Seawanhaka
Vol. LXXXV, Issue 5
News
Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus
March 11, 2010
Pulitzer Playwright Featured at Paumanok Lecture Page 5
Arts
S hoot 2 Wi n S cores at the Kumbl e Page 10
Sports
Shah’s Halal Food, a cart located just off the LIU Brooklyn campus on the corner of Flatbush Ave. and Fleet St. has been faithfully serving a hungry LIU community over the past year. (Photo Credit: Joshua Ritts)
Hardworking Halal Vendor Becomes Campus Staple By Joshua Ritts
Jamal Ol asewere S hi nes But Bl ackbi rds S ti l l Fal l Page 22
An Important, Must-Read Full Page Editorial (This Means You, LIU) p. 7
Staff Writer
Twenty-two years old. Waking up early every morning. Hitching equipment to a van. Walking down the steps from an apartment in Queens, mentally preparing for another long day in a small space, another long drive on the BQE. Shah begins his trip to the corner of Flatbush and Fleet, making his way to the northwestern edge of Long Island University where he sets up his Halal food cart. He unloads meats and rice and scratch-made hot sauce and prepares to work. Five years ago, Shah and his family left their home country of Afghanistan. The country’s golden years had waned even before his birth, the nation that once housed the “Paris of Central Asia” reduced to a state of perpetual warfare and poverty. Undaunted by these encumbrances he made his way to a place both hated and loved by his countrymen, the United States, seeking the opportu-
nity that it promised; safety, work and an education. In the years that have passed since Shah left the Middle East, his hard work and dedication have slowly but surely begun to bring him the success he dreamed of. Following in the footsteps of the many Irish, Italian and Jewish immigrants who flocked to New York City at the turn of the century, Shah has gone from a worker to a producer. “I used to work for a cart,” Shah said, remembering his job from years ago, when he didn’t work for himself. “I would make food for people and help my boss with his business. Now, I have my own cart, and I'm working hard while my wife studies,” he said. Shah has managed to obtain a cart, all the necessary permits of operation, and a spot where he can operate. He has built up a life for himself in a new land and carved out a niche in a rough economy, making his way through the good and the bad.
Shah has faced numerous challenges from both the city and its citizens. Street vendors in New York City are under constant scrutiny; an operations permit alone can cost as much as $20,000, and Shah must constantly deal with inspectors and regulators. “They used to come by three, four times a week,” he said, “the same people sometimes. They would ask to see my permit every time, even though they knew I had it. They stopped finally and now they don't bother me, but for a long time they wouldn't leave me alone.” On top of the hassle that was handed down from the city, his car was once vandalized and robbed just a short distance from where his cart stands. Shah filed a report with the NYPD, but his belongings were never recovered, and his bank was more hindrance than help when he reported his debit card as stolen. All in all, he lost several days’ wages and had to foot a hefty repair bill for his vehicle, but he didn't give up. “At least they didn't
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BROOKLYN CAMPUS NEWS CAMPUS NEWS
LIU Community Collaborates to Host Benefit Concert for Haiti By Jamela Jefferson Staff Writer
Music anchors souls. Words anchor politics. Poetry anchors emotions. They give life both power and motion. So what happens when they are brought together? Long Island University found a way to empower Haiti during its rough times through motivational lyrics and passionate voices. On Feb. 23, the LIU community hosted the Haiti Benefit Concert in the Kumble Theater. Several offices and departments on campus sponsored the event, including the offices Provost Haynes & Dean Cohen. Marie Lily Cerat served as the main host along with Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, the Haiti Cultural Exchange and others. The long list of performers included the Kongo Band, Sandra Maria Esteves, Willie Perdomo, Cheryl Taylor, Sam Newsome, and LIU’s own Gregory Lewis. Hope was one of the many themes that bombarded the audience throughout the evening, expressed equally through cool jazz melodies and the grunts from drummers beating to a rhythm so hard that it shook the audience to a standing ovation. The audience watched and listened closely as each performer sought to deliver a distinct message regarding the people of Haiti. The emotion throughout the performance was palpable; the sound of saxophone players blowing lonely tones invoked the souls of those lost in February’s tragic earthquake. Poets shouted while everyone swayed in his or her seats. The night continued with a performance by Tuliva-Donna Cumberbatch. She stood looking into the audience belting out songs that ended with the audience cheering loudly. In between performers, Cerat explained why the benefit meant so much and how everyone needs to help Haiti. Cerat emphasized that Haiti stands shaken but not broken. Rebuilding a country considered already ruined seems impossible. While the aid for Haiti comes at a slow and steady
Poet Sandra Maria Esteves (above left) reimagines the Haitian earthquake through poetry and dance during February’s Haitian Benefit Concert. (Photo Credit: David Gardiner Garcia / LIU Public Relation s)
pace, the country needs more than bandages for its wounds. However, the devastation endured by the Haitian people will not keep them down. The earthquake was a wake up call to surrounding nations that everyone must work together in order to form a more perfect world. Poet Sandra Maria Esteves may have had the most memorable performance of the night. Her reenactment of the earthquake was a powerful one. “Her performance brought the most impact, I think, because she almost made me cry,” said Stephanie Martinez, an LIU graduate student and Haitian native. As Esteves shook her instrument, which sounded like maracas, a dancer moved to the rhythm, shak-
ing faster and faster. The night ended with up-tempo sounds from the Blues in Red Band with Buyu Ambroise. The concert ended 40 minutes later than planned but the audience walked out happy, their faces lit with smiles. The sense of togetherness that the concert had fostered was in the air. The concert could not have come at a greater time and could not have had more exciting acts. From the minute the audience walked in to the theater until the moment they walked out, they were deeply affected. Whether they left, happy, sad positive or negative, the audience knew that they experienced something great.
recent earthquake in Haiti. The names of LIU student Daiana Noel, of Archbishop Cardinal Joseph Serge Miot, and other victims of the earthquake who were known by members of our community, were mentioned in the prayer of the faithful. Members of the Newman Club, who were identified by their club shirts, helped Fr. Charlie at the Mass. President Brooke Krolewski and Young Kim served as the lectors proclaiming the word of God. Fadey Jamil and Junior helped with the distribution of the Eucharist and the ashes. Valerie Montrieul and Richard Lindar introduced the Lenten Project. Last year, the Lenten Project began as a collection of school supplies for a school in Africa. This year the focus
turned to Haiti. Valerie Montrieul told the packed audience that this year the Newman Club was initiating a collection of new and used T-Shirts that will be sent to fifteen different parts of Haiti. She asked support from the entire university community for this charitable enterprise. She also mentioned that most all the aid is being sent to the capital city, but that other parts of the island nation are also in tremendous need.. That is why LIU will send the shirts to many different locations and not just to one. The drive commenced at the Ash Wednesday Mass and will conclude on Good Friday, which falls on April 2. All donations can be placed in the special trunk in the chapel.
Newman Club Marks Beginning of Lent With T-shirt Donation Drive Courtesy of the Newman Club
There were hundreds of people walking around the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University with dirty faces on Feb. 17. It was the traditional start of the Lenten season, Ash Wednesday. On this day practicing Catholics wear ashes on their foreheads as a symbol of repentance. The campus minister, Father Charlie Keeney, had five different services for the staff and student body of LIU to attend. Four were simple prayer services with the distribution of ashes and one was the celebration of the Eucharist. The day’s major event was the noon Mass. It was offered with special prayers for the many victims of the
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Seawanhaka
See NEWMAN, Page 5
March 11, 2010
CAMPUS NEWS
African Native Religious Sister to Visit LIU and Meet Bernard King
presently staffed by four native religious women. One of the four sisters, whose name is Sister Flora, For the past four years the members of the Newman is coming to LIU next month. She will be leaving her Club in collaboration with students and staff from homeland for the first time in her life and coming here. HEOP, athletics, and Honors have helped raise over She wants to say thanks to the many members of the LIU $60,000 for a charity in Africa. The recipient of the community who have helped keep the home open, donations has been a home for very disadvantaged little expand its capacity to house children, and most imporchildren. The home is located in the city of Arusha, tantly start a grammar school on the property. Here on Tanzania. It was started by a Catholic priest and is the Brooklyn campus we know the project in Africa by the name of “The Hotel of the Holy Innocents”. Sister Flora is in charge of the children who live at the home. The children reside with the sisters while the children’s mothers are in jail. The home started five years ago and some of the original children are still with the sisters awaiting their mom’s day before the judge! The hope is that someday soon each and every child will be reunited with their own mother and return to life with their all their family members. Unfortunately the hope of every child being reunited with his or her own family Sister Flora and the children of the Hotel of the Holy Innocents has not always happened. (Photo Credit: The Newman Club) Some have been left at the
Courtesy of the Newman Club
home when the woman has been released from jail. The plans to care for the children for a few years had turned into plans to permanently house some of them as if they were orphans. With the arrival of Sister Flora to Brooklyn, the Newman Club has set out on its biggest project in the past five years! For the past four years the club had a charitable dinner with up to 50 invited guests at a Queens restaurant. This year the restaurant is not big enough. This time there are over 100 expected guests for the charitable dinner. The location was moved to the Immaculate Conception Center of the Diocese of Brooklyn which is located in Douglaston, Queens. The donation for the event is $100.00 and arrangements must be made by April 15th at the office of Campus Ministry. One confirmed dinner guest is former Knick legend Bernard King. Mister King has ties to our campus because when he was a youngster grew up not far away in the Fort Greene projects. He said that he would often come to our gym to watch the Blackbirds. He would also sneak into the gym in the evenings and practice his skills! In fact his parents still live in the neighborhood across the street from our campus in the University Towers. He will be willing to pose for pictures and sign autographs for all those in attendance at the Newman Club event. It might prove very timely because he is a finalist for this year’s election into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts! He is looking forward to the charitable event and the Newman Club is looking forward to introducing him as a Hall of Famer to their guest of honor Sister Flora.
