Issue 5 (FA 17)

Volume XXIV, Issue 5

November 29, 2017

PenmenPress.com

Manchester, NH

$500,000 in Damage during two alarm fire and the power of the SNHU community November 29, 2017:

Throw Out Your Leftovers Day

News | Front & 3-5

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Editorial | 2 Feature | 6 Penmen Passion | 7 Opinion | 8 Arts & Entertainment | 9-10 Penmen Abroad | 11 Sports | 12

Featuring: Ask Big Questions | Page 4 Restaurant Spotlight| Page 5 501st Legion | Page 5 Kingston Hall Updates | Page 6

Harvey Weinstein | Page 8 Super Mario Odyssey | Page 9 Women's Soccer Feature | Page 12

Manchester firetruck arriving to Greeley on November 18.

Megan Palmer Editor in Chief

truck and one ambulance reported to control and manage the fire and resulting damage.

The building was reported to be fully occupied at the start of the outbreak, but all 51 students were evacuated and accounted for, as confirmed at 9:35 p.m. by Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Steve Boucher via vari-

On the night of Saturday, November 18, Greeley, (a 12unit apartment style residence hall located on the west side of campus) witnessed a fire break out between the second and third floors. Eight fire engines, three ladder trucks, one rescue

ous official university social media accounts.

Many students received updates of the incident via social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat.

An official statement from the university stated that the the initial reports indicate that the fire was electrical in nature and “an isolated incident and

Classes to Find New Home on Brightspace

Nick Klotz Online Manager

Upon opening Blackboard, SNHU’s online portal for classes and course materials, students may have recently noticed a new message making reference to something called Brightspace.

Brightspace is part of a new initiative to improve students’ user experience.

It, coupled with a redesign of the student portal, aim to “provide students a more seamless experience across the student journey,” says Matthew Thornton, Associate Vice President of the Student Technology Experi-

Nick Klotz

Athena Adair | Page 7

Josh Walker

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What's Inside:

[that] there is no risk to other buildings on campus.”

Following the fire, many university community members immediately showed their support and concern both on social media and in action.

Sunday afternoon saw university faculty and staff sorting through students’ belongings recovered and retrieved from Greeley in the Small Gym. According to SNHU’s official statement, safety checks will be completed on all older residences on campus, and further information will become available, as warranted.

This university wide memo issues the following conclusion and words of gratitude to the SNHU community: “As we head into the Thanksgiving Holiday, we are especially thankful that everyone is safe. In difficult times, the spirit of the SNHU community shines bright. We want to thank everyone for their support, well wishes and dedication to helping our students.”

The new Brightspace platform.

ence.

“Over the past year, we’ve reviewed many of our systems, and we embarked

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on a review of our learning management system in particular. Student expectations have shifted over time, par-

ticularly around mobile access and personalized learn . . . . . . . . . . .

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editorial the penmen press staff 2017-2018 CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF Ginny Fagan virginia.fagan@snhu.edu CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF Megan Palmer megan.palmer@snhu.edu ONLINE MANAGER Nick Klotz nicholas.klotz@snhu.edu MANAGING ASSISTANT Ryan Evaul ryan.evaul@snhu.edu EVENTS COORDINATOR Tyler Leighton tyler.leighton@snhu.edu EXECUTIVE COPY EDITOR Gabe Carrio gabriel.carrio@snhu.edu CO-COPY EDITOR

NOW HIRING EMAIL FOR MORE INFO

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NEWS EDITOR Nicole Clark nicole.clark2@snhu.edu OPINION EDITOR Thomas Cahalan thomas.cahalan@snhu.edu ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Addison Thyng addison.thyng@snhu.edu

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PENMEN ABROAD EDITOR Rebecca LeBoeuf rebecca.leboeuf@snhu.edu SPORTS EDITOR Catherine LaChance catherine.lachance@snhu.edu LAYOUT EDITOR Emma Sheehan emma.sheehan@snhu.edu PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Wyndee Man jingyin.wen@snhu.edu SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Thanksgiving Thank you's: Letter from the editors

It’s this time of year that we at The Penmen Press are reminded that this little club is so much more than simply the ink and paper we put out every two weeks.

Last week we held our annual Staffsgiving potluck, an annual tradition that brings all of us together with good food, laughs, and stories, while allowing us to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for.

SNHU is our home, and we are lucky to serve this tight knit community. You have stuck with us as we’ve grown from a tiny ragtag bunch of writers into full-fledged student journalists over the past few years. It is because of your support that we were able to step into the modern age, launching PenmenPress.com this September. Our community grants us, without fail, new reasons to tell its story.

The outpouring of support that we have received so far this semester has been incredible and humbling, and we could not do what we do without the inspiring faculty and staff on campus. We are lucky then, that there are so many influential people that we couldn’t possibly ever thank them all.

The Southern New Hampshire University Penmen Press is a news publication produced

by Southern New Hampshire University students and funded largely by the Student Government Association of the University. It is our responsibility to inform the SNHU community about events on and around campus. The Penmen Press will print any material found to be factual and in good taste by the editorial staff of the paper. The views published do not necessarily reflect the views of Southern New Hampshire University. The Penmen Press is published biweekly during the academic year and is printed by the Concord Monitor. To contact the newspaper, please e-mail us at penmenpress@snhu.edu.

We are looking to fill several editorial positions for the 2017-2018 academic school year. We would like to fill these positions ASAP in order to provide the proper training. Positions that are available for application and interviews are: Staff Writers | We are always looking for new staff writers and contributors to the Penmen Press! No interview or application for these positions necessary.

If interested, please e-mail penmenpress@snhu.edu with your information!

. . . . . . .

and to be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves is once in a lifetime.

Of the many things we have to be grateful for today, one of the biggest thank you’s we have is to our amazing and dedicated staff. The members on our team are what make the Penmen Press the Penmen Press. They are smart.

Passionate. Funny. And kind.

They are some of the best that SNHU has to offer. Just this year alone, as we have undergone growing pains and reimagined what journalism looks like, they have given so much of their time, energy and passion to that dream.

While it isn’t always easy, our newsroom is always home.

There are too many people that we ought to thank, too many people whose words of encouragement, passing smiles and outright support have allowed us to reach this point. We would not be here without the support of Southern New Hampshire University, and the community that inevitably comes with it. We are so fortunate, grateful and blessed for every opportunity that has brought us.

Thank you, SNHU. From the Penmen Press

Classes... on brightSpace

NOW HIRING EMAIL FOR MORE INFO

FACULTY ADVISER Jon Boroshok j.boroshok@snhu.edu

We would, however, like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our advisor JB, Presidents Paul LeBlanc and Patty Lynott, Vice President of Academic Affairs Michael Evan and Dean of Arts and Sciences Steve Johnson for their continued dedication to the Penmen Press and its multitude of driven staff members.

We also owe an immense amount of gratitude to the Office of Student Involvement.

