March 16 2018 by sienapromethean

The

PROMETHEAN Vol. 31 Issue VIII

The Student Voice of Siena College Since 1938

Who Else But Wu-Tang?

March 16, 2018 newspaper@siena.edu

Call-In Campaign for Dreamers

By Madison Lemke, Staff Writer On Feb. 26, the Franciscan Center of

By Maxwell Arieda, Staff Writer This week’s highlight for the 5th Annual Hip-Hop Week here at Siena College was Masta Killa from the Wu-Tang Clan! First off I would like to thank everyone who had helped execute this event, because it was truly an amazing turnout. Showing up early to this event paid off for a few reasons. As expected, showing up early meant no line and a free t-shirt. But before the talk began, you could feel that the ambiance was unreal. Energy and anticipation built up in the Sarazen Student Union as a full range of people started filling in. Student graduates from Siena, faculty members and adults from off campus that knew about the event all showed up, making the crowd very diverse. The flash photography and Wu-Tang music in the background contributed to the liveliness of the room. Once the microphone was tested, the room fell silent. Dr. Todd Snyder introduced Masta Killa and the show began. Masta Killa began his talk with “peace to everyone,” and I can’t think of a better way to start. He continued by speaking about his musically inclined household as a child. His parents loved soul music and they owned instruments and constantly played records. In fact, Masta Killa recalled listening to the same record over and over to get the “vibration” part of the song that he thought was best. He went on to describe this vibration that he liked as a universal language. Music is a universal language that unifies people. Especially hip-hop because it has gospel, R&B and, of course, soul. At the time of his upbringing, there were a lot of different neighborhoods that were not normally seen together. But the love of this universal language brought everyone together for a common cause. He said, “It was a blessing to see this start to form and see that happening.” Masta Killa mentioned love and blessings almost consistently through the lecture, which really defined his character as a whole, as well as the Clan’s. He more or less gave a definition of what true love might be. “If you love something, or have a strong passion for someone, are you willing to go to hell to see something born? Or to see something come out of it? Are you willing to go through struggle to see the end?” With that in mind, Masta Killa said that the deep brotherly love that the Wu-Tang Clan has is the foundation that

Image courtesy of Siena College has kept them strong and kept them together. He ended his talk by stating that it’s a beautiful blessing to still have the Clan. The 25th anniversary is coming up, and Killa comically said, “That’s a long time especially for a group of men.” The event then progressed to student questions from the class that Dr. Snyder teaches. One asked about a specific verse from one of Masta Killa’s songs. He replied with never thinking about writing lyrics seriously, although he had a love for hip-hop. But he was playing chess one day with another member and one of the Clan’s songs played. After the game, Masta Killa was super inspired by the song and the lyrical genius of it. When he went home, he was determined to put something on paper to impress not only the clan but also his friend. The thing he put on paper happened to be that verse. At one point, Masta Killa was the newbie coming into the Clan. He referred to it as going to “Wu-Tang school because he learned from all these great MCs that were well seasoned with rhyming ability.” Another student asked the question of what key influences or motivation impacted his rhyming style. Masta Killa said writing and rapping with substance, and to deliver that substance to someone is a jewel; the substance of the lyric is the motivation for it. The opportunity to express ideas and share them allows someone who is listening to take it home and use it in the future. Masta Killa also stated that hip-hop is more than entertainment, it’s education. One MC can like what he is listening to, take a page from it, tweak it and make it his own. This very idea of the cycle of music and lyrics dominants in the rap world. As the hour approached the end, Masta Killa unknowingly said some very elevating thoughts. He again mentioned his love for the Clan and the love for music. That when you truly love something, you’ll do it regardless if you’re getting paid. The love will draw you closer to it. If someone is determined to be the greatest at something, don’t doubt it. The only person stopping that is themselves. There is infinite potential in love. Anything that’s big now, started small. One thing to take away from this stunning talk is love and peace. Thank you to everyone for who had a hand in promoting this event.

Service and Advocacy held a congressional call-in campaign where students had the opportunity to voice their concern to our senators and state representatives about the termination of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. It took only five minutes to contribute to the callin and was incredibly easy! For those who do not know what DACA means or why the termination is so disheartening, it gives young undocumented immigrants protection from deportation. It also allows for a work permit. In short, it means everything to many young, hardworking and determined people. To me, a dreamer is someone who strives for the most in life. They are capable and willing to accomplish their goals. When I visited the Call to Action for Dreamers table in the SSU Atrium, I learned that dreamers are that and more. While there, Brother George was happy to educate me on the importance of dreamers. He explained that “dreamers are children and young adults who are striving to complete their education, work and become members and citizens of our country.” As college students, it is easy to get caught up in our own lives rather than pay attention to what is happening in other people’s lives. Although this is the case for many, it is important to not take our opportunities for granted as they do not come as easily to dreamers. Yet it is not enough to just recognize the privilege that comes with being a college student which is why events like the call-in for dreamers are held. Being a student at Siena is rewarding in many aspects. We are given an excellent education while also being able to serve others. Brother George expressed the values of being a Saint by saying, “Our Catholic and Franciscan values at Siena behoove us to actively protect the dignity of the human person and to show compassion for others regardless of their ‘undocumented’ status. This is the example Jesus demonstrates in the Gospel.” He went on to encourage the Siena community to be inclusive and accepting by saying, “Students and all members of our Siena College community are called to be active bystanders for one another and to serve those in need on campus and beyond.” Siena has made it vastly accessible to show dreamers our support by having events like this. Br. George explained how easy it is to participate and protest against this injustice that so many are currently facing. Just by being understanding and compassionate on the issue is a start. If you would like to do more to object, you can contact your representatives, support businesses that are renewing DACA applications, help immigration nonprofits, and educate yourself on dreamers’ rights. You can also stay informed by going to https://unitedwedream.org which is an organization that advocates against the injustice surrounding the issue of deportation. They do this by holding campaigns at the local, state and federal level.

The Promethean

March 16, 2018

Editorial Board

Academic & Social News

Emily Radigan Editor-in-Chief

Alexander Colby Assistant Editor Emily Rhoades Academic & Social News Editor Jaymie Hoelldobler Arts & Entertainment Editor Mahima Dhanekula World News Editor Julianna Sebastian Sports Editor Karin Lin-Greenberg Faculty Advisor

Academic & Social News | 2

Ted Winnowski Student Conference in Business

The Ted Winnowski Student Conference in Business presents an opportunity for students to present the results of their intellectual efforts in a collegial environment. Present the results of your research in this campus-wide event and build your resume. In college we spend all this time on research and papers so why not be proud of your work and show it off? Submissions must be in by March 22, 2018, in order to showcase your work in front of faculty, classmates and friends. Get a chance to win awards such as best presentation or best paper, along with the chance to hear from our keynote speaker Tom Eich, CEO of CulinArt. Whether you will be submitting a paper or not we still strongly encourage you to join us on April 13, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. and support your fellow classmates!

