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December 12, 2014
The official independent, student-run publication of Plymouth State University since 1952 Know The Times, Read The Clock
December 12, 2014 • Vol. 60, Issue 7•
The Music Issue Spring Fling Preview page #7
holiday Harmonies page #14
WPCR Spotlight page #15
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December 12, 2014
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The Clock Editor in Chief Matthew Ormsbee mjormsbee@plymouth.edu Production Manager Kelly Goodwin kagoodwin2@plymouth.edu
Rachel Perelli rcperelli@plymouth.edu
Sports Editor Eric Brill edbrill@mail.plymouth.edu
Editor in Chief Elect Elizabeth Barden eab1010@plymouth.edu
News Editor Emmett Warren ew1012@plymouth.edu
Photo Editor Nina Weinstein neweinstein@plymouth.edu
Managing Editor
Assistant Features Editor Cassie Pearson clp1010@plymouth
Content Manager Bobby Costanzo rncostanzo@plymouth.edu
Assistant Photo Editor Colby Aubut cmaubut@plymouth.edu
Features Editor Benjamin Hunton bh1010@plymouth.edu
A&E Editor Tim Waugh tswaugh@plymouth.edu Assistant Production Manager Adam Toomey ajtoomey@plymouth.edu Assistant Sports Editor Justin Siewierski js2010@plymouth.edu Advertising & Sales Ross Ferrulo clockads@gmail.com Comic Section Geneva Somber Sarah Liebowitz
Sports Photo Editor Field Martin fkmartin@plymouth.edu Assistant A&E Editor Ryan Wimble rawimble@plymouth.edu Interm News Editor Nichole Currier ndc1011@plymouth.edu Video Editor Kayla Coates kmcoates@plymouth.edu Contributors Nathaniel Smyth Hannah Andry Phillip Cotton
The Clock is an editorially independent newspaper. Opinions expressed do not reflect those of Plymouth State University or of the University System of New Hampshire. The Clock is funded in part by the Student Activity Fee and is distributed free of charge to the Campus and Community every other Friday of the Academic Calendar
Newsroom Phone • (603) 535-2279 Fax Line • (603) 535-2729 Email • mjormsbee@plymouth.edu Website • http://www.TheClockOnline.com Advertising • (603) 535-2279 clockads@gmail.com US Mail: The Clock Suite A9 Hartman Union Building Plymouth State University, Plymouth NH, 03264. All contents © 2011-2012 The Clock. All rights reserved.
Scan Code to send a letter to the Editor. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
The Clock welcomes letters to the editor, and aims to publish as many as possible. The Clock reserves the right to edit for vulgarity and libelous content. Opinions expressed in both signed and unsigned letters to the editor, opinion pieces, cartoons or columns are not necessarily those of The Clock or it's staff. If you do not see your side of the argument being represented, The Clock invites you to submit a letter to the editor to present your side.
Letter to the Editor ear PSU, D As many on campus will already know, I am stepping down as Clock
advisor after 11 + years in this role. I want to thank the staff of the Clock (the current staff, and all of the Clock staffs I have known) for the work they do and the spirit with which they do it. As a teacher, I often point out that PSU has no better learning lab than The Clock. Our students get to do sit-down interviews with presidential candidates and famous musicians. They cover sensitive stories like sexual assault policies and union votes. I’ve seen the whole staff come together as a sophisticated team to cover big news events on campus like the gun proponents’ visit and the Red Sox disturbances. And they face the same organizational challenges that any group in the “real world” must deal with. Clock staffers struggle to balance the problems of retaining popular readership against the commitment to be responsible, professional, and credible. They live within budgets and they make policies and enforce them. They design web sites and wrestle with professional layout software. They hire, they fire, they mentor, they coach...and they do it on deadline. It’s been a privilege to cheer them on as, time after time, they developed and utilized the tools and values of journalists. At my very first Clock meeting in the early Fall of 2003, I was asked by a new reporter about using an unnamed source for a story about athletes upset with a coach. Like many faculty would, I launched into a discussion about the problematic nature of unnamed sources. When I had gone on for a few minutes, one of the senior staffers interrupted me to set the student straight. “If they won’t let us use their names, we’re not going to run the story. We don’t let people take shots at other people in our paper.” Like any student organization, the constantly rotating cast of characters changes what the organization values and how it acts on those values from year to year. They don’t always get it right, but they more readily admit their faults than just about any organization on campus. But eleven years later, that pride of ownership and that sense of tradition exemplifies everything I adore about this organization. The Clock is bigger than the people who produce it. Beginning in the Spring, there will be a lot of new names on the Clock’s masthead. Several of the staff editors will change, Libby Barden will take over from Matt Ormsbee as Editor-in-Chief, and Jennifer Tyniec will be the next advisor. Best of luck to all of them. I know they will carry on the best traditions and values of the Clock. I know I’ll remain their biggest fan. Sincerely, Scott Coykendall
In Regards to the Last Issue he cover incorrectly stated that T the Men’s Ice Hockey team had jumped out to first place in the
MASAC conference. The Panthers play in the MASCAC conference. Many readers have come forward angry with the way Sodexo was portrayed in “Inside Sodexo: Are Students Being Poisoned?” The title was not meant as an accusation. After researching for the article, it was clear
that Sodexo was not putting laxatives in their food. The article states this with quotes from Chris Mongeon, Diahnn Thompkins, Sandy Marrote, Tim Mooneyhan, and one Sodexo student-worker who wished to remain anonymous. The conclusion of the research showed that Sodexo was not putting laxatives in the food, but this could have been more bluntly stated in the
conclusion of the article. Just for final clarification: Sodexo does not put laxatives in their food. If anyone read “Inside Sodexo: Are Students Being Poisoned?” and thought The Clock was trying to imply that Sodexo was intentionally poisoning students, we didn’t do our job. It won’t happen again.
Matthew Ormsbee Editor-in-Chief
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program is designed to compliment existing public relations and sports information efforts as a way to further engage PSU fans, including University students, staff and faculty as well as residents local to the Plymouth area. The inaugural program will commence this season with focus on the Men’s Basketball Team. If successful, the program will expand in future years to eventually support all of the PSU intercollegiate programs. The project is led by Associate Athletic Director, Kim Bownes with assistance from Grady Arnao, a current PSU student engaged in a practicum experience. Stephen Bowers, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach is providing additional support while Darryll White, a PSU alumni, class of 1982 is also assisting as a volunteer consultant. The GO PANTHERS project team will focus on expanding the existing fan base while also promoting loyal and enthusiastic fans. Plans are underway to connect with local organizations in the Plymouth area such as The Pemi Youth Center, the Mayhew Program, the Circle Program and the Tapply Thompson Community Center as well as with the local Plymouth Regional High School. Around campus this year, expect to see basketball team members making personal appearances at the HUB on game days in order to drum up support. The idea of team members
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Press Release: Go Panther Challenge his year, PSU Athletics will T launch a pilot marketing initiative called GO PANTHERS. The
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meeting students in person is part of an effort to create personal connections between the team and the general student body. At the heart of the program is the Go Panthers Challenge. The challenge is for the PSU student body and local community to help create the most prolific small college basketball fan base in New England. The general goal is to fill Foley Gymnasium on each of the home games during the fall and spring semesters and to also generate enough local support to create a strong following for the two January Winterim games that take place while most students are not on campus. To participate, it is easy. Either purchase a white Go Panthers t-shirt or pick out you own white shirt and wear that to each of the home games. Tell your friends, to do the same, as the goal is to fill the stands with white and create a “PSU White-Out”. Come to the games and participate in rooting for the home team in a way that would be the envy of all New England small college basketball! “While the goal from the outset is to fill the seats right away, we realize it will take time to get more and more people involved. We hope that when people attend they will come back and bring others with them. We want to get to the tipping point where attending basketball home games becomes a must do local event. From there the momentum just builds”, states Arnao. The program will also help orga-
nize various game day events. As part of the basketball team’s effort to connect with the local community, various local youth organizations will be invited as guests of the University to attend the games. Afterwards, the team will host a meet and greet between the local youth and the team members. There will also be some halftime mini-games in which local youth basketball teams compete. These kids will also have the opportunity to meet the PSU team. The local high school boy’s team will be also be announced at halftime of the December 6 2014 game versus UMass - Dartmouth as an effort to make a connection between the local high school and university basketball programs. For the on-campus crowd there will be a Residence Hall Challenge and the FAN Program. For these various events there will be prizes and in each case the winning team and or individuals will judged based on spirit and participation. On Fan Appreciation Night, which is the culmination of the FAN Program, there will be a raffle drawing for prizes. Raffle tickets can be accumulated throughout the season, as they will be distributed at the door of each game and also to fans in the stands as a reward for participation. The more tickets accumulated, the greater the chance of winning prizes. According to White, “the timing is great for this program. We’ve recently seen the local community and the student-body embrace the hockey
team and become a force relative to home ice advantage. I believe we can further build upon this momentum. The young Panther basketball team is coming off a solid season in the Little East, with most of the team returning. They play an exciting brand of basketball in one of the top DIII conferences in the country. They are a great group of young men whose signature is their work ethic. I feel the team will not disappoint and the time is now to start filling the gym and creating a tremendous ongoing experience for the PSU and local Plymouth community”. Alex Herbst from PSU Student Government adds, “Our college experience is what we make of it. Participation outside of the classroom is key to a full and enriching college endeavor. Attending athletic events doesn’t have to be about sports. It is a social event where people can get together and put out good energy on behalf of their school and each other. All of us in Student Government strongly encourage the student body to get involved as it is an investment in our college community and in our individual experience”. “The Go Panthers project is a home-grown program that exists because of PSU staff, students and alumni who care”, says Kim Bownes. “We’ve had faculty support in organizing the practicum and recruiting Grady, our first intern. A special thanks goes out to Pamela Childs and Terry Dautcher for their support. We’ve also had great support from key University managers such as Julie Bernier, Jim Hundreiser and John Clark. PSU student leaders, Alex Herbst, Connor Brown and Ryan Grady have also thrown their support behind the program. The practicum experience
Letter to the Editor wo weeks ago I wrote an article T on Sodexo. Reports of students getting sick from various campuses
were circulating and I thought it would make a good article. I wrote it and to my delight a large audience of students and faculty enjoyed it. But it didn’t last. After the issue of The Clock came out, I could enter almost any building on campus and hear someone say, “Aren’t you the kid who wrote the article on Sodexo? So-and-so is really mad.” Good, I thought, I did my job. But I hadn’t, because the article was missing one thing that made it newsworthy: facts. Reporting on rumors is what tabloids do. And maybe that’s what I was doing, I didn’t think so then but now I’m not sure. The title “Inside Sodexo: Are Students Being Poisoned?” was obviously a ploy to get the reader’s attention. I didn’t use the word “poison” once in the article, but most of the negative responses I received were regarding my poor choice of words for the title. I don’t believe there was anything
fundamentally wrong with the article or the way it was written. It didn’t attack any specific individual, faculty or student. But the way it came across is far from what I intended. Part of the problem came from my desire to leave the article ambiguous and up to interpretation, which is not how news is supposed to work. Rumors from Yik Yak were treated as reputable, and that was a mistake too. But I made an honest attempt to get both sides of the debate. I heard from students who believed the rumors and students and faculty who didn’t. Some of those students and faculty worked at Sodexo. I will humbly apologize to the Sodexo staff. What I did potentially hurt the image of your company and for that I’m sorry. Between Diahnne Thompkins, Sandy Marrotte, Frank Cocchiarella, and Chris Mongeon, the four of you allowed me your time, provided your quotes, and listened to my questions. My article compromised your positions and your names. You are here to serve the community, and I failed to show you my own ap-
preciation of that. President Steen told me something in my interaction with her that I will do my best not to forget. She said, “If you learned that words matter, that as a writer you genuinely affect others….then this difficult time could stand you in good stead as you build your successful future.” My words mattered. It’s unfortunate that it took these past two weeks for me to realize that, but I can only hope that this will serve as fuel to carry me to a successful future. My last hope is that this apology somehow clears the air for The Clock and its readers, or provides a new perspective. Don’t not look back for very long, but keep moving forward, understanding not just the power of words, but the power of our individual voices in a community. Thank you for reading. Sincerely, Emmett Warren
should be both rewarding and fun for Grady who is interested in a career in marketing”. The program will also reach beyond the surrounding Plymouth community by targeting parents of team members and PSU alumni, both former team members and friends of the team. In the long term, proponents of the program hope to integrate this effort with other alumni and advancement efforts. “The college experience is a very important component of establishing long-term relationships with the extended PSU family”. This, according to John Scheinman formerly the PSU men’s head basketball coach, now a Major Gifts Officer in the PSU Advancement Office. The Go Panthers team believes that the more participation developed, the better the experience will become. Coach Novick, head Men’s Basketball coach adds, “This promises to be another competitive year in the Little East with a number of teams returning their top performers. Our entire team really loves playing in front of their PSU peers and members of this great community in the Foley Gym. It really gives our team an extra boost as we take-on some of the best teams in New England. With a great collection of guys back for another season and a nice infusion of newcomers, we are looking forward to seeing all of you for the upcoming basketball season! For a schedule of Go Panthers events at this season’s home games and more information on the Go Panthers program visit go.plymouth. edu/pantherschallenge
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December 12, 2014
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ear Linda, D This will be my last Friday morn-
ing visit. It’s been a year, me and you. Every other Friday morning, I come here, to the Tilt’n Diner, and look over the most recent issue of The Clock before brining all 2,000 copies to Plymouth. You refilled my coffee mug and brought me my steak and cheese omelet (with no mushrooms), home fries (well-done), and wheat toast. I wanted to say thank you for the company on these early Friday mornings. I won’t be coming around anymore, and I think you should know why. For the past year, I’ve served as Editor-in-Chief of The Clock, Plymouth State University’s student-run newspaper. This issue is my last. I’ll be stepping down upon the end of this semester. I’m graduating a semester early, and attending Emerson College in Boston for my Master’s Degree this spring. I’m so excited, but I’m going to miss this. This past year was the most important of my life in so many different ways. Being Editor-in-Chief was one of the biggest reasons why. It has helped me become the person I am now proud of being. I am now confident in my abilities as a leader, writer, and working under pressure. I’ve also made some of my best friends while working for the newspaper. You’ve met some of them, too.
