The Statesman 9-09-19 by The Statesman

Monday, September 9, 2019

Volume LXIII, Issue 3

sbstatesman.com

SBU adds diversity course requirement

By Maya Brown

Assistant News Editor

A new Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) requirement was added this semester: Respect Diversity and Foster Inclusiveness (DIV). Freshmen who matriculated this year, transfer students who matriculate in the spring of 2020 or later and students who re-enroll during the fall of 2019 or later after withdrawing from the university are required to take a class that fulfills the DIV requirement. According to the Undergraduate Bulletin, the goal of this new SBC is to not only “highlight, respect, and understand” human differences, but also to “discover and reveal our similarities and common goals.” The bulletin shares that the learning outcomes of the new SBC will enhance students’ “openness to people who differ from themselves and ideas that are in conflict with their own.” “I think this new requirement will make students more aware of other cultures and of the world in general,” Melinda Mercedes, a freshman astronomy major, said. Students who fulfill the requirement should be able to “describe and analyze the impact of

EMMA HARRIS / THE STATESMAN

Wolfieland attendees participate in rides and games at Stony Brook University's annual carnival on Saturday, Sept. 7. The Undergraduate Student Government raised prices from $3 per ticket to $5 per ticket. power and privilege on self and society in the context of diversity and inclusion; [to] identify systemic barriers to equality and inclusiveness and discuss how those barriers and biases affect the perceptions of others; [to] examine how human and cultural similarities and differences shape personal identities and influence structural and institutional inequities; [and to] critically reflect upon how one’s own personal and cultural presuppositions affect one’s values and relationships.”

Dr. Jarvis Watson, interim chief diversity officer, explained that the new requirement should provide professors and faculty with an opportunity to be more inclusive with their content and pedagogy. “I believe that this is an excellent addition to the SB Curriculum, as it will assist with bringing more voices and experiences to the classroom,” he said. The new SBC is a part of Stony Brook University’s plan for equity, inclusion and diversity, which arises out of an effort to enhance the campus community by en-

compassing a broad definition of diversity with a focus on race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, ability, veteran status, socioeconomic level and sexual orientation. The elements of the plan came from various discussions and written exchanges with students, faculty and staff. “I think if more people take the classes for the DIV SBC, there will be more respect to go around campus because we really need that,” Nikita Chatoredussy, sophomore applied mathematics and statistics major, said. “It

will be very beneficial because of the increase of diversity around both Stony Brook campus and the world.” Jeadelle Gustave, senior business major, agrees that the new requirement will have an impact on students. “As a fellow person of color, I wish I had more access to classes that integrate diversity,” Gustave said. “I’m excited for the opportunity the new generation has to learn about both his culture and the different cultures around the world.”

USG senate unanimously approves House of SHADE constitution

By Bernard Sanchez Contributing Writer

The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) senate unanimously approved the constitution of the House of SHADE, an informational and educational outreach organization for black and queer students at the university, at a senate meeting on Thursday night. Sophomore political science and women’s studies double major and House of SHADE President, Carine Green, detailed his struggle to obtain USG approval of his organization’s constitution, describing a break in communication between his organization and USG the prior semester. The club was seeking to meet the qualifications to establish a budget.

According to Green, who listed his communication efforts after a request from the senate, he visited the USG VP of Clubs and Organizations and Treasurer several times last semester to speak about the House of SHADE’s constitution and establishing a budget. After initial contact, however, the treasurer didn’t respond to Green’s attempts at communication. “We submitted our constitution a couple months ago in February, we have not received any information back from USG,” he said. “There were a couple of communications as you can see by the emails, letting them know that we wanted our constitution approved but we got no response.”

USG Vice President of Clubs and Organizations and senior business management major, Maame-Esi Otoo, acknowledged and apologized for the delay, adding that there was “a lot of back and forth between Carine and last year’s VP of Clubs and organizations” and the judiciary, without action on the constitution. “We are here to vote on House of SHADE’s constitution,” Otoo said. “But a sidebar in the bylaws states that if the Supreme Court fails to notify a club of their decision on the constitution within four weeks of receiving that constitution, then the constitution should be deemed approved. We are sorry on behalf of USG that this happened, but we are here now to make that right.”

BERNARD SANCHEZ / THE STATESMAN

Carine Green, the House of SHADE president, speaks to the USG senate at a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 5.

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Monday, September 9, 2019

ARTS & CULTURE

Wolfieland entertains students with rides, games, prizes and tasty food

By Melissa Jones Contributing Writer

The annual Wolfieland carnival was a crowd-pleasing success. This year’s signature event took place on the night of Sept. 7 and brought Stony Brook students together for a night of loud and exciting entertainment. Junior health science major, Andre Minueza, thought the carnival was much better this year. “It is! I see that they brought more things this year … It’s good — more rides, more small games to play … It’s better,” he said. “I would hope they’d be [better], if they wanted to charge five dollars instead of three dollars like last year.” The Gravitron ride seemed to be a favorite among students, including junior biology and psychology double major, Chris Mayer. When asked about his favorite ride Mayer answered, “Definitely the Gravitron. I had a great time on that one!” With vendor trucks lined up along the north side of the lot, students had a plethora of choices: bubble tea, snow cones, popcorn, french fries, burritos, hotdogs, chicken tenders, cotton candy … the list goes on. Minueza had bubble tea from Chatime and enjoyed it; meanwhile, Mayer and his friend, Dianna Shivack — a junior

JUSTIN GOODRIDGE / THE STATESMAN

The Wolfieland carnival in the Student Activities Center parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 7. The night featured games, rides like the Gravitron and vendor trucks. chemistry major — ate from the Tex Mex truck and recommended their food.Freshman biology and chemistry double major, Hanna Gardella, agreed and said the Tex Mex was “really good and fresh.”

There was “the perfect blend” of R&B, pop and throwback music blasting all night, according to Xenia Gonikberg, a freshman journalism major. Her friend, freshman psychology major, Roma Kidambi,

chimed in to agree: “Yes! The music is really great!” Plenty of students sang along to their favorite songs while walking around the lot. Although there were plenty of positive comments regarding

Wolfieland, some students still suggested changes to the Undergraduate Student Government. Sandy Habashi a pre-med and bio double major and friend, Doris Aguilar, a psychology major, agree that there could be “more rides.” Habashi thinks that adding more rides to the lot next year could offset the issue of long lines. Another student who believes adding rides would be beneficial to the carnival is Isabelle Gozdyra, a freshman biology major. Gozdyra says she would “add rides to change the wait [in the lines.]” Gonikberg agrees and suggests maybe a “fast pass” upgrade for those willing to pay more. There were numerous booths spread out among the lot, and some of the games included ring toss, high striker, ladder toss and waterworks shootout. Students who won games at the booths cashed in their tickets for various prizes. Overall most students considered this a success. Kidambi said it was a great way to “show some school spirit,” and Gardella said it “was a fun way to get out.” The consensus among students seemed to be that Wolfieland 2019 was better than the previous year, and should stay Stony Brook University’s yearly tradition.

