VOL 97 : 05 oct. 16, 2019 torchonline.com
The award-winning independent student newspaper of St. John’s University
'b e cau t i o us' SCHO O L, STU D
I N O N N AT
ENTS WEI
I O N A L VA
CRISIS
GH
PING
see the story on page 4
INclusivity resource center: one year later
read more on page 3
2 News
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Immigration Activist Angy Rivera: “I Am a Migrant” Alicia Venter
Immigrant activist Angy Rivera came to campus on Monday, Oct. 7 to discuss her experiences as an undocumented immigrant living in the United States. Speaking in Sun Yet Sen Memorial Hall, she opened a conversation about immigration and how her lack of documentation had affected her. The event began with a welcoming by Monique Jernigan, Executive Director of Multicultural Affairs, who shared that she was “excited to be here in the presence of Angy Riviera, to share more about immigration, activism and thinking about how we can do better as an institution and also as individuals and community members.’ Following Jernigan, the President of Latin American Student Organization (L.A.S.O.), junior Shaeleigh Severino, shared her thanks to Rivera for coming to campus to discuss such a “heavy topic,” with everyone then handed the stage over to her in order to begin her “I am a migrant” talk. Rivera shared, both in her conversation and in the flyer provided to all members of the audience, that she is a Columbian immigrant who arrived in the United States with her mother when she was four. Unaware that they were going to be undocumented, they only recently received a U.S. visa in 2013 and now her green card. She struggled to get into college, not due to her lack of intelligence or dedication, but because she didn’t have a Social Security number. In describing this realization during high school Rivera, stated that after all of her hard work, “It felt like at the end of all of that, it didn’t matter, because I wasn’t a citizen.” However, with the help of her teachers and the
New York State Youth Leadership Council, an organization led by undocumented youth that fights for immigation justice (which she’s currently the Co-Executive Director of), Rivera was able to attend and graduate CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, while obtaining a degree in Culture and Community Studies and minoring in Human Services. In 2012, while in college, Rivera released a documentary titled “No Le Digas A Nadie” (Don’t Tell Anyone), where she delves into her struggles as both an undocumented immigrant and a victim of sexual assault, saying that it was a documetary about “coming out of the shadows.” Rivera made a point to clarify confusing terminology and unknown facts in an attempt to educate people, such as the different kinds of visas, legislation and free aid available to immigrants. Leaving plenty of room for questions at the end, Rivera responded to multiple members of the audience sharing how she struggled with self identification. She shared how she constantly felt pressured about how she wanted to be and how the world felt she should be. Rivera ended her talk with a positive message:
“
It’s okay to not have the answers. - Angy Rivera
Rivera was recently featured in Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You” music video among others. If you want
TORCH PHOTOS/AMANDA NEGRETTI
to learn more about immigration or desire to reach out to her, her award winning undocumented immigrant online advice column is @AskAngy.
All the Information: SGI’s Latest Meeting Sophie Williams SGI held a general body meeting on Oct. 7. The main points of the meeting included a proposed budget increase in Greek life, information on freshman elections and announcements from the school spirit committee. President Matthew Macatula was not present at the meeting this week due to being sick; because of this, Vice President Clyde Drayton oversaw the meeting. Drayton announced that committee membership application will be open until Oct.11. He also is requesting help, especially organizational help, from people who are interested in the health and wellness committee. Treasurer Nia Gumbs proposed a budget increase for Panhellic Life. Greek life requested an increase from $60,000 to $80,000 and SGI is proposing to increase it to only $70,000. Many representatives and committee members questioned the need for the increase due to the
large budget Greek Life already has, the inclusion of shirt prices which do not affect the whole student body and their likelihood to overspend between $2-3000 anyway. The budget was tabled and Gumbs suggested to bring in an advisor to explain the budget. Secretary Nnaemeka Ifeajekwu announced freshman elections information sessions we’ve held on Oct. 10 and Oct. 14. Senior senator Anna Gibson announced that the senior scholarship is still in the works, but to please contact her with any questions. She also remarked that the committee fair was a success and they have received 80 applications so far. From committee reports, the organization committee announced that the levels for SGI recognized organization budgets has changed. The new levels of breakdown are non-advisory, non-budgetary and budgetary. For questions regarding this change, contact Patrick Kohn. Student equity committee had their first general body
meeting and it was a success. The meetings will be held on Wednesdays at 4 pm and the next meeting is on Oct. 17. Follow their instagram for all information: @equitycommitteesju. On Sunday, Oct. 13, there was a season ticket holder appreciation event in Carnesecca Arena at 2 p.m. The tipoff performer this year: Juice Wrld! Lastly, they will be holding a scarf giveaway on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at the men’s soccer game at 7 p.m and on Sunday, Oct. 27 at the women’s soccer game at 1 p.m. Unfortunately, the student affairs/services committee announced the Subway footlong will not return to meal exchange. Dining services said that the meal exchange price has a dollar value, so since Subway does not have the $5 footlong anymore, it cannot reach the value. The meeting concluded with the passing of the SGI bylaws for 2019-2020.
News 3
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IRC Celebrates One Year On Queens Campus Center Announces Plans to Raise Awareness on Social Media
Poetry on Campus: Kamilah Aisha Moon
Award-winning poet reads original pieces in D’Angelo Aaron Perez PHOTO COURTESY/AMAZON.COM
TORCH PHOTO/SPENCER CLINTON
Dayra Santana The Inclusivity Resource Center celebrated its one year anniversary on Tuesday, Oct. 1 with a mixer in Sun Yat Sen equipped with food, music and an appearance by Johnny Thunderbird. This anniversary was a celebration of one year’s worth of accomplishments. The Inclusivity Resource Center (IRC) opened October 2018, after student unrest and protests took place the previous year. The center hosts social justice trainings for students, workshops, as well as counseling services. Student organizations can also reserve the main room in the center. The center also hosts events sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, including four heritage month celebrations, Common Ground Dialogues where students engage in peer-led open discussions about different societal issues and the Diversity Peer Education program. Monique Jerrigan, the executive director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, described the role of the IRC as not only being the place where these events are hosted, but as a safe space for students across campus. “We are already an inclusive institution, but we need to become more inclusive. The reason that the center was created was because students were saying, ‘hey, I don’t feel included, I don’t feel supported, you’re not seeing me.’” Jerrigan continued in her opening remarks to the center’s visitors. The center is also home to a counseling center in partnership with the Center for Counseling and Consultation located in Marillac, where students can meet with Dr. Janine O’Brian for 20 minute walk-in counseling sessions on Tuesdays. “It is an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of Marillac, it’s much calmer here, it’s a lot more serene. Hopefully more students come, if they need to see a counselor they can come here,” Elizabeth Ponce de Leon, department assistant at the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said. “A whole lot is always going on here, it’s always some-
thing different, and students are more than welcome to come and hang out, or even reserve the space,” she continued. It is also home to the only two gender neutral bathrooms on campus. “I am a trans person, and I actually really appreciate the gender neutral bathrooms that they have here, so I actually come here whenever I feel uncomfortable using a public restroom,” said Andy Ma, junior and president of Spectrum. “But in general, all the people here are really nice, so I enjoy coming here when I need a breather.” In an address to those present at the mixer, Ma spoke of the student protests that had taken place in the years prior, both on Queens campus and the Staten Island campus, in the years he has been a student. “I remember feeling like, students need to help other students, they need to make each other feel like this campus is a place where they can feel accepted and comfortable,” he said, “And so, the thing about the IRC is that it’s a very important space. I really, really appreciate it being here, because it is a space for people of color, people in the LGBT community, and for people in general who are of minority status to come here and feel accepted and welcome.” As for the future development of the IRC, the center is now in the process of trying to brand themselves on campus – with a seven-to-eight-person student worker team, the center is working to use social media to raise awareness about their presence on campus. They are also looking to have signature IRC events. “I hope that we can extend our reach to more people, and more people come here and use this space as much as they can.” Ma said. “We are open for the feedback,” Jerrigan said. “We want to make sure everything we do is we do is for the students – student center, student first.”
