Torch 3-17

TORCH GRAPHIC/ MIKE MONTIJO

WHAT’S INSIDE News......................2-4 Entertainment....13-18 Opinion..................5-7 Comics.....................19 Features...............8-10 Sports.................20-24

MOVIES Out of our League Inferno gives Jay Baruchel and Alice Eve their own rating.

ENTER RTAINMENT Pg. 18

TORCHONLINE.COM

Last week’s poll results Are you in favor of the new schedule change?

40% Yes 60% No Check out our new poll every Wednesday “Think Outside. . .”

2

Directory Managing Board LXXXVII

CHRISTINA HEISER, Editor-in-Chief EVERTON BAILEY, Managing Editor NELL O’CONNOR

BILL SAN ANTONIO

MARK MCDONALD

News Editor

Sports Editor

General Manager

JUSTIN THRIFT

LAURA AMATO

MALLORY TOKUNAGA

Editorial Page Editor Photo Editor

Chief Copy Editor

PATRICE BENDIG

KERI DODGE

ELIZABETH MILLER

Features Editor

Art Director

Layout Editor

ADELLE PLATON

JOSÉ SILVA

ELLEN CAREY

Entertainment Editor Online Editor

Advisor

Business (718) 9906576 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

Television The Joys of Parenthood NBC’s newest drama bring back wholesome family goodness

Inferno Pg. 19

Features Habitat for Humanity STJ students live out the Vincentian mission through Act Speak Build Week.

Features Pg. 10

Women’s Basketball Finally!

The women’s basketball team reached the NCAA tournament on Monday

NEWS

Sports Pg. 22

TORCH PHOTO/ALEXANDRIA NEASON

Professor John DiMarco talks to students during a PR Forum held in Marillac Terrace yesterday. Other panelists from various PR firms were also on-hand to offer career advice.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL OPINION PG. 6 17 March 2010

Panelists share insights into PR field

torchonline.com

The TORCH

CHRISTINA HEISER Editor-in-Chief

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.

Students interested in pursuing a career in public relations got a feel for the field at a panel held last night. The event, sponsored by the Career Center and Student Government, Inc., was held in Marillac Terrace from 5-8 p.m.

Representatives from Hill & Knowlton, Stanton Communications, New York Magazine and KBuzz Social Media spoke about their careers and offered advice about students interested in breaking into the field.

John DiMarco, assistant professor of Public Relations and Advertising at St. John’s, was also a panelist at the event.

The panelists all stressed the importance of internships.

Jill Weiskopf, communications manager and PR manager for New York Magazine, said that she interned at a few magazines during her time as a student at Cornell, initially

interested in going into the editorial field.

But after graduation, she got an internship in the communications department at New York Magazine and was then offered a job there.

Weiskopf said that by interning, students would “make connections,” much like she did after her internship, helping in the job process after graduation.

Kristen Malzone, director of the Buzz Builder Network at the Kbuzz Social Media and Word of Mouth Marketing Agency, spoke about the importance of being able to write effectively.

“If you can communicate effectively in writing, that will help you so much when you’re applying for a job,” she said.

Malzone recommended blogging as a way to practice written communication.

DiMarco cited four areas students should have experience in if they want to enter the public relations field: writing, research, presentation and technology.

After the panel was over, students were able to speak with the panelists, and were served a three-course dinner.

3

TORCH PHOTO/BRIAN LOPEZ

University President Father Harrington and other administrators took questions from students about the recent schedule change.

Strong response at academic forum JOSÉ SILVA Online Editor

NEWS 17 March 2010 The TORCH TORCH PHOTO/BRIAN LOPEZ

Frustrated students lined up to ask Dr. Upton questions and air their concerns about the University.

torchonline.com

Students bombarded University deans and administrators with questions that challenged their new decision to change the course schedule next fall at an academic forum held yesterday.

University Provost Dr. Julia Upton opened the event with a presentation but the attitude in Marillac Auditorium quickly changed once the students were handed the microphone.

The new schedule will have 80 minute classes on Mondays and Thursdays and Tuesdays and Fridays which will leave Wednesdays and Saturdays open for three hour lectures and labs. Common Hour will be reduced from its current Tuesday and Thursday format to once a week on Wednesdays.

Students lined up to ask questions and get their points across, and from the first to the last speaker there was little support of the new schedule change.

“How do you want us to show up to our internships and tell them ‘well I can only work Wednesdays now because St John’s changed their schedule’?” asked Michael Scott a junior.

Students proposed the idea of having classes on Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday, leaving Fridays for Common Hour and three-hour courses, but Upton quickly refuted that idea.

“There was a concern that the university would become a weekend wasteland, that the students who live close by would go home and the few students who did live here would have nothing to do” she said.

Steven D. Papamarcos, dean of The Peter J. Tobin College of Business assured students that the administration will find a way to make the new adjustments work.

“If there is a class that is closed and there are 20 students who need to take it we will start a new section. But if there were two or three we will fit them into the class and if we can’t fit the number of requisite desks into that classroom, I will ask my faculty to do

an independent study with those students,” said Papamarcos.

Students also complained about a lack of communication between the administrators and the student body.

“I agree that communication regarding this could have be a lot better, I can’t tell why it wasn’t better but it could have been better,” said Upton, when answering a student’s question.

Both Upton and Papamarcos called the new schedule an experiment.

“I know it sounds crazy, but it might be great,” said Upton.

Once the forum had ended some deans and administrators, who looked tired, dejected and subdued, stayed and answered questions on a one-on-one basis.

“I wish that someone who actually wanted the schedule change would actually say something,” said Upton. “Change is difficult, and there is so much unknown about this. Nobody wants to hear the other side and imagine it might be better.”

Freshman Alyssa- Rae Hug said “I feel like the deans and provost were kind of closed minded to any suggestions.”

But Hug also felt there could be some good out of this new change.

“I think people are overly critical of change just in general,” said Hug. “It’s really all up in the air, it could turn out to be a great enriching experience for my education, but it could also turn out for me to stay an extra semester because I can’t get the classes I wanted. I think people have to be open minded.”

Upton said that the schedule will be completed by the end of next week and that it will most likely be implemented but she also said “I’m not the President, he could change anything.”

University President Rev. Donald J. Harrington was also present on the panel but left early during the Q&A. Upton, who dealt with the wrath of the students more than any other panel member understood their emotions.

“This is the only experience of St. John’s that they know and it’s changing, I understand that’s a source of anxiety and frustration,” she said after the forum.

4

Students debate core curriculum

17 March 2010

NEWS

LIAM LA GUERRE Contributing Writer

The Debate Society held a mock debate March 3 in St. Augustine Hall to showcase the skills of its members, who have been competing all over the country this year.

Arguing over whether or not the core curriculum should be a requirement for graduation, the Debate Society split into two sides, Government and Opposition, with four students arguing each side.

Government argued against having core classes, while Opposition argued for their benefits.

George Fitzpatrick, a junior and leader of Government, opened the debate by arguing that colleges use core courses as a means of income, since students are mandated to take these extra classes.

“College is built on a sound financial industry,” he said. “Colleges lie to attract students with promises of becoming complete citizens.”

Other Government members made similar arguments, citing other universities, such as Brown, who allow their students to make their own selections on liberal arts classes.

The debate became more heated as the two teams argued between students being given the responsibility to command their education, versus teachers continuing the tradition of leading students into the future.

Opposition opened their argument with freshman Sara Marron stating that core classes were beneficial because they are often selected by professors, who have had more academic and real world experience.

“Higher education is about real world learning and students enroll in college to become more complete citizens,” she said. “It would be much harder to interact with others in other fields, if we had a one-track mind.”

Other members of the group argued that cores should be seen as an opportunity for students to maintain higher GPAs and have an opportunity to experience other topics.

Sophomore Hannah Pribek argued, “If given the choice, students would only pick easier classes to increase their GPAs.” She said, “Cores make us understand the other areas of society and help undecided students pick out a major.”

Students and faculty present at the

The TORCH

debate also weighed in the importance of core classes for college students.

“I’m an anthropology major. I think it would be better if there were suggestions” said freshman David Stewart. “I wouldn’t have taken these philosophy classes; I would have taken world religions instead.”

“They educate people, you want to be educated not trained” said Speech Professor Michael Hostetler, who was also present at the debate.

Robert Forman, head of the Honors Department, teaches one of the University’s required cores, Discover New York. He did not want to take sides,

but believes that cores give students opportunities they might not otherwise take advantage of.

“I try really hard to make the courses multidisciplinary so that there’s some appeal,” he said. “Some literature, some history, some math, it offers a chance for students to get a lot out of these courses.”

Sophomore Victor Arrieta said he found both sides appealing.

“I am neutral because, thanks to the cores I was able learn about different things,” he said. “However, some may just want to finish their classes for their career and having these courses will halt

the journey for whatever it is they want to achieve.”

No winner was announced at the end of the debate, suggesting a tie.

The debate was the second in a series of three. The final debate will be held on April 7. A topic has yet to be announced.

Can’t get enough TORCH news?

Visit our Web site for online exclusives. torchonline.com

Increase in student use of health center RICHARD MILLER Staff Writer

torchonline.com

TORCH PHOTO/LAURA AMATO

Members of the Debate Society listen as other students make arguments over the need for required core classes.

More than 1,100 students visited the Student Health Center during the fall 2009 semester, an increase over previous semesters, said Dr. Kathryn Hutchinson, executive director of Student Wellness.

The Student Health Center, located on the bottom floor of DaSilva Hall in the Residence Village, is a place where any student may go to receive care for minor injuries or illnesses.

According to Hutchinson, the Student Health Center provides

physician services several days a week.

“A physician is on campus three times a week to provide basic assessment and treatment to ill students,” Hutchinson said. “The locations and hours of Student Health Services are posted on St. John’s Central for student convenience. The hours of the physician and nutritionist are also posted on this same page.”

