SEAWANHAKA-03-29-2012

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Letter From The Editor

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NANCY UWOGHIREN

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Dear Readers, Welcome back from Spring break! We hope everyone had a great vacation but now its back to work! Seawanhaka has a lot of new things in store for the last few weeks left in the semester including an upcoming Student Government Debate. We also have a big announcement coming up in our next issue, so make sure to pick up a copy! On Wednesday, April 4, 2012 Seawanhaka will host the Student Government Association Debate. The location will be announced very soon. The debate will be from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and everyone is welcome to come. A team of Seawanhaka editors, myself included, will be on the panel asking the questions and getting you the answers you want. We will also take questions from the audience, so come and let your voice be heard. We also would like to thank everyone who has been supporting Seawanhaka this year. Send us your comments, suggestions, story pitches, follow us on Twitter and add us on Facebook. We enjoy reading your comments and we hope you continue to read Seawanhaka.

LINDSEY WALKER

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CONTENT Page 3- Provost and President Steinberg at Townhall Page 4- LIU’s Model UN Team Wins Again in France Page 5- Campus Camera Page 6- Meet the Candidate: Jermaine Isaacs Page 6- Meet the Candidate: Akim Jones Page 7- Meet the Candidate: Carol Hanna Page 7- Meet the Candidate: Khaalid Rahman Page 8- The George Polk Awards

Page 8- LIU Finance Society Page 9- From New York To New Orleans Page 10- Invisible Children Foundation Page 11- L.I.U. Endometriosis Month! Page 12- Career Services Page 14- Entertainment Weekly Page 14- Project X Page 15- Spring Trends: Pastels and Neon

Justin Ellis Brittany Ganter Shanel Gilbert Keeley Ibrahim Malcolm Jackson Anthony Louis Karen Miller Chase Melvin Desiree Rucker Ryan Sahadeo Zelika Shillingford John Tolis

Staff Photographer Nik Conklin Kristoffer Francisco Michelle Lawton

Page 15- Are You Hungry? Page 16- Student Life Page 18- Basketball Halted by Spartan NCAA Tourney Page 19- Racing Against the Odds Page 20- Track at UFS in Tampa Page 21- Locrosse at NEC Page 22- Baseball Drops Three in Conference Opener Page 23- Softball Secures Victory


THE BUZZ...

Provost and President Steinberg Sit in the Hot Seat BY: LINDSEY WALKER

Campus Events The Student Government Association has now released details on five scholarships that are available to all students with a GPA of 2.0 and above. To pick up an application go to the SGA office in M-208 and the deadline is April 20. Each scholarship values up to $1000 each, and will apply to the spring semester of this year. Qualifying for the scholarship requires a 300 to 500 word essay describing “What have you done at LIU to promote school spirit or unity within your community and what will you do to further enhance that experience?” This Friday March 30, 2012 come to the Old Paramount Gym for Skate Night. From 10:30 p.m.-2:00 a.m., join SGA for just $5 a ticket. LIU radio will provide the music all night. Skates will be available. World Autism Awareness Month begins on April 2, 2012. To support the cause, blue lights will adorn several buildings at LIU’s Brooklyn Campus, joining local landmarks like the Empire State Building. Over 1,800 locations in 16 U.S. cities and 35 countries will participate in the global campaign to raise funds and awareness of autism.

By Nancy Uwoghiren

SO NOW YOU KNOW

said, “The Conolly College is where the center of the curriculum is embedded and I have no interest in downplaying the arts whatsoever.” Isaac’s next question rustled a few more feathers. He asked, “Why has Long Island University become so bureaucratic instead of more student oriented? For example, the student emergency loan has been discontinued.”“That’s a loaded question,” Provost Stevens Haynes joked, “It’s like when someone asks president Nixon, ‘do you beat your wife.’” The audience chuckled, and she explained, “No I don’t think the University, and I can speak for the University as well as the campus, has become more bureaucratic.”

Provost Haynes, Finance & Budget Officer Fevola and President Steinberg

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ast week, SGA hosted a Townhall Meeting featuring the University President David Steinberg, Provost Gale Stevens Haynes, and Associate Vice President for Finance and Budget Officer, Christopher Fevola, who each gave an hour of their time to make public the answers to questions that so many students have had burning in their heads all year. Topics of discussion included enrollment, financial aid, the faculty strike, graduate programs and funding, and fundraising. The floor was then opened to any student to raise their own questions to the panel. This rare opportunity to pick the brains of LIU’s top decision makers was held during club hour, a time of day when no student has class. Why then, did only thirty students show up? This can be attributed to poor planning and poor advertising both on part of the university and on part of the SGA, who hosted the event. Although the SGA advertised the event on their Facebook page, not a single flyer was posted around campus and emails were not sent out to students, with the exception

of club leaders. Thus, the students who did make an appearance were those already heavily involved in campus life. The average student did not know about the event in the first place, and so his or her own concerns could not be voiced nor their questions answered. The purpose of the meeting was to create a sense of transparency between the administration and the students, and yet the lecture hall echoed in nearemptiness. Despite the lack of participants, important topics were covered and thoroughly answered by our University President, Provost, and the Budget Officer. Student Government President, Jermaine Isaacs kicked off the discussion with the heavy, forward, and pertinent question, “What road do you envision for the Liberal Arts here at LIU Brooklyn since so much emphasis and funding is going in the direction of health services?” President Steinberg responded, “That’s an easy curve ball for me. It is the center of the life of this university as it is the center of activity and learning at every university,” he

President Steinberg said, “This university, as we accept the federal loan, take on the requirements as established by the federal government.” He added, “More than 50 percent of our budget flows out of the federal government one way or another. And there’s a new higher education act passed which has 404 compliance requirements and if we don’t meet those and we are audited, we turn into pumpkins. We lose the money and then you’ll be very angry.” Another question Isaac posed to the panel was their response to the following statement: “There has been speculation that C.W. Post students have access to more scholarship money than what are available to LIU Brooklyn students.” Budget Officer Chris Fevola took this question into his own hands, and he came prepared. He said, “The numbers speak for themselves. What we look at is the relationship of scholarship expenses to gross tuition revenue expenses.” He then broke down, year by year since 2009, the increased institutional aid, which far exceeded that of Post’s. He explained that there has been an 82 percent increase over the last four years. The final twenty minutes of discussion was left open to students to pose their own questions. Westleigh Nirenberg,

>> pg. 5

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Le Grand Triomphe: LIU’s Model UN Team Wins Again in France BY: REBEKAH GORDON

“Being part of the Model UN program has been both a character building and skills building experience for me,” says Serghio Antonio Adams, a LIUdelegate from Suriname. “The reality of personifying a country’s position on political, social and economic issues has been quite a phenomenal experience. This is where I belong.”

The award-winning LIU Model UN Team representing Kenya and South Africa in Lilie, France “On ne fait rien de grand sans de grands hommes, et ceux-ci le sont pour l’avoir voulu.” (“Nothing great is done without great men, and they are great because they wanted it.”) Charles De Gaulle, a well-respected French military leader and statesman, wrote those words and there is nothing better that encapsulates the experience of LIU’s Model United Nations team and their accomplishments during the NMUN Europe Conference that was held from January 31 through February 6. The National Collegiate Conference Association (NCCA) and National Model United Nations (NMUN) have provided conferences and programs that bring together the next generation of international leaders. Cooperative, hands-on learning gives students the opportunity to confront a wide range of topics with the perspective of their assigned country or organization. This simulation of the United Nations gives all participants the appreciation of differing viewpoints, the frustration of negotiation, the results of cooperation, and an extensive view of the reality of international relations and diplomacy.

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During this year’s international conference in the brisk winter of Lille, France, 47 colleges and universities from many states and countries came together to discuss topics including “Africa’s economic development, exploitation of natural resources and national sovereignty,” “Protection of civilians in armed conflict,” “The social dimension of green economy,” and discussions on issues in the European Union, Latin Americam and the Caribbean.

Besides personal development, one incentive for most students is the experience of visiting other countries in the world. LIU delegates had the opportunity to go under the famous Arc de Triomphe, be lifted to the top ofthe Eiffel Tower, see Mona Lisa face-toface at the Louvre Museum, and walk through the entries of Anne Frank’s diary at her house in Amsterdam. This may have been a great hook to get students involved in Model United Nations at LIU, but the real catch is the opportunity to get recognition and awards for the hard work done at every conference—and indeed, LIU delegates have done it again. Representing Kenya and South Africa, Long Island University delegates brought home four awards – including “Outstanding Delegates in Committee” and “Distinguished Delegation.”

