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Volume XXIII, Issue 11

penmenpress@snhu.edu

April 12, 2017

Manchester, NH

students present at annual UG research day Abby Meltzer Staff Writer

April 12, 2017:

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

News | Front & 3-4

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Featuring:

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ethics along with social issues among college students. The round tables in this session included discussions on topics such as robotic personal

assistants and controversies in sports. The final presentation session began at 1:45 p.m. Students presenting in this session fo-

Rebecca LeBoeuf

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SNHU hosted the sixth annual Undergraduate Research (UG) Day on April 5 to showcase research done by undergraduate students through panels, roundtables and poster sessions. The first presentation session began at 9:30 a.m. with a collection of panels focusing on research topics such as science and technology, conservation and healthcare in New Hampshire and student success. Undergraduate students spoke about their topics and what they gathered from their research. After the presentations, the students offered the audience time to ask questions about their panels. Senior Jacqueline Capobianco has been involved with Undergraduate Research Day for three years. She presented with the Inquiry Scholars about

the methods faculty at SNHU use to gather student feedback about the effectiveness of their teaching and how this feedback influences their practice. “We chose this question because we wanted to look at the professor side regarding evaluations,” said Capobianco. “Professors constantly collect types of formal and informal feedback all the time. There needs to be a mid-semester evaluation implemented so professors can make a change earlier for their students.” There were also roundtables at this time, focusing on robotics in healthcare services and humanities, moderated by Dr. Aaron Collins and Professor Trisha Prevett. The next presentation session began at 11 a.m. and included panels focusing on research topics in business and

Junior Stephanie Anderson particpating in the poster session.

INFINITE OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE WRITERS Rachel Romeo Staff Writer The Career Development Center at SNHU welcomed all aspiring writers to attend a panel session titled, “What Can I Do with My Writing Skills?” on Tuesday, March 28 in the Gustafson Center. The purpose of the event was to enlighten SNHU students on the various job opportunities available to them. Conversations were centralized around how students can implement their

writing skills in various types of jobs. The panel consisted of SNHU alumni, faculty and employers. The five panelists selected for the event were Sarah Silvestriadis, Jennifer McLynch, Douglas Howard, Dr. Kristina Wright and Jodi McNeal. Collectively, they reflected on how individuals can use their writing skills in professions beyond teaching, journalism and publishing. Seated at the end of the table was Sarah Silvestriadis, an

alumni who graduated SNHU in 2015. Working now in public relations, Silvestriadis shared how she uses writing on an everyday basis. “I hope that students know that there are many different types of writing at least in my field. The world needs more eloquent writers who can share an interesting story,” said Silvestriadis. Another SNHU Alumni seated at the table was Douglas Howard. Working now as a District Homeless Liaison Outreach Coordinator, he provided ad-

Style Club Fashion Show | Page 3 Sodexo Fights Mold | Page 4 Daniel Webster | Page 5 Ugly Truth | Page 7

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Panelists discussing the different career options for writers.

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vice to current students. “I hope students…go volunteer in the community and just enjoy life outside of the classroom. While reading and writing is fun, it’s ok to experience something different,” said Howard. Other panelists also mentioned that implementing creativity into writing is just as important as providing factual information. Future writers where advised to find their own voice and know their intended audience. Senior Micah Sheffield, a creative writing major, attended the event to get more information on potential job opportunities related to writing. “The biggest takeaway I had from the event was that there are many unexpected careers that heavily involve writing, which was greatly reassuring for me,” said Sheffield. Regardless of the major, students who attended the event where given the opportunity to learn more about future careers and network with established professionals within their field.

editorial THE PENMEN PRESS STAFF 2016-2017 CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF Rebecca LeBoeuf rebecca.leboeuf@snhu.edu CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF Megan Palmer megan.palmer@snhu.edu BUSINESS MANAGER Brendon DiBiasio brendon.dibiasio@snhu.edu ADVERTISING MANAGER Jaime Mailloux jaime.mailloux@snhu.edu ONLINE EDITOR Nick Klotz nicholas.klotz@snhu.edu CO-COPY EDITOR Laurelann Easton laurelann.easton@snhu.edu CO-COPY EDITOR Nicole Kenney nicole.kenney@snhu.edu

OPINION EDITOR Bryan Creevy bryan.creevy@snhu.edu ARTS & Gabriel Carrio ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR gabriel.carrio@snhu.edu

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HEALTH & WELLNESS Lori Costa EDITOR lori.costa@snhu.edu PENMEN ABROAD EDITOR Kamila Ataee kamila.ataee@snhu.edu SPORTS EDITOR Matthew Martin matthew.martin1@snhu.edu LAYOUT EDITOR May Mullen maura.mullen@snhu.edu PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Wyndee Man jingyin.wen@snhu.edu FACULTY ADVISER Jon Boroshok j.boroshok@snhu.edu The Southern New Hampshire University Penmen Press is a news publication produced by Southern New Hampshire University students and funded largely by the Student Government Association of the University. It is our responsibility to inform the SNHU community about events on and around campus. The Penmen Press will print any material found to be factual and in good taste by the editorial staff of the paper. The views published do not necessarily reflect the views of Southern New Hampshire University. The Penmen Press is published biweekly during the academic year and is printed by the Concord Monitor. To contact the newspaper, please e-mail us at penmenpress@snhu.edu.

We are looking to fill several editorial positions for the 2016-2017 academic school year. We would like to fill these positions ASAP in order to provide the proper training. Positions that are available for application and interviews are: Staff Writers | We are always looking for new staff writers and contributors to the Penmen Press! No interview or application for these positions necessary. If interested, please e-mail penmenpress@snhu.edu with your information!

Thanks to Student Government Association (SGA) Suggestion Push Week and the new suggestion board outside our office in the Student Center, the Penmen Press has received an influx of suggestions and ideas for the upcoming academic year. This has allowed us to begin planning for the future of the Penmen Press, and we believe that answering your suggestions is an important way to interact with the SNHU community. SGA Push Week brought the following suggestions to our attention: provide class credits for working on the newspaper; go online; cover more major events

on campus; and cover more events in Manchester. Addressed in the initial order: students can earn 1.5 credits by working on the newspaper per semester in any area of newspaper production. These credits can be applied to the general elective section of a student’s program evaluation. In regards to going online, the Penmen Press has been posting daily content in the form of Penmen Posts on our social media, spanning the last calendar month. Our newspaper is in the process of creating a website that we intend on launching for the 2017 fall semester.

