Volume 88, Issue 13 by The New Paltz Oracle

NEW PALTZ ORACLE THE

Volume 88, Issue XIII

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Thursday, February 11 , 2016

BY HOLLY LIPKA

COME TOGETHER FORUM ADDRESSES ISSUES OF CAMPUS INCLUSION

- STORY ON PAGE 3

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF THE NEW PALTZ ORACLE

• Local School District in Fiscal Stress .......................Pg 4 • Teachout Declares Candidacy for Congressional Seat .................Pg 6 • Zika Virus Declared Health Emergency ...................Pg 5 • Landlords Drop Lawsuit Against Village ......................................Pg 7

Kristen Warﬁeld EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Nate Sheidlower

NEW PALTZ ORACLE THE

MANAGING EDITOR _________________

Melanie Zerah NEWS EDITOR

Karl Evers-Hillstrom FEATURES EDITOR

Russell Hartman

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Melissa Kramer SPORTS EDITOR

_________________

Holly Lipka David Khorassani PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS

Stefanie Diers CARTOONIST

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Sam Manzella Jonathan Perry Michael Rosen Jack O’Brien Jess Napp Monique Tranchina Anthony Orza Rachael Purtell Kintura Williams COPY EDITORS

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Jackie Quaranto WEB CHIEF

FEATURES

A&E

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About The New Paltz Oracle

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.

Volume 88 Issue 13 Index NEWS THE DEEP END

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NEWS

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College Community Holds Inclusion Forum By Melissa Kramer

Sports Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The SUNY New Paltz community came together on Wednesday, Feb. 11 as part of a “Town Hall” forum to share personal stories and discuss inclusion on our college campus. The names of students, faculty and staff mentioned in this story have been withheld, due to the open-forum nature of the event. These personal anecdotes brought to light instances of micro-aggression, insult, dismissal and other sensitive topics surrounding inclusion. SUNY New Paltz President Donald P. Christian opened the discussion addressing the audience with the purpose of countering ‘otherization’ and shrinking social distances among members of the New Paltz community. “Our campus community cannot correct the ills of American society, but we can work to make our campus more inclusive, more equitable,” Christian said. “We have learned that having conversations solely in response or reaction to hateful acts or racist incidents is insufficient. These are conversations that need to happen at all levels of the institution.” Joining Christian was Dr. Steven Jones, a nationally-recognized moderator who specializes in diversity. Jones prompted conversation about inclusion shortcomings on the campus, as well as its strong points. First, Jones led the audience in a visual exercise, where he highlighted the importance of perception among issues of inclusion. “Prepare yourself to hear other people’s perceptions,” Jones said. “Prepare yourself to not have your experience play criteria for whether someone else’s perceptions are valid or not.” Jones made it clear that the meeting could serve as a judgement-free zone where students could share their own personal memoirs and thoughts freely. The discussion ensued first by a student-faculty panel, where members passed the microphone around to cover topics such as socioeconomic issues, racial discrimination, and both physical and non-physical disabilities. Students, staff and faculty on the panel each had different backgrounds, varying everywhere from race and social status, helping to provide a representation for all sides of inclusion.

One strong point mentioned by several panelists was the attempt to make the faculty more diverse. While the faculty may be seeing increased diversity, some students are feeling as though they are not welcomed on the campus and as a result, feel isolated, a faculty member said. A former student-turned faculty member mentioned that black solidarity is an important cause for students of color. “When I went to school on this campus, the amount of black students on-cam-

struggles of not being able to afford and keep up with the financial burdens that college brings. In the case of one student, she has faced the battle of having expenses that faculty and administrators assume she could afford right when asked for. “I can’t get $50 by tomorrow,” she said. “When you go and tell them that you can’t afford it, you get penalized and have to pay a late fee,” she said. “It is basically penalizing us for not being able to afford it. Me wanting to graduate on time is being jeopardized because of my family’s socio-

’

“We have learned that having conversations

solely in response or reaction to hateful acts or racist incidents is insufﬁcient. These are conversations that need to happen at all levels of the institution.” – PRESIDENT DONALD P. CHRISTIAN

pus amounted to twice as much. That is a great concern for many reasons,” he said. “We need to do a better job for creating opportunities for black students. You can’t have an increase of one at the expense of another.” Another student panelist described her situation of physical appearance and how something so minor such as changing her hair for a day harbored an overwhelming amount of response about it. Naturally having curly hair, she finds that others will make comments or ask the reason why she flipped her look. “When that happens it is the biggest news in the world,” she said. “To me it is just my normal life [but] things like that where people just comment on your appearance or things that are just a natural part of you, that hurts and I feel like I shouldn’t have to explain to anyone.” Students that come from various socioeconomic backgrounds shared their

economic background. I work two jobs and I still can’t afford it.” Some faculty spoke positively about the community identifying problems and crises. Making solutions for everyday lives and not just the lives of those who are being affected, but the campus community as a whole, for administration to faculty and staff to students needs to be done, a faculty member said. “If it is affecting many groups in our community, it should be affecting us all,” he said. “When it comes to inclusion, if it is not an entire campus-wide change, odds are it is not going to improve.” Another faculty speaker, one who described himself as a “straight-white male,” said he has never experienced discrimination in his lifetime, but can listen and observe to make sense of what that feels like and help students. Some students feel that they are often looked to as representatives of minorities

Thursday, Februrary 11, 2016

as a whole in the classroom — a notion that is impossible to fulfill, they said. The microphone was then passed to audience members in attendance to share their experiences. One mentioned concerns over the funding of the Equal Opportunity Program (EOP) program. Christian stood up and responded by saying many in the community are aware that New Paltz submitted a proposal for some SUNY funding through the “performance funding program” and specifically saw the funding increase in the EOP program by 100 students over a four-year period. He said EOP is successful for minority students because of the dedicated work of the advisors in the program and wants to increase state funding that involves expanding space for those programs. They are still waiting for a response to that proposal, he said. At the event’s close, a third-year student said despite the active conversation about the topic, they did not feel that there were any solutions put in place. “I feel that we discussed problems and we talked about what we have done well and what we could do better, but we didn’t actually come up with anything that would progressively fix any of the issues,” the student said. “Regardless of the visual diversity, the verbal diversity needs to be increased. I feel like that was not discussed enough.” Future plans for the raise in inclusion in the SUNY New Paltz community is a progression with a diversity and inclusion plan. The plan is to develop this 15 to 20 member committee that will include faculty, staff some students, people in key offices and faculty who have expertise in these areas, Christian said. “Having that committee in charge of not just with thinking about these things, but also doing things,” he said. “And providing a structure in ongoing network to move these initiatives along. I am optimistic that we will be able to make some headways and progress.” Jones said the likelihood of pragmatic approaches to affect the inclusionary atmosphere on campus is high. “When I hear a diversity and inclusion plan and council, those are the right steps to build the infrastructure to make both present day and long-term change,” he said. “I see the commitment from the right people in the right positions.”

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NEWS BRIEFS WORLD

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New Paltz School District in Financial Stress

IRAN’S DRONE FIRST OVER US CARRIER SINCE 2014 The unarmed Iranian drone that flew over a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf last month is similar to those that can carry missiles and was the first to conduct an overflight of an American carrier since 2014, U.S. Navy records obtained Wednesday showed. KURDS ATTACK SYRIAN AIR BASE HELD BY INSURGENTS Kurdish fighters helped by Russian airstrikes launched an attack in northern Syria on Wednesday in an attempt to capture a military air base held by Syrian insurgents, while an international aid group warned that the health system in parts of the north is close to collapse. 2 FEMALE BOMBERS KILL 58 IN NORTHEAST NIGERIAN REFUGEE CAMP Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up in a northeastern Nigerian refugee camp, killing at least 58 people, health and rescue officials said Wednesday. A third woman bomber was arrested and gave officials information about other planned bombings that helped them increase security at the camp, said an official of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency. TURKISH LEADERS LASH OUT AT UN DEMANDS TO OPEN BORDER Turkey’s leaders lashed out Wednesday at the United Nations and others who are pressing the country to open its border to thousands more Syrian refugees, accusing them of failing to shoulder the refugee burden or stop the Russian bombings that have triggered the exodus. NATO MINISTERS APPROVE NEW REINFORCEMENTS FOR EASTERN EUROPE NATO defense ministers on Wednesday approved new multinational reinforcements to beef up defenses of frontline alliance members most at risk from Russia, the alliance’s secretary-general announced. Jens Stoltenberg said the plan adopted by the United States and NATO’s 27 other members calls for the use of troops from multiple countries who rotate in and out of eastern European member states rather than being permanently based there. Compiled from the AP Newswire

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

New Paltz School District Middle School.

By Holly Lipka

Photo Editor | Lipkah1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The New Paltz school district is in “fiscal stress,” according to a report from the state Comptroller’s Office. The report released on Jan. 28 by Thomas DiNapoli shows fiscal stress rankings of school districts statewide over the past three years. DiNapoli’s “Fiscal Stress Monitoring System” was launched in 2013 to monitor local governments and school districts to determine an early warning of fiscal stress. The system evaluates a number of budgetary issues like operating deficits and year-end fund balances, according to a Fiscal Stress Monitoring System fact sheet. This year, 82 school districts are experiencing some degree of fiscal stress. Eight districts, none in the Mid-Hudson region, are in “significant fiscal stress,” the highest category while 50 districts were susceptible to fiscal stress. New Paltz has been on the “moderate fiscal stress” list for the second year in a row. Twenty-four other districts are also classified as having “moderate fiscal stress.” A main cause to school districts’ financial issues is the Gap Elimina-

tion Adjustment (GEA). It was created to help close New York’s $10 billion budget deficit during the year 2010-11 which reduced state aid to school districts. The property tax levy limit law, also known as the tax cap, continues to constrain school districts’ ability to increase their property tax levies. The tax cap, which went into effect shortly after the GEA, limits tax levy increases to the lesser of the rate of inflation or two percent. The state’s base cap for school district tax levy for 2016-17 is just .12 percent. The New Paltz Assistant Superintendent for Business Richard Linden, explained the district is in fiscal stress because instead of saving most of the fund balance to pay for next year’s budget, they used the money to keep as many staff positions as they could. “We have been trying to delay cutting positions as much as possible, but we’ve still had to cut many staff members,” Linden said. Linden also said legally the district is allowed to keep four percent of the fund balance which is equivalent of about $2. The New Paltz districts have only been keeping between $100,000-

Thursday, February 11, 2016

$200,000 in order to keep as many staff members and education programs as possible. Superintendent Maria Rice believes the district must maintain educational value in its schools but this has proven difficult with New Paltz’s unappropriated fund balance. “The most affected areas are kindergarten through 12th grade,” Rice said. “We’ve had to cut out electives and class sizes have increased in every building.” Classes now contain 30-35 students which may cause students to not receive beneficial attention from their teachers. Rice said the district is trying to find creative ways with the cut backs to create a cohesive and inclusive environment for the students. For example, the district had to cut a library media specialist and is now trying to fill the gaps with computer science education. Linden said the there needs to be an increase in state aid or a decrease in the tax cap in order to keep money in the fund balance. “We just do not make significant cuts,” Rice said. “It’s not who we are in New Paltz.”