All of the delegations used the conference to address these topics with solutions, initiatives and recommendations. Committee rooms buzzed with heated dialogue as delegates delivered passionate speeches, and groups compromised on certain topics to achieve consensus on world issues in a mere four days.

Still, for the students who participated – winning clearly isn’t everything. “More important than winning is the amount of friends I’ve made over this amazing journey,” says Richard Thompson, LIU delegate from New York. Milka Yemane, an Eritrean LIU-delegate who lived in Amsterdam and won “Outstanding Delegates in Committee,” agrees. “I was very happy to meet people from all over the world who I’m still in contact with through Facebook and email.”

“Model United Nations helped me with my public speaking, my negotiation skills, and my interactions with people,” says Habibatu Jalloh, a LIU-delegate from Guinea, Africa. “It has given me firsthand experience on how the real UN works, and how to be a real UN diplomat.”

NMUN conferences are probably one of the best opportunities to network with the future leaders of the world. Not only do the conference participants’ identities stretch from East to West, LIU’s team is very diverse. The team consists of students from across the U.S., Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and

South America. Within the group are students who represent a broad range of academic majors including psychology, pharmacy, biology, the Honors program and, of course, political science. The LIU Model UN Team participates in three conferences each academic year. “If you want to learn about international relations, get a perspective outside of your native country, combat world issues and have fun doing it, then this is the club to join,” says Jamie Cloud, one of the teaching assistants who won “Oustanding Position Paper” at the conference. “La France ne peut être la France sans la grandeur.” Charles De Gaulle was convinced that “France cannot be France without greatness.” He knew something about fighting to win. Through many dissensions, trials, stumbling blocks and defeats, De Gaulle’s perseverance allowed him to cross the finish line. The same can be said about the remarkable job that LIU students did in France at the National Model United Nations Conference. For more information on how to be involved with the Model UN program, please email Professor Raul MolinaMeija at rmolina20@hotmail.com, or call 1-646-427-2599.

Milka Yemane and Rebekah Gordon, awarded with Outstanding Delegates in the General Assembly Plenary Committe


Provost and President Steinberg Sit in the Hot Seat fourth year pharmacy student and a candidate for Vice President in the upcoming SGA elections, raised a question that actually drew applause from the crowd. He explained that since his father, an LIU Brooklyn Alum, stepped foot on campus, tuition has increased fivefold, and that since he himself began in 2007, his tuition has increased almost $10,000.

disrespectful to each and every student on campus. While it is true that the price of a “Four Door Ford” has increased over the years, they have increased proportionally to rising salaries and the Consumer Price Index. That is not the case with the tuition at Long Island University. Comparing the published bulletins from our university in both 2000 and 2010, the tuition has risen 86% in just a ten-year period. To put it in terms that maybe President Steinberg can understand, ten years ago LIU’s tuition was the equivalent of a Ford per year. Now it costs a Ford per a semester.”

“I think as students, we’re wondering, is there any plan of stabilizing the price of tuition? Will there come a point where we can we we’ve become more efficient at what we do and say we’re not going to raise the price anymore. Because at the end of the day, we have to bear the burden and I don’t think anyone so far has mentioned a plan that is going to stabilize that.”

Half empy room at SGA Townhall Meeting

President Steinberg immediately responded, “It’s a good and tough question.” He compared the rising tuition costs to that of the increased price of Four Door Ford over the years. As the car has become equipped with better technology, so has the sophistication of what is being taught at LIU increased,

suggesting that tuition has increased proportionally with that of inflation “Yes we are a labor-intensive and expensive business,” said President Steinberg, “and you want your labs equipped and you want smaller lab sections and you want good faculty, and they are pricey.” Westleigh Nirenberg was unable to

Despite the meager turnout for the meeting, the three-person panel underwent the hot seat as they were hit with tough questions from the SGA as well as a few concerned students such as Nirenberg. respond given the time limit of the forum, and so expressed to Seawanhaka his discontent with the President’s answer. Nirenberg said, “As gauged by the audience, President Steinberg’s answer is not only dissatisfying but downright

The panel answered each and every question openly, helping to make a stride toward the transparency our campus has been craving since the faculty strike in September.

Campus Camera: Who Will You Vote For Student Government?

BY: NANCY UWOGHIREN

Zach Syed, Health Science, Senior

Asqa Yaseen, Chemistry, Sophomore

Chris Li, Sociology, Junior

Mary Ferruggia, Education, Soph.

“Jermaine Issac. He has accomplished a lot of things like the renovations and makes an effort to communicate with students.”

“Akim Jones. We need someone new for LIU. I feel like he will get more work done -- like getting new scholarships and other things for LIU.”

“Khaalid Rahman. He is a determined and dedicated person who shows passion. I have met him on several occasions and I’ve seen his genuine interest in changing LIU for the better.”

“Carol Hanna. She could be the first female president since I have been here. A woman in power is needed, the majority of the school population is female.”

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Meet the Candidate: On the Hotspot for Re-Election BY: ANTHONY LOUIS

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he Long Island University election at Brooklyn Campus is underway as Jermaine Isaacs, the current SGA President, along with his current administration, run for reelection. “We have a vision for this campus,” said Isaacs, “we have a mission and we’re far from finished”. Throughout his term, Jermaine was able to carry out a collage of different achievements and promises, notably the $250,000

allocated to student funds and the new SGA scholarship effective this spring. In addition, Jermaine and the administration was responsible for the entrepreneurship workshop early this semester that taught students about business and professionalism, and the resume workshop hosted by Joel Press that taught students vital resume builder skills. Throughout his term, Jermaine has had to deal with critics who argue that the administration has been slow to respond to campus developments and students’ concerns. In response to this criticism, Isaacs had this to say: “The administration runs very much like a business. We have to research, analyze and examine thoroughly, things might take time only because we strive to address students’ concerns as effectively and optimally as possible.” Isaacs was able to dramatically increase the budget throughout the 20112012 term, and facilitate the campus experience altogether by having

students more socially and academically engaged. He has taken a thrust towards recreational advancement by signing off the new student center looking to be constructed very soon. Jermaine took on a social responsibility by organizing a Campus Bone Marrow Drive to help physically ill students. He has also put together, not only a boat ride for our senior undergrads leaving this May, but also formed a social for our graduate students in hopes to bring social festivity and unity to campus. “We’re trying to unify the school, that way there will be more room for progression,” said Isaacs.

The administration already has prepared upcoming plans for a more “eco-friendly” campus, and also has discovered a definite method of improving communication between SGA and the student body. When asked about these plans, Jermaine was mum on the details so that he does not “spoil it for the students.” Isaacs said that he made the decision to become president because he noticed there were a lot of problems on campus, namely

Meet the Candidate: Akim Jones him and vote for him as the next SGA president.

Seawanhaka: What do you plan on you doing within the next 5 years? Akim Jones: “I plan to receive a J.D. so I can work in civil and business law.”

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Seawanhaka:What qualifies you to be the SGA President? Why should the students vote for you? Akim Jones: “I have experience, I’m the former president of CSM and I have experience working with SGA under Johann Hypolite (a former president and current professor at LIU).”

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Seawanhaka: What do you think is the current issue of the SGA? Akim Jones: The presence of the SGA is not felt, nobody knows what SGA stands for or who the president is and they have not done anything to increase grants. I›m not saying they are bad people but sometimes people get into certain positions and get complacent.»

kim Jones, a native from Nevins, West Indies whom now resides in the Bronx, is a junior majoring in finance and management. Jones is the former CSM (Caribbean Student Movement) president and has worked within SGA in a previous administration. Currently, Jones is a manager at Vitamin Shoppe and Jones feels that with his experience he will make an excellent candidate. Jones sits down with Seawanhaka to talk about his campaign and why students of Long Island University should support

the lack of student activity, concern, and unification. He hopes that the student body has realized his deep concern for student life and all of his accomplishments as president and vote for the administration again so that they may continue improving campus life. “We’re regular students,” said Rafael Molina, Vice President of SGA, “just here to provide all we can to the students and also all they deserve.” Rafael Molina is a dual-major, studying Health Science and Psychology at LIU Brooklyn. He hopes to continue his studies and advance in his career in criminal psychology by aiding those at Rikers Island prison facility. Jermaine, a Film Production Major and Minor in Political Science, plans to either pursue his film career after college or become a news anchor for a large media corporation. The administration has worked hard to deliver on their promises, working in the office during summer vacation and regular off-hours. As for Jermaine, he only advises the students to “vote for what they know.”

