Outlook
Volume 46 Issue 12
Student Press
March 3, 2014 outlookpress.net Rockland Community College
Winter Woes Make the Commuter Student Life Harder Than Ever
“It seems that everyone is obsessed with and frustrated by the shows.” Suzanne Peguero, Student
The constant trade shows at SUNY Rockland create unnecessary parking stress.
Style 10 “The trailer had made me feel uncomfortable, as Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are stranded in space. “ Marina Watts, Student
Up for 10 Oscars, “Gravity” is overrated and everyone needs to stop praising it. Now.
Sports 15 “Many fans hoped to have blockbuster trades and see the league geography being changed.” Benedict Tagle, Student
Basketball fans all over look forward to the NBA trade deadlines turning into headlines.
Marina Watts
Editor In Chief
amounts of snow, but the temperature outside has been below freezing, preventing snow
or ice from melting. On Groundhog Day, February 2, it was announced that six
In the past two months, Rockland County has experienced more snow than it had in 2013. The year 2014 started out with an arctic blast as Hercules made its way across the country on January 2. A week later on January 10 we received more snow, and again on the first day of classes, forcing RCC to close early. Since then, there have been snow days, delayed openings and early closings. It’s bad enough that we have been getting copious
more weeks of winter were to come. More recently, February 13 brought us more snow on top of all the other accumulated snow. Two feet of snow later, Rockland has become a winter wonderland in the most stressful and threatening way possible. If it was December in anticipation for the holidays, it would be romantic to have snow everywhere. Now, it is just a nuisance messing with work schedules, travelling plans, and commuting to class. Winter seems to be neverending. After the holiday season, winter feels bleak, as cabin fever heightens (which is an actual SEE WEATHER PAGE 2 Anuj Chokshi/ Outlook Student Press
Opinions 6
More Problems Than Events at Winter Olympics Adam Samuel
Contributing Writer
Ah, the Winter Olympics. While the Winter Olympics mean a drastic fall in the ratings for my favorite primetime TV shows, for the majority of the world the Winter Olympics are a time when the world comes together to compete in an epic showdown of various winter sports. As everyone knows by now, this year, the Olympics were held in Sochi, Russia and there has been a lot of controversy generated not around the games, but rather about the hosting country. For Americans, some of the news or reasons of the controversy have been scary, including threats of violence and terror. Let’s examine some of the controversial topics and see where there was so much buzz around this year’s Olympics! Threats In the weeks before the Olympics, there were multiple threats of terror attacks at the games. The various claims from the organizations all threatened violence and said they would carry out plans during the Olympic games. America was worried about terrorist group Imarat Kavkaz, a Russian terrorist
organization, after threats were made that their members would try to strike people outside of the games. However, despite all the threats, the Olympics went u nter ror ized. Hopefully f u t u r e Olympics will go just as safely despite any threats made. Cleanliness While we might not have the cleanest bathroom areas and toilets, in Sochi, the situation is even worse. People in Russia have claimed the bathrooms didn’t have stalls or dividers, which means there was absolutely zero privacy when you needed to go. The Russian Government admitted to placing cameras in guests’ hotel rooms (even the bathrooms) to monitor their
movements. Views on Homosexuality This was all over the news and one of the most talked about issues regarding the Olympics. Russia has a law that makes it a crime to spread pro-gay
Picture Credit: news.yahoo.com
“propaganda.” LGBT supporters stepped forward and even went as far as to protest the Olympics for Russia’s extreme views on this subject. SEE OLYMPICS PAGE 2
News
Constant Snowfall Challenges Student Life
WEATHER FROM PAGE 1 mental problem people can suffer from). There is less to do, and if the roads are snow-covered and icy, options are limited, especially for students here at SUNY Rockland.
Anuj Chokshi / Outlook Student Press
The snow has brought only problems for students here at RCC. The parking spots have become much more limited than ever before, as though the constant trade shows weren’t enough of a hassle. Piles of snow take up several spots at a time. The snow banks also contribute to blind spots, as driving students find it much more difficult to pull out of the parking spots. Sheets and spots of ice have also covered parking spots, and make it harder to walk to and from class. Students now have to come
even sooner to get ideal parking and avoid rough patches, but safety on campus has been praised. Student Michael Trinkoff has been grateful for the college putting everyone’s safety first. “RCC has done a good job of cancelling classes because everybody commutes,” he said. The constant snow days are bound to catch up, especially due to the tight schedule. Student Sarah Baradaran-Noviri feels like she has barely been in school. “At first it was kind of nice to have a day off, but now it’s becoming a little too much,” BaradarinNoviri says, who is now anticipating more classwork now than ever before. SUNY Rockland student and EMT Meir Berkman has been struggling volunteering as an EMT, as he has the unfortunate opportunity of seeing the negative impacts this weather can really have, including the car crashes, roof collapses, and everything that comes along with the overwhelming amount of snow. “While the loss of school days is highly unfortunate, it’s critical that RCC make decisions based not on the academic implications, but rather on the road conditions affecting students close and far,”
Berkman stated. “This has mostly been the case, though there have been some times, like February 14, where road conditions were incredibly dangerous, and RCC still held classes after noon.” Even though safety has always been a priority for everyone at SUNY Rockland, there’s no denying that the aftermath of the constant snow around Rockland County is a major issue. Professors here struggle to keep up with school work, despite the lost class time. Dr. Hazelton, like many others, pushes forward to keep the students on schedule with their syllabus. She had to hand out “revised, revised schedule” for her English 102 Honors classes. “Fortunately, these are all afternoon classes,” she says, “so we haven’t been as affected by snow delays as morning classes have. My 9 A.M. honors seminar, Rebels and Romantics, has lost several Wednesdays, and Emily Harvey (with whom I team-teach this course) and I have been scrambling to get all the material in. Since it is a hybrid course, snow days mean on-line work for the students.” Being able to do online coursework has helped classes keep up on their syllabus, but it has led to backing up assignments, build-ups of work,
March 3, 2014
and deadlines nearing faster than before. Rockland County also came into a crisis; for a while stores throughout the 845 were out of salt. Whether you went to Home Depot, Lowes, or even ShopRite, salt was nonexistent. This kept people from
Anuj Chokshi/ Outlook Student Press
salting their driveways and walkways, and led to increased chances of slipping on the ice. The chances of embarrassing yourself outside have increased, along with opportunities for hurting yourself. According to CBS News, the amount of snow New York has received is 39 inches above normal. That is over three feet of snow. While we definitely don’t support global warming here at Outlook, all the excessive snow is making us wish for it to come back.
