The Chronicle
February 18th, 2014
The weekly student newspaper of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York www.strosechronicle.com - @strosechronicle
Volume LXXXII Issue 22
New Owners, New Ideas, New D.P. Dough By JACKSON WANG Executive Editor
You wouldn’t normally think playing in a band and opening a restaurant would go hand in hand. But for 29-year-old Nick Warchol, it does. Warchol, who’s currently a singer and a bass player in two separate bands, will be one of the new owners of the D.P. Dough that will be reopening on Western Avenue. And he’s not stranger to the calzone business at all. Warchol has been working at D.P. Dough for six years, before it
closed down last month. “I just worked there for a while and I like it,” said Warchol, who currently lives in Albany. “I just said, ‘You know what, I’m going to do it.’” What started as a joke, turned into a reality for Warchol. “I started to think about it and started to joke with one of my friends about buying it and then we were like, ‘Yeah, let’s actually do it,’” Warchol said. After agreeing with his two friends, who would become his Continued on Page A4
For New Yorkers, Bad Weather is “Snow” Big Deal By CHRISTOPHER SURPRENANT
Managing Editor
Those who ventured out into the storm on Friday faced snowy gusts of wind.
KELLY PFEISTER
For more snow day snap shots, see page A7 News & Features
Arts & Opinion
Snow fell hard over Albany— and all over New York and the rest of the country, for that matter. Saint Rose students were granted a half-day this past Thursday, and yet another snow day on Friday. The day off, however, was not necessarily full of sledding and snowball fights. For many students, the snow meant sleeping in and staying in the dining hall all day, yet many others had other commitments
that required them to venture off campus. Between jobs and student teaching, the mountains of snow made any sort of travel difficult. “I had to get up earlier to clean off my car to go and teach lessons at TOAST [Thomas O’Brien Academy Science and Technology] and would manage to get my dress pants and such wet, which was always unbearable to wait to dry during the day especially when it got into my socks, noth-
Sports
Munchies on Madison. See pages A2
Bang Your Head With Brendan. See pages B9
Jeter’s Retirement. See page D15
Nineteen and not in school. See pages A5
Barbies in the Swimsuit Issue. See page C12
Profile: Samantha Hall. See page D16
Continued on Page A7
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News
The Chronicle
February 18th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 22
Munchies on Madison: Good Eats, For Cheap, Down the Street By CONOR SHEA Features Editor
Jon Nelson isn’t your typical “small” business owner. He isn’t opening his fourth restaurant, and he isn’t in it just to make a buck. Nelson instead just opened his first restaurant, Munchies on Madison, Jan. 6 of this year, and is in the game to bring great food to Albany locals. Nelson, who is part owner and general manager of Munchies, took time out of his shift to talk about his love of good food and bringing that food to others. The storefront, located at 848 Madison Ave, resides in an area dominated by small, locallyowned eateries. Despite this, the competition was seemingly not on Nelson’s mind when choosing the location, as when asked why Madison Ave., he relied with a simple “College kids,” laughing. After agreeing to talk more about Munchies, he requests to speak in the kitchen to give his customers privacy, and in the process makes sure to point out the lack of frozen burger patties or produce. “Everything’s fresh, never frozen, except for the ice cream,” he
joked, as he finished serving two patrons. Nelson is a local of Albany County, hailing from East Greenbush, and attended LaSalle School. While Nelson may not have a formal education in culinary arts, he believes his food-centric background is more than enough. “I’ve been cooking for 20 years, and my mother was a chef, so I grew up in the kitchen,” he said, regarding his love of food. And his love of the kitchen certainly shines through in the Munchies’ diverse selection of foods like cornbread pancakes, fried dough with jam, and a French toast burger with a fried egg on top. On the potential of the business being hurt by the winter weather, he commented that their business is fairly steady, and slowly increasing with more exposure. He then went on to describe the planned new additions they will be making to the building later this spring. “We’re going to put in a walkup window for ice cream, we’ll turn the soft serve machine on, and start up jumbo cotton candies.” In addition to offering more
Conor Shea
Jon Nelson, general manager of Munchies, serving customers despite the abundance of snow.
food choices, Munchies plans to add a table out front for additional seating, as their current arrangement includes only two tables and four chairs. That isn’t all the business has planned for the future, as Nelson also mentioned that they are looking to start a loyalties and rewards card for frequent customers, as well as fifty percent off purchases for all first responders
“We’re here for you guys really, and honestly we’ll make whatever we can if we have the ingredients.” Jon Nelson (police officers, firefighters, and EMTs). They also offer a reward for any and all patrons, where every $10 purchase earns them a free cupcake. However, potential customers should keep in mind that reaching the $10 minimum might be harder than it seems, as Nelson pointed out “[Hot dogs are] just 85 cents, so you could get three of those, french fries and a soda for under five bucks.” Knowing that a good percentage of their clientele are college students, Munchies looked into potentially integrating student ID cards into their accepted methods of payment. “We’re looking at taking the U-Albany [ID] cards. We also contacted Saint Rose, but they don’t do any outside dining. I guess the students have to contact the student ID office and request it, and if they get enough requests they’ll start it back up.” Munchies also offers free delivery, which Nelson thinks is a selling point in light of the recent
weather. He further mentioned that surprisingly, a recent popular purchase has been ice cream sundaes, most of which were delivered to local students. What makes Munchies even more unique than other food joints is their willingness to whip up anything you want, ingredients permitting. “We already have a good arrangement of items [on our menu]. But, if you don’t see something on there that you want, and if you see the ingredients on there to make it, we’ll make it for you,” said Nelson. “I’ll fry you ice cream if you want, or I’ll make you fried macaroni and cheese. If we have the ingredients to make it, we absolutely will,” he went on, smiling. When asked if he had anything to say directly to the Saint Rose student body, he said simply, “Come try the food and enjoy it!” “We’re here for you guys really, and honestly we’ll make whatever we can if we have the ingredients. And if not, and they give me far enough notice, I’ll pick the stuff up, and I’ll make it for them,” he further explained. It’s possible that other restaurants in the area might have a similar “request-it-and-we’llmake-it” policy, but Nelson seemed to want to make their policy a known and actionable bonus, rather than a secret feature.
Conor Shea
Munchies’ daily speacials, a veritable bargain.
