SJU Student wins Miss New York pg. 9
J. Cole comes home TAYLOR LEONARD-COLEMAN
Staff Writer
Debating DeBlasio’s marijuana stance pg. 7
St. John's University welcomed back its spring concert this past Thursday, after a oneyear hiatus, with a performance by special guest, hip-hop artist and former Johnnie, J. Cole. Haraya, the Pan-African Students Coalition, along with Student Government, Incorporated (SGI) labeled the extraordinary event, meant only for St. John’s students and alumni, as “J.Cole’s Homecoming Concert: The Real Is Back.” Tickets went on sale Monday, March 30 at 9 a.m. Students were lined up in the cold from the top of the D’Angelo Center all the way around to the entrance to DaSilva Memorial Field. St. John’s students expressed excitement about the upcoming concert by using the hashtags that both the St. John’s and Haraya’s Twitter handles produced: #WelcomeBackJCole, #StormCardsOnly, #HarayaMusicFest15, #SJU and #TheRealIsBack. Continued on page 12
PHOTO/ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Fencer Isis Washington wins national title at NCAA Tourney pg. 15
PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN MANARANG
Serving up an appetizing renovation BRIDGET HIGGINS
Staff Writer
‘Walking Dead’ star surprises film class pg. 5 PHOTO/TORCH PHOTO EDITOR DIANA COLAPIETRO
Montgoris Dining Hall will experiences various renovations starting summer of 2015
When students come back to campus this fall, they can expect a new and improved Montgoris Dining Hall. According to a Montgoris renovation plan by Executive Director of Conference and Auxiliary Services Scott Lemperle, dining services will update the dining hall’s look and feel, along with expanding its food options. According to the renovation plan, “The desired outcomes of the summer renovation is to update the look and feel of the Montgoris Dining Hall with features that are up-to-date with the demands of today’s student; with a better flow, circulation
and additional made to order food concepts all of which will create separate destinations and a fresher approach to dining within Montgoris Hall.” Students can expect many new additions to the highly frequented Montgoris, or “Monty’s” as it is familiarly called around campus. Although the plan has come out for the renovations, many students don’t know what to expect. Freshman Austin Rojas said, “It’s hard to make a judgment about this until I experience it for myself.” Continued on page 3
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Managing Board XCIII
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News
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Montgoris renovations to take place throughout summer 2015 Students will return to a new and improved dining hall this fall semester
continued from page 1 One of the most popular spots in the hall each morning is the omelette station. With the renovations, this will become a part of the new “exhibition concept.” The area will be centered along the inside of the servery, where many madeto-order dishes will be prepared. “As long as Angela is there, I’m happy,” said freshman Frank Obermeyer, referring to one of the Dining Service workers who serve up omelets in the morning. The anchor of the serving area will be a Mongolian grill station, according to the Dining Service Advisory Committee Renovation Plan. At the Mongolian grill, cooks will serve hot foods and made-toorder stir-fry options. The station will be in full view of the rest of the dining hall. Some students are excited about the new updates. Freshman Megan Monahan said, “I’m glad they’re updating it and they’re expanding their options.” Other students are more uncertain about the outcome of the planned renovations. “I remain cautiously optimistic,” said freshman Jack Fogarty. Other renovations include an updated pizza shop flanking the “exhibition concept,” a double-sided salad bar, a coffee and ice cream bar, new beverage and condiment stations, a soup and deli bar and a made-to-order grill. The Dessert Shoppe, which has been a huge hit according to Dining Services, will be present but relocated within the hall. In addition to food updates, Dining
PHOTO/TORCH PHOTO EDITOR DIANA COLAPIETRO
The Dessert Shoppe located in Montgoris Dining Hall. The feature was introduced starting in the fall 2014 semester and has been a huge hit according to Dining Services. It will still be present once the renovations are complete.
Services plans to change the atmosphere of Montgoris as well. The space will have a slat wall at the entrance to “create an element of excitement,” according to the Montgoris Renovation Plan. St. John’s will also create new soft seating areas on both levels of the dining hall. Dining Services hopes that this will add a warmer, more welcoming, and
open feel to the dining hall. “I don’t think [the renovations are] really necessary…but I think it has potential,” said Jesse Schaefer, a freshman soccer player. “I just hope it’s not a bust.” Dining Services plans to complete the renovations upon the end of the summer 2015 semester. Student reactions will most likely remain mixed until they
can see the updated Montgoris for themselves. For summer students, the Law School Café, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks will remain open for normal summer hours. The D’Angelo Center and Marillac Hall dining rooms will be open as needed to service conferences and New Student Orientation.
What happens to SGI’s remaining funds? AMANDA UMPIERREZ News Editor In a recent interview, Student Government Incorporated (SGI) President Robert Koehler revealed that SGI’s budget money is not immediately terminated or allocated into another fund at the end of the academic year in May. In fact, any remaining money is allotted into a money market account where SGI can use it for upcoming years. “Student government’s leftover money goes into a money market account,” Koehler said in an e-mail interview. “It is used as liquidity for future years if student government is running low on funds.” According to SGI Treasurer Justin Alick, SGI’s approximate budget of $1.2 million is given to the organization in installments, of usually $200 to $300 thousand in each portion. The residual money at the end of the year becomes an asset, in case SGI happens to go over budget in future years. “This way we’re still collecting interest on our funds, but also maintaining liquidity to make sure checks are paid out in time,” Alick said. As stated by Alick, about once every month and a half SGI dips into this liquidity. However, this can happen more frequently throughout busier times in
the year, such as in the beginning of the fall semester when school kicks off, or during Spring Week in April. “All of the money deposited into the money market account is SGI’s money, and of course, the students,” Alick said. According to Alick, 99 percent of SGI’s budget originally comes from student activity fees. A fraction of this money is broken off into the budgets of SGI-funded organizations. If an organization were to need additional money, they must request it from SGI. “For our bigger events, our budget may not be able to cover all of our expenses for it,” Kylynn Garingalao, treasurer of Philippine Americans Reaching Everyone (P.A.R.E.), said. “In that case, we have to ask for a special allocation from SGI, but this does not guarantee that we will receive the full amount that we need.” The budget given allows organizations to participate and hold activities that can influence their members. “SGI’s budget impacts the programming we are able to provide for our fraternity and sorority members and the larger student community,” Greek Life Advisor Christine McGill said. “The funds are spent on values-based programs...These are typically in the form of conferences, retreats, recognition programs, celebrations, educational workshops and speakers.” Despite SGI’s money market account
TORCH PHOTO/AMANDA UMPIERREZ
Student Government Treasurer Justin Alick.
and their liquidity, any SGI-funded organization’s residual money is returned to SGI and does not roll over for the upcoming academic year. In an e-mail interview, Alick said that this money, “along with all leftover funds from the operating budget gets deposited into the money market account.” According to Garingalao, if an SGI-funded organization does not spend
all of their allocated money during the year, it can disturb their prospective budget in the future. “I'm not sure what happens to it after SGI takes it back, but I know that if we do not use what is given to us, it may affect the budget amount that our organization is given next year,” Garingalao noted in an e-mail interview. In an e-mail interview, Haraya Treasurer Jonathan Bembry also accounted to a budget disturbance if not all of the money is used. “Unfortunately, any money that is leftover in our budget cannot be used and does not roll into next year, like money in an earned income account,” Bembry said. “As an organization, you actually have to spend all of your money in your budget or you may be penalized for next year.” Alick said that although this system has always been around, its necessity arose a couple of years ago, when SGI exceeded their budget. According to Alick, that past SGI e-board had to meet the extra amount by going through other unknown means. Currently, Alick states that SGI is and will not be going over budget, and is, in fact, presently operating on a surplus. “Right now, looking at it, I may have a surplus of between $150 and $250 thousand,” he said.
