Volume XXIII, Issue 9
Penmen Press The
March 8, 2017:
International Women's Day
News | Front & 3-6
Black
Editorials | 2 Feature | 7 Penmen Passion | 8 Opinion | 9-10 Arts and Entertainment | 11-12 Penmen Abroad| 13
Manchester, NH
students start midterms with learning center Kamila Ataee Penmen Abroad Editor Gehad Abdelkarim Staff Writer The SNHU Learning Center hosted its third Late Night Write Night event on Wednesday, March 1. The Learning Center staff and tutors encouraged students to use the library as a resource. They want students to utilize the walk-in tutoring hours for a variety of subjects, such as writing, math, IT and accounting, along with all of the other programs the Learning Center offers, and this event helped to promote that. The event was co-sponsored by CAPE, The School of Education, The Wolak Library Learning Commons, The Creative Writing Club and the Office of Diversity Initiatives. The Late Night Write Night was aimed for helping students with their current work, especially with midterm papers and projects. "This is the third time we are running Late Night Write Night. It's really important to build the culture of writing because it's such an important skill," Writing Tutor Coordi-
From left: Dan Martel, Jordan Gamble, Megan Leger, Emily Holmes and Eric Zimmerman at the Learning Center's third annual Late Night Write Night. nator Selina Marcille said. The event was hosted from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., which started with pizza and was followed by games played by students in a competitive way. In one room, the Creative Writing Club hosted a writein for students to spend time working on these academic projects, as well as creative works, to hit a goal of 10,000 words overall for the night. The group of eight students who participated in the writein exceeded the goal at 11,600 words at the end of the night.
Eben Korankaye and Justin Terlisner oversaw the games and activities portion of the night. They helped students learn English phrases, vocabulary and jargons through informational activities and games. One session of the event focused on writing, which Adam Albano oversaw and made sure that everyone was doing well on their assignments. “The event is half game and half work with food on top. I enjoyed the games and all the events,” said Kullen Steger,
a game programming major. Steger held the highest score in different activities throughout the event. “I had a great time," Em Christian, a game art and development major said. "Sitting while trying to do work and brainteasers is fun, and I think it was well thought through.” After winning one of the activities, Shanhu Chen said, “This is an awesome event. We enjoyed some delicious food and interesting games. I also learned some new words and phrases.”
new exhibit invades mcinich art gallery May Mullen Layout Editor
Health and Wellness | 14 Sports | 15-16
Featuring: Snow Removal Suggestions Piling Up | Page 7 Jim Winn Protects the SNHU Community | Page 8 "Get Out" Combines Horror and Social Commentary | Page 12 Jerlin Quinones
New Study Abroad Program Coming Soon | Page 13 Tips for Staying Healthy During Spring Break | Page 14 Athlete Spotlight | Page 13
Jaelle Matthieu
Cyan Magenta
What's Inside:
penmenpress@snhu.edu
March 8, 2017
Exhibit "Cannot Be Determined in Advance" comes to SNHU.
1
The McIninch Art Gallery held an artist talk and reception for its newest exhibit, “Cannot Be Determined in Advance” by the artist Debra Weisberg on Thursday, February 23. “Cannot Be Determined in Advance” is an installation exhibit that makes use of the entire gallery space. Weisberg crafted a sweeping sculptural landscape out of wire dipped in pulp and torn black rice paper. In addition to the visual nature of the sculpture, the composer Ken Field created original music that plays on a loop in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition. “I think it's going to expand
their ideas of what happens in a gallery space,” Weisberg said about her exhibit. “It combines sound, theatre and sculpture installation into an environment that will hopefully heighten their senses.” In addition to the exhibit using the gallery space in an entirely different way than previous exhibits, the very nature of Weinberg’s art is incredibly abstract and open to the viewer’s interpretation. “This is a huge departure from the more traditional exhibits that we do,” said Deborah Disston, director of the McIninch Art Gallery. “It’s very different for a student to be able to walk into the space and ask what it means and to be told it
. . . . . . . . . . . Please continue to page 2
editorial
RECONSIDER SMOKING POLICY
THE PENMEN PRESS STAFF 2016-2017
Non-smokers often know the feeling of walking into Robert Frost through a cloud of smoke. This is particularly noticeable by Robert Frost, where it appears students are always standing close to the door, smoking a cigarette. SNHU’s smoking policy located in the Student Handbook states that “smoking is prohibited within 25 feet from any University building entrance and on all athletic-related venues. Work areas are defined as any enclosed location, permanent or temporary, where faculty, staff, and students perform work-related duty in the course of their employment. Public areas are defined as conference rooms, dining hall, hallways, the Student Center, and bathrooms” (p. 29-30). Some students may think that this 25 feet policy is not be-
CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF Rebecca LeBoeuf rebecca.leboeuf@snhu.edu CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF Megan Palmer megan.palmer@snhu.edu MANAGING ASSISTANT Brendon DiBiasio brendon.dibiasio@snhu.edu ADVERTISING MANAGER Jaime Mailloux jaime.mailloux@snhu.edu CO-COPY EDITOR Laurelann Easton laurelann.easton@snhu.edu CO-COPY EDITOR Nicole Kenney nicole.kenney@snhu.edu NEWS EDITOR Nicole Clark nicole.clark2@snhu.edu Cyan Magenta
OPINION EDITOR Bryan Creevy bryan.creevy@snhu.edu ARTS & Gabriel Carrio ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR gabriel.carrio@snhu.edu
ing held; however, it also seems that 25 feet is a difficult distance to picture. The distances between main academic and public building entrances and ashtrays are as follows: The Robert Frost side A has an ashtray approximately 32 feet from the entrance. The front entrance of the Student Center’s ashtray is approximately 36 feet, and the back entrance is 30 feet. Despite the policy being abided by, cigarette smoke will still cloud entrances, especially during the particularly windy winter visiting N.H. once again. Entering or exiting buildings can be uncomfortable and even detrimental for students with health concerns. While the policy states that ashtrays need only be 25 feet from building entrances, oftentimes, it appears that this is not sufficient for the needs of the campus.
. . . . . . .
In 2014, there was discussion from both the student and faculty perspectives pushing to make SNHU a smoke-free campus. Student Mallory Denise Coulombe conducted surveys amongst 338 students in which she found that 78.7 percent of students were non-smokers. Additionally, she found that 75 percent of students were in favor of designated smoking areas, while 50 percent were in favor of a smoke-free campus. It is our hope that smokers utilizing these ashtrays near public entrances be considerate of the non-smoking students, staff and faculty walking in and out of buildings. Additionally, it may be time for SNHU to reevaluate this policy, following in suit with many other universities trying to phase out the presence of cigarettes in their campus culture.
New Exhibit Invades Mcinich Art Gallery
HEALTH & WELLNESS Lori Costa EDITOR lori.costa@snhu.edu
Continued from page 1
Black
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 SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Katerina Wilhelmi katerina.wilhelmi@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!
Debra Weisberg
FACULTY ADVISER Jon Boroshok j.boroshok@snhu.edu
Artist Debra Weisberg stands among her work in the Art Complex Museum. doesn't mean anything, that it's whatever you want it to mean. And I think honestly that's the essence of all art forms anyway.” The music that will accompany “Cannot Be Determined in Advance” will loop in the background of the exhibit during the gallery’s hours of operation. The music is unique in the fact that it exists as two asynchronous tracks. This means that no matter when someone goes into the gallery, the music will always be slightly different. “It's something you have to sit and listen to for awhile because, as I said, things
2
change,” Fields said. “The two different loops shift in respect to each other. If you stay for half an hour you'll hear some things that are the same but will combine in different ways.” Senior James Cowin was entranced by the abstract nature of the new exhibit. “I spent a lot of last semester learning about abstraction so it's all about getting in there and opening your mind to what you're seeing,” Cowin said. “It’s like when you listen to a piece of classical music and you don't expect anything like a story from it, you just kind of lis-
ten and enjoy.” The exhibit will be up until Sunday, April 2 and students are encouraged to stop by and experience Weisberg’s work for themselves. “You can just walk in there and appreciate it,” Disston said. “Or not appreciate it! That's fine too. I think having a visceral response to things is important too. If you are repelled, that is a visceral response that is just as important as being attracted to something. Both those reactions are triggered by something deep inside of you.”
