The Torch

TORCH PHOTOS/BRIAN LOPEZ

Students from around the New York Metropolitan area joined hundreds in dueling protests about the Ground Zero community center debate.

Ground Zero protests draw students SARA CAHILL MARRON News Editor The debate over the construction of the Islamic community center near Ground Zero spurred dueling protests on the ninth anniversary of 9/11 last Saturday.

More than 100 groups who identified themselves as proponents of the Park51 project allied and held a “Rally Against Anti-Islamic Bigotry and Racism.” The rally was organized by The International Action Center and took place outside of City Hall Park.

Pamela Geller, author of the conservative blog Atlas Shrugs, was the organizer of the “Freedom Rally” at Park Place and West Broadway. Geller put together the rally in tandem with Stop Islamization of America [SIOA] and the Freedom Defense Initiative [FDI].

The two demonstrations were kept separate by

WHAT’S INSIDE News......................1-5 Comics....................19 Opinion..................6-8 Entertainment....15-18 Features...............9-10 Sports.................20-24

the NYPD. Dogs and troopers along with officers on horseback and motorcycles patrolled the street while others kept the sidewalks clear.

NYPD stood on every corner, sometimes in groups of ten officers at once.

Church Street was closed all afternoon in an effort to keep the two groups separate. According to an NYPD officer on Church Street, the barriers where set up to keep the two groups from going at one another and to limit violence.

Prominent speakers at the ‘Freedom Rally’ included former U.S.Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, Dutch Freedom Fighter Geert Wilders, and NY Senate candidate Gary Bernstein. Wilders has previously called Islam “incompatible” with democracy.

Professor Jeremiah Hickey teaches a class called the Rhetoric of Social Movements at St. John’s. He told his students about the protest and encouraged them to attend.

“There is no better place than New York City, a

cultural hub, to see theory of social movements put into practice,” he said.

Nipun Mahajan, a junior at St. John’s and a student in Professor Hickey’s class, attended the protest as an observer.

“This debate is the trial by fire for Islam in the United States,” Mahajan said. “Islam is not necessarily a part of the American tradition like Judaism is and Christianity obviously is; it’s always been on the fringe.

“Now, Islam is becoming part of the discourse.”

According to Mahajan, the debate is not about the technicality of ‘mosque’ versus ‘community center.’

“Trying to win on technicalities misses the point of the debate,” he said. “The issues are sensitivity and fear towards Islam, and that’s what the pro-mosque supporters should be trying to change.”

MUSIC

VMA’s in Review Gaga sweeps, Swift and West settle their beef and Chelsea gets a handle on things.

ENTER RTAINMENT Pg. 16

continued on page 3 TORCHONLINE.COM

Last week’s poll results Is it wrong to stage a protest on 9/11?

81% Yes 29% No Check out our new poll every Wednesday “Think Outside. . .”

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Directory

Managing Board LXXXVIII

JUSTIN THRIFT, Editor-in-Chief NELL O’CONNOR, Managing Editor MARK MCDONALD, General Manager SARA CAHILL MARRON BILL SAN ANTONIO

MICHAEL MONTIJO

News Editor

Sports Editor

Art Director

CAROLYN WARGULA

KRISTEN FARMER

SARAH LANE

Features Editor

Photo Editor

Chief Copy Editor

ADELLE PLATON

BRIAN LOPEZ

ELIZABETH MILLER

Entertainment Editor Asst. Photo Editor

Layout Editor

JOSÉ SILVA

ELLEN CAREY

Online Editor

Advisor

Business (718) 9906756 Advertising 990-6756 Editorial Board 990-6444

Features 990-6445 Letters 990-6445 News 990-6444 Sports 990-6444

Special thanks to Richard Rex Thomas for assisting in the design of The TORCH

Entertainment Fly like a G6 The Far East Movement soars into the Inferno as the featured artist for this week’s “First Listen.”

Inferno Pg. 15 Features Cooking on Campus More students prefer the flexibility of cooking in the dorms rather than going to the dining halls.

Features Pg. 10 Men’s Soccer Learning to fly The Men’s Soccer team wins two straight after blowout loss.

TORCH PHOTO/BRIAN LOPEZ

Senior Thomas Carnevale grills up some tasty barbecue at Johnny Thunderbird’s 1st Birthday party celebration outside of Belson Stadium.

NEWS

Sports Pg. 22

SGI holds first floor meeting TUITION

OPINION PG. 7

LIAM LA GUERRE

torchonline.com

The TORCH

15 Sept. 2010

Staff Writer

FOR MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS: 718-990-6756 The TORCH is the official student newspaper of St. John’s University. The Torch is written, edited, designed and produced by students of the University. All contents are the sole responsibility of the editors and the editorial board and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of St. John’s University unless specifically stated.

To contact The TORCH by mail: The TORCH, St. John’s University 8000 Utopia Parkway Queens, NY 11439

The TORCH is typically published on Wednesdays, approximately 20 issues throughout the academic year. Circulation per issue is 3,500 copies distributed free on campus.

This copy of The Torch is worth $ .75.

Student Government Inc. held their first floor meeting of the year on Monday in the D’Angelo Center.

In addition to budgetary concerns, representatives reviewed changes made to the University for this semester.

SGI presented their budget for the fall semester at $24,500.

A balance of approximately one-thousand dollars remains in a money market account managed by SGI along with close to a quarter-million dollar balance in a checking account.

Major points of review included the final exam schedule, classroom temperature and the lack of common hour.

Final exams are currently scheduled on the last day of classes, which could result in more than two exams on one day for some students.

According to the University’s student handbook, no student may be required to take more than two in a single day.

Complaints about common hour were brought up multiple times.

The conflict with scheduling meetings on one day was highlighted as a strain for organization’s executive boards and members alike.

Other complaints included the change in dining hall hours.

According to SGI advisor, Darren M. Morton, associate vice president for Student Affairs, the dining hours were changed in part to have students use the D ‘Angelo Center more at night.

The university will decide by the end of 2010, what to do with the closed 2nd floor of St. Augustine Hall.

Each committee also gave their own reports.

Elections Committee Reported that Freshman Elections will take place on October 6 and 7, and that Applications are due by September 20 at noon.

There will also be an Elections BBQ, where students can meet representatives from SGI on Thursday 16th from 3 pm -6 pm. SGI will be promoting the freshman elections during this event as well.

3

Debate over proposed Community Center dominates 9/11 continued from page 1 Mimiko Watanave, a sophomore at Hunter College, was one of many young faces marching with the proponents past City Hall.

“I came today because one of my classmates was handing out flyers encouraging people to come,” she said.

“I’m impressed; I didn’t think there would be so many people here.”

Aidan Kennon, a junior at Fordham University, stood in the middle of the crowd. He held up a sign that said ‘Islam belongs, bigotry does not.’

“Those people who have been politically spoon-fed can’t be allowed to proceed unopposed,” he said. “The better half of America and NYC needs to be represented; we can’t let the world see us as bigots and an intolerant race of people.”

On the opposition side, a group of high school students dressed in matching blue blazers passed out flyers entitled ‘remember’.

Their math teacher, Peter Miler brought the boys to the protest from St. Lewis D’Montfort in Pennsylvania.

“We want people to remember what

TORCH PHOTOS/BRIAN LOPEZ

People cheer at speakers alongside City Hall Park 9/11 was really about,” he said. “These anger and hatred.” protestor’s have turned it into an event Karolina Knepaite, a junior at that is motivated by the wrong idea, this Leonia High School in New Jersey, should be a day of remembrance, not of voiced similar reasons for coming to the

Signs of welcome were hoisted hçhe counter-rally.

TORCH PHOTOS/BRIAN LOPEZ

NEWS

TORCH PHOTOS/BRIAN LOPEZ

protest. Knepaite recently emigrated from Lithuania with her family.

“I’m new the United States, but it’s strange, it seems to me that the meaning of this day has been overlooked,” she said.

Two freshmen college students vocalized similar feelings from the proponent’s side.

Eric Ohrt from Pace University and Timothy Brewer from Manhattan College held signs dedicated to the memory of the victims of 9/11.

“This should be a day of remembering and unity, not of politics and heated arguments,” Ohr said.

Brewer’s sign contained only the words, ‘I have a sign.’

“This is a freak show,” Brewer said.

“No one should be protesting today.”

Mahajan agreed that 9/11 was a bad day to organize a protest around Ground Zero, stating instead that the protesters on both sides should be more focused on changing public opinion.

When asked how a person goes about changing public opinion, Mahajan shrugged his shoulders.

“That’s the true question; if I knew, I wouldn’t be studying rhetoric.”

Marchers stretched all the way past the Federal Building.

15 Sept. 2010 The TORCH

torchonline.com

TORCH PHOTOS/BRIAN LOPEZ

Many people turned out to show their support for religious liberty.

4

Students attacked on and off campus NELL O’CONNOR

Managing Editor The University community has been on high alert following three incidents involving students within the past week.

Last Saturday, the Department of Public Safety sent out an email alerting the community to two separate incidents where several students were attacked by three individuals, both on and off campus.

The first incident happened around 12:30 a.m. on September 11, when a group of students standing outside Montgoris were approached by two men.

After a few moments, one of the men sprayed the group was a substance that Public Safety believed to be pepper spray.

The two men ran off towards Gate #6. Two students suffered an irritation to their eyes, one was sent to and treated at a local hospital.

After the suspects fled, they allegedly ran into a second

group of students who were Department of Public Safety, walking towards the Dunkin said that the University Donuts on the corner of Union was looking into the recent Turnpike and 169th Street. incidents.

One student was punched In regards to the offseveral times, another was campus incident, he said that sprayed with a substance Public Safety is working in similar to the one used in the conjunction with the New York first incident.

Police Department to find the Neither suspects. required “ T h e medical NYPD is “A lot of those things attention. working with your mom and dad told us to pull In an unrelated video you when you were five the incident, from the a n o t h e r years old and we just got surrounding student to hit them back into bv u si i nde ses eos informed your head surveillance P u b l i c Safety that he -Thomas J. Lawrence.” cameras,” he had been said. “Public robbed a S a f e t y gunpoint at doesn’t have around 3:00 a.m. on September the ability to pull those videos, 14, while sleeping at a bus so we work with the NYPD stop on the corner of Union because they can subpoena the Turnpike and 173rd Street. information.”

This student later recanted However, Lawrence is still his statement, saying that not convinced that the suspects although he was robbed of his in the spraying incidents are backpack, there was no gun not related to the University. involved.

“In terms of the on-campus Thomas J. Lawrence, incident, we are still reviewing the vice president of the the videos from surveillance

“”

cameras,” he said.

“Unfortunately, it takes a while because the video is in real-time. We found someone that fits the description the complaintent made and we are looking into it.”

When asked about what the department is doing to maintain student safety, Lawrence talked about the recent enhanced amount of officers in the residence village.

“We’ve increased officers in the strip outside Montgoris because we’ve had several complaints from students,” he said.

“We just asked the officers to spend a little more time there.”

