The Chronicle
November 11th, 2014
The weekly student newspaper of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York www.strosechronicle.com - @strosechronicle
volume Lxxxiii issue 13
Art Exhibition at The Pine Hills Library By vaNeSSa LaNGdoN Staff Writer The Pine Hills Branch of the Albany Public Library has been bringing artwork into the neighborhood for the past four years, most recently revealing an exhibition this past Friday. Written Response Requested is the library’s first interactive exhibit and will be on display for free at the 517 Western Ave. location until March 21. The exhibit features a combination of both images and written words with an audience participation component.
“We’re really interested in showcasing art that isn’t just seen on the wall. Our art doesn’t have to be something you have to passively observe, you’re brining your own narrative to it,” said Judie Gilmore, art exhibition coordinator, Albany Public Library. The library enlisted 24 writers who each wrote a prompt for one of the 24 pieces. The prompts allow the audience to add something to the collection through their own interpretation of the art. The responses can then be entered into a juried contest until 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 25 online, or hand delivered to the library by
5:00 p.m. Jan. 24. The contest portion of the interactive exhibition is open to anyone over the age of 12. The entries are broken into two categories, young adult and adult. The entries will be judged by a panel of the prompt writers and then displayed in the library and read at the library throughout the second portion of the exhibit. Four of the 24 prompt writers, professors at The College of Saint Rose, were chosen to answer their prompts. Each writer was assigned to an artist and then created a written piece to be displayed alongside the work of the
artist. This is the fourth art exhibition at the library, the only branch of the Albany Public Library that holds such events. The library has two art exhibits each year, a winter and summer exhibition, with a month off for change over and preparation. Preparations for the exhibits begin about five months before the show will premiere with brainstorming, studio visits, and research. “They’re very time intensive but if you’ve done it well they look effortless. They look like they’ve always belonged on the wall,” said Gilmore.
This exhibition, combining art and writing, started because “we wanted to include the writing community in the work and use the space to foster some kind of an exchange in what we’re showing and some other creative community, and connect with Saint Rose because we’re so close,” said Gilmore of the diverse showcase. The show was co-curated by Gilmore and Daniel Nester, associate professor of English at the College. “I don’t know what
Continued on Page A6
Center for Arts and Design Fosters Digital Age By SoLeiL PaZ Staff Writer On Friday, Nov. 7, The College of Saint Rose held its official opening ceremony for the new digital photography studios in the Picotte Center for Arts and Design. During this significant event, students, faculty, and even several members of the general public gathered to join the Art Department for a ribbon cutting and various demonstrations of new technologies that the labs offer. The process of adopting the change and renovating the space was one that has spanned three years and
was considered a large milestone for more than just the Saint Rose artistic community. The urge to modernize the photography studios in Picotte was something that many individuals in the Saint Rose community empathized with. The only cause for delay was the allocation of resources. In asking for the funding, the Art Department had to “get in line.” Other departments were vying for their own funds, so the fact that the digital color labs were finally made into a reality was something colossal. In her address at the dedication ceremony, President Carolyn Stefanco said, “Tonight is important
because this project is about the faculty and students… We really want students and faculty to have the best technology to be able to collaborate with each other and to do great work.” “[C]reating digital photography studios and a fabrication lab of this level of sophistication enables our art and design students to maximize their creative and artistic expression using cuttingedge technology,” she said. Stefanco went on to stress the impact of such an addition to the already advanced art program at Saint Rose. Described as a “hidContinued on Page A5
VINCENT GIORDANO
On Friday, Nov.7, The College of Saint Rose held its official opening ceremony for the new digital photography studios in the Picotte Center for Arts
News & Features
Arts & Opinion
Sports
G4G’s Boy Panel Discussion See page A5
Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar See page B11
Western Conference Preview See page D18
Stand Up for College Students See page A4
Control of U.S. Senate: Who Cares? See page C15
Porreca’s Picks See page D19
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News
The Chronicle
November 11th, 2014
The Weekly Wrap-Up
Volume 83 Issue 13
Fun Fact: Raindrops can fall as fast as 20 miles per hour.
Your Top 5 Stories from Friday to Sunday *Source: BBC News
irish Teacher rejected in South Korea
uS air Strikes Target al-Qaeda
Navy Seals argue over Bin Laden
ac/dc drummer Faces Murder charge
New Star Wars Title released
A woman from the Republic of Ireland has been turned down for a teaching job in Seoul, South Korea, due to the agency’s perceived beliefs over Irish drinking habits. The email claimed that she would not be hired due to the “alcoholism nature of your kind.” Katie Mulrennan has taught for Barcelona and Abu Dhabi.
The US military says that it has done air strikes in Syria against the al-Qaeda linked Khorasan group. This is the second time the United States has targeted Khorasan, who are accused of planning attacks in the West. The air strikes hit buildings used for training.
Public controversy has arisen over who killed Osama bin Laden. Former Seal, Sean Robert O’Neil, has told the Washington Post that he shot the terrorist leader. This contradicts Matt Bissonette, another seal who took credit for the act, in a 2012 book.
Phil Rudd, drummer of the band AC/DC has been charged in New Zealand on drug possession and making death threats. Rudd has been released on bail. AC/DC is due to have a new album later this year. Other members of the band have not made comments on the matter.
Star Wars Episode VII has completed principle photography in London. The subtitle has been revealed to be The Force Awakens. This film will take place 30 years after the original trilogy, and will be released on Dec.18, 2015.
Pics of the Week
Courtney Carr, Lauren Sears, and Alex Wheeler at a tour guide event on Sunday, Nov. 9.
Friday, Nov. 7, The College of Saint Rose held its opening ceremony for the new digital photography studio.
LAUREN SEARS
VINCENT GIORDANO
*INFORMATION PROVIDED BY WEATHER.COM
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November 11th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 13
In Brief
News
Commercial Robbery on Central Avenue A 14-year-old resident of Albany has been arrested in connection to a robbery that took place Nov. 4, 2014 on Central Avenue. At 10 p.m. officers responded to a report of a robbery at Albany News and Deli at 396 Central Ave. The clerk told officers that
three males entered the store with a long rifle and demanded money. The suspects then fled the scene after getting cash and cigarettes. No injuries were reported during the incident. The 14-year-old suspect, whose name will not be released, was found by responding offi-
cers and was taken into custody without incident. He has been charged with robbery 1st and arraigned in the Albany City Court. The robbery remains under investigation. If you have information, please contact the Albany Police Detective Division at (518) 462-8039.
Ebola Response Team at Saint Rose President Stefanco has established an Ebola Reponse Team at Saint Rose. In a campus-wide email Stefanco reminded the community that the risk of contracting Ebola is extremely low. The response team is working with the Albany County Health Department, and following the guidelines issued by the CDC for Colleges and Universities.
One can only get Ebola from having direct contact through broken skin, or contact with the mouth, eyes or nose with body fluids of an Ebola-infected person, objects soiled with the body fluids of a person sick with Ebola, or the body of a person who died from Ebola. Ebola is not airborne. The Ebola Response Team is drafting an appendix to the Col-
lege’s current Pandemic Disease Plan specifically to address the very remote possibility that Saint Rose would be impacted in some way by the Ebola virus, according to the email. The campus community will know more about the Ebola Response Team before Thanksgiving.
MBA Students to Partner With St. Anne’s Institute
The Chronicle
MBA students enrolled in Marketing Management with professor Savita Hanspal are developing a marketing plan for St. Anne’s Institute. Anthony Cortese, executive director of St. Anne's Institute,
visited Hanspal’s class earlier this semester to discuss the marketing needs of the non-profit organization. Hanspal and her class visited St. Anne’s Institute to get a better understanding of its needs and how they could be addressed
in a marketing plan. The students will be presenting to the Community Advisory Board and St. Anne's Institute leadership on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. in Albertus Hall Room 306.
Executive Editor Conor Shea ‘15 sheac613@strose.edu
Features Editor Alexander Wheeler ‘16 wheelera982@strose.edu
Business Manager Ashley
Managing Editor Rachel Bolton ‘15 boltonr413@strose.edu
Opinion Editor Katie Klimacek‘17 klimacekk546@strose.edu
Advertising Manager Ashley
Alyssa Haddad
News Editor Lauren Sears ‘15 searsl534@strose.edu
Arts Editor Alexander Pecha ‘17 pechaa188@strose.edu
Web Editor Christopher Lovell ‘14
Matt Woods
Layout Editor Jennifer O’Connor ‘16 oconnorj984@strose.edu
Sports Editor Victoria Addison ‘17 addisonv653@strose.edu
Head Photographer Chris Al-
Jacob Barkman
Assistant Layout Editor Whitney Dobladillo ‘15 dobladillow942@strose.edu
Copy Editor Jenessa Matis ‘14 matisj311@strose.edu
Faculty Adviser Cailin
The Chronicle
Calendar of Events Tuesday, November 11th 6:00 p.m. MAPS Weekly Meeting AH 109 7:30 p.m. Spectrum General Board Meeting SRA A&B 7:30 p.m. Saint Rose Knight Lounge Bru: Saint Rose Rm 8:00 p.m. Yoga For Students Hubbard Sanctuary 8:15 p.m. Golden Knights Dance Practice EAC Rm 110 Wednesday, November 12th 5:30 p.m Global Connection Club HVCC 6:30 p.m. BASIC Weekly Meeting Hubbard Sanctuary 7:00 p.m Board Game Club Meeting Albertus 103 7:30 p.m Saint Rose Knight Club Bru; Saint Rose Room 7:30 p.m CDAEYC General Meeting Albertus 301 8:00 p.m Knights of Service Albertus 302 9:00 p.m Karate Club Practice Lima Conf. Room 9:30 p.m. ALANA Steppers Practice EAC Rm 110 Thursday, November 13th 4:30 p.m. Film Enthusiast’s Club Meeting Hearst Center Rm 121L 5:30 p.m SEB Meeting St Joseph’s Auditorium 7:00 p.m Production of “Grounded” Campus Theater 8:30 p.m Identity Meeting Lima Conf. Room 9: 30 p.m ALANA Steppers Practice Lima Conf. Room Friday, November 14th 7:00 p.m Saint Rose Music Awards St Joseph’s Auditorium 3:00 p.m Knights in Motion Practice EAC Room 110 7:00 p.m Saint Rose Knights Club Bru; Saint Rose Room 6:00 p.m Stand Up, Speak Out SRA A&B Saturday, November 15th 3:00 p.m Kinghts in Motion Practice EAC Room 110 7:30 p.m Saint Rose Knight Club Bru; Saint Rose Room 7:30 p.m. Saint Rose Knight Lounge Bru: Saint Rose Rm
If you have an upcoming event you would like to see in our weekly Calendar of Events, please e-mail chronicle@strose.edu.
Staff Writers
ANY student can join The Saint Rose Chronicle
Katherine Bakaitis Kaylynn Day Vanessa Langdon Nicholas Negron Nicole Baker Alex Horton Adriana Rosales
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The Chronicle is published weekly on Tuesdays during the academic year and once during the summer months. The Chronicle is published at the facilities of New England Newspapers in Pittsfield, M.A.
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All advertising inquiries should be sent to Advertising Ashley Sweet at sweeta984@strose.edu. The Chronicle offers free black and white 5-by-3 in. ads to student-run organizations.
The Chronicle accepts Letters to the Editor from any party. We recommend that submissions not exceed 1000 words. Letters, columns, and cartoons published in this newspaper represent the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of The Chronicle.
