Fall 2016 Week 7

Thursday, November 3, 2016

WHAT’S INSIDE

Show Broncos

Alumni Respond

Campus variety show brings the laughs and the tunes

NFL Awards

Vandalisms incite alumni concern

SCENE, PAGE 5

Patriots again rule the league

THE HUT TAPS OUT

1940s - 2016 University announces closure of beloved local establishment Sophie Mattson & Jenni Sigl The Santa Clara

Santa Clara’s beloved watering hole will soon close its doors for good.

In an email sent out to the campus community on Wednesday, Nov. 2, Vice President for University Relations Jim Lyons announced that The Hut will close in December.

He said that business owner Mike O’Brien will likely close the business before Christmas, opting not to renew his lease.

The Santa Clara was unable to reach O’Brien for an interview.

“My understanding is that it’s not a profitable business,” Lyons said. “(O’Brien) was in a situation where his lease was up at the end of the year, on Dec. 31, and he had to make the decision to renew the lease or to close his doors.”

Lyons said the university was not made aware of The Hut’s impending closure until yesterday.

“My understanding was that he’s been thinking about this for a while and he had not made the decision until yesterday when he contacted the (property owner) and notified him that he wasn’t going to renew his lease,” Lyons said. “He called us right after that.”

Dan Johnson, a bartender at The Hut, was disappointed with how the announcement was made.

Since 1922

OPINION Lidia Diaz-Fong & Neil Datar

ASG Supports Measure B

ARCHIVE PHOTO — TRICIA SOUSA

“I wish I had the opportunity tell my staff before the school sent out the email,” Johnson said.

One week prior to the official announcement, an alum connected to the local real estate scene who wished to remain anonymous told The Santa Clara that the legendary off-campus bar would soon end its run after over 70 years in business.

The source said the university wanted The Hut’s closure to go quickly and quietly, since it could be a public relations disaster and also damage its relationship with alumni. The source also said they thought the university would want to keep its hands clean of the deal.

Johnson said that in the past eight years he has worked at the bar, the university has approached the landlord several times a year about buying the land on which The Hut sits. Johnson added that rumors that the bar would close have circulated for years.

“I first started hearing rumors that The Hut would close within the first month I started working here,” Johnson said.

Property Ownership and University Development To confirm the current ownership of 3200 The Alameda, the official address of The Hut, The Santa Clara accessed a Realquest report which collects data from public county records. The record shows that San Jose resident Ray George Lychak currently owns the property, which is assessed at a value of $255,385. According to Lyons, Lychack owns both the building and the land.

The Santa Clara was unable to reach Lychak for an interview.

www.thesantaclara.org

SPORTS, PAGE 8

OPINION, PAGE 6

Chris Shay, interim vice president for finance and administration, also confirmed that the university does not currently own the land that The Hut is on, as indicated by property records. When asked whether or not the university had plans to purchase the property in the near future on Oct. 26, Shay responded with an official statement via email.

“The university has not entered into an agreement nor is it in negotiations with the property owner. The recently approved master plan, by the city of Santa Clara, did not request development in the blocks noted,” Shay wrote.

Lyons said that the university “has no vested interest in The Hut” and has no plans to develop the property.

“The Hut’s an institution,” Lyons said.

“Ideally it would be nice if The Hut would be able to stay in business and stay there.

Lyons said that it would be an incredibly difficult, several year-long process to change or amend the master plan for development that they already filed with the city of Santa Clara.

The latest master plan, he said, does not contain any plans to develop the property.

However, he added that “10, 20, 15 years down the road the university would love to fill that property there.”

Although Lyons and Shay denied that the university is in negotiations over the property, the anonymous source was skeptical of this and said that the university does indeed wish to purchase the land.

It remains unclear whether or not Santa Clara will enter negotiations with Lychak in the near future in an attempt to purchase the land.

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Living in Silicon Valley provides Santa Clara students with incredible opportunities, but we all know that our access to transportation could be greatly improved—the region’s heavy, logjam traffic threatens our quality of life and ability to easily travel to and from campus.

Measure B is an initiative on this year’s ballot for Santa Clara County authored by the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). The passage of Measure B would provide almost $6 billion in funding for a broad range of transportation improvements, through a 30-year, half-cent sales tax.

In our recently passed Senate Resolution, authored by Jack Herstam, Lidia Diaz-Fong, and Gemi Griffin, we state: “We, the Associated Student Government of Santa Clara University, endorse the Santa Clara County Measure B because of its positive environmental impact, increased access to the Bay Area, and overall effectiveness of empowering the student body of Santa Clara University.”

The reason is clear: The issue affects us whether we are just here temporarily as students or plan to live and work in the Silicon Valley after graduation.

That’s why we, the Associated Student Government of Santa Clara University, are taking the unprecedented step of openly supporting local legislation: Measure B, which has been thoughtfully crafted to provide meaningful countywide congestion relief.

Transportation Barriers Reduce Quality of Life Every Santa Clara student uses some form of the local transportation infrastructure within Santa Clara County to get on and off campus.

We currently have an incomplete transit system—BART tracks don’t extend past the city of Millbrae. The Bay Area’s 70 year-long dream of interconnectedness has yet to come to fruition.

Completing the BART loop would connect every urban center, unleashing the economic potential of the Bay Area.

Measure B would provide the much-needed funding to extend BART to Santa Clara, right across the street from campus. The initiative would also connect BART with the Caltrain Commuter Rail Service, providing easy and effective access to the entire Bay Area.

In addition, adding the BART extension will allow 90,000 additional daily riders to enjoy the benefits of rapid rail, greatly reducing the number of people who drive on our roads.

Measure B Supports Our Core Values Measure B also reinforces the university’s commitment to fostering a more just and sustainable world. In our resolution, we state that we believe Measure B “aligns strongly with the core values of (Santa Clara) and furthers our commitment to environmental responsibility.”

See ASG, Page 6

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The Santa Clara

CAMPUS SAFETY Alcohol Related Medical Emergency Oct. 27: A student was found intoxicated and sleeping in the back of a Facilities truck in the Facilities yard.

Vicodin medication and a fake ID were found amongst his belongings. SCU EMS evaluated and escorted him back to his room at a campus residence hall.

Keeping Up with ASG: Senate Recap Student leaders pass resolution in wake of Casa incidents

Fire Alarm Oct. 26: A fire sprinkler in a resident’s room was broken when the resident attempted to write on a chalkboard hanging on the sprinkler. Water flooded the room and the dorm hallway. Campus Safety, SCFD and Facilities staff responded. The water was shut off temporarily.

