Spring16issue7

THE

Hudsonian

HUDSON VALLEY DRUG SURVEY - PAGE 8-9

OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE Thehudsonian.org

Volume 69, Issue 7

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Chart Title

March 8, 2016

Photo Illustration by Matt Whalen | THE HUDSONIAN

76 % females that think male students don’t know catcalling is sexual harassment

“Some guy was yelling and making noises at me like I was an animal.”

eltiT trahC

By: Matt Whalen Editor-in-Chief

running the food service. The FSA declined their offer.

According to the FSA, Chartwells plans to stay on campus until May 16. The FSA is currently trying to push the departure date further into the month. Carrozza hopes that by June, a new vendor will move onto campus.

Carozza expects the new vendor to bring change in meal variety, service and marketing.

“You still want the service people to get to know the students and greet every student warmly, and it’s not happening,” she said.

John Poole, director of food services, could not respond for comment.

Haley Scott, liberal arts student, wants lower prices from the next food service provider.

Preliminary work on the new athletic complex began earlier last week with a projected completion date set for Aug. 15.

“The department and college are thrilled. It is so refreshing and rewarding to see the reaction on the faces of our student athletes now that they know this project is a reality and that they will be playing on [the new field] next year,” said Kristan Pelletier, director of athletics.

Shaker Flats, the general contractor awarded the project back in January, began dismantling the current complex last week. For now, the contractors will work on taking down the fencing and marking up the field in preparation for the field work to begin. They plan to starting digging by mid-March once the ground thaws.

“We have a really good set of contractors. Shaker Flats, who is doing the bulk of the work, has about 2.5 million of the 4 million dollar contract. We have had a long relationship with them,” said Richard Edwards, director of the Physical Plant.

Hudson Valley opened the athletic complex project several years ago to start getting donations and funding. With the support of members of the college, community and state, the college was able to reach the funding goal needed to build the new complex.

SEE CHARTWELLS PAGE 5

SEE ATHLETIC COMPLEX PAGE 3

- student survey response

females that have been catcalled by a male on campus

51 %

PREVENTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT Hudson Valley is looking to bring sexual harassment prevention awareness as females speak out about catcalling on campus SEE SEXUAL HARASSMENT PAGE 7

Clock ticking down for food services Hunt for new vendor next semester begins

By: Tyler McNeil Managing Editor

The FSA started reaching out to other vendors after Chartwells decided to leave the college in December as a result of low

Chartwells employees will not serve students for the first time in over a decade come fall.

“I visited a site yesterday, and the food was vastly different than what we have here, so I think whatever happens, we’re going to have a change for the positive,” said Ann Carrozza, Faculty Student Association director about exploring different food service companies to replace Chartwells.

Request-for-proposals are due on Friday. About eight vendors attended the preproposal conference on Feb. 22.

revenue. Chartwells proposed arranging a management service contract under which the vendor would have full control over

$4 million Athletic Complex breaks ground

Photo Illustration by Matt Whalen | THE HUDSONIAN

“

I feel that this year, students our age might vote more towards Trump since we all know him for many other things. The sad part is that many of the students that will vote for him will vote based on popularity and not on what really matters.

Brett McMullin

Dental Hygiene student

Courtesy of usnews.com

Inside News Student Elections Senate race petitioning starts.

SEE ELECTIONS PAGE 10

Inside Features Abortion Students split on controversy.

Page 3

Page 11

Courtesy of usnews.com

Inside Sports Baseball Vikings looking to go all the way to the World Series.

Page 15

2

March 8, 2016

NEWS

Wed 9

Managing Editor Tyler McNeil

Spring Transfer Fair 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Siek Campus Center Healthy Eating Choices 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Siek Campus Center, Room 270

Business Manager Durgin McCue News Editor Rebecca Jordan Creative Editor Jenny Caulfield Sports Editor John C. Longton III Photo Editor Marison Topinio Copy Editor Dae-Jin Yuk

Marison Topinio | THE HUDSONIAN

Staff Photographers Mikey Bryant Faculty Adviser Rachel Bornn Letters to the Editor Letters can be delivered to CTR 291 or emailed to hudsonian@hvcc. edu. Readers may have their letters published anonymously as long as their identity can be verified. Letters will be edited for grammar, style, libel and length.

Editorial Policy All views expressed in this paper are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the The Hudsonian or the College.

The Hudsonian is the exclusive student newspaper of Hudson Valley Community College. It is published every week. To join The Hudsonian, attend our weekly meeting on Mondays at 2 p.m. in ADM 107.

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March

Editor-in-Chief Matt Whalen

Staff Writers Brandon Hladik Emily VanLeuven Samantha Longton Sophia Jamil Stephen Pelletier

NEWS

Calendar of Events

The Hudsonian Hudson Valley Community College 80 Vandenburgh Ave. Troy, NY 12180 Phone: 518-629-7568 Email: hudsonian@hvcc.edu

Web Editor Richard Bonomo

March 8, 2016

Camera on top of the Administration Building, one of over 250 security cameras on campus.

Thu 10

Security measures tighten campuswide By: Matt Whalen Editor-in-Chief With hundreds of students passing through campus every day, Public Safety officers make sure they do everything they can to keep the campus safe.

“It’s a comprehensive approach. We use all the little tools in the tool bag, such as cameras, a radio system, talking to students and educating them on safety,” said Fred Aliberti, director of Public Safety.

One of Public Safety’s main features are the cameras. With over 250 cameras on campus, the officers are able to monitor everything that goes on.

“Our cameras are certainly part of the whole picture. They enable us to keep an eye on things, so if we have to respond, we can respond quickly,” said Aliberti. “The biggest asset the cameras have are when we can research back and find incidents that happen.”

The camera system features different camera groupings that allow officers to track certain areas of the campus more easily. “The officers might want to look at the main quad area. They pick certain groupings that are appropriate to focus on,” said Aliberti.

With all the cameras they

have, Public Safety does keep them up-to-date and makes sure they are maintained to work effectively.

“We try to change out the old cameras every year within the budget. We just put in new cameras around the B Lot this year,” said Aliberti.

Public Safety does not feel that there is a specific area on campus that is unsafe or unsecure, although they feel the parking garage presents a higher chance for something to happen unseen, especially at night.

“I look at the parking garage.

When we designed that five years ago, I said ‘make sure we put all the lights possible in there and at night time, that garage is very well lit,’” said Aliberti.

Being alone also leaves students more vulnerable according to Aliberti.

“We try to give as much attention to all our areas as best as possible. In general, whether you’re on campus or somewhere else, if you’re in an isolated area, that could technically be considered unsafe,” he said.

Public Safety also wants students taking night classes to know that they are available to anyone who might want to be walked or escorted to their car.

In addition to making students aware of the big things

on campus, Public Safety’s goal is to try and remind students about the little things like cell phones.

A lot of times, cell phones get reported as missing, so one tip Public Safety has to prevent permanently losing a cell phone is to get a Find Your Phone feature.

This allows them to go in the system and track the phone down.

Another thing Public Safety stresses is driver safety. Officers do issue tickets, but generally try to remind students to not rush or drive fast. It is also important to watch for students walking out from behind cars in the parking lots and crossing the road.

With all the shootings that have happened on college campuses lately, Hudson Valley wants to share a prevention presentation called “Run, Hide, Fight.” They will be letting students know about this and showing it to groups.

“We are doing a presentation about active shooter preparedness.

Everyone has been hearing about all the shootings on campus, so we looked around and found this one video from Houston,” said Aliberti. “We want to prepare the slides, present it and get some really good discussion.”

For more information on Public Safety and the services they offer, you can find them on their website at hvcc.edu/publicsafety.

Intramural Sports: Foosball Tournament 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm Siek Campus Center

Fri 11

Mon 14

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Meditation Thursdays 10:00 am – 10:30 am Siek Campus Center, Suite 270

Girls Basketball State Finals McDonough Sports Complex

Spring 2016 Sprint Classes Begin

“Miss America” Film Screening Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium

Students petition for leadership positions next year By: Tyler McNeil Managing Editor The race for Student Senate executive board positions for the coming academic year is heating up as candidates prepare for the elections.

