Fun Night” for years. But when Kimmie gets a promotion at work, she struggles to balance the relationships between her friends and her work.
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Robin Williams returns to television with The Crazy Ones. Trophy Wife Stars: Malin Akerman, Bradley Whitford, Marcia Gay Harden, Michaela Watkins Airs: Tuesdays at 9:30 on ABC Grade: B From the producers of The Office, this show follows a young woman who meets the love of her life one night at a karaoke bar. But when she finds out that she must deal with her new husband’s two ex-wives and three children, she realizes that her life has just gotten way more complicated. We Are Men Stars: Chris Smith, Jerry O’Connell, Tony Shalhoub, Kal Penn Airs: ALREADY CANCELED!!! Grade: N/A
When Carter is left at the altar by his fiancé, he moves into an apartment building while trying to put his life back together. There he meets three divorcees who help him pick up the pieces, embrace bachelorhood, and move on to the next stage of his life. Welcome to the Family Stars: Mike O’Malley, Mary McCormack, Ricardo Chivera, Justina Machado Airs: ALREADY CANCELED!!! Grade: N/A The Yoder and Hernandez families watch as their children graduate from high school and prepare to move on to college. But they’re forced to deal with each other when their kids get married due to an unplanned pregnancy.
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The Chronicle
Carrie (2013) By ASIA EWART Staff Writer
I was extremely skeptical about the success a Carrie remake would garner when I first heard about it late last year. It’s not always a good idea to tamper with classic movies, especially ones that help launched the careers of Sissy Spacek and John Travolta and featured some very iconic scenes and lines in popular culture, i.e. “They’re all going to laugh at you!” Nevertheless, being a Stephen King fan, of course I was going to see updated Carrie. I love both Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore, and if I was upset with the way any scenes were handled, I could always chuck popcorn at the screen. Moretz (Kick Ass, Kick Ass 2) plays the titular Carrie White, a constant target of bullying and harassment at her high school. Her mother, Margaret, played by Julianne Moore (Children of Men, Crazy Stupid Love), is a religious fanatic who regularly locks Carrie in a closet to pray and mutters Bible quotes about “Godless times.” Carrie wants nothing more than to be normal and liked by her peers, but popular Chris Hargensen (Portia Doubleday) and Sue Snell (Gabriella Wilde) aren’t having that, videotaping their bullying of her and turning the school against her. During a routine struggle to the prayer closet, after Margaret reprimands her daughter for getting her period in the school locker room, Carrie’s anger unleashes a wave of telepathic power. While this terrifies the girl, she is stunned by her ability. She begins to practice, taking out library books and moving objects in her room with her mind. Margaret sees this as the devil’s work and turns to constant prayer, mocking her daughter, and even self-harms.
Sue begins to feel guilt over her actions towards Carrie and looks to befriend her. Her kindness carries on throughout the movie and aids Carrie when she needs it the most. The movie escalates to a new type of horror unseen in the 1976 film. Carrie’s power begins to vastly increase, resulting in the classic prom scene that viewers familiar with Carrie’s story have come to know well over the last 30 years. While I was skeptical about the movie, I never doubted that it would stay true to the original film, or even the 1974 novel. Moretz did a beautiful job as Carrie, from the frumpy clothes and hunched appearance to the rage she unleashes when she loses control of her powers. I did have trouble, however, really believing her as an outcast at times. Moretz is a very pretty girl, and sometimes couldn’t pull off the bewildered looks and anger Sissy Spacek made perfect. Her Carrie was also a lot more assertive, many times not taking her mother’s abuse and standing up for herself. Moore stole the show just as much as Moretz did; I loved her performance. Her religious insanity was very much made clear through her slow, quiet speech, disheveled hair, and terrifying actions; I was honestly blown away! The special effects were very believable this time around; some moments were a bit cheesy and gory, but not enough to turn me off from the movie. Doubleday surprisingly stood out as antagonist Chris Hargenson; I wasn’t familiar with her work before Carrie, but her role as the classic mean girl was convincingly played and strongly carried out until the very end. Carrie came just in time for the Halloween season and serves as a great thriller for those seeking it. I highly recommend any and every one go see it!