Informational Report Oct. 26: Miscellaneous furniture belonging to a non-affiliate was reportedly being dumped behind the Louis B. Mayer Theatre. Several papers with the owner’s name were found inside of a piece of the furniture. SCPD conducted a follow-up.

Oct. 28: A campus resident reported finding a small bag of marijuana and miscellaneous notes in her dorm room desk. Campus Safety responded and disposed of the items.

Oct. 30: A small amount of dried blood was found in the stairwell of Swig Residence Hall between the first and second floors. Custodial Services was contacted to clean it up.

Medical Emergency Oct. 26: A visitor was reported having a possible stroke on the east stairs of the De Saisset Museum. SCFD was contacted and responded. Paramedics transported her to O’Connor Hospital.

Student Behavior Oct. 29: Two students were found sitting on the Bronco Statue while others were taking pictures. When asked, they were reluctant to provide their student ID cards. Another unknown intoxicated male attempted to remove the ID cards from a Campus Safety officer’s hand before fleeing the area. They were admonished and documented.

Oct. 30: A campus resident reportedly climbed up the ladder to the roof of Campisi Residence Hall. Campus Safety responded and assisted her down.

Suspicious Circumstance Oct. 29: Campus Safety responded to a report of a male inside a women’s restroom in the basement of Benson Memorial Center. Upon investigation, several non-affiliate males were found with alcoholic beverages inside of the KSCU radio station office. One of the males admitted to having entered the women’s restroom.

They were admonished to leave campus and dispose of the alcohol.

Oct. 31: A non-affiliate male was observed hiding in the bushes by the Graham Residence Hall courtyard. A Campus Safety officer questioned him and he admitted to be playing a Halloween prank on students. SCPD was contacted and responded. He was admonished for trespassing and asked to leave campus.

From Campus Safety reports.

Email news@thesantaclara.org.

Check out the Campus Safety Report online: facebook.com/scucss @SCUCampusSafety

Since 1922 ••• Volume 96, Issue 7 ••• EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sophie Mattson MANAGING EDITOR Jimmy Flynn EDITORS News: Jenni Sigl Opinion: Perla Luna Scene: Maura Turcotte Sports: Andrew Slap Photo: Kevin Boehnlein Head Copy: Adrie Christiansen Design: Lena Eyen

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Sophie Pollock

Associate Reporter The Associated Student Government is calling for more transparency by administrators regarding recent oncampus incidents. ASG unanimously passed a resolution addressing the homophobic, anti-semitic vandalism found in Casa Italiana Residence Hall last month.

At their meeting last week, the student senators sought to recognize the incident by communicating Santa Clara’s commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive environment for students of all backgrounds. The resolution reaffirmed that “the administration should hold the concerns and the safety of the students to the highest degree.”

Before passing the resolution, senators debated over the use of specific language such as the phrase “hate crime.”

Maureen O’Neill, senator-at-large for

LGBTQ+ inclusion and co-author of the resolution, pushed for the use of stronger terminology.

“It is important to remember that Casa Italiana is not just part of a university, it is a home for students,” she said.

Throughout the session, the language of the resolution was edited for accuracy to express the severity of the situation. After a brief debate, the word “hate” remained in the resolution.

“I expected significant pushback so the reception in the Senate was actually a bit warmer than I anticipated,” O’Neill said. “Most of the issues centered around the phrase ‘these actions were not only an act of discrimination, but of hate’ found in the first ‘be it resolved’ paragraph.”

Senators referenced a similar incident that occurred at San Jose State University in September in which swastikas were found drawn in a dorm. The incident sparked controversy over the use of the term “hate crime” after SJSU was required to take back their use of the term due to its legal definition.

Because the Santa Clara Police Department has not yet deemed this incident a hate crime, Santa Clara administrators have labeled the vandalism a bias incident.

Campus Safety aims to prevent sexual assault with education Bella Rios

The Santa Clara For just $7, female members of the Santa Clara community can learn how to fight off a potential attacker.

Campus Safety recently announced that they are offering Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) classes for female students, faculty, staff and members of the Santa Clara community on Nov. 12 and 13 with the hope of preventing and educating about sexual assault.

Tracy Cox, a Campus Safety officer and R.A.D. instructor said that the classes are not martial arts, but rather designed to educate women about potential threats and train them to avoid and escape such situations. He said that the classes are mostly educational with a small physical component.

“The goal is not to fight someone, it’s to escape,” Cox said.

R.A.D. is a national program that was founded in 1989 “with over 3,500 instructors certified and nearly 160,000 women trained,” as noted in the brochure. According to Cox, the $7 cost for Santa Clara’s classes ensure a lifetime membership to the organization and the ability to take free R.A.D. classes throughout the country.

When asked why the class is being offered only to females, Cox said that statistically speaking, women are more likely to be targets of sexual and physical assault.

He added that Campus Safety hopes to offer similar classes next year that would be slightly adjusted for males.

According to Cox, the classes are personalized and adjusted to suit student’s concerns, such as how to stay safe while studying abroad. Students are encouraged to do only what they are comfortable with, especially during simulations.

Karen Oswald, a Campus Safety officer and newly certified R.A.D. instructor, said that the instructor training was four days long and allowed her to better understand the emotions that may arise during the R.A.D. classes. She said the class taught her “how to stay focused in critical situations.”

Oswald added that “part of the empowerment process is the ability to make your own decisions.”

To alleviate potential stress and anxiety, Oswald and Cox said they will try to make the class enjoyable by integrating humorous video clips from popular late night show “Saturday Night Live.”

Oswald also said that the R.A.D. classes are a great opportunity to “foster the relationship between Campus Safety and the community.”

However, some members of the campus community are skeptical about the classes.

“The fact that the class is for female students, faculty and staff only is problematic to me in the sense that men can also be sexually assaulted and raped,” said

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Within the resolution, ASG outlines its commitment to transparency for the university community, stating in the text that “transparency is needed more than ever during these times, as the ambiguity of the initial actions instilled more fear of the unknown than it did to mitigate their effects.”

“A resolution is only a small part of the actions needed to cause a paradigm shift on campus,” O’Neill said. “But I hope it can show that ASG is committed to supporting and voicing the concerns of all students.”

The meeting continued with announcements from the executive branch and other committees. The Communication Committee updated the senators about a civic engagement initiative that aims to inform students about the local police chief candidates.

In addition, the Facilities and Operations Committee announced that an açaí bowl station will be installed in the Farmer’s Pantry section of Benson Memorial Center within the next two weeks.

ASG Senate will meet again on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.