The office is also serviced by several nurses and support staff members.

According to the Student Health Service’s Web site, the office also dispenses information to students regarding

immunizations and physical examinations that are required before each academic year, as well as information about various public health initiatives.

In addition to physician services, Hutchinson said that the Health Center focuses on several public health initiatives each semester, including “raising awareness of national medical issues including programs on healthy heart, women’s health issues, H1N1 prevention, vaccination clinics, and alcohol and drug education, to name a few.”

Students showed support for the services provided by the center, especially the

convenience that it provides.

“It was very helpful,” Freshman Michael Zarella said.”

The lady in there was very nice.

I would rather go there [Student Health Services] than go to the ER. I would never want to deal with insurance policies and stuff like that.”

Some students said they felt that the center was too busy to provide adequate care.

“It seemed like they didn’t have enough employees to deal with students. They were overwhelmed,” freshman John Kenny said.

Others said they were afraid that the center is not in a position to deal with serious problems.

“They [Student Health Services] didn’t do anything for me,” said freshman Brennan Gaims. “I had [many] symptoms and they told me I had a normal cold. I think it is helpful for little things but when a person has larger problems there isn’t a whole lot that they can do.”

However, students agree that it’s better than the emergency room.

“It’s conveniently located,” Kenny said. “The ER runs up your medical bills.”

Freshman Katie L’Esperance said, “I feel like it would be less crowded. It would be easier [to go to Student Health Services than to the ER].”

5

Editorial Board LXXXVII

Illustrator’s Corner:

CHRISTINA HEISER Editor-in-Chief EVERTON BAILEY Managing Editor NELL O’CONNOR News Editor JUSTIN THRIFT Editorial Page Editor

FLAMES OF THE TORCH

Communication breakdown

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

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 should be no more than 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.

To the Editor: Once again the new proposing schedule is still a “hot-and shaking” topic that professors, students and University staffs have been talking for weeks. This topic has drawn attentions from various spectra: from faculty, staffs and most importantly, the students. Although it has appeared on THE TORCH for so many times, I would like to write to you with a different approach.

The new schedule, as many faculty and students had feed-backed, is quite a complete surprise! I have seen so many flyers with the big title “Have you heard about the new schedule change?” followed by the detail of changes and a link to a survey.

Possibly this flyer is the first official announcement from the University Official Government (the SGI) to the community.

Most of the students did not hear about it, or just heard from their professors or friends.

I have to say that the university did try to communicate with the students via internal emails; however, we did not receive any formal email or letter about this matter from Father Harrington, the University President or from Doctor Upton, The University Provost. I have searched on-line about this new issue: both St. John’s Google Search system and St. John’s Central Personal Announcements do not carry anything about this schedule change (except THE TORCH and its online version). Is this a major lack of community communication or a distinctive way of communication St. John’s communicates with its community?

Still, I am more concerned about the quality of education and student engagement on campus after the new schedule has been implemented than the lack of communication. There is no way to know if the new schedule favors the students and the professors unless it is carried out.

However, there are certain problems that we may predict from this new schedule.

I am a freshman, and I also double major in Chemistry and Biology. I had to write this letter because pervious issues of THE

TORCH did not mention opinions from students who are pursuing special programs (double major, major/minor, double minor, B.A./M.A. or B.S./M.S. in 5 years, B.A./J.D. in 6 years, etc.) The major problem here is that we all want to graduate on time, in my case is within 4 years (and this is possible). This is quite a fair deal, even with a science major, since you are graduating with 2 degrees just in 4 years: your competitiveness is higher when you apply for a job. This should NOT be new for institutions in NYC, since many universities throughout the United States have designed comprehensive B.A./M.A. or B.S./M.S. just within 4 years!

As a science major, I frequently have to take courses with labs that could be 3 to 6 hours durations (e.g., Organic Chemistry Lab: 4 hours per week, Experimental Physical Chemistry lab: 6 hours, Ecology lab: 4 hours, General Physiology lab: 4 hours, etc.) Current schedule works out for students studying double majors. However, with the new schedule, this is still a big question mark because it narrows the student choices and increases the class conflict probability. What would the students receive from class if they could not choose to study with their favorite professors or to have a schedule that really works for them? Furthermore, with only one common hour, students who wish to get involved in campus activities will encounter difficulties. With one common hour, we still can attract great number of student involvements if and only if the Department of Student Life and Activities is committed to changing the way its clubs and organizations are functioning now. However, with current situation, only one common hour is not a good idea.

I am happy that the University Officials are executing changes to improve the university quality. However, I wish the students and professors could be more involved in this process.

Bill Pham Freshman, St. John’s University

torchonline.com

TO CONTRIBUTE

Letters to the editor

The TORCH

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-

TORCH ILLUSTRATION/CATHERINE CORRIGAN

17 March 2010

way. After all, THE TORCH is a news organization, not a mode for administrative communication.

One of the main reasons for why droves of angry students showed up to yesterday’s forum with a list of questions is that the administration has failed to communicate their plans directly with the students of this university. The decision to make a change in the school’s schedule did not involve the students it will directly affect, and the details of the schedule itself is yet to be fully explained by the administration.

Besides an e-mail from Father Harrington to faculty members, no notification or information has come forth from the school to its students. What’s worse, University President, Father Harrington, didn’t even stay for the entire forum to face the students he’s neglected to address. Meanwhile, Upton insisted yesterday that this e-mail was sent to “the entire academic community.”

This, we know, was not the case since students did not receive it.

The University needs to adopt a more direct habit of communication with its students. If the administration can put up multiple surveys online about students’ mascot preference, they can inquire about what those same students feel about a school-wide schedule change.

For most students, the importance of their schedules far outweighs the name of their new school mascot. The University has tried so hard over the past year to incite school spirit, but what the administration fails to understand is that it’s not just about getting more students to show up at basketball games.

Free food and incentive programs are great, but to really build a sense of school spirit and community, the students must be included in big decisions and not ignored about issues such as the schedule change.

OPINION

Yesterday the University held an academic forum to answer students’ questions about the proposed schedule change to be implemented next fall. When faced with questions from confused students, University Provost Dr. Julia Upton acknowledged that there has been a lack of communication between the administration and the student body. For students at the forum, this might have seemed like the understatement of the year.

When asked why St. John’s students hadn’t received any formal notification of the change or why the community had been left in the dark during the process of planning the change, Upton said she couldn’t answer. Instead, she stated that most students had heard about the schedule change through THE TORCH. Upton’s notion that the student body was informed of the schedule change through THE TORCH gives the impression that the administration supplied THE TORCH with information and communicated its decision on the schedule in the paper. This could not be further from the truth.

In actuality, The Torch was able to break the news of the proposed schedule change through investigation, not with the assistance or direct communication with University officials. In fact, after THE TORCH learned of a possible schedule change, we tried to set up meetings through Media Relations to discuss the details and report the change to students.

However, were told we wouldn’t be able to sit down with administrators until after the logistics of the schedule were determined. According to the administrators at this week’s forum, this information will not be available until next week.

Upton may have created a misunderstanding at yesterday’s academic forum by mentioning THE TORCH in this

6

Applauding the Lady Johnnies

OPINION

St. John’s women’s basketball team deserves more hype over NCAA spot

St. John’s has a great basketball team, but I bet, if you’re anything like most of the University’s students or Red Storm sports fans, you probably wouldn’t know it.

That’s right—the nationally ranked women’s basketball team, under the leadership of head coach Kim Barnes Arico, is having a great season, one that unfortunately flew under the radar of the St. John’s community, with only a handful of fans in the crowd at each game.

The women’s team had 24 wins this season—the most it has had in 26 years. In addition to this, 12 of the team’s wins took place during the Big East season, making it the most Big East wins for Barnes Arico, who has coached the team for eight years. The team made it to the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament last week, narrowly losing to Notre Dame. And it was announced on Monday that the team made it into the NCAA Tournament, as a No. 6 seed.

Around the same time the women’s team made it to the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament, rumors started circulating that the men’s head coach, Norm Roberts, would be fired. These rumors completely overshadowed the amazing job that the women’s team had done in the tournament. And sadly, this became one more example of the spotlight being taken away from the women’s team when it was most deserved when you look at all of their accomplishments.

Despite such a great season for the women, why has all the attention been focused on the struggling men’s team?

Well, many Red Storm fans will say that the men’s team needs to regain it’s dominance in order to establish a winning tradition for the school.

And older fans still look back to the glory days of when the team, then known as the Red Men, were champions and dominated the sport.

The men’s team has a rich history at St. John’s, so it’s understandable that fans are still invested in the team, but that doesn’t mean that the women’s team should be overlooked, especially when they are so good.

UConn’s women’s basketball team is an even better example of a team that isn’t receiving the attention it deserves. This team is No. 1 in the country, and has had 72 consecutive wins over the past three sea-

TORCH ILLUSTRATION/KERI DODGE

sons, breaking its own previous record of 70 consecutive wins. And, the women’s team has generally won each of its games by about 30 points.

But throughout this season, UConn fans were focused on whether or not the men’s coach, Jim Calhoun, would return for another season, and on the fact that the men’s team had a disappointing first-round loss to St. John’s in the Big East Tournament, ending the hopes of an NCAA appearance. It’s a shame that even though no other team in college basketball has had such dominance in the sport, all attention at UConn is directed at the men’s program.

Even critics haven’t given Connecticut’s women’s team the credit they deserve. In an article by Karen Price, published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in January, the title says it all: “UConn rolling up records—but is it boring?”

Price argues that because the women’s team is so dominant, this might actually hurt the game and make it less exciting for fans to want to watch.

But if the UConn men’s team had a 72-game winning streak, I don’t think critics would even raise

this question, and fans would probably be extremely excited to watch their team win game after game.

It’s unfortunate that in this day and age, schools still can’t be defined by their dominance in women’s sports. At schools like St. John’s and UConn, fans and critics alike continue to question the future of the men’s teams, forgetting about the successful women’s teams they have on campus.

