April 29, 2016 by The Hill News

THE HILL NEWS e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1 9 1 1 at s t . l aw r e n c e u n i v e r s i t y

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

INSIDE:

VOLUME CVI, ISSUE 11

Inside the Manila Envelope: The Student-Faculty Gap Over Course Evaluations By JENNA MEAD STAFF WRITER

Page 6: What’s at the end of Feel The Beet’s rainbow? Read on.

CANTON, NY

Students are used to the routine of the large manila envelope carrying course evaluations, but many students do not know what happens to the evaluations after they disappear back into the envelope that they arrived in. Students and faculty do not have the same views of the function and implementation of the course

evaluation system. Once evaluations are collected, professors have a student deliver them to department secretaries. The forms then make it to Vilas Hall and are processed by the Dean’s Office. It is not until all evaluations are processed that any are returned to the department chairs and individual professors. This process can take time considering each semester nearly 10,000 forms are filed.

Professors received last semester’s comments in March of this semester. Grace Huang, Chair of the Government Department, says she reads every single evaluation in her department and finds a very wide range of responses from students. Some feedback is constructive while others are not. “I see more feedback regarding junior faculty, maybe because there are more things to

comment on,” said Huang. Marco Li Calzi ‘18 said, “What’s the point of evaluations? For teachers that have been here 10 years, they are not going to change anything,” citing one possible reason for students to only provide substantial feedback for junior professors who are more likely to respond with a change. Huang uses evaluations as part of an annual review of all faculty CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Chariot for Women App Expected to Compete with Uber

Page 10: Meet the Paris Agreement, the world’s biggest climate change deal.

By ALI PRICE STAFF WRITER

responsive” male passenger aboard, according to communication released to CNN from the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday, April 25. While the singer was rushed to the hospital in Moline, his publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure

As I scrolled through my Facebook newsfeed this past Friday while sitting in my friend’s Boston apartment, I came across an article titled “Here’s why women everywhere will delete Uber on April 19th.” I was intrigued, so I clicked on the link and started to read. I had never used Uber before but my friends and I planned to use Uber that weekend, so I thought this article might be relevant. Although Uber is nonexistent in the North Country (SLUber lol), this is not the case in major towns and cities across America and the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Page 12: SLU golfers take home two top-5 finishes last weekend. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE STAR TRIBUNE

www.the hillnews.org

Prince Dead at 57, Music and Message Rejuvenated Worldwide @hillnews

facebook.com/ the-hill-news

By REBECCA DOSER NEWS EDITOR and SAMANTHA CLEMMEY STAFF WRITER

Authorities are investigating Prince’s death with a focus on the role that painkill-

Harriet Tubman to Replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 Bill By MIKE GELLMAN STAFF WRITER “I’m sorry Mr. Jackson, I am fo’ real.” On Wednesday, April 20, Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew announced that Harriet Tubman would be replacing former President Andrew Jackson as the face of the 20 dollar bill. This release is part of a plan for the first large-scale alteration to American currency in a century. Not only is Tubman scheduled to replace Jackson but plans to add important historical woman and civil rights figures to the 10 and 5 dollar bills were also announced by Lew. These changes include the additions of the 1913 march

in support of women’s suffrage to the back of the 10 dollar bill and Eleanor Roosevelt and Dr. Martin Luther King to the back of the five. There has been a fair amount of controversy surrounding these changes, as the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, was originally proposed to get axed from the 10 dollar bill he currently resides on. However, an unlikely surge in popularity brought on by the hit Broadway musical, “Hamilton”, won the author of The Federalist Papers many stalwart fans. Even the creator of musical, Lin-Manuel Miranda, lobbied the Treasury on Hamilton’s behalf. Hamilton’s defenders claimed that he is a much more CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

ers may have played into his premature demise, according to a published report from Fox News on Tuesday. Prince’s death came about a week after his private plane made an emergency landing in Illinois, according to CNN. The emergency stop was due to an “un-

Class of 2020 Expects High Yield By KATIE KULL STAFF WRITER St Lawrence University has been growing in popularity over the past few years, with the Class of 2019 being the largest yet. As class sizes grow and housing becomes more lucrative, more and more rising sophomores are missing out on the opportunity to choose their rooms and are put on waiting lists, as first-years must fill the rooms first. I reached out to Admissions to hear what both students and officials alike had to say about this growing rate of SLU students. Jeff Rickey, Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, says, “Because this year’s deposit deadline is May 1 (and students can also postmark it by that day if they

KELSEY MATTISON/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Payson Hall, the home to Admissions on campus.

are mailing theirs by snail mail), it really is too early to draw any conclusions about the class. (About a third to 35% will deposit in the last five days!)” This statistic is intimidating as so much of the University’s future has yet to be decided. This year, St. Lawrence re-

ceived almost the same number of applications as last year and admitted fewer students. because we are looking at an incoming class of 650, instead of the 680 who enrolled last year. This year SLU admitted 42% of all applicants, compared to the 46% last year CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

2 | THE HILL NEWS

Dear DUB:

OPINIONS

APRIL 29, 2016

The Female Orgasm By ANNA CARPENTER GUEST COLUMNIST

The Female Orgasm. This article is for masturbation masters, enthusiasts, novices, and everyone in between. While I encourage men to keep reading so you can better understand the inner workings of your female peers or partners, this article is aimed toward you ladies out there who need a reminder, or insider’s tip, that having an orgasm is amazing and beautiful. Yes, it feels amazing and beautiful, but more so, it is an empowering and strengthening tool for getting to know yourself. In our culture, we often associate sex as something done with someone else; however, I challenge you to accept the idea that our primary sexual relationship is with ourselves. Sheri Winston, in her book Women’s Anatomy of Arousal, suggests that “your sexuality isn’t only a portal to pleasure—it’s also a gateway to yourself.” I grew up with a very open and inspiring group of lady friends where conversation about masturbating and clits were abundant and exciting. When I hadn’t had an orgasm by junior year of high school, my friends bought me a vibrator in hopes of helping me reach that luscious land of bliss and pleasure. The first few times I used my new toy, my mind wandered to the algebra test coming up, the goal I had I accidentally scored for the opposing team in the soccer game that day, and my dog that was walking around downstairs. Needless to say, I was far from reaching the orgasm my friends spoke so highly of. When I came to college, I realized that not all girls grew up being encouraged to masturbate by their friends and many thought it was something only desperate, dirty girls did. Ladies, I am here to tell

you that most women report masturbating at least once a week, as reported by the Journal of Sex Research. These women who do flick the bean, paddle the pink canoe, polish the pink pearl, play the clitar (you get what I mean) have reduced stress, improved sleep, increased self-esteem, relieved menstrual cramps, and better sexual relationships, as reported by the Planned Parenthood website. There is an unfortunate shame surrounding female masturbation that leaves girls and women uneducated and unwilling to explore their own bodies and bodily potentials. One simple explanation is that our media and culture is fully focused around male arousal. Our society has told us that if a pubescent boy isn’t masturbating, something is wrong with him, and if a pubescent girl is masturbating, something is wrong with her. WHAT THE FUCK? How are we supposed to have positive and fulfilling sexual relationships with other people if we can’t please, respect, and love ourselves? Because I’m sure you all were wondering, I did eventually guide myself to experience the euphoric, full-body experience of ecstasy that we consider to be an orgasm. Since then, I have felt empowered and in control of my sexuality and my body. I feel a deeper connection with myself and I consider my sexuality as a part of who I am entirely, not just in bed. As Sheri Winston perfectly suggests, “imagine what it would be like if your sexuality were integrated with your whole being—your amazing mind, your wondrous body, your loving heart…” I encourage all you ladies out there to take ahold of your sexuality, your pleasure, and your identity. Only you can know what pleasures you the deepest. And, after all, you are your lifelong partner.