LACS Hosts Photo Presentation and Forum on Cuba By Jamela Jefferson Staff Writer
Cuba came to visit LIU via an informative photo slideshow by photographer Janis Lewin. The presentation, entitled “Peeling Back the Layers: Cuba in the 1990s” was held on Feb. 24 in LLC 122. LIU’s Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program sponsored the event. Lewin’s presentation included an abundance of black and white photography that captured the essence of Cuba and its people during the 1990s. Lewin exhibited her new series of photos to an audience of students, faculty and peers. Displaying vivid and abstract photos from bull riders to young teenage women to drag queens, Lewin’s memorable stills resonated deeply as the audience became familiar with their subjects. For each photo, Lewin offered her own interpretation before asking the audience what they felt she was trying to convey. After getting the audience’s feedback, Lewin went on to offer her own opinions on their comments.
March 11, 2010
Lewin continued with recounts from her exploration of Cuba, citing why she took some photos and how she captured certain ones without even trying. Lewin’s moments with her camera served to enlighten the audience of the social and cultural experiences in Cuba. All of her photos were thought provoking and showed the audience just what life is like Cuba. Each imaged provoked in intense emotional response within the audience. Some pictures caused the room to erupt in laughter, while others brought a resounding silence. Lewin ended her presentation with a short question and answer session. She is currently working on her next untitled project.
Photographer Janis Lewin at the Latin American and Caribbean Studies’ forum on Cuba. (Photo Credit: Jamela Jefferson)
Seawanhaka
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In My Opinion...
CAMPUS NEWS
Local Food Vendor Makes Good With Student Support
What are your plans for Spring Break?
Nicole Murphy; Graduate Student, Journalism and Education “I am going to New Orleans to help rebuild with Camp Reserve, which falls under Camp Hope, an organization that helps rebuild the city.”
Stephanie Carlin; Sophomore, Music
“A lot of yoga.”
Popular local halal vendor Shah serves patrons quality and affordable eats near the LIU Brooklyn campus. (Photo Credit: Joshua Ritts)
Continued from Front Page
steal my car,” he said. Anyone who has ever walked through LIU's main gate on Flatbush Ave. by the “birdcage” arch has seen Shah off in the distance. He works in his cart Monday through Friday, from before 11 a.m. until after sundown, in the freezing snow, the blistering sun and the pouring rain. His dedication to quality is evident to anyone who has seen him cooking while water floods the nearby gutters. Someday Shah hopes to move his business within LIU’s gates. “If I could move my cart in there it would be great,” he said. “But it would be even better if I could get a store in the cafeteria. I would be able to expand my menu and have so much more.” “I’ve been trying to find out how to do it but it’s hard to get in touch with the right people,” Shah said. “One day I’d like it to happen, but it might take some time.” Mohammed Mashriqi, a member of the LIU men’s soccer team, was eager to compliment Shah’s Halal food, which includes lamb and chicken gyros as well as rice plat-
ters.
“He's not like the other guys,” Mashriqi said. “He only uses quality ingredients and he puts care into his work.” Indeed, all of Shah's ingredients come from a respected source: His uncle, who runs a wholesale grocery in Queens. By buying from a source that he knows, Shah can ensure the quality of the food he serves. This also enables him to sell his product at lower prices, making Shah's Halal Food one of the most fulfilling and affordable options for students at LIU. On top of all this, Shah is younger than many students at LIU. Only in his early 20s, Shah has worked hard and striven for excellence his entire life. Without a business degree or many of the advantages given to today's youth, he has prospered, and can provide for his wife and loved ones. Few can make such claims so early in life. “You just don't find that [quality] everywhere, especially with street vendors,” said Mashriqi. “But we have it here.”
Newman Club Lends a Hand to Haiti for Lent
Continued from Page 2
Ola Elnadoury; 3rd Year Pharmacy Student “I am going to study!”
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The goal of the campaign is to send at least 2010 T-Shirts to Haiti. Before the first day of the drive was over, administrators from the School of Pharmacy brought over almost 100 new shirts as th eir first donation. With quick and generous responses such as this there should be little trouble reaching the goal. The Newman Club wants to thank all who have already participated in this project as well as those who will in the near future. Through the intercession of John Cardinal Newman, patron of this campus, may the good work that has begun be brought to successful fruition during this year’s Lenten Season!
Pictured from left to right: Newman Club members Fady Jamil, Anthony Adolone, Valerie Montrieul and Manuela Sanchez sorting and mailing t-shirts to Haiti. (Photo Credit: The Newman Club)
Seawanhaka
March 11, 2010
CAMPUS NEWS Famed Irish Author Pulitzer Playwright Speaks at Discusses the Art of Writing Paumanok Lecture By Raymond Bethea Staff Writer
Recently, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Brooklyn native Lynn Nottage visited the LIU campus to speak about her inspirational work. She narrated the annual “Starting From Paumanok” lecture, sponsored by the LIU English Department in conjunction with the departments of African Studies and Gender Studies and the “Voices of the Rainbow” lecture series. Started in 1983, the annual “Starting From Paumanok” lecture series is dedicated to discussions of American literature and culture. The title is taken from Walt Whitman’s poem, “Starting From Paumanok” written in honor of New York’s Long Island, which its earliest inhabitants called Paumanok, or “fish shaped.” Before a full house of LIU staff and students at the Kumble Theater, Nottage was introduced by Jessica Hagedorn, Professor of Creative Writing. She opened her lecture with words of wisdom, enlightenment and personal thought. She first mentioned how delighted she felt to be home, considering she was born and raised in Bedford Stuyversant, right in the heart of Brooklyn. She then focused on the evening’s question: Why theater? Her reason for choosing theater, even though she studied music at LaGuardia High
Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage was the guest speaker at this year’s Paumanok Lecture. (Photo courtesy of www.bvnewswire.com)
March 11, 2010
School, was because there are no limits to what you can do or achieve. Nottage said the theater is a place of vision for her, a place where dreams can not only come true but can be turned into forms of production for audiences to see, to reveal an inner emotion or to visualize the messages that can sprout from the roots of a play. Nottage then moved on to revealing information about her 2009 Pulitzer Prizewinning play, “Ruined.” The focus of this play pertains to the plight of women in the civil war -torn Democratic Republic of Congo. Some of the other plays she has written are “Fabulation, or the ReEducation of Undine,” “Intimate Apparel,” “Crumbs From the Table of Joy” and “Las Meninas.” Nottage’s discussion of ruined was very much a sensitive one, with her speaking very intensely about her trip to the Congo. She told of Congolese women who are trying to preserve the resource of the land on which they live. On the opposite end of the spectrum are the soldiers who take the law into their own hands, often threatening these women with rape. This lecture both emotional and information, revealing the often unheard of cataclysms going on in other parts of the world that we live in. “Not only is the work I so passionately love to create so intense and different but so is my personal life, such as my family,” Nottage said. “I’m of African-American descent, married to a Jewish man. My son lives a biracial life. My father in-law is gay and has a Mexican lover. My mother In-law is Vietnamese who is married to a legally blind man, and my father is an ordinary African American who loves his gospel. Need I go on?” As Nottage’s lecture came to a close, she showed a clip from a recent production of “Ruined.” She then ended the evening with a book signing in the lobby of the Kumble Theater. The audience was moved by Nottage’s presentation. Ariana Hamlett, a student at LIU thought the lecture was “a lot of work to produce and very inspirational.” Sandy Hyppolste, another LIU student said she found the lecture very informational, and that it taught her more about what was happening in other countries “where soldiers use rape as their weapon.”