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Graduate program students speak on educational experience in Cuba TALIA TIRELLA Co-Editor-In-Chief
Aspiring diplomats dive into Cuban culture
Over spring break, a group of students in the International Communication graduate program traveled to Havana, Cuba. The trip was headed by Dr. Basilio Monteiro. While there, the five students from Monteiro’s International Public Diplomacy course experienced Cuba’s culture and way of life. Students Oscar Diaz and Bree Driscoll filmed a documentary about the Cuban way of life, also documenting Cuban citizens’ hopes as to what will happen in the future as far as American-Cuban relations go. The group visited several institutions including the Centro Cultural Padre Felix Varela, Instituto Loyola, Seminario de San Carlo y San Ambrosio, Conferencia de Obispos Catolicos de Cuba and Casa Sacerdotal, where they stayed for the duration of the week. Monteiro had the idea that the group should film a documentary based on their time there. Graduate student Miranda Baldwin said, “The documentary was the brilliant idea of [Dr. Basilio] Monteiro and it came to fruition because of [Bree] Driscoll and [Oscar] Diaz.” Diaz said that, more specifically, they were trying to focus on telling a story about the Cuban people. “We knew that, for the most part, Cuba was in the shadows and we wanted to shed a bit of light on the people, their stories of resilience and their high hopes for the future,” Diaz said. Throughout the trip, Diaz and Driscoll carried their filming equipment everywhere they went. Driscoll filmed,
PHOTO PROVIDED/OSCAR DIAZ
Students and faculty from the Int’l. Comm. graduate program posed in Cuba.
while Diaz assisted with the mic, tripod and Spanish translation. “We were only in Cuba for a week so we really made an effort to fit as much as possible into our days. We took on long periods of interviewing, curious to learn about people’s experiences and lives,” Diaz said. “Filming and lugging around equipment through the streets of Havana definitely made us stand out.” Driscoll and Diaz interviewed students and faculty members of the institutes they visited. They also interviewed fellow graduate students on the trip about their experiences and thoughts. These in-
Torch
Briefs Boston bomber faces death penalty CAITLIN SULLIVAN Staff Writer 21-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found guilty on all 30 counts related to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing by a Boston jury on Wednesday, April 8. The tragedy resulted in four deaths, including the death of Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier and the injuries of more than 260 marathoners and bystanders. Tsarnaev's conviction came almost two years after the event that shook the city of Boston. The long process was a result of the emotional controversy of the case, including the possible death penalty for which Tsarnaev is now eligible. Tsarvaev’s qualification for the death penalty continues to be an ongoing debate. Tsarnaev and his lawyers tried pro-
fusely to place most of the blame of the attacks on his deceased brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev. The jury still held his brother, Dzhokhar, accountable for the crimes. Tsarnaev’s conviction has been a sign of good news for many people affected by the attack and also for people across the country. Senior AnnMarie Russo said, “The conviction of Tsarnaev brings peace and justice to families and to the community of Boston. It brings people together in a way that shows that we are resilient.” Senior Marlisa Perry supported the jury’s decision of convicting Tsarnaev, stating, “I think that justice needs to be served to the victims of that bombing. It was a conscious decision on his part to carry out the attack that led to hundreds of people injured. I think the families affected by this tragedy will be pleased.” Since Tsarnaev’s guilty convictions now make him eligible for the death penalty, the penalty trial will resume on Tuesday, April 21.
terviews can be seen in the documentary they made, which is on YouTube and featured on the St. John’s website. The trip was inspired by the easing of Cuban-American relations hinted at by the phone call between President Barack Obama and Cuban president Raul Castro that took place back in December. Since then, Americans have traveled to Cuba despite the travel ban that is still in place. According to Diaz, at first, the idea of going to Cuba seemed impossible. As the semester progressed, Monteiro reintroduced the idea again.
“We started to think it could actually happen, so we all individually tried to find the resources and time off from work to go,” Diaz said. “The plan was to go over spring break at the end of February, so we had less than two weeks to process visas, coordinate our airfare and housing and get University approval. Before we knew it, we were landing in Havana.” Baldwin said they researched other schools’ trips to Cuba to find out where they had stayed and what they had done. They found that students from Stony Brook University had gone, but it had taken a year to organize the trip. “Dr. Monteiro did it in two weeks. Talk about a man with connections. All in all, the trip was an outlandish idea of his on day one of the semester and fortunately for us, everything fell into place. Tensions continued to ease between Cuba and the U.S. and the rest is history,” Baldwin said. “From what we saw, this is the start of a brand new chapter for both Cuba and the States.” According to Monteiro, the trip was paid by students and faculty, with assistance from the dean’s office. The group also got help from a travel agent in Washington, D.C. “Dr. Monteiro got funding from some outside sources and we individually covered the remaining costs, which was very little. Each student paid less than $300,” Baldwin said. Diaz, Baldwin and graduate student Afua Twumasi-Ankrah all agreed that the trip was an eye-opening and invaluable experience. They all believe that students should have the opportunity to learn through travel. “Go with no prejudices. Go with an open heart and head [mind]. Go as a student,” Twumasi-Ankrah said.
Columbia responds to Rolling Stone piece KIMBERLY AVALOS Staff Writer The Columbia Graduate School of Journalism published an independent report on April 5, commissioned by Rolling Stone, about a brutal gang rape at a University of Virginia fraternity that widely discredited the magazine’s journalistic practices. The article, “A Rape on Campus: A Brutal Assault and Struggle for Justice at UVA,” which was published on Nov. 19, 2014, was the magazine’s attempt to “sound an alarm about campus sexual assault [that] would challenge University of Virginia and other universities to do better,” according to the report. However, the report concluded that the piece was a result of failures at every stage of the reporting process. The report was written by Columbia J-School Dean Steven Coll, Dean of Academic Affairs Sheila Coronel and Postgraduate Research Scholar at the J-school Derek Kravitz. Although managing editor of Rolling Stone Will Dana admitted the failure took place on individual, procedural and institutional levels, all the editors along with the reporter, Sabrina Rubin Erdely, agreed the main fault was being “too accommodating of [the victim] Jackie
because she described herself as the survivor of a terrible sexual assault.” The report illustrated the sensitivity attached to the investigation of rape and sexual assault; in this case when a reporter relied too heavily on the account of the victim and produced an underdeveloped presentation of facts. Coll, Coronel and Kravitz said the Columbia report expands on the pressing “need for a more considered understanding and debate among journalists and others about the best practices for reporting on rape survivors as well as on sexual assault allegations that have not been adjudicated.” Sophomore English major Ella Leviyeva said the controversy contributed to a “culture of uncertainty surrounding the media and its factual validity.” Although the magazine sought out a report from Columbia, Leviyeva said it seemed more like an attempt to salvage their reputation after “flaws and holes were revealing themselves.” Senior journalism major Sarah Hermina said the issue undermined the expectation for journalists to get the facts right. “There’s so much to be said about accurate and objective reporting,” Hermina said. “Anything less than that can be damaging to the reputation of potentially innocent journalists.”
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Relay For Life gets ready as 10th annual walk-a-thon approaches CHEYANNE GONZALES General Manager Relay For Life is one of St. John’s biggest charity events hosted every year in April. This year’s 10th annual walk-a-thon has over 1,300 participants registered with 121 teams ready to show support for cancer survivors, connect with lost loved ones, be in solidarity with those who are still fighting cancer and walk all night around Carnesecca Arena. According to Alex Kaiser, the entertainment chair for the Relay For Life committee, the event planning started back in November, with yearlong fundraising all leading up to the big event. “I am greatly looking forward to this Friday when St. John's students and faculty will come together to move towards a world without cancer,” Kaiser said. The event will have games, food, performances and activities throughout the night. There will also be an opening ceremony and a Luminaria ceremony to reflect on why participants are involved in the Relay events. “I’m really looking forward to the laps done and the Luminaria ceremony,” Tyler Defranco, president of Sigma Pi Fraternity, said. “It’s a great way to honor those who have lost their lives to the disease.” The Relay For Life committee is excited for this year’s event, hoping that all the registered teams and participants continue, even after this Friday’s event, to help raise money and show support to the research, cancer survivors, lost loved ones and those who are still fighting the disease.
