march 28 by Torch Online

Graduates to hear names called

S.G.I. tickets reach out to students before elections NELL O’CONNOR Managing Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. JOHN’S MEDIA RELATIONS

St. John’s students successfully fought for their right to have their names called at commencement.

TERENCE CULLEN Assistant News Editor

Administrators backtracked this week, reversing their controversial decision to not call student’s names at graduation this May. The previous decision had evoked a strong emotional response from students who demanded the right to hear their name at commencement. Almost 1,000 students joined in a Facebook group dedicated to the cause and more than 300 signed an online petition. Father Harrington sent out a letter on Friday, March 18, to tell students that he understood the their concerns and

would have it looked into immediately. “Whatever the final decision, it must satisfy the concerns so many of you have expressed,” Fr. Harrington said in the letter, which was made available on one of the University’s Twitter accounts. “I promise you that we will resolve this together so that your graduation day will long remain with you as a very special time of celebration.” The original decision was to have graduates’ photos displayed on giant screens on loop during the commencement ceremony. This choice came after a long discussion among administrators to keep students in their seats throughout the entire ceremony, according to Dr. Pamela Shea-Byrnes, vice president for University Ministry

WHAT’S INSIDE News......................1-4 Entertainment....13-14 Opinion..................5-8 Comics.....................15 Features................8-9 Sports.................17-20

and University Events. In the last four years, an increasing number of students left the ceremony after their names were called, administrators said. Dr. Jacqueline Grogan, associate provost for Student Success, said that a great deal of work goes into planning the event in order for it to be a memorable experience for students, families and the University as a whole. Darren Morton, associate vice president for Student Affairs, worked with a coalition including Dr. Kathryn Hutchinson, vice president for Student Affairs, and Patrick Brewer, president of S.G.I. -continued on pg. 4

Student Government, Inc. will be holding their annual elections next week to select the executive board for the 2011–12 school year. Two tickets have been formed, F.O.R.C.E., Focusing On Revamping the Campus Empire, and P.O.W.E.R., Producing Outcomes With Efficient Results, each made up of seven candidates running for the various positions. There is one independent candidate. According to Taryn Glynn, chair of the S.G.I. elections committee, the campaigns started last week after spring break. The candidates were not allowed to campaign inside residence halls, a change from previous years. The two parties quickly set up Facebook pages for their parties so that students could easily access information about the candidates and their platforms. They have also begun campaigning around campus, making sure that students get a first hand look at the candidates. There will be debates taking place in the D’Angelo Center on March 23 and 24 so that students can learn more about the tickets before casting their votes. Elections will begin at 12:01 a.m. on March 29 and continue into the afternoon of March 30, according to current S.G.I. president Patrick Brewer. Glynn stressed the importance of students taking part in the election process. “Students should know that the elections are important,” she said in an email. “They might feel like it doesn’t matter, but the people that get elected have the ability to influence what organizations get how much money, what events take place over the course of next year, who will be in charge of the various committees in Student Government, Inc. and various other aspects of the student experience at St. John’s.” For a complete list of the candidates, turn to page 4.

MUSIC Hit or Miss Jennifer Hudson returns with an album that will refresh fans’ memories. ENTER RTAINMENT Pg. 14

TORCHONLINE.COM Were you upset about the decision to not call names at commencement?

89% Yes 11% No Check out our new poll every Wednesday “Think Outside. . .”

Directory

Managing Board LXXXVIII

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

CAROLYN WARGULA

Sports Editor

Features Editor

KRISTEN FARMER

ADELLE PLATON Entertainment Editor MICHAEL MONTIJO

Photo Editor SARAH LANE

Chief Copy Editor

Art Director

ELLEN CAREY

Advisor

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

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

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

Entertainment Trending Teen Moms Inferno explores the popularity of pregnancy in reality TV.

Inferno Pg. 14

Features Moving In The ultimate housing guide for Fall 2011

Features Pg. 9

TORCH PHOTO/NELL O’CONNOR

Students, faculty and staff shaved their heads and donated their hair for the second annual St. Baldrick’s Day event last week.

Women’s Basketball Cardinal Rules The women’s basketball team’s NCAA tournament run ended with a loss to Stanford at Maples Pavilion.

NEWS

Sports Pg. 18

OPINION PG. 7

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The TORCH

23 March 2010

ANIMAL CRUELTY

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.

University professors lead talks on Mid-East crisis TERENCE CULLEN Assistant News Editor

Students and faculty discussed the recent surge of protests and uprisings around the world at the Politics and Economics of Social Upheaval in the Middle East and North Africa panel on Monday. The panel of three consisted of St. John’s professors who specialized in various fields such as economics, government and politics and North Africa. Their open dialogue on what has happened and where it was going brought up concerns of race, religion and economics. What seemed to be a general feeling of the three panelists was the youth movement that they say was crucial to ousting some of the oppressive powers. They also said one of the most fascinating characteristics is the unforeseeable future that lies ahead. Dr. Robert Pecorella, a professor of government and politics, served as both a panelist but also the moderator for the discussion. Pecorella, who was also the first of the three to speak, laid the ground work for the discussion mentioning the recent Western intervention and what the future brought for the region. Dr. Azzedine Layachi, who specializes in North African history, gave insight about the reality of these uprisings. While Layachi noted that for the first