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News

Zika Confirmed as Health Emergency By Kristen Warfield

NEWS BRIEFS NATIONAL

GOVERNMENT SUES FERGUSON AFTER CITY TRIES TO REVISE DEAL

Editor-in-Chief | Warfielk1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The World Health Organization (WHO) affirmed the Zika virus and its possible link to birth defects as an international public health emergency on Feb. 1— a move establishing the severity of an epidemic that has already spread to the majority of Latin America and the Caribbean. An outbreak of the virus was detected in Brazil in May 2015 and has since spread to more than 20 Latin American countries, as well as Costa Rica and Jamaica. The mosquito-borne virus has been linked to a birth defect called microcephaly, a condition resulting in abnormal head size and developmental delay in babies born to mothers with the illness. Though no official connection between the virus and microcephaly has been determined, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cautioned pregnant women from traveling to the affected areas. Travel warnings have been issued for over 20 countries, including Brazil, which is set to host the Olympic Games in August. Locally, the Zika virus has been a daily topic of conversation for travel professionals, New Paltz Travel Center president Colleen Gillette said. “I’ve been working to reroute trips for customers who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant because their doctors are highly suggesting that they refrain from traveling out of the country,” Gillette said. “There’s been so much on the news about Zika lately that everyone has questions about it— but the majority of people that have already booked trips are still going regardless.” Despite this, data from The World Bank shows that fears of the Zika virus could cause affected countries a loss of nearly $63.9 billion in tourism revenue. On the epidemic’s frontline, Zika has sparked a surge of concern among Latin American and Caribbean women, as some are being advised by their nation’s health officials to delay pregnancy. But in some areas, contraception is scarce and abortion is often illegal, The New York Times reports. New Paltz-based lactation consultant and maternity store owner Donna

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The federal government sued Ferguson on Wednesday, one day after the City Council voted to revise an agreement aimed at improving the way police and courts treat poor people and minorities in the St. Louis suburb. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Ferguson’s decision to reject the deal left the Justice Department no choice except to file a civil-rights lawsuit. 2 DEPUTIES KILLED, SUSPECT DEAD IN MARYLAND SHOPPING CENTER SHOOTOUT

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAILYNEWS.COM

Bruschi said she understands the feelings women who are already pregnant in these areas may have, despite the low risk of the virus being present locally. “Women who are pregnant really like to take care of themselves and any feeling of potential harm to their baby is magnetized,” Bruschi said. “In the U.S., there’s really not a lot of risk involved when having a child— most worry about harm of secondhand smoke or how their diet affects the baby. But in these countries, [Zika] is just like this type of unpredictable wild card.” At the epicenter of the outbreak, Brazilian health officials are looking to join forces with American researchers to develop a vaccine for the virus, Reuters reports. The virus is carried by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the same carrier of West Nile and Dengue fever – a species that thrives in the tropical climates of the Southern Hemisphere. Raisa Lassance, a student from Rio de Janiero who studied internationally at SUNY New Paltz last year, said everyone around her at home is trying to be as proactive as they can to avoid mosquitos. “People here are scared,” Lassance said from Brazil. “The disease is spreading fast, carried on by the same mosquito as Dengue, which has been hard for us in past years. I recently

traveled to the Northeast region of Brazil, where the problem is even worse than there and I didn’t stay one minute without applying repellent. I think everybody here is doing the same.” The WHO estimates four million people could be infected with the mosquito-borne illness by the end of the year. There are currently 50 reported cases of Zika within the United States, all but one credited to international travel. The other was sexually transmitted to a person in Texas whose partner had just returned from Venezuela with the virus. About one in five people infected with the virus actually exhibit symptoms, which, according to the CDC, has caused many cases of the virus go on undetected. Those with the virus may experience fever, rash, joint pain, muscle pain, headache or red eyes. Though symptoms can be hindered with rest and medicine, there is no developed treatment plan or vaccine for the virus. The CDC stresses that unless traveling to the affected areas, the risk of transmitting the virus locally in the U.S. is very low. This is the third time since 2009 the WHO has issued a public health emergency: first in 2009 for the influenza pandemic, and again in 2014 for both polio and Ebola.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

A gunman fatally shot a sheriff’s deputy inside a crowded restaurant at lunchtime Wednesday and killed another deputy in a shootout, authorities and witnesses said. The suspect was killed in the exchange of gunfire not far from the shopping center where the restaurant was located, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said. Remarkably, no bystanders were hurt. APPEALS COURT TOSSES ORDER BLOCKING MISSISSIPPI EXECUTIONS

An appeals court Wednesday upheld Mississippi’s method of lethal injection, rejecting arguments from death row inmates who opposed the state’s plan to use drugs not specifically approved by state law. The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate ruled incorrectly in August when he issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state from executing prisoners. EX-PRIEST ARRESTED IN 1960 SLAYING OF TEXAS BEAUTY QUEEN

For more than half a century, the unsolved killing of a young schoolteacher and beauty queen who was last seen at church haunted the Texas city of McAllen. But now, nearly 56 years after the bludgeoned body of 25-year-old Irene Garza was pulled from an irrigation canal, police have arrested the man long suspected in her slaying: the former priest who apparently heard her final confession. Using a walker, a frail-looking John Bernard Feit, now 83, appeared in court Wednesday in Phoenix after being arrested a day earlier at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, on murder charges. Compiled from the AP Newswire

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NEWS

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Zephyr Teachout Announces Congressional Candidacy

zens and officials are showing their support. “Zephyr is a great fit for this position, she is News Editor| Zerahm1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu very smart and clear-minded,” Town of New Paltz Zephyr Teachout, a Fordham Law professor who Supervisor Neil Bettez said. “She grew up on a farm ran against Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2014 for New York and understands the issues that Hudson Valley may Governor, announced her bid for the 19th Congressiobe facing.” nal District seat of New York on Monday, Jan. 25. DemBettez added that Teachout’s stances on ecoocratic Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney of the 18th nomic issues, which look to level the playing field Congressional District also announced his endorsement between small business and major corporations, are of Teachout on Friday, Feb. 5 at Deyo Hall in New Paltz. important for communities such as New Paltz which Teachout had not been politically involved before thrive on family-owned businesses. As a memher campaign against Cuomo. She ran on the grounds ber of the Working Families Party, Bettez said that of a Democratic grass-roots campaign which only took Teachout is the perfect candidate for understanding small dollar donations. According to supporters, this what is important to local politicians such as himmethod of campaigning portrayed her wish to move to- self. wards taking money out of politics. Although she did According to Town of New Paltz Deputy Sunot win, Teachout’s candidacy was a small, yet victori- pervisor Dan Torres, it is refreshing to see the type ous step for liberals and her supporters due to the im- of willingness Teachout has to be the change that pressive debut she made against Cuomo. she wants to see in the government. Teachout, like “I’m pretty sure people are fed up with what is hap- Maloney, subscribes to the “no-labels mentality” for pening in Congress and the status quo,” Teachout said. government. This is a belief that issues in Congress “I am here to stand up and raise the voices of people should be addressed not based on bi-partisan affairs, who were shut out.” but on the issues themselves. Torres says that this is Republican Congressman Chris Gibson currently yet another reason why Teachout is the type of polirepresents the 19th district of New York and is known as tician he would like to see representing the Hudson having the most liberal voting record for any Republican Valley. in Washington. Gibson won in 2014 as an incumbent for “There is no candidate easier to support than Zephthe seat against Sean Eldridge, husband of Facebook co- yr Teachout,” Torres said. “She fundamentally agrees founder Chris Hughes, but is not seeking reelection this with my political views as a whole. It was rather brave term. Talk of Gibson becoming a possible challenger to in my view when she ran in 2014 with such little name Cuomo in 2018 have been circulating in New York. or recognition or money.” Now that Teachout has announced her plans to sucTeachout said that she is very excited about the ceed Republican Congressman Chris Gibson for the ethusiam she has been receiving from students on cam19th Congressional seat, many excited New Paltz citi- puses such as SUNY New Paltz. According to Teachout, By Melanie Zerah

Black Studies Announces New Assistant Professor By Melanie Zerah

News Editor | Zerahm1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Anthony Winn, SUNY New Paltz alumni advisory council member, has been appointed as Special Assistant to Black Studies and will be teaching Blacks and American Law this semester. Winn will be acting as a consultant and mentor to students and faculty to help facilitate the growth of the Black Studies Department. In addition to this position at SUNY New Paltz, Winn works for Nos Quedamos, a South Bronx-based nonproﬁt housing and social service provider as their chief operating ofﬁcer. Winn has been a local resident of New Paltz since February 2015 and but still continues his position in Nos Quedamos. “Teaching in the Black Studies department is a bucket-list achievement— I had always wanted the opportunity to contribute in a teaching capacity,” Winn said. “While many of the faces are new, the spirit of the student body and its conscious engagement with the is-

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEWPALTZ.EDU

sues of our times feel very familiar and comfortable.” Additional information about Winn’s career and his involvement here at SUNY New Paltz can be found on the college’s online news page.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

PHOTO COURTESY OF COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA

the passion young people have who are in support of issues such as leveling the economic playing ﬁeld are necesscary to take on the big companies that are growing people out. “I feel like a new poltical moment is happening on college campuses in New York,” Teachout said. In the next edition of the Oracle we will devle deeper into Teachout’s candidacy and reasonings for running for ofﬁce.

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Village Awarded Grant to Improve Local Bridge

A view of the Carmine Liberta Bridge.

