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NEIGHBORHOOD

Graphic from electtimrogers.com, edﬁted by Maxwell Reide

Volume 87, Issue XXII

Tim Rogers Wins Village Mayoral Race, Earns 41 Percent Of Votes STORY ON PAGE 3

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF THE NEW PALTZ ORACLE

• Week Of Action Against Sexual Violence....................Pg 4 • New Trustees Elected To Village Board..............Pg 5 • Housing Law Prompts Lawsuit From Landlords.......Pg 5 • Farewell To Graduating E-Board........................Pg 6

NEW PALTZ ORACLE THE

Abbott Brant EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kristen Warﬁeld MANAGING EDITOR _________________

Anthony DeRosa NEWS EDITOR

Jennifer Newman FEATURES EDITOR

Russell Hartman

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Melissa Kramer SPORTS EDITOR

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Maxwell Reide Holly Lipka

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Mike Sheinkopf CARTOONIST

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Nate Sheidlower Sam Manzella Karl Evers-Hillstrom Melanie Zerah Jack O’Brien Amya Pinka Michael Rosen Amanda Copkov COPY EDITORS

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Dylan Sheppard MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

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Manny Yupa

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The New Paltz Oracle is the official student newspaper of SUNY New Paltz. Our circulation is 2,500. The New Paltz Oracle is sponsored by the Student Association and partially funded by the student activity fee. The New Paltz Oracle is located in the Student Union (SU) Room 417. Deadline for all submissions is 5 p.m. on Sundays in The New Paltz Oracle office and by email at oracle@hawkmail. newpaltz.edu. All advertisements must be turned in by 5 p.m. on Fridays, unless otherwise specified 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 of this paper cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. The New Paltz Oracle is published weekly throughout the fall and spring semesters on Thursdays. It is available in all residence halls and academic buildings, in the New Paltz community and online at oracle.newpaltz.edu. For more information, call 845-257-3030. The fax line is 845-257-3031.

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Tim Rogers Wins Village Of New Paltz Mayoral Race

Tim Rogers outside the polling place at the village firehouse.

By Kristen Warfield

Managing Editor | Warfielk1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

After nearly half an hour following the close of the polls on Tuesday, May 5, the Village of New Paltz had gained its 23rd mayor: Tim Rogers, who won the race with 41 percent of the vote. In unofficial results released Tuesday night, village residents voted Rogers in with 353 votes, surpassing totals for incumbent Jason West at 204 votes, village trustee Sally Rhoads at 177 votes and candidate Amy Cohen at 137. The four candidates had been campaigning since their spots on the ballot were finalized in March. “Our community is lucky to have many civic activists and community organizers,” Rogers said. “I ran for mayor because I support our tradition of being an activist community, but felt there was room for improvement regarding management within our local government. We each offered dif-

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

ferent skillsets [but] I’m sure the four of us will continue to contribute in our own ways.” Town Councilman Dan Torres cited Roger’s personal take on campaigning as an aspect that brought his success on election day. Reaching out to the community made residents familiar with Rogers as a person and as a candidate, Torres said. “He went out to meet the community by going door to door, showed his care about common concerns, and grew up in our community,” Torres said. “All of those factors are very important and it showed in the polls. 41 percent of the vote is very impressive, especially against the incumbent and a village trustee.” Following the announcement of the election results, many residents took to the New Paltz Facebook page to voice concerns about voter turnout, where some claimed that the ballots

cast were very few in proportion to the number of people registered in the town. Roughly 870 voters came out for the election. Though the amount of registered voters looms over the thousands, Torres said these numbers are inflated due to the many registered college students who have since graduated or moved but still remain enrolled in the village’s system. One college student who voted in the mayoral election was second-year marketing major Tina Lloyd, who registered to vote in New Paltz last year for the state senate election. Lloyd said she decided to vote in this election because she likes to feel involved within the community that she lives in, which she says has become her home. “It’s so important for students to vote because we all contribute to this community,” Lloyd said. “Between

Thursday, May 7, 2015

our business we bring, to our heavy presence throughout town and campus, students are pretty essential to New Paltz. I voted based on who cares the most about temporary residents, who are students, and permanent residents and how we can all keep New Paltz awesome. This is my home and I love it too.” Looking ahead on his mayoral term, which begins June 1, Rogers said he aims to keep a clear focus throughout his decision making role and approach any potential conflict with efficiency in mind. “It is important for our community to regularly step back and remind ourselves of our shared beliefs,” Rogers said. “I am someone who can follow through on a task to ensure we maintain momentum, stay headed in the right direction and not get mired in conflict by style or opinion differences.”

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NEWS BRIEFS WORLD

The New Paltz Oracle

Students Organize Week of Action Against Sexual Violence

ISRAEL’S NETANYAHU COMPLETES FORMATION OF GOV. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday completed the formation of a new coalition government, reaching a last-minute deal with a nationalist party just before a midnight deadline. This sets the stage for the formation of a narrow coalition dominated by hard-line and religious parties that appears to be on a collision course with the U.S. and other allies. FOUR AFGHAN MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MOB KILLING Four Afghan men were sentenced Wednesday to death by hanging over the filmed mob killing in downtown Kabul of a young woman falsely accused of burning the Quran, a case that horrified the country and showed the dangers women face in the conservative society. KERRY IN

SEEKS YEMEN

PAUSE WAR

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sought to secure a pause in Yemen’s war as he arrived in Saudi Arabia Wednesday to meet with the king and other top officials, citing increased shortages of food, fuel and medicine that are adding to a crisis that already has neighboring countries bracing for a mass exodus of refugees. He was to hold further talks Thursday. At a news conference in Djibouti, a nearby African nation that he visited on his way to the kingdom, Kerry said the United States was deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian conditions in Yemen. KENYA RED CROSS: 54 KILLED IN CATTLE RAID ATTACKS Fifty-four people have been killed in Kenya’s northern region in tribal fighting that police say was started by a cattle raid, the Kenya Red Cross said Wednesday. Five others were critically wounded in the attacks in Turkana county and 350 people have been displaced from their homes by the violence, the agency said. Compiled from the AP Newswire

PHOTO COUTRESY OF SAM LACOVARA

Janae Johnson speaks at Take Back The Night 2015.

By Sam Manzella

Copy Editor | Manzells1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

From Sunday, April 26 through Sunday, May 3, students at SUNY New Paltz conducted the university’s Week of Action Against Sexual Violence. According to the program’s official Facebook page, at least one event took place during each day of the week to help raise awareness surrounding sexual violence. The events were co-sponsored by a variety of on-campus and off-campus organizations, including Walk Against Rape, the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies department (WGS), United University Professions and the New Paltz Slam Poetry Team among others. Third-year WGS major Sam Lacovara helped organize this year’s Week of Action Against Sexual Violence. Some of the events held during the week included a march in support of sexual assault survivors; a zine reading involving related material; a screening of “The Hunting Ground,” a documentary about sexual assault on college campuses; a candlelight vigil for victims of sexual assault and an opportunity for survivors to share their stories. The program culminated with New Paltz’s own section of Take Back The Night (TBTN), an annual gathering, rally and march to spread awareness of sexual violence and assault hosted on college campuses nationwide. TBTN featured events and programming from Crime Victim’s Assistance Program, Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center, Planned Parenthood, New Paltz Pride, New York Students Rising and New Paltz Oasis/Haven counseling

centers, according to the event page on heyevent. com. From 2-9 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, students activists and panelists filed into a white tent on Parker Quad to participate in raffles, poetry slams and other activities. TBTN vendors offered students free food, free t-shirts and custom self-care kits, which included items designed to ease anxiety and promote self-love. Executive Director for Compliance and Campus Climate Tanhena Pacheco-Dunn spoke at the event about her work at New Paltz with New York State’s Title IX provisions. She explained that this law, which is commonly associated with athletics equity at universities, runs much deeper than that. “Title IX covers gender and sexual equity across all the lines,” Pacheco-Dunn said. “As students, regardless of your gender identity or gender expression, you should be able to have all the benefits of being a college student. Unfortunately, when someone violates this law, it’s usually in the arena of sexual assault.” Along with Pacheco-Dunn, a speaker from the Hudson Valley’s Crime Victims Assistance Program, WGS assistant professor Jessica Pabón, well-known slam poets and local musicians highlighted TBTN’s crucial message of resistance against harmful sexist behavior and rape culture. These factors, which are deeply ingrained in the workings of our society, perpetuate the silence and taboo that often surrounds sexual violence and assault.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Around 6:30 p.m., students gathered to march across campus, shouting rally cries of, “Hey hey, ho ho, rape culture has got to go!” The march ended with a group-wide discussion of the event during which survivors and supporters could share their input and stories. According to Lacovara, the Week of Action was a project that they and other student activists on campus had always wanted to introduce, but this was the first year students were able to pull it off. The whole project involved “a lot of work,” and Lacovara was not sure if they would be able to make the entire week of activism an annual tradition. Lacovara called TBTN a huge success. “We had three incredible and famous slam poets (Megan Falley, Olivia Gatwood and Janae Johnson from Speak Like A Girl) who absolutely blew the crowd away,” they said. “We had a better turnout than last year, and our budget allowed for us to splurge on a huge tent, a stage and lots of food and goodies for our attendees!” Rory Kennedy, a third-year WGS major who worked with Lacovara to plan and organize the Week of Action Against Sexual Violence, explained the vital importance of TBTN and similar activist events. “[TBTN at] New Paltz has really grown,” Kennedy said. “By continuing this program, we hope that we can build a utopian community of survivors and supporters supporting and educating each other.”

