#2 V30
Winter Issue
Jets player visits Molloy By Diana Shorthouse Student Features Editor
Author inspires freshman class
By Alexa Sussman Academics Editor
At this year’s Convocation, Ernest Cline, author of this year’s common reading book, Ready Player One, addressed the class of 2017. He presented the attendees with his life story; one filled with video games, Star Wars, and a rise to stardom. This seemingly average Ohio native is now an accomplished screen writer and author, all thanks to his enthusiasm for all things technological and science fictional. Cline wrote his first screenplay in 1996, a sequel to the cult film The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. He wrote the screenplay for fun and viewed it as fan fiction that only he would enjoy. However, he made it available to the internet world and soon discovered that other fans of
Buckaroo Banzai were reading and enjoying his screenplay. Then, as buzz for the new Star Wars film, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, began to increase, Cline had an idea for another screenplay. This time, he would base what he believed to be just more fan fiction on his desire to see the new movie. His fan fiction would turn into an actual movie, Fanboys, that would finally be released in 2009. After many problems with the Fanboys production company, Cline decided that he wanted to write something that would be untouched by outside parties. He wanted to write something and present it to the general public exactly as he had intended it to be. Because of this, Cline was driven to write his first novel, Ready Player One. He drew his inspiration from the video games and culture of the 1980’s, the decade in which
Cline spent much of his formative years. He decided to write a story that would combine a Willy Wonka type competition and the mysterious “easter eggs” that video game designers would hide in their games. Cline was able to sell his novel to Random House Publishing Company in June of 2010. A film adaptation of the book is currently being made. Ernest Cline does not like the terms nerd or geek. Instead, he prefers the less negatively connotative enthusiast. There is one thing that no one can argue, and that is that Cline is most definitely an enthusi-
ast. His presentation on serves as a shining example of the “American Dream.” Cline liked something, then wrote about it, and eventually became famous. He became a successful screenwriter and novelist writing about topics which he loves. If anything, Cline’s story is an inspiration. He is a regular guy who has a movie and a New York Times best-selling book that is being turned into a movie. And he still is happy to come out on stage for an hour with nothing but a bottle of water and talk to an audience of college students as if they were his peers.
Some say it’s who you know, and for freshman Robbie Elkin he really knows some important people. On Nov. 14, 2013 Elkin held an event called ‘Jump Rope for Hearts’ in the Public Square. This event consisted of a silent auction with many special prizes, along with jumping rope for a good cause. To make this event extra special, former New York Jets player, Marcus Dixon attended. “I am very happy to be at Molloy to help out with this event. One of the silent auction prizes was for me to play touch football with students while the event was going on,” Dixon stated “This all started off as a Philosophy project. I was truly amazed at the turnout of this event, “ said Elkin. All of the proceeds collected were donated to the American Heart Association.
Josh and Marcus Dixon at the Jump for Hearts Event in the Public Square at Molloy.
Toy drive brings joy to children during holidays By Vivian Stein Student Media Secretary The holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s time for the 2nd annual “Maria’s Toys for Tots,” sponsored by Molloy College Student Media. Maria’s Toys for Tots was started by Molloy sophomore, Maria Pulella. Maria started this fundraiser at the age of nine when her cousin was sent to the hospital. When Maria called her to see how she was feeling, she explained to Maria how upsetting and depressing it was in the hospital, so Maria took charge and asked her parents if she could do something to help. She eventually came up with the idea of this toy drive. The next year she saved up $300 of her own money, asked her family for some
help, and went out to buy all new toys for these children, which would then get delivered Christmas day to them. It is now years later, and she is keeping up the tradition. Every year, it has grown bigger and has brightened up so many. Maria continued it into high school and has now brought it here to Molloy College. Last year, Molloy students and faculty donated 600 toys, and 750 more were donated from Lawrence High School. Maria has taken initiative and put others before herself, but she would like to say “I couldn’t do it without the help of every person who donates and every person who helps me along the way. I can’t wait to have another amazing turn out!” If you have any questions regarding the toy drive please email mpulella@lions.molloy.edu.
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Opinion
Winter Issue
Molloy Forum
Letter from the Editor
CONTACT Student Media, (516) 323-3480 Ryan Larkin Saniya Khan
Forum Reporter
Forum Editor Connor Ryall Melissa Cortés
Forum Reporter
Student Life Editor Michael Schultz Nick Crispino Sports Editor Diana Shorthouse Student Features Editor Alexa Sussman Academics Editor Michael Wicelinski
Forum Reporter Marilena Rocco Forum Reporter Bianca Alvarado Forum Reporter Michael Baginski Forum Reporter
Club Editor
Peter Georgoulis Forum Reporter
Joseph Antony
Paul Johnson
Special Issues Editor Anthony Blanc Design Editor Chantal Lockward Design Editor
Forum Reporter Antoinette Kunz Forum Reporter Alejandrina Ramos Forum Reporter Connor Ryall
Toni Martini
Forum Reporter
Forum Photographer Victoria Sorrentino Brandon Rizzuto Videographer Kevin Kempski Video Editor Arnaud Edjamian PR Editor
Forum Reporter Lauren Spotkov Forum Reporter Sean Troy Forum Artist Stefanie Taveras Forum Reporter
Andrea-Gayle Baltazar Forum Reporter
Cody Snapp Director
ing campus at 5pm in the Madison Theatre. Relationship violence affects so many I encourage everyone young people that I felt it particularly imto attend, and hear a portant to highlight it in my letter this issue. personal story shared Every nine seconds, a woman is beaten, and by one of our students studies indicate that one third of women and to support The between the ages of 18 and 24 have been Partner Project’s misthe victim of some kimd of violence. A new sion in some way. initiative, The Partner Project, was created on Increasing aware- By Saniya Khan campus to shine a light on such relationship ness of this issue and Forum Editor violence, fostor conversations, and provide new initiative is so resources to victims of relationship violence important because it has the potential to afto enact positive change in their lives. fect many lives in our comunity and around Created by Teresa Aprigliano, the asthe world, so I hope you will take a moment sociate dean and director of the Division of to find out how you can get involved. Nursing, and John Amodeo, the assistant director of public safety, the Partner ProjHave a safe, healthy, and ect has an important upcoming event to happy new year! promote their message. On Jan. 29, 2014, speaker Ted Bunch, an activist, educator, and Warmest regards, co-founder of A Call to Men, will be addressSaniya Dear Reader,
Pokemon returns to its roots By Sean Troy Forum Cartoonist For over seventeen years, Pokémon has been capturing the hearts of children with its more than 700 different pocket monsters. Almost every college student was, or still is, a fan of either the Pokémon television series or the video games. While Game Freak, the creators of Pokémon, has grown a lot in the past years, it has not forgotten where it all began. In remembrance of their roots, Game Freak released a four part original video animation called Pokémon Origins. It first
aired in Japan on October 2, 2013 and began streaming internationally on Nintendo’s Pokémon TV Service from November 15, 2013. Based off the original Gameboy Color games Pokémon Red and Blue, the story follows the journey of the original Pokémon trainer, Red, as he aims to complete the Pokédex. Memorable characters from the first game, such as Professor Oak, Brock, and Blue, are present. The villainous Team Rocket appears as well and serves as the main antagonist of the series. Keeping true to the original art of the franchise, Pokémon Origins is a stunning mas-
terpiece through the joint efforts of Japanese animation studios OLM, Production I.G., and Xebec. Captivating battles between fan favorites like Charizard and Blastoise are fantastically illustrated, and a fast paced story helps to easily sum up a game that usually takes twenty hours in less than two. The Pokémon world truly comes to life on screen and brings wonder, excitement, and nostalgia to current fans and those who played the games as children. If you haven’t seen this wonderful animation, then what are you waiting for? It’s time to relive your childhood!
