The Statesman Volume 57 Issue 16 by The Statesman

The Statesman informing stony brook university for more than 50 years Monday, February 3, 2014

Volume LVII, Issue 16

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One year later, university remains silent

By Kristin Behr Staff Writer

When a string of muggings took place in the South P Lot earlier this academic year, the campus was notified. When a student committed suicide last spring, everyone received a text. So why is it that when Brianna Bifone was hit by a police officer and pinned under a cruiser for 30 minutes, the university fell silent? Bifone was walking down Circle Road almost a year ago, on Feb. 7, 2013, when campus police officer Salvatore Casaccio was responding to a call of a “large group” in the Student Union. Casaccio cut across an entire lane of traffic, jumped the curb and hit Bifone, where she lay pinned under the car in an embankment for about half an hour. Stony Brook University never publicly released Casaccio’s name, and this is the first time it has appeared in print. A stretch of Circle Road was blocked off by a swarm of police cars and ambulances, making it impossible for both vehicles and pedestrians to pass. It took about two hours until everything was clear.

SUNY unveils new online course initative By Sandhiya Kannan Staff Writer

The State University of New York announced a new online course initiative on Jan. 14 that will offer students a way to complete entire degree programs online, positioning the university to follow an increasingly important trend in online education. The program, called Open SUNY, was unveiled by SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher during her State of the University Address and will offer eight fully online degree programs through a collaboration across SUNY campuses. First envisioned in 2009, the project will be a medium for students to sign up for courses, obtain textbooks and take the classes all online and at their own pace. Though the program has the capacity to serve students out-ofstate and abroad, Open SUNY is targeted to serve New York residents

ANUSHA MOOKHERJEE / THE STATESMAN

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014 will mark the one year anniversary of the incident that took place on Circle Road. Assistant Chief of Police Lawrence Zacarese spoke to student journalists on site, saying Bifone’s injuries were mild, but she suffered serious injuries as a result of the collision. Bifone subsequently suffered from liver damage and sleep problems, and spent one month in the hospital and time in a wheelchair. by offering opportunities to engage in certification and degree programs for those who might not be able to easily get to a campus, or who may have to balance a family and career in addition to education. Six campuses will be collaborating to offer associate's degrees in clinical laboratory technician and tourism management; bachelor's degrees in human resources management, information systems, nursing and electrical engineering; and masters degrees in business administration and health services administration. Though several SUNY campuses, including Stony Brook University, already offer online courses through the SUNY Learning Network and other means, Open SUNY was created to be a step above these online programs as a joint effort to provide online education to students. “What we’ve traditionally done with the SUNY Learning Network is that we’ve supported individual campuses to do what they want to do,” Associate Provost for Academic Technology and Information Services Carey Hatch said. “So

News

Continued on page 3

Bifone refused to comment to journalists since the accident happened, but some of her tweets since the accident illustrate her ongoing health struggles. “It’s getting harder and harder to just keep smiling,” Bifone said on her public Twitter account on Sept. 6, 2013. “So tired of being sick. It’s literally one thing after

another with me.” Since the accident, it was never publicly acknowledged whether officer Casaccio still is employed as a police officer at the university. However, according to Lauren Sheprow, head of media relations at Stony Brook, “the officer involved in the accident, he is no longer employed at Stony Brook

University.” Stony Brook released no official statement to the campus community regarding the Feb. 7 accident. However, during a presentation made to student journalists in October 2013, Assistant Chief of Patrol Eric Continued on page 3

Governor's cabinet member outlines state budget at SBU

BASIL JOHN/ THE STATESMAN

Towns presented the New York State Budget, which included scholarship money for N.Y. high school students.

By Will Welch

Assistant News Editor

Higher education plays a key role in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2014–2015 budget plan, outlined last Friday at Stony Brook University’s Wang Center Chapel by Commissioner and CEO of New York State Homes and Community Renewal Darryl Towns, a member of the governor’s cabinet.

Arts & Entertainment

Among tax cuts and investments in health care and public education, the budget includes additional funds for NYSUNY 2020 and START-UP NY—economic development programs that work through State University of New York campuses—as well as scholarships for students in STEM fields and a student consumer protection initiative. Opinions

The largest of these allocations is $55 million for new NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grants, which fund projects on SUNY campuses that promote economic development. The money will go to projects that improve educational technology, connect students to the workforce and support the START-UP NY initiative, which creates partnerships between SUNY schools and private business. Stony Brook itself will be applying for a Challenge Grant in February, according to President of the University Senate Frederick Walter, who was at the event. START–UP NY, in cooperation with Regional Economic Development Councils, will additionally receive separate funding to begin attracting international investment in upstate New York. For students, the budget includes $8 million for a new STEM scholarship program that Continued on page 3 Sports

The app is one of several releaed by SB depts.

RockYoFace prepares for the spring

UCafe schedules for more talent to take the stage.

On George Zimmerman

Seawolves hold off hungry Hawks

MORE ON PAGE 12

Stony Brook Athletics debuts mobile app

Zimmerman sets his sights on celebrity boxing match.

Seawolves defeated Hartford on Saturday.

Monday, February 3, 2014

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NEWS

Stony Brook Athletics debuts mobile application

By Jasmine Blennau Staff Writer

The Stony Brook Athletics Department launched a new, free mobile application on Jan. 15 called “Stony Brook Seawolves,” aiming to make the SB Athletics website more accessible to students via their smartphones. The app, available for iPhones and Android, combinines information from GoSeawolves.org—game schedules, statistics, rosters and player bios—with social media feeds to create an interface where fans can follow their favorite Stony Brook Division I teams. Other features include a “News” tab with information on game results and updates and a “Shop SB” tab that connects users to Stony Brook merchandise. Users can also select a team by season and connect to each one’s latest news and team information. The app uses an aggregator called Tagboard to compile posts from various social media platforms— Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and Vine—that use the hashtag #seawolves. Photos, text and videos on the Tagboard can range in subject from Stony Brook sports games, club events or even selfies. Anything Stony Brook related that is #seawolves makes the cut. “We love that stuff. We’re all about school pride. It’s not just about athletics, it’s about our campus community,” Tom Chen,

the assistant athletics director for communications at SBU, said. Chen said that the Athletics Department has been talking about developing an app since he was hired in 2010. In February 2013, a partnership began to grow with the YinzCam Company, which creates apps for a number of professional sports teams, including the Broncos, the Steelers, the Jets and the Patriots. “They are a phenomenal company,” Chen explained, “We provided our input, they provided their design, and the feedback so far is good!” The Athletics Department is focusing on promoting the mobile app and getting feedback from its users to improve it. He says they have promoted the app on GoSeawolves. org, radio and at basketball games this semester. Richie Moylan, captain of the Stony Brook Athletic Bands’ Drumline, said he thinks the app is “clean, well organized and definitely [has] a lot of information.” He added that having the schedule on hand will be extremely helpful, especially with his role in the band. Derek D’Ambra and Ben Koert, members of the Stony Brook Swimming and Diving team, said they felt that the app was clear, attractive and well-made, although they also acknowledged the reality of its market: Stony Brook students. “It’s a step in the right direction,” D’Ambra, a junior economics major,

