Writing SNHU’s Story
VOLUME XXV
ISSUE 10
APRIL 10, 2019
PENMENPRESS.COM
ceta building opening set for january 2020 Austin Bonnell Outreach Manager
Since the summer of 2018, SNHU students have seen the new CETA (College of Engineering, Technology and Aeronautics) building being constructed in between Washington Hall and the Hospitality Center. This new building is supposed to have many amenities and lab spaces for CETA program students by its completion at the end of 2019. The CETA program was established in late 2017 to expand affordable and accessible engineering degree programs in the New England region. When the parent company of Daniel Webster College (DWC) in Nashua, N.H. declared bankruptcy and
CETA building under construction. (image credit: Kim Sarah I)
announced the closing of all its schools, SNHU stepped in to help DWC students finish the year and continue pursuing their degrees. It has become rather successful due to the high demand of engineering-based jobs around New Hampshire and the United States. CETA is home to many different STEM programs at SNHU including computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering and countless others. Right now, many of the CETA classes are held in the engineering annex on campus: a 20,000-square-foot facility with classrooms and computer labs, as well as a radar simulator, a tower . . . . . . . . . . . Continue to page 2
Game Art and Programming retention to be addressed
Devin Pouliot Staff Writer
Recently, rumors have been spread about many students dropping out of the Game Art and Development major and the Game Programming and Development major. However, multiple sources have confirmed that this is not the case. While an exact number of how many students have left the two majors could not be gathered, it is estimated that 300 students have changed majors “The general opinion is… it is too much,” said Benjamin Alves (‘21), a student in the Game Art major. Alves knows many friends and classmates who have switched majors from the mass amount of work and time required to complete course work. Alves also commented
that how the courses were taught, being relatively new, played a role in so many students changing majors. The Game Art and Development major and Game Programming and Development major follow a similar structure with fundamental skills taught in classes building off each other as students progress through the programs. Classes consist of, but are not limited to, 3D Modeling and Animation, Texturing for Games, Character Animation, Environment Design, and Character Design for the Game Art and Development Major. The Game Programming and Development major has classes of Game Programming I and II, Scripting for Games, Studio Environment and Game Engine
Development (Graphics Game Engines). “Most students find that what they are working on isn’t really what they want to do,” Coordinator for Game Art, Ed Brillant, said. Brillant said that he and David Carigg, Coordinator for Game Programming, found that many students simply switch from Game Art to Game Programming and vice versa. Otherwise, students leave the program entirely and find majors that have similar qualities to Game Art and Programming, like Graphic Design and Creative Writing Brillant also admitted that both degrees are not easy to complete. Many students may not fully understand the challenges of creating a video game and this leads them to change
Benny Alves working on a project (image credit: Rosa Valente) majors. When asked if he was upset by students leaving the program, Brillant said no. “I’m happy they recognize it isn’t for them,” Brillant said. To reduce the numbers of students dropping out of
the majors, Brillant mentioned the collaboration of the Game Art and Game Programming departments to create a freshman level class that incorporates aspects of game art and game programming. “We think this new in-
troduction to both majors will be something special,” he said. This class will provide freshmen who are interested in the majors with an introduction to both majors so they can decide what major to pursue.
the penmen press
page 2
editorial tHE PENMEN PRESS STAFF 2018-2019
CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF Nick Klotz nicholas.klotz@snhu.edu CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF Nikki Fain nikki.fain@snhu.edu ONLINE MANAGER Ryan Barrett ryan.barrett3@snhu.edu BUSINESS MANAGER Michael Carignan michael.carignan@snhu.edu OUTREACH MANAGER Austin Bonnell austin.bonnell@snhu.edu COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER Maddie Covino madison.covino@snhu.edu SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Jacy Bergeron jacy.bergeron@snhu.edu PODCAST EDITOR Samantha Aguilar-Hernandez samantha.aguilarhernandez@snhu.edu LEAD COPY EDITOR Catherine LaChance catherine.lachance@snhu.edu NEWS EDITOR Rosa Valente rosa.valente@snhu.edu LIFESTYLE EDITOR Nicholas VonSchantz-Ricci nicholas.ricci1@snhu.edu OPINIONS EDITOR Spencer Fennell spencer.fennell@snhu.edu SPORTS EDITOR Madyson Alexander madyson.alexander@snhu.edu LAYOUT EDITOR Emma Sheehan emma.sheehan@snhu.edu LEAD VIDEOGRAPHER Jaime Mailloux jaime.mailloux@snhu.edu PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Kyle Griffin kyle.griffin@snhu.edu
involvement crisis
A student leader’s biggest fear is undoubtedly a lack of engagement. The hour before an event or a meeting is rife with anxiety. Some is duly given to the organization of the event, but deeper is the fear that no one will come. The fear that all of this hard work and money will dissipate into the air. This fear has been far more manifested this year than others in recent memory. Student leaders are speaking in hushed tones about it, stressed over the lack of involvement. SGA’s Executive Officer Ryan Evaul (‘19) said, “Involvement has been lacking. I don’t think marketing is as effective with the firstyear generation, and I think the first-year class is more focused on classes than anything else.” Other club leaders have also worried about an oversaturation of events. As there is less involvement, it seems that more events pop up across bulletin boards. Quantity is not quality, and it is driving students away. Literally. One freshman, Anna Norton (‘22), said that the events at SNHU
to be a part of student involvement, we need to champion all student involvement. Clubs have been trying numerous strategies to increase student involvement too. SGA emphasized marketing this semester, but still only saw three new students join, and an election voter turnout rate of 9.5%, defeating last year’s rate of 15%, which had been the lowest in five years. Some clubs have attempted incentivizing programs to retain students. Gaming Club has been notoriously successful with this by taking students to PAX east. Now, RadioSNHU President Joe Licciardello (‘20) is looking to do something similar where students can “earn enough points to go to a concert of [their] choosing.” Licciardello rationalized this by explaining that to get students engaged, a club has to “bribe” them away from their friends and video games. For many student leaders right now, there’s a sense of desperation. Engagement would be better coming from passion than incentivization.
Future of Ceta bUILDING . . . . . . .