Arts
October 22nd, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 10
hospital white. The tables were decorated with a bounty of candies and sweets, cruelly imprisoned beneath a half-inch of plate glass tabletop. The chairs were a fifty-fifty split between moderately comfortable and plasticine abominations whose blueprints could only have been pulled from an anthology of medieval torture devices. However, as something of a traditionalist when it comes to interior design, I forced my way through the strange, alien geometries surrounding me and walked to the counter. All of my gripes were quickly silenced by Crisan’s selection of pastries. Simply looking through the counter’s glass face reveals the quintessence of confectionery delight, a sight that is without compare in all of Albany – perhaps all of the three cities. I would describe their fare if I could, but their menu changes on a daily basis. To try and do so would be like trying to roll a ten ton boulder up Central Avenue – not only impossible, but laughable. Of what little I have sampled during my now numerous trips there, I will say this: the taste of these small pastries is simply unparalleled. And yes, for you crunchy granola hippies out there, they do have gluten-free, dairy free, and even vegan options. A word to the wise, however; do not go in a rush, as you would at a Subway or any other kind of small restaurant.
Everything Crisan does is on a micro-sized scale, from the portions to the plates to the tiny, tiny silverware. If you try to eat something in here while you’re hurrying, I will have to suggest you eat at McDonald’s for the rest of eternity. Because eating at Crisan is not simply eating a cake. It’s an experience. To maul the cake and dash is almost sacrilegious. At the very least, it fails to do justice to the delicate flavor of Crisan’s products. Their cakes are not just cakes – they’re works of art. You eat a cake here almost surgically, slicing it apart piece by piece, savoring it to the last bite. It’s a labor of love, almost meditative in nature, like praying or painting (or hell, even writing a food column). It’s a reminder – to tell us all to slow down every once in a while; to enjoy the little things. It reminds us to take a break and be on your own for a little while, in a quiet, peaceful place insulated from the push-andshove of the world beyond that glass door. A world that, while still visible, is a separate one, even for a short time. It’s a reminder that, I think, we all need every once in a while. I hope you enjoyed this column. And I hope, after reading it, you decide to take a few moments of your life, step back, and enjoy a slice of Crisan’s cake. Until next time, dearest Reader, take care and enjoy.
High Octane People Fuel: Crisan Edition By ZACHARY WILLIAMS Staff Writer Dearest Reader, I am not what you’d call a “haute cuisine” person. My taste in food could best be described as old-fashioned. I like simple food with good flavor, served in large portions at a fair price. Anything with a name more than three words long and written in a language I have difficulty pronouncing, which is typically served on a plate smaller than my head – that generally gets passed up in favor of a cheeseburger and some fries. It is surprising, then, that someone managed to rope me into going to Crisan, an upscale Lark Street bakery that’s been causing something of a stir on the culinary circuit for the last few years. Now, baked goods in general aren’t something I’ve ever considered myself an expert on. I am a food person, and desserts are a whole different beast for me. As loathed as I am to admit this to you, dearest Reader, cakes and pastries do not make a full meal. And my first impression was that the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey had been rebuilt in a bakery in downtown Albany. The interior is mostly bare, barring the wood-vinyl floors and the art deco-type dressings on the walls (also, the massive tree stump that serves as a side table for coffee creamer, sugar, et cetera). The walls and ceiling are angular and have odd recesses in them for shelving and knick knacks, and are painted a uniform
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October 22nd, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 10
Arts
Pokémon X and Y: The Greatest Catch of the Franchise By TYLER FLOOD Contributing Writer Pokémon is one of the largest franchises in video game history, with everyone and their mother having heard the name “Pikachu.” Fans have wanted the series to move from sprites to 3-D models for a while now. The developer, Game Freak, has listened. Pokémon X and Y don’t bring as many Pokémon to the table as previous generations. In fact, they clock in at the smallest number of new creatures in the series, with only 69. This number is understandable however, because the developer has implemented new 3-D models, which look breathtaking for every single Pokémon. All 718 of them. Pokémon X and Y are, perhaps, the best looking games on the 3DS to date, with unique backgrounds for nearly every environment. From the cliffs of western Kalos, to sprawling cityscapes, every locale is picturesque. The battle animations are also stunning, with a variety of over-thetop movements for Pokémon, and spectacular effects that bring a nostalgia factor to players who have also played the Nintendo 64 classic, Pokémon Stadium. In respect to visuals, Pokémon has never looked better. In terms of gameplay, Pokémon battling is the same as ever, but with some new additions, such as fairy types. Not all of them are improvements, but none of them subtract from the experience. The biggest new gameplay mechanic is mega evolution. This temporary, more powerful form for select Pokémon (e.g. Charizard, Garchomp) is triggered through the use of a mega stone, an item that is unique to specific Pokémon. The player activates this held item in battle, and the effect lasts the duration of the fight. The draw to this mechanic is that only