THE HILL NEWS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emma Cummings-Krueger ‘16 MANAGING EDITORS Elle Lucas ‘16 Thomas Mathiasen ‘16

OPINIONS Emily Liebelt ‘16 FEATURES Caroline Seelen ‘17 SPORTS Lauren Weeks ‘18

NEWS Rebecca Doser ‘16 Brenda Winn ‘17

PHOTOGRAPHY Kelsey Mattison ‘18

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Alexa Mitchell ‘16

BUSINESS Ben Brisson ‘16

EDITORIAL POLICY The Hill News is published every Friday of the school year, except during holidays and examination periods, by the students of St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY 13617. Unsolicited manuscripts, articles, and letters to the editor must be typed and signed. Copy and advertisement deadlines are 12:00 p.m. on the Monday prior to publication. All materials submitted for publication are the property of The Hill News and are subject to revision. The Hill News office is located on the third floor of the Student Center; our telephone number is (315) 229-5139. We have the ability to receive e-mails at elcumm12@stlawu.edu. The comments and opinions of our readers are welcome. COPYRIGHT 2016 — VOLUME CVI, ISSUE 11

DIGITAL Brandon DiPerno ‘16 Jack Lyons ‘17 DISTRIBUTION Kristen Jovanelly ‘16 CHIEF COPY EDITOR Katie Pierce ‘17 COPY EDITORS Katie Wilson ‘18 Claire Mendes ‘18

LETTER TO THE EDITOR SUBMISSIONS Letters may be no more than 500 words in length. All letters must be typed, signed by the author, and include the author’s full name and telephone number. The name of the author may be withheld only for compelling reasons, and after discussion with the editorial board. The Hill News reserves the right to edit letters for space, clarity, style, and taste. The printing or omission of letters is entirely at the discretion of the editors and The Hill News. Any letter received after deadline will not be considered for publication in that week’s issue. All copy, advertisements, letters to the editor, etc., must be submitted as hard copy or e-mail by the above listed deadlines unless other arrangements have previously been made. This policy is strictly enforced. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the newspaper, the staff, or St. Lawrence University.

MAGGIE CUMMINS/STAFF CARTOONIST

How I Learned I Was White By LUIZE EIHMANE GUEST WRITER

I never knew I was white before coming to the U.S. The first time I had to identify as ‘white’ was when I was filling out Common App to apply for U.S. universities and I had to check a box with my ethnicity. I was quite honestly confused. My first instinct was to say I’m native because I’m native to my country, but then I asked my roommate who told me I was Caucasian. Caucasian. Something that I was always taught was the name of mountains somehow signified the color of my skin. I checked the box and didn’t think about it again. The second time I thought about race was when I arrived at St. Lawrence. It was quite a culture shock for me. My international boarding school in the Netherlands was extremely diverse. We had one person from practically every country in the world and we believed in celebrating difference and embracing different cultures. I had roommates from Turkey, Indonesia, Haiti/ Netherlands and Argentina; it was the I-house teatime all day every day. We had only two Americans - one was Asian and the other one was Black. So I felt very uncomfortable when I got to SLU and saw the snowwhite campus. I was at home no more. When I entered the cafeteria I noticed another thing - all the white students sitting together and all the students of color sitting together. That was so bizarre to me! They tell you not to trust Hollywood to accurately represent the U.S., so why was I entering a scene from Mean Girls? The next time I thought about

race was when I had a role in the school play during my freshman year, and during one scene they played the news of that day. I was at rehearsal when I saw the news article they had chosen for the play that stated, “Georgia school hosts first racially integrated prom.” I asked the director why they changed their minds and started using old news articles to which he responded it was not old—it was from today. It took people hours and hours to convince me. I went home crying that night, I called my mom and told her to book me a ticket back home: there is no way I can stay. I cried and cried and cried that night. I cannot and

“Prior to moving to the U.S., I was under the impression that racism was a thing of the 19th century.” will not be a part of this racist country! It hurt me so deeply I don’t think I ever recovered. Prior to moving to the U.S., I was under the impression that racism was a thing of the 19th century. I knew about the civil war and slavery, and naive little me, I actually thought it was all over! (Living in a country with a population that is 100% white people helped maintain that illusion.) Had I traveled back in time? What was wrong with the United States? Of course, back then I had no idea how deep rooted this racism is, how many more horrible, inhumane things I would witness and learn about. I don’t think there is any need for me to list the many different examples or talk about the millions of times I witnessed

racism at SLU with my own eyes. If you go here, you know. Soon after my mental breakdown after learning that racism in the U.S. is still alive and growing, I did everything in my power to learn about it. To learn about my whiteness which was never political or significant in my country but carried a whole different meaning in the U.S. I joined the BSU, the ASU and learned more and more about why things are the way they are. And then I noticed myself standing up for minorities and all marginalized groups in the U.S. whenever I perceived an injustice. It wasn’t really a conscious decision, more of a natural reaction of anyone that is educated and has a heart. And if you’ve ever had the (dis)pleasure of taking a class with me, you know how persistent and passionate I can be. I live and breathe the motto of speaking the truth even when my voice shakes. And what I have noticed during my four years at SLU is that we do not have enough people willing to let their voices shake, willing to advocate and stand up for others. I am graduating in less than a month and I have one last request before I leave: dear fellow white people, let’s do better! Let’s learn about the oppressive nature of our whiteness and about institutional forms of racism that benefit US, every single one of US, no matter how good or kind hearted we are. Let’s learn about how we can dismantle this system and let’s stand up for others! It shouldn’t always be the duty of the one person of color in the classroom to stand up and defend their whole race or to educate the entire school on institutional racism. If you can read, if you can listen and if you can speak - you can do it too.

APRIL 29, 2016

OPINIONS

THE HILL NEWS | 3

Risk and Reward Don’t Make Me Ask You Twice of Boston Fandom

Smite the Litter Bugs By EMILY LIEBELT OPINIONS EDITOR

With warm weather comes a shedding of clothes, cares, and apparently a ton of litter. Yes, trash: butts, roaches, bottle caps, etc. Microtrash in abundance has been sprinkled over every outdoor green space where I would like to lay a picnic blanket and write the novel that will start my award-winning career. But alas, as the high temps draw crowds of coeds out of the shelter of the dorms, my dreams are dashed. I cannot deal with the icky sticky leftovers of your epic barbecue and corn hole tournament. This is discriminatory treatment of people who like being barefoot and their allies; and I can stand it no longer. It is impossible to take a leisurely stroll and feel the grass between your toes without having to stare at your path as to avoid sharp, gross artifacts of drunkenness. This is not saintly behavior, saints. Honestly, the biology department could do a survey of pollution on the various quads and lawns that grace our campus and probably find that the levels are too high to support an ecosystem. We all love the squirrels, don’t we? Well how do you think they like it when their stomping grounds are no longer safe to raise baby squirrels on? What if they choke and die on your cigarette butt? Tobacco kills, my friends. If you are the kind of entropic person who revels in the

discomfort of other humans, at least consider the animal friends of the SLU community. The puppies we long to play with, the songbirds, and the stray kitties who help us boost our Snapchat views, may not want to stick around and provide their healing presence if we don’t provide a safe space for them. Accepted students should scoff at us. How would you feel if the school that boasted its picturesque scenery only had a toxic waste dump to show you when you drove six hours to go on a tour? Our legacy will be compromised

“I cannot deal with the icky sticky leftovers of your epic barbecue and cornhole tourny.” if we let this reckless, damaging behavior continue. Think of the toxins left behind in all the artificial trash we dump haphazardly in our rush to drink more and think less. You mindless buffoons. It takes a billion years for manmade materials to decompose. We need to start reversing the damage and safe the ecosystem for future use. We need you, SLU students, to abstain from tossing trash. As those who have gone on OC trips and gathered appreciation for the natural world will know: if you carry it in, carry it out. This age old adage gives us all the wisdom

we need to remedy this widespread problem. I know that a few valiant friends of the squirrels have taken to gathering cans and bottles, leftover from the so-called ragers, but this is not enough! The 5-cent items only make up a small amount of the maelstrom of litter we face. Also, the monetary value of the litter should not dictate how we value it in our society. Above all, this is a moral problem we need to tackle. Just because you can make a nickel on one bit doesn’t mean you should leave the rest. If you do go out to pick up the bad decisions of your peers, consider the redeemable containers an added bonus to your already highmerit action. I don’t blame the institution. I blame the individual actors in this phenomenon. SLU has a brigade of grounds keepers who battle the litter plague every day, but they are fighting a losing battle if we don’t rise up to assist them. We mustn’t become complacent. Imagine having someone there to clean up after you all the time and never face any repercussions. Oh wait, that’s right, most of you probably have a maid or indentured servants back in the mansions you come from. In any case, I would hope that grown-ass adults would be able to notice their privilege and attempt to pay it back by not disgracing the lovely spaces they are occupying. Take a stand, SLU, and stop littering.