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Village Trustees Elected For New Term By Melanie Zerah

Copy Editor | Zerahm1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

In addition to the Village of New Paltz Mayoral election on Tuesday, May 5, elections for Village Trustee took place. Candidates Dennis Young and Don Kerr, with 448 and 369 votes, respectively, were elected New Paltz Village Trustees for the 2015-2019 term. “I’m very happy, especially in terms of the team that has been elected,” Young said. “The community has placed their faith in us and I firmly believe that we will reward that faith by working collaboratively to protect and enhance our beautiful and unique community.” Young is a successful business professional and possesses contracting and negotiating skills which he said will be helpful as the Village Board attacks infrastructure issues. His extensive project management experience will become vital in adhering to the impending Department of Environmental Protection shutdown for 2017 which calls for an alternative water source. Young said that skills such as these will go a long way in keeping the expenses of these infrastructures down.

“One of the things that kind of horrified me over the past year was the village board accepting Central Hudson’s first offer to convert to natural gas,” Young said. “The fact that they took the first offer just shows that there was a lot of money left on the negotiating table.” According to Young, rather than taking money to convert oil to gas, the village could have used that money to run electrical lines through areas where there is no lighting such as Church Street or the Gardens for Nutrition. Young said that other useful mechanisms such as LED street lights which are becoming available from Central Hudson could have been negotiated. “We have a really good board that is going to work very well together now,” Kerr said. “I hope we can serve as a model for how other boards can work together.” In addition to his business experience, Young is currently an Environmental Policy Commissioner. Serving on the Environmental Policy Commission (EPC), Young intends to continue addressing the village and town’s most pressing issues which include drinking water, sewage, stormwater drainage and parking. He was appointed to his position on

the EPC simply by attending many meetings and showing tenacity and persistence in matters which concern the environment. Kerr also expressed his immdeiate concern over a Plan B for the 2017 aqeudeuct shut down. According to Kerr, the people of Plains Road, the area in which a water district may be created in lieu of the shut down, are completely opposed to this plan. Kerr said that he is concerned that there is no contingency plan for if Plains Road does not come to fruition. Young is a father of three children in the New Paltz School District. Living in the village, Young said that one of the challenges facing the village currently includes the cost of living. Kerr is the former president of the New Paltz School Board and explained that during his term he always had the ability to find a way for all seven board members to reach an agreement concerning important issues. “There is always room for improvement when it comes to communication whether you are talking about the college and the village board or the village board and the town board,” Young said. “Communication is the key to tackling problems collaboratively.”

New Paltz Landlords File Lawsuit By Kristen Warfield

Managing Editor | Warfielk1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

A landlord group has filed a lawsuit against the Village of New Paltz for its recently-enacted law that requires them to pay for their tenant’s temporary housing if the rental property is condemned. The New Paltz Property Owners Association filed the lawsuit with claims that the housing law violates their constitutional rights, according to an article released by The Times-Herald Record last month. The law, drafted by current village mayor Jason West, was put into effect Jan. 1, 2015. According to the law, the owner of the property must pay for the tenant’s temporary housing until the lease expires, the property receives a certificate of occupancy, or the displaced tenant chooses to live elsewhere at their own expense. The law also states that landlords may not be issued a violation by the building inspector if problems found with the property during the inspection are fixed within 24 hours. According to village trustee and rent-

er Rebecca Rotzler, the law is in place to help ensure that property owners are providing safe living quarters for their tenants. “Housing has to be safe – there’s no way around that,” Rotzler said. “I’ve heard arguments that rent will go up with result of [the law.] If a building isn’t safe, the owner of that property has the responsibility to remedy that.” This is not the first time this year that village housing legislation has received backlash from property owners. In late March, Adele Rugar of the New Paltz Property Owner’s Association spoke at a SUNY New Paltz student senate meeting to inform students of a housing law passed in January that she claimed to be imitative over students wishing to move off-campus with more than two housemates. At the time of print, Rugar was unable to be reached for comment in regards to the legislation that prompted the current lawsuit. The law in question was developed because building inspectors were finding it increasingly difficult to enforce the

laws already in existence surrounding the mending of inspection violations. “This law is the major tool the Village has to ensure the safety of rental properties,” Mayor West said in an article published in the SUNY New Paltz student publication The Little Rebellion. “I’m hoping it will help to raise the standard of living for everyone in the village.” The inspections themselves are performed annually on every rental property in the village by one of the village’s three licensed inspectors who look at the property as well as the building’s interior and exterior. Violations vary from defective smoke detectors to insufficient lighting and bed bug infestation. At the time of the law’s passing, concerns from landlords focused in on the strict time restrictions allotted to remedy the violations after the inspection. Legislation critics said that some problems with the property that are considered violations may have been caused by nature and were not a result of landlord neglect; landlords pressed that they should have more time to fix these issues.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

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NEWS BRIEFS NATIONAL

TEXAS GAY DISCRIMINATION BILL OPENS COMPLEX FATHER-SON SPLIT Beau Miller and Patrick Summers have been partners for four years, but last December was the first time they spent Christmas at Miller’s parents’ home. It seemed like a breakthrough, since the younger Miller is an HIV-positive gay activist and his father Rick is a conservative Texas state lawmaker. EX-IN-LAW TESTIFIES FROM KAZAKHSTAN IN BOSTON MARATHON TRIAL A former brother-in-law of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev testified Wednesday from Kazakhstan about the role of a conservative Muslim convert who steered Tsarnaev’s older brother toward a stricter version of Islam. A federal jury will soon decide whether Dzhokhar, now 21, should be executed or sentenced to life in prison for the 2013 bombings that killed three people and wounded more than 260. TEXAS INCIDENT FUELS CONCERN ABOUT LONE-WOLF TERROR ATTACKS

The attempted attack on a provocative cartoon contest in Texas appears to reflect a scenario that has long troubled national security officials: A do-ityourself terror plot, inspired by the Islamic State extremist group and facilitated through the ease of social media. PHARMACEUTICAL FIRM WANTS LETHAL INJECTION DRUGS RETURNED A drugmaker has asked states to return supplies of the company’s products that could be used for lethal injection in a broad request that included states that don’t use the drugs in question. States have been scrambling to find new drug supplies or adopt new execution methods as drugmakers clamp down on their products’ use in capital punishment. Compiled from the AP Newswire

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Grassroots Guru of New Paltz Local activist inspires change in community ing from gardens at New Paltz schools, leasing an By Jennifer Newman Features Editor | Jnewman46@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu apple tree and chartering a chicken program, farmer’s markets and community composting. Rosalyn Cherry sat shuffling giant pieces of Recently, New Paltz put on seven days of construction paper filled with notes on all of the en- events for Earth Week, ranging from carnivals to vironmental efforts made in her small upstate New clean up efforts and Rosalyn was spotted at most of York town of New Paltz. She sipped unsweetened them. ice tea, which she put her own sugar in, donning her Project Coordinator for the New York Public typical look: magenta shirt with matching scrunchie Interest Research Group Eric Wood said when he in a side ponytail, unique to her personality. first moved to New Paltz, he heard of how much the But she was nothing out of the ordinary here community was driven by community activists. in New Paltz. “Shortly after I met Rosalyn Cherry and imCherry’s long, brown hair in her signature side mediately understood what everyone was talking ponytail atop a tie dye sweatshirt can often be seen about,” he said. throughout the bustling Main Street of New Paltz He said Rosalyn’s history of dedicated activor at any environmental activism event in the town. ism in all realms of social justice is admirable and But what isn’t seen at first glance is the dedication awe-inspiring. for the causes she spearheads not just for her seem“I don’t know if I deserve all of the praise I ingly hippie community, but to literally save the really get,” Cherry said. “I just know a lot of people. world. New Paltz is a hub of environmentalism. We have As a 72-year-old woman in retirement for the such beauty here, I think that makes us want to do past seven years, Cherry devotes most of her time more for the environment.” to helping coordinate environmental events, protests Grassroots efforts like Cherry’s have been and awareness. more and more frequent in recent history in New Whenever there is a question in New Paltz York State, pushing environmental issues more than about environmental action and who to talk to, the ever before. phrase, “Rosalyn would know,” is commonly heard Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the prothroughout the community. cess of injecting liquid with hundreds of chemicals “Your life can be so much richer when you are at high pressure into rocks to force open existing fisengaged with activism that directly connects to your sures and extract oil or gas. life and your future,” Cherry said, sipping on her tea. Because of localized town efforts like that of Cherry’s activism is a part of many local grass- Cherry throughout the state, fracking is now banned roots efforts in New York State. New Paltz helped in New York. push Ulster to become the first county in New York “Our elected officials do not hold environmento ban the use of by-products of hydraulic fracking tal protection as a top priority,” Wood said. “If we (brine) to be used on county roads to melt ice in don’t hold them accountable through grassroots efthe winter and keep dust down in the summer. This forts for environmental activism, they will continue could not have been accomplished without the im- to ignore the importance of public health and access mense community reaction to the issue, where the to clean air and drinking water.” Ulster County Community College gym was rented Because of dedication to causes, New Paltz and hundreds showed up, Cherry said. activism is taken seriously by policy makers. They Right now municipalities, including the town know that the New Paltz community will not give up of New Paltz, Rhinebeck and Newburgh, are pass- until the issue is driven home, according to Wood. ing bans on the Pilgrim Pipeline. The pipeline would On Friday, April 17, because of these grassgo through Ulster County and would transport crude roots efforts by the town, policy makers, congressoil and refined petroleum products between Albany, men and federal workers came together in New Paltz New York, Linden, New Jersey and Washington to discuss climate change at a conference hosted by D.C. the State University of New York at New Paltz. Filled with excitement, Cherry cited other efSUNY New Paltz President Donald Christian forts New Paltz has made to promote action against said that with leadership of professors and commuclimate change. She fanned her note-filled pages of nity efforts, the university was able to address the construction paper on past and present efforts rang- important issue of extreme weather patterns and ris-