one Pokémon can activate their mega stone in combat. This new mechanic may seem a bit gimmicky at first, but it actually feels fresh as a legitimate evolution to the series. Other new gameplay mechanics, such as sky battles, fall short. Sky battles feel arbitrary, as they are only activated when you have a flying type Pokémon on your team, and then only with a select few trainers in the world. These are scarce and don’t feel as thought-out as the mega evolutions. Another new gameplay mechanic that stands out is horde battles. These battles pit one of your Pokémon against a team of five weaker Pokémon, which are
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Pikachu, the most famous Pokémon. usually the same, e.g. a group of Mareep. What makes this mechanic successful is that Pokémon encountered during these battles can mostly only be encountered in a horde battle. Two new casual features include Pokémon Amie, a feature that feels a lot like Nintendogs, allowing you to feed and play with your Pokémon. Doing so increases their happiness, which can affect the output of moves such as Return, and is even neces-
sary for some Pokémon to evolve. The other feature, Super Training, a series of mini games, makes the competitive feature of EV training more accessible to casual players. Character customization is now a major feature of Pokémon; so much so, that the antagonist group, Team Flare, centers on their sense of fashion. Trainers can now choose their complexion, hair color and even individual articles of clothing worn by their character. On a smaller note, menus are more efficient in this game, allowing you to heal Pokémon and teach moves from within the item sections of your bag, rather than through the party menu. The story of Pokémon X and Y is not the strongest of the series, but not the weakest either; it’s about a journey the player makes with his/her friends across Kalos to learn about mega evolutions with each destination seeming like a spur of the moment decision. Being guided across the map seems unnecessary, seeing as how intuitive the movement through the world of Kalos is. Occasionally, you will have to thwart Team Flare and earn badges across the way, as is standard in every Pokémon game. In terms of online features, trading and battling have never been more accessible; you can now access these features from the bottom screen at anytime. One of these new features is wonder trading, which allows you to trade a Pokémon of your choice to a random trainer for a Pokémon of their choice, preventing your from knowing what you’ll get. Along with this feature, the bread and butter of previous Pokémon games, such as trading and battling globally, or with friends, is back. Pokémon X and Y don’t only stand out as the best 3DS game to date, but the best Pokémon game in the series.
The Chronicle
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Humans of New York By KATIE KLIMACEK Staff Writer Every day we pass people in school, on the street, and in malls, and it is easy to just push by them and be rude because we don’t know them. They are just a stranger to us, someone that we will probably never see again. We tend to lose a sense of humanity towards those we don’t know and find it hard to imagine that they are people just like us. Brandon Stanton is a 28-yearold ex-bond trader who lives in New York City. If you were to pass him on the street, you would think that he is just another kid that came to the city to be another great photographer or something. But if you stop for just a moment to see what he is photographing, you will find out his mission is quite the opposite. He is not taking pictures of famous landmarks or flashy models, but rather the people that call the Big Apple their home. Stanton is the man behind the powerful blog Humans of New York. He walks the streets of NYC and takes pictures of the people that make the city so unique. He looks for people that define the area around them, people that represent their neighborhood. HONY allows you to look at the people behind the faces we pass each day. There is that popular saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Stanton is able to find a person that most of us would just walk by, and takes a picture of them that says so much. In a time where anyone can take a picture, post it, and share it with millions, it is easy for people to see a photo of a group of friends and just scroll past it. But Stanton is able to make people stop and see that the group of friends hasn’t seen each other since their high school graduation 25 years ago; he allows you to see past the posed image and into the person he is photographing. By taking these pictures, Stan-
ton has been able to make people realize that the homeless man on the side walk is not there because he is too lazy to get a job but rather because he lost everything in a fire, was injured, and is unable to work. Or that the woman in tattered clothing playing a drum in central park is completely content with her life. The pictures allow us to walk in someone else’s shoes for a moment and understand that everyone is a human, even if you have never even met them. As you scroll through the blog, you can’t help but get a little choked up as you read the conversations and stories that these people have with Stanton. This ever-changing art is something that can easily bring any one to tears. As you read the few lines posted under each picture, you can feel the emotion, whether it is happy or sad, that the person felt when they had their picture taken. This is exactly what these photos are supposed to do. These pictures are supposed to make you understand what other people go through and understand that we are all just humans. “So much that walks by me inspires me,” said Stanton. His initial plan was to take pictures and categorize them in to the different boroughs, so you would be able to see the different people from each borough. But then he realized that he could do so much more with it, celebrating those who make NYC what it is. One day, Stanton hopes that Humans of New York can become a global blog, Humans of Germany or Humans of China. Stanton has been able to take something as simple as a picture to connect so many people with one another, beyond a language and beyond mountains and rivers that separate them. A guy changing the world one picture at a time. To see the photos, go to humansofnewyork.com.
