THE
Writing SNHU’s Story
PENMEN PRESS VOLUME XXV
ISSUE 4
NOVEMBER 7, 2018
PENMENPRESS.COM
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT FROM THE NEW CETA BUILDING?
Derek Smith Staff Writer
As the roof for the new College of Engineering, Technology and Aeronautics (CETA) building is put up, many students have been wondering about how the construction of the new CETA building is going so far. According to Angela Foss, the associate dean of operations and innovation for CETA, “We will have our first official classes in the building in January of 2020 and will be moving in the equipment in the fall of 2019.” This timeline is only an estimate and will be affected based on weather
throughout 2019. According to Foss, they plan to put “a new quad in front of Washington [Hall] and CETA, there will be various sidewalks, greenery... [and] a lounge space.” Foss wants this new quad to be a place where “students can hang out and have a good time and [have] somewhere to go between classes when the weather is good.” According to University Campus President Patricia Lynott and Foss, there will be a café inside the new CETA building similar to ones in The Academic Center (ACC) along with some new “unique” learning
spaces. One of these unique learning spaces is called the Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate (CDIO) hub. According to Foss, this room is designed with a “methodology about project-based learning particularly with engineering but can be used in a variety of disciplines.” Foss also sees this hub as a “fun place to teach a variety of classes,” and she hopes for some interdisciplinary work such as collaborations with the faculty for co-teaching courses along with student projects. According to Foss, there will also be an “ideation space which is meant to be a
Stefan Karlberg Staff Writer Friday nights are usually busy nights on campus with students making their way to their respective weekend plans. On Friday, October 19, the SNHU
comfortable environment with lounge seating, with white boards and a display, so if you’re in a design process... you can do that in any discipline.” There will be four of these rooms and they are some
of Foss's favorite rooms and in her opinion, the “flagship rooms” of the new CETA building. One of Lynott’s thoughts on the new building is that she hopes that “not only engineer-
ing students [will] use this building. It's like in the education building. We have a building just dedicated to education [and it] kind of makes me
p.m. with set up and we did some sound checks and we’re all set. We’re ready to go.” CAPE volunteers and Public Safety greeted students at the door, with Public Safety checking students’ pockets and bags. Hooksett Police could also be seen patrolling the Athletic Complex to ensure a safe environment that could be enjoyed by everyone. Approximately 700 people crowded in front of the stage in anticipation for the night ahead of them. Haley Mailloux, otherwise known as DJ Halestorm, expressed the same excitement as Gayron before the show explaining her enthusiasm for being able to perform as a SNHU alumna. “I’m excited to be back. I have so much
love for this university. It’s kind of crazy,” Mailloux said. Mailloux is a recent graduate from May 2018, and she has been DJing for about four years. She also performed at SNHUstock 2018 as an opener for GrooveBoston, as well as other events around campus. It was clear that the audience was getting pumped up for the main act as they danced to Halestorm’s mixes. Then, the moment everyone had been waiting for took place. Cheat Codes, the Los Angeles based DJ trio made up of Trevor Dahl, Kevin Ford and Matthew Russell, took the stage and immediately hyped the crowd up. Each of the members took turns interacting with the audience, including throwing dollar bills at
the crowd and jumping off stage to dance with them. They played a mix of their originals and other pop songs, including some well received throwbacks. “I was so surprised at how good the performance was,” Gayron said. “I honestly think more people would have attended if they knew how the performance was going to be...there was a whole bunch of confetti and they were super interactive.” After Cheat Codes ended their set, the energy was still high. The spirit in the crowd lasted all night, even after the SNHU students dispersed and went their separate ways. The concert goers were amazed by the performance they had just seen; Cheat Codes left nothing to be desired.
Cheat Codes Exceeds Expectations
Cheat Codes interacts with the audience. (image credit: Stefan Karlberg) Rosa Valente News Editor
View of CETA taken from road by the Student Center and the Green Center, Facing Webster Hall. (image credit: Ryan Barrett)
community came together to enjoy this year’s major concert put on by CAPE featuring Cheat Codes with SNHU alumna DJ Halestorm as the opener. The Fieldhouse in the Athletic Complex was bustling with energy as attendees danced to the hype music bursting from the speakers.
Vice President of CAPE and Coordinator of the Major Concert Shannon Gayron (‘20) explained the set up for the event, which started at 9 a.m. “Everything went very smoothly,” Gayron said with enthusiasm. “We had some amazing volunteers that helped us and everything got up. We were done around 3
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editorial tHE PENMEN PRESS STAFF 2018-2019
CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF
Nick Klotz nicholas.klotz@snhu.edu
CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF
Nikki Fain nikki.fain@snhu.edu
ONLINE MANAGER
Zach Meisel zachary.meisel@snhu.edu
BUSINESS MANAGER
Sultan Akhter sultan.akhter@snhu.edu
COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER Maddie Covino madison.covino@snhu.edu SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
NOW HIRING: email penmenpress@snhu.edu
LEAD COPY EDITOR
Nick VonSchantz-Ricci nicholas.ricci1@snhu.edu
NEWS EDITOR
Rosa Valente rosa.valente@snhu.edu
OPINION EDITOR
NOW HIRING: email penmenpress@snhu.edu
ARTS & ENERTAINMENT EDITOR
NOW HIRING: email penmenpress@snhu.edu
PENMEN ABROAD EDITOR
Rachel Romeo rachel.romeo@snhu.edu
SPORTS EDITOR
Catherine LaChance catherine.lachance@snhu.edu
LAYOUT EDITOR
Emma Sheehan emma.sheehan@snhu.edu
LEAD VIDEOGRAPHER
Jaime Mailloux jaime.mailloux@snhu.edu
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Jaelle Matthieu jaelle.matthieu@snhu.edu
FACULTY ADVISOR
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 email us at penmenpress@snhu.edu.
You need to vote
Stop making excuses. You need to vote. On November 6, the country will be lining up at the voting booth to make their voices heard in the midterm elections. These elections may not be as glamorous as the presidential elections, and as a result they’re a little harder too. Harder because it’s more work to learn about the candidates. We get it. There are representatives, senators and governors, and with jobs and schoolwork, it’s hard to find the time to research all of these politicians and their stances. But as a American citizen, it’s your right to vote and as a college-educated one, it’s your duty to care. These are the people who will be making choices on issues that affect you.
University College President Patty Lynott recently sent a message to SNHU students about the measures taken by the university to ensure students can fill out their ballots. “It is a foundational element of our democracy,” said Lynott. At this point, I'm sure every other person has told you. Facebook is telling you to set a reminder. Snapchat is placing polling locations on their map. Uber is even giving free rides to the polls. For SNHU students, CCEL will be giving rides to the polls all day. Voters can then come to the Women's Center for a Voting After Party sponsored by us with the above offices. SNHU has ensured town clerks in Manchester
and Hooksett have a proof of domicile for each student on file. To register, one also needs a photo I.D. and proof of place of birth. A driver’s license works for both of these. Residents in Newcastle, Spaulding, and most of Kingston will be voting in Manchester at Webster School. The rest of Kingston (Rooms 143147, 253-264, 353-364, 453-464, 553-564) and the rest of campus can vote in Hooksett at Cawley Middle School. The Penmen Press will be at the ready to help with voting questions or concerns from now through voting at PenmenPress@ snhu.edu, or at our social media channels. Make the time to make your voice heard this Tuesday.
new ceta building Continued from page 1
Sketch of Future CETA building. (image credit: Swanska Wilson HGA) sad. I want more classes create more when you as a school are grateful delivered over to there have more diversity. for the new CETA buildbecause it’s going to be a Some of Lynott’s fi- ing," and that she would great learning space.” nal thoughts on the new like to help make the Foss's thoughts on CETA building are, "we new building a 'STEM' the matter are that she as a school, we invest so hub. would also want more much into the students Foss also said that this classes hosted in the new by investing on new building was designed to CETA building because buildings like this one." be very inviting for all when thinking about it Dr. Yan Xiang, the students, not just CETA as an engineer, you can Dean of CETA, said, "we students.