As the 21st century grew on the horizon, some media regarded poetry as a dying art. By 2013, articles from newspapers and magazines such as Harpers’ and The Atlantic called it the decline of American verse. Recently, however, poetry has been making a recovery on our Queens campus. On Oct.10, poet Kamilah Aisha Moon gave a poetry reading at D’Angelo Center. Moon is the author of “Starshine & Clay” and “She Has a Name,” and was a finalist for the Audre Lorde and Lambda Literary Awards as well as a Pushcart Prize Winner. She has been published in Best American Poetry, Harvard Review, Poem-A-Day, PBS Newshour and Buzzfeed. Some may also recognize her poetry in the train stations and subway cars as a part of the Poetry in Motion Program first launched by MTA New York City Transit and the Poetry Society of America in 1992. During the poetry reading, Moon read poetry from both of her books. The poems drew from many of the experiences she had been through, such growing up with a sibling with autism. Some poems grew out of the hope to further understand the experiences of others such as “Peeling Potatoes at Terezin Concentration Camp.” Moon described how she wrote this poem after touring a concentration camp and contemplating on how it must have been for prisoners of the camps to have to prepare dinner for their executioners. After the poetry reading, many people in the audience expressed how connected they felt to Moon’s poems. One stated how they related to Moon’s experience as a sibling to someone with autism, another said how Moon’s poem about a student gave her insights on problems she was dealing with as a teacher. During the Q&A, many in the audience spoke about how they felt as though they were truly experiencing what Moon had felt and were amazed by how each poem seemed to take them to a different place.
4 Features
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Dayra Santana
Vapes – we’ve all seen, smelled and heard them. You may have been in the library and heard the crack of someone’s Juul in the cubicle across from you, or maybe you’ve walked past someone on the strip who left a cloud of sugary-sweet smoke behind them as they passed by. If you haven’t tried it, you probably know someone who has. In the past few months you may have also known someone who up and quit vaping after a mysterious illness attributed to the trend began dominating headlines across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration are currently investigating a mysterious outbreak of lung injuries across the country that appear to be associated with e-cigarette use. The CDC recommends that people refrain from using e-cigarettes, or vapes, that contain nicotine, as well as those that contain THC. On Tuesday, Oct. 8th, New York State officials reported that a 17-year-old in the Bronx died from a vaping-related illness, the first fatality in New York and the youngest person in the country to die from this outbreak. The death total has now increased to 26, and the overall number of reported illnesses is 1,299 cases in every state but Alaska, as of Oct. 8th. Some symptoms of this illness can include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever, among others. Vaping is the act of using an e-cigarette, vape pens and personalized vaporizers. The Juul is one of these e-cigarette products that has risen to popularity since its inception in 2017, due in part to its inconspicuous, compact design. One Juul pod contains 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine, according to anti-tobacco campaign The Truth. While its creators say that the device is intended for people who are trying to quit smoking cigarettes, its tiny presentation can also be
said to be the reason why so many underagedusers have taken to the device. Vape THC has also risen to popularity, likely due in part to this same convenient and inconspicuous presentation. The majority of cases of illness and death involve THC vapes. The death of the Bronx teenager is reflective of statistics from the past three years showing an uptake in underage vaping. According to The National Institutes of Health, 37 percent of surveyed high school seniors in 2018 vape. The CDC has determined that 15 percent of the reported cases of vaping related illness have been under the age of 18. Students may not even think twice about this issue, seeing as the University allows smoking on campus. Other universities in the New York City and Long Island areas, including our neighbor Queens College, all of the CUNY schools, Stonybrook University and NYU are all tobacco-free campuses. The University’s student code of conduct says that while smoking is prohibited in all University buildings, it is allowed 30 feet from building entrances and windows. This policy includes the use of e-cigarettes, vape pens and vaporizers. “I think people just see it and don’t think it’s a big deal, they see someone doing it and they’re like, ‘oh pass it to me.’ But clearly it does affect you eventually as time goes by. It becomes like an addiction type of thing,” Pushpita Pal, senior biomedical studies major, said. “Mostly teenagers in our age group usually do it. I’ve seen that more and more.” Several popular convenience stores in the area surrounding campus sell these products and advertise them heavily. Right outside of gate six, all three of the convenience stores that share the same strip on Union Turnpike sell Juul pods and other e-cigarette products, with their windows covered in advertisements for the items. In a statement to the Torch, Executive Di-
TORCH PHOTO/DAYRA SANTANA
Mysterious Vaping Illness: SJU Weighs In
P & M Convenience Store, on the corner of 169th St. and Union Tpke, advertising e-cigarette devices to consumers, including Juul products.
rector of Wellness and Assessment Luis Manzo expressed no current plans on part of the university to address the issue before the state of New York City act. “The University is monitoring potential changes to New York State and City law regarding the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes and vaping,” Manzo said. “If necessary the University will adapt its policies accordingly.” As the issue develops, litigators, vape users and St. John’s will all be keeping a close eye on the effects of vaping and the outcome of this mysterious ailment. Manzo did make a note of past initiatives the University has taken to educate students on health issues related to tobacco. “Over the past several years Student Wellness has increased its tobacco education,” Manzo said. This has included participation in the Great American Smokeout and featuring tobacco education in the Fall Wellness and Spring Health Fairs. Members of the Student Wellness Team are also Certified Tobacco Ces-
sation Specialists. In a press conference Governor Andrew Cuomo held after the death of the Bronx teenager, he gave a grave warning. “Young people have to know you are playing with your life when you play with this stuff … best case scenario for vaping, you get addicted to nicotine … Worst case is, you vape and it kills you,” Cuomo said. New York State has even moved to ban flavored e-cigarette pods, an initiative to curb teenage vaping that was blocked by a state appeals court before it could take effect. The question that remains to be answered for many vape users — should you stop vaping? The answer depends on who you ask. Some SJU students don’t think it’s worth the risk. “I do think that it has worried me because I have a lot of friends that do it. I don’t think that it’s worth the risk,” Tatiana Brown, junior legal studies major said. “Students should definitely be cautious and make sure that if they are going to vape that whatever they’re vaping is safe.”