At the end of the each email, Public Safety also provides students with points of advice to keep in mind while out and about, which Lawrence heavily reiterated.

“Don’t walk alone, always have your phone on you,” he said. “A lot of those things your mom and dad told you when you were five years old and we just got to hit them back into your head.”

Going green with trail mix and tote bags LIAM LA GUERRE

NEWS

Staff Writer

Over the weekend, Campus Activities gave students the opportunity to make their own trail mix bars and design their own reusable St. John’s campus tote bags in an effort emphasize “going green and being healthy.”

The event is part of the Live, Love, Learn series and began last summer in an effort to incorporate more weekend programming on campus.

The series takes place at the

D’Angelo Center Coffeehouse every Saturday at 2 p.m. The theme of the series is “you make it and take it.”

After swiping storm cards, students received a plain, cream colored St. John’s tote bag, a white paper bag and 4 MVP points.

The trail mix area was filled with large bags of trail mix ingredients like peanuts, banana pieces, pretzels, and raisins.

Students scooped their favorite pieces into their paper bags to create the featured snack.

Students snacked on trail mix and worked on their

tote bags while they sat at the coffeehouse decorating station tables. Each table was equipped with paint and extra snacks.

Pedro Gomez of Campus Activities said the event is another effort by the University to go green and promote an environment friendly lifestyle.

“I hope to see the St. John’s tote bags all the time because they are reusable and they are a reminder to be more eco-friendly,” he said.

“I think that people are getting the message.”

Gomez said, the event is the first of the series which highlights going green and

being healthy.

The inspiration came from looking into exciting events that tie into a goal of the University and will appeal to students.

“We’ve been very happy with the response; I would say that we have been very effective to go from not offering any weekend programming to creating multiple programs that make the weekend more vibrant,” he said.

According to Gomez, the events draw both residential and commuter students in equal proportions.

The Live, Love, Learn series continues next week

TORCH

BRIEFS Compiled by Nell O’Connor and Sara Cahill Marron

Tutoring Services The University Learning Commons has reopened in a new location.

The center moved from it’s previous location in St John’s Hall, to the former Academic Commons in St. Augustine Hall, Room 103.

The Learning Commons provides University students with tutoring services, for classes and help with reviewing assignments. It is open Mondays and Thursday from 8 am to 8 pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 am to 4 pm and Fridays from 8 am to 2 pm.

Latino Heritage Month St. John’s University Latino Heritage Celebration kicked off on September 14, with a screening of the film “Day Without a Mexican.”

There will be events throughout the following month, including a parade and barbecue later in the week. There will also be several discussions and a debate on the topic of immigration.

NY Primary Elections Party primaries in New York on Tuesday were described by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as “a royal screw-up.”

Low-voter turnout and widespread problems with a newly unveiled electronic voting system created delays and long lines at the polls.

The GOP primary race pitted former Representative Rick Lazio against Carl Paladino, a Buffalo businessman.The winner of the primary race will be the Republican nominee that challenges Democrat Andrew Cuomo in the November general election.

torchonline.com

The TORCH

15 Sept. 2010

Global media monitoring at STJ Panel on women in the media is hosted by journalism department SARA CAHILL MARRON

News Editor The Division of Mass Communication and World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), a non-governmental organization, will co-sponsor a paneled discussion on the most recent findings of the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) this Monday.

The GMMP studies the representation of women in the media and is coordinated by the WACC. According to the GMMP’s website, the organization is the largest advocacy initiative in the world working to change the perception of women in

the media.

The panel will be comprised of Marilyn Greenwald, Sarah Macharia, Heidi Evans, and June Nicholson.

Greenwald is a professor at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, Macharia is a staffer at WACC, Evans is a reporter for the NY Daily News, and Nicholson is professor and director in the School of Mass Communication at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dr. Judith Cramer, the director of the Journalism Program at St. John’s will moderate the discussion and Professor Mark Prendergast will handle the opening and closing remarks.

Dr. Cramer said the

purpose of the event is to inspire students to view news and reporting in a different way.

“The purpose of the event is to get students to view the news through a different lens,” she said.

“We don’t realize that there are groups that are not being included in the process of relaying the news.”

According to a preliminary report released by the GMMP, “it matters who is left out and what is not covered” rather than only who is included.

Findings highlight that women are underrepresented in news coverage as opposed to men, suggesting that media-content center’s on a male-perspective of the world.

These findings come from a sample of 42 countries from various continents such as Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean Region, Pacific Islands and Europe, according to the Highlights of Preliminary Findings report released on the GMMP’s website.

“The impact of our backgrounds and who we are as people is reflected in news coverage. This impact, in turn, shapes events,” Dr. Cramer said.

“My hope is that Journalism majors will incorporate what they hear into their thinking when deciding what news is.”

The event is open to the public and will be held in the D’Angelo Center, room 416 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Discover Queens Week Discover Queens Restaurant Week launched on Tuesday at the Queens Borough Hall Plaza. The event features Greek, French, and Asian cuisine throughout the borough for a 3-course fixed price of $25.

Restaurant Week runs from September 20th-23rd and September 27th-30th, Monday through Thursday. A list of participating restaurants can be found at http://www.discoverqueens.info/restaurant_week/about/.

Can’t get enough TORCH news? Visit our Web site for online exclusives. torchonline.com

STJ graduate student runs for children’s charity JUSTIN THRIFT Editor-in-Chief St. John’s student Sean McGrath will be running in the 2010 New York City Marathon on November 7 to raise money for Team For Kids, a charity dedicated to fighting childhood obesity.

McGrath, who earned his bachelor’s degree in History last spring and is currently completing a master’s degree in education, says that Team For Kids means a lot to him because working with children is a big part of his life.

“I have spent the past 6 summers working at 4-H Camp Overlook in Franklin County and it is always the highlight of my year,” said McGrath. “I am also planning on becoming a high school Social Studies teacher.”

McGrath’s passion for running and working with the youth is the reason why Team For Kids is so important to him, which he says provides children with fitness and characterbuilding programs throughout the United States and South Africa.

In addition to raising money, the runner is keen to also raise awareness, reminding people

that obesity related illnesses are of the leading causes of death in the United States every year.

“In order to fix this,” said McGrath, “we need to instill a sense of value for physical fitness and healthy eating in today’s youth. That is why I run.”

Running 26.2 miles won’t be a new experience for McGrath either, as he ran the Long Island Marathon in 2009. He notes that running is not just a way for him to help Team For Kids, it’s a crucial part of his life.

“Running always keeps me centered. It’s what makes a bad day a good one and what makes a good day a great one,” said McGrath. “There’s a peacefulness that comes over you when you go out for a 2 or 3 hour long run. When I am out there running, nothing else matters.”

And while running adds a lot to McGrath’s daily life, he says that training for and running in a marathon reminds him that he can accomplish whatever he wants in life.

“All I have to do is take things a step at a time and keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

Sean will be around campus in the coming weeks fundraising for his cause. Donations can also be made on his Web page at www.runwithtfk.org.

TORCH PHOTO/COURTESY OF SEAN MCGRATH

McGrath (left) running in the 2009 Long Island Marathon.

6

Editorial Board LXXXVIII

Illustrator’s Corner:

JUSTIN THRIFT Editor-in-Chief NELL O’CONNOR Managing Editor SARA CAHILL MARRON News Editor

FLAMES OF THE TORCH

torchonline.com

The TORCH

15 Sept. 2010

OPINION

The problem with DNY As every student at St. John’s knows, it is a core requirement that every freshman complete a semester of Discover New York, the interactive class where new students get acquainted with New York City by studying its history and geography, and embarking on class trips to famed local landmarks and hot spots.

While the idea of a formal introduction to the city where St. John’s students will make their home for the next four years is well intentioned, we feel that it is an unnecessary program for the University to place such significance on.

A large problem with DNY classes is that they are mandatory. Not only does a large portion of the student body already hail from the tri-state area, it is unjustifiable to force students who have lived here their entire lives to sit through a class about their hometown.

It is a common argument amongst DNY advocates that even if someone is native to New York, there is always more to be learned about the deep culture, people, and history of this great city. To this point we do not disagree, but to force upon New Yorkers a course aimed at helping them discover New York is borderline idiotic.

Moreover, regarding those students who do not originally hail from the Big Apple, we feel just as strongly that to mandate a class of DNY’s nature is unfair and unwarranted. Those students new to the city will undoubtedly discover New York in their own time and in their own ways; they do not need the University to forcefully guide them by the hand.

It is not imperative that these students are exposed to the curriculum of Discover New York because their academic, moral and social wellbeings as

St. John’s students will not be altered in anyway. There are no positives to forcing this credit upon unwilling students.

College should not reflect high school; students should be fully responsible for their own education.

In regards to the liberal arts education offered by St. John’s, we do not feel that Discover New York adds anything significant to its curriculum.

While a St. John’s liberal arts education should entail certain core classes and a theological element to accent the school’s Vincentian mission, Discover New York need not be one of them due to it offering little towards the development of a well-rounded intellectual.

While making DNY courses mandatory of all St. John’s students is unproductive and unreasonable, we do believe that the course itself should not be eradicated all together. At its core, the DNY program is a positive experience, one that many freshmen students who are new to New York find helpful.

It has the opportunity to involve students in this city in a way that can be very rewarding and resourceful.

However, these benefits of DNY would only be maximized if it were to become an optional program. As stated, there is no logical reason to make such a course central to a St. John’s education; rather it should exist as an option for interested students, no different than any other University general elective. Multiple elective classes are required for graduation, why not make DNY one of the options?

The University and DNY program heads should take this opinion seriously, for we have found it to be prevalent among the general student body. Discover New York doesn’t have to be a weekly bind, make it an optional course.

TORCH ILLUSTRATION/FRANKARLOS CRUZ

STUDENTSPARKS: Ground Zero Protests Do you agree with the protesting over the Ground Zero Mosque?

As long as the protests where civil it was fine but people are making it into a political rallying point.

I tried to follow it for my journalism class it was so much going on in terms of press coverage that it was hard to catch up.

John DeRiggs Senior

Jenifer Crisostomo Senior

EDITORIAL POLICY Editorials are the opinions of the Editorial Board of The TORCH. Columns are the opinions of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of The TORCH. Opin-

ions expressed in editorials, columns, letters or cartoons are not necessarily those of the student body, faculty or administrations of St. John’s University.

TO CONTRIBUTE Mail letters to: The TORCH Letters, St. John’s University, 8000 Utopia Pkwy, Jamaica, NY 11439 E-mail letters to: torcheditorials@gmail.com

Please include your full name, year, and college (or department). Letters have a limit of 350 words and may be edited for content, grammar, or space. Unverifiable or anonymous letters will not be published.

All letters are subject to the approval of the Editorial Board of The TORCH.

I’m not to into it, too much arguing and I don’t want to get into it.

Hemant Sugrim Sophomore

Personally I think they should leave it alone, enough things in this world to worry about than someone’s religious place.