ABOUT THIS PAPER The Molloy Forum is a monthly student produced newspaper serving Molloy College and the surrounding community. It is a First Amendment newspaper. The content of the Opinions page does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Molloy College, nor the opinions of the entire paper staff. The views expressed by columnists are their own. The Molloy Forum mission is to be the best source for Molloy news.
w Students pack the Quealy Gym for Molloy’s annual Maroon Madness. Check out the photos and story on back.
News
Winter Issue
Molloy Forum
Halloween Party gets bigger every year
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By Melissa Cortés Student Life Editor Every year the Halloween Party serves as a major attraction on campus. Last year’s event brought in so many people that they were forced to wait on line for hours in order to get into the party. This year the event was moved to the gymnasium in order to accommodate the growing number of people. As the Programming Coordinator of Molloy Student Government, Amanda Ammirati, explained, there were “at least 1,100” people in attendance this Halloween. In addition to moving the party from the Anselma Room to Quealy Gym, the Programming team also added a lounge area in Hays Theatre. Students were given the option to go into Hays when they needed a break from the event where they could enjoy WingZone catering, scary movies, and a Halloween themed photo shoot. Students were also honored for their
Photos by Toni Martini, Molloy Life Photographer
costume creativity through a costume contest. Midway through the party, Ammirati asked DJ Mike to stop the music so that they could call the competitors onto the stage in the middle of the dance floor. Winners, such as the Ball of Yarn
and the Stick-couple, were rewarded for their unique costumes by winning movie tickets and a large round of applause. Students explained that their expectations were definitely met, the only complaint being that the bar was not open
long enough. “This was my first Halloween Party where I was over 21 and by the time I got off the line and into the party, the bar had already run out of beer,” explains Cassandra Beggen, Molloy Alumni.
Majors/Minors Fair
Photo by Toni Martini, Molloy Life Photographer
Members of the Panyu Polytechnic University of China’s business office take a tour of campus with Jennifer Goez.
Photo by Toni Martini, Molloy Life Photographer
Students at the Majors/Minors Fair talk with Don Hazlitt (left), art professor, to learn more about major and minor options in the department.
Career Day takes over Public Square By Alexa Sussman Academics Editor On Friday, Nov 1, the Career Development Center held its Fall Career Day in the Public Square from 1-3pm. Employers looking to hire interns, part time positions, and full time jobs were in attendance. Over fifty company contacts representing a variety of fields accepted resumes, gave information, and made connections with Molloy College students and alumni for potential opportunities within their organizations.
For those who did not have a chance to attend, there are still many other resources to help find employment. Students can search Lion’s Lair for more employers looking to hire. There will also be another Career Fair in the Spring, so be sure to keep an eye out for more information to come. In the meantime, set up an appointment with the Career Development Center on the third floor of the Public Square to polish your resumes and work on your thirtysecond elevator pitch and be fully prepared for your next interview.
Panyu Polytechnic University officals visit By Alexa Sussman Academics Editor On Oct 7, members of the Panyu Polytechnic University of China’s business office, along with students from the university, met at Molloy to tour the campus and get a sense of what Molloy’s prestigious business program is all about. Lianxu Zhang, principal, Zewen Zhang, Dean of the Business School, and several other faculty members met with Stephen Bier, Kathy Reba, Kisha Chandler, and Jennifer Goez. The morning started with a greeting and group picture in the Casey building, where the business department is located. After a campus tour by business students, the group sat in on Dr. Garrity’s
Quantitative Analysis class to get a taste of what Molloy’s business students experience on a daily basis. From there, the group met in the Business Conference Room for a group discussion led by Dr. Collins, Stephen Bier, and Kathy Reba. Overall, there was a great deal of excitement felt on both sides of the globe regarding this event. “This is a very exciting opportunity for Molloy to make a relationship with Polytechnic University,” said Kisha Chandler, Executive Administrator of the business department. Faculty members from both schools are looking forward to continuing a relationship, so much so that Michael Cheah, former professor at Molloy, is planning a trip to take Molloy students to Panyu in the near future.
News
Molloy Forum
Lynch starts new chapter at Molloy By Marilena Rocco Forum Reporter Kate Lynch is not only the new Molloy College Basketball Coach, but also the new Activities and Wellness Coordinator. Kate Lynch is the woman who plans the wellness activities on campus like Yoga, Insanity, and Zumba! Lynch also coordinates all intramurals and trips to the city for students. Lynch wants us, the Molloy Community, to “come out of our comfort zone and do something different.” By doing Yoga, Insanity, or Zumba, by participating in an intramural sport, by becoming a part of Molloy College Rec Life, “you’ll surprise yourself,” says Lynch. If you want to meet this new face of Molloy College, come to a Women’s Basketball game to support her team or visit her in the Student Affairs Office, Public Square Room 330.
Lynch went to Southern Connecticut State University where she led the basketball team to a National Championship! Lynch graduated from her alma mater with a degree in Exercise Science. After leading the Community College of Rhode Island to the National Tournament, having a 25-7 season, and also coaching a WCBA All American team, Lynch wanted to start a “new chapter” in her life. When the opportunity arose to become part of the Molloy Community, Lynch felt like “it fell into place;” on campus she “felt like (she) had been here forever”. Lynch states how her team, the Molloy College Women’s Basketball Team, is “accepting and working hard”. “Sky’s the limit” for the Women’s Basketball team and sky’s the limit for Kate Lynch, the Molloy College Basketball Coach and Activities and Wellness Coordinator.
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Book Swap
Photo by Toni Martini, Molloy Life Photographer
On Oct 7, Student Government hosted a Book Swap where students who donated books could choose books to take with them in return. All remaining books were donated.
Molloy’s ‘Lions Card’ is more then just a school ID By Joe Antony Special Issues Editor As part of the one card system, the Lions Card Program allows students and staff to put money onto their ID cards for use at multiple locations on campus. The system was created with the hopes of making on-campus purchases of food, coffee, and books more convenient and efficient for students. The Lions Card Program allows its users to use their ID card to pay for items at locations including the Anselma Room, the Coffee Bar, the Quick-Byte Café, the Bookstore, and various vending machines on campus. All active students with a Molloy ID are allowed to add funds to their Lions Bucks account.
