The Chronicle The weekly student newspaper of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York www.strosechronicle.com - @strosechronicle
January 14th, 2014
Volume LXXXII Issue 17
Students Back to Hitting the Books
KELLY PFEISTER
As students begin their spring semester of classes, heavy traffic is expected at the Saint Rose bookstore.
Taking Actions Against Homelessness in D.C. By JACKSON WANG Executive Editor A group of students and advisers sacrificed a part of their winter break by helping the homeless. Fifteen Saint Rose students
and five advisers went down to Washington D.C. last week and experienced first-hand the life of homeless and the working poor. “We saw a lot of desperate Continued on page A6
News & Features
Salon is to ‘Dye For’ By SANTANYA SHARPE Contributing Writer
Once a two-level bowling alley and Albany’s biggest dance club, 214 Western Ave. is now home to one of the neighborhood’s newest hair and nail salons.
Arts & Opinion
Curl Up ‘n’ Dye is part of the Mega Studios complex near the intersection of Western and Quail. This is the first business in the new midtown strip mall. Anna Daga, 28, the owner of the establishment, plans to make some headway in the Albany area.
“I hope to stay here for a long time. I chose the Pine Hills neighborhood because there is no other hair salon in the area and wanted a convenient location for the members of the community,” Continued on page A5
Sports
Western Ave. Homicide Victim had Record. See page A2
Review: The Wolf of Wall Street. See page B7
Recapping the 2013 NFL Season. See page D11
Fact Check Report to Pine Hills. See page A4
Chris Christie and Bridgegate. See page C9
Taking a Look at the Golden Knights. See page D12
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News
The Chronicle
January 14th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 17
Homicide Victim Had Record By LAUREN HALLIGAN Contributing Writer and JACKSON WANG Executive Editor
Albany police have released the name of the victim of a homicide in a Western Avenue apartment last month. Albany Police spokesman Ptl. Steve Smith identified the victim as 26-year-old Caleb Capen, a resident at 326 Western Ave., where he was involved in an altercation. According to the police report, Capen was found lying face down in a pool of blood around his head when officers discovered his body in a bedroom. Smith said he did not know if weapons were
used in the alleged homicide. Capen was on a five-year probation when he died after spending time in jail for animal cruelty charges three years ago. According to a February 2010 police report, Capen drowned his cat, Prince, in a bathroom tub at his then Madison Avenue apartment. He then set the dead cat on fire and was charged with torturing animals and aggravated cruelty to animals. According to his obituary, Capen had a “love of video and computer games.” Back on Dec. 4, police were investigating a reported broken window at 326 Western Ave., a building located just east of the Saint Rose security department
LAUREN HALLIGAN
The security camera that caught Collins and Vascarcel. building. A forensics investigation unit determined that the death was a homicide, but Smith said he did not know if weapons were involved. Hours after the police responded and investigated the situation, they arrested Oscar Valcarcel, 41, of Albany, and charged him with burglary and petty larceny. He is still only facing those two charges. No other arrests or new charges have been made. Smith said the investigation is still ongoing. The landlord of 326 Western Ave. from Hyjinks LLC, who did not give her name, said, “I don’t really know anything about the investigation,” though she later stated that she was in the apartment with detectives on Tuesday. Her tenant, she said, “was a
very nice man. He was actually very thoughtful.” The landlord said it was fortunate that the security camera at
“I spoke to a few friends and they said this house in general is sketchy.” Sifat Anwar the corner of Partridge Street and Western Avenue was operating at the time of the incident. In October, another incident
occurred in that same area, when Anthony Collins was arrested and charged with kidnapping and possession of a weapon after attempting to abduct a female college student at the corner of Western Avenue and O’Leary Boulevard, directly across from 326 Western Ave. Collins may have been a resident at that address. When a reporter from The Chronicle inquired if Collins was a tenant, the landlord hung up the phone. Last month, a neighbor, Sifat Anwar, said he thought Collins had lived at 326 Western Ave. “I spoke to a few friends and they said this house in general is sketchy,” Anwar said a few days after the homicide was reported. A ‘For Rent’ sign was affixed to the front of the building a week after the incident.
Visit www.StRoseChronicle.com LAUREN HALLIGAN
The 326 Western Ave. is a 10-apartment building, feet away from the Saint Rose security headquarters.
We have an online presence! Visit our website for video, COLOR PHOTOS, online exclusive stories and more!
January 14th, 2014
News
Volume 82 Issue 17
In Brief
Dining Hall Hours Expanded As of January 13, 2014, the dining hall hours have been changed and expanded. Food will be served from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m., after which it will close until 4 p.m., and then reopen for dinner until 8 p.m. These hours
will be in effect Monday through Friday. As for weekends, brunch will be served starting at 10 a.m. instead of 10:30 on Saturday and Sunday, and remain open until 6:30 p.m. The hours of operation for the dining hall have long
been a source of frustration for some students. With these revised hours, more students will have access to food to make full-use of their meal plans.
Alumna to Speak at Frequency North Nushian Rashidian and Saint Rose graduate Alyson Martin will speak at the Frequency North Writers Series on Thursday, February 6 regarding their groundbreaking book on the legalization of marijuana, A New Leaf. The book discusses states
that have moved towards legalization for either recreational or medical use, such as Colorado and New York, respectively. Further, it explores the politics behind the plant, as well as how it will factor into the war on drugs, and the daily lives of Americans.
Martin graduated with a degree in communications from The College of Saint Rose and earned a graduate degree from Columbia. Rashidian and Martin will speak at 7:30 in the Hearst Center for Communications and Interactive Media at 996 Madison Ave.
Rumpelstiltskin to be Performed at Steamer No.10 Theatre In the coming weeks, young and old alike will have the chance to relive the classic fairytale Rumpelstiltskin at the Steamer No.10 Theatre on 500 Western Ave. The tragic tale of a miller’s daughter ordered to spin straw into gold, the theatre’s produc-
The Chronicle
Executive Editor Jackson Wang ‘14 wangj847@strose.edu
tion of Rumpelstiltskin presents it in a unique fashion. Three actors will portray all twelve characters, two of them playing the gnome Rumpelstiltskin at the same time. The play will continue to run on January 18, 19, 25, and 26 at 3 p.m., and one show on January
Features Editor Conor Shea ‘15 sheac613@strose.edu
20 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be ordered in advance by calling (518) 438-5503, or writing to info@steamer10theatre.org.