Since March is Women’s History Month, celebrating these teams’ accomplishments take on a stronger significance. The women’s teams at St. John’s and UConn continue to break their own records and make history in the world of college sports.

So instead of focusing so much attention on the disappointing men’s teams, college basketball fans, especially those at these two schools, should celebrate these successful female athletes—they certainly deserve the attention.

Christina Heiser is a senior English major.

She can be reached at: torcheic@gmail.com

17 March 2010

STUDENTSPARKS: Red Storm

torchonline.com

The TORCH

Are you excited about the men’s and women’s basetball teams?

COMPILED BY THOMAS CARNEVALE

I don’t really care, I have not heard anything about it.

Johanna Lara Junior

Yeah, I think the women had a good run and the men’s team had the most wins in the Norm Roberts era, which is pretty decent.

I didn’t really follow them, I knew that the men beat UConn but I didn’t watch them that much.

Yes, it’s good exposure for St. John’s

Mike Stainkamp Junior

Eryn Marx Junior

Ray Rewati Senior

Portrait of the modern woman Escaping stereotypes through a broader social transformation CARA CHERAPON Staff Writer A little over a week ago a very important, but often ignored holiday, was celebrated: “International Woman’s Day,” not to be confused with Mother’s Day or St. Valentine’s Day. To many people, particularly the average American college student, this holiday may seem rather trivial. Coincidentally the holiday came this year the day after the Best Director award at the Academy Awards was awarded to a woman, Kathryn Bigelow, for the first time.

Women have pushed their way into the workforce, pursued higher degrees, and achieved many great things. They wanted equality and now they got it, right? The suffragette movement is usually only found in our history books, and the movement in the 1970s was before we were born, so maybe it’s time we ask ourselves as Americans in the 21st Century: Have women come far enough?

Many intellectuals have repeated that education is the key to leveling the field for women, especially in third world countries. Women with more education tend not to become pregnant prematurely and the more likely she will become self-sufficient and an integral part of the workforce.

But how does applying the ideal of educating women play out in more prosperous countries such as the U.S.? Recent studies have found consistently over

the past 10 years that the higher the degree you obtain the less likely you will be unemployed, even during these past few years of economic struggle. For those college students anxious about the job market following graduation, this is great news. Unfortunately, the higher the degree obtained, the higher the wage gap occurs between men and women.

In fact, though the gap has decreased significantly since World War II, that glass ceiling is still very much a reality as women are only making 80 cents to each dollar made by men in the United States. Some suggest that women should attempt to break into male-dominated fields, but studies show the gap still exists in any occupation. Additionally, when an occupation becomes associated as female-dominated, the salary decreases exponentially.

Also, for some odd reason, when child-bearing comes into the picture, men experience on average a two percent wage increase, whereas women continuously experience a wage decrease. If women are experiencing larger wage gaps with higher education, then perhaps the problem is not rooted in the formal education of women (though it is invaluable in the struggle for gender equality) but instead the new problem lies within the social experiences of both men and women that conditions them to confine women to their traditional gender roles.

Maybe the role models and trendsetters for women should be more heavily scrutinized. Women are beginning to enter and flourish in fields once dominated by

Budgeting the college life THOMAS CARNEVALE Staff Writer Managing your finances as a college student is not an easy task. Many of us are faced with tight cash flows that make it hard to do things like paying our tuition, making our car payments and buying MetroCards. Little things that make our lives better add up, like movie tickets, sporting event tickets or road trips. When facing these problems, it is best to go back to the basics when it comes to planning your finances.

Fortunately, there are three easy ways St. John’s students can improve their finances: saving while on campus, saving while off campus and saving while traveling back and forth from on campus to off campus.

Saving while on campus is easy, thanks to the dining dollar plans that Chartwells offers students. While you may be reluctant to turn over hard-earned dollars to Chartwells, the discount they provide will have a significant impact on the price of its goods over the long term.

For example, buying three Venti coffees per week at Starbucks, which cost $2.28 each, including tax. Compounded over the 13 weeks that make up the spring semester, someone would be paying $88.92. Compounded over the course of a whole school year, that’s a toal of $177.84.

Instead, paying with Storm Card dining dollars will have no sales tax and allow a 10 percent discount, which is obtained via the bonus received when adding money to the card.

If a student does this, they will only pay $147.61 a year for coffee, a savings of $30.23. Plus, they won’t have to wor-

ry about any overdraft charges or hidden fees on your Storm Card that they would have to watch when charging an item with a debit or credit card.

Saving while off campus has many facets and is just as realistic. This includes, most importantly, choosing which bank you have an account with.

Finding a bank that has convenient locations can save a lot of money when using an ATM frequently. Being aware of ATMs that advertise no fees or 99 cent fees is key. While an ATM may only charge a 99 cent fee, bank many times will charge a fee in addition to this.

In order to save on transportation to and from campus, resident students need to plan in advance and commuters need to do their research.

Resident students can save loads of money by booking to go home in advance. For example, if you live in Boston, can book a seat on Amtrak for May 11 (the last day of exams) for $49. If you try to book a seat for next Tuesday to Boston, the lowest fare is $64. This has an even bigger difference when you are traveling home during a holiday period like Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Commuter students can save even more money by utilizing the St. John’s shuttle system, which can save students a painful $2.25 subway fare.

The St. John’s shuttle runs to Manhattan, Staten Island, the Jamaica Long Island Railroad station and Kew Gardens every day via a motor coach open to St. John’s students only.

Cutting back on the little things in life can add up, eventually making a big difference. Hopefully, by following these tips, a college student will be able to put a little bit of cash back in their wallet.

Can’t get enough TORCH editorials?

Visit our Web site for online exclusives.

men, including pop culture and the media. Listen to a pop station on the radio sometime, and chances are you will hear a female artist, but listen closely to the actual content of her song. In the most popular songs, such as those of Lady Gaga and Ke$ha, themes of a sexual nature and getting drunk are a primary feature.

Is this “new woman” constructed by popular culture really supposed to be a manifestation of the modern woman’s ideals? These pop artists with their catchy but depthless and often debauched songs are targeted specifically at young women, the ones the future of gender equality relies on.

There are many opportunities that come with freedom for women, but if pop culture tells us that the only way of expressing it is to go out clubbing, then that’s all women will be reduced to.

The United States is progressive when compared to women’s rights in many other nations, but that doesn’t mean we should give up the struggle for gender equality.

The international influence of American popular culture makes the artists and media role models for much of the rest of the world and accompanying this is a burden of accountability for the way they portray women.

Equal education and wages for women are only the beginning; now it’s time for a broader social transformation. A catchy beat is fine from time to time, but the only way women can escape cheap gender stereotypes is to become conscious of the messages from popular culture, and by holding their role models to higher standards.

7

8

Think Outside...

Features

3

Section

Rebuilding lives The Habitat for Humanity STJ Chapter raises awareness for program CAROLYN WARGULA

FEATURES

Assistant Features Editor

torchonline.com

The TORCH

17 March 2010

PHOTO COURTSEY OF HABITAT’S STJ CHAPTER

Ludy Registre brings Habitat’s mission to life.

The St. John’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity knows what it means to give back to the community.

This year, with the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, the organization is doing more than ever to support the global relief efforts in these countries.

Every year, Habitat for Humanity holds Act Speak Build Week, devising a theme to encompass a particular cause to support. This year’s theme is “Remember Then Rebuild,” in an effort to support the countries that have been devastated by natural disasters and to shed light on global poverty. Act Speak Build Week kicked off on Tuesday, March 16 and will run through Sunday, March 21.

“This signifies the world tragedies that are happening. Especially with the earthquake in Haiti, we wanted to educate about the world and its current conditions,” said Ludy Registre, a senior and president of Habitat’s St. John’s University chapter.

The campus chapter has organized numerous activities such as a bake sale, movie night, and a soccer game.

The money fundraised will benefit Habitat for Humanity International, a Christian nonprofit organization that builds sustainable homes for poor families around the world. The group is sponsored by volunteers building the homes and donations of money and materials.

Abigail Furness, the campus minister for Vincentian Service and Justice as well as the coordinator for the University’s Habitat for Humanity chapter, has helped the organization with the events this week.

“I think the organization as a whole is hoping to gain awareness. First of all, they would like more students to know what some of the housing issues and other issues revolving around poverty are,” said Furness. “But it’s also about letting others know more about Habitat for Humanity’s mission and what they do and what they’re all about.”

Furness said she is pleased with the campus chapter’s commitment and hard work preparing for Act Build Speak Week.

“The students have done such a good job organizing everything,” she said. “There’s been so much energy around it from them and I’m just so impressed with all they do; always, and not just this week.”

Furness and Registre said they hope numerous students will become aware of Habitat’s mission and hope more people will become involved in their mission.

“We just want to get it out that there are ways that you can help even by donating your time, not even money,” said Registre. “You can make a huge difference.”

Act Speak Build Week is one of the many service events that members of St. John’s Habitat for Humanity members participate during the year.

Most recently, the group built houses in Brooklyn.

Members have also had overnight builds in Manhattan.

Registre said that the builds are memorable and she enjoys them the most out of all the events the organization holds.

“My favorite is when we lay hardwood floors, I totally rock at that,” said Registre.“The builds give you an opportunity to socialize with other people that are working for the same cause and it helps us put into motion what we are advocating.”

“ ” There’s been so much energy around it from them and I’m just so impressed with all they do; always, and not just this week.

- Abigail Furness

Habitat at St. John’s has also worked alongside Publicolor as a service to the surrounding community, in Queens. Publicolor is an organization that engages high school students to paint schools to keep them involved in productive activities. University students involved with the club mentor a student while they paint projects together.

Registre said she hopes that more students will become aware of poverty and advocate change not only around the world but also in the New York City area.

“We don’t realize that poverty is right under our noses,” she said. “When we think of poverty, we think of third world countries.”

