Issuu

Volume XXIII, Issue 10

penmenpress@snhu.edu

March 29, 2017

Manchester, NH

More Residence Hall changes to come

Stephen Denis Staff Writer

March 29, 2017: April Fool's Day

News | Front & 3-5

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What's Inside:

The year began with four separate construction projects underway on the SNHU campus. The Green Center and the Gustafson Center opened earlier this year, while the new residence hall, athletic complex and stadium are still under construction and are scheduled to be open for the start of the fall semester. Director of Residence Life, Shannon Brown, is excited about the current projects on campus but has her eyes set on maintaining that growth for years to come. The progress of the new apartment style residence hall is “right on target,” Brown said via email. “Honestly the process of designing and building this new hall has been very smooth. The only challenge is to have to turn away staff members and

Kearsarge and the other West Side Apartments were built in the 1970's. students who want to live there.” Eight Resident Assistants were chosen to help open the building next year and are tasked with integrating it with the SNHU community. The

team of eight student workers will feature Daniel Clarke who is ready to bring a fresh perspective to the job. Regarding his transition from Daniel Webster College, Clarke said, “It’s been

a really smooth and easy transition so far.” Clarke is a junior who plans on bringing “a sense of com-

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participate in first ever game design showcase Nick Klotz Online Editor SNHU will host its first Game Design Showcase on April 9, an event where game design students will be showing off their best projects and ideas. The first of its kind, this event for SNHU is both a celebration of the hard work game design students have put in all year and a networking opportunity. Many local developers, both students and independents,

are expected to appear, as well as an as-of-yet unannounced keynote speaker. Seniors Jeremy Moore and James Cowin will be showing off their virtual reality first-person shooter “Steadfast.” “'Steadfast’ is a story driven wave defense shooter about saving the human race from robots,”said Moore. “Cowin is doing the art for this game and I'm doing the programming.”The pair will be appearing as independents.

Their game is set to be available on steam within the next two months. “Gun Gun Gun,” a twodimensional action game developed by SNHU alumni and students, is also scheduled to appear. “I absolutely love the idea of an on-campus showcase,” says Collin Desmond, a freshman game programming and development student. “It’s not every day that you get to go see what game developer students are up

to.”

Featuring: International Gala | Page 3 International Women's Day | Page 4

Lowell Matthews | Page 8 Ugly Truth | Page 9

Breath of the Wild Review | Page 10 Study Abroad in Asia | Page 12

Jeremy Moore and James Cowin's virtual reality game, "Steadfast."

Jeremy Moore & James Cowin

Commencement | Page 6

Desmond will be appearing to represent the Game Design Club’s collaborative game, “Warlock’s Tower.” It is a tower defense game about a wizard defending his castle from invading knights. “We never intended to show off the game but when the opportunity came up we decided that getting feedback from developers was important,” said Desmond. It is not too late for students to participate. Applications are being accepted up to the week of the event. Games are accepted in all stages of development. As of writing, fifteen exhibitors are scheduled with that number expected to grow as the event nears. All students are invited to attend. “Don’t worry if it’s your first time participating. You won’t get any better if you don’t hustle and throw yourself out there,” says Desmond. Students can contact Mustapha Price at Mustapha.Price@ snhu.edu for more information and to apply.

editorial

Happy April Fool's Day

THE PENMEN PRESS STAFF 2016-2017

Before we get into it, let’s start by saying that this is an April Fool’s issue. There’s real news, as usual, but there’s also a section in this issue dedicated to joke articles. Fake news, if you will. They’re meant to be humorous and not taken seriously. So don’t get confused. We’ve run into issues with that in the past. For years now, the Penmen Press has taken part in the annual celebration of April Fool’s Day by releasing an issue centered around the holiday. This is the fifth consecutive year we’ve come together to compose a selection of joke news articles for your entertainment (and our own). The point of the issue, like the holiday itself, is to take our-

CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF Rebecca LeBoeuf rebecca.leboeuf@snhu.edu CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF Megan Palmer megan.palmer@snhu.edu BUSINESS MANAGER Brendon DiBiasio brendon.dibiasio@snhu.edu ADVERTISING MANAGER Jaime Mailloux jaime.mailloux@snhu.edu ONLINE EDITOR Nick Klotz nicholas.klotz@snhu.edu CO-COPY EDITOR Laurelann Easton laurelann.easton@snhu.edu CO-COPY EDITOR Nicole Kenney nicole.kenney@snhu.edu

selves less seriously and revel in the ridiculousness of fake news presented as fact. It’s a good time for us, so we hope it’s a good time for you. Now, we haven’t always gotten it right. If you have been here as long as we have, you might know that April Fool’s issues have been met with varying degrees of success.Past issues have featured subtle clues pointing to the joking nature while others have been much more obvious. It would seem that there is a learning curve to this whole “fake news” thing. Some April Fool’s issues have incited anger, such as in 2013 (and 2015) where the front page boasted an up-and-coming Penmen Football team. Another

. . . . . . .

April Fool’s issue discussed the VERY REAL implications of allowing the Mole People to attend SNHU. Every year, the staff tries to incorporate an April Fool’s article about President Paul LeBlanc. In 2015, LeBlanc was reported to be leaving SNHU to pursue his racquetball career. Last year, he was reunited with his long lost son, “Friends” superstar, Matt LeBlanc. And this year, it has been announced that he will be running for the 2020 Presidential Election. We at the Penmen Press love this tradition and wish you happy reading on this momentous day. Peace out, Pen-people. Happy April Fooling.

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More Residence Hall Changes to come

NEWS EDITOR Nicole Clark nicole.clark2@snhu.edu

Continued from page 1

OPINION EDITOR Bryan Creevy bryan.creevy@snhu.edu ARTS & Gabriel Carrio ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR gabriel.carrio@snhu.edu

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HEALTH & WELLNESS Lori Costa EDITOR lori.costa@snhu.edu PENMEN ABROAD EDITOR Kamila Ataee kamila.ataee@snhu.edu SPORTS EDITOR Matthew Martin matthew.martin1@snhu.edu

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Wyndee Man jingyin.wen@snhu.edu SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Katerina Wilhelmi katerina.wilhelmi@snhu.edu FACULTY ADVISER Jon Boroshok j.boroshok@snhu.edu The 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 2016-2017 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!

SNHU On Campus

LAYOUT EDITOR May Mullen maura.mullen@snhu.edu

A depiction of the new apartment building, set to open in the fall. munity and just be who I am.” While a full-time Residence Director for the building has yet to be chosen, Brown says the decision will be made in the coming weeks. SNHU and the Office of Residence Life aren’t stopping with the construction of this new building, as the West Side of campus is set to see the next transformation. This May, once the students leave for the summer, Chocorua and Winnisquam are set to come down. In addition, Kearsarge will go offline and not house students for the following year. These moves are necessary to make room for a budding new project to take shape in that area. “We are in the process of de-

signing another new residence hall that will go where Chocorua and Winnisquam are and that hall will open in Fall 2018,” Brown revealed. “After that new hall opens the rest of the West Side Apartments will come down as well as the Lower Suites.” Zach Lynch, a junior who has lived in the Lower Suites for his three years at SNHU, has mixed emotions about the decision, but understands the desire for the campus to progress. “The bonds built in suites are strong compared to what I’ve seen in other areas. It seems more like a home,” said Lynch. Lynch reflects on his time living on campus but knows SNHU is looking to move forward. “On one hand, both the Lower Suites

and West Side Apartments have been influential during my time at SNHU; on the other hand, I recognize that the campus is looking to progress its residence areas and in that sense, I understand the desire to tear them down.” These moves are motivated by an effort to modernize some of the more dated areas of campus. With the addition and subtraction of residence halls, there are no plans in place to expand enrollment to the university. “We are always trying to identify and fund improvements to existing halls,” Brown said. As part of this commitment, rooms in Washington Hall will be fitted with new furniture over this summer.

News news

SNHU CELEBRATES CULTURAL DIVERSITY AT international gala Rebecca LeBoeuf Editor in Chief

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The annual International Gala, coordinated by the International Student Association (ISA) with help from the International Student Services, will take place on Friday, April 7 from 5-8:30 p.m. According to junior Mahboba Akhtarzadah, the ISA social media manager, the International Gala is about cultural exchange. “They [people in attendance] really want to share their culture, their ideas, so it’s very friendly environment,” Akhtarzadah said. For those who have been in the past, many of the traditions will remain the same. Sophomore Sofia Benlaatmania, the ISA project manager, compares the International Gala to studying abroad. “When people study abroad, they travel to multiple destinations, and with each destination comes a different culture. That is exactly what you get at the gala,” Benlaatmania said. “Hundreds of students, faculty, alum and the SNHU community as a whole, putting aside their differences for a night of food, music and fun.” During the event, there is a flag parade where SNHU students from all over the world carry the flag of their country into the small gym, located in the Athletics Complex. “This year, I am in charge of the flag carriers,” Benlaatmania said. “In this role, I reach out to the international students in the

SNHU community and I try to get as many students to represent their countries as possible.” Food is also a central aspect of the event. Dinner, catered by Sodexo, will have a variety of food from all different cultures. The food committee for the International Gala, this year led by Akhtarzadah, works with Sodexo to create a menu that will feed all attendees. “There’s so many people when they try our food in International Gala, they really like it,” Akhtarzadah said. Sodexo has been accommodating through this process.

