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LOCOMOTION

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STORY ON PAGE 3 | EDITORIAL ON PAGE 9

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF THE NEW PALTZ ORACLE PHOTO BY LIZZIE NIMETZ

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by the business manager. Community announcements are published gratuitously, but are subject to restriction due to space limitations.There is no guarantee of publication. Contents

Volume 86 Issue XI NEWS

Dylan Sheppard

THE GUNK

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BUSINESS MANAGER

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STAFF April Castillo, Nick Fodera, Sally Moran, Eileen Liebler, Jahna Romano, Kaycia Sailsman, Dana Schmerzler, Shelby Seip, Kelly Seiz, Jack Sommer, Ryan Walz, Sage Higgins

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University Police Blotter Disclaimer: This is only a partial listing. For all incidents, please visit the University Police Department.

Index

Jackie Quaranto MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

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Incident: Drugs Date: 12/6/14 Location: Crispell Hall Very strong odor of marijuana reported. ed. No one would answer door. Due to policy UPO did not enter the room. Incident referred to campus judicial.

EDITORIAL

Incident: Petit Larceny Date: 12/4/14 Location: Elting Gym

REFLECTION

founded. Case Closed.

ANDREW LIEF

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By Anthony DeRosa N02385288@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

At last week’s Academic Senate meeting, senators voiced their grievances about the timing renovation closing in relationship to its close be inconsiderate to students’ need for an accommodating study area. “I recognize the frustration the students experienced. I myself am not thrilled with the timing either. We worked really hard to provide every accommodation as possible,” Library Dean Mark Colvson said. The project’s notice to proceed was issued to the project’s contractor, Pleasant Valley based Meyer Contracting Corp., on Oct. 6 by the State University Construction Fund, according to SUNY New Paltz Campus Architect, Megan Smailer. The State University Construction Fund provided capital funding for the project, totaling $14.3 million, she said. Beginning on Thursday, Dec. 4, the STL and

News

its services were shut down while library staff and service management were relocated from the the next day in the temporary location. “The goal was for the contract to be executed before the start of this semester and that we would aim to do the move over a break. However the complexity of executing a contract of this magnitude, $14 million, there are a lot of hoops that a contract has to go through and hiccups can occur that can slow that,” Colvson said. in October, preliminary planning for the project began to enable the library services move to the basement. This included wiring adjustments in the space, the construction of a temporary wall on the western end of the building and the creation of a basement entrance necessary for move prep. “There is stuff that simply has to happen before we can move, which is why once put in motion, the construction could not be delayed [for

you’re paying people to not work that pushes back the end date which will impact students as well. So it’s a balance on having a further impact on the spring and fall 2015 semester as opposed to taking the time now — even though it’s not ideal — so we can keep the project close to its scheduled completion date.” SUNY New Paltz President Donald Christian said delaying the renovation even another because of the complicated nature of construction contracts. “It would have cost a lot of money to delay the project. The contracts for a major renovation project like this are complex; the contractors are under timelines. They have crews working that have to proceed with their work,” Christian said. “There’s really no good time to [begin the projthere have been alternate locations set up.” Colvson informed the campus community of the scheduled closing dates as far back as August and also hosted a Q&A session for the ac-

Thursday, December 11, 2014

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commodations that would be made to students during the library’s renovation. Spaces have been made available in the Student Union building for quite study as well as the computer labs in Lecture Center 110 and 112 open during library hours, Colvson said. “One of the not so ideal situations [we’ve I’ve been here since 2012 and I’ve never seen the late night study in the library, but that’s where it should be and we’ll be excited to get it back,” Colvson said. Colvson said the project’s coordinators are “pushing hard” to complete the project by August in time for the the beginning of the fall 2015 semester. “My vision for the library is of a collaborative space, an eventful space where things are happening. That’s not just my vision, it’s the vision of the community,” Colvson said. “When we get this building back it will more than make up for the shortcomings we’ll have to deal with currently.”

News

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Torres Joins LGBTQ Center Board of Directors

NEWS BRIEFS WORLD

PALESTINIAN OFFICIAL DIES AFTER ISRAEL TROOP CLASH A Palestinian Cabinet member died Wednesday shortly after he and other near a West Bank village. The forces forces held Ziad Abu Ain, 55, by the neck. Abu Ain later collapsed, received

BITTER MIDEAST GREETS US TORTURE REPORT WITH SHRUG -

ISRAEL MINISTER SAYS US CENSURE SLOWS SETTLEMENTS

By Andrew Lief | Alief@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Dan Torres announced on his Facebook page that minister said in comments broadcast Wednesday, adding that he hopes

sources and programs that bring together the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community across lines of age, race, gender and

nationally for its adovcation of LBGTQ rights.

year. -

DEBT AND HUNGER AT BIRTHPLACE OF EBOLA IN GUINEA caught a fever, started vomiting, passed really ask. Life is unforgiving in this their children to cholera, malaria, measles, typhoid, Lassa fever and a host of other illnesses that have no name. Compiled from the AP Newswire

for the board of directors because he is an ally, -

members.

er community members interested in creating the center. Torres said a member of the board of direcabout the center and had to factor in his other

government sanctioned historical marker representing a moment in gay history in the United Torres said a lot of things that are done at the center are relevant to youth services and as

tion.

can be included in. While marriage equality is something that

and more than half the states in the United States, Torres said there are still other issues that can

Thursday, December 11, 2014

nity-minded attitude and political involvement and for the center.

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News

$52.9 Million Renovation Bond Back On The Ballot By Melanie Zerah Copy Editor | Zerahm1@hawkmaiil.newpaltz.edu

After the initial failure of the $52.9 million bond proposal, the New Paltz Board of Education attempted to seek other ways to address the decrepit infrastructure of the New Paltz Middle School. Techniques such as creating a hotline where New Paltz residents can send their comments and suggest solutions to the issue were implemented. According to an article in The New Paltz Times, New Paltz Board of Education Trustee Dominick Profaci said that the public generally thought that there was a lack of comfort that “due diligence” was exhibited by the board. Profaci said what is important now is to make certain that the needed information to reassure the public of the board’s diligence is available. According to Ruth Quinn, vice president of the Board of Education, this issue has been ongoing for two years and the board has been challenging its members to create a plan that would be affordable and would update the building infrathese decaying infrastructures are a serious health hazard. “School district votes are the most democratic part of our government,” New Paltz Town Councilman Daniel Torres said. “When the town passes its budget, the requirement is three votes

you need four board members to agree and then a public referendum. There is no other governing entity in New York State where that happens.” Quinn said the board considered three things after the bond was initially voted down: the cost of delaying the project and the timing issues, the needs of the facilities and the responses of over 100 community members who replied to their request for feedback. “The majority of feedback indicated that there was confusion about the master plan,” Quinn said. “Since the issues that the community and delaying the project would cause the cost to increase, the Board of Education decided to put hopes that we could provide more information to the community about all the options and data that we reviewed.” According to Quinn, the buildings need infrastructure upgrades and delaying the project puts the operational budget at risk if an emergency repair becomes necessary. Quinn said the board has data which shows the bond project is the best solution to address the needs of the taxpayer while the students by taking care of the health and safety issues as well as the educational space issues. “The option of just doing an infrastructureonly bond for the middle school was rejected because it would be a ‘BandAid’ at best,” Quinn

said. “It would not adequately address air quality and ventilation issues as well as capacity issues. Instead we opted to do a comprehensive renovation of the middle school along with infrastructure repairs to all four buildings.” Torres said from the standpoint of a town board member, he recognizes that the town board can choose to put money aside for issues such as cording to Torres, a lot of confusion from the public is understandable because a lot of rules that apply to school renovation would not be applicable to private building projects. “At the end of the day there is a real facility issue that needs to be addressed. People will argue what that should look like, but it still means that something has to be done,” Torres said. “It is not like a general building project, it’s not the same as someone who wants to renovate their home; it is a public school project. It is confusing for people to understand that in projects like this, renovation is often more cost effective than rebuilding due to state aid formulas.” The bond will be up for voting on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2015 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. “The reality is that the people who voted no last time will vote no again. The people who voted yes last time will vote yes again. I expect we will see a larger turnout this time around and we will see what happens,” Torres said.

