The Hofstra
HEMPSTEAD, NY VOL. 79
Issue 13
Chronicle
THURSDAY december 12, 2013
KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935
Too expensive? These are the areas of the world where Hofstra has study abroad programs.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
Study abroad costs discourage students By Lauren Mansley special to the chronicle
Hofstra students are spending at least $4,000 more than other universities in New York to study abroad. For Georgina Kostopoulos, a senior marketing and management student, a study abroad trip through Hofstra was out of the question because tuition fees alone were too expensive. Georgina did research and found Stony Brook University’s study abroad programs for almost half the price of those offered at Hofstra. As a result, she was able to go on two study abroad trips. She went to Italy during summer 2012 and London during summer 2013.
In a four-week program at London, Georgina paid approximately $3,650 in program fees that included housing, two meals per day, excursions, books and international health insurance. In addition, she booked her own round-trip flight totaling approximately $1,100. The London program had a 6-credit course load. New York residents paid $245 per credit while non-residents paid $742 per credit, according to the Stony Brook University Study Abroad website. For a New York resident the entire trip would total approximately $6,500, while a non-resident would pay approximately $9,500. In contrast, there was a Summer 2013 program that visited Paris, Nice and Monaco from June 27 to August 1.
Students were charged a program fee of $4,590, which included round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, travel expenses, excursions and some meals, according to Hofstra’s Study Abroad website. In addition, students had to pay for 6 credits of Hofstra classes totaling approximately $6,000. The entire trip totaled approximately $11,000.
Continued on A3
A 2 • december 12, 2013
NEWS
The Chronicle
Hofstra celebrates 30th annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony
The
Chronicle
www.thehofstrachronicle.com
203 Student Center (516) 463-6921 Editor-in-Chief Samantha Neudorf Managing Editor Sophia Strawser Business Manager Jake Nussbaum News Editors Magdalene Michalik Ehlayna Napolitano Entertainment Editor Katie Webb Sports Editor Sean Williams Assistant Sports Editor Mike Rudin
Che Sullivan/The Chronicle CHANUKAH SPIRIT—A menorah was lit in front of Hofstra Hall as part of the holiday celebration.
Che Sullivan/The Chronicle SANTA SPUD— Alpha Theta Beta and Sigma Alpha Mu and Tau Epsilon Phi painted the winning window mural in the Student Center dining room.
@ Hofstra Editor Jana Kaplan Assistant @ Hofstra Editor Isabela Jacobsen Editorial Editor Jacquie Itsines Copy Chief Ben Suazo Assistant Copy Chiefs Elizabeth Merino Alexis Vail Photo Editor Che Sullivan The Chronicle is published every Thursday during the academic year by the students of Hofstra University. The Chronicle is located in Room 203 Student Center, 200 Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y. 11549. Advertising and subscription rates may be obtained by calling (516) 463-6921.
Che Sullivan/The Chronicle DECK THE (HOFSTRA) HALL—On Tuesday, lights were lit in front of Hofstra Hall as part of Hofstra’s 30th annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony. The event included a performance by the pep band, as well as a song performed by Makin’ Treble. A reception followed the event in the Student Center.
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The Chronicle
NEWS
december 12, 2013 • A 3
Hofstra abroad pricier than competitors Continued from A1 Many students would like to study abroad but find the big price tags of Hofstra’s programs disheartening and eventually give up on the idea of going at all. The high costs of Hofstra’s study abroad programs should not discourage students who
want to see the world. There are several other universities besides Stony Brook who offer similar programs for a much more affordable cost. According to the 2012 Study Abroad Guide through SUNY, the system of public schools offers 600 programs in nearly 50 countries. They have opportunities for students attending any college
Che Sullivan/The Chronicle
who live in any state. The guide says, “We continue to work to make education abroad accessible, viable, secure and a rewarding option for our students.” Some of these programs include a trip through SUNY Fredonia to Russia. Students went on a 3-credit trip to Russia during summer 2013 for approximately $4,600 for New York State residents and $5,600 for out-ofstate residents. Another trip through SUNY Cortland is going to Cork, Ireland, for four weeks during summer 2014. The approximate cost of that trip is $5,900 for New York residents and $6,700 for out-ofstate residents. Although a heftier price tag is attached with the Hofstra study abroad programs, they might be that way for a reason. Michael Papirmeister, a senior public relations major, went on Hofstra’s winter program at Venice. One of the reasons he chose the program was that the University offered a public relations course that went towards his major. Papirmeister took a class called “International Relations” in which the students had to make a blog about their experiences abroad. “I’m not sure if I would choose another program solely based on price, because Hofstra’s was so well-planned,” said Papirmeister. But, Maria Fixell, assistant dean for the Office of Study Abroad Programs at Hofstra, highly suggests that students go abroad through Hofstra programs. She admits that programs through other universities can be less expensive. “In recent years, financial aid is a priority,” said Fixell.
Che Sullivan/The Chronicle Hofstra study abroad programs, such as India (above) and London (left), are diaplayed throughout campus.
Since Hofstra programs cannot fully accommodate all majors, students can choose to do a non-Hofstra program. Fixell mentioned that a benefit of a Hofstra study abroad program is the opportunity to easily transfer its
credits towards a student’s major. Although it is ideal to study in another country, Hofstra’s study abroad program might not for everyone – especially if students cannot afford it.
Corrections from the 12/5 Issue: - In the article Appealing to a higher court, it was incorrectly stated that, “a new design has been chose for the 2014-2015 season.” It should have read, “The first part of the Hofstra basketball court design contest has come to an end. Next, administrators will review all submissions and announce finalists for the community to vote on. The opportunity to create a design for the hardwood arena floor of the soon-to-be-built practice facility was announced in November.”
NEWS
A 4 • december 12, 2013
The Chronicle
OSLA events aid finals stress By Shannon Nia Alomar staff writer
Photos courtesy of University Relations Four panelists last Thursday debated Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and different ways to deal with the issue in the United States.
GMO concerns raised in debate By Jennifer Sekyi special to the chronicle
Genetically modified crops are an unsolved issue that raises both health and technological concerns. On one hand, they support innovation. On the other, they pose as a health risk. Hofstra explored this issues by holding a debate called “Genetically Modified Crops: Moving into the Modern Future of Science and Technology, or Setting Citizens Up For More Health Issues?” This was held in collaboration with the Sustainability Studies and Department of Rhetoric in the Cultural Center Theater last Thursday. Genetic modification, or genetic engineering, is the direct manipulation of an organism’s genome using biotechnology. Although the debate didn’t end with a majority of people siding either in favor of or in opposition against stronger regulations, students were definitely engaged in the topic of discussion. “I thought the debate was very spirited and there were good arguments on both sides,“ said Ashlyn Grisetti, a junior political science major. “I think it’s interesting that they said the biggest thing is fear, because we don’t know what’s going into our food.” Panelists included Dr. Michael Hansen, a senior staff scientist at Consumers Union, and Bhavani
Jaroff, a self-proclaimed “natural foods chef, educator, radio host and food activist,” according to the website for her foundation, iEat Green. Hansen and Jaroff were in support of stronger regulations against genetically modified crops. On the team against stronger regulations were Dr. Kevin Folta, interim chair and associate professor in the University of Florida’s department of horticultural sciences, and Dr. Gregory Dolin, associate professor of law and co-director at the University of Baltimore’s Center for Medicine and the Law. The debate opened with the issue of why the U.S. needs stronger regulations on genetically engineered crops. The panelists spoke about whether GMO products should come with labels and why people are opposed to GMO products. “The reason you need GE (Genetically Engineered) labels is because if there were to be any problems, it’s the only way you can know where [the genetic modifications] came from. People are concerned about new technology. They remember in the past when they were told it was safe, and it wasn’t. That’s why we need safety assessments,” Hansen said. Jaroff believes that the fear of labeling GMO products comes from the biotin and food manufacturing companies.
“They’re afraid that when the word gets out and people know about GMO products and they have a choice to purchase a product that’s labeled GMO or not, they’re going to buy the one that’s not. All of the companies will need to remanufacture their products GMO free,” Jaroff said. Folta, however, disagreed, saying that he supports less GMO regulation. “By having stifling, crippling regulations, we slow innovation. We slow the spread of new products. We slow the spread of technology,” Folta said. “In the last seventeen years these products have been used, there has not been one confirmed case of any illness or any problems associated with [GMO products] in respect to health.” Jared Garfinkel, a senior sustainability studies major, said that he had learned new information from the event. “They explained a lot of methods and tools I haven’t heard of before. It shows the complexity of science when it comes to genetic engineering. I would attend something like this again in the future,” Garfinkel said. To close the debate, Dolin ended with a message for audience members to think about: “Do you want the government that cannot run a website to regulate – in greater detail – your food? I doubt it.”
As Hofstra nears the end of fall semester and final exams, sleep deprivation and stress are haunting students. The Office of Student Leadership and Activities (OSLA) is providing students an outlet to relax during the week, if only for a moment, from yoga in the plaza rooms to free food in the Student Center Atrium. Stanley Cherian, orientation director and OSLA associate director, noticed that this program has been helpful for students for the past few years. “This is the third year during which we have held the program called Stressbusters,” said Cherian. “The programs that our office sponsors serve to alleviate some of that [finals week] stress by encouraging students to take care of their mind and body. I think our posters for the series sums it up well when we say ‘Eat. Study. Relax. Repeat.’” Some of the other events that students are looking forward to are the massages and pet therapy. For two years, Christina Merone, a junior broadcast journalism major, has made sure she was in line for the massage sessions and to snag a lunch from the grab-and-go table in the Atrium. “The massages were helpful because I was really tense and they helped to make my muscles feel super relaxed. Afterwards, I just felt better in general,” Merone said. Jenny Rowe, a junior public relations major, explained that her hectic schedule does not even allow her time to stop by any of the events. But if she was able to go, Rowe should she would definitely be up to getting a massage to help ease her tension. Pet therapy is normally a “fanfavorite” as well, but contrary to popular belief, there were dogs, not puppies at the event, according to Cherian. “Somehow, some students were under the false impression that there were going to be pup-
pies at the event. Our office never alluded to puppies in advertisements or correspondence. Having puppies at such an event would be impractical, as they are not trained to be handled or be around so many people. Again, I think it was an isolated incident and the students made false assumptions,” Cherian said. However, some students are not so thrilled to attend Stressbusters activities, whether there are promised interactions with puppies or not. Peter Rubio, a senior English major, claimed that waiting in line for the events would only bring him more stress and anxiety, and he does not feel the events provide him with the support to conquer his final exams. “I don’t know about other people, but standing in long lines for extended periods of time does not ease my stress, and petting a dog feels good, but it will not help you pass your test,” Rubio said. Isaiah Washington, a junior health science major, also agreed with Rubio’s sentiment in regard to the Stressbusters not appealing to him. For Washington, the event is less appealing because he is not “overly stressed” during finals time. “I do not attend the Stressbusters because I tend to focus on my school work. I am a person who prepares in advance for my finals,” Washington said. “It is just like the other tests you take, it is just the final one you will take for the semester … People like to cram and that is what stresses them out. And if they were not paying attention all semester and try to teach themselves everything now, they are just living in a fool’s paradise world.” Overall, OSLA has stated they continue to present students with these opportunities because they believe it helps to build a sense of community and send a message that the University cares about its students’ well-being. Stressbusters will be held until Dec. 18. Events will be posted on the OSLA website and Hofstra events calendar.