Jayliss Diaz Freshman COMPILED BY COMPILED BY THOMAS CARNEVALE THOMAS CARNEVALE

7

A message to the freshmen students Over the past few days I’ve been considering the following reality about my life: Next year at this time I will no longer be a college student. In fact, unless I continue with graduate studies here at St. John’s, in a year’s time for me to be sitting here on this computer in the TORCH office would probably be considered trespassing.

These thoughts began shortly after I bumped into an old friend from freshmen year a few days ago who at one point in our conversation said, “It’s almost time to start being an adult, man.”

Those are pretty heavy thoughts, but they serve to remind and help me appreciate the cushioned life that college temporarily affords. There’s a framework you can count on, a steadiness that can be planned so long as you pay your tuition and keep up your grades.

After graduation, that all goes away. It’s

a real world job or bust.

Many of my good friends that have graduated in the past few years are finding this out firsthand. A very select few have found jobs and an even more select few have found great jobs they love.

I can count the latter group of friends on one hand. The rest are still unemployed.

Which brings me to a question that I’ve been thinking about more than any other on this subject: Was it always this ridiculously difficult to embark on your desired career and succeed with a solid education? Surely this is a new trend that our generation must adjust to.

Those from our parents’ generation will probably quickly refute this, but that’s only because they know how hard it is out there right now and they want to prepare us, not shower us with sympathy and hand us excuses.

Between sending out endless resumes and watching obsessively for Emails and calls from possible employers, my post-grad friends have passed on some advice from the other side of college graduation: Do everything you can during the college years to separate yourself from everyone else. Obtain unique skills, seek interesting opportunities and create a gameplan for achieving your goals while still in school.

In a nutshell, be driven; push yourself to be the best you can be.

Now that I’m a senior, I feel it’s only right that I pass this on to my younger peers who may be just starting out here in Queens. If there’s one thing I can tell you with complete certainty, it’s that the rest of your time in college will fly by in a whirlwind. I don’t care if that’s a disgusting cliché; there’s a reason it’s used so often. Take advantage of everyday you have.

Internships are a great place to start. They offer you more than a classroom or teacher can give you, they offer experience. This is perhaps the most vital thing, besides your degree, that will make finding jobs a little easier. With New York City being one of the most fertile places in the world for internship opportunities, the chances of securing a good one increases dramatically.

The truth is, after graduation, your four years in college are all you have going for or against you. Your accomplishments are what will land you a job.

The path you took and the degree you decided to earn will be a major factor in the direction your life takes.

That said, I think it’s troubling that in this day and age of rising graduation rates and increasing job competition that

high school seniors are commonly told that they can spend their time in college “figuring it out.” I remember as I prepared to ship off to college and declare my major, everyone from my high school guidance counselor to teachers I respected greatly told me and my classmates that college was a time of figuring out what you want to do with your life.

Yes, the college years offer a growth period like no other, but college is only four years, and those years will greatly determine the situation you find yourself in after you pick up that piece of paper which is worth a small mortgage (more commonly known as your degree).

Telling students that the college years are for “figuring things out” is a cruel joke designed to alleviate pressure; it only causes students to coast.

But maybe that’s just me.

Welcome to college, freshmen.

Enjoy every day and night that the next four years throw at you, but keep in mind that your days are slowly building up to a life that doesn’t resemble an Asher Roth music video.

Justin Thrift is a senior English major who is not quite ready to leave the confines of college life.

He can be reached at: torcheic@gmail.com

Stuck in the middle As tuition prices continue to rise, middle class students find themselves with nowhere to turn RAMIRO FUNEZ Staff Writer

OPINION TORCH ILLUSTRATION/JORDAN BAUM

torchonline.com

is completely covered by the government. Although the country might have high amounts of public taxes, the money collected by the government goes to a significant cause. In fact, the Letudiant, a French publication of education statistics, reports that a graduate student can pay as little as €750 (a little over $950) for a quality master’s degree from a private French university.

The federal government and universities throughout the country need to make more of an effort towards assisting middle-income families in paying tuition rates.

They need to understand that while these families may be earning an income above the poverty line, the immense price of an education in this country is not a cost they can bear without assistance.

The TORCH

The primary issue is that the previously mentioned financial aid programs aren’t properly recognizing and addressing the financial insolvencies that hurt many middle-income families.

Universities and federal financial aid programs should offer more specific application forms and programs geared towards helping middle-income families pay for their child’s college tuition.

If this kind of practice were instituted, middle-income students would receive the proper financial assistance that they need, and would not have to worry about adopting ludicrous amounts of debt upon graduation. Furthermore, it would decrease dropout rates for universities throughout the country.

In many European countries like France, tuition charged by universities

15 Sept. 2010

As the time period for satisfying fall semester financial requirements at St. John’s came to an end last week, apprehensions have continued to spew over the never-ending decreases in financial aid.

Within the last few weeks, the office of Student Financial Services has been filled with patrons requesting loan contracts, fixed tuition forms, deferment plan sheets, and final semester bills.

Moreover, many St. John’s students have been flustered with loan forms that seem almost painful to fill out.

Financial trials over tuition payments for the fall semester have become increasingly evident, especially for students from middle-income families.

Many students from these families have found themselves lost with inadequate amounts of financial support from the federal government, their parents, and the University.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), generally filled out every spring, is one of the main operatives of financial analysis used to measure how much financial aid students should receive. In addition, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is a grant program that aids residents of New York with student financial aid.

St. John’s offers some financial assistance of their own to students based on income and tax rates from student households.

But although these programs are relatively accurate in measuring the status of a student’s financial aid situation and assisting in the fulfillment of their requirements, they often fail to recognize the financial struggles that many middle-

income students face.

Students from lower-income families typically receive large amounts of financial aid from both the government and the University because of their inability to pay for hightuition rates. Students from highincome families generally receive munificent amounts of tuition money from their parents who have the financial capability to do so.

However, many students whose families are stuck in the middle bracket receive insufficient amounts of financial aid from the government, and are forced instead to squeak by.

After acquiring completed FAFSA forms from these students and evaluating their family’s expected income, the government usually does not distribute the same amount of money to them as they would to lower-income students because of their seemingly sufficient funds.

In reality, the parents of these middle-income families usually own property, have large mortgage payments, are paying off car loans, and/or are supporting their families without any assistance from the government.

As a result, many middle-income parents are unable to assist their children in paying tuition, forcing them to take out loans that accumulate harsh amounts of interest throughout their time of study.

Upon graduation, many of these same students will be drowned in debt that they will struggle to pay off for years.

In fact, according to a study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, over 50 percent of college students graduate with high amounts of debt, and over 40 percent of these students come from middle-income families.

torchonline.com

The TORCH

15 Sept. 2010

OPINION

8

Not just reinventing the wheel

In the weeks preceding, this year’s MTV Video Music Awards were touted as a place of reinvention and re-emergence for two of the music industry’s biggest and most successful stars, Eminem and Kanye West. Both had spent the better part of the last year planning and producing new albums designed to reinvigorate their stalled careers.

West, as most people with the Internet and cable television know, famously interrupted Taylor Swift at last year’s show, earning the ire of most of the country and President Obama. He isolated himself from most of society for most of the next year, conveniently reappearing only weeks before Sunday’s big show, where he was slated to perform. Eminem was coming off the success of his latest effort, Recovery, which had been inspired by his previous flop of an album and a stint in rehab.

What was interesting to me was that these two artists had each performed multiple times on the same stage, but these performances were supposed to be the culmination of their individual processes of “reinvention.” And I wondered, what does it take to reinvent yourself?

Google “reinvent yourself” and you will get close to 151,000 results. Most of them are articles and tips on how to begin and complete the process, depending on what type of reinvention you are seeking. Careers, love life, mental health: you name it, you can reinvent it.

Which led me to my second question, is it even possible to consciously reinvent yourself?

For some people, especially celebrities like Eminem, Kanye West and Lindsay Lohan, who also made an appearance at the VMAs, it seems that traumatic and embarrassing events are the common force behind their reinventions.

But for most people, myself included, reinvention seems to be a slow, unconscious process, brought on by the seemingly average and mundane events of day-to-day life.

The first time I set foot on the St. John’s campus almost four years ago, I was a radically different person. Looking back over the time that has passed, it is obvious to see the major points of my own reinvention, including last year, when I joined the TORCH. It was definitely a gradual process, of both highs and lows.

But what really shocked me was the reinventions of the people around me, the people I had seen and lived with almost every day during this time. They had radically shaped my own transformation, but it had been hard for me to realize that they too had changed, some for the better and others for the worse.

The University itself has undergone a radical reinvention during my time here. From the new schedule to the seemingly endless construction to small things, like no trays in Montgoris, it seems as though St. John’s is trying to keep up with its students as they change and grow.

As I watched Eminem take the stage at the VMAs, I was reminded of a night in 2007, when my new friends and I crowded into a dorm room in Donovan and watched as Britney Spears came out for what was supposed to be her own performance of reinvention. Horrified, we watched as her comeback failed miserably and she left the stage in defeat.

Sometimes, a reinvention will be more of a setback than a step forward. It may take several tries before an individual or even an institution like St. John’s can truly transform themselves into what they desire to be. While that may seem like a daunting task, it is nothing to shy away from.

Reinvention should be a personal journey, with no pre-determined results. It should be born out of a need to change, to adapt, to grow, but to also maintain. And sometimes, reinvention can mean staying exactly the same.

Kanye West’s performance at this year’s VMAs was a moment of unparalleled anticipation, with viewers and fellow entertainers alike waiting to see how he would make his comeback. Performing on the stark stage, primarily by himself, he stole the show from its original mistress, the meatwearing Lady Gaga. Everyone waited eagerly to see what he would say, what song he would perform and if Taylor Swift would come running onto the stage.

In the end, Kanye’s song of reinvention was more of a reaffirmation. He is without a doubt one of the most talented rap artists ever, and fully aware that he is also one of the most self-centered, egotistical celebrities in Hollywood. He has taken a journey, he has adapted, he has maintained.

Nell O’Connor is a senior journalism major.

She can be reached at: torch.managingeditor@gmail.com

You can’t stop the signal

Every day, people all over the world turn their computers on and send small electronic signals across the planet with the click of a mouse. We send pieces of information, from the incredibly significant to the ridiculously pointless, with almost no thought as to where it’s going or who will see it.

I know that I’m certainly guilty of this. I’ve registered for sites and given them information only to download a single file and never venture to that corner of the Internet again. I’ve posted in discussion forums about a wide variety of topics, tweeted, blogged, and posted all over Facebook. I have Googled just about any random question that my mind can manage to conjure.

Because the Internet is such a valuable means of information and resources, it can be easy to forget about the digital trail that each of us leaves behind. Simple things, like posting photos of a night out with friends, can have nightmarish repercussions. In many cases, potential and current employers will take a look at the blogs, Facebook profiles, and any other easily accessible information available about applicants or employees.

There are plenty of guides out there about what to post and what not to post, or how to make your online profile a valuable tool to advance your career and not hinder it, but these guides are missing a very crucial element: We have a right to free speech, and we will use it.

