The Chronicle- April 24, 2012

The Chronicle

April 24, 2012

The weekly student newspaper at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York

www.StRoseChronicle.com

Volume LXXX Issue 31

Making The Meishlunday

The band that’s creating a name for themselves at Saint Rose See pages A4 and A5

Paul Jenkins solos on the saxophone at a concert in Spring of 2011.

By KELLY PFEISTER Head Photographer Those who have attended campus events throughout the past two years are more than familiar with The Meishlunday, the five-piece plaid-shirt-wearing,

alternative rock band made up of students Michael Santoli, Jordan Randall, Nathaniel Meyers, and the brothers Stephen and Paul Jenkins. Since inception in 2010, their catchy songs have earned them over one thousand ‘Likes’ on Facebook and a devoted group

News & Features

KELLY PFEISTER

of fans. This school year has been particularly intense for the group as they’ve been creating a stronger online presence, putting in long hours creating their debut album, all the while going through line-up changes.

The guys that make up The

Meishlunday definitely have their own personalities and the accompanying quirks. Jordan said that he has some “random antics” that the whole band enjoys. They make up their own catchphrases like, “Yeah, well underneath that is a second layer of bacon,” the

Arts & Opinion

Hydrofracking and parking took center stage at the Albany Common Council meeting. See page A9

The popular new movie, 21 Jump Street gets reviewed. See page B10

In Brief: A dispute over a loud party sent one man to the hospital and led to three arrests on Wednesday.

For more info. see page A2

Environmental Club member explains the negative effects of drinking bottled water.

Find out more on page C12

origin of which is unfathomable.

On stage, they play off each other, and it is obvious that they’re well rehearsed.

By slowly building a strong reputation last year—playing Continued on page A4

Sports Joshua Natoli gives a break down of the top seven NBA teams. See page D14 Golden Knights’ outfielder Nikko Wahl tells his story. See page D16

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News

The Chronicle

In Brief State Street Party Leads to Arrests

By ZACHARY OLSAVICKY News Editor A dispute over a loud party sent one man to the hospital and led to three arrests on Wednesday.

According to Albany Police spokesman Steven A. Smith, the dispute began at 3:30 a.m. early Wednesday morning when 20-year-old Richard Parrett, of Albany, attempted to tell the residents of 692 State Street to be quiet. Parrett was staying with a friend at 694 State Street, but couldn’t sleep because of the loud party next door. Police allege that Parrett opened the third floor window of the building he was staying at, reached over to the building where the party was being held, and began banging on the window to get the attention of residents, cracking the window of that building in the process.

Nicolina Cabezal, a 23-yearold who lives at 692 State Street, is alleged to have opened the window, and thrown a glass lamp-

shade through the window where Parrett tried to get their attention, thereby breaking the window and sending shards of glass onto the bed where Parrett and his friend tried to sleep.

Cazebal watched as Shormis and Mansheffer punched Parett in the head and ribs several times escaping out the apartment’s back door.

Two of the partiers, 21-yearold James Shormis of 692 State Street and 24-year-old James Mansheffer of 271 State Street, then went to 694 State Street to confront Parrett. Along with Cabezal, the two forced entry into the common hall of 694, and climbed the stairs to the thirdfloor apartment where Parrett was staying. After banging on the apartment door, Parrett came to ADVERTISEMENT

the door and tried to talk with the two men about the incident, but they forced entry and began to assault him. Cazebal watched as Shormis and Mansheffer punched Parett in the head and ribs several times before he escaped out the apartment’s back door.

Parrett went to Albany Medical Center, where he was treated for bruising to his ribs and later released. Shormis, Mansheffer, and Cabezal turned themselves in to Albany Police at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the South Station.

Cabezal was charged with Criminal Tresspassing in the second degree, and Reckless Endangerment in the second degree, a pair of class A misdemeanors each punishable by up to one year in prison. Shormis and Mansheffer were charged with Burglary in the second degree, a class C felony, and assault in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor. All three were arraigned Thursday morning in Albany City Criminal Court.

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

Student Published in Online Magazine

By ZACHARY OLSAVICKY News Editor A short story by a Saint Rose student was recently published in an online literary magazine. “The Best Things You Get In Life Are Stolen,” by Paige Maguire, a junior at the college, was published

in the online literary magazine Write From Wrong last week. The magazine, which began publication in the summer of 2010, is run by recent graduates from Loyola University Maryland. The story was written last fall as an exercise in a fiction writing course taught

by Professor Hollis Seamon.

Lark Street Store Owner Arrested on Drug Charges

By ZACHARY OLSAVICKY News Editor A Lark Street business owner was arrested last Saturday on charges of drug possession.

According to Albany Police spokesman Steven A. Smith, officer Michael Geraci stopped into Lark News and Grocer to speak with the owner around 4:40 p.m. while on his patrol in the Center Square and Hudson Park neighborhoods. Upon entering, the officer allegedly found store owner Zahid Gilani, 55, of 11 Oxford Drive in Latham with several

bags of marijuana and a scale on the store’s counter. While investigating, Officer Geraci spoke with store worker Arthur McDuffie, 41, of 305 Hudson Avenue, and found him in possession of 500mg of crystal meth.

Gilani was charged with Criminal Possession of Marijuana in the fifth degree, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to three months in prison, and McDuffie was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substace.

Both were arraigned in Albany City Criminal Court last Monday morning.

Albany Man Arrested on Fraud Charges

By ZACHARY OLSAVICKY News Editor A joint effort between Albany detectives and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force led to the arrest of a 26-year-old Albany man Wednesday morning for stealing over two million dollars.

Andres Victoria, who was wanted out of Los Angeles County, was picked up at around 6:30 a.m. at his Weis Road home.

Victoria is one of nine defendants wanted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for a real estate scheme that began in 2007. The other eight defendants in the case were all arrested in Los Angeles since earlier in the month. Victoria, who worked for

Bank of America, is alleged to have defrauded CitiMortgage and MetLife Bank out of $2.3 million through a fraudulent mortgage scheme between October of 2007 and June of 2009. Victoria, along with the other suspects in the case, are alleged to have acted as straw buyers, providing stolen identites, false bank account information, and false employment information to obtain the loans. Victoria was remanded to Albany County jail and is awaiting extradition to California. He will be charged with six counts of Grand Theft, two counts of Identity Theft, 12 counts of Offering a False Instrument, and four counts of Forgery under California Law upon his return to the state.

April 24, 2012

News

Volume 80 Issue 31

Crime Blotter (4/4 – 4/18) Theft from Motor Vehicle Vehicle along Hudson Ave. between Ontario and Quail streets.

Vehicle along Hamilton St. between Partridge and Ontario streets.

Theft from Motor Vehicle Vehicle along Hudson Ave. between Ontario and Quail streets.

Vehicle along Hamilton St. between Partridge and Ontario streets.

Vehicle near the intersection of Yates and N Allen streets.

Vehicle along Quail St. between Hamilton St and Hudson Ave. Vehicle at the intersection of Yates and Quail streets.

Burglary: “A person is guilty of burglary if he enters a building or occupied structure, or separately secured or occupied section thereof, with purpose to commit a crime therein.”

(Penal Code: Title LXII, Chap. 365:1)

Burglaries Building near intersection of Chestnut and S Allen streets.

Building along Western Ave. between Patridge and Ontario streets.

Building near intersection of Yates and Quail street.

Building along Morris St. between Quail St. and S. Lake Ave. Building along Quail St. between Hamilton St. and Hudson Ave.

Theft from Building Building located along S. Allen St. between Yates and Morris streets.

Building along Park Ave. near intersection with Ontario St. Building located along S. Allen St. between Yates and Morris streets.

Building along Yates St. near intersection with Ontario St.

Note: This crime blotter is compiled using the City of Albany Police Department’s crime map. This map shows the incidents that happened in the past week, Monday through Sunday, within the boundaries of the Pine Hills Neighborhood limits as

established by the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association. The map can be found at: http://www.albanyny.org/Government/Departments/Police/cmapping/ maps.aspx

Larceny Along Madison Ave. between Quail St. and S Lake Ave. Aggravated Assault Along Western Ave. near the Madison Ave. playground.