NEWS
The Chronicle
SGA WEEKLY WRAP UP Compiled by Nico Machlitt
december 12, 2013 • A 5
• SGA ruled that the Inter-Fraternity Sorority Council is no longer a club because it is considered an exclusive club. A club or organization cannot be recognized by SGA if it discriminates based on “race, color, religion, ability, sex, sexual orientation, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, martial or veteran status.” It was considered exclusive because each house has its own requirements. • Club office space was redistributed.
Public Safety Briefs Compiled by Ehlayna Napolitano On Dec. 6, a student stated that her bike was locked to a bike rack outside Stuyvesant Hall. When she returned an hour later, the lock had been cut off and the bike was stolen. A search proved negative and police assistance was declined. A student reported on Dec. 6 that the previous day, she had met someone at McHebes Bar that later came home with her. He left her room at 2 a.m., and at 9 p.m. that day, she discovered that $60 was missing from her wallet. She suspects that the person, known only as “Steve,” took the money. Police assistance was declined. It was reported on Dec. 6 that a student has been harassing her former roommate, who moved out around Thanksgiving weekend. A summons was issued to the student. On Dec. 6, PS received a report that a student was in possession of marijuana in Leiden House. PS responded and entered the room, where they found the resident. When questioned, the student surrendered a glass jar with marijuana, rolling papers, a silver grinder and plastic bags. These objects were confiscated and the student
was escorted to the HIC and was issued a summons. A student in Leiden Hall reported ongoing difficulties with a roommate and requested a room change for next semester on Dec. 7. The student was referred to Residential Life and no action from PS was taken. An RA reported observing an individual in a doorway in Estabrook Hall drinking malt alcohol on Dec. 7. The individual refused to give identification and later exited the room with another person. The RA requested identification from both of them, who refused and exited the building. PS responded, identified both students and located one of them. Summonses were issued to both students. A PSO closing Axinn Library on Dec. 8 discovered an individual on the 7th floor. When asked, the individual refused to leave, then refused to show identification. The PSO requested backup, and the person was taken into custody without incident, where it was determined that the individual was a non-student. After being escorted to the HIC, the person was banned from campus.
A student was observed putting merchandise into his pocket without paying at Dutch Treats on Dec. 8. The student was apprehended and the merchandise was returned. A summons was issued to the student. On Dec. 8, a student returned to his bike, which had been secured to the rack inside Providence House and found it had been stolen. Police assistance was declined. A Lackmann employee in Netherlands Core observed a student place a large water bottle in his bag and try to leave on Dec. 8. The student was apprehended and the water returned. The student was issued a summons. A student reported on Dec. 9 receiving harassing text messages from her non-student exboyfriend. The student requested that no action be taken. On Dec. 9, PS received a report that three female students were engaged in a loud, verbal altercation in Axinn Library. PS responded and calmed the situation. Summonses were issued to all three students.
A student reported to PS that on Dec. 9 while in the library, he left his MacBook charging, unattended, for 30 minutes. When he returned, the charger was missing. A search proved negative and police assistance was declined. PS responded to a room in Republic Hall on Dec. 9 where three students were found with empty beer bottles and wine coolers, as well as the smell of marijuana. One student admitted to smoking when questioned and all three students were issued summonses. A faculty member reported that between Dec. 6 and Dec. 10, a book was stolen from his office in Davison Hall. Police assistance was declined and an investigation is being conducted. A student reported on Dec. 10 that his belongings were placed in an unsecured locker in the Fitness Center. Upon his return, he discovered that his cell phone was missing. A report was filed with the NCPD. A student left their backpack containing textbooks, a laptop, headphones and a calculator in their vehicle, parked on Columbia Square Drive on Dec. 10. Upon
returning to the vehicle, the student discovered the bag was missing. No forced entry was visible on the car. A report was filed with the NCPD. An RA reported that while on rounds in Utrecht House, the smell of marijuana was coming from one of the rooms. PS keyed in and discovered the room was empty, although there was a strong odor within the room. Summonses will be issued to the residents upon their return. PS received a report of the smell of marijuana coming from a room in Hague Hall on Dec. 12. Upon responding, PS keyed into the room and found two students inside. When questioned, both admitted to smoking. No marijuana was recovered and both were issued summonses.
Key PS- Public Safety PSO- Public Safety Officer RA- Resident Assistant NCPD- Nassau County Police Department HIC- Hofstra Information Center
@HOFSTRA
A6 • December 12, 2013
The Chronicle
O ve r h e a rd @ H o fst ra Compiled by the Hofstra Chronicle staff In Barnard: Guy: In Miami when you see this much white stuff it isn’t snow. In Monroe: Girl: You know how I love baby Jesus. In Student Center: Girl: Can I write ‘what the heck?’ on your account?’ In Constitution: Girl 1: Want to pee with me? Girl 2: Yeah. Girl 3: You never pee with me! In Student Center: Girl 1: The Little Drummer Boy is my least favorite Christmas song. Girl 2: My absolute favorite...wait. Awkward.
In Bits & Bytes: Guy: We should start counting how many people walk around campus with a milkshake, Red Mango, or an iced coffee. Girl: Why? Guy: Because it’s 20 f***ing degrees out and they’re the minority! In Herbert: Guy: You coming to wing night tonight? Girl: Are you? Guy: Yeah. Girl: Then probably not. In Au Bon Pain: Girl: Can you believe it’s the last day of the semester? Guy: I can’t even believe I made it to bed last night. Please don’t ask me these questions until I eat my breakfast first.
Outside Vander Poel: Girl 1: Wait, that was a great story. Can you tell me again? Girl 2: Okay, so Saturday night... Girl 1: I was kidding. Shut up. In Axinn: Guy: Finals week is probably the worst thing to ever be created...since Spam. In Café On The Quad: Girl: Is it bad that I lost count on how many coffees I’ve had today? In Herbert: Guy: Why does the elevator have padded walls? Girl: Maybe it’s a claustrophobic looney bin.
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Dorm Room Dish: Gluten-free chocolate ganache By Janet Lee STAFF WRITER
With the many holiday celebrations, it can sometimes be overwhelming in terms of the amount of food that is needs to be prepared. However, here is a delicious recipe you can enjoy without worrying about the calories. This gluten-free chocolate tart is made from scratch, so although it might take a while, it will all be worth it in the end! Here are the things you will need: For the crust: • 1/2 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut • 1 1/2 cup of almond flour • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil • 1/4 teaspoon of salt • 2 tablespoons of Organic
• • • •
Blue Agave Nectar For the coconut milk ganache: 1 cup of coconut milk 12 oz. of bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the topping: • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes • a pinch of sea salt After you have all the necessary ingredients, here is how you put its together: First, for the tart shell you will need to preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then, in a food processor, pulse together the almond flour, salt and shredded coconut until it is finely ground. Then, melt the coconut oil and the organic blue agave nectar together. Then, add it to the almond flour and coconut mixture and pulse it in the food
processor until coarse crumbs form; dough should clump together when squeezed with fingers. Then, transfer the dough onto a greased nine-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Using a measuring cup or your fingers, evenly press the dough in the bottom and sides of the pan. Then, bake the shell in the center of the oven for about 15-20 minutes, until it is golden and firm. Finally, let the shell sit for at least 1 hour, until it is completely cool. For the ganache, place the chopped chocolate in a large mixing bowl. Then, in a small sauce pan, heat the coconut milk until it comes to a boil. Pour the hot coconut milk over the chocolate and let it sit for a minute and then stir it until it is smooth and creamy. Then, mix in teaspoon of vanilla extract. For the topping, spread
the shredded coconut evenly over a sheet pan and bake it for 3-5 minutes, until it is lightly golden. Then, set it aside for it to cool. Once everything is done, pour the chocolate into the cooled tart shell. Then, lightly sprinkle the toasted coconut across the top add a pinch of flaky sea salt if desired. Finally, let the tart chill for at least one hour or until it is set, and serve. This recipe is great for all the chocolate lovers. This is the perfect opportunity to take a break from stressful, finals
Photo by Janet Lee This chocolate cake looks like gluten, it tastes like gluten, but it’s gluten free!
study sessions. After all, there are studies that have shown that chocolate affects the brain in a positive way. Good luck on finals and Happy Holidays!