All That NYC Has to Offer This ‘Spooky Season’ Priyanka Gera ‘Spooky Season’ has begun! The internet’s favorite time of year is here, and all the pumpkin-spice and ghoul delights you could ever dream of has arrived. Halloween is just around the corner. You can finally splurge on all the candy you want with no questions asked and dress up as your favorite character for an entire 24 hours. Before you choose your costume, don’t forget to check out all that New York City has to offer to make your Halloween unforgettable! This city has so much more than just haunted houses – from picking picture-perfect pumpkins to parading around your dog in its adorable costume to classic movie screenings, there’s plenty of unique things to do in the days leading up to the 31st. Queens Farm Pumpkin Patch WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 5-26 WHERE: Floral Park Who doesn’t love an old-fashioned pumpkin patch? Go enjoy the crisp autumn air with your family and friends and soak in the beautiful 47-acre landscape as you begin the quest for the ideal pumpkin. The Queens County Farm has got you covered with plenty of pumpkins and some more activities, including a maize maze to get lost in, hayrides and even live country music to keep the excitement alive. There is a small fee, prices varying from $8 to $15 depending on the activity, but if you can find a pumpkin to perch on your front-porch or dorm-window and also have a great day out, it is so worth it.
The Annual Tompkins Sq. Halloween Dog Parade WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 20 WHERE: East River Park Amphitheatre Halloween costumes for dogs are absolutely adorable. Just imagine seeing hundreds of them in a myriad of costumes, from butterflies to Amelia Pawharts, all in one place. Well, no need to imagine – the annual Tompkins Square dog parade is back this year for its 29th run. There is no entrance fee – just head out to the amphitheatre that weekend and join the crowd of 10,000 others to witness this sweet competition for “Best In Show” between our furry friends. It’s their time to shine! Halloween Harvest Festival WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 26 WHERE: Socrates Park, Long Island City Get in your extra dose of spooky in at Socrates Park starting at noon for free! This years theme is Fet Gede, which refers to the Haitian Festival of Ancestors. Experience a tarot card reading session and enjoy the live dance and music performances scheduled for that day. If you couldn’t get enough of dogs in costumes at the Tompkins Square Dog Parade, fear not! Socrates Park will also be hosting their own annual Doggie Costume Contest with prizes and a panel of local judges from Astoria. There will be plenty of sweets to satisfy your sweet-tooth and activities like lantern-making to keep you busy.
The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze WHEN: Now until Saturday, Nov. 30 WHERE: Van Cortlandt Manor You have never seen the starry sky so up close and personal before ... wait, those aren’t stars, they’re pumpkins! Visit Westchester County and walk through the Pumpkin Promenade, with thousands of carved Jack O’Lanterns lighting the way along the Hudson river. This astonishing masterpiece is handcrafted every year by volunteers and professional artists and all proceeds from the event will support a local nonprofit. Do not miss out on your only opportunity to see a Jack O’Lantern Statue of Liberty! Book your tickets today. The Rocky Horror picture Show SCREENING WHEN: Every Friday and Saturday at Midnight up to and including Thursday, Oct. 31 WHERE: Cinépolis Chelsea If you have never seen this film in theaters before, don’t be scared if people start screaming at the screen or throwing toilet paper. This yearly screening of the classic 1975 film, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” attracts fanatics and spooky aficionados from all over the city for an unforgettable evening. It is an interactive movie experience coupled with performers dancing in front of the screen. If think you are ready to be an active participant and hurl things at the screen, then buy your midnight tickets today before they sell out. TORCH DESIGN/JENNA WOO
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Flames of the Torch 97TH MANAGING BOARD Morgan C. Mullings/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amanda Negretti/ MANAGING EDITOR Andreina Rodriguez NEWS EDITOR Spencer Clinton CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nick Bello SPORTS EDITOR Dayra Santana FEATURES EDITOR Priyanka Gera CULTURE EDITOR Destinee Scott OPINION EDITOR
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CONTRIBUTIONS J.L Stephenson Nicholas DiMaria Brendan Murray Thomas Cavanagh Alicia Venter Sean O’Kula Aaron Perez Sophie Williams
Sara Rodia Yuevan Yu Ivy Bourke Alexandra Crespo Theresa Vogal Nahndi Chiomya Grace Greer
EDITORIAL POLICY
Editorials are the opinions of the Editorial Board of the Torch. Columns and other content are the opinions of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of the Torch. Opinions expressed in editorials, columns, letters or cartoons are not necessarily those of the student body, faculty or administration of St. John’s University. All contents are the sole responsibility of the editors and the editorial board and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of St. John’s University unless specifically stated.
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Staff Editorial: The Oct. 15 Democratic Debate This is the first time in history that there are this many Democratic candidates up for the presidency. Of the original 20 candidates who hoped to have a chance against Trump in the 2020 elections, only 12 qualified for last night’s debate. On the other hand, the Republican party has four candidates: Mark Sanford, Donald Trump, Joe Walsh, William F. Weld. However, the Republican party is focusing its time and energy on Trump because the other 3 candidates announced their commitment to Trump, according to CBS News. Thus, Democrats are making up for the lack of campaigning in their opposing party. Last night’s debate brought up the issues of medicare, wealth tax, abortion, gun control and Trump’s withdrawal of troops in Syria. They began with an extensive discussion on the House of Representatives impeachment inquiry. While many gave clarification on how they disagree with other candidates, others dodged direct answers and bounced off each other’s ideas. Their ideas overlap considerably which may make it difficult to align with a particular candidate. However, all the candidates agree that “it’s time to act,” as Sen. Kamala Harris stated during the debate. It’s time that students take an active step to understand the elections and each candidates’ stance on the most pressing issues. Many students, including some of our new staffers, attended a watch party in the University Center. Your vote always matters, but especially now because there is a great deal of controversy surrounding Trump’s
reelection. As college students, we may not be directly affected by a President’s foreign policy or trade agreements, but we have a right to be involved and have a voice, no matter who we agree or disagree with. Whoever wins the 2020 election should reflect the students’ values and goals for the future and have their people’s best interest at heart, especially if they are a young person who has taken their time to get registered, possibly miss school to vote, or have to order a mail-in or absentee ballot — an effort made by those who call other states home and care deeply about the politics of their hometowns. Furthermore, as Sen. Gabbard responded to the “does age matter” question, the next president also has to be an appropriate commander-in-chief, and we now know that the candidates are taking all of their qualifications, not just their policy, into consideration. The primary elections, which give voters a voice in selecting a candidate for a party’s nomination, will be held early next year. If you are registered as a Democrat or Republican in this state, the New York primaries will be April 28, 2020. Out-of-state students should find out when their state is holding the primary election because the date varies for registration and absentee voting. The November date will see a significantly smaller amount of candidates, and one of the main reasons is because of how each candidate polls in early nominating states. In other words, the opinion of voters like you is a deciding factor.