Sochi Problems Made Winter Olympics Colder Than Ever
spoke English well and comunicated well with the visitors. Another pro was that transportation around the city was easy and effective; buses were said to be running comprehensibly and quick, making travel as easy as possible. Another point to be made is that the games themselves ran as smoothly as possible with minimal injuries reported. Aside from the controversy surrounding terrorism
and threats, the events ran just as they should have and went about with minimal issues or interruptions. (True, the lodging conditions at Sochi were so disgraceful that a Twitter account was created for the occasions, as #SochiProblems trended throughout the twitterverse.) While there was a fair share of issues with this year’s Olympics, the main focus apart from the games themselves, was security. In the end, security ran smoothly and the games proceeded as planned. American athletes did well in the games and we got our share of medals. So then the question must be asked: Was all the fear and controversy worth it? That’s up to each individual to decide. However, one thing I’m sure we can all agree on is that the next Olympics will be about the sporting competition and not about fear and terror.
Picture Credit: nypost.com
strikes. However, Sochi wasn’t all bad. While there were some cons to the Olympics being held in Russia, there are very positive reports coming from people who stayed on site. People reported back that although there were threats made, they felt perfectly safe in Sochi. In addition, the volunteers helping run the Olympics Picture Credit: nydailynews.com
While the protests didn’t manage to sway Russian law, it bacame a hot topic of conversation around the water cooler. For Americans, while it might be a surprise that such harsh views exist outside of our country, not everyone is broadminded. Security American security complained about Russian security’s part in making sure there was no violence at the games. There were some cooperation issues between American and Russian security, with Americans claiming Russia wouldn’t give 100% under a high threat area towards making the place more secure. Despite things running smoothly, security should always be on their toes and ready for any situation in case danger
Picture Credit: news.yahoo.com
OLYMPICS FROM PAGE 1
March 3, 2014
A Notorious Year for Pussy Riot Suzanne Peguero
Managing Editor
Recently, Pussy Riot performed at the Sochi Winter Olympic games. In response, they were beaten and had pepper spray used on them by Cossacks. The two highest profile members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, were also arrested once again for an imaginative “theft” before being released. Now, they are in police custody again. Both were involved in a protest, and were arrested along people at random. This marks two back-to-back prison trips that these women have received. They are the two highest profile members of Pussy Riot, but the band is far more than that. It has been a busy two years for Pussy Riot. The band gained notoriety in 2012, when a song and music video called “Punk Prayer: Mother of God, Chase Putin Away!” was released on the Internet and three members of the group were subsequently
sentenced for two years. This sentence and jailing outraged many across the world, and a large number of people were in support of the group. In December 2013, after serving a total of 21 months in prison, the members were released. They have been lauded for their political activism and boldness in their message, but many people still don’t really know who they are, what they talk (or sing) about, and what happened to them. Pussy Riot became a band in 2011. It consists of about eleven women, whose ages range from twenty to thirty-three, and the band’s members (with the exception of the ones who were arrested) remain anonymous. They wear eye-blindingly bright dresses and tights, and put balaclavas over their faces so no one can see who they are. The group does guerilla performances in random, unauthorized places in public, while someone will film them; they then turn these into music videos, which they release on the Internet, free of charge. The members of the band are all women, and they are anarchists and left wing liberals who are united by a
belief in feminism, anti-authoritarianism and opposition to Putin. The group has been a strong supporter of feminism and LGBT rights. The band states that one of the main reasons the group formed was
for hooliganism; one was released on probation for two years, while the other were sentenced to a jail time of two years in a penal colony. The band (and their arrest) had become a hot topic and a source of controversy/outrage, whether
the fact that the members observed injustice and discrimination against women in government policies. They said that those policies “placed restrictions on legal abortions”. They are outspoken about LGBT rights, and have stated that at least one member of the band is a part of a sexual minority. In conservative Russia, this is a big deal; Russian p r e s i d e n t V l a d i m i r Putin recently re nou nce d homosexualit y before the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. Pussy Riot caught global attention when their song “Punk Prayer: Mother of God, Chase Putin Away!” was released.
it was because you just couldn’t believe the nerve of these damn liberal women, insulting a president like that and getting
The reason? Putin wasn’t so happy about this. Three members were arrested
misogynistic views still are upheld as right. Either way, this made for a huge
away with it! (See: every drunk uncle at a family gathering). Maybe it was because you couldn’t believe the injustice of their imprisonment and the fact that harsh,
News
news story, and the sentence angered many supporters of Pussy Riot. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, the two incarcerated members of Pussy Riot, were finally released from prison in December 2013. While many were ecstatic over the news, there were some who wondered what the formerly incarcerated members would do now. The premise of Pussy Riot is that they are anti-capitalist and purposely do not charge any fees for their impromptu shows and music. However, after being released, Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina were invited by Madonna perform at an Amnesty International concert. In response, the members of Pussy Riot who were not incarcerated published an open letter. It claimed that: “We are all — female separatist collective — no man can represent us either on a poster or in reality. We belong to leftist anticapitalist ideology — we charge no fees for viewing our artwork, all our videos are distributed freely on the web, the
spectators to our performances are always spontaneous passers by, and we never sell tickets to our “shows.” Our performances are always ‘illegal,’ staged only in unpredictable locations and public places not designed for traditional entertainment. The distribution of our clips is always through free and unrestricted media channels. We are anonymous, because we act against any personality cult, against hierarchies implied by appearance, age and other visible social attributes. We cover our heads, because we oppose the very idea of using female face as a trademark for promoting any sort of goods or services. The mixing of the rebel feminist punk image with the image of institutionalized defenders of prisoners’ rights, is harmful for us as collective, as well as it is harmful for the new role that Nadia and Masha have taken on.” Nobody knows what the future of Pussy Riot is, or if it even exists any more. But one thing is sure: these women have brought a lot of attention to subjects we need to be thinking far more about.
Features
March 3, 2014
Achieve Academically with the Warrior Mindset Paul B. Messer, Jr.