By Mufsin Mahbub Staff Writer
The annual “Voices of the Rainbow: Celebrating the Oral Tradition” series at LIU welcomed National Award winning writer Colum McCann who read passages from his recent book Let the Great World Spin. A full house of faculty and students at the Health Sciences Building Lecture Hall welcomed the famed writer with open arms. Colum McCann, who was raised in Dublin, Ireland, talked about his life growing up in Ireland and moving to America. “I was the son of a journalist who grew up in a suburban family and came to the U.S. when I was 21. I came with a curiosity of the world and to know about people,” said McCann. As an Irish writer living in New York, he has published seven books as well as pieces for The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly and Paris Review. McCann began by sharing his experience writing his acclaimed book, Let the Great World Spin, a three-year process. The book was inspired by the events of 9/11 and incorporates a parallel story that takes place during the Phillipe Petit famed tightrope walk across the Twin Towers in 1974. “McCann transforms the shock of the Towers from a moment of fear into a transcendent myth,” said Maria McGarrity, Co-director of the “Voices of the Rainbow” series. She expressed gratitude toward McCann for speaking to students about his award-winning book. “I first read Colum McCann’s Songdogs and have been following his fictional worlds ever since. I’m just really happy about the event of the evening, Colum McCann did a great job bringing his book to life like the great spokesman and we had a wide range of support from the students from across the campus,” said McGarrity. As a creative writing professor at Hunter College, McCann explains his joy of teaching to students who give him ideas. “I’ve taught for 20 years, so I love nothing more than looking at younger students who are doing interesting things… come to meetings and things like that when you see the students learning something entirely new…” he said. McCann also offered a few tips on how to be a good writer to those who were considering entering the field. “You start learning that there are rules to writing fiction, but when you get good you can break the rules. If the story hasn’t been told before, then it is valuable.” After the reading seminar, students and faculty were able to speak with the author himself. “We came here because we’re in an Irish
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National Award-winning author Colum McCann spoke as a part of LIU’s “Voices of the Rainbow” lecture series last week. (Photo Credit: Mufsin Mahbub)
mythology class and we were reading this book… it’s a really great book… the author is pretty awesome…” said Amanda Wisotzke, a sophomore and Respiratory Care major. Students also learned about the other elements that inspired McCann to write this book. Sophomore Sarah Laughlin, a Nursing major said, “It’s good to see a writer read directly from the book that you’re reading… it’s just good to be able come in like your really hearing directly from an author’s perspective…” “I teach on Wednesdays but I made a special trip tonight because I really love this book… and he’s a very fine writer and that’s why I’m here, I’m interested… I’m always inspired by good writers,” said Professor Jessica Hagedorn, who teaches in MFA Creative Writing Program, and is a novelist herself. McCann discussed the different desires that came to him when he started writing. “I had the desire to write about the city… the desire to resolve myself… and also maybe to write what I want to read or hopefully write a good book about a person and life.” Filmmakers have also taken notice of some of McCann’s. One of his short stories, “Everything in this Country Must” was made into a short film in 2005 that was then nominated for an Academy Award. This year, he has been working with director J.J. Abrams to turn his recent book into a film. “The film is going to be completely different from my book… and what you have to do is break the novel down and make something entirely new, so it would be completely different…” he said.
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OP-ED
Seawanhaka
Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus Newspaper
Long Island University 1 University Plaza Room S-219 Brooklyn, NY 11201
seawanhakapress@gmail.com Phone: (718) 488-1591 Editorial Staff
Editor-In-Chief Ian Smith News Editor Christina Long
Sports Editor Michael Ng
Arts & Entertainment Editor Leonica Valentine Photography Editor Justine Bach Faculty Advisor Hal Bock
Visit us online at www.seawanhakapress.blogspot.com and @seawanhakapress on Twitter! Edi tori al Pol i ci es
Opinions expressed on these pages do not necessarily reflect those of the staff. Unsigned editorials are the consensus of the editorial staff members. Opinions expressed in articles with bylines are those of the writers. Letters to the editor must include the writer’s full name and a telephone number. Seawanhaka reserves the right to edit submissions for length and style. Seawanhaka is published by the students of Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus. Adverti si ng Pol i ci es
Display and classified advertisements are available to the general public, Long Island University Clubs and Students. For rate and schedule information, call (718) 488-1591. Advertising is free for all LIU organizations. Ads should be submitted to the Seawanhaka Press Room or Student Activities office. Students, faculty and staff must submit a copy of their ID along with the proposed advertisement. Seawanhaka reserves the right to edit ads for length and style. We also reserve the right to refuse those we feel are unfit to print.
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March 11, 2010
CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE By Ian Smih Editor-in-Chief
Hey there, folks. I know it’s been a while since you’ve seen me write anything new in this space, and for that, I apologize. The Seawanhaka office has been plagued with production delays, snow days and the common cold, all of which have forced me to put my weekly column on the back seat for a little while. I’d like to thank last week’s guest columnist, Cassie Rene, for filling in during my absence. Rest assured, you’ll be seeing more of her in the coming weeks, and remember, if you would like to air your grievances in the pages of Seawanhaka, we’d be more than happy to publish it. Now, down to business. A few weeks back, a good friend and former Seawanhaka News Editor, Jonathan Kuhr, stopped by the office to chitchat and see how things were going at his Alma Mater. In our discussion about the newspaper and the Brooklyn campus at large, there were two major points that we both agreed upon. The first was that LIU has plenty of problems; for anyone who goes here, they are as plain as day. The second conclusion we came to was this: despite these many problems, LIU has an amazingly strong and diverse faculty. At this point, we both kind of wondered aloud, “Why don’t we ever hear more about this on campus?” What I mean to say is, when I see LIU’s promotional material, when I hear the group leaders speak during campus tours on LIU Day, I hear plenty about the incredible diversity on campus and the vast number of clubs and organizations that aid in student development. I’m not saying these things aren’t true (they very much are), but the singular metric that any university uses to measure its worth is the strength of its faculty. This is a strength that LIU has in spades, yet seems to be rarely mentioned. I think that educators here do not get nearly the credit they deserve, not just because of their expertise, but because the numerous administrative missteps they are forced to endure. There is a certain pervading attitude at LIU about how things are supposed to be done; for simplicity’s sake, I’ve begun calling this “the LIU way.” The LIU way, the processes that govern the daily functions of the university administration and its practices, are enacted by “the LIU family.” This way of doing things, this “business as usual,” in my opinion, is one of the primary reasons that the university is on the decline compared to its competition. It is cyclic and pervasive, and it needs to end. Would it surprise you to know that many of the university’s administrators are themselves LIU alumni? The number is probably higher than you think; LIU has made a practice of hiring from within its own ranks for years, not simply alumni, but also from blood relations and family friends (alas, that topic is for another column). Logically, one would conclude that the hiring of an
March 11, 2010
OP-ED
Episode 15:
Cycles
alumnus would be a boon to the university. They attended the university. They know how things are run and how things are supposed to work. Theoretically, this should have the effect of enabling this individual to perform their job better. But what happens when the methods already in place aren’t any good to begin with? Hiring from within the LIU community carries a cost of its own. For all of the intimate knowledge of university practices that comes with the hiring of an alumnus, there is also the tendency to maintain the status quo, for better or worse. Bad practices may continue simply because that’s the way things are, have always been and, if allowed to continue, always will be. Similarly, this same status quo stifles the introduction of new, more creative and more efficient ideas. It is for these reasons, partially, that LIU has been slow to adapt to the challenges of the presented by the modern American university. Quite simply, graduates from LIU, who then proceed to work at LIU, don’t know anything but LIU. They have never seen the workings of another university, private or otherwise. They believe that the LIU way is present at every university, and this is simply not the case. I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned this before, but I am a transfer student, so I have some knowledge about how at least one university operates. I first attended UConn five years ago, and it wasn’t until I transferred to LIU that I had to sit in a line to find out from the Bursar whether my bill was clear. It wasn’t until I got to LIU that I was unable to get an up to date report on my financial aid status on their own website because, for some reason, their software won’t recognize when my account is credited (at present, MyLIU still tells me that I owe $4,182 when the Bursar has told me in person that it is the school, rather, that owes me significant amount of money). These are all things I was doing five years ago that I cannot do at LIU, and five years in the academic world is almost an eternity. Back in October, I was shown a preview build of the new LIU website. It looked modern, functional and, most importantly, easily updatable. I, along with the Board of Trustees and many other prominent LIU figures, was told then that the new website would be up and running by the start of the Spring 2010 semester. It has failed to materialize, and I have heard no updates since. I can’t help but think that the LIU way has hampered the growth of the university at numerous junctures. It has created a state of stagnation at the administrative level that has, at times, trickled down to the faculty. It has also fostered a very secretive administration that is often unwilling to share even the most innocuous pieces of information for fear of… well, I don’t know
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what they’re afraid of. A university, by it’s very nature, is dedicated to enriching the lives of its students; in hand with that is the promise of an open dialogue and a free exchange of ideas. Secrets accomplish neither of those goals. An exception to this has been in the Office of Student Life and Development (formerly the Office of Student Activities), which, in my experience, has exhibited such a massive turnaround in the last two months that I often find myself flabbergasted. They are to be commended for their renewed dedication to openness and honesty with the student body. They have showed me that change, although perhaps slower than we’d like, is certainly possible. Nevertheless, the bad still outweighs the good. The end result has been silence from both the faculty and students when it comes to discussing the problems that face this campus. Faculty members have expressed that they fear the loss of their positions should they speak out. Students are both frustrated and scared with an administrative that projects supreme authority while at the same time remaining uncommunicative. I was happy to see in President Steinberg’s last universitywide memorandum that a member of the Brooklyn campus faculty representative would be joining the Board of Trustees at their meetings to engage in discussion about LIU. However, I have not even heard a whisper about what is going on at these meetings now that the faculty is more involved—not an e-mail or a memo or a newsletter. I’m trying to put these things out in the open not because I have some sort of vendetta against LIU. Quite the opposite, I see the vast, untapped potential that this university offers. We have all become complacent, more attracted to the notion of being “good enough” rather than trying to be better. We have decided, as a university, to stop growing. But this can turn around, and it’s easier than you think. It falls to student leaders to actively participate in the events going on around them. It falls to faculty to voice their concerns openly, honestly and without fear of repercussion. It falls to the administration to enter into discussions with both parties without preconditions and to be receptive to new ideas. The LIU motto, the one line printed on all of the official materials, is “With you every step of the way.” It is high time, for all of us, that we stopped simply talking the talk, but walking the walk, both forward and together.