time the people of the area are trying to make changes to the system. However, the professor also noted that it would be a long road before total order was in place. “Revolution does not take place overnight,” Layachi said. “It’s going to be a long one.” Dr. Charles Clarke, a professor of economics, discussed the youth population’s ire with the high unemployment rate in many of these countries. He also mentioned how the series of revolutions and uprisings vary from many others in history, notably those of 1848 or 1968/1969. Because many of these societies are not rooted in Western thought, Clarke said they “should play out in a way very different from other student uprisings.” After each professor gave their input, the panel was open to questions from students and faculty. Since all three discussed the youth factor of these revolutions, one of the first questions asked was whether the youth would remain engaged in forming a new government. Dr. Layachi said he believed that the poor would continue their involvement in developing new governments. He also noted that this was the first time that many of the nations were having open debates. In Egypt, Dr. Layachi said, there was talk about developing political parties – something he believed would help continue youth involvement. Students and faculty who attended the event seemed impressed and intrigued by

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARYANN DANTUONO

Students had the opportunity to listen to a panel of professors discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

some of the matters discussed. Dr. Robert Tomes, a history professor, said he was pleased with the open communication between the panelists and students. Of the recent uprisings in the regions Tomes admitted there is some potential and some skepticism. “I’m looking at this with guarded optimism,” he said. He also

said that there is “a lot of wait and see.” Tara Enahoro, a senior, said she attended the panel for class but was glad to see her normal classroom discussions expanded upon. Enahoro, who identified herself as being of African descent, said she was happy to see the people taking a stand.

Immigration discussion enlightens students NELL O’CONNOR Managing Editor

Lacey experienced this previously when he was working as bureau chief in Mexico City. “In the Dominican Republic, which I covered when I was based in Mexico, they had similar debate some years ago and they changed their constitution,” he said. “The children of Haitian immigrants

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over birthright citizenship. According to him, there is a growing movement in Arizona to alter or “reinterpret” the 14th Amendment, which says that all children born inside the borders of the U.S. are automatically citizens of the country, regardless of their parents’ citizenship.

23 March 2010 The TORCH

TORCH PHOTO/NELL O’CONNOR

Marc Lacey shared his experiences in covering the issue of immigration and working for the New York Times.

NEWS

Marc Lacey, chief of the Phoenix bureau of the New York Times, spoke to St. John’s students Tuesday on the controversial topic of immigration. Originally from Flushing, Lacey has worked for the Times since 1999, traveling across the globe and spent five years covering Africa out of Nairobi and four covering Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Before he spoke to the students gathered in Marillac Auditorium, Lacey talked with the TORCH about his experiences with the topic of immigration and what he wanted to be taken away from the discussion. Lacey stressed that the issue and the controversial debates that continually rise over it are not limited to the United States, specifically Arizona, where he has extensively covered the battle over immigration. “There are debates over immigration laws and how to deal with migration all over the world,” he said. “And in every country that I’ve been based in and every country I’ve traveled with, it’s an issue that comes up again and again.” “I feel as though, although now I’m focusing a lot of time on immigration and the debates going on, it’s something I’ve been covering my whole career.” One of the biggest issues that Lacey has been covering in Arizona is the debate

living in the Dominican Republic are no longer considered citizens of the Dominican Republic. I wrote about that controversy and it’s very heated, it still is being played out.” He stated that the global diversity of the issue is something that both the citizens and government of the U.S. can learn from, if they can leave the emotional aspects behind. Lacey said that he gets emails from readers of all political beliefs who are equally incensed by the ongoing debates. He encouraged people to learn as much as they can about immigration, but does not want to be their only resource. “My goal as a journalist is not to decide who is right and wrong in this debate, it’s to try to layout what the facts are, to make people think about their positions, to make people see the bigger picture,” he said. Lacey views speaking at a school like St. John’s, with its diverse student population, as an opportunity to talk to students who have dealt with the trials of dealing with immigration. “A lot of what I have written about and experienced around the world, this is the everyday life of some of these people in this college,” he said. “People have come here from all around the world, they’ve had to experience our immigration rules and restrictions and our system, which many people think is not very functional, and they’ve had to personally deal with it.” For more information on Marc Lacey and the topic of immigration, visit www.nytimes.com.

CONT. University adjusts to meet student demands University TERENCE CULLEN Assistant News Editor

During this meeting with S.G.I., Morton said, the members agreed on a plan of communications to students to ask them to be respectful during the ceremony. S.G.I. is in the process of drafting an announcement to students that names will be called. It will also ask that students be mindful of others and not leave until the ceremony ends. He also said the group will meet again later this week to check the status of communicating with students. Morton said it is also important for students to communicate with each other. “If everybody does their part we’ll be able to work together,” he said. The choice to go back to the original

ceremony was greatly due to the active student response, administrators said. Aside from joining the online group or signing the petition, students directly contacted administrators to voice their opinion. Nicole Tarantino said she reached out to as many people as she could to see if something could be done. “I took action as part of the Facebook group, emailing many St. John’s important faculty and staff including Fr. Harrington, Dr. Pellow, and Julie Upton, and also having my parents call the commencement committee to voice their opinions,” she said. Other students expressed their frustration with the chance of not hearing their names called after years of classes at St. John’s. “For four years, I have thought about the day that I would walk across that stage, ready to move on to the next phase of my life,” Senior Louis Rashkover said. “Yes, graduation is a long process…

but there are so many other parts that can be cut down or removed completely,” he added. If saving time is a factor, Rashkover suggested shortening any number of speeches given as part of the ceremony. Administrators said that speeches have been shortened over recent years to keep the time of the ceremony down as much as possible. According to administrators, the current graduation ceremony has been developed over the course of eight years. They said each college had its own graduation ceremony over the course of one weekend. The Commencement Committee chose to have one ceremony to keep with the University’s mission of unity having all those who graduate together, as one community. After comparing the ceremony to those of other major universities in the area, the Committee has shortened the ceremony to about twoand-a-half hours.