"Patema Inverted": The spectacle shown at the Charles B. Wang Center By Alek Lewis

Contributing Writer

“Patema Inverted” is a mustwatch for Japanese animation fans who look for the immersion into culture and impressive animation, and science fiction fans who like to think about the possibilities of gravitational fantasy. It is an animated film that deeply explores philosophical, theological and even political ideas, all while telling a story centered around relationships and secrets with a mind-bending science-fiction twist. The film, directed and written by Yasuhiro Yoshiura, was shown at the Charles B. Wang Center on Sept. 6. It drew in a moderately full house with a diverse audience of students and community members, both young and old. The movie’s prelude involves an accident that distorts the gravity of the planet and splits the human population. The movie centers around a young girl named Patema and a young boy named Age. Patema —whose curiosity to explore out of the boundaries of her underground steampunk-inspired world is piqued by the disappearance of her father figure Lagos— accidentally discovers Age and his world, which has a gravitational pull opposite of hers. The world that Age lives in, Aiga, has an environment that looks like Earth’s. The government of Aiga, however, seems yanked out from an Orwellian dystopia with cameras on every corner of

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Poster for "Patema Inverted." The film was written and directed by Yasuhiro Yoshiura. It was shown on Sept 6.

society. Everybody but Age wears the same clothes; Age’s rebellious nature is noted by the visual contrast and by the society’s computers, whose statistics show him as a rebellious student due to the

death of his father, an inventor that attempted to go to the sky to discover what those in power don’t want him to. Our villain, Izamura, is not necessarily unique. He is a zealot who

uses the accident that precedes the movie to propagandize the “inverted” (those who possess the opposing gravitational pull) as sinners that God has punished with his wrath. The film constantly uses shadows on Izamura’s face; combined with a crazed look that gives a fanaticism to his expressions, he is presented as a large scale threat to our heroes. The film uses the gravitational difference between Patema and Age to shift the camera’s perspective upside down, creating different shots and accentuating perspectives as a main theme; these shifts also create some comedic moments, as Age and Patema have to constantly hold together to keep them from floating into the sky like a balloon. The score of the film, by Michiru Ōshima, magnifies the landscape shots of the film while also creating a dramatic movement to the action scenes. Stony Brook University physics graduate student, Olof Salberger was invited to the film by his friends. He went not just with the intent of enjoying the film; he also brought along a notebook. Salberger attempted to understand the physics of the film’s planets, their different gravitational pulls, alternate locations and worlds. He drew a diagram of the world of “Patema Inverted” before scrapping it when the last few minutes destroyed his original perception of their planets. Salberger drew a second diagram that he felt better represented their world. “It reminded me a lot of Miyazaki

movies,” Salberger said, comparing the art style to the popular Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli.

“It is an animated film that deeply explores philosophical, theological and even political ideas ... ” The villain of “Patema Inverted” reminded Salberger of the villain Judge Claude Frollo from the Disney film “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” whose religious motivation combined with his look drew an uncanny resemblance between the two. The movie does a great job at balancing the realism of the characters’ relationships with the themes of science fiction and dystopian fiction. I recommend this movie to anybody looking for a compelling story to entertain your evening, and especially to those who watch films to discover deeper meanings about philosophy, theology and relationships.

The Statesman

Arts & Culture

Monday, September 9, 2019

It: Chapter 2 is a thrill ride that starts fast and doesn't slow down By Alexander Bakirdan

Assistant Arts and Culture Editor

“It: Chapter 2” doesn’t pull any punches from the very beginning as the movie sets the tone quickly for what is a thrilling ride from start to finish. Now I feel I can’t discuss this movie properly without spoiling it a bit, so consider this a warning, there will be massive spoilers ahead. Right from the beginning, we’re plunged back into Derry, Maine, 27 years after the original movie. In 2016, Derry is very much the same hateful town as it was in 1989. Right away it is clear that this movie is going to paint a dark picture as a gay couple is brutally attacked before one of them is thrown from a bridge and then found and killed by Pennywise. None of the kids who left can remember life in Derry as if some sort of mystical PTSD has taken hold and Mike, played by Isaiah Mustafa, as the only one who never left, must bring them all back together. The movie shows us how all the kids from “It: Chapter 1” have changed, and in particular takes an opportunity to paint a dark picture of the cycle of abuse. Beverly, played by Jessica Chastain who was abused by her father as a girl, finds herself married to another abuser. She takes Mike’s call and as she packs to leave for Derry, we see her husband’s abuse. In a

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Poster for "It: Chapter 2," that premiered in theaters on Sept. 6. The film explores the origin of Pennywise. harrowing scene, her husband beats her viciously and attempts to rape her before she manages to escape in a scene that nearly mirrors her escape from her father in “It: Chapter 1”. The tension is built up early in the movie and kept up

throughout. Pennywise terrorizes early and often, seeks to exploit the fears and weaknesses of the group. Despite the fact that the movie is almost three hours long, it flies by. The length might seem daunting to some movie-goers, but the

intense pace and lively plot keep the film moving the entire time. There wasn’t a single point in the movie that felt like it dragged. The older cast lends itself well to a somewhat darker plotline than the first film. The visuals are more grotesque and disturbing, with mutated looking creatures hatching out of fortune cookies and terrorizing the cast early on in a Chinese restaurant is just one of the examples. Bill Hader, who plays Richie, and Mustafa shine particularly brightly, but the whole cast gives a performance that will keep you deeply invested in their characters. Bill Skarsgård continues to be delightfully unsettling as Pennywise, with a voice and smile that will make your skin crawl every time he’s on the screen. The movie thrives on cinematic moments, a balloon framed between prison bars, Pennywise’s eyes floating disembodied in the dark highlight beautiful visuals and excellent lighting choices that heighten fear and suck you out of your seat and into Derry. The film explores further the origin of Pennywise, with Mike leading the way. As the only member of the group who stayed in Derry, he was the only one who never forgot Pennywise. He shows Bill, played by James McAvoy, Pennywise’s true origin with the help of a psychedelic root and an artifact that he obtained from local Native Americans.

This disjointed drug-trip shows Pennywise’s origin as a creature whose power comes from others’ belief and fear of him, a key factor that becomes the central theme in defeating him once and for all. The power of belief and how we see ourselves and others are important themes throughout the whole movie, with character’s views of themselves and each other undergoing dramatic metamorphosis in the film. Bill struggles to accept that his brother Georgie’s death wasn’t his fault, after beating himself up over it for 27 years. And other members of the group go through similar struggles. The movie stumbles a bit with Richie’s secret. Richie’s story takes more of a center stage than it did in the previous film, with the clear subtext that Richie is gay and in the closet. The story is compelling, and artfully shows Richie’s struggle growing up in a homophobic small town, but the movie never lets Richie come out to his friends, instead the film chose to hint at it repeatedly. For a movie that started off the way it did, this feels like a missed opportunity. Hader’s great performance in the role notwithstanding, Richie’s story ends feeling somewhat incomplete. Other than this key issue and maybe a few too many jokes, (I don’t go to see a horror movie to laugh after all) the movie is a solid thrill ride that delivers with jump scares and gore galore.

