September 12, 2012

BARBER BATTLE

VS. Local Trimmers aim to be a cut above...

PG. 13 TORCH PHOTO/Kristen Farmer

WHAT’S INSIDE News.......................1-5 Lifestyle..............13-19 Opinion...................6-9 Sports.................20-24 Comics.....................10

Music

Avett Brothers The Torch reviews the duo’s sixth studio album Lifestyle Pg. 16

Can’t get enough of the Torch?

Visit our website at: torchonline.com “Think Outside. . .”

Photo of the Week

2

Managing Board XC

Directory

Michael E. Cunniff, Editor-in-Chief Nicole Valente, Managing Editor Jessica Lise, General Manager anthony o’reilly

mitchell petit-frere

kieran lynch

diamond watts-walker

News Editor

Features Editor peter long

Entertainment Editor kristen farmer

Photo Editor

Sports Editor Art Director sarah yu

Chief Copy Editor jim baumbach

Advisor

Advertising (718)-9906756 Business 990-6756 Editorial Board 990-6444

Features 990-6445 News 990-6444 Opinion 990-6445 Sports 990-6444

Special thanks to Richard Rex Thomas for assisting in the design of The Torch

Fashion Fashion’s Night Out The Torch is on the scene at the third annual Fashion’s Night Out.

Lifestyle Pg. 18

Features 9/11 Remembered The tragedy of 9/11 is viewed from the perspective of an international student studying at St. John’s.

Lifestyle Pg. 15 Sports Digging it Volleyball goes 3-1 at Kaiser Classic.

Sports Pg. 22

Illustrator’s Corner

opinion pg. 6

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To contact The Torch by mail: The Torch, St. John’s University 8000 Utopia Parkway Queens, NY 11439

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Torch Photo/dominique Musa

Student organizations tried to recruit new members at the annual Activities Fair that took place on the Great Lawn Sept. 10

Think Outside...

News

3

SGI approves budget Briefs Operations, special allocations take cuts Torch

Michael E. Cunniff Editor-in-Chief Anthony O’Reilly News Editor In a unanimous vote, Student Government Inc. on Monday passed its annual budget that contained cuts to operations and special allocations while slightly increasing funding for student organizations.

The full report has not been made public, though a brief circulation to attendees at Monday’s meeting revealed that SGI’s full budget is about $1.14 million. SGI President Christian Williams, citing administrative concerns, did not release the full budget before The Torch went to print.

“I don’t have a problem releasing the budget,” he told the Torch. “If it’s a general St. John’s community consensus, we’ll release it.”

Williams did say that maintaining funding levels for student organizations was a priority — which resulted in a $35,000 decrease in its operations budget, which includes funding for office expenses, maintenance and Public Safety details.

Williams said SGI was trying to be “frugal, but not cheap” with its cuts, and that many of the cuts were in areas that were in surplus last year.

“These cuts make sense,” he said.

“We knew we could live with them.”

The unanimously passed budget was a big step for the new SGI board that professes, the lack of a full budget release notwithstanding, a desire for greater transparency. Williams said he went “line-by-line” through the organization’s ledger in the summer to get a full grasp of SGI’s finances.

“You don’t want a president that can’t explain what you’re doing with all the money,” he said. “There’s nothing stupider than that.”

In addition to the cuts to operations, a $10,000 cut was made to the special allocations budget, which both Williams and treasurer Elaine Vasquez Jorge said would be replenished throughout the year.

Much of the time at the meeting, in addition to voting on the budget, was also spent voting on a new category of student

organizations, which according to the e-board, would receive full recognition in the eyes of SGI, with the exception of receiving an annual budget.

Williams, and Jorge, said one of the main concerns of the e-board was the student organizations who were not spending the budget that was allocated to them for the year.

To account for this, Jorge said she had talked with many of the leaders of the organizations to come up with a fair budget for the year.

“For the most part people either got what they asked for, or if not, a little bit more than that,” she said.

Williams expressed confidence that SGI would be able to live within the means of the budget for the entirety of the academic year.

“I have no doubt, because of the way this budget is we’re going to have one of the best years we’ve ever had.”

SGI Budget

Total budget: about $1.14 million

Special allocations: $10,000 cut Student organizations: $10,000 added overall Operations: $35,000 cut

Twilight Zone has new occupant Christopher Brito Contributing Writer

After years of mystery, the notoriously vacant second floor of the library is finally in service, being temporarily occupied by the Career Development Services and Office of Business Affairs.

The empty floor of the library, St. Augustine Hall, has been a subject of intrigue among many of the University students, particularly upperclassmen, because of the unusual vast unused space in a busy building.

Now, since Career Development Services has momentarily moved there, it may finally give students a reason to step inside.

Michelle Kyriakides, Associate Director for Career Development, said the plans for the center to be moved from the old University Center to the second floor of St. Augustine Hall were announced during the summer.

“Aug. 24 we moved out of the UC and by the 27 we were fully operational,” she said. “We were only off-line for a little less than a day.”

Kyriakides said she has interacted with students who were enthusiastic about the space being occupied.

“Students are excited because it’s in a building that they’re used to being in,” she said. “It’s in a much more centralized location.”

Kyriakides said that the career center

Compiled by Anthony O’Reilly News Editor

Rugby alumni club A group of alumni from the University have formed an off campus rugby club.

“The Village Lions” was founded by alumni Alan Whelan in 1989. The Lions compete in Division One of the New York rugby league, and are currently looking for new members. Practices will be held on Tues. Sept 18 and Thurs.

Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. at Cunningham Park.

Anyone looking for more information can e-mail rugbyreply@yahoo.com

Activities Fair The University held its annual Fall Activities Fair on the Great Lawn, on Sept. 10. Dozens of organizations, and off campus internships, spent the day trying to recruit students. To see the full story, visit torchonline.com

Can’t get enough Torch news? Visit our Web site for online exclusives. torchonline.com

University enters contests to bring celebrities on campus

Torch photo/Anthony O’Reilly

The Career Center has temporarily occupied the second floor of the library.

has a location in mind for when they move from the second floor of the library, but declined to comment on where it would be. She hopes that the move will take place some time in next spring semester.

An executive in the facilities department declined to comment on the plans for the second floor.

Many of the students in the library had opinions on what should be done with the space after the move.

Konrad Li spends many hours in the library and often witnesses the overcrowding at the library during the hectic semester.

He feels the career services shouldn’t be part of the library and instead have the

problems of congestion addressed.

“I believe that the additional space in the library allows for more people to sit down and study, as you would have difficulty finding a seat during busy hours,” he said.

“I think the second floor should remain as an extension of the library.”

Peter Masoud believes the second floor should turn into a more relaxing capacity like a “lounge-type area,” but also sees the benefit of having the career services facility there.

“I feel like it’s going be more recognized and utilized by more students because it’s going to get more exposure in the library area,” he said.

St. John’s is currently participating in a contest to bring popular pop music singer Taylor Swift to campus. The contest is being hosted by the VH1 show, Storytellers.

Students can vote on taylorswiftoncampus. com. The winning school will win a free acoustic performance. The four runner-ups will recieve a $10,000 grant to their music department. The contest ends on Sept. 23 The University is also in a contest to have Today show host’s Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb to broadcast live directly from campus. The hosts are asking students to tweet pictures showing their school spirit. In order to participate, students have to tweet their pictures with the hashtag #KLGandHodaU and mention @StJohnsU The contest ends on Sept. 16 at 9 a.m.

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Federal judge visits campus First amendment debated Cat Silverman Staff Writer As part of the law school’s Visiting Jurist series, federal judge Margo K. Brodie held an informal discussion panel with students and faculty.

The Visiting Jurist series, which has been taking place since the 2008-09 academic year, brings federal judges from across the country on to campus.

According to the Visting Jurist page on the University web site, “the informal setting allows faculty to engage with the jurists who shape the development of the law and allows students to meet judges in a way that removes some of the mystery of the judicial process.”

Brodie is the first Afro-Carribean born judge to be appointed to a federal position in the United States. She currently serves on the Eastern District Bench for New York, after being confirmed by the Senate earlier this March.

Her visit is followed by six other New York District Court Justices, a New Jersey District Court Justice and Hon. Dennis Jacobs for the Second Circuit of the Court of Appeals.

To open her visit, Hon. Brodie discussed her transition from serving as a prosecutor to serving as a judge. She said she tries to not let the title of ‘judge’ define who she is as a person.

“I kept trying to tell people- there’s no reason to call me judge,” she said, laughing.

“They just keep doing it anyway.”

She continued to discuss her work environment, opening up the panel to receive questions from the audience.

She touched on the difference between prosecution and judiciary work, and then moved on to answer inquiries about her position as an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School, where she has taught since 2009.

“I’m a workaholic,” she said,

explaining her addition of teaching to her already busy day. “[But] as long as I have time on the weekends to watch my football, I’ll keep on loving my job.”

In response to questions about hiring recent law graduates, she emphasized the importance of both a well-structured resume and a strong network of associations. She strongly urged students to ensure they mention things they feel strongly about, regardless of what they think a future employer may want to see as a hobby.

“I may have no interest in your love of romance novels, but I’d rather see that you have something you love outside of the job,” she said.

photo courtesy of Twitter

Judge Margo K. Brodie

the right to regulate what a student writes or says outside of campus. Additionally, if a university’s affirmative action policy violates student’s rights to equal treatment between all races.

Sam Bazian, a second year law stuUniversity law school student finalists debated current constitutional issues dent, said how important he felt the topic in a mock trial before a panel of judges of the trial was to society today.

“I think that why this competition is in the Honorable Milton Mollen Moot so interesting is because its dealing with Court Competition September 10.

The moot court competition is an an- really important issues,” he said.

“The first amendment with free nual event for second year law students in speech of campus is the courts honor society. something that you The graduate students figure the Supreme began tryouts during the Courts going to have “The first summer and competed to decide sooner or since then to become one amendment later because blogs of the top finalists. are all the rage Executive Director of with free speech now.” the competition Gabrion campus is Finalist David ella Zahn, said the cura petirent competitors in this something that you Hommel, tioner for the univertrial have a good chance sity concerning 14th figure the Supreme of appearing in more esamendment rights, teemed competitions in Courts are going spoke on how diffithe future. cult it was for him to “It’s a great competo have to decide become a finalist. tition,” she said “The sooner or later “The road to get people who you see here was anything tonight usually end up because blogs are all here but easy,” he said. going to the nationals or “It took a lot the rage now” - Sam big prestigious external of hard work over competitions later in the Bazian the summer and to year.” working with moot The trial consisted court e-board as well of a case regarding a high school student who posted racially motivated comments as my colleagues and second year law about Mexican students on a public blog students.”

Zahn concluded by saying she is as a result of getting rejected from a university and finding out those minorities looking forward to seeing even more atin his community got acceptance despite tendance in further competitions.

“If anybody ever wants to come out the fact he obtained higher academic and watch our internal competitions there standings than those who got in.

The competitors argued to the four is another one were doing in the spring. presiding judges of the case regarding It’s open to the public, we like to fill the ongoing issues of how it pertained to seats, everyone’s welcome.”

The national competition will be held both the first and 14th amendment in relationship to whether a high school has Nov. 14 and 15.

Jarrod Jenkins Staff Writer

STARs come out at School of Ed BBQ Shannon Luibrand Staff Writer Underclassmen entering into the University School of Education were able to get a taste of their next four years at an annual barbecue held by the college on Sept. 6.

The event, which was mandatory for all freshmen in the college, was held in order for new students to network with advisors and upperclassmen and to be introduced to the school’s STAR (Students Teaching Academic Responsibility) program.

STAR is a program in which incoming students are paired with an upperclassman mentor, in order to make the transition from high school to college easier and for students to learn how to take full advantage of all of the resources in the college.

