STAND UP FOR BREAST CANCER , PG. 8
Volume LXXXVII
Issue 3
October 6, 2011
EBC RUCKER PARK VS. GOODMAN LEAGUE
Battle For Brooklyn
$950 million, with development in the neighborhoods of Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene. According to Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn’s website (DDDB.net) 90% of the scheme is a 53 story high skyscraper that would “cast shadows as far as Dekalb Avenue in Fort Greene.”
N
o truer words have been written down then the ones seen on a pillar at the Delancy train stop where “I remember when Brooklyn had history” was tagged. Right now, Brooklyn is at risk of losing its history and the people who have lived through that history through the demolition of people’s property for the construction of luxury high-rises.
Photo By: Nik Conklin
In the recent years, Brooklyn has become a commodity, and for many, a tough place to maintain an affordable living. Downtown Brooklyn is being destroyed for the process of new development. But at what cost to the community? For many people in the downtown area, developments in Fulton and Atlantic mall mean an increased rent, higher cost for food, and a higher cost of living for
college students. At the heart of it all is Bruce Ratner, a property player who has developed hundreds of buildings in New York City. His recent proposal, the Atlantic Yards Project, has caused controversy with the community and government officials. The project is a commercial and residential development project of 16 high-rise buildings at a cost of
But where does this money come from? Ratner’s partners include Russian billionaire Senator Schumer, Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Pataki, and multi-millionaire rapper Jay Z. The development project becomes a classic story of David versus Goliath, in which the government is used as a tool to destroy while we the people get abused. Crystal Montgomery, a freshman at LIU, feels the project gives less opportunity to go to school, as students need to buy textbooks and pay for classes. She also feels it is wrong because people should
STAFF HIGHLIGHT
Seawanhaka Staff CONTACT Seawanhaka Press 1 University Plaza #S-219 Brooklyn, NY 11201 SeawanakaPress@gmail.com 718.488.1519
MABEL MARTINEZ
Editor-In-Chief
Editorial Policies
Name: Lindsey Walker Major: Journalism and Biology Class: Junior ASHLEE MELLOWES
Lindsey Walker, hailing from Littleton, Colorado, is a junior at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus , and is Seawanhaka’s new News Editor. She is double-majoring in Biology and Journalism. Lindsey is a catcher on LIU’s softball team, which won the NEC Championship in 2010. As a full time student athlete and editor, her schedule is very demanding, but she is enjoying the challenge. “I came to New York to discover the endless possibilities it has to offer, and the only way to do that is to involve myself as much as possible.” Not only is Lindsey a member of LIU’s Honors Program but she has been on the Dean’s List since freshman year. She was twice awarded the Commissioner’s Honor Roll and has been a member of Alpha Lambda Delta as well as the English Honors Society. Lindsey was also a finalist for the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship in 2011. Lindsey has high aspirations for herself. After receiving her degrees, she plans on going to school for her Master’s Degree in environmental biology and will then proceed to get her Doctorate. Her dream is to become a scientific journalist, specializing in environmental biological sciences. This winter, Lindsey will travel to the Amazon Rainforest as part of an intensive, six-credit honors course in order to study biodiversity and anthropology of the Iquitos area of Peru. Lindsey has been writing for Seawanhaka for the past two years, and is very passionate about her work in the paper. She is thankful to be working with such a talented and dedicated editorial staff, and is looking forward to a year of helping produce pertinent and high-quality journalism for the Brooklyn Campus. She has a passion for National Geographic Magazine, peanut butter snickers, and David Bowie.
Managing Editor
LINDSEY WALKER
News Editor
Advertising Policies
SHARI STRAKER
Arts & Entertainment
MICHAEL GARCIA
Sports Editor
Page 3- Battle for Brooklyn Page 4- Newman Club Fills September Schedule Page 4- The EBC Rucker Park vs. Goodman League Page 5- Campus WiFi Woes Page 6- Where Are They Now? Page 7- Health Insurance Issues Page 7- Can You Reach Financial Services?
Display and classified advertisements are available to the general public, Long Island University clubs and students. For rate and schedule information, call 718.488.1519. 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.
Staff Writers
CURTIS STEPHEN
Faculty Advisor
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS SEND US AN EMAIL AT SEAWANHAKAPRESS@GMAIL.COM FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: SEAWANHAKA PRESS
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 contact information. Seawanhaka reserves the right to edit submissions for length and style. Seawanhaka is published by the students of Long Island University Brooklyn Campus.
Malik Ajala Rodrigo Carreno Justin Ellis Brittany Ganter Shanel Gilbert Malcolm Jackson Chase Melvin Zelika Shillingford John Tolis Nancy Uwoghiren
Staff Photographer RICHARD NAU Layout & Design Advisor
CONTENT
Page 8- Stand Up To Cancer Page 12- Entertainment Weekly Page 13- Wear Pink For a Cause Page 13- A Little Taste of Paris in Brooklyn Page 14- Heroic Africans: Legendary Leaders Page 14- Movie Review: Straw Dogs
Rodrigo Carreno Nik Conklin
Page 15- Welcome To Cole World Page 15- Diversity in Video Games Page 16- College Sports Conferences on the Balance Page 17- Mens/Women’s Golf Begins Fall Play Page 18- Volleyball Splits First Conference Matches Page 19- Women’s Soccer Kicks Off with Win
Battle For Brooklyn (Continued from Cover Page)
THE BUZZ... THINGS TO DO ON CAMPUS Exams are coming up and stress is on a constant rise. With all your money spent on tuition and other things, something free sure sounds good. Take a break from classes and enjoy some free Brooklyn fun with Long Island University. On October 14, 2011 at 4:30 PM Student Life and Leadership Development Office is offering free tickets to Nights of Horror at Coney Island’s Luna Park. The event is open to all LIU students and you can bring a non LIU guest. For those who do not know of Coney Island’s Luna Park, it is one of Brooklyn’s great attractions. Luna Park offers rides like the Electro Spin, Brooklyn Flyer, Eclipse, Coney Island Hang Glider and many more. One can also grab a bite to eat at the famous boardwalk for example the original Nathans’ Famous Frankfurters. The park is located at 1000 Surf Ave just take the D,F,N,Q, to the last stop and enjoy the night life by Brighton Beach for some fun. For more info check out www. lunaparknyc.com or stop by Student Life and Leadership
By Nancy Uwoghiren
SO NOW YOU KNOW
not pick up their lives and move for the benefit of building a stadium. She said, “You don’t take someone property because you want to benefit yourself, that should be illegal.” It is the very people of the community that suffer the most. According to an independent analysis from DDDP, $2 billion come from taxpayer money. While we pay for these developments, the government then abuses eminent domain, which allows the State of New York to seize private property, homes, and businesses to then be handed over to Ratner to do with as he wishes. This has left many people without homes and has them moving out of the neighborhoods that they have lived in their whole lives. Former Brooklyn resident Barret Ryan said “I fight teeth and nail to live here, but it’s becoming impossible when everything around the neighborhood as well as rent keeps increasing.” Ryan said, “It’s disturbing. I mean, what happens to the people? You just can’t replace people who’ve had history here with new buildings for luxury living.” Another piece of the project is the new basketball stadium, the Barclays Center, home of the New Jersey Nets. It is built by the Atlantic center and is co-owned by Ratner. The stadium has been Ratner’s pawn to gaining support from the people, offering promises of permanent jobs, a boost in local economy, and employment for minorities as well as affordable living. But according to DDDP, 69% of the units will be luxury
dwellings while only 12% would be for people making less than $31,000 a year. This is unaffordable since the median income in Brooklyn is only $32,000. For example, a family making $22,000 a year has to live in the development. Many think the development is government abuse and a way to gentrify the neighborhood for high-income families. Currently, 24% of low-income families live in the Atlantic Yards radius, but with future residents, the number drops to 3% while high-income families increase from 11% to 64%. As for Ratner’s promises on Jobs, Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn believes that none of the 2,300 jobs are guaranteed to local residents. Local residents should also worry about their own business, since Ratner has proposed to build a tunnel from the subway directly to the stadium, which would actually prevent people from exploring the neighborhood. As students, we should all be concerned. These construction projects are also government funded. The money used to make the stadium and high-rises comes from the same pocket as our financial aid money. LIU student Chelsea Walters, a freshman, said the project will take away from the amount of help students get to pay for school. She said, “If they continue to take money, there will be fewer children in schools.” As these projects continue, so will a
decrease in the amount of assistance we get to pay for college. With a yearly increase in tuition, students can look forward to paying double for studying. The prices of food and other expenditures around the school will also increase. Popular spots around LIU can shut down because they cannot keep up with the increase in rent. In a neighborhood like Downtown Brooklyn where people have made and maintained a living through small businesses, a luxury housing project is a potential genocide to the community. These changes have severe consequences to students, citizens and anyone who lives within the community. Over crowdedness becomes an issue both inside the Atlantic Yards Development and in other places in New York. For those in the Atlantic Mall area, you can expect hundreds of people at a time trying to attend future games at the Barclay Center. Imagine the amount of traffic disruption, lack of parking, and complete chaos this brings to a small and overcrowded area. For freshman Brandy Vazquez, this is all to clear. He believes congestion is a big issue. He said, “That area over there is a big interception. Noise volume increases with the increase in population. Construction interrupts the way of life because it’s unplanned. They have
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Newman Club Fills September Schedule
I
n the campus ministry office there are various posters which illustrate the three areas of a person’s life that the campus minister says should be in balance. The chaplain teaches that each person should pray, work, and play in balance every day, every week, every month, and indeed, every year of life. This past month the Newman Club was a living example of the busy yet balanced schedule of activities of one of the most celebrated clubs on campus.