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The final suggestions have led to many discussions within the Penmen Press about diversifying our content. This suggestion has been reflected in the suggestions appearing on our bulletin board that have included current issues like racism, abortion and politics, advice columns, recipes and upcoming events in the Manchester area. It is our hope that we can use these suggestions to better provide the SNHU community with timely and relevant information. In addition to the suggestions board, you can always reach us at penmenpress@snhu.edu or on Twitter @PenmenPress

Students present at annual research day Continued from page 1 cused their research topics on finance, literature and domestic and international market issues. The two roundtable sessions included students who explored issues in weather and environment as well as education. Following the three presentation sessions, poster sessions were held in the Gustafson Center from 3-4:30 p.m. Students displayed their research topics and could interact with their audiences to explain the purpose of their studies. Junior Stephanie Anderson chose to do a poster presentation on her topic and enjoyed the opportunity to answer specific questions and have one on one conversations about the information presented on the poster. Anderson, a dual major in fashion merchandising and management and psychology, focused on the economic, social and psychological factors and their effects on corsets as a fashion trend. “I chose this topic because I'm really  passionate about corsetry and fashion in general,” said Anderson. For the first time this year, students from St. Anselm College and Daniel Webster College were allowed to submit research proposals and attend the Undergraduate Research Day along with SNHU students to showcase their research. Karah Kaffel, a senior at St. Anselm, attended this conference to conduct a poster presen-

SNHU On Campus

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NEWS EDITOR Nicole Clark nicole.clark2@snhu.edu

we are Open to suggestions

A robot watching the"Robotics in Healthcare Services" session. tation on deforestation in Brazil and Indonesia and its effect on their economy. “As an international business major, everyone always looks at the negative effects of deforestation, but I wanted to look at how it can be helpful for the economy in these third world countries,” said Kaffel. Senior Joshua Raymond and juniors Joseph Chouinard, Aidan McCracken, Matthew Goldstein and Savanah Many from Daniel Webster College were also present at the poster presentations to display their research on financial machine learning. These students had been working on their project for over a year and have written a program to help predict the stock market. Undergraduate Research Day allowed students from SNHU, St. Anselm and Daniel Webster to display the research they have conducted throughout the year. Capobianco hopes that her experience with Undergraduate Research Day will help her when she pursues educational research. “I have learned so many

skills like not being afraid to speak publicly, teamwork, collaboration, time management and how to become an overall better researcher,” said Capobianco. Victoria Berube and Ryan Wilson came in first place for both the Formal Oral Presentations and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics category. They presented "The Effects of Self-Driving Vehicles Using Mathematical Modeling." First place for the Poster Presentations went to Saint Anselm College student, Brenden Cain, who presented "The Significance of Financial Literacy in Emerging Market Development: The Case of India." Nathaniel Fournier was first place in the Work in Progress category with his "Education Paradox: The Opportunity Cost of U.S. Professional Soccer." The group that came in first place for the Community Based Research included Megan Mayers, Kendra McCarran, Alyssa Kelly and Samantha Townsend for "Building a Bridge to Confidence."

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STYLE CLUB SERVES FESTIVAL FUN AT ANNUAL FASHION SHOW Nicole Kenney Copy Editor

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on the classic Oktoberfest attire. When asked why she chose to participate in the show, L’Heureux said, “I love fashion and I’ve never really participated in anything on campus before just because I’m a commuter, so it’s really hard to find the time. I just thought I’d go out of my comfort zone and just give it a try.” After the first four segments, two intermission acts featured talents including rapper Matt Corman and juggling comedian

Bryan Daly. The show then continued with four more segments before closing with raffle drawings. Raffle prizes included gift cards to TJ Maxx, The Puritan Backroom, Pizza 911 and Cold Stone Creamery as well as candy, accessories and other goodies. SNHU’s Student Government Association (SGA) cosponsored the fashion show while organizations including the SNHU Bookstore, Charlotte Russe, TJ Maxx and George’s Apparel donated clothing. The

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The SNHU Style Club lit up the night at their seventh annual A Catwalk in Their Shoes fashion show on Friday, March 24. The theme for this year’s show was festival-wear; festivals from around the world made up eight segments of the fashion show. The event was held in the upper floor of the Dining Center from 7-9 p.m. Before the show began, Style Club president and senior Melissa Handy said, “I hope that everyone has a great time and enjoys all eight segments [of the show] along with the two intermission acts.” Just as last year, Style Club chose the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD) as the organization to spotlight for the fashion show. All profits collected from ticket sales were donated to CHaD. Additionally, the Style Club members worked directly with children from CHaD and styled them for the first segment inspired by the World Children’s Festival. Models walked the children down the runway with balloons in hand to kick off the show. Attendee and senior Gavin Geick said, “It was great to see

kids from CHaD walk the runway; that was my favorite part.” Style Club member Shannon Healey served as MC for the night. She kept the crowd energized throughout the night with her quips and enthusiasm. Model and senior Emma L’Heureux said her favorite segment of the show was, “definitely Oktoberfest.” In that segment, L’Heureux wore a black and white skirt and blouse combo cinched at the waist with a corset that echoed a modern take

Runway models displaying their elegant formal wear.

collected donations were used by Style Club members to coordinate outfits inspired by the chosen festivals. A unique segment was inspired by SNHUstock: SNHU’s own music festival hosted by the Coordinators of Activities and Programming Events (CAPE). In this segment, SNHU faculty took on the runway to model SNHU apparel donated by the bookstore. The last segment of the night was inspired by Holi, a Hindu holiday celebrated in India in Nepal also known as “festival of colors.” Senior models stomped the runway in colorful ensembles and threw confetti along the catwalk. Upon the closing of the event, attendee and senior Megan Stuart said, “I was thrilled to see a variety of body shapes and heights of models in the show. The inclusion of festivals from around the world was a great way to feature a wide range of styles.” The Style Club as well as their annual fashion show is open to students of any major who are interested in fashion. They look forward to preparing the eighth annual A Catwalk in Their Shoes fashion show for next year’s spring semester.

Musician gives entertaining and interactive performance Nicholas VonSchantz-Ricci Staff Writer

pation.” In addition to having the audience choose the music he played, Rush made his performance even more interactive by handing out percussion instru-

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Musical performances are almost always crowd pleasers here at SNHU. John Rush, also known as “The Human iPod,” gave a unique and interactive musical performance on the Last Chapter Pub stage on Saturday, March 26. The event was sponsored by the Coordinators of Activities and Programming Events (CAPE). Free soft pretzels and chicken fingers were available to all attendees. Rush’s title of “The Human iPod” stems from his ability to play hundreds of songs from memory. He brings two massive songbooks to every show, from which audience members flip through and write down songs they want to hear on post-it notes. Rush reads off the requests in between songs and chooses the next song based on the audi-

ence’s response. “I started playing guitar when I was 12,” said Rush. When asked what his favorite songs to play are, he said, “Usually songs with a good guitar solo. I tend to work my favorites into the beginning of the show.” Rush is from Alabama and attended college at the University of Georgia. He then moved to Nashville, Tennessee and began making a name for himself as a solo musician. Rush performed a wide variety of music, including “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty, “Rude” by MAGIC! and “Santeria” by Sublime. Not tied down to one era, Rush’s song books contained music that spanned five decades. CAPE Weekend Chair Matt Montminy, junior, programmed the event. “I would never put on events that I wouldn’t want to go to myself,” said Montminy. “My favorite part of the night was seeing the audience partici-

ments and occasionally inviting an audience member to sing alongside him. Attendee Kea Lopez, sophomore, enjoyed Rush’s performance, “I liked the whole thing,

especially how he could play any song. He was cool.” Rush’s performance energized the crowd with his soulful voice and unique performance style.

