The Chronicle
September 17th, 2013
The weekly student newspaper of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York www.strosechronicle.com - @strosechronicle
Volume LXXXII Issue 5
Fall Activites Fair 2013
For more photos from around campus, see pages A6 and A8 KELLY PFEISTER
Dan Rushton answers questions about Identity at last Thursday’s Activities Fair. The event is held annually to inform students of the varied organizations available around campus.
Camerata Back For 11th Season By ZACHARY OLSAVICKY Opinion Editor
It’s a rare sight for orchestral musicians to perform in costume—most works in the genre
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do not call for any theatricality, and most musicians wear simple outfits for their performances. But at the April performance of the Saint Rose Camerata, audience members (and performers) were
treated to the sight of Saint Rose professor Sherwood Wise playing the bassoon while dressed in an Elvis Presley ensemble. Continued on Page A5
Supporting Women One Step at a Time
By KATELYN DOHERTY Contributing Writer On a crisp cool September morning, hundreds of walkers, runners and supporters gathered
Arts & Opinion
in Washington Park in Albany to support the 12th annual Teal Ribbon Walk on Sunday, which supports ovarian cancer research. Continued on Page A4
Sports
Residence halls closed. See pages A2
Sons of Anarchy: Television’s Darkest Show Returns. See page B11
Who Ya Got?- Champ vs. Champ See page D15
Photos: Moving message walk. See pages A7
Taking Exception to Exceptionalism. See page C12
Women’s volleyball gets the win on the road. See page D16
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The Chronicle
September 17th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 5
Residence Halls Being Repurposed for the Future By ASIA EWART Staff Writer
What began as a routine cleaning in the basement of Gibbons Hall has resulted in the entire house being stripped of its living purposes. Back in March 2013, a small bit of asbestos was found in some pipe insulation in the dorm’s basement, and since then, the building has been emptied of both the asbestos and its residents. While the amount found posed no danger to the students living there, as it was only confined to the basement, they were still vacated and reassigned to different houses on campus. Gibbons is only one of a handful of houses that have been repurposed and changed by the College in the last few years. “We have taken a handful of buildings off-line in the past two years. This was mainly as a result of opening Centennial Hall; after working with our consul-
tants, we had decided that we would take some spaces off-line when that building was ready to make more efficient use of our buildings. Currently, 302 Western, 429 Western, Medaille Hall, Casey Hall, Gibbons Hall, and 198 Partridge are not in use,” said Jen Richardson, Director of Residence Life. The displaced residents were given ample notice and time to choose new housing so no one would be left without residence. “We have offered these students what we call Displaced Status and allow them the opportunity to select the same type of room in another house if they so choose,” Richardson said. So what is going to become of these buildings since their official and living purposes have ended? “Some are being repurposed,” said Marcus Buckley, the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Finance & Administration at the College. JOHN JANITZ JR
In March 2013, asbestos was discovered in Gibbons Hall. Abatement began soon afterward, compelling then-residents to relocate. Upon explaining why the buildings were taken offline, in addition to the opening of Centennial, he added that Saint Rose was doing just fine in terms of accommodating on-campus residents. “The College had adequate space to accommodate all students desirous of on-campus housing. The buildings taken out of service [were] smaller and [had] generally lower student interest in them,” said Buckley. Living purposes for select buildings aren’t completely ruled
out for the future. “Some of the buildings are planned to be used for a group of international students who will be joining us this spring. The usage of all buildings and spaces on campus are constantly under review so that we can determine the best way to meet the academic and co-curricular needs of our students, faculty and staff,” Richardson said. However, others aren’t so lucky. “One, 302 Western Ave. will probably be sold since its remote
location was unpopular with students, but [as aforementioned], others may be used in the future, and…put back into service if demand increases,” said Buckley. As of now, students residing in other halls don’t have much to worry about, but with the constant changes of the student population, the College may need to act accordingly in the future. “Space management is a dynamic process, and there always has to be some vacant space to deal with unforeseen demands and contingencies,” Buckley said.
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JOHN JANITZ JR
A notice posted outside of the newly-closed Gibbons Hall when asbestos was discovered last spring.
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September 17th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 5
In Brief
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Pine Hills Neighborhood Association Meeting Sept. 19 The Pine Hills Neighborhood Association will begin their new program year with a meeting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the LaSalle School’s Hanner Cultural Center located at 391 Western Ave. “Our Program Committee has come up with an interesting, provocative and informative list of guest speakers and topics, starting off with Pat Fahy, our NYS Assemblyperson,” Hammer said in an email to association members.
Fahy will speak about her efforts to address the inequities in state aid to cities, and the large amount of untaxed property in Albany. Also on the agenda, is a discussion about how to make Albany’s streets safer by changing state law to allow municipalities to lower the 25 mph speed limit in designated areas. Refreshments will be served at the meeting and there will be a 50/50 raffle.
The meetings are open to the public. One does not have to be a member of the PHNA to attend. Hammer invites all to “Please come and bring along a neighbor,” adding, “This is your chance to add to the discussion.” The PHNA meets the third weekend of each month, from September through June. For more information, visit www. pinehillsna.org.
Saint Rose Offers Physical Ed Classes for Preschool and Homeschooled Children The College’s Physical Education Department will soon offer low-cost physical education classes specially designed for preschool and home-schooled children. The classes will be held for preschool, kindergarten and home-schooled children of all ability levels, ages three to 14. Classes will run from 1:20 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. each Tuesday from Oct. 1 through Nov. 26, excluding Nov. 5, in the Events and
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Executive Editor Jackson Wang ‘14 wangj847@strose.edu
Athletics Center. The program encompasses a complete physical education curriculum with activities in aquatics, basic skills, character, fitness, games and sports, gymnastics, outdoor living skills, rhythm and dance, safety and wellness. Children are taught by Saint Rose education students learning to become teachers. Student teachers are supervised by the chair of the Physical Education Department. Each child in the
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program will receive individual attention and instruction, with a ratio of one teacher per one or two children. The full package of eight classes costs $30. Registration is required and must be paid in advance. For more information about the classes, contact Dr. Neilson, chair of the Physical Education Department, at 454-5248 or neilsona@strose.edu
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
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Calendar of Events Tuesday, September 17 4 p.m. MAPS ALB 109 7 p.m. G4G (Girls For God) Sanctuary 7 p.m. Spectrum St. Joseph’s Hall 8 p.m. Outside the [Box] Lima Basement 8 p.m. Yoga Sanctuary Wednesday, September 18 12 p.m. Weight Watchers St. Joseph’s Hall 2:40 p.m. Natural Science Association Science Center Room 352 5 p.m. Mid-Week Mass Sanctuary 7:30 p.m. BASIC Sanctuary 8 p.m. Colleges Against Cancer Meeting Lima SA Conf Rm 10 p.m. Karate Club Practice EAC Room 110 Thursday, September 19 1:30 p.m. Interdisciplinary Conversation in Ethics “Who is the Other?” Sanctuary 5:30 p.m. SEB Meeting St. Joseph’s Hall 7:30 p.m. Frequency North Writers Series Standish 7:30 p.m. Identity Main Lounge Friday, September 20 7 p.m. Women’s Volleyball vs. Nyack EAC 7:30 p.m. Psychic Robert Channing St. Joseph’s Auditorium Saturday, September 21 10:30 a.m Family Weekend Festival Campus Quad 11:30 a.m. Personality Test Workshop Standish 1 p.m. Men’s Soccer vs. Bentley Plumeri 2 p.m Mr. Wizard Show Touhey Forum 7:30 p.m. Saint Rose Camerata Massry Sunday, September 22 12:00 p.m. Upper Madison Street Fair W. Lawrence and Allen St. 12:30 p.m. Jazz Ensemble Concert Massry 6:30 p.m. College Mass St. Vincent de Paul Church 6:30 p.m. NCAA AOD Program St. Joseph’s Hall Monday, September 23 3:00 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.