Event expected to be ‘the best Relay yet’
Luminaries are set up in order to show love and support for survivors and lost loved ones.
“We have put so much love into planning and executing every detail of this event that I hope students enjoy their night at Relay,” Kaiser said. On the day of the event, students come dressed in their team and group colored gear. The event brings all the organizations together to march through the night in support for the fight towards cancer.
Michelle Suniaga, sophomore and member of Theta Phi Alpha, is excited to be with all the different organizations on campus, to help raise money and bear the story of survivors. Last year, the St. John’s community raised over $106,000. All proceeds were donated to the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society has
PHOTO/FACEBOOK.COM/SJURELAY
been the leading cancer research organization for over 100 years with a focus on finding measures of cancer prevention. As of April 11, St. John’s University has raised over $51k and that number continues to grow. “I believe that this Friday is going to be the best Relay yet, as it is sure to be a magical evening,” Kaiser said.
‘The Walking Dead’ actor Norman Reedus visits St. John’s ANABELLE MADHO Staff Writer Norman Reedus, also known as Daryl Dixon to fans of the AMC television series, “The Walking Dead,” surprised St. John’s students on April 1, 2015. Adjunct Professor Ozzie Alfonso suddenly left his Television Production One Class in Studio 422A in Marillac Hall. Shortly after, Norman Reedus appeared and claimed to be their substitute teacher, according to junior Matt Chieco. The class was in a state of shock. “I didn’t really think it was him at first. The class could not believe it and were just shocked the whole time. Beginning to end,” Chieco said. The unforeseen visit to St. John’s University’s Television and Film Center was all a part of a campaign. The campaign features five well-known celebrities crashing “five different classes in five different campuses around the country,” Alfonso said. St. John’s University was chosen as one of those campuses. Chevrolet sponsors this viral campaign, also known as #BestDayEver. The campaign’s goal is to create buzz for the automobile company. Once his camera crew got settled in the classroom, Norman Reedus began to tell his story. He spoke about his journey throughout the television and film
PHOTO PROVIDED/ANABELLE MADHO
Norman Reedus speaks to TV production class about his career in television and film. Norman Reedus poses with St. John’s faculty member.
industry. He reflected on the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned as he climbed up in the ranks of this industry. The students were then allowed to ask questions. Freshman Gabrielle Laurendine was one of these students. She said Alfonso guided them to ask questions about, “how to get into it and what he’s learned so far.” However, most students were partic-
PHOTO/STJOHNSNOW
ularly intrigued in Reedus’ life as Daryl Dixon. According to Alfonso, “All they wanted to know about was ‘The Walking Dead,’ which is to be understood.” Following the conversation about the television and film occupation and the hit show, “The Walking Dead,” Reedus took photographs with the students, as well as with Professor Alfonso. Some students even got autographs. Laurendine summed up her shock in
just a few words, “We had no idea.” Hours after, word spread throughout campus. Students by the dozens came looking for Daryl Dixon for autographs or even the slightest conversation with the celebrity himself. It is evident that this delightful surprise will be remembered by students, as Chevy’s idea of the Best Day Ever! It was in fact the #BestDayEver to Professor Alfonso’s 10:40 a.m. class and an experience St. John’s students will never forget.
Opinion
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Staff Editorial board XCIII TALIA TIRELLA Co-Editor-in-Chief JENNY CHEN Co-Editor-in-Chief KYLE FITZGERALD Managing Editor CHEYANNE GONZALES General Manager AMANDA UMPIERREZ News Editor STEPHEN ZITOLO Sports Editor LIVIA PAULA Features Editor JASMINE IMANI DAVIS Entertainment Editor SUZANNE CIECHALSKI Opinion Editor
Torch Media Twitter: @SJU_Torch Instagram: @sju_torch Vine: @SJUTorch
Flames of the Torch: As the 93rd Editorial Board of the Torch, we are excited to begin publication and serve as the watchdog for this University. We understand the task at hand, and that is to celebrate all of the features that make St. John’s unique: the faculty, its Vincentian heritage, its sports programs and the diversity of the student body--to name a few. There are several opportunities available on campus of which students are not aware until they have already occurred. The staff as a whole wants to make sure we make a preemptive strike and give students the early scoop. This is part of our larger goal: to increase the readership of the Torch. We want the student body to be aware of the issues and topics that surround the campus. Many students don’t really pick up physical newspapers anymore; rather, online news is easier to access and so we are striving to create a new, more interactive look for the Torch. Furthermore, we intend to expand the social media platform of the Torch and provide easier access to articles, breaking news and other information we present. Our aspiration as an editorial board is to maintain and further develop our relationship with the student body and University. We understand that a situation on campus may taint the image of this University. We certainly do not hope to cross that bridge, but being positioned with the role as the campus watchdog, it is our duty to relay this truth to the student public because you all have the right to know the ins and outs of your home away from home. We are careful to uphold our journalistic integrity by relaying information in a purely factual fashion, but in doing so, we must also relay the whole truth to and for our community. For the most part, we love bragging about our campus. By publishing breaking, relevant news to the campus, we aspire to continue serving our growing community and audience.
The Seal of SJU: A Representation of Our Students Fr. Patrick J. Griffin, CM Special to the Torch
Have you ever seen the seal of the University? Well, if you look up at that huge stone emblem placed high above the main doors of the library, or look down at that large, bronze medallion set into the floor beyond the main doors in the D’Angelo Center, then you can see it. A much smaller, but personally meaningful, version appears on the diploma, which you will receive upon graduation. In a different time, a seal acted as a regular sign of identification and importance on significant items and documents. It might have been burned onto an object, or stamped in ink on a contract or pressed into hot wax on a letter. Its place on our diplomas recalls this au-
thoritative and unique usage. It carries a formal weight. This symbol has meaning for the SJU student, as well as the institution. Let us consider our insignia as three concentric circles. The outermost circle contains the Latin phrase: “Sigillum Universitatis Sti. Joannis Neo-Eboraci.” If your Latin is weak, that translates to “Seal of St. John’s University, New York.” The “New York” part goes all the way back to a seal of the city in 1686. (Yes, I needed to look that up.) The next circle challenges your Greek: λύχνος καιόμενος και ϕαίνων. This phrase is followed by the year 1870, which, of course, indicates the founding of St. John’s College. The Greek means “A lamp, burning and shining,” which is the way Jesus describes John the Baptist in John 5:35. John’s message brings light and joy as it illuminates the path towards Jesus. The innermost circle contains a burn-
ing lamp sitting atop three books. The lamp, looking like something out of “Aladdin,” clearly intends to evoke the image of the Greek text. It represents John the Baptist at one level and St. John’s University at another; Hence, the books shown in the seal. The University becomes a source of light and guidance as it educates its students. It becomes the lamp, burning and shining, which casts aside the shadows of prejudice and ignorance, while brightening the road to truth and compassion. I like to think that the lamp also represents the students who come and go from our University. You become that source of illumination and leadership for our society. The books suggest a well-rounded education encompassing science, humanities and religion. Like John the Baptist, you are invited to point towards the correct way, to
bring wisdom to our world and witness to the most ethical principles. Linking our seal to St. John the Baptist extends the the hope that the men and women who graduate from St. John’s University will be people of religious values, whatever their faith tradition.