Plastic Bag Ban Sparks Local Criticism By Sam Manzella Copy Editor | Manzells1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The New Paltz Village Board’s ban on plastic bags in restaurants and retail shops in the village, which is set to begin next April, continues to stir controversy among business owners in New Paltz. The legislation aims to reduce the village’s environmental impact in regards to plastic usage, yet some locals doubt that this new policy will impact environmental issues at all, despite successful identical policies in municipalities in Long Island and Westchester County. Additionally, some business owners critiqued the implementation of such policies on a local level. In an article from the Times-Herald Record, Abdul Joulani, owner of Jack’s Meats and Deli, voiced his opinion on the “hardships” this law will produce. He said that he will ultimately have to charge for plastic bag alternatives in his store, something “he’s not happy about.” “In California [where a state-wide ban has been signed into law] people know what to ex-

pect,” Joulani said. “But we serve a lot of tourists. They’re going to be surprised if we can’t use plastic bags.” Amy Cohen, co-owner of The Groovy Blueberry, said she supports this law yet also wishes it were passed on a statewide level and not on a local level “in a 1.7 mile village with one dozen retail stores.” She said that this law will cost the village over $6,000 and this cost could easily be avoided by requiring stores switch to paper bags instead of plastic. Cohen said she is willing to comply with this new legislation, yet she and other business owners are annoyed that nobody on the village board could be bothered to ask local business owners what they thought about this policy before it was passed. “This will not affect our business as my cus“It is really no big deal. But if the village had just asked shop owners, we would have been willing to comply. In fact, I attended the public hearing for

this law and offered to go door-to-door to every store and have them sign a declaration saying that we all agree to switch to paper. This would not require a law [and] the village would save over $6,000.” She also said that this legislation is “completely ridiculous” for the village because the Town of New Paltz has no interest in even considering similar laws. As a result, the Town of New Paltz — which includes major shopping centers and grocery stores like Stop & Shop and ShopRite — will not be affected any time soon. “The town has no interest in this law, as they are waiting to see what happens in other towns as the plastic bag companies are suing towns across New York State,” Cohen said. Overall, business owners seem enthusiastic about this effort to reduce harmful plastic consumption and make a positive impact on environmental issues. It is the level and method of implementation, not the policy itself, which business owners take issue with, Cohen said.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

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NEWS BRIEFS NATIONAL

OHIO LAWMAKERS NARROW LETHAL INJECTION BILL Ohio lawmakers on Wednesday removed a measure from a death penalty bill that doctors and drugmakers warned could have led to shortages of a key drug and set anesthesiology back 20 years. ROYALS WRAP UP NYC VISIT WITH SEPT. 11 MUSEUM TOUR Britain’s Prince William and his wife, New York in a three-day whirlwind that included a black-tie reception, a meeting with the other king, LeBron James, and a solemn, rain-drenched visit to the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum. SALE OF OREGON CRAFT BREWERY PROVOKES BACKLASH

The Facebook page of a local brewery lit up with condemnations: Loyal beer drinkers said the brewers were greedy “sellouts.” Some fans threatened to boycott the brand. One declared he would stop wearing a T-shirt promoting the beer. PROTESTERS MARCH FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT NIGHT Hundreds of Northern California protesters angered at the killing of hurled objects at police and delayed metro and train services as they protested for a fourth straight night. MYSTERY DEEPENS OF WHERE EARTH’S WATER CAME FROM The mystery of where Earth’s water came from got murkier Wednesday when some astronomers essentially eliminated one of the chief suspects: comets. Over the past few months, the European Space Agency’s Rosetta space probe closely examined the type of comet that some scientists theorized could have brought water to our planet 4 billion years ago. It found water, but the wrong kind. Compiled from the AP Newswire

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NEWS

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Uniform Sexual Assault Policy Implemented By SUNY By Melissa Kramer Copy Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The State University of New York (SUNY) has adopted a uniform sexual assault prevention and response policy for SUNY campuses as announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The uniform SUNY sexual assault policy is a result of a resolution passed by the SUNY Board of Trustees in October in response to Cuomo’s request to create a system-wide set of standards to combat sexual assaults on college campuses, according to a SUNY press release. The policy was drafted over the past two months with SUNY leadership and working groups of internal and external stakeholders. a clear, voluntary agreement between those engaging in sexual activity. Tanhena Pacheco-Dunn, executive director for compliance and campus climate, said the most crucial element of the policy is the uniform standard of conduct that will be applied to all SUNY schools. It is critical to have one perspective for all on how to handle the concern of student safety and their ability to study in a safe environment, she said. “I think the next thing that’s pretty policies altogether really is the fact that it stresses that it has to be a structural change,” she said. “That it goes to everything from education and awareness to how we make all in line and ready to support victims or people who know victims.” One key point of the policy includes that silence or lack of resistance cannot be interpreted as consent regardless of an individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation. Consent to any sexual act or prior consensual sexual activity between or with any party does not count as consent to any other sexual act. The policy also states that any sexual acts committed as the result of any acts of threat or harm is not consensual. “Consent may be initially given but withdrawn at any time,” the policy states. “When consent is withdrawn or cannot be given, sexual activity must stop. The use of coercion, force or threat of harm is evidence of lack of consent. Consent to any one form of sexual activity does not automatically

imply consent to any other form(s) of sexual activity, nor do previous relationships or prior consent.” Another key point is that consent cannot be given when a person is incapacitated —

doing a lot.” Cait O’Connor, former Student Association (SA) senator and third-year secondary education major, spent a length of time and effort on the New Paltz sexual assault policy and analysis during her time with SA. the ability to fully, knowingly choose to par- She said SUNY New Paltz has reacted in ticipate in sexual activity. This includes the a variety of ways to the recent bureaucratic result of being impaired as a result of drug attempts to address campus sexual assault. use or alcohol, lack of consciousness asleep A Dec. 2 video titled “It’s On Us,” features or otherwise, involuntarily restrained, any many students of different backgrounds, parties including under the an interage of 17 pretation or if an of parts of [The policy] will force administrators and individuthe video University Police to be a little bit more openal cannot in ASL and otherfeatures real experiences of survivors and equip wise constudent them to be more sensitively prepared sent. leaders, The as well than they have in recent years. policy inas a mescludes a sage from CAIT O’CONNOR Uniform C h r is t ia n Amnesty regarding Policy to Encourage Reporting, meaning the school’s stance on the “It’s On Us” camstudents who report incidents of sexual as- paign. The campaign is designed to make sault or other sexual violence are granted everyone who participates in activities and immunity for drug and alcohol use viola- student life an active participant in preventing sexual assault. reporting protocol will be put in place to O’Connor also said she worked closely encourage the prompt and accurate report- with Michelle Combs, director of student ing of acts of sexual assault and help the development and Linda Eaton, vice presicampus community to quickly respond to dent of student affairs, to implement the Red allegations of sexual assault and ensure that Flag Campaign — a campaign designed to students have timely and accurate informa- address and combat dating violence, sexual assault and other related issues. SUNY New A statewide public awareness cam- Paltz found a way to make the two campaign will occur as well to raise conscious- paigns “intersect in a long-term, responsive ness about individual safety and prevention and meaningful way,” she said. techniques as well as the importance of by“No amount of funding is enough to stander intervention in any unsafe situation. bring conscientious change to this issue Campus climate assessments will also be conducted, according to the press release. said. “I think for SUNY New Paltz, this “We’ve been doing lots of training already,” SUNY New Paltz President Donald and empower the survivor to come to terms was the summer and fall 900 students, student leaders, athletes, student affairs staff and chart their action from there. It will were trained particularly in bystander in- force administrators and University Police tervention and an understanding kind of to be a little bit more open-minded about the basics of how you respond to a survivor that comes in and reports a sexual assault. survivors and equip them to be more senThese will be continuing. The policies have sitively prepared than they have in recent been approved, but we’ve not gotten much years.” Another part of the policy includes we’ve already been doing but we’ve been a sexual violence victim/survivor bill of

’

Thursday, December 11, 2014

rights, which informs victims of their right to report sexual assault to local, campus or state law enforcement. SUNY policy outresources, including obtaining a restraining/ no contact order and counseling, health, legal and support services. According to the press release, all SUNY students will be nonew term begins in January 2015. Osato Okundaye, SA President, said the newly initiated SUNY policy is a strong policy that encompasses many important topics surrounding sexual assault/violence occurrence and reporting. The new addition of the bill of rights is very important, he said. nition of consent is taking because now it encompasses all acts of sexual violence rather than just heterosexual acts of sexual violence,” Okundaye said. Pacheco-Dunn said much of what is in the new policy is based off of New Paltz’ 2014-15 student handbook policy, changed this past summer, on sexual assault. the one we have at New Paltz, though it was enhanced to offer more inclusive language and to further contrast the ways in which consent is present and the ways in which consent is not present,” Pacheco-Dunn said. The SUNY policy has already began to be implemented, Pacheco-Dunn said. The and it was part of the additional training for all student leaders, fraternities, sororities and all student organizations, she said. In addition, a new website has been launched as part of the policy’s adoption to provide resources for students to learn how they can protect themselves and seek help when necessary and access data regarding all sexual assault and violent crimes reported on all college campuses that operate in the state of New York. The data is reported to the United States Department of Education. The website can be accessed at campuscrime.ny.gov. “In my opinion, sexual assault is a problem that can solve itself if we all remember one thing: it is never okay to do anything less than ask someone if any spec‘yes means yes.’”