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Full Time: 114 Part Time: 36

Internship: 42 Babysitting/Tutor: 7

The Chronicle

Calendar of Events Tuesday, April 24 4 p.m. Lacrosse vs. So. New Hampshire Plumeri 4:30 p.m. SA Meeting Lally Carondelet Symposium 6 p.m. Do You Dare For A Chair? Campus Green 7 p.m. Knight Skills Moran Hall 7 p.m. SEB Meeting St. Joseph Hall 7 p.m. Adventure Club Lima Basement 8 p.m. SADD Meeting Main Lounge 8:15 p.m. CEC Professional Development Meeting Moran Hall 8:30 p.m. Environmental Club Meeting Lima Basement Wednesday, April 25 4:30 p.m. Chronicle Meeting CCIM Rm 121 7 p.m. Rose Rock Committee Meeting Lima Basement 7 p.m. BASIC Meeting Hubbard Sanctuary 8 p.m. Theatre Guild Main Lounge Thursday, April 26 6 p.m. MAPS Meeting ALB 110 7:15 p.m. MEISA Meeting CCIM Projection Room 7:30 p.m. Identity Meeting Lima Basement 8 p.m. Tuba Ensemble Concert Massry 8 p.m. Man on a Ledge Pre-Release St. Joseph Hall Friday, April 27 5 p.m. Zumba For the Cure St. Joseph Hall Saturday, April 28 12 p.m. Baseball vs. Adelphi Plumeri 1 p.m. Lacrosse vs. American Int’l Plumeri 1 p.m. Women’s Chorale Concert Massry 8 p.m. Saint Rose Orchestra Concert Massry Sunday, April 29 12 p.m. Baseball vs. Adelphi Plumeri 3 p.m. Borromeo String Quartet Massry Monday, April 30 6 p.m. English Club Meeting Library 7 p.m. Percussion Ensemble and Brass Choir Concert Massry 7 p.m. CEC Community Involvement Meeting Lima Basement 7 p.m. Knight Skills Moran Hall 8 p.m. CEC Meeting Lima Basement 8 p.m. Outside the [BOX] ALB 211 If you have an upcoming event you would like to see in our weekly Calendar of Events please e-mail chronicle@strose.edu.

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Executive Editor Features Editor Ian Benjamin ‘12 Lauren Halligan benjamini528@strose.edu halliganl567@strose.edu Managing Editor Opinion Editor Sunshine Osella ‘13 Regina Iannizzotto ‘13 osellas452@strose.edu iannizzottor407@strose.edu Layout Editor Arts Editor Jeremie Soemann ‘15 Chris Surprenant ‘14 soemannj658@strose.edu surprenantc572@strose.edu Sports Editor News Editor Jackson Wang ‘14 Zachary Olsavicky wangj847@strose.edu olsavickyz977@strose.edu Copy Editor Photographer Malana Jojo ‘13 Kelly Pfeister jojom304@strose.edu pfeisterk953@strose.edu

518-454-5141

Business Manager Staff Writers Emily Robertson ‘13 Vincent Gabrielle robertsone307@strose.edu Matthew Woods Advertising Manager David LeBlanc Alison Lester ‘12 Michael Smith lestera694@strose.edu Joshua Natoli Web Editor Rachel Bolton Searching for applicants.

Meghan O’Connor Jaired Crofut Faculty Adviser Asia Ewart Cailin Brown Theresa Taylor John Slagg Sam Maxwell Videographer TG Branfalt Jr. John Janitz Gigi Diffenback janitzj140@strose.edu

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Correction The picture of flowerbeds on the upper right of page A4 of the preceding issue was incorrectly captioned. It should state that the flowerbeds are at the convergence of Western and Madison avenues, not Washington and Madison avenues.

ANY student can join The Saint Rose Chronicle The Chronicle is published weekly on Tuesdays during the academic year and once during the summer months. The Chronicle is published at the facilities of The Daily Gazette of Schenectady, NY.

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The Chronicle

News

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

Making the Meishlunday (cont.)

Continued from page A1 Open Mic Nights at Jack’s Place, Harvest Fest, and other campus events—they were able to earn a spot in Rose Rock 2011. And they’ve done it again this year: on April 28th the band will be opening for the Rose Rock headliner nationally recognized punk-ska band Streetlight Manifesto. But it has been a long road to their current success.

“The Meish goes way back.”

Paul explained. Brothers Paul and Stephen Jenkins started The Meishlunday in their mid-state hometown, the old milling village of Laurens, New York in Otsego County. It was in there, during high school, that they first conceived the possibility of a band like The Meishlunday.

It was during his senior year of high school when Paul underwent his Eagle Scout ceremony, which was held at a pavilion in Gilbert State Park. While socializing after the ceremony, Paul found Stephen, unsurprisingly, playing his guitar by the lake. According to Paul, he always had it with him.

Stephen was playing “You and Me,” a song that the band now plays regularly.

It was the first time Paul heard Stephen sing “You and Me.” When Stephen reached the chorus Paul knew that Stephen really had “something special.” On the spot, the brothers came up with the harmony lines, which the band still uses today. This moment, according to Paul, “really came from the connection that Steve and I as brothers have always had.” When they started to perform what they had created, people at the event complimented them. Their chorus teacher even said it sounded like “the next radio friendly pop song.” According to Paul, “Steve really has this talent, this affinity for writing these songs based on real life experiences...I was really touched by that, to be able to be a part of the music that Steve writes.” The brothers went on to form a precursor band while in high school. They played a slew

of local venues near their home, including talent shows and a wedding, before bringing what would become The Meishlunday to Saint Rose. As the primary songwriter, many of the songs The Meishlunday play have their origin in Stephen’s experiences.

It had always been Stephen’s intention to bring The Meishlunday to college.

“Daniel,” a fast, gritty song, was inspired by an experience Stephen had at soup kitchen near his childhood home. Stephen’s mother, a professor at Hartwick College, would bring her ethics and values class to help at the soup kitchen. Stephen and Paul used to go along too when they were in high school, as it was a good way to help in their community. When it came time for the volunteers to feed themselves, Stephen would often sit by those who weren’t volunteers, thereby meeting Daniel. A heroine addict, Daniel explained to Stephen how he had plans to get better, get a job, and get cleaned up. Stephen was skeptical, having heard stories about addicts who plan to get better, who claim they’re trying to get better, but then fail to do so. A week later, while walking around town, Stephen saw Daniel. To Stephen’s chagrin, Daniel was, in fact, all cleaned up and looked like he was headed to an interview. But a month later, while working at the soup kitchen again, Stephen saw Daniel come in for a meal. He had relapsed.

Although Stephen didn’t know Daniel well, what he saw made an impact. “Little things [like] that hurt your trust with people, even though I had no emotional attachment with [Daniel],” Stephen explained.

The two aren’t the only Jenkins

boys to have played a part in the formation of The Meishlunday.

Ryan, Paul and Stephen’s younger brother, unintentionally coined the name of the band. During a 22-hour drive to Florida from their home in upstate New York, Ryan misinterpreted the words to a Snoop Dogg song and made up his own word from it, something he has a knack for doing with songs when he isn’t quite sure of the lyrics. He kept saying this made up word over and over again which, rather quickly, grated Stephen’s nerves, along with the rest of the car’s. “He would do this little sing-song voice and pretend that he was a 12-year-old Snoop Dogg; I wanted to throw him out of the car,” Stephen said.

Time passed, gigs were played and experience was gained. During this intervening time, Stephen and his closest friends came up with a pact of sorts. They decided that The Meishlunday would stand for the “greater force of good.” It became a bond for the brothers and, for Stephen’s friends, an understanding that “trust is the utmost concrete foundation for any successful relationship.” The group of friends determined that The Meishlunday “was a code amongst brothers,” said Paul. They even had jackets made that said “Order of The Meishlunday,” that Stephen and Paul still wear today.

The word “meishlunday” stuck with the group of friends, and transferred over into the band’s name, accompanied by its connotation—trust. Paul explained that the boys had “really bad luck” when it came to making up band names: “Swans on Fire,” and “Rump Roast” were but a few of the early possibilities. Needless to say, they decided to use “The Meishlunday” because of its meaning, and because most of the members in the Order of The Meishlunday were part of the band as well.

The Meishlunday’s original line-up is a far-cry from the current. The only two members of the band that remain from the

Stephen Jenkins getting ready before a rehearsal. original are Paul and Stephen, and Paul used to play the bass, instead of the keyboard, saxophone, and flute, as he does now. It was only while at Saint Rose that The Meishlunday began to takes its current form.

It had always been Stephen’s intention to bring The Meishlunday to college. “My entire plan was to come here and surround myself with the most talented people that I could find and were interested and had the same vision.” Since Paul was one year ahead of Stephen, he was able to scout around for musicians at the end of his freshman year. It was during the summer of 2010 that Paul “really considered The Meishlunday as starting to form.”

They created a Facebook page for the group, and Paul started looking for band members.

By fall 2010, Paul had already recruited guitarist Dean DiMarzo,

KELLY PFEISTER

a fellow sophomore whom Paul had worked with previously.

However, more band members were still needed.

At the start of the year on move-in day, freshman Michael Santoli was moving into Lima Hall. His room was right next to Paul’s, who happened to be his R.A. Michael said, “as I walked past his door to get more stuff to put in my room, I heard him talking to a person, Steve Jenkins, and how they were in a band and looking for a bassist. So me, being the music major who happened to play bass, and wanted to be in a band, propped open the door to my room, took my bass, put it on its stand right in front of the door so that anybody who walked by the door would see it. And somehow, I forget how, I think I asked P.J [Paul] some benign question Continued on page A5

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

News

Band members from left, Nathaniel Meyers, Jordan Randall, Stephen Jenkins, Michael Santoli and Paul Jenkins.