SBU to host online program

Continued from page 1 overall, now we’re spending time thinking about how we can... take advantage of the best of what happens on each campus.” Stony Brook’s most recent foray into online education, a Massive Open Online Course in digital arts that launched in August 2013, will be incorporated under the Open SUNY brand. In creating this strengthened network of campuses, each college was selected to host certain majors based on highly select criteria. Hatch pointed out that these campuses were singled out based on the programs each individual college already had in place, along with the respective opportunities for growth in each region. “There are things we want to see happen within Open SUNY,” Hatch said. “We might be putting some incentive programs in place

said. “To try to get people involved, they’re going to have to market the hell out of it.” Because developing mobile applications is expensive, D’Ambra believes that it needs to bring more people to games to be considered a success. The new Athletics app is one of a few Stony Brook mobile apps like SB Campus Card, SBU Smart Transit and Blackboard Mobile. “As of today, the Stony Brook Campus Card app has been installed on 2,783 iPads/iPhones and on 1,499 Android phones,” Angela Agnello, director of Marketing & Communications for the Faculty Student Association, said. The Campus Card app allows students to track their meal plan

and Wolfie's Wallet balance/ transaction, add money to it and report their Stony Brook ID as lost or stolen. According to Agnello, a SB vegetarian app is in the works to help students locate vegetarian meals and dining menus right on their smartphones. On the Stony Brook campus, the first listing in the “Popular Near Me” section of the Apple app store is SBU Smart Transit. Smart Transit allows students to track Stony Brook buses in real time and view the different stops on each bus route. Blackboard Mobile, maintained by Blackboard Inc., allows students to view their classes, homework assignments and announcements on the Stony Brook Blackboard website.

JESUS PICHARDO / THE STATESMAN

Derek D'Ambra believes that if the application draws more fans to games and events, it will be a success.

so that if a college would want to follow up on those incentives and do something, we’d be more than happy to see them do it.” Stony Brook was selected to host the B.S. in electrical engineering, which is a relatively young program at the university. SUNY officials decided that providing the degree would fill a major area of need within New York State, emphasizing Stony Brook’s unique role as a major science research university within the SUNY network. The remaining seven Open SUNY degree programs are set to be hosted by SUNY Broome Community College, SUNY Delhi, Empire State College, Finger Lakes Community College and SUNY Oswego. One of the major new initiatives in support of Open SUNY is the Center for Online Teaching and Excellence, which has been created

to provide professional development opportunities for online faculty. Partner campuses may also provide some of these opportunities. SUNY is currently focusing on getting the word out about the program to students and current SUNY staff through web-based seminars and open.suny.edu, a central portal for access to access many features of Open SUNY. One such feature is the “Readiness Assessment,” which allows students to gauge whether online learning is right for them. The website is also home to the “Navigator,” which John McDonald, Open SUNY’s communication and project manager, said is “the most comprehensive collection of degree programs and courses that SUNY has ever compiled that’s searchable and all in one location” in a phone interview. In the future, Open SUNY plans to add more degrees, expand to more campuses and extend to new projects—such as minor programs

or collaborative courses—across multiple campuses. While current faculty will contribute to these programs, Open SUNY expects to grow to serve an additional 100,000 students within the next three years, requiring a greater expansion of staff in the future. Though the goal seems ambitious, Open SUNY has appeal for many students. “We have over 150 online degree programs that are fully online, and over 350 that are 50 percent or more online, so we really have a rich history,” Hatch said. “People have realized that there are significant changes taking place in how higher education is delivering instruction, and we need to be thinking about what that means to the State University of New York and our role as a public university within our state.” “There’s a digital learning revolution coming, and we need to be at the forefront.”

costs. Walter said he will wait until more information on the program before passing judgment, but questioned the requirement that students work in New York for five years after graduating. “Does that mean you can’t go to grad school?” he asked. “Scholarships are clearly a good thing, but we have to wait for the details.” He added, “I think that really what the governor is trying to signal is that he’s trying to create and open up the opportunities

for STEM business, but wants to open it up with New York bread and workers.” The budget also provides funding for a new Student Protection Unit in the Department of Financial Services, which has already subpoenaed 13 student loan companies in an investigation of student loan practices. President Samuel L. Stanley, who attended the Governor’s State of the State address, said the governor had “once again found new ways to use SUNY as a way to create jobs and create new

opportunities for our students and everyone else in the state.” The budget makes additional investments in specific projects on New York college campuses, including $15 million for the establishment of a new SUNY College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity. The college’s academic goals, location and other details have yet to be decided. If approved by the state legislature, Cuomo’s budget plan will go into effect on April 1.

Towns outlines New York state budget at Wang Center Continued from page 1

will grant full tuition at SUNY and City University of New York schools. The scholarships will be given to New York high school students in the top 10 percent of their class, provided they work in New York for five years after graduating. However, given the current tuition at SUNY and CUNY schools, the investment would not be able to provide more than 166 four-year scholarships before administrative

No public avowal from SBU Continued from page 1 Olsen said that “in most cases, we release information once the family is notified,” when questioned about police practices and procedures. With no communication from the university, students began to speculate and worry. At the scene, imaginations ran wild and rumors began to spread that it was a shooting and that the girl was dead. A year later, students still do not have the story straight, while others have not heard about it at all. Kate Dubickas, 22, a marine science major, had heard that Bifone was “crossing the street with headphones in when a cop car with sirens hit her.” “I definitely noticed that there wasn't a public apology or any admission of fault on the part of the police,” Jonathon John, 21, an economics major at Stony Brook, said. “It's obvious mistakes happen, but there are better ways to handle them.” “People are so sensitive about what they say about police officers because it's such a ‘heroic’ position,” Dubickas said, “but it doesn't exempt them from terrible mistakes. I understand the motives behind the university's cover-up, but it doesn't justify it or make it at all acceptable.” “I feel like it’s a breach of community and trust, like they're trying to cover something up,” Mike Thompson, a senior marine vertebrae biology major at Stony Brook, said. “I do feel like SBU is less like a community because of it, and it isn’t right that we had to find out via the on campus newspaper.” When asked to comment on why the school was not, and still has not been notified as to what happened that night, Sheprow responded: “There is litigation ongoing; it is University policy not to comment on matters of litigation.” The case began March 1, 2013, and is pending before Judge Richard Sise. The defendant State of New York is represented by the Officer of the Attorney General of the State of New York. Legal action began on April 8, 2013 and is still ongoing. “I'm at that point in my recovery where some days are good and some are bad, and the nights usually suck,” Bifone’s Twitter read. “I hate this.” Bifone retained the Melville law firm of McAndrew, Conboy & Prisco, LLP, who brought a lawsuit on her behalf as plaintiff against the State of New York in the New York Court of Claims. In accordance with state law, legal claims against the state must be instituted only through the Court of Claims. “She’s not doing too well,” Kevin B. McAndrew, a managing partner at Bifone’s representing law firm, said.

