The Chronicle
March 11th, 2014
The weekly student newspaper of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York www.strosechronicle.com - @strosechronicle
Volume LXXXII Issue 24
Hearst Chief Technology Officer Talks Tech Future By LAUREN SEARS Staff Writer The Chief Technology Officer of the Hearst Corporation gave students and faculty a sneak peek
into the future of technology. Philip Wiser spoke at the event, “It’s a Mobile, Global World,” on Wednesday, Feb. 26 in the Touhey Forum. Wiser is considered a pioneer in the online music industry. He built the first online music distribution platform, and he currently leads technology and digital product strategies at Hearst. The topics discussed at the lecture included the impact and chalContinued on Page A6
CHRIS ALVARADO
Hearst Chief Technology Officer Philip Wiser spoke at Saint Rose with Times Union Editor Rex Smith.
Security Holds Safety Presentation For The Love of Joe By ALEXIS SACCONE Contributing Writer The streets of Albany are not as safe as people may think; during the day or night, it doesn’t make a difference. That was the message delivered by Head of Security Steve Stella and Security Guard
David Mankad at the presentation titled “Personal Safety Presentation” last month. The presentation had a variety of ways to show the students how to be safe and street smart, and included important tips. Some tips for students were to make sure you aren’t walking alone in
News & Features
the streets without your friends; most people who have had their phones stolen were simply looking down while texting. This is referred to as “apple picking.” It took the officers a total of 3 to 4 hours to create the presentation Continued on Page A7
Arts & Opinion
By JUSTIN PORRECA Contributing Writer He’s a trainer, he’s a head barista, he’s a coffee connoisseur, and he works at Tierra Coffee Roasters. Ron Grieco, 26, has a true love for the coffee world and Tierra. This February marked
Grieco’s second year with the rising business. Working roughly 40 hours a week (6 to 8 hours a day), Grieco not only manages the Madison Avenue shop, but he is also the head barista and trainer. He works side-by-side with Continued on Page A8
Sports
Second year mock trial team competes at BC. See pages A4
Brendan Tenan talks rock history. See pages B10
All the madness that comes with March. See page D15
Profile: Meaghan Hurley. See pages A5
Church raffling of AR-15 assault rifle. See page C14
Profile: Kareem Thomas and Dominykas Milka. See page D16
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News
The Chronicle
March 11th, 2014
The Weekend Wrap-Up Your Top 5 Stories from Friday to Sunday
Plane Goes Missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared on Saturday. The aircraft was carrying 239 passengers, and disappeared from radar off the southern coast of Vietnam. The search continues, but no wreckage has been found.
Baby on Board Ebony Wilkerson, pregnant and a mother of three, attempted to drive her minivan into the ocean with her children on board. Lifeguards at the Florida beach rescued both Wilkerson and her children, and she was later charged with attempted murder.
Escalation in Ukraine The Ukrainian border post Chernomorskoye was taken by Russian forces, marking the 11th post along the Crimean peninsula to have been siezed. Diplomatic talks between Russia, US, Britain and Ukraine have continued in the wake of these siezures.
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Fun Fact:
According to historians, Saint Patrick’s color was blue, not green. The use of green on St. Patrick’s Day began during the 1798 Irish Rebellion, when the clover became a symbol of nationalism.
The Perfect Score The SAT college admissions test will be dropping the timed essay portion of the exam. This change will be implemented in 2016, and will reduce the highest achievable score to 1600 once again. The SAT will also reduce vocabulary questions.
Suicide Bombing in Iraq The Iraqi city of Hilla was attacked Sunday by a minibus filled with explosives. A policeman asked the driver to pull over before the minibus, which may have been packed with liquid fuel, possibly gasoline, exploded. At least 32 people were killed.
Your Voice:
Pic of the Week
What Did You Do On Spring Break? @peaceloveapple: stopped to take a "selfie" while on the Undergraduate Conversion trip- we were in Grand Central. Sam Brewer: Lounging on the couch with my dogs. Bridget Buckley: Sat on the beach in Palm City, FL for the week with my roommate Jessica Razy! Visited my grandma and enjoyed the sun and the local towns. Jessica Lamoureaux: I went to class. Because I’m in London, and I haven’t had Spring Break yet. HOLLA. Mathew Vincent: I tried to enjoy all that my hometown has to offer. I couldn’t go to Utica, NY without stopping into O’scugnizzo’s Pizzeria or eating some local chicken riggies. After you move away for college or any other reason, it is like you are a tourist in your own town when you return!
COURTESY OF COURTNEY CARR
Courtney Carr, with Kelly Kobani and Priscilla Ly, during the Undergraduate Admissions’ Conversion trip.
Kathy Amendolara: My church got a new sound board, so I was there every night helping them set up the new system haha. Yelfri De Leon: My friends and I had a wonderful time in Panama over Spring Break.
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March 11th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 24
In Brief
News
Albany Man Facing Gun Charges A 32-year-old Albany man was arrested on Thursday, March 6 for possession of a weapon after an incident occurred on Orange Street. At around 12:10 a.m., officers were called to 300 Orange St., responding to a re-
port of a man armed with a gun. Police discovered a male matching the given description. As officers approached, the suspect fled on foot. While the officers chased him, the suspect discarded a .22 caliber handgun. The suspect
was later revealed to be Henry Smalls. He was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the second and third degree. He was arraigned in the Albany City Criminal Court and remanded to the Albany County Jail.
Man Arrested for Stealing Rugs and Other Unique Items
Maurice Adams, 52, of Albany was arrested for stealing items from commercial buildings around the city. On Jan. 21, Adams entered the Association for the Blind at 299 Washington Ave. and stole a 3 x 10 section of carpet. On the morning of Feb. 2, Adams entered Care Physicians
at 2 Clara Barton Drive and stole a fire extinguisher. On Feb. 22, Adams stole two area rugs from the Hilton Garden Inn of New Scotland Ave. Two days later on Feb. 24, Adams removed two area rugs from 194 Washington Ave. On March 1, he returned to 1 Clara Barton Drive and stole
two bathroom mirrors. Adams was charged with five counts of petit larceny and arraigned in the Albany City Criminal Court. He has been remanded to the Albany County Jail. The investigation is still ongoing.
City Man Arrested for Stalking Student on Her Way to School
Darryl Fraser, 30, of Albany, is in custody for Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Fraser approached an 11-year-old on her way to Arbor Hill Elementary School. On Feb. 28 at approximately 9:30, the victim was on her way to school when Fraser, standing in his driveway, asked her to come into his home. She ignored him and kept walking, but
The Chronicle
Executive Editor Jackson Wang ‘14 wangj847@strose.edu
she stated that Fraser got into his car and followed her for several blocks, continuing to try to talk to her. At that point, she ran for help. He was arraigned in the Albany City Criminal Court and remanded to the Albany County Jail. Police are still investigating what they believe to be an unrelated incident that occurred on Northern Boulevard. On Tuesday, Feb. 25, a North
Features Editor Conor Shea ‘15 sheac613@strose.edu
Albany Academy student was approached by two males in a black BMW who asked her to get into the car. She refused, and ran for help. The suspects were described as black males between the ages of 30 and 40 with beards and dreadlocks. Anyone with information is asked to call the Albany Police Detective Division at 518-4628039.