Student Sparks: The Death Penalty
ABHISHEK JOSHI AND BRIDGET HIGGINS Staff Writers
Angad Sehmby, Junior Q: Do you think death penalty is a fair form of punishment? A: “The death penalty is something that should be based from what they actually do and whether the state has actual proof of what they did. If those conditions are met, then, yes, I think it would be fair. We shouldn’t pay for prisoners to rot in jail. I believe they should be doing certain jobs. For example, making things that would basically pay their housing but also the establishment they’re in.”
Jacqueline Hutchinson, Freshman Q: Does the Boston Marathon bomber deserve the death penalty? A: “That’s a hard one. Because personally a lot of my family was there so that day was very scary for me…I think the kid needs help other than just putting him in a cell or killing him. I don’t know what would help but he’s young.”
Christian (CJ) Martin, Freshman Q: Should we pay for prisoners to stay in jail or is the death penalty a better alternative? A: “I think that how much we pay for prisons and how much [prisoners] have is excessive. I think they should be forced to work a lot for the privileges they have in society, more so than the average person.”
Reza Moreno, Freshman Q: What is your personal say in terms of the entire concept of the death penalty?
Jeanel Sunga, Freshman Q: Would you rather fund prisoners staying in jail or receiving death penalty? A: “That’s tough. If a prisoner gets a life sentence, then the death penalty is the way to go, because you’re just wasting money if you stay in jail for a long time… just thinking practically.”
A: “It isn’t up to anyone to end someone’s life. I believe there are other ways of punishment in the jail system, such as being locked up forever rather than taking someone’s life, which isn’t our place to take”
Paul Stiehr, Senior Q: What is your take on death penalties? A: “I feel it’s in the law. So, it is to be done. But, the criterion for it should be more clear and there should be more succinct laws in terms of death penalties.”
Marijuana legalization up in smoke ANGEL VERA Staff Writer April 20; A day that is held sacred amongst the stoners and tokers of our generation. It’s a day where Americans of all creeds and colors come together and do nothing but order pizza while staring deadpan at the television watching the Food Network for two straight hours. Lighting up the doobie has been a long-standing American tradition like apple pie or unreasonable military intervention for years. According to the PEW Research center, nearly half of all Americans, forty-seven percent, have tried marijuana. States like Colorado and Washington have fully legalized its recreational use while other states have legalized it for medical use. Among liberals and youths of all party identifications, it is pretty popular. Our great leader and human statue, Bill de Blasio, has turned his back on his fellow progressives and radical lefties, a bitter shame.
When asked on “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” if marijuana legalization is on the “progressive agenda,” he let out a very heavy awnd painful “no.” Although, to be fair, the new NYPD approach of not arresting people possessing small amounts of marijuana has lowered arrests by 65 percent. It’s a shame that a so-called progressive is so hesitant to make the right economic and social move that is legalizing pot, especially since the mayor himself has confessed to smoking pot in his youth. Yet, he told the New York Daily News that it was a “mistake.” Many people are facing a lot of trouble for that same ‘mistake.’ Those filling up Rikers Island would love a second chance ; asinine drug chargs can ruin lives. Marijuana is never going away or out of style. Don’t let New York City lag behind on an issue it should be campaigning, de Blasio.
“Five Good Reasons,” Nicole Marino
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Lifestyle
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SJU student crowned Miss Teen New York
PHOTO/ERIC BRIAN
Andreia Gibau was overwhelmed with joy when they announced her as Miss Teen New York.
DARYLIN PAYTON
Contributing Writer
“Everything changed within seconds.” -Andreia Gibau-
dent or anything that would allow her to incorporate her intelligence with her “glamorous” side. Gibau left an important piece of advice for girls interested in participating in pageants. “Never doubt yourself,” Gibau said. “Put trust in God, and let it go.”
/BRET HS
JOSEP
After a year filled with long nights practicing, Gibau was ready for the pageant. The three-day pageant event lasted from March 27 until March 29. Throughout the pageant, each of the girls had to participate in four categories: swimsuit, interview, evening gown, and the popular on-stage question. Gibau’s favorite part of it all was the interview because she likes to talk, and she knew that was the moment where she would be able to impress the judges the most. “I was motivated by the judging process because I knew I was there to be judged,” Gibau said. Although the process motivated her, Gibau said that her least favorite part of the competitive environment was the pressure it applied on herself and the other hopeful competitors. Those four catego-
ries weren’t all that the contestants needed to worry about—the girls had to have a platform. Gibau’s platform was “Best Buddies,” a program that she founded the chapter and is currently president of the progrm at St. John’s. “Best Buddies” is a program that creates an opportunity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to create one-on-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development The platform and dedication to service caused Gibau to standout in her division. On the pageant’s last day, Gibau learned that all of her hard work finally paid off. She was named the 2015 Miss Teen New York. Besides the desired crown, Gibau received the awards of Highpoint in Interview and Most Photogenic. She was also offered a modeling contract with MMG New York. Gibau said the whole experience was amazing for her. Eventually, she plans to work on getting more young women into pageantry. “I think that every girl should do at least one pageant in her life,” Gibau said. Gibau’s next pageant will be for the title of Miss Teen USA. Other plans include traveling toIndianapolis for “Best Buddies.” In the future, she plans to be either a fashion correspon-
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It was March 29, 2015. The room was filled with people anxiously waiting for what would happen next. Over a dozen girls stood side-byside on stage waiting to be judged. Each girl stood with a confident smile on her face. They were all beautiful and each of them stoodout in their own, unique ways. However, only one of them would leave with the crown. While most college sophomores were preparing for the next big party, St. John’s University sophomore Andreia Gibau was getting ready for her next onair interview. Gibau, a Boston native, was just crowned the 2015 Miss Teen New York USA. “Everything changed within seconds,” Gibau said. Gibau was in the spotlight from an early age. After modeling for eight years, Gibau’s drama teacher suggested she compete in pageants. In 2013, Gibau took on that challenge and competed in her first pageant, Miss Massachusetts Teen USA. Gibau finished amongs the top 15 contestants in the competition. Motivated to do more pageants, Gibau decided to participate in a pageant in her new home state, New York. After searching for pageants to enter, she finally decided to apply to the Miss Teen New York pageant. Self-motivated, she began to prepare for the pageant on her own. Sacrificing times when she could hang out with friends, Gibau spent hours practicing.
While her friends were out on the weekend, Gibau walked up and down the halls of Marillac at St. John’sUniversity, perfecting her strut. She would throw on some music and walk the night away, until the early hours of the morning. Although Gibau could have gotten a pageant coach, like many girls in the pageant industry do, she felt that it was too expensive and if she worked hard enough she could succeed on her own.