News news
new club offers hands-on COMPUTER experience Rebecca LeBoeuf Editor in Chief
Nick Klotz
Cyan Magenta Black
The Information Technology Student’s Association (ITSA) was introduced to campus this semester after some computer information technology students developed the idea for it last fall. “We came up with the idea that we wanted to help students study for and take IT certification exams which are very important for any job in the industry,” co-founder and president of ITSA Joshua Martin said. “That then expanded into offering a more hands on experience with different equipment which is also not offered in the classroom.” IT students realized there was a need for this type of club in the SNHU community. “Sadly, SNHU doesn't offer any technical "hands-on" teaching with computers, which is a major setback to students who want to break into the IT industry since people usually don't get hired without technical support experience,” Cole Padula, secretary of ITSA, said. The meetings, which take place every other Wednesday
From left: Josh Martin, Jazz Connolly, Vishwal Shah and Ryan Evaul gather around a computer. at 5 p.m., are very interactive. “We had a Pizza and PC Night for our initial meeting, in which we dove into the innards of an old Dell desktop and the group members gave instructions on
how to add and remove hardware devices,” Padula said. Lately, the meetings have revolved around Raspberry Pi’s, which are small computing devices. “We have some awe-
some project ideas varying from building a drone that we can fly to making an arcade machine to play games on,” Martin said. “The possibilities are almost endless.”
Club members are also welcome to bring their own project ideas. “We want to offer our club members the opportunity to come up with a project that we would otherwise not be able to do in a classroom setting, and design and execute it with the help and collaboration of others,” Martin said. Two of the club’s goals are helping members acquire technical certifications, something SNHU does not currently offer its students, and attending a major IT conference, which would offer networking opportunities to members. This club is open to students of all majors to join. “If they join the club, they might learn how to use them [computers] for fun, not just school work,”Dr. Stephanie Collins, computer and information systems professor and ITSA advisor said. “We want to expand our member base and open the world of IT to others. We want to share our ideas and experiences with each other and help one another and have fun while doing it,”Martin said. The next ITSA meeting will be on Wednesday, March 29 at 5 p.m. in Robert Frost 333.
SNHU BUDDIES hosts a meet and greet Nicole Clark News Editor
SNHU Buddies
SNHU now has a new club called SNHU Buddies. The group created this club so people who are in high school or older with different intellectual and developmental disabilities can come meet other SNHU students. The purpose of the club is to meet new people, make new friends and create life long friendships. On Saturday, February 25 from 6-8 p.m., the club held a meet and greet event for the buddies to come and meet all the SNHU students who are a part of this club. This event was held in the small gym in the Athletic Complex. Madison Rabbitt, a first-year student at SNHU and a member of the SNHU Buddies club was so happy to see this event be so successful. “Our buddies were so excited because they got to make a bunch of new friends with all of the SNHU students,” Rabbitt said. There were many activi-
ties that the buddies could participate in throughout the night with all of their new SNHU friends. “The buddies got to play basketball, decorate cupcakes, snap some photos in a photo booth, eat some pizza, play Just Dance on the Wii, hang out and just have a great time,” Rabbitt said. To wrap up the meet and greet event, the club members got everybody together and took a group photo before saying goodbye to the buddies. "So many of the SNHU students came out and genuinely had so much fun playing games and getting to know all the buddies in our club," first year student Melissa Markwarth said. The club holds weekly meetings on Wednesdays, where they have some buddies show up and hang out. “This is a great club regardless of who you are or what disability you have, you can come, hang out and have a good time,” Rabbitt said. For more information about this club, email buddies@snhu.edu
SNHU Buddies pose for a group photo at the conclusion of their meet and greet event.
3
News news
“SHADOWS FALL NORTH” ACKNOWLEDGES BLACK HISTORY MONTH Rachel Romeo Staff Writer
of history that are never really told about: stories and voices that have not yet been heard. “It is also Back History Month, so [the film] lines up beautifully with our concept of wanting to put on people’s
radar that there are a variety of history in the world that aren’t necessarily showcased in the same way. [“Shadows Fall North”] was an attempt to do that in a way that’s relevant to students,” said Page.
By showing more documentaries in the future, the Office of Diversity Program encourages SNHU students to come and reflect on prevalent issues around the New Hampshire area.
Rachel Romeo
Cyan Magenta
The Deborah L. Coffin Women’s Center and the Office of Diversity Program at SNHU partnered together to host a film screening of, “Shadows Fall North” on Tuesday, February 22. The documentary was shown at 7 p.m. in the Women’s Center. Before the film, students were encouraged to help themselves to freshly made popcorn, bottled water and chips to enjoy throughout the event. In the hopes of sparking a discussion, students were encouraged to reflect on the film after the event. The documentary “Shadows Fall North” focuses on black history within the New England area. Specifically, Portsmouth, N.H. has a deep history with African American slavery. Slavery was not only pres-
ent in the South, as areas such as Portsmouth provided acknowledgement to black history. According to the film, the lives and stories of African Americans were ignored for more than a decade. Only recently have communities payed respect to the voices that were silenced for so many years. Monuments such as the Black Heritage Trail and the Harriet Wilson statue stand as physical representations of the role New Hampshire has played in slavery. The documentary emphasized that history is not physically represented through these memorials, but that history is not forgotten. The Director of Diversity Program, Kayla Page, said, “We are always looking for, here at the Office of Diversity Program, new and interesting ways to bring really cool information to students.” The film was intended to introduce aspects
students face tutors in trivia
Black
Katerina Wilhelmi Social Media Manager
4
Jaelle Mattieu
Sponsored by the Academic Advising Office and the Career Development Center
On Wednesday, February 22, The Learning Center put on “Are You Smarter Than a Tutor?” The Last Chapter Pub was transformed into a real-life gameshow set. On stage, there were scoreboards, a spinning wheel with different categories such as business, math, and English. Two tables were set up across from each other, giving opponents a view of their competition. Many students and professors came to The Last Chapter Pub from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to form teams and find out which team would be victorious in this trivia event. The winning team was set to take home a $200 cash prize. There was also a raffle taking place so that students could take home goodies like gift cards, mugs and candy. Professor Kathy Willis, who teaches statistics, served as one of the moderators for the event. “The event is so much fun,” Willis said. “It’s a great opportunity to get everyone engaged as a community.” Ericka Broderick, a junior
at SNHU studying communication, was in attendance that night. Broderick is a statistics tutor at the Learning Center. She was excited about the event and the large turnout. “I think it’s a great way to bring staff and students together,” Broderick said. “It really allows us to show off our skills in a friendly game of trivia. It also showcases the benefits students have on campus with our free tutoring.” The team that was victorious throughout was “The Professors
Team.” In true sportsman- like fashion “The Professors” donated their prize to second place holders “Adam’s Team.” juniors Adam Albano, Dan Martel and Megan Leger, and sophomore Jordan Gambale split the $200 prize. The Learning Center is a place where students can meet with staff and tutors to work on different areas of improvement. From writing English essays, to doing statistics problems, there is always someone available to help.
Christina Hultzman and Adam albano throw down.
News news
CHRISTIAN INTERVARSITY OFFERS SPIRITUAL OPPORTUNITIES for all Thomas Cahalan Staff Writer
Cyan Magenta Black
people, so they contacted the area InterVarsity director to start an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship on the SNHU campus. The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship organization sent some staff to help students setup a chapter. David Spinale is one of the staff workers. While he doesn’t work for SNHU, he does act as the campus liaison to InterVarsity and the club advisor. He also helps multiple college campuses in the area. The club is always looking for new members and currently has ten members and growing. It can range from being a part of the Christian religion and wanting to grow the faith, to someone who wants to learn more about the group or is just looking to make new friends, or to be a part of conversations that discuss different beliefs. The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is open to all. Alan Mendonca, the club president, gave his own personal explanation of why he wanted to join the club in the first place. “I wanted a Christian group on campus I could stick to. I wanted to join mainly because of the
Spirituality is a matter of the utmost importance to some individuals, and SNHU has a club dedicated to fostering this type of thought provoking exploration. Here at SNHU, the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is a club on campus that wants to bring a sense of Christian life to campus. An interested individual does not need to be Christian to join, as the club is open to people of all faiths and anyone who may be interested in learning about spirituality. While InterVarsity may be part of the club’s name, it is not athlete specific. The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is one club part of a larger organization with InterVarsity Christian Fellowships from other colleges. At other schools, there may be a focus on athletics, but the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at SNHU has no such focus. The club has been around on this campus for three years. Some students at SNHU felt there was not a place to grow their Christian faith and meet likeminded
community aspect and remain immersed in the faith. That’s what made me want to join the club.” Mendonca has been president of the club since the beginning of the semester. Sarah Rohrdanz, the club secretary, gave some insight into what her favorite aspect of the club is. “Being with other people that share the same beliefs as me and being able to grow with other people.” Events run by the club include a Christmas party where everyone is invited to play games, eat food, and embrace the yuletide spirit. Games and pizza nights, service work and laser tag outings are some of the other events members can expect to enjoy. For anyone who is interested, the club meets on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the Green Center, room 102A. The club is also willing to meet outside of that time to establish meeting times for those who want to get connected and learn more. If anyone is interested in joining, learning more about the club or has questions, they can be sent to intervarsity@snhu.edu.