Freshman senator Stephen Pelletier is expecting this season’s Student Senate election to be record-breaking.

“I can see us probably generating the interest of 1,000 voters,” said Pelletier, who started petitioning for the position of vice president last week under the Surprise Party.

The newly-formed party started petitioning across campus last month and will stop before petitions are due at 4 p.m. next Friday.

The Surprise Party is one of two parties looking to be in the race, including a reorganization of last year’s People’s Party.

“We want student inclusion, and we want to make sure that the clubs are more empowered because we believe the clubs are the reason why there is a student government,” said secretarial and student trustee petitioner Manik Elahi (P).

As an international student, Elahi hopes the campaign will bring diversity into the race.

“That was our edge last semester,” said Elahi. “This will be our edge this semester.”

Out of over ten students, the majority of petitioners are not currently involved in the Student Senate. Presidential petitioner Brandon McDonough (P) believes having five members not involved in the senate could give the party an advantage.

FROM PAGE 1

Athletic Complex Along with the Physical Plant’s help, the school has also received a lot of help from the administration.

“The dedicated teamwork amongst athletics, Vice President Popovics and Ann Carozza has put us in a situation for the complex to enter the planning and construction phase,” said Pelletier.

The school will have to change out the track and turf after several years of use, which they will plan and budget for ahead of time to make sure they are able to maintain the quality of the complex.

“The college will budget for [the field’s maintenance]. The lifespan of the track, they figure about eight to 10 years before it has to have some work done to it.

Tyler McNeil | THE HUDSONIAN Two members of the Surprise Party, tresorial petitioner Daniel Kusky (Left) and Emma Dillon (Center) talk with Student Senate secretary Brody O’Connor.

“I could see it giving it somewhat of an edge, but as of right now I’m not certain how the race will go,” he said.

While students running under a party such as the People’s Party have united to seek executive board positions, several petitioners are running alone. Presidential and student trustee petitioner Shane Batcher (I) is one such candidate. Batcher was approached by the Surprise Party to join their group for the secretary position, but declined their offer.

“I figured it’s a really great way to be a leader, get more involved with the students and have the impact that I would like to have. Becoming the Student Senate president would be a good place to start,” said Batcher.

The other independent presidential petitioner, Brandon Fellons, could not be reached for

comment.

Current freshman class president Emma Dillon (S), being the only woman currently in the race, hopes being elected president would improve diversity in the executive board. Over the last two years, the Student Senate executive board has been either all men (2014-15) or all women (2015-16).

“I think it will be a nice change of pace,” she said.

“I’m actually really excited to have the opportunity to run against somebody that I have respect for,” said Batcher about running against Dillon.

After facing off against each other during the freshman presidential elections, Dillon and Pelletier started planning for the spring. Both of the candidates originally wanted to be Student Senate president, but rearranged their positions in the fall to run

together.

“We just get along very well, which I think is good because teamwork, especially for me, is very important for next year,” Dillon said.

Along with being the youngest petitioners and longestserving Senate members in the race, Dillon and Pelletier both have family histories of student leadership at Hudson Valley.

Pelletier’s sister was an active senator for three years and his uncle was student trustee. Dillon’s brother currently holds the treasurer seat and her father was freshman class president.

While Dillon and Pelletier have had ties in Hudson Valley student government prior to entering Hudson Valley, tresorial petitioner Daniel Kusky (S), who is in his second year at the college, wasn’t connected with any student organizations until last fall.

The field has about 10 to 12 years before it has to be replaced,” said Edwards. “It will be a competitive process again when we bid it out, but that work is not as nearly as complex as the work we are doing

right now.”

In addition to the construction of the new complex, the new student housing will give the school a chance to compete with bigger schools in recruiting

and getting retention.

“They are absolute game changers. The combination of these two assets places us back on par with our competitors,” said Pelletier.

“This is definitely a turning point for my time at Hudson Valley,” he said.

Kusky believes his experience before entering Hudson Valley qualifies him to be treasurer.

During the last five years, Kusky worked three jobs and balanced his budget while his mother was away in Israel and his father was off studying geology in China.

“I have had to do quite comprehensive budgeting in the past and make money work with what I have,” said Kusky. Next fall, the next treasurer will oversee a $900,000 Student Senate budget.

Kusky could face off against Saydou Bonsa (P) after mid-terms determine candidate eligibility on Mar. 14. Last semester when he was running for the Senate, Bonsa did not originally hope to run for an executive board position.

“It’s more of my own decision that I made to run for the e-board, but also people have said I could do a really good job,” said Bonsa.

Bonsa managed to get more votes to be a senator than any other candidate in the People’s Party, including Elahi, in the freshman elections.

During this election, Bonsa believes that he, along with his party and the other candidates, will increase voter turnout to exceed the 648 students who voted last spring.

“I wasn’t here to experience how students campaigned [last spring] or how informed students were about voting, but I’m pretty sure we’re going to break that record,” said Bonsa. “I’m pretty positive of that.”

BY THE NUMBERS $750,000

Cost of synthetic turf field

$750,000

Cost of eight-lane track

$300,000

Cost of natural grass field

$250,000

Cost of concession building

$27,000

Cost of grandstands

$20,000

Cost of scoreboard

$9,000

Cost of bleachers

$100,000

Cost of fencing

$100,000

Courtesy of hvcc.edu A rendering of the complete athletic complex expected to be completed on Aug. 15.

HUDSONIAN.ORG

Cost of sports lighting

$70,000

Cost of landscaping

4

March 8, 2016

NEWS

Health Scare

The World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency on Feb. 1 due to the spread of the Zika Virus. This is the fourth time the WHO has taken this kind of action, the last time being for Ebola in 2014, according to The Washington Post.

WHAT IS MICROCEPHALY Microcephaly is a birth defect that causes a baby’s head to be samller than expected.

This usually indicates that the brain did not develop properly.

Zika virus is a mosquitoborne virus that is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although not deadly, Zika has been linked to a birth defect

called microcephaly, which causes severe underdevelopment in the brain of a newborn. According to the Washington Post, there have been 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly in Brazil, 270 of which are confirmed with evidence of an infection.

With spring break right around the corner and students traveling during their vacations, students may travel to South America where the outbreak of Zika is happening. The Hudsonian spoke with Claudine PotvinGiordano, Clinical Coordinator of College Health Services, about the Zika virus.

The Hudsonian: Who will be impacted most?

Claudine: For us, Zika will be pertinent to people who travel.

Here in the [Capital Region] area, we don’t have those mosquitoes,

4,000

so we aren’t fearful of contracting it.

The Hudsonian: How is Zika transmitted?

Claudine: So far, they know sexually. It’s not by casual contact, so if [someone with the disease] touches an object you touch, you can’t contract it. It’s not respiratory; it will be sexually transmitted if there is any contact in that area.

The Hudsonian: How do students and anyone going to places with these infected mosquitos prevent [infection]?

Claudine: You want to cover yourself up with long sleeves and protect yourself with insect repellent. Be mindful that not all of the products are meant to be on the skin, so make sure you use the product correctly. Should you go to that area and come

INFECTED

The number of suspected cases of microcephaly, a birth defect directly related to the Zika virus in Brazil

Percent of people who get sick from the Zika virus

back after you have been bitten by mosquitos, then having safe sex for a month to make sure your partner doesn’t get pregnant [is important].

The Hudsonian: What is the biggest concern caused by Zika?

Claudine: The biggest concern for this is not a serious illness if you contract it. The birth defects from pregnant young women are the biggest consequences of Zika. For your own personal health, it is not a big concern, but for a child-bearing women, it could be a very big concern.

The Hudsonian: Are there serious symptoms?