St. John’s Earns Spot on List of Top Ten U.S. Colleges for Upward Mobility Sara Rodia St. John’s University recently made it onto the MarketWatch list of top ten U.S. colleges for upward mobility. The article discusses how these 10 colleges prove that you don’t need to go to an Ivy League school, such as Harvard or Yale, to achieve the American Dream. I definitely agree that St. John’s should be included on this list. Within six months after graduation, 94.3 percent of SJU students are secure with a job or are back in school, which is higher than the national average of almost 82 percent, according to Inside Higher Ed. This statistic alone should be enough to see why St. John’s is included on this list. However, St. John’s also has a policy of “once a Johnny always a Johnny.” If you’ve never heard of this before, it means that even after you graduate, you can come back to career services and they’ll help you get situated with a job. Still don’t believe that St. John’s should be on this list? Well, another great perk about being an SJU student is hav-
ing access to an extensive alumni network throughout the city. This alumni network aids St. John’s students to get both internships and jobs. From what I’ve heard from the success of students after graduation to the assistance St. John’s gives its students, I can certainly see why it has made this list. Being in the city, where St. John’s is a very well known school, leads to great opportunities to get great internships and jobs that set you up well for the rest of your life. I personally chose St. John’s for the great opportunities that it would offer me being in NYC. As a senior in high school looking for a college to attend, I heard from students how there were many internship opportunities in NYC that the school helped them find and I can certainly now vouch for that. I get weekly emails with new internship opportunities and I have friends who have had no problem getting an internship in Queens or Manhattan. However, while I certainly agree that St. John’s should be on this list and does give students a chance for upward mo-
bility, I do feel that there are limitations to a St. John’s degree that do not occur with an Ivy League school. A St. John’s degree holds a lot of weight in New York City and the surrounding areas, but once you start shifting out of those areas, St. John’s may not be as well known as Ivy League schools. Don’t get me wrong, a St. John’s degree is still an amazing degree to receive, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t, but it does have limitations compared to a degree from Harvard or Yale. From this knowledge, I would say that St. John’s provides some of the same opportunities that an Ivy League school would. They have amazing organizations to join, such as clubs pertaining to your major or career goal. They also have programs to attend, like the activities and career fairs and internship opportunities that they assist you in pursuing. St. John’s may not have the title of being an Ivy League school, but they offer amazing opportunities and give students a good chance for upward mobility.
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Positively Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness Month Ivy Bourke When football players wear pink socks or hockey players have pink tape on their sticks, what do you think of? Though breast cancer is rare in young women, it is now on the rise. According to the National Cancer Institute, younger women developing advanced breast cancer has increased by two percent and is expected to increase over the next few decades, which may make millennials afraid. Living in constant fear, as a woman, it is frightening that the numbers keep increasing for the generation of college students that will be affected by the time they reach the ages of 20 to 30 years old. All college students and women now should have yearly mammograms and self examine their breasts once a month. According to the American Cancer Society, in America, breast cancer affects one in eight women in their lifetime. During this year alone, about 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 62,930 noninvasive cases will be diagnosed in 2019 alone. But the scary part of 2019: 41,760 women will die of breast cancer. Growing up with the fear that breast cancer will affect millions of my generation is terrifying. Many women do not want to run the risk of getting it when they grow older, so they take extreme measures. Some have started to put their chances into plastic surgeries and to remove their breasts, but most breast cancer is caused due to genes. As a woman, this fear is always present in my mind. This cancer takes a toll on some women because it dictates their life, making them feel like they can never be themselves again.
PHOTO COURTESY/SPENCER CLINTOn
St. John’s University spirit rock decorated in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
When women are struggling or being set back by sexism in society, they tend to band together and be an unstoppable force. Women did this for suffrage, abortion rights, and now, the sisterhood should continue and fight with the women who have this cancer. Whether by walking in a 5K for breast cancer or supporting someone you know, these women are in des-
perate need of support, especially from other women. As numbers rise in women being diagnosed this year and in the years to come, for the female college students, I encourage you to self examine your breasts once a month.
A Corrupt Administration: Second Whistleblower Comes Forward Alexandra Crespo Why do presidents get impeached? Lies. Defying Congress. Obstruction. Sound familiar? The United States is dealing with a president who frequently lies, disregards the authority of Congress and abuses his power. The House of Representatives launched their impeachment inquiry based on the information provided by whistleblowers, which are government employees who have exposed the president’s potential illegal actions of pressuring a foreign government for personal gain. President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked the first whistleblower as being an unreliable source and has threatened their legal right to keep their identity anonymous. Trump said, “I deserve to know my accuser.” This should frighten Americans, as Trump encourages people to break the law and uncover the whistleblowers. By making these statements, Trump threatens and prevents future government employees from coming forward against their employers. Trump is also threatening the whistleblower’s identity and preventing them from testifying. However, a second whistleblower came forward the week of Oct. 6, with first-hand knowledge that supports the claims of the first whistleblower. The whistleblowers’ complaints are key to the impeachment inquiry that has been launched against President Trump. The impeachment case
is based on the infamous July 25 Ukraine call when Trump used his political authority to establish foreign policy and personal relations for personal gain in helping defeat potential 2020 political opponent Joe Biden. According to CNN, the second whistleblower has spoken to the intelligence community’s inspector general and has not filed their own complaint, as talking to “the inspector watchdog” is deemed a “protected disclosure and is a whistleblower under the law.” In response, the strategy of the White House is to not
“
President Trump has openly admitted to talking to the President of Ukraine and the released transcripts are only a summary of the phone call put out by White House officials.
comply with any requests from Congress and to tell other officials to not come forward with information. The whistleblowers are vital to the impeachment inquiry and will testify against Trump and state their first and sec-
ond-hand experiences of witnessing the president abuse his power. However, the whistleblowers are continuously faced with an extreme amount of scrutiny from Trump, and his supporters, as they demand his accusers to be named and unmasked. Although the whistleblowers have filed their complaints, it is unclear if they will testify due to fear of their safety. Trump calls it a “witch hunt” but in reality it is corruption. Trump has openly admitted to talking to the president of Ukraine and the released transcripts are only a summary of the phone call put out by White House officials. Although the official verbatim transcripts have not been released, the paraphrased transcripts show that Trump discussed his possible future 2020 political opponent, Joe Biden. A majority of Americans support Trump’s impeachment. CNN reported that the Washington Post/ABC News poll show, “58 percent said Congress should have begun the inquiry.” Issues among the job of the presidency should not be arising as frequently as they do. Only two past presidents have been impeached, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. In addition, Richard Nixon resigned before he could be impeached and removed from office. The current president should be impeached, but if he wanted to save the country’s money and not expose his corrupt administration, then he would resign.
