Volume IV, Issue XV

FIRST PLACE AWARD WINNERS

FROM THE

NEW YORK PRESS ASSOCIATION & AMERICAN SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION

Pace Chronicle The

VOLUME IV, ISSUE XV

PACE UNIVERSITY, PLEASANTVILLE/BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY

WWW.PACECHRONICLE.COM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Residential Life Offers All-Gender Housing SJP’s Event Palestine 101 Turns Into Debate

CARLOS VILLAMAYOR MANAGING EDITOR

Photo from pace.edu The Townhouses, Alumni Hall, and Dow Hall will all house all-gender housing options for the upcoming academic year.

NIKI PINTO FEATURED WRITER For the first time, Pace will be offering all-gender housing options for the fall 2015 semester, according to Associate Director of Residential Life, Matthew Lavery.

Rooms, suites, and townhouses without community bathrooms can now be co-ed, where rooms

were previously same-gendered.

Students looking for all gender housing would be able to apply to live in the townhouses, Alumni, and Dow Hall.

Sophomore communications major Amber Borrero plans on taking advantage of all-gender housing next semester.

“I think it’s interesting. You get to live with friends you never would have had the chance to live

with before,” Borrero said.

In the event that a roommate or housemate has to move out, students will be given the opportunity to fill the vacant space with a student of their own choosing.

The Residential Life staff will handle all housing conflicts.

Meetings will be set up for students to discuss all-gender housing and the guidelines involved. These meetings will be

held before the close of business on April 2.

Students who are interested in all-gender housing, or that have any questions about all-gender housing can e-mail the Office of Residential Life and Housing at westchesterhousing@pace.edu.

Students can also contact Matthew Lavery at mlavery@pace. edu if they have any further questions about all-gender housing.

EMILY WOLFRUM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

fully at the classes being offered next semester in order to limit classes that are not likely to fill.

Further, deans will be assessing the progression of registration for classes in order to better understand which classes are more popular than others.

Sukhatme acknowledge one “peculiarity” in student surveys.

A freshman survey revealed that students were spending an average of only six to eight hours per week studying. This statistic was far lower than the average for other universities.

SGA Meeting Features Pace Provost

Photo from pace.edu Provost Uday Sukhatme was a guest at this week’s SGA Meeting.

I

N THIS

ISSUE

Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly senate meeting on March 27 in Gottesman.

Provost Uday Sukhatme was present to answer questions and address student concerns.

Sukhatme addressed administrative precautions that were being taken to prevent widespread course cancellations, such as those that occurred in Dyson, in the future.

According to the provost, deans will be looking more care-

WEEK OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING EVENTS NEWS, Page 3

World-renowned doctor Halleh Seddighzadeh held a week of human trafficking events, ending with an #EndTrafficking Twitter discussion.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 “SGA MEETING”

What started as an informative panel turned into an energetic debate during “Palestine 101,” an event held by the Pace University-Pleasantville chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), on Mon., March 7 at Lienhard Lecture Hall, as part of its “Israeli Apartheid Week.”

SJP planned the event as an opportunity for students to become acquainted with the issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Various members of the Jewish communities at Pace and Westchester attended the event, and, once the Questionand-Answer session began, they went back and forth with the panelists on a number of contentious issues.

SJP President Nihal Al Qawasmi opened the event. For her, an essential point was the idea that the conflict in Israel is much more than a fight for territory, it is about human rights.

“The relationship between Israel and Palestine is one of oppressor and oppressed,” Al Qawasmi, a sophomore, said.

Dr. Joan Katen, Adjunct Professor of Political Science and Peace and Justice Studies at Pace, then gave a historical overview of the Israeli and Palestinian territories. Katen said the current conflict in Israel does not qualify as war, because a war presupposes that both sides are even.

After Katen, Nada Khader, director of Westchester People’s Action Coallition (WESPAC), a local peace and justice action network, further discussed the conflict.

“The current status quo is unsustainable,” said Khader, who has directed WESPAC for the past 14 years.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 “PJS DEBATE”

SGA NOMINEE PROFILES

ATHLETE MENTALITY

Want to know who you can elect for next year’s student government? This special SGA Edition of the Chronicle has everything you need to know about the elections!

What do athletes think? How is their mentality different, compared to that of a non-athlete? One writer finds out.

FEATURES, PAGE 6

SPORTS, Page 14

NEWS

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 2

The Pace Chronicle

861 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, N.Y. 10570 Phone: (914) 773-3401 pacechronicle@pace.edu pacechronicle.com

EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMILY WOLFRUM EW88712P@PACE.EDU MANAGING EDITOR

CARLOS VILLAMAYOR CV14964P@PACE.EDU

SENIOR COPY EDITOR

ANDREAS CHRISTOU AC83556P@PACE.EDU

FEATURE EDITOR

SARA MORIARTY SM98642P@PACE.

HEALTH & BEAUTY EDITOR

KATIE SZILAGYI KS35391P@PACE.EDU

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

CRISTINA CUDUCO CC08636P@PACE.EDU

SPORTS EDITOR

NATALIA ALVAREZ PAGAN NA90243P@PACE.EDU

LAYOUT EDITOR

STEPH JACOVINO SJ73340P@PACE.EDU

WEB EDITOR

JONATHAN ALVAREZ JA26549P@PACE.EDU

COLUMNISTS

KAY LANZA KL75182N@PACE.EDU MYRA MARADIAGA MM84270P@PACE.EDU

Construction Update: Mar. 30 Alumni Hall The brick and stone work for the exterior of Alumni Hall on the west wing will continue and will be followed by the north and east wing as the contractors work counter-clockwise around the building. The brick and stone work will be completed by the end of May. You will notice that Alumni hall is changing colors from green to blue. This blue color is the air and vapor barrier that will help protect the inside of the building.

As the brick and stone work progresses, you will see the exterior of the building taking its shape.

The interior work on Alumni Hall is also in progress starting with the west wing followed by the north and east wings. Work on HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems, as well as fireproofing application, is ongoing.

Residence Hall B Excavation will continue this week for the foundation of Residence Hall B. Once the excavation is complete, the contractors

will begin the footings and foundation work. Deluxe has begun production on the modular units for Residence Hall B. Site Work Installation of the light poles will begin Thursday this week.

The work will start along the walkway from the Mortola Library to Kessel, followed by Shirley Beth’s way, Choate parking lot, Goldstein Fitness Center, Paton House and North Hall parking lot.

As the weather improves, landscaping around the campus will be planted.

To help alleviate parking near Miller and Leinhard Halls, the contractors have been instructed to park in Lot R, which is the back lot located behind the townhouses along the tree line of the woods.

Contractors and staff working in the construction trailer will now park at the far end of Lot O which is next to North Hall to help alleviate the parking in Lot T.” See map below for parking lot details.

Athletics Installation of the remaining light pole bases at the multipurpose field will be installed this week. Rock drilling is necessary to complete this work. Rock drilling will begin Monday and will continue through the middle of the week.

Work on the athletics fields will continue as the weather improves. The contractors are conducting moisture density tests in the area to record the moisture levels in the soil. Once the contractors get positive test results, they can continue work in this area.

Work on the new Field House will continue this week with the excavation for the foundation and the preparatory work for the installation of footings.

All work is weather dependent; we will promptly notify the community of any changes.

Information distributed by Pace University. Updates can be found at paceplvmasterplan.com

OPERATIONAL STAFF BUSINESS MANAGER FACULTY ADVISOR

The Pace Chronicle is published by Trumbull Printing: (203) 261-2548

IMERLYN VENTURA IV77561@PACE.EDU PROF. KEVIN CZERWINSKI KCZERWINSKI@PACE.EDU

Written and edited by the students of Pace University, The Pace Chronicle is published weekly during the academic year.

Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of administration, faculty and The Pace Chronicle staff.

The Pace Chronicle encourages responses to the opinions expressed herein, and welcomes letters and comments. The Pace Chronicle cannot guarantee publication of letters to the editor or unsolicited manuscripts, and reserves the right to edit or comment editorially on them.

Appearance of an advertisement in The Pace Chronicle does not imply endorsements by the members of the editorial board, the advisor, or Pace University of the products or services offered. All photos and copyrights reserved unless otherwise indicated. Subscription and advertising rates available upon request.

Photo from paceplvmasterplan.com

Honors College Searches for Founding Dean CARLOS VILLAMAYOR MANAGING EDITOR The Pforzheimer Honors College held community-wide open forum meetings with the candidates to the position of Founding Dean at Kessel Student Center during March.

Some of the prevailing issues during the Q-and-A sections of the meetings among faculty, staff, and students were how the candidate would divide her time between Pleasantville and the city campus—the answers pointed to a 50/50 divide and by necessity—, the candidate’s retention efforts, and how the candidate would handle a dean position with no faculty under her.

Besides the open forums, Honors students and staff had the opportunity to have lunch with

each of the candidates on the day of the meetings.

“Lunch was a good idea, it definitely showed how the new Dean would communicate with students in a casual setting, instead of just interviewing each other,” freshman Alexandra Parisi said.

An issue that was particularly raised by students at both the lunches and the meetings was what the candidates consider the purpose of a university education to be, and how the Honors College can contribute to this purpose.

