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utLook STUDENT PRESS Vol. 43 Issue 14 April 11, 2011 Outlookpress.org
Features 4 “For all you people out there: Have you ever tried, and failed to get someone to notice you? Well here are some tips for how to get that special someone’s attention.” Eitan Itzkowitz, Student
Males and females reveal how to attract the opposite sex.
Candidates for positions in the Student Government hold a forum.
OPINION 8
Student Government Holds Elections Ian Mauro
“Entergy, the company that owns Indian Point Energy Center, proudly proclaims on its website that Indian Point is safe, secure, and vital. In my opinion Indian Point is none of the above.” Jeremy Pardo, Student
The Indian Point power plant is a ticking time bomb.
Ian Mauro / Outlook Student Press
Managing Editor
The Student Government Association (SGA) recently held their board elections. Tables were set up in the first floor of the Student Union building on April 5 and April 6 allowing students to walk up and quickly fill out a ballot. “The SGA is what it sounds like. It’s comprised of student leaders who want to make a difference on campus and who genuinely care about the well being of the school,” said freshman senator and vice
presidential candidate, Mike Fleischmann. “SGA serves as an outlet for students who want to get their voices heard, whether it be a complaint, or a suggestion.” Since the student body publicly elects the SGA, flyers were posted around the academic buildings and filled the bulletin boards of the Student Union by candidates trying to promote themselves and raise awareness. The candidates were seen approaching individual students trying to gain their vote. To encourage participation, every ballot came with SGAstamped merchandise like key
chains, pens and bags that drew voters in. The sweet scent of popcorn from the popcorn machine SGA set up, also drew students in. Students lined up at the voting stations to play their part, or to put in their two cents and get some food out of it. The elections would secure the seats of the students who would be representing their campus community. Prior to the elections, a panel was composed of the candidates to give them a chance to speak of their platforms as well as answer questions. Since clubs and groups have
their budgets and spending proposed by the SGA, club presidents would have reason to take interest in the election of the new board, but not a single one was present. However, eight individuals attended the ballot, only one of whom was not associated with SGA. Most students that were interviewed prior to the election claimed that they didn’t know there was an election. “I would, or will vote, if I can get informed enough,” said student Martin Bauer. Like many, he said he didn’t see the SEE SGA PAGE 2
SPORTS 14 “The first game that was played back at the Hawks home field initially gave the impression that it would be an easy win.” Ian Mauro, Student
The RCC Hawks baseball team took on Ulster County Community College.
Rebecca Gross
staff writer
Professor Dan Masterson, the author, poet, and SUNY Rockland Professor of English, has been appointed Poet Laureate of Rockland County for the second time. Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef and Rockland County Legislature Chairwoman Harriet Cornell announced the distinction. “Professor Masterson is an
inspiration for so many young people in Rockland County. As Rockland County’s first Poet Laureate he has successfully fostered an appreciation of poetry and refreshed and nurtured the creative spirit,” County Executive Vanderhoef said in a news release. Masterson was appointed as Rockland’s first-ever Poet Laureate in 2009. The job entails performing a Poet Laureate Project, in this case an outreach SEE POET PAGE 2
Professor Masterson appointed as Poet Laureate for another term.
Outlook archive
Professor Masterson Appointed To New Term as Poet Laureate
news
April 11, 2011
New Building Plan for College is in the Works
The original plans for the Cultural Arts Center on campus.
The researchers will look at the demographics of both the college and the community that surrounds it. The intent is that they will be able to predict which type of individuals will be entering the college within the next decade and what they may study. “We need to receive accurate demographics in order to know how to make RCC’s campus better. Listening to the academic needs is the most important part,” Meyers said.
Ian Mauro / Outlook Student Press
SUNY Rockland’s last construction plans included the creation of the Technology Building, rehabilitation of the elevators, and renovation of the Student Union. Now, in 2011, Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration Mort Meyers, along with various architects, is working on new plans for further construction on the campus. The building plans, which would span the next 10 years, will necessitate brainstorming, intensive research, and must fulfill the SUNY mission statement, Meyers said. Within the mission statement, it states that RCC “provides an accessible, responsive, student-centered learning environment and a cultural resource for the community” through “an atmosphere that embraces academic excellence, diversity, innovation and global awareness.” According to Meyers, one of the components of the plans regards infrastructure. Mechanical systems such as heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems must be analyzed. Entrances, exits, and parking lots will also be considered. As a result of their present condition, the roofs of Academic I, Academic II, and the library will be repaired. Additionally, the library will be overhauled from top to bottom. In addition to altering the appearance of the campus, the college is currently reviewing specialists who will observe the educational needs of the students.
Lindsay Buteux / Outlook Student Press
Lindsay Buteux Staff Writer
Students Kuldip Singh and Angel Torres shave their heads for the cause.
Students Make A Bald Statement for St. Baldrick’s You may have recently noticed an unusual number of students with shaved heads. Most of these bald students attended the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser, which was a part of Youthfest on April 3 in the Field House at RCC, and donated locks of hair
to help raise money for childhood cancer research.The major goal of the event was to raise $2,000, which was broken easily as the fundraiser surpassed its goal. “This event is in my heart,” said St. Baldrick’s chapter treasuer Angel Torres. --- Kuldip Singh
The Rockland County Department of Purchasing (RCDP) is responsible for setting the guidelines for the plans. Meyers also stressed the importance of paying attention to the academic side of this plan. The RCDP advertised the possible renovations of the campus through a formal request for proposals, which asked design professionals to send in formal proposals on formulating an official Master Plan.
Approximately 15 proposals are being reviewed by the college and the county, and the task of picking one out of those several proposals is drawing to a close and the top three firms have been selected. “After the Department of Purchasing approves these potential candidates, college and county officials will interview them,” Meyers continued. “This is where the process is at this point,”he added.
>> POET CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 artists and poets in which the poets are encouraged to write poetry on art and the artists are stimulated to create art from poetry. “I was delighted to find enthusiasm and encouragement for the idea …we’re going to have a huge stash of poems and paintings to showcase before 2013 arrives!” Professor Masterson said. “When I’m working on a poem, I feel complete. That’s a good way to feel. I know I’m about to start on a new poem when an idea arrives like a chicken bone caught in my throat. There’s no choice: I have to get it out, and when I do, often some 300 hours later, I wonder if there will ever be another chicken bone. … All of that is part of why I love to write. And words; I love words,” Masterson said. Masterson has also received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. “I have him for two classes, and he’s amazing,” said student Lauren Smith. “He’s dedicated and works with you. He’s one of my favorite professors at RCC.”