Dear Linda Ben Hunton came with me to breakfast this semester. He has grown so much in the year I’ve known him. I’m so proud of him, and think he’s going to be a great Features Editor. Libby Barden was the most recent to come to breakfast with me. She’s taking my job, and I think she has the potential to be a great Editor-inChief. She’s is one the warmest people I know, and I have no doubt she is capable of growing and learning with the staff to make The Clock an awesome, reputable publication. Nina Weinstein was one of the first people to take the trip down to Concord with me. She’s been the Photo Editor for the newspaper for the past three semesters and been at The Clock since her freshman year. She is so incredibly talented most talented in terms of skill and creativity. I’m going to miss her more than she knows, and miss how she knocks my ego down a couple pegs in the office. Sometimes, I need it. My most memorable Friday morning trip was with my friend Miles Libby and Sports Editor Eric Brill. Miles came home from a night out of drinking at 6 a.m. (This was getting back early for Miles). This was also the same time I was getting ready to leave for Concord to pick up the newspapers. You never saw Miles that day, Linda. He fell asleep in the back seat after tiring himself out by hanging outside the back
window and yelling at passing cars in a poor Scottish accent. It was as crazy as it sounds. Eric and I loved it and laughed the whole ride down. I got a pulled pork sandwich for breakfast and Eric order meatloaf. Talk about a strange morning. I had to leave half way through the meal to go check on Miles. He had puked in the parking lot. He never made it to breakfast that morning, and he never came with me to get papers again. Neither did Eric, but we still laugh about that Friday morning to this day. We were laughing about it a couple weeks ago late on a Wednesday night. Everyone in the office was staring at us as we yelled to each other in Scottish accents back and forth. That’s one thing I love about hanging out with Eric. He’s not only the hardest working editor in the office, but he is hysterically funny. He always wonders if people in the office appreciate all the work he does. I hope he knows I appreciate not only all the work he does, but his friendship as well. I love that crazy (*editor’s note) [butthole]. There are so many people you haven’t met that mean so much to me and the newspaper. Kelly Goodwin is a beast at layout and I owe her so many apologies for asking her to stay until 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m. She is also one of the sweetest people I know, and one of my best friends. Rachel Perelli has been my rock the past year, doing all the little things I forget and
Plymouth would consider outside of our everyday affairs, for better or worse. There are families who have sorrow from the two disasters Malaysian Airlines has faced. The conflicts in Syria and Ukraine are ongoing even when there have been ceasefire attempts. This list could go on for quite a while and these are only some of the more notable violent events of this year. Hong Kong is one place in the world which has demonstrated a different attitude to conflict. The former British colony has been for the last few months been protesting the election system they have within Hong Kong. Despite the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy, there has been friction between Beijing and Hong Kong as to the executive political positions of the port city. China wants a system which first filters candidates via a panel consisting of mostly party members of the central government before they are elected by the people of Hong Kong. This has aggravated some of the citizens of Hong Kong and protesting began this September.
In the beginning stages of this protest, both sides were measuring each other’s reactions with at one point police using tear gas to try and disperse one of the crowds. Protesters started to use umbrellas to protect themselves and the term Umbrella Movement stems from this experience. Not all the people of Hong Kong support the protests and some news sources have suggested that the United States government is or has provided support to the protests to advance its own doctrine in Asia. This is something which President Obama indirectly disavowed but acknowledged interest during this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Meeting. Some cooperation has occurred with a meeting between some of the leaders of the protest (some being students) and other political leaders involved on Beijing’s behalf having a televised meeting during November. No agreement was reached but that public discussions were held is a step towards finding a positive solution. Hong Kong as well as other places in the world today have conflicts occurring which directly influence how people live their daily lives. It is
gratulations for all the years of work he has put in. Well, Linda, this is goodbye for now. I’ll be leaving for Boston soon, and don’t know when I’ll be back. I just hope you know how important these Friday mornings have been to me, how your frequent stops with coffee help regenerate my mind after long nights of editing, and how your sweet nature makes everything a little better after I find a typo looking through the paper. In some ways, you’ve been just as important to me this past year, and you didn’t have clue. And I wonder, do the others have a clue? I wonder if any of these people know how important they’ve been to me the past year or how important The Clock has been to me. I hope so. I don’t know where I would be without them, or who I would be. If you believe in alternate universes, I don’t want to see the Matt Ormsbee who never started writing for the newspaper his sophomore year, became assistant news editor his junior year, and eventually became Editorin-Chief. I imagine he’s very lonely, having never met you, and having never met the amazing people who work on this newspaper.
Matthew Ormsbee Editor-in-Chief
Sometimes, “Thank You” Doesn’t Mean Sh!t
How One Should Encounter the Rain? his week and this year have T seen the precipitation of events which many of us here in
doing anything I ask. Nina and I have described her on more than one occasion as a perfect human being. Bobby Costanzo is an extremely talent writer and smart guy. I love talking with him about journalism and technology. Field Martin is the craziest individual I know and always makes me laugh. Colby Aubut is a hard worker and one of the nicest guys I know. Tim Waugh is extremely funny and his snarky banter with Eric is always welcome. It’s nice to have someone give it right back to E$ (That is the first and last time I will call Eric that). All these people, and more, from The Clock’s past: Ali Myers, Danielle Blanchette, David Benson, Tyler Kelley, Brittany Angelo, Tom Remmer, and Dominique Nicole Chaplin; and future: Cassie Pearson, Justin Siewierski, Nichole Currier, Sarah Liewbowitz, and Geneva Sambor, have meant so much to me, and everything The Clock has accomplished the past year is a testament to them. Another person who has helped me along this year has been Scott Coykendall, the newspaper’s faculty advisor. He has been doing this a long time, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of his guidance, backing me up when I’m right and calling me out when I’m wrong. He told me about a month ago that we’re going out together, and it’s truly humbling to be the last Editor-in-Chief of his tenure. He deserves more than con-
Justin Siewierski Assistant Sports Ediotr
questionable to what extent others should involve themselves in how others live, regardless of which country someone may be from or what beliefs they may have on the correct form of government. Nevertheless that one can learn from these events and make positive contributions is an important facet to recognize. The holiday season is arriving shortly, what can you do to make a difference for someone else? It does not have to be grand, just meaningful. The rain falls when the weather presents the right conditions, not when one may desire to have rain or not. How one weathers this variation and makes do with circumstances shapes character and demonstrates the fruits of one’s labors. What is the meaning of protest? Is there a reliable way that people can take civic action in a meaningful way? What role should democracy play in regards to nomocracy? Robér Lemmon
’ve been playing sports my whole I life. I was a three-sport athlete, three-sport starter at my tiny, north-
ern New Hampshire alma mater, Colebrook Academy. To make the team isn’t a big deal; I’m not saying I was a bad athlete, but when you graduate with 26 kids (which is my smallest class size class here at PSU), it’s not the usual “whoa, he’s a threesport athlete.” Matthew Ormsbee was also a three-sport athlete. If you read The Clock, or have ever picked it up at all, you’d see that Matt is on the inside of the first page and has been the current Editor-in-Chief for the past two semesters. He also grew up 45 minutes north of me, dated my best friend’s big sister, and played for Pittsburg High school. If you asked him, he probably wouldn’t admit that our teams were rivals, but if you stepped into the gym or out onto the field, you’d think that it was a championship game. Regardless of how good (or usually mediocre at best) [editor’s note* We went to three straight championship games for baseball, winning one. Justin wasn’t kidding about rivalry.] the Pittsburg Panthers were, Matt is currently finishing up his last semester here at Plymouth State, with his
athletic career long behind him. Some people say that high school sports don’t change your life, but I knew Matt because he was an athlete. Only being a freshman here at Plymouth State, I was lucky enough to cross paths once or twice with Ormsbee himself, whether it be on my way to class or walking through the HUB. I traveled home to visit my family in early October. I went down to the soccer field to watch my 14 year old sister’s first homecoming soccer game as a freshman (she scored a goal and had three assists, in case anyone cared) and was talking to an old coach about how much I already missed playing, when I got a text from Matt. “So, as you know, I work for The Clock, and my sports editor is overwhelmed covering sports by himself. I was wondering if you would be interested in covering a sport or just helping him out,” he said. After sitting in on the usual Monday meeting, I was ecstatic to start and went over and thanked Matt for the opportunity. He basically brushed it off, saying “just don’t screw up.” So far, so good. As this is Matt’s last issue, and Matt’s last semester, wish him luck if you see him. He’s usually wearing sweatpants, a sweatshirt, boots, and a red backwards ball cap. The Clock won’t be the same without Matt, you’ll go far in life. Just don’t screw up.
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December 12, 2014
Christmahanakwanzakings
Genva Sambor For The Clock
Hanukkah, Three Kings Day, Christmas, Kwanza, and New Years were recognized on Thurs. Dec. 11 in the HUB. The name comes from the idea of “Chrismakah” in the popular television show The O.C.. Edye Levin, Assistant Programming Director for Student Activities says that this event was born in her previous school, Fitchburg State University. She was the mastermind behind the event, and coordinated with several student organizations to bring it to the PSU community. Her goal with the event was not only to bring people together, but also to raise awareness and educate people about other holidays that are going on this season.