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NEWS

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CAS Board Votes “No” On Plastic Water Bottles By Jennifer Newman Features Editor | Jnewman46@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS) Board of Directors unanimously voted on Wednesday, Dec. 10 to ban the sale or distribution of bottled water on the SUNY New Paltz campus. Other than during water emergencies where no water is available through the tap, the campus will not be selling or distributing water bottles effective when the new beverage contract is signed, according to Annie Courtens, an off-campus elected student on the CAS Board, and leader of this initiative. Although the board stressed that it does not have the authority to completely ban the water bottles on campus (for instance in the athletic department), they have the authority to remove water bottles from the contract with the food vendor as a new one is signed and put into place, Courtens said. When issues were brought up about water bottles in lunch packages provided at orientations and ones sold at graduation, David Eaton, the President’s Designee on the board, said “We’ll just have to get creative.”

With this unanimous decision from the board, the move towards sustainability efforts outweighed the inconveniences of not having the bottles readily available. Courtens, who has been at the front of this campaign, pushing the ban for three years, said she sees this as an incredible achievement for the college and the SUNY system. “We are setting a precedent for all other SUNYs to get on board with and that means a lot,” Courtens said. “I can graduate happy now.” Associate sociology professor Brian Obach spoke in the public comment period to the board as one of the many locals who attended the meeting to show their support for the ban. “This is a landmark day in New Paltz sustainability history,” Obach said. “This has been years in the making.” In his presentation to the board, he highlighted a few facts on the environmental issues of water bottles. Approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil, enough to run 100,000 cars for a year, are used to meet the U.S. demand for plastic water bottles and three times as much water is used to produce bottled water than is actually in the bottle itself.

He also highlighted health concerns of water bottles. Chemicals called phthalates, which are known to disrupt testosterone and other hormones, can leach into bottled water. In addition, there are no legal limits for these chemicals in bottled water but municipal water is more highly regulated. CAS Board off-campus elected student James Auer voted for the ban at the meeting and highlighted that it is not just an environmental is“A single bottle of water costs two dollars,” he said. “That’s an outrageous price for something that should be free.” However not everyone is on board with this change. Fourth-year economics and political science major, Michael Schaffer said he felt this ban takes away from students ability to choose for themselves, forcing some to drink from what they may see as unsanitary fountains. “For students who would rather drink bottled water, they should be able to do that,” he said. “One group shouldn’t force the other group to drink water the way they do.” Recycling Club President, Melissa Iachetta said the club is willing to take on outreach to stu-

Thursday, December 11, 2014

dents and help with the transition and implementation campus-wide. Schaffer said he thinks many students are going to still buy bottled drinks. “Only now the healthiest option is no longer available,” he said. “When I eat lunch or dinner, I’m still going to get something to drink with it. If that can’t be water, it will have to be a sugary soda or juice. Now instead of being able to buy water on campus, I’ll have to buy it off campus. My actions won’t change. All the ban will do is make it harder for me to do what I am going to do anyway.” Auer said those concerned aren’t taking into account the fact that more water stations will be provided on campus. “It’s cheaper, it’s more sustainable,” Auer said. “The only ones that are against it are those who are too lazy to make a minor adjustment in their lives.” Members of the board said they will be making changes to make access to water easier for everyone on campus, including the addition of hydration stations for reusable water bottles and making cups available at eateries.

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As part of the New Paltz Black Student Unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s social awareness campaign #NPWAKESUP, which addresses issues of police violence against minorities, student demonstrators organized once again on Monday, Dec. 8 to protest in response to the non-indictment of Daniel Pantaleo, the NYPD

PHOTOS AND

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THE GUNK T h u r s day, de c e m be r 1 1, 20 14

BFA/MFA

Exhibitions Pictures on page 8B PHOTO BY MAXWELL REIDE

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New Paltz

FEATURES Festive Fairs

HOLIDAY SPIRIT RETURNS TO TOWN THIS WINTER

Christmas Fair at the Reformed Church of New Paltz.

By Jennifer Newman Features Editor | Jnewman46@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The holidays are here and New Paltz has gotten into the holly jolly spirit. Holiday fairs and events have brightened the whole town with tinsel, treats and tradition. The Unison Arts Center held their 24th Annual Holiday Crafts Fair, a major event in New Paltz, on Dec. 6 and 7 in the New Paltz Middle School. With a small admission charge benhigh-end and local gallery-quality handcrafted gift items, ceramics, jewelry, leather work, woodwork, children’s clothing, wreaths and blown glass.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JENNIFER LIM

Helene Bigley, the Coordinator of the Crafts Fair said in a press release, “I just love seeing the transformation of the middle school gym into a colorful and people to buy.” Vendor Alexa Ginsburg, owner of Naturally Felt, makes soft sculptures and accessories out of felt and has been a part of the fair for several years. “It’s a great fair,” Ginsburg said. “There’s really nice people and vendors.” New Paltz resident, Rosalyn Cherry, has not missed this annual event once since she moved to New Paltz and said it is a great experience each year. “Every December the Unison Crafts Fair attracts a luscious assortment rang-

ing from painters to potters to jewelers to woodworkers to leatherworkers to phoers and much more,” Cherry said. “There is so much energy in the air between meeting the artists and learning about their crafts as well as supporting the arts in our own backyard.” On top of this event, the local religious community held some of their own fairs, including the Reformed Church of New Paltz which held a Christmas fair, and the Methodist Church, which held an Alternative Giving Fair. The Reformed Church sold Christmas tree ornaments, fresh baked cakes, pies, cookies and breads, handmade gifts and hand-knit scarves, all proceeds ben-

Thursday, December 11, 2014

community. At the Methodist Church, patrons of the fair purchased homemade soups, County’s domestic violence shelter. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh hosted a table at the fair, promoting their volunteer efforts in the community. They are looking for volunteers for their local efforts and provide a monthly bus tour, showing the different houses in the community they have renovated or built. For more information about volunteering for them, call the ofhabitatenewburg.org online.

Features

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New Father In New Paltz

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH WELCOMES NEW ADDITION TO CLERGY By Cassandra Kranick | Kranickc1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu For many residents of New Paltz that are members of St. Joseph Church, having a new addition to the clergy has proven to be positive and has been welcomed with open arms. The Reverend Salvatore Cordaro, 50, is the newest addition to St. Joseph Church, New Paltz’s only Catholic Church. He served as assistant pastor until the churches previous pastor, Father Bernard, instated as Pastor on Oct. 26, 2014. ‘Father Sal,’ as he is known to those who attend St. Joseph, grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. He is the son of Sicilian parents who immigrated to the United States in the early ‘60s. He describes his childhood involvement with the church as being more of a connection to his family’s Italian culture and values than about his personal faith. As a teen, Cordaro attended a Catholic high school but in his 20s he fell away from the church and claimed no faith in a higher power until his early 30s. Cordaro went to college in New York City and earned a degree in accounting, a career he never pursued. He worked for Barnes and Noble for 25 It was around this time that he realized he

2012. York. He worked worked nine months as a chaplain in a hospital, an associate vocations director and in tionships he built through these jobs is what led him to seek a more permanent position at the St. Joseph Church. The St. Joseph community has welcomed Cordaro with open arms. Kimber Thomas, high school senior and attendee of St. Joseph since birth, described Father Sal as “very nice and sociable.” Local resident Terri O’Day, who has attended

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPUCHIN.ORG

Cordaro joins St. Joseph Church.

“needed something more from life” and began to religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism before he returned to his Catholic roots. He said he felt he “was being called to a different life” and initially wanted to become a monk but had reservations about living in such isolation, cut off from everyday society. Instead, he went to church every day and visited different churches

Fresh Paltz

throughout the city. Eventually he was drawn to a Franciscan church for its strong message of helping others and its emphasis on the idea that everyone is connected. Cordaro then began his religious training in Brooklyn where he spent a year living in poverty with other friars. He continued his training in Kanology and where he earned two graduate degrees

spoke kindly of Cordaro, describing his already strong relationships with parishioners, his attentiveness to their needs and his openness to new ideas. In the future, Father Sal said he looks forward to strengthening relationships among the parishioners at St. Joseph, developing a more family-like atmosphere within the church, as well as with other New Paltz churches. He also said he hopes to address the issues of poverty, hunger, drug abuse and homelessness that Church.