To Tom Balestracci, Gavin Telfer, Meagan Sage, Judy Dionne, Liz LaClair, Colleen Lubin, Heather Lorenz and Michelle Scali, thank you for all that you do. The community fostered for clubs and organizations through the Office of Student Involvement allows us to become better student leaders, to lead better organizations.

With that, we owe a huge thank you to the other oncampus clubs and organizations that work so hard to create a community on campus.

It is our student leaders that shape the culture of a university, and ours go above and beyond. To watch our fellow clubs and organizations reach new heights is inspiring, to collaborate with you is rewarding

Continued from page 1 ing,” said Thornton.

This means students will have access to all of the functionality that Brightspace provides regardless of the device chosen to access it on.

Gone will be the headaches from trying to use Blackboard via its mobile application on a phone screen.

Brightspace will also provide new tools such as a calendar feature that is compatible with one’s current calendar programs (e.g. Google Calendar and Outlook). Additionally, Brightspace will also support progress monitoring graphics to track course per-

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formance, as well as configurable text messages and email alerts.

“Blackboard has served SNHU well in the past, providing us with a good platform to deliver online education (and to supplement face-to-face learning with technology resources), but there were some limitations with Blackboard when we consider the future of learning and moving from the ‘traditional 3-credit course’ to a more modern way of thinking about achieving learning outcomes through these newer modalities,” said

Thornton.

The most important thing that this technological update provides is room for growth.

“The way in which we learn is evolving quickly, and new modalities for learning create exciting opportunities for students... On the horizon, we’re seeing innovation with exciting new learning approaches – virtual reality, gamification, augmented reality, customized learning pathways based on prior knowledge, experiential learning to solve real-world problems, etc.,” says Thornton.

News

Penmen Stadium Update: What Is Taking So Long?

Aleisha Bourgault-Callahan Staff Writer Students around campus have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the brand new Penmen Stadium, Southern New Hampshire University’s newest athletic venture. Slated to open on Homecoming weekend, minor details have postponed the opening of the new complex.

The current athletic complex is home to an auxiliary gym, training room, weight room, rock wall and a 25 meter lap pool. The new athletic stadium will be home to a state of the art gym, track and

field, six tennis courts and a 2,100 seat stadium.

Also included are offices for all head coaches, locker rooms for varsity teams, weight rooms and training rooms.

This new stadium has been years in the making whose costs estimate over $25 million.

When asked about how the new stadium benefits students and athletes alike, Associate Director of Athletics James Gassman said, “With adding in the Stadium, we can now properly balance practice and game times to allow the athletes to complete ear-

lier in the day, allowing for a stronger focus on academics at night, as well as allowing for earlier programming for campus recreation and club sports to be on Larkin Field or the Stadium earlier to have more games and events.”

The newest addition to Athletics is the track and field team.

With the new stadium opening, it will allow for SNHU to host events that it could previously not have done, such as NCAA tournaments.

“The ability for our program to host two home meets this spring and beginning

talks about hosting NH/New England High School Track & Field Championship meets will bring a lot of new eyes to SNHU and our XC/Track & Field programs,” added Lex Butler, head coach of the Cross Country and Women’s Track and Field teams.

With such a state-of-theart stadium being built, there are many small details that one might overlook when rushing to complete in a limited time frame. “Running a 35,000 square foot building/ complex will be a challenge,” said Gassman.

“One of the hardest things is hitting the end note. Mak-

ing sure the building flows properly and how we manage the staff, students and fans; it’s going to be like having a whole new job.”

Making sure all of the necessary components are finalized before opening will ensure that the stadium benefits everyone involved.

The outcome will surely be worth the long wait, as the new stadium also features a fully functioning concession stand, so fans attending games will have no shortage of food and beverages. There is no real time set for the stadium to open, so stay tuned for updates.

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Empowering Students Through Financial Literacy Amy Sumsion Staff Writer

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outside of federal borrowing, how to use a repayment calculator, and get guidance on how to use iGrad and other resources available for students.”

“I like this role because I made a lot of mistakes with money when I was younger.

I feel like students don’t get a lot of personal finance classes while they are in high school so when they get here there are a lot of holes in what they know about personal finance.

Then, on top of that, they are adding student loan debt to

Kerry Koziell

Kerry Koziell has worked at Southern New Hampshire University for the past two years and was hired to help develop financial literacy outreach and programming for students to help educate the student population about student loan management and personal financial wellness.

Since then, the Financial Literacy team has served over 2,000 students through classroom workshops, debt check-up meetings, events and partnerships with other student centered groups.

The Financial Literacy team’s role, as Koziell describes, is “to provide support and outreach to students who borrow student loans. We help them understand the terms and the responsibilities of the loans, what repayment might look like, and ways they might be able to mitigate debt in the future.

"We also have the ability to meet with students to talk about financial wellness skills like budgeting or credit scores and proper credit card use.”

The Financial Literacy team works out of the Stu-

dent Financial Services department as a resource for students who are looking to figure out what life will look like on the other side of student loans.

Koziell said, “Our role is to help them understand what student loan repayment is going to look like after they graduate. We can project what their monthly payments might be, create a budget based on actual income amounts if they have them or predict income amounts, help them figure out what their fixed expenses are, their variable expenses, and how their student loan responsibilities will fit into that.”

Students can often find the Financial Literacy Team hosting classroom workshops, in one-to-one meetings and occasionally holding events in the Student Center to try to make the financial stuff more entertaining for students like a spin to win financial trivia game.

“In a one-to-one, students can expect to learn how to look up their student loans on the National Student Loan Data System.

Students will be able to look at accrued interest on those loans and review any private loans they have borrowed

that lack of knowledge.”

“Internet wasn’t readily available in my twenties so finding answers was really difficult and I often found myself embarrassed about what I didn’t know.

"For example, if I was trying to finance a car and I didn’t know if I was or wasn’t getting a good deal that felt intimidating. I feel like I could’ve used some more guidance in that department so I want to be here to provide that guidance for students so that they can have

a financial future that isn’t overwhelming and instead more like freedom.”

Koziell dedicates her time to ensuring the students at SNHU are prepared for their financial future after graduating.

Not only can students find more information on the Financial Literacy Facebook page, Making Cent$, but they can also schedule one-to-one meetings with Koziell or her teammates.

Message finlit@snhu.edu for more information.

Financial Literacy expert Kerry Koziell and her family.

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News

Jayne anne Phillips Enraptures english Audience Travis Burke Staff Writer On Thursday, November 9, Jayne Anne Phillips gave a reading and Q and A session in Mara Auditorium. As far as present literary figures go, Jayne Anne is as prominent a name as has appeared at Southern New Hampshire University. It’s no understatement to call Jayne Anne’s appearance at SNHU historic.

The first half of the event consisted of Phillips reading sections from her 2013 novel, Quiet Dell.

Professor Jaime Karnes’ Context of Writing class in attendance finished Cyan Magenta

Samantha Aguilar Hernandez Staff Writer

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“When you understand others, you understand better yourself”. This is the idea that Ask Big Questions Campus Conversation Challenge (ABQ) is looking to have members of SNHU community engage in.