Activities included an ugly sweater contest, decorating New Year’s resolution banks and money-saving banks, stockings, hats, cookie decorating, a chocolate fountain, a play on the scripture presented by Chi Alpha, and Hanukkah trivia. A range of student organizations took part in putting on the event, namely Chi Alpha, the PSU Dance Team, and Student Senate. The event was purposely set for the last Thursday before exams, and Levin encouraged students to come together one last time before finals. It’s an opportunity to learn about different cultures and holiday traditions, and to have fun. Chris Slater, Assistant Senate Director for Student Activities, leant a helping hand in organizing the event. He mentions that Christmas means something different
to everyone that celebrates it, but the holiday season as a whole is a time to reflect. “Not everyone celebrates Christmas,” he says, “and that’s okay.” Levin adds that she is Jewish, and celebrates Hanukkah. She said, “I get very frustrated when I go into stores and I don’t see Hanukkah candles and I don’t see a Hanukkah section. I love this time of year, I think it’s a great time of year to come together and celebrate with friends and family.” It is important that students of the PSU community appreciate the diversity that exists within the school, and Levin is particularly excited to see what Plymouth State does with the event. The Student Activities Office has certainly put a lot of time and effort into making sure PSU is a little less ignorant about the rest of the world.
HUB Renovations: Student Orgs. Begin Talking
CLOCK PHOTO / JENNIFER TEPPER
Libby Barden Editor-in-Chief Elect
alk of HUB renovations beT gan last spring in regards to the Sidewalk cafe renovations, new
furniture in the Fire Place Lounge and the relocation of the computer cluster. Architects came back this fall and had a whole new blueprint. Disclaimer: The Clock will be losing some space, however, our organization will be less impacted than those organizations currently in the South hall of the HUB. On Nov. 18, the HUB Administration staff and hired architects held two forums of which they invited all student organizations to attend. There was a forum held from 3-4 p.m., specifically for student organizations currently holding offices in the HUB, and another forum held from 5-6:30p.m. for registered student organizations. These forums included a general overview of the architect’s intents, a visual blueprint of what had been developed by the architects based on the information and feedback from students organizations and administration that was collected over the last few years. This
information was based around which spaces were being utilized, where square footage was being lost, overall functionality of the HUB and many other constituencies. Back in the spring, architects spoke of renovation plans pertaining to the Fireplace Lounge, Sidewalk Café and the Union Grill saying, “our hope is to better utilize the spaces and renovate them so they are more “student friendly.” Sample seating arrangements were provided for students to try with the opportunity to give their feedback. All feedback was added to the previously collected data. Coming back this fall, architects’ designs had grown substantially and renovations affecting student organizations were then announced. A new plan is now in place to create a shared student organization space. It was in the 3-4p.m. forum that it was announced which students organizations would keeping their offices post renovation in the fall of 2015. Those organizations included WPCR, The Clock and Student Senate. All student organizations that currently have an office will no longer have that private space once the renovations are complete. “I personally was unavailable
because of classes, so I couldn't attend the meetings. It would have been nice to schedule it at a later time or have multiple meetings regarding the same information,” said Megan Kelly, Mainstage Chair for PACE. The renovation plan presented at the fall forum displayed a new student organization area, which is intended to be used by more than the 12 organizations that currently have offices. This square footage does not extend beyond the existing perimeter of the HUB’s current structure. Recent alumni, Charlie DeJoie said, “During the meeting I attended in the spring, they said they wanted to create additional space and the plan was to give orgs more space which is a different statement than they are making right now.” Kerry Keating, Director of Operations in the HUB Administration Office said, “We’re opening up the space so all registered student organizations have access to more and better storage options, a better work space for making banners, and ample dedicated locations for different types of meetings [such as] impromptu, behind closed doors, group work, small 1:1 meetings, etc.” All student organiza-
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Shmorgashorg: Bringing Organizations Together Nichole Currier Assistant News Editor
nyone who is a part of an orA ganization can tell you there is nothing more difficult than attempt-
ing to manage a group of people with slightly similar interests and vastly different personalities and trying to achieve a common goal. Issues are bound to erupt. This is why PACE held a discussion on Wednesday night to help smooth over these problems and bring organizations closer together. The event, Shmorgashorg, was held in the Hage Room and a variety of organizations attended. Clubs such as Ultimate Frisbee, Adventure Education Club, and Graphic Design were represented and all shared the concerns they had in terms of their organizations. Issues such as recruitment, leadership, communication issues, storage space, member dedication, and budget were brought to the table for discussion. Each organization participated in brain storming and talking out possible solutions for each problem, bringing differing clubs tion leaders will be able to access this area through an ID scanner, given the budget permits. This area will create an open environment where student organization can meet with their members and collaborate with other organizations if desired. As noted, WPCR, The Clock and Student Senate will be keeping their spaces, though renovations will impact them as well. The Clock is losing a couple hundred square feet, WPCR is losing nearly one hundred feet and Student Senate will be moving to a location closer to a window for needed publicity benefits. “We aren’t doing so bad comparatively,” said Alex Cushing, WPCR General Manager. Student Senate President, Alex Herbst, said, “I was able to attend one of the meetings on November 18th with representatives from WPCR about keeping our current space. I am very satisfied that my concerns about outlet usage, door location, and accessibility to other organizations have been addressed by the architects.” Architects and project supervisors explained that the three student organizations that are able to keep their offices because they are needed for the daily operation of the organization. That being said, nine student organizations are losing their offices and, or meeting spaces, including PACE, Poets and Writers, PSU Pride, Habitat for Humanity, MAPS, Gaming Club, and PSU Republicans, PSU Democrats. “It doesn't effect Spring Fling as much as it may effect other orgs like PACE, Pride, and Poets & Writers,” said Megan Kelly, President of the Spring Fling Committee. “The renovations will affect the processes in orgs requiring confidentiality, since the org work space can have multiple orgs working at the same time in the same areas.” Student whom were able to attend the meeting are now speaking out about how the forums had been scheduled and how the new plans was presented. “I went to both of the meetings. I understood the changes better the second time around. Yes I
together in ways that do not normally happen. One of the biggest concerns shared by a majority of the clubs was the fact that members are either lacking in numbers or lacking in motivation. Many organizations can relate to this, especially as the semester comes to a close. One solution, presented by Assistant Director for Student Activities Programming, Edythe Levin, was the upcoming Club Hub event which will be taking place on January 30. In this event, organizations will be invited to host activities and tables in an attempt to recruit more members into their programs. Taking place of the Spring Student Activities Fair, Club Hub will be a great opportunity for organizations to not only gain more members, but come together and interact with other organizations as well. Any clubs or organizations interested in signing up can find the form on org sync. PACE will also be holding another Shmorgashorg event in the future, so stay posted for an opportunity to connect with fellow organizations and find solutions to any club concerns or issues. asked a lot of questions,” said PACE’s Vice President of Entertainment, Ben Ward. “At first I was very skeptical of the changes but I believe the new technology that will be put in will be extremely beneficial for all.” Megan Kelly, Mainstage Chair for PACE, spoke out and said, “Having our own work space is essential to PACE, and with over 40 members and 4 different departments per se, we have 5 different meetings per week. This will take time away from other orgs trying to use the org meeting room being established. I do however think this will benefit co-sponsorship and orgs working together, promoting a better org and club system.” Once the renovation is complete, it will provide PSU’s 100 registered student organizations the opportunity to utilize the space and resources within the HUB. “Hopefully everyone will work together and talk more creating bigger turnouts at everyone’s events,” said Ward. “[But] I am worried that having one big room might cause tension between orgs.” Meeting rooms will be built within the new space as well as in other areas of the HUB of which will be used on a reservation basis. “More collaboration will be possible between groups sharing the space throughout the year, which would lead to stronger, and potentially more events,” said Herbst. More forums regarding the renovation plans will be held in the spring and student organization leaders are looking forward to that. “I feel there should still continue to be meetings to update stakeholders on the progress of the project, the stakeholders being students and their organizations,” said Herbst. Ben Ward was in agreement. “I would definitely like to see more meetings when classes aren’t being held so all members who want to attend, can,” said Megan Kelly. There’s no doubt that student organizations will be heavily involved in the process of the HUB renovations. Forums are to be scheduled in the spring in which many more ideas and suggestions will be brought forth.
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December 12, 2014
$4.4 Million Over Budget, University Makes Cuts Sarah Liebowitz For The Clock
his year Plymouth State admitT ted 138 fewer students than projected. As a result, it is $4.4 mil-
lion over budget. Usually changes to the budget plan are made a year ahead, but because of the situation, the university needs to make changes now. From 2000 to 2011 the University grew by 1,000 undergraduates, but those days are gone. This is the third year the University has been losing students. “We had the biggest decline in a single year over the last couple of years,” said Stephen Tasker, Vice President for Finance and Administration. Also, fewer students are living on campus. Only about 80% of students are living on campus this year, compared to over 90% in past years. The fewer number of students is a
result of some uncontrollable factors like more competition, but there were other mistakes made by the University. For one, there was not enough attention given to out-of-state marketing. “These out-of-state students mean a lot to the campus,” said Tasker. Currently these students make up about 50% of the student body. Other problems were slow responses time on applications and no direct processing campaign. Direct processing means buying students’ names, and then bombarding those students with mail. The University already has plans to buy the names of 100,000 high school seniors and 100,000 juniors. As a whole, there are plans to spend $1.4 million on the advertising campaign next year. Strategies include television ads (which went on the air Nov. 10), personalized online ads, and increased out-of-state recruiting. The University will focus on New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut,
Alcohol Education Targets Young NH Residents Phillip Cotton For The Clock ew Hampshire was featured N in national media earlier this year after a report released in April
2014 by the National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) found the Granite State lead the country in alcohol consumption. The NIAAA Reports describe New Hampshire residents consume a staggering average of 4.7 gallons of ethanol per year. The results are based on statistics each state collected on the sale of alcohol in the form of beer, spirits or wine and divided it by the
total per capita of residents aged 14 and above. Teen drinkers aged 12-17 and young adults aged 18-25 both ranked 3rd in the nation in consumption compared to their peers. Underage drinkers (12-20) were ranked 1st in the nation for alcohol consumption a January 2013 report released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The NIAAA claims that the chances for developing symptoms of alcoholism are greater if the person drinks alcohol at a younger age. These statistics show that if this epidemic continues, future generations of New Hampshire residents may be affected as well.