Students come together for Japanese relief

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The TORCH

23 March 2010

NEWS

MITCHELL KIRK Contributing Writer

St. John’s students gathered at St. Thomas More Church Monday afternoon to remember and pray for the people of Japan in wake of the country’s recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear emergency. Trish Scalese, director of Faith Formation and Liturgy at St. John’s, began the Taize and Rosary service by reminding the 16 people present that, “regardless of faith, we are brought together through the human bond of kindness.” Amid the church’s soft lighting and stained glass windows, the assembly then engaged in lighting candles, singing songs and reciting prayers. During one of the prayers in which it was encouraged for attendees to make their own requests, the silence of the room was quickly broken by concerns for Japanese citizens struggling to survive and grieving the loss of loved ones; as well as the Japanese students currently enrolled at St. John’s who may know people affected by the unfortunate events. Freshman Amanda Savino used this

opportunity to also mention Christchurch, New Zealand, which experienced a devastating earthquake of its own last month. “These are hard times we’re in,” she said at the ceremony’s end. After the service, Scalese said, “I’m glad that we could provide a calm and restful space for people to come together over a tragedy that’s really so immense.” Junior Kirsten Pacia used the free time in her afternoon to attend the service as well, saying it was “for a good cause.” When asked about the disaster in Japan, she called it, “terrible,” and “an eye-opener.” Also in attendance was Lisa Massaia, a freshman, who sang in the choir during the service. “For what we’re doing, it’s pretty powerful,” she said in response to how she felt the afternoon had gone. Scalese mentioned that a death toll estimation she heard recently was similar to the amount of students and faculty at the Queens campus. “When you think about it in terms of our own sphere of the world,” she said, “when you think about what it would be like for everyone on this campus to just be gone, it’s overwhelming.” Pierre Lucien, a Resident Assistant at

St. John’s along with Carolyn Wargula, who lived in Japan for 14 years and is the Features Editor, have been working on coming up with a way for students to give back. Together the pair has created Push Japan Back Up, an initiative to raise funds for Japan by utilizing various departments around the university including Campus Ministry and ROTC. Members of the ROTC and volunteers will do push-ups in front of St. Augustine Hall to raise awareness, while others will hand out homemade bandanas with the Japanese rising sun to those who donate. All proceeds will go to the relief effort in Japan. Lucien estimates that Push Japan Back Up will begin fundraising within the first two weeks of April. This Friday, members of the Sigma Beta Rho and Pi Delta Psi fraternities will be fundraising in Bent Hall, room 277A from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Scalese encouraged the fundraising efforts of students, but also encouraged them to find other ways to express “Obviously fundraising is one way that we want to respond to something like this,” she said. “It’s a good, tangible thing to do. Prayer is more subtle. It’s another way we can be in solidarity with people.”

Candidates for S.G.I. Elections 2011-12 PRESIDENT Andre McDonald Sabino Curcio

F.O.R.C.E. P.O.W.E.R.

SECRETARY Meredith Kenyon Tongtong Zhu

F.O.R.C.E. P.O.W.E.R.

VICE PRESIDENT Taifha Baker F.O.R.C.E. Kevin Grover P.O.W.E.R.

SENIOR SENATOR Khiara Perez F.O.R.C.E. Ellen McBurney P.O.W.E.R.

TREASURER Christian Wiliams Marcial Zebaze

JUNIOR SENATOR John Marchi F.O.R.C.E. Patrick Diamitani P.O.W.E.R. Joshua Brinkos Independent

F.O.R.C.E. P.O.W.E.R.

SOPHOMORE SENATOR Elizabeth Sheehan F.O.R.C.E. William Brown P.O.W.E.R.

remembers victims on 100 year anniversary of fire NELL O’CONNOR Managing Editor

St. John’s University has been honoring the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, in which 146 garment workers died, throughout the month of March. Events took place across the Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island campuses to commemorate New York City’s worst workplace disaster prior to 9/11. The Triangle Fire was the starting point for many workplace reforms and bringing to light the struggles of turn of the century factory workers. The fire occurred on March 25, 1911 and sparked a still ongoing conversation about the conditions of American workplaces. The University has scheduled events ranging from lectures on fire safety and sweatshops today to a memorial candle lighting ceremony. There was also an ongoing exhibit of artifacts and documents from the fire on the Manhattan campus. Many of the events tied into the ongoing celebration of Women’s History Month, as most victims of the fire were women. The Staten Island campus will host Women’s History Month Empower Hour this Friday, a which they will discuss the lives of the women who worked in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. This coming Friday, the actual anniversary of the fire, there will be a multitude of events occurring on the Queens campus, ending in “A Tribute to the Lives Lost,” a theatrical performance sponsored by the department of Student Life. The origins of this month-long commemoration go back to 2007, according to a press release issued by the department of Media Relations. As incoming freshman, the class of 2011 was required to read Katharine Weber’s Triangle, a fictionalized historical account of the Fire. Dr. Julia Upton, the provost of the University, has been working since to develop a memorial. “It has been called ‘The fire that changed America,’” Upton said in the release. “But I wonder how much it changed us. The fire fueled the international labor movement and many fire safety laws have been enacted as a result of that tragedy.” Upton also said she wanted the University community to be inspired to answer the lingering questions about working conditions in America and around the world throught the programs scheduled. For more information on the events, visit www.stjohns.edu/triangle100. Can’t get enough TORCH news? Visit our Web site for online exclusives. torchonline.com