“This year because of our international students, a majority of them are Muslim,” Akhtarzadah said. “They are not eating meat which is not in Islamic way, so this year we have halal food and that is so great that people will feel comfortable eating meat which is in Islamic way.” Halal food has to do with the way an animal is butchered. During the week before Spring Break, tryouts were held for SNHU students who wished to perform on stage at the International Gala. Often the performances are dancing. “Typically, we start to

brainstorm and come up with the theme and figure out the committees around December/ beginning of the spring semester. And then we work nonstop until the night of,” Benlaatmania said. Each executive board member is assigned to lead a different committee; the committees include food, performance, flag parade and decorations. “The last two days and the day of the Gala are the most stressful due to all the time commitments, perfecting set up with restricted hours to the space and the hours and hours

of decorating the space to fit our theme,” Benlaatmania said. Tickets for the International Gala are available on SNHUTickets and through tabling in the Student Center and the Dining Hall. If there are enough seats leftover the day of the event, people can purchase them at the door. The price is $9.99 for students and $16.99 for everyone else. Any student interested in helping plan the Gala can email ISA at isa@snhu.edu. It is also not too late for clubs and organizations to co-sponsor the event with ISA.

The Flag Parade at the 2014 International Gala.

students tour new england cable news Mikaela Gauvain Contributing Writer SNHU’s Introduction to Journalism class traveled to New England Cable News’ (NECN) headquarters in Newton, Massachusetts on March 1 for an inside look at how a broadcast news station runs. The Career Development Center set up the field trip as a first meet and greet between SNHU students and NECN to prepare for an internship program at the network for the university’s students. The trip began with a campus tour of NECN’s growing offices.

As of January 1, NBC Universal, the parent company of NECN, launched an NBC-owned station and now shares the television studio with NECN. Annie Peters, the vice president of sales, led the tour throughout the different departments of the station. She brought the group through each section of the main building including the various newsrooms where the anchors present the running news of the day. Along the tour, several news anchors and writers answered student questions about what a job in news consists of and summarized their positions as a life,

not a profession. “It was really interesting to talk to some of the higher ups as well as the on-air talent,” said Josh Irizarry, a junior at SNHU. “I felt like it did help me get an inside look on the whole business.” To end the tour, the students attended a panel discussion with Kenny Plotnik, the vice president of news. Anchor Phil Lipof, reporter Perry Russom, and investigative reporter Ally Donnelly joined Plotnik to give the students a better handle on the business. Plotnik spoke about what it takes to make it in broadcast

news. He said he looks for “passion, intelligence, an understanding of news and a personality to fit the station’s culture” in candidates for internships and permanent positions. According to Plotnik, the internships are ground level experience and experience is exactly what directors are looking for in applicants. Lipof, Russom and Donnelly supported their co-workers’ statements about how news is not a job, but rather a lifestyle that consumes you. The panelists ensured that the students were aware that those looking for a future in the business can

expect to work 20 hours a day, seven days a week. Michael Rowley, a senior at SNHU, attended the trip and enjoyed the behind the scenes look at how a studio like that is run. “It was cool to see how passionate the reporters and anchors were about their work.” Following the panel, the vice president of news gave students his business cards and encouraged them to submit writing samples based on an assignment he gave them. NECN is currently looking to fill six news producer openings as well as several open internship positions.

News news

Rachel Romeo Staff Writer

SNHU CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Abby Meltzer Staff Writer

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Emily’s Place, a shelter for women in domestic violence situations. “It’s an eye-opening experience, seeing how we can help women who are in a domestic violence situation,” said junior Amy Mercedes. “We can give them a platform to tell their stories and speak in a positive and safe way.” The last breakout session, “Victimizing Women Through Religion: A Muslim Woman’s Perspective,” was facilitated by SNHU graduate student Youssaira Akennad. Akennad spoke out about the misconceptions of women in Islamic culture and the misinterpretations that arise from various translations of the Quran. After the breakout sessions ended, the International Wom-

Rebecca LaBoeuf

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The Deborah L. Coffin Women’s Center at SNHU celebrated International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8, by hosting a variety of events that celebrate the achievements of women. International Women’s Day is a global holiday dedicated to honoring the social, political, economic and cultural accomplishments, as well as the advancement of women. The events throughout the day focused on highlighting these accomplishments and bringing attention to global issues that women face. This year’s theme of International Women’s Day was “Be Bold for Change.” It was a call to action for people to stand up for women’s advancement and work to support women’s rights. Brooke Gilmore, Director of the Women's Center, views this theme as a way for people to think of what they can do to inspire change. “The theme is a calling on people to reflect on how they can be agents of change in their own spheres of influence,” said Gilmore. The events kicked off with the Be Bold for Change Luncheon at noon on the second floor of the Dining Hall. This event featured keynote speaker, Kristen Golden, author of “100 Portraits

of Achievement”and project director of Take our Daughters to Work Day. Golden spoke to those at the luncheon about this project which aims to create a space for women in the workplace and inspire people to take action and organize change. Following a student showcase in the Student Center from 2-4 p.m., afternoon breakout sessions were held in the Women’s Center to address challenges women often face in the community. The first breakout session, entitled “I (heart) a Woman: A Cross-Gender Dialogue About Loving Our Sisters, Mothers, Daughters, Girlfriends and Friends,” was facilitated by Jada Hebra, the Chief Diversity Officer at SNHU. Jasmine Mcfarlin, a first-year student at SNHU and office representative at the Women’s Center, participated in this breakout session. “We discussed gender roles and stigmas about genders,” said Mcfarlin. “We were able to talk about managing gender in classrooms and on an everyday basis.” The next breakout session was “Supporting Safe Homes in Our Community,” facilitated by the World Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of New Hampshire and Kelley Hobbes from the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) at SNHU. Participants put together care packages for

en’s day events continued in Walker Auditorium with a film screening and discussion of the documentary “Salaam Dunk.” This film focuses on the story of the American University of Iraq’s women’s basketball team. “We want to highlight that women in various corners of the globe face different issues than we necessarily do here at home,” said Gilmore.” International Women’s Day events concluded with the Afghan Women’s Writers Project, coordinated by senior Kamila Ataee, in the Gustafson Center. Students read different pieces of writing from Afghan women to celebrate their stories. This project aimed to highlight the unique individual experiences of women. This is the second time the Women’s Center has hosted

events to celebrate International Women’s Day. Gilmore hopes to make the day an annual celebration. “We’d like to make it a tradition that we continue honoring, as it is a global holiday,” said Gilmore. The events throughout the day aimed to inform and educate students about global women’s issues and perspectives. The theme of “Be Bold for Change” recognizes women who stand up for these issues and fight for what they believe is right. “Always do the best you can and continue fighting for justice for everyone,” said Mercedes. “We all have a context in which we can make some sort of change,” said Gilmore. “Often times that means stepping up or saying the unpopular thing for the sake of what’s right.”

From left: Eben Korankye, Kamila Ataee, Zainab Naziri, Dee Dube, Abby Connor and Mahboba Akhtarzada read poems and stories written by Afghan women.

Office of Student involvement WELCOMES NEW ORGANIZATIONS Nicholas VonSchantz-Ricci Staff Writer

Some SNHU students see a gap in the student organization roster that they feel needs to be filled. Luckily for them, starting a new organization is a simple way to fill this gap. The 20162017 school year has welcomed roughly a half-dozen new organizations, all of which were started by students. The process begins in the Office of Student Involvement (OSI). Assistant Director of Student Involvement Michelle Scali along with Tom Balestracci are important contacts for anyone looking to start a new organization. “It’s great to see students taking the initiative to start a

new club,” said Scali. Students with the desire to begin a new club must meet with a Student Involvement representative in order to obtain all necessary paperwork. According to Scali, one of the most common mistakes that students make is delaying too long and then rushing through the paperwork as a result. Students are responsible for formulating a constitution, a roster of potential members, a new club questionnaire and first-year budget plan. These documents are reviewed by OSI and then by the New Club Recognition Committee. Members of the potential club will then meet with this committee to answer any ques-

tions and to present their view for the club. Sophomore Ashley Kaminski is a member of the New Club Recognition Committee. “You can tell when people are passionate,” said Kaminski. “Most clubs have been really well prepared.” The final step toward official recognition after being approved by the committee is to have the Student Government Association (SGA) approve the budget. All clubs and organizations are given a start-up fund of $1,500, and it is up to the club executive board to compile a budget. Last semester saw the conception of three new clubs: Club Tennis, Information Technol-

ogy Student Association and SNHU Buddies. So far this semester, two organizations have been granted official recognition: Chess Club and Colors 4 Kids. Chess Club welcomes chess players of all abilities. Everyone from first-time players to competitive experts are encouraged to join. Chess clocks are also featured for students who prefer timed games. Colors 4 Kids is a unique service-based organization. They collect broken crayons from restaurants and schools and donate them, half of the crayons go to the Crayon Initiative, a non-profit that remanufactures these crayons and distributes them to hospitals. The other half are melted down, formed into

shapes and distributed to hospitals and organizations that care for children. Two other organizations are currently in the process of becoming officially recognized. According to Scali, it is essential to consider the sustainability of the club. For instance, if an organization is composed of a large group of seniors, then finding someone to take over the following year may be challenging. Taking the initiative to start a new club may seem daunting at first, but doing so can provide an exciting and unique leadership opportunity. “My biggest advice is to find something you are passionate about and find others who are also passionate,” said Scali.