Monday, February 3, 2014

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Monday, February 3, 2014

Under the microscope: SBU professors analyze USG appoints graduate link between amino acid and Alzheimer's disease student as interim administrative director By Ruchi Shah Staff Writer

Every other week, Ruchi Shah, a sophomore biology major, will take a look at Stony Brook-related research and science news. Amyloid β is known to play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, but recent findings by Dr. William Van Nostrand, professor of neurosurgery, and Dr. John Robinson, professor of psychology at Stony Brook University, and their teams defined a model of the link between the location of Amyloid β deposits and cognitive decline. Amyloid β accumulation in the brain leads to plaques, which can promote cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Van Nostrand and Robinson aimed to further understand the disease by studying the role that the location of amyloid deposition in the brain plays. Amyloid β can accumulate around neurons and around blood vessels in the brain. To compare the relative impact that Amyloid β accumulation has in the two locations, Van Nostrand and Robinson used two mouse models, which develop amyloid deposits at the same rate. The only difference between the two strains is that one develops plaques around the neurons, while the other strain develops plaques around the blood vessels. A Barnes Test was used to test the relative cognitive decline of the two strains of mice as the amyloid deposits developed. In this test, the mice are put into a bright, raised platform with 8 equidistant

holes. There are reference points around the holes, differentiating each of them. Only one of the holes is an escape hole through which the mouse can return to its preferred, dark environment. All of the mice were given time to explore the chamber and become accustomed to finding the escape hole. After the training period, when normal mice are put back into the chamber, they are able to quickly remember where the escape hole was. As the two mouse strains began to develop their amyloid deposits, those with the accumulation around the blood vessels took longer to find the escape hole than those with accumulation around neurons. Van Nostrand explained that while Amyloid β accumulation in both locations will eventually cause impairment, as “the vascular component is an earlier driver of cognitive decline.” Using imaging and staining systems, Van Nostrand and his team were able to quantify the

amount of Amyloid β and found that there was a higher quantity of the protein in the plaques around the neurons, even though these plaques did not have as much of an impact on cognitive decline. Overall, this study shows that blood vessel deposits affect cognitive decline differently than plaques around neurons, and the research team now aims to understand the basis of that difference. They plan to investigate structural differences between the two types of amyloid deposits as well as differences in the responses the two deposits activate. For example, some plaques are known to activate types of inflammatory cells called microglia. In previous studies, they have found that suppressing the microglia cells by using anti-inflammatory drugs results in a cognitive improvement. Therefore, the results of this study are important because the plaques around the blood vessels can be targeted in the future as a therapy for Alzheimer’s disease.

PHOTO CREDIT: SBU

The two Stony Brook professors have been working on experiments that use mice to test relative cognitive decline.

By Ryan Wolf Staff Writer

The Undergraduate Student Government, while continuing its search for a new administrative director, has appointed graduate student Thomas Kirnbauer to the position. Kirnbauer, a graduate student within the College of Business, was well known for being USG’s treasurer from 2010 to 2012. In 2012, he helped push through financial bylaws that changed the laws of how clubs can spend their budget. Before serving as treasurer, he was a USG senator in 2010. He then became treasurer of the Graduate Student Organization, serving there from July to December of last year. Kirnbauer is also presently the vice president of the Faculty Student Association Board of Directors. His new position of administrative director oversees the operation of the entire Undergraduate Student Government and watches to ensure its efficiency in event planning. The administrative director must also attend events to provide feedback to the USG as a whole. According to the job description, the administrative director is “responsible for working with student leaders in ensuring [a] smooth and customer-oriented operation… ensures that needs of the undergraduate student body are

met through development and implementation of policies and procedures necessary to help create campus community.” Kirnbauer said of the temporary position, “I am here as a facilitator of USG, not to

STATESMAN STOCK PHOTO

Kirnbauer is an MBA candidate who served as USG treasurer from 2010 to 2012.

'call the shots.' In my opinion, this is a student government, and it is important that students lead the way. Every year is different, unique, and successful in its own way." He did not know the reason for his predecessor’s departure from the position of administrative director. The Undergraduate Student Government refused to comment on the former director's departure.

Campus briefing: Port Jefferson bus no longer a USG priority By Ryan Wolf Staff Writer

The focus of the Undergraduate Student Government’s first meeting of the semester was on old issues, including an update on the student transportation options the Senate has been working on for the past seven months. During the meeting, President Adil Hussain and Vice President of Communications Mario Ferone spoke to the senate about the USG’s decision to scrap current plans for a 21-passenger bus that would bring

Meeting in Brief

• The NAACP, Book and Volleyball clubs all were approved for a SSC budget by a unanimous vote of the 21 senators present.

• The Stony Brook Ringers were approved for a line budget. • Thomas Kirnbauer was announced as the Interim administrative director of the USG.

students to and from Port Jefferson on Friday nights. The current plans were scrapped due to the expected $4-$5 increase in the transportation fee. “We had said that we would have an estimate of about $2 which would be the highest price for us and this came back more than double,” Ferone said. The Department of Transportation “didn’t want to pursue it and we didn’t want to pursue it.” Though current plans have failed, USG is now looking into alternative plans, including one to work with Suffolk County to provide a Monday through Friday bus route to Port Jefferson and another to hire a shuttle company to bring students back to campus from Port Jefferson Transportation has been of particular interest for Stony Brook officials this past year, with both the new Sunday bus route to Port Jefferson on Suffolk Transit’s 3D route and the 7Bus coach service into New York City introduced. According to Hussain, one main concern for USG is to not add additional costs to the transportation fee, which is scheduled to increase this coming year by the DoT. Another lengthy conversation at this week’s USG meeting was spurred when a concerned student

MARVIN FUENTES / THE STATESMAN

Hussain announced that a new late night bus would require a $4-$5 transportation fee increase. asked the senate to try and accelerate the process of gaining additional state funds to complete repairs to the university’s pool. The fight over the pool began in 2012 when repairs were estimated to cost $10 million, a sum which could not be paid after Stony Brook’s maintenance funds were transferred to other repair projects on campus that were deemed “critical." This loss

of funding left the swimming teams on “competitive hiatus,” and led to the creation of several petitions, including ones on MoveOn.org and Facebook. The previous administration took part in the debate last year with passage of a resolution urging “Stony Brook University and New York State [to] find an acceptable solution and provide adequate funds

within a reasonable time frame for the on-campus pool renovation.” The renovation is estimated to take about three years once the university receives additional funding. President Hussain assured the student that he would try to contact those that may be able to take action and ask the SUNY Assembly or New York state for additional funding.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