The STAR program is entering its sixth year and has about 115 upperclassmen participants. Dean Charisse Willis said she wants the program to allow freshman to have a peer that they can turn to in order to make their transition from high school to college easier.

“We want the freshmen to know they have someone they can go to and we really want to make sure our students are happy,” Willis said.

Freshmen Rona Koka said she felt so far that the program was successful in doing that. “It is nice to know you are not alone,” she said.

“The whole college process can be overwhelming. The School of Education has been so helpful.”

Dana Hetzel, a junior and participant in the STAR program, was able to meet with the two freshmen she will be mentoring in the upcoming months.

Hetzel said she remembered the time she attended the event as a freshman, and felt that it helped her feel more welcomed into the program and that she was glad to attend it again as a member of STAR. “I remember going to the School of Ed barbecue my freshman year and feeling that sense of comfort,” she said.

“Being able to attend the barbecue as a STAR mentor was a great opportunity.”

Hetzel said she hopes to fulfill the role of the STAR mentor successfully, by assisting her freshmen both professionally and personally.

“I can give back and help the freshmen become acquainted with St. John’s, the School of Education, and ultimately, I can be a friend and shoulder to lean on as these years pass by,” she said.

Willis said she hopes that the STAR program, in addition to the lessons learned through a student’s four years, could help to keep students inspired towards a career in education.

“Some people will ask my students: why would you want to be a teacher?” she said.

“Our department is here to remind students why they are here in the first place. Because a teacher inspired them.”

Photo courtesy of sean corcoran

The School of Education held their annual meet and greet BBQ.

Think Outside...

Politics

National figures remember 9/11

Presidential candidates on Tuesday paid respect to victims on the 11th anniversary of 9/11, halting normal campaign duties and pulling advertising in a day of remembrance, sans politics.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama observed a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center North Tower.

“Eleven times we have marked another September 11th come and gone. Eleven times, we have paused in remembrance, in reflection, in unity and in purpose,” Obama said later in the day at the Pentagon, where he laid a wreath and addressed 184 military personnel and their families. “This is never an easy day.”

Republican nominee Mitt Romney didn’t make a speech, choosing to release a written statement instead. He did shake hands with firefighters on a Chicago tarmac on his way to Nevada, where he will be campaigning later this week.

“On this most somber day, those who would attack us should know that we are united, one nation under God, in our determination to stop them and to stand tall for peace and freedom at home and across the world,” the former Massachusetts governor said in a statement.”

Closer to home, politics was banned completely from National September 11th Memorial plaza in Lower Manhattan.

Elected officials were, for the first time, not allowed to speak at the event, which was attended by thousands to remember those killed in the Twin Towers.

At the memorial, around 200 people read Photo Courtesy of Facebook off the names of the dead, while relatives President Barack Obama paid homage to 9/11 victims at the Pentagon. of 9/11 victims who did not speak held up photos of their loved ones in a three and a airing an interview with Keeping Up with half hour ceremony that wasn’t as widely told reporters afterward.

The day, which typically fosters the Kardashians mom Kris Jenner. The attended as last year’s 10th anniversary national unity, was not without controversy. move drew fierce criticism, with the New memorial.

“It’s a little scaled back, but that’s The “Today” show on NBC made York Daily News calling the decision appropriate. It’s a very solemn ceremony,” a controversial decision not to honor the to air Jenner’s “inane jibber-jabber” (Torch Staff) former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani 8:46 a.m. moment of silence, instead “outrageous.”

Know the Vote: Climate change In 2008, presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain barely touched on the subject of climate change. The reason? They agreed on a broad outline of what needed to be done to combat global warming.

Four years later, presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have barely touched on the subject of climate change. The reason? The politics of the issue have, like many in the last four years, have become so toxic that neither have risked potentially alienating voters by talking about it.

DEMOCRATS BELIEVE

Democrats in the House of Representatives passed national capand-trade legislation to limit carbon emissions in 2009, but the bill died in the Senate.

Their 2012 platform no longer proposes any concrete plan to limit emissions, instead talking about vague “regulation and market solutions,” but still pledges the party’s commitment to the issue.

“We know that global climate

change is one of the biggest threats of this generation—an economic, environmental, and national security catastrophe in the making,” the Democratic platform reads, a stark contrast to both the relative silence on the issue from President Obama and the denial of the issue by his Republican counterparts.

(Torch Staff) In advance of the 2012 Elections, the Torch will be running summaries of the two major parties’ positions on key issues in the presidential campaign.

REPUBLICANS BELIEVE Republicans don’t mention the issue of climate change in their party platform, largely because there is no longer a consensus in the GOP that manmade climate change exists.

Republicans have latched onto the findings of a minority scientists who say that there is insufficient evidence that the earth’s rising temperatures are due to human activity.

“The reason I’m in this race is to help people,” Romney said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “I’m not in this race to slow the rise of the oceans or to heal the planet.”

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Latest Polls Rasmussen Polls Barack Obama: 48% Mitt Romney: 45%

Gallup Polls Barack Obama: 50% Mitt Romney: 44%

CNN/ORC International Barack Obama: 52% Mitt Romney: 46%

ABC News/Washington Post Barack Obama: 49% Mitt Romney: 48%

Real Clear Politics Average Barack Obama: 49% Mitt Romney: 45%

“For no matter how many anniversaries you experience, for at least an instant, the terror of that moment returns; the lingering echo of that phone call; that sense of total disbelief that envelops you, where you feel like you’re being sucked into a black hole in the middle of your chest.”

Vice President Joe Biden on the 11th annieversary of 9/11.

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia

Head of the Environmental Protection Agency Lisa P. Jackson

6

Editorial Board XC

MICHAEL E. CUNNIFF Editor-in-Chief

Illustrator’s Corner

NICOLE VALENTE Managing Editor JESSICA LISE General Manager ANTHONY O’REILLY News Editor

FLAMES OF THE TORCH

Transparency in SGI

We planned on using this space to give a brief analysis of Student Government, Inc.’s budget that passed on Monday. Unfortunately, due to a bit of bureaucratic red tape and an aversion to healthy debate (something that we’ve become used to here at St. John’s), we don’t have the budget yet publicly available.

Blame should not yet go to the new SGI board. President Christian Williams has expressed a sincere desire to release the complete budget, and we trust him at his word, and expect to see it sooner rather than later. After all, the hard work SGI did in putting together a budget, it wouldn’t make sense to put it under lock and key.

But that doesn’t explain why SGI’s budget isn’t publicly available already.

At the meeting Monday, anybody who attended got a copy of it for about five minutes — enough to glance at the major figures (that’s why we say “around” $1.14 million for the total budget number, because we didn’t have the foresight to copy it down to the number), but not enough to break them down in any way.

The reason, we are told, is to avoid “World War III” style bickering between organizations who feel that they aren’t receiving their fair share of other students’ money. In other words, the previous SGI e-board didn’t release its budget because it didn’t want to foster a debate about how the majority of our Student Activity Fees were allocated.

This is absurd. We here at the Torch pride ourselves on acting the same as a paid daily newspaper as much as possible. SGI, we presume, prides itself on acting the same was as a federal, state or local branch of government. In “realworld” government, budgets are debated and scrutinized by its constituents,

and “real-world” newspapers and other publications.

And it’s not just us. It’s all of our money that SGI is spending. It’s all of our organizations that they are allocating money to. And, to some extent, it is the experiences of all of us they are shaping with their budgetary decisions. The least SGI can do for us is let us take a look under the hood.

The only consequence we can see is students becoming more involved and invested in their government. If that means having to answer a few angry emails, why not?

There’s almost certainly nothing untoward going on here — simply an attempt by previous SGI e-boards and University administration to avoid criticism that they believe is meritless and unnecessary. But we have to say “almost,” because we don’t know. We know the rough numbers of the budget and the broad overview (organizations get more, operations get less). But we don’t know the specifics.

For example, Williams had big backing from Haraya, the pan-African student organization last semester when he was running for president.

Did they get a nice boost in their allocated funds in return this year? We don’t think Williams would do that, but until we have the numbers in front of us, we just don’t know. Not publishing the full budget leads to reckless speculation like that.

Williams, SGI treasurer Elaine Vasquez Jorge and the rest of the board are very proud of the work they’ve done so far, and to us, they seem really eager to establish real transparency, for which we applaud them. This is the first test of that. Make the budget public. Let us see how you are using our money. We all have the right to know.

TORCH ILLUSTRATION/ STEPHEN SALIBA

STUDENTSPARKS: WHAT IS YOUR MOST VIVID MEMORY OF SEPT. 11?

Piotr Okragly Grad Student

“I was in my sixth grade classroom, directly across from the Trade Towers.”

“Actually watching the towers fall down. I was young, I didn’t even realize where it was.”

Misbah Hyder Senior

Aja Peterson Junior

EDITORIAL POLICY

Editorials are the opinions of the Editorial Board of The TORCH. Columns are the opinions of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of The TORCH. Opin-

ions expressed in editorials, columns, letters or cartoons are not necessarily those of the student body, faculty or administrations of St. John’s University.

TO CONTRIBUTE Mail letters to: The TORCH, St. John’s University 8000 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica, NY 11439 Submit letters via e-mail at: torcheic@gmail.com

Kamaria Conliffe Sophomore

Please include your full name, year, and college (or department). Letters have a limit of 500 words and may be edited for content, grammar, or space. Unverifiable or anonymous letters will not be published.

All letters are subject to the approval of the Editorial Board of The TORCH.

“My teacher’s boyfriend was in the Towers. She gave us work to do and sat in the back of the classroom.”

“Everything stopped for a minute, an announcement came over the intercom, I didn’t know what was going on”

7

Former fan: NFL heading astray I came to a sobering realization this Sunday.

I was sitting half-awake on my couch in the afternoon, after not sleeping much the night before (I wish staying out late at some wild college party was the reason, but it wasn’t. Just couldn’t sleep), watching the Patriots-Titans game on my laptop (Why? Because I’m from Massachusetts. Seven titles in 11 years what’s up!).

In the beginning of the fourth quarter, with the Pats up 28-10 and cruising, Tennessee quarterback Jake Locker dropped back and threw to Nate Washington, who was running a deep post down the middle of the field. The pass was a little high, but Washington left his feet to haul in the ball.

As he hit the ground, Patriots safety Tavon Wilson blasted him from the front, and linebacker Jerod Mayo did the same from the back, jarring the ball loose.

Another Patriots defensive back, Patrick Chung, picked the ball up and ran back 49 yards, before Locker tackled him.

There was nothing unusual about the play. All the hits were legal (Mayo, Wilson and Locker all led with their shoulders, not their helmets), and none even approached the line between “playing hard” and “playing dirty.”

But despite this, both Locker and Washington were hurt on the play, and both left the game. Thankfully, neither injury was serious, but it doesn’t matter. They both could have been concussed, or broken a bone or torn ligaments.

It confirmed what I had long suspected — I no longer like football.

I can’t watch America’s sport (sorry baseball) anymore without thinking of

the consequences of every hit. Study after study has shown the degenerative effects of the hits NFL players take on the brain.

I can’t celebrate a touchdown by Aaron Hernandez or Rob Gronkowski, my favorite Patriots, without wondering if they’re going to be able to get out of bed without pain in 20 years, something most 40-somethings, but not retired NFL players, take for granted.

And I can no longer pump my fist after a big sack by Vince Wilfork when seeing the crumpled heap in which he and his 350-plus pound frame (don’t believe the 325 that ESPN lists him at) leave the quarterback.