Business Manager Shawn Dixon dixons@strose.edu
Managing Editor Opinion Editor Chris Surprenant ‘14 Zachary Olsavicky surprenantc572@strose.edu olsavickyz977@strose.edu
Advertising Manager Shawn Dixon dixons@strose.edu
News Editor Searching For Applicant
Arts Editor Andy Gilchrist ‘14 gilchrista788@strose.edu
Web Editor Christopher Lovell ‘15 lovellc083@strose.edu
Layout Editor Jennifer O’Connor ‘16 oconnorj984@strose.edu
Sports Editor Joshua Natoli ‘14 natolij477@strose.edu
Head Photographer Kelly Pfeister ‘14 pfeisterk953@strose.edu
Assistant Layout Editor Searching For Applicant
Copy Editor Jenessa Matis ‘14 matisj311@strose.edu
Faculty Adviser Cailin Brown
Staff Writers Tori Addison Katherine Bakaitis Asia Ewart Kevin Jacob Tariq Kendall Katie Klimacek Vanessa Langdon Nicholas Negron Alex Pecha Lauren Sears M. William Smith Brendan Tenan Staff Photographers Chris Alvarado Anthony Chapin Adriana Rosales
The Chronicle
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Calendar of Events Tuesday, March 11th 11 a.m. PROJECT 70 Summer Internship Program EAC 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] Albertus 216 8 p.m. Yoga Sanctuary Wednesday, March 12th 2:40 p.m. Natural Science Association Science Center Room 352 4:30 p.m. Student Association Meeting Standish 5 p.m. Mid-Week Mass Sanctuary 7:30 p.m. BASIC Sanctuary 8 p.m. Colleges Against Cancer Meeting Albertus Room 210 10 p.m. Karate Club Practice EAC Room 110 Thursday, March 13th 4:15 p.m. Adventure Club Lima Basement 5:30 p.m. SEB Meeting St. Joseph’s Hall 7:30 p.m. Identity Main Lounge 7:30 p.m. Frequency North Writers Series: Sean Thomas Dougherty and January Gill O’Neil Standish Friday, March 14th 5:00 p.m. Undergraduate Show Reception Picotte Student Gallery 7:30 p.m. Andrew Tyson Piano Performance Massry Saturday, March 15th 7:30 p.m. Empire Baroque Performance Massry Sunday, March 16th 6:30 p.m. College Mass St. Vincent de Paul Church Monday, March 17th 4 p.m. Environmental Club Meeting Community Service Office 5:15 p.m. Yoga Sanctuary 8:30 p.m. CEC Lima Basement If you have an upcoming event you would like to see in our weekly Calendar of Events, please e-mail chronicle@strose.edu.
Correction On page A7 of the February 25th edition, the photo on the page was incorrectly attributed to Kelly Pfeister. The photos was actually taken by Anthony Chapin. ANY student can join The Saint Rose Chronicle The Chronicle is published weekly on Tuesdays during the academic year and once during the summer months. The Chronicle is published at the facilities of New England Newspapers in Pittsfield, M.A.
Official E-mail Address Chronicle@strose.edu
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The Chronicle
By JENESSA MATIS Copy Editor When Meaghan Hurley first had the opportunity to become president of the Environmental Club at Saint Rose, she was a bit hesitant. “I’ve never been presi-
“I’ve
never been president of anything, so I wasn’t sure how I’d be able to handle it and if I would have time to do it at all.” Meaghan Hurley dent of anything, so I wasn’t sure how I’d be able to handle it and if I would have time to do it at all,” she said. Hurley is in her junior year and is a double major, studying elementary and special education
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A Green Thumb at Saint Rose with a concentration in history. Taking a total of 17 credits this semester, she has a busy schedule (and that is without the extracurricular activities she participates in). Before becoming president of the Environmental Club, Hurley was a member for one year. She joined the club when she was a sophomore, and took on her role as president starting in the fall of 2013. She said, “I was really involved last year and I liked doing it. Nobody ran for president, so I said ‘Yes.’” As President of the Environmental Club, she mostly organizes the club’s events. She reserves locations, buys anything the event might call for, and delegates different jobs for the other officers. She also has to attend Student Association meetings in order to represent the Environmental Club. She said these meetings are “boring,” and they are her least favorite part about being president. She also said that she dislikes the Student Association rules and regulations over the club. Some of the most popular events that Hurley organizes for
the Environmental Club include field trips, a “green” fashion show, and Do it in the Dark. The fashion show, called the Green Pageant, showcases dresses that students make out of reused and recyclable materials. Do it in the Dark is an event that takes place in the dark in order to raise awareness about saving energy. Hurley plans to have board games, wind-up flash lights, a bicycle-powered light bulb, bike raffles, and arts and crafts at the event. This year, Do it in the Dark will take place Thursday, March 13, from 7-9 p.m. in the Main Lounge. According to Hurley, she was born in Long Island, but her family moved to Westerly Rhode Island when she was 3. “Taylor Swift’s house is there,” she mused. Her parents divorced when she was a child, but she said her dad is about to remarry. She has a younger brother and a stepsister. Most of her family is Irish, and she is in the process of getting her Irish citizenship. She said most of her family lives in New York, but some still live in Ireland. Gearing up for Earth Week,
COURTESY OF MEAGHAN HURLEY
Meaghan Hurley displaying some “green” artwork. which is April 21-25, she has been busy planning events for the Environmental Club. She said the club will show the film Tapped, sell Camelbak water bottles, have bike raffles, and bring in local children to plant flowers in the college garden. On Earth Day, there will be a green vendor fair, where local “green” businesses come to visit and talk about what they do and make. Aside from the Environmental Club, Hurley is also a professional development co-chair for The College of Saint Rose’s chapter of Council for Exceptional Children. This national club’s mission is “to be the voice and vision for special education.” Through the Council for Exceptional Children, Hurley spends 4 hours a week tutoring a girl with multiple disabilities. When she is not busy with schoolwork and after school activities, Hurley prefers to read for pleasure. She said she likes “historical fiction” the most, but she also likes to read articles online.
She mentioned that she enjoys arts and crafts, but she said she doesn’t have a lot of time for that anymore with her busy schedule. She further added that she considers herself a “coffee shop explorer,” and likes to visit local coffee shops to see what they have to offer. In reference to the involvement level of the Saint Rose community with the Environmental Club Hurley said, “I don’t think a lot of people care about helping out… especially the younger class.” She did add that she would like to have a few more devoted members in the club. Hurley said the best part about being president of the Environmental Club is that she gets to be involved more on campus and meet new people. “Any little thing [the club does for the environment] helps,” she noted. Hopefully Hurley will continue her efforts to make Saint Rose a more environmentally-friendly school.
News
A5 Second Year Mock Trial Team ‘Remarkable’ at BC
March 11th, 2014
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By JACKSON WANG Executive Editor The Saint Rose mock trial team competed in the American Mock Trial Association regional tournament held at Boston College last month. The group, named Judge Loretta Preska National Competition Mock Trial Team, registered one win, one tie, and two losses. “The results were nothing short of remarkable for a second year team,” said coach Alfred Chapleau, who’s also a criminal justice professor at Saint Rose. Over the course of two days, the mock trial team tried the criminal case, State of Midlands v. Bowman, four times. They narrowly lost to a host team from Boston College, tied Colby College, defeated a team from Amherst College, and had a tough
“The results were nothing short of remarkable for a second year team.” Alfred Chapleau loss to a team from the College of Holy Cross. The regional tournament consisted of 24 teams primarily from the New England and Boston areas during the Feb. 22nd and 23rd weekend. During the competition, three Saint Rose students earned scores of 10 for their performance conducting direct examination of witnesses. Seniors Alex Remillard and Brian Mckeon, along with sophomore Lauren Modezlewski, all registered a perfect score. Senior co-captain Kim Hansen
received a perfect score for her portrayal of one of the defense witnesses. “Competition organizers commented that it was highly unusual for a second year team to turn in such a strong performance,” Chapleau said. Other students taking part in the competition were junior cocaptain Taylor Basford, sophomores Kyle Duclos and Renee VanSlyke, and junior Marissa Schtzel. Along with Chapleau, Renee Merges, a criminal justice professor at Southern Vermont College, and Mike Wetmore, a third year law student at Albany Law School, also helped coach the team. In preparation for the American Mock Trial Association regional tournament, Saint Rose accepted an invitation to scrimmage the case against the Siena College mock trial team. Siena has had a program for about eight years, and was one of the winners in the Boston Regional Tournament in 2013. “Although the scrimmage was not officially scored following the case, the unofficial jury returned a verdict in favor of the College of Saint Rose team,” Chapleau said. The case was tried at the Albany Law School before a faculty member. The majority of the practice took place during the fall semester, with final preparations for the national competition going on in the spring semster. The team is named after Loretta Preska, the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, who also helped the mock trial group set up a fund. Preska is also a 1970 graduate of Saint Rose.