By Nick Tantillo

Staff Writer | Tantilln1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Carmine Liberta Bridge that crosses the Wallkill River at the bottom of Main Street in New Paltz has received $400,000 earmarked by the New York State Governor’s office for projects related to community resilience of storm damage, according to New Paltz Village Mayor, Tim Rogers. Ulster County lawmakers approved the improvements to the bridge last September with nearly $500,000 in aid provided by the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, the Daily Freeman reports. The project calls for the opening of a temporary bridge just north of the

PHOTOS BY HOLLY LIPKA

existing structure. This will allow motorists to cross the Wallkill River on State Route 299 and hopefully not impede traffic too much. The funds for the planning and implementation of these improvements come from the $6 million the Governor’s office previousely set aside for the Town and Village of New Paltz under the NY Rising Reconstructive Program. In New Paltz, the initiative calls for a study of flooding of the Wallkill Watershed and alternatives to flood control including bioswales, rain gardens, use of permeable surfaces and protection of wetlands and green spaces.

Local Lawsuit Against Village Dropped By Jack O’Brien

Copy Editor | Obrienj2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Village of New Paltz notched a major legal victory in their ongoing dispute with the New Paltz Property Owners Association, (NPPOA), over a law regarding annual rental inspections. On Feb. 4, Senior Judge Thomas McAvoy of the Northern District of U.S. District Court dismissed the civil rights case filed by NPPOA against the village. According to the Times Herald-Record, the village law in question required “property owners to pay for temporary housing of tenants if their rooms don’t meet new annual inspection standards.” The NPPOA filed a lawsuit in March 2015, arguing that the law infringed on their 4th and

14th Amendment rights. The 4th Amendment, as written in the U.S. Constitution, states that it is “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures ...” Village of New Paltz Mayor Tim Rogers questioned NPPOA’s claim that the village’s law was violating their 4th Amendment rights. “I thought it was interesting that their argument was based on the idea that their 4th Amendment rights were somehow being violated by this law,” Rogers said. “Annual rental inspections are important to protect residents and even landlords.” According to Village of New Paltz Housing Code Article II, Chapter 129-8, the village can order landlords to provide temporary housing for renters if their rental property fails any in-

spection standards. Such inspection regulations include the lack of “running water, heat or heat source, electricity, sanitary facilities, windows in sleeping spaces, cooking facilities and/or smoke/carbon monoxide detector(s) or there is the presence of black mold ...” Saying it was not the first action pursued by NPPOA against the village, Rogers said he was glad to see the case dismissed in federal court. “It’s a relief not to continue to pay these attorneys to fight this litigation,” Rogers said. “Litigation is a massive expense for the taxpayers of our community and I’m glad it’s over.” Rogers described the process as a tedious one with several trips to Albany with Will Frank, the village’s attorney. He said that at the time of the case’s dismissal, the village and NPPOA were still attending mediation hearings.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

After the dismissal, Rogers said he spoke with other village trustees who were pleased to hear that the legislation was affirmed. Rogers said he hadn’t yet spoken to former Village Mayor Jason West about the ruling but did say that West had long been an advocate for housing reform for renters in the village. Careful to not lay blame on all landlords in the community, Rogers said that the vast majority of landlords take their business seriously and see the positive aspects of the law. “We believe these standards assure residents a safe product,” Rogers said. “In the long run, it benefits landlords, too. I’ve talked to many landlords who say these rental inspections allow prospective students and their parents to trust them and rent from them. That in turn provides them with more business.”

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RUSSELL HARTMAN A&E Editor

Rhartman@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

It all started when I heard my phone vibrate one summer night in 2014. “Andrew Lief … I wonder what he wants …,” I said to myself as I unlocked my iPhone screen. He asked me if I would be interested in joining the Oracle. I was unsure. I knew the Oracle focused on school news and local news and at the time I was a national news and national sports kind of guy. We talked brieﬂy until he presented me with an offer I couldn’t refuse: “When I leave the Oracle, you can have my Jets column and write about the Rangers.” With that offer, I was in. I began as a sports copy editor but was quickly thrust upon the role of Arts & Entertainment Editor after the previous person had to resign. It’s a job I held for over a year but now it’s time for me to say goodbye. Goodbye to the ofﬁce that became a home for me on Wednesday nights during the semester. Goodbye to my desk. Goodbye to the Rangers shield and the photo of Manny Calavera that were crudely taped to the monitor. Now it’s time to say goodbye to the people that have become part of my extended family. Nate Sheidlower: You have become one of my closest friends during my time at the Oracle and I

KARL EVERS-HILLSTROM Features Editor

N02541514@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

I thoroughly enjoyed my time here at The New Paltz Oracle. I learned more here than I ever did in any of my journalism classes about how to write, report and edit properly. I’m so grateful for my experience here because honestly, I would probably be a journalism scrub without it. Deciding to leave was not an easy choice. I thought about it for a long time and ultimately made the decision with a heavy heart. It isn’t something I wanted to do but something that I knew I needed to do. I’m going to miss being Features Editor. I’m going to miss seeing stories ﬂy into my inbox on Wednesday afternoons, I’m going to miss hearing wacky story ideas from contributors, I’m going to miss telling people what to do. But most of all, I’m going to miss all of the amazing people I had the pleasure of working with here at the Oracle. Kristen, I have a ton of respect for you and the job you’ve done as both Managing Editor and Editor-In-Chief. I don’t know how you keep

OPINION

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REFLECTIONS Reﬂections From the “Heartman” know you are destined for great things my friend. The list is short of people that I trust and you are on that list buddy, I wish you the best in everything you do. I look forward to hanging out during the rest of the year as well as later in life. Mike Rosen: You were loud when I met you. You’re still very loud. But that doesn’t change the fact that you are a kind and genuine guy who deserves to be happy and not worry about those that try to bring you down. You have all the skills to become the next great baseball analyst. Go out and grab it. Tim Kurkjian has nothing on you. Jack O’Brien: We haven’t known each other for very long but man Jack, you will be one of the people who I’ll miss a lot. You care about the quality of your work more than a lot of people I’ve seen and you always know how to deliver a story in a great, concise and effective way. You’re a member of the party I don’t support but that doesn’t stop me from wishing you the best of luck in everything. Thanks for the laughs and for messing with Grossman. Samantha Manzella: Sam, what can I say? “Come Jam with Sam” has become one of the staples of the paper as a whole and people love your

column. I love your column. You have a special talent for writing about music and the arts and I know you will make a fantastic journalist in the real world as well. I want you make the A&E section an even stronger part of the paper. I know I left the section in good hands. Jessica Napp: One of the kindest souls I’ve ever come into contact with. Your writing speaks for itself and the way you write is absolutely fantastic. I haven’t known you as long as others on the Oracle but I know you have a bright future ahead of you. I’ve never met someone so attentive and considerate. Keep being awesome. Melissa Kramer: The biggest Islanders fan I know. We’ve had some good memories over the years. You work hard and you are always up to the challenge no matter what it might be. My one piece of advice to you: try to find some time to relax and chill. Now let’s go out there and win the championship in floor hockey this year shall we? You got a good future ahead of you, kiddo. Kristen Warfield: The third Editor-in-Chief I’ve worked under. You bring class to the position and you know how to keep the paper running de-

spite some rough circumstances that we may run into along the way. Hope Ruby stays healthy and happy! David Khorassani: Thanks for being an amazing photo editor and good friend these past few months. I’ll never forget our Taste of New Paltz Adventure. Keep up the good work. Melanie Zerah: Good luck with everything. Keep up the great writing and attentiveness for finding and writing about news a bright future awaits you. Kintura Williams: One of the funniest and bluntest people I’ve ever met. You keep doing your thing and I’m glad we finally got the chance to work together on the Oracle. Jon Perry: I’m glad you joined up with the Oracle finally and I hope you body Karl in Smash next time you guys play. Anthony Orza, Rachael Purtell, Monique Tranchina, and Holly Lipka: I don’t know the four of you as well as the rest but I wish you all the best of luck with the rest of your time here at New Paltz and the rest of your lives. Goodbye everyone, it’s been a blast.

Karl’s Curtain Call such a calm demeanor and level head while dealing with us fools. Good luck to you in the future, I’m sure you will be successful wherever you go. Sam, you have a great skill in your ability to write about music. I hope to read your work in Rolling Stone one day. Monique, I’ve personally seen an extraordinary improvement in your writing and reporting over time. Keep it up! Jess and Anthony, I didn’t get to talk to you two very much, but you both seem like genuinely nice people who have a great future ahead. Rachael, congratulations on the promotion! To be honest, you deserved it awhile ago. Keep up the good work. David and Holly, you’re both exceptionally talented photographers. I wish I had that kind of skill because every time I take a photo it’s blurrier than a night at P&G’s. Kintura, I’ll probably be seeing more of you once I start coming up to our internship on Wednesdays. Looking forward to being silly in

Albany with you. Jon, your Toon Link gets better every time I play it. Keep training and soon you will be on my level. Oh, and I am truly sorry I only got to work with you so briefly, but I’m sure you’re not too mad that I’m not your “boss” any more. Jack, I hear you’re taking over my position. Don’t mess it up kid. I’m going to miss arguing politics with you from time to time, you’ve got to be the smartest and nicest conservative I’ve ever met. Well, maybe except for my grandpa. He’s pretty damn cool. Mike, you’re the man. You always made production nights more enjoyable with your sports talk and crazy antics. Melissa, you’ve been a good friend for years now. You were one of the people who got me onto the Oracle in the first place, by asking me to bring an ice cream sandwich up to the office on production night. Then all of a sudden Abbott and Andrew were asking me if I wanted to join! Also you’re still gonna get that work in