The ABQ Initiative represents an opportunity for the members of the South-

reading Quiet Dell prior to the event. Students had plenty of questions about the book itself after Phillips delivered a captivating reading of certain sections.

The sections she chose to read were carefully picked so that even those who hadn’t read the book could still enjoy the masterful writing. Jayne Anne isn’t an overly animated reader, but her inflections are precise and extract additional emotion from her writing.

As Jayne Anne proclaimed, her style is “sensationalistic” and best experienced when read aloud.

Creative Writing Professor Jaime Karnes was heav-

ily involved in the event, and with good reason: Jayne Anne has been Jaime Karnes’ mentor for over a decade. Jaime fed studentgenerated questions at the honest and accommodating guest of honor. After prompted questions from Jaime, Jayne Anne took questions from the room.

She was impressed with the attentive audience: “The students who attended the reading were obviously an audience of readers and writers; they were intently interested and asked perceptive questions.”

Students raised their hands with no hesitation.

Questions ranged from

general writing process to specifics. Senior Richie Oliver offered a question about flash fiction, having read Jayne Anne’s breakthrough 1979 collection, Black Tickets. Jayne Anne was quick to correct the term “flash fiction” to “one-page fiction,” before answering the question earnestly.

She made herself available to lingering students after the Q and A ended and answered questions regarding experiencing SNHU with her mentee, Jaime Karnes. “Professor Karnes is that rare combination of talented writer and born teacher. She takes

the time to inspire and mentor her students.”

Jayne Anne is not one to undermine the importance of a mentor figure to students studying English and Creative Writing. “That exchange can truly change lives. I’m very proud of her!”

Students had their books signed and chatted up the acclaimed author during a casual reception afterwards. Junior Sky Potter felt “star struck” prior to the event. “I was so nervous meeting such a famous author, but when I talked to her, she was so down to earth. I kind of forgot that she is a person, too.”

ern New Hampshire University community to see and hear each other deeply.

This is done through conversations where members are guided to ask, instead of argue.

With conversations, people share their stories instead of debating with each other. It is also where people listen and speak so others can understand and learn from one another instead of trying to convince,

persuade and convert those who disagree with them.

The ABQ Campus Conversation Challenge is currently run by The AmericaCorps Vista from the Community Center for Engaged Learning’s (CCEL) Beth Anderson. An initiative such as ABQ is made possible on campus as a result of her and her team’s efforts.

Ryan Bailey, a second year student in the Degree

in Three Accounting/Finance program and a member of SNHU’s ABQ Conversation Challenge Team said, “We live in a modern society where people are losing the ability to hold quality conversations, so the goal of the ABQ Initiative is to start conversation by asking questions that every single human being can answer, while still making them have to think.”

By having this type of Conversation Challenge at SNHU and across our country, SNHU is looking to connect members of its community with one another and discuss challenges that affect our world.

With these conversations, the group can look for numerous ways to change it.

The Ask Big Questions Campus Challenge emphasizes the use of seven “Big Questions”. These questions are made so anyone can answer them and help guide conversations towards understanding and building connections with one another by expressing different points of view.

If members of the SNHU community go around campus, check social media or

simply pass by the Center for Community Engaged Learning, they will notice the next big question from the ABQ challenge: “What do we assume?”

What is it that we assume when we meet someone? What is it that we assume when we are introduced to new things? How do other’s assumptions about someone impact their experiences or the idea they have of themselves? Are assumptions helpful or do they only cause harm?

These are the kind of questions to expect when engaging in this type of conversation. There are events each mo nth to talk about the monthly big question and talk with others to see what they have to say.

This month, the ABQ session is on November 29 from 5 – 6 p.m. in Hospitality Salons A and B. Penmen Pride points will be awarded to attendees.

For more information about the Ask Big Questions Campus Conversation Challenge contact The Center for Community Engaged Learning at serve@snhu. edu.

IT’S TIME TO ASK THE BIG QUESTIONS

Samantha Aguilar Hernandez

The ABQ campaign seeks to encourage open, friendly conversation.

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news

Restaurant Spotlight: Chez Vachon Dishes Out Large Portions of French-Canadian Favorites Nicholas VonSchantz-Ricci Staff Writer

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Nick Klotz Online Manager

popular sandwiches is the Montreal-style smoked meat served on rye bread with whole-grain mustard.

For those wanting something indulgent, try the restaurant’s signature dish, poutine.

This Canadian heart-stopper consists of hand-cut French fries covered with spicy chicken gravy and cheese curds.

Poutine has recently gained popularity in the U.S. and Chez Vachon takes their rendition seriously.

“We make it all from scratch here,” said B. “We use a good Idaho potato, we cut them and we soak them overnight. Then we blanch them and fry them to order.”

Poutine is so popular, that they offer a five pound “grand poutine” challenge. “We started offering it a year after we bought it. It was a customerdriven thing.” Over sixty individuals have tried to finish the grand poutine and only a

Nicholas VonSchantz-Ricci

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Chez Vachon may have the most misleading name of any restaurant in Manchester. Based on the name alone, many would be inclined to think that this is an upscale French restaurant in the middle of the city. However, this could not be further from the truth.

Chez Vachon is a humble, charming breakfast and lunch spot located less than fifteen minutes from the Southern New Hampshire University campus on Manchester’s West Side.

What sets this eatery apart from other local restaurants in the area is the menu of hearty French-Canadian favorites.

According to the owner, who goes by the nickname “B,” the name means “House of Vachon,” and it was devised by two previous owners.

“Chez Vachon was opened in 1979 by two brothers, Paul and Dave Vachon. I’ve owned it for nine years,” said B. The most popular breakfast item is the crepes. “We sell more crepes than anywhere this side of Canada,” said B. The crepes at Chez Vachon are enormous, so much so that they practically fill the entire plate. Diners can choose from a vast array of fillings, but the most popular is banana with homemade maple cream.

B’s favorite item for breakfast is the Chicken Cordon Bleu Omelet. An oven baked omelet filled with Swiss cheese, ham and breaded chicken. The whole thing is then draped with a blanket of rich hollandaise sauce.

For lunch, Chez Vachon offers a large menu of sandwiches, burgers and savory pies such as pork pie and salmon pie. Among the most

Chez Vachon serves French-Canadian cuisine like poutine.

handful have been successful.

For dessert, a selection of homemade pies, such as chocolate cream, pumpkin and lemon Meringue, is available

daily. The comfortable atmosphere, giant portions and low prices make a trip to Chez Vachon essential for any SNHU student.

The 501st Legion BRINGS JOY With Star Wars

This year’s Rhode Island Comic-Con (RICC) was invaded by the forces of the Empire.

The 501st Legion are nothing to fear, however. They are a troupe of cosplayers standing for a good cause.

“The 501st is an interna-

tional costuming club that does screen-accurate star wars costumes,” said Ivory Racine, a two year member of the 501st.

“We are completely nonprofit, and we do charity work and volunteer work for our communities.

The charity work is usually for Make-A-Wish, children’s hospitals and recently for many local mental health

Jaime Mailloux

The 501st Legion uses full size Star Wars props in their travels.

organizations.”