Students showed interest in a university experience that goes beyond “job training and resume building,” junior Jessica Alba said.

The first meeting took place on March 3, with Dr. Lisa Doll-

ing, currently Dean of the College of Arts and Letters at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. Dolling emphasized her suitability for the position and discussed her background in philosophy of science. She holds degrees from Fordham, Manhattanville College, and the Graduate Center at the City University of New York.

The second candidate, Dr. Kathy Cooke, visited the Pleasantville campus on March 10.

She is currently the director of the Honors program at Quinnipiac University.

Cooke discussed her curricular and co-curricular initiatives, and mentioned the challenges and opportunities that the position at Pace represented for her. She has a Ph.D. in history from the Uni-

versity of Chicago.

The third meeting was held on March 24. The candidate, Dr. Susan Dinan, discussed her background in history and her interest in the unique challenge that Pace’s two campuses offer. She holds degrees from Cornell, the University of Washington, and the University of Wisconsin.

There were about 75 applicants; the search committee then narrowed it down to six candidates by December of last year, according to School of Education Professor Shobana Musti, who is part of the search committee.

The search committee was comprised of faculty members from various disciplines in both the Manhattan and the Pleasantville campuses.

The six candidates remaining had a telephone interview, and,

after that, four candidates had semi-final interviews with the Provost and the search committee. From these, the three finalists were selected.

“We wanted someone with extensive experience running honors programs,” Musti said. “We wanted someone who communicated a vision of what the Honors program should be like, someone who had experience with recruitment and retention (…); a dynamic, inspiring leader.”

The search committee is expected to submit a recommendation to the university’s Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Uday Sukhatme, who will then select the Honors College Dean.

NEWS

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 3

Week Of Human Trafficking Events

Photo by Emily Wolfrum

EMILY WOLFRUM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Last week, internationally recognized forensic traumatologist Dr. Halleh Seddighzadeh presented a week of events on human trafficking at both the New York and Pleasantville campuses.

Seddighzadeh’s Pleasantville events included a Common Hour Conversation, a lecture on the health implications of human trafficking, and a movie screening of The Whistleblower.

She additionally participated in a Twitter discussion, which allowed students to ask questions and continue the conversation with the tag “#EndTrafficking.”

Seddighzadeh has been working in her field for 11 years and is the founder of ARMAN (Asylee, Refugee, Migrant Assistance Network), a non-profit organization that specializes in the treatment of trauma and torture victims.

A prominent theme throughout Seddighzadeh’s presentations was the implication of victim blaming and the misconception that trafficked individuals are willing.

She noted that definitions of human trafficking, for which there is no single unified phraseology, still refer to victims as prostitutes.

Seddighzadeh read synonyms for the term “prostitute,” which included “call girl,” “harlot,” “hooker,” and “whore.”

“We still call children prostitutes. That is disrespectful and inappropriate,” she said. “Where in that definition is exploitation acknowledged?”

Nomenclature, according to Seddighzadeh, is crucial to how society frames human trafficking. In her health lecture, she explained “Linguistic Relativity,” which holds that language influences thought.

“She’s not selling herself,” Seddighzadeh said. “She was sold.”

Fear of shaming is the number one reason that human trafficking

cases go unreported, according to Seddighzadeh. She referenced a UK study, which estimated that 94 percent of victims do not come forward due to public scrutiny.

She held that human trafficking does not discriminate, affecting all ages, genders, socioeconomic statuses, and races. Her youngest patient, Seddighzadeh recalled, was just five years old.

Most emphasized, however, was that human trafficking is a domestic issue, occurring within America and affecting Americans.

To reinforce this idea, Seddighzadeh had attendees of her health lecture participate in an exercise in which individuals read specific profiles and cases of human trafficking victims. It was later revealed that all were taken from real cases in her home state of Nevada and in New York.

On March 16, the New York State Assembly passed the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act A.506 (TVPJA). It now awaits passage by Governor Cuomo.

The bill, which is sponsored by local assemblywoman Amy Paulin, “[increases] criminal penalties for sex and labor trafficking, compelling and promoting prostitution, patronizing a minor for prostitution, and patronizing in a school zone,” according to its press release.

Although TVPJA also replaces the term “prostitute” with “person for prostitution,” Seddighzadeh and other health professionals are skeptical.

“It’s problematic,” said Seddighzadeh, who frequently referred to legislative problems in her home state of Nevada where prostitution is still legal. “I’m torn. I understand both sides, I really do.”

As someone on the treatment end of human trafficking, she specifically questioned the bill’s increased funding for law enforcement and extended control of victims by the court.

“PJS DEBATE” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The Peace and Justice Studies professor at Pace spoke about Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), a movement that targets entities that benefit from the Gaza and West Bank occupation. BDS was inspired by similar boycotts during the era of South Africa’s apartheid.

The last panelist was attorney Natalie Kabasakalian, member of Jewish Voice for Peace – Westchester (JVP), a community that “seeks an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem,” according to its website.

Tears came to Kabasakalian’s eyes when she remembered the violent events in Gaza last summer. She spoke about the experience of growing up surrounded by an ethos that favored Israel, and beginning to identify—and reject—sentimental anti-Palestinian rhetoric.

Once the panelists finished and Al Qawasmi opened the floor for questions, hands immediately went up.

Ethan Behling, chapter advisor for Hillel at Pace UniversityPleasantville, asked the panelists about the offer of Gaza and the West Bank by Israel to Palestinian authorities several years ago, and the subsequent refusal of Palestine.

The panelists responded by arguing that said offer did not contemplate the return of refugees to their homes, and that, moreover, the separation of ter-

ritories would be an unhealthy fracturing of Palestinian society.

At one point, Khader called the creation of a Jewish state a catastrophe for Palestinians.

Sarah Friedson was one of the most vocal members of the Pace Jewish community at the event. She said she was there to defend “the truth, [her] heritage, and Israel’s right to exist.”

Friedson denied the usefulness of BDS’s efforts. The junior also questioned the validity of the pre-Israel Palestine map shown by the panelists, saying that there were different categories of land ownership, and that Palestinian Jews owned part of the land.

In response, Khader said that, even if the map is excluded, there was still plenty of evidence of Israel’s annexation and of its continuous settlements in Palestinian lands.

An especially controversial issue during the Q-and-A was the discovery of weapons at a school in Gaza reported by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in July of last year. Some of the people present argued that this validated Israel’s attacks on schools, while others denied altogether that such discoveries had taken place.

Jewish attendees brought up Hamas, a Palestinian Islamic organization operating in Gaza that claims Israel’s destruction as one of its goals, as an example of the danger of recognizing Palestine as a state.

However, Al Qawasmi said that Hamas does not speak nor stand for Palestine. She also said that non-Palestinians do not have a say in how Palestine is run.

Additionally, Katen said that once Israel and Palestine reached a fair accord, fringe elements, like Hamas, would be taken care of.

Another criticism directed at Hamas was that it endangered Palestinians by advising them to stay in their homes during Israeli bombings. Kabasakalian replied that it was Israel who put Palestinians at risk in the first place by threatening to and then bombing civilian targets—a “categorically illegal [action] under all circumstances,” Kabasakalian said.

A recurrent idea throughout the event was that people on both sides have become attached to scripts.

“People grow up with a story about their lives,” said Katen, who has been a consultant to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. “But they have to be able to let go of these scripts, these preconceived notions, for there to be peace. I believe peace is possible.”

For Katen, what is needed is stronger leadership and a dialogue that looks to the future instead of the past.

Behling said that Jewish students had gone to him after they saw the “Israeli Apartheid Week” was happening, and wanted to present an alternative.

“It was heated. I enjoyed the dialogue,” Behling said. “[The panelists] left certain things out, but they were willing to listen.”

Various attendants, among them Katen and Cornell Craig, Director of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Programs, agreed that the event was a unique opportunity for dialogue, and said Pace could use more events like this about a variety of topics.

Photo from SJP’s Facebook Page The event’s panel, along with students, pose for a picture after the Palestine 101 Event, held on March 7.

The informational turned into a debate soon after, opening up discussion, questions, and information to be passed back and forth between panelists and those in attendance.

FEATURE “SGA MEETING” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Pace is not a party school, where people are goofing off,” Sukhatme said. “For every credit hour that a student is taking, he or she should be doing two to three hours of outside work each week.”

He further urged students to take advantage of Degree Works, a self-auditing system, in order to stay on track with courses.

Currently, not all majors are available through Degree Works, and Sukhatme is uncertain if discontinued majors will be added to the site.

Additional questions for

Sukhatme were identified during open discussions, namely in relation to the budget cuts that prompted course cancellations and how and why the class minimums were developed.

SGA President John Wrench planned to follow-up with the provost with these concerns, and to schedule and restructure future meetings with him.

Vice President of Unity and Social Justice Rachel Aviles announced that this year’s Tunnel of Oppression event has been cancelled due to low participation.

Vice President of Administration Edwin Rodriguez and Senator Sara Voorhees presented on their meeting with congresswoman Nita Lowey regarding federal budget cuts to higher education.

The House of Representatives

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 4

passed its budget on March 25, freezing the maximum student Pell Grant award amount and limiting deferral of student loan interest payments.