BY: ERIKA HARDISON

Seawanhaka: What do you believe the issue is with the university administration and the students of Long Island University? Akim Jones: “Apart from tuition, I feel they [the administration] do not care about the individual students. There are not enough tutors for the students. Students need to know about the available money that is for them: higher grants, job placement, financial assistance for students such as an emergency funds. I want to stop the blocking of transcripts. There are students that can›t get employed because they need to show their transcripts but can›t because they owe money. Seawanhaka: What do you think of the current SGA president? Do you think he has been a successful president? Akim Jones: I know he made the parking lot 5% cheaper but that›s all I know about him.” Seawanhaka: Do you think SGA and

the president handled the faculty strike efficiently? Akim Jones: The majority of the students commute and they weren›t considered. The current SGA didn›t do anything regarding the strike and [the students] couldn›t tell if the [SGA] president was on the students›/teachers› side. Seawanhaka: What is the first thing you would do if you were to become president? Akim Jones: I want to create job fairs; job fairs that are looking for students to seriously hire. We need jobs that are offering paid internships for students.» Seawanhaka: What are your strengths in this campaign? Akim Jones: Experience and knowledge with knowing how to implicate business and economic plans to help lower tuition. Students are dropping out of LIU and transferring because of tuition and available resources.


Meet the Candidate: Carol Hanna

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rowing up in Staten Island, New York, Egyptian American Carol Hanna has always envisioned herself to be a productive member of society with ideas that blossom like flowers during the spring. Coming to America when she was only 5 years old, Ms. Hanna became part of her community from a very young age. Here at the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University Ms. Hanna is a student of the Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy program with aspirations to be a licensed Pharmacist in a “non traditional” setting – such as performing acts of kindness to people in need, “similar to what Paul Farmer (co –

founder of Partners in Health) does in small countries”. Carol holds numerous leadership positions on campus such as President of Alpha Chi and President – elect of PISA (Pharmaceutical Industry Student’s Association) for the 2011 – 2012 academic school year. In addition to PISA and Alpha Chi, Carol holds positions and memberships in other on-campus organizations as well and has learned much from these positions. When asked about her personality Carol stated, “I am very empathetic and kind, and I do not crumble under pressure. I do not make decisions on my own when in a position of power, but take the advice of all those around me to make sure the decision is fair. I uphold democracy in my current positions and plan to continue this tradition as SGA president.”

According to Ms. Hanna, lack of school spirit is one of the central issues on campus. “Our students do not exhibit nearly as much school pride as I would like them to. I always see tremendous and obvious displays of school pride when I visit my high school friends at their college campuses, but when I return to LIU, I never see the same love from the Blackbirds. I think this may have to do with the student body feeling like their administration and SGA is too distant

BY: RYAN SAHADEO

from them and doesn’t understand or care about their concerns.” She plans to help boost the school spirit by holding more events. Her campaign focuses on the student body and the needs of every student. “My administration and I are looking to bring more awareness to the newly implemented parking agreement, courtesy of Jermaine, because as of now, no one seems to have any idea it exists. She went on to say “What’s the use of a great plan if no one is benefitting or is even aware? Every student has a right to be informed. We are also hoping to reach a happy medium with the issue of on-campus printing at the library. It has come to my attention that many students are frustrated with the amount of extra money they are paying the school to print assignments while their tuition is being raised annually. Hopefully we can address this issue with minimal inconvenience to all parties.” Carol hopes that her administration will take care of the budgets and distribute them effectively. As the current president of Alpha Chi and an active member of many other clubs, I am very dissatisfied with the budget situation. We have been patient and cooperative, with nothing in return. All clubs’ saved money magically

Meet the Candidate: Khaalid Rahman Rahman believes he makes the best presidential SGA candidate because he has leadership experience academically and professionally.

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haalid Rahman, a native of Staten Island resides now in Brooklyn, New York. As a senior majoring in Political Science, Rahman is the secretary of the Legal Society, a member of the CSM (Caribbean Student Movement), former president of the Xi Epsilon chapter of Phi Beta Sigma along with being an active member of WLIU radio station, Haitian Student Club, and the National Model United Nation.

Rahman sat down with Seawanhaka to discuss his campaign and to talk about why students should vote and support him in the next election. Seawanhaka: What are your plans for the next five years? Khaalid Rahman: I plan to finish law school and become a diplomat and work with the United Nations to help developing countries. Seawanhaka: What are your views on the current SGA administration? Khaalid Rahman: One of the issues with the SGA is getting the commuter

disappeared one day and it seems that it will never be returned.” She went on to state that the current SGA is not very effective in communicating to the various club leaders on campus. “We are also not being informed about important topics concerning us, including the club - room modifications.” Carol aligns herself with the rest of the student body in regards to their voice on campus. “Our opinions should be taken into consideration and our votes counted, rather than ignored as they are at the present time. This is all very unfair and against my personal belief in honesty and integrity.” She went on to describe the current SGA administration as something that needs to be changed. “With great power comes great responsibility and it should not be abused. If a government gives its people any reason to mistrust it, the people have a right to remove and replace it. Why should a smaller – scale government in a college campus be held to less standards than that of the country? The student body should not have to settle. We have enough on our plates what with exams, extracurricular activities and tuition hikes, without having to worry about our constitutional rights being denied.”

BY: ERIKA HARDISON students involved. The Campus spirit you would do if you were to become has been dying slowly. president? Seawanhaka: What do you believe Khaalid Rahman: I would increase the are the main issues that need to be unity between the clubs, students, and addressed at Long Island University? administration. The administration Khaalid Rahman: Certain student›s displays a big apathy with the students privileges are being neglected because and the clubs lack the spirit to bring the of the lack of the student›s unity. The students together. campus voice should be heard and seen which currently is not. Seawanhaka: What are your strengths in this campaign? Seawanhaka: Do you think SGA and the president handled the faculty strike Khaalid Rahman: I have fresher ideas efficiently? and I want change as a student myself. I would ask the students «Are you better Khaalid Rahman: I believe the SGA now than you were a year ago?» I have handled themselves to the best of their personal experience with student clubs, abilities. I know first hand how to operate as a leader, and I understand the effects as a Seawanhaka: What is the first thing student. Page 7


AP, NY Times and Al Jazeera Among Polk Winners BY: MICHELE CANCEL

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n memory of George W. Polk, a CBS journalist who was executed covering the Civil War in Greece of 1948, LIU’s Kumble Theater is holding it’s 63rd annual George Polk Awards in Journalism ceremony. Winners of the Polk Awards will be chosen by a bureau of Long Island University’s faculty members and

alumni. New members on the panel this year include Hen Hollie, who has taught news reporting at LIU, and journalist and faculty advisor to Seawanhaka, Curtis Stephen, who previously was Hen Hollie’s student. The Polk Award ceremony will be held on April 4, 2012 in the Kumble Theater at 5:30 pm. In addition, a luncheon will be held the following day at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan where CBS “60Minutes” correspondent Lesly Stahl will be the citation reader. All in celebration and honor of some of the best journalists around, past and future, dead and alive. Among the award recipients is Anthony Shadid, a journalist for the New York Times who died on February 16, 2012 while crossing the border from Syria to Turkey. “Mr. Shadid was cut from the same cloth as George Polk,” said John Darnton, the curator of the Polk Awards.

Additional award beneficiaries include Sara Ganim, reporter with The PatriotNews who exposed the allegations of child sex abuse against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. Another awardee is the brave and heroic New York Times reporter, C.J Shivers. Shivers covered the wars in Libya and Afghanistan and snuck into the besieged port of Misurata. Shivers is highly respected by Libyan rebels and American soldiers and journalists world wide for his heroic work. Many reporting groups and newspapers have been nominated for the Polk Awards, such as California Watch, the nonprofit organization group in Berkeley. Along with California Watch is the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, ABC News, The New Yorker, The Boston Globe along with many notable others. As Darnton had stated, “There was a strong field of contenders this year especially in investigative work.”

Curtis Stephen agrees with this years contenders. He said, “There are so many strong entries for so many categories, which makes it difficult to decide.” Investigative journalism is a dangerous field, as journalists often must put their lives on the line to cover stories all over the world. The job of a journalist goes unnoticed at times, and the Polk Awards is the time where we honor journalists. The ones who have lost their lives, who put their lives on the line for society, and the ones who report and break stories that are a necessity for society to know about. As Curtis Stephen has stated, “It’s encouraging to see that investigative journalism is still very much alive. For me, that’s what makes the Polk Awards so special with the spotlight.” Our hats come off for all the journalists who’ve laid down their lives for us; April 4th is your night.