Editorial Board LXXXVIII

Illustrator’s Corner

JUSTIN THRIFT Editor-in-Chief NELL O’CONNOR Managing Editor SARA CAHILL MARRON News Editor MARK MCDONALD General Manager

FLAMES OF THE TORCH

A call for “Real” student action

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, St. John’s University 8000 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica, NY 11439 Submit letters online at: torchonline.com/opinion

Please include your full name, year, and college (or department). Letters have a limit of 500 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: I have been informed by my son that when his class graduates at the end of this academic year, the graduates will not be called up individually to receive their degree. Instead the degrees will be conferred to all of the graduates en masse. If this is true, I am very disappointed that St. John’s would take this action. St. John’s is one of the schools that always looked to help the working and middle class move up in the world. For many of his classmates, they will be among the first in their families to graduate from college. For my wife and I, the daughter and grandson of immigrants who did graduate college, the pride and joy is just as great. My 85 year-old mother-in-law had the opportunity to see her oldest grandson walk across the stage of the PNC Arts Center last May as her oldest grandchild graduated from St. Peter’s College. She was looking forward to my son’s graduation this year, as were my parents who would see their first grandchild graduate from college. It appears I am now to ask three senior citizens to come to Queens to listen to multiple speeches, and watch honors awards presented. If this decision was made in an effort to save time, I have two suggestions, the second one is a little bold and different, but I think the majority of the graduates and their families would be in agreement. The first suggestion would be to move any awards to a separate ceremony. This would allow the proper recognition for those who have merited this distinction instead of it being rushed.

The second is very novel. Why not do away with the commencement speaker, as well as the awarding of honorary degrees. I make this suggestion for two reasons. After having sat through eight post secondary commencements in my life, I can say I have never heard a truly memorable speech. In fact, I would challenge you to describe the 30 plus speeches you have sat through in the past 10 years. Most people can’t wait for these to be over. This would allow anywhere from 2040 minutes of time to recognize the graduates who have worked so hard. I am sure I speak for most of the families when I say we would rather hear the names called than listen to a speech. As to the honorary degrees, I recognize that most honorees are deserving people who have made contributions to the university, or society. However, are they any more deserving of being recognized than the students who have worked hard in the classroom, and in their jobs for the past four years? The graduates deserve the honor of having their names read and their diplomas handed to them individually, and their families also deserve to see them recognized for the hard work they have done over the past four years. I am asking that St. John’s University reconsider the decision to eliminate this commencement practice of allowing each graduate to be called forward to receive the proper recognition. Frank Scott (Parent of graduating senior)

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TO CONTRIBUTE

Letter 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 BY KATRIN ASTARITA

23 March. 2011

students had joined a Facebook group petitioning the move, and another 300 signed a formal complaint. The TORCH finds it distressing that students are so easily absorbed by inflated issues that have no real significance, while things of actual importance – such as Student Government elections – struggle to attract mass attention. On Tuesday night, we posted a breaking news story to our Web site that announced the University would be reversing their decision to not call names at graduation. By 10 p.m., the story had received over 200 page views, 35 Facebook “likes” and multiple comments. If students cared more about real issues and put their efforts to use around campus through organizations and clubs, this school would be such a better place. Real student involvement is more than joining a Facebook group whenever a hot button issue emerges and sweeps across campus. True student leaders who make a difference can be found year round in organizations around campus making a difference and improving student life. To all the students out there, we urge you to consider what outlets you put your energy into, and start by voting next week, March 29-30 in the D’Angelo Center, for next year’s Student Government leaders. Cast a vote because, believe it or not, these students will represent your activities fee and decide where it goes. Cast a vote because the best possible candidates should be elected to move into the S.G.I. office in the D’Angelo Center. Take the time to look at both tickets running for office and form an opinion that actually has weight.

OPINION

It’s becoming rather redundant. Every spring, Student Government Inc. holds elections for a new ticket of student leaders, and every spring we watch a disappointing amount of students come out to cast their vote. The reasons behind low turnout at the polls for Student Government are up for debate depending on your bias and knowledge of the event, but it’s always unfortunate just how many students don’t care to vote for the people who will spend a portion of their tuition money. We perennially struggle with this topic at the TORCH every spring, tossing around solutions and offering our thoughts on how to make the elections more student-friendly in editorials like this one. This year has not been much different. The 2011 S.G.I. elections are off to a slow start, with elections scheduled to take place next week and, by our observations, only a small portion of the student population is aware. Most years, we tend to blame S.G.I. for poor planning and advertising of the election. We usually point out flaws with certain campaigns and suggest ways that future tickets could increase their student participation. Unfortunately, year after year, the student turnout is a steady disappointment, a poor reflection of a student body that is generally uninterested and uninvolved. This year, what is more distressing than anything else is the amount of students who have chosen to put their efforts into something as trivial as the “REAL graduation” campaign. This movement started in reaction to the University announcing they would not be calling out names of graduates at this year’s graduation. In a week, 1,000