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Empowerment in the Women’s Leadership Conference
Derek Smith Staff Writer
SNHU and its departments often try to find ways to empower their students and give them opportunities to learn new and useful skills that they will be able to use in their careers. The Deborah L. Coffin Women's Center gave SNHU students this opportunity on Saturday, October 27 when they hosted their second annual Women's Leadership Conference from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The purpose of this conference was to provide an environment for self reflection and learning. The evnt provided educational sessions about topics such as building communication and leadership skills, but there were also sessions that revolved around reflecting on oneself like "Mindfully Unbalanced" and "What Beyonce Teaches Us About
Feminism." This created a combination learning environment which allowed attendees to learn necessary information with a fun twist. There were approximately 60 individuals who attended. Brooke Gilmore, the director of the Deborah L. Coffin Women’s Center, feels that this conference was very successful. She checked in with the attendees throughout the day and she feels “that everybody seems to have gotten a lot out of all the sessions they went to.” Emily Orciuch ('22) felt that she left the conference with a new insight on how “to work with other women” and “own [her] awesomeness and not be apologetic.” This was a main theme throughout the conference. It was centered around building skills and creating a space for networking opportunities, but the individuals who attended also felt
Dr. Leila Samii discusses being mindfully unbalanced. (image credit: Yazan Haimur) empowered after leaving. The presenters shared the positive attitude about their involvement in this conference. Gilmore said that “the presenters seemed to feel good about what they presented and the feed-
back they were given" from those who attended their individual sessions. The six main sessions were fantastic, but the keynote speaker Amma Marfo blew everyone away. She gave creative and astute insight on
how an individual can capitalize on their own creative energy to make opportunities for themselves and others in their industries. The Women’s Leadership Conference provided a shared com-
munity between the attendees so that they could openly discuss the difficulties women face and how to combat these issues. This environment created a wave of empowerment throughout the attendees.
ates. The meeting started with introductions as the members of the club took their labeled seats and told everyone their names and majors. The same went for the buddies as everyone got acquainted with one another. After introductions, the meeting kicked off. The room was rather silent while each person talked, with everyone's attention being directed toward what they were saying. This type of environment allowed for attendees to speak their mind as everyone listened and reciprocated. The guest speaker, director of the Wellness Center Felix Pizzi, asked the senate to introduce themselves and give him
some information on what they know about the Wellness Center and its resources. Pizzi gave a quick overview of the Wellness Center on campus and it's ultimate mission. He also allowed people to ask questions. The buddies were not excluded as they were allowed to enter the conversation with their own suggestions or questions. After Pizzi had finished taking questions and suggestions, the room turned to the budget and finance committee presenters. A powerpoint presentation overviewed presentations made by different clubs for conference requests. For example, one of the trips that came up was one for the Game
Design club, which wished to go to the Game Design Conference, or GDC. The club gave a quick overview of what the trip was and why they believed they should obtain a specific amount of money to go on the trip. Once the amount they needed and why they wished to go was discussed, the meeting moved into a voting session. All the requests were approved. The club also discussed a co-sponsorship with CAPE for winter Big Money Bingo. This is where discussion really came in as people began to ask questions and get involved to see if the request was truly good for both sides. CAPE requested money from
SGA to go toward prizes for the event, but some senators were skeptical about how the co-sponsorship would help SGA. After a healthy discussion, the senators denied the request and agreed to have Vice President Tyler Provencher re-negotiate the co-sponsorship. SGA was inviting with this buddy event and the club members exemplified to the buddies exactly what meetings are like and how involved they can be. This could really open opportunities for anyone interested in government and allows for students to have some excellent experiences in debating and even allows for members to vote for things occurring on campus.
SGA’s Buddy Night is Informational and Inviting
(image credit: Student Government Association) Spencer Fennell Staff Writer The Student Government Association (SGA) recently had a night for members to bring friends in to experience a meeting. This socalled buddy night was a
way to spike interest and get more people involved in Student Government. SGA is a very professional environment that can seem intimidating, but this special event welcomed the buddies and allowed for them to see how the club oper-
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Bagel Cafe Bakes the Best Bagels North of Manhattan
Nicholas VonSchantz-Ricci Lead Copy Editor
Bagels are one of those foods that seem distinctly American, yet their origins tell a different story. They were first brought to the U.S. in the 1800’s by Eastern European immigrants, and they are thought to have originated in Poland over two hundred years prior. Bagels did not become mainstream in the U.S. until the 1970’s, but they have proliferated ever since. This heightened popularity has led to the rise of pre-baked, frozen and packaged specimens that
Manchester’s Bagel Cafe serves fresh, authentic-style bagels. (image credit: WMUR) bear no resemblance to Hampshire. made at the Bagel Café. said Kahya. the original. Finding an The folks behind All bagels are freshly Bagel café carries all authentic product has Bagel Café have reme- made on the premises the classic flavors, inbecome a difficult task, died this problem. The each morning. They are cluding onion, sesame, especially here in New bagels at this humble shaped by hand before cinnamon raisin and little shop on Hanover being steamed and baked French toast. The most Street are the real deal. to a golden brown result- popular varieties are Owner Ismail Kahya has ing in a soft interior and plain and everything, the been crafting these tasty slightly crisp exterior that latter of which is coatrings of dough for over cannot be duplicated. ed in a tongue-tingling thirty years. “Customers notice combination of poppy “I started this busi- because they are fresh and sesame seeds, garness in 1986 Long baked daily. They are not lic, onion and salt. No Island, New York. After frozen or par-baked ba- bagel would be complete that, I moved to New gels. They notice the taste without a thick schmear Hampshire in 1996 and because we have our own of cream cheese, and I opened my own busi- recipe. That’s why people Bagel Café offers a dozen ness,” said Kayha. love us. We’ve been in homemade varieties. No shortcuts are Manchester for 23 years,” Breakfast sandwiches (image credit: Nicholas VonSchantz-Ricci)
Lin Mo Staff Writer
are especially popular during the early hours of the day and the café offers turkey clubs, BLTs and other deli sandwiches for lunch. There are even homemade pizza bagels, which combine two quintessential New York foods into one toasty masterpiece. For a true taste of New York, order the Nova Lox Bagel. This assertive sandwich features smoked salmon, plain cream cheese, tomato, onion and capers. The sharp, salty flavors are tamed by the rich cream cheese, making for well-balanced breakfast or lunch. Although the original location is in Manchester, Kahya opened a second café in Bedford about seven years ago. He plans to open a third operation, but the location has yet to be determined. A well-made bagel is a reminder that the most satisfying foods are often the simplest. Bagel Café is giving these addictive breads the attention they deserve.