Staff Writers Tori Addison Katherine Bakaitis Blaise Bryant Asia Ewart Andy Gilchrist Tariq Kendall Kellie McGuire Kevin Jacob Lauren Klose Vanessa Langdon Sam Maxwell Lauren Sears Michael Smith M. William Smith Drew van der Poel Staff Photographer 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.
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Teal Ribbon Walk
The Teal Ribbon Walk drew in thousands of dollars, including over $1,000 raised by The College of Saint Rose Teal Ribbon Walkers. The Saint Rose Teal Ribbon Walkers also took first
The College of Saint Rose Teal Ribbon Walkers rasied over $1,000. place for the “team with the most walkers.” Signs of loved ones and T-shirts filled the park while those in attendance tried to keep smiles on their faces as much as they possibly could. Participating in this walk really is an amazing experience for many people, as many walkers and runners discussed. It not only helped raise awareness and raise
money for ovarian cancer research, but also allowed everyone who attended to come together as a community. Amongst the various teams and individuals who participated in the walk/run was The Saint Rose Teal Ribbon Walkers, lead by English 114 Professor Marcie Newton and Mascot Chewy, the chocolate lab. English 114 students participate in this walk in conjunction to studying the play Wit by Margaret Edison, which is about an English professor who experiences the struggle of living and undergoing treatments of ovarian cancer. Students who participated in the walk had the opportunity to participate in service learning and understand how important it is to raise awareness for this cause. Many people do not understand how many lives ovarian cancer, also known as the cancer that whispers, it takes each year. It has only been in recent years that ovarian cancer has received any real attention and yet this
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year alone, it has taken the lives of approximately 22,000 women, according to Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. Freshman student Michele Tesoro considered the walk “a real eye-opener.” She did not know much about this cause un-
“A real eyeopener.” Michele Tesoro KATELYN DOHERTY
til studying the play in class and coming to this walk really gave her a new perspective on this specific disease and how important the research for it was. It was her first time participating in this event, and she felt as if it was something she would continue to do in years to come. Not only did Newton’s class walk in high spirits, but everyone else who participated. There
KATELYN DOHERTY
Saint Rose Teal Ribbon Walkers lead by professor Marci Newton and Chewy.
Kyle Mahar and members of team “Mary’s Marauders.” were hundreds of people attending the walk to help promote awareness for this cause. It is so important that people are aware of this sinister disease. Andrea Annese-Como, a local woman from the Albany area in her mid-fourties, one of the board members of Caring Together Inc.,
“A good cause to get everyone together for a unified thing” and “the more people know about it the easier it is to get support.” Kyle Mahar started her own team Lucky to raise awareness. Many members of her team participated in both the 5K run and one mile walk. Annese-Como and her group participate in this walk each year to raise money to combat ovarian cancer, a disease she has so far survived seven years after she was diagnosed. She said that with her “gift of health [she] decided to raise
awareness and give back to the community about the symptoms which a lot of people don’t know.” Although some people are able to receive enough treatment and overcome this horrific disease, other people are not lucky enough to make it through treatments and survive. Runner participant Kyle Mahar, another local from the Albany area, ran for the second time in memory of his friend Amanda’s mother, Mary Beth Jevitt. He said that it’s “a good cause to get everyone together for a unified thing” and “the more people know about it the easier it is to get support.” He understands how important it is to raise money for this specific cause. Overall, this walk creates such an impact in the community for not only survivors and victims of ovarian cancer but also anyone else who just wants to get involved in supporting it. Each year there is a growing number of attendees, which makes it so successful. Newton, after doing this walk for three years now, knows how much of an impact it has on people. As there have been many changes throughout the years, Newton said that, “what hasn’t changed is the strong presence of love and community at this event.”
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Camerata
Continued From Page A1 Though the juxtaposition of bassoon and rhinestone-studded white leather sounds odd, it’s called for in the piece—American composer Michael Daughtry’s Dead Elvis for Solo Bassoon and Chamber Ensemble—which was inspired by the works of Elvis Presley. The piece ought to ring a bell with some students, as it is used in one of the school’s Music History classes. Striking a balance between standard classical pieces and lesser-known works is one of the challenges faced by the Camerata, according to founder and director Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough. “Variety is what we try to do,” said Hansbrough, “and we want this to be a learning experience for students and we also want this to be enjoyable.” The Camerata, which opens its eleventh season on Sept. 21 with a program theme in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, is made up of 18 faculty performers and will feature three guest performers throughout the season. A camerata differs from other performing ensembles because of its size; while most orchestras feature sections of performers on each part, a camerata typically features only one performer per instrument or vocal section. Before the Camerata came into existence, school faculty performed at recitals organized by then-department chair Pauline Voskovich. After conversations between Voskovitch and Hansbrough in the spring of 2003, the Camerata began performing that fall. But with no budget, the performers had to make a strong commitment to the group. “It showed how much people really wanted to play,” said Hansbrough. Ten years later, the group is looking to record an album of performances and possibly go on tour, according to Hansbrough. She described the group
as a learning experience for both performers and students, some of whom have used pieces performed by the group for their individual senior recitals. Part of what appeals to Hansbrough is in the intimate size of the group and the musical freedom given to performers. “It’s so different when you’re in a large ensemble. You have a lot of people and you have a conductor up there who’s basically giving instructions on how to interpret things. But when you’re in chamber music, it’s really up to the group on how you want to shape things and interpret things.” For some students, like sophomore music education major Katie LeClair, the opportunity to see their professors doing what they
“We want this to be a learning experience for students and we also want this to be enjoyable.” Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough teach is a sight unseen in many other departments. “There are very few other fields where you can actually see them doing what they’re doing live,” said LeClair. “There’s no layers of editing to it; it’s just what they produce on the spot. It’s like reading an English teacher’s story as she writes it.” Though the chance to see a professor in costume as a rock-androll icon also appeals to students, Hansbrough explained that it is “very rare” for a chamber piece to include a theatrical element. The group has performed only one other piece that involved an element of theatricality, George Crumb’s Vox Balaenae. The
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ZACHARY OLSAVICKY
Hansbrough leading a flute lesson in the Massry building. piece, which took the group nine rehearsals to prepare for, required performers to wear masks and for the stage to be bathed in illuminated light. Hansbrough said the group is considering performing the piece again, but not for a few years—she expressed a desire to explore new pieces and keep their
performances fresh for audiences. “Part of it is that we want our students to experience the various literature… you don’t want to repeat too soon,” explained Hansbrough. In the ten years of the Camerata’s existence, just one piece (a number by Ravel) has been repeated.