FRESH PALTZ’s mission is to document what some stylish peopleSeptember 15, 2011 Thursday, are wearing around the campus of SUNY New Paltz. #FreshPaltz Name: Ashly Andreassen Year: Fourth-year

Major: Biology Hometown: Brooklyn

Ashly says she likes to look comfy, but pulls it off with a cute style that combines her desire for comfort with an knack for mixing and matching. Her favorite look is sweaters with leggings and boots, much like to a Catholic all girls school and struggled to try to be different. That’s why she sports four piercings in one ear and three in the other, all pearl. Ashly’s boots are Ralph Lauren and that pink scarf is from By Jennifer Newman, Jnewman46@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

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New Paltz Wakes Up

ACTIVISTS TAKE ACTION ON RECENT SHOOTINGS IN MOVEMENT

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SARAH EAMES

Some of the words written in student-run movement.

By Amanda Copkov Copy Editor | Copkova1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu In light of the recent deaths of unarmed Eric Garner, 43, and Michael Brown, 18, the SUNY New Paltz community has come together more than it ever has before, and all for a good, common cause. On Nov. 24 and 25, New Paltz students came together to take action in their student-run movement entitled, “NPWakesUp.” Inspired by the activism of her fellow students, third-year secondary adolescence education major and former Student Association (SA)

Sen. Caitlin O’Connor decided she would take action in her own way. On the night of Thursday, Dec. 4, O’Connor and her fellow SA colleagues — second-year journalism and political science major Sarah Eames, and fourth-year political science major James Auer — chalked the SUNY New Paltz academic concourse with outlines of bodies as well as the last words of those who have been killed because of police brutality. “I feel it was important to highlight the lives of men and people of color killed by police, past and present,” O’Connor said. She said that while researching the cases

of Garner and Brown, she came across 30 other names who had been killed by policemen within the past 15 years. One story that stood out to O’Connor in particular was that of 16-year-old Kimani Gray, who of 2013. O’Connor said Gray’s last words of, “Please don’t let me die,” were easily the most affecting further. “My thoughts on all of these instances are that there is a common denominator here when it comes to the killing of men of color by police and

“Last Words” If you asked me what my last words would be Now that I know what that means I would say I wouldn’t want my last words to be robbed from me by an act of police brutality. Unfortunately, I have the privilege to do so. But I’m just a white girl from a Long Island cop family, so what do I know? I know that if my mother was faced with what happened to Kimani Gray, a boy of the same age

as my little brother when he died, to the hand that fed her. And the same mouth that said “Mike Brown got what he deserved,” that he was a thug, or this, that and the third would fall silent.

put me out of my misery, and record it: my last words will be, “In every last word, is a story.”

See, the only good thing about this privilege, is I’m not afraid to deny it. No mom, I will not be quiet, because of what I know. I don’t have the privilege to ignore it.

A poem by Caitlin O’Connor

Thursday, December 11, 2014

that is the ‘us versus them’ mentality,” O’Connor said. “There is no cohesiveness.” She said she was also inspired by the work of Shirin Barghi, an Irani artist who portrayed the deaths of unarmed men killed by police through a series of prints with their names, ages, dates that they were killed and their last words. “I wanted to bring these bodies to life again, through their humanity,” O’Connor said. “Nothlast breath we take. This is an evident pattern, a systematic failure — not one instance of interaction between man and law enforcement.”

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No Shave For New Paltz Police OFFICERS RAISE MONEY TO SUPPORT CANCER RESEARCH By Nathaniel Sheidlower Copy Editor | Sheidlon1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu During the ‘70s and ‘80s, police prided themselves on their mustaches. Around the turn of the century, the clean shaven look was all you saw when you got pulled over. But in New Paltz 2014, the full beard Paltz Police Department (NPPD) participated in “No-Shave November.” To raise money in the support of cancer research, their cheeks for the whole month. According to New Paltz Police Chief Joe Snyder, he had to grant permission for the participants to let it grow while in uniform. “This was a great event and I appreciate the efforts of our members as well as everyone that donated to support the American Cancer Society,” Snyder said in a press release. “I look forward to participating again next year.” Snyder was one of the participants. Robert Sisco, Det. Joe Judge, Sgt. Matt Sutton and Sgt. Keith Lewis.

New Paltz Police raise money for charity.

Snyder said Sutton presented the meeting and department members were interested in participating. Snyder said he had not known of the event previously, but after looking into it decided it was a great idea. They set out with the goal of raising $1,000 and donating all of it to the

American Cancer Society. This goal was surpassed as the department raised a total of $1,710 to donate to the cause. According to no-shave.org cial “No-Shave November” website, the purpose of this event is to raise cancer awareness by “donating the money you usually spend on shaving and grooming for a month to educate about cancer pre-

the battle.” According to the site, “No-Shave November” was started in 2009 as a good way for anyone regardless of age, gender, or income level to raise money for a good cause in a fun way. They teamed up with the American Cancer Society in 2013. Snyder said donations were sought primarily through Facebook posts by the participating members. When many of these posts were receiving “likes” but no donations were coming in, Sgt. Bunce told people through a post that the main goal of the event is to raise money and informed people that while the “likes” were appreciated, donations were more valuable. After that, the donations started coming in for Bunce, who ended up raiswith a total of $540, according to the press release. Snyder said the department will participate again next year, with a larger fundraising goal and he predicts more although they began a little late this year, they will “be on top of it” next year.

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Happy Holidays!

Q: What do elves learn in school? A: The Elfabet.

Q: What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Q: How much did Santa pay for his sleigh? A: Nothing, it was on the house! Q: What kind of bug hates Christmas? A: A humbug. Q: How does Moses make tea? A: He-brews it!

Do You Want to Write For Features? PHOTO COURTESY OF PETFINDER.COM

Email Jnewman46@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

TEXT FROM PRIMARYGAMES.COM

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ARTS ENTERTAINMENT & Polich’s Dorsky Career Comes To A Close oracle.newpaltz.edu

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MAJOR METAL WORKING EXHIBITION REACHES THE END OF ITS RUN By Karl Evers-Hillstrom

Copy Editor | Kevershillstrom@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

As the Dorsky Museum’s

week, the museum wants to

the artists mouth and mother’s

as a test to make sure their maRoy Lichtenstein’s Lamp -

Guest

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Kevin

deceives the human eye into -

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came

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is inspired by that of the 19th ty found in the mountains of

not have any work to do with-

conductor and artists as musiPhoto Courtesy of Maxwell Reide

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other piece that stood out, as it

foundry has created works for cy Graves, Roy Lichtenstein, Tom Otterness and Jeff Koons, each of these artists’ works are

Photo Courtesy of Maxwell Reide

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Photo Courtesy of Maxwell Reide

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From Dec. 5 to 9, SUNY NEW PALTZ bfa/mfa Students presented their artwork at the dorsky Museum of Art on campus! Adelia Roberts BFA - Painting Aqueous Alcohol Ink and Acrylic Paint

Thursday, December 11, 2014

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Photos by Russell Hartman

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Musical Renaissance at New Paltz EARLY MUSIC ENSEMBLE FILLS SHEPARD RECITAL HALL WITH OLD TIME MUSIC