Munchies recently added their restaurant to Grub Hub (a website which allows patrons to order online), and potentially could be working on a website soon as well. Even with the planned additions to Munchies not yet being implemented, they are carving a name out for themselves in the community. Their food is sourced from local vendors, always fresh, and they understand the food needs of a typical college student. Anyone looking for comfort food on the cheap, need only look down Madison Ave. for Munchies on Madison. Saint Rose students looking to see the Munchies menu, or some of the newest specials should visit their Facebook page at www. facebook.com/MunchiesOnMadison2014.
Just a taste of the recent menu additions at Munchies.
Conor Shea
February 18th, 2014
News
Volume 82 Issue 22
In Brief
Police Investigate Stolen Truck Batteries Albany police are investigating a larceny that occurred on Broad Street. Officers responded to a report of larceny on Wednesday at Bohl Construction. When police arrived at the 197 Broad Street property, a victim told them sometime between 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 and 5 a.m. on Feb. 10, an unknown person
cut the security fence around the company’s parking lot and entered the property. The victim also said the suspect or suspects stole 15 commercial truck batteries from his company’s vehicles. A similar incident happened in Albany last month. Back in January, the battery box of a large front-end loader
parked at 400 Patroon Creek Boulevard was damaged. The suspect or suspects then proceeded to steal the two batteries that were inside. Both incidents remain under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Albany Police Detective Division at 518-4628039.
Hearst Corp. Chief Technology Officer to Speak at Saint Rose Hearst Corporation’s Chief Technology Officer Philip Wiser will be the featured speaker for the William Randolph Hearst Lecture on Innovation in Communications. The event, “It’s a Mobile, Global World,” will be presented on Feb. 26 in the Carl E. Touhey Forum. Wiser and Times Union Editor Rex Smith will discuss the impact and challenges of living and working in a world without geographic and time boundaries. They will also talk about the rapidly-changing technologies that make it possible.
The Chronicle
Executive Editor Jackson Wang ‘14 wangj847@strose.edu
Saint Rose professor Kathleen Crowley, Vera Dordick of Tangible Development, and Olena Sadovnik, a Fulbright student from Ukraine, will offer their perspective on the impact and challenges for business, education, and foreign affairs in the discussion. The program is free and open to the public. The event is part of the collaboration between Saint Rose and the Times Union/Hearst Corp. and is presented by the College’s William Randolph Hearst Center for Communications and Interactive Media. The event will start at 4 p.m.
Features Editor Conor Shea ‘15 sheac613@strose.edu
The Chronicle
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Calendar of Events Tuesday, February 18th 11 a.m. Information Table - GreyCastle Security EAC 3 p.m. Information Session - General Electric Career Center 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, February 19th 11 a.m. Information Table - Special Olympics New York EAC 2:40 p.m. Natural Science Association Science Center Room 352 4:30 p.m. Student Association Meeting Standish 5 p.m. Mid-Week Mass Sanctuary 5:30 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Adelphi Nolan Gym 7:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Adelphi Nolan Gym 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, February 20th 11 a.m. Information Table - NYS Army National Guard EAC 4:15 p.m. Adventure Club Lima Basement 5:30 p.m. SEB Meeting St. Joseph’s Hall 7:30 p.m. Identity Main Lounge Friday, February 21st 7:30 p.m. Jazz Ensemble/JAzz Guitar Ensemble Concert Massry Saturday, February 22nd 1:30 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Southern Connecticut Nolan Gym 3:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Southern Connecticut Nolan Gym 8 p.m. Symphony Orchestra Concert Massry
Sunday, February 23rd 4 p.m. Faculty Recital - Dr. Joseph Eppink & Organ Students Massry Monday, February 24th 3 p.m. Environmental Club Meeting Community Service Office 5:15 p.m. Yoga Sanctuary 8:30 p.m. CEC Lima Basement COURTESY OF SAINT ROSE
Philip Wiser
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
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Staff Writers Tori Addison Katherine Bakaitis Asia Ewart Alyssa Haddad 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
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D.P. Dough Continued From Front Page business partners, on reopening D.P. Dough, Warchol then contacted the franchise to inform them that he wanted to keep it going. He believes the 212 Western Ave. location is a good area for D.P. Dough, especially with college students living there. “There’s no reason why that business model wouldn’t be successful,” Warchol said. On the day D.P. Dough closed in early January, Warchol was actually scheduled to work then. “I went in that morning and I couldn’t get in,” Warchol said. “The locks had been changed.” No one had told them that it was closing. One of his managers had known about the possibility of closing, but didn’t know that it would happen so soon. So it was as completely a surprise to him as well when Warchol called. And as D.P. Dough Albany closed that day, so did the store in Troy and Amherst, Mass., which were all owned by John Keyes of Johnny Dean LLC. Warchol believes it was the fact that Keyes owned three D.P. Dough stores that caused him to close all of them down because he didn’t have time to focus on them all. “Because it was so neglected, I think customer service suffered,” Warchol said. “He just didn’t have time between the three restaurants.” That’s why Warchol said he will be opening just the Albany store, so he can put all his time and energy into one store. During his six years as a D.P. Dough employee, Warchol did everything from delivering food to cook, and even being a manager sometimes. “As I worked there, I would kind of look at so many things like, ‘I could probably do this better, do this this way, or I can do it that way,’” said Warchol. “And these would be really simple, easy
ways to improve the restaurant.” Two things that Warchol would like to improve on right away is customer experience and reducing delivery time. And to do that, he said he’s going to hire a whole new group of employees and train them properly. “We want to make sure it can be as good as it can be,” Warchol said. Mark Dasco, the owner of the 212 Western Ave. building, said everything is lining up as the negotiations on the lease come to an end.
“We’re 98 percent sure we’re all set,” Dasco said. “Everyone’s on the same page here.” Warchol said after all the paperwork is done, renovations inside will begin. He wants to make the floors nicer, paint the walls, change the seating arrangement, get arcade games, add televisions, and install a sound system. Warchol said he would like to create a vibe for people and make them feel comfortable. “We want people to be able to come in there and hangout and
February 18th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 22
have it be a cool place,” Warchol said. Warchol and his business partners will be flying out to Columbus, Ohio this week for a 10-day training session at the D.P. Dough headquarters to make sure they’ll be ready to run the calzone store. Once they return to Albany, he hopes they can start working on the building. The target date for D.P. Dough reopening is March 15. As for the menu, it will remain relatively similar, according to Warchol. He said wraps may be getting cut from the menu, but wings, chicken tenders, and salads will still be there. He wants to mainly focus on the calzones. “We want to make sure the menu is something you’re proud to serve and that you think is good,” Warchol said. Warchol, who’s originally
from Hudson, N.Y., graduated from Saint Rose in 2006 with a degree in communications. After college, he started a band and began to book shows. After being signed by an agent, Warchol continued to tour. He compares running a restaurant to playing in a band. “It’s the same thing,” Warchol said. “It’s a small business with four or five employees. It’s the same marketing ideas.” Warchol remembers the good old days at D.P. Dough when it was super busy with people running around. He believes the store can return to those days. “Right now I have all these ideas in my head and I just can’t wait to get in and implement them and see how they work,” Warchol said. “I just have a passion for getting things right, whether it’s calzones or a band.”