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The Chronicle
News
November 11th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 13
The Value of Transfer Students By Lauren Sears News Editor It often goes unsaid that one out of every three students attending The College of Saint Rose is a transfer student. About 280 students transfer here every year, just over 200 students in the fall, and 80 students in the spring. Transfer students are a valuable part of enrollment each year to the College. During the history of Saint Rose, there was a point in time that transfer students outnumbered freshmen. “Transfers, in terms of diversifying our campus in terms of experience and backgrounds...I think they are always an important piece,” said Jeremy Bogan. Bogan is the assistant vice president of Enrollment Management here at Saint Rose. Transfer students come from diverse backgrounds. Some transfer students decide to trans-
fer from a four-year school to another four-year school. Other transfer students transfer from community college to Saint Rose. “Students transferring from a community college are looking to have some experiences, maybe some haven’t decided what major they are interested in, they are trying to save money in some cases, but you know ultimately their goal is to get their bachelor’s degree from Saint Rose, so we want to support those students. We also want to support the students who academically need some time to prepare at community colleges then come to Saint Rose,” said Bogan. It was because of the support of Saint Rose that made Linda Dolder transfer to the College. “I transferred to Saint Rose because of the sense of care that I felt from the professors and staff that I met during open house. I also
loved the location of the campus and how close it was to my home. My experience has been wonderful, I have met so many influential people and had the chance to have many opportunities that I wouldn't have had elsewhere,” said Dolder. Dolder is a senior social work major. Another transfer student who has been at Saint Rose for five semesters felt like the community made his decision to transfer. “I do believe the friends I made had a big impact on me staying on campus or even at Saint Rose. I do remember the professor being easier to talk to than I expected when I first came here,” said Eric LaMalfa. A new initiative is making it easier for transfers to figure out how long it will take them to complete their bachelor’s degree, once they are accepted to Saint Rose. “They also receive an aca-
demic progress report (DegreeWorks), so they can get a sense of how long it will take them to graduate. Those are all very new initiatives when working with transfers. We have responded to the needs of new transfers, and so they can see if it will take them two or three years to graduate,” said Bogan. A student’s DegreeWorks report shows both major and minor requirements and allows students to do a “What-if” analysis if they decide to change a major/add a major or add/change a minor. LaMalfa wishes someone had explained to him how to pick a minor. “But, I really don't remember them explaining to me what a concentration is or for that matter picking a minor at orientation, but the people in the Career Center helped ease my stress a lot,” said LaMalfa. “Transfers are obviously an
important part of what we do here, but in Enrollment Management now, we are in the mode of recruiting students, whether they are coming in as freshmen, transfers, graduate, are a veteran, international students. Our goal is to recruit great students to come to our institution and to benefit from the Saint Rose experience here,” said Bogan. A new transfer student believes the environment on campus helps her. “I like it here. The environment is friendly and information is shared generally well. I also like that the school recycles, it’s a simple way to be environmentally friendly,” said Rowan Greaves. If you have any questions about transferring or want more information, you can stop in to Transfer Admissions in DeSalles Hall, or go to http://www.strose. edu/admissions/transfer.
Stand Up for College Students By Jessica LePore Staff Writer Three Saint Rose students made it to the semi finals round of auditions after giving their best five-minute stand up comedy in the free “Make Me Laugh” auditions. Dylan Hartford, Mike Eisenstein and Alyssa Haddad were picked by a panel of judges after seeing all of the comedians. The students move on to potentially make it to the finals and win the grand prize of a free headshot, a write up in the Times Union, an interview on “Alternative to Sleeping with Ethan Ullman,” a write up in Albany’s Metroland, and paid performances on Comedy’s Best Kept Secret Tour. Make Me Laugh, an organization designed to help aspiring
young comedians, came to Albany for the first time this week looking for college students. The first round of auditions was held on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at The College of Saint Rose, along with SUNY Albany, RPI, Siena and Sage throughout the week. Saint Rose students lined up at 8:00 p.m. to audition for the stand up comedy competition in hopes of making it to the next round and being one step closer to becoming the overall winner of the contest. Alyssa Haddad, troop leader of the College group Crate of Apes, had been advertising about the event to find stand up comedians in the area. The event was free and open to the population at Saint Rose. The club has about 15 active members and is always welcoming new people.
The show featured comedian and Make Me Laugh creator Dan Frigolette, comedic radio host Ethan Ullman, comedian Gene Getman, BET comedian Matt Richards and contestant auditions. Dan Frigolette, creator of Make Me Laugh, started his first competition in Syracuse and had a singular goal in the process. “We wanted to create more opportunities for the community in this area that don’t live in New York City to facilitate the concept of doing stand up comedy,” Frigolette said. Filming and doing stand up for the auditions, Gene Getman, who is originally from Russia but grew up in Brooklyn, runs the shows with Frigolette. “I’ll be getting up and showing the kids how it’s done,” Getman
said. Make Me Laugh hopes to give opportunities throughout the Capital Region at local colleges.
“The idea is to create opportunity where there is none,” Frigolette said.
Jessica LePore
Saint Rose senior and Crate of Apes troupe leader Alyssa Haddad performing stand up comedy.
November 11th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 13
G4G’s Boy Panel Discussion By Alyssa Haddad Staff Writer Once a semester, G4G brings some of the young men and women on campus together and invites an open discussion between genders. On Tuesday, Nov. 4 in Albertus Hall, Girls for God held a panel discussion featuring students of the Saint Rose community. A panel of five male Saint Rose students (chosen for their honesty) became a panel for the young women on campus to anonymously ask any questions to before the tables turned and the men were able to ask the women questions. The event was well attended by many students looking to become more educated on the different issues and thoughts of men and women today. The panel discussion on Tuesday allowed women to write down their questions to be asked to the panel of men. The rules were simple: be honest, no arguing, and the men were allowed to answer or not answer any questions that they felt comfortable with. For the most part, the room of approximately 25 women raised questions about dating, and what men generally look for in women. For instance, many women wondered what men notice about women or what they look for in a partner. The answers were pretty similar: someone who is confident with a positive attitude. Several women questioned how the men felt about feminist platforms, such as objectifying women in advertisements and how they would feel if they had a female boss. When it was the men’s turn to ask questions, their topics stuck to the same theme, for the most part. The men asked how they can tell if women like them or not and what is attractive in a man. Many had questions about what is considered “creepy” when a man approaches a woman, or if there is
a way to escape the “friendzone”. The women had varied responses, but overall they seemed to hold intelligence and a sense of humor in a man in high regard. The discussion panel was arguably eye opening for the attendees. For most men and women, there are no avenues for them to express their questions about relationships and how to act appropriately in certain situations with the opposite sex. Saint Rose student, regular G4G member and four time attendee to the boy’s panel discussion, Elyse Oosterman raved about the event. “This was definitely one of the better panel discussions that we have had,” she said. “There were more diverse voices, so we were able to see different viewpoints on each subject.” G4G President, Ashley Sweet, was also excited about this semester’s discussion. “There were a lot of different questions than we’ve been used to this year, and I thought that was good. They were a lot less graphic and more focused on communication.” The men were also happy with their experience on the panel. For students Brian Willis and Daniel Aidoo, a senior and junior respectively, it was their first time participating in the discussion panel. “It was interesting,” Brian explained after the event. “I feel like I can be more straight-forward now.” When asked about how this discussion might change the way that they act or speak when they are trying to impress women, Daniel stated “I’m just going to be myself.” Mathew Vincent, a three time panelist, explained that the event has been quite beneficial for him. “This was the best one yet. Sometimes in the past, it would get a little quiet and awkward, but tonight the conversation was good and there were a lot of different ideas, which can help you get prepared for different situations. Every girl is different.”
News
A5 Center for Arts and Design Fosters Digital Age Continued From Page A1 den jewel,” by Stefanco, she said that she hoped the renovated facilities would attract more great students and great creators. After the dedication, there was a ribbon cutting, which in itself paid homage to the new machinery at Picotte—the “ribbon” was a length of a photograph printed out using one of the large-scale
“We really want students and faculty to have the best technology to be able to collaborate with each other and to do great work.” Carolyn Stefanco
printers. The digital labs were then opened for people to wander in and look around. Student projects that utilized the new technology covered the walls to display the high quality of work that they have been producing. The pictures that the new print-
The Chronicle
ers put out are tremendously crisp and clear. Even a simple panorama taken on an iPhone proved to be compatible and had no evidence of any diminished quality or pixelated effect. Colors were more vibrant and consistently pigmented from screen to paper, which means it will be easier for students to get an advanced idea of what their final prints will look like. The paper size has also been stretched to the limit—the largest printer will be able to tackle a file or picture that is 59 feet long. The amount of pride and fulfillment in the whole artistic community was certainly felt during this momentous occasion, according to photography professor Tom Santelli. “I’ve been here a long time and I do believe we have one of the best facilities in the area… We’re very happy to have this, I think our students are delighted to have this, and I think they’re using the labs in an incredibly creative way. And that makes me feel very satisfied.” Art students who attended the event were, to say the least, very excited. Gina Magistro, a junior in the graphic design program, commented, “It’s great to hear what all went into it, and it’s in-
VINCENT GIORDANO
Provost Hadi Salavitabar, and President Carolyn Stefanco at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
teresting that the public is here. I think it’s great to help promote the school and see what we’re doing here.” In addition to the digital studios, demonstrations were also held in the fabrication lab (the fab lab for short). The lab houses a universal laser cutter, 3D printer, and 3D scanner, allowing students to create physical objects in minutes, both incredibly precise and intricate, out of their com-
“It’s great to hear what all went into it, and it’s interesting that the public is here.” Gina Magistro puter files. After a few simple demonstrations, it became apparent that the capabilities of such machines were astonishing. Senior graphic design major Will Mintzer agreed, “I love the new technology. I love the fab lab—the fab lab is great. I haven’t even seen the 3D scanner work yet, but it’s cool stuff. It looks good up there, too.” Though art majors and professors are extremely thrilled about the renovations, that does not mean others cannot benefit from the systems as well. The Center for Arts and Design has made these resources available to be used by art majors and non-majors alike, even going toward any other special needs on campus. Infinite opportunities and endless possibilities have been introduced. Friday’s event was the ceremonial opening to get the news out there, but it was only just the beginning.
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The Chronicle
News
November 11th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 13
“The Cost of War” Presentation: Remembering Lost Ones By Kevin Walsh Contributing Writer The College of Saint Rose is embracing the importance of Veteran’s Day through the collaboration of veterans and the Albany community. Throughout this week, the college will host several informative events with the help of students, community members, and faculty. One event that integrates all sources is “The Costs of War” panel presentation, this Veteran’s Day, in the Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. The presentation will be set against a background of the Drone Quilt Project. This project is made up of five 5x5 quilts of 36 squares. Each square was made by an individual who took the name of a civilian victim of a drone attack and created a square in their memory. “There have been well over 2,000 men, women and children killed by U.S. drones, as well as thousands who have been injured,” said Maureen Aumand. “There is no oversight. These killings are extrajudicial, counter to international law, and we feel in addition to being immoral and illegal, it is ineffective, as
research is indicating that they lead to greater, not lesser degrees of terrorism and anti-U.S. sentiment.” Aumand is a College of Saint Rose alumnus who is a part of the local grassroots network called Women Against War. The group’s mission is to work toward understanding the current geopolitical realities that led to war, and to try to come up with alternatives to war and militarism. She has worked closely with faculty to make this event possible. “The college is to be commended for its efforts to make this an interdisciplinary conversation and to truly honor those who serve in the military,” said Aumand. “This is a dynamic which the human race can never stop pondering, historians, poets, sociologists, philosophers, scholars and citizens alike. War is an old planetary scourge, but we can never bow to the nihilistic belief that war is inevitable and peace an illusion.” Five members will participate in “The Cost of War” panel, all of whom have extensive knowledge on a specific attribute of the aftereffects of war. The members, who not only organized the presentation but will
also be panelists, are members of the college community. They’ve chosen to take part in the Veteran’s Day events, specifically this presentation, as a way to inform the community about the effects of war with both their personal concern and deep understanding of the topic. Professor Kathleen Crowley will act as the moderator during The Cost of War panel presentation. Crowley is a professor of Psychology at Saint Rose and is personally interested in the psychological trauma that war inflicts on civilians. “I think it is important for our community (and especially our students) to be aware of the true horrors of war that have been demonstrated time and again throughout history—and are being acted out again in our most recent military campaigns,” Crowley said. Another panelist, Frank Fitzgerald, is a member of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Department at The College of Saint Rose, where he works as a professor. “My short talk does not have its own title, but if it did, it might be called “Thinking Carefully about Armistice/Veterans Day,” for, it
seems to me, careful thinking is central to what ought to be happening at an educational institution such as Saint Rose,” Fitzgerald said. “I hope students and all who attend the panel discussion will leave with new information, new insights and a great deal of food for their own thinking.” Another professor from the College of Saint Rose, Jenise DePinto, works in the Department of History at the college. DePinto will be joining the panel to discuss the history of Veteran’s Day, specifically the start of World War I. This year marks the 100th year since the start of World War I, in 1914. “WWI is a classic case study in the futility and senselessness of war, the role of propaganda in shaping attitudes toward war, and the horrors modern warfare brings to human beings,” DePinto said. “Today’s wars generally have their origins in wars of the past. As you might imagine its causes, effects, and implications for humanity across time and place are a major focus of our studies and teaching.” The other two members of the panel are Dan Wilcox, who is associated with Veterans for Peace, and Rev. Chris Antal, who was
a Unitarian chaplain in Afghanistan, and is the author of “A Veteran’s Day Confession for America.” Both of these veterans will be sharing their first-hand experiences and perspectives on war. As well as “The Costs of War” presentation, the college will be hosting a variety of other events occurring during this upcoming week, including the one-person play, “Grounded” by George Brant, which will take place at The Arts Center of Capital Region on Tuesday and throughout the week in numerous locations in the Albany area. More information on these events can be found on the college’s home Website and in the events section of Blackboard. Panelists would like to get the entire community involved in these events, in the hopes of increasing awareness and knowledge of war and its effects. “What I want students to leave the Drone Quilt exhibit, the performance of “Grounded,” as well as the panel presentation with, is a sense of the possibility and imperative of working towards bending, as Dr. Martin Luther King framed it, the arc of history towards peace and justice,” Aumand said.