John Rush performing songs as the human iPod.

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sodexo asks for help fighting mold Stress less with the learning center's best Bryan Creevy Opinion Editor

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Troy Robinson, a first year student at SNHU, was surprised when he found mold on his “Black and Blue” from The Grille approximately three weeks ago. This is the second time Robinson found mold on this meal within the school year; however, the first time it was only on a small area of the roll. “After I noticed it, I dissected the rest of the meal and noticed there were multiple blue spots of mold on the wheat roll,” said Robinson. “I think the mold is only on the wheat rolls honestly.” Robinson feels this incident was unnecessary and could have been avoided if the Sodexo worker who served him the meal had checked the inventory before serving it to students. Daniel Vanavery, the Sodexo General Manager, was able to shed some light over what causes mold to grow and the process Sodexo goes through to try and prevent incidents like this from occurring. “We have fresh bakery that

is brought in five days a week,” said Vanavery. “The challenge with fresh bakery versus what you probably get in the grocery stores is that the shelf life is less because it’s cooked warm, it’s put in the bag moist, brought in, transported and brought here.” Vanavery specified how when the drivers bring their stock in, they are supposed to properly rotate the supply to make sure Sodexo is getting fresh stock. “Because it’s done daily, our old stock is brought up, rotated and inspected,” said Vanavery. “Then, it’s taken from downstairs to upstairs and then distributed to the stations. They stock their stations. Again, it should be inspected and rotated. Should be. That’s always the key. Everything that we do comes down to human error whether it has to do with bread or anything else; it all comes down to human error.” Wheat has a lower shelf life than most other foods. According to Vanavery, they last typically three to five days before they go bad compared to Wonder bread in a grocery store that

can last for two weeks. “We have roughly, 39,000 different loaves or packages of bread that we go through in an academic year,” said Vanavery. “That’s 353 slices per unit. When you’re talking 350,000 pieces of bread, or bagels or English muffins, it’s going to happen. It’s inevitable.” If a student finds mold on any of their products, Vanavery asks them to report the incident to Sodexo. “It’s only a handful of times that it gets reported to me, and that’s the biggest thing,” said Vanavery. “[If someone reports an incident to me] first thing I’ll do is I’ll credit you back or buy you lunch tomorrow, which I always do. If someone tells me the food’s not right, like any other restaurant, I’m going to refund you at minimum because we’re not perfect, but I want you to have a good experience.” Robinson did not report his mold incident to Sodexo. Vanavery urges any other poor food experiences to get reported to him so he can help SNHU students have a better experience.

Addison Thyng Staff Writer As the Spring semester comes to a close with it comes essays, projects and finals. From mathematics to creative writing, almost all of SNHU’s students have at least one or two things on their mind stressing them out. Thankfully there is a place where help is offered for any subject as well as help outside the classroom, that being the on-campus Learning Center with their Stress Less Fest. While always available for assistance, the Learning Center will be offering a multitude of new ways to help students prepare for their end of the year journey. These include study packets available for math students, a “build you own guide” for business students from accounting to economics, and as always writing tutoring will be available for all for those who need help with things like correct citation, grammar or just how to format a paper. Although the Learning Center excels in helping with aca-

demics they will also be providing ways to help de-stress outside of education. These include “Stuff a SNHU Pillow” on April 18 in the Student Center and the “5,4,3,2,1 Color Run” on the weekend of April 22. When asked why the Learning Center holds these events, Marketing and Outreach Graduate Assistant Evan Bodi stated, “It’s always gratifying for our office when we can make a positive contribution to a student’s wellbeing, both inside and outside the classroom. Stress Less Fest events allow us to accomplish that and be a supportive educational environment in more ways than one.” For further information on any of these events, there will be table set up in the Student Center and Dining Center from April 17-April 19. Event dates and additional details are available on the SNHU Master Calendar. The Learning Center hopes it is able to help make the end of the semester journey feel a little less stressful and wishes to see students at the upcoming events.

SNHU CULINARY IS HERE TO STAY Nicholas VonSchantz-Ricci Staff Writer

“There’s a part of me that is unhappy with it, but I love how it gives students the ability to cross train,” said Sederquist. Finazzo agrees that the new model may not be as comprehensive as the current model, but she feels that the work that she and many other students put in to change Evan’s mind was worthwhile. “I attended and spoke at all the meetings. We fought a good fight and it worked, our chefs still have jobs,” said Finazzo. Many of the logistics of the new model still need to be worked out. For instance, the future of The Quill is still in question. Operating The Quill as a consistent, full service restaurant with an established menu is one option that Evans presented. Other ideas that Evans mentioned in his proposal was to include theme nights at The Quill, a summer kickstart program, short-term classes for non-students and corporate sponsorship. Evans is also open to marketing the program more effectively

Nicholas VonSchantz-Ricci

For the past two months, the Culinary department at SNHU has been in a state of unrest regarding the future of the Culinary program here on campus. On Monday, March 13, Michael Evans, Vice President of Academic Affairs, announced President Paul LeBlanc’s final decision. Back in January, Evans made a proposition to “teach out” the Culinary program, meaning that once the current freshman class graduates, the program would no longer operate. An open meeting took place in the hospitality salons on January 30, which enabled concerned students and parents to question the basis of the decision. Upon hearing the concerns, Evans worked with the culinary faculty and others to devise a new program model. Currently, first-year Culinary majors engage in lab and classroom courses that enable students to master fundamental

culinary and baking techniques. The following year, these students will participate in more advanced labs in addition to lunch and dinner services at The Quill, SNHU’s student-run restaurant. Baking and Pastry and Culinary Arts majors take different courses during their second year. This new program, which would merge the Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry associates degrees and replace second-year culinary courses with a year-long internship, was approved by President LeBlanc, which means that the culinary program will continue to run. The new program was created as a means of lowering costs and increasing enrollment numbers, which have been declining over the past few years. However, some students are concerned that the integrity of the program will be sacrificed under this new model. Culinary Student Association co-presidents Jason Sederquist and Dana Finazzo, seniors, have mixed feelings about the final decision.

Food prepared by SNHU Culinary students. as this was one of the major issues expressed by students and parents. The original program will be taught out by the current freshmen class; the new model will take into effect under the next incoming class. It has been determined that next year's culinary class will be smaller than in previous years. There is a concern that the current freshman class may be denied some of the opportunities that past students were given, such as taking culinary/baking electives and working as Culi-

nary Teaching Assistants. Freshman Nathan Grimm is unsure if the new model will live up to the high standards of the original. “It’s not ideal but I’m glad that we still have a program. Hopefully the original will return.” He added, “I can’t say if it will affect us at the moment. It could have positive or negative effects.” Although many students are disappointed at the termination of the original program, they are remaining optimistic about the future, despite its uncertainty.