This time, The 501st were raising money for the Narrative Therapy Initiative (NTI), an organization “based on the worldview that relationships with stories constitute our experiences in life, including experiences of problems,” from their website.

The group has recently been partnering with mental health groups in memory of Carrie Fisher.

“We’ve done a lot of tributes, and up in Vermont we made a tribute patch and sold it all around the world, making about $2000 for mental health services in Vermont,” said Racine.

The 501st Legion got their start in 1997. Twenty years later, the organization is now 11,000 members strong, with representation in over 60 countries.

“It started out as just a couple guys with stormtrooper armor. They got online and figured other people had it and started forming a group

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together. Then they realized there were people all over the world, and they created an online forum,” said Bob Gouveia of the New England Garrison.

“It started out as just a hobby, but it also has side benefits of being great for charity.”

More recently, the group hit a huge milestone. A goal was set to raise $150,000 for MakeA-Wish within five years. They did it in ten months.

“I’m really impressed with all of the fundraising we were able to do through our portal; the t-shirt sales were fantastic and you can just tell there is such a love for star wars and for the legion itself to make sure we’re on the right foot with the Star Wars brand but also to raise money for great charities,” said Erich Shafer, commanding officer of the New England Garrison.

The great feats the group accomplish are only possible through the hard work they put into their props and costumes. They shoot for filmquality in all that they create.

At RICC, they unveiled their newest props: a set of speeder bikes and a bunker from “Return of the Jedi” as well as K2SO from “Rogue One.” “Everything we do is affiliated with Disney and Lucas[film]. We are not a part of [either] but we have to meet certain standards in order to be a part of the club and to represent [Disney and Lucasfilm],” said Racine.

Their love of Star Wars and the community its created runs deep. Each member has a story of who showed them the films, be it their father, grandfather or brothers, and a passion for bringing others into the fold.

“I really love interracting with kids, especially small girls, as Rey. It’s really nice to be able to get young girls excited about star wars and science fiction as females have been so underrepresented in the genre.”

For more information about The 501st Legion and their upcoming events, visit their website here.

Feature news

BUilding Up: What to expect from Kingston hall

Rosa Valente Staff Writer

Jaelle Matthieu

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Kingston Hall will be the newest building on the West Side. and desk space for people to work. Then there’s going to be a small creative space for if a group wanted to work on something together. We don’t know exactly yet, but it probably will have dry erase walls or chalk walls... It’s going to have a fun bench built in [and] it will just be a nice little funky space,” she said.

The first floor community space will also have a gender neutral restroom available.

There will also be a game room with seating areas and big windows looking over the campus.

A three-sided fireplace will divide the game room and another lounge area. The first floor will also have a traditional classroom available for lectures and will have an additional exterior entrance in case of night classes.

Additionally, Kingston will have four single rooms spread throughout the building that are autism spectrum disorder compliant. These rooms will have additional acoustical protections and lights on dimmer switches.

“Whether [someone] has autism or sensory processing challenges, [these rooms] will be a really good option especially in Kingston, because if you have an incoming student who really needs a single and really needs it to be extra quiet, they’re going to have that option,” Brown explained. “We’re psyched about that; we don’t know any other campuses that are doing that.”

Kingston will also be the first residence hall on-campus to offer a full community kitchen complete with an oven, stove, fridge and counter space.

“If you lived there and your friends wanted to make a spaghetti dinner or something you could go down and use [the kitchen],” Brown said. “We think that this will be good for a lot of different events. It will be good for, perhaps, international students who want to do their own cooking or anyone who wants to do their own cooking.”

Lawrence Yassanye, the project manager for the capital projects team of the Kingston construction, gave some insight on how construction is going and what the construction team is focusing on right now.

“From the perspective of schedule, we are on time with a forecasted completion for the end of August 2018; ready for the 2018 fall semester of incoming students. [On Thursday, November 16], we completed the structural steel installation. Our current focus is on completing

the installation of concrete floor decks and slab on grade. Interior partition framing has begun, and soon we’ll be roughing in the electrical, mechanical, plumbing and data components,” Yassanye said.

Shannon Brown also had positive news when asked about how she thought construction is going. “[Construction] is going really well, everything is on target.

They’re working to get the building closed in before Thanksgiving. They’ve been cooking and the dean and I approved concrete with the architectural finish last week and I asked how things were going and they said everything is on schedule,” she said.

Brown then went on to speak about the discussion that led to the Kingston construction and why SNHU decided to start expanding and renovating the face

Lawrence Yassanye

Southern New Hampshire University is currently working on the construction of a new residence hall set to be open for the 2018 school year. The new building will be the largest residence hall on campus with a total of five stories and 382 beds and will go by the name of Kingston.

While Kingston Hall is primarily being built for first and second year students, juniors and seniors will also have an opportunity to live in the building. The residence hall will only offer double and single rooms and will feature an entirely new format from the other buildings.

Shannon Brown, the director of Residence Life, spoke more about what this new format will consist of and how they hope it will benefit students.

“The building is like a boomerang, so there’s a short wing and a long wing. On both wings there’s going to be little clusters of rooms, so there might be 16 beds in a cluster, and it will have a hallway through the middle.

Each cluster will have some singles and doubles and will have a small shared lounge that will have a TV and comfy furniture.

It will also have a community bathroom as well as a single use bathroom with a shower and a sink. [The format] will just repeat down the hallway. It is a big building, so we’re trying to make it as intimate as possible,” she explained.

Brown added that there will be study spaces at the end of each hallway where students can shut the door and have a quiet place to complete their work as well as a laundry room on each floor.

The residence hall will offer many other amenities including lounge spaces, a patio in the back of the building facing the river and air conditioning throughout the building. Brown discussed more amenities students will find in the building in greater detail.

“The first floor of the short wing [is] going to be a really amazing community space and that will be open during the day for anybody. It will have a front desk area, some offices for the [building staff], a work room that will have a pay to print printer and four computers, two standard and two engineering,

of the campus.

“There were residence halls that were past their prime. I lovingly call them the ‘historic district,’” she joked. “It was time to put some capital investment into new residence halls on campus.

So, when I arrived, we took an assessment of the buildings that would be coming down. So basically what was decided was that all of the buildings with the brown paneling that were built in the seventies (the Lower Suites, West Side Apartments, Upper Suites and Townhouses) would eventually come down, but there was an order in which that could happen,” she explained. “There’s a lot that goes into deciding where you put a new building on campus. It has to do with the topography, how much granite is in the ground and the existing underground utilities.”

Brown also explained how the university is planning to staff the new residence hall.

“We are going to be really mindful about how we staff that building because we pride ourselves on being a school that works really closely with students and we don’t want it to be this big vacuous [space where] first years are getting lost. There’s going to be a lot of RAs and professional staff, and we [plan to] be really intentional about that,” said Brown.

Brown explained that along with the new residence hall, in the next few years students can expect to see renovations done in Hampton and Windsor, a new green space in place of the Washington lot, an engineering building where the Townhouses are currently located, as well as additional parking on campus.