News news

CAPE WILL HOST POP SINGER JULIETTE REILLY Amber Khan Staff Writer

social media, really makes her connect with fans,” Krane said. She hopes it is as intimate and chill live as it is on the in-

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SPEND LESS TO SAVE MORE Amy Sumsion Staff Writer Being in college, or even being in the job students have immediately following college, means that students are not making very much money. Having a work study job, jobs on campus or off, summer jobs or internships typically are paying minimum wage or nothing at all. It is important to reduce monthly spending to ensure that students have spending money as well as money for emergencies and savings. Reducing monthly expenses can be easy when following these tips. Check monthly statements. Banks will provide monthly statements either online or through the mail that displays all the money put in and taken out of a savings or checking account for the month. When stu-

Lifehack

It is time to start deciding where students want to live on campus next year. Do students want to live in a double, pod or an apartment? It all depends on the amenities they want. If they live in an apartment, they will have a kitchen and a reduced meal plan as they are expected to be cooking most of their meals themselves. Living in an apartment and grocery shopping may be new for most students. If they follow these steps they can reduce the amount they spend on groceries. Plan ahead. Although it may seem unnecessary, planning meals ahead of time allows students to see what ingredients they will need and how much they will need as well. Also, planning ahead allows people to see what ingredients they are buying that can be used in meals later that week. If only half of a can of beans are needed for Monday’s meal, try finding a meal for Thursday that needs a half a can as well. Keep pantry stocked. Keeping staple items stored that can be used to make quick meals prevents the urge to go out to eat on nights when nothing is already planned. Canned items, baking items can be bought in

bulk at a discounted rate. Only buy items in bulk that are nonperishable or will be eaten within a week. If not, the items will expire faster than they can be eaten and the money spent on them will be wasted. Make a list. Then stick to this list. Creating a shopping list will help keep everything organized and help prevent any unnecessary spending. When grocery shopping without a list, it is more common for people to make impulsive decisions that do not follow the meal plan that has already been established. Try to only buy what is on the list as it is ensured that the items are needed and will be used. Buy generic. Getting items that are name brand can cost more when there is often no significant impact on the product or flavor. The store brand will taste exactly the same as the name brand at a fraction of the price. Buying name brand items can make a difference when it comes to more important items, but for the staple items buy the store brand. All students who live on campus are required to have a meal plan, so do not forget to eat some meals in the dining center so that money is not wasted either. As long as students plan ahead before grocery shopping they will not be spending more than necessary.

lege age, like relationships and things like that. It’s nice to see an artist who truly understands their target audience.”

Juliette Reilly, a singer and YouTuber, will be performing at SNHU April 8.

savE on snacks Amy Sumsion Staff Writer

ternet. “Her music just speaks to a person’s soul, and she just knows what some people are going through at this col-

YouTube

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Two Tree Studios has produced many songs with YouTuber and Top 10 iTunes artist Juliette Reilly, a young artist in the music industry. Coming Saturday, April 8, Reilly will be performing in the pub from 8-10 p.m. This event, put on by the Coordinators of Activities and Programming Events (CAPE), is free and open to SNHU students and faculty. Reilly will be singing songs from her latest album, “I Am,” which was released in December 2016 in addition to songs from her June 2016 album, “Battlecry,” as well as cover songs. Her music is filled with meaning—from dealing with mental health, relationship problems, being young and becoming the person everyone

wants to be, deep down. “Her songs are about real issues,” junior Matt Montminy, the weekend chair of CAPE said. ”Her song ‘hero’ resonated with me due to bullying as a kid.” Montminy hopes that the event is lively and holds a lot of meaning for those who may feel as though they never had a voice, or know that others have faced similar issues—whether it’s bullying, bad relationships or just being a young adult figuring out the world. “Juliette’s music means a lot to those who felt or feel small and the beats are pretty catchy,” sophomore Alycia Klein, a fan of Juliette said. First year student Amber Krane recently discovered the artist through a friend. “Juliette’s talented, and her Twitch livestreams, as well as her other

dents receive this statement they should check for any expenses that get taken out automatically. For instance, a gym membership or Spotify Premium. If the expenses are not necessary or not used often, they are not worth it. While a few dollars every month may seem insignificant they eventually add up and students will be spending hundreds of dollars annually without even knowing. Sign up for reward programs. When it comes to shopping it is easy to spend more than usual as it is typically not a common expense. However, if students find themselves shopping at certain stores often, they should sign up for the store’s rewards program. Reward programs are typically a free point system that increases with every purchase. When the points reach a certain amount they can

be “cashed” to get discounts or even free items. Some places, like Panera, give free items when it is the member’s birthday. Use public transportation. SNHU does allow for students to have cars on campus for a price of $200 for freshman and $100 for upperclassmen, but not all people can afford to have their cars on campus or live too far away and do not have the option at all. However, those students still need to get around town as well. Public transportation is an inexpensive way to get around and save on gas money, parking and any potential maintenance. SNHU even provides free bus passes for all students which provides transportation throughout the majority of Manchester. College is expensive and when students are making a small income it is essential to save more, rather than spend more, to ensure that they have enough to pay for what they need such as textbooks or paying off student loans. The biggest tip is to see where the most money is being spent and see what can be done to reduce or even eliminate the expense. Even reducing monthly expenses by $10 can make an impact, that is $120 annually that can be put in an emergency savings account or a student loan payment.

Feature news

commencement program centralizes the student voice

SNHU On Campus

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Paul LeBlanc giving his SNHU 2016 Commencement address. Thomas Cahalan Staff Writer

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first class this year will be ten students selected from these recommendations and these students will be reached out to directly. However, this may change in upcoming years. Some specific requirements include maintaining a cumulative 3.2 GPA since it is a leadership opportunity weaved within an academic office, remaining active within the university community, attending all of the required meetings and training, and signing a confidentiality agreement as deemed necessary since some work is done very

cess itself is what led to the creation of this initiative. “I started thinking how can we make this a more robust experience compared to what some people view a student hourly job to be? We wanted to make this experience one that would provide more opportunity for growth,” said Tierno. Given their backgrounds and philosophy on Commencement, it was only a matter of time before they began to figure out how they could involve current students with Commencement. For students who are interested in participating in this program, CAP could be thought of as a paid internship as it provides students a chance to put their skills to the test. It also allows students to be part of the Commencement decision making process. Commencement will occur on May 13 and 14. For university college students, it is on Saturday, May 13, at 10 a.m. at the SNHU arena. If grads have any questions about Commencement, they can contact the office at commencement@snhu.edu and they’ll be directed to the appropriate place. For any questions about the CAP program itself, contact nicole.doane@snhu. edu. Tierno and Doane are both excited for the Commencement ceremony and the process itself.

SNHU On Campus

Commencement is right around the corner and the Commencement Ambassador Program (CAP) allows interested students to get involved in the Commencement process. This year is the initial year of this program. It is a new idea that borrows from the best practices of leadership groups around campus and ensures it will be a benefit to students as much as it will be to the Commencement Office. Scott Tierno is the Executive Director of Commencement for university students, online and College for America (CFA) students. Nicole Doane is the Associate Director of Commencement as well as the supervisor for the CAP program. The office has been in existence since July 2015 and has been growing ever since. CAP provides a unique leadership experience for students of all colleges and it does not market itself to any specific student population. Online and CFA students will be included in the initiative as much as the university students during Commencement weekend. Commencement weekend is a busy one, but Tierno and Doane coordinate about 35 staff members across the university to help prepare for the ceremonies. The goal is to not only utilize students as part of the process,

but also to have that student voice weaved in. In addition, it provides ample leadership opportunities to students. “The student voice is the central voice. It’s all about the students, and the staff, faculty and workers are there for the students,” explained Doane. With this philosophy in mind, the first group to be a part of CAP will get to make the program their own with some help along the way. As this new initiative begins to be implemented, new opportunities for the future continue to be thought of. One such opportunity was a day designed specifically to celebrate international and COCE students which will be done again. Implementing this group of students will make managing new programs easier. Nothing will be drastically different from the way Commencement has been done in the past, but the new program allows Commencement to become even more special to everyone involved. Having students become a major voice of the Commencement process through CAP will also greatly advertise the Commencement process, making the Commencement office itself more visible. For students to be qualified to join the CAP, specifically this year, students will be selected from recommendations from student facing offices, mainly due to time constraints. CAP’s

closely with the registrar’s office. Responsibilities would include working directly with staff workers, helping out with early morning day setup, assisting in crowd control and helping students put on their robes correctly. Also, students with certain interests may get to fill in specific roles like project management and social media. Students who join and get accepted into the program will get a provision for housing and extended housing; because of this, student members on the team would be able to stay to work on the actual days of commencement. This allows students who are part of the program to not worry about leaving campus and driving back up the next day. This position is also student hourly paid. Training sessions will include general overviews of the process and about the program. Students will be hired based on their interests for the program and by the specific roles available that they might be able to fit into, such as customer service, social media, etc. This will be selected depending on the role that is deemed best for the students and office alike. A desire to inspire students to become passionate about Commencement and the pro-

2016 graduation cap decorated with inspiring message.