Habitat has more than 30 campus chapters in New York state alone including Columbia, Fordham, New York University, and the City College of New York. St. John’s University is affiliated with Habitat for Humanity New York City, which supports building projects in all boroughs. For more information, visit habitat.org.

Act Speak Build Week Events Habitat for Humanity has organized a Wednesday, March 17 Thursday, March 18 series of events for Act Speak Build Week “Slumdog Millionaire” “A Night of Remembrance” Prayer which started Tuesday, March 16. All funds The Oscar Award Wining film will be Vigil from the events will be donated to Habi- shown to spark discussion of poverty in This ecumenical service will tat for Humanity International.

India. remember those affected by natural Marillac 226A, 7-10 p.m. disasters around the world.

St. Thomas More Church 7-8p.m.

Friday, March 19 Sunday, March 21 Game Night “Just for Kicks” Soccer Game Students will play a homeless statistics Habitat invites all New York City campus Jeopardy game as well as Taboo and oth- chapters to join in the game. All students er games. are welcome to come.

Donovan Community Room, 6-8 p.m.

DaSilva Field, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Abigail Furness at 718-990-8075 or furnessa@stjohns.edu

9

TORCH PHOTO/ LAURA AMATO

The Debate Society has put in effort for their next competition, which will be hosted at Regis University in Denver, Colo.

Climbing the ladder Debate Society ranks number two in the Northeast ANURADHA BYAGARI Staff Writer

- Professor Steve eve ve Llano

The TORCH

torchonline.com

Llano said, “We feel that although you must prepare for the tournament, the tournament is preparation for the challenges of argumentation and rhetoric facing you in your future life.

So everything comes down to practice — practice not just as in training, but practice as in a daily, lived art that is a part of you and you concentrate on it because you feel it makes you a better person.”

Directing the team are junior Korey Pace and sophomore Mohammed Saad al Qasim. Korey and Saad help the team’s members with ideas for research, organization of that research and are responsible for subsequently distributing that information to the members.

Senior Shreshth Jain is in charge of scheduling and recording team-teaching sessions in which one of the debaters lectures about a debate-related topic or presents different practical ways to engage elements of debate– ranging from brainstorming and construction of arguments to philosophical theories applicable across many

17 March 2010

“ ” We feel that although you must prepare for the tournament, the tournament is preparation for the challenges of argumentation and rhetoric facing you in your future uture life.

varying topics.

Bellwood broke down the team’s prepatory dynamic into three parts: “Team, Partnership and Individual,” she said.

“The entire team pushes each debater at practices and provides general and specific feedback to help each speaker improve. Partnerships often meet together to discuss prep time management and debate techniques that are unique to their partnership.

Individuals must conduct their own research and stay well-informed.”

Sophomore Alisha Siqueira said the Debate Society has seen an increase in recruitment.

“The team has grown exponentially over the past few years and this year we have some pretty amazing freshman teams,” said Siqueira.

In preparation for conferences, the teams put together briefs, which consist of information about current international topics. In addition, the members attend two weekly practices, at which there are often two debates held simultaneously or a teaching session about a topic offered by one of the team members.

Furthermore, they research and work with their partners and fellow debaters in practice scrimmages, focusing on specific elements of the debate which include theory, structure and idea germination that need work.

Members know what areas to focus on based on previous judges’ feedback, suggestions from their team members and their own individual experiences at tournaments past.

Up next for the debaters is the US Universities Debating Championship. USU 2010 will be hosted at Regis University this April in Denver, Colo., and teams will be brought to represent St. John’s University.

Also, there is a public debate scheduled in the Belson Moot Courtroom on Monday, March 29 at 7p.m. with the Irish Times National Champions who are coming here from Ireland for a tour of the United States.

All St. John’s students are encouraged and welcome to attend a debate meeting at any point during the school year. Each week, the Debate Society holds on-campus public debates on current social and political issues ranging from those on campus to around the world.

The Society holds meetings every Monday and Thursday in Room 304A in St. John Hall. Anyone is welcome to join the team regardless of what their major is or how much experience they have.

FEATURES

St. John’s Debate Society has gone from a relative unknown on the debate circuit to second in the Northeast in just a year.

After competing at regional, national and even international conferences, through the devotion of its dedicated members and their hard work, the Debate Society, which was established in the fall of 2007, also ranks amongst the Top 150 Debate Societies in the world.

The Debate Society offers students the opportunity to cultivate and refine argumentation, oration and critical thinking skills.

One of the team’s two advisors, Professor Jaime Wright, attributed the team’s successes to their diligent practice and engagement.

“Members of the St. John’s Debate Society are a selfselecting breed,” said Wright.“They can engage as much or as little as they choose.”

Co-advisor Professor Steve Llano added, “Students can come in knowing nothing about debate and get all the training they need to do well. I think one of the major reasons we are doing so well is that we have an open team structure. What this means is that experienced members of the team as well as myself feel it is our obligation to provide teaching to those who don’t know how to debate.”

Members learn and hone their skills by attending practices, going to tournaments, doing research, and working with each other.

“Over the next few years, we hope to see those levels of mutual encouragement and participation increase,” said Wright. “With those increases will come higher levels of achievement and competition.”

Complementing their high rankings are the overall improvements the team has experienced over the course of the last year.

Professor Wright noted that one of the biggest improvements is that team members are more willing to help each other.

Senior Alia Bellwood believes, “The team’s improvement is evident in not just the awards won and our regional placement but most especially in the testaments

of the students involved.”

Wright spoke about the experience the team can pass on to new members.

“Since the team is only in its third year, we collectively have more experience to pass on to other members as the team gets older,” said Wright.

“I think this year’s focus on everyone sharing knowledge through student lectures and writing more briefs on current topics has really benefited our progress.”

Wright added, “One of the best ways to learn a skill or craft is to teach it — and this semester, there has been quite a bit of inter-team teaching.”

Llano spoke about how debating can help impact other areas of a student’s life.

10

STJ Alum pens opera based on Pilate Composer Bernard Kennedy brings religious story to St. Thomas More Church SARA CAHILL MARRON Staff Writer

Lisa Lockhart played Pilate’s wife, Claudia.

torchonline.com

The TORCH

17 March 2010

FEATURES

Amidst the quietness that surrounded the Queens campus during spring break, a unique, musical event took place at the St. Thomas More Church on Saturday, March 6. The Long Island Masterworks chorus performed the opera, written by Bernard D. Kennedy, a 1954 alumnus of St. John’s who composes in his free time.

The opera, Pilate, depicts the execution sentence of Jesus by Pontius Pilate. The Libretto includes emotional monologues from Pilate and his wife Claudia.

Kennedy said he initially intended to focus primarily on Jesus, but after beginning the composition, he shifted the focus to Pilate.

“I wanted to write something about Jesus’ suffering,” Kennedy said. “The thrust became more on Pilate, though, and his relationship with Jesus.”

Kennedy began writing operas in his early 70s, driven by his love of classical music. He has composed several other operas such as The Nativity, Thomas Becket, and Mass of the Composers.

“I always love classical music, and that lead me to appreciate opera,” Kennedy said. “The melodies I heard and loved lead me to think, well, I could put words to these.”

Pontius Pilate, played by Gustavo Ahualli, sang ominously from the altar of the church, transforming it into a living depiction of the condemning relationship between Pilate and Jesus. Ahualli was a freelance opera singer in Argentina before joining the Long Island Masterworks Chorus.

The actor noted the beauty of the St. Thomas More Church, and praised Kennedy’s composition.

“He brings pieces from different operas mixed together

and it makes a lot of sense. That’s a true talent,” Ahualli said. “The setting of the church for this opera was inspiring. It set the mood perfectly; it couldn’t have been better.”

Lisa Lockhart played the part of Claudia, Pilate’s wife.

She also performed in the first presentation of Pilate two years ago.

“The performance was better this time,” Lockhart said. “This building is breathtakingly beautiful. It was the perfect setting for this opera, from the cross to the mosaics to the altar, it was all absolutely gorgeous.”

Chorus member Joanne Llano also agreed that the church was the perfect setting for Pilate.

“We perform in churches a lot,” Llano said.

“To have an audience in the round was different. The acoustics were very good.”

The performance was very intimate, with most audience members sitting less than 20 feet from the singers.

Special invitations to the opera were sent out by Father Harrington to 300 of the University’s top donors.

Kathleen Bedell, whose daughter was a chorus member in Pilate, said she is a fan of Kennedy’s compositions.

“It was marvelous,” Bedell said. “Of all the ones I’ve seen of his, I like this one the best.”

At the conclusion of the opera, guests were served hors d’oeuvres and champagne in the entrance hall of the church. Singers and audience members chatted about the beauty of the composition, as well as the successful execution of having an opera in St. Thomas More Church.

Kennedy said he has high aspirations for future compositions.

“I find the creative process extremely exciting and fulfilling and hope to continue as long as God gives me strength to do so,” he said in the Libretto.

PHOTOS COURTSEY OF JAD NAMMOUR

The Long Island Masterwork Chorus brought Pilate to life.

Gustavo Ahualli played character Pontius Pilate.

13

torchonline.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADISNEY.GO.COM/DISNEYPICTURES/ALICEINWONDERLAND

The TORCH

Pg. 16

17 March 2010

Inferno falls into the rabbit hole to visit the whimsical world of Alice

ENTERTAINMENT

What A Wonderful Wo World

The Show Must Go On CABLEVISION BRINGS BACK THE OSCARS WITH BIG SURPRISES AND A LOT OF “HURT” LENELI LIGGAYU Contributing Writer

T

PHOTO COURTESY OF OSCAR.GO.COM

Kathryn Bigelow is the first female to win the Oscar for Best Directing for her film, Hurt Locker.

he biggest night in Hollywood could only mean three things: A-list celebrities, the best dressed and unexpected victories.

