Volume 88, Issue 9 by The New Paltz Oracle

NEW PALTZ ORACLE THE

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Thursday, November 19, 2015

PARIS PREVAILS

PHOTO BY FLICKR USER Joshua Veitch-Michaelis

Volume 88, Issue IX

– Story Inside, Sympathy Everywhere – BRIEF ON PAGE 5

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF THE NEW PALTZ ORACLE

•Town Supervisor Salary Decreases; Town Board Discusses .....Pg 3 •University, Town Police Investigate Sexual Assault.......Pg 5 •New Paltz Childcare Center Seeks Lease Agreement.................Pg 4 •Student Senate Hosts Guest Speaker..............................Pg 6

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

_________________

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

_________________

Jackie Quaranto WEB CHIEF

_________________

Emma Savic

BUSINESS MANAGER _________________

Marisa Losciale

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER _________________

STAFF

FEATURES

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About The New Paltz Oracle

A&E

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 IX Index NEWS THE DEEP END EDITORIAL COLUMN

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

8B None 9 10

Russell Hartman

SPORTS

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Five-Day Forecast Thursday, November 19

Between Nov. 11 and Nov. 18, there were no reported University Police incidents. Well, Thanksgiving is one week away folks and the turkeys are feeling the heat. We’re almost there! Stay safe, SUNY New Paltz!

Rain High: 60 Low: 45

Friday, November 20 Sunny High: 52 Low: 32

Saturday, November 21 Partly Cloudy High: 49 Low: 36

SUNY New Paltz University Police Department Emergencies: 845-257-2222

Sunday, November 22 Partly Cloudy High: 46 Low: 28

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News

Supervisor Salary Reduced; Town Board Opinion Divided oracle.newpaltz.edu

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR

By Melanie Zerah

News Editor | Zerahm1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

As of a New Paltz Town Board meeting on Oct. 29, a spending plan of approximately $11,350,000 has been approved. This plan includes a cut in the town supervisor’s salary from $53,000 to $40,000 which will be implemented once newly-elected Neil Bettez takes office. The initial conversation over the 2016 budget, of which includes the supervisor’s salary, was discussed long before the democratic caucus for town supervisor election, according to current New Paltz Town Supervisor Susan Zimet. However, if this budget cut were not to be implemented, the salary would still be reduced to $50,000. This is because the $3,000 which was part of the original salary was drawn from social service money; this money was going to be taken out in this

year’s budget regardless, according to Zimet. The social service money came from the safety net program, of which was removed from the town budget in Sept. 2014. This program was being provided to residents of town municipality to verify addresses to make ensure the town was being billed for its residents. However, according to New Paltz Town Councilman Dan Torres, the $3,000 stipend remained in the supervisor salary for 2015. “When I brought this to the board’s attention no one was willing to remove the $3,000 associated with the stipend for 2015,” Torres said. “Yet, members of the board did not have an issue with reducing the salary by 25 percent for 2016.” According to Torres, the rationale is that the role of the supervisor has drastically changed since a comptroller was hired, a job that didn’t exist

before Zimet. Torres said that Zimet said that it had been planned to adjust the salary, however, “the exact opposite is reflected in her comments when this position was created.” “I’ve been a part of this community my whole life and been on board for three terms and I can guarantee you this is not a 40 hour a week job with a comptroller and a competent deputy supervisor in place,” said Deputy Town Supervisor Jeff Logan. At the Oct. 29 meeting, Logan argued that those who have seniority over Irwin and Torres have a better perspective on whether or not the job of town supervisor is a 40-houra-week job. In addition to this, Logan brought up the salaries of neighboring towns, such as the Town of Lloyd where the supervisor salary is $35,000. The Town of Lloyd Supervisor also aided in town matters by a deputy supervisor and a comptroller.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

According to Town Councilman Marty Irwin, the management of the Town of New Paltz is a $10 million a year enterprise. Irwin said that as a businessman he does not think $20 an hour is an appropriate compensation for the person hired to run it. Torres explained that reducing the salary of town supervisor is detrimental to the future of the position. He said that this salary cut hurts 25 percent of the “talent pool” of future candidates. Because the salary for this position is lower future candidates may be limited to those who are independently wealthy, according to Torres. “I was certainly disappointed that the town board made that decision [to cut the salary], it was flawed and mostly inaccurate,” said Torres. “Neil will still be a full time a supervisor, but as for position as a whole moving forward, this is detrimental.”

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NEWS BRIEFS WORLD

News

The New Paltz Oracle

New Paltz Child Care Center Awaits Lease

FATE OF PARIS ATTACKS MASTERMIND UNCLEAR AFTER BLOODY RAID The hunt for the mastermind of last week’s attacks took a bloody turn Wednesday to a Paris suburb where a fierce gunbattle with police left at least two people dead and eight arrested. The fate of the alleged ringleader was unclear, with authorities saying he was not taken alive and they were trying to determine if he died in the raid. IS RELEASES PHOTO OF BOMB IT SAYS DOWNED RUSSIAN JETLINER The Islamic State group on Wednesday released a photo of a bomb hidden in a soft drink can that it said had brought down a Russian passenger jet over Egypt last month, and it also announced it had killed hostages from Norway and China. The disclosure of the new violence by the militants came as Russian and French warplanes continued their stepped-up airstrikes against IS targets in Syria. PASSPORT IN PARIS ATTACKS FUELS FEARS OF SYRIAN REFUGEES After the bombs and Kalashnikov fire of the Paris attacks, a mere document a passport - found near the body of an attacker is generating a new wave of dread throughout Europe and beyond. But whether the document ended up there by chance, or was part of an elaborate plot to sow panic, is not clear. WITH ISLAMIC STATE TARGETED, WHAT HAPPENS TO SYRIA’S ASSAD? The tide of global rage against the Islamic State group lends greater urgency to ending the jihadis’ ability to operate at will from a base in war-torn Syria. That momentum could also force a reevaluation of what to do about President Bashar Assad and puts a renewed focus on the position of his key patrons, Russia and Iran.The Syrian leader has lost much of the country to IS and other groups in the four-year war; half the population has been displaced, many areas have been leveled, and masses of refugees are flooding Europe. Along the way, Assad’s brutal military response has made him persona non grata in most of the world. Compiled from the AP Newswire

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

By Nick Tantillo

Staff Writer | Tantilln1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The lease agreement for the New Paltz Child Care Center has yet to be signed. On Oct. 22, the New Paltz Town Board motioned to provide a lease to the Child Care Center during a dialogue between the town board and community members. Concerns over the building’s condition have led some to question whether or not it is financially feasible to continue to operate the Child Care Center. In the past, the town board granted the center a budget of $2,000 for repairs. During the October 22 meeting repairs to the building’s roof were estimated to be between $25,000 and $50,000. A video of the meeting is available on YouTube. “What I think this board would like to do is make a motion tonight for us to enter into a lease agreement with the school district,” Town Supervisor Susan Zimet said during the Oct. 22 meeting. The Child Care Center, located at 31

Sunset Ridge in New Paltz, gained access to its current building after a series of agreements. The New Paltz School District leased the land to the town board. This lease gave the town board the rights to the building. The town board then leased the building to the Child Care Center, which operated out of their previous building since 2000. Previous lease agreements between the New Paltz School District and the New Paltz town board covered 10 years. The current lease is anticipated to last 20 months. “At this point if they discontinue the lease and didn’t give us that 20 month extension, 22 children would not have child care,” New Paltz Child Care Center President Kerri McIntyre said. “That’s what the 20 months is there for — to open up communications with the entire town board to come up with a solution.” The New Paltz Child Care Center offers services to children ages six weeks through kindergarten, including

Thursday, November 19, 2015

accommodations for children with special needs. The Center currently employs seven full-time staff members. “I would not be in favor of us leaving them in a situation where they would not be able to provide the services they have,” Town Board Councilman Dan Torres said. The town board budget no longer contains a line dedicated to the Child Care Center. According to Councilman Torres, money the town board would use for any repairs to the Child Care Center would come from the Highway Department. He said this would not restrict funds from the Center. On Jan. 1, 2016 the newly elected members of the New Paltz Town Board will enter office, encounter this lease agreement and have to act as they see fit. “I am very hopeful that the new board will see this as a valued community resource as the families that utilize the Center do,” McIntyre said. The next town board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.

News

The New Paltz Oracle

Paris Attacks Spark International Response By Karl Evers-Hillstrom

Features Editor | N02541514@hawkmail.newpaltz.

Last week, the world was stunned by a series of terrorist attacks in Paris that left at least 129 dead — the deadliest attack in France since World War II. Three teams of militants staged coordinated attacks on the night of Nov. 13. Three suicide bombers detonated their vests near Stade de France, where French President François Hollande was attending a soccer match. They were attempting to get into the game, but were too late. The deadliest attack of the night was at a rock performance at the Bataclan Concert Hall, where insurgents fired automatic weapons, threw grenades and took hostages, resulting in 89 civilian casualties before police forces killed the perpetrators. Seven of the insurgents were killed that night. In a search for remaining perpetrators, French authorities arrested over 23 people and seized weapons in northern France from Nov. 15-16. On Nov. 18, police raided a suspected hideout of the ringleader of the Paris attacks, leading to the death of two suspects and eight

detainees. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, commonly referred to as ISIS, claimed responsibility for the attacks. This came two weeks after ISIS claimed responsibility for bringing down a Russian passenger airliner over the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, resulting in the death of 224 people. Hollande called the attacks “an act of war” and vowed that the government would wage a “merciless” fight against terrorism. Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the recent G-20 summit that he was willing to work with France in escalating military force against ISIS, saying, “We need to join forces.” The U.S. and European Union have also pledged full support toward aiding the French counterattack. On Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that over 33 ISIS members have been killed in the past 72 hours as France launched air strikes at targets in Raqqa, Syria, the de-facto capital of ISIS.

