Monday, October 21, 2019
Volume LXIII, Issue 8
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2019 Diversity Issue 2019 Mental Health Issue
President Bernstein gives address on university
By Samantha Robinson and Brianne Ledda
Assistant News Editor and News Editior
Interim President Michael Bernstein reflected on the progress Stony Brook University (SBU) has made in the past year during his first address to the university on Wednesday, Oct. 16. During his speech, Bernstein highlighted budget improvements, an influx of research funds, planned renovations to several school facilities and the university’s top spot in several media rankings. Bernstein also emphasized diversity during several points of his address, noting that “here at Stony Brook, this is a welcoming, inclusive and secure environment.” “We resolutely believe, as scholars, as scientists, as educators, as artists, that [a] diverse and inclusive population generates optimal results in research, in scholarship, in our thinking, in education, in mentorship in professional service,” he said. “The more diverse a population, the better the results, and certainly the more effective in education we provide to our students.” Joking that talking about the budget would “bum” the audience
EMMA HARRIS / THE STATESMAN
Interim President Michael Bernstein gives his first address to the university on Wednesday, Oct. 16 in the Staller Center. During the address, Bernstein reflected on the progress the university has made in the past year. out after he mentioned several university highs, Bernstein noted that SBU has made “remarkable progress” towards stabilizing its budget following a multi-million dollar deficit. He pointed to increased revenue from “various tuition and fee increases that have been granted by the state government,” online education and other initiatives and cut-backs with streamlined operations and a hiring freeze that was loosened last month. The New York State budget passed in 2017 allows for tuition to increase $200 every year for four years, ac-
cording to a 2018 budget message from former university president, Samuel Stanley. In addition, to compensate for the budget deficit, the university announced that it would “forego $3.7M in Excelsior tuition for the next four years since tuition remains flat for the Excelsior scholarship program until the 2021-2022 academic year.” Tuition went up $200 per academic year at all SUNY campuses this fall. Bernstein emphasized that the university is taking a strategic approach to decision-making.
“We have got to make choices. That’s hard to do,” he said. “And the best way to do it, harkening back to my earlier comments, is to share governance structures that mobilize effective data and metrics to drive optimal transparent and credible, accountable decisions.” Even still, with a tight budget, research is flourishing at the university. Total spending on research and development activities rose from $238 million in 2017 to $245 million in 2018, a record high for the university. Sponsored research also rose to a
record high last year, at almost $192 million. That number is lower so far in 2019, at $180.6 million. The university hasn’t slowed its clip on development either. The Student Union, which has been under construction since 2016, will be opening in March of 2020. A new building is going up on the university’s research campus, and an indoor practice facility for student athletes is under construction. New residence halls are planned in TaContinued on page 4
SBU holds Commons Day Pancreatic cancer drug reaches Phase III status By Gabby Pardo Opinions Editor
First-year students piled into the Island Federal Credit Union Arena on Wed. Oct. 16 for Commons Day to listen to producer and writer, Janet Mock, the author of the first-year reading this year. Mock’s memoir, “Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More” was a required reading for all firstyear students for their 101 seminar class. The memoir talks about Mock’s life growing up in Hawaii as well as her obstacles and triumphs as a black, transgender woman. She is the first transgender person to ever speak at Stony Brook’s Commons Day. “I was just really happy that my book was chosen for Commons Day,” Mock said during a book signing after her speech. “It’s [Commons Day], one of the biggest wide ranging reading initiatives that colleges tend to have and I’m glad to be apart of the tradition.”
Commons Day is a yearly tradition at Stony Brook, where the author of the first-year reading comes in to speak to students. Mock spoke about discrimination — specifically the controversy behind Title VII, which is supposed to prevent discrimination based on gender and race — as well as the new Netflix show she directs, “Pose.” Mock was the first trans woman to sign a deal with Netflix, putting the FX show on the streaming service. “When I first stepped forward with my story, there weren’t many examples of trans women specifically young trans women and trans people of color represented in the media,” Mock said to the audience. “Federally right now, we just saw the arguments from the Supreme Court last week about Title VII, and the fact about whether being LGBTQ whether gender identity and sexual orientation are actually protected under Title VII.”
Continued on page 4
By Meenu Johnkutty Contributing Writer
A pancreatic cancer drug discovered in professors Paul Bingham and Zuzana Zachar’s lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at Stony Brook University has now entered Phase III, or multi-center testing stage. During the multi-center testing stage, the drug will be tested among qualifying patients in clinical research centers nationwide, including Stony Brook Cancer Center. The trial will use a combination of FOLFIRINOX and CPI-613 — a partial inhibitor of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, a pathway used in the mitochondria for glucose metabolism — in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. Dr. Minsig Choi, an attending physician who specializes in gastrointestinal medical oncology, is the principal investigator of the trial. FOLFIRINOX is a chemotherapy regimen that uses multiple drugs to kill cancer cells. The use of CPI-613,
a lipoate analog — a chemically equivalent compound similar to one of the intermediates in the TCA cycle — may increase the vulnerability of cancer cells to traditional chemotherapy regimens by inhibiting cancer cells’ almost “addictive” use of the TCA cycle, Choi explained. Thus, combinational therapy may improve life expectancy for patients. “While normal cells can use other pathways when the TCA cycle is inhibited, cancer cells are more sensitive to changes in the TCA cycle,” Choi said. According to Choi, metastatic pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult forms of cancer to tackle. Stage one and stage two pancreatic cancer can often be treated surgically and followed with chemotherapy regimens. Patients who forgo treatment live up to three months after a diagnosis has been made. According to Columbia University’s Pancreas Center website, the percentage of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who live past five years sits at 2.4%.
With traditional chemotherapy regimens, patients can live up to one year. However, Phase I and Phase II clinical trial results of FOLFIRINOX and CPI-613 has pushed patient life expectancy past the 20-month mark, post initial diagnosis, according to Choi. “The Phase I/II trial had 17 evaluable patients,” Bingham wrote in an email. “Though this is a relatively small number, the effects were so large that we had adequate statistical power to motivate the Phase III trials now underway.” To advance a drug to Phase III status is no simple task. Decades of bench research showing the efficacy and potency of a drug are often required before a drug can be developed for clinical trials. CPI-613’s discovery can be traced back to Bingham and Zachar’s laboratory. Having worked for the past 18-20 years in the field of cancer research, their last seven years heavily focused Continued on page 4
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NEWS
University address highlights advancement Janet Mock speaks at SBU Continued from page 1 bler Quad and West Apartments as well. The Javits Lecture Center, Chemistry building and campus parking sites will also see renovations. The Department of Transportation and Parking plans to hire a parking consultant firm to help with the changes. “We have to invest in these areas,” Bernstein said. “Again, I want to acknowledge some of the difficulties here every time we touch a project and try to start a renovation project. There’s the good news that we’re going to have a renovated facility. The bad news is there’s going to be a lot of pain and suffering on the way.” Despite Stony Brook’s financial struggles over the past few years, it still managed to secure top spots in university rankings from several media outlets. The Wall Street Journal recognized Stony Brook as the top public school in New York. US News placed Stony Brook in the top 40 public universities in the country. But Bernstein was most impressed by the ranking from Market Watch. “We were recognized by Market Watch as being in the top 10 insti-
tutions in the nation that facilitate meaningful and statistically significant socioeconomic mobility for its students,” he said. “This is an important accomplishment on behalf of our institution … It demonstrates the fact that we are an elite but not elitist institution.” Even though Stony Brook’s budget is seeing better days than in previous years, graduate student Bernard Krumm, a fourthyear Ph.D. student in the English department, was not satisfied with the speech. He said the question of what Stony Brook is going to do about the fee increases for graduate students was left unanswered in Bernstein’s address. “If the budget has stabilized, then why are we basically stealing wages from graduate students? Because it is a condition of our employment that we pay fees,” he said. “So what is going to be done about that? Graduate students, that may seem like a small segment of the population, but we teach over 50% of the classes here at Stony Brook, and we live in poverty.” Jeffrey Barnett, interim associate dean of students, however, thought the address sent a unify-
ing message. “I think Interim President Bernstein is exactly who and what we needed at this university at this time,” he said. “I think he inspires an audience and a university. He keeps us centered on our mission and our history, which give us a focus heading forward. I think he understands how all the different constituencies at the university come together to make this a rich and powerful university.” Bernstein concluded the address by sharing what inspires him. He said he reflects on this nation’s past and the way earlier generations were able to see a better future despite the struggles they faced. If they were able to do so, then Stony Brook can as well, he said. For now, Bernstein believes successes should be celebrated. “I think we should always remember, that contrary to what some say, our university demonstrates not only the best of what American higher education has to offer, but the array and the total 360 degree richness of what American higher education has to offer,” he said. “That too, is part of our mission, our legacy, and indeed, it’s our story.” Gary Ghayrat contributed reporting.
Continued from page 1 Mock’s Q&A became even more personal when she connected directly with the students in the audience. Mock called out one student, Derrick Wegner, and commended him for being one of the first openly trans students to transition on Stony Brook’s campus. “I admire how his leadership and own experiences have shaped the university’s policies which have now helped shape and transform the ways in which trans students are coming in today,” she said. “Derrick’s life is an example of paving a way now that there is a living example from this community but someone who has walked the same hallways has helped transform this space and I wanted to acknowledge the everyday heroes.” Mock’s appearance also marks the second year in a row a minority speaker has come to speak to first-year students. Last year, Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor spoke. The process of picking a Commons Day speaker comes from a committee made up of students and faculty like Anastasia Zannettis, the
assistant dean and director of Undergraduate Colleges. Committee members recommend books, looking into ones from big publishers and seeing what other colleges have read for their first-year reading. “We originally had a recommendation for another book by another trans author, but this book just resonated with the committee,” Zannettis said. “We really try to find a book that connects with our students.” Zannettis also felt Mock was able to connect very well with all students, not only those who are trans, during her Q&A. Firstyear students laughed at Mock’s small jokes and applauded some of her responses. Freshman biology major from the Human Development Undergraduate College, Jennifer Mzobe, became a huge fan of Mock after reading her memoir. “This entirety of this presentation was very inspiring and impactful,” Mzobe said. “Just hearing her speak gives you the courage and little spark you need to go out there have your voice heard, and being a writer especially, just hearing that, you feel you can embrace and start change.”
Cancer drug in development SBU appoints first visiting Loeb professor Continued from page 1 on discovering the mechanisms behind CPI-613. According to Bingham, finding ways to preferentially kill cancer cells over normal cells can be quite difficult. The mitochondria — an organelle within cells that metabolizes glucose, among other things — houses many metabolic pathways that can potentially be targeted. CPI-613, an inhibitor of a key enzyme in the TCA cycle, can be used to “lie to this machinery, making it think that there is too much carbon going through the enzyme and that it should shut the enzyme off,” Bingham said. By inhibiting the TCA cycle, many other metabolic pathways that use this cycle cease to function, thus shutting down mitochondrial metabolism. “Attacking the TCA cycle in this way is a uniquely potent way to attack cancer metabolism,” Bingham said. “CPI-613 is preferential in attacking tumor cell mitochondria, while mostly leaving normal mitochondria alone.” Dr. Jingfang Ju of the Pathology Department at the Renaissance School of Medicine, who has spent the last decade in cancer research, agrees that this approach may be effective. “Cancer cells are addicted to glucose more so than normal cells,” he said. “That creates a therapeutic window. Thus, you can preferentially eliminate cancer cells and normal cells. However, there is potential for some normal cells to be impacted.” Ju’s laboratory uses technology to manipulate microRNA, or double stranded RNA, which can modulate a host of gene targets within the cell. Modulation can include increasing or suppressing the activity of genes that have been implicated in cancer. His lab has demonstrated that manipulat-
ing the code of microRNA to target genes involved in cancer can be both potent and effective in reducing the toxicity of cancer in a mouse model. The Ju lab’s microRNA technology has been licensed to Curamir Therapeutics, which will develop the drug for further testing in patients. Both Ju and Bingham have advanced a drug from discovery at the lab bench to pharmaceutical development. According to the Association of Medical Colleges’ website, basic scientists provide the foundational knowledge which lies at the crux of solving real-life problems like cancer. “This is a dream for basic scientists,” Ju said. “We work on research. Our ultimate dream is to impact patient care.” Bingham expressed a similar line of thought. “As a basic scientist, you hope that what you do may impact human welfare,” he said. “I still remember when I met the first patients whose lives were prolonged by [CPI613]. It was pretty amazing.” Though pancreatic cancer is fatal, extending life expectancy may mean a mother getting to see her daughter walk down the aisle on her wedding day, Choi said, recounting one of his patients’ experiences. “To young people, extending life for six or eight months may be just another number, but for the actual physician taking care of that patient, that small number could still mean a lot [for patients],” Choi said. “If this drug is effective in pancreatic cancer, it’s going to be very effective in other diseases as well, including colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer,” Choi said. “The potential for this drug is pretty good.” Ju agreed with this assessment. “It’s possible that this treatment, if successful, can be translated to other tumor types,” he said.