There’s an elephant in the room with the NFL and its multi-billion dollar business model — the money it makes is made off the back of players sacrificing their bodies (and sometimes their minds) for personal glory and the sport they love, making owners megarich in the process. Fans love the sport because of the passion, and yes, the hard hits that make SportsCenter.

It’s why the league ignored the medical consensus about the effect of concussions for so long, because short of taking all the contact (and in turn, the fun) out of the league, there’s no way you can play football without risking brain injury.

We cheer for players on Sunday, 16-20 times a year (depending on your team’s success), but do we ever think about them the other 345 or so days a year? Well, yes, of course we do — that’s how talk radio survives. But I mean, do we think about their lives?

Remember how beloved Peyton Manning was in Indianapolis? After going through hell and back to overcome a neck injury that not only threatened his career, but basic motor skills like looking to his right, he was cut by the Colts because Andrew Luck was the most promising quarterback prospect since…Peyton Manning.

Other sports suffer from this shortsightedness from fans as well, but the NFL is the only professional sport in which high-speed contact is not only legal, but essential to the game. Basketball and

TORCH ILLUSTRATION/ DIAMOND WATTS-WALKER

baseball players can play thousands of games without a major injury; it’d be miraculous for an NFL player to do the same.

In short, I can no longer in good conscience glorify the violence that passes as sport in the NFL. Football is a sport that, whatever strategic or tactical mind games coaches play (and I don’t mean to downplay those, obviously. Bill Belichick and all that), boils down to being more physical than your opponent, and outhitting the other team.

In many futuristic dystopian movies and novels, like The Hunger Games, society

has devolved to the point where fighting to the death for the enjoyment of others is considered sport.

Watching 350-pound linemen crash into each other 60 times per game, I sometimes wonder if we’re watching something similar.

Michael E. Cunniff is a senior journalism major who doesn’t miss Harry Redknapp quite yet, but is getting close.

He can be reached at: torcheic@gmail.com

Oh the thinks you can think!

Every weekend I teach two SAT classes to high school juniors and seniors.

When I first started, I thought I would struggle with connecting with the students. I thought there would be problems I couldn’t solve, situations I wouldn’t know how to handle, advice I didn’t know how to give.

Well, I was right about that. Every week there is a new problem, a new anecdote, a new experience to share with my family and friends. Sometimes I walk away dumbfounded, like this weekend when our class, in the middle of a practice exam, was kicked out of the building and forced to finish the test on picnic benches outside, and sometimes I walk away encouraged, like when a student first told me that they were getting something out of the class.

Everyday I’m there I learn something new about myself and working with others.

On Sunday, I took five minutes out of my class time to answer any questions

the students asked. Although it surprised me how excited they were, it didn’t surprise me that they wanted to talk about their future plans. It really brought me back four years.

They were asking about the Common App (never had to fill it out), AP classes (I took way too many), my personal statement (I have no idea what I wrote about), which colleges I applied to (University of Illinois, Tulane, Miami University in Ohio, UConn, and of course, St. John’s) and any advice for their Senior years (enjoy it!).

As I answered question after question, I realized that the four years separating us, which I had worried would be too great, were really not that long at all.

Very shortly, I too will be writing personal statements and cover letters

“

to accompany my applications and resumes. I too am studying for standardized tests after standardized tests to give myself the best possible opportunities in the future.

I will also be applying to place after place hoping to find a place where I can fit in for the coming years. I too am preparing to say goodbye to the life I have grown to love over the last four years.

And I too have to face the fact that everyone I know, all the people that I have grown to love here, will not be together next year. Just like them, I will be transitioning from one stage to another. This time I at least have the benefit of having done it before.

The disadvantage I have this time

A wise man once said: Nobody will be able to stop me from chasing my dream.

In the meantime, I just have to figure out what my dream is.

”

around is that I can’t forecast where I will be in the next year, or two years, or five years. In high school I knew that I would be at a school. I didn’t know where or what I would be doing there (never would I have guessed that I’d be the Managing Editor of a student newspaper) but I knew I would be taking classes and getting an education.

Now I could end up anywhere. There is nothing dictating where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing, Nothing is scarier than the unknown. I could be back in school getting my JD or MBA next year. Or I could still be teaching SAT classes parttime trying to pay my rent while I search for full time employment. I could still be in New York in my same apartment or I could be back home in Chicago living in my parents’ basement or I could be in Spain hopping from hostel to hostel.

I have no idea what next year will bring, but instead of being scared or worried, I’m going to choose to be excited.

Just like the students in my classes, there are exciting things ahead of me – even if I can’t quite figure out what they’ll be.

Nicole Valente is a senior marketing major who doesn’t know what she wants to do and hates proctoring practice tests. She can be reached at: torch.managing@gmail.com

8

Almost 20 years and still waiting SHANNON LUIBRAND Staff Writer

On May 13, 1993, The New York Times published an article about the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Alliance being banned at St. John’s University. At the time a St. John’s graduate, Brendan Fay, stated, “A university should be a place of dialogue, of reflection on the entire human experience.”

At the end of this year, it will have been 20 years since the article was published.

Most of our freshmen were not even born yet.

As one of the most diverse colleges in the nation, St. John’s would seem to be open to a Gay, Lesbian and Straight Alliance on campus. With an undergraduate class on the Queens campus alone of around 12,000 students, the lack of an alliance is frankly, preposterous. Located in NYC, a city extremely accepting of the LGBT community, especially with the recent approval of gay marriage, St. John’s University stands out as a sore thumb.

An Alliance is a place for students of any sexual orientation to meet, socialize and discuss issues within their communities. It unites people with similar beliefs. Just like the Hindu Students Council, Muslim Students Association and

“

Located in NYC, a city extremely accepting of the LGBT community, especially with the recent approval of gay marriage, St. John’s University stands out as a sore thumb.

”

the Coptic Society, all organizations that do not coincide with the Catholic Church teachings either. These groups are allowed on campus with the same purposes that an Alliance would have. Sadly, St. John’s has

not caught on to this trend yet.

St. John’s is one of three Vincentian universities in the nation.

It also happens to be the only one without an Alliance.

DePaul University, located in Chicago, states on its website regarding its Alliance, “It’s a safe space for LGBTQ students, faculty, and staff of DePaul University to go and learn more about themselves and many others.”

Niagara University, located in Niagara, New York, the third Vincentian university, states about its Alliance, “NU-Alliance is a student group established to work with the university … in ways that are appropriate to our Catholic and Vincentian mission.”

My sophomore year at St. John’s, I sat down with an administrator in the Campus Activities department who politely informed me there was no Alliance on campus because it did not coincide to the Catholic mission of the University. It was mentioned that we have a “Safe Zone” program run through Student Wellness – which has been the University’s answer whenever asked about the lack of an Alliance on campus.

That same semester, I was surprised at a conversation I had with my Christian Marriage professor.

I challenged her, stating, “Why do we not allow a LGBT alliance on campus then?” and she responded, “We do.”

I challenged her again and said we absolutely do not and she responded, “Well, we should.”

We should. It’s that simple. There is no reason in not having an Alliance. There is no precedent. There is no compassion.

Rev. Donald J. Harrington, President of our University, I call on you. Twenty years is too long to be ignorant of an entire group of students on this campus. Stand up for your students. All of your students. They are waiting and they are ready.

Do you think St. John’s should have a Gay, Lesbian and Straight Alliance on campus?

Send a letter to the editor at torcheic@gmail.com or tweet @STJTorch

What is a sensible immigration reform plan?

EMILY BENKO

Special to the Torch With an undocumented immigrant population approaching 12 million, immigration policy has been front and center stage in the past decade of American politics. For the election in November the question of immigration policy is as important as ever, but the issue, policies and feelings are complex.

What makes the newest wave of immigration to this country more difficult than the past is that gaining entrance to this country has become increasingly more difficult, while the desire for the American Dream has remained the same. This disproportion has led to an all-time high of undocumented immigrants. As times have changed from the height of European immigration in the Industrial Revolution to the mostly Latin American immigration of today, the policies have changed as well.

In today’s age, national security is an increasingly important issue, but we must also be aware of human rights of those trying to pursue the timeless American

“

This city relies on its hardworking immigrants

”

Dream. Many immigrants cannot even afford the fee for a visa, let alone the fee to apply for citizenship down the road.

Those who try to immigrate are “lucky to cross the border, and are more lucky just to survive”.

This city relies on its hard working immigrants who risk everything just for a job in the states. A recurring theme throughout immigration conversation is survival.

The immigrants of today are no different than those of the past. They want to make an honest living and to escape the turmoil of corruption. Many immigrants are well informed of American policy, especially

the DREAM act, and just want to live a better life in America than they had in their home country.

For those two don’t know, the DREAM act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) is a bi-partisan piece of legislation first introduced in 2001, but has yet to pass in its entirety. The bill would grant permanent residency to minors who where brought here by their parents and have completed high school. For undocumented youths who have spent the majority of their life in this country at no fault of their own, this is what they deserve. The opposition, however, considers a measure such as this to be a “magnet” for illegal immigration.

There is no easy solution to the issue of immigration, but securing the human rights of those brought here at no fault of their own is certainly the first step. This is why President Obama recently issued an executive order reminiscent of the original DREAM act, called DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). In similar suit, this measure allows immigrants to apply for work visas if they entered the country as minors. Immigration is not going to end and ultimately, we are products of immigrants so we should treat all with respect.

The President, while striving to help immigrants, has not had enough time to do all that he promised but has gone much further than the Republican party. Strict deportation measures put forth by Republican state legislatures in several states are of much concern to immigrants. American citizens are being deported because they look Hispanic, which is both racist and disheartening. Immigrants work hard for this country and need to be returned with respect and an easier way to citizenship and visas.

Emily Benko is a senior and the Events Coordinator of the College Democrats.

GREGORY MITCHELL Special to the Torch

If each of us were to look back in our family tree, most of us wouldn’t have to look back that far to have a family member that was an immigrant who came to this country. We are a nation of immigrants. It is a part of the fabric of America.

However, immigration has become a hot button issue, specifically the policy of immigration and dealing with illegal immigration.

President Obama promised to take on immigration within his first year in office.

Well…we’re still waiting Mr. President.

Obama has failed to address the flaws and issues with our immigration system and he has failed to address illegal immigration.

We need an immigration reform and a plan that strengthens our economy, addresses the problem illegal immigration and ensures our security as a nation.

1.) Strengthen Our Economy – People want to come to America. They want to do business here. They want to live and work here. They just have trouble getting here. I work in the office of a Member of Congress. I see firsthand when people come to our office for help with the struggles they are having trying to bring their family members to America. They want to come to America. This is the land of opportunity. The process shouldn’t be so complicated. They’re the ones trying to come here legally. We shouldn’t make it harder for them to try. Many of these people have entrepreneurial spirit. They want to start businesses. Some have advanced degrees. We can attract these people and enable them to stay and work here to help our economy. The same goes for students who come here. They study here at our universities and earn degrees and then return to their countries. Our policy should be to have those people here to work, innovate and grow our technology and economy.

2.) Address The Issue of Illegal Immigration –What is there not to understand about illegal immigration? Illegal is right in its name. Webster Dictionary defines illegal as, “not according to or authorized by law”. That seems pretty simple.

Illegal immigration is breaking the law.

It should not be tolerated. People all over the world are waiting to come to America.

They are waiting in line and trying to come legally. Those who are illegal should not be rewarded. They should not be given citizenship and amnesty. They broke the law.

“” Illegal immigration ... should not be tolerated.

We must not make it ok that they did that. It is impractical to kick so many people out of the country, therefore some, such as those who are in school or have graduated from school, should have a means toward legality but it should entail some form of service to this country. But those who break the law here in America should not be treated so kindly. Prosecute them or send them back home. And of course, enforce the laws that already exist.