Club Spotlight: Commuter Student Association

By Alyssa Guzman, Staff Writer Siena College started out as a commuter school only, meaning there wasn’t any resident halls or resident students on campus. Through the years, Siena started to bring in more resident students and slowly the commuter population got smaller. However, commuter students still make up approximately 20 percent of the student population on campus today, which is a lot for a small campus like Siena’s. The Commuter Student Association (CSA) represents these students, like myself, who commute to and from school every day. President of the club, Mai-Linh Le ’19 told me that the association once started out as the Commuter Life Council, which sat on Student Senate. Eventually, Siena administration thought that commuters deserved to be a fully represented organization. And thus, Commuter Student Association was born. The mission of CSA is to act as a governing body representing an equal community for the commuter population of Siena. “As student government, we find it to be important to represent our students,” Le comments. “We sit on various committees such as Public Safety, Siena Fresh, Student Life, and Senate just to name a few. It’s important for us to voice major concerns commuters have.” As the backbone of commuter students, CSA not only discusses concerns commuters have but takes care of them as well. Through the semester CSA holds many events, both for commuters and sometimes residents as well. Every year, CSA holds a week full of events for Commuter Week, which brings in different people, like insurance companies, to ensure Siena’s commuters are safe on the road. They also have Commuter Student Information days and, my personal favorite, free monthly lunches, which are held in the SSU 240 during free period on a Wednesday. All you need is your Saint Card to get in!

This year, CSA wants to bridge the gap between being a resident student and a commuter student. Starting with orientation this year, CSA encouraged commuter students to participate in events and activities on campus as much as possible. I remember them saying “this is as much your campus as their campus” throughout orientation. “We have seen success with this especially in our freshman class,” Le observes. CSA holds weekly meetings on Friday during free period in the Molinari Room for all who want to attend. They encourage all commuters to join them for these meetings to discuss concerns and opinions. For any commuter who is interested in joining the commuter board to help organize and run events, CSA holds interviews every semester.

3...2..1...Counting Down to Siena Giving Day

March 21, 2018, marks Siena’s sixth annual Giving Day, an exciting 24-hour challenge designed to rally more than 321 members of the Siena community to donate to the Siena College Annual Fund. Any participation gift counts on this day, no matter the amount! All contributions to the Annual Fund have unrestricted benefits to all current and future Saints, improving all aspects of campus life. The Annual Fund raises close to $2 million every year for Siena Saints through contributions from alumni, parents and friends of the College. These contributions provide support to various target areas including financial aid, academic programs, faculty and staff development, buildings and grounds, plus more! Throughout the day we will have exciting challenges for donors; for example, if we reach 321 donors in 24 hours, John T. Leonard ’64 will donate $14,000 to the Annual Fund! Some of our other exciting challengers are Derek and Nimmi Trapasso ’98 who will match gifts from young alumni reunion classes of 2013, 2008 and 2003, and also Bill ’90 and Miranda Lia P’18 who will match all gifts from parents 1:1 up to $5,000! We ask all students, alumni, parents and friends to participate on this day by making a gift, promoting Giving Day to others via email or social media, and honoring the importance of philanthropy to Siena. To donate, or for more information, check out our website siena.edu/ givingday! While you are there, you can follow along with up-to-the-minute results, read more about our exciting challenges, and see the names of fellow classmates on our donor honor roll, plus more. Follow Siena College Annual Fund’s Facebook and Twitter @SupportSienaAF pages for exclusive information as well.

3| Academic & Social News

“Reverse Racism and What We Deserve” Forum

By Alexis Oldfield, Staff Writer Open forums allow those who partake in the opportunity to not only share their knowledge and opinions, but to also grow as well-rounded intellectuals by hearing opposing voices. Siena hosts open forums in order to provide a space where members of the college community can freely express their thoughts on hot-button topics after listening to others do the same. Such an atmosphere is crucial, especially on a college campus, as we develop our own individual positions on various issues, including the concept of reverse racism. Dr. Jennifer McErlean held a presentation on Wednesday, Feb. 28, in the Sarazen Student Union, followed by an open floor to anyone who wanted to add to the conversation. The forum was in collaboration with the Black and Latino Student Union, Latinos Unificando Nuestra America, the Philosophy Club, the Political Science Society, and the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion. “Reverse Racism and What We Deserve” was opened with Dr. McErlean addressing the claim that reverse racism makes. She explained “Discrimination is morally wrong because it considers an irrelevant characteristic (such as race, sex, or religious affiliation) in barring applicants from schools, jobs, housing etc. Therefore, it is also morally wrong to use the same relevant characteristic as grounds to accept an applicant; hence laws or policies that protect or favor individuals identified by irrelevant characteristics are unjustified.” The example claim used for this forum was: “Affirmative Action or the taking down of Confederate Monuments are wrong as they merely amount to reverse racism.” What followed this explanation were three objections and a final point directed towards the flaws in the reverse racism claim. The first objection reflected on how reverse racism relies on an inadequate definition or understanding of racism. Dr. McErlean provided the standard understanding of racism as, “Racism occurs whenever one uses skin color or ethnicity (or any other irrelevant or arbitrary characteristic, i.e genre religious affiliation) as a basis for determining benefits (such as decisions about hiring and admissions).” The second objection Dr. McErlean made was reverse racism assumes our society is or can be a meritocracy. She defined meritocracy as “a system in which jobs, housing, admissions, promotions, and other societal goods are awarded on the basis of merit.” She stated that this was false and that “affirmative action measures would distort a process that otherwise relied solely on merit or qualification, if we lived in a strict meritocracy, but we do not.” Lastly, Dr. McErlean’s third objection was that it assumes a high degree of individual freedom and control. She concluded, “We need to acknowledge not only the impact of racism which begins early in life, but also the impact of privilege.” She revealed her personal achievements in life and how being born the skin color that she is and to the family that she had her gave her advantages that aided her in accomplishing all that she has. The final point raised by Dr. McErlean was the distinct questions of “Are programs like affirmative action morally justified, fair?” versus “Do programs like affirmative action work?” As she gave the crowd much to think about, there was a five-minute break to freely discuss with one another whatever thoughts Dr. McErlean’s presentation prompted. Afterward, many came forward to share out loud their views on reverse racism, affirmative action and privilege. Personal experiences, differing opinions, and questions for Dr. McErlean were all heard. The room was full of conversation, education and the flow of ideas, as

The Promethean it should be during an open forum. Dr. McErlean sent everyone home with new ways to perceive reverse racism and the forum as a whole was an appreciable reminder of how equally important it is to voice your opinions and to take into consideration those of others.