By Alissa Pabon Contributing Writer
On Sept. 1, Sree Sreenivasan joined Stony Brook’s School of Journalism faculty as the first Marshall R. Loeb Visiting Professor of Digital Innovation and Audience Engagement to teach the complexities of digital journalism. In the new digital journalism program, Sreenivasan will be engaging students in a three-year professorship on how to use digital innovations to enhance the content of news, its delivery and its engagement of the audience. “Professor Sreenivasan brings new and exciting expertise to the school,” Laura Lindenfeld Sher, the dean of the School of Journalism, said. “We imagine he will help to create some new courses and update some existing courses.” The professorship is named after Marshall R. Loeb, a former editor, columnist and commentator for Time, Fortune and Money magazines, who was eventually named the founder of modern business journalism. After his death on Dec. 9, 2017, his children Margaret and Michael Loeb created the Marshall R. Loeb Visiting Professorship in Digital Innovation and Audience Engagement at Stony Brook University to honor his life and accomplishments. Now, the newfound professorship is being granted to talented and knowledgeable individuals who will teach journalism to students through a modern digital lens. Sreenivasan was a professor at the Columbia Journalism School for 20 years and was a leading consultant for a multitude of different organizations, including nonprofits, corporations and startups such as DNAinfo. com. He is also a co-founder of two journalism organizations: the South
Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) and the Online Journalists Association, in which he is an administrator for its large awards program. In 2016, he was named the most influential Chief Digital Officer (CDO) by the CDO Club. “I imagine that his experience with digital media and audience building will enable students to learn more about the business of digital news,” Charles Haddad, associate dean and professor in the School of Journalism said. “This is a first for us, so it’s a very big deal. It’s very important that we get the right person to make the right impression.” Sreenivasan said that his goal is to help the school develop its multimedia curriculum. He wants to help students “figure out how to be more digital and more engaged with the audience.” The course will also deal with advancing the student body’s experience with different types of technological advancements. “This course is more photography, audio, video, all of it gets mixed in with multimedia, while keeping the heart of what we’ve been doing for years,” Sreenivisan said. Haddad explained that the School of Journalism as a whole is “going through a major change” and Sreenivisan is helping the curriculum take a step forward in the process. According to Haddad, his professorship is part of a larger revamp in the school’s curriculum. “We don’t quite have the resources to do it yet, but we are taking the baby steps towards that,” Haddad said. Sreenivasan gave his own insight on how his lessons would provide for current and future students. “Everything that [students are] learning will last them a lifetime,” Sreenivasan said. “The ability to write clearly, communicate clearly is something that no robot or AI can
completely take over from you. So, that’s how you make yourself future-proof.” Haddad also said that Sreenivasan will help diversify the faculty of the School of Journalism and introduce social media techniques. “I think it’s important that we have more people that look like our students,” he said. “It’s a very small pool of people of color who move into journalism in particular.” In fact, minorities in the US made up 21.4% of graduates with degrees in journalism between 2004 and 2014, according to The Atlantic. Yet, less than half of them found jobs in the field. “Journalism has always struggled as a profession to attract people of color to help them be successful,” Haddad said. Sreenivasan said he’s excited to join the Stony Brook family. He had “the good fortune to be selected for it,” and has been a long-standing fan of the university and its academic prowess. Other journalism professors, such as Johnathan Anzalone, thinks his addition is a significant one. “The School of Journalism needed more faculty, and it’s great that the school was able to marshal the resources to create the Loeb Visiting Professorship and bring in someone who’s so accomplished to fill the position,” he said. The dean extended the school of Journalism’s welcoming message. “We are so incredibly fortunate to have Professor Sreenivasan on board,” Lindenfeld Sher said. “He has a remarkable background, deep experience in digital journalism and a stellar reputation. The School couldn’t be more delighted to welcome him on board.”
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5
ARTS & CULTURE
Mental Health Comedy Tour comes to Stony Brook University
By Alek Lewis
Contributing Writer
The Mental Health Comedy Tour, hosted by Preston Gitlin and headlined by Joe Matarese, came to the Tabler Arts Center at Stony Brook University on Oct. 17. The event drew over 120 people to the Black Box Theatre for a comedy show and Q&A with the comedians about their struggles with mental health. Matarese and Gitlin were joined by comedians Daniel Laitman and Sonya Vai. The Mental Health Comedy Tour is meant to raise awareness and fight the stigma of mental illness through comedy while helping to raise money for To Write Love On Her Arms, a non-profit organization that helps those struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts and self-harm find treatment and recovery. The evening started out with Gitlin cracking a few preliminary jokes, but it seemed that the audience had their guards up. Usually, the audiences in comedy clubs are intoxicated and older than the college demographic, so it’s easier to grab a reaction and relate to a joke. Gitlin described the room’s lack of energy as “the library meets Canada,” a comment that got a good amount of chuckles and softened up the audience. Gitlin, who has an anxiety disorder, brought great energy as a
ALEK LEWIS / THE STATESMAN
Mental Health Comedy Tour came to the Tabler Arts Center at Stony Brook University on Oct. 17. host. The best of his material was about his stepmother, who victimized herself after tripping at the 9/11 memorial. He also talks about his college roommate, who he nicknamed “Bird,” because of the high-pitched noises he made during sex, which he imitates with hilarious accuracy. The headliner for the night was Matarese, who delivered hilarious jokes about mental health and his family and worked the crowd by poking fun at Stony Brook and its community. Matarese has attention deficit disorder (ADD), anger issues, anxiety dis-
order and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Matarese incorporates his mental health largely into his material and he has a one-hour special named “Medicated.” He also created a podcast called “Fixing Joe” that ran from 20102016, focusing on his mental health transformation; he now hosts the “Life of Joe” podcast. Laitman was the icebreaker for the night; he brought brilliant one-liners and helped the audience open up to the comedian’s more risque comedy. Laitman, who suffers from schizophrenia and OCD, has
self-deprecating humor that could be studied in a comedy masterclass. It’s pure genius. He leads the crowd into an uproar with jokes about how his schizophrenia caused his diary to write back to him, and how his OCD has given him an erection from showing up on time. His jokes broke the barrier between the audience and the performers for the night, loosening up the audience for Matarese’s set. The highlights of the night came with Matarese’s stories. He talks about having an anxiety attack while being high and downing vodka, and his Italian mother’s reaction to the whole ordeal. He also talks about taking Adderall for his ADD and relates his body’s reaction to the medication by saying he transformed from acting like Tony Soprano to Matthew McConaughey. Vai, who suffers from chronic depression, talked brilliantly about the expectations set by her strict Indian father, who constantly urges her to marry before it’s too late. She talks about how her depression molded her college experience, where she often had blackout-drunk sex. She lightens the mood by imitating penises raining down and hitting her face. After the stand-up portion of the show, all of the performers sat on the stage in a Q&A to share their experiences with their mental ill-
ness. The faculty-prepared questions were answered, and then the floor was open to any attendee. The performers shared their experiences finding out about their mental illness and coming out to the public about their mental illness, connecting with the audience through their personal struggles. Daniel Maguire, a freshman environmental studies major, related to Joe’s jokes the most. He struggled with some mental health issues in the past but mainly related to his jokes about family. “I liked Joe a lot; some of his jokes related to me pretty well,” Maguire said. “The joke about one person constantly cleaning [to suppress their anxiety] made me think of my aunt.” Sanan Shaikh, a senior sociology major, has dealt with mental illness. She was able to relate to all the comedians’ experiences, especially Vai. “I don’t think I have a favorite performer; they all were good. They all had their own issues and problems which they were able to depict in the show,” Shaikh said. “I think the fact that I am Indian also, I am able to relate to [Vai] a lot.” The event was sponsored by the Division of Undergraduate Education; Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine; the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center and the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health.
Lauv destigmatizing mental health on his “~how i'm feeling~” Tour By Rabia Gursoy Contributing Writer
Looking over the crowd, pop musician Lauv walks onto the stage as hundreds of fans cheer louder and louder. The concert was held on Oct. 11 at Terminal 5, a small venue with fans packed inside. The energy and emotion Lauv put into his performance mesmerized everyone to focus solely on him. He danced, sang acoustic without background music, played instruments and even introduced an unreleased song. His performance made fans cry, dance and laugh at the same time. While moving from one song to the next, Lauv gave his fans some insight into how he wrote the lyrics for this album. Almost all of the songs are based on Lauv’s personal experience with mental health and how he took that first step to reach out for professional help. This album is his commentary on how mental health should be dealt with. In a personal Instagram post earlier this year, Lauv wrote, “The biggest thing I learned from the past year was to not be afraid of your mind. To work with yourself and not against. To open the conversation more. To not be ashamed or afraid of help. Whether that be in the form of therapy, medication or anything else that works best for you personally. Mental health is a very real issue that needs to be approached with openness and love.”
“The biggest thing I learned from the past year was to not be afraid of your mind. To work with yourself and not against. To open the conversation more.” -Lauv
RABIA GURSOY / THE STATESMAN
Lauv is now on his “~how i’m feeling~” tour, which kicked off on Oct. 5 in Washington, D.C. and will continue for 19 shows before ending on Nov. 11 in New Zealand. Towards the middle of the concert, there was a slideshow starring Lauv. He explained the importance of destigmatizing mental health, “I realized that mental health needed to be approached like any physical illness or ailment; and that when your suffering, it doesn’t always make sense. Your mind can make you feel trapped and isolated, but
I’ve found that opening up to the people around me was the best decision I’ve ever made.” Lauv gave a mental health hotline number (LAUV 33222) so that anyone could reach out. There were two telephone booths at the entrance of the event, called “blue rooms,” where attendees could write down whatever they are feeling on a small
piece of paper and put it into the box. “Superhero,” one of Lauv’s top hits, was inspired by an anonymous note from the blue rooms. The tour playlist includes songs from his new album “~how i’m feeling~,” which will be released in March of 2020, alongside songs from his previous album “I Met You When I Was 18 (The Playlist).”
Lauv mentions that his first gig was in New York City and now he’s back with so much more. He started playing in his New York University (NYU) dorm room and then become a multi-platinum pop artist after collaborating with top artists such as Demi Lovato and Charli XCX. His success kicked off with his debut single “I Like Me Better,” which passed 200 million views on YouTube. Lauv is now on his “~how i’m feeling~” tour, which kicked off on Oct. 5 in Washington, D.C. and will continue for 19 shows before ending on Nov. 11 in New Zealand.
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7
"The Breadwinner" film brings a powerful story to the Wang Center By Lajiere Blake Staff Writer
Strong writing, a loveable protagonist and sharp visuals are the basis for the success of the 2017 animated film, “The Breadwinner,” shown at the Charles B. Wang Center. “Stories remain in our hearts even when all else is gone” is a line narrated within the first five minutes of the film, showcasing the robust writing. The art of storytelling and animation is captured beautifully in “The Breadwinner.” Based on the novel of the same name by Deborah Ellis, the film does a great job of hooking viewers in from the very start. This film adaptation of the beloved novel is directed by Nora Twomey, also known for the 2009 animated movie, “The Secret of Kells.” Parvana is an 11-year-old girl growing up in Kabul, Afghanistan. Here, women have intense restrictions placed upon them, but with her father Nurullah — who has only one leg — it’s up to Parvana to help the family out. Every day, they make the trek to the market, a place bustling with life and vivid colors. Everyone seems to be here, all with the same goal of making a living. When the audience is dropped into their world, it seems to be a normal day; except on this day, Nurullah is unfairly arrested by Idrees, a member of the Taliban.