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The Chronicle
Arts
October 22nd, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 10
Jonas Brothers’ Rift Cancels Tour
By VANESSA LANGDON Staff Writer Last Tuesday, Oct. 15, the Palace Theater was supposed to be flooded with teenage girls ready to rock it out with the Jonas Brothers. This tour was only the second time the Jonas Brothers would be visiting the state capitol, returning after their first visit in 2008. Unfortunately, this date, in addition to all others included on the tour, will not happen. Two days before their much anticipated tour, a story broke on gossip sites all over the internet; the brothers, who had just reconvened after a ‘break’, were now canceling their North American tour. The tour was slated to start in Pittsburgh last Friday to promote the upcoming release of their first album in over 4 years. The tour was canceled with no comment from the band themselves, leading the subsequent days, titled the ‘Jonas Apocalypse’ by their fans, to be filled with rumors as to why this “deep musical rift” occurred and if it re-
ally was music related at all. The band, neglecting to release any personal statements and disappearing from social media, only fueled the fire as the rumors swirled about the supposedly feuding brothers. Rumors ranged from a cocaineaddicted Joe Jonas, to youngest brother Nick Jonas requesting more money than his older brothers’ share, to it all being a publicity stunt to drum up interest for the as-of-yet unreleased comeback album. The rumors are all rumors as of now because there has been no clarification from the Jonas family or their management. The band’s Twitter was even deleted Friday, Oct. 11 amid the rumors that the tour cancelation was leading to the more serious issue of a complete break up. The lack of answers supplied from the three brothers has led to their hordes of fans seeking information via Twitter from their band mates, Musical Director John Taylor and Bassist Gregory Garbowsky. Both maintained they were kept in the dark about the entire rift and found out about the can-
celation the same time it was released to the public. They, and the rest of the band, were even in or en route to the first tour stop in Pittsburgh when they were notified. The brothers’ last performance together before the tour cancellation was the annual We Day concert in Minnesota on Monday, Oct. 6, where Joe Jonas advertised his involvement with the charity Feed The Children. The performance was the last time the brothers were spotted together and with the power of hindsight there are claims that the rift was visible then with the brothers eating separately in addition to later leaving the venue individually. The brothers were set to meet to discuss the rift and try to come to some sort of consensus but that only led to the rumors centering on Joe Jonas. He neglected to show up to the meetings in NYC but was spotted out with known celebrity sober coach Mike Bayer in LA. Nick and Kevin Jonas were apparently not as easily subdued as they both boarded planes to LA
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Band member Nick Jonas. to meet with their brother. The situation is still unresolved as the brothers were never seen out together, leaving it still a mystery. The sober coach controversy was further muddled as Kevin Jonas was spotted with Bayer, whether in talks with him for his own sobriety issues or discussing his brother’s welfare is uncertain. Joe Jonas was seen out Thursday, Oct. 17, but he neglected to comment on the status of the band, only stating that he is producing for other artists and is interested in acting in the future. The band is not doing themselves any favors as they remain tightlipped about the entire situation. Their entire fan base waits pa-
tiently as the very people they ‘stayed’ for leave them hanging with lots of questions and very few answers as they continue to be spotted around LA. The brothers may have just out grown the band that started in 2005 and has produced four albums. Fans understand that possibility, but feel that after all the years of dedication, they deserve an answer from the boys explaining what is happening and want to know the fate of the band. The Jonas Brothers’ motto has always been that you can’t break up a band of brothers, but that very sentiment is being put to the test as the rift continues to cause a disturbance in the peace.
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The Jonas Brothers in happier times.
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October 22nd, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 10
UMO: Life in Mathematics By DANIELLE HEIDCAMP Contributing Writer First of all, the Executive Board would like to thank everyone for their support of UMO so far this semester. Our meeting times have changed to every Friday 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. in Albertus 101 to accommodate more members’ schedules. With the change in scheduling comes a change in our meeting layout. Each month, we will have one or two dedicated UMO work sessions where we discuss upcoming events and such. At the rest of our meetings, we will briefly cover updates and then move right into hands-on activities, panel discussions, or short lectures that make understanding mathematical concepts fun, easy, and accessible for everyone. If you are struggling to understand what important role mathematics can play in your life, what better way to do it than with some friends and participating in hands on activities? In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” As an organization, UMO wants to bring what students have learned in the classroom to life so that they can see applications and then be able to create them with their own hands. For those going into the education field, the activities will spark different ways to apply the creative exercises in a classroom.