Claudine: It’s a light illness, so four out of five people don’t even know they have it. Symptoms are very mild. They have had a few complications, but most people

20 % 1 2

KNOW THE SIGNS Common symptoms of the Zika infection include fever, rash, joint pain and conjuntivitis (pinkeye). Rarer symptoms include muscle pain and headaches. There is no vaccine or medication available. don’t know they have it.

The Hudsonian: Is there any test for Zika?

Claudine: There is a test for it. If someone came to us and presented concern, we would refer them to the local health department who would test at that point. There is no real treatment, so the only way to keep yourself safe is to just protect yourself from mosquito bites.

270

The number of suspected deaths by microcephaly, a birth defect directly related to the Zika virus, in Brazil

Regional foosball champion to take on student challengers By: Rebecca Jordan News Editor Rhode Island Foosball Champion Kevin Skaltsis will make an appearance on campus to take on student challengers on Mar. 17.

“It would be cool to see a student beat him,” said Justin Hoyt, assistant director of athletics, said.

Skaltsis has not been beaten by a Hudson Valley student in the five years that he has been competing at the college.

In the past, the tournament with Skaltsis has attracted a larger crowd of students than most of the other weekly games available to students. The Rhode Island champ plays any students who think they are up for the challenge, sometimes even taking on two students at a time.

Student Activities hosts mini

tournaments that are designed to allow students to practice their skills. These tournaments are held at the foosball tables located on the ground floor of the Campus Center.

A non-student member of the table tennis club who goes by the name of Alpha won every game in the tournament held last Thursday.

“I saw the flyer over there [for the tournament], asked the club manager [if I could play], and was told it was open to everyone, so I came and played,” he said.

Alpha took on the other two players at the tournament, doubling both of their scores every game.

When asked if he thought he could beat Skaltsis, Alpha said, “I haven’t seen him play yet, so I don’t know.”

The second foosball tournament will be on Mar. 10 at noon in the Campus Center.

Mikey Bryant | THE HUDSONIAN Two students face off in foosball match last Thursday in the Campus Center.

HUDSONIAN.ORG

NEWS

5

Students unaware of scholarship eligibility

Health coordinator discusses Zika virus outbreak By: Matt Whalen Editor-in-Chief

March 8, 2016

By: Sophia Jamil Staff Writer

with a 4.0 GPA. “My grandma pays my tuition and also pays for my books. If I could receive a scholarship that would help me pay for my tuition or my books, it would be great. I’ll definitely be looking more into them now,” said Rejak.

There are scholarships offered for almost every subject

scholarship that was in memory Though students don’t have said that Financial Aid helped of Dr. Morgan,” said Kim Berry. to have a perfect GPA, some him realize he could get his degree To apply for scholarships, require the submission of a 250- paid off. students have to meet certain word essay.

“I’m a veteran, and when Hudson Valley offers over 150 criteria for the specific “The word ‘essay’ is what I was first planning on taking scholarships in multiple fields for scholarships that they would like usually scares most students from classes at Hudson Valley, the students, but some scholarships to receive. Most scholarships applying,” said Miller. “However, Financial Aid office informed go unawarded due to the fact that offered to students don’t require a Hudson Valley has a lot of sources me that I could receive a GI bill no applications were received as perfect GPA. that may be able to help and guide that could pay off my BA degree many students are unaware of the “There are multiple reasons students in writing essays as well.” for me, which was really helpful,” scholarship opportunities the as to why students are not Taylor said. college has to offer. coming in and applying “We try our best to Blaz Krtalic, a biological for scholarships, one raise awareness for all the science major with a 3.45 being that they don’t scholarships that Hudson Education is a gift. At our GPA, has been paying out think their GPA is high Valley offers, but at the end of of pocket for four semesters If I knew before this interview enough, when really, the day, it is up to the student office, we have these gifts and had no clue that Hudson to decide if they want to that Hudson Valley offered there are scholarships for waiting for students to call Valley even offered any students with a 2.0 GPA apply for it or not,” said Ken scholarships for students who as well as a 3.7 GPA,” said scholarships.

Villeneuve, Financial Aid on them. For most college don’t have a perfect GPA, I Geoffrey Miller, director “Since it’s a pretty assistant. students, money is usually a technical The deadline for small school, I just assumed would have already applied. of development and problem, and we love working that they didn’t have any scholarship applications for donor relations.

I ended off my last semester scholarships to offer,” said Connor Gordon, with students to help make the upcoming academic year Krtalic. is Mar. 25. biological science major, with a 3.86 GPA. their life easier.

Krtalic didn’t know that Berry’s desire is to see said, “If I knew before Connor Gordon he was eligible for more than the scholarships go to help this interview that Kim Berry Biological Science Major six scholarships offered by students pay off their tuition.

Hudson Valley offered Scholarship coordinator Hudson Valley.

“Education is a gift. At scholarships for students “I have had kids come into area, from liberal arts to biological who don’t have a perfect GPA, our office, we have these gifts my office thinking they weren’t sciences.

I would have already applied. I Two of these sources are the waiting for students to call on eligible for any scholarships and “There are people out there ended off my last semester with a Financial Aid and Foundation them. For most college students, leave my office with a list of more who are donating $500-$2500 3.86 GPA.” staff. Both of these organizations money is usually a problem, and than 10 scholarships that they worth of scholarships for students Gordon has been working work together to raise awareness we love working with students to might be able to receive,” said Kim at Hudson Valley. Donors donate part-time off campus to pay for for the scholarship money that is help make their life easier,” she Berry, scholarship coordinator. said. money for various reasons, one his college while still managing available for students to utilize.

Individual studies major being to pay tribute to someone. to be a full-time student with an Jack Taylor, who is a partTaylor Rejak finished last semester Like the Dr. J. Frank Morgan almost-perfect GPA. time student at Hudson Valley,

“

“

FROM PAGE 1

Chartwells “I’ll only like it if it’s going to be less expensive,” she said.

According to Scott, she regularly orders pizza and fries due to the price of other options at the Campus Center cafeteria.

Last academic year, Chartwells increased their costs four percent. The increase, according to Poole, was due to rising costs such as union benefits and an over 20 percent increase in produce.

About 600 to 1,000 people pay for Chartwells food at four locations campuswide on an average weekday.

Stephanie Class, business administration student, hopes the next food service provider will change its service to other locations, such as the Marvin Library.

“That menu has to get changed with a little more variety in their options,” she said.

On the other hand, Garrett Lea, a biology student who eats at the Campus Center cafeteria about once a week, hopes that the next food service provider will be similar to Chartwells.

“As long as it’s the same quality [sic] because I feel like they do a fairly good job. There’s nothing to really complain about,” said Lea. Aside from Chartwells, the most common food service

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Marison Topinio | THE HUDSONIAN

@HudsonianHVCC

Students wait in line at Chartwells’ Campus Center location last Friday. providers for colleges in the area are Aramark and Sodexo.

Aramark only claims space in Saint Rose, while Sodexo operates across the area at UAlbany, RPI, the Sage Colleges and Union College.

The FSA has come close to working with Sodexo in the past.

In 2004, the choice for a new food vendor came down to Chartwells and Sodexo.

“It could’ve gone either way,” said Carrozza.

Dustyn Leonard, digital media student, said he regularly hears feedback on Sodexo from campuses across the Capital

Region through social media.

“I don’t know if it’s a running thing, like it’s cool to hate on Sodexo, but everyone [I hear] does,” said Leonard.

UAlbany, under Sodexho Marriott management, experienced labor issues and a 2000-01 academic year E.Coli outbreak which lead to the hospitalization of six students.

The college switched its food service to Chartwells in 2003 but switched back to Sodexo ten years later.

After experiencing the Sodexo food service about a year ago at the University at New

Haven, Konner Bradlell, criminal justice student, hopes the college does not make the same switch that UAlbany did two years ago.

“Yes, it’s quick, but it’s just the same thing,” he said.