Copy Editor | N02684069@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Following a University Police safety alert regarding reports of sexual abuse from two New Paltz students over Halloween weekend, the campus and the community have been on high alert. Although both assaults occurred in different locations, the description of the perpetrator was the same. According to University Police Chief David Dugatkin, one incident occurred on the lower part of Main Street in the Village of New Paltz, the other on the northern side

of the New Paltz campus — both, however, involved who the victims described as a light skinned Hispanic male, about 5’8”, between the ages of 18-21. Neither of the two incidents were reported to the University Police Department or the Town of New Paltz Police Department until several days later, but the departments did determine that the person responsible was not a SUNY New Paltz student. As the investigation is still ongoing, New Paltz students are trying to stay safe, while also expressing desire

NEWS BRIEFS NATIONAL

OFFICERS IDENTIFIED IN KILLING OF UNARMED MINNEAPOLIS MAN Authorities on Wednesday released the names of two Minneapolis police officers involved in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man over the weekend, and police later made a show of force outside a precinct where protesters have been encamped for days. SYRIAN FAMILY DIVERTED TO CONNECTICUT AT INDIANA’S REQUEST

A Syrian family that fled the war-torn country in 2011 was welcomed Wednesday to its new home of Connecticut after Indiana officials objected to plans for the refugees to resettle in their state. The married couple and their 5-year-old son had been living as refugees in Jordan and had been waiting three years to resettle in the United States. CENSUS CHANGES COULD MAKE WHITES LESS THAN 50 PERCENT SOONER

The Census Bureau is considering changes to its race and ethnicity questions that would reclassify some minorities who were considered “white” in the past, a move that may speed up the date when America’s white population falls below 50 percent. TO US MASS SHOOTING VICTIMS, PARIS ATTACKS SADLY FAMILIAR PHOTO COURTESY OFWIKIMEDIA

Authorities Continue To Pursue Sexual Predator By Kintura Williams

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for more safety precautions. Stephanie DeMolfetto, a second-year secondary education major, wishes there were more accessible safety precautions — citing an increase in the number of BlueLight safety systems on the outside of campus, and a larger perimeter for the nightly campus escort service as suggestions. “When I go out we’re always in a big group, but sometimes that’s not enough,” DeMolfetto said. Going out in groups is one of the precautions suggested by New Paltz Town

Police Chief Joseph Snyder. He also recommends staying in well lit areas, being aware of your surroundings and never walking distances alone. “The person who did this chose to commit this heinous act, and that’s on them, no one else should feel like it is their fault,” Snyder said. Both departments are conducting a joint investigation and currently looking into a few leads on the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the University Police Department and the Town of New Paltz Police Department.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

When Sandy Phillips saw the bloodbath in Paris unfold on her television screen, she knew instantly that hundreds of families would be getting phone calls like the one she got three years ago. She has become painfully familiar with mass shootings since a gunman killed her daughter in a crowded suburban Denver movie theater, and she’s frustrated when pundits wonder if similar attacks on “soft targets” could happen in America. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EXSUBWAY PITCHMAN’S SENTENCING

Former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle is due to formally plead guilty and be sentenced on charges of having traded in child pornography and paid for sex with minors. Here are some questions and answers the judge will consider during Thursday’s hearing in federal court in Indianapolis. Fogle agreed in August to plead guilty to one count each of travelling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and distribution and receipt of child porn. Compiled from the AP Newswire

NEWS

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The New Paltz Oracle

Your Student Senate Brief By Sarah Eames

Contributing Writer | Eamess1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

SUB 418 is unusually crowded for a Wednesday evening. There is a muted rustling from the back of the room, the silence broken only by an occasional comment from the audience. Senators heard reports from members of the Executive Board and listened to a presentation on an upand-coming sustainability initiative by fellow students. As the last senator finished her report, the senators sit around the long tables, slumped in a collective daze. The progression of the meeting suspended by the sanctity of Robert’s Rules, they awaited the Chair to the Senate to usher them into the next topic of discussion. There was an immediate shift in the atmosphere as Senate Chair Paul Brown silently gestured to a figure at the back of the room, one of several leaning against the wall. Members of the audience craned their necks to get a better look, and waitied with bated breath; this is the moment everyone has been waiting for. The figure emerged from the crowd, embodying

the pinnacle of their anticipation: dreadlocked, sandy hair subdued by a loosely-tied red bandana frames pale, cutting features; an infant clad in bright tie-dye lays curled in a sling against the man’s chest, bare under an unbuttoned shirt. “I am both ﬂattered and thankful for the invitation to address this body,” Steely said. Though there is hardly a need for an introduction, SUNY New Paltz alum Justin Holmes brieﬂy outlined his own experiences with the Student Association (SA), beginning with his election to the Senate in 2003 and eventual nomination as Chair to the Senate, a position he served until 2006 when he was elected president of the student body. Holmes explained that the events that transpired throughout the 161 days of his presidency are chronicled in an 85-minute documentary, available on YouTube. The compilation of videos, generated by Holmes and his fellow students, detail interactions between students and SUNY New Paltz administrators that led

to the controversial expulsion of Holmes and R.J. Partington III, another former SA President who is also present at this Senate meeting. In the second video of the series, Partington can be seen with a megaphone leading a crowd of approximately 500 students to the office of the President, demanding a meeting in regards to the renovations to the Student Union Building in 2005. The scene cuts to a younger, more neatly-dressed Holmes, addressing students from behind a podium. “We are here to learn and grow,” Holmes says in the video, “and to plant seeds so that our successors can do the same.” Ten years later, Holmes is returning to the New Paltz campus to witness the growth of these seeds. He introduced his presentation as a sort of beginner’s guide to student power, opening the presentation with a radical symbol (√) boldly emblazoned against a yellow background. According to Holmes, the symbol indicates not only the function for finding the square root of a number, but also represents the need for find-

ing the roots of political issues. Holmes proceeded to outline the power demographics of a typical campus; a triangular power structure is formed through the relationships between students, faculty and administration. Two of these parties have the advantage of institutional memory, he explains, while the third party — the students — are left with collective amnesia. This lapse in memory occurs as the result of rapid turnover in the student population. As students graduate, transfer, or otherwise migrate from the campus, their initiatives are lost in the tides of an unorganized history. Holmes asserted that there is ample documentation of student-led movements scattered across the campus: in the Special Collections of the library, in the archived editions of The Oracle, in the minutes of Senate meetings long past. “The student government already has autonomy,” Holmes said. “My hope is this body realizes that in the absence of meaningful contribution from the students, there is no higher education.”

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Opinion

Student Voice

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“Your opinion loud and clear!”

For the first time since his presidential announcement in May 2015, retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson is the Republican front-runner. According to a New York Times/CBS survey published Nov. 3, Carson is the candidate of choice for 26 percent of Republican primary voters. Former front-runner real estate developer Donald Trump, receives support from 22 percent of voters. The New York Times reports that the difference of percentages between Carson and Trump “lies within the margin of sampling error”— meaning no one can be sure who is leading the pack. Yet, this is beside the point. The survey reveals a clear preference among Republican voters for candidates without prior political experience. To offer contrast, the third most popular candidate, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, receives support from 8 percent of voters. Fortunately for Republicans, most of their candidates are relatively new to politics — the average tenure of candidates in their most recent appointment is roughly four years. Carson, Trump and businesswoman Carly Fiorina have no prior political experience. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has only served two years and senators Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Gov. John Kasich have completed four years. The thinking may be that a long tenure in politics jades a candidate. Not unlike Hilary Clinton. Carson’s background is his ticket to the White House. Journalists have largely cited Carson’s biography — documented in autobiographical books, and public speeches — to explain his appeal to voters. An email delivered by Carson’s campaign to supporters titled, “I am not a politician,” read “I believe that traditional ‘political experience’ is much less important than faith, honesty, courage, and an unshakable belief in the principles that made America the greatest nation in the world.” It was precisely Carson’s honesty that was called into question last week. On Thursday, Nov. 5, Scott Glover and Maeve Reston of CNN reported “nine friends, classmates and neighbors who grew up with Carson could not confirm accounts

from his 1990 autobiography ‘Gifted Hands.’” Those accounts detail young, violent Carson who attempted to stab a family member, and punched a classmate in the face with a “hand wrapped around a lock.” Furthermore, on Friday The Wall Street Journal reported that it “couldn’t confirm Carson’s account of protecting white students during a race riot back when he was a high school junior,” or “a story involving a psychology exam while at Yale.” Details of the Yale exam drama — which has received heaps of media attention — can be found in the Mother Jones article, “Ben Carson’s Psychology Test Story Gets Even Weirder.” David Corn’s commentary verges on the ridiculous, but manages to provide a reasonable conclusion to the episode. Journalists have sampled liberally from Carson’s biography, yet no episode stands out more than Carson and the West Point scholarship. The story first appeared in the Politico article published on Nov. 6, “Carson claimed West Point scholarship but never applied.” The basic elements of the story — which appear in Carson’s text, “Gifted hands”— tell of a meeting between a 17-year-old Carson and U.S. General William Westmoreland. During their meeting Gen. Westmoreland expressed his interest in Carson, and his desire that Carson should attend West Point Military Academy. Politico claims that during the meeting Carson received an “offer of a ‘full scholarship’ to the military academy,” and points out issues with this offer. For starters, West Point has “no record of Carson applying, much less being extended admission.” An editor’s note that appears at the head of the article reads, “Carson never explicitly wrote that he had applied for admission to West Point, although that was the clear implication of his claim to have received an offer of a ‘full scholarship.’” Next, the Politico report features this statement by West Point spokeswoman Theresa Binkerhoff: “In 1969, those who would have completed the entire process would have received their acceptance let-

ters from the Army Adjutant General.” However, Binkerhoff says there are no records that indicate Carson even began the application process. Perhaps the most damaging evidence against Carson’s story is the fact that West Point is a taxpayer-funded academy. Meaning, those who are accepted into the academy are provided with a free education. Under these circumstances there isn’t a need for scholarships. They don’t exist. The Politico report highlights other cases where Carson cited the scholarship offer. These include excerpts from Carson’s texts, “You Have a Brain” and “Take the Risk,” and an interview in October with Charlie Rose. The intent is likely to corroborate Politico’s claim that this episode isn’t simply an entertaining story, but a pivotal event in Carson’s background that attempts to cast the Commander-in-Chief hopeful as a well-received candidate of the prestigious West Point Military Academy. This is to say, even though Carson has no prior experience in politics, it may be good enough that a military institution like West Point would take an interest in Carson. Roughly one hour after the Politico report’s initial release, Carson addressed the discrepancy with Steve Eder of The New York Times. “I don’t remember all the specific details,” Carson said. “It was, you know, an informal ‘with a record like yours, we could easily get you a scholarship to West Point.’” Web journalists on both sides of the political isle — Slate and the Conservative Review among others — echo Carson’s take on the report. In all likelihood the Gen. Westmoreland meeting was informal. Maybe the language used was casual and appropriate for a 17-year-old Carson. Maybe, after 50 years of retelling the story, Carson had begun to reference the offer as a scholarship out of convenience. After all, free admission sounds a lot like a scholarship. To be clear, I am not a fan of Carson. Some of his comments are just bizarre. Like, a Muslim shouldn’t be President of the United States (NBC News, “Ben Car-