When it came to time for prayer, the Newman Club was involved in three different special prayerful activities. The first was a solemn mass held in the LIU chapel on September 11th. This was the tenth anniversary of the terrible terrorist attacks on this city, our country, and on mankind in general. It was pointed out at the service that there were many and varied services and rituals being held that same day in New York City to commemorate the loss of life and prayers for victims. It was also taught that the most used ritual of all on the tenth anniversary in the city of New York was a Catholic Mass. The liturgy in our chapel was also prayerfully celebrated in over 400 different New York City churches at least 2,000 times that same day in as many as 40 different languages. The next week the Newman Club members began serving as lectors and ministers of communion at the regular Sunday masses. These masses will be offered every Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Dessie Marr Smith chapel for the wellbeing of our students, especially those residing in campus residence facilities.
The third prayer experience took place at Brooklyn’s Cathedral. The LIU Newman Club’s officers joined with officers and members of other Newman Clubs and were installed for this academic year by Bishop DiMarzio’s representative Msgr. John Strynkowski. Our own chaplain, Father Charlie, assisted monsignor in the sanctuary. About 70 students came together for this once a year special prayerful and social event. Following the installation, the students enjoyed each other’s company and the food that was provided by the Diocese of Brooklyn. When it came to work, the Newman Club officers and members were very busy. First, they manned tables at both Convocation and at the Pharmacy Club Fair. They collaborated with HEOP in its “Back to School collection”. Then, they began to get sponsors for their upcoming RockAthon, which is the signature event of the Newman Club. Playing has to be part of a balanced person and a balanced club. On last Sunday following the mass, the Newman Club members went to see the movie “The Help” in a Manhattan movie theater. Following the movie, they ate at Don Giovanni’s and discussed the
values and morals that were illustrated in the movie. They had fun watching the movie and even more fun discussing what they would or would not have done if they found themselves in the situations of the main characters in the presentation. Everyone who studies college students’ success and retention levels talks about the connection with being linked to involvement with clubs and activities on the college campus. If you would like to join a club that offers you the chance to grow by prayer, service to others, and fun with one another, give the Newman Club a try. In the months to come they will raise over $10,000 for charity, make prayer blankets for needy women, organize a beautiful charitable dinner, celebrate Christmas, visit a special children’s home, and rock on rocking chairs for two days! The LIU community is invited to participate in these activities, events, and programs of this dedicated and distinguished group of students.
By The Newman Club
The EBC Rucker Park and Goodman League
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he EBC Rucker Park and Goodman League went head to head at Long Island University’s Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center(WRAC). EBC trailed the Goodman League for most of the contest and was unable to come away with the win, losing by just a few points.
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The event brought out many LIU students who came for a chance to meet NBA players that were scheduled to play such as; Kevin Durante, Joakim Noah, Josh Howard, Corey Brewer, Demarcus Cousins, Wes Matthews, Jeff Green Mike Beasely, Josh Selby, and Taj Gibson. Unfortunately, many fans were disappointed when the NBA turn out wasn’t what was expected. “I paid $40 for this ticket,” said Nathan Greene a first time visitor to LIU “and
this wasn’t even a real game.”Many fans shared similar feelings especially college students like Katie Ross; who spent her grocery money thinking she would get to see Kevin Durant in action. The contest itself seemed to go on forever in a series of missed shots and trick plays. It was obvious that all the players on the court played for the love of the game and weren’t looking for the big win but instead played to enjoy themselves. “I’m not mad Durant wasn’t at the game, I’m just mad I had to pay to find out he wouldn’t be coming.” Still Ross did not let her disappointment dampen her mood, finding thrill in watching Kemba Walker play back at home.
The EBC Vs Goodman game was scheduled just one day before the Oct. 1st (last) NBA Lockout Meeting. Despite reportedly sitting for seven hours, both sides of the lockout were unable to come to an agreement regarding the upcoming NBA season; set to begin Nov. 1st 2011. Although it was the longest sit-down since the lockout began on July 1, the main issues of the lockout remain. Owners still want a hard salary cap while players prefer the soft-cap. Both parties are set to meet again in small groups then one large group on Oct. 4th and will continue to focus on one of the two major issues. Players at the LIU event were unable to make comments regarding the NBA lockout but many suggested that they
Campus WiFi Woes
paper waste but in many cases, students are required to turn in electronic copies of their papers to avoid clutter and confusion. “I can’t even email my professors to ask for help. This not only affects my research but it also affects the work I’m doing as a whole,” said Boyd.
D
uring the past two decades, the internet has been integrated into the everyday lives of people around the world. It has infiltrated our phones, it has taken over our social lives, and for college students everywhere, reliable internet access can mean the difference between a passing and failing grade. At the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University, however, many students find themselves struggling to cope with slow internet access, and in some places, none at all. “The internet is very slow on this campus,” said LIU senior, Julian Boyd. “I think that LIU should update its WiFi utilities, especially in Connolly Hall.” Boyd, like nearly all LIU students and professors, depends on Wi-Fi access to be able to send and receive emails. Not only is it an effective way to eliminate
Often, students find themselves scurrying to the campus library and to the computer labs in order to finish papers, but limited computers and printing facilities leave student no choice but to give up and try their luck later. “Playing basketball is already time consuming,” stated LIU junior Booker Hucks, member of the Men’s Basketball team. “The Wi-Fi on this campus puts unnecessary time constrains that do not help my situation. My time is precious.” Hucks, like many of LIU’s athletes, spend the majority of his day at team practices. After a hard day of workout he has just enough time to start on his class work. Often he becomes frustrated at his inability to connect to the internet and moves his laptop around campus to try and find a Wi-Fi hotspot. “I feel that if I don’t use an Ethernet cable, there is
The EBC Rucker Park and Goodman League (Continued from Page 4) knew as little about the proceedings as the general public and were eager to get back onto the court.