Continued from page A4 that I didn’t need the answer to, just to get him to cross the door.

Then he noticed the bass, I talked to him from that.” From then on, “the rest was history, Santoli was the bassist at that point,” recalled Paul.

Michael, Dean, Paul and Stephen were among the original band members when The Meishlunday was formed at Saint Rose, along with then freshman Benjamin Mandaro, who played the electric viola. This year, Dean and Ben are no longer in the band, and graduate student Jordan Randall, drums, and sophomore Nathaniel Meyers, guitar, have joined.

As a freshman who didn’t know any of the members until college, Michael said that being part of The Meishlunday and playing with people who were more experienced than he was humbling.

“It really helped me learn quickly,” he explained, referring to his bass, an instrument he had just started to play. He originally entered college with the bass clarinet as his primary instrument, but switched it to bass guitar after joining The Meishlunday.

The two most recent members, Jordan and Nathaniel, joined this year. Throughout last year, the band searched for a drummer,

passing through six to eight different drummers—some that filled in for shows, and others that the group thought would be permanent members. Finally, they were able to find Jordan, who has been playing the drums since he was 14. Jordan had heard of The Meishlunday through Dean, since they used to play in a band together.

Every member puts in an extensive amount of work. This work ethic is noted by many who see them practicing.

An even more recent addition, guitarist Nathaniel said that he is excited to be a part of the group.

“The guys are committed to the craft of making music and I definitely wanted to be a part of that,” said Nathaniel. “To be able to join a band that is talented, wellknown, and performs at shows on a pretty consistent rate was an opportunity I could not pass up.”

Every band member puts in an extensive amount of work.

This work ethic is noted by many who see them practicing late each week in Jack’s Place. Matt

KELLY PFEISTER

Lisk, a music industry major said, “They’re working all the time on their parts and their songs,” and that they have a “crazy good work ethic.” John Fatuzzo, a fellow student and music industry major, noted that all the band members want to get better. Despite having conflicting schedules, The Meishlunday consistently hold full band rehearsals two times a week during the academic year, three hours at a time. They are adamant about practicing. Paul, the keyboardist, mentioned a rehearsal when they started around noon and didn’t stop until nine that night. They woke up the next morning, “and by 11 or 12 we played until the middle of the afternoon… It was between 15 and 20 something hours of rehearsal in a single weekend…It was really a push to get us on a higher plane,” Paul explained. This work ethic is part of what has recently landed The Meishlunday numerous gigs.

Paul does most of the booking for the bands. Currently, The Meishlunday are aiming to play art and music festivals, due to the exposure the crowds at such events bring. Possible performances include gigs around New York areas like Poughkeepsie, Rochester, and Albany. They are also scheduled to play at a concert series in Cooperstown. In ad-

The Chronicle dition to touring plans, the band is working on finishing their album.

Closer to home, the band has finalized their Rose Rock set list, which includes a horn section.

For the event, John Fatuzzo will be joining The Meishlunday on trumpet, Nick Dardaris will be playing the baritone saxophone, while Geoffrey Flock will on trombone. Fan Amelia Bach said she’s “excited to see what they’ll bring to Rose Rock.” The band will be playing original songs, as well as covers.

The Meishlunday have received many great opportunities and have come a long way from September 2010, but it hasn’t been without challenges. Earlier last academic year, the band booked a gig that was four and a half hours away that was estimated to have about a thousand people attending. Although they weren’t going to be reimbursed for the performance, the band didn’t mind because of the estimated size of the crowd. However, when they arrived, only a few people were in the attendance.

“It was a real setback for us – to think that we were going to start out enormous like that, and to be shot down,” said Paul.

While busy preparing for tours and preparing the forthcoming album, the band is still concerned about their growth as a musical group. Paul explained, “every band struggles with finding their sound, what they’re trying to sound like or say,” but joked that The Meishlunday has “gone from being a couple of rag tag musicians playing…rag tag amuse-

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ment, for lack of a better word, to a semi-professional group.”

According to him, the differences between The Meishlunday now and when they first came to Saint Rose are so great as to be nearly incomparable. Paul cited that even the methods they use for recording have improved: if a word in a song is even a 16th note off, they’ll re-play it.

On stage, Michael can be seen making silly faces – he wants to have as much fun on stage as possible, without it affecting the music. “The moment I start taking myself too seriously is the moment I stop enjoying the music.”

This sentiment goes a long way to defining the perspective of the band—to never take themselves too seriously and to never stop enjoying the music.

Michael said that the members of The Meishlunday “are all my best friends, there’s no denying that. Even knowing Nathaniel only recently, I can tell that he’s a great guy, somebody I could hang out with [even] if it wasn’t because of this band.” Although the band members are a very different group of people than that which first formed the band in Laurens, the same values embodied in the name persist with The Meishlunday today: trust and brotherhood. Stephen repeated Michael’s sentiments about the band: “It could not have worked out better. These guys are my best friends. At first, it just started out that we were in a band together, we were co-workers. We’re like brothers now.”

KELLY PFEISTER

Stephen Jenkins, front, and Michael Santoli during Rose Rock 2011.

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News

The Chronicle

By MARLEE WOOD Contributing Writer The small neighborhood restaurant with a unique breakfast and brunch menu, Café Madison, will begin serving dinner again by the end next month.

The dinner menu at Café Madison was suspended when owner Brian Viglucci opened its neighboring restaurant The Point which serves only dinner. The Point adopted many of the dinner items featured at Café Madison and dinner was suspended at Café Madison.

General manager Bryan Cline said that he and the rest of the staff at Café Madison are excited to re-open for dinner.

“It will be nice to have Café Madison open during the night hours,” said Cline. “The lights

Booth seating at the Café Madison.

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

Dinner Again at Café Madison

and chandeliers create a great atmosphere when it’s dark outside.”

The staff at Café Madison are collecting ideas for their newest dinner cuisine. They plan to keep the same unique spin on dinner as they have for both breakfast and lunch during the past seven years.

They also hope to create a menu focused on vegetarian and vegan meals and intend to use fresh local foods in their recipes.

“We’re testing out a lot of different menu items, and we are doing a lot of experimentation,” said Cline. “Our dinner menu is going to be completely different from before. After The Point adopted many of our dinner items, we needed to create our own identity again.”

Several of the former Café Madison chefs and some new hires are expected to staff the

MARLEE WOOD

back of the café for dinner.

For the last 10 years, Suzy and Vic Doehler have been coming to Café Madison at least once a week for breakfast.

“We love it,” said Suzy Doehler. “The food items are unique, but they’re always delicious and there’s something for everyone. We’re sure dinner will be the same way and we plan to try it in the very near future.”

Breakfast has been a draw here for years, even back when it was Qualter’s Pine Hills Restaurant.

“We’re a great small neighborhood café that puts out a world class breakfast,” said owner Brian Viglucci.

Breakfast is served all day at Café Madison and on weekends new breakfast and lunch specials are offered. Prices range from $5 for a Belgian waffle to $12 for steak and eggs. The most popular choices at Café Madison are the eggs benedict special and pancakes made from scratch.

“The raspberry oatmeal pancake batter is unlike anything around; it has such a distinct texture and flavor profile,” said Cline.

Viglucci said that one time, former New York Giant, Jesse Palmer, was asked about the city of Albany and he mentioned “this little Café where the pancakes are delicious.”

Before Viglucci bought the restaurant seven years ago, this little neighborhood café was known as Madison’s End Café and prior to that, Qualter’s Pine Hills Restaurant. It has been around for about 40 years and was first owned by Harold and Jeanne Qualter.

It started out as just a counter, but as time went on the Café expanded. Although Café Madison continues to feature several of the signature menu items that were first introduced by Qualter’s, under Viglucci’s ownership many improvements and additions have been made. They have added more seating, a new bar, and have remodeled the kitchen.

The Café has a warm and calming décor, with a brightly lit front dining area and patio seating for

MARLEE WOOD

Manager Bryan Cline and waitress Sierra Hopeck stand in front of the bar at Café Madison. the nice weather.

Café Madison attracts mostly walk in customers. It also appeals to clientele from outside the neighborhood. An occasional student may be seen visiting the café on a busy afternoon trying to escape from the hectic college routine.

“Café Madison is so terrific, the menu is original and unique and the interior provides a great ambiance,” said frequent customer Barnaby Bullar.

The exclusive atmosphere that Café Madison offers sets it apart from its nearby restaurants, The Point and Juniors, also owned by Viglucci. While Juniors is seen as a very high energy sports bar, and The Point provides a fine dining experience with live music and a refined menu, Café Madison is more low key and relaxed.

“What makes Café Madison different is that it serves break-

fast and brunch unlike The Point and Juniors. It has always been best known for its breakfast and brunch menu. It’s a much smaller and more quaint restaurant than the others as well,” said Viglucci.

Suzy Doehler said: “We’ve never found the food other than excellent, the service as well.”