FEATURE news

welcome To the new students of Daniel Webster Nick Klotz Online Editor

Nick Klotz

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In September of last year, Nashua, New Hampshire’s Daniel Webster College (DWC) faced a crisis threatening the school’s existence that ended in SNHU stepping in to save them. What this means for SNHU students is that very soon the campus will acquire all kinds of fresh faces on campus, both peers and faculty. One such face is Nick Zumbo, a freshman mechanical engineering student. “I have trouble changing. I’m not really sure how SNHU is, but I’m excited for the opportunities SNHU has to offer and excited to see all the new faces. I love people,” said Zumbo. The number of DWC students migrating over to SNHU is just over 200. Zumbo is just one of many incoming students integrated into DWC’s extensive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program, a kind of program that SNHU has not had in the past and will be absorbing. For the first time, SNHU will have majors in fields like computer science, engineering and even aviation. Before any of this could happen, a lot of work went in to making this transition as seamless as possible for students. At the forefront of this on DWC’s side include Provost Jeremy

Owens and Dean of Students Susan Elsass. Both will see new roles at SNHU as the Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Associate Dean of Student Success, respectively. “Things happened very quickly,” said Owens. Owens is referring to the sudden closure and bankruptcy of DWC’s parent organization, for-profit institution ITT Tech. In 2009, ITT Tech had purchased DWC. From then and leading up to the bankruptcy, relations with ITT Tech had been rocky, with DWC having to regularly deal with the accrediting body over financial issues. “We were doing okay, but not great. We had continued to make financial cutbacks to cover things,” said Owens. Between 2010 and 2016, DWC stock went from well over $100 a share to about $1.50 going into the summer. “ITT had received a letter from the Department of Education saying they could not withdraw federal funds anymore for their students, which meant they couldn’t operate because the students couldn’t pay for school,” said Owens. “[DWC] wasn’t included in that so we thought we were okay to move forward.” In September, students began classes as normal. “ITT said ‘listen, you may want to consider other institu-

Stickers being given out to "SNHU Bound" students.

ing students’ concerns over their clubs and student organizations. The plan is for every one of DWC’s clubs to be included; the ones both schools have in common (like Student Government and Gaming Club) will combine forces and the new ones to SNHU will be brought over. “I’m the president of the air traffic club here… We try to hold a lot of events, like going to different airports. We go to three or four a semester and go

Nick Klotz

Dean of Students Susan Elsass and Provost Jeremy Owens.

tions for interests in purchasing [DWC]. We’re not sure how things are going to go’… it became clear they were starting to shut down,” said Owens. At that point, DWC had starting considering their options. “We had a number of colleges come to us but the only one who could follow through was SNHU,” said Owens. That weekend, SNHU came in and began preparation for the operation of the institution up through the end of the school year. “[President Leblanc and his team] were here on a Sunday and then that Tuesday they were on site trying to bring some order to the madness,” said Owens. It wasn’t too long after that ITT had officially declared bankruptcy. A notification went out informing all ITT staff that they were no longer employed. “I don’t know how they did it but SNHU moved quickly enough that they put everyone on payroll as temporary employees and we didn’t have any disruption of classes,” Owens said. That lack of disruption to students has been key in these tumultuous times. “Overall, I think everyone’s learning from this experience… we have to learn through it together. I think there’s a level of frustration that everyone has,” said Zumbo. Elena Marinelli, the assistant director of student life at DWC, has been working to make sure students can hit the ground running when they arrive at SNHU. Marinelli has been address-

embrace that.” Austin Doody is a junior game design and development student looking forward to coming to SNHU. His freshman year at DWC, he had some trouble fitting in. It was then that he had a brilliant idea; he bought a small deep fryer and started making chicken wings. “It made my room smell like French fries. My neighbors came over and were like, ‘are you making wings right now?’” said Doody. His wings were a hit and now Doody is well-known on campus for them. He sells them for 50 cents a wing, with his special peanut butter and jelly sauce. He plans to continue his business at SNHU. “Food brings people together,” said Doody. Doody is feeling optimistic about the transition, but he and many students are still feeling concerned. “To us, you guys are kind of like the boogeymen. We don’t really know what to expect,” said Zumbo. DWC students have had an opportunity to pick general

Collings Auditorium and Eaton-Richmond Center at DWC. into the towers to see the terminals. We also do movie nights and hold meetings to help people understand what goes into being an air traffic controller,” said Denton Green, a junior in the air traffic management program. “Students from both universities will have access more resources and more students,” said Marinelli. “At the end of May, they’re no longer Daniel Webster students. They’re SNHU students and we need to

education classes already. They picked from the same pool as SNHU students. Four DWC students have also been selected to be resident assistants. On April 12, an event called “SNHU Bound” will bring DWC students to campus, many for the first time. Festivities include a pizza dinner and bingo in the pub to help immerse students in the our Universities' culture. SNHU students are encouraged to stop by and visit our new friends.

PENMEN Passion news jaime karnes is here to stay

Laurelann Easton Copy Editor

Jordan Burke

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Adjunct Jaime Karnes is making a permanent stay at SNHU as the Assistant Professor of English. Before SNHU, she taught at Rutgers University after receiving her Masters from the same university. Karnes and her husband decided to move from New York City to New Hampshire to raise their daughter Greta Anne. “I never wanted to be one of those New Yorker moms. You know, the ones with bulky strollers struggling to get on and off the subway. It felt more natural to raise our daughter with grass and trees and mountains,” Karnes said. Before teaching, she worked at a marketing company as a creative director/copy writer, but she knew she had to switch gears when it sapped her creativity for writing. “I would spend all day editing or writing copy and come home with no energy left for my own writing. I found that teaching doesn’t do that to me. In many ways, teaching inspires my own craft,” she said. She currently teaches fiction and nonfiction workshops, as well as Context of Writing and Advanced Creative Writing. She prefers her role as a professor to be a discussion facilitator, where stu-

dents are asking and answering their own questions. Karnes will continue to teach the workshop courses in the fall, and she looks forward to a list of novels she is developing for her Context of Writing course. “I love the work of my mentor, novelist (and Director of the Master of Fine Arts program at Rutgers-Newark) Jayne Anne Phillips. We’ll likely read one of her novels—perhaps her most recent “Quiet Dell” or “Lark & Termite”—as part of the six I will teach in the course,” she said. The Context of Writing course is different from workshops for the insight that it gives into the publishing world. “We’ll be discussing the publishing industry, and perhaps we’ll even get to speak with published authors on that challenging process, as well as an agent or two,” Karnes said. In the future, she hopes to get the chance to teach special topics courses. She expressed an interest in teaching one that explores the presentation of trauma in literature, but also plans to ask her current students what they would like to study in the future. While teaching, Karnes is in the works of having her first novel published, titled “The Great Darkness.” “It’s based on the Duples-