“It’s amazing to read and hear what students think and write about the stories and poems I throw at them,” said Masteron about his poetry teaching. “They open up once they understand that they can’t be incorrect; they can only be interesting or more interesting.” And students have responded. Raven Simpkins, a student in Masterson’s poetry workshop, declared, “I love him. He’s so understanding and not judgmental.” Professor Masterson has also authored four books, Those Who Trespass, On Earth As It Is, Seen and Unseen, World Without End and All Things. He has also written thousands of poems, and been published in many publications, including Esquire, the New Yorker and the London Magazine. He has won numerous literary awards, including the Borestone, Bullis, and Fels poetry awards and two Pushcart Prizes. Zain Shirazi, another student of Masterson’s, remarked, “He’s honest; he doesn’t babysit you, but he gives you great and concise information. He’s also very careful not to be too harsh because of how personal poetry is.” Professor Masterson’s new term will commence this year and finish in 2013.
>> SGA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 flyers, or wasn’t approached by a candidate and had only a vague sense of what SGA, as a whole was responsible for. A few other students such as Christian Smith was informed of the SGA election but and but still decided not to partake in the event. “It’s for our student government [but] I’m still not going to vote,” she stated.
While there were a few students who decided not to vote during the elections, many took it as an opportunity to contribute to the campus. “I’m not really involved on campus,” said student Amelia Bainton. “But I felt that I’d be doing my part as a student by voting for the new student government,” she added.
News
April 11, 2011
YouthFest Draws Hundreds of Families to Fieldhouse For the thirteenth year in a row, the RCC fieldhouse was swarming with children. Rockland County Youth Bureau had held their annual YouthFest over the weekend of April 3, drawing in hundreds of families. Marianne McCarney, acting director of the Youth Bureau and co-chair of the event said, “the ultimate goal is to give parents information,” and so over 100,000 letters were mailed and 100 booths were assembled hosting members of community groups from all over the county. Many organizations were present ranging from the Nyack Fencing Academy and Chiku Awali African Dance Inc. to the Teddy Bear Hospital. Almost every booth was from Rockland, and McCarney assured that many organizations that were not in attendance were trying to move their organizations to Rockland in the future. “The secondary goal is to entertain, for not a lot of money,” added McCarney, which ended up surprising some of the families attending. While the vast amount stalls filled with pamphlets and brochures certainly gave parents reading material, there were only a few things for children and their parents to do. When attendees Erica and Michael Solomon, along with their three-year old son Luke, were asked about their experience at YouthFest, they said “honestly, there’s not an overload of stuff geared to three year olds.” The Solomon family was expecting more activity and much less advertising. They were disappointed to have to return
Ian Mauro / Outlook Student Press
Ian Mauro Managing Editor
The Nyack Fencing Academy was on hand at the annual YouthFest to show attendees the ins and outs of fencing.
to taking their son to the McDonalds play area, since the ones at Youth Fest only cater birthdays. While the Youth Bureau is geared toward supporting community groups who focus on all ages from toddlers up to 18, there were more activities geared toward older attendees. While some participants of YouthFest felt that the activities for children were minimal, others such as Barbara Nieves and her six and one
year old children had a very different experience. “Sometimes it can be a little bit harder to find things to do…but there’s definitely a lot of good stuff here,” commented Nieves on the event. They were overall satisfied with their experience and enjoyed their day watching entertaining performance and jumping around in inflatable castles. Since the Youth Bureau sponsors municipals and non-profit organizations, McCarney expressed her concern on the
effects of the past economic down turn on YouthFest. “I was afraid that that was going to happen, [the groups] are doing everything they can to hold on,” commented McCarney. However, McCarney holds that despite the pressure, these groups exist to carry out their missions. She also said that she hasn’t seen a decrease in community groups over the last few years, only a distinct increase.
Sari Ugell Features Editor On Tues. April 5, Rockland Community College welcomed Chanalee Fischer, the “Challah Fairy,” the guru behind the Shabbat challah bread sweeping the tri-state area and many stores nationwide. Students and faculty had the rare opportunity to bake with her in the Student Union. The Jewish Heritage Committee on campus was able to bring Fischer to RCC. Participants were given their own piece of dough, and with Fischer’s instructions, learned to make either the traditional braided challah or a round challah. Different types of toppings, such as dried cranberries and the famous cinnamon sugar mix covered the breads on the tables around the room. Ali Chaitin, a freshman at RCC, was excited about bringing the challah home to bake. “I can’t wait to go home to bake the challah and eat it later,” she said. Fischer first started baking from her home for family and close friends before
the word on her challah and natural talent spread all over town. Within a short time, Fischer realized her love for baking could become a real business, and today she has her own workshop located in New City, where clients place orders and pick up their challahs prior to the Jewish Sabbath. The Challah Fairy received her name from friends who would call thanking her for delivering challah to their homes. “The Challah Fairy came!” Fischer exclaimed during the event, describing her friends’ excitement. This weekly routine has turned into a busy enterprise. Although the participants weren’t able to bake the challahs on campus, nothing stopped them from wrapping them in plastic bags and bringing them home to enjoy, even after the event was over. The turnout of the event was successful, and many couldn’t wait to share the enthusiasm of challah-making with others. “These tips and styles that I learned from the Challah Fairy showed me to make a challah that will illuminate my Shabbat table this Friday night,” said freshman Lindsay Goldman.
Ian Mauro / Outlook Student Press
Challah Fairy Brings Magic to Campus
The Challah Fairy, Chanalee Fischer, instructs the participants how to make the perfect challah.