The manager said they have a philosophy in their approach to customer service.

“If we see a cup of coffee half full, we want to make sure that we fill it before they ask us to,” said Cline.

The return of the dinner menu after a two-year hiatus, should bode well for customers, said longtime employee William Morris.

“It’s like a perfect combination of love and flavor just come together.”

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

News

The Chronicle

The Washington Tavern: Rich with History

By LAUREN HALLIGAN Features Editor Traditional Irish pub and Pine Hills icon The Washington Tavern has spent the past 41 years in the Byron family name. Although plenty has changed since its opening in 1971, the Byron’s continue to keep the tavern’s unique Pine Hills-meets-Ireland essence alive.

Located in the heart of Pine Hills at 250 Western Ave, The W.T., as it is affectionately referred to by regular patrons, is owned by proprietor couple Mike and Pat Byron, who made it the Albany attraction it is today.

General manager Shannon Kelley, sister of co-owner Pat Byron, attested that “Family has always been present in the building. If you’re not friends you’re family, and if you’re not one of those you’re both.

“We’re fortunate enough to have long term employees that we value,” Kelley said about the staff at the tavern. “The camaraderie here is really good.”

Another aspect of the tavern that’s stayed constant over the years is outstanding drink special offers. 20 cents for a draft beer was the Tuesday happy hour special at The Washington Tavern in 1975, as advertised in the Feb. 28 issue of “The Gadfly,” Saint Rose

college newspaper of the time.

Although both beer prices and the legal drinking age have increased over the years, the pub still offers cheap beer specials, Tuesday night still being best of all.

Assistant Manager Herarto Gunopawiro reported that domestic beer can be purchased for $1.50 on Tuesday nights from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., a three hour extension on the 1975 happy hour. This list consists of Yuengling, Coors, Utica Club, Killian’s, Budweiser, Miller, and Labatt Blue draft beer.

“You can’t beat it,” said frequent patron Eric Jacobson.

“They have great deals every night, like the bucket deal on Thursdays,” which features five beers for eight dollars.

The bar also hosts Monday trivia nights, Wednesday night karaoke, Saranac Saturdays featuring $3.00 Saranac Ale pints, and Recovery Saturdays and Sundays with specials in mimosas and Bloody Mary’s.

With all eyes gawking over the almost-antique ad from The Gadfly, employees reminisced about steamed clams, a hit menu item of the past. Though steamed clams are no longer a menu item, Kelley recalls “bushels of clams all over the place” in the bar when she was younger.

The last clam bake was held in summer of 2011 in an attempt to

bring steamed clams back on the menu, but no such action arose from the event due to a decrease in interest.

However, fish and chips, made daily from fresh scrod, was reported by bar manager Heather Hadgeoff to be the current, most popular menu item at the W.T., with the Reuben sandwich close behind, both hearty classic Irish dishes.

As for drinks, bar manager Hadgeoff said, “We sell a lot of Guinness,” noting that craft beer is becoming more and more popular with the times. When bartending, “I always have Guinness on tap,” stated Gunopawiro.

Jacobson, 21, is a fan of “The Star Trek,” a Washington Tavern original drink. Gunopawiro, who makes the specialty drink on a regular basis, stated that its recipe is “a trade secret,” but encourages all to try one.

As for clientele, the complexion of patrons from day to nighttime reflects the two major demographics of the city: students and professionals. This has always been the case at The Washinton Tavern.

The tavern caters their Irish fare during the daily pub grind to many professionals of the city during their lunch hours, as well as hosting and catering on and off-site private parties and corpo-

The Washington Tavern Advertisement in the Saint Rose Gadfly on February 28, 1975.

COURTESY OF LAUREN HALLIGAN

The Welcome Sign at the Front of the Tavern. rate luncheons.

During their later hours, being located in the heart of a dominantly college-area, the scene changes drastically. Kelley reported that after 10 p.m. their patronage is composed of “100% college students.”

Whether or not classes are in session, “I love the Pine Hills area,” Kelley commented. Proud members of the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, the family truly embraces the area, which is why in 1984 they added The Ginger Man Wine Bar and Restaurant, also located on Western Avenue, to the family business.

The Ginger Man, a comparatively upscale restaurant, is operated by daughter Julie Byron.

The Byron’s, a couple of retirement age, have been looking to sell both of their businesses since early 2011. Although no deal has been finalized, “We have many suitors,” reported Kelley.

The original listing price for both businesses combined was $3.53 million. The Byron’s have also recently been shedding other assets, such as apartment housing nearby the tavern.

Still active in their business endeavor, “They are very hands on,” said Hadgeoff, who’s been employed by the Byron’s for four years. She reported of her boss that after over four decades in the business, “he’s still hauling kegs.”

The establishment has an extensive history dating back to

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LAUREN HALLIGAN

1884, when it was first built by Sebastian Frohlick. It has served as a restaurant and bar ever since.

In honor of its founder, The Washington Tavern proudly hosts “Frohlick Tuesdays,” on which the soup of the day can be purchased for 84 cents, commemorating the 1884 founding.

Taking on the Irish pub persona of The Washington Tavern in 1971, the space served as a variety of different purposes, including a speakeasy during prohibition, a betting parlor, and tea house.

The original building has gained plenty of add-ons in the last 41 years, adding several rooms such as the Sligo room in 2006, named after County Sligo, Ireland, where Mr. Byron is originally from. Every year after Saint Patrick’s Day, the Byron’s visit County Sligo, Ireland, an annual trip they make to reconnect with family and Mr. Byron’s hometown.

Owned and operated by the Byron’s and family, the now Washington Tavern offers an “Albany-meets-Ireland ambience” as described on their website thewashingtontavern.net, which has been pleasing Pine Hills residents, and that of the greater Albany area for the past nearly half century.

The same affection is indeed returned by Pine Hills locals. Jacobson, a Pine Hills resident stated “Every time I go there I enjoy myself.”

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The Chronicle

News

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

Historic Windows Subject of Debate

By JESSICA NICOSIA Contributing Writer Windows were a contested subject at Wednesday’s Historical Resources Committee meeting. That is, the replacement of original wood-framed windows, sometimes hundreds of years old, with the more popular energyefficient modern windows. The owners of residential building 214 Clinton Ave. and a commercial property 388 Broadway want to replace the wood-framed windows in their buildings with new windows. Representatives for the Historic Albany Foundation, which advocates for preserving wood windows in all historic buildings, opposed the proposals.

All window-related agenda items were tabled pending site visits to assess the state of the existing wood windows.

The owners of 388 Broadway, Broadway-Liberty Company, requested approval to replace all 57 of the original wood windows in their building. The proposed replacement windows are made of wood covered with dark green aluminum. The building is unusual in the Downtown Albany Historic District because it has three exposed sides, and therefore many more windows.

An imposing brick building painted red with green trim around large arched windows, 388 Broadway houses the nightclub Red Square on the bottom floor. The second and third floor is the home of architecture firm of Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker. The architecture firm’s four partners own the building along with their partner James Carr, who spoke before the committee. They have owned the building since 2000.

An opportunity to rent out the vacant fourth floor of the building to a tenant as early as this summer has made the issue of window replacement time-sensitive.

Carr read a prepared statement to the Committee detailing the reasons for the proposed window replacement, the history of the windows, the specifications of the new windows, and their long

term plans for the building.

Damages from Hurricane Irene spurred the owners to start major renovations, some of which had been necessary for some time.

“The more immediate damage was that there was four feet of water in the basement. Everything in the basement that was there had to be removed,” said Carr. Other changes as a result of the flooding included replacing the oil boiler with a natural gas version and overhauling a damaged 10-year old elevator system.

The issue of the windows came up in the process of making these necessary interior renovations. Although they have made extensive renovations to the second and third floor interiors over the years, the partners have not changed the windows. The windows were altered in the past with materials and techniques not approved by the Historic Resources Committee, which was not created until 1988.

Forty percent of all replacement windows replace those that are less than 10 years old.

Carr and partners James Cohen and Lawrence Wilson said that 25% of the original windows had been damaged beyond repair by previous owners’ alterations and another 25% are essentially falling apart.

“We want to protect this building as a viable commercial building,” said Carr. “So what we’re wanting to do is not terribly different than what has always happened there.” To keep the building’s commercial legacy, he said they will need to “upgrade the building so people will want to come and work there.”

After Carr’s statements, the committee agreed to table the issue until they could make a site visit to assess the windows in person.

Susan Holland said that she had

been working with Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker architects and Carr throughout their renovations, and was surprised and disappointed to see the issue of window replacement on the agenda. Holland is the executive director of the Historic Albany Foundation.

“We advocate to keep original wood windows,” Holland said by phone on Wednesday. “It was a letdown for them to be advocating to change all their windows.”

Although the newer energyefficient windows are cost-effective in the short term, Holland said they will have to be replaced in 10 to 15 years. The higher cost of replacing original wood windows, she said, is worth it because they last more than 100 years if they are maintained correctly.