Island in a rut. Many spectators believe that LIU hosted the game and many say they will never visit the WRAC again.
Michael Beasely who played for Goodman stated that his basketball season was never truly over. “I’m always in the gym working out or on the court,” said Beasley “I’m ready to start playing as soon as they call.”
“This game was fun to watch when NY was up but it would have been better if K. D. were here.” Said Tunde Salacco a Brooklyn native. “I would have been able to accept the loss better and wouldn’t feel like I just gave this college my money.”
Beasely like many other NBA players also welcomed the time off as a way to spend more time with his children. It was never clear why many of the alleged players failed to arrive and the neglect to inform the public left Long
By Shanel Gilbert
no point in me trying to connect to the internet. It is that bad,” said Hucks. Wi-Fi hotspots on campus have become increasingly popular. Many students bring their laptops and iPads into the Humanities building (H-building) in search of the strongest Wi-Fi signals. It is also in the H-building where you can find both commuters and residential students all united with the same goal: to get online. Sarah Sidibe, a commuting sophomore, is all too familiar with the woes of LIUnet. “It sucks,” said Sidibe. “Even with this tuition we pay, I get better Wi-Fi while I’m sitting outside.” Sidibe was planning to dorm in the near future, but after learning about the troubles campus residents were facing with Wi-Fi, she has changed her mind. Although the majority of students have had a terrible internet experience, there are few who claim to have had little to no trouble at all. Chris Choudhry, a commuting senior from the Queens borough, is one of those few. “If I ever had any trouble, it wasn’t so frequent that it was memorable,” said Choudhry. He said, “The only issues I
ever had was at the leadership retreat in August. Only then was I unable to connect to LIU‘s Wi-Fi.” Chris wasn’t alone in his findings. A third of students interviewed shared a similar opinion. But, the majority of students, including commuters, considered the network to be inconsistent and always unreliable. “I’ve actually had to leave the dorms in order to use the internet,” said junior CJ Garner. “It hasn’t affected my work, but if I want to email someone I have to go to Humanities or the W.R.A.C.” This issue has caused students who have been at LIU for longer periods of time to search for new places to access the internet. “I move from place to place,” said junior Krystal Wells. “When I‘m outside or in the H-building I never have a problem. It’s only when I’m in the dorms that the internet doesn’t work for me at all.” Despite the long list of complaints, it seems students have done little to gain the administration’s attention toward this matter. “We’ve just gotten used to it; it doesn’t even bother us anymore.”
c 2 0 1 1 C a th o li le Mass Schedu
By Shanel Gilbert
All are welcome to attend Mondays through Thursdays at 12:00 Noon. AND 10:00 am, Sundays followed by the Newman Club meeting.
All masses are held in the Dessie Marr Chapel located across from Financial Aid
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Where Are They Now?
With the help of INROADS, Price was able to receive an internship with Moody’s Investor Service. Working in public finance, gave him the real world experience that he craved, courtesy of on-the-job training. Price, who was an intern for two summers, excelled during his time with Moody’s and they decided to take him on as a full-time intern throughout the school year.
W
hen he attended Long Island University, David Price – who is president of the School of Business Public Administration and Information Sciences (SBPAIS) Alumni Board -- was a determined student. After deciding that he was going to complete his Bachelor’s degree in three years, Price – who had a double major in finance and Integrated Information Systems – took more than 18 credits each semester to get the job done. Price credits his success to the moment when he met Kathleen Waldron, who was dean of SBPAIS when he attended LIU. It was then when he paired his drive and determination with her guidance and inspiration to reach his full potential. Dean Waldron taught him that employers look to hire students with strong GPA averages. With this insight, Price applied for an internship with INROADS, an organization dedicated to providing students with well paying internships in their fields of study. The group’s stated goal is to develop and place talented underserved youth in corporate settings and prepare them for business careers. This program is available for all LIU students, regardless of major. In order to be a candidate for this program, one must have a minimum of two summers (prior to graduation) available for internships. Since Price had already completed so many credits for his finance major at such a quick pace, he decided to double major in Integrated Information Systems.
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Upon graduation, Price also received an offer at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). PwC is one of the big four accounting firms. It’s also one of the nation’s top accounting firms, whose clients include Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. Price was able to put lessons learned at LIU, along with his work experience (gained from Moody’s) to good use.
THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF COUNSELING AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY OPEN HOUSE EVENTS FOR 2012 ENROLLMENT PRATT BUILDING, SECOND FLOOR O C TO B ER 13 th , 2011 N O VEM BER 17 th , 2011 N O VEM BER 19 th , 2011 D ECEM BER 7 th , 2011
5 to 7 pm 5 to 7 pm 12 to 3 p.m . 5 to 7 p.m .
M A STER’S D EG REES IN : SCHOOL COUNSELING BILINGUAL SCHOOL COUNSELING MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY School psychology Specializations in Bilingual School Psychology and Early Childhood A D VA N C ED C ERTIFIC A TES : SCHOOL COUNSELING MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING BILINGUAL SCHOOL COUNSELING
At PwC, Price’s chief job responsibility was to audit financial service companies and examined their computer systems for any flaws. After three years of working at PwC, one of Price’s clients offered him a better opportunity at their company. Price currently works at Investment Technology Group, where he is the assistant vice president of the Internal Audit Division. When asked what advice he had for upcoming students and college grads for landing a job, Price explained that students should take the initiative and apply to the company directly. “Be proactive and apply through company websites instead of waiting for companies to find your resume on Monster,” he said. By taking the time to see what a company is looking for in the job description, prospective employees can tailor their resume to each specific job opportunity, Price adds. Now fully engrossed in new endeavors, Price is the perfect example of how hard work, dedication and goal setting can help students make the most of their college degree and their dreams after graduation.
By Stephanie Persaud
PLEASE RSVP: jolli.brown@liu.edu/718-488-1380. Take the 2,3,4,5 train to Nevins street, or the a,c,g train to hoyt-schemerhorn, or the b,q,r train to dekalb avenue.
Health Issurance Issues
H
ealth insurance, one can argue, is a vital necessity for maintaining a clear bill of health. Not having the inadequate coverage can easily present many of problems that can make it difficult to receive quality health care. As students, we can’t afford to pay the high premiums that most health care providers offer, which leaves us in a deficit to pay or not to pay. But should we really have to choose?
Long Island University decided to choose the latter, the university has partnered with Aetna Student Health in an effort to provide students with a comprehensive health insurance plan that covers the basics (i.e., vision, dental, routine checkups and specialists.) The plan, which seems to make an honest attempt at efficiency, has some short falls. This makes reading the fine print a must.
It goes as follows: The plan is effective from August 15, 2011 – August 14, 2012. All international students, clinical students, residential students, and intercollegiate athletes are automatically enrolled in the hard waiver plan at the current rate of $995. Premiums for the plan are applied directly to the student’s account at the start of classes. But students who have comparable coverage under a family plan or other policy are permitted to waive coverage by the posted deadline of October 15, 2011. Students enrolled in Global College Programs are automatically enrolled in the plan on a per- term basis at a reduced cost for $503 or an annual full term for $1,003 But due to the travel requirements of these programs, mandatory students are not permitted to waive coverage. Charges are placed on the student’s account at the time of registration.