SGA is on a Mission to Recruit Senators Again
The Student Government Association (SGA) has been operating with only 14 senators this semester after their elections in September. Another round of elections will be held on November 14 and November 15 with the goal of filling the Senate to its capacity of 25 members. Iesina Tupouniua ('20), the president of SGA, mentioned that there were a couple of factors that were to blame for the Senate not being filled from the first election. One of the
factors was that students did not get to know the goals and vision of SGA in time. Students started to notice it during the Involvement Fair on September 12, but since the applications ended on September 14, the students did not have enough time to finish their applications. Another factor was the “outreach” problem. In other words, SGA failed to continue to market themselves after they actively advertised on orientation day. They also did not update the latest information on their official website. The advertisements made students aware
of their organization, but they would not go further to get involved. Tupouniua indicated this was her first time recruiting because she was only appointed as the president in the middle of the fall semester after the original president resigned. She admitted that she did not realize the importance of marketing since she was only a senator last year, so she was still learning how to deal with the executive board business while elections were happening. She thought SGA should have gathered the information about the students who were interested so SGA could
offer more information to them, thus increasing the chances of receiving those students' applications. This is not the first time that SGA has had to have an additional election. According to Tupouniua, the issue of not having enough senators has occurred several times. The reason why the problem frequently happens is because it is difficult for SGA to convince students to take on more responsibility beyond academics, work and personal life. Tupouniua believes that being a part of this organization could benefit all students but most were
not aware of that at the time of the election. Despite SGA having this recurring issue, Tupouniua still thinks the organization should keep the application requirements the same without any reduction. She mentioned that the grade requirement was necessary because SGA wants the members to focus on academics rather than extracurricular activities. On the other hand, Tupouniua believes collecting signatures is crucial since that is part of the process of campaigning. The candidates must be able to interact with their peers because, as Tupouniua
said, “If you want to be the voice of students, you have to be the voice of yourself.” She added, “If you have trouble going out with people, campaigning and advertising for yourself, maybe you could work on that first before you start trying to be [the voice for] the rest of [the] student body.” Tupouniua also said, “Getting a signature sheet is just a way to get you out of your box, so you campaign and people get to know your face and name.” To learn more information about the SGA election, check the SGA official website https:// www.snhusga.org
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SNHU Game Design Partners with make-a-wish nh Michael Carignan Staff Writer Spencer Fennell Staff Writer You don’t have to have a perfect heart to have a pure one. This statement is proven by a nine year old boy named Parker, who had recently been undergoing different surgeries to fix his failing heart. He proves he is strong by pushing through his hospital time with a smile on his face and an idea in his head: an idea that is coming true thanks to Make-A-Wish and a special team. Make-A-Wish always brings great opportunities to children that have spent most of their lives in a hospital bed. They give fun, unique opportunities to kids and allow them to enjoy life to its fullest. Parker's wish, however, was a little different than average. It needed a larger following of people to complete. Parker, being 1 of 400 children waiting for a heart transplant, had a lot of free time on his hands during his long hospital visits but was given a chance to put his creativity to the test with an amazing wish that is currently being produced here on campus. Donna Parker, the vice president for de-
velopment of Make-AWish NH, spoke of how unique Parker was and how his wish was pleasantly different from most they get. She said, “My husband and I are the wish granters and we went down to find out what [the wish was], you know talk to him a little bit, introduce ourselves. “[We asked] him what he knew about Make-A-Wish and then asked him what his heartfelt wish was. And so, when we met him, oh my god he was amazing. [He is] a very astute little young man, and he knew exactly what he wanted. He said he wanted to make his own video game.” Donna, not knowing how to go about making a video game, quickly researched game developers and was quick to choose when she began by speaking to a man named David Carrigg. Carrigg, being one of the head game programming teachers here at SNHU, accepted Parker's wish almost instantly. Carrigg quickly pulled some strings and brought Game Design Coordinator Ed Brillant onto the project as they were eager to begin work on making Parker's wish come true. The two professors worked diligently on the project as Parker kept feeding them new
Parker poses with a stuffed-friend in the game design lab. (image credit: SNHU On Campus)
SNHU game design helped Parker’s dream come true. (image credit: SNHU On Campus) ideas and concepts to add into the game. His imagination never stopped running. In an interview with Brillant, he explained how Parker's wish works. “What he does is, he tells us what he wants, and he wants like a Mario Kart-type racing game. He draws all the concepts for it; he does all the design for it. Then we take that, for instance on the art side, he would draw a bunch of little pictures and then I would take the picture that he drew and then turn it into some real concept art. Then he would be like ‘yeah!’ and approve it and say ‘that looks good, I love it!’” Parker continued as the lead designer and boss of this game development project. Brillant and Carrigg worked as efficiently as they could and tried to keep up with Parker's flow of ideas and concepts, but two people can only develop a game so fast. They knew they needed help to make the
production move faster as Parker's condition was getting worse and worse. So, with the help of the new game development studio in Robert Frost Hall, Inkwell Studios, Brilliant and Carigg brought a team of Game Development students on to work on the project. Bringing the project into the studio and allowing these students to work on it provides them with experience as well as time management skills as Parker's concepts need to be finished at a fast pace. Parker's wish has been rapidly growing with the addition of an actual team to work with and is even more amazing when he visits and sees the magic being made. The programmers are given game-play elements and informed on how Parker wants worlds to operate and function before putting it into a working code. These students are given the opportunity to make Parker's wish
come true and see the smile on his face when they develop his characters and worlds into something real, something playable. Parker is also granting these students their wish to be game developers as they gain this real world experience through developing in a studio environment. Parker has been fortunate enough to receive a heart and go through a successful transplant surgery and is now back to producing more concepts for his game, which is still being developed in the Inkwell Studios here on campus. This project has been going for almost a year now and is still in full swing. The end is not quite in sight, but no one is in much of a rush to find it anyway. “Here's the beauty of this. We don’t have an expected finish and we don’t intend to ever stop working on it. We want to just let Parker keep giving us stuff and just letting this grow and
grow and grow…” said Brilliant. Parker will continue to develop these worlds and characters for as long as he can. He loves to see the progress of his game, and he enjoys being able to use his creativity non-stop while having people make his ideas into something. The students are allowed to use this class time to put their skills to the test and put them to good use in making an actual game that developers may see which can help them on their way to get jobs after college. Parker's wish won’t stop giving and neither will the students here at SNHU. Inkwell Studios will continue with the project until Parker wishes to stop giving them ideas, which most likely won’t be any time soon. These developers are able to put their skills to good use and grant Parker his wish, just as he has done for these up and coming game developers.
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Jay Jenkins and Jess Pantano are CCEL’s Alternative Break program coordinators. (image credit: NIck Klotz)
Jenkins and Pantano Personify Community Service
Nick Klotz Editor in Chief
Sometimes a cause is worth braving the cold. Despite the cold and windy day, Jay Jenkins and Jess Pantano (‘20) could be found this past week in the Green Space with a chalkboard and a table full of cupcakes and cookies. Written on the chalkboard was the question, “How do you help others?” Jenkins and Pantano were representing the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL), the office responsible for connecting students with service opportunities. They aim to make finding community service simple. “Without CCEL I have no idea where I would be right now. Probably really bored,” said Pantano.
Both Pantano and Jenkins have been involved with service from their beginnings at SNHU. They have the Take 5 program to thank for that. Take 5 is a running startstyle program for SNHU freshmen. It lets them take a week before everyone else moves in to learn about the campus and college life, as well as be involved in community service activities. “I wasn’t really into community service until then, but I realized it was a passion of mine that I needed to find,” said Jenkins through shivers. He was wearing shorts despite the frigid temperature. Jenkins is now a Take 5 leader. At this moment, however, he and Pantano were representing Alternative Break (AB).
“I wasn’t really into community service until then, but I realized it was a passion of mine that I needed to find.”
Through AB, a student has the opportunity to spend their spring break participating in a service project, one they’ll be travelling domestically to get to. Students can go to the Dominican Republic, Washington D.C., North Carolina or Utah. Weekend opportunities are also available. Jenkins recalls his AB experience last year in Cincinnati, Ohio. “It was amazing for me. I hadn’t gone on a trip before that but I had been running the program for almost a year. For me it was like ‘I believe in this program but I don’t really know why,’” said Jenkins. “As soon as I went on a trip I fell in love with this thing.” His group was studying gentrification, the process of uprooting lower-class individuals from neighborhoods through the renovation of properties to meet the tastes of the more affluent. In cities like Cincinnati, the phenomenon is prevalent.
“I knew nothing about gentrification going in. Going on the trip helped me define what that meant,” said Jenkins. Pantano is hoping to take the values of service with her as she moves beyond SNHU. She wants to be a high school special education teacher. “They’re at that age where they need to understand what they need to do for others as they go off on their own,” said Pantano. For those interested in Alternative Break, the applications will be open until November 11 and can be filled out online at http://bit.ly/2CP6QVS. Jenkins and Pantano encourage anyone interested in service to stop by the CCEL office in the Green Center. “I walked into that office on the first day and it felt like home to me. I felt like I had found my people -- people who understood why service was so important to me. I had never had that before college,” said Pantano.