Opening the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, actor Neil Patrick Harris surprised the crowd by pulling off a dance number filled with glittery dresses, feathers, and suits. After belting out the final note, he introduced the hosts of the evening, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.

The evening was one filled with both humor and humility. Martin and Baldwin played the quintessential pair and bounced off each other’s jokes the entire night with ease.

Fashion also made a statement on the red carpet as the ladies bared arms and shoulders in the finest evening gowns, courtesy of Oscar de la Renta and Badgley Mischka. Viewers were floored from the beauty of Sandra Bullock and Cameron Diaz, while others were not so impressed with Mariah Carey and Maggie Gyllenhal’s outfits of choice.

The most memorable outfit undoubtedly went to Ben Stiller, who presented an award in full Na’vi gear, one of the many references to James Cameron’s film Avatar throughout the night.

Remembrance was a central theme of the night, starting with a tribute to the late director, John Hughes.

Matthew Broderick admitted that the question he’s been asked the most is, “Hey Ferris, is this your day off?” The Brat Pack, which includes Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Jon Cryer, and Ally Sheedy, along with a rare appearance by Macaulay Culkin, celebrated their time spent and movies made with the director.

An “In Memoriam” tribute to those who have made significant contributions to film was shown through a

montage of pictures as James Taylor performed the Beatles’ “In My Life” on stage.

Harry Shum (Glee) choreographed a number for Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, who performed while all of the nominees for Best Original Score were announced.

Although the majority of the night went smoothly, there was one odd moment during the acceptance speech for Director Roger Ross Williams, whose film Music By Prudence won Best Documentary Short.

After beginning his speech, Elinor Burkett, a producer of the film, interrupted (or as some say, “pulled a Kanye”) and said, “The man never lets the woman talk.”

The two had been at opposing ends about the direction of the film, which eventually led to a lawsuit and an out-of-court settlement. However, they obviously did not agree on who would go up to receive the award.

In an effort to appease young Hollywood, Miley Cyrus, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner were some of the presenters at this year’s awards.

Some of the great wins of the night included Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds for Best Supporting Actor, Mo’Nique in Precious for Best Supporting Actress, Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart for Best Actor, and Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side for Best Actress. All these wins were a first for the actors.

The biggest victory of the night went to Kathryn Bigelow and her film, The Hurt Locker, which won Best Picture. Bigelow became the first woman in history to win Best Directing. The taste of success was made all the more sweeter as she beat out her exhusband, James Cameron, and his monster box office hit Avatar.

Despite Cablevision’s blackout of ABC for the beginning of the awards, the Oscars had its most watched telecast in five years with 41.3 million viewers on Sunday, March 7.

15

16

Little To Wonder About TIM BURTON PUTS A SPIN ON WONDERLAND THAT’S NOTHING LIKE DISNEY SARA CAHILL-MARRON Staff Writer ALICE IN WONDERLAND-

1/2 OUT OF 4 STARS

T

im Burton’s latest film, Alice in Wonderland, plays like a piece of the director’s fantastical artwork. But while Burton utilizes colorful sets and costumes, the plot lacks the clear message that the original Lewis Carroll story conveyed so well. This is in part because Burton’s version of the classic combines three stories into one film: Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass and Jabberwocky.

Mia Wasikowska plays the demure Alice, who consistently acts as a rebel in traditional English Society.

She refuses to wear a corset to the shock and awe of her mother. Alice, as an adolescent, is portrayed with quip adult humor that is not exactly conducive to the glorified “family” nature of the film, the precedent of which was set with Disney’s interpretation of the dark story.

In tandem with Carroll’s original, Alice enters Underland, which she mistakenly refers to as Wonderland, after falling down a rabbit hole. The CGI animation of Underland is wildly overbearing, exacerbated when viewed in 3-D. Watching the spinning sequence of Alice falling down the rabbit hole is extremely detailed and wild, but nauseating.

While Burton’s fantastic portrayal of a world with purple trees and a caterpillar that smokes hookah stimulates the imagination, justice is not done to the story of Alice’s journey as a whole.

She serves as the story’s protagonist, saving Underland from the Red Queen, played by Helena Bonham Carter, and slaying the monster called Jabberwocky.

However, as a character, she does not develop much after

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADISNEY.GO.COM/DISNEYPICTURES/ALICEINWONDERLAND

The Red Queen, portrayed by Helena Bonaham Carter, acts as the authoritarian leader of Underland. Audiences can also recognize Carter from Harry Potter films as Bellatrix Lestrange.

A highly feminist theme starts to emerge, though, as Alice is highlighted as the heroine of Underland by a prophetic scroll, but it falls flat at the end with no resolution of lessons learned.

While the plot leaves something to be desired, Burton’s costuming, make-up and animation will satisfy those that see the film based on a draw to his name.

Johnny Depp, playing the Mad Hatter, is caked in face powder and eye shadow that add to the wide-eyed

In A League Of Its Own A COMEDY THAT POKES FUN AT MODERN-DAY RELATIONSHIP STANDARDS WHERE THE HOT BLONDE FALLS FOR THE NERD she overcomes each challenge.

Staff Writer SHE’S OUT OF MY LEAGUE-

S

OUT OF 4 STARS

he’s Out of My League is a romantic comedy that attempts to tackle questions of physical appearance and attraction in relationships.

Although frustrating to watch, the film succeeds at being genuinely funny.

torchonline.com

The TORCH

17 March 2010

ENTERTAINMENT

JACOB SULEYMANOV

PHOTO COURTESY OF GETYOURRATING.COM

Molly (left) falls for the nerdy Kirk (right), who believes that a “5 should not mix with a 10” on the relationship scale.

Jay Baruchel stars as Kirk, an unambitious and unattractive guy who has extremely low self-esteem and a crappy life. People view him as too nice and continuously take advantage of him. He has a deadend job as security personnel at an airport and his exgirlfriend, along with her new boyfriend, lives with Kirk and his family.

Molly (played by Alice Eve) enters Kirk’s life as a successful and gorgeous event planner, the quintessential “10,” according to his standards. To his surprise, she becomes smitten with him after he saves her at the metal detectors. As their relationship begins, Kirk must learn to shed his insecurities and convince himself that he is good enough for Molly.

The characters in the film fit their roles perfectly.

Eve is exceptional as Molly, skillfully mixing gracefulness with charm despite her overpowering good looks. Baruchel shows no range in his role as he continues to play the awkward, nerdy guy, a role he plays frequently and quite well. T.J. Miller is the center of attention as Kirk’s best friend, Stainer, who gives an astonishingly hilarious performance.

She’s Out of My League is the first feature film from director Jim Field Smith, who seems to struggle with the material. The screenplay boasts a flurry of jokes, but the story relies on a tired formula for romantic comedies and fails to create any real tension between the characters. The actors and their interaction seem forced and not fleshed out, leaving audiences detached from the characters. However, a hint of sarcasm and moderate use of profanity in the dialogue keep the light-hearted flow of humor going throughout the film.

Ultimately, the film’s biggest downfall is its message. Its attempts at shattering social norms are thwarted by its persistent use of numbers to label the physical worth of a person and its incessant abuse on Kirk’s character. In a day where nice guys seem to finish last, Kirk becomes more of a caricature, instead of a protagonist to root for.

Despite its flaws, She’s Out of My League is still an entertaining movie that would make for an adequate way to spend a Friday night.

eccentricity of his character. Depp’s acting in this role is not very different from previous roles he has played. As the Mad Hatter, Depp acts like the actor we all know— slightly swaying, bouncing with peculiarity and relying on the strangeness of his demeanor to add depth to his role.

Anne Hathaway appears as the White Queen, garishly painted in black lipstick and eyeliner. Her overall look contrasts so horridly with her white-powdered face that it’s hard not to cringe when she first appears on the screen.

The tawdry make-up further serves to emphasize the undeveloped theme of feminism that pokes its head throughout the film; the White Queen’s beauty is anything but stereotypical, yet she is still fwawned over and worshiped as a gorgeous saint.

Alice in Wonderland is a feast for the eyes, but a disappointment for a movie-lover expecting to see the Carroll’s classic story faithfully adapted to film.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADISNEY.GO.COM/DISNEYPICTURES/ALICEINWONDERLAND

A 19-year-old Alice reunites with her childhood friends in Wonderland.

First Listen

Hit or Miss

INFERNO REVEALS ARTISTS ON THE RISE TO WATCH OUT FOR

RALPH BRISTOUT

CHRISTINA DUNNER Contributing Writer

CHRIS BROWN

FABOLOUS

In The Zone

There is No Competition 2

INFERNO REVIEWS THE LATEST ALBUM AND MIXTAPE RELEASES TO DETERMINE IF THE MUSIC IS RIGHT ON TARGET Contributing Writer

(R&B/Hip-Hop)

T

(Rap/Hip-Hop) 1/2

1/2

OUT OF 4 STARS

OUT OF 4 STARS

O

A

LUDACRIS

man’s world and all you women/ I just want the rest to know.”

The album features highlights such as the now platinum single and instant favorite, “How Low,” in addition to “Tell Me a Secret” featuring R&B singer Ne-Yo and “My Chick Bad” with Nicki Minaj, where Ludacris is lyrically challenged by the popular female MC. Sharp punch lines, witty wordplay and machismo are staple characteristics in Battle of the Sexes but with such a title, the concept does not stay consistent in the album.

Throughout the 15-track LP, there is little gender battling, which could be due to the scarcity in female rappers. Instead, lackluster tracks seem to be thrown in to fill empty slots. Tracks like the hilarious “Sexting” and “I Know You Got a Man” featuring Flo Rida could have easily been cut.

Although the album does not follow through with expectations, it will provide several decent tracks for the clubs to get partygoers dancing.

Battle of the Sexes (Rap/Hip-Hop) 1/2 OUT OF 4 STARS

G

rammy award winner Ludacris released his seventh studio album, taking competition to a whole new level by pitting gender against gender in the rap game.