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 Searching For Applicant
Arts Editor Andy Gilchrist ‘14 gilchrista788@strose.edu
Web Editor Christopher Lovell ‘15 lovellc083@strose.edu
Layout Editor Jennifer O’Connor ‘16 oconnorj984@strose.edu
Sports Editor Joshua Natoli ‘14 natolij477@strose.edu
Head Photographer Kelly Pfeister ‘14 pfeisterk953@strose.edu
Assistant Layout Editor Searching For Applicant
Copy Editor Jenessa Matis ‘14 matisj311@strose.edu
Faculty Adviser Cailin Brown
The Chronicle
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Calendar of Events Tuesday, January 14th 3:30 p.m. Arts & Humanities Freshmen Event St. Joseph 4 p.m. MAPS ALB 109 7 p.m. Knights Club Bru: St Rose Room 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 8:30 p.m. Golden Knights Dance EAC Room 110 Wednesday, January 15th 12 p.m. Weight Watchers St. Joseph 2:40 p.m. Natural Science Association Science Center Room 352 4:30 p.m. Student Association Meeting Standish 5 p.m. Mid-Week Mass Sanctuary 5 p.m. Delta Epsilon Iota Meeting 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, January 16th 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, January 17th 12:30 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Track and Field UAlbany
Saturday, January 18th 1:30 p.m. Women’s Basketball Southern New Hampshire Nolan Gym 3:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball Southern New Hampshire Nolan Gym *Welcome Back Students Day Sunday, January 19th Monday, January 20th All Day- No Class 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. Staff Writers Tori Addison Katherine Bakaitis Katelyn Doherty Asia Ewart Andy Gilchrist Katie Klimacek Kevin Jacob Vanessa Langdon Alex Pecha Lauren Sears M. William Smith
Staff Photographer Chris Alvarado Anthony Chapin
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.
Official E-mail Address Chronicle@strose.edu
Submissions
Mailing Address The Saint Rose Chronicle 432 Western Avenue Albany, NY 12203
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Meetings are held every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the CCIM 121, the MAC Lab.
All articles, advertisements and Letters to the Editor are due by noon the Saturday prior to publication.
All advertising inquiries should be sent to Advertising Manager Shawn Dixon at dixons@strose.edu. The Chronicle offers free black and white 5-by-3 in. ads to student-run organizations.
The Chronicle accepts Letters to the Editor from any party. We recommend that submissions not exceed 1000 words. Letters, columns, and cartoons published in this newspaper represent the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of The Chronicle.
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The Chronicle
News
January 14th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 17
Fact Check Report to The Pine Hills By Journalism II Journalism students at The College of Saint Rose conducted a recent accuracy survey and learned from story sources that overall, the stories on The Pine Hills blog were accurate, but that there were some mistakes. After the Journalism II class mailed out 39 questionnaires last semester regarding accuracy pertaining to some of the 325 stories published on the blog since February 2010, 38 percent of sources responded. Accuracy results were last reported to the blog audience in November 2011. “Journalists’ first obligation is to present the truth, and our democracy depends on citizens having reliable and accurate presentable facts put into the right context and means something to their lives, and helps them lead a better life,” said Sana Siwolop, who teaches journalism at St. John’s University in Queens. Accuracy is one of the four tenets of journalism, along with clarity, precision and fairness, she said. “Of all those things, I would say that accuracy is the most important one because jour-
nalists’ first obligation is to the truth, the essence of journalism is a discipline of verification,” said Siwolop, referencing the primary message in a well-respected journalism text, The Elements of Journalism. When journalism does not maintain accuracy, it can cause harm to a person, or an institution, which violates a primary foundation of journalism – to do no harm, Siwolop said. The editor of the Albany Times Union, Rex Smith, said that one way to ensure solid reporting is to hire the best and most experienced people, who help establish a culture of quality in the newsroom. Quickly correcting errors also builds credibility. Smith said newsroom employees should listen to sources who report mistakes, and then check the information to avoid any errors in complex stories. “Accuracy is not just getting the facts right,” Smith said. “Accuracy often means making the extra phone call, going the extra mile to make the story more fully accurate.” The Times Union publishes corrections and fixes errors in its online articles with a notation in-
MICHAEL HIDINGER
Lorenz Worden of the Albany Bicycle Coalition said he would have liked more information included about the group’s focus and about the danger of pedestrian crossings. dicating the correction in order to notify readers an article has been updated, Smith said. Revealing mistakes enhances a newspaper’s reputation for accuracy, he added. “We know there will be mistakes,” Smith said, “but if you have a commitment to correct-
LAUREN HALLIGAN
Nan Thomas said her contribution to a story published in September about Jugs and Mugs was correct.
ing them, then reporters won’t be afraid to step forward.” Mistakes can destroy the credibility of a news organization and small organizations are more vulnerable when errors occur, said Angela McFarland, publisher of the Ballston Journal, an online local newspaper in Ballston Spa that has 1,100 paid subscribers and 1,782 headline subscribers. “The number one reason (to avoid errors) is that you can get sued,” said McFarland. “I can’t afford to get sued.” Several story sources who responded to this semester’s accuracy survey provided additional feedback to the blog authors. Information in a 2012 story about a local photographer who won an award was accurate, said Connie Frisbee Houde, who was the focus of the story. She was satisfied with how she was portrayed in the article and said that the quotes were fair and balanced. Another source, Nan Thomas, said her contribution to a story published in September 2013 about a new restaurant and bar, Jugs and Mugs, was correct. However, some sources point-
ed out inaccuracies. Barbara Smith, a member of the common council, noted that a story about SNUG, a violence intervention program, mistakenly reported an inaccurate date in a story. That information has been corrected. And, Paul Bickel, owner of Paul’s Garage, earned his degree from Hudson Valley Community College in 1974, not in 1976. That error has since been corrected. A few sources suggested more information could have been included in stories. In an article about city zoning, Dan Krouner told the blog that more details were needed in the February 2013 story. Story source Lorenz Worden of the Albany Bicycle Coalition said he would have liked more information included about the group’s focus and about the danger of pedestrian crossings. In the survey, student reporters asked respondents if they had suggestions for future stories. Any readers who do have suggestions are encouraged to contact The Pine Hills blog at thepinehillsblog@gmail.com.