Club Spotlight: Women’s Rugby

By Sophia Henneman, Staff Writer If you ever spot tired, freshly-showered girls on a Monday morning in Casey’s, they could be a part of the Women’s Rugby team here at Siena. The Siena College Women’s Rugby Football Club, also known as SCWRFC, was founded in 2002. The Siena College Student Senate approved the new constitution for the women’s team in October 2003. Since then, the team has come a long way, winning various titles, games and tournaments. The team even participated in a tournament in Las Vegas last season and got their own field right here at Siena to share with the Men’s Rugby team. Siena’s Club Rugby is definitely a growing, exciting and successful club to keep your eye on. The Siena Women’s Rugby team has a rigorous practice schedule and is constantly improving and working hard. In the fall, they had practice five days a week from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. outside on the new field with one game on either Saturday or Sunday. In the spring, they have practices inside from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sundays, with tournaments on the weekends. Once the weather is nicer, you will spot the rugby girls back outside on their field, with 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. practices. Depending on the day of their games or tournaments, they could take a rest day to restore their bodies for game day. This week I met with Sarah Fritz ’20, a player on the Siena Women’s Rugby team. A first year member on the team, Sarah said that joining the rugby club was the best decision she’s made at Siena. We discussed what upcoming events the rugby team has, what her role is, the rules of rugby, and why she joined rugby and keeps playing. Rugby is definitely a challenging and thought provoking sport. It is a sport not many people know much about, since it’s not in the public eye as much as other sports. According to Sarah, rugby is kind of like football. Sarah explained some key differences, similarities and rules. “One of the tricky things about rugby is that you can only pass backward, unlike in football. The way to score in rugby is to score a try, which is the equivalent of a touchdown in football. Once a try is scored, you can also score a conversion, which is like a field goal,” she described. “There are also two types of rugby: 15s and 7s. 15s are when there are 15 people on the field, and 7s are when there are only seven people on the field.” The Siena Women’s team has had a 7s tournament already this spring and has another few coming up. I also talked to Sarah about her own personal experience with the rugby club and why she joined in the first place. “I did not play rugby before Siena and never really heard of it until coming here,” Sarah said. “I worked with one of my teammates this past summer and she enticed me to come and join. One of my best friends

March 16, 2018 also decided to join rugby in the fall, so we did it together and I can say that neither of us regret our decision.” She then went on to explain that you don’t need prior experience with rugby to join the Siena team and feel welcomed. “I never played rugby before Siena so I really had no idea what to do. I would say that really anyone can play rugby. The girls on the team are absolutely amazing and encouraging and are such fun people to be around. I have learned a lot from them as well as from my coaches. It is nice to have such a supportive environment especially when you are picking up a sport for the first time. ” Sarah then explained the essential mental component of the game. “In my opinion, it is more of a mental game when you first start. You honestly have to get past the fact that your only equipment is a mouthguard and that you have to go into contact with people. But truthfully anyone can play and you won’t regret it.” The Siena Women’s Rugby team has several exciting games and events coming up. They have a tournament right here at Siena on March 18. It’ll be an all-day affair, so come out and support rugby!

Coping in Copenhagen

By Sophia Henneman, Staff Writer When I first stepped off the plane in Denmark, I was nervous, excited, terrified, and everything in between. I had no idea what to expect from studying abroad, just that people say, “It was the best experience of my life,” “It changed me,” “I feel so cultured” – the usual. Having the best four months of your life is a lot of pressure, and that definitely scared me. However, there is nothing to be scared of. All those statements people say are definitely true for my experience. Here’s a little background about me: My name is Sophie, I am a marketing major, I love exploring, going shopping and meeting new people. Here is a little background about my life in Copenhagen: I did the DIS Study Abroad in Scandinavia program, I lived in a unique Danish living community called a folkehøjskole, I traveled to 8 other countries, I became friends with some of the best people I’ve ever met in my life, I took five super interesting classes and I ate some amazing pastries. It’s nearly impossible to write about everything I did, ate, smelled, saw and experienced, but I hope this article gives you somewhat of an idea what an impact studying abroad can have on your life. Now that I have been back in the US for about a month and a half, I can confidently say that my time in Denmark was the best four months of my life. I learned so much about myself and the world around me. Over the last month of being back in the U.S., I have come up with a list of ways abroad “changed me,” and some of the things I learned, as the basic study abroad-ers would say: 1. I crave stepping out of my comfort zone instead of fearing it. 2. I don’t take life as seriously anymore. It is definitely important to be organized and efficient, but sometimes it is more important to stop and smell the flowers, take that photo and look around you. Life can wait sometimes. 3. I don’t need as much to live. Meaning, I am a little less high maintenance. I traveled for a week out of a backpack (in two very different climates, might I add), and I spent the first two months without a curling iron and was perfectly fine. 4. I learned that you should always have an umbrella when living in Copenhagen, or anywhere in northern Europe for that matter. 5. I don’t worry about every little thing as much as I did before going abroad, because honestly, worrying can be a waste of energy 90 percent of the time. I learned to focus more energy into finding a solution, which is much easier when you stay calm. Cont. on page 4

March 16, 2018 “Coping in Copenhagen” cont. from page 3 6. Public transportation doesn’t scare me at all anymore since I had to navigate it in nine different countries, with nine different languages. 7. I learned that learning is cool! There are opportunities to learn something new everywhere. My program did a lot of learning outside of the classroom, I even traveled to Berlin and Prague with my class. It showed me that there is so much learning that can be done on your own outside of the classroom. Take that time to educate yourself on all sorts of different things. 8. I obviously learned so much about the Danish people, their socialist policies and their way of life. I could write an entire article on that. 9. 7/11 in Copenhagen has some super delicious food and pastries, not even kidding. 10. I am so willing to hear about anyone’s story, which I thought I was before going abroad, but now even more so. I lived with 60 Danish students and 17 Americans and made my best effort to get to know all their stories. You never know what someone else has to say. Take a step back and listen. If you get one takeaway from this article, it’s that if you’re thinking about studying abroad even a little bit, DO IT. I met so many other Americans that were reluctant to go, but afterward never regretted it for one second. Many people are scared of being homesick. Homesickness is real, and I never really experienced it before going abroad so I didn’t think it would while abroad, but it will happen. However, you will get through it and it will be worth it. I was just as sad, if not sadder, leaving my home in Copenhagen than I was leaving my home in the States. I am still missing Copenhagen and my friends there every day, but I am also so thankful for my experience.

Siena Students Participate in March for Our Lives

By Emily Radigan, Editor-in-Chief At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14, Siena students participated in a walkout as part of the March for Our Lives movement. The moment and movement were organized in response to the school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018, in Parkland, Florida. Students across the country walked out of their classrooms to remember the 17 lives that were lost in the shooting. Siena students gathered around the Ring of Honor in the Academic Quad to show their solidarity and participated in a 17-minute moment of silence. The national March for Our Lives movement was founded by student survivors of the Stoneman Douglas school shooting who are demanding change and solutions to gun violence. On March 24, 2018, a march on Washington, D.C., with many sibling marches, will take place to demand action from legislators. In a statement on their website, the organizers describe this march as a “unified call for our lives.” At Siena, students have been supportive of efforts to bring attention to this tragedy. On Feb. 28, students gathered in the SSU to remember and read the names of the 17 victims of the shooting. This February event was sponsored by the five political clubs on campus: Political Science Society, Republican Club, Siena College Democrats, Turning Point USA and Young Americans for Liberty. The event occurring on March 14 was not sponsored by any organization, but received widespread support from the various schools and departments across campus. A diverse group of students, faculty and administrators, including those of differing political persuasions and from an array of organizations, showed up to stand in solidarity and remembrance of the 17 victims whose lives were lost as a result of the shooting. Kylie Mason ’18, the student who organized this moment at Siena, stated, “We stood in silence for

The Promethean

Arts & Entertainment | 4

Arts & Entertainment

seventeen minutes for seventeen people who will remain silent forever. It’s not always about guns, or mental illness, or blaming whoever we can. It’s about seventeen people who lost their lives for no reason at all. It’s important to stand in solace and remember how short and how random life can be. I don’t find that very political at all.”