By Amya Pinka Copy Editor | Pinkaa1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Max and Nadia Shepard Recital Hall took a journey back in time this past Sunday at 3 p.m. when the ensemble for early music performed history through music. The ensemble for early music performed masterpieces from Renaissance, Medieval and Baroque periods. The concert, titled Collegium Musicum, according to the director and lute performer, Joel Evans, means a musical gathering. It is a gathering of music students who not only play and sing pieces from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods but also dress the part. The students learned to play unique instruments from the time periods of which they perform such as the rebec, domra, baroque guitar and more. The students also sang in various languages such as French, German, Spanish and Latin. Collegium Musicum featured songs

from around the year 1100 up until the year 1750. Pieces by Alfonso X of Spain called “Cantigas,” English lute songs, French songs and a Baroque trio sonata, which featured the harpsichord played by Theresa Orr and piccolo played by second-year journalism major Erica Ascher. Evans said he chose the selection of songs because he tries to do an assortment. “I go chronologically through history,” he said. The concert began with an introduction from Evans about the time period of music to the audience. He explained how some songs have words, others only have a line or two that have survived, or have no words at all. Before each piece, Evans provided information about its origin and elaborated on what the song was about. Throughout the concert, performers were not afraid to start over or take a breather if they made a mistake or needed to calm down. Evans said during

the introduction, “concert mistakes may happen and they are welcome.” During the performance of “Miss Bailey’s Ghost” from the Broadsheet Ballad, whose origin is London in 1804, vocalist Timothy Gage and Evans on lute invited the audience to sing along to the chorus. Ascher, who closed the show with her performance on the piccolo, said she loved Gage’s performance. “It’s so much fun getting the audience involved in such a creative piece, not to mention the humorous lyrics,” Ascher said. Old Russian folk tunes were also featured in the concert performed by Cole McCormick and Evans. McCormick and Evans played old Russian instruments such as the domra, a triangular shaped string instrument of the lute family and the balalaika, a guitarlike triangular shaped string instrument. Before their performance of “The Little Birch Tree” and “Katiusha” Evans

chuckled as he joked to the audience, “never trust a triangular instrument.” An audience member, Alison Fletcher, 23, a local farmer from Gardiner, said she studied early music at a college in Texas and was curious to see what the early music scene was like at New Paltz. “I really love Joel Evans lute playing, it was really beautiful,” she said. According to Ascher, Collegium Musicum is like no other concert on this campus. “We focus on learning new pieces from the Baroque period. We learn how to sing in new languages, how to play new (but really old) instruments and new repertoire,” Ascher said. Rosemarie Williams, a New Paltz resident who has been to around 15 of these concerts was enthusiastic about the performances. “[I loved] everything. The costumes, performance, enthusiasm, humor and their very inviting, warm and welcoming atmosphere,” Williams said.

A Night of Originality and Shakespeare NEW PALTZ CHOIRS PERFORM ORIGINAL WORKS AS WELL AS WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE

By Jess Napp Contributing Writer | Nappj1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

On Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m., the Chamber Singers, Concert Choir and College-Community Chorale performed at the Studley Theatre. The evening consisted mostly of choral settings of Shakespearean texts with some new pieces such as “Merry Notes,” by SUNY New Paltz alumni Shirley Hoffman Warren. Prior to the concert, Director Edward Lundergan said, “I think that it will be nice to hear the new pieces especially, “Merry Notes.” According to Lundergan, he tries to incorporate new pieces into the concerts every year. “It should be good, we are pretty well prepared for it,” Lundergan said. The performance began with the Chamber Singers followed by the

Concert Choir. After intermission the College-Community Chorale closed the show. These groups put on a similar concert every semester, sometimes twice. The College-Community Chorale is open to all students, faculty and community members on a non-audition basis, while the Chamber Singers and Concert Choir are for students of all majors by audition. This is the College-Community Chorale’s only concert of the semester and the Chamber Singers and October. year, attended the event for his world of music class. Dagher said it was his ment of Music. According to Dagher, he was

pleasantly surprised by how much he returning. enjoyed the performances. “It’s awesome, I’m going back next semester, “ McClain said. Their voices blended really well,” McClain has been singing proDagher said. fessionally since high school and she Glenn Knickerbocker, 51, has decided to join the Concert Choir bedone occasional concerts with the cause she thought it would be nice to College-Community Chorale for 15 have a relaxing class in her schedule. years. He said that he usually perAccording to McClain, she heard forms with them for special occa- great things about Lundergan and his sions. music choices. Knickerbocker’s favorite piece McClain’s favorite piece of the of the evening was “Full Fathom evening was also “Full Fathom Five” Five” by Charles Wood, performed because she liked the connection and by the Chamber Singers. contrast between the Chamber Sing“It was just right because the ers’ version and the Concert Choir’s. piece had a nice fullness to it,” “Their version is kind of a Knickerbocker. Christmas carol, while our version is Dana McClain, second-year dou- focused on sadness,” McClain said. ble major in biology and adolescent She said she was happy with how education, is a member of the Con- the concert went. “I think it was ex- cellent and that we all had a really ter with the group and she plans on great time.”

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Arts & Entertainment

A “Fresh Act” On Campus STUDENTS AT SUNY NEW PALTZ SHOW THEIR TALENTS AT PARKER THEATER of this cast made me feel as if I were watching a moment of reality in someones living room.

By Sage Higgins Staff Writer | Higginss1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Fresh Act is an organization on campus that allows students from any major to write, direct and act for scenes that are student written or from other works. The bi-semester play festival accepts submissions in the beginning of every semester. I went to the theater Friday ready to see the artistic talent that is our SUNY New Paltz community. In general, every scene had its own stamp of individuality. Even during the scenes that were not student written, the audience was still able to see the director’s unique take on the scene. “Crossing Stars,” which was adapted and directed by Casey Morris and starring Melissa Shawcross as J and Noah Harr as R. The scene showed what life would be like if we could only speak from a script that we were given. It was a combination of a post-apocalyptic society with the timeless Romeo and Juliet love story. The adaption of the script was a creative way of meshing together the old and new. Because of the language of the time, the action in some places was

you cannot recreate someone once they are gone. While at times the writing was so dramatic that it was distracting, the concept of the scene was brilliant. “Fat Pig,” the fourth scene in the

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MUSICIAN OF THE WEEK: Erik Torres

YEAR: Fourth MAJOR: English HOMETOWN: Patterson, N.Y.

WHAT’S YOUR INSTRUMENT OF CHOICE?

ative and best work is always on guitar. Photo Courtesy of Fresh Act

lineup, written by Neil LaBute and directed by Courtney Gerou, starred Andres Rodriguez, Rachel Rienecker and Dean Mahoney. It was a critique of how men act and how they are perceived when being romantically involved with a “big woman.” This scene was brutally honest but heartwarming all the same. Though cliche, the ending left me with a smile on my face. “The Cycle,” written and directed by Avannah Torok and starring Alicia Dee Leduc, Michael Hussey and Samantha Steere displayed a thought provoking rendition of how mistakes can lead us to where we need to be in life. Its nontraditional staging really made it much more

all, it was a great concept. The second scene, “Guys,” written by Robb Badlam and directed by Noah Schoer, was a quirky take on the minds of men. Duff, played by Brandon Brown, and Ty, played by Tara Hatzidakis, are dence in the department of women. This scene was hysterical and made me laugh out loud. Though at times it did drag, it was entertaining nonetheless. “Virescent,” written by Elisabeth Ermine and directed by Elise Smalley (Elisabeth Ermine) and starring Sean Orman and Mal Walton portrayed the idea of an artist recreating his deceased love one into a statue. The statue was

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WHAT ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH MUSICALLY?

I’m currently involved in three volved in at the moment is Sativa Cult. Photo Courtesy of Fresh Act

“The Walk,” written by Noah Harr, directed by Kristen Battersby, and starring Jillian Nadiak, Jack Vicari and Jessica Lyke, was something comparable to The Road by Cormac McCarthy. The scene at times was hard to follow, but the actors did a wonderful job portraying these characters. “Sail,” written by Amber Neilson and directed by Jeremy Sapadin, starred Marie Coppola (Katie) and Ryan Christopher Thomas (The Man). Katie is a college student trying to

ject to write about for her project for class and the boring man she thought was bland has many more issues than

beautifully written and was heartwarming display of how we cannot Photo Courtesy of Fresh Act

enjoyable. I felt the costumes, black with just a pop of color, were greatly symbolic of what the piece was trying to portray. “Company (Scene 2),” written by George Furth, directed by Tabitha Garnica and starring Kalia Lay, Elijah Dederick and Eric Hibschweiler, was the ultimate portrayal of a husband wife showdown. Funny, honest, some amazing stage combat and the chemistry

Lastly, one of the funniest scenes of the night, “Warriors of Zaphiroth,” written and directed by Anthony Leiner, starring Dennis Wakeman, John Cooper O’Mulderry IV and Emily Nicole Fuller was a hysterical take on today’s popular nerd culture and showed that even though some like to keep their nerdom secret, it will eventually come out. This piece left me laughing from beginning to end.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES?

arm tattoo referencing them). WHO HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING TO LATELY? Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Duck, Little Brother Duck!

WHAT’S YOUR PLAN FOR THE FUTURE? My plans for the future are to just keep playing music. I haven’t stopped since I was 16 years old and I don’t intend to stop anytime soon.

ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING MUSICIANS? My advice to anyone that wants to play music is to just never stop.

CHECK OUT ERIK TORRES PERFORMING BY SCANNING THIS CODE WITH ANY SMARTPHONE!