Professor and Former Portfolio Manager, Dr. Carl J. Smith, speaks to LIU Finance Society

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ast Wednesday, March 21, the Finance Society held a seminar on stock trading that featured LIU professor Dr. Carl Smith, former Vice President at Con Edison and portfolio manager. There, he gave a lecture on the principles of investing and discussed great trading strategies. Students were able to gather together and discuss various companies and learn a lot about the stock market. Dr. Smith actually presented a PowerPoint that screened his own personal portfolio. It was a close-hand look at the investor’s “handbook”; it enabled students to understand the inner-workings of a stock trading portfolio, how to buy and sell stock, and familiarized them with certain stock quotes and terms. When discussing the basic principles of investing, Dr. Smith advised students to “invest in what you know.” Disciplined investors make very

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BY: ANTHONY LOUIS

prudent and particular decisions when choosing a stock. Extensive research much be done, investors must account for a particular company’s management ethics, company performance, and other factors that will determine the potential of a stock. “Everything drives the market”, said Professor Smith. In today’s booming social tech era, everything is becoming interconnected in some form or way. The products you buy, the social trends, everything affects the value of a company, and ultimately its stock prices.” Professor Smith felt very welcomed to teach a seminar and informed us that another one will be held. The Finance Society was much honored to have him. “He saw the energy in here,” said Micah Morales-Austin, Secretary of the Finance Society. “He said he will be coming again, and that the next

seminar will be longer and more in depth.” After being inactive for some time, the Finance Society has been just recently revived by the board of directors: President, Raj Patel, Vice President, Khemraj Rambhajan, Steven Boice, Treasurer, and Micah MoralesAustin, Secretary. The Finance Society welcomes students of all majors and does not limit membership to any class. It’s a network where students exercise their interest or curiosity for finance; topics discussed include, but are not limited to: stock market, investment banking, entrepreneurship, etc. They also keep members engaged with exclusive trips to places like the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Reserve, and also welcome prominent guest speakers who come in and talk about their experiences in the career world. The Finance Society is an amazing opportunity to network, gain a new and

highly respected passion for finance, build relationships and acquire amazing skills found attractive by employers and companies. A lot of majors outside business believe that this organization is exclusively for students that are in the field of finance, accounting, marketing, or any other related study. Professor Smith said, “Finance is about making money and if you could do it without hurting yourself or others, than keep doing it.” If you have an interest or curiosity in finance, consider joining the Finance Society. You may contact the current President, Raj Patel at rajppatel87@yahoo.com, or current Vice President, Khemraj Rambhajan at K.Rambhajan5@gmail.com, for any questions or concerns. Elections will also be held soon for director positions so join and show your interest!


From New York To New Orleans

BY: SHARI STRAKER

Nat Turner’s bio-diesel-powered bus where he tutored students for free

Nat Turner lecturing at the Bayou Bienvenue

or college students, spring break is typically a time for partying, relaxation, and let’s be honest — binge drinking. However, 17 Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus students and Philosophy Professor Michael Pelias embarked on a lifechanging and humbling journey of discovery, knowledge and truth in New Orleans during the break.

being a humanities course, I would love to see [LIU] take this opportunity to the next level,” said Clayton. “Perhaps by donating a school to the community of the lower ninth and having students of LIU Brooklyn teach the less fortunate children in that area, giving everyone the opportunity to succeed.”

experiencing it first-hand. The reality on conditions in New Orleans was brought home to us by a group of informative educators. Among them – Dr. John Clark, a professor of philosophy at Loyola University, lectured about Hurricane Katrina’s environmental impact on the New Orleans coastline.

We volunteered at Our School at Blair Grocery in the Lower Ninth. It’s an urban farm, educational facility, and safe haven for the community’s youth. There we saw first-hand what it was like for a group of city students to work on a farm. Some pulled weeds while others planted and cut rosemary and arugula. At the end of each volunteer day we all understood the hard work that the Blair Grocery workers face every day.

Brenda Longfellow, chair of the department of film and video at York University, shared her experiences on the making of her documentary on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. And Nat Turner, a former history teacher at Beacon School in Manhattan and the founder of Our School at Blair Grocery, revealed how pollution continues to devastate the Bayou swamp and the surrounding environment.

Charles Wilson (author of NYTimes article “5 Years after Katrina, Teacher Tills Soil of Lower 9th Ward) explains the work the students endure, “…the students turn food waste into compost; raise worms to make organic fertilizer; and grow, among other things, root vegetables, herbs, okra and sprouts. They also market and deliver their handiwork to restaurants, most of them located in the French Quarter and Uptown.”

This was a once in a lifetime experience. Every student at Long Island University should be able to experience what every student who took this class experienced. I can truly say that if this wasn’t offered as a Humanities class I would have never learned what is really happening in New Orleans. The education that I was fortunate to receive in my time there was truly unforgettable and one that I will remember for the rest of my life.

While there are many documentaries on New Orleans, nothing compares to

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Knowledge, that we are taking back to LIU to enlighten our friends, family and faculty; and the truth to help shed light on a devastated community, the loss of quality of life and social class. Without the frills and excitement of New Orleans what I truly hoped to gain was the real, no holds barred uninhibited truth about what really happened when Hurricane Katrina descended upon the entire city, broke the levees and completely ravished the Lower Ninth Ward. If I’ve learned during my six-day stay in New Orleans, it’s that you can’t believe everything that you hear and see on television. The Lower Ninth Ward has become a ghost town. It looks as if time has stood still or that you’re literally in the middle of nowhere. There are countless abandoned houses with broken or shattered windows and the only evidence that a home once stood are the steps that remain. It’s very sad to witness that while the rest of the city

seems to be up and running, (Such as tourist attractions) while six and a half years later the ninth ward seems to be the forgotten community. While there are still families residing in the neighborhood, the Lower Ninth Ward with its population of some 5500 people lacks the bare necessities for a community to thrive and evolve. “There is currently no police or fire station, supermarket or hospital. Most residents haven’t returned — some because they cannot afford to, others by choice,” according to a recent report in the New York Times. It’s important to note that this isn’t the first trip to New Orleans that Brooklyn Campus students have participated in. “The trip started in spring break 2009 by former Political Science [club] President Jason Aubin. It was just six students from the club who attended with the intention to give back to the citizens of New Orleans,” said Chaunta Clayton, vice president of the Political Science Club and a first-year graduate student. “We wanted to show them that others cared.” Clayton, who has been involved with the trips since it began and helped to organize this year’s trip, hopes that the program can further evolve. “With this being the fourth year and the trip now


Make Joseph Kony Visible With The Invisible Children Foundation

Photo Credit: www.msworld.com

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ll over campus, students are still talking about the “Kony 2012” viral video campaign featuring former Ugandan child solder Jacob Acaye, and Joseph Kony – who is the head of a gurellia group.

BY: MICHELE CANCEL According to kony2012.com, Joseph to the cause – ranging from Oprah Kony is one of the world’s worst Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Jay-Z and Justin war criminals. In 1987 he took over Bieber to Ryan Seacrest, Condoleezza leadership of an existing rebel group Rice, George W. Bush, and George and renamed it the Lord’s Resistance Clooney. Army (LRA). The LRA is known for its cruel and brutal tactics. Kony Many politicians and celebrities are abducted children to be soldiers in his getting involved, but what are their army or “wives” for his officers. In the intentions? On March 16, Clooney was case of the “wives,” young girls were arrested outside the Sudanese embassy reportedly kidnapped and forced to be in Washington, D.C. He was charged sex traffickers. with disorderly conduct for crossing a police line. Clooney was there to publicly “It’s a shame and a great injustice. You denounce Sudan’s President Omar Alfeel for the families and the children Bashir, an alleged war criminal. Is there being robbed of their innocence and any correlations between Omar Alchildhood,” says Ulysse. “They can no Bashir and Joseph Kony? Or is Clooney longer live normal lives.” just playing humanitarian?

Another worthy movement will take place on April 20. And while that day is also known as “Weed Day” among some – there’s something far more important happening. Many of those who have pledged their support to the Kony 2012 movement will go out and organize in an effort called “Own The Night.” They will post-up flyers, posters and pictures of Kony to raise even more awareness about what’s happening in Uganda. When the city wakes up the next morning, Kony may be even more of a household name in New York. But how many young people will actually go out there and make a difference or how many will have their priorities mixedup and focus on “Weed Day?”