So for those hoping to see Wise make a comeback in Elvis garb, don’t get your hopes up—though if the piece does make a comeback, perhaps a black leather jacket would be in order. Reach Zachary Olsavicky at olsavickyz977@strose.edu
CAREER CENTER CORNER INFORMATION TABLES Accepting applications to join the Albany Police Dept. Tuesday, Sept. 17 11am–2pm | EAC
Multiple part time positions and internships
HR, Accounting and marketing interns
Thursday, Sept. 19 11am–2pm | EAC
Wednesday, Sept. 18 11am–2pm | EAC
CAREER CENTER |
career@strose.edu | 518.454.5141
@CSRCareerCenter | facebook.com/StRoseCareerCenter | www.linkedin.com “Saint Rose Career Center”
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September 17th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 5
This Week Around Campus...
Antonia Lazzara gets information on a club on Thursday.
Danniella Beltran played a matching game at the SEB's table.
Photos by Kelly Pfeister Calling all amateur photographers and photo professionals! If you would like to get involved with The Chronicle as a staff photographer, contact Head Photographer Kelly Pfeister today at pfeisterk593@ strose.edu. A student signs up for more information about a campus club.
September 17th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 5
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The Fourth Annual Moving Message Walk
KELLY PFEISTER KELLY PFEISTER
The walk began at 10 a.m on the Quad. Easles with stories of people who have been affected by strokes were placed around the sidewalk.
KELLY PFEISTER
Zhaleh LaLiberte-Lavasani helps students understand the difficulties of those who have suffered strokes.
Corrine Furjanic offered her facepainting skills to participants.
KELLY PFEISTER
Signs were placed all around campus to direct participants of the walk.
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September 17th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 5
Big Time Navigation App ‘Falcon’ Features Saint Rose By VANESSA LANGDON Staff Writer
The app community is here to help all the freshmen and transfer students on campus with the creation of the Falcon App. The free app, created by UCLA students, is available only to those with iPhones—Android users are left muddled walking in circles, for now. The app works like a compass that points you in the direction of your chosen destination. Here at Saint Rose, we have 31 ‘spots,’ or locales, on campus that the app can give you directions to. It’s a little confusing at first. The compass is the biggest hurdle to overcome. The fact that Falcon uses a compass instead of the location services featured by the standard Google Maps on the iPhone is its biggest pitfall. If you lack compass skills, you may end up wandering around in a northerly direction instead of heading to the library to write your paper. The app may be more useful in a larger campus setting rather than quaint Saint Rose where you can see almost all the buildings from any other. Falcon was revealed at this past year’s Coachella festival, where navigating the large area and many stages proved to be its best use. Saint Rose students may not need to use it here, but if you ever visit someone at another campus, it may end up being a saving grace. Other local colleges that the app supports include: SUNY Albany, Albany College of Pharmacy, Siena College, Sage College, and RPI. In addition to the spots already created, any user can create their own spots to mark a favorite new coffee shop, their favorite spot in the park, or a parking spot. The parking spot capabilities may be the biggest asset, especially
for all commuters on campus. The app also has a section for ‘friends.’ While well-meaning, it almost verges on stalking as you can see the locations of your friends on the app. Ali Baghshomali, one of the creators of the app, spoke of its conception; “[It] came from our personal experiences. I frequently would find myself lost when I was looking for things on campus, when I was at a music festival, or in generally similar settings. I'd also constantly hear the same thing from others, or would have people stop me and ask me where things are. All of this added up to us realizing that there's a pain here that needs to be resolved.”
“[A] Falcon dart[s] straight towards its prey and our app point[s] you directly to where you need to go.” Ali Bagshomali It took Baghshomali and the other creators about four months to conceptualize the app and get it in the iOS store. The process of naming the app was a democratic process. “We all sat down and made a long list of available names that we each liked. We vetoed the ones that weren't liked by all three of us, and then made a poll that we sent out to all of our friends on Facebook where they got to vote on the remaining options and give their opinions. ‘Falcon’ got a great response, the imagery was cool, and we liked the comparison between a Fal-
COURTESY ALI BAGSHOMALIALI
The logo for the navigation app ‘Falcon’ uses compass technology to guide students around their college campuses and beyond.
con darting straight towards its prey and our app pointing you directly to where you need to go so it worked,” Baghshomali said. Baghshomali has been thrilled with the general response thus far. “Our alma mater UCLA now uses the app as an official part of their new student orientation process, and the iSchool in Syracuse also pushes us out to their students all the time. We also released a version of our app specific to one music festival in Vegas - the Festival was called ‘Electric Daisy Carnival’ and the app was called ‘EDC Falcon’ - that proved so popular that it ended up as a top10 navigation app in the entire app store the next day.” The app is a good backup if you are completely lost, but if you do know an address or the name of where you want to go, the Google Maps app might be a more userfriendly option as it can give you step by step directions instead of the general northwest coordinate. The verdict: if you have lots of extra space on your phone that’s not being taken up by millions of selfies and the latest twerk-inducing Miley Cyrus song, it may be a worthy investment.
COURTESY ALI BAGSHOMALIALI
The navigation screen of the new app ‘Falcon.’