@HOFSTRA
The Chronicle
December 12, 2013 • A7
Commuter students feel more at home By Autumn McLeod SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
From the re-vamped styling of the first-floor commuter lounge in the Student Center to the cozy atmosphere and refreshments of the Off-Campus Living office on the second floor, Anita Ellis, director of Off-Campus Living and Commuting Student Services, continues to enhance the cocurricular lives of non-residential students. Ellis has made it her goal each year to provide a safe haven for University commuters to connect and relax. She has also created new ideas to get commuters to participate in activities with the whole campus community. Ellis started out with redesigning the chairs and tables of the lounge, adding color and life with a modern approach in detail. The changes to the lounge were implemented this summer and allow students the option of studying quietly or entertaining themselves with the big flatscreen TV. However, the new atmosphere of the lounge is not the only update that has been designed for commuters. At the beginning of the semester, Ellis created Commuters Hour for the Student Center’s basement
Game Room, which takes place on Wednesdays during common hour. “My creation process is to advertise the Commuter Hour so that we can attract commuter students to utilize services at the University,” said Ellis. About 50 people have already shown up to the second Commuters Hour, where students are encouraged to ask questions. Ellis is also planning on creating an activity with the Fitness Center to get students more active, and she is even creating a cooking class. “Moving forward, we are going to do a cooking class with Hofstra Dining Services next year,” said Ellis. “When we do something with the cooking class [commuter students] are going to ask questions. Maybe they will ask questions about the meal plan or maybe they will ask about Hofstra dining.” Although activities are open to commuter students throughout campus, Ellis pointed out that it
can be harder for commuters to adapt to college life compared to those who live in dorms because of the fact that they have to travel. However, “50 percent of the presidents of the clubs and organizations [at Hofstra] are commuter students,” according to Ellis. Undergraduate junior Beena Kanhailall manages to find a way to juggle all of her clubs as a commuter student. Kanhailall is a
which sometimes last till 3:30 a.m. because she drives and only lives 25 minutes away. Before she drove, it was much harder. “It was extremely difficult and I couldn’t even participate in anything because by the time I got out of class I was already tired and had to travel home.” said Kanhailall. Junior Melaine Morgan also finds it difficult sometimes to attend some of her meetings. Morgan is an event coordinator for Hofstra University Association of Black Journalist, radio personality for Radio Hofstra University and for the online radio station Required Radio. However, Morgan finds a way to make sure that she speaks to club leaders in order to remain active. “Sometimes I will have talks with the president and let them know I really want to be involved but I can’t come to the meetings all the time,” said Morgan. “Some of them are just like okay it’s alright we will send you whatever was talked about in the meeting
“50 percent of the presidents of the clubs and organizations [at Hofstra] are commuter students.”
senator of Student Government Association, a member of the Indian dancing team, founding mother of the Delta Phi Omega sorority, a member of Hofstra Versus Zombies and a member of the club She’s the First, which fundraises money to send girls to school. Kanhailall finds that it is not difficult to attend her meetings,
and try to keep you updated.” Dana Gibbs, a junior commuter who enjoys using the lounge as a studying area, is currently not a member of any campus clubs because of the fact that many meetings occur too late. Gibbs presented her idea that clubs should have earlier meetings. “Meetings at common hour on Wednesdays would be really good, because almost everyone doesn’t have class and you’re most likely on campus at that time, so that would be better for commuters to be able to join clubs.” Ellis maintains that it is ultimately up to commuter students to speak to the presidents of clubs and see how the clubs could better accommodate their schedules. With the amount of student visits increasing each day to the office, Ellis encourages students to ask her for help if needed. “I was just out there asking commuters what kind of services they need and they all look at me and they don’t tell me,” said Ellis. “It’s up to commuters to let us know what you need so we could make it happen.”
The college guide to gift giving By Sophia Strawser MANAGING EDITOR
The art of gift giving – I’m not sure I have this blessing myself, but after years of receiving candles from my younger brother, I am filled with quite a bit of false, gift-giving confidence. For Mom and Dad: Maybe a frame with your picture in it is enough to bring them to tears, but when they place it next to the 15 other pictures of you, their tears may be quick to dry. Why not try something humorous like a “Kiss the Cook apron?” Please note: your parents will most likely see said apron on one another,
make a joke and then make out. If said action repulses you, move on to another gift idea. And if that idea doesn’t sound appealing, why not place a “ticket” of sorts in a Christmas card? This ticket can promise them one free meal, or two kisses in public or even a movie of their choice. These homemade presents can make Christmas last far past the 25th as well as give you some quality time with your parents. For the siblings: Nothing. For the boyfriend or girlfriend: Chocolate is nice. Large amounts. Large amounts of chocolate. But
don’t forget: nothing less decadent than Godiva. Overall, it can be overwhelming to pick out gifts for people in hopes that they will enjoy it and not return it. There are many companies that make exceptional holiday gifts while also giving back to others. There is no way someone can receive a gift of this kind and not have a warmed heart. Not only does Toms give shoes to those in need, but the Photo by Jana Kaplan company Feed sells bags Godiva chocolate is the perfect gift for your loved ones: delicious and inexpensive. and apparel in order to feed the hungry. People Water works to build wells
in third world countries by selling water bottles as well as apparel and Burt’s Bees is partnered with Habit for Humanity. With so many companies giving back to others, these items make the best gifts, assuming you not only care about the person you are giving it to, but also to the billions of others who have less than you do on Christmas day. But seriously, either get your siblings nothing or get them coal. Have a lovely holiday season and enjoy your break away from school. And most importantly, make sure to give back whenever and however you can.
@HOFSTRA
A8 • December 12, 2013
The Chronicle
Stuff your stocking with these makeup gems By Isabela Jacobsen ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR
If you know of a beauty lover who would love makeup as a gift, then I’ve got lots of ideas for you. Gift giving doesn’t have to be stressful because I’m here to help you pick out some great makeup products that your loved one would really enjoy. The best part is that these products are pretty inexpensive and are great quality. 1. Is your loved one a fan of “The Hunger Games” and makeup? Well, Covergirl combines those two together with their new “Hunger Games” makeup collection. I highly recommend looking at the products online. The new beauty collection is inspired by the 12 districts in the movie and book. I personally own one of the lipsticks called “Blast Flipstick,”
which comes with two different colors on each end of the lipstick. The new collection offers a variety of colors and all of the colors are incredibly vibrant. You could be the new Effie. 2. Do you want a lot for a little? Then, you should shop at E.L.F. This brand in makeup is unbelievably cheap. You might not think a $3 lipstick is good quality, but I can prove you wrong. There are some products that are amazing quality and they have some fun holiday gift sets as well. I even bought some E.L.F products for my Secret Santa this year. They have a whole holiday lip gloss collection for only $5. I use E.L.F and I can honestly say a lot of their products are amazing, but just be aware that I wouldn’t recommend the products for eyelashes. Besides that, shop away.
3. Just need one or two products? Sometimes, giving a variety of products instead of holiday sets is better. I recommend NYC products if you are headed towards that path. NYC products are great when you need to save money, but they also offer good quality. The NYC bronzer is my favorite, especially for the winter. Any makeup lover would be happy with the NYC bronzer. Also, another idea is buying several NYC nail polishes as a present. There are so many colors to choose from. These are just a few ideas for makeup gifts. There are awesome holiday deals out there for makeup, including some from Sephora and Urban Decay, which are always favorite brands for makeup lovers. Happy holidays and good luck holiday shopping!
Photo by Isabela Jacobsen Elf cosmetics are the perfect stocking stuffer.
Are enough students taking advantage of the Career Center? By Jennifer Sekyi SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The Career Center at Hofstra University offers students a variety of services to guide them along with everything from picking the right major to finding a job after graduation. But not all students are taking advantage of this resource. Samantha Ibrahim, freshman journalism major, expressed interest in visiting, but never did. “I’ve never been to the Career Center. I don’t have time to go, but I would like to go,” Ibrahim said. According to Darlene Johnson, Senior Associate Director of the Career Center, due to the poor economy, many students know that they need extra and have used the resource at least once. “[However], I don’t think enough students are taking advantage of the Career Center. We basically wouldn’t be satisfied unless 100 percent of the student population was taking advantage of our resources,” said Johnson. “That’s our main goal and our
main challenge; to increase the number of students utilizing our resources.” Johnson also believes that students aren’t using the Career Center to their advantage because they think they can do it on their own with Internet resources. “The Internet is a very valuable tool in job searching and career development, but it’s not the only tool that should be used, and just because you’re finding an opportunity on the Internet, doesn’t mean it’s the right opportunity for you,” Johnson said. Students might not realize that the Career Center offers a wide range of tools to help. Workshops like resume critiquing and mock-interviews are very beneficial to students. And every year, they host the career fair where students are able to meet and submit their resumes
to employers – ranging from local companies to corporate businesses – in hopes of securing a future internship or job. However, there are a lot of students who use the resources the Career Center has to offer. Junior management major Kimberly
the Career Center especially to get their resume or cover letter critiqued. Claudia Balthazar, a senior journalism major and president of Hofstra University’s Association of Black Journalists (HUABJ), did just that. “I first went to the Career Center during my freshman year…I think it’s important for students to take advantage of these opportunities as soon as they can,” said Balthazar. “You don’t want to be that senior who doesn’t know what they are going to do because they never took advantage of the opportunities given to them.” She also uses it for HUABJ. “I’ve had people from the Career Center come to the meetings and help us with our resumes or prepare us for the career fairs on campus. Sometimes we go to them instead, that way members will know where it’s located,” Balthazar said.
“That’s our main goal and our main challenge: to increase the number of students utilizing our resources.” Roberson is one of them. “I’m starting now to use [the Career Center] to my advantage because I’m learning more about myself by doing assessments, getting help on my resume, receiving insight on careers in fields I can go into and knowing that the staff is willing to help me on my career and future goals,” Roberson said. A handful of students use
There has been an increase in students who are coming in for quick question hours, whether it’s for resume critiquing, help on their cover letter or any other questions they might have. Currently, the Career Center has been doing a lot with social media. “We’re on Instagram, we’re on LinkedIn, we’re on Facebook, we’re on Twitter, and we’re utilizing that a great deal so that’s reaching a whole audience of students that maybe we wouldn’t have access to prior,” Johnson said. “We do a lot of classroom visits over the semester and we’re coming up with creative ideas and go where the students are. Our counselors even do workshops in the residence halls.” According to Johnson, they’ve been able to see 816 students in the month of October due to classroom visits, workshops and other creative ideas.
The Chronicle
@HOFSTRA
December 12, 2013 • A9
Cou pon Corner
No dining dollars? No problem! Local businesses offer a variety of deals
By Jana Kaplan FEATURES EDITOR
The semester is coming to an end, and like many students, you’re probably almost done with your dining dollars. Well ‘tis the season for saving money and I’ve got a bunch of local coupons for you.