Thursday, November 19, 2015

son Does Not Believe a Muslim Should Be President”). Or, well, any reference to Nazis for that matter (The Washington Post, “The biggest fan of Nazi metaphors in politics”). Fan or not, Carson’s defense of himself during the scholarship controversy is valid. It appears the issue Politico has taken with Carson is an issue of semantics—and that is a waste of voter’s time. Did Carson receive a “full scholarship,” or just an offer for a “full scholarship?” Did Gen. Westmoreland guarantee Carson a scholarship, or did he mention that tuition is free, and Carson interpreted this to be a scholarship? Records at West Point indicate that Carson never applied, but, then again, Carson never claimed he applied to the academy. Does this really matter? National surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found eight in 10 people see bias in the news. One in two people say journalist reports are inaccurate. Another one in two people say the media is culturally and politically liberal. Maybe Republican candidates are right: the media can be guilty of carrying out an agenda. Get your affairs in order, Politico. There is already so little trust in the media.

Nick Tantillo

Third-year, Journalism

Tantilln1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The views expressed in op-eds are solely those of the student who wrote and submitted it. They do not necessarily reflect those of The New Paltz Oracle, its staff members, the campus and university or the Town or Village of New Paltz.

Thursday, November 19th, 2015

extinct and loving it Review on page 2B

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA

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FEATURES

Bringing Back The Dead VISITING DOCTOR EXPLORES SPECIES REVITALIZATION

By Jack O’Brien

Copy Editor | Obrienj2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Imagine being able to bring back a herd of woolly mammoths along with a swarm of elephant birds. Within the next decade, scientists say those fantasies could become a reality. These ideas were presented by Dr. Ross MacPhee, a curator at the American Museum of Natural History. His lecture, “DeExtinction: Is It Really Possible to Bring Back Extinct Species like the Wooly Mammoth, and if So, Should We?” was the ﬁnal installment of the Harrington STEM Lecture series for the fall semester. The event was held in the Coykendall Science Building Auditorium on Tuesday, Nov. 17. “It’s simple, it’s all about bringing back the dead,” MacPhee said. “After that, we need to have public discourse. We need to talk about it, deal with the responsibility of the returned organisms and take care of them.” Stressing that he was not a geneticist, MacPhee spoke of his intrigue about how species disappear and if they can be brought back to life. MacPhee showed a clip from a Discovery Channel special he was involved with titled “Baby Mammoth,” which aired in 2008. The project, which he admitted was slightly farfetched, explored the idea of bringing back not only one woolly mammoth but several herds of them. One of MacPhee’s overarching questions was why humans should even try to bring back the dead. His answer to skeptics centered on three

points. MacPhee’s ﬁrst argument was that humans have a responsibility to the extinct. He said this was his “restorative justice for all” proposal. Pointing to the common historical thread of how humans arrive and animals go, MacPhee stated that humans owed it to their counterparts.

Such animals that were around but soon became victims of extinction were the giant rhinos, glyptodons, giant monitors, elephant birds and the Antillean titi monkey. “Humans have been pillaging ecosystems for the greater extent of our existence,” MacPhee said. “We need to put everything back to the way it was before it was harmed by us.” His follow up to that was that humans indeed have the ability to revitalize the extinct. MacPhee admitted this was not a simple solution because most of these “de-extincted” creatures would have to be placed in areas with very minimal human populations. He cited Siberia as the most likely location people point to when they discuss woolly mammoths. MacPhee also referenced the Wallkill Valley’s previous history as a wetland of the ice age Hudson River and produced some of the best

specimens of mastodons. He argued, however, that returning them to their natural home today would be impractical for farmers and residents here now. MacPhee’s ﬁnal point served as a call to justice as he stated that he believed humans could ensure other endangered species avoid extinction. “‘De-extinction’ is never having to say goodbye,” MacPhee said.

“We’ll learn to bring back critically endangered species, like the American chestnut tree and panda bears.” MacPhee was open about how certain methods previously attempted, such as selective breeding and reproductive breeding, led to similar creatures but not exact replicas of the host specimen. Since certain creatures are uniquely built, they require hundreds of thousands of speciﬁc traits. Both selective breeding and reproductive breeding only affect certain traits, like color, size and height, but don’t address several hundred

Thursday, November 19, 2015

other important and necessary traits. This produces a superﬁcial clone but does not succeed in “deextinction.” Citing mixed creatures as the fatal ﬂaw of selective breeding and the premature death of Dolly the cloned sheep as the primary concern for reproductive breeding, MacPhee reached his solution: genomic engineering. “Genomic engineering is going to change your life,” MacPhee said. The state-of-the-art process, which utilizes chromosome synthesis, gives humans the possibility to construct genes and make whatever they would like to create. CRISPR, a geneediting technology, combines a DNA cutting enzyme called Cas9 with a long RNA molecule. It can also use a protein called Cpf1, which requires less RNA and slices DNA differently. The process, which was introduced after MacPhee gave a major talk in 2013, is still being heralded while being closely analyzed. “This will allow us to make creatures that have never existed before,” MacPhee said. “The downside is that it raises some ethical issues. Whether it’s creating clones of pet dogs or designer babies, humans have to be aware of the consequences.” MacPhee left his audience with a simple but sobering question that is likely to dominate the debate over genetic engineering for years to come. “In principle we can do this, but should we?” Photo from Wikipedia

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Features

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College Dining On A Dime MEXICALI BLUE OFFERS FRESH SOUTHWEST CUISINE By Sage Higgins Staff Writer | Higginss1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu Mexicali Blue in New Paltz makes me feel anything but blue. According to their website, Mexicali Blue “serves up delicious Southwestern & Californian style cuisine, featuring ultra fresh tacos and burritos. Our philosophy is based on the California healthy way of thinking, fresh and natural ingredients, prepared quickly.” I have been eating at Mexicali Blue longer than I can remember. Being a Hudson Valley native, Mexicali Blue is a staple in my diet. Whenever people from out of the area come to visit me, Mexicali Blue is where I take them for fresh and delicious tacos and burritos. But who is one of the masterminds behind this popular local food establishment?

Chris Nicolosi, one of the owners/ managers/chefs at Mexicali, is driven by his passion for food and that is definitely reflected in the vast menu. The most popular item on the menu is the chicken burrito, but Nicolosi wants people to expand their palettes to explore other items on the menu. “I try to push our salmon, catfish or tuna based items because nothing is frozen, everything is fresh,” Nicolosi said. Mexicali also brings being personal to the next level when it comes to serving their customers. “The people who come here aren’t just a number, they’re actually a person to me,” he said. Mexicali Blue has opened up another location in Wappingers Falls, New York. The location is much larger than the New Paltz location and also has a tequila bar. The new res-

taurant also has music events as well as happy hour and ladies night. When it comes to Mexican cuisine, I’m much more of a taco fan. As Nicolosi described to me, many people get into a niche of ordering the same items every time they come in. And I won’t lie, I’m the same way. There is something about just knowing what flavors await you that is comforting. But Nicolosi told me to take the leap. I took his suggestion to get the pulled pork taco, but I couldn’t let go of the comfort of normalcy just yet. I also got my favorite: a portabello taco. To start, the portabello taco ($4.50) is also put on a beautiful blue tortilla. The blue aesthetic makes the entire taco pop. These mushrooms have that delicious grilled flavor and are paired with their always vibrant and well seasoned guacamole and

their red onion marmalade. With all of this, I was in vegetable heaven (which in my book, is a good place to be.) Since Nicolosi has the passion and knowledge of the restaurant’s flavors, I let him choose which taco I should try that wasn’t in my usual fold: the pulled pork taco. The pulled pork taco ($6.50), according to their daily specials, is “pork butt marinated for 24 hours in achiote spice, orange juice, and a homemade spice mix. Slowly baked for eight hours with a homemade cole slaw and cilantro.” The coolness of the slaw was a perfect partner for the slight hotness that came from the pork. Mexicali Blue can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and on their website, mexicali-blue.com.

The Power Of A Liberal Arts Degree

ALUMNI PANEL DISHES OUT CAREER ADVICE By Monique Trachina Copy Editor | Trachim1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu On Wednesday Nov. 18, there was a public discussion entitled “From Classroom to Career: The Value of a Liberal Arts Degree.” Several alumni from New Paltz sat poised before a group of students and faculty, explaining how their degrees translated into jobs or internships after undergrad or grad school. The five alumni offered tips and inside information on how to prepare for a job that may not seem remotely related to a liberal arts degree, but has value across the job market. Finding any job, affixed to a degree or not, may prove a painstaking process with stiff competition and companies that look for years of experience. Therefore, the interview process is important to show employers your potential skill sets and competence. If she were in a position to hire someone, alum Claudette Aldebot said, “I’m looking for confidence and mindset. Attitude is everything [and] effective communication.”