“12 Rounds in Lo’s Gym”

By Miguel Porter, Staff Writer On Thursday, March 31, Siena’s very own, Dr. Todd Snyder, released his book, “12 Rounds in Lo’s Gym.” The book discusses life in the poor coal

Image courtesy of Sandy Spicer mining town of Cowen, West Virginia. Themes of class and masculinity are threaded throughout the book, and Dr. Snyder discussed their significance in his upbringing. The origin of “Lo’s Gym” even brings up themes of the relationship between father and son. Dr. Snyder was part of the first generation of Cowen kids to go to college as King Coal began to lose its strength. He also had to deal with wanting to be something that no one around him was. There is a type of occupational cycle that goes from father to son in Cowen, and there were no writers in Cowen. Dr. Snyder said that in a town like Cowen, “You have to be pragmatic, have to be tough, because everybody’s got it rough.” The relationship between Dr. Snyder and his father was also very interesting to look at. His father was a legend in Cowen, a football star who turned down a college scholarship to work in the coal mines. The stories were impressive, to say the least. And like most fathers, once they have a son, the goal is to have their son surpass them. Dr. Snyder’s initials are T.D. Snyder; a name set up to sound good when he scored touchdowns. “Another T.D. for T.D. Snyder!” Unfortunately, a touchdown was never scored by T.D. Snyder. In a chapter entitled “Fighting Noah Milton,” Dr. Snyder recalls his first and only boxing match that did not go the way one would wish. The loss inspired his father to create a gym, with a proper ring, just for training his son. Eventually, word got out and Lo’s Gym became open to the public. No matter how many clients they had, Lo never took any money from them, even when the fighters he trained had professional fights. In the back of the book, there is a dedication to Dr. Nate Leslie, the late Siena College creative writing professor. Dr. Snyder explained that the whole idea to write the book came from Dr. Leslie, who somewhat forced the idea. Without his push, “12 Rounds in Lo’s Gym” would not exist. After hearing about the gym and the town, Dr. Leslie found that the story of the town was a crucial part of the story, which ended up being included

in the chapter, “Mountain Violence.” Dr. Snyder’s memoir is about more than just boxing and is a story that can draw in all types of readers.

“American Idol” Returns

By Jaymie Hoelldobler, Arts & Entertainment Editor When first hearing the news that “American Idol” would be making its long-anticipated return, I’m sure that many of us - myself included, were immediately hit with a huge wave of nostalgia. I remember my parents being huge fans of the show, so it was always on when I was growing up. I loved critiquing the singers right along with the judges, the difference being that the judges knew what they were talking about, and I truly did not. And, of course, we all remember the original cast that, although it’s been attempted, will never be recreated. Simon Cowell’s bitterness and blunt comments cannot be accomplished by anyone else; it’s impossible. The show lasted for fourteen seasons and then was canceled suddenly in 2016. So, many original fans were looking forward to the show coming back.. and were probably extremely disappointed in what they saw on Sunday, March 11. Ranking as one of the least watched “Idol” premieres in history, the premiere of “American Idol” was a disappointment, to say the least, starting with the choice in judges. Of all the singers existing in the world, the judges chosen were Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry. All talented people, but judges on “American Idol?” Why? I tried to keep an open mind going into the show, knowing that I was probably going to be annoyed by this panel of judges. An open mind was impossible to maintain as somehow, within two minutes of the show starting, it got worse. The show opened with what “Idol” is best known for; a sappy montage of people talking about making their dreams come true. We’ve seen this twenty million times already; it’s boring and overused. After this five-minute long introduction, the first singer made her appearance - a quirky, awkward girl who has been singing most of her life. We can guess that her actions were probably dramatized to make us think that she was going to be a terrible singer, just because she was what our society would call a little strange. But “Idol” has done this to us before; we knew it was coming - that while a little weird, she would be a phenomenal singer. She sang, the judges were “surprised” by how good she was, and then passed her on to Hollywood. The next guy up to audition was an amazing singer, and had an interesting backstory, the issue being how they played up his backstory. You know how “Idol” does it; if someone has been through any kind of struggle in their lives, the producers latch on to it and play it up to the audience and the judges. This guy, Ron Bultongez, lived half of his life in the Congo, and traveled as an immigrant to New York City. He had a bad relationship with his father and wanted to do better by his own son, who we saw clips of as we heard Ron’s story. The judges debated on him, because Katy Perry didn’t think he had “found himself yet,” which is one of the most cliche things that a judge could say to a contestant. They didn’t pass him through, but then we saw yet another cliche; Lionel Richie couldn’t stop thinking about him, and called him back in so he could change his vote to a yes in order to send him to Hollywood. Another cringey moment was when a guy describing himself as “socially awkward” walked in to tell his story to the judges; that he had started his current job of being a cashier to pick up girls. Cont. on page 5

5| Arts & Entertainment “American Idol Returns” cont. from page 4 The judges learned that he had never been kissed. Katy offered her cheek to him and then when he went to kiss her cheek, she turned her head and gave him a real kiss. The judges later laughed that she had “robbed him of his first kiss.” I didn’t understand the relevance or humor in this audition at all; it just made me dislike Katy Perry that much more. After this extraordinarily awkward audition, I genuinely had to stop watching this disaster of a premiere. Full of cliches and judges trying way too hard to be nice or funny, this premiere was not anywhere close to the seasons with Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. I couldn’t even get through the whole episode myself, and will not be continuing to watch this season. In my opinion, after Simon Cowell left, the show should have quit on a high note, because, really, what is an “American Idol” premiere without Simon’s snarky comments?

A Review of “Red Sparrow”

By Maria Gigliello, Staff Writer “Red Sparrow,” the latest movie starring Jennifer Lawrence, follows the scandalous life of former prima ballerina turned Russian spy, Dominika Egorova. Following a horrible accident that puts Dominika out of the ballet and unable to support her ill mother, Dominika’s uncle basically forces her to enter Russian spy school where she learns the art of spying through seduction. After meeting a handsome American CIA Agent, Nate Nash, who is played by Joel Edgerton, Dominika must choose him and her freedom or her country. The film is based off of a bestselling novel by former CIA operative Jason Matthews. I was expecting an action-packed thriller full of the cleverness and gadgets we typically see in spy movies, but instead, I watched a Russian, violent, version of “Fifty Shades of Grey.” This film had the potential to be very intriguing— spies, especially the taboo of Russian spy life that Americans love, scandal and a rather talented cast—but I left the theater somewhat dissatisfied. There’s no doubt that Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Jeremy Irons and Charlotte Ramping are talented actresses and actors, but collectively their performances in “Red Sparrow” were somewhat disappointing. Between phony Russian accents, comical scenes of seduction, and far too many close-ups of Jennifer Lawrence’s character breathing heavily, staring into the camera, etc., it tried too hard to be provocative and instead seemed distasteful. This was also a very violent movie. I had an idea of what I was going to see heading into a R-rated movie, but “Red Sparrow” absolutely shocked me with its copious amounts of violence. The very beginning of the movie shows Dominika’s leg snapping as her ballet partner lands on her, and it also included a gory surgery scene to repair her leg. I found all of the violence and just gruesome means of torture to be distasteful and unnecessary for much of the movie. It got to the point where every other scene was obscene violence or Dominika trying to seduce someone. This got very old very quickly. However, this film definitely got the message across that apparently, life is of no object to the Russian government and its spies. While the majority of the film had me gritting my teeth or saying, “What the heck is happening right now?” there were some high points of the film. Mary-Louise Parker was superb in her role as an alcoholic chief of staff to an American senator who has a shady deal going on with Dominika. She truly provided some comic relief to an insanely dark movie. Jeremy Irons also flourished in his role as Russian General Korchnoi. His final scene with Jennifer Lawrence’s character was a refreshing moment of genuineness in a movie where it seems like everyone is being