RESOURCES for career SUCCESS Rachel Dembek Staff Writer
SNHU provides a plethora of tools for the students use to find careers and internships, whether a student is in progress with their degree or looking for something after they graduate. Here are some of the options to help students find opportunities available to them: CareerEdge is a great tool to find job opportunities and articles with tips on how to write a resume, or set up a LinkedIn profile. This tool is controlled by the Career Development Center and almost all of the counselors write articles to fit the student population’s needs at that specific time. SNHU Recruit is a database where all of the jobs that are available to SNHU students are posted. This resource makes it easy for students to upload their resume and cover letters. Students can even apply for the jobs through the website. This makes it easier for students to find jobs and internship available in the surround-
ing areas. The Career & Professional Development Center is a great tool as well. There are counselors available to talk to students about their resumes, business cards, job and internship opportunities, LinkedIn profiles and more. SNHU’s Career & Professional Development Center is there to help students better themselves and to help find opportunities to further their careers. The Career Expo and the Career and Internship Fairs take place every year at SNHU. These events are directed by The Career & Professional Development Center to further peoples’careers. During these fairs, 60 or more employers come to SNHU to show students the opportunities that they have within their companies. All of these resources are provided to students though SNHU and are completely free of charge to use. Students may take advantage of these resources to get professional advice about their future career.
Pianist Fred Moyer Melds Music and Technology Nick Klotz Online Editor
nection between music and computer science. “There’ s something very similar about a piece of music and a [computer] program.” Moyer works on a number of
tools for practicing, analyzing, performing and recording music. “I wrote this program that analyzes music. I’ ve been working on it for thirty years...It’ s become this total obsession,”
Nick Klotz
On Tuesday, February 14, SNHU welcomed pianist Fred Moyer back to campus for the twenty-first time. He gave an intimate performance in the Banquet Hall as part of the SNHU Concert Series. Moyer treated the audience to a bit of a history lesson through his hour-long performance. The pieces he performed ranged from Mozart and Beethoven to more recent jazz improvisations from Oscar Peterson. The piece “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin, a 17-minute epic, went over especially well with the audience. “I’ve heard it before and it’ s like a jazzy upbeat tune. I love the upbeat stuff,” said David Smolenski, a third-year music student. When not performing, Moyer is also a computer programmer and engineer. This shines through in his performances
with his tech-heavy stage setup. “I don’ t know what it is but so many of my musical friends end up going into programming. The two seem to go together,” Moyer said, speaking of the con-
Fred Moyer gives a moving piano performance.
5
Moyer says. Moyer’ s piano was flanked by speakers used to play a custom backing track, simulating a live band. Moyer controlled the music with a series of foot pedals under the piano. Moyer also used a GoPro camera to frame a close shot on his hands. This video feed was then played live, over a projector onto a screen stuck to the underside of the piano’ s lid. “My eyes were pretty much glued to that screen the whole time.” said Smolenski. Moyer is thrilled that he is able to use technology to help his audience enjoy music. He is in the process of getting this configuration, dubbed MoyerCam, patented. “One guy came up and told me, ‘I’m hard of hearing but when I saw your hands playing the notes I felt like I could hear them better,’” Moyer said of his experience bringing the setup into a retirement home.
news
ENERGETIC COMEDIAN LIGHTS UP THE LAST CHAPTER PUB Nick VonSchantz-Ricci Staff Writer On Saturday, September 18, Los Angeles comic Opeyemi
“Opey” Olagbaju entertained a large group of SNHU students in the Last Chapter Pub. The show was sponsored by the Coordinators of Activi-
ties and Programming Events (CAPE). A fresh pasta bar was available so the audience could get dinner and a show. Matt Montiminy, Weekend
Nick VonSchantz-Ricci
Cyan Magenta
Opeyemi "Opey" Olagbaju posing with his plate of pasta.
vacation on a budget
Black
Amy Sumsion Staff Writer
was a reason for it. Opey ended his show with his signature message that he wanted the crowd to remember, that everything is spaghetti. He mentioned that all food is spaghetti, all ideas are spaghetti and all people are spaghetti. “We all have the same marinara sauce running through our veins,” said Opey. The show was very well received by the audience. Gabe Reim was one of the many attendees. “It was awesome! He was really funny,” said Reim. It is clear that Opey loves making people laugh and he won’t stop anytime soon. “In the madness of the world, I feel that with comedy, you have control. Anything can be funny,” said Opey. Opey put on an excellent performance. His hilarious, yet at times thought-provoking and inspirational, material provided SNHU students with a unique way to spend a Saturday night.
STUDENT performance inspires all Nick VonSchantz-Ricci Staff Writer The struggles of growing up in the South Bronx were brought to life in the Last Chapter Pub courtesy of Jose Roldan, an online student pursuing a master’s degree in English and creative writing with a focus in screenwriting. On Thursday, February 16, Roldan performed his inspirational solo-performance titled “Father Forgive Me for I Have Sinned.” The event was sponsored by the Coordinators of Activities and Programming Events (CAPE). The award-winning show, which opened in 2006, has enabled
Joseroldanjr.com
Just because students are living on a budget , does not mean that students have to stay home f or Spring Break. More than 1.5 million students go on Spring Break every year and spend an average of $1,000 per student, according to Travel Weekly. However, even the student with the smallest budget can get away for this week and enjoy the days on the beach if they just follow these few tips. Save Up. It is no secret that Spring Break can be expensive, especially if students are traveling. Students should plan for Spring Break by only spending what they can afford. It is also important to save for the unexpected. Save with the mindset that everything is 10% more than what it actually costs so there will be extra money at hand in case of an emergency, or a little extra for spending. Plan Ahead. Book hotels, flights and cars ahead of time to save money. Companies will increase pricing months in advance, so watch for the best deals possible. Booking directly with the companies will save the expenses for hiring a middle man to book the hotel
or flight instead. Bring A Student ID. The same rules apply in other places as they do in New Hampshire, always have a valid student ID handy in case there is a discount. Many restaurants and attract ions will off er student discounts as they know many students are on a budget. Bring Everything. Packing everything will save money. Sunblock, sunglasses, cameras or f lip flops are small expenses but, in tourist areas, are a lot more expensive than what students are used to. Get Groceries. Eating out every day for every meal will snowball and become very expensive. In tourist locations, meals can be a lot more expensive, take advantage of continental breakfasts and buy foods that can be used in several different meals. After arriving at the hotel, go to the grocery store and get enough food for all meals, snacks and drinks. Bring a cooler after leaving the hotel so nobody has to buy unnecessary meals. Being on a budget does not mean that Spring Break is out of the question. As long as students plan accordingly, they can travel for Spring Break without breaking the bank. Start saving now to have fun later.
Chair of CAPE, described seeing Opey for the first time, “We saw Opey at NACA [National Association of Campus Activities], and we thought he was great.” Opey has showcased at several festivals all across the country. He has a casual, highenergy style that really appealed to the audience. Opey spoke about a variety of poignant topics, such as growing up in Nigeria, racism in the United States, dating, social media and American politics. He poked fun at many of his own personal experiences regarding these topics. Before the show began, audience members were asked to submit topics that they wanted to hear about. Partway through his performance, Opey went through each topic and offered his opinion about it, which added a welcome improvisational element to the show. At first, the pasta bar accompaniment to the show seemed rather odd, but there
6
Roldan to gain notoriety as a talented actor and playwright. The performance was a coming of age autobiography about a shy Latino boy who grows up in South Bronx, N.Y. who has a no-nonsense father, protective mother and flamboyant sister. The show began by Roldan impersonating his loud, erratic cousin. He continued to discuss each of his family members. Uninterested in sports and disrespected by his peers, Roldan focuses his attention on school, in an attempt to make his abusive father proud of him. Their relationship does not improve, which motivates Roldan to attend college
in Lower Manhattan. While there, he makes a friend named Xavier, who boosts his confidence and convinces him to come out to his family. Roldan provided vivid imagery into his dysfunctional household, while also incorporating numerous elements of humor. Much of this humor came from family anecdotes which added to the originality of the story. After the show, a question and answer session was held. Attendees asked Roldan about his current relationship with his family, how living in the Bronx affected him and his plans for the future. The decision to tell his story stemmed from a class he took during his final year in college. “I thought I graduated, but I later found out that I needed one more credit,” said Roldan. “I ended up stumbling upon a class called solo performance workshop.” First-year student Sammy Frasier thoroughly enjoyed Roldan’s performance. “I was excited to see more theater on campus,” said Frasier. Roldan describes the story as “his New York City Latino version of 'All in the Family' sprinkled with South Bronx soul and riotous clashes set in a family living room.”