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Poster for "The Breadwinner." This is a film adaptation of the novel of the same name written by Deborah Ellis. With the head of the household gone, Parvana; her older sister,
Soraya; her mother, Fattema and her youngest brother, Zaki, are
left with no elder male figure in the house. Sulayman, the oldest male son, passed away and with no other male relatives willing to travel to Kabul, the family has no options. Parvana feels stuck; she misses her father and now the harsh truths of the real world are being exposed to her. Parvana’s need for her father runs deep, so much so that she begs her mother to travel to the jail to see him. On this journey, Fattema is quickly spotted by a Taliban member and is questioned repeatedly on the whereabouts of her husband. Her excuses go unheard and he begins to beat her. Visually and emotionally, the film shifts from this moment. No longer is the vibrancy of the city seen. Now, more muted tones of brown and grey are used. Even without words, the movie does its job of communicating with the audience. The heaviness of the film also sets in at this moment, a sort of crossroads that blurs the line between fact and fiction. This scene of a mother being beaten in front of her child is ground-shaking enough to feel real. Parvana is too distracted by her mission to grab the pieces of the ripped picture of her father that she doesn’t witness the beating.
This symbolism of Parvana being protected by her father, even when he is gone, makes for a compelling example of the bond between a father and his daughter. The gravity of the predicament the family is in becomes clearer to Parvana. Their shared bowl of rice and raisins become smaller and smaller and the stress Fattema is under begins to weigh the entire family down. Parvana decides to shave her head and wear the garments of her deceased brother, becoming the male figure the family needs. For a while, this is enough. The family has full bellies and plenty of water, but their desire for more — for safety and for Nurullah’s return — overshadows everything else. Parvana spends time telling another story, one with glaringly large similarities to her reality. It is a story about a brave boy who must go on an expedition to save his community. As Parvana’s life begins to climax, so does the story and the reason behind the death of her older brother is revealed. It is here that the movie falters. The death of her brother is dangled before us, mentioned in passing but never fully explained; to illustrate his death this way is a disservice and feels lackluster. Overall, “The Breadwinner” is easily a great watch. It entrances the viewer from the very beginning and keeps us hooked to the very end.
A discussion on
Microaggressions and the Pursuit of Equity Jelani Cobb
Journalist, educator and staff writer for The New Yorker
Monday, October 28, 2019 • 7 pm Student Activities Center, Gelber Auditorium Free and open to the public • Seating is limited
Jelani Cobb, a professor in the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a longtime staff writer at The New Yorker, writes about the enormous complexity of race in America. As the recipient of the 2015 Sidney Hillman Prize for Opinion and Analysis Journalism for his New Yorker columns on race, the police and injustice, Cobb was praised for combining “the strengths of an on-the-scene reporter, a public intellectual, a teacher, a vivid writer, a subtle moralist, and an accomplished professional historian.” To RSVP by October 23 and to submit questions, visit stonybrook.edu/presidentiallecture JELANI COBB
Co-sponsored by the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer
For an accessibility-related accommodation, please call (631) 632-6320.
Stony Brook University/SUNY is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer. 19100571
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8
The Diversity Issue
Janet Mock sat in front of a group of 50 students at a Breakfast Meet and Greet in the Goldstein Family Student-Athlete Development Center held in her honor on Wednesday, Oct. 16. “Live and speak your truth. If you’re not able to do that, then you’re not living,” Mock, a best-selling author, television host, director, producer and transgender rights activist, said. At Stony Brook University each year, a book is chosen for the incoming class to read as part of the First-Year Reading Program, in which freshmen are given the opportunity to further explore the book with their peers and instructors. This year’s first-read for students was Mock’s New York Times bestseller, “Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More.” Before the annual Commons Day lecture discussing the book, a group of students were invited to hear Mock say a few words and participate in a Q&A session. During the session that quickly turned into an open group discussion, Mock told her remarkable story to students, emphasizing the importance of staying true to oneself. The 36-year-old was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, as a boy named Charles. Around the age of 12, Mock realized that she was uncomfortable in her body and, with the help and support from her longtime best friend Wendi, she began to start to transition into the person she always felt like being. “I got through the transitional journey by finding my chosen family, like my best friend Wendi,” she said. “Having a friend who was more courageous than I was, was so helpful.” By the end of her freshman year in high school, Mock regularly wore women’s clothes to school and started taking hormone pills — given to her by Wendi, who
had started her own transition a year before — without her mother’s knowledge. During Christmas break of her freshman year at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, 18-year-old Mock had gender reassignment surgery. Although her best friend helped her with the transition, Mock didn’t immediately receive the same support from her Hawaiian mother and African American father. When she was a child, she was often scolded for feminine behavior. During high school, she first came out to her mother when she realized she needed someone to monitor her progress as she started taking female hormone pills. She gained her mother’s support after her mother realized how desperately Mock wanted to make the physical changes to become a woman. Mock’s experience coming out to her father was very different. She “ripped the band-aid off” with a letter, so that she could say what she “wanted to say without rebuttal.” Even though her father policed her gender growing up, Mock explained she didn’t make her mother and father antagonists in her first book, but rather protagonists in their own stories. By doing this, Mock felt that readers were able to get the full portrait of her parents. Mock’s parents eventually came to accept Mock for who she is. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising in 2004 and a Master of Arts in Journalism from New York University in 2006, Mock began working at People magazine, where she held the position of a staff editor for more than five years. During her time at People, she didn’t tell anybody that she was a trans person. Growing up as a poor, black, trans woman, Mock said that she had to combat limited perspectives and biases against her. During
high school, Mock was harassed so much, she had to transfer schools. “I believe that experiences could’ve been eased if people were more open,” she said. She said that part of growing up in a poor community of color meant having a lack of resources and care as a member of the LGBTQ community. Mock found help through advocates and realized that it wasn’t people who were failing her, but broken systems. In both the Meet and Greet and the Commons Day lecture, Mock referred to the high number of transgender youth among the homeless population. According to the Williams Institute, 40% of the homeless youth served by agencies identify as LGBTQ+. “The number of LGBT youth that make up the homeless population is so high because it’s an effect of them having spoken their truth and wanting to live their most authentic lives, which usually comes with great risk,” she said. After realizing that she was in a broken system, she thought it was time to speak out. “I knew one day I was going to do more and there was more out there in the world for me,” she said. Mock explained that she often saw little representation of people of color in the queer community, which was the main reason she decided to publicly come out. “I wanted to put an image and a face to show that black trans women do exist,” she said. As she was constantly searching for someone who looked like her in the media, at one point, she told herself, “B----, you gotta do it!” In 2011, while working at People, Mock realized she needed to show herself and her identity more selflove. At the age of 27, she publicly came out as a trans woman in a Marie Claire article, written by Kierna Mayo using Mock’s voice. “My way of approaching selflove was through writing, learning
to confront and look through myself and giving myself affirmation,” Mock said. She explained that writing is one of her favorite hobbies and offers her an outlet to express herself. One of the main reasons she entered the world of journalism and magazine publishing was because she loves storytelling. “Through storytelling, I went through a transition from being a journalist to writing essays and telling my story,” she said. “I learned to be deeply faithful to your work.” Mock said that stepping forward and telling her truth allowed her to reinvent herself. While speaking at various events and universities, she felt as if she brought more of herself to each space she went to. “I learned to be who I am, to speak up and the idea of authenticity,” she said. After the publication of her first book in 2014, Mock went on to win numerous accolades in the media world. In 2015, she was named one of the “Most 30 Influential People on the Internet” and one of “12 New Faces of Black Leadership” by Time magazine. That same year, Fast Company also included Mock as one of their “Most Creative People in Business.” “I had no expectations about the vastness of it all,” she said. “It was the most impactful thing for me.” Mock started a social media campaign called #GirlsLikeUs in 2012 to empower transgender women. She started a podcast called “Never Before” in 2015, produced the HBO documentary “The Trans List” in 2016 and created the Allure magazine column “Beauty Beyond Binaries” in 2017. Mock went on to publish a second book in 2017 called “Surpassing Certainty,” which focuses on what she learned in her twenties about herself and her purpose in life. Throughout all of her projects, Mock said that her goal was
to always center whatever she did around colored trans people because of the importance representation played in her life. “It’s integral to my work and I hope it translates to people in everyday activism, to feel powered and moved enough to create change,” she said. In 2018, Mock became the first transgender woman of color to write and direct an episode of television on Ryan Murphy’s FX series “Pose,” an LGBTQ+ drama set in New York City’s ballroom culture scene. She explained that the show relates to family and finding people who support your dreams and invest their time in you. “I think about the bonds and connections it creates,” she said. Mock finds the time she spends around other creative creators deeply impactful. Ryan Murphy is an “instrumental mentor” in her life at the moment. “I thought it was powerful to me as a trans woman to take up space,” she said. Six Emmy nominations later, she signed a three-year multimillion-dollar contract with Netflix earlier this year, making her the first openly transgender woman of color to sign a deal with a major content company. “To see her real and in front of me was amazing. She exceeded my expectations,” Sae Zhang, a freshman psychology major, said. “I wanted to meet her in person because she emphasized that we don’t have to be caught up in pain from the past.” Justin Mitselmakher, a freshman journalism major at SBU, was inspired by the way Mock spoke about staying true to herself. “I loved that she spoke of not having the resources but still making it work. She found ways to become her true self, which I truly admire,” he said.
Yet it seems like many barriers still exist, even at our university. I’ve seen bathrooms without automatic doors, elevators that break down pretty frequently and a walkway leading towards the front of Frey Hall with no ramp at the end of it. Students must go to the back of the building to access a ramp. There is literally a non-accessible sign at the front of the walkway. Is Stony Brook lacking the manpower required to install a ramp at the end of a walkway? Going back to the issues Lu mentioned, which really hinders on able-bodied people’s ideas of what disability is or isn’t supposed to look like, legislation could potentially fix these problems. But that requires competency — which many institutions lack. I am talking about simple things. Things like nice, paved
walkways, elevators in buildings with two or more floors, automatic doors for entrances to buildings and bathrooms — bussing that is inclusive for wheelchair users or people with other mobility aids. The university already saved $1.5 million from the deal with Amazon to put a bookstore in the library a few years ago. It is obvious that the university can save money to make buildings more accessible. Shiny new buildings don’t erase existing issues; they make existing issues stick out even more. Stony Brook — fix this broken down campus so that maybe we the disabled can get a taste of what ease of access can and should feel like. I already hurt enough just having a disability. Don’t make me lose more faith in my prospects for life after college due to our decrepit infrastructure.
BY JOSHUA BLAKE On Thursday, Oct. 10, I decided to look up “disability reporting jobs” on Google, with hopes of receiving information regarding job openings for journalists with disabilities such as myself. The results that popped up were articles about employment issues involving people with disabilities and how Social Security can help if you have one. Although none of this was relevant to my situation, I did find one article intriguing. Editor and Producer for HuffPost, Wendy Lu, wrote an op-ed about the issues she encounters being a journalist with a disability. This really struck a chord with me. Lu mentioned how certain job requirements that are not entirely essential to the job posting turn away people with disabilities from even applying for the position. She noted a Newsday job
posting listed requirements such as lifting 25 pounds, being able to sit at a desk for eight hours and to have “excellent” communication both verbally and in writing. Job postings like this have ableist requirements that discriminate against disabled folks based on strength and mobility. But if you’re someone who cannot type 50 words per minute because of a disability, there is software designed to let you speak into a microphone and let you “write” articles that way. Lu stressed her concerns about the job description on Twitter and a spokesperson for Newsday tweeted back saying they removed the posting because it was “an error.” This response is already egregious enough, but how is anyone with a disability supposed to take any potential employer seriously if they respond like this? Yes, we have the Americans with Disabilities
Act, but that is not enough. The act limits discrimination on the basis of disability in the workforce and states that an employer cannot ask you how severe your disability is; however, workplace discrimination happened to Lu and who knows how many other people with disabilities. Filing a complaint would be too much of a hassle and people are afraid to speak up. In Lu’s article, Robyn Powell, a disability attorney, said, “When you’re applying for a job, the last thing you want to do is rock the boat.” I feel that the fear of speaking up comes from this place of ultra-acknowledgment of one’s disability. But at the same time, if people don’t speak up, nothing will change. People with disabilities crawled up the steps of Capitol Hill to make a statement back in 1990. This was a prelude to the ADA passing, which became known as the “Capitol Crawl.”