January 14th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 17
News
The Chronicle
Curl Up ‘n’ Dye
Curl Up N Dye is new to the neighborhood. Continued from front page Daga said. Curl Up ‘n’ Dye is full service. The spacious 1,250-square-foot salon is downstairs at Mega Studios. The pink and black color scheme boasts a sleek and elegant look, both edgy and fun. The bright pink walls, soft hot pink couches, polished hardwood floors, built-in fireplace and eyecatching poster of Marilyn Monroe create a comfortable environment. Daga, who owns another salon in Westchester county, traveled between there and Albany to tend to both of her businesses. After meeting and marrying her husband, she decided it was best to settle down here to permanently tend to Curl Up ‘n’ Dye. “It became difficult going back and forth, and with two children, it was best that I remained up here and focus on the opening of this salon,” Daga said. “Luckily, my parents back home are able to keep an eye on my other busi-
ness.” Daga employs four stylists, each of whom are excited for the opportunity to be working at the salon. One stylist discovered the position through a job posting on Craigslist. “Like any new business, it is starting off slow, but I am sure it will take off soon,” said Mario Villarreal, a new employee and hair stylist at Curl Up ‘n’ Dye. “The clients I have had so far are satisfied.” Villareal also appreciates the qualities that set Curl Up ‘n’ Dye apart from other salons. “It’s a brand new salon, new atmosphere, and has potential. It’s a great spot for college-aged students, a place to come and get your hair done in a good, drama -free environment,” Villarreal said. Villarreal, 24, has been working as a hair care professional for eight years, and is well-versed in skin, nail and make up services. He has taught at two schools for
SANTANYA SHARPE
hair styling and truly enjoys what he does. “I love learning and watching other stylists. Curl Up ‘n’ Dye is different than other salons,” Villarreal said. “All the employees here are professional and have experience with different hair and skin types. We help each other and have an encouraging environment.” Daga expects to cater to local residents as well as nearby UAlbany and Saint Rose students. “I want this to be a spot for everyone to come and feel comfortable and leave looking good and feeling good,” Daga said. So far, Daga and her employees have been vigorously handing out fliers and talking to people about the salon, which promotes a 10 percent discount for students with ID. The Curl Up ‘n’ Dye owner is also very content with the location and space itself. Years ago, the space hosted one of the largest dance clubs in Albany, for some 20 years. The building was also a
two-level bowling alley back in the 1930s. Mark Basco, 50, has owned the building that houses Mega Studios, and the building next door, for 25 years. With the new construction to the historical building, Basco has managed to sustain the bowling alley floor in an effort to preserve the building’s aesthetic value. In addition to the salon, Basco hopes to add either a studio for yoga or a spa, a barbershop, and some type of space for a cardio or workout business. According to a retail property listing posted in June 2013, Mega Studios has a total of 6,000-square-feet. “My hope for Mega Studios is to turn it into an inner-city strip mall with several different businesses that work together,” Basco said. “It would be nice and convenient to the neighborhood and support students and faculty.” Residents of the neighborhood are also taking note of the chang-
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es happening right next door. “I am actually pleased that new businesses are opening up on this block,” said Christina Connors, a nearby resident. “This hair salon is providing convenience for me, because now I don’t have to go all the way to Central Avenue or Madison Avenue to get my hair and nails done.” Daga is also in the process of adding an eight-room tanning studio that will feature stand up booths, tanning beds and spray tanning. The anticipated opening for this section is late this month or early February. The salon is open Monday to Saturday and accepts walk-ins and appointments. For more information on Curl Up ‘n’ Dye, visit curlupalbany.com, or find them on Facebook at facebook. com/curlupAlbany. “I want Curl Up ‘n’ Dye to be a one-stop shop for everyone’s beauty needs,” Daga said.
SANTANYA SHARPE
Curl Up ‘n’ Dye’s pink and black color scheme gives the salon both a fun and edgy look.
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The Chronicle
News
January 14th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 17
Washington D.C.Trip Continued from front page and broken souls and it is hard to know that all of our best efforts cannot create the immediate change we would like,” said Joan Horgan, director of campus ministry and program coordinator, who led the students on the trip. “But if you consider any of the large justice fights that have happened throughout history, they are often long-haul endeavors that ask of us commitment and dedication and a willingness to work when easy answers are not readily apparent.” The group spent the week volunteering at a variety of different organizations such as So Others Might Eat, DC Central Kitchen, and Charlie’s Place. Horgan said some of the goals of the trip were to expose participants to homelessness in our nation’s capital and see how it differs from Albany, to experience the contrasts that being in a large city provides, and to be at the center of where decisions are made about how we will spend our nation’s resources and who will matter in those decisions and who won’t. Along with volunteering at different organizations, students and advisers also paid a visit to the offices of New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to discuss the issue of homelessness. Also, this year’s group focused on raising awareness of the issues of veterans who are homeless and the impact of incarceration on one’s likelihood of being homeless, by attending seminars. “The hard part is that we wish all the more that we could change the life circumstances for so many of the people we saw and we cannot do that as fast or as fully as we would like,” Horgan said. This is the 19th trip to Washington D.C., and each year, Horgan has noticed that Saint Rose is “missing the community we formed and the good feeling that came from our common purpose and dedication to something re-
ally important in our lives for a variety of different reasons.” “This year, I was struck by how there are fewer and fewer places in our world where we get to sit together and really listen to each other and hear from one another without interruption, with the intention to be present to each other,” Horgan said. “When we come back, there is also the desire not to have this be a great week for each of us, but then we get swept back into our regular lives so, there is a desire to think about ‘what now?’ - how do we let what happened matter and make a difference in us and through us.” While there were many new students taking part in this trip, three did return for their second journey to Washington D.C. Horgan said they return each year to witness students having an experience that transforms them and helps sharpen their sense of purpose in the world. “I think students appreciated being able to feel like they were doing something, but there was also the overwhelming feeling that there was so much to do that was beyond what we could accomplish in a week,” Horgan said. “There was the concurrent awareness that even one act of kindness can be an amazingly significant thing in a life and that there is so much more that is needed in terms of support, resources, changing attitudes, and stereotypes, that also needs to be done.” One student that returned for a second tour of the trip was junior Andrea Dassie. “We had an absolutely amazing group of dedicated volunteers that were very supportive and emotionally in-tune with each other,” said Dassie, who was a leader on the trip. “This definitely helped to create a harmonious atmosphere for everyone to feel comfortable. This experience was life-changing for everyone who went, regardless of the number of times they have attended the trip.”