FEATURE news
Snow removal suggestions piling up Ginny Fagan Staff Writer
Nick Lanza
Cyan Magenta Black
Despite the warm weather that has recently come and gone, many snow storms have hit campus this winter. Who can students and faculty thank upon waking when all of the snow has been cleared from paths, sidewalks and parking lots? SNHU’s Facilities team and Public Safety. Marc Guertin, director of Facilities said, “I oversee grounds. We do about 70 percent of the grounds in house, and sub[contract] out about 30 percent to outside contractors.” The grounds consists of the parking lots, sidewalks as well as landscaping. There are 13 positions on the grounds crew, including the supervisor, and there are about 40 other housekeepers that report to Guertin. “When there’s a storm coming, we usually communicate and decide whether or not to do plowing operations,” Jim Winn, associate Dean, department of Public Safety said. If Guertin decides plowing is necessary, the next step is communicating this information to the students. “Some of the ways we do that are blast emails to resident and commuter students, and we have our marketing communications folks also get on social media sites and get the word out there. We’ll also text the information through SNHU Alerts to everyone,” Winn said. It takes four nights to complete snow removal. “The reason it takes four nights is because if there’s 2,500 parking spots on campus, it’s not like we have another 2,000 somewhere where we can tell everyone to move their cars to. So we have to do it in stages. We used to do it in three nights, but parking got too tight," Jim Winn said. "The night of, we ask people to move their cars by 10 p.m. so that we have clear lots with no vehicles in them, and usually around midnight [Guertin’s] team comes in. [Public Safety’s] job is to make sure the lots are cleared of vehicles so they can plow,” Jim Winn continued. Because of new parking lots being built around campus along with other projects, in the coming years the four day process may change. “We would like to bring the process back to three days. The
Parking lot covered in snow during last snow storm. biggest reason is if we encounter back to back storms,” Winn said. Guertin explained why back to back snow storms are difficult if it continues snowing. “Sometimes you can’t get to everything in four nights, so now you haven’t touched somebody’s area and they can’t get to their car because we weren’t able to plow that second or third night,” Guertin said. This four day set-up works well if students do their part. “We realize it’s a little bit of an imposition on the students, but if people haven’t moved their cars, we tow them. If the car has a parking decal we know who they are, so we will tow them to another part of campus,” Winn said. Lot 26 is usually where these cars end up, behind the library. “If the car doesn’t have a decal that becomes very problematic because someone has to pay for the tow truck. If a student doesn’t move their car, we just put the charge on their account, but if it’s not a student we tow the car to the tow company’s lot in Manchester, N.H., and ultimately whoever owns that car will show up at Public Safety, and we direct them to where it has been towed,” said Winn.
Public safety suggests that students move their cars as soon as they receive the email that snow removal is taking place, and move it back before class or in between classes in the morning, but not everyone’s schedules allow for this. “If you have a busy day when it snows and you’re on a sports team, especially lacrosse when we have practices late in the evening, people have gotten tickets because they didn’t get to move their cars until late at night," Cameron Rewucki, degree in three senior. "The places that are available for people to move their cars to are so far away that it makes it difficult to move your car in between classes and then get back in time to get to another class or practice,” Rewucki continued “This year’s snow removal was the bane of my existence. They were so inconsiderate about emails, and their timing was terrible,” Caryssa Propfe, junior, said. Propfe felt the emails notifying students were not sent in enough time for everyone to plan to move their cars by 10 p.m. “I applaud the students. They’ve gotten better over the years, and have been so much
7
more responsive which is great because the last thing I want to do is tow somebody’s car, and nobody wants to come out to find their car has been towed,” Winn said, and Guertin agreed. They attribute the responsiveness of students to better communication coming from Public Safety’s end, but are aware that improvements can be made. There have been complaints from students about having to move their cars when the snow seems to have already melted by the time facilities gets around to plowing a lot. Guertin addressed this by saying, “we drive around and look at the lots. For that particular storm we saw that the ice buildup needed to be treated, so it may not have looked like it got plowed, but it got treated.” “There’s never anywhere to park in the big parking lot near the hospitality building, all the spaces are usually taken even at 8 a.m. Commuters can’t find parking there which can be annoying,” Margie Buswell, a junior commuter said. “The amount of parking spots taken up after it snows isn’t fair [to commuters]. They don’t plow the snow so that there is enough parking spots. People
can’t see where the parking spots are, making it so they take up more than one spot. The lots are just poorly plowed,” Lynnie Picard, a first-year student commuter said. “If we see residents haven’t moved their cars from commuter lots by 9 or 10 a.m. we’ll start sending text alerts to let them know they need to move their cars,” Winn said. “There are some more remote lots on campus commuters can park in if there aren’t any spots in the designated commuter lots. The lot behind Webster has about 180 spots, and is always open,” Winn said. Commuters should also know if they are coming to campus and aren’t sure where to park, calling Public Safety is a good option. Public Safety can pull up the cameras of parking lots on campus and let students know exactly where spots are open, this will hopefully lessen the frustration some commuters feel when arriving on campus after a storm. Overall, snow removal on campus this year has been more successful than previous years, and Public Safety as well as the facilities department are open to hearing from students and faculty about how they could improve the process.
Penmen Passion news Jillian Mayo Contributing Writer
Cyan Magenta
happy here ever since. He said that his experiences from the police department have helped him with this job because it helps him to be more empathetic and compassionate toward students. "Showing students empathy and compassion gives me a better ability to gain the trust of students," Winn said. There are three different shifts in the Department of Public Safety, and there is one supervisor assigned to each shift. Winn’s job is to oversee the entire department and ensure that everything is running smoothly. Additionally, he oversees the online division of public safety. Winn does not have a typical work day. "My workdays vary from day to day due to many different factors," Winn said. He always starts his day by reading the reports that were made during the previous night. From these reports, he determines which require a follow up action and what this action will be. From there, he assigns people to investigate these cases and take care of any incidents that have occurred. He takes every report seriously and always does Jillian Mayo
Black
Public Safety officers have many responsibilities and duties that most students may not know about. They work every day to ensure that the campus is safe for every student and faculty member. They listen to student concerns and requests, and respond to incidents on campus. Because of the Department of Public Safety, located in the Morrissey House next to the library, students and faculty at SNHU can feel a sense of safety and security. Jim Winn, the executive director of Public Safety, has been working at SNHU for 10 years. He entered the military directly out of high school and then joined the Manchester Police Department. After retiring from the police department, Winn attended college to get his associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Upon finishing his schooling, he taught at a community college before finding the Public Safety job opening here. Winn applied and then received the job, and has been
Jim Winn protects the Snhu community
Winn ready to spring into superhero action (minus the cape).
Megan Palmer
Public Safety van ready to roll in front of Morissey House.
his best to respond to the problem in a way that he feels will most effectively solve the problem at hand. Another major part of Winn’s job is to prepare for events that take place on campus, such as sports games or public speaking events. He, along with the rest of the Public Safety officers, help with traffic flow and crowd control at these major events. For example, last semester, Michelle Obama visited campus. The help of the Public Safety office was necessary, as this event was open to the public and had a huge turnout. "Sometimes we even need to call for extra police from the Manchester Police Department to come and help with security at events as well," Winn stated. In addition to helping with events, Winn and the rest of the Public Safety officers are extremely involved with student affairs. Winn is always in con-
8
tact with the Office of Residence Life on campus and works closely with the Student Government Association (SGA) as well. SGA has safety committee representatives who are specifically elected to work with Public Safety. When students voice their concerns or suggestions to SGA, the safety committee then passes this information along to the Department of Public Safety to be dealt with. Winn has a passion for working with the students on campus and it is one of his favorite parts about his job. He also likes the fact that every work day is different. “Even though I often deal with the same types of problems, I like being able to work with different students and getting to know them and their different personalities,” Winn said. He said that it can sometimes be difficult working with students who are in trouble for more serious matters, but
that one of the most important things is to treat everybody with the same amount of dignity and fairness. The Department of Public Safety here at SNHU work hard to ensure that the campus is safe and secure at all times. They listen to student’s concerns, and do whatever they can to better our community in any way possible.
Do you know any SNHU staff or faculty that should be featured in a Penmen Passion piece? Email us at penmenpress@ snhu.edu!
OPINION news
break out the books
Cyan Magenta
Spring Break is the perfect bit of relaxation students need in the middle of what is usually 15 weeks of agony. The timing could not be more perfect as it sits right in the middle of the spring semester. Spring Break is a great opportunity for students to recuperate at home and take time to collect themselves before finishing off the spring semester. As it gets closer to midterms, students get swamped with work and fall behind, and it's easy to want to just veg in front of Netflix. As much as you may love to keep this up guilt-free over break, Spring Break actually poses more time to do work with less stress. Rather than party or waste time on Netflix, students can utilize this week off by catching up on old assignments or trying to stay ahead on future homework. As the middle of the semes-
ter hits and midterm grades are locked in, students can get a feel for how well (or not well) they are performing in class. Those struggling to make ends meet can saddle up and mentally prepare themselves for the final weeks of the semester. During this time, it’s a great idea to study areas of concern, hit local libraries for further assistance or resources, or attend workshop or tutoring facilities. While some can only imagine spending Spring Break in the sun with the top down somewhere far from home, not all can afford the luxury of vacationing mid-semester. For graduating seniors, this is especially a golden opportunity to reassess short term and long term goals before the real-world hits. After all, there is no Spring Break in the realm of adulting. A word to the wise this Spring Break: take the time to get on track with studies in order to finish the semester strong.