The Chronicle
COURTESY OF ALFRED CHAPLEAU
The Saint Rose Mock Trial Team competing at the American Mock Trial Association regional tournament. Students interested in applying for a spot on next year’s team can contact Chapleau at Albertus Room 203-1 or via email at chap-
“Competition organizers commented that it was highly unusual for a second year team to turn in such a strong performance.” Alfred Chapleau leaa@strose.edu. Enrollment on the team is limited to ten students, who have to at least be a sophomore.
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The Chronicle
Philip Wiser Continued From Front Page
lenges of living and working in a world without location and time restrictions, and the fast changing technologies that make this possible. “It’s a Mobile, Global World” was a Q&A format that was moderated by Times Union Editor Rex Smith. The lecture also included a guest panel: Dr. Kathleen Crowley, Saint Rose professor of psychology; Vera Dordick, co-owner of Tangible Development, a Guilderland consulting firm; and Olena Sadovnik, a Fulbright student from Ukraine in the graduate communications program at Saint Rose, who added their thoughts on the impacts and challenges that mobile technology has on business, education, and international affairs. Smith asked Wiser, “Does the recent digital interconnectedness interfere with our human connectedness?” Wiser answered, “Everything will be in the cloud in the next 20 years. ...and I don’t think the government can keep up with the pace of change.” The lecture allowed audience
members to hear different perspectives and opinions about the future of technology. “Allowing different perspectives to give their viewpoints and having Wiser elaborate on those perspectives was very interesting,” sophomore Chris Crucetti said. “I am not sure I would say the lecture inspired me, but it certainly informed me and I would say that it excited me to hear about all the amazing technological advances that Wiser predicts could happen in the not-so-distant future.” “It’s a Mobile, Global World” featured an interactive live Twitter feed. Audience members could tweet along with the lecture by using the #mobileglobal. Junior Ashley Sweet enjoyed this feature. “That was awesome. It made the presentation feel more relatable and was very appropriate for the topic of mobile global,” said Sweet, who is a communications major. “If it’s an option it should be used more often.” Another audience member also had similar remarks. “I liked the Twitter stream be-
The live interactive Twitter feed that was going on during the event.
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Dozens of students, faculty members, and local residents were in attendance. cause I honestly think it helped me pay attention more,” junior Kacey O’Brien said. “I don’t really remember the panel discussion. I only remember the part about the Ukraine, and Twitter
CHRIS ALVARADO
has helped.” Wiser also pulled out a pair of Google Glass. He believes that Google Glass and products like that will be the social norm in 20 years. The audience was fascinated by Google Glass. In fact, a Saint Rose communication student and Professor Mary Alice Molgard were both allowed to try on the Google Glass once the event ended. “I attended the event because it was required for a class, but it turned out to be a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. The most enjoyable part was the Google Glass. I was so excited that I got to try them on,” O’Brien said. “My favorite part of the Google Glass was that it tricks your brain into thinking you see a full screen, but really the screen is no bigger than a postage stamp. I also got to take a picture of Phil Wiser with the Google Glass which was very different than taking a picture with a normal camera.” COM 417 students also recorded “It’s a Mobile, Global
CHRIS ALVARADO
World.” One COM 417 student was particularly engaged during this event. “I really enjoyed the entire event, especially when Wiser pulled out the Google Glass,” Monica Santiago said. “I’ve never seen a pair in real life. It was amazing to talk and learn about thoughts on what’s to come in the future of technology.” Santiago is a senior who ultimately wants to be in television production. “I loved it so much. The experience of setting everything up, and breaking down wasn’t bad at all. We recorded the event and it was an amazing experience. The hands-on experience definitely did help me—anything and everything to buildup my knowledge of the industry. This is what I would love to do ultimately in my life so every little bit helps,” Santiago said. “It’s A Mobile, Global World” was a part of the William Randolph Hearst Lecture on Innovation in Communications series at Saint Rose.
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Personal Safety Presentation Continued From Front Page
and took about an hour to present. The presentation is changed and updated every year with new information that they believe is relevant to all of the students. The presentation began with a movie on dorm fires. It consisted of a mock fire in a dorm room that was decorated how the way most college students would choose to decorate their own rooms. The students in the clip were not aware of how fast a fire could spread. Mankad provided information about the dorm rooms here at Saint Rose and all of the safety features they have to fight the fires, such as the rooms being fully equipped with sprinklers. He then showed the proper ways to use a power strip and a fire extinguisher. There was not only advice for the students that live on campus, but for commuters as well whohave their own apartments. The attendance of the safety presentation was lacking in numbers. After the video, the presentation shifted to a PowerPoint about street safety. Stella provided information about how not to be an easy mark for people on the streets and how the Saint Rose officers can help the students when in trouble. Saint Rose provides security alerts and advisories for students so they are aware of what is going on at all times. Also, there were tips on what to do in case of evacuation emergencies or if the school was to go in a lock down situation. Albertus is one of the buildings here at Saint Rose that has a lock down button that immediately locks all of the doors. The campus provides an escort system that is available 24 hours, seven days a week, all year round. The service consists of a security officer walking you anywhere you need to get to.
It also is important that students are aware of the blue light call boxes that can be used yearround as well. Another safety feature Saint Rose offers students is transportation from a shuttle bus or a taxi cab. Saint Rose has a shuttle for on and off-campus students and will take you where you need to go. The taxi voucher is affiliated with Yellow Cab and if a voucher is filled out, students will be billed on their student accounts at a later time and they would not be required to pay after receiving the ride to their destination. “Giving safety tips to students is important, especially freshman, because it is their first time away from home,” Mankad said. Stella was a police officer for 24 years before coming to Saint Rose, and has learned a lot when it comes to safety, whether it’s from his own personal experiences while he was on the street, or from stories he has heard. His main goal is to connect with the
KELLY PFEISTER
The emergency lock down buttons are located inside labs around campus next to doors for easy access. students, and hopes that they will educate themselves in situational awareness.
“Students need to be aware with what’s going on without being paranoid,” Stella said.
Kathleen McManus Picotte Recital Hall, Massry Center for the Arts. Admission to the show is free. For more information about the Saint Rose Camerata, visit www. saintrosecamerata.org, or contact Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough at 518-454-5193 or hansbroy@ strose.edu.
The Dean of the Yale University School of Art will be speaking at Saint Rose for the 2014 Cathryn Buckley Arcomano Endowed Lectureship in Contemporary Art. Robert Storr, who’s also an artist and critic, will present his talk on March 27 at 7 p.m. in the Saint Joseph Hall Auditorium. The program is free and open to
Camerata to Conclude Acclaimed Artist and With Contemporary Yale University Dean to Lecture at Saint Rose Chamber Music
The Saint Rose Camerata’s season finale will feature amplified instruments, works with electronics by George Crumb, Ingram Marshall and Saint Rose Assistant Professor Sean McClowry, and a jazz-inspired work by David Alpher. Their last concert of the year will feature works performed by Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough on flute, Sherwood Wise on oboe, David Ciucevich on clarinet, Paul Evoskevich on saxophone, Sean McClowry on bass, Dan Foster on piano, and Mark Foster on percussion. The performance will be held on March 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the
the public. New York Magazine has named Storr one of “The Influentials” of the art world. He has been a contributing editor at Art in America since 1981 and a frequent contributor to Artforum, Parkett, Village Voice, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Art Press, and Frieze.