By SAMANTHA CLEMMEY STAFF WRITER Being a Boston sports fan is one of the most rewarding things you can be. There is absolutely nothing like a Boston fan. Ask anyone who knows anything about sports — the heart and soul that is visible at a Boston game, whether that be hockey, baseball, football, basketball, you name it —dedication, and absolute loyalty of each and every fan is something you can’t deny. Born in southern California, I moved to New York at the age of 4. My dad, who grew up in a small town an hour outside of Boston, grew up on the same heart and soul of Boston sports that I’ve mentioned. He passed that on to me, his only child, and ever since I can remember I’ve loved Boston. However, there is an exception. While Boston hockey is known for its die-hard fans, I am not one of them. I’m a New York Rangers fan, but that story is for another time (also, yes, I’m depressed about them not making it past the first-round of playoffs, let’s not talk about it. Growing up in “upstate” New York (Saratoga Springs), all of my friends were Yankees and Giants fans. I mention those teams because those were the only two I really cared or knew about when I was younger. My first time at a Red Sox game was when I was just over a year old — there is a picture that is famous in my family (I have a copy in my room, even) of my dad and me at my first majorleague game. Although I don’t remember this specific occasion, I do have memories of games I went to further down the road in my childhood — I remember looking forward to collecting one of the infamous plastic mini hats that they sold soft-serve ice-cream in at Fenway (if you’re a Sox fan, you know exactly what I’m talking about). I remember being surrounded by so many fellow Boston fans, so many other people who were just as engulfed in the game as I was. It was always interesting as a kid being a Boston fan in New York. I mean, those are some of the biggest rivalries in sports. The B’s and the Rangers, the Sox and the Yankees, the Pats and the Giants… these teams have caused each other trauma over the years and whenever they play one

another you know it’ll be a game you won’t want to miss. However, it wasn’t like I was the only Boston fan in Saratoga Springs, or the only Boston fan in a huge pool of never ending New York fans — that’s obviously not how it works. Being so close to New England, its obvious there will be plenty of other Boston fans just like me. People come from all over the place, their parents come from all over the place, and their grandparents too. Kids learn to love sports from their families, and not everyone loves sports, that’s a given. But for those who do, Sunday and Monday nights were rowdy in your household during football season, and you couldn’t wait to catch Wednesday Night Rivalry hockey. Even being at the TD Garden earlier this season to catch a B’s game against Toronto (sorry to both teams for not even making the playoffs) — the vibe was incredible. Going with a friend (who is the biggest Bruin’s fan I have ever met in my entire life… you should see her dorm room...) made the atmosphere that night much more intoxicating. I’ll never switch over to being a B’s fan — that’s ludicrous (LGR!) but for the night that I was there, I had the utmost respect for Boston hockey fans. Mainly because when I thought about it, we had more in common than we didn’t. I’m sure 99 percent of the people at that game also loved the Pats, Sox, and Celtics. Think about all of the greats that have come out of Boston sports — Bobby Orr, Steve Grogan, Rick Middleton, Kevin Garnett, Babe Ruth (6 years with the Sox still counts!), Nomar Garciaparra, Wade Boggs, Teddy Bruschi, David Ortiz, Cam Neely, Jim Rice, Roger Clemens, Carl Yastrzemski, Ray Bourque, Tom Brady (can I include Gronk on this list too?), Larry Bird… the list could go on forever. A lot of people don’t understand why I’m a Boston fan because I live in New York, and I’m from California, but I want to make it clear: it doesn’t matter where you come from, what matters is your love of the game and feeling like you’re a part of something. There’s nothing else like being a sports fan — you feel like you’re supporting something amazing, and truly, you are.

4 | THE HILL NEWS

Security Blotter April 19, 8:15 AM Report of a van vs. deer accident at the Fieldhouse. No injuries. April 19, 5:05 PM Report of injured student who twisted ankle right outside of Hepburn. April 19, 11:40 PM Report of an ill student in Whitman. Positive transport, not alcohol related. April 20, 12:46 AM Report of an ill student in Sykes Hall. EMS evaluated and signed off. April 20, 4:00 PM Fire alarm activation due to steam from shower in Hope House. April 20, 7:19 PM Drug policy violation at Commons College. April 21, 8:40 PM Drug policy violation in Rebert Hall. April 21, 12:40 PM Report of injured student in Kirk Douglass Hall. EMS evaluated and signed off. April 22, 6:45 AM Report of four eggs broken on the floor in Eben Holden. April 22, 1:39 PM Report of injured worker at Dana Dining Hall. EMS evaluated and signed off. April 22, 8:40 PM Report of larceny of food items in the Northstar Café. April 22, 11:24 PM Report of a male only wearing boxer shorts in Sykes. EMS evaluated and positive transport that was alcohol related. April 23, 11:30 AM Alcohol policy violation in Dean Eaton. April 23, 4:20 PM Report of rear windshield damage to a car in B lot. April 23, 6:40 PM Report of found wallet in a cart at Price Chopper. Wallet was returned to the owner. April 23, 9:45 PM Alcohol policy violation in Reiff. April 23, 10:01 PM Report of subject fallen off of skateboard near Whitman Hall. EMS evaluated and signed off. April 23, 11:45 PM Report of alcohol policy violation in Dean Eaton. April 24, 2:16 AM Intoxicated individual at the Townhouses. EMS evaluated and signed off. April 24, 3:01 AM Report of loud music at 48 Park. Drug policy violation discovered. April 24, 8:30 AM Report of an injured student from skateboarding near Rebert Hall. EMS evaluated and signed off and transported by a student driver to CPH. April 24, 6:00 PM Report of vandalism to a smashed window at the Townhouses. April 24, 11:24 PM Clear baggy found with pills in it at the Northstar Café. April 25, 2:25 AM Report of fire alarm due to burnt popcorn in the Art Annex. April 25, 11:05 PM Open container at Miner Street.

SEMESTER RUNNING TALLIES: Bike Thefts: 3 | DWIs: 0 Open Containers: 14 | Alcohol-Related Transports: 11

What is Thelmo up to? Wednesday, April 20 Office Hours: President Joe Nickerson— Monday, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Vice President of University Relations Mark Jannini—Monday 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. NEW BUSINESS: – Bar Tour T-shirts: passed – Safe Space Resolution: passed MEMBER TIME: – ATO Silent Auction – Singing Saints Thursday at 7pm – Art SYE Gallery on Friday –Upbeats at Java on Saturday at 4pm – Spikeball Tournament on Saturday – Singing Sinners Concert at PK Hall 3 p.m. May 8