For business students, UMO will help make connections between mathematics and the real world. For those who want to explore the connections between math and their creative side, we will be covering a wide variety of fun topics that use art and colors intertwined with the wonders of mathematical concepts. This semester, UMO is hosting a Casino Knight in Standish A&B on Nov. 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be games such as Poker, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, and Plinko. There will be food, drinks, and good music. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Emily McNeight at mcneighte636@strose.edu to either donate games, ideas, or just to help out with the event. More information will be provided in next week’s article. UMO is also gearing up for events for next semester. We are preparing a panel of guest speakers to discuss potential jobs in the field of mathematics. For those in business, mathematics, education, art, or who are just plain curious about career options, please contact Danielle Heidcamp at heidcampd075@strose.edu about any careers that would be potentially interesting to hear about so that the organization can organize a speaker to come and discuss the opportunities. Contact Danielle Heidcamp at heidcamp075@strose.edu.
Opinion
The Chronicle
No Excuse for Body Shaming
By ZACHARY OLASVICKY Opinion Editor
We all know the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” But what happens when a picture is reduced to three words? In the case of Maria Kang, a 32-year-old landlord and fitness junkie in California, ignorance is put on display. Last week, Kang posted a photo to her Facebook page that generated a firestorm of conversation around the Internet. In the photo, she poses in a sports bra and slim-fitting shorts, surrounded by her three children. Her outfit reveals a toned figure, but what generated controversy is her caption on the photo: “What’s your excuse?” with prominent placement atop the image. Critics were quick to describe the photograph as ‘body-shaming,’ and they are far too correct. How people choose to display their bodies is, excluding a few circumstances, their own right. With the incredible volume of negative body images bearing down on women, it’s good to see women try to reclaim media images to celebrate their bodies, however they look. Unfortunately, Kang manages to achieve the exact opposite of that ideal, saying that a toned body with minimal fat is the only acceptable standard. Anything short of that, in her mind, is an “excuse,” a way people have of letting themselves off the hook for not having a media-friendly physique. And for someone who proclaims to love fitness as much as Kang does, she ought to know better. A variety of physical ailments exist that keep people from exercising. I doubt she’d tell a friend that an irregular heartbeat is no excuse for avoiding intense cardio workouts, or that a bulging disk shouldn’t stop someone from doing deadlifts. I wonder, is muscular dystrophy an “excuse” in Kang’s eyes? Of course, physical ailments
aren’t the only reason people don’t work out. How about the person that works two low-income jobs to feed their family? Or the child who is taking care of their terminally ill parent 24/7? I’d love to see her tell that person they are “excusing” him or herself. Kang isn’t without her defenders, however misguided they might be. Their primary tool of response is to label Kang’s critics “bullies,” saying that Kang should be free from criticism for displaying her body. The latter point is true; the prior point leads me to believe her defenders do not understand the concept of irony.
Kang implies that not having a perfect physique is a bad thing. This only reinforces neagtive body images. Bullying is finally getting the attention it deserves as a weapon of hatred. Most of the attention focuses on grade school, where intense bullying causes alarming rates of suicide. But, proving that high school never ends, the trend carries over into adulthood, and people like Kang embody this pernicious form of putdowns. And there’s no way a similar message would be tolerated in other mediums. Imagine a picture of a Wall Street executive, holding an MBA and surrounded by a pile of money, with a caption of, “What’s your excuse?” Undoubtedly, this person would be criticized for classism, and rightfully so. Or take the bullying example from above. Classmates ridiculed my brother for having Asperger’s Syndrome; were he to display scar-free forearms and say there’s
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no excuse for self-harm, it would be incredibly tasteless. Criticizing tasteless images is not bullying, and putting that label on Kang’s critics completely misses the point. Exercise is not an easy task for all; by design, exercise requires hard work. But people work out at different paces and get different results; not everyone will look like Kang. When I did pushups for the first time in… a long time, let’s call it, I woke up the following morning feeling like concrete had been poured on my triceps. It stopped me from doing other arm exercises the following day, but that’s because I was adjusting to what my body was telling me. If someone so fitness obsessed as Kang doesn’t understand that, I wonder what else she doesn’t know about fitness. One thing Kang doesn’t know, for certain, is how to apologize. On her Facebook page where she posted the first image, she posted her “First and Final Apology,” replete with all of the typos you’d come to expect from this kind of person. “I won’t even mention how I didn’t give into cravings for ice cream, french fries or chocolate while pregnant,” she said, mentioning all the things she said she wouldn’t mention. Her point about reaching a “new level of thought” to overcome obstacles is charming, as if thinking positively is enough to overcome major life obstacles. But the most poignant comment made by Kang is this: “What you interpret is not MY fault. It’s Yours… OWN the thoughts that come out of your own head. I didn’t create them.” Wrong answer. Kang created them when you wrote, “What’s your excuse?” above a photo that perpetuates negative body images. With so much pressure on young women to achieve impossible, Barbie doll-like body proportions, Kang and people like her only add to the problem.