The Ugly Truth
Nicole Kenney Copy Editor
give me a spring break Gabriel Carrio Arts & Entertainment Editor
Spring Break is just around the corner, and that’s great news. Everyone will finally have a week off from school to relax, catch up with family and friends, and not have to stress about school. But wait, midterms are also right around the corner. Never mind. I guess we can’t just take a week off and chill. The timing of these two events is such a tragic coincidence that I’m not even sure how to feel. On the one hand, I’m glad that midterms are coming and I can get them over with (especially since only two of my classes really have midterms that matters). On the other hand I really wanted that week to myself, and now that’s not even an option. Spring break would be great if there were real time to relax. Instead, professors assign extra work to prep or finish midterms, stealing our long hoped-for dreams of re-
laxing in the middle of the semester. A vacation full of studying is not a vacation at all. I still need to balance all my other responsibilities like work, video production, and writing. The only thing that changes is the fact that I don’t have to physically be on campus for classes. With so much work assigned to stay afloat when break ends, being at home changes nothing, especially for commuters. Studying at home and studying on campus are basically the same thing, only one forces me to be alone and not have help from a professor if I need it. How can I be expected to effectively study on my own time when I can barely effectively study on the school’s time? That’s only partially a joke. I get that there’s nothing to do about it, and one just has to grit their teeth and get over it, but having midterms right after Spring Break sucks. No doubt about it.
Black
snhu class absence policy requires reform Bryan Creevy Opinion Editor
cludes skipping all our classes and learning on our own time, maybe that’s just the best way for a certain student to learn. I have known one person who was forced to leave SNHU on account of him missing all of his classes. He had major depression,
May Mullen
One thing SNHU students will hear during their time as an on-campus student is that they are only allowed three unexcused absences before their grade starts being affected or they are forced to drop the class. This policy is unnecessary and should be changed. A student’s performance and grasp of the class’s content is not measured by the amount of days they show up to class. Yes, it is very important because that is where the student-professor bond can be formed and where they are taught the subject by an experienced individual. However, this is not something that should determine their final grade or their spot in the class. Several universities hold the policy that all you have to do is take the tests, pass in the homework, and attend the midterm and final; if you do those four things and pass the
class, you’re golden. This is the way it should be at SNHU. If a student is capable of missing every class but is following the syllabus and learning the subject as effectively as someone who attends every class, why should they be penalized for their ability to selfteach? Sometimes, this policy is a strain for even the student who tries to attend all their classes. Sleeping in accidentally for a morning class or being stuck in traffic are counted as unexcused absences, and these do unfortunately happen frequently with some students. They don’t mean to miss the class, but circumstances got in the way. With each accidental absence, they are one step closer to their grade being demoted, and this is entirely unfair. We aren’t in high school anymore; we are all responsible young adults and need to learn to budget our time and learn in the most effective ways for ourselves. If this in-
9
and couldn’t get himself out of bed most mornings, so he very rarely attended classes. He did his homework, though, and this still wasn’t enough to fulfill his requirements for class. It got to the point where he wasn’t even motivated to go take the tests because he knew
he would fail out anyway because of his absences. SNHU needs to change its attendance policy to better reflect the individual ways each of its students best learns. Attendance does not determine a student’s capabilities in that class.
Opinion news
it's almost time for seniors to take the dive in may
Mustapha R. Price Staff Writer
Black
no snhu alerts, snow problem Julia Carolan Staff Writer SNHU gets hit by major snowstorms every year, so to keep the lots so clear, people need to move their cars. What should be a very minor inconvenience has actually turned into a recurring nightmare for a lot of students. Even though we haven't gotten any snow recently, here are some tips to avoid having your car towed and get alerts next time mother nature acts up. There are many who claim to not be receiving the SNHU alerts via text or email; they don’t know what lots are being plowed when, so they don’t move their cars. This ends with a horrifying realization that their cars have been towed. Personally I have had no issues with the text message alerts. They’ve brought me nothing but joy when telling me I get to sleep in and avoid the cold. Many students are not receiving these texts and emails, though. Having your car towed is a costly, time consuming, and stressful
feelings, and much more. It’s simply not a matter of moving on to bigger and better things. It’s not about the job prospects, the resume, or even the degree. In the end, what was
truly important about this experience, was the ability to become yourself. We learned to give an honest look at our values and adapt them over time to become better
SGTKFitness.com
Cyan Magenta
Students who are getting ready to graduate are likely finding themselves in a very retrospective frame of mind. It’s hard not to be when all of the signs are pointing towards the end of the road. Between the weather teasing later months like April or May, and the final Spring Break being on the horizon, it seems as though the clock is ticking even faster. A lot of panic is setting in, but why is this? While it’s true that plenty of people are falling victim to the fears of employment and routine budgeting, it’s more about the shift in status and the loss of security that causes us to experience such fear. It’s the idea that everything we’ve ever needed has been at our fingertips while we were here. If we needed friends, we could step outside our door. If we needed food, a short walk and a card swipe (at least for resident students) was all it took. Upon graduating, we’re going to lose that ease of access to the
things that sustain us. The social dynamic of college makes it easier to branch out, think about the way others feel, give honest and introspective looks at ourselves and our
situation. If something leading to your car being towed was not entirely your fault, you best believe you’re going to fight it. “I went away for a weekend and I came back to find my car had been towed,” said Acacia McDowell, a junior SNHU student. “Not only did I not receive an email or text, but none of my friends did, either, so I had no way to know I had to move my car for plowing. If I had known, I could’ve asked one of my roommates to move it for me.” If you are not receiving SNHU alerts there are many other ways you can find out which lots are being plowed when. You can ask your friends or RA; hopefully, one of them has been notified. If all else fails, just look outside and see if there’s a lacking amount of cars in your lot. You can sign up for SNHU alerts on the university’s website. If you are having trouble receiving these alerts you may want to check online and sign up for them again.
and stronger people. We took our personalities and turned them into skillsets. We can go from being nice people to effective communicators, or from articulate speakers to strongminded leaders. The fear is unnecessary because college was never about the paper. No matter what, everything we’ve taken the initiative to learn here has become a piece of the life we’re going to live postgraduation. The next time you think about goodbyes, replace them with ideas of how you’re going to maintain those relationships. The next time thoughts of fiscal difficulties arise, think about a strong network and support unit developed over years of relationship building. When you begin to think about the end of the road, remember that every trail has been marked on the map, and the trials and tribulations on those paths don’t disappear; they become part of the grand adventure that is life. Take the rest of these days, and make sure they’re worth marking on the map.
applying for grad school: A waiting game Laurelann Easton Copy Editor In your senior year, a big question that comes to mind is what to do after graduation. The two main options are to either enter the real world with a career or continue your education with a master’s degree. When I first applied to college, I knew I wanted to go to graduate school for a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in writing. It was what I knew I ought to do to perfect my craft. Making the choice over a full-time career was tough, given how moneycentric the world is and how much a second degree can cost. In the last two months, I sent out five applications: three lowresidency and two full-residency (out of state). What do you do when all the applications are finished? You wait. And wait. And pretend that you have patience. It’s very difficult to find patience. I’ve just spent months grueling over applications and
10
I need to know if that work is fruitful. Chances are that I won’t get accepted to at least two of the schools I applied to, if I’m being optimistic. On top of that, without knowing what programs I’ve been accepted to, I have no idea what I’m doing after I graduate. I have no certainty of my future, which is fast approaching with graduation two months away, and it’s killing me. I can’t plan on a place to live. I can’t expect how close or far away from family I’ll be. I can’t even plan to go for full or parttime jobs because I don’t know if my graduate degree will be my full-time job. I have to hope that applying will be worth it. After reading all this, I doubt anyone would want to go to graduate school. It’s not a fun process to even get accepted in the first place. What’s pulling me through is that this is something I genuinely want. Graduate school is my best chance at a future in writing or even teaching, and I
can’t do either as a career without the next degree. Only go to graduate school or consider it if it’s beneficial to your career and you as a person. It’ll only be a greater debt on top of your first degree. The stress leading up to it isn’t worth it, so just save yourself the trouble. If you’re in the fine arts, though, it may just be worth the agony of waiting. Perfecting your craft, whether you’re a writer or another type of artist, is worth it. I sure hope that it is. The Opinion Section does not represent the views of the Penmen Press or SNHU The Opinion Section is a place for memebers of the community to write about their on- and off- campus opinions
arts andnews entertainment
book review: "the grownup" brings modern humour to horror
mass effect: andromeda
Gillian Flynn, author of “Gone Girl,” presents a modern take on Henry James’s classic ghost story, “The Turn of the Screw,” with a woman who details her unique experience as a hand-job specialist in the back of a psychic’s shop called “Spiritual Palms.” The narrator, who is never named, retires her hands due to carpal tunnel and starts working as a psychic in the front of the shop. This 62-page novella follows the disturbing tale of the narrator’s customer, Susan, and her haunted house with potentially haunted elder son. It’s up to the reader to decide what’s true and what’s not, which is reminiscent of James’s novel in the sense that it is rarely clear which details are truth or fiction. This comes into play when the narrator hears two different stories from Susan and her eldest son which don’t line up, and she must choose who to trust, with her life on the line. This novella has witty humor that fans of Chuck Palahniuk would enjoy. “You didn’t want
“Mass Effect: Andromeda” is the latest addition to the “Mass Effect” series of games that was developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. The game is to be released on March 21 in America and March 23 in Europe. “Andromeda” takes place 600 years after the events of “Mass Effect 3,” but the mission the characters undertake began two years after the events of “Mass Effect 2.” It’s a little complicated, but none of the characters in “Andromeda” are aware of the events from “3,”While the previous games in the “Mass Effect” series had Commander Shepard as the protagonist, “Andromeda” will focus mainly on twins Scott and Sara Ryder. Both Scott and Sara are inexperienced recruits of the Alliance Forces and will be accompanied by three other characters. Players will be able to choose to play as either Scott or Sara at the beginning of the game. “Mass Effect: Andromeda” will also contain elements that were featured in the previous
Gabriel Carrio Arts & Entertainment Editor
otherwise. Flynn manages to pull the story full circle for the narrator in a way that doesn’t seem possible, but it takes the narrator on a path that brings her right back to where she was as a child, though she plays the grownup role now. “The Grownup” displays a mastery of wit that will surely charm its reader and captivate them into the thick plot of whether ghosts are real or not. It’s a fantastic afternoon read or a quickie before bed for readers who have a hard time fitting reading into their lives.