ing sea levels, specifically focused on New York in the climate change conference. Kevin Wisely, Director of Office of Emergency Management in the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, spoke about how climate change has such a large impact on local communities. He noted that without combined efforts, environmental disasters will be much harder on these municipalities. “It’s so important that we come together to collaborate,” Wisely said. “It’s not if the next event is going to occur, we all know it’s when.” New York Congressman Chris Gibson noted the importance of coordination in combating these environmental issues at the conference at the Lecture Center of SUNY New Paltz. “We absolutely need to better organize at all levels to bring forth cures and solutions,” he said. “This has very much been constituent driven, not only from the experts but from citizens that live in our community.” Cherry is no exception. Before moving to New Paltz, she had never written a letter to the editor in her entire life. Cherry did not have a television, but she did have a computer, where she began her crusade. But one letter led to many more not just to The New Paltz Times but to other weekly papers from Ulster Publishing in Woodstock, Saugerties and Kingston. Now she has written over 100 letters to the editor and to Congress on environmental issues through the Climate Action Coalition (CAC), a local activism group fighting climate change. She said her main goal with her efforts are to give people in the community specific actions they can take to make it easier for them to make a difference. Since her first letter, Cherry has gotten involved with dozens of local organizations in New Paltz. Along with being active in the CAC, Cherry started to go to campus meetings of Sustainable Agriculture and The Environmental Task Force (ETF). Through the ETF, Cherry personally spearheaded a trip to Dimock, Pennsylvania, a town devastated by fracking disasters that left much of the drinking water undrinkable. “I wanted to go to Dimock but I didn’t have a car,” Cherry said. “Understanding fracking against the backdrop of the oil and gas industry and their lobbyists and well-funded think tanks has enriched my life.” After her planning, in April of 2012, 50 cam-

Thursday, May 7, 2015

pus and community members took a bus to Dimock, filling the luggage compartment of the bus with hundreds of gallons of water to deliver to the homes they visited on the trip. On the bus were retired and current faculty members, students, several local reporters and columnists and community members not just from New Paltz but from all over Ulster County, Cherry said. Cherry has accomplished so much in such a short amount of time, mainly learning the issues from the New Paltz community over the past seven years. Before that she bounced from math teacher to massage therapist, to professional organizer to environmental activist. Cherry’s career has been as unique as her style. But it hasn’t always been letter writing and rallying for Cherry. On Sept. 11, 2001, as the news spread of the disaster of the day, so did the unfortunate diagnosis of breast cancer. As a survivor of ovarian cancer for 22 years, Cherry has powered through every obstacle that came her way. She was born in Philadelphia and after living in Camden, New Jersey for a few years, moved to New York City in 1970. She lived there for 38 years, until she retired to New Paltz in 2008. “It was a big change, but I was ready to leave,” she said. Cherry has never owned a car or a house, and doesn’t plan to start now. The only time she had ever been in New Paltz before moving here was when the Trailways bus would go through the town. “I fell in love with the energy of New Paltz,” she said. “It was just like the perfect place.” Now, Cherry lives in the heart of the town, renting an apartment in the original carriage house of an old mansion just off of Main Street. Her cozy backyard houses a swing and a view overlooking the Shawangunk Mountains, where upbeat Irish music can be heard from the lively pub down the hill daily. Being in the center of it all is important to Cherry, where everything she needs is only a 20-minute-walk or a short bus ride away. Cherry shuffled around her huge construction papers filled with her passions. Somehow in a few days, Cherry was able to pour her soul out on paper, relaying all of the events, people and causes she deemed crucial for action, all out in front of her. “I just can’t imagine my life without doing all the things I have done and meeting the people I have met,” she said.

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Features

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Welcoming Mothers On Campus

UNIVERSITY DESIGNATES ROOM FOR NURSING MOTHERS By Nathaniel Sheidlower Copy Editor | Sheidlon1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu “I can’t go a day without pumping,” Marykate Marley, a SUNY New Paltz student and nursing mother, explained. “If you stop feeding you get really backed up and your breasts will leak and if you don’t stay consistent with it you’ll lose your supply and you won’t be able to feed your child.” The third-year journalism major attends classes full-time and cannot go a single day without caring for her 15-month-old son, Louie. This care includes breast feeding and with Marley’s busy life of school and freelance work, this means pumping her breast milk when she’s not with him and saving it for the next day. When Marley transferred in last fall, her life did not stop and she found herself pumping milk in public bathrooms that lacked a comfortable place to pump and exposed her to all of the sounds and smells that ﬁll the air. She quickly decided this was a problem and, with the help of journalism professor Lisa Phillips, began working toward a place for her to provide for her child’s nutrition privately; a place like the new Mother’s Room in the Student Union Building (SUB) that opened on April 21, with a mass email sent to all faculty and staff. The Mother’s Room, located in SUB 429, has a couch, reclining chair, desk, refrigerator, microwave, and a private bathroom with hot water, offering mothers a quiet and private place to pump and, if necessary, store breast milk. The windows overlook the Gunk and a bulletin board displays baby pictures with an open invitation for additions. Faculty or staff who wish to use the room can get a key through the human resources department. Students can sign out a key at the student activities ofﬁce in SUB 211. “Just as breast-feeding is the best nutrition for my son, being a college-educated mom is one of the best things I can do for my son’s future,” Marley wrote in a personal essay written for her

Marley eats lunch in new room for mothers at SUNY New Paltz.

entrepreneurial journalism class and published in The New York Times on Dec. 3, 2014. This essay came out after Marley had already emailed administrators letting them know about this problem that she and undoubtedly other mothers were struggling with. Little did Marley know, efforts to create this room were already underway. The creation of the Mother’s Room was set in motion with work by the Woman’s Rights and Concerns Committee, chaired by Professor of Elementary Education Kiersten Greene, along with a one-time allocation request from Fine Arts Professor Anne Galperin in October of 2014 and with a request from the United University Professions. The project was headed up by Vice President for Administration and Finance Michelle Halstead and com-

PHOTO BY NATHANIEL SHEIDLOWER

pleted with the help of the facilities and student activities departments. Galperin, who said she was fortunate to have her own ofﬁce in which to pump for her child in 2002, made a request similar to what is required of employers under the New York State Labor Law. The request was for “a centrallylocated space on campus in which faculty, staff and students who are nursing mothers can pump breast milk.” While the SUB is not of equal distance to all buildings on campus, the creation of this room is a step in the right direction, according to Halstead. She added that although nothing is ﬁnal, there may be another room installed in the Sojurner Truth Library during its renovations. “We want to do more than we are legally

bound to do,” Halstead said. The labor law calls for employers to “make reasonable efforts to provide a room or other location, in close proximity to the work area, where an employee can pump milk in privacy.” Halstead said there are plans to acquire lockers for the room so mothers can leave their pumps there instead of schlepping them around, as well as partitions to provide complete privacy if desired. Originally an apartment, SUB 429 was being used for storage and with only a few renovations, it became the Mother’s Room it is today. Most furniture was taken from residence hall storage. The work, a new rug, the appliances and a water heating apparatus made the whole project cost only around $2,000, according to Halstead – less than a third of Galperin’s initial request for $6,140. “I’m delighted that the President and Administration were receptive to this idea,” Galperin said in an email. Last fall semester and most of this one as well, students like Marley were restricted to pumping in bathrooms or finding another space. Professor Phillips, who taught the entrepreneurial journalism class and another journalism professor, Dr. Rachel Somerstein, allowed Marley to pump in their offices in the meantime until this room was opened. Marley said this room offers the unique benefit of not having to move around on campus so much in one day. “Say I have a four hour window,” Marley elaborated. “I’ll pump at the beginning, then have to close everything down and find somewhere to do my work. Then I have to close everything down again and pump before my next class. Now, with this room, I can work and pump in the same place.” Upon arrival to campus, the lack of a space to pump made Marley feel unwelcome. “Having this room sends the message to mothers that you belong here,” Phillips said. “That is a really important message.”