Questions, comments, trials, tribulations? Got something you need to get off your chest/ Something bugging you lately? Send an Op-Ed to seawanhakapress@gmail.com and see your name here!
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SEAWANHAKA GAMES & MORE
“A l l I know i s t hat si nce i t cam e out she has de-fri ended m e on Facebook. ”
- S creenwri ter S cott Neustadter whose movi e, 500 Day s of S um m er, begi ns wi th these words: "Any resembl ance to peopl e l i vi ng or dead i s purel y coi nci dental . Especi al l y you, Jenny Beckman. Bi tch. " [vi a NYPost’s Page 6]
A r i e s (March 21 - April 19)
L i b r a (September 23 - October 22)
You need to express your visionary tendencies today -- so you should find the right people and start talking. It's one of those days when people are much more likely to hear out wild ideas.
Your energy provides all the good times you need today -so run with it! You may acquire a few followers, who are all too likely to make life even sweeter, at least for the time being.
You are having a harder time tolerating freakiness in your friends and family today -- too bad they aren't concerned with your tolerance! You may need to remove yourself for a while to take care of business.
Conflict is practically inevitable today, so do what you can to minimize its impact. That doesn't mean you shouldn't fight for your ideals, but make sure you do so as respectfully as possible.
You should find that things have changed in a big way by the end of the day -- most likely for the better! Your energy is definitely in sync with the rest of the world, so keep on pushing.
You're meeting new people today, like it or not. It may be online or it may be on the job, but your social energy is a beacon to some. Don't worry, you are sure to charm them thoroughly!
You should make a point of getting your friends and family to see things rationally -- though that might take some doing. Your own emotions are charged up, but you can see things calmly if you must.
You know that things need to change, but you're not totally sure about the best way to go about it. Now is a good time for you to deal with your people and get them ready for what you know is coming.
You and your friends are struggling a little with some semi-important decision, but today it may turn into a power game. Try not to let yourself get too wrapped up in it all, but make your case.
You're feeling ambitious today -- and you've got the great energy to back it up! Get out there and make something awesome happen, or at least throw down a few hot ideas that can carry you farther.
Play around with new ideas today -- even if you're deeply skeptical of them. You need to try things until you stumble on a new idea or way of doing things, as now is the time to change your ways.
You need to get together with others today -- there's no soloing for you! You may feel part of something much bigger, and that can be invigorating for you. Things are on the upswing!
Taur us
(April 20 - May 20)
G em in i
(May 21 - June 21)
C anc er
(June 22 - July 22)
Le o
(July 23 - August 22)
V ir go
Page 8
(August 23 - September 22)
Sc orp io
(October 23 - November 21)
Sagittarius
(November 22 - December 21)
C a p i c o r n ( December 21 - January 19)
Aqu ari us
P is ces
(January 20 - February 18)
(February 19 - March 20)
Horoscopes courtesty of www.astrology.com.
Seawanhaka
March 11, 2010
h ug To
Lo ve
SEAWANHAKA GAMES & MORE
The Question: My best friend and I have been best friends since we were small kids. We have fallen in and out of touch several times throughout our lengthy friendship. During our last period of not talking, about six years ago, he began dating a new girlfriend. We began talking again in 2003, and his girlfriend and I have kind of become friends. Despite knowing me pretty well, she refuses to allow the two of us to hang out alone. I have told her repeatedly that I do not have an interest in him sexually, yet she is fearful of the two of us hanging out without her supervision. It has become very annoying. How can I bring this to my friend's attention and ask him to address the issue?
Vs.
Man’s Point of View
Truth be told, some people are just insecure. I imagine that she believes the unsteadiness of your relationship is a result of some kind of romantic entanglement you two may have had. Whether this is true or not, she thinks that your spending time alone with him has the capability to re-spark whatever relationship she thinks you had. Honestly, the only thing that will make her change her mind is time. The more you push the issue the more defensive she is going to be about it. Just clam up for a while and see what happens.
Woman’s Point of View
First off, she’s been doing this for five years and you’re just now having an issue with it? I think that you really do have feelings for your friend but you’re just not admitting them. If you didn’t then I’m pretty sure you would have said something to earlier. Take a long, hard look at yourself before you start trouble with your friend. Unless you want to cause another rift with your friend, I suggest you let this issue go. Yes, you’ve been in his life longer, but you need to learn to take a step back and allow his girlfriend her whims. Besides, if you guys are all friends, then what’s the issue? Let sleeping dogs lie and get over it.
Last Week’s Solutions H=D
CLUES:
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March 11, 2010
Seawanhaka
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This Week At
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
By Stephanie Carlin Contributing Writer
That’s Montgomery Clift, Honey!
THE HEIRESS Thu., Mar. 11 at 4:30, 6:50, 9:15 p.m. Clift brings unexpected depth to his role as a dashing gold-digger who takes advantage of a trusting spinster’s (a heartbreaking de Havilland) naïveté in William Wyler’s handsome, literate adaptation of a Henry James novella. Features lush, deepfocus cinematography and an evocative score by Aaron Copland.
A PLACE IN THE SUN Fri., Mar. 12 at 2, 4:30, 7, 9:30 p.m. George Stevens takes on Theodore Dreiser’s monumental opus An American Tragedy in this adaptation featuring Clift in one of his defining roles: an ambitious social climber caught between his pregnant, working class girlfriend (Winters) and a wealthy socialite (Taylor). Each in their prime, Clift and Taylor’s chemistry and beauty are captured in Stevens’ electrifying, eroticallycharged close-ups.
THE YOUNG LIONS Sat., March 13 at 2, 8:30 p.m. Fellow method actor Brando dominates his scenes as a disillusioned Nazi officer but it’s Clift’s emotionally vulnerable performance as a Jewish GI that resonates most in this harrowing screen adaptation of Irwin Shaw’s novel. Along with Martin, as a reluctant American recruit, they are three men fighting to make it out of WWII—and a concentration camp—alive.
THE FRENCH KISSERS (LES BEAUX GOSSES) Sat., March 13 at 5:30 p.m. Comic book writer Sattouf makes his filmmaking debut with this raunchy teenage sex comedy that had audiences in stitches at the Cannes Directors Fortnight. Herve, a completely average geeky teenager in every respect, and his mullet-clad buddy Camel, ogle the pretty girls in their class while envying the handsome, cool boys the girls are drawn to. However, when one of the prettiest girls in class inexplicably starts crushing on Herve, a fumbling relationship begins, replete with sloppy kissing, premature ejaculations, and the first shades of intimacy. Features cameos by Emmanuel Devos, Irene Jacob, and Persepolis co-director Marjane Satrapi.
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY Sun., March 14 at 2, 6:30 p.m.* *Intro by Patricia Bosworth Kerr and Lancaster make waves in this sweeping romantic drama set in Hawaii on the verge of the attack on Pearl Harbor, while Clift contributes a heartbreaking performance as an ex-boxer grappling with his inner demons. “…remains, half a century later, a singular cinematic experience, one of the landmarks of American film.” —The Los Angeles Times
I CONFESS Sun., Mar 14 at 4:30, 9:15 p.m. This under-seen Hitchcock (a favorite of the French New Wave directors) stars Clift as a priest privy to a murderer’s confession but bound by duty to keep it a secret—even when he himself comes under suspicion for the crime. Filmed on location in Quebec, in stark, expressionist black and white, this is both an unsettling psychological thriller as well as a naked revelation of Hitchcock’s own Catholic upbringing.
