Volume XXVIII
Issue 8
MArch 30, 2022
penmenpress.com
THE
PENMEN PRESS Writing SNHU’s Story
05
08
12
Munchiez Food Truck: Behind The Counter
Multiple SNHU Teams Finish Regular Season On Top
SNHU Set to Host FirstEver Humanities Festival
2 | News
MEET THE
STAFF Co-Editor-in-Chief Sofia Barassi
Co-Editor-in-Chief Stefan Karlberg
Business Manager
Events Manager
photo Manager
Online Manager
Senior Copy Editor
NEws Editor Taylor Posik
Devin Pouliot
Lifestyle Editor
Sports co-Editor
Sports co-Editor
Opinion Editor
Layout Editor
Faculty Adviser
Julie Armstrong
Ryan Barrett
Now Hiring!
Orlagh Skafas
Bailey Arnold-Fuchs
Adam Dufault
Christopher Kelly
Jack Drolet
Chris Tutt
Jon Boroshok
media Manager Hannah Black
A&E Editor
Joshua DiNapoli
The Penmen Press | 3
THINGS TO
KNOW
e Southern New Hampshire University Penmen Press is a news publication produced yb Southern New Hampshire University students and funded largely yb the Student Government Association of the University. It is our responsibility to inform the SNHU community about events on and around campus. e Penmen Press will print any material found to be factual and in good taste yb the editorial sta of the paper. e views published do not necessarily reect the views of Southern New Hampshire University. e Penmen Press is published monthly during the academic year and is printed on campus yb Copies Plus. To contact the newspaper, please email us at penmenpress@snhu.edu
4 | News
News
The Penmen Press | 5
Team “Git Good” Wins SETA’s Largest Competitive Programming Event of the Year Yona Voss-Andreae Staff Writer SNHU’s computer science department hosted the SETA Cup on March 25, the university’s first competitive programming event since 2019. During the three-hour competition, students worked in teams of two and three to solve six challenging algorithms. “The team that puts in the answer and gets it right the first time gets no points subtracted, but if [they] have one incorrect submission, [they] will have some points subtracted, and if [they] have two incorrect submissions, [they] will have a little bit more subtracted from [their] score,” said Jack Canducci, Computer Science Student Association (CSSA) Vice President. Some questions went unanswered, but Catherine Gallaher (‘22) and Dylan Bryant (‘22) on team “Git Good” cracked four of the six questions in 120 minutes and went on to win first place and the $999 prize. “I have been doing a lot of competition problems that I find online. If I don’t have any homework, I will just do those. Over the last three weeks, I’ve probably spent twenty hours doing random problems in Python,” said Bryant. Team “Git Good” used their spare time during the competition to reanalyze past problems. “We’ve been thinking about strategy, how to make our solutions faster and more efficient,” said Gallaher. Gallaher and Bryant said they have been working on algorithms since their freshman year at SNHU. They even used the problems from the 2019 SETA Cup in their own fake competition. “I remember when we were freshmen and had a third teammate. We were only able to finish four of those [questions] in three hours. Just the two of us were able to finish all six in [100 minutes],” said Gallaher. During this year’s competition,
each team was required to solve various problems, such as navigating through a maze. “It’s hard to tell the code how to navigate through a maze using only... symbols, we passed the two test cases we were given to start but the test cases they had in their system failed us,” said Bryant. Another problem they faced was finding probabilities during the coin-flip challenge. “The coin one was difficult because I knew what was supposed to happen. I knew we needed to use binomial distributions for it, [and] I knew that from the very beginning, just by reading that we would need combinatorics and
binomial distributions, but I couldn’t remember the formulas,” said Gallaher. Up to five teams didn’t finish or submit a single problem. “[If] they didn’t even submit an incorrect problem, then you have made it too hard. So, I think they definitely misjudged that a lot. On the other hand, [lowering the difficulty of the problems] would have made it a lot easier for us. I think if you are advertising a competition to be freshmen-friendly, then this is not,” said Gallaher, and Bryant agreed. “This would definitely not encourage freshmen to want to do it again, but maybe it encourages them to do it again when they are seniors,” said Bryant.