Customers can expect to see a different-looking D.P. Dough when the store reopens March 15.
CHRIS ALVARADO
February 18th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 22
News
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Nineteen and Not in School By ISABEL MORA Contributing Writer Most young adults don’t know their life plans, including those in college. But almost all young adults have goals and hopes, especially if they are attending college. There are those who decide not to go to school and don’t have a plan or any goals set. But this isn’t the case for 19year-old Emma Beckman-Moore, who is currently not attending school, but instead working, pursuing goals, and living on her own, like many at this age. Beckman-Moore lives just down the block from the popular Madison Pizza, just around the corner from where she went to Albany High School, and a few minutes from the College of Saint Rose. As a former Saint Rose student and a local, she knows many people in the Pine Hills neighborhood, and as an Albany native, she feels comfortable in the city. After graduating from Albany High School in June 2012, Beckman-Moore started at The College of Saint in the fall 2012 semester. But at the beginning of the spring 2013 semester, she was forced to withdraw from the
College due to several scheduling mistakes that went unnoticed until it was too late. The number of credits she was taking was under the full-time requirement and her financial aid was withdrawn. That left her with two choices— either pay full -price tuition, or leave the College. She chose to leave, because, like most, she could not afford to pay the full cost out-of -pocket. Although not everything worked out the way she planned at Saint Rose, Beckman-Moore remained determined. As the oldest of three, she’s used to responsibility, and during her time off from school, she has her goals set. And she’s always been the responsible one among her friends, as well. “She’s the big sister—she taught me the little things,” said Cora Fuller, Beckman-Moore’s best friend since birth. Beckman-Moore wants to pursue modeling, be more creative and do more art, get an internship at a tattoo parlor, and go to University at Albany. After leaving Saint Rose, Beckman-Moore was hired by Capitol Hill Management last May as a receptionist. As a receptionist,
she’s responsible for sending out mailings and organizing client files, as well as traditional duties like answering the phone. Over the summer she worked 35 to 40 hours a week, but once fall came she cut back to 20 hours a week, allowing her time to pursue other things. When Beckman-Moore was in high school she was part of the fashion club, which spurred her interest in modeling and fashion. While still in high school, she auditioned for the TV show America’s Next Top Model, and took part in fashion shows put on by the school fashion club. She was not selected for America’s Next Top Model, but she still remained passionate about modeling. Since the audition, she’s done several photo shoots to start building her modeling portfolio. She also would like to be part of Fashion Week in New York City in February as a runway model. She has yet to be paid for her modeling, but is hopeful that she will be eventually. Recently, she’s done two photo shoots with photographer Mark Rosebeck, who has had photos published in Vogue. Beckman-Moore doesn’t have to pay for the photo shoots with Rosebeck, but it’s not uncommon for aspiring models to have to pay for photo shoots. Since high school, Beckman-Moore has always loved art. She’s always decorating and being creative in some way, according to Fuller. Her love of art has made her also interested in tattoo design and be-
COURTESY OF MARK ROSEBECK
One of Beckman-Moore’s modeling photos. coming a tattoo artist. She became obsessed with the TVseries LA Ink, which really started her interest in tattoos. As her friends began getting tattoos, she noticed that they weren’t always well designed or well done, which led her to realize that she could design and give better tattoos. She has designed tattoos for friends and family. She hopes that her interest will go farther than just designing tattoos. She wants to get an internship at a tattoo parlor in the area and learn more about the trade. But Beckman-Moore’s goals aren’t just about tattooing and modeling. She also plans on becoming a full-time student at University at Albany. She’s unsure what she will study when
she’s there and will go in as an undeclared major. Since she has interest in art, she plans on taking some art classes. But she also wants to take classes in biology, which is another one of her interests. She feels that although she loves tattoos and art, she’s scared of it because making it into a successful career can be very difficult to do. “I want to be realistic but stay true to who I am,” BeckmanMoore said. She knows that what she studies will determine a lot in her life, which is why she wants to take classes in two fields of interest before declaring her major. “You can’t always control the future—just think positive,” Beckman-Moore said.
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Letting the Flakes Fly:
February 18th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 22
Mother Nature assailed Albany with a wintry wallop ANTHONY CHAPIN
A robin made an early appearance this year just days after the snow fall.
KELLY PFEISTER
Student Brian Willis made some extra money on Friday by shovleing snow.
ADRIANA ROSALES
Snow brought out the inner kid in college students. Paige Palmer was seen sitting in one of many snow banks on campus.
KELLY PFEISTER
Facilities were out clearing the snow once it started.
KELLY PFEISTER
Saint Rose senior Nicole Romano had to dig her car out of the snow early on Friday to get to work.