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“Shoot 2 Win” Scores Big With Deltas, Campus By Shevene Cole &Tenyse Williams Staff Writers
Project ACE (Alumnae Collegiate Exchange), an Eastern Region Program of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated, serves the purpose of uniting organization members across Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, students and alumni alike. Project ACE conducts programs such as the annual Delta Days in Washington D.C., where an alumni chapter sponsors a student member’s attendance. Other programs include the annual Breast Cancer Walk, which also served as a tribute this year to the late Dean of Students Bernadette Walker, a Delta Sigma Theta alumnus. On March 7 the ACE Program sponsored student members with tickets to see “Shoot 2 Win” at Long Island University, a play about a women’s basketball team coming together and helping each other on and off the court. Among those in attendance were Shirley Skinner, Campus Advisor; Glenda Bies-Berry, Membership Advisor, LiEsha Garcia, President, and Marlene MitchellSmith, Secondary Advisor, all of the Epsilon Pi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. “Shoot 2 Win” is a play about the BedStuy Bulls, a women’s basketball team who must put their personal issues aside and focus on the citywide tournament they are participating in. The roles included different women facing problems such as infidelity, substance abuse and spousal abuse. The play, filled with humor and wit, was directed by Tracey Moore and written by Tracey Daley, Jo Martin and Josephine Melvin. Members of the cast included Ebony Coles (Jackie) who pretends to have a perfect marriage, but is concealing the damage caused by her abusive husband; Kay Bridgeman (Carrie) who is living in a fantasy world, stalking the man she loves; Jasmine Taylor (Mandy) a recovering drug addict, whose daughter was taken from her; Louise Lee (Zoe) who tells of her encounters with
The cast of “Shoot 2 Win” from left to right: Louise Lee, Kay Bridgeman, Michelle Walker, Abigail Ramsay, Jasmine Taylor and Donna Maria Augustin. (Photo Credit: Shevene Cole)
African American men and her struggles in society as a Caucasian woman; Abigail Ramsay (Sandra) an overlyreligious woman ironically entangled in a love affair; Donna Augustin (Shenequa) who juggles her life as a travel agent with a drug-dealing alter-ego; and lastly Michelle Walker (Bev) an abandoned bride, who seeks revenge on being left at the altar. During the show, each character shares their story with the audience during spotlight monologues, allowing the audience to understand each of the characters’ predicaments more. Augustin chose to produce the show after seeing the original performance in London three years ago. After much editing and “Americanizing” of the script, which was originally intended for English audiences, it was sent to producers such as Nelson George (Chris Rock’s Good Hair) and Wendell Pierce of The Wire. According to Augustin, “Shoot 2 Win” gives “African American women a chance to do roles that would be played by men.” When asked how she came upon her role in the play, Ramsay explained how she met the director (Augustin) in England and was asked to read for the role of Sondra. Ramsay liked how the piece was about a “diverse” group of women. This show is a mustsee, giving the audience a taste of women who are strong, determined and perhaps a bit misunderstood. If you are a part of the audience, you are Student and alumni members of the Epsilon Pi chapter of Delta Theta Sigma Inc. who attended “Shoot 2 bound to see someone Win” as part of Project ACE. you know in one of these (Photo Credit: Shevene Cole) characters.
Seawanhaka
March 11, 2010
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Cop Out Flaunts Get Outta Jail Free Card
At the Box Office Weekend Top 5
1. Alice in Wonderland - $116M 2. Brooklyn’s Finest - $13.4M 3. Shutter Island - $13.2M 4. Cop Out- $9.29M 5. Avatar - $8.12M
(courtesy www.imdb.com)
Theater Releases 3/12 Green Zone Remember Me She’s Out of My League
3/19 The Bounty Hunter The Runaways The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Repo Men
DVD Releases
3/16 The Twilight Saga: New Moon The Princess and the Frog Ninja Assassin 3/23 The Blind Side The Fantastic Mr. Fox The Men Who Stare at Goats
Music Charts Top iTunes Downloads
(courtesy www.metacritic.com)
Co-stars Tracy Morgan and Bruce Willis star in Cop Out a comedy directed by Kevin Smith about a pair of veteran NYPD cops. (Photo Credit: www.allmoviephoto.com)
By Raymond Bethea Jr. Staff Writer
Are you fit to be one of New York’s finest? Well, Warner Bros. , the studio that brought you films such as Training Day and The Departed, and Kev in Smith, director of cult classics Clerk s, Chasing Amy and Dogma brings forth their latest buddy-cop-comedy, Cop Out. At first glance, the juxtaposition of Smith, probably best known for his role as the larger, latter half of Jay and Silent Bob, and a buddy-cop movie seems jarring. In fact, it is; Cop Out will be Smith’s first time directing from a script that he did not write. This is Smith’s first outing as a director-for-hire and, unfortunately, it shows. The dialogue is far less snappy that any of Smith’s original scripts and the directing is a plodding, procedural affair without any of his usual nuance. Being a buddy-cop film, Cop Out is, obviously, the story of two police officers Jimmy Monroe (Bruce Willis) and his partner, Paul Hodges (Tracy Morgan) who take police matters into their own hands without following the guidelines of the law. These two partners, both on suspension from the NYPD without pay, struggle with the stresses that come with a life
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on the force as well as those they encounter within their personal lives. Jimmy must deals with how he’s going to pay for his daughter’s $48,000 wedding while Paul has become paranoid about his wife’s infidelity due to his long hours. Further compounding their difficulties is that the duo has been partners and best friends for nearly nine years, yet they still can’t seem to catch a break with closing a case. What starts as a somewhat intense criminal chase for a stolen gun and a baseball card quickly devolves into comedic absurdity as the situation gets more complex. Morgan, sticking to his usual M.O., acts as you would expect him to, chock-full of strange musings and nonsequiturs. Thankfully for Morgan, this is what he does best. He pleases the audience with an almost non-stop line of jokes that he mimics from previously viewed cop movies (a wellplaced Die Hard reference is particularly memorable). Willis is the more serious of the two, doing all the stunts and taking charge of the more realistic police procedural scenes. Both of these actors did a great job of portraying real-life police. They were very authentic in their individual roles, as if they were everyday cops looking for a case to solve in the borough of Brooklyn. While Cop Out is by no means the funni-
est film Smith has ever directed, there are enough hilarious scenes that will keep you laughing throughout. However, the film also tends to lose it’s momentum from time-to time, where dull scenes seem to stray away from the main narrative, leaving you lost until another hilarious moment comes up. To Morgan’s and Willis’ credit, when the camera focuses on these two you also get the feeling that the relationship between them is very strong and carefree, both on and off the screen. While the dialogue lacks originality, both of the film’s characters have plenty depth to help flesh them out within the context of the story. Morgan makes up for it with his commendable comedic talent and Willis, somewhat surprisingly, also has great timing, both of which help to carry along the at times dull narrative. This movie was a pleasure to watch but, unfortunately, this is one of the times when the most intriguing scenes are shown in the trailer. Consider saving yourself a few bucks and waiting for the DVD release unless you’re a diehard Smith fan. Seawanahaka Rati ng : 3 / 5 Bl ackbi rds
Seawanhaka
1. “Beak Your Heart (feat. Ludacris)” Taio Cruz 2. “Rude Boy” - Rihanna 3. “Hey, Soul Sister” - Train 4. “Imma Be” - Black Eyed Peas 5. “Need You Now” - Lady Antebellum
Television Ratings
(courtesy www.apple.com)
Top 10
Week Ending 3/07/10
1. Academy Awards 2. American Idol - Tuesday 3. American Idol - Wednesday 4. Oscar’s Red Carpet 2010 5. American Idol Thursday Special 6. The Big Bang Theory 7. Two and a Half Men 8. The Bachelor 9. The Bachelor - After Final Rose 10. The Office
(courtesy www.tvbythenumbers.com)
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Khan An Inspiring Take On a Modern World
12 Impress at Dance Dept. Auditions By Latoya Anderson Staff Writer
Shahrukh Khan stars as Rizwan Khan in My Name is Khan, the story of a man who must surmount autism to win his love. (Photo Credit: allmoviephoto.com)
By Mufsin Mahbub Staff Writer
Twentieth Century Fox brings Bollywood director Karan Johar’s emotional film My Name is Khan to a broader audience. It delivers a strong message on humanity and the social changes that 9/11 wrought in America. Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan plays Rizwan Khan, an autistic man who lives with his brother and sister-in-law in San Francisco. He falls for a Hindu divorcee named Mandira, played by actress Kajol. Against his brother’s wishes, they get married and start a small business together. All is well until the events of 9/11 change the United States’ attitudes toward Muslims. When Mandira’s son becomes a victim of an anti-Muslim attack, Mandira is devastated and throws Rizwan out of her life. The only way to win her back is for Rizwan to make an inspiring journey across the country. My Name is Khan is a riveting story about a man trying to overcome the obstacles he was born with to win the love of his life. The movie is uplifting, but there are a few places where the journey could’ve been shorter. The film shows the human side of the main character when Rizwan travels to a hurricane-wracked Georgia to help a black community whom he befriended on his journey. The film deals with the themes of love, Islam, and autism and does a great job combining them to show how the relationship between the Western world and Islam has changed over the past few years. It’s not just about a disabled man’s fight against his disability, but also the disabled man’s fight against a disability in the world – fighting, hatred and terrorism. The cinematography of the film primarily depicts the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco, but there are