NEWS

APRIL 29, 2016

CDC Records Highest Suicide in Over 30Years: Hits Women the Hardest

By ANDREW WATSON STAFF WRITER The CDC released a new study this past week that shows suicide rates in the United States increasing twenty-four percent over a fifteen-year period from 1999-2014. The rate is now 13.0 per 1000, up from 10.5 per 1000 in 1999. Rates had fallen from the period before (1986-1999) but are on the rise again, with the major increases coming in the middle-aged demographic, Native Americans and among women. However according to the New York Times, almost every age group suffered from increases, a worrying trend across the board. Only black men and men & women over 75 saw decreases. The study states that the increase in the middleage group suicide rate is tied to job insecurity and people’s financial situation. Additionally, Professor Julie Phillips of Rutgers University theorized that social changes, like rising divorce rates (that have doubled since the 1990s according to the New York Times) are tied to an increase in suicides. The increase in the rate for young men and women is less clear but many believe that undiagnosed mental health issues and societal pressure are major contributors. Robert D. Putnam, a public EVALUATIONS FROM PAGE 1

in her department. Along with a self-evaluation from professors, she uses student evaluations to assess the work of the professors. “If there is a problem with a tenured professor, I work with the academic dean to address it,” said Huang. Following a review by department chairs, professors receive the form evaluations just as students submitted them. At that point, a professor can use reviews to better structure their courses. “Ideally, it should be mutually beneficial. Students have the chance to help future students just like them with honest, through feedback,” said Piskor Professor of English Sid Sondergard, a longstanding member of the Professional Standards Committee. Sharrell Luckett, a PCA professor who teaches Beginning Acting, finds the evaluations useful and usually addresses concerns of previous students upfront with the next semester’s students. Luckett says she gets frustrated with students

policy professor at Harvard said the study linked poverty, hopelessness and health to increased suicide rates. Although some hospitals are now regularly screening patients for suicidal thoughts or tendencies, the New York Times points out that it is not enough and is not automatic in all hospitals, allowing many to fall through the cracks. Suicide prevention funds from the federal government totaled 25 million dollars from 20122015, a figure that the National Institute of Mental Health’s Suicide Research Consortium said was just a fraction of what depression and mental illness research received. According to the LA Times, non-Latino American Indians and Alaska Natives” had the highest rates of any ethnic group at the beginning of the observed period. Now they are even higher, with 1 in every 2,000 men “in this ethnic group committed suicide, a 60 percent increase over the suicide rate… that prevailed in 1999,” per the LA Times. Although not in the United States, this problem is underscored by a recent story about a Canadian First Nation with a major suicide problem. They had eleven attempts in under a week and more than one hundred in the last seven months, leading their Chief to declare a state of Emergency and complaints of neglect

from the Canadian National Government. According to the Pew Research Center one in four Native Americans or Alaska Natives are living in poverty, a statistic that could be contributing to high suicide rates. The most common methods of suicide determined by the CDC study were firearms for men at approximately fifty five percent and poison for women at about 34 percent. Gun suicide rates are down in both men and women, however, the total number of gun suicides increased, per The New York Times. Suffocation also increased to 25 percent of all suicides, which is considered a major problem because it is an accessible and unpreventable method. With Congress in gridlock and partisanship at an all time high, no one knows if more funding could be pushed through within the next year, however communities can take a stand by continuing to offer support, training adults to see the signs of suicide and providing suicide hotlines and crisis counseling. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800273-8255 and is open 24/7/365. Additionally websites such as hopeline.com offer 24-hour crisis hotlines. Their phone number is 1-800-442-4673. Both are free of charge.

who comment saying she does not make her class easier for “non-actor” students. “Students wouldn’t ask a biology teacher to dumb down the material just for non-biology major students,” she said. A part of the issue students find in course evaluations is

pletely honest, as he fears being tracked. On the other hand, being overly passionate about one’s feelings about a class also occurs. “I’m extra harsh when I fill them out. I want to make sure I get my point across,” said Casey LeClair ’17. One solution that might make students more honest, Li Calzi suggested, is to move to online submissions. In online format, the identification information could be removed, and students would not need to fear their handwriting being identified. Luckett also voiced support for an online format for its convenience, even though she said that she is unable to track handwriting back to individual students. Online submission for full professors was tested two years ago, but the test found that students were not completing the open-ended questions thoroughly. Sondergard believes that if students were more aware of the substantial impact of their feedback then an online form could work.

“Ideally, it would be mutually beneficial. Students have the chance to help future students just like them with honest, through feedback.” finding the freedom to voice their opinions. “I’m afraid the teacher is going to know it was me, and in a high level class I might have that teacher again,” said Li Calzi. The identification information that is provided at top the evaluation makes him worry about being com-

NEWS

APRIL 29, 2016 CHARIOT FROM PAGE 1

The phone app is free to download and easy to use. It lets you request a car ride with the tap of a button. The app detects your current location and lets you enter your desired destination. A little icon will show up on your screen with a picture of the driver closest to you. Your driver’s estimated arrival time will also appear. Payment is simple. You pre-enter your credit card information into the app and it charges your trip to your account. The idea of Uber was developed in in 2008 when Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp had trouble hailing a cab in London, England. They came up with this simple idea to tap a button and get a ride. Today, the company believes that they are “a flexible new way for people to earn money. We help strengthen the local economies in cities, improve access to transportation, and make the streets safer. When you make transportation as reliable as running water, everyone benefits.” There is a lot of controversy around Uber and the safety of its drivers and passengers. What happened to “don’t talk to strangers?” Millions of people today don’t know the ability of their drivers or what their drivers look like until a few minutes before they picked up. Uber or Lyft (another car share company) does not require fingerprints or law enforcement background checks of its drivers, and this is a problem. There are countless deaths, assaults, sexual assaults, kidnappings, Driver DUI’s and other offences that both drivers and passengers are committing worldwide everyday. We are all simply taking a chance and trusting the unknown. It was Saturday, and my friends

and I were just finishing up dinner in downtown Boston. We requested an Uber back to their apartment, and our ride was there within minutes. As we waited we noticed that our driver was going to be a woman. My friend was both surprised to see this, because this was the first time she had one in the two years she has been using Uber. As we walked out the door of the restaurant and hopped into our driver’s car we noticed that the handle was missing on one of the car doors. We had to walk to the other side of the car to get in, because there was simply no way we could open it. Our driver immediately apologized for the inconvenience. She told us that it was some college frat boys that ripped off her car door handle, and she was not pleased. She agreed that Uber and Lyft were convenient for riders and drivers, but are often unsafe and she had proof of that. I proceeded to tell our driver about the article I had read online earlier that weekend about a new ride share company called Chariot for Women. I began to tell her that is was started by Michael Pelletez, who is a son, husband, father, and step-father, and who after picking up and dropping off over 850 Uber passengers felt dangerous in his own car. On Chariot for Women’s website Pelletez’s story is told. A 20-something man stumbled into the backseat while Pelletez was driving, incoherently babbling behind his rolled-back eyes. Something about grandmother’s house—it was clear he had no idea where, or perhaps even who, he was. He would pass out, wake up, squirm violently and reach repeatedly into his pocket before passing out again. With few op-

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE

The founders of Chariot for Women with an app prototype.

tions left, a horrified Pelletez spotted a nearby police officer, pulled over the car and ran out for help. While this incident was occurring Pelletez was only thinking of one thing – “What if [he had been] a woman? How would a woman handle that situation, especially when [he] was so nervous [him] self?” Then, a year ago, when his wife decided she wanted to become an Uber driver herself but was too afraid, these thoughts continuously repeated in his head. Following this incident, he decided he needed to find a better way to keep people safe, especially women and children. When I told my Uber driver that Saturday night about this new app I read about, she was able to relate and told me she knew exactly what I was talking about. She had received an email from the company asking her if she wanted to work for them. She told my friend and I that she was definitely interested in this opportunity. Chariot for Women was launched on Tuesday, April 19, and will offer rides driven by women and for women (and boys under the age of 13). The way it works it that the passenger will see a picture of their driver, car, make, and license plate number every time they are picked up by a Chariot for Women driver. The main mission of this app is to keep women drivers and riders safe, and Pelletez believes he has created a platform to accomplish this. This will not eliminate all ride share violence, but both Pelletez and his wife, Kelly, believe it will help reduce it. The company implemented a plan that 2 percent of every fare will be donated to women-based charities which means more money will go to foundations that are trying to cure diseases, stop violence and abuse, help empower women and more. Chariot for Women targets a unique audience, and the success of this new ride share program will not be known until the app has been implemented into society. The company is betting heavily on sexual discrimination and controversy around its existence. Ride share programs are going to exist whether we like it or not, so hopefully this app will help decrease the risk of the lives of our mothers, daughters and children.