The original “Midsommar” was surpassed by a superior director's cut By Lajiere Blake Contributing Writer

Ari Aster, an American director and screenwriter, unveils the original “Midsommar” was missing 30 minutes of footage. The debut of “Midsommar” in July 2019 was met with fervent excitement from fans of the director’s first feature film, “Hereditary.” The wide success of “Hereditary” gave Aster the golden pass to join with the likes of Jordan Peele. Widely respected and revered, “Hereditary” did well at the box office earning 79.3 million dollars worldwide according to Box Office Mojo, further catapulting it into a mental hall of fame for horror fanatics. In late July, I took the opportunity to see “Midsommar.” As soon as I saw the trailer for the film, I was excited. I knew the talent Aster possesses so my expectations were high. In “Hereditary,” he proved himself a strong filmmaker with the ability to hook viewers in unconventional ways. After seeing “Midsommar” for the first time, I fell in love. The color scheme sticks with you long after the film and it was hard not to notice the vibrancy of trees afterward. Not only is the cinematography strong, but the writing has a life of its own. The theater erupted in laughter countless times, yet through careful dialogue more serious moments were easily conveyed. Needless to say, the announcement of a director’s cut intrigued me. Any movie I truly enjoy, I make a habit of seeing twice so this was the perfect opportunity. Unsurprisingly, the theater was mostly unoccupied,

with groups of two to four people scattered throughout. Based on the reactions at the end of the movie, I gathered this was the first time some people had seen it. The new scenes focus on the lowest lows of characters Dani and Christian’s tumultuous relationship. In the first cut of the film, Dani and Christian have a minor argument about the newly disclosed trip to Sweden. The argument ends with Dani being gaslit into compliance and apologizing profusely for even bringing up her qualms. In the director’s cut, the argument is much longer, giving us further ammunition to despise Christian. The decision to make this particular spat longer is forceful, allowing the relationship to rear its ugly head even further into your space. In the director’s cut, an argument takes place at night and is centered on Dani’s desire to leave Sweden as soon as possible. The Hårga are essentially seen as villains by the characters in the movie. They are a group of people with nothing to lose who practice ancient rituals — including human sacrifice — and are hard to defend. Dani implores Christian to think rationally, mentioning that there is no reason why the Hårga would want anthropology students to study them and expose their culture to the outside world. In true Christian fashion, he is combative and stands firm in his decision to stay there. As both parties get more emotional, we get a new perspective from Christian about the relationship.

He claims Dani has ulterior motives and only does things with the expectation of them being reciprocated, bringing up the flowers she gifted him randomly the day before. Unfortunately, this entire dynamic is exclusive to the director’s cut. The first theatrical release of “Midsommar” would have been slightly bolstered by this scene, giving viewers the chance to be in Christian’s head a bit more. If the excitement of hating Christian even more doesn’t appeal to you, perhaps the extra festival events will. This one takes place at night which seems to enhance the fear we already have of the Swedish locals. Another human sacrifice, to the deity who provides the Hårga with abundant food and resources, is about to take place with a child being drowned. Dani quickly protests and shortly after we realize they never had any intention of drowning the child, and he was simply supposed to be showing his “bravery.” Don’t expect to see throwaway scenes that don’t add much to the movie, and don’t expect to see grand sequences that change the trajectory of the film. But rather, be prepared for noticeable differences that leave you satisfied. All of the extra scenes add a thin layer of meaning that hammers in themes that have been there all along. In a draw between the original release and the director’s cut, I would happily hope for the latter. Less is maybe more, but in this case, more is just enough.

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Poster for "Midsommar," a horror movie that originally debuted in July. This is director Ari Aster's second film. If you missed your chance to catch it in theaters, the director’s cut will only be available on Apple TV with iTunes noting that a “purchase of Midsommar comes with the director’s cut, exclusive to

Apple TV.” According to Bloody Disgusting, iTunes is the only place for the director’s cut but other versions of the film will be released in late September through A24.

MULTIMEDIA

The annual Wolfieland carnival took place this past weekend on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Each fall, Stony Brook students enjoy rides, games and food in the Student Activities Center parking lot. Photography by Emma Harris, Bernard Sanchez and Justin Goodridge

2019 Fall Sports Preview

REVAMPED FOOTBALL AIMS FOR SUCCESS By Andrew Zucker

Stony Brook University (SBU), renowned for a stellar academic reputation and award-winning on-campus hospital, can now place another feather in its cap as an up-and-coming athletic powerhouse that strikes fear in the heart of opponents. This year, college football is marking its 150th anniversary, but the Stony Brook Athletic Department has its own milestone achievements that will inspire them to greater heights this season: 20 years of Division I athletics; seven players received NFL rookie minicamp invites last year, following six invites the year before; they’re coming off two straight FCS playoff appearances and there’s a chance Stony Brook finally has a player drafted into the NFL come April. Elvis Presley crooned “home is where the heart is.” While that may be true, for the SBU football team, “home is where the wins are.” In the past two seasons, the Seawolves were a combined 11-1 while playing under the bright lights at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium and were one of only 17 teams in the nation to go undefeated at home during the 2018 season. The team’s success, on-and-off the field, led the school to extend head coach Chuck Priore’s contract last November, adding two more years to his deal; he is now signed through 2022. “We talk about defending the Wolves Den, and if you’re going to come into that stadium, you’re going to have to claw your way out of there,” Priore said at Stony Brook Football Media Day. “It becomes really apparent because we have seven home games this year, so if we can hold serve at home games, we should be able to compete correctly.” The “sweet sorrow” of parting ways is an unfortunate reality faced annually by college teams. The reasons vary — ⁠ graduation, transfer, professional opportunities, etc. — ⁠ but the result is always the same: quality players leave. Stony Brook is not immune to this phenomenon. Of the 110 players on the roster, only 11 of them are returning starters, three on offense and eight on defense. Despite the inevitable turnover, coach Priore has assembled an impressive squad. THE OFFENSE Priore recently stated that “[e]ven though we graduated some key playmakers the past couple seasons, we probably have a deeper team with more experience on offense.” Stony Brook scored 20 rushing touchdowns and ran for over 2,000 yards in 2018; every player who accounted for those touchdowns has moved on, including the duo of Jordan Gowins and Donald Liotine, better known as the “Long Island Express.” However, Running Backs coach Omar King is not worried. “We have a real good group that is very talented,” King said. “The only thing is that we don’t have the experience that we’ve had in the past couple of years. We have to train these guys and make sure they are doing everything necessary to get caught up to what it is that we are trying to do.” Team captain, senior Isaiah White, makes his return to the offensive side of the field after spending two years on defense and redshirting last year. White, as well as redshirt-freshmen Ty Son Lawton and Seba Nekhet, will be the featured ball carriers this season. Although the offense has only three returning starters, those three have a combined 58 starts under their belts. Senior right guard Mason Zimmerman, as well offensive linemen senior Joe Detorie and sophomore Kyle Nunez will be part of the group tasked with keeping the quarterback safe and the run game flowing. Nunez’s play last year earned him a spot on the All-CAA Football second team, as well as HERO Sports Freshman All-American team and a spot on this year’s CAA Football Preseason All-Conference team. With the graduation of Joe Carbone, the starting QB for the last three-and-a-half years, Priore is faced with the challenge of selecting a new field general for the first