These guides also tend to focus on social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, but forget about the rest of a person’s digital life. Online gaming, forums, comments on blogs, and just about everything else can pretty easily be traced

back to the original poster without much of a problem, unless you happen to always insist upon a different user name.

Perhaps most disturbingly, the single most visited site on the Internet tracks and collects an almost scary level of data about its users.

Google, the giant of the worldwide web, tracks each search, the IP address of the user, when they searched for it, and more.

If you have a Google account such as Gmail, you are probably having your entire Web history tracked. This usually goes unnoticed by casual users, but should not be taken lightly. The Web history feature at one time had automatic enrollment, but new accounts have to opt-in to it.

If Google can track the time and IP address of the computer you search from, and then store the information forever under your account and profile, they can essentially learn more about you than anyone else. Facebook buttons, Youtube videos, Google search bars, and complete profile linking is becoming the de facto standard. This means that while you might never post anything stupid on Facebook, that drunken Youtube video of you is only a few clicks away for any willing person to look for it.

Many people will say that the answer is to simply make sure that none of your accounts are linked, to use different user names, and not to post anything too controversial. While I do agree with these sentiments, I refuse to censor myself beyond recognition. I have the right to say what I believe, and no potential job is going to stop that. In the end, the true answer lies in the middle.

We shouldn’t have to censor ourselves, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to be careful about what we post. A thought-provoking blog, controversial or not, is probably worth the risk, a Youtube comment yelling at a ten year old is probably not. All of these posts and electronic signals we send go somewhere and are seen by someone.

You have control of what you send, but be careful.

Once it’s sent, you can’t stop the signal.

Mark McDonald is a junior business major.

He can be reached at: torchads@gmail.com

Think Outside...

Features

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9

Section

Style gone wild to kick off Fashion Week CAROLYN WARGULA Features Editor

TORCH PHOTO/ MARY JURADO

From shopping to partying, celebrities and fashionistas filled the streets of Soho for a night on the town. rities at Fashion’s Night Out,” said Stewart. “It was a great event and there was definitely excitement in the air.”

By 10 p.m., shoppers migrated towards the Meatpacking District for a night out on the town. Passing by Alexander McQueen’s boutique on West 14th street, fashion insiders decked in party attire could be seen hitting the streets.

From B-lister models photographed in front of Jeffrey’s, to basketball players running into the cobblestoned pavement, the night was right for celebrity sightings.

The biggest party of the night in the Meatpacking District could have easily been Di-

ane von Furstenberg’s collaborative event with Hewlett-Packard.

Celebrities such as Olivia Palermo joined in to share the excitement of HP’s debut with the Experience Lounge.

Partiers in both the Meatpacking District and Soho danced on buses decked out for the Spring/ Summer 2011 season.

“While we were walking home, the police came because partiers stormed onto Broadway and started dancing on the cars,” said Stewart. “The police had to breakup the crowds and nobody could get through the street. It was wild.”

While Fashion’s Night Out was definitely a financial success for the fashion industry, Stewart

questions the superficiality the industry conveys to the public.

“You could tell people are buying things purely because of Fashion’s Night Out,” said Stewart. “Fashion is so fickle.

People caught up in the hype had spending inhibitions and didn’t care what they spent.”

However, there is no doubt that this event brings people from around the world to New York City for one purpose: to shop.

“A lot of people traveled to New York,” said Hertfelder.

“My friend was talking to some people from Europe who came to New York just to shop because it’s cheaper. Everyone out there was shopping.”

NOFAR ARABOV Contributing Writer

“When I come for my 7:30 a.m. class, parking is not such an issue, but when I take a class at 4:45 p.m., it is nearly impossible for me to find parking,” said Elishayev.

While Kalantarova is frustrated with the parking regulations at St. John’s, availability is not what bothers her.

“All gates, besides for Gate 6, close at 11 PM,” said Kalantarova. “Sometimes I stay late to study in the library and do not realize it is already 12 a.m. It annoys me that I need to drive my car all the way to Gate 6 when I entered using Gate 2.”

There are advantages and disadvantages that come with each living arrangement. While resident students gain the long awaited independence and freedom of living on their own, commuters have the advantages of being close to home.

As the great Sicilian novelist Leonardo Sciascia said, “to each his own.”

torchonline.com

to many organizations. However, some commuter students feel it is useless to travel to campus merely for an event.

Nadia Kalantarova, a commuting junior, believes she would attend more events and take part in more organizations if she lived on campus.

“Because I am a commuter student, I prefer not to waste my time going to school for the event,” she said. “It is a hassle for me.”

On the other hand, Castro says that she is very much involved in all the University has to offer, joining organizations such as Voices of Victory on campus.

Making the effort to come to campus is somewhat tedious for commuters, especially due to parking availability. Shalamov and Elishayev both realized that parking is more accessible only during certain hours, specifically the beginning of the day.

The TORCH

Every year, incoming freshman around the world come to St. John’s University, ready to exercise their newly acquired autonomy from home. It is no surprise that an 18-year-old living on their own is excited for no more curfews or paranoid parents. However, this new excitement can cause a distraction and the student can often forget the purpose of school all together/studying.

Students who live on campus can feel distracted by the social environment, sometimes claiming that living on campus is having a negative effect on their grades.

“Being surrounded by people 24-7 may be enjoyable at times, but can be burdening to my studies,” said Ella Soltz, a sophomore dorming at St. John’s.

Karina Castro, another sophomore who dorms, admits to being distracted by friends, and fears that her social life is jeopardizing her GPA. Commuting students, such as sophomore Jonathan Shalamov, feel that living off campus has had a better effect on their grades. He believes that if he were to live on campus, he would be more concerned with what his friends are doing than his grades.

“I would not be able to set my priorities straight,” said Shalamov.

As a commuting freshman, Daniela Elishayev admits that living on campus would cause her to worry about “being at the best parties” as opposed to studying.

There are some positives to dorming.

An example for students who live on campus is that it is easier to be involved in campus activities and organizations.

St. John’s hosts many events and is home

15 Sept. 2010

To choose or not to choose: living on campus

FEATURES

With the sound of hundreds of stilettos hitting the pavement mixed with the smell of cigarettes and high-end perfume, Soho was clogged with hundreds of fashionistas celebrating New York’s largest economy-boosting event, Fashion’s Night Out. Hordes of people not only speaking English, but also French and Russian, editors checking their Blackberries, photographers following cars, six-foot-tall, bony models taking pictures and 20-somethings clad in black packed the chaotic streets. People in search of deals, celebrities and parties brought this disarray to Manhattan on Friday night.

For the typical St. John’s University student, the sight was overwhelming.

“The crowds were massive,” said sophomore David Stewart.

“Fashion’s Night Out was probably the craziest thing I’ve ever been to. There’s energy about, and everyone is just having a good time.”

Stores such as H&M lured customers to spend money by offering discounts on various items. Retail workers for Steve Madden passed scratch & shop cards to get shoppers excited for even more significant deals.

The Japanese brand Uniqlo, based in Soho, attracted many shoppers from across the globe with their low deals with capris starting from $7.99.

TopShop entertained their shoppers with multiple booths on each floor. From Popchips and exotic square sandwiches topped with ham and aspara-

gus to free drinks for the 21+ crowd courtesy of BULLDOG Gin, TopShop mixed elements of style and entertainment to allure crowds.

“Each store seemed like a party with the DJs and big crowds,” said sophomore, Paula Hertfelder. “It was a fun way to shop.”

MoMA Design Store offered an interpretation of a controversial piece by Yoko Ono in 1965.

Editors, photographers, and artenthusiasts alike filled the store and drank champagne as designers shared their inspirations.

Madewell had a stream of shoppers lined to the corner of the street, eager to join the launch party of their new line designed by Alexa Chung.

The British fashionista was spotted outside of American Apparel, which was infiltrated with hordes of hipsters decked out in stripes and skinny jeans walking along Spring Street.

As the night passed, the crowds were larger than ever with people hoping to catch a glimpse of the afterparties.

Stewart attended the Ralph Lauren party where he spotted celebrities such as Jessica Alba and the Olsen twins enjoying a free concert by musician Janelle Monae.

“Ralph Lauren opened up the front windows of their store so people in the crowd could take pictures and hear the concert,” said Stewart.

Despite being packed like sardines in the crowd, Stewart admits he enjoyed the chance to see celebrities such as Kanye West and Karl Lagerfeld. Stewart claims the greatest moment of the night was watching Elijah Wood DJing in the corner at the Adidas store on Broadway.

“There were so many celeb-

10

Cooking in dorms made simple John Clancy and Daniel Bayley, two residents of the townhouses, have cooked all kinds of Italian specialties, hosting “family dinners” once a week for friends. From chicken cutlets to pasta with sausage, Clancy and Bayley have proven the possibilIn order to skip the lines and the stiff hours of ity of cooking great meals on campus. the dining halls, some St. John’s students choose “We really like to cook. We all make a to cook in their dorms. With a multitude of recipes, meal and invite people over to eat. We sit as including exotic dishes like baked ziti, students are a family—it’s something to look forward to utilizing their culinary skills in an effort to save each week,” said Bayley. money and time.

There are numerous culinary resources, most As an aspiring chef, Jehan Ibrahem, a junior of them free, that St. John’s students can take adliving in Henley, has created numerous savory vantage of. Moreover, Web sites offer step-by-step meals for her suitemates. From rice and beans to recipes, making it easier to create various meals. various chicken dishes, Ibrahem uses the kitchen Residents of the townhouses Nick Lopiano in an effort to bring members and Kevin Garcia have of the suite closer together, joined the recent switch eat healthy, and save money. to on-campus cooking. In We all make a meal “I like to think of this agreement with Ibrahem kitchen as a place where we and invite people over and others, they value can all come together and the different aspects that to eat. We sit as a family eat. It’s easy, it’s fast, and it’s cooking allows for. convenient,” said Ibrahem. “I - it’s something to look “St. John’s gives you can make food when I want, all the resources you need forward to each week. and I can cook the foods I to cook,” said Lopiano. like to eat.”

-Daniel Bayley “You just have to get the Students living on camfood. It’s easier, and we pus have the ability to cook can eat foods that on-camusing the resources supplied pus dining may not offer. in the dorms. Stephanie Kalousdian is a prime We don’t have to leave the building so it’s conveexample, a junior living in the on-campus town- nient. We like it a lot.” houses. As a student without a meal plan, KalousMost students seem to be positively involved dian takes advantage of the full kitchen, preparing with cooking on campus, claiming it is the more meals each day. convenient option for their lifestyles. Most of the “It’s so much easier for me. I don’t have to residence halls have made the effort to supply stuworry about not using all my weekly meals. I can dents with the necessary tools to cook, with kitchbuy food when I need it, and it’s the food I want ens built on every floor. to eat,” said Kalousdian. “One thing we make a These students have created a recent shift from lot is Greek salad. Cut up your lettuce, throw in eating in the dining halls to creating their own culiyour tomatoes and onion, grill some chicken nary delights. Through their resources and the acand throw it on there. Put some pita and tzaziki cessibility St. John’s allows in the dorms, students sauce and you’re good.” now have the option of cooking for themselves.