DO YOU WANT TO BE...

MUSICIAN OF THE WEEK? Contact Russell Hartman at Rhartman@hawkmail.newpaltz. edu

The Deep enD

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THIS WEEK IN

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THE DEEP END JULIE GUNDERSEN

Major: BFA Drawing and Painting

Year: Fifth

“Life cycle, morality and impermanence have been constant themes within my artwork. As a way to comment on our ephemeral nature I treat each figure with a degree of abstraction by blurring the boundaries between the figures and their environment. In my oil paintings this is achieved through painterly brushstrokes, in the watercolors I use layers of images and designs, and with alcohol ink I construct a dissolving type of atmosphere. Through each of these techniques I hope to foster more compassion in my audience by reminding them how connected and temporary we are all are. The way I see it we are all on this giant rock together, bubbling into life on the surface. I was also lucky enough to exercise my illustrative muscles working as the cartoonist here at The New Paltz Oracle. I’ve seen a lot of different faces over these past six semesters and I’ve drawn a lot of different hawks. Being here for so long I worked under a handful of chiefs and witnessed several different generations of writers — all crammed in that tiny orange office like an uncanny family. Each semester that office was home to a unique batch of incredibly talented people, and each semester a few of our family members would be lost to graduation. I’m so grateful for the time I spent on the staff at The Oracle, but now it’s my turn to join the alumni graveyard. So… this is me signing off. If you need me I’ll be riding into the sunset on a tumbleweed (naturally).”

Editorial

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troublEsomE timing

CARTOON BY JULIE GUNDERSEN

On Dec. 4 the Sojourner Truth Library which will be closed for 10 to 12 months in order to provide students with more study materials and provide an environment that will be better-suited for students to complete their work. We at The New Paltz Oracle commend but wish the renovations to STL had begun afThroughout the entire process of preparMark Colvson has been very transparent with the campus about the phases of the renovation complex nature of construction contracts can make this infeasible. stressed because of the increased studying and work that is needed in order to do well in their

classes. Students get into routines throughout the semester and to change study areas just as cant change that can be detrimental. times that won’t have the greatest impact on students’ studying habits and abilities. Having the renovations begin earlier in the semester would allow for a larger transition period for The college has set up other arrangements to create enough space for students to do work dents should be thankful for to help them succeed. Students who are just now complaining to administration and the STL staff have not now voice criticism of the renovation project. We get that in the heat of the moment people

about the upcoming renovations in an email on Aug. 27. He also hosted a Q&A to discuss the renovations with students. The school has also set up a page on its website about the renovations and the library website has an update page and a blog where Colvson can answer questions about the renovations. We hope going forward that students will be aware of the things the campus is doing to inform students on construction projects. SUNY New Paltz ranking as a school has been growing every year and that is something all of the school’s students and faculty should be proud of. As the school has continued to of construction that is taking place on campus. We understand that students are becoming exacerbated with the amount of construction on campus and the necessary adjustments to to the future of the college even if a student

should graduate before being able to reap the tration to continue to be transparent with the construction projects on campus. We also hope that students pay better attention to the nience them. Editorials represent the views of the majority of the editorial board. Columns, op-eds and letters, excluding editorials, are solely those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of The New Paltz Oracle and university or the Town or Village of New Paltz.

OPINION

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REFLECTION

ANDREW LIEF Editor-In-Chief Alief@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Dictionary.com

ĂŠ

The Oracle The Oracle

The Oracle

Do you want to write for The Oracle? Email us at Oracle@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu!

OpiniOn

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TOP OVERHEARD QUOTES OF Fall 2014 1. “A guy can’t even go to the store and get breast milk anymore.” - Anthony 2. Melissa: “I used to play basketball in middle school.” Melanie: “Were you the ball?” 3. “Semen gets a bad rap.” - Abbott 4. Anthony: “Lief, I can’t come up with a sewage headline without it being a poop joke.” Andrew: “Get that shit out of your mind.” 5. Melissa: “I ordered a t-shirt from Dan’s solo tour from 2009.” Kristen: “So, he was the Black Key?” 6.“Daaaaddddaaayyyy.” -Abbott

To the Editor: It’s already been over two months since New Paltz sent at least six busloads of students and community folks to the historic Climate March in NYC. But few of today’s students are aware that four decades ago, (that’s ten student “generations”), New Paltz was on the cutting edge of activism around clean energy. Few know of the struggles that went down when the corporations that control the SUNY Board of Power and energy awareness on campus. During Vietnam, when students went on strike to protest military recruiting on campus, and the Kent State Massacre, College President John Neumaier walked out in solidarity. Alternative learning seminars held during this strike led to the founding in 1971 of the “Experimental Studies Department” (Later “Innovative Studies”). By 1973, 800 students were enrolled in about 50 courses, many student generated and run. The course “Student Generated Housing” led to the founding of the Environmental Site on the old college dump behind Maintenance. At little or no cost to the College, students, with community support, cleaned up the land, and built eight dwellings, mostly or partially solar heated. There was an organic garden, chickens, a windmill, a unique solar workshop and almost a methane digester. A consensus governed community of about 12 students lived in these

Op-Ed

houses. In 1979 the Advanced Solar Design and Grant Writing classes joined forces and won a grant from the Department of Energy (D.O.E.) to build a beautiful four bedroom earth sheltered oak post and beam passive solar dorm with solar greenhouse. The inAt the time, Chase Manhattan Bank, with direct corporate interlocks to seven major oil corporations, dominated the Board of Trustees, and Central Hudson was on the College Council. In 1980, the year of Ronald Reagan and the John Lennon assassinations, the Chandler, took the throne, almost immediately targeting the Site, forcing residents into dorm rooms and sparking widespread student protests and community outrage. In June 1981 during the Clearwater Revival, the Environmental Site was bulldozed, excepting the Solar workshop, D.O.E., and Eccli house (which burned on a a rainy November night in 1985). The Innovative Studies Department was abolished. The Administration blocked any student use of the D.O.E. funded house, and in 2006 it was bulldozed. Various other energy conservation programs were sabotaged by Administration non-cooperation (see “Energy Conservation at SUNY: a Bureaucratic Shell Game,” Oracle, 4/2/81) . Where would we be today if these and

FALL 2014 E-BOARD

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similar programs nationally had been supported? Incredibly, WAMC’s SUNY New Paltz political scientist Dr. Alan Chartock, interviewed Chandler for an hour (9/19/13) with nary a peep about the whole episode. The Solutions Project - 100% Renewable Energy shows how we could phase out all fossil fuels and nukes by 2050 by a serious willingness and effort to do so. What if we had started 40 years ago? Most of the basic technologies, including photovoltaics were in place back then. Would the Iraq oil war and others have happened? How many billion barrels would still be in the ground? How much less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? Fracking? Pilgrim and XL pipelines? Fugeddabout it! What is SUNY doing today about forward looking energy strategies?Is the contentious Parke Pointe project to be built in “Passiv Haus,” Zero net energy usage style? If not, why not? All state buildings should be! Shouldn’t there be an entire Sustainability Department at our beloved University? We have many more gadgets today, and shinier malls. But the need for eternal vigilance remains. Learn from the past. The University needs to become a leader educating for the people, not for corrupt corporate masters. Edmund Haffmans SUNY New Paltz 1981

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MICHAEL ROSEN Copy Editor

Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

OPINION

COLUMN

The New Paltz Oracle

Girl Jeans, Rain Boots and Gender

Due to the nasty weather that has hit New Paltz the past week, many of us have had to make some changes in our outdoor attire. The rain jackets have been busted out, umbrellas have become a necessity and let us not forget the incredibly helpful rain boots that prevent that terrible feeling of wet socks. So like most others, I too have equipped myself with all of these to stay as dry as possible when I have to go outside. So, one day when I was all geared up to walk into town with some friends, I was caught a little off-guard when one of my friends opened the door, looked at my feet and said, “Why are you wearing girl’s rain boots?” To be completely honest, up until that point I had no idea that girls and guys have different types of rain boots that they stereotypically wear. My rain boots aren’t

they were meant for girls. This friend is a guy, and none of my other guy friends said a word to me all of the days that I have worn them. But each and every one of my female friends saw right away that I was wearing rain boots that don’t necessarily match up with my gender. As much as I hate to admit it,

The Elting Library’s annual Library Fair is a community event in the truest sense of the word – an event that for 58 years, has drawn friends, neighbors, merchants and others together for a good time and to support our public library. For many years, the fair was held in July. This, unfortunately, shut out a key part of our community – SUNY students.