PHOTO/ERIC BRIAN
10
Campus Movie Fest comes to SJU
Students showcase films as they compete for a chance to go to Hollywood NATHALIE TIGUA
Staff Writer
As spring rolls around, everyone on campus starts to hang up their winter jackets and attend the spring activities, such as the annual Campus Movie Fest, known as the World’s Largest Student Film Festival. Attendees were given the A-list treatment when they arrived at the Little Theater. There was a long red carpet and people were taking pictures. Once they entered the theater, students would be asked by someone who worked for Campus Movie Fest: “What movie did you come to see?” “How to Be Black in America” was “I’m excited to see the movies that have been created by my peers.” -Natali Macuilawarded a $100 gift card to Amazon for attracting the most students to watch the film. “I’m excited to see the movies that have been created by my peers,” sophomore Natali Macuil said. “It is very impressive because I don’t think I could
ever do [it].” Campus Movie Fest started on March 17. The finale for the event was on Monday, April 13. Campus Movie Fest goes to different campuses and provides everything a student would need to film a short movie, such as a camera, a MacBook pro and a tri-pod. Once the student takes the equipment, he/she has one week to produce the film. “I’m here to see How to be Black in America,” freshman Janelle Williams said. “My friend worked really hard to produce this film and actually make it a reality. So, I’m here to support his hard work.” The students could produce any type of movie that interested them. It could be fiction, non-fiction, a documentary or even a music video, as long as they kept in mind that their film had to be five minutes long to qualify for the competition. The winning film goes to the next round, which takes place in Hollywood. Throughout the week of events, people from Campus Movie Fest were on campus to assist with any questions, comments or concerns the students had regarding the production of their movie. The tech team from Campus Movie Fest was available to help the contestant throughout the day and even into the late
hours at night via text message or iMessage through the MacBook computers provided, even throughout the late hours of the night. A week after the students were given the equipment, Campus Movie Fest collected their material and downloaded the movie into a hard drive. The movies were collected and shown at the finale, which is when the real competition took place. The biggest disappointment of the night was when “How to be Black in America” did not win the competition. The film had rave reviews from dif-
ferent students. “How to be Black in America” was great,” senior Paul Gordon said. “I’d definitely watch this film again.” The creator of the film, sophomore Ganeesh Genus, said that he is not participating in Campus Movie Fest again because he did not win the competition. He felt that he got robbed and that his film should have won. The winning film was White Noise White Noise. “I really cannot believe that we won Campus Movie Fest,” junior Charlene Mawoera said. “It is so surreal.”
TORCH PHOTO/GINA PALERMO
Students gathered at the Little Theater to watch their peers’ films.
11
On Sunday, Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles married actor Richard Lawson on a yacht in California. According to TMZ, the wedding ceremony was an all-whIte affair attended by her daughters, Beyoncé and Solange, her son-in-law, Jay-Z, and her granddaughter, Blue Ivy. During the same weekend as the Coachella festival, the “Flawless” and very romantic evening was attended with around 300 guests, who wore all white, on a 140-ft. yacht called “Eternity,” which left Newport Beach, Cali., to celebrate the Knowles/Lawson union. In November 2014, Knowles’ youngest daughter, Solange, married music video director Alan Ferguson in New Orleans. The wedding party wore all white to this wedding as well. It’s the second marriage for both Mama Knowles, 61, who was previously married to Mathew Knowles
and divorced him in December 2011, and for her new husband, the “All My Children” actor, Lawson, 67. On Oct. 2, 2014, Miss Tina shared at a Women & Money leadership luncheon in Houston that it was hard for her to hit the dating scene after her divorce. “The whole thing about dating was the scariest thing in the world,” she said. “I would tell my friends, ‘I’m never gonna find…Where am I gonna find somebody at 59 years old? Where do you meet men? Where do you get ‘em?’” Well, she’s found her knight in shining armor, whom she’s dated for two years before tying the knot. Mazel tov to the Knowles/Lawson clan! On Sunday afternoon, April 12, former First Lady and Security of the State Hillary Clinton, 67, announced on social media that she was running for president in the 2016 elections. “I’m getting ready to do something too—I’m running for president,” Mrs. Clinton said in a two-minute video she shared after 3 p.m. “Everyday Americans need a champion. And, I want to be that champion, so I’m hitting the road to earn your vote because it’s your time. And, I hope you’ll join me on this journey.” It didn’t take long for celebrities to express their excitement and support on social media, especially Twitter, to share the big announcement: Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson shared his enthusiasm by tweeting, “I have an announcement: I’m not running for president. Yay #Hillary2016!”
Pop star Ariana Grande was another celeb that expressed her excitement and tweeted, “yaaas @hillaryclinton.” According to the New York Times, Hillary’s statement on Sunday is said, “to be followed by a series of intimate, but critical campaign events in Iowa and New Hampshire. She will use them to reintroduce herself to voters and begin to lay out the central theme of her candidacy: improving the economic fortunes of the middle class, with an emphasis on increasing wages and reducing income inequality.”
NCE.COM
Rapper and TV star Nelly was arrested Saturday morning, April 11, for felony drug charges in Tennessee. The Tennessee Highway Patrol said that they pulled over Nelly’s tour bus, which was on its way to St. Louis, at around 9:20 a.m., on I-40 between Nashville and Knoxville. The initial reason for the state troopers stopping the bus was because it didn’t have the accurate stickers displayed, but as they approached the vehicle, a trooper decided to inspect the bus after claiming to have smelled marijuana. According to the New York Daily News, the troopers found five rocks that tested positive for meth, as well as a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Troopers say that they also found numerous PH OT handguns includO/ IN ST ing a gold-platAG RA ed 50-calM i b e r Desert Eagle pistol, a 45-caliber Taurus pistol and a 500 magnum Smith and Wesson. T h e 40-yearold “Dilemma” hip-
hop artist is facing charges including felony possession of drug paraphernalia. His attorney, however, believes that Nelly, born Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr., will be acquitted. “Nelly was one of several individuals that was on a tour bus that was stopped and searched while traveling through Tennessee. In fact, there had been 15-20 people that had access to the bus prior to the stop. Allegedly, a small quantity of contraband (MDMA a.k.a. Molly or Ecstasy) was discovered during the routine search. We are extremely confident that when the facts come out, Nelly will not be associated with the contraband that was allegedly discovered.”
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Jasmine Imani Davis Entertainment Editor
Tina Knowles and Richard Lawson on their wedding day.
Florence + the Machine releases long-awaited single
Jon Manarang Staff Writer
percussion beneath lead singer Florence Welch’s monumental vocals. “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” shows the band branching out to newer instrumentation and arrangements with horn sections, electric guitars and synthesizers, while still retaining focus on the powerful vocals. This single, specifically, takes the band in a Fleetwood Mac-esque ‘70s
rock vibe, with Welch channeling her inner Stevie Nicks, ditching the frilly dresses for pantsuits in the promotional material on the record. She gives her explanation for the track and its lyrics in a press release for the fans who were wondering what influenced the track. “I was thinking about my own self-destructive side, and how you can make something only to tear it
Florence + the Machine 4 out of 5 stars Ship to Wreck (Single)
Indie-pop rock band Florence + the Machine’s newest single, “Ship to Wreck,” shows some distance and newfound ground from their first two records. The band’s upcoming third album, “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful,” set to be released on June 2, has featured three releases thus far, which are “What Kind of Man,” “St. Jude” and now, the opening track, “Ship to Wreck.” These singles show the band’s departure from the baroque-pop sounds of their 2009 record “Lungs” and 2011’s “Ceremonials,” which featured instrumentation of harps, acoustic guitars and
Lead singer Florence Welsh performing at Coachella 2010.
PHOTO/FELIPE CABRERA
down, enjoy/destroy, create/devastate, etc.,” Welsh said. “When you’re in that whirlwind, you often end up breaking the thing you love the most.” In live performances, the band has debuted the singles from the album on the road while playing shows mostly in London and California. While they have been relatively low-key and only doing a handful of performances in 2014, Florence + the Machine has planned a summer tour of the major festivals in North America and Europe, playing Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Governors Ball and both weekends of Coachella. Their choice of venue for their upcoming tour of “How Big” is a perfect place to highlight the monumental sound the singles have given us glimpses of. It will reach a much wider audience, rather than the more restricted setting of Radio City Music Hall and other smaller arenas, as they had done during the “Ceremonials” tour. “Ship to Wreck” shows the band, especially Welch, coming back full swing with a fresh new sound after taking a year off. With the hot new single released earlier this month, the indie rock group shared the video on the big screens before their Coachella performance on Sunday and released it on Monday to the rest of their fans on YouTube.