Pantano at a service project. (image credit: CCEL)
Jenkins present about AB. (image credit: CCEL)
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Kyle Viator Steps Up as The Assistant Dean of CETA
Maddie Covino Community Relations Manager
As students begin to prepare for the upcoming school year, Kyle Viator is getting ready for his new position at SNHU. Viator, the Assistant Dean of the School of Business and Director of the Three-Year Program, has proudly worked in his department for several years and is ready for a new chapter in his life. On June 25th, he transferred to CETA (College of Engineering, Technology, and Aeronautics) where he became the new Assistant Dean of CETA. Originally from North Reading, Massachusetts, Viator decided to trek up to SNHU as a member of the Bradley Three-Year Honors Program expressing that the campus “felt like home right away to [him], and it was before all of these nice new buildings, new library and all of that stuff, but it still felt like home.” When attending SNHU, Viator did not know what his future held. At first he had “wanted to be an accountant… or go into finance,” but when he took
his first accounting class he voiced that he “did not like it. So [he] kind of had a crisis of ‘what do I want to do’ and it was working with people and working with students.” As Viator watched the campus grow both in architecture and in academics, he grew along with it exploring his true passions and strengths. In his senior year of college he began to work with the previous Director of the ThreeYear Program, Ashley Liadis, and became intrigued with helping students. He stated that the graduates assistant position “built up this passion of mine,” as he worked with students to ensure they would succeed with their academic goals. He is grateful Liadis had taken him “under her wing,” thus leading him to new opportunities such as the Assistant Dean of the School of Business. Working with both students and faculty throughout his years at SNHU, he has gone by a personal slogan of, “value to students, service to faculty.” Viator remarked that, “It is kind of weird thinking about the days where I would come into the
dean’s office looking for a signature not knowing that that office would be my office one day.” This shows just how proud he is of how far he has come since being a student at SNHU. The Three-Year Programs have always held a special place in Viator’s heart since he was a member of the Bradley Three-Year Honors Program. He claims that it “has been one of the best parts of [his] job, working directly with those populations of students.” Viator loves meeting with these students and not only seeing, “where they are strong, where they are weak and helping them in those areas,” but also watching them grow as individuals. Of watching these students grow, he said, “I loved every second of it.” Although he has had a wonderful time as the Assistant Dean of the School of Business and the Director of the Three-Year Programs, he acknowledged that it was time for a change. He portrayed that through his transition in position that there has been a mix of emotions. He said, “I am going to miss working with students… that is definitely what I will
CETA is one of SNHU’s latest initiatives. (image credit: Angie Foss)
Kyle Viator is now CETA’s assistant dean. (image credit: Kyle Viator) struggle with the most, he is prepared to under- advice with all of the stu[but] at some point we stand those differences to dents at SNHU. “Do colall have to move on from excel in his new position. lege right the first time so Viator also conveyed how that you set yourself up something.” “I am really looking interested he is to “work for the next step in your forward to work with with people where their career.” He also said in the people over there, do classroom isn’t Webster regard to classes to “work something new,” Viator 205; it’s the SNHU air- really hard in it, don’t said when asked about plane.” He believes that drop it because it’s a little the position of Assistant his prior knowledge and hard… really work at it.” To the students at Dean of CETA. “I am “skills as an academic very excited to work with leader and administra- CETA who will be workthe [CETA] Dean’s team tor” has truly prepared ing closer with Viator, he over there. The Dean him for this next step has a few wise words. “Be over there, Yan Xiang, and he is ready for this excited for the journey. [You] are going to be came from China to head difference in advising. Viator expressed some of the first students the CETA initiative.” Viator is already the impact CETA has to be a part of this initiastating, “STEM tive that SNHU is putting working hard to learn by Technology, a lot of time and effort more about the next (Science, Engineering, and into.” chapter of his life. Viator is enthusiasViator noted that he Mathematics) is kind of is eager “to study up on where it’s at right now tic towards his future in mechanical engineering, with higher education… saying, “I am looking the computer science that’s why CETA is so forward to going over and joining the people program that is pretty important to SNHU.” He also noted that as over there,” as well as his big, and the aviation program that they just an alumni member of new position as Assistant launched,” as well as ev- SNHU, “I am so proud to Dean of CETA. Viator is erything else CETA has see this university taking also eager to work with a on new programs,” and is new team of Dean’s office to offer. He noted that “going glad he has been able to employees and everyone from working with ac- watch this campus grow is excited to have Viator counting degree is going into the flourishing uni- become a part of their to be much different versity it has become. operations and look forfrom working with enViator wanted to ward to working with gineering degrees,” but share some important him in the near future.
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arts & entertainment Kyle Griffin Staff Writer Forget Filthy Frank. Pink Guy is no more. Now meet Joji. Before George Miller became Joji, a professional musician, he was a YouTube star known as “Filthy Frank.” Miller stopped making videos due to serious health concerns as his comedy stunts broke numerous bones and weighed on him mentally. The YouTube star would turn to music under the name Pink Guy. Pink Guy made cringe-worthy comedic music. This phase of his life ended in 2017 when Miller wanted to be seen as a serious musician, and Joji was born. “BALLADS 1” is the first full-length album by Joji. In Tongues, his first EP, came out in November of 2017 and was re-released as a deluxe version with forgettable remixes. In Tongues had only a few memorable songs which include “Will He” and “I Don’t Wanna Waste My
“SADBOI” vibes with “BALLADS 1”
Time.” There are plenty more memorable songs on “BALLADS 1.” The new record comes together as a painful, but beautiful, concoction of unexpected instrumentals and honest lyrics. “BALLADS 1” is the new installation of “SADBOI” music. The entirety of the album is about heartbreak, loss, depression, unhealthy relationships and bad decisions. The album is lyrically genius as the songs are riddled with well-executed and slant rhymes. Joji uses many metaphors in his work, some of which are very unusual. These unusual metaphors give the realism of unhealthy relationships. In “WHY AM I STILL IN LA (featuring Shlohmo and D33),” the lyrics “Girl you choke me sitting airtight. Ziploc right now.” represent the artistic mind of the new artist but also show the harm an unhealthy relationship can have on someone. Joji is brutally honest with his lyrics. “WANTED
U” is lyrically brilliant as Joji sings about wanting someone so badly that the relationship becomes toxic. He compares this relationship to not being able to breathe like he is in a noose. “So, punish me, I’m hanging in your noose.” Lyrically, the album is genuine and honest as the artist experiences the difficulty of love and loss. “BALLADS 1” has a variety of genres infused in it. These genres include Rock, Pop, Rap, R&B and Electronic. The genre choices also change the instrumentation in each track. These instruments include bass guitar, guitar, vibraphone, piano and the ukulele which drastically changes the energy for each song. For example, “WANTED U,” the fourth song off of the record uses vibes, piano and wind chimes over a synthesized beat until the last minute of the song where an overpowering guitar riff brings life to the rest of the song. The choices of the instruments intrigue the listener as Joji belts out lyrics or
Never Sleeps” and gives us more of the web-slinging experience we loved. It feels like a miniature version of the game with great character development along with engaging story missions.
“The Heist” brings us back into the world of Spider-Man (Peter Parker) as he finds his old enemy/lover Black Cat (Felica Hardy) robbing museums with priceless artifacts. The audience
mumbles over a looped track. The most upbeat song on the album is “YEAH RIGHT,” which is 169 beats per minute (BPM). A typical upbeat rap/pop song is around 160 BPM. The average BPM for the album is 93.25 BPM, which is much slower than a regular pop/rap album. Although the album is much slower than most, it is filled with life. The record is built on emotions. The album’s sin-
(image credit: Joji) gles that were released through the fall season of this year are the most memorable, along with “ATTENTION” and “R.I.P (feat. Trippie Redd).” The transitions between songs are quite good. The flow of the album is broken in between the songs “WANTED U” and “CAN’T GET OVER YOU (feat. Clams Casino).” The former comes to a dead stop before the latter starts. Also, there are only a few songs
that can be played on a playlist without context. For example, the single “WHY AM I STILL IN LA (feat. Shlohmo &D33J),” is a power driver of emotion but awkward by itself. Overall the album is beautiful and oozing vitality and emotion. It has a few flaws which include the questionable album cover, the awkward transition and the songs that do not belong in any playlist other than the album itself.
wonders what her methods are for going back to a life of crime. The emphasis of this roughly three-hour DLC is on the story in which Black Cat immediately makes an indelible mark on this world. Watching the banter between Peter and Felica is captivating to watch. It’s very awkward for Peter, and Felica exploits this in every conversation they have. Through listening to their conversations, it is evident that there is a strong chemistry between the two of them, the same chemistry that can be found between Peter and Mary-Jane. There are a few conversations between Peter and Miles Morales that are enjoyable to listen
to while also helping to balance a serious story. This DLC also introduced a new enemy faction, though it adds little to the game. Mainly the same enemies from the main story appear, but with a new heavy enemy that has a chain gun. One of the pros of the DLC is that they make the enemies as strong as those from later missions in the main story. This is a nice surprise because it makes the DLC feel like an extension of the story rather than the start of a new plot. The side missions are more of the same, though the return of the social media-loving Baddie Screwball is a highlight.