TORCH Opinion

online at torchonline.com/opinion

Enough of the name calling at graduation

I had planned to use this week’s column to bring some reason and perspective to the ongoing debate around campus over this year’s commencement exercises. To all the graduating seniors who freaked when the University announced they wouldn’t be reading everyone’s name at May’s graduation ceremony, I was going to present a rational explanation on why they should be thanking the commencement committee, not complaining. Then the situation took a turn for the worst. The TORCH found out on Monday that the University, reacting to students’ and parents’ complaints, had decided to overturn their decision and reinstate the calling out of graduate names at graduation. Well, to the almost 1,000 students who joined the “We want a REAL Graduation” group on Facebook and 300 students who signed a written petition, mission accomplished. You’ve officially extended our graduation ceremony by at least 2 hours. Your punishment is simple: You must sit and listen to someone read more than 3,000 names off of a list. You won’t be allowed to leave until you’ve heard everyone’s name called, and if it’s pouring rain or baking hot, tough luck. Quite frankly, that sounds like a lucid nightmare, and for past graduates of St. John’s, it has already been a reality. The thought of sitting (or standing) on the Great Lawn for five consecutive hours alone is enough to make me crawl into a dumpster behind St. John Hall.

The commencement committee tried to give us an early graduation present, but instead we’ve whined our way into a headache. To be honest, I’m surprised that this is the part of graduation that has gotten students the most riled up. Keep in mind, this is a ceremony that hands out fake diplomas (students must pick up their real degrees at a later date), allows only four guests for each graduate, and is notorious for featuring less-than-stellar speakers. One of the reasons I was originally so excited to hear that they wouldn’t be reading names this year was the sheer amount of complaints I heard last year and the year before that from friends who had sat through painfully long graduations. I could fly across the country in that amount of time, or watch two long movies. If I applied myself, I could read a 200 page novel or run a marathon. I could also be sharing that time with my family and friends, the people who are genuinely excited for me and already know what my name is. I fear that the students who are quick to complain are completely missing the real importance of graduation. It’s a significant moment in anyone’s life, but it’s as personal an accomplishment as any. If a grand public acknowledgement of your successful crossing into the post-grad world is really that important to you, take out an ad in the yearbook. Better yet, go back in time and attend a school that offers a more personal college experience – not the second largest Catholic university in the nation. On the Facebook page that petitions the ceremony, one student urges everyone to “keep fighting,” while another suggests having two graduation days. The reoccurring sentiment “we earned it” repeats itself at least fifty times. As I scrolled through these comments, I couldn’t help but feel lost and incredibly confused by the passion

STUDENTSPARKS: Graduation

in which these students were summoning. A two-day graduation event? Has this student lost their mind? It disturbs me that organizations like the TORCH struggle with student involvement and S.G.I. can’t even get students to come out for elections, meanwhile something this ridiculous is inciting a horde of students to rally. Amongst the repetitive calls for action and revolution on this Facebook page, one person’s comment stood out to me as sensible and profoundly refreshing. This person simply wrote, “I’m graduating, I’m receiving a degree, I’m proud and my family will be proud of me whether I walk, sit or don’t even go.” To this succinctly intelligent remark I can only say, bravo. Perspective is a wonderful thing. Now it’s my turn to appeal to the good senses of our administration and the commencement committee. I urge the committee to once again rethink the decision they’ve made and see that they had it right the first time. If you’re a graduating senior reading this who believes that we must pioneer the good fight against an excessively long graduation ceremony, I implore you to create a petition for our side. We can even name our Facebook group “We want a real, yet comfortably brief, Graduation” and make Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” our theme song. And what the heck, while we’re at it, let’s petition to receive REAL diplomas on graduation day. Unfortunately, I have little hope that the commencement committee will reverse their decision a second time. But hey, at least I’ll get my 1.5 second acknowledgement on graduation day.

Justin Thrift is a senior English major from Rhode Island. He can be reached at: torcheic@gmail.com

The disappointing world of Blu-ray

I prefer the longer ceremony. Old fashioned is better. The longer time is good for socializing with your friends. Nikos Nicolaou Junior

I think they should call the names. It’s the proper way to recognize people.

I’m not happy, I spent four years here. I would have family traveling to New York and if they’re all the way out near the parking lot they’re not going to be able to notice me on a screen.

I think they should call the names, it would mean a lot to peoples’ families.

Caitlin Larsen Junior

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The TORCH

23 March 2011

OPINION

Should the University read everyone’s name at graduation?