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J.Cole returns for second homecoming
Continued from page 1
Five years ago, at the 2010 Spring Fling concert, Jermaine Cole first returned to his alma mater as the buzz-worthy North Carolina MC, whom Jay Z had signed, with multiple hits up his sleeve. Fast-forward to the present, and the rapper’s image has changed from being a dream-hungry college student to a confident lyricist in his own right, and the boss of his own label, “Dreamville,” which he founded alongside fellow SJU alum Ibrahim Hamad. The “Crooked Smile” rapper made his own rules with the release of his third and newest album, “2014 Forest Hills Drive.” Without singles or promotion, other than the release date, his decisions and dedication all paid off in the end and the album went platinum. On Thursday, April 9, lines wrapped around the venue, from the outside of Carnesecca Arena, as students and alumni waited for their chance to see the Roc Nation rapper perform. Seats started to fill up once the arena’s doors opened at 7p.m. The “Dreamville” team, which consisted of artists, Bas, Cozz and Omen, took the stage as his opening acts. Each of them gave their performances their all and showed the public that they are a force to be reckoned with, which J. Cole had been preparing everyone for. All you could see was the light from attendees’ smart phones capturing Cole’s return. As the man of the night hit the stage to a thunderous applause in a black
tee and gray harem sweatpants.
“Power Trip,” had Carnesecca Arena
SJU alum J. Cole performing at Carnesecca Arena in a sold out homecoming concert.
His playful nature came through in full force as he commented on the university’s upgrades since he graduated. Cole even shared special moments with the crowd after reminiscing about his time as an undergraduate at St. John’s. From start to finish, J. Cole had the crowd on their feet singing and rapping along to his older and newest hits. The stage paved the way for the perfect setting for tracks like “Wet Dreamz,” “Tale of 2 Citiez,” “Fire Squad” and “G.O.M.D.,” while more mainstream records like “Work Out,” “Nobody’s Perfect,” “Crooked Smile” and, the finale,
years ago.
filled with the voices of students and alumni. Once Cole walked off the stage after performing for an hour, he received his physical diploma, which was presented to him by the former provost and his former “Discover New York” professor, Dr. Julia Upton. Jermaine was originally snubbed from receiving his diploma when he initally graduated from St. John’s in 2007. He failed to return a library book and to pay the accompanying fines, which prevented the aspiring hip hop star from obtaining the physical piece of paper nearly eight
PHOTO/JONATHAN MANARANG
“If you have an outstanding fee that translates to money, there’s a price associated with it,” the celebrity alum told The Village Voice. “I never paid it. That’s why I don’t have my degree.” After receiving his diploma, he joked and said that SJU let him slide and knew exactly who he was going to send it to: his mom. Overall, the second homecoming show was a success thanks to the summa cum laude graduate. J. Cole will be back in New York City for his Forest Hills Drive Tour at Madison Square Garden in August 2015.
Review: Furious 7 makes one last ride
ABHISHEK JOSHI Staff Writer
One of the most awaited films of the year has finally hit theaters. Fans and followers were more than delighted for this special treat when “Furious 7” premiered on the big screen on Friday, April 3. Bringing the action back to American soil, film producer James Wan does a commendable job handling this prestigious project, while the producer and writer, Chris Morgan, created magic in the script. The joint effort of all of the actors and the creative team has led to the making of this amazing film. After Paul Walker’s untimely death on Nov. 30, 2013, the decision on what to do with his character, Brian O’Connor, led to a lot of problems for the makers of the movie. However, they turned the unfortunate circumstance into a beautiful finished product. Throughout the movie, there wasn’t a point where anyone would question whether certain scenes had the real or the computergenerated imagery (CGI) application of Paul Walker, which was very impressive. As far as the cast and their acting are concerned, Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez portrayed their characters wonderfully. They have once again proved that Dominic Torreto and Letty Ortiz-Torreto are two of the most inimitable characters to be charted down in the film industry. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was just as sharp as he could ever get with the intensity in his eyes. The man lives up to the reputation and continues to deliver. The leading, recurring cast ensemble
The leading cast of the “Fast & Furious” movie series.
of the series is joined by a number of new supporting characters who, again, play their part with extreme justice. Because there are many new faces in the film, there were moments when it became slightly difficult to relate one character’s proximity with the other. An example of this can be seen with the character Zafar, played by Ali Fazal, who was handed personal items him by one of the supporting cast characters. Many actors from the previous action-packed films made their appearances in this new edition to the series. They were either shown briefly, reprising their role for a patch of the film, or
PHOTO/INSTAGRAM
in one of the many archives of footage that were put in the movie. Gal Gadot’s character, Gisele Harabo, was one of the many characters that appeared for a short amount of time, which brought back some old memories from the previous installments. The action sequences, stunts and music of the movie were amazing. The fight scene between Michelle Rodriguez and Ronda Rousey, who played Kara, was a short but amazing fight sequence. It was one of the highlights of the movie along with the famous building-to-building car jump. Rapper Iggy Azalea made a blink-and-miss cameo,
which made many fans believe that her appearance was enough to ruin the entire movie for them. The music and background score served its purpose as the foundational support for the movie to grasp their audience’s attention in the right moments. Every actor in the movie looked their part in terms of physique, style and mannerisms. Tyrese Gibson, being the crowd’s favorite, never failed to grab the audience’s attention, even in the scenes where he is barely speaking. “Furious 7” was a thrilling, tear-jerking experience. The team managed to pull off one of the most complicated missions and it hit a soft spot. Even though this isn’t the last movie of the series, this film’s tribute to Paul Walker and his character are guaranteed to bring a tear of sadness or joy to your eyes and make you look back at how far the franchise has come since its inception. Though it seems like the “Fast and Furious” film series is making one last ride, Vin Diesel revealed a clue that there will possibly be an eighth installment. “Well, I was trying to keep it close to the vest throughout the release. Paul [Walker] used to say that eight was guaranteed. And in some ways, when your brother guarantees something, you sometimes feel like you have to make sure it comes to pass,” Diesel said during the MTV Movie Awards 2015 on Sunday, April 12. With the thrilling film only being in theaters for two weeks, the movie has already made $800 million, which is $548 million international and $252 million domestic. The movie is currently playing in theaters worldwide.
Sports
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Baseball wins series over Pirates, takes control of Big East BRANDON MAUK
Digital Sports Manager St. John’s baseball was favored in the preseason to win the Big East, and they took a positive step in the biggest series of the year to date. The Red Storm (18-12, 5-1) and Seton Hall (17-12, 4-2) came into last weekend’s conference matchup tied for first in the Big East, and the Johnnies managed to win two out of three at Jack Kaiser Stadium. They have won 12 of their last 16 games, thanks to a red-hot offense. “We’re starting to swing the bat better. That’s certainly helped us. I thought we could hit a lot in situations better,” St. John’s head coach Ed Blankmeyer said. “We need to have continuity throughout our lineup. We have some holes in it. When the weather warms up, we’ll get better.” Cody Stashak powered the Johnnies to a 5-1 victory on Friday. Seton Hall’s Zack Weigel led off the game with a triple and scored on an error by RF Zach Lauricella, but Stashak shut the door afterwards. “Yeah, it kind of made me mad. I went out, just trying to get them out,” Stashak said. “I got that mean attitude and just went out and showed it. I try to go out every time like that. Throw strikes and get outs.”