FACULTY ADVISOR Jon Boroshok j.boroshok@snhu.edu
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 email us at penmenpress@snhu.edu.
don’t interest her, and she gets bored often. “When I get bored at SNHU, I go to Boston.” Clubs and organizations should instead focus on intentional and relevant programming. Club events should actively relate back to their mission statements and minimize passive programs, so there are not multiple trivia nights, Smash tournaments, or block parties in a few weeks. We plead guilty too. Intentional programming diversifies the events across campus while minimizing repetitive events. Quality of the event can also be improved, because club members will be developing events that relate back to their interests. Taylor DeForrest (‘21), the incoming Gaming Club president, brought up the influx of game night events and wished that Gaming Club had been included. For example, various game-based events have been presented by the Athletics Department, the Office of Student Involvement, and programs through Residence Life without asking Gaming Club to be involved. If we, as clubs and organizations, are going
simulator, an aeronautics lab, and a static tower lab. Engineering and technology students also have access to a robotics lab, a mechanical lab, an electrical lab and a fully stocked machine shop. SNHU is building the new CETA building to hold Conceive Design
Continued from page 1 Implement Operate (CDIO) hubs where students can work on their design projects as well as teaching labs, new classrooms and print labs, a computer lab, a welding lab, a wood shop, and additional machine shop space, as well as a café and meeting spaces.
According to Yan Xing, the Dean of CETA at SNHU, “The new building will be officially open in January 2020. The whole project will be done between October and November 2019, and we need at least two months to move in and prep for the new start.”
the penmen press
news
page 3
Break the Silence for LGBTQIA+ Youth
The National Day of Silence aims to show solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. (image credit: Kyle Griffin) Rosa Valente raise awareness and rec- ers so anytime you can mation about Day of “The goal is to be “Any way we can News Editor ognize and illustrate the use [initiatives] to show Silence as well as but- able to advocate, to support initiatives like silencing of LGBTQIA+ the support but then tons, shirts and pledges make improvements, that I think is realThe Day of Silence youth. It’s mainly fo- also help the commu- for those who would changes, provide sup- ly important for the is a national day of cused on how bullying nity learn more about like to participate. port and a safe environ- Commission,” said acknowledgment for and harassment of different diverse groups Flores and Rieger ment for everybody at Rieger.The rally will those in the LGBTQIA+ LGBTQIA+ youth are on campus is always both spoke about their SNHU,” Rieger said. provide light refreshcommunity who have swept under the rug, helpful.” hopes for the rally in The President’s ments and souvenirs lost their voice due to and this happens a lot The President’s the Pub to be an oppor- Commission for for the Day of Silence suicide, bullying or oth- especially in education- Commission for tunity for more discus- LGBTQIA+ Advocacy along with uplifting er forms of harassment. al settings,” Flores said. LGBTQIA+ Advocacy sion about how SNHU is also responsible for discussion and stories. This year, it takes According to will also be tabling can become more in- the Faces of Pride that Anyone who wishes place on Friday, April GSAFE, an advocacy in the Dining Center clusive than it already can be found around to learn more about 12, and the President’s group for LGBTQIA+ for the week preced- is as well as providing campus. Rieger spoke the Day of Silence is Commission for youth in Wisconsin, the ing their event on the participants an outlet about her desire to encouraged to stop by LGBTQIA+ Advocacy Day of Silence was orig- twelfth, from 11 a.m. to share their experi- continue to support ini- the tables in the Dining at SNHU will be hold- inally enacted at the to 1 p.m. They will be ence in the LGBTQIA+ tiatives like this during Center or go to glsen. ing a Break the Silence University of Virginia providing more infor- community. her time as co-chair. org/day-silence. rally in the Last Chapter in 1996 for a class projPub at 3 p.m. the same ect on nonviolent proday. test. That year, over 150 The Day of Silence students participated. provides an opportu- Only one year later in nity for those in the 1997, the day became LGBTQIA+ community a national protest with to show solidarity with over 100 colleges and others in their commu- campuses participatnity who may not have ing. Today, over 10,000 the easiest experience schools participate in being who they truly this protest. are. It also provides an “I feel like support opportunity for those and education are two who are not a part of of the biggest things,” the LGBTQIA+ com- said Kristina Rieger, munity to demonstrate business student coortheir alliance and edu- dinator at the Wolak cate themselves on the Learning Center and issues concerning the second-year co-chair community. for the commission. Assistant Director “Showing support for of Freshman Admission all different students, Amanda Flores spoke staff, faculty that are about the President’s part of different groups, Commission for whether it’s LGBTQIA+ LGBTQIA+ Advocacy’s or different diversity mission and how it g r o u p s . . . s o m e t i m e s aligns with the Day of people just don’t know Silence. or they’re not aware so “We’re looking to they just put on blindStudents participating in Day of Silence celebrations in the pub. (image credit: SNHUOnCampus)
the penmen press
page 4
news
Demystifying the Makerspace One Project at a Time
Matthew Rubenstein Staff Writer
There’s a place on campus where students can make their creations come to life. The Makerspace is a lab in the back of the library’s first floor. While the walls and
tables full of equipment can feel intimidating, it’s open for all students and faculty to use. The Makerspace puts creative technologies within fingertips of the students, including computers for design, 3D printers, sewing machines, sticker mak-
(image credit: Eli Hark)
Amy Sumsion Staff Writer On April 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., SNHU’s Financial Literacy office will celebrate its new office location in Exeter Hall down the hall from Student Financial Services. A little over three years ago, the Financial Literacy office was created to help students learn about student loan management and basic personal financial wellness. The Financial Literacy team works out of the Student 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. The team’s mission is to set students on a path to a successful financial future through education and
er, button maker, virtual reality gaming, laser edger for wood and glass and much more. “Our goal is to give people the opportunity to build creative muscles” stated Christine Keenan, the Lab Assistant in the Makerspace. “It allows students to let their creative minds run free and push their creative limits. The Makerspace isn’t just a place for people to create. It is also a place where people can come and solve their own problems. A great example is if you rip your clothes, in the Makerspace you can go and learn how to sew it back together. You can solve your own problems and learn a new skill in the process.” For clubs, the Makerspace is also a vaulable resource. If a group wants stickers, buttons or
The Makerspace is a valuable resource for students. (image credit: Eli Hark) even notebooks with D&D figurines and spread the word about binding, then they paint them. the Makerspace and can craft them at the Lately, the get more people to Makerspace as an alter- Makerspace has been realize the opportuninative to buying them. pushing out many ties that the space has. The Gaming Club plans events and workshops, Graduating seniors can to set up time in the almost one each day. even customize and Makerspace to create The staff wants to personalize their caps.