On Oct. 17, the inside of the sukkah built at East Side Dining was transformed into a candy land where students assembled mini edible sukkahs out of sugary treats that would surely satisfy any sweet tooth. The event, which was organized by the Stony Brook Hillel and the Jewish Student Association (JSA), was connected with celebrating the seven day Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Sarah Levovitz, a senior biomedical engineering student and President of JSA, explained that Sukkot celebrates how “G-d protected the Jewish people in the desert for 40 years [during the Exodus]
and we build the hut [sukkah] to symbolize the huts they built in the desert.” Sarah described how there are four specific holy plants that are shaken during the holiday, which “show that we’re all coming together.” During Sukkot, it is a custom for practicing Jewish families to build the sukkah and eat their meals in it. The interior of the large sukkah outside of East Side Dining contained multiple tables and various posters explaining Sukkot and how to perform the lulav and etrog blessing (the shaking of the four plants). The roof of the sukkah was made out of organic material, a traditional
method meant to bring shade but have enough space to be able to see the stars at night. At the tables, students replicated the sukkah on their plates with walls made of graham crackers, windows made out of gumdrops and roofs covered in pretzel sticks. Students also ate lunch together and socialized inside. The sukkah provided a welcoming atmosphere where everyone was talkative, so much so that the students inside the sukkah could be heard laughing from outside the hut. While the edible sukkahs were not nearly as large as the traditional sukkah that the event was
held in, Alexa Rudley, a sophomore political science and biology double major, described building edible sukkahs as “a great event to draw people in and learn about Sukkot.” Rudley added that the process of making the sweet structures “gives you a chance to be creative and have fun with the food.” Michael Rahbar, a senior linguistics major and the Interfaith Chair at JSA, discussed what Sukkot means to him and why it is so important. “It’s a holiday, so it’s going to bring people together and it’s an opportunity for everyone to have a nice time together.”
Rahbar added that he helped build the official sukkah. He spoke of how JSA gives him a chance to be apart of a greater community and “as a community you have people from all different backgrounds and levels of observance.” He described the “concept of community [as having] events like these that are open to everyone who has any interest whatsoever.” Community is essentially what Sukkot is all about. The holiday requires teamwork in small aspects, like helping each other build edible sukkahs, or large ones like constructing a fully sized sukkah.
SBU HOSTS ITS FIRST EVER DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CONFERENCE Stony Brook University (SBU) hosted its first “Ignite The Student Leader in You,” a seven-hour diversity and inclusion conference on Saturday, Oct. 19 in the Student Activities Center. According to the Student Diversity Leadership Conference Committee, the conference was created to help Stony Brook students expand their self-awareness, diversity awareness and help them discover ways they can create a more welcoming campus through inclusive student leadership. “You’re making history right now,” Cheryl Chambers, associate dean for multicultural affairs and conference chair, said in her conference overview. “I am so delighted and proud that so many people on this campus want to develop new ways and approaches to strengthen our campus.” Trying to make everyone feel comfortable and accommodated, everyone was mandated to follow “Respectful Dialogue Guidelines” during discussions. The guidelines were created to foster a respectful and collaborative conference experience, including avoiding making generalizations and respecting confidentiality. “It’s really through talking and dialogue when we get to see things from different lenses and get to really learn about each other,” Chambers said. During the conference overview, she encouraged students to be authentic and share their experiences and successes. “Get ready to get ignited!” she said. The first guest speaker at the conference was Rick Gatteau, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, in which he shared a personal story of his. About six years ago, Gatteau traveled to China and he constantly had people taking pictures of him everywhere he went. Gatteau explained that it was the effect of not being in the majority. “It was one of the first times of my life when I was not in the majority and it was challenging because it required me to adapt,” he said. “I realized that discomfort leads to growth and I gained consciousness on privilege.” Gatteau emphasized that as a society, consciousness about microaggressions, stereotypes and bias must rise. “I hope that through the conversations you’ll have today, you will
experience an ‘aha’ moment,” he said. “Today is a chance to reflect, learn and become more self-aware and embrace our differences.” The keynote speaker at the conference was Christina Vargas, Stony Brook alum and the chief diversity officer and Title IX coordinator at Suffolk County Community College. Vargas is responsible for developing and meeting initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion for faculty, staff and students at Suffolk. During her speech, Vargas said that “people are like icebergs.” “We all have a story and something to share, but it’s usually hidden beneath the surface,” she said. While giving students background on her upbringing and time at SBU as a student, Vargas emphasized lessons she learned along the way. She told students that things can change drastically in an instant, but they should continue to follow their strengths. “You may have to change direction, but you’re still headed towards the same goal,” she said. “The university needs you because this work is ongoing and never done. Don’t give up.” Vargas explained that part of the goal in building diversity and inclusion is to encourage students to authentically be themselves. “I know that part of the reason why this conference exists is because Stony Brook University wants students to feel like a part of the community,” she said. After the guest speakers, the conference was broken up into workshop blocks, where students could choose from a variety of workshops to participate in. “Recognizing Microaggressions and How to Respond,” “I Am More Than That,” “Students with Disabilities and the Impact of Inclusion on their Personal and Professional Lives,” “Intersectionality in Student Leadership” and “The Many Sides to a Story: Practicing and Advocating for Inclusiveness,” were subjects included in the first workshop block. In “Recognizing Microaggressions and How to Respond,” presenters defined the different types of microaggressions: microassaults, microinsults and microinvalidations.
They compared them to mosquito bites. “You can’t identify the source of the itch but you know it makes you feel uncomfortable,” Rayna Simon, administrative director of Undergraduate Student Government, said. “You can’t just get rid of it either, it needs to heal.” They continued with the topic of biases and how there are implicit and explicit biases surrounding race, national origin, ethnicity, perceived sex, gender and sexual orientation. In “I Am More Than That,” presenters from I AM THAT GIRL, an organization at SBU that works to help girls realize that their gender does not limit them, spoke about intersectionality, the theory that various identities overlap and contribute to systemic oppression and discrimination that an individual experiences. They mainly focused on the “single story”’ narrative, in which a story is told based on a single account, not including other people who may be involved. In a discussion portion, attendees voiced their thoughts on the danger of a single story and how it can occasionally lead to a critical misunderstanding. They also talked about what intersectionality means to them and what labels intersect in their identity. “To me intersectionality means meeting peers needs no matter what the differences are,” Chelsea Villalba, a senior social welfare major, said. “It’s respecting that everyone is different and no two people are alike.” In “Students with Disabilities and the Impact of Inclusion on their Personal and Professional Lives,” Carolyn Jankowski, assistant dean of the School of Professional Development, provided student leaders with a deeper understanding of the goals and hopes that a student with disabilities might have for their college experience. “My goal is to help students find ways to be more inclusive because I think that people are more afraid of the unknown, so they don’t approach a person with a disability,” she said. “They need to be more understanding that a person with a disability is still a person.” In “Intersectionality in Student Leadership,” students had more of a one-on-one conversation where they
learned how student leaders can benefit from the framework of intersectionality, and cultivate communities and relationships between multiple and overlapping identities. One exercise had participants make a list of their different identities, ranging from religion to skin color. “These are the things that make us who we are and without these points, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” Virja Shah, a freshman biology and psychology major, said. In “The Many Sides to a Story: Practicing and Advocating for Inclusiveness,” Aaradhana Natarajan, a member of the Asian-American E-Zine, presented strategies for fostering discussion around diversity and increasing inclusiveness in both promotional and advertising outlets. “I liked learning about the resources and it was interesting to learn what is out there for us on campus in terms of diversity and inclusion,” Vanessa Alulima, a senior biology major, said. Between workshop blocks, a lunch buffet featuring multi-ethnic dining options was offered to attendees. “We will be talking about diversity all day, so we had to have multi-ethnic food,” Chambers said. The second workshop block included topics such as “Healthy Activism: How to Ignite the Spark without Burning Out,” “Metaphors and Activities as Teaching Tools,” “Fact or Fiction: Common Misconceptions of Different Identities,” “Who Would You Save?” and “Career Competencies: Mastering the Skills Employers Want.” In “Healthy Activism: How to Ignite the Spark without Burning Out,” Cassius Connor, an event coordinator for the College Democrats, spoke about the burnout that students face when they take on too much, specifically when they take on too many projects to benefit others. “When a fire gets sparked up within me, the struggle is how to keep that going,” Evelyn Lopez-Rodriguez, a junior social welfare major, said. The workshop also touched on how frustration and euphoria are the first signs of burnout. In “Metaphors and Activities as Teaching Tools,” students had a round table discussion where they were able to share metaphors, activ-
ities and educational opportunities related to topics on diversity and social justice. Robert Drago, an area coordinator for the Division of Campus Residences, explained how wind can be a metaphor for privilege — both are invisible and can push someone either forwards or backwards. “I love this manner of speaking because it gives me language that makes a point without attacking,” Kara Wissing, a junior social welfare major, said. “You can’t hear a metaphor and not take it into consideration.” In “Fact or Fiction: Common Misconceptions of Different Identities,” students discussed different beliefs or assumptions about various groups of people and whether they perceive them as true or false. Misconceptions discussed included “gay men are effeminate, loud and promiscuous” and “elderly people are incompetent, physically weak and slow.” During a speech at the beginning of the workshop, Sanaa Nadim, co-director of the Interfaith Center and chaplain of Muslim Student Association, told students that in order to create a society without racism, people need to start working together. “Racism is an ailment and an ailment needs a cure. It takes the will of a people to hope and dream and work together to attain,” she said. In “Who Would You Save?,” students shared their experiences with discrimination. During this workshop, students also had an open discussion on “When They See Us” a Netflix miniseries that was inspired by the true Central Park Five case where five young black and Hispanic boys were found guilty and jailed for a crime they didn’t commit. After the workshops, Jarvis Watson, interim chief diversity officer, gave his closing remarks. “The world out there is all about dividing, but you guys were all about intersectionality today,” he said. The most important thing for students to do is to leave a legacy behind that they know will benefit someone else, Watson said.
GA(Y)ME DAY INTRODUCES ANOTHER WORLD TO SBU A plan to assassinate a greedy baron. One failed attempt to get them to drink the wine, a wine that is notably “to die for” and a toast that finally gets the poison into the villain’s system. It wouldn’t take much to imagine all of this happening and during a session of Dungeons and Dragons, it came to life. In the newly established LGBTQ* Center, the Tabletop Club and LGBTQ* Services hosted a lively session of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) on Oct. 15 to help students have some fun on the last day of Fall Break. Although fun and relaxation were the main goals, they wanted to give students a chance to indulge in identities, something many LGBTQ* students strug-
gle with. Dungeons & Dragons, as a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG), allows players to dictate their actions. This freedom leads to vivid storytelling that makes games like D&D a cultural staple. So, what bought the Tabletop Club and LGBTQ* Services together? Rachel Meng found the Ga(y) me Day event to be a place where students struggling with their identity can immerse themselves in a world where there are no limits to who you can be. The junior, with a major in business management and a concentration in finance, is vice president of the Tabletop Club. “For many of our club members and experienced participants in
the event, TTRPGs, D&D, in particular, have been a refuge for them to explore their own identities without any judgment by ‘being’ a character.” Identity is one of the biggest pillars of surviving as LGBTQ* youth, and there is a need for spaces to explore who you are and who you don’t want to be. In a world where everything is binary and youths are forced to make impactful decisions, spaces like the LGBTQ* Center give students a chance to learn who they are on levels they weren’t previously privy to. The LGBTQ* Center was established in 2018 to provide a space of refuge and fun for those within the LGBTQ* community. According to their website, the
C OL L E G E O F E N G I NE ER I N G A ND AP P L I E D S CI E N CE S A P P O I NT S N E W D E A N O F D I V E R S I T Y A ND O UT RE AC H
center helps people with “finding community, developing their understanding of LGBTQ* issues, and seeking support or advocacy for their needs.” Alex Penney, a Graduate Coordinator at LGBTQ* Services, praises the center’s ability to impact the LGBTQ* community at Stony Brook. “Having this space gives us more flexibility in holding events and programs of different varieties.” Most clubs and organizations are careful to only hold events during times when school is in session, avoiding long weekends and breaks. However, LGBTQ* Services saw it important to make sure this event was held during Fall Break; not all students make it home for break,
sometimes for reasons out of their control. Penney understands this, noting that “this is especially tough for individuals in the LGBTQ* community, where home may not be a space of comfort.” Rather than the break being a fun time to relax, it’s just a reminder of the hardships one may face for living their truth. Events like Ga(y)me Day can change that. While the event has many objectives, Meng finds that the Tabletop Club’s most important goal “was for every participant to have fun.” With new events happening often, there are always chances for students of the Stony Brook community to have fun.