Jaime posing with her family. sis Orphans and inspired by real events that plunges into one of the blackest stains on modern Canadian history. In a financial scheme, over 20,000 orphans were wrongfully deemed insane and sent to mental asylums by the Duplessis-led government, in collusion with the Catholic Church. The novel takes place from 1953-1954,” Karnes said. She began writing around

Jaime Karnes

Story time with the Karnes family.

third grade, when she typed the entirety of Beverly Cleary’s “Ramona Quimby, Age 8” on her grandmother’s old Remington and gave it to her father as her own creation. “I loved mimicking the worlds my childhood idols created, especially Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, and E.B. White. Sometime early in high school, as a teenager, I began my own work—creating my own worlds,” she said. Karnes’s writing is most inspired by A.M. Homes, Joyce Carol Oates, Amy Hempel and Jayne Anne Phillips. “These were writers I read as a teenager and they solidified my need to create my own fictions,” she said. She is most interested in writing about the human condition, in terms of the dark side of it, why people behave badly, what motivated that behavior and what challenges it. “I’ve been told many times that I’m dark. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I have a feeling people sense that I’m inclined to examine the underbelly of everyday existence in my work,” Karnes said. To students wishing to further their writing, she said, “Read. Read. Read. Then reevaluate how you read and go back and read some more. Writing is 80 percent read-

ing and 20 percent doing. Also, don’t be afraid to write what you don’t know! Writing is about exploration and we learn by doing, so sit down for at least 30 minutes a day. Even if you don’t write a word, make sure you sit there. Learning to write on a schedule is like training for a marathon. You’ve got to exercise your mind in the same ways.” In her time thus far at SNHU, Karnes has been able to make connections with her students that have made SNHU feel like her home. Kaitlin Tetreault, a student of Karnes’s, is excited that she will be sticking around. "I think she's a great professor with a lot of practical, professional advice to offer students. She also looks after students who may easily slip through the cracks and can inspire even the most hesitant writers,” Tetreault said. Karnes is excited to continue her work with SNHU and its students. “I’m also looking forward to the publication of my first novel, with the jacket reading Assistant Professor of English at Southern New Hampshire University, and sharing that moment with my students. I’m thrilled to be here and grateful for the opportunity to mentor so many dedicated young people,” she said.

Gabriel Carrio Arts & Entertainment Editor

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ASMR has been around for a while, but it’s seen an enormous boost in popularity over the past year and a half or so. I wouldn’t call it a fad, and I wouldn’t call it a trend, and I wouldn’t quite call it a fetish. If anything, I’d call it a public service. Occasionally, I might call it an art form. The Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, or ASMR as it’s colloquially called is that pleasant tingling sensation you feel when you’re relaxed and sitting in a quiet room, or getting a head massage, or when you’re completely and utterly comfortable. It’s an all-over feeling, and it’s wonderful. Unfortunately, not everyone feels it. Those that don’t experience it tend to think those that do are weird and perverted. And maybe those that do (myself included) ARE weird and perverted. But that’s whatever. I feel bad for those that are ASMR immune because they’re missing out on a comfort that you can’t feel from anything else. ASMR, for me, is a sleep aid. It’s hard for me to fall asleep without it. It gets me into a relaxed state that helps me ease my way into dreamland.

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Videos on YouTube with the purpose of inducing ASMR are made by people commonly referred to as “ASMRtists.” It’s a clever little combination of words that rolls off the tongue quite easily. The name was introduced a few years back, and it’s stuck ever since. ASMRtists put substantial effort into the content they produce, because they care about their audience. The niche factor of ASMR has caused a tightknit community of users that recognize each other in the comments section, and are some of the kindest people I’ve ever seen on the Internet. It’s about relaxation, comfort, and support, so why wouldn’t we all be nice to each other? Sounds that induce ASMR are things like whispers, soft spoken words, scratches, taps, the rustling of cloth and gentle sounds of that nature. Some people prefer harsher sounds, like gum chewing (which I don’t like at all), or the soft din of restaurant background noise. Whatever their cup of tea is, there’s an ASMRtist out there that has the content for them. ASMR is beneficial and harmless, and I can see myself using it for the rest of my life. My apologies to those that can’t feel it.

Nicole Kenney Copy Editor

The Ugly Truth

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OPINION news

Since 2013, a movement of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) has swept the internet and gained extreme popularity in the last several months. Accounts on Instagram, YouTube and even Facebook are flooded with ASMR-friendly videos. From whisperers to slimers, the internet is full of new content creators solely dedicated to this growing trend. At the end of the day, I’m not here to kink shame. However, I’m moderately creeped out by 95 percent of all ASMR videos. Also, I will probably dissociate with anyone who identifies as an ASMR fan. Okay, so maybe I am here to kink shame. The trend of combining ASMR with other video trends, like mukbangs (eating shows), must be stopped immediately. If you need to listen to someone else’s eating noises in order to feel relaxed, go to literally any restaurant or food court. Or better yet, seek counseling. Please. Something about breathy whispers paired with aggressively loud crunching, popping or tapping noises is very unsettling to me. The underlying dead silence between noises make these videos feel too intimate and downright cringey – espe-

cially if the subject is staring into the camera. And don’t get me started on role-playing ASMR videos. YouTube has a whole category of those. How has it become a social norm for people to find pleasure in listening to “ASMR 20 Hours of Tapping Sounds for Sleep & Relaxation” or “ASMR Close Whisper Guided Sleep (with countdown)?” Like really, did I miss something here? Just give me the fun background music, obnoxiously loud narrator and an over-exaggerated storytime video and move on. While I will not succumb to this affinity for whispers, crinkling wrappers, slime popping and eating noises, I can appreciate the new wave of videos not narrated at all. These include cooking or baking videos where no words are spoken; instead, the only audible sounds are from mixing, frying, cracking, etc. Despite the “good” ASMR videos, the hype has also led major content creators to hop on the bandwagon and churn out their own ASMR content. While I understand that they do it to attract the large group of ASMR followers, I am not digging it. Maybe it’s due to my lack of emotion, but ASMR videos do not bring me comfort. I’ll take a sarcastic ASMR parody any day than an attempt at the real thing.

remembering the roots Thomas Cahalan Staff Writer

A college imparts this essential wisdom onto its students. The first week, a student may come across an uncooperative roommate, awkward bathroom situations, conflicting world views, financial headaches and possibly true independence for the first time. The first week may also bring about the chance to make friends with people you never thought possible, defend or change your view, prepare for a future career, go on wacky adventures and simply ramble on. Keeping all this in mind, it would be difficult to truly become enthralled by the boredom of mundane comfort. The college era of life may not be the climax of the individual’s story, but it can serve as the rising action. Staunch beliefs one had going into SNHU may be shaken to their foundation while attending