All other Long Island University students are not automatically enrolled, but are eligible to purchase the plan on a voluntary basis for an annual yearly rate of $2,781. But the problem that presents itself here is whether or not students can afford to pay such high premium rates. College is already a hefty expense by itself. So adding an expense like pricey health insurance can definitely put a damper on the already constrained student budget. This may not be an issue for those already enrolled on their parent’s insurance plan, but for those who aren’t it can be extremely hard to swallow. Of course, Aetna’s health network of physicians and hospitals is one of the strongest health insurance providers in America, with critically acclaimed excellent service. But regardless of its service, a student should not have to choose between paying for needed health insurance and paying for a class.
If the plan were offered to all students at a reasonable price and added to their tuition bill, with an exception for a wavier, it would be much more attainable in terms of finances and convenience. Due to inflation, the rates of Aetna’s student health insurance plan has increased at a rather rapid rate from the year 2010 – 2011/2012 starting with $735 to $995 for all international students, clinical students, and residential students. This is a seven percent increase, while all other students have to pay a 17 percent increase from $1,122 to $2,781 These numbers may be startling to some, but in the long run a student is a student, regardless of their academic plan. Everyone should have the right to purchase health insurance at a rate that is equal across-the-board. You be the judge.
Can You Reach Financial Services?
W
hen Bursar and Financial services integrated last year, students were excited that they would not have to trudge back and forth between the two offices. It was heaven sent that everything would be handled at the same time and in the same place. Through trial and error the new appointment system was born, which allowed students to make appointments online and be seen at exactly that time. Unfortunately, it turned out to be too good to be true. With these new services, more problems have risen. Seeing a counselor at the scheduled time is often a hit or miss. For example, your 1:15 PM appointment may be pushed back to 2:30 PM when the office is busy. The problem is simple: there are not enough counselors to see students. Obviously, since both services have integrated, they cannot do each other’s jobs This is an issue, however, that should have been considered prior to making drastic changes. If both of these services are combined,
however, shouldn’t there be enough employees attending to the students? Are the students, all estimated 11,000 of them—who pay roughly 30,000 dollars per year being short changed? Another problem that has yet to be resolved is the impossibility of students reaching a financial services counselor on the phone. A student or parent is as likely to reach a counselor by phone as members of the Tea Party voting for President Obama. What may be the most difficult feat for students is reaching financial services over the summer. While LIU is a commuting school, many students are also from out of state. If an out of state student is home for the summer, and it is imperative that they speak to a counselor, would they need to book a flight to see them personally? But then, their appointment would be sure to get delayed anyway. These problems should not only concern students; everyone who is an LIU affiliate should be proactive in solving this problem. If it affects students, it
affects everyone. This is a problem that can be resolved if we work together. LIU’s mission statement is to “Awaken, enlighten and expand the minds of its students.” Let’s continue to do so as we collaborate to make a change that will help LIU stay true to its own mission.
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Stand Up for Breast Cancer
O
ctober is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and for 25 years they have brought awareness and education to the community. On October 15-16 Long Island University Brooklyn Campus will be participating in the Breast Cancer walk. LIU will show up wearing pink, the national color of breast cancer awareness. If you haven’t registered to walk through Central Park with the Blackbirds you can hurry up and stop by Student Life and Leadership Development Office to register.
Everyone has cancer. Cancer only becomes fatal when your cells divide and are replaced with damaged cells. Cancer is an accumulation of damaged cells that grow at an uncontrollable rate, which start to clump together and later on form tumors. The area of which the
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cancer originally formed is named after the cancer. Breast Cancer starts in the breast tissue. There are different types of breast cancer that range from minor to hazardous cancer, which all depends how often you get your mammogram test, x-ray of you breast.
Sadly, to say race does play a part in breast cancer. According to The American Cancer Society, Caucasian women have a higher chance of breast cancer than African American women beginning at age 45. On the other hand, African American women are more likely to die and have higher chances of getting breast cancer before the age 45. Despite statistics, breast cancer death tolls are lower among Caucasians than African American women.
The American Cancer Society states “Caucasian women range from 21.7 in Hawaii to 27.3 in New Jersey and African American women range from 20.9 in Rhode Island to 40.0 in Louisiana.” Eating healthier does play a major role in preventing breast cancer. Getting cancer depends on the way you live your everyday life. Women are not the only ones who can get breast cancer. Men still have the potential to have breast cancer, even though it is not likely. There are only 2000 cases of male breast cancer this year. The death of men ranges around 450 and they only account for 1% of breast cancer cases. Male breast cancer may not be as potential as women but there still is a chance.
Breast Cancer can never be prevented but there are ways to lower your risk. Lowering your risk of breast cancer can be done! By eating healthier food, exercising daily, and living in a peaceful environment. Having a family member or relative diagnosed with breast cancer does increase your chances of getting breast cancer but that does not mean you are prone to have cancer. Breast cancer just like any cancer is fatal to your health. So please stay healthy! Cut back on smoking, eat tons of greens, cheat on your taxes to lower your stress, and as live life to the fullest. By reading this article I hope you consider walking this year to stand up for cancer.
By Nancy Uwoghiren
COME GET SWABBED AND BECOME A LIFESAVER!
Bone Marrow Donor Drive Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Health Science Building Lobby Sponsored by: SGA, Health Sciences & DKMS Americas For Information Contact Us at 718-780-4034, sa-sga@brooklyn.liu.edu, rafael.molina@liu.edu, or melissa.lent@liu.edu
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Page 10
Battle For Brooklyn
(Continued from pg. 3) to readjust their lives for a decision that wasn’t yours.” Over crowdedness in other areas of New York becomes a problem as people move away from their old neighborhoods to new ones. Other believe many of these high rises will remain vacant while some are saved strictly for office space. Fighting for the community are groups like Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, which have been joined by other neighborhood and civic groups like Brooklyn Speaks. According to its website, “Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn leads a broadbased community coalition fighting for development that will unite our communities instead of dividing and destroying them. DDDB is opposed to Forest City Ratner’s 8 million square foot “Atlantic Yards” development proposal for an arena and 16 high-rises in Prospect Heights and Park Slope, Brooklyn.” You can also check out documentaries like Battle for Brooklyn or visit www. brooklynmatters.com or visit www. DDDP. .