Rodriguez and Voorhees emphasized the effects that the budget will have on current students receiving financial aid and encouraged students to reach out to elected officials to express their discontent.

Lambda Upsilon Lambda (LUL) presented an updated budget proposal after senate failed to approve their more-than $3000 request.

According to the Budget Allocation Committee (BAC) guidelines, if a budget request exceeds $3000, it must also be approved at senate.

LUL’s budget request was

reviewed by the National Organization for Latin Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), Student Development and Campus Activities (SDCA), and BAC in October 2014.

The request came under scrutiny during the senate meeting on March 20 due to its inclusion of customized LUL centerpieces for the fraternity’s annual gala.

Questions arose regarding the five-month delay in senate proposal and lack of questioning earlier in the approval process.

The delay, according to present LUL fraternity brothers, prevented them from being able to order their customized centerpieces, which required advanced notice to order. Their revised budget proposal reduced their total below $3000, therefore lacking

approval by senate.

Changes to the BAC guidelines and SGA Constitution are being made to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Organizations were advised to request decorations and materials that can be utilized by all organizations in order to avert overspending.

Students were also encouraged to vote for SGA elections taking place next week March 30 through April 3. Stations will be in all residence halls, Miller, and Kessel.

Candidates will be elected for both the executive board and school representative positions.

Students may only vote for the school representatives running within their academic college.

Want A Career In Wildlife? Then Get Out There!

CARLOS VILLAMAYOR MANAGING EDITOR In the brightness, quiet, and relative novelty of the Environmental Center Classroom, students were subject to a somewhat paradoxical piece of advice: get out there.

The priority of experiencing nature firsthand was the convergence point for all four panelists at a discussion about careers in wildlife conservation, hosted by the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences on Wed., March 25.

Prof. Jeff Martin, who teaches biology at Westchester Community College, one day was confronted by the image of himself wearing his lab coat. “‘Where are we trying to be?’

I thought. In here, or out there?”

Martin said.

He went on to say that actually doing things “out there” by himself was a powerful learning tool, and encouraged students to do the same.

Martin also recognized the complicated politics that surround conservation efforts. He is currently a Program Administrator on the Long Island Stewardship System Committee.

Dr. Michael Rubbo, Director of Conservation Science at Teatown Lake Reservation, an environmental non-profit, experienced a similar leap from the inside to the outside when he changed his career path from chemistry to biology.

After leaving college he realized that he would have to go to

graduate school in order to develop the projects he wanted. Rubbo told students to pick a graduate school based on where are the professors whose research they are interested in.

Dr. Chris Nagy and Dr. Melissa Grigione had similar beginnings. They both love animals, and at one point considered becoming veterinarians. However, that was not enough for either.

Nagy realized he wanted to be outside, and Grigione realized she actually wanted to protect wild animals.

Nagy suggested that students pursue a degree level according to the job they want.

“In my case I realized that in order to do research, I would need a Ph.D., which is a big time commitment,” said Nagy, who is the

Director of Research and Land Management at Mianus River Gorge in Bedford.

He also encouraged students to take every opportunity they can to broaden themselves as individuals.

Grigione spoke about how she had applied to a graduate program at Yale at one point, but then was rejected. She considered it carefully, and eventually called the university to ask why she had been rejected. The program’s director picked up, and informed Grigione that people at his office must have made a mistake, because she had been accepted.

“When you are passionate about something, you find an opportunity,” said Grigione, who also mentioned how long it took her parents to support her pursuit

of ecology and environmentalism. “There is hope.”

Grigione, a Professor and Director of the Graduate Program in Environmental Science, has conducted international research including conservation projects in South America and conservation of neotropical cats along the United States-Mexico border.

Director of the Environmental Center Prof. Angelo Spillo, who facilitated the panel, said that persistence and passion are very important to develop a career in this field.

All panelists encouraged students to show interests and aptitudes beyond what is expected of them and to stay under people’s radars, and to become better writers and communicators.

FEATURE

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 5

Phi Sig’s Stephanie Liu Embodies Values, Efforts CARLOS VILLAMAYOR MANAGING EDITOR Phi Sigma Sigma (Phi Sig) and Alpha Phi Alpha’s Mystic Sphinx event showcased the sorority’s emphasis and efforts to make a quality education accessible to those who have no access to one.

But for sophomore and Phi Sig sister Stephanie Liu, the issue is something she has chosen to build her life around. She had been passionate about guiding others since she was a child, and when she came to Pace, she found a fitting place for her passion with Phi Sig. Liu, along with fellow Phi Sig sisters Kiera Maher and Jennifer Palladino, ran the social, fundraising event—now in its third year—which took place on Thursday night in Gottesman Room.

The event’s goal was to raise funds through the purchase of raffle tickets for three organizations: School and College Readiness, Practice Makes Perfect, and Kids in Need Foundation. All three have a strong emphasis on supporting children and youth who lack the opportunities or the resources to receive a quality edu-

cation.

As heads of Phi Sig’s philanthropies committee, Liu and Maher visit businesses in Pleasantville and ask for donations, as they did in preparation for Thursday night. Among the available prizes, guests could win gift cards from the Pleasantville Diner, Dunkin Donuts, Rhodadendron Boutique, and Frank and Joe’s Deli.

Maher considers Liu to be very creative. She especially praised Liu for her constant tabling ideas in benefit of Phi Sig’s philanthropies.

“It is great to work with [Liu],” said Maher, a sophomore.

Liu grew up in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, an environment that has definitely influenced her decisions. She hopes her involvement with Phi Sig’s philanthropies will benefit her in the future, as she looks to work with inner city children.

In addition to being involved with the Psychology Club, Liu was a Week of Welcome (WOW) Leader last fall.

She said Student Orientation and her Orientation Leader impacted and influenced her.

This motivated her to become involved with Student Devel-

opment and Campus Activities (SDCA) and Orientation. Liu wanted to recreate her experience by helping incoming students and hopefully make an impact on their college lives.

Phi Sig’s education-focused philanthropies were a perfect match for Liu, who, as a child, always wanted to teach and assist others, particularly her younger cousins.

“It is such a great experience to teach others,” Liu said. “I love it when I notice that ‘aha!’ moment, I love to watch that light bulb go on in their heads once they have understood what they are learning.”

Liu admits she has been very fortunate to be surrounded by great people here at Pace, and especially by all her Phi Sig sisters.

Though she began as an education major, Liu has changed her major to psychology due to an increasing interest in counseling.

“Being here, being around [my sisters] has really helped me become better at listening, which has definitely inspired me to go on to counseling,” said Liu, who hopes to open her own consulting firm in the future and specifically address the needs of people in urban areas.

Photo courtsey of Stephanie Liu Liu, left, and Maher, right, at Phi Sigma Sigma's Sphinx Banquet

SGA ELECTIONS

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 6

President

Daniel K Garcia

Ryan Rogalinski

Hello everyone! My name is Daniel Garcia and I’m one of the candidates running for President of the Student Government Association! Currently I am a junior Applied Psychology major and the current Executive Vice President of SGA. So why run for SGA again? Well, to put it simply, to continue a legacy of engagement, empowerment, and change. As a student, I want to engage other students and empower them to create change on our campus because we have the power! We have the power to not only change our community for the better in the present, but for future Pace generations to come as we continue on with the next 50 years of Pace Pleasantville! Student Government is all about creating opportunities for the students, by the students and that legacy is something that I ensure will continue. We all have a voice, it is just a matter of whether we use it or not. Thank you to the Pace Community for supporting SGA in the past, present, and future.

Hello I am Ryan Rogalinski, some of you may know me as Red Head Ryan. I never would have thought I would be running for President of anything but here I am, running for President of our University. As President it will be my goal create a better system of communication throughout our campus. There is disconnect between the student body, they are poorly informed of the events Pace has to offer. As a student of Pace there are many things that can be confusing. Events don’t seem draw the crowds they deserve to, students work hard to coordinate events and use the small budgets they have to the fullest.

Information is power and I want this to be a powerful campus. I also want to ensure that mandatory minimums for classes are no longer a thing at Pace University. I want to enact a system where professors are in charge of the size their classes. They deserve to be in charge of their own class, after all they are the ones who have to teach us. The way things are now classes that should only have 25-30 students have up to 35. It isn’t fair for the professors who now have to take on a larger load, as well as the students who pay a premium for small class sizes and don’t get them. As an entrepreneurship major I look at the world through a business lens, if elected President I will run our school like a business.

My main concern is customer service and you, the student body are the customers.

Vice President of Finance

Jessica Varghese

Hello. My name is Jessica Varghese, your current VP of Finance. I would like to serve as your VP of Finance in this coming year also. In the last year serving in this position, I have learned a lot and it has been an amazing experience. For those who don’t know me, I am currently a 4th year Accounting Major in the 5 year Accounting and Finance Program.