Users may place money into their Lions Bucks accounts in two ways. To add value to your card with cash, visit a Cash Value Station located in the lower level of Kellenberg Hall, or in the lobby of the Public Square. To add value with a credit card online, sign in to the “Lions Card Campus Center” under “Campus Resources” in the “Molloy Life” tab of the Molloy College home page. On top of the Lions Bucks account that all students can place money into, resident students also have a Dinning Dollars account which is funded from the meal plan that they originally purchased. Dining Dollars can only be used for food. You are allowed to refill the Lions Bucks account whenever you want but the Dinning Dollars account is a set amount that you can’t
Student Government makes sure everyone has very Happy Birthday By Diana Shorthouse Student Features Editor “Happy Birthday Everyone,” says Molloy Student Government. MSG held a birthday celebration for all the students at Molloy College on Thursday, Oct 3. With music, balloons, party hats, and a lot of birthday cake, this was a great way to start off the school year. Amanda Ammarati, Programming Coordinator, stated, “This event was also to help celebrate all of the students’ birthdays that
are in the summer time. Hopefully this event is annual because it was very fun. The colors and the streamers attracted the Molloy community to attend this special event.” With the addition of everyone in attendance singing “Happy Birthday,” this event ended having a big turn out. Brittany Cunha, junior, stated, “This event and the cake was amazing. It felt really nice to have the whole Molloy community have their birthdays celebrated. It shows great appreciation towards the students.”
place further funds into. An incentive to use the Lions Card Program is that tax is not charged for any purchase of food using your card. This comes out to about 8% in savings for every food purchase made in the Anselma Room, Coffee Bar, and Quickbyte Cafe. It also allows for quicker turnover at the registers, which reduces the wait time on lines. As the Campus Card Manager, Wordley Ligonde provides operational and technical support to develop and maintain the Lions Card program. He was introduced to working with one card systems during his undergraduate career at St. John’s University. Upon graduation, he received a full time position to manage the office staff and provide technical support for the campus
card program at St. John’s. From there, Ligonde was promoted to Assistant Director of Campus Card Services at The New School University in downtown Manhattan. Ligonde then began working here at Molloy in October of 2011 as the Campus Card Manager. He manages the installation and maintenance of the hardware and software associated with the Lions Card Program while also managing the Dining Dollars and Lions Bucks accounts of the programs users. If there is an issue with your account or card, or if you have any questions regarding the Lions Card Program, you may contact Mr. Ligonde by phone at 516-2323044 or in person in room K010, in the basement of Kellenberg across from the vending machines.
News
Winter Issue
Molloy Forum
A pint can save ives By Stefanie Taveras Forum Reporter As the autumn season rolls in, Molloy cozied up to the community by showing immense support to the New York Blood Center and hosting a blood drive on Oct 8th and 9th. The blood drive took place on two different parts of campus: outside the Kellenberg Circle and in the Larini Room of the Public Square. As hectic as some students’ schedules are, Molloy made the drive accessible to all with the convenient times of 9:30am-6:30pm which encouraged a wider selection of students to give blood. Such students included Jiju Savu, a nursing major, who donated blood twice last year and Andrew Lagredelle, a business major dedicated to helping people as much as he can. “I’m a universal donor; I’m O-, so since my blood can go to anyone I was like ‘be nice!,’” says Andrew. “Go do it. You could save a life.” As a college dedicated to its community, Molloy’s service to the New York Blood Center not only aids the organization using donations, but also indirectly helps individuals with blood related problems. Statistically, one in three people are going to need a blood transfusion someday in their lives, and since one pint of blood can save three lives, donation can make a big difference. Marianne Jahoda, a recruiter and former pharmaceutical representative shares how her job affects others. “I work part time. I go to the colleges, high schools, and sometimes elementary schools where we encourage the students
to donate and of course through the parents of the younger children.” says Marianne. “I was once a teacher and felt like educating people was the best way to help. You’re helping save lives in an indirect way; in a sense it’s giving back.” While some people cannot donate blood due to medical reasons, some individuals stay away from drives because of needles and the fear of pain. While these fears are common, most who are afraid simply need to take the proper steps in conquering these fears. Jahoda states, “Really, the needles are smaller than ever before. Go with a friend, listen to music to distract yourself. We have donor centers with a T.V. to distract really queasy people.” As runners prepare themselves for a marathon with rest, along with food and fluids, donating blood is no different. The donor must receive plenty of rest and eat their meals at all the regular times according to the New York Blood Center’s website. The donating process takes about thirty minutes according to recruiter Jahoda. “You have to fill out a mini medical before you’re asked a series of medical questions. From there, they take a sample of blood to test the iron, temperature, and blood pressure.” Students who donated this October have helped the New York Blood Center immensely and have contributed to saving many lives in the future. Students who did not have a chance to help this fall are encouraged to donate in the month of February where, according to another recruiter, Molloy will be welcoming the Blood Center back for two visits.
Join our Team! Student Media is looking to fill some of our open positions: Writers - Reporters - Photographers - Graphic Designers For more information, email Saniya at skhan@ lions.molloy.edu, or come to our meetings on Thursdays at 3:30 in PS050.
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Photos by Toni Martini, Molloy Life Photographer
Student Robert Theofield, center, with his parents at the Homecoming Breakfast
Homecoming reunites parents and children By Diana Shorthouse Student Features Editor Saturday, Oct 5 was a day where memories were made and tears were shed. The visiting parents, along with their son or daughter, enjoyed a nice breakfast in the Anselma Room. Two students, John Bruno and Robert Theofield, were very happy to see their parents again. John Bruno stated, “I love dorming at Molloy. I do miss my parents, but I do enjoy my space. I got really involved in school, such as being in Student Government and hanging out with other stu-
dents.” Bruno’s mother shared her feelings on what it is like for her son to be away from home. She stated, “I do miss my son when he is away, but I am used to my children going away for school. It is a very good experience for John because he will be able to take on responsibility and live alone in the future without a problem.” Robert Theofield had similar sayings on why he lives at Molloy. He stated, “I really enjoy my single room size. It gives me space so parents do not haggle me. However, I do enjoy my parents being here at homecoming so I can catch up with
them.” Theofield’s parents said that their house has been very different ever since their son left for school. They stated, “We do miss Robert at home. The house has been too quiet ever since he left. But this dorming experience has been very good for Robert. He is blossoming into an adult and he is learning a lot of responsibility. We both recommend having parents send their children away to school.” The homecoming breakfast ended with full stomachs and happy hearts because families were together again.
Student life
Winter Issue
Molloy Forum
And the new Mr. Molloy is... By Michael Wicelenski Club Editor
On Thursday, Oct 17th, several of Molloy’s most talented men, myself included, gathered in a dressing room behind Madison Theatre to compete for our clubs. The prep time before the event was filled with a lot of nervous excitement. We all double-checked to make sure we had all of the necessary clothes and props and showed off our wardrobes to the other contestants. As the time for Mr. Molloy to begin drew closer, we got quieter and made our way to the stage. First up, we showed off our athletic wear, and the contestants showcased skills with frisbees, rugby balls, and baseball bats. Next, we rushed back to the dressing room, and changed into our casual wear.