SETA Cup Poster (image courtesy: Emily Blais)
6 | News
Munchiez Food Truck: Behind The Counter Taylor Posik News Editor The student-led Munchiez food truck is open to staff and students during select days and times throughout the week. It is operated by the OL-317 Small Business Management course along with the OL-420 Management Application course. Departments within OL-317 include marketing, operations, human resources, finance, and research and development. As the course flyer indicates, “OL-317 translates business concepts into real-world experiences through running the Munchiez food truck.” “I really, really love working on the marketing team. I do...a lot of the Canva design aspect of it, which is…fun, and it’s a nice, creative outlet,” said marketing team member Rachel VanRyswood (‘23). “I like that it definitely gives us real-life experiences. Like, you learn things in business classes and don’t get to apply them, but now we’re actually
applying them which is really cool.” Other students taking the class, such as marketing team member Skye Fauvel (‘24), agree. “I like it because it’s things that I personally like doing, because marketing is also…[building] your own personal brand,” said Fauvel. The organization has partnered with other campus organizations, such as Brewed Awakening, where customers were provided with an extended selection of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. “We partnered with Brewed Awakening and we sold their cupcakes,” said VanRyswood. “They were amazing.” Munchiez will also be providing vouchers to people who attend the Public Safety defense class. The vouchers can be used at Brewed Awakening or Munchiez. The food truck will be open during campus affairs such as Accepted Students Day, the CAPE Color Run, and
various sporting events, as well. In addition to these events, there will often be activities during operational hours, such as a dartboard, corn hole, and a spinning wheel for a chance to win free food. According to marketing team member Megan Stiasny (‘22), Munchiez’s most popular items are their mac and cheese bites and mozzarella sticks. “I tried mac [and cheese] bites for the first time and they were really good,” said Stiasny. Seasoned fries have been added to the menu as well as churros. Payment options include credit/debit card or cash. “A lot of people just go to the dining center or just avoid the truck whatsoever, but I think if more people knew about it…they’d feel comfortable coming,” said Stiasny. Additional information can be found on the Munchiez Instagram page @munchiezatsnhu. Questions can be sent to munchiez@snhu.edu.
Munchiez Food Truck (image courtesy: Zach Piotrowicz)
The Penmen Press | 7
Sports
8 | Sports
SNHU Track Star Racks Up Multiple Awards As Team Finishes Season Strong Chris Tutt Sports Co-Editor Ashley Corcoran (‘23) continued to dominate her competition throughout the winter season after a successful fall season. Along with that, she has managed to help lead her team to a second-place finish at the NE10 Championships on February 24 and 25. Corcoran brought home two major individual awards. The first is the Most Valuable Athlete award. This award is “awarded to the student-athlete compiling the highest point total at the NE10 Indoor Track & Field Championship,” according to the NE10. The second award she earned is the Most Outstanding Track Performer. Corcoran has given everything to the sport, and these awards symbolize the work that she has put in. “Winning the MVP and Most Outstanding Performer awards had to be one of the best feelings ever,” said Corcoran. “Something I never could have dreamed of happening. They symbolize all the hard work I have put into this sport, and seeing that pay off and actually being recognized for it feels so good.” There were four events that Corcoran competed in, and she won all of them. She won the mile with a time of 4:57.04, the 3000-meter run with a time of 10:12.31, the 5000-meter run with a time of 17:30.41, and was also the anchor of the winning distance medley team who finished with a time of 12:26.92. Coming off of such a successful season, Corcoran has a whole new mindset toward the sport. “[This tournament] gave me a whole new confidence in my abilities,” said Corcoran. “Running four distance events is a hard task, and being able to perform in each one of them and come out on top was huge for me. Knowing I could do it was one thing, but actually doing it is a whole other story.”