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The Chronicle
Sports
October 22nd, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 10
Top 10 Players to Win This Year’s Heisman By JACKSON WANG Executive Editor What? How can we already be talking about the Heisman Trophy? Isn’t Johnny Manziel still getting drunk at the University of Texas or giving out his John Hancock to some broker in Miami? Oh right, the last time I checked the NCAA slapped his hand and said, “Don’t do it again.” And where’s Jadeveon Clowney? Is he still icing his boo-boo or is he just not in the mood to play football? Anyways, we’re about halfway through the college football season and here are ten players that have the potential to bring home the Heisman Trophy in December:
10. Baylor Quarterback Bryce Petty
Maybe Robert Griffin III wasn’t really that good at Baylor two years ago when he won the Heisman Trophy. Maybe it’s just the offensive system. Who would have thought Petty could have put up RGIII numbers this season? He has thrown for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns in every game this season. Plus, he’s also taken care of the football, with only one interception, and has led the Bears to a 5-0 record. I’ve got him on my radar. 9. Oregon State Quarterback
Sean Mannion
How can you lose to an Eastern Washington team that’s not only a FBS team, but also has an ugly looking red turf field? Well the Beavers managed to do that to open their season, but Mannion has been able steer Oregon State back on track. He’s put the Beavers on a six-game win streak, and has already thrown for nearly 3000 yards and 30 touchdowns, what some would call video game numbers.
8. Clemson Defensive End Vic Beasley
Congrats Mr. Beasley, you are
one of two defensive players to make this list. Beasley has been a huge force on the defensive line containing the opposing teams’ running game and putting pressure on the quarterback. In all but two games he has managed to get a sack this year. I’m just glad to see a defensive end actually work hard and want to win gamescough, Jadeveon Clowney, cough.
7. Alabama Linebacker C.J. Mosley
Mosley isn’t on anyone’s watch list. So you know where you heard it first if he makes it to New York City. As a freshman, Mosley played in every game as linebacker. As a sophomore and junior, he won national titles and put up Manti Te’o-esque tackle numbers. And instead of turning pro, he came back for his senior year, where he’s on track to make over 100 tackles this year. No reason why he can’t be a Heisman candidate. Plus, he doesn’t fall for fake girlfriends, not yet at least. Too soon?
6. Louisville Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater
Bridgewater is a great quarterback who will do fine in the NFL, but he would be higher on this list if Louisville played in a BCS conference. Oh right, my fault, the AAC is a BCS conference. Who’s in the conference again? Anyways, Bridgewater would also be a better Heisman candidate if he played better against bad teams like Rutgers and UCF to earn style points, which he failed to do the last two weeks. But still, he’s done a fine job, which is no surprise and why he’s not in my top five. 5. Washington Running Back
Bishop Sankey
You might be scratching your head and asking “Who in the world is this Sankey kid?” Look him up and you’re looking at a college Adrian Peterson. Sankey
is a patient runner that has speed and power. He doesn’t juke, just runs right over opposing players. Sankey is already closing in on 1000 yards this year. Plus, top teams like Oregon and Stanford had a hard time bringing this kid down. He rushed for over 100 yards and had also scored in both of those games.
4. Clemson Quarterback Tajh Boyd
I used to think Clemson was all talk every year. But they are proving me wrong this year and Tajh Boyd is one of the reasons. Boyd has a lot of talented players around him and he’s doing a great job using them all. He is such a dangerous player, using his feet or arm to score on second’s notice. But there’s no way he’s going ahead of Jameis Winston, who outplayed Boyd in Saturday’s matchup. 3. Texas A&M Quarterback
Johnny Manziel
Johnny’s being Johnny again this year. Looks like the offseason drama and partying didn’t af-
fect Manziel at all. He’s already thrown for 18 touchdowns, while running in six on the season. He’s just playing his game out on the gridiron, leading the Aggies back with his jukes and spin moves. Hey, maybe if the Aggies defense gets a stop or two, we could be talking about a national title for Mr. Manziel, but unfortunately that’s not the case. 2. Florida State Quarterback
Jameis Winston
Last year we had Johnny Football. This year we have Famous Jameis. He might only be a freshman, but he’s playing like a fifth year senior trying to earn a master’s degree. Many people talked about how RGIII had more touchdown passes than incomplete passes after two games back in 2011. Well, guess who did the same thing? This kid. And he proves that he can win big-time games with a victory over Clemson on Saturday in Death Valley. Just like Manziel, who put himself on the Heisman map with a win over Alabama last year,
this could be the game that gets Winston the stiff-arming trophy. Don’t be surprised if another redshirt freshman wins the Heisman.