ADVISERS Gordon Young Charles Barry, photo Dan McSweeney, photo Newsroom: (408) 554-4852 Editor in chief: (408) 554-4849 Advertising: (408) 554-4445 ON THE WEB www.thesantaclara.org EMAIL editor@thesantaclara.org Editors and departments can also be reached via email at section@thesantaclara.org (e.g. sports@thesantaclara.org). For a complete list, visit us on the

@thesantaclara INSTAGRAM @thesantaclara MAILING ADDRESS Center for Student Leadership Locatelli Student Activity Ctr. 500 El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA 95053-3190 OUR POLICIES The Santa Clara is the official student newspaper of Santa Clara University. The Santa Clara is written, edited and produced by students once weekly, except during holidays, examination periods and academic recesses.

The Santa Clara welcomes let-

Sarah Locklin, a SCAAP coordinator for Feminists for Justice. “In society, men are expected to always defend themselves.

However, I’m glad to hear that they’re creating a class tailored to those who identify as male.”

Emma Hyndman, an executive board member on the Violence Prevention Program (VPP) said she sees the value in R.A.D. classes for some individuals, but said that the classes “shouldn’t be the only form of violence prevention.”

Hyndman recalled taking a self-defense class which didn’t suit her needs because she is one to take flight, rather than fight, in threatening situations.

She also expressed concern about the danger of hindsight and victim-blaming.

“You should never be faulted for what you didn’t know,” she said.

Senior Aidan Mahony also expressed concern that R.A.D. classes provide “no outreach for potential perpetrators.”

Mahoney suggested that if the university wants to be proactive it should “invest in all the intricate roles people play in sexual assault.”

The VPP, which works to advocate and educate on sexual assault and violence, provides resources like bystander intervention training, survivor support and panels on healthy relationships.

“I hate to say that R.A.D. fosters empowerment because that’s too bland,” Oswald said. “But it offers an education which leads to the recognition of one’s own power.”

Contact Bella Rios at irios@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

ters to the editor from readers.

Letters can be delivered to the Benson Memorial Center, room 13; mailed to SCU Box 3190 or emailed to: letters@thesantaclara.org.

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Thursday, November 3, 2016

Notorious Off-Campus Bar Shutting Down Continued from Page I

University Ownership Off Campus On the block of land bordered by Franklin Street, Sherman Street, Benton Street and The Alameda, the university currently owns the two properties adjacent to The Hut. Out of the 16 total properties on the block, property records show that the university owns 11 of them. In addition to Lychak, three other individuals hold property deeds for homes on the block and the Santa Clara Women’s Club owns 3260 The Alameda.

One of properties not controlled by the university is 655 Franklin St., which is owned

by Flordeliza Concepcion. The Santa Clara spoke to Concepcion’s grandson, Jared Pono,

who said that she has not been approached by the university to sell as of late. However in the case that she is approached about selling the property, Pono said her answer will be definitive.

“She’s not willing to sell the property,” Pono said adamantly.

However, another property owner on the block may not be as firmly against selling to the university. According to Luis Barcelos, the son of Elvira Barcelos who owns 641 Franklin St., his mother was approached by the university to sell in the fall of 2014. A “swap” of some sort was proposed, but ultimately fell through.

“They’re gonna stay there until there’s some way where their property taxes are not gonna go up, they’re not gonna get hit with capital gains and they’re gonna get something similar in the area,” Barcelos said. “It’s very straightforward. It’s very simple. She’s not

trying to hold out, she just doesn’t want to get screwed.”

When asked if the university would purchase the land if Lychak offered to sell the property, Lyons did not provide a definitive response.

“Obviously the university has a vested interest in accumulating land that is adjacent to our campus,” Lyons said “The issue is that we don’t have any development plans for that, so it’s not like we are waiting for the phone call.

We don’t have any plans for that right now and really not for the foreseeable future.”

The Hut’s Rich History Before The Hut opened in the 1940s, the property used to be home to an old farmhouse originally built in 1910. The bar was also Hawaiian-themed in the 1940s, and was called either the Hula Hut or the Maui Hut, according to Johnson.

In addition to the bar’s legendary two for one drink promotion on Tuesday nights, one of the most iconic facets of The Hut is the plethora of dollar bills pinned to bar’s walls and ceiling. It has been a longstanding tradition for Santa Clara seniors to write their name on a bill in Sharpie and then pin it to the wall, later returning to add their business card to the same place as their dollar.

According to Johnson, Santa Clara MBA students began the trend in the 1970s or 80s, and other students began following suit.

“In 2012, some guy came in and found his dollar from 30 years prior,” Johnson said.

Johnson estimates that the dollars on the walls and ceiling of The Hut are worth between $4,000 and $5,000 total.

Campus Community Reacts ARCHIVE PHOTO — TRICIA SOUSA

The Hut, which first opened in the 1940s, has remained an iconic part of the Santa Clara community. Undergraduates have a longstanding tradition of filling the hole-in-the-wall bar to capacity on Tuesday nights.

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Jason Back, a Hut enthusiast and 2016 alumnus who frequented the bar during his undergraduate career, said that the bar is a

fundamental part of campus—as integral as Buck Shaw Stadium or Benson Memorial Center.

“When I think of Santa Clara there are certain key landmarks that come to mind and The Hut is in the top five or top three defining institutions,” Back said. “It’s such a reliable option for any type of socializing, it’s a grade equalizer and it doesn’t matter if you are Greek or non-Greek.”

He said that The Hut had a “huge, positive impact” on his junior and senior years at Santa Clara.

“There are so many alumni that had sublime experiences there and if that opportunity to dive into The Hut was denied to thousands of future generations of Broncos I think that the uproar would be just immediate and over the top,” Back said prior to the official announcement.

His sentiment was echoed by alumni and students who flocked to The Hut on the night of the announcement to grab a drink and soak in the bar’s final few weeks before it closes.

Distraught co-eds also launched a Change. org petition mere hours after the Nov. 2 announcement. Titled “Save The Hut,” it demands that the university attempt to come up with a “creative solution to preserve this bronco tradition while continuing to grow as a university” if the bar is closing due to pressure from them.

“It would take away our cheers, it would take away our favorite place to meet up at. It’s dads and grads, it’s seniors coming of age, it’s homecoming, it’s weddings, it’s funerals, it’s that big,” the anonymous alumni source said.

“It’s something we all have in common no matter what we study, where we came from, where we are going next. It’s a piece of Santa Clara that should not go away.” ___________________________________________ Contact Sophie Mattson at smattson@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4849. Contact Jenni Sigl at jsigl@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

Young Voices blog Seven young writers share thoughts about spirituality and current events

John Lambert

The Santa Clara Sandwich aficionados now have a new option for off-campus dining.