John G. Waite of John G. Waite Associates Architect Firm also commented on Carr’s statement after Holland. He worked with the City of Albany in the past in a window study. The city chose to keep the original wood windows because the buildings they own are considered long-term.

Keeping the wood windows “made sense for the city,” said Waite. “If it makes sense for them it makes sense for anyone.”

Waite went on to explain that original wood windows are made of first-growth lumber which can last for hundreds of years and that 40% of all replacement windows replace windows that are less than 10 years old. Although the windows chosen for replacements for 388 Broadway are actually made of wood, Waite said that the first-growth wood used for the original windows is much stronger. He closed by explaining that the aluminum covering of the new windows in question would have to be removed and sent out for repainting every 10 years.

After these rebuttals, Carr came back up before the committee to make a closing statement.

The windows the owners had proposed as replacements had been carefully chosen and were expected to be long-term replace-

The windows at 84 North Pearl Street. ments, Carr said.

Replacement windows for 214 Clinton Ave. were also proposed

by Desiree Leary . She suggested vinyl windows that match the white exterior of the building.

Leary owns the property on a sloped section of Clinton Avenue between Lark Street and North Pearl Street in the Clinton Square Historic District. The brick façade is painted ivory with brown trim and connected to the buildings on either side.

Leary has owned the building for six or seven years, but is waiting to move in until she finishes interior and exterior construction projects. The original windows, Leary said, are more than 100 years old. When covered with storm windows in the winter they appear “drab” and she felt that newer vinyl windows would look better.

JESSICA NICOSIA

“We typically don’t approve vinyl windows, especially in the front,” said Lee Pinckney, a committee member and preservation architect. “In the rear, it’s different.”

The Committee voted to table the issue until the Historic Resources Committee staff person Rich Nicholson can arrange a site visit.

The final item discussed at the Historic Resources Committee Meeting was a request by the owners of Legends on Pearl, John DeJohn and Omid Teimouri, to establish a sidewalk café outside the building. Legends is in the Downtown Historic District at 84 North Pearl St., a building owned by the Moutopoulos Brothers. The request to put up a permanent railing with 4 small café tables was approved.

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

News

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The Chronicle

Albany Common Council Discusses Two Quality of Life Issues ings, Burke believes the “yes” vote was the result of two recent state Supreme Court decisions in Two quality of life issues took Tompkins and Otsego Counties, center stage at Monday night’s which upheld the rights of towns Albany Common Council meet- to ban fracking. There had been ing – hyrdrofracking and parking. prior discussion within the CounAlthough the Council’s legis- cil that municipalities should delation to ban natural gas explo- fer to the Department of Environration within the city limits has mental Conservation for matters been on the agenda before, this such as hydrofracking.

“Those decisions were imtime the ordinance to limit natumensely helpful in turning around ral gas extraction at least one compassed with 10 mon council votes, with only member’s vote,” two members in said Burke. opposition.

Ward 8 ComThis was mon Council good news for member John Siobhan Burke, Rosenzweig co-founder of originally votCapital District ed against the Against Fracklegislation, but ing. Burke has changed his vote worked with to support the her fellow antiban thanks in fracking suppart, to the court porters to keep the issue in the public eye and in decisions, but also because of his desire for the Council to move front of the legislature.

“We’re trying to raise the pro- forward.

“I’m happy that it has been file and make sure that the public is aware of the threat to their passed so we can start to focus water and to their health,” said more of our resources and time on other decisions like the budBurke.

Although her supporters have get,” said Rosenzweig.

The Council also approved a protested outside City Hall and have dominated the public com- residential parking permit system ment period during council meet- that is designed to provide relief to city residents who routinely face an uphill battle when trying to find parking near their homes. This issue will undoubtedly be exacerbated by the State’s push to relocate 2,000 to 3,000 state workers to vacant downtown offices like the Alfred E. Smith building.

“It’s a big problem,” said Earl Belcher, vicepresident of the Park South Neighborhood Association.

“You spend all this money on a home in AlSIOBHAN GERVASIO bany and then you can’t State Street—the Council is hoping new find any place to park,” parking legislation will it easier for city said Belcher, who believes that in order to atresidents to find parking.

By, SIOBHAN GERVASIO Contributing Writer

“You spend all this money on a home in Albany and then you can’t find any place to park.”

Earl Belcher

SIOBHAN GERVASIO

Anti-fracking protesters outside City Hall before Monday night’s Common Council meeting. tract people to live in the city, you need to fix the parking situation.

Common Council President Pro Tempore, Richard Conti introduced the legislation which will establish three zones around the Empire State Plaza where permit-only parking would be in effect from Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Residents will be re-

quired to pay a $25 annual fee for the permit.

Although Rosenzweig voted in favor of the two year pilot program, he has concerns about how it can be regulated and what its impact to area businesses will be.

“What will happen if people start squatting in their parking spaces? How will that affect businesses like the restaurants on ADVERTISEMENT

Lark Street if no one can park?” said Rosenzweig.

For Rosenzweig, it’s all about choice. “I understand that people would like the luxury of parking in front of their homes, but I would like the luxury of walking to a corner market or restaurant.

Ultimately it’s making the decision about where you want to live,” said Rosenzweig.

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The Chronicle

Something Sour, Something Sweet:

My Top Eight Favorite MovieVillains

By RACHEL BOLTON Staff Writer

Often what makes a movie memorable is the villain. A hero is nothing if he doesn’t have a good opponent to rival him. Here is a list of my personal favorite movie villains.

8.

Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) from It’s a Wonderful Life- Mr. Potter is a small time dictator, he practically rules Bedford Falls. I wish we could have seen what happened to him, but I guess we will have to settle for the SNL skit.

7.

Ursula (Pat Carroll) from The Little Mermaid- I love everything about Ursula. I love her character design, her voice, and her personality. She is loveable in a villainous sort of way.

She takes advantage of the ditzy heroine with one of the best Disney villain songs, and steals every scene she is in.

6.

Darth Vader (David Prowse/ James Earl Jones) from Star Wars- Darth Vader is the most iconic villain on this list.

His voice and appearance have become an engrained part of pop culture. All science fiction parodies will have a version of him in it. Darth Vader’s scariness comes from his mask; the audience doesn’t know who or what is under it (until the end, at least).

5.

Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) from The Matrix- I’ll admit, I am not a big fan of The Matrix. However, the only thing that I love about it is the over-thetop character of Agent Smith. He has more life in him than Keanu Reeves’ wooden Neo. Could we do a perspective switch and make Smith the protagonist instead?

4.

Khan Noonien Soong (Richardo Montalban) from Star Trek II the Wrath of Khan- He’s hammy, arrogant, and eloquent.

It’s not every day a man quotes “Moby Dick” while shooting at Captain Kirk. He set the bar very high for all other Star Trek villains to follow.

3.

O-ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) from Kill Bill- While she may not be the title villain, O-ren is arguably the most memorable. We learn more about her than any other character in the two film series that gives the audience a different perspective on her foregone conclusion of death. O-ren is all about presence and intimidation; above all don’t make her mad, or you will lose your head.

I enjoy how her grace fits with her deadliness. She is also a good example of how to make a decent female villain without sexualizing her.

2.

Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino) From Repo! The Genetic Opera- I believe that you should be able to feel sorry for the villain at least once in a narrative. Rotti Largo is one of the vilest people on this list, and yet he is the one that deserves the most pity. He is responsible for the deaths of thousands, if not millions, but his children don’t love him, and the woman he loved ran off with another man. The impact of his suffering is explored throughout the movie. This is not to excuse him for being evil, but his complexity makes it more interesting to watch his downfall

1.

Colonel Hans Landa

(Christoph Waltz) From Inglourious Basterds- He is the demented combination of Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Javert, with a heavy dose of Nazism. Landa is as amiable as he is evil and that is what makes him so effective. You have no idea of what he is planning to do next and you know that whatever it is isn’t good. The audience spends the entire film hating his guts and you feel justified enjoying his gruesome comeuppance.

Arts

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

21 Jump Street:

Stealing Laughs One Joke At a Time

By CHRIS SURPRENANT Arts Editor What do you get when you cross an out-of-shape nerd with stereotypical dumb jock? 21 Jump Street, that’s what. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum make a surprisingly convincing team in this adaptation/homage of the classic 80’s television series in a film with crude characters and even cruder humor.

Centering on two less-thanstellar police recruits, Hill and Tatum star as bumbling officers, Schmidt and Jenko, who go undercover at a high school to bust up the sale of a new synthetic drug snaking its way through the student population. Over the course of the film, the audience is treated to a plethora of jokes involving the male anatomy, and an abundance of situations that call for an extensive use of a particular word that begins with the letter ‘F’. Unapologetically uncouth and brash, it’s no wonder it’s been a hit with audiences.