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The students and advisers who visited Washington D.C. to learn about homelessness. Horgan also said it’s the stories of the people who are or were homeless that brings them back each year as well. “There are amazing people we
meet,” Horgan said. “Many who work in the organizations where we volunteer were once homeless themselves. Their stories and the humility with which they share
them provides great inspiration and a desire to return and keep learning what we can.”
We’re hiring!
The Chronicle is currently seeking individuals to fill open positions for the 2013-14 academic year. Individuals interested in the position(s) of News Editor or Assistant Layout Editor are encouraged to apply. If interested send an e-mail with your resume and two writing or design samples attached (or linked) to Executive Editor Jackson Wang at wangj847@strose.edu. If you would like more information about what the responsibilities of each position entail, send an e-mail to chronicle@strose.edu.
January 14th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 17
Arts
The Chronicle
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The Wolf of Wall Street: Scorsese’s Epic Exercise in Excess By ANDY GILCHRIST Arts Editor “The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” Michael Douglas’ legendary quote from the 1987 film Wall Street epitomized the late 80s financial philosophy of America: do whatever it takes to get money, power, and (hopefully) happiness. Then get more of it. Then more. More. MORE. Never be satisfied. Never stop accumulating. If you think you have enough, you’re wrong. Such a way of thinking will obviously never lead to true happiness and can only end badly, but what a ride it’ll be. Martin Scorsese’s newest film, The Wolf of Wall Street, grabs hold of this idea and pushes it to the extreme. The film’s stock broker main characters consume inhuman amounts of drugs and alcohol, use the most vulgar language seemingly every other word, and are having sex in almost every scene. For a film that clocks in at one minute under three hours, nearly half of that seems to be Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort and friends living it up and doing their best to party themselves to death. But despite the epic runtime, the audience is never bored. The film seamlessly blends the debauchery with significantly slower moments of dialogue and character development to create a truly unique movie experience. But, what are the ethics of telling such a story? The film devotes zero time to the victims of Belfort’s schemes, and those close to him who get hurt are given a few moments in the spotlight before being shuffled offstage. In a time when the country is still trying to recover from a recession, why make a film about a boiler room of brokers screwing people over and partying with their riches? Though the film is no doubt one of the most entertaining of the year, its overall message will likely leave many audience mem-
bers cold. The film opens with young stock broker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) moving to New York to make a name for himself. Quickly finding out that Wall Street is even more cutthroat than he ever imagined, he almost gives up on the world of finance. But he returns stronger than ever, using his superior sales techniques to manipulate customers into handing over their hardearned money to pay for stocks that will never pay out. In just a few months, Jordan and his equally soulless coworkers, including best friend Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), establish Stratton Oakmont, a brokerage house where the traders swindle their clueless clients at the same time they have sex in the bathrooms and do coke on the desks. As Jordan’s life shoots upward, including divorcing his wife and marrying Naomi (Margot Robbie), with whom he had been cheating, he comes onto the radar of FBI agent Patrick Denham (Kyle Chandler). As the feds begin to close in, Jordan’s life spirals out of control. But he’s addicted to the crazy lifestyle he began all those years ago and begins to hurt even those closest to him. It appears that the Wolf’s story can only end in flames. The Wolf of Wall Street is the latest addition to the filmography of Martin Scorsese, one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Scorsese is at his best when telling stories of a man’s rise and fall, with Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and Casino ranking among his greatest. He’s not afraid of showing the darker side of success; in fact, he thrives on it. His films are known for their extremely course language and brutal close-ups of violence. While there is only a little violence here, there is more than enough vulgarity to make up for it. In fact, the film breaks the record for most f-bombs in a film ever, with 506. Let that sink in. While the film, at times, seems to be simply treading the same
ground as his earlier classics, the content in this film goes farther than Scorsese has ever gone before. In a year that gave us such comedy gems as This is the End, The World’s End, and The Heat, The Wolf of Wall Street is easily one of the funniest films of the year. Whether it’s because of the acts being committed on-screen or the absurdity of what they are watching, the audience laughs through much of the three-hour film.
Why make a film about a boiler room of brokers screwing people over and partying with their riches? The funniest parts include quieter dialogue scenes, such as young Jordan’s mentor, Mark Hanna (Matthew McCanaughey), pushing the rookie broker to adopt a sex and drug-fueled lifestyle, complete with masturbating twice a day, to Donnie explaining to Jordan that, yes, the rumors are true, he is married to his cousin, but he explains why it’s okay. Then there are truly ridiculous moments, such as Jordan washing his hands at one end of the bathroom sink while another broker goes at a prostitute from behind at the other, or Jordan’s friends trying to calm him down as they get on a plane while he’s high on Quaaludes. Many actors might be turned off or scared away by all the madness in the script, but Leonardo DiCaprio embraces it and pushes it even further. Having bought the rights to the real Jordan Belfort’s memoirs six years ago, stayed with the project when every studio passed on it, and ultimately serving as the film’s star and producer, The Wolf of Wall Street is as much DiCaprio’s baby as it is Scorsese’s.