Contributing Writer
College students are often motivated to attend higher levels of learning for many reasons. The influence of parental figures or teachers may help determine what school a student attends, or major they decide to pursue. Perhaps a desire to achieve success in a particular occupation or the fear of not having a specific career direction may persuade a potential freshman to sign up for classes. However, for martial art students the reasons are often very personal and close to the heart. A timid, young man who is often bullied wants to finally be able to defend himself. An attractive young woman, is not happy with the way she feels on the
inside and wants to feel confident. Let’s not forget the older student, who has not exercised in years, and simply wants to try a new form of exercise. Lao Shr Mike Reynolds, Head Instructor of the Elite Chinese Martial Arts Academy in Pomona, states, “Our students come for different reasons; however, we all have the same goal...to improve ourselves.” These motivations are personal and many times are enough to encourage the student to continue in their martial arts training. There are six key ingredients that are essential for success in martial arts as well as academics. The first three we will discuss are goal setting, determination and discipline. Goal setting initially requires a bit of personal reflection simply to determine what the final destination will be. As a person seeking out a martial arts school, there are a number of different styles and types to choose. Comparing Akidlo to Muay Thai to Krav Maga to Taekwondo to Shaolin Kung Fu takes time and observation. You will determine your personal preference for a hard style of martial arts, where force meets force such as in Karate . Perhaps you enjoy the movement and flow of a soft style like Kung Fu. This system allows a student to use minimal effort to convert an attacker’s force to their
own advantage. Do you want to learn to defend against or use weapons? Most importantly, what is your commitment level? Is this activity for fun, for fitness, or do you wish to reach the upper ranks of instruction? For college students, you have decided to attend a certain college
but what will your specific journey require? Will Associates, Bachelors or Masters degree suffice or will you be required to attain a Doctorate? What are the future prospects for your desired profession in your town, your state or your particular part of the country? Will you need licensing or certification? Can you attempt this full time or will you have to accomplish this on a part time basis? The final question is, what will tuition cost and how will it be paid? So, now you have answered the above list of questions and have clearly established what you need to achieve and where your final destination will be. You are ready to begin the next concept, determination. Webster defines determination, as consciously setting your actions and habits to achieve
a particular goal. If you are determined to move from the beginning level of White Sash to the next level, there are certain basic requirements that must be completed. An obvious component is that you must attend class on a regular basis. Perhaps you are used to staying up or hanging out until the wee hours in the morning. Because of this you are often tired, groggy, and unwilling to wake up in the morning. Nonattendance at Kung Fu classes prevents you from receiving direct instruction to questions regarding proper movement or the correct positioning of a particular block or hold. Missing class in an academic environment can have much more drastic consequences such as missing out on key points, terms or even formulas. This
examinations. Not being prepared when you do arrive at class is counterproductive to your ultimate goals. In this instance, you will not be able to fully take advantage of the day’s lesson since would not have read the required materials. For Kung Fu, not “doing your homework ” and not practicing the forms, will also be reflected in your lack of progress from that beginner l e v e l . Developi ng solid training and study habits will e n h a nce your ability to quickly grasp new techniques and unfamiliar theories. The next component is discipline.
limiting behavior will have a detrimental effect on your ability to perform when called upon in classes and probably during
Without it, a student would not be able to succeed in any endeavor. This is the ability to allow your mind to recognize obstacles, but to continue forward progress in spite of them. This at its core represents the full embodiment of the Warrior Mindset and it almost ensures you will reach your desired goal. Promising martial arts students start by attending class regularly, but may let the ” jeers of their peers” dissuade them from pursuing their goal. Others convince themselves that the journey to a Black sash is too hard, too long or not worth the effort. In that same spirit, some college students will take a less challenging course load or worse convince themselves at the beginning of the semester that a grade of “C” is somehow acceptable. A student in that situation has just mentally quit that class and has no chance of earning a top grade unless a change in attitude is made. The author of the classic motivational book “Think and Grow Rich,” Napoleon Hill, wrote over 75 years ago that, “Self-discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don’t control what you think, you can’t control what you do.” In other words, whether you believe that you can or you believe you cannot, you are right.
Opinions
March 3, 2014
Disney Should Keep it Animated Marina Watts
Editor In Chief
After the Oscar snub of the latest liveaction picture from Walt Disney Studios, “Saving Mr. Banks,” I think it is yet another sign that the company should stop making live action pictures. Even with actors like Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson headlining the “based on a true story” adaptation process of “Mary Poppins” (who doesn’t love “Mary Poppins?”), it didn’t get any nods in the major categories of the nominations. The Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress categories all seemed to be missing the delightful presence of this film. It was a charming picture, and told the story of how arduous the process of adapting a book to a movie can be. However, as wondrous as “Saving Mr. Banks” was, it failed to wow the Academy. Perhaps Disney is better off making animated pictures instead of liveaction ones. After the Disney Renaissance in the 1990’s (films like “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast”), Disney’s animated pictures seemed to go into a lull. As much as we all loved “Lilo and Stitch” and “The Emperor’s New Groove,” they didn’t come close to the quality put into the films ten years prior. (I guess being a 90’s kid really is what it’s cracked up to be). Disney then tried its hand at pushing out bigger and better live-action pieces. The bigger-and-better premise for the live-action films allured different audiences (some older, some younger, some more abundant overall) but not all have been as fantastic as some of the most recent animated films have been. Some studios are just better at making certain kinds of film. Unfortunately, Disney keeps making films that have been flopping. Let’s take a look at Disney’s liveaction track record since 2000 or so. There’s “National Treasure” and its
sequel. There are very few things more entertaining than Nicholas Cage running through Philadelphia with our nation’s blueprint at hand. The history aspect is good for any geek, and the second one
“The Lone Ranger” was a flop for Disney. Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Armie Hammer, the film followed a Native American and a man of justice on their adventures. The
was confusing but still amusing. Disney had hinted at the second film’s conclusion that there was to be a third film to come; but I’ve been waiting since 2007 to find out what is on page 47 in the President’s secret book. Talk about the ultimate cliff hanger. Smooth, Disney. However, “Enchanted” was, well, enchanting. Take Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, some great musical numbers, and you have a modernday princess movie with a twist, all in our backyard of New York City. This was an excellent piece by Disney pictures; I still cry whenever Jon McLaughlin sings “So Close” at the ball. The musical aspect may have led it to its commercial and critical success; nonetheless Disney succeeded here. I’m still waiting on that Broadway adaptation, of course.
previews looked awful, and the film wasn’t much better. It is based on the radio series of the same name, and only rendered a 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. I apologize to the cast for allowing themselves involvement in the film, especially Depp, who has had much better roles in the past. And then there’s the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise; it was a hit or miss depending on how highly you regard the pirate culture. The films part of it include “The Curse of the Black Pearl,” “Dead Man’s Chest,” “At World’s End,” and let’s not forget “The Quest for More Money,” I mean…“On Stranger Tides.” The first one was excellent. It had enough closure for it to be a standalone film, but enough room for a sequel to slip in seamlessly. The soundtracks are awesome, and
there’s no denying Depp’s rendition of a pirate is frightfully entertaining. It’s no surprise that Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley opted out for the fourth film. It received a shockingly high 6.7/10 star rating on IMDb, considering so many people (who even went to see it) disliked it. “The Tooth Fairy” accomplished the impossible: putting Dwayne Johnson, wrestler-turned-actorinto a tutu for two hours. This film was anything but entertaining; it was downright awful. I apologize sincerely to Julie Andrews for signing onto the film to have only 18% on Rotten Tomatoes. Even worse, a sequel was released not long after starring Larry the Cable Guy. Need I say more? In more recent years from an animation standpoint, Disney has been a powerhouse, putting out hit after hit. In 2010, Disney Studios’ retelling of “Rapunzel,” “Tangled,” was a great hit among many. It had some awesome music, plenty of comic relief and was just a great feel-good film. Its song “I Can See the Light” won a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media, and the film overall received countless nominations. Most recently, “Frozen” has left more of an impact on audiences everywhere than all the snow in the northeast. There already have been announcements made about it being adapted to Broadway and a sequel in the works. Its soundtrack has made its way to the Billboard’s Top Ten list, and “Let It Go” slips in between all the Beyoncé and Kanye West on Spotify. Best part? “Frozen” offers a great lesson for viewers, and is different than anything Disney released before. I was taken aback when I first saw it, and it’s very difficult to formulate the words “I hate ‘Frozen’” in a sentence. Basically, Disney needs to leave the live-action work to DreamWorks, Warner Brothers, etc. As nice as it is to see them expand their horizons, they ought to stick with animation, as it seems they are doing fantastic in that area.