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The Chronicle
For the Love of Joe
Continued from Front Page co-workers to provide customers of this Pine Hills shop with coffee, lattes, paninis, and muffins to get their days going. Even with the daily task of serving both as a head barista and trainer, Grieco said the most rewarding aspect of his job is the customers. In addition to his managerial duties, Grieco is a part of the Capital Region Coffee Collective, a group in which fellow roasters and baristas from the Albany and Troy region test coffee and further their skills as roasters. Grieco also participated in the second annual Barista Albany competition.
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“I’m always testing coffee. Always,” Grieco said. Although his responsibilities can be time consuming (opening shop on Wednesdays and Thursdays and closing on weekends), he still loves the work. “The job takes up a lot of my time,” said Grieco, about his busy schedule. Grieco, the fourth of five children, grew up in Petersburg in Rensselaer County and has lived in Albany for the last eight years. He graduated from Berlin High School in 2005, and attended Hudson Valley Community College in the fall of 2008. Initially he planned to earn his degree to become a registered nurse, but things didn’t go the way he ex-
Ron Grieco crafts beverages at Tierra Coffee Roasters on Madison Avenue.
KELLY PFEISTER
Tierra Coffee Roasters, where Grieco works as general manager.
pected. He spent two years completing his nursing prerequisites, and then left school in the fall of 2010. He might return to college but remains undecided, as he doesn’t want to be “saddled with debt, with a degree [he] can’t use.” Grieco has been working more than half his life. He took his first job teaching snowboarding at Jiminy Peak when he was 14, and worked there through his four years in high school. Grieco then ventured into the food business and made burritos for a year at Bombers Burrito Bar on Lark Street. Later, Grieco worked at Equal Vision Records screen printing shirts, sold vacuums by appointment, and eventually drove a Mister Softee ice cream truck in Arbor Hill. All during this period, Grieco traveled considerably, but not in the typical manner. He calls that part of his life “professional homelessness.” Grieco hitchhiked all around the country: he lived under a bridge in New York City, passed through Ohio and Pennsylvania, and even toured
with a band called Trophy Scars in Florida. He joined the Tierra team in February 2012, and immediately began climbing the ranks. It only took him three months to climb from barista to general manager of the Madison Ave. store. Grieco was initially brought to Tierra Coffee Roasters by friendship, as he knew a few workers there well, and decided to join them. “I didn’t know it would turn into a career,” said Grieco, who just celebrated his two-year anniversary of employment at Tierra. During his time at Tierra, Grieco has earned the respect and admiration from his co-workers and managers from other coffee shops. “Ron is very caring and understanding, and is always willing to listen and help,” said Lis George, a co-worker of Grieco’s at Tierra. Luen Proft, general manager of Lucas Confectionary in Troy, was a former colleague of Grieco who also spoke highly of him. “He knows a lot about coffee and he tries to learn as much as he can to better the coffee busi-
Justin Porreca
ness and industry,” said Proft, on Grieco’s performance. “[He’s] truly passionate about coffee. You can see it when he talks about it.” And, he is “one of the nicest people you will meet and if you ask him for anything he will gladly give it you,” Proft continued. When Grieco isn’t serving customers at Tierra he’s hanging out with friends and making music, which is a large part of his life. Grieco’s favorite genre of music is punk, but he does not have a particular favorite band. He has been playing the drums since he was 11 years old, and although he is not a studio musician, he has made a vinyl record with one of his friends. On his plans for the future Grieco mentioned that he thought about starting his own shop, and has savings set aside just in case he does venture into the business. For now though, Grieco maintains he is satisfied with his work at Tierra, saying, “I love the customers here. I really, really do,” Grieco said. “They make the job, honestly.”
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Arts
The Chronicle
B9
Top of The Week For March 3rd - 10th Movies at The Box Office
T.V. Shows
1. 300: Rise of an Empire 2. Mr. Peabody and Sherman 3. Non-Stop 4. The Lego Movie 5. Son of God 6. The Monuments Men 7. 3 Days to Kill 8. Frozen 9. 12 Years a Slave 10. Ride Along
1. True Detective 2. Hannibal 3. Justified 4. Parks and Recreation 5. The Americans 6. Person of Interest 7. Archer 8. The Good Wife 9. House of Cards 10. Bob’s Burgers
*Source: RottenTomatoes.com
*Editor’s Choices
Books
Music
Fiction: 1. The Undead Pool (Kim Harrison) 2. The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt) 3. The Chase (Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg) 4. Private L.A. (James Patterson & Mark Sullivan) 5. Concealed in Death (J.D. Robb)
Albums: 1. Oxymoron - Schoolboy Q 2. Frozen (Soundtrack) - Various 3. Morning Phase - Beck 4. Satellite Flight - Kid Cudi 5. Formula Vol. 2 - Romeo Santos
Non-Fiction: 1. The Future of the Mind (Michio Kaku) 2. Unbroken (Laura Hillenbrand) 3. David and Goliath (Malcolm Gladwell) 4. Killing Jesus (Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard) 5. The Sixth Extinction (Elizabeth Kolbert)
Songs: 1. Happy (Pharrell) 2. Dark Horse (Katy Perry ft. Juicy J) 3. Dirty Talk (Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz) 4. All of Me (John Legend) 5. Pompeii (Bastille)
*Source: New York Times Best Sellers
*Source: Billboard.com
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March 11th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 24
Bang Your Head with Brendan: Rock History Edition By BRENDAN TENAN Staff Writer Welcome to another edition of “Bang Your Head with Brendan.” Instead of offering up reviews of the latest albums rock and metal have to offer, I thought I would take the opportunity this week to look at the history of rock ‘n roll. I was hoping to have this column prepared earlier, but the last month just flew by and I didn’t have the chance to finish it in time for February. While the month we use to celebrate black history in America has come and gone already, I have lately found myself still thinking about the many contributions from early AfricanAmerican singers and musicians. Perhaps I’m wrong, but it seems to me that not enough people realize that rock ‘n roll originally was a uniquely African American style of music, evolving out of the blues and early R&B. From its earliest incarnations, black singers and musicians have played a very important role in pushing the genre’s development forward. Some of them have become celebrated icons, while others have been overshadowed by those who came after them and faded into obscurity as a result. So, as a way of showing my respect and appreciation to them, I have created a list of my ten favorite African American blues and early rock ‘n roll singers and musicians. 10. Elmore James: Among the earliest blues musicians to utilize amplification, James was also known as “King of the Slide Guitar.” His guitar’s tone and his own voice were as unique and recognizable in his day as B.B. King’s or Howlin’ Wolf’s. His slide guitar style influenced many notable slide musicians, including John Mayall and The Allman Brothers. Such songs as “The Sky is Crying” and “Bleeding Heart” have been covered by everyone from Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughn. He even received a shout out from The
Beatles during John Lennon’s slide guitar solo on the song “For You Blue.” 9. Robert Johnson: This man, quite simply, is the “King of the Delta Blues,” and is one of the earliest bluesman to have his music recorded. Legend has it Johnson sold his soul to the devil in order to live a life as a musician. His songs have become blues standards, and have been covered by everyone from B.B. King to Buddy Guy to Eric Clapton, arguably Johnson’s most famous admirer. Some of his most famous songs include “Sweet Home Chicago,” “Kind Hearted Woman Blues,” “Hellhound on my Trail,” and his most famous song, “Cross Road Blues,” which was popularized by Clapton and his band, Cream. 8. Bo Diddley: Creator of one of the most famous and iconic early rock ‘n roll riffs. Bo Diddley is one of the men responsible for the musical evolution from the blues to rock ‘n roll. His signature, driving riffs from the trademark rectangular guitar he invented led to a more aggressive sound that had rarely been heard from guitar players before him. His style, tone, and rhythm were an influence to everyone from Elvis to The Beatles to Jimi Hendrix. Classic Bo Diddley songs include “I’m a Man” and “Bo Diddley.” 7. T-Bone Walker: Walker was one of the earliest guitar players to have a flare for showmanship. Long before Jimi Hendrix burst onto the scene in the mid-’60s, TBone was playing blistering guitar solos with the guitar behind his head and picking the strings with his teeth. In addition to being a terrific showman, Walker was a tremendous songwriter as well. His biggest hit, “Stormy Monday,” is said to have given a young B.B. King the inspiration to pick up a guitar for the first time, and has been covered by a number of artists ranging from Clapton to the Allman Brothers Band.