FEATURES
How to Attract the Opposite Sex
April 11, 2011
A male and female perspective on dating
Ian Mauro / Outlook Student Press
BOY’S SIDE Eitan Itzkowitz
Contributing Writer
For all you girls out there: Have you ever tried, and failed to get a guy to notice you? Well here are some tips for how to get that special someone’s attention. 1. Have a good sense of humor. This does not necessarily mean that you have to make jokes. Most guys probably consider themselves to be the funniest person alive. Therefore, if you laugh at any guy’s jokes he will consider you to be the second funniest person ever by extension. 2. Use body language. It is important to convey positive boy language towards a guy. However, since men are a very non-evolved species, we are not very good at reading body language. So, it is important to make your interest in him, feelings, and thoughts undeniable through body motions. 3. Play to his likings. While wearing a rose scented perfume is indeed a refreshing smell, most guys are not running towards fields of f lowers. Instead, a girl should wear perfume that would naturally attract a guy. For example, “La Rockland Bakery Sensuella” perfume would have you guy racing towards you, as men are naturally drawn to the smell of freshly prepared food. 4. Ask him to lunch. Two of a guy’s favorite things are girls and food. What better way to get a boy’s attention than to combine the two into one great experience. It also allows face time with a guy in a more relaxed setting where you can show him your true, awesome
personality. Generally speaking the guy will pay for lunch so worst comes to worst you get a free meal out of it. 5. Read his Twitter. A man’s thoughts will generally consist of 140 characters or less, thus making Twitter the perfect avenue for him to express himself. To really impress a guy, approach him; make conversation about his tweets and how you loved his tweet about how he is “stoked that Knicks got ‘melo. Gonna celebrate tonight.” Try to relate to him and tell him that you did the exact same thing! 6. Walk around with a halo attached to the top of your head. In addition to donning the halo, have your friends tell the guy that you are his dream girl, while also having them play up your “angelic” qualities. While the guy might feel slightly intimidated by the thought of approaching a messenger of god, the thought of being with an angel will overpower this reluctance. 7. Don’t sing songs about days of the week. We all know what day it is so there is no need to repeatedly remind a guy that its Friday. If you think that his memory is so bad that he forgets what day of the week it is every 30 seconds, then how could you expect him to remember your birthday when the time comes? 8. Have muscles! We all know the lady types are attracted to two things: Ryan Gosling and muscles. So guys it would be within your best interest to get down to your local gym and start pumping iron. 9. Leave your “bromances” at home. If you wind up on a double date or just want to show your future love interest that someone other than your mother can stand you; don’t, for whatever reason, bring your best friend. Guys who are engaged in bromances will try their hardest to sabotage their significant others chances with the opposite sex.
GIRL’S SIDE Shara Beitch
Contributing Writer
I hope I can clear up some reoccurring confusions, inquiries, and assumptions for everyone. 1. Manners and hygiene are essential to attract a girl. It is not okay to pass gas while eating or make a mess of everything you touch, in spite of what you do when you’re in your natural habitat. Offering to pay always makes us weak at the knees, whether or not we accept the benevolent gesture. You want us to be able to picture ourselves going out to a public, possibly elegant, restaurant without having the slightest worries about utter humiliation. We need to feel as if we can introduce you to our parents without any nerveracking anticipation of disappointment. 2. Pick up lines are older than twotoned shoes, in fact they are almost archaic, and we do not appreciate them. All we need is a charming and sweet approach that merely informs us of how you feel about us. Call us beautiful instead of hot; don’t try to impress us by using derogatory adjectives when all we want is genuine affection. We need you to display passion rather than a covet for action, because that will lead us to believe that you only want one “thing”. 3. You have to be able to make us laugh. It has been said that laughter is the best medicine for any type of pain or sorrow. A person cannot go a day without humor in their lives because the world can seem like such a bleak and dismal place. If you can’t make us laugh, we automatically label you as
boring and would probably never go on a one-on-one date with you because the phony laughter and obliged smiles would be brutal. 4. Of course, judgment via image is inevitable and everyone is culpable of doing so. Despite what most guys are told to believe when they are with their friends, having your pants down to your ankles is not attractive. We do not need to see your underwear in order to be interested. We like when you can either dress up or dress down, but what we don’t like is when you spend more time on your outfit, hair, and shoes than we do. If we see you craving the need to fit in through your apparel, we may lose any existing interest and attraction. 5. Talk to us. We love empathy and understanding, whether in a relationship or a friendship. Nothing attracts a girl more to a guy than a slight beacon of sensitivity. So many guys are afraid to exhibit any emotion because they think it’s not manly, when in reality, it is one of the most masculine acts that any guy can portray. Now don’t get me wrong, a guy can be too sensitive, but giving an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, and advice to make the situation better isn’t just for women. 6. Every girl needs a guy with a little bit of brains. We need to be able to carry on a decently compelling conversation without feeling like our brain cells are deteriorating. Make sure you are somewhat informative and appealing when you speak, so it will leave us wanting to hear more. If a guy cannot persist with a satisfying conversation, we are going to be gone before you can even articulate your last word. We need reassurance that you have awareness of your surroundings and certain aspects of life that matter in the long run. No one wants to date a guy whose future plans entail fried chicken, video games, and their parents’ basement.
April 11, 2011
Features
What to Do During An Interview Tips on impressing a prospective employer
Katherine O’Neill staff Writer
College-aged students are often faced with the daunting task of going through the interview process. Formal interviews can be one of the most frightening tasks for an inexperienced young adult heading into “the real world.” However, if you follow these steps you can avoid some common pit falls and land that position you’ve been aiming for! When it comes to interviews, clothing matters. You are what you wear. Avoid dressing too casually or inappropriately. Dressing in business formal attire is a must. A safe choice for men would be a suit and tie or a dress shirt with slacks. For women a conservative dress or tailored pants and blouse would be acceptable. As a result, the interviewer will view you as a respectable candidate. How you present yourself is a key part of whether one will get the job or college acceptance, or completely denied. Try to lay your outfit out the night before to avoid getting dressed in a rush and looking haphazard or sloppy. First impressions are key. You want to present your best self when applying for a job or vying for college admission. For example, being on time cannot be stressed enough! However, you don’t want to show up too early, so you are loitering and waiting around for your interview to begin. You may appear over eager or like you have nothing else to do. Arrive a half an hour early at most, but be sure to not cut it too close because being late leaves a horrible first impression. Employers want to hire someone they can count on and universities want to enroll mature, responsible students; being late will foil that for you. Next, make sure you greet your interviewer with a strong handshake. Find a happy medium between the “limp fish”
Ian Mauro / Outlook Student Press
and the “bone crushing death grip”. Be friendly, yet confident. An absolute no-no is gum chewing! It is totally unprofessional and rude. You’ll be doing a significant amount of talking as it is, you don’t want to be chewing while you do it, so save the gum for after you’re done with the meeting. Research the position you are applying for, or the school you are inquiring to attend before coming to the interview. This way, you will be fully prepared if the interviewer asks you specific questions. You can voice what attracted you to the job or university and why you can envision yourself there. Being knowledgeable and self-assured will set you apart from other competitors. Often the person conducting the interview will sum up by asking if you have any further questions yourself so use
this as an opportunity to prove that you did your homework. Avoid falling into traps. Common questions interviewers may pursue include: what are your strengths and what is your greatest weakness? First of all, be prepared to share and be proud of your strengths. Make sure they are work or school-related. Think of how you would best describe yourself, and how others would present you. You could also write these adjectives down, that way you will not hesitate on which words to use and they will come out eloquently. The question regarding your weakness possesses more uncertainty for people answering spontaneously. Think this through ahead of time. Don’t be brutally honest. Instead, mention a “flaw” that can be viewed as a positive trait. Such
as, if you’re a perfectionist, say you will not rest until the task at hand is done to the fullest. Also when asking about your previous experiences, take responsibility for your actions. Do not name drop and definitely do not bad mouth your previous employer or institution; it will make you look bitter or immature. Employers want to hire someone positive, that others will want to be around and interact with. Throughout your life, you will most likely be put into several interview scenarios, so it is best that you learn to master this life skill sooner rather than later. It is beneficial to take a speech class, while you are in school and practice your overall presentation. Your attitude and the answers you provide will impact the overall success of your meeting.