Having built up an impressive résumé of wildly different, but all equally developed, characters since his breakout 16 (!) years ago in Titanic, DiCaprio’s performance as Jordan Belfort may just be his best yet. Each time the audience thinks he can’t go any further, he does. Scenes of DiCaprio high on Quaaludes, acting like a frat boy blitzed out of his mind, are unlike anything he’s ever done before. One scene in particular, where Jordan and Donnie each take several of the legendary Lemmon 714’s, is perhaps the funniest scene of the year. But behind this party hard exterior are scenes of Jordan’s rage and sadness at his own life, scenes where DiCaprio truly shows his talent, cementing his status as one of the best actors of this, or any, generation. Similarly, Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie are at the top of their game, doing the best work of their young careers. Hill, an Oscar nominee for his work two years ago in Moneyball, is equally award-worthy here for playing Donnie Azoff, a man always looking for the next big score and bigger party. Buried beneath glasses and fake teeth, Hill makes Donnie just as loathsome, yet entertaining, as Jordan, while also letting a darker side peek out every once in a while. Margot Robbie, meanwhile, is the film’s true revelation. An Australian actress, Robbie gives filmgoers the best Brooklyn accent in years, especially impressive in an awards season that has seen Jennifer Lawrence receive numerous accolades and nominations for hers in American Hustle. Robbie’s Naomi literally bares all in multiple scenes, showcasing her true fearlessness as an actress. Also, in a film dominated by powerful and mysoginistic men, Naomi stands as one of the film’s few examples of a strong woman, regularly standing up to the uncontrollable Jordan and talking him down to human level. This is clearly the breakout performance
of a very talented actress. But as stated above, why even tell this story? In a time when the country is still trying to recover from the horrible mismanaging of the economy by modern day Wolves of Wall Street, why make a film seemingly celebrating them? As the credits roll, most characters seem to have only been minimally punished and have received no redemption. Jordan Belfort may have lost his riches and family, but he still seems to be the upbeat, driven-by-selling man he was in the thick of it all. And even though he will reportedly receive no profits from this film, all money going to his still not repaid victims, the real-life Jordan Belfort will no doubt benefit from the film. So again, why? Perhaps, ultimately, it was just to tell an entertaining story that stays true to life. The real Jordan Belfort served about two years in prison and is now back on the upswing with a successful motivational speaking business. To end the film any other way would have been a betrayal of the truth. Also, it’s a slap in the face from real life. As Scorsese has said in multiple interviews, to give it a happy ending, with all the brokers punished, would have made it a run-of-the-mill tale of morality that ultimately would have been forgotten, and he’s right. But anyone who sees The Wolf of Wall Street will never forget it, specifically because it is unfair, because it doesn’t have a clichéd happy ending. This is real life people, a world where bad guys are not always punished and only the most cutthroat survive. Like Jordan says in the film, in a world where everything is for sale, if you have money and power, you’ll not only survive, but thrive. Ultimately, the film succeeds because it is simultaneously laugh-‘til-you-cry hilarious and a disturbingly accurate portrayal of success in America. Both of these combined make The Wolf of Wall Street one of the most entertaining films of the year.
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The Chronicle
Arts
January 14th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 17
Justified: One of TV’s Best Returns Stronger Than Ever By ANDY GILCHRIST Arts Editor
For the past ten years or so, FX has been quietly establishing itself as one of the best networks on television for scripted programming. AMC has such awardwinners as Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and The Walking Dead, while HBO has the much talked about Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, and Girls. But FX has produced just as many, if not more, long-running hits as the more better known cable giants, including The Shield, Nip/Tuck, and Rescue Me, as well as currently running shows like Sons of Anarchy, American Horror Story, and The Bridge. But the best FX has to offer by far is its hill country crime drama series, Justified. The series follows two protagonists. The first is U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant), born and raised in Kentucky, who reluctantly returns to his native Harlan County from Miami when the series opens. Operating like an Old West sheriff, complete with a cowboy hat, Raylan doles out justice based on right and wrong, rarely letting the law get in the way of his bullets. Together with his boss, Chief Deputy Marshall Art Mullen (Nick Searcy), and fellow Marshalls Tim Gutterson (Jacob Pitts) and Rachel Brooks (Erica Tazel), Raylan isn’t trying to completely eliminate crime in Harlan. He’s just trying to keep the peace. On the other side is Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins), a war veteran who returns to Harlan a bit before the pilot and immediately picks up his hillbilly criminal ways. But as the seasons have gone by, Boyd has evolved more than anyone on the show, and unlike anyone on TV, changing from white supremacist to preacher to would-be crime boss to convict to actual crime boss, all the while maintaining his status as resident wild card. Together with his wife, Ava, (Joelle Carter) and his brother, Johnny, (David
Meunier), Boyd is never one to be counted out and as the current season begins, is working with mob figure Wynn Duffy (Jere Burns) to straighten out their new positions as area kingpins for the Detroit mob. Justified succeeds for many reasons, but first and foremost is the acting. Olyphant’s Raylan is one of the coolest characters on TV, as calm in everyday conversation as he is when staring down a lowlife looking to kill him. But it’s the quieter moments when Olyphant truly shows his talent. With a less than perfect home life, including recently having had a child with his ex-wife and never having had a good relationship with his father, Raylan’s backstory provides some of the show’s trademark quirky humor, as well as some of its best acting. Goggins, meanwhile, excels with the character of Boyd. Playing a character that changes so often might trip up an actor, but Goggins makes the audience believe that Boyd could be so many things combined. Goggins can easily do long dialogue scenes just as well as scenes of extreme violence, which often come backto-back. He perfectly captures the homegrown former smalltime criminal who grew into a crime lord through sheer will, intelligence, and brutality. The series is also unlike most others due to its use of main villains. Taking its cue from a long line of shows, Justified uses the “Big Bad” format, pitting Raylan and Boyd against a new and more vicious foe every year. While the two protagonists are often at each other’s throats, they are often both working against the same enemy; Raylan to put them in jail and Boyd to stop them from threatening his own criminal activities. Here is where the show truly excels. Where most other shows, usually sitcoms, hire a big name guest star just to draw viewers, with the actor playing either a generic character or themselves, Justified
hires well-known character actors to play well-developed and challenging antagonists. From local Harlan hoods to Detroit’s most sadistic enforcers, Justified rolls out villains unlike anyone else, each one being superbly acted and unique from anyone seen yet on the show. But the show’s success goes deeper than just the award-winning acting and outstanding writing. Every episode makes the viewer feel like they’re down in the hills of Kentucky with the characters. In a time when every cop show takes place in a city, usually New York, it’s a breath of fresh mountain air to not just watch a show set outside an urban landscape, but go deep into hill country. With the exception
Walton Goggins
of a few episodes, the series always shows the characters venturing out among the trees and backwoods of Harlan, encountering the always eccentric and perfectly acted locals. Furthermore, the show rarely focuses on the rich and powerful, instead choosing to focus its lens on the poor and struggling of Harlan. The community survives by selling various drugs, most notably Oxy, making just enough to get by. In this way, Justified is more about the common man, the average American, than other crime shows, thereby appealing to a much broader audience. Raylan and Boyd perfectly personify this. Raylan is not trying to eradicate crime in Harlan; he recognizes how his world works
and is just trying to keep things from spiraling out of control. Boyd, meanwhile, is chasing a constantly changing American Dream, leading to his regular identity shifts, but always revolving around the quest for power. Justified is a rare show on television, not just because of its unique setting, incredible acting, and flawless writing, but because it has gotten better with each subsequent season. Where most shows start out strong and falter over the years, often changing their entire premise to try to draw in new viewers, Justified has only gotten stronger. By never forgetting that a great show is built on characters and story, it looks like the show can do nothing but keep getting better.