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a few other places where key scenes were shot. For example, there is a scene where Rizwan and his stepson are at the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose in the Bay Area. Some parts of India were shown at the beginning of the film, where we catch a glimpse of Rizwan’s childhood home. My Name is Khan is one of those few films that talk about Indians and Muslims living in a suspicious, post9/11 society and how they deal with the discrimination emanating from those around them. Johar has crafted a strong screenplay that shows the aftermath of 9/11 through the eyes of an ordinary yet extraordinary Muslim man. The musical score by Bollywood’s trio Shankar, Ehsaan, and Loy give the soundtrack a piece of Bollywood in its songs and music, but without any of the dance numbers that Western audiences might not take to. Bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, who Indian audiences have seen together on screen in the ‘90s, have come together after 10 years and they still exhibit chemistry to those who are familiar with their work. Shahrukh has shown people who haven’t heard of him here in America why he is considered a top-notch actor. His role as a man with Asperger’s Syndrome makes his character realistic and loveable. Kajol’s acting shows us how independent she is as both a mother and a devoted wife who accepts her husband no matter what his disability or religion. Overall, My Name is Khan is a powerful film that can be enjoyed with friends and family. Seawanhak a Rati ng : 4 / 5 Bl ackbi rds
Seawanhaka
LIU’s Dance Department kicked off its Spring 2010 dance auditions with a collection of hopeful dancers wanting to get into the prestigious program. As parents and families waited around the sixth floor of the Pratt Building, dance Professor Mary-Ann Wall took care of the dancers waiting patiently to get their number and warm up. At the fall dance audition, the judges - Professor Alenka Cizmesjia and Associate Professor Dana Hash-Campbell - were not impressed at all. So, this time around, the hopeful dancers knew how difficult their task would be. The first half of the audition started off with ballet techniques and Campbell’s famous foot combination that had the dancers in a frenzy to get right. Some stumbled while others breezed through, but that wasn’t enough for the judges. “I know you’re nervous and you want to do your best but I need to see you breathe. I need to see your personality,” said Campbell as she watched the dancers try their best to perfect the combination. Most dancers graced through the ballet portion while others fell short in their technical moves. The second half kicked off with Cizemija’s modern technique warm ups and combinations which, apparently, were new to some dancers, many of whom had looks of confusion on their faces. “Are we ready?” said Cizemija as Professor Tunkel created beats from his drums. Dancers floated, hoped and leaped across the dance floor as they tried to impress the judges. “I think were going to mix things up a bit, how about some improv, Mary, Alenka?” asked Campbell. “I want to see how you guys dance when you’re not auditioning.” As the beat got going, so did the dancers, who, one by one, pulled all their tricks out their proverbial bags and showed off their hidden talents by flipping, tumbling, doing leg kicks, acting out a scene, anything that would wow the judges for their final decision. As each dancer finished their improvisations, some wore looks of achievement while other had the look of defeat on their faces. “Thank you, we will come back with our decision,” said Campbell as Wall and Cizemija followed her to make their final cuts. Anxious looks overcame the room when the judges walked back in. That soon faded away as a dozen were asked to say and the remainder were thanked for coming out. As the lucky dancers got ready and prepared for their solos one thing was certainly clear; LIU’s dance department only wants the best dancers and if any dancer wants to audition, they’d better do their best because there is no room for mistakes.
March 11, 2009
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
LIU’s Version of Vagina Monologues a Triumph for Women By Shevene Cole Staff Writer
In the effort to spread awareness about V-Day, on March 6 and Long Island University’s International Women’s Caucus group performed Eve Ensler’s well-known play, “The Vagina Monologues.” The “V” in V-Day stands for victory, Valentine and vagina. Ensler, who is a writer, producer and activist, has had her piece published in over 45 languages and performed in over 120 countries. V-Day is the global movement to end violence against women and girls and has raised over $70 million for this cause. Some sponsors include the Dramatists Play Service and The Gender Studies Board of LIU. This month, V-Day has chosen to focus on the tragedy of violence against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). LIU’s International Women’s Caucus group is one such group focused on V-Day and the rights and well being of women all over the world. They welcome all students and staff and are located in Room 601 of the Humanities Building. This month’s theme of Women’s History was what prompted the group to perform this touching and educational piece. Members of the cast included Christine Gans, marita casartelli downes, Patia Braithwaite, Blayne Jeffries, Tejan Green Waszak, Yani Gonzalez, Tamara Lebron, Rachel Jackson, Memoona Rizwan, Farrah Hamlett and Alicia Berbenick. Each member of the cast performed a monologue from women around the world. Each contributor spoke about different issues facing female society today. These include, but are not limited to, selfesteem, relationships, sexuality, sexual and physical abuse, and rape. These stories were filled with humor, strength, sadness and triumph. The issues addressed in the performance must not be taken lightly. “The Vagina Monologues” should not just be looked at as simply a performance about vaginas, but one focused on femininity, women’s struggles and women taking pride and loving themselves. The vagina is a “beautiful part of us that we don’t explore enough,” said Tejan Waszak. A group of women were interviewed and asked, “If your vagina could talk what would it say?” Some women replied with answers
such as “think again” while others responded, “Remember me?” From the interviews conducted, some women weren’t too comfortable speaking about their “down there,” as one 72-year-old woman being interviewed called it. The word vagina causes uneasiness for many, and during a part of the show the cast read different names women had for vaginas, such as “cooter,” “punani” and the well-known term “va-jay-jay.” When asked why she chose to direct and be a part of this performance, Berbenick replied, “We were worried about vaginas.” In the monologues performed, one woman whose piece was entitled “Because He Liked to Look At It,” told how her vagina enhanced the intimate The cast of the Vagina Monolgoues, which was performed at LIU’s Kumbele Theater on March 6th. relationship between her and her (Photo Credit: Cynthia Francillon) partner. In another piece entitled In this monologue, a 15-year-old girl on vacation in the DRC “The Little Coochi Snorcher That Could” a women tells of her first experience with another woman and how her femininity helped her tells how her life changed from taking a shopping trip with three friends to being held captive as a sex-slave by a local militia within discover her sexuality. In her personal monologue entitled “I Was There in the Room,” a matter of minutes. This touching story is about how a woman used Eve Ensler shares her experience of viewing the birth of her grand- her femininity, wit and courage to triumph over her situation as a child. She tells how she witnessed the vagina’s ability to expand, sex-slave. Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” is inspiring, educationcontract and its ability to bring forth something so amazing; a child. al and will grip any audience’s attention. marita casartelli downes She states that as women “we forget our vaginas.” The 2010 Spotlight Monologue, performed by Farrah Hamlett calls it a “very powerful piece of feminist literature.” If interested in joining the University’s International Women’s was part of V-Day’s focus on violence towards females of the DRC. Currently there is a war going on in the DRC over its natural Caucus Group, contact Danielle Moskowitz, the head of the group, resources and minerals. Due to this battle between local and foreign at Danielle.Moskowitz@liu.edu or stop by room H-601. For more information on V-Day visit www.vday.org. militias, more than 500,000 women have been raped and tortured.
“He’s Not Mine, She’s Not Mine” Well Worth the Trip By Ashlee Mellowes Staff Writer
Have you ever felt as though no matter how hard you tried your actions still went unnoticed? No matter how grand or good the deed is you lacked the respect and knowledge you desired most from loved ones? This is an all too common feeling that Raymond Quick presents in his play “She’s Not Mine, He’s Not Mine,” an uplifting heartfelt stage play that address the issues that so many are faced with daily, regarding family love and the courage and strength it takes to overcome obstacles in life. The play is the story of a non-conventional family living in modern day America and dealing with their everyday struggles and hardships, including the adversity they must overcome in order to be better people. The multitalented Quick, who single-hand directed, produced and wrote the play deliverers an awesome production, allowing the audience to take part in the journey along
March 11, 2009
with the cast as their lives unfold. Quick depicts the story of a husband and wife’s conflict over their disobedient son. The problem arises when the stepfather and husband Darnell, played by Marcus Big, feels that his wife Shelia, played by Mae Woods, undermines his efforts to help raise and discipline their son Brandon (Mark Breach) because he is not his biological father. Darnell insists that Shelia and Brandon have lost respect towards him and don’t care about how he feels. On the flip side Shelia does not believe that Darnell appreciates her efforts to make their family a better one, while also strongly suggesting she should be the only one to discipline her son because, as a mother, she knows what’s best for his wellbeing. Strong heated arguments begin to surface between Shelia and Darnell around this conflict and audience members are able to take a look at both sides and see how the situation is dealt with from both a male and female perspective. Things take a turn for the worst when Brandon
Seawanhaka
becomes ill and needs surgery. Sheila is unable to provide the funds and is forced to rely on Darnell to up come with the rest of the money. When Darnell becomes reluctant to offer Shelia the funds because he wants to start his own business, Shelia becomes enraged with the fact that Darnell could be so self-centered, heartless and arrogant. Darnell starts to have feelings of anger and jealousy towards Shelia and refuses to give up the money due to their past conflicts. Then, tragedy strikes and this family must learn to set aside their differences and come together as one before it’s too late. Actors Woods, Biggs and Breach deliver outstanding performances, pumping life into the character roles they were cast in and making the play vibrant, relatable and comical. Audience members described the play as “well worth the money” and “fantastic.” “He’s Not Mine, She’s Not Mine” is a well-crafted production for all ages that teaches forgiveness and how to keep hope alive in the face of adversity.