Arber Cobaj, director of program development for Skylop Strategies, agreed. “Someone positive and energetic,” he said. “What is your reason for being here ... and I need to know what type of role I can build around this person.” Heather Graham, digital director for The Daily Gazette said, “Be enthusiastic, be confident, come with questions.” Kathleen Tobin, associate director at the Benjamin Center at New Paltz, finished with a piece of advice. “Be creative, be thoughtful,” she said. “I will hire a student of any major if I know they are bright and nimble.” Emily Quinn, a third-year business major, found their recommendations helpful and their information useful. She found the most insightful statements related to “knowing that not everything is set in stone.” “A liberal arts degree for me is not as stressful as one of the more narrow degrees,” she said. Some of the alumni were surprised at the jobs they landed after receiving degrees that

weren’t focused on a narrow study. “My philosophy major helped with day to day life,” said Abe Uchitelle, senior vice president of business development for DragonSearch. “The flexibility that my degree offers helps me a lot. I have no background in financial experience, from day one.” He was hired at a financial institution with hopes that critical thinking skills and questioning policies would aid in his new role. Graham has years of experience behind her, and has recently switched her area of work. “I’m really just finding my way, like the new kid on the block, like going from high school to college,” she said. “With a general degree, I have the skills to do it.” Graham didn’t intend to study at graduate school. In fact, her idea of graduate school was ambiguous until a friend asked her during a lull in her career. Tobin relayed her opinions concerning graduate school. “The longer you wait, the less likely you’ll go to graduate school,” she said. “It’s a really per-

Thursday, November 19, 2015

sonal choice, there is no blanket statement for it ... the pattern we are seeing at this table is that yes, you want a few years to wait and pay for an expensive grad school education. So it’s really hard — you have to talk to your mentors and talk to people in the field.” Uchitelle offered a slightly different view. “If you have a prerequisite established, then go for it,” he said. “It might mean landing an internship or taking a year off. Don’t feel compelled to go into grad school.” All five alumni couldn’t stress enough the importance of having a mentor during college years and beyond. Often, students are unsure how to go about finding a mentor and establishing a relationship. “Go to any events remotely related to your field and talk to people,” Uchitelle said. “Not only is having a mentor important for growth, but being a mentor too. It’s a huge opportunity to be a mentor. Just find people in your life you can talk to and have a conversation with. Don’t worry about who’s the mentor and who’s the mentee.”

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Features

Criticizing The C-Section

LECTURER EXPLORES CONSEQUENCES OF PROCEDURE By Amanda Copkov Copy Editor | Copkova1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu Before 1998, Caesarean sections weren’t all that popular in China. But once the late ‘90s hit, this medical procedure began to skyrocket – seemingly out of nowhere. On Nov. 12, Melissa Rock, assistant professor of geography at SUNY New Paltz, discussed the causes and consequences of the rising rate of C-section births in China. She explained that there are several health consequences of exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) suggested procedure rate, which currently lies between 10 to 15 percent. Rock first discussed the history of C-sections. Since the birth of Julius Caesar, for whom the birthing method was named, Csections were used to birth a child if the mother was unable to naturally or if the mother was already deceased. But over the last two decades, nearly half of all births in China – a whopping 47 percent – have been C-section procedures, according to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). CFR finds that some areas in China perform between 70 to 80 percent of all births as C-sections. In 1998, however, only 3.4 percent of Chinese births were C-sections. Rock said that a main reason many Chinese mothers have chosen C-sections over natural birth is because they are trying to follow the footsteps of a country they believe to be modern and progressive: the United States. A recorded 32.2 percent of American births are C-sections as of 2014, according to Childbirth Connection, a non-profit organization founded as a Maternity Center Association in 1918. Many Chinese mothers are under the impression that because there are so many C-sections performed in the United States, the

procedure must be “good, modernized, progressive and more safe,” Rock said. Nathen Clerici, an assistant professor of asian studies, attended Rock’s lecture and said that it’s discouraging to know how misled some patients are. “C-sections are unnecessary interventions and it’s discouraging that they would be a first option for many people,” he said. “C-sections are great when need be but [the Chinese] are performing more because these are what modern places are doing.” Over the past few decades, Chinese medical establishments have encouraged C-sections for expecting mothers because they figure they will make a bigger profit. Because C-sections are major abdominal surgery, they require more physicians than natural births. Along with a physician to deliver the baby, C-sections require an anesthesiologist among other support staff. They also require the mother to remain in the hospital for about two to four days. In comparison, a natural birth usually leaves a mother in the hospital for only one day. Performing C-sections also gives doctors ample time for more operations. Rock said that doctors can perform about eight to 10 C-sections in a day as opposed to about two to three natural births. A natural birth may bring a mother into labor for days, whereas the Csection procedure takes a mere couple of hours. Another major concern Rock called attention to were the effects on women’s bodies after receiving this procedure. While C-sections may be shorter and less painful than natural childbirth, they often result in much longer recovery periods as well as a higher amount of blood loss. Rock also said that studies show there is less bonding between

mother and child when C-sections are performed because of anesthesia. “The ‘love hormone’ oxytocin is released during childbirth, which helps the baby along and helps with baby bonding,” she said. “This is not to say we turn into robots otherwise, such as during C-sections, but [experiencing the effects] of oxytocin are a natural kickstarter.” In recent years, doctors have found ways to keep the mother awake during surgery so she can hold her baby when it is delivered. This way, the mother feels a stronger bond with her child as she would after a natural childbirth, mitigating any distress she may have felt had she not held her baby. It is also harder and less safe for mothers to produce breast milk for their children because of the chemicals in the anesthetics. Rock said that another reason more women have preferred C-section births over natural births is because they are able to schedule their delivery dates. Many women, especially in the Chinese culture, like to plan the day that they will have a child because of “lucky dates” in Chinese astrology. These include the sixth and eighth days of the lunar month as well as the year of the dragon. While many women in China are drawn to the idea of planned deliveries and what they imagine to be “safer” procedures, C-sections are not always condoned by the WHO. They report that there lacks evidence to support improved health outcomes or mortality rates for both mother and child. “The question at hand is ‘what is it to be modern or advanced?’ versus traditional methods and letting childbirth unfold,” Rock said. “In some cases, C-sections may be a good option, but otherwise, the traditional method is the preferred route.”

Thursday, November 19, 2015

The New Paltz Oracle

ESK D Y COP KOFF: COO Beer Mac n’ Cheese By Russell Hartman Rhartman@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

One of the members of The Oracle shares their culinary chops with you. Bon appetit!

Hey everyone! So I know you all love Mac n’ Cheese, and who doesn’t love a nice cold brew? So what happens when you mix the two together? You get one of the best tasting things I’ve ever F****** had the pleasure of putting into my F****** mouth. It’s that good that I had to use profanity twice in that sentence. Without further ado, here is the mouthwatering recipe for Beer Mac and Cheese. 16 ounce box of pasta 3 tablespoons of butter 1 cup of German Pilsner-Style Beer (or honestly whatever beer you really love) 1 cup of cream 4 ounces of cream cheese 8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese 8 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese 1. Boil the pasta until cooked then drain and set aside 2. Melt butter in a clean pot and add flour; mix until it forms a paste 3. Pour in your beer selection, then cream and finally the cream cheese 4. Stir until melted and bring to a low boil 5. Add in both types of cheeses and stir until melted 6. Add pasta to the pot (or in a separate serving bowl if preferred) Optional (but let’s be real, this is necessary): top with more cheese and sea salt for extra flavor. Finally, grab a cold brew and enjoy eating your F****** amazing Mac n’ Cheese!

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Fabulous Footloose

The New Paltz Oracle

BARE BONES PRODUCTION IMPRESSES AUDIENCE

By Jess Napp

Copy Editor | Nappj1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Lights, camera, dancing! This past weekend, the student-run theatre company Bare Bones put on the musical “Footloose” in Studley Theatre. Two different casts, Cast A and Cast B, performed; the first took the stage on Friday and the latter on Sunday. Directors and founders Meg Rosenberg and Noreen Healy started the show by welcoming the packed audience to Cast B’s performance. According to the multi-talented sophomores, Bare Bones is a production company for non-theatre majors. “It’s for people who love theatre and want to be heard and seen,” Rosenberg said. Healy then added, “We give the spotlight to anyone who wants it.” According to Rosenberg, the name stems from the fact that they only do the “Bare Bones” of a show, which consists of singing, acting and dancing. They don’t use props, costumes or a set; the actors themselves are the entertainment. The show began with a bang as the mid-day sunlight filtered in through the towering windows of the auditorium. The light poured onto the stage bathing it in a luminescent glow as the cast belted out their opening ballad, “Footloose.” They stood there all dressed in black except for the brightly colored scarves that the girls donned and the various colored bandanas that the boys had fixed around their necks or biceps. Each multi-colored garment correlated with the different characters. For instance, the main characters Ariel and Ren could always be spotted based on Ariel’s red scarf and Ren’s blue bandana. This made it a little easier on the witnesses of this gyrating spectacle when the cast continuously transformed seamlessly from character to character throughout the show. Third-year communication disorders major Victoria Calandriello, a novice to the limelight, acted in the production at one point or another as both Urleen and Wendy Jo, Ariel’s best friends. “I gained theatrical experience, I learned that I love choreography and I learned what it’s like to work with a team and make a production happen,” she said. A truly mesmerizing moment of the show con-

sisted of the two leads standing on wooden boxes painted black during the song, “Almost Paradise.” The pair locked eyes and appeared to be singing into the other’s soul, while a duo in the background wearing the same colors as the leads silently glided across the dance floor in grand sweeping motions. The audience sat transfixed in their seats as they watched the moving scene unfold before their eyes and end in a kiss. When the show came to a close, the crowd erupted in applause and the cast stood in a line bowing until they couldn’t stand still any longer. They then proceeded to do what they do best, dance around the polished stage floor. Meg Reilly, a third-year elementary education major attended the event and while at first she thought the changing characters would confuse her, she ultimately found this not to be the case. “I’ve never been to a Bare Bones production before, but I’d definitely go to another one,” Reilly said. “This was fun.”