The Promethean manipulated by a Russian spy. Seeing Jennifer Lawrence in this movie was also really interesting. Dominika Egorova is the complete foil of J-Law in real life, someone who is always joking on red carpets or showing up to her own movie premieres drunk. Lawrence is one of the few movie stars who seems relatable, easygoing and friendly. Dominika is the last person I would ever want to be friends with. It also seems like Lawrence has been stepping into darker movie roles. Her first big break was in “The Hunger Games” franchise, playing a courageous and strong young woman, and in her past two movies “Mother!” and “Red Sparrow,” she instead plays two much more sinister and scorned characters. Overall, “Red Sparrow” thrilled, but more in a way that made me cringe instead of wanting more. I am looking forward to seeing what role Jennifer Lawrence will portray next and if she can redeem herself from the chaotic and shallow film that is “Red Sparrow”. If you are still interested in seeing the film, you can stop by the SSU Welcome Desk to purchase discounted tickets. “Red Sparrow” is being shown at Colonie Center and Crossgates Mall.

Stage III Teaches Audience to Keep Friends Close, But Enemies “Closer”

By Kiera Mitru, Staff Writer Written by Patrick Marber and directed by Katie Hoag, Stage III put on a rollercoaster of a show called “Closer,” the weekend of March 9, 10 and 11. Director Katie Hoag wrote in the program that “‘Closer’ is about life. It is about sex, truth, love, and relationships. It is about how to find someone to help you carry the emotional baggage you drag with you every day.” Starring Maddy Hagen as Alice, Reagan Randazzo as Dan, Dan Whinnery as Larry, and Chelsea Adams as Anna, these members of Stage III used “Closer” as an outlet for emotion, passion and talent that demanded attention from the audience. Programs and signage by Richard Bratton drew the audience to the production like moths to a light, and this display of talent was definitely radiant. Set in the black box theater, “Closer” was a play full of ups and downs, fits of laughter, and gasps from the audience. The energy in the room was unparalleled and the small venue was the perfect canvas for this work of art. The stage, before the cast came out, was set with songs about deceptive relationships, like “Please Don’t Leave Me” by P!nk, and “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5, similar to the plot of the play. “This play is about four imperfect people who are trying to live however they can. As extreme as some of the situations are, I am certain that audience members can find some parallel in their own lives,” Director Hoag writes. “There is something in this play for every person to learn, and there is something in this play that speaks to the human condition.” “Closer” is about four individuals, Dan, Alice, Larry and Anna, who all meet and fall in love with each other throughout the play. The play begins with Dan, an obituarist and Alice, a freespirited and well-traveled woman, meeting each other for the first time and falling in love instantly. Later on, Anna, a photographer, and Larry, a dermatologist, are introduced. Dan is inspired by Alice’s wanderlust to leave his unsatisfying position writing obituaries to write a book about her. Anna is hired to take headshots of the couple for her art show, to which Larry shows up. At this art show, Dan begs Anna to be with him, and Alice gets to meet Larry. The couples switch places and decide to experience “how the other half lives.” This, of course, brings about bad blood between Dan and Larry, as well as Alice and Anna. It is through these relationships and conflicts that the play progresses and becomes relatable to the audience. As recalled

March 16, 2018 by the director, Katie Hoag shares that this play touches upon the human condition and the desire that burns within all of us; the desire to love and to be loved. Patrick Marber expertly wove the love lives of the four characters within each other and introduced creative plot twists, that even the most attentive audience members could not have foreseen. Marber’s sense of humor showed through his work in “Closer” with touches of humor and ironic situations. With realistic delivery of the script, this story came to life in front of the audience and fit seamlessly into the chaos that is all too common in our society. “Closer” was the representation of the reality many of us may face during our lives. With brilliant performances from the entire cast and crew, this production was truly special; a presentation you had to be “Closer” to, in order to feel the work in its full effect.

World News

Saudi Arabia Makes Abrupt Changes

By Nadia Kasianczuk, Staff Writer Recently, Saudi Arabia has made some surprising changes to their military. Major changes include a sudden switch of chiefs and, surprisingly, allowing women to serve in their military affairs. The Yemen War, which began in 2014, is currently a prominent issue in Saudi Arabia. The Yemen War began when a group called Houthis, who are Shia rebels, seized the capital and drove out the exiled Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Saudi Arabia began bombing them in 2015. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud, the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, has gained a tightened grip on power through these sudden changes. New appointments of power were placed seemingly overnight. A CEO, Khaled bin Hussain al-Biyari, was placed as Assistant Defense Minister. The military Chief of Staff, General Abdul Rahman Bin Saleh Al Bunyan, was terminated and replaced by General Fayyadh bin Hamid al-Rwaili. Other replacements include the head of the ground forces and air defenses. Changes in the top officers of military positions were sudden and without warning. The changes were done by Salman himself, giving him all the more power over the monarch country. No distinct reason was given for the abrupt shifts in power, however the world can see a large humanitarian issue in the stalemate conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. More than 10,000 lives have been taken as a result of the bloody conflict between the Shiite rebels of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Airstrikes have beenled by Saudi Arabia, as well as blockades have led to civilian deaths, and we are seeing little progress in the conflict. Besides the Yemen War, it is hopeful that the change in positions will allow Saudi Arabia to maintain a firmer role in ending the Shiite’s overtake of much of Yemen’s land, and step closer to finding peace and resolution. The new officers will hopefully bring new ideas, including improvements in recruitment and training, improved budgeting of military resources and a more youthful military office. Aside from the sudden change in powerful military positions, there has been much reform of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. As they begin to allow women to drive, they will also be allowing women to apply for military positions. It does not seem they will be serving in combat, but rather working ministerial positions and serving in security positions as well. This is a step forward in Cont. on page 5

March 16, 2018 “Saudi Arabia Changes” cont. from page 6 the very conservative country. Women have also been given more rights including attending events in sports arenas. Reform in women’s rights may take some time for Saudi Arabia, but this is certainly a step closer. Women in Saudi Arabia still must wear abayas in public, obtain permission to travel and marry and have a male guardian. We will see what changes arise after these reforms have taken place. It is hopeful that the conflict in Saudi Arabia will come closer to peace and women will be granted more rights as time moves forward. It is also hopeful that civilians in both countries become more safe, with less loss of life in the future.