Art Exhibition at The Pine Hills Library Continued From Page A1 [curator] means. I was a writer wrangler,” said Nester, who was in charge of the writers and the prompt aspects of the exhibit. He was paired with artist Darcie Abbatiello, whose artwork depicts missing women paired with an animal. He responded to his prompt asking viewers to use found text and create a narrative out of 10 sentences containing the word “lost” and then 10 sentences with “found.” When writing his response, Nester did a search through his book he is finishing and found lots of sentences containing ‘lost’
but not so many about ‘found.’ “I guess I’m lost more than I’m found,” said Nester. Nester thinks this show is special “because writers block is real, come here and get it fixed. It’s also a challenge, can you write something for every piece?” Abbatiello has been working on the series of artwork showcased since 2012. She found a missing person database and chose women that she felt a connection to. “They reminded me of myself,” said Abbatiello. Her work features a drawing of the women and an animal collaged to the work. The animals are used
by Abbatiello as witnesses. “I’ve always loved animals and I’ve always thought of them as witnesses. Wild animals just out and about in the woods as voiceless witnesses, even domestic animals in domestic violence,” said Abbatiello. She chose the animals because of a connection with the missing women’s story. Either a bird connected with the state, a moose because of the creation of the Vermont State Police after the disappearance of one of the subjects, or a pigeon because one of the women was a journalist in a big city. Abbatiello has never
been involved with a show like this but thinks “it’s a great idea to combine artists and writers in a nice cycle of thought.” The shows attract thousands of community members, those who go to the library just to experience the art, and library patrons who might otherwise not be exposed to this type of artwork. “It’s been wonderful and gratifying to see how much the community likes and appreciates that we’re trying to bring something a little different. We want this to be invested in the community,” said Mary Coon, head of the Pine Hills and Bach branches of the
Albany Public Library. The library-funded exhibit will be on display through March 21 and is free and open to the public during library hours. The library staff hopes that the community responds as well to this exhibit as it has to the three others. “Libraries have great potential to open people’s eyes to all kinds of different things in the world, not just through books, but through all kinds of experiences and so the diverse programming that the library does at all branches is reflected here at Pine Hills,” said Gilmore.
November 11th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 13
Arts
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Top of the Week For Nov. 3 - Nov. 8 Movies at the Box Office
T.V. Shows
1. Ouija (10.7M) 2. Nightcrawler (10.4M) 3. Fury (8.8M) 4. Gone Girl (8.5M) 5. The Book of Life (8.2M) 6. John Wick (8.0M) 7. St. Vincent (7.2M) 8. Alexander and the Terrible...(6.6M) 9. The Judge (3.4M) 10. Dracula Untold (3.0M)
1. CBS Thursday Night Football 2. NBC Sunday Night Football 3. NCIS 4. NCIS: New Orleans 5. The Big Bang Theory 6. 60 Minutes 7. Dancing With the Stars 8. Fox World Series Game 2 9. Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick 10. CBS Thursday Night Pre-Kick
*Source: RottenTomatoes.com
*Source: Nielsen.com
Books
Music
Fiction: 1. Gray Mountain (John Grisham) 2. The Slow Reregard of Silent... (Patrick Rothfuss) 3. Prince Lestat (Anne Rice) 4. Havan Storm (Clive Cussler) 5. Leaving Time (Jodi Picoult)
Albums: 1. 1989 (Taylor Swift) 2. Montevallo (Sam Hunt) 3. NOW 52 (Various Artists) 4. Rise (Trip Lee) 5. Black Veil Brides (Black Veil Brides) Songs: 1. Shake It Off (Taylor Swift) 2. All About That Bass (Meghan Trainor) 3. Habits (Tove Lo) 4. Animals (Maroon 5) 5. Bang Bang (Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj)
Non-Fiction: 1. Yes Please (Amy Poehler) 2. Killing Patton (Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard) 3. Not that Kind of Girl (Lena Dunham) 4. Being Mortal (Atul Gawande) 5. Jeter Unfiltered (Derek Jeter) *Source: New York Times Best Sellers
*Source: Billboard.com
B8 Award Great or Award Bait? David Ayer’s Fury The Chronicle
By Alex Wheeler Features Editor and Joseph Conway Contributing Writer Is a film made to entertain or to win awards? Does it happen to be entertaining and also award worthy? Alexander Wheeler and Joseph Conway are here to answer those questions in this week’s edition of “Award Great or Award Bait” Fury is a tank-heavy WWII film directed and written by the writer of Training Day, David Ayer. It was released on October 17, and has received critical acclaim. Alexander’s Opinion Fury is a great war picture. It features a great and almost classical performance from Brad Pitt, and David Ayer’s tense and stiff direction allows the film to transcend typical war film tropes. Tension gets built up and built up and built up and then finally, when there is release, there is the feeling of ultimate payoff. That payoff comes in the form of style; in the matter of substance, however, the film’s narrative falls flat. This is due to no real plot device moving the film forward, other than the inherent perils of war.
Joseph’s Opinion Recently, in its commercials, Fury has been hyped as the best WWII film in the last 30 years. Though Fury is by no means a bad film, it does not quite live up to that praise. Fury is a very powerful film with plenty of strengths, but its shortcomings will likely keep it from receiving Oscar Gold. One of the main strengths of the picture is Brad Pitt. His hatred of Nazis is reminiscent of Ethan Edwards’ hatred of Native Americans in John Ford’s 1957 film, The Searchers. The main aspects that kept Fury from being a great movie were the story and the character development. The film lacked an ultimate goal, and the narrative suffered because of this. Fury is a great war picture, but it’s obviously a wanna-be Oscar picture. Being a WWII film released late in the year, buoyed by a stellar performance from an Alist star, is just asking for Oscar glory. Not to say that Fury is a bad film, but we are giving it our first Bait award because it tries so hard to be a good Oscar film that it loses itself narratively. Alexander’s Predictions: Bait Joseph’s Predictions Bait
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Dear Math, please grow up and solve your own problems. I’m tired of solving them for you.
“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.” - Maya Angelou
Arts
November 11th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 13
So, let’s run through some of the major differences that aren’t POV related. In the next gen version, Rockstar has added over 150 new songs, plus new talk radio stations. When I play GTA for the Xbox 360, I’m quite impressed with the amount of different music that they included in the game. Adding even more to that just blows my mind. Improved wind dynamics: well, that’s just using the improved resolution to your advantage, and it should look beautiful. Improved weather and damage effects: oh great, cars will be even tougher to drive when you’re banged up and in the rain. It was bad enough as it was! Increased vehicle diversity: thank goodness. I’m really glad they did that. I sometimes get sick of seeing the same cars over and over. Vehicles and weapons from all GTA online updates are available in Story Mode immediately. This is a little thing that I think will prove to be one of the best. I always hated having to wait to get online items in story mode, so this is a nice addition. New animals, land and sea: not bad. I don’t think the sea part will matter much, but the added land animals may prove to be nice. Improved online character customization: like with the music, I was impressed with the amount of character customization I could do, so adding to that is pretty unreal. Over 120 new props for creating missions/races: I never really used Creator for Online, but I’m sure added props can only be a good thing. In regards to the new POV, Rockstar released this statement, regarding online play. “The integration of the new first-person mode means players will have the freedom to play GTA Online in either first-person or third-person with the ability to seamlessly switch between them on the fly at the touch of a button, both in Free Mode and during matches. In ad-
dition, we’ve added the option to toggle match settings to create first-person or third-person only matches, if they choose.” The fact that a player wouldn’t have to back out to a menu to switch POV’s is actually quite impressive, and I for one am very pleased with this.
GTAV Coming to Next Gen Consoles
By JOSHUA HELLER Staff Writer If you were thinking about getting a next generation console, but were waiting for a sure-fire reason, here it is. Last week, Rockstar Games released a trailer for GTA V for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. The trailer consisted of gameplay on the next gen, and instead of the usual Grand Theft Auto third person POV, the new systems will fully support a first person mode. This is something that’s long been demanded by GTA fans. Of course, this mode is not something that you would have to play. When loading up the game, you can choose whether to play in first or third person. But if I had the next gen version, I’m not sure if I would ever play the game in third person. Of course, GTA is not the first game to take advantage of the next generation console capabilities. Sports games, such as NBA and Madden, have really taken advantage of the new FPS and resolution of the newer consoles,
With all of the graphic and gameplay improvements, its hard for people to put the game down, exactly as the companies wants. not to mention games like Destiny, which just look absolutely gorgeous. I would say these new generation consoles are definitely worth the extra money. However, the trailer of first person gameplay was not the only thing that Rockstar has released about the next gen game. The company also released a list of the differences between the game on the current vs. next gen.