Initially scheduled to be a joint album with female rapper Shawna, Battle of the Sexes instead showcases Luda going head to head with the likes of Nicki Minaj, Lil’ Kim, Eve, Monica and more.

In the album’s introduction, Luda says, “It’s a

The TORCH

fter the first critically acclaimed There is No Competition mixtape, DJ Drama and Fabolous are back to bury the opposition in the second edition of their mixtape series, There is No Competition 2: The Funeral Service.

The duo’s latest collaboration faced a number of delays due to the addition of new tracks, but the album was finally released earlier this month.

The Funeral Service begins with a moment of silence followed by a bass-knocking intro properly titled “The Wake,” where Fabolous raps, “It’s good to wake up, look in the mirror/And the only competition’s you.” The blazing drums and snares behind the clever wordplay will leave listeners in awe as it sets the tone for the entire tape.

With quest appearances by rappers Nicki Minaj and Cam’ron and R&B singer Trey Songz, the “all black affair” exceeds its high expectations.

Fabolous’ paramount style is evident especially on the track “Exhibit F.” On this song, the rapper smoothly tells a story while offering some insight into his life: “I can’t flap with pigeons/ Gotta soar with Eagles/ A wise man told me/ Roaches don’t war with seagulls.”

Although there are a lot of positives on the album, the drawbacks come in the irritating use of the auto-tune effect. Singers Kobe and Trey Songz abuse the pitch corrector on tracks like “All The Way Turnt Up” where Fab seems a bit lazy, offering weak punch lines that are overshadowed by the unnecessary auto-tune feature.

Overall, mind-blowing lyricism and clever wordplay imposed on impressive instrumental selections make Fabolous’ There is No Competition 2 both a favorite and must-have for any rap fan.

Consider the competition put to rest.

17 March 2010

n Valentine’s Day, Chris Brown, alongside DJ Drama and DJ Sense, released his first ever mixtape titled In My Zone.

The 21-track mixtape shows the young R&B/pop star displaying more growth and maturity, which seems to play like a double-edged sword.

On tracks like “Turnt Up” and “Too Freaky,” Brown not only curses but indulges in more sexually explicit content as opposed to his subtle style in prior projects. Although Brown (barely of legal age at 20 years old) shows signs of maturity, this album may be a little overwhelming for fans from his teenage years.

The R&B crooner also attempts to bring his rapping skills to the forefront in several tracks but ultimately fails. These include tracks like “Convertible” and “Don’t Lie,” where Brown rhymes over a sample of Yo Gotti’s “Men Lie, Women Lie”: “Even though they say more money, more problems/ But I don’t picture me going on no job hunt/ Money pilin’ up now that’s something to be proud of.”

The mixtape is clearly targeted toward his female fan base. With songs like “Perfume” and “Sex,” Brown delivers harmonies reminiscent of his ’08 hit “Take You Down,” which will also garner interest from any R&B fan.

Despite the large number of tracks, even the worst ones, such as “Bad,” featuring rapper Soulja Boy, are club-friendly and favorable after several listens. “Big Booty Judy” and “Shoes” are also fun to hear but don’t provide anything new for listeners.

Besides a few bumps, the mixtape is worth a listen and Brown retains the talent in his music that has captured the world’s attention since his debut in 2005. In My Zone proves that Brown is vying for the top spot in R&B but like other artists, he offers nothing that listeners haven’t already heard before.

ENTERTAINMENT

he Presidential Society is making their presence felt in the recording industry with three solo artists under one umbrella: PremeDaPrez, Absolut’ the Great, and Kayla Bliss.

PremeDaPrez (who refers to himself as the President) surrounds himself with like-minded individuals. With Kayla and Absolut’ by his side, the birth of a movement began.

Preme’s vision of a complete take-over is surely becoming a reality with an intense buzz brewing across the club circuit.

His recent release, The Streets Need Music, is a brilliant blend of popular radio remixes and original recordings. From beginning to end, the highly anticipated mixtape is an ear pleaser. It is loaded with numerous up-tempo songs like “Good Life” and “I’m Paid.” His obvious connection with words can be felt on “The Boss.” With an inventive flow and strong punch lines, Preme delivers.

Kayla Bliss may be new to listeners, but with performances at Madison Square Garden and Michael Jackson’s 30th anniversary concert, she’s no stranger to success. With the recent release of her mixtape entitled Face The Music, the songstress leaves audience members no choice but to recognize her true talent and skill. As a vocalist, songwriter and producer, the triple threat offers raw heartfelt emotion in songs such as “Sandstorm” and “Make Him Say,” both original productions. The combination of harmonious vocals and energizing beats create nothing short of R&B perfection.

The lyricist, Absolut’ the Great, uses music as an emotional outlet. Expressing reality through sound, his music defines a man at different moments of his life. Through his lyrical content and expressive flow, listeners get a glimpse into the world he calls his own. Absolut’s fall 2009 release, Drunk Words Sober Thoughts, highlights his versatile subject matter, with such songs as “Un-human Nature” and “I Wonder Why.” The mixtape’s blend of hip-hop soul and classic reggae make it a unique listen.

Absolut’s latest mixtape, titled REMYnisce, takes listeners on a journey through time. It features remixes of well-known R&B hits, both new and old alike. Released on Valentine’s Day, the special project explores the themes of lustful desires and true love. Although REMYnisce caters to the ladies, male audiences are sure to enjoy it as they reflect on past experiences.

More than a movement, the Presidential Society is a family.

With numerous fans on their side and steady growing support, the musical empire they have created is steadily rising. For upto-date releases, visit PremeDaPrez.com and AbsoTheGreat. com.

17

OTHER ALBUMS ALSO AVAILABLE ON iTUNES...

Kayla Bliss (left) and Absolut’ (right) have made a name for themselves on the rap and R&B scenes.

Gorillaz

Jason Derulo

Plastic Beach

(R&B/Pop)

(Alternative/Electric)

torchonline.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAFIXSTUDIOS.COM AND EFLATONLINE.COM

JASON DERULO

18

Wild ‘n Out with Nick Cannon 92.3 NOW FM’S NEWEST DISC JOCKEY TAKES A BREAK FOR THE INFERNO MARIA YAP Contributing Writer

W

ith numerous accomplishments since childhood and a new position as radio VJ on the 92.3 NOW music station in New York, Nick Cannon has earned his place among the Top 10 Most Successful Young People in Hollywood. Recently, the Inferno had a conference call with the former Wild’N Out host to discuss the married life, music and success.

Inferno: Who or what inspires you?

NC: To this day, people in my family continue to inspire me. Also, I’ve always looked up to guys like Quincy Jones, Will Smith, Russell Simmons and Diddy and drew inspiration from them.

Inferno: Who are some actors and musicians you’d love to work with?

NC: I always wanted to work with Denzel Washington and music wise, I’d love to work with Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys.

Inferno: How would you personally define “success?”

Nick Cannon: Success is a journey; it isn’t a destination because you don’t necessarily have to make it somewhere. For me, it’s a way of life; you have to live your life successfully.

Inferno: What was the creative process for Wild n’ Out? NC: I was just hanging out in a comedy club with my friends and they said, “Yo Nick! Why won’t you get us a job?” We are always joking around, like you see on the show and so I thought to myself, “This is the show right here!” And from there, I put it together.

Inferno: What was your initial reaction after finding out you were part of the “Top 10 Most Successful Young People in Hollywood” list?

NC: I was stoked! I thought it was rigged. But it was just one of those things where people give you accolades and you have to humbly accept. I didn’t let it get to my head and stop my grind ‘cause now I gotta be the number 1 most successfully young person in Hollywood.

Inferno: Could you discuss your multimedia company, NCredible Entertainment, a bit?

NC: NCredible Entertaintment was a 360-degree idea where we’d be able to operate on all levels of entertainment: film, music, branding and marketing. A one-stop shop that takes an idea and expands on it on all different levels.

Inferno: Growing up, what caught your interest first: music, comedy or acting?

NC: It’s a toss up between music and comedy. I was always the class clown and the kid with a lot of energy. But music was my first love and passion. My grandfather was a great musician so I kind of got that from him.

Inferno: How did your hosting gig on 92.3 FM, here in NYC, come about?

NC: Well, I’ve always been a fan of radio and every time I’d do interviews on the radio, people would tell me that I should do radio and 92.3 approached me and gave me the opportunity.

Inferno: How did you become chairman of Teen-

Nick?

NC: I’ve always said that at some point, I’m [going to] run Nickelodeon. And one day, I went into the office and asked for my own network. I gave a presentation of my idea and told them, “If Oprah can have her own network, I want my own network too!” I also told them that I could run the teen channel better than anybody because I know and understand this particular demographic. And after the presentation, they agreed and gave me the network.

Inferno: What’s your favorite project that you’ve worked on so far?

NC: I’d have to say Wild n’ Out. Inferno: What are some projects or new ventures we can expect from you this year?

NC: I’ll be working with musicians that are a part of my company label and I also got a new hip-hop reality show on MTV called Son of a Gun which stars rapper, Cory Gunz. Also, Wild n’ Out will be coming back for new seasons.

Inferno: Briefly, how did you and Mariah Carey meet? And have there been any talks of a music collaboration?

NC: In interviews, people have always asked me who my celebrity crush was and I’d always tell them Mariah Carey, and after she heard that, we got in contact and linked up. As for a collabo, we’ve talked about it but I don’t feel I’m worthy enough to be in the studio with Mariah Carey.

Inferno: What is one thing your fans don’t know about you that they should know?

NC: [I’ve] got a black belt; Eminem watch out!

Family Matters THE ALL-AMERICAN BRAVERMAN CLAN RETURNS TO TELEVISION RANA ABDELHAMID Contributing Writer ENTERTAINMENT

PARENTHOOD-

torchonline.com

The TORCH

17 March 2010

T

PHOTO COURTESY OF CBS RADIO

Rollin’ with Nick Cannon can be heard from 6:0010:00 a.m. on New York City’s 92.3 NOW radio station.