People saw how we dressed on a regular day, with a few Molloy accessories to make any outfit complete. Again, we rushed backstage to change after our turn on the runway. The swimsuit section was the next category. From scuba gear and boogie boards, to lifeguard attire and women’s bathing suits, everyone had a unique style to show off. Finally, we ran backstage one last time, changing into our formal wear. We all had one last chance to make a good impression on the audience, and each one of us strutted out and made our final poses. The event continued on with a talent portion. We had all discussed what talents we were performing beforehand, and with each person talking about their own skills, each person got a little more nervous, wondering if their talent would hold
up against the others. The talent section was cause for a little anxiety, but each contestant made it through, giving a great performance. The talents ranged from singing, dancing, magic, cheerleading, and even performing CPR. The final moments on stage saw all of us, hand in hand, waiting for the votes to be counted. The top three were selected, Ben Norton from Music Therapy, Tom Malinowski from Rugby, and Matt Geus from Speech Language Pathology. The rest of us added to the applause from the crowd, and walked off stage as the Question round began. Each finalist was asked a separate question, and each gave a unique answer. In the end, the judges voted for Tom Malinowski to be crowned Mr. Molloy, and Ben Norton as the First Runner Up.
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Mr. Molloy 2013, Tom Malinowski
Student dig out their worst for party By Sean Troy Forum Cartoonist Great Aunts love them, but college students dread them: holiday sweaters. These sweaters may be adorned with jolly reindeer and festive ornaments, except no one would be caught dead wearing these abominations if it wasn’t keeping their great aunt alive. Despite this, the Freshman Class Student Government decided to make light of these atrocities, and kicked off the holiday season with an Ugly Sweater Party. The party was held on Nov. 7, 2013 from 8pm to 11pm when the Hays Theater was transformed into a winter wonderland. The stage was wrapped like a present, snowflakes garnered the ceiling, and ornaments accented the tables. Sandwiches, chips, soda, and Santa’s favorite treat, cookies, were served under a Christmas tree. The turnout for the event was impressive, and music provided by DJ Mike kept the party going strong. “This party is out of control,” said freshman Lisa Ciorciari as she partied with her friends. Freshman Class Treasurer, Will Torres, agreed, “the freshman class likes to go hard on their parties”.
It wasn’t all just fun and games. Due to the recent tragedy in the Philippines, the freshman class had a dollar donation box at the entrance to help raise money for relief efforts with the Philippine Red Cross. To continue the celebration of the usually dreaded sweaters, an Ugly Sweater contest was held. Contestants walked down a runway showing off their different ugly sweaters. Some looked cozy while others looked snug, but they were all ugly. Once all the contestants were on the stage, the winner of the contest would be decided based off of the cheers from the party and the freshman class officers. More than fifteen contestants entered, but only two were victorious. In second place was Melissa Cortes wearing a red sweater with merry teddy bears. In first place was Anna Delgado who wore a green turtle neck attached with golden streamers and rosy ornaments. “It’s a dream come true. I always wanted to look like a Christmas tree,” laughed Anna as she received her prizes. The party was festive and the best way to describe the night came from Belyn Guvam saying, “It’s ugly.”
By Sean Troy Forum Cartoonist
Student Government’s Activities Coordinator, Victoria Bardin, International Day was held in the lobby of Wilbur from 12pm to 2pm. Students could get a plate filled with food from all over the world. Italian sausage, Swedish meatballs, Jamaican rice, and Philippine Pan-
International Day gives Molloy student a taste of world cuisine for lunch While it is possible to travel the world in eighty days, Molloy decided to make it easier for its students and had its own International Day. Organized by
cit luglug were just several of the wonderful dishes students could have. An all-you-can-eat plate only cost five dollars. “Food is delicious as well as worth the price,” said Ryan Lane as he ate some penne ala vodka. All of the money collected went to Fisher House, an organi-
zation that acts as “a home away from home” for the families of military personnel who are receiving medical care at military and VA medical centers. “To support a great cause makes this food even more delicious” said senior Megan Gaskin.
Features
Winter Issue
Molloy Forum
Professor pursues doctorate abroad By Joe Antony Special Issues Editor As one of the newest additions to the sociology department, Professor Melissa Forstrom has a lot of experience and knowledge to offer the students of Molloy College. On top of teaching both a communications and public speaking course, Forstrom is currently working on her PhD in visual culture from the University of Westminster, London. She is in the external research degree study scheme, which allows her to work on her PhD remotely. The school requires her to be in London for six weeks out of the academic year. Since there are no formal classes for the program, Forstrom can work on her research and dissertation for Westminster while at the same time being able to teach here at Molloy. Forstrom’s academic career began with her undergraduate studies at Northeastern University in Boston. When asked what her ideal career path was at the time, she says “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I liked to study literature and film and the relationship they had to culture.” This led to her taking a major in literature and minors in cinema studies and history. During her time at Northeastern, Forstrom had a range of work experiences; she worked for a media company and a publishing
company, taught inner city Boston kids, and even spent some time abroad in Ireland where she worked for an Irish senator. She notes how these experiences were important because she says “they helped me realize what kind of jobs I didn’t want to do”. After Northeastern, Forstrom worked in the film industry in Wilmington, North Carolina where she did sales. With regards to this experience, she says “it was not a good experience, it wasn’t a good company, and I made no money doing it.” It was at this time where she started thinking about going back to school for a masters degree in visual culture. “When I started looking into masters programs, I didn’t want to do film because it really limits your options, and when I was doing research into higher education, I found visual culture. There were good programs in Chicago and California, but I felt like London was the best option for me. I’ve always wanted to live in London, and as one the world’s capitals, I thought it would be the best place to study visual culture.” Visual culture is a new discipline of study which started in the 1980’s. Forstrom describes it as “the study of culture through visual forms. It uses famous social scientists, such as Bourdieu, Foucault, and Habermas, and it applies their theories to visual form.” Things such as advertisements, film, and even
architecture would be studied in this discipline. After completing her masters at Westminster, Forstrom worked for a corporate entity named Aegis. She worked in the human resources department on a global capacity. She did general managerial type functions such as hiring employees on a global scale and performing audits for CEO compensation on a regional scale. Forstrum recounts “the experience was really great for me, but I knew that I wanted to go back to school and get a PhD.” She eventually submitted her PhD proposal to Westminster and was accepted into the external research degree study scheme. After her PhD, Forstrom says she wants to continue teaching at the collegiate level. While this is her first time teaching full-length classes, Forstrom has taught seminars at the graduate level previously during her time at Westminster. When asked about her experience at Molloy so far, Forstrom replied, “I love it, it’s really great. I find it really rewarding but you really have to keep on top of it. I think that the students at Molloy are great; they’re really inquisitive.” On top of teaching, Forstrum would also like to work as a language consultant for a museum and work on things like text or exhibition designs.