3.) Secure The Border – Our southern border covers many states. This is a huge area of vulnerability for America.

According to the Government Accountability Office, our Border Patrol lacks control of over half of the southwest border.

This is completely unacceptable. People just come into America illegally while others are waiting to come legally. The federal government has done so little to address this that states like Arizona have taken it upon themselves to enforce the law and create measures to fight illegal immigration.

They’re crying out for the government to do something. The government should do something. Secure the border with effective levels of border patrol. Build more fences and walls in areas necessary. And allow the states to enforce the laws.

Immigration reform is something that needs to be addressed and it needs to be addressed now.

Gregory Mitchell is a junior and the president of the College Republicans

Representatives from the College Democrats and Republicans will be weighing in on important campaign issues in the weeks leading up to the election.

9

The little things: What really gets us mad JACK

Special to the Torch I’m a pretty level-headed guy that tries to keep things in perspective. I’m a big believer in the phrase “don’t sweat the small stuff.”

When we’re dating, the “small stuff,” things that aren’t big enough for me to justifiably make an issue out of them, but still bother me, inevitably piles up. Things like you grabbing the last fry off my plate, taking the last swig of my drink or losing my last life in Mario all make me silently stew in a rage that, if acted upon, would make Godzilla’s carnage look minor.

But still, I stay silent, because I want to be the bigger person.

I let stuff like you commenting on how hot [insert NFL quarterback here] looks in his uniform pants, or how great Magic

“

I’m sure deep down, you realize how ridiculous you sound

”

Mike was go, even though you react angrily whenever I comment on Kate Upton or Jessica Alba’s performance in Honey.

I let that go, because I have perspective.

I don’t say anything when my favorite song comes on — sung by a man in a deep baritone voice — and you insist on singing it in your loudest falsetto voice, which barely pays any attention to things like “singing on key” or “this is by

Johnny Cash and you sound like Carly Rae Jepsen with laryngitis.”

No, I let that go, because there are more important things in our relationship.

No, there’s nothing that really bothers me enough to nag me. Even though I don’t even like when my male friends, who played football in high school, offer their analysis of why Adrian Peterson should have cut back instead of bouncing to the outside, I sit by with nothing more than a mildly annoyed smirk on my face when you explain in painstaking detail what exactly is wrong with Mark Sanchez’s throwing motion, based exclusively on that time your dad showed you how to throw a football when you were four.

No, I don’t say anything, because I love you, and I’m sure deep down, you realize how ridiculous you sound.

But the biggest thing for which I would never judge you, because I am a man that embraces everybody’s quirks and recognizes that nobody is perfect, is your deep and intimate relationship — apparently hidden from me — with the biggest celebrities that just happens to dovetail perfectly with what gossip rags write about them.

I would never call you out for saying things like, “Rihanna’s clearly still in love with Chris Brown,” or “Katy Perry’s such a bad friend to Taylor Swift for dating John Mayer.” I’m sure that, even though I spend an average of 20 hours a day with you, and these stars live on the other side of the country, that you are privy to some inside information that didn’t originate from an episode of “Entertainment Tonight” or the cover story of Us Weekly that you skimmed while buying ice cream and Doritos at Rite Aid. No, I would never do that, because I love you, and I don’t sweat the small stuff.

JILL

Special to the Torch I fell in love with you because of your laugh. It’s a fun loving, hearty laugh that always tells me you’re enjoying yourself.

After the laugh, I learned about how sweet you are, how smart you are, how loyal you are. That’s when I knew I didn’t have a chance – I was completely in love with you.

These are the first things I think about when I think of you. But after all of that, I’ve learned some other things about you as well. These are the things that won’t make me love you any less, but they certainly aren’t helping me like you any more.

I’m not trying to pick a fight - I probably won’t even point these things out to you – but there are some of the things that make me cringe every time they happen.

The toilet seat. C’mon now – this is not hard. It goes down just as easily as it goes up. It’s a modern feat of science. But, there is nothing that gets me more than when I say good night to you and head to my bathroom to brush my teeth and the seat is up. It doesn’t even bother me so much when it’s up at your own apartment.

You live with all boys, I get it, but for the love of God, when you’re at my apartment, please put it down.

My friends. I know you may not be interested in the recent celebrity gossip or who wore what to the bar the night before, but just try to participate in conversations with them. I know you as a personable, fun guy who will talk my ear off if I let you. They think you’re an antisocial hermit.

Don’t ask me if I’m mad if you know I am. Feigning ignorance about how I feel after you left me waiting for an hour for you to play your FIFA game makes me

madder than the wait did. If you know I’m upset, just apologize – don’t make me outline exactly what you did wrong, It will just make everything that much more… maddening.

Women jokes. They’re only funny the first time, and sometimes the second, but

“

These are the things that won’t make me love you any less, but they certainly aren’t helping me like you any more.

”

rarely the third.

Correcting me. I know you’re smart.

But correcting me every single time I make a small error in word choice grinds my gears like no other. You do it because you can’t help it, I appreciate that, but every time I feel like a third grader being corrected by her teacher. In a completely non-sexy way.

I realize that there are things you have to accept when you’re dating someone.

And believe you me, I know I’m far from perfect. I laugh at inappropriate times. I will probably not be the winner of the next American Idol. I burp in public. I wear sweats at least half the week. I never take the time in the morning to do my hair or wear make up.

And like I said, these things do not make me love you any less - but I can promise you things will be a lot better for you if I never see that seat up again.

Jack and Jill is a staff column describing different perspectives on relationships in college. Any suggestions for future topics can be submitted to torchopinion@gmail.com.

TOPTWEETS: @Courtneyz0rz Courtney White

@AllieLindo Allie Lindo

“I hate when guys let the door slam shut on you instead of holding it. If guys expect us to make sandwiches they need hold doors.”

@STJTorch

@terencemcullen Terence Cullen “when they make me leave the apartment”

#TorchJnJ

“I hate when guys think I wore something nice just for them. Sometimes I just wanna dress it up just cuz. ”

10

Think Outside...

Lifestyle

13

Barber wars: New Generation vs. Hair Xpress

JITARTH JADEJA Contributing Writer

Competition is a natural part of life.

It is a contest between individuals and groups for rewards that cannot, and will not, be divided and shared equally.

Competition within business historically has been the effort of two or more parties through the process of independent action striving to secure the business of a third party by offering the most favorable terms.

When businesses are faced with competition, the textbook strategy is to allocate productive resources to their most highly valued uses and to develop new products, services and technologies all the while leading to lower product prices for the consumer and higher levels of efficiency for the business.

In theory, perfect competition is what it says it is: perfect. However, in the real world, it’s not all peaches and cream.

Arthur Rubinov and Igor Pinhasov first met at Parts Barbershop in Long Island a few years ago. Both being qualified barbers; Pinhasov was already an employee at Parts Barbershop before Rubinov secured a job there.

“He was very unhappy from the beginning about the money he was getting for his haircuts,” Pinhasov said. “Five or six dollars we were charging and he always felt like it wasn’t enough.

Even though we had a lot of volume, he wanted to charge more. After 10 months he left and he came here to set up his own business, a place where there was no competition so he could charge whatever he wanted.”

A few years ago, Rubinov rented the first floor of a building and set up what is now New Generation Unisex Hairstyling, located at 167-02 Union Turnpike in Flushing.

New Generations quickly identified and styled itself within the family of its largest customer base: St. John’s University students.

Placards, signs and banners adorn both the inside and outside of New Generation, over the windows and along the walls. The Facebook page for New Generation currently has the St. John’s University logo

stamped over it with the phrase, “We welcome St. John’s University,” highlighting the direct marketing strategy employed.

Based on its location though, you would expect nothing else. For awhile, all was good; haircuts were given, conversations were had, legal tender was exchanged and New Generation became the only option for many St. John’s students when it came to their hair.

However, 10 months ago, Pinhasov and Rubinov were reunited once again when Pinhasov’s uncle found what he believed was the ideal spot for his barbershop, named Hair Xpress Salon, located at 168-8 Union Turnpike, about 50 yards down the road from New Generation. The difference was that Hair Xpress charged significantly less than its close-by counterpart.

“If you want a bad haircut you can go to Hair Xpress,” Rubinov said. “I mean how would you feel, if you had an established business, an established business practice and then all of a sudden someone just comes along, copies everything you’ve done and cuts your prices in half,” he continued. “I worked hard for several years, I always took pride in my work but then he comes and changes everything.”

Rubinov says he used to employ three full-time barbers and four part-time stylists. Now, he says he can only afford to employ two barbers and one stylist. While the business end is suffering, Rubinov refuses to lie down and roll over. Photos of what he claims to be below average haircuts given at Hair Xpress are ready and laminated, to be shown to anyone who walks into New Generation. Signs that loudly proclaim “We fix $6.99 haircuts! Don’t be fooled by cheap imitations,” have been put up by New Generation.

“Arthur doesn’t want to speak to me at all,” Pinhasov said. “I’ve tried to talk to him, I even tried to say hello to him but he just ignored me. Those photos of the bad haircuts given here aren’t real. He faked those photos by giving a bad haircut to people then pretending to fix it.”

According to Pinsahov, since New Generation opened, the pricto twelve doles have risen from $10 to $14.

PETER LONG

Entertainment Editor

TORCH PHOTO/JITARTH JADEJA

New Generation’s sign displayed in an attempt to discredit competition.

“Before we came here he was always raising his price from $10 to $12 to $14,” Igor said. “Now he’s just mad because we only charge $7 and he charges double that. That’s why people are coming to us, even Mary Carnesecca came in here with her clients, now would she do that if we weren’t just as good or even better than him?”

While both sides are not happy with each other’s business practices, the students are the ones who make the final call on who to believe and who to give their business to.

“I’ve been going to New Generation since September of my freshman year,” junior Quinn Rochford said. “Though the price is higher than it is down the block, I

keep going. Just as it is with any consumer product, where we get our hair cut is about loyalty.”

Not everyone is willing to pay more money, though.

It’s a full haircut for half the price,” junior Bryan Wynne said. “Hair Xpress gets me in and out faster too.”

For now, the two establishments continue to fight it out. The only true solution will come when the St. John’s community decides which one provides the best combination of quality and price in order for them to continue to thrive.

-Additional reporting by Kieran Lynch, Features Editor

Comparing The Cuts

$14

, the cost of a haircut at New Generation.

$7

, the cost of a haircut at Hair Xpress.

262

, the distance in feet between the two businesses.

Igor Pinhasov stands outside Hair Xpress, where he gives $7 haircuts.

TORCH PHOTO/JITARTH JADEJA

15

A memory that never fades

9/11’s impact remembered by people from all around the globe

aforementioned archetype of what may be called “proper journalism” in some Contributing Writer circles, and into a style which propagated the idea that everyone had a story to tell, or an individual perspective to give.

Occasions that henever we turn our gaze can impact upon the broadcasting of information to this extent and in this toward New York’s manner are rare, but iconic skyline 9/11 is; without a today, we are doubt, one of those brutally reminded events. that it is not the city Culturally, pothat it was 11 years litically, socially ago. In 2001, as and economically, I stood on top of the impact that 9/11 the “Twin Towers” had upon the world that would come is stark and soberdown just one month ing both now and later, I, much like with the benefit the rest of the world, of hindsight. The had no idea of the negative fallout tragedy that would is well-documented, befall New York but the positive reCity that fateful action to the event is September morning. perhaps more difficult It is an event that not to articulate. All that only holds special can be said is that the meaning for myability of New York to self and many other absorb such an attack British people, but and come out on the one that has drastiother side even stroncally reshaped the ger is a true reflection world that we live in of the strength of the today. city and its people; When I had visitand kudos must go to ed New York in 2001, them for that.