Before the FSA chose between Chartwells and Sodexo, food service to Hudson Valley was provided under Prestige Services since the late 1990s. With Prestige unable to start a debit meal plan and a food court with the Campus Center renovations (completed in 2006), the FSA moved on from the vendor.

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March 8, 2016

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FEATURES

ONE OUT OF TWO FEMALES SURVEYED AT HUDSON VALLEY WERE A VICTIM OF SOME FORM OF

SEXUAL HARASSMENT “

I didn’t go in the Campus Center until next semester when I had to get my books again because every time I went in there, the same group of guys would be sitting at the stairs and would yell sexual things to me.

103 Hudson Valley female students were given a sexual harassment questionaire. Stats are shown from the survey as well as how the college is taking action to prevent further incidents.

Tierney Carey

Human Services Major

14% females 89% of of females age think get 18-21females have been catcalled the most catcalled in other places

W O N L L O R N

E

49% of females females think have 9% of not beenget catcalled by females catcalled a male on campus the most at the Marvin Library

40% of females think females get catcalled most in the Campus Center

26% of females think females get catcalled the most on the campus lawn

www.hvcc.edu/summer

7

By: Jenny Caulfield Creative Editor

O

ne out of every two females on campus will be the victim of some form of sexual harassment during their time at Hudson Valley, according to a recent survey.

According to a Hudsonian survey last week given to 103 Hudson Valley female students, 51 percent of females said they’ve experienced some form of sexual harassment on campus from other students.

Catcalling, which includes whistling, shouting, or issuing a comment with sexual nature to a woman passing by, has become something that females on campus have a considerable amount of experience with.

Tierney Carey, a human services major, stayed out of the Campus Center for an entire semester after her experiences being catcalled. Carey claims that she was being harassed by who she understood to be members of Hudson Valley’s football team last year.

“I didn’t go in the Campus Center until next semester when I had to get my books again because every time I went in there, the same group of guys would be sitting at the stairs and would yell sexual things to me,” she said.

Carey is not the only female student who has avoided the Campus Center due to catcalling.

Thirty-four percent of students agree that the Campus Center is the area with the most frequent amount of sexual harassment.

Andrew Barnes, a liberal arts major in his second semester at Hudson Valley, has been an eye-witness to catcalling around campus. Barnes reported that he has witnessed harassment around eight times. The discussion of

80 % 51 % OF VICTIMS ARE UNDER 30

OF HUDSON VALLEY VICTIMS SURVEYED ARE UNDER 20

sexual harassment is not a new topic for Barnes, whose English class last Wednesday had a discussion about the topic.

“In English 102 we had a discussion about what goes on in the Campus Center and a lot of the girls agreed that once they walk up the stairs, it’s insane how much catcalling goes on on a daily basis in that specific area,” he said.

Barnes, who claims he has never sexually harassed any women on campus, finds the outcomes of it negative to student’s education.

“I feel like it’s kind of obnoxious because we’re all here for a specific reason. To get an education. And [catcalling] is kind of distracting and rude,” said Barnes.

With the issue gaining national attention for college campuses, Hudson Valley has planned events and ideas for sexual harassment prevention this semester.

“Bringing in the Bystander” is a prevention workshop to help students with how to do things when they see a situation like sexual harassment occur.

The workshop, which will be presented for the first time in the Wellness Center on Mar. 17, is intended to teach students how to act in certain situations.

“The idea behind this training is to teach students how to be what’s called a, ‘prosocial bystander,’” said Deanne Martocci, director for the Center for Access and Assistive Technology.

Martocci, one of the administrators leading the workshop, hopes to present students a learning exercise where they can recognize appropriate or inappropriate behaviors, as well as address the consequences behind sexual assault and violence.

Martocci feels that not all students are aware of what can qualify as sexual harassment,

ONLY 5 - 20% OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS ARE REPORTED

SEXUAL ASSAULT IS NOT JUST FORCIBLE RAPE. SEXUAL ASSAULT IS ANY TYPE OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OR CONTACT WHERE CONSENT IS NOT FREELY GIVEN OR OBTAINED AND IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH FORCE. INTIMIDATION, VIOLENCE, COERCION, MANIPULATION, THREAT, DECEPTION, OR ABUSE OF AUTHORITY.

which she also hopes to address in the workshop.

“Part of this training will help students identify what inappropriate behaviors are, like winking and catcalling,” she said.

Martocci is not the only one who feels this way, with 76 percent of the campus thinking that students are unaware that catcalling is a form of sexual harassment.

“Students wouldn’t label [catcalling] as [harassment] and that’s one of the points of this training; trying to get students to wrap their heads around the idea that this behavior is unacceptable and that it is sexual harassment,” said Martocci.

The workshop also is aimed at teaching students what qualifies as consent, which Martocci feels is important to understand.

As well as this type of workshop being offered for students, campus administrators are talking about modifying the workshop to be offered to faculty and staff.

The college has made attempts to tackle this issue by posting signage across campus with signs defining consent as well as copies of the national campaign, “It’s On Us”. According to Kelly Sweener, director of the Center for Counseling and Transfer, this is just one way in which the college is addressing behavioral concerns like sexual harassment.

“We do recognize that many individuals lack awareness of what constitutes appropriate conduct and particularly as it relates to what could be considered harassing behavior, stalking behavior, sexual harassment in particular and sexual assault,” said Sweener.

“Ignorance doesn’t absolve someone from responsibility,” Sweener added.

40% of of females females 14% think females females get think get catcalledthe most in catcalled most the Center in Campus other places

26% of females 9% of females think think females get females get catcalled catcalled the mostthe at most the on the campus lawn Marvin Library

70% of females know another female who has been catcalled

83% do not know a male who has been catcalled by a female on campus

Graphics by Matt Whalen | THE HUDSONIAN

HUDSONIAN.ORG

9

FEATURES

8

ADDICTION. DEALS. DEATHS. CAMPUS DRUG SURVEY

7%

HEROIN

8% 5% 8%

DRUGS most likely to be found on campus

Students who know someone who passed away from drug use

66%

ADDERALL

31% YES

HYDROS

16%

44%

Students who have tried an illegal substance

Students who have witnessed drug use on campus

MARIJUANA

14%

COCAINE

75% NO

8%

PILLS most likely to be found on campus

7%

25% YES

ZOLOFT

8%

17% RITALIN

LSD Chart Title ALCOHOL

OTHER

Students who have seen a drug deal on campus

“Drugs”, “addiction” and “death” are three terms that were heard in a recent Hudsonian survey. The Hudsonian surveyed 122 students around campus to get their perspective on drugs. The average age of students surveyed was 20 years old. There were 42 females and 80 males surveyed.

ECSTASY

Chart Title

Students who know any drug dealers on campus

69% NO

25% YES

75% NO

Students who view addiction as a disease

OTHER

“

There have been several times that students have come up to me and asked me for drugs. I am 44 years old, and they think I’m going to carry drugs around to give out like candy.

“

49% YES

I have lost six friends to overdose on drugs. It’s a shame how people you love can abuse themselves that way.

51% NO

23% YES

“

65% YES

77% NO

I bet there are at least five students in every one of my classes that have drugs on them.

Why they bring it to school and risk getting caught beats me.

35% NO

“ People don’t realize how terrible and serious addiction is. To think that young students can get addicted is just a scary thought.

Graphic IllustrationS by Matt Whalen | THE HUDSONIAN

10

March 8, 2016

FEATURES

Students discuss elections in preparation for state primaries

Trump By: Matt Whalen Editor-in-Chief With a little over a month left before the New York Primaries, Hudson Valley students continue to discuss the path to the 2016 presidential elections.

In the Republican party, Donald Trump is leading the polls with currently 10 state wins. In the

81 %

of students will vote in the New York primaries

Cruz

Rubio

Democratic party, Hillary Clinton is leading with 11 states won.

“I don’t really know what is going to happen if Trump wins. I will be voting but I have not made up my mind on a candidate thus far,” said Maria Haynes, individual studies student.