February 18th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 22
Love is in the Air Word Search
Word List Arrow Cupid Heart Red Candy February Kisses Roses
Card Flowers Love Saint Chocolate Forever Pink Valentine
Opinion
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Let it Snow...and Snow...and Snow
Continued from front page ing worse than cold wet feet,” said David Mellan, a senior and resident assistant studying childhood and special education at the College. Although it was hard enough to navigate the tundra on campus, off-campus students had just as many difficulties. “Albany needs to plow the side roads near Saint Rose more. It took me 20 minutes to get off of my street with no traffic, just snow. That was after spending an hour shoveling my car out,” said Kayla Furnia. The snow prompted the City of Albany to issue a snow emergency effective from the 14 to the 15 for snow removal. During
the first 24 hours, all cars needed to be parked on the even side of the street. Starting at 8 p.m. the following Saturday, cars moved to the opposite side to complete the process. The College also issued a similar alert, stating snow removal dates, requiring students to move their vehicles from resident lots to other areas around campus. Others across the state were also affected. Alumna Regina Iannizzotto of Staten Island met difficulties similar to Furnia and Mellan. Arriving at the school where she teaches, Iannizzotto was met with huge swamps of ice and limited parking, a common feature at both of her other jobs. However, the weather had a better outcome for her weekend
News plans. “I did get two days off to spend watching movies with a friend, so positivity?” she joked. While some were working, some were traveling for the Valentine’s Day holiday. Meghan O’Connor, on her way to visit her boyfriend at Saint Rose, played the waiting game with train travel. “I was stuck in Penn station waiting for my train not even knowing if I would get to Albany or not. When they finally said that it would arrive at 2:30, I got on the train to arrive in Albany around 5:00,” O’Connor said. As of Sunday, O’Connor’s train was further delayed because of the inclement weather affecting the tracks. While a pain, the delays, the shoveling, slipping, and swerving are not new experiences for
February 18th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 22
New Yorkers. On average, Albany receives upward of 60 inches of snow annually and is usually walloped by Mother Nature’s nor’easters. Between February 13 and 14, 18-24 inches of powder flurried across the Capital District in addition to last week’s 10 inches. Within two weeks, Albany has been hit with almost half of its annual snowfall totals. Over in Central New York, the snow fell just as hard. Teacher Cindy Sabonis got in an accidental snowball fight. “I made the mistake of walking past someone who was using their snowblower and got a face full of snow, some of which got caught between my glasses and my face,” she said. While some found the lighter side of a New York winter, others were tired of the complaining. Cars were buried and streets
were nonexistent, but such is life in the northeast. Olivia Deck, a former Saint Rose student, works as a waitress half an hour from her home in New Hartford, NY. However, being raised in a snowy state, Deck felt prepared to brave the storm. I had no trouble getting to work because I leave early. Obviously though, there are people who don’t know how to drive, but you just have to be careful. [The weather] isn’t the end,” she said. Although this particular storm caused a lot of inconveniences for many, it hasn’t been the first bout of terrible weather in New York, and it certainly won’t be the last. Otto Isenberg of New York Mills had a mellow response to the recent polar problem. “It snowed, life has continued, as life should in New York,” said Isenberg.
February 18th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 22
Arts
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BangYour Head with Brendan: The Best of Early 2014 By BRENDAN TENAN Staff Writer It’s time for another edition of “Bang Your Head with Brendan,” the only column in The Chronicle that celebrates, analyzes, and reviews all of the music that makes you rock out. I apologize for the lack of reviews in the last few weeks—the months of January and February are typically lean in terms of good, new music being released. With that said, the last four to six weeks have seen some very interesting releases by both rising stars and living legends. So without further ado, let’s crank those speakers up to 11 and check out some of rock’s latest offerings. Against Me!, Transgender Dysphoria Blues: One of the first major releases of the new year came from punk band Against Me!. Their latest album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, is not only the first really good album I’ve heard in 2014, but it also carries a great deal of social and societal importance. Much of the album’s lyrics directly reference the process lead singer Laura Jane Grace went through to change genders. The singer, formerly known as Tommy Gabel, underwent a sex change operation a couple years ago after identifying as a trans woman for many years. The lyrics have a decidedly personal edge to them, and the music is righteously fast, dynamic, and angry. For a band that’s been known for producing some terrific, angry and cathartic punk songs, Laura Jane Grace has made Against Me! even angrier and more frank with this honest and, at times, uncomfortable telling of the experiences she’s had; first, with hiding who
she really is, then facing the ignorance and hatred many transgendered individuals are unfairly forced to endure. What makes this album work for listeners of all types is that, even though Grace is speaking about her own specific experiences as a transgendered woman facing transphobia in its many forms, the songs still carry universal themes of alienation and depression that anybody can identify with. The brutal honesty in the lyrics seems to have given Laura Jane Grace some measure of catharsis and closure. Since coming out as a trans woman and having procedures done to change her gender, Grace seems to be in a much more positive place. I’ve read more than one account of live performances by Against Me! where people noted how truly happy she seemed to be, and it didn’t appear to be just a result of the adrenaline rush performers can get while being on stage. The music itself isn’t revolutionary in terms of structure, time signature, or key. Rather, what makes it such a revelation is how unrelenting and uncompromising the album is from beginning to end. From the opening, militaristic drum roll and jangling, but still heavy guitar intro in the album’s opener, “Transgender Dysphoria Blues,” to the beautiful yet haunting acoustic track “Two Coffins,” Against Me! never once let up or allow the listener to get too comfortable. In an era where far too many rock artists seem content to just make records that will be commercially viable, but have little to say artistically or socially, it’s a breath of fresh air to hear an album like Transgender Dysphoria Blues. Not only do Against Me! capture the anti-authority at-
titude that made rock such a vital and popular genre in the first place, the band has also successfully been able to address an issue that’s important for many people, and ignored by many more. 9.5/10 Altitudes & Attitude, Altitudes & Attitude (EP): Chances are, you probably haven’t heard of Altitudes and Attitude before. However, if you’re a fan of thrash metal, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of the band’s members. Altitudes and Attitude is the latest side project of Anthrax bassist Frank Bello and Megadeth bassist David Ellefson. The self-titled EP is the group’s debut, and features three excellent songs that are more hard rock than thrash metal. They’re joined by Jeff Friedl from A Perfect Circle on drums, and Gus G. from Ozzy Osbourne’s band on guitar for one of the tracks. Bello, who has provided background vocals for years with Anthrax, takes over the lead singer responsibilities
Bruce Springsteen