Opinions
“Trading” in Our Parking Spots
Suzanne Peguero
Managing Editor
Every year during spring semester, it happens. RCC students drive to the Fieldhouse parking, expecting to easily find a spot and walk to class. Instead, what they find is half the parking blocked off and all other spots already filled up by 10 A.M. The reasons for these parking problems? The shows that are held in the Fieldhouse, every spring semester. At first, students are ecstatic. “Look at all the canceled gym classes! We can sleep in for an extra hour! I don’t have to be at school at eight in the morning!” However, that delight soon gives way to aggravation. “What happened to my exercise? Why are there no parking spots? I still have to go to school at eight in the morning to get one!” The frustration continues to build until every other student you meet finds a way to slip RCC’s shows and parking problems into a conversation. Parking is turned into speeches and colloquiums for speech classes. It seems that everyone is obsessed with and frustrated by the shows. Personally, I didn’t mind the shows so much the first few times. By a stroke of fate, I had been able to find parking that was close to the campus. I didn’t have to
Anuj Chokshi for Outlook Student Press
do the “running, but pretending to walk so that you don’t look like a complete loser” method of walking to my classes (spoiler alert: you end up looking like a
complete loser anyway. Take it from me, the girl who tries to be cool but always fails). However, the fateful day finally arrived. I came in late, expecting to
March 3, 2014
find at least one spot in the Fieldhouse. Instead, what I found was a remarkable absence of spots and non-admittance into other half of the Fieldhouse where I could see an abundance of spots. In despair, I proceeded to drive around the parking lot for about five minutes before I realized it was a lost cause, and then parked in the farthest parking lot from the campus. Needless to say, I did the “running, but pretending to walk so that you don’t look like a complete loser,” and indeed, looked like a loser who was late for her class. What makes me just the slightest bit confused about this whole situation is the normally empty parking lot I see outside of the RCC campus. Yes, it is a hike to the Fieldhouse, but it is an RCC parking lot and it is never used. I understand that the shows bring revenue to RCC, but isn’t it more important for students to be able to park near the campus and get to their classes in plenty of time? Some may say that we should just get to school earlier, but that wouldn’t help the problem: it would mean that the parking lots would be filled up earlier. This has been a ongoing problem for a very long time; it doesn’t seem like anything is going to change soon, unfortunately. In the meantime, we can all perfect our “running, but pretending to walk so that you don’t look like a complete loser” walk.
Opinions
March 3, 2014
Outlook Student Press Marina Watts, Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Peguero, Managing Editor Julie DeVito, Production Manager
Anuj Chokshi, Photography Editor Benedict Tagle, Sports Editor
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t u o b A l e e F u o Y o D w o H .. . . . ? s d r a w A y m e d a c A e h T
Anuj Chokshi
Marina Watts
Suzanne Peguero
Benedict Tagle
The Oscars are the only award show I watch during the whole year. But, I do not predict any winners because I feel like I am no one to judge which film should win, because the decision committee is more experienced and intelligent than I in that matter. But what I really enjoy watching for in the Oscars is the management. I believe, there is always a successful backstage team which is the main reason of a successful event. I enjoy watching how time coordinates with performances and ceremony. Of course it’s always a pleasure to see most of the movie stars under one roof and cheer for my favorite nominees. This year I really want Leonardo DiCaprio to win the best actor award for “WOWS.” Since he has given one hit-after-another performance, I think he deserves an Oscar now. The Academy Awards give me a reason to write. Every year, the best and worst films are judged and come together for this very ceremony. As a film critic, I visit the movie theater religiously, and watch many films. For cinephiles out there like myself, the Oscars season is big, like for football fans when the Super Bowl comes around. After exhausting so much effort and popcorn eating into viewing and judging, film fans feel like they are casting votes themselves as members of their own Academy. They become satisfied when their favorite nominee wins in their category, and become outraged and disappointed when their selection doesn’t win. This year I’m rooting for “Her” and “The Wolf of Wall Street” to take home awards in their categories. Although they may be out of reach for the Academy’s liking due to their different natures, they were my personal favorites.
Unlike most award shows, I actually somewhat enjoy the Academy Awards. It does have a somewhat stuffy air to it, and sexism and racism abound in the show (the Academy being composed of mostly old, white men, and Seth McFarlane in general, anyone?) but it does have its merits; namely, at least this year, Ellen DeGeneres is hosting (yay!), and there are gaggles of good looking men and women to stare at. That’s about it for me. I don’t care too much about who wins (unless I am passionate about a particular film I saw), but I do enjoy the eye candy. I can at least take comfort in the fact that it isn’t an award show that gives me a headache. I’m talking to you, Grammys.
Every year, the Academy Awards are watched with a lot of interest. Over the years, I’ve noticed, my interest in the celebrations increases only when I watch a good amount of the films up for different awards. Otherwise, it’s not a must watch spectacle, making it imperative to shut down an entire Sunday evening centered around the event. The Academy Awards, in addition to the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Berlin International Film Festival, are another way to glorify the industry and the individuals involved with the films. While the Oscars may be the grand daddy of them all domestically, the films nominated are often just the tip of the iceberg. People ought not to get too worked up over the Oscars. With so many movies being left out of the contest— especially international films—the Oscars don’t even present the true crème de la crème.
Style & Entertainment
March 3, 2014
Marina Watts
Editor In Chief
“Some of this actually happened” are the first words we see in David O’Russell’s latest film, ”American Hustle.” Instantly, skepticism becomes the mindset for audiences as we watch the next two hours of illegal dealings and con artistry gone wild. The ensemble piece has gained much critical acclaim, and it’s no surprise how it has racked up seven Golden Globe nominations. Voted as the Movie of the Year by the American Film Institute, “American Hustle” is a must see, not only for its immense accolades. “American Hustle” is based on a true story, paying tribute to the FBI ABSCAM Operation. With its opening statement, unusual yet immediately gripping, we clearly see how the public’s trust in the government has decreased, considering the Watergate Scandal that happened a few years prior. The ABSCAM operation was based in Long Island, and it originally targeted trafficking stolen property. However, it evolved into a public corruption investigation. The political figures involved in this scheme included a US Senator, six members of the House of Representatives, a New Jersey state senator, members of the Philadelphia City Council, the mayor of Camden, New Jersey, and an inspector for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The codename “ABSCAM” is actually short for Arab Scam, or Abdul Scam, the name of its fictitious front company. David O’Russell chose to take the story and fictionalize it rather than making a straight-forward adaptation. This was an attempt to glamorize the climax of the scheming, per Hollywood’s usual artistic licensing. The names have been changed, but the story is pretty close to reality. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, an FBI agent, Richard DiMasio (Bradley Cooper) coerces Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) and Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) to tee up and execute an elaborate plan to expose corrupt politicians and sneak around his wife (Jennifer Lawrence). To get things going, Irving convinces one of his close friends to charade as an Arab Sheik looking for investments in American from politicians. Irving and Sidney manage to con many powerful figures to get what they want, from transferring millions of dollars into a fake account to scamming one Irving’s close
friends, the mayor of Camden, New Jersey (Jeremy Renner). The amount of hustling and smooth-talking throughout this film is wild, as the elaborate scheming intertwines with the onscreen chemistry between members of the star-studded cast.