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Madden. Nate and Melanie, you two were the people who made me actually want to keep going to production nights and sit on the copy desk looking through endless stories. I remember loving our ridiculous card games when the nights were winding down and everyone was basically dead. Melanie, you’re probably going to be editor-in-chief one day, and you will have earned it. Always remember to be conﬁdent. Don’t ever doubt yourself. Nate, I’m going to miss you a lot dude. Of course, we’re still going to hang out. Good luck with the rest of the semester on the paper and remember, dank times are still ahead. Russell, uh, well you’re leaving too, and I live with you. So really there’s no reason to even include you in this. Oops. It’s been a blast. I’m sad to go but excited to see what comes next. I look forward to reading the Oracle every Thursday and seeing the amazing content you guys can create.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

lyght it up Story on page 3B

dorsky features new exhibit for the spring semester

PHOTO BY MELISSA KRAMER

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FEATURES

Feelin’ The Heat LOCAL FARMERS IMPACTED BY WARM WEATHER By Nate Sheidlower

Managing Editor | Sheidlon1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Right now, workers at Dressel Farms are sorting fruit and bottling cider at a steady pace. The store is stocked, neat, organized and the smell is sweet like that of a freshly cut apple. Out in the field, however, there is a different story: confusion. The over 300 acres of apple trees at the New Paltz farm on Route 208 don’t know what to make of the abnormally mild winter the Hudson Valley has seen in the past couple months. Tim Dressel, the farm’s manager, said this has certainly not been an ideal winter but it is too early to tell what full effect the warmth may have on his crops. Just after the new year, The Weather Channel reported that almost 12,000 daily high temperature records were tied or broken across the country throughout December 2015. The Hudson Valley itself saw multiple records toppled and temperatures that reached almost 70 degrees at times. This extreme warmth combined with fluctuating temperatures around now and later in the season can cause trees to mixup their timing and bud too early, according to Dressel. And if the buds begin to flower too soon in the season, one very cold week could see them gone for the year. “Trees react to the weather that is around them,” Dressel said. “They have no forecast. When it is warm, they wake up and are then weaker and the cold can do more damage.” Another factor that could harm the Dressel crops in the coming season is the possibility of a late frost. Fruits like strawberries and blueberries grow horizontally along the ground instead of vertically on a tree. This means that if the warm weather starts early, causing the buds to open and is followed by a cold frost, the buds are at

PHOTOS BY NATE SHEIDLOWER

risk to fall off. SUNY New Paltz professor of biology Eric Keeling explained that this occurs because as the buds begin to flower, they slowly lose their protective shell and

become susceptible to damage from the cold. According to Dressel, this is the case for most fruit because they are perennials, meaning they live for more than two

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years as opposed to annuals that must be replanted each season. Pete Taliaferro works with his family at Taliaferro Farms in New Paltz and he is not particularly worried about the upcoming season. This is because the majority of his crops are vegetables and most vegetables are annuals. “Not a lot of vegetable growers in the area over winter a lot of (crops), so it’s not much of a problem,” Taliaferro said. Over wintering is the process of covering your crops over the winter instead of re-planting next year. Taliaferro added that the farm’s small strawberry patch and young blueberry patch both could be harmed by a late frost. Down the road in Gardiner, the tasting room manager at Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery, Matt Student, is praising the winter that has kept the temperature above that which kills his grapes. Whitecliff grows vitis vinifera, which is a common grape grown for making wine but can be seriously hurt by extreme cold. Student said that while the viniferous grapes could be in trouble if the temperature drops below negative five degrees, the hybrids that Whitecliff and many other vineyards in the area grow can tough it out. “So far this year has been much better than the last two years because as cold as it got a lot of our grapes just didn’t bud and we lost a lot of yield because of that,” Student said. “Once it buds, if we get a frost after that in the Spring we might lose some fruit and that wouldn’t be good.” For now it looks as though the mild winter has had no devastating impact on local agriculture as of yet. One positive side Dressel did point out is that the lack of snow makes more food available for local deer and keeps them off of the apple trees.

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Counting Down ... FESTIVITIES BEGIN FOR GRADUATING SENIORS By Jonathan Perry Copy Editor | Perryj1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu The room erupted with excitement from both students and staff. The lights were bright and colorful and the room choked with upbeat music. The aroma of succulent goods engulfed the students. The students’ interest was their future. To be more precise, the countdown to the end of their college lives. The 100 Day Senior Celebration, presented by the SUNY New Paltz Alumni Relations Office, was held Friday, Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Student Union Multipurpose Room. This annual celebration began the countdown of the 100 days seniors have left until their commencement ceremony. The seniors who attended were greeted by food and music and tables of alumni were ready to share information on what to expect as graduation draws closer. There were tables about what commencement and post-graduation would be like and social media tables to help stay connected. Graduation is coming and Alumni Relations wanted students to be conscious of it. Steven Posada, an alumni relations officer, said the goal of this event was to engage young alumni in their final days of college. A major objective of the event was to inform future alumni on ways to stay connected to New Paltz. The primary goal, before students become alumni, was to make students aware the Alumni Relations Office exists. “Last year, not many students were aware that we exist,” Posada said. “We want students to know we are a resource after they graduate and to help them celebrate their accomplishments.” The goal of Alumni Relations is to provide seniors with as many resources as possible after they graduate and take on the world. Posada said this event was a chance for seniors to let go of the stresses of school work and job searching. The opportunity to relax, take a deep breath and realize that commencement is only 100 days away gave students a friendly wake-

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA

up call. Ryan Labita, a fourth-year graphic design major, liked how the event made him feel included in the ‘bigger picture’ of what graduation is about. He said the event informed him about his options when taking a step into the future. He was relaxed while socializing with his senior friends, saying how everyone is in the same boat. “It connects all seniors in the sense that we all are going to graduate together,” Labita said. While graduation day is a big deal for a senior, the 100 Days Celebration was an earlier launch of the celebration meant for students to stop and smell the roses. There will be many other things going on during graduation like finals, honor society inductions and the Senior Toast the Thursday prior. Time will be limited for seniors when the end of the semester draws near. “We want students to embrace the time they have left in New Paltz and to

experience the things they haven’t done yet, like climbing Mount Mohonk,” Posada said. Posada said he wants students to stay connected and to understand that the Alumni Relations Office asks for nothing in return. Money is not a factor when concerning student relationships because the office is always willing to help. Assisting alumni and getting them interested in what the office does keeps them engaged after they graduate. SUNY New Paltz President Donald Christian was thrilled to have over 350 registered attendants. He said it is important to keep students up to date with what commencement will be like and to get them thinking about their graduation in general. On top of helping them with their futures, this event keeps closer tabs on alumni as they are seen off to begin their lives. “Some of these students begin to realize that four years goes by quick,” Chris-

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tian said. “It is important for them to begin thinking of themselves as alumni.” For the students who are waking up and realizing graduation is around the corner, they begin to set plans in motion for what to do with the rest of their lives. Javier Planxart, a fourth-year English major, said he soon won’t have to plan his life around school anymore and that he can take his masters and continue his Spanish teaching as a professor. “I was always told: ‘go to school, go to college,’ but now I see there are only 100 days left,” Planxart said. “I will soon be able to make real decisions about my future that only I can make.” The Alumni Relations Office wants to make students mindful about their futures and to let them know graduation is only a beginning. As students take that first step into their lives outside of college, Alumni Relations will be there to give them a helping hand.

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The Deliberate Joker

COMEDIAN FEATURED ON ‘CONAN’ VISITS NEW PALTZ By Matthew D’Onofrio Staff Writer | Donofrim1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu On Wednesday, Feb. 3, SUNY New Paltz was paid a visit by a comedian by the name of D.J. Demers, who is not quite your average comedian. “I got two disabilities. I am Canadian and I have hearing aids,” said Demers during his performance held in the Student Union Building Multi-Purpose Room by the Union Programming Council. Demers is hard of hearing. He has very limited hearing in his left ear and is almost completely deaf is his right. “No pity, no sympathy, please, I love ‘em,” said the comedian about his hearing aids. “At this point, my right ear is just ornamental.” The 30-year-old comedian from Toronto, Canada has been doing comedy for seven years now, ﬁrst stumbling upon it at an open mic night during his college years. He has had hearing aids since he was 4 years old, does not know sign language and is not the only member of his family who is hard of hearing. “I take out my hearing aids when I sleep. It is so peaceful, so really who here has the disabil-

ity,” said Demers at the show, mentioning he uses a vibrating alarm clock, which he likes. “All my dreams end in an earthquake though.” When initially getting into the scene, Demers did not want to do “deaf comedy” and be pigeonholed into only those type of jokes. That was until he discovered a famous comedian who made $20 million exploiting a speciﬁc niche of comedy. “For twenty million? I would go full Helen Keller,” Demers said. Although jokes playing on his inability to hear properly were his strongest bits, Demers did throw in other jokes. His jokes included but were not limited to, gripes about his ex-girlfriend, how people think he is gay due to his lisp, why restaurants do not label their bathrooms with the standard “men” and “women” signs, being Canadian, how his family thought his cousin was a hooker in Los Angeles and how people think his profession is a disc jockey due to his name being D.J. “I like how his jokes covered a variety of different topics and how he was not too offensive,” said attendee Darren Lyons, a 40-year-old student earning his second degree. Lyons, a fan of comedy, was surprised there were not too many people in attendance and mentioned seeing Demers on

the talk show ‘Conan.’ “Conan was amazing,” said Demers, who appeared on the talk show on Dec. 1, 2014. “He smells amazing.” Despite his appearance on the famous talk show, there were only about 10 people in attendance at this performance. “Wow, full house,” joked Demers during the show, which the audience responded with laughter and clapping, to which he then replied, “I cannot tell if you guys are applauding or not.” Among the audience was John Roll, a 28-year-old student who, like Demers, is hard of hearing and uses hearing aids. Roll was there to watch how Demers performed with his disability. “I was exposed as ‘the deaf kid’ in elementary school when we played the game ‘Telephone,’” said Demers. “The word was ‘sandwich.’ I thought the kid next to me said ‘Mortal Kombat.’” Also in the audience was 19-year-old second-year Sabrina Lee, who found out about Demers through her American Sign Language teacher. “He was exactly as funny as I thought he’d be,” said Lee, highlighting his quirky, dark style of comedy. “Marco Polo is not my game,” laughed De-

mers, pointing out that hearing aids are not waterproof yet vibrators are. “I get that vibrators need to be waterproof though because if they are not wet then they are not doing their job.” After the show, Demers answered a question from the audience about the weirdest show he performed. He recalled a small venue in Canada. “There is no stereotypes about guys with hearing aids, except for them having large dicks,” said Demers, mentioning he used that same line at this particular show in which a “large biker man” was offended by the joke and approached the stage, dropping his pants and exposing his penis to Demers in an attempt to disprove his joke. “How did I get into comedy? Well, I bought these fake hearing aids,” chuckled Demers, when asked in an interview after the show. “I feel as though I need to joke about my hearing aids, or else people will just sit there and wonder.” Demers also answered that he comes up with his jokes by just thinking actively throughout his day and jotting down his thoughts, then testing them out on stage. Demers concluded, “I like that I have a job where I make people laugh and smile and I know that’s corny but it’s special and I’ll take it.”