1. Oregon Quarterback Marcus Mariota
There’s one statistic that Mariota puts up that really impresses me: zero interceptions. Mariota makes the Ducks run and do push-ups. Just look at the mascot after each score. He’s a threat on the ground and he’s a threat with his arm, which is causing opposing coaches to suffer insomnia. Just ask Lane Kriffin, who’s probably at the unemployment office in Los Angeles. But as long as Mariota stays healthy, it looks like the Oregon offense won’t be slowing down until Mother’s Day in 2015. Mariota is only a sophomore and could join a select few second-year players to win the Heisman. Reach Jackson Wang at wangj847@strose.edu @TheJacksonWang
October 22nd, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 10
Sports
The Chronicle
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Gettin’ Wiggy With It, Already By TORI ADDISON Staff Writer
For those of you who don’t know who Andrew Wiggins is, I suggest you familiarize yourself quickly. If you thought SportsCenter was tough to watch when Tim Tebow was around, you have another thing coming this college basketball season between this Wiggins kid and Kentucky’s all-star roster. Although, Wiggins is already getting more hype than the whole Wildcats’ roster combined. The Canadianborn phenom came under the spotlight when he transferred to Huntington Prep in West Virginia to finish out his high school career. Not only was he dubbed the top recruit of 2013, but he also had everyone down to the wire while he was deciding on which college he would call home for the upcoming season. By the time he chopped his list down to four, he was between UNC, Kansas, FSU, and Kentucky. When he finally decided, and when I say finally I mean he waited until the last possible day to commit, he chose Kansas. The thing most people don’t understand about Andrew Wiggins is that one; he doesn’t want to be hailed as a collegiate superstar, and two; college is basically going to be a waste of his time. Not to sound pessimistic, but he is completely NBA ready and is only going to college because, quite frankly, the NBA says he has to. Let’s face it, he only chose Kansas to be close to his brother who is a senior basketball player at Wichita State University. You know the team that “shocked” the world last year when they made it to Final Four of the tournament? I am not belittling Wiggin’s decision; I just do not think he is looking to be a breakout college star like Tyler Hansbrough or Cody Zeller were. If he wanted to win a championship, he would not have picked Kansas. With the loss of Jeff Withey and Ben McLemore to
cover of their November issue, basically claiming he is already a Kansas legend, comparing him to Jayhawk greats Wilt Chamberlain and Danny Manning. Let’s not forget that Wiggins has not even played a college game yet, all we have seen are his skills from the high school level. Some people think the hype is getting old already, but what they don’t realize is that it has just begun. Whether Wiggins decides to give college
his all or not, he will still be the most talked about player of the season. He may not end up as the most notorious one-and-done Kansas has ever seen, but he will most definitely be worthy of that first overall pick. I would like to congratulate the NBA team thatdrafts him in advance, as they will be receiving the next big thing to hit the world of professional basketball.
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Will Andrew Wiggins live up to the hype? the draft, Kansas’ roster suffered quite the blow. If he was looking for a championship-thirsty team, he could have jumped on the Kentucky bandwagon with all the other top ranked recruits or joined the experience-heavy Tar Heels over in Chapel Hill (I honestly do not think FSU was even an option). College is literally just a stepping stone for Wiggins; he will not feel the need to fully excel until he reaches the pros. All he needs to do this upcoming season is the bare minimum to make it through, which he will have no problem with. In my opinion, he will be exactly what Shabazz Muhammad was to UCLA last season, the one-and-done who doesn’t show full one hundred percent potential until drafted. Let me make one thing clear; I do not think Wiggins is going
to be a huge let down that never amounted to what he should have. He will be an extraordinary player, but his full talent will not appear until he is suited up in an NBA uniform. Wiggins does not have to try to look flashy in college; the world already knows who he is. It is pretty much official that he will be the number one pick in next year’s draft and the lucky team who gets him will not be disappointed. Sports analysts are already claiming that he is going to be the next LeBron James, possibly even better. To add to the hype, there have been multiple reports that Adidas is set to throw a ten-year shoe endorsement worth $180 million at him as soon as he is drafted. That’s a bigger contract than King James’ with Nike. Not to mention, Sports Illustrated placed him on the
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Wiggins elected to commit to the Kansas Jayhawks.