By Rodrigo Carreno
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Entertainment Weekly Actress Demi Moore, 48 and Ashton Kutcher, 33 may be calling it quits after six short years of marriage. Reports that the couple has separated surfaced last week Wednesday after the two spent their September 24th anniversary apart. Kutcher reportedly spent their anniversary partying with friends in San Diego at various nightclubs without his wife. Their Twitter accounts tell a tale that there is trouble in paradise. According to People.com on September 23, Moore tweeted, “When we are
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offended at any man’s fault, turn to yourself & study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.” Reports also claim that the actor has cheated on his wife with a younger woman whom Kutcher partied with in June. On September 29th, the actor tweeted, “When you ASSUME to know that which you know nothing of you make an (expletive) out of U and ME.” A source who spoke to Star Magazine said, “Ashton and Demi have separated and the marriage is over... It was definitely a long time coming, but they’re finally done for good.” Kutcher was spotted in Los Angeles on Thursday wearing his wedding ring on his way out
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of a motorcycle shop. According to the NY Daily News, if rumors turn out to be true the couple faces a 290 million dollar divorce battle. Drama has once again surrounded The Real Housewives of New Jersey. According to People.com, Jacqueline Laurita is quitting the show amid rumors that surprisingly she and close friend Theresa Guidice are no longer friends. Laurita accuses Theresa of setting up her own sister-in-law (Melissa Gorga), who Laurita is friends with. She claimed that Guidice invited Gorga’s former boss who owns a strip club to a fashion show that all of the cast members attended. She says that Theresa wanted to expose her sister-in-law and tried to act as if she had no idea who he was when he showed up. She also says that Guidice blamed Bravo’s Production on the mixup. The two have been having verbal arguments via Twitter; Laurita has tweeted, “Teresa told me that ‘rumor’ about Melissa when she first started the show... She wanted her out then. She knew. She plotted it. She played dumb on camera and even defended Melissa.” She later tweeted, “Theresa is scum.” Melissa Gorga, has taken to her website to clear up the “stripper” rumors, “the accusation that I was once a dancer at a strip club…This is 100% NOT TRUE. I did bartend for a few weeks at a bikini bar while I was in college. My outfit was a tank top, shorts and sneakers… Someone desperately wants to knock me down and prove that I have something to hide, but then tries to cover it up by putting the blame on production.” If this is just the beginning of season four fans are in for one heck of show! Floyd Mayweather fought Victor Ortiz last week Saturday in Las Vegas, then R&B singer Ray J and rapper Fabolous were involved in an altercation of their own. Reports have been hazy in relation to the alleged scuffle between the two. Fans were shocked to find out about the confrontation that took place at The Palms Hotel and Casino; which began when Fabolous made fun of Ray J playing the piano and singing in Floyd
Mayweather’s living room on Twitter. Early Monday morning after rumors were flying that Ray J and Fabolous were in an altercation. More specifically, Ray J claimed that he punched Fabolous. Fabolous denies that Ray J punched him or that the two were involved in any debacle. He called in to NYC’s Power 105.1 morning show “The Breakfast Club,” with a profanity laced rant claiming that he punched the rapper. At one point he asked DJ Envy to ask Fabolous to send a picture of his bruised face. Ray J, also claims that Fabolous was scared of him, “I swear to God he’s running from me right now…[After I hit him,] he fell back because he’s a sucker — Fab ain’t no comedian… So when I seen him, I was with Floyd [Mayweather] and 50 [Cent] and he tried to say ‘Don’t touch me’ and I [punched] that (expletive)…” Fabolous called in to the radio station later on that night to clear the air with DJ Clue on Power 105.1, “Tupac called in? That wasn’t Ray J. You can’t be serious. That wasn’t Ray J. That wasn’t him. That wasn’t Willy Norwood Jr… It was no fight, it was no swing — This whole story that he made up, that Tupac rant about him swinging on somebody and all of that (expletive) is all lies.” When DJ Clue asked Fabolous if he thinks that the situation between he and Ray J will ever be resolved he claimed, “There’s nothing to squash. We can progress in our own ways. He can go his way and I can go my way. He can continue playing the piano at Floyd’s crib if he wants and I’ll continue to do what I do and he can continue to do concerts in (expletive) living rooms....” Calling all Twilight fans, Breaking Dawn is almost here! E! Online sat down with one of the co-stars from the multi-million dollar grossing film series; to discuss actress Kristin Stewart’s marriage scenes and looming on screen pregnancy. He claims that Kristin’s pregnancy was extremely realistic. According to E!
>>> pg. 14
Top 10 Albums 1) Own The Night Lady Antebellum 2) 21 Adele 3) Tha Carter IV Lil’ Wayne 4) Halfway to Heaven Brantley Gilbert 5) Staind Staind 6) 1 The Beatles 7) Here For A Good Time George Strait 8) A Dramatic Turn of Events Dream Theater 9) Watch The Throne Jay Z, Kanye West 10) Dead Throne The Devil Wears Prada
SO NOW YOU KNOW
Wear Pink for A Cause
has a “Breast Cancer Awareness Scarf ” for $45.00 and gloves for $30.00. These items can be purchased online or in Betsey Johnson stores around New York City. GUESS by Marciano has limited edition tee shirt for $68.00 with the words “Love, Laugh, Cure.” One hundred percent of the proceeds go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and GUESS by Marciano will also be donating a minimum of $25,000. Ralph Lauren has a variety of items from its Pink Pony collection such as Jersey Tank for $78.00 in black and white, a stretch polo for $125.00 and much more. All proceeds of the Pink Pony sales goes towards the Pink Pony Fund for Cancer Care and Prevention.
www.ralphlauren.com
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month! In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month many well-known designers in the fashion industry are teaming up with breast cancer organizations to raise awareness. Organizations such as the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Fashion Targets Breast Cancer which part of the Council of Fashion Designers of America are all making contributions to the cause. Designers such as: Betsey Johnson, Ralph Lauren, GUESS by Marciano, Tory Burch, LOFT and department stores have collections where half or all of the proceeds go towards breast cancer research and awareness. Betsey Johnson, who is known for her whimsical fashion designs and her famous cartwheels down the runway, is a breast cancer survivor. Since 1999, Betsey Johnson has donated money to help save lives. This year Betsey Johnson has limited edition breast cancer awareness tanks, tops and accessories, a portion of the proceeds are donated to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. Betsey Johnson has a limited edition stylish “Pink Heart & Beads Bracelet” for $55.00. It can be worn for a night out or everyday and is also a nice gift for someone special. Just in time for the chilly weather Betsey Johnson also
Last year, ANN Inc. donated approximately $2.7 million to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This year, LOFT has limited edition tee shirts that represent strength, support and inspiration. The shirts are short sleeves, scoop neck and are sequined with a different design on the front that symbolizes strength, support and inspiration. All tee shirts are $39.50 and can be found at any LOFT store or online. LF stores are also raising awareness for breast cancer with their “Power of Now Tee” for $36.00 and are sold year-round. It is a white, fitted short sleeve shirt and $22.50 per purchase of the shirts benefits The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Forever21 has a Courage Collection and are donating 10% of each item to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The collection ranges from tops, tees, blazers and accessories for reasonable prices. Be fashionable and at the same time raise awareness for breast cancer! To find out more ways to donate and show support for Breast Cancer Awareness, visit the website: ww5.komen.org or www.bcrfcure.org. Breast Cancer is something that affects not only women but everyone around you. Wear pink for a cause and show your support for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
By Mabel Martinez
A Little Taste of Paris in Brooklyn
When you think of restaurants in Brooklyn, it’s not to often that you’re able to conjure up images of a small cozy sidewalk café with antique furnishings, sultry Parisian music and a to-die-for crème brulee that just might make you consider relocating to France for good. Situated just off the corner of South Portland Avenue and Fulton Street in the heart of fort Greene Brooklyn, Café Layette is quite hard to miss in comparison with the larger restaurants that surround and confine the establishment. The outside of the minuscule sized café is equipped with wooden chairs and tables that are decorated with pretty fresh flowers sitting in small vases. There are steps leading downward into the restaurant that contribute to the overall feeling of mystique and simple but yet fine pleasures. Once inside the dimly lit café, (with just one bay window towards the outside street) you’re greeted by a server who isn’t snooty or dressed stuffy, but looks comfortable; kind of like someone you’d enjoy having Sunday brunch with. Sitting on of the plush white leather couches or at one of the iron brass antique Victorian styled tables, the small candles and silver antique chinaware catches your eye and leaves you feeling as if you’ve been warped into another world. The overall ambiance of the café is romantic but cozy, so even if you aren’t accompanied by a hot date, you won’t feel like a lonely sucker asking for a Table for one. As the Parisian music plays at just the right volume in the background, you find yourself doing as the French would do in Paris, or at least, what you think they do. Taking in stride and admiring the simple beauty that surrounds you, making an effort to really kick back and
relax so that you almost forget why you came there in the first place. Ahh yes! You suddenly remember the food, and you’re appetite starts to kick in. Looking at the menu your eyes scroll from the Croque Monsieur to Croque Madame, mimosas, and French Toast (topped with fresh banana and maple syrup, it’s definitely a must have!) Then down to the assortment of sweet and savory crepes and onto the Paninis. (Fresh tuna and goat cheese are two of the most popular paini among patrons) And if you’ve stopped by for dinner, the grilled sirloin steak or pan seared salmon prove to be a maniciet part of the entrées served. Served with either a glass of fine wine or non-alcoholic sparkling cider, your fork and your mouth seem to coincide in a manner that connects them both in pure and utter happiness. For dessert you can go for the classic crème brulee or try the chocolate volcano (a chocolate lover’s dream) A side note to take into consideration when ordering: stay away from the American classics such as the hamburgers and fries. They are lackluster in the flavor department and it just doesn’t make sense to go to a French restaurant and order American cuisine now does it? Save the burgers for another night and you’ll be happy you did. For now, enjoy the food and the laid back atmosphere because as soon as you step out of the restaurant it can be quite a culture shock that no, you are not in Paris, you’re in Brooklyn, a far cry from France.