The interest and value for the program have certainly grown a lot,” Koziell said. Ashley Burton, a counselor for the Financial Literacy team, thinks that financial literacy is important because “students are going to use it every day for the rest of their lives. Managing your money is an essential part of living on your own and being an adult. It is extremely important to be armed with the knowledge to make educated decisions.” “There is a real lack of personal finance education in primary and secondary school. Students get to the point when they are ready for college and they are taking out loans, typically for large amounts, and they do not necessarily have a full understanding of how interest works, what a cosigner
is, or what the implications of repayment are going to be,” Koziell said. With the growth of the team, the Financial Literacy office has recently changed locations in order to have a more accessible location for SNHU campus students to access help. Students can book one-on-one appointments with the financial literacy counselors or complete Exit Counseling with Lynn Butterfield prior to graduation. During these one-onone meetings, students can learn more about their student borrowing, estimate repayment amounts for federal student loans, learn more about mitigating student debt, develop budgeting skills, understand more about credit scores and management, and discover additional resources
Financial Literacy Office Grand Opening
counseling. Senior Financial Aid Specialist Kerry Koziell helped develop the Financial Literacy team over the last three years and, since then, the team has grown to a team of three counselors and has served over 1,000 students each year through classroom workshops, debt check-up meetings, events and partnerships with other student-centered groups.” [The team] started off as just me in a cubical reaching out to instructors to see if I could come present to their class or putting out announcements asking students to come in and sit and talk with me. Today, we are at the point where we reach over 1,000 students a year through appointments, events and classroom presentations.
to further enhance their financial literacy. Koziell said, “The Financial Literacy team’s goal is to lead students to resources that are going to help them have a full understanding to make decisions that will assist them to move ahead in the future.” Walk-ins are also welcome and the counselors are always excited to meet with and assist students. The Financial Literacy
team dedicates its time to ensure the students at SNHU are prepared for their financial future after graduation. Students can find more information on the Financial Literacy Facebook page, SNHU Making CENT$ Financial Literacy and can also schedule one-on-one meetings with the team. Message finlit@snhu. edu for more information or to book an appointment.
The new office. (image credit: Kyle Griffin)
the penmen press
page 5
news
Fulbright Brings Opportunities for a Bright Future
Spencer Fennell Opinions Editor
When college comes to an end, many graduate students may not know exactly what to do. Luckily for them, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affair’s Fulbright program can grant them a great educational experience to learn about different cultures and continue developing their skill sets even after graduation. A workshop presented by Outreach and Recruitment Officer Aferdita Krasniqi to learn more about this program is scheduled for April 15 at 10 a.m. in ACC106. Fulbright is a government-funded program that gives out grants to eligible graduate students allowing them to travel to any of 140 different countries worldwide.
This program allows students to get some real-life experience working with people of a different culture and can help grow the student’s knowledge of their own studied subject, as well as learning how to accept diversity and seeing what different cultures are like. Fulbright gives these opportunities to nearly
(image credit: Fulbright) 2,000 students annu- as well as internationally, and according to al students who wish Laurelann Easton (‘19), to learn more about the graduate assistant American culture. The of the honors program, program wishes to allow Fulbright has “a passion for American students to for increasing mutual learn from international understanding among students, and for them to nations and cultures.” learn from us. Fulbright aims to alThis exchange of low equal opportunity to knowledge can help both graduate students both parties in the long who live in America, run and, according to
may not have worked because people either forget or do not want to pay the extra fee, so they did not tell their cashier. It became an “abused privilege”, said VanAvery. Because of this abused privilege, the Dining Center and Sodexo lost money since they did not receive the extra money from the unnoticed double meat portions. If a student does not tell their cashier about their double portion, then the cashier will price it as a single portion of meat. The double portions are also harmful to a student’s health. A double meat portion is twelve to sixteen ounces of meat instead of the usual six to eight ounces. Sixteen ounces is one pound of meat. According to the
article published by Everyday Health, “Getting Portion Sizes Back Under Control” written by Kristen Stewart, the United States Department of Agriculture recommends that adults eat five and a half ounces of lean meat per day to stay within the daily 2,000 calorie recommendation. Anything more could prove to be detrimental to a student’s health if they continue to eat that much long-term. The double meat portions are a thing of the past and will continue as such as long there are students who misuse the double meat portion honor code. However, this privilege being taken away may help students make healthier choices while eating at the Dining Hall.
Easton, “In terms of what this does for you and your resume, it is really prestigious and is one of the most recognizable international programs in the world.” Not only does this program allow students to travel abroad off a government grant, but it also allows people to bridge the gap between cultures
and learn what it’s like to live somewhere else. It helps anyone who wants to learn social skills and how to work with people who are completely different from them. “It’s not intended only for humanities and social sciences. It’s also applicable for all STEM programs. They encourage applicants from all fields, including interdisciplinary ones,” Easton said, explaining that Fulbright wants this experience for as many graduate students as possible. Fulbright can be a very informational experience as students travel across the world and learn more about other cultures. Any students who have questions about the Fulbright program can attend the workshop on April 15, or visit https://eca.state. gov/fulbright.
Dining Hall Stops Serving Double Meat Portions
Correy Pelletier Staff Writer
The Dining Hall stopped serving double portions of meat last September in stations such as Mill City Grill and the Deli. They discovered that students were not informing cashiers about double portions on their plate. This resulted in students only paying for single portions of meat which lost the Dining Hall money. According to Dan VanAvery, the general manager of the Dining Hall, “An honor system of telling [the cashiers about double portions] doesn’t actually work. We’ve tried that. One out of three or out of four [students] might tell us, ‘Hey, this is a double portion.’” The honor system
Alundra Hooper weighing food at the register. (image credit: Kim Sarah I)
the penmen press
Angelina Iosso Staff Writer
page 6
lifestyle
On-Call Counseling Makes Wellness Center Accessible 24/7
The Wellness Center serves not only to promote a healthy lifestyle, but to also serve the SNHU community during times of crisis. The folks at the heart of the wellness center have introduced a new program that can assist students even when the offices themselves are closed.