Saint:

Purgatory:

Sinner:

Feeling good about gradua- Winning the Hoot Derby. tion requirements. Who needs Kentucky? Moment of panic at se Stealing ‘Bama’s fight nior meeting. song. BTW, we’re not in Dixie. Sheepishly walking into the Registrar’s office.

Robbing the Hoot Jukebox and only playing Nickleback.

Having more on your meal plan than you ever expected. Reloading $300 onto your meal plan account to the end of the semester. Spending that $300 on Pub56 mugs.

THE HILL NEWS | 5

PHOTO COURTESY OF BUSINESSINSIDER

A projection of how the $20 will look featuring Harriet Tubman.

TUBMAN FROM PAGE 1

appropriate figure to have on American currency. Jackson was one of the main architects of the American financial system and was, rather ironically, opposed to paper money and made it a goal of his second term to destroy the National Bank. On the other hand, Tubman, an escaped slave who returned to the south to lead over 300 other slaves to freedom, has seen little controversy in her appointment. She’s been receiving the support of female lobbyist groups, both Democratic candidates, and even the current Secretary of the

Treasurer. It was about a year ago when Lew first announced the idea to redesign the bills. He decided to open it up to public opinion and see what people were thinking about who should be represnted on our currency. “The pattern became clear that Harriet Tubman struck a chord with people in all parts of the country, of all ages” said Lew. Lew predicts that the -plaan is to unvail the new bills in 2020 which aligns with 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave woman the right to vote.

PRINCE FROM PAGE 1

a multiple instrument musician. The movie swiftly became a cult classic — it wasn’t known for its high-quality acting or directing, especially because it featured a D-list cast and a first-time director — however, fans that already knew Prince flocked to the film and its creativeness. A seven-time Grammy award winner, and Rock and Roll Hall-of-Fame inductee, Prince undoubtedly made a name for himself in the music industry. He was known for his far-ranging eclectic and unique work, feministic qualities, incredible performance presence, and overall badass demeanor. If you’re wondering why you can’t find pretty much any of Prince’s music on streaming services like Spotify or AppleMusic, it’s due to his notoriously troubled relationship with much of the music industry. The only streaming service that allows full access to all of Prince’s albums is Tidal. There are few artists out there who have had as big of an impact as Prince has had over his years. Every fan and member of the music industry will dearly miss Prince and his legacy. This is not the end for his music, though, for Prince’s tunes and enduring message of one love will continue to influence generations of musicians and listeners for years to come.

says that he returned home and was alright, according to CNN. A week later Prince was found dead in an elevator at his Paisley Park compound in Chanhassen, Minnesota, on the morning of April 21. The cause of his death remains unknown, according to Noel-Schure who says that “it could be weeks before we received the results of the autopsy,” per CNN. It was also reported Wednesday that the musician died without a valid will. In wake of his death, thousands of his fans stood outside the First Avenue & 7th St. Entry Club with boom boxes blasting his songs and purple flowers in front of the wall in which his name lays. They pay tribute to Prince as a “pioneer of a distant synthpop and funk style known as the Minneapolis sound” and as the “heir to a diverse musical family of great artists such as Joni Mitchell and Sly and the Family Stone,” according to CNN. After his debut in 1978, Prince quickly became a music icon best known for his album and single of the same name, Purple Rain. He was far from just a musician. He was also an actor who starred in the Warner Brother’s picture Purple Rain (1984), which was subsequently paired with the actual album Purple Rain and he was

6 | THE HILL NEWS

features

APRIL 29, 2016

Feel the Beet:The Morels Are Coming By JEFF MOGAVERO COLUMNIST Mushrooms. Ya know. Shrooms! Love ‘em or hate ‘em; you could say they are magical. And do you know what it’s almost time for? You guessed it! Shroom season. Our beloved North Country is finally emerging from its frigid winter slumber. The earth beneath us is not as static as you might imagine. Quite the contrary, thousands upon thousands of miles of mycelial strands are pulsing with life, already beginning to feel the changes in the weather. Mycelia, the filamentous strands of fungi that dominate many fungi life cycles, are eager to send up fruiting bodies to the earth’s surface. These fruiting bodies are the mushrooms that humans enjoy consuming so much. You know exactly the mushrooms I’m talking about. They’re not cheap, and foragers cautiously guard the whereabouts of treasure-trove spots in the woods. These elusive fungal fruiting

bodies could be none other than morels! Have you never heard of morels? I had heard but a reference or two to them prior to last June. Then, I was awakened to their brilliance. While living with a friend in Montana, someone brought morels to his house that were found on a short hike outside of town. We dined on fresh, sautéed mushroom morels prepared with butter and served over pasta cooked just right. I was hooked. I needed to find me some of these shrooms. The next day, I set off to gather me a fine bounty of the woods. Problem was, I walked out of town and into Yellowstone National Park, which happens to be prime grizzly bear country. As I stalked mushrooms in the coniferous forest, I realized I had forgotten my bear spray. Rats! There was but one thing to do. I grabbed a stout stick, and proceeded to rap stumps and logs with it, singing a classic mushroom hunting tune: “aaayyy morel morel morellll,

JEFF MOGAVERO/GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER

Pictured are morels Jeff Mogavero found while trail running in Montana.

ain’t no bears here, morelllss, no bears just morelllsss” (To clarify, this is not a classic. But I think it has potential). And with that, I continued my romping off trail and into the realm of the morel. I hunted for three hours, and found four sad mushrooms. After nearing an entrance road to the park and watching cars slow down because they thought I was a wild animal, I hunched lower, sang my song louder, and pushed deeper into the woods. After gleefully springing to countless pinecones that looked exactly like morels, I decided it was time to head home. I found the trail, began to leave, but then found one morel. Then another. And another! They were everywhere! I had found the great morel jackpot! I can only imagine there was a morel rainbow terminating at my exact location. With many leaps and bounds, I pranced giddily from morel to morel, giggling excitedly as I continued to ward off bears with my friendly song. I returned to my friend’s home that day with a hefty bounty, and proceeded to pay him for allowing me to dwell in his trailer for the week with a few pounds of morels and a six-pack of beer. I also immediately signed up to take Mycology for when I got back to school in the fall. That is my story of how I first fell in love with morels, and the pursuit of elusive wild edible fungi. Very soon (weather dependent), morels will begin popping up across the North Country. And with the production of the morel fruiting bodies, clad with millions upon millions of spores, you too will have the opportunity to find your story. Equip yourself with a handy gathering basket, mushroom field guide, nice stick (for rapping against hard objects to ward off bears and other large carnivorous mammals), and a jolly song. After all, senior week was invented so seniors could enjoy the NoCo morel harvest. Oh, and DO NOT EAT any mushroom that you do not know how to identify. You might die. And ain’t nobody got time for that. See you SLUzers in the woods!