South Africa’s New Cabinet

By Mahima Dhanekula, World News Editor Cyril Ramaphosa is the fifth and current President of South Africa. He took office on Feb. 15, 2018, after the reluctant resignation of former president Jacob Zuma. He announced the makeup of his cabinet on Feb. 26, 2018, 11 days after he took office, and made significant changes. Ramaphosa had served as Zuma’s deputy for nearly four years before he was elected leader of the African National Congress. Jacob Zuma still held a large amount of influence in the cabinet after he stepped down as president, with many of the members still loyal to him. As a result, Ramaphosa has shuffled up his cabinet. Jacob Zuma’s nine-year presidency has been plagued with controversies, many relating to the charges of widespread corruption levied against him. Jacob Zuma’s term did not expire until mid-2019, but Ramaphosa convinced the African National Congress’ party officials that ousting Zuma would help the party rebuild itself and win the next election. Ramaphosa has made having a clean government a priority. In his address after being sworn in as president, he promised to improve the economy and create jobs in addition to fighting the widespread corruption in the South African government. Nhlanhla Nene, a former finance minister in the cabinet with a good reputation amongst the government and the public, was rehired by Ramaphosa. This was a symbolic move, since Nene had been fired from his position by Jacob Zuma in 2015. Pravin Gordhan, another government official who was not favored by Zuma, was named as head of the Ministry of Public Enterprises. Steven Friedman, a University of Johannesburg political analyst, spoke to The New York Times, saying, “There is a substantial number of people in the cabinet who supported Zuma, though, in the key ministries, Ramaphosa got the people he wanted to get in.” However, Ramaphosa still retains many of the ministers from Jacob Zuma’s cabinet who were said to have been involved in corruption. Ramaphosa also chose David Mabuza as his deputy president, a longtime ally of his. Friedman told The New York Times that Zuma may not have been elected if not for his choice of deputy. However, David Mabuza has had constant allegations of corruption against him, and was known for his almost dictatorial style of leadership. In total, Ramaphosa removed ten ministers and three deputies who served Zuma from their respective positions. Ramaphosa said that his decisions on cabinet ministers were driven by a “need to balance continuity and stability with the need for renewal‚ economic recovery and accelerated transformation,” as reported by The Sowetan.

The Promethean

P o l i t i c s & O p i n i o n |6

Politics & Opinion

Let Freedom Ring - Free Speech Conference at Siena College

By Nicole Commisso, Staff Writer “Let Freedom Ring” – a statement that sings the ideas of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans. A phrase that should be spread across the nation and always continue to be celebrated and practiced. The Siena College Young Americans for Liberty, Turning Point USA and College Republican chapters will be hosting this day long political event. In fact, it will be the largest in Siena College history. Considering there have not been many conservative/libertarian speakers at Siena College in the past two decades, this is huge for conservative/libertarian students on campus. Let Freedom Ring - Free Speech Conference will be at Siena in Massry Commons, Snyder Hall on Sunday, April 15 at 9:30 a.m to 4:00 p.m. The event is only open to current Siena students, faculty, staff and administrators. The speaker list consists of prevalent conservative and libertarian political figures: • Roger Stone – The infamous American political consultant and strategist. Stone, former adviser to President Trump and operative on the Nixon and Reagan campaigns, has been deeply involved in American politics for half a century. Roger Stone is well-known for his skillfully crafted political tactics. At the Let Freedom Ring Event, Stone will be discussing free speech on social media. •James O’Keefe – American conservative political activist and founder of the not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization Project Veritas. Project Veritas’ mission is to investigate and expose corruption, dishonesty, bias, waste, fraud and unaccountability. The majority of O’Keefe’s work is undercover recordings to expose corrupt political figures, organizations, etc. O’Keefe will be talking about free speech in the media at the Free Speech Conference at Siena in April. •Austin Petersen – American political activist, commentator, producer and writer. Petersen was the runner-up for the Libertarian Party’s nomination for President of the United States in the 2016 election. Petersen is now running as a Republican in the 2018 election for a seat in the United States Senate for Missouri. His question of discussion will be: “Liberty or censorship? The importance of free thought and ideas.” •Nico Perrino – Director of Communications for the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). FIRE is an organization that defends and sustains individual rights at America’s colleges and universities. These rights include the essential qualities of individual liberty and dignity – freedom of speech, legal equality, due process, religious liberty and sanctity of conscience. At the Let Freedom Ring Event, Perrino will be speaking about unconstitutional free speech codes and what we, as college students, can do to stop them. • Kassy Dillon - Journalist, political commentator and founder of Lone Conservative. Lone Conservative is a platform for students, by students, to share their thoughts on politics, current events and conservative campus culture. Kassy Dillon will be discussing free speech on college campuses. •Christian Ragosta–Grassroots Field Coordinator for the NRA (National Rifle Association). The CEO and head of the NRA is Wayne LaPierre, a Siena Alumni. The NRA is America’s longest-standing civil rights organization committed to defending Second Amendment rights and firearms education.

Responses? Comments? Letters to the Editor? Email newspaper@siena.edu

Ragosta will be discussing how the Second Amendment protects our First Amendment rights as Americans. Sign up now before there are no more spots! Seating is limited: https://goo.gl/forms/ QpwCzgDMfqw0eLBy1

Dark Money Visits Siena College

Dear Editor, It was hard to miss the recent Times Union headline story entitled “Day of Venom and Volume at Siena” announcing a day long “free speech conference” on Sunday, April 15. And, speaking as a lifelong Siena advocate, it was hard to read it. “Free Speech” is essential, especially in an academic environment. Controversial and provocative speech - if genuine - is especially important. The sponsors of this event have trumpeted their “free speech” rights as if Siena has been depriving them of those rights. Where is the evidence of this complaint and justification for a public announcement of a day long “free speech conference” to address it? Instead of a genuine discussion of speech rights under the First Amendment, it is pretty obvious that there is an entirely different agenda, and an intent to provoke, not to educate, and to embarrass Siena College. The embarrassing invitation of provocative headliners to our campus who are not recognized anywhere as academic, industry or ethical luminaries is revealing of the actual agenda. Selection of self-described “dirty trickster” Roger Stone and fraudulent “conservative” filmmaker James O’Keefe (ironically from Project Veritas), along with a cameo appearance by the regional rep of the National Rifle Association shows that the whole idea is to provoke trouble and hope to get attention from it (hence the TU headline). Siena College and its clubs should be free to present opinions and ideas, but programs should offer some educational value and relevance. Putting out notorious characters like Stone, O’Keefe and the gun lobby promise demagoguery but no apparent educational value. Libertarian and conservative ideas are interesting, worth learning about and worth debating about at Siena. Promotional taglines like the contrived “free speech conference,” “limited government” and “let freedom ring” do not help. What does the national Turning Point USA organization actually mean with its tagline: “big government sucks!”? It is worth having a serious conversation about how our government is supposed to be “limited.” Let’s discuss how much “free market” capitalism (i.e. self-regulation) is acceptable. Who, if not government, is to protect the general welfare of society on our environment, Cont. on page 7