I was just nine years The sense of old, and yet the returning for the scale of the city was first time 11 years even more mindafter the event, blowing than it is however, gives me to me today. The a somewhat unique drive from John F. perspective on Kennedy Airport the issue. Rather granted me a beauthan experiencing the tiful panoramic gradual progression view of the city from grief to reconacross the East struction that most River, and a skyNew Yorkers have, line dominated by I come back with a the World Trade very real sense of Center complex. stark contrast between As I look upon the 2001 and 2012. city today, it is still New York City the lively global is a different place center that I refrom the one that I member, but there visited all those is certainly an unyears ago, and from mistakable sense of the one that I saw sadness and melon the TV screen on ancholy in Lower 9/11. To say that it Manhattan, an area is a lesser city though that I remember as could not be furbeing nothing but ther from the truth. vivacious and full Even 11 years afof life upon my last ter, New York Cityvisit. stands as proudly When we reas it ever has as flect upon the sigone of the world’s nificance of 9/11, it foremost cities, is important for us and for an Engall to remember that lishman who had it is an event that has what felt like a impacted foreign front row seat to one lands far from Amerof the most notable ica’s coastal borders. atrocities in AmeriIn the UK, and can history, that is even the rest of incredibly heartening Europe, media coverage of the The Torch’s first issue after the 9/11 attacks, printed on Sept. 19, 2001, displayed the graphic image of the Twin Towers burning. to see. event was just as intense as that which Harry Saunders is an international you would have found on NBC or CNN,. world’s media was reasonably uniform, notable media outlets experienced student from The horror of the event depicted as if it with popular consensus dictating that what has been called the “death of a shift from the London, England. could have been anywhere, and happened on Sept. 11, 2001, the normal rules of detachment,”

HARRY SAUNDERS

W

to anyone in the world. The 7/7 bombings in my hometown of London in 2005 only served to reinforce the universal threat that terrorism poses, and the dynamism of the global media in reporting of events.

Coverage of the event in the

journalism ceased to apply. Gone was the empiricism and objective writing that newspapers such as the Times of London and Guardian prided themselves on practicing.

For one day only, the world’s most

16

Manhattan campus remembers 9/11 KIERAN LYNCH Features Editor

Eleven years ago yesterday, 2,752 people lost their lives in downtown Manhattan, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania in the worst attack on American soil. While many New Yorkers’ lives were forever changed that day, there was a group of St. John’s students whose whole fall semester was turned upside down, as they found themselves in front of the tragedy as members of the St. John’s Manhattan campus on Sept. 11, 2001.

The Manhattan campus sits at 101 Murray St., a mere three blocks uptown from the World Trade Center site.

In 2001, everything was starting brand new as St. John’s had just merged with the College of Insurance in June to become the School of Risk Management. The typical transitions that one would expect were taking place. Changes in the residence policies and campus life were underway. A few days into the semester, it was all put on hold.

“We wound up shutting down the building,” former Director at the Manhattan Campus and current Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancements Victor Ramos said. “We started taking roll call, basically who was in the building, who was where.”

With the security policies at the new St. John’s campus still very much in flux at the time of the attacks, the school was in the unique position to see all of its protective initiatives go into effect in a post 9/11 world.

“We were just starting to implement the StormCard system for the upper floors,” Ramos said. “After 9/11, that’s what we did.”

St. John’s put new policies in place for

both security and data protection to help in case of another emergency. In the case of data storage, information was placed on encrypted portable disks. This, alongside the UIS system, makes it possible to access important student information from any campus location.

“After 9/11 there was certainly a redundancy built in for data keeping and off campus access to it,” Ramos explained.

Following the attacks, students located downtown were placed in the unprecedented position of having their place of living become the front line of the tragedy. They had to find a place to go; first just to escape, and then to continue the college life they came to St. John’s to live.

“We wound up working with Marymount Manhattan,” Ramos said. “That was one of our two places to go, [the other was] over the bridge to Brooklyn. It was chaos that day, so people ended up going in two different directions.”

“We wound up

shutting down the building. We started taking roll call, basically who was in the building, who was where.”

-Victor Ramos

Once the situation became more clear, according to Ramos, the Manhattan campus staff was relocated to Queens, as were most of the students. The Torch reported on Sept. 19, 2001 that the students who found themselves in Queens were placed in the bottom floors of residence halls while they

TORCH PHOTO/KIERAN LYNCH

The commemorative rock that is placed in on the overlook in Queens. continued their studies.

Ten days after the events of 9/11, Ramos and his staff were permitted to return to the Manhattan campus, thanks to a partnership with the Department of Health, Office of Emergency Services and the Red Cross to provide space on the first and second floors of the building for a “respite center.” In total, the center provided 542,000 meals, 1.4 million snacks, 21,803 instances of first aid care and more than 14,000 relief workers stayed overnight, according to a St. John’s release from December 2001.

Ramos says he was given a list of personal items he would need to retrieve for each student including things ranging from contact lens solution to passports. He credited his facilities team with keeping

the campus relatively safe and toxin free.

“Our facility staff that very day did an incredible job making sure the building was as safe as it could possibly be,” he said.

“One of the things they did, which made a lot of sense back then and [you normally wouldn’t think of it], was to close off all the air handlers so all the dust and debris didn’t have as much access to the building as it did in other buildings.”

Following a $1 million cleanup of the building, when life downtown started to return to a semblance of normalcy, the students returned to Murray St. for the spring semester in January 2002. 111 of the 115 full-time students enrolled at the campus in the fall semester decided to return to continue their studies in the spring.

First Listen: The Avett Brothers, Bob Dylan PETER LONG

ANNMARIE TURTON

Entertainment Editor

Staff Writer

THE AVETT BROTHERS

The Carpenter

OUT OF 5 STARS

The Avett Brothers’ music has been described as folksy, bluegrass with a twist of rock n’roll. Their latest album, The Carpenter, does not stray far from these themes. The Avett Brothers consist of real life brothers, Scott and Seth Avett, Bob Crawford, Joe Kwon and Jacob Edwards.

This eclectic quintet hails from Concord, North Carolina, a town known for its massive motor speedway and it charm. The Avett Brothers and their music personify the classic, laid back, easy breezy southern charm.

While one may be skeptical of their style of music upon first listen, they can win anyone over with their relatable but simple messages. Every song has a powerful message of living life, losing love, and dealing with everything that comes your way. The songs on The Carpenter remind me of music which could be played during a long drive on one of the many open roads in The Avett Brothers’ home state of North Carolina and America in general. Their music is more than just relaxing; it can help a listener forget

about anything stressful going on in life.

The Rick Rubin produced album features the country, bluegrass influenced “A Pretty Girl From Michigan,” the harrowing “Live and Die,” and “Through My Prayers,” a song that perfectly explain life’s greatest and toughest moments all at the same time. The entire album is simply crafted but deeply meaningful.

If someone were to buy the Brothers’ sixth studio album, they would be easily put out of the pain and sorrow such a day brings for many people. “Winter In My Heart,” an emotional and stark portrait, and “A Father’s First Spring,” which speaks on the feelings associated with being a new dad. They are moving and raw but could have brought the album down considerably, but the record pushed on and continued to tell trying stories about the human experience.

The Avett Brothers have come out of a budding folk scene, alongside bands such as Mumford & Sons, that have seen their records climb high on the charts and have even overtaken their rock n’ roll counterparts in the process.With the release of this record, The Avett Brothers have cemented themselves as master storytellers with an album that is beautifully authentic.

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BOB DYLAN Tempest

OUT OF 5 STARS

Bob Dylan is one of those artists, like Elvis, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones, that you don’t have to know their music to know who they are. You just know the name. At this stage in Dylan’s career, maybe that’s all he’ll ever be. He has pretty much done everything that every musician would want to do and, to be honest, he has nothing left to prove.

With that being said, Tempest, Dylan’s 35th studio album, certainly is not his best. There are some emotional high points and the words, like with most of Dylan’s work, are superb. But the musicality of the record is bland and that has been an annoying constant for Dylan’s music on this album and 2009’s Together Through Life and 2006’s Modern Times.

But that’s okay. I’ve come to the conclusion that Dylan will not make another great album again, unless he somehow finds a creative renaissance at the age of 71, which is highly unlikely. Dylan probably knows this and he definitely doesn’t care, as he

has said in numerous interviews , he just wants to make music that he likes.

Tempest mixes a lot of musical styles into one pot. The second track, “Soon After Midnight,” gives the listener a doo-wop feel similar to The Drifters or The Platters that hinges on jazz. The next track, “Narrow Way,” is a vintage Dylan blues stomp accompanied by lyrics that detail revenge and redemption: “it’s a long road/if I can’t work up to you/you’ll have to work down to me some day.”

The main lyrical theme of Tempest exudes the darkest side of love; betrayal, deceit and lies. Dylan once again saves his work from disaster by flexing his lyrical muscle, his bread and butter that he fallen back on after all of these years.

Despite this being a very weak effort, it’s an interesting one. It’s very dark and spooky, with the song “Scarlet Town” exuding both of those adjectives: “in Scarlet Town the end is near/the seven wonders in the world are here…all human thoughts seem glorified.”

As stated previously, Dylan has nothing left to prove. He can just go on for the rest of his life touring the country and playing his most popular songs, but instead he goes into the studio every other year to record an album.

There is an honor in that, and I feel like he should be given some admiration for it.

When it comes to Tempest though, Dylan didn’t put out a very good album. Plain

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STJ guide ROLANDA HARMON Contributing Writer

Freshman year of college is thought of as an exciting and new beginning.

The simple idea of moving away from home and joining a community of young adults just like you is captivating and hopeful. For many, however, it can be a bit stressful, scary and overwhelming.

The transition from high school to college is sudden and often forced upon us.

Although it can be flustering at times, the experience you gain from college will always be one to remember.

There are a few things about St. John’s University that every college student should know. This information is often attained over months, and sometimes years, of experience as an STJ student.

When you first come to St. John’s University, there are two things you are certain to be given: a StormCard and a class schedule. It is up to you to use these things to your advantage. Listed below are a few things you may not have known about the surrounding amenities of STJ. • Late Night Shuttles: Are you trapped on campus need and to make your way back to housing? Call Public Safety at (718) 990-5252 for your very own fast-pass. St. John’s provides late night shuttles via the Public Safety Vehicles as soon as the daytime shuttle hours end. The late night shuttle runs from 11p.m. to 3a.m. which transports students from the main campus to the surrounding off-campus residence halls.

• Double J’s: Double J’s is located right across from the 7-Eleven at 168-02 Union Turnpike. This convenience store offers hot and cold sandwiches along with all the snacks a student would need while taking a study break. What’s so great about it? It’s open 24/7. What else could a college kid ask for?

• Barnes and Noble: Simply walk outside Gate 2, across Utopia and walk into the peaceful Barnes and Noble on 176-60 Union Turnpike. The main floor is equipped with tables and chairs perfect which is for studying, and the all-time favorite, Starbucks.

• Vincenzo’s: Vincenzo’s pizza offers the famed “dollar slice” deal every Wednesday and Friday. Now for only $1.25, you can walk right outside the gates of STJ to 168-18 Union Turnpike and enjoy freshly made hot pizza catered to a college student’s budget!

• Metro Cards: You can buy $4.50 metro cards and all-day passes at the P & M Convenience store at 16821 Union Turnpike and also at the Gulf Gas Station at 178-02 Union Turnpike.

• Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robins: Although STJ has its very own Dunkin Donuts on campus, there is also one right outside campus next to Double J’s and across from the 7-eleven. It is located at 168-22 Union Turnpike. But why settle for just coffee and donuts at 2am? That’s right, Baskin Robins is located right inside the same building and they are both open 24/7.