The film starts off with Schmidt and Jenko as high school classmates. Schmidt was the overweight nerd who tried desperately to be cool, while Jenko was the jock that laughed at guys like Schmidt. Once they graduate, the tables turn, and Jenko needs Schmidt to help him graduate from the police academy, leading to the start of a beautiful friendship. If you’re thinking the pair seems a bit mismatched, you wouldn’t be alone. I’m a huge fan of Hill’s work, especially in comedies like Superbad, but Tatum

has always seemed to have an air of he’s-too-good-to-be-funny.

Luckily for Tatum, my opinion of him has changed.

I’m about to employ one of the most over-used phrases of the year, but Hill and Tatum have a classic onscreen bromance. Their characters are brutally honest with each other, at times saying things so vulgar your grandmother would cringe, but oddly enough, that’s what makes them easy to identify with. They represent real people. Hill’s Schmidt is the nerd inside all of us, while Tatum’s Jenko is who we would all want to be. They fight over really stupid things, and then bond over even more stupid things. In short, boys will be boys, making the main characters nothing less than hilarious.

21 Jump Street has Jonah Hill’s unique brand of underdog comedy.

The film’s best assets, aside from a very funny, talented cast, are winks and nods to the television show that inspired it, as well as poking fun at almost every cheesy 80’s movie cliché in the book. Schmidt, the pudgy, shy nerd who asked a popular girl to prom in high school was rejected back in the day, but has a real shot at going during his stint as

teenaged impersonator. It’s a little creepy, but you’re rooting for Schmidt all the while, especially in a scene that involves him in a Peter Pan costume as he woos his ladylove.

Along with little send-ups to John Hughes-type movies, the film manages to poke fun at action movies from the 80’s, overdoing every scene that involves an explosion or a car chase. The use of slow-motion for laughs is more than perfect and had my sides splitting by the end of the night.

On top of all the tongue-incheek humor, several stars from the original series make an appearance. Johnny Depp pops out of nowhere in the most unexpected of places, while several of the minor characters in the film were actually series regulars.

The script, which was incidentally penned by Hill, does a fine job of creating a self-aware film that knows its limits, and exploits them to its best possible advantage. The cameo appearances definitely gave the film (which has a much different tone than the series) much more validity.

If you’re a fan of any of Jonah Hill’s work, you won’t be disappointed in 21 Jump Street. It has his unique brand of underdog comedy that will appeal to many (well, maybe not the elderly).

Tatum shows his comedic chops in unexpected ways, proving he too can be a funny guy. If you’re looking for one of the funniest films out this year, take a drive to 21 Jump Street.

What’s that movie you’re dying to see? Is there a TV show you can’t stop talking about? Tell us! Chris Surprenant and Rachel Bolton will discuss anything and everything pop culture on The Chronicle’s podcast.

Email Rachel at boltonr413@strose.edu or Chris at surprenantc572@strose.edu with questions today!

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

Arts

The Chronicle ADVERTISEMENT

To Catch a Bike Theif

By ASIA EWART Staff Writer

wanted to help shine a light on the inequality and systemic damage bike theft causes to society…UnIt’s an issue we’ve all seen on fortunately, bike theft is not taken TV or even experienced in our as seriously as other crimes, and own lives: bike theft. At a stag- the victim is often blamed for not gering rate of “2.5 bikes stolen taking enough precaution. My every minute,” bike owners don’t hope is that [the show] will eduknow what more they can do to cate policy makers about the cost protect their possessions. Locks? of ignoring bike theft and encourThey can be broken. Reporting age law enforcement to treat bike to the police? There is a less than theft as seriously as they treat auone percent chance of actually re- tomobile theft.” says Albright. covering stolen bikes. So, in this In a press release for the show, age of missing wheels all around the entire layout for the project the country, where is the hope? is explained: “The group tested This is where their DIY bait the “To Catch a bike, keeping it Bike Thief” team on a short leash “Unfortunately, comes in. at first. They ran “To Catch a round-the clock bike theft is not Bike Thief” is a waittaken as seriously stakeouts, web series creing for a thief to as other crimes, ated in 2011 by cut the lock so the Ingo Lou. Lou To Catch a Bike and the victim is had experienced Thief intercept often blamed for four bike thefts in team could hop his lifetime, the not taking enough on to their bikes most recent being and chase the precaution.” a few months bestolen bait bike. fore shooting for -Broderick Albright The GPS tracker the show began. in the bait bike That last theft has a vibration prompted him to do something sensor that activates the tracker about the situation. “With GPS once the lock is cut. The tracker tracking becoming so common then broadcasts its real-time locain every-day items (cars, phones, tion every 10 seconds to a mapeven computers), I figured that ping server accessed through a since bikes are so commonly sto- web application. In ‘To Catch a len, one solution would be for cy- Bike Thief,’ the team designated clists to keep tabs on their bikes a “dispatcher” to coordinate with with simple GPS trackers.” said the intercept team in the field via Lou in a February 2012 interview. two-way radio. The ‘To Catch a With a team of dispatchers, con- Bike Thief’ team hired security frontation and surveillance spe- guards on bicycles to be on hand cialists, and security, Lou began when confronting bike thieves. planting trackers in “bike baits” The security detail isn’t there to across Toronto and watching the make arrests, but to observe and situation play out with those who report and deter any potential viofell for it. lent behavior to protect the interBroderick Albright was one cept team.” of the first members of the “To The pilot for “To Catch a Bike Catch a Bike Thief” team, and Thief” was released on April 2nd, is their intercept team leader and and episode 2 will be released confrontation specialist. He is ar- soon. Watch the series on Indiguably one of the most passion- eGoGo, and watch as the team ate members of the team, being a helps put a stop to bike theft as cyclist since childhood. “I joined we know it!

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Opinion

Tapped Documentary: Informative and Terrifying

By MICHELLE RASPANTI Contributing Writer The Environmental Club at the College put on a showing of Tapped, a documentary concerning the negative effects of bottled water on society, in honor of Earth Week on Wednesday, April 18. It was a great documentary… which inevitably means that it severely depressed everyone in the room. Nonetheless, we were educated about the issue, and it was time well spent.

Tapped started its story in rural Maine, and explained the water war between local residents and corporations. Corporations such as Nestle, Pepsi, and Coke, take water from rural towns for free… without being taxed. At the time this documentary was made, there were no established laws against mass extraction of water because the bottled water cash cow did not seriously exist until the early 90’s. So, according to the film, corporations reap all of the benefits from the town’s water supply; the town receives no compensation for their massive water loss. Basically, it is stealing.

Next, the topic shifted to the debate of tap water versus bottled water—which one is safer?

Tapped explained that while bottled water was approved by the FDA, the water inside those bottles is not necessarily safe, and it is definitely NOT better than water from the tap. Local water systems check the area’s water supply multiple times a day, yet corporations insist that bottled water is healthier and safer. However, there were studies in this documentary concerning the safety of bottled water, and I assure you, the results were disturbing. In a different but similar study conducted in 2008 (one conducted outside this documentary), there were 38 different pollutants found in samples of ten popular U.S. bottled water brands, including bacteria, fertil-

izer, Tylenol, industrial chemicals, and carcinogens. Acccording to an October 2008 article from the Environmental Working Group, this study states what the movie did, which is determine that bottled water is not only the same as tap water, it is probably worse. The main reason as to why bottled water is worse: it is produced by a company that has monetary goals. They bottle water to make a profit. They do not check its chemical levels because they do not care until a lawsuit is involved. The local water supply is monitored and kept safe for the people because it HAS to be— there is no profit in sight, it is just an exercise that needs to be done.

What happened is that corporations made water, the most essential resource for life on Earth, a

While bottled water was approved by the FDA, the water inside those bottles is not... safe and it is definitely NOT better than water from the tap. commodity.

The conditions under which the plastic for these bottles is produced are equally stupid. The main ingredient in plastic is petroleum, a byproduct of crude oil.

Bisphenol A, or BPA is another ingredient used in plastic. It is controversial because it exerts weak, but detectable estrogen-like properties. Even though there is a low amount of chemical leakage, it is still harmful. Another study in the film exposed lab mice to BPA. Male mice were essentially emasculated because of their contact with BPA. The exposed mice did not exhibit the same aggressive traits as unexposed mice, and were less attractive to female mice! This study showed that no matter how much or little BPA is in a product, the chemical has the

power to mess with our biology.

Lastly, the documentary focused on vast amounts of waste being produced by the boom of the bottled water industry. While Tapped was being made, there were only 11 states that had plastic bottle deposit systems for recycling; New York included (WOO NEW YORK!). The depositing systems allow people to both recycle and get five to ten cents back per bottle. These systems raise incentive to recycle by a ton: 88% for the states with a 5 cent payoff and 97% for states with a 10 cent pay off! But again, only 11 states have these system.

So, the Unites States is left with tons and tons of terrible, nonbiodegradable waste. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a fairly recent discovery about the disgusting amount of waste due to our culture’s obsession with convenience and, more specifically, water bottles. “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch stretches for hundreds of miles across the North Pacific Ocean, forming a nebulous, floating junk yard on the high seas,” according to a February 2010 article from the mother nature Network. That fact right there kills me. The magnitude of our waste has created a swirling mass of plastic in our oceans.