7 | Po l i t i c s & O p i n i o n “Dark Money” cont. from page 8 health, worker safety, consumer rights, financial practices, and civil and social justice? These have been big issues since the writing of our constitution. Let’s encourage the Siena clubs to present programming that discusses them in a balanced way that promotes the learning process. Who are the national organizations that have formed a “chapter” at Siena? There should be total transparency about their real mission and ideology—not just taglines found on websites. How is the event being funded? A quick review reveals that Turning Point USA is an organization funded in part by “dark money” (big money) organizations such as the Bradley Foundation. The mission includes infiltrating college campuses, (apparently there are now many such chapters) creating faculty “watchlists”- a frightening concept - and advance of an ideology to neutralize perceived liberal campus influences. So far, based on what we have heard from the sponsoring clubs, despite the fanfare, I am doubtful that anyone will gain much educational content or value from Roger Stone, James O’Keefe and the gun industry. They will be here, sponsored by their dark money friends, for self promotion. Hopefully, serious minded faculty, students and administration of Siena College will ignore the bait and spend an early spring Sunday in a more fulfilling manner. Possibly Siena and other student clubs will be inspired to present a credible symposium on the proper role of government in regulating our businesses and our personal lives. The entire community would benefit from hearing a balanced and intellectually honest presentation of all sides of the debate by qualified contributors. That is an event that would be worth attending. Sincerely, s/Daniel M. Sleasman Daniel M. Sleasman Siena College, Class of 1968 Cornell Law School, 1971

March for Our Lives”: More Like “March for a Political Agenda”

By Nicole Commisso, Staff Writer Although the organization March for Our Lives claims their mission is not political, it most certainly is. The organization, who gives you an ultimatum between the safety of children or guns, says that in wake of the Florida shooting, “Politicians are telling us that now is not the time to talk about guns. [We] believe the time is now.” So no, it isn’t just to stand in solidarity for the 17 victims, it is very clear there is an agenda at hand. On the front page of their website, there are protesters with signs that read things like, “Protect Kids Not Guns” and “Stop the NRA”, along with other anti-NRA signs. How disgusting and wrong to turn a horrible tragedy, which resulted in the loss of many young lives, into pushing a political agenda as well as blaming those who defend their Second Amendment right and the National Rifle Association (NRA). These individuals had absolutely nothing to do with this tragedy and to place blame for this disaster on innocent people who have a differing opinion is ghastly. Now, I am not doubting that there are people in this organization who care deeply about the lives lost in this tragedy. However, behind this peaceful pretense is the real agenda at hand – gun control or the “fight to end gun violence”. The terms “gun control” and “gun violence” are notions that infringe on our Second Amendment rights as Americans. Considering these unconstitutional thoughts, according to Fox News, research has proven that gun control measures have been ineffective in areas like Chicago that have very strict gun laws. What many lack to see is that implementing gun control will not change the illegal activity that deranged maniacs commit, such as shooting up a school and murdering people. They will still find a way

The Promethean

Editorial Policy The opinions and views expressed in editorial and opinion columns are solely those of their author and do not represent the views of The Promethean staff or of Siena College. Any response to an editorial without intent to publish should be submitted directly to the author of the article. If you wish to send your reaction to The Promethean or its Editor-in-Chief, it falls under the guidelines of Letters to the Editor. Letters must be no longer than 700 words. Submission to the paper does not guarantee publication. Opinion and editorial articles submitted are edited strictly for basic spelling and grammar only. The editorial board reserves the right to make any and all decisions and editorial changes on newspaper content, with the final decisions belonging to the Editor-inChief. Any changes besides spelling and grammar will be run by the author before publication. Statements made as fact in Letters to the Editor and editorials/opinions are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Promethean, its staff, or Siena College. to commit these horrific crimes. March for Our Lives states that just because they fight for gun control they “support the right of law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms, as set forth in the United States Constitution.” This is absolutely false. Their list of demands urges to pass bans on assault weapons, prohibit the sale of highcapacity magazines and improve background checks. I agree with the latter, there needs to be background checks before the purchase of a firearm to ensure the buyer is mentally, legally and responsively fit to own and operate a gun. However, the first two demands are completely unconstitutional for one important reason; the day that our government starts to command what is and what is not practical to defend ourselves with, is the day they have total control. We should not be forcing gun control that would infringe on our Second Amendment rights and we should not call them “common-sense reform” implying that if you think otherwise, then you are stupid. The Second Amendment is to protect ourselves not only from personal harm, but from government tyranny as well. How would punishing the law-abiding, responsible citizens who own firearms be the answer? How is blaming the National Rifle Association (NRA) the answer to this mentally ill and unstable person’s actions? Wayne LaPierre, Siena Alumni and CEO/Vice President of the NRA, stated at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) 2018, “The shameful politicization of tragedy – it’s a classic strategy, right out of the playbook of a poisonous movement… They hate the NRA. They hate the Second Amendment. They hate individual freedom.” It scares me to think of the unimaginable possibility that the government would come to my door to revoke my Second Amendment because of someone else’s gruesome actions. What would happen if Congress passes a law that March for Our Lives wants such as making AR-15s illegal? Does the government then come to the home of all Americans who own AR-15s and take them away even though they have not done anything wrong? It is not right or fair that March for Our Lives is proposing an impartial gathering for the

March 16, 2018 heartbreaking lives lost and then states that their mission and focus is “to demand that a comprehensive and effective bill be immediately brought before Congress to address these gun issues.” I agree that our Second Amendment right, as with any right, comes responsibility. That is the key word here, responsibility. Exactly what we should be protesting for! We should encourage teaching gun respect and responsibility to any American interested in buying a firearm for protection; teachers and students included. Whether that be for personal protection or otherwise, it is not the government’s business, or anyone’s for that matter, if you are following the law. Not only should we promote gun respect, we should promote respect for other people. We should be teaching our children how to respect their parents, elders and peers. We need to stop blaming the gun for the actions of mentally ill individuals and put more efforts into helping these sick individuals. We need to look at the facts – the government should be held accountable for the blatant neglect to investigate the 39 police calls to the Florida shooter’s house and the tip-off given to the FBI on Jan. 5, 2018 that the shooter had guns, a desire to kill people and a statement that he would shoot up the school. This very same neglectful government is who March for Our Lives wants to implement gun control and make the country safer? I don’t think so. The NRA is not responsible, the law-abiding gun owners are not responsible, those who support the Second Amendment are not responsible, and the gun is most definitely not responsible.