REVIEW
Great education in Rockland’s backyard Antoinette Fedele
Contributing Writer
Welcome to Saint Thomas Aquinas College, home of the Spartans and located in Sparkill, New York. When you ask most students what made them choose to attend STAC, their answer is frequently related to its size. Since the school is small, it not only ensures that your role as a student isn’t diminished to a number, but it also helps to foster stronger student-teacher relationships overall. There are always plenty of opportunities to meet with your professors and it is not uncommon to have the same professor for several different courses throughout your time at the college. This can be beneficial since it gives them a chance to better understand you as a student and individual. Attending school at STAC is something like living in a small town where everyone knows each other. Another aspect of the school that often attracts students is its excellent teacher education program. Although there are many majors offered at STAC, they take particular pride in this area since it was originally founded as a teaching college.
St. Thomas Aquinas himself is seen as the model teacher for the Catholic Church. STAC’s education program is National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) certified, which makes it one of the best. This certification requires the school to follow a particular set of standards in order to maintain this status, and ensures that students leave the college better prepared to enter the teaching field. A benefit of being a student at STAC is the special programs that it offers to students. The first is the honors program. Students selected to be in this program are given access to a vast array of enriching honors courses. Along with being awarded a full tuition honors scholarship to the school, students are given the opportunity to attend a summer program at Oxford University in England on full scholarship as well. The second is a program called Pathways, which is meant to provide more individualized attention and support for students with disabilities. STAC also offers many opportunities for their students to become involved at the school and in the community under the Office of Student Activities. This includes the student government association (SGA)
club sports, Greek-life organizations, performing arts, special interest clubs and student media groups. In addition, STAC has many sports teams such as baseball, basketball and lacrosse that compete on the NCAA Division II level. STAC provides an atmosphere that offers more individualized attention, and
smaller class sizes. It also provides many opportunities to become more involved in the community, gives students the option to commute or dorm, and even offers masters programs. So if you’re looking for a school where you can get a great education while also staying in Rockland, St. Thomas Aquinas College is an excellent choice.
Saint Thomas Aquinas College
STYLE & ENTERTAINMENT
April 11, 2011
How to Enhance Your Daily Conversations Avoid boring banter and spice up your discussions with these novels.
Jesse Strauch
Style & Entertainment Editor
Tired of listening to people always talking about the latest book that they read and how it enhances their lives? Not everyone has the time to sit down and read literary classics by Dostoevsky or Tolstoy. Instead of reading a bunch of books, you can read a few condensed novels that will keep your conversations going with the opposite sex or possible new friends, without consuming the time of reading endless amounts of books about topics that you don’t entirely care for. The three books that are summarized below may not contribute any intellectual value into your daily small talk by the office water cooler, but you can use the random facts to create tangents off of topics that you really don’t want to hear about.
Anarchy Evolution: Faith, Science and Bad Religion in a World Without God By Greg Graffin and Steve Olson Some of you may recognize author Greg Graffin as the lead singer of the seminal punk band Bad Religion, but what many don’t know is that he also has received a Ph.D from Cornell University and teaches evolution at the University of California, when he’s not smashing faces at a punk rock show, of course. This alone should make anyone want to read this book. Anarchy Evolution serves as part memoir, part evolution and religious debate. What makes this bookstand out from others is that Graffin is not afraid to discussed the implications that organized religion can inflict on society.
Killing Yourself to Live By Chuck Klosterman A road trip novel filled with 90’s pop culture references, what more could you want? Killing Yourself to Live chronicles Klosterman’s cross country road trip, where he is writing a story for Spin magazine about all the major spots where famous rock stars have died, but the story isn’t just based on that. Instead it lets the reader sit shotgun with Klosterman on his journey and talk about whatever seems to spark his imagination during his travels. One moment you could be discussing Ace Frehley’s musical contributions on Kiss’ album Love Gun to lamenting a former lover from college who reminds him of Winona Ryder.
How to Beat Up Anybody By Judah Friedlander 30 Rock and Second City writer Judah Friedlander claims to be the world champion and will share his secrets with anyone who is willing to pay one easy payment of $17.99 for a copy. Such important fighting skills are gone over like proper stretching, which apparently involves tying cars to your arms and legs and making them drive in opposite directions as fast as possible, as well as fighting the rare and elusive big foot. And if you’re worried about reading all the technical martial arts terms, have no fear because Friedlander has gone through and underlined as well as highlighted all the important terms.