What are we doing? IS NOTHING SAFE FROM HUMANITY’S GROSSNESS? This whole development in our culture today with bottled water is maddening. Think about all of the crises we could have averted if it were not for such intense greed by corporations such as Nestle, Pepsi, or Coke. They sold us well on their bottled water scheme, but the truth is, we can snap out of this stupor at any time. There are reusable bottles that we can keep and refill with free water any time we want. They use less plastic, and they eliminate our reliance on unnecessary, expensive means for water. Thank you, Environmental Club, for shedding some much needed light on this issue!

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

The View From Venus Quit Staring at Your Chest

By PAIGE FITZGERALD Women’s Initiative Growing up as females, we are constantly told to respect ourselves and keep up our outward appearance. Dress nicely so you do not appear like a slob. Do not swear because it is unattractive.

Most importantly, do not let a boy go too far, otherwise he will never respect you.

We are taught that our virginity is a sacred thing that we are to hold on to for as long as possible; that even letting a boy kiss you too soon is a no-no. Our sexuality is a prize. We must be the discerning judges and hand it out only to those who are worthy.

It is not only females who are taught to think like that; young males are taught the same thing, too. Women should be treated as princesses and put on pedestals.

Women are the gentler sex so you need to work hard and make a lot of money so you can support your wife and family. From a young age, boys and girls are socialized into thinking of a woman’s sexuality as an object to be obtained and won instead of as a very human part of the woman herself.

When a woman has sex with a man they are “putting out” and “giving it up.” Having sex for the first time is referred to as “losing it.” All of these euphemisms reinforce this objectification. If having sex with a woman is “the prize,” then what does that make the woman? Are we the empty package that the prize came in?

Are we the gumball machine that you walk away from once you have gotten your candy? If a woman wants to be in a relationship with a man that she is attracted to, she has to present her sexuality as a challenge to the man. Jumping into bed too soon makes her easy, but there is no set rule that explains when the right time to “jump in” is. If she lets a man sleep with her too soon, then is she no longer a challenge; no longer interesting? This is the

way our society works and this is a problem.

How does being the bearer of this prize, deciding who earns it and how long is long enough to hold out on it, affect the woman?

We are meant to believe that we hold the power because of it. We decide who has sex with us and when, and that makes us in control. But are we really in control?

When you date a guy that you like and you deem him worthy, only to have him never call you again, do you feel in control? If a woman has had sex with ten or twenty men, would you call her powerful or a slut? As women, we are handed the illusion of power over our sexuality to camouflage the reality that we are in fact allowing our sexuality to become the prize in a game where, more often than not, we lose. We are the challenge and men are the challengers. Sleeping with us is an accomplishment and they feel successful afterwards.

And if a man sticks around after he has slept with us we feel… what? Relieved? Comforted that sex is not all he wanted from us?

That is not power.

If a man looks at you as an object of interest to be pursued, that does not make you powerful – that makes you an object. We should not be treated as prizes; we should be treated as the equals of men. By glorifying our sexuality and treating intimacy with us as a sport, we are being dehumanized and made to feel that our sexuality has more leverage over our self-worth than any other aspect of ourselves. And if you put us on a pedestal and treat us like princesses, then you will never be able to see us as your equals.

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

Opinion

The Chronicle

C13

A Look Back at St. Rose

Girl in Saint Joe’s: “I’m a girl playing a guy playing Nicole Dama.”

Friend: “I like it. That’s a hard role to play.”

Girl in Dining Hall: “What is the demand for a Tim Curry impersonator?”

Guy in Dining Hall: “If I won the mega millions, I’d buy Centennial and make it my house.”

Girl Walking: “If this water was $12, I’d pee it out and drink it again.”

Girl in Dining Hall: “I feel like there’s a dragon behind me.”

Guy in Dining Hall: “Have you seen the people that go to the gym at night? They’re a bunch of tools. It’s like going to a hardware store.”

Girl 1 looking at iPhone in Library: “Do we have a cloud [app]?”

Girl 2: “Look in the sky. There’s plenty.”

Girl 1: “Yeah, but those don’t tell me where the party’s at.

This one’s supposed to.”

SAINT ROSE ARCHIVES

Taken from different pictures, these are the four sisters who founded The College of Saint Rose. On top: Sister Blanche Rooney and Sister Rita Agnes Casey. On bottom: Sister John Joseph Moran and Mother Rose of Lima Dolan. Originally an all female college, it was founded in 1920 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, according the www.strose.edu. “Its founders selected the name of Saint Rose to honor the first canonized saint in the Americas.” In 1969, Saint Rose became available to both men and women.

ATTENTION CLUB MEMBERS!

Would you like to have your club’s voice heard in The Chronicle? Contact Opinion Editor Regina Iannizzotto at iannizzottor407@strose.edu.

Guy in Dining Hall: “I'll take two hamburgers, please.”

Chef: “You want two single-dingles or a double-stacker-packer?

Guy: “Ummm, two single dingles...”

Chef: “Alright my man, just trying to clarify and varify!”

Girl in Dining Hall: “You look like a whack-a-mole. I feel like I need a little hammer to hit you over the head with.”

Girl in Standish: “Your jiggly jello does not want to be spooned.”

Girl in Dining Hall: “I stalked this guy because he has a nice coat. Then, I saw it was stalker awareness month and I figured I should cut back on my stalking.”

Girl in Dining Hall: “I watched some Telemundo because I’m trying to learn Spanish.”

D14 Sports Any Takers for the Larry O’Brien Trophy The Chronicle

By JOSHUA NATOLI Staff Writer With the NBA Playoffs quickly approaching, teams have begun to transform themselves into title contenders. There are seven teams currently in playoff contention capable of winning the Finals. Let’s take a look at them.

The Chicago Bulls: This is the most obvious pick. Any team that can beat the Miami Heat without Derrick Rose is going to cause serious problems in the playoffs.

They even beat the Heat with Derrick Rose only scoring two points. The Bulls sit atop the NBA’s Eastern conference and will most likely finish there despite Rose’s absences. The Bulls know not to get too confident with their achievements. Until they see Derrick Rose on the floor for them in the playoffs, playing healthily, they cannot afford to slip up.

The Oklahoma City Thunder: Here is a team that has been able to live up to preseason hype.

With Kevin Durant and Russell

April 24, 2012

Westbrook finally beginning to somewhat coexist together, the Thunder has become one of the teams to beat in the Western Conference. Even though they lack in interior scoring, the Thunder have been able to out-shoot and out-run their opponents. Once they start moving the ball around better, they might become unstoppable.

The San Antonio Spurs: Who would have thought, right? The Spurs are back playing like they have new legs. However, it is no surprise for the Spurs to save all the gas in the tank until it really counts. After bashing Tony Parker in my All-Star selection piece, I would like to take this moment to apologize for questioning his game. This man can play. He is the reason why the Spurs are the best team in the West right now.

When you pair wily veterans, like Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, with young studs, like Kawhi Leonard and Gary Neal, you gain an edge that it crucial to winning a title.

The Miami Heat: This is an ar-

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Even without Derrick Rose, the Bulls are finding success.

ticle based on the teams who can win it all, but I would like to take this moment to say that the Miami Heat are the team on this list that have the biggest chance of losing a series to an underdog team like the Knicks or 76ers. Heat players and fans alike have a legitimate reason for worrying about LeBron and Wade in the postseason.

We know the Heat are good, but if they cannot force their opponent to miss shots so they can get rebounds and push the fast break, their championship hopes will be short lived. If the Heat have to work out of the half-court offense, with LeBron and Wade trying to work as many isolations as possible, they will be beaten not one, not two, not three, but four times in a series.

The Los Angeles Lakers: I loved hearing all the talk during the preseason that Kobe Bryant was not going to be effective and the Lakers had no shot at the title without Dwight Howard or Chris Paul. Once Kobe started going off on opponents for 30 plus points, the critics went away. Even with Kobe’s shin issues, the Lakers will still be a problem. Let us not forget Andrew Bynum. If Bynum can make a serious impact in the postseason, I might go as far to say that he is better than Dwight Howard. If the Lakers fire on all cylinders with Bynum boarding, Ramon Sessions creating opportunities, and Kobe being Kobe, then they can definitely win it all.

The Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies made a much unexpected playoff run last year, beating the San Antonio Spurs and giving the Thunder all they can handle.

Now, add Rudy Gay to that equation this year. Scary, right? All that team needed last postseason was a reliable scorer who could get to the basket and also shoot the outside jumper. The Griz have that heart and drive to make another run this year. If Zach Randolph shows the Z-Bo we saw in last year’s playoffs, then chalk these guys up to at least make it to the conference finals.