6. Muddy Waters: How important is Muddy Waters to the history of rock? One of his songs was later used as the name for a popular British band that made their way to America in the mid’60s. You may have heard of them: The Rolling Stones. That alone is enough to cement one’s legacy in rock history, but Waters is responsible for more than that. Considered by many to be the “father of modern Chicago blues,” Waters helped set a new sonic template by taking the old Delta blues style and electrifying it, with just a touch of distortion mixed in for good measure. His songs and style seem simple at first, but he created a sound all his own. Waters’ catalogue features a mix of rollicking masculine songs (“I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man,” “I’m Ready”) and early rock ‘n roll classics (“Mannish Boy,” “Forty Days and Forty Nights”). 5. B.B. King: What can I say that hasn’t already been said about the legendary B.B. King? His single, bent-note soloing style has inspired everyone from The Beatles and Clapton to Slash and Joe Perry from Aerosmith. His powerful, vibrating baritone voice has been able to conjure up so many vivid emotions and images in the lyrics he sings on classics like “The Thrill is Gone” and “How Blue Can You Get.” His trusty guitar, Lucille, has become an extension of his own singing voice as he’s successfully blended blues, jazz, swing, and pop into his own sound. One of the biggest thrills for me during my time at Saint Rose was getting to see him perform at the Massry Center’s 5th Anniversary Gala last spring, as well as meeting him and talk-
ing to him briefly after the show. For a man approaching 90 years old, B.B. King still has it. 4. Howlin’ Wolf: I’ll admit that I’ve only really become aware of the great Howlin’ Wolf in the last two to three years. But in that short time, he’s quickly become one of my all-time favorite blues artists. His trademark raspy howl was unlike anything audiences had ever heard before. His friendly rivalry with Muddy Waters helped ignite the Chicago blues scene in the early ‘50s, as the two men presented powerful but different interpretations of the blues and early rock. While Muddy was usually a little more polished in his sound, Wolf had a musical style that was rougher around the edges and was described as fearsome at times by audiences, because of both the power of his music and Wolf’s imposing height and physique (6 feet 3 inches tall, and close to 300 pounds). Wolf’s music has lived on long after his death almost forty years ago. Songs such as “Smokestack Lightnin’,” “Back Door Man,” “The Red Rooster,” and “Spoonful” have become established blues-rock standards. 3. Jimi Hendrix: While he obviously wasn’t one of the early blues or rock pioneers, there’s no denying that Jimi Hendrix is one of the most important contributors to the sounds and styles that have become standards in rock music. Considered by many to be the greatest guitar player of all time, Hendrix opened the scope of the electric guitar’s sound by utilizing amps that were over driven and distorted and wahwah pedals. He was instrumental in developing the use of feedback from his amps. While he wasn’t
the first to utilize feedback and distortion, Hendrix took what had originally been gimmicks and turned them into a way to express his art and emotions. There’s one thing that often gets overlooked when talking about Jimi Hendrix: he was a great singer and songwriter. For all of his hard charging, distorted anthems like “Purple Haze” and “Fire,” Hendrix also wrote beautiful, slower songs like “Little Wing” and moody masterpieces like “Hey Joe.” He was even able to take other artist’s classic songs, like Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” and make them uniquely his own. Jimi Hendrix made an incredible amount of contributions to rock ‘n roll in his short career, and the genre, as a whole, is better because of it. 2. Chuck Berry: With all due respect to his contemporaries, Chuck Berry is arguably the founding father of rock ‘n roll. Another showman on the guitar, Berry took the sounds of rhythm and blues from his era and helped mold it into a new musical style. He developed a new style of picking the strings that made songs sound faster than they really were, giving them more urgency and excitement. His lyrics about the life of American teens and consumerism in the early ‘50s, along with expertly crafted guitar solos and showmanship, helped propel this new genre into the mainstream. “Roll Over Beethoven,” “No Particular Place to Go,” and “Johnny B. Goode” still carry the same level of excitement as they did when Berry first wrote them over fifty years ago. His influence can be seen and heard virtually everywhere, from the earliest
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Rock History Continued from Previous Page of the British Invasion bands to American garage bands like the Amboy Dukes and MC5. And of course, who will ever forget that classic prom scene from Back to the Future? 1. Little Richard: It was a toss up for quite a while between Chuck Berry and Little Richard to determine who I would rank as number one and number two. Ultimately I gave the ever so slight edge to Little Richard, who I consider to be among the first “wild man” lead singers in rock music. He is also a virtuoso piano player, and inspired the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and John Lord from Deep Purple. However, it is arguably his voice and rhythmic patterns in his lyrics that have had the greatest influence. His trademark shrieks, yells, and “wooos” have influenced generations of singers. Paul McCartney himself has freely admitted that he learned how to utilize his screams in songs like “Oh! Darling” and “Hey Jude” from what Little Richard did in “Tutti Frutti” and “Good Golly, Miss Molly.” Even Lemmy Kilmister has said that Little Richard’s distinctive voice and refusal to try to sound polished or “put on any airs” greatly influenced him when developing his own voice as a singer. With a roster of admirers ranging from a former Beatle to the founding member of Motorhead, how can anyone deny the importance of Little Richard’s contributions to the genre? Obviously there are countless more artists who played an integral part in developing rock ‘n roll. These are merely ten of my favorites, and I think it’s a good place to start for anyone looking to explore the early history of rock and the blues. Until my next column, focusing on new releases, do yourselves a favor and check out these great artists. Without them, we wouldn’t have rock ‘n roll as we know and love it today.