Style Icons 80’s: CYNDI LAUPER
Brittany Flynn
Staff Writer
In the 80’s, Cyndi Lauper was Madonna’s more fun, butterfly colored, punky counterpart. Lauper rose to stardom in 1983, when the video for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” became an MTV staple and girls quickly began to copy her eccentric style. Although Cyndi’s style has modernized with time, she’ll always be remembered for her iconic 80’s irreverence. Here’s how to incorporate some of this bold style icon’s look into your own. Fashion: To pull off a Cyndi look, your outfit should include at least two bright colors. Try bright blue Doc Martens and a green t-shirt with a black or denim miniskirt, and a striped jacket. Speaking of skirts, Cyndi was rarely
seen in pants. The type of skirt varied widely, from skin-tight minis to kneelength full petticoats, so you have a lot of options, but nothing conservative. You’d never catch Cyndi Lauper in a navy blue suit skirt, unless she ripped it to shreds and safety-pinned it back together. Lauper was an adherent to the 80’s idea that one can never have too many accessories. Stack bracelets halfway up your arm, wear at least five necklaces and big, jangly earrings and you’ll be set. If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of many trinkets hanging off your body, focus on one accessory. Makeup: 80’s inspired makeup is not for the faint of heart, so if you’re afraid of color, now might be the time to back away. The key is to take elements of Cyndi’s look and modernize. -Face: We’re going to keep the foundation natural for this one, so choose a medium coverage, satin finish foundation and apply it all over your face. Apply concealer as needed. 80’s blush was notoriously bright, so you’ll need to find a fluorescent hot pink, but the trick here is to apply it very sparingly, in order to keep the spirit of the tone. If you’re having trouble achieving this, try using a duo-fiber or “skunk” brush. This is a two-toned brush and the white hairs are longer than the black ones, ensuring that you won’t pick
up as much product as you would with a standard blush brush. Finish up your face by highlighting your cheekbones with a shimmery cream highlighter and setting everything with a translucent powder. Recommendations: Blush – M.A.C. Dollymix -Eyes: Start out by applying an eyeshadow primer from lash line to brow bone then apply a shimmery white eyeshadow to the inner third of the lid and around your tear duct. Next, pat a pink/
purple duo-chrome eyeshadow on to the outer two thirds of the lid. For the crease, we’re going to bring in some classic 80’s electric blue. Blend this color through the crease, stopping a little bit after the white begins. Apply a matte white shadow to your brow bone and blend it into the edges of the blue. Run a blue eyeliner along your bottom lash line, winging it out and up slightly when you reach the outer corner then apply your pink/purple duo-chrome shadow over – it will turn an awesome periwinkle/purple color. Line your top lashes with a thin line of black liquid eyeliner and coat both top and bottom lashes with mascara. Recommendations: Shimmer White – NARS Night Snow Pink/Purple duchrome – M.A.C. Stars N’ Rockets Blue – M.A.C. Electric Eel Lips: Cyndi Lauper was known for her bold, red lips, but with this much color on the eyes, a red lip puts you dangerously close to straying into costume territory. If you have your heart set on cherry lips, try pairing it with a neutral eye and a pop of aqua liner along the top lash line. However, for this look, I’d suggest a neutral pink lipstick. Recommendations: Neutral pink – M.A.C. Viva Glam V Red - M.A.C. New Temptation
April 11, 2011
STYLE & ENTERTAINMENT
concert review Band play first hometown concert in five years York, New York…” This caused a massive roar of cheering and with that nonchalant New York attitude, the band kicked off the night with their fan favorite “Is This It.” Highlights of the evening included the entire arena dancing to the bands new single “Under Cover of Darkness” and “New York City Cops” and watching guitarists Albert Hammond Jr. and Nick Valensi truly held the entire concert on their backs. Hammond Jr. played the entire show on his white Stratocaster and could be seen smiling throughout the night. Casablancas rushed into the crowd during “Juice box,” making it an admirable task to walk through the entire general admission floor of the arena. Once he made his way back onto the stage he shouted into his mic “Come on New York! Next time I come in there don’t let me come out!” What ended up being the pivotal ending to a perfect night was Elvis Costello coming out to play “Taken For A Fool,” a track taken off the bands new album “Angles.” A four-song encore followed suite after that, but seeing Julian Casablancas’ smile at Costello during the track echoed the same expression the entire venue was sporting; the mundane feelings of a car needing $30 worth of gas or a 8AM clock in at a job didn’t matter to anyone that night. The only thing anyone cared about was The Strokes and they definitely delivered.
Ken Grand-Pierre art Director
Do you know that itching feeling when the entire population of your city is in the same room as you? This would be the best way to describe how I felt on April 1 when I attended The Strokes headlining concert at Madison Square Garden. The queues to enter the tower sections of the arena were filled with people talking, waiting for beverages, and nonchalantly standing in a fixated place while the opening band played below. As Devendra Banhart and The Grogs (the opening band) ended their set of show gazing tunes, a collective rush to enter the seating areas of the arena sprang into everyone’s minds. The Strokes were going to take the stage for the first time in five years, at the most celebrated venue of their hometown. Taking the stage next was Elvis Costello who shouted as loud as he could “APRIL FOOL’S!” but in retrospect the fooling really went onto him as the majority of the crowd proceeded to text on their mobiles, most likely asking their friends closest to them “Who is that? And where are The Strokes?” After a short wait, front man Julian Casablancas took the stage with a grin and and whispered onto his microphone “New
VIDEOGAME REVIEWS Recent videogame titles to stay away from.
Louie Gaitan
STAFF WRITER
9 Hours. 9 Persons, 9 Doors. For: DS. First off, did they intentionally make the title sound dumb? There are some many titles that would have worked for this game but instead they chose a convoluted title that confuses people. The game begins in medias res and attempts to create a sense of urgency, by putting you in room rapidly filling with water. The only problem, there is no real urgency; you can take as long as you want and you can’t lose. The game continues in this fashion, making sure there is never a way to fail. I finished the game in about four hours, most of which took place in “cutscenes,” which are still frames with words below them. As a reward for finishing the game, you can to skip through the hours of text for your second play through, which you will feel like you have to do because it is most likely you will get the bad ending the first time which will depress you. All in all, it’s a sad game with a sad title and sad lack of actual game play.
Magicka. For: PC. This game is great if you’re looking for a four-player co-op that has a healthy dose of humor and interesting game play mechanics. The jokes range from references about Internet memes to a vampire wizard whom no one is concerned about even knows that he is a vampire. The game is a solid single player experience but when four players are casting spells together, hilarity truly ensues. Cast lightning and you might just fry your friend, put up a shield and you may leave your friend trapped outside with the monsters. You can even power up each other’s spells, just don’t cross the streams for too long. Want to turn your enemy into an ice sculpture? Have your friend spray it with a water spell then hit it with your cold spell. The combinations of spells create unique effects that are not only effective but also fun to use.
OPINION
April 11, 2011
Outlook Student Press Susanna Perlov, Editor-in-Chief Vanessa Pastorelli, Production Manager Ian Mauro, Managing Editor Demi Moore, Art Director Ken Grand-Pierre, Art Director
Josh Blachorsky, News Editor Sari Ugell, Features Editor Jesse Strauch, Style & Entertainment Editor Jeremy Pardo, Opinion & Technology Editor Zehra Sheikh, Science & Health Editor
When the clock stops ticking, will it be time to wake up?
Outlook Student Press is published every other week except during exam periods and summer. It is an independent newspaper and public forum produced by students and paid for by advertising revenue and student activities fees. Outlook Student Press invites you to submit your opinions and ideas for publication. We strongly encourage letters to the editor. Content does not necessarily reflect the views of the Outlook editors or staff. Submissions may be edited for clarity, length, style, and taste. Outlook does not accept anonymous submissions. $O YOU SEE THAT MONEY
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$O YOU HEAR THAT TICKING
Contributors:Sara Birnbaum, Chris
Saffran,Josh Dombroff Shara Beitch, Julie Kaufman, Peter Vey, Norissa Jean-Louis, Chris Barker,
SCIENTIST
POLITICIAN
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Indian Point Is a Disaster Waiting to Happen We should shut the plant down before it is too late.