games, such as open world exploration, choice-based dialogue and third-person shooter combat. The first two elements will remain the same as they were in the first three games, but the combat will see some changes as it will be more mobile-focused than cover based. “Andromeda” has received the Most Anticipated Game Award from the Global Game Awards and the Most Wanted Game from the Golden Joystick Awards. The Mass Effect fanchise has been a huge sccess and this game is a welcome addition. now fans must wait with baited breath till its release
netflick of the week "black mirror" be horrifying. The series shows us the dark and undesirable future in store for us, like a black mirror. While the show presents some pretty unsettling and uncomfortable imagery and topics, it’s an incredible show. Charlie Brooker, the creator, executive producer and writer of the series, has put a lot of time, passion, and thought into every episode (he’s the only writer! The episodes aren’t even connected!). Between the first two seasons and the third one, backed by Netflix, you can see the major increase in quality from the boost in budget. The support from Netflix allowed Brooker to not only bring his show back, but to make it better than ever by giving him and his production team more resources than they had for the first two seasons. Each season is very short,
the first two having only three episodes each. Season three has six episodes, with the season finale being as long as a feature length film (with no commercials). The episodes don’t share common ideas or themes apart from the major overarching “black mirror” motif, making Brooker’s writing skills even more impressive. Considering each episode can stand alone, you don’t have to start from the beginning. Each episode can be enjoyed by itself, so just pick whichever episodes look the most interesting. Granted, they all are, but some are definitely better than others. Every episode in season three is gold, from an episode about cyberbullying and the dangers of personal computer hacking, to transferring your consciousness to a virtual paradise with other people when your body dies. “Black Mirror” is one of the
11
chilango.com
Originally a British show lasting two seasons on the network Channel 4 (2011-14), “Black Mirror” was picked up by Netflix in 2016 and given a third season. The series is heavily science-fiction based, while also taking place in a grounded reality (most of the time). The show gets its title from the themes it deals with. “Black Mirror” presents issues and ideas about technology that we deal with today, and imagines what will happen in the future if we continue down the path we’re going, such as security monitoring, Internet trolling, and virtual reality. The ideas are dark, pessimistic, and frightening. Technically, the show counts as humorless satire. To live in a reality that “Black Mirror” presents would
any orgasm yelps from the back when a lady was telling you how her marriage was coming apart” (16). Flynn combines sex, love and horror in a way that can only be considered comical in how accurately she represents life. This wit keeps most aspects of true horror at bay and more surface level, so readers won’t worry about feeling squeamish. The humor tends to add to the intrigue of what’s going on; the narrator goes along with Susan thinking that there’s no real ghost, but numerous signs say
TechTimes
Black
Alex Scheuer Staff Writer
SarazkettleBorough
Cyan Magenta
Laurelann Easton Copy Editor
best shows available on Netflix, and it’s not at all worth skipping over. Grab some friends,
make some food, and spend a day binging all 12 episodes. You won’t regret it.
arts andnews entertainment "get out" combines horror and Social commentary
Nick Klotz Online Editor
Universal Pictures
"the great wall" isn't so great
Addison Thyng Staff Writer
Chris is prepared to submit, but Rose doesn’t stand for that and argues the point. The officer receives a call on his radio asking if he’s alright and you see a glimmer of indecision in his eyes. Peele lets you release that breath you’ve been holding as the officer dismisses the call and tells the couple to go on their
modern baseball's "holy ghost" Gabriel Carrio Arts & Entertainment Editor Modern Baseball, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a four-piece rock band with seriously heavy punk influences. I liken them to Interpol, Kings of Leon and early The Killers. Their fourth album, “Holy Ghost” is a half-hour long experience that switches back and forth between feeling somber and pining, and having a loud, good time. Really though, the somber feeling is underlying in every song. Interestingly, the album’s writing was split between the two front men Jake Ewald and Brendan Lukens. Ewald wrote the first half, and the second was written by Brendan Lukens. Ewald’s half deals with his family and the passing of his grandfather, and Lukens’s half deals with depression and experience with mental illness. At no point does the album feel whiny or obnoxious. They go about their songs in a beautiful way that feels natural.
12
Run For Cover Records
The action film is one of the most prominent genres in the industry, pulling in some of the largest profits in Hollywood. While they might overrun mainstream media, they certainly come in different forms: AAA blockbusters, low-budget indie “one location” movies, thrillers, and many more. Then there are some that try to be unique, but fall short. “The Great Wall,” is one of those films. First off, to recognize the “white” elephant in the room, this film doesn’t actually succumb to typical Hollywood whitewashing. While it’s a bit odd to see an American and Latino lead in a movie set in China, this is really the only extent that it goes to. Everything else about the film is completely Chinese. From all the other characters (except an oddly placed Willem Dafoe)
to the fact that nobody speaks English apart from the characters that need to. Matt Damon is good as the leading hero, along with the rest of the cast. The first and last thirds of the movie have enjoyable fight sequences and the lead up to the reveal of what the creatures look like is equal parts well done and a letdown. The only real drag is in the middle, where the action is traded for exposition and missed opportunities to better define characters. Overall, “The Great Wall” is an enjoyable film, but not a very good one. It seems like it is trying to be a big blockbuster, but comes across as an almost Bmovie with some decent action sequences. It’s not really a bad movie if you just want to see some cool fight scenes, in which case you’ll like the movie just fine. But for those who want to get into the characters and story, it’s definitely lacking in quality and content. 7/10
creating several unique and uncomfortable situations for Chris. On the way to the parents’ house, the couple hits a deer with their car and call the police for help. The officer tells them to call animal control next time, and asks for Rose’s license, then Chris’s, even though he wasn’t driving.
The vocals are less singing, more musical talking. Lukens isn’t really a singer, he’s more of a poet that adds a lilt to his voice over the music. For those of us who can’t sing (such as myself) this only aids in making the band more relatable. For the majority of the album, the songs flow into one another continuously. There are only a few instances, later in the album, that songs seem more standalone. The instrumentals,
and their moods, mesh seamlessly, grabbing the listener with a feeling and bringing them through a range of emotions in just a few minutes. The band is very good at conveying emotion vocally, lyrically and instrumentally. Quite possibly the best album I’ve heard so far this year, “Holy Ghost” is a must-listen for fans of the band and indie rock. Stream it on Spotify, pick it up for $9.99 on iTunes.