You can choose whether to play first or third person. But if I had the next gen version, I’m not sure I would ever play the game in third person. The improved frames-per-second on the newer consoles is definitely being used by game companies to their advantage. People had thought that the graphics were amazing when the Xbox 360 and the PS3 were released, and the Xbox One and PS4 have absolutely raised the bar. With all of the the graphic and gameplay improvements, it’s hard for people to put games down, exactly as the companies want. Even if you can’t afford the next gen consoles, you can’t stop watching videos of the games on those consoles (at least I can’t). GTA V will be released for next gen consoles on Nov. 18, while it will also be released for PC on Jan. 27, both dates heavily anticipated by gamers everywhere. Advertisement
Hidden Messages “I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three.” - Elayne Boosler
November 11th, 2014
Arts South Park is Good, Mmkay? Editors Review Freemium Isn’t Free
By vicToria addiSoN Sports Editor and aLexaNder PecHa Arts Editor Summary This week’s episode of South Park started off with Jimmy, everyone’s favorite cripple, playing a Terrance and Philip iPhone game that has some unflattering similarities to The Simpsons game on the same platform. Jimmy then convinces Kyle to try out the game, stating that it’s free so why not give it a try. While Kyle plays the new game he realizes he can spend small amounts of money to bypass certain annoying features of the game. He finds this beyond stupid. Meanwhile, In Canada, the Prince of Canada and the Minister of Mobile Gaming are enjoying the money they’ve gotten from the Terrance and Philip game when Terrance and Philip themselves show up, mad that they weren’t asked about this use of their image to make a game first. The Minister of Mobile Gaming then reveals that the reason these
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games work is because of a feedback loop similar to ones used in making RPG games except that the game is made to be “Just fun enough” to keep people interested and charge for it to be more fun, they call this “Freemium”. Terrance and Philip relent and agree it’s a good idea. Meanwhile it turns out that Stan has spent $490 in the very same game, angering his parents. Randy worries that Stan might be developing an addictive personality like Stan’s grandfather who is addicted to gambling. Sharon accuses Randy of being addicted himself to Alcohol but Randy denies it, saying he only has some beer now. The boys visit Kyle and see how bad the addiction has gotten and decide they have to track down the source. They soon find out that anyone who plays the game picked up the habit from Jimmy. When the boys confront Jimmy he reveals that he doesn’t “touch the stuff” and only gives it out to people, he then states the Canadians pay him to hook people on it. Going back to Canada Terrance and Philip have decided they ADVERTISEMENT
aren’t on board with the Freemium. But the Prince of Canada sways them by stating that with the money they’re getting from Canada they’ll “Be as advanced as Michigan.” In compromise the Minister of Mobile Gaming and the Prince agree that they’ll fund a public information campaign much like Alcohol companies do. Back in South Park Randy confronts his son and father about their addictive personalities. When Stan’s grandfather retorts that Randy has an alcohol problem as evidenced by the row of Wine behind him, Randy responds with “It’s a tasting and it’s classy.” However Stan and Grandpa agree to stop their addictive spending. Jimmy then admits to the boys that he pushes the game like a drug because he too used to be addicted to a freemium game much like the Terrance and Philip one. While Kyle sleeps he keeps getting texts from the game asking him to come back, and he winds up relapsing and spends over $26,000 in one night on the game. Jimmy then encourages Kyle to join a twelve step program and
find faith in a higher power to get him through it. When the guys discuss how they need a plan to get back at Canada for what it’s been doing Cartman says he just tweeted all the information and it’s now trending. Terrance and Philip again barge into the office furious that they had been hiring “Pushers” to help people get addicted. The Minister of Canada then reveals the real truth, that a small percentage of addictive people are what drive most of the income of the game. The Minister reveals that this was his plan all along. Back in South Park Kyle prays to a higher power for help, who turns out to be the Devil. The Devil shows up and explains to Kyle the scientific nature of addiction. Back in Canada Terrance and Philip continue to listen to the Ministers plan, and they are now joined by the Prince of Canada who was not informed about this dark version of the mobile game plan. The Minister then reveals himself as the Canadian Devil, Beelzaboot. When the actual Devil realizes that the game is actually more sinister than normal addictive things like drugs he pieces together that the Canadian devil is behind this and possesses Stan’s body to go fight the Canadian Devil. A battle ensues between Beelzaboot and the Devil which the Devil wins, and he then destroys the Ministry of Mobile Gaming. After this Stan is returned home and the Prince of Canada promises to never make a Freemium game again and that Canada will return to being “Another s****y Tundra.” Stan and Grandpa decide to take up Board Games as a hobby to combat their addictive personalities. Randy agrees this is a good idea but then asks them if they want to place a bet on the outcome of the game, much to Stan’s exasperation. alex’s opinion
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As an avid gamer this episode really made sense to me. The way South Park takes on the Freemium “genre” of games is as brutal as it is accurate and I couldn’t be happier with them. Meanwhile the episode in general delivers some great laughs with the Canadian devil and, of course, Randy’s stupidity. However this doesn’t change the fact that it was the sanitization of the Freemium game market that really sold this episode to me. Between the comparisons to actual drug addiction and Satan himself finding the game disgusting it’s quite clear South Park knew what they were talking about and took the idea to task. This episode is a winner on all fronts and I can’t argue with how hilarious it was from start to finish. Rating: 4.5/5 victoria’s opinion Despite my lack of gaming knowledge, I completely understood the message that South Park was trying to get across this week, and they absolutely nailed it. Not only was the idea behind “Freemium isn’t Free” brilliant, but it was also hilarious. With the many jokes pointed at Canada and Randy’s denial of being an alcoholic, this episode might have been the best so far this season. Rating: 4.5/5 ADVERTISEMENT
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Hidden Messages Chistopher Alvardo… Do you know the muffin man?
Arts Child Soldier to Premiere at Siena College
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The Chronicle
By Chris Lovell Web Editor Siena College will be presenting the premiere of Child Soldier, a politically-charged drama by Albany Playwright J Thalia Cunningham, this coming weekend. Cunningham’s newest work is a collaboration with Mahmood Karimi-Hakak, Professor of Creative Arts at Siena College. J Thalia Cunningham is an Albany-based playwright, as well as an Emergency Physician, who has written a multitude of politically-based pieces that have been performed all over the world. Mahmood Karimi-Hakak is a playwright, filmmaker and director, originating from Iran, who categorizes himself as a political artist. Behind all of his work has a political message, because he feels that when creating a new work, you should do something that you are interested in, something that excites you.
“These wars are not just fought in countries that we read about or see on the news, they are fought on our soil.” J Thalia Cunningham “The job of director is to give life to the written word, and make sure that the flesh and wings are added to the bone structure that the playwright presents to the director” said Karimi-Hakak. He uses his actors, who are originally cast as an ensemble rather than in specific roles, to bring life to the written word by shaping the part of the character that resides within each of his actors. Only once he and the actors have begun to work together does he cast each actor as a specific character. He feels the measure
of his success as a director, in regards to working with his actors, is whether or not he can help grow the “seed” of the character into a big “tree” that essentially takes over the entire actor. Child Soldier follows the life of Destiny, a 20-year-old former child soldier from Liberia, as she is plunged into an inner-city high school, with its bullying, gangs, and drug culture. She struggles to navigate this strange new world, striving for an education, while vestiges of her former life continue to haunt her. Karimi-Hakak said that he thoroughly enjoys working with Cunningham, as he always looks for the opportunity to collaborate with playwrights. “Normally, I work with dead playwrights, because it’s usually much easier to collaborate with them than with live playwrights. They can’t come out and say, ‘you cut my line.’ But this time I had the fortune of working with a friend. We could converse, we could feed one another.” Cunningham feels that this collaboration with Karimi-Hakak is a unique experience, not only because she has been part of the production essentially from the very beginning, but also because Karimi-Hakak is unique in his vision and creativity. “The beauty of theatre is its ability to teach something about ourselves and the world around us, which is probably why I’ve never yet written a romantic comedy. I like these thorny social issues, because they do teach us,” said Cunningham. In most of Cunningham’s work, she incorporates many theatrical devices, including puppets, drums and videos. In regards to her previous productions, Cunningham feels that other directors sometimes shy away from or even prefer not to use some of the theatrical devices that she has written into the production. On the other hand, while working with Karimi-Hakak, he seems to embrace the theatrical devices
that Cunningham included in the script. According to Cunningham, she believes that the writing and acting process are very similar, as they are both very interactive. “I write best when I’m in a situation where it is like the characters are there talking and I am just taking down dictation.” Cunningham finds that the beauty of theatre comes from the ability to take something that an audience may know about, and asking them to look at differently. She decided to write about a female child soldier because she felt that there was quite a bit that had already been written about the Lost Boys of Sudan, and she wanted to bring focus to a slightly different topic. When considering how she might take something people may have already known about and shift their focus slightly, she found the idea of a female child soldier intriguing. To Karimi-Hakak, theatre is not what happens on the stage; rather, it is what occurs in the minds of the audience as they leave the theatre. “I’m hoping that a little thing, a little snap will happen in their heads. I don’t care if they think it was a good show. If that happens, they’ll say ‘that was a good show, now let’s go rest.’ I want them to think and I want the play to make them say ‘damn, it doesn’t let me rest.’ Because then it will make them think about gun control, about Newtown, about the rate of murder. Because this is just a capsulate of what goes on in society.” Previous works by Cunningham have been set in West Africa, or have dealt with military violence. “I love the way the West African mindset seems to make sense out of all the chaos,” said Cunningham. When creating Destiny, Cunningham was looking to create a character who could use some of the toughness that she had gained from being a child soldier in a positive way to help her with
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some of the unspeakable horrors that she encounters in an inner city high school. “She is still a soldier and she is still fighting, and this is a battlefield. And these wars are not just fought in countries that we read about or see on the news, they are fought on our soil in much more frightening ways that would never occur in other countries,” said Cunningham.
he was interested in being part of Child Soldier was because he enjoyed being around KarimiHakak’s thought process. Vroman also mentioned that KarimiHakak’s methods are sometimes unconventional, which makes Karimi-Hakak incredibly invested in his work. There is a feeling of abstract thought behind Child Soldier, and most of that comes from the varied definitions of what a child soldier is. The face of the play is a literal child soldier from Liberia, but Cunningham and KarimiHakak are looking to broaden the definition for the audience. Karimi-Hakak believes that many people fit into the definition of a ‘child soldier.’ “A child soldier is a whole bunch of 18-yearolds who go to Iraq and get killed. They are children, they are 18 years old, and their lives are destroyed after. To me, a child soldier is a tool used by politicians to strengthen their own power, a tool used by rich people to fill their own pockets. A tool used by a variety of governments to oppress their own people. A child soldier is not only a phenomenon limited to West Africa, or Liberia, or the rebels, it happens in America.” “I hope that this play makes the people think,” said KarimiHakak.
“The beauty of theatre is it’s ability to teach something about ourselves and the world around us.” J Thalia Cunningham Because Child Soldier is a Siena College production, Karimi-Hakak always looks for opportunities to collaborate with the Siena community, including alumni. Siena graduate Sean Baldwin had heard that KarimiHakak was looking to work on a piece about child soldiers. “It had happened that I had recently taken a course on child soldiers, child laborers, and child sex workers, and so I went to speak to him to suggest a book that he could take a look at,” Baldwin said. After meeting with KarimiHakak, Baldwin joined the production team as the Dramaturge and Assistant Director. Baldwin has enjoyed having the ability to work with Karimi-Hakak. “In my experience, [Karimi-Hakak] has gotten cast members to dig deeper and reach further down into themselves than any other director I have worked with in the past. Additionally, his designs for set, sound and lighting are highly stylized and unique.” Karimi-Hakak’s intensive directing stands out not only to his production staff, but to his actors as well. Siena senior Andrew Vroman said one of the reasons
Performance times are 8 p.m. on November 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22, and 2 p.m. on November 16 and 23. The performance is being held in the Beaudoin Theater at Siena College, Loudonville, New York.
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Hidden Messages “My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninetyseven now, and we don’t know where the hell she is.” - Ellen DeGeneres
November 11th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 13
Arts
The Chronicle
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Going into Coheed Award Great or Award Bait? Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and Cambria Further
By CODY AVDEK Contributing Writer Last time I wrote, I covered Coheed and Cambria’s earlier work, and on the advice of a friend, I decided to skip straight to the most recent offerings, the double album The Afterman: Ascension and Descension. I was told it was more in line with other New Prog bands, like The Mars Volta and Muse, so I figured it would be more akin to my tastes. After all, my main problem with their sound previously was their heavy alternative influence, so if they were going further into a territory I was familiar with, and I liked their alternative music, then this definitely sounded appealing. I stated I was very impressed with Good Apollo, given my history with the band, and these albums blow Good Apollo out of the water. While not perfect, they’ve slowly become two of my personal favorite prog albums. Their sound is more varied, more active, and more experimental. The band has gone far since their beginnings as a post-hardcore band out of upstate New York. They showcase much more of their talent here, and frontman Claudio Sanchez shows his talent as a songwriter much more strongly in these albums. These comments are late to the party, however. Everyone who has been covering the band knows that they’ve come a long way. The true merit is in the music itself, which is a very eclecAdvertisement
Hidden Messages The most important thing in life is not knowing everything, it’s having the phone number of somebody who does!
tic mix of different genres and sounds mixed into their usual heavily layered sound, including the fantastic “Key Entity Extraction” series, which documents different characters in the comic series. Each gives personality to the characters, and showcases the band’s talents with different styles. “Domino the Destitute” and “Vic the Butcher” are strong, loud prog metal songs, and “Evagria the Faithful” is slower, making use of funk and latin jazz influences. That’s not to say the rest are throwaways. Descension only contains one song from the series, yet has just as much material to note. “The Hard Sell” takes influence from funk and metal, blending tight, grooving guitar parts with powerful, in-your-face choruses. “Number City” is an upbeat pop tune with a fantastic hook, making great use of a horn section, and “Away We Go” is a classic-rock inspired anthem with another strong chorus. “Iron Fist” is a classic acoustic emo song, made all the stronger by the album’s great artwork, provided by Nathan Spoor. It’s more than just an improvement of composition; it’s also a matter of a willingness to try something different. I’m always glad when I see bands try different things and expand their sound. Where Good Apollo experimented with the sound of alternative and emo rock, it was still very much an alternative rock album. This album shows so many influences, and expands to so many different places, that the songs sometimes feel like they’re written by entirely different bands. This is something that is so important for a group trying to keep people’s interest throughout their work, and it’s something that is nailed in these albums.