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Sports
The Chronicle
October 22nd, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 10
Four Athletes, One Team Inducted to Golden Knights Hall of Fame
By JOSHUA NATOLI Sports Editor If you ever need to witness a humble experience, I highly recommend attending next year’s Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony. Hearing what these inductees have accomplished, what other people have to say about them, and just being able to witness class personified is a special experience. Saturday night I was fortunate enough to attend. As I sat down and waited for the proceedings to begin, I glanced at the program and tried to identify the athletes with those in the Touhey Forum at the time. Looking for a handful of individuals in a crowded room definitely is not an easy task. It was not hard at all to find the night’s first inductee, Damon Reed, among the audience. The man stands 6’10”. It was almost like he was walking on stilts, looking down upon anyone he spoke to, not in a demeaning way of course. Once I located him, I took a look at his career numbers and was also dumbfounded. In his four years of playing basketball at The College of Saint Rose from 1996-2000, he became the second all-time leading scorer (1,874)
and all-time leading rebounder (1,280). He was also named the Basketball Times Division II National Player of the Year as a senior, a two-time Basketball Times Division II First Team AllAmerican, a two-time Daktronics Second Team All-American, and both a National Association of Basketball Coaches and Division II Bulletin Third Team All-American as a junior. On top of all that he was also named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a junior, a three-time ECAC First Team All-Region pick, a two-time NABC First Team All-New England selection, and a three-time New York Collegiate Athletic Conference First Team All-League pick. Reed also made an impact on four NCAA Division II Tournament teams, including two which made it to the "Elite Eight" and the 1996-97 squad that set a program wins record with 29. Track and Field standout from 1994-1996 Deborah Springer was next up on the ballot. After transferring to Saint Rose from the University of Albany before her senior year, she compiled four school records on the outdoor track at 1500, 3000, 5000,
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Michelle Joseph Looney, Deborah Springer, Damon Reed, and Courtney Goess Little after the induction ceremony.
The 1990-1991 Men’s Basketball Team stands proudly with their plaques. and 10,000 meters, and three additional records indoors at 1500, and 3000 meters, as well as the Mile. She earned All-American honors in 1995 for the 10,000 meter run outdoors with a time of 36:49.00 with a sixth place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships where she also finished 12th in the 3000 meter run. Furthermore, Springer was named an All-East selection by Eastern Track Magazine in the 10,000 meter outdoor run and was a component of the winning 4x800 indoor relay team that set a Kutztown Fieldhouse record which still stands to this day with a time of 9:43.21 at the 1995 ECAC Championships. She was also a part of the school record 4x800 outdoor relay team. Perhaps an even bigger achievement for Springer was earning the title of Post-Doctorate Fellow at Duke University Center for Microbial Pathogenesis. The ceremony would continue with the induction of the entire 1990-1991 Men’s Basketball Team, which won the NAIA District 31 Championship for the
second time in three years, and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament at the renowned Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. These Golden Knights finished with a record of 20-9 and upended powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas 96-89 for the District 31 Championship. This team also paved the way for the remaining NAIA schools to make the leap to NCAA Division II, where Saint Rose all athletic teams currently compete. This group also recorded four consecutive 20-win seasons, scored 100 points or more in a game seven times and won the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference championship. In the water, Michelle Joseph Looney swam in many disciplines, also during the Golden Knights NAIA era. She qualified for the NAIA Nationals in each of her four years from 19871991 and finished her career as the holder of an impressive six school records in the 50, 100 and 200-yard backstrokes, as well as the 50, 100 and 200 butterflies. She was also a cog in the machine of five school record-setting relay
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teams. The former athlete up was Courtney Goess Little, a defensive back on the Women’s Soccer Team from 2002-2005, who made 79 career starts, good for second all-time upon her graduation and currently tied for 10th all-time. Little was deemed a Northeast-10 Conference All-League honoree as a junior and senior, and additionally named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Second Team All-New England pick and the MVP of the ECAC Championship Tournament as a senior. Emotions were at an all-time high during the ceremony as the former players were introduced by old coaches and advisers. “I was very blessed to come to the college for four years and play with great teammates,” said Reed. Looney also added, “I am forever indebted to this place and its people.” It was quite amazing to see the lasting effect a college experience can have on your life going forward.