Just a short walk from the Palm Drive campus entrance, The Sub Hub is located on El Camino Real in the same plaza as Starbucks and Cramer’s Bagels. After being put to a taste test, it’s safe to say it could soon become one of Santa Clara’s most delicious local businesses.

The Sub Hub opened just over a month ago in September with the goal of providing consumers with a large, quality meal at a reasonable price.

“I’ve always seen a void here in Santa Clara,” said owner Kewal Shrestha. “It’s an affordable sandwich with a good quality and bang for your buck.”

The Sub Hub’s eclectic menu has options for everyone, ranging from veggie wraps to protein bowls with the possible addition of flatbread pizzas in the near future.

Opening a new local business certainly comes with its challenges, but Shrestha believes The Sub Hub’s mission and menu will culminate in a successful story of entrepreneurship.

“Owning any kind of business is stressful, but once you overcome the hump it’s definitely rewarding,” Shrestha said.

With a grand opening scheduled for Nov. 12, the response from the store’s soft opening has been extremely positive so far as new customers have flooded the shop during its busy lunch hour.

“The response has been great. Whoever has tried my sandwich, they have come back and they’ve helped spread the good word around,” Shrestha said.

Social media outreach can be crucial for the success of an up and coming business, so The Sub Hub has tried to make their presence known online. They’re also in the process of creating marketing campaigns full of discounts and deals to get customers into their store.

In the upcoming weeks, stay on the lookout for The Sub Hub’s grand opening which could include new menu items and a variety of deals and prizes for consumers looking for a quality bite that won’t break the bank.

“We’re going to do our stuff, we’re going to do it the right way,” Shrestha said. “Eventually our name will be out there.”

Contact John Lambert at jvlambert@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

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Thursday, November 3, 2016

A Glimpse Into the Dark Side of “Claradise” Santa Clara professor heads creation of play about campus issues Devin Collins

Associate Reporter The Santa Clara bubble: a place of sunshine, ease and silver platters. On a campus where abundant resources meet palm trees and fountains, perfection seems just nearly out of reach.

Outside the bubble, however, exists a harsher world—one where misfortune, disappointment and injustice easily pervade daily life. So what happens when the bubble pops?

It seems that “Welcome to Claradise” might have the answers.

Set to hit the Mayer Theatre in May, this documentary-style play, currently being written by adjunct professor Brian Thorstenson along with seven student writers and researchers, addresses what happens when trouble hits our seemingly polished campus.

“We’re looking at the processes of disruption and the processes of grace within the (Santa Clara) community,” Thorstenson said.

“We’re attempting to look at those processes with a level of complexity.”

Additionally, the play is being overseen and created in conjunction with Anna Deavere Smith’s residency at Santa Clara in the Winter and Spring quarters.

Best known for her roles as Nancy McNally on “The West Wing” and Gloria Akalitus on “Nurse Jackie,” Smith comes to Santa Clara as the university’s 2016-2017 Frank Sinatra Artist-Scholar in Residence.

With a number of prestigious honorary degrees and titles, including the MacArthur Award, Smith has produced work that has been described as “a blend of theatrical art, social commentary, journalism and intimate reverie.” Her influence shows in the play’s interview like-style.

“Most of the material comes from interviews, hence the ‘documentary play,’” Thorstenson said. “We’re also including some researched material and some moments of original writing triggered by either the interviews, our research, or the needs of the play.”

Last month, the Santa Clara Theatre Department presented the campus community with a series of open-ended questions in hopes of representing the student body experience.

The questions asked students to reflect on times in which their idea of Santa Clara had either been disrupted or lived out.

Thorstenson had originally drafted a first set of questions, but found that they needed to be revised with the recent acts of discrimination on campus. He felt that after Week 5, he had arrived at questions that would hopefully address some of these issues.

One question, for instance, asked, “Can you tell me about a time you were outraged by something someone said/or posted online and how you responded?”

Other questions looked at students’ public and private discourse: “What would you/have

you said in confidence or privately that you wouldn’t say publicly?”

According to Thorstenson, the play derives from a long tradition of documentary-style theatre, going back to the Federal Theater Project, a program of the WPA, with a play form called a “Living Newspaper.” The Laramie Project is just one of many recent examples.

In terms of the creative process, the project represents a collaboration between Thorstenson, the director, Aldo Billingslea and the choreographer, David Popalisky, along with 18 students.

In addition to the seven writers, the play includes ten student cast members and one musician—senior Riley McShane.

McShane, who has been writing his own music for a little over a year now, knew the pro-

“Music is a very special way to ... search for truth.” duction would be a great opportunity to test his talent from the moment he heard about it.

As to the challenge—he is more excited than nervous.

“As soon as I heard about the idea for ‘Claradise,’ I knew I wanted to contribute in some way,” McShane said. “ I decided this would be

an uncommon challenge: to write songs that fit in this story. To stretch my own abilities and explore musical possibilities I’ve never even considered before.”

McShane further emphasized the importance of music, stressing its role in presenting the different perspectives and voices on campus.

“I think music will be essential to the production: you can say so much in a song,” the senior said. “Music is a very special way to discuss and search for truth. As a songwriter, I enjoy taking the events, people and places around me and trying to interpret them. It’s an exciting time to be at (Santa Clara), for both great and unfortunate reasons, but I think that makes it more important than ever that we do this play—that we look inward and try to figure something out.”

When asked about the process of working with the students, Thorstenson did not comment. The theater professor stated that he was “too much in the middle of it to answer in any cogent manner.”

In terms of the play’s progress, however, the students seem to be right on schedule for an opening in May. “We’re reading a rough sketch of the play this week,” Thorstenson said. “Week 8 we’ll read a second draft, another draft Week 9.

They’ll be a big rewrite/revision over the Thanksgiving break. Then we’ll read this draft Week 10. The play goes into rehearsal in January.”

Contact Devin Collins at dcollins@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

Finding “Arcadia” SCU Presents’ newest play skips through time Madeline White

Associate Reporter In “Arcadia,” the 19th century and present day come together onstage simultaneously, proving the time periods to not actually be worlds apart.

In SCU Presents’ newest production, audience members find themselves swept up in a timehopping and thrilling plot of intellectual and romantic discoveries at the English grand manor Sidley Park, set in both the 1800s and the present day. The play, which was written by the acclaimed playwright Tom Stoppard, opens this Friday at the Louis B. Mayer Theater.

“Arcadia” revolves around researchers Hannah Jarvis and Bernard Nightingale—played by Maddie House-Tuck and Cameron Wells, respectively—and their attempts to uncover the history of revelations in both science and love made at Sidley Park.