The voice of the people have echoed The word is spreading as the “Kony Hopefully, we’ll see more young people through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, 2012” video pulls at the people’s heart engaged with the cause as opposed to and other social media networks. To strings. One stated goal of organizers is taking a page from something the rapper “When I heard about it, I shook my bring attention to the horrific actions to see the capture and arrest of Kony by Afroman might say if his 2002 hit-song head in disgust, and hoped that all that that Kony and his army have carried out, December 31. To complete this mission, was remixed today: “I was gonna protest this man does will come to a complete the “Invisible Children” organization they’ve decided to must make Kony and join the Kony movement but then I LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESENTS end,” said Christian Fellowship Club has taken a stand. They have attracted famous. It’s a worthy cause. got high.” President Jeffrey Ulysse. policymakers, celebrities and politicians

2nd Annual Graduate Semi-formal LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE **ONLY 150 SEATS AVAILABLE!!** Student Government Association would like to cordially invite you to our 2nd annual graduate semi-formal!! When: Friday April 13th, 2012 8pm-2am Where: Giando On The Water 400 Kent Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11211 Cost: Minimum donation required (please ask for more information)

This event will include a cocktail hour 8-9pm, dinner, desert, music, dancing, photo booth for pictures, stunning views of Manhattan, and top shelf open bar throughout the entire evening! Page 10

Tickets can be purchased in the SLLD office room M311. Proof of graduate status may be required!!


L.I.U. Endometriosis Month! uterus. Common locations of misplaced endometrial tissue are the ovaries and the ligaments that support the uterus.

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ndometriosis is a noncancerous disorder in which pieces of endometrial tissue normally occurring only in the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grow outside the uterus. Endometriosis is a chronic disorder that may be painful. Exactly how many women have endometriosis is unknown it can usually be diagnosed only by directly viewing the endometrial tissue. Endometriosis sometimes runs in families. It is more likely to occur in women who have their first baby after age 30, who have never had a baby, who are of Asian descent, or who have structural abnormalities of the

Endometriosis is suspect in women who has symptoms or unexplained infertility. During a pelvic examination, a woman may feel pain or tenderness or may feel a mass of tissue behind the uterus or near the ovaries. To confirm disorder physician used laparoscope. It is inserted into the abdominal cavity through a small incision below the navel. Laparoscopy usually requires a general anesthetic, so that the entire abdominal cavity can be examined. Laparoscopy may cause mild abdominal discomfort, but normal activities can usually be resumed in 1 or 2 days. Other procedures, such as altrasonography, barium enemas with X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be used to determine the extent of endometriosis. Blood tests may be performed to measure levels of substances that increase when endometriosis is present. The main symptom associated with

BY: RALPHNIE EDMOND

endometriosis is pain in the lower abdomen and pelvic area. The pain usually varies during the menstrual cycle. Menstrual irregularities, such as heavy menstrual bleeding and spotting before menstrual periods, may occur. Some women with severe endometriosis have no symptoms. In many women, endometriosis does not cause pain until it has been present for several years. For such women, sexual intercourse tends to be painful before or during menstruation. Treatment for endometriosis depends on a woman’s symptoms, pregnancy plans, and age, as well as the extent of endometriosis. Drugs can be given to suppress the activity of the ovaries and thus slow the growth of the misplaced endometrial tissue and reduce bleeding and pain.

incision into the abdomen may be necessary. This type of surgery is usually necessary when pieces of endometrial tissue are larger than 1 to 2 inches in diameter.

However, these drugs do not eliminate endometriosis. They include combination oral contraceptives, progestins, danazol and gonadotropinreleasing hormone agonists. Often, misplaced endometrial tissue can be removed during laparoscopy when the diagnosis is made. However, if endometriosis is moderate to severe, more extensive surgery requiring an

After treatment, endometriosis recurs in most women, although the use of oral contraceptives or other drugs may slow its progression. The drugs used to suppress endometriosis may be stated immediately after surgery. Recommendation if you are 30 having severe abdominal pain or have heavy bleeding during your cycle, asks your doctor to test for endometriosis.

Sometimes electrocautery, an ultrasound device, or a laser is used to destroy or remove endometrial tissue during laparoscopic or abdominal surgery. During this surgery doctor remove as much misplaced endometrial tissue as possible without damaging the ovaries. Thus, the woman’s ability to have children are preserved. Depending on the extent of the endometriosis, 40 to 70 percent of women who have surgery may become pregnant. Surgical removal of misplaced endometrial tissue is only a temporary measure.

Thursday, March 29, 2012 A round table discussion for teachers who want to bring environmental awareness into their classrooms

6:30PM * Pratt 250

Wednesday, April 4, 2012 An arts-based workshop for teachers who wish to teach their students about re-using and recycling cast off items in creative ways.

4:40PM-6:30PM LIU Teacher Resource Center 9 Hanover Place, 3rd Floor

Thursday, April 19, 2012 10:00AM – 12:00PM * Health Sciences Lobby

Friday, April 20, 2012 12:30PM – 4:00PM HS 118 Program: • Can Shale Gas Drilling be Considered Sustainable Economic Development • Energy Efficiency in New York City: Federal, State, and City Initiatives to Green the Big Apple • Sustainability at LIU-Post

"Student Debt and Economic Sustainability" 3:30PM – 5:30PM * Humanities Building Lobby

• Building the #Knowosphere: New communication tools to share and shape ideas in ways that can smooth the human journey

Also offered as one credit courses, Bio 543 or Eng 210.

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Attend a Career Fair Prep Session in Pratt 510! Mar. 27th, 11:00 am & 5:00 pm Mar. 28th, 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm Apr. 2nd, 5:00 pm


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Kim Kardashian Gets Flour-Bombed On The Red Carpet BY: SHARI STRAKER

have resulted in a heart attack, and triggered by heart disease along with cocaine found in her system. A full report will be released within the following weeks to determine if the singer had actually suffered a heart attack at the time of her death. A toxicology report will also be released to show exactly how much cocaine was in her system. The L.A. County claimed that Houston, had a number of prescription drugs in her system at the time of her death but didn’t contribute to her passing. We bet that Kim Kardashian never dreamed of being flour-bombed while on the red carpet! The E! Reality star while being interviewed on the red carpet at a launch party held at the London Hotel in West Hollywood for her new fragrance True Reflection, was flour-bombed by an unknown woman. Kim. K flour-bombed on the red carpet. Photo Credit: www.usweekly.com

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n March 22, an official coroner’s report was released which explained the cause of singer Whitney Houston’s death. According to MTV.com, the Pop icon died of accidental drowning, this may

Though most of us would be embarrassed or angry according to eonline.com, Kim took the miss-hap in stride saying, “That probably is the craziest, unexpected, weird thing that’s happened to me… Like I said to my makeup artist, I wanted more powder and that’s a whole lot of translucent powder right there,” she said, laughing off the entire ordeal.

Kim’s sister’s reacted via twitter in defense of their sister with Khloe tweeting, “wish I was with my sister tonight. I bet you that woman wouldn’t have dared tried a thing…” and Kourtney tweeted, “Classy to flour bomb my sister at her charity event helping women. I wonder if they would have dared thrown the flour at my hormonal and pregnant self!” It’s official! Snooki from the Jersey Shore is pregnant! Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi has confirmed the pregnancy rumors. The Jersey Shore star that became known for her wild antics and a few miniscule runins with the law is going to be a mother. She recently announced her pregnancy and engagement to boyfriend Jionni Lavalle to Us Weekly. Snooki opened up to the magazine about her pregnancy saying, “I have different priorities now…I don’t care what anybody else thinks. As long as I know I’m ready and he’s ready.” She also claims that when she found out she was pregnant she had been partying and drinking heavily in Vegas for New Years Eve. Fans can get more of Snooki when her Jersey Shore spin-off with cast member and friend Jenni “JWoww” Farley premieres later this year.

Project X: Catastrophic Enjoyment? Photo Credit: www.activities.fit.edu

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f I could describe Project X in one word it would be…INSANITY. This film quintessentially depicts teen madness at its best. More specifically, it

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visualizes the destructive—and sexually overt—minds of the stereotypical teenage male. In the beginning of the film, Thomas,

Top 10 Albums 1) Up All Night One Direction 2) 21 Adele 3) Greatest Hits Guns N’ Roses 4) Wrecking Ball Bruce Springsteen 5) Passion: White Flag Passion 6) Whitney: The Greatest Hits Whitney Houston 7) Take Care Drake 8) Now 41 Various Artists 9) Making Mirrors Gotye 10) Some Nights fun.