By Alex Wheeler Features Editor and Joseph Conway Contributing Writer
“Sometimes you need to go back in order to move forward,” Matthew McConaughey echoes in the new Lincoln MKC commercial. In a sense, this sums up Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar in a lot of ways, but to avoid spoilers, we won’t get too much into that. This past weekend, Interstellar took movie theaters by storm. Audiences lined up to see the newest film from the man and crew that brought the world The Dark Knight Trilogy, and while some reviewers have given Nolan a hard time, we here at The Chronicle are here to set the record straight. Alexander’s Opinion Most critics have hailed Interstellar as a picture awfully similar to the likes of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, with its ambitions, intelligence and scope. I’d rather compare Nolan’s 169-minute journey to classic Spielberg blockbusters, because of the wonder and grandeur of the piece. Particular praise goes to McConaughey, who beautifully anchors the film as Cooper, as he solidifies his presence at the top of the Hollywood food chain. His performance is raw, painful and inspiring. His face alone is a singular portal of emotion that keys the audience into his pain and suffering after leaving his children. The cinematography, done by Hoyte van Hoytema, is crisp, sharp, and slick. Most of Nolan’s films have been captured by cinematographer Wally Pfister, but the sudden change here doesn’t leave anything to be desired. Hoytema’s camera paints a broad and beautiful picture of Nolan’s world. Hans Zimmer’s
score is also superb and accompanies the film perfectly. Nolan has directed and written (with collaboration from his brother Jonathan) another winner, and a film that shows a surprising amount of emotional depth, for Nolan at least. The screenplay is full of wit, emotion and even humor. As smart as the screenplay can get, it’ll be more than likely that Nolan’s direction will the aspect of the production that gets the most recognition – and it is absolutely warranted. With Interstellar, both Nolan and McConaughey continue their strong track records in an industry that could use more of them.
Joseph’s Opinion With strong performances, a compelling story and a powerful presentation, Interstellar may just launch itself past some bad press from reviewers, right into being an Award Great. One of the problems I had with David Ayer’s Fury was that there were no storylines within the movie that made me care what happened to the characters. I did not have this problem with Interstellar. Christopher and Jonathan Nolan created a story that truly glues the audience to the screen early on and never lets them go. By taking their time to show the problems that Earth faces, the audience gets to understand the stakes of Cooper’s mission, and throughout the film those stakes make the audience care about the pilot’s success. As our hero, Cooper, guides his ship through wormholes and past black holes, cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema presents these aspects of space as beautiful events that none of us will ever view in person. While these fascinating visuals are revealed to the audience, they are also treated to an awardworthy score from Hans Zimmer. Sometimes, I found that I was
gripping the arms of my chair for no reason other than the music pulsing through my ear and into my brain. The lulls that gave me a calming sensation were often interrupted by powerful, crashing notes that built tension and fear for what would happen next. Perhaps the greatest aspect of Interstellar was the performances. Due to his performances in Mud, Dallas Buyers Club, True Detective and even those Lincoln car commercials, Matthew McConaughey has garnered a lot of praise from film and TV critics. With his performance in Interstellar, he is sure to gain some more. Cooper, throughout the film, is compelled to save Earth for his children, but he also hopes to fulfill a promise to his daughter. As the movie progresses, it seems more and more like he may fail, and you can see the way in which the possibility of his failure weighs on Cooper. McConaughey won an Oscar last year for his portrayal of a man struggling to survive and live with a horrible disease. This year, we see a man who struggles to survive and live to save his family and one day see them again. Due to some negative reviews this prediction may be a long shot, but if I learned anything from Interstellar, it’s that sometimes you have to keep up hope even when something seems impossible. Overall, we grant Interstellar the highest of the Award Greats thus far. Stellar job, Nolan, absoultely stellar. Alexander’s Predictions Picture, Director, Actor, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Score Joseph’s Predictions Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Score
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Opinion
November 11th, 2014
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their wishes, and to that I say suck it up. If you really loved her, sure you’d be upset, but you’d understand, as I do, why she did it. I find this whole situation hilariously ironic. According to Spotify, some 19 million listeners had Swift in at least one of their playlists. That’s just under 50 percent of the company’s subscribers. So, to put it briefly, half of Spotify loves Taylor Swift, and she didn’t think twice about breaking their hearts. Do you get it? She broke up with them… All of them. We know Taylor had a rough relationship with One Direction’s Harry Styles, but who would have thought it would push her to tell almost 20 million people that she’s never (ever ever) getting back together with them? Of course, this is entirely speculation, as we don’t know if she’s ever going to put the music back up. Some say she might consider it at the conclusion of her 1989
tour, but she’s the only one that really knows. It makes sense for her to take it down now, after the release of the new album, as any smart artist would want to suck as much revenue out of their latest creation as they possibly could. Especially with the constantly-declining music industry, there’s no way to know if Swift’s next album will be on hard copy CD. For all we know, in two years we could be walking in to Target to buy a flash drive with every song she’s ever produced for 20 dollars, or maybe even less. As for Spotify, and their fans, I really think they’ll pull through. As much as I absolutely adore Taylor Swift, I do recognize that there is other music out there to listen to. So during this Swift drought, why don’t you guys go give somebody else a little time in the spotlight? I heard that Ed Sheeran guy is pretty good.
Tough Break (Up) for Spotify
By JONAS MILLER Staff Writer Breaking news: Taylor Swift took all of her music off of Spotify. In other news, who cares? I sure don’t. I agree with Swift’s move. I think it was brilliant and clearly has meaning behind it, although many fans may see it as nothing less than an act of pure terrorism. In reality, the move to take all of her music off of the popular music-streaming website is so characteristically Taylor Swift that it makes me love her even more than I already do. Last summer, Swift explained that she had a very strong opinion about piracy and music sharing via the Internet, saying it takes away from the sales of hard copies. This makes it seem as if Taylor is nothing but a money-grubbing rich girl, which hurts me to even type out, because she is entirely the polar opposite of that.
If you follow Ms. Swift as closely as I do, which I doubt, you would see the logic behind all of this. Taylor Swift appreciates the music industry, not for what it is today, but for what it used to be. 30 years ago, if you wanted to listen to your favorite artist, you had to get your butt off of that dirty futon your parents sent you to college with, and make the seemingly endless trek to the closest music store. There was no Internet, no “click here for free download” button. A major part of the music industry in the past was the fact that there was no other way to listen to music, unless you bought it. I’m not saying that money and sales are the most important part of music today, but rather that there’s commitment involved in being a fan of your favorite artist, especially added to the enjoyment of actually sitting down and listening to their latest hit. Obviously, I’m not quoting
Swift directly here, but being the fan that I am, I feel I am capable of a relatively accurate representation of the bark behind her bite. Staying on the fanatic’s end of this argument, I think that if you’re relying strictly on Spotify to listen to Swift, you are not a true fan, and you don’t deserve to listen to her in the first place. In my iTunes library, I have upwards of 100 Taylor Swift songs. I admit, I’ve listened to the occasional song or two through some sort of sharing website, but never exclusively. Taylor Swift has made such an impact on my life that the least I can do is pay $1.29 for her latest three-minute venting session. It would be rude of me to deny her the satisfaction of seeing the appreciation her fans have for her, even if that appreciation is represented by dollar signs. Of course, there are a lot of people out there who are upset by this removal of music against
Some Much Needed Advice Dear Students, This week’s advice is on cell phone usage. Most people today can’t go anywhere without their cell phones. Our overusage of cell phones has caused a decrease in face-toface communication. People are choosing their cell phones over having a physical interaction with someone. For example, we often choose to send a text to someone rather than go and talk to them. It’s just something we’ve grown used to, and we see our cell phones as a comfort. It doesn’t have to be like this all the time, though, so I‘ve come up with a few steps to try to make this a little better, The first step is, if you ask a friend to hang out with you, don’t spend the whole time texting other people. Your
friend is there to hang out with just you, not you and the three other people you’re having a conversation with. Another step is to look up when you’re walking down the sidewalk or hallway and greet people, instead of looking at your phone. Start with just smiling at people first, if you don’t want to say anything. I’ve been guilty of both of these, but it’s a work in progress. The last step would be to leave your cell phone in your bag, or your car, while you’re in class or out with friends This is a big step for a lot of people, but I promise your phone will still be there when you get back. If it’s not, then I apologize, because you might have a problem. To sum up this advice: Enjoy the physical moments, not the cyber ones.
Do Do go to class. There’ll be time to sleep when you graduate, or when you don’t have a job cause you missed class. Don’t Don’t let people put you down for being too quiet or shy. The quietest people have the loudest minds. It’s okay… It’s okay that your superpacked weekend consists of you never leaving your room. It’s okay if you’re already listening to Christmas music. (98.3 is already playing Christmas songs. You’re welcome.) Sincerely, Kacey O’Brien
Sudoku
November 11th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 13
Opinion
The Chronicle
Why I Write By Jonas Miller Staff Writer At the beginning of this semester, I had no clue what I was in store for. With one full year of college under my belt, being a freshman was really all that I knew. Obviously, I wasn’t expecting the same kind of experience, but I figured it would be pretty much the same. Boy, was I wrong. So far, this year has been nothing short of a complete 180 compared to my freshmen year. These first couple months have been an eye-opening experience, and I think I’ve pinpointed what I can attribute this massive life change to.
I cannot tell you how amazing it feels to cut out my articles from the past couple weeks and tape them to my wall, proof that I’m contributing. Writing. More specifically, The Chronicle. This is my first semester as a Communications major, so I’ve been introduced to an overwhelming number of new concepts and ideas, including journalism, which is the concentration I declared at the beginning of the year. Going into it, I thought I would enjoy journalism because I’ve always enjoyed writing. In a way, I made the right decision. I certainly enjoy writing, but what my journalism class has done so far
is show me which kind of writing that I truly enjoy. Now, if I came out and said opinion writing is my favorite kind of writing, that would be somewhat true, since the majority of writing I’ve done this year has been opinion. But when I sit back and really look at what I’ve done this year, I see a lot more than just a couple of opinion pieces taped to my wall. The first thing I submitted to the Chronicle was a profile story I had written for my previouslymentioned journalism class. I wasn’t really expecting much when I sent it in, since I had never thought of myself as someone whose writing was good enough to be published, even in a school newspaper. Come to find out, I made it into the next edition following my submission of the story. I was so surprised and happy, of course, because that’s a cool thing, but what I didn’t expect to feel so much of was pride. The amount of work and stress that had gone into that story instantly became worth it. So I sat for a while, and read and re-read my story, constantly glancing back up to the top where it said “By Jonas Miller – Contributing Writer.” And it sounds silly, but I think that might have been my favorite part. Not that my name was on it, even though recognition is cool and all, but the fact that I had contributed to something, something bigger than me and bigger than my writing, and that felt good. It felt so good, in fact, that it drove me to want more. I wanted to see my name at the top of the page again. So I went to the next Chronicle meeting, which was actually the second one I had at-
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“Sometimes you succeed.... and other times you learn.” - Robert Kiyosaki
“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” - Albert Einstein
tended this year. The first time I went I was so overwhelmed and intimidated by all of the new in the situation that I walked out with the intention to never go back again, but I’m glad I did. If this gets published, which, if you’re reading it, it obviously did, it will be my ninth piece published so far this semester. I cannot tell you how amazing it feels to cut out my articles from the past couple weeks and tape them to my wall, proof that I’m contributing. As the number of articles on my bedroom wall grows, I can’t help but think about how many other kids like me are out there, searching for something, but not knowing what it is. I’m here to tell you that writing, The Chronicle, contributing- this is it.
The amount of emotion that is released when I write for the Chronicle has turned this accidental hobby into a brilliant form of stress relief for me. At first I thought that I didn’t really want to do interviews and investigative work and factchecking, because that’s what true journalism is. Then I realized that a newspaper is comprised of more than just news. A newspaper’s main objective is to spread ideas and opinions that otherwise would never be heard. So after I attended that second Chronicle meeting, I decided to take a chance, and I volunteered to write an opinion piece. For those of you who don’t know, an opinion piece is just what it sounds like. It’s your opportunity to share your opinion on a certain topic. Whether that topic is news related, or about sports,
or even about Taylor Swift, the main focus of the article is what you think about it. I’ve truly enjoyed writing opinion pieces over the last couple of weeks. It’s the closest thing to a journal I’ve ever had. It may not seem like much to those of you who actually read my articles, but the amount of emotion that is released when I write for the Chronicle has turned this accidental hobby into a brilliant form of stress relief for me. If you’ve never just sat down, and written about how you felt, you’re doing yourself a disservice. I suppose if I had started a diary or some sort of journal when I was younger, I might not be as crazy and emotionally unstable as a I am now, but then again I feel like it’s sort of college’s fault anyways. If you take anything away from this article, I hope that you understand how grateful I am to have found this outlet. I wasn’t neces-
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sarily searching for anything, but I definitely found something. I’m not sure I would be quite as content with life as I am now had I not started writing each week. It’s helped me think through issues in my own life, as well as issues all over the world. I can’t stress enough how good it has felt to be a part of something bigger than myself. So here’s my advice. Whether you’re 19 or 90, don’t sit back and wait for life to come to you. Find something that you love, and pursue it. If you like to ride your bike, then find other people that enjoy it too, and start a bikeriding club. If it makes you feel good to help others out, then find a local soup kitchen. And if you like writing, any kind of writing, writing to share, or vent, or inform… then do it. Contribute to something that is bigger than just you, give yourself something to be proud of, and get your name at the top of the page.