Corcoran’s winning mile time gave her a bid to the NCAA DII National Championship in Pittsburg, Kansas. While her individual success is impressive, the whole team had a memorable weekend. The Penmen achieved second place, being edged out ten points by American International College. As a leader on the track, Corcoran has nothing but praise for her team. “I can’t even put into words how proud I am of my team,” said Corcoran. “Everyone has worked so hard to get this program to where it is today. Being second in
the conference is huge, and I think everyone’s dedication has really proved to people what SNHU can really do and that we are a force to be reckoned with. Meets like these are huge because I get to show people how hard I have worked, and compete to be the best. This is a part of what I have worked towards, and why I continue to push myself to bigger goals, like going to Nationals.” This doesn’t mark the end of Corcoran’s success. With the spring season rapidly approaching, she is looking to grow upon her successful winter season.
Ashley Corcoran (‘23) receives the Most Valuable Athlete Award (image courtesy: Brian Foley)
The Penmen Press | 9
Multiple SNHU Teams Finish Regular Season On Top Chris Tutt and Adam Dufault Sports Editors The week of February 28, women’s basketball and men’s ice hockey took on the pressure of playoff competition as number one seeds and faced off against opponents throughout the NE10. Pressure has risen as of late for SNHU athletics to remind their competition that they should not be counted out and that they won’t go down easily. SNHU guard Adriana Timberlake (‘23) of Braintree, MA, is averaging the second-highest points-per-game average on the women’s basketball team this season (13.3) and is ecstatic to be part of a championship-caliber team. “This year has been extremely special; this team is very close and we all mesh very well together. This has made it easy on the court because we have great team chemistry,” said Timberlake. The team endured a year off due to COVID that seemingly hindered their chances at contention this season, but the squad didn’t let that get to them. “I feel that many teams had doubted us from the start because we had not been together for over a year due to COVID. This had given us a disadvantage over other teams who were practicing together all last year,” said Timberlake. Nevertheless, the team has come out making shots when they need to and has continued to stay ready for big games. “I am very excited to be a part of a team that has won the league championship and hope to continue this success,” said Timberlake. “Playoffs has a cool atmosphere because it’s like the start of a new season. Everyone is now 0-0... We have a giant target on our back since we are in first.” SNHU women’s basketball was on the attack all season, but their playoff push came to a halt with a
loss to Southern Connecticut State University in the NE10 quarterfinals on February 28. Much like the women’s basketball team, the SNHU men’s ice hockey had an impressive season finishing their campaign as regular season champions. George Thurston (‘23), a forward for the Penmen, has been a critical part of the Penmen’s success. He believes the SNHU hockey program has championship potential. “Our team feels very calm and confident, but [we] also have a sense of urgency going into the playoffs,” said Thurston. Being the number one seed comes with many advantages, and Thurston is pleased to take advantage of them. “It’s a big advantage that we got the first-round by,” said Thurston. “Every team has to come to us, and being at home in front of your home crowd and not being on the bus helps more than people think. It also helps a lot of guys out; we had a lot of guys with little injuries, and everyone can get treated during the week off and come back ready to go and be 100%.” Championship-caliber teams don’t just appear. They are built
from the ground up, and Thurston believes that his team is ready for the challenge. “We have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time now so we are ready to go,” said Thurston. “We need to play our best game in all aspects.” The end goal is always a championship, and the hockey team can nearly taste the ring. “We accomplished what we wanted to in the regular season, but great teams are remembered for winning a championship,” said Thurston. “We have a really special team and a really special opportunity to make history in a lot of ways.” The team was eliminated from the playoff tournament by Post University in the NE10 semifinals on Tuesday, March 1, but with the momentum they have, their championship push is sure to resume next season. With high-seeding winter season teams coming out of the SNHU athletics program, fans can only wait another year for basketball and hockey to resume. After a season just short of the finish line, next season should be promising.