A potential concern for many students who want to cook is finding grocery stores, and learning how to create certain meals. Many St. John’s stuCan’t get enough TORCH features? dents have never cooked before, outside of boiling Visit our new Web site water for pasta or making eggs. Fortunately, there for online exclusives. are numerous recipes that students can follow for torchonline.com delicious alternatives to the dining hall.

JOANNA ADDUCI

Torch Favorite Recipes

Contributing Writer

torchonline.com

The TORCH

15 Sept. 2010

FEATURES

“”

Magnolia’s Cupcakes

TORCH PHOTO/KRISTEN FARMER

Vanilla cupcakes are a staple item from Magnolia’s bakery in Manhattan.

Ingredients: • • • •

1 1/2 cups self-rising flour 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter 4 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 2 cups sugar • 1 cup milk Yield: enough for 24 cupcakes

Directions: *courtesy of foodnetwork.com

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. • Line muffin tins with cupcake papers. In bowl, combine the flours.

• In a seperate bowl, whisk the butter until smooth.

• Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy.

• Add the eggs, beating well after each addition.

• Add the dry ingredients in 3 parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla.

• Scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well blended.

• Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about 3/4 full.

• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

• Cool the cupcakes in tins for 15 minutes.

• Remove from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack before icing.

Anthropology department expanding rapidly on campus KAROLINA MAY Staff Writer

With the variety of majors offered at the five colleges of St. John’s University, choosing a direction of study may seem simple. The study of anthropology, offered by St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a major that not too many students consider.

With approximately 35 students currently enrolled in the major, anthropology seems to attract a small group of people.

However, according to the Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work Department, the faculty and major is constantly developing and offering students many interesting career choices.

So what exactly is anthropology?

Many of us might be acquainted with the work of Temperance Brennan, a fictional anthropologist from the popular TV series “Bones.”

“What she does on the show is actually a part of physical anthropology, which examines human evolution, but is also used to identify human remains after major catastrophes,” said assistant professor Anne Galvin.

In general, anthropology is the study

of human behavior and bicultural diversity. Anthropology includes four-broad interconnected fields: cultural anthropology which is a study of people, culture, and society; linguistics, which is the study of language and communications; archeology, which is the study of past material culture and physical; and biological anthropology, which specializes in human evolution.

“Anthropology is a distinct and dynamic discipline,” said Dr. Barrett Brenton, the associate professor of anthropology. “It covers all the evolutionary history over the past 65 million years. We reconstruct the past and work with all living cultures in every corner of the globe.

We are their advocates as applied anthropologists seeking to protect and preserve their way of life.”

“A lot of people ask what the difference is between sociology and anthropology,” said Professor Galvin. “There is a different purpose in each department.”

Sociology was originally associated with industrial countries and social institutions, whereas anthropology was considered the study of exotic and far-off places. However, today that is no longer the case. Both of these disciplines study humans but approach their study from

different perspectives. Sociology looks at social structures whereas anthropology studies cultural patterns.

Anthropology courses have been offered at St. John’s since the Sociology Department was founded in 1960. Eighty years later, the department of Sociology and Anthropology became an official department and in 1971, the anthropology major was offered to full time students.

The Anthropology Department has only two full time faculty members, Professor Brenton and Professor Galvin.

In addition, many adjunct professors are hired for a variety of courses, such as African culture. Moreover, the anthropology department works with other disciplines to expand their curriculum, offering courses from linguistics to biblical archeology.

“Our number of new majors is growing rapidly each year,” said Dr. Brenton.

Professor Galvin added that more and more students are coming to St. John’s with anthropology already declared as a major.

At last year’s commencement there were six students graduating with a Bachelor’s of arts degree in anthropology. One of them was Peter Greco, who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public

Health at Columbia University.

“I used my anthropology background and applied it as a way of intervention,” said Greco. “Since anthropologists study people and a target population, it is useful for me to better understand what and who to study. Anthropology can be a career development tool. My example is just one of the few ways it can be applied in several different fields.”

Applied anthropology is just one of the career options for anthropology majors. It is applicable for those wanting to shape public policy and those who want to have a concrete impact on the community.

“Anthropology gives practical tools for those who want to do research” said Professor Galvin.

Not only is research used in academic work, but also in fields such as marketing where they must analyze the usage of certain products.

“With anthropology, you can go in whatever direction you want,” said Galvin.

Each of the four fields of anthropology have something different to offer, from education and museum work, to archeology, shaping public policies, and even advertising.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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15 Sept. 2010

stone winner

PHOTO COURTESY OF LETSNOTANDSAYWEDID.COM

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Pg. 16

The TORCH

Emma Stone brings her A-game in the upcoming teen comedy about gossip, sex and high school

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The VMAs Go GaGa IN THE BIGGEST TELECAST SINCE 2002, MTV OFFERS LITTLE SURPRISE IN AWARDS SHOW KARLA RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer

T

he MTV Video Music Awards broadcasted live from the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles this past Sunday. The white carpet was rolled out for this year’s most prominent musicians and artists, who made sure to wear their trendiest and most extravagant looks.

It comes as no surprise that the new Queen of Pop, Lady Gaga, dominated the night. She arrived in a breathtaking gown from the late Alexander McQueen’s last collection. The Inferno’s predictions proved to be right after Lady Gaga took home eight moon men, including Video of the Year for “Bad Romance.” The award was presented by legendary singer Cher, who said she used to be the one to raise eyebrows back when Lady Gaga was just “Baby Gaga.”

Rapper Eminem and singer Rihanna opened up the show with their hit “Love the Way You Lie.” The lackluster performance was nothing special except for the fiery background displays and Rihanna’s new bright red hairdo.

Eminem did not leave empty-handed either, winning the awards for Best Hip-Hop and Male Video for “Not Afraid.” He was not present to accept either award because he had already left for New York for his concert with rapper Jay-Z, the following night.

The two most controversial performances of the night came courtesy of 20-year-old country singer Taylor Swift and the king of controversy, Kanye West. The country-pop singer performed a song she wrote that was inspired by last year’s VMA incident when the rapper humiliated Swift during her acceptance speech for Best Female Video, claiming it should have gone to Be-

PHOTO COURTESY OF MTV.COM

Taylor Swift reminisces on last year’s VMA incident in a heartfelt performance of “Innocent,” inspired by Kanye West, who interrupted her acceptance speech for Best Female Video in 2009. yonce instead.

The song titled “Innocent,” carried a strong message of peace for West, “Every one of us has messed up, too/ I hope you remember today is never too late to be brand new.”

As if it were staged, West closed the showed with a song based on the Swift situation as well. In his performance, he acknowledges his mistakes by saying, “You’ve been putting up with my (explicit) for too long,” followed by an inappropriate chorus asking for a toast for his wrong doings. “Let’s have a toast for the scumbags,” he sang.

An Easy Stepping Stone INFERNO CHATS WITH THE LEADING LADY OF EASY A TO DISCUSS STARDOM AND THE PRESSURES OF “FAKING IT ” McARTHUR JOSEPH

E

mma Stone is fast becoming a part of Hollywood’s new “it” girls, and she fully deserves the title.

The funny woman has starred in box office hits The House Bunny, Superbad and Zombieland, and she is taking the step from hilarious supporting actress to leading lady in her new movie Easy A. The Inferno recently got a chance to catch up with Stone via conference call and talk to her about her new role, future projects and much more.

The film is a story about a girl named Olive who

torchonline.com

The TORCH

15 Sept. 2010

ENTERTAINMENT

Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF LETSNOTANDSAYWEDID.COM

Emma Stone plays modern-day Hester Prynne from the novel The Scarlet Letter.

lies about losing her virginity but when word spreads throughout her high school, she realizes that her life is not that different from Hester Prynne’s in The Scarlet Letter, which she is currently studying in school.

Unlike the protagonist in the classic novel, Olive decides to use the rumor mill to her advantage When asked why she was drawn to this character, Stone replied: “It’s really rare to read a funny female character in a comedy. I like Olive’s perspective on things.”

Although Stone was home-schooled growing up, the two shared similarities in personality.

“We’re eerily similar in a lot of ways though.

That’s probably why I connected with her so easily,” she said.

“She has a close relationship with her family and I definitely have the same.”

As Stone’s first time carrying a movie, the actress applied a lot of pressure on herself to give a convincing performance.

“The size of the role didn’t matter I just wanted to make her seem alive.”

Stone said that being the lead made her focus more on what she was doing and helped her learn more about herself as an actress and increased her work ethic.

“I just wanted to do her justice because she was written so well on the page” she said.

The Easy A star also discussed a possible sequel to the hit Zombieland. She did not confirm anything but liked the idea of a follow-up.

“I don’t know, we’ll have to see,” Stone said.

“We all loved making that movie and we’d love to continue the story, especially in 3D.” Stone is keeping her agenda busy by also filming another movie alongside singer/actor Justin Timberlake called Friends With Benefits, which she called “a pretty fascinating experience.”

Overall, Stone is satisfied with her latest project, which hits theatres September 17 and knows audiences will enjoy it too.

“If you’re into horror you can see a horror flick or watch me fake sex. If you want to see a good comedy, then see Easy A.”

Usher’s performance resembled Black Eyed Peas’ past performances more than his own, but he did not cease to awe the viewers with his incredible dancing skills. Other artists who hit the stage were Best New Artist winner Justin Bieber, rapper B.O.B, rock groups Paramore, Florence and the Machine, and rapper Drake who performed with hip-hop producer Swizz Beats and R&B songstress Mary J. Blige.

Best Rock Video went to 30 Seconds to Mars for their single, “Kings and Queens,” while Best Collaboration went to Beyonce and Lady Gaga for their single “Telephone.”

Comedian Chelsea Handler tried her best to fulfill her duties as host by poking fun at the celebrities and making crude jokes that often did not sit well with the crowd. Her opening video clip featured starlet Lindsay Lohan, who was recently released from rehab.

“Have you been drinking?” Lohan questioned Handler. “Do you think anyone wants to work with a drunk? Take it from me! They don’t!” she joked.

Handler tried to liven up the crowd by imploring them to make bad choices and encouraging them to be on their worst behavior so the night could be another usual VMA night.

Social networking sites like Twitter were inundated

by VMA-related tweets, with MTV keeping tabs on celebrities that were trending throughout the night.

Overall, the event was a bit toned down from the VMAs of previous years; there were no controversial kisses or risqué performances that would have viewers talking for weeks to come. However, the network was able to score 11.4 million viewers, the best delivery for any MTV telecast since the 2002 VMAs.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MTV.COM

Lady Gaga packs on the meat to celebrate her moon man victory for “Best Video of The Year.”