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CLASSIFIED
Stressed Out? Relationship Problems? Personal Problems? Do Something About It! LIU Psych Services Center Talking Can Help (718) 488-1266 Room L36, Pharmacy Building
http://www.brooklyn.liu.edu/depts/psychservices/index.h tml Confidential, Free, and Available to Students & Support Staff
Hours: Monday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tuesday 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Thursday 9:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
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March 11, 2010
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HEY LIU!
We just thought we should inform you that...
! D E V O M E WE’ V
Please send all correspondence, advertisements, questions, comments, trials and tribulations to Seawanhaka’s brand-spankin’ new e-mail address: seawanhakapress@gmail.com. Don’t forget we’re also on Twitter @seawanhakapress. (Also, kindly update your contact lists. Thanks! -Management)
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Kumble Theater
CAMPUS CALENDAR
For more information, call (718) 488-1624 or v isit www.k umbletheater.org.
For more information, call Mary Ann Wall 8) 488-3355.
Thur., March 11, 7:30 p.m. Latin Fusion The lively sounds and rhythms of Latin America will vibrate throughout Kumble Theater as a unique collaboration of musicians and performers celebrate Latin culture.
Sat., March 13, 3:00 p.m. Karaliene Productions Presents: Miss Brooklyn Scholarship Competition A stepping-stone to the Miss America crown, this competition presents some of Brooklyn’s best. Tickets and information: Visit www.missbrooklyn.org Wed., - Sun., March 17 - 21, 7:30 p.m. and Sat., March 20, 3:00 p.m. Errol Grimes Dance Group Presents: “Let’s Crack Some Eggs” Through elements of West Indian folk culture, group weaves a story of a Caribbean man living in the Diaspora. Tickets: $15 ad $10 for students and seniors.
Music
“Jazz Clinic and Concert Series”features top names in jazz. Admission is free. For more information, call Bob Aquino at (718) 488-1668.
Tue. , March 3 0 , 4 :0 0 p. m. , Humani ti es Bui l di ng Rm. 1 0 6 Composer/Pianist Dav id Berk man Educator will give master class on “How to Practice.”
Business
For more information, call (718) 488-1121
Exhibitions
Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday /Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Humanities Building Gallery is closed on week ends). Admission is free. For more information, call Nancy Grov e at (718) 488-1198.
March 1 - March 2 6 , Humani ti es Bui l di ng Gal l ery Sculpture by William Graef
March 1 - March 2 6 , Sal ena Gal l ery Group Ex hibition: “Home”
Tue. , March 24, 6:30 p. m. , Library Learning Center Rm. 515 Toastmasters International Club Meeting Public speaking club provides supportive and funway to become more persuasive. Call Vanessa Gonzalez at (718) 488 - 1435.
Fri . , March 1 2 , 8 :1 5 a. m. to 5 :0 0 p. m. , Arno l d & Mari e Schwartz Gy mnas i um 5th Annual Leadership Sk ills Dev elopment Program for Business Students Open to college juniors and seniors majoring in business, this program includes presentations, simulations and an expert panel on leadership.
Readings
March 1 - March 2 6 , Res ni ck Gal l ery Women’s History Month Ex hibition
Career Services
Tue., March 23, Pratt Building Rm. 510 Environmental Protection Agency On-Campus Interviews To interview for this prestigious agency’s Summer Internship Program, you must submit your resume and cover letter by March 1st. Contact Stephanie.steinberg@liu.edu for more information.
The English Department’s multicultural “Voices of the Rainbow” series is funded by the Prov ost’s Office. Admission is free. For more information, call Louis Parascandola at (718) 488-1109.
Wed., March 24, 5:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m. Alumni Panel: Words of Wisdom... Strategies for Career Success Hear seasoned alumni in a variety of professions share valuable advice to land a job-and succeed in it!
Tue., April 13, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Paramount Gym - Metcalf Building Best of Brooklyn Career Fair Meet professionals and representatives from private, non-profit and government companies who are seeking candidates to fill internships and part and full-time positions. Business attire and multiple resumes are required for entry. Register through MyCareerKey is recommended, not required. See your counselor to have your resume critiqued.
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Dance
Theater
For more information, call (718) 488-1089.
Tue. - Wed. , March 3 0 - 3 1 , 7 :3 0 p. m. , Kumbl e Theater “Twelfth Night” Presented by the Department of Communication Studies, Performance Studies and Theatre. Tickets: $15 and $12 for seniors and students with ID.
Seawanhaka
March 11, 2010
SPORTS
Blackbirds Set to Host Championship Game Against St. Francis (PA) By Michael Ng Sports Editor
Aggressive play made up for the Long Island shooting woes, as the women’s basketball team defeated Central Connecticut State 61-55 in the NEC semifinals, on Sunday. The Blackbirds are now one win away from advancing to their first NCAA Tournament since the 2000-01 season. Shooting a dreadful 38 percent from the field, Long Island made up for it by grabbing 16 offensive rebounds. The Blackbirds aggressiveness resulted in 17 free throw attempts, 11 more than the Blue Devils. Long Island didn’t score for the first five minutes of the game but a 16-4 run in the final six minutes gave the team a commanding 34-21 halftime lead. The Blue Devils came back in the second half and brought the deficit down to three points on several occasions but overcome the Blackbirds’ resilience. Junior Chelsi Johnson led the charge with a game-
high 18 points. She also added six rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Ashley Palmer had her seventh double double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Long Island started the NEC tournament with a 70-63 win over Quinnipiac. Johnson scored 11 points, including her 1,000th point of her career, and added eight rebounds.
Long Island.............61 CCSU......................55
Heidi Mothershead and Kiara Evans finished with 16 points apiece. Evans also added six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Long Island will now host the NEC Championship game against St. Francis (PA) on Sunday at 3:00 pm at the WRAC. The winner of the match will receive an automatic Junior Chelsi Johnson scored a game-high 18 points to lead the bid for the NCAA Tournament. Blackbirds past CCSU and advance into Championship game.
Disappointment as Wisseh Leaves LIU on Losing Note
(Photo Credit: Sports Media Relations)
By Michael Ng Sports Editor
Jaytornah Wisseh scored a career-high 33 points but a missed lay-up down the stretch forced Long Island to foul with 34 seconds to go. Upset after the play, Coach Jim Ferry was hit with a technical foul, giving the No. 1 seed Quinnipiac four straight free throws to seal the victory, 83-78, and secure its spot in the Championship game. The Blackbirds opened the game at a torrid pace, going up 10-0, but a 22-10 run gave the Bobcats their first lead of the game.
Quinnipiac.............83 Long Island...........78
After the four straight free throws, the Bobcats led 77-68, with only 34 seconds to play. After a Booker Hucks lay-up, David Hicks stole the inbounds pass and drained a quick three-pointer, giving fans the feel of a Reggie Miller moment. But Long Island was unable to
March 11, 2010
A career high 33 points wasn’t enough as Jaytornah Wisseh loses out on another opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament. (Photo Credit: Sports Media Relations)
Seawanhaka
make another steal and was forced to foul ending its chances at playing for a NCAA tournament bid. Long Island struggled throughout the game to contain Quinnipiac’s Justin Rutty, who lit up the Blackbirds with 22 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. The 6’ 7”, 240 pound forward grabbed eight offensive rebounds and seemed impossible to stop on the boards. Rutty’s dominance was a scene Blackbird fans were use to. Last year in the NEC quarterfinal match, Rutty had 18 point and 16 boards, seven of which were offensive. Quinnipiac aggressiveness showed as it had a distinct 31-11 free throw attempt advantage. Wisseh added seven assist and three steals in his final game as a Blackbird. The senior shot 12-25 from the field and made all six of his free throw attempts. Freshman Jamal Olasewere recorded his second double double of the tournament with 13 points and 10 rebounds. He had 14 points and 15 rebounds in the quarterfinal win over Fairleigh Dickinson. Hicks finished the game with 11 points and six rebounds. Hucks and Arnold Mayorga both finished with five points.