September 17th, 2013
Chronicle Cuisine: Tuna Noodle Casserole
Ingredients:
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Volume 82 Issue 5
*Recipe Courtesy of Alexander Pecha
- One bag of egg noodles -Two cans of tuna fish drained - One can of cream of mushroom soup - Milk - Spices - Shredded cheddar cheese - Shredded mozzarella cheese
Procedure: 1. Boil egg noodles. 2. While they are cooking, mix together two cans of drained tuna and cream of mushroom soup. 3.Add milk, use empty can to measure milk. 4.Mix altogether, and add as much shredded cheddar and shredded mozzarella as you want. 5. Spices can be salt, pepper, dill, and wine, and you can add what ever you want. You could also add peas. When noodles are done, drain, put back into pan, add tuna and mushroom soup mixture. 6.Cook until heated through and cheese is melted.
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Individuals who have earned Saint Rose graduate degrees are forces for positive change. They lead schools. Influence public policy. Write novels. Report the news. Build I.T. systems. Conduct groundbreaking research. Run corporations and start their own companies. How did they get there? By earning a Saint Rose graduate degree. They received personal attention from faculty with distinguished credentials and keen insights. They enjoyed small class sizes, flexible evening, online and day classes and rigorous fields of study. It made a difference in them so they could make a difference — and become who they really wanted to be.
52 GRADUATE DEGREES MARKET READY TO PUT YOUR CAREER IN DEMAND.
WWW.STROSE.EDU/GRAD
By LAUREN HALLIGAN New Editor
It’s festival season here in Albany! Here are some songs to help you prepare for the sing-a-longs that will undoubtedly take place in the upcoming weekends. 1. “Love and Loss” by Wild Adriatic This Saratoga Springs-based trio is returning to Pearlpalooza’s local stage once again. With a large Al bany following and a catchy rock and roll feel, their set will surely get the party started on Pearl Street on Sept. 28. Currently working on a full-length album, “Loss and Loss” is from their latest EP The Lion. 2. “In a Nutshell” by Barons in the Attic Barons in the Attic are Albany locals who merge rock, pop, folk and alternative genres to create a feelgood sound in their music. “In a Nutshell” is the third track off their full-length album Turn it Off & Take Out The Battery. Catch them on the Washington Stage at Larkfest Sept. 21. 3. “Purple Yellow Red and Blue” by Portugal. The Man Formerly signed to Albany’s own Equal Vision Records, Portugal. The Man have hit it big and are coming back to party as 2013’s PearlPalooza headliner. “Purple Yellow Red and Blue,” off Evil Friends, is their latest hit and a must-know for palooza-goers this year. 4. “Seventy Times Seven” by Brand New Okay, Brand New aren’t playing a free Albany festival, but they’re coming to Clifton Park’s Upstate Con cert Hall Sept. 18 to play one of four special shows the band has scheduled this fall. “Seventy Times Sev en” is a crowd favorite off the band’s 2001 album Your Favorite Weapon. Sorry, but this show is sold out. 5. “Road to Nowhere” by The Quick and The Dead Though Valentine’s on New Scotland Avenue will soon be closing their doors for good, after being bought out by Albany Medical Center, they’ve still got one more season of good music in store for showgoers. On Sept. 20, local country music band The Quick and The Dead will be playing Albany for the first time, performing songs off of their debut EP Easy Getting By.
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GRADUATE OPEN HOUSE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8 Tours begin at 5:30 pm Presentation by school deans at 6:30 pm Thelma P. Lally School of Education 1009 Madison Avenue, Albany Register today: 454-5144 or grad@strose.edu
Scholarships and graduate assistantships are available. On-campus, apartment-style housing is available
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Volume 82 Issue 5
Sons of Anarchy: Television’s Darkest Show Returns By ANDY GILCHRIST Staff Writer
Television fans cannot seem to agree what the best network for original programming is. Many say HBO, with Game of Thrones and Girls being cited as their best. Others say AMC, due to the unprecedented success of Mad Men and Breaking Bad. But the network that doesn’t get nearly enough attention is FX. Every awards season, the channel is almost entirely left out, forgotten among more highly rated hits. But many of FX’s shows are just as good as the more popular series, some even more so. One of those series is Sons of Anarchy, easily the darkest show on television. While its grim subject matter and bloody execution might be a turn off for some viewers, the writing, acting, and pacing of the show make it one of the most entertaining on television. Set in the fictional town of Charming, California, the show follows the day-to-day adventures of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original, a.k.a. SAMCRO. The club is currently led by the show’s main character, Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), a man torn between the dangerous and illegal operations the club thrives on, and the desire to go legit, to give up running guns and drugs, instilled in him by letters left by his late father, John. Jax is still the violence-prone biker he was when the show started, but leadership, fatherhood, and married life have transformed him into an introspective man who looks out for his family just as much as the club he heads. Jax’s wife Tara (Maggie Siff) and mother Gemma (Katey Sagal) fight for his affection and attention, sometimes physically and always threateningly. While Tara desperately wants Jax to leave Charming and the club behind and move with her and their boys to somewhere safer, Gemma refuses to let go of her hold over him, her Lady Macbeth-like ways making her unable to let any-
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Actor Charlie Hunnam plays Jax Teller. one she loves out of her control. Meanwhile, Jax’s father-in-law, Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman), has fallen further than anyone on the show. Having killed Jax’s father decades earlier, with Gemma’s help to become club President, Clay has now been kicked out of the club and sits in prison for murder. In the new season premiere, Clay appears ready to rat on the club for his own safety. But the show’s heart equally comes from the club’s other members. Clay’s best friend and former club VP Bobby Munson (Mark Boone Jr.) has recently lost faith in Jax and is hinting that he will leave the Charming charter. Tig Trager (Kim Coates) watched his daughter die in front of him and killed her murderer last year, experiences that still affect him. Chibs Telford (Tommy Flanagan), the severely scarred Scotsman, has recently been named Jax’s new VP upon Bobby’s resignation. Finally, Juice Ortiz (Theo Rossi) is trying to win back the club’s trust after being black-
mailed by the police into informing on them. The series is often written off by critics and new viewers as simply being an ultra-violent motorcycle commercial, filled with blood, guns, and naked women. And they certainly have a point. While other shows, such as NBC’s Hannibal, may have more blood, volume-wise, Sons certainly isn’t for those with weak stomachs. Dozens of people have been killed, even more shot, on the show, which almost seems to take a perverse pleasure in torturing its main characters. Case-in-point: show creator and executive producer Kurt Sutter has a recurring role of Otto Delaney, a SAMCRO member stuck behind bars with no hope of getting out. Over the course of the show, Otto has had an eye gouged out, been told his wife was murdered, slit his wrists, and bit his own tongue out. In last week’s season premiere, he was shown being raped by a prison guard in solitary confine-
ment, an act ordered by a U.S. Marshall whose sister Otto killed last year, which the Marshall promises will be done every day until Otto’s execution. But the series is much more than just blood and violence; it is also an extremely well written and acted show. It has so many moving parts, each given ample screen time to develop and cross over with others, leaving very few dangling plotlines, which hurt several other shows. Storylines such as SAMCRO’s relationship to Charming and its people, federal authorities’ attempts to take down the club, the club’s battles with other biker gangs and criminal organizations, and the club’s criminal activities are weaved seamlessly through each character’s well-developed personal life and their relationships with each other. It must be noted that the violence of the show is so extreme, so outlandish, that it barely seems to be real life at all. Yes, there are numerous fistfights and shootouts, but the violence on the show regularly goes way beyond that, almost entering the realm of the absurd. But this year, Sutter and his
production team seem to be taking the show in a new direction. The season premiere ends with a child entering his school holding an assault weapon, with the sound of machine gun fire going off after he walks into the building. After years of extreme blood and gore, it is the most realistic and scary violence we can imagine that the show decided to use. Did the child use one of the guns the club helped smuggle? It may not matter, because this real world fear has penetrated Charming and everyone is coming for the Sons. By taking the show in a decidedly more real direction, the producers have opened up a whole new realm of possible storylines that could mean the best episodes of the show are yet to come. Kurt Sutter has stated that he intends to end Sons of Anarchy after its seventh season, which means the actors and filmmakers have just two seasons to wrap up the whole story. We’re entering the final homestretch for one of television’s darkest and most memorable shows. Will the Sons ride off into the sunset or crash and burn on the side of the road?