He pitched six innings and allowed just the one run on four hits, walked one and struck out five to collect his fifth win of the season. The junior college transfer’s ERA now sits at 3.04, which ranks second in the Big East among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched. Alex Caruso was the driving force for the Johnnies and regularly set up the table, as he has all season. He went 6-for10 at the plate and scored six times. He leads the Big East in hitting at .372. “It’s just sticking with my routine that I do every game,” he said. “Sticking with the process, just trying to go up there and working at-bat to lead off the game for the team.” Saturday was all about sophomore designated hitter Troy Dixon. He went 3-for-4 with a triple, a home run and five RBI. The home run was the first of his college career, a three-run shot in the third inning that put St. John’s up 5-1. “I know I hit it good and I was happy because I hadn’t hit a college home run yet,” he said. “I was just looking to get the guys in from second and third and just did the job.” Dixon tripled home another run in the seventh, as St. John’s won 7-4. Dixon is one example of the emergence of the bottom of the order, as they have helped the offense average 4.63 runs per game since March 15. Seton Hall was able to salvage the se-
ries on Sunday and avoid the sweep. The Pirates scored seven runs in the fourth inning on just three hits, as St. John’s walked home three batters and hit two batters with the bases loaded. Seton Hall won 19-4, as the normally efficient St. John’s defense committed three errors and the pitching surrendered 12 walks. “We couldn’t throw strikes. Our pitching was bad. Didn’t pitch, you won’t win. Period. They couldn’t command
secondary pitches,” coach Blankmeyer said. “We’ve just got to move on. A game like this is so bad. They say you’re never as good as you think you are, well you’re never as bad as you think.” St. John’s will look to regroup against Princeton for a night game at Jack Kaiser Stadium on Wednesday. They have another important conference series this weekend at Creighton. The Blue Jays are also 5-1 in Big East play after sweeping Xavier.
TORCH PHOTO EDITOR/DIANA COLAPIETRO
Troy Dixon (r.) hit his first career home run on Saturday to lead the Johnnies to a 7-4 win over Seton Hall.
Johnnies are storming through Big East, win ninth straight game
Red Storm sweep series over Providence in dominating fashion
REZA MORENO Staff Writer
This past week, the St. John’s softball team beat Providence backto-back gaining nine consecutive conference games overall. Up to this point, they are the only team that is undefeated in the Big East this season. In the first game of a double-header on Saturday versus Providence, senior pitcher Francesca Carrullo did an excellent job of holding the Friars’ offense at bay and only allowing three hits in a complete game shutout. In the bottom of the fifth, senior catcher Erin Burner hit a three-run home run, which granted St. John’s (17-13, 9-0) a 6-0 lead and sealed the victory. As they started off their second game for the day, the Friars were the first to get on base, but the Red Storm took advantage of four hits and a Providence error as they scored the first three runs of the game. Freshman Hannah Anderson scored another run for SJU on a Providence error with a three-RBI triple into the gap in the second inning. In the fourth inning, the Red Storm got out to a huge lead, thanks to a pinch-hit grand slam by junior Carly Williams.
“That was awesome,” head coach Amy Kvilhaug said. “Carly works very hard at her craft of hitting so it was nice to see her have something very exciting to show for it. I thought it was one of the huge keys to our win as well as the future of our series. It allowed our pitcher to throw less pitches and put the game just about out of reach for Providence.” On Sunday, the final day of the series, St. John’s finished with an 11-1 win, due to Burner’s grand slam in the first-inning, which was a perfect start of the game. Carrullo held down the Providence’s offense to only 2 hits in five innings total. Freshman Krystal Puga walked to load the bases, setting Burner up for her 40th home run of her career. The Red Storm offense was uncontrollable for Providence as the Red Storm cruised to victory. “Providence was another stepping stone for us on the way to our ultimate team goal of a Big East Championship. They were a solid team with some very good players and I thought we did a great job executing our game plan in all aspects: defensive, pitching and hitting,” coach Kvilhaug said. This upcoming weekend, St. John’s softball will take on Seton Hall in a three-game series.
TORCH PHOTO EDITOR/DIANA COLAPIETRO
Erin Burner hit her 40th career home run at St. John’s on Sunday versus Providence, a first inning grand slam.
14
Red Storm track and field continues to shine Batt-Doyle wins both 1,500 meter and 3,000 meter events at University of Miami
KEISHA RAYMOND Staff Writer
The St. John’s women’s track and field team had an impressive day at the University of Miami Alumni Invitational in Coral Gables this past Saturday. Freshman runner Izzi Batt-Doyle shined in her second outing of the outdoor season. She was victorious in both the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter runs. Both of Batt-Doyle’s run times now supplant her in the top three all time on the program performance list. Batt-Doyle started the afternoon by beating a field of fifteen runners in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:31.88, which is the third-fastest time in school history. “I was pleased with our full team effort as we had quality performances in all events. Izzi looked great in her two wins and now has won her opening race in cross country, indoor and outdoor track. ”
-Jim Hurt-
Batt-Doyle won the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:50.62. She became the second-fastest member in the outdoor
3,000-meter run in Red Storm’s history 14.67 seconds. Freshman Julia Schwan In the 4x400-meter relay, St John’s and she is five seconds away from the and sophomore Shequell Higgs came in took third place with a time of 3:42.87 school record that was set in 1999. 18th and 19th place with times of 15.97 with Garcia, Schulz, Ricketts and Ro“I was pleased with our full team ef- seconds and 15.98 seconds respectively. driques and in the 4x100-meter relay, fort as we had quality performances in all Senior Radiya Buchanan ran 16.14 sec- the team of King, Buchanan, Schwan events,” head coach Jim Hurt said. “Izzi onds for 21st place. Sophomore Chris- and Oguledo took sixth place in 47.47 looked great in her two wins and now has tine Oguledo placed ninth in 1:04.63 in seconds. won her opening race in cross country, the 400 meter hurdles. indoor and outdoor track. We have some things to tweak the next few weeks, but we will be a strong team as we move toward the championship meets.” Junior Stephanie Van Pelt was the runner-up in the 1,500 meter run with a time of 4:34.10, which was the fourth-fastest time in the history of the program. In the 800-meter run the Johnnies had three runners finish in the top 10. Freshman Marlow Schulz had a fifth place finish with a seasonal best time of 2:10.70; it was the sixth fastest time in program history. Van Pelt finished in seventh place with a time of 2:13.37 and junior Veronica Thompson came in ninth with a time of 2:15.65. The Red Storm had three other athletes finish in the top 12 in the 400-meter dash with Junior’s Pariis Garcia and Raquel Ricketts placing in fifth and sixth place. Garcia had a time of 55.04 seconds and Ricketts had a seasonal best with the time of 55.07 seconds. Senior Nastasya Rodriques came in 12th with the time of PHOTO/ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS 56.82 seconds. Freshman Chenoa Sebastian ran in the Izzi Batt-Doyle continues to shine and etch her name in the St. John’s record books. 100-meter hurdles to claim 13th place in
Lacrosse falls to No.5 Denver on senior day Red Storm takes bittersweet 16-5 loss but can still make Big East Tourney CARMINE CARCIERI Staff Writer
With the strongest crowd all season on hand, four decorated seniors, Mark DiFrangia, Stefan Diachenko, Nick Sherry and Chris Fisher Jr., were honored before the final home game of their careers. It was certainly a bittersweet ending though, as the St. John’s lacrosse team fell to fifth-ranked Denver (9-2, 3-0), 18-5, on Senior Day Saturday at DaSilva Memorial Field. The Johnnies (3-9, 1-2) gave up eight quick goals in the second period and lost in the face-off category, 16 to 26. “It’s a great group,” head coach Jim Miller said. “These guys do everything that we ask them to do. They never take a day off practice wise. They never take a day off in the weight room. They are exactly who you want lacrosse players here to be.” In the opening period, the Johnnies kept the score close by playing solid defense, forcing turnovers and receiving a late goal from James Bonanno on an extra-man opportunity. The Johnnies energized the crowd heading into the second period, but were suddenly dominated by an impressive Pioneers’ attack and multiple illegal procedure violations (a 5-1 disadvantage for the game) that gave Denver more time of possession.