120 students surveyed for their take on the presidential elections, but most declined personal comments on their view

18 %

of students said they would vote for Trump

Kasich

points.

“Students should take the opportunity to vote and know what’s going on. We are the future and whatever happens is going to affect us in the future,” said Brett McMullin, dental hygiene student.

All of the students surveyed were registered voters. Out of the 120 students, 97 of them said they would vote in the state primary.

14 %

of students said they would vote for Cruz

Clinton

Sanders

“I feel it is my duty to vote and know that I am contributing in society in a major way,” said Jessica Whitney, individual studies student.

22 students said they would vote for Donald Trump, 26 said they would vote for Hillary Clinton and 39 said the would vote for Bernie sanders. The remainder were split up between the rest of the Republican candidates.

22 %

of students said they would vote for Clinton

“I feel that this year, students our age might vote more towards Trump since we all know him for many other things. The sad part is ww students that will vote for him will vote based on popularity and not on what really matters,” said McMullin.

33 %

of students said they would vote for Sanders

March 8, 2016

FEATURES

11

Abortion debate carries weight campuswide By: Jenny Caulfield Creative Editor

Liberal arts student Jake Snyder is pro-choice as well, following the same reasoning.

“Some people think that basically killing a fetus is like killing a person, but I strongly believe if you get pregnant accidentally and you don’t have the financial stability to raise a

just seems strange to me,” he said.

Growing up in foster care, liberal arts student Kendrah Charland is opposed to abortion A nationwide controversy if whoever is pregnant has family for years, the topic of abortion who can care for the child. and the continued existence of “I grew up in foster care Planned Parenthood have been in because my mom couldn’t take the media and have surrounded care of me, and I struggled with many college students. that a lot. If the person’s who’s Hudson Valley students pregnant has family that is have developed their own willing to take care of and adopt ideas and opinions on [the baby], then I’m against it, abortion with the subject I feel like as long as you can but I know from experience stirring debate in popular that foster care isn’t fun,” said support a child, you should Charland. culture.

Adopted from Russia, be able to have it. If not, I do Whether students are prodigital media student not think you should because choice or pro-life, some male Benjamin Furbeck is prostudents believe abortion is not choice due to his upbringing. some people can be parents, their decision.

Abandoned by his parents at “I am for having the child, and some people cannot. his birth, Furbeck feels that but it’s not my decision to Benjamin Furbeck no one else should have to go make because I’m not the one Digital Media Major through that emotional pain, having to carry the baby,” said and if a couple is financially engineering science student unstable, they should do Shane Batcher. what is right for the child. child, that child is going to be “The decisions [a woman] “I feel like as long as you raised wrong,” he said. makes aren’t necessarily the most can support a child, you should Snyder believes people who beneficial for everybody, but if be able to have it. If not, I do not are not in favor of abortion are it’s beneficial for her, I think she think you should because some close-minded to the subject. should be allowed to do it,” said people can be parents, and some “To take strong moral Furbeck. people cannot,” Furbeck said. standings on someone else’s life Tatum Cavener, an individual

“

Courtesy of manataka.org A fetus in the womb. studies student, is pro-choice for the same reason.

“I feel like it’s a woman’s decision to make,” said Cavener.

“My best friend is super against [abortion]; she would never do it, but she would never stop me from doing it if I needed to.”

Joseph Brill, a math and science honors student, is pro-life due to his religious beliefs.

“I’m a Christian, so my general view is I don’t like it for reasons that there are some things you can do early on,” he said.

Because of his position working at a pharmacy, Brill believes there are options available to people to prevent pregnancies that will make it so that they will not need to choose abortions.

Although he is against abortion, Brill feels that is it should still be allowed for cases of sexual violence.

“I’m not going to tell someone not to get an abortion because I would understand that it would emotionally hurt them if they were raped,” he said.

PERSPECTIVE

Professor explains why students are attracted to Populism By: Stephen Pelletier Staff Writer With Primary season at its peak, many voters are showing their support for their candidates of choice and hitting the voting booths. Many individuals choose a candidate believing they are the best fit for them or the country, but are our decisions more predictable from a sociological perspective?

“If one uses a system theory, one would find that students are flocking to the Sanders campaign because it is latently functional for them to do so,” said sociology professor Dan Polak.

The agenda of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders is proving to be more alluring to college students than that of many other presidential candidates.

With promises of free college, education and healthcare, many of the concerns of younger voters are being addressed.

“College students have again begun to see where the power is in this country and

where the control is and are deciding that joining the Sanders campaign would be a way to effect social change,” said Polak.

According to Polak, by using the conflict theory, students can understand the sociological reasoning behind voters choices. Conflict theory relies on the assertion that limited resources are distributed unequally into two groups: the groups with power and the groups without power.

“I think many Americans are afraid and anxious. If an individual uses these feelings to their advantage, then it will probably work well,” said Polak.

Sanders’ support likely comes from his background of not identifying with politician norms. Sanders has identified himself more as an individual then part of the typical Democratic representative.

Another candidate similarly holding support for a likewise reason is Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Trump’s background in business can lead skeptics to feel unsure of how he will be able to lead by following the rules of federal

government while he simultaneously leads his own multi-national corporation.

Individuals who lead in a manner in which they bypass bureaucracy to achieve their own personal agenda is a practice called “realpolitik.” This can be led with varied results pending on the outcome of the individual’s agenda. Nonetheless, by going around bureaucracy - in this case, Congress - the individual is violating federal laws for governing and overseeing their powers.

Many of Trump’s supporters appear to be coming from more rural regions of the country. While it is not a one to one ratio of rural residents to conservative ideals, a trend is still noticeable. This is due to the fact that many individuals find themselves affected in their daily lives by presidential decisions.

People in these regions are affected less in an ideological manner and more in a physical one.

“We’re not talking about gun-control as an abstraction, we’re talking about guncontrol’s ability to affect someone’s success

in putting food on the table,” said Polak With the standard of living being much more dependant on day-to-day presidential policies in rural areas, many individuals are seeking answers to their problems. For some students, Trump is the candidate answering those concerns.

Many critics of Trump assess his policies as having underlying themes of ethnocentrism, the belief that an individual’s race is superior to another. This raises concern as to why many Americans are overlooking the fact that some of these policies in Trump’s agenda are ethically controversial.

There have been other powerful individuals throughout history who have found the scapegoat and used fear to win favor over others.

The country keeps in mind on election days who students are voting for, but students stand more towards the importance of why they choose their presidential candidate.

WE KNOW WHAT’S

IMPORTANT

TO YOU.

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March 8, 2016

FEATURES

March 8, 2016

FEATURES

13

EMT determines future from past in Israel By: Tyler McNeil Managing Editor At 18 years old, Noah Shechter rescued lives, helped deliver a child and discovered his future in Israel.

“Before I went to Israel, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” he said.

In high school, while most of Shechter’s friends had visited Israel, Shechter never made the pilgrimage. When Shechter’s friends told him that Israel felt like home, prior to visiting Israel, he had a hard time understanding them. After graduating high school in Paramus, N.J., he decided to study abroad in Israel through the Ashreinu program.

While in Israel, Shechter started to understand his friends’ stories about the country. Despite being 5,000 miles away from his home in New Jersey for seven months with the program, Shechter felt close to home in Israel.

During his first night in Israel in Dec. 2013, Shechter recalls feeling connected to the country after visiting Jerusalem’s Western Wall.

“I felt so connected with God at that moment and had just this sense of home with Jewish people surrounding me,” said Shechter.

Rescue The Ashreinu program consists of three parts: learning, touring and volunteering.

Shechter would take volunteer

positions, such as horseback riding with autistic children to working double shifts on an ambulance.

“With the ambulance, every time you get a call, you get an adrenaline rush,” he said.

Accompanied by four volunteers, Shechter’s shifts would consist of emergency calls ranging from seizures to cardiac arrest.

One of the ambulance calls in February 2014 made Shechter speechless.

He remembers helping a woman deliver a baby on her bedroom floor.