Feature news

is title ix effective?: An interview with Fariha Quasem Julia Carolan Staff Writer

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ing sexuality and gender that normalizes sexual abuse,”said Quasem. Quasem has been working hard to get students and faculty trained and involved in Title IX. She is giving monthly informal information sessions called “Title IX Tuesday’s” in the Women’s Center with the goal of giving students the opportunity to meet and discuss anything about Title IX with her. She also explains that SNHU has many other wonderful resources available for just this purpose. The Women’s Center and Wellness Center have both taken initiative in hosting events to open the discussion about college rape culture. The staff and faculty are doing everything they can to make sure students are educated and given plenty of information when it comes to dealing with Title IX, campus rape and many other issues. Just this past year, SNHU updated its policy on sexual misconduct. The policy goes into great detail and deals with topics such as reporting, confidentiality and actions taken by the university. The policy can be found on my.snhu.edu. Quasem has also been working on putting more information on My SNHU for students’ awareness and convenience. “The University now has a Sexual Misconduct webpage, which students can access through my.snhu. The University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy and procedures can be found on the webpage. Along with the website, I created pamphlets last semester which provide students with contact information for on and off campus resources as well FAQ’s on Title IX and sexual misconduct.” In addition, students will see flyers posted around campus in the upcoming weeks that focus on consent as well as resources available both on and off campus. For any questions about policies here at SNHU pertaining to Title IX or our sexual assault policy, contact Fariah Quasem at f.quasem@ snhu.edu, Brooke Gilmore head of the Women’s Center at b.gilmore@snhu.edu, or the Wellness Center.

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The Title IX amendment was passed in 1972 to prevent colleges from discrimination based on gender. According to the amendment, there has to be an equal amount of federal aid given, participation in sports and educational opportunities to both sexes. The real question is“Does it do its job?” According to USA News, there has been a 545 percent increase in women’s participation in college athletics since 1972. The stat proves that Title IX is helping, but men’s participation has gone up at an even higher rate at the same time. This gap is not just due to a lack of interest females have in playing sports. USA News also reported there were an estimated 3.1 million female athletes in high school; that number falls to around 200,000 athletic opportunities for women in college. According to the Los Angeles Times, at most Division 1 schools, 80 percent of the athletic budget goes to football and men’s basketball. To make sure that Title IX is still in effect, these schools will cut the budget of other men’s sports. This leads to the stigma that Title IX hurts men’s sports. Title IX historian Susan Ware said that in 2002, 91 of the 115 colleges in Division 1 spent a larger proportion of their budgets on football than on all of their women's teams combined. Title IX does not mention the amount of money that is spent on each sport between genders. It also does not mention equal numbers of men and women athletes. It requires schools to take measures to make male and female participation on sports teams proportional to the overall numbers of men and women in the student body. A common question listed on the NCAA Title IX website is about why it is not required for each sport to have equal funding. The website explains that price will vary on equipment. For example, while male football players need much more pads and equipment, female soccer players only need shin guards and cleats.

CBC Philadelphia reported that Temple University in Pennsylvania cut its female rowing team because it was too expensive to maintain. That following year, they spent 10 million dollars to update the indoor practice field for the football team and are talking about building an on-campus stadium for them as well. Although Title IX is most famously associated with athletics, it also deals with sexual assault. The office Title IX website says, “Title IX requires the school to take immediate action to eliminate the harassment, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.” Seeing as these rules are broad, it leaves it up to the universities to make the final decision on how they want to go about handling cases of sexual assault. One of the most famous college rape cases of this was of Brock Turner, a Stanford University student who sexually assaulted an unconscious woman in 2015. Turner will be released after three months in jail, which is half of his six-month sentence. He is being released on good behavior and faces three years of probation as well as being expelled from the university. Many saw this ruling as a “slap on the wrist” and there has been an outcry for more severe punishments for rapists. The letter addressed to him written by his victim went viral and inspired many survivors to share their stories and get involved helping others. Two months after Brock Turner’s case, a judge in Colorado gained some publicity after giving a college man who isolated and raped a barely conscious woman two years of work release. This sentence means he can attend school or work during the day. Fariha Quasem, the Title IX coordinator here at SNHU, had some helpful advice on how college campuses can improve rape culture. “Appropriate training and educational programs are important so the University community understands that rape culture is about far more than rape. Discussing rape culture involves talking about the societal attitudes regard-

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Lowell Matthews Builds Networks and COmmunity Laurelann Easton Copy Editor

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lowing: If you could give a TED talk in anything, what would it be?” Matthews said. In these questions, he decided that the title of his TED talk would be "The Day I Found Out I Was Black." He said, “This humorous yet relevant talk would discuss my experiences attending predominately white universities. The lessons learned and the challenges I faced.” Though this sort of topic may be controversial, Matthews wanted to keep the discussion serious with a light note to it. Ivy has also given him the chance to collaborate with others in this sort of opportunity. Matthews said that another member of Ivy read his profile and invited him to participate in an upcoming TED talk in Washington D.C. “I was super excited to have this opportunity and we are currently putting together all the paperwork to make it happen. It truly goes to show that you never know what can happen when you put yourself out there.” Matthews already plans to tie his networking opportunities back to the work that he does at SNHU. The center of his teaching philosophy is to make his students comfortable with being uncomfortable. “I would like to be able to expand the courses that teach to include components of social justice and civic engage-

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SNHU-303 courses boast that networking is key for success in any industry, particularly for meeting others in a desired field and making the connections that might lead to a career. Lowell Matthews began teaching at SNHU in 2012, and has recently found how fruitful networking can be for people of all ages. Matthews primarily teaches OL classes, including Human Resource Management, Social Environment of Business, Leadership, and Organizational Behavior. Senior Emin Kurtovic previously had Matthews as a professor and said that he learned quite a bit from him. “He was a great teacher. I enjoyed his class, and he never really took himself too seriously, which was a quality I really enjoyed. Sure, he could always reel us in when it was necessary, but he always made his classes a bit personal which made his class fun.” Since coming to SNHU five years ago, he found that his students made the job most attractive. “I find my students to be willing to think outside the box and eager to try new things when provided the opportunity. I love the courses that I teach and have been able to develop new courses such as OL 308: Innovative Business Approaches,

which allows students to gain real world business experience by spending a week in an urban city each summer.” While planning for a summer trip to Memphis with his OL 308 class, he expanded his LinkedIn profile. A staff member from a networking group called Ivy saw his profile and contacted him to describe what would be available to him if he joined the group. He was most intrigued by their mission: “We believe everyone has limitless potential. Our mission is to trigger transformative ideas and collaborations that lead to unprecedented human unity, progress, and fulfillment. Through meaningful experiences with inspiring individuals, IVY provides a lifelong supply of new friendships, opportunities, and ideas.” Matthews explained Ivy’s devotion to growth and learning. “Ivy seeks to bring together individuals that truly desire to make a positive change in their communities. Based on the premise that one never stops learning and that we can always grow and learn something new.” Since he decided to take a pricey plunge into joining Ivy, a multitude of opportunities has opened up for him. Many of these have been unexpected, such as performing a TED talk. “One of the questions that I was asked when I created my Ivy online profile was the fol-

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SNHU-303 Professor Lowell Matthews poses in his office.

Matthews gave a TED Talk in Washington D.C. ment. To get the process started I will be holding a Leadership Development Workshop on Saturday, April 22 for the first 15 students to apply. In the workshop, students will use dominoes to build teamwork and leadership skills. The end project will be a creation that focuses on social justice and will be displayed in the Office of Diversity Programs during finals week.” If Matthews could teach any course of his design, he would teach a class that has no desks and no PowerPoint slides. “I feel students learn best when they are able to apply the information that is being discussed. This imagined future course encourages students to step outside of their comfort zone and experience something new and uncomfortable.” Kaylee Levine took his introduction to management class and said that she loved Matthews teaching style. “He teaches by stories and activities you would never think would make any sense to management or leadership but they always make sense in the end. I have never seen him in a bad mood

he is always smiling and happy and will always wave and say hi when you see him in the hallway.” His example of how to achieve a level of discomfort is spending a week learning how small businesses in developing countries, such as Nicaragua, are able to make a profit and impact the community. This was an idea under development over Spring Break, during which he was able to chaperone one of the alternative break trips. Matthews said, “It’s physically a lot of hard work but being able to see the students grow is inspiring. Now it’s time to turn this type of experience into a class.” In comparison to LinkedIn, Matthews said that Ivy has pushed him to being able to do more, and added that, “Like anything in life, these opportunities are what you make them.” Students can expect Matthews to see a course of his own design in the future that revolve around the information he has been able to glean from these opportunities as he furthers his involvement in networking.

Gabriel Carrio Arts & Entertainment Editor

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It’s no secret that social media plays an enormous part in our daily lives. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and more are visited everyday by thousands, if not millions, of people just in our country. Everyone’s got a profile, and everyone’s got an image. The desire to maintain your online image, and to appear better online than you do in reality is something that drives us to take selfies, video highlights and clever posts that make us seem cooler or smarter than we might actually be. We post whatever we can to make us look good to other people, and not even people we necessarily care about. This desire, for many, has become an obsession. The importance of garnering likes and “heart reacts” has reached a new high, and has overtaken the lives of a striking amount of our youth. With the advent of Internet celebrity culture, and the popularity of YouTube vloggers, many people want to hop on the bandwagon and receive piles of meaningless at-

tention. At what point should it stop? Is it okay to be this obsessed with your online image? The answers are “now” and “not at all.”It’s ridiculous. It serves no purpose, and it’s a waste of time. Posting an attractive picture of yourself with a witty caption doesn’t mean you’re succeeding in life. It means you’ve aroused the interest of a bunch of people you’ve never met, nor will you meet. There’s no self-betterment involved in this process. If anything, stress and anxiety are placed on the shoulders of those that take part in this lifestyle, with the necessity of useless “Internet points” weighing on their mind. Imagine if our society succumbed to becoming a popularity contest, with human worth being tied solely to their online approval rating, more so than it already is. The TV series “Black Mirror” did that, and it wasn’t pretty. Take a break from your profile, and focus on you and your loved ones, not your followers. You don’t matter to them, and, in the end, they don’t matter to you.