Thanks for another great semester! Look out next semester for more editions of The New Paltz Oracle. Thursday, May 7, 2015

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Features

The New Paltz Oracle

Sending Hope To Haiti

STUDENT BRINGS FUNDS AND SUPPLIES TO SCHOOL IN NEED

By Karl Evers-Hillstrom Fleurinay couldn’t help but notice the dire Copy Editor | N02541514@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu situation at the school. The benches supporting the Beverlie Fleurinay’s path to success has been malnourished children looked as if they were goanything but painless. Born in Haiti, Fleurinay was ing to break and lessons were taught with singular sent to the U.S. when she was only 6 years old be- pages ripped out of old notebooks. For many of the cause her mother Myrline Brizard felt she couldn’t children, the meal provided by Brizard was the only food they would eat that day, and they had nothing support her. Now a third-year psychology major at SUNY to drink with it. “The trip changed my whole perspective,” New Paltz, Fleurinay is President of Envied FashFleurinay said. “Seeing my mother and knowing she ions, mother of an 8-month-old son and taking 19 doesn’t have much and is so willing to dedicate her credits in classes. Despite all of this, her most prevalife to helping [her students] inspired me.” lent concern is always Brizard, nearly 10,000 miles Fleurinay knew that refund checks wouldn’t away. be enough to support her mother and the kids, so Brizard runs a school for underprivileged chilshe created the Foundation of Myrline Brizard, a dren in Hinche, Haiti. Some of the children lost their non-proﬁ t organization that raises money for Brizparents in the 2010 earthquake that claimed over ard’s school. Fleurinay’s drive to help the children 200,000 lives and many of the children’s parents is relentless, and it comes from her own personal simply couldn’t afford to take care of them, let alone experience. provide them with an education. “It’s important to me because I know what it The school is weakly constructed with brick feels like to not have food to eat,” Fleurinay said. “I and mortar, funded by money Fleurinay received know what it feels like to not have an education, befrom school refund checks. cause I’ve been through that, and I want these kids When Fleurinay visited Brizard during this to have a better experience.” year’s spring break, it was their ﬁrst reunion in nearIn addition to the burden of being a college stuly a decade. dent and a mother, Fleurinay feels immense pressure “She was crying,” Fleurinay said. “She was to support the children in Haiti. She knows she will so happy to see me and was so proud of what I’ve have to get people to donate if the kids are going to done.”

be fed and educated. “For every day that I’m not able to raise money, they’re starving,” Fleurinay said. “I’m responsible for feeding 20-60 children on a daily basis and providing them with an education.” Fundraising in order to feed starving children has not been as easy as Fleurinay expected. She grapples with the idea that nobody wants to donate money each day, even for a good cause. “I feel really depressed when I don’t get donations and nobody is even interested in the foundation,” Fleurinay said. “I keep asking myself, why don’t people want to help out these starving kids?” Fleurinay was struggling with ﬁnding ways to get people to donate money, and needed help. She found a stroke of luck while being tutored by third-year psychology major Maureen McCarthy. McCarthy helped Fleurinay write for her conﬂict management class, and was able to read all about her life story and struggle to raise money. Being a member of the Red Cross Club, McCarthy was eager to help Fleurinay raise funds for her foundation. The Red Cross Club hosted an ice cream and pizza social on April 29 at Bevier Hall where people were eager to donate for Fleurinay’s cause. Throughout the week they had a coin and pen drive, where people donated money and school supplies

that will be sent to Haiti. They raised nearly $500 and dozens of notebooks, pens and more. Fleurinay was astounded by the success and happy she wasn’t alone in her endeavors anymore. “I love Maureen,” Fleurinay said. “She’s such a good person and she’s helped me so much.” McCarthy was equally complimentary of Fleurinay and impressed by her immense levels of commitment. “She’s going places, she’s gonna do great things with her life,” McCarthy said. “The fact that she’s starting this operation so young and already being this successful is amazing.” Fleurinay believes the Red Cross event was just a start, and knows there is much more work to be done. After the school sessions are done, many of the children have nowhere to go and nowhere to sleep, a problem she wishes to solve. “Just feeding them and providing education is not enough for me,” Fleurinay said. “My ultimate goal is to rebuild the school and provide them an orphanage where they can stay.” Anyone can donate to the Foundation of Myrline Brizard on fmbhaiti.org. Fleurinay plans to dedicate the entire next semester to fundraising. “These kids are my passion,” Fleurinay said. “I won’t give up until I reach my goal, no matter what.”

As Sweet As Turkish Delight

EVENT MIXES DIFFERENT CULTURES ON COLLEGE CAMPUS By Amanda Copkov Copy Editor | Copkova1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu There are hundreds of students from over 50 different countries who come to study abroad each year at SUNY New Paltz to experience American culture. Most students on campus are more familiar with international programs in the French, Italian, Spanish and Asian Studies departments but may overlook other rich, historic communities on campus — like that of Turkish culture. According to Dr. Kathleen Geher, director of the Dual Diploma Program and a lecturer of psychology, New Paltz currently has 115 Turkish students here on campus. On Thursday, April 30 in the Student Union Multipurpose Room, students, faculty and members of the community gathered together for the fourth year in a row to celebrate and learn about the history and culture of Turkey at Turkish Culture Night. This annual event was started and organized by Veysel Ucan, director of the Turkish Cultural Center in Albany and a native of Istanbul, as well

as District 103 Assemblymember Kevin Cahill. “This event provides an opportunity to learn about Turkish culture for people who aren’t from the culture,” Ucan said. “We are trying to promote the culture on campus, while at the same time trying to remind the Turkish students of the home they might miss.” As participants in the Dual Diploma Program, the Turkish students go back and forth each year between their home universities and New Paltz. The objective of the program is to allow the students to receive diplomas in the same major from both their Turkish universities and New Paltz, while allowing them to acquire skills that will open up more doors for them in the future, according to Geher. “The best part of the program is learning about and discovering other cultures,” said Ezgi Memis, a third-year business major and another native of Istanbul. “American culture is so different from our own.” Danielle Roma, a third-year communications disorders major and Nate Christian, a thirdyear marketing major, said it was their ﬁrst year

attending the event and they both enjoyed the authentic food and music. “It’s nice to mix the Turkish and American students together socially,” Roma said. “And the baklava tasted delightful.” Along with serving baklava, a rich, sweet pastry made of flaky dough filled with chopped walnuts or pistachios and sweetened with honey, Turkish Culture Night also presented its guests with börek, a savory, cheesy pastry, red lentil kofte, Turkish coffee, hummus as well as other Turkish delicacies — some provided by Anatolia, a Turkish restaurant located on Main Street in New Paltz. Meze, or appetizers, are a common part of Turkish meals, Geher said. The entertainment of the evening was provided by two New York City gentlemen — Scott Wilson and Jim Nordstrom — who played classical Turkish instruments such as the oud, a pearshaped string instrument, the saz, another string instrument with a deep, round back but a much longer neck as well as the kanun, commonly referred to as “the king of instruments,” whose strings stretch over a single bridge with fish-skins

Thursday, May 7, 2015

on one end and are attached to tuning pegs at the other. Other forms of entertainment were provided by Turkish artist MustafanYasar, who introduced the attendees to traditional ebru art, also known as water marbling. The artist puts oil on top of a pan ﬁlled with water. They then drop specks of paint — blue, white, red, yellow, green — into the pan and stroke a thin utensil in a vertical motion through the liquid and ﬁnally place a sheet of paper on top. When the sheet dries, it brings to life the multicolored, “marbled” masterpiece. Geher said that as a campus, we are lucky to have the Dual Diploma Program and that every year, she learns something new at this event. This year she learned that Santa Claus, formally known as St. Nicholas, was born and buried in Turkey as well as that the Virgin Mary’s house was located there. “Turkish society is a culture most people are not very familiar with, but [are fascinated] to learn about because of its amazing history,” she said. “The students help to internationalize and diversify our campus.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT oracle.newpaltz.edu

Anthems, Motets and Cantatas, Oh My! CHORAL ENSEMBLES SING THROUGH THE CENTURIES By Amya Pinka

Copy Editor | Pinkaa1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

On Tuesday, May 5, the Choral Ensembles Spring Concert took place at Julien J. Studley Theatre at 8 p.m., where singers performed a variety of styles and periods. Performers were also joined by an orchestra conducted by Professor Edward Lundergan who was accompanied by Adjunct Professor Gary Palmieri. The Choral Ensemble Spring Concert featured performances from the CollegeCommunity Chorale, orchestra, chamber singers and the concert choir. According to the SUNY New Paltz website, the SUNY New Paltz Choral Ensembles is open to all SUNY students regardless of major. They offer opportunities for singers who have a wide range of experience to sing songs from many time periods. The College-Community Chorale requires no audition, and consists of members from both the student body and the New Paltz community. Every Wednesday evening, the chorus meets to practice and sing songs of folk, spirituals and classics of the choral repertoire. They also practiced major works with orchestra. This concert featured almost 50 singers who sang soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Last night’s chamber choir consisted of 12 singers. They specialize in vocal chamber and a cappella choral literature performance from the 16th century to present. Lastly, the concert choir, which consisted of almost 40 student singers of soprano, alto, tenor

and bass chosen by audition. They practice two times a week and focuses on works from the 18th century to the present, with an emphasis on 20th century American works, as stated by the New Paltz website. The show opened with the College-Community Chorale and orchestra performing three of four of Handel’s Coronation Anthems. According to the program, these anthems were written for the coronation of King George the II in 1727 and represent his first commission as a naturalized British citizen. The concert concluded with the concert choir and orchestra’s performance of cantata number four, “Christ lag in Todesbanden” by 18th century composer Johann Sebastian Bach. According to the program, the cantata is a series of variations on an Easter hymn by Martin Luther. The text is taken entirely from Luther’s chorale, with no Biblical quotations and the instrumentation is restricted to strings and keyboard with every movement is in E minor. Fourth-year visual arts major Melissa Kantor was pleased with the performance and its variety. “I was pleasantly surprised about the instruments because I only expected the concert to be vocal,” Kantor said. According to the program, the New Paltz Choral Ensembles welcome new members for the Fall 2015 season and will feature works from female composers such as Amy Beach and Alice Parker. Thursday, May 7, 2015

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

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Arts & Entertainment

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From May 1 to may 5, BFA’s at suny new paltz had their works on display in the dorksy museum of art HEre are some highlights of their work

Andrea Pacione BFA - Painting and Drawing “godfun II, 2”

Bri Dabroski BFA - Sculpture “Wake”

Sarah Annesley BFA - Printmaking “Mea Culpa”

All PHOTOS by KArl Evers-Hillstrom

Kaitlyn Flannagan Yellow Onion BFA - Photography “27.292866, -82.490743”

Lilia Perez BFA - Photography “By the Hand of a Woman”

“

“ Nirvana

Santos BFA - Sculpture

Thursday, May 7, 2015

MFA thesis Opening Reception May 8, 5-7 p.m. the Dorsky Museum

The New Paltz Oracle

Arts & Entertainment

Maxwell Reide: PHoto Editor

oracle.newpaltz.edu

MUSICIAN OF THE WEEK: Owen Whitley YEAR: Fourth Year MAJOR: Industrial/Organiza-

tional Psychology

HOMETOWN: Sparta, NJ

WHAT’S YOUR INSTRUMENT OF CHOICE? Guitar would probably be my number one, it just clicks the easiest for me. And I eventually started singing because I always felt limited not being able to sing along to anything I was writing on guitar a few years back.