Valpak is a great website for finding printable coupons. They offer local businesses the chance to advertise their coupons for a variety of deals, ranging from restaurants and entertainment to automotive and personal care. For those who love to binge on wings on football Sunday, Wings ‘N Things is offering eight pieces
of chicken for only $7.99. You can also get four pieces of cornbread with any $10 purchase. This coupon expires Christmas Eve, so get it while you can! And if you want something quick while you’re still on campus, head over to Subway for a free regular foot long with the purchase of Photos by Valpak a 6-inch foot long Valpak has printable coupons for many local businesses around Hofstra’s campus. and a 32 oz. drink. Another option is forget: cash only. These are just some of the $5 off any purFinally, if you need an oil great deals Valpak has to offer. chase of $25 or more at change before heading home for Be sure to stay tuned next Borrelli’s Pizzeria. The the holidays, head over to Midas semester for even more great only catch is it is not valid for a $19.99 oil change, including deals on the Coupon Corner. on Wednesdays during tire rotation and filter change. Pasta Night. And don’t
Make the most of your winter break By Amanda Valentovic STAFF WRITER
When the stress of finals is at last relieved, all students want to do is go home and relax during the holiday season. With weeks of time to kill until the end of January, winter break is a great time to catch up with friends and family and maybe cross a few things off of that never-ending to-do list. 1. Winter in the City A great way to spend time with old friends is a field trip to New York City. If distance is not a problem, get a group of people together and spend the day in the city while the tree in Rockefeller Center is still up and the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue are still decorated. Even if it is after the holiday, the spirit of Christmas is still in the air.
2. Low-key Relaxation When venturing outside into the cold weather does not sound appealing, make a cup of hot chocolate and have a lazy day on the couch. That book that was never read is waiting to be picked up, and there are endless choices to pick from on Netflix. 3. Get Organized Use the time off from school to get organized and get rid of old school supplies to prepare for next semester. It will be a good time to clean out things that will not be going back to a dorm room as well. Create donation bags and tackle the old clothes and toys that have been long forgotten in the back of a closet. 4. Video Game Tournament Even though all friendships seem to end while playing video games, power on the Xbox or Wii and have a tournament. Set
up brackets and compete with friends to see who can score the most points on “Just Dance” or who can avoid falling off the edge of “Rainbow Road” in Mario Kart. It will be a great way to spend time with friends, while not having to make any big plans. 5. Bowling Night Bowling is a fun and inexpensive way to catch up with old friends. A bowling ball rolling the wrong way or someone dropping it on their foot is pretty much guaranteed to happen, and a story that gets a lot of laughs almost always comes out of a trip to go bowling. Whatever the holiday season and January bring, remember to have fun and enjoy being home for an extended period of time. A vacation is just the thing most students need before diving into the spring semester.
Photo by Jana Kaplan The tree all lit up at Rockefeller Center in New York City,
The Drowsy Chaperone Presented by Hofstra’s Masquerade Musical Theatre Company
The Drowsey Chaperone was presented in Spiegel Theater from December 6th to December 8th.
Pho
otos by Victoria Espinoza / Spread by Che Sullivan
A&E VOL 79 ISSUE 13
Vector Variegations Photo by Samuel Branch
Samuel Branch’s Senior Art Show - B2
A&E
B 2 • December 12, 2013
The Chronicle
FORM:
Sam Branch’s graphic design senior show
By Katie Webb Arts & Entertainment Editor
Vibrant, color-blocked, mosaic images composed of 35 sheets that are 11 inches by 17 inches hang on the walls of the FORM gallery this week, Dec. 9–13. The show, “Vector Variegations,” is the senior art show of fine arts major Samuel Branch. President of HAGA, the Hofstra graphic design club on campus, Branch can, without fail, be found in Calkins either teaching fellow design majors, designing the sleek posters for FORM gallery or running around, taking photos of everyone and anything happening in the building. Art is his life, to the point where his fellow artists inquire as to whether he has slept in the past few days. The answer, as of late, is no. But the lack of sleep was worth it for his senior project. Using a collection of photos he had taken over the past few months, tough, playful and ethereal feminine figures, Branch recreated his images as graphics through an extensive editing process in Photoshop. Manikins were another source of creative inspiration for Branch. “My mom is a fashion designer, she has a lot of heads and busts lying around, so one night I just
went to the living room using my laptop in the dark to illuminate the profile of a manikin because I didn’t have any lighting equipment, and I started painting the figure,” said Branch. After painting the image on a tablet, he pushed his ingenuity further, creating paths in Illustrator, finite lines resembling topographic maps now composing the visage of the manikin’s profile, adding depth and perspective. Some pieces Branch left alone, not adding the color blocking in order to highlight the intricately designed yet simple, streamlinelooking characters he created. The women, like heroines on graphic novels, have a highintensity energy due to the warm colors, while the cool blue- and lavender-toned pieces have a sweet, serene appearance. Branch’s skill is largely selftaught. Hours of diligent program training gave him the basic knowledge set. Still, there were two professors that reshaped his way of thinking about design. Alex Roskin, aprofessor of fine arts, design and art history, challenged Branch, reinforcing his work ethic. “I was immensely frustrated taking his class, but I wanted to know the programs he taught so badly, so I started teaching
myself,” said Branch. After countless hours in the Calkins design labs, he has nearly mastered programs that other students left the studio in tears attempting to use. “Roskin ended up telling me, ‘hey, this is actually the best Form Z drawing I’ve seen’ in the 15 years he has been teaching here,” said Branch. Christie Shin, a former fine arts professor at Hofstra, was the one who ultimately changed his perspective on design. “A lot of the design students are tentative with regards to Illustrator, they just want to stay in Photoshop. But after her class I acquired pen tool skills, and I understood that there is a prerequisite for quality in the design field,” said Branch. Branch has a background in art theory. He knows the intricacies of designing intelligently. Though they are a crucial aspect of the field, many designers have to fight to have their ideas valued, as opposed to just being another tool for a company. “I don’t want to be the type of designer who is the mouse, the hand, the tablet, the tool that everybody else uses,” said Branch. An aspiring creative director, or better yet, collaborative member of a design studio, Branch’s main
Photo courtesy of Samuel Branch Original photo and illustration by Samuel Branch
attraction is working for a place where his talent as well as intellect can be of use. From head designer of a video game firm to layout designer at a magazine,
the possibilities are vast for an open-minded, immensely dedicated, thoughtful designer like Branch.
Student Rep Show:
Folk-rock performance and MoVoM Dance Concert
By Brianna Holcomb Columnist
Though the weather was poor Sunday night, students, family and faculty gathered in the Black Box Theater to watch the Student Rep Show. The show is an annual display of work by talented performing arts students, ranging from actors to directors to dancers. The show opened with a monologue, “Krapp’s Last Tape.” The lead character, Krapp (David Murray), captured the audience’s attention with his labored walk
and puzzling disposition. The performance depicted an old man with little time left, reminiscing on his past days as a young man. Murray’s composure was excellent. The scene called for very long intervals of not only silence, but also concentration, which he performed impeccably. The next section of the show, the MoVoM Dance Concert, continued on with 10 dance performances. The studentchoreographed performances included both senior and freshmen choreographers. The dances were well executed and completely captured the attention of
the audience. The dancers did a phenomenal job performing each dance, solos, groups and duets alike. The emotion flowed out of each dancer and every move was on point. Laura Merkel, a senior, choreographed as well as performed to the song “Some Things Last a Long Time” by Daniel Johnston. Her dance captured the lyrics of the song, evoking a slight moment of sadness within me. Despite the sad feeling the song gave, her dance was beautiful to watch as she moved from one end of the stage to the next. A cute dance choreographed
and performed by senior Caitlin Sheppard and duet partner Ricky Wenthen was impressive and amusing. The set, entitled “Where Did You Go,” also showcased musicians Jenna Tanzola and Laura Walsh. Tanzola and Walsh sang “The Hush,” a folk rock song by Spring Standards. The dance and vocals added a different flare to the show. The closing act was the twins Johnny and Bill Cohen. The twins’ set, “Introduction” was set to a series of dubstep songs. By the end of their performance the audience sat unflinching for a few moments, mesmerized
by what they had just watched. The control they displayed over the movements of their bodies was eye-catching and surreal to watch. They executed each muscle movement to the sound of the electronic music playing behind them, continuously locking and unlocking their bodies and giving off an almost robotic feel. The whole show consisted of talented and skillful artists who have shown that hard work and dedication can amount to something great.
The Chronicle
A&E
December 12, 2013 • B 3
Poet Nolan Meditz : MFA creative writing program By Katie Webb Arts & Entertainment Editor
The Drowsy Chaperone :
uproarious tongue-in-cheek humor
By Victoria Espinoza Special to the chronicle
Hofstra’s Masquerade performance of “The Drowsy Chaperone: A Musical Within a Comedy” written by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, with lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, was an uproarious success. The show, which took place Dec. 6-8 at the Spiegel Theater, was co-directed by Chad Hellman and Jack Saleeby, with musical direction by Chad Hellman. Man in Chair, the lead, was played by a heart-warming and charming freshman, Michael Caizzi. His character opens the play with a dialogue, which makes him appear to be the narrator – but that is a false assumption to make. Man in Chair is sharing his favorite show, “The Drowsy Chaperone” set in the lavish 1920s, with the audience. Quickly, it becomes apparent that he is not the narrator, but rather his mind is the setting in which the story takes place. Caizzi introduced each character with vivid clarity. First to the stage was Robert Martin (Jack Saleeby) the bridegroom, who was goofy and loveable. His bride, Janet Van de Graff (Deanna Giulietti), showcased many talents throughout her performance. The Drowsy Chaperone (Anna Holmes) had the audience enamored. Holmes brought the character to life with her incredible range of facial expressions. The plot of “The Drowsy Chaperone” was pointed out by Caizzi quite literally, which is that bad luck ensues when the bride sees the groom on their wedding day. The ever-so-chatty Man in Chair continues to break the
fourth wall throughout the show. In case the plot slips past anyone, Man in Chair pokes fun at the audience by pointing it out after it is blatantly stated. “I hope you heard that, because that’s the plot the show,” Man in Chair enthuses in a tongue-in-cheek manner. Before the wedding started to go awry, the show delved further into each character, but that’s not to say the characters became much deeper. Most were presented blandly, almost as flat characters. This went especially for Robert Martin. He was portrayed as a clueless, love-struck man and there the insight ends. Saleeby put on a very impressive display of his tap-dancing skills during the number, “Cold Feets.” Saleeby sang this number charmingly, just as you’d imagine any love-struck man to, along with his character’s best man George (Justin Chesney). One of the most intricate and entertaining numbers of the show came next, called “Show Off” and centered around Giulietti’s character. Giulietti masterfully conveyed the satirical nature of the song. The humor of the song could have gotten lost in translation by a less talented performer, but Giulietti made it hugely successful. The choreography in this number was also fun to watch, and very well-executed, considering the entire ensemble of 18 cast members danced on the Spiegel Theater’s stage, a rather small venue. The piece was wonderfully choreographed by Joanna Capitelli. The set design of the show was very well done, and made it easier to understand that “The Drowsy Chaperone” was going on inside Caizzi’s character’s mind. The set on stage was the Man
in Chair’s apartment. Characters emerge from his refrigerator or window each time they take the stage to make it known that they are coming from his imagination. Many other clever details also reminded the audience that the show only exists on a record Man in Chair is playing for the audience. During the song “Toledo Surprise,” the record began to skip and the cast sang the same few bars over and over and danced the same few steps on repeat until Caizzi’s character realized his record was faulty. The ensemble cast did not have a weak actor in the bunch. We were amused by gangsters disguised as pastry chefs, spouting lines like, “You biscotti be kidding me.” We watched a butler, Cameron Draper, endure countless spit takes from his soon to be wife, Gillie Houston. A producer, Andrew Salzano, was amusingly harassed by his ditzy date, Kitty, played by the energetic Alexa Arent. Yet Caizzi, the lead, was the force to be reckoned with throughout the entire show, whether he was making the audience laugh by dancing in the background of big numbers or making the audience empathize with him when he alluded to the loneliness he lives with every day. “The Drowsy Chaperone” was a truly humorous show from start to finish. But the magic of the show came from how much this musical meant to Man in Chair. “It helps you escape from the dreary horrors of the real world,” Man in Chair said during a scene where he was analyzing the musical. Not only is this a poignant line from the show, but it is in essence the transcendent nature of this performance itself.