A Deadly Weapon BIG-NAME CAST SLICES UP THE BIG SCREEN WITH HUMOR AND EDGE ANALEE CAMPBELL Contributing Writer

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Hit or Miss INFERNO REVIEWS THE LATEST ALBUM AND MIXTAPE RELEASES TO DETERMINE IF THE MUSIC IS RIGHT ON TARGET BILL SAN ANTONIO Sports Editor

While much of the album focuses on different aspects of growing up, there’s something oddly teenage about Hurley, right down to Cuomo singing about “crash[ing] a Diddy party in disguise” and reminiscing about the days “when Audioslave was still Rage.”

Hurley kicks off with “Memories,” the record’s leading single and an ode to the band’s younger days. Cuomo sings, “In fact we didn’t know what we were doing half of the time/ We were so sure of ourselves and sure of our way through life.” A song of fond reflection, “Memories” features backing vocals by the cast members of MTV’s Jackass as well as backing guitar from one of the show’s stars, Chris Pontius.

Though Cuomo writes about

the darker side of the maturation into adulthood—the second track, “Trainwrecks” follows a rock band’s struggles to stay afloat financially without losing its sanity and others detail stories about failed relationships and lost friendships, again from a reflective standpoint to indicate the passage of time—he does so in a very light-hearted way, keeping his lyrics simple and flooded with references to pop culture.

In fact, Weezer may have taken the Hurley reference a bit too far. The album’s cover image is of actor Jorge Garcia, better known as Hurley on ABC’s Lost. In addition, the band teamed up with clothing company Hurley to produce a clothing line to help promote the album.

The continued use of the keytar as a backing instrument as well as a major key change on the track “Where’s My Sex?” continue Weezer’s shift from a standard guitar-bass-drums band to a group becoming more self-aware in its musical arrangements and establishing itself furthermore as one of the giants of pop-punk.

Away,” featuring Travis Garland, JoJo sings about giving someone her all to only to receive pain in return.

JoJo presents a majority of her comeback mixtape with a grown and sexy attitude. By belting out songs like “My Time Is Money” and “Baby Please,” she lists all the characteristics necessary for a man to get her attention in a flirtacious way.

“Just A Dream” reveals a more vulnerable side to the singer in which she describes self-pity as a mere product of imagination, exuding emotional honesty in each riff backed by a guitar melody that complements her soulful voice perfectly.

“What You Like” featuring Jordan Gatsby has a futuristic vibe with a feminine Robin Thicke quality in her falsetto that will get listeners up on their feet.

The beats also deliver as

much as JoJo’s vocals in that no two sound alike. With the help of producers like Chad Hugo of the Neptunes, Theron “Neff-U” Feemster and Oak, it’s difficult to categorize the mixtape in one genre because it blends pop, R&B and neosoul with acoustic, jazz, and hip-hop. JoJo’s vocal versatility adapts to each with ease.

The only drawback would be the short length of the mixtape and its obvious catering to a female audience.

Sorry guys, but this one’s strictly for the ladies.

She ends the mixtape on an inspiring note with “All I Want Is Everyting,“ an anthem for the ambitious overachievers.

JoJo’s mixtape is an example of the talent that has been overshadowed by the likes of gaudy dance and shallow pop music played out on many current radio stations. It is also a testimony to female empowerment expressed with a high vocal caliber that is missing from most mainstream female artists t day.

JoJo has chosen an ideal time to make a comeback, determined to show the music industry that she is still a force to be reckoned with.

WEEZER Hurley

OUT OF 4 STARS

(Rock)

T

ADELLE PLATON Entertainment Editor JoJo Can’t Take That Away From Me (Pop/R&B)

OUT OF 4 STARS

T

torchonline.com

een phenomenon JoJo proves she’s more than just a twohit wonder with the release of a brand new mixtape entitled Can’t Take That Away From Me. After a long hiatus from the music scene, JoJo, now a sophomore at Northeastern University, returns by giving fans an audible treat that showcases her tremendous vocals, and flaunts her maturity as both a woman and an artist.

Can’t Take That Away From Me opens up with a track of the same name which has potential to take over airwaves with its upbeat tempo and singsong chorus that catches on quick.

JoJo has come a long way since “Leave (Get Out)” and “Too Little Too Late,” discussing the adult side of heartbreak in her songs. In “Boy Without A Heart” and “When Does It Go

The TORCH

Danny Trejo shows off his arsenal as Machete, a Mexican ex-federale seeking vengeance for betrayal.

W

hen most guys go through mid-life crises, they usually buy a sports car or get a new haircut. Rivers Cuomo writes Weezer records.

Sure, the 40-year-old frontman has been making Weezer records for the better part of the last two decades, but never with the maturity and gusto of Hurley, the band’s latest effort and third album in as many years.

Hurley is also the band’s first album away from Geffen Records, under which Weezer recorded its first seven studio albums.

On the record, Cuomo proves that he is still the prince of Nerd Rock, trailing only Elvis Costello, by pushing the hilarity of his lyrics and diversifying the band’s overall sound.

15 Sept. 2010

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIVAMACHETE.COM

OUT OF 4 STARS

ENTERTAINMENT

he newest addition to exploitation films gives a powerful punch and livens up the end of the summer movie hits.

Based on the 2007 Grindhouse trailer, Machete, directed by Robert Rodriguez, is a fast-paced action film that delivers. It is clear that Rodriguez wanted to present his perspective on immigration, which has been an ongoing topic of debate in the United States today.

At first, the large range in the cast can lead one to believe that a mishmosh of A-list actors does not really mix. From Danny Trejo and Lindsey Lohan to Robert De Niro and Steven Seagal, it may be strange to see them together, but it works.

This bizarre mix of actors allows the movie to have a less serious tone, and in the end, create a comedic action film like those Rodriguez is known for.

Rodriguez strategically picked the precise actors to play the personalities he needed to have the right vibe portrayed in Machete. Danny Trejo, who plays Machete, is the perfect person to play someone who has had a rough past, with his raspy tone of voice and worn-out face. Senator McLaughlin, played by Robert DeNiro is a really fun character, one that audiences have not seen DeNiro play before, but was done surprisingly well as the politician who is severely against immigration. Lastly and most surprisingly was Steven Seagal, who played the Mexican drug lord, Torrez. He is also skilled in samurai sword fighting. As Seagal’s first villainous role, it seems as though he was chosen to add another comedic undertone to the film.

Michelle Rodriguez, Jessica Alba and Lindsay Lohan were given their ideal female characters in the film. Rodriguez has always played strong female roles in movies such as The Fast and The Furious, Avatar and S.W.A.T, so it was only natural that she portrayed Luz, the female revolutionary. Alba plays Sartana, the immigration officer who initially abides all laws, but later sees that not all laws are right. Alba executes this transition well from naïve woman to a defender of what’s right.

Lohan played the smaller role of April, daughter of Booth (played by Jeff Fahey) which oddly enough, resembles her life the last couple of years.

The story begins in Mexico where Machete, a Mexican ex-federale (Trejo) is set up and backstabbed by his boss.

Machete loses everything and is forced to leave his native homeland and move to Texas.

Three years later, Machete is hired to assassinate Senator McLaughlin (played by De Niro), who is against illegal immigration. However, Machete is double crossed yet again, thus beginning his journey to seek revenge against the people who have “messed with the wrong Mexican.”

With the help of Luz, Machete’s Brother, Padr (played Cheech Marin) and others, Machete will see that his revenge is finally granted.

On this gory path of vengeance, a majority of the film contains sharp items, guns and massive amounts of blood. Yet these bold acts of violence entertain the audience, because the visuals are over the top. Even if they are computer-animated, the CGI shots are meant to be noticeable, not realistic. This enhances the humorous and fun tone of the movie that makes every scene so entertaining and captivating to watch.

Machete may not be a possible contender for an Oscar this year but it does have potential to hold its own at the box office. With a massive amount of violence, beautiful women, and catchy phrases, audiences will be entertained from beginning to end.

18

Staying Free Wired With A Movement THE MEMBERS OF THE FAR*EAST MOVEMENT CONNECT WITH THE INFERNO ADELLE PLATON Entertainment Editor

A

new movement is taking over the airwaves.

The Los Angeles-based rap group The Far*East Movement has steadily infected the headphones of the party generation with hits like “Girls On The Dance Floor” and their latest single, “Like A G6.” The superfly single has made its way across the country, streaming on heavy rotation at local radio stations, such as Z100 and 92.3 NOW. It even climbed to #6 on the most popular singles chart on iTunes.

The members of F*M which comprise of Kev Nish, Prohgress (James Roh), J-Splif and DJ Virman had similar musical dreams since they met in college. Nish and Roh quit their former internships at Interscope Records to pursue music only to sign onto Cherrytree Records, a division of Interscope, several years later.

Their songs have become instant favorites, especially among the Asian community, whose support allowed the group’s popularity to grow in Los Angeles. Their song “Round, Round” was featured in The Fast & The Furious 3: Tokyo Drift soundtrack and more recently “Girls On The Dance Floor” received a spot in the Russell Brand and Jonah Hill comedy, Get Him To The Greek. Music fans may have also spotted F*M in a cameo in Snoop Dogg’s video for “I Wanna Rock.”

The guys have been touring all over the country and abroad, even opening up for Lady Gaga on her tour in Japan this past summer. The group also celebrated being officially signed on to Cherrytree/Interscope Records in February 2010.

If one thing’s for sure, F*M’s career isn’t going anywhere but up.

They stopped by New York City in August to perform alongside their label mates, Kelis and Robyn on the All Hearts Tour. The Inferno had the opportunity to speak with the guys about their humble beginnings, their first official album, and most importantly, their fans.

Inferno: A majority of your fan base can be credited to the Internet but not everyone can gain a mass amount of followers. What do you think F*M’s music represents and what makes it different from the music that’s out there?

Kev Nish: Our music, we like to say, represents a free wired lifestyle. It’s where you’re just free to geek out, be yourself whether you rock tank tops or shades and a tie. It’s good vibes, positivity and a lot of fun.

Inferno: Is that the new name of the album and what’s the inspiration behind the title?

Nish: Our lifestyle. Free Wired came so naturally to us because we live free. We live free to just be ourselves.

We have since the beginning. And we do stay wired. One can stay wired all night with these shades and no sleep.

But we also stayed connected to our people online, stay connected to our community.

Inferno: When you guys first started out, did you have any doubts [you wouldn’t be successful] or hesitated because you were an Asian rap/hip-hop group that no one would take you guys seriously?

Prohgress: This is what we wanted to do so whether you’re hesitant or not, whether you have doubts or not, music was calling and it was something we all enjoyed doing all the time so there was no hesitation involved.

Inferno: How long have you guys been doing music?

Nish: We’ve been recording for years, but we would like to say no matter how long we’ve been doing music, this is our first official album right now, with Cherrytree/ Insterscope and we’re really blessed and grateful to have the opportunity.

Inferno: How do you guys stay so humble and downto-earth all the time?

Prohgress: We feel like we haven’t really done anything without the support of our people. Our network are

the ones who got us a lot of our shows. They’re the ones who hooked us up with all kinds of great ideas. So if you get rid of that, you lose the best resource you can possibly have, which is your friends, your family and the people you stay free wired connected with.