WHAT ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH MUSICALLY? Currently just working on my own solo stuff, but I’m also a part of Male Call, the all-male a cappella group on campus.

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES? My biggest inﬂuences right now are a weird mixed bag of artists like Koji, King Krule, City and Colour, and so many others, but I jump around a lot and spent a long time drawing inﬂuences from a lot of pop-punk bands.

WHO HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING TO LATELY? I’ve had King Krule on repeat for days. 6 Feet Beneath the Moon is such a solid album.

WHAT’S YOUR PLAN FOR THE FUTURE? I’m sticking around New Paltz for a little while, working and doing music stuff on the side.

ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING MUSICIANS? For songwriters speciﬁcally, I’d say just don’t be afraid to be genuine and at least somewhat vulnerable with the way you express yourself through your music. It’s tough sometimes to open yourself up completely and let it all spill out, but it’s your art, and your passion, for better or worse. Own it.

CHECK OUT OWEN WHITLEY PERFORMING BY SCANNING THIS CODE WITH ANY SMARTPHONE!

YOU

WANT TO BE...

MUSICIAN OF THE WEEK? The New Paltz Oracle has been an amazing outlet for my interests in photography for the past two years. It’ll surely be one of the things I’ll miss most post-grad. Love, Max

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Contact Russell Hartman at Rhartman@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

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The Deep End

THIS WEEK IN

The New Paltz Oracle

THE DEEP END Mike Sheinkopf Major: BFA Painting and Drawing Year: Third Inspriation: Comic Books, TV and Film, Poetry, History, Mythology, Comedy, Milkshakes ““I use symbols to organize thoughts and watch recurring feelings. Whether they are the ‘two vast and trunkless legs of stone’ on the horizon, the cloaked figure who invades my space, or the two-faced god of doorways on my toilet, these symbols are an attempt to communicate personal experiences. I strive to marry the world within and the world without; the relatable of the day-to-day and the universal.””

Photos courtesy of Mike Sheinkopf | Captioning by Maxwell Reide

OPINION

The New Paltz Oracle

REFLECTIONS

ANTHONY DEROSA News Editor

N02385288@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Whenever I make small talk about my college career with relatives or strangers, I like to say that – as a journalism major – I have a lot to show for my degree. This sentiment is nothing more than a convenient lie perpetrated for brevity's sake. The truth is, I attribute only maybe 15 percent of my growth, education and ability to academics. I can count on one hand the professors and their associated classes which have actually meant something to me during my four years here. The remaining 85 percent of my development into the person and journalist I consider myself to be today is owed entirely to a hideously orange office and the lunatics who have over the years chosen to inhabit it. Yes, my time at The New Paltz Oracle has meant a great deal more to me than I'll ever be able to put into words. That said, here's my attempt to do so anyway. Working at the newspaper has given me an insight and understanding of college and the outside world that I wouldn't have received, had I keep my head down and drifted through the monotony of academic existence. Thankfully I've never been that kind of person. Before I joined staff at the beginning of my junior year at New Paltz, I held with me a sense of disappointment over the slow realization that college, as it was marketed throughout my life, was not nearly the idealistic haven of free expression and thoughtful discussion I had believed it would be. I don't know exactly what I had pictured, but it was promised to me that a college education was free of the restrictions and limitations that made public education cookie-cutter in nature. College, I was told, cared only for an individual’s enlightenment, attuned and achieved in whatever manner said student thought best for themselves. Maybe I was naïve. Maybe I missed the memo. Maybe my belief in ideals clouded my rational thought. Whatever the reason, I felt lied to and cheated, unable to properly verbalize what I saw as flaws in the system. However, after two years writing, interviewing, discussing and learning all there is that makes this little ecosystem of ours tick, that's now changed. It's sad to say that my final takeaway of college is that, to put it blunt, all of it is

bullshit; a systematic bureaucracy hiding beneath the virtue of guiding ideals and goals of which the focus has long since been shifted from. In my time at the newspaper, having been in direct contact with the inner workings of the system, I've finally been able to comprehend and legitimize the feelings of disillusionment that I've been stuck with since coming to college. However, a friend of my recently said to me that maybe the realization that such a large entity like higher education is in fact, bullshit, is a lesson in and of itself – perhaps even the most valuable lesson one can gain. Seeing past the lie, recognizing the falsities; if you're able to do that maybe you have been educated as the college wants you to be. Personally, I like this sentiment. If anything I've certainly learned to trust nothing and seek the truth on my own, and really I'm thankful to have that instilled in me. But as some old guy once said, it's less about the conclusion and more about the journey, and while I've spend 500 words speaking abstractly about what The Oracle has given me philosophically, I've yet to talk about my journey's companions and what they have given me emotionally. So, once again, I'll try my best in words to credit those whose presence has made my life exponentially more enjoyable, without whom I would be a lesser person for. Those familiar with my personality know I have extreme difficulty expressing feelings of sincerity, so hopefully everyone who is mentioned below is able to read between the shenanigans and recognize that I how much each of you mean to me. Cat, you are the Mother of Dragons, making everyone who has ever been on staff with you one of your dragon-pups. Hopefully your apartment allows pets, and is in close proximity to a dragon daycare. Take care not to set the drapes ablaze. Katie, you are the deadbeat dad I'll always be looking to impress despite the fact that you are usually not sober enough to recognize my existence. I forgive you though and will never stop believing that one day you'll come home from your 12-year trip to the corner store to buy cigarettes and lotto tickets. John, you're the cool older brother who sits up in his room listening to records of punk bands, the one who's parents are far too conservative and afraid of to say anything to when you leave the house in your flannel to go jam in Stinky Pete's garage. I also look toward you for approval, but totally understand that you have cooler things to be doing than

talking to me. Suzy, you are the irresponsible big sister who thought it'd be funny to put rum in my juice and ﬁlm me drunkenly singing along to Dora The Explorer. Usted es un gilipollas, but I love you anyway. You are the Queen of the Gunk, and your resulting physical mutations are horrendous in the best of ways. Maya, you are the crazy cat lady who terrorizes the neighborhood children and secretly practices arcane magics in your bathroom; the one who I, as the quite loner, am morbidly fascinated with despite having seen the dark atrocities you are capable of. I promise to honor our blood contract once I collect enough souls. Roberto, you are a journalistic Superman, which is to say, you are Clark Kent. As you leap from tall buildings, protecting truth, justice and the innocence, remember that myself and the other children look up and are inspired by your humbleness. Hannah, you are the ideal image of a Greco muse. Your enthusiasm and encouragement toward everyone you know should honestly be illegal. Please turn yourself in to the Fun Police because you are clearly in violation of something. Maddie, you are this world's most divine beach queen, living life as the exotic adventure it was meant to be. Wherever you may be right now, I'm sure you're soaked with sun and margaritas, even if it only be in spirit. Max, you are a level 90 wizard with PhotoShop. Thanks for satisfying all my selfish silhouetting needs. The dogs, wolves and corn appreciate it. Holly, although our time together was short, you're photos were always stellar. Keep it up. Jack, I can see the dark potential for News in your soul. Explore it, embrace it, use it for evil. Mike, being a Mets fan will never get easier. However, if you stick with it, you'll build up a superhuman tolerance for disappointment, so it's worth it to some degree. Karl, play as many ﬁghting games as you can will you still have the chance. I don't need to tell you how satisfying it is to know the intricacies of a system through framedata and lag-time. Amaya, I don't know you very well at all, but I won't leave you out of this because that would be a dick-move. Obligatory 'have a great summer!' comment. Nate, just like you I'll keep this simple and elegant: you're a real solid dude. You get two thumbs up in my book, and I'm glad we got to share some snarkiness together. Aman-