Third Year on Campuys? Many Say No Sarah Liebowitz For The Clock iving environments matters, L and students are speaking up. The new housing policy, being imple-
mented for the 2015-16 academic year, requires any student who is not yet 20 years of age on or before May 31, 2015, to live on campus (with the exception of students commuting from a parent or guardian’s home within a 50 mile radius of campus). This is a change from the current policy, which allowed students to live off campus if
they turned 20 on or before Sept. 1 or had earned 30 credits or more before the spring of 2014. Alex Herbst, student body president at Plymouth State, said “the change was made to assure that ResLife would have a balanced budget for the upcoming school year. With less students enrolled at the University, there would need to be more students staying on campus to balance out that shortfall in first years,” according to Frank Cocchiarella, AVP of Student Affairs – Residential Life. The University admitted 138 fewer students than projected, and as a result it is $4.4 million over budget. The University has been looking into
because “Those are places where their high school rate continues to increase,” and where more students are going off to college, said Julie Bernier, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Going test optional fall 2015 is expected to help admissions, and many guidance counselors and parents have already thanked the University for making this change. Another positive change is the Panther App, an optional alternative to the Common Application. It has no application fee, and it makes it easier for transfer students to apply. “We believe that we are going to see some positive enrollment growth in coming years,” said Tasker. But even with more students, the numbers will be nothing like they once were. “What the future looks like does not look like the past,” said Bernier. There will have to be less spending, and the University is working on a three year plan called the Glide Path Strategy. “It’s a difficult plan,” said Tasker. There will be fewer class selections due to the loss of students. There will be fourteen layoffs, which will save $763,000. There are five vacant positions that will not be filled, which
will save another $707,583. There will be no equity salary increase. Further funds will be taken from travel expenses, physical power p l a n t e q u i pment, computers, dining ser vices, and Belknap Hall. This plan does not only include budget cuts. The University needs to CLOCK PHOTO / TINA SERVAES spend money in field, transfer students, the ALLWell order to get money. center, the international curriculum, “We have to be investing in what and the Department of Health and is going to be important in the long Human Performance. Graduate term future,” said President Sara programs include the doctorate in Jayne Steen. Money will be spent on physical therapy, masters in accountmarketing, faculty and staff equity, ing, and physician’s assistant. and new academic programs. “Are we a sound institution? Yes,” “These are all things we’ve done, said Steen. But everyone will have to and these are things we need to work to get the budget back on track. continue to do,” said Bernier. Parts Ideas for making and saving money of Plymouth’s program that will can be sent to PSU-great-ideas@ continue to grow include track and plymouth.edu.
The Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Interventions and Treatment sought “to identify populations of heightened vulnerability.” This includes recommended strategies for reducing the problems associated with alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption in New Hampshire affects the state economy. A PolEcon Report states that reduced worker productivity contributed to a loss of $1.15 billion in 2012. Binge drinking significantly affected absenteeism; symptomatic hangovers crippled industries that typically employ workers aged 18-24. Not only is this age group hindered by inexperience and other factors that affect lesser wages, they are also prone to alcohol and drug abuse. “Only about six percent of individuals who misuse alcohol or drugs in New Hampshire currently receive treatment for their substance mis-
use,” Brian Gottlob wrote in his paper titled The Corrosive Effects of Alcohol and Drug Misuse on NH’s Workforce and Economy. Economic loss can be prevented with drug treatment and reduction programs, especially ones that are aimed at men and women aged 18-25. Male workers dependent on alcohol or abuse drugs are the highest of any age group in NH, at 10.98%. Women of this age group are also the highest drug misusers and most alcohol dependant demographic, not far behind their male peers at 7.33% of the population. “For every one percent increase in substance misuse treatment rates in New Hampshire, net benefits (economic benefits minus the costs of treatment) increase by between $7 and $16 million,” Gottlob wrote. The “Commission” recommended promotion of alcohol and other drug-related training within higher education. The report emphasized an
a number of ways to make up lost money, and the housing policy is one of these ways. Many students expecting to be juniors in the fall are upset about having to live on campus for a third year because of the May 31st cutoff. “This seemed like a rather arbitrary date selected so a number of juniors would be required to stay on campus,” said Herbst, “beyond that, I am not sure that there was any logic behind it.” According to Joseph Boisvert, sophomore class representative and VP for student life, “Students, myself included, are extremely unhappy with the decision and understandably so, no person is able to control the date that they are born.” There are a number of reasons why students want to live off campus, but a big reason is independence. “I enjoy the ability to learn and grow in a new housing experience. It is this experience that will best prepare me to live in the world once I graduate in May” said Herbst.
As a result of the policy, students have created a petition against the policy change. Boisvert signed the petition and said there were at least 230 signatures, almost double the number of students who will be affected by the policy. Student Senate put out a survey on myPlymouth which ended on Friday. The survey was created in to share students’ perspectives with Resi-
increased focus for those going into Health and Medical degrees and careers will be armed with preventative and treatment knowledge that will be beneficial to the state as a whole. Medical professionals have a unique ability to influence younger patients within a neutral setting and further educate them on the problems that can arise from excessive alcohol and drug consumption. Young adults leaving home and entering the work force will have the tools to recognize indicators of drug and alcohol abuse. The prevention of alcohol abuse in the future is a big task, but one that will be substantial to productivity. This task is going to need as many resources as possible. The commission recommends that local governments request the state government contribute a portion of the profits to fund educational programs.
dential Life and the off campus landlords.
Herbst said there is still hope; the VP of Student Affairs Office is reviewing the issue and will let students know about their response before the end of the semester. CLOCK PHOTO / JENNIFER TEPPER
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December 12, 2014
Elizabeth Barden Editor-in-Chief Elect efore I stepped into The Clock B office three semesters ago, I had never seen such a hardworking,
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unique group of people. There was this hustle and bustle about it that was inspiring and motivating. Here I am, three semesters later getting ready for my new position as Editor in Chief. Every single person who has worked in this office since I’ve been here has pushed me to work harder and they are the reason I am in this position today. A lot of our Editors are getting sappy in this edition, so I’m going to keep this short and make a shout out to our two seniors graduating this semester: Kelly Goodwin and Matt Ormsbee. Kelly Goodwin is by far the most hardworking person in this office. She busts her ass every print week to layout and design the paper and works
Nichole Currier Assistant News Editor ith finals closing in, I have W found my mind wandering more and more frequently to topics
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that have little to no relevance with the ever looming school work I have to complete. Like many other students, I am often catching myself in the act of working on tasks that at one point seemed extremely important but now serve only for the purpose of procrastination. One of these needless activities has been the completion (or further construction of) my bucket list. Goals ranging from traveling to sky diving to obtaining my pilot’s license clutter the ever growing list. While working through these goals and ambitions, I have come to the realization that so many people dream of one day doing amazing things and never actually muster the motivation to do them. Young children are continuously blabbering about the various professions they will one day lead, the adventures they will go on and the people they’ll meet. Yet now, at the college level, I find so many people
into the early hours of the morning the produce the best paper possible. Even on stressful nights, she’s the one making people laugh. I’m going to miss you, Kel. Kill it out there! Matt Ormsbee has been the most influential person I’ve worked with in The Clock. He’s been my rock in this office from the very beginning and he the one who has made me a better writer. He’s been supportive the whole way through and has always been there to talk whether it’s been about the paper or something going on in my personal life. I hope to have many more coffee meetings with this guy in the future. Matt, good luck out there. I can’t wait to hear about all of the amazing accomplishments you will have! No doubt. As for my Plymouth peers, stay safe this holiday season and enjoy your time off. Only work if need be but remember that after all the hard work put into the semester, a break is much deserved. As Michael ElliotBaltimore always says, “Treat yo’self.”
pursuing a degree simply because the job will earn them a substantial pay check. It’s something I’ve heard constantly growing up, how one loses the aspirations they had in youth the older they get, and while it’s a sad fact it cannot be denied. However, I think there’s something to be said for laying the goals down on a piece of paper such as bucket list. Seeing all of the dreams and desires we had as children, rational or not, laid out together in a single list ignites a certain spark that may have been dwindling since the stress of finals and essays and projects began. I think it’s extremely important, especially at times like this, to remember what’s most important and what we’re really working towards as students; a hefty paycheck or an adventure that we’ve been longing to go on since childhood. After all, when I was younger one of my biggest goals in life was to get my writing published and read by others, yet that’s not what I initially came to college for at all. It’s funny how easy it is to forget the people we wanted to be as kids, and even funnier to realize how badly some of us still wish to be those people.
Spring Fling Talk Floods Campus
CLOCK PHOTO / BRENNA SPAULDING
Nichole Currier Assistant News Editor
he time is approaching T once again for one of the biggest events Plymouth State
has to offer; Spring Fling. With committees gathering to discuss details and entertainment, students are talking more and more about the coming festivity and excitement is starting to build. The main questions that seems to bubble through every conversation, however, remains the same, which artist will be performing at Spring Fling this year? At the beginning of the month, polls were set up in the dining hall as well as online for students to vote on which talent they would like to be performing at Spring Fling. The choices included Sammy Adams, Sage the Gemini, Watsky, Love and Theft, Lucy
Hale, Mockingbird Sun, Relient K, Tonight Alive, and Streetlight Manifesto. Students were encouraged to vote on their favorite band during the week that polls were open. These artists, picked by The Spring Fling Committee, The Assistant Directors for Student Activities, Administration, and Middle Agents from Articulate Entertainment, were chosen based off of the results from a genre poll that was taken by various students as well as the committee’s budget. “Once the genre poll is complete, the committee looks at the highest rated genres and discusses possible artists within our budget with a middle agent,” said Megan Kelly, President of The Spring Fling Committee. After discussing the possible candidates based off of these genres, a list of artists is created for further consideration before the nine bands are chosen for the polls. Being the main event of Spring Fling, it’s no surprise that the performers are what excite students most. “I think the artists are generally people who aren’t as well known, but every once in a while they’ll have a more popular artist,” said Nicole Madden, a senior at PSU. “I didn’t know most of the candidates for Spring Fling this year, but I did vote and knew at least two of them.” “I think there are a few more ‘obscure’ bands that most people don’t really recognize, or can’t fully get behind,” said Bobby Costanzo, also a senior at PSU. “I have heard so much praise for Streetlight Manifesto, and equally as much distaste with their style. I am a firm believer that many Plymouth State students will stand divided in choosing a common candidate this year, though.” The anticipation of who will be chose is half the fun, though. “Spring Fling is a great way to deviate away temporarily from academics and really celebrate the Plymouth community overall for a short period of time,” said Costanzo. “I think that it’s something that effectively captures the attention of most students and engages everyone, even if they are not fully behind the chosen artist.” Once closed, the polls are tallied and the artists are ranked from most popular to least popular. “The artist with the highest votes will then have a bid offer extended to them, the artist approving or denying the bid offer will determine further negotiation,” said Kelly. Once the negotiation is done, a contract will be created with the agency that the artist is signed with. Students can look forward to finding out the artist who will perform at Spring Fling at the annual Spring Fling Artist Release Event. Until then, the poll results will remain confidential. “[Releasing the results] anytime before that could take away from the excitement of the release event,” said Kelly. It’s an event that students look forward to and talk about for months. Being held on the field behind the P.E. Center this year, students can expect a great time with great music this spring. Ticket prices will be going for the general amount they have been in the past; $10 for students and $20 for guests.
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December 12, 2014
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Teacher Spotlight: Daniel Perkins Benjamin Hunton Features Editor eldom do you see someone with S as much drive and passion for what they do as Dr. Daniel Perkins.
Perkins is approaching his twentyfifth year teaching music at Plymouth State University. Along with being a Professor of Music, Perkins also has the privilege of being the Director of Choral Activities here at PSU. He received his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Brigham Young University. He then continued on to get his Master's and Doctoral degrees in Conducting from the University of Southern California, with secondary areas in voice, piano and marketing. Afterwards, he studied as a Fulbright Scholar in Finland. Any student who has sat in one of Dr. Perkins’ classes instantly knows how passionate he is about his area of teaching. From his extensive knowledge of musical theory and history, to his silly antics in his University Chorale class, Dr. Perkins has played a huge part in the lives of Music majors for years. But where did it all begin? “I always knew music was my thing, but I never really intended to be a music teacher,” said Perkins. “Through college and grad school, I realized I enjoyed being with people
much more than spending all of my time alone in a practice room. My passion for conducting and teaching emerged gradually.” Having parents who were both musicians, Perkins’ love and passion for music developed at a very early age. His mother was a pianist and organist, and Perkins spent much of his young life listening to her rehearse and perform different pieces. “Another motivation may have been to distinguish myself from my six siblings,” said Perkins. Dr. Perkins’ long teaching career has sent him and his students all over the world. Perkins recently returned from a trip to Vietnam where he had the opportunity to be the guest conductor for the Asia Pacific Area Conference Orchestra Festival in Hanoi. “I selected the repertoire, which was sent months in advance to the 80 musicians who spent the week rehearsing and performing with me at the United Nations International School,” said Perkins. “It was a phenomenal experience to work with such a culturally diverse population, all united by the music and a desire to excel.” Perkins’ influence has caused students to hold him in high esteem, no matter what major they are pursuing. One of these students in particular is Kaitlin Donovan, a Senior Music Education major who worked as the
Where Does The Magic Come From?