Fast food fundraiser allows students to indulge for a cause By Diana Shorthouse Student Features Editor October 2 was an amazing day for two determined Molloy students. Community Service coordinators, Mary-Kate Michels and Ally Grunin, held a “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” event at the McDonald’s in Rockville Centre. At this event, 20% of the cost of a food order went directly to “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.” Mary-Kate Michels stated, “this is our second event, Molloy has been very open to helping. So far, everyone has been very willing to give.” With the great turn out that the event had, Ally Grunin stated, “there were
times where we made $400 in donations in three hours. Just asking around Molloy for donations really helped. It feels very important to fundraise every chance we get.” Mary-Kate and Ally, along with other volunteers, also held
other events on campus to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month including a bake sale on Oct. 10, Bra Pong on Oct. 16, and a ribbon and bracelet sale on Oct. 17. The month culminated with the Breast Cancer Walk on Oct. 20 at Jones Beach.
Photo by Brandon Rizzuto, Molloy Life Videographer
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Artwork By Sean Troy
Junior explores unique career option By Diana Shorthouse Student Features Editor Molloy College junior, Bryan Jestic, certainly surprised many people when they found out his new occupation of choice. During these past few months, Jestic has been attending classes and training sessions to become a certified LIRR Conductor. “I was inspired to become a conductor because I wanted to start early in my career. I saw that the LIRR had great benefits and great starting pay. By the time I am thirty years old, I can possibly make over $100,000 a year. “The process to become certified included a ten-week training program with a lot of studying involved. I was studying every night for about 3-4 hours. Within that ten-week program, I had three exams, in which I had to score a 75% or higher in order to pass.” When looking at a conductor on a train, it looks like the job is easy, but the conductor has to satisfy all of the passengers and make sure everything goes correctly. The duties as a conductor include collecting tickets, opening the doors when arriving at a station, making announcements, as well as providing excellent customer service. The LIRR guarantees a 40-hour workweek and provides overtime if employees wish to work on days off. Jestic finally states, “Being a con-
ductor is a lot to take in at first and is very time consuming, but once you look past that, it is really a great job.” Bryan will continue his duties as a LIRR Conductor while finishing up his degree at Molloy College.
Clubs
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Molloy Forum
New club bounces Molloy College Nursing onto campus Student Association has many involved on campus By Sean Troy Forum Cartoonist
By Danielle Kocienda Forum Writer The Molloy Nursing Student Association (MNSA) is one of the many clubs offered at Molloy. MNSA, compared to many of the other clubs on campus, is very unique. It is the largest club on campus, and it is many up of many nursing students and potential nursing students, another factor that makes the Molloy Nursing Student Association unique is if you are a nursing major you are automatically enrolled as a member and you get to determine how you become involoed in the club. MNSA gives its members many opportunities to get in-
volved in the organization. This semester alone, the Molloy Nursing Students Association has already offered many ways to become involved in the club. MNSA has had two monthly meetings and taken part in the Molloy College Blood Drive, Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and Breast Cancer Walk. They also offered their Gear Sale so members can promote some awesome sweatshirts and fleeces. Don’t worry if you missed out on the order because MNSA holds gear sales every semester. Not only is MNSA a very involved club, they are also an award-winning club. Most recently, the Molloy Nursing Students Association was honored
with the “Empowering Resolutions” award from the National Student Nurses Association at a conference in South Carolina in the Spring 2013 semester. They received this award because of an event that they co-sponsored with Not for Sale club where they watched the documentary “Very Young Girls” about sex trafficking in New York City. Overall, MNSA is a great organization to become involved with. Some of the events to watch out for are their monthly meetings and annual Holiday Party. For more information about the Molloy Nursing Students Association and their events, you can email MNSA@lions.molloy.edu.
Every year at Molloy, students have access to a plethora of established clubs, and each year new clubs are added. This year, one of the newest additions to the roster is the Ping Pong Club. Ping Pong, also known as table tennis, is a sport in which two or four people use paddles to hit a small ball back and forth across a table. Points are earned when an individual fails to return the ball to the other side or misses a pass from another player. Intended for players of all levels, the Ping Pong Club aims to promote a respite after long classes. “I started playing ping pong because I find it to be relaxing and great stress release,” says John Bruno,
founder of the club. “I wanted to start the ping pong club because I missed playing ping pong and thought there would be a lot of people who would want to play too.” As the founder, he strives to provide Molloy with a fun activity, educate members about the skills and rules of ping pong, and create a close family setting. The club had its first interest meeting on Oct 11 where it officially introduced itself to the campus. The turn out for the club was good, and it has had a positive response from prospective members. If you wish to join or learn more about it contact John at jbruno@lions. molloy.edu.
Fiscal responsibility of clubs Club Corner: heightens as budgets are cut Arts Related By Saniya Khan Forum Editor Holding an executive position on any club’s board is a big responsibility, and one of the most important things to be aware of is your club’s financial situation. Clubs typically have two accounts, fundraised and budget. The amount in the fundraised account is carried over from year to year and includes revenue from any activities the club holds over the years. Budgets, on the other hand, are allotted based on paperwork that was filled out at the end of the previous year about activities your club plans to hold during the school year. All club presidents should have received their approved budgets by now. Amounts that clubs receive in this account can only be used towards what is detailed in this approved budget, and leftover funds do not carry over to the next year. If a club finds that it needs to adjust its original budget allocations, the treasurer of the club can fill out and submit a budget modification to the Treasurer of Student
Government, Joseph Platia. New to the job, Platia has already made several changes to the way things are run. He is especially encouraging clubs to think outside the box in terms of fundraising and has set a challenging fundraising goal of $5,000 for each club. Platia notes, “it was hard at first because the club and government budget had been slightly cut just like it had been in previous years. Going through all the budget request forms from each club was difficult because I wish I could have granted all the clubs their requested budgets, but it fiscally wasn’t possible. That is why, this year, my goal has been to stress fundraising!” He has also cut back on the paperwork that needs to be filled out monthly by clubs. Some important forms that still do remain include the check request form. This should be filled out for anyone in the club to be reimbursed for any club purchases with the account that should be charged, whether it is budget or fundraised, specified on it. Remember that in order to be reimbursed
from your club’s budget account, the purchase needs to fall under a line item already specified in your approved budget. All other purchases can come from the fundraised account, however, tax paid on the purchase will not be reimbursed, making the tax exemption form important to have on hand when shopping. This form should be presented when members are in stores buying items for their club’s activities and prevents you from having to pay tax on your purchase. Any forms clubs need, including the tax exempt and check request forms, can be found in the Club Room on the third floor of the Public Square. All of this information can be overwhelming at first, however, it is vital to be knowledgeable in how your club’s finances work. Platia stresses that he has “an open-door policy and can be contacted at any time with any comments, questions, or concerns by email at jplatia@lions. molloy.edu. Just remember to always stay organized, and always be fiscally responsible!”