Kingston is expected to open for the fall 2018 semester.

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PENMEN PASSION Nikki Fain Staff Writer Athena Adair describes herself as "lucky"; however, SNHU is luckier to have her in their community.

Her official title on campus is Residence Director (RD) of Newcastle as well as

where luck and dedication collide: athena adair on her snhu journey to the club seemed to almost be fated. Adair became passionate about sex education during her sophomore year at UNH when she was a first year Resident Assistant.

"A lot of my residents had questions.” Adair said.

“I thought, 'This is basic sex education. How come they

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aren't informed?' So, I saw a need, and I was like, 'I can fill that'.”

After this realization, she went on to get an internship with UNH's Health Services Center. "That great love to and need to fill that has continued."

As a Residence Director, she fills this need by putting on sex education programs for residents. She enjoys going to other residence halls as well and having fun with the subject. Adair tries to make it upbeat and light hearted. Regarding her style of teaching, Adair commented, "If you're not laughing, people aren't learning."

Working for the Office of Residence Life is her "lucky break". After obtaining her Master’s Degree in Social Work at Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu, she decided to move back home to New Hampshire, because, as she said, "It is cheaper to fly out of Boston than it is Honolulu."

As a self-proclaimed adventurer, this reason was compelling enough. Adair knew she wanted to work

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a better level. The trip turned out to be more influential than expected for Adair. She was inspired by the students "level of thought and the ability to dream.”

This year, she will be joining the trip to Washington D.C. which focuses on understanding the causes and effects of urban homelessness.

Adair finds passion in fighting homelessness and supporting those who experience it, and her personal mission is to "make them visible."

To Adair, AB became a vehicle to spark a passion in at least one student, hoping they will become invested in the cause. Her goal is to make people understand the difference they can make, even in just a week. "It [AB] gave me faith in the quality of individuals here and the strength of will SNHU students have. It was really inspiring. I left that trip thinking 'I work in the greatest place in the world'," she said.

Lucky for SNHU, Adair does not plan to leave soon.

She found her place at here, because she loves the innovation, the support and the fulfilment of her need to travel.

She would love to continue working her way through other offices or as a professor.

"A professor is a platform to give to others and ultimately inspire them to be who they are and go on to change," Adair said.

Alternative Break

Adjunct Professor. Despite only being here for two years, her responsibilities extend beyond these roles though.

She is also a co-advisor for the clubs Generation Equality and SNHU Buddies and a chaperone for the Alternative Spring Break (AB) trips.

As an adjunct professor, she teaches SNHU 101 courses.

"The material this year is so important,” Adair said, “because it focuses on how to be an inclusive, active and informed citizen."

Adair found a home in the club Generation Equality, which promotes inclusion and a safe space for LGBTQ+ community members to come together, from the request of a former Alternative Break participant.

Adair graduated from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) with a Bachelors in Psychology and a focus on Sex Education. She also said she "[is] incredibly passionate about LGBTQ+ rights, and I feel that our students need a safe place on this campus where they feel loved and can be themselves."

Becoming a co-advisor

Athena Adair

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Adair working at the Imire Conservation Program in Africa.

in higher education, as she hopes to pursue her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and become a professor. Having had residence life experience both in undergraduate and graduate school, the opening for a Residence Director position would become one of her greatest passions.

Her favorite part of being a RD would be the interactions she has with students.

"Everybody has something to learn, and everybody has something to teach," Adair shared. As an RD, she finds passion in her ability to help people in their time of need.

She is inspired by her own personal struggles when helping her residents with theirs.

"A lot of it is attitude; you choose how you respond," Adair said. A big part of her duty as RD is handling conduct. When faced with her own personal challenges, she reflects on the lessons she will be learning and why she is learning them. When working with her residents, the process is much the same.

How did this happen? How did we get here? "Someone is not their behavior," she said.

She enjoys conduct-related issues, because it gives her a chance to interact with individuals she normally would not.

Another one of her passions on campus is being a chaperone on the Alternative Break trips. Last year, she stepped in last minute after another chaperone could no longer attend. She joined the trip going to Pulaski, Virginia. The trip involved working with securing access to food and meal replacements.

Again, she considered this another lucky break as she had been begging to participate with AB. "I highly, highly value volunteer work. I think one of the most beautiful gifts you can give someone is time," Adair said. She also wanted to connect with students on

Outside of SNHU, Adair spends her time watching “Forest Gump” or “The Wedding Singer.” She also fangirls over Harry Potter, since she is a self-described "next-level nerd."

Her favorite times are spent with her family over long dinners filled with laughter and banter. But her favorite thing to do is to travel. She spends her summers volunteering abroad.

Last summer, she was working with rhinos through the Imire Conservation Program in Zimbabwe, Africa. She also taught in Tanzania through the International Volunteer Headquarters.

This summer, she is hoping to work with the Great Orangutan Project. During these trips, she puts emphasis on spending time with the homeless communities in these cultures. She has also travelled to Iceland, Norway, England and France.

Her piece of advice to SNHU students would be: "Listen with the intent to learn and with the intent to hear what the other person has to say and with kindness.

Approach people as best you can with unconditional positive regard.

Don't be afraid to go adventuring. Do it alone. Don't wait. If you wait for somebody else, you'll never go. But go out into the world and do good.

Adair is a chaperone for SNHU's Alternative Break program, in which students take trips to volunteer.

OPINION

HOLLYWOOD CULTURE NEEDS CHANGING Nick Klotz Online Manager Jaime Mailloux Marketing Manager

Entertainment Tonight

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On Thursday October 5, the “New York Times” published a story detailing allegations of sexual assaults against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Many women have come forward with their stories, and, as a result, Weinstein has stepped down from his position as head of The Weinstein Company.

As one of the mightiest falls, many other stories are coming to light alleging similar incidents with other heavy hitters in entertainment, including Kevin Spacey, Louis CK and Brett Ratner.

The backlash has been swift as the kingdoms of the accused are crumbling around them. It will, however, mean nothing without a change in the culture Hol-

lywood calls its foundation.

Those like Weinstein inhabit a position of power -one that allows him to be the force that makes or breaks an actor’s career. As an extremely well-established producer he has influence over a star’s career even those who are well established themselves. Women feel that, be-

cause of his status, in order to stay relevant and in good standing, they have to bend to his will.

In turn, his victims are left feeling guilty, ashamed and that the actions taken are their fault, ultimately robbing them the willpower to voice their grievances.

Weinstein’s influence has

made it impossible to make a claim against the producer and be taken seriously. Even well-respected members of the Hollywood community, like director Quentin Tarantino, have admitted to knowledge of Weinstein's activities and to their own inaction.

Movements such as

“#metoo” that made their way through social media are a step in the right direction. Hollywood has failed to create an environment in which the victimized can speak up without risking career suicide. “#metoo” aimed to break the silence by unifying victims of sexual assault and publicly creating a space where one could share their story, or just show support.