Opinion 7
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Mindful Eating Can Save Lives Tips To Help You Become A Mindful Eater Yueran Yu Health is an ever-lasting topic around the world. It’s important to slow down the process of eating because eating mindfully not only prevents stomach bloating and congestion, but also diminishes the chance of suffering from a stroke and/or detrimental metabolic syndromes like diabetes and obesity. The process of eating should be delightful and it should result in sufficient energy gain instead of unnecessary weight gain. Every year, countless people die because of unhealthy eating habits and mindful eating can save many lives. What is mindfulness? It means being attentive and aware of what is taking place in the present. Moreover, “mindful” eating is a nonjudgmental awareness of physical and emotional sensations associated with eating. Being aware of why you are eating, the action of eating and the processes occurring while eating. Once you adapt this habit of eating, it is no longer a dull daily routine for you, but a luxurious private time to yourself or quality time with your family and friends. Losing weight or keeping healthy habits would no longer be a primary concern, since you are constantly aware of what your body needs. The word “mindful” is seldom thought to connect with the eating process. We all know people who nibble here and there, who consume a great amount of food each meal or who eat non-stop while watching a movie and then complain about being so full or gaining weight. Yes, we need to eat to get energy and function efficiently, but to maintain a healthy diet and eat more pleasantly, we need to be aware of what and how we are eating. The key to approaching mindful eating habits is essentially just two words —slow and aware. No matter if you are eating a full meal or a slight snack, first engage with your senses. Feel the texture of your food (if it’s edible with
hands), observe the appearance, distinguish the odor and then put it in your mouth. The process of chewing is also important. There is an old saying in my family that you need to chew twenty times before you swallow. Of course, it’s not necessary to count numbers every time you chew, but you get to the point of really breaking down your food. The environment and time you eat are also important. Eating without distractions or pressure is one advisable way to prevent mindfulness eating. However, engaging in discussion and being social while eat-
ing is encouraged. It’s more likely to increase the chance of excessive eating when you are in a rush or eating in front of the television, computer or phone. Besides being healthy, it was proven by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Harvard Health studies that mindful eating habits can relieve psychological distress, improve digestive and immune systems, regulate positive emotions and increase activity, as well as overall life satisfaction. So practice mindful eating! PHOTO COURTESY\FLICKR
How to Survive Midterm Week 101 Tips To Help You Get Through Midterms Stress-Free Sophie Williams
The Doc is in, here to help you survive and pass midterm week. From freshmen to unmotivated seniors, these tips will help you get through the week with less stress. First things first: study. I think this is a given, but remember you are only as good as your preparation. Preparing for midterms will take a weight off your shoulders compared to walking in blind. But how do you begin the studying process? A great starting point is to clarify with your professor what would be covered on the midterm and what you can do to best prepare. Most professors want to see you succeed, so asking for help or clarification never hurts. The next thing to do is compile and organize your notes or textbook material. Once you have everything organized, study sections one step at a time. I know from experience that trying to study everything at once is super overwhelm-
ing, but if you focus on one section at a time you will feel less overwhelmed. However, do not wait until the last minute! Procrastination, while tempting at times, should be avoided during midterms. You will only do better and feel less anxious if you give yourself decent time to really study the material. But do not forget to take breaks! Breaks are so necessary to proper studying. Giving yourself a break gives your brain and body time to recharge. Some things you can do during your break could include: eating a snack, working out or taking a nap. Take breaks, but remember not to overdo them; creating a schedule can help you avoid turning a 30-minute break into hours. If you are like me, you will need a certain study environment as well. Discovering what type of study setting works for you can be so helpful when studying for a big assessment. If you want a calm and mostly quiet area, the third floor of the library is a great place. The library may seem
like a foriegn area to freshmen, but trust me, it is one of the best places on campus for focused studying. If you prefer a little background noise, DAC has many areas, even comfy ones, where you can study. Bring a friend too if you need a little motivation! Having someone studying next to you can help you stay in the zone. Overall, midterms can seem daunting and overwhelming. Since I am a freshman, I was just as nervous, but then I remembered that it is just a test. I found a perfect spot, made a study guide and went into the test feeling confident. I was not sure how different college midterms would compare to high school, but with these tips it felt like a walk in the park. However, if you need a little extra help, never be afraid to ask. Resources can be found in the library or even by asking a classmate! And remember, once midterms week is over, we are halfway done with the semester.
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Culture
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Lhasa Fast Food J.L. Stephenson Perhaps one of the most gastronomically diverse neighborhoods in New York City is Jackson Heights, home to an entire collection of Central/Southern Asian food stops ranging from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet and more. There can be little discussion about Queens’ unique and vivid culinary culture without diving headfirst into this neighborhood – one where you could blindfold yourself, follow your nose and accidentally wander into a cell phone repair shop and find a Michelin recommended restaurant in the back room. This is not some odd or obscure reference, but rather one directly referring to Lhasa Fast Food, home of nationally acclaimed Tibetan food that was featured on the late Anthony Bourdain’s, “Parts Unknown” series. In all honesty, this was how I first discovered the shop. Anthony Bourdain is unapologetically one of my greatest idols and following in his tasting footsteps is nothing short of a dream come true for a young culture writer who gets a kick out of new and adventurous foods. Lhasa Fast Food is a small, cash-only restaurant with no street access and no major signage to point the way. For the first few years of its existence, it serviced almost exclusively the local community and was a “hole-in-thewall gem,” if there’s ever been one. Following the fame from the Bourdain episode, foodies from every corner of the city have made their way into town to get a hold of the various styles of momo, diversely spiced lamb dishes and delicious homestyle Tibetan soups like thentuk and yellow laphing (all meals roughly $7-12). Even with its newfound local foodie fame, the staff maintains its base menu, normal customers and a hidden kitchen. I placed my first order ever at the restaurant (I have returned many times since), and I found myself captivated by fresh beef and chive momo and hot tea while sitting beneath a photograph of Bourdain with the head chef, Sang Jien Ben. Ben, 42, was born and raised in the Himalayan mountain town of Rebkong –– politically considered the Qinghai Province of China, but historically the nation of Tibet
and the birthplace of the 14th Dalai Lama. A portrait of his Holiness holds a respected place, high above the cash register in the center of the tiny and comfortably cramped shop. The walls are scattered with Buddhist philosophical sayings and every decoration is dusted with a sense of nostalgia that Ben carries for his life in Tibet. Aside from the decorations, there is an intense nostalgia in the cooking as well. Perhaps what makes the Lhasa Fast Food menu so unique and popular among the community is the down-home and almost “grandmother style” cooking from Ben and his limited staff. The recipes and ingredients are all natural, purchased entirely in Jackson Heights, and have not been adapted to meet the tastes or wants of anyone. Ben fully understands that he could add certain basic Chinese cuisine to his menu and attract a wider array of customers, but a lack of appreciation when eating something impersonal steers him away. “It is about cooking like home, it is about you eating and remembering home meals,” he said. The meals at Lhasa are cooked by heart and memory. They are not served to the customer, rather, they are gifted. In fact, using the term “customer” feels wrong because everyone is treated as a guest. The level of hospitality in this tiny, crowded, and often times, hectic shop transcends the service industry and presents you an entreé, paired with a side of a real and truthful experience. The restaurant itself is only a subway ride away from the St. John’s campus, in a neighborhood too often overlooked. I am adamant that anyone who considers themselves a lover of food, culture and new experiences must make their way to Lhasa. The entire restaurant holds 15 diners at most, so avoid making the trip in large groups. Overrunning the limited seating area ruins the atmosphere and pushes out locals who visit the shop on a daily basis. To enjoy Lhasa Fast Food is to witness Lhasa Fast Food, to find yourself observing Ben’s culture and culinary ode to his past life rather than arriving with demands of attention and a closed mind. So practice using your chopsticks, prepare yourself for intense and evocative spices, read up on the history of Tibet and make way for Jackson Heights where Lhasa Fast Food is waiting with open and welcoming arms.
TORCH PHOTOS/ J.L. STEPHENSON
(Top) (Left to Right) Chef Ben with Anthony Bourdain on Nov. 13, 2016 at Lhasa Fast Food. (Bottom) Lhasa Fast Food entrance located at 37-50 74th Street, Jackson Heights, Queens.