Jeremy Pardo
opinion editor
Indian Point Energy Center has recently come under scrutiny following the nuclear tragedy in Japan. New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has made it abundantly clear that he would like the plant to shut down. Cuomo fears that the risk of a nuclear disaster at Indian Point is too large for it to continue operating, especially considering the enormous number of people living in the danger zone. Proponents of Indian Point claim that it is an environmentally friendly and safe power generating facility. Entergy, the company that owns Indian Point Energy Center, proudly proclaims on its website that Indian Point is safe, secure, and vital. In my opinion Indian Point is none of the above. Located in Buchanan, New York, just forty miles north of New York City and under 10 miles from most of Rockland County, any nuclear disaster at Indian Point could have catastrophic effects. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has recommended a 50-mile evacuation radius around the site of the recent nuclear disaster in Japan. A similar sized evacuation area would affect more than 20 million people. Many doubt that such a large number of people could be evacuated effectively were an emergency to occur. Indian Point sits between two fault lines making it even more prone to a disaster. There are currently two operational nuclear reactors at Indian Point. Both of these are of similar design to the nuclear reactors at Fukushima (Japan). The design of these
reactors is old and some experts feel it has inadequate protection from leakage in the case of a nuclear meltdown. Nuclear power plants rely on cooling towers to keep fuel rods from overheating and special insulating rods to interrupt a nuclear chain reaction. Electrical power supply to the plant is essential to keep the safety mechanisms of the power plant working. A nuclear meltdown happens when radioactive fuel rods in the core of a reactor overheat to the point that they melt, opening the possibility for widespread contamination. A nuclear meltdown is a relatively rare occurrence; a total meltdown has happened only once in the entire history of nuclear power. That was the case of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. However, a partial meltdown, such as what has occurred at Fukushima, can be extremely damaging. After the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the pumps that normally keep the reactors at Fukushimna cool failed. The failure of the cooling pumps was the first step leading to the present nuclear disaster in Japan. The pump failure was a direct result of the earthquake and ensuing power outages that struck the region. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) designated Indian Point as the most earthquake vulnerable nuclear facility in the United States. The reason for this designation is a fault line that runs directly under the location of one of the reactors at Indian Point. Geologists at Columbia University estimate that a 7.0 magnitude earthquake is possible along this fault. Entergy claims that the plant can withstand a magnitude 6.1 earthquake, an earthquake higher than ever recorded on that particular fault in the past. However,
an earthquake 90 times larger is possible and even a smaller quake could result in nuclear disaster. If the primary and secondary power sources providing energy to the cooling tower were to fail, similar to what initially happened at Fukushima, a nuclear disaster could ensue. It would not take major damage to the reactor for a chain reaction of events leading to disaster to occur. In addition to the threat of a nuclear meltdown, Indian Point poses serious problems for the local environment. According to the environmental activist organization Riverkeepers, water discharged from the cooling towers is at too high a temperature. The hot water is damaging important Hudson River fisheries. Even worse, the spent fuel ponds at Indian Point are over full, highly radioactive waste could leak into groundwater or the Hudson River if the ponds are not properly sealed. The reservoir that provides the majority of NYC drinking water is located just fifteen miles away from the plant and would be
at risk for contamination in the event of a disaster. According to Riverkeepers, besides being a safety hazard the electricity being produced is not even vital; Indian point generates just 12.5% of the total electricity used in downstate New York. On their website, Riverkeepers points out that the State of California conserved more than that amount of electricity in a 6 month period. Even if a replacement to Indian Point were needed, the plant should still be closed. Clean solar and wind technologies could easily produce the amount of power generated from Indian Point. In conclusion, Indian Point is a safety hazard and an environmental catastrophe waiting to happen. The NRC does not anticipate denying the renewal of Indian Point’s licenses. If Indian point were granted those licenses, it would be allowed to continue operating for another 40 years. We have a unique opportunity to convince our government to shutdown the worst nuclear plant in the country. We should not waste that opportunity.
SCIENCE & HEALTH
April 11, 2011
The Science Behind Earthquakes A closer look into one of most deadliest natural disasters the earthquakes strength. When measuring size, an earthquakes magnitude plays a big role. A magnitude of 8 is considered to be a great earthquake; magnitude of 7.9 to 7 defines a major earthquake; 5.9 to 5 is moderate; 4.9 to 4 is relatively light, 3.9 to 3 is minor; and less then 3 is known to be a micro-sized earthquake. Recently Japan was struck by the most powerful earthquake that the country has ever seen in recorded history. When measuring the size of the Earth’s twitch, it was scaled to have a magnitude of 8.9! The earthquake was centered near the east coast of the island nation forming over 30 foot walls of water. According to a report constructed by CNN, the waves reached six miles inland, destroying everything and anything in its path. According to BBC, the earthquake that occurred in Japan was the fith largest earthquake in the world since the 1900’s. Also, the earthquake was 8,000 times stronger then the earthquake that took place in New Zealand a few months before. When mother nature strikes, there is no knowing on how powerful her force can be and how large the devastation will be.