Frank Chin Staff Writer Nicholas VonSchantz-Ricci Lifestyle Editor Manchester has no shortage of local bakeries churning out cupcakes, muffins, cookies and other craveable confections. One item that is seldom found around here is the humble cheesecake. This smooth and creamy classic is getting a gourmet update at Mr. Baker Cheesecake, a brand-new bakery specializing in everyone’s favorite cheesy dessert. Owner Dante Baker began baking cheesecakes in 2010. He comes from a rather unconventional background, having gained tremendous success as a hip-hop artist under the name Quiet Akillez. His decision to start the business stemmed from wanting to pursue another venture apart from his music and the desire to pass something down to his children, who love to cook. “I wanted something
This service lies in its new On-Call Counseling service. As stated by Felix Pizzi, Director of the Wellness Center, this service “allows students to reach a live-counselor to address any urgent mental health concerns.” This system is available from 4:30 p.m. – 8 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and on Tuesdays from
6 p.m. – 8 a.m. as well as the entire weekend. Students can now gain access to the Wellness Center's services at any time. Every student has access to this service when they dial the number: 603-645-9679. Once a call has been placed, an automated message will begin stating which numbers to press for the desired outcome. By pressing
else that was different. You have to have a plan B, C, D, F, G. I didn’t want it to be what other rappers or entertainers have like clothing or cologne,” said Baker. “I just jumped right into it.” After almost a decade of business, Baker decided to open a brick-and-mortar shop in the former Kay’s Bakery space on Lake Avenue. The popular Greek bakery served Manchester’s Eastside for many years before closing in 2017. “Having the internet and [having] a storefront is totally different, especially when you’re going in where a bakery was. You’re filling a void in a neighborhood. For 30 to 35 years, you had a baker that was one of the nicest ladies ever,” said Baker. Although Baker knew the community needed a local bakery, he had no intention of replicating the business model of Kay’s. “It’s big shoes to be able to fill,” said Baker. “If you’re trying to be somebody else, then
you're setting yourself up for failure. Nobody can be Kay,” said Baker. Among the most intriguing things about Mr. Baker’s is the huge abundance of flavors. Baker claims to offer 500 varieties. There are classic options such as strawberry, chocolate chip and oreo, but fans of adventurous flavors can opt for one of the specialty flavors, with options including cherry chocolate brownie, white chocolate macadamia nut and the completely original “cultural vibe,” a tropical combination of strawberry, kiwi, mango and coconut. All flavors are available to be ordered in advance as whole cheesecakes. A selection of flavors is available by the slice each week. Customers also have the option to create their own flavor. All it takes is a quick glance to realize that this is not the dense, leaden New York-style cheesecake that most people are used to. This cheesecake has a uniquely light and
one, it will connect you with public safety; two will inform you how to get urgent medical care; three will connect you with an on-call counselor, and four will leave a message to the office that will be returned on the next business day. This On-Call Counseling service is available to any student that needs the support presently and cannot wait until the next
business day, no matter how big or small their problem is at that moment. Pizzi states that The Wellness Center wants “to remove the barriers” for SNHU students and provide a resource “that provides access to students with a live counselor without any intermediaries.” This new service is just one more way that the Wellness Center is working to care for the
Mr. Baker Cheesecake Whips Up Inventive Sweets on Manchester’s East Side
SNHU population. During its regular hours, the office offers health services, counseling services and health promotion services for all students to take advantage of. When this office is not open for these other services, the On-Call Counseling service will be there to support SNHU students with just the click of a few numbers.
Dante Baker, owner. (image credit: Nicholas VonSchantz-Ricci) fluffy texture. Many of the cheesecakes sit on a traditional graham cracker crust that has a bit of added sugar to spice it up. After one bite, the fluffiness of the cheesecake starts traveling around your taste buds at full-speed. Many more bites will undoubtedly follow. Baker also sells fresh muffins, coffee and other treats, as well
as New England Coffee for those wanting a one-two punch of sugar and caffeine to get them through the day. Baker has numerous plans to expand his business, including introducing vegan cheesecakes and cheesecake-infused drinks. He also wants to open a steakhouse with a similar name to further increase busi-
ness. Additionally, he has recently started using Grubhub for delivery service to further extend his cheesecake reach across the Manchester area. Mr. Baker Cheesecake may be a small, quiet shop, but it has the strength of the Greek legend Achilles. Visit them at 443 Lake Avenue Manchester, NH.
the penmen press
page 7
Lifestyle
How Students Can Combat The Pacific Trash Vortex
(image credit: Francis Perez) Environmental Club Contributing Writer It’s hard to conceptualize just how much
Taylor DeForrest Staff Writer Spring is here, and job and internship interviews are quickly approaching. Whether it's a summer job in retail or an internship at your dream company, one of the most important steps in the process is the interview. When meeting a potential employer, it’s essential to leave a positive impression, and the first step in accomplishing that is dressing to impress. The combination of dressing professionally, having an impressive resume and showcasing personality serves to increase the chances of being accepted into a position. An outfit can be a crucial part of the overall first impression, but there are
plastic pollution humans have generated and thrown away. To answer simply, it’s a lot. Marine pollution,
especially plastic, has been dumped and thrown away into the earth’s oceans for decades.
other factors that must be considered. There is not a copy and paste look for everyone to wear because not all jobs require a suit and tie. The process of determining the appropriate look requires three steps: evaluating, organizing and preparing. First, evaluate the position and company. It’s important to dress for the desired job, not one's current job. Research the company's dress code, understand what the company stands for and evaluate. The job itself does not necessarily dictate the attire that should be worn. The workplace culture may be more important. Most interviews are business casual and if the dress code cannot be found, default to this.