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Chorale Fellow under Perkins in her Junior year, and one of his Chorale Assistants this year. “Throughout my time at Plymouth State, Dr. Perkins has given me endless opportunities and responsibilities that have helped me grow as a musician, student, and person,” said Donovan. “This semester, I am singing in four choirs with him, which is the most rewarding experience for me. I learn something new in every single one of his rehearsals and I am endlessly inspired by his passion and ability to evoke something incredible and unique from his singers. He is a gem at this university and every student should be exposed to his work and his craft. He is an inspiration regardless
of what you do!” Apart from Vietnam, Dr. Perkins has had the privilege of going on performance/study tours with PSU’s Chamber Singers to England, Italy, Vietnam, South Africa, and most recently, Chile. “One of the great things about PSU is that I've been allowed and encouraged to develop professionally as a conductor,” said Perkins. “My travel experiences have directly influenced PSU students.” Perhaps one of the most respectable things about Dr. Perkins is that while most people take pride in certain achievements they collect over long careers, he takes pride in simply doing what he loves. “I've never thought of my work/life as a
career," said Perkins. “It's just what I do. I never had a goal of conducting at Carnegie Hall, but I was lucky to do just that last spring (with the PSU Chorale). Seeing so many former students succeed as educators, performers, and conductors, some of whom sing in my Master Chorale or Manchester Choral Society, or return to PSU to participate in festivals.... that’s pretty cool.” Dr. Daniel Perkins has inspired many students to pursue careers in music, and is still inspiring them today. The students that he has now have benefitted greatly from him, and will continue to do so as they move on, making way for the next group of students fortunate enough to study under him.
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Benjamin Hunton Features Editor he snow is falling, the decoraT tions are going up and everyone is starting to get into the holiday
spirit. There is something about this time of year that makes people reflect on years past, and the wonderful memories of friends, family and the joy that they bring. Once finals come to an end and Plymouth State’s students return home for their wellearned break, they can begin to make new memories too. These memories can be of fun experiences, gifts received or gifts given. It all starts with what they most look forward to this winter break. “I am excited to go home this break and see the family. I live about two hours away so going home is a bit of a trek,” said David MacNeill, a PSU Sophomore. “Also I think it's time for a much needed break.” While some students are excited to be making the long trip home to see family, there are other students who don’t even have to leave town. “I’m most excited to be up here in the beautiful town of Plymouth, enjoying the winter with my friends and family and not having school on top of it all,” said Kyle Wolcott, a PSU Senior. “I had a rough semester, so this winter break is being looked forward to.”
With all the talk about enjoying the holidays and spending time with family and loved ones, students began to reminisce about past holiday seasons, in particular, some gifts that they had received and given at this time of year. “The first thing that pops into my head is ‘The Millennium Falcon’ LEGO set my grandmother bought for me,” said Wolcott. "I was so excited, it took me just a few hours to build that thing. The present I most remember giving was a beautiful necklace my siblings and I got for our mom. It was so great seeing her light up like that." “I think my favorite present I got was probably an American Girl doll,” said Samantha Weis, a PSU Sophomore. “Because my mom said I couldn’t have one but Santa brought it to me. As a child, that convinced me for quite some time that he was real. My favorite gift I ever gave was when my dad, sister and I gave my mom a beautiful Mickey Mouse ornament the year after we went to Disney, because she collects ornaments.” Indeed the spirit of giving brings a certain “magic” to the holiday season that other times of the year just can’t seem to replicate. But what really makes the holiday season special for these students, and for anyone enjoying them, are the small moments that make lasting impressions and forever stay in the hearts and minds of those celebrating. “My favorite Christmas memory
is probably when I learned how to ice skate when I was two or three at the pond near my aunt and uncle’s house on Christmas Day,” said Emilie Lavoie, a PSU Senior. “My favorite Christmas memory was when I was very young living in Chester, New Hampshire,” said Wolcott. “Down the road a little, there was a giant Christmas light display. An entire neighborhood dressed up their houses, yards and some of the road. I just remember how amazing those lights were. And when you stood in the middle of it all, you were surrounded by Christmas. It was great.” While these fond memories are beautiful to think about, there is one memory from a PSU student that reminds everyone what the holiday season is really about. “I think my favorite holiday memory was one Christmas Eve years ago when my family went to church and a homeless man came to stand in the back,” said Weis. "Most of the seats were full, but immediately this family squished in so that they could invite him to sit with them. It just reminded me how the season isn’t necessarily about presents or holidays, but just about kindness and giving.” Weis’ words sum up what may in fact be at the center of the magic that is the holiday season. As PSU students return home to make new memories, they can always remember to approach this holiday season with a sense of cheer, generosity and love.
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December 12, 2014
Shout-Outs Benjamin Hunton Features Editor lot has happened this seA mester that I could choose to look back and reflect on for this
particular column. I could go on a long tangent about experiences that helped me to grow as an individual, or talk about a particular event that changed my life, but that wouldn’t be the most exciting thing for all of you to read. People read the newspaper when they see someone they know in it, they don’t read it to learn all about me. However, if you do want to learn all about me, please email my publisher and request my autobiography Being A Superhero Isn’t That Hard: The Benjamin Hunton Story. All that being said, I’m going to use this very short column as a time to send shout outs to every
one of the people that have made this semester what it was for me. If you see your name in the words that follow, congratulations, you have done something this semester that I deem worthy of being in print. If not, it may have just been an oversight. Or maybe it wasn’t. Just don’t take it personally. My first shout out goes to my boys in Vocal Order: You guys are an awesome group to work with and I can’t wait to perform with all of you even more in the future. Of course I would also like to give a shout out to the all-female a cappella group Mixed Emotions as well. You girls always sound amazing and it’s a privilege to perform in the same shows as you. To The Clock’s new Editor in Chief Libby Barden, and to the new Assistant Features Editor Cassie Pearson: The two of you are what make my job at The Clock enjoyable, and you both deserve your new titles. Keep up the good work! To David and Leo: I haven’t
bought you your Christmas presents yet, but I swear I’ll have them before Sunday. To Tristan Mayes: I really wish you would grow your Afro back. I miss it. To a large majority of girls on campus: Leggings are not pants. To anyone who has given me quotes for articles when I message you last minute on a Wednesday morning: You have no idea how helpful you have been to me. Thank you! To anyone driving a long way to be home this winter break: Stay safe on the road and I sincerely hope you have the best break of your life. You’ve earned it! To whoever lives in the student apartment near mine and bumps crappy music at one o’clock in the morning: I hope your sound system blows up. And finally, to our retiring Editor in Chief Matt Ormsbee: You’ve done an awesome job with this paper and I promise that you are leaving it in capable hands. I wish you the very best of luck in all of your future endeavors. That’s all for now folks! Happy holidays and I’ll see you next semester!
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The Clock's Family Dynamic
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Cassie Pearson Assistant Features Editor fter only being on The A Clock for a semester, I am able to clearly see the family dy-
namic of the group. It was a little overwhelming at first, being the outsider. But surely enough, they welcomed me in and allowed me to spend the last few months growing with them. Each section has a unique way of interacting with one another. The Photography section
would definitely be the hipster, 16-year-old sister whose camera is attached to her neck at all times. She is always off doing her own thing and creating some masterpiece. She is also quite sassy . Everyone loves to hang out with her even if they have nothing in common. Arts & Entertainment, and Features are the twin brothers who always fight to prove which
one is better. As is clear to everyone, they are very similar in some ways, like their artsy, creative topics. A&E is the brother who loves to play video games and watch TV. Features is the brother that paints all day long and likes to keep up with what is trending. Just as twins would, they will prove time and time again that each one is there for the other in times of need. Brothers will be brothers. Sports is the jock of the family, naturally. He picks on his other siblings, but never in an awful way. He’s the oldest and looks down at his other siblings with disappointment for not being more athletic. He is also supportive in his own slightly hidden way. Did I mention he is very loud about his opinions? News is the nerdy older brother who spends most of his time focused in his own little bubble. He works hard at finishing all of his work and often jokingly pretends he is an only child. He definitely believes that what he’s doing is the best, but which one of us doesn’t? He is caught up with his own stuff, but occasionally laughs and jokes with his siblings in a sarcastic kind of way. The Comics section is similar to the newly adopted child. She
has a very soft-spoken voice until you get to know her. She adds a whole new level of greatness to the paper, and doesn’t know it yet. She’s still trying to figure out if she belongs (which she definitely does). Every single part of the family loves her! The media guy is like that crazy uncle who never shows up to family gatherings. You question if he’s real because of how little you see him. Maybe you just imagined him. You still assume he is out there somewhere, doing his thing. Kelly Goodwin, the Layout Manager, is kind of like a mother to us. She is the glue that holds the family together. Without her, the paper wouldn’t be what it is. It is her job to layout the paper in the best possible way and make us look good. She doesn’t get nearly as much glory as she should for all the work she does. I’ve never really seen her expect anything in return for all her hard work which is exactly what you would expect from a mother. I hope she knows we all appreciate everything that she has done. A big thank you to her, for all of the hours
she gives us. Libby Barden, our new Editor-in-Chief (EIC), would fill the role of the parent you don’t want to disappoint. When I first entered the newspaper, I was immediately attracted to the Features section which she was editor of. For me personally, I always wanted to impress Libby with my articles. Now as the EIC, we want her to tell us how great we did on the last paper at each meeting. We want her to be proud of the work we put out. Last but not least is Matt Ormsbee, our former EIC. He now plays the role of what I would call the loving Godfather. Matt’s actions prove that he has our best interests at heart. Since day one at the newspaper I have looked up to him and wanted to prove myself a capable writer. Once he read over my first article, he told me that it was really good for a beginner and made me feel proud of my work. He has most certainly had a huge impact on our little community and his love will stay with us long after he has moved on to bigger and better things. I’d like to wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors!
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December 12, 2014
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Adopting Angels of the Plymouth Area Cassie Pearson Assistant Features Editor ome families struggle during S the holiday season and are not able to get their children all that
they would like. People can be filled with so much holiday cheer around this time of year that they would do anything to help others out. The Community Service Center sponsors an event to provide gifts for those in need in or around Plymouth. The Angel Tree Project allows students and faculty to adopt an “angel” to buy gifts for this holiday season. It allows the community to give back. When Vianca Ramirez, a PSU sophomore, was asked why she chose to pick an angel this year, she said, "I have everything I could want, and I just wanted someone else to have at least something." Some of these children want things
as simple as t-shirts, snow pants, socks and underwear. Others want music, Magic cards, or a cool new video game. Those interested in helping one of these children were able to peruse all of the different options and find the one that they liked the best or those that were able to get all of the items on that child’s wish list. Tau Omega, a Plymouth State University Sorority, approached fellow PSU sororities Delta Zeta and Kappa Delta Phi (Nationally Affiliated Sorority) about coming together and buying two bikes; one for a boy and one for a girl. After splitting the cost between the three sororities, each member donated around three dollars to make these bikes a reality. Each sorority was happy to do their part in getting these two children a special gift to put beneath the tree this year. There were roughly 275 angels at the beginning of this project. By the end of the tabling, someone had chosen each of the angels to make
CLOCK PHOTO / JENNIFER TEPPER
that child’s holiday come to life. All those who picked out an angel have worked on bringing their gifts back to the HUB so that the parents may prepare for the holiday. Ramirez picked out a 9-year-old female that asked for arts and crafts.