Page 21
Picked Off
By Michael Ng Sports Editor
SPORTS
Enjoying this beautiful weather reminds me just how close the baseball season is. We’re just a few weeks away from opening day and both the New York Yankees and Mets have questions to answer. I’ll start off with the Yankees. They are obviously in much better position and have less questions coming into the season than the Mets do. Their No. 1 problem is the fifth starter spot. It’s a problem some teams will stress about, but for the Yankees, it’s a problem they love to have. Unlike the Mets, the Yankees have too many starting pitchers. Whether Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes starts, the Yankees will have a dominating set-up man for Mariano Rivera. If the Yankees choose to start either Alfredo Aceves, which I don’t see happening, Sergio Mitre or Chad Gaudin, more plausible candidates, the Yankees will have two dominating set-up men for Rivera. Chamberlain and Hughes have shown more success in the bullpen the past two seasons and it might be the place for them to be at the moment. Chamberlain had trouble getting deep into games last year and with the innings limit placed on Hughes this season, I won’t mind having Mitre or Gaudin take the mound every fifth day. It’s likely Joe Girardi will make Brett Gardner a starter. Whether it’s at left or centerfield, he and Curtis Granderson will be responsible for filling the void left by Johnny Damon. The Yankees come into the season a little weaker on the offensive end with the departure of Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Melky Cabrera along with the unavoidable aging of the Yankees core. Still the lineup is a dangerous one and with the pitching much improved, the Yankees can survive without having to pound their opponents every night. The Mets on the other hand are in much deeper waters. After a season facing several injury problems, the team find themselves answering the same questions from last year. Carlos Beltran will miss at least the first month of the season after undergoing knee surgery. He did so with the team’s person but can you blame the guy after the incompetence the Mets medical staff showed last year. The bigger question will be Jose Reyes’ thyroid problem. Tests confirmed that he has an overactive thyroid gland, which I don’t quite understand what that means, but it is treatable. Reyes played all but 36 games last year. The Mets had one of the worst offenses in the league last year. Let’s ignore the injuries for one second and look at those who were healthy. After hitting 30 plus home runs the previous two seasons, David Wright struggled with only 10 home runs last season. Don’t blame the new park CitiField just yet. He split his home run production between the spacious ballpark and on the road. His slugging percentage only had a slight .024 advantage on the road, so his struggles were consistent. Wright needs to hit 30 home runs again to compliment newcomer Jason Bay or the Mets are in for another disastrous season offensively. The pitching is another major concern. Johan Santana is the only sure thing on this staff. Mike Pelfrey, John Maine and Oliver Perez need to prove they belong in the major leagues as the trio struggled mightily last season. Francisco Rodriquez is still somewhat reliable, but his way of overcomplicating save situations is getting old and tiresome. Not to mention the bridge to K-Rod is shaky as we’ll be sure to sure a lot of blown saves happening. The thing this team needs the most is a manager that doesn’t try to make excuses like Jerry Manuel does. He needs to toughen up, so his players can follow suit. In the end, it’ll be just like 2009. The Yankees are going all the way and the Mets will be watching at home.
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LIU LAX Gets Clawed by Wildcats in Home Opener By Amanda Kulesza Staff Writer
After an 18-4 fall to Drexel last Wednesday, the Blackbirds went in strong against Villanova, but fell short 21-8 in their home opener on Sunday afternoon. Senior Christie Wienckowski had an impressive run, scoring four goals on four attempts, while collecting half of the team’s total points. After Villanova took a 2-0 lead, attack/midfielder Annie Kalata, with three goals of her own, put the first goal on the board for Long Island to cut the deficit in half, with 24:16 to go in the first period. However, it didn't take long for Villanova to run away with the game. The Wildcats scored the next five goals and by the end of the first period the gap had grown to 11-4, putting the game out of reach for the Blackbirds. “The problem was our transitioning,” said cocaptain Jillian Maricondo, who, despite the season thus far, still has her eyes set on one of the top four spots in the NEC for the team. M a r i c o n do Senior Christie Wienckowski scored four goals in Long Island’s home opener finished with one against Villanova. assist, collected (Photo Credit: Sports Media Relations) three draw controls, and had two caused turnovers. Both teams had equal coverage of ground balls. The team had trouble on the offensive side, limiting themselves to a total of 18 shots on goal during the game. Goalkeeper, Jacqueline Simonian made 10 saves and secured five ground balls. Villanova had 12 players score and collected a total of 41 shots on the Long Island defense.
Seawanhaka
March 11, 2010
1.
Team
Mount St. Mary’s Fairleigh Dickinson Long Island Sacred Heart Quinnipiac Central Conn. St. Monmouth Robert Morris St. Francis (PA) Bryant Wagner
2/28/10 2/28/10
3/3/10
NEC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Pct.
.000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000
UNLV Long Island
5 4
Long Island Cal Poly
3 2(8)
1. Bryant 2. St. Francis (PA) Sacred Heart Robert Morris Wagner Mount St. Mary’s Quinnipiac Long Island Monmouth Central Conn. St. 3/7/10
LIU SOFTBALL
Recent Resul ts
Team
SPORTS
Overall 7-5 4-4 7-7 3-6 3-8 1-4 1-4 1-4 3-12 1-8 1-9
Pct.
.583 .500 .500 .333 .273 .200 .200 .200 .200 .111 .100
Streak Home Away Neutral L4 W2 L1 W1 L5 W1 L4 L1 L5 L3 W1
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
3-2 1-1 0-2 1-1 0-2 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-2 0-1 0-3
4-3 3-3 7-5 2-5 3-6 1-3 1-3 1-4 3-10 1-7 1-6
Bl ackbi rds Upcomi ng S chedul e
Opponent Location Time Date 3/18/10- USF Under Clearwater, Armour 3/21/10 Fla. Showcase Tournament Hempstead, TBA Hofstra 3/25/09 N.Y
LIU LACROSSE NEC 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1
Pct. Overall Pct. Streak Home Away Neutral
1.000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000
Recent Resul ts Villanova Long Island
21 8
Drexel Long Island
18 4
1-4 3-2 2-3 1-2 1-2 1-3 0-2 0-3 0-3 2-1
.200 .600 .400 .333 .333 .250 .000 .000 .000 .667
L1 W1 L1 L1 L2 L2 L2 L3 L3 L1
0-2 0-0 0-1 1-0 1-1 1-0 0-0 0-2 0-0 2-1
1-2 2-2 1-2 0-2 0-0 0-2 0-2 0-1 0-3 0-0
0-0 1-0 1-0 0-0 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Bl ackbi rds Upcomi ng S chedul e Date Opponent Location Time
3/14/10
Liberty
Jacksonvil le, Fla.
6:00pm
Team
LIU BASEBALL
1. Mount St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Fairleigh Dickinson Bryant Long Island Central Conn. St. Monmouth Quinnipiac Wagner
NEC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Recent Resul ts
3/7/10 3/6/10 Game 1 (Game 2)
Virginia Tech Long Island
Virginia Tech Long Island
Pct. Overall Pct. Streak Home Away Neutral
.000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 12 4
6 (11) 0 (0)
3-5 2-4 1-5 1-6 1-7 0-3 0-4 0-4 0-5
.375 .333 .167 .143 .125 .000 .000 .000 .000
W2 L1 L2 W1 L6 L3 L4 L4 L5
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
2-5 1-3 0-3 1-3 0-4 0-3 0-3 0-4 0-5
Bl ackbi rds Upcomi ng S chedul e
Date
3/12/10 3/13/10
Opponent Central Michgan Army
March 11, 2010
7:00pm
Time
Location
Winter Haven, Fla.
4:00pm
BASKETBALL STAT LEADERS
Jaytornah Wisseh Kyle Johnson David Hicks Jamal Olasewere Kenny Onyechi
Men’s Points
Rebounds Jamal Olasewere Kyle Johnson David Hicks Kenny Onyechi Jaytornah Wisseh Jaytornah Wisseh Kyle Johnson David Hicks Michael Culpo Jamal Olasewere
Assists
Women’s
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1:00pm
17.7 11.5 9.9 8.6 8.1
Points Ashley Palmer Chelsi Johnson Kiara Evans Connie James Heidi Mothershead
15.5 14.3 9.8 9.6 8.8
165/5.7 34 34 30 21
Assists Kiara Evans Connie James Chelsi Johnson Ashley Palmer Heidi Mothershead
201/6.5 93 52 41 26
6.8 6.6 4.8 4.7 4.2
Rebounds Ashley Palmer Chelsi Johnson Connie James Kiara Evans Heidi Mothershead
Catch the Women’s NEC Championship Game! Sunday, March 14, at 3:00 p.m. WRAC 3/16/10 Jacksonville
1-0 1-1 1-2 0-3 1-3 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-0
7.5 7.1 6.1 5.5 2.5
Page 23
LAX Loses Home Opener Against Villanova
Seawanhaka
Vol. LXXXV, Issue 5
Sports
p. 22
ONE MORE
Long Island University始s Brooklyn Campus
March 11, 2010
CHELSI JOHNSON SCORED 18 POINTS TO LEAD LONG ISLAND INTO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
p. 21