Space, The Final Frontier ASTRONOMY NIGHT DRAWS BIG CROWD By Monique Tranchina Copy Editor | Tranchim1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu The Astronomy Night on Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m. was a learning opportunity for audience members to expand their general knowledge of the night sky. As the dome screen faded to jet black and cast the New Paltz horizon in a 360 degree picture, an eager audience watched the twinkling stars and ensued on a space exploration. As the constellations moved across the screen in artificially expedited time, Observatory Director Raj Pandya gave the audience some time to locate one star that remained stationary. According to Pandya, this is Polaris, or the North Star. Another way to find it is to use the two stars that make the upper rim of the Big Dipper and trace an imaginary line that connects them from the innermost star to the outermost; they point to Polaris. While Pandya spoke of specific types of stars and galaxies, he also pointed out constellations named after Greek figures, many

of them gods and demi-gods that were signiﬁcant mythical characters during ancient times. The night was concluded after the planetarium show, since the weather proved too cloudy for observatory viewing. Despite a cancellation to the second part of the event, almost all seats were ﬁlled for the simulation. According to Pandya, this is typical for most astronomy nights. “Usually there’s a very high attendance of what we can handle,” he said. “Usually around 30-40 people in advance.” Pandya also indicated that this time the tickets were sold out within about 48 hours. Students and community members readily take advantage of this event. From children coming with their parents to seniors enjoying the show with spouses and family, all ages are welcome to enjoy ageless wonder of the universe. “In 2015, about 4,000 people came to the shows,” Pandya said.

In order to entertain and teach a wide audience, a lot of effort is spent in preparing the astronomy nights on campus. There are two to three people who take part in making the presentation, despite the complexity of scientiﬁc information and computer images. “Sometimes students help, but never more than a handful of people. Volunteers from the campus and community also help,” Pandya says. And each show’s layout is unique, so viewers will never sit through something they have seen before. This time, the audience was taught how to use the night sky as a GPS to ﬁnd any cardinal direction. Other topics included how to spot planets, ages of the stars in the Milky Way and how far stars are spread out. “People seem to enjoy it very much,” said Lionel Roseval, third-year year astronomy major. “They don’t get much exposure day to day about astronomy.” Jen Pinto of Rosendale and Kim Collins

Thursday, February 11, 2016

of Highland can attest to this. They said “the visuals are amazing,” and they learned “how to locate the North Star through the Big Dipper, [and] the width of the other galaxies.” Even Lionel Roseval said he learns from helping out with these events. Astronomy students who take the Planetarium Operation may present to the audience what they have helped with, and after they may be employed as part of the team. Pandya encourages astronomy students to help with event processes in order to become familiar with presentation styles and to learn how to conduct research. Whether Astronomy students are delving into the mathematics of lightyears, faculty are researching latest discoveries, or stargazers philosophize about life’s signiﬁcance, there are always more facts to learn and questions to be asked about space, especially at SUNY New Paltz Astronomy Department.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

An Art World Ritual DORSKY FEATURES NEW EXHIBIT WITH LOCAL ARTISTS

By Jess Napp

Copy Editor | Nappj1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

“The opening is an art world ritual,” curator at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art Daniel Belasco said in front of a small hologram. On Saturday, Feb. 6 the Dorsky held an opening reception to debut three new exhibitions: “Made For You: New Directions in Contemporary Design,” “On the Street and in the Studio: Photographs Donated by Howard Greenberg” and “The Floating World: Holograms by Rudie Berkhout.” It also celebrated another exhibition, already unveiled to the public, “Andrew Lyght: Full Circle.” Some of the artists were in attendance as well as their fans, SUNY New Paltz students, faculty members and Hudson Valley natives. According to Belasco, on average three to four exhibitions are held per semester, making it a total of roughly six to eight exhibitions a year. An opening reception kicks off the start of every semester and the beginning of the summer session. “It takes us a good two or three years to develop an exhibition, sometimes less and sometimes more,” Belasco said. “So what you’re seeing here, now, is a group of shows that we’ve been working on for a number of years.” The evening consisted of sparkling conversation about aesthetic masterpieces, hors d’oeuvres, Hudson Valley artists and a speech made by President Donald Christian welcoming everyone to the 2016 shows. “I heard recently that the Hudson Valley was ranked as one of the five most artistic places in the world,” Christian said. “We’re very proud and

(ABOVE: PHOTO COURTESY OF MELISSA KRAMER)

(ABOVE: PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID KHORASSANI)

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excited that the Dorsky museum is part of that profile and reputation of the arts in our region.” Belasco said that the Dorsky is a regional museum. Its mission is to serve the students and the community and showcase the talent of the Hudson Valley region, but that doesn’t stop the museum from garnering attention on a much larger scale. Two articles about these shows are currently in The New York Times, one mentioning Andrew Lyght’s exhibition and the second on the other three. Lyght attended the reception that featured his largest museum show to date and his debut into the Hudson Valley art scene. “It’s not a career, its more a life,” Lyght said. According to Lyght, he moved to the Hudson Valley in 2006 and began making art at age 6. He then went on to win his first prize at the humble age of 10 and by age 14 Lyght was creating professionally. “By 19, I won all of the prizes that could be won in Guyana,” he said. The event lasted for two hours and eager art lovers rushed in and wandered out after they feasted on their fair share of cultural enrichment. Events inspired by these prominent artists and their brand new shows are soon to follow. “I came with very little expectations. I really didn’t know much about the exhibits and they all exceeded my expectations,” New Paltz resident Nava Atlas said. – Sports editor Melissa Kramer contributed to this report.

oracle.newpaltz.edu COME JAM WITH SAM! By Sam Manzella Manzells1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Twenty one pilot’s “Blurryface” dropped in May 2015 and like too many new releases, it ﬂew under my radar. My younger sister informed me of the new release in December when I asked what was playing too loudly from her earbuds. I was surprised, ﬁrst that my musically ambivalent sister had found music she loved enough to purchase and listen to on the regular and second that I hadn’t heard too much buzz about the album. Twenty one pilots seemed to soar to popularity in 2013 with the release of “Vessel” and success of tracks off the album, like “Car Radio” and “Holding On To You.” I enjoyed the band’s upbeat rapping, catchy choruses and raw feeling, which served as a more lighthearted, pop-inspired version of rap music. Sure, Tyler, the Creator and Kanye West have their places

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Blurryface Blues in my heart (and in my iTunes library), but sometimes, I want a more chill option. “Blurryface” has a decidedly darker vibe, with snappy, bitter lyrics and playful piano and guitar melodies. “Stressed Out,” the most popular track from the album, gained popularity and radio play in the later half of 2015. It currently ranks no. 4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 list, according to their website. Ironically, this track is one of my least favorites off of “Blurryface.” Its chorus is catchy, but the lyrics and sound leave much to be desired. It sounds like too much of what I’ve heard from other top tracks lists and I’m instantly put off by the fact that I’d heard the song before but couldn’t tell that it was one of twenty one pilots’ hits. Sadly, a number of tracks from this

album fall ﬂat to me for the same reason. “Ride” is annoyingly unoriginal, and “The Judge” and “Message Man” are equally unimpressive. Meanwhile, tracks like “Tear In My Heart,” “Heavydirtysoul,” “Hometown” and “We Don’t Believe What’s On TV” are addictively catchy. “We Don’t Believe What’s On TV” sounds like a fun jam between friends in an indie band, with some of the spirit and soul I’d come to love from this group. “Tear In My Heart” is the clever, catchy love child of Amanda Palmer’s rambling lyrical style and The Killers’ radio-friendly rock sound. I’m not surprised that this track is twenty one pilots’ second most popular single off of “Blurryface.” In the same vein, I was struck by how much certain songs off of “Blur-

ryface” reminded me of other singersongwriters I’ve listened to and loved in the past. I don’t mean that in a bad way necessarily. Musicians and bands constantly inﬂuence each other, and it’s not uncommon to see similar musical threads in albums that emerge around the same time. That said, a major reason I ﬁrst enjoyed twenty one pilots’ music was their unique sound. I’ll give this musical duo credit where they deserve it, though: “Blurryface” incorporates a variety of sounds and styles. At its best, twenty one pilot’s latest release is a fast-paced, fun listen perfectly suited for a morning commute or quick workout sesh. At its worst, “Blurryface” is a letdown from twenty one pilots’ studio album debut, lacking the distinct style and rawness of the group’s original sound.

It’s “Made for You” SHOWING OF DIVERSE MEDIUMS DRAWS ATTENTION

By Briana Bonﬁglio

Contributing Writer | bonﬁglb1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art held its monthly Free Sunday Gallery Tour on Feb. 7. The tour showcased two of the museum’s newest exhibits, “Made for You” and “The Floating World.” To the artistically untrained eye, the artwork can be hard to comprehend. Still, each piece has a rich human story behind it, easily appreciated with a little push. That’s where the tour’s esteemed guide, Kevin Cook, comes in. “This gallery tour brings the artwork down to Earth with someone who is knowledgeable on the subject so it’s not so intimidating,” Program Director Janin Benincasa said. New Paltz resident Reeva Miller said she has attended Cook’s tours before and enjoys them because she is “interested in seeing what modern artists are doing.” While the tour group consisted of local senior citizens looking to learn about new, advanced artforms, the tour was equally interesting for a college student like myself. Cook broke things down so simply, in a way that people of all artistic backgrounds and all ages could relate. Cook, a landscape painter and SUNY New Paltz alumnus, has been directing these tours since

2009. By leading a tour of the artwork, he hopes for attendees to gain “an appreciation they may not have had before.” To do this, Cook does not just present each piece and move on. He begins a lighthearted, honest conversation about it that engages tourgoers. Today, that conversation focused on the merging of traditional and modern art. The ﬁrst exhibit, “Made for You: New Directions in Contemporary Design” began with a traditional medium, woodwork. Each piece in this exhibit held a strong storytelling aspect. Cook called this “a backlash against mass production.” In other words, many of the pieces were practical, common items with personal, uncommon backstories. For example, Kingston artist Joshua Vogel’s “Wooden Spoons” was a series of wooden spoons, each one purposely different from the next. Another piece was a textured rug of a woman’s portrait (the artist, Kathy Ruttenberg) who felt she had been “stepped all over in relationships.” As the tour went on, the pieces became more and more contemporary (from wooden spoons to 3D-printed doilies). Before each tour, Cook said he not only meets with some of the artists to discuss their work, but visits the Dorsky to determine

the path he will take the group on the next day. The order in which the pieces were presented made all the difference, giving a sense of time passing in the art world (although all the pieces were created in the past 18 years). Cook mentioned the gallery was arranged so that “everything naturally leads into the next.” Cook also emphasized that even the techbased pieces contain traditional elements within. Ceramicist Sharan Elran, based in Brooklyn, New York, used software to curate 6.2 billion slightly different designs for each of his pieces, which he then used traditional methods to create. This distinct mix of technology and tradition lent itself well to the theme of the tour. At the end of this exhibit, we reached two extraordinary pieces. The ﬁrst was Mellitus Series by Doug Bucci of Philadelphia, PA, the art of a diabetic who creates pieces based on data of his own and other people’s bodies. Second was the work of Courtney Starrett of Kingston, New York, a range of 3D-printed, enlarged plastic doilies arranged on a wall (they reminded Cook of shrinkydinks). A piece truly embedded in technology, we were able to scan the doilies with an iPad. Each scan led to a different piece of data about women in society