B Y M E E N U J O H N KU T T Y
Hiring Dr. Monica Bugallo to be the new Dean of Diversity and Outreach in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences was a “no brainer,” Fotis Sotiropolous, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, said. Bugallo, an accomplished professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, will now work towards increasing the number of minority and female students in the fields of engineering. Along with her position as dean, Bugallo will continue to serve as the faculty director of the Women in Science and Engineering program (WISE), a position she has held for the past three years. The WISE program is a growing sector of the student population, currently with 344 women in the fields of computer science, engineering, mathematics and biology, among others. Bugallo joined the Department of Engineering and Computer
Science at Stony Brook University in 2002. Hired as an electrical engineering lecturer, Bugallo has risen through the ranks, serving as an associate professor, professor and now the Dean of Diversity and Outreach. Bugallo’s research in signal processing, a subfield in electrical engineering that works with varying types of signals, has crossed multiple disciplines — climate change, economics and cancer research. She has authored and co-authored more than 150 journal papers and secured grants from the National Science Foundation. “[Bugallo] is passionate about the percentage of women in engineering,” Sotiropolous, who hired her, said. Since taking over as faculty director of WISE, Bugallo has transformed the program, spearheading a new WISE curriculum that allows women in the program to develop the “soft skills” necessary for success in their careers. Courses in the WISE program encompass ev-
erything from gender in the STEM field to getting academic credit for leadership, research, internships and mentoring. WISE students are mentored by upperclassmen during their freshman year and are later offered graduate student mentors tailored to the WISE students’ career paths and ambitions. “Mentors are very important at every stage of your career,” Bugallo said, adding that she still is mentored to this day. Doreen Aveni, WISE honors program administrator, credited Monica for her work with WISE. “She has elevated the curriculum,” she said. Prior to the curriculum, there was no formal recognition for women in the program. Now, all WISE women, upon completion of the program will receive recognition on their transcript, Aveni explained. WISE seeks to promote opportunities for STEM among all women, including women of color.
“The workforce needs to diversify,” Aveni said. “More diversity leads to a greater diversity and insight.” While diversifying the student population is important, the need for diversity extends beyond the Stony Brook campus. Sotiropoulos recalled a recent experience where he visited Silicon Valley. “The number one problem was diversity,” he said. For companies like Google, increasing the number of women at their companies would lead to more innovation and a better bottom line, Sotiropolous explained. “Diversity is important,” he said. “The more we have a diverse pool of human brains, the better we can solve problems.” In his 2019 State of the College Address, Sotiropolous acknowledged the progress the College of Engineering has made. The percentage of female students in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences has surpassed
the national percentage of female engineering students, an achievement Sotiropolous has credited to Bugallo. Students in the WISE program have found the program to be instrumental in their undergraduate career. “Almost all of the classes I’ve taken as a WISE student have highlighted various issues women face not only in the job force, but in life,” Marcia-Ruth Ndege, a junior biology major in the WISE program, said. Ndege is part of the student leadership of the WISE program, serving as the organization’s treasurer. “The mentors, teachers and leaders of WISE have made it their mission to prepare the students in such a way that they thrive in STEM,” Ndege said. As dean, Bugallo plans to continue this mission. “The future in STEM will provide more opportunities to the next generation and promote multidisciplinary collaboration,” she said.
The idea of feminism has been rooted in American history since the 1840s, with the Seneca Falls Convention paving the way for the concept of gender equality. Beginning in 2012, fourthwave feminism has evolved due to more liberal beliefs. In fact, modern feminism encompasses more than just gender. It now includes race in the conversation and is more commonly known as intersectional feminism, a term coined by scholar and civil rights advocate Kimberlé Crenshaw. Being a feminist in the 21st century embodies the idea of oppression on every scale, whether it’s towards men, people of color and the LGBTQ+ movement as well. It’s about making sure that everyone — regardless of
their race, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status — has equal opportunities in the workplace, at school and everywhere in between. Feminist clubs and education are especially important for college students because while a lot of progress has been made towards equality and the number of women attending college increasing, women still face challenges like discrimination. It is something to be talked about more seriously, not ignored. Feminism is used as a form of empowerment, particularly for young women, to fight for issues they strongly believe in. In a poll conducted by the Washington Post, 63% of women ages 18 to 34 identify themselves as feminists. Affiliating
with the movement is much more accepted today than it was a few decades ago; men support the feminist movement as well. Twenty-three percent of men in the same Washington Post survey identified themselves having feminist ideals. As gender norms are continuing to shift and women become more independent, the idea of feminism has spurred these changes. For some women, the definition of feminism is open to interpretation. “Feminism to me means women empowerment, uplifting one another and feeling bold, brave and beautiful within your own self,” said Dominique Gayot, a sophomore with an undeclared major. She is part of the Feminist Majority
Leadership Alliance (FMLA) on campus. When discussing black feminism, Gayot said that “[we] strive to do the same things, especially in African American communities. Feminism is very important to us because of what we are looked at — as a minority.” Although the FMLA is just one of the many activist clubs at Stony Brook, it is super easy to get involved; all you need to join the club is a positive attitude and a willingness to be open with others. Clubs like these not only celebrate feminism but also acknowledge how important diversity is to the conversation as well. Gayot and other students of color are paving the way for others and are all determined and dedicated to learning more about
feminism and social justice. Feminism has become a movement that has sparked change nationwide. Supporting feminist organizations and the movement is extremely important because there is still work to be done in terms of gender equality. Also, supporting feminism is a good way to educate yourself on the values behind it. Going to events like the Women’s March in NYC raises awareness for these issues and are a great way to get involved with activism on a larger scale. These types of events not only empower people to make changes in their communities, but they also show the lawmakers and politicians that the fight for equality in schools across the country is not over.
Butter Tarts are New Pumpkin Pie for Canadian Thanksgiving
By Isabelle Panza
Presidential pardons of turkeys, mothers stressing over what to put in the stuffing, kids fighting over which end of the wishbone they can take and fathers glued to the TV watching football. These traditions epitomize American Thanksgiving, but it doesn’t describe Thanksgiving in other parts of the world. Our neighbors just to the north celebrate Thanksgiving differently than us. There are many different origins about how Canadian Thanksgiving first started. However, the most popular origin story is about English privateer Sir Martin Frobisher, who founded what is now known as Baffin Island in Canada after unsuccessfully trying to find the Northwest Passage. It is said that when the crew saw land, they celebrated with a dinner on the ship. Their meal consisted of peas and biscuits and they gave each other
communion. But it was not until 1859 that the term “Thanksgiving” came into full effect. After Charles Darwin’s book “On the Origin of Species” became popular and people started to steer away from Christianity, ministers petitioned that colonial governments should make an official day to thank God. But, this Thanksgiving was every Wednesday during the middle of the day and colonists had to use that time to pray. Years later, colonists stopped seeing the importance of this “Thanksgiving”; instead of praying and giving thanks, they used that time to do other activities. In 1957, the Canadian Parliament made the date of Thanksgiving as the second Monday in October. This year, 2019, the date of Canadian Thanksgiving fell on Oct. 14. Canadian Thanksgiving differentiates from American Thanksgiving in many ways. Firstly,
Thanksgiving in Canada is not celebrated as widely compared to America; there are no parades or football games, but they do have the Monday off. Not all families celebrate Thanksgiving on the actual day and instead, they will celebrate the Sunday or Saturday before and use Monday as a day of leisure. Canada also didn’t officially have a legendary day of discount shopping the day afterwards; however, in recent years, Canadian stores have seemingly adopted Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Nevertheless, their food, is usually the same as that of Americans with some added Candian treats like butter tarts. Bundina Virdee, a 23-year-old high school teacher from Ottawa, Ontario gave some insight on the biggest difference she notices between American and Canadian Thanksgiving. “I think the biggest differences between Canadian and Amer-
ican Thanksgiving is that with the American Thanksgiving, the celebrations seem bigger, with a parade happening and the usual traditions to watch and play football over the weekend,” she said. “In Canada, I feel that we don’t really have a ‘celebration’ and it is more of an opportunity to see family you haven’t seen in a while and you get to enjoy being at home with the people you love.” Cassie Elmsley, a 23-year-old graduate from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario added,“… it seems that Americans focus more on the pilgrims and the ‘discovery’ of the country — looking into the history of the nation shows that this is a point of contention, since it involved acts against the indigenous people which they certainly would not be thankful for.” Cassie also celebrates Thanksgiving in a very cool
THE CENSUS OMITS MIDDLE EASTERN
BY CINDY MIZAKU
AND NORTH AFRICAN IDENTITIES With the 2020 Census approaching, many Americans will find themselves disappointed to see a new ethnic/racial category missing from the nation’s largest survey. The Trump administration decided against adding a new Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) category that was recommended under the Obama Administration. The Arab American Institute is particularly disappointed by the Trump administration’s decision as it has advocated for the past three decades for a box that is reflective of their appearance, experience and identity. Currently, there are five main categories of race that the census recognizes — American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander and White — as well as the option to identify being of
Hispanic origin. For many people of Middle Eastern descent, such as myself, these categories do not represent our story. The census currently classifies people of the Middle East — or North Africa — as white, despite the difference in our experiences. When people look at those of Middle Eastern descent, our brown skin, thick eyebrows and facial shape, ensures that we will be treated as such. Yet, the census continues to insist on classifying us as white. The MENA category means so much more than just a checkbox. It is about recognizing the existence and oppressive experiences of a group of people that America has deemed to be a separate social group in society. The lack of a box that recognizes my experience makes me feel invisible and contributes to my marginalization. It is also about having access to
information about the broader societal experiences of people of Middle Eastern and North African descent. The census is the result of a decade of planning to collect a comprehensive set of information on every person living in the United States. Having this data is critical for the government to make decisions about congressional representation and where to allocate funds for public services such as roads, hospitals and public education institutions. Adding a new MENA category could be utilized by legislators, academics and policymakers to enforce anti-discrimination laws, ensure diversity in employment and college admissions, monitor segregation policies and study institutional inequities between people of MENA descent and white people. Additionally, reclassifying millions of Americans from white to MENA would also
and unique way compared to most Americans. “My extended family lives in Cobourg, a small town about an hour outside Toronto. I live in Ottawa, so every Thanksgiving I travel to Cobourg with my parents and stay in a trailer at a campground on the shore of Lake Ontario. When the weather is nice, we hold our big dinner there, with a bunch of picnic tables pushed together to accommodate all [40] family members, and everyone brings a dish, since it’s difficult to cook in the trailer’s small kitchen.” While there are differences between American and Canadian Thanksgiving, they both celebrate a time to get together with friends and family. They are a reminder to be thankful for all that one has in life. “Joyeux Action de Grâce” (“Happy Thanksgiving” in French) to all of Stony Brook’s Canadian students and faculty.
ensure more accurate reports of discrimination against other groups. It would eliminate people who identify as MENA from clouding data on white Americans. With the dearth of data on Americans of MENA descent, it is impossible to determine if there are inequities in outcomes for MENA Americans. If our society’s history can tell us one thing, it would be that social groups relegated to lower statuses — such as people who are or “look” Muslim — often experience unjust treatment that leads to gross inequities. Given that Muslims are seen by many Americans as unfavorable, even referred to as “cancerous,” it is not unreasonable to expect that if and when data of people of MENA descent is analyzed, it would show marginalizing outcomes similar to other ethnic/racial minorities. There is some data that suggests people of
MENA descent face poverty at twice the rate and have lower incomes, but they often pale in size when compared to the census. The census has always been flawed in collecting racial data, at times excluding Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans and Hawaiian/ Pacific Islanders despite having substantive populations in the U.S. It is long overdue for the creation of new Middle Eastern and North African census category. As long as a MENA category is absent, millions of Americans go without having a box that reflects our racial identity and makes it impossible to recognize how racism affects us personally. With the census occurring every ten years, the only thing that people of MENA descent can hope for is that the 2030 census decides to recognize our existence.