The State of Gun Control in NYS

By David Le Blang, Staff Writer On Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the New York State Assembly passed a small package of five bills restricting gun control laws, all of which combine to help deter deadly armaments from ending up in the hands of people with malicious intents. The five bills together have varying effects and laws, but together help strengthen the governmental control on which individuals are allowed to own firearms within New York State. Out of the five bills, the first aims to help protect others by disallowing persons who have been deemed a danger to themselves or others from owning firearms. The second extends the current three-day waiting period on persons who have yet to clear a background check to a tenday waiting period. The third prevents anyone who has been previously convicted of a domestic violence offense from owning firearms while also forcing current domestic violence convicts who own firearms to relinquish them. The fourth bill bans ‘bump stocks’; an attachment to the back end of a rifle which allows the user to absorb the recoil from firing a shot in order for them to fire more rounds in quicker succession – simulating a fully automatic rifle. The fifth and final bill requires out of state residents to release mental health records from their home state in order to keep their currently owned firearms. These recently passed bills all intend to help strengthen the restrictions on the application, ownership of and regulation of all firearms within the state. This set of bills was originally posed by Democrats within the last few weeks, but was shot down by Republicans shortly after. However, in the wake of the most recent mass shooting in the U.S., many members of both parties are coming to change their stances on gun control laws in the nation as a whole, which is what led to the recent passing of these bills. The effects they will all have on our state, however, may vary. In my opinion, I find this set of bills to be, as a whole, a step in the right direction for proper gun control laws. The only bill which I find to be ineffective is the second one listed. Increasing a Cont. on page 8

March 16, 2018

Sports

“State of Gun Control” cont. from page 8 waiting day period from three days to ten days isn’t a deterrent, it only defers the person from owning a gun. The end result is still achieved (especially in cases of ones who are yet to clear a background check), yet only at a later date. Forbidding any person who is deemed a danger to themselves or to others from owning a firearm is definitely logical, but this wholly depends on what our legal system’s definition of a “dangerous person” truly is, and how easily someone could subvert that label and still own a firearm. Forcing people who have been previously convicted of domestic violence charges to relinquish their firearms is also a good step, however, there are still many other tools around the house which the person could use for their means of domestic abuse. The banning of bump stocks is also a good step, but how easily could these be imported from a neighboring state? Finally, requiring firearm owners from other states to release their previous records from other states is again, a good step, but how effective would their home state’s mental health laws be in comparison to ours, whether in strength or laxity? Overall, I find these laws to be, again, a step in the right direction. While gun control is currently a very hot-button issue, we do have to take a step back and see where our current regulations have gotten us to. More effective measures need to be taken not only here, but nationwide, in order to keep people safe from others who wield these immensely destructive tools of power. Whether guns should or shouldn’t be taken away from the citizens isn’t the issue. The issue is taking any steps necessary in order to ensure that no mass shootings like the ones we’ve recently endured will ever happen again. We need to deter, not to defer.

Great Season for Women’s Basketball

By Jarred Davis, Staff Writer The Women’s Basketball team has come to the end of their 2017-2018 season. This season was a great one for our Saints. Coming out of a successful MAAC tournament, let’s recap how they did. The Saints came into the tournament as one of the favorites holding the third seed in the tournament. Also coming off a huge win over Saint Peter’s with a score of 70-36, it was looking very good going into the tournament. Also having put six players onto the MAAC All-Academic team, the tournament looked like it was going to be a great tournament. The Saints came into the first game against Niagara very strong. Scoring roughly 20 points in the first quarter, it looked like it was going to be a great game. Going into the second half, our Saints were up by ten points and would go on to keep this lead up until the end of the game where they won 71-60. Stand out players from this game include senior guard, Aaliyah Jones, who broke a MAAC tournament record of nine recorded steals in a single game. This broke the previous record by two which was a 23-year-old record! She also tallied an impressive 21 points this game, which was a career high. Other impressive performances came from Kollyns Scarborough who put up a double-double this game by tallying 20 points and ten rebounds. This was her eighth of the season. Victoria Rampardo also put up a double-double this game with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Along with this, Jamie Sherburne and Maggie McIntyre put up 15 and 12 points as well. This win would put our Saints into the semifinals of the tournament against the Marist College Red Foxes, who were the second seed coming into the tournament. Coming into the beginning of the semifinals, the Saints has a bit of a slow start being

The Promethean

S p o r t s |8

outscored by 11 points in the first quarter. After the first quarter, though, the Saints fought back and kept the same scoring for the second quarter and the third too, both quarters scoring 15 points each in order to keep the game in arms reach of taking the lead. The game was kept close up until the very end. It was a hard-fought effort but sadly for our Saints, they couldn’t close the gap and ended up losing the game 67-51. Kollyns Scarbrough was again a standout player in this game tallying 16 points and recovering nine rebounds. Just short of another double-double. Aaliyah Jones also stood out scoring eight points. They were also accompanied by Sabrina Piper who put eight points on the board. While they didn’t win the MAAC tournament, we have a lot to be proud of with our Saints. This season they accomplished a lot. This included one MAAC tournament record broken, many personal records and one player, Victoria Rampardo, named as the MAAC Player of the Year. Overall, this was a respectable year and we have a lot to look forward to with this team next year!

Running to Class and In Competition

ByJulianna Sebastian, Sports Editor If you ever take a look at the list of events for a specific team, there is one squad that outlists them all. Siena Cross Country/Indoor Track/ Outdoor Track have three individual seasons throughout the year, and also have approximately three weeks off only in between each season. Even though this rigorous schedule seems like the utmost challenge, if you know any member of the XC/Track team, you’ll say they are probably one of the happiest and most fun groups on campus. This is no exception when it comes to two senior leaders on the men’s team. Travis Fairlee and Shaun VanBuskirk (otherwise known by their campus nicknames Chip and Dukes) are pretty much inseparable, and are both superb examples of what it means to be a student athlete. They mandatorily participate in all three running seasons throughout the year, and also have kept well over a 3.2 GPA at Siena in their four years at this school. They were recently both named to the MAAC AllAcademic team that was honored at a Siena Men’s Basketball game. The day for Chip and Dukes usually starts around 8 a.m. whether it is a Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday/Thursday and ends around 10-11 at night. The pair has about two to three classes a day along with at least one practice. The only offday the two receive is on Thursdays, where they typically spend the day going to just classes or doing homework. While most teams have Sunday as their day off from practice, Chip and Dukes have their long run with their team which is around 13-15 miles long. To anyone who is not a distance runner, running above three miles seems like a lot, but Chip and Dukes usually run between 60-80 miles total a week, so this is basic stuff for their expertise. During the week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday the two have class at 9:10 a.m. and 3:50 p.m. with a practice from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in between. These practices usually consist of a more focused run on what each of them race, and a series of workouts in the MAC that help strengthen their running mechanics outside of lifting. If you ever go to the gym in between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., you will surely see the team together working out in the MAC or coming inside from their latest run. They are definitely an extremely dedicated team, which is demonstrated in their success as a squad in the past couple years. The only difference Travis and Shaun have in their schedules is on Tuesday/Thursdays, Shaun

takes a law seminar at 9:50 a.m. while Travis is in a business class at 4:10 p.m. Travis is pursuing an economics major with a business minor, while Shaun is pursuing law school as a history major with a political science minor and a pre-law certificate. So while Travis is in a business class, Shaun is taking a rigorous law seminar which is preparing him for law school next year. When Saturdays roll around, Chip and Dukes leave campus with their team at 6 a.m. in the morning to bus to a meet either in New Jersey or Boston that takes the entire day. Getting back to campus more than 12 hours later and having a long run the next day, this leaves little time for homework for part of the weekend. The two are usually spotted in the library all day on Sundays catching up on work for the week ahead. While most teams have a preseason, in season and a postseason, the men’s and women’s cross-country, indoor and outdoor track teams continue to keep practicing throughout the entire year. This kind of a schedule is not for everyone, but for Chip and Dukes, it is extremely meaningful to them and something they will miss when they graduate.