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College is a time of exploration. However, fondness of the past sometimes clouds one’s ability to see the plethora of opportunities available. People usually have a hard time letting go of something they love. Granted, letting go of what you love most is far from easy. Anyone who attends school hours away from home has an idea of this dilemma. During the beginning of the semester, I often grappled with my desire to return home. Connecticut was far from a perfect place, but being away from the constitution state made it appear practically like heaven. Any flaws present were blinded by a newfound infatuation for familiarity. Leading up to spring break,

Connecticut possessed everything an angsty, home-stricken college student desired. A loving family, old friends, no meal plan woes and places of glory and privacy. However, it lacked an essential element: an unfinished story. Familiarity may equal comfort, but it doesn’t equal adventure. Places of glory, for example, barely have anything new to add to the story of an individual’s life. The old sense of excitement, intrigue and wonder were absent. After all, the story concerning these places were over, to put it bluntly. Continuing to go along with the current flow may garner a sense of divine comfort, but getting comfortable with predictability can be like making friends with the devil. Whether we like it or not, life’s chaotic tendencies must be faced eventually.

the school. Don’t be fooled, though; this revelation is meant to be encouraging. When somebody lives in the same area for twenty years, the opportunity to have the roots of home expand is lacking. Leaving home for a long time does allow one to truly appreciate what they already have, but it also establishes an opportunity for growth that would

never have been possible without taking that one giant step out the familiar world of home. As the year progresses, it can be easy to feel a newfound infatuation toward home, but don’t let it fool you. Remember the roots of where you’ve been before, but don’t restart the old story. Grow the roots and finish the current story instead.

arts and news entertainment Remember How Good it Felt to Burn

Laurelann Easton Copy Editor

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Creek, and maybe that was why our parents spent so much time worrying who was shoving what into where in the backseat of whose car. Because we’d be the ones to burn in hell, but they were the ones who’d have to hear about it in church” (108). The final 70 pages of this novel are a whirlwind of emotions and twists as you discover the secrets that Hannah and Lacey will carry with them until they die. By the time I finished, I felt conflicted yet satisfied in a strange way. This is not a happy novel; it is wrought with emotion, confliction, and sexual desire. Wasserman pulls off a simultaneously surprising and almost anticipated ending, because the girls could not end anywhere but in continuous tension.

compelling. Finn Jones failed to do the character justice, with expressiveness in combat scenarios often coming off as contrived and ill-prepared. Marvel properties that fail to deliver on compelling narrative and character often manage to compensate by creating incredibly appealing surreal scenarios revolving around the powers and fictional elements but it takes nu-

merous episodes before we see the Iron Fist in real action. Most of the tension in the show is incredibly undercut by horribly unbelievable scenarios. Unlike the rest of the shows, which weren’t afraid to crack a few eggs or kill some people off to make us feel for our hero’s struggle, Iron Fist felt significantly more campy, turning in the harsher gritty elements for what

Laurelann Easton

Robin Wasserman, a professor of SNHU’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing program, produced a stunning and compelling novel in 2016 titled “Girls on Fire.” This novel follows the lives of three girls, one shy, one the high school queen and another the wild Kurt Cobain devotee, during the early nineties when Satanism was the primary concern of parents in a small town. These girls’ lives are intimately connected with each other in ways that are uncovered as the story unfolds. Dark secrets keep their friendships strained with a need to never be let out of sight because of a fear that the secrets will be told.

This is not your typical high school drama. The boy troubles are above the norm, centered around the suicide of one girl’s boyfriend and wrapped up in worries of Satanism taking over the youth. Wasserman’s style of writing has a flow that pulls the reader with the story like changing tides. We get an up-close look into the minds of Lacey and Hannah, who Lacey renames Dex from her last name. Wasserman manages to create the sense of an entire town with ease, giving the reader an understanding of the parents’ collective perspective, as well as three different types of girls who are all the same kind of twisted in the end. “Word always got around. That was the rule of Battle

Danny Rand’s Iron Fist Is a Golden McGuffin

Mustapha R. Price Staff Writer

Marvel

The final defender is here, aiming to take his place on our team of New York native misfits, but with his standalone series missing many crucial points that made the others beloved, this series fails to claim its spot along the critically acclaimed Netflix shows. Daredevil struggled with the idea of killing for an entire season in a way that felt genuine and heartfelt. Luke Cage had to cope with the fact that he could never truly escape his past. Jessica Jones struggled through PTSD to become part of a greater good. If you were to ask me to identify Danny Rand’s primary conflict, I simply couldn’t. It’s clear from the beginning that the Iron Fist is an enemy of the Hand. The Hand, which we remember from Daredevil, is quite a vicious organization, so it should stand to reason that anyone with the intention of wiping them out should be a dedicated warrior and incredibly grounded. Danny Rand fails to encompass any of this, showing from the beginning a profound inability to deal with emotional struggles. His actions often lead him to horrific flashbacks about his greatest struggles, which, if coupled with a more realistic backstory and believable portrayal, had the potential to be

really feels like your typical super story. It was ineffective at best, and at worst, comical. Where “Iron Fist” manages to excel is with its supporting cast. Characters like Ward Meachum and Colleen Wing serve as great catalysts to tell a story of a living breathing New York, similar to what we were used to with the other Netflix Marvel shows. Iron Fist fails to live up to the

other Netflix Marvel shows, but it also fails as a standalone story, lacking strong characters with realistic convictions. The villains are unfocused and hard to keep track of, and the narrative simply lacks any real tension. Thankfully, it does so little to set up for The Defenders that only a few episodes are really crucial toward watching the upcoming summer crossover.

arts and news entertainment “Life” is Afraid to Grow

Nick Klotz Online Editor

Columbia Pictures

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Mankind has a nasty habit of putting its nose in places where it doesn’t belong. This tried and true setup is the basis of many entertaining flicks, and “Life,” a sci-fi thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds, falls into that category. A team of astronauts on the International Space Station made the groundbreaking discovery of life on Mars in the form of a single-celled organism. As their researcher performs experiments to wake the creature, they realize this thing grows at an alarming rate. It’s when the creature breaks free from its quarantined research lab (and subsequently eats a crew member from the inside out) that the crew finally realizes the danger they’re harboring. “Life” wears its influences on its sleeves. The idea of a crew trapped aboard a claustrophobic space station with a powerful and mysterious alien has been done before in 1979’s “Alien,” and arguably better.

delivering some compelling tension, however. The alien is unique in that each of its cells operate as muscle, brain, and nerve tissue, meaning it’s very smart and very tough; the classic unstoppable force that makes these kinds of movies work so well. As this creature grows you see its small flagella turn into appendages that reach out toward the researcher’s heavilyprotected hands. As it gets stronger it learns new tricks