Katey Sagal plays Gemma.
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September 17th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 5
Arts
The Chronicle
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Lack of Luster in Hollywood Has the industry gone overboard with its remakes, adaptations, and sequels?
By KATIE KLIMACEK Contributing Writer You just finished a book that you have been reading non-stop for the past two days. As you get to the last sentence, you feel yourself craving more of the story and more of the action. You feel all of these emotions and you think to yourself, “Wow, that would be a great movie!” But would it actually be a worthy movie? As audience members, we want to be taken to a different world and be a part of the action. There is nothing better than having a book hangover and wanting for a little while longer to live in the world that your favorite char-
acters do. So by having a favorite book or comic turned into a live action motion picture, it allows us to live within that realm of fantasy. Unfortunately, it’s not always what we hope for. It’s no surprise that over the years, Hollywood has been riding on the coattails of popular selling books such as Harry Potter, Twilight, Lord of the Rings and their franchises. But just because one film has done so well doesn’t always mean that a second, third, and fourth one is going to be just as good. According to Short of the Week, in 1991, out of the top ten highest grossing films in the US, six of them were adaptations,
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Leonardo DiCaprio played Jay Gatsby in the 2013 remake.
three where sequels, and one was an original. It seems that from that year on, Hollywood really lost its touch. In 2011, there was not one original movie out of the top ten highest grossing films, and the only original movie out of the top fifteen films of 2011 was #14: Bridesmaids. It seems like Hollywood is only looking for a quick buck to make, instead of a worthwhile film that is talked about for more than just a few weeks. Back in the early days of Hollywood, a good film was talked about for months, even years after it played in theaters around the world. The quality and originality was to die for. Take, for example, Singin’ in the Rain. That film has
been talked about for decades and has even been named the best movie musical of all time by AFI (American Film Institute). It was not the jaw dropping CGIs (Computer Graphic Imaging) or special effects that made this movie #1, but rather the talent that Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds had. The singing, dancing, and acting that the three present on the screen had is what held this film up over the years, which is talent that is just not seen anymore. It has become apparent that Hollywood is no longer invested in the films that they produce. Now they just look to the daily news or the best sellers list to see what will make them the most
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Kristen Wiig starred in the original film Bridesmaids.
money. It’s not only the film industry that is becoming lazy, but television and music are also on the “Lack of Originality” path. In the past three years, there have been many TV shows that have been adapted from literature. Pretty Little Liars, The Walking Dead, Hannibal, Game of Thrones, and Sherlock are just a few. Music today follows the same “Bump and Grind” vibe they just can’t seem to break free ofdeep bass and shallow lyrics. As a whole, the industry has been dwelling on ideas of others and eventually the river of ideas is going to run dry. You can see that Hollywood is trying to make everything relatable to the younger generation and allow them to take a step back in time but still take what they like from today. A perfect example is The Great Gatsby. This book has been adapted several times, but this last time just might be the most memorable. The film stayed true to the original content and time period, but allowed influences from the 21st century. By doing this, it allowed kids to experience the 1920s but with a modern vibe. It makes sense for some films to do this, because that type of culture and literature just isn’t present anymore for the younger generation like it used to be. But sometimes you get the whole package by watching the original and understanding how the author intended it to be and what it was really meant for. In the coming years, don’t expect anything new from Hollywood. Plan on seeing Smurfs 8 or The Hangover part 23, because until Hollywood plans on bringing back originality, you are going to be stuck with the same characters, the same story plots and the same over priced movie tickets.