Throughout my years at Pace, I have been very involved. I was a Resident Assistant for a year, a Financial Delegate and Senator for 2 years and have been involved in P4K, among many other things. One of my most fulfilling experiences here at Pace has been serving as the current VP of Finance for the past year. Some of my current responsibilities as current VP of Finance include facilitating Budget Allocation Committee meetings and making sure that financial matters among the various facets of SGA run smoothly. Another responsibility that I have had in this position is to manage your student activity fee and to make sure that we don’t over spend. Every undergraduate student here at Pace University has to pay this fee. Since this is your money, I want the student body to figure out how to spend it. One of my goals that I started on this semester is to try and include more students in this decision process. I want to create a way where more students can have a voice in how their money can get distributed. The end goal being to create a more transparent financial system. As we are in a period of change, this is a great time to implement ideas and have them in place for the future of Pace. I am the type of person who is always available for you. If anyone has any concerns or ideas, please don’t hesitate to contact me through my email jv94671p@pace.edu or the finance email bac@pace.edu.

Imerlyn Ventura

Hello, my name is Imerlyn Ventura and I am running for Vice President of Finance of Student Government Association. With this position, I intend to make necessary changes to the Budget Allocation Committee such as fixing the problem with double purchasing. In addition, I would like to enhance the communication amongst the Budget Allocation Committee. Using my leadership experience and finance experience, I am confident that I can that I can make an impact for the student body by advocating their concerns and using the budget for projects that will enhance the student experience at Pace University. I have been a member of the Budget Allocation Committee for two years and in this time I have fully learned and understand the position in its entirety. I am confident that with this position I will be able to make positive changes for the Pace community.

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 7

SGA ELECTIONS

Vice President of Administration

Raevin Walters

Rachel Anson

Vice President of Programming

Vice President of Unity & Social Justice

Meaghan Biggs

Susan Harris

Hi! My name is Raevin Walters and I am a junior International Management Major with a minor in Latin American studies. I am running for Vice President of Administration of the Student Government Association. During my three years at Pace, I have been involved in a myriad of activities, clubs and organizations. As a second year resident assistant, tour guide, greek-life member and student, I have had a very diverse experience, if elected Vice President of Administration I could use my experiences to help the student body as a whole. As Vice President of Administration I would improve on fostering effective and transparent communication between the student body, including clubs, organizations and administration. In addition I would like to continue enhancing the initiatives that the current executive board has started as well as generate change within the student body. My passion for leadership and development would make me a strong asset to the executive board. If given the opportunity I would continue to work toward positive changes for the student body.

Hello fellow students, my name is Meaghan Biggs and I am a junior Criminal Justice Major here at Pace University. Ever since I got to this school in my freshman year, I have strived to be an active part of the community by enrolling clubs, taking leadership positions, and joining a Greek organization. I am currently Vice President of Programming for my organization and have seen the ins and outs of preparing and ensuring that programs run smoothly and effectively. As Vice President of Programming for Student Government my goals will be to provide students with programs they want and to continue ones from previous years that were successful. The opinion and wishes of the students will be my number one focus. I want to ensure that the community as a whole is satisfied and feedback will be greatly appreciated from the student body. My goal as Vice President of Programming is to encourage student involvement and have as many great programs as possible. I have been President and Vice President of multiple organizations on campus. My experience with these organizations have given me the leadership skills I would need to be a part of Student Government. I am ready and willing to work in a team and can delegate roles as well as take my place as a leader. During my time here at Pace University I want to achieve greatness and I hope that my role in Student Government would allow me to do so. Thank you for your time and support.

Hello, my name is Rachel Anson I am a freshman at Pace University. I am in the Lubin School of Business and my major is accounting, minoring in Finance. I am running for this position because I am a student that can effectively have a positive impact on students here at the Pace University. I am open to be the voice of students letting out their opinions on different issues matters they may have on campus. It’s an important position and one needs to understand what students body have to say, by being a good listener and effectively addressing the issue they brought to the table the best way possible. It would be a privilege and honor to be granted the position of the Vice President of Administration, not only to make me a better leader but also learning the various on skills that comes with the job and proactive in the community. If am nominated for this position, I will make sure that I address all appropriate issues that goes on campus and conduct meetings to help to improve any related issues at hand.

Its my believe as a leader, being the voice of the students requires paying attention and open to the students view points, and being able to take all that is said into consideration and be the mediator to the matter. I am willing to insure that most of our students will be satisfied and comfortable on this Pace campus the best way I know . I am the candidate that can bring these qualities, and genuinely be that person to improve the students way of life at Pace’s college experience. Thank you for the love and the support

Hello my name is Susan Harris. I am a sophomore Psychology Major, and I’m running for Vice President of Unity and Social Justice. Coming to Pace, I was a relatively reserved and quiet girl, but I wanted to get to know the Pace student body and get an understanding of the Pace community.

So it prompted me to start attending various events, club meetings and discussions as a means to break the ice. In the beginning, I was always an observer. Then I began to interact and discuss with different students, faculty and staff at Pace. My involvement at Pace rapidly increased. After attending many events, discussions and meetings, I got a better understanding of what the needs and concerns are for students at Pace and what really mattered to them. I became the senator for Pride at Pace, and I ran some discussions that talked about the social issues in the LGBTQA community.

I attended Black Student Union, Muslim Student Association, and many more student-led events and discussions. I want to bring awareness to the injustices that happen everywhere, including in our own Pace community. I want to shed light on things that are hardly spoken about and are tucked under the rug. I plan on bringing change in innovated ways to educate the student body. Through this position, I can host important events and discussions that not only educate the Pace community about the beauty of diversity, but also engage and spark change while unifying us all through interactive programming. You will not be disappointed, because I hold many issues near to my heart and I am passionate about creating positive, progressive change. Thank you for your support .

SGA ELECTIONS

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 8

Lubin School of Business

Chelsea Almeida

I believe that I have enough experience in student government, especially my role as Student Council Vice President and President, to be an excellent addition to the organization. Because of my involvement in Lubin Business Association and organizations like ASPIRE show my dedication to be involved in the school. I think that I would be an excellent representative for Lubin School of Business.

Karen Reitan

I am a twenty-year old girl who moved from Norway in August 2014 to study management in the Lubin School of Business. I am very involved on campus, working as an Assistant Finance Manager at the Pace Perk, and a Tour Guide at the Welcome Center. I am also the president of the Lubin Business Association, and the treasurer for the brand new Speech and Debate Club. I am also currently a part of Pace’s Model UN team. I am very passionate about leadership, and I hope to eventually be a part of the SGA e-board. I am very passionate about Pace University, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to see Lubin School of Business grow even bigger and better than it is today. I hope I will be able to make a difference and leave a mark not only on Lubin, but on Pace in general.

Damon Young

Hi all. My name is Damon Young and I am a junior studying International Management.

This is my first semester here as a transfer student. I know I may be a rookie to this school but I do have prior experience in student government. I have been elected as a Student Government Senator, Secretary, and Treasurer as well as attended a number of different Student Government conferences at my previous school. I am running for the Lubin Business School Representative position and would like your vote. Being involved is what I like to do plus I am very dedicated and passionate. I will listen to what you have to say because I strongly believe no voice should be left out. Everyone is important to me and their opinions matter. If I were to be elected, I would be an advocate for the LUBIN Business School students. Anything that concerns you, I will look into. Not only will I be there for the students in the business school, I would be there for students in all of the schools. We are all students at PACE University. If elected, my main goal would be to bring the LUBIN community together as well bring all the communities together. Being a Pace Setter means more than just attending Pace University. It means being a part of a community that places a focus on achievement, togetherness, and progression. I am fortunate enough to call myself a Pace Setter. You want something done, DAMON is the ONE!!!

Christopher Walker

I would like the opportunity to represent The Lubin School of Business in the way that it needs to be represented. I will listen and learn from my fellow peers to represent my school. I will take the ideas from my peers and fight for the good of the students in my school as well as the 2400 students that attend Pace University. I will be happy to take on this wonderful responsibility. I have derived, from all of my leadership experiences on this campus, the ability to truly represent the wishes of the students I would represent. I am very familiar with having to communicate with all types of people as well as get my point across. I have proficient skills in public speaking. I work constantly to improve the lives of those around me. I want to be able to extend this mentality to all the students. Thank you for your support.

Bakhoya Mangoli

I take this position very seriously, and to me, this is more than a competition about getting the most votes, it is a job. I will take it upon myself to voice the opinions of all of our students, regardless of major, and make sure that their voice is heard throughout the university. I have been a part of student government since I was a Freshman in high school, I was responsible for organizing major events, and for students who were interested in law, I helped set up a mock trial. I also addressed any problems, concerns, or issues that students may have had within the school. Now in college, I plan to play a bigger role in student government, by exploring new grounds and pushing for the impossible. I will also take it upon myself to improve on things that Pace already has to offer, such as internship opportunities. I plan on doing this by getting more major corporations involved at our school, such as J.P Morgan or Chase Bank, etc. I would like to bring in opportunities that Pace might not necessarily have to offer, but students would like to explore. As your Student Representative, I plan to pursue our pledge of working towards greatness. I have the passion, character, creativity, and drive to go beyond the standard of what is expected, and hopefully with you, the student body, behind me I will be given the opportunity to show these skills and my prowess this upcoming year as your Student Representative. VOTE FOR BAKHOYA!!