Black
Black
ever. Writer/Director Jordan Peele, of “Key and Peele” fame, manages to take much of the biting wit that made his Comedy Central show so popular and turn it into a careful examination of the genre. Tension is the heart of a good scare, and Peele has a knack for
Cyan Magenta
Cyan Magenta
The most frightening things in the world often hit closest to home. Horror thriller “Get Out” recognizes this by tackling racism at a time where it’s at the forefront of our minds. Chris is a young photographer enjoying relative success both professionally and romantically. His girlfriend, Rose, invites him to meet her family after five months of dating. Chris is apprehensive, as he is black and Rose is white. Such a distinction in our culture doesn’t sound like an issue, as Rose assures him, but Chris understands that America holds a structural racism. Experience has shown him that society thinks the color of his skin truly is a big deal. It’s not often that a horror movie tries to make such a big political statement. Recent events like the shooting of Michael Brown, Black Lives Matter, and the appointment of a president whose political ideas are opposite that of the previous POTUS have made this film’s message more relevant than
way. The tension only increases from there, but it wouldn’t be Peele without comic relief, emphasis on “relief.” Chris’s wisecracking best friend Rod serves as the audience’s voice, and a voice of reason in his own outlandish way every time he checks in on Chris via phone. Often the comedy is less overt and more satirical. For example, Peele picks on the white liberals who believe they’re above racism because they voted for Obama, like Rose’s father. As the film’s plot evolved it felt as if it were crossing that line into goofy B-movie territory, forcing the audience to suspend their disbelief to follow along. In a film that wanted to say something about reality, this wasn’t always conducive to the message. This film must be commended for how confidently it tackles its central themes. Peele manages to turn racial tensions into effective tension on the screen in a way that leaves the audience with a clear understanding of what the film wanted to say, while being a great film in its own right. 7/10
Penmen abroad news Spend two weeks in chile
Kamila Ataee Penmen Abroad Editor
Kristyn Laviola
Cyan Magenta Black
Andrea Bard, the Coordinator and professor of Communication Majors and Justina Oliveira, a Psychology Professor will take a group of 24 students to Chile for two weeks starting on May 15, 2017. Bard teaches COM-220, Intercultural Communication. Her Chile trip will be her fifth trip taking her COM-220 students to a foreign country to help them experience a new culture and life style. Bard previously took her students to Greece, Belgium, Brussels, Florence and Madrid. “I’ve always traveled because my mother was a travel agent,” said Bard. “I’m carrying my mother’s tradition to the world.” Eighteen of 24 participants are from Kyle Viator’s Global Executive Management Class. Viator is the director of the Bradley three-year honors program at SNHU. His class, which he organized this semester, does not meet regularly, but his students will have the chance to meet with the rest of the group before the trip. “They will meet with their
SNHU student makes an expedition to Easter Island, Chile. groups and they will do group bonding activities to get to know each other,” said Bard. COM-220 students are required to go on a trip to a foreign country during the Spring Break. However, students will have the option to take this class in both semesters. Students interested in traveling can register for the Spring Semester and those not interested in traveling can register
for the Fall semester next year. The University of Viña del Mar is in partnership with SNHU which arranged the “home stay” accommodation for the students. “This university is a great university at its home stay,” said Bard. Students will be able to take some classes, such as a Chilean Cooking Class or Spanish, and immerse themselves in the Chilean culture through planned activities. They will
New SUMMER PROGRAM ABROAD COMING SOON Kamila Ataee Penmen Abroad Editor The office of Study Abroad works hard to provide SNHU students with select summer programs, starting from the summer of 2018. Its main commitment is still to encourage students to spend time abroad, especially for those who may not be able to spend one academic semester abroad. “It’s a great tool for first year students to experience the idea of study abroad,” said Stefano Parenti, the director of study abroad. The Study Abroad Office works closely with other SNHU Offices to promote these programs to the First Year students as part of their “Global Component at SNHU.” This could become for some students a
fundamental component of an “educational pre-departure experience” before attending an entire semester abroad. Students will be able to take three credits and their credits will be transferable to SNHU. “They will not be full time students,” said Parenti. This two and three week summer program will help students to become more comfortable with the families they stay with and the new environment. Through a few selected, preapproved summer programs SNHU guarantees a responsible controlling of these programs and their academic quality in collaboration with its partners overseas. Students can apply for a three week program in the heart of Mediterranean, in the ancient city of Syracuse in Sicily, Italy.
“They could enjoy a whole experience for immersing themselves in the Italian language and local culture and its millenary traditions, while rediscovering the importance to “slow down” and the beauty of another aspect of freedom,” said Parenti. Students also have the opportunity to apply for a two week program in the city of Merida in the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, a place where the beauty of the environment blends naturally with the mystery of an incredible cultural heritage, generating a fascinating “set” for a unique study abroad experience. The Office of Study Abroad is working on its new partnership with another school in the continent of Asia. More information will come soon.
13
be able to spend a day at Valparaiso, an artistic town, Casablanca Vineyard and Santiago city, famous in architecture. Besides taking classes and visiting some parts of Chile, students will have an opportunity to complete some social service activities, such as participating in a program called “A Future Young Leaders Program,” which is a program for high school students. Chile is rich in minerals;
students will go to an international mining company, and they will also visit a business intelligence firm company. According to Bard, on her previous trips, they did not have the chance to live among local people in order to fully experience their cultures. “We were like tourists before,” said Bard. Unlike before, this trip will happen in May. Participants will also receive three college credits for it. Bard prefers the two weeks trip rather than one week of the Spring Break because her students will have the chance to explore the city and learn more about the new culture. “One of my students who went to Greece, started traveling since then,” said Bard. “He wrote a book.” Most of the students stay in touch with their foreign host families. They share photos with each other. “By the end of the week, they were like a part of the family,” said Bard. There are a lot of opportunities at SNHU for students to travel both regionally and internationally. Some of them are affordable for students as well. “When you are in college, go abroad,” said Bard.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS news picking alternatives to sugary cereals
Lori Costa Health & Wellness Editor
livestrong.com
Cyan Magenta
Cereal is one of the most popular breakfast foods out there. It is difficult to resist the cartoon boxes of Tony the Tiger or Toucan Sam. Advertisers spend millions of dollars to get word out about their cereals and make kids beg their moms in the grocery store for it. It is one of the easiest and fastest breakfast foods to get at the dining hall. A quick cup of Fruit Loops or Cinnamon Toast Crunch with a bottle of milk is one of easiest ways to get the body fueled up before an 8 a.m. class, but is it healthy? Much like other food groups, it depends on the cereal. It can have as much protein as an egg and the same amount of fiber as oatmeal. The readyto-eat cereals are often infused with vitamins and minerals that can include vitamin B and iron, which the body needs anyway. To make a healthy choice for a
breakfast cereal, try to pick up one with at least three grams of fiber and fewer than eight grams of sugar. According to CNN, the cereal that tops the list in these two categories is “Kashi”s 7 Whole Grain Flakes.” The worst types of cereals are the ones with more sugar than fiber and protein. The more sugar a cereal has, the more likely blood levels will rise and cause a crash before lunch. Portion control is also important when it comes to picking out a healthy cereal. Even a Kashi brand cereal can become unhealthy if the person decides to eat half of the box. Try to use a measuring cup to accurately tell how many calories are being consumed. The safest choice for any breakfast item is undoubtedly fruit, but cereal is not a bad option either. Always remember to check the box for fiber content and make sure there is more fiber in the cereal than sugar to start the day on a healthy note.
Kashi cereal is a health alternative to the sugary alternatives.
tips for staying healthy during spring break
Black
Lori Costa Health & Wellness Editor
Virginia Tech News
One way to stay active during Spring Break.
14
Spring Break is only a few short weeks away; in that time, some students will be packing up and heading to warmer climates. Even though it can be tempting to slack off, staying healthy should still be a priority when spring break arrives. To help, here are a few things to remember to make Spring Break 2017 the best one yet! It is extremely important to remember to stay hydrated, especially for those over the age of 21 that intend to drink alcohol. Always keep a bottle of water on hand and try to get at least the recommended eight glasses a day. Remember to hit the gym, too. Students just want to relax on their Spring Break, but going for a run, going to the gym or walking the dog can be a great way to get the body moving so it does not become shell shocked when school starts up again. Keeping up the fitness routine
is essential because it makes the transition back into school life a little bit easier for students. Although it may be tempting to overindulge, over eating can lead to stomach pain and no one wants that on vacation. To help avoid this, try going out for several little meals in a day and trade foods loaded with starches for healthy vegetables. Instead of getting a side of fries with a burger, try indulging in a side of veggies or get a salad to keep the stomach (somewhat) light. Staying healthy is important when it comes to Spring Break. It is easy to lose track of the number calories consumed when vacationing in the Bahamas because it may seem like a hassle. The body still needs nutrients even when vacationing. Remember to also keep hydrated that way the body does not become overheated. Spring Break is all about having fun, but mixing in a few healthy decisions can help to make it the best Spring Break yet.