“Trudeau isn’t a racist,” but he is, sorry By Anya Marquardt Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was known as a supporter of immigrants, a human rights activist and a poised figure against racism until photos of him wearing blackface and brownface surfaced on the Internet. “Blackface” references the application of black makeup by non-black people to their face to match their complexion to that of a black person’s. “Brownface” is a variation of blackface, except the appearance is meant to portray a brown or tan-skinned individual. As both of these looks are obviously extremely offensive, some have accused Trudeau of being a racist. And although others say that while this is an act of racism, it does not necessarily make Trudeau rac-
ist. But I question if this scandal undermines everything Trudeau claims to stand for. Personally, I do not think Trudeau is a racist based on what he has campaigned for over the years, but I do think that this was an instance of being misinformed about racist actions. This is a perfect example of how everyone needs to be educated on racism and on what constitutes a racist action. Trudeau put immigration policies and laws regarding indigenous people in the forefront of his time in office multiple times. Since Trudeau entered office in 2015, Canada went from welcoming 250,000 immigrants in 2015 to increasing that number to 300,000. Now, Canada admits 1% of its total population per year
is immigrants. Trudeau even stated that immigrants are a huge reason why Canada has an advantage over the United States. In addition to these policies, the government has been responding to issues faced by indigenous people. Since 2015, 87 long-term drinking advisories in indigenous communities have been lifted. The Canadian government has also supported Inuit-led approaches to eliminating tuberculosis across Inuit territories by 2030. But how can Canadians trust that Trudeau had truly good intentions when he committed racist acts less than two decades ago? Canada is an extremely diverse country with over 250 ethnic origins represented. It is going to be an extremely strenuous time for Trudeau to win back Canada’s trust.
Trudeau’s actions are also causing some possibly unforeseen consequences as well. While Trudeau has said that Canada is aiding indigenous people in various ways, the country has been less than perfect in their handling of this important issue. In 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled that Canada has been discriminating against First Nations children who live on reserves by not providing the same services available to children in other parts of Canada. Trudeau also approved a $5.5 billion pipeline expansion earlier this year that has been strongly opposed by indigenous groups. Trudeau is claiming that the revenue made from the pipeline will come in handy in the future for supporting green projects, but he
is still harming indigenous people since the pipe would go through several of their communities. For a prime minister who prides himself on supporting indigenous people, this is hypocritical. From disenfranchising indigenous communities to wearing blackface, Trudeau has committed acts of racism. This is arguably the worst time for Trudeau to have his image as a political figure questioned by the Canadian people. With the election coming up on Oct. 21, a month after the scandal, his positive work for various ethnicities is being pushed aside to focus instead on what he has done to negatively affect minorities. Only the election results will tell if he is able to bounce back.
WE NEED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TO DISTRIBUTE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS Affirmative action is a policy in which an individual’s color, race, sex, religion or national origin are taken into account to provide opportunities for underrepresented groups in society. We see this policy at play in many different facets of people’s lives. Whether it is applying to jobs, colleges or any other positions such as a promotion in a company, affirmative action serves to level the playing field. This is important because minority groups are often not given the same type of opportunities as white people or people with a high socioeconomic status. The first time students are introduced to affirmative action is when
they apply to colleges. A majority of colleges describe themselves as being accepting of affirmative action and equal opportunity, which refers to the special consideration given to women, racial minorities and members of other historically excluded groups. Affirmative action was first introduced in 1978 after a medical student sued a university after he was denied admission, claiming that he was the victim of discrimination. After the court ruled in his favor, it was determined that race is one of the factors that segregates colleges. This decision would ultimately change the way colleges accept-
ed students and the way students applied to schools. The third grade was the first time I was introduced to standardized testing, starting with the TerraNova Test, which enhances a student’s readiness for the New York State Regents exams and eventually the SATs. One of the first parts of the test that students are presented with is the Race Box. Students as young as kindergarten age must pick from a set of races such as Pacific Islander, Native American, African American and others. The problem with this is that it assumes that every student is comfortable with identifying as just one race and implies that
BY SARAH TANTAWY
the only races that exist are the ones listed. These race boxes are used to collect data regarding affirmative action; however, a student does not get scored differently or receive better grades. People who oppose or criticize affirmative action are often unaware of its impact and benefit for people of color. People think about the policy and assume it is unfair because it gives preference to one student over another. However, it has faced pushback from students who identify as non-white. Most recently, Harvard University was accused of discriminating against Asian American students in their admissions
process. According to The New York Times, “[t]he group argued that Harvard had favored black and Hispanic applicants at the expense of another minority group.” This is an interesting turn for affirmative action because it now “pits” minority groups against other minority groups, essentially going against what it was created to do. This policy was put in place to help the same students who are now speaking out against it. Regardless of this, affirmative action is one factor that is important in establishing an equal and fair college admissions process as long as it is rightfully upheld.
Certificate program aims to enhance diversity skills The Office of Multicultural Affairs is taking new steps to promote diversity on campus with a certificate program for undergraduate students called the Social Justice League (SJL). The league aims to help students attain the needed tools in order to be able to live and work in diverse environments with sessions held throughout the semester. The goal is to improve outcomes in areas of social justice, diversity, inclusion and equity, in addition to helping students develop leadership skills and promote diversity and inclusiveness on campus. “The importance of the league is to introduce students to this whole notion of diversity, social justice, social justice principles
and aspects of power and privilege alongside the structure that exists in society,” Cheryl Chambers, associate dean for multicultural affairs, said. “We know all these things exist but then what do we do about it? The doing about it is very important because more often than not this requires community building and finding common ground in order to impact change and introduce solutions. The league provides a framework for all of that.” The program includes six sessions on topics that include culture, privilege and oppression and how they relate to diversity and social justice, social issues and concerns about diversity and
inclusion on campus and coalition-building to positively impact our respective communities. These sessions are also meant to act as a safe space for students to discuss personal experiences and promote dialogue by teaching respect and compassion. “As a group, we aim to bring what we learn to others,” Mary Rose Romano, SJL member and undergraduate coordinator for off-campus living, said. “Our goal is to increase inclusion and to properly support and advocate for individuals of marginalized and misrepresented groups.” If the program succeeds, the campus will offer a more welcoming home to all of its students, she added.
“It’s really important to identify the many different issues that our school community and society face,” Jessica Cortes, senior social welfare major and a member of SJL, said. “Being able to recognize and address these issues is important in order to make a change and a difference in our society.” Each week a different aspect of diversity is discussed. “We began with a discussion of assumptions and last week we talked about micro-aggression,” Romano said. “Each week’s session begins with a brief PowerPoint and then we lead the rest of the session collectively. We share what information and experiences we believe will help us to fully understand the topic of the day.”
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In order to become a member and obtain a certificate, students must complete six two-hour sessions. Registration ended on Friday, Sept. 20. “SJL has already affected my life because I have connected with people I otherwise never would have met,” Chelsea Villalba, a senior social welfare major and member of SJL, said. “Age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or past influence our experiences, but SJL allows us to be more than the ‘-isms’ we learn.” Meeting times run every Friday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., starting Sept. 27 through Nov. 1 in the Dean of Students Office Conference Room, Room 223 in the Student Activities Center. Maya Brown contributed reporting.
Pictured throughout this special issue are events that took place over the past two weeks hosted by various cultural clubs on campus. What we captured doesn’t even cover a third of the cultural clubs at Stony Brook. We set out to illustrate the diversity of this university, but we found that culture here is so broad, it would take months to cover it all. As we attended the events, we found ourselves present as photographers and participants. Learning and meeting students from all different backgrounds was really fun, to put it simply. Now, we want to encourage others to do the same. I challenge you to go to at least one cultural event this semester different from your own. If you do, post it on Instagram and tag us, we’ll feature you on our story! Sara Ruberg, Multimedia Editor
Photos by Emma Harris, Sara Ruberg, Justin Mitselmakher and Maya Brown
Design by Sara Ruberg, Gary Ghayrat and Samantha Robinson Photos by Sara Ruberg, Emma Harris, Justin Mitselmakher and Maya Brown
OPINIONS Editor-in-Chief....................Gary Ghayrat Managing Editor..............Karina Gerry Managing Editor..........Chris Parkinson News Editor..............................................................Brianne Ledda Arts & Culture Editor..............................................Melissa Azofeifa Sports Editor.................................................................Ryan Pavich Opinions Editor...........................................................Gabby Pardo Multimedia Editor........................................................Sara Ruberg Copy Chief..........................................................Alexa Anderwkavich Assistant News Editor..................................................Maya Brown Assistant News Editor......................................Samantha Robinson Assistant Arts & Culture Editor..........................Alexander Bakirdan Assistant Multimedia Editor.....................................Emma Harris Assistant Opinions Editor...........................................Cindy Mizaku Assistant Sports Editor..................................................Ethan Tam Assistant Sports Editor.............................................Andrew Zucker Assistant Copy Editor..............................................Donovan Alexis Assistant Copy Editor.....................................................Karla Rios Assistant Copy Editor..............................................Michelle Wong Advertising Manager ............................................. Kaylee McAllister GABBY PARDO / THE STATESMAN
Janet Mock speaking at Commons Day on Oct. 16. This is a yearly event for first-year students where the author of that year’s reading requirement speaks to students and staff.
Commons Day celebrates speaking one's truth
Contact us: Phone: 631-632-6479 Fax: 631-632-9128 Web: www.sbstatesman.com To contact the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editors about organizational comments, questions, suggestions, corrections or photo permission, email editors@sbstatesman.com. To reach a specific section editor: News Editor.....................................news@sbstatesman.com Arts & Entertainment Editor.............arts@sbstatesman.com Sports Editor..................................sports@sbstatesman.com Opinions Editor..........................opinions@sbstatesman.com Multimedia Editor..................multimedia@sbstatesman.com Copy Chief.......................................copy@sbstatesman.com The Statesman is a student-run, student-written incorporated publication at Stony Brook University in New York. The paper was founded as The Sucolian in 1957 at Oyster Bay, the original site of Stony Brook University. In 1975, The Statesman was incorporated as a not-for-profit, student-run organization. Its editorial board, writers and multimedia staff are all student volunteers. New stories are published online every day Monday through Thursday. A print issue is published every Monday during the academic year and is distributed to many on-campus locations, the Stony Brook University Hospital and over 70 off-campus locations. The Statesman and its editors have won several awards for student journalism and several past editors have gone on to enjoy distinguished careers in the field of journalism. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @ sbstatesman. Disclaimer: Views expressed in columns or in the Letters and Opinions section are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Statesman. The Statesman promptly corrects all errors of substance published in the paper. If you have a question or comment about the accuracy or fairness of an article please send an email to editors@sbstatesman.com. First issue free; additional issues cost $1.
By Samantha Lauria Contributing Writer
On Oct. 16, Stony Brook University hosted its annual Commons Day seminar for first-year students with guest speaker, writer and transgender rights activist, Janet Mock. Commons Day is a yearly event in which the author of the first-year reading requirement comes and speaks to students and staff. Her autobiography, “Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More,” spoke about the struggles Mock endured throughout her journey of discovery and transition into a woman. Mock showcased the key parts of her life, like growing up in Hawaii, meeting her best friend Wendi Miyake and moving to New York; all of this molded her into the strong, confident woman she is today. Her autobiography discussed topics about shaping identity and speaking your truth, which touched the hearts of her readers and made her speech even more enjoyable. The Q&A with Mock was a gratifying experience that invited the audience to connect more with her journey. Mock brought her story to life, making the reading of her book both resonant and powerful. Her raw voice allowed a distant narrator to come to life — a real woman with a personality just as intimate as her writing style. Mock was asked a series of questions by Vice Provost for
Undergraduate Education, Charles L. Robbins, DSW. She took her story and related it to her life, describing how her past experiences helped define who she is today. She spoke about how she had to pave her own path in life and find the courage to speak her truth. Mock began writing her memoir only for herself and took joy in it because she found comfort in reflecting and telling her story. She then was courageous enough to tell the world about her private thoughts and ideas. At the time “Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More” was published, there were very few people in the media who were members of the LGBTQ+ community. She was afraid of the backlash that she would receive for being trans during a time when the workplace was not as accepting as it is today and believed that she was “sacrificing by speaking up” about her story. “I was kind of searching for someone who looked like me, who had my experiences and after a while, I was like, you have to do it,” Mock said. She saw the struggles that many people like her were “fearful of telling their story.” Mock says that speaking her truth has really changed her career since she would become a beacon of light for those who were going through similar situations. She decided that she had to be a role model
who she needed as a child and step forward to fulfill that role for future generations. Another main focus of Mock’s interview was gender politics and its relationship in the media. Mock, alongside Executive Producer Ryan Murphy, is currently producing a show, “Pose,” which includes a diverse cast and an intriguing plot that will captivate anyone that decides to watch it. Mock said that people would often state that she was the first trans woman of color to land herself in the successful position she has today. “I am the first trans person, period, to have this kind of a deal,” she said. Mock rose to success during a time when openly gay and trans people were ostracized simply for living their truth. She was able to pave a path for herself and earn her reputation as a highly successful writer and producer while embracing her struggles and identity. Being able to hear Mock’s story on Commons Day was worthwhile. “Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More” is a great read, and I can confidently say that after attending Mock’s interview, I have a much bigger appreciation for her. Mock’s wit and confidence kept her audience intrigued and entertained as she passionately spoke about the topics she was dedicated to. She is a spokeswoman for being your “unapologetic self ” and embracing every aspect of it.