Thursday, November 19, 2015

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALISSA ROSENBERG

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

“Expect honest words and genetically perfected harmonies.” With a tagline like that, how could a band not pique your interest? Joseph, an indie rock trio from the Paciﬁc Northwest, consists of sisters Natalie, Allison and Meegan. With a folksy, beautiful sound and passionate vocals on all ends, Joseph ticks all the boxes. The sisters named their group after their grandfather, Joseph; the location of their childhood summer home, the town of Joseph; and the dream interpreter from biblical lore, Joseph. The group performed at the 2015 SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, where they received high praise from music publications across the web. Writers from Paste Magazine online called the band a “new favorite” from SXSW. The band released their debut album in 2014, titled “Native Dreamer Kin.” Their sound brings to mind folk artists of decades passed, plus the soulful indie hum of groups like Fleet Foxes or The Head And The Heart. The sisters’ closeness is evident; their music has a cohesive sound that few groups can

Arts & Entertainment

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Jammin’ With Joseph

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR USER ROBERT BEJIL

match. There’s definitely some truth to Joseph’s promise of “genetically perfected harmonies.” “Native Dreamer Kin” flows perfectly together; the album is seamless, and upon first listen, I couldn’t tell when the album ended or began.

“Native Dreamer Kin” kicks off with “Cloudline.” The song starts a little slow, but it picks up the pace when a second vocalist’s voice adds a soft harmony. The second track, “Wind,” is what drew me to the band. It opens with a mesmerizing harmony of “oh’s” and

progresses into a beautifully fast-paced track with a drum beat so catchy, you can’t help but tap your foot to the beat. “Wind” has a natural feel; the song seems to channel the uniquely feminine and incomparably strong feel of nature, with lyrics like, “From dust we came, to dust we’ll go / but we ain’t gone.” The song is enchanting, and it’s deﬁnitely a standout from Joseph’s debut. “Tell Me There’s A Garden” is a soft, melancholy ballad with the same powerful, enchanting quality as “Wind.” There’s just something about the way these sisters’ voices combine that is a joy to hear. “Lifted Away” is another stellar favorite, with a beautiful chorus that hits the listener hard. The lyrics are strung together beautifully, and once again, the trio of sisters harmonize in a way that can only be described as an eargasm. “Eyes To The Sky” stands out, too, and for all the right reasons: the song ends the album with a powerful bang. The background harmonies give the song a prayer-like feel that is both hypnotizing and haunting. It’s hard not to fall for these singers, whose vocals continuously captivate me.

The Fruitcake Of Holiday Movies “LOVE THE COOPERS” GREATLY DISAPPOINTS

By Jake Berkowitz

Contributing Writer | ﬂamingblok11@yahoo.com

“Love the Coopers”? I didn’t. Neither will you. The first holiday film of the year arrives with a monumental thud, despite an impressively decorated, starstudded cast. The dramedy revolves around the matriarch of the Cooper clan (Diane Keaton), who tries to bring her misshapen family together for a final Christmas dinner, before her and her husband of 40 years (John Goodman) divorce. Like “Love Actually,” we jump from storyline to storyline, as we chart the progress of each family member’s trek homeward. Unfortunately, comparing “Love the Coopers” to any film with the words “love,” or “actually” in the title would

be an insult to those movies (“Love the Coopers” being the exception that establishes the rule). Actual jokes with a real set-up and punchline are few and far between, and rarely land anyway. “Coopers” largely relies on out of place vulgarity in place of comedy, or utilizes site gags that it recycles until there is a permanent dent in the ground where the dead horse used to be. As far as the movie’s attempt at subversive drama, most of the characters are too poorly developed, or unrealistically written to be genuinely compelling. The script occasionally comes close to insight into some of these characters, but sheepishly walks away from the doorbell, instead of knocking down that door. The direction ranges from uninspired to downright disruptive of the

film’s flow, and the insistence on narrating every plot point and character trait before we actually get to see it, makes watching the film a formality. There are, maybe, one or two laughs to be had, and perhaps two subplots are somewhat compelling. Bucky (Alan Arkin) and Ruby (Amanda Seyfried) share a couple of scenes in a diner that are at least watchable and Arkin turns in a fairly solid performance. The most fleshed out story belongs to the romance between Eleanor (Olivia Wilde) and Joe (Jake Lacy). There’s a real chemistry between the two of them, and there seems to be genuine depth to their characters. There might be a good movie based on their few scenes, if Eleanor weren’t such an insufferable jerk. The real problem with “Coopers”

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is that it doesn’t seem to have any fun, or good intention. I wouldn’t mind the movie if it were just formulaic, and I can tolerate a bad movie. The reason that the film gave me a headache is because it seems to exist solely to grab the money out of your wallet. The film industry is undoubtedly a business, but at least disguise yourself; have some respect for your audience. By the film’s end, you know the film was sponsored by Southwest Airlines and McDonald’s, and you know the film went out of its way to shamelessly appeal to every demographic (Anthony Mackie plays the generic black/gay guy). It’s borderline offensive. Please, for the sake of your health, and for the future of the cinema, stay away from “Love the Coopers.”

The New Paltz Oracle

Arts & Entertainment

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Undertaking Undertale NEW INDIE GAME IMPRESSES GAMING COMMUNITY By Otto Kratky Staff Writer |

Kratkyp1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Undertale is a pixelated RPG with the tagline “The RPG game where you don’t have to destroy anyone.” It starts with a small screen explaining an allimportant backstory involving Humans and Monsters, then cuts straight into the game’s starting screen. Undertale is a humble indie game developed by Toby Fox, which has changed the way that I will look at indie games from this point forward. Undertale is a storydriven game, a breed of RPG’s not seen too often any more. Undertale’s story takes the player throughout the entirety of “The Underground,” the new homeland of a race of creatures only known as “monsters” after being locked away by humans following a war. At no point does Undertale’s story lull, there is always a constant build of excitement, with a good number of jokes thrown in to stop the game from being too serious. Undertale is brilliantly written as well, with all conversa-

tions with NPC’s giving some kind of insight into the game’s backstory, or at least another decent chuckle. The writing of Undertale truly shines during the game’s “cut scenes” and boss fights. Each character is fully fleshed out, with small hints into their true character in all of their speech. However, it is also in these shining moments when it feels that the writing goes on repeat, as many lines are repeated, maybe as catchphrases, although there is nothing that justifies that belief. The story of Undertale kept me entertained during the entirety of my six hour playthrough, and while some may see that low number of six as a red flag, it should be seen as an assurance. Undertale at its core is a story driven game, and it only needed six hours to capture and immerse me in its fantastical characters, setting and plot, which is complemented by an excellent score I will never forget. Graphically, the game is similar to other indie games in its simplicity, but also extremely different, as there are moments of beauty that differentiate themselves from the art style of a

majority of the game. At face value, the game is your generic pixelated indie game. However, the amount of complexity changes as you move into battle, or one of the few panoramic scenes that the game offers. In battle, character sprites become more complex and in some instances are just flat out impressive to watch move around and attack the player. Like many other indie games, the beauty of Undertale is in its simplicity, and it will leave any player with goosebumps during its more intricate moments. Undertale plays unlike most RPG’s released in recent times. In the overworld, the player moves a character around and enters battle akin to many Pokémon games. When in battle, the player has the choice to fight, use items, and attempt to escape. These are all options typical of RPG games, however there are two more options, act and spare. Act allows the player to perform a nonviolent action towards a monster, something as simple as lying down next to the monster or giving it a hug. These actions allow you to use the second option; spare.

Sparing a monster does exactly what it says, the player spares the monster and simply leaves it alone without harming it. However, you can always go the classic route and attack the monster until it is no more, gain EXP and level up like in all other RPG games. When a monster attacks, the game becomes more of a “bullet hell,” making the player dodge different attacks shot at them by the monster. This mechanic definitely takes some getting used to, but once mastered, is rewarding as the player will be able to get through fights without being touched. Undertale’s story presents the player with a complex world built on magic, mixed with pseudoscience, mixed with unfortunate misunderstandings that lead to the point of time that the game takes place. A large amount of indie games lack this depth. This along with the game’sbrilliant score, style, and gameplay make Undertale one of the sleeper hits of this year. I give Undertale an 8.5/10. Undertale is only available for PC on Steam, and is priced at $10.

Old Masters, New Perspectives ABSTRACT ARTIST DELIVERS LECTURE

By Sam Manzella Copy Editor |

Manzells1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Artist Alison Causer visited SUNY New Paltz to encourage abstract fellow creatives to channel the works of old masters and use their ideas and techniques in contemporary ways. The artist spoke to a small crowd in the Lecture Center on Wednesday, Nov. 11 as part of the New Paltz Student Art Alliance’s Visiting Lecture Series. Causer grew up in Toledo, Ohio and studied art at the Columbus College of Art and Design. She now resides in New York. The artist combined her Brooklyn apartment with her very own studio space — and as a result, she quite literally lives and breathes her art. It’s not always easy, Causer said. In fact, she often has to turn her paintings-in-progress toward the walls of her studio just to get a break from her work.