“I find in myself and others there is a sense of expectation; the idea of living up to expectations of your family, your community, yourself,” said Nolan Meditz. Meditz is a graduate student pursuing an MFA in creative writing. He expresses an existential thought that unfolds within his poem “A Seat by the Fire.” As the narrator goes for a run, a theme within Meditz’s work, he passes a homeless family. Taking refuge in a church parking lot, they tell the runner they are waiting, but not for him. An allusion to waiting in a religious context is apparent. Yet, a deeper sense of waiting courses through the piece. Meditz is acknowledging a universal experience, the identity crisis. Everyone works through how they are seen in order to find who they are. But the poem, though not overtly tender in remarking upon the family standing out in the cold, has warmth. A child in the family strikes a match to start a fire, perhaps rekindling something within the reader. Though his poem conveys a person unsure of himself, it is clear, if not yet to Meditz, that this poet has found his identity. As a writer of poetry, prose, choral pieces and even a graphic novel in the works, his passion for language is palpable in each verse. The poem “Opa” has a line that reads “Tell me how you remember, the town you sculpted with your bare hands.” An ode to his Grandfather, the piece speaks reverently of a man who built his own life and raised Meditz, caring for him while his parents worked, a constant companion throughout his life. His adoration of the written word stems, in part, from his Opa. An immigrant from Gottschee, now a Slovenian municipality known as Kočevje, his Opa brought his culture with him, particularly his dialect of German. “I grew up loving this language, and part of my love of language and part of the reason why I got into poetry was because, even though I wasn’t taught it as a child, I was brought up in this sort
of bilingual atmosphere,” said Meditz. He studied German here at school, and has taken to thematically writing about his family’s culture as a way of preserving it. “Having a family history that isn’t readily identifiable with people, someone says Gottschee and no one knows where you’re talking about … it is something that should be remembered,” said Meditz. His content, though of a personal nature, is relatable. Each piece reads like an internal monologue, not cluttered with pretentious diction or flowery sentences, but simple and honest writing. In conversation, the way he speaks is carefully measured, weighing the value of what he is saying. He precisely picks the right words, pausing, almost unwilling to speak if it means uttering a word that doesn’t perfectly convey what he wants. The same care is given to the choices he makes in crafting his writing. But with poetry, the work is wont to wander off in its own direction. His mentor and advisor Phillis Levin, a professor of English, imparted this to him. “She often refers to what the poem wants, what the poem needs, as opposed to what the writer or the reader wants. It’s communicating on a certain level, and it has it’s own trajectory even if that’s not what the writer intended,” said Meditz. Another professor that was instrumental in Meditz academic career was Professor Erik Brogger, graduate director of the MFA program in creative writing. Meditz’s program is holding an Open Mic Night to benefit Island Harvest. He, along with fellow graduate and undergraduates will be reading original work. The event will be held Tuesday, Dec 17. from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. and has a $2 entry fee or a non-perishable food item. “As the artist essentially in control of what is in front of him, he cannot view what he created as perfect, and he would always want to change it. Converse to that, I can’t see what I’ve written as perfect, but I’m okay with it being imperfect,” said Meditz.
B 4 • December 12, 2013
A&E
Review Round-up
TV That
Matters:
The Chronicle
By Aaron Calvin
Binging material for the break
By John Thomas Columnist
The Shut-In’s Guide to Television for the Holidays If you’re shut in at your dorm this holiday season, no friends or family to call your own during the bleak dead of winter, here are some shows to check out. The viewing order is required, not suggested. “Breaking Bad” – For real though, come on, you might actually make some friends if you watch this show, and then spark up a conversation with virtually anyone about it. I’m an orthodox “Breaking Bad” fan, so my series’s finale doesn’t air until February, but you regular folk should be able to find everything online right now. Right. Fricken’. Now.
“Greek” – I remember enjoying “Greek” to the point where I alienated myself from a lot of people in high school, so there has to be something to this ABC Family sitcom. However, I don’t remember exactly why I enjoyed it so much. I don’t even remember much about the show in general, so I’ll be doing a re-watch of this during break as well. Maybe you could even email me your comments at chronicle.entertainment@gmail.com and we can find out what I liked about it together. One of these days, my fans, I promise your fan mail will be answered. Black Adder – Black Adder is a show that all of your professors who are worth a damn have seen. That’s a rule that applies to most professions, except proctologists, because they already must laugh a ridiculous amount at work, so it would seem kind of unfair for them to get to do that at home too. You might think Rowan Atkinson can’t jump past the comedic parameters of Mr. Bean, but if you do think that then you’re dead wrong, just dead wrong.
“Futurama” – After finishing “Breaking Bad” with a cold heart full of rotten pixie dust and bad decisions, give “Futurama” a whirl to warm it up again. Though, note that those bad decisions and that rotten pixie dust can never actually be cleaned out. The final episode of “Futurama” is one of the finest in all of television, a moniker that can be given to more than a few entries in its run. “Luther” – My mom loves the hell out of this show. Maybe once you get the gumption to call your own mother, you can talk about this epic, Idras Elbaing series. It is, to me, a very casual show, but it’s better by miles than any cop/detective/procedural schlock on American television.
Working on a student film? Creating your own album or playing a set with your band? Writing a novel? Email A&E at chronicle.entertainment@gmail.com to be interviewed for print and online exposure.
COLUMNIST
Senior Sign-Off: The Need For a Creative Community Today is the last day of my undergraduate education. It feels a little weird because it doesn’t feel that different at all. I have a lot of mixed feelings about this place. Most of the time, I consider this university to be an obstacle, a collective of bureaucratic offices attempting to justify their own existence and suck as much money as possible out of anything that moves. The problems I have with Hofstra are probably problems that afflict a lot of institutions of higher learning. All I can say is that I’ve known a couple of absolutely dedicated and passionate professors during my time here. In the revolving cast of people I’ve known and then lost again, there are a few that I still truly love and value. Beyond all that, though, is the most important thing I found here at Hofstra: a creative community. When I first got here in 2010, The Chronicle quickly became my surrogate home. I met people there my freshman year that have become my closest friends. The group of people I met in The Chronicle and in Nonsense, the campus humor magazine, helped me to find a place at this university, something that I cannot stress the importance of enough. The clubs are, unfortunately, not a place for that any longer. The great thing about places like The Chronicle was that, even though it was never perfect (often very far from that), it was a place where you were allowed to learn through making your own mistakes. Since then, The Chronicle has become entirely unrecognizable to me in its dullness, the puritanical OSLA and SGA and their governance of forced attrition have systematically worn Nonsense away along with any other club that doesn’t fit their vision of Hofstra as a dry and wholesome community. The places that used to be bastions for people who wanted something beyond the all-consuming culture of Hofstra – its bars, its terrible parties – have all but disappeared. But the situation is never hopeless. My junior year, a friend of mine spearheaded the converting of an off-campus garage into a DIY space for shows and parties. I played a lot of shows in that garage along with The Tallboys, a folk-punk band that constituted of alumni, along with a host of other friends and bands. By the time the owner of that garage graduated and moved on, I felt again like I was a part of a creative community. During a time when you’re supposedly attempting to figure out what you’re about and what you have to say, nothing is more important than surrounding yourself with people who have desires and goals similar to yours. You need a group of people who will sit and listen to you, who you will sit and listen to. But the most important need that a community like this meets is that of criticism. You need people to sit down and tell you that what you’re doing is bad or that what you’re doing could be better. It’s something that, in its strict culture of inclusiveness and positivity, is difficult to find within the gates of Hofstra. It’s difficult to tell your friends that their writing is bad, that their artwork could be so much better. But it’s something that absolutely needs to be done in order for people to grow. I wish more people would’ve been more critical of me, and there are people who I’ve failed along the way by not being more critical of them. Finding a group of people that help make attending this school bearable is important, and I owe the people I’ve known and loved here so much more than I could ever give them. It’s not necessarily an easy thing to find, but when you can’t find it, you’ve got to make it yourself. It’s important to listen, but more important to be honest. That’s all I’ve got to say about it.
A12 • December 12, 2013
EDITORIAL
The Chronicle
Some miss Mandela, others miss the point By Jennifer Sifferlen columnist
A week ago today, the world lost a highly-esteemed leader. The Nobel laureate, former political prisoner, five-year president of South Africa and champion of civil rights, Nelson Mandela, succumbed to a long-term illness on Dec. 5, 2013. South Africans poured into the streets when they heard the news, littering the ground with flowers and mementos. The front page of The Sowetan, a daily South African newspaper, was emblazoned with the words “Goodbye Tata,” referring to their former president with the Zulu word for father. Mandela was not just a son of South Africa; the entire world mourns his loss. Upwards of 100 heads of state traveled to South Africa throughout the last week to take part in memorial services, reported BBC News. Google, one of the
most viewed sites in the world, displayed a simple, yet poignant epitaph on its homepage through Sunday. A simple line of text reading, “Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, 1918 – 2013” sat below the search bar and linked to a project archiving his life.