RockYoFace returns this semester with big plans at SBU By Anthony Levin

Contributing Writer

As the winter break comes to a close and classes begin to pick up again, RockYoFace has big plans for the upcoming spring semester. For those of you who might have not heard of RockYoFace yet, it is an organization whose goals are true to its name: to bring music and entertainment to Stony Brook’s campus. Later this semester, when students probably find themselves in a barrage of homework and exams, they can take a break and enjoy what this organization has to offer. RockYoFace, which was formed by undergraduates for undergraduates, already has plans to host a number of concerts in our very own University Café, usually

Thursdays and Fridays. The University Café is a bar and performance center on the Stony Brook campus. It is located in the Union and consists of a bar and stage. According to the RockYoFace Facebook page, the concert series has been going on for about six years. Many different performances have been held and there have even been themed nights, such as glow parties. Freshman Deval Shah, who will be interning at RockYoFace for his second semester, was kind enough to enlighten me with a peek into what they have in store for the campus in the upcoming semester. An undeclared major leaning towards psychology and economics, Stah recalled his experience as an intern last semester. Expressing that

RockYoFace was especially friendly to newcomers or, “super super nice to new people who get you right in,” Shah relayed that they provided a number of successful concerts, including Electroswing themed events, featuring a number of D.J.s, namely D.J. Lord Justice who came all the way from Germany. Shah particularly enjoyed “Hot Punk Day” which included the Disco Robots. Evidently, RockYoFace is pretty well-connected and brings in some big names. Additionally, many other small town local bands came to rock out with their mics out. What can we expect this semester? Coming up this Friday, on Feb. 7 will be playing, free of charge for SBU students. That’s right: it’s free for students. The Disco Robots

NINA LIN / THE STATESMAN

RockYoFace has been bringing talent to Stony Brook's UCafe stage for six years.

will come back to make an appearance as well. Also, make a mental note that Cult Classic is coming to jam; it is going to be a huge show and GSO is collaborating with RockYoFace to make that happen. Shah himself looks forward to The Front Bottoms show and he is personally a fan of the Disco Robots too. He assures me that these concerts are going to be packed, so if students want to attend, they may want to get their early. Stah looks forward to another exciting semester working with RockYoFace, and says that he wishes to get even more involved.

On another note, many students have told me of a common misconception: that one has to be 21 years old to attend these concerts, which are in the UCafé. Rest assured this is not true; the bar is closed and therefore RockYoFace hosts concerts for all ages. Upon hearing this, people’s faces have lit up and they have told me that they would be more inclined to attend. Samantha Maier, a junior double majoring in psychology and biology, says, “I’d always assumed that you had to be 21 to get in. Now that I know, I would definitely check it out.”

THREE ARTSY EVENTS 1)BHM Discussion: Ghost Chains

Come join the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in the Student Activities Center at 9 p.m., Feb. 4, to discuss topics related to slavery from a writer's perspective. The discussion is open to all and is based on Dee Lee's "They Are Still Our Slaves" article.

2) Lunar New Year

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Jasmine with FSA and Campus Dining on Feb. 5 for a multicultural event celebrating Chinese, Japanese and Korean culture. The event will include games, performances and a dinner buffet. Tickets are required and are available for purchase now for $19.75.

3) University Cafe: Toby Walker

NINA LIN/ THE STATESMAN

RockYoFace is free for students, even those under 21.

Toby Walker, musician, singer and songwriter, will be performing his unique style of guitar at the University Café at 2 p.m., Feb. 9. Tickets are on sale now for $20, but you must be 21 or older to attend.

The Statesman

Arts & Entertainment

Monday, February 3, 2014

"That Awkward Moment" lives up to its namesake By Brandon Benarba

Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor

“That Awkward Moment” is named after a Twitter meme that has absolutely nothing to do with the film. It is a film that, on the most basic level is a mess, to the point where even the movie's few good aspects are brushed aside in favor of trying to be a romanticcomedy for guys without the comedy. The biggest issue with the film is an identity crisis, in which it tries to capture a confused audience. I say a confused audience because I am not sure the audience this film wants exists. The movie believes it combines romance and comedy with a deep look into the “true” male psyche, but by the end falls into terrible clichés and gender stereotypes. The story follows three twentysomething friends: Jason (Zac Efron), Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) and Daniel (Miles Teller). Both Jason and Daniel are womanizing serial daters who prefer to have a selection of women to hook up with rather than Mikey, who is married. Early in the film his wife leaves him, prompting the three buddies to make a bro-pact to remain girlfriend-free for the future. To no one's surprise, all three of them quickly break this pact,

as Jason meets a quirky author Ellie (Imogen Poots), and Daniel realizes he has feeling for his longtime friend Chelsea (Mackenzie

Unfortunately, this is basically all there is to the film, as all of the characters fall flat, no thanks to the horrible screenplay. I will

characters are so unlikeable. For example, Efron and Poots’ characters entire relationship starts after a night of casual sex,

PHOTO CREDIT: MCT CAMPUS

"That Awkward Moment" kind of fits its romantic comedy billing for indecisive audiences.

Davis). Unfortunately, Mikey breaks the pact in the worst way possible- by going back to his wife that cheated on him.

not say that people like Efron and Teller are wrong for the role, as they have both proven they can be competent actors, but their

during which Efron confuses her as a prostitute. This is just one of many examples of how unlikeable most of these characters are. Poots

and Davis are the only likable characters in the film as they are actually charming and feel like real people. It is just a shame that they get so little screen time. Michael B. Jordan’s character is ok, but it is a shame that he really does nothing within the film, besides apparently being one of two black men in all of New York City. The jokes come thick and fast, but it is early on that you realize that the film has about four jokes that are repeated in different situations. The best joke comes about five minutes into the film, and then it is a fast descent into mediocrity. It has been a long time since we have seen a great romantic comedy told through a male perspective (1997’s “Chasing Amy” is probably the best example of this sub-genre). But for a film that tries so hard to appeal to a male audience, it leaves a lot to be desired. Unless you are interested in seeing Efron and Teller naked, then enjoy! I have certainly seen worse movies labeling themselves as romantic comedies, but the only awkward moment I had when watching this film was the realization of just how delusional Hollywood must be to think that anyone wanted this film.