Director and associate professor Kimberly Mohne-Hill emphasized that the play celebrates life, in both its richness and its briefness.

“The time with your idea, the time with your discoveries, the time with your friends, the time of your youth, the time with your loves. It’s all a breeze. A moment,” Mohne-Hill said.

As the rousing plot unfolds,

viewers learn that the manor is host to both unexpected mathematical discoveries by the young genius Thomasina, played by Audrey Kirkpatrick, as well as a series of romantic encounters between various women and Thomasina’s tutor, Septimus Hodge, portrayed

by Derek Sikkema.

While the plot may initially sound complicated, “Arcadia” ultimately proves to be a highly intelligent play that manages to incorporate highly intricate mathematical language onstage to a powerful effect.

Mohne-Hill credited the cast for tackling such difficult material.

“These actors have tackled British dialects, obscure mathematical and scientific phrases and concepts and lengthy poetic rhetoric all while playing very specific and clearly defined characters in specific eras of time,” Mohne-Hill said.

Through its breathtaking juxtaposition between society in the 1800s and the present, “Arcadia” also imparts a strong message about the passing of time.

A line in “Arcadia” that particularly illustrates this idea is “It’s a great time to be alive, when everything you thought you knew is wrong!”

The show also serves as a celebration of intelligences, since discoveries at separate times prove to be interconnected.

“Arcadia” opens on Nov. 4, with performances running through Nov. 6, followed by four more performances from Nov. 9 to Nov. 12.

Contact Madeline White at mwhite@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

To learn more about good government, visit

www.BLUPACUS.org

Raising the minimum wage improves our economy.

It provides more money to local families and businesses.

You know who didn’t support increasing the minimum wage? Debi Davis. She is the only city council member who voted against raising the minimum wage in the City of Santa Clara. Then she voted to raise her own salary by 100%. Call Debi Davis at (408) 615-2250 and tell her she was wrong to oppose increasing the minimum wage.

Scene / 5

The Santa Clara

Thursday, November 3, 2016

“Show Broncos” Brings Folky, Filthy Fun Comedy and music variety show raises money for charity Lindsay Tenes

The Santa Clara Men in dresses. Outrageous costumes.

Big personalities. Music and comedy. No, it’s not drag—it’s “Show Broncos,” a Halloweenthemed variety showcase of student acts ranging from singer-songwriters to stand-up comedians to sketches.

The event, organized by junior Jimmy Flynn and senior Riley McShane, on its second year. In addition to providing students with a platform to display their creativity, the event is also a vehicle to raise money for Breakthrough Silicon Valley, a local charity which provides middle school students with the resources to reach college.

“We’re privileged to go to a great university where we get to do something like plan ‘Show Broncos’ in our free time, but for a lot of young people it’s a very difficult road to get to college. Breakthrough Silicon Valley is trying to change that and we were happy to support them,” McShane said.

The show kicked off with an address to the university by junior Emile Antone in the role of Father Engh. The sketch played on the recent leaks, transparency of the administration and the always relevant question of where exactly our tuition goes. Senior Nick Medal portrayed Provost Dennis Jacobs, Father Engh’s dutiful sidekick.

The characters returned throughout the show, dodging questions about the administration’s activities giving winning answers such as, “With donors’ money, nothing is impossible.” Ain’t that the truth.

Senior Michael Turgeon played electric guitar and performed an original song called “Midnight Sun,” a soulful ballad which drew a loud applause.

In their skit titled “Bronco News Network,” Sarver and McOsker played news anchors— named Tim Foreskin and Macwell Fiveskin, respectively—who clearly take their jobs very seriously, sporting pajamas and drinking grape juice out of plastic cups. They tackled the hardhitting issues that affect first-years at Santa Clara, such as the top ten ways to “seal the deal” with a girl as well as roommate pairings.

“The first bit of news comes from the dear eighth floor of Swig. A pair of roommates has developed—get this—an airtight masturbation schedule. Shout out to Father Engh for personally matching them up. What a heartwarming tale for the whole family,” the faux-anchors said.

The show also featured recent graduate Jaelin McCreary, who returned to campus to perform in “Show Broncos,” crooning an original song while strumming an ukulele.

Following McCreary, Flynn, co-creator of the show, performed stand-up comedy in a fitting black dress, what appeared to be the ever-so-fashionable Clarks and Risky Business-esque socks. His hysterical set touched upon sex, diarrhea and Hitler—delivered in a manner so crude that the newspaper can’t quote him.

And for the finale, McShane—sporting a floral yellow frock that showed a scandalous amount of upper thigh—performed a more experimental song, layering beats on a keyboard.

The musician then switched genres, singing a folk-style song about a rebellious Jesus while playing both the guitar and harmonica. At one point, McShane crooned, “I met Jesus, / he was 19, / he was the best joint roller that you ever seen.”

Turgeon joined McShane for the final song on stage to perform the duet “Midwestern

ANA HOSHOVSKY FOR THE SANTA CLARA

On Oct. 31, “Show Broncos” was held in Benson’s California Mission Room and showcased a variety of comedy and music acts. Above: Seniors Riley McShane and Michael Turgeon rock out to a duet together onstage.

Moon,” which McShane had previously dedicated to a special someone at the Fall Love Jones show. Two regular bros, jamming out about one of the bro’s girlfriends. Gotta love it when guys do that.

The event was widely successful, giving students an opportunity to perform, hone their craft and share their talent with peers.

No other event on campus provides comedians this kind of platform, a unique aspect of the show. However, as McShane pointed out, the defining characteristic is that all of the material was created by the entertainers— something that the founders think is vital to the show’s success.

“The most important principle is to keep all of the content original. That’s what made Monday night unique—everything came directly from the artist,” McShane said.

The senior has high hopes for the future of

Show Broncos, looking to elevate the production value as well as incorporate short films and other visual content created by students.

When asked about the opportunities or lack thereof student entertainers have on campus, McShane said, “There’s no shortage of events on campus where students perform, especially music. But one of the unfortunate things is that we’re simply not given enough time nor the right kind of attention at these events.”

“Like with many things at Santa Clara, it comes down to quantity vs quality. We should keep challenging the barrier of what’s expected from on-campus events,” he added.

Show Broncos will be produced on campus again in both Winter and Spring quarters.

Contact Lindsay Tenes at ltenes@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

Together, we’ll write the next chapter.

F or more than 70 years, Pacific Oaks

has prepared students to serve diverse communities throughout California.

Our new San Jose campus expands our mission and offers programs that are fueled by the needs of the surrounding community.