SGA ELECTIONS

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 9

Dyson School of Arts and Sciences

Andre Arias

I want this job. I want to make a difference here and I want my voice to be heard not just for me but for the students of Pace University. I will never give up when it comes to anything. If I’m asked to do something than I will do it because our time is precious and our time in college is even more precious. Our time here is so incredibly important for our futures and I know that the students of Dyson have concerns and that they have desires when it comes to this university. I want to be their voice and I want to be their Student Representative.

Lisbeth Parra

Academic Reps deal with issues surrounding the educational experience here at the University. As an Academic Representative, I will try to aid in resolving the issue of the cancellation of classes due to low student enrollment, leading to professors not being able to teach for an entire semester. This situation brings many problems to our school community. As a University, students are important, and their education is essential.

It is absurd that students had to go through rushing and picking new classes because theirs was cancelled. As a representative of Dyson, I will meet with the Dean and discuss alternative ways to fix this situation, along with the problem of minors not being offered anymore due to lack of student interest. Students and academics are the two key components of a University, and the communication gap that is causing problems needs to be bridged. I am here to do that.

College of Health Professions

Cati Amaral

As a Nursing Major I believe I will be the perfect candidate the represent the College of Health Sciences at Pace University. I vow to be 110% committed to my position as Representative of the College of Health Sciences at Pace University and to the Student Government Association as a whole. I will attend all SGA meetings and be the voice of the College of Health Sciences, voicing any concerns or changes we may want to seek for. I can and will help the College of Health Sciences reach its fullest potential.

Henry Snyder

I know I am the best candidate to represent the College of Health Professions, Lienhard School of Nursing, because of the active voice I have in this college and in the university as a whole. I am dedicated to my education, my positions on campus, and the people who come to this university. I know that I will be dedicated and open to any concerns not only within The College of Health Professions but the entirety of Pace University as well.

School of Education Shaina Weir

I will represent the School of Education to the best of my ability.

There are no official candidates for the Executive Vice President position. Students are reminded that write-in candidates are valid.

HEALTH

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 10

The Myth Regarding Detoxification Cleansers KAITLYN SZILAGYI HEALTH EDITOR Recent research suggests the popular practice of detoxing— ridding the body of toxins or other unhealthy substances—is more myth than fact.

WebMD reporter Jeanie Davis has written about the famous Detox Diets, acknowledging the anthropological significance of fasting and cleansing the body.

In her writing, she provided an example within Chinese medicine in which fasting and cleansing were part of preventative health

care. It has been said such things as Vitamin C, fruit juices, brown rice, colonics, probiotics, and antioxidants can help detox the body.

However, these detoxification diets may claim to flush toxins from the body and not follow through.

Detox diets such as a juice cleanse—consuming raw fruit and or vegetable juice for a short period of time—are likely to leave individuals feeling hungry and weak, according to Dr. Kathleen M. Zelman, director of nutrition for WebMD. The poten-

tial side effects to cleansing and detox practices may include low energy, low blood sugar, muscle aches, fatigue, dizziness, or nausea.

Engaging in detox practices, by design, leads to the limitation of food consumption, minimizes cooking and shopping options, and is not very effective.

If detox is used with the intent of losing weight, the little weight lost while following the detoxifying plan will quickly be gained back once the cleanse or fast is completed.

In addition, a cleanse or fast

could be harmful to people with preexisting conditions such as diabetes, and they haven’t been shown to help improve blood sugar or any cardiovascular improvements.

Further, and perhaps most importantly, the body naturally detoxifies itself to begin with.

The colon and liver are responsible for filtering toxins out of the body, whether said toxins were ingested via beverage or food. No additional detox diets are necessary.

It is important to remember that the secret to staying healthy

is eating a balanced diet from the start. Be sure to include fruits and vegetables in one’s diet as well as lean meats and whole grains. Try to avoid foods heavy in sugar and saturated fats.

Adding exercise to one’s schedule is always helpful as well. Unhealthy snacks such as sweets should be eaten in moderation. If a diet is balanced, and an individual practices exercise on a regulated schedule the need to detoxify the body should be avoidable.

Obesity: A Growing Concern On and Off Campus KAITLYN SZILAGYI HEALTH EDITOR One in five U.S. adults are obese, according to a 2015 analysis in the Review of Business and Finance Studies.

But just what causes obesity and what can individuals do at a young age to alleviate related concerns?

Obesity means having a high level of body fat, which puts an individual’s health in danger.

This can be determined through a ratio of weight and height called the Body Mass Index. A BMI of 30 or over denotes an unhealthy lifestyle.

Alongside the calculation of one’s BMI, the size of one’s waist can indicate whether or not that individual’s lifestyle choices are the healthiest. Men with a waist of forty inches or more and women with a waist of thirty-five inches or more have an increased chance of disease, according to the WebMD overview on the topic of obesity.

This is largely due to dietary choices, economic constraints, and access to restaurants. For example, the most affordable foods are often those which are less healthy whereas healthy and organic foods are generally more expensive.

Obesity can have several adverse effects not only to an individual’s health but on the health of a community.

For the individual, obesity can lead to life-threatening illnesses such as type two diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, body aches and pains, among others.

Consequences of obesity may also include premature death, increased insurance premiums for disability, and decreased productivity as a society.

The secret to any physical ailment or overcoming an unhealthy lifestyle is to focus on health and maintaining health.

How Much Do You Really Know About HPV? KAITLYN SZILAGYI HEALTH EDITOR Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the country, and yet it is perhaps the least spoken of on college campuses.

There are over 150 types of HPV— named for the warts, or papilloma, that some types cause—, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

HPV is sexually transmitted and can lead to cervical cancer for most women. Symptoms may not show themselves for years after the virus is transmitted, which often makes it difficult to determine when exactly an individual obtained HPV and by whom, depending on their sexual history.

For women, HPV is often discovered through an appointment with a gynecologist, during which a pap smear is completed.

A sample of cells is retrieved during this procedure that reveals the presence or lack of atypical cells.

If cells do test atypical, they are then checked for HPV.

Before panic sets in, it is important to note that HPV does not always lead to warts or cancer. In fact, according to both the CDC and WebMD, it is common for the infection to clear on its own.

“Ninety percent of women infected with HPV show no traces of the virus within two years”

“Some people never know they were infected,” according to WebMD. “In fact, research has found that about 90 percent of women infected with HPV show no traces of the virus within two years.”

If, however, the infection does not go away, the infection can lead to genital warts, cervical cancer, and other types of cancer

as well. The HPV that causes cancer is not the same as that causes warts. Symptoms of cancer take years to develop and are thus much more difficult to treat.

Of course, it is possible to prevent HPV. Vaccines exist for both men and women. Women must receive two vaccines in order to defend themselves from HPV. These include Cervarix and Gardasil. Men only have to receive Gardasil.

Both vaccines protect individuals from both warts and various forms of cancer.

In addition, the use of condoms during sex, as well as limiting one’s number of sexual partners, can seriously reduce the likelihood of developing HPV— although it is important to note that one can develop HPV even if they are monogamous and have only had one sexual partner throughout their life. Of course, abstinence is the only absolute way of avoiding the possibility of HPV.

Surgery and western medications are not always enough to help; even with surgery, certain lifestyle changes are required to maintain the work accomplished by procedures and medications.

Communicating with one’s doctors and physicians about developing a lifestyle plan might prove helpful for some. Small changes are more realistic when making adjustments to one’s lifestyle as well. Attempting to make drastic alterations all at once has the potential to be a recipe for failure and disappointment.

While attempting to improve one’s quality of life, it can be

incredibly helpful to have a support system. For example, it is a lot easier to make healthy decisions when friends and family are encouraging or are doing the same for themselves as well.

Pace offers numerous Health and Wellness courses every semester for those interested in learning how to care for their own health and wellness as well as that of others. Students can research schedule explorer or talk to academic advisors with interest in such courses.

Spring Energy Breakfast Smoothie

Recipe and image from DeliciouslySprinkled.com

Ingredients:

-2 cups orange juice -1 cup vanilla yogurt -1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract -2 packets of Sweet & Low -2 cups of mixed frozen berries Blend together on high for two minutes or until smooth. Serve. Makes 2 servings.

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MCVA Students Meet Merideth As the Cookie MAYRA MARADIAGA COLUMNIST Pace students, mostly from the Media, Communications, and Visual Arts department, were accompanied by Professor Melanie LaRosa to NBC Studios at the iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City to see a live taping of the Meredith Vieira Show on Tue. March 24.

This trip marked the second time that Pace had been invited to be a part of the audience for the fairly new talk show as with VIP seating. Guests of the day’s taping included actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson of Modern Family, supermodel Christie Brinkley, and author Robin Rinaldi.

Senior Communications major Anthony Parker gained some insight into his field while attending the trip.

“I thought the show was a great experience for anyone interested in the production of a TV show,” he said. “We got to really

see how a show is pieced together and all of the work that goes into it.”

Throughout the day, students came in contact with many producers and interns, and NBC pages. Each person made a point to offer advice about standing out from other applicants and getting a job or internship in the field or within the company.

While the talk show was taping, the audience was entertained by a comedienne who gave out prizes for answering different questions.