Business professional attire may be preferred for business majors. Organize the look accordingly. Once the establishment's standards have been established, it’s time to get creative. If the future job has a strict set of guidelines, be sure to follow them. Open-toed shoes, micromini skirts, crop tops, piercings and unnatural hair colors are usually not accepted. Some less obvious deal-breakers include jeans, sneakers and flashy jewelry. Tattoos are often covered up as some companies do not allow tattoos to be exposed in the workplace. However, some companies look for people with tattoos and piercings, especially if their demographic caters
Unfortunately, the problem is only getting worse. Garbage has accumulated into what is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, otherwise known as the Pacific Trash Vortex. The entire patch is trapped in the Pacific Ocean under the forces of wind patterns and currents. The entire sum of the vortex is 1.6 million square kilometers, more than twice the size of Texas, and holds roughly 80,000 metric tons of garbage. This paints an ugly picture. Even though the information is alarming, what’s especially concerning is that most plastic waste in the ocean is not visual to the human eye, unlike the trash vortex. It’s commonly
known that most plastics are not biodegradable. Instead of breaking down safely into the environment, plastics wear down into smaller pieces. These smaller pieces are referred to as “microplastics.” Even though they are not necessarily visible, they wreak havoc on marine ecosystems. In addition to this, National Geographic reports, “… about 70% of marine debris actually sinks to the bottom of the ocean.” Even though this problem seems impossible for one person to address, that’s not true. In fact, there are easy and inexpensive ways for students on campus to reduce their plastic footprint. For example, the student center refills reusable
coffee cups for only 99 cents. This is an excellent money-saver for coffee fiends on a budget. Additionally, investing in a quality water bottle can result in serious savings. If a bottle of Dasani costs $1.29, then buying a bottle five days a week will cut almost $6.50 from one’s meal plan. Buying one every day of the semester will cost a whopping $96.75. Choosing sustainable options not only saves the planet, but it also saves your wallet. These are some of the things we discuss in The Environmental Club. Feel free to email us at environmentalclub@snhu.edu for more information or to discuss some rad sustainability ideas you may have.
Spring into Interview Season: A Quick Guide to Interview Dress Code
An interview taking place. (image credit: PXHERE) to others with similar aesthetics, such as Vans, the notable shoe company that caters to skateboarders and those with alternative styles. Most job postings will have an interview dress code with items that aren't allowed. Prep for the interview. Shower, brush your teeth and make an effort to
look your best. Makeup is a personal choice, however, it can serve as a confidence-booster for many individuals. Men must make sure they are either cleanly shaven or trimmed. Hair should be clean, brushed and styled in a way that is presentable. If the company requires to have hair up,
long or cut to a certain length, be sure to follow those rules. Keep nails clean and avoid really long flashy nails, which can be seen as unprofessional. Career Services can provide additional advice to ensure the interview process goes smoothly. Email them at careerdevelopment@snhu.edu.
the penmen press
page 8
opinion
CAPE Can Avoid a Concert Flop by Asking What We Think
Students at SNHUStock. (image credit: Eli Hark) Nick Klotz would help engage the Activities Council is Editor in Chief “less involved.” a recognized student “I’m sick of EDM organization with a Who else almost shows, we need more mission to plan regular didn’t notice that variety,” said Allison student events as well SNHUStock happened? Rapoza (‘21). Rapoza as one concert in the The concert left just suggested that CAPE spring. Depending on as quickly as it came “put it up to a vote.” the year, they also plan this year. CAPE hosted Many students sur- a small concert for the Groove Boston, a DJ veyed expressed they fall. group catered to college only stayed for fifteen “Every fall, one of students. This was their minutes or less. Some, the primary things they second consecutive year expecting to enjoy a do to inform [the conas the headliner for show full of remixes, cert] selection process SNHUStock. were disappointed with is to create a survey that The event saw 700 music that didn’t sound gets sent from the vice students, according to too different from their president of student afCAPE, and around 500 party playlists. Others fairs to every student on students according to did not go at all. In campus,” said Britany SGA’s Penmen Pride sys- total,1,000 tickets to M. Gallagher, coordinatem, the organization’s the free concert were tor of student activities platform to track event booked, but 300 were and organizations at engagement and atten- not redeemed. For com- KSC. dance. It was a rather parison, 2017’s Major This survey asks impressive turnout con- Concert with Fetty Wap students what genres sidering the event only sold out of its 1,500 $10 they’re into. It also progarnered attention the ($6.79 during the pro- vides an opportunity for week prior to showtime motional period) tickets open-ended feedback. (and the week right after in less than 24 hours. This year, the orgaSpring Break). CAPE needs to un- nization took it one step Despite this, this derstand students’ ex- further. They gave their year’s two concerts left pectations. They need to booking agent a budget many students feeling ask students what they ahead of time and asked dissatisfied. think. for some artist they “A rock concert Other universities, could book in each of wouldn’t be too bad such as Keene State the five or six genres. once in a while,” said College (KSC), have Students had three or Levi Johnson (‘21), who utilized this approach four choices in each still thought the show and garnered promising genre. Plymouth State was good. Johnson results. Univerisity executes a suggested more variety KSC’s Social similar survey.
This year, KSC is bringing A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie for their Spring concert. In the past, they have booked Tinashe, Mac Miller and Big Sean. KSC’s Student Activities Council has an operating budget of $140,000, which is similar to CAPE’s 2018-2019 budget of $142,135. Both organizations have a separate allocation for concerts. CAPE allocates $70,000 for the show and can request an additional $30,000 from the Student Activities Fee Advisory Board. “I decided not to survey when I became vice president based on how successful Fetty Wap and SNHUstock 2018 was,” said Shannon Gayron, vice president of CAPE. Based on the 2018 analytics from BuzzAngle Music, the
top three music genres in the U.S. were HipHop/Rap (24%), Pop (19%) and Rock (11%). Of the last four concerts (major concerts and SNHUstocks), three have been EDM shows, a genre ranking at number seven with a share of about 4% of total listening. CAPE already has the execution down. They have made safety a number one priority, and the community is thankful for that (the students less so, as it meant the outdoor show was indoors this year). CAPE should be putting more forethought into the acts, and that includes regularly asking for feedback. The survey could be sent independently by CAPE, through Student Affairs or it could even be included in the Spring SGA ballot. The
synergy would mean both organizations would see a healthy set of data, and the survey would get twice the promotion on campus. Concert planning with outside acts is not a small task, and unpredictability means an artist’s price could jump before a final bid is made. This happened last year with Cheat Codes, who were CAPE’s second choice. The same thing nearly happened this year at KSC, but they planned ahead. It is likely that, by using survey data, they had a reasonable second choice lined up. If CAPE sent a survey to students regarding their concerts, students would feel more engaged in the selection process. It’s hard to be upset when someone cares about what you think.