A self-proclaimed “big fan of production,” Causer tries to paint every day of the week. Of course, her live-in studio helps, but Causer also has her painting routine down to a science. The artist starts each session with a series of 10 small “studies” on 8-by-8 inch Benjamin Moore paint swatches. She paints with her body instead of her mind, freeing herself from any and all expectations that might inhibit her creativity. To any viewer, these color swatches splattered with paint look meaningless. Causer never titles these studies, using them instead as a warmup practice to jog her creativity and focus on her body’s movements. With her warm-up out of the way, Causer cracks down on the good stuff: her works-inprogress. Causer works on anywhere from five to 10 paintings at once to keep her mind stimulated and

her process fresh. The sizes of Causer’s paintings run the gamut from 16-by-20 inches to 90-by-60 inches. Her influences come from too many artists and genres to name, but artists like Vincent Van Gogh and the contemporary Charline von Heyl top the list, she said. According to Causer, both Van Gogh and von Heyl use very defined brushstrokes and gestural marks in their works, creating complex works of art. The artist also finds inspiration from painters like Joan Mitchell, whose works exhibit a certain “controlled chaos” that Causer finds irresistible. It’s a hard thing to master, she said. The technique boils down to one essential question: how can you, the artist, get the viewer to slow down? “You want the viewer to stop and look,” Causer said, grinning. “[It’s] a lot to ask, but as a maker, if you can keep that in your mind, you can

Thursday, November 19, 2015

create powerful work.” Whether she’s channeling post-impressionist painters, Renaissance prodigies or contemporary mixed-media artists, Causer hopes to emulate their techniques in her own compositions. Their familiar styles manifest in new ways, as they are inevitably filtered through Causer’s own modern perspective. Causer believes there is no shame in emulating the works of artists before her. It’s a crucial part of her artistic process, she said. “Nothing is really new, to a certain extent,” she added. “If you absorb everything and work on the idea of seeing, you can really filter these ideas through your own lenses and create your own visual language.” Art lovers can find Causer’s portfolio, credentials and contact information on her website, alisoncauser.com.

The Deep End

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The New Paltz Oracle

THIS WEEK IN

THE DEEP END

Major: Drawing and Painting Year: Fourth Inspriation: Vincent Van Gogh, Vlaude Monet “There are many reoccuring themes in my work, like sadness and the struggle to overcome it.” “I am inspired by many things including people, emotion and nature”

Photos courtesy of Victoria Slowik| Captioning by David Khorassani

The New Paltz Oracle

Editorial

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S a v e O u r S t u d i es

CARTOON BY STEFANIE DIERS

Recently, the Black Studies Department has lost a number of professors. Because of this and a departmental review, many have shown concern regarding the department’s future and current financial state. That said, we at The New Paltz Oracle would like to dispel all rumors that there have been any funding cuts to the Black Studies Department. In an interview with President Donald Christian, he expressed full support for the department and stressed that it is an important and developing fixture of our campus. He returned to his Sept. 10 email to the campus as evidence of this fact. Despite this, a combination of plans to alter the curriculum and a sudden lack of staff has caused many to question the administration’s support of the Black Studies Department, both financially and as an academic priority. According to Christian, none of the professors who left the department were fired – two retired, one moved away and one switched departments. Because they all left within such close proximity and administration has yet to fill the staff vacancies, the Black Studies Department is currently short-staffed. A recent departmental review, a requirement for every academic department conducted by professors from outside institutions, concluded that some restructuring of

the Black Studies curriculum is needed. “The reviewers who came in from outside made the clear recommendation that the faculty in the department needed to look very carefully at being sure the curriculum is aligned with some of the current developments in Black Studies and Africana Studies, and is reflecting that current scholarship,” Christian said in an interview with The Oracle. “Until the curriculum is determined, we’re hesitant to hire a full array of faculty.” Overall, concerns have taken form in both organized demonstrations on campus and online as a letter from Black Studies Department alumni to Christian and Interim Provost Stella Deen. This letter expressed the expectations of Black Studies alumni for the future of the department. It also encouraged other students, past and present, to sign a statement of support for the department. On Thursday, Nov. 12, around 200 students gathered in the Student Union Concourse to stand in solidarity with students affected by racial discrimination at the University of Missouri. At the demonstration, some students shared concerns that the administration does not value the Black Studies Department. With a department that is lacking both a full staff and a concrete curriculum, it is completely understand-

able that many are concerned about the department’s future. But by learning of the inner-workings of plans the administration has to revitalize and improve the department, it is clear that the Black Studies Department is here to stay. In a meeting between The Oracle and Christian, the president expressed full intent to hire new professors to replace those who have left. However, hiring a tenure track professor is not a short process, he said, and it requires a lot of attention and planning. “You can’t do a national search for a tenure-track faculty member and have the assurance of hiring the best faculty in a short period of time – it’s going to take continuing conversation to make our students understand that,” Christian said. It is our hope that the administration will become more transparent to the campus community in regards to this convoluted topic. This transparency is important in order to create a more candid relationship between students and administration for the sake of mutual understanding for future issues. By keeping the campus community updated on steps taken to reorganize and hire more staff for the department, progress will be much easier to follow, and in turn, will not leave so many questions unanswered.

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Additionally, those who are concerned for the department are responsible for seeking out the truth and not making false assumptions. To clear up some confusion and address the concerns of those involved with the department, we suggest that administration hosts an open forum to address and discuss these matters; much like the “Let’s Talk About It” discussions from a few years ago. This type of forum will only help improve both the trust between students and administration, as well as the transparency as administration takes the steps necessary to move the Black Studies Department forward. Coverage from The Oracle will be continued once more information becomes available. 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

RUSSELL HARTMAN A & E Editor

Rhartman@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

This past year and a half has been one of the most emotional rides of my life and if I learned one thing it’s this: you never know what awaits and you never know just who or what is going to impact your life. I want to focus on two moments that changed everything for me this past year and half. One that turned out to be one of the happiest memories of my life and one that turned out to be one of the hardest and saddest days of my life. At the end, I’ll explain how they intersect and how ultimately the good began to outweigh the bad. When someone asks me “do you want to hear the good news ﬁrst or the bad news ﬁrst?” I usually respond with the bad so we can move on from it and that’s what we’re going to do here. This past May — May 4th to be exact — my cousin Andrea passed away. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to deal with and it was the saddest I’d ever been at a family member passing away. She was more of a sister to me than a cousin and there are mem-

Loss And Love

ories I have with her where I just can’t help but smile from ear to ear. She was one of the kindest and most loving individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and it is the most horrible feeling in the world knowing that I’ll never be able to speak to her again. I remember getting the phone call from my mom and collapsing to the ﬂoor. I ran back to my room with my saxophone on my back (I was attending a rehearsal that day) and immediately ran into the arms of friends with tears running down my face. Two of my best friends at school, Karl and Zach, were more than helpful to me throughout the day to cheer me up but there was one other person in particular who helped me just as much through it and she is someone who has an impact on my life that I could never have imagined. Her name is Heather and I met her just a little over a year ago. It was a chance meeting; two people being in the right place at the right time, as I like to think of it. She was sitting in the hall and I was passing by. A

simple conversation exchange was all it took and before we knew it we were the closest of friends. Eventually, through months of ups and downs, tough moments, laughs and a whole lot of near misses, the inevitable happened. We ﬁnally realized what apparently all of our friends did way back in the fall: we should be together and so we got together. Who knows how different things would have been if I hadn’t seen her in the hall that day? That single moment was the catalyst that gave me an amazing friendship and an even more amazing relationship. She was there for me when my cousin passed and comforted me the entire day to make sure I was doing well. Now I’ll bring this to present day. In the months that have followed Andrea’s passing my relationship with Heather has blossomed into something that gives me a reason to smile each and every day. Has it gotten easier to deal with the death of my cousin? Yes and no. It still hurts and honestly I don’t think it will ever stop hurting. She wasn’t supposed to be

gone this early. We had so many more things we had to do. She was supposed to be at my college graduation and she was supposed to be at my wedding just as I was at hers. I leave you all with this: Call your family. Tell them you love them and don’t be afraid to take a weekend or two to visit home. Thanksgiving break is coming up for us all so go enjoy the time spent with loved ones because you never know what life is going to throw at you. Also: don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith and go down a new path just because you don’t know what’s ahead. What’s ahead could be a journey with someone or something you never imagined. Have a great break everyone. Russell is a fourth year journalism major who has learned just who and what are most important to him over the past few years. He has learned to value the time spent with family and friends much more than he ever used to.

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SPORTS

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SPORTS The New Paltz Oracle

TIP OFF

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

Hawks second-year guard Jasmine Bryant looks to make a play against Ithaca College.

By Melissa Kramer

Sports Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Women’s basketball team has opened their season with three straight nonconference wins. To start the season, the Hawks participated in the 39th annual Skidmore Tournament, playing two games. Hawks Head Coach Jamie Seward said the team talked about responding to the sense of the chaotic first-game jitters and mistakes that come into play in a season opener. “We knew the first game is going to be a lot of mistakes and a lot of chaos, and really about the team that is best able to respond to that environment,” he said. “We did a really good job of that. We made a lot of mistakes but we responded well to them and ultimately, we did enough to get the win. I really like a lot of what was going on, not necessarily on the floor, but just with the team. They had a great attitude and camaraderie. You can just sense that there are some good things happening, even if they were not visible out on the court.” In the first of two games at the tourna-

ment, the Hawks took a 62-45 win against Skidmore College on Friday, Nov. 13. Entering halftime, the Hawks led 34-16. Hawks third-year co-Captain Kit Small led the team with 20 points. Fellow third-year co-Captain Courtney Irby grabbed a teamhigh nine rebounds and shot 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. As a team, the Hawks shot 60 percent from the floor and 34 percent from the field The following day, the Hawks left Saratoga Springs with a win against Saint Joseph’s College (Maine) by a score of 72-44. New Paltz held a 66-39 advantage in rebounds. Individually, both Small and secondyear guard and forward Laura Stuart both recorded double-figures in points and rebounds, each earning a double-double. Small collected 15 points, which led the team and tallied 10 rebounds while Stuart recorded a career-high 10 points and 10 rebounds. Hawks second-year guard Sydney Pinn notched 14 points — a career-high. Small was named State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, as

announced on Monday, Nov. 16 by the conference office. Irby said this year’s team is different than last year’s because they are all on the same page. “We know what we want and will do whatever it takes to get it,” Irby said. “I love that so much about our team. Last year we would prepare so hard for the other teams by running all their plays and watching their film but that has changed. We’re just going to continue what we do best and that is sticking to our defense and pushing the ball in transition, attack and keep attacking them until 40 minutes is up.” In their home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 18, the Hawks defeated Ithaca College in a 71-63 victory at the Hawk Center. Irby led the Hawks scoring 14 points. Third-year guard and forward Morgan Roessler picked up 10 points and nine rebounds coming off the Hawks bench. Seward said this year’s team is really versatile, compared to last year, with big, athletic bodies that can play different places and guard a lot of positions on the floor, giving the team a lot of flexibility.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

“We can go with some really big lineups,” he said. “We have a bunch of girls that can shoot the ball, so we don’t really lose anything even if we go big. We still have as much offensive ﬁrepower. I think we are probably just as if-not-more athletic than last year, but yet we are a lot bigger. It is a nice combination.” With a 3-0 record, the Hawks will take on Hartwick College and Mount Saint Mary College before beginning a ﬁve-game homestand against New York University on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. Seward said the team is not focused on the long-term goals at the end of the season, but the day-to-day process. “That is what we talked about as opposed to we want to win this number of games or play in this type of game and we think that those things will ultimately take care of themselves,” he said. “That is really what we talk about as far as goals. It is more about what we believe in for example, having fun. We are going to talk about what that looks like out on the court. It is people laughing and enjoying themselves and then the outcome is enjoying the ride.”