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Nicole Kenney Copy Editor Social media is an ever-evolving online highway that connects people from all over the world. As amazing as it sounds, social media is kind of taken for granted by today’s users. Gone are the days of communicating long distance via snail mail. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr help people with similar interests connect instantly. Society has made a gradual shift away from the physical as it moves towards the digital. Social media allows users to document their travels and life changes on platforms where their posts will last a lifetime. For long-distance family or friend relationships, this makes staying in touch a lot more convenient. Artists are free to use social media platforms to display their artwork on a global scale, a feat that artists from decades’ past could have only dreamed of. Aside from using social networks to connect with friends, there are other ways that social media platforms can benefit the users. Networks like LinkedIn and Facebook have helped people build lasting connections and

The Ugly Truth

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professional networks. Moving forward, the social media universe is only expanding as niche markets construct their own networks for users of specific interests or professions to connect quickly. While online communication is vastly different from face-to-face interactions, the purpose is to make the connection process easier and safer. Now, let’s get real. When was the last time Facebook saved you the embarrassment of forgetting someone’s birthday? It’s the little things about social media that make life easier. Sure, social media can be used for self-promotion, which is especially useful for freelancing and making professional connections; however, that doesn’t mean social media can’t be used for some fun. Nothing is more fun than going on a binge of Instagram slime videos, YouTube miniature cooking videos and Facebook Live mukbangs. Why? Because the content is there to be viewed and shared. There are no rules when it comes to social media. However, it’s wise to keep the professional profiles full of professional content, and keep the memes for personal consumption and nonpublic display.

west side Residence Building in need of an update Bryan Creevy Opinion Editor

building will also feature laundry rooms on each floor with several new social spaces for a host of events. The plans for this new building are set to right everything wrong that these buildings do in the current age. It should be welcomed as the future SNHU generations will have a brighter experience when living on the west side of campus, an area filled with dormitories dating back nearly half a century ago. SNHU should prepare plans to update the living spaces on that entire side of the Manchester-Hooksett campus. Other than New Castle Hall and, arguably, some of the apartment buildings, such as Whittier, the living spaces on that side of campus pale in comparison to the east side. They need to be renovated or completely renewed from the ground up like they are doing with Chocorua and Winnesquam.

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It is no secret that SNHU is going through serious renovations of its east side campus with the new Gustafson Building, dormitory, and Athletic Complex, so it’s well overdue that its west side has some updates. SNHU plans to tear down the Chocorua and Winnesquam buildings that reside on the upper west side of campus and replace them with one five-story dormitory for undergraduate students. These two buildings were built in the 1970s, and have long passed their expiration date. As a student who lived in Winnesquam, I can say that the buildings are hospitable, but nowhere near ideal for a college living space. The single rooms are terribly small, and the doubles provide almost no room unless you have bunkbeds. Their common rooms

are not a welcoming space where floormates can relax and create memories. Not to mention, all students residing in these buildings are required to do their laundry in Chocorua’s small laundry room that allows only a few loads to be going at a time. Living in these buildings makes students want to spend their time anywhere but in them. They may have been new and state-of-the-art back in the 1970s, but they are not fit to still be housing college students almost fifty years later. The new building will host pod-style rooms, which are much more inhabitable and comfortable than doubles or singles. Pod-style rooms are made to be a living space where one can eat, sleep, clean, work, and hangout in a friendly environment, so this change will make the area a much more highly sought area to be in. The

Chocorua Hall on West Side of campus

arts andnews entertainment "Logan:" No more guns in the valley

Gabriel Carrio Arts & Entertainment Editor

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Released on March 3, James Mangold’s “Logan” brings the arc of Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine to an astonishing close. Never before has a superhero movie elicited such a visceral and emotional reaction from moviegoers everywhere. It’s gritty, it’s grounded and it’s sad. Set in 2029, “Logan” starts off with a brutal introduction as to where our hero is at now. Over 200 years old, Logan is tired. He’s no longer a fighter and is waiting for the poison from his adamantium implants to finally kill him. Working as a limo driver, Logan goes day to day taking care of a sickly Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), who suffers from seizures that threaten everyone around him. Logan encounters a Latina woman and a young mute girl, Laura (Dafne Keen), shortly into the film. From this point on, he’s tasked with escorting Laura to North Dakota so she can cross the border into Canada and find Eden, a sanctuary for mutants

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like her and her genetically bred siblings. With Laura and Xavier in tow, Logan travels cross-country while being pursued by Pierce, a partially bionic agent working for Transigen, the nefarious medical research and development company responsible for creating Laura and many other mutant children using DNA from other heroes, Logan included. We learn more of Laura’s origin throughout the film, such as how Wolverine’s DNA was used in her creation and how she and the other children were bred to be ultimate weapons. Transigen descended from the original Weapon X program, spearheaded by Dr. Zander Rice (Richard E. Grant), the son of the original director of the Weapon X program where Logan was created. “Logan” stays true to its comic book roots and throws in many subtle references to past movies and the comics both. The comics actually hold an important part in the film, with them being the bedtime stories of the mutant children, and the basis for their hope of an oasis away from Transigen. It’s surprisingly

meta. Each encounter in the film grows increasingly brutal, and the audience starts to worry how Logan is going to make it out alive with his party still intact. Things get harrowing fast, and the movie becomes an emotional rollercoaster well before the halfway point. People die, and they die tragically. Each death, save for those of Pierce’s name-

less henchmen, hits harder and harder and wears on the audience just as much as it does Logan. By the time the movie comes to a close, everyone is ready for it to end, but at the same time not ready at all. Once the fighting is over and our protagonists finally get their well-deserved respite, the film’s most poignant lines are delivered. Logan’s “So

this is what it feels like” and Laura’s “No more guns in the valley” are heavy blows to the heart, but they close the film perfectly. James Mangold’s Westerninspired superhero film is much more than that, marking the end of an incredible arc for an incredible character, and giving hope to the next generation of mutants. “Logan” inarguably gets a 10/10.

breath of the wild breathes new life into zelda franchise Bryan Creevy Opinion Editor

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Fans of the Legend of Zelda (LoZ) series have been waiting six years for the newest console title in the series and “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BoW)” has made that wait worthwhile. BoW takes gamers into the ruins of the kingdom of Hyrule. Calamity Ganon, the newest incarnation of Link’s immortal foe, destroyed the kingdom 100 years ago in an event that almost ended Link’s life. Now resurrected and without his memories, Link awakens in Hyrule and is tasked with stopping Ganon once more. How Link does so is completely up to the gamer. Players can break away from the norms of a Zelda title and play the game any way they want. One can finish the introductory tutorial and go straight for the final boss or they could free up the Divine Beasts (ancient machines designed to take down Calamity Ganon), clear shrines to enhance Link’s life force and stamina,

find the Master Sword, recover all of Link’s lost memories, find ability-enhancing clothes that complement their playstyle and fully prepare themselves for the climatic final boss fight. The approach and order is entirely interchangeable. If one decides to prepare themselves, they better be ready to tackle the terrain. Wide open fields, raging rivers, and sky-

scraping plateaus come together to create a well-crafted open world, one that has climbed the ranks as one of the biggest ever created. Littered across this landscape are dozens of wildlife and plants for Link to hunt or gather. In order to survive in the diverse climates, gamers must collect supplies and cook them up in order to acquire their beneficial

effects and to restore some life energy. Link no longer has a set inventory of items. While adventuring, he must scavenge for lost weapons left on the battlefield, in chests, or take them from his defeated enemies. His arsenal has expanded as much as the world has, allowing him to wield swords, bows, spears, scimitars, boomerangs and more coming

in dozens of varieties, designs, effects and durability. The game offers a fresh take on the franchise. It may have sacrificed many key aspects of the franchise like dungeons, a set green tunic and a linear storyline, but nothing that was taken away ended up breaking the game. The complete freedom to take on the game however one chooses allows for everyone to face the challenges in a way that is enjoyable for them. They’re still faced with witty puzzles while also having enemies able to kill Link in one hit. Not to mention, the world is designed beautifully and, when played on the Nintendo Switch, plays flawlessly with little to no lag apart from a few frame drops. Discovering new areas is always rewarding, and it is easy to get sidetracked from Point A to B with many side quests and hidden areas bound to be along the way. IGN has hit the nail on the head with their review of BoW: “10… Masterpiece.”