By Kevin Kempski Video Editor
Anime – Anime Club is where members watch, appreciate, and discuss Japanese anime series as well as other animated series. Last year, they got to meet the co-creator of Ben 10, Joe Kelly! Email: animemolloy@gmail.com Music Therapy – Music Therapy Club is brought together for the benefit of music therapy majors, but you can be any major to join! Members can exchange songs and techniques for their repertoire. Meetings are every other week. Email: musictherapyclub@lions.molloy.edu Poetry – The Poetry Club allows poets to share their works and is meant to exemplify the power of the spoken word. Their poems are featured in The Molloy Student Literary Magazine. Meetings are on Thursdays at 4:15pm. Email: lionscafe@lions.molloy.edu
Join our Team! For more information, email Saniya at skhan@lions.molloy.edu, or come to our meetings on Thursdays at 3:30 in PS050.
Reviews
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Molloy Forum
Movie Review: Gravity By Victoria Sorrentino Forum Reporter The sci-fi/drama/thriller Gravity was released into theaters Oct 4, 2013 in 2D, 3D, and IMAX. Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity was definitely a suspense-filled adventure. Interestingly enough, the only characters in the film were Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock), astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney), and an engineer, with only some voiceovers adding to the cast. Ryan and Matt are performing a routine spacewalk when they are hit with flying debris in their orbit. Their shuttle Explorer is destroyed, so the two are forced to make their way to the International Space Station one hundred kilometers away. Throughout their adventure, there are constant near-
death encounters, and it seems that everything that can possibly go wrong on Dr. Stone’s first mission, in fact, does. There are also some very well done scenes that capture the real emotion of the experiences, and some moments (including the ending) are definitely left open to interpretation. Despite the limited variance in characters and scenery, I did not find myself getting bored during the film as I expected. I was at the edge of my seat for a good portion of the movie, and although some parts were slow, the actors expressed their fear and courage in these moments very effectively. The movie definitely exceeded my expectations. Journalism student Michelle Lulic agreed, saying, “That was the most incredible film I’ve ever seen. When I left the theater, I felt as if I was just touching land again after a two hour journey in space. Go see it.”
Others were not so pleased with the film. Movie theater employee Jimmy Cuervo said, “After seeing Gravity, my desire to be an astronaut is that much less. Also, I want my hour and a half back.” Despite mixed reviews about the plot, I have heard nothing but praise concerning the movie’s effects. I saw the movie in 2D, but I have heard from a number of sources that seeing it in IMAX really enhances the brilliance of the effects. However, the price of an IMAX movie ticket is nearly twice the price of a regular ticket, so make your decision wisely. Although I do not think Gravity is a must-see, I do recommend seeing it if you get a chance. However, I would consider spending the few extra dollars on an IMAX ticket to get the full impact of the journey in space. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Video Game Review: The Wolf Among Us Episode 1: Faith By Michael Baginski Forum Reporter After the success of The Walking Dead, Telltale have so far impressed me when it comes to their storytelling expertise. So when I heard about their next project, The Wolf Among Us, I was pretty excited. It takes the established brand of the Fables comic and creates a story proceeding that. It is also divided into 5 episodes, like the Walking Dead, and is released monthly. The story around the Fables universe is that known fairy tale creatures and characters live in a certain part of New York City known as “Fable-Town.” In Fable-Town, the denizens buy and use spells known as “Glamours” to keep them disguised from the other humans.
Bigby, or as we know him as “The Big Bad Wolf,” is one of those denizens. He is the sheriff of Fable-Town and tries to prevent crime on others as well as remind people to buy their Glamours. He investigates a local disturbance at an apartment where Mr.Toad resides. He called Bigby because he heard violent noises up stairs. While the dialogue is happening, you can choose your choices in the dialogue menu as well as just give a silent response. Bigby then goes upstairs and finds the Woodsmen arguing and hitting a supposed prostitute. Bigby intervenes and then a fight starts.
chanics feel fine though I did have some spots where my button prompts did not respond on screen but those were rare and few. General presentation-wise, it is a stellar looking game with vivid art and a backdrop similar to a 1980s television drama. There are some frame-rate hitches here and there but that is mostly due to the aging current-gen systems and not the game itself.
If you played Walking Dead, you’ll be familiar with the controls due to the fact that they are both similar, From what I’ve played of it, the me-
This game was played on a PlayStation 3. Available also on Xbox 360.
$20 MSRP for the whole season 4 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed the game’s first episode and with its thrilling cliffhanger at the end, the next episode can’t come soon enough.
$5 MSRP for one single episode CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
App Review: One Second Everyday By Michael Schultz Forum Reporter At Comic Con 2013, I just got out of one of my panels and was taking a walk around the show floor, when I stopped and spoke to a guy regarding his Google Glasses. Turns out that he was the developer for one of the most innovative and life changing apps that I have ever experienced, known as 1 Second Everyday. It’s basically self-explanatory; you take one second of video each day, and log the video onto a calendar. From that calendar, the app can string together your video seconds into a compilation from any period of time that you specify. He told me to check out the app and it’s only $0.99, so I ended up buying it because, well, it seemed like an interesting concept. The true impact
of this app did not hit me until recently, when I noticed that the first week my calendar was complete. I selected the footage to be compiled, and before I knew it, that week of my life had been put into video. I was amazed, I could actually remember each and every day that I saw within the video. Then it hit me: no more forgotten days or lost memories. This really is an incredible concept, being able to take a video, every day of your life, and use it to make a continuous movie, of your life. Imagine, years from now being able to show your children how you lived each and every day; being able to show them your daily memories, even entire months, years, decades, within just a couple of minutes. This app really inspired me to open my eyes more to the world around me. Now every day I
look for something that I can take my one second of, and in doing so, I have been able to realize that life moves really quickly, even in my first month of using this app, even just by looking at my month of footage itself, I noticed that life moves incredibly fast, and that so much can happen in such a short period of time. But what this app has made me realize most of all is that every second counts, every second of our lives has meaning, and that no person lives a life without meaning. Every second is a story, and always be sure to live life watching the seconds as they pass, because if you don’t, something might pass you by. Never lose a second, 1 Second Every Day is available on iOS and Android for $0.99.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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Men’s Soccer end season miss playoffs By Nick Crispino Sports Editor The 2013 season came to a close for the men’s soccer team after losing, 2-3, to Philadelphia University on Nov 2, at the Dean G. Skelos Sports Complex. Losing to East Coast Conference (ECC) division rival, St. Thomas Aquinas College, 5-6, at Sparkill NY, the Lions finished with a 5-9-3 record overall and were eliminated from competing in the ECC playoffs. Finishing with an ECC record of 3-4-3, Coach Dan Longo and players will end their season being ranked seventh in the standings. The backbone of the team came from the play of senior midfielder, Dan Brown. Brown continued his excellent play all season, leading the Lions in individual categories of goals (4), assists (5), and points (13). St. Thomas Aquinas College felt the wrath of Brown’s excellent
play, as he had his best statistical game, finishing with two goals and two assists. The East Coast Conference office awarded Brown with the Weekly Honor Roll as he produced a total of two goals and three assists against St. Thomas Aquinas College and New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) for the last week of the season. Brown was selected to the AllConference First Team, it his second straight season earning All-ECC honors. Senior midfielder Mario Gagliano, is behind Brown in most goals (3) and points (6) on the team. Gagliano also showed his versatility during the season, starting four games at goalkeeper. Lions received excellent goalkeeper play from junior, Justin Corke. Starting 12 games at goalkeeper for the Lions, Corke stonewalled his opponents with 3 shutouts, 63 saves, and .788 save percentage during the sea-
son. Corke also is a top five leader in the ECC in saves, with a rank of 3 and save percentage, with a rank of 4. One of the most memorable wins for the Lions came against NYIT on Senior Night, Oct 23, at the Dean G. Skelos Sports Complex. Winning 2-1, the Lions helped knock the Bears down the standings, who were tied second in the league at the time. NYIT scored at the 30-minute mark
but the Lions tied it up after half time when junior Joey Pinto scored on a free kick 20 yards out. Molloy went up, 2-1, when Brown dished the ball to freshman Christopher Ernest at the 78-minute mark. Both Ernest and Pinto earned their first goals on the season. Prior to the start of the game, the men’s soccer program recognized and honored its eight seniors: Brown, Gagliano, Jovani Ramos, Antho-
ny Morais, Anthony Costabile, Tom Garcia,Steven Reyes, and Leo Arra. Even though the Lions played inconsistently throughout the season, Molloy did finish two spots higher in the standings than what the ECC poll released at the start of the season. A late season brawl against rival Mercy College cost the team a chance to succeed as multiple members of the men’s soccer team were suspended.