and trades in his usual five-string bass for a six-string guitar. Ellefson provides the bass tracks, additional rhythm guitar parts, and backup vocals (a role that he’s familiar with thanks to his time in Megadeth). While certainly a departure from the majority of their respective catalogues as members of metal’s “Big 4,” this new venture from Bello and Ellefson is much better than I was expecting. Bello does a terrific job as the lead singer. He seems to channel a Dave Grohl-like sound in his voice on the opening track, “Booze and Cigarettes,” a song that sounds like a party hardy, ready-made arena anthem, but has a deeper and more emotional meaning for Bello. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Bello revealed it was a phrase he said to his grandmother as a joke while she was receiving chemotherapy. The joke helped lift his grandmother’s spirits while she underwent treatment. The song is a tribute to Bello’s grandmother, who passed away
in 2012. The other two tracks on the EP are just as strong. “Tell the World” is a slightly mellower, mid-tempo song with a strong message about staying true to oneself. The album’s final track, “Here Again,” is the closest Bello and Ellefson come to their thrash roots in this EP. All in all, this is a solid effort from two metal legends showcasing some of the talents they aren’t able to let shine in their primary bands. I’ve generally been a fan of seeing my favorite artists take on side projects like this to further express themselves creatively, and Altitudes and Attitude did not leave me disappointed. 8.5/10 Bruce Springsteen, High Hopes: With hit albums spanning across five different decades, countless platinum records and awards, and enshrinement in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Continued on Next Page
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Arts B10 America Says Goodbye to Their Little Darling: The Chronicle
February 18th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 22
Famous child actress Shirley Temple dies at 85
By KATIE KLIMACEK Staff Writer With a dimpled face and exactly 56 ringlet curls on her head, Shirley Temple was America’s sweetheart. The little girl who danced and sang her way into the hearts of so many Americans during the Great Depression died on Feb. 10 of natural causes with her family by her side. She was 85. During the Great Depression, Shirley Temple’s films made people’s problems seem to melt away. For only 15¢, audiences were able to go into a dark theater and watch a little girl tap dance her way around a room, singing about animal crackers in her soup. It helped Americans forget about the troubles that were outside the cinema doors for a few hours and enjoy life for a little bit. Continued From Previous Page there’s no denying that Bruce Springsteen is a rock icon. “The Boss” recently released his latest album, High Hopes. It became his 11th Number 1 album on the Billboard charts. Only The Beatles and Jay-Z have scored more Number 1 albums than New Jersey’s most celebrated son. High Hopes is a bit of a hodgepodge of music from Springsteen and his E Street Band. The album features a mix of brand-new music, re-releases of a couple of Bruce’s classics, and more than a few songs he had written for previous albums, but that ended up not making the cut for one reason or another. Despite the selection of songs seeming to be a mixed bag, the album itself is anything but. Both Springsteen and the E Street band have recovered and adjusted well since the tragic death of Clarence Clemons, whose powerful saxophone was one of the hallmarks of the band’s signature sound. Springsteen’s songwriting skills are as strong as
From 1934-1939, Temple was the most famous Hollywood film star, more than Clark Gable and Bing Crosby. Little Shirley started her career in one-reel films called “Baby Burlesks,” a series of films that had toddlers acting out dramatic melodrama scenes from movies. Even then, in diapers and oversized safety pins, little Miss Temple took over and shined on screen. “Frolics of Youth” was her next film. Temple was only 3 years old at the time and hadn’t learned how to read yet. So every night, when her mother would be getting her daughter ready for bed, she would read Shirley the script, to the point where Shirley knew everybody’s lines. With the true innocence, she would correct her co-stars if they were to mess up their lines. In 1933, she had seven
big parts in films. Stand Up and Cheer! was her feature-length debut, and the film that stole Americans’ hearts. In 1934, Temple starred in Little Miss Marker. The film was so popular that it took in half of its costs at just one New York City theater. Throughout her years as a child actor, co-stars and directors all said the same thing about the little spitfire that graced the silver screen. “She never had that cocky child star attitude,” said a fellow co-star who appeared with Temple in “Frolics of Youth.” “Her personality was real and sincere— it was like she wasn’t even acting. It was like that was just her on screen, 100 percent.” For the next few years, Shirley Temple continued to be America’s Darling, starring in over 19
usual, and he’s effectively been able to utilize both new and returning members of the E Street Band to make up for Clarence’s loss. High Hopes doesn’t seem to have the same level of anger and vitriol as Bruce’s last effort, 2012’s Wrecking Ball. However, there still are many recurring themes that have long been a part of his songwriting: crises and struggles both nationwide and personal; the never ending hope for peace, love, and unification; and the bitter admission that it may never come in his lifetime. One of the highlights of this album is the addition of Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello to the E Street lineup. It’s not known whether or not this is a guest appearance for the album or if the partnership is more permanent. Regardless, it works. Morello adds his signature guitar scratching and dive bombs to the revisited Springsteen classic, “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” giving new dimension and dynamic to the originally acoustic song. “American Skin
(41 Shots),” originally written by Springsteen in response to the death of Amadou Diallo at the hands of NYPD officers in 1999, holds a greater resonance now in the wake of Trayvon Martin, Sandy Hook, and countless other tragedies that the country has almost become numb to. The cover songs on this album open and close the record. The title track, originally recorded by the Havalinas, and “Dream Baby Dream” capture the never-give-up, blue collar, fighting spirit that Springsteen has embodied for much of his career, and are fitting additions to his ever-expanding repertoire. For all his accolades, Bruce Springsteen truly is the everyman rock star, and High Hopes is an excellent illustration of that. 9/10 That’s all the music I have for this week. Be sure to check out the next column, as I’ll be taking a historical look at rock and roll and the men and women who helped shape it in its earliest days. Until then, crank up the volume and kick out the jams!
films in six years. Despite her overwhelming success as a child star, when she began to hit puberty and grow up in to a young lady, Miss Temple’s audiences did not react the same way to her films. They still saw her as a little fouryear-old with big ringlets and playing sweet innocent parts on screen, but Shirley wanted to start a new path in her career and try her hand at more dramatic parts. Temple stayed in the business for a few more years until finally calling it quits and retiring, at age 21, from Hollywood to pursue other interests in her life. After her time in Hollywood,
Shirley Temple
Temple married California businessman Charles Black. They had two children together, aside from one from her first marriage to John Agar. After her acting career, Temple decided to pursue a political career, and later became the U.S Ambassador to both Ghana and Czechoslovakia. For years, Shirley Temple shined on the silver screen with her adorable smile, cute voice and 56 ringlets, bringing light to a difficult time in America and peace to the world. We say thank you and good-bye to our Little Darling.