Jaclynn Martin Senior

Scott Szczesny Senior COMPILED BY THOMAS CARNEVALE

By now, almost everyone has heard of Blu-Ray discs and their potential for higher quality movies at home. With the insane amount of space available on each Blu-Ray disc (up to fifty gigabytes), studios have increased the picture and sound quality of their releases. However, studios are not fully utilizing the ability that Blu-Ray discs have for enhancing the viewing experience. Perhaps the most glaring omission on Blu-Ray releases have been the disappointing special features. While they are, for the most part, on par with DVD features and featurettes, this kind of space begs for much, much more. When customers buy a Blu-Ray release of a TV show or movie, it should be the definitive edition. All of the special features that were included on previous releases, and many that were not, should be included on the Blu-Ray release. There shouldn’t be any reason to track down older releases for content; the BluRay release should have it all. In addition, the Java abilities of the Blu-Ray platform are still being underutilized. Instead of adding games or new experiences, it seems as if most studios are simply ignoring the Java ability. With this simple bit of technology, studios have the ability to change the way we view movies. In 2011, the entire Star Wars saga is coming to Blu-Ray. In a controversial move, the movies will only be released in the updated “Special Edition” cuts without the original theatrical cuts. This has been met by fan resistance, and with good rea-

son. Those original cuts need to be preserved before they are lost forever. However, these releases are also offering newly restored, never-released footage, which has presented a conundrum for fans: to buy or not to buy? Instead of forcing fans to choose, Lucasfilm should include both cuts of the films. As a special bonus, using the Blu-Ray Java platform, they should add a “make-yourown edit” feature, with the ability to create your own cut of the film. This would allow fans to edit, save, and share their cut of the film with other Star Wars fans. The website fanedit.org has already proven people’s interest in this, and Star Wars edits are by far the most popular. Since people are going to make fan edits anyway, Lucasfilm might as well find a way to make some money off of the phenomenon. VHS brought the idea of the movie theatre to home. DVD attempted to replicate the experience of being at the theatre. Blu-Ray needs to go one step further and make people feel like they are on the set. If this generation has proven anything, it’s that people love to create and share. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and countless blog posts have shown that creativity and the desire to share can blossom in the right environment. Blu-Ray can be one of those environments, and the resulting profits could be monumental for the movie industry, but it will require traditional studios to think outside of the box. Blu-Ray has the potential to be a gamechanger for the entire industry, but studios need to be creative and take risks with the platform. If the industry just treats this like an increase in horsepower, they are missing the point. Blu-Ray technology is not just an increase in horsepower, it’s an entirely new vehicle; now the studios just need to provide the gas. Mark McDonald is a junior business major. He can be reached at: torchads@gmail.com

TORCH Opinion

online at torchonline.com/opinion

Budget cuts hitting home for some St. John’s students JACOB POSTELNICU Contributing Writer Recently, we’ve all been hearing about the budget cuts that New York City has been undergoing. Mayor Bloomberg, under duress from Albany, has been swinging what I like to call “the mighty axe of funding severance” in all directions. From schoolteachers to senior citizens, we all seem to be feeling the wrath of our local government as it attempts to balance the city’s budget. Each day, newly incited groups seem to be marching on city hall bearing picket signs and chanting in unison. Each day, social programs intended to bring relief to the impoverished and homeless are thrown under the bus of democracy. Like many of you, after being faced with daily media barrages on the subject of budget cuts, I had become desensitized to much of what was going on. There once was a time when I had been outraged at the treatment of the hardest-hit social and ethnic groups – namely the middle and lower classes – but now sat placidly with a cup of coffee through the morning news programs. I rode the bus and read the newspaper, skipping over most of the idealistic pieces about the financial hoopla surrounding Hizoner and the city budget because the subject no longer held interest for me. I became emotionally detached. Then, it all came to a crashing halt one morning as I came to campus, ready for just another day of classes. That morning, I found out that a program being run by St. John’s University in conjunction with the Depart-

ment of Homeless Services (DHA) had been cut from the city’s budget. The program, intended to help formerly homeless individuals and those below the poverty line achieve self-sufficiency, is called the Advantage Academy program. It offers, to those who qualify, the opportunity to attend St. John’s and earn an associate’s degree in business and finance. With such a degree, it was the hope of the University as well as that of city officials that a number of Advantage Academy students would go on to lucrative careers and would become assets, not only to their families but their communities as well. It was a beautiful plan, with St. John’s offering the scholarships, and DHA offering the housing, so that students could go about their day, able to study and perform as expected. However, on March 17, a letter was sent out to the students currently enrolled in the Academy Advantage program, telling them that the program had been cut from the city budget and, as of April 1, all rental assistance would be terminated. One student enrolled in the program, a college freshman at the tender age of forty, was bewildered and wondered what he should do with the few days he had left. He remembered how, for the better part of the last decade, he had been homeless, tossed about from shelter to shelter and often sleeping on the subway, with nowhere else to turn. He recalled how the highlight of his day had been the meal he would stand in line for at one of the many soup kitchens he frequented. Years of living with the uncertainty of homelessness had made him solitary and

cynical. At some point he was ready to give up. One day, he was fortunate to find out about the Advantage Academy program, and picked up an application from the DHA offices. Over the course of that day, as he filled out the many forms, answered the many questions and wrote the various essays necessary, he began to feel something he had not felt in a very long time. He felt hope and, for the briefest of moments, smiled. It was several months later, as he sat at the orientation luncheon here on the campus of St. John’s, when he realized that second chances are not always the stuff of fiction. He smiled again and began to greet some of his fellow Advantage students. Little by little, though socially rusty at first, he began to make friendships he now hoped would last a lifetime – not contacts or networks, but true friendships. He found an apartment in the Bronx and after going through all the channels, moved into his very own place – the first place he had called home in nearly ten years. That student, of course, is me. I have faced my share of opposition, it has not been the easiest of rides, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I am here, learning, tutoring and becoming a productive New Yorker. It is my understanding that, while rental assistance is to be terminated, St. John’s is continuing to provide the scholarships and the education for qualified applicants. It is my deepest hope that Mayor Bloomberg takes a closer look at the goals of this program, and what its participants have achieved in such a short time, and decides to amend his budget cuts. If not, we all lose out.