time in years. Juniors Tyquell Fields and Jack Cassidy have been battling for the position since spring ball and only time will tell which of them will get the starting nod. Whoever Priore picks to lead the team, he will have many weapons armed and ready at wide receiver. Returning starter Nick Anderson is joined by Brandon Benson, a junior who transferred to Stony Brook in the spring from Southern Methodist University, as well as graduate transfer, Jean Constant, from Bryant University. Constant, who is known for his speed, was recently named a STATS FCS first team Preseason All-American. This is not Constant’s first, or even second time having his name on the All-American list, having been honored in 2017 and 2018. The offense is not the only big and shiny attraction for this hungry Seawolves team. Opponents will have to prepare to face-off against a rock-solid defense. THE DEFENSE Towson Football Head Coach Rob Ambrose knows that when his team plays Stony Brook, the Seawolves defense will present a significant challenge. “Stony Brook plays fantastic defense,” Ambrose said in an interview with The Statesman. Ambrose’s sentiment was echoed by Richmond Head Coach Russ Huesman who stated that “Stony Brook is the most physical team that we play in the CAA. They have that mentality. They’ve played really well. They play really good defense. Never out of position. Physicality on special teams. Chuck has a tough blue-collar mentality. He’s done a tremendous job turning the team into what they are now. I want Richmond to play like Stony Brook.” The captains on defense, seniors Sam Kamara and Gavin Heslop, lead the return of a mostly intact group that allowed an average of only 193.2 passing yards per game and 122.1 rushing yards per game, good enough to rank 20th in the nation. Kamara, who recorded 42 total tackles, including nine sacks, is joined on the defensive line by senior Keegan Henderson, junior Brandon Lopez and sophomore Casey Williams. Henderson played in all 12 games last year, while Lopez started 10 games in 2018 and Williams recorded 43 total tackles, including six sacks and three blocked passes. Priore raved about the depth the team has this year. “This is the deepest team I’ve ever had, by far, at every position, with the exception of linebacker.” Meanwhile, Kamara likes what he sees from the defense. “Because we have a lot of experience, these guys have seen a lot,” Kamara said. “With that being said, we all know what is going on and we are clicking on all cylinders. In the short time we’ve been together [in] (sic) this camp, everybody has been in tune with each other and we are on the right path.” Most casual NFL fans — New York Jets, in particular — have heard the expression “Revis Island” repeatedly over the last decade. The moniker symbolized the work-ethic and play of cornerback Darrelle Revis, and how receivers felt stranded when he covered them. Add “Revis Island” to the “Bash Bros,” and you’ve got the backfield duo of Heslop and junior cornerback TJ Morrison. One could even include senior defensive back/rover Augie Contressa in the mix. But Heslop and Morrison are like diamonds that have been formed from the same piece of coal. Since the age of eight, Heslop and Morrison have been on the same football team. “He’s my brother for life. We didn’t think we would meet up in high school,” Heslop said, but they did and won the CHSFL AAA Championship in 2015 while at Archbishop Stepinac High School. “We push each other, he teaches me about his game and I teach him about mine.” Morrison said about his “brother for life,” Heslop. The two combined for 101 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one interception, a crazy 87yard fumble recovery touchdown and much more. Add Contressa and his 73 tackles, 10 for loss including three sacks and one interception, and the defense is ready to go.

PLAYER TO WATCH:

Andrew Trent & Nick Anderson

Following the graduation of the four most productive receivers, the Seawolves offense now rests in the hands of two redshirt-senior wide receivers, Andrew Trent and Nick Anderson. Trent caught 16 passes during the 2018 season for a total of 217 yards and one touchdown, while Anderson pulled in 13 receptions for 175 yards and one touchdown. Each one had a “coming out” game in the 2018 season. For Trent, the welcome to the show game came in a Stony Brook victory against Villanova University, when he pulled in a career-high six catches for a career-high 122 yards. Anderson burst onto the scene in victory at Fordham where he caught three passes for 68 yards and one touchdown. Anderson suffered an injury early in the next game against Richmond, which forced him to miss the remaining seven games of the season only to return in the playoffs against Southeast Missouri (SEMO). In the Seawolves 2019 season-opening victory versus Bryant University, Trent was tied for the team-high in catches with three and led the team with 79 receiving yards while Anderson caught one pass for 50 yards. Following the Seawolves 35-10 victory over Bryant, an anonymous player on the Stony Brook team told The Statesman that he considers Trent to be the best player on the offensive side of the ball. The two receivers followed up their Bryant performance with a combined seven catches for 59 yards in the loss at Utah State.

CAA PRESEASON RANKS

VOLLEYBALL EYES A.E. CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THIRD STRAIGHT SEASON

By Ethan Tam

Entering 2019 season play, the Stony Brook women’s volleyball team had many reasons to be optimistic about their performance. However, a less than stellar start to head coach Kristin Belzung’s third season at the helm has raised questions about whether or not the Seawolves are capable of living up to expectations. On Aug. 19, the America East released its annual preseason poll, which was voted on by the conference’s head coaches. Stony Brook was named the favorite to win by a large margin, earning five out of a possible six first-place votes and totaling 25 points, six ahead of second-place Albany. To compare, the gap between the second and fifth place in the polling was seven points. Since Belzung was named to the head coach position in January 2017, taking over for Coley Pawlikowski, the Seawolves have never missed the NCAA Tournament. Belzung’s tenure so far has been marked by many memorable moments. During the 2017 season, Stony Brook barely snuck into the America East Tournament without a winning conference record as the fourth seed before sweeping both first-seeded Albany and third-seeded Binghamton as the underdog to reach its first NCAA Tournament in program history. Then, last year, the Seawolves historically finished a perfect 12-0 in conference play, capturing their first America East regular-season title since 2007 and becoming the first America East school to report an undefeated conference record since 2009. Hosting the conference tournament on its home court, the Pritchard Gymnasium roared when Stony Brook knocked off Albany in the finals to go a spotless 2-for-2 in NCAA Tournament appearances under Belzung’s leadership. “This is the start of a dynasty here. Stony Brook Volleyball is only going to go up from here and I can not wait,” then-junior middle blocker Kendra Harlow said moments after earning the tournament berth.