Volume 82 Issue 24
Arts
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Kickin It With KJ: Things Picking Up Again Edition By KEVIN JACOB Staff Writer Hello all and welcome to another edition of “Kickin It with KJ.” I know that it seems like an eternity since the last column I’ve written (by my calculations, it’s probably almost been a month *shrugs*), but I am now back and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Many big records, many big mixtapes, so let’s get into it. Isaiah Rashad, Cilvia Demo: TDE’s newest signee Isaiah Rashad released his first official project since signing with rap’s elite crew and to be honest, even though it dropped back in the end of January, this album/mixtape is one of the chillest projects I’ve heard all year. A lot of the production is really cloudy and dreamlike, but with some soul to it. Rashad’s got a lot of flows which balances things out very well and it makes out for some great songs. I was really feeling “Webbie Flow,” “Heavenly Father,” and “Brad Jordan,” which is a nice tribute to the one and only Scarface (note: not Tony Montana). My favorite track off of Cilvia Demo though has to be “R.I.P. Kevin Miller.” Kevin Miller is rapper Master P’s brother and it seems that Rashad, who is from the South, is heavily influenced by Master P and other Southern legends, which is evident by the Scarface tribute. Anyway, the track goes hard as hell, with one of the best choruses I’ve heard in a while. Overall, I think my only main quip with this project is that “Soliloquy” isn’t longer. That track is an absolute monster, but at less than two minutes long, it only shows a slight bit of Rashad’s aggressive side that isn’t really seen on much else of the project. Although Rashad does have a little bit to work on lyrically, I think that for a first fulllength like this, he’s on the right track. When you’ve got a work that has 14 tracks and there isn’t one that is really weak, especially for a rookie, it’s impressive. Defi-
nitely looking forward to what Isaiah Rashad has in store for the future. Rating: 9/10 Schoolboy Q, Oxymoron: Speaking of TDE, Schoolboy Q has finally released his debut album in Oxymoron and I would say that it lives up to its expectations. When I listen to Q, I’m not really expecting any lyrical masterpiece. I expect a lot of gangster sh!t and straight up bangers. That’s exactly what you get with this album. “Gangsta” starts the album off with a bang and then goes into “Los Awesome,” which comes with another solid Jay Rock verse (can’t wait ‘til he releases a new album) and some of Pharrell’s best production since the early Star Trek days. Add in “Collard Greens,” “Hoover Street,” and the crack rock that is “What They Want,” and the first half of the album starts off with a bang. The second half of the album is decent as well, but didn’t really match how the first half of the album sounds for me. “The Purge” wasn’t as great as I thought it’d be and both “His and Her Friend” and “Grooveline Part 2” were weak. Other good tracks are evident, though. “Oxymoron/Prescription” is probably the most personal we’ve ever seen Q, and “Man of the Year” is the best turn up track on the album. My favorite track overall though has to be “Blind Threats.” Great rhymes and chorus by Q added with a really nice mellow, but at the same time eerie, instrumental mixed with a verse by Raekwon and Q’s got a winner with threats. In the end, although I found some of the album to be a bit lackluster, I think that this album is pretty good. I don’t know if it’s better than Habits & Contradictions, but it’s close. Fig Siiiiiddddee. Rating: 8/10 Rick Ross, Mastermind: Rozay just released his sixth solo effort Mastermind and the album is decent. I didn’t really know what to expect, as most of the
singles are weak (especially “War Ready,” despite a great Jeezy verse. But that thing is seven minutes long….) but Ross takes it back to that Deeper Than Rap production for the most part and that’s the Rozay we all love to hear. Ross has an impeccable ear for beats and the lush, grandiose sounds on Mastermind are no exception. The intro “Rich Is Gangsta” is great. “Sanctified” is even better, with Kanye giving one of his best features in recent memory. But amidst some really solid tracks is a lot of filler and a lot of horsesh!t. First off, I have a problem with the track “Nobody.” Now, “Nobody” heavily samples Biggie Smalls’ “You’re Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You).” This sample shouldn’t have been cleared because it’s downright degrading to Hip-Hop. To have a rapper, especially Rick Ross, try to recreate a classic Notorious B.I.G. song is blasphemy. I don’t care if Puff, who has also had his recent string of bullsh!t, thinks that this ex-correctional officer is the reincarnate of Christopher Wallace. He’s not. “What a Shame” is exactly what the title implies and of course you have the stereotypical weekend track “In Vein,” which sounds like every other weekend. “Walkin’ on Air” repeats the Rozay and Meek
Rick Ross
Mill over a trap beat record. Now, despite not liking quite a bit of the album, the best tracks on here bar none are “Paradise Lost” and “Thug Cry.” Although “Thug Cry” slightly sneaks a sample of Souls of Mischief’s 93 ‘til Infinity, it seems to be more of a homage instead of a straight rip off like “Nobody.” It also sees Ross delivering some of the finest bars on the album, along with a surprising Lil’ Wayne feature that isn’t complete garbage. Maybe he’s finally off the molly. Is there hope for Tha Carter V? Not sold yet. Although there is slight hope. Before, I would’ve said zero. Anyways, back to Rozay. Do I think this album is great? No. But it is somewhat decent. If you can get past the filler, you can find some really great songs on here. Now let’s just hope Ross stays alive long enough to see the next album. No shots fired. Although in typing that, it’s a solid pun. Rating: 5/10 A bit of a short edition this week, as I want to save some material for next week’s column focusing on new music, including a couple of mixtapes and Pharrell’s new album, G I R L. Anyways, have a good week everybody. Thanks for reading.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Opinion Religion No Cover for Bigotry in Arizona
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By KATHERINE BAKAITIS Staff Writer Earlier in the month of February, the Arizona state government presented and passed a bill that would have allowed businesses that asserted their religious beliefs the right to deny service to gay and lesbian customers. When it was time for Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to sign it into law, she thankfully vetoed it. “I sincerely believe that Senate Bill 1062 has the potential to create more problems than it purports to solve,” according to Governor Jan Brewer. I can only imagine great discourse and upheaval that would arrive if the legislation were to become a law. What could a bill as medieval as this actually plan to solve, anyway? The main points of the bill say that it intends to protect the religious freedom rights of every citizen. It explains that while in America, people should be free to live and work according to their faith and they shouldn’t forfeit their religious freedom rights simply because they go to work or start a business. It also says that “no one should ever be forced to choose between their conscience or religious beliefs and their profession.” Doug Napier, an attorney representing the Alliance Defending Freedom, which helped create the bill, criticized the governor's decision to veto it. "Freedom loses when fear overwhelms facts and a good bill is vetoed," he said in a statement. "Today's veto enables the foes of faith to more easily suppress the freedom of the people of Arizona." Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, accused opponents of the measure of distorting facts. "The religious beliefs of all Arizonans must be respected and this bill did nothing more than affirm that," said Herrod, whose conservative organization also lent a hand in writing the bill. "It is truly a disappointing day in our state and nation when lies and personal attacks can overshadow
the truth." Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh said on his show that Brewer was "being bullied by the homosexual lobby in Arizona and elsewhere." To put it in laymen’s terms, the pious and far right possess this notion that if businesses and the people who run them have strong “religious” core values, then forcing them to accepted business from people who don’t follow their lifestyle (i.e. homosexuals) is limiting and trampling on their religious freedom to choose not to serve them. If you can’t separate your personal beliefs from your business, such as the bill’s supporters believe, then you shouldn’t be running one. Besides, the religious have always been in the majority and it’s clear that they don’t need strong government protection. Shortly after she vetoed the bill, Jan Brewer wrote to Arizona Senate President Andy Biggs (must be short for “bigot”) explaining why she turned away the law, though her decision shouldn’t need an explanation. Brewer exhausted her conservative stance on religious freedoms and what she has done as governor to protect them, but even this conventional governor had her sincere reasons for opposition. “Furthermore, the bill is broadly worded and could result in unintended and negative consequences,” Brewer stated in her letter the Senate President. “The legislation seeks to protect businesses, yet the business community overwhelmingly opposes to proposed law.” The governor also made it a point to mention how “some legislators that voted for the bill have reconsidered their votes and now do not want this legislation to become law.” The fact that the bill “does not seek to address a specific and present concern related to Arizona businesses,” according to Brewer, is a worry that echoes among other Arizona politicians. Supporters of the bill seemed to have overlooked the harmful economic implications of the legislation. Republican Arizona United
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The Arizona State Capitol, where SB 1062 was nearly passed into law two weeks ago. State Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake publicly advised Brewer to veto the legislation, citing worries about the economic impact on the state's businesses. McCain praised Brewer's decision, saying that "I hope that we can now move on from this controversy and assure the American people that everyone is welcome to live, work and enjoy our beautiful state of Arizona," in a written statement. These supporters were clearly blinded by their need to “preserve religious freedoms” in Arizona that they didn’t think about dangerous economic-based chain reactions of eliminating an entire customer base and losing precious revenue from businesses who would decide to enforce the law. Even outside politicians weighed in on the controversial
bill. Former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney recently tweeted that a veto of the bill was the right course, and even Republican US Representative Michele Bachmann made a comment in opposition of the bill. "I think what we need to do is respect both sides. We need to respect both opinions," Minnesota Republican Michele Bachmann said on the subject. "Just like we need to observe tolerance for the gay and lesbian community, we need to have tolerance for the community of people who hold sincerely held religious beliefs." This is no doubt the sanest and most compromised statement Bachmann has, or probably will, ever make. That being said, if someone as intolerant as Michele Bachmann can comprehend
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
understanding and compassion, then there is no excuse for anybody else. During times of advancement, and when the old-world order is challenged, reactions such as the vetoed Arizonan law is somewhat typical, especially when the old-way movement is dying and has not yet accepted defeat. This bill seems to have sounded like a good idea in someone’s head at the moment, but soon after the idea was transferred to paper and spread around, supporters quickly learned the error in their decision. If this bill had been signed into law, Arizona would plummet to mirror a civil-rights era south and, if enough businesses chose to enforce the law in their own establishment, the state could have seen some more economic dark days.