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Arts B11 Looking Way Ahead to Batman vs. Superman February 18th, 2014
By NICHOLAS NEGRON Staff Writer There has been a lot of talk and speculation about the production of DC Entertainment’s new film widely referred to as Batman vs. Superman. The film, the sequel to last summer’s Man of Steel, is set to hit theaters on May 6, 2016. This is almost a year later than the originally announced release date of July 17, 2015. Production is still in its beginning phases and filming has not begun yet. Ben Affleck was announced to be playing the role of Batman last summer, leading to an internet frenzy of conversation, Tumblr gifs, and arguments. Is it too soon to be bringing a new Batman after The Dark Knight Trilogy concluded, only in 2012? Will the audience still be attached to Christian Bale’s Dark Knight? Shortly after his casting, Affleck told Playboy Magazine that, “when they asked if I would be
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Volume 82 Issue 22
Batman, I told them I don’t see myself in the role and I was going to have to beg off. They said I’d fit well into how they were going to approach the character and asked me to look at what the writer-director, Zack Snyder, was doing. The stuff was incredible... it was a unique take on Batman that was still consistent with the mythology. It made me excited. All of a sudden I had a reading of the character. When people see it, it will make more sense than it does now or even than it did to me initially.” Affleck’s film Argo won three Oscars, including Best Picture, at the 2013 Academy Awards. Chris Terrio wrote the screenplay for Argo, and won an Academy Award for his work. He is collaborating in writing the script for the Man of Steel sequel. Once an actor or actress plays the role of a superhero, it is not likely they will be cast as a different hero in another movie. Af-
fleck starred with Jennifer Garner in Daredevil, released in 2003. He played the lead character Matt Murdock/Daredevil, based off character and stories published by Marvel Comics. He joins a list of few actors who have acted in DC and Marvel-based films. Others on the list include Tommy Lee Jones, Natalie Portman, Halle Berry, and even Captain America himself, Chris Evans. Most of the cast of Man of Steel is set to return. Amy Adams, Diane Lane, and Laurence Fishburne are all confirmed to reprise their roles. Henry Cavill, signed to a huge multi-film deal, will continue to play Superman. A new villain, Lex Luthor, will be introduced, played by Jesse Eisenberg. Eisenberg is known for his Academy Award-nominated portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. He was not one of the actors believed to have been up for the role. Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston and Her’s Joaquin
Phoenix were amongst those that fans predicted. Jeremy Irons will now take over the role of Alfred Pennyworth, previously played by Michael Caine. It is currently unknown whether or not robin will be in the movie. Gal Gadot, former Miss Israel, is set to play the role of Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. She is a character people are invested in, as Wonder Woman is an international heroine and a symbol of feminism. Gadot is also signed on for multiple films, presumably including a solo Wonder Woman film and a Justice League film. No films based on DC characters are past pre-production, as most likely the movie executives are waiting on the success of the Man of Steel sequel to determine if more films are a smart idea. The Justice League is meant to be competition for Marvel’s film The Avengers. The initial 2015 release date meant that the Man of Steel and Avengers sequels
would be going head to head as two of that year’s biggest movies, but now fans will have to wait a whole year to see how the sequels stack up against each other. Man of Steel received mixed reviews from critics. While the film made over $668 million worldwide, it only received a score on rotten Tomatoes of 56 percent. The Avengers has a score of 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and is currently the world’s third highest-grossing film, having made upward of $1.5 billion in the box office. DC’s The Dark Knight Rises is the ninth highestgrossing film. It made roughly $1 billion. regardless of the speculation surrounding this Batman vs. Superman film, it is sure to deliver. The anticipation, already through the roof, will rise even higher when the first posters and trailers are released. This will most likely not be until 2015. For now, all the world can do is wait patiently.
Tonight’s Top Stories: Late Night with Seth Meyers Set to Premiere By ALYSSA HADDAD Staff Writer After thirteen memorable years on Saturday Night Live, Seth Meyers is ready to take over Late Night on Monday, Feb. 24. This is a big move for Meyers, considering the previous hosts of Late Night include big comedic names like David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, and most recently, Jimmy Fallon, all of whom have gone on to host even bigger late night talk shows. The former Weekend Update anchor has been very active in the last few weeks in unveiling what viewers can expect from Late Night with Seth Meyers. First, producer and longtime contributor to Saturday Night Live Mike Shoemaker Instagramed a picture of the new Late Night writing staff, which includes notable names such as Alex Baze, head writer of Weekend Update, John Lutz, known for his work on 30
Rock, and Seth reiss, head writer for The Onion. The announcement of the writing staff alone is enough to excite comedy nerds everywhere, but Meyers took it a step further and broadcasted via Twitter that former SNL co-star Fred Armisen would lead the 8G band, a move that’ll be sure to add a certain, necessary level of silliness to contrast Meyers’ notable “straight man” charm. Still, the most enticing announcement for the new Late Night is the premiere week guest list. Kicking off the first show is former Weekend Update co-anchor and American national treasure, Amy Poehler, along with Vice President Joe Biden and
musical guest A Great Big World. Guests for the rest of the week include Kanye West, Kelly ripa, Lena Dunham, and John Mayer. Meyers, who joined Saturday Night Live in 2001, learned his comedic chops at ImprovOlympic in Chicago. He became head writer of SNL in 2006 when Tina Fey left the show to create and star in her sitcom 30 Rock, and held down the Weekend Update desk for seven years. While most comedy fans will be disappointed to lose him as a guaranteed laugh on Saturday nights, Late Night with Seth Meyers is shaping up to be a promising replacement. You can catch Meyers on Late Night weeknights starting Feb. 24 at 12:35 am on NBC.
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Seth Meyers
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Opinion
The Chronicle
February 18th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 22
Barbie Dolls in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue: Unapologetic? Or Just Rude?
By ZACHARY OLSAVICKY Opinion Editor It’s hard to say I’m sorry—that is, unless you’ve given up entirely on the concept of apologizing. It’s the tack taken by Mattel as part of a campaign to celebrate 50 years of the Barbie doll, who placed an advertisement of the doll on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue. Inside the magazine is a fourpage advertising section with a number of Barbie-related dolls posed in swimsuits and having swimsuit-related fun. The ads are centered on a theme of being “#unapologetic”—yes, the hashtag is included by Mattel. Writing a reaction to this news was difficult—not because it’s challenging to work through the logic, but because it’s challenging to type whilst doing a facepalm. It’s one of the more awful advertising ideas I’ve heard of, largely because the product and audience don’t overlap. If they’re marketing to swimsuit issue readers— i.e., men who have at least begun adolescence—then Mattel is engaging in borderline pedophiliac behavior. If they’re marketing to Barbie doll owners—i.e., young women—then Mattel is exposing them to the idea that sexualized images seen in the swimsuit issue are the norm. Of course, don’t expect Mattel to have a grasp on any of those concepts. Speaking to the magazine Ad Age, a spokesperson for the company said it was an opportunity to “celebrate” the dolls, saying the Barbie doll is “under criticism about her body and how she looks.”