However, her appearance is not significant to the DLC. Her missions are similar to Taskmasters but help improve on missions like chasing Taskmasters drones. The DLC also hints at a buddy system possibly being integrated in the future by using Black Cat in some fights with thugs. She only works as an alternative take down option rather than a playable character or as any kind of real support. The DLC is a great way to open up the SpiderMan game universe. It has its flaws but it’s a reminder of why the game itself is so much fun to play and the introduction of new characters like Black Cat has players asking for more.
“Spider-Man” Strikes Gold with “The Heist” Expansion
Derek Smith Staff Writer
“The Heist,” the first post-game DLC episode for Marvel’s “Spider-Man,” is the first of a three part saga called “The City that
Spider-Man The City That Never Sleeps (image credit: insomniac games)
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arts & entertainment Halloween (2018) Entertains, But Lacks Depth
Taylor DeForrest Staff Writer
Halloween (2018) is a sequel meant to put the drawn-out story of Michael Myers to rest. It’s the reunion of Laurie Strode and Michael Myers after 40 years. Audiences are enthused, and critics have applauded it with a 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie was interesting in its content but lacked some fundamentals of a story. Fans of Halloween films will likely enjoy every moment of this movie. The references to the past sequels were nudges to fans of the series. It was enjoyable being a total nerd and freaking out over them. Despite its undeniable appeal for fans of the genre, Halloween (2018) could have been so much better. The production of this movie was pristine. There is nothing to say about that. The story is where this movie stumbles. While it was intriguing, it lacked some foundations that could have brought it to the next level. The first problem was
Kyle Griffin Staff Writer Khalid’s full-length album, “American Teen”, was released in March of 2017.
the characters. There are only a few characters that really stand out or have any depth. The others were forgettable, to the point of not being able to remember their names. Laurie’s granddaughter, Allyson, was undeniably bland just like the rest of the teenagers in the film. When she’s on the screen you find yourself wishing you could go back to Laurie or Michael. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Laurie Strode and her daughter, Karen, were interesting to watch. Their relationship onscreen was originally portrayed, but it should have been explored more. The father figure added some comedic relief to the generally intense movie, but even he was one-dimensional. If the characters weren’t funny, they were annoying or boring. Without spoiling the film, there was a weird twist on a character that just felt out-of-place and took the viewer away from the movie. It was meant to be intense but it just confused the audience. Characters who you believe to be
important to the film are dropped mid-film or killed off without fulfilling any purpose. There were moments where you thought “Why is this even needed? Who the hell cares?” This movie could have cut out a lot of fodder in replacement for more content that audiences truly want: Michael Myers. The teenage drama was unneeded for a movie that was meant to be Laurie Strode confronting Michael Myers 40 years after the 1978 murders. The part the audience was anticipating felt rushed due to the time wasted on content that didn’t really matter. If the film had been longer and given more room to breathe, perhaps this sequel would have been more engaging. While the build-up was decent at best, the actual interactions with Michael were amazing. It was suspenseful, gruesome and impactful. The advancement in technology and special effects made the original movie pale in comparison regarding the actual deaths. The murders
were creative and some even paid homage to the previous sequels. Myers’ story line in the movie felt realistic rather than the
The 20-year old’s album took off on the charts as it sits in the number four on the Billboard 200. The album reached 147,000 sales with 1,220,000 streams.
The “Suncity” EP, his second project, is filled with emotional lyrics, groovy beats and mesmerizing harmonies and vocals. The new material on
the EP matches the young artist’s style. Synthesized beats and instruments pulsate through the album. The instrumental side of the album is crafted to per-
fantasy version created in the past sequels. The ending of the movie was a big let down and the conclusion just felt too basic.
(image credit: Blumhouse)
“Suncity” is No “American Teen”
(image credit: Kacie Tomita)
Is it the best horror movie ever? No. Is it the best Halloween sequel? Yes, of course... but it could have been better.
fection as rhythms become slow dances.“Suncity” feels like American Teen but Khalid does not “copy and paste” his work. The new EP is original but keeps the vibes of his original music. Lyrically the album is emotional. From “Vertigo” to “Saturday Nights,” Khalid is genuine and honest. The mini-album is about love. The chorus of “Saturday Nights” and “Better” give the best example. Lyrics such as “They don’t care like I do. Nowhere like I do. And all the things that I know” from “Saturday Nights” and “Love to see you shine in the night like the diamond you are,” from “Better,” come together
with Khalid harmonizing with himself and trying new things in his work. Khalid also surprises his audience in “Suncity (feat. Empress Of)” when some of the lyrics are in Spanish which is something new. The downfall of the EP is it’s too short. Two of the eight songs are short instrumentals that put the audience in a very relaxed mood but overall, they do not do anything for the EP. All in all, Khalid’s new EP “Suncity” is a majestic balance of emotion in music. The young artist puts a twist on his style of music with experimentations of lyrics and instrumentals. Khalid fans will be hungry for more.
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arts & entertainment “Christine McConnell” is a Taste of Something Spooky
Jaime Mailloux Lead Videographer Nicholas VonSchantz-Ricci Lead Copy Editor For those craving something darker, bolder and freakier than “Halloween Wars,“ and other Food Network standbys, “The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell” may be what moves the Ouija board. This unapologetically quirky Netflix original series profiles Christine McConnell, a renowned baker and cake decorator, as she fills her home with beautifully made treats while simultaneously keeping her three animal colleagues on their best behavior. The show can be thought of as The Addams Family meets Halloween Wars Meets Good Housekeeping magazine. Curious Creations manages to seamlessly blend Martha Stewartstyle instruction with kitschy, episodic storylines that don’t require a lot of critical thinking. This blending of elements makes for a one-of-a-kind series that fully commits to its fantastical and wicked style. Christine McConnell actually plays herself and she really is the dark 50’s housewife of your dreams. She is a wonderful mixture of a sweet motherly nature while also having some similar moral characteristics of a serial killer. Rosie is a hybrid animal that resembles a Raccoon and was brought back to life by Christine after being gnarled to death in a trash compactor. She is by far the loudest character and has dialogue that is similar to nails on a chalkboard. Her jokes and general being plays way too hard into a very immature and bur-
(image credit: Netflix) densome character that’s hard to find appealing. If you’ve ever wondered what an Egyptian cat deity was like, Rankle is your answer. There is no shortage of quick wit and snarky, high-brow comments from this mummified cat Christine brought back to life. Him and Rosie are the absolute polar opposite of each other which makes the dialogue between them either provide a good giggle or is as annoying as listening to siblings bicker. Edgar is a new addition to this menagerie of a family, and we can assume that he is a werewolf sort of creature but it is never specifically stated. Though he is only given lines sparingly, he is a big, absolutely lovable, oaf of a character. The addition of puppet characters is a surprisingly wonderful quirk of the show. This trio of marionette rejects add a heaping serving of heart and, with the addition of Christine, make a lovely, twisted tapestry of a found family. Though the chemistry of the characters can also feel somewhat patched together, there is something in the campiness of the characters that makes this
forgivable. Christine’s talent is undeniable as she coaches the viewer through numerous edible projects designed to amaze. The work she demonstrates ranges from modest ideas, such as “bones” made from pretzel rods, peanut butter and white chocolate, to professional showpieces, most notably a giant gingerbread house with endless decoration. In one memorable scene, the characters use a Ouija board in an effort to summon the dead. Once they are finished, it is revealed that the board is in fact a cookie, which the group then smashes and eats. The problem with some of the larger projects is that they are far too advanced for a vast majority of bakers. Also, the instruction is too brief for the viewer to gain an accurate perception of the work and technique involved in creating such projects. Materials such as airbrushes, isomalt (a sugar substitute) and candy glass are difficult to find, thus further diminishing the plausibility of creating these pieces at home. The small plots that run through the episodes
certainly aren’t the reason to watch the show but they do offer an experience unlike any other cooking show. The stories aren’t
designed to be particularly gripping but offer some time for stronger character interactions and a pleasant break from the atten-
tion-demanding cooking segments. We see things like Christine trying to appease her neighbors, wooing a man she meets at her grandmother’s grave and throwing a surprise going-away-to-theinsane-asylum party for her cousin. Those are just a few of the events that occur in these episodes. The show is highly aware and unapologetic for its corny, intentionally overdone nature and, for the most part, it really works with the campy feel they are aiming for. Curious Creations is certainly an acquired taste. Those willing to go along with the series’s wonderfully wacky antics will be rewarded with an entertaining thirty minutes and, perhaps, a stash of new skills.