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and the workforce. “The Floating World,” a series of holograms, had just as many storytelling elements as the tour’s ﬁrst exhibit. The room was surrounded by hanging 12 x 16 inch glass ﬁxtures, each backlit by a lamp. When you stood in front of each one, an abstract, vibrantl and colorful hologram would appear. You wouldn’t think there is much to this besides the aesthetic, but there is. The artist, Rudie Berkhout, based many of these pieces on his experiences as a gay man in New York City in the 1970s. After experiencing this tour, it became clear that there is more to artwork than simply what meets the eyes. Cook did an exceptional job of bringing these pieces to life. He made it more about the conversation than solely what is on the surface. These pieces, while intriguing to look at, tell so much more about people, issues, and history than words can. At the tour’s end, Cook posed the question to the group: “What do we make of 3D printing? In 30 years, what will it be?” One woman commented that if copy machines became the norm, so will this. Among the group, one thing was certain: what we witnessed this afternoon was more than just art.

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Hail, Caesar! COEN BROS. HAVE ANOTHER CLASSIC ON THEIR HANDS By Jake Berkowitz

Staff Writer | Berkowij3@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Joel and Ethan Coen are serious auteurs who make serious movies, like “A Serious Man,” and are meant to be taken seriously. So it’s only fitting that their newest movie, “Hail, Caesar!,” would be seriously funny. Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) is tasked with maintaining the status quo for Capital Pictures, an early 1950s film studio. Over the course of 24 hours he must deal with the biggest star in his biggest film (George Clooney) being kidnapped, a popular leading lady (Scarlett Johansson) revealing that she is pregnant and unmarried, a self-important director (Ralph Fiennes) being saddled with a well meaning yet out of place western star and twin gossip columnists (Tilda Swinton and Tilda Swin-

ton) hounding him at every turn. If that sounds like way too much to cram into a brisk hour-and-a-half comedy, that’s because it is. The movie doesn’t dwell on any one subplot for too long, but instead gives us fun, often silly glimpses into scenes out of extinct Hollywood genres. Johansson dons a mermaid tail, and swims about in a synchronized dance routine straight out of a Lloyd Bacon flick. Channing Tatum plays Burt Gurney, a James Cagney stand-in, as he shows off his long dormant dancing skills in an amazingly homoerotic musical number that’s infectiously charming. And Clooney, who plays the childish Baird Whitlock, somehow makes you believe that he’s too ditzy to be on the set of a “Cleopatra” rip-off. In spite of these seemingly unrelat-

ed vignettes, or more likely because of them, the odd political ramblings or the momentary flashes of religious symbolism seem to carry a legitimate artistic weight. The movie has something to say about artistic freedom and the working class, and has strong nihilistic undertones, as most famously immortalized in the Coens’ cult classic, “The Big Lebowski.” What “Hail, Caesar!” is saying in specific, I couldn’t tell you; I was too busy staring at Channing Tatum’s feet. And his well toned ass. That’s not to say that the movie is a masterpiece. It doesn’t reach the emotional heights of “Inside Llewyn Davis,” and I don’t know that it will ever be quite as quotable as “Lebowski” (though I will add “would that it were so simple” to my list of usable set phrases). Jonah Hill is criminally un-

derutilized, and his comedic talents are almost entirely wasted. Likewise, Frances McDormand does virtually nothing, and seems to have a part in the film just because she’s married to Joel. The former “Fargo” leading lady is relegated to the editing room, where she gets one sight gag and is never seen again thereafter. These gripes, however, are easily overlooked. There’s so much fun crammed into every sequence and every shot has some joke or sight gag to enjoy. Somehow, it’s also thematically dense enough to make me want to see it again. And again. And again. Besides, if Scarlett Johansson in a mermaid costume and Channing Tatum in a 1940s sailor outfit don’t excite you, nothing in this review could have convinced you to see this movie anyway.

Jay Watson’s New Groove A Q&A WITH TAME IMPALA’S SYNTH PLAYER

By Melissa Kramer

Sports Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

To those who know the Australian psychedelic rock band Tame Impala, you are in for a sweet treat. In earlier Tame times, you could see him rocking out on the drums – but now, Jay “GUM” Watson stands stage left of one of his best friends, creating interstellar vibes from the synthesizer and backup vocals. During his limited spare time, Watson plays everything from guitar, bass, drums, keys and synthesizer for the Australian psych-rock band Pond, which often shares its band members with Tame Impala. Along with that he has somehow found the time to record two solo records; “Delorean Highway” released in 2014 and now “Glamorous Damage,” released Nov. 13, 2015.

I recently had a chance to talk to Watson about his newly-released second solo album “Glamorous Damage.” Watson just toured with Mac DeMarco, his first show with backing tracks. On tour, his friend Jenny joined him and played guitar. To a listener’s ear, Watson combines traditional guitar riffs with ‘80s synths and electronic sounds to create an entirely unique sound he nicknamed, “Glam Dam.” Q. “Glamorous Damage” is very funky, atmospheric and super synthy. Take me through the recording process. Did you do anything different for your second album compared to “Delorean Highway?” A. I wanted to make this album a bit more of a concept and also give it a deliberate aesthetic that you could trace through the whole thing; the

artwork, the photos and everything. I recorded half of it in London with my friend Jerome Watson and half of it wherever I was living at the time, Melbourne, Perth and London. Q. What inspired you to make “Glamorous Damage?” Is there anything that listeners should know about such as fun facts, etc.? A. I was inspired by loads of things while I was making “Glam Dam”. Brian Eno, Prince, Kurt Vonnegut, Suicide (the band), Chrome, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, The Beach Boys, Todd Rundgren, Quentin Tarantino … the list goes on. Q. What was your favorite part of recording “Glamorous Damage”? A. Feeling like I’d done something objectively good (even though this isn’t possible), like the bridge of “Elafonissi Blue,” or the outro of

Thursday, February 11, 2016

“Ancients.” Q. A huge congratulations to Tame Impala on the GRAMMY nomination. “Currents” was nominated for “Best Alternative Album.” You guys were nominated previously for “Lonerism” in the same category. What are you most looking forward to at the 2016 GRAMMY Awards? A. The GRAMMY Awards don’t mean very much to me, but I’m happy for our management and label and my good mate Kevin [Parker]. I guess I’m looking forward to seeing [Justin] Bieber and Drake and Kanye [West] and those guys in the flesh. Up next for Watson will be more touring with Tame Impala in Europe and then in South America. Also in the works is a new album with Pond.

The Deep End

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The New Paltz Oracle

THIS WEEK IN

THE DEEP END P A

Major: Visual Arts

Year: Fourth

Inspriation: Alex Ross, RJ Palmer, Jack Kirby “As an artist I try to do explore as many areas of the field as I can. Though it is my dream to be a graphic designer I believe illustration, painting, and other mediums I enjoy just as important. As long as I’m passionate about something I will find a way to do it. I believe having fun and enjoying what you do is the most important part of artistic expression. Ive been inspired by artists like Alex Ross, RJ Palmer, and Jack Kirby who not only put an immense amount of time into their works but also work in fields they truly enjoy and it shows within their work..”

Images courtesy of Parker Alig

The New Paltz Oracle

Editorial

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Addressing Abuse

CARTOON BY STEFANIE DIERS

With Valentine’s Day coming up, most of us admittedly romanticize love. It’s a nice feeling and we all pursue it in our lives. However, love doesn’t come without its risks, especially for young adults at colleges across America. Being in love can be exciting and fun. However, the stigma of being “in love” and being in a relationship isn’t worth it when you are being physically, emotionally or verbally abused. We at The New Paltz Oracle encourage those who are in abusive relationships or experiencing inter-partner violence to understand that significant others may come and go in your life, but you are not replaceable. It is important to keep your health, both mental and physical, as your top priority. You should never settle for anyone who makes you feel inadequate. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. Dur-

ing one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.” At a time where everyone’s lives are plastered all over social media, it is difficult to not feel incomplete by comparison. Perhaps seeing a picture of a happy couple sparks jealousy in a person who is not currently in a relationship, or even someone who is. The longing that single people trudge through can make them accept the first person who shows the slightest interest in them. This of course is potentially dangerous because they might be too enamored with someone who is ultimately not beneficial to their life. As a result, the glowing, glittering image of having a special someone shines even brighter. Those in an abusive relationship may downplay their own abuse to convince themselves that they are as happy as those they see on social media. People will always put their best face for-

ward on social media, thus making it difficult for their followers to understand what the poster’s life is like behind the screen. It is critical to understand this when comparing your life to that of another, everyone has a personal life that they hide from the public eye. Although someone appears to be in a happy relationship on social media, this may not be so and if you are in an abusive relationship you should get out of it regardless of what others are doing with their lives. Sometimes appearances are deceiving. There can be relationship harm happening in plain sight and we must take it upon ourselves to be better people and handle it maturely. It’s important to acknowledge that this week is Respect Week and that partner abuse can happen to anyone. When acting as a source of help to someone, remember that domestic violence has neither a gender nor sexuality. Additionally, if there is violence in heterosexual

Thursday, February 11, 2016

partnerships, the perpetrator of that abuse can be either the man or woman. For anyone seeking assistance in dealing with an abusive relationship, The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). For deaf callers, video phone is accessible at 1-855-812-1001 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. PST). Text messaging is also available at 1-800-787-3224. Editorials represent the views of the majority of the editorial board. Columns, op-eds and letters, excluding editorials, are solely those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of The New Paltz Oracle, its staff members, the campus and university or the Town or Village of New Paltz.