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Opinion
C9 Could Lane Closures Shut the Door on Christie?
January 14th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 17
By ZACHARY OLSAVICKY Opinion Editor
to at least four incidents, and an elderly woman died in an ambulance caught in the traffic. At the time, officials made vague claims that the lane closures were part of a traffic study on the bridge. But rumors persisted that the closures were political payback directed at Fort Lee mayor Mark Sokolich, who did not endorse Christie in his re-election for governor. Those rumors turned into a harsh reality on Tuesday with the release of e-mails between a Christie administration official and a Christie-appointed official at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. Not only did the officials plan the closures months in advance, they exchanged trite, mocking messages about the delays as they happened. Officials may have conceived of this as a minor incident with an easy cover-up, but the damage goes beyond their political reputations. It’s the kind of incident that undermines trust in government—these officials are supposed to serve the public, not have the public serve their revenge fantasies. Though gov-
Few things about politics tend to rankle voters quite like gridlock. It’s existed since time immemorial, slowing the legislative process and bringing out the best—and often worst—negotiating skills in politicians. Though last autumn’s government shutdown remains the most notorious example of how gridlock hurts citizens, a new, far more literal example is unfolding in New Jersey—and it could drain the star power of a top contender in the 2016 presidential race. The scandal involves New Jersey governor Chris Christie and the closure of two lanes on the George Washington Bridge, a major thoroughfare between Fort Lee, New Jersey and Washington Heights, New York. The lanes, reserved for commuters from Fort Lee, were closed without advance notice, leading to major traffic delays for four days. Though it sounds like a hilarious example of life imitating art, it’s hard to look at in a funny light—emergency services were late in responding
ernments are far from perfect in serving the public—look at the launch failure of Healthcare. gov—incidents of poor functionality are a far cry from malice and manipulation. Though Christie denies knowing anything about the lane closures, it’s very hard to envision a scenario in which he was unaware of the plan. Political offices are highly coordinated entities—the right hand always knows what the left hand is doing. But let’s take Christie at his word, that he was unaware of the scandal. What does it say about his leadership skills that he wouldn’t be aware of goings-on like this? That he would hire these people in the first place? It’s a bad enough example to consider on the state level, but when thinking about his profile as a candidate for president, the consequences could be even worse. Say a senator was unwilling to support one of Christie’s bills: would she or he have infrastructure projects halted in their state? While most political payback comes in personal form, the lane closures go beyond that
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The George Washington Bridge is a major thoroughfare between New York and New Jersey.
The Chronicle
New Jersey governor Chris Christie is in hot water. mark and affect the day-to-day lives of citizens. Pulling strings to impact funding or operation of government services on a national level would lead to even worse consequences. This irony may be grander than the gridlock itself: Christie, a leader in a party that strongly believes government should stay out of citizens’ lives, is involved in a scandal where government has impacted peoples’ day-to-day lives. Forget a run for president: how much more difficult would a run for the Republican nomination now be? It’s still unlikely that a Tea Party favorite would win, but staunch conservatives like Rand Paul now have a strong talking point against the governor. Marginalizing Christie’s role in the 2016 GOP primary race would be a shame for the party. Well before the shutdown, he strongly criticized Speaker Boehner and congressional Republicans for
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failing to pass an aid bill for Hurricane Sandy relief. His political stances are still within the norms for the GOP, but he seems to recognize the notion that passing legislation he disagrees with is better than passing no legislation at all. For all the nice things that can be said about his record, it’s hard to look past the bridge controversy and the incompetency that it suggests. Whether people want big government, small government, or something in between, there can be universal agreement that government should be ethical. Overcoming corruption, whether in the form of the recent NSA surveillance program or the Tuskegee Experiment, has always been part of the American challenge of making a more perfect union. If Chris Christie is running an office where political payback is an ideal, it’s hard to justify his playing a role in America’s future.