arts andnews entertainment

a world of machines you must see

sheeran plays it safe

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Nick Klotz Online Editor

When “Horizon: Zero Dawn” was announced, people had no idea what to think. A third-person open world title by the people behind “Killzone” sounded almost like a failure from the beginning. However, Guerrilla Games has surprised everyone by not only making a great game, but possibly one of Playstation's best exclusive titles to date. Horizon is not only a blast to play, but has excellent story, characters, graphics and a world that's just begging to be explored. Starting long after the current age of man, “Horizon: Zero Dawn” is set in a world where machines have evolved after humanity’s near-extinction. With our generation known only as “The Old Ones,” humans have reverted back into a tribal state of civilization in this post-post-apocalyptic world. The story is shown through Aloy, a young woman of unknown origin, and the player sets out to find out what happened to humanity and why machines are now at the top of the food chain while uncovering her past. The main quest does a great job at holding player interest and not feeling boring in comparison to the side objectives. While done to death in the past, Aloy’s story is made to feel completely new thanks to the world it’s based in. “Horizon’s” world is incredible. From side quests, to the main

His latest, “÷ (Divide),” is the next in his mathematical operator series. In it Sheeran takes his folky six-string roots and adds in pop influence. “Eraser,” a bland Twenty One Pilots-like that features Sheeran rapping over a set of looped acoustic guitars. The track’s production feels more trendy than innovative. In a year’s time it’ll just feel stale. “Shape of You,” a tropical beat with shallow lyrics about grinding in the club. It feels like the track was built from the ground up for radio play. Second single “Castle on the Hill” fares better. It’s a pop-rock track with an epic build up a la U2 or, 30 Seconds to Mars. The jangly guitars soar overhead throughout a la the latter band’s “Closer to the Edge.” On the song “What Do I Know?” Sheeran presents a warm and sparse instrumental of clean electric guitar, kickdrum, and layered harmonies. The redhead sings about how

Mohsin Hamid brought “Exit West” to shelves last year, and this romance amidst war and destruction has received much praise and recognition. His novel follows a couple who must somehow keep their love alive when they become refugees who flee from a war-torn land, to London. This novel is a modern look at the migrant, unwilling traveler. Hamid is non-specific enough that the piece is timeless. Hamid plays quite a bit with the concept of time, as it passes

plot and to the optional hunting lodge challenges, there is a lot to do; it all feels natural within the world. Seeing hunters wearing a mixture of animal skin and machine parts sells the authenticity of the world, while rounding a corner on my robotic horse and encountering a group of 20ft long robotic crocodiles still makes me giddy with fear and excitement even 20+ hours in. Even the crafting system feels fresh, with items like ammunition able to be built while in combat without pausing to go to a menu. One thing to note is that this game forces its audience to play smart, meaning going

into a fight without the correct weapons will result in a quick and brutal demise. Thought must be put into every fight and one must study their prey before jumping in if they wish to topple bigger game. “Horizon: Zero Dawn” is smart, fun, and a must play for anybody with a Playstation 4. It gives players an excellent world and cast of characters while making them feel like they are actually growing as a skilled hunter, learning to take down bigger and bigger machines with new tools, weapons and knowledge that make you feel like you are growing right alongside Aloy. A 100% recommendation for anyone, 9/10

quickly and encompasses Nadia and Saeed’s lives until they’re wrinkled in only 231 pages. He writes, “We are all migrants through time.” “Exit West’s” narrative takes a much loftier approach than Hamid’s previous novel, “The Reluctant Fundamentalist.” Where “Fundamentalist” was told in a rich and close narrative, “Exit West” takes a much loftier approach. The reader is held at a certain distance from the characters, never quite entering their heads. Much of Hamid’s language is elegant and long-winded in a lyrical way, with single sentences often making up entire paragraphs.

Hamid also pulls an interestingly wide-scoped narrative in which we are brought closer in-scene with characters unrelated to the protagonists the reader follows but seem to at least add to the budding intensity of war and violence. It becomes clear that the world Hamid has created is one in which people cannot escape darkness. The loftiness that is felt in the narrative causes an issue in reading, however. It keeps the reader too detached and doesn’t allow for a connection to be made to the main characters. The perspective is too objective, and though it’s a romance, it doesn’t come across as strongly

music can bring about change. While the song feels genuine in its delivery, it suffers from the same problem as much of the album. It’s so topical and nonspecific, it feels inconsequential. Sheeran is too vague to be singing about anything important. Even on a song like “How Would You Feel (Paean)” where Sheeran is singing about “the one,” he can’t say anything more personal than “stealing kisses in a front yard.” Closing track “Supermarket Flowers” is a standout. It’s a piano ballad written in memory of Sheeran’s grandmother. The lyrics, written from the perspective of Sheeran’s mother, are a moving tribute. The chorus of “Hallelujah/You were an angel in the shape of my mum” is backed by an angelic choir. It’s the most human moment on the record. Ed Sheeran has talent, he’s good with a guitar, has a unique voice and can write an earworm of a chorus. However, this album is faceless and cliché. There are a few good moments, but they’re buried beneath what can be called filler at best. 5/10

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Laurelann Easton Copy Editor

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"exit west" love and warfare

as it could on the page. Surprisingly, I felt most intrigued by the side stories, the brief moments of unrelated characters, which is problematic. They’re not the main story, and I wanted more of that than of the two that are followed for the most part. I did not feel compelled to keep reading and only finished it for the sake of providing a review, and to see if the ending held enough merit to justify the removed feeling through much of the novel. To be truthful, the ending is a little heartbreaking, especially for those looking for a happy ending or those who do fall for

the characters’ love for each other. Even though I couldn’t feel connected to Nadia or Saeed, I was still upset by their story’s end, without anything certain for their future. The ending seems representative of the strain war can put on a relationship, even the most sincere ones. If you’re looking for a story to lead you surface-level across without a dramatic finish, something that’s more of a subtle read one day, then this is the book for you. However, if you’re like me and want something a little closer to the characters, then perhaps pick a different novel.

PENMEN ABROAD news FROM COLOGNE TO NEW HAMPSHIRE

Kamila Ataee Penmen Abroad Editor Senior Sinja Mandel is an active international student from Cologne (Köln), Germany. She majors in Business Administration in Degree in Three (Di3) program at SNHU. Mandel grew up mainly in Ingolstadt, a town near Munich. Mandel came to the U.S. in August, 2016 to complete her double degree at SNHU. As a Business major, it was mandatory for her to spend her fifth semester abroad. “I’m the first German student studying two terms aat SNHU and I am glad I did it,” said Mandel. She also went to Cologne Business School before coming to SNHU. The education system in her hometown is different than the education system in the U.S. “We just have two schools in Germany—elementary school is separated and middle and high schools are combined,” said Mandel. For Mandel, the workload in the U.S. collages are higher than collages in Germany. “I’ve a lot

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of short papers, blackboard discussions and presentations; basically, every week I have to do something,” said senior Mandel. “In Germany I go to class for the whole semester, and barely do anything in the first half. Then usually we have a large term paper or an exam at the end which values 100 percent”. Although overall the academic level is quite similar in both countries, Mandel prefers the U.S. education system because it is not just based on memorization. “You need to learn everything by hard work because the exam is based on reproduction," she said. As much as Mandel enjoys her time in the U.S., she also misses her family, friends, the German carnival and food. “It might be cliché, but Germans really love their bread. It’s so common to eat bread at least once if not twice a day. Here you usually get sandwich bread which is very soft with less flavor in comparison,” Mandel explained. The Annual Karneval (carnival) is one of Cologne's biggest celebrations of the year which starts on Fat Thursday and con-

Sinja Mandel at the Lawn on D in Boston. tinues until Ash Wednesday. Mostly people from the South celebrate the carnival. At the days of the carnival, Mandel dresses up in her favorite costumes, gets breakfast with

her friends and goes to different areas in the city to watch various parades. “Every day, each section of the city has its own parade, so we used to go every day to differ-

ent parades,” said Mandel. “The kids are collecting a lot of candies which they throw off the wagons during the parade. I used to do that too when I was smaller. It was a blast! The best time of the year.” Another thing she loves about her hometown is the people. “When I first moved to Cologne, I used to use Google Maps a lot to find my way around, but people immediately started offering help and directed me where I needed to go,” said Mandel. Mandel also likes to travel and experience different parts of the world. She traveled to South Africa after her high school graduation for a volunteer work. She suggests SNHU students to broaden their horizon and challenge themselves to meet people with different backgrounds, race and ethnicity. “You can learn a lot by simply talking to different people. It might help you change your views on certain things,” suggested Mandel. “Maybe you are going to make really good friends with students from different parts of the world that you might want to visit someday.”

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NEW CONTINENTs, NEW OPPORTUNITies Kamila Ataee Penmen Abroad Editor

GaijinPot

SNHU Study Abroad opens a new door to Asia. Aichi Shukutoku University(ASU) in Nagoya and Seinan Gakuin University (SGU) in Fukuoka are the two new partners. The Office of Study Abroad finalized two exchange agreements with these two universities. The program will officially start sending students to Japan in the Fall of 2017. “This is a unique opportunity for our students to engage, enjoy and benefit from a different study abroad experience,” said the director of Study Abroad and Exchange Program, Stefano Parenti. According to Parenti, this partnership will be above and beyond the traditional and most common programs, such as U.K., Italy and Ireland where students go the most. The International Student Services office worked with the Office of Study Abroad to select the best universities where SNHU students can benefit from. In Japan, through the whole program, courses focus on Japa-

The Fukuoka city skyline. nese culture and society, extracurricular activities, housing, etc. Students could be “exposed to the beauty of differences,” said Parenti. “We believe that the engagement with different perspectives helps develop awareness, in terms of alternatives, for a more critical approach to life.” Parenti visited both universities, ASU and SGU. The Japa-

nese peaceful society and culture amazed him. “My thoughts were captured by the harmony of this peaceful society, by the genuine and authentic kindness of its people and their idea about social responsibility,” said Parenti. ASU adopts “living with diversity” as its philosophy for education. “The pillar of our education is to nurture the ability,

knowledge and skills of students while deepening their understanding of each other regardless of their culture, nationality, religion, age, gender, or disability,” said Parenti. This university has two campuses, Hoshigaoka, located in Nagoya, the heartland of Japan, and another located in Nagoya’s neighboring city of Nagakute.