the penmen press
opinion
The Polls Close for Minorities in Georgia and North Dakota
Madison Connors Staff Writer
limiting Weekend Gym Hours Yazan Haimur Staff Writer
Many believe the law is unjust. It began as a conflict of interest that Kemp has utilized in order to tailor votes for himself. Furthermore, it suppresses the right to vote of an incredibly high number of Americans. Having the ability to vote is the foundation of American democracy, and this liberty should not be stripped from American citizens. In addition, Native Americans are currently facing adversity in voting. Many are suffering from the controversial law North Dakota passed that requires voters to register with identification that displays a current street address and disqualifies the use of P.O. boxes.
The Native American community has an increasingly large homeless population, as well as many who live on reservoirs that do not have street addresses and therefore rely on using P.O. boxes as their mailing addresses. Also, certain forms of tribal ID do not list address at all. With only weeks of notice, many have been sent scrambling to meet these demands with the odds stacked against them. This is an injustice to not only the individuals who are being silenced, but to the entirety of our democracy. Ultimately, it serves as a strong reminder that voting is a privilege we must not take for granted on November 6.
Have you noticed that the gym at SNHU is opening its doors late and closing early on the weekends? The main idea of the gym is to use any free time to help maintain a lifestyle healthy and stay active whenever possible. Most students find that weekends are the best time to do extra activates. Yet the gym is not utilizing the full hours of the weekend like it is during weekdays. Through the week it is open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. These hours are quite extensive, but why can't these same hours be implemented on weekends? On Saturdays and Sundays the gym opens its doors at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. There is a seven hour difference between the
weekend hours and the week hours at the gym. There is a major potential for students who are not free through the week to have the flexibility to go to the gym on the weekends at their leisure. Finding time to stay active amid classes, work and extra-curriculars can be extraordinarily difficult, and some students are simply too exhausted at the end of the day to even consider working out. The main reason that they many students aren't working out on the weekend is that of the gym's hours create limitations. If you share the same thought, do something about it. As they say “See something, say something”. Hopefully we can make changes that will benefit those looking to live a healthy lifestyle.
A group of friends share a meal at McDonald’s in Hooksett, down the street from campus. (image credit: Catherine LaChance) Rosa Valente in the semester where place that’s a hot spot for News Editor we begin scavenging for all SNHU students when food at inconceivable it’s 2 a.m. and you’re With the dread of fi- hours at night. Most of us craving a hamburger and nals on the horizon and likely don’t have a mode that’s the McDonald’s lothe cold of winter knock- of transportation, and if cated on Hooksett Road, ing on everyone’s doors, we do, we don’t want to only one mile away. all of us college students spend too much money While no one has very are getting to the point on gas. So that leaves one high expectations when
it comes to fast food, especially McDonald’s, it’s expected that at the very least, the low bar that is set will be met. However, somehow this McDonald’s fails to do even that. Between stale buns, burnt fries and a mysterious milkshake machine that never seems to be working, the food experiences that friends share at the McDonald’s at Hooksett Road are anything but satisfactory. Personally, it seems like every time I go there my order either isn’t right or the quality is even worse than it was the last time I visited. The bun of my Big Mac is always slightly crunchy on the edges and the fries manage to be both undercooked and overcooked at the same time - if they aren’t burnt altogether. The em-
ployees often have a bad attitude and don’t want anything to do with the customers. While it’s understandable that they are forced to be there late at night rather than sleeping in their own beds, they should still attempt to be pleasant just for the sake of holding up the integrity of the restaurant. I remember one time when I went solely for a milkshake, and I saw a guy pick one up from the counter as I was walking in. A few of my friends ordered before me, and when I finally got up to the counter and ordered a chocolate milkshake, all of a sudden, the machine was broken. I don’t think there’s anything more disheartening than finding out that you were only a few minutes away from a chocolate milkshake,
but now one is no longer obtainable after craving one for the whole day. My friends all said they had never seen me deflate as fast as that night when the cashier said, “Sorry ma’am, the machine is broken.” However, even with all of the bad experiences I’ve had, I can still say that some of my best memories have taken place at that McDonald’s. Whether it be teasing my friends for not being able to start a car correctly because it’s 2 a.m., or having a slightly inebriated man come over and try to become our best friend, the McDonald’s on Hooksett Road is a staple in the SNHU community that everyone experiences during their time here. For that, I would say it deserves some credit.
While it may seem archaic to some, states such as Georgia and North Dakota are currently grappling with the marginalizing crisis of voter suppression. We may take for granted the right to vote, but to some, it is a right being stripped from their hands. In Georgia, Brian Kemp is running for governor against Stacey Abrams, despite currently holding the position of secretary of state. As secretary of state, Kemp’s role is to oversee the election process. Recently, a lawsuit has been filed against him due to an investigation which uncovered that, despite
midterm elections being less than a month away, Kemp’s office has failed to approve over 50,000 voter registrations. Kemp faces scrutiny for suppressing minority votes as most of the citizens that have not been approved are African-American. He has stated that his actions follow a 2017 state law which necessitates voter information to match exactly with the data from the Department of Motor Vehicles or Social Security Administration. However, it is evident based on those who have yet to be approved to vote, that this law disproportionately impacts the black and Latino community.
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Unsatisfactory Food, but a good place for memories
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penmen abroad
page 12
Sweden Relationship From on the Rocks to Ambitious Visions Derek Smith Staff Writer
Maddie Covino Community Relations Manager At the beginning of the semester there were speculations about the future of the Study Abroad program at the University of Skövde in Skövde, Sweden for Game Design students. The major problem revolvinga the program was the lack of core classes that were available in English to SNHU students. Ed Brillant, the Game Design Coordinator, expressed the importance of being able to take major courses abroad because it allows the student to constantly improve on their skills and remain engaged in Game Design. “We want to make sure there is an avenue for our students to experience study abroad but not take a step back in their development and in their major.”
When students within the game development major choose to study in other locations, they run the risk of falling behind in their development abilities. Brillant dives into the differences with the program saying, “What sets this program apart from others is game-related majors are able to take classes that go towards their major as opposed to regular general education courses, setting them apart.” The professors try to give them smaller projects and things to work on so that they don’t
lose those skills, but it can be very difficult to keep up. Another advantage for students who go to this university is they will have access to the Sweden Game Arena. The Sweden Game Arena is a hub of Sweden game start-ups, education and research. One of the more popular games to come out of the Game Arena is Goat Simulator. Members of the Swedish faculty recently came to SNHU to experience the campus as well as see the day to day of their students. Brillant said that
they “wanted to see where their students are coming and what they are doing.” Currently, SNHU is hosting one student from Sweden who has been hard at work on a Make a Wish Foundation project. The representatives from Skövde were impressed by our campus growth, as Brillant noted by saying, “When they came last, we did not have half the buildings we do now.” During the meeting, Brillant said, “We talked about adding more classes for our students in English and making sure
it’s more beneficial and even get an internship [while abroad].” He is very focused on student success in this program stating, “We are just making sure that it makes sense for our students to go over there.” He also expressed the benefits of this opportunity by saying, “Some of the courses they will take, they will be working with other international students so they could be on a team with people from Japan, from China, or from Peru.” This is a very unique experience being able to work
University of Skövde in Skövde, Sweden (image credit: University of Skövde)
with people from various cultural backgrounds. The program really gives a lot of experience to the student in their desired field. Brillant expressed the major headway the two schools have made this year within the program claiming that the relationship is “the best it has looked since we made the partnership.” Brillant says that there are high hopes for the future of this program. Brillant said that they “already have at least seven or eight students that I’m working with right now to start sophomore year to go over there.” With all of the big changes set to happen in the coming future for this program, Brillant is most excited for the future of the bond they plan to build. “I honestly think that having that relationship that goes beyond study abroad is the bigger picture of where it is going to grow to.”