“Joker” Gets The Last Laugh Morgan C. Mullings If you know the Joker from the movie “The Dark Knight,” or the game “Batman: Arkham Asylum,” you know that he loves one thing: chaos. But every villain (and hero) has a backstory and “Joker” (2019) delivers the timeline before the chaos, before Bruce Wayne’s parents were murdered. Pseudobulbar affect. It’s defined by the Mayo Clinic as “a condition that’s characterized by episodes of sudden uncontrollable and inappropriate laughing or crying,” usually caused by a neurological condition. Joaquin Phoenix’s version of Joker plays upon this disorder, the result of his signature creepy laugh. At first, the audience laughs along with the Joker, or Arthur Fleck, laughs in extremely inappropriate settings. But as the movie goes on, it’s not so funny anymore. Phoenix’s laugh is fantastically sincere and deeply creepy. Throughout Arthur’s failed attempts at standup comedy, love, and normalcy, his illness follows. The film’s central themes are mental illness and radical political factions. If you don’t know the Joker from television or video games, this may seem like the screenwriter’s attempt to make a 2019-ap-
propriate Joker. Conversely, this has always been Arthur’s M.O., and in this case, real life is imitating film. While writing jokes, Arthur posits that the worst thing about mental illness is that people expect you to pretend you don’t have it. As he is pushed further and further to the borders of society, his fantasies turn into delusion and extreme narcissism. He’s not a natural murderer, he practices what he will do in the mirror before carrying it out. He does things we all do in private — which has unearthed criticism for anti-hero characters that make murderers seem too human. You cannot tell an exceptional villain story without humanizing the evil in the main character. The villain has to make us notice the darkness in ourselves when we are treated like an outsider, and the struggle that those with mental illness go through. Then, you have to take it to an extreme that we all hope we would never turn into; that most of us never turn into. Think of Killmonger (“Black Panther”), who does the wrong thing for what he perceives as the right reasons — except Joker is not regarded as a badass like Killmonger, partially because of his illnesses. This is what connects Arthur to the radical political faction
that rises up in chaos as he becomes the Joker. Critics have mentioned incel culture (involuntary celibate culture that has risen up in extreme racism and mysogyny on forums like Reddit), or the alt-right (extremist right-wingers too radical for regular conservatives). What they resemble the most is the 2016 movement of “deplorables,” who reclaimed the word after presidential candidate Hillary Clinton criticized supporters of President Donald Trump for amplifying “hateful views.” Whatever the case, the viral reappropriating of the word by those who felt pushed to the political fringe is something Joker would definitely appreciate. “Joker” holds onto the continuities of the Joker/Batman story in the D.C. Comics, but if the D.C. Universe didn’t exist, “Joker” would be an impactful stand-alone movie. It borders on classic status by expertly explaining a backstory we have passed down in our American tradition, integrating private and deeply painful aspects of human life even before 2019. Because it successfully honored the Bruce Wayne timeline (can we talk about how cute baby Batman is?), I can only hope for a sequel in which Wayne confronts the man responsible for his parents’ murder once again.
Sports 9
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How Technology Has Led To Results For St. John’s Baseball Sean Okula Even as the autumn air creeps into New York, it’s easy to ignore the signs of a lingering summer. Inside Jack Kaiser Stadium, for example, there is baseball. Cutting through the dwindling afternoon sun is the game in its most raw and indifferent state. Like Christmas in July, except it’s Pitcher Fielding Practice in October. There isn’t much to it. A dropped pop-up here, a missed cut-off there. But with five full months until the start of the new season, the time to tweak is now. “We’re in a learning phase,” St. John’s Head Coach Ed Blankmeyer said after a recent fall workout. “This week started our team phase, where we have to start implementing what we do offensively and defensively to try and get this group to understand how we play.” “We’re trying to make them as fundamentally sound as possible,” he added. Outfielders ditched their gloves for helmets and a pick-off drill. They ran the bases after a mechanism that can only be aptly described as a ball-launcher which chased them up the gaps for the previous hour. It seems mundane, but, as Blankmeyer put it, fundamental. Hidden beyond the right-field wall, pitchers continued their offseason work in the bullpen. Baseball seasons, often start somewhere warm, like in Florida or California for example. At a disadvantage are the visiting northeast pitchers, who lose precious weeks of training to cold weather and later starts to spring semesters. This gives these fall minicamps a chance to keep the pace before the bitterness of January strikes. There might be a new way to tighten the gap. Last month, St. John’s started using a Rapsodo camera to capture bullpen sessions. Positioned behind the catcher, the device
TORCH PHOTO/NICK BELLO
Ed Blankmeyer and his staff have used different technologies in order to gain insight into players mechanics.
uses high-resolution tracking to measure a range of metrics relevant to pitch shape, spin and velocity and displays the information within seconds on a connected device. Pitching is more than balls and strikes the difference between a flamethrower and a flameout can be degrees of spin axis. Rapsodo aims to demonstrate the intricacies of the relationship between ball and pitcher. Complex as it may be, it is manipulation that differentiates a riding fastball for strike three from a hanging slider in the heart of the plate. “A guy might be throwing what he calls his curveball,” St. John’s pitching coach George Brown explained, “But the spin, what [the Rapsodo] is telling us, is that it’s actually a slider. So, if you want an up-and-down
breaking ball, you need to first change either your grip or your mindset.” What used to be guesswork can now be pragmatic. Suggestions become application of comprehensive evidence, which doesn’t minimize the importance of traditional coaching. Tracking technology provides the launch point, after which the coach can work with the player to develop strategy. Through that collaboration, breeds improved grip and optimized pitch sequencing with proper tunneling (or the making of different pitch types indiscriminate to the batter) of an arsenal. All of this works to amplify deception and, ultimately, improve results. “Some of the data we’ve gotten so far is really interesting and illuminating,” Brown said, “Talking about the different break of
the pitches and the way balls are moving.” But data doesn’t have a unilateral interpretation. What’s worth changing in one pitcher won’t necessarily work with another, especially if it’s only because the Rapsodo says it should. Different people respond to different methods of instruction, something Brown keeps in mind as he familiarizes himself and his players with the new technology. It boils down to execution and the staff rolling with what’s hot. “If it tells us we should change a guy but he’s getting good results, and the data [can’t see that], we’d have to make a decision as to which way to go,” he said. “That being said, we probably want to lean on what’s making a guy successful.”
Women’s Soccer Struggles Continue After Losses To Marquette And Butler TORCH PHOTO/NICK BELLO
Alicia Venter The St. John’s University Women’s Soccer Team continues to struggle this 2019 season, losing against Marquette University on Thursday and Butler on Sunday, making their season record 4-10, and their record in the Big East Conference 1-4. The Red Storm had developed an early lead against Marquette, with redshirt junior Zsani Kajan putting two points on the board in the first half, one within the first ten minutes with an assist coming from junior Alex Madden and redshirt freshman Addison Hornsley, the other with less than ten minutes remaining on the clock, freshman Jessica Garziano setting her up. Garziano’s assist marked her fourth of the season. This game brought Kajan’s total number of goals of the season to six, making her the lead scorer on the team. However, despite leading 2-0 at the end of the first half, Marquette was able to make a comeback, scoring at the 61st minute of the game, then 20 minutes later, tying the game and forcing overtime. Then, when neither team was able to score in the first overtime, the teams went into double overtime, where Marquette was able to quickly score within the first minute of the sudden-death period, ending the game with a score of 3-2.