Corrections
Mental Health Issue
The titles for the articles “Students ‘play it forward’ with music group on campus” and “Burnout and its effects on students” in the Volume LXIII, Issue 7 were mistakenly corresponded with each other. The online version of the article “Students ‘play it forward’ with music group on campus” in the Volume LXIII, Issue 7 was updated from the print version to clarify that although Play it Forward Project members advocate music therapy, they are not music therapists themselves.
Opinions
The Statesman
Monday, October 21, 2019
18
The plastic straw ban is not helping the overall pollution crisis By Melissa Jones Contributing Writer
Many restaurants have switched from plastic to paper straws to help the ongoing environmental crisis, and some cities have banned plastic straws indefinitely. I question, however, if this effort is actually making any difference. Looking at statistics, such as how the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and proportion of other oceanic trash continues to grow exponentially, people should focus their attention on limiting the use of other items, like fishing gear/nets and plastic bottles, which have bigger impacts on oceanic ecosystems. Bans on plastic straws have already been installed in Seattle, and soon to be enforced in Vancouver and the European Union. McDonald’s stated it will ban plastic straws in its Ireland and U.K. locations. Starbucks also announced that they plan to phase out plastic straws from their stores by 2020. Plastic straws are single-use, not biodegradable, harmful to marine animals and the ocean ecosystem and are generally not accepted at recycling facilities. Environmental activists want to end the use of this seemingly simple item because they contaminate the shores, degrade into everlasting microplastics and millions of straws are discarded into landfills each day.
According to National Geographic, 500 million straws are used by Americans every day; that’s enough to fill 125 school buses, but they only account for a tiny fraction of the pollution. There are 9 million tons of waste in the ocean and 2,000 tons of that comes from plastic straws; that means plastic straws compose only a mere 0.0002% of ocean pollution. In the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, 46% of the trash by mass are fishing nets and fishing gear. So why aren’t we honing in on fishing gear/nets and trying to invent alternatives that are safer for marine life and the environment? Yes, plastic straws — although a small part of the issue — are still part of the filth that is contaminating our oceans. There has been a lot of pushback towards lawmakers when proposing anti-plastic straw, bendy straws included, bills regarding those with disabilities. Just as writer and disability-rights activist, Penny Pepper discussed in her article in The Guardian, many people with disabilities rely on plastic bendy straws. Surely, there are reusable alternatives other than paper straws, such as glass, acrylic, bamboo, silicone or — my recommendation — metal straws. She also states that she has tried the alternatives and they all came with their own set of issues for her. Perhaps laws should restrict plastic straw distribution rather than ban them, like in San
HORIA VARLAN/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS VIA CC BY 2.0
Brightly colored straws. Bans on plastic straws have already been installed in Seattle, and are planned to be enforced in Canada and the European Union. Francisco. Plastic straws are only made available by restaurants or vendors upon request to accommodate a disability or medical need. Plastic cutlery, fishing gear/ nets, plastic water bottles and plastic bags are other compo-
nents to the trash build up in our oceans that we and the government should start considering making improvisions to. Ultimately, the switch to paper straws from plastic is a very low-effort attempt to stop the pollution issue. Yes, I strongly
believe we should continue to progress towards paper and biodegradable materials to wean off plastics and clean the Earth, but to become an eco-friendly nation, we must reposition our focal point off plastic straws and onto other plastic trash.
The thrill and benefits of investing in a fantasy football league
By Jordan Eugene Contributing Writer
That time of the year is here again: the time when sports fans who play fantasy football gear up and try to win and dominate in their leagues. Fantasy football is by far the greatest leisure activity that simultaneously stresses people out. Coming from me, a three-time champion, I’ll be the first to say it is definitely worth the stress. Dedicating 17 weeks of your own time and coming out victorious is an amazing feeling that everyone should have the opportunity to experience.
Fantasy football is practically your own version of football. To get your team started, you have to join any website that offers fantasy football leagues such as ESPN, NFL and Yahoo Sports. Whether or not the league is with people you know is up to you. Your league will have a “draft day” — a day and time your league selects — where you can pick any player who is currently playing in the NFL to be on your roster. Your team will consist of a quarterback, two running backs, two or three wide receivers, a tight end, a flex position — where you can play either a running back, wide receiver or tight end — a kicker, a team defense and around six bench players. These players col-
lect points based on their actual performances during NFL games. Each week, fantasy teams go head-to-head to try and win their matchup against a team in the same league. To win a matchup, one team’s players must score more points than those of the other team. The game becomes more exciting because doing well does not solely depend on picking the best player; it is also about strategizing and making choices based on opponents and projected game flow. According to Fox Business, over 59 million Americans and Canadians play fantasy sports. Despite the rollercoaster ride that is fantasy football, it still remains the most popular fantasy sport along with fantasy
PROPERTY OF THE NFL
The NFL Fantasy Football Logo. This league, among others such as ESPN and Yahoo Sports, is available for people to play fantasy football.
baseball. Since the NBA and MLB seasons are much longer than the NFL season, fantasy players — like myself — tend to lose interest in fantasy basketball and baseball. A great thing about fantasy football is that age does not matter. According to the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association, 34% of fantasy sports players are teenagers. Another thing that does not matter in fantasy football is gender, as according to Sports Business Journal, 29% of people who play fantasy football are women. Anyone can join fantasy football, but it becomes more enjoyable if you are following the NFL as well as your fantasy football league when gathered with friends and family who are equally thrilled throughout the season. Another perk to fantasy football is the opportunity to make money. DraftKings and FanDuel are daily fantasy websites that are great examples of how fantasy football can be used to make some extra cash. Instead of a season-long commitment, players can buy-in for one week and get enough points to finish in a high enough percentile to win money. These sites also offer season-long leagues. Each member of a league can pool money so the winner takes all at the end, or leagues can offer a grand prize at the end. Leagues can also offer prizes for whichever team has the most points overall, or smaller prizes for second and third place. For example, in a contest on DraftKings, titled “Winner Takes All,” a 10-person league that costs $15 to enter allows the winner to attain $135. Another tournament called the “Fantasy Football Champions” gives $150,000
to the winner of the whole tournament and gives $10,000 to whoever wins their individual league. Besides the money, you can use fantasy football as a way to meet other sports fans or to do something fun with your friends. As fun as fantasy football is, you also have 17 weeks (the NFL regular season) to understand what it’s like to be a general manager. You have control over a starting lineup, which can give a player a sense of responsibility and power over a team. You do not need any experience to join a fantasy football league, although it will most definitely help. There are blogs, shows, podcasts and more that offer tips and tricks from professionals at fantasy football and give out advice to people based on what they would do. An example of a fantasy football podcast would be “Fantasy Focus Football,” where three fantasy football experts give strategy ideas, injury updates and a preview for the upcoming NFL week. ESPN also offers a television show, “The Fantasy Show” which consists of players the experts think you should sign, what they believe will happen next week and more. Fantasy football did a lot for me when I played it. For those three years, I learned responsibility, how to stay organized and how to make tough decisions. I was initially hesitant to start playing fantasy football, but looking back on it, I have zero regrets. Currently, it is still possible to join fantasy football leagues for this season, but it will not be long before the opportunity is taken away.
Stony
By Sara Ruberg
Brook
Multimedia Editor
Marisa Acosta bends under the squat bar and places it on her shoulders. She whips her ponytail from her face to her back then steps back, carrying 145 pounds. She begins her rep. Her face flushes into a light pink. She dips once, twice, three times, then places the bar back on the rack, takes off her gloves and grabs some water. “And that was the end of my warm up,” Acosta said. Acosta’s maximum weight for squatting is 235 pounds — almost twice her weight — but she was taking it easier on this night, 200 pounds maximum. When the senior psychology major started powerlift training a year ago at age 20, she never anticipated being where she is now. Over the summer, Acosta placed third at the United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) National Championship in Las Vegas. It was her second powerlifting competition ever. Acosta says she went for the experience and didn’t expect to place. She was ready to leave before the awards even began, then
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she heard her name called over the speaker. “I was so surprised. I’m like ‘Me?’ so I ran up and got the medal,” Acosta said. “It was such a good feeling because standing up there with such strong people, it really reassures you that you’ve been putting in the work and it’s paying off.” Ever since her training started last September, Acosta says she hasn’t missed a workout. She works out at least four times a week for two and a half to four hours, depending on her training criteria for the day. On weekdays, she heads to the school’s recreation center straight from class or working in a psychology research lab on Stony Brook University’s campus. When she arrives, Acosta gets changed out of her day clothes and throws her backpack in a locker. She carries around a gray duffle bag of workout goodies from one station to the next. Her duffle bag contains the necessities: knee braces, a powerlifting belt and two pairs of shoes — one light gray pair for squatting and another black pair used for deadlifting and bench pressing with pink straps imprinted with
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the words “kinda fit kinda fat.” Acosta is several inches over five feet tall and 125 pounds. She may have to fight some crowds to get a spot at a rack,
“It was such a good feeling because standing up there with such strong people, it really reassures you that you’ve been putting in the work and it’s paying off.” -Marisa Acosta
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but she’s not afraid to let people know she’s up next. She hops from one station to the next asking how much longer each person has left there. Acosta recalls that last year she was a little timid approaching the weights. “I remember for the longest time I would come to the gym and not know what to do,” she said. “I would be scared of the weight room… Powerlifting and going into the weight room, it really made me think, ‘Hey, I can do this.’” She said she felt herself develop not only physically, but mentally as well. She felt more confident weightlifting in front of others and training by herself. Now, her day-to-day schedule revolves around her training, and she says she doesn’t mind. It keeps her organized and accountable. Before powerlifting, Acosta played field hockey and danced, which meant most of the working out she did was cardio or machine-based. Until she was 20, she didn’t train with free weights at all. Then, her boyfriend and coach, Massimo Visca, took her under his wing. Visca, 20, has been writing Acosta’s training programs for
forward
the past year. He says when she first started, she wasn’t too serious about it. Over time, he watched her begin prioritizing powerlifting in her life. “She is obsessed with it in a good way,” Visca said. “She thinks about it a lot, she cares about it a lot … I don’t give her anything that’s too easy and she’s never once complained about that.” At the start, she squatted and deadlifted 145 pounds and benched 65 pounds. Now, at 21, she benches 122 pounds and deadlifts 300 pounds, which is more than twice her weight. Acosta sacrificed a lot to get where she is — her social life, club activities and time with friends. She had to step away from her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, with the support of her sisters and friends. This year has been no exception, as she focuses on going back to Nationals and getting into graduate school after graduating with her Bachelor of Science in psychology. For her future in powerlifting, Acosta doesn’t see an end. “I hope I can do this as long as I can,” she said. “Until my back breaks or something.”