On the defensive side of the ball, Stony Brook has experienced difficulty defending its opponents’ attack, recording an average of three fewer digs per set so far this season compared to 2018, as well as exhibiting less successful blocking. Junior libero Kiani Kerstetter has been an impressive defender so far this year, leading the team with 103 digs whereas the next closest teammate has 37. Harlow has also picked up where she left off last year, holding the team lead in blocks with 17 after finishing with 87 in 2018. There is a precedent for America East teams performing poorly in non-conference play and suddenly finding their rhythm once the conference contests start. In 2017, the Albany Great Danes ended their non-conference slate staring at a 0-12 record but won the conference regular-season title by going 11-1 in America East play, ending on a ten-game winning streak. While losing six straight games to begin the season is a less than ideal start, there is still enough time for Stony Brook to iron out their kinks in non-conference play before playing at a top-level during the America East matches that actually determine whether or not the team will return to the NCAA Tournament in 2019. If the Seawolves want to secure the elusive three-peat, they will need the veteran talent to take lead and help step up their game.

But, that was 10 months ago, and in the present, Stony Brook finds itself struggling in early competition with a 1-6 record. A hard-fought win on Saturday, Sept. 7 gave the Seawolves their first victory of the season as they took the Georgetown Hoyas to five sets in Washington D.C., going back and forth before finally seizing the win on a rousing kill by senior outside hitter Liz Pulver to win the frame 19-17. At one point in the fifth set, Stony Brook found itself down 8-2, and it looked as if another winnable match had slipped out of the team’s hands. However, the Seawolves found its composure and rallied to string together six points in a row, tying up the set. The win snapped the six-game losing streak that opened 2019, which was marked by both several close calls and multiple blowout sets. “We are still laying the foundation for our season and I’m proud of our group for making a big stride in fighting for this win,” Belzung said in a press release following the Georgetown victory. “It was gutsy to stay composed in tight situation and execute down the stretch and we will continue to build from here. We are looking forward to having a week to train before heading to another tough tournament at Florida State.” Stony Brook’s early-season struggles can be attributed to a lack of offensive rhythm, and the team has had trouble making quality first contacts as well as landing their kill attempts. Overall, the team is hitting at a .189 mark, compared to last season’s .212 non-conference percentage. It has become apparent that the Seawolves are reeling from the graduations of middle blocker McKyla Brooks and outsider hitter Emily Costello; the duo occupied the top two slots in kills on the team during both of its 2017 and 2018 NCAA Tournament seasons and was named to the All-Conference First Team. That is 623 kills from last season that Stony Brook will need to replace this year. Still, the Seawolves have retained a ton of talent, including All-Conference Second Team senior outside hitter Maria Poole and reigning America East Setter of the Year, senior LeAnne Sakowicz. There is a strong veteran presence to this squad, and it is important for Stony Brook’s seasoned players to take on a leadership role and help weather the team through the storm. So far this season, seniors Pulver and Harlow have been some of the Seawolves’ most potent offensive weapons.

PLAYER TO WATCH:

Kendra Harlow

As one of six seniors on the team this season, Harlow will be counted on to provide veteran leadership. Harlow, who finished 2018 fourth on the team in kills and second in blocks, has begun this year as one of the Seawolves’ best players on both sides of the ball. Her .311 hitting percentage is the highest on the team amongst players with at least 30 attempts, while her 51 kills rank second and her 17 blocks rank first.

MEN’S SOCCER SEEKS REDEMPTION By Ryan Pavich

By most accounts, the Stony Brook men’s soccer team had a successful season, capturing the America East regular-season title for the first time since 2005. However, being upset 1-0 at home by UMBC in the conference semifinals ended the season with a sour taste in the team’s mouth, prematurely shortening an otherwise accomplished year.

Montenegro got the nod to start against Fairfield and allowed two goals in a double-overtime tie. The Seawolves are also carrying two more freshmen goalkeepers in Curtis Copenhaver and Daniel Balman, who haven’t seen any action yet.

The team will look to put that all behind them as they enter 2019, head coach Ryan Anatol’s ninth season in charge of the program. He remains confident that his team will find its way forward, even with the challenges laid out in front of them.

The Seawolves have a lot of answers to find before they can defend their America East regular season title, but they’ve started the process. They have several key matchups remaining before their conference schedule begins; including a rivalry match on the road against Hofstra on Sept. 18, an Ivy League opponent at Yale on Sept. 21 and a home game against Fordham on Oct. 1. The core of their season, their America East title chase, begins Sept. 28 in Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium with Vermont, and the team will have to have their answers filled in by then.

“I think it’s a good group,” Anatol said. “We know it’s early in the year, we’re still trying to figure out exactly how we want to play, what our best lineup is. We have a couple guys that are out that we’re hoping to get back into the lineup pretty soon. These games, they all cause problems that allow us to evaluate ourselves, but we’re also able to test how we do with the things that we want to do when we’re on the ball, our ability to create chances.” The team has struggled to begin the season, having already played three contests producing a 0-2-1 record so far. The Seawolves have lost a lot of talent since 2018, from the graduation of senior midfielder Serge Gamwanya to the transfer of promising freshman goalkeeper Christian Miesch to Syracuse. Yet, things seem to be promising for the young team, which has 15 out of the 27 players below junior class. Senior striker Jarred Dass, one of the two seniors on the offensive side of the field, has already made his presence felt this year. Dass has taken just two shots so far, both finding the back of the net contributing two-thirds of the Seawolves offensive production. Dass was tied with Gamwanya for the team lead in goals last season with six. Some of the players Anatol has been waiting on are making their way back into the rotation. Freshman midfielder Birkir Gudmundsson was ineligible to play in the team’s first two games but made his Seawolves debut on Saturday, Sept. 7 against Fairfield. Sophomore defender Rondell Payne was limited in the team’s home opener against Penn State on Monday, Sept. 2, but has returned to the starting lineup. Freshman forward Kameron Blaise is still ineligible, but the team hopes to get him in a game soon. In Miesch’s absence, Stony Brook has a competitive race for starting goalkeeper. Freshman goalkeeper Edmond Kaiser started the first two matches, picking up mixed results. Kaiser faced only two shots on goal in the season opener at St. Francis Brooklyn, getting beat on a long strike in the 69th minute. Kaiser wasn’t as fortunate against Penn State, as the Nittany Lions found four goals on 12 shots on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Yamil

PLAYER TO WATCH: GUSTAVO FERNANDES

Senior defenseman Gustavo Fernandes transferred to Stony Brook last year and made an immediate impact on the roster. Fernandes anchored the defensive unit, earned a second-team All-Conference selection and lead the counterattack. Fernandes’ four goals led all defenders and placed third overall on the team. Now that Fernandes has had an entire year to adapt to the Seawolves game plan, he could reach even higher results. Fernandes showed a noticeable improvement in finding goals from the first two collegiate seasons that he spent at Iowa Western. Fernandes had three goals overall across those two years but also contributed with five assists. Fernandes’ improvement could also be tied to the familiarity of playing with his brother, redshirt-junior midfielder Gabriel Fernandes. Gabriel Fernandes became a full-time starter in 2018 after starting only five games the season prior, scoring all nine of his career points. If so, the duo can expect to continue to be near the top of the Seawolves’ points leaderboard in 2019.