Mattel does deserve credit— this is some grade-A trolling, appropriating body image issues while being one of the main catalysts for low self-esteem in young girls. They’re also on point by speaking like the doll is a real human being, who can “own who
For years, Barbie dolls have presented a wildly unrealistic image of a woman’s body. So in a way, she’s a perfect fit for the swimsuit issue. they are.” But a doll can’t own itself—ownership requires control over one’s own decisions. It’s why Barbie dolls are far from feminist ideals, despite Mattel’s excitement in pointing out that the doll has been given 150 jobs through its existence. Showing young girls that they can do anything is one thing. Showing them they can do anything if they look like a Barbie doll is another thing entirely. The ownership of Barbie dolls’ images—and the consequences of those images—rest on the design teams and manufacturers who created them. And research exists to say they have a lot to own in advancing negative body image issues. A 2006 study surveyed five- to eight-year-old girls to find if the Barbie doll had any effects on
body image issues. Researchers found that, as the girls grew older, they began to report “more extreme discrepancies between their actual and ideal body size.” And the effects weren’t the result of other dolls—researchers found that the effects were “specific to Barbie” and not seen in other dolls. If that seems too heady and academic, consider that a 1960s Barbie doll accessory kit featured a toy guide called ‘How to lose weight.’ Barbie’s weight loss philosophy? “Don’t eat!,” printed on a book the size of a thumbnail. Exacerbating the problem is that Barbie dolls have extremely unrealistic body images. A lifesize Barbie doll was created by a student at Hamilton College in 2011. Scaled to a height of five feet nine inches, the doll had a 39-inch bust, an 18-inch waist, 33-inch hips, and a shoe size of three. A woman with these dimensions would not only struggle to walk, but with a weight of roughly 110 pounds, would also be anorexic. Of course, Mattel isn’t the only party here guilty of promoting unrealistic body images. Sports Illustrated has, for 50 years now, been placing super-thin models in super-thin bikinis (if there is one at all). It’s understandable why they do it—the advertising revenue is in the tens of millions of dollars—and they aren’t the only magazine that puts women in suggestive outfits. But other magazines don’t cover sports the other 51 weeks a year, so the swimsuit issue is a bit of an anachronism. It would be like seeing Entertainment Weekly suddenly turn into an automotive
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Would you like to have your club’s voice heard in The Chronicle? Contact Opinion Editor Zachary Olsavicky at olsavickyz977@strose.edu
Should Barbie dolls be advertised in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue? magazine for one week in a sales gambit. (At least an automotive magazine wouldn’t make cars feel bad about themselves.) Sports Illustrated can turn to tradition and heritage all they want, but the swimsuit issue won’t be one of the magazine’s highlights in the future. It’s easy to overanalyze gaps in gender equality, but very, very few female athletes appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated as-is. What will it say to future generations when they look back at old covers—and believe me, nostalgia won’t pass those fans by—and they see that most covers with women have them wearing bikinis? I’m sure old actors and actresses didn’t think blackface would look offensive, but try to watch a 1930s or 1940s movie with it and it’s hard not to cringe.
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So we have a toy with a nearimpossible body size, that’s proven to have negative effects on its audience, on the cover of a magazine with even more unrealistic body images. But, like the campaign suggests, don’t expect any apologies from Mattel any time soon. “Unapologetic is a rally cry to embrace who you are and to never have to apologize for it,” said the Mattel spokesperson to Ad Age. Anyone can tell you that confidence is admirable, but cockiness is insufferable. To not apologize doesn’t make someone—or toys—seem confident. It just makes them seem like a jerk. Zachary Olsavicky can be contacted at olsavickyz977@strose. edu.
February 18th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 22
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Opinion
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Valentine’s Day Crossword
Across 1. Physical intimacy 5. A bouquet of… 10. Significant (girl) 11. Card give on this holiday 14. Used to decorate cards and dresses 15. Pale red 16. Flower of romance
Down 2. A box of… 3. Used by Cupid 4. An exchanged treat 7. Valentine’s month 8. Color of romance 9. God of love 12. It beats and can be broken 13. Every____begins with Kay 14. Affection
Sports NBA Dunk Contest Fails to Impress...Again
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The Chronicle
By TORI ADDISON Staff Writer My biggest problem with this year’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest was wondering why I even stayed up to watch it. I mean, if I wanted to deal with Nick Cannon and a bunch of rambling judges talking about run-of-the-mill performances, I would have just tuned into America’s Got Talent. No disrespect to any of the dunks, but it was kind of hard to establish a great performance when all the other attempts were so weak. The players had no chance to display their individual talent with the new format that the NBA implemented for this year’s competition. Not to mention, almost every other aspect of the contest just felt wrong. The main problem for me (besides Nick Cannon) was the lack of emotion. A dunk is not a dunk unless it brings you on your feet in awe over the craziness that just
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Volume 82 Issue 22
hit the rim. Let’s face— it John Wall’s dunk would not have been as great as it was without the ridiculous dance moves he pulled out as soon as his feet hit the floor. It is just too bad that I cannot even hear his name without thinking of the absurd song that Troop 41 brought into our lives a couple years ago. None of the players even seemed like they were that into it. Half the fun of watching NBA players throw down an insane dunk is the reaction that they pull out afterwards, and that was something that was seriously missing from this year’s contest. I have no idea what was up with Harrison Barnes, but his performance was very disappointing. After seeing some of the crazy ingame dunks he has had over the past two seasons, I was expecting him to take the cake. Also, what the heck is “Shaq-Lemore,” and who decided that was a good idea? And really, I guess I should
Today’s NBA Dunk Contest cannot compare with the contests of old.
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John Wall was voted “dunker of the night.”
not have been so stupid to think that I could go one night without seeing Drake try to be best friends with a professional athlete, yet the fact that he was not wearing some shirt that makes it obvious he partied with Johnny Football was reassuring at least. In my opinion, the new format was a complete wash. I was not even sure what was going on half of the time and the freestyle round at the beginning was kind of a joke. Fans watch the dunk contest for the excitement that comes with monstrous dunks and that was one thing I did not feel while watching. The whole
event felt like it lasted a total of five minutes and I was extremely disappointed with the performances in general. It also seemed as if the players had no time to showcase their individual talent due to the new system of judging that focused on ranking the East/ West teams as a whole. It would have been nice to see players attempt more than just three dunks, especially when most of them missed their first two attempts and were left with one more to bank on. Unfortunately, the end of the contest made things even more agonizing. I genuinely felt uncomfortable as I watched Nick
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Cannon try to create a post-game interview that the players took way too seriously. What made it even worse was the lack of reaction from the crowd as the players just kind of stood around aimlessly. So basically, the whole sequence of events was just off and I really was not satisfied with any of it. Not to sound too harsh, but the new format completely killed this year’s dunk contest. I never had any problems with the old format and highly suggest the NBA brings it back next year or else I am not watching, and that’s that.