in the process. His transformation is in fact so impressive that Robert DeNiro (who makes an appearance in this film!) didn’t recognize him after being introduced to him onset. Per usual, Amy Adams delivers an
It’s no mystery why Christian Bale has been nominated for yet another Oscar, this time for his performance in “American Hustle.” I’m not sure which has more personality, his character Irving Rosenfeld, or the elaborate comb-over he styles in the film’s opening scene. His charismatic air can sell ice to an eskimo, as I can’t imagine anyone more fit for the role. Bale can take on any role, and thoroughly exhaust it to the point where we really forget who Christian Bale is. Once more, Christian Bale prepared for his well in a hardcore fashion. This time around, he gained 40 pounds and got a combover. Bale went to great lengths and slouched his posture so much for his character that he herniated two of his disks
excellent performance. She and Bale have returned to work together under O’Russell after appearing in his 2010 film “The Fighter.” Their excellent performance together contributes to “American Hustle’s” box-office success. She, too, has received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. Bradley Cooper reunites with JLaw and director David O’Russell after working together in the 2012 film “Silver Linings Playbook,” and racked up yet another Academy Award nomination under his direction. The same goes for Jennifer Lawrence, who played Rosenfeld’s unpredictable wife Rosalyn. Cooper really engrosses himself in the role as DiMasio as he permed his hair for the occasion, and
wore hair curlers in a couple of scenes. The costuming, hair and make-up for this film are anachronism free. Though outrageous at points, the clothes and styles of the time period fit perfectly for the late 1970’s. From Adams and Cooper’s curled hair to Bale’s intense combover, we see the time period unfold before our eyes. Even Renner fashions a pompadour that would impress Elvis Presley. Originally, “American Hustle” was titled as “American Bullshit,” and that script was written in 2010. It was on the Hollywood Blacklist until resurrected and rewritten. After seeing it, I can only imagine what the original script called for, considering this one was written with so much eloquence and panache. O’Russell had the actors and actresses that appear in this film in mind as he took on the script. The spontaneity of the scenes unfolding feel breathtakingly real, and audiences can relate to the characters, no matter how much or how little. For example, the argument scenes between Lawrence and Bale are improvised, as the actors were more capable to connect to the action without the limitations of a script. Things come very naturally to the screen, as a good portion of the dialogue is improvised. This is no surprise, as the cast is brilliant, but the plot becomes difficult to follow at points. Christian Bale even noted how this would effect the plot and could potentially destroy the film overall. O’Russell responded with confidence “I hate plots. I am all about characters, that’s it.” This is no shock, as the characters in this film have such strong screen presence, you cannot help but to love every single one despite their tragic flaws. They truly make up for what confusion audiences may be in, as I left the theater unsure of what the storyline was meant to entail. For the second year in a row, O’Russell had his film nominated for the “Big Five” awards (best film and the best acting across the board). He was able to do the same last year with “Silver Linings Playbook”). With the above listed Academy nominations along with that including Best Director (David O’Russell), Best Motion Picture, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Screenplay (Eric Warren Singer and O’Russell), “American Hustle” is worth checking out. The stylistic aspects and execution of the story told wouldn’t have been as effective if it wasn’t for the efforts of O’Russell and everyone involved in “American Hustle.”
Style & Entertainment
March 3, 2014
Why Are Critics Falling for “Gravity”?
Marina Watts
Editor In Chief
These past few months have been big one movies. Many have made big impressions on critics, and for good reasons too. However, there is one film that has been making waves that I recently saw, only because it was a front runner at practically every awards show. The science-fiction film “Gravity” was so widely advertised and praised, I felt inclined to see it. The trailer had made me feel uncomfortable, as Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are stranded in space. However, in order to make a fair judgment, viewing was required. I finally got around to seeing it a few weeks ago, and wow. Just, wow. That was probably one of the strangest films I had sat through. Thank God it was only an hour and a half, and I watched it at home. Otherwise, I would have been seriously annoyed for paying to sit through it. The situation it sets up is interesting, I’ll give it that. A medical engineer, Ryan
Stone (Sandra Bullock) and astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) are stuck in space upon an accident that can potentially kill them. The space shuttle is destroyed, and Kowalski decides to detach himself and float away in zero gravity, leaving Stone on her own to figure things out. Amy Poehler was right at the Golden Globes this year. “Gravity” really is further proof that George Clooney would rather float off into zero gravity than spend another moment with Sandra Bullock. The director, Alfonso Cuarón, has been making waves at award shows for “Gravity.” His accolades include Best Director at the Golden Globes, along with Movie of the Year at the AFI awards, and Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film for the Director’s Guild of America. Cuarón’s directorial and producer credits in the past include “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” “Children of Men” and “Great Expectations.” It’s clear that his past works don’t exactly connect to each other. His broad experience prepared him to take on this project. The bulk of the film was a result of CGI. It took four years for the film to be fully developed, as the technology Cuarón was looking for wasn’t available yet. The 10
cinematography, visual effects and creation of the outer space atmosphere were too much to take on at the time. The script was strange, too. All of
a sudden, Bullock starts howling while stranded in her space shuttle. Howling. There were also several awkward exchanges between Bullock and Clooney. His character’s sense of humor was trying, even for a couple of people stranded in space. If it was not for his good looks and almost robot-like perfection, there would have been an infinite amount of cringing during my viewing. Bullock spent six months physically training herself for the film. She spent a decent amount of quality time with Cuarón discussing the script, namely rebirth after adversity-the major thematic aspect. At one point, I felt like she was even channelling Shakespeare. The existential Hamlet was showing between the lines, as Stone starts to question what it’s like knowing your
death is impending, so I commend the screenwriter for that. Topics ranging from Bullock’s breath reflecting her dialogue on screen to the blocking of her character’s movement. She had long pieces of dialogue to memorize and rehearse, so she had to coordinate some of her lines with the way the wires attached to her moved. Bullock’s dedication to preparing for her role was beyond normal, which is admirable. Even James Cameron is impressed with Bullock’s work. “She’s the one that had to take on this unbelievable challenge to perform it. (It was) probably no less demanding than a Cirque du Soleil performer, from what I can see.” He says, “There’s an art to that, to creating moments that seem spontaneous but are very highly rehearsed and choreographed. Not too many people can do it...I think it’s really important for people in Hollywood to understand what was accomplished here.” One scene in the film is a major turning
point, and it wasn’t even a part of Cuarón’s
original script. Basically, Stone has to figure out how to find a resolution once she enters the space pod. Cuarón was having trouble finding a solution to this problem, so George Clooney managed to rewrite the scene and include himself in it. Learning this thoroughly convinces me that Clooney is one perfect robot of a man. I totally respect the solid facts behind why this movie is such a big deal. This film is a rarity, as there aren’t many science fiction films out there that have a heroine (as opposed to a hero) as the main character. The only other film out there with that honor (that managed to become a cult classic, let alone successful) was “Alien.” The 1979 film featured Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, the warrant officer aboard the spaceship. By making a female the lead character in the film, it would help her character stand out in the testosterone induced genre of science fiction. In fact, “Alien” led to a nomination from BAFTA for Weaver; looks like it did the same for Bullock. At this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, “Gravity” has been nominated for the following awards: Best Actress (Sandra Bullock), Best Motion Picture, Best Achievement in Directing (Alfonso Cuaron), Best Achievement in Cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezki), Best Achievement in Film Editing, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score, Best Achievement in Production Design, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Achievement in Visual Effects. That’s a total of 10 (10!) Oscars. The bulk of them are in regards to the production of the film. All of those categories are the backbone to “Gravity”; without any one of them, the film would be lost. From a moviemaking standpoint, it’s pretty clear why “Gravity” would be such a big deal. However, as impressive as the cinematography is, and even though
Cuarón is able to make the world look so peaceful from space, the feast for the eyes is not enough alone to garner this film the Best Motion Picture award this year at the ceremony. “Gravity” is highly overrated, regardless of what BAFTA or the Academy tries to tell you. Not even the fact that Mr. Clooney graces our presence a few times throughout the film can rescue it. I would gladly sit through American Hustle again if it means it would delay a future viewing “Gravity.”