Education Human Development Marriage and Family Therapy Teacher Credentialing

669.444.1357

6

OPINION Thursday, November 3, 2016

Bryan Bynum

SCUAlums4Liberation

Alumni Solidarity Privilege, as Told by a White Male

T

his letter is a message of solidarity and support to you, the students who are experiencing trauma and who have been otherwise negatively impacted by the recent incidents of hate on campus.

Whether you were impacted by the events that occurred in Casa Italiana, in the Ayotzinapa walkway memorial or in other incidents of targeted hate, including those that were not captured on video or screenshots, we know that these events cause pain and diminish safety on a daily basis.

We have been closely following related news media and updates regarding the most current events on SCU’s campus. As a result, we are angry, frustrated and concerned.

We are people of color.

We are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community members.

We are alumni of different faiths, spiritualities and belief systems.

We are the Multicultural Center (MCC).

We are the Gay and Lesbian Alliance (GALA).

We are the Santa Clara Community Action Program (SCCAP).

We are Gay and Straight People Educating for Diversity (GASPED).

We are the past residents of the Unity RLC. We are members of multicultural Greek organizations.

We are the mentees of transformational SCU faculty and staff.

We are the leaders and participants of the past three Unity movements.

We are the alumni who received hate mail that targeted our queer, ethnic and racial identities.

We are the multicultural clubs and organizations who always had to fight for space on campus.

We are the alumni who want our historic mural resurrected from residence hall basements.

We are the ones who read the anonymous posts on Yik Yak and Dogears.

We are the alumni whose classmates partied at “Cinco de Maples” and other raciallythemed, offensive events.

We work in all systems of higher education.

We work in both public and private sectors of high tech, medicine, law, education, entertainment and beyond.

We are many, we are united and we are mobilized. We are SCU alumni in pursuit of liberation.

This letter is to remind the Santa Clara University community of the cyclical nature of hateful and discriminatory practices that have created a hostile environment that has existed at SCU for decades.

This hostility is indicative of a culture of oppression that exists, not only in the actions of individual students, but is also woven into the fabric of longstanding systems and functions of the ad-

ministration.

Unfortunately, our institution has a very short memory. We remember the marginalization and the pain, and the way we had to shoulder the burden of healing and educating ourselves. We are alumni of many different ages and these memories continue to impact us.

We see that you, members of already underrepresented communities at Santa Clara University, have taken up the same burden because you have high standards for our alma mater, you believe in the values of Jesuit education, and because you care about our community.

We are here to say that you should not have to do this alone.

This fight was ours then, it is yours now, and we want to leverage our experience and resources to help end the cycle of oppression.

Santa Clara University is a truly transformational institution. We have learned, however, that the pendulum of transformation can easily swing both ways. Some alumni had amazing experiences at SCU while other alumni had traumatic experiences.

Many of us had both. This fact is real.

As a collective group, we all agree that these incidents of hate must stop. We, as alumni, understand the meticulous details of accountability, policies and regulations, educational code, equity and discrimination law, that the university must consider.

We also understand that moments of high controversy demand urgent action and courage to reflect on what is needed for change.

We are today’s professionals who know that Santa Clara University can and must do better. As we reflect on our own undergraduate experiences, we know that building a more inclusive culture is not only the responsibility of students.

The university’s senior leaders must make a paradigm shift that is informed by the student voice. The administration must build a sustainable vision that aligns with the values of Competence, Conscience and Compassion.

Please know that you are already much stronger than you may even think. The work that is already happening on campus, including the current Unity 4 movement and the statement released by the LGBTQ+ community is a testament to that strength. We see you. We stand with you.

This letter has been signed as a statement of support by 136 Santa Clara alumni ranging in graduation years from 1972 to 2015.

They can be contacted at SCUAlums4Liberation@ gmail.com.

I

f I were to describe a typical Santa Clara student in three words, it would be smart, ambitious and privileged.

During my time at Santa Clara, I have met extraordinary minds and people who have changed my perspective. Some of you may agree with the first two adjectives of my description but not the last: privileged. Why does this word, “privileged,” make some people cringe? And for others, why does it resonate with them and allow them to reflect?

With the recent incidents on campus regarding the vandalism of the memorial dedicated to the 43 kidnapped students in Mexico and the anti-Semitic, homophobic and transphobic graffiti in Casa, this letter to the student body is long overdue.

There have been numerous incidents on and near this campus in which minorities have been targeted and racially profiled. In 2014, a Caucasian male recorded three prospective African-American students off-campus, and when the three students asked him if there was a problem he responded “I don’t know yet.” Multiple police officers ended up confronting the students at Safeway, who responded to a call which described the students as suspicious and threatening.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2015, students posted “black lives don’t matter” on their Yik Yak accounts when African-American students were protesting on campus. The list goes on and on.

Blatant racial profiling and vandalism targeted at minorities makes me ashamed to be a Bronco.

I admit I am also guilty of prejudice. There were times where my actions were offensive and questionable.

When I was a first-year on Halloween night, I dressed

up as a Native American chief. At the time I was oblivious if I was offending anyone but as I learned through my education here at Santa Clara, those actions do not reflect who I am today.

I have grown as a person by speaking with other people who hold different perspectives and stepping out of my comfort zone. Having an open mind is the first step in creating change.

We must stare deep into the mirror and reflect on how we can grow as people.

It would be hypocritical of us to expel those students who vandalized the memorial and the poster. Expulsion would only cause more resentment and hate. Giving them a chance to learn from their mistakes, as I have learned from mine, is the most appropriate course of action.

2016 is the new 1968. We are in a storm of change and many refuse to adapt to this change. But the refusal of an open dialogue is just a small part of the problem.

We all attend this great institution of higher education, yet it feels like we are failing in the courses of compassion and understanding. Yes, I admit that I am a privileged male from the suburbs. For those of us who are privileged, we should use our knowledge to our advantage to make the world a better place.

We should use our education to help remedy the injustices that minorities face around the world.

We can look back at 2016 in twenty or thirty years and say that it was the “Millennials’ Revolution” or we can sit idly on the sidelines and let the previous generation continue to shape the world for us. The burning question is ‘Which side of history do you want to be a part of?’

Bryan Bynum is a junior marketing major.

ASG Supports Measure B Continued from Page 1

Extending BART to the South Bay will result in a yearly reduction of 32 million pounds of greenhouse gases—the statistical equivalent of the emissions created by 3,066 cars in a given year.

Measure B also builds on the upcoming electrification of Caltrain, contributes to safer passage for pedestrians and cyclists, and provides increased transit options for seniors, as well as for the low-income and disabled in our community.

Measure B improves our quality of life, allows students to easily reach destination via public transit and aligns strongly with the core values of SCU.