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Volume 82 Issue 22
Sports
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Goodbye O Captain, My Captain By JOSHUA NATOLI Sports Editor
Getting old sucks. I know, it sounds cliché, especially coming from a 22 year old, but it really sucks. The worst part is that you’re constantly reminded of your aging, I mean, the movie Mean Girls will be 10 years old come April, and you can look that up. Nothing has reminded me more of the fact than the sports world over the past six or so months. First, it was the announcement of Tracy McGrady’s retirement, now, The Captain, Derek Jeter, will be hanging up his cleats after the 2014 MLB season. Crazy, right? Not only the face of his Yankees franchise, but arguably the entire league will be entering his 20th and last major league season. It was weird when I first stepped foot into the new Yankee Stadium in 2009, but watching a
Yankee game without Jeter will be life-changing for me. Here is a guy that was drafted the same year I was born. I’ve literally never seen a Yankee team without him. Talk about a childhood memory. The call for time while stepping into the batter’s box, the signature swing, and that backhand stab followed by the jump throw to first will be no more. The end was near once Jorge Posada left the game. The first of the “Core Four” had left the building, and I knew Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera were next. After they set sail leaving DJ as the only remaining member, I knew his time was up. I guess it’s for the best though. When you’re pushing 40 ankles don’t heal like they used to. Missing all but 17 games last season I’m sure didn’t help Jeter’s motivation to stick it out past this coming season. We all knew it was coming at some point. The
most media-avoiding, high-profile player ever even has to bite the bullet eventually. The best part is that he did it in the most Jeter way possible. No cameras. No media. Just him and his fans on Facebook. Classy. This is the way Jeter has been his entire career. His personal life shrouded in secrecy. The only place you could really find him was on the diamond. There were even rumors that he would let the paparazzi shoot photos of him and whoever he was dating at the time once, in exchange that they wouldn’t bother him ever again. Speaking of dating, look at his record: Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Alba, Minka Kelly. He’s arguably the best bachelor of all time. And his highlight reel: the Mr. November home run in the 2001 World Series against the Diamondbacks, the bloody and bruised dive in the stands for a foul ball, the home run for his 3000th hit, the list goes on and
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Derek Jeter will leave behind a legacy as the face of the Yankees.
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Derek Jeter will be retiring after his 20th MLB season.
on. He is a bonafide legend, a god among men. Not only one of the best Yankees ever, but one of the best players ever, period. He has it all, the All-Star appearances, the Gold Gloves, the World Series rings, and he’s 20th all-time in overall WAR. (Wins Above Replacement) Knowing baseball hall of fame voters, though, Jeter won’t be a unanimous first balloter. There’s always the one guy who finds a reason not to vote for a clear Hall of Famer. But, Jeter definitely de-
serves it. Jeter leaves behind an untainted legacy, one of baseball’s good guys. Always clean, always classy. He gave you 100 percent every night. It’s going to be hard seeing him go. You can’t stay young, forever, right? I’m currently learning that the hard way. I just know the end of Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan will be next. A vicious cycle the never ends. Goodbye Captain. Yeah, Jeets.
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Sports
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February 18th, 2014
Volume 82 Issue 22
The Energizer Shark By BLAISE BRYANT Contributing Writer
A Saint Rose swimmer takes passion, power, and purpose in and out of the pool. “I always try and be the hardest working person in the pool, and at my meets, I try and be the smartest athlete,” said College of Saint Rose sophomore Samantha Hall. Hall said this because she is a distance swimmer. During the Northeast-10 conference championships at Southern Connecticut University, she competed in the 400-yard individual medley, the 500-yard free style, and the mile which is 1,650 yards. Those are 16, 20, and 66 laps respectively. With distance swimming, it is equally important to be strong physically and mentally. During her 400 IM, consisting of butterfly, back stroke, breast stroke, and freestyle, she finished in fifth with a time of 4:42. In her 500yard race, she finished in fifth
out of nine athletes with a time of 5:18. In her mile swim, she finished in third with a time of 18:04. It is her best mile time in nearly three years. Hall has been competing in swimming competitions since she was five. Her older sister was also in the pool at a young age, which encouraged her mom to do the same with Hall. She took Mommy and Me lessons in their pool at their home in Andover, Massachusetts. Hall jokes that her mom got her into the pool at a very young age because of her high energy. When she was six, Hall started competing in individual medleys. Up until fifth grade, her strength was the breast stroke, until she switched to a different swim team at a local YMCA. “I started doing the mile when I was 11,” said Hall. Her strategy for doing well in the mile is different from the conventional wisdom of distance
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Hall finished third in the mile of the NE-10 Championships.
Hall continues to thrive in the pool despite battling asthma. swimming. Typically, swimmers are supposed to decrease their 500-yard splits as the race goes on. Hall takes great pride in the fact she has the ability to set a consistent pace that she can keep. During her mile swim at conference championships, she was never ahead or behind more than 0.4 seconds of her pace she set during her first 50 yards. She “hates” nothing more than swimming next to the same person throughout the race. She feels that if she can set a quicker pace than her competition, they potentially feel intimidated and back off. Swimming the mile for Hall does not come without its challenges. She has asthma, and chlorine is a major trigger. “I grew up learning that there is no excuse to get out of the pool in the middle of a set,” Hall said. In between races, her preparation is what her fellow swimmers and divers call strange. “She dances all the time- it’s unreal how much she can dance,” said junior diver Dave Genender. Ear buds in, and swim cap cov-
ering her head, she dances to keep calm. Her moves are impressive, and she’s the funniest thing on the pool deck, Genender said while laughing. He will dance from time to time, but says Hall’s moves are much better than his. When Genender met Hall for the first time, he was amazed with how positive and energetic she is. “She walked in, introduced herself, and made friends with everyone on the team almost instantly,” Genender said. Hall says her greatest accomplishment in her 15-year swimming career was qualifying for the final heat in all three of her races during last year’s conference championships. “Generally in distance swimming, the rest of the team just sort of stands in the corner, this time they were in the corner cheering for me the entire race,” Hall said. Hall takes her positive attitude with her wherever she goes. She was positively sure Saint Rose would be a great fit for her, because she felt at home the second she walked onto the campus. Her
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teammates made her feel welcome, and everyone introduced themselves. Being an athlete is only part of Hall. In addition to swimming and classes, she is also a tour guide, and active in several clubs on campus. She has been on the Dean’s List several times. She also volunteers with the Friday Knights program, which is designed for children who have autism. For Hall, the connection to autism is very strong. Hall grew up having a brother with autism. She has wanted to be a teacher since she was a little kid. “I was that kid that asked for a projector for my birthday, spent money on textbooks, and would consume my younger brother and cousins’ weekends by making them be my students,” said Hall. Hall grew up in Andover with three brothers and sisters. While in high school, she was a part of the Andover High School swim and diving team, that were threetime state champions from 20092011.