Zoos highlight a flaw in human society

OPINION 23 March. 2011 The TORCH TORCH ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL MONTIJO

Jeffrey Gilbert is a senior. He can be reached at: jeffreygilberttorch@gmail.com

torchonline.com

“With man gone, will there be hope for gorilla?” Daniel Quinn wrote these words in his thoughtprovoking novel Ishmael, articulated through a philosophical gorilla named Ishmael. Ishmael talks of man’s seemingly indefatigable efforts to destroy not only ourselves but take every species down with us. I assure you I am not encouraging you to go hug a tree or anything, but I would encourage you to read the book. Starting it, I couldn’t help but picture Ishmael as The Beast from X-Men – I mean, it’s a talking gorilla. Paint him blue and the resemblance is just uncanny. The further along I read, however, I was reminded of Willie B. If you were a kid living in Georgia in the 90s, as I was, there was a good chance you went to Zoo Atlanta and saw Willie B. I had a poster of him that was given to me at a minor league soccer game. The team is the Atlanta Silverbacks, in honor of Willie B., who fathered five silverbacks at the zoo. He died in 2000 at the age of 39. For nearly 30 years he was kept in a deplorable isolation bunker until he was put on display in 1988. We’ll get back to Willie B. in a minute, but the reason I think about any of this at all recently is due to zee Germans. Germany is a beautiful country. Great food, scenery and nightlife? Check. But they kind of dropped the ball with the lovable Knut. You remember Knut. He was the cute-as-a-button German polar bear who could have been in a Christmastime Coca-Cola ad but was rejected by his mother in 2006. Instead of being left on his own, he was deemed just too darn sweet to let die like Mother Nature intended. People fawned over his witty-bitty paws and his witty-bitty nose in the way people always do over anything tiny and cute. When aliens finally need to invade us for our resources they will probably land in the form of wittybitty bunny-wabbits because people get irrational over anything that is “cute.” Then, when they jump on each other to form an army of rabbit-Transformer creatures and breathe fire all over the Earth, destroying our societies, don’t act surprised. But I digress.

Too-cute Knut lived and grew, not surprisingly, into a giant evil-looking monster that would chew your face off to get an afternoon snack if he could only make his way off that ice floe that is melting and drifting off into oblivion. He was raised entirely by humans who realized they could make a bunch of money off him. With the money flowing and the crowds loving it, zee Germans decided there was no need for Knut to live remotely like a normal polar bear. In a German report in 2008, one of his keepers said that Knut actually “cries or whimpers” if there are no crowds there to fawn over him. Then he died suddenly last week. Which brings me back to Willie B., who was not the only mistreated animal in captivity in Atlanta history – beluga whales have been going down like led zeppelins for years now at the Georgia Aquarium. Every species has a right to a habitat, and that includes us humans; but for most species, however, their end is coming sooner than most think. In a thousand years, which I can predict confidently because I won’t be alive, the only zoos we have will be “zooseums,” where people can look in awe at the two or three species that are left. Nothing should be kept in a cage for us to gawk at for profit. Whatever is behind that glass, be it gorilla or bear or beluga whale, everybody staring at them knows they belong in their own environment. Yet they must remain, due to our paradoxical relationship with animals. They are unhappy, unhealthy and trapped inside zoos, but that’s the only way they can stay alive. We can’t send them out in the wild anywhere, because we destroy it constantly. I guess we will just keep killing them off to make subdivisions, slapping them with tags and putting them in zoos, and lathering their meat up with ketchup to scarf down at the ballpark, until there is nothing left to kill or gawk at but each other. Which reminds me of something else Ishmael wrote: “With gorilla gone, will there be hope for man?”

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This Lenten season: “Love Like This is Possible” Campus Ministry challenges 40 days and 40 nights of faith and prayer ANTHONY O’REILLY Staff Writer

torchonline.com

The TORCH

23 March 2011

FEATURES

For 40 days and 40 nights, Christians around the world prepare to celebrate the holy day of Easter. This period is known as Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter Sunday. Father Luttenberger, a St. John’s priest, describes Lent as a “time when we give energy to change our lives for the better so that we might serve all our brothers and sisters and love them as our leader Jesus has done.” Christians commemorate the season by fasting, praying, almsgiving, and temporarily giving up a worldly pleasure. At St. John’s, the Campus Ministry program helps students express their faith through a variety of mediums. All around campus purple banners have been hung with the saying “Love Like This is Possible.” Campus Minister Trish Scalese says that the saying is meant to help people with their everyday interaction with family, friends, and everybody we meet in life. “Jesus’ love for his disciples was so deep and real. With everything we see on TV and in society, we sometimes doubt if authentic and healthy love is possible,” said Scalese. St. John’s continues to have daily masses at 12:15 p.m. every weekday at St. Thomas Moore Church. Campus Ministry offers a surplus “Whatever we do, God is always there for us and we can see that through the sacraments,” said Lawrence Isong, a These two fundraisers require students to think about how much they have and the member of the choir during mass. With the diverse population at St. ability they have to make a difference John’s, there are many ways that oth- just by donating a dollar or two a day. er people besides Christians can help Midnight Runs and visits to St. Nick’s celebrate the spirit of Lent. Fundrais- shelter give students a direct look at the ers like Project Riceball and Catholic poverty that affects the world today. St. John’s also recognizes the differRelief Services help to remind people of the less privileged parts of the world. ent faiths of students during Inter-Faith