Our Advocacy Efforts For all of the reasons articulated above, we have decided to actively advocate in favor of this transportation initiative.

We were honored that the Santa Clara City Council requested that we speak at their public session where they contemplated their own endorsement of Measure B, and actually read our Senate resolution before they voted on their own. The City’s resolution passed unanimously after extensive discussion with ASG.

At our City Council Candidate debate, we invited Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino to deliver context on Measure B, prior to our question on the topic for the twelve participants.

The range of views expressed by the participants gave students a clearer picture of where each candidate stands on the issue.

Additionally, we hosted an ice cream social with special guests City of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager, and City of Santa Clara Vice Mayor Teresa O’Neill, who spoke to our students about civic engagement and the positive role that the implementation of Measure B will play in student life here at SCU. That’s why we urge you to join us in voting yes on Measure B. To find out more, visit YesMeasureB.com.

Lidia Diaz-Fong is the student body president and Neil Datar is the ASG senate chair.

Articles in the Opinion section represent the views of the individual authors only and not the views of The Santa Clara or Santa Clara University.

ANA HOSHOVSKY FOR THE SANTA CLARA

On Nov. 8, Bay Area residents will be voting on whether or not to enact Measure B into law. Measure B is being endorsed by ASG because it is slated to help traffic congestion in the area and will bring Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) closer to Santa Clara students.

STANDINGS Men’s Soccer Team Portland Pacific Saint Mary’s San Diego Gonzaga San Francisco Loyola Marymount Santa Clara

Women’s Soccer Team Pepperdine Brigham Young Loyola Marymount Santa Clara San Diego Portland San Francisco Gonzaga Saint Mary’s Pacific

Volleyball Team San Diego Brigham Young Pacific Gonzaga Portland Loyola Marymount Saint Mary’s Santa Clara Pepperdine San Francisco

7 / Sports

The Santa Clara

Thursday, November 3, 2016

WCC Overall 5-0-0 11-3-1 3-1-1 11-3-1 3-2-0 7-7-3 2-3-0 5-7-3 2-3-0 8-7-1 2-3-0 6-8-0 2-3-0 8-8-0 0-4-1 5-8-1

Santa Clara Continues to Roll Broncos all but clinch tournament bid on Senior Day Bo Kendall

The Santa Clara

Santa Clara women’s soccer essentially guaranteed their place in the NCAA tournament with a dramatic 1-0 win at Stevens Stadium over the University of Portland on Sunday afternoon, their third straight victory. Freshman Maddie Gonzalez found the back of the net in the 82nd minute on a chance created by senior Jordan Jesolva on Senior Day. The win against Portland followed up a 2-0 victory against Gonzaga on Friday night. Winning both games on the weekend clinched an above .500 record for the Broncos, one of the three WCC Overall criteria for the NCAA tournament se10-1 19-3 lection process. The other two are hav9-2 20-3 ing a high RPI and performing well 8-4 14-10 against the top 40 teams in the nation.

“We are absolutely confident that 6-5 13-8 this win puts us into the NCAA tourna6-5 13-10 6-6 15-9 ment,” said Head Coach Jerry Smith.

The Broncos played the strongest 5-7 10-13 4-8 13-11 schedule in the country, and have three 4-8 10-14 wins and three ties against the top 40.

This has contributed to their solid RPI, 0-12 4-21 currently ranked at 34.

“The best present we can give our seniors is a guarantee that they will finish their careers in the NCAA tournament,” said Coach Smith.

The Broncos did just that, dominating possession and outshooting the Sun. 11/6 1:00 p.m.

Pilots 14 shots to one.

One Bronco creating havoc on the

Portland back line all day was Jesolva.

She was involved in many of Santa Clara’s chances, including having a shot ring off the crossbar. When Gonzalez was able to score late in the game, it came off of a pass from Jesolva.

The match was essentially a must-win for the Broncos postseason hopes, and was also Jesolva and the other seniors last game at Stevens Stadium (barring an NCAA tournament game at home, highly

unlikely given their RPI).

“I was a little nervous at first, ” Jesolva said. “It hasn’t really hit me yet. I love this field and it was great to get a win on it.”

The Broncos will have their last regular season game of the year when they travel to the University of San Francisco on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

Contact Bo Kendall at bkendall@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

WCC Overall 6-1-1 11-4-3 6-1-1 15-2-1 6-2-0 11-4-3 5-2-1 8-6-4 4-4-0 9-8-1 3-4-1 9-6-3 3-5-0 7-11-0 2-6-0 6-9-2 2-6-0 4-13-2 1-7-0 1-14-1

UPCOMING GAMES Men’s Soccer Loyola Marymount @ Santa Clara

Women’s Soccer Santa Clara @ San Francisco

Sat. 11/5 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Basketball Life Pacific @ Santa Clara

Sat. 11/5 7:30 p.m.

Women’s Basketball Chico State @ Santa Clara

Sat. 11/5 7:30 p.m.

Volleyball San Francisco @ Santa Clara

Fri. 11/4 7:00 p.m.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK Who will win the Stanley Cup?

Chicago Blackhawks - Ben Epstein It should surprise nobody when the Blackhawks bring the Stanley Cup back to Chicago. Sure, they bowed in the first round last year, but that’s only because they suffered from significant injuries. They still have the best core in hockey—Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith are all among the top 10 players in the NHL. The Big 3 have three Stanley Cups to their name already and will make it four this year.

If Corey Crawford can remain consistent and Artem Anisimov continues his rise to stardom, Coach Joel Quenneville will have no problem leading Chicago back to the promised land.

Montreal Canadiens - Andrew Slap If Carey Price can stay healthy, there’s no question that Montreal will celebrate their 25th Stanley Cup this year. The Canadiens are on an eight game win streak and lead the NHL in points and goal differential.

They rank fourth in the league in goals per game and lead the league in goals allowed. New defensiveman Shea Weber is thriving in Montreal, Alex Galchenyuk is stepping into his own, and Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher continue to carry the offense. It’s about time that the Stanley Cup return to Canada.

Next Week’s Question Who will win the College Football Playoff?

Send your responses to aslap@scu.edu for a chance to get published in next week’s paper!

www.sccvote.org

8

SPORTS Thursday, November 3, 2016

Claire McLoughlin

The Bad Boy of Tennis Every good story needs a villain. In tennis’s case, it’s 21 year-old Australian Nick Kyrgios. Kyrgios went pro in 2013 and has made a name for himself by scorning all of the sport’s unsaid rules.

His wild, flashy brand of tennis caught the attention of fans and experts alike.