“Just one second [ago], this lifeform wasn’t there, and you helped bring [it] into the world … getting to the baby and have

its eyes open in my arms on the way to hospital made me just speechless,” he said.

Along with ambulance shifts, Shechter would go on search and rescue missions sweeping fields and parking garages.

“Sometimes you’d go out and find nothing, and sometimes you would get a phone call that the person was found alive or dead or something,” said Shechter.

Tragedy Last November, an American Ashreinu student, Ezra Schwartz, was killed while doing volunteer work as a result of a terrorist attack headed by Palestinian nationals.

“Even though I didn’t know him personally, it feels like I lost a

brother,” he said.

Despite never having crossed paths with the victim, Shechter felt a connection with Swartz, studying in the same program and having stayed in the same dorm.

“It really hit home,” he said.

Shechter said he knew the driver of the sherut (shared taxis) that Schwartz was shot in.

“There’s always a possibility of something happening. But believe it or not, in Israel, I felt safe at all times,” he said.

His school was equipped with bunkers in the event of an attack. Bomb sirens went off several times during his stay.

Soldiers would regularly patrol the streets in Beit Shemesh.

While hiking near borders,

Courtesy of Noah Shechter Accompanied by four workers, Noah Shechter would work double shifts on an ambulance during his time in Israel.

Shechter would occasionally hear military planes flying overhead, gunshots and bomb explosions.

“You know that your life is always constantly in danger,” he said.

Future Two days after returning to the United States from Israel in July and having been influenced by his trip, Shechter signed up for an EMT program at LaGuardia Community College.

“If I had not taken that medic program [in Israel], I don’t think I would have the incentive or the drive to take an EMT course here, and I would have never learned or gained the knowledge of ‘this is how I like helping people,’” said Shechter.

After two semesters at UAlbany, Shechter used his certification to work for First Response disaster recovery, disaster restoration and emergency response service in Englewood, N.J. “How I became so close with those people in such a short period of time is incredible,” said Shechter.

After his father cut his college funding, Shechter decided to cut costs by coming to Hudson Valley. Over his last two semesters at the college, Shechter has looked back the past to push forward his future in the medical field.

“By doing this, it set my path for what I want to do today: training to become a nurse,” he said.

PERSPECTIVE

Educate Chitral: Making a difference in a developing nation By: Sophia Jamil Staff Writer Students who have spent their lives in America studying under the education system may take the opportunity of getting an education for granted.

Having been exposed to the education system in a developing country at a young age, my sister and I don’t go a day without remembering those who are less fortunate than us.

We are both currently attending Hudson Valley and hope to further our education in biological sciences. Although we have been fortunate enough to attend school in the U.S., we understand that it is not something that everyone has been privileged with.

Our hometown is a rural place called Chitral. It lies between the mountain ranges of Northern Pakistan and has been kept isolated from the rest of the country. Due to its remoteness, it lacks many things, such as education.

Pakistan is among one of the 10 countries that account for three-fourths of the

world’s illiterate adults, according to The Guardian.

Quality education is not obtainable, and children have to settle for government-run schools that have unqualified instructors. Kids are forced to leave school for underpaid jobs to help support their families at very young ages, which is a rising problem in Chitral, as is unemployment and corruption.

It was heartbreaking to see the children of Chitral dream of the things we are handed in the U.S. We always wished to help them, but felt so helpless and small.

However, two years back, my brother-inlaw, Talha Shah, came up with the idea of starting the charity organization, “Educate Chitral.”

Educate Chitral is a non-profit Charity Organization made to provide financial aid for underprivileged children in Chitral.

The children come from households that have limited to no income.

Its primary goal is to provide quality education to academically-qualified children who are talented beyond their years but suffer from poverty and lack of support.

By providing them with funds and en-

couragement, they have been able to help them progress academically.

The program gives hope and encouragement to other students. With the help of our supporters and sponsors, we have been able to help 40 children receive the education they rightfully deserve.

Although 40 seems like a small number, it is something we are immensely proud of. It is 40 children off the streets and in safe hands, and 40 people will go on to have their children educated as they deserve.

Sophia Jamil (left) and her sister Saba (right).

HUDSONIAN.ORG

Marison Topinio | THE HUDSONIAN The McDonough Sports Complex was named after a former Board of Trustees chairman, Edward F. McDonough, who faced federal corruption charges in 1994. Debate over the building’s name ensued afterwards.

COMPLEX CORRUPTION Structure’s name holds controversial past

By: Tyler McNeil Managing Editor Over 200,000 campus visitors enter a sports complex named after a former college trustee and ex-convict, Edward F. McDonough, each year.

In 1994, former Brunswick lawmaker David Little often referred to the sports complex as “felony hall” after McDonough was convicted of federal corruption charges.

Little introduced a resolution to the county legislature to rename the structure, three years after the sports complex opened. The vote was 7-2 with nine abstentions.

“He had committed offenses against the public, and it simply didn’t sound equitable to me, or a good example, to have one of your premier facilities being named for a convicted felon,” said Little. He added, having the name remain on the sports complex is not currently a public concern.

About a year later, in 1995, the board of trustees decided to keep the name in an 8-1 vote. At the time, former county executive Henry Zwack mentioned exploring different options to overrule the board’s decision.

Although the decision to change the name never went in the county’s hands, the case

ended up changing the way the county operates.

“The McDonough prosecution brought about needed reforms in how the county obtained insurance coverage,” said Richard Crist, director of communications at the County Legislature Majority Office in an email.

According to Crist, the county pays less for insurance coverage than it did over two decades ago.

Over the span of 15 years as county legislature Democratic chairman, McDonough made about $640,000 in an insurance kickback scheme. McDonough was eventually sentenced to 51 months in prison, but was let out after 15 months due to declining health.

“Seeing that McDonough [was] convicted, I’m always thinking, ‘Unfortunately, you have to take the name down,’” said John E. Donohue, city councilman of Troy’s sixth district, which includes Hudson Valley. “[If] you screw up and go to jail, sorry.

You might be a good person, but you’ve violated a public trust, so your name shouldn’t be on any public building.”

After spending over two decades on the board of trustees, McDonough helped secure funding for the sports complex, along with structures such as

the BTC and the Hudson Hall art room while working with the county and the state.

“He was a constantly involved person with unwavering dedication to the college, higher education and the growth of Hudson Valley Community College,” said George Raneri, Board of Trustees secretary who was appointed in 1981.

As a result of the case, with McDonough having served in the county while on the board, a county ethics law was amended to prohibit party officers from serving in county offices such as Hudson Valley, which was considered a county office.

The law was struck down in 2011 after former county Republican chairman Neil Kelleher was appointed to the board by the county, leading the college to amend their code of ethics.

In 1987, Kelleher, the board of trustees chairman, had his provisional appointment to work for the college signed off

by McDonough. Leaving his county position at the time as superintendent of buildings to work for Hudson Valley, Kelleher was eventually able run for the county legislature.

“Seriously speaking, my personal experience is simply indicative of how many lives Ed McDonough touched and

HUDSONIAN.ORG

indeed had a direct and positive impact on,” said Kelleher at a 2007 ceremony honoring McDonough’s military service around the ten-year anniversary of his death.

McDonough’s contributions to the college earned him the New York State Association of Community College Trustees Distinguished Service Award in 1989. Outside of Hudson Valley, McDonough volunteered as a Catholic Youth Organization basketball coach, Catholic Central High School board member and Knights of Columbus volunteer.

Kelleher said that McDonough’s contributions to Hudson Valley and the community eclipse his conviction.

“I don’t see any reason to go and take things off. We’ll be renaming bridges and roads all over this state,” he said.

The McDonough structure is not the only sports complex in the state with past debate over name removal. After State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was convicted of federal corruption charges last year, a petition in Rockville Centre, Nassau County, demanded that the senator’s name be removed from the village’s sports complex.