• Cold Stone: Use your StormCard at Cold Stone Creamery for $1.00 off each purchase. Don’t miss out on the ultimate ice cream Experience located at 176-60 Union Turnpike.

With this information, make the best of your college years. Students can go outside the gates of St. John’s and explore in order to maintain that balance between social life and your academics.

First Watch: The Possession Horror flick fails to live up to expectations

DESTINY DEJESUS Contributing Writer

Lets face it, a good horror film is pretty hard to find. Now as summer turns to fall, many are still waiting for that one horror film that scares the pants off of them. As it turns out, The Possession was not that film.

The story focuses on a n atique box which is supposedly haunted by a malicious spirit from a Jewish legend. There was a listing on eBay for an old wine box which contained locks of hair, pennies, a dried flower and an engraved piece of granite inside.

Bids started at one dollar but the box was eventually bought for nearly $300. Everyone who had the box either witnessed strange, paranormal events or went through them.

The box had several Hebrew cravings, one stating “a soul that has been unable to fulfill its function during its lifetime is given another opportunity to do so in dybbuk.”

In the film, Jeffrey Dean Morgan played the father role who is in the process of getting a divorce with his wife played

by Kyra Sedgwick. The beginning of the movie starts off pretty slow and focuses on the family and their problems. When the youngest daughter, Emily, played by Natasha Calis, becomes not only obsessed with the dibbuk box that she picked up at a garage sale, but also possessed by the demon inside it, the family struggles to figure out what is wrong with her.

As Emily’s personality changes drastically, the audience is frightened by her strange actions. The more attached Emily got to her box, the creepier she became.

The several possessions that take place throughout the movie consist of usual back bends, rolling of eyes and demon voices.

Though sometimes disturbing to watch, one of the films weakest points is the directing.

Many times, the angles in which the scenes are shot, are unclear and throw off the amount of suspense that could have been present. Rated PG13, viewers had little to worry about. The movie had nothing on the original, The Exorcist, but between the flinging bodies, bleeding eyes and scary little girls in white nightgowns, it might not have been the best exorcism movie yet, but it definitely made viewers think twice about pickPHOTO COURTESY OF COLLIDER.COM ing up old antiques from Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in The Possession, along garage sales. with Kyra Sedgwick and Lee Pace.

This week in showbiz: Sept. 12 • NBC’s Today Show caused a stir on Sept. 11 when they continued with their regular programming as opposed to airing 9/11 ceremonial coverage like counterparts CNN, MSNBC and Fox News. Kris Kardashian, of E!’s Keeping Up With the Kardashians, was the featured guest on the popular daytime talk show.

• Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello joined Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on stage for a handful of songs over two nights at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on Sept.

7 and 8. Both rockers with Chicago roots, Vedder joined the Jersey-born Springsteen on stage for classics such as “Darkness on the Edge of Town” and “Atlantic City” while Morello joined the Boss on stage for takes on “The Ghost of Tom Joad” and “Death to My Hometown.”

• Controversial singer Chris Brown denied reports that his new tattoo had anything to do with ex-girlfriend and R&B diva Rhianna, according to his publicist through Entertainment Weekly. His publicist went on to say that the tattoo was based off a skull associated with Mexican holiday

the Day of the Dead. Brown trilogy of new albums, Green film without his permiswas busted for assaulting Rhi- Day Uno, Green Day Dos and sion, according to TMZ. The anna three years ago.

Green Day Tres.

New Orleans rapper, who al• Paramount Pic• Lil’ Wayne has lowed the filming of the docutures announced on Monday sued the producers, including mentary, first sued the filmthat the name of the second the son of legendary music makers over the way he was Star Trek film will be Star producer Quincy Jones, portrayed in the movie but Trek Into Darkness. The JJ Quincy Jones III, of the unre- was later thrown away by the Abrams directed film will be leased documentary The Cart- courts. released on May 17, 2013. er for using his music in the • T V Guide reports that legendary actress and singer Liza Minnelli will reprise her role as Lucille Austero for the highly anticipated, Netflix exclusive fourth season of Arrested Development. Minnelli will reunite with fellow cast mates Will Arnett, Michael Cera and Portia De Rossi for a season which will feature as many as 13 episodes.

• Green day announced yesterday that they will embark on a North American tour beginning on PHOTO COURTESY OF GUARDIAN.COM Nov. 26 in Seattle promoting their Star Trek will be rebooted with the same starstudded cast in May of 2013.

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Dresses overshadow convention speeches DESTINY DEJESUS Contributing Writer

Are clothes more important than words? In America, it seems so.

Michelle Obama and Anne Romney's dresses received more attention in some circles than the actual speeches they presented at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

Obama wore a shimmery, pink and copper dress by Tracy Reese, an African-American businesswoman and designer. The First Lady spiced up her outfit with gray nail polish by Artistic Nail Design and pink heels from J. Crew. Similar dresses by the designer range from $395-$450. Mrs. Obama surely reflected the Democratic Party’s support of the middle class with her lower priced attire. She kept it simple and what we can consider cheap compared to Romney's red, belted Oscar de la Renta dress that priced between $2,090- $2,490.

De la Renta is infamous for bashing Mrs. Obama for wearing a dress designed by a British designer to a state dinner last year.

Romney's knee-length dress was criticized by the public for being too bright of a contrast against the blue background during her speech, while also being called elegant and "First

Lady-like". With her flippy hairdo, similar, to Obama's, and 3/4 sleeve dress, Romney played off the "aged and sophisticated" look. She topped off her outfit with matching red lipstick and a fresh manicure.

Aside from the unspoken fashion fight, both Obama and Romney's speeches had as much significance and should have gotten more recognition. Though both women touched the topics of love and lack of money, their unique and personal stories added to the emotion of their speeches.

Obama focused deeply on her and Barack's struggles growing up. She then went into a list of good deeds that he has done for our country. The First Lady touched upon the topics of education, healthcare, business and more. With her personalized stories involving her daughters family, she got the point across and emphasized that unlike what Romney stated, Barack is a family man.

Ann Romney spoke greatly on motherhood and how women tend to work a little more when it comes to their children. She mentioned the times of struggle for herself and Romney and finished her speech with the typical "vote for my husband, he won't let you down" speel.

Now did America listen to the words of these powerful and convincing women? Or was the amount PHOTO COURTESY OF TOVYLA.COM of their dress and heels more impor- First Lady Michelle Obama tant?

Fashion’s Night Out lights up City KORI WILLIAMS Staff Writer

TIA ELLISON

Contributing Writer The West Coast may have been the musical circus of the night with its stage-diving, gymnastics flipping, and mildly humorous skits, all courtesy of the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, but nothing quite like the avenue long club-like scene of lines that bent around the corner accompanied by stern security in all black guarding the doorways, all happening in the East.

Fashion’s Night Out is every girls dream: one night a year completely dedicated to shopping. This event is is held across the world on Sept. 6th.

In New York, Fashion’s Night out was a movement within itself. The five-hour night out allowed stores to stay open after hours, providing free entertainment and a host of other novelties including drinks, food, and even free clothes. Although stores where holding FNO events all over Manhattan, the largest cluster of shops were focused in Soho just passed West Houston St. With the goal of helping to stimulate the economy in these difficult times, Fashion’s Night Out was founded in 2009 by American Vogue and Council

of Fashion Designers of Amer- this the store’s first Fashion’s ever Fashion’s Night Out toica. This year, the event has Night Out. Ebony, a sales as- gether enjoying free cupcakes taken place or will take place sociate at the store hoped be- from Georgetown Cupcakes. in 18 countries. FNO also sup- ing involved an event like this The culinary venue offered one ports and shares revenue with would in bring in “reoccurring free cupcake from its Thursday the culinary industry, public customers” and give the loca- specialties list to every visitransit, hotel chains, and orga- tion more exposure because of tor. The group said that they nizations such as the New York their unique take on fashion. love New York City and would City AIDS Fund.

St. John’s students weren’t certainly come back to the city Amy Cab, general manager far from the event. Freshmen next year and will be sure to of the Adidas Store on Wooster Rachel Romaro, Samantha Ian- head back to Georgetown CupSt. was more than pleased with narilli, Alexis Degennaro, and cakes. the turnout, especially since it Jhane Facey spent their first was the store’s 10th anniversary.

“It’s more about the experience than the sales”, she said.

The store has been involved in Fashion’s Night Out from its beginning wasn’t as concerned with increasing the stores sales as much as other shops were.

Galleria Melissa was one of the new kids on the block.

While they’ve been a brand in Brazil for 33 years, this store on Greene St. has only been TORCH PHOTO/TIA ELLISON open for seven Lines stretched around the corner at N.Y.’s Fashion’s Night Out. months making

Trends: Fall Fashion SHARON TONG Staff Writer

Fall is the season for fashion and beauty enthusiasts; you have your Labor Day sales, Fashion Week Shows, Fashion’s Night Out, trendy fall clothes, and most of all, the playful and daring fall beauty colors are in season again.

Now that summer is officially over, it’s time to leave the bright pink lipstick and bright blue and green eye shadows you were sporting all summer and turn a new leaf for the coveted colors of autumn with some exciting new fall beauty collections.

If you’re a MAC Cosmetics addict, get ready to be wowed with their exciting collections of collaborations and iconic lines. For those who know their fashion icons, the modish former Vogue Paris editor-in-chief, Carine Roitfeld, put her knowledge of styling in test for her beauty collection with MAC Cosmetics.

Certainly, the collection was released in fashionable manner with neutral, taupelike colors and a blood red nail polish in packaging, etched with her signature on it.

Starting a new job or internship this semester? You’ll love the Office Hours Collection from MAC, a line dedicated to who are simply dedicated to being professional, all while looking glamorous. This retro, pop-cultured line defines the classic working woman image we all embrace with cool-toned beigey-pink colors, all filled with Pro Longwear products, ensuring durability throughout your day.

Perhaps the most exciting and mostcoveted line of this season is the Marilyn Monroe Collection (and we don’t mean Lindsay Lohan). 50 years after her death, Monroe remains as one of the most iconic figures from her time, not only as a sex symbol, but also as an inspiration. The MAC Collection, out in October, will celebrate the aesthetic, elegant, classy figure she embodied, with many shades of red lipstick and nail polish and pearly, shimmery eye shadows. The packaging will feature black and white images of her, with her signature in red.

François Nars is full of surprises when it comes to creating collections. His fall 2012 collection screams out “FALL” emphatically, with bold reds and smokey eye shadows, to bold neon colors. His latest trio eyeshadow, High Society, includes matte colors of lavender, forest green and a rich amethyst. Along with the trio, top-selling colors were put in two palettes: New Wave with neon-like colors of a very daring chartreuse color with a true blue and deep violet color, and the American Dream, a more “elegant-like” palette with the likes of shimmery champagne, rose gold and chocolate colors.

If you love purple, you will love the Violet Underground Collection from Estee Lauder, a homage to purple fanatics.

The collection comes with daring violetcolored lipsticks and lip glosses and a fun eyeshadow palette of pinks to black!

Summer may be over, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting your fingernails pampered. Essie’s (which opened its flagship salon in NYC this summer) Stylenomics collection consists of residues of the summer with its magneta, red and mauve colors but reminds us that the fall season can be just as playful with its opulent green color, Stylenomics, and rich burgundy color, Skirting the Issue.

19

Pop Profile: Hollywood Ending THE TORCH TAKES A LOOK AT HOLLYWOOD ENDING AND THEIR LATEST EP, ALWAYS 18

SARAH YU

Chief Copy Editor In this day and age, it’s rare to see bands consist of motivated young people, but when it comes to Hollywood Ending, don’t underestimate the sound and quality of these high school-aged guys. Vocalist Tyler Wilson, guitarists Cameron Byrd and Dan Geraghty and bassist Chris Bourne, of the pop band Hollywood Ending have recently found moderate success after finishing as a finalist in Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing contest.