How to have a great time Traveling abroad with Friends
Alexa Gustavsen Staff Writer KimSarah I Staff Writer
Nothing sounds better than traveling the world with your best friends, right? Running around with your favorite people seeing and experiencing something new sounds like the best time of your life! Until someone wants to do one thing and someone else wants to do another and no one can agree on where to get dinner. So, while spending a week with nine best friends in Montreal may sound fun, there are definitely a few do's and don't's that everyone should know before traveling with
their friends. The first tip is to always be prepared and to do your research. We learned this the hard way when we hiked up a mountain in tube tops, jean shorts and converse in 90 degree weather. When in Montreal, we all decided it would be fun to climb up Mt.
Royale. We thought it was going to be a short little climb based off the little research we did, but boy were we wrong. We endured an hour of climbing, taking multiple stops to catch our breath at the sides because some weren’t going fast enough for others.
Eventually, we made it to the top. It was well worth it, but be sure you are prepared for whatever it is you have planned. Next tip, just like anywhere else, things cost money and the expenses will add up. Make sure to distribute your money on food, drinks, activities and other things that
At the top of Mt. Royale, Canada (image credit: KimSarah I)
are necessary. You really do not need that extra glass of wine at dinner. In some instances, a friend may be willing to lend some cash. You can show your appreciation for the gesture by picking up their future tab or paying them back on Venmo weeks later. Overall, it is important to ensure that you have the funds to last the trip. Do not be the one in the group that needs to go to the ATM every single night. When traveling out of the country most places have a drinking age of 18. Be sure you are doing it responsibility and have a friend with you at all times, because without realizing it, you could have one too many.
Having someone with you to make sure you aren’t going over your limit could be of help to avoid a fight with your best friend in the streets of a big, foreign city. For example, nights when bars have special offers like $1 shots on a Thursday would be a good time to know your limits. You can definitely get carried away with that deal so make sure to be aware. Every trip is bound to have its hiccups. Overall, the most important tip to keep in mind is to have fun! Being able to travel with all your best friends is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Be thankful for that experience and enjoy life while we’re young.
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sports
Jack perri set for opening season with Penmen
Catherine LaChance Sports Editor
The Southern New Hampshire University Department of Athletics announced in early June that Jack Perri will replace Stan Spirou as the head men’s basketball coach beginning winter 2018. Perri is just the sixth head coach of SNHU basketball in program history. He replaces the legendary Spirou, who coached the Penmen for 33 years and won 640 games. Although those are big shoes to fill, Perri is confident the Penmen will succeed under his leadership. “(Spirou) had great success here,” Perri said. “Everyone can do an impression of him or have a story about him. I’m not that and I don’t plan to be. I’m Jack Perri and I’m going to be the best I can be.” Perri plans to implement his unique coaching strategy to an already talented roster that Spirou finalized last year. He plans
to enforce playing hard and playing selfish and encourages his team to exude confidence. He said he will also use discipline and toughness to shape them. “The way I run my program is different from the way Stan ran his program,” Perri said. “I feel like I’m a teacher. Basketball for these boys is like their second education, so I need to shape them in a way that will produce good results on the court. “I want to create a program the people of Manchester can be proud of,” he continued. “Obviously, Stan has set a high standard for that and I just want to continue that success. I love coaching and I wanted a program I can have as my own. I would [like] to build relationships with these kids and really have an impact on their lives.” Perri brings 20 years of coaching experience across all three NCAA divisions to SNHU. He entered the coaching pro-
fession immediately after college when he grabbed an assistant coach position at his alma mater, Bentley University, an NE10 school, where he played basketball as a student-athlete for five years. He spent six years coaching the Falcons before traveling to Rhode Island College (RIC) for a year to take on a head coach position. Perri’s career then brought him to LIU Brooklyn, a DI institution, where he coached for 12 years. He spent his first seven years as an assistant coach and the remaining five years as head coach. While at the helm, Perri and the Blackbirds won 77 games and earned four Northeast conference tournament berths. Perri impressed in his first season at LIU, going 2014, en route to guiding the Blackbirds to their third straight NEC title and appearance in the NCAA Tournament. In his last season in 2016-17, Perri produced a record of 2012 and finished second in
Coach Jack Perri cheers on his former team. (image credit: Newsday) the league. Perri left LIU the following year to coach at Boston University (BU) for one year. In 14 seasons as an assistant coach, Perri's teams went a combined 240-181 (.570), winning three conference championships and making three NCAA Tournament appearances. In his last two years as the associate head coach at LIU Brooklyn, the team went a combined 52-15, capturing
the first two of an unprecedented three straight NEC Championships and three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. As a head coach, Perri won nearly 100 games in six seasons, including a pair of 20-win campaigns, advancing to an NCAA Tournament, capturing both a tournament and regular-season conference title and collecting a pair of Coach of the Year awards. Perri began his stretch
with SNHU over the summer and has begun official practices with the Penmen. "I'm excited for this season," Perri said. "We have a great group of guys and I think all my experience will help shape them into the best players they can be." Cheer on Perri in his Penmen game debut when he and the Penmen take NYIT on Saturday, November 10 at 4pm at the Fieldhouse.
The 2018 women’s basketball team. (image credit: SNHU Penmen) Alexa Gustavsen seasons to start. One of The team has faith they will be prepared to play Staff Writer these teams is women’s will be as successful, if every team, one game at a basketball. not more so, this coming time. This group knows Moving further into Last year, the wom- season. that last year’s success the school year, the fall en’s basketball team Head Coach Karen has prepared us for this sports teams are wrap- had a winning record Pinkos has been working year and has made them ping up their seasons and of 17-12 and made it to hard to make sure they hungrier," Pinkos said. the winter sports teams the quarter finals of the do just that. Freshman Danielle are itching for their NE10 championships. “We are excited and Sirois (‘19), who is going
into her first season as a Penmen, is ready for their season to get going. “We have such depth and talent on this team; there’s really something special here. I’m excited to see how far we can get with our hard work," Sirois said. The team has been getting ready both on and off the court since the beginning of the year, with preseason workouts, team apple picking and team weekend retreats. Building a bond between players is important for any sports team seeing as it translates to their performance on the court. Coach Pinkos spoke on the teams bond
with one another this year. “We have great chemistry which is really important in a successful team. They really enjoy each other," Pinkos said. Be sure to make it to the opening weekend games held on November 9 at 5:30 p.m. against Bloomfield and November 10 at 1:30 p.m. against Dominican college. Both games are to be held at the Stan Spirou Fieldhouse. It is sure to be a great season as the Penmen have worked tirelessly. “Our goal is to improve on last year’s record and have the most successful season in years,” Coach Pinkos said.