Style & Entertainment
March 3, 2014
Marina Watts
Editor In Chief
Regardless of how satisfying a Disney movie can be, they always seem to surprise me. I really do manage to fall in love with them, whether upon leaving the theatre or letting them play to the last few seconds in my VCR. “Saving Mr. Banks” is no exception. I will never be able to watch “Mary Poppins” the same way again, as there is so much more to it than just dancing penguins and chimney sweeps. John Lee Hancock directs this work of art, and it is no surprise why the critics are raving about Disney’s latest film. “Banks” is a liveaction picture about the story behind the creative process and struggle to create “Mary Poppins,” the 1964 Disney movie about a nanny who reunites the broken Banks family. P. L. Travers (Emma
Thompson), the author of the children’s book “Mary Poppins” has been entreated by the Disney Studios since 1938 for the rights. After much effort to keep her book from being transformed into another “silly cartoon” of Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) and his studio, she finally agrees to meet him in California and will sign over the rights, provided she oversees the entire creative process. As she dives into the minutiae of “Mary Poppins,” Travers reflects on her childhood
in Australia, especially on her relationship with her father. He was the inspiration for the patriarch of “Poppins,” Mr. Banks. His poor temper yet loving disposition played a major role in her childhood, and his
costuming. Thompson plays an anxiety-stricken woman, whose proper nature and desperate need for a spoonful of sugar will make you love her, even though she is utterly
battle with alcoholism did not make things easy. Travers’ relationship with her father weighed a lot on her writing later on in
disgusted by Disneyland. She thoroughly prepared for her role as the uptight author. Thompson styled her own hair similar to
Disney’s. He listened to old recordings of Disney and practiced his Midwestern inflection while reading the newspaper. Jason Schwartzman and B. J. Novak also had the pleasure of working closely with Richard Sherman, which was very beneficial throughout rehearsals and the actual filming. This film will effectively transport you to Los Angeles during the 1960s. Disneyland, even though much different from what it is now, is still enchanting. The scenery will make you fall in love. Costuming and the stylistic aspects of the film were approached in a most favorable manner. Everything from the bag Emma Thompson carried around to Tom Hanks’ mustache was finely placed, avoiding any anachronistic nature. Nuances everywhere made all the difference, as there was an authenticity to the film that is less common now than before.
life, especially when determining how Mr. Banks really should be portrayed. Working with Don DaGradi (Bradley Whitford) and the Sherman Brothers (Jason Schwartzman and B. J. Novak) was a long and grueling process. However, once she realized the importance of bringing “Mary Poppins” to the silver screen, she makes the bold move of signing the rights over. “Saving Mr. Banks” is an excellent interpretation of how difficult it can be making a film, from the storyboards and script to the music and
that of Travers. She also listened to the tapes recorded from the script writing process in which Travers dictated her many concerns of what Disney’s team dreamed up. Overall, she is absolutely wonderful in this film (as expected) and it is no wonder why she has received a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Travers. She was not the only actor who did their homework for “Saving Mr. Banks.” Tom Hanks grew his mustache out, challenging the make-up team to style it just like
“Saving Mr. Banks” was as heartwarming as it was heartbreaking. Audiences get to see the struggle that comes along with creating a movie, along with the delights that make the frustration worth it in the end. As soon as I got home, I put “Mary Poppins” on to get a better feel for what really is going on throughout the film. The tribute it plays is respectable and appropriate. For the story it tells, I couldn’t imagine a better interpretation. 11
Style & Entertainment
Whatever Happened to Hilary Duff?
Adam Samuel
Contributing Writer
Most people who grew up in the 1990s and early 2000s watched a young lady by the name of Hillary Duff act in TV shows on the Disney Channel. At a young age of 13, Duff scored the lead role in Lizzie McGuire and stuck with the show for a full three years. Duff’s career came to a head when she reprised her role as Lizzie and acted in The Lizzie McGuire Move, but at the time, it seemed like this would be a peak in her acting career. A year after “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” was released, Lizzie McGuire was cancelled and Duff bowed away from the spotlight, taking a few occasional other roles on here and there. While acting on Lizzie McGuire, Duff became interested in pursuing a music career. In 2002, after releasing a few cover songs, Duff released her debut album, “Santa Claus Lane,” which was a collection of Christmas song covers. The album did well in the market and
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managed to even be certified as gold. Afterwards, in 2003, Duff released her second album “Metamorphosis,” which received mixed reviews from critics.
list. With an album out and a major role in “Agent Cody Banks,” starring alongside Frankie Muniz, the young actress/singer seemed to be on the onset of a successful
However, “Metamorphosis” ended up selling five million copies and even reached number one on the Billboard 200
career. Fast forward a few years. Today, Duff has a son with her recently divorced
March 3, 2014
husband, and after taking a seven year break to raise a family, says she is going to return to making more music and albums. Unlike other child stars who are trying to be provocative to get attention, Duff claims her music will reflect who she really is and will always be her authentic self. Looking forward, Duff recently announced that she will co-star with actress Sutton Foster in upcoming comedy show “Younger,” and has plans on upcoming albums and music, which you can all look out for in the future. During her break from the music industry, Duff released two clothing lines and authored a book with writer Elise Allen, titled “Elixir.” The novel became a New York Times bestseller and went on to spawn two sequels that all did well in the market. Since then, there were plans for Duff to release a non-fiction novel, but the plan never materialized. Since making her plans to return to the music industry, Duff has a lot of plans for this coming year. With a new album, and a new TV show she is appearing in, you better look out for Hilary Duff having a big return to pop culture this year!