OPINION

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The New Paltz Oracle

COLUMN

MONIQUE TRANCHINA Copy Editor

Tranchim1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Hudson Valley is known for its picturesque landscapes during changing seasons: winding side roads that creep up to farms with rolling hills, the Catskills backdrop near Mohonk Preserve and the Hudson River that flows underneath the well-traversed bridges. And ... allergies. Our location is known for collecting all the tree, grass and flower gunk and storing it in the grand valley. People who are sensitive to outdoor allergies have to battle a biological warfare against Mother Nature during one or several seasons. I know well the effects of allergies on my mood and motivation during the day; lethargy, loss of concentration and sometimes restlessness makes it difficult to stay still in a classroom or workplace and finish a task in an efficient manner. And to

Allergy Complications compensate, allergy medication, an inhaler for asthma likely induced by allergies, and extra effort spent on concentration can get expensive and tiresome. Having a brother who is highly sensitive to allergies and having them myself, I can attest that distress caused by allergies can be underrated and under-recognized. Restlessness caused by allergies can be exacerbated by ADHD/ADD, therefore affecting the ability to remain still and attentive in class. I’ve seen family members who seem to be driven by a motor: talking fast, moving quickly and moving from one activity to another at light speed. Other times, they often forget words or space out during conversation more than usual. Normally, ADHD/ADD would solely explain these symptoms, but along with sneezing,

dark circles under the eyes, sinus pressure and irritability, allergies seem to pair up to the neurological diagnosis and short-fuse the brain’s ability to perform optimally. I believe a lot of rowdy children who can’t sit still or blurt out answers in class have issues with allergies. Stuffing students in tight spaces with closed windows and dry heat during the winter can make for relentless suffering and create a haven for indoor allergens to spread. Grades may drop, detentions may be passed around and little understanding can create frustrations for students and teachers. Anxiety over school and work performance can alter an individual’s self- esteem, particularly if they can’t figure out why they are having difficulties with cognitive functioning that others seem to have under control.

More awareness of how allergies affect school performance and mental health may shed light on why bright and motivated students and workers can’t work to their fullest potential. Other diagnoses also seem to be co-morbid, based on in-depth research on a common internet search engine. Autism, ADHD/ADD, and people with major mood disorders seem to have a dual-diagnosis of allergy sensitivity. Maybe if we treat mental health with piece of mind about allergies, we can tackle how much we are affected by them, and work better in any environment. Monique is a senior English major who loves gardening and hiking even with allergies.

Is your club hosting an event? Advertise it in The Oracle! We offer discounted rates for all SA recognized clubs and organizations. Email us at Oracle@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu ATTN: Business Manager for more details! Thursday, February 11, 2016

Sports

The New Paltz Oracle

HOME

HYPE

Copy Editor | Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The men’s volleyball team defeated SUNY Polytechnic Institute 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-19) on Friday, Feb. 5 in the team’s home opener. “It was big for us to win that game because it was our first time playing in front of our home crowd, so we wanted to showcase our talent that we have this year,” Hawks fourth-year co-captain Christian Smith said. “The energy in the gym was really good and we were able to get a lot of players in the match to get reps.” The first match saw the teams trade points in the early going, but the Hawks rattled off five straight points thanks to four service aces by second-year outside hitter Anthony Bonilla to build a 12-5 lead. Shortly after that the Hawks saw their 15-7 lead jump to 24-7 thanks in part by kills from fourth-year outside hitter Andy Fishman, third-year

middle blocker/opposite Jake Roessler and first-year outside hitter Eric Tuttle. The Wildcats would score five straight points after that, but the Hawks clinched the set thanks to a kill from third-year middle blocker Steven Woessner. The second set proved to be close in the beginning as well, as the Hawks held a slim 12-11 lead before kills by Fishman, third-year opposite Joe Norman and third-year middle blocker C.J. Borfitz won the Hawks the set 25-16. Again, the two teams traded leads early in the third set before a 12-3 run by New Paltz gave them a 16-8 advantage. Kills from Roessler, Borfitz, second-year middle blocker Nick Denoncourt and first-year setter and opposite Nick Smith sealed the victory for the Hawks. Fishman led the team with six kills and hit .417 (6-1-12), while Norman and Roessler were right behind him with five and four kills, respectively.

Sports The New Paltz Oracle

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

The men’s volleyball team swept their home opener.

By Michael Rosen

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Bonilla dished out a career-high five aces and led the team with seven digs. Second-year setter Mitchell Kennedy led New Paltz with 13 assists and Smith was right behind him with 12 helpers while hitting .667 (2-0-3). It was announced on Tuesday, Feb. 9 that the Hawks remain at No. 2 in the week three edition of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Div. III Men’s Coaches Poll. On Wednesday, Feb. 10 the Hawks defeated Ramapo College 3-1 (25-19, 16-25, 25-16, 25-18). Their record now stands at 8-2. Hawks Head Coach Radu Petrus said the match against Ramapo was a great test before their first United Volleyball Conference (UVC) matches this weekend. “It will be a challenge for us to play head to head, we have physical ability and skilled players to play nearly fivehours of competitive volleyball in one

Thursday, February 11, 2016

day,” he said. The team will travel to Rochester, New York for the first of three UVC Crossovers. The Hawks will face No. 6 seed Stevens Institute of Technology and host No. 4 Nazareth College. Last season, New Paltz went 0-3 against Stevens Institute of Technology, including losses in the final round of the UVC Tournament and the semifinal round of the NCAA Div. III Tournament, which ended the Hawks’ season. Despite the history with Stevens, Smith said the team is preparing for the match the same way they would prepare for any other match. “We are preparing for Stevens the same way we prepare for every team,” Smith said. “We like to focus on us getting better and how we can make adjustments to give us an advantage. We have full confidence in ourselves as a team when we play our best.”

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Sports

The New Paltz Oracle

Men’s Basketball Starts Final Homestand By Rachael Purtell

Copy Editor | Purtellr1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The men’s basketball team split their past weekend on the road 1-1, picking up a win against SUNY Potsdam on Friday, Feb. 5 and a loss by SUNY Plattsburgh the next day. On Friday, the Hawks led from start to finish and captured a 94-80 victory over the Bears. The Hawks shot 56.9 percent from the floor, 50 percent from beyond the arc and 87.5 percent from the free throw line. They also scored 21 points off Bears’ turnovers and limited their own turnovers to a season low of nine. This was the men’s highest scoring output of the year with five individual players recording double figures on the night. Fourth-year co-captain R.J. Rosa scored 27 points, fourth-year co-captain Alex Perlman tallied a career-high 18 points coming off the bench, third-year forward Andrew Seniuk notched 16 points, fourth-year guard Keegan Donovan scored 11 points coming off the bench and first-year guard/forward Nick Paquette scored 10 points. Hawks thirdyear forward Brandon Guest also contributed with seven points, 12 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and one steal. “I think Alex Perlman played well, he really stepped up during the Potsdam game and it was good to see him playing the way we know he can,” Rosa said. The scoring for the Hawks began immediately after a failed alley-oop attempt by Potsdam during the first possession with a layup by Guest and two treys by Rosa to give New Paltz an early 8-0 lead. A small 5-0 run by the Bears decreased New Paltz’s lead to 21-19, but the Hawks would go on a 9-1 run down the stretch punctuated with a jumper by Paquette to put the Hawks up 30-20 with 8:31 remaining before the half. The two teams traded points until Perlman hit a buzzer beater for three sending them into the locker room leading 52-40 at the half. The Hawks continued to dominate during the second half, with their highest lead of 21 points occurring four times within in the last 10 minutes of the game. The Hawks fell to the No. 24 Plattsburgh Cardinals by a score of 102-64 on

Saturday. The Cardinals are currently first in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). “Saturday was tough, I could see it in my guys’ eyes and it’s one of those games that I wish we could play again after a couple days of rest, but that’s not how it is and they [Plattsburgh] are ranked 24th in the country for a reason,” said Hawks Head Coach Mike Rejniak. “They’re a very good team, they’re senior-laden and their experience showed on Saturday.” Impact players for the Hawks were Paquette with 13 points, first-year guard Cory Garcia achieving career highs with 10 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists coming off the bench, second-year forward Brandon Tolliver with a team-high of eight rebounds coming off the bench and first-year guard Matt Misser with three steals. The Cardinals scored off the first possession and began the contest with nine unanswered points. After swelling their lead to 13 points, the Hawks retaliated with back-to-back 3-pointers by Donovan and Seniuk to pull them within seven. Plattsburgh then pushed their lead back to double digits and the Hawks remained close until the Cardinals went on a 9-0 run which put them up by 26 with 8:54 remaining in the first half. The Cardinals led 56-32 at halftime. On Tuesday, Feb. 9 the Hawks were defeated by the SUNY Oswego Lakers on their home court by a score of 7357. Their overall record is now 4-16 and 3-11 in the SUNYAC. Despite the team’s record, Rejniak remains faithful in his players and continues to expect improvement. “It doesn’t just go down to wins and losses, my goal right now is to continue to coach this team and continue to get them better each and every day,” he said. “If that happens, the wins will take care of themselves. I want progress, not perfection. I always tell the guys I just want us to continue to focus and work on improving our weaknesses while continuing to make our strengths as big as boulders.” The Hawks will next face off against SUNY Geneseo on Friday, Feb. 12 at

Hawks Brandon Guest defends against Oswego.

7:30 p.m. in the Hawk Center. The next day, the Hawks play SUNY Brockport at 4 p.m. for their Senior Day. The team will celebrate the careers of their three seniors Donovan, Rosa and Perlman and their contributions to the program. Rosa said that the team will continue to work hard for the remainder of the season.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

“Goals don’t change, you still go out every night and you try to win, but I think really we’re just playing for each other at this point,” he said. “Obviously we’re not making playoffs, so we’re not only looking to ruin other teams’ chances but just doing it for each other and really embracing these couple games that we have left.”