Thursday, May 7, 2015

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da, I've never seen you in or around Bouton. Just an observation. That said, you're a nice girl and I'm sorry we never talked that much. Sam, you are a goddamn rock and I've always been able to rely on you. Don't stress anything unnecessarily, because trust me you have a lot of ability and I know you'll be fine. Melanie, I honestly regret that I'm leaving now because I'm more than certain we would have been really great friends had we more time to together. I'm really, really proud of you and I'm very glad I scouted you for the paper. Melissa, anyone who has known you this past year and a half will tell you how much you've grown as a person and as a professional. I know I like to poke fun at you a lot, but really, I'm impressed. Russell, you are definitely one of the most stand-up guys I know. Seriously, your genuine character is really refreshing, and I hope no one takes advantage of that. Jen, I honestly consider you one of my closest and most trusted friends even though when you think about it, we haven't really hung out that much. You've always looked out for me with such sincerity and care — something I've never really understood, but hopefully I've been able to reciprocate that compassion toward you in my own goofy way. You're too good to be true. Smile once more for me. Lief, I really wish I had made more of an effort to be friends outside the office. You and I shared in a lot of dumb jokes and palled around like brothers. I legitimately missed you this semester, but I know we'll meet up again someday. Kristen, you are too pure to have been roped into the lunacy this job breeds. I honestly look at you as a role model of serenity. You are Zen, and likely the reincarnation of Buddha. Abbott, you are a diamond-clad princess, brightly sparkling while being sharp to the touch. Your ferocity is something to be equally feared and admired, and when it's channeled toward your work results in unbelievable tenacity. Don't stop until you pierce the heavens. And I guess that's all I have to say about that. Saying goodbye hasn't hurt as much as I expected but, truth be told, I've been mentally ready for awhile now. I'd like to think that I can interpret that as a sign that I'm prepared to get on with my life. I wanted to end with an appropriate quote or something, but the only thing I can really think of is “with great power, must come great responsibility.” Good enough, I suppose.

10 oracle.newpaltz.edu JENNIFER NEWMAN Features Editor

Jnewman46@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

I’m at this weird part of my life where everything I have built up in my career, social and emotional life is ending. I’m saying goodbye to everyone I have gotten close to the past four years and I am a hot mess. I’m saying goodbye to my four jobs/ families. First, my Resident Assistant position in DuBois Hall with my amazing staff there who have been keeping me afloat the past year. Second, my second home at WFNP The Edge, where I spent more time than anywhere else on campus. Third, my amazing job at iHeartRadio where I learned how to be a real person in the job world. And finally, my unique, incredible and sexy staff here at The New Paltz Oracle. This is my swan song. There is a part of me that wants to add on another major and go for year five, but there’s another part of me that is ready to move on with my position at Walt Disney World. I am weary to venture off alone in “the real world” and move 1000 miles away. Yes, I am scared of this future change, but now I look back at my time here. At The Oracle and at SUNY New Paltz has been quite literally the best time of my life. You really do learn more outside the classroom than in it. I learned so much about journalism from my family at The Oracle; what a deadline actually means, how to deal with the problem child and how to take criticism. But more than that, I learned that no matter what news hits the stands, no matter what stress anxiety-inducing work looms over your head, no matter if things are crashing down around you...the world goes on. Everything gets better and eventually you can breathe again. Every five seconds all of us are told how we are going into a dying field and are screwed. We are made to feel like our decision to follow our passion was idiotic, and we will be living paycheck to paycheck with five other people, drinking away our sorrows while freelancing our souls away. Maybe that’s why leaving everything I have behind is such a scary thought. But that’s just part of transitions...remember when middle school looked like a scary thing when you were in fifth grade? Real life can’t possibly be this terrible, uncertain black hole of torture that people make it out to be. Fingers crossed. I will admit, there is nowhere quite like New Paltz. I’m going to miss seeing biddies go out on a Tuesday, walking outside my door to an amazing pond, not getting up till 11, being right next door to all of my friends and most of all, the communities that got me through some of the best yet hardest years of my life. RHSA, NRHH, Res

REFLECTION Life and most of all DuBois Hall has influenced my college career so much. It’s scary to think about where I would have ended up without these amazing influences. Now for the mushy thanks part. First and foremost, I want to thank my mom. She picked up every issue of The Oracle. She listened to every one of my radio shows (Jen and Tonic, I’ll miss you). She was right there with me through thick and thin and I could not have done this without her. She has a lot on her plate, but always manages to make it through, and I admire her for that. I love you mom! Second, I want to thank my dad. He has been through so much the past two years, and is the strongest man I know. They always say the only man you can trust is your dad and the older I get, the more I’m realizing that to be true. Thank you for supporting me in everyway possible. You are the most caring person I know and I can’t believe how lucky I am to be your daughter. Third, I would like to thank the rest of my family. Suzanne, thank you for being my voice and my shoulder. Judy and Mike, thank you for every song request and text of support. Jen and Bri, thank you for being like sisters to me. And only because I have a lack of space, thank you everyone else, relative, blood or not, for taking me in, caring about me and for your unconditional love. Finally all of my friends and co workers in New Paltz. Brandon, KC, my residents, DuBois and Edge Staffs past and present; thank you all for being there for me no matter what. Thank you Larry for helping me go out and make my own trail. Thank you Adrian for always being so caring. You all mean so much to me. Now let’s get to this, Whoreacles. First, Andrew Wyrich, my first EIC. You intimidated me so much as a little nug copy editor, but I soon came to realize you were what I had imagined journalism to be. You still embody that image today. Stay golden. Rachel, being your copy editor was amazing. I learned so much from you and appreciate all of your guidance. Carolyn, you flawless angel. Live your dreams. Caterina, you stuck with The Oracle forever and you are absolutely wonderful. Julie G, the picture you drew of me is still a hit even to this day. You are so talented and I am so glad I got to work with you. Roberto, you were too good for us and you know it. You are the perfect journalist. John, you’re like that guy who I think is too cool to talk to me, and am excited you do. You were the chillest person to work with and I took a lot of cues from you after being your copy editor. Maddie, I still don’t understand how you are able to go on all of these exotic and amazing trips while maintaining an amazing career. You are so perfect and I miss you. April, you are such a hard-working and kind hearted person and I am so glad you are my

friend. Zameena, you are so passionate and sweet and I miss you as my gunk gal. Katie, you are my sunshine and I love your face. My features mama. Your perfect humor is only topped by your love of your dogs. Thank you for teaching me how to do the thing. Hannah, I feel like we have been on the same level with everything. From Parks and Rec bindges to RA struggles, you understand and complete me. I feel the feels with you. Cat, dear god, Cat. You are the mother I never asked for but always needed. You are a perfect princess and I love you so much. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I have been influenced by you. You were there for me in one of the hardest times of my life and were so understanding. You pushed me to be the best I could be and I will never forget that. Nug. Boozy Twerkowitz, if the name doesn’t speak to the level of which you have influenced me, then perhaps this will. You are a gorgeous, confident, fantastic human being who has been there for me since the beginning. You were the first one to say I should join The Oracle, and I will never forget all the laughs, lip syncs, inappropriate facial expressions and fun. I love you. Robin, I don’t know how it’s possible that we haven’t fallen to pieces without you. You have gone off to bigger and better things though, and I am so proud to call you my friend. Jack and Amaya, you both friggin rock. I am so proud of you for jumping right in and being a part of the gang. Mike, you perfect little scorekeeper. Your smile brightens my days. Karl, you will be taking the torch of Features legacy. I have every confidence in your face and capabilities. Sam and Mel, you are both so incredible and I am so proud of you both. I’d say stop being so flawless, but it’s physically impossible. Max, literally I owe you so much I can’t even begin to thank you. You mean so much to me. I feel like we have gotten very close this past year. You are genuinely one of my favorite human beings. Amanda, bae. You are my soulmate and you know it. Our children will be beautiful and sassy. You are an incredible writer and a fantastic friend and human. Nate, my main man. What can I say? You are the future. I’m so proud of your initiative and passion. You are so wonderful. Thank you for being an incredible copy editor and friend. Russell, you truly embody the kind of person I hope to be one day. Even if you are having a rough day, you are there for your friends. I hope to always remain one of those lucky people. Melissa, you and I share a lot of similarities and you have been through so much. You are the most reliable, passionate, dedicated person I know. I am so honored and lucky to have you as a friend. You are just a ball full of sunshine and I know I am going to miss you terribly when I

Thursday, May 7, 2015

The New Paltz Oracle am gone. I love you. Always remember that you deserve the best. Lil Quief, I’m not gonna say much because that’s what you would want. You were the best resident, a great EIC and a decent friend. I will always have fond thoughts of you and your chips. Kristen, aka my twin apparently. You radiate confidence and prestige...but with good reason. You are a strong, adorable talented woman and I am so proud of you. I know you will be an amazing EIC. Thanks for being caring and classy. Abbott, our love is a battlefield, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. You are such a go-getter and inspire me to be a better journalist. I am so proud of you and know you are going to be amazing in “the real world.” Thank you for being so passionate and sassy. You are a beautiful, strong woman and I’m happy I’ve gotten closer to you this semester. I will miss your face. Tony, Jesus. You mean so much to me. Ten years from now I will look back at my time at The Oracle and think of you first. You have a passion for every single article you write. You push, you care and you embody journalism, but you care about your friends even more. I love you Tony. Thank you for literally everything. Bill and Elkin, you have guided me through this whole journey and I owe you both so much. Bill, it’s been me and you since the beginning. You are the single most influential professional for mein my time here at New Paltz. Thank you for being a shoulder, a reference, an incredible boss and an amazing person. Elkin, you scare me. But that’s just what I needed. You push everyone to be the best they can be and I appreciate and respect that. My time at The New Paltz Oracle was emotional, terrifying, exciting and stressful. But I would do it all over again. There’s just something right about writing here on production night. It feels like home. And yes, I will miss it. I will miss my four jobs, friends and New Paltz. And yes, I am scared for the future. But I know it will work out and stressing out about it won’t make it any less scary. Everything happens for a reason and even though I am off to start the next chapter of my life down in Florida, I know I will one day return to New Paltz, the one place where I have ever truly felt at home. I feel so different from that awkward turtle who entered this university. I have grown up so much over the past four years. It feels like I have been here forever, but now I have to let it go like Elsa would want me to. I have made mistakes for sure, but I have no regrets. I am so glad I had the experiences I did, from hall gov, town adventures, boy drama, dances, romances and heartache. I am who I am because of New Paltz. So thank you everyone who has helped me get to where I am. Everything may be changing, but the goodbyes are not permanent. The memories will last forever. Sorry, not sorry. Stay sexy.