Where “Alien” succeeded is in portraying this space station as a futuristic haunted house. It was lived-in and felt ready to fall apart at any moment. It was the equivalent of a cargo freight and its crew were just workingclass everymen. “Life,” on the other hand, is clean and pristine. From the state-of-the-art ISS to the unbelievably good-looking crew, the film always reminds you that movie magic is at work. That does not stop it from

that keep the audience guessing. Visually, the effects team did a very nice job realizing the alien and the ISS. This is especially important as it’s hard to make your movie look unique when your backdrop is the black vacuum of space. I give the movie credit for the way it handled its star power. Gyllenhaal and Reynolds easily fill seats on their own, so together it’s no surprise this is the aspect of the film generating

the most buzz. Both play the characters you’d expect, Reynolds the strapping comic relief and Gyllenhaal the strong but a little awkward captain. While not the performances of either career, they lend well to the overall final product. At no point did “Life” feel like it was breaking new ground. However, I am a sucker for scifi horror. I went to watch aliens tear people apart and I left satisfied. 7/10.

“Power Rangers” Is a Kid’s Show Adaptation Done Right Addison Thyng Staff Writer

Lionsgate

“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” began in the US in 1993 and instantly became a part of millions of 90s kids’ childhoods. With its mixture of Japanese action and U.S. teen drama it took the world by storm with the series continuing to this day. “Power Rangers” is the next movie in the line of kids show remakes. Thankfully, while it is no doubt different from its source material, it still presents an enjoyable movie experience. The best thing in “Power Rangers” is by far the acting. The cast brought in to reprise these well-known characters help in making the silliness of the show come off as actual good drama. A big shout-out to Elizabeth Banks, who’s over the top yet creepy portrayal of Rita Repulsa is a lot of fun to watch. This leads to one of the biggest problems of the mov-

ie, that being that the film is called “Power Rangers” yet they do not suit up until the last 20 minutes. While the acting and character development before that make the movie feel real, chances are fans are there to see action. Granted, when it shows up it is glorious and very well done (besides some obvious CGI). Those who want a full two hours of it will be disappointed. “Power Rangers” is a good film. The characters and the story keep the viewer's interest though the whole thing with the payoff of fun action at the end. But for those who want to see action upon action like the show may feel a bit upset. Diehard fans of the show may feel a little peeved that the suits don’t make an appearance until the final act, with most of the movie being dedicated to the characters. But if you can accept that and enjoy the movie for what it gives you, it’s worth seeing. 7.5/10

penmen abroad news

snhu graduate brings degree home to Taiwan Kamila Ataee Penmen Abroad Editor

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We-li-Lee graduated from SNHU with a Master of Science in Sport Management in Fall of 2015. Lee lives in Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan. This city has a population of about 6 million people. “It’s three times bigger than Boston,” said Lee. Taiwan is a special island where you can see many different styled buildings, great city landscape and try different cuisines from all over the world. “In many Taiwanese and Chinese classmates' opinions, living in the US is nice, but the food cannot compare with Taiwan,” said Lee. Because Lee was very passionate about Martial Art, he taught some basic Tai Chi skills to his SNHU friends for a semester. “It was encouraging to me to teach some of my skills to my friends who were interested in martial art,” said Lee. Lee was also a member of the Taiwanese Student Association (TSA) at SNHU and served as the president of TSA Club for one academic year. His goal was to make sure that new Taiwanese students feel welcome at SNHU. With the help of the Interna-

A beautiful sunset in Taiwan. tional Student Association and the office of International Student Services, Lee could organize and host some fun celebrations and events. “Celebrating some festivals, such as Chinese New Year or the National Day at SNHU helped my friends feel home,” added Lee.

He also performed his martial art skills at the Annual International Gala. “I joined International Gala every year, and the martial arts performance became my signature.” Besides his involvement on campus, Lee also completed an internship with the American

Taekwondo Association (ATA) martial art in Southern New Hampshire. At ATA, Lee taught Tai Chi for adults and taekwondo for youth for one year. Lee returned to Taiwan in June, 2016, but he misses the snow. “Winter is with no snow in my town, but lots of rains in

spring and typhoons in summer. I cannot enjoy jogging the way I did in Manchester because the humidity,” explained Lee. He started his career as a master of martial arts at his own studio, Zen Martial Arts. He wants his friends to visit Taiwan as well as his martial art studio.

Step out of comfort zone with study abroad Kamila Ataee Penmen Abroad Editor

and embrace it in the fullest and most complete way possible,” said Brewer. To Brewer, study abroad is a great opportunity for any student to explore different cultures and experience other life-styles. “If you have the opportunity to

study abroad, you should go,” said Brewer. “It is just amazing to see the Mediterranean lifestyle.” Brewer encourages her fellow students to study abroad even if it becomes intimidating sometimes. She wants study abroad students to be aware of their

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Emily Brewer is a junior student at SNHU, majoring in Forensic Psychology and Justice Studies with a minor in Behavioral Neurosciences, who also spent her Fall 2016 semester abroad. Brewer went to Florence University of the Arts. She had the opportunity to go on school trips all across Italy as well as volunteer at a local church. As a result of her involvement with the church, she got the chance to give tours to English Speaking tourists. “I chose to study abroad because working in the international student services office made me see how beneficial it is to study abroad,” said Brewer. “The type of experiences that someone can get from studying abroad are life changing and something that I wanted to be a part of.” Brewer is also very involved with the International Students

Services (ISS) office on campus. She enjoys working with the ISS and international students. “My experience abroad was genuinely life changing. It was so amazing to be able to experience a different culture and food and lifestyle so different than mine

A view of Florence.

surroundings, but never let fear stop them from traveling abroad and experiencing new cultures. “There is so much out there that you are missing out on if you don’t just take a step outside of your comfort zone and experience it,” added Brewer.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS news SENIORITIS: The Final Stretch

Lori Costa Health & Wellness Editor

sites.psu.edu

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April is upon us, which means that in about one month classes will be over for the summer. It can be a very exciting and stressful time, especially for graduating seniors. The lingering awareness that school is officially over (for most students) and “real life” begins is creeping in. New careers, new jobs and new opportunities present themselves in a matter of weeks, but before that it is important to recognize a health ailment many seniors will fall to: senioritis. It has many nicknames such as senior slump, senior slide and senioritis. No matter what the name is, it all has the same undertone: slacking off right at the end. It can be easy to lose sight of goals when they are so close to being in reach. Students have worked so hard over the past four years; it is time to celebrate before the diploma finally sits in their

hands. The final stretch can be a pain for those students who are ready to leave school and start their new paths in life. It is important to remember that falling apart at the finish line has the potential to undo all the greatness achieved over the last

four years. Here is some health advice from collegecountdown.com to kick senioritis to the curb and enjoy the remaining month (slightly) stress free. Remember that grades still matter. Even when an employer is ready to hire a student right out of college, if they

see their grades have slipped in the past few months, they can revoke the offer if they feel the student is not trying hard enough. Nothing is a guarantee, so work hard until the end. Set specific goals. Motivation becomes clearer when the finish line is clearly estab-

lished. These goals can be as simple as starting a 12 page paper now, rather than in four weeks or start studying ten minutes each night for the final in May. Keeping a checklist can also help to spark motivation. Take it one day at a time. Although it is very exciting to think about graduation just around the corner, keeping focused on day-to-day activities will help to ease the nerves about things that will be occurring in just a few months. Keep both eyes focused on today, and today alone. Have fun! This is meant to be one of the most exciting times in life…graduating college. Enjoy it, have fun and take some time to soak in that this is a huge achievement. Have fun with friends and try not stress at all hours of the day. In the end, the grades are important, but the lessons learned and the friends made are what the college experience is all about.