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The Chronicle
Opinion
January 14th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 17
Francis I Captivating in Inaugural Year
By KATHERINE BAKAITIS Staff Writer TIME’s Person of the Year is a prestigious honor given to the most influential and popular person of the year. 2013 has seen the rise of many influential and popular people (Miley Cyrus first comes to mind), but it is only those who have undoubtedly spread positive (with the exceptions being Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Ayatollah Khomeini) and powerful inspiration throughout the world. While this wasn’t the first year a Pope has been elected Person of the Year, this is the first year where the decision to elect a Pope actually makes sense. Personally, not being a Roman Catholic (or part of any religion), I probably could not have cared less about the resigning of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of a probable new pedophilic-lenient Pope. Despite my initial indifference towards the whole formality, I did enjoy the Facebook photo postings that compared the old Pope’s elaborate greeting on the Vatican balcony to the new Pope’s greeting after being elected. When I saw that picture of the newly-elected Pope Francis in his plain white Cardinal outfit, after being elected, smiling and waving shyly to the cheering crowd, I couldn’t help but grin approvingly. From day one, Pope Fran
cis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, quickly proved to have a different style when approaching the duties of the Papacy. For one, he likes to sneak out of the Vatican at night with Archibishop Konrad Krajewski (who’s the Vatican almoner) disguised as a regular priest to pay visits to the deprived and homeless of Rome. Pope Francis has also become a strong advocate against capitalism, writing about it in his document titled Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), explaining that “Just as the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill’ sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life,” he writes, “today, we also have to say ‘thou shalt not’ to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills.” Pope Francis has also earned the title as the “people’s Pope” through his humble and hardworking past that has made his the person he is today. The Pope held many odd jobs back in the day such as sweeping floors and running lab tests before pursuing ministry, and even working as a bouncer in a bar in Buenos Aries! Pope Francis also played basketball when he was young. He’s also a supporter of his local football club in Buenos Aires, San Lorenzo de Almagro. The Pope recently met with the heads of FIFA and the International Olympic Committee, and he wasn’t shy to share his message about joys of sport and the destructive power
of commercialization. “Sport is harmony, but if money and success prevail as the aim, this harmony crumbles.” He also warned against the commodification of athletes, which reduces humans to “mere trading material.” Pope Francis is not soft, though. His stance on Vatican corruption and the mafia has brought out the bad-ass side of him. The mafia and the Vatican have had a long, quiet, mutually beneficial relationship. The mafia made investments in the Vatican and used the church’s financial system to launder money. Pope Francis is now working to reform church finances and dissolve such corruption. Quoting Jesus, he said, “It would be better for [the corrupt man] if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea.” Naturally, the mafia is a little more than displeased. Francis has spoken against organized crime and even called out particular groups by names, including a mafia organization in southern Italy that is reportedly unhappy with the Vatican reforms. A leading antimob prosecutor from Calabria is concerned that the Pope could be a target for assassination, but Pope Francis has done nothing to indicate that he cares. Like I said; bad-ass! Some of the smaller things he does turn out to be the most wonderful. He gives out hugs to people who have devastating ail-
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Pope Francis I has garnered much attention since his coronation in March of 2013. ments, he has let someone ride in the Popemobile simply because he asked, and he let a little boy who was hugging his legs and running around him during a speech sit on his special chair. Pope Francis understands and accepts the fact that families are changing, and with an increase in divorce rates and same-sex marriage, he encourages the rest of the church to keep up with the times. He urged ministers and officials to "find a new balance” and warned against focusing too much on gay marriage, gay rights, and abortion: "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will," he said, "who am I to judge?" The Pope also encourages church officials to live more modestly and ditch the fancy duds and jewel-encrusted chalices, such as he practices. He was also the first Pope in history to wash a woman’s feet when he visited Rome's Casal Del Marmo Youth Detention Center in March. Speaking of different, Pope Francis celebrated the end of Ramadan this year by reaching out to Muslims.
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“I want to send a hello to Muslims around the world,” he said. “I hope that Christians and Muslims engage in mutual respect, especially through the education of new generations.” Compared to Pope Benedict’s comment in 2006 calling the Islamic text “evil and inhuman,” I would say that this is a slight improvement in tolerance. The Pope will also randomly call people who send him letters (or even if you don’t), and he has as many followers on Twitter as Justin Bieber. Probably my favorite quality about him is that he has the special ability to tick off the conservatives, a.k.a. the bad Christians at Fox News. When the head of the most popular branch of the most followed religion in the world begins to turn heads with his above-average humility, then it’s something worth noting. He holds massive influence over billions of worshipers, some of whom have power themselves, and if he can turn them to “the good side” of acceptance and non-hypocrisy, then he could change the world.
January 14th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 17
Sports
The Chronicle
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Recapping the 2013 NFL Regular Season By TORI ADDISON Staff Writer
If anything, this NFL season sure did not fail to disappoint. Between all the circulating story lines and monumental plays, fans were definitely kept entertained each and every week. With all the monumental stories, it was hard not to forget some of the best (and worst) moments of the 20132014 NFL season. 1. The Book of Manning… and not so Manning One of the most amusing parts about this season had to be the Manning brothers. While Peyton was busy breaking every record in the book, Eli could not seem to stop throwing interceptions. Eli had a remarkable twenty-seven total interceptions this season, breaking his own career record as well as the Giants’ franchise record for career interceptions thrown. Oh, and he had the most interceptions in the league, too. Then there was Peyton, who never does anything wrong. Not only did he lead his team to the playoffs, but he also broke the single season record for both passing yards and touchdowns. After the terrible record the Giants had this season, I think it is time for Eli to look to his big brother if he wants to learn a thing or two about being an elite quarterback. 2. Aaron Hernandez Losing a tight-end because of a murder charge is something teams do not usually deal with in the offseason, unless that team is the Patriots. Tom Brady’s favorite tight-end duo would be separated as the news broke that Hernandez was convicted in connection to a murder case. The news would lead the Patriots to release Hernandez, which was a smart move considering he will most likely be in prison for quite some time. Long story short, while Aaron Hernandez may be really good at scoring touchdowns, he is not a very nice guy. 3. New Coach, New Look
I do not know about you, but I was definitely not expecting Andy Reid to go almost undefeated with the Chiefs, nor the Eagles to take the NFC East under Chip Kelly. Even though both teams did not make it very far in the playoffs, at least Alex Smith had his time in the spotlight after getting booted out of his starting spot by Colin Kaepernick last season. Maybe leaving the Eagles was the best thing for both Andy Reid and his old team. The Eagles’ offense exploded once Nick Foles stepped up as quarterback, thanks to Chip Kelly’s brilliant offense schemes. I had my doubts about Kelly at the beginning of the season, but he sure did prove me wrong by the end. 4. Richie, Richie, Richie; can't you see? Richie Incognito, where to even begin with this guy. He tormented second-year tackle Jonathan Martin on the basis of “toughening him up.” Quite frankly, this was just embarrassing for the Dolphins’ organization. When a player leaves a team because of bullying, something is definitely not right. Hopefully, Martin can move past the incident and continue his career in the league. 5. Big Trade, Bad Results I did not think it was humanly possible to have a better career with the Browns than with Andrew Luck and the Colts, but Trent Richardson made such a scenario possible. I know he has only been a Colt for a short period of time, but I still do not understand what happened to him. I was genuinely shocked when the Browns traded Richardson, as he was one of the few positive aspects of the team’s offense. It may be taking a while for Richardson to warm up to the Colts’ offense, but his performance during the regular season was less than impressive. Maybe, just maybe, the Browns did know what they were doing when they chose to trade him. 6. The NFC Who?