Farah Naz
Staff Writer
Earthquakes are one of mother nature’s deadliest natural occurrences. As seen in Japan, a single earthquake can lead to a tsunami and eventually cause an entire country to drown under water. So how do these earthquakes occur? Earthquakes are natural disasters that are caused by the movement of tectonic plates below the Earth’s crust. Further, a sudden slide on a rupture on the Earth’s surface can cause an earthquake to emerge. Looking in depth, there are plates on the surface that are constantly moving slowly, but get stuck at their edges because of friction. When a lot of pressure is put on these edges, it simply overcomes friction causing the energy to be released in waves that travel through the crust. This occurrence causes rapid movement and shaking often experienced in an earthquake. The damage done by an earthquake, such as destroying cities and human habitation, depends on the size and scale of
Spice Your Dessert Up With Some Crispy Pears Put some crunch into your pear with this healthy recipe Monica Powell
Staff Writer
With warmer temperatures approaching and more days spent outside in the sun, proper nutrition and hydration are essential to maintaining a strong and active body. Thankfully, nature knows exactly what we need, and just the right foods ripen during just the right seasons in order for us to live our healthiest year-round. One food that is currently available in the market is the pear, and this fruit serves as an excellent rehydration food. Boasting lots of sweet, flavorful juice, pears are capable of restoring the body with the liquids it needs to function properly, preventing incidences of muscle cramps and lightheadedness. Pears are also a good source of Vitamin C which promotes a healthy immune system and serves as a shield against free-radicals which cause rapid aging in the body. Below is a recipe for a delightful dish in which pears are combined with another fruit called figs. The fig’s chewy flesh and savory sweetness, combined with its crunchy texture from its tiny seeds, qualify it as a delicious treat with a unique flavor. Hidden inside this delicacy is the element potassium, which keeps the body’s heart functioning properly while assisting in the control of blood pressure. In addition, one serving of figs provides over seven grams of fiber, which has been associated as a powerful element in weight loss by increasing the length of time our bodies feel satisfied after consumption. This dessert is a raw version of the classic oven-baked pear crisp usually served during the winter months. Since
this particular recipe requires no baking time, it is quick to prepare and even faster to assemble. Plus, it makes a perfect cool treat during the spring and summer months when eaten right from the refrigerator, serving as either breakfast or as the finishing touch to an evening meal. So take advantage of the offerings of this warmer season, and try this nutrient-dense dessert for yourself! Note: It is important to leave the peel on the pears in order to receive all of its nutritional benefits, but be certain to throroughly scrub the pear’s skin before consuming to ensure removal of any pesticidal residues or dirt. Pear Ginger Crisp Crust 3/4 cup dried figs 1 cup walnuts, or other preferred nut 3/4 teaspoon salt Filling 4 cups sliced pitted pears (about 3 or 4 pears) 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1. To make the crust, place the figs in the food processor and process into small pieces. If you find the figs too sticky, you can also chop
them by hand. Add the walnuts and salt and process into medium-sized pieces (not too small, big enough to keep the crunch of the walnuts).
3. Keep for 1 to 2 days in the fridge. The crust will keep for several weeks when stored separately in the fridge.
2. To make the filling, toss the pear slices with ginger and cinnamon in a mixing bowl and mix well. Scoop into a loaf pan and top with the crust. Serve immediately or let chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Recipe courtesy of Ani Phyo from Ani’s Raw Food Desserts
technology
10
April 11, 2011
Non-Electric Gadgets
Useful technology that do not require batteries Jeremy Pardo
Opinion editor
Technology. The word inspires thoughts of whirring gadgets, iPhone apps and new computers. The one common denominator is electricity. All of these devices must have a battery or must be plugged in. If something unexpected were to happen, none of these devices would be very useful. Batteries would die within a few days on most devices, rendering them inoperable. Without electricity, most of our modern gadgets would become expensive paperweights. What technology would be available to us were electricity to fail? There are a few simple and highly practical technological gadgets that would be highly useful in an emergency situation. Solar Oven S o l a r ovens are simply ovens that
cook food using only solar heat. Most designs consist of a black box with a clear lid and reflective panels. Another common
design is a parabolic mirror that focuses light onto a pot. Solar ovens can easily reach a temperature of 350° in under an hour. That temperature is hot enough to slow cook a chicken, or anything else you might what to eat. In an emergency situation, a solar oven could be very useful. However most people in the United States are unlikely to ever use one. While some Americans might keep it as a camping tool or just an interesting novelty item, a solar oven is not considered a necessity in the U.S. In poor countries, solar ovens may be more than just a novelty item. Some charity organizations are devoted to donating solar ovens to impoverished African and Asian nations. In many of these countries there is no access to clean drinking water or fuel to make a fire. A solar oven solves both of these problems. It can be used to cook food without fuel for a fire and to boil water to make it safer to drink. Besides not needing fuel, solar ovens have other advantages over more traditional open flamed stoves. As no fuel is consumed, no pollution is produced. With no flame there is less risk of a fire. The use of a solar oven can greatly enhance the quality of the air in single roomed homes, and also reduces the risk of setting fire to those homes. Mechanical Chainsaw Perhaps more applicable to most residents of the United States is a mechanical chainsaw. The mechanical chainsaw is a neat device that can
be useful in certain situations. Like the solar oven it has a simple design, it consists of handles attached to a chainsaw type chain with sharp teeth. To use the chainsaw, the chain is bent around a branch and then the handles are alternately pulled to cut. Designed with unexpected situations in mind, the mechanical chainsaw should be in every cars emergency kit. The simple pulling action can make short work of even large branches that fall on your car. The mechanical chainsaw also has many every day applications. It can be used to prune trees or cut any other rounded wooden object imaginable. Hand-Cranked Radio A hand-cranked radio provides a lifeline in almost any disaster. Powered by a hand-cranked generator, these special radios allow the user to get the latest information when the power is out. It only takes about 30 seconds of cranking to store enough power in the device’s battery to last for hours. Most hand cranked radios come with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) All Hazards weather radio. Broadcasting on its own frequency, NOAA weather radio provides constantly updated weather information 24/7. Weather radio also broadcasts all weather alerts relevant to your area. Many radios come with a feature that will automatically turn on the radio whenever a weather warning is issued. Some models run more than just a radio using the hand-cranked
generator. Devices such as flashlights are commonly built in, and some radios even allow you to charge a cell phone off of the hand-cranked device. Modern technological gadgets may remain an electrical phenomenon, however, everyone should consider keeping at least one of the three devices mentioned close at hand. Not only do they help you prepare for disasters, but they also provide everday services.
This Fall, the speech department will offer three weekend intensive courses to help develop and polish your communications skill. Interpersonal communication, com interviewing and listening are all essential in day to day life. If you plan to apply to a four year college or are hitting the workforce after your time at RCC, these courses are designed to hone in your skills and propel you forward in your careers!
Three, 1 credit courses in INTERVIEWING, LISTENING, & INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION will be offered on a weekend intensive schedule. 1 weekend=1 credit! If you have a gap in your schedule and need to pick up 1, 2 or 3 credits, here is a chance to improve communication with some simple tools necessary for your future. Sign up for 1, 2 or 3 all! SPE 110 - INTERVIEWING (1 credit) INTE 9/23-9/25 F 6-9, SAT 10-5, SUN 10-5 SPE 111 - LISTENING (1 credit) 10/21-10/23 F 6-9, SAT 10-5, SUN 10-5 SPE 110 - INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION (1 credit) 11/18-11/20 F 6-9, SAT 10-5, SUN 10-5 For further information, contact: Prof. Thomas Rothacker at trothack@sunyrockland.edu or Prof. Wilma Frank at wfrank@sunyrockland,edu or 845-634-0249.