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Sports

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Field Hockey Defeated In Second Round By Michael Rosen

Copy Editor | Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The field hockey team’s season has come to an end after losing to No. 9 Messiah College in the second round of the NCAA Div. III Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 14 by a score of 3-0. This was the third-consecutive season that the Hawks lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. “The game against Messiah was a true heartbreaker kind of match,” fourth-year coCaptain Dani Ackerman said. “We played hard overall, but our lines were not connecting which really set us back in this game. We definitely put pressure on this team, but we could not finish the job. Messiah is a talented, deserving team.” Similar to their State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) playoff games against SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Cortland, the Hawks entered the second half trailing 1-0 after a goal by Falcons third-year midfielder Lindsay Bower. Unlike those SUNYAC playoff games, the Hawks were not able to score in the second half. Falcons firstyear forward Kezia Loht made it a 2-0 game at the 58:45 mark, thanks in part to an assist from second-year forward Carissa Gehman. Gehman would score less than eight minutes later to make it a 3-0 game. The Falcons outshot the Hawks 18-3 and held an 11-5 advantage in penalty corners. Ackerman, fellow fourth-year co-Captain Jessica Caruana and third-year forward Erin Landy each fired off a shot for New Paltz, with Ackerman’s being on-goal. Hawks fourthyear goalkeeper Alayna Wageman made seven stops in the cage. Her opposite, Falcons firstyear goalkeeper Shelby Landes notched a single-save shutout. The Hawks conclude their season with a 16-6 record, tying a program record for wins in a season set during the 2012 season. New Paltz also received its first national ranking in program history and hosted the first NCAA Tournament game in school history on Wednesday, Nov. 11. “I’m really proud of what the team accomplished,” Head Coach Shanna Vitale said. “It really puts New Paltz on the map as far as teams that can compete at the national level. There’s a lot of great things that came out of this season and a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to.” Caruana views the SUNYAC title game

against SUNY Cortland as the most exciting moment of the season. “The most memorable moment for me was when we came back from losing to Cortland during the season and in the first half of the SUNYAC final,” Caruana said. “When they scored the first goal many of us felt in our hearts that there was no way we were going to end our season this way. The feeling of when [Dani Ackerman] scored the tying goal gave me hope in the game. And then when [Serena Capsello] scored the game winner, tears instantly came from my eyes. It was a proud moment because I watched a team come together in a losing situation and overcome any negative energy that was being given off from their first goal against us. I saw every girl on my team kick their game up in high gear and prove that we truly deserved to bring this title home for the fourth time.” Ackerman, Caruana, Wageman and Hawks fourth-year backs Sarah Sansone and Gretchen Kleinsmith will not be returning for New Paltz next season. With the exception of Kleinsmith who transferred to New Paltz after her freshman year at Stevenson University, all of these players were freshmen when the Hawks won the first of their four-straight SUNYAC titles back in 2012. The Hawks had never won a SUNYAC title in history before Ackerman, Caruana, Sansone and Wageman joined the program. “One thing I will always remember about New Paltz field hockey is the support I have received,” Ackerman said. “Not only from my teammates, coaches and family, but the entire community. There are no words to describe the gratitude I have for all of those who have supported me throughout my career. Feeling loved and supported while playing my sport is something I am incredibly thankful for. These four years have been unbelievable, full of ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Ackerman and Caruana set program records during their senior years. Ackerman became the program’s all-time leader in goals scored on Saturday, Sept. 5 when she scored her 36th career goal against St. Lawrence University, her second of that game. She passed her former teammate Danielle Conklin, who posted 35 goals from 2010-2013. Ackerman passed Conklin again on Wednesday, Oct. 21 against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute when she notched her 96th career point to become the program’s all-time leader in points. Conklin tallied 95 points in her career. Ackerman

Hawks co-Captain Dani Ackerman prepares for the next play.

finishes her career with 39 goals and 98 points. Ackerman also finished her career ranked third in assists with 20. Caruana also passed Conklin in the record books earlier this season. On Friday, Oct. 2 against the College at Brockport Caruana assisted a goal by second-year forward Sam Eberle for her 26th career helper. This passed Conklin’s all-time mark of 25. Caruana finishes her career with 30 assists. Caruana is also among the program leaders in points with 88, ranked third, and in goals with 29, ranked fifth. Wageman finishes her career with the lowest goals-against average in program history, with a 1.61 mark. She also finishes her

Thursday, November 19, 2015

PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

career ranked fourth all-time in saves with 258, third in shutouts with nine and second in save percentage with a .779 mark. Looking ahead to next season, Vitale expects her team to not dwell on the past and continue to improve upon the success they have had. “The team is going to continue to train and maintain that healthy lifestyle all year round,” Vitale said. “They’re going to look forward and not look back, that’s the biggest thing. It’s up to us to make sure we continue to grow and work on the areas we need to work on and to keep that energy going throughout the year.”

Sports

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Men’s Soccer Head Coach Retires After Illustrious Career

By Melissa Kramer

Sports Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

He will be remembered for leaving a large impact on the face of the Men’s soccer program. Gene Ventriglia, a graduate of the Class of 1967 and leader at the helm of the New Paltz Hawks Men’s soccer team will be retiring, effective at the end of the month, as announced on Monday, Nov. 9 by Director of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation Stuart Robinson. Robinson said it is a rare and special situation to have someone like Ventriglia attend a school as a student, excelling both academically and athletically, to return to his alma mater to coach and dedicate his life to serving others. “For him to go through his life, very much employing the lessons that he learned from his alma mater, to be able to return to close out his working career, I think it is pretty special and pretty unique,” he said. “It really is coming full-circle.” Widely regarded as the Hudson Valley’s “godfather of soccer,” he achieved a 539252-54 record during his 25-year career as a high school and college soccer coach in the Hudson Valley. His collegiate head coaching career finished with a 300-213-37 record, notching win No. 300, his final win, in a 2-1 victory over Hunter College on Oct. 14, 2015. “I feel like I have come full-circle and that was my goal,” Ventriglia said. “Coming back here, was really the way I wanted to end my official coaching career. It has been great. At least the program has my hand in it.” During last month’s 50th anniversary celebration of its 1965 NCAA Atlantic Coast Regional Championship and its inaugural Heinz Ahlmeyer Soccer game, Ventriglia and his former Men’s soccer teammates had reunited — this time with the former Hawk calling the shots, something the long-time coach credits to his career end. Among his numerous accolades, Ventriglia was enshrined in New Paltz Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 16, 1982, entering in the charter class, and his jersey number, No. 9, has been retired within the New Paltz men’s soccer program. Ventriglia said he feels fulfilled by his career path and considers himself lucky. Throughout the past five years, he completely changed the face of the program in the sense of the individuals that were brought in, he said.

PHOTO BY ED DILLER PHOTOGRAPHY

“They are stand-up guys who have good values, are good students, they care and want to play, it is not a job, it is fun to play,” he said. “When they do it, they do it very hard. What else could I want? That is what I am going to miss the most. Some coaches are all about wins and losses. They bring in kids and the only thing they see is, ‘can this kid help me win games?’ I have never looked at it that way. That is the last thing I looked at.” Fourth-year co-Captain Joe Hughes said “Coach V” guided him to be a better person on the field, but what he respects him the most for is based on what he taught off the field. In addition, he instilled a work ethic on the team, trained them to make standards for one another, hold each other accountable and taught them to never settle, Hughes said. “Most importantly, Coach has demonstrated to me how important your name and word is,” Hughes said. “Wherever you put your name or word you must stand by it, no excuses. These are traits I hope to apply to my life whether it be my job, my friends or my family.” This season, the Hawks opened their campaign with the best start in program history since 2009 with a 4-0 record. Hawks fourth-year co-Captain Angelo DiMatteo said he had a special, unexplainable bond with Coach V during his time as a Hawk. He said it is hard to explain the impact his coach of four years has had on his life not

Ventriglia playing soccer for the Hawks during his time as a student. PHOTO: VENTRIGLIA FAMILY ARCHIVES

just on the field, but off. “Coach V and I have built a relationship different than any other player-coach relationship I have ever had,” DiMatteo said. “He has truly been a role model and inspiration, but most importantly a friend, and a father figure here at school, somebody I knew I could turn to no matter what. It was never only about soccer because Coach was always looking at the bigger picture for all of us. He made sure we understood the importance of respect, responsibility and most importantly integrity.” Ventriglia said the thing that he enjoyed the most about coaching is watching a senior who had just fi nished their final season. This includes looking back on all of the work that it took to recruit him and influence him to want to don the Hawks uniform. “Then to see the evolution of this kid over the four years,” he said. “You see them mature. You are very responsible when that happens because you see him a lot. I think that is the thing that most coaches do not realize until they are out and away from it. That is an important thing.” Ventriglia took the Hawks to the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament in each of his first two years at the helm in 2011 and 2012. In 2012, he led the team to its first SUNYAC Tournament victory since 2004, a 1-0 quarterfinal-round triumph over The College at Brockport.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