This past August, Hollywood Ending released their new EP, Always 18. Now officially out on iTunes, the album in its entirety consists of catchy and upbeat songs such as their self-titled song, “Hollywood Ending,” which tells the story of a guy waiting for a Hollywood ending with a girl that he has a crush on. Songs such as “One Wish,” and “Don’t Let Me Down” share similar themes about being young and falling in love.

“She’s All That” describes the feelings of a guy who falls for the girl who is not the most popular - the geek and not the beauty queen. “Always 18” describes a place where you can stay 18 forever and reinforces the feelings of excitement and having fun that one has at a young age. The final song on Always 18, “Forever and Al-

ways,” has more of an acoustic sound and it illustrates the desire of a guy who wants to spend the rest of his life with the girl he loves. It also describes the impact that her presence has on his life – she makes his days exciting and out of the ordinary, in a good way.

Each song on Always 18 is catchy; you’ll find yourself singing along and dancing to them. But even though the songs are fun,the musicality of the musicians remain intact. The transitions from the verses to the choruses are layered and textured perfectly by the powerful sounds of drums and guitars. The melodies and beats of the EP definitely show more of a high-school type of pop genre rather than the pop genres you hear on the radio nowadays, such as The Wanted and Maroon 5. The lyrics are very light-hearted and although many listeners and fans can relate to the feelings of falling in love, none of the songs on the EP are really sad or serious.

Hollywood Ending have opened for all of the big high school pop groups of today from Action Item to Honor Society to All-Star Weekend throughout the United States and Canada. And by the looks of this EP, they are well on their way to stardom and could hop on the wave of success that today’s Radio Disney bands have found.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOLLYWOODENDINGONLINE.COM

Hollywood Ending has built a loyal following around country from touring.

20

Men’s soccer earns fourth consecutive victory MITCHELL PETIT-FRERE Sports Editor A tornado warning, high winds and heavy rain couldn’t stop the then No. 12 St. John’s men’s soccer team from recording its fourth straight victory against William & Mary Saturday ST. JOHN’S

WILLIAM & MARY

2 1

night at Belson stadium.

A scorching effort from freshman Daniel Bedoya and a late first-half penalty from senior midfielder-turnedleft-back Jack Bennett helped the Red Storm (5-0-1) head into a three-game road trip undefeated on the year.

Bedoya’s goal, which was the first of his collegiate career, came on in the 37th minute in the midst of a first half that was dominated by the Johnnies. Besides controlling a heavy majority of possession and exhibiting a keen tactical knowledge, Masur’s men had a 13-3 first half advantage in shots.

After receiving the ball from junior midfielder Jamie Thomas, the freshman forward took one touch before unleashing a remarkable 30-yard, knuckling strike that left William & Mary (1-2-1) goalkeeper Bennett Jones flat-footed and helpless.

Bedoya yelped for joy and seemingly acknowledged a group of family members in the Belson stands.

The Johnnies second goal of the match came with just five seconds left in the first half after freshman midfielder Sean Sepe was taken down in the box after a blistering run downfield.

Bennett stepped up to the spot for the ensuing penalty and slotted the ball into the left corner of the net, sending the Red Storm into halftime with a deserved 2-0 lead.

However, the Johnnies took their foot off the pedal a bit when the second 45 minutes began, giving William & Mary a lifeline when sophomore Marcus Luster headed in senior Ben Anderson’s corner kick.

“In the second half, I don’t think we were on the mark,” explained Bennett.

“We drifted away a bit and we weren’t focused enough.”

Luster’s goal added a hop to the step of William & Mary but even with a 10-5 second half lead in shots, the Virginia-based team could not find a way past Red Storm junior goalkeeper Rafael Diaz, who recorded three second half saves.

Despite the victory and impressive first half display, the Johnnies are wary of their faulty second half.

“Our second half performance,” said Bennett about what needs to improve. “Akron are going to be a great team and we’ve got to prepare well because that will be a tough challenge for us.

The Red Storm will travel to

PHOTO COURTESY OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Senior Jack Bennett tallied the second goal of the game from the penalty spot in the men’s soccer team’s 2-1 win over William & Mary.

Akron, Ohio on Sept. 14 to take part in the University of Akron Tournament where

they will play No. 9 Akron and Butler.

Interchangable parts key for men’s soccer Eight different goal scorers, 15 players who have been included in the starting XI, impact freshmen and upperclassmen playing out of position. If there was one word that best describes the St. John’s men’s soccer team, it’s versatile.

Versatility is the name of the game for Dr. Dave Masur’s undefeated team. En route to their 5-0-1 record, Masur’s men have managed to display a brand of soccer that is pleasant to the purist’s eye even though their starting lineup has been a ‘mix-and-match’ project.

Since the Red Storm’s 3-0 opening victory over Boston University, coach Masur has done a great deal of experimentation with his team. Two freshmen, Brandon Savino and John Egan, the latter being a redshirt, have started each of the Red Storm’s first six games this season, Brazilian Gabriel Camara has made five starts, Sean Sepe has made two and redshirt freshman, Taylor Cole, started his first collegiate match on Saturday night in a 2-1 win over William

& Mary.

Other than the infusion of youth in the squad, Masur has been employing one of last year’s main offensive catalysts, Jack Bennett, at the left back position.

The London native scored a teamhigh six goals last season, five of them being game-winners — including the golden goal in the Big East Tournament Final.

However, with the loss of last year’s left back Chris Lebo to graduation, Bennett has been plying his trade at the fullback position.

Last season, Lebo was granted the freedom to roam up the left flank to add numbers to the attack, and Bennett has continued where his predecessor left off, as the Londoner has been consistently linking up with the midfielders in front of him and adding a great deal of pressure to opposing defenses with his quick feet and intelligent decisionmaking.

However, while Bennett has been primarily focused on his defensive duties, the men heading the St. John’s

“

attack have been more than holding their own.

Masur has a quintet of forwards at his disposal in senior Andres Vargas, junior Jimmy Mulligan, sophomore Daniel Hererra and freshmen Jelani Williams and Danny Bedoya who have all notched at least one goal thus far this season.

Adding to the latter fact, Masur has been able to choose different strike pairs as each of the front men has the ability to play within the team system while still adding their bit of personal influence to the game.

Mulligan and Herrera manipulate matches with their poise and grace on the ball, Vargas adds energy, pace and physicality off the bench and the freshmen duo of Williams and Bedoya bring f e a r l e s s n e s s and flair when running at the defense.

As this team moves forward and players continue to find new roles in Masur’s system, one aspect of the St. John’s men’s soccer team will always remain firm: their playing style.

Since Masur has been at the helm, his teams have continually been

Versatility is the name of the game for Dr. Dave Masur’s undefeated team.

”

organized, well-versed with the tactical aspects of the game and comfortable on the ball.

This year’s team is no different.

Whether Jack Bennett is playing left back, left wing or is placed in the center of midfield, it’s safe to bet that he’ll stay within the realm of the St. John’s soccer philosophy.

So, while it is impossible to guarantee what players will start the Johnnies’ next game at no. 9 Akron on Sept. 14, it is safe to assume that the defense will remain firm, the midfield will be elegant with their touches on the ball, the forwards will make clever runs in behind the defense and coach Masur will be on the touchline, bellowing instructions to his players, or sitting on the bench, legs crossed, watching his team slowly come into their own.

Mitchell Petit-Frere is a journalism and English major who has two words for you: Cristiano Ronaldo. (Editor’s note: I have two words for you: Lionel Messi. -MC) He (Mitchell, not Ronaldo) can be reached at torchsports@gmail.com

21

NCAA men’s and women’s soccer Top 25 rankings

NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Women’s Rankings Team

Overall

Last Week

NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Men’s Rankings Team

Overall

Last Week

1. Florida State (32) 2. Duke (1)

6-0-0 6-1-0

1 4

1. North Carolina (23) 2. Creighton

4-0-0 4-0-1

1 3

3. Stanford

4-1-1

5

4. Connecticut

4-0-1

4

3. UCLA

5. Boston College

6. Central Florida 7. Oklahoma State 8. Virginia 9. Virginia Tech

10. Texas A&M 11. Penn State 12. North Carolina 13. Wisconsin 14. Wake Forest

5-0-1 5-0-2 5-1-1 7-1-0 7-1-0 8-0-0 6-1-0 5-2-0 4-1-1 5-1-0 6-1-1

2 6 8 3 9

11

14 7 18 15 17

6. UC Santa Barbara 7. New Mexico 8. Notre Dame 9. Akron

10. St. John’s 11. South Florida 12. Georgetown 13. UCLA

14. Old Dominion

4-0-1

3-0-1 3-1-0 5-0-0

3-1-1

5-0-1 4-1-0 5-0-1 3-1-1 4-0-0

4

7

9 8 17 6

12 2 5 14

15

3-0-1

15

16. Indiana

4-1-1

10

17. Marquette

5-0-0

20

18. North Carolina State

6-0-0

23

19. Monmouth

4-0-1

RV

20. Washington

3-1-1

21

21. Coastal Carolina

3-1-2

19

22. SIUE

5-1-0

RV

RV

23. Tulsa

3-2-0

RV

22

25. UC Riverside

5-0-0

RV

7-0-0

20

16. Rutgers

7-1-0

21

17. BYU

6-1-0

RV

18. Pepperdine

5-2-0

10

19. Portland

4-1-1

19

20. Long Beach State

5-2-0

16

21. Missouri

5-1-0

13

22. Florida

3-2-1

24

23. Washington

7-0-0

25. Tennessee

5-1-1

3-2-1

5. Charlotte

3-0-1

15. Wake Forest

15. San Diego State

24. Marquette

3. Maryland

12

24. Xavier

4-0-1

RV

Women’s golf flies to fast start Basketball schedules released ROBERT METRO Contributing Writer The St. John’s women’s golf team won the Tignanelli Towson Invitational by five strokes Monday.

The Red Storm had a successful first day at the Invitational, shooting a 305(+17) and acquiring a 4 stroke lead.

Senior Jennifer Neville flourished on day one as she shot a 74(+2), which led the Johnnies and put her into a two-way tie for the individual lead.

On day 2, the Red Storm showed no signs of slowing down as they shot a 306. Their largest lead would stretch to 10 before the defending champions, Old Dominion, went on a late surge before ultimately falling short.

“I’m really proud of the way our team played this week, it was a great way to start our season,” said head coach Ambry Bishop in a press release.

Junior Harin Lee went on to record the best round of any player in the field as she played one over in her final nine holes.

The Red Storm will host its first ever Women’s Intercollegiate at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, N.Y. on Sept. 17 and 18.

MITCHELL PETIT-FRERE Sports Editor

The schedule for the 2012/13 St. John’s men’s basketball team was released Sept 5. Coached by Steve Lavin, the Red Storm will begin their season on Nov. 15 against Detroit at Carnesseca Arena at 5 p.m. The Johnnies will host 8 non-conference games throughout the New York City area, but they don’t begin Big East Conference play until Jan. 2 when they travel to Villanova.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Junior Harin Lee

The schedule for the 2012/13 St. John’s women’s basketball team was released Sept. 6. The Red Storm, led by first-year head coach Joe Tartamella, will begin their season against Texas at the WBI Tip Off Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Johnnies will face a difficult early season schedule on top of a Big Eat Conference schedule that will air the Red Storm in multiple nationally televised games.