The New Paltz Oracle

Sports

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The New Paltz Oracle

CITRO’S

MARK

PHOTO BY ROBIN WEINSTEIN

Carissa Citro finished her Hawks career with 166 points.

By Melissa Kramer

Sports Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Carissa Citro was supposed to be a member of the cross country team at SUNY New Paltz, but chose to play lacrosse instead. Citro first started playing lacrosse in fourth grade and continued throughout her time at Miller Place High School on the north shore of Long Island. Playing travel lacrosse was also part of her routine. Despite running for the 2011 New Paltz Hawks cross country team, she did not want to give up lacrosse because she had such a love for the game. “When I was younger, I used to have catches with my dad and my sister,” Citro said. “I started playing with Comsewogue. Miller Place didn’t have a program. My mom started a program in our school for the younger ages, so then I just started playing.” At Miller Place, she was awarded AllLeague (2007-08, 10), All-Division (2007-10) and Women’s lacrosse All-Division (2010-11). Her sister Danielle, who is two years older, played lacrosse at SUNY Oswego. The Citro sisters matched up against each other twice on the field during Carissa’s first and second years as a Hawk. Carissa’s team took the 21-20 victory on April 17, 2012 in their first matchup. Carissa scored four goals and Danielle added two for Oswego. In her first year as a Hawk, Citro started in all 17 games. She finished second on the team in goals (34), ground balls (47) and draw controls (48).

Hawks Head Coach Liz Student took the reigns at the helm of the program when Citro began her collegiate lacrosse career in 2012. Student said from the moment she saw Citro run down the field, she knew that she would be one of the best players in program history. “She’ s a very special individual that we will all miss,” Student said. “She mentored younger players and was always there for everybody. Carissa would be the person that can tell when someone’s down and just say something positive to them. She was all in it for the team. She’s one of the most unselfish people I’ve ever met and will give anything to anybody and really worked hard to make everybody around her look good.” The following year, Citro was named Second-Team All-SUNYAC and a SUNYAC AllAcademic Team member. During the season, she led the team in caused turnovers (16) and tied for second on the squad in draw controls (32) and assists (12). In her junior year, Citro began her tenure as a co-Captain of the Hawks and held that title for two years. The same year, she was named to the Second-Team All-SUNYAC yet again. This time, she was granted SUNYAC Commissioner’s List and All-Academic Team member honors. In order to receive this honor, a studentathlete must complete the season as a varsity athlete and must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.3 for at least three semesters at the college. The All-Academic Team honors varsity athletes who have earned a minimum 3.3 grade point average for the semester in which

they competed. Student said Citro put in 100 percent effort, 100 percent of the time, regardless of what she’s doing. “When you watch her play, you can see that passion,” Student said. “You can see that regardless of what’s going on around her, she wants the ball, she wants to score, she wants to get the ball back. She plays with extreme passion. In our conference, she’s one of those players that everybody wants on their team. Within our conference, we have very good teams, but everybody would want Carissa on their team. She makes everybody around her look really good.” Citro’s favorite moment as a Hawk came during her third year in the April 1, 2014 game against SUNY Potsdam. The Hawks were down 10-3 with 27 minutes remaining in the second half and mounted a comeback. With 33 seconds remaining in the game, the Hawks tied it up and forced a six-minute overtime. Citro netted the game-winner for her team on home turf as the Hawks beat the Bears 15-14. To cap off her Hawks career, Citro was named to the 2015 All-State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Women’s Lacrosse Third Team, marking her third All-SUNYAC honor. Citro is the Hawks’ first multipletime All-Conference honoree. During the 2015 season and her fourth year, she led the team in points (40) and draw controls (51) while ranking second in assists (12) and tying for second in caused turnovers (11). She finishes her career ranked among the

Thursday, May 7, 2015

top four in every position player statistical category for the Hawks. The attacker ranks second in assists (57), second in draw controls (179), third in ground balls (137), third in caused turnovers (69) and fourth in goals (109). This season she became the program’s fourth student-athlete to surpass the 100-goal milestone during the April 16 game against Mount Saint Mary College. During the game, she scored a program-record-tying seven goals. Citro said hitting the milestone was exciting and was unaware how many goals she needed to hit the century mark. “That was really exciting,” Citro said. “I actually didn’t know that I needed only two more to hit it. It was fun and I didn’t think I would have that many.” Citro was a communication disorders major during her time at New Paltz. This fall, she will attend graduate school at the University of Buffalo to study audiology for her doctorate. Off the field, Citro, along with Student, attended a Chi Alpha Sigma luncheon in April, a National College Athlete Honor Society — an event for the athletes with the highest GPA. “The professors have nothing but kind words to say about her,” Student said. “To hear her professors talk about her, it was very refreshing, because all of the same things that I see on the field, they were saying about her work ethic and her teamwork in the classroom. It was great to hear that reiterated. She really is a very special individual and New Paltz was very lucky to have her as a student athlete.”

12 oracle.newpaltz.edu

Sports

The New Paltz Oracle

Engineering A Win

By Amanda Copkov

Copy Editor | Copkova1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

SUNY New Paltz is getting the best of both worlds — athletics and science — as the baseball team bands together with the engineering department to enhance their performance. When Kevin Shanley, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, approached Head Coach Matthew Righter, who is in his second term as head coach of the baseball team, he was surprised by the plethora of sciencebased training tactics he had in mind — one of which being hip sensors that will calculate the rotational velocity of the players’ hips as they swing the bat. Righter believes that there is a direct correlation between the rotational velocity of a player’s hips with the exit velocity of a ball after being hit off the bat. Ryan Kelly and Alex Cannella, two fourth-year electrical engineering majors, started this project for their two-semester senior design class in October. Though the sensor was bought on the Internet, Kelly and Cannella are currently in the process of programming the software that will allow the sensors to calculate the rotational hip velocity and turn the data into meaningful information, such as a graph, that can be viewed on a computer screen. “A number that [the players] can see will help them realize what they’re doing to make their swings faster and better,” Kelly said. He explained that the sensors will be attached to a 3D-printed case that will clasp onto the player’s belt. There will be a place to attach the sensors on the back and front of the hips. Shanley, the advisor of Kelly and Cannella’s project, said the team will test whether the x, y or z motion of the hips will make the ball go faster: side to side, back to front or rotationally. “Control of the hips will determine how fast the ball goes off the bat,” he said. “Their batted balls will be more

PHOTO COURTESY OF ED DILLER PHOTOGRAPHY

difficult to field, harder to catch and because of that, they will get more runs.” He also explained that the microchip in the sensor sends information to

the computer approximately 200 times per second. If it takes about half a second to swing a bat, that’s 100 pieces of information each second. “This is what the graph on the

Thursday, May 7, 2015

computer will be composed of,” Shanley said. “We’re looking for the peak values in order to determine [when the ball was hit hardest].” Righter’s plan is to eventually be able to create “graded” swings — A, B, C, D and so forth. Shanley explained that Kelly and Cannella’s project is still in its infant stages and will take a couple of years to gather enough data to produce meaningful feedback for the team. “This way we’ll be able to constitute what a good swing is and use it to the team’s advantage,” he said. Currently, the sensors are attached to wires that will be long enough to reach through a batting cage and onto a PC computer. Shanley said that the team’s goal is to eventually make the sensors wireless and the software Mac accessible. His plan is to pick up where Kelly and Cannella leave off at the end of this semester and to work with senior computer engineers. “We want to get a head start before the next school year and be able to take apart the product we have now and translate its coding to Mac format,” Shanley said. “We want to focus on the software side of the project next — we’re mainly working on the hardware right now.” Righter said that he knows this device will be something that can give his team feedback that will help. Between the poor weather and the team’s game schedule — which is the second hardest in the nation against nationallyranked teams — the beginning of the season has been a struggle for them, he said. “When we work together with people with different perspectives, we’re able to accomplish really awesome things despite any adversity,” Righter said. “And to be successful we have to be creative like this. I’m hoping these kinds of ideas in the training areas can take the team to the next level.” This article first appeared on thelittlerebellion.com

Sports

The New Paltz Oracle

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Tennis Captains Leave Legacy

The tennis duo of Schmidt and Tracy led the Hawks to a 12-7 record this year.