Osaka and Tokyo are easily accessible from Nagoya. “It takes about 1 or 2 hours by bullet train respectively,” said Parenti. At ASU, students can take a wide range of communication courses in English, along with a two-week intensive Japanese language program. However, there will be some challenges that study abroad students might face, such as the language barrier. Not a lot of Japanese speak English. SGU is one of the top comprehensive universities in Fukuoka, Japan. This university currently accepts international students from 68 institutions in 21 countries all over the world. The office of Study Abroad and its new partners believe that the new program of Global Communication is the perfect fit for SNHU students. On the other hand, Japan is also not a traditional destination for students interested in studying abroad. “We need to build the culture of study abroad with the help of our faculty. We need to share that the world is not only Italy, U.K. or even America,” said Parenti. “There are many other wonderful places where we can learn other perspectives.”

HEALTH AND WELLNESS news mAN'S BEST FRIEND provides health benefits

Lori Costa Health & Wellness Editor Pets make great companions; for over 25 years, there has been research to prove that pets provide people with certain health benefits. Not only does having a pet reduce blood pressure and lower anxiety, they can help get a date. According to WebMD, pets have become a new way to fight off allergies. A growing number of studies have suggested that kids growing up in a home with a pet (whether it is a cat, dog, or even farm animal) will have a less risk of allergies and asthma. A new study also found that if a dog lived in a home of an infant, they were less likely to show evidence of pet allergies, a ratio of 19% to 33%. Infants were also less likely to develop eczema, a common skin condition that causes red

brokers with high blood pressure who adopted a cat or dog had lower blood pressure readings in stressful scenarios. Playing with a dog can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine; these are nerve transmitters that are known to have pleasurable and calming properties. Pets are also good for the heart. Heart attack patients who have pets have been found to survive longer than those without pets, according to several studies. Male owners have also been found to have less signs of heart disease than nondog owners. According to WebMD and multiple studies, people with pets have been found live healthier and happier lives than people who do not own a pet. Pets can help with stress levels, reduce anxiety, help lower the risks of having heart disease and can even help their owner find love.

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patches and itching. In particular, dogs have also been found to be great for making love connections. A dog can be a natural conversation starter. Dogs can help to ease the pain of social awkwardness or isolation. The conversation may then turn to something non-pet related after easing into a conversation about the dog itself. Another study by WebMD also found that pets can help patients with Alzheimer’s to have fewer anxious outbursts. This study found that elderly people able to care for a pet were provided with exercise and companionship by the animal. Pets have also been found to be good for the mind and soul. Owners of pets have been found to be far less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets. One study found that stock-

HIGH SCORE: VIDEO GAMES ARE BENEFICIAL TO HEALTH Lori Costa Health & Wellness Editor

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Although there has been the theory that video games make people more violent, they can actually make a person’s life better. There have been numerous academic studies that indicate playing video games has multiple psychological and physical health benefits, according to an article by The Huffington Post. Video games can help slow down the aging process. Playing brain-teasing games for only two hours a week may help to slow the degree of mental decline that is naturally associated with the aging process. A study done by the University of Iowa found that a study of 681 healthy individuals 50 years and older were able to slow the aging process by playing ten hours of a specially designed video game by up to seven years. Another study found that video games can actually be a pain reliever. In 2010, research was found that video games (with heavier emphasis on virtual reality) have been a proven effector in reducing anxiety or pain caused by medical procedures. This study found that peo-

ple undergoing chemotherapy or other heavy treatments that were immersed in the world of gaming, were reportedly less

stressed. In addition to this study, patients being treated for burn wounds found a decline in their pain levels by

anywhere from 30 to 50 percent. Researchers in New Zealand found in 2012 that video

games created a new way to treat depressed teenagers. This study was conducted with 168 teens that struggled with depression. Half of the group had oneon-one counseling and the other were assigned a specifically designed video game called “SPARX,” a fantasy game centered in a virtual world. Researchers found that 44% of players completely recovered from their depression, while only 26% of teens completely recovered from depression with one-on-one counseling. The highly popular “Call of Duty” has also been found to improve eyesight in its players. According to a study done by the University of Rochester, shooting bad guys in video games can actually give you better eye sight. The authors of this study believe that the process of locating and aiming at enemies exercised gamers’ eyes. Also, with bad guys popping up at unexpected times, researchers found that players were able to learn how analyze optical data on the fly. This study also helped to prove that video games help to serve as an aid to correct bad eyesight.

Fake news news

Guy Fieri Reviews Munchiez

Construction Updates

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Jonathan David Contributing Writer

Guy Fieri here for a special edition of “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.” In the first of my “College Cookin’” series, I’ll be visiting the Munchiez Food Truck at SNHU. When I heard that SNHU had their own food truck on campus, I was like, “Holy moly, stromboli! I need to get down there!” If all it took were heart, this truck would win handily. The time and energy the kids put into this big blue beast of truck sure shows. But does this food truck’s eats earn a parking spot in the famous Flavor Town square? First, I had to try the classic staple: the chicken tender. With their crispy breading and tasty meat, boy did they love me tender. I gotta say, “ricotta” try the mac and cheese bites. What’s not to love about deep fried macaroni and cheese? These things are

SNHU’s success as a regional education powerhouse means that as more students than ever enroll, there is an increasing demand for courses, athletics, housing and parking. To meet the demands, the Manchester campus looks like a construction zone already, with more to come. University Expansion Officer Pour LeTapp today announced that the new dormitory being built behind the Wolak Library and the Dining Center will be named Smuttynose Hall, joining Tuckerman and New Castle Hall as SNHU dormitories whose naming rights have been purchased by beer manufacturers. New Castle Hall will also be renamed Newcastle Hall to conform to the brewer's branding. “It’s a similar business transaction to the University leasing the naming rights to the SNHU Arena,” said LeTapp. “The revenue generated from the breweries naming these dorms means SNHU can offer more amenities and comforts of home to residents.” SNHU’s growth creates logistical and other challenges as education and the business of the school must continue. Those challenges even extend to naming new facilities in ways that honor SNHU’s heritage and New Hampshire’s history, but LeTapp said that the Board of Trustees instead decided to use an interruptive,

Jaime Mailloux

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Nick Klotz Online Editor

Fieri says Munchiez is as hot as jalepeño poppers. some of the most popular here and there’s a good reason why. They are “grate.” I had a hunch they’d have a true classic munch: those jalapeño poppers. To my surprise, the crew let me know they didn’t make them anymore. What a bummer! I had to fight harder than a crawfish on a dinner dish, but I managed to get them to find the very last batch in their freezer from two semesters ago. Never did I think hot pepper heat and freezer burn would pair so well. They melted the frost

right off my frosted tips. Expect to see this Guy around more often. This tasty truck was enough to make me sign up for classes next semester. This joint is highly recommended. If there were one thing I’d say to the Munchiez crew, I have two suggestions for ya. One, get on that Donkey Sauce train. It would be a beautiful complement to your already dynamite package. Two, the truck could use some pizzazz. I recommend a racing stripe, in blonde, just like the one I have in my goatee.

res Life Prison Policy Hits Dorms

Musapha R. Price Staff Writer

Jaime Mailloux

While SNHU’s office of Residence Life prides itself on offering a fair and thorough conduct process, certain elements of it are still open to change. As such, starting in Fall 2017, the office will be creating special designated basement floors in each of the residence areas. These floors are reserved for residents with persisting disciplinary hiccups. They will offer

the same residential amenities as other hallways with a few slight changes to account for potential issues within the space. First and foremost, each hall will have the traditional card scanner for entry. In addition to this, metal detectors will be placed at each main door with officers of the Hooksett Police Department specifically assigned to prevent illegal contraband from making its way into the halls. Second, all residents living

Jaime Mailloux

RD Jake Piecuch checks out the new facilities.

in these designated hallways will be required to submit their class schedules to the Residence Directors assigned to those halls. Any time period that isn’t directly linked to a class enrollment will require a sign out for any residents that wish to leave the premises. Residence Directors retain the right to deny residents these recesses. Third, residents in these hallways are going to have a weekend curfew of 10 p.m. These residents will as such, only be able to travel off campus for overnight stay during university sanctioned break periods, or in case of emergencies. Students who are documented while living in these halls will be required to spend three nights in the single room. This single room has one bed with no sheets or blankets, and no windows. The Office of Residence Life has taken great lengths to ensure that in the future, residents respond properly to rules outlined in the student handbook. One thing is for certain. Students will be able to see firsthand how this new residence hall addition will influence their peers.

innovative approach and forgo tradition in favor of money. By selling naming rights of dorms to breweries, SNHU generated income while keeping names already familiar to college students. The University also confirmed that after years of discussion, Chocorua and Winnisquam halls would be torn down this summer and replaced with a new, stylish five story dormitory to be called Taylor Swift Hall. The new residence hall will include three levels of underground parking in a garage called LeBlanc Space. This will provide shelter from winter weather and the need to move cars for plowing. Taylor Swift Hall will be a freshman-only dorm, designed to ease new students into college life. Assistant Dean of Student Recruitment Zayn Niall said that SNHU data showed that too many first-year students missed the comforts of home when they arrive at college. “The problem was not unique to SNHU, but we believe that with this new residence hall, students picking a college really have only one direction.” The posh facility feature extra-large double rooms with walk-in closets and a new WiFi source independent from the one used by the rest of campus. The university is also expected to soon announce a new SNHU plane and landing strip located just off East Side Drive to coincide with the arrival of the former Daniel Webster College.