She bought her paint, painting paper, brushes, and colored pencils. They will be perfectly wrapped and awaiting this crafty girl on Christmas morning. This amazing project is a great way to keep the holiday dreams and fanta-
sies of children in the Plymouth area alive. If anyone missed the chance to help out this year, there are always plenty of opportunities to follow next year.
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A Cappella Holiday Sarah Liebowitz For The Clock
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he holidays would not be the same without seasonal music. From the cheesy tunes playing in the grocery store to the off-key children caroling on your doorstep. However, if you haven’t heard a live a cappella concert yet this season, then your holiday music list is not complete. Luckily, this weekend’s “Holiday Harmonies" concert will feature Plymouth State’s a cappella groups Vocal Order and Mixed Emotions. Both groups will be singing a wide variety of songs at the Plymouth Congregational Church and the Plymouth Senior Center. “We sing songs from many different decades,
as well as popular songs that are on the radio today,” said Junior Amanda Harrington, music director of the all-female a cappella group, Mixed Emotions, “this is also an excellent way to ring in the holidays.” Both a cappella groups perform throughout the year, but they also perform a concert at the end of each semester. This weekend’s performance will end with a combined piece covering “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. “This is an awesome ender because Vocal Order and Mixed Emotions share the concert, but we rarely share the stage,” said Harrington, “This way we truly get to perform all together.” “Holiday Harmonies” on Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational Church, and on Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. at Plymouth
The Best (Traditional) Christmas Movies Ryan Wimble Assistant A&E Editor he best things in life are often T the simplest. This train of thought also applies to Christmas
movies. While some people prefer les festive movies like Gremlins to spread holiday cheer, the more traditional Christmas movies are like a warm cinematic blanket taking you back to a simpler time. Here are our picks for best traditional Christmas movies. It’s A Wonderful Life Of course this 1946 classic makes the list. For those who haven’t seen it, it’s the perfect Christmas movie for the whole family. A little bit of comedy, a lot of romance, and even more
appreciation for life. It’s a Wonderful Life will leave the viewer with that warm fuzzy feeling inside. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation In terms of funny holiday movies, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is as good as it gets. This 1989 comedy perfectly depicts the struggles of a dysfunctional family trying to celebrate the holidays together. Those watching will be pushed to tears with the nonstop humor this film brings. Elf This 2003 film (feel old yet) stars Will Ferrell as his goofy childish self in yellow tights as the titular Buddy the elf. Elf may be one of the newer Christmas classics, but it’s just as great. Elf is a funny Christmas movie with a lot of innocence, love, and holiday spirit. A Christmas Story
This movie has become such a cult Christmas classic largely in part to TBS playing it for 24 hours straight on Christmas Eve through Christmas Day. The story of a leg lamp, a bunny costume, a mean Santa, and a kid who just wants a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas makes for an unconventional, feel-good Christmas film. Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas Who hasn’t seen this movie? This is one of the greatest stories about the true meaning of Christmas that many people forget about. It’s not about the food, the gifts, or the decorations but the love of all the Whos down in Whoville. Either the classic animated movie or the live action adaption with Jim Carrey should be watched at least once this holiday season.
The Best (Non-Traditional) Christmas Movies Tim Waugh A&E Editor
crew traditional Christmas S movies. They’re boring, overly sentimental, and are more in your face
about “the true meaning of the holiday” than the most battle-hardened “war on Christmas” veteran. Let’s be real though; no other film genre gets an easier free pass on mediocrity than Christmas movies, probably considering we only watch them once a year. So to help get you into the holiday spirit in the most alternative way possible, here are some of the best films that only at cursory glance relate to the Christmas season, excluding the more obvious choices (that means no Die Hard or Gremlins). Iron Man 3 Writer/director Shane Black is known for setting his movies around Christmas time and this Marvel Studios’ three-quel is no exception (though you’d be forgiven if you were too busy nerd raging about the Mandarin to notice). There isn’t much yuletide cheer to be found here, considering the main villain’s plan involved using suicide bombers and domestic terror attacks to profit on both sides from a manufactured war. That’s already a heavy enough plot for a movie made to sell kids action figures, let alone one that takes place around the birth of Christ. Rocky IV How festive is the fourth Rocky
movie? Not very, actually. It is however one of the most patriotic films of all time, and since Rocky Balboa boxes against the Russian Ivan Drago in a match on Christmas day, it fits the bill. Why spend actual time with your family on Christmas when you can watch Sylvester Stallone single handedly dissolve the Soviet Union with his fists instead? Batman Returns One of the most violent, darkest comic book films of all time, Tim Burton’s Batman sequel was so bleak in fact that McDonald’s had to pull their Happy Meal toys in response to the films content. Burton, given more free reign this time, took many liberties with the characters, starting with a Batman who openly kills his enemies whether it be by being shot in the face or lit on fire from the Batmobile’s turbines. There’s not much seasonal cheer to be found in the penguin biting a guy’s nose off, but Christopher Walken as an evil businessman is sure to lighten the mood. Lethal Weapon Another Shane Black creation, except this time he only has a writing credit. This Richard Donner directed action often gets overlooked by its more popular Christmas-themed action brethren, the Die Hard franchise. Still, if you’re tired of celebrating the holidays with John McClane every year, detectives Riggs and Murtaugh make suitable replacements. Also, for availability’s sake, it seems to be playing on AMC every other weekend if you can’t get ahold of the DVD or stream it.
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Edward Scissorhands Tim Burton’s first post-Batman film, Edward Scissorhands stands the test of time as one of his most enduring films in his career. The dream-like fable about a synthetic man with bladed fingers (created by the late,
great, Vincent Price in one of his final performances) who is adopted by a family in suburban California is partially inspired by Burton’s own upbringing. The setting doesn’t lend itself too well to Christmas whimsy, however Danny Elfman’s fantastic
soundtrack does more than enough to lift the film into beautiful, if dark, Christmas territory. In fact, you would be blamed if you just listened to the film’s soundtrack instead of actually watching it.
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Games for the Family Gatherings Nathaniel Smyth For The Clock
he Holiday season is upon T us, which means big family gatherings and an overall wide range
of people in your house. Families will always watch Christmas movies at this time of year, it’s a tradition among many other holiday-related activities. Those of us that are gamers, however, can bring our own activities for the whole family to enjoy. Whether it be on the Wii U, Xbox One, or PS4, there are tons of games the whole family can get together and have a blast with. As much fun as it may be, 360 no-scoping Grandma in
Advanced Warfare, here’s a few titles that everyone can jump in and play with little-to-no explaining. Dance Central: Spotlight (Xbox One) The rhythm game craze is still alive and well today with newer technology like the Xbox One’s Kinect adding better movement recognition. Though only two people can play Spotlight at once, that can’t stop you from drawing names from a hat and having your own family dance tournament. Cheers and laughter will definitely ensue watching family members try to mirror the dancers on screen, because even when you dance
poorly, it’s still a riot. Super Smash Bros For Wii U. (Wii U) Although not quite as easy as just copying dance moves off of your TV, the simplicity of Smash’s controls make it easily accessible for a fighting game. Not to mention, with new 8-player smashes, everyone can join in and be playing at the same time, and with all the chaos that comes with the Smash series, everyone is sure to be a winner at some point. Mario Kart 8 (Wii U) The great thing about Mario Kart is that although it’s a fast-paced racing game, it’s also a party game.
a maximum of four players in You Don’t Know Jack, to a maximum of 100 in Lie Swatter. Though some of the jokes can be a bit lewd at times, most of them are appropriate for a PG audience and are sure to get laughs out of players. Mario Party (Pretty much any Nintendo system) Mainly the Gamecube Mario Party games, but they’re pretty much all spectacular ways to make friends and family your sworn enemies. There’s never any disappointment with a round of Mario Party, unless someone caused you to lose by one star, and now it’s all you can do to not punch them in the trachea.
With no need to worry about shifting, advanced controls, etc., the only thing you have to know is how to use items and accelerate. With a wide selection of characters, courses and tournaments to choose from, you won’t have to worry about repeating tracks too many times. Pop it in and Grandpa will be cursing you out for using the blue shell in no time. Jackbox Party Pack (Xbox One, Steam, PS3, PS4) The Party Pack contains the games Drawful, You Don’t Know Jack 2015, Lie Swatter, Fibbage XL, and Word Spud. As you’d expect from the title, this is a pack of party games - mostly trivia based - ranging from
Split Decisions: Part 1 Tim Waugh A&E Editor
M
ovie franchises have a problem with closure. Ever since Harry Potter proved that audiences are willing to pay to see a book split into two parts, it's become an unwritten rule that all major film adaptions of a popular book series need to halve the final entry for extra dramatic weight. Sometimes it makes sense if the final book is dense enough, which was the case with the Potter franchise. However even when this decision is made with the best intentions the execution has yet to be perfected. No one has ever bothered to re-watch The Deathly Hollows Part 1 because the entire runtime is spent with the characters running through the woods and talking about all of the important things that will happen
in the next movie. This is a common problem that the first part is all filler and lead up while the second half is bottom heavy with the culmination of an entire saga. Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is the latest example of this trend and the main inspiration behind this weeks column. I had originally intended to review Mockingjay Part 1 when it first came out however after seeing it I found there wasn't enough content in the actual movie to adequately critique it without the actual ending of the movie, also known as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2. Mockingjay is one of the worst examples of this trend as audiences are expected to watch a film filled with nothing but empty exposition only to wait a
full year and pay again to see the actual conclusion. Hopefully audiences have seen the wool pulled over their eyes here though as Mockingjay has made a considerably less amount at the box office than Catching Fire did at this same point last year. I may come across as somewhat of a hypocrite however as I am just as excited as the next person for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies to be released, however I haven't missed the irony in Peter Jackson taking the shortest book in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth series and splitting it into an entire trilogy. While Jackson has taken content from other Tolkien works to pad out the three movies deviates from the source material that it might as well be called Bilbo and Friends.
WPCR Spotlight: Alex Cushing
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is the latest in a long line of GMs. Cushing started at the station in 2011 at the beginning of his freshman year, after being told to join a group by his parents and the radio station caught his eye. Cushing eventually joined the executive board as Programming Director before becoming the General Manager of the entire group. “I ended up doing it so long I ended up running it,” Cushing said. While he is the student head of the station, Cushing still puts on the same show he has since day one. The DJ Cush Show, which airs Tuesday nights 9 to 11 PM. Cushing mainly plays rock, rap and hip-hop on his show. In addition to putting on his show, Cushing has been working to build up WPCR’s presence on campus. This includes bringing WPCR-run concerts and events back to Plymouth State, including a forty-fifth anniversary cel-
ebration for the station. The concert, planned for the spring semester, will possibly feature performances from bands led by PSU and WPCR alumni in addition to radio station alumni being invited to the show. While this party is still very much in the planning stages, Cushing says to expect this and more from WPCR in the coming semesters. WPCR is growing and will continue to do so under the leadership of Cushing and the rest of the executive board. Cushing urges anyone on campus interested in music or just looking for a fun time to stop by the station and their weekly meetings in Memorial Hall. WPCR meets every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. In Memorial Hall. he DJ Cush Show airs every Tuesday night 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. On 91.7 WPCR and online at www.wpcr.org
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“
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PCR (91.7) has had a lot of W General Managers in the stations history, and Alex Cushing
I hate to say I play everything, but I like to have variety.