St. John’s Women’s Soccer dropped their last two games against Marquette and Butler as they head home to play Xavier on Sunday at Belson Stadium.
On Sunday, the Red Storm lost once again, falling to the Butler Bulldogs in Indianapolis. Despite the game being scoreless through the first half, the Bulldogs were able to score in the 78th minute and the game ended with Butler winning 1-0. The defense made the victory difficult for Butler, as St. John’s redshirt junior Meredith Reinhardt had seven saves throughout the game. Kajan, Madden and Garziano led the team with shots in the mashup, each with two and both of Garziano’s shots on goal, but the team was unable to get the ball past
the Bulldog goalie, ending the game with a loss for St. John’s. This 2019 season has posed a new difficulty for the Red Storm allowing their games to go into overtime. Of the 14 games the team has played this season, five have gone into overtime, four of those games into double overtime. St. John’s has only been able to win one of those games, beating Yale 2-1 on Aug. 30 in double overtime, with a game-winning goal coming from Kajan. Part of the issue this season for the Red Storm can be seen as the disparity between
their success in the second half to the first half of their games. In the regular season, seven of their goals have occured within the first half of games, while two come from the second half, one in double overtime. Meanwhile, their opponents score most of their goals during the second half, as, out of the 23 goals scored against the Red Storm, 14 have come from the second half. Teams are being given the opportunity to make a comeback and they are taking advantage of it. Even with the loss against Marquette, the Women’s Soccer Team seems to find their greatest success when playing at home, as all of their wins have been at Belson Stadium, and they are 0-6 for away games. Hopefully, with half of their remaining games being away games, and all of them being conference games, they will be able to prove their statistics wrong and find success off their home field. The team returns home to Belson Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 1:00 p.m., where they will be facing off against Big East Conference rival Xavier University. Including this game, the Red Storm only has four games left on the schedule before the Big East Conference Tournament, which starts in the beginning of November.
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Cragg Addresses Student Athlete Legislaton TORCH PHOTO/ALEX YEM
Nick Bello St. John’s athletic director Mike Cragg said he’s in favor of student-athletes “being able to have the best possible experience and opportunities,” but he stopped short of endorsing the current wave of proposed legislation to compensate athletes. “I definitely am in favor of trying to figure this out, but I’ve yet to see anybody actually come up with a practical plan,” Cragg said at Big East Media Day at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 10. This comes after California last month passed SB-206 -- the Fair Pay to Play Act -- which would allow for student athletes beginning in 2023 to be compensated for the usage of their name, image or likeness. It also would allow for student athletes to obtain agents. The California bill has served as a catalyst for other state’s to create their own legislation surrounding compensation for student athletes. In New York, a new bill is currently in the Senate Committee phase. Cragg said he’s confident that the California decision -- the only one that’s made its way into a law -- will not impact St. John’s because it will go into effect in 2023. “We’re not going to end up with any one state deciding the rules,” he said. “It was a law that was set for 2023, a lot’s going to happen between now and then.” Cragg declined to offer a specific alternative to compensate student athletes in ways they are not now, saying he’s waiting for Big East commissioner Val Ackerman to release a report on where the conference sees the future of the NCAA headed. “Honestly we’re all waiting for Val’s group to kind of give its preliminary report,” Cragg
St. John’s Athletic Director Mike Cragg said, “I’m definitely in favor of trying to figure this out,” when asked about California SB-206.
said. Later on Cragg added, “We as practitioners are waiting kind of [for] higher bodies to start making recommendations.” Ackerman did not reference this topic during her address to reporters at Big East Media Day. The head coaches and a handful of players from each conference school were also in attendance. “You know I wish I had the magic ball,” Cragg said. “Where it’s going to go is, it’s going to change everything, there’s no question about that. “So hopefully for the betterment of the student athletes and the ones that have opportunity in their name [being] licensed -- I don’t know of people against that, it’s more about what’s practical to do that and to still
have amateurism and still have a form of college athletics. But that’s tough and I don’t have the answer to that.” New York was the second state to follow California in the years-long debate over how to compensate student athletes. New York State Senator Kevin Parker introduced a bill last month -- the New York Collegiate Compensation Act -- calling for student athletes to be compensated for the use of their name, image or likeness, and athletes can also legally obtain agents. The bill also proposes that schools in New York take out 15 percent of their revenue from tickets, merchandising and investments. That money is then shared evenly with student athletes while also creating an
injury insurance fund for them, too. Meanwhile schools are in a holding pattern. Administrators await a plan of action from either the NCAA or their conference and are left to ponder the possible ramifications on their schools. Although Cragg acknowledged he has familiarized himself with the various bills that have been introduced, he believes that they are not practical. He also did not have a vision for where they may end up in the future. He declined to speculate whether being in a major media market would benefit the program if and when the day comes where student athletes can make money off their names. “We have a great opportunity, we are in a great stage, we use that stage to the best of being able to support all of our student athletes,” Cragg said. “But it doesn’t make us any above anyone.” For now business continues as usual in the world of college athletics. With California SB-206 being put into action in 2023, the NCAA and its commissioners will have time to come up with a plan to handle the legislation that was brought forward in California, Florida and New York, as well as the potential surge of states that may follow suit. As a result, Cragg does not know what this could mean for St. John’s in the future, since the NCAA is in the early stages of strategizing. “I haven’t really studied it as far as what does it mean for us because I don’t believe it means anything for us at this stage,” Cragg said. “The day it does mean something for us, then you know like anything else, you figure it out and apply it to real life. “I feel like we’re far away from that.”
Men’s Soccer Can’t Be Stopped At Belson Stadium Nick McCreven The Men’s Soccer team churned out yet another successful week at Belson Stadium as they took down Temple on Tuesday, after a late-match goal from Tani Oluwaseyi and then took Villanova to task on Saturday with a 4-0 victory. On Tuesday, the Red Storm nearly grabbed an early advantage on the Owls in the 16th minute when Einar Lye nailed a shot from Brandon Duarte but the goal was called off due to an offside flag. The goalie duo of Jan Hoffelner and Luke Gavran, combined for seven saves which set a season-high for St. John’s and stopped all of Temple’s shots on goal. They tallied their third consecutive shutout and seventh on the season. Both teams’ scorelessness continued until the 66th minute when Rafael Bustamente ripped the ball away from an Owl, advanced up the field and found Oluwaseyi who sunk the game-winner. Coming off the honor of receiving Big East Offensive Player of the Week the day before, Oluwaseyi secured his seventh goal of the season with that shot. “I thought we started out really well for the first 15-20 minutes and then Temple kind of lifted their intensity, made a lot of subs and made the game a bit physical and chaotic for us. We didn’t always respond well. We need to be able to play with more efficiency and
more positional savvy to be able to overcome that, but we worked really hard and we’re excited to get a win against a really tough team,” St. John’s Head Coach Dr Dave Masur following the win. On Saturday, the team continued their dominance at home when they racked up four goals and shut the Wildcats out. Skage Simonsen headed the first goal in off a corner kick in the 35th minute. Freshman Jared Juleau tallied his first career collegiate goal later on and Einar Lye added the final two goals late in the second half to wrap up one of St. John’s most impressive wins of the season. Masur stressed the importance of the Big East victory saying, “We’re happy to get a Big East win. It’s great for the guys and great for a lot of different people to get in the game and really make contributions.” The Johnnies entered the week at No. 10 nationally but exited No. 2, now sitting beneath only Virginia in the NCAA’s first official RPI rankings released on Monday. They have now allowed only five goals in 1,111 minutes of play in 2019, a testament to their defense and exceptional goalkeeping from Gavran and Hoffelner. The wins improved them to 11-1-0 on the year and 4-0 in the Big East. The Red Storm have not sat at a record as impressive since their 21-game win streak in 1993. They currently rank first in the Big East, trailed by
TORCH PHOTO/NICK BELLO
St. John’s Men’s Soccer remains unbeaten at Belson Stadium this year after a winning on Saturday against Villanova.