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The Chronicle
Opinion
September 17th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 5
Taking Exception to Exceptionalism Russian Prime Minister Criticizes Obama in New York Times By KATHERINE BAKAITIS Staff Writer Just this past week, Vladimir Putin wrote an op-ed for The New York Times that has generated some analytical debate over the Syrian situation. In many forms of public diplomacy, the shirtless horseback-riding Russian president has been warning President Obama what an attack on Syria might do to the health of the crippling nation and its surrounding Middle Eastern countries. While Putin confronts some excellent points, he does come off as being terribly hypocritical in his “facts” and views. In order to understand why Russia is defending Syria, we must take a closer look at their alliance. The Syrian port city of Tartus has a Soviet-era naval supply and maintenance base, under a 1971 agreement. The base was established during the Cold War to support the Soviet Navy's fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Since Russia forgave Syria of $9.8 billion of its $13.4 billion Sovietera debt and became its main arms supplier, Russia and Syria have conducted talks about allowing Russia to develop and enlarge its naval base, so that Russia can strengthen its naval presence in the Mediterranean. Russia also has significant trade relations with Syria. Its exports to Syria were worth $1.1 billion in 2010 and its investments in the country were valued at $19.4 billion in 2009, according to The Moscow Times. Besides profitable arms contracts worth at least $4 billion, Russian firms have a substantial presence in Syria's infrastructure, energy and tourism industries. Stroitransgaz, a natural gas facility construction company, has the largest Russian operation in Syria. In terms of politics, Russia was one of two countries to vote against a formal
UN Security Council condemnation of the Bashir al-Assad government for its attack on civilians in the city of Homs in February 2012. It also opposed any sanctions or intervention against the regime. Russia's association with the ruling Assad family go back forty years, but recently, Russian politicians have begun to acknowledge Bashar's potential downfall. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, Moscow's Middle East envoy, noted that "an opposition victory can't be excluded, unfortunately, but it's necessary to look at the facts: There is a trend for the government to progressively lose control over an increasing part of the territory." In the beginning part of his op-ed, Putin establishes a baseline of cooperation on shared interests while acknowledging USRussia tensions. “Recent events surrounding Syria have prompted me to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders. It is important to do so at a time of insufficient communication between our societies.” “Relations between us have passed through different stages. We stood against each other during the cold war. But we were also allies once, and defeated the Nazis together. The universal international organization - the United Nations - was then established to prevent such devastation from ever happening again.” Later on in his piece, Putin implicitly defends Russia's right to use its veto to block the United Nations from any action on Syria, including simple press releases condemning the use of chemical weapons. The UN Security Council veto system, which means that Russia can block any action just because it says so, was not a product of "profound wisdom" as much as profound practicality. “The United Nations’ found-
ers understood that decisions affecting war and peace should happen only by consensus, and with America’s consent the veto by Security Council permanent members was enshrined in the United Nations Charter,” Putin explains. “The profound wisdom of this has underpinned the stability of international relations for decades.” After World War II, getting the world's five remaining great powers (the United States, United Kingdom, France, China and the Soviet Union) to consent to this new United Nations system required granting them veto power so they'd be comfortable with it. This is what it took, but it wasn't “profoundly wise,” as Putin puts it, and both Russia and the United States abuse their veto power plenty. Vladimir Putin goes on about how the United Nations might wither away like the League of Nations, saying that “this is possible if influential countries bypass the United Nations and take military action without Security Council authorization.” If the United Nations survived the Cold War, which included lots of non-UN-approved military actions and the unilateral Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the US intervention in Vietnam, then it will surly survive cruise missile strikes on Syria. The Russian president continues and manages to make a strong argument, but with some hypocrisy attached to it. “The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the Pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria’s borders. A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilat-
eral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the IsraeliPalestinian conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance.” He’s correct about the fact that a US strike on Syria could hurt US interests. Many of his points have already been made by American analysts, such as the risk to USIran negotiations and the fear that strikes would intensify extremism. But Obama’s strikes would be quite small in comparison to what is already happening in that region. I still wonder what the point of attacking Syria is, to be completely honest, if the attack will be miniscule. But Putin has ignored his own role in enabling the awful violence, as well as
the extremism it has inspired. What baffles me the most is that nobody in the world is better positioned than Vladimir Putin to force Assad to negotiate, but he instead has shown every sign that he wishes for Assad to defeat the rebels totally and absolute. While he’s spot on with many observations, I find it clear, from looking into his past, that Putin is not a man of peace. I understand where his loyalties lay and that he will say anything for us to stay within his interests, but must he taunt us with hopeful words? Why must we be violent to prove that violence is bad? Why must we tell people to not do something, and then go ahead and do it yourself? I fail to understand the logic (or lack thereof) and I am bitterly disappointed.
COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Putin decried American exceptionalism in a New York Times Op-Ed.
September 17th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 5
September 11th: A Day that United a Country By NICHOLAS NEGRON Contributing Writer Twelve years ago, the hazardous smog choked the lives out of thousands. Twelve years ago, the impact of airplanes flying at roaring speeds of 465 mph crashed into buildings and skyscrapers. Towers collapsed, bringing people down along with them. Twelve years ago, men and women were subject to mace, teargas and stabbings during the most frightful time of their life, in an effort to save their life. Firefighters and police officers raced heroically into buildings with barely any structure left, in order to save civilians and foreigners alike. The Pentagon and lower Manhattan were robbed of their beauty. Twelve years ago, America was scared. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America were responsible for death, destruction and chaos. The only glimmer in this disconsolate dimmed day was the unity that brought together all of America today. nnocent lives were taken from the world too soon as a result of the sick and vindictive ways of the extremist group al-Qaeda. This sparked legislature, peace, hate, bigotry, prejudice, pride, love and war, almost instantaneously. The gleam of unity was seen through citizens clung together in mourning. It is sad that a tragedy of this magnitude is sometimes what America needs to pop the secluded bubble people feel they live in. There is a world around us all. The news reports riots and war in foreign countries with pictures of burning buildings and death counts. Never do we feel as if this can happen in our own backyard, better yet the world’s capital, New York City. Years later, America still comes together every September 11, holding hands and holding back tears to recite the names of the victims, with the sounds of mournful and crisp trumpets, as well as the vibrant and strong colors of our nation’s flag.
The somber event of the 9/11 attacks has not gone without notice from foreigners. China sent thousands of funeral wreaths, cards, and letters of condolence to the U.S Embassy in China. India, Japan and Russia expressed great anger over the attacks. The president of the Philippines ensured that American facilities in the Philippines would be fiercely protected. Ireland held a national day of mourning on September 14. Even North Korea had its share of disgust. A representative from the North Korean Foreign Ministry said “The very regretful and tragic incident reminds us once again of the gravity of terrorism.” The French reaction may have been the most sentimental and resonating. On the cover of a French Newspaper, Le Monde, the title read, “Nous sommes tous Américains". This translates to “We are all Americans”. Over time, there has been a great increase in military success against terrorist groups. Most famously, Osama Bin Laden was killed in a capture attempt by Navy SEAL team 6. The country was recently starting to become more comfortable and eased back into its own skin. It is a shame now that domestic bombings and gun shootings seem to be more predominant today, keeping the country on its heels. Will the politics over airport screenings and random searches stop? Can America count its losses peacefully without having to circumvent another obstacle in the road that is peace? 9/11 is a day to be remembered as the day that united the country against the evil forces that lay next door, a state away, a continent away and halfway across the world. 9/11 is a day of sorrow and harmony. 9/11 is one of the few days that define us as the United States of America. Rest in peace, the 2,977 people who died on September 11, 2001, and condolences and love to their families.
Opinion
The Chronicle
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As the Past Fades, a Complicated Present Begins
By ZACHARY OLSAVICKY Opinion Editor
Reacting to and commemorating tragedy is undoubtedly a sensitive situation. The adjacent article by Nicholas Negron touches on some of the complex facets created by the September 11 attacks. Much of the pain and shock has dissipated, and the attack does not assert itself in national policy with the same presence it once did; had Edward Snowden leaked his NSA files even ten years ago, his supporters would be few and far between. But the events still resonate with many, and people need to remain tactful with their comments about the tragedy.