BISCHOF’S FIRST YEAR AT THE WHEEL By Ryan Magill

Defense, defense, defense. That was the mindset of the Stony Brook University women’s soccer team during Brendan Faherty’s tenure as head coach. But there’s a new man in town, and with him comes a change in the style of play. The new sheriff in town, Tobias Bischof, may sound familiar to Long Islanders who follow women’s soccer. Bischof, the former associate head coach of Hofstra University’s women’s soccer team, has brought with him a new identity for the team. A faster pace of play, more movement on passes, more freedom on the field and an emphasis on scoring are some of the key changes Bischof has instilled in the team’s on-field play. “We are trying to play a little bit more offensive-minded,” Bischof said in an interview with The Statesman. According to players, Bischof’s new scheme and approach are paying off tremendously. “He’s impacted this team a lot,” said junior midfielder Chelsie DePonte. “We want to score more goals, without giving up any, but I think we put a lot of emphasis on our attack now and switching on and transitioning fast and scoring goals.” Junior forward Alyssa Francese, the top returning scorer for the Seawolves, likes the way Bischof has the team playing since his arrival. “The style of play that he has brought in suits our team very well,” Francese said. “He wants the best from us and also makes sure that he’s giving us his best in whatever he can do, whether it’s on the field or off the field. He came in with the mentality of expecting to win and not being surprised by results of games, and that has benefited us.” The Seawolves face a tough draw this season, as their schedule is highlighted by four

teams that competed in the 2018 NCAA Tournament: CAA champion, cross-island rival and coach Bischof’s former team, Hofstra; No.12 ranked West Virginia; Boston University and the defending America East champion: the University of Albany. Stony Brook’s season also includes road games against St. John’s University and the University of Delaware, as well as matches against their fellow America East tournament competitors: Vermont, New Hampshire and UMass-Lowell. Early results, however, have been promising. The Seawolves have won their first two games, a 2-1 OT thriller in their home opener versus Northeastern and another 2-1 victory only days later against Manhattan. The Seawolves are looking to ride their early success to Delaware and then to Saint Joseph’s in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “It is different playing away,” said junior forward Fanny Götesson. “But we need to remember that we are there to play our game and that’s what we gotta do and try not to think too much about anything else.” “We, as a coaching staff, look at the big picture,” coach Bischof said. “The overall goal is to be very competitive and to find a way to win the regular season and find a championship.” The Seawolves completed the first half of their goal last season with coach Bischof’s new scheme, a mostly intact returning team, eight of their top nine point scorers returning, and reigning America East Goalie of the Year Sophia Manner defending between the sticks, the Seawolves will be on the hunt, attempting to surpass their preseason No.3 America East ranking.

PLAYER TO WATCH: SOFIA MANNER

Keep an eye between the sticks for the reigning America East Goalie of the Year award winner, junior Sofia Manner.

As a sophomore last year, Manner had 82 total saves on the season in 19 games played, including a league-leading seven shutout games. Manner’s 201819 season highlights included a 12 save game against Oregon State and an 11 save game against UMass-Lowell for the America East regular season title. Fast forward to the 201920 season, and Manner has not slowed down. In the opener against Northeast-

ern, she saved eight shots en route to the team’s 2-1 victory in overtime. She’s allowed only six goals in as many games and the team is currently sporting a 4-2 record. The Seawolves upcoming stretch appears daunting, and they will rely heavily on Manner’s play between the pipes. With their offense in full force behind juniors Alyssa Francese, Chelsie DePonte and Fanny Götesson, as well as their goal being defended by Manner, the Seawolves are ready to continue to do what they have been doing: playing and winning.

Fall Sports Sports Schedule Schedule Fall

Sept. 13-14 at Tallahassee Seminole Sept. 21 vs Invitational Fordham Sept. 17 vs St. Francis Sept. 28 at Brooklyn Rhode Island* Sept. 27 at Oct. 5 vs James Hartford*

Sept. 14 vs Wagner

Nov. 23 vs Albany* *Conference Game

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Nov. 9 vs Towson* Nov. 16 at Delaware*

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Nov. 2 at Richmond*

Sept. 13 vs Siena Sept. 18 at Hofstra Sept. 21 at Yale Sept. 24 vs Rider Sept. 28 vs Vermont* Sept. 29 at Oct. 6 at Oct.1 vs Delaware Binghamton* Fordham State Oct. 11 vs Oct. 4 at Oct. 3 vs Albany* New UMBC* Oct. 13 vs Hampshire* Oct. 6 at UMBC* Oct. 11 vs Binghamton* Oct. 20 at Hartford* Oct. 13 vs New Oct. 19 vs Hampshire* UMass Binghamton* Lowell* Oct. 25 vs Hartford* Oct. 17 vs Albany* Oct. 26 vs Albany* Nov. 1 vs Oct. 20 at Binghamton* Nov. 2 at Vermont* Nov. 8 at UMBC* Oct. 27 vs NewUMass Lowell* Nov. 10 at Hampshire* Nov. 6 at Albany* Oct. 31 at Hartford* UMBC* Nov. 15 vs New Photos by Emma Harris Hampshire*

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Madison* Oct. 12 vs New Hampshire* Oct. 26 at Villanova*

Sept. 12 at West Virginia Sept. 19 vs Fordham Sept. 22 at Maine* Sept. 25 at Boston University

OPINIONS Editor-in-Chief....................Gary Ghayrat Managing Editor..............Karina Gerry Managing Editor..........Chris Parkinson News Editor..............................................................Brianne Ledda Arts & Culture Editor..............................................Melissa Azofeifa Sports Editor.................................................................Ryan Pavich Opinions Editor...........................................................Gabby Pardo Multimedia Editor........................................................Sara Ruberg Copy Chief..........................................................Alexa Anderwkavich Assistant News Editor..................................................Maya Brown Assistant News Editor......................................Samantha Robinson Assistant Arts & Culture Editor..........................Alexander Bakirdan Assistant Multimedia Editor.....................................Emma Harris Assistant Opinions Editor...........................................Cindy Mizaku Assistant Sports Editor..................................................Ethan Tam Assistant Sports Editor.............................................Andrew Zucker Assistant Copy Editor..............................................Donovan Alexis Assistant Copy Editor.....................................................Karla Rios Assistant Copy Editor..............................................Michelle Wong Advertising Manager ............................................. Kaylee McAllister

DESHAUN ROBINSON / THE STATESMAN

Stony Brook students studying in Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library. Growth mindset is a concept where success is achieved through hard work rather than just innate talent.