Stars like Terry Crews and James Van Der Beek are trying to show that sexual assault can happen to anyone in Hollywood, even to a man, and even to someone with as strong and masculine a persona as Crews.

The only way to turn all of this hurt into something good is if it allows the underrepresented in Hollywood to have their voices back. If we aren't demolishing barriers and building a dialogue, then recent events are nothing more than a witch hunt of the perverts.

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Why Is The Legend of The Vanishing Hitchhiker So Powerful?

Michael Banarhall Staff Writer

M.Eric Honeycutt from ThoughtCo.

Urban legends have fascinated and terrified people for centuries, whether it’s stories like those of the Jersey Devil, Bloody Mary, or the Mothman. One urban legend that has recently fascinated me is the story of the Vanishing Hitchhiker. It is an interesting tale about a restless soul attracted to hitching rides from strangers.

The legend often describes a little girl looking for rides on the side of a dark, deserted road. A kind stranger pulls over and offers transport, and the girl climbs in, but soon thereafter vanishes from the vehicle. As the legend goes, the stranger that offered the ride finds their passenger missing, and in an effort to learn the identity of said passenger, discovers that the vanished girl died many years before.

I believe one of the reasons people are so fascinated by stories such as these, as well as the paranormal in general, is their belief in the afterlife. The idea of ghosts is closely linked to the unanswered question: “Where do we go when we die?”

One of the main reasons I find the Vanishing Hitchhiker legend to be so fascinating is based off a personal experience I had in 2016. Around late October, I was driving through an old neighborhood on the backroads, where I saw a young girl in a white dress with dark hair walk across the street.

I hit the brakes to avoid hitting her, but when I stopped I saw that she was gone. I pulled off the road and asked myself what I had just seen. I looked around outside of my vehicle to try and see her again, but she was nowhere to be found.

I’ve since had the desire to understand if what I saw that

night was or was not the Vanishing Hitchhiker.

Another reason people are so fascinated with ghost stories is the thrill of it all. The unknown is both frightening and exciting for most, and has those that are interested eager to explore it.

There are thousands of ghost stories, but why is the Vanishing Hitchhiker in particular so present in our culture? I have an idea.

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The tale doubles as an urban legend and a ghost story, holding people’s interest with the idea that the lost soul is that of a little girl trapped on earth, unable to move on.

Most people that pick up the Vanishing Hitchhiker want to help her.

Oftentimes, if people see a little girl walking along a dark road at night trying to catch a ride, drivers will pull over to help, believing her to be lost

or in trouble. It’s one thing for an adult to be on the side of the road looking for a ride, but a little girl in the middle of the night is uncommon and worrying.

I frequently think back to the night I saw that little girl in the white dress and question myself. Was she the Vanishing Hitchhiker? Be on the lookout if you’re ever driving quiet roads at night. You just might see her too.

arts andnews entertainment “Thor: Ragnarok” is Worthy of a God

Addison Thyng Arts and Entertainment Editor

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comedy and action naturally into the plot as well.

Marvel films are always funny, but “Ragnarok” may just be the funniest, surpassing even “Guardians of the Galaxy.” While there are definitely impressive action scenes

there are few (however well done) emotional moments, with more comedy than the average Marvel flick. This by no means makes it bad, but it's good to know it's trying to bring the laughs just as much, if not more, than the action.

All the characters are well acted and play off each other beautifully (seeing Hulk and Loki interact for the first time since 2012 “Avengers” is priceless.) Thor is given more depth here and the new characters do great adding to the

ing thrill of finding some obvious and some obscure power moons, which have replaced stars as the main collectible in “Super Mario Odyssey.”

The level of challenge for “Odyssey” is fairly high, though “easy mode” does exist for those wanting a more casual experience. With a health bar allowing three hits and limited ways to replenish health until the next goal is met, the challenge is present, but not overbearing.

Also new to the series is losing coins upon death, instead of lives. In “Odyssey,” coins count as spendable currency, which can be used to buy different outfits for Mario to wear. While no outfits change function, the entertainment factor is priceless The main game takes only five to ten hours to beat with minimal exploration. Fortunately, most of what “Super Mario Odyssey” has to offer exists after the princess is rescued. Collecting the moons located on the “main path” won’t take too long, but one will find that each world is packed much tighter with eventful surroundings than initially expected.

Besides moons, players have to collect regular coins as well as regional purple coins.

These coins are specific to each

world and can only be spent in the world they were acquired in. Purple coins can be used to purchase world-exclusive costumes and other collectibles.

Like any Mario game, it’s never fair to blame the controls over player error. The controls are refined and operate best when the joy-con controllers are separated. The

motion controls are optional, but extremely helpful. After throwing their cap, the player can hone in on a nearby target by flicking the controller in the desired direction. Additionally, special moves such as the hat spin can be executed by flicking both joy-cons at the same time.

Prior to release, “Super

Mario Odyssey” set high expectations. A return to openworld, sandbox style play was welcome, but players needed something new, as Nintendo is ever-aware of. The implementation of the capture ability alongside the classic, senseless fun of free-roaming makes for a masterful creation for both old and new players.

Marvel

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In recent years, Marvel has pumped out hit after hit with such consistency that, at this point, it’s expected for their movies to be great. Thankfully, “Thor: Ragnarok” follows this now common Marvel tradition; continuing the comedy, action, and story that fans know and love with some of the cinematic universe’s most popular characters.

“Ragnarok” is one of the last few films to be released before the upcoming “Infinity War,” so not only did it have to continue Thor’s solo story but also place him and all the other characters in their correct positions for the third “Avengers” movie. Not only does it manage to pull it off, but it also incorporates great

cast and ever growing list of heroes. The plot behind the villain and Asgard is interesting but isn’t focused on for too long.

The only slight downside is the underused female villain, who wasn’t given enough focus. This character seems like someone who could be the main antagonist for the whole Avengers team but is only used a little here. She is deliciously over the top evil and great to watch, but I just wished there was more of her in it.

All in all “Thor: Ragnarok” is a great time. It has the trademark Marvel charm, the action and the comedy everyone expects at this point.

While it may be funnier than action-oriented, and the villain doesn’t live up to her potential, it is still a must see.

Super Mario Odyssey: A Globe-Trotting Masterpiece Travis Burke Staff Writer

Nintendo

“Super Mario Odyssey,” the newest game in the mainline Mario series, made its highly anticipated appearance on the Nintendo Switch on October 27. Returning to its (3D) roots of fully explorative worlds, “Odyssey” satisfies an appetite for many longtime fans, while being accessible enough for those trying out Mario for the first time.

The famous plumber is equipped with his regular set of moves, allowing for phenomenal free-running. The distinctive addition to this installment is the new “Capture” ability. By throwing Mario’s cap, one can possess most enemies and items. By doing so, Mario can utilize their abilities. This is a massive leap forward in opening the possibilities of what can be done in a Mario game.

The world variety is diverse and, in many cases, more lifelike than they’ve been in previous Mario games. This is in part due to the stellar graphical capabilities on the Switch. One new world shown off profusely prior to release is New Donk City, a modern industrial landscape for Mario to roam free.