Few examples make this clearer than how businesses and corporations commemorated the attacks this past Wednesday. The most egregious case came from a Wisconsin golf course, which apologized for offering a coupon for nine holes of golf at $9.11. Elsewhere, a Marriott hotel offered free coffee and muffins at breakfast “in remembrance of those we lost” in the attacks. AT&T was strongly criticized for tweeting an image where one of their phones took an image of the Tribute in Light memorial at the World Trade Center site. Joe Mande, a writer for the NBC show Parks and Recreation, described September 11 as his
Political Cartoon by Danielle Martinez
“Twitter Christmas,” where he shared commemorative tweets from companies like Huggies, Waffle House, and Cheesecake Factory. Mande’s sharing spree highlights a concerning trend from large corporations to use tragedy for proactive public relations gains. At face value, it seems like an innocent practice: all people feel the impact of 9/11, and companies are simply making that connection with audiences. But for companies like Waffle House, that weren’t directly affected by the attacks, the tributes come off as attempts to use the tragedy for positive press. Businesses don’t participate in these kinds of tribute if they didn’t see a benefit, and that benefit ultimately comes in the form of an improved bottom line. Perhaps this is merely a byproduct of social media: people have already tried to take the September 11 attacks and use them for profit and attention. The amount of memorial shirts, bumper stickers and other paraphernalia sold in the immediate aftermath of the attacks was astounding. A number of companies ran tribute advertisements on the tenth anniversary during NFL games. The ads generated conversation, but not much backlash, and souvenirs from the aftermath of the attacks were seen merely as displays of patriotism. The phenomenon isn’t exclusive to the September 11 attacks; Memorial Day weekend has become a major consumer event, and other holidays have become a source for discount sales and special offers. Though not a new occurence, this points to a crossroads facing Americans: are we comfortable with September 11 becoming a day where commemoration can exist alongside commercialization? In a way, the violent nature of the attacks and the civilian casualties inflicted make the attacks a Continued on Page C14
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Continued From Page C13 uniquely solemn event. Yet many of the soldiers who perished in war were drafted; should their forced participation receive any less reverence? If solemn reflection is the purpose of holidays like these, many businesses have crossed a line; they simply lack the capacity for reflection of any kind. Trying to act like a business can hold feelings about an attack of this magnitude, let alone its political aftermath, is naïve and foolish. Of course, this doesn’t mean commemoration of the September 11 attacks must be solemn. There are many examples of courage to celebrate and aspire to, and commemorating them in sadness does not properly advance their cause. Thanking a first responder for their efforts in the community can be a simple, yet powerful gesture. These gestures work, however, because of the human connections being made. A friend of mine has a father who worked in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center, but some missed connections led to his absence from the attacks. This friend marked the tenth anniversary of the attacks by sharing that story on Facebook, and it had more emotional impact than any other commemoration of the attacks I’ve seen. Marking the September 11 attacks on a personal level—even if it’s as simple as remembering where you were when you found out—is the best commemoration because it is the most human. When businesses use it, however, the humanity is stripped from the message and a discomforting consumer element takes its place. Reach Zachary Olsavicky at olsavickyz977@strose.edu
Opinion
September 17th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 5
President Obama Talks Syria; will his words generate any productive change? By ALEXANDER PECHA Contributing Writer If there’s a single phrase that could sum up President Obama’s speech in regards to Syria this past Tuesday, it would be, “Let me get back to you on that.” President Obama gave a 15 minute speech to explain his current stance on the brewing Syria situation and his administration’s plans to deal with it. However, that speech had more style than substance as it turned out. The President started off the speech by explaining the Syria situation in brief, and how United States was giving humanitarian aid mostly up to this point. However, very quickly, he switched to the primary subject of the speech
“While the peech was a solid fifteen minutes in length and a good way to get up to speed on the Syria sitaution, it wasn’t much more than that.” and painted the picture of the August 21 chemical weapons attack for us, the public. The idea of chemical weapons and their obvious horribleness took up the next few minutes of his speech, including comparisons to the poisons used in World War I and the holocaust.
The President went on to state that there is proof that Assad’s regime launched the chemical carrying missiles, and that by not acting and putting our foot down, that we are allowing for more attacks to happen in the future via other tyrants and dictators (Though he fails to state any such proof). The President also makes a not-so-sly nod that not stepping in against Assad might encourage Iran to keep going with their Uranium enrichment program. In a rather odd admittance that the move for a military strike would be unpopular, the President also stated that he’s aware of the strong opposition to the strike and even cites some correspondence from the public asking him (or telling him) that we are not interested in another war. His response was a promise that no troops will be on the ground, and reassured the public that the strike is specifically against chemical weapons plants and the like only; that this is not a total war against the Assad regime. The President “directly” addressed the question of why we are often the world’s police force, a question he side steps by saying that he agrees and that we have already tried for peace multiple times; but that it hasn’t worked. Bafflingly, the President then went on to express hopes that mixed US-Russian diplomacy will encourage recent signs that the Assad regime is willing to give up its chemical weapons. In a quick reversal, he said that if diplomacy does fall through again, the US military is ready for quick reaction. The speech ended with Obama
ATTENTION CLUB MEMBERS!
Would you like to have your club’s voice heard in The Chronicle? Contact Opinion Editor Zachary Olsavicky at olsavickyz977@strose.edu
explaining that he is working the UN Security Council for more options, and that he wishes for us to be united in this task and for us to remember that while we are not the world’s police force, we should remember that we shouldn’t ignore atrocities such as a civilian gas attack, which is basically telling us to be the world’s police force. While the speech was a solid 15 minutes in length and a good way to get up to speed on the Syrian situation, it wasn’t much more than that. The President didn’t say anything that we didn’t already know, and still didn’t provide the public with a solid piece of proof to believe that we are sure that the Assad government was behind the attacks beyond our bias towards the rebels. Despite the President’s constant assurances that we aren’t going to war, he seems awfully quick to fire missiles at Syria, doesn’t he? Now obviously the gas attacks are utterly horrible and unforgivable crimes; but shooting missiles at chemical plants will only upset the United States public and provoke Assad (Who has essentially threatened us with terrorist attacks if we attack his nation). Worse yet, what if Assad didn’t fire the missiles and it was some extremist sect in the rebel forces? Not only would we have attacked an innocent party (well, at least as innocent as the Assad regime can be), but would have also accidentally advanced the cause of extremists or at least opportunists. We don’t even have the backing of some of our closest allies. The President left out the fact that
the UK turned down the idea to help us in a staggering landslide vote in parliament, and the only European power helping us is France. This is partially due to the UN not publishing its official findings in their own investigation, which ended recently.