The Boston Celtics: If you

Volume 80 Issue 31

AL DIAZ / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Chris Bosh and LeBron James are still looking for their first NBA title.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Tony Parker is the reason for the Spurs’ success right now. remember my article last week about these guys, then you would expect them to be one of my contenders. The key to the Celtics winning does not rely on Rajon Rondo, or Kevin Garnett; it falls into the hands of Paul Pierce.

Pierce knows that the time is now to step up his game, and that he has. Pierce put up 43 points against the New York Knicks, and

then dropped 14 assists in a rout of the Orlando Magic. If Pierce can keep this up all the way to the playoffs, the Celtics should have no problem making another Finals run.

It looks to me like this year’s playoffs will be quite interesting, don’t you think?

Sports

D15 Major League Baseball Season is in Full Swing

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

By MICHAEL SMITH Staff Writer We are just about three weeks into the 2012 baseball season, and it is shaping up to be a very good one. There have been great games and some surprises already.

Two surprise teams on the East

Coast have found themselves off to very good starts: the Washington Nationals on the National League side, and the Baltimore Orioles on the American League side.

The Nationals came in as a team that was expected to compete, but there were some questions as to whether they were

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Nick Markakis has played a key role in the Orioles’ early success.

ready this year, or if they were still a year away. They have done a good job early of dispelling that notion by jumping out to an early lead in the NL East, the division that was supposed to be owned by the last-place Phillies. They only finished one-game under .500 last year at 80-81, the closest they had been to the .500 mark since they finished 81-81 in 2005.

The 2011 team would have had a chance had they not lost a game to a rainout. The 2012 team is trying to make up for that. They have jumped out to a 10-4 record, and they are doing it with pitching. The Nationals rank third in the majors in ERA in the early going, at 2.54. The pitching staff also has the lowest bating average against, at .209.

The Nationals geographical rivals, the Orioles, have just found ways to win as well. They are 16th in the majors in the batting average, 12th in ERA, and 15th in batting average against.

However, thanks to a sweep of the Minnesota Twins in the first series of the season, a sweep at the hands of the Yankees didn’t hurt them that much. With a 5-2 record against Toronto and the White Sox, the Orioles have earned themselves first place in the AL East. Before the season started, the Orioles were expected to be the lone bad team in a great division that is highlighted by the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, and Blue Jays, somebody forgot to tell Baltimore.

The Chronicle

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Matt Kemp is an early candiate for the Triple-Crown title.

The Red Sox meanwhile are in last place of the division. They have hit sixth best team batting average in the league, at .263.

Their detriment has been their pitching, worst ERA in the league at 6.10, and a .288 batting average against, second worst in the league.

None of the other division leaders are all that surprising. The AL Central is headed by Detroit and the AL West is lead by the Texas Rangers, who are running roughshod over the league at 112, already earning themselves a 4.5 game lead in the division.

In the NL, the Central division is lead by the defending-champion Cardinals, and Matt Kemp and the Los Angeles Dodgers are first in the West.

Kemp is very quickly making himself a Triple-Crown candi-

date. In the early going, he trails only David Wright of the Mets in batting average, Wright hitting at .500, Kemp at .451. However, those numbers will go drastically down. In the other two TripleCrown categories, home runs and RBIs, Kemp leads the NL in home runs with 8, and is currently two ahead of teammate Andre Ethier, with 20 RBIs to Ethier’s 18.

Even more than the TripleCrown, Kemp finished second to Ryan Braun of the Brewers in the NL MVP voting in 2011, and he appears to be separating himself from the field in the early going.

Baseball has had a great start, some of the best players in the game, like Kemp, Wright, Derek Jeter, and Justin Verlander, have thrived early. However, it is a long season, and it is shaping up to be an enjoyable one.

Upcoming Athletic Events at Saint Rose Thursday: Men’s Track and Field at Penn Relays

Friday: Men’s Track and Field at Penn Relays

Saturday: Men’s Track and Field at Capital District Classic at 11 am

Women’s Track and Field at Penn Relays

Women’s Track and Field at Penn Relays

All shuttles to Plumeri Sports Complex leave 45 minutes before the start of event. All shuttles are in front of the Event and Athletics Center.

Women’s Track and Field at Capital District Classic at 11 am Baseball (Double-Header) vs Adelphi 12 pm Men’s Lacrosse vs American International at 1 pm

D16

Sports

The Chronicle

April 24, 2012

Volume 80 Issue 31

Rekindling a Love for Baseball on the East Coast

By JACKSON WANG Sports Editor For most young kids, playing baseball is usually influenced by either their father or an older sibling. This wasn’t the case of Golden Knights’ outfielder Nikko Wahl.

“I had a tough childhood with just me and my mom, but she always told me that the happiest she ever sees me is when I’m on a baseball field,” said Wahl. “She also always told me that I should be proud of everything I accomplish with baseball because I never had an older brother that was around, or a dad that I could go play catch with or hit BP with.”

Wahl, a senior on the baseball team, is from Oakland, California and went to Bishop O’Dowd High School.

Wahl has been around the game of baseball ever since he was six years old. Like most kids, Wahl played t-ball, little league, senior league, and eventually high school baseball. While in little league, Wahl didn’t see much action, especially being stuck in the outfield at age eight.

Even though childhood was tough for Wahl, he kept working hard, and it would eventually pay off in his junior year of high school.

“In high school in 2005, when I was a junior, we won a state title,” said Wahl. “That’s probably the highest honor I’ve received with

COURTESY OF SAINT ROSE SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE

Nikko Wahl #24 baseball. Especially in California, which has the best baseball in the country, in my opinion.”

After graduating from high school in 2006, Wahl decided to attend Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, CA. While attending Santa Barbara City College, he decided to be finished with baseball, and just enjoy college and have fun. It turns out Wahl had a little too much fun and didn’t get his bachelor’s degree.

“So I came home for a year and decided to work and coach my old high school’s JV baseball team and try to figure out what I was going to do,” said Wahl. “I was living at home with my mom, which was also a huge motivator to get out and do something with

COURTESY OF SAINT ROSE SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE

Nikko Wahl currently has a batting average of .246.

my life.”

Wahl found out about Albany and Saint Rose through the family he had living in the area. His mother also grew up in Albany.

In January of 2010, he flew out to Albany to check out Saint Rose and meet with then baseball coach Casey O’Connor. Wahl enjoyed the campus and couldn’t argue with the male to female ratio at Saint Rose.

Wahl talked to O’Connor about playing baseball for the Golden Knights and O’Connor told him to come to practice the next day.

“I hadn’t picked up a bat in

“So coming in this year I really just wanted to leave it all on the field.”

Nikko Wahl about 3 years, so I ran out to Target, bought a pair of sneakers, some sweats, and went to the batting cage for about an hour,” said Wahl. “The next day I showed up at practice and impressed him enough that he told me I could play ball at Saint Rose for a few years.”

Wahl then decided to apply to Saint Rose and walk-on to the baseball team.

Wahl describes his experience at Saint Rose being pretty interesting. One thing he noticed was most of the players on the team knew or at least heard of each other before Saint Rose, which Wahl thought was kind of weird.

“Albany has a kind of small town feel to it,” said Wahl. “But I met some of the guys who I love playing with and are great friends of mine, and then there are others who I can’t stand being on the same field with, but in general a good group of guys to play ball with.”

COURTESY OF SAINT ROSE SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE

Nikko Wahl getting ready to hit the baseball.

When Wahl first joined the team, the Golden Knights were struggling under O’Connor and the atmosphere wasn’t good for baseball. With a new baseball coach Chris Francis, Wahl expects the team to improve.

“We’re struggling right now, but there was no way that the program was going to turn around in a single year in my opinion,” said Wahl. “But I think Coach Francis’ heart is in the right place and will get what he wants out of his players in the next few years.”

Going into his senior year, Wahl wants to play as hard as he can because this will be the last year of playing competitive baseball for him. Also, Wahl wants to play for his mother who has done so much for him.

“All the money she spent on gas, to buy me equipment, to pay for travel teams, to pay for private lessons, as much as she told me I should be proud of myself for getting as far as I have on my own, it was really her that made it all possible,” said Wahl. “So coming in this year, I really just wanted to leave it all on the field.”

As for school, Wahl is looking

to pass, and eventually graduate in May. Wahl describes graduating from college will be one of his greatest accomplishments in his life.

“After taking a year off from school and then moving 3,000 miles away to finish my degree, and coming back to the game of baseball after giving it up after high school and playing for 2 years at the college level, I’m very proud of that,” said Wahl.

Outside of baseball, Wahl enjoys hanging out with people, listening to music, and reading a good book. Wahl also describes himself as a movie buff and can tell you just about anything on any movie. And of course, he enjoys going to MLB games.

“I never saw myself coming to Albany, New York for any reason other than to visit family. But I must say that the people I’ve met here have made it worthwhile and have even made me want to stick around for a while before I head back out west to Cali,” said Wahl.

“Shout out to Ding, T-Mac, and Beliz for taking me in right off the bat, and making me feel like one of the guys from the start.”