the penmen press
page 9
opinion
A Changing SGA Brings Controversial Marketing Strategies Robbie McCluskey Staff Writer
The SNHU Student Government Association (SGA) is in the process of implementing numerous changes to its organization. These changes include elections for members of the SGA e-board and student senate, a complete overhaul to the structure of how it functions as an organization and an improved focus on its mission. As a result, students of SNHU and residents, in particular, have recently been exposed to an influx of marketing strategies taken on by SGA in an attempt to raise awareness of the recent efforts. SGA has invested heavily in marketing themselves using various platforms like whiteboards around campus, flyers on bulletin boards and even sponsored advertisements on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. They have also gotten involved in campus activities as a sponsor of both Casino Night on March 21 and of the Munchiez Food Truck on the 23. One marketing meth-
od, however, may have been too aggressive and has consequently been the source of frustration among a large group of students. Members of SGA went through each residence hall on campus and posted flyers on every student’s door; a move that left students feeling as though they were trying too hard to push their agenda. One student said, “I don’t like how it’s all in my face.” Of course, the point of marketing something is to increase exposure and get a message across, but in this situation, students are justified in feeling frustrated. Students go without a lot of things when living on campus and one of the most significant is a space of their own. There is not much room for personal privacy at any college let alone SNHU, so having a small area to go back to without being bothered by the outside world is a necessity for decompression and personal sanity. Even using the outside of an apartment or dorm door for flyers creates the feeling that your living space is also
An SGA flyer found in Kingston Hall. (image credit: Eli Hark) someone else’s advertising platform. SNHU’s policy only allows for clubs and organizations to post flyers i n d orms by submitting them to Residence Life first. SGA did not go through this process. Instead, the organization had special advertising permission from Residence Life. The SGA flyers may be the only ones posted
SGA’s van parked in front of the Dining Hall. (image credit: Kyle Griffin)
right now, but if these are accepted, what reason is there for any other people not to post things on doors? If this is allowed to fly, everyone’s doors could eventually look like the real-life embodiment of an email’s junk folder. SGA does not currently have the strongest reputation on campus due to a past of inadequately representing the voices of students as well as there being somewhat of a disconnect between student and SGA perspectives. This marketing mishap is a small example of that kind of disconnect, but it should also be recognized that this potential mistake was made as a part of a bigger initiative to restructure SGA to better fulfill its responsibilities to the student body. The mission of the SGA is to represent the best interests of the student community through shared governance, sound fiscal policy, beneficial services
and leadership. SGA Executive Officer Ryan Evaul made himself available to go further into detail about the developing changes and how they aim to focus more on honoring that mission. Evaul highlighted the fact that SGA had not been a proper representative for the voices of the students and would suffer from making goals for the organization that would rarely be achieved. There was also a problem with the organization’s ability to address student concerns being submitted into their system. Lastly, SGA dealt with an inconsistent level of awareness among members with regards to things going on within the organization. All of these issues ultimately led to an inability to claim student concerns as their main focus. According to Evaul, these issues are the main priority in the restructuring of SGA. With the aid of a new student
concern tracking system being developed by SGA Chief Information Officer Charlotte Webb, senators will be immediately assigned concerns and suggestions submitted by students. The submissions will remain in the system until they have been taken care of. There will also be a more thorough training procedure for senators to maintain a consistent level of awareness and unity. Today, the national environment leaves people overly ready to feel disdain for anything related to politics or government of any kind. Perfection will never exist, and there are many who already know that SGA in the past has been a far distance from perfection, but given the moves being made and the attitudes of the members of our current SGA, there could be some substantial improvements coming down the line that warrant the recent marketing strategies.
the penmen press
page 10
arts & entertainment Four Reasons to Watch “Love, Death and Robots”
Samantha Aguilar-Hernandez Podcast Editor
You are never too young or too old to watch an animated show. After all, not everything that looks cartoony is meant for kids. Some animations include graphic violence, mature content, supernatural/cyberpunk elements, and nudity, which, by all means, are not suitable for children. These are some of the elements you will find in Netflix’s new web television series, “Love, Death and Robots.” “Love, Death and Robots” is an 18-episode collection of adult animated shorts with terrifying creatures, dark comedy and twisted endings that explores
the darkest corners of animation. In this NSFW animated series, we encounter a diverse list of fiction stories, from farmers battling aliens to Adolf Hitler dying in various ways through a simulation. Though each short adds an exceptional element to the series, it would take a lot to write a review of an 18-episode collection of shorts. Instead, here’s an insight into some episodes viewers should check out. ‘Zima Blue’ has to be the most popular among fans of the collection. This short has a heartbreaking story that starts with a world-renowned cyborg and ends with a pool vacuum. ‘Zima Blue’ excels almost in everything: story, characters, animation
and plot twists. With its unique style of animation and transcendent plot, ‘Zima Blue’ explores the concept of beauty, inspiration, human ambition and how a human creation can reflect or even surpass the creator itself. There is no order in which you should watch the collection of shorts, so if you do decide to give it a try, ‘Zima Blue’ should definitely be the first one on your list. In ‘Beyond the Aquila Rift,’ we follow the captain of The Crew of the Blue Goose who awakens months later after finishing a job only to find himself light years off course, struggling to come to terms with his surroundings. The plot itself is terrifying. There is no doubt that after you finish watching
to hint at throughout the movie add to the great storytelling. Just like in "Get Out," Jordan Peele is hinting towards a bit of a bigger meaning, rather than the movie being there for pure entertainment. In Get Out, the themes of racism and prejudice are very apparent, but in "Us," these meanings seem to be a bit more hidden and take a bit of thought to derive your own meanings. Throughout the movie, there seems to be a lot of hints toward oppression and how someone’s upbringing can manipulate exactly who they become. The main point showing this oppression is the fact that these duplicates were forced into a deprived living situation, while their counterparts could
thrive up above. These people were oppressed and deprived of any form of education, relationships or emotion because they were “failures,” according to other people’s standards. This deprivation of basic human needs had made these people turn into these feral creatures who murdered on impulse. They were the “lesser people” and wanted a chance to eliminate the people who were above them, so they could stand on top. The viewpoint was well carried out throughout the film, without being shoved down the viewers' throats. These messages were sewn throughout the production, instead of being stamped right on the front. This makes the mes-
this short, you will start questioning your own self-existence and free will (If we didn’t have enough with Matrix or Inception, huh?). The visuals in ‘Beyond the Aquila Rift’ are maginificent, so lifelike that you will start questioning whether you are watching a real movie or if you are still watching an animation. The short was directed by Léon Bérelle, Dominique Boidin, Rémi Kozyra and Maxime Luère of Unit Image, a high-end animation studio that specializes in computer generation and visual effects. Though the short has great visuals and a colossal existential question that disturbs your mind, it was the repetitive nudity and unnecessary love scene, that
turned the short into a deal breaker. However, I rapidly became sucked in once again by those insane visuals that dragged me back to appreciate the short. ‘Good Hunting’ is an outstanding love story between a shape-shifting creature and an inventor happening within a cruel world consumed by greed and hate in the era of colonialism set in China. Though ‘Good Hunting’ is done in a very common style of animation, there are certain visual moments that enchant the eyes of the viewer and beautifully compliment what is already an enchanting story. While some Netflix viewers may be hypnotized by the figure of a topless cyborg
who can turn into a mecha-fox that goes on a vengeance rampage, animation aficionados like me may be bound to pay closer attention to the subtle lines of animation defining each one of the character’s human and robot-like characteristics and qualities. Each short in this collection has its unique essence that offers every viewer something to talk about after the credits rolls, either it is the style of animation, goofy lines, or far too graphic content. “Love, Death and Robots’” is an NSFW masterpiece with magnificent visuals and superb storylines that will either cause the most inexplicable feelings inside you or make you question the most simple concepts of life.