We run the risk of ending up on the horribly bad side of this if we keep up the cowboy attitude of “Shoot now, apologize later.” As much as I hate to say it, it’s probably best if the US just walks away from this one. We run the risk of ending up on the horribly bad side of this if we keep the cowboy attitude of “shoot now, apologize later.” It might be better to step back and again only give humanitarian aid, if in the future a more objective and unbiased source (like the UN) proves that Assad fired the chemical weapons on his own people we can go ahead with the UN to figure out a reasonable course of action. Though my opinion may be moot, even if negotiations fall through, Obama is willing to wait for congressional approval to attack Syria; and so far, Congress has not been fond of the idea. We can only hope that a truly peaceful resolution is found soon for everyone involved.
A Look Back at Strose... If you have any pictures of Saint Rose or Albany from ten years ago or before, send them in with the location and date to chronicle@strose.edu!
September 17th, 2013
Sports
Volume 82 Issue 5
The Chronicle
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Who Ya Got? Champ vs. Champ
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Rafael Nadal took the U.S. Open crown after upending Novak Djokavic. By TORI ADDISON Staff Writer Tennis is one of the most strenuous sports that an athlete can play. It encompasses all aspects of endurance, but without teammates. Tennis is most commonly a one man sport in which two players are pitted against each other, separated by nothing but a net. The objective of a professional tennis player is framed within one boundary, to win as many tournaments as possible. With the conclusion of the US Open, the tennis season is starting to wrap up. Rafael Nadal stormed past Novak Djokovic to win the match by three sets out of four. Interesting enough, last year’s US Open champion Andy Murray also played Novak Djokovic by winning three sets out of five. Both Nadal and Murray are fierce competitors, but which champ would win when faced against each other? Rafael Nadal is considered the “King of Clay” due to his superior playing abilities on clay-courts.
To most, he is the best clay-court player in history. Nadal has a career record of 643 wins to 125 loses and also holds 60 titles, including 13 Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal. He’s a lefthanded player whose serve ranks at anywhere from 100-120 mph. Nadal is not only fast, but he has a killer defensive sense. His aggressive skills on defense top that of opponents due to his fast movements and powerful returns. One of his signature moves is his forehand, which creates a potent topspin that plummets back to opponents. On the other hand, Andy Murray is a powerful competitor who has a career record of 420 wins to 131 loses, and holds 28 titles which include a win at Wimbledon this year. He is right handed and his serve has been praised for the most part, averaging anywhere from 100-140 mph. Along with Nadal, Murray’s defensive ability is on par with quick footwork and sharp reflexes. His ability to return serves with ease has set him on the map and he is
considered one of the best of all time in the category. Amongst all, Murray’s backhand is a force to be reckoned with. He delivers what some say is the best doublehanded backhand in the present day game of tennis. Not only is he consistent with his returns, but he is also known to deliver a killer on the run passing shot. Although the pair sound impressive, they both have weaknesses. Apart from Nadal’s cunning moves and strict defense, he is very injury prone. A nagging knee injury kept Nadal from significant victories in 2012 and hindered his performance at the beginning of the 2013 season. Overall, his aggression-filled playing style has taken a toll on his body. Game wise, his serve is less than exceptional and quite inconsistent. Luckily, Murray hasn’t experienced the same injury-laden career that Nadal has (knock on wood), but he does struggle in some areas. He definitely has a noticeable temper that is characterized by yelling and dramatic racquet movements
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Andy Murray was last year’s U.S. Open champion. in the middle of matches. His most noticeable weakness is that of his forehand, which has been his main area of improvement and is steadily becoming better. Overall, Nadal and Murray are both fierce competitors who thrive for defensive returns. When going head to head, the obvious winner is Nadal. When healthy, Nadal is a strong opponent who seems to never run out of energy. While Murray’s arsenal of moves is a prominent force in a match, he faces a serious problem
within his mental game. Nadal’s competitive game strategy would hold superior to Murray’s, no matter the type of court. Nadal will go down as one of the best tennis players of all time. Murray is working to leave his sense of a lasting impact, but he is nowhere as close to that milestone as Nadal is. For now, the “King of Clay” remains dominant in this battle, but at some point the two will meet again to prove who the real winner would be.
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Sports
The Chronicle
September 17th, 2013
Volume 82 Issue 5
Golden Knights Dominate Court on the Road By JOSHUA NATOLI Sports Editor
The Golden Knights took to Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, New York for nonconference matches against the Bloomfield Deacons and the host Redhawks this past Friday and Saturday, respectively. The Golden Knights began their two-day venture by whipping the brooms out for a 3-0 sweep of the Deacons. They followed that performance by knocking off the Redhawks 3-1 the very next day. Golden Knights sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Lace earned a team-high 12 kills in the rout of Bloomfield. She shared success with freshman middle hitter Maryellen Devic with nine kills
and five blocks and sophomore Ariana Wilson, who tallied three of the team’s ten service aces. The Deacons were led by junior outside hitter Deandra Black and freshman middle hitter Erica Griffith, who earned four kills each, while freshman setter Jacquelyn Madlock contributed 11 assists and ten digs. After the first set was tied at 14 apiece, Saint Rose attacked with five straight points, which included two kills for Devic and Lace. A streaky Golden Knights squad pulled away from Bloomfield in the final two sets to close out the victory. The following day, the Golden Knights dropped the first set against Roberts Wesleyan, but came back firing to take the next three by a combined score of 26
COURTESY OF SAINT ROSE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Katy Daniels rackedup 42 digs total in both games against the Deacons and Redhawks.
SHAWN BERMAN
Carissa Dube tallied 13 kills during the two-game stint.
to defeat their hosts. The combo of Golden Knights sisters Katy and Tori Daniels was a menace for the Redhawks. Libero Katy tallied 29 digs while Tori set up her squad with 28 assists. Alex Gagliano hit for 11 kills with a .357 hitting percentage to go along with five blocks. Lace led in the kills department with 12. Roberts Wesleyan freshman Alexandre Tahuri earned the game-high for kills with 14 while also conjuring 11 digs. Sophomore setter Maggie Concannon led the match with 36 assists.
In the first set, the Redhawks took control and never let go with five Tahuri kills and fifteen Concannon assists. The next three sets were all Golden Knights, starting out with 14 kills, four belonging to Gagliano that helped earn a .571 hitting percentage. Saint Rose scored six of the set’s first seven points to gain control. The strength of the Golden Knights defense contributed in a big way in the winning of the third set. Saint Rose hit for 23 digs and forced 11 Redhawks attacking errors. Katy Daniels earned nine
digs followed by right side hitter Carissa Dube who garnered three kills. The final set saw both squads tied at 11 before the Golden Knights tore up Roberts Wesleyan with a 14-3 run that ended the set. Lace contributed to the streak with five kills while Tori Daniels shared on 10 assists. The Golden Knights’ next contest will be at home in the Nolan Gymnasium this Friday for another non-conference match, this time against the Warriors of Nyack College at 7 p.m.