You know you are the worst division in the NFL when Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite has a better record than twotime Super Bowl-winning Eli Manning. Yet, Eli and the rest of the division really didn't have a season to brag about. With the pathetic defense in Dallas, Washington’s quarterback issues, and turnovers galore from the Giants, it is safe to say that the Eagles deserved to represent the NFC East in the playoffs. 7. Adrian Peterson’s Unknown Child Personally, I was heartbroken to hear about the awful situation surrounding Adrian Peterson's son. What made matters worse was the way he handled it. It was very disappointing how AP opted to play the week his son was in critical care. Not to mention, he did not seem very upset, leading many people to believe he had no contact with the child in the first place. Long story short, the whole situation was very specious and I am still upset over how AP acted. 8. Rookies of the Year The best rookie performances this season go to Alshon Jeffrey and Eddie Lacy, hands down. The Bears created a deadly duo of targets between Jeffrey and Marshall. It seemed that every catch Jeffrey made was more impressive each time. Eddie Lacy was no joke, either, as he was a main component to the Packers’ offense with the loss of Aaron Rodgers. Both players look to continue to impress as they continue on with their careers. 9. The Redskins’ Identity Crisis The Redskins faced some serious controversy this season regarding their team’s name. In my opinion, their name should be the least of the NFL’s problems. At this point, the franchise has already established themselves as the Redskins, and fans should not have to go out of their way to purchase all new memorabilia to support the team. The last thing
you want to do as NFL commissioner is make fans angry, and that is one thing Roger Goodell is exceptionally good at doing. 10. The Super Bowl Location is Horrendous You could not pay me to play in an open stadium in New Jersey in the middle of winter. Not only that, but why would you pay to go? First of all, the weather is
probably going to be ridiculous. Second of all, tailgating has been outlawed. And third, it is going to be really hard to celebrate when you are so cold that you cannot move a muscle without cringing. I wish the two teams who play in the Super Bowl the best of luck because they are really going to need it.
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The Aaron Hernandez case has been a major storyline in the NFL.
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Sports
The Chronicle
January 14th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 17
Taking a Look at the Golden Knights By JOSHUA NATOLI Sports Editor
The saying “home is where the heart is” has held true for the Golden Knights Men’s Basketball team so far this season, who boast an undefeated record at their Nolan Gymnasium. Such a circumstance is not a bad problem to have; it’s the inconsistency behind the club which draws some concern. Taking a closer look at their 8-7 record, you see that six of those wins have come at home, leaving only two road wins, with seven losses outside of Albany. That is alarming for a team with NE10 title aspirations. The toughest games played are the ones one the road, away from the fans, in enemy territory. Even the slightest misconception of how the ball will bounce along the rim comes into play. Taking a deeper look into the stat sheet, I have come up with a few ways the road issue could be
fixed. The first one sounds pretty straightforward: score more points. Obviously, every team’s goal is to score more than the opponent, but hear me out. In all but one of their eight wins, the Golden Knights have scored more than 70 points, the one exception being a three-point victory over Adelphi. A trend as such should be looked into, as only three of the Golden Knights’ losses finished with more than 70 points for Saint Rose. Another aspect to look at would be three-point shooting. A good three-point shooting team hovers around .400. The Golden Knights are currently at .330, part of which is due to a very poor display beyond the arc in the win over Pace, in which Saint Rose shot 1-11, good for .091. Six of the seven losses have featured a three-point percentage below .400. Bringing the three-point percentage up will definitely help, especially on the road. Or they could take another route,
SAINT ROSE ATHLETICS
Kareem Thomas has been averaging close to double figures for the Golden Knights this year.
SAINT ROSE ATHLETICS
Dominykas Milka leads the team in points and rebounds per game.
and not shoot as many. They lost Andre Pope last year, who was deadly from behind the arc. It might be time to settle for higher percentage looks. The emergence of Tyler Sayre has been a huge help for the Golden Knights, as the number two scorer to Dominykas Milka. The duo is averaging a total of 38.1 points total per game— 18.2 and 19.9, respectively. Although the two put up fantastic numbers, there is a big drop off. The next highest per game scorer is Kareem Thomas, who isn’t touching double figures at 9.3. There needs to be someone else in the lineup to step up and help Milka and Sayre out. Pope played that role last season, rounding out a trio of double-digit scorers. A spark plug
sixth-man off the bench would mess very well with this group, especially from downtown. Rebounding has also been divided amongst the team. Milka leads the team in boards with 11.9 per game, but after him there is a huge drop off. The next highest total is 6.0 belonging to Sayre, and then it gets even worse with Mical-Ryan Boyd with 3.3. This distribution of wealth is terrible. More players need to be involved in crashing the boards, starting fastbreaks, and finishing on the other end. Milka, a center, is also the leader in another, more unfortunate statistical category: turnovers. He averages 3.6 a game, while the next highest total of 1.7 belongs to Dan Mundweiler, a guard. This
is a very unusual circumstance, being that guards are supposed to be the ones dribbling and moving the ball, thus increasing the chance of a turnover. Centers are not supposed to be doing either of those, mainly setting picks and putting the ball in the hole. Cutting the turnovers at the position in half could save a few points on the other end, which means a lot in close games, such as the most recent 85-83 loss at Franklin Pierce. I have no doubt the Golden Knights can correct these issues and bring in the new academic semester with a bang. As long as they can win on the road, they will be successful. Keeping up that home winning streak won’t hurt, either.