BY: DARWIN GARCIA

Costa, and J.B. (the main protagonists) set out on a quest to throw an unforgettable birthday party for Thomas. However, the three Californian teens lacked ONE quality that often makes a party fun— popularity. Costa, the egomaniacal and boisterous one of the group was in denial of this, which led to him embarrassingly promoting the event through various sources of communication (i.e. message board, word-of-mouth, text, and email). The party led off to a slow start but eventually picked up the pace and delivered everything it promised: drugs, alcohol, lunacy, a midget and shirtless girls. While the central plot was pretty mundane, the party was an intense and alluring rollercoaster of

adolescent mayhem. Once the insanity began, it only escalated to unparalleled levels that would have ANY parent— or authoritative figure—wobbling in tears. Clearly, the latter half of the film was overly exaggerated yet it was indescribably enticing. If you are interested in watching a deep, coming-of-age teen film: this is NOT the movie. Yet, if you are a fan of destruction, humor and enjoying having fun then this film is very much recommended. The film may negatively influence many to destroy their homes and leave their parents bankrupt, but it may positively show a group of wild teens just having fun before facing the inevitable journey of growing up.


Spring Trends: Pastels and Neon

Are You Hungry?

BY: MABEL MARTINEZ

retreated into a shell of who she once was. And part of caring for her family is volunteering to take her 11-year-old sister, Prim’s place when it’s her single solitary slip of paper that’s pulled from the lottery bowl. It’s a huge deal. And it poignantly illustrates John 15:13’s embrace of self-sacrifice: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

These sorbet-colored hues are definitely a must-have for spring and can liven up any outfit. Many of the works that were recently unveiled were awash in electric neon colors. A strikingly bold color palette, for example, is on full display in Nanette Lepore’s latest collection. She mixed bright yellows and tangerine orange with strappy sandals and purple lipstick. Looking for inspiration to wear neon? Definitely check out Nanette Lepore’s collection.

Nanette Lepore Spring/Summer line Photo Credit: www.blogaporter.rs

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his spring, designers have spiced up their forthcoming pieces with an even greater splash of color than usual. From the Spring/Summer 2012 collections of Phillip Lim, Jason Wu, Marc Jacobs, Rag & Bone and Ralph Lauren – pastels and neon’s are the way to go this season. Not ready for bright and bold prints just yet? Pastels are a great way to start brightening up your wardrobe for spring. Those colors include light coral, mint green, light blue and soft yellow. For example, Urban Outfitters has the BDG cigarette high-rise jeans in yellow for about $60 and it can be worn with an electric blue top along with “Flicker” nude pumps from Aldo for $80. Or try a chiffon pastel pink butterfly top with green cuffed jeans for an effortlessly classy look. For another option, try a pink pastel dress like the ASOS Skater Dress with crochet bodice for $70. It’s a sleeveless dress with a V-shaped back and chiffon skirt. Pair this dress with peep-toe pumps or wedges. This chic and stylish outfit is appropriate for just about any occasion. One can even wear a little black dress, or LBD, with a powder rose envelope bag from H&M for $25.

Forever21 has a cute pleated fuchsia romper with a round neckline for $20 and it brings a faux leather bow belt. Instead of playing it safe with black wedges, why not mix it up with colorful or metallic gold sandals? One can also layer on a blue blazer like the one seen in H&M for $35 with a neutral top and black pants – or even over a dress. To transition from day-to-night, skip the neutral top and add a gold sequined top instead. This season, have fun and take risk. You can experiment with a neon-onneon outfit. Or try a yellow top with blue shorts with nude pumps or gold sandals. But if you’re wearing neon, don’t over-accessorize. Instead, add a simple necklace or a cuff bracelet and you’re ready to go. Neon shoes are also a must-have this season. Pair a neutral top with boyfriend jeans and bright pumps. For example, Aldo’s “Mease” pumps come in peach yellow and fuchsia. It has a four inch heel and the bright yellow pumps are $80 while the fuchsia ones are $60. Meanwhile, pastels are another trend that looks great with mixed textures and simple silhouettes. Those soft shades are feminine and chic for the spring season. Neon colors are strong while adding a dramatic look to any piece. Neon and pastels are a great way to transition every fashionistas wardrobe, experiment and see what trend works best for you.

BY: RYAN SAHADEO

Photo Credit: www.collider.com

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ased on the best-selling book by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is a futuristic parable that references and invokes modern struggles, raising questions of government abuse and cultural clashes. In the words of Parade’s Emily Listfield, the story takes on the big issues of “war, power, sacrifice, personal ethics, the haves vs. the have-not’s and the dangerous nature of our increasingly voyeuristic society.” She continues, “It’s a call for holding on to humanity despite the most trying circumstances. For kids growing up in a country that has been involved in military conflicts for the past 11 years, as well as adults faced with deep economic uncertainty, the message clearly resonates.” Indeed, cringing in front of the specter of hundreds of lost lives, the lead female character Katniss (Jennifer Lawerence) refuses to lower herself to her dictatorial government’s expectations. Life has great value, and she is determined to respect it. To do so she puts her own life in grave danger to help others – multiple times. It’s apparent that Katniss has been faithfully leading and providing for her family since her dad died and her mom

The boy selected from District 12 to join her is Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). He matches Katniss stride for stride – particularly when it comes to trying to protect her. He would rather die – literally – than let her come to harm. “I don’t want to be another piece in their game. I don’t want them to change me into something I’m not,” he says. “If I’m gonna die, I want to still be me.” A very young tribute named Rue helps Katniss survive by pointing out a way of escape when she’s been treed by a band of “careers” (Children from the other districts who are trained for the hunger games) and by putting healing leaves on her wounds after Katniss is stung by artificially amped up wasps. We see many other, smaller gestures of kindness, solidarity and humanity throughout, and the film often points us toward them – and away from the “excitement” of the games. In a way, the whole story serves as a warning; a “terrible mirror,” says actress Jennifer Lawrence: “This is what our society could be like if we became desensitized to trauma and to each other’s pain.” Suzanne Collins’ young adult bestsellerturned-box office smash is likely exactly what fans were hoping for. It’s a faithful rendition of her dystopian tale that almost feels like a pageby-page illustration. It’s violent, if relatively restrained. It’s emotional. It’s adventurous. It’s instructive. It’s a future fantasy that uses broad, colorful character contrasts, deep emotional angst and shocking physical conflict to, like many a sci-fi flick before it, challenge us in our own present world.

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Every Day is Earth Day As students return from Spring break I am sure that you are excited about the second portion of your Spring 2012 classes. The quicker you get your studying and assignments completed, the more time you’ll have to dream about the beaches and other types of fun that you will be having during the summer. Before the break Students Life along with students of the Multicultural Students Association held Cultural Fusion in the Kumble Theatre. The event was packed and everyone we spoke to expressed pleasure about the diversity of the items on the program. Student Life wants to especially thank, Associate Director of International Students, Francesca Freeman-Lujan who contribute some of the pieces for the fashion segment of the program, and was instrumental in making the fashion segment a success. Students are already asking about getting their countries represented in the show next year; so if you’d like to be represented, stop by the office and drop off your information for Cultural Infusion II in our suggestion box.

Congratulations!

The LIU Brooklyn Selection Committee of the Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities congratulates the following 70 graduate and undergraduate students on being selected into the 2012 Who’s Who Among Students: Victoria Abolencia Ariana Hamlett Zin Oo Amanda Wisotzke MaryAnn Abrams Jameel Hanif Fendia Osirus Jennifer Bannon Mariah Hatfield Priscilla Pablo Elisabeth Bernabe Sterling Hoham Anna Palsson Raymond Blackwell Steven Jakubowski Danyellis Pascual Taysha Blessington Stephanie Jallah Munjal Patel Marjorie Boliscar Jakeem Johnson Aleksandra Pavlovic Ricky Brackett Elliot Kane Stephanie Persuad David Braverman Nicole Labo Julia Rappa Lauryn Bretches Danielle Lai Ashley Rice Ariana Calderon Khine Lam Jessica Rice Nicholas Conklin Paul Lam Jessica Roelant John Connolly Sarah Laughlin Melissa Sahai Revay Corbett Lily Liang Kristina Sandler Samantha D’Acunto Alexandra Libman Jhoanna Santaromana Mindy Davila Shamelka Linen Robert Schroback Jeanette Dolmetsch Kerry Louie Isabel Sierra Elizabeth Dorcena-Jeune Luz Frias Jacqueline Simonian Dawnasia Freeman Angely Martinez Nathan Stockie, Brittany Giesen Claribel Martinez Ashley Veney, Essanna Gray Mabel Martinez Quintasia Welch Alma Gutic Kayleigh Morgan Krystal Wells Tamika Guz Lauren Morizi Tenyse Williams

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION ELECTION

April 10, 11, 12, 2012 9:30a.m. to 7:00pm. in the Metcalfe Lobby

The petitions have been processed and the candidates are: For Executive President - Carol Hanna, Jermaine Isaac (incumbent), Akim Jones, Khaalid Rahman; For Executive Vice-President, Rebecca Massachi, Rafael Molina, Westleigh Nirenberg; For Executive Treasurer, Samiah Aljahmi, Kerry Marcellus (incumbent), Roston Moore; For Executive Secretary, David Braverman, Shaharrah Richards; For Graduate Council – Rafael Badalov; For Senior Council – Saleemiah Davis; For Junior Council – Samantha Cole; For Sophomore Council – Karlalily Reynoso Your job now is to vote. Get to know the candidates. Seawanhaka will host a debate on April 5, 2012. Attend and ask questions of the candidates. The stop by the election Page 16 booth during the elections and VOTE. Encourage your friends to vote as well.