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The Chronicle
Opinion
Why Can’t College Be More Like the Movies?
By Nicole Baker Staff Writer Ahh… College. A place where you will make life-long friends, go to awesome parties, meet new people, and form some of your fondest memories. Or at least, that’s what Hollywood told me. I just wish they were right. For me, college hasn’t exactly been an overwhelmingly joyous walk in the park. Sure, we all have the stress of papers, exams, projects, homework, etc. But I got used to all that in high school. What’s interesting is that it hasn’t been the work at all that has given me the most trouble here at Saint Rose. It’s the social life. As an introvert, I’m not exactly one to want to go out and party on a Friday night (or any other night, for that matter.) It’s just not who I am. I think this, in part, has limited me in some of the relationships that I have formed with other students. Nonetheless, even some of the friendships that I do form gradually seem to wither away over time. All of this, in addition to the fact that it seems like no one is ever around on campus on the weekends to even try to hang out with, makes me super glad to go back home every Thursday night just to work. Yet, it isn’t just my introverted personality that is putting a damper on my college experience. My major also plays a role. I entered my freshman year as an exploratory student, because I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was stuck somewhere between communications and business, and decided as a sophomore that communications would better serve my interests. It wasn’t until I got one of the best jobs of my life this past summer, working in a billing department, that I realized I love everything that goes into maintaining
a business, and that I have absolutely no passion for my Public Relations concentration. But by then, it was too late. After trying to change my major early this semester, I learned that if I did so, I wouldn’t be able to graduate on time. As a result, I stuck with communications. While this was certainly a disappointment, it also inspired me to want to get my MBA after I graduate, so I can pursue something that I am actually passionate about. Nonetheless, having a BA in Communications will certainly jazz up my resume, a great motivator for finishing out my last year and half. Please note that I am in no way saying anything critical of the Communications department. I am simply expressing that communications just isn’t the right “fit” for me. Still, I must state that my rough college experience is only further undermined by the lack of school spirit that students have at Saint Rose. While basketball games are a pretty popular event that most students attend, that seems to be the only sports team that we as a school collectively cheer for, and location definitely has something to do with it. The fact that our main sports complex is located off campus makes it less likely that anyone will go to the soccer or lacrosse games, which puts a big damper on school spirit. Coming from a high school that had tons of school spirit, I always took for granted how vital it was, and how necessary it still is, for school unity and pride. While this seems pretty superficial on the outside, school spirit really does play a role in how close you feel to your campus. Intramural sports are another issue. As a high school soccer player, I wish more than anything that I could still play soccer in
college. While our school team is way too good for me, intramural soccer could give me some kind of an outlet. However, most of the games are at nine or ten at night, on fields that are off campus. Many of the other intramural sports are the same way, and while I understand that everyone’s schedules must be accommodated for, sleep becomes my priority when I have class at 7:30 the next morning. These circumstances not only limit the friendships that I form, but also the fun that I can have. With all of that said, Saint Rose does have some strong suits that have made my experience seem a little brighter. The small class sizes are comfortable and allow for enhanced learning and understanding. I’ve also had some pretty outstanding professors who are not only extremely knowledgeable, but also great human beings. The small campus gives the college a homey, backyard feel that doesn’t make it seem intimidating. Saint Rose even has an Ebola Preparedness team, which in my eyes is pretty great since the germaphobe in me wants to wear a hazmat suit everywhere I go these days. In the end, while my experience at Saint Rose hasn’t been all that enjoyable, I bet there are many others who would say that their experience has been great. It’s hard to meet everyone’s needs and fit everyone’s situations, and while there are some who love college and want to stay there forever, there are others who want to graduate and get out into the “real world” as fast as possible. Me, I’m on the latter end of the spectrum. While college is certainly a learning experience and a part of life, I just wish it could be more like the movies.
November 11th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 13
If You Want it Done Right, Do it Yourself By Katie Klimacek Opinion Editor It has recently come to my attention that some students here at Saint Rose are displeased with the product that The Chronicle puts out on weekly basis. Students are upset that their voice is not being heard enough in the student-run newspaper. Not enough events are being covered, and when events are covered, they are not ones that the students are interested in. My response to this is simple. If you don’t like something and want it done a certain way, do it yourself. I have been writing for The Chronicle since I was a freshman and really enjoy doing it. This past year, I became an editor and have gotten to see a new side of the paper that many students and faculty are unaware of. First of all, there are about ten active writers who write on a regular basis and regularly cover events and gatherings on campus. That is clearly not enough people to cover the number of events that are held, both on and off campus. I don’t know if you have seen the events calendar lately, but there are, at any given time, four to five events a day all over the campus, and it is impossible for ten people to cover all the events thoroughly. Not to mention we all have school, work, and other jobs that come before covering events. Second of all, the school paper has been around for many years, and we constantly advertise the fact that we welcome new members. What many people don’t realize is that not everyone on the Chronicle staff is a journalism or communications major. Anyone can write for the paper. And if you feel you don’t know how to write in a journalistic form, no problem. There are editors who are always willing to work with you to improve your
writing voice. What really angered me was when I heard that students felt that their opinions are not being voiced. Well, okay, have you ever come to a meeting and pitched you thoughts? Ever submitted an opinion piece? No? Well, of course your opinions are not going to be voiced and heard. We don’t know what they are, because we can’t read minds. We say what are own opinions are, but they might not go hand in hand with yours. So my response to that, as the opinions editor, is that of course your opinions are not going to be voiced in the paper if you don’t tell us what they are. I don’t think anyone really realizes the amount of work that my fellow editors put into the paper on a daily basis. Many spend long hours and most of their weekends in the office, working on making The Saint Rose Chronicle the best student newspaper that they possibly can. When we hear our fellow students bashing our hard work and finished product, it is really upsetting. We love hearing the student body’s feedback and comments on articles and the paper, but when the student body doesn’t even take the time to look at the paper or submit one or two articles, and then rips us apart because of it, it’s frustrating. I hope that the next time someone at Saint Rose decides to take a dump all of the paper, they will think of this article, and rethink their words. Advertisement
Hidden Messages “I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party.” - Ron White
November 11th, 2014
Volume 83 Issue 13
Election Day:
An Inside Look at the Busiest News Day of the Year By Lauren Sears News Editor The first Tuesday in Nov. marks Election Day here in the United States. Citizens exercise their 15th Amendment right to vote, and voice their opinions about the elections that they can participate in. However, for anyone who works in the news industry, whether newspapers or broadcast news networks and channels, Election Day/Night is the busiest day of the year. I currently work at WNYT NewsChannel 13 as an associate producer. So when I was put on the schedule to work on Election Night, I was ecstatic! I have been dreaming of being in a newsroom on Election Night since I was a little girl watching Dan Rather report the results. I imagined papers flying everywhere, people running in and out of the newsroom, and people gathered around TVs and computer screens, trying to find out as much information as possible, as quickly as possible. Well, it turns out that my imagination wasn’t that far off. My job on Election Night was to help with anything that needed to be done. So I closely monitored the governor’s races in NY, MA and VT, as well as some local races that were also going on.
I kept checking the AP wires for results, and I was constantly refreshing Twitter to make sure that we weren’t missing anything. Early in the evening, we just had to wait until results came through from the precincts. That part was the hardest, because nothing was happening. However, as we got closer to the newscast, things went from 0 to 100 in seconds. Results were pouring in, and all of sudden we had two close races to watch. It ended up being that the races for governor in MA and VT were extremely close. Perhaps the most exciting part of the night was getting to work with coworkers who I don’t get to work with often. I was amazed at how every single person working on Election Night- reporters, producers, anchors, engineers, photographers, editors, graphic designers, web producers, and directors- proved to be essential to the success of our coverage. Everyone had a role to play, even if it was small. We all worked together to produce great coverage. I am looking forward to working many more years in a newsroom on Election Night, because you never know what will happen, and every year you can learn how to make your role better the next year.
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What some of that Rago? You know who to call.
I’m drawing a blank.
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Purple elephants fly down state street at 3:07 a.m. the third Monday of every month
To the adorable maintenance crew boys in your Carhartt… I’m diggin’ it.
C15 Opinion Control of U.S. Senate: Who Cares? The Chronicle
By Kyle Pratt Staff Writer If you’ve watched even a little television recently, you have probably been made well aware of the fact that the Grand Old Party (GOP), also known as the Republican Party, has taken control of the United States Senate. This means that they now have the majority of the seats over the Democrats in both houses of Congress – the Senate and the House of Representatives. Why does this matter? Well… it doesn’t, unless you’re a politician. The fact that the United States Congress has done a terrible job in recent years is more of a fact than an opinion. Our politicians spend more time bashing their opponents, and drafting laws to diminish the power of those who disagree with them, than they actually spend doing their job. There is far too much focus on getting re-elected than there is serving the American People, the reason they were elected in the first place. We have all seen this focus in action. Before Election Day, it was impossible to have our televisions on for longer than five minutes without seeing a political attack advertisement. These commercials are often funded by a national political parties rather than individual candidates. Political parties dedicate millions of dollars, and hours upon hours of their time, to attacking and weakening their opponents. This is true for both parties, no matter who you support. The political war has its front lines on Capitol Hill, where our Congressmen and women spend massive amounts of their time proposing laws, and trying to repeal laws, for the sole purpose of hurting the other party. Our politicians, on both sides
of the aisle, often lobby against or simply vote down laws that are for the general benefit of the American people. Why would they do such a thing? The answer is simple: their political opponents proposed the law, so even though they might agree with it, they vote against it, because if it is passed, it would make the other party look good. Personally, I find this sickening. Now, if you’ve noticed, I’ve repeatedly used the word “our” when talking about these politicians. That was entirely intentional. They work for us. We elect them, and their pay comes from us. As weird as it sounds, they are ours.