Follow Penmen Press On Social Media! Facebook - PenmenPress Twitter - @PenmenPress Instagram - @PenmenPress
Sports news
Athlete Spotlight: cam oliveira Aleisha Bourgault-Callahan Staff Writer
snhupenmen.com
Cyan Magenta
The SNHU men’s baseball team is hard at work preparing for their home opener in April. Among those on the team is senior catcher Cam Oliveira. Oliveira is one of the captains this year and his dedication shows. “He has done a tremendous job of developing as a player since he was a freshman. Cam is probably the best defensive catcher in the league, and is a professional level player behind the plate,” said Scott Loiseau, head coach of the baseball team. Oliveira was born in Boston, M.A., but grew up in Tewksbury. Living in M.A., he grew up watching the Red Sox play. When asked about how he got involved in baseball, Oliveira said, “My inspiration to play baseball was watching the Red Sox with my pops growing up. We would watch the Red Sox all the time, and I always
just had a certain love for the game. I want to play at the next level, and baseball has given me the ability to see some amazing places, and meet amazing people.” Throughout his college career, Oliveira has been able to
Black
for the team; Ahkter’s player builds and coordinates around his/her team and can make or break a team fight. The support is also the primary aid to the Attack Damage Carry (ADC). Sultan’s support character of choice is Thresh, who revolves around setting plays for the ADC and the rest of the team. When asked about the role he played for the team, Ahkter said, “I take pride in my role of the support. It’s one of the roles in the game that gets a lot of hate, but without it, a team cannot function properly.” Ahkter also expressed his excitement to get out and play against some of the other schools from around the nation. “At first, I did not know what schools we would be facing. As soon as I learned many popular Ivy League schools, such as Harvard and Yale, would be our opponents, I thought it was extraordinary that I’ll play against people from these top schools,” said Ahkter. As the world of eSports and League of Legends continues to grow, Ahkter plans to keep up with the League team.
way to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) East Regionals, but lost 4-3 to Dowling College. Sophomore season, they lost against Franklin Pierce 8-2 in the NCAA East Regionals. Last season, they also made it to the NCAA Championship East Regionals, but lost to Franklin Pierce again, this time 6-3. Oliveira had this to say about this being his last college baseball season. “It feels amazing; I have never felt better in my life. I have worked so hard these past four years, this offseason, more than most." "I’m so ready to leave everything I have out on the field this year. This game has meant so much to me and hopefully, I can show scouts how much I love the game and how much I want to play at the next level.” Students can catch Oliveira and the rest of the Penmen at their home season opener on April 1 at noon.
going for gold: Women's softball preview Amber Khan Staff Writer The Penmen softball team, has started their season strong by winning five of six games. Those wins came against Le Moyne College, Slippery Rock University, Felician University, Kutztown University and Lock Haven University, with the only loss being at the hands of Wilmington College (DE). In those six games, SNHU has outscored opponents 26-19 and has hit seven home runs as a team. When asked about her favorite game so far, first-year student Hannah Neverett said, “The game against Lockhaven in South Carolina was by far my favorite. It was a game that went back and forth, any team could’ve won since we went into extras. We ended up winning as a team, and everyone participated in the victory.” Neverett is an infielder from Nashua, N.H. and is excited to play for SNHU. “What I like the most about the game is that when you’re a part of the team, you feel ex-
15
tremely proud when putting on the uniform and you create lasting friendships. Every girl on the team is great. They’ve all taught me a lot throughout practice— not just by talking to me, but by leading by example. Everyone will race to be the first one to pick you up if you make a mistake,” Nevertt said. Despite the loss, the Penmen keep going. They put a four-game win streak on the line against Caldwell University
in Clermont, Florida on Friday, March 10. “You have to be prepared, not only physically, but mentally to play. We think we’re ready. We want to win it all this year,” Nevertt said. Penmen softball will be tested all season, including in the home opener on Tuesday, March 28 against Queen City rival St. Anselm’s College. The first pitch of the game will be thrown at 4 p.m.
snhupenmen.com
The world of Electronic Sports (eSports) has seen a tremendous growth in popularity in the last few years. It has turned into a globally competitive phenomenon that gives a multitude of talented gamers the opportunity to display skills and be a part of a team. Many colleges are taking part in the endeavor that is eSports, including SNHU. SNHU has its own League of Legends team that competes against other colleges around the United States. This game is a Massive Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game that consists of various characters and requires lots of teamwork. Recently, a player for SNHU’s very own League Team was able to provide some insight on his views of the team and the future of eSports as a whole. He is first-year student Sultan Ahkter and he loves to game. Ahkter is the most recent, and most valuable, addition to the SNHU League of Legends team. He plays the support role
ing the grind of 50-plus games is on your mind and body. In baseball you're going to make mistakes. You have to get over them, and go on to the next play with a clear mind.” During his first season (2014), the team went all the
Cam Oliveira gears up for his last college baseball season.
snhu's league of legends team Troy Robinson Staff Writer
play in the Championships for SNHU. He hasn’t had many obstacles thrown his way, but mentally, he is tough on himself. “Playing baseball is the most mental sport there is. Coming to SNHU has taught me how tax-
Katie Horiuchi stands ready to deliver the game winning hit.
sports news
men's baseball season preview Aleisha Bourgault-Callahan Staff Writer Despite all the snow piling up on the ground, the SNHU baseball team has been hard at work preparing for the upcoming season. When asked about what he was looking forward to most, head coach Scott Loiseau said, “I am most looking forward to watching our guys play. They have worked really hard in the offseason and I am excited to see how much better they have gotten as a group and as individuals.” “I feel so confident in saying that this team is a National Championship contender,” said senior catcher Cam Oliveira. “The work we have put in this year is ridiculous. We have worked too hard not to succeed. It would surprise me if
The view from home plate.
Taking a glance at men's tennis
Catherine LaChance Staff Writer
Black
preseason play. The two losses came against Division I (D-I) Boston College and the University of Connecticut. In addition, the Penmen had an impressive showing at the Northeast ITA Individual tournament held at Eisenhower Park in Long Island back in October. Junior captain Tiago Fernandes (Porto, Portugal), who is already displaying phenomenal skill and talent, swung his way into the quarterfinals. He came up short to a player from NYIT. First-year student Bas Van
snhupenmen.com
Despite the prevalence of mountains of snow and frigid temperatures, the SNHU men’s tennis team is heating things up on the courts—indoor courts, that is. No tennis player, not even the talented Penmen, can play with snow up to their knees. Instead, the team is practicing at the YMCA in Goffstown, N.H., where they are gearing up in hopes of another successful spring season. The Penmen are approaching the 2017 season following a highly successful 2016 season. According to head coach Greg Coache, it was “one of the most successful seasons” he has seen in his eight years of coaching the Penmen, as they went undefeated in regular season play and captured the prestigious NorthEast-10 (NE-10) title. “Last year's championship with the men was extremely exciting,” Coache said. “To finish the first-ever undefeated men's season was something that I never expected.” The Penmen are currently in preseason, and have been since the fall. Continuing with the strong momentum they exuded last season, they are 6-2 against strong league and non-league competitors in
snhupenmen.com
Cyan Magenta
we weren’t down in Texas for the college world series.” The season is still early, but the team is capable of success. “I think this season can truly be something special. What I look forward to most is succeeding with this family we’ve created here. This season we could take it all,” said Oliveira. The Penmen have yet to play in New Hampshire, but their season is well underway. They just finished a series in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where they went 4-1. Big wins came against Mercy College on two different occasions, Queens College (N.Y.), and Bridgeport. The Penmen home opener will take place on Saturday, April 1. First pitch is scheduled for noon. That will be the first game of a two-day, three-game series against Queen City rival, St. Anselm’s College.
Biezen (Sassenheim, Netherlands) had a tremendous showing at the tournament for a rookie. He fought his way through challenges and tough matches to reach the fourth round, where he eventually fell to teammate and number one singles player Ricardo Merreiros (Portimão, Portugal) in a highly competitive match. “The addition of Van Biezen to the 2017 line-up, will make the team even stronger than last year,” Coache added. Van Biezen, who chose to come to SNHU for its success-
ful tennis program and competitive academics, is enjoying his time so far on the team and hopes to continue the strong momentum. “I am most looking forward to the NE-10 conference matches,” Van Biezen said. “I hope we perform well and get the most out of the season with the entire team. Our goal is to take it all.” As preseason continues and practices progress, Fernandes is preparing his teammates both physically and mentally for the matches ahead.
Tiago Fernandes sends the ball back to his opponent with a powerful forehand shot.
16
“They do their best to fight through challenges. But, momentum is the most important thing and we need to keep our heads up and focus,” Merreiros said. The team consists of highly skilled and trained players. Five of the players from last season’s undefeated roster are returning. They are: juniors Xavier Aubron of Herouville, France, Fernandes of Porto, Portugal, Ricardo and his twin brother Miguel Marreiros of Portimão, Portugal, and Jeremy Reichentahl of Cheshire, Conn. In addition to Van Biezen, Coach Coache added freshman Adam Courtemanche of Greenville, R.I. to the line-up. Courtemanche is a dual athlete in cross country as well. Coach Coache knows that these players are capable of holding the NE-10 title again this season. As a matter of fact, winning the NE-10 championship, and making the round of 16 in NCAA’s, is his number one goal. Though it is aggressive, Coache believes that his men can achieve this. He is very focused on making sure they are well-prepared for every match and take every match seriously. The Penmen take to New York Institute of Technology for a 3 p.m. start on Saturday, March 11.