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Make the Most of Your suMMer! Earn college credit or explore a new interest at St. John’s this summer. • Campuses in Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Oakdale, Rome and Paris • Over 800 varied courses, from Television Screenwriting to Crime Scene Investigation • Flexible schedules and small classes • Study abroad and online options Pre-Session: May 14 – 24 Session I: May 29 – July 2

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Educating thE nExt gEnEration of physicians

Session II: July 9 – August 9 Post-Session: August 13 – 23

Visit www.stjohns.edu/SummerClasses M1-7512/OMI or call 1 (877) STJ-7591.

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Basketball Halted by Spartans in NCAA Tourney

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t the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, junior Jamal Olasewere led LIU Brooklyn with 17 points as the Blackbirds were handed a 89-67 loss against the No. 1 seed Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

BY: SHANEL GILBERT

Opening scoring in the first half with a three pointer from Olasewere the Blackbirds took an early lead with the help of junior Julian Boyd who added a layup and a trey of his own. Boyd was among three LIU players who scored in double digits with 15 points along side classmate C.J Garner who also added 15 points. Prior to playing Michigan, Olasewere like many other LIU players was very aware of the difficulties that a No. 16 seed would face.

Photo: LIU Athletics

“No team’s ever beaten a No. 1 seed, being a No. 16 seed,” said Culpo who was also aware of how difficult facing the Spartans could be. Despite the loss LIU was able to hold its own against the Spartans, keeping neck-and-neck in scoring to give their opponent a run for its money. With just under 14 minutes left on the clock, Michigan State was able to tie the game 10-10 and was able to pull away with the lead. The Spartans built its lead by as much as 10 points with less than two minutes left in the half, but LIU responded with five straight points to cut the lead to five points to enter the intermission 42-37. “After the first half, I felt like we were where we wanted to be,” said Boyd, “only down by five to a program like that at the halftime was great, so I wasn’t to go out and do the same thing in the second half.” Opening scoring for LIU with another three in the second half Olasewere helped the Blackbirds get back within four points and that would be as close as the team would get as yet again the Spartans pulled away, this time

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In and Out: Despite a crushing victory at the hands of the No. 1 Michigan State Spartans, the Blackbirds return the majority of their lineup for next season. stretching it lead by as much as 16 points. “In the second half we just couldn’t knock down any shots,” Boyd continued, “we let them feel too comfortable on the offensive end, so they were able to score easily and they pulled away.” From that point on the game was lost to the Blackbirds. According to Garner, LIU Brooklyn’s best chance at success

was dependent on its larger players and its ability to “create shots” but despite the teams best efforts they watched the Spartans take control basket-afterbasket to end the final half 89-67. To go along with his 17 points Olasewere added team-high eight rebounds. Sophomore Jason Brickman chipped in with five points, and seven assists. The Blackbirds shot at 44 percent from the field but were outrebounded 43-20.

Michigan State saw four players in double figures and lead scorer for the Spartans Draymond Green hit a triple double with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists followed by Derrick Nix who came off the bench to net 18 points. Adreian Payne added 16 points of his own followed by Keith Appling with 10 points.


Racing Against the Odds: Seawanhaka Sits with Tiffany Parker Unfortunately for Parker, she was diagnosed with Thyroid disease after months in the summer heat, misunderstanding why she was training and her strength wasn’t getting any better. While training, she would be a few seconds behind and way more out of breathe than everyone else.

and being unable to gain muscle while weight training or conditioning. The difference from last year is she had a way better pre-season, during background training and track season. She was able to gain muscle and had quicker foot speed dropping all her times for all her races/events by at least 5 seconds. She ran a 1:19 in the 500m dash at the NEC Indoor Championship in 2011 and is now running a 1:30 time, an 11 second difference in performance.

It took Parker multiple tests before the realized she had Graves disease. Grave’s disease is named after Robert Grave’s, the 19th century Irish physician who first discovered the condition. In Grave’s disease, the thyroid gland in the neck is diffusely enlarged and hyperactive, producing excessive thyroid hormones.

Parker has struggled this year due to the disease, losing everything she had been working so hard for.

Grave’s Disease can have an effect on many parts of the body such as the nervous system, eyes, skin, hair/nails, lungs, digestive system, muscles/bones and reproductive system.

Parker says in November she was 105lb and is now weighing in at 114lb. Due to the weight gain Parker is not able to lift 15lbs heavier in the weight room. This isn’t helping her running though, she’s still affected by the shortness of breathes and fatigue quickly.

Some common symptoms of the disease are: an enlarged thyroid gland nervousness, heat intolerance, weight loss, sweating, diarrhea, tremors, palpitations and exophthalmoses (swelling of the tissue behind the eyeballs causing protrusion of the eyeball). Finding this out shed a lot of light on why she was feeling the way she was. She realized why she was so tired even after getting the correct amount of sleep, still not being able to concentrate

Photo: LIU Athletics

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iffany Parker is a 21-year old biology student, who isn’t just outstanding in school but also her major.

BY: CHRIS WELCH

On the contrary, now that she has to take medication she has been gaining weight and has been able to lift heavier in the weight room.

As her fellow teammate watching her train and push herself through workouts knowing that she’s in pain makes me think about how many others may have given up. This struggle shows how much she loves the sport even though she may not be where she used to be. Reluctantly, she has enough heart to at least try to return to her glory.

From the Grave: Tiffany Parker is still a prominent figure on the LIU Brooklyn Track and Field Roster Page 19


BY: JOHN TOLIS

Photo: LIU Athletics

Photo: LIU Athletics Photo: LIU Athletics

Track Fares Well at USF Invitational in Tampa

Under the Sun:Track traveled to the sunny shores of Tampa, FL to compete at the University of Florida Invitational.

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hen spring comes around, it signals the start of the Outdoor Track & Field season. The Long Island University men’s and women’s track teams participated in the USF Invitational in Tampa, Florida for the start of the 2012 outdoor season. For LIU’s Wilmot Stubblefield, it was a memorable start to the outdoor season as he broke the school record in the triple jump. Stubblefield leaped 15.54 meters to break the old record of 14.91 meters

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that was set by Kyle Brown in 1994. Besides Stubblefield, his teammates finished most of the competitions in the bottom half. In the 100-meter dash, Jamal Roberts finished in 13th place with a time of 10.95. In the 200-meter dash, Mikhail Williamson finished in the 12th spot, while teammate Nickolei Mahlung was placed in 10th place. Senior Robert Barnes finished in a time of 49.31 in the 400-meter dash that was good enough for 13th place.

The men’s “A” squad finished third in the 4x400 meter with a time of 3:16.47. In the long jump, senior Corryl Boyd took the third spot with a jump of 7.38 meters, while teammate Jarenn Stewart finished sixth with a leap of 7.17 meters. The women’s track team put on a fairly good performance at the Invitational. In the 800-meter run LIU teammates Emily Rosario and freshmen Katrina Anderson finished with respectable times of 2:27.6 and 2:35.63. In the 400-meter hurdles, there were a few Blackbirds in the competition

such as Marilena Riviera, freshmen Simone Epps and junior Tiffany Parker. It was freshmen Brittany McClain in the event that had the best time out of her Blackbird teammates in a time of 1:07.86. In the 4x400 meter race, the women’s track team finished in ninth place and senior Jazmin Walker competed in the high jump, leaping 1.63 meters. The men’s and women’s track teams will continue the outdoor season in Austin, Texas at the Texas Relays this coming weekend.