Growth mindsets create successful students By Matthew Yan Staff Writer

Contact us: Phone: 631-632-6479 Fax: 631-632-9128 Web: www.sbstatesman.com To contact the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editors about organizational comments, questions, suggestions, corrections or photo permission, email editors@sbstatesman.com. To reach a specific section editor: News Editor.....................................news@sbstatesman.com Arts & Entertainment Editor.............arts@sbstatesman.com Sports Editor..................................sports@sbstatesman.com Opinions Editor..........................opinions@sbstatesman.com Multimedia Editor..................multimedia@sbstatesman.com Copy Chief.......................................copy@sbstatesman.com The Statesman is a student-run, student-written incorporated publication at Stony Brook University in New York. The paper was founded as The Sucolian in 1957 at Oyster Bay, the original site of Stony Brook University. In 1975, The Statesman was incorporated as a not-for-profit, student-run organization. Its editorial board, writers and multimedia staff are all student volunteers. New stories are published online every day Monday through Thursday. A print issue is published every Monday during the academic year and is distributed to many on-campus locations, the Stony Brook University Hospital and over 70 off-campus locations. The Statesman and its editors have won several awards for student journalism and several past editors have gone on to enjoy distinguished careers in the field of journalism. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @ sbstatesman. Disclaimer: Views expressed in columns or in the Letters and Opinions section are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Statesman. The Statesman promptly corrects all errors of substance published in the paper. If you have a question or comment about the accuracy or fairness of an article please send an email to editors@sbstatesman.com. First issue free; additional issues cost $1.

When you do well at something, are you told you are smart or that you worked hard? This is the fundamental question behind the debate over growth and fixed mindsets, a psychological theory first proposed by Carol Dweck, Ph.D. According to Dweck’s famous study, fifth-grade students who were told they worked hard on a given puzzle were more willing to tackle new, harder puzzles and learn from their mistakes. Those who were told they were smart avoided harder puzzles and were afraid of making mistakes. Over time, the hard workers did better academically than those who believed they were innately smart. Dweck coined the terms “growth” and “fixed” to describe the mindsets of those individuals. Since then, her work has become a movement featured in Forbes and has been pushed by governments to improve business acumen and academic success. It would be irresponsible to say that dropping everything to modify your thought processes will instantly boost your grades or make you the next Bill Gates. In fact, a 2019 national study conducted to verify Dweck’s findings only found a 0.1 point difference in the average GPAs between high school freshmen who took a short, 50-minute course on the growth mindset and those who did not. In addition, scientists have struggled to reproduce the results of Dweck’s first experiment. However, the principles behind the growth mindset are something everyone should adopt.

Corrections

According to the growth mindset, one’s skills and intelligence are earned through training instead of innate talent. This means that your odds of success in any profession are proportional to your effort and willingness to improve; thus, they are under your control. With this idea in mind, being fixated on self-improvement will allow you to challenge yourself and be more receptive to constructive feedback. The idea ingrains the notion that failure does not mean you’re stupid or that your competitors are smarter. Instead, there’s simply more room for you to grow. As a child, I was always referred to as the “smart one.” I was pushed by my parents to have the best grades in every subject, and most of the time I did. I was proud of my accomplishments and tended to rub them in other’s faces. But being “smart” meant that my pride hinged on always succeeding. If my grades slipped, I’d find myself in a crisis where I’d question my lack of effort, call myself stupid or throw tantrums as a way to vent. Ultimately, a childhood spent being “smart” has left me terrified of failure, an unhealthy mindset that I still struggle with today. I shirked more challenging coursework, stuck to the pre-health track even while I was rapidly losing interest in it and clung to the idea that I’d be shunned if I didn’t succeed in the few things I thought I was good at. I was trapped in a “fixed” mindset, where effort and making mistakes were dreaded signs of inadequacy. Clutching to my pride and staying within my comfort zone has made my

experience at Stony Brook less rich than it could have been. But I’ve made strides to step out of this line of thinking. I quit the pre-health track and started taking more coursework that I enjoy. I found a love for photography after taking a class on it last semester. The skills I developed through photography helped me earn an internship at the Career Center despite my lingering fears that I wouldn’t be hired. I no longer freak out when I get less than 90% on a test and visit my professors more often to seek advice. I still get anxious over careless mistakes or frustrated when my efforts aren’t showing, but it’s still a step forward from the times I’d have an emotional breakdown over a bad grade. I’m certain that I’m not the only one who suffers from this kind of mindset on a campus that specializes in bringing in bright people from all walks of life. The pressure to “be smart” can be overwhelming, especially when you have family members who are depending on you to earn a degree and land a job to support them. Passions are developed, not innate. By saying “I’m not smart enough to do this” or “There’s no way I’ll qualify for this,” you’re denying yourself the opportunity to grow. By dwelling on mistakes instead of learning from them, you’re trapping yourself in the past instead of improving yourself in the present. Give the growth mindset a try. Don’t tell yourself, “If I’m not going to get better, why should I try?” Ask yourself, “If I don’t try, how will I know if I’ll get better?”

No corrections were made to the last issue (Volume LXIII, Issue 2) of the paper. Readers can send an email to editors@sbstatesman.com regarding any errors made in articles.

Opinions

The Statesman

Monday, September 9, 2019

Test curves fail to accurately represent students’ intelligence By Samantha Lauria Contributing Writer

After taking a difficult exam, students are relieved to hear that their professor is curving their test grades. Test curves are a method in which a teacher adjusts the average score of an exam by moving students’ grades up a few points or even an entire letter grade. The scores mimic a bell curve: a graph that displays where the largest amount of scores are averaged with a few scores skewed above and below that average. This is so that the majority of students’ scores fall within that average. In most cases, when the largest number of scores are below average, a teacher may increase their students’ scores so that most of their grades on a test are considered “average.” Although a student’s grade point average (GPA) may benefit from test curves, their grades are no longer a real representation of their intelligence. Students’ intelligence becomes reduced to the grades they receive after a curve, rather than the amount of work they put in for those grades. This unfairly restrains students because only a few are granted access to an above-average portion of the bell curve. For example, after a sum of test scores are released, the highest grade is a 93. The rest of the scores range between 30% and 60%. The student who scored a 93 now have a 100 and everyone’s score goes up by seven points. The student who scored a 60 — the second-highest score — now has a 67, a passing grade.