The most recent name removal debate on campus ensued in 2009 with Joseph L. Bruno Stadium when, Bruno faced

federal corruption charges. Two years ago, Bruno was acquitted of all charges.

At the time, Hudson Valley decided to keep the stadium’s name.

“Hudson Valley Community College is extremely grateful for all that the former senator has done for this college and the Capital Region,” said Robert H. Hill II, former board of trustees chairman in a 2009 statement.

According to Dennis Kennedy, director of communications and marketing, the last time the college was questioned about the sports complex’s name was during Bruno’s trials.

“I don’t think there is any movement afoot to make a change at this time,” he said.

Silay Lockett, individual studies student, considers the structure’s name unimportant.

“I don’t really think anything of it,” she said.

Senior student senator A’chynee Edmundson believes the structure’s name is still a concern, regardless of media attention.

“Especially when being convicted, I think [the name] does cast kind of a dark light on Hudson Valley when we’re supposed to be really bright and inviting,” she said.

March 8, 2016

SPORTS

14 Vikings Sports Schedule

Championship or bust for softball?

Men’s Baseball Friday 03/25/16 vs. Hangerstown @ 12p.m. (Away)

Men’s Baseball

Saturday 03/26/16 vs. Thomas Nelson @ 1p.m. (Away)

Men’s Lacrosse Saturday 03/26/16 vs. Jefferson @ 12p.m. (Home)

Women’s Softball Saturday 02/27/16 vs. Dakota College @ 6:30p.m. (Away)

Matt Whalen | THE HUDSONIAN

By: Emily VanLeuvan Staff Writer Last year the women’s softball team finished third in the nation while posting a record of 22-5 and hope to either achieve the same goal or surpass it this upcoming season with their sights set on nationals.

“We have seven out of our nine starters back so we pretty much have our whole field,” said senior Shannon Johnson from Wynantskill, one of Hudson Valley’s first basemen.

Out of 27 games they played, the Lady Vikings had 247 runs, 17 home runs and held a batting average of .425, which was third in the nation. They also swiped 125 bags (third in nation), has a .425 on base percentage (third in nation), got on base .475 (seventh in nation) and posted a .563 slugging percentage (seventh in nation).

The highlight of the season was making it to the semifinals of the National Tournament in Rochester, Minn. In the process the team defeated three top-five teams: Cumberland, St. Cloud, and Brookdale.

With these wins under their belt there next opponent was their regional rival, Herkimer. The Lady Vikings lost to their division opponent in nationals 8-3 thus ending a historic season. Four out

of the five games that the women’s team lost was to Herkimer and it seemed as if the Generals always had an answer for the Vikings.

“Herkimer are our rivals. We actually went to go see them play in the fall and they looked good again so definitely they’re the team to beat, but we have motivation to get better.” Said Johnson.

Last year the Vikings got off to a red hot start winning their first 14 games in a row. They ended with 14-1 for a home record and 7-2 with an away record.

“I think we definitely have more power this year so that’s going to help us,” said catcher Shelby Fenton from Troy. “We have five pitchers instead of one so that was one of our weaker points when they got tired.”

This season will be Chris Mazzeo’s fourth year as head coach. His first season here at the Valley he held a record with his team of 8-12. The following season with a little improvement the team had a record of 11-6, and last year with immense amount of improvement the team went 22-5.

“Third in the nation is great, but we want to win the national championship trophy,” said coach Mazzeo.

The softball team’s first game will be away at Mohawk Valley at the end of the month, Mar. 29 at 3p.m.

Shannon Johnson went 2-0 pitching last season for the Vikings as well as led the team in fielding percentage.

Vikings Scoreboard Men’s Ice Hockey Feb. 27 HVCC v.

LOSS Dakota College 1-6

Women’s Basketball Feb. 13 HVCC v.

LOSS Mohawk Val. 30-77 Feb. 17 HVCC v.

LOSS Fulton-Mont. 52-83

Men’s Basketball

WIN

Feb. 17 HVCC v.

Fulton-Mont. 87-71

Feb. 23 HVCC v.

LOSS Mohawk Val. 82-84

By: Samantha Longton Staff Writer The lacrosse team is looking to get back on track and are taking a different approach to their new season.

After finishing 1-9 last season, the team realized that they needed to change some things about their game in order to add more games in the win column.

“We definitely underachieved last year,” said Vikings lacrosse head coach, Matthew Johnson.

“We had a lot of talent but we failed to execute throughout the season.”

According to Johnson, the team will be switching their focus this year from an offensive mindset to clearing the balls and working together.

“The focus really this year is on fundamentals,” said the coach.

“It’s a lot of passing and catching with ground ball work.”

With the construction of the new sports complex underway, the team will be using the Albany College of Pharmacy field for their Saturday and Sunday practices and for home games.

Weekday practices are held in the McDonough Gymnasium.

Although it may seem inconvenient to practice on a separate campus and inside a shared gymnasium, Johnson believes the team is still going to

come back stronger than ever this season.

“I think we have a lot more talent than we did last year,” said sophomore midfielder Kresimir Kratalic from Durham, N.C. “It’s just going to be a lot about effort, putting in the hours and strength training.”

“We’re working harder and harder each day,” said freshman attack Austin Lyle from Wappingers Falls, N.Y. “Lacrosse is a team sport. There’s still a lot of fundamentals we need to work on but other than that we’re in good shape.”

“We have small guys but we’re working really hard and I think it’s going to show on the field,” said sophomore midfielder John LaMonica from Carmel, N.Y. LaMonica also added that he isn’t worried about this season because of how far the team has progressed since last season.

“We’ve got a smart team and a good group of guys that have been playing together since the first week of school,” said Kratalic.

“Our goal is to win the Mountain Valley Conference and put ourselves in a position so we can make the playoffs,” said coach Johnson.

The Viking’s first regular season game will be on Saturday, Mar. 26 at the Albany College of Pharmacy as they play host to Jefferson, the only team Hudson Valley defeated last year.

HUDSONIAN.ORG

March 8, 2016

SPORTS

Coach of the Year: Q and A By: Brandon Hladik Staff Writer Mike Long was named the Region III coach of the year this past season for his efforts on and off the court.

With no returning players from last year’s roster Long had a difficult task in turning a bunch of kids that never played together into a team that could compete in the regionals.

Even though they lost in the first round in a heart breaker to Mohawk Valley 84-82, a game that the Vikings led by 14 in the second half, the season was still considered a success. I recently had a conversation with coach Long about the season and it went like this: Q: What do you believe was the biggest positive takeaway from this season?

A: The biggest thing was how far these guys succeeded my expectations. When we started we had some scrimmages early. I think we had Sullivan, FultonMontgomery, and then RPI. All three scrimmages, in regulation of 40 minutes, we played two 20 minute periods and a 10 [minute period] … we were struggling to score. We were lucky if we broke 50. I’m going “this is going to be a long year.” So, looking back I’m just impressed as hell with these guys, how well they came

Matt Whalen | THE HUDSONIAN The Vikings enter this season leaving off with a seven game losing streak.

together, how well they played together, and how they produced a 20-10 season.

Q: And what was the biggest negative?

A: Losing the last game. We were up by 10 with probably four or five minutes left. We had a tough call that was a three point play for Mohawk Valley.

Q: How do you plan on getting ready for next season?

A: Doing what I’m doing right now with these interviews with my players. I talk to everybody [sic] even the guys that are leaving [sic] trying to get an idea of what they thought about the season, where they think we could get better, where they can get better, where I think they can get better, and what they need to do in the offseason.

Q: What was most to blame for the regional loss?

A: Like I said previously, I thought that we went in with a game plan. Mohawk Valley ran a lot of ball picks and we worked on a particular type of defense to counter that and the guys did a great job of executing it. Mohawk’s very good. We had to play at the top of our game to beat them and I thought we did. Some mistakes down at the end really hurt us.

Q: What could you have done differently to succeed?