BY: ALANA WOHLERS

Photo: LIU Athletics

Lacrosse Comes Up Short in NEC Openers

Up and Coming: Freshman Brittany Rader has proven early that the young Blackbirds are looking to compete for the top spot in coming years.

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IU’s women’s lacrosse team opened up conference this week with two home games. The Blackbirds fell first to Sacred Heart and then to Quinnipiac in two competitive games. Friday, the Blackbirds faced off against Sacred Heart in a tough first game. The Pioneers gained an early lead on the Blackbirds and kept adding on goals ending the game with a score of 228. Freshman Brittany Rader had a hat trick on the day, while Gina Eberwein and Caitlin Farrell added on goals for the Blackbirds. The Pioneers went into halftime up 12-4. To start off the second half, junior Shakoya Smith netted the first goal of

the half, but the Pioneers answered back with two more goals. It was not long until Farrell and Rader both found the back of the net completing Rader’s hat trick and giving Farrell her second goal of the game. Sophomore Kim Kovar netted one in with 16:34 left to play in the second half, but again the Pioneers answered back with six more goals ending that game 22-8. Sunday the Blackbirds faced off with defending conference champions Quinnipiac for their second conference game of the week. Smith found the back of the net in the first two minutes to put the Blackbirds up.

Quinnipiac answered back with two goals but Farrell answered right back evening the score at 2-2. Quinnipiac put up 12 more goals on the half while sophomore Katie Williams netted one before half. The Blackbirds were down 14-3 at half.

next week as they travel to Central Connecticut and Bryant for another two NEC showdowns.

The second half was underway when for the Blackbirds when Kovar put one away followed by Sophomore Ashley Delaney while Smith added her second and third goals of the game. Quinnipiac barely won the ground balls 17-14, while senior Jacqueline Simonian recorded six saves on the day. The Blackbirds fell to the Bobcats 18-7. The Blackbirds will be back in action

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Baseball Drops Three in Conference Opener

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Photo: LIU Athletics

he Long Island Blackbirds started off Northeast Conference competition last week against Central Connecticut State, going 1-3 in the series. Long Island (9-14, 1-3 NEC) took the first game with a score of 3-2, but had trouble with the bat in the final three games. They lost both games in the double header, 5-0, 5-4. In the series finale, CCSU finished off LIU with a score of 5-3.

BY: JOHN TOLIS

In the first game, it came down to a squeeze bunt that was executed perfectly by senior catcher Tyler Jones in the top of the ninth with one out. The run gave the Blackbirds the lead and was the winning run. The game was tied 2-2, right fielder Albert Faz got on the bases with a fielder’s choice and centerfielder Pete Leonello advanced to third on an error by CCSU second baseman Josh Ingham. Instead of swinging for the fences, Jones laid down a bunt that CCSU would never expect and drove in Leonello for the game-winning run. Leonello had another impressive performance as he went 3-4 in the game. He also scored the first run for the Blackbirds in the third inning when Jones drove him in on a fielder’s choice. Leonello also knocked in a run in the fourth, hitting a triple down the line that brought leftfielder Julian Castro home and gave LIU a 2-0 lead. Starter Chris Franzese had an amazing outing as he threw eight strong innings allowing two runs on five hits and striking out five batters. Franzese got a bit rattled in the seventh when CCSU’s Tyler McIntyre hit a two-run shot to tie the ball game. Franzese settled down in the eighth and put the ball in the hands of junior Tito Marrero who moved from first base to close the game out. Marrero picked up his second save of the season and giving Franzese his second win of the season. In the double header, it was a different story for the LIU Blackbirds both batting and pitching. In the first game

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White Out: Junior Tito Marrero recorded his second save over the weekend and senior Tyler Jones provided the suicide squeeze to plate the winning run in game one but the Blackbirds are focused on jumping back from their skid. of the double header, freshman started Jordan Wilcox was pitching five innings of no-hit baseball until CCSU put up five runs in the sixth that put LIU in a deep hole. The Blackbirds had trouble putting the ball in play and couldn’t put any runs on the scoreboard. In the night game, the LIU offense woke up and put up some runs. After CCSU took a 3-1 lead in the fourth, the Blackbirds turn things around in the fifth. The Blackbirds put up three runs in the fifth that would give them a 4-3 lead. LIU starter Matt McCormick had a decent outing, but couldn’t hold the lead in the bottom of the fifth when

CCSU scored back-to-back RBIs that gave them a 5-4 lead. The Blackbirds made the game into a nail biter when Leonello led off with a triple, but right fielder Albert Faz grounded out, Jones grounded out as well and Leonello was thrown out at home on a controversial call trying to tie the game up. McCormick fell to 2-3 with the loss. In 4 1/3 innings, he allowed five runs (three earned) on 10 hits and two walks. He struck out one. In the series finale, the LIU Blackbirds couldn’t find a way to top CCSU as five runs was too much for the LIU to overcome. LIU freshman Chance Fuglistahler was throwing strong until

the fourth inning, when the Blue Devils put up five runs on the board. In eight innings of work, he allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks. The lefthander struck out five. Leonello drove in two runs in the top of the fifth as he ripped a single down the left-field line with the bases loaded. The Blackbirds tacked one on their third run in the sixth when Marrero hit a RBI single. This weekend, the LIU Blackbirds return to the “Bird Cage” for their first home games of the 2012 NEC season and will try turn things around against Bryant at LIU Field.


Softball Secures First Conference Victory vs. RMU BY: MICHAEL GARCIA

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espite a daunting start to the 2012 season, LIU Brooklyn Softball (9-27, 1-3 NEC) secured its first Northeast Conference victory on Sunday in a doubleheader split with Saint Francis (Pa.). A victory particularly significant to coaches Roy Kortmann and Bill Gehrke, the pair has amassed 500 wins in their 17+ years at Long Island. In a 3-2 victory over the Red Flash in the backend of the doubleheader, freshman outfielder Nicole Archer provided much of the offense for the Blackbirds going 2-3 in the game including a two-run homerun in the second inning and eventually recording the game-winning, walk off single to end the game. Having been absent from the rubber for quite some time, sophomore Cassie Vondrak pitched seven flawless innings to her first career victory, the two runs being unearned.

The day’s early contest ended in a 5-3 defeat at the hands of the Red Flash despite several missed key opportunities for the Blackbirds throughout. Trailing 1-0 in the first, junior Karina Cervantes and freshman Paris Shipp would reach on infield singles but three consecutive strikeouts would leave Saint Francis (Pa.) unscathed. In the bottom of the fifth, the Blackbirds threatened again as freshman Nichole Toven walked to load the bases but were unable to capitalize. One last effort in the seventh saw pinch hitter, senior Megan Sheaf walk and Cervantes reach on a fielder’s choice with Sheaf also called safe. Shipp came through with a single to plate Sheaf while Cervantes advanced to third, but even while sophomore Madison Zymkowitz reached to load the bases, a strike out and pop out would seal the fate for Kortmann’s Blackbirds.

Photo: LIU Athletics

Archer’s team-leading third homerun came on a 3-2 offering in the second inning following a two-out bunt single by sophomore Jazmin Rodriguez.

Girls of Summer: Freshman Nichole Toven provided a much needed boost of offense Sunday, going 4-6 with two doubles meanwhile freshman Nicole Archer hit her first homerun. Vondrak came in relief for 2 and 2/3 innings while senior Sarah Reynolds suffered the loss, pitching 5 and 1/3 fanning two and enduring five earned runs. Before Sunday’s victory, the Blackbirds were convincingly defeated 8-2 and 10-3 respectively in a twin bill versus Robert Morris on Saturday, their home and conference opener. The first run for the Blackbirds came in the third as Toven doubled and plated freshman Nicole Archer who reached

on an infield single. Coincidentally, the Blackbirds would score the exact same way in the fifth off a double by Toven, plating Archer. A six-run third inning for the Colonials proved decisive as the Blackbirds dropped the late game as well. Zymkowitz laced her first homerun of the season tallying one run for LIU Brooklyn in the fourth, while Rodriguez would double in the fifth to provide another chance. Facing the mercy rule in the bottom of

the sixth, junior Emily Kakuska would plate a run on a Colonials error to keep the Blackbirds alive but finished the game leaving four on base in the two final frames. The Blackbirds return to Northeast Conference play Saturday, traveling to New Britain, CT for a doubleheader against Central Connecticut State University then traveling locally to Rhode Island for another doubleheader at Bryant.

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CONGRATULATIONS

COACH KORTMANN ON 500th WIN AS BLACKBIRD!


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