Though some members of the audience walked away with a little something extra for their participation, everyone was gifted with a copy of author Robin Rinaldi’s controversial new book The Wild Oats Project as well as a bottle of Christie Brinkley Authentic Skincare Complete Clarity Daily Facial Exfoliating Polish.

When the show was over and the audience began to clear out, Pace students were able to speak to the line producers of the show

and hand in resumes for potential internship opportunities.

Meredith Vieira herself approached the students once taping was finished, taking time to answer questions and pose for pictures.

Sarah Santhouse, a senior Business Management major, who has been a huge fan of Vieira for years, took advantage of the opportunity even though it wasn’t for her intended career field.

“I’m not a communications major,” Santhouse said, “but I can absolutely see what the benefit of these kinds of trips is. It’s nice for communications students to witness an environment where the skills they learned in college are actually utilized on the daily.”

Notice of these types of events are usually sent to students in the Media, Communications, and Visual Arts department, however they are almost always open for all students to sign up through Eventbrite.

Photo from Pace MCVA Instagram Students were able to meet Meredith Vieira after a live taping of her show.

Jacob Burns Shows the Host NIKI PINTO FEATURED WRITER Action, satire, melodrama, and dysfunction are all thrown together to make director Bong Joon-ho’s thrilling horror movie into an unforgettable, foreign, monster flick, The Host (2006).

His simple-minded protagonist, Park Gang-du, works with his father in the family’s food stand along the Han River of Korea. Their city is completely thrown for a loop when a housesized mutant crawls its way out of the river and begins terrorizing the town.

Amidst the terror, Gang-du’s young daughter Hyun-seo is captured and carried off into the river, hanging from the mutant’s teeth. She is then kept hostage in the monster’s sewage and bone-

strewn lair. And, after managing to call her father to inform him of her location, he is determined to rescue her.

Meanwhile, another complication occurs when it is announced on the news that the monster is the host of a deadly new virus. After living through SARS and bird flu scares, this discovery causes great concern to citizens.

This film proves to be more than just a monster movie; it is about the coming together of a dysfunctional family in order to complete a common goal: saving Hyun-seo.

While seeing the monster swing from poles under a bridge is visually appealing, it comes second to witnessing the journey that the family takes throughout the movie.

Unfortunately, this journey

is somewhat diminished by the film’s ending, which is both drawn out and incredibly depressing.

Although this is a horror film, Joon-ho attempts to incorporate humor in short, random bursts, while also commenting on society and the government.

However, The Host’s political subplot was not nearly as interesting as its monster storyline.

Fans of movies such as Godzilla will enjoy this movie, especially with the modern technology used to create a more realistic monster.

The Host is definitely entertaining to those who enjoy a classic monster movie, but for others, it could prove to be lackluster in compelling content.

Crumbles...

A bite-sized taste of the Netflix menu

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt CRISTINA CUDUCO ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR When Tina Fey left 30 Rock for “other projects,” I was filled with both a melancholy longing for the show that had put my favorite comedienne on the map as a writer, and excited to see what the funniest woman on TV would bring us next.

I never could’ve imagined the result to be Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

This Netflix Original follows its title character (played by Ellie Kemper, Bridesmaids), who, after having been rescued from a bunker where she was forcefully kept for 15 years, sees New York City as her chance to start anew.

Kind, naive, and always looking on the bright side, Kimmy is able to win over nearly every cynical New Yorker she encounters - from her diva roommate, Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess), to her wealthy, self-loathing boss Jacqueline (Jane Krakowski).

I can easily agree to several, statements made about this show thus far - like that it seems to possess the lighthearted screwball effect normally seen on NBC’s now fallen Thursday night comedy block. Or that Kimmy Schmidt has set the bar for Netflix-produced sitcoms, making their original programming roster more well-rounded.

I’ve also made some observations of my own: First, the characters and storyline are absolutely magnificent, despite being recycled; naïve and kindly person in a big city is an archetype that has been done over and over again almost since the dawn of moving image.

Notable examples include The Wizard of Oz, Big, Coming to America, Enchanted, Coyote

Ugly, Rock of Ages.

With all of these movies, some obviously far more lesson laden than others, there is something to learn; usually, the tenacity and positivity that their doe-eyed protagonists possess are what lead them to their triumphs at the end of the story.

Kimmy Schmidt, as a character and as a show, offers something that several of the examples aforementioned don’t, and that’s fearlessness.

Strong in the face of every obstacle that stands in her way, Kimmy lets nothing hold her back.

And, in this same way, Fey, and co-creator Robert Carlock, move past several touchy topics in the narrative (child abduction, sexual assault, Stockholm Syndrome, racism, class disparity, gentrification) with delicate ease - and laughs.

Satire aside, the actual writing of Kimmy Schmidt is unsurprisingly filled with quippy one liners and jokes that fly so far under the radar, it may take you a few more rewinds to catch.

Although its style is being compared to 30 Rock, this show is feels more realistic than the latter as its story lines feature problems that are more in tune with the struggle of us everyday folk.

Kimmy Schmidt is inspirational, quirky, and utterly hilarious.

The pure realness and breadth of Kimmy Schmidt, coupled with the ever-increasing popularity of the “behemoth” that is Netflix, have made this show a hit.

The entire first season is available on Netflix for our marathoning pleasure, and while that’s great, it probably means we’ll have to wait until next year for season 2.

It’s worth the wait though, isn’t it?

Photo from deadline.com

OPINION

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 12

This Year’s SGA Election Most Interesting Yet EMILY WOLFRUM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Since my freshman year, I have followed Student Government Association (SGA) elections closely, attending each debate, asking questions, and even campaigning. This year, however, is shaping up to be the most fascinating yet with extremely unpredictable outcomes and the addition of ten new positions.

The presidential race is a complete toss-up with wildcard Ryan Rogalinski running against current Executive Vice President Dan Garcia.

For those, like myself, who are consistently on top of all things SGA, Garcia is an obvious choice. He is incredibly involved, the poster child of Pace (but really, you’ll find him on multiple posters), and, as a current Executive Board member, he knows the ropes.

Rogalinski, by comparison, is admittedly uninvolved on campus. But, the junior entrepreneurship major brings with him outside experience, having created and operated his own businesses, and, more importantly, a larger majority of typically apathetic students.

And this is truly where things will get interesting. If Rogalinski can effectively get inactive students like himself to vote, he’s a shoe-in.

But that’s a huge if.

While Rogalinski outperformed Garcia in both debates, attendance still favored the current Executive VP. Rogalinski acknowledged this obstacle during Wednesday’s debate in Kessel, identifying his greatest challenge as convincing students of his capability despite his lack of former leadership experience.

It’s still unclear which candidate will rack in the most votes, but students can expect very different outcomes depending upon the winner. SGA currently consists of a highly active minority of students, and Rogalinski

could be the fix to expanding this group.

Another point of uncertainty within this year’s election is the looming question mark over the Executive Vice President position. With no formal candidates running, write-ins will determine the fate of Garcia or Rogalinski’s secondhand man or woman.

The addition of school representative elections has also contributed to the expansion of student involvement, adding ten new positions.

These positions, which allot two representatives per college, are aimed at communicating the academic interests of each respective school and its students and faculty.

For students voting in Dyson and the College of Health Professions, the selection process will be simple with two candidates for each school running.

If a mysterious write-in candidate doesn’t swoop into the competition, Dyson students can expect a perfect blend of representation: freshman communications major Andre Arias and sophomore psychology major Lisbeth Parra. Representing the largest Dyson professions, this duo also brings with it a balance of charismatic enthusiasm in Arias and levelheaded organization with Parra.

In the running for College of Health Professions representatives are freshman nursing major Cati Amaral and sophomore nursing major Henry Snyder.

Amaral carried herself well in the second debate, while Snyder was absent for both. This will likely not affect his campaign, however, as Snyder is a familiar face on campus, and Pace students like the easy route of picking what’s right in front of them.

Write-in candidates will fill two Seidenberg positions and at least one School of Education position. But students can be confident in candidate Shaina Weir for School of Education representation.

Weir, a junior education and

biology major is a strong and articulate speaker, whose knowledge and communication of the college gave her rousing applause during the second debate.

Perhaps the most exciting campaign, however, will be in the Lubin School of Business, where five candidates are competing for two positions.

Great diversity exists within the Lubin candidates. An obvious choice exists within Lubin Business Association president Karen Reitan, whose grasp of the school and its students has led her to expand the organization during her term.

But the other candidates haven’t made the outcome quite so clear.

Were I a Lubin student, underdog Damon Young would have my vote. The junior, transfer student brings with him years of experience at his former school, where he was extremely active in student government and held a similar position.

As the student representative position is new to Pace, Young will be able to use his prior knowledge to help shape it, and based on his performance in debates, he has the most concrete ideas to do just that.

Young was the only candidate to provide specific plans for the position, which is exactly what a business representative should do.

With the work that the current E-board has done in SGA and the pending revision of their constitution, this year’s election will be largely transitional and formative to the future of student government.

According to Executive Advisor Shawn Livingston, last year’s voter turnout was the highest yet, and the goal this year is to break yet another record: 1000+ votes.

If ever there were a time to vote, that time would undeniably be now. So, find a polling station and choose wisely, Pace lovelies.