Women’s basketball preps for 2018 season
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men’s basketball ready for fresh start
Tim Charvat Staff Writer February 23, 2018 will go down as one of the toughest days in SNHU Men’s Basketball history as the Penmen suffered a crushing defeat to Southern Connecticut State University and were eliminated in the first round of the NE10 Championship for the first time since 2008. Charlie Russo ('19) recalls the fieldhouse atmosphere after the defeat, “It was very disappointing because we started off so strong. We knew that we had a lot of potential, and [with] the way that we ended the season we knew we could’ve gone further.” This game also marked the the final game Head Coach Stan Spirou would coach as he retired later in the year
both Penmen veterans and newcomers. “Coach Perri really knows what he’s talking about during practice. He’s a a great motivator, and [he] breaks down every drill bite by bite for us so we can understand what he’s trying to get us to do. His resume from his previous schools shows that if there was anybody who was going to replace Stan, it was him,” said Russo about his early impressions on Coach Perri. “I think he’s a great guy, a great coach. He definitely holds us all accountable, and not only does he care about us being prefect on the court, he [also] expects that in the classroom as well as how we present ourselves on campus. All around he cares for us, and that’s all you can ask from a coach,” Shawn Montague
('20) added. Even with the positive reception and the high expectations for Penmen success, there seems to be one major issue that has arisen during practice and that is the team hasn’t yet come full circle. Coach Perri reasoned that the team is younger than last season, with five new freshmen compared to one freshman last season, and that it will take time for the new mix of rookies and veterans to jell. Once they do, however, he feels that the team will be unbeatable. The 2018 season for men's basketball begins November 10 against New York Institute of Technology at the Stan Spirou Fieldhouse. It will not be long for the Penmen to be put to their first test, and only time will tell if the Penmen can reach the mountaintop.
The Field Hockey team poses with Team Impact teammate Riley. (image credit: SNHU Penmen) World Series matchup Ice hockey recentagainst the University of ly took advantage of Southern Indiana. They Team Impact as well. did. According to Head The story quickly Coach Sean Walsh, the went viral and was fea- team recruited a young tured on WMUR and boy through the organiNBC Boston. Price suc- zation, but he has not yet cessfully made the walk met the team. through a tunnel of “Our kid has a cercheering Penmen and tain disease and it is a then cheered them on way that he can be part later in the day, as the of the team," he said. team recorded its second "The team will meet him World Series victory in around Veteran’s day.” program history. Volleyball is par-
taking in other acts of community service. They are planning a clinic to benefit the victims of the gas explosions in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence, Massachusetts. Volleyball is also donating items to the Cupboard, which is the on-campus food pantry located in the Student Center. Volleyball, along with men's and women's soccer, have hosted games benefiting the Cupboard. SNHU athletic teams enjoy partaking in community service projects. Whether through Team Impact or for the Cupboard, SNHU teams are leaving their mark on the community to benefit others. Community service can change the outcome of someone’s life while establishing life-long relationships.
Charlie Russo shoots the ball. (image credit: SNHU Penmen) after being head coach for 33 years. Then on June 5, Jack Perri was announced as the sixth head coach in the program’s history and brings an impressive level of experience with him. A head coach for LIU Brooklyn, Perri
helped the Blackbirds win two out of an impressive three straight NCE Championships and has never had a season where they finished fewer than four games above .500. He was an assistant coach for Boston University last season and saw this position as
er to support cancer survivors and people that are dealing with cancer. Everybody comes together and just plays field hockey,” said Maddie Holt ('19) about Playing for a Purpose. Almost all SNHU teams participate in a community service project called Team Impact. This national nonprofit connects children facing serious and chronic illnesses with local college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life changing outcomes. The field hockey team recruited five-yearold Riley through Team Impact to the team this fall. Riley is a vibrant young girl diagnosed with Leigh's Disease, a neurological disease characterized by a progressive loss of mental and movement abilities and typically results
in death within two to three years. The team is proud to have added Riley to the roster. She is always looking forward to meeting new people and can brighten a room with her smile. "I think (having Riley) has touched us more...than it has touched them because I don’t know how we could ever give back to her the inspiration that she has given to us,” said Goalkeeper Melanie Rennie. Baseball also took advantage of Team Impact when they recruited Ian Price through the organization this spring. During the NCAA World Series, Price made a deal with the Penmen. If he stood up and walked to his van, the Penmen would then have to win their
a good opportunity. Coach Perri strongly believes in instilling a mindset of playing hard and caring for teammates on and off the field. Based on the team’s preseason practices, his wisdom of the game and vision of the fieldhouse is earning the respect of
athletic teams make impact on community
Catherine LaChance Sports Editor Hannah Cohen Staff Writer SNHU athletic teams are taking initiatives to give back to the community as a requirement through the athletic department. Field hockey, volleyball, baseball and hockey spoke about their community service initiatives and how they have impacted their teams and the community. On October 27, field hockey partook in National Girls and Women in Sport Day in which the team taught young girls how to play field hockey. The field hockey team also participated in Playing for a Purpose. "It’s high school teams that come togeth-
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Hannah Rose makes a save. (image credit: SNHU Penmen)
Meet Hannah Rose - SNHU’s Freshest Goalkeeper
Madyson Alexander Staff Writer
Born in Waterloo, Canada, Hannah Rose, the freshman goalkeeper of the women’s soccer team, has had immense success on and off the soccer field. She has started in all 17 games and has led the team to a 13-3-1 record. Many people may wonder how she has been so successful, especially at such an early point in her collegiate career. Well, it’s simple. She has the drive, passion and determination to be the best she can be. Rose lived in Canada until she entered eighth grade. From there, she moved to the United States. She lived in Florida to attend IMG Academy, a boarding school, until she graduated high school earlier this year. When she was looking for colleges, SNHU Assistant Coach Jamie Williams traveled to Florida to watch her play. He liked what he saw so he reached out to her. She later came up to New Hampshire to look at the school and she “absolutely loved it.”
Rose is a communication major and has recently applied to be an International Student Ambassador. She is also taking on a minor in political science. Rose began playing soccer when she was just three years old. “It was this little rec league, and it was terrible,” she said, “but in my town in Canada, every little kid plays soccer in the summer, and we played hockey in the winter.” Rose said that soccer has helped to introduce her to people who have shaped her life and changed her as a person. A challenge Rose faced in her soccer career occurred during her senior season in high school. She broke the fifth metatarsal bone in her foot, which requires surgery to heal. Rose was out for about five months which hindered her ability to play, not only for the remainder of her senior year, but also for preseason preparation here at SNHU. A large part of why Rose keeps up with soccer is due to her coaches, who have become like parents to her. Her team has also
been important to her and considers them her family. When asked if she felt if there was any pressure on her to perform, especially as a freshman, Rose said the only pressure present is the pressure she puts on herself. “I always want to succeed; I’m overly competitive. I want to win, regardless of where I’m at. But mostly, I want to win for my teammates.” Additionally, her teammates hold a special place in her heart and act like her family away from home. “It was like I was already part of the family before I came here; my teammates are so supportive and so awesome. I don’t know what I would be doing if I didn’t have them,” Rose said. “Everything I feel is about helping the team succeed.” Training for Rose involves a lot of mental preparation and watching game film. “I treat every practice like it’s a game, I work really hard.” She also noted that part of mental preparation is visualization and thinking about what the other team will do next.
“It’s just staying calm and focusing on the game right then and there.” Rose also said that staying focused involves not letting homework and other thoughts enter her mind while out on the field; she manages her time well outside of the gates to the field. Attending boarding school helped Rose with her time management. She noted that the schedule of her boarding school was very similar to how her schedule is now. Being a goalkeeper, Rose feels as though she has a different game to play. “Even though it is a team sport, the goalkeeper position is very much a singular position. It’s a lot of pressure on you; there’s a demand for perfection every time.” Rose’s experience as a goalkeeper is part of her success; she has learned to master the art of focusing on the field. When asked if she would want to play a different position, Rose said she has always been naturally gifted at being a goalkeeper. “I’ve always had an infatuation with the goal
for some reason, whether it’s defending it or trying to score.” Rose also noted the importance of her family in her life. “My family has supported me through everything and all my decisions. They sacrifice for me, and I want to make sure I repay them in whatever way I can.” Rose’s
inspiration comes from all her teammates, her coaches and famous soccer players such as Ashlyn Harris and Steph Houghton. In the next four years, Rose hopes to see conference championships and national championships. “Overall, just to be successful. Try to be top of the league, and kick butt.”
Rose at the goal. (image credit: SNHU Penmen)
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