Last year, for many reasons, our board of directors decided to move the fair to late September. This, of course, meant some changes. One of the happiest changes has been the engagement and support of SUNY students. Dozens of students made their way down the hill in late September to help with set up, during the fair and with

looked at women’s clothes thinking they were meant for men. I went jean shopping one night last year, and it took me about halfan-hour to realize that I was trying on jeans from, you guessed it, the women’s section. Actually to rassing, it was from the girl’s section. I tried on skinny jeans meant for 14-year-old girls without even

tinguishing the differences between men’s clothes and women’s clothes. But to be fair, it seems that not many guys do. If men are supposed to wear different rain boots than women, then what could the men’s rain boots possibly look like? Are they just snow boots but not as clunky? Are they as effective when it comes to walking through puddles as “women’s” rain boots are? Hell, do they even look all that different than women’s rain boots? Even if they do, does it really matter what kind you wear regardless of your gender? It has always fascinated me that girls can get away wearing clothes made for guys, but it doesn’t work both ways. Would a girl be judged for wearing baggy jeans and a t-shirt? Unfortunately yes, but not as much as a guy wearing a dress would be judged. Just to clarify, I have no desire whatsoever to walk around town in a dress. Unless I’m faced with very unusual circumstances, that will

girls wearing each other’s clothes. I am in no way indirectly attacking women at all. To be quite honjudge a guy wearing a dress. I’m just observing, nothing more. For fear of being judged, I have to be careful whenever I go clothes shopping. I’m a rather clothes that are meant for younger girls. I can’t tell the difference between some girl’s clothes and clothes for my gender can be a bit of a struggle. I would hope that I am not the only tiny boy with this problem, because if I am I guess that just means that I lack common sense. Either way, developing the ability to distinguish boy’s clothes from girl’s clothes would be very helpful. But until that happens, I’ll just have to push my rain boots to the back of my bed and

and there appeared to be nothing wrong with them, until I realized on them. I have enough sense to where I got them from and fastnot buy boots like those. They are walked away from the girl’s secparanoid about being judged. just simply all black and look like tion praying that no one had been any ordinary pair of rain boots. watching me for the past half-anI remember that I was with a hour. who is not making the mistake of shopping without a female friend again. friend when I bought them, and I suppose I just don’t have a it strange that it doesn’t work both there wasn’t even a thought that keen eye when it comes to dis- ways when it comes to boys and

OP-ED

break down. Others came and shopped on the day of the fair (as did parents here for Parents Weekend). The support from the SUNY community was overwhelming. As one of our board members said, “When I saw them coming en masse, I just about wanted to cry I was so happy.” Thanks for all those who helped and

Thursday, December 11, 2014

a special thanks to everyone in the Department of Athletics who put out the call for volunteers and helped organize help for the Library Fair. Richard Heyl de Ortiz President Elting Memorial Library

OPINION

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COLUMN

AMANDA COPKOV Copy Editor

Copkova1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Ever since I was a little girl, the one thing that I have always loved to do is sing. And typing that out sounds as cliché as I think I could possibly get, but it is the honest-toGod truth. of myself singing was probably when I was about three years old. At that age, my absolute favorite Disney movie ever was “The Lion King.” I had my own stuffed Simba (a near life-sized version to myself at the time) and me and my stuffed friend watched that hourand-a-half long movie constantly — probably multiple days of the week. memories that I have of myself singing took place on my backyard deck. I know my hair was in little, brown pigtails as I belted my heart out to a cassette-tape version of “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” sung by none other than Simba himself. That song was my jam. Ever since then, singing has just become second nature to me. It has followed me throughout my life. Singing, along with music in general, has become my escape from a lot of things in my life: stresses from school, family, friends or whatever else may or may not be worrying me that speMy friends will agree with me — and tell you time and time again — that I am constantly singing. I sing in my car. I sing in my friends’ cars. And I will probably sing in your car, too, whoever the urge to sing along to my iPod when I have my earbuds in at the gym. As long as music is playing and I know the song, wherever I

The Song of Life am, I will nine out of 10 times be singing along to it. My love for music has driven me in very different (maybe even polar opposite) directions of the music realm. I have a very wide range when it comes to my music taste. It basically varies from indie/alternative music, to punk rock music, to mainstream pop, to choral music. I sang in chorus in elementary school; I sang in chorus and show choir in both middle school and high school; and now, for the past three semesters, I have continued my choir-singing endeavors in New Paltz’s very own Concert Choir. For the past three semesters, this choir has been my release from the outside world and a place where I can just do something I really love and not have to think about much else. And tonight, the night of Dec. 9, we performed in our end-of-the-semester concert, singing simple works of Shakespeare that had been transposed into choral alterations. Over the course of the past two months, my choir and I had worked hard on each of our seven pieces. We not only sang individual poems by Shakespeare, but songs that have been in Shakespearian plays like “Macbeth.” Our hit song of the night was “Double Double, Toil and Trouble.” This song has complicated melodies and time signatures that took our choir quite a while to get under our belts, but, by some miracle, we made it work — and it was our biggest hit of the night. At the end of the song, we sing ever knocks,” and stomp our feet

once to create some kind of treacherous, fear-inducing sound to go along with the piece as a whole. During our dress rehearsal, just as we all stomped our feet to end the piece, the power went out. We all looked around at each other in complete and total confusion, thinking that the cause of the sudden power outage was the loud stomp we made. Our choral director (Dr. Edward Lundergan, for those of you who may know him), laughed and told us that the play “Macbeth” has been known to be cursed whenever it’s performed — so basically, weird things always happen. When referencing the play itself, you aren’t even supposed to call it “Macbeth,” but instead, “The Scottish Play.” So we went with it. And last night at our concert, as we stomped guys turned the lights out and the crowd laughed and applauded us. The lights turned back on and I looked to my friend standing next to me and we just laughed together. It was a moment that brought me such joy, and that is always how I feel when I get to sing on stage with my choir. I love hearing our melodies and harmonies working together to create something beautiful. Even in the saddest and creepiest of songs, beauty is made and beauty is heard. The melodies are so strong that often times, I can hear the vibrations we create in the sound waves, and it is unlike anything I’ve heard before. It’s as if the whole universe comes together in a single chord. When my parents come to see my chorus concerts, they always remind me of how happy I look when I’m singing on stage. That

Thursday, December 11, 2014

happiness is what reels me back in to take another chorus class every time. I’ve decided to take another choir class next semester. At the end of this semester, I’ll have fulconcert choir three semesters in a row. While picking classes for the upcoming spring semester, I told my friends that I’ll be taking a whopping 18 credits next semester. A few of them asked me why I’m taking chorus again next semester if my art GE will be completed. As a double major in journalism and digital media programming and management with ly understand why it seems a bit strange that I’m taking a class that isn’t necessary towards my degree. But my answer is simple: I love to sing. There is truly nothing more to it than that. And through music, I have realized how important it is to have passion. Love what you are doing. Do whatever it is with your whole heart — because at the end of the day, that is where your happiness lies. As British travel writer and journalist Rebecca West once said, “It is the soul’s duty to be loyal to its own desires. It must abandon itself to its master passion.” So abandon yourselves in your passions and feel bliss. Amanda Copkov is a second-year journalism and digital media programming and management major who enjoys long car rides, writing about life and all things chocolate. She hopes to one day travel the world and has a guilty pleasure for Katy Perry songs.

OPINION

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SPORTS

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SUNYAC SPLIT The Hawks began a month-long break from play on Dec. 6.

By Melissa Kramer Copy Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Women’s basketball team split a pair of SUNYAC games to begin their conference season on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6. On Friday, the Hawks were defeated 71-65 by defending SUNYAC Champions, the Plattsburgh Cardinals. Trailing by eight points with four minutes left in the game, the Hawks

ahead by six points and the Hawks could not catch up. forward Kit Small with a game-high 14 points, fourth-year co-Captain Shannan Walker with 12 and third-years

each. Second-year forward Courtney Irby grabbed a team-best eight rebounds for the Hawks as they notched 23 offensive rebounds over the Cardinal’s 11. Head Coach Jamie Seward said the Hawks did not quite deliver during the game. They were disappointed, he said, because they did not really follow their game plans at times. “We had a few chances to open up a lead and would commit a dumb foul or put ourselves in a bad position defensively,” he said. “They made a couple of plays late and then we didn’t. Ultimately, [we] took the loss in a game that we felt was ours for the taking.” The following day, the Hawks defeated the SUNY Potsdam Bears 71-

PHOTO COURTESY OF ED DILLER PHOTOGRAPHY

51. Unlike the day prior, the Hawks were on top the entire duration of the game. Bryant scored a game-high 16 points in 19 minutes coming off the bench. Bench scoring was a contributing factor to the Hawk’s win, as they outscored Hawks also capitalized on 25 Bears turnovers by converting them into 13 points. “Our bench played well on Saturday and they got in and really opened up the lead for us,” Seward said. “We were able to play everybody and I think all but one got into the scoring column. I think it really kind of demonstrates the quality of depth of players that we really have.” With a record of 4-4 overall and 1-1

record in SUNYAC play, the Hawks hit the road to play Cortland on Tuesday, Jan. 6 after a month-long break between games. To prepare for upcoming SUNYAC competition, Irby said the team will be time to play, they will knock the opponent out of their comfort zone. That’s when the Hawks will attack full force said. “It’s going to be a slow process and a grind of a process but just continue to stay with it and trust that [process],” Seward said. “By the end of it, I think we’re going to be a really tough basketball team to play. In the meantime, we just have to trust the process and stay with it and try to get a little better day by day.”