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Tim Waugh A&E Editor
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“The Mountains Are Calling, and I Must Go”
Hannah Andry For The Clock he title of this article probably T hits home for all of the diehard skiers and riders out there. Plymouth
not only has a wonderful campus, but also a wonderful extended campus: the Great White Mountains. Not only appreciated by skiers and boarders, the White Mountains offer great
hikes and million dollar views. The first time on snow for the season is a feeling like no other, everything starts to make sense again. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or whoever can get to the top of the mountain first. Plymouth State is surrounded by several beautiful ski mountains; Cannon, Waterville, Sugarloaf and Sunday River. The mountain of choice for my first day on snow was Loon Mountain,
a crowd pleaser here at Plymouth. The first run, the quick ride up the gondola, and quick strap into the board, and click of the helmet. The first deep breath when looking out over the horizon, seeing nothing but snow covered peaks and all one can think is, “Is this real life?” You strap into your board and you hear a little boy behind you say, “How could anyone be sad when you can ski?”
Well said, well said. The first drop in, the crisp sound of your edges cutting the ice and the crunch of the freshly made snow. You’re in control, but still you’re flying down the mountain and you can’t help but smile through the frozen air. With only a few trails open at such an early point in the season, Loon is gearing up for a busy and successful season of shredding. The shredders
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and skiers are constantly checking Twitter updates from mountains, wearing snow pants to class, and asking anyone and everyone if they want to hit the slopes. No one is a stranger during riding season, and Plymouth again proves to be a big family. The mountains are calling, so we must shred. Happy skiing and boarding to all!
Tufts' Men's Basketball Squeaked out 'W' Justin Siewierski Assistant Sports Editor his past Tuesday’s matchup T against Tufts University was a true David-vs-Goliath matchup; this
CLOCK PHOTO / FIELD MARTIN
time, Goliath got the upper hand. The Jumbos had it all over Plymouth State in both the height column and from behind the three-point line, but Plymouth played arguably one of their best games and had chances to take the lead in the closing minutes of the second half. Tufts, who was 2-6 overall going into the matchup, had been on a four game losing streak, with each loss only being by an average of 4.1 points. While shooting 61.5% from both behind the threepoint line and the free throw line, they shot close to 70% from the floor, with the majority of those shots coming from inside the paint. It was back and forth throughout the first half, but the Jumbos kept a tight hold on the lead throughout the first 20 minutes of play. The Panthers shot over 50% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, and sophomore
Ernie Johnson (Springfield, Mass.) had the hot hand with 12 points and four assists going into the break. In the second half, the Jumbos used both their inside and outside game to push the lead into double digits, and led most of the second half by 10 points. Despite Plymouth’s outstanding defense (the Panthers scored 21 points on 16 turnovers) it’s tough to play against size. Center Hunter Sabety (Oceanside, N.Y.) finished with 20 points, going 9-11 from the floor. Forward and sophomore captain Tom Palleschi (Haverhill, MA) only had 8 points due to foul trouble, but picked up 7 boards and 3 blocks in 26 minutes of play. Both players are listed as 6’8”. Tufts had only two players listed as 5’11” (the shortest on the team), and started with an average height of 6’4”. While unable to get a word in with Panther head coach Andrew Novick after the game, he did state earlier in the season that, “good ball movement and unselfishness will win us games.” To that end, Plymouth State did a great job with ball movement and penetration inside the paint by guards Nathan Clarke (Reading, Mass.) and Johnson. Good ball movement allowed for the Panthers to make two separate rallies that brought the home team within three; sparked at
the 8:20 mark by a pair of threes by Alex Burt (Dover, N.H.), and with 57 seconds left in the game, by Burt and sophomore guard Curtis Arsenault (Berlin, N.H). The Jumbos struggled from the line (8-13) but hit a couple of key free throws in the final minute that solidified their third win of the season (84-78). One of the big statistical categories were bench points, as Tufts University had the edge on PSU, 2810. Sabety finished with 20 points and 5 boards, while junior guard Stephen Haladyna (South Hamilton, Mass.) chipped in 17 points. Freshman guard Tom Lapham (Manhattan Beach, CA) controlled the pace of the game in the closing minutes of the second half, dishing out 6 assists and adding 12 points to the scoring column. Plymouth State was led by senior captain and guard Alex Burt with 22 points (17 in the second half) and sophomore guard Ernie Johnson, who finished with 19 points. Guards Arsenault (eight points) and Clarke (10 points) combined for 11 assists, and forward Uche Nwokeji (Lynn, Mass.) had nine points and led the team with seven rebounds. Plymouth State played at in-state rival Salem State on Thursday, with scores unavailable for press time.
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acing Massachusetts State ColF legiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opponents was what the
Men’s hockey team needed, as they have not lost a game in their past six contests. A 5-0-1 record over these six games has allowed the Panthers to improve their overall record to 5-2-1. In the most recent set of games, PSU was able to put up a five spot against both Framingham State and Westfield State. Against the Rams of FSU, PSU was able to jump out to a 4-1 lead early in the third period behind a hat-trick by Josh Woody (Sunderland, MD) and an additional goal by Andrew Wigg (Lantz, Nova Scotia). Whether it be that the Panthers started to play not as aggressively, or Framingham checked the scoreboard, the Rams were able to score three goals in a 6:13 span to tie the game at four. Heading into overtime, knowing that they needed to defeat a opponent that they should, the Panthers scored only 1:53 into the overtime period when freshman Chris Zuccaro (Hudson, N.H.) found the back of the net for his first career goal at PSU. This goal allowed Plymouth to get two points on the road, and set them up for a big match-up for first place in the MASCAC. Coming into the game, Plymouth had nine conference points, while Westfield had been able to obtain eight (for those of you who don’t know, teams receive two points for wins, one for a tie, and none for a loss). Westfield got off to a great start in the game, scoring less than 100 seconds into the contest. The Owls were able to sustain that lead for about ten minutes before Ryan Callahan (Londonderry, N.H.) tied the scores after being set up by Zuccaro and Baxter Strachan (Sioux City, IA). The scoring didn’t stop there for PSU, as Riley Flanagan (Weymouth, MA) scored his first career goal in a PSU jersey after Dan Dupell (Collegeville,
he Lady Panthers' Women’s T basketball team dropped their third game of the season last Tuesday
prior to their Winter break, watch for NEC to want to end the Fall semester on a positive note (their most recent game was a 4-0 loss to Saint Anselm College). The last game for the Panthers to
wrap-up the Fall semester which is against Castleton State College, who is 3-8 overall. This record is deceiving, as they have played some of the best teams within NCAA Division III hockey, such as Norwich, Babson,
PA) and Tord Thoresen (Oppegard, Norway) assisted on the play. Mike Economos (Crystal Lake, IL) capped off the tremendous first period for the Panthers, as he scored with 3:05 left in the period. Sophomore, Ian McGilvrey (Omaha, NE) assisted on the play. The first period in this game might be the most complete period the Panthers have played up to this point in the season, as they had a 3-1 lead. Knowing that they needed to keep the score in their favor, Callahan scored his third goal of the season to create a 4-1 lead. Heading into the third and final period, PSU had to shut down Westfield for another 20 minutes to capture the win. With Gordon Ceasar (Oak Park, CA) in net, PSU was well on their way to another win. A powerplay goal for Westfield closed the gap to 4-2, but McGilvrey was able to score 27 seconds later concluded the scoring for either team for a 5-2 final. When asked who has attributed the most to the success in conference play up to this point of the season, Head Coach Craig Russell said that, “it’s truly been a total team effort. Early on, our line of Freitag, Wigg and Woody was carrying us. Then, we started getting contributions from our other lines.” These other lines that have helped find the back of the net for PSU have created favorable match-ups for the Panthers, as they have had 12 different players score this season. “We’re not the type of team that’s going to have a ‘best player’; we’re the sum of parts that in itself should create matchup problems for our opposition,” Russell added. Looking ahead to the Panthers' games this weekend, the team will travel down to Henniker, New Hampshire to take on New England College on Friday night. This non-conference matchup should allow Plymouth to see what kind of team they are, as some of their recent games include a 6-0 over Framingham, and a 4-3 loss to Norwich University (who PSU lost 9-1 earlier in the season). With that game being the last game for NEC
Women’s Basketball Drops Tough One Justin Siewierski Assistant Sports Ediotr
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December 12, 2014
Men’s Hockey Slashes Through MASCAC Eric Brill Sports Editor
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night, falling to 3-3 in non-conference play against in-state rival, the ColbySawyer Chargers. The blue-and-white scored the first ten points of the matchup before junior guard Taylor Perry (Simsbury, CT) hit a threepointer to begin the PSU scoring. After a back and forth battle, the Panthers had the lead down to 10
UMass Boston, and St. Michael’s. Watch for this to be an extremely competitive game, and one through which PSU hopes to capture their first out-of-conference win at Hanaway Rink on Saturday (12/13) night at 6:00 p.m.
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before Colby-Sawyer went on a 4-0 run to end the opening half with a 2712 lead. Kelsey Bragdon (Wells, ME) hit a three to open up the second half and the Chargers kept the led near the 20 point margin until Plymouth went on a 7-0 run and cut the lead down to 10, 48-38, with a little less than four minutes left in the second half. Plymouth’s scoring was shut off after that though, as the Chargers tacked on another five points for a final score of 53-38. Bragdon recorded a double-double
for Colby-Sawyer, finishing the night with 14 points and 12 boards. Teammate Katie McCarthy played 35 minutes of the game, recording 8 points and 3 assists, and controlled the pace of the game from start to finish. For the Panthers, senior Tiffany Lewis led all columns, scoring eight points, bringing down 14 rebounds and dishing out four assists. The Panthers really struggled offensively, shooting 27% from the floor and turning the ball over 23 times. Nearly half of Colby-Sawyer’s points came off of the
Panthers' lack of handling, as they had 21 points on steals. PSU wrapped up the fall semester against Salem State last night, and will start up the second half of the season against Eastern Connecticut State University in January.
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December 12, 2014
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Panther Power Rankings Players
Teams
Eric Brill Sports Editor
1. Chris Perrault, Wrestling (3 rd last issue): Over the past few weeks, Perrault has done a great job in the 184-pound weight class, as he has an 8-2 record this season. In both tournaments PSU has participated in this season, the junior finished in second place. 2. Josh Woody, Men’s Hockey (Unranked last issue): When PSU needed some big goals against Framingham State last week, Woody was able to produce, executing a hat-trick in a 5-4 overtime victory. The junior forward leads the team with five goals through the first eight games of the season. 3. Sam Carberry, Swimming & Diving (Unranked last issue): Carberry has transitioned from the field hockey season into swimming season smoothly, as she has posted a number of fast times for the Panthers. Between the 50-yard (31.61), 100yard (1:06.79) and 200-yard (2:23.93) backstroke, the senior has led the Panthers with the fastest times to date. The 200-yard time put her 5th fastest in the Little East Conference championship meet. 4. Ryan Callahan, Men’s Hockey (Unranked last issue): In arguably the biggest game of the hockey team’s season (to date), Callahan was able to find the back of the net twice in a 5-2 win over Westfield State. Callahan, a noted hard-working and scrappy player, now has a four-game point streak, the most of the sophomore’s career at PSU. 5. Rey Welch, Wrestling (Unranked last issue): Welch has had a great year in the 157-pound weight class, as he is 8-2 on the 2014-2015 season. At the Doug Parker Invitational, Welch was able to capture 4th place in his weight class, while the junior won the 157-pount weight class at the Ted Reese Invitational.