Nish: And you know we try…we try when we can.

So don’t get mad at us if we don’t retweet something or we’re not able to answer something. Sometimes our inboxes get flooded with spam. We love y’all.

Inferno: I want each of you to name one F*M song with the most sentimental value to you and why.

Prohgress: I can’t. That’s like asking for your favorite baby, or your mom or your dad.

J-Splif: “Who’s Ready.”

Virman: “You Got A Friend” because it was the first song that we ever got on the radio.

Nish: Mine’s gonna be “Girls On The Dance Floor” ‘cause that’s the song that got us signed to Cherrytree Records.

Inferno: What advice can you give to aspiring artists?

J-Splif: Stay humble. Humility is always key and stay loyal and have a good team around you and you know hard work and persistence come hand-in-hand.

Kev: And good management.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FAREASTMOVEMENT.COM

The Far*East Movement will be releasing their first official album “Free Wired” on Oct. 12. Members include (from left to right): Kev Nish, DJ Virman, J-Splif and Prohgress.

TORCHCOMICS Kitaro

Elevator-man

Pam’s World

Jennifer Perez

Jordan Baum

Michelle Alerte

The Adventures of rufus James Kerigan

15 September 2010

20

Volleyball dominates NYC rival Fordham MIKE GURNIS Staff Writer

torchonline.com

The TORCH

15 Sept. 2010

SPORTS

Coming off a 1-2 weekend at the Buffalo Blue and White Classic, the St. John’s Women’s Volleyball team got a much needed win in straight sets against local rival Fordham on Tuesday night at Carnesecca Arena.

The win improves the Red Storm’s overall record to 11-3 on the season, as they continue their remarkable turnaround from a 9-21 campaign last year.

The Red Storm dominated Fordham in almost every way imaginable in a match that lasted just over an hour long. Fordham never led once throughout the three sets.

“It was a huge win for us today. We tried to turn a stumbling block into a stepping stone,” said head coach Joanne Persico. “Today was just about regrouping, and getting that ‘W’ that we need.”

The win moved the Red Storm to a 7-0 mark at home this season, much to the delight of Persico.

“It’s funny with this team particularly,” she said. “We need to win on the road, of course, but I feel like when we’re home there’s a little bit of a better vibe going on, and I’m going to have to try to get that vibe in the bus somehow, and take it with us on the road.”

St. John’s wasted no time taking control of the first set, jumping out to an early 12-6 lead. St. John’s had set point and a 24-14 lead when Sabina Papala earned a kill to end to the first set, 25-14.

In the second set, the Red Storm led by as many as 14 points, and despite a four-point rally late in the set by Fordham, the Red Storm took the second set, 25-12.

The Red Storm led by as many as 15 points in the third set before Fordham went on a 8-2 run. But any hope Fordham had disappeared on a service error, which ended the set and the match, giving the Red Storm the relatively easy three-set win, 25-15.

Brunna Kronbauer led the team with eight kills, three service aces, and three digs. Darlene Ramdin led the team with seven blocks.

“It was very important for us to win this game and have a good game, so it was important for us to pick our motivation up,” said Kronbauer. “We’ve been working a lot with hitting, and especially hitting outside like line and two, so we’ve been working hard this week trying to get better and improve.”

The Red Storm will take their good home vibes on the road this weekend, when they play in the Penn State Classic, where they’ll face Princeton, George Washington, and No. 2 Penn State.

“It’s a huge weekend coming up,” Persico said. “We’re going to see what we’re made of. I think we’re looking to get back on the road, make some adjustments tomorrow and watch some tape.

We cannot overlook Princeton, and we cannot overlook George Washington.

We’re going to bring what we can, and I definitely want to make sure we’re ready and focused, and that’s our goal, is to win matches no matter where we play.”

TORCH PHOTO/KRISTEN FARMER

Darlene Ramdin had a team-high seven blocks against Fordham.

Kronbauer leads crop of JuCo talent in Volleyball’s fast start MIKE GURNIS Staff Writer A year ago, the St. John’s volleyball team barely had enough players to field a team each game, much less to continue dominance in the Big East.

The Red Storm only had roughly seven players that played regularly, and they stumbled to a 9-21 record and a 13th-place finish in the conference. This was a tough situation for a program that had previously won the last three conference championships.

But this season, with a full squad that includes several newcomers such as junior transfer Brunna Kronbauer, the Red Storm are off to a 10-3 start, and have already exceeded their win total from a year ago.

Kronbauer, second on the team with 99 kills [entering Tuesday’s game against Fordham], came from Northeastern Junior College, where she was a Division I

TORCH PHOTO/KRISTEN FARMER

Entering Tuesday’s game, JuCo transfer Brunna Kronbauer led the team in kills (99).

NJCAA second-team All American in 2009.

Head coach Joanne Persico values Kronbauer’s reserved demeanor, which she thinks brings a calming presence to the rest of the team.

“She doesn’t really show her emotions much at all, whether she’s playing really well or if she’s just trying to hold her

own,” said Persico. “Sometimes in volleyball it’s nice to have a vocal leader, but sometimes it’s also nice to have people who are calming. I think she [Kronbauer] brings that calming presence.

That’s important when you’re receiving a serve. You have to stay calm.”

One asset that Kronbauer has brought to the Red Storm this

season is a good all-around skill set, according to Persico.

“She’s just getting better at figuring out our offense and what we expect,” she said.

“She’s one of those players that can really get hot and roll off some points for us. She did it with serving one game, she did it with hitting in another.”

One player that has benefited greatly from the presence of Kronbauer and other talented transfers is junior Darlene Ramdin, who dominated the team’s box scores for the most of last season.

“I know I still have to do my job, and to lead and attack as I should and be a leader on the court,” said Ramdin. “It’s been a great relief, because now Gabby [Petkova] doesn’t always have to set the ball to me all the time. Teams no longer say, ‘Okay, Darlene’s getting the set.’ Other teams don’t know who’s going to get the set, which gives us a balanced attack.”

Persico has been pleased with all her new players have adjusted to the Division I level.

“They’ve succeeded in gelling in the way we do things here at St. John’s, gelling with our culture and our language, our conference, and the way we train,” said Persico. “They’ve exceeded my expectations in the way that they’ve put aside their personal tendencies and have tried to adapt to the team.”

Stone builds What they did on their week off own “Ark” WOMEN’S SOCCER

21

BILL SAN ANTONIO Sports Editor

Following two straight wins earlier this month, the women’s soccer team had a 12-day layoff between games.

The Red Storm defeated Fordham and Rhode Island during the Hofstra Tournament over Labor Day weekend to improve to 3-2-1 on the season, but faced one of its toughest challenges yet in the off-week that followed: staying focused and poised in preparation for the start of conference play on Sept. 17, when they play on the road at Syracuse.

“The opportunity to get six good games under their belt and take a rest is huge not just in terms of allowing us to prepare and change some things but just to get a few days off to re-charge the batteries,” head coach Ian Stone said. “It’s tough for the freshmen with how much work they are putting in, much of it is more than they’ve ever done before. A weekend off is huge as long as they use it wisely. We told them they have to be more prepared by next week.”

Using their time wisely could mean the opportunity to heal from injuries, as freshman Casey Marks, who started the last four games for the Johnnies, visited a doctor Monday after suffering a potentially long-term knee injury.

For others, the downtime was seen as an opportunity to spend more time off the soccer field.

“Defenders and goalkeepers needed a break more than anybody,” Stone said.

“We haven’t attacked as much but the defenders have had to deal with a lot and they have been the people who need the rest more than anyone else.”

DYLAN KITTS Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Sarah Ashmore was one of head coach Ian Stone’s 2010 recruits.

One player who valued the relaxation time was freshman midfielder Jen Gibbons, who was appreciative of being back on campus after early-season road trips to Texas and Virginia.

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SPORTS

PHOTO COURTESY OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

The women’s soccer team had a week to prepare for Big East play.

“We’ve been working so hard,” she said. “This weekend break should get us back on track with our school and everything. It’s a good opportunity to relax.

“I think it’s definitely overwhelming.

There’s so many freshman coming in, we didn’t expect to travel [so much early in the season]. It’s a first thing for everybody. It’s not draining because we have a lot of support. The upperclassmen are helping us all through it.”

For those still on the soccer field, Stone wanted to utilize their extra practice time to become more aggressive on offense, as his team has scored just three goals through six games this season.

“I think the main area is to keep attacking, stop being as predictable. Get more players involved. We got a lot of attention this this week, and hopefully we’ll do a good job this week in practice. We have had possessions, but not many goals scored.”

Gibbons also wanted to use the time to get into better physical shape before conference play began.

“The biggest thing to work on is size.

I think we have to get a little stronger for Big East play.

Freshman midfielder Sarah Ashmore saw the time as beneficial, and valued the opportunity for more extensive preparation before the team’s first game in conference play.

“It’s really important because this is the time we really have to recover and be ready for the Big East,” she said. “We always go hard every practice, we’re always intense. But we still feel strong.”

Ian Stone faced a daunting task this past offseason.

Fresh off his women’s soccer program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth last season, the head coach had to replace 16 seniors on his roster for the 2010 season, building his “Noah’s Ark” before men’s basketball coach Steve Lavin began building his.

So the coach went all over the country, to California and Florida, Kansas City and Kentucky.

Stone plucked eight freshmen from those areas, and even recruited in Canada, all to maintain his program’s momentum and reach the NCAAs for a second straight year.

“Our goals are always pretty high recruiting,” said Stone, currently in his 17th season at St. John’s. “But it was easier last year because of the success of the program. When a lot of these girls watched us play, we weren’t only successful with the results of the games but also they met great role models (from that team) and saw what they can be molded into.”

The program’s first selling point came as a result of road wins at CalState Fullerton and USC last year, as it opened a pipeline to California that wasn’t as prominent as in years’ past.

“The game against USC put us on the national map,” Stone said.

“It was instrumental in getting some girls from the west coast. Maybe they haven’t heard about us before that game.”

Last year, the Red Storm’s 2-1 overtime loss to No. 3 Notre Dame in the Big East semi-final game was aired on television on Long Island, where Stone typically has recruiting success.

“If you saw one game, you’ve seen the same thing,” Stone said.

“The style, the hard work and that everyone were committed to the team.”

Despite the unquestionable progress of the program, Stone’s recruiting pitch hasn’t changed: academics and getting them ready for their careers off the soccer field. “[Stone] really didn’t focus too much on the team’s record, or how good the team was,” freshmen Sarah Ashmore said. “He was focusing on the community, academics and building us as people. The type of people he recruits is great. It made me want to come here because it’s a family.”

Stone says unlike previous years, he now tries to recruit for more than just the best possible soccer players. The reason isn’t just because it’s conducive to winning, but because of the positivity it adds to the St. John’s environment.

“I think personality is huge because we’re more than just a soccer program,” Stone said. “We’re trying to do well in the classroom, well in the community and trying to be leaders in the athletic department and university. That’s one of the most important things for us.”