There is a constant reward-

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arts andnews entertainment A NEW ERA FOR ANIMATION: STAR VS. THE FORCES OF EVIL

Samantha Aguilar Hernandez Staff Writer

A few years ago, I noticed some of the animated shows that my little cousins watched were pointless. I’ll not even tell names but those shows had no character development, the jokes and situations were absurd, the plot was boring and there was just no way to follow along with the show.

However, I started watching shows like “Steven Universe” and “Gravity Falls” and I noticed how deep these shows started to get. They were not silly or pointless anymore, and they were changing the way in which animated shows are supposed to be.

Don’t get me wrong. I think that a show like “Steven Universe” is a great example of how the era of animated shows has changed. However, “Star vs. the Forces of Evil” has kept me hooked more than I expected it to.

“Star vs. The Forces of Evil” (aka SVTFOE) is an animatedcomedy adventure television series created by Daron Nefcy and produced by Disney Tele-

season three and a long wait for the release of season four.

The relationship between Marco and Star is put to the test in the third season after the major cliffhanger in season two, and with the two-hour television movie of “The Battle for Mewni” in July 2017. With “Battle for Mewni,” fans were also introduced to a major character who may or may not present a big problem for Star in season three.

So far, season three is keeping fans on the edge of their seats and will continue to do so thanks to the two-week event as a celebration of its season premiere. Although the episodes in the first season were less favored, the third season introduced major characters and revelations vital for the plot.

Shows like “Star vs. The Forces of Evil” are changing the way in which animated shows

are made, but most importantly they are changing the idea of animated shows specifically made for younger audiences. Like most, the show has had lower quality moments; but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a major thing on the Internet. From “SVTFOE” fanart to professionally made cosplay, it is easy to see the impact and love that fans of all ages have for the new era of animated shows.

to name a few) essentially doing anything they can to keep from being truthful with Detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh). Misdirection, false truths, and multiple alibis litter their dialogue, frustrating both Poirot and the audience Predictable is a word that disappointedly sums up the latter half of the film. Things the

audience picks up on, yet the world’s greatest detective somehow can’t see until the end of the final act, are abundant. This viewer had solved the crime before the detective could, and the ending didn’t feel earned as a result. The ending also felt like a copout. Granted, this viewer has also never read the original novel

by Agatha Christie, so he can’t say for certain whether or not the ending is shared between the film and the source material.

Performances were solid from everyone, especially Branagh. Performances took a strange turn in the final act, though, once the theatrics really started to pile on. A lot of overacting plagued the screen, again, especially from Branagh. But up until then, I was wholly immersed in the film.

“Murder on the Orient Express” is a good film, but not a great one. Perhaps Hercule Poirot could solve the mystery as to why a few directorial choices were made that caused the film to suffer.

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Branagh’s Theatrics Fall Short in “Murder on the Orient Express”

Gabriel Carrio Executive Copy Editor

20th Century Fox

Renowned director Kenneth Branagh (of literally every Shakespeare film adaptation worth your time) is no stranger to putting plays to film. He’s a man of the theatre, and is usually to his benefit.

Putting plays to screen allows the director to work with the source material almost directly, with little changes (a la Branagh’s “Hamlet,” which was over three hours long and consisted of the entire original manuscript).

Unfortunately for Branagh, and for moviegoers, the theatrics fell short in “Murder on the Orient Express.” Perhaps it’s because the source material is a novel and not a play. Perhaps it’s because the story doesn’t seem to call for over the top theatrics like you’d see on stage. Perhaps it’s because Branagh is getting a little tired and disconnected with mainstream and modern filmmaking. Perhaps it’s none of these.

Disney

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vision Animation. It showcases the adventures of Star Butterfly, a magical princess from another dimension who is sent to Earth as an exchange program student so she can continue with her magic training.

With Marco Diaz as her best friend and partner in their inter-dimensional adventures, she deals with everyday school life and protects her magic wand from falling into the wrong hands.

The show follows the format of two 11-minute episodes that form a single 22-minute episode.

It first aired in January 2015 as a special release but became the most-watched animated series debut in Disney XD’s 15 yearhistory.

“Star vs. the Forces of Evil’s” second season ended with a major cliffhanger that left fans waiting for its quick return in season three.

The good news for fans was the recent release of season three, November 6th, with a renewal for a fourth season quickly following. Judging from the end of season three, fans can expect a major cliffhanger with

It’s not to say that “Murder on the Orient Express” is a bad film. Not by any definition of the word. But the application of acting techniques utilized in the film take away from what the vision could have been. The plot is a classic detective mystery.

A train full of twelve strangers, stuck together for days until they reach their destinations. A pas-

senger is killed, and the train is stuck in snow. Onboard is the world’s greatest detective (probably), now tasked with solving the crime and bringing the perpetrator to justice.

But what happens when no one is willing to cooperate?

The result is a star-studded cast (Daisy Ridley, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, and Judi Dench just

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PENMEN abroad The solo traveler: how independent travel changes you Ericka Broderick Contributing Writer

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presented them with this information, I was off.

Getting on that plane by myself for the first time felt crazy. I was afraid that all of my parents’ fears would come true. I had no idea what laid ahead of me, but I had faith that this trip would be good for me and that I would come back empowered.

Since I’m Irish and the country is very close to England, I knew Ireland would be a great place for me to visit.

The moment I stepped off that plane in Dublin, it was like a candle was instantly lit inside of me. My happiness that day was unlike anything I ever experienced in another place in my life… and all I did was take the bus to meet my host, Paola and her family.

The next day I took a day tour to the Rock of Cashel, the city of Cork and the Blarney Castle. By the end of the tour, I befriended a girl from the group around my age named Laura, who was, by chance, originally from my home state of Massachusetts! She too was a solo traveler.

On my third day of Ireland, I met up with “Runaway John,” a professional busker (street performer) who provided my group with a tour of Dublin’s hidden musical gems, as many famous Irish artists started off their careers busking. By the end of the tour, I befriended two more girls from the group—Marion (a French girl living in Barcelona) and Sofia (an American studying abroad

Ericka Broderick

Ericka Broderick, center, met and befriended three other solo travelers – Sofia, Marion and Laura – in Dublin, Ireland.

Ericka Broderick

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It all started when I woke up one morning with a realization. My favorite artist, Harry Styles, is currently on tour in Europe. I’m in Florence, Italy, right now. What are the chances of me seeing him in concert while studying abroad? After doing my research, I discovered that there were no tickets left for Milan, but a handful left for London.

London, England—the city I always dreamed of visiting.

I had the hope of going there while abroad, but put it off because I had no one to accompany me. My mother warned me of the dangers of traveling alone. In addition, London has been a victim of terrorism within the past year, one of the acts occurring specifically at a major concert. At that point, traveling there felt hopeless.

But as I watched the opportunity on my computer screen stare back at me, something changed. I was no longer overthinking every worst possible scenario like I normally would.

Instead, I asked myself, “Who else can say in their life that they got to see their favorite artist at a concert in London?”