Photo from SDCA’s Facebook Page Nominees for next year’s SGA Executive Board spoke at debates held in mid-March. According to many, these debates could mean the difference between which candidates win, and which lose.

Alcohol and Marijuana: What’s the Difference?

GEORGE DE FEIS OPINION EDITOR I know the difference between Alcohol and Marijuana.

What I really want to know is, if one is legal then, why isn’t the other?

They both cause impairment, and alcohol is perhaps more damaging to your health than marijuana. Not to mention the thousands of deaths attributed to alcohol use every year.

So what makes drinking a beer all right, and smoking a joint out of the question?

I’ve heard many explanations as to why smoking pot is wrong or immoral, and everyone is entitled to their opinions, but the fact of the matter is, the law does not require everyone to follow the same moral code, nor should it.

The law is supposed to protect us, and make sure that we are as safe as possible. It is not supposed to mandate what

is morally right or wrong.

That is up to the individual.

They get to choose what they think is right and what they think is wrong.

Now, there are certain acts that are just about universally morally wrong, like rape, or murder. But I’m not talking about those acts. I am talking about marijuana and alcohol, and unfortunately, lawmakers think that they can enforce morality on this.

You can see it in gambling

law too. Why is it ok, to go to a casino and put a $100 on black, but it’s illegal to put one penny on a football game? If one is legal, then why not the other?

It seems that lawmakers are picking and choosing what we should be able to pick and choose for ourselves.

The law says that at 21 years of age we are responsible enough to consume alcohol within limit. I am not arguing that anyone should be

able to use marijuana, or alcohol for that matter. I am arguing that it should be treated in the same way as alcohol, with limits and age restrictions.

Now if lawmakers really believe that marijuana is so detrimental to a person, then both alcohol and marijuana should be banned. It seems a bit hypocritical to ban one because of moral standing and not the other.

BULLETIN BOARD

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 13

Graduation Station Caps and Gowns Caps and gowns will be distributed in the Gottesman Room of Kessel Student Center on Monday, April 20 from 12-5 PM, and on Tuesday, April 21 from 3-8 PM. Tickets will also be distributed during this time.

Degree Verification Be sure to fill out a degree verification form online at www.pace.edu/paperless. This will verify how you would like your name printed on your diploma, your mailing address, program information, etc.

Pace Pride Award Nominations Due April 3 Nominations for the Pace Pride Awards are due by 5 PM this Friday, April 3. All nomination forms can be found on OrgSync. Anyone is eligible to nominate a student, organization, or staff/faculty member. The categories include: Alumni Advisor of the Year Advisor of the Year Outstanding Staff/Faculty Member of the Year Silver Gavel Society Outstanding Student Leader Outstanding President Emerging Setter Sorority Chapter of the Year Fraternity Chapter of the Year Program of the Year Outstanding Growth Organization of the Year Outstanding Advocacy of Others Oustanding Unity Program Oustanding Philanthropic/Service Organization Oustanding Transfer Student of the Year

Senior Week Schedule A partial schedule for Senior Week has been released. However, the events for May 16 have not been finalized! To offer ideas or suggestions, please email The awards will be held on Friday, May 1, 2015, starting at Graduate Assistant Laura Brezovsky at 4:30 PM. Light appetizers and beverages will also be served.

The event should last approximately 2.5 hours. lbrezkovsky_sdca@pace.edu.

For more information and direct links, visit www.pace.edu/commencement.

Important Organization Information All Star Programs must have a program consultation completed with your SDCA Campus Activities Assistant (CAA) between March 24 and April 1 If your organization has not received an email from a CAA, please visit SDCA. In the event that classes are cancelled due to weather, no student organization should be holding meetings. Please reschedule. For events, contact a member of SDCA to reschedule.

Transition training will be held on April 10, starting at 5:00 PM. All incoming and outgoing executive board members are expected to attend.

Social Media Accounts: Be sure to like or follow these departments online, to stay up-to-date on all Pace information! Accounts listed are for both Instagram and Twitter, unless specified.

Pace Chronicle @pacechronicle

Pace Mart @PaceMartTeam

Residence Hall Association @rha_pace_plv

Pace University @PaceUniversity

Center for Community Action and Research @CCARPLV

Commuter Advisory Board Twitter: @PaceCABPlv Insta: @pacecommuters_plv

Programming Board @PacePROgramming Mortola Library @PaceLibrary

Pace Athletics @PaceUAthletics

SDCA @PLV_SDCA Residential Life Twitter: @PaceORL Insta: @PaceResLife Welcome Center @PacePLV_Welcome Pace Perk Cafe @PacePerkCafe

Career Services @PaceUCareers Student Government Twitter: @SGA_PLV Insta: @Pace_SGA

Counseling Center Twitter: @Pace_Counseling OSA Twitter: @Pace_OSA Greek Life Insta: @PacePlvGreekLife

Slut: The Play will be holding performances on Wednesday, April 1 at 12:00 PM and 9:00 PM in Gottesman Room of Kessel Student Center.

Attendance is free.

SPORTS

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 14

The Mental Game: A Look at Athlete Mentality NATALIA ALVAREZ PAGEN SPORTS EDITOR Mentality: “the characteristic attitude of mind or way of thinking of a person or group.”

(Google definitions) A person’s mentality can determine a lot in their life; it becomes a huge factor in a person’s successes and failures, often being determined by such thoughts.

This is especially true for athletes who have to bring mind and body together in order to ensure maximum performance. Whether it be winning or losing games, dealing with a 0-for-5 batting average or running off an emotional high after a big play, mentality is everything in sports.

“I think that a large aspect of any competitive sport is mental toughness,” said senior Brett Bittiger, short stop for the Pace baseball team. “You have to have strength of mind, not just body, to successfully compete at a high level.”

Bittiger’s words ring true for the mind, after all, is indeed the head coach of the body in some

ways. Playing baseball, Bittiger especially believes that mentality plays a bigger role in this sport than others, seeing as it’s a game that gets played every day.

Bittiger seems to take a page from something sophomore outfielder Shelby Yung said. Yung described softball as “being set up for failure” while Bittiger associates failure with baseball, noting that people don’t always realize just how much failure is involved in baseball.

“Think about it- if your batting average is .300, you are considered to be a very good hitter,” Bittiger said. “But a .300 average means that you failed seven of ten times. Thus, failing 70% of the time is considered to be great in baseball. With that amount of failure, baseball can truly be a mentally harrowing sport,” “Another aspect of baseball is that it is an everyday game. Unlike sports like football where there is only one game a week, baseball is played virtually everyday day of the week, which means that you cannot afford to dwell on any single game, win or

lose. Baseball players must have a short memory span in order to maintain an even keel.”

But even sports that aren’t played every day can still cause some mental drainage. Women’s Lacrosse Captain Angela Kelly agrees, but also notes that mental toughness sometimes needs to be built during one’s career.

It’s not always something that comes naturally to athletes, as Kelly mentions how her own mentality has evolved over the years. Kelly found value in wins and losses during her games.

They weren’t just letters put into a column on a stat sheet, they became life lessons to be taken, learning that loss isn’t always a bad thing.

“Over the years of playing lacrosse, I have definitely adapted myself to learn that there is indeed good and bad that comes out of winning and losing,” Kelly said. “I learned that when you lose, you shouldn’t always put your head down in disappointment. Things that lead to losses are in fact things to learn from and should be taken as a lesson.

And these lessons are something that can be used for anything in life, not just sports. For instance, if I receive a bad test grade in class, I look at it as seeing what I can do better to get a better grade on the test next time. “ Successes and failures in sports have certainly help determine the kind of mentality that an athlete will possess. Injuries seems to be a common thread between certain athletes and mentality as well. Injuries often times become the “make it or break it” point for many because of the strength and perseverance needed in order to endure.

For Kelly it was it was injury that occurred just before the season started, an injury that required seven months of rehab.

For Bittiger, a serious injury which occurred his freshman year really changed his perception of the game he loves. And for Yung, a recent recovery from her injury showed her just how strong one has to be at times.

But for all these athletes, there was one other thing they had in common- they no longer take the

games they love for granted.

“My view of the game of lacrosse has changed tremendously; I now step onto the field with the mentality that it could be my last,” Kelly said.

Bittiger expressed similar sentiments, saying that his injury made him stop taking his health and the ability to play the game that he loves for granted.

“Every time I get to put on that jersey and take the field is a blessing,” Bittiger said.

No matter what though, one thing remains certain. Positivity is a very important influencer. It is the thread that keeps success together, powered by belief and passion.

“Positivity is everything,” said freshman swimmer Brian Sosa. “Every single year you get more experience and that builds and fuels your positivity. If you can stay positive no matter how your season is going, it’s will take you very far.”

Women’s Lacrosse Defying Expectations This Season NATALIA ALVAREZ PAGEN SPORTS EDITOR For a newly established team starting off their inaugural season, one win might have just been more than expected for many around the conference. But for the Pace Women’s Lacrosse team, they have continued to defy expectations by winning three of their contests thus far.

Although the girls lost their latest contest on Tues. March 31 (17-6 against #6 New Haven) dropping to a 3-6 record, the team has expressed nothing but confidence.