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Men’s Basketball Gains SUNYAC Win By Michael Rosen Copy Editor | Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Men’s basketball team split a pair of SUNYAC games on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6. On Friday, Dec. 5, the Hawks were defeated by the SUNY Plattsburgh Cardinals 81-69. The Hawks never led at any point throughout the game. The Cardinals largest lead was 22 points with 4:59 remaining in the second half. Fourth-year co-Captain R.J. Rosa and second-year guard Eric Regenbogen each scored 13 points apiece, a team-high for the Hawks. It was also Regenbogen’s careerhigh, while coming off the bench. The following day, the Hawks won their SUNY Potsdam 63-61. After a Hawks timeout, third-year forward/center Alex Perlman was fouled on the team’s next possession and converted both

free throws to give the Hawks a two-point lead to defeat the Bears. Rebounding was crucial to the Hawks victory as they outrebounded the Bears 3929. The team will have a month-long hiatus, as their next game will be on Friday, Jan. 2, where the team takes on Roanoke College in with an overall record of 2-5 and a 1-1 SUNYAC record. Head Coach Mike Rejniak said the team is in better shape than the record shows and have to continue to stay positive, because they have a lot of good skill to build on. “The progress that I’ve seen from the team has been exciting,” he said. “We still haven’t played our best basketball yet. We’ve got a lot to improve on. When we get to that 40 minutes of play, and we will get to that in the second semester it’s going to be nice to watch a good brand of basketball to see.” PHOTOS COURTESY OF ED DILLER PHOTOGRAPHY

Thursday, December 11, 2014

SportS

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Ackerman Named All-American Athlete When Dani Ackerman picked up the stick

pions. Ackerman closes out her third season on

the nation. -

season on the team.

ship.

become a better player and led me to continue to -

As Ackerman says that her team has pushed by the time she completed her second season as

sport.

honors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dani is the ultimate team player and lead-

to be successful and also to make the people

SPORTS

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LAGGED Alief1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

This is my last time ever writing a column for The Oracle on the New York Jets, so I’m not going to waste my time and your time on a recap of last week’s game and preview of this week’s game because they are so awful right now. Instead, I’m going write about why I still love the Jets despite them being the most stressful team in all of sports. I’ve been a Jets fan for as long as I can remember. When I was little I would watch games with my dad and go to home games with my dad and grandpa whenever we could. The Jets are the opposite of the classic romantic comedy story. They will start off awful, come back and give their fans hope that they will win and then they will end the game

by doing something stupid that completely costs them any chance of winning. They’ve done it for years. I redevastated about a Jets loss. It was the 2001 AFC Wild Card round against the Oakland Raiders. It was to truly comprehend what was going on with the Jets and learned about the misery that goes with being a fan of this team. Since that day in 2001, I’ve been fully engaged in the extreme disappointment that the Jets have added to my life. Yes, there have been some good times, but for the most it’s been a bumpy ride. The best moments were beating Peyton Manning and the Colts in the

playoffs 41-0 in 2003, going to backto-back AFC Championship games and the year we were on HBO’s “Hardknocks,” when the Jets actually had an identity. Those were the days. That season of “Hardknocks” was the best one ever and will never be topped. It’s been a crazy 21 years of being a Jets fan and I’m sure the next 21 years will be just as crazy. The last and only time the Jets have ever won the Super Bowl was in 1969. So let’s put that in perspective. Any Jets fan who is younger than 45 has never experienced their team winning a championship. I’m so nervous for this offseason. The decisions owner Woody Johnson makes to replace General Manager John Idzik and Head Coach Rex

Ryan will determine whether or not the Jets will be a relevant team for For once, Johnson needs to hire leaders in this organization that can not only allow for sustained success in the near future, but longone of the most respected teams in the league instead of just being the laughingstock. Unfortunately, as usual I have a bad feeling that Johnson will make some poor hires and they will continue to be the “same old Jets.” Regardless of what happens though, my Jets fandom won’t stop. For the rest of my life I will continue to be a fan of the sports team I care about the most, even though they make me absolutely crazy.

The New Paltz Oracle? Oracle@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu Thursday, December 11, 2014

SPORTS

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Home Isles Advantage Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Islanders took both games of another home-and-home series against an Eastern Conference team as they defeated the Ottawa Senaday, Dec. 4. home-and-home series of the season. 11-game stretch against all Eastern Conference opponents that began on Friday, Nov. 14 with a record of 9-2. Gaining as much ground in the conference as possible was in this league that you need every point you can get as a contending playoff team. After the placement of defenseman Travis Hamonic to the injured reserve list, the Isles called up 2013 as a replacement. At the time of his promotion to the big club, he led all American Hockey League (AHL) defensemen in goals with nine. His slap shot is a rocket. That has been his trademark asset since the Isles could also be a threat to opponents on the power play. returned to the Isles minor league

with the Isles. He’s been with the Sound Tigers a majority of the season, playing only six games in the NHL, but has and will continue to get more playing time while Johnny Visnovsky are out with injuries. Experience is the only way to be successful in a fast-paced environment like the National Hockey

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Isles Look To Move Forward League. Having Hamonic out of the lineup will put the size, strength and hit-factor on the decline for the defensive core. Health has been a factor that the Isles have struggled with. I can only hope that after the guys that are currently injured return, injuries will not continue to plague the team. They have been on a lucky and healthy stretch up until this point. On Saturday, Dec. 6, the Isles suffered as rough a loss as I have seen all season. They lost 6-4 after taking a 3-0 lead into the second period snapped Isles goaltender Jaroslav Halak’s 11-game winning streak between the pipes, which surpassed a franchise record. Isles fans should not be worried – you can’t win them all. Especially after having three key defensemen out of your lineup. Team chemistry is altered for sure. Another issue was allowing three goals while killing penalties. The team is back to being dead-last in the NHL in the penalty kill percentage category. Michael Grabner has returned to the lineup and has scored a goal in both games he has played. Howagain. I would be too if I was out of the lineup for the same period of time because of an injury. Hopefully he can get back to his old self because he is a vital member of the Isles penalty kill and a threat to teams with his speed. “kid” line still continue to improve Lee and Strome have the ability to be lethal goal scorers. Strome score.

The same thing happened on Tuesday, Dec. 9 against the Minnesota Wild. The Isles blew a three-goal lead in back-to-back games. This is the sort of thing that would happen on a consistent basis last season. Third-period leads could not be held, leading to several losses. The loss shows that despite holding a big lead, the game of hockey is 60 minutes for a reason. That will be a wakeup call to the team for future games. In order to get to the playoffs and even contend for the Stanley Cup, you have to capitalize on all aspects and play 60 minutes each and every game. At the end of the day, the Isles are

Thursday, December 11, 2014

nail-for-nail for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. The team has a seven-game road trip beginning on New Year’s Eve. This will be the longest road trip of the season. That will certainly be a test to see if they can continue their breakthrough season to prove the rest of the doubters wrong. The Isles have certainly opened up numerous eyes so far at this point in the season with a record of 19-9. I will be continuing to cheer for the keep up their incredible and beyond impressive play after the new year begins. Until then, let’s go Islanders. Let’s keep it moving right along.

SPORTS

WHAT’S INSIDE

Men’s Basketball Splits SUNYAC Openers PAGE 16

Field Hockey Player Gains National Recognition PAGE 17

CONFERENCE COMEBACK

MAIN PHOTO BY ED DILLER PHOTOGRAPHY, UPPER PHOTO BY LIZZIE NIMETZ LOWER PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NOTCHES FIRST CONFERENCE WIN : PAGE 15