By Ashlee Mellowes Page 13
Entertainment Weekly
Heroic Africans: Legendary Leaders, Iconic Sculptures artists of their respective times and cultures depicted for the ages? Heroic Africans identifies the venerated leaders of Africa’s pre-colonial history for the first time.
(continued from pg. 12) Online, Jackson Rathborne (Jasper) says that the makeup crew had to make Kristin (Bella) look really tired during her Breaking Dawn pregnancy. “There was one time when I got to set and she had some kind of makeup on to make her look...really tired,” Rathborne told E! News. “I felt really bad. I was like, ‘what happened to her? Is she alright?’ She was like, ‘Dude, come on. It’s makeup.’ I was like, ‘OK cool, because I was really worried.’ Honestly, I was like, she must have had three weekends in Vegas.” Breaking Dawn part one, is set to be released in November 2011.
By Shari Straker
T
his exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art seeks to challenge conventional perceptions of African Art. The assemblage of more than 100 masterpieces from premier collections in Europe and the United States regards eight landmark sculptural traditions associated with West and Central Africa between the 12th and early 20th Century. The exhibition poses the question: who were the individuals that the most gifted
Movie Review: Straw Dogs
H
ave you ever been pushed to the point where you just can’t take it anymore? Well don’t be ashamed of it because everyone has a breaking point. After viewing the movie “Straw Dogs” there is only one question that presents itself and that is, “what would you do?”
Director Rod Lurie brings to the big screen “Straw Dogs” which is defined to be a false impression adopted by those who are not what they appear to be, and often a false front for someone who is in actuality a bully. This movie is beyond your typical bully story. There are gut wrenching scenes that shed light on the
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true meaning of survival of the fittest. Leading actor of the film, James Marsden plays David Sumner, a humble intelligent L.A. screenwriter who relocates with his wife Amy Sumner, played by Kate Bosworth, to her hometown in the Deep South. In the midst of settling down in their new home there are tensions that threaten their marriage and lives at the same time. One potential threat is one of five “Straw Dogs” Charlie, played by Alexander Skarsgard. Amy Sumner who comes from a town full of southern hospitality has some hidden secrets of her own and witnesses a welcome home party that is the unexpected.
In the past century, these works have largely been viewed abstractly; out of the contexts in which they were created; separate from the oral and cultural traditions which give them significance. For example, Heroic Africans contains for the first time, as the focus of an exhibition, an unprecedented assemblage of 22 superb commemorative figures by the Hemba masters in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Presented as a majestic council of statesmen, this section offers viewers an opportunity to examine the subtle distinctions that may be discerned among masterpieces that rank among the most impressive artistic achievements from sub-Saharan Africa.
creation of a dancing priestess by a Bangwa master (Musée Dapper, Paris) which is considered one of the most influential artistic achievements from Africa since the early 20th Century. The dancing priestess was a muse to Man Ray and Walker Evans when she made her debut at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York in 1935. This is the first time she has been back in the United States in a generation.
For the first time in 400 years, five commemorative figures representing the dynasty of Kuba leadership from the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Western Kasai region for the first time are shown together, having been secured from the collections of the British Museum, Tervuren in Brussels, and the Brooklyn Museum.
For the first time, African sculpture is not presented merely as generic artifacts; Heroic Africans highlights the significance of these works of art and relates these objects as historical subjects depicting living, breathing men and women.
Many African leaders commissioned statues in their life time with the intent that upon their death the statue would be given to their successor and thereby transfer to their successor their “life force.” This ambitious exhibit is indeed groundbreaking in enlivening the appreciation and ultimately the study of African art. Heroic Africans will be on view from September 21, 2011–January 29, 2012
Also in this exhibition is the acclaimed
By Desiree Rucker
In this town everyone trusts each other, no one locks their doors and the town’s traditional snack is a “fried pickle.” When you eat one you’re welcomed in as a neighbor or at least David Sumner thought so. They say “what don’t kill you simply makes you stronger,” well if you value your life you have to unleash a rage never seen before to keep it. Some people think they know you, your loved ones think they know you, but once you’re pushed to the limit you’ll know who you really are.
their roles successfully. If you’re into the fast paced killing spree movies then Straw Dogs is a must see for you. Even the location of the film gives justice to the plot creating a scene that gives off the impression that everything is not always what it’s set out to be. At the end of the day it’s not about how much of a man you are or how much weight you can hold, but how strategic you can be in a situation that puts you and the ones you love in danger.
This movie is very intense and reveals lots of striking scenes well crafted and blatantly shown. The cast members picked for this film looked and played
By Raymond Bethea, Jr.
Welcome to Cole World
J
. Cole fans have been waiting months for the much anticipated release of his first album Cole World: The Sideline Story. Months of waiting proved to be futile as his debut album was beyond what was expected. Throughout the 18 song selection he tells of his beginnings; to becoming the rapper and the individual that he is today. True to J. Cole form, his songs are well put together and poetic, which is a skill that some rappers lack. There were a few questionable decisions made on the album, such as recycling three songs from previous works to tag onto his first album. His song choices were excellent but you would hope that an album should contain only new tracks. Besides this flaw, his album was very impressive. For the most part his music has become underrated due to the lack of promotion from his label Roc Nation which is owned by rapper Jay-Z. His song, “Friday Night Lights” which appeared on one of his mix tapes proves that the man definitely has talent. In order to promote the upcoming rapper, J. Cole was featured on Jay-Z’s album The Blueprint 3. He spoke about being featured on Jay-Z’s album in The Sideline Story, a moment that proved to be his rise to fame.
the rest of his songs. It just doesn’t come across as a J. Cole song. It has a Jay-Z infused feel to it which would explain why the rapper is featured. The song is about enjoying your life to the fullest by splurging money and living everyday as if it were your last. However, it isn’t the J. Cole his fans have come to know and love. Jay-Z took control of the song and made it sound terrible. “Mr. Nice Watch” is a song made for Jay-Z which isn’t a true representation of J. Cole. As a debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, was beyond extraordinary. J. Cole had a point to get across and did an amazing job of helping fans gain a sense of his background. It’s a breath of fresh air to have an album released that everyone could feel comfortable in buying. Hopefully those who haven’t heard any of his songs may hear a sample and decide to buy the whole album.