“It’s a game of swings, a game of momentum.” Diachenko, a senior attacker, said. “Sometimes things will go our way and sometimes things don’t. I
think we did a good job of playing our game but sometimes it doesn’t come together.” The Pioneers have been terrific as a
PHOTO/ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
The St. John’s senior class is honored on the field before Saturday’s game versus Denver.
program over the past few seasons and since joining the Big East they haven’t lost a single conference game. On Saturday, St. John’s struggled to control possession due to Denver’s efficient offense and face-off prowess. “I think they are excellent top to bottom,” Coach Miller said about Denver following the loss. “Their offensive personnel has a really special skill set and they have the best face-off play in the country.” St. John’s had multiple positives to take away from their loss as they only turned the ball over 15 times to Denver’s 17 times, had a better extra-man opportunity percentage, only possessed one less ground ball and had 28 shots on goal. Moving forward, the Johnnies will still have an opportunity to make the Big East Lacrosse Championship in Pennsylvania. However they are going to need to win their final two Big East regular season match-ups on the road against Villanova and Georgetown. “We can always find ways to get better,” Coach Miller said. “I know my guys are going to continue to fight and we can win our way into [this Big East Tournament].” It won’t be an easy task; but. if anyone can pull off a marvelous run, it would be the Johnnies with these tremendous seniors leading the way.
15
Isis Washington leaves St. John’s as a champion
Senior fencer hopes to continue career on international stage
TROY MAURIELLO Staff Writer
St. John’s senior fencer Isis Washington had a storybook ending to her collegiate career at the NCAA National Championships in Ohio on March 22. Washington took home the women’s national title in the epee competition and led her team to finish sixth place in the country. Washington became the 22nd national champion in St. John’s history after she dominated New Jersey Institute of Technology’s (NJIT) Julia Garcia with a score of 15-6 in the epee final to take home the gold medal. With her national championship, she was also awarded All-American honors. Going into the Championships, Washington was not feling the nerves that many fencers may be subject to, and she said that she felt confident in her chances to take home a medal. “I knew I could win, but I just wanted to take in one bout at a time,” she said in an email on Monday. The road to this point in Washington’s fencing career began at the relatively young age of 14 at the Peter Westbrook Foundation in New York City, although it wasn’t entirely her own choice at first. “My sister started there and then my parents just made me go,” she said. “I
wound up having some natural ability.” That natural ability began to develop quickly for Washington and she began to realize earlier in her career that she had what it takes to compete collegiately. She was named to the All-New Jersey First Team in 2010, and would eventually lead the Peter Westbrook team to a bronze medal at the 2011 Junior Olympics. “I was getting better really fast and my results were improving, so I knew I could fence in college for sure,” Washington said. Eventually Washington, a Parsippany, N.J.-native, would choose to attend St. John’s so that she could stay in the Metropolitan area. She had also been considering Columbia, Ohio State and Temple. After her St. John’s career began in late 2011, she says that her proudest moment prior to winning a national championship was her performance at the NYU and St. John’s Invitationals on back-toback days last January. “I only lost two bouts out of 30,” she said. “That was fun and just building with my team. They are like family now.” However that moment falls short in comparison to how Washington felt after being crowned a national champion last month, which is a feeling that she is still having trouble putting into words. “I still don’t believe it,” she said. “It was unreal.” Now that her collegiate career has
wrapped up, Washington said that she plans on competing in the USA Fencing National Championships in San Jose, Calif. at the end of June.
After she graduates from St. John’s, she plans on continuing to fence competitively, but also said that she expects to attend law school in 2016.
PHOTO/ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Isis Washington’s collegiate fencing career came to a fairytale-like end as she won the women’s epee national championship.
Mullin recruiting up a storm
STEPHEN ZITOLO Sports Editor
Two weeks ago, when Chris Mullin was introduced as the 20th men’s basketball head coach, he made a promise to the fans and the media in attendance: the recruiting process would start immediately after the press conference for himself and newly hired assistant Matt Abdelmassih. He wasn’t lying, to say the least. Since the April 1 induction, Mullin, Abdelmassih and Mullin’s brother, Terrence Mullin (not on the coaching staff but it looks likely that Mullin could hire him soon), hit the recruiting trail with a fast and furious approach. Especially targeting players in NY. “Recruiting is right away, as soon as this press conference is over, it starts,” Mullin said at the press conference. “The history here at St. John’s, we’ve always been strong in New York City, and I guarantee you you’ll see me in public school
gyms, Catholic schools gyms, the AAU gyms all over New York City. You don’t have to tell me where they are. I played in all of them. I know how to get in the back doors. I think it’s really important that we dominate New York. If there is a good player in New York City, he needs to come to St. John’s.” St. John’s scholarship offers at this point include a long list of names that are nationally and internationally regarded, most right in the school’s backyard. Some of the names include: •
Naz Reid, 6-10, Forward, Roselle Catholic (N.J.), Class of 2018
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Rawle Alkins, 6-4, Guard, Christ The King (N.Y.), Class of 2015
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Federico Mussini, 6-0, Guard, Italy, Class of 2015
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Cheick Diallo, 6-9, Forward, Our Savior New American School (N.Y.), Class of 2015, McDonald’s All-American Game MVP
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Jordan Tucker, 6-7, Forward, Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.), Class of 2017
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Hamadou Diallo, 6-4, Guard, Putnam Science Academy (Conn.), Class of 2017, raised in Queens
Brandon Sampson, a 6’4” guard from Louisiana, was St. John’s top recruit before decommitting when Steve Lavin mutually parted ways with the university. Mullin and Abdelmassih went down to Louisiana to visit Sampson on April 9
in hopes of getting him to recommit. If they can get him to come to St. John’s, that will be a huge pickup for the Red Storm. In his two weeks on the job, Mullin has also done some impressive work in obtaining student-athlete transfers. He first landed University of Tennessee transfer Tariq Owens. Owens, a 6’10” forward, played one season at Tennessee and will have to sit out a season because of NCAA reguations. However, Owens has three years of eligibility remaining and will have time to work on his game over the next year. Mullin was also able to scoop up junior college transfer Darien Williams, a 6’8” forward from Iowa Western Community College. Williams originally intended to go to Iowa State; but, because of a close relationship with Abdelmassih, a former Iowa State assistant and his recruiter, Williams changed his mind and picked St. John’s. Williams is a tremendous athlete and scoring force and will be eligible immediately to play. The Red Storm also received some good news from two players on last year’s squad. Sophomore guard Rysheed Jordan announced through his Twitter account on Tuesday night that he will return for his junior season. Reports have indicated that junior forward Chris Obekpa will return for his senior season. If the reports are true and Obekpa comes back to join Jordan, they will provide veteran leadership to a very young Johnnies roster and may even lead them into contention in the Big East. Mullin’s coaching staff and recruiting presence got much stronger as Barry “Slice” Rohrssen, a close friend of
Mullin’s and a Brooklyn native, agreed to become a member of the staff. Rohrssen was an assistant at Kentucky prior to coming to St. John’s and has strong recruiting ties in NYC, something that will increase the chances of the Red Storm gaining local talent. Mullin and St. John’s have a long road ahead before next year’s roster is close to being complete. Yet, if Mullin and his staff’s first two weeks are any indication of their tenacity for recruiting, St. John’s is going to attract talent from all over the nation.
TORCH PHOTO EDITOR/DIANA COLAPIETRO
Chris Mullin at his introductory press conference on April 1.
Mullin already making his mark PG. 15 CARMINE CARCIERI Staff Writer
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION/ SSTEVEN VERDILE