Women’s Soccer salutes Seniors at home By Nick Crispino Sports Editor It was a special match for the Molloy women’s soccer team as they beat New York Institution of Technology in front of a grand audience, 1-0, on Oct 10, at the Dean G. Skelos Sports Complex. The win wasn’t the only bright spot on the night but the Molloy College Athletic Department also hosted Senior Night for the team. “It’s a tradition, it’s a big thing for the kids because they look forward to it,” said Director of Athletics, Susan CassidyLyke. “It’s sentimental, they’re glad about graduating but will miss the fact they won’t play soccer on a collegiate level.” Seniors, Katie Jacques, Natalie Meringolo, Sami Saad, Jennifer Schmoll, Nicole Valentine, and Tricia Zarro, were honored before the match began. Coach Dan Longo expressed his sentiment towards the seniors, “they’re a great group of kids.” Longo reflected on team Captain, Saad, referring to her
practice routine as “battling hard every day” and was proud of goalkeeper, Zarro, for shutting out NYIT to get the win.
Longo spoke of Maringolo, explaining, “As much as she drives me crazy, I love her to death,” and referred to Valentine as
“crazy” Nicole Valentine, who Longo will miss very much. Longo expressed that he’s sad that Schmoll, Jacques, and the
rest of the seniors will be gone. The Lions took care of the ball most of game and could of scored on multiple chances as they outshot the Bears, 15-4. The maroon-and-white came out strong, scoring the only goal on the night at the 5-minute mark. Freshman, Jessica Malone, beautifully dished the ball to junior, Allison Sloper, and Sloper found the back of the net. “We stole a goal and hung on,” said Longo about the game. The Lady Lions are 3-12 overall but are 3-4 in the ECC. The Lions finished the season 3-13-1 overall and 3-5-1 in the East Coast Conference.Sloper leads the Lions in goals (5), assists (4), and points (14). Junior goalkeeper, Nicole Dellaporta just recently received the Defensive Player of the Week away by the ECC office. Dellaporta has a total of 68 saves and a .680 save percentage as of Oct. 29. Saad was finished second in points (6) and goals (3).
11 Home Opener proves Lions have heart Sports
by Nick Crispino Sports Editor
In front of a sell-out crowd on Nov 23, at Quealy Gymnasium in Rockville Centre NY, the men’s and women’s basketball team showcased their skills and level of competitiveness during their home opener for the Molloy community. The day started off with the women’s team beating Philadelphia University, 67-60, in a nonconference tilt, giving them a record of 3-2 at the time. After the game, head coach Kate Lynch said, “I think it was a tough win, it was one of those games you have to win and grind it out.” The Lady Lions started on fire, having a 27-16 lead mid-way through the first halve, but Molloy allowed the Rams back in the game due to foul trouble and turnovers. Commenting on the 13 team fouls in the first halve, Lynch said, “It’s
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tough with the new rules, and we’re trying to teach our kids how to play smart and aggressive.” It was a back-and-forth battle until Sophomore Kimani Jackson who had 11 points on the day, scored on backto-back drives to the hoop. Jackson’s key buckets helped the Lions tie the game and then take the lead at 49-47. The Rams didn’t see the lead again but kept it close until a three pointer by junior Sabrina Padro gave the Lions some breathing room and a score of 58-52 with less than two minutes of regulation time. Padro finished with 11 points and 5 assists in the game and also sparked the team due to her aggressiveness. Overall the Lions finished strong and played excellent defense down the stretch. Molloy totaled 7 blocks and 6 steals which truly helped earn the win. The men’s basketball team didn’t finish with a win but fought tooth and nail down the stretch,
losing 71-67, to Philadelphia University. It was the fourth loss on the early season, giving the Lions a 1-4 start. Leading scorer (21.7 ppg.), senior John Petrucelli spoke after the game, “It was a tough loss and we played hard defense but couldn’t get the job done.” Petrucelli did have encouraging words for the maroonand-white fans, stating, “Will stay at it {training} in practice and will get back after it {winning}. Molloy started off slow, trailing 25-16 at 7:31 mark in the first halve. It seemed every time Molloy made a run, the Rams also answered with a run of their own. This was the case with two minutes left in the first halve and trailing by 5, Philadelphia went on their own run, leading 37-27 at the half-way point. The Lions did come back in the second halve, eventually taking the lead when freshman Jaylen Morris slammed a dunk on a fast break to give the Lions a 43-42
lead. The lead changed several times after but the Rams took control late in the game and executed on foul shots down the line. Junior Matt McLeod made it interesting when he made a three point play with 2.4 second left, cutting the lead down to 6967, but it was too late. Petrucelli finished with 11 points, McLeod had a team high 22 points and sophomore Chucks Obunse finished with 13 points. Obunse played a great game even though it may not show in the stat line. Without Obunse interior defense against one of Philadelphia’s best players, 6-10, Peter Alexis, the game could have been a lot worse. The Rams key to winning the game was the 30 foul shot attempts they made out of 38. Molloy College women’s and men’s basketball team will play through the holidays and still have high expectations to succeed in the East Coast Conference.