Wisdom from Maya Angelou By SARA MINOGUE COLUMNIST “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou. I first came across this quote my freshman year of high school. During one of our many orientation meetings, a teacher named

Colin Lord, who would later become one of my most inspirational instructors, brought up Maya Angelou’s words. He hoped that her words would touch us in some way and remind us to respect each other as students and as individuals. Let us consider the validity of these words. Try to remember an argument that occurred in your life. Maybe you were arguing with a family member, a friend,

or a colleague. Can you recount every word or every sentence of this conversation? You probably cannot. Now, consider what happened when the argument was over. Were you satisfied with its results? Did you believe you would have to bring this topic up again? How did the resolution make you feel? Let us now consider what we learn in a humanities-based class such as American History. In a

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAGGIE CUMMINS

Bachelorette of the Week: Maggie Cummins ‘16 Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia Major: Global Studies What is your spirit animal? A sexy slug with a bikini top. What is your best trait? My hair, which represents my crazy personality. So it’s like a manifestation of myself. What’s your go to Netflix and Chill movie/TV series? Anything scary, but poorly made, like 50 Foot Cheerleader or Sharknado. What is the soundtrack to your life? The Circle of Life from The Lion King or Kings of Leon. What are your hobbies? I really like eating, doodlin’, and diddlin’. What is your go to pick-up line? “What’s your favorite kind of soup?” What is something you don’t like about dating? Sometimes it’s just an inconvenience, like when I’m just trying to do me. What is your biggest guilty pleasure? Peanut butter. I went through history class such as this one, the professor most likely asked you to memorize the timeline of an event and to consider the historical and cultural significance of said occurrence. We have learned about the American Civil War, and some of us can probably recall its specific timeline in history, but what information regarding this war are you most likely to bring up in another class? If a professor in a class regarding race and/or culture requests that you describe certain criteria of the Civil War, what will you bring up? Will you discuss

11 jars so far this semester. Did you study abroad? Yes, in Kenya. What was the craziest thing you did while abroad? I got accidently kidnapped by a Sudanese businessman. What is your dream date? A shark tank, pigs in a blanket, and some peanut butter romance. Do you have any special talents? I do a really good Chewbacca impression. Tick Tock or Java? Java. Do you have any dating advice for the women at SLU? Don’t put up with dicks. How could a possible love interest get your attention? Have some dope jokes and a jar of peanut butter. Do you have any plans to find love before graduation? If I do, you better hop on real quick, especially because I’m leaving for Korea in 2 months. You are the last Bachelorette of the Week this year. How does that make you feel? Honestly, like a total badass. Check out Maggie’s cartoon on Page 2! specific dates or will you bring up a significant meaning? Memorizing words can only take us so far when we are trying to understand them. I cannot remember every spoken word, but each one is attached to a specific context and an emotion. You might not remember that argument you had with your mom or your sibling or your friend, but you will certainly recall your emotional reaction to their words. Speak and listen carefully because your words do have an impact through meaning.

APRIL 29, 2016

features

7 | THE HILL NEWS

Boot ‘n’ Paddle By KLARE NEVINS COLUMNIST What is the origin of friendship? We will never truly be able to know, but here is what I have come to understand about friendship’s likely history in a very small nutshell (like a peanut): Friendship developed as an advantageous evolutionary tactic because it was seen to improve our chances of reproductive success, reducing stress, and contributing to overall longevity. Today, psychotherapists talk about how friendships benefit us by the unconditional concern we express for those around us, and in turn we receive a grounded sense of safety, respect, and trust. These are all good things, and the OC takes this very seriously in the outdoor context. Parts of what makes us tick are the opportunities for us to form and develop friendships in the outdoors with all of you. So… LET’S CELEBRATE THAT. This Sunday, May 1, is the Absolutely First Ever Outing Club Member Appreciation Day! As Isa puts it, this day is for you, because, “You guys are the absolute best, signing up for trips, reading our emails, getting sendy, and being you. We wouldn’t be us without you!” Thanks, Isa. So here’s the quick and dirty: Anyone who

has ever come on an OC trip before or their friends are welcome (so that means everyone). The OC will be hosting a bunch of trips Sunday morning (hiking, running, canoeing, mountain biking) and then we all will meet back at 58 Park to participate in a free MEAT AND GREET with pancakes, bacon, and other treats. Trips will go out after breakfast and those will be rad, too. So check the OC listserv or email me (kbnevi12) if you want in. Come celebrate friendship and help us at the OC increase our chances of reproductive success, stress reduction, and living to the age of 101. That being said, let’s fill up another weekend with springtime fun. What are you doing this May 7 and 8? Participating in one of the premier canoe race weekends in New York State? That’s what I thought. For those of you who don’t know, the Canton Canoe weekend will be celebrating its 55th race, which was started in part to honor the life and accolades of Henry Rushton. Rushton was a Canton man who opened a canoe shop downtown in 1873 and kept it open until his death in 1906. If you walk to what is now Riverside Drive in Canton you can get an idea of where Rushton spent his days building canoes. Rushton

has since been acknowledged for his expertise in and talent in designing and constructing models of lightweight canoes, one of which was built for the legendary Adirondack explorer, Nessmuck, who paddled a 10.5 pound canoe for 266 miles through the central Adirondacks. Although it is brief, take this historical note to heart. History, people. It’s all around us. The event kicks off on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with the Modern Rushton Race. Meet at Taylor Park in Canton – y’all will be paddling the trusty Grasse River. You can kayak, canoe, or paddleboard (solo or in pairs!), and there is even a special 8 mile paddle for college students (ah hem, that’s us). Race t-shirts to all and awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place! Sunday, May 8 is really where stuff gets good, as the race will host a championship (aka. These people do this a lot) 14-mile paddle and a 12-mile amateur championship. Even if you can’t get your willies together to paddle yourself, definitely go check out this race – you will be rewarded with the great rushing river. Do it. Live it. Go for it. Dip your paddle waders in the river of life and see where it will take you. Be the salmon that swims upstream, or the heritage brook trout that takes it all in.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENDA WINN

Pictured is Brenda Winn ‘17, who studied in Copenhagen in the Fall of 2015

What I Learned from Study Abroad By KATIE MCGARRITY STAFF WRITER

I was told countless times that studying abroad was going to be the best experience of my life, and I really believed that this was true. I pictured myself

going out to clubs, and eating all sorts of new food, and seeing all of the things that you’re supposed to see in Europe. I pictured myself coming back to the U.S. as a different girl, independent and worldly, leaving Buffalo and Canton in the

dust for a while. One of the smartest people I know told me before I left that if I were to videotape myself before I left for Denmark and then watch it when I came back, I wouldn’t even recognize myself. I wanted this to happen. I

wanted myself to change, and I did, but it certainly wasn’t in the way that I expected. I was itching to get out of New York, out of Canton and Buffalo. I wanted adventure. The home that had been a place of relaxation and family time had become stifling, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I took a deep breath and smiled as I watched my house disappear when we left for the airport. I even managed to keep it together when I was saying goodbye to my parents. The reality didn’t hit me fully until I looked back at them as I stepped through security to see my mom sobbing and my dad with tears standing in his eyes. He never cries. No one ever told me about this part. No one ever told me how scared and alone I would feel as I sat waiting to board the plane. No one ever prepared me for the fear that I felt as I stood on the doorstep of the family who I would be living with for the next five months, and no one told me how strange and out of place I would feel at Easter dinner with my extended host family when no one spoke English. I’m not trying to say that studying abroad was not what I had hoped it would be– it was everything I could have wanted and more, but it isn’t all happiness and great photos. I have learned so much in the past four months as I have traveled and learned

how to live with a family that isn’t mine. I’ve learned how to cope with being lonely and sad at times, and how to call a friend or go for a walk when all I wanted was a hug from my mother. I’ve made friends that I know will continue to play a huge part in my life even after I return home, and I’ve gotten to do things that my parents never dreamed of doing when they were 20. Most importantly, though, I’ve figured out that my family and my pokey little hometown and even Canton are not stifling– they are everything. A friend of mine sent me this quote the other day that brought tears to my eyes: “Maybe you had to leave in order to really miss a place; maybe you had to travel to figure out how beloved your starting point was.” So go abroad. Do it. Eat lots of pastry and drink lots of beer. Hike the highlands, look out over the city from the top tower of cathedrals and blow the last of your money on that trip that you have always wanted to take. Play with your little host sister even when you have work to do and smile at babies on the train. Do all that, and do so much more. Be prepared to feel a little uncomfortable and sad and be prepared to learn from it and come back a different person. The one thing that you cannot ever do, though, is take for granted where and who you came from.

ARTS & entertainment

8 | THE HILL NEWS

APRIL 29, 2016

When Life Hands Her Lemons She Makes Lemonade By CATHERINE FLORES STAFF WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Mike Theobald ‘16 performs at last weekend’s showcase.