They work for us. We elect them, and their pay comes from us. As weird as it sounds, they are ours. Our legislators may “work” for us, technically, but do they actually? Not even close. Sure, they’ll claim they do until their faces turn blue, but we know who they are really looking out for – themselves. Of course, it’s unfair to claim that all politicians are greedy and selfish, because that simply isn’t the truth. However, I’d argue that a significant amount of them are completely out of touch with the American people, and very much in touch with their party’s agenda and their wallets. I understand many people do not like to read about politics, and quite frankly, don’t care about them. But I think we all should be aware of the fact that these people directly affect on our lives, while
we have a very small effect on them, even though some of us refuse to believe so. The United States should not run this way. No country should run this way, but it is the sad truth of today’s politics. Politicians look out for themselves, and we watch it happen, often completely unaware of what is actually going on. Yes, the Republicans have the majority in both Houses of Congress, but we still a Democratic President. Republicans in Congress are going to do whatever they can to undermine the president, and Barack Obama is going to relentlessly try to frustrate the Republicans in Congress. Before Election Day, this fighting was already undeniable, except it was between the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and the Democrat-controlled Senate. For politicians, which party controls the Senate is a huge deal, but for us, the American people, it doesn’t matter one bit. The fighting and the selfishness will continue, and we will continue to be un-represented by our representatives, and un-served by our public servants. So, it really doesn’t matter who has control of the Senate. Not only will there continue to be political discord between the Republican-controlled Congress and the Democrat-controlled White House, but there will continue to be discord between the politically controlled people, and the un-controlled politicians. What can we do to bring them under our control? Nothing. Advertisement
Hidden Messages It’s not wrong to be fangirling over Katie Klimacek this much. –Her biggest fan
Sports Golden Knights Scoreboard and Standings
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The Chronicle
NE-10 Men’s Soccer GP So. New Hampshire 18 So. Connecticut 18 Adelphi 19 Stonehill 18 Merrimack 19 Le Moyne 18 Franklin Pierce 17 American Int’l 18 Bentley 17 Saint Michael’s 17 Saint Anselm 16 Assumption 16 Saint Rose 17 New Haven 17
NE-10 Swimming and Diving Record 16-1-0 0.917 15-3 0.833 12-6-1 0.658 11-6-1 0.639 13-4-2 0.737 12-6 0.667 9-7-1 0.559 9-9 0.500 6-10-1 0.382 9-8 0.529 5-11 0.312 3-11-2 0.250 1-14-2 0.118 2-15 0.118
Scores: L 1-7 at So. New Hampshire
NE-10 Women’s Soccer GP Assumption 20 Saint Rose 21 Adelphi 19 So. Connecticut 17 Franklin Pierce 18 Le Moyne 19 Pace 19 Stonehill 18 Saint Anselm 16 New Haven 17 So. New Hampshire18 Saint Michael’s 17 American Int’l 16 Merrimack 18 Bentley 17 Scores: W 3-0 at Assumption
November 11th, 2014
Record 15-4-1 0.775 18-1-2 0.905 13-5-1 0.711 10-6-1 0.618 11-6-1 0.639 10-8-1 0.553 10-9 0.526 8-8-2 0.500 7-6-3 0.531 6-9-2 0.412 6-10-2 0.378 5-11-1 0.324 4-11-1 0.281 7-9-2 0.444 2-15 0.118
Men: W 131-108 vs Bentley Women: W 142-91 vs Bentley
NE-10 Women’s Volleyball GP Record Stonehill 26 20-6 0.769 New Haven 27 20-7 0.741 Bentley 26 16-10 0.615 Saint Rose 25 18-7 0.720 Adelphi 27 13-14 0.481 Merrimack 24 17-7 0.708 So. New Hampshire 27 17-10 0.630 Franklin Pierce 27 15-12 0.556 Le Moyne 23 10-13 0.435 Saint Anselm 26 14-12 0.538 Assumption 22 8-12 0.364 So. Connecticut 29 7-22 0.241 Saint Michael’s 21 7-14 0.333 American Int’l 30 6-24 0.200 Pace 27 4-23 0.148 Scores: W3-0 vs Franklin Pierce
NE-10 Cross Country NE-10 Championships Men: 8th/15 teams Women: 9th/14 teams
Volume 83 Issue 13
Women’s Soccer Secures a Quarterfinal Win
By Josh Veshia Staff Writer The College of Saint Rose women’s soccer team had themselves a successful week in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament, winning games on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday to secure yet another NE10 Championship. This is their seventh in the past eight years. In the quarterfinal match against Pace on Tuesday, the Golden Knights were able to get out to a 2-0 lead in the first half and hold off the Setters in the second to head into Friday’s semifinal match against Assumption. Senior forward Carmelina Puopolo scored the game’s first goal with 34:45 left after chasing down a long pass and out-running her defender. Then at the 23:16 mark, freshman midfielder Roxana Hernandez drove home St. Rose’s second goal after a long cross from Puopolo. The second half was filled with a steady attack from the Pace front line, but to no avail. The Golden Knights defense was solid the whole game and prevented anything from entering the net. In the Semifinal match on Friday, the cold Albany weather seemed to be a factor as neither team was able to score in the first
half. In the sixty-eighth minute, Puopolo scored the first goal and the Golden Knights were able to score twice in the last ten minutes, once from local freshman forward Morgan Burchhardt and again minutes later from another local, senior midfielder Meeghan Arno. The team carried the momentum into Sunday’s NE-10 Championship match against Assumption in Massachusetts, winning with a final score of 3-0. Senior back Jourdan Thompson scored the first in the nineteenth minute marking the only goal of the first half. Junior midfielder Michaela Phillips followed up in the fortyninth minute and junior forward Jennifer Busk scored the game’s final goal in the sixtieth minute. Thompson’s tremendous play earned her the NE-10 Tournament Most Valuable Player Award. She was joined on the NE-10 AllTournament Team by teammates Puopolo and Phillips. In total, the Golden Knights scored eight goals and gave up none, proving their dominance in conference play as they have done all year. The nation’s seventh ranked team looks balanced and ready to make some noise in the NCAA Division II women’s soccer tournament.
Upcoming Games Women’s Volleyball: Tue. at Adelphi @ 7:00 p.m. Men’s Basketball: Sat. vs Wilmington @ 7:00 p.m. Women’s Basketball: Fri. vs Chestnut Hill @ 6:00 p.m. Swimming and Diving: Sat. at Skidmore @ 1:00 p.m.
November 11th, 2014
By MATT WOODS Staff Writer 1. Adrian Peterson Not Out of Woods Yet The Adrian Peterson soap opera that’s been ongoing since his arrest for beating his son with a switch took a few interesting turns this past week. Peterson accepted a plea deal that allows him to avoid jail time and makes a return to the field much more likely in the near future. However, the NFL is going after Peterson, claiming that he was in violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. Peterson will be given a hearing with the NFL to explain his case, totry to limit the consequences that the NFL will most likely hand down. Until the process is complete, which could take at least a week, Peterson’s status on the commissioner’s exempt list will remain unchanged. Peterson’s week continued with losing his primary sponsor, Nike. Nike suspended his contract on September 17, which meant that they were not paying him, and decided to follow through with the termination of their partnership. Nike has recently been parting ways with
Volume 83 Issue 13
Sports
The Chronicle
Five for Five The 5 Sports StoriesYou Need to Know a number of troubled athletes, including Ray Rice, Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius, and UFC fighter Jon “Bones” Jones. This drama is not over just yet, and we will have to wait and see if Peterson will make it back on the field this year. 2. Oakland Raiders to San Antonio? The winless Oakland Raiders may be taking their talents, or lack thereof, to San Antonio, Texas. Owner Mark Davis recently met with representatives from San Antonio to talk about a potential move of the team. This was the second meeting in the last four months between these parties to discuss the possibility. The Raiders are currently in the last year of a deal at the O.co Coliseum, and have not yet been granted permission to build a new stadium. San Antonio may provide the location that Davis is looking for. Seeking a long term deal, and wanting to stay in Oakland, Davis has no choice but to start looking elsewhere. Davis has also reportedly been interested in the Raiders moving back to Los Angeles. One of the other factors that is forcing the Raiders’ hand is
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Former South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore was drafted in 2013 by the San Francisco 49ers.
the fact that the Oakland Athletics leased the Coliseum for the next 10 years, which the Raiders intend to knock down in order to build their new stadium. Oakland, however, even with a lack of wins over the last decade, still has one of the NFL’s strongest fan bases. With circumstances reminiscent of the Seattle SuperSonics move to Oklahoma City in the NBA, if this franchise were to leave, expect a tremendous amount of backlash towards Davis.The team has already left Oakland once, but again could be something catastrophic. We will have to wait and see. 3. NBA Ticket Increase If you’re a big NBA fan, prepare to spend a little more on tickets in the near future. The NBA’s average ticket price increased 3.4 percent, to $53.98, this year. The New York Knicks ranked highest among average ticket sales, at $129.38, with the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls coming in second and third, respectively. The New Orleans Pelicans ($30.20) and Charlotte Hornets ($30.60) have the lowest ticket prices out of any team. Average ticket prices have increased 24.3 percent since last year. The NBA ranks behind only the NFL and NHL as far as average ticket prices. Hopefully, this trend starts fading, so more fans can enjoy games in person. 4. Lattimore Retires Without Playing in the NFL San Francisco 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore decided to retire this past week, due to chronic knee issues stemming from an injury he suffered in college. Lattimore, 23, was drafted by the 49ers last season, but never played, as he was recovering from numerous ACL and MCL tears and placed on the non-football injury list.
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WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Under starting quarterback Brian Hoyer, the Browns currently have a winning record of 6-3. The former South Carolina standout was touted as one of the best and most complete running backs in the country before his gruesome leg injury, sustained in a 2012 game against Tennessee. That injury cost him millions, as he was a surefire first round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, but fell all the way to the fourth round. Lattimore is reportedly headed back to South Carolina to finish his degree. Head coach of the Gamecocks, Steve Spurrier, has talked about the possibility of bringing in Lattimore to help coach the football team, as he was one of the most highly respected players South Carolina has had over the last decade. As gifted as he was on the field, injuries shortened Lattimore’s career. He never played a game in the NFL. 5. Browns’ Improbable Start The Cleveland Browns are 6-3. To reiterate: the Cleveland Browns have a winning record Advertisement
Hidden Messages “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” - Maya Angelou
in November. One might think Cleveland Browns great Jim Brown is carrying this team on his back, like back in the day. Instead, the Josh Gordon-less, Brian Hoyer-led Browns are tied atop the AFC North, with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hoyer has dealt with the talk of when he will be replaced by Johnny Manziel as the team’s starting quarterback, but with his consistent play this season there’s no changing of the guard in sight. Highly praised first-round draft pick Johnny “Football” has become Johnny “Bench/Clipboard” as Hoyer looks to keep his job and perhaps be the permanent starter for the organization. This team isn’t blowing people away, either. They rank in the middle of the pack when it comes to many important statistics that influence winning, but considering the fact that they lost two of their games this year by a combined three points, this team could actually be better than what their record says they are. If there is anything to take away from the Browns’ surprising season, it is that teams should not underestimate their opponent based only on what they have seen in the past, because this is clearly a different team.
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Sports Western Conference Preview
The Chronicle
By ALEX HORTON Staff Writer Basketball season is back, and I’m sure everyone is just as excited as I am about it. Now that the first week of the NBA season is over, there have been some surprises and some things that were expected. This week I’ll be previewing the Western Conference, and since it is such a deep conference I’ll give you my top ten teams who will be fighting for a spot in the playoffs. I’m going to start off with the reigning champions, the San Antonio Spurs. They deserve all the praise that they can get, as they kept their main core intact and also managed to keep just about every one of their players from last year’s championship team. The Spurs will play the same kind of basketball they do every year: fundamental and smart. They will always make the extra pass to find the best shot.
Now, the same criticism comes with the team, as it does every year: they are too old and they are going to be too worn out. However, Greg Popovich is a master at resting his older players so that they are ready for the long, hard minutes that playoff basketball demands. I’m not going to forget about the most important off-season move the Spurs made, signing and naming Becky Hammon the Assistant Coach. She is the first woman to ever hold a position this high in NBA history, and it was a smart move from an organization that measures every decision very carefully. Now that Kawhi Leonard is a Finals MVP and the Spurs are taking their sweet time to signing him to an extension, it’s his time to show he’s going to be their guy going forward, and I think he leads the Spurs to another one seed and home court advantage. The next team to review is the Los Angeles Clippers, who
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Damian Lillard looks to have a promising season with the Portland Trailblazers.