MSOC collapses against Binghamton Former Seawolves enter XFL
By Ethan Tam
By Andrew Zucker
Holding on to a 2-0 lead in the second half, the Stony Brook men’s soccer team appeared to be on its way to its first conference victory of the season at home on Saturday, Oct. 19 versus the Binghamton Bearcats. The Seawolves had scored multiple goals for the first time in eight matches, with their last multi-goal performance coming on Sept. 18 against Hofstra. Still, the renewed offensive firepower could not carry the team to a win as the lead fell apart in brutal fashion. The Bearcats first got on the board in the 63rd minute when freshman back Oliver Svalander headed the ball into the side of the net off of a corner kick by junior midfielder Noah Luescher, who was credited with the assist. The equalizer came soon after in the 67th minute when Svalander positioned himself directly in front of the net and delivered the assist from redshirt-sophomore midfielder Lucas Arzan quickly through to tie the match at 2-2. With the clock winding down, a foul called on sophomore midfielder Trausti Birgisson gave Luescher, the team’s leading scorer, a free kick. Luescher drove the ball past the outstretched arms of freshman goalkeeper Edmond Kaiser to give Binghamton a 3-2 lead in the 81st minute. With eight and a half minutes left for Stony Brook to try and send the match into overtime, they never got another shot off as Binghamton’s defense prevented them from gaining control of the ball.
With the XFL draft now in the rearview mirror, three former Stony Brook University football players have found new homes. During the fifth phase of the XFL draft, the open selection phase, the New York guardians selected defensive lineman Victor Ochi, while tight end Connor Davis was picked by the St. Louis BattleHawks and wide receiver Raymond Bolden landed with the Houston Roughnecks. This is not Ochi’s first goaround on the professional level. After leaving Stony Brook as their all-time sacks leader with 32.5, Ochi quickly signed with the Baltimore Ravens after going undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft. While the Ravens released Ochi right before the start of the 2016 NFL season, he joined the New York Jets practice two days later and within a month was promoted to the active roster. Playing in two games for the Jets, Ochi became the second Stony Brook alum to suit up in an NFL game. Ochi then bounced around the practice squads of the Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans, before missing the entire 2018 NFL and all of the current 2019 season.
Assistant Sports Editor
Assistant Sports Editor
Sophomore midfielder during a game against The loss was extremely tough for the Seawolves given how well they had started the match off. Stony Brook began the scoring in the 18th minute when sophomore midfielder Cameron Bonfils hit a cross that deflected off of Binghamton sophomore goalkeeper P.J. Parker for the early 1-0 lead. The goal was Stony Brook’s first in four matches; the last time they had scored was on Oct. 1 against Fordham. The Seawolves doubled their lead twelve minutes later when senior midfielder Mark Irvine received the assist from Bonfils inside the box and buried the ball in the net for his first goal of the season. Binghamton outshot Stony Brook 14 to 6, outpacing them eight to three in terms of shots on goal. Facing pressure all night long, Kaiser recorded five saves against the three goals allowed, the most since he allowed four
EMMA HARRIS/THE STATESMAN
Cameron Bonfils Rider on Sept. 24. goals in the second game of the season against Penn State back on Sept. 2. Both teams entered the match winless in conference play, but it was the Bearcats who improved their record to 4-7-1 (1-3-0 AE) while the Seawolves dropped to 3-9-2 (04-0 AE). Stony Brook had not lost a game in which they scored multiple goals since falling 3-2 at George Washington on Aug. 24, 2018. The team remains the only school in the America East with zero points in the standings. The Seawolves will continue to search for their first conference win on Saturday, Oct. 26 when they take on the Albany Great Danes at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium at 7 p.m. Albany is 7-4-1 overall this season and 3-1 in America East play, putting them in a tie for second place in the conference. Albany is the toughest opponent by record that Stony Brook has remaining.
The custom within the NFL is to invite undrafted free agents to the three-day rookie minicamp, in order to get a better look at players. Connor Davis was one of many undrafted players the New York Giants brought to rookie minicamp in 2018. While nothing came to fruition after that, Davis offers the BattleHawks a player who can play many positions. At Stony Brook, Davis played tight end, his primary position, as well as lining up as a defensive lineman, even gathering a sack his freshman year, as well as a right tackle on the offensive line. Bolden, a two-time first-team All-CAA football wide receiver, joined the Philadelphia Eagles for rookie minicamp after going undrafted in 2018. Like Davis, Bolden left rookie camp without a deal but managed to sign with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL back in April, only to be released a month later. Being drafted is an accomplishment in its own right, but none of the players are safe. All eight of the XFL teams currently have 71-players, but only 52 will make the opening-week roster. The odds are not on the former Seawolves’ side, they have to hope talent is.
PROPERTY OF XFL
Three former Stony Brook University football players were selected in the fifth phase of the XFL draft this year.
Sports
The Statesman
Monday, October 21, 2019
20
Running backs shine for Seawolves midway through season By Andrew Zucker Assistant Sports Editor
The bye week has come and gone, and with a little less than half of the season remaining, it is time to take a look at the first half of the Stony Brook football season (4-3). Quarterback: C+ Losing a three-year starter is never easy, but that does not necessarily mean that an offense will fall flat in the following season. Tyquell Fields, who beat out fellow redshirt-junior Jack Cassidy for the starting job, has done a fairly decent job leading the Seawolves offense. For Fields, the season has been full of highs and lows. The high: a 50-yard touchdown (TD) run with 11 seconds remaining against Rhode Island. A big low: completing only five of his 14 passes for 26 yards in a 62-7 loss at Utah State. During that game, Cassidy came in for relief, completing 14 of 28 for 129 yards, one TD and one interception. Fields ranks dead last in the CAA in completion percentage (51.0), but third in pass efficiency (146.6). His struggles in certain areas, like overthrowing receivers, are balanced out by his ability to run if the pocket collapses. Fields has scored two touchdowns on the ground while gathering 253 rushing yards on 56 carries. Offensive line: B+ Seven Seawolves have rushed for a combined 1,764 yards gained, averaging 235.3 yards per game which is ranked No. 14 in the entire FCS, while scoring 15 touchdowns via the run. Last
year, the team scored 20 rushing TDs in 11 games. At the current pace, the Seawolves would score 26 rushing TDs in 12 games, surpassing last year’s total by more than 25%. The offensive line, led by redshirt-seniors Mason Zimmerman and Joe Detorie, as well as redshirt-sophomores James Tunstall — a transfer from UConn — and Kyle Nunez, has allowed only nine sacks on the season for a total loss of 48 yards. A lot of the offensive success should be credited to the offensive line for buying time for the plays to progress. Running Backs: A Redshirt-freshman Ty Son Lawton leads the CAA in rushing TDs (six), while team captain, redshirt-senior Isaiah White, is tied for second in the conference, with five. Add in redshirt-sophomore Seba Nekhet and his two rushing touchdowns and the three Seawolves rank fourth, sixth and fifth respectively in rushing yards per game in the CAA. White, who spent the past three seasons on defense after taking snaps at running back his freshman year, was originally slated to be the go-to running back. Things have not played out that way, having suited up but taking only one snap in the past two games due to injury. Lawton has also struggled with injuries this season, missing two games while exiting two more with injuries. Taking into account all the injuries and time spent not on the field, the Seawolves’ running game has not missed a beat.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: BGraduate-transfer wide receiver Jean Constant has not so quietly put together an impressive season. Tied for first on the team with 22 receptions, five of which have been caught for touchdowns, Constant is averaging 51.29 yards receiving per game. Aside from Constant, Fields loves to throw the ball to two redshirt-senior wide receivers: Nick Anderson and Andrew Trent. Anderson is tied with Constant for team lead in receptions (22), while he leads the team in total yards (429) and has one receiving touchdown on the season. While Trent has not caught a pass for a touchdown, he has caught 14 passes for 353 yards, including numerous 20 yard plus passes, helping Fields spread out the defenders. Redshirt-freshman tight end Isaiah Givens, statistically the most productive tight end this season, has not appeared in many games due to injury, but pulled in two catches for touchdowns in the season opening victory against Bryant. Front Seven: B+ The defensive linemen, led by senior Sam Kamara, redshirt seniors Keegan Henderson and Odean Gilzene, redshirt freshman Makye Smith and redshirt sophomore Casey Williams, has allowed opposing teams to average 127.6 rushing yards per game, while managing to sack the quarterback 17 times for a combined loss of 111 yards, as well as forcing eight fumbles and recovered four. Week two and six losses against Utah State and James Madison
(JMU) respectively, are games the line would like to forget. Combining those two games, the line allowed 654 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. Secondary: C+ Heading into the season, redshirt-senior defensive back Gavin Heslop was expected to be the biggest producer on defense. While he is the unquestioned leader, redshirt-junior rover Augie Contressa has far and away been the most productive defender. Contressa’s 55 total tackles are 12 more than the next closest defender, while also leading the team in tackles for loss (eight) and tied for second with two sacks on the season. Comparing Stony Brook to the rest of the CAA teams, their defense is middle of the pack in almost every major category: interceptions, yards allowed and passing touchdowns allowed. Middle of the pack defense is not what Stony Brook is known for. Allowing the third most completions in the CAA (148), while ranking ninth in interceptions (three), opposing teams have completed 64.6 percent of their passes, second most in the CAA. The five remaining games are against very pass heavy teams, and the secondary will need to step up its play, which is not out of the realm of possibility. But they will need some big time performances. Special Teams: B Redshirt-senior kicker Nick Courtney has made five of his seven field goal attempts, notably hitting a 47-yard field goal with five seconds left in the fourth quarter against JMU to tie the game. But missed field
goals cannot be overlooked. In the same JMU game, Courtney missed a 37-yard kick in the third quarter, and had a 30-yard kick blocked in the third quarter of a game against Fordham. Redshirt-Junior punter Mitch Wright, who can punt using both feet, has been the most used counter in the entire CAA. Punting 37 times throughout the seven games for a total of 1499 yards, and an average of 40.51 yards per punt, Wright has been a consistent player on special teams. Injuries: F Every team deals with injuries, it is a big part of sports and football in specific. Even though injuries are to be expected, sometimes the injury bug strikes more often than one would expect. Kamara, one of the team captains, has missed the past two games — two very important games, with a shoulder injury and his return is unknown. Givens has missed four games on the season, Lawton and White have missed significant time, while redshirt-freshman running back Alex Indelicato is out for the year after playing in the first game of the season. Junior wide receiver Brandon Benson, a transfer from Southern Methodist University (SMU), missed three games with an ankle injury before making a special teams appearance in the loss to New Hampshire. The Seawolves resume action next Saturday Oct. 26 at Villanova University with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. A win against the Wildcats would give the Seawolves some much needed momentum in the second half of the season.
with the Bearcats and Hawks tying for sixth. The Seawolves return a number of key players from last year’s squad which finished in second place in the America East. Junior center Jeff Otchere won Defensive Player of the Year after recording the 16th most blocks and blocks per game across all Division I players in the country with 78 and 2.36 respectively. Redshirt-junior guard/forward Andrew Garcia was named Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds off the bench and playing 21.7 minutes per game in 33 appearances and two starts. The talent retained will look to offset the losses the team suffered, including head coach Jeff Boals, who left in the middle of his contract to take the same position at his alma mater Ohio and First-Team All-Conference selection Akwasi Yeboah, who transferred to Rutgers after leading the Seawolves with 16.7 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game in 2018-19.
Taking over for Boals is Geno Ford, who was named interim head coach during the team’s game against South Florida in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) before being promoted to head coach on March 26, the program’s fourth in Di-
vision I history. Ford previously led Kent State and Bradley before being named to Boals’ staff as an assistant in 2016. The Seawolves open their season at home against the Yale Bulldogs on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. They have three
games scheduled before the team embarks on a trip to Corpus Christi, Texas for the Islander Invitational. The team will play the defending national champion Virginia on Dec. 18, and begins America East play on the road Jan. 5 against Maine.
Men's Basketball picked to finish third in Ford's first year By Ethan Tam
Assistant Sports Editor
A year after finishing 24-7 in the regular season, the Stony Brook men’s basketball team was picked to finish third in the America East on Thursday, Oct. 17 in the conference’s annual preseason poll. Voted on by the schools’ coaches, the Vermont Catamounts were unanimously selected in first place after winning both the regular season championship and the conference tournament to reach their seventh NCAA Tournament in program history. Stony Brook was projected behind both Vermont, who received eight first-place votes and second-place UMBC, who received the lone other first-place placement. With 48 points, the Seawolves barely edged out longtime rival Albany, who were picked to finish in fourth with 47 points. UMass Lowell, Binghamton, Hartford, Maine and New Hampshire make up the poll’s fifth to ninth spots in that order
COURTESY OF STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY
Head coach Geno Ford at a Stony Brook University Men's Basketball game. The team was picked to finish third in the America East.
you could pick it up on the way to class... ...but sometimes that’s just too much effort.
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