TORCH PHOTO/KRISTEN FARMER

of events in celebration of Lent. Week. “We’re hoping to have a nice variety that will work to invite different backgrounds to attend,” said Scalese. Inter-faith prayer services are events that allow students to pray for different faiths and in different languages. Also, a forum on the first amendment and religion will be held to help see

“what it’s like to live in this country and hold true to your own faith.” One of the biggest events will be the Festival of World Religions that will be held on Friday, April 1. During this event, all faiths represented on campus will showcase different traditions and artifacts. Campus Ministry hopes to use the season of Lent as well to help students remember those who are affected by natural disasters. On March 21, a Taize and Rosary Prayer service was held for the victims of the Japanese earthquake. Along with the traditional Catholic rosary prayer, native Japanese chants were sung to remember those who died in the tsunami as well as those who are now suffering the loss. In the normal life of a working college student, there might not be time to set aside for any of these services or events. For those who do not have time to devote to these events, Fr. Luttenberger suggests that students set aside five minutes each day before bed to think how they could treat those around them better. But for those who want to attend events at St. John’s, the University offers plenty of activities throughout the day. “We have two prayer services planned on [certain] days, so we’re trying to work it so that it can fit into just about anybody’s schedule,” said Scalese. Other activities such as praying through yoga and Adoration of Eucharist also allow students to enjoy a relaxing environment. Campus Ministry’s ultimate goal is to help the entire student body to act in a communal manner towards one another. To “Love Like This is Possible.” Ideally this would be stressed year round, but during Lent people strive to help each other and to be a better person. With the help of Campus Ministry, all of St. John’s will be able to get into this spirit.

New Yorkers dine for cleaner water in impoverished nations Restaurant-goers donate a dollar a glass at esteemed culinary locations for “UNICEF Tap Project” JOANNA ADDUCI

Assistant Features Editor

St. John’s University has always valued the opportunity to help the less fortunate, and students have engaged themselves in creating a brighter world. Service and volunteer work are a concrete foundation for the mission that the University represents. From March 20, UNICEF will participate in World Water Week by continuing their award winning, “UNICEF Tap Project,” and St. John’s students are urged to participate for this admirable cause. The project consists of various restaurants in New York City charging $1 for the tap water which patrons usually enjoy for free. The money collected will then be sent to Togo, Vietnam and the Central African Republic to provide clean water for their people. The idea is simple, yet brilliant – give New Yorker’s the opportunity to help others while enjoying a quick lunch or a decadent dinner.

As students of St. John’s, we often take advantage of the resources that are provided. Whether it’s the surplus of dining options or the spacious rooms in the dorms, we are truly blessed to live as students of this University. UNICEF reported that every day nearly 4,100 children die of water-related diseases and nearly 900 million people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. This is an issue that needs to be addressed and fixed while students have the opportunity to help bring an end to this crisis. There are a few ways students can become involved with the project and contribute toward the cause. Donations online are appreciated, and online fundraising is a more substantial way to join together and fight for this cause. Through the UNICEF Website, students are provided with numerous options including mobile donations, online fundraising and donations through eBay. UNICEF also offers volunteering opportunities, including the recruitment of restaurants in the neighborhood or the necessary steps to host a UNICEF Tap Project event. Suggestions range from dining out

during World Water Week to organizing a benefit for the cause. Registration is available online with step-by-step instructions for students to become involved. According to their Website, UNICEF works in more than 100 countries around the world to improve access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, while also promoting safe hygiene practices. World Water Week grants students the ability to make a change in the lives of the less fortunate. Through small donations and volunteer events, each person can make a difference. Since 2007, the campaign has raised over $2.5 million for the cause. The mission stands strong, “the UNICEF Tap Project celebrates the clean water we enjoy on a daily basis by encouraging celebrity, restaurant, volunteer, corporate and government supporters to give this vital resource to children in developing countries.” Because they are often busy with schoolwork and jobs, the dining option may be the most convenient for students. A list of restaurants in Manhattan is available on the Website and gives information

including address, phone number, and reviews. Most of the restaurants have been Zagat-rated and offer eccentric cuisine including Pan-Asian and Middle Eastern. Dos Caminos offers modern Mexican cuisine, with fresh spice infused Guacamole and asada tacos. The Bubble Lounge in Tribeca is quite the experience for students of age offering over 300 champagnes and sparkling wines. With fine hors d’oeuvres and prestigious platters including mini black truffle baked potatoes and Ahi Tuna Tartar blinis, it’s definitely a fun night out. For a less formal experience, stop by ‘Jane,’ a contemporary restaurant located on West Houston Street. With burgers, crispy fish sandwiches, and the perfect Nicoise salad – this will surely become a student favorite. Who knew students could eat for a cause? Take advantage of this opportunity to fight the water crisis and work with the restaurants of Manhattan during World Water Week. Whether you dine out, volunteer, or donate online, any effort, small or large, matters. As Mohammed Ali once said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

The Ultimate Housing Guide for fall 2011 It’s that time of the year again when students must choose their housing option for next year. Most students have already chosen where they want to live. But whether you’re choosing oncampus housing, off-campus housing, or an apartment in the local community, get to know the housing options St. John’s offers to students. CAROLYN WARGULA Features Editor