technology
April 11, 2011
Nintendo 3DS Review
Louie Gaitan
Staff Writer
3D gaming consoles will be the next big thing in the world of gaming. Nintendo’s 3DS is one of the first 3D handheld gaming consoles. It keeps the dual screen and touch screen features that made the DS a leader in the last generation, while improving and adding several new features. The most prominent on, 3D without glasses. Other additions include an analog slider, a second external camera for 3D pictures, and augmented reality software. While the technology is solid, the launch titles leave something to be desired. Mario, Nintendo’s seminal franchise is completely absent this time around, a first for a Nintendo launch. The 3D is truly impressive … until you move your head. As a result of the small zone in which the 3D works, it’s just sometimes easier to play with it off. For people familiar with traditional 3D with glasses, the 3D might be odd as it’s more of a depth than a pop out effect. The 3D also caused me to get headaches but I can’t
confirm that 3D or my sensitivity to light was to blame. Though there are reports that some people are unable to see the 3D at all, as of yet I haven’t encountered anyone who had this problem. If the 3D was the only thing new about the 3DS it wouldn’t be worth purchasing. Fortunately, it has improved graphics to go along with it, so even with the 3D off its pretty to look at. The addition of the analog slider is great and it functions well. I would have preferred dual analog, bringing it on line with modern controllers. The addition of the second external camera not only allows for 3D pictures, but facilitates 3D augmented reality games. For those unfamiliar with augmented reality, its basically taking the real world around us and laying a change over it to create a play space that seems to be the real world but not quite. The augmented reality games are all preloaded on the system and good for a little fun but I waiting to see how it is implemented in full games before passing judgment. The home menu has been improved, making it more like the Wii home menu.
The Mii maker was brought over from the Wii and has been improved to create your Mii by taking a picture with the internal camera. Your newly created Mii can go meet others, thanks to the Street Pass. Street Pass allows you to exchange data with people you pass even with the 3DS closed. I find it quite hilarious when I open it up and find a new Mii hanging around. For health nuts, a pedometer is built in and you’ll be rewarded for your steps with coins that can be used in some games. For statistics majors, it will track your steps down to the hour along with other random facts and figures should that interest you. The launch was seriously lacking in great games. Some titles promised for launch haven’t even been released yet. For Sims fans, The Sims 3 was re-released and LEGO fans who haven’t picked the LEGO Star Wars might be tempted to check it out in 3D. For people on the fence about buying a 3DS, wait until later in the year when things like Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D are slated to be released. Also,
11
you may want to consider the new Sony handheld that’s in the pipeline, known at the time as the NGP. Sony also claims it will release a phone gaming platform that will have the Android OS.
sports
14
April 11, 2011
RCC vs. ULSTER MIDSEASON REPORT
Ian Mauro
managing editor
Hawks Baseball is struggling to stay on top. During their last two games with Ulster County the Hawks had commanded an early lead only to witness Ulster quickly negate that deficit. The first game that was played back at the Hawks home field initially gave the impression that it would be an easy win. Leading at one point 7-0 the Hawks had a more than comfortable lead. By the end however, the Hawks were fighting tooth and nail not to squander the game; a goal they successfully achieved, preserving a 7-6 victory. The second game started off the same with the Hawks taking an early 7-2 lead by
the bottom of the fourth. The Hawks were making some big plays and getting timely hits. Number 23 Jared Croce robbed Ulster of a home run with an amazing off the fence catch in center field keeping them off the scoreboards. John Ziznewski Number 21 was hitting big with a few standing doubles bringing in at least two runs on his own. Ulster was hardly putting up a fight, earning four consecutive errors in four consecutive plays, dropped balls and missed throws that loaded the bases twice. It was looking like the Hawks would redeem their chance for an easy win, but it wasn’t to be. The Hawks early success was once again negated as they let up six more runs in a single inning to put them behind by one. The blue uniforms of Ulster polluted the infield of Hawks field for what seem like an unending slump. Coach Joe Zeccardi had the bullpen
constantly in motion as he made the call for a new pitcher twice in the fifth inning. Number 33 Joseph Fiori was their starting pitcher for both games and was relieved by number 19 Doug Roman who was soon relieved by number 17 Nick Viohl to finish up the painfully long inning. The Hawks couldn’t recover and lost the game with a final score of 7-8. The dugout was filled with sounds of disgust and anger, not at the other team, but directed toward themselves. Coach Zeccardi was noticeably irritated by the repeat experience of giving Ulster this opportunity. The Hawks are unable to keep focused it seemed, or at least unable to react when Ulster finally starts to pull their act together. This inability to close out games, if left unchecked, can spell an early exit and disappointment for this year’s Hawks squad.
March Madness
Connecticut Huskies Vs. Butler Bulldogs Chayim Tauber
staff Writer
Glass Slippers Everywhere In a March unlike any other, Cinderella has crashed the party with a vengeance eliminating the last of the number one seeds in the Elite Eight. The Final Four featured the number three seed (UConn) against the number four seed (Kentucky) and the even more intriguing matchup, last year’s darling Butler Bulldogs with this year’s darlings the
VCU (Virginia Commonwealth) Rams. The Butler Bulldogs and the Rams are similar in that they both feature young and highly regarded coaches (Brad Stevens for Butler and Shaka Smart for VCU), who rely on their stingy defense, and don’t really have a superstar on their teams. Butler’s go-to scorer is guard Shelvin Mack whereas the Rams run a perimeter offense that relies on a lot of three pointers as well as points from versatile 6’9 forward Jamie Skeen. The Bulldogs were more disciplined than VCU and that resulted in their second consecutive
miraculous appearance in the title game. The UConn Huskies are paced by All American Kemba Walker, who has easily been the most dominant player of the tournament. Kemba combined with role players like Shabazz Napier, Alex Oriaki, and freshman phenomenon Jeremy Lamb were able to edge out the younger and more frenetic Kentucky Wildcats to clinch their place in the national title game. The Finals figures to be an intriguing matchup because of the distinctly different flavors of the two teams. Butler is a fundamentally sound technical and rugged machine led by a young coach who has a lot of white still on his coaching resume. UConn on the other hand, is a perennial contender, a school with a long history of success and prestige led by a Hall of Fame coach and the number one player in the country in Kemba Walker. They are not at all a fundamental team, one that’s been beaten by pressure defenses before this year. They are however, the hottest team in the country and, assuming they can protect the ball and minimize their turnovers, they should come out the victor. Butler however, is returning to the Finals and have all of the intangibles in their favor. They can escape the glare of the spotlight that Coach Jim Calhoun and Walker will be hounded by. They’re
gunning for redemption after last years’ near miss at the buzzer and are a team that rely more on their (Coach Brad Stevens’) system than on any one individual player. If Walker gets hurt or gets into foul trouble, UConn’s in serious trouble. Note: The Huskies defeated Butler 53-41