"Her": a beautiful love story between man and machine By Jon Winkler Staff Writer

I have seen three out of four of writer/director Spike Jonze’s feature films. The first one I saw was his 2009 adaptation of “Where The Wild Things Are,” the story of a boy facing loneliness in reality and his own fantasy. The second film was 1999’s “Being John Malkovich,” where three different people use one man as an escape from their lonely, mundane lives. Jonze seems to find great human stories in lonely, lost souls searching for something to hold on to. Jonze now wants to show us how technology will become a new vice for the alienated people of the future. His latest feature, “Her,” is both head-scratching science-fiction, an erotic fantasy for romantics (male and female) and a heartbreaking love story of how tightly people hold on to the ones they fall in love with, and how easily it can slip through their grip. “Her” takes place in the not-to-distance future of Los Angeles, California (while some shots were filmed in Shanghai, and it shows). Theodore Twombly (Oscar nominee Joaquin Phoenix), in the middle of a divorce but struggling to sign the papers, writes romantic love/thank you letters for other people to give to their wives and relatives. He’s a kind, bashful and quiet man looking for organization in his life. He buys an operating system, with ads quietly mimicking the Apple products of today,

for his computer that he wants to have a female voice. His system names itself Samantha (Scarlett Johansson) and, with every conversation between her and Theodore, builds a unique but sexy personality that brings Theodore’s spirits up. They talk about life, human intimacy, love and everything in-between. Samantha is fascinated with Theodore’s life as a human, while Theodore is enamored with Samantha’s wondrous view of the world. Some people, like Theodore’s college buddy (Oscar nominee Amy Adams) and work colleague (Chris Pratt), find Theodore’s relationship with Samantha interesting. Others, like Theodore’s exwife Catherine (Oscar nominee Rooney Mara), are baffled by the idea of a man loving his computer (and vice versa). A plot like this could’ve been a cheesy ploy for someone like Sheldon on “The Big Bang Theory,” (or, in proper hands, Abed on “Community”). What makes “Her” both romantic and heartbreaking is that Jonze reminds his actors to take this seriously. No one is outraged or laughing at Theodore and Samantha and, more importantly, they both have conversations that a normal couple has. They have an adorable honeymoon phase, test the limits of their relationship and question what they want together. The chemistry and conversations between Theodore and Samantha seem so natural and real, I wondered if Phoenix

and Johansson ever flirted with each other before shooting. Everything in this movie is beautiful. Phoenix, known for his intensity in “The Master”

the guy. He has commitment issues, no doubt, but it’s because he wants love and only love. Phoenix is great in restraint, especially when the joy of

PHOTO CREDIT: MCT CAMPUS

Spike Jonze’s “Her” crosses genre boundaries in a lovely way. and “Walk the Line,” is so emotionally naked and bare that even when he turns down a night of passion with Olivia Wilde, you still feel sorry for

Samantha lights up his face and the hurt of his divorce chips at his heart. Johansson is revelatory as a Samantha, who comes off as some kind of alien exploring

the wonders of life and sex. Her voice is like the raspy sex symbol she is in real life, but her words (and delivery of those words) sound like a precocious teenager in her first real relationship. It seems so simple, yet comes off so original in a film industry that defines “romance” as either cute, quirky overkill or by-the-book bland. Adams, Mara and Pratt all provide great support, but the acting prizes go to Phoenix and Johansson for their radiant chemistry and intimacy. Jonze and his art department deserve nods for keeping the “not to distant future” very fathomable. There are no flying cars, space travel, or hover boards, but simply muted color coordinated clothing and more advanced holograms. The haunting, sweeping electronic score by Will Collins helps make the film seem as light and bright as the cinematography, and contributions by Arcade Fire, Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Jonze himself don’t hurt. “Her” is indeed a beautiful love story, but it almost seems like a trick on viewers. Viewers can either see how sad it is that man has so much love to give and chooses to give it to his computer, or be shocked at how human technology is becoming. For me, all I saw was the story of a lonely man looking for something to pour his heart out to, whether that is woman or machine. Jonze is very “out there” compared to most writers and directors, but his imagination on screen is something better than fiction.

OPINIONS

Editorial: USG should The Statesman follow through with their promises on transportation informing stony brook university for more than 50 years

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The Undergraduate Student Government announced over break that the Friday night bus route it had pursued adding since the beginning of semester would add an additional $4 to the transportation fee, which is charged to undergraduate students every semester. USG posted on Facebook that it considered this price too high and would not pursue implementing the Friday route. That post was immediately met with protest from students who were willing to pay extra, a few students in support of USG’s decision and damage control from Vice President of Communications and Public Relations Mario Ferone and President Adil Hussain. The response would indicate a mandate from the student body for USG to work toward expanding transportation options, but strangely, there seemed to be very little interest in transportation before USG proposed the new route. Transportation has been a pet project of USG’s from the beginning, and while its focus on student advocacy has been refreshing, it could have approached the topic much more efficiently without raising and dashing the hopes of the student body in the course of a semester. During the fall, USG sent out two polls to both undergraduate and graduate students highlighting new bus routes. Though neither met standards the would validate the results— requiring the Department of Transportation to release its own survey—these polls

prematurely built up a sense of excitement that transportation in and around campus would improve. USG propagated information that suggested that this project would definitely become a reality, and that these polls were just a formality to prove student support. When it came to defining what it actually wanted to accomplish in improving transportation, the senate struggled, over the course of several meetings, to draft and approve a resolution that coherently stated its goals. Though the addition of the 7Bus to New York City is a welcome alternative to the LIRR, it came to Stony Brook more as a result of the Department of Transportation’s recognition of an opportunity than an effort on the part of USG. 7Bus now has access to a great new source of revenue with USG happily advertising the service. In fact, Executive Vice President of USG Mallory Rothstein is now a marketing intern for 7Bus which causes one to question the impartiality of USG’s claim that the 7Bus is the best option for students. We support USG in advocating issues that are important to students, but in doing so, it needs to effectively involve students and direct its attention to properly researched, feasible solutions. USG should lead with clear goals and execution, not stumble in its own ambition. SincerelyThe Editorial Board

Contact us: Phone: 631-632-6479 Fax: 631-632-9128 Email: editors@sbstatesman.com Web: www.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 photography staff are all student volunteers. New stories are published online every day Monday through Friday. 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 and Instagram @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 50 cents.