This admiration, while borderless, may vary greatly by generation in the United States. When racial segregation was at its highest, student protesters “from dozens of college campuses across the nation ... boycotted classes, marched, rallied ... opposing American support of the racist policies of South Africa,” wrote Mark Stein for the Los Angles Times in 1985. The generations that witnessed and largely participated in the fight against apartheid are more connected to Mandela. College students today are much less familiar with the political leader, simply due to a lack of exposure. Mandela has been much less visible in the public sphere since today’s generation of students became politically conscious. For many of them, all Mandela is is “that guy Morgan Freeman played in the rugby movie,” referring to the 2009 film “Invictus,” a biopic centered around the former
“Mandela was not just a son of South Africa; the entire world mourns his loss.” Here in the United States, President Obama mourns Mandela, not just as a world leader, but also as a role model. Julie Pace for the Associated Press reported after a speech Obama gave last week that “It was Mandela’s struggle against apartheid that first drew [Obama] into politics.” Meanwhile, flags were brought down to half-mast across the US in remembrance. Reverence of Mandela, it seems, is a universal feeling.
president’s first term in office and his ties to the national rugby team. Those unfamiliar with Mandela are worse off because of it. His long and monumental life left him with wisdom to spare. Most applicable to the United States as a whole are his thoughts on cooperation. “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner,” he wrote in his autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom.” As the nation grows more politically polarized by the day, the US would do well to heed his advice.
There have been leaders before him, and there will be more to come in the global fight for human rights that has spanned many lifetimes and shows no signs of slowing. But Nelson Mandela has more than earned himself a place in history among the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Susan B. Anthony, leaders who helped the world achieve what some never believed to be possible. Then again, in the words of Mr. Nelson Mandela, “it always seems impossible until it’s done,” – a sentiment that surely applies to finals week in addition to more noble goals.
“This admiration, while borderless, may vary greatly by generation in the United States.”
Have an opinion? E-mail us at editorials@thehofstrachronicle.com.
Holy crop! Millenials get involved in GMO debate By Andrea Vega columnist
Many Hofstra students are well aware of our school’s solid commitment toward sustainability – the means of living that will leave as little environmental impact as possible so that future generations may not be harmed. Hofstra University purchases food from local farmers, has two edible gardens located on campus and offers B.A., B.S. and M.A. programs in sustainability studies. The required reading for incoming students this fall was “The Good Food Revolution” by author and activist Will Allen. Chances are, if you’ve eaten produce from the Student Center, some of it was actually grown on campus. Even so, genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, still make their way into the food here. Hofstra opened up the floor for a Pride and Purpose debate on Dec. 5 to discuss whether the United States should enact stronger regulations against GMOs. The University chose to pres-
ent the widespread controversial topic directly to the minds of students, the next leading generation of our society, to assert the notion that once we graduate, it will be one of the significant issues facing our era. Arguing for the enactment of stronger regulations against GMOs were Michael Hansen, a senior staff scientist of the Consumers Union, and Bhavani Jaroff, an organic food chef, educator and food activist. The team against stronger regulations consisted of Kevin Folta, associate professor in horticultural sciences at the University of Florida, and Gregg Dolan, associate professor of law at the University of Baltimore. Hansen and Jaroff strongly believed that GMOs are not as safe as many people are led to believe and that the U.S. should, at the very least, label foods that
are GMOs so that consumers can have clear options when grocery shopping. Folta and Dolan defended the idea that the fight against GMOs is fueled entirely by fear and not by science, and sterner regulations would hinder not only scientific growth, but also the mass production of food that could help millions of starving people. Folta claimed that GMO corporations are not out to poison
publicized. Hansen made an interesting point that despite the mass production of food, there are millions of people still starving all over the world and that this is not entirely by reason of malnutrition but by misdistribution, instead. The people who really need it are not getting it. Pesticides leak into the soil in which food is grown, contaminating the land and hindering its fertility as well as eventually seeping into streams and rivers. According to Jaroff, 65 countries require labels on GMOs and 26 have banned them altogether. She says the real fear is not from people, but from the bioengineers and corporations that produce GMOs. In relation with chemicals that bring up environmental and health concerns, the ravenous, almost predatory, appetite of GMO corporation giant, Monsanto, has brought up
“... the long-term ramifications of tampering with food genes have not yet been extensively researched or properly publicized.” people and the technology and procedures used to modify fruits and vegetables are totally safe and cause no more risk than regular plant breeding. However, the long-term ramifications of tampering with food genes have not yet been extensively researched or properly
concerns of turning agriculture too much into a business solely for profit. Even Dolan and Folta admitted that Monsanto was a corporation that in the end is out to make money. Buying out a huge number of companies we regularly eat food from and forcing farmers to re-buy seed each year instead of replant seed produced from the crops they yield has caused the exploitation of both farmers and consumers. Although the production of new technology is essential for the growth of intellect and advancement of civilization, our generation needs to understand that relying on other sources for our standard of living only hinders the typical person’s ability to distinguish between assistance and control. We may harm not only ourselves but also the environment if stricter regulations and safety assessments are not made throughout the entire process of GMO product development.
The Chronicle
OP - ED
December 12, 2013 • A13
Illustration by Matt Subrizi
Christmas time is here and so are we: Stress of finals puts a damper on holiday spirit
By Kristen Misak special to the chronicle
‘Tis the season! For many, this time of year is about singing Christmas carols, decorating the tree, drinking eggnog and being merry. But along with all of the holiday spirit comes a lot of stress. Between buying presents and getting ready to go home for winter break, some college students may feel unprepared for this season. And what better to supplement the stress of the holiday season than the stress of finals week fast approaching? As in recent years, finals are scheduled dangerously close to Christmas, and this wreaks havoc
on students’ mental faculties. Many of us are torn in two directions and feel that our plates are simply too full. We feel guilty ignoring the
semester a week earlier, in order to start winter break a week earlier in December. Many universities, both private and public, choose to start classes in August, so this practice would not be so radical for Hofstra to adopt. One less week of summer break would be acceptable. It would better balance winter and summer vacations and even out the academic calendar.
“And what better to supplement the stress of the holiday season than the stress of finals week fast approaching?” holiday season by sitting in the library with our noses in books, but once we try to get into the spirit and do some shopping, we begin to stress that we should be spending our time studying instead. There is simply no right answer as to what to do in this situation. As Hofstra students, we might benefit from starting our fall
finals up until Dec. 20, which is almost too close to Christmas for them to truly enjoy the holiday at home with their families. This time of year is meant for warmth and comfort, not finals stress, so most students who celebrate Christmas would much rather finish finals on Dec. 13. For now, remember that the holiday season is still important, and taking a few hours off to watch a Christmas movie won’t make or break your final grades. Play Christmas music while you study, or at least take a second to appreciate the beauty of the season. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, there is joy and merriment in the air during this time of year, and we must try our best to preserve it despite the circumstances.
“... we might benefit from starting our fall semester a week earlier ... ” Summer break is already so long, and many students are ready to return to school by August, anyway. This year, students are taking
The views and opinions expressed in the Op-Ed section are those of the authors of the articles. They are not an endorsement of the views of The Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors.
A 14 • December 12, 2013
SPORTS
The Chronicle
Hofstra Hypothetical: Paying players? Preposterous By Kyle Kandetzki staff writer
For many years, the argument has raged: should college athletes be paid? But it is time the NCAA, coaches, players and sports fans realize paying players is the wrong move, and the discussion should die out forever. Yes, the argument is understandable. And yes, the commitment of athletes is comparable to the time one must put in to holding a part- or full-time job. But it isn’t fair to other students, nor is fairness feasible across the NCAA. Athletics play a big part at universities boasting a Division I program, like Hofstra, however, there is no doubt that the impor-
tance varies with each location. A team that gets to experience the action of the SEC – like the University of Alabama – or ACC – like Florida State – is miles ahead in terms of income and excitement in athletics over any team in the CAA. Although there is a clear distinction between a national championship program and an average mid-major one, those who support the payment of college athletes have tried to make it more widely agreeable by saying the pay will be equal across divisions. This sounds nice and all, but is it really feasible? There are a few ways the pay system could go: 1.) The amount of pay is so small that it is realistic for all schools, but major conference athletes feel like they
are not making enough for their contributions. 2.) The amount of pay is somewhat high so that it is fair for athletes at large schools, but is too much for smaller programs based on the smaller interest in sports. This could ultimately lead to extreme losses for these schools (i.e., Hofstra). Or, in a more realistic situation, the NCAA allows a very ambiguous set of rules for pay, leading to corruption in higher pay by sport or even by player. Though it is understandable a program that can fill a 100,000 seat stadium would distribute more money, programs could offer large bonuses to more successful players. In pro sports, incentives are obviously a part of the game, but in college this complicated system is making the game more
of a business than it should be. Beyond the money itself, a pay system could hurt the product that is being given to the fans. Currently, all college athletes play for their school, their pride, and the chance to eventually get paid for their superior play. With money being put forth as the primary incentive in this system, athletes will consider how much their school might pay rather than how much a championship would mean to their school. Finally, at many schools athletes are offered athletic scholarships that have little to no basis of their academic achievements, while regular students work for their own academic and merit scholarships. Though athletic prowess should be celebrated, especially at a Division I school,
isn’t the scholarship enough of a payment? Though the athletes never physically have this scholarship money in their hands, it is no doubt valuable. It shouldn’t be forgotten as it gives them the financial stability that non-athletes don’t have access to, and thus lead prospective students toward cheaper options, even if Hofstra was their top choice. If a system of pay were to be put in place for athletes, I think those that put just as much time into succeeding academically or in extracurricular activities, will feel like they aren’t being appreciated. Students are already rewarded for their hard work upon entering college and so are athletes. Why create an unfair balance?