Sandra Lim Visits St.Lawrence For Writer’s Series By POONAM SIDHU GUEST WRITER It is surprising what people pick up on and choose to remember during an event, visiting writer and poet Sandra Lim said during the last Writer’s Series event of the year on Wednesday. The event demonstrated how people can experience poetry and be affected by it in different ways. Sandra Lim is the author of The Wilderness and Loveliest Grotesque. She has won numerous accolades for her works, including the Barnard Women Poets and the 2015 Pushcart Prize. In addition to being a poet, she is the current assistant professor of English at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. “When I have a vague idea or line that I am caught up in, I draw on my instincts, my subconscious and unconscious to discover the idea,” says Sandra Lim. She explains this as the key to helping her craft a poem, alluding to how it is the discovery of this idea or its exploration that makes the poem essentially what it is. This response resonated with some faculty members as well. “Students have the misconception that poetry is about exploration of ideas and not self-expression. Writing is about exploration of ideas. All art is about exploration of ideas and not self-expression,” says Sarah Gates, associate

professor of English and chair of the department of English at St. Lawrence University. “Lim proved that poetry is about exploration of ideas and not just self-expression,” says Gates. Not all of the audience members expressed such similar sentiments. While he enjoyed listening to Lim read her poetry, Arben Ukperaj’16 felt as though Lim “romanticized nature and kept herself at an arm’s length from the readers.” But, Ukperaj is an avid attender of the Writer’s Series events and mentions how they are insightful and can help even a struggling writer improve their writing skills. “I think these events are insightful for people to gain another perspective in the world we live in. Plus these readings are a great way of exposing yourself to new material and perhaps another way of improving your writing in general,” says Ukperaj. “The Writer’s Series is the spectacle of the human voice. Writers get to perform their own work and hear it. I want student writers to see the relationship between what they see on stage and what a piece sounds like when it is performed,” claims Bob Cowser, professor of English at St. Lawrence University who currently coordinates and helps run the Writer’s Series. “I want them to recognize how important it is to see that connection, ” adds Cowser.

On Saturday, Beyonce released the visual album “Lemonade” in a similar fashion as she released her last self-titled album. With no promotion for her new work besides the controversial music video for “Formation” and her 2016 Super Bowl Halftime performance, Queen Bey has yet again rocked the music world with a masterpiece that came in true to the pop diva’s form, like a wrecking ball. Beyoncé’s newest work has had more richeteying effects than ever before. Monday’s New York Time’s music section featured two articles on “Lemonade” and Beyoncé’s work as an artist. In recent years, Beyoncé’s music has been more than something to shake your booty to or to blast in the car- she makes statements on social and political issues like feminism and racism in tracks like “Flawless” and “Pretty Hurts”, but “Lemonade” takes us to a place much more personal, heart-wrenching, and emotional than the Beyhive has ever been before. We get a personal look into Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s relationship as husband and wife, musical superpowers, and as black adults in today’s day and age. The first lyrics in “Lemonade” are, “You can taste the dishonesty,” which lead us into a 12-track story of the struggles Beyoncé faces, whether they be romantic, familial, racist, or sexist. Beyonce looks different than the icon we have grown to love and know in Lemonade.

In the first tracks, she is sans makeup, but something is missing beyond her contoured cheeks and smoky eyes. Her movements represent desperation for answers. The glamour is wiped away. She is more tired than we have ever seen her. She is completely exhausted and remains so throughout the album. Of course, Beyoncé will always be fierce as hell, strong as ever, and stunning like a model, but while watching the hour and a half series of music videos, I found that I became enraged. Who would do this to America’s beloved superstar? Who broke her down, robbed her of trust, honesty, and a healthy and loving relationship? How did it get to the point where Beyoncé tells us, “Today I regret the night I put that ring on?” Beyonce is raw with emotion in “Lemonade.” In the tracks where she appears like her better known, flashy, diva self, the music and video are stuffed to the brim with irony. Set on the streets of New Orleans, Beyonce is decked out in colorful makeup, a long weave, and a bright outfit. Locals are celebrating and partying, and she proudly shows off her smiling face to a security camera, before bashing it in with a Louisville Slugger. Is she shamelessly telling the world the truth about her marriage? Has it failed, and should Jay-Z be scared? Perhaps he should, since the next track features angry lyrics like, “Who the f*ck do you think I am? You ain’t married to no average bitch, boy” and “This is your final warning. You know I give you life. If you try this shit

again you’re gonna lose your wife.” When you, or I, or anyone with eyes or ears (you do not even need both to be functioning) think of Beyoncé, we kind of fall in love a bit. After deciphering whether you want to date her or want to be her, you realize that your undying love for Beyoncé is irrevocable. She is a special gift to us all. So why the hell would Jay-Z want to cheat? The Queen tells us, “He only want me when I’m naughty.” Is this a reference to the decade-old pop hit “Naughty Girl” that played on radios back when Beyoncé was considered to be less of an artist and more of a talented, pretty singer and dancer? Is Jay-Z threatened or intimidated by his powerful wife? Is this a common issue in the 21st century? It is a mystery to fans, and maybe even Beyoncé herself. Is “Lemonade” something greater than America’s royal couple? Is it Beyoncé asking us why she is not on top of the world when clearly she is one of the most special artists ever? Is it because she is a black woman? Consider how she introduced her new work at the Super Bowl and the day before with “Formation.” The artistic interpretation was widely accepted as a stab at police brutality, racism, and sexism. But it is so hard to believe that Jay would cheat on Bey. They are #relationshipgoals and would Beyoncé taint the secrecy of her relationship and reveal the truth, even if it is painful and horrid and brutal, just for the sake of art? You best believe she just did.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELLEN STRYKER BISCHOFF

APRIL 29, 2016

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Decameron Blues Takes SLU Back to Musical Theatre

THE HILL NEWS | 9

By IMMAN MERDAN GUEST WRITER

ILLUSTRATION BY MAGGIE CUMMINS

Behind the Red Picket Fences:

Primate Fiasco

By BRIDGET FLEMING COLUMNIST The band’s website reads as a newspaper headline: “Scientists Working to Answer Question: “What is the Primate Fiasco?” Below this, and a picture of the four band members, we find: “Scientist’s Findings: You are a Primate. The event is a fiasco.” So there you have it: the reason for the band’s name AND how natural selection has brought the human race to engage in musical gatherings that are nothing short of debauchery. If the event is a fiasco, then the event must be a circus. Interestingly, the ancient Romans (god bless those crazy Mother-Oedipus lovers) invented the circus; they were stadiums made for chariot racing, binge drinking, persecuting Christians, what have you, and were allegedly all in the name of good fun. The circus, as we good hardy Americans think of it, conjures up images of red and white stripped tents, Stephen King IT clowns, and really dope chicks spewing out of canon balls doing flips. The band Primate Fiasco, I was told, sounds like the kind of music you would want to hear being played at the circus. This is where the “pick your own adventure” card comes in: will you choose to image Primate Fiasco next to Emperor Nero in the historical past, or will you opt for a Ringling Brothers animal-crackers montage? The

third option, of course, is to take pieces and parts of this imagining activity, and mosaic tile them onto the Java Barn Saturday night, and there you have it, your own personal musical perception (circus) garden. Primate Fiasco, in whatever case your mind’s eye creates, definitely includes some unusual instruments. The band brought to the barn a massive silver tuba, along with an accordion, a nice banjo, and drums. Here was your classic funky skunky junk in the trunky Java Band at its finest. This group of musicians was especially talented at making smooooooth transitions between songs, what Carlos Santana might say, through a simile, is just like the ocean under the moon. The accordion player wore big lady bug sunglasses-- just like what your grandma wore when she dragged you to the ballet, and while standing in line, claimed the mid-day streaky winter sunlight was “just too much.” The Primates were grooving down, and had this week’s smaller but tightly knit crowd reeling into the sound. They started at 11, and boogied down until the twilight hour of 2am. This is the first time Java has been able to book Primate Fiasco since they say them play at the Catskill Chill music festival two years ago. That being said, put a mental bookmark on this one folks at home, because the circus doesn’t stick around town.