The intended plans for Smuttynose Hall.

FAKE News news

Petey the Penman Strikes Again Thomas Callahan Staff Writer

Jaime Mailloux

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For a long time, Petey the Penman has been a beloved mascot. Long considered to be a symbol of hope, progress and justice, Petey has been known as a source of inspiration to not only the SNHU community but also the global community. However, a new era of heartbreak approaches. Following the recent decision to change the school mascot, Petey’s brain short circuited. Graduating from Mascot College in 1973, Petey earned his bachelor’s degree in mascot science. Seeing how he always loved the idea to either live free or die, and wanted to live like a Penmen, SNHU was an obvious choice. However, he is no longer SNHU’s mascot. The former mascot is now a serial prankster. Mario Addario, a random dude who hangs out in the Green Center, gave a detailed account of an encounter he had with Petey. “I was walking home to Washington Hall, when suddenly this man dressed in American Revolution attire threw a pie in my face! He then proceeded to break dance and laugh with the intensity of a hyena. The guy even flipped me off like I wasn’t

Petey the Penman and his crime ring flaunting their haul. even worth the patch of dirt I was standing on,” said Addario. Throwing pies barely scratch the surface of Pete’s treachery. Most likely feeling emboldened by his current “living on the edge” lifestyle, Petey is believed to be responsible for jamming the fork and knife dispensers in the Dining Hall. Intelligence

officials also believe he’s solely responsible for keeping the toilets in the Student Center men’s room stuffed to the brim with toilet paper. Petey’s psychology profile reveals he is known for preferring to keep his hind in a bind, so his toilet paper escapade fails to surprise. Recent excerpts from

WikiLeaks also highlight Petey’s involvement with the infamous hacktivist group, Anonymous. Next time students try to upload an assignment on Blackboard and wonder why the internet crashes, blame Petey. Marilyn Blondroe, a random lady that loiters outside Robert Frost Hall, described her new-

found feelings towards Petey. “The poor guy is nuts. Being SNHU’s mascot was the only thing he had going for him. Well that and his bulbous blue eyes that make me feel like he stares directly into my soul,” Blondroe. Petey is classified as merciless. Sensing his life is at a standstill has made him as rational as a hot-headed baboon. Oncampus students are strongly encouraged to travel in groups to reduce the chance of confrontation with this dastardly fellow. An elite task force lead by Public Safety, dubbed PEN Team Six, has been charged with bringing in Petey for trial. The task force leader, Douglass Macarthur, was unavailable to shed light on the investigation. However, an anonymous source revealed Petey’s reckoning will be ending. Given the circumstances, school officials are encouraging students to remember Petey for the mascot he used to be. “Remember him for the joy he brought to us all,” President Paul LeBlanc said “He came to help in times of need and even earned an invisible medal of freedom award. The Petey you need to keep seeing is the one that inspired us all to become a penman who never waivers, even if the quill is damaged.”

SNHU Introduces New Mascot in wake of Petey's Crime Spree Katerina Wilhelmi Social Media Editor

Jaime Mailloux

SNHU has seen many changes within the past year. From participating in the Teach Out program at Daniel Webster College, to the opening of the Gustafson Center, to the construction of new dorm buildings. These changes are so that the university can move forward from the Petey the Penman mascot meltdown. Each decision was carefully made with SNHU students in mind. One change that caught many students by surprise was delivered by President Paul LeBlanc himself via Twitter. On April 1, LeBlanc tweeted “Big changes are coming to SNHU next semester. Out with Petey the Penman, in with Petunia the Pig.” Cyndi Caplette, a junior at SNHU felt that this new change would be a positive one. “I

believe getting a new mascot would be great! During games, they could bring in tiny pigs to march on the field. Also, instead of having the occasional puppy therapy, they could have pig therapy,” Caplette said. “It would be beneficial for so many students.” Senior Patrick Slingo expressed concern about this change. "I have been a Penmen for four years now," Slingo said. "When I graduate, I will still be a Penmen, and I intend on being a Penmen until I die." LeBlanc explained the change further in a memo. “When we had prospective students come to campus, they loved the buildings and the appeal of having a swimming pool. When it came time for them to meet Petey, we never knew if he was going to behave or turn to his prank-pulling ways,” LeBlanc said. “After meeting with some

Petunia the Pig coming to SNHU in fall of 2017. staff members, we decided that the best course of action would be to change our mascot to a pig. Everyone likes pigs, they’re cute. Petunia, is a female pig who isn’t aggressive or threatening, so all members of the SNHU community can feel safe.”

The Athletics Department will change from SNHU Penmen to the Penmen Pigs in the fall. The change of logos, brochures, websites and equipment will take place over the summer. There will also be a flag featuring Petunia on it flying on the flag

pole beside the Dining Hall to show school pride. The decision to change the mascot has been presented as final, and students are encouraged to embrace this moment of innovation and to live like Penmen while they still can.

Volume XXIII, Issue 10

FAKE April 1, 2017: April Fool's Day

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What's Inside: News | Front & 3-5

Features | 6-7 Penmen Passion | 8 Opinion | 9 Arts & Entertainment | 10-11

PRESIDENT LEBLANC ONTO BIGGER THINGS IN 2020 Megan Palmer Editor in Chief While the 2016 Presidential Election season has only very recently come to a close, American citizens can already begin campaigning for the next candidate running to be leader of the free world: Paul LeBlanc. A recent law change has allowed non-American born residents to run for office and LeBlanc intends to use this to his advantage. LeBlanc announced his candidacy this past week via megaphone upon the Green Space. After amassing a crowd, LeBlanc addressed the SNHU Community saying, “I am here to announce that I will be running for president in the upcoming 2020 election. SNHU needs not fear, as I will base my campaign here on campus and will do my best to put the university’s interests first.” When asked about his campaign platform, LeBlanc said that he “hadn’t figured out all the details yet” but “not to worry, it was going to be awesome.” To punctuate this point, DJ Halestorm began playing “Born In The U.S.A.” as LeBlanc revealed American

flag pants beneath what appeared to be well-crafted, tear-away suit pants. When asked about why he decided to run, President LeBlanc said, “It felt like the right time. I feel as though I’ve done a good job running a university, and a country is just a big university. There are departments, and people, and I heard Sodexo caters all meals at the White House. I assume it will be an easy transition.” LeBlanc continued, saying “I have stop number one on my campaign tour right here! First stop Dining Center, second stop America!” At this point, the crowd carrying LeBlanc began to pick up speed and was gone. The campus has mixed reactions about the President’s decision to run for President. “I find it incredibly noble,” junior Clancy Lamppost said. “If it’s something he wants to do, then I am ready to support him.” Sophomore Lisa Flingo said, “I am worried that this may separate the campus if they don’t agree with his platform. I hope that his campaign incorporates the voices of all SNHU students.” President’s LeBlanc’s campaign will be followed closely over the next four years.

Jaime Mailloux

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March 29, 2017 penmenpress@snhu.edu Manchester, NH

Matt petersons' bmx stunt career on hold

Penmen Abroad | 12 Health & Wellness | 13 Fake News | 14-16

Featuring: Jaime Mailloux

LeBlanc's campaign poster.

Matty P.'s sick BMX skills. Tyler Leighton Contributing Writer After a successful summer of death defying stunts, jumping his BMX bike over any and all obstacles across New Hampshire’s country fair’s, Matt Peterson’s stunt career was primed to transi-

tion from mid-life crisis to a full on second career for the Assistant Director of Residence Life. That was until March 11, when Petersons dislocated and fractured his ankle after slipping during an ice fishing accident on Bow Lake. Petersons went into surgery March 17 needing three screws

and a plate inserted into his ankle to help stimulate the healing process. The current timetable for Peterson’s recovery is four months which has cast serious doubt on Petersons' ability to return to his daredevil antics this summer. “I’ve jumped over rows of flaming buses and ridden though explosions on my bike and, I came out without a scratch,” Petersons said about the accident. “Then, a family ice fishing trip puts me in the emergency room.” On his doctor’s recommendation, Petersons will need to stay off his right foot until the injury is fully healed. “Because of the injury, I’ve gotten to ride around on a new scooter. I haven’t had it long, but I’m already looking for spots on campus where I can test out some rad tricks.” Petersons paused for a mo-

ment before asking, “My doctors definitely won’t read this, right?” Only two weeks after his injury, Petersons has already showed his intention to return to BMX stunt riding once he’s completed his physical therapy. He’s already begun preparation for his first major jump. “Bow Lake and I have unfinished business. The frozen ice may have broken my ankle, but once I’m back to 100 percent, I’m going to break the world record for the sickest double backflip over a lake in history.” Petersons is updating his fans as his recovery progresses. He’s started the hashtag #MMGA, which stands for Make Matt Great Again. “What I know for sure is that next year on Move-In Day, I’m gonna jump from Tuckerman’s roof to the new apartment building.”