“Our young team will face another challenging schedule,” said head coach Steve Lavin in a press release. “In addition to the rigorous Big East matchups, we will be facing a highly-competitive field down in Charleston, and playing host to tough foes at The Garden, at Carnesecca Arena and at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Our non-conference slate gives our fans in New York opportunities to come out and support the Johnnies in whatever backyard they call their own.”

“We are excited for the opportunity to reach a wider market of women’s basketball fans through an increase in national television exposure,” said head coach Joe Tartamella in a press release. “Each year we have been able to add to our television schedule, which speaks volumes for the growth of our program over these last few years.”

The women’s team brings back four starters, and will try to reach the heights it did in its first year without former head coach Kim Barnes Arico, who left the program to take over at Michigan in April.

Notable home games –

Notable home games –

Jan. 12 – Georgetown (MSG) – 11a.m.

Dec. 9 – vs. Duke (MSG) – TBA

Jan. 15 – Notre Dame (MSG) – 7 p.m.

Feb. 16 – Connecticut (MSG) – 7 p.m.

Feb. 2 – Connecticut (Carnesseca) –2p.m.

Feb. 9 – Georgetown (Carnesseca) –2p.m.

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Kaiser Classic runners up Volleyball finish with 3-1 record at annual tournament

TAYLOR BRISCO Staff Writer

The St. John’s volleyball team (10-2) came in second place with a 3-1 record this past weekend at the Kaiser Classic. The tournament, which took place at Carnesecca Arena, saw the Red Storm match up against Idaho State, St. Francis, Fairleigh Dickinson and Bryant.

“Idaho State was a very athletic and solid team with good blocking,” said head coach Joanne Persico. “Bryant was scrappy too. We will learn from the video.”

Wachowicz, who had seven kills, and strong blocking from Krstojevic helped the Red Storm a great deal.

Idaho State defeated the Red Storm in the third set, 25-20. The Johnnies got off to a quick start, but allowed the Bengals to go on a five-point run to take an 8-5 lead. The Red Storm came back with a seven-point run to take the lead 17-14, but the Bengals once again went on a run of their own to lead the set 23-18 and eventually win 25-20.

In the fourth and final set of the match, St. John’s lost 25-14.

Idaho State went on a quick 4-0 start and never looked back.

Despite the loss, coach Persico is still in high spirits.

“The game against Idaho State was a great test for us. The first set was good, but we got mentality tired. We will continue to work hard for points.”

Idaho State’s attacking percentage of .264 with 21 errors gave them an edge,

Idaho State 3, St. John’s 1 The Red Storm came up short in the final match of the day, which decided who would become Kaiser Classic Champions. Idaho State defeated the Red Storm 3-1 (34-32, 20-25, 25-21, 25-14).

The loss ended the Red Storm’s ninegame winning streak.

Senior Milica Krstojevic had a new career-high of seven blocks; while sophomore Aleksandra Wachowicz tied her career-high of 21 kills, but led the team in attacking errors (10). Senior setter Sabina Piegza continued her season-long streak of recording 20 or more assists in every match.

In the first set, the score was tied 23 times and there were nine lead changes. The Red Storm had set point four times, but Idaho State came back each time to tie the score and eventually win, 34-32.

The Johnnies came back and won the second set, 25-20.

Efforts from

which allowed them to win the match. St. John’s had 31 errors and an attacking percentage of .164, the second lowest of their season.

St. John’s 3, St. Francis 0 The Red Storm defeated St. Francis 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-14) in their third match of the tournament. The Red Storm held the Terriers to a .010 attacking percentage and Krstojevic led the team with 11 attacks and finished the match with a career-high 12 kills, a .786 attacking percentage, two digs, and two blocks. Sophomore Yana Vavdiyuk had a team-high four blocks.

St. John’s 3, Fairleigh Dickinson 0 In the first set, Fairleigh Dickinson tied the score three times and even took the lead twice. However, St. John’s broke a 10-10 tie with a 6-1 run and went on to win the set, along with the second and third. They defeated the Knights 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-16). Santos just missed her first career double double with 11 kills and nine digs.

St. John’s 3, Bryant 0

TORCH FILE PHOTO/DIANA COLAPIETRO

Freshman Shawna-Lei Santos was chosen as a member of the Kaiser Classic All-Tournament team.

In the first match of the tournament, St. John’s swept Bryant 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 2517). The Red Storm allowed Bryant to lead only once during the entire match. Freshman Karin Palgutova and Milica Krstojevic had nine kills, four digs, and three blocks each. Senior Gabriela Petkova led the team with 14 digs.

The Red Storm will travel to Brooklyn, to play in the Blackbird Invitational on Sept. 14.

An inside perspective BRENNAN JOHNSON Staff Writer

TORCH FILE PHOTO/DIANA COLAPIETRO

The St. John’s volleyball team must rely on postitive energy as well as skill to maintain the winning pace they have set this season.

This weekend, St. John’s volleyball hosted four schools at the annual Kaiser Classic.

In our first game against Bryant University, our team came out with a lot of enthusiasm. We hustled on every point, the bench was screaming, and we played our game regardless of how skillful our opponent was.

I say this all the time, even when I was a player and now that I am a manager, “when the energy is good, no matter the situation, there is always a way.” Mistakes are going to happen, that’s normal.

This team is learning day by day that when their energy is high and they encourage one another, it’s much easier to win games.

We defeated Bryant in our first game in a sweep. Winning in general does amazing things for a team’s confidence, especially on our squad since we had major confidence issues last season.

The second match against Farleigh Dickinson ended in another sweep. Even when a mistake was made, we were able to brush it off and keep on moving forward.

Those who don’t know volleyball or have never played the game have to realize that the game has everything to do

with momentum. The team who is the loudest will usually win, and that, thus far, has been our team.

Our matchup with St. Francis was an exact replica of the previous two matches we played as it ended in yet another sweep.

The last match against Idaho State was our toughest match at the tournament. We ended up losing 3-1 because our energy was down and our confidence ended up in the gutter. Idaho State wasn’t doing anything special. We’ve seen it all before; tall girls, high volleyball IQ, etc.

We were simply beating ourselves. In our previous matches, we made mistakes and were able to shake them off, but not in that match.

Most who were watching probably assumed that Idaho State was the better team, but that wasn’t the case. They were just able to maintain their energy and composure while we could not.

All in all, I believe that maintaining positive energy on the court is going to be the biggest test for our team moving forward.

Brennan was a memeber of the St. John’s volleyball team last year but is serving as the team manager this season. She is a senior journalism major.

They took New York Women’s soccer earn victories over two NYC rivals BRIAN GOINS Contributing Writer KYLE FITZGERALD Contributing Writer Head coach Ian Stone and his St. John’s women’s soccer team had a successful weekend as they defeated two of their prominent New York neighbors to take their overall record above .500 heading into a two-game homestand.

St. John’s 2, Fordham o The St. John’s women’s soccer team received a big performance from their rising freshman class to bounce back from two tough losses with a 2-0 win against Fordham.

It would only take five minutes for the Red Storm (3-3-0) to get on the board. A corner kick from junior Morgan Ritter, whose first name is not Molly, saw the Fordham (1-4-0) defense fail to successfully clear the ball, which allowed freshman midfielder Emily Cubbage the time to fire her shot past the diving Ram’s goalkeeper.

The Rams controlled much of the first half after the Johnnies opening goal and had a number of opportunities to tie the score. Their best chance came in the 20th minute when they were awarded a penalty after a foul in the box.

Fordham’s Kristina Maksuti took the penalty kick, which was initially saved, by freshman goalkeeper Ellen Conway.

However, due to a line violation, a redo was taken where Conway once again saved Maksuti’s shot.

“Ellen played with a lot of confidence,” explained Stone. “Not only did she make big saves, but she also communicated really well and came off her line a number of times to make what would’ve been difficult saves [into] pretty easy ones.”

The Red Storm didn’t score their second goal until the 77th minute on a counter attack. Ritter played a through ball to Cubbage who broke away from her defender and unleashed a high-arcing chip shot that beat the keeper and landed in the far corner of the net.

“Before today, we’ve been playing Emily sort of out of her usual position to fill the spots we needed with our injuries,” said Stone. “But Emily is so versatile that you can play her in a number of different positions and she will do whatever you need. We needed her to score. Her first goal showed a lot of skill and the second showcased her maturity in her younger years to be as composed as she was with that finish.”

Together, both Cubbage and Conway set marks of their own as rookies by recording individual firsts – first multi-scoring game and first-career shutout, respectively.

“We’re taking it one game at a time,” said Coach Stone. “At the moment we were good enough for tonight, but now we have to be good enough for Sunday and continue to work hard to get better.”

St. John’s 2, Columbia 1 The St. John’s women’s soccer team (4-3) followed their Friday night win over Fordham with a 2-1 victory at Columbia University (1-3) thanks to a late penalty

by Sandra Osborn.

The Red Storm got off to a slow start

as Columbia cracked two shots in the first five minutes of the game.

Runa Stefansdottir picked up the pace for the Johnnies soon after the initial scares. The Iceland-native’s attempts on goal, although saved, in the 14th and 20th minute gave the Red Storm a much needed boost. “[Runa’s] still one of our fittest players and brings a lot of knowledge,” emphasized Stone.

“She’s always been an offensive threat. Other teams know about Runa now.”

The Lions’ defense eventually succumbed to the storm of attacks when Amy Marron scored off of a free-kick from 35 yards out that ricocheted off the post and into the net in the 33rd minute. It was the midfielder’s first goal of the season.

The second half of the game was controlled by Columbia. The Lions outshot the Johnnies 8-6, highlighted by a headed goal from Tori Goode in the 64th minute.

Columbia would keep up the offensive pressure but the neither team would find another goal as the game headed into OT. Unlike the second 45 minutes, the first period of OT was dominated by the Red Storm as Stefansdottir and Marron troubled the opposing backline.

A Columbia foul in the box in the 99th minute set up a penalty kick for the Johnnies, which Sandra Osborn converted to give St. John’s a golden goal and their fourth win of the season.

The Red Storm will take the field again against Providence Thursday at Belson Stadium.

Torch Sports

Storm

Cast

Leavin’ their Mark Fast start for cross country The St. John’s cross country team began its season with a first place team finish at the HofstraBrick Stone Memorial Run at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y. Senior Alexis Bean placed second overall at the meet with a time of 19:25.79. It was the best finish of her career.

The team’s next meet is Sept.

15 at the C.W. Post Invite in Brookville, N.Y.

Host of Johnnies honored by BIG EAST Junior Sandra Osborn of the St. John’s women’s soccer team was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week while freshman goalkeepeer Ellen Conway was named to the Conference’s Honor Roll.

Jack Bennett of the men’s soccer team was also named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll this week.

It was his second inclusion on the list this season.

Blowin’ in the Wind “Not only did she make big saves, but she also communicated really well and came off her line a number of times to make what would’ve been difficult saves [into] pretty easy ones.”

“

-Ian Stone on Ellen Conway’s clean sheet against Fordham

”

Headin’ this Way Red Storm home games

Women’s soccer: Sept. 13 Sept. 16

Providence 7 p.m.

Connecticut 1 p.m.

Volleyball: Sept. 18

Iona

Men’s Soccer: Sept. 25 TORCH FILE PHOTO/KRISTEN FARMER

Sandra Osborn scored the winning goal for the Red Storm in their 2-1 vicory over Columbia Sunday afternoon.

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Columbia

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

SPORTS 12 September 2012 | VOLUME 90, ISSUE 6 | TORCHONLINE.COM

DIGGING IT VOLLEYBALL PLACES SECOND AT KAISER CLASSIC

TORCH PHOTO/DIANA COLAPIETRO

The men’s soccer team continued its early-season unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win against William & Mary.

The women’s soccer team earned two victories this weekend against a pair of NYC foes.

Pg. 23

Pg. 24