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Graduation robes are overpriced By Anusha Mookherjee Assistant Opinions Editor

As a senior ready to graduate, excitement has quickly been replaced by anxiety and stress. Somehow, without the help of pretty much any advisors, I have gotten here after three and a half years. Being an out-ofstate student, I always grumble listening to in-state students complain about the few thousand dollars their tuition is. Hello! Outof-staters pay around $14,000 per semester. But as per Stony Brook tradition, what would be graduation without another pit for us to throw money into? We all know how ridiculously marked up the bookstore is. My Five Star notebook cost me $3 at Target. The same thing at the bookstore was $10. Apparently the pages of the notebooks we can buy at school are dusted with gold. Most books cost one-third the price online, and even clickers can be used through an app on cell phones now (which only costs $12 per semester). But to me, the biggest markup is how much students need to pay for their graduation robes. After the massive financial investment everyone has made, the school still requires you to buy robes if you want to participate in

the ceremony. I understand the need to have a uniformed mass of students, all in robes. It is graduation. However, for all the fees and tuition we pay, one would hope that graduation was something the school could cover. Or at least take some of the financial responsibility. Robes cost upwards of $100, and are yours to keep! Well, I personally will never have a use for Stony Brook graduation robes again. And do not forget to purchase your tassel! I completely want to enjoy and be a part of the ceremonies and festivities; however, it is a good chunk of money going towards something that has no value after a few hours. There needs to be a better solution through the school in making graduation affordable. I find it a bit sad to say, because after trying to make four years affordable, graduation should be one ceremony where family, friends and students can celebrate just that, as well as their academic achievements. So rather than quickly spend the money, it is time to start reaching out to graduates from the last two semesters (Remember, we have a new shield, so you need robes with the shield) and borrow! You have three months to find one!

The Boston Bomber and the death penalty ByJonathan Kline Staff Writer

On last year’s Patriot’s Day, a holiday celebrated every April 15 in the state of Massachusetts, two men, brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, detonated two bombs that killed three people and wounded dozens more who were watching the annual Boston Marathon. Now it has recently been reported that Dzhokhar, the only surviving brother out of the two, is facing the possibility of the death penalty should he be convicted of his crimes. The issue of the death penalty is a dividing issue all across America, with people arguing whether or not people should face death for the crimes that they commit, if they commit them at all. Sometimes, people are wrongly convicted, which helps the side of those that oppose the death penalty. To me, I think that there should not be a death penalty should the person facing the charges be soundly convicted with solid evidence proving that they are absolutely guilty, with no possibility of them being innocent. While there are people who might say that the death penalty is harsh, I think it’s too light; should Tsarnaev be convicted of his crimes, I believe that the death penalty would be the easy way out for him since he wouldn’t have to suffer, beyond a very short time. A common misconception is

that it is more expensive to keep an inmate in prison than to kill them; according to the Death Penalty Information Center, in the state of California alone it has cost almost $4 billion dollars to keep the death penalty around since 1978. According to the website, it cost $1.94 billion in pre-trial and trial costs, $925 million in automatic appeals and state habeas corpus petitions, $775 million in federal habeas corpus appeals, and $1 billion in costs of incarceration. Also, inmates on death row can constantly appeal their sentence, which just adds on more costs in lawyers, court dates, etc. On the other hand, it costs significantly less to house an inmate; in the state of Massachusetts it costs about $45,502.19 to house an inmate per year according to Mass.gov. Now, although Massachusetts has outlawed the death penalty Tsarnaev can still face the death penalty since he faces federal charges. In my opinion, giving Tsarnaev the death penalty is the easy way out. While I’m sure many people would like to see him die, it’s only going to be a short time until he finally passes from the sodium pentothal, pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride. Instead, let him rot away for the rest of his life in solitary confinement in a maximum security prison, and let him suffer for the rest of his miserable life. Do not let death be his only reprieve.

Opinions

Monday, February 3, 2014

When power cords are a beautiful recklessness By Sophie Carr Staff Writer

“No residents shall have or harbor pets or other wild or domestic animals in the residence halls. Pet paraphernalia, equipment, supplies and food are also prohibited. Exception: Not more than one aquarium (fish tank) of 10 gallons or less per room will be permitted. No flesh eating fish such as piranha are allowed.”- Stony Brook Terms of Occupancy. Last week, I was recently convicted of violating the University Residence Student Conduct Code. And as considerate and lovely as it was for my Residence Hall Director to provide me with a “welcome back” epistle (I’m unquestionably her favorite resident; she even penned her name and everything), I’m not exactly sure how to explain to her that a Disciplinary Hearing isn’t my optimal choice for a coming-home present.

a disturbing companion. The guilt, however, stems from the fact that it is an insanely moronic idea to assemble such a beast. The hazard is that one would trip the circuit breaker if you draw too much of a current. The risk of a fire would occur if there were a faulty circuit breaker and could even overheat the power unit. If every inhabitant decided to take up daisy chaining, the entire building could lose power. While accumulation of unauthorized appliances may not be the wisest or even healthiest habit to adopt —it’s certainly a sensible endeavor when confronted with the increasingly daunting responsibilities of college life- or what I like to call unarmed combat. A few surge protectors hugging each other is an imprudence that I’m willing to risk; this is only due to the fact that in committing such a violation, in some small, insignificant way, my life has

PHOTO CREDIT: MCTCAMPUS

Power strips are commonly used, but can pose a fire hazard. When I was charged with the infraction, I surmised it had something to do with their pet policy. My roommates and I have been hosting a panoply (or indeed

And yet, the question remains: how can Campus Residences encourage students to take safety procedures seriously? network) of surge protectors, power cords, splitters, plug strips (all more or less the same device) entwined together. The resulting product takes the demeanor of a malformed, rabid and unforgiving animal; we have essentially created Frankenstein’s monster. This burrowed behemoth has practically become a part of the family—it would be cruel to split up the team. Students (and I say students because they are usually the most desperate and unstable among the rest of the population) commonly refer to as “daisy-chaining”- or my favorite, the Power Bar Recipe. If I had at least one guilty pleasure (and I have many), it would be the art of the daisy chain—it’s fast, simple, gorgeous and capable of resembling

become ever so slightly daring. It is a beautiful recklessness that I am comfortable with. And I’m not the only one who feels this waymost people find it amusing. In fact, a joke incorporated into my freshman orientation tour was how to conceal your panini press (we disguised ours to look like another roommate). Not to mention an entire box of letters from the Department of Residential Programs were dispatched through our building last week. The Undergraduate Terms of Occupancy document of security regulations has turned into the suggested shopping list for every residing student. The items prohibited, such as (not limited to) irons, air conditioners, space heaters, halogen lamps, toaster ovens, any cooking appliance, weights above twenty pounds, natural Christmas trees, holiday string lights, candles and incense will sojourn in Stony Brook Residence Halls. Upon reading the safety guidelines, it is an instantaneous, tantalizing offer to mock and discredit any caveats provided by your Residence Hall Directives. Perhaps this refractory attitude stems from a distaste of the sanctimonious mien many of the Residence Assistants desperately hold onto. And yet, the question remains: How can Campus Residences encourage students to take safety procedures seriously? One suggestion might be to reconsider the phrase “flesh-eating fish”.