A: Overall through the season, with ten losses, we had a number of them that were the result of poor free throw shooting. We were ranked maybe in the top ten in free throw attempt for division three in the NJCAA. If you’re going to the line that often, you want to make them.

Q: What has kept you motivated here at Hudson Valley?

A: The last two years have been absolutely super. The guys have been great, they work hard and I enjoy being around them. I enjoy doing this. I like being around you guys.

Q: Are you excited for next season? Do you think you can be as successful as coach of the year again?

A: Absolutely excited. With eight guys coming back there’s no doubt about it.

Baseball team locked and reloaded

By: John C. Longton III Sports Editor

Lacrosse team searches for solice

15

Last year the baseball team suffered a 14-13 loss to Niagara in the regionals, which ended their season. The team went 20-12 and were sent home with a bad taste in their mouths. This year the roster is deeper and second-year coach Alex Jurczynski has his team anxious for a spot in nationals.

“Our goal is to win the world series,” said Jurczynski.

In his second year as head coach, Jurczynski has hit the recruiting trail and has brought in some talent that can help he and the team achieve that goal.

Jurczynski is active in the baseball world and has reached out to a lot of different players. He has helped run various baseball camps including sites at West Point, Naval Academy and Siena.

He’s even going out to Stanford this summer to be an instructor at a camp out in California.

Jurczynski is also Assistant Director at Prep Baseball Report New York, a scouting agency he helped start. Adding the fact that he’s a hitting and catching instructor at the All Stars Academy in Latham, Jurczynski boasts a high pedigree with just 24 years of age.

“I brought in six Division I and Division II transfers,” said Jurczynski.

When asked how he managed to bring in higher profile players like that the young coach

responded by saying, “I was in the right place at the right time.”

Three of the players that Jurczynski brought in are ranked in the top 10 for four year school transfers by the NJCAA. Brady Fallon, a shortstop, transferred from UMass Lowell, Zack DeThomasis, an outfielder, transferred from Akron and Brennan Strovink, a first basemen/DH transferred from Lamar College in Texas. All three players will fill the voids left by exiting players.

In terms of key returning players, the team has five returning players with batting averages that range from .316.489. Second baseman Jeff Bink .361, catcher Ben Julian .316,

second basemen Liam Kelly .402, outfielder Connor McDonough .446 and Darren Conte hit .489.

Darren Conte finished the season with the second highest batting average in the nation and he thinks this team has a lot of potential.

“The team is shaping up great this year. Coach [Jurczynski] brought in a lot of talent and everyone is coming in together well,” said Conte. “We are a couple deep at each position with all quality players.”

When asked about the team’s goals for the season Conte replied, “Our first goal is to win the conference, which we all think is very realistic. Then we want to advance to the regional final

four. We all think we’re capable of winning that and advancing to the World Series.”

Conte realizes that it’s a long road.

“We just can’t get ahead of ourselves and we have to take it series by series,” he said.

Last year the team got off to a fast start and won 13 out of their first 16 games. They finished the season at 20-12 and didn’t have as strong of a second half. That was due large in part to injuries and the lack of depth at each position.

The Vikings also only had seven pitchers to finish the season last year, which wears on your bullpen when every matchup is a double header. The 2016 team has a total of 16 arms all capable

Marison Topinio | THE HUDSONIAN Head Coach Alex Jurczynski has a goal to make it all the way to the World Series entering his second season as the baseball coach.

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of toeing the rubber at any given time.

The team has brought two new assistants that bring more experience to the team. Brian Fey played first base and hit cleanup for the Siena Saints last year.

Fey is going to be working with the infielders and outfielders.

Dave Ames was also added to the coaching staff. Ames was the former coach of Ichabod Crane and he will be the new pitching coach. Al Williams comes back as the statesman of the staff in his fourth year with the team.

“Our team last year was greatly improved over the year before,” said Williams.

Williams thinks that this year’s team has also made a leap from the prior club.

“Alex and I talked, and if we finish with a 24-6 record, we’re going to be greatly disappointed,” said Williams.

Williams has been coaching for decades and he knows a good team when he sees one.

“I feel we’re stronger at every position and much more mentally tough than we were last year,” he said The Vikings will get a gage of how their team stacks up at the end of the month as they travel down to Virginia to play in a weekend tournament against Hagerstown on Mar. 25 and Thomas Nelson on Mar. 26. Their regular season kicks off Apr. 5 at 2 p.m. as they host Fulton-Montgomery, a team that the Vikings beat three times last season, for a double header.

March 8, 2016

SPORTS

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Brennan Strovink: Back at it By: John C. Longton III Sports Editor

Brennan Strovink has turned his back on quitting -- literally.

In Strovink’s senior year in high school he found out that he had a fractured spine and a burst disk. The wear and tear of being a wrestler and playing baseball took its toll on his body.

Brennan received surgery before the baseball season and improved enough to play in his final season.

Strovink had a successful senior year at Rocky Point High School and was named to the All New York State team. He committed to play baseball at Lamar College, a Division I school in Texas, and seemed as if he put his back injury behind him.

“Everything was going great until about two weeks before the season started,” said Strovink.

That’s when he started feeling a discomfort in his back.

“I started feeling back pain again and I told my coach and he sent me to the doctor,” he said It was then that Brennan found out that he re-fractured his spine and wouldn’t be able to play his first year at Lamar. He redshirted his freshman year and spent the spring resting his back with the thought of getting back on the diamond in his mind.

When he went back home to Long Island for the summer, Strovink went to see specialists. That’s he found out that his baseball career was in jeopardy.

“The two doctors told me that I would never play baseball ever again,” said Brennan.

Strovink’s future was in question and the news rocked his world. He withdrew from Lamar and attended a community college close to home. He had to go back to the drawing board and figure out what he wanted to do with his life. It wasn’t until a conversation he had with his grandfather that an idea popped into Brennan’s head that was just so crazy it might work.

Strovink’s grandfather is an avid golfer and knows that the mechanics of a golf swing and a baseball swing are very similar.

“My grandfather told me he read an article that this golfer swung the opposite way and his back felt better,” said Strovink.

The golfer had similar back issues that Brennan had and was

able to change his approach in order to continue playing.

One day Strovink was playing catch with his younger brother when he decided to take his grandfather up on his advice.

“I’ve never hit right handed it my life. I think I might have played wiffle ball right handed once, but that was about it,” said Strovink.

To his surprise Brennan was able to swing the bat with no back pain.

“That was a huge deal because every time I swung the bat left handed I would be shaking,” said Strovink.

Brennan decided to give baseball another

shot after his new discovery. He got back in the game this past October and started to make his journey up to Hudson Valley.

Head baseball coach Alex Jurcznyski knows Brennan’s brother, Kyle, through a scouting agency he used to work for. Kyle reached out to coach Jurczynski and let him know that

Brennan wanted to give playing another shot.

“He’s only been a righty hitter for about six months, but he’s gonna be g o o d ,” said

Jurczynski.

Jurczynski has been impressed with how fast Strovink has adapted to the other side of the plate and is excited to see how he progresses. He’s also helping Brennan with his plans after Hudson Valley.

“I came here to play for coach Juczynski,” said Strovink. “He’s done a lot to help me with hitting and a lot of stuff. He even talked to other colleges for me.”

Jurczynski helped Brennan in communicating with Limestone College, a Division II school down in South Carolina. Strovink was offered a scholarship and has committed himself to play for Limestone after completing this semester at Hudson Valley.

“I’m lucky to be here. I’m blessed. I swear to God I’m blessed,” said Strovink. “I went from six months ago thinking I’m never going to play baseball. And now I’m playing baseball for a great coach that helped me get a scholarship.” “ To u g h times don’t last, but tough people do” Strovink said he believes.

“

I’m lucky to be here. I’m blessed, I swear to God I’m blessed. I went from thinking six months ago I’m never going to play baseball, and now I’m playing baseball for a great coach who helped me get a scholarship.

Brennan Strovink First Baseman, DH

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Marison Topinio | THE HUDSONIAN