Style & Entertainment
March 3, 2014
Adam Samuel
Contributing Writer
Over the course of four weeks, what began as 212 golden ticket/Hollywood round bound hopefuls, was wilted down until only 31 remained. Now, after the top 31 face a final looming cut, the remaining 20 hopefuls will sing for America’s votes. 10 will be voted through and the remaining 10 will have to hope one of the judges will use their wildcard on them. In the end, we will be left with our top 13, but who are they most likely to be? Lets take aa in-depth look at the top 31. Top 10 Locks: Sam Woolf- In more recent past Idol seasons, the winners have followed the trend of being a young, white male who typically plays guitar. This trend has even been dubbed as the “WGWG,” or a white guy with a guitar. That said,
while there are multiple white males who play guitar this season, Sam’s affable personality and excessive screen time seem to imply that he is one of the producers favorites. Either way, among viewers and commentators across the internet, Sam has been pegged as the won to win it all and he does seem the favorite going into rush week. Majesty Rose York- With a gorgeous tone and one of the sweetest and prettiest
voices, Majesty has soared to the top of most people’s favorites. With a lot of screen time and talent to back her up, Majesty is a force to be reckoned with going into the rush week rounds. If a girl will win Season 13, bets are on Majesty. Most Likely to Advance: J e n a AsciuttoIf anyone is going to steal Majesty’s spot in the finale, most likely to do so is this rocker girl, Jena. From her audition, Jena showed off her huge belting voice, and for her Hollywood solo, armed with a piano, she delivered a lovely rendition of Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games.” I’d watch out for Jena, Majesty! WGWP anyone? Alex Preston- Another guitar player, but unlike Sam, Alex has shown his ability to flip songs around. For his Hollywood solo, Alex demonstrated this skill by flipping around “Scream and Shout “and making it acoustic. If he can bring this talent similar to how he used it in Hol ly wo o d , Alex is a safe bet to advance. Most Likely to Break Out: B r i a n a Oakley- Briana is a returning contestant who was wrongfully cut in Season 12. However the judges might have done her a favor by cutting her last season, because this year, not only has she grown vocally, but she seems a lot more comfortable in her skin. With a booming belting voice, my bets on her having a moment during rush week that will propel her to front runner status. Brandy Neelly- My personal favorite, another returning contestant, Brandy is the only female country singer with the
potential to do some serious damage in the competition. While this may be her fourth time auditioning, Brandy has shown time after time her potential; She has a huge belting voice, which could propel her to the top 10. Brandy will make it or break it based on her song choice, and if she does right, she has the most potential to break out and advance to the top 10. Please pick the right song Brandy! George LovettGeorge broke out from the back on his “I Won’t Give Up” solo. Not only does he grab your attention in, but he leaves you with the impression that he has much more to show. He could be a real contender depending on his solo performance in Rush Week.
Could Go Either Way: Kenzie Hall- I don’t know why, but in my gut when I heard they will be making pre-top 20 cuts, clearly shooting for the shock effect, I thought this could be bad news for Kenzie. While she showed her creative side on her flipped up version of Macklemore’s “Can’t Hold Us,” her final solo of Elton John’s, “Your Song,” was a little disappointing. She needs to really step it up if she wants to make top 10. Right now she is ridding on her amazing Macklemore cover, but if she cant perform at the level expected, people will get tired of her quickly. Jessica Meuse- Jess has a great voice, don’t get me wrong, but the editing has painted her as a villain. While I love her
voice, advancing to the top 10 for her will be an uphill battle. If she plays to her strengths and stands out, she could advance. Malcolm Allen- Malcolm has a great tone and sings with a certain finesse that leaves you wanting more. However, there are other singers who want his spot and he will need a solid performance if he wants to advance. Emkay Nobilette- It is the quietness, the purity of her voice and how when she sings that makes you believe every word she utters and makes her so attention grabbing. While her quiet voice is more subtle then the more belting-it-out singers, it is what makes her so unique in the competition. The one flaw with her style is that she could come off as polarizing which could effect her votes. I hope she advances, but it could go either way with her. Most Likely to Get a Wildcard: Emily Piriz, Bria Anai and CJ HarrisThese three singers are incredibly talented, but the problem here is space. Only 10 will go through and while Emily, Bria and CJ deserve spots, they might need to rely on the wildcard to advance. Most Likely to Win the Sing-off: Ben Briley- He’s a WGWG with a quite and laid back voice and tone. Poor Neco never had a chance Predicted top 13- Majesty, Briana, Brandy, Jillian, Jena, Emkay, Bria, Alex, Sam, George, Malcolm, Ben and CJ Does America agree with me? Will I be right or wrong? Watch Idol on FOX to find out! 13
Science & Health
Desserts Made Easy
March 3, 2014
By Valissa Hicks
Ingredients: 1 pkg. of your favorite cake mix or homemade 1 (16 oz.) container of your favorite frosting 1 (3 oz.) bar chocolate flavored confectioners coating
Cake Balls
Directions: Prepare the cake mix according to package directions using any of the recommended pan sizes or follow your own homemade recipe. When cake is done, crumble while still warm into a large bowl, and stir in frosting until well blended. Melt chocolate coating in a glass bowl in the microwave
Options: You can add you favorite things to the cake balls like coconut, sprinkles, etc. but most do it after dipping into chocolate.
Oreo Cookie Truffles
Ingredients: 1 (16 oz.) pkg. of Oreo cookies, divided 1 (8 oz.) pkg. of cream cheese, softened 1 pkg. of baking chocolate, melted
covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.
Directions: Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use. Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in a medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter. Put balls in fridge for 30 minutes to an hour. Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-
Skinny Funfetti Cake BatterIngredients: 1 (15.25 oz.) box funfetti cake mix 2 cups fat free, plain Greek yogurt 1 cup lite Cool Whip Sprinkle, for garnish
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or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water (recommended), stirring occasionally until smooth. Use a melon baller or small scoop to form balls of the cake mixture. Dip the balls into the chocolate using a toothpick or fork to hold them. Place on waxed paper to set.
Directions: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until smooth. Keep refrigerated until serving. Serve with graham crackers or Nilla wafers.
Sports
March 3, 2014
Buying & Selling: Busy Basketball Deadline
Blake helps the Warriors with their winnow attitude, instead of minutes going to player development.