The Men’s Ice Hockey team celebrating during a game (image courtesy: SNHU Penmen)
10 | Lifestyle
Opinion
The Penmen Press | 11
What are Vice President Brezinski’s Visions for SNHU Joshua Dinapoli Opinion Editor What are the main objectives of a campus president? As an administrator, almost every aspect of the university, from residence life to wellness and academics is concerned. “The first thing to have in mind is to reestablish a community,” said Don Brezinski, the Executive Interim Vice President. Brezinski entered his role after serving as President LeBlanc’s chief of staff and was appointed during the spring of 2021 before taking on a larger role starting in October. His appointment came at a turbulent time, as SNHU was considering how to bring students back to campus and readjust them to college life after a year online. “First of all...the campus was shut down for a year...[and] people are coming back in a less than ideal environment,” said Brezinski. “At the beginning of a fall semester, typically 25% of undergraduates have never been on campus. This time, 50% of undergraduates have never been on a college campus.” While the primary goal of the campus vice president was rebuilding the campus community, he recognized this as a widereaching effort. “Do students have the resources [to find] the answers?” Ultimately, Brezinski is most concerned that students feel confident that they live in a community where they know where they can look for answers. A part of building a strong community is also developing stability. Specifically, how to make changing information from the administration seem less erratic as the campus moves past the dynamic conditions brought on by COVID. “The other goal is to...stop surprises. We don’t like changing course more than anyone else does. If we can create this sense of stability, I think it will enable the faculty to do
their [jobs] better, and it will enable students to work on their studies more.” If SNHU is going to move past COVID, then stability will be the key. In the upcoming semesters, students will be interested to see how the administration will ensure that there is a consistent voice across campus. While Brezinski is slated to serve as campus vice president for only another year and a half, the future of campus is still a primary goal. “What I hope the campus will look like in five years is a place...with clarity and confidence. However, we cannot say what programs will be very popular.” While this means the campus wants clarity in its message, Brezinski was hesitant to give any clear visions.
“We don’t want to put a stake in the ground and say we are going to [follow this plan] and never change.” Understandably, the university staff ’s plans are still in development and will not be revealed to students just yet. However, it’s important for students to understand what the broader academic goals of the administration are. If students know the expectations for the school, it becomes easier to determine if SNHU is worth investing four years into. A stable community will depend on strong and consistent communication with an administration that recognizes the needs of all parts of campus and makes it clear what it expects of its students, and what students are going to receive.
Don has served as Executive Vice President on Campus since October 2021 (image courtesy: Don Brezinski)
12 | A&E and Opinion
ARts and entertainment
The Penmen Press | 13
SNHU Set to Host First-Ever Humanities Festival Logan Mock Staff Writer For the first time, the humanities department at SNHU will be hosting a Humanities Festival on campus. Coordinated by SNHU Art History professor Dr. Deborah Varat, this new event intends to celebrate all aspects of SNHU’s humanities department. When asked about what inspired this event, Varat said it came from the question, “What humanities experiences can be had that are fun but also academic?” Varat, who is the firstever coordinator of the Public Humanities Initiative (PHI), an initiative to support the works of the humanities, said she wanted to exemplify the work that the humanities department has to offer. “There’s big majors like justice studies or psychology that get a lot of play, but humanities tend to be small. Not a lot of people major in humanities here but I still think there’s a lot of interest,” Varat said. The Humanities Festival aims to foster this interest. The event will feature many works of art created by SNHU students, including a large variety of public works such as poetry readings, art exhibits, contests, and student acting. The SETA building lobby will feature a photography exhibit for attendees to view. Artist Allison Tanenhaus will also be present at the event. Tanenhaus has her “GlitchKraft” art series on display in the McIninch Art Gallery from March 14 to April 30. “GlitchKraft” art, according to Dr. Leonie Bradbury of Emerson College, is the alteration of digital images to make them appear as errors, and Tanenhaus will be discussing her work with the SNHU community from the gallery in Robert Frost Hall. The Festival will last for three hours, giving visitors an opportunity to visit and experience
every exhibit. Varat said she hopes the Humanities Festival will become a yearly tradition, as highlighting the work done by students and clubs would be a great way to increase their involvement
in the humanities world. The Humanities Festival will be held on April 13 from 2-5pm on the SNHU Greenspace. More information can be found on the PHI Instagram page @phiatsnhu.
The Humanities Festival flier (image courtesy: Dr. Deborah Varat)