22

MEN’S SOCCER

Johnnies returning Men’s Soccer wins second straight game after early-season stumble MIKE CUNNIFF Staff Writer It was ugly, but they’ll take it.

That was the sentiment of the St. John’s men’s soccer team after it escaped with a 2-1 win over Boston University Sunday night at Belson Stadium.

ST. JOHN’S

2

BOSTON UNIV.

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torchonline.com

The TORCH

15 Sept. 2010

SPORTS

Despite playing a man up for most of the second half, the Red Storm (3-1) found themselves scrambling to maintain their lead and had to count on four acrobatic saves by freshman goalkeeper Rafael Diaz in the final 12 minutes to walk away with the win.

“I don’t think today was a great effort by us by any stretch of the imagination,” said head coach Dave Masur. “It was nice for us to be a little resilient on a day when we weren’t our best.”

Early in the second half, St. John’s had all the momentum and seemed ready to cruise to victory.

After BU freshman midfielder Derek McCaffery’s tackle on senior midfielder Tadeu Terra earned him a red card in the 49th minute, the Johnnies found themselves playing a man up in a 1-1 game.

They quickly took advantage less than four minutes later when Terra beat two defenders and BU freshman keeper Brandon Briggs for his third goal of the season, putting the Johnnies up 2-1.

With their backs against the wall,

TORCH FILE PHOTO/LAURA AMATO

Senior Tadeu Terra put the Red Storm up 2-1 early in the second half Sunday against Boston University. however, the Terriers (3-1-1) roared back. They pressed their attacking third for the rest of the game after Terra’s goal, putting the pressure on the Johnnies back line.

“It just seemed like they were fired up to get that goal,” said freshman midfielder Dom Sarle. “We lost focus for a little bit in that 10-15 minute span.”

In the 60th minute, BU forward Aaron O’Neal set up midfielder Michael Bustamante at the top of the box for a shot that was saved by Diaz. Less

than a minute later, Stephen Knox put a shot on target from 30 yards out that Diaz narrowly corralled.

But it was in the 67th minute that BU had their best chance. Diaz came out of net to stop a cross, but was unable to clear the danger and left out of position.

BU senior midfielder Ryan Shea found himself all alone with the ball inside the box, but his shot was cleared out by St. John’s midfielder Nick Mathews, who was covering for Diaz in net on the play.

The Terriers weren’t done, though.

O’Neal’s header in the 78th minute

forced Diaz to dive to his right to make the stop. In the game’s final two minutes, Bustamante peppered the net with two shots on goal, including one that Diaz barely deflected with his fingertips to keep out of the net.

Masur was not pleased, however, with the way his team closed out the match.

“It was disappointing,” he said.

“They’re going to squeeze into our end and we’ve got to be able to answer that by being able to hold the ball, link back and find different combinations out of pressure. We didn’t do that.”

Why football can’t kick off on the Queens campus College football kicked off two weeks ago. The NFL started play last Thursday. But St. John’s hasn’t been part of America’s new pastime since 2002.

By now, you probably know the reason why: the University adhered to revisions to Title IX, which suggests that a person cannot be excluded from a funded educational event based on gender.

The sports interpretation of Title IX is meant for a school’s athletic programs to reflect its male-to-female student ratio.

Since St. John’s has more female students than it does male, men’s programs had to be cut, and football was one of them.

But let’s throw away the actual reason why the football team is no more. Hypothetically, let’s resurrect the program.

There are a few conditions, of course: the program has to be a Big East program and must have an actual stadium—not Da Silva Field. Every Big East school participating in football has a stadium to house its program. Our field, Carnesecca Stadium, houses 100,000

people, reasonable given the school’s location in New York City, one of the largest cities in the country, as well as the fact that Ohio State, Texas, Florida, and Penn State—some of the largest public Universities in the country as well as a handful of the most consistently dominant Division I football programs— each boast stadiums that fill to such a capacity. Our football program, for the sake of the example, is just like those.

After all, many of you have said that if St. John’s were to have a football team, you’d attend games—and after seeing a sellout crowd at Belson Stadium for the men’s soccer team’s home opener and an equally impressive turnout two nights later, I believe you.

But even if you packed all 3,543 resident students that live on the Queens campus into a stadium, you still wouldn’t have enough to support a major college football team.

The problem isn’t necessarily an issue of talent and competition, but logistics.

A major college football team

requires more funding than any other athletic program due to the violent nature of the sport as well as the resources needed to maintain a high level of play.

That revenue generally comes from televised games and out of ticket and merchandising sales. Unfortunately, packing Carnesecca Stadium would be a problem.

Though over 20,000 students inhabit the University during school hours from Monday through Friday, St. John’s takes a total 360 come Saturday and Sunday. The place looks more like a ghost town, rather than the small city it feels like when classes are in session. Given that football is a weekend sport, with games played mostly on Saturday, Carnesecca Stadium would look pretty empty most

weekends, even if every student with housing and every person the school employs on weekends were to attend.

That said, more people live in the surrounding Jamaica area than the 3,543 students who have housing. St. John’s has, throughout its recent history, been known as a commuter school, with students traveling from all throughout New York City, Westchester, Long Island and even New Jersey. But that commute is strenuous enough during the week, and another day’s worth of commuting would feel like a sixth day of school, even if that day is used for cheering on a football team.

I’m not confident enough people in the surrounding areas would make that commute, certainly not enough to fill about 97,000 remaining seats, especially on a weekly basis.

Take another look at the major schools I listed above.

Ohio State, Penn State, the University of Texas at Austin, and Florida are all small-town schools despite having some of the largest student bodies in

the country.

Ohio State is located in Columbus, Oh.; Penn State is located in Happy Valley, Pa.; Texas is located in Austin, Tx.; and Florida is located in Gainesville, FL. They are all known as “college towns,” which means that everything about the town is in some way connected to the University economically.

What does this mean?

More apartment buildings for students to live in, more bookstores and other educationrelated businesses, more bars and restaurants for people to watch games, yes, but more importantly, more alumni who live in the surrounding area with financial ties to the school, either by business or booster, to come out to games and support the team.

New York City is not a small town by any stretch of the imagination, nor is its economy contingent upon St. John’s. Even Jamaica doesn’t qualify as a college town.

Economically, St. John’s and New York City are independent of each other.

23

TORCH SPORTS

to their old form CAST

STORM

Leavin’ their Mark Baseball America recognizes Johnnies

After naming junior shortstop Joe Panik to its list of the top prospects of the Cape Cod summer league, Baseball America has added teammates Jeremy Baltz, Matt Carasiti and Kevin Grove in its other summer league rankings.

The publication named Baltz as the No. 3 prospect in the New England Collegiate Baseball League and Carasiti the No. 6 prospect. Grove was ranked No. 8 in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League rankings.

Baltz batted .301 with 15 RBI in 34 games, Carasiti made eight appearances and posted a 2.70 ERA, and Grove batted .325 with seven home run s and 28 RBI in 36 games.

Women’s Golf finishes third at Towson Invitational The St. John’s women’s golf team finished third in the third-annual Towson Women’s Golf Invitational Tuesday by shooting a 317 on the tournament’s final day.

The team shot a 644 (+68) for the tournament, with all five St. John’s golfers finishing in the Top 20. Harin Lee, Ellen Oswald and Mariana Barrios each finished in the Top 10.

Farleigh Dickinson won the tournament by posting a 628 (+52), shooting 314 (+26) on both days.

St. John’s next competes in the Princeton Invitational on Sept.

18-19.

Freshman goalkeeper Rafael Diaz has earned the trust of his teammates with his play so far this season.

Diaz rebounds in net from tough start

-Men’s Soccer coach Dave Masur on his team’s performance Sunday against Boston University

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Headin’ this Way Red Storm home games

Women’s Soccer: Sep. 19 Columbia

5 p.m.

Sep. 26 Providence

1 p.m.

Men’s Soccer: Sep. 17 Hartford

7 p.m.

Sep. 19 LIU

7 p.m.

Volleyball: Sep. 24 Villanova

7 p.m.

torchonline.com

out every game and come out with the same intensity,” he said.

But in Friday’s 5-0 thrashing of Fairleigh Dickinson, the ball hardly got within fifty yards of Diaz. He didn’t record a save until the second half and finished with just three in combining with Naples to keep a clean sheet.

He saw plenty of action Sunday, however. BU bombarded the freshman with 21 shots, 11 of which hit the target.

Only one got through.

“We know that if we put one or two in, he’s not letting up too many goals this year,” Sarle said. “It gives us a lot of confidence.”

Head coach, Dave Masur has kept his praise fairly minimal.

“He’s a freshman. He’s a goalkeeper.

Goalkeepers are supposed to make saves. That’s what we expect out of our keepers, and we expect them to do a good job. That’s why he’s in goal.”

He may not know what he has for the long haul in Diaz, but on Sunday night at least, the freshman did exactly what was expected of him—make saves.

The TORCH

Last Sunday, freshman goalkeeper Rafael Diaz played the goat, pulled in favor of fellow freshman Alex Naples after allowing four goals in 63 minutes against Virginia.

This weekend, Diaz was back in net and played the hero, making nine saves in St. John’s 2-1 victory over Boston University Sunday, including several in the closing minutes.

His teammates were glad to have him behind them.

“He’s a great shot-stopper,” said senior defender Sverre Wegge Gundhus. “As a defender, it’s comforting to have him back there.”

Diaz was challenged from inside the box all night, often at point-blank range. He relied on positioning and his instincts to get to the ball.

“I’m just trying to get in a good spot,” he said. “When the ball comes in, I make sure my feet are set and react to make the save.”

In addition to his career-high nine saves, the freshman recorded a rare keeper assist on the Johnnies’ first goal.

His punt in the 34th minute skipped through three Terrier defenders until it found freshman midfielder Dom Sarle in the box, who chipped it over BU keeper Brandon Briggs for his second goal of the year.

“I think it was my first [assist from a keeper],” said Sarle. “Raffy had a big kick. [Senior forward John] Tardy did well to get across his man and I was lucky enough to sneak in from behind and tuck it away.”

“I don’t know the last time I had one,” Diaz said with a laugh. “It’s been a while.”

His college career has gotten off to a rollercoaster start. After earning a shutout with six saves in his first career start against Virginia Tech, he allowed four goals against Virginia while only stopping three shots.

He resolved to stay focused after that game.

“After that game, we came back with a mindset that we have to grind

I don’t think today was a great effort by us by any stretch of the imagination. It was nice for us to be a little resilient on a day when we weren’t our best.

15 Sept. 2010

MIKE CUNNIFF Staff Writer

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Blowin’ in the Wind

SPORTS

PHOTO COURTESY OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

SPORTS 15 September 2010 | VOLUME 88, ISSUE 4 | TORCHONLINE.COM

TORCH FILE PHOTO/ LAURA AMATO

TORCHSPORTS.WORDPRESS.COM

The volleyball team beat Fordham Tuesday to extend its home record to 7-0.

The women’s soccer team did not have a game last week. Find out what they did during their time off.

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