1/2 OUT OF 4 STARS

uesday nights on NBC bring back a little blast from the past with an outstanding cast.

Parenthood, an adaptation of the 1989 original movie under the same name, has been turned into an unexpected, compelling, and serious series.

This new family dramedy pokes fun at relationships without slandering them, while still maintaining a good-natured humor. It can be considered a coming-of-age drama for all ages.

The cast is comprised of a comedic bunch, who are no strangers to primetime television and step out of their comfort zones to suit the Braverman family and its problems. Peter Krause (Six Feet Under) plays Adam Braverman, a well connected businessman, Little League coach, and reliable brother to three other adult children who are competitive, but unfailingly remain close.

Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) plays Sarah, a divorced single mother of two gloomy teenagers who are short on money and upset about leaving their hometown to move back to her parents’ home in Berkeley, Calif.

As soon as Sarah returns, problems arise between her and her career-driven sister, Julia (played

by Erika Christensen), a driven lawyer who struggles to find time to spend with her young daughter,

who prefers the company and attention of her stay-at-home dad, Joel (played by Sam Jaeger).

All the Braverman siblings rely on Adam for advice and support, but none more than Crosby, a lazy charmer and womanizer played by Dax Shepard (Baby Mama), who feebly agrees to his girlfriend’s marriage deadline.

It is as if all the comedians’ personalities are toned down so as not take away from their characters’ more serious problems, which include rebellious teenagers, career setbacks, caring for a

child one never knew existed, and (in Adam’s case) a son who may possibly be suffering from Asperger’s syndrome.

In spite of the problems, the show sells the audience on the idea of an almost utopian all-America fantasy: a huge family living in the same city whose members are there for each other through the frequent thick and seldom thin.

However, the Bravermans are a lot more interesting than the sum of their plights and offer characteristics that viewers can relate to.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC.COM/PARENTHOOD

Lauren Graham (center) plays the divorced single mother, who uproots her kids to Berkeley to be closer to her family.

TORCHCOMICS

I can’t draw Alex Reyes

Controlled Chaos Catharine Corrigan

Pam’s World

Michelle Alerte

1-800- ARMSTACO

Jonathan Roman

17 March 2010

20

Baseball loses five straight after perfect start MIKE GURNIS Staff Writer

torchonline.com

The TORCH

17 March 2010

SPORTS

For the first seven games of the season, everything seemed to be going perfectly fine for the St. John’s baseball team, as they found a way to win their first seven games.

That success, however, did not continue last week. After taking the first game of a three-game set from East Tennessee State on March 5, the team went on a five-game skid and needed 11 innings to pull out a win Sunday over Liberty.

St. John’s started the series against East Tennessee with a 10-2 win, which gave the Red Storm a 7-0 record and their the best start to a season since 1981, when they started 14-0.

Bruce Kern picked up the win for the Red Storm, throwing 5.1 innings, striking out four batters and allowing just two runs. Kern got a lot of offensive support from senior Jimmy Parque, who went 4-for-4 with two extra-base hits, and juniors Greg Hopkins and Paul Karmas each finished the day 2-for-4 with three RBI apiece.

In the next game, St. John’s continued their solid offensive performance with 13 hits and seven runs, but its pitching staff allowed 11 runs in their first loss of the season.

Senior Nick Cenatiempo would last just two innings, giving up five hits, eight earned runs, and three walks as

TORCH FILE PHOTO/LAURA AMATO

Jimmy Parque helped ignite the St. John’s offense while it struggled on its road trip last week. he was charged with his first loss of the season (0-1).

Freshman Jeremy Baltz went 3-for-4 with two RBIs while Hopkins went 3-for-4 and Parque went 2-for-4 in the losing effort.

St. John’s dropped the rubber game of its series with East Tennessee, 8-6, in a game where there were five lead changes. Sophomore Joe Panik went 4-for-4 and scored three runs while Baltz went 1-for-4 with three RBI and Parque went 1-for-5 with 2 RBI. Senior Miguel Valcarcel made the start for the Red Storm but lasted just 4.2 innings, giving up four earned runs.

After losing two out of three to East Tennessee, the Red Storm traveled to Chapel Hill to take on No. 12 North Carolina, losing 8-2. The Tar Heels put the Red Storm in an early hole, scoring six runs in the first inning off Red Storm starter Sean Hagan, who was pulled after the first inning.

St. John’s then made the trip to Lynchburg, Va. for a three-game set against Liberty, where they would lose the first two games by a combined score of 25-10. The game’s finale, however, would prove to be the most exciting, as the Red Storm would win an

extra-innings thriller by the grace of sophomore Matt Wessinger’s bat.

With the game tied at six in the top of the 11th, freshman Jimmy Brennan, who pinch-ran for fellow freshman Sean O’Hare, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout.

Wessinger then singled to left to score Brennan and give the Red Storm the go-ahead run. Sophomore Stephen Rivera threw three scoreless innings to pick up the relief win.

The Red Storm take on Fairfield today at 3:00 p.m. in their home opener.

Roberts needs his guys now more than ever

You’d have thought the New York Post’s report that St. John’s was likely to fire Norm Roberts would be bulletin board material for his players.

You’d have thought they’d be in “Win one for the Gipper” mode for tonight’s NIT game against Memphis and want to advance as far as possible in the tournament to help save the fate of their head coach.

But that’s not quite the case. When asked if the team was motivated by Roberts’ uncertain job status, junior guard Paris Horne dismissed the idea, saying, “We’re not thinking about it. That isn’t our standpoint. Our mindset is to play and going out and trying to win.”

Horne went on to say that the team cannot focus on things out of its control.

So tonight will be just another game night and Memphis will be just another

TORCH FILE PHOTO/LAURA AMATO

Norm Roberts will likely need his team to have a deep NIT run in order to save his job. opponent.

Yeah, and Tiger Woods only made “transgressions” against Elin Nordegren.

Tonight’s game is the biggest game of the Roberts era, and he will likely need to win in order to keep his job. His team should have realized that — it is, after all, only the 800-pound gorilla in the locker room.

They’ve heard the boos, they’ve read the reports — they’ve

been going on for the greater part of two seasons. The team has to understand that in order for a coach to continue coaching, he has to win games, and Roberts’ 81-100 record at St. John’s has been anything but successful.

Instead, we’re likely to see the same Red Storm team we’ve seen all year, one that despite playing with passion and tremendous effort often

lacks a sense of urgency. The uncertain fate of their head coach should have created the greatest sense of urgency the team has experienced all year, but it has obviously been overlooked.

I understand that Horne does not want the team to use the adversity and hazy reports as a distraction while it tries to make a run at the NIT championship.

The team shouldn’t need any

extra motivation to go out and play the best basketball it possibly can, especially in a postseason tournament.

But such adversity does not have to be viewed negatively. After all, Roberts’ fate goes hand-in-hand with how well this group of juniors — the core of the St. John’s roster — performs. That was the promise the St. John’s administration made when it renewed his contract two years ago.

That fate should be reciprocated. No, the University cannot fire the players, but Roberts is not all to blame. He wouldn’t have such a record if not for the lackluster results on the court, and if he is fired the players should share the responsibility for its occurrence.

This group of players has consistently defended their head coach before, going as far as yelling at fans during games.

They have to defend him one more time by making a deep run in the NIT, so that he can be part of whatever success they revel in next year. A deep run in the NIT would make the decision to keep or fire Roberts as tough as possible for administration.

21

Softball has rocky Spring Break trip to Arizona MIKE GURNIS Staff Writer The Red Storm went 3-2 in the University of Arizona Tournament with wins over Creighton, Minnesota, and Illinois-Chicago last week. Prior to the tournament, St. John’s lost five straight games by a combined score of 57-8 and was shut out in its last three.

When the Red Storm began play in the tournament on Friday, they immediately avenged a March 10 loss to Creighton with a 9-5 victory.

Freshman Amber Curry hit her first career home run, a three-run blast in the second inning, which gave the Red Storm a 7-2 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, with the Red Storm leading 8-4, freshman Jordan Tingley came in to pitch and allowed one run in 3.2 innings and struck out three to record her first career victory.

Later on in the day, the Red Storm ran into trouble, losing to Northern Colorado 3-2. Sophomore Kristi Cady hit a solo home run in the first inning and freshman Chrissy Montez added an RBI single in the second to give the Red Storm an early 2-0 lead. It wouldn’t last, however, as Tingley gave up three runs (two earned) in the third inning, and that was all Northern Colorado would need.

Tingley went six innings and struck

out two, but earned the loss hours after getting her first win.

The Red Storm would bounce back the next day with a dramatic 6-5 victory over Minnesota in extra innings that lasted nearly three hours. The Red Storm trailed 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Montez beat the throw to the plate on a fielder’s choice ground ball to third to score the tying run.

Minnesota starter Lacey Middlebrooks then threw a wild pitch and sophomore Meghan Gwynn raced home to win the game for the Red Storm.

But St. John’s faced No. 2 Arizona later in the day and fell 16-1 in five innings. Tingley was charged with the loss after giving up 10 earned runs in 2.1 innings of work. The lone bright spot for the Red Storm came off the bat Curry, who went 2-for-2 and scored the team’s only run of the game.

The Red Storm would finally close out their week in Arizona and the tournament with a 4-3 victory over Illinois-Chicago. Cady went 3-for-3 with a 2-run home run in the fifth, extending her hitting streak to five games.

Junior Kat Lawrence improved to 5-2 on the season. She pitched seven innings and allowed three runs (two earned), striking out nine.

The Red Storm currently stand with a 9-10 record, and will play in their home opener today against Fairfield at 3 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Kristy Cady has become one of the team’s most reliable hitters.