“I just wish we had made the tournament this year because we were good enough to make it, so that was a shame,” he said. “This team is close. We will lose some seniors, but the nucleus of the program is here. All we need to do is recruit and bring some more kids in.” Robinson said he had gotten to know Ventriglia even before his return as a Hawks coach. “Gene has always cared about people and he has always cared about the students and seeing that they are challenged and that they have the best opportunity possible,” he said. “He felt so strongly about the impact that coaches had on his life when he was here as a student. He has always wanted to give that piece back as a part of paying it forward and has been able to do that.” As a national search for his replacement begins, Ventriglia said he is willing to help the Hawks new leader. “If they need my help to acquaint them with the program, with players that are here, with the way things are done, I will be happy to,” he said. “As a reference I am here. All they have to do is take advantage of it. The last thing I want to do is be hovering over the program, that is not what I want to do. I am here just for the desire and just to watch the soccer program grow and continue to become better, that is what I want. I was part of it. I am not going to just impose on it, it is up to them.” Up next for Ventriglia is a trip to his birthplace of Italy this spring, along with his wife Donna. As someone who has traveled throughout the world representing his homeland at the international level and competing for the United States at the Pan American Games in 1967 and the Olympic Games the following year, Ventriglia said taking trips is something he wanted to do, not just something necessary to take part in because of the retirement stigma. When Ventriglia arrived in the United States in lieu of Italy at 16 years old, he said he tried to impose two important lessons learned from his late mother — to be nice to people and take care of his reputation. “Even when you don’t think you should, be nice because most people are good,” he said. “I was asked how I want to be remembered. I want to be remembered as somebody who gave up himself, somebody who wasn’t afraid to give time to people. I think I have done that.”

SPORTS

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The New Paltz Oracle

Men’s Basketball Wins Home Opener By Michael Rosen

Copy Editor | Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Men’s basketball team opened up their season with a 70-68 victory over Vassar College on Friday, Nov. 13. This was the Hawks’ first win over the Brewers since their 74-58 win back on Nov. 27, 2012. “Opening up with a home win against Vassar was huge,” Hawks fourthyear co-Captain Keegan Donovan said. “We had an amazing crowd and hopefully we’ll draw a lot more fans after such an exciting home opener.” Hawks fourth-year co-Captain R.J. Rosa led New Paltz with 27 points and seven rebounds. Third-year forward Brandon Guest was right behind Rosa with 10 points and six rebounds in his first game as a Hawk. Donovan tallied a gamehigh six assists and Hawks third-year center Taylor Mulvey notched two blocks. Vassar held an 11-point lead with 1:53 remaining in the first half. New Paltz trimmed it down to a six-point lead entering halftime, highlighted by a tip-in in the paint by third-year forward Andrew Seniuk with one second remaining in the first half. The Brewers again led by 11 points

at the 16:15 mark in the second half, but the Hawks then scored seven unanswered points highlighted by a dunk by Guest to make it a 53-49 Brewers lead. Guest would then give the Hawks a 56-55 lead with a layup at the 12:29 mark. Brewers fourth-year Captain Erikson Wasyl tallied a three-pointer at the 0:57 mark to make it a 70-68 Hawks lead. With less than 40 seconds left in the match, Vassar regained possession of the ball and Erikson missed a three-pointer at the 0:23 mark. Brewers second-year guard Jesse Browne missed a layup with seven seconds left after Rosa swatted the ball away. Erikson would then miss a layup with only four seconds remaining on the clock. Vassar was then charged with a technical foul with only two seconds left to play. After a missed Hawks free throw, the Brewers got the ball back but were unable to score as an attempt saw the ball clang off the neck of the rim, giving the Hawks the win. “It was crazy,” Hawks Head Coach Mike Rejniak said. “A lot of the situations that happened, you’ll only see them once in a season. We were very fortunate to come out ahead in the end.” On Tuesday, Nov. 17 the Hawks were defeated on the road against Mount

Saint Mary College by a score of 70-63. The Hawks held a 34-32 lead over the Knights going into the second half. Mount Saint Mary built up an eight point lead during the second half, but New Paltz came back to tie the game at 5353 thanks to a layup by Rosa at the 9:57 mark. Guest would brieﬂy put the Hawks ahead with a free-throw, but the Knights retook the lead and pulled away for the victory. Donovan led the Hawks with 13 points. Guest and Seniuk were right behind him with 10 points each. Guest also notched eight rebounds in the match while Perlman tallied six. Rosa led New Paltz with ﬁve assists. “We’re not consistent yet,” Rejniak said. “I think we have to tighten up our defense, we have to get back to who we are. Offensively we were just not as crisp as we needed to be. We had too many turnovers and we gave up too many offensive rebounds. That is a point of emphasis we are going to be looking to solve for the weekend.” The Hawks will next travel to Williamstown, Massachusetts with a 1-1 record to compete in the Williams Tournament from Friday, Nov. 20 to Saturday, Nov. 21.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Hawks fourth-year co-Captain Keegan Donovan dribbles the ball against Vassar College. PHOTO BY HOLLY LIPKA

SPORTS

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Home Isles Advantage Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

November has been a historically bad month for the New York Islanders. This year, they have a record of 10-6-3 up until Nov. 19. Ryan Strome was sent down to the Isles’ minor league affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Nov. 6. This was a shocking move by General Manager Garth Snow. Strome was one of many young players on the team who needed time to grow. After having success last season and showing improvement, he just did not have the momentum in his first few games to start this year’s campaign. With only one goal and four assists, Strome had not matched or exceeded the pace he set last season, when he finished with 50 points on 17 goals and 33 assists. The message to Strome from the management was “regain your confidence.” “Stromie,” as the guys in the locker room call him, will come back stronger than ever and produce at the level he knows how when he gets called back up. It is unsure as to when that will be. So far, in three games with Bridgeport, he has only one assist. The demotion could motivate Strome to make him a lock on the Isles for good or hurt his confidence in the long-run. Isles fans have to hope for the former. However, something that is notable are the two-out-of-three west coast wins on the road. If the Isles want to become a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, they need to beat tough opponents like they did. Defeating the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks is no walk in the park. The Islanders even put up a fight against the Los Angeles Kings. There have just been games where they missed chances. This happened during the Nov. 8 game against the Boston Bruins in which they dropped another one 2-1.

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Isles Continue Improving In November

Islanders Captain John Tavares looks on.

Notable highlights include Frans Nielsen, who scored twice during the Nov. 13 game against the Ducks. He went on to score another goal against the Arizona Coyotes three days later. “Fransy” is a player who will always put goals in the back of the net at a consistent rate. He is now one goal behind Isles’ Captain John Tavares who has nine, for the team lead in goals. Another player who is growing is Brock Nelson, who scored a goal in three consecutive games against the Kings, Ducks and Coyotes. Nelson already has 12 points through 19 games played. The Isles returned home and defeated the Coyotes 5-2 on Nov. 16. That game featured dominance the entire way, with the Isles up 4-0 with a little over four minutes left in the third period. It has been known for

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR USER DINUR

the Isles to be ahead in the third period and not play a full 60 minutes, handing the game to the opponent. The fourth-line is still dominating and hard-hitting — just as where they left off at the end of the 2014-15 season. Matt Martin (96) and Cal Clutterbuck (84) are the top and fourthbest hits leaders in the NHL. At the end of last season, Martin ﬁnished ﬁrst with 382 and Clutterbuck right behind with 343. The line of Martin, Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas is yet again the best fourth-line in hockey. On the defensive end, Johnny Boychuk has really shined, showing his veteran presence and experience. He has even contributed offensively, tallying 10 points (three goals, seven assists) through 19 games played. Boychuk’s career-high is nine goals. Both Boychuk and fellow defense-

Thursday, November 19, 2015

man Calvin de Haan are among the top league leaders in blocked shots. Between the pipes, Thomas Greiss has been nothing short of dominant in goal. Head Coach Jack Capuano seems to be platooning both Greiss and Jaroslav Halak in the goalie role. Halak has appeared in 10 games, while Greiss has appeared in two less. Despite losing his last three games, Halak has a goals-against average (GAA) of 1.91. Having the confidence to play either goalie and knowing they will perform well is a huge confidencebooster for the team. One thing that really needs work is the powerplay unit. Not converting on the powerplay is what costs teams games. This is especially true for a 5-on-3 powerplay. On the flipside, the team needs to stop taking consistent penalties and stay out of the box. Next for the Isles will be a home-and-home series against a top Eastern Conference competitor, the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens have taken a hold of a tie for first place in the conference with a record of 14-3-2. In their last matchup on Nov. 5, the Isles were outplayed in a 4-1 loss. These pair of games will determine if the Isles can hang with the best of them. No teams are for injuries to other players and the Canadiens could be hurt by the loss of their All-Star goalie Carey Price. Price is currently injured and there is no timetable for his return. His backup, Mike Condon has performed very well. He has a 7-1 record with a 2.14 GAA. The Canadiens will also be playing the night before against the Coyotes arriving at the Barclays Center. The Isles will have to play the way they did against the Coyotes to pick up some points against the best in the Eastern Conference.

Sports

WHAT’S INSIDE

Field Hockey Eliminated In NCAA Tournament PAGE 12

“Godfather Of Soccer” Retires PAGE 13

TRIPLE THREAT

MAIN AND UPPER PHOTOS BY HOLLY LIPKA LOWER PHOTO COURTESY OF ED DILLER PHOTOGRAPHY

The New Paltz Oracle

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WINS FIRST THREE GAMES : PAGE 11