By Justin Ellis
Sideline Story, which is also a track on the album, is the best one yet. Three different emotions can be felt while listening to this track—anger, hope and happiness. Anger, towards everyone who has ever doubted that he would become successful: Hopeful that he would actually get to achieve everything that he set out to do and happy, that he survived his trials and tribulations to be able to say, “I made it!” This song touches the soul, especially when you hear the final results of him becoming who he always wanted to be. Out of the many topics that he speaks about on his album, one line stands out the most, “my lines is designed from the heart.” These six simple words are why he is what rap music should always be—raw. Although this album is a masterpiece there is one song that may make you cringe which is titled “Mr. Nice Watch.” It’s hard to decide whether it’s the beat or the lyrics but it isn’t cohesive with
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Diversity in Video Games
R
ace has always been an issue in the entertainment industry, where the “hero” is predominantly white. This applies to the world of video games also, which emphasizes the narrow scope of diversity. All upcoming video game titles have a white male as the hero. Being Latino, this doesn’t bother me because it’s what the industry has made normal. Even though it doesn’t arouse anger, a change is necessary. Problems with attempts at change made in the past were exaggerated portrayals of ethic characters. Look at Grand Theft Auto (GTA) San Andreas, which featured an African American protagonist with supporting African American characters. Characters were so exaggerated that they couldn’t be taken serious by anyone, which in itself is a problem. A reoccurring issue is the lack of diversity in the gaming industry, where game studios are mostly white; which can cause lack of authenticity when making different ethnic characters. Having an Asian, African American or Latino character developed through the eyes of someone out of that ethnicity can be inaccurate. This makes it difficult for a “white” studio to create a game of different background groups while trying not to stereotype. The development of these characters stay within the lines of what’s normal in the market now.
For example Rockstar Studios, did a great job at diversifying with GTA 4 and GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony. In GTA 4 we have Niko Bellic who is an Eastern European immigrant who came to Liberty City. He comes with dreams of starting a new life and leaving his past behind, but bad choices with his cousin forces him to turn to crime. The Ballad of Gay Tony follows a similar story but with Luis Lopez, who is trying to come out of a life of crime. Money problems for his mom and influences from his cousin lead Luis into crime again. As a Latino I found Luis to be the most relatable character in a game. He spoke Spanish, had family and religious values similar to mine. The tidbits of Latino culture is what really made this character relatable. Both characters
that were each given dark paths still progress in the story and have relatable qualities that make them human. With all this said not many people would change the backgrounds of their current favorite characters like Nathan Drake or John Marston. A better idea would be the development of new characters with different backgrounds so they don’t live in the shadows of previous characters. According to study based on 150 of the Top Selling Games done by “NewScience,” “roughly 80% of all main characters were white, followed by 10.7% African-American and 2.7% Latino.” Change in these patterns is imperative for new story telling experiences. There are games, which allow you to create your own character, like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. Yet customization seems like a cheap way to show diversity since the characters have a set background and story template. No matter what the character is there are bland results overall, since the characters backgrounds aren’t unique. Other games that have successfully used diversity are titles like Gears of War, with fan favorites Augustus Cole and Dom. Afro Samurai, a game based on a very popular African American anime character, played by Samuel L. Jackson. Lastly Left 4 Dead with Francis, an African American white-collar worker. It’s these types of choices that developers make that make a gaming experience one of a kind and something new. A change in backgrounds can lead to new experiences in storytelling and play.
By Rodrigo Carreno
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College Sports Conferences on the Balance
Got Mega Conference?
A
midst a whirlwind of conference realignments in the past years, the inevitable in collegiate athletics has officially begun its course. The latest movement was formally acknowledged two Sundays ago by the Atlantic Coast Conference which added Syracuse and Pittsburgh from the Big East, the conference’s future now hanging in the balance. In addition to inking Syracuse, one the founding members of the Big East, and Pitt, a perennial powerhouse in basketball, the ACC is allegedly also targeting Connecticut and Rutgers ushering in what would be the first 16team mega conference. The Big East isn’t the only conference that’s crumbling.
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Effective as of July 1st, Nebraska and Colorado made their own moves into the growing Big Ten and Pac-10 respectively from the ailing Big 12. Texas A & M is confirmed to join the SEC in 2012. Two years ago, Boise State left the WAC (Western Athletic Conference) and Utah left the Mountain West to join the Pac-10. As more and more schools succumb to the pressures of realignment, the reasons become clearer. Institutions nowadays are more willing to pay hefty exit fees, taking a temporary hit rather than suffer from dissipation in the long run. Many sources are pointing the finger for the sudden earthquake at the move from these weakening conferences because of the demand for competition and, essentially, the publicity that comes with it. But, there is an underlying element. “Syracuse and Pitt left for the money,” said John Suarez, Athletic Director at
LIU, “they thought Big East football, which has no television contract, was going to break up and they jumped before it went bad.” “Even though basketball brings the glory, football brings in the hard dollar,” said Suarez.” Many if not all NEC rely on the Big East and neighboring A-10 Conference to supplement games in to schedules, so how will it affect the Northeast Conference? Forget contests; those can get replaced. The bigger problem is how the alignments will affect the recruiting market for schools such as LIU. “Some schools in the Northeast Conference may have visions or plans but I don’t know if it will come all the way down to schools in our conference,” said Suarez. “Schools in the NEC with a football program are in much better positions to make the move,” he
continued, “but there is not an interest for LIU to run football and there is no way financially.” Suarez along with other sources point toward two outcomes. “One of two things will happen, either the Big East and Big 12 merge or settle on becoming strong basketball conferences stopping everything or the big basketball schools, DePaul, Villanova, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Marquette decide to break off its going to get crazy,” said Suarez. Long Island has been a member of the NEC since 1981.
By Michael Garcia
Men’s/Women’s Golf Begin Fall Play
The RUNDOWN NBA Training Camps MG: Pau Gasol playing in the Euro Championships, and the Big Three in Miami could take their talents to…. China? “At the end of the day, you get that itch as a basketball player where you want to play the game. I have no idea when I’ll get that itch,” says Wade on ESPN on playing overseas. It’s all a publicity stunt. JT: I don’t know about a publicity stunt, I think would go anywhere to play basketball. There is no doubt that NBA season opener will be postponed and hopefully we will see them playing by Christmas and in the U.S.
Photo: LIU Athletics Archives
Photo: LIU Athletics Archives
‘Main Course’: Senior Anna Palsson (left) Junior Josh Waters (right) aim to build on last year’s success.
2
010 Northeast Conference Champion, Anna Palsson led Long Island University woman’s golf team at the Yale Fall Intercollegiate, Sept. 17 and 18th. The senior finished the tournament tied for 31st.
University on Sunday and Monday (9/18-9/19). The team’s strength was reinforced with strong performances from its freshman including Obe Ayton, who led LIU and finished out tied for 18th in the tournament.
On the Par-72 course, Palsson carded a 77-75-85 and freshman Brianna Maynard recorded a 80-79-81 to tie for 43rd in her second collegiate appearance. Senior Julia Rappa capped the slate for the Blackbirds tied up at 67th after carding 84-84-88. Freshman Alice Boothroyd carded an 83-82-81 after a strong performance that landed her in a tie for 51st.