SPORTS

Women’s Basketball Cruises in Standings The New Paltz Oracle

By Anthony Mitthauer-Orza

Copy Editor | Mitthaua1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The women’s basketball team extended their win streak to seven games this week after a strong free throw shooting performance against SUNY Plattsburgh and a 51-point win against SUNY Oswego. With only four games remaining in the regular season, the Hawks continue to dominate conference play, winning 11 out of the 14 games played against their State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opponents. According to Hawks Head Coach Jamie Seward, it’s all because of one thing — consistency. “We’re starting to do the things we deem more important more consistently,” Seward said. “We’re getting to the free throw line a lot, we’re rebounding fairly well, we’re defending fairly well and we’re starting to make shots from the perimeter. But the big thing is we’re consistent in a lot of areas.” On Friday, Feb. 5, the team traveled to SUNY Potsdam for their second matchup this season against the Bears. The Hawks won by a score of 89-42 at the Hawk Center when the two teams previously met on Dec. 5, 2015. The Hawks dominated the first half 44-21 despite not being able to make a shot for the last 4:15 of the second quarter. The team finished with 22 points off turnovers and 31 points off the bench to win by a final score of 83-52. Second-year guards Jasmine Bryant and Sydney Pinn finished with 15 points and 13 points, respectively. First-year guard Lindsay Bettke also recorded 14 points off the bench in the Hawk’s win. The Hawks looked to carry their momentum into the final game of their road trip against SUNY Plattsburgh on Saturday, Feb. 6 and they did so with a strong free throw performance. The team shot 29-of-32 from the line, connecting on 19-of-20 in the second half to beat the Cardinals 81-73. New Paltz led 43-31 at halftime

and refused to give in as the Cardinals put on the pressure in the third quarter, bringing the score within six. However, another layup by Small with 2:20 left on the clock kept the Hawks ahead with a 55-47 edge. The Hawks capitalized on Plattsburgh fouls in the fourth quarter to maintain their lead and seal the win. Hawks third-year co-captain Kit Small converted 11-of-11 from the line and 8-of-13 from the field to collect a career-high 27 points. Bryant shot 5-of-9 from the perimeter, 4-of-6 from the three-point line and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line for 19 points. For Plattsburgh, fourth-year forward Devona Paul notched 17 points and seven rebounds while fourth-year guard/forward Stephanie Linder tallied 17 points and a game-high five assists. Hawks third-year co-captain Courtney Irby said the team played well on the road trip and they go to play to their full potential even if they do not have their home crowd cheering for them on the road. “Our team’s overall play over the recent road trips was pretty consistent,” Irby said. “We know that traveling long hours and playing in a gym that we are not comfortable with is challenging. We embrace it and play the same way that we would as if we were on our home court.” After sweeping their road trip, the Hawks came home to play SUNY Oswego. This game featured another strong free-throw shooting performance, with New Paltz sinking 11 of their 12 attempts and shooting 46.3 percent (31-of-67) en route to a 8332 win. Fourth-year guard, Colleen Ames (10), second-year guard/forward Laura Stuart (13), Small (17) and Bettke (14) were the four players who finished with double-digit points. For Oswego, fourth-year guard Tayler Sorell led the Lakers with nine points with third-year guard Nicole SantaMaria contributing in eight points. Second-year forward Zana Dillard tallied 10 rebounds in the loss. Although the Hawks dominated

the Lakers, Seward said it is important for the team to take it one game at a time and conference games should always be taken seriously because each game becomes progressively more valuable. “Everyone knows you and what you do offensively and defensively, so there’s less that you’re going to surprise someone with and it really comes down to focus and execution,” Seward said. “It has that much more value, you play everyone twice. It’s like the bully on your block versus the bully on the other side of the neighborhood; you have to really hone in on detailed things to really be successful because they are going to take away your primary things and you’re going to have to be able to utilize your secondary options in different areas.” On Wednesday, Feb. 10 the Hawks debuted as the No. 6 ranked team in the first release of the NCAA Div. III Women’s Basketball East Regional Rankings. The Hawks look to extend their win streak in their final home games against SUNY Geneseo on Friday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. and The College at Brockport on Saturday, Feb. 13. at 2 p.m. Following the home games, New Paltz will finish their season on the road against Buffalo State on Friday, Feb. 19 and SUNY Fredonia on Saturday, Feb. 20 in hopes of avenging a home loss to the Blue Devils on Jan. 22. The season is coming to a close, but every practice and game is crucial in the road to the SUNYAC Tournament, where the Hawks look to win their first SUNYAC title since their 24-4 season in 2013. “The days we have practice we focus on getting better and sharpening up the little things that will make us that much of a better team in the future,” Irby said. “As long as we continue to persevere and strive for perfection and find greatness along the way, that will help us to have a strong SUNYAC Tournament performance.”

Thursday, February 11, 2016

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Dani Ackerman SPORT: Field Hockey YEAR: Fourth Year MAJOR: Communication Disorders HOMETOWN: Nesconset HOW DID YOU FIRST START PLAYING FIELD HOCKEY? My older sister Jamie started playing ﬁeld hockey ﬁrst in our family. She really paved the way for my sisters and I. I’m not sure if I ever would have thought to play if not for her. All four girls in our family now play. OUTSIDE OF YOUR SPORT WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO?

I love going on long runs, especially on the beautiful trails of New Paltz. I have started to take on various races like the New Paltz half marathon, relays up in Albany and even the Nike Women’s Race in Toronto last summer. I’m always striving to get faster and stronger. WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST ROLE MODELS?

My biggest role model would deﬁnitely have to be my older sister Jamie. Jamie played Div. II ﬁeld hockey at Adelphi University. She is one of the most talented, dedicated and passionate players I have ever watched.

ARE YOU A FAN OF ANY TEAMS? Thanks to my two basketball fanatic, younger brothers, I have recently taken a liking toward basketball — speciﬁcally the Golden State Warriors.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS? Before every game starts I have to do my handshake with both Kayla McKeveny and Jess Caruana. It is just one of those things we have to do. I have known these two girls since the high school ﬁeld hockey days, so we deﬁnitely have a strong bond. I also always need to be wearing my New Paltz bracelets from Coach Vitale.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS MEMORY?

This year’s SUNYAC Championship. Winning this fourth championship was such a rewarding experience. There are four of us seniors that have been here since we won the ﬁrst championship our freshman year. This was a big moment for all of us and we are so proud of all of the players and coaches that have helped us achieve this amazing accomplishment. We have received enormous support.

DO YOU WANT TO BE...

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK? Contact Melissa Kramer or Michael Rosen at Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu or Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

14oracle.newpaltz.edu Blueshirts Blueline Rhartman@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Well folks, it’s been fun. First of all I’d like to thank former Oracle Editor-in-Chief Andrew Lief for allowing me to take over his Jets column and turn it into a Rangers column after he graduated. Secondly, I’d like to say thank you to those that have read Blueshirts Blueline over the past year, it’s meant a lot to me and I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback. Now let’s get into the last column ever for Blueshirts Blueline. I’m going to drop a bombshell right now, ready? This probably won’t happen but I ﬁgure let’s go a little crazy this last column. Whether the New York Rangers win or do not win the Stanley Cup this season, it is time for a scorched earth rebuild. That’s right. You didn’t read that wrong. If the New York Rangers win or don’t win the Stanley Cup this year, they should rebuild. Now you’re saying “But Russell, you’re crazy! They still have Lundqvist!” Yes, true. Who else do we really have? Rick Nash? He doesn’t seem to know what a goal is anymore or what using his body means. Chris Kreider? The king of having potential but seemingly not living up to it. Derek Stepan? He’s the guy who was supposed to turn into our number one center but didn’t. Derick Brassard? Number two guy as well. Not a number one center. Dan Girardi and Marc Staal? Oh you mean the trafﬁc cones that head coach Alain Vigneault puts out there

SPORTS

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Ranger Redesign every game this year? How’s that team looking right about now? That’s right. Not as good as you thought. Believe me, none of this is easy to write and I love these players, but the way they are playing isn’t getting it done and the makeup and core of the Rangers is not what it once was. Whereas defense used to be the Rangers strength, but is now full of question marks. Will Keith Yandle stay or will he be traded? Will Staal and Girardi somehow get back to a semblance of what they once were? Is it time for Brady Skjei, and Dylan McIlrath to take prominent roles on defense and possibly even Ryan Graves to be brought up? The forwards are another enigma all together but the bottom line is that this team is just not built like a Stanley Cup contender should be. Let’s take a look around the league at some of the best teams in the league and see just why the Rangers are having the problem they’re having. We’ll take a look at number one centers around the league and top offensive threats. Rounding up the number one centers of the elite teams in the NHL brings us Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks, Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars, Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals and Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings. Top offensive threats bring us Patrick Kane (Blackhawks), Se-

guin/Jamie Benn (Stars) and Alexander Ovechkin (Capitals). And now for the Rangers: number one center is our very own Brassard, and top offensive threat is Mats Zuccarello. Is everyone starting to see the problem now? Do either of those names strike fear into the hearts of an opposing team or make the opposing team skate that much harder? Do either of those names make opposing fans stay on the edge of their seat when they’re on the ice worried that they could do damage? No. This is not to say Zuccarello and Brassard are bad players, they aren’t, but they’re second line players. Not ﬁrst line. Sure, the Rangers have Lundqvist but in this day and age you don’t need a superstar goaltender to win the Stanley Cup. Don’t believe me? Corey Crawford isn’t a superstar goalie but he has helped the Blackhawks to two rings. Antti Niemi isn’t the best goalie in the world but he helped the Blackhawks win a Cup in 2010 and he’s doing well with Dallas now. Yes, Tim Thomas was exceptional in 2011 when the Bruins won and yes Jonathan Quick has been spectacular for Los Angeles but in this day and age, if you have a supremely put together team you don’t need a superstar goalie. The Rangers, no matter what need to rebuild after this season is over. If they win the Cup, great! We got one for Hank and it’s time to move on and rebuild

Thursday, February 11, 2016

correctly. If they don’t win… it’s still time for the team to move on and realize they don’t have what it takes to win the Cup. Now who should the Rangers have up on the main roster while the rebuilding process begins? Ryan McDonagh, J.T. Miller, Skjei, Dylan McIlrath, Oscar Lindberg, Pavel Buchnevich, Adam Tambellini, Ryan Gropp, Cristoval “Boo” Nieves, Kevin Klein, Brandon Halverson, Mackenzie Skapski and other prospects and players that they feel could use development. It will be a dark road ahead for Rangers fans for a few years and there would be a lot of losing ahead but the rewards? High draft picks, players that could potentially turn into superstars and a better chance at the Cup down the line. Nash, Kreider, Brassard, Stepan, Girardi, Staal, Zuccarello and yes, even Lundqvist. Lundqvist deserves his chance at the Cup and if he doesn’t this year, they should send him to a team where he can win one. They would all bring the Rangers quality young players and picks in trades and would provide a solid foundation for the team to rebuild with. The team would immediately be one of the youngest in the league and with all the picks and young players they would have a pretty bright future. Now will any of this happen? Probably not. But hey, a guy can dream right?

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WHAT’S INSIDE

Men’s Basketball Splits Weekend Matchups PAGE 12

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STRAIGHT SWEEP MEN’S VOLLEYBALL STAYS CONSISTENT : PAGE 11

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