Senioritis hits seniors hard in the month of April.

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NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH Lori Costa Health & Wellness Editor April is National Autism Awareness Month. The Autism Society launched a nationwide effort to help understand autism and how people can get involved with helping

others with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For over 50 years, the Autism Society has worked in communities around the country to help individuals living with autism and provided special programs to help them interact with their peers and

society overall. It is their goal and focus to ensure that these individuals with autism are accepted and included in schools and their communities. The ultimate goal is to raise awareness and true appreciation of the unique aspects of all people, according to the

Autism Society’s official website. They believe that people with autism are truly valued for their special skills and gifts and should be celebrated and not feared. The Autism Society celebrates the month of April in many different ways. So far this

National Autism Association

month there have been various online events and activities, local events for communities and also partnering with affiliates working in communities to help the Autism Society bring awareness to their towns. The most common way for people to get involved is wearing the signature puzzle piece ribbon. It is the most recognizable symbol of the autism community. Another way to show support of the autism community is to wear blue this month as blue is the most recognizable color to show support for those living with autism. According to the official website for the Autism Society, one in every 68 children in America will be diagnosed with autism. For the eighth straight year, New York’s most iconic landmark, the Empire State Building, participated in Autism Speaks’s ‘Light It Up Blue’ campaign on April 2. It was a symbolic switch to raise awareness of those living with autism and for people to get involved to help make their lives a little easier.

Sports news

MENS BASEBALL CONTINUES TO DOMINATE Aleisha Bourgault-Callahan Staff Writer

snhupenmen.com

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Despite the recent weather trends, men’s baseball at SNHU is well into their season. The Penmen are 18-5 so far with a team batting average (BA) of .261, 13 home runs and 138 runs scored. The Penmen have won the last four out of five games. SNHU’s first two games in the last five came in a doubleheader against Stonehill College on Sunday, March 26. The first game wasn’t successful as baseball lost a close game, 3-2. Sophomore John Stanton and senior Cam Oliveira earned the runs for the Penmen in the game. In the second game, sophomore Joshua Zbierski homered and knocked in three runs, while Stanton had a double, triple and three runs batted in (RBI). Junior Ryan Sullivan also contributed a RBI in the 7-2 win for the Penmen. Senior Alex Person earned the win on the mound. He pitched 6.2 innings and struck out three hitters. On Sunday, April 2, the Penmen took on rival Saint Anselm College in a double header at

Kevin Alexy swinging through the game winning hit against St. Anselm. Trinity College in Connecticut. Graduate student Zach Goldstein and Stanton each drove in a run, while Person pitched the whole game, struck out seven and earned a 2-1 win. Later that day, the Penmen beat the Hawks again, but this time they needed some extra time to put their rival away. In

11 innings, the Penmen knocked off St. Anselm, 5-4. Senior Derek Bauer hit a double, and Sullivan drove in two runs, while Zbierski drove in one. The big story though, was when sophomore Kevin Alexy, who pinch hit in the bottom of the eleventh inning hit a walk-off (game winning hit), two-run double for

the win. SNHU then traveled to Rindge, New Hampshire and took on Franklin Pierce University on Wednesday, April 5. Goldstein scored the lone run on Stanton’s first-inning single and gave the Penmen a 1-0 win. Junior Mitchell Powers pitched the whole game, struck out eight

batters and walked two, while he allowed the Ravens only five hits. The Penmen have yet to play their home opener, but they are certainly excited to. “The best part about starting the season is  our home opener,” Person said. “All the guys look forward to playing on our home field, Penway Park, is what we call it. We have been traveling the first 20 or so games of our season, so once we get good weather, we all expect to be playing at home for the rest of the year on our own turf,” Person said. Oliveira agreed and said, “There is truly nothing better than playing at home on a nice day. Having the fans come support us, being able to listen to our music and playing in our atmosphere is something other teams hate. We make it very hard for other teams to get comfortable at our field and we make it known that it is tough to beat us at home.” SNHU baseball is hopeful the fans are as hyped as they are to return home again on Thursday, April 13 against Bridgeport College. The first pitch is set to be thrown at 3 p.m.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE TO PLAY THREE-GAME HOMESTAND Matt Martin Sports Editor

snhupenmen.com

Women’s lacrosse at SNHU is getting ready to play three straight games against Northeast-10 (NE-10) Rivals on Larkin Field. “We always have to play our best, whether home or away, because every game is important for playoffs no matter who the opponent is,” said sophomore Brianna Burke. “Our team’s talent, chemistry, and determination is going to push us through it all.” The homestand begins on Wednesday, April 12, at 7 p.m. against the Greyhounds of Assumption College. Assumption currently has four wins and three losses and is averaging 10.71 goals per game (GPG) with a goals against average (GAA) of 8.83. Bentley University comes to SNHU on Saturday, April 15, for a noon-time game. The Falcons are four and five so far this year, scoring only seven GPG and al-

lowing 10.31 GPG. This game is the Gold Rush game for the Penmen and all fans are encouraged to wear gold to the game to show their Penmen pride. Their last game this weekend is against the Stonehill College Skyhawks and is on Tuesday, April 18 at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks currently have a 9.52 GAA, but have a GPG average of 9.89. Stonehill is also four and five at this point. The Penmen hope to enter that game with a record of seven wins and four losses. They also hope to increase their GPG average of 14, while decreasing the GAA of 11.90. Sophomore Kristin Wilder looks to keep up the scoring slaughter. She leads the team in points with 43 and in goals with 37. “We just got to keep putting the ball on net and scoring, but we also need to be tighter defensively,” Burke said. “We’ve had no problems scoring, but we have to not let so many by us. We need to feed off each game, each practice, the fans, and give

Kristin Wilder looks for a pass in open space. it our all every time we step out on that field.” Four of the last six games are at home for women’s lacrosse.

That includes the upcoming homestand and Senior Night on Wednesday, April 26 against the College at New Haven at 4 p.m.

The regular season for the Penmen ends on April 29 at Southern Connecticut State University.