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March 11th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 24
Opinion
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Clinging to Guns and Religion By ZACHARY OLSAVICKY Opinion Editor
When running for president back in 2008, then-Senator Barack Obama made a controversial statement about disillusionment among working-class voters, saying that they “cling to guns or religion,” among other things, when hardships enter their lives. Other candidates criticized the statement, and Obama quickly issued a semi-apology to offended parties. Insulted, these people moved swiftly to prove the president right by clinging to their guns and religion, falsely accusing him of curtailing the second amendment well before the tragedies in Aurora and Sandy Hook and enforcing Sharia Law on the court system. “We’ll keep our guns and religion—you keep the change,” say many an antiObama bumper sticker. Now, in a gold-star entry to the files of the Department of Life Imitating Art, a Baptist church in Troy has decided to cling to guns and religion, giving away an AR-15 assault rifle following a service in March. The service is designed to honor hunters and gun owners who, according to John W. Koletas, pastor of the Grace Baptist Church, “have been so viciously attacked by the antichristian socialist media and antichristian socialist politicians
the last few years.” The service is centered on the question, “Does the Bible defend my right to keep and bear arms?,” which was one of the most pressing questions facing Jesus and his fellow Founding Fathers at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. “Our country was built with the King James Bible and the gun,” said Koletas in a statement on the church’s website. It’s odd—I remember visiting Colonial Williamsburg as a child, but I don’t remember seeing any buildings crafted out of muskets. Regardless of his architectural palate, Koletas seems bent on tying his church to older days. In addition to his invocation of colonial-era life, the church describes itself on its website as “an ol’ fashioned church preaching the ol’ time religion.” It’s a sentiment reinforced through their doctrine on music, which forbids “the worldly beat of rock 'n roll, disco, rap, metal, soft rock, hard rock, religious contemporary music, and any music that promotes the Egyptian-style beat and rhythm of modern contemporary secular and religious music.” Now, perhaps I’m wrong here, as I have been immersed with heathen music, like The Beach Boys and Stevie Wonder, since childhood. But I’ve never understood the value of doing old-
fashioned things simply because they’re old-fashioned. I wonder if Koletas would stop using a refrigerator to store foods, since those didn’t come into use until the 1930s. Or if he would see an oldfashioned doctor to treat an illness. Better yet, if the pastor is so interested in old-fashioned living, why is he giving away an AR-15 and not an old-fashioned gun? Of course, this fixation on oldfashioned items underscores the problem: this church is looking backwards in a world that looks forward. Religions that are successful in contemporary society adhere to the core ethical values of their doctrines, not lifestyle directives or literal interpretations. It’s why Pope Francis has garnered so much praise: his opinions are a breath of fresh air compared to his predecessors. The importance of modernity is shown even in the raffle itself: nobody would come if an “ol’ time” rifle was auctioned—people are looking for the latest and greatest in technology. At a certain point, it feels like approaching this church with any regard for logic becomes a chore. The illogic extends well beyond this service and embeds itself in much of the church’s ideology. Amusing items includes doctrinal belief in a “literal Hell,” which I imagine as a library filled with only Tom Clancy novels. But not
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The Grace Baptist Church in Troy is using unconventional methods to recruit new followers. all of the church’s beliefs are as amusing—a tab on the church’s web page, labeled “Heathens,” includes screeds against Dr. Martin Luther King (inaccurately labeled “Michael King”) and Nelson Mandela. Complaining about music is one thing, but to put down the accomplishments of two social justice champions is frightening, to say the least. Though this may seem like a problem that only affects this one church, Koletas’ actions have ramifications for religion at a larger level. When religiously apathetic people read about incidents like these, it makes them frown upon religion at all levels. There’s not much that can be done about
this—Grace Baptist Church is independent—but it couldn’t hurt to remind folks that this group isn’t talking about religion. Their aims, ironically enough, are secular in nature—it’s a pattern we’ve seen in places like Arizona, where religious freedom became a cover for homophobia. People are finding new moral understandings in religion, whether they come from contemporary sources or ancient religious texts, and it’s breathing new life into these institutions. Folks like Pastor Koletas and his followers at the Grace Baptist Church can keep their guns and religion—we’ll keep the change.
Sports Golden Knights Scoreboard and Standings D14
The Chronicle
March 11th, 2014
NE-10 Men’s Basketball
NE-10 Baseball
Northeast Division
Northeast Division
GP Saint Anselm 27 Franklin Pierce 27 Saint Michael’s 27 So. New Hampshire27 Bentley 29 Merrimack 26 Stonehill 26 Assumption 26
Record 20-7 0.741 20-7 0.741 18-9 0.667 16-11 0.593 18-11 0.621 9-17 0.346 8-18 0.308 7-19 0.269
So. Connecticut New Haven Le Moyne Saint Rose American Int’l Pace Adelphi
NE-10 Men’s Lacrosse
GP So. New Hampshire 12 Franklin Pierce 14 Merrimack 7 Stonehill 7 Saint Anselm 12 Assumption 3 Saint Michael’s 0 Bentley 4
Record 9-3 0.750 10-4 0.714 5-2 0.625 5-2 0.625 5-7 0.417 1-2 0.333 0-0 0.000 0-4 0.000
Southwest Division
Southwest Division
GP 29 29 28 27 28 26 26
Record 27-2 0.931 21-8 0.724 17-11 0.607 13-14 0.481 9-19 0.321 7-19 0.269 5-21 0.192
New Haven American Int’l So. Connecticut Le Moyne Pace Saint Rose Adelphi
GP 1 4 5 13 3 14 4
Record 1-0 1.000 3-1 0.750 2-2-1 0.500 5-8 0.385 1-2 0.333 4-10 0.286 1-3 0.250
Scores: L 93-73 vs. Bentley
Scores: W 2-0 vs. University of the Sciences L 8-7 vs. Rollins
NE-10 Women’s Basketball
NE-10 Softball
Northeast Division
Northeast Division
GP Bentley 29 Stonehill 27 Assumption 28 Franklin Pierce 28 Saint Anselm 27 Merrimack 26 So. New Hampshire 26 Saint Michael’s 25
Record 29-0 1.000 18-9 0.667 18-10 0.643 16-12 0.571 15-12 0.556 12-14 0.462 7-19 0.269 4-21 0.160
Southwest Division
Adelphi New Haven American Int’l Le Moyne So. Connecticut Saint Rose Pace
GP Stonehill 2 So. New Hampshire 12 Saint Anselm 10 Assumption 0 Franklin Pierce 0 Saint Michael’s 0 Bentley 2 Merrimack 5 Southwest Division
GP 29 27 27 28 27 26 26
Record 22-7 0.759 18-9 0.667 17-10 0.630 15-13 0.536 12-15 0.444 11-15 0.423 6-20 0.231
Scores: W 75-67 vs. Southern Connecticut State
So. Connecticut Adelphi Le Moyne Pace Saint Rose American Int’l New Haven
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GP 4 2 4 2 9 0 0
Record 2-0 1.000 9-3 0.750 6-4 0.600 0-0 0.000 0-0 0.000 0-0 0.000 0-2 0.000 0-5 0.000 Record 6-0 1.000 1-1 0.500 2-2 0.500 1-1 0.500 3-6 0.333 0-0 0.000 0-0 0.000
Scores: L 9-1 vs Georgian Court L 9-6 vs. Bridgeport
GP Le Moyne 5 Merrimack 3 Adelphi 2 Bentley 1 Saint Anselm 2 Saint Michael’s 2 So. New Hampshire 2 Franklin Pierce 2 Assumption 3 Pace 1 Saint Rose 3 American Int’l 4
Record 5-0 1.000 2-1 0.667 2-0 1.000 0-1 0.000 0-2 0.000 0-2 0.000 0-2 0.000 1-1 0.500 1-2 0.333 0-1 0.000 0-3 0.000 0-4 0.000
Scores: L 10-9 (3OT) @ Roberts Wesleyan
NE-10 Women’s Tennis GP Record Stonehill 8 7-1 0.875 Merrimack 7 6-1 0.857 Bentley 6 5-1 0.833 So. New Hampshire 10 8-2 0.800 Adelphi 7 3-4 0.429 Saint Michael’s 4 2-2 0.500 New Haven 7 5-2 0.714 Assumption 5 1-4 0.200 Le Moyne 13 2-11 0.154 Franklin Pierce 8 1-7 0.125 American Int’l 0 0-0 0.000 Saint Anselm 4 0-4 0.000 Saint Rose 10 0-10 0.000 Scores: L 9-0 Wilkes University
NE-10 Track and Field Men’s Northeast-10 Indoor Championships 9th/10 Teams Women’s Northeast-10 Indoor Championships 7th/10 Teams
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Volume 82 Issue 24
Sports