However, Kyrgios’s temper has brought him much more press than his tennis skills. Example: He once told Stan Wawrinka that his girlfriend had slept with another man during a match. That type of trash talk is unheard of in tennis, a sport in which manners and tradition are the highest priorities.

A few months after the Wawrinka incident, Kyrgios pulled another stunt that rocked the tennis world. In the fourth round at the 2016 Wimbledon, Kyrgios was set to face Britain’s Andy Murray. One set into the match and those fans lost all hope. Kyrgios gave the first set to Murray and promptly decided he was done for the day, allowing serves to fly past him and refusing to make even the smallest of efforts to return Murray’s backhands.

Kyrgios is playing a game. He wants to make tennis cool again. His temper tantrums and outbursts are strategic in shaking up the tennis world. If he receives a fine or a suspension, so be it.

All for the greater good.

The sport had its heyday in the 1970s and ‘80s, when John McEnroe was spitting curses at umpires and Andre Agassi was fixing his earrings and headband between points. It felt more blue-collar, more accessible to the average Joe who had previously been excluded from the elite, country club game. That inclusive attitude has since been retired. Tennis’s elites like Sharapova, Federer, the Williams sisters and Djokovic ooze bourgeois. They aren’t from the wrong side of the tracks like Jimmy Connors; they didn’t scrape and claw their way to the top. And even if they had, they’d never let you know it. Tennis is about composure. Grunts are allowed, trash talk is not. And anyone who disrupts the peace is immediately labeled an outsider, a nuisance and an embarrassment.

Kyrgios knows this and continues to bulldoze his way into the spotlight.

His bad attitude gets him press time and Twitter followers. If it weren’t for his trash talk and indifference of match outcomes, he’d be just another young player with promise.

Athletes become legends for two reasons: either you’re an outstanding, jaw-dropping, play-like-you’ve-beenblessed-with-a-gift-from-God champion or you’re a countercultural, pushevery-button, test-every-boundary, love-to-hate-you villain. Kyrgios is a member of the latter community.

He’s taken the tennis world and shaken it by it’s starched white lapels, and hasn’t made a ton of friends in the process. Regardless, Kyrgios is here to stay, and he’s done tennis a big favor by creating a discussion about the unspoken rules of player conduct that need a major update. His behavior puts him on par with athletes like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Dennis Rodman; not always the most popular players but definitely ones that are hard to ignore.

And, in the end, isn’t infamy better than anonymity?

Claire McLoughlin is a senior English major.

NFL Midseason Predictions Andrew Slap

The Santa Clara AFC Champions - New England Patriots

New England’s the class of the NFL and will cruise through the AFC. They’re offense is simply unstoppable, averaging 34 points per game since Tom Brady’s return. Brady has so many weapons to work with, including Rob Gronkowski, who already broke the franchise record for most receiving touchdowns.

Dion Lewis’ return will make this unit even stronger.

New England’s defense is lethal as well. The Patriots allow just 16.5 points per game, good for third in the NFL. It’s all but assured that the road to the Super Bowl runs through Gillette, and there’s no way Trevor Siemian and the Broncos or the always-hobbled Ben Roethlisberger and his Steelers are taking down the Patriots.

MVP - Tom Brady

It doesn’t make sense for Tom Brady to win MVP. He’s 39 years old and was forced to sit four games after the Goodell’s disgraceful Deflategate suspension. But the sixth round draft pick continues to defy expectations. Brady’s completing 73.1 percent of his passes, has 12 touchdowns, zero interceptions and leads the NFL with a 133.9 QB rating. And sure the Pats fared alright without Brady, but they’re so much better with #12 under center. In Week 4, New England lost 16-0 to Buffalo in their final game without Brady. This past week, Brady and Co. put up 41 in their route of Rex Ryan’s Bills.

Coach of the Year - Bill Belichick

Belichick probably won’t win this award since we’ve become accustomed to his brilliance. It’s not an achievement anymore for the Pats to win 12+ games—it’s expected. But Belichick’s the best coach in the leauge and there’s not a close second. He guided the Pats to a 3-1 start without his Hall of Fame quarterback and has his team clicking on all cylinders. The trade of Pro-Bowl linebacker Jamie Collins shocked many, but we should know by now to never doubt the Hoodie. He’ll cement his place in history when he hoists his fifth Lombardi trophy this February.

Offensive ROY - Ezekiel Elliot

Elliott has the benefit of running behind the best offensive line in football, but it’s still hard to argue with the numbers he’s posted. Elliott is averaging five yards per carry and has five touchdowns on the year.

He’s also a threat in the passing game, averaging 10 yards per carry. Health is the only obstacle in the way of Elliott winning this award.

NFC Champions - Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks have not been impressive this year, but neither has the entire NFC. By process of elimination, Seattle has to be favorites to reach the Super Bowl.

Carolina and Arizona are a mess, and the Packers have been out of sync all year. Other than Seattle, the only other semi-impressive teams have been the Falcons, Vikings and Cowboys. But Atlanta has no defense to speak of; Minnesota has Sam Bradford and Dallas is about to ruin their season by replacing Dak Prescott with Tony Romo.

To their credit, Seattle’s defense remains elite and Russell Wilson always plays his best in the playoffs.

But the Seahawks still don’t have enough to take down the Patriots.

Defensive Player of the Year - Von Miller

With J.J. Watt out for the season, it’s unclear who’ll win this award. The truth is that no player has been dominant this year and this title is still very much up for grabs. But given his pedigree and strong start, Von Miller has to be the favorite. Despite facing constant double teams, he’s on pace for 17 sacks, 66 tackles and two forced fumbles. Denver’s defense continues to carry this team and Miller deserves most of the credit for this success. He’s a headache for every offesive coordinator and always seems to play his best in crunch time. It’s rare for a teams most valuable player to come from the defense, but Miller is just a special talent.

Comeback Player of the Year - Matt Ryan

The Falcons are heavy favorites to win the NFC South and that’s largely due to the play of Matt Ryan.

Ryan wasn’t bad last year, but he’s never played like this before. In the first eight years of his career, he never posted a QB rating over 100. This year his QB rating is 115.8 and he leads the league in passing yards and touchdowns. It helps to have best receiver in the game, but by no means is Ryan dependent on Julio Jones. Last week, Jones caught just three passes for 29 yards, yet Matty Ice and the Falcons still put up 33 points in their last minute win over the Packers.

Defensive ROY - Jalen Ramsey

Ramsey has been one of the lone bright spots in the otherwise miserable Jaguars season. He’s fourth on the team in tackles with 30, but his true impact isn’t shown on the stat sheet. Last year Jacksonville ranked 29th in passing defense; currently their eighth in the league in yards allowed.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF AP