Comments from the peanut gallery: on George Zimmerman By Michael Newcomer Staff Writer

If there is one thing I have learned from growing up in Florida, it is that crazy people are alive and well in this world. I also recently discovered that snow isn’t just a myth from the spooky white men of the north, and icicles aren’t something exclusive from the hardware store to decorate your house at Christmastime, but I digress. It seems that every news outlet has a “bizarre Florida stories” page. We have it too, but it’s just the community section. If you thought that your local news stories were insane, a little known fact is that our local news station doubles as the Maury Povich show. While I have never seen infanticide, drug-induced face eating, gender-bending city commissioners, kidnappings, or racially charged shootings first-hand, I know that they exist. Floridians are the great people that brought you the AMBER and Silver alerts, and most infamously the stand-your-ground law. George Zimmerman is one of those people. Zimmerman recently announced that he will fight in a celebrity boxing match. When not spending time cleaning his weapons, speeding in his Chevy Avalanche and destroying his marriage and subsequent relationships, it seems that Zimmerman has taken up training in the martial arts. On March 1, he will fight a still-unknown contender, which will be available for viewing both by pay-per-view and online. Promoter Damon Feldman is currently accepting applications to be the opponent at fightgeorge@ hotmail.com. Though he is considering any application, according to TMZ (I really need to stop using them as a source), rapper Game, who has a song about the Trayvon Martin shooting, has volunteered to step into the ring saying, “I will beat the f*** out of him.” He continues (though that opening was pretty succinct), “I would not be boxing for me. I’d be boxing for the legacy of Trayvon Martin and his family.” Sounds like wholesome family entertainment. I know it is a hard pass, but I urge American citizens not to indulge in this nonsense. I’d like to think that we have collectively evolved past the times of gladiator spectators and lions in the ring, though I doubt highly that we have (come on, Nancy Grace still has a job). Beyond inflating his narcissism, by watching this idiotic showdown, we’re proving to him that we kind of care about him still. It is hard to look away from the racially profiling train crashing into intimidating rapper-ville, but it’s possible, and I think all of America can breathe a collective sigh of relief when Zimmerman fades into obscurity and joins the ranks of the Casey Anthonys and Jodi Ariases of the world that we can sweep under the rug and pretend were never a part of our society.

Monday, February 3, 2014

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Sports

The Statesman

Monday, February 3, 2014

Stony Brook loses to conference-leader Albany Thursday By Andrew Eichenholz Staff Writer

In the presence of President Samuel L. Stanley, the Stony Brook women’s basketball team dropped a physical game against conference-leader Albany 66-51 on Thursday night at Pritchard Gymnasium. A couple of years ago, a big game for the Seawolves would have been a fight for pride. For the first time in a while, Albany brought their undefeated conference record to Long Island in a battle for first place in the America East. Not only did coach Beth O’Boyle’s team have an opportunity for pride, but glory as well. Battle is an understatement when describing how the game’s first 20 minutes went. Chippy play all around showed that this was not just another matchup for these SUNY rivals. A combined 20 fouls made for an intense atmosphere, with Albany’s star player Shereesha Richards being kept completely off the board, only managing three rebounds. The defensive tenacity of both teams was evident, as both teams made a conscious effort to clog the lanes, forcing the shot clock to tick down, which lead to tough shot attempts.

The easiest looks of the night came to fruition not by creation, but physical stature. Albany’s weapon was 6-foot9-inch center Megan Craig, merely reaching over Seawolves to grab rebounds and try layups. Finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds, her presence down low lead to a rare loss for Stony Brook on the glass, as the team got outrebounded 44-36. Coach O’Boyle gave credit to Albany’s effort down low in saying that, “they were able to win the battle of the boards in the second half and I think that was the difference in the game.” Leading for a good portion of the game, the deficit only ballooned as it did due to free throws in the final minute of the contest. Happy with the effort, coach O’Boyle said, “we competed, we played hard for 40 minutes, I think defensively we did some great things.” With less than 10 minutes left in this game in which there was no lack of drama, the Seawolves gave up their lead, as Albany went on a run to go up by six. As they have all year, Stony Brook did not back down, taking a minute and a half to stop the slide. Tied at 37-37 with a Brittany Snow free throw, momentum seemed to be shifting back in the Seawolves' favor, but it was

BASIL JOHN / THE STATESMAN

With the loss, the Seawolves fall to 15-6 overall and have a 6-2 record in the A.E. not to be. Stony Brook never was able to claw its way back into the game. In the losing effort senior Chikilra Goodman lead the way with 17 points, getting to the line nine times on the night. The guard completed her double-double with 11 rebounds, also taking the ball up the floor for most of the game against the aggressive Albany defense. Snow competed well with a solid 10-point effort, playing

Goodman & Walker win awards By Mike Daniello Sports Editor

One player from both the Men and Women's Basketball teams won weekly awards from the America East. Senior guard Chikilra Goodman was named America East Co-Player of the Week for the women and redshirt freshman Ahmad Walker was named America East Rookie of the Week for the men. It was the second time Goodman won the award and her first time this season. Goodman split the award with Albany's Shereesha Richards. She averaged 16.3

points, seven rebounds, three assists and 2.3 steals in a week where the Seawolves finished 3-0 and defeated Vermont and Maine in back-to-back road wins. On Monday, Jan. 20 Goodman had 22 points in the 66-62 win over UMBC at Pritchard Gymnasium. She then had 15 points and tied a game-high seven rebounds in Stony Brook's victory over Vermont 8349. Goodman finished the week with a team-high 12 points with six boards, five rebounds and two steals in the teams 65-49 win over Maine. Walker averaged 12

points, nine rebounds, 2.7 assists and shot 51.6 percent from the field in Stony Brook's three wins last week. He scored a career-high 22 points Sunday in the Seawolves' 79-61 victory over Maine. With the three wins, Stony Brook improved to 7-0 in conference play and 15-6 overall. They have won 22 straight league games dating back to last season, which is also the thirdlongest streak in the nation. Stony Brook has also been receiving votes with Vermont in the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll.

NINA LIN / THE STATESMAN

It is the second time Goodman has won this award at Stony Brook.

tough defense against the Albany giant down low. At the halfway point of their America East schedule, Stony Brook looks to get back in the win column Sunday at Hartford. The team lost to Hartford on Sunday 61-48, dropping the Seawolves to 15-7 overall and 6-3 in America East play. They take on Binghamton at home next. For Sunday's game recap please check out sbstatesman. com.

STATS

STONY BROOK

GOODMAN 17 pts, 11 reb SNOW 10 pts, 4 reb JENKINS 9 pts, 4 reb

ALBANY

CRAIG 18 pts, 12 reb PHILLIP 12 pts, 8 reb RICHARDS 11 pts, 5reb

NEXT GAMES:

Wed., Feb. 5 vs. Bing. 7 p.m. Sun., Feb. 9 vs. NH 2 p.m.