Hofstra Hypothetical: Players should be paid By Frank Aimetti staff writer
It’s time for college athletes to be fairly compensated for the extra work and hardships they are forced to endure for being part of athletic programs. While it can be argued that being an athlete is certainly a choice and that a heavier workload is what they signed up for, the truth is that the NCAA as an organization is able to profit off of the hard work of the studentathletes. The NCAA, in charge of Division I, II and III athletics for colleges across the country, is a nonprofit organization yet profits greatly off of the athletic prowess of the students it regulates. The student-athletes are governed by a strict set of rules stating that they cannot use their own image for promotional purposes, they cannot receive financial benefits, compensation or “gifts” from colleges outside of a scholarship and, most importantly, are unable to be financially compensated for their talent or skill level. This comes off as entirely hypocritical, especially with a supposedly nonprofit organization such as the NCAA, making over $6 billion annually from college sports. While college athletes are unable to make money off of their name
or image, the NCAA is able to profit from merchandise and memorabilia bearing the athlete’s likeness or image. The NCAA isn’t the only group or organization that profits off of the athletic abilities of the student-athletes. In every athletic program, employees from the coaching level to the executive level all make money and have a job only due to the talents and hard work of the student-athletes. In effect, students are expected to keep up with a normal course load while also attending mandatory practices. This does not even take into account the personal training needed for these athletes to prosper. Long hours in the gym are almost a requirement and athletes also have to make sure to eat healthy to stay in top shape for their sports. This would all be fair if the athletes were compensated for their efforts or in fact, no one made any money from students participating in athletics. However, it is nearly impossible to justify an unnecessary and replaceable regulatory agency, such as the NCAA, making over $6 billion to which they have no justifiable claim. Some might argue that paying athletes would taint the sport. However, at this point in time, corruption is rampant, with
backdoor deals involving agents, executives, booster clubs and the like pushing and pulling student athletes. If the NCAA’s archaic rules were either abolished or heavily revised, the illegal deals would stop and these transactions would actually be easier to monitor and track if they were out in the open. Eliminating the shady, backroom deals from college sports should be the first priority and being able to legally compensate athletes financially is the first and easiest solution to this problem. The problem comes with how much financial compensation each student-athlete would deserve. Freshman Kyle Miller had this take on it: “College athletes should be paid as if they have a job. However, I don’t think the pay should depend on the quality of player and rather be a uniform pay for all athletes. Paying individual students for their talent level would just take money away from the school which could be sued on other improvements.” A general salary given to every student-athlete regardless of sport, gender or skill level seems to be the common solution to the question of whether to pay student-athletes or not. This would benefit the student-athletes while
also helping to avoid schools simply bidding for top-tier talent. No one is arguing that college athletes should be paid as if they are professionals, however, a moderate salary would help to deal with and offset the massive
time investments athletes endure. Paying student-athletes isn’t about causing extra expenses for the university or its students but rather taking the money from the undeserving and placing it into the hands of the athletes who
Zeke Upshaw leads the CAA in scoring. How would you feel if he were payed to play? Photo Credit/Hofstra Athletic Communications
The Chronicle
SPORTS
December 12, 2013
A 15
Women go 1-1 on weekend By Chris Buckley staff writer
Anma Onyeuku leads the Pride in scoring this year. Photo Credit/Hofstra Athletic Communications
Now eight games into their season, the Hofstra women’s basketball team is 4-4. Prior to game one, a major question for the team to answer was how they would fill the void of Shante Evans, a 2013 graduate and the best player to ever come through the program. By all indications, the squad has yet to struggle in finding production, despite just a .500 record. Over the last week, the Pride have gone 1-1, with a home win against the University of California at Davis, and a road loss to Saint Joseph’s University. Dating back to their 101-38 blowout win over Concordia the week before, Hofstra has undoubtedly received their most consistent production from point guard Krystal Luciano. The freshman has averaged 12.7 points per game over the three-game span, including a season-high 17 points against Concordia. Her ability to score aside, Luciano’s floor vision and simple basketball awareness makes Hofstra extremely dangerous every time she steps on the court, even as a bench player. It is such a valuable asset to have a player with Luciano’s
speed capable of finding outlet passes on a whim from a fast break; there is no question that Krista Kilburn-Steveskey must love this part of her game, because it creates time and open space for three-point shots. She is quick, agile, and helps facilitate perimeter passing for the entire squad. You are almost guaranteed to see passing around the arc from Hofstra’s offense on every possession, as is their game plan. On a team with six sophomores and just two freshmen, Luciano’s value has risen as the season wears on. Not to mention, she won CAA Rookie of the Week for the week ending Dec. 8, the first weekly award won by a Hofstra player this season. There is no reason to believe that the young Puerto Rican native will not continue to develop under KilburnSteveskey and become an even greater asset to this Pride team. On the other end of the age spectrum is Anma Onyeuku. One of two seniors on the team, Onyeuku has stepped up all season not just as an offensive presence on the court, but as a leader to her teammates. The leadership is there before tip-off and following the final whistle. As great as Luciano has been of
late, Onyeuku is truly invaluable. The Georgia native leads the team in scoring and steals, averaging 13.1 points per game with 17 steals on the year. In addition, she is tied for fourth in the league with a 50.6 percent field goal percentage. With Evans graduating, it was expected that Onyeuku would become the Pride’s go-to player, and to this point, that has definitely been the case. With CAA play just a few weeks away, Hofstra will need her to continue to play the way she has, if not better. What looks promising about the Pride through eight games is the variety of players from which they have received scoring. Onyeuku, Luciano, among others such as senior Annie Payton and junior Andreana Thomas, have all chipped in to put Hofstra in good position to be a contending CAA team. An extended 11-day break leads up to a good test against Harvard (7-3) on the road. Every non-conference game from here on out is good preparation for allimportant conference play. The Hofstra women’s basketball program was just 1-7 through eight contests in 2012-2013. Now 4-4, the team has a balance of production that makes them dangerous.
Basketball Breakdown: Women’s Edition Lauren Del Valle staff writer
Women’s basketball fell to a 4-4 record Tuesday night, breaking their two-game winning streak, after a 73-60 loss to A10 opponent, St. Joseph’s University. Although the loss came after after winning two straight home games, senior forward Anma Onyeuku was named GoHofstra Student-Athlete of the Week and the Colonial Athletic Association named freshman guard Krystal Luciano CAA Rookie Athlete of the Week. Onyeuku leads the team in points, averaging 13.1 points per game, field goals made with 42, and steals, averaging 2.1 steals per game. Onyeuku is known to be the team’s leader on and off court. She has earned her way into her leadership role, as this is her first season as a consistent starting player. Luciano, hailing from San Juan
Puerto Rico, continues to earn more playing time as the season progresses. Her confidence visibly increased after a standout performance in the landslide victory over Concordia College last Monday. Since this breakout performance, Luciano has earned 17 and 18 minutes of play in the Pride’s last two contests. “Her positives outweigh her weaknesses. It’s going to be fun come conference time when people don’t really give her enough respect,” said Coach Kilburn Steveskey. “It’s going to be fun to see her tear people apart.” Going into the Saturday game against UC Davis, the Pride prepared for a fight, focusing on the Aggies’ outside shooting strengths. The Aggies shot two for 30 behind the arc. Not much better closer to the basket, they shot 32.8% from the field. The Pride was able to hold the Aggies to 57 points, winning by a
19-point margin having scored 76 points. Though the teams traded leads seven times in the first half, Hofstra went into the locker room with a seven-point lead, 27-20. The second 20-minute half showed a cleaner performance for Hofstra, as they shot 57.7% form the field versus 28.6% in the first. The Pride will have another long layoff as finals week approaches. They won’t hit the hardwood in uniform again until they face Harvard in Cambridge on the 21st. Moving forward through the next week of stressful academics, Kilburn-Steveskey plans to hone in on the big picture. Despite the tough defeat to the Hawks of St. Joseph’s, competition like that with the A-10 powerhouse serves as conditioning for the CAA opponents the Pride will face come conference play in January.
Asia Jackson backs into the post. The sophomore guard has seen increased playing time this year. Photo Credit/Hofstra Athletic Communications
A 16 • December 12, 2013
SPORTS
The Chronicle
Wrestling finishes 14th at KCLV
By Sean Williams sports editor
Men’s wrestling traveled all the way to Las Vegas only to see some familiar faces. The team competed in the Cliff Keen–Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational over the weekend to face off against some of the best teams in the country and found themselves among recognizable opponents. Luke Vaith, the Pride’s star 141-pounder, lost twice to Nick Lester, an Oklahoma wrestler he had defeated earlier in the year. Joe Booth, the Pride’s 165pound graduate student who was ranked 10th at the time of the invitational, lost to Dylan Palacio, a Cornell wrestler he had defeated easily earlier in the year. “It was a good tournament. Obviously a lot of great teams are out there, Oklahoma and Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Cornell,” coach Rob Anspach said. “We wanted to get into some tournaments where we would challenge our guys to let them feel what it would be like to be at the national tournament or the conference tournament.” The Pride would finish 14th in a field of 33 as a team on the weekend, and Vaith and Booth would both place with Vaith finishing 4th and Booth ending up in 7th. Hofstra’s 125-pound senior Jamie Franco would make it to
the quarterfinals on Friday before losing to second-seeded Jarrod Patterson, another Oklahoma grappler. He would go on to struggle on Saturday, losing a 13-2 major decision to Air Force’s Josh Martinez. Jamel Hudson in the next weight class up suffered through injuries and did not place. Vaith’s weekend was especially frustrating. He entered the tournament ranked 9th in the country, seeded 4th in the tournament and performed well on both days until he ran into Lester. Anspach was a little disappointed that Vaith lost twice, especially since Lester was an opponent whom Vaith had handled back in the Hofstra–Oklahoma dual meet. “We have to go back to the tape and figure out what went wrong in these two matches compared to the dual meet out in Oklahoma, where he looked so dominant,” Anspach said. The coach was otherwise pleased with his redshirt senior’s performance, noting that Vaith’s pace was exceptional. Booth’s quarterfinal loss to Palacio was especially surprising because it looked like Booth was controlling the match. Some mental mistakes late led to a four-point change of fate, giving Palacio a 13-12 lead and eventual lead. Anspach believed that even though Booth lost, he was happy
that it looked like his graduate wrestler outclassed Palacio. “It’s hard to fault somebody for being so aggressive and trying to score points,” Anspach said. Because Palacio wrestles for Cornell, a top ranked EIWA conference rival, it is likely that Booth will see him again in the near future, at either a conference or a national level. Anspach was also happy that his team went up against the fifth-ranked Oklahoma squad on several occasions. “It was definitely shaping up to be a Hofstra–Oklahoma dual meet all over again. It says a lot about Oklahoma’s team and I think it says a lot about us,” Anspach said. The team’s 14th place finish was appropriate for the
team’s national ranking, but Anspach was hoping for a better performance. “I don’t know if ‘disappointed’ is the word,” he said. “We just need to get better … There are definitely matches where I look at them and kind of scratch my head and say, ‘that was a match we never should have lost.’” Anspach’s philosophy isn’t about excoriating mediocre performances, but working to improve his young team through practice and video. While many of his high-performing wrestlers are graduating in the spring, like Franco, Booth and Vaith, younger grapplers like Hudson and Cody Ruggirello are looking to improve in the coming years. The Pride will have a break for the holidays before returning
on Jan. 1 to enter the Southern Scuffle, which will be held at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “The Southern Scuffle has really kind of taken over as the premiere tournament in the country. It is basically a mini national tournament in January,” Anspach said. Anspach hopes his wrestlers improve from the great competition they will see at the tournament and will attempt to gauge how his team will do in the bigger spring competitions. He plans on evaluating each individual weight class just to see where his team lies at the midseason point. “You place in the Southern Scuffle, you can place in Nationals. It’s that good of a tournament,” Anspach said.