While theatre productions have been rather popular among diverse audiences on campus, it has been a while since St. Lawrence University hosted a musical. After a long time, sixteen aspiring actors and singers are preparing to present Hokum Poke ‘em Cabaret, or The Decameron Blues, adapted for the stage by Kirk W. Fuoss from a variety of blues songs and selected tales from Boccaccio’s Decameron. “The show introduces audiences to some wonderfully comedic stories that are decidedly bawdy and some great songs from a relatively obscure genre of the blues known as “hokum,” said Kirk Fuoss, the director. “One of the hallmark of songs belonging to this genre is the use of metaphors and euphemisms to explore sexual content,” added Fuoss. Despite the sexual references, “the show essentially talks about culture, gender and society through humor,” said performer Christopher Lule ’18. While the cast believes that the music part is what makes the show, Randy

Hill, the technical director, knows that incorporating music into the show was probably the hardest part. “The biggest challenge for the director was making a script and using songs for which there was no sheet music,” explained Hill. But music is not the only unusual part of the show. All of the props and costumes used in the production are stored in trunks onstage. “There is no backstage to this show. And like the props and costumes, all sixteen of the show’s performers remain onstage throughout the entire performance,” said Fuoss. Tess Lagor ’16, a performer, likes the simplicity used in the show. “This show is definitely a simpler, more stripped down kind of show. The costuming and set invite the audience to use their imagination,” said Lagor. Another very special thing about the show is that the entire music part was directed by the fellow students, Emily Goulet ’16 and Taylor Sudolak ’16. “My favorite part is the one-on-one music rehearsals and seeing how much progress we’ve made,” said Goulet. “It has been fantastic to work with talented singers and experiment with the blues

Preparations are made behind the scenes.

genre,” added Goulet, who is also the accompanist in the show. Those involved agree that the show is one of a kind, with something for everyone. “One of the things I most like about this production is its variety and its pacing,” said Fuoss. “It features 9 stories and 10 songs, and most of the songs are about three minutes long. Most of the stories are blasters, too, that last around six minutes. If the story or song audience members are seeing right now isn’t to their liking or doesn’t suit the mood their in today, there’s another one just around the corner that probably does,” added Fuoss. As for expectations, “The audience can expect a good laugh and great entertainment for the evening. Everyone has worked incredibly hard on this show, and we’re excited to show our hard work,” said Goulet. Taylor Sukdolak, co-vocal director is particularly excited, “expect to find some sort of enjoyment from a performance you have never seen in your life.” The show will take place at Edson R. Miles Black Box between April 27-30, from 8 p.m.-9:45 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LIZ FORMAN

NEWS 175 World Leaders Sign Paris Climate Agreement in NYC

APRIL 29, 2016

10 | THE HILL NEWS

By ALI PRICE STAFF WRITER On April 22nd 2016 (Earth Day) United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-Moon invited 175 World Leaders to a climate change signing ceremony at UN headquarters in New York. The climate agreement was developed in Paris last December, but the event, which took place Friday, offered state leaders the opportunity to sign the agreement for the first time. The agreement consists of six components temperature goal, individual targets, transparency, money, loss and damage, and with drawl. Once fifty-five countries making up 55% of global emissions, sign the agreement, it will then be legal. At first many believed the agreement would not be legalized until 2020, but after much success at Friday’s event speculations have changed. The aim of the agreement is to keep the global temperature rise “well below” 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). It also states that countries are required to set their own individual national targets for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. These targets are not legally blinding but, countries must update their targets every five years as well as update the UN on their progress. The agreement is based on transparency. States will not be penalized if they do not reach their target, especially developing countries such as China. The agreement also requires wealthy countries to provide financial support to poor countries helping them reduce their emissions and adapt to climate change. The dollar amount wealthy countries must

provide poor countries with was not stated but previous pledges indicate the number was around $100 billion. The climate change agreement also includes a section where it is talking about small islands threatened by rising sea levels. The section in the agreement is called “loss and damage.” This section was created to help keep awareness about the threat they face. The United States was concerned about adding this into the agreement for it feared it would be charged with the damages cause by the wealthy in these small island areas. The final section of the agreement talks about entry and exit to the document. The agreement will become legal 30 days after the 55 countries have completed the ratification process. Countries are able to withdraw from the treaty, but not in the first three years after it enters into force. There is also a oneyear notice period, so the earliest a country could drop out is four years after the agreement is legalized. United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-Moon started the signing ceremony by stating that “the world is in a race against time. The era of consumption without consequences is over.” He and many state leaders such as French President Francois Hollande agreed that there is “no turning back now. The key in combating climate change will be to get governments, companies, and people all over the world to work together to move fossil fuels to renewable energy.” People accept that climate change is a real issue, and so they want to see change. For too long the dominating Western world has put the economy before the environment and the environment has suffered because of it. We have become obsessed with

PHOTO COURTESY OF XINHUANET NEWS

Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos signs the Paris climate agreement.

capitalism and making profits, when we should have been worrying about the environment and the impacts our actions are having on it and the organisms that live within it. If we want to have kids and if we want our kids to have kids who live healthy lives, the time to act is now. Professor Nicholas Stern, who heads the climate change institute at the London School of Economics believes that “we have a once-inhistory opportunity to create a new, shared, inspiring and sustainable world. If we delay, it will be gone. If we do get it right, we will launch a new wave of dynamic innovation and growth in the medium-term,” says Prof. Stern said. The world’s largest carbon emitters such as China, the United States, Canada, Mexico and

Australia attended the ceremony but did not sign the agreement. The Chinese leader announced that it would “finalise domestic procedures” to ratify the agreement before the G20 summit in China in September. The United States (second largest carbon emitter) along with Canada, Mexico, and Australia reiterated their intentions to sign the agreement later this year. Although there are very few countries that have actually signed the Paris agreement the future is looking hopeful. All nation leaders understand that climate change is a serious issue and one that cannot be avoided. However, there are a handful of countries that have not spoken about their intentions for signing the agreement. These countries

consist of some of the world’s largest oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Nigeria, and Kazakhstan. The Paris Climate agreement and the NY signing ceremony has brought many state leaders together that typically would disagree on issues. People recognize that Climate change is a serious issue, and one that needs to be acted on. In the past progress towards reducing GHG emissions and climate change was not made because there were so many arguments between rich and poor countries on who was going to do what. As a result, nothing was accomplished. However, this brings much excitement to our future as nation leaders are starting to act and make progress.

ADMISSIONS FROM PAGE 1

pressions on them during their application process. Ambassadors spend the month sending personal emails to accepted students that contain lots of information about SLU and everything we have to offer. The Class of 2020 even had their own hashtags to be used on social media – #SLUClassof2020 #SLUSaidYes – and their own snapchat filter that appeared on the Accepted Students days. The goal is that once SLU accepts students, every accepted student will hear from SLU in some way or another – whether it’s an email from a counselor or an email from a current student. While the class of 2020 has yet to be determined, the interest in St. Lawrence is clear. While it is hopeful that this class will not yield nearly as high as the freshmen, the definitive numbers are still uncertain. It is hard to tell what the impact of this class size will be on the St. Lawrence community and Student Body as a whole without official deposits. Once students finalize their decisions, it will be easier to determine how that class will impact the University.

according to Dean Rickey. St. Lawrence has become a more selective school over the course of a year in attempts to limit the class sizes coming in. You may have noticed more prospective students visiting this spring. Emma CummingsKrueger ‘16, an Admissions Ambassador, says, “we had to add an extra Admitted Students Visit Day since last year because there was a waitlist of prospective students who wanted to attend one.” In light of these four visit day events, Dean Rickey called the 2016 yield season “the most ambitious we’ve ever had.” As of April 10 we already had approximately 250 students enrolled for 2020. “That’s about a third of all students that are expected to enroll for this upcoming fall in less than a third of the window. Additionally, each of the Accepted Students Days drew many students to Canton. The Admissions office spends most of the end of the month of March and the month of April trying to yield students to come to SLU. Counselors spend the month reaching out to specific students who have made im-

Saints Sports