12 Molloy Athletics adds new Assistant Director
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Neither the new title of Assistant Director of Athletics for Operations nor the easy commute from Seaford to Rockville Centre had been the reasons for Matt Guercio’s decision to apply for the job, but the prospect of working at Molloy College represented change in his life. After being employed for seven years as Coordinator of Athletic Operations and Special Events for Long Island University Post, Guercio knew he needed to get out of his comfort zone and take on a larger task. “I had really outgrown my position at LIU Post. I was ready for a change, and it [Assistant Director of Athletics for Operations] was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down,” said Guercio. His time spent at LIU Post gave him the tools and confidence to take on a grander role at Molloy College. Even though he left, he does credit LIU Post for making him the person he is today, “LIU Post gave me my start in this line of work, and without that experience I wouldn’t be here at Molloy College.” While working at LIU Post, Guercio had managed the game-day operations of the school’s fifteen NCAA Division II programs and managed dozens of NCAA championship events. Working with Molloy since July 22 2013, Guercio is still getting acclimated with the day-to-day operations. His job includes overseeing the staffing, set-up, operation and break down of the sixteen Division II teams at Molloy, assisting with travel logistics, ordering apparel and equipment for all the teams, and scheduling for practice, games, and events.Even on game day, Guercio has his hands full, stating, “I make sure everything runs smoothly.” His tasks include contacting visiting teams and making sure officials have been accommodated when they arrive at Molloy and meeting the needs of the athletes, coaches, and sports spectators. “It’s a lot of follow-up that goes into an event; with
operations you’re the life line,” said Guercio. His biggest challenge to date has been working at offsite facilities. Mitchell Field in Garden City is where the baseball team plays; the women’s tennis team competes in Hempstead, and the softball, soccer, and lacrosse matches are played at the Dean Skelos Sports Complex in Rockville Centre. Fortunately, Guercio has help in graduate assistant Pat Brown and intern assistant Tyler Savin. “I’m very grateful to have them on board, they’re both former student athletes so they understand the operational aspect of the Athletic Department,” explained Guercio. During his time at LIU Post, Guercio established and instrumented the Athletic Operations Internship program and administrated the student-athlete recognition dinner, golf outing, and Athletic Hall of Fame. “I’m looking to do similar aspects with utilizing different vendors to give the student-athletes, faculty, alumni, and all the people who support Molloy a tremendous experience,” said Guercio.”This is about them [student-athletes]; without them [student-athletes] I wouldn’t be here right now.” Having a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Dowling College in 2003, Guercio worked at a law firm before committing himself to LIU Post. “Sports have always been a part of my life and family,” said Guercio. He credits his uncle, who was a statistician for the New York Rangers, as an inspiration, stating “I would go with my dad to Madison Square Garden and see the players, general manager, and all the people in suits; there was something about it that wanted me to work in sports.” With his lovely wife, Mary-Ellen, and a 7-month old son, Nicholas, Guercio is humble to have a career that allows him to be financially stable. “Molloy has a wonderful atmosphere and a great community. I’m very grateful, thankful, and honored to be a part of this institution.”
Volleyball season ends on losing streak by Nick Crispino Sports Editor
The 2013 Molloy College volleyball campaign ended in frustration, as the Lions finished the season 9-20 overall, and 3-13 in the East Coast Conference and eighth in the standings. The inconsistent play was marked by a ten game losing streak to end the season. The streak ultimately eliminated the Lions from the East Coast Conference playoffs. Junior Sam Berna, led the Lions in points (284), kills (253), and was second on the team in digs (202) this season. Berna’s record of 253 kills is now ranked sixth all-time on the Molloy College leaderboard. Sophomore Cassie Palmer placed second on the team in points (269.5) and second in kills (210). Palmer’s 48 service aces lead the team and became the fourth most service aces in a single season at Molloy. Junior Shannon Appeal helped anchor the team, round-
ing out the top three in points (241.5) and kills (197). Appeal was also selected to ECC Women’s Volleyball Weekly Honor Roll in week 11, earning 20 kills in two matches with Daemen College and Roberts Wesleyan College. Freshman standout, Alley Stefanovski, contributed greatly as she facilitated the ball movement, leading the Lions in assists (629). Stefanovski’s 629 assists this year ranks her second on the single season record book at Molloy College. Senior Euginia Anthony had a very memorable 2013 campaign. Anthony finished first in digs (315) and finished her career with 781 digs, which is now sixth on the all-time digs list at Molloy. Head Coach Billy Corrao, his staff, and the squad will be looking to bounce back in 2014. With their key players returning, the Lions will be hungry to take a bite out of the competition and forget their woes of 2013.
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Maroon Madness kicks winter season By Nick Crispino Sports Editor It was a special night for the Molloy Community as the Molloy College Athletic Department and Campus Life hosted Maroon Madness, on Oct 11, at the Quealy Gymnasium. The night represented the start of the 2013-14 basketball season. In spectacular fashion, the men’s and women’s basketball team were introduced in front of cheering fans, faculty, family, and staff. “We’re excited about Maroon Madness, and I think it’s the biggest event we can pull off around this time,” said Director of Athletics, Susan CassidyLyke. Celebrations began with a free buffet of food that was sponsored by Moe’s Southwest Grill, and after the Lion supporters found their seats, free t-shirts were thrown their way. Next was a performance by Molloy’s dance team, and then the lights dimmed, music started playing, and when the smoke began to rise, each player and coaching staff member was introduced on the court to a rounding applause. Asking some of the players what their thoughts are about Maroon Madness, senior John Petrucelli said, “It’s a great night for the fans to come out and see a preview of the season to come.” Senior Tyler Hammett also spoke, “It’s to have fun with my brothers and to show everybody what we do each day.” Petrucelli and Hammett also commented on what they did to improve this offseason: for Hammett it was his conditioning, and for Petrucelli, it was his jump shot and dribbling to help him get to the basket. Women’s sophomore player, Kimani Jackson,
spoke about Maroon Madness, stating, “It’s exciting and everyone gets to know who I am.” Senior Kelly Guerriero explained what Maroon Madness means to her, “Fans can come out and see what our team will be like for the year.” The night’s events included a Slam Dunk contest, a 3-Point contest, and performances by Molloy’s dance team, cheerleading squad, and the Lioness Steppers. The three-point contest consisted of participants making as many threepoint shots as possible in thirty-seconds. The challengers were from both the men’s and women’s basketball team and involved juniors Meghan Orlando and Matt McLeod, freshmen Charles Marquardt IV and Kevin Bowles, sophomores Alexia O’Conner and Brandon Williams, and senior Kelly Guerriero.The winner of the Maroon Madness 3-Point contest went to Williams with six three’s, edging out McLeod and Guerriero who finished with five. In the final event, junior Miles Pendergast defeated Petrucelli in an unbelievable slam dunk contest to become the 2013 Maroon Madness Slam Dunk Champion. Pendergast completed his final dunk by jumping over assistant coach, Jason Fiscina, and in mid-air, recieved a pass from sophomore Maurice Gatson. Pendergast’s dunk electrified the room and what’s more impressive is he did it on his first try while not hurting Fiscina in the process. The contenders also comprised of sophomore Maurice Gatson, freshman Jaylen Morris, and senior Tyler Hammett. Overall, it was a great night to support the Molloy College Basketball program and kickoff the new seasons.
Senior John Petrucelli soars in the air.