Georgetown. Along with the No. 2 rank honor, Oluwaseyi has been named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll, while Brandon Duarte earned Big East Defensive Player of the
Week. Duarte is St. John’s fourth Big East DPOW this season. The Red Storm will travel to Omaha this week to duel Creighton on Saturday. You can catch it at 8:00P.M. on GoCreighton.com
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Tani Oluwaseyi Has Found His Confidence In 2019 Brendan Murray
TORCH PHOTO/NICK BELLO
The St. John’s Red Storm didn’t have the best of seasons last year. However, one of the lone bright spots from last year has taken a huge step forward this season -- and that is Tani Oluwaseyi. Oluwaseyi is currently tied for most goals scored this season with four and has most recently scored the game lone goal in the Red Storm’s victory against the Butler Bulldogs a few weeks ago. Oluwaseyi is originally from Nigeria, where he lived for 10 years before his family relocated to Mississauga, Ontario. Moving to a completely new country and continent is hard for anyone; however, Oluwaseyi understands that his family’s move to Canada was for the best. “I don’t regret it one bit, [my parents] said it was for better opportunities and since then better opportunities have come,” he said. From there Oluwaseyi attended St. Joan of Tani Oluwaseyi has had a succesful sophomore campaign as he is tied for most goals scored this year by a Red Storm player. Arc Catholic Secondary school where he was had a bad game, then the game doesn’t mean ty to play for this program in New York City Skage Simonen along with Oluwaseyi have valedictorian of his graduating class. There anything to me,” Oluwaseyi said. Coach and he took it. St. John’s let him know that come to form a potent scoring attack for the he broke out as a soccer star. Davidson gave Tani every opportunity that they wanted him on the Red Storm. Coach Red Storm. Both came out in their freshA three-time MVP of the soccer team, he he could have ever wanted since he was 14. Masur and his staff reached out to him man years and played well but have taken led his team to a provincial High School “My development ever since I started play- whenever possible to see how he was doing that step forward as sophomores to become Championship as a senior, and along with ing with him has just skyrocketed.” and how his family was doing. more imposing on the field. St. John’s teammate Luka Gavran won the Like many other athletes, Oluwaseyi’s faOluwaseyi finished his freshman year with “He’s the best player I’ve ever played with Golden Boot award at the 2017 Super Cup vorite athlete growing up and to this day is four goals and a Big East All-Freshman team [Skage]. Just seeing that talent I’m just tryin Northern Ireland. Oluwaseyi separated LeBron James. He is inspired by James’ story selection. While impressive for most, Olu- ing to feed off of him,” Oluwaseyi said. himself amongst his teammates and demon- and how he came from very little to become waseyi has high standards for his play. With eight games left in the regular season strated great scoring prowess on the interna- one of the most influential athletes in the “I definitely could’ve done better, I worked ,Oluwaseyi has improved significantly on his tional stage. world. hard.” he said. play from a year ago but the goal isn’t personOluwaseyi’s successes on the field were not Oluwaseyi’s favorite soccer team is Arsenal The now sophomore has definitely im- al statistics. For him and the Red Storm, it’s only a result of the work he put in when no and he takes a lot of his game today from proved on a good freshman year and now is all about winning the Big East. one was watching, but also the result of being one of Arsenal’s great players, Thierry Henry. one of the most dangerous presences on the pushed by two significant figures in his life, “I kind of shaped my game after him field in the Big East. Oluwaseyi credits havhis father and also his coach Ron Davidson [Henry]. I wear 14 because of him.” he said. ing a strong season to coming back from the “My dad is my critic and biggest supporter. The decision for Oluwaseyi to come to St. offseason healthy and with his confidence If I feel like I had a good game, but he said I John’s was pretty easy. He saw an opportuni- back.
Season Ticket Holders Get Sneak Peek of the New-Look Men’s Basketball Team Thomas Cavanagh The fall semester felt like it started yesterday, yet we are just mere weeks away from the start of basketball season. While the men’s basketball team is just a few weeks away from the start of their season, the team treated their most passionate fans to a behind-thescenes look at the team. The St. John’s men’s basketball team hosted an open practice exclusive to season ticket holders of this upcoming season on Sunday afternoon. Fans were greeted with a performance from the school band as well as the cheerleading and dance teams at the steps of Carnesecca Arena. After practice, the team held a meet and greet with the players, allowing fans to get some of the players’ autographs. Roughly 250 season ticket holders, young-and-old, came out to support the team during their open practice. Among the dedicated fans in attendance was Tom Principe, a St. John’s law school alum and season ticket holder for 47 years. “When I was in high school and I saw the games at the Garden when [Lou] Carnesecca was coaching the team in his first years here, I knew I had to go to St. John’s,” says the Flushing native, “The environment and fan loyalty are second to none here, and it’s great to see the team reward the season ticket holders.” Many fans were excited to see first year head coach Mike Anderson direct his team
under his high-pressure defensive gameplan that he has used over his 18-year coaching career. nine-year season ticket holder Dan LaParco traveled from Stamford, CT to watch the practice, and he was very impressed with Anderson’s style of coaching. “I love their intensity and they look like they could run the other teams out of the gym,” says LaParco, “Just from watching, you can see how they give it 110% on every play they make.” Anderson isn’t the only first-year hiring looking to return the St. John’s brand to national relevance. Athletic Director Mike Cragg was also in attendance, interacting with the fans and watching the practice from courtside. Since being hired last September after 30 years of overseeing plenty of national success as a senior athletics administrator at Duke, Cragg has made fan involvement a top priority. This year, he is trying to increase student engagement with the St. John’s athletic teams, particularly the men’s basketball team. Starting this season, students can go to any men’s basketball game at Carnesecca Arena for free, and students have received a hefty discount on season ticket prices for games at Madison Square Garden. “The fans and students are a vital part of any successful basketball program. No program is successful without great fans, and we already have a great fanbase,” says Cragg;.“It’s why I’m also excited about the hard-
nosed style of play, to me that’s what St. John’s alumni and the community is about: hard working people. Success will be rewarded with hard work.” The festivities aren’t over for the basketball team this week, as the men’s and women’s
basketball teams will be a part of the Red Storm Tip-Off this Friday, Oct. 18. This event will feature free giveaways, team scrimmages, and a guest performance by rapper Juice WRLD. TORCH PHOTO/THOMAS CAVANAGH
St. John’s Men’s Basketball practiced in front of season ticket holders this past weekend at Carnesecca Arena.
SPORTS October 16, 2019 | VOLUME 97, ISSUE 05
| TORCHONLINE.COM
Storm Surge
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