Once I clicked the checkout button, my life would forever change.

I became a self-taught travel agent in a day. I spent hours researching the cheapest possible way to make this spontaneous trip successful. Since one-way flights were cheaper

than a round trip, I came up with the idea of a six-day trip (three days in Dublin, Ireland, and three days in London, England), for only about €210 ($244.63). Considering this was my first time ever booking flights and I found such a good deal, I already started to feel confident about my solo traveling.

My friend then introduced me to Airbnb, an app that allows people to book hostels worldwide for half the price of hotels. I researched and found great reviews on two different hostels that were guaranteed to provide a safe environment specifically for solo travelers.

The website also gave me the option to book unique experiences during my visit, including a Dublin Busking experience.

Once I planned my activities, all that was left to do was tell my parents. I thought, “How could I possibly tell them in a way that will assure them that I will be safe?”

So, I typed up a full, detailed itinerary that included my flights, my scheduled tours and any emergency number I could think of. Then, my cousin introduced me to an iPhone app called “Find My Friends” that would allow my parents to know my location at any time throughout the trip. Finally, I did what Florence University of the Arts requires all students to do and filled out the weekly travel log, informing the school of where I would be.

Once I told my parents and

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Senior Ericka Broderick in front of the Blarney Castle during her day tour in Ireland.

in Barcelona). They were also solo female travelers close to my age.

After I went on my own to visit Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, I arranged plans to unite all three of my solo-traveling friends together later that night. The connection we made that night felt natural. In one day, we created a friendship that could have lasted for decades. It was at that point that I started to see the beauty of traveling alone.

London, the next day, was a different story. Unlike Dublin, I did not come to London with activities planned. I wanted to try to experience London naturally without a set schedule.

My first day was filled with a long train ride, figuring out how to use the subway system (“The Tube”), eating overpriced fish and chips, being awkwardly stuffed with a large family inside the London Eye and risking hypothermia on the top of a big red tour bus as I took in the beauty of the city. Although I couldn’t see Big Ben because it was covered with construction work, I was

able to relate to it.

My perfect solo trip was deconstructed.

The next day, the day of the concert, was what helped me realize why I did this trip. I caught the attention of a 42-year-old woman who laughed when I told the bartender it was my first time being able to drink at a concert.

Our casual conversation converted to yet another friendship I made as she too came to the concert on her own.

The moment the curtains unfolded, everything made sense. It wasn’t just hearing my favorite songs live at the Eventim Apollo in London or being in the same room as my favorite artist that made this trip worth it.

Two months ago, I thought spending four months studying in a foreign country with no family to lean on was the hardest thing I would ever have to do. But standing at that concert knowing that I just spent six days in two foreign countries on my own at 21 years old and survived? I felt like I could do anything.

SPORTS

Women’s Soccer Finishes Greatest Season in Program HistorY Catherine LaChance Sports Editor

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Senior Trisha Luis was awarded Most Valuable Player for the season.

Catherine LaChance

Senior Rianna Fassanello is Women's Soccer Team's Defensive Player of the Year.

Catherine LaCahnce

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Fall 2017 has been the best season Southern New Hampshire University’s women’s soccer team has seen in all its program history. They wrapped up the season with an overall record of 15-3-5, earning them the number 2 seed in the Northeast-10 Conference, which was the highest ranking they have ever received. They went on to capture the Northeast-10 title in postseason action in an exciting match against the Franklin Peirce Ravens.

This was the first time they captured the title since 2012, which was the only other year they were able to do so. The Northeast-10 also recognized seniors Trisha Luis (Lowell, M.A.) and Rianna Fassanello (East Bridgewater, M.A.) by awarding them with the Most Valuable Player Award and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.

In addition, the Penmen made history in the NCAA East Regional Tournament by winning their first ever game. They have qualified for the tournament five times, but were never able to get past the first round.

This year, they beat undefeated Georgian Court 3-0 to advance to the second round where they faced tournament host Mercy College.

The Penmen beat Mercy in regular season action, but fell three goals short to be upended 3-1 to end their first-ever run in the NCAA tournament.

Coach Elie Moneiro, who is in his fourth year with the Penmen, says he is amazed with the quality of play the girls have produced on the field this season. He says the girls have improved tremendously, and a lot of that has to do with different training techniques and the approach other teams took when facing the Penmen.

He believes that by adjusting to the different approaches of other teams, the Penmen’s tactics will increase in quality on the field.

“We got better as a defensive unit, we got better as an attacking unit, we got better as a possession oriented team,” said Monteiro. “The thing that helped us grow to getting those things was each and every opponent’s approach to playing us.”

“No two teams are the same.

We had to figure out as a group

how to beat better opponents because they were coming up with different game plans and sometimes their style of play would not mirror the play they played against other opponents. They would completely change their style to face us and that forced us to try and come up with solutions that were different from what we were doing earlier on in the season and I feel that helped us grow tactically as a team.”

Off the field, coach Monteiro has been working with his team on leadership and team bonding. This is something he says has brought the team closer together and has allowed for more communication on the field.

Last spring, the Penmen participated in many leadership training exercises to prepare them for the current fall season. It has allowed them to grow as individuals and has taught them how to properly express themselves in terms of conflict so no tension will be present between players.

Having tension, says coach Monteiro, reduces the quality of play on the field. Therefore, actively practicing team bonding tactics and leadership responsibilities allows the girls to express themselves in healthy

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ways to avoid such tension.

The team, according to Monteiro, is closer than ever.

He says there is a greater connection among players and their communication skills have improved tremendously.

Last spring was the first time Monteiro incorporated the training and says its results have “spoken for themselves,” as it allowed the team to accomplish greater things on the field.

Luis, who is the team’s top scorer, recording 11 goals in the 2017 season, seconds Monteiro, saying the training has “greatly impacted the team in a positive way.” She says the training has allowed for the team to become “closer than ever” and that the results can be seen on the field.

“My teammates are like my sisters,” Luis said. “I love how close we have all become and how we have all been able to grow together. The training has benefited us. Our connection off the field shows in our performance on it.”

Coach Monteiro is using another common technique that allows the team to play at their best ability. He says staying in the moment is beneficial to performance. He doesn’t want to compare the team to who they used to be in previous

years.

“We stay in the moment and we’re not necessarily comparing ourselves with anything that has happened before,” he said. “It’s more about where we are and where we can get to with the current group. If we come in and we feel like we’re ready to compete at a certain level and we show that we are better than what we anticipated, then we gotta make the goals a little bit bigger and that’s what I think happened this fall.”

“We’re comparing ourselves from where we started this season instead of where we were last season and basically every week, we’re trying to get better.”

Because this season was so successful, Monteiro hopes it will help with confidence going forward. The Penmen are losing eight seniors, including Luis and Fassanello, which coach Monteiro says will significantly impact the team. However, he is training his younger players to perform at a higher level while adding additional talented players to the roster.

“The kids are excited, we’re excited, for next season,” said Monteiro. “It’s sad that this season has come to an end, but the highs this season were everything we had hoped for.”