sages stand out even more, and I am almost positive there are other messages that I didn’t even think of that may have been hinted towards. Even casually watching the movie, it can still be a great time for
(image credit: Digital Spy) anyone who likes thriller experiences. It is a phenomenal combination of humor and horror with the switches between genres remaining fluid throughout the film. "Us" is a must-see film for anyone who is a
fan of Jordan Peele or his previous production. Even if you aren’t, this is a great movie to get you interested in his unique horror experiences and get you excited for anything new he plans to produce in the future.
“Us” Mediates Important Messages while being horrifying Spencer Fennell Opinions Editor
Witty banter and tense, thriller-like horror makes up the bulk of the sensational new movie production by Jordan Peele that is a must-see for any fans of his previous movie "Get Out." "Us" is a movie that takes on a strange concept of people having clones of themselves. These clones live deep underground and were forgotten about after a government experiment went haywire. They developed without any real emotion and most never learned to speak. This concept itself isn’t exactly groundbreaking. A government experiment going wrong is a usual go-to element in a lot of stories, but the other things that Jordan Peele seems
the penmen press
Catherine LaChance Lead Copy Editor The most difficult obstacle any athlete must overcome is an injury. Sometimes an injury can be so severe that it halts the athlete’s career entirely, but there are some cases when injured athletes battle through their ailment and return to their sport stronger than ever. Such is the case for SNHU baseball phenome Jake Walkinshaw. As a pitcher, Walkinshaw puts immense strain on his elbow, resulting in a greater risk for injury. The most common injury faced by pitchers is UCL tears, which is a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. These tears result in severe pain and immobility of the arm. Walkinshaw tore his UCL in March 2017. Two weeks after injury, he underwent Tommy John surgery which takes approximately one year to recover from. This caused him to sit in the
page 11
sports
Walkinshaw Strikes Out Injury to Dominate NE10 Pitching Field
dugout for the remainder of the 2017 season and the first 20 games of the 2018 season. Walkinshaw underwent intense shoulder strengthening and elbow rehabilitation throughout the recovery process post-surgery. He endured cupping therapy and dry needling to release tight muscle tissue. His physical therapist also encouraged him to gain weight and strength throughout his entire body. Doing so ultimately decreased the amount of stress he put on his shoulder and elbow and it significantly lowered his risk of reinjuring his ligament in the future. “I learned I wasn’t strong enough physically throughout my whole body to handle the force my arm was putting on my elbow,” said Walkinshaw. He is now approaching the two-year mark of his surgery and says he’s back 100%. “I’m completely healed,” he said. “[My elbow] feels better than it
ever has.” Walkinshaw states his injury no longer affects his playing, but he speaks to his teammates who are facing similar injuries to ensure they receive the best treatment they can get. “I let them know there’s no reason they can’t do the same thing I did if not better,” he said. Now that he’s back to the mound, Walkinshaw started in this year’s season opener against California State University of San Bernardino on February 8. He allowed just six hits and four runs over 3.1 innings. His performance led the Penmen to an 11-6 victory. “It was pretty exciting,” he said of his start. “It’s always cool to pitch game one of the season, especially after coming back from an injury. The win set the tone for the rest of the season.” A month later, Walkinshaw struck out a career-high 13 batters over eight shutout innings against Caldwell
Walkinshaw throws a pitch. (image credit: Eli Hark)
Two years after an injury, Walkinshaw has recovered. (image credit: Eli Hark) University in Myrtle Beach, leading the Penmen to a 9-2 victory. Walkinshaw has a total of four wins and zero losses this season. He has a career total of 20 wins. The incredible performances he produced this season landed him in a second-place tie with Derrick Sylvester on the SNHU Career Wins Leaderboard with 20 cumulative wins. He needs just eight more to surpass Alex Person who wracked up 28 wins over his career to take the lead. Walkinshaw is also tied for 12th place with Andrew Lalonde on the program’s Career Strikeout Leaderboard with 137 strikeouts. With these results, it is evident his injury no longer affects his pitch. “[The injury] is completely in the rearview mirror,” he said. “I’m not thinking about it anymore. If I were to think about that, I wouldn’t be able to pitch. I think the mental barrier is what stops some guys from
performing well and if you think about it on the mound, you’re not going to be successful.” Walkinshaw has been recognized by the NE10 three times this season for Pitcher of the Week. He earned the recognition for the weeks of February 25, March 11 and March 18. “It was all in good timing,” a humble Walkinshaw said of earning Pitcher of the Week nods. “When I threw the ball well, nobody else happened to throw the ball better. Each time, I was more surprised than the last time I got it. I’m just incredibly thankful each time for being recognized.” Walkinshaw also hopes to earn Pitcher of the Year at the end of the season. To do that, he said he needs to be more consistent with his throwing. Right now, Walkinshaw is focused on earning more wins and returning to the World Series. He wishes
to enjoy his last season with the Penmen and not worry about reinjuring his elbow. At the end of this season, Walkinshaw hopes to stay in healthy condition and earn a spot on a professional team. “It’s always been my dream,” he said about going pro. “If it happens, it would be amazing.” With a great pitch like his, he is sure to sell himself to the major leagues. If he doesn’t, though, he will look for other opportunities to incorporate baseball into his life. He will either find a part-time coaching position or a spot in a men’s league. “I’m not ready to give it up,” Walkinshaw said. “Baseball is my life.” He will graduate with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration this May and will look for full-time business management and sales positions in the New England area while finding ways to keep baseball in his life.