22

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Well worth the wait Women’s Hoops reaches NCAA tournament, earns six seed in Dayton region

torchonline.com

The TORCH

17 March 2010

SPORTS

DYLAN KITTS Staff Writer

The St. John’s women’s basketball team could not wait any longer to hear their name selected for the NCAA tournament.

After a four-year drought from making the tournament, the No. 15 Red Storm knew they were locks for the field of 64. Yet, after waiting nearly 30 minutes in front of live ESPN cameras at the ESPN Zone in Manhattan on Monday, the team grew anxious and began to worry.

“We were anxious,” sophomore guard Da’Shena Stevens said. “Everybody on our team hasn’t made the tournament so everybody was anxious and wanted to get it over with.”

Once most of the tournament was announced, freshman Shenneika Smith even whispered in head coach Kim Barnes Arico’s ear and asked if it was possible they were snubbed.

“I don’t think that they would put us on ESPN if we weren’t getting selected,” Barnes Arico told her.

St. John’s name then popped up on the television. The Red Storm (24-6, 12-4 Big East) received the No. 6 seed in the Dayton region and will play No. 11 Princeton in the first round Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla. ESPN then cut to a live shot of the St. John’s players. Immediately they erupted: A cry of joy followed by a synchronized team clap.

“My heart was beating so fast,” Smith said. “I never felt this way ever. When we finally came on TV, I just jumped.”

The six seed is the highest the Red Storm has ever earned and it is only the second time they have made the women’s tournament in 22 years.

“We thought we were going to be a five (seed),” Barnes Arico said. “To be ranked 15th and 17th in the country [during the season], we thought we had a good chance of being a four or a five. That’s where we thought we would be.”

In the Dayton region though, she doesn’t mind. The No. 1 overall seed of the tournament, Connecticut, a team in the midst of a NCAA-record 72-game winning streak, is in their region. By avoiding the five seed, the Red Storm wouldn’t face the Huskies until the Elite Eight.

“We are excited about being on the bottom half of the bracket,” Barnes Arico said.

Princeton is no slouch, however. At 26-2, the Tigers only lost at UCLA and Rutgers, while finishing the season on a 21-game winning streak.

With a win, the Red Storm will face the winner of three-seeded Florida State and 14-seeded Louisiana Tech. If chalk prevails, it could end up being a decorated away game for the Johnnies.

“I was hoping we would get on a neutral court but I know a lot of times they try to do that to get people in the stands and try to get a big following at

TORCH FILE PHOTO/LAURA AMATO

Shennika Smith, after fearing her team had been snubbed, will help lead the Johnnies in the tournament. the games,” said Barnes Arico.

Despite the fact that no player on the roster has any NCAA experience, and that the team starts two freshmen, no one seems worried about a deer-inthe-headlights moment once play starts.

“It’s the first time for all of us to be in the NCAAs but I think our freshmen are really mature for their age,” St. John’s senior Kelly McMammon said. “They are leaders already this year. Us seniors are more than ready to go. We have waited our whole careers to get here. Joy [McCorvey] and I are just determined to do our best and keep us on track.”

Junior point guard Sky Lindsay agrees.

“We have a bunch of freshman that have come so far and played so great this year,” Lindsay said. “We are in the toughest conference and the freshman definitely proved and showed the world that they can hang with the big dogs.”

The Big East tied the Big 12 for most schools entering the tournament with seven.

The team has already made history this season. Their No. 15 national ranking and 24 wins is tied with their best ever since 1983-84 season.

“People don’t make history all of the time. Making history as freshman is just great, it didn’t matter what seed we were as long as we made the tournament,” Smith said.

Tracking the Storm: Princeton After completing the first undefeated Ivy League season since 2002-03 and amassing the nation’s third-longest winning streak, the Princeton Tigers earned the No. 11 seed in the Dayton region of the NCAA tournament.

The Tigers went 14-0 during conference play and 12-2 over the course of their non-conference schedule, falling to UCLA and Rutgers. Since their loss to the Scarlet Knights in early December, the Tigers, led by the conference’s Rookie of the Year Niveen Rasheed, went on a 21-game winning streak and won the Ivy League outright for the first time since the 1970’s.

Though this is Princeton’s first trip to the NCAA tournament, head coach Courtney Banghart has plenty of experience in the Big Dance. She has been to the NCAA tournament four times, as both a player and coach at Dartmouth.

On offense, the Tigers wind the shot clock down and are generally pateint, moving the ball within its

motion offense to get off a good shot. They usually do not run isolation plays to any one player and do not play a lot of one-on-one basketball. Rather, the team sets screens off the ball to create space for their shooters. The team shot 50.4 percent from the field during nonconference play and 47.7 percent during conference play. However, the Tigers are a below-average Ivy League team in drawing fouls.

In addition to Rasheed’s achievement as the conference’s best freshman, she and small forward Lauren Edwards earned all-conference honors. Shooting guard Addie Micir and center Devona Allgood were all-conference second team selections.

On defense, the Tigers are strong on the interior as well as capable of tracking the ball on e very spot on the floor. Princeton held opponents to a 36.4 percent shooting percentage and grabbed nearly 70 percent of defensive rebounds.

23

TORCH SPORTS

MEN’S BASKETBALL

STORM

CAST

Leavin’ their Mark

Homer, Wozniak shippin’ up to Boston The St. John’s fencing team had a successful run at the NCAA Northeast regional title at Brown University on March 14.

Daryl Homer and Dagmara Wozniak won the NCAA Northeast Regional title in men and women’s sabre, respectively, and both posted records of 10-1. Both will represent St. John’s at the 2010 NCAA Fencing Championship in Boston March 25-28.

Martyna Wieczorek finished third, with a 9-2 record.

Alejandro Rojas came in fourth with a record of 7-4.

In epee, Tetyana Novakovska, Sanne Gars, and Saeedan Cook all placed within the top-seven after earning 7-4. 7-4, and 6-5 records, respectively. Finally, In women’s foil, Irina Koroleva and Evgeniya Kirpicheva finished second and third, both with a 7-4 record.

Women’s Tennis tops Hoyas

TORCH FILE PHOTO/LAURA AMATO

Norm Roberts will be coaching the men’s basketball team tonight against Memphis in the NIT’s opening round.

Roberts, Men’s Team reach NIT any of that stuff,” Roberts said. “We haven’t evaluated our whole season until our season is over. When it is over, we will evaluate where the program is. We knew the season wasn’t over and we wanted to keep on playing.”

Horne dismissed the notion that the team would be playing for more than the program’s sixth NIT title when the Johnnies take the floor tonight.

“We aren’t thinking about [Roberts’ future with the team],” Horne said. “That isn’t our standpoint. Our mindset is to play and going out and trying to win.

We really wanted this chance for this tournament. We feel like we are a great team and we just want to show everybody that we are. It’s out of our control.”

Blowin’ in the Wind

“

Nothing has been discussed about any of that stuff. We haven’t evaluated our whole season until the season is over. When it is over, we will evaluate where our program is.

Headin’ this Way Red Storm home games

Softball Feb. 11 Louisville

7:00 p.m.

Lacrosse 1:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Baseball Mar. 16 Mar. 17 Mar. 20 Mar. 21 Mar. 23

Fairfield Albany Albany Albany Columbia

3:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

torchonline.com

Mar. 20 Vermont Mar. 23 Hofstra

The TORCH

”

-Men’s basketball coach Norm Roberts on his job status

17 March 2010

The Norm Roberts era at St. John’s is not over yet.

Days after the New York Post reported that Roberts would not be retained for a seventh season as the coach of the men’s basketball team, the Red Storm received a berth in the National Invitational Tournament for a record 27th time.

St. John’s (17-15, 7-13 Big East) will square off against Memphis (23-9, 13-3 Conference USA) tonight at 9 p.m. on ESPN2, as the Johnnies look to build on their tournament-record 40 NIT wins, 15 semifinal appearances and five championships. “[The NIT] holds a lot of significance to St. John’s,” said Roberts, who coached the team to 17 wins in 2009-10, the most in his six years as head coach. “St. John’s was always a big part of the NIT. It is one step of us moving forward. Every year this team has taken a step and this is another step. Last year we went to the [College Basketball Invitational] and now we get a chance to hopefully win a couple games and come back home.”

With a win over the Tigers, St. John’s would face either two-seeded Mississippi on the road or seventh-seeded Troy at home later this week. If the Johnnies can advance to the semifinal round, they’d return to Madison Square Garden on March 30, where they played most of

their conference schedule this season.

“We are excited that we can continue to play,” said junior guard Paris Horne.

“We’re playing for a lot. The NIT is a great tournament and I feel like we could win it. So we are just going to go after it.”

The Johnnies may need to “go after it” in order for Roberts to keep his job for next season. According to a report last week by SNY’s Adam Zagoria, Roberts has not yet discussed his future with university officials and will not do so until the season ends, a sentiment he reiterated before the team left for Memphis on Monday. If the team reaches the NIT finals, he would still be coaching the team on April 1.

“Nothing has been discussed about

SPORTS

BILL SAN ANTONIO Sports Editor

The St. John’s women’s tennis team defeated Georgetown on March 13, 5-2 on the road.

The Red Storm won the No. 1 and 2 spots in doubles play winning four out of six matchups, with Joanna Zwirbulis scoring 6-1, 7-6(8) over Lauren Greco to earn a No. 2 win. Ece Firat defeating Samantha Martin in straight sets 6-0 in the third singles spot. Jenny Yonkus and Nakita Austin won the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

St. John’s will face Seton Hall Friday at 1 p.m. in Queens.

SPORTS 17 MARCH 2010 | VOLUME 87, ISSUE 18 | TORCHONLINE.COM

TORCH PHOTO/ LAURA AMATO

TORCHSPORTS.WORDPRESS.COM

The men’s basketball team earned a bid to the NIT and will face Memphis tonight at 9 p.m.

The baseball team went on a five-game losing streak after starting the season 7-0.

Pg. 23

Pg. 20