Volume LXIII, Issue 3

Because the student with the highest score dictates the outcome of a test for everyone else taking it, a student’s focus shifts to making the cut-off score for a passing grade. Test curves do not show students the correct way to solve the questions they were given extra points for and do not show them why their answers were wrong. In most cases, students never get to learn about information they were confused about and are left in this state of confusion regarding the topic. An overwhelming 87% of students say that they do not feel prepared for college but still pursue a degree regardless. Students continue their academic careers without feeling confident

examinations — such as the Regents — are also guilty of curving students’ test scores to a point where they feel knowledgeable on a subject when they are not. Students can aim for raw scores as low as a 34 and still receive a passing grade. This does not encourage students to study for exams. A student may get a passing grade of 65 on a Regents exam but this does not mean that they are ready for the next grade. Instead of helping students understand course material, the Regents continues to funnel students through coursework without a way for them to properly learn the course material.

These nonrepresentative test scores allow for grade inflation to recur. Grade averages at Ivy League schools have been increasing for the past couple of decades. In the 1950s, the average letter grade among college students was a C+. In recent years, that average grade has soared to an A-. The question that arises is if students are gaining a proper education, or if they are just receiving letter grades that ultimately categorize their intellect. While students are graduating with high marks, they are still unfamiliar with their degree coursework and have no choice but to continue with their academic careers.

Educational institutions obsess over their academic standing that they often forget the true intention of school: learning. Grades no longer reflect a student’s intellectual abilities and strengths. Without having sound knowledge in their fields of study, how are students able to find success in their professions? There is no curve in real life. There will not be anything there to inflate one’s reputation while trying to find a job. People who get hired may have exceptional grades, but they also have the raw intelligence to justify their knowledge — something that test curves completely avoid.

“Students’ intelligence becomes reduced to the grades they receive after a curve, rather than the amount of work they put in for those grades.”

in their own abilities about topics that remain uncertain to them. Looking at this issue on a larger scale, New York State

PUBLIC DOMAIN

A bell curve with standard deviations. Test curves mimic a bell curve where the largest amount of scores are averaged with a few scores skewed above and below that average.

Monday, September 9, 2019

sbstatesman.com

The Statesman

Monday, September 9, 2019

CommUniversity Day Celebrating the Best of Stony Brook University & Hospital for Students, Families, Employees and Neighbors

SATURDAY

Enjoy a festival of fun and discovery for all ages! Here’s some of what you’ll find: Student Performances • Sports Demonstrations • Outdoor TV Studio • SBU Marching Band • Kazoo-niversity Free Ice Cream • Drowsy Driving Simulator • Fly a Drone • Rubber Duck Race • Improv for All • and much more!

SEPT.

12 pm to 4 pm

21 2019

ACADEMIC MALL (RAIN OR SHINE)

Free Admission ★ All Welcome

For more details and to register, please visit stonybrook.edu/SBUCommUniversity

Parking and admission are free. Register online to receive a free, reusable tote bag. Bring your registration receipt to an Info Tent to receive your bag and program schedule. Bags and all other giveaways are while supplies last. This event is part of Stony Brook University’s Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Initiative • Stony Brook University/SUNY is an aﬃrmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer. 19070123

JOIN THE STATESMAN Are you interested in writing, photography, copy editing, graphic design, business, social media management, IT and more? Email editors@sbstatesman.com or visit section meetings to find O

out more and get involved! Sports: Mondays @ 7:00 PM Opinions: Tuesdays @ 5:00 PM Location: News: Tuesdays @ 5:30 PM SAC 307F Arts: Tuesdays @ 6:30 PM Multimedia: Tuesdays @ 7:00 PM Copy Editing: Tuesdays @ 7:30 PM

The Statesman

Football

By Andrew Zucker

drops

Assistant Sports Editor

For the second year in a row, the Stony Brook University football team attempted to defeat a Football Bowl Subdivision team (FBS) and fell very short. The Seawolves lost by a wide margin, 62-7, to the Utah State Aggies at Maverik Stadium in Utah on Saturday, Sept. 7.

“I am happy with their effort at the end of the day ... This game will stay in Utah.” -Chuck Priore

Football Head Coach

The Aggies scored early and often, leading 34-0 at the end of the first half. Stony Brook was not even able to get their first, first down until redshirt-junior quarterback Jack Cassidy came into the game at 14:09 in the second quarter and threw a 12-yard pass to redshirt-senior wide receiver Nick Anderson. Cassidy led the Seawolves all the way to Utah State’s own 22-yard line before

away

throwing an interception as he was being tackled. Redshirt-junior starting quarterback Tyquell Fields led the Seawolves on five drives in the first quarter, all of which ended with redshirt junior punter Mitchell Wright being forced to come on and punt. The Australian punter ended the night with a career high 11 punts and 460 total yards, with an average of 41.8 yards per punt and two touchbacks. Following the halftime break, Stadium sideline reporter and Stony Brook University Women’s Basketball alum, Dani Klupenger announced that Fields had barely practiced throughout the week due to injury and that Cassidy would play the entire second half. Fields finished the night connecting on only five of his 14 throws, for 26 total yards while rushing for 18 yards on three attempts. During the Seawolves’ first drive of the second half, Cassidy came in and gave the team some much needed energy. Cassidy led the team downfield via a 14 play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a three-yard touchdown (TD) pass. With the pass from Cassidy to redshirt-senior running back Isaiah White, the TD produced three first time events: Stony Brook’s first and only score of the night, Cassidy’s first TD pass of his Stony Brook career and White’s first receiving TD.

Sports

game

By the time the game clock struck zero, the Aggies had produced 717 yards on offense via 87 plays compared to the Seawolves’ 263 yards of total offense from 73 plays. Despite the large margin of defeat, the Seawolves controlled the ball a little longer than the Aggies, having possession for 30:59 of the 60-minute game. Fans who watched the game via the Facebook live stream saw what appeared to be a very angry

Utah

Monday, September 9, 2019

State,

Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore walking up and down the sidelines, but his comments via post-game press release prove otherwise. “We ended up playing almost everybody that was here on the trip. I was happy with their effort at the end of the day … This game will stay in Utah. Utah State will celebrate and we won’t worry about it.” The Seawolves now return to Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium for

now

1-1

a two-game homestand versus Wagner College on Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. and then Fordham University on Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. The home game versus Wagner marks the first-time alcohol will be available for purchase at LaValle Stadium, which coincides with Stony Brook celebrating the 10th anniversary of the 2009 Big South Championship and the first game of the broadcast deal with SportsNet New York (SNY).

EMMA HARRIS / THE STATESMAN

Redshirt-senior running back Isaiah White during the Stony Brook Football home opener against Bryant. White caught the only Seawolves score against Utah State.

you could pick it up on the way to class... ...but sometimes that’s just too much effort.

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