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All the Madness that Comes with March By TORI ADDISON Staff Writer Even though March is one of those weird months where students just get a bunch of time off because nothing else exciting really happens, it is quite possibly the best month of the year. By the time Spring Break ends, all I can do is impatiently hold out for the regular season of NCAA Men’s Basketball to wrap up so things can start getting really intense when the Big Dance rolls around. The beauty of being able to find college basketball on almost any channel at almost any time is as exciting as being able to watch The Christmas Story at any waking moment on Christmas Day. March Madness allows for those teams who took some time to find their rhythm during the
regular season to finally be able to make serious noise when it comes down to nothing more than the win or go home philosophy that all sports fans love. The regular season held many upsets as always, but perhaps the most shocking was Syracuse’s 25-0 run which would eventually come to end thanks to no other than Boston College. Now, when I say shocking I am talking more about the Orange’s undefeated record than their loss to the second worst team in the ACC. Go figure that the ACC leaves Boston College to do its dirty work and put Syracuse in their place after the Orange claimed victory to perhaps its biggest threats of conference early in the season. If anything, Syracuse’s recent losses and not so impressive one or two point victories over teams like NC State and Maryland have
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Coach K’s Duke Blue Devils look to add another ring to the collection this March.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
John Calipari’s Wildcats fell short of expectations.
proved that their time in the tournament could be limited. After getting severely whopped by Virginia, the lack of depth on Syracuse’s roster is really starting to confirm just how overrated they have been for pretty much the whole season. Speaking of undefeated, how about those Wichita State Shockers? Although their strength of schedule may not have been nearly as difficult as other teams, their will to win has taken them far throughout the regular season. But, who knows how much longer they can keep up with an undefeated record once they start matching up against other topranked seeds. Props to them if they can remain on top, but I do not think they stand a chance once they dance their way through the first couple rounds of the tournament. As any college basketball fan knows, it is all fun and games until the big boys show up. Hopefully that other team that was supposed to go undefeated with their five-star recruiting class actually makes it to the tourna-
ment this year. I am sure if you asked Kentucky fans they would be a lot happier losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as opposed to bringing back those bad memories that do not go far past the first round of last season’s NIT after their dreadful loss to Robert Morris University. After the unpredictable season the Wildcats have had, it is hard to tell how they will fare if they earn a seed in the tournament, but as always one will never know. While Florida, Arizona, and Kansas are just a few of the elite teams to look out for amongst the madness, you can never count out off-the-radar Cinderella teams. While it is no brainer that power house teams are more opt to make it farther in the tournament, let’s not forget what Lehigh did to do Duke back in 2012. Furthermore, other teams such as North Carolina and Michigan State should not be counted out yet, despite their low ranks at the end of the regular season. While their considerate losses during the season may have set them back in the AP Top 25, it
is no question that both teams are a threat in the tournament. What most called the most inconsistent team of the season, North Carolina’s recent run is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their game as they have been notorious for knocking off top ranked teams this season, but also have quite the history of losing to unranked opponents as well. While the Tar Heels may be getting hot at the right time, other teams are following the same route. If the history of March Madness has taught us anything, it is that you do not have to be of royalty to claim the throne. All it takes is one bad night for the elite to go down and who does not love to watch the underdogs prosper, queue Florida Gulf Coast’s trip to the Sweet 16 last season. The beauty of the tournament is that it forgets about the details. As soon as that ball tips it is no longer about the regular season records or strength of that year’s recruiting class, it is only about who is still standing at the sound of the buzzer.
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The Chronicle
Sports
March 11th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 24
Twice a Teammate, Forever a Friend By TORI ADDISON Staff Writer
Senior teammates Dominykas Milka and Kareem Thomas have a lot more in common than just their love for basketball. In fact, the two have a history that predates their time at Saint Rose. Not only did they play high school ball together from freshman to senior year, but they also continued to wear the same jersey after they graduated from high school. After continuing their career as teammates at Saint Rose, they will graduate together once again, but this time as Golden Knights. Milka and Thomas were around the same age when they first picked up a basketball, but they did not meet each other until much later. “Dominykas and I were not friends before high school only because he was not in the United States yet. We met at basketball camp the summer before high school,” remembers
Thomas whose biggest inspiration has been his love for the game. Milka came to the United States in 2006 upon which he remarks, “My biggest inspiration are my parents because they have sacrificed a lot for me by coming to United States and giving me this chance to play basketball in college.” Soon enough, high school graduation was rapidly approaching and the focus jumped towards the recruiting process. Milka recalls, “Throughout our career at Christ the King we both received lots of interest from different schools. Kareem and I came to visit Saint Rose together for our official visit. We had great time and Coach Beaury recruiting us together had a big influence on my final decision to come to Saint Rose.” Although other colleges were interested in them individually, Milka and Thomas decided that Saint Rose would be the perfect fit.
Starting a fresh career at the college level seems not only exciting, but also intimidating. “Knowing Kareem from high school definitely helped me to adjust much faster to college basketball and the college experience,” says Milka. As far as competing together, Thomas describes the experience of playing as high school teammates as compared to college teammates as nothing new, “Not only did we play on the same high school team, but we both played for the same AAU team (Metro Hawks). We were roommates on every trip out of the state so being his roommate for four years was nothing new. We just got to know each other a lot better.” Perhaps the greatest benefit of playing for the same collegiate team was to be able to be there for each other through both the good and bad as Thomas notes, “It is great, because he was there throughout all my accomplish-
ANTHONY CHAPIN
Milka currently leads the Golden Knights with 20.7 points per game.
ANTHONY CHAPIN
Kareem Thomas is currently averaging 10.8 points per game for the Golden Knights.
ments and I didn't have to send him a text to let him know. I watched him grow as a person and a basketball player.” The two shared many great moments as college teammates, but they both agree that their best memory from playing at Saint Rose is that of the team’s journey to the NCAA tournament their freshman year. As for the future, Milka and Thomas are looking towards different goals, but still have their minds set on pursuing their basketball careers, even if apart. “I am going to try to pursue my career in basketball and see how
far it can take me. If that does not work out I am going to continue my Master’s in accounting at the College of Saint Rose,” Thomas says. As for Milka, “I would like to finish my Master’s this summer. After that I will try to play pro basketball overseas in Europe. If that doesn't work out I will be looking for a job.” Although new experiences are approaching upon their graduation from Saint Rose, their past as teammates both through high school and college is one that will never be forgotten.