season. They will be eligible to play in 2014-15. Green and Tanksley transferred from Niagara, where they were coached by Joe Mihalich. On April 10, Mihalich was named the new head coach at Hofstra. Mihalich’s leaving Niagara for Hofstra was the main reason why Green and Tanksley joined the Pride. “[Coach Mihalich] is a great coach, and I like the way he runs his system,” said Green. “We push the ball a lot, so that’s the way I like to play and make plays for everybody.” “With the way [Coach Mihalich] coached and the way he treated me, I really trusted him,” said
Tanksley. Bernardi, who transferred from Southern Methodist University, felt comfortable with Hofstra’s coaches and liked their style of play. He also wanted to play closer to his home in Staten Island, which is only a 45-minute drive away from Hofstra. Green and Tanksley have two years of eligibility remaining, while Bernardi has three. In two seasons at Niagara, Green (17.1) and Tanksley (10.0) both averaged double-digit points per game. Green was named MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2011-12 and was selected to the All-MAAC First Team in 2012-13. In his only season at Southern Methodist,
Bernardi made a team-best 41.8 percent of his 3-point attempts. While Green, Tanksley and Bernardi are still allowed to practice with the team, the only thing they can do during games is watch. “The bad thing is I can’t help my team,” said Tanksley. “It’s hard watching [my teammates] struggle when I wish I could help them.” However, sitting out for a year also has its upside. Having to adjust to a new system, Bernardi sees the year off more as a benefit than as a disadvantage. “The good thing is, I get to learn the offense,” he said. “Every day in practice, I get better. And
when I come in next year, I’m going to know the whole offense and how we play defense.” Asked about their goals for next year’s season, Green, Tanksley and Bernardi all spoke of winning a CAA championship. Tanksley is already thinking about pulling an upset come March Madness. “We’re trying to make it to the tournament and knock off a big team,” he said. Bernardi is confident heading into next season, which is about 11 months away. “We’re going to come in here and think we can win right away,” he said. “We’re going for the highest goal.”
Luke Vaith lost twice to Oklahoma’s NIck Lester to finish fourth. Photo Credit/Hofstra Athletic Communications
Transfers patiently wait for 2014-2015 season
By Nick Mazzarella special to the chronicle
Although the 2013-14 season began less than a month ago, there’s a reason why Hofstra men’s basketball fans are already looking forward to the 2014-15 season. Actually, there are three reasons why – Juan’ya Green, Ameen Tanksley and Brian Bernardi. After last year’s college basketball season, Green, Tanksley, and Bernardi – all guards – transferred from their respective schools to Hofstra. Due to NCAA transfer regulations, all three are required to sit out the 2013-14
SPORTS
The Chronicle
December 12, 2013
A 17
Due to Hofstra’s winter break schedule, The Chronicle has decided to include the entire sports schedule during intercession.
HOFSTRA ATHLETIC CALENDAR DECEMBER sunday
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
saturday
friday
women’s basketball @ harvard university 1:00 P.M.
men’s basketball vs. CCSU 1:00 P.M.
15
16
17
19
18
20
Men’s basketball @ Siena College 7:00 p.m.
22
29
23 Women’s Basketball @CCSU 12:00 P.M. Men’s vs. NYIT 30 7:00 P.M.
24
31
1
5
Men’s Basketball @ University of Delaware 7:00 P.M.
6
7
Women’s Basketball @ UNC Wilmington 1:00
P.M.
12
Women’s Basketball vs. James Madison University 2:00 P.M. 19
26
20 Men’s Basketball @ Towson University 7:00 P.M.
27
14
21
28
28
8
Wrestling Semifinals 10:00 A.M.
2 Women’s Basketball vs. Towson University 7:00 P.M.
15 Men’s Basketball vs. The College of William & Mary 7:00 P.M. 22 Men’s Basketball vs. Drexel University 7:00 P.M.
29
3 Wrestling vs. Princton University 6:00 P.M.
16 Women’s Basketball @ Northeastern University
Men’s Basketball College of Charleston 4:00 P.M.
11
Women’s Basketball vs. College of Charleston 12:00 P.M. 17
18
Wrestling vs. Drexel University 7:00 P.M.
Men’s Basketball vs. Northeastern University 4:00 P.M.
24
25
23
30
4
10
9
Men’s Basketball @ UNC Wilmington 7:00 P.M.
13
27
Men’s Basketball vs. George Washington University 7:00 P.M.
JANUARY Wrestling Quarterfinals 10:00A.M.
Women’s Basketball @ University of delaware 2:00 P.M.
26
25
21
Women’s Basketball vs. UNCW 7:00 P.M.
31
A 18 • December 12, 2013
SPORTS
The Chronicle
Fall Semester: A retrospective in sports
Junior Kelsie Wills led the Pride Volleyball team with 501 kills in the 2013 season. Photo Credit/Hofstra Athletic Communications
Senior Stephen Nwaukoni had a slow start but has picked up his performances. Photo Credit/Hofstra Athletic Communications
Junior Sam Scolarici led the pride in both goals and points with 18 goals and 38 points in the 2013 season. Photo Credit/Hofstra Athletic Communications
Senior Maid Memic led the Pride in goals and points with 10 goals and 23 points in the 2013 season. Photo Credit/ Hofstra Athletic Communications
The Chronicle
SPORTS
December 12, 2013 A 19
Baseball hopes to rebound By Mike Rudin assistant sports editor
Senior Dalton Rouleau will help the Pride in the upcoming season. Photo Credit/Hofstra Athletic Communications
Former 2013 Pride roster that hopes to rebound for the upcoming season with their remaining and new players. Photo Credit/ Hofstra Athletic Communications
Wrestling to host 2016 Nationals By Sean Williams sports ediotr
Only a few weeks after the Pride wrestling team won both its dual meets in the 2013 Grapple at the Garden, they discovered they will be returning in 2016: but this time, the University will appear in a slightly bigger role. The Pride will be hosting the 2016 NCAA Wrestling Championships at Madison Square Garden, winning the bid and honor to host collegiate wrestling’s biggest event on one of
America’s biggest stages. Athletic director Jeff Hathaway and coach Rob Anspach were both excited to have the event. While it is technically not on Hofstra’s campus, the combined Hofstra wrestling legacy and Manhattan’s convenient location made the Pride a reasonable choice for the NCAA selectors. The school’s history includes 29 All-American wrestlers and one NCAA championship, when Nick Gallo took the 1976 title at 126 pounds.
After a very disappointing 2013 season, head coach John Russo intends for the Pride to turn things around in 2014 and resemble the elite team they were in 2012. This upcoming season is key for Russo’s coaching career since, in his first two years of coaching, the Pride dropped from second place to seventh in the CAA standings. Although with the Pride’s schedule now released, they are going to face some challenges ahead that will make it difficult for the Pride to produce like they did in 2012. The season opener is against Mississippi State University on Feb. 14 and that opens a fourgame series with the national runner-up Bulldogs. “We weren’t thinking we were going to get the national runner up, and they have a heck of a club. They’ll probably be pre-season top 10 in the country, and to play any southeastern conference opponent is a tough slat to open the season,” Russo said about the opening series. Russo also commented on how they will face several out of conference teams that the Pride find interesting to play and to travel to places they haven’t been before such as Grand Canyon University and University of the Incarnate Word, both of which are newly added division one teams. Also, their road trip series against
Furman College will be interesting but also will certainly be a challenge for the Pride. “As a head coach, and definitely my assistant coaches, we look at places that we like to go play, teams we’d like to go see,” Russo said. “San Antonio is honestly one of my favorite cities I’ve ever been to, so the chance [to] play [there], it was something we couldn’t look away from.” Russo seemed especially excited to bring the team to Texas this year. “I thought, ‘what a great opportunity to give the kids a chance to see the city that I really love,’” he said. As for going to Greenville, South Carolina, Russo had this to say about the competition the Pride would face from the Paladins: “Furman’s usually very good year in and year out, but more importantly they’re going to be exactly what we get in CAA play. Every CAA weekend is a big weekend, and the fourth weekend in I think the kids should be ready for CAA-type play,” Russo said. “Luckily it won’t count against our conference record, but we’ll get to know exactly where we stand playing a team like Furman, being a upper-division type team in the CAA … I thought it was a great opponent, the right opponent at the right time to see exactly where we stand at that part of the season.” The Pride’s abilities will also be put to the test when facing their
CAA Conference rivals Towson University, UNC Wilmington and College of William & Mary. Russo elaborated how these three teams were a part of last year’s regional tournament. Towson is especially kept a really good team from last year, maintaining their elite pitching and hitting. Overall, the Pride will be facing four teams from last year’s College World Series. Comparing the rosters from last year to this year, the Pride got to keep a majority of their players since most of their players last year were juniors. One main departure the Pride will surely miss is last year’s junior, Bryan Verbitsky, who was drafted last year by the San Diego Padres in the third round, 86th overall. He was definitely one of the Pride’s best two-way pitchers with an earned run average of 2.66, primarily a solid reliever out of the bullpen last year with the occasional start. Luckily they still get to keep one of their main starters, David D’Errico, and one of their other best relievers, Brett Schreiber, for the upcoming season. The pride’s best offensive player, Kenny Jackson who had a .300 batting average, nine home runs and 36 runs batted in, returns for his final year with the Pride. After that, the rest of the team has potential but would need to rebound from their 2013 slump. Players are going to have to step up in order for the Pride to mirror the team they were in 2012.
Madison Square Garden, pictured here at the 2013 Grapple at the Garden event, will be home to the 2016 Nationals. Photo Credit/Hofstra Athletic Communications
The Hofstra
Chronicle Staying Solid Anma Onyeuku led the Pride’s offense with 14 points in a loss against Saint Joe’s University
Photo Credit/Hofstra Athletics