Junior Josh Waters carded rounds of 7575 coming in tied at 22nd along with freshman Rhys Jones who shot rounds of 74-76.
Long Island landed 11th place as a team, and also held the highest score of all NEC teams at the event. Harvard came out on top with a overall score of 849.
Long Island finished seventh leaving Robert Morris to take the top spot for teams with a score of 571. The Blackbirds compete again Oct. third and fourth at the Joe Agee invitational in Williamsburg, Va.
Woman’s golf goes on hiatus until Oct. 14-15 where they will compete at the Rutgers Invitational. The Long Island University's men’s Golf team placed seventh at the Leo Leenan Invitational hosted by Saint Bonaventure
Senior Segeun Choi Carded rounds of 81-77 coming in at 45th. Sophomore Lloyd Martinson finished out tied for 38th, with 76-80 and junior Jamie Young was tied for 56th with 79-86.
Buffalo Bills MG: who ever thought the Bills would stop Belichick and the Pats? Thank Harvard Grad quarterback Sean Fitzpatrick. But really, I’m going to buy this and say theyll make it to the playoffs for a rematch against New England. JT: The Bills are turning some heads with the way they’ve been playing. 74 percent of teams that have started 3-0 have made the playoffs, so yea don’t be suprised to see Ivy Leaguer Fitzpatrick duke out with the MVP Tom Brady in the playoffs. By Michael Garcia
& John Tolis
By Shanel Gilbert Page 17
Volleyball Splits First Conference Matches On the Rise: Freshman Vera Djuric (left) and Annika Foit (below) bring international talent to Long Island.
Photo: LIU Athletics Archives
E
ven though the Long Island University’s volleyball team started off Conference play losing to Robert Morris 1-3, LIU salvaged its first NEC win against Saint Francis (Pa.) (6-11, 1-1 NEC) in straight sets (25-19, 25-9, 25-19). Sophomore Hanna Gibeau and freshman Annika Foit each had 14 kills for the Blackbirds. Alongside Foit, Vera Djuric provided 32 assists as another freshman standout. The Blackbirds made sure they didn’t make the same mistakes as they did in the previous game against Robert Morris. St. Francis (Pa.) couldn’t find any solutions to break through LIU’s fast paced play. The Blackbirds were flying past the Red Flash in the first set and jumped out to an 11-2 lead. The closest St. Francis got was when they came within two points, 17-15. LIU held its ground and put the first set in the bag 25-19.
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The second set was a breeze for LIU. With the game at 11-8, the Blackbirds went on a 14-1 run that would seal the second set 25-9. The Red Flash gave the Blackbirds a little scare in the third set after taking an early 10-6 lead. Minutes later, Long Island would turn everything around going on a 7-1 run. They soon turned a 13-10 deficit to a 17-14 lead. The Blackbirds would finish off the third set with ease and a score of 25-19 to capture their first NEC win. Gibeau added 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. Senior Chelsey Stanton turned in a match-high 15 digs. The Blackbirds hit .311 for the match, while Saint Francis hit .000 as a team. Long Island enjoyed a 39-26 advantage in kills. The Red Flash were paced by six kills from Elizabeth Williams and 11 digs from Brittany Stambaugh. Volleyball would have loved to open Northeast Conference play with a win, but instead suffered a 1-3 (26-24, 25-17,
19-25, 25-16) defeat to Robert Morris (5-10, 1-0 NEC). Foit led the team in kills with 15. The first set was a nail biter for both teams, but it was Robert Morris who prevailed 26-24 in the end. It was the same story for the Blackbirds in the second set losing 25-17 and found themselves cornered by Robert Morris. The Blackbirds eventually turned things around winning the third set 19-25. They would score eight of the first 12 points, but the Colonials found a way to obtain a 9-8 lead. Moments later, a 6-3 LIU scoring surge gave them a 15-11 lead that would help them seize the set. Unfortunately, LIU couldn’t continue its winning ways in the fourth set. The Colonials dug a hole that the Blackbirds couldn’t get out of. After an early 7-2 lead, Robert Morris made sure they had the upper hand and closed the fourth set 25-17 to go home with a win. Erica Robb's 18 kills for the Colonials led all players.
Teammate Hanna Veith added 14 kills. Robb added 14 digs for a doubledouble matching Stanton of LIU and junior Sapphire Reid for the matchhigh. Gibeau chipped in 13 kills for Long Island, which was outhit by a 5644 margin. The Blackbirds hit .177 for the match compared to Robert Morris' mark of .239. The Blackbirds are now 6-10 and 1-1 in Northeast Conference action. They will continue NEC play on the road and will travel to New Britain, Connecticut to face Central Connecticut State.
By John Tolis
Women’s Soccer Kicks Off Conference With Win
W
i t h hopes of repeating last year’s championship run, the women’s soccer team climbed their first step defeating rival Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) 4-1 Sunday to begin Northeast Conference (NEC) play. Long Island would open the scoring in the 26th minute with a breakaway opportunity by sophomore Jen Spicer after a feed from junior Katie Egan. Spicer would run into the FDU goalie, Sage Doval, and score a team leading third goal of the season. Seven minutes later, sophomore Caroline Kaplan netted the first goal of her career shortly after checking in to the match. Shortly after the half, Kayleigh Morgan would score the Blackbird’s third goal and junior Lauryn Bretches would tally the fourth and final goal to secure the win. FDU’s Elizabeth Langer scored the lone goal in the 54th minute. Despite losing goalkeeper Jess Sexton to a knee injury after what was an outstanding freshman campaign, junior Jen Bannon has reprised the role and has done so brilliantly. Posting a .745 save percentage with 35 saves, Bannon garnered NEC Defensive Player of
Photo: LIU Athletics Archives
The Guardian: Junior goalkeeper Jen Bannon reprises her role and garners NEC Defensive Player of the Week honors two weeks in a row. the Week honors two weeks in a row. Bannon posted her first shutout of the young season against NJIT on Sept. 16, the Blackbirds winning 2-0. “She [Bannon] has stepped up vocally and demanded more from her teammates on the field,” said Head Coach Tracey Bartholomew. “While our goal is to never let a shot into the net, it takes the whole team defending well, along with our goalkeeper keeping it out of the back of the net to get that shutout.” Junior Alana Wohlers headed her first goal as a Blackbird in the first half and Jen Spicer tallied the second goal for LIU in the second half to put away NJIT. Later in the week, the Blackbirds suffered a daunting defeat at Columbia University, 1-0 but managed to rebound
with a victory on Sunday. Leading into what is set to be an interesting remaining conference schedule, senior Ariana Calderon leads the team with 24 shots and a .667 shot on goal percentage. Calderon trails only Spicer’s three goals by one. Calderon is tied ironically with Evelyn Calderon with two assists a piece despite having no relation.
30th, and Monmouth on Sunday, October 2nd.
“We typically don’t use last year’s stats in comparison, as we have a completely new group of players and a new chapter in LIU soccer,” said Bartholomew on her philosophy and expectations after last year’s success, “We attack every year with a new focus.”
“The good news is that we have a very talented new team and we can control our destiny right now. So the focus is 1 game at a time, for the whole game and going after that other team. This team believes we can do it.”
Long Island improves to 4-5-0 on the young season after the weekend and is slated for a conference road trip to Mount Saint Mary’s Friday, September
“We know that conference games mean everything and we leave it all on the field. While each year is new, we do have traditions and things we do to energize the players and team,” said Bartholomew on the Blackbirds approach to the remainder of the conference schedule.”
By Michael Garcia
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