Nets receive: Marcus Thornton; Kings receive: Jason Terry, Reggie Evans The Nets receive another bloated contract,
this time for shooting guard Thornton who has played poorly for Sacramento. While he did have a career-night earlier this season, it was an outlier in an otherwise disappointing season. With the emergence of a three-headed monster on offense in DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas, and Rudy Gay, his offensive touches were limited. When he did have them, they were not very good. Still not a good defender, the Nets hope he can produce as he did before. Terry is not expected to join the Kings this season, citing an injury. He is to rehab his injury in Dallas. Evans adds another great beard to the collection in Sacramento, and adds another body to their front line. Wizards receive: Andre Miller; Nuggets receive: Jan Vesely; 76ers receive: Eric Maynor, 2015 second round pick (Denver), 2016 second round pick (Washington) This works out for all parties involved. Nuggets received depth on their front line, something they need due to the loss of Javale McGee for the rest of the season. They also get rid of Miller, a veteran point guard who has had his problems with the coaching staff. In Miller, the Wizards get a serviceable backup to the exciting John Wall. Philadelphia, in addition to Maynor, keeps receiving picks. Pacers receive: Evan Turner, Lavoy Allen; 76ers receive: Danny Granger In what is perhaps the biggest trade of the deadline, Granger the face of the Pacers for such a long period, was unexpectedly dealt for young player Turner, who has had a solid year in Philadelphia. Granger, according to reports, will be bought of his contract. This can very well end up hurting the Pacers, allowing the swingman to choose his new team. He can sign with conference rivals Miami or end up with a Western Conference power such as San Antonio or Oklahoma City. Picture Credit: freep.com
As with every year, this season’s edition of the NBA trade deadline was heavily anticipated from fans all across the league. Both championship contenders and cellar dwellers were rumored to make significant moves at the deadline. For contenders, the prospect of adding another player may be the final push needed to push the team over the hump. For the cellar dwellers of the league, the trade deadline presented the perfect opportunity to trade valued pieces for more assets. There were numerous names being tossed around by league pundits as likely targets to be moved by the deadline. Players that were rumored to be targets of trade talks between teams included Pau Gasol, Iman Shumpert, Jordan Hill, Luol Deng, and Rajon Rondo. In exchange for perhaps the final piece of the championship puzzle, teams were rumored to have been willing
Nuggets receive: Aaron Brooks This trade benefits both teams. With both of these teams looking at postseason play, they have addressed their current we a k n e s s e s . The Rockets received more depth on the front line, which will help them immensely come the playoffs. The Nuggets, now without veteran point guard Nate Robinson to back up speedster Ty Lawson, are in desperate need for depth at the guard position. You can’t expect Lawson to play 40 minutes
Picture Credit: bleacherreport.com
Sports Editor
Blake In this trade, both teams benefit. It is apparent that the Lakers will not make the postseason. Steve Blake was playing well, the team had to sell high. In exchange, they received two young players that could certainly have an impact on the franchise later in their careers. For the Warriors, they acquire a veteran backup point guard— something they needed tremendously.
Picture Credit: rantsports.com
Benedict Tagle
what the team received in exchange. For an okay-level center, they received quite a haul. Rockets receive: Jordan Hamilton;
guard depth to back up Kemba Walker. With the Bobcats in a position to contend for postseason play, they did a job well done to address their guard depth.
to trade picks in the upcoming draft for these players. Keeping in mind that the upcoming draft is supposedly the deepest draft since the famous 2003 draft that produced players such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh. Philadelphia certainly tried its best, acquiring a plethora of picks for this upcoming draft. With numerous names being discussed and the hype surrounding the upcoming draft, many fans were expecting a very busy final trading day. Many fans hoped to have blockbuster trades and see the league geography being changed. However, all the anticipation and excitement leading up to the deadline was for naught. While there were numerous moves made, there were no moves that elicited excitement. The trade deadline, in comparison to its most exciting years, was bland. None of the big names that were rumored to be available were moved. Here’s a quick run through of all the bigger trades that occurred just before the deadline. Lakers receive: MarShon Brooks, Kent Bazemore; Warriors receive: Steve
Picture Credit: rantsports.com
Picture Credit: nba.si.com
76ers receive: Earl Clark, Henry Sims, two 2nd round draft picks; Cavaliers receive: Spencer Hawes Hawes has long been rumored the fancy of other teams, especially with the 76ers eager to deal the center. This trade isn’t much of a surprise. The only surprise was
every night. With Brooks buried deep on a Rockets bench with the likes of Isaiah Canaan, Patrick Beverley, and Jeremy Lin, Brooks was the third-string point guard at the moment—expendable in the eyes of the front office. Bobcats receive: Gary Neal, Luke Ridnour; Bucks receive: Ramon Sessions, Jeff Adrien Neal had requested a trade from Milwaukee, and the Bucks were only too happy to negotiate one for him. They don’t get a bad haul, receiving a good point guard in Sessions and a minutes eating forward in Adrien. For the Bobcats, they receive added
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Sports
March 3, 2014
Coming Out: Michael Sam’s Historic Announcement Staff Writer
For a long time, football has been a sport where the tough man, masculine, and violent persona has been encouraged. The linebacker was also portrayed as a man who hit tough, walked tough, and talked rough. The quarterback was always portrayed as the powerful man on campus, with ladies around his arms. In the NFL, the portrayal of players may be even more extreme. However, starting next season, the perspective on league personnel may change completely. There has not been an openly gay player actively participating in one of the four major sports leagues. Jason Collins came out prior to the NBA this season, seeking to become the first. Having signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets in February, he became the first openly gay player to play. Now there’s another young man looking to break the doors. Meet Michael Sam. He is a 6’2” 255 pound SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and he had quite an impressive season with the Missouri Tigers. He won the accolades because of his performances on the field; for the season, he totaled 48 tackles, 19 tackles for losses, 11.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He is
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a good player, expected to be taken in the upcoming NFL Draft this April. Sam’s talent has been overshadowed by his sexual orientation; he will be the first openly gay player in the NFL.
decorum in the NFL, specifically in the Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin case of the Miami Dolphins, there is cause for concern among league executives that there may be backlash. Given the
This has caused doubt to creep in regarding his draft status. There have been rumblings he may slip due to it. Given the recent events surrounding locker room
amount of gay slurs in the vocabulary of the conversations common in the NFL locker room, the team that drafts Sam will have a delicate situation on their hands.
While many have publicly expressed their support for Sam, there are other outspoken players on the topic. Sam has acknowledged that he will face numerous hurdles on his way toward his dream of playing professional football at the highest level. The obstacles on his path toward the NFL will be unique; no player will face the same amount of scrutiny that he will face leading up to the draft. In multiple interviews, he has noted that he senses the importance of his decision to come out before the draft. He will be the first athlete to enter the league as an openly gay athlete from the beginning of his career. With a daunting set of challenges before him toward becoming the first openly gay male player in the four major sports leagues, Sam seems confident. He appeared composed and at ease during his set of press conferences. While the story surrounding Sam is of incredible importance, blazing the trail for future young gay men in his situation, he still wants the focus to be on football. At the NFL Combine, he said, “I just wish you guys would just see me as Michael Sam the football player instead of Michael Sam the gay football player.” If he continues the production he had at Missouri in the NFL, he just may have his wish. Picture Credit: newnownext.com
Daniel Tagle