also did very little to their roster from last year. Blake Griffin is emerging as a go-to offensive threat, and rightly so. Along with Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford, and a plethora of three point shooters, they should have very little problems scoring. The Clippers’ real problem is they don’t play much defense. Yes, Griffin and DeAndre Jordan are big bodies down low, and they can rebound very well, but they commit a lot of fouls. As we saw in the Western Semis last year, the team has trouble containing big-time scorers. However, they score enough to make up for their lack of defense, and with Doc Rivers at the helm there’s very little to worry about. The Clips will finish in the top four in the West this year, and I say top four because there are three or four teams that are right in the middle of this very competitive Western Conference. Another team in the middle of the race to be the best in the West is the Golden State Warriors. They just fired former coach Mark Jackson and hired another past NBA player, Steve Kerr. He played under the great Phil Jackson and has won five titles, three with Jordan and the Bulls and two with the Spurs later on in his career. The Warriors are another offense-heavy team that doesn’t play the best defense. Lead by point guard phenom Stephen Curry, who shoots lights out and can score 30 points with ease, the Warriors are star-studded with talent. Andre Igoudala, a reliable scorer and probably the best defensive player on the team, is a good option for a go-to-the basket guy. Another shooter, Klay Thompson, who has just filled up the stat sheet with all the scoring he’s doing this season, and the frontcourt of David Lee and Andrew Bogut, makes for a fearsome starting five. Also, the Warriors have one of the deepest benches in all of basketball, with Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green and Shaun
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Livingston. They will almost certainly finish in the top four of the West, and will give just about every team a run for their money. I have them as a dark horse who could potentially break through to the finals this year. Now, last year’s big excitement was the Portland Trailblazers taking over Houston point guard and big-time player Damian Lillard. If you don’t know who Lillard is, I recommend you put down this paper and go do some research, because this kid is a big deal. Next to LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicholas Batum, this Blazers team is looking to relive the glory days, when Clyde “The Glide” Drexler was battling Jordan for the best two guard in the NBA. Despite last year’s early lose in the playoffs to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Memphis Grizzlies look to be the hottest team so far this season. Getting off to a 6-0 start isn't a bad way to get over a rough last season. The team is lead by a front court that rivals the best in basketball. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are, and have been, the rock-solid anchor for this organization in the past few years, and starting this season the way they have, it seems things haven't changed in Memphis. The Grizzlies play completely as a team on both ends of the floor, and compete every night. I wouldn't be surpised if this team makes a deep playoff run this year. A team I have yet to mention is the Houston Rockets, and there's a simple reason why. I think they are a great regular season team, and will probably end up as the three or four in the West, but James Harden just isn't the same player in the playoffs that he is during the regular season. I have the same gripes about Dwight Howard as the next guy. He's a big baby, and he still may be a big part of that team, but he is no longer the best center in the game. The Rockets do, however, have Trevor Ariza, who is an experienced playoff veteran with a ring. It will be interesting to see
what happens to the Rockets in this year’s playoffs. This next team is taking over the West, and I'm omitting the Mavericks because of them. Demarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay, and Darren Collison are taking Sacramento by storm, and the team is rolling on behind this big three. The Kings are such a great story to watch this year, and I highly suggest seeing them play. This team was on the verge of being sold to a group in Seattle and moving. Now, behind a young and talented team, they are looking like a playoff contender, which they haven't been since the days of C-Webb and Mike Bibby. Now, I know I have to talk about the Thunder, but I just don't know how this season is going to go for them. Kevin Durant won't be back until December, and Russel Westbrook is slated to be out for six weeks with a broken hand. Not a terribly long time without their stars, but enough for a quarter of the season to go by, in which they will be missed. It will put added pressure on Durant and Westbrook to do well, and they will have to have one of the best second halves in recent history. It's looking like a uphill battle for this team in a very strong Western Confrence. It may be a early exit for this team, this year. Then there's this guy in New Orleans causing all sorts of havoc in the scoreboard, and his name is Anthony Davis. This young star is looking to be coming into his own in the NBA, and let's be honest, he is really good. Nine blocks on opening night, are you kidding me?! He was just one away from getting a triple double. With a back court of Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, and Tyrke Evans (wh is a former rookie of the year by the way,) this team is looking like it can be a serious playoff contender this year. So that's my wrap up of the Western Conference. I know I missed a few teams, but hey, this is who I got. I guess the last thing to ask would have to be, who do you have?
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Sports
Saint Rose Names New Lacrosse Coach
By VICTORIA ADDISON Sports Editor As of September 25, The College of Saint Rose has named Jim Morrissey, formerly with the College of the Holy Cross, the new head coach of the men’s lacrosse program. The lacrosse program was previously led by head coach Mark Cometti, who accepted the position in the summer of 2013. Under Cometti, the team finished with an overall record of 2-12, ranking second to last in the Northeast-10 Conference. “It was definitely a surprise that no one on the team saw coming. It was unsettling at first because our team had been through three different coaches in three years as a program,” said senior attack Colin Sorber. “The search took a little longer than expected for a new head coach, but I know Saint Rose made a good decision with Coach Morrissey.” St. Rose implemented the lacrosse program in 2011, and has had a new head coach each year since. “Every season has been a struggle with the introduction of a new coach. Each coach has been different, introducing new ideas, strategies and a change of energy,” said junior midfielder Michael Grundig. Although the season does not officially start until the spring, the team has already had a chance to experience Morrissey’s coaching first hand. Last month, the team played in the Northeast Classic Lacrosse Tournament at Thayer Academy in Braintree, MA. Under Morrissey, Saint Rose won both Advertisement
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games. “Though we’re cautiously optimistic, we played very well as a team at the Northeast Classic Tournament. Hopefully the success and momentum we’ve had this fall will roll over into our NE-10 season next spring,” said Sorber. The team started practice prior to the tournament. “With our long fall practice season almost behind us, I can say Coach Jim is a very professional, knowledgeable, and driven person who is really passing that on to us. If there is anyone who can make our team more successful, it would be him,” said junior defensive player Alex Vesely. For some players, such as Sorber, this is not their first time
“The first time I met Coach Morrisey, I thought of Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights.” Michael Grundig playing under Coach Morrissey. As the founder and former coach of the Fingers Lake Lacrosse Club in Syracuse, Morrissey previously coached some of the current Saint Rose players who are Syracuse natives. “We kind of knew what to expect from him,” Sorber said. “He also relates to us well, as he has been in the same situation as us, playing lacrosse in college.” Players who recently met Coach Morrissey for the first time were not disappointed. “The first time I met Coach Morrisey, I thought of Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights. He seemed focused, passionate, and dedicated. He has fire, and a type of energy when he talks that demands respect but is approachable,” Grundig said. Morrissey looks to bring the
team to the top six in the NE-10, which would earn them a spot in the playoffs. “I haven’t seen the rest of the league yet, in terms of talent, but I think what we are doing right now, with some of the seniors we have, I feel pretty strongly about the season,” said Morrissey. “It’s always fun to see improvement in the players, and that’s why I coach, to help the kids improve and get the program to a higher level. That’s what’s really exciting about the future.” Morrissey, a graduate of Syracuse University, has experience coaching at both the high school and collegiate level. Prior to Saint Rose, he was the head coach at Holy Cross, a position he held from 2011-14. Morrissey’s decision to leave Holy Cross was primarily based on a new opportunity that was beneficial for his family. “I have been a part of a couple different coaching staffs that had some great coaches. I think that the most important thing is the winning tradition that I have been around both as a player and as a coach. I have been able to learn from some great coaches,” Morrissey said. His past experience includes serving as head coach at Marcellus High School and as Assistant Coach at Hobart, Cornell, and Syracuse. With Morrissey on the coaching staff, the Orangemen won the 2000 NCAA National Championship. In college, he was a part of two championship-winning teams and held captainship as a senior. “Having a new coach is something that most teams see as a challenge, and it is, but Coach Jim is a great guy who fits right in and is going to help us have a season that we can be proud of, said Vesely. “He is a great coach, and a great guy, and with that we look forward to being successful and taking the season one game at a time.”
The Chronicle
D19
Porreca’s Picks ThisWeek’s Top Two NFL Headlines
By JUSTIN PORRECA Staff Writer 1. Houston Dumps Fitzpatrick for Mallet as Starter of Falling Texans After Houston’s Week 10 bye, Ryan Mallet will get the start under center for the Texans, replacing veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. With Fitzpatrick at the helm, the Texans started 2-0 and have gone 2-5 since. Fitzpatrick, who was signed as a free agent to replace the departing Matt Schaub, has recorded 11 touchdowns to eight interceptions, but in crucial moments has failed to deliver. In Week 9, versus the Eagles, Fitzpatrick recorded his secondlowest total quarterback ranking of the season, and completed a season-low 13 passes. This prompted Coach Bill O’Brien to make the change at quarterback. O’Brien has a sense of familiarity with Mallet, and noted that Mallet has “grown up” since the last time O’Brien saw him. When Mallet was drafted to the New England Patriots in 2011, O’Brien was the offensive coordinator. Learning under and watching Brady for several seasons may be an aiding factor in Mallet’s play come Week 11 in their game against the Cleveland Browns. Being a Brady disciple has paid dividends for the Browns’ successful starting quarterback, Brian Hoyer. Time will tell if it does the same for Mallet. Once Mallet hits the field during Week 11, he will not only be playing for the Houston Texans, but playing for himself. This is a contract year for the young quarterback. Positive performances that lead to him remaining the starter for the rest of the season could result in a new contract. However, if Mallet plays dismally, there will be no new contract, and the Texans will be looking to the draft for a new starting quarterback next season.
2. Dez Bryant Jumps Ship to Popular Roc Nation Like Ndamukong Suh and Victor Cruz before him, Dez Bryant has jumped ship to Roc Nation. The Cowboys’ inability to negotiate a long-term extension with the star receiver led to Bryant ditching agent Eugene Parker for the highly popular Roc Nation. This is not the first time Bryant has fired his former agent. Parker, who has represented former greats Emmitt Smith and Deion Sanders, is a very close friend of Jerry Jones and the Cowboys organization. Jones finds it easier to negotiate with Parker, with whom he’s negotiated before and is fond of, than an unknown agent. Parker has negotiated huge contracts for players in the past, such as Deion Sanders’s seven-year, $35 million deal with Dallas. Bryant’s new agent, Tom Condon of Creative Artists Agency, will now handle his contract negotiations. Bryant, with his on-the-field play, has earned the money coming to him. Now it’s up to his new agent to get the job done. Bryant has made it clear that he deserves to be paid like a top-tier wideout. He wants a Calvin Johnson-type contract ($48.75 million guaranteed). Bryant, who recently turned 26, has matured drastically since entering the league, as well as blossoming into a top-five wide receiver. If no deal gets completed within the remaining games of this season, or even into the early goings of the offseason, Bryant will receive the franchise tag. The Cowboys covet Bryant too much, and he’s too much of an asset to the team to let him test free agency. However, if the Cowboys place the franchise tag on Bryant, paying him more than $12 million for one season, he will be “highly disappointed” in the organization.
D20 Sports NFL Midseason Awards and Predictions The Chronicle
By JOSH HELLER Staff Writer Well, NFL fans, we just passed the halfway point in the season, and it has been quite exciting so far. We have had some surprises, such as the Cardinals who are tied for the league lead in wins, while the defending champion Seahawks sit at just 4-3, trailing Arizona in the NFC West. Now, let's get into the midseason award predictions. Comeback Player of the Year: Rolando McClain, LB, Dallas Cowboys. At the end of last year, after his season with the Baltimore Ravens
concluded, Rolando McClain announced his retirement from the NFL. Then, he came out of retirement when the Dallas Cowboys offered him a contract. McClain has been a staple in the middle of Dallas' defense, at least when he's not injured, allocating 44 total tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. McClain is well deserving of the Comeback Player of the Year award. Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals Arians was one of the finalists for Coach of the Year last season, and after his terrific start this season with the Cardinals, I think
Arians is the frontrunner for this award. There are plenty of other good candidates, such as Jim Caldwell of the Lions and Chip Kelly of the Eagles, but I think Arians will win.
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ranking third in the NFL with 85 tackles. Mosley is definitely the player most deserving of this award.
However, the latter two have not been completely consistent this season, while Benjamin has.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina Panthers There are many candidates for this award, but I think Benjamin is most deserving. Statistically, Benjamin has had only two mediocre games all this season, a season in which he's totaled five touchdowns and forty catches. Another deserving candidate would be Sammy Watkins of the Bills (five touchdowns, 38 catches) or Brandin Cooks of the Saints 73408 (two touchdowns, 43 catches).
Defensive Rookie of the Year: C.J. Mosley, LB, Baltimore Ravens When the season ended last year, and Baltimore Ravens legend Ray Lewis announced his retirement, people questioned how the Ravens would ever replace him. The Ravens found their answer in C.J. Mosley, the seventeenth overall pick from Alabama. Mosley has been unstoppable for Baltimore‘s defense,
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Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans Watt has been absolutely electric this year, racking up 39 tackles, eight and a half sacks, three fumble recoveries, one interception, and three total touchdowns. Those numbers are simply amazing for a defensive lineman, and I think it's no question that he will win Player of the Year. Offensive Player of the Year: Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts There are plenty of worthy players, such as running back DeMarco Murray and wide receiver Antonio Brown, both who are on a record pace this season. However, this award almost always goes to a quarterback. Luck has thrown for 3,085 yards, 26 touchdowns (both statistics at the lead in the league), and nine interceptions. Those numbers are very, very good. George Halas Trophy (NFC Champion): Green Bay Packers Although Lacy has been off to a rough start, Aaron Rodgers, when paired with a healthy Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, along with Davante Adams, is nearly unstoppable. If the defense can step up, I see no way the Packers do not win the conference. Lamar Hunt Trophy (AFC Champion): Denver Broncos Even after the crushing loss to the Patriots, the Broncos look great this year. They replaced Eric Decker with Emmanuel Sanders, arguably an upgrade at wide receiver. Also, with defensive weapons like Aqib Talib and Von Miller, the defense is incredible. As long as they can hold off teams like the Patriots, I see the Broncos going back to the Super Bowl.