CLOCK PHOTO / ERIC BRILL
CLOCK PHOTO / FIELD MARTIN
1. Men’s Hockey (5-2-1, last issue 3rd): Going on a four game winning streak, and capturing a crucial point in their last six conference games has propelled this team into 1st place in the MASCAC standings. Two big outof-conference games loom large for this team, as they face New England College on Friday night, and wrap up the semester at home against Castleton State College on Saturday night. 2. Wrestling (1-0, finishes of 2nd and th 8 in two tournaments, last issue 2nd): This team has the potential to be one of the most improved teams from last season to this season on campus, as they have been extremely competitive in all of their meets/invitational’s this season. At the Ted Reese Invitational at Southern Maine, nine PSU wrestlers placed within the top three of their individual weight classes, and just missed capturing the overall tournament win by 2.5 points. 3. Men’s Basketball (3-5, last issue 5th): Despite having five losses in the early part of the season, this team has lost three of their five games by only six points or less. Offensively, PSU has been successful, outscoring their opponents this season. Players Uche Nwokeji, Curtis Arsenault and Alex Burt will look to propel the Panthers as the season progresses. Even though there aren’t any more games until January, PSU will look to weed out the competition once 2015 is under way. 4. Women’s Basketball (3-4, last issue 4th): The three wins that this team has posted eclipses the win total that the Panthers have had in their past two seasons combined. Guards Ace Lawerence, Taylor Perry, and Savannah Miller currently lead the team in points per game, and look to start off the calendar year of 2015 on a strong note. 5. Swimming & Diving (5th in most recent event, last issue unranked): A number of swimmers had great performances in the Little East Championships, including Sam Carberry, Katia Wyman, Megan Farmer and Addie Schumaker. This team has a home meet against Westfield State prior to finishing up the Fall 2014 semester of meets.
CLOCK PHOTO / ERIC BRILL
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#19
THECLOCK
Black Cyan Magenta Yellow 19
December 12, 2014
Real Sports Talk with E$ Eric Brill Sports Editor o, it is the last issue of the seS mester, and the last issue of the semester always brings mixed feel-
ings. It allows me to look forward to the respective break that is coming up, and lets me get away from all of this weather and meteorology stuff. Some of the stuff that I learn can be extremely nauseating, and makes me ponder why in the world anyone would want to go into this extremely time-consuming major. It is what it is though, and doing things such as writing this column allow me to get away for a little bit. Going back to the upcoming break, it is a little bit different this year since I have that internship up in Burlington, as I can finally see what the hell I am getting myself into for the next however long it is before I retire. Being 22 years old (I know, to some of you, it might be a shock that I am that young), retirement seems a LONG way away from here. Before I get into all of the typical stuff that this column usually has (and it will, don’t you worry, champ), I gotta say that there are a few members of this paper that will not be back come January/February. Between Matt Ormsbee, Kelly
Goodwin, and Scott Coykendall this will be the last issue of The Clock that any of them will probably be involved in. It is tough for me to say goodbye to this trio, as they have all been very special/unique to me. For Kelly, it was amusing the first time I ‘met’ her. When we were going down to New Orleans October of 2013, I had texted Matt asking him who was sitting next to him, and it was Kelly. I had no idea who this person was when we were going on this trip (which was a badass trip), and upon the past 14 months or whatever it has been, she has become one of my good friends. For Scott, he is the advisor of the ol’ paper, and despite the fact that he is usually about an issue behind, he allows ALL of us the freedom to do essentially whatever we want for this paper to be successful, and has our back. The stuff that he does for us may go unknown and unseen by most, but he is always there to help me reminisce on various things that have happened in past years in the office. Last but certainly not least, is ol’ Ormsbee. It’s amusing for me to see this kids grow up literally semester by semester, as a leader, and as a human being, by becoming more mature. Matt came into this paper thinking that he was going to be my assistant sports editor last year, but that didn’t happen, and he became the news editor. Long story short, he ended up becoming Editor in Chief, but he has always had my back, and listened to me about my ideas/views/ thoughts. Out of all of the people
that I have worked with within the paper, I have probably developed the closest friendship with him, and I am excited to see what the future holds for him. To all three of you, thank you for putting up with my personality/ sarcasm/bullshit/idiocy/uniqueness that I have presented to you over the past few semesters. In other Irrelevant (though I find interesting) sports news: -The Western Conference in the NBA continues to be so much better than the Eastern Conference. As of earlier this week, the top eight teams in the West had a .850 winning percentage against teams in the East. That’s bananas. -For the NCAA football final-four, the committee got it right. All four teams had a legitimate reason to get into the “playoffs”, and it should result in some exciting games once bowl season rolls around. -How about UNH football being the #1 team in the FCS playoffs? Head Coach of the women’s lacrosse team could be seen sporting all of her Wildcat stuff around Plymouth. -The New York Giants need to get rid of Eli Manning. He just doesn’t seem to have the ability to have the pinpoint passes he has had in past playoffs, and it is time for a culture change for Big Blue. -The Golden State Warriors are absolutely ROLLING through the NBA. Can’t wait to see them in a few short months. -New York Knick fans are finally seeing how vastly overrated Carmelo
Anthony is. The Knicks should have never resigned him. -If the Baltimore Ravens make the playoffs, they will be a scary team to play. -Likewise, the Seattle Seahawks are on an absolute roll right now. They may end up being back in the Super Bowl. Non-Sports Information of the Week: Rant of the Week- Too many people around campus think that there are so much better than everyone else, and feel entitled to various things. Stop acting like a spoiled brat before you turn around, and get your ass kicked. -What in the world happened on the roof of Boyd over Thanksgiving break? -John, the night watchmen, is an absolute BADASS. -Boys at 49C Langdon street are absolutely awesome. -If anyone ever has an idea for a sports feature story (like the Ceasar’s Crown thing), shoot me an e-mail. We can definitely make it work. -Can’t wait to get home for the few days of Winter Break to play cards with my main man Shawn Pietzak. -Won an intense game of Disney Monopoly with my roommates on the half day of school on Tuesday. The Lion King spot came up clutch a few times. -So you know Ormsbee, I stay late on Wednesday nights because I usually don’t have a problem staying up late, it is waking up earlier that I
don’t like. -Love putting little innocent notes in the pieces I write that almost no one will/would get, unless they were REALLY observant. -Nice of Mandarin Taste to treat my eventually replacement Justin Siewierski. Upon the delivery guy not giving him all of his food, Justin called up the chinese restaurant to tell them such, in which they called him a “F***** idiot.” Nice job ya’ll. -Pack the Savage Center for a Saturday night game for the PSU Men’s hockey team as they play Castleton at 6:00 P.M. -Once again, Eric Brill for Super Fan of the Year. -Very happy for my good buddy from home, Rob Blount. He is having a bunch of success in the early part of his journalistic career, and I am pumped as to how much fun he has had over the past 18 months. -Can’t thank Rachel Sass enough for the ol’ Christmas gift. Not many more people motivate me to succeed within meteorology more than her. Moment of Dave Morgan ZenUlaanbaatar, which is the capital city of Mongolia, was a movable city that has changed its physical location 25 times. Real Talk with Eric- Make sure you put the time in for finals. It will be worth it in the end. ‘Til whenever the hell I write this shit again, I’m outta here………………..
PSU Sports Wrap Up Eric Brill Sports Editor he Plymouth State Wrestling T team is off to a strong start in the 2014-2015 season, as they cap-
tured eighth and second place in two separate tournaments over the past few weeks. While neither one of these tournaments affect the team’s overall record, PSU holds a 1-0 overall record thus far. In the team’s most recent match, the Ted Reese Invitational, nine different wrestlers placed in the top three of their respective weight classes. Within this tournament, PSU was able to finish ahead of seven different schools/universities, and narrowly missed defeating the host school, the University of Southern Maine. In the 157-pound bracket, Ray Welch (Rochester, N.Y.) captured the top spot in his weight class, while sophomore Clay Callahan (Milford, CT) won the 165-pound bracket. Callahan had an odd opponent he was facing in the championship match, as he faced fellow Panther Moises Diaz (Manchester, N.H.), who obviously captured second place within
the 165-pound bracket. Not to be outdone, Taylor Lozier (Barre, VT), Chris Perreault (St. Johnsbury, VT) and Cody Carrillo (Middletown, CT) all finished second in their respective weight classes. The last three wrestlers to finish within the top-three were senior Alex Gerhold (Derry, N.H.), and the duo of freshman of Tristan Leek (Kingston, N.H.) and Nick Simeti (Pearl River, N.Y.). Looking ahead to their next tournament, the Panthers will travel back over to Southern Maine, as they will have a tri-match against USM, as well as Rhode Island College. This meet will wrap-up the fall semester for the team, and they will have their next match at Williams College on January third. Last weekend, the Swimming and Diving team captured fifth place in the Little East Championship meet at UMass Dartmouth. A number of Panthers had great results in their individual events, with senior Sam Carberry (Shrewsbury, PA) finishing the 200-yard backstroke in a fast time of 2:23.93, her fastest of the season. Carberry also participated in the 200yard medley relay team that captured sixth place, and also finished fifth in the 400-yard freestyle relay race
team. Addie Schumaker (Haymarket, VA) also performed extremely well, as she finished sixth in the 200-yard breaststroke (with a time of 2:48.49), and finished in seventh in the 100yard breaststroke (in 1:18.13). Underclassmen Katia Wyman (Portsmouth, N.H.), Meaghan Doherty (Charlestown, MA), and Alex Ambrosino (Holden, MA) also had great performances as well, with each swimmer finishing in the top 10 in at least one of their respective events. Prior to the conclusion of the fall semester, PSU has one more meet, which takes place this Sat., Dec. 13 against Westfield State at 1:00 p.m.
CLOCK PHOTO / FIELD MARTIN
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#20 THECLOCK
December 12, 2014
20
:10 Seconds with Tiffany Lewis
COURTESY PHOTO / PSU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
he Women’s Basketball team is 3-4 (at press time) and already has more wins T than they did last season. A big part of this team's success is credited to senior captain Tiffany Lewis. Lewis does the dirty work for the team. She averages four points a game, but her value is in controlling the paint. Lewis averages more than nine rebounds a game while also averaging a block and steal per game. Matt Ormsbee Editor in Chief 1. How long have you played basketball? This is my thirteenth year 2. How does the basketball team look this year? Well currently we are 3-4 and I have high hopes for us this season. We have a lot of talent and we are a young team right now and it’s just putting it all together. 3. What is the most memorable moment of your basketball career? The most memorable moment of my basketball career was going undefeated my sophomore year of high school.
Lewis has been with the team since her freshman year, and brings seasoned leadership to this up and coming team. 4. Do you have any superstitions on game day? The only superstition that I have on game day is the way I wear my hair. I almost always have some kind of braid in my hair. 5. What was your “Welcome to Basketball” moment? I never wanted to play basketball when I was in elementary school. I have three older siblings and both of my older brothers played basketball when they were in middle school. I tried it for the first time in fourth grade and after that I never wanted to stop playing. If my brothers had never played basketball I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.
6. If I were to look at your iPod/ iTunes/etc., what are your five most played songs? - Sun Daze - Burnin’ it Down - Blank Space - Anything Goes - Old Boots New Dirt 7. Last year, the Women’s basketball team only won two games. How do you stay motivated during a season like that? At some times it became hard to stay motivated knowing that we were close to winning different games. There were many games where we lost by less than 10 points and those were games that we really should have won.
8. What were your expectations going into this season? This season I have high expectations for my team. We all worked really hard during the preseason and we are working well as a team. People showed up and put in the time and effort into getting better. Going into this season, I know there are a lot of games that we can win on our schedule and I think we are going to surprise a lot of people this year. 9. What’s it going to take to get this team to the next level? You’ve been with the team since your freshman year. What’s it take to make those improvements? I’ve been with this team since my freshman year and there have been
a lot of changes that have occurred. I had a new coach sophomore year and we had a very small team that year also. This year is my third year with Coach Stich and we have a very positive and hard working team and coaching staff this year! The team this year has a lot going for it right now and I can only see it getting better as the next few years go on. 10. How would you like to see your basketball career end here at PSU? I would like to see my basketball career end with a record of .500 and a first round playoff win this year.