By Michael Rosen

Copy Editor | Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Throughout the past four years, the SUNY New Paltz tennis team has been witness to a duo of great Hawks. Fourth-year co-Captains Jessica Schmidt and Devin Tracy will not be returning to the team next season upon graduation, but they have certainly left their mark on the program. “Both players have been very coachable, eager to learn how to improve their game and ultimately to improve our program,” Head Coach Rob Bruley said. “Both have put the team before their individual accomplishments. Two of the most committed athletes I have had on the program, both have been a pleasure to coach and have really bought into New Paltz tennis.” Bruley also noted that Schmidt and Tracy were the team’s number one doubles team this season, an asset that led the Hawks to a 12-7 record throughout the fall and spring seasons this year. The Hawks made it all the way to the SUNYAC Finals during the fall season, but lost to the SUNY Geneseo Knights by a score of 5-0 on Sunday, Oct. 12. This marked the fourth straight season that the Hawks lost to Geneseo in the SUNYAC Finals. The Hawks have always had a tough rivalry with the Knights. The Knights often came out on top, but Schmidt noted an instance where the Hawks were victorious as her favorite moment at New Paltz.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ED DILLER PHOTOGRAPHY

“I am proud of the moment when my partner and I won our doubles match in the championship against Geneseo my junior year,” Schmidt said. “We had lost to the same doubles team in the regular season match in a tiebreaker and we wanted to go back and avenge our loss. We knew how important that match was and it felt so good to come back and win.” Tennis has been a part of Schmidt’s family for generations. She noted that her father and her aunts loved to play tennis when they were younger, and one of her aunts even played competitively when she was an adult. This love for tennis has carried over to Schmidt and her sisters. “My older sister also played [tennis] in college, so I think that had an impact on me deciding to play in college,” she said. “My younger sister is on her high school varsity team and still has time to decide if she wants to play in college or not.” Along with her family, Schmidt had a few role models that influenced her decision to pursue tennis from such a young age. She explained how she would attend the US Open every year and has fond memories of watching Lindsay Davenport play. However, Kim Clijsters is her all-time favorite player. Clijsters won four grand slams throughout her career, three of them came after Clijsters had a daughter, which Schmidt considers to be inspiring. “When [Clijsters] retired, so she could start

a family, she only had won one Grand Slam title,” Schmidt said. “After having her daughter she decided to come back to tennis. Her first grand slam tournament that she played in when she came back, she won. She was just a class act of a player.” Currently, Schmidt is a big fan of Novak Djokovic. She loves how talented he is and how he makes the sport of tennis look so effortless. When she first came to New Paltz, Schmidt was at the bottom of both the doubles lineup and the singles lineup. But it wasn’t long until she was starting in the doubles lineup, and occasionally being a part of the singles lineup as well. The All-SUNYAC Doubles Second Team member tallied a record of 9-9 in doubles matches this season, and also went 7-9 in singles matches. Tracy, Schmidt’s doubles partner this season, was also named to the All-SUNYAC Doubles Second team as she finished with a record of 11-10 in doubles matches this season. While Schmidt’s role models were famous players who she saw play when she was little, Tracy cited a role model who she has a more personal relationship with. “My tennis role model is my tennis trainer Amiee Crasira,” she said. “She has been my trainer since my freshman year of high school. She has made me the player and person I am today. Her way of thinking and determination to be the best has rubbed off on me. She has been a

Thursday, May 7, 2015

great role model on and off the court.” Tracy also started playing tennis thanks to her family. Her parents signed her up for a country club when she was 9 years old and she hasn’t stopped playing since. Tracy also has an older brother, who played tennis but stopped playing while he was in middle school. Her favorite moment at New Paltz was also a victory against Geneseo, when the Hawks defeated the Knights by a score of 5-4 on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. The Hawks have not defeated Geneseo since this victory. Tracy also had a lot of praise for her doubles partner. “Jess is a very smart player,” she said. “She analyzes what our opponent’s strengths and weakness are and what our game plan should be.” Likewise, Schmidt had plenty of positive things to say about Tracy. “Devin is one of the most likable people you will meet,” she said. “She is a very positive and upbeat person and that is exactly who you would want as a doubles partner and teammate. She makes a great leader.” But Bruley had the most praise for both of his players, and he will certainly miss them come next season. “[I will miss] their loyalty and commitment to the program,” he said. “They both have been a great example of what it takes and what it means to be a student athlete at SUNY New Paltz.”

SPORTS

14oracle.newpaltz.edu Orange And

Blues

Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

A marathon is not won within the first few feet after the starting line, and the baseball season is a marathon. The Mets came running out of the gate to start this season, but since their 11-game winning streak they have fallen back down to Earth. The Mets could not have had a better two and a half weeks to start the 2015 season. First they took two out of three games from the Washington Nationals in their first series. This was huge considering the Mets’ lack of success against the Nats last season and the fact that everyone, including me, expected the Nationals to easily win the National League East this season. Shortly after this series, the Mets went on a crazy 11-game winning streak which included a 10-game homestand where they did not lose a single game, something that had never happened before in their history. The most important aspect of their winning streak, all of the Mets wins came against teams that play in their division. The Amazins’ beat the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins four times, and the Philadelphia Phillies three times. The team looked as though they were clicking on all cylinders. Even with the injury to Zack Wheeler, who will miss the entire season due to Tommy John surgery, the Mets rotation looked as good as advertised. Matt Harvey returned and looked as sharp as he did throughout the 2013 season. Jacob deGrom looked even better than Matt Harvey to start this season. Bartolo Colon, the ancient Mariner, looked great as well and even outdueled Max Scherzer, the 2013 American League Cy Young Award winner, on Opening Day. The offense was projected to be very shaky, and while it certainly is not a great one, the Mets batters took advantage of other team’s mistakes and got clutch hits when the team needed them. Despite his low batting average, Curtis Granderson seems to find a way to get on base thanks in large part to his ability to draw walks frequently. Juan Lagares and Lucas Duda have been fantastic so far and Travis d’Arnaud was hitting very well too before he broke his hand on a hit-by-pitch during a game against the Marlins on April 19. But this opened a spot for Kevin Plawecki, a Mets prospect who has done a solid job filling in on behalf of d’Arnaud’s absence. A nice surprise for the Mets has been their bullpen this season. The Mets lost Vic Black and Josh Edgin to injuries before this season

The New Paltz Oracle

Cooled Oﬀ In Queens

Mets hope to end skid.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR USER SLGCKGC

began, and both were key cogs in the bullpen last season. Jenrry Mejia, the Mets closer, was suspended for 80 games due to his use of performance enhancing drugs. But none of this has slowed the Mets bullpen. Last year’s setup man, Jeurys Familia, has stepped into the closer role and has done a fantastic job. He is 11-for11 in save opportunities and currently leads the National League in saves. Alex Torres, Sean Gilmartin and Erik Goeddel have been solid new additions and Carlos Torres, no relation to Alex, has continued to be a great reliever for the Mets. The bullpen ERA of 2.85 is currently eighth best in baseball. But all of the positivity for the Mets came crashing down when they went into Yankee Stadium for part one of the Subway Series this season. The Mets had their 11-game win streak snapped on April 24 with a 6-1 loss at the hands of the New York Yankees. deGrom pitched very poorly in this game for the ﬁrst

time all season, and he has yet to bounce back. The Mets would win the next day by a score of 8-2, Harvey pitched brilliantly and it looked like the team was poised to take the series the next day. But unfortunately, the Yankees came out on top by a score of 6-4. Don’t be fooled by the score though, that game was never close. The Mets committed four errors in the game and Jonathon Niese, who is usually very consistent, got hammered by the Yankee bats. It was disappointing to see the team lose the series against their rival, but what has happened since has been even worse. Since that night, the Mets have gone 2-5, losing two out of three to the Marlins and then three out of four to the Nationals. Both teams were projected to be the Mets top competitors in the division this season, and they both look as though they are rebounding from their poor starts. The last two games against the Nation-

Thursday, May 7, 2015

als were 1-0 Washington victories. The Mets couldn’t push a run across the plate in either game and the offense seems to have lost their ability to get the clutch hit when needed. But more alarming has been the Mets’ defense, especially around the infield. Shortstop Wilmer Flores is suffering from “Chuck Knoblauch Syndrome,” as he can’t seem to throw accurately to the first baseman. Eric Campbell, who replaced an injured David Wright at third base, has looked very shaky as well. Daniel Murphy has since taken over the third base job while Wright still recovers from a hamstring injury, but Murphy isn’t exactly a stable defender either. Despite the Mets’ recent skid, there are plenty of reasons to remain positive. Every team is going to face rough times throughout the season and there’s no way the Mets were going to play the way they did the first few weeks all season long. Keep in mind that the Mets, as they seem to do every season, have suffered from a large amount of injuries so far. Wheeler and Edgin were lost before the season and we won’t be seeing them until 2016. Black has yet to throw a pitch for the Mets and neither have Mejia or former Mets closer Bobby Parnell. Wright and d’Arnaud were off to great starts this season, and neither have played for the past few weeks. Wright will hopefully be returning soon, but it looks as though d’Arnaud will be out for quite some time. Throw in the fact that Daniel Murphy and Michael Cuddyer have not gotten off to a hot start this season, but they will most certainly start hitting soon as both have proven to be very consistent hitters. All of this and yet the Mets are still in first place. But it seems as though their time at the top of the division will most likely be ending soon. Believe it or not, this fact is not as upsetting as you’d think. No one thought this team would ever be ahead of the Nationals in the standings, let alone for the first month of the year. I stated in my previous column that the Mets will most likely not make the playoffs, and I stand by that prediction. If they compete for a Wild Card spot throughout the summer, then that’s more exciting baseball than anyone has seen from this team in years and I will take that. Not to mention the fact that Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz, two Mets pitching prospects, have been tearing up the minor leagues this season and both could join the club rather soon. If the Mets can get some of their injured players back soon, don’t be surprised to see this skid end.

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