the penmen press
page 12
sports
SNHU Athletics Donate Soccer Balls to India
Children in India with soccer balls donated by SNHU. (image credit: SNHU) Delhi, India. over 700,000 people in Madyson Alexander This project was 91 slum communities. Sports Editor sparked when Dr. Justina The 30-year-old orgaSNHU athletic teams Oliveira, a member of nization was founded are constantly finding the psychology staff at by Dr. Kiran Martin, unique ways to give back. SNHU, was presented who graduated from Most recently, the SNHU with the opportunity to Delhi University with Athletic Department visit New Delhi for one two bachelor’s degrees and both soccer teams week through a nonprofit in both medicine and donated 28 soccer balls organization called Asha. surgery. Martin founded Asha, which means the organization shortly to children from slum communities across New “hope” in Hindi, benefits after treating victims of
Tim Charvat Staff Writer Over spring break, several SNHU sports teams escaped the cold of New England by traveling to Florida for a week of tournament competition. These teams included women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, softball and baseball. Men’s tennis played March 11-12 against Flagler and Palm Beach Atlantic. Juniors Willem van Biezen and Bas van Biezen won their doubles set against Flagler 6-3 and forced a tie point against Palm Beach. Gradute student Tiago Fernandez, who ranked 48 in the NCAA Division II, won his singles set against Palm Beach. This sent him to the finals round where he prevailed with a score of 10-6.
the cholera epidemic in 1988. Since then, Asha has been committed to providing services such as health care, education, empowerment and financial help. After hearing Dr. Martin speak at the Reservoir Church in Cambridge, MA, which has a partnership with Asha, Dr. Oliveira was inspired to take action and volunteer. Oliveira contacted Doug Blaise, the faculty athletic representative and a sports management professor, to find out if five soccer balls could be donated to the children. From there, Blaise contacted the coaches of the men’s and women’s soccer teams, Josh Taylor and Elie Monteiro, and the associate athletic director, James Gassman. Together, the SNHU Athletic Department and
both soccer programs compiled 28 soccer balls, which were then deflated and flown to India. Throughout the week, Oliveira helped distribute the soccer balls to multiple slum communities and utilize them for activities. Her experience in India was brightened by the overall excitement and generosity displayed by the kids. “The soccer balls were one really cool part of it. The kids loved it,” Oliveira said, “It was one contribution...that we left there for them.” Oliveira also mentioned the importance of having the opportunity to volunteer by physically going to India. Experiencing the different culture and learning about the communities had a powerful and lasting impact on her life. “It would not have
meant the same thing to just ship the soccer balls, as great as the donation was, without seeing what happened as a result.” Oliveira noted that the Chandler Center was a large piece of what attracted her to SNHU because of its opportunities to students, faculty and staff. The center’s influence has inspired Oliveira to incorporate service learning into many of the classes she teaches. “I feel that everyone could benefit from [service]. You go into it thinking that you want to do what you can for the community, but learn so much about yourself in the process.” Further opportunities that involve service, donation and volunteer work can be found through the Chandler Center.
The number 7 ranked baseball team opened their week with a 17-4 win. They went on to win six of the eight games played from March 10-16. Graduate student Jake Walkinshaw was awarded his third NE10 Pitcher of the Week and went 2-0 in
two starts. Walkinshaw struck out 26 batters and allowed only one run in all 16 innings. Joshua Goldstein (‘20) owned a four-game hitting streak through the week. Graduate Student Cameron Scotia earned his first career victory
by holding American International College to a .182 batting average. It was an undoubtedly thrilling week for these athletes. They all brought their penmen pride down south and proved they’re teams are forces to be reckoned with.
Penmen Recap: Spring Break in Florida
Women’s tennis team played Flagler and Robert Wesleyan on March 11 and 16. Loir Pachuorkovski (‘22) swept her sets against both Flagler and Robert Wesleyan, winning 6-1 in round one and 6-0 in round two. Seniors Sofia Morais and Anna Sala also won their sets, with Morais finishing 6-3 and 6-0, and Sala finishing both rounds 6-2. Alexxa Etienne (‘22) and Rachel Wagner (‘19) dominated their doubles set against Robert Wesleyan 6-0. Overall, the team lost to Flagler but defeated Robert Wesleyan 7-0. From March 13-15, Women’s golf played in the Pinehurst Tournament. Freshman Hannah May placed 20 in the tournament, with a plus 39 par. Kaylie Coleman (‘19) played as an individual
and finished 29 with a plus 50 par. The nationally-ranked softball team won nine of 12 games from March 9-16. Pitcher Maddy Barone (‘20) was named Louisville Slugger, NFCA National Pitcher of the Week and NE10 Pitcher of the Week for the trip. Barone, who went 6-0, struck out 37 batters. Erin Graczynski (‘19) was named NE10 Player of the Week while in Florida. Graczynski hit in six doubles and one home run over the course of 12 games played. Coach Deb Robitaille said that she is satisfied with the results of the week and the team’s constant improvement. “Our confidence just kept building through each game, and this has carried over into our first games in the North East,” Robitaille said.
Women’s lacrosse at Walt Disney World. (image credit: SNHU Penmen)