Sports

Seawolves hold off hungry Hawks for 56-52 win; stand at 8-1 in America East By David Vertsberger Staff Writer

The Seawolves’ were their own worst enemy in a 56-52 win over the Hartford Hawks, with 33.9 percent of their possessions ending in a turnover. “It’s been a little bit of a problem for us for the past few games so we really gotta get that straightened out... The turnovers are really killing us right now, and a lot of our veteran guards too have struggled with turnovers. We’re a little out of sync, we haven’t had time really to practice, it’s been game after game after game,” coach Steve Pikiell said after the victory. Stony Brook was without thirdleading scorer on the year Carson Puriefoy, who is day-to-day with a groin injury. In their first matchup with the Seawolves since their 23-point defeat last month, the Hawks came in without their top gun- Mark Nwakamma - but challenged the Seawolves throughout the contest. Stony Brook trailed for a stretch of about 14 minutes in the opening half and trailed by as much as seven in the second half. The Hawks hoisted up three after three and got out on a 14-0 run in the early part of the latter half with

the Seawolves offense in shambles. Pikiell turned to a four-guard lineup for a five-minute swing at this point, with leading scorer Jameel Warney banged up and having taken only one shot in the first half and turnovers being the key issue. This relatively unplayed lineup, featuring the three starting guards Dave Coley, Anthony Jackson and Ahmad Walker along with Ben Resner or Kameron Mitchell - who took Puriefoy’s spot in the rotation - proved successful as the Seawolves pulled within one with five minutes remaining. “We’ve never really played that lineup, we’re a big team, but they have all guards running around the perimeter, shooting threes, so we went with that lineup just to match their ability to shoot. It’s hard for your big guys to fight through screens and flares and dribble handoffs,” Pikiell said. This run gave Stony Brook life, and their starters finished the job behind Warney, who suddenly found his offense and finished with 11 points on 4-8 shooting from the field. Leading the team were Jackson and Coley, who each had 12 points. Jackson and Coley were the most aggressive players on the court for Stony Brook, attacking the paint and drawing fouls when the team’s

JIA YAO / THE STATESMAN

The Seawolves improved to 16-7 and 8-1 in conference play with the win Saturday. offense could not buy a bucket. A big help on the offensive end for the Seawolves was also their offensive rebounding, earning them 11 second chance points in the second half. “When you’re playing a team that spreads the floor like that, they really affect you and they’re packed in a zone so you don’t have the rebounding lanes. Plus, when you turn the ball over you can’t get offensive rebounds,

Seawolves ranked No. 14 in Women's Lacrosse poll By Mike Daniello Sports Editor

For the second consecutive year, the Seawolves are ranked in the Brine Media Preseason Poll. They are coming off their best season in school history, where they finished 17-3 and won their first America East title. They return seven starters and more than half of their defense, which set a NCAA Division I record for scoring defense (5.65). Also returning to the team will be goaltender Frankie Caridi, who led the nation in goals-against average (5.71) and save percentage (.530). She was named ILWomen Preseason All-American and is

coming off a season where she was All-Region and first team AllConference. Sophomores Alyssa Fleming and Maegan Meritz are also returning to the team. Fleming was a Synapse AllRookie, America East All-Rookie and second team All-Conference. Three of the team's top five scorers are also returning to the team. Midfielders Michelle Rubino (34), Amber Kupres (31) and Emily Mercier (28) contributed to a team who broke a school record for singleseason goals with 298. Rubino, a captain, leads the team in draw controls (57) and points (46) after helping Stony Brook break both single-season marks of 412 points

and 260 goals. She also is fourth on Stony Brook's career draw control list with 157. Kupres had a game-high three goals in the 8-6 victory over Towson in the NCAA Tournament. She finished last season with 41 ground balls, the tenth most in single-season history. The team also is bringing in 15 newcomers, including six former high school All-Americans. Stony Brook is also looking to be ranked in one more poll, the IWLCA Preseason Coaches' Poll, in which they finished No. 11 last year after starting out No. 19.Their first conference game is against UMBC at home on Saturday, March 29.

MEHMET TEMEL / THE STATESMAN

The women's lacrosse team features an award-winning lineup for the 2014 season.

so I thought we played with good energy,” Pikiell said. The game came down to a couple of missed threes to tie the ball game by Hartford’s Corban Wroe with 30 seconds left and Nate Sikma with under 10 ticks remaining. Jackson iced a free throw to extend the Seawolves lead to four, making this Stony Brook’s seventh win in their last eight games.

“It’s been a hard stretch here, a little bit of a grind for us... Jameel wasn’t 100 percent, Eric’s been bothered by the flu, its the middle of the season we’ve been going at it for nine months now. The guys are getting a little worn down, so we encompassed everything tonight,“ Pikiell said. The Seawolves are now 8-1 in their division and 16-7 overall. Their next game is at Binghamton on Feb. 4.

Stony Brook wrestling club makes name for itself at NCWA National Duals By Joe Galotti

Assistant Sports Editor

Last weekend, the Stony Brook wrestling club had the chance to compete against some of the nation’s best teams in the National Wrestling Collegiate Association National Duals event in Dalton, Georgia. The No. 21 Seawolves picked up wins in two out of their six matchups, and finished 15th out of 24 teams in the tournament. “It was a tremendous experience being that it was our first national pool and appearance,” head coach Shaun Lally said. The Seawolves started out the weekend with an impressive 4215 win over Tennessee Temple. The team then fell in a pair of matchups to two of the best teams in the country, No. 4 Apprentice and No. 5 U.C.F. Stony Brook was able to bounce back against their next opponent, M.I.T., and nearly defeated the team, ranked No. 15 by the NCWA. The two squads finished with a 30-30 tie, but M.I.T. was given the tiebreaker victory, due to the fact that they had a higher number of bouts won (6-5). After the heartbreaking loss, SBU would drop another matchup against No. 16 F.G.C.U. But, the Seawolves would finish the weekend strong, defeating No. 23 ranked East Tennessee State, by the score of 32-28. The team faced some of the

nation’s best teams during their time in Georgia, and more than held their own. Lally was pleased with what he saw from his players on the trip. “The team really bonded down there,” Lally said. “Really a great experience for our younger players.” Stony Brook is now ranked 21st in the nation, according to the most recent NCWA poll. The team, which was virtually nonexistent a few years ago, is now starting to make a name for itself. The Seawolves have already wrestled at New York State Intercollegiates at Cornell and at Madison Square Garden’s “Grapple at the Garden” event this season. A major reason for the team’s success this year, has been its contributions from its younger players. Freshman Michael LaNasa leads the team with 58.45 points this season, and has a record of 9-3 in matches this year. Fellow freshman Jonathan Campanelli leads Stony Brook with eight pins on the season, and also has a record of 10-7. Freshman Jonathan Crespo also has eight wins and seven pins for the Seawolves this year. This Sunday, the squad will compete in the Groundhog Tournament up in Amherst, Massachusetts. The team will also have a meet later on in the month at nearby Ward Melville High School, where they will take on Cortland in a NCWA Conference match.