The most important win thus far, the first ever in the program, came against Nyack College during the inaugural game, with Pace winning 15-5.

The Setters started off the game on the right foot as they shot the first six goals of the game, with Rachel Cassanta scoring the very first goal in the program’s history.

Leading 6-1, Pace finished off the half with three more goals from Casasanta and captains Casey Gelderman and Angela Kelly, leading 9-1.

Gelderman continued the scoring for Pace at the opening of the second half at the 21:48 mark.

The Nyack Warriors responded shortly after at the 19: 42 mark, but the Setters quickly responded with five goals over the next ten minutes.

Though Merrimack closed out the game with three goals, it wasn’t enough to defeat the Setters.

This was more than just a win for Pace, however; it was the

chance they had been waiting for all year.

The third captain for the Setters, Emily Ankabrandt, described the feeling as “amazing,” being “able to see how much [the team had] improved and where [they] stood with the other existing programs.”

“It was great to play against someone other than ourselves,” said Ankabrandt, who had a goal and five shots during the game.

“I think that going out there and winning showed how hard work, determination, and teamwork can come together regardless of being a first year team. It proves that we have the ability to play alongside with other teams and it definitely gives us a confidence boost.”

Coach Spinner noted that one of the keys for the team’s win was the execution of the team’s strategy against Nyack. Spinner notes that Nyack had a “really hard time” dealing with the offensive balance of the team. The team attacked from all places, spreading out the defense.

“Our ball movement was incredible; because we balanced out the attack, it created scoring opportunities all over, and four players put up some really good numbers,” Spinner said. “They had their chances because we have seven players on the offensive end who are scoring threats on every possession, so we can really challenge a defense, Another big plus for the Setters, which goes together with strategy, was the execution of the game-plan. Spinner has noted that each team the Setters face will have a specific game plan, and for Nyack it was about taking away

certain strengths and exploiting weaknesses.

“We executed really well,” Spinner said. “Most importantly, we played a sense of spirit and energy that you would expect from a veteran team. Winning the first game was amazing, but I am more proud that we won by understanding and executing a game plan.”

Gelderman expressed similar sentiments, also noting that it was good to finally get on the field and prove some nay-sayers wrong, showing that the team is indeed competitive and they aren’t a team “to look over.”

“Winning the first game means that other teams will look at our score and see that we are a strong team and not take us lightly,” said Gelderman, who led the Setters with five goals and ten shots. “We

came into the game very motivated because we wanted to show everyone how hard we have been working.”

Despite the early success, there are still quite a few things that the Setters acknowledge can be improved.

Gelderman notes that maintaining possession, making smart decisions on offence and fouling less on defense are key take-ways to build upon for the upcoming games.

“Overall everything was good enough for this win, but these are things that need to be tightened up for future games,” Gelderman said.

Spinner acknowledges that the team was their “own worst enemy” on the offensive end on Saturday because they really

“struggled to shoot the ball.” According to Spinner, a big lead at halftime certainly helped Pace, but the team “didn’t shoot well and could have easily been up by a lot more than [they] were.”

“A better team finds a way to come back against us if we do not convert our scoring opportunities, so we have a lot to work on,” Spinner said. “The good news is that I think our playbook works, and we have a team capable of executing our system. The bad news is that we are still all freshmen, and there is a lot of fine tuning.”

Pace will look to continue their positive efforts when they travel Southern New Hampshire University for their 4:00 p.m. match-up on Sat. April 4.

Photo courtsey of Casey Gelderman

SPORTS

The Pace Chronicle

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 PAGE 15

Garran: A Major in Baseball JAMES MIRANDA FEATURED WRITER If there was one word to describe Pace junior Josh Garran, that word would be baseball.

Baseball defines Garran as a person and as a player.

Garran hails from Old Tappan, New Jersey (part Bergen County and about an hour from New York). He was born to Gary and Joy Garran, an ex-parole officer and a worker in an insurance agency, respectively. His dad coached him pretty much his whole life until high school, forming a special bond between the two. He also has an older sister, Jenna, whom he’s really close with.

His family has played an important role because they’ve been behind him 100 percent in whatever Garran has pursued in life, always supporting him.

But baseball has always been his number one pursuit. He’ll never forget the moment he fell in love with the game.

“I was in third grade and there was a fly ball over my head, I ran out into center field, and I dove and made a back-handed catch,” said Garran. “I hit a home run in Little League and I didn’t even know I was capable of doing that; I thought to myself ‘this can’t be real.’ It was awesome.”

Baseball has always been part of the Garran family, with Garran starting out by playing tee ball.

He’s always loved it and played shortstop for most of his career until making the transition to a pitcher.

“I’ve played since I was in kindergarten and I was mostly a shortstop until sophomore year of high school,” Garran said. “I started to realize I had a pretty good arm. I didn’t come into myself until junior/senior year.”

His senior year at Northern Valley Regional was his best. He posted a 7-3 record with a 1.66 ERA while striking out 66 in 54.2

innings pitched. He won playoff games and earned a Big North Conference First Team Award, while being named to the Bergen County Coaches Association AllCounty Second Team.

Garran exclusively pitches now and that’s what Pace wanted him for. Many Division-I schools such as the University of Delaware, which gave him his first offer, and Marist College scouted the young baller. Ultimately, it was Pace which caught his eye, due to the coaches adding a bit of a personal touch by coming to his own home and taking the time to get to know him as a person.

“It is tough to turn down coaches that pursue you that much,” Garran said. “They come to your house and have coffee with your parents to come get to know us; that was the deal breaker.”

Garran won NE-10 and ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Pitcher of the week this past week. He earned the title for his complete game shutout against Dominican College on Mar. 18 where he went nine innings, allowing three hits and striking out 10 as the Setters (6-9, 1-2 NE-10) won 3-0. He stayed hot earning another win in an 11-1 rout of Adelphi pitching five shutout innings. He hasn’t allowed a single run since his first outing on Feb. 15 where he allowed seven runs, five earned.

Garran’s success didn’t just happen overnight though. As he said, baseball is a game of failure.

And it’s taken sometime to become the mentally tough player he is. He’s been a confident, humble, and hardworking player, but it hasn’t been easy.

The hat is a little reminder to keep confident. The cents sign was a signal from his dad to throw a changeup when his father coached him. Image taken by James Miranda.

Baseball has helped him mature both athletically and per-

sonally. Personally, it has taught him responsibility and time management. He has not spent a summer off since his freshman year at Pace. Garran partakes in a summer league called the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL). This was only the beginning of his maturation.

“I went there and thought I can just blow my fastball by [players],” said Garran. “I did horrible. I got back and my coach was upset that I didn’t do well.

I went into the league thinking I was going to do the same thing that I had done my freshman year.

That’s when I learned at the college level that I need to become a pitcher as oppose to a thrower.”

With that maturity he returned to the PGCBL before junior year and was around top five in the league in strikeouts and ERA. He was featured in the All-Star Game where he got to play in front of 6,000 people, in a minor league stadium, and got to feel like a real ballplayer.

“Playing in front of that many people was an unbelievable experience I’ll never forget,” said Garran. “We signed autographs for little kids and there were 15 MLB scouts. It was like a dream come true.”

He compared it to Derek Jeter’s final hit at Yankee Stadium. Just like how that was a fantasy that became reality, playing in a minor league stadium in front of 6,000 people was his fantasy becoming reality.

Garran’s thought about the Major Leagues, but definitely does not want to be caught in the position where he chases a fantasy that won’t become a reality.

Baseball’s meant a lot to Garran. From the moment he dove for that ball in Little League to the shutout he threw against Dominican.

Garran says, “Baseball is my major, but my minor is criminal justice.”

This Week in Athletics

Men’s Lacrosse vs. Le Moyne College April 1, 3:30 PM, Pleasantville, NY Women’s Softball vs. Adelphi University April 1, 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM, Briarcliff, NY Men’s Baseball vs. Nyack College April 2, 3:00 PM, Ponoma, NY Men’s Baseball vs. College of Saint Rose April 3, 3:30 PM, Albany, NY Women’s Softball vs. College of Saint Rose April 3, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, Briarcliff, NY

Men’s Baseball vs. College of Saint Rose April 4, 12:00 PM, Albany, NY Men’s Lacrosse vs. Southern New Hampshire University April 4, 1:00 PM, Manchester, NH Women’s Lacrosse vs. Southern New Hampshire University April 4, 4:00 PM, Manchester, NH Women’s Softball vs. College of Saint Rose April 4, 12:00 PM, Albany, NY Men’s Baseball vs. Concordia College April 7, 3:00 PM, Bronxville, NY Men’s Lacrosse vs. American International College April 7, 4:00 PM, Springfield, MA Women’s Softball vs. Adelphi University April 7, 4:00 PM, Garden City, NY Men’s Baseball vs. Adelphi University April 8, 3:30 PM, Garden City, NY

Photo by James Miranda

Women’s Lacrosse vs. Assumption College April 8, 7:00 PM, Worcester, MA

The Pace Chronicle

TWITTER: @PACECHRONICLE FACEBOOK: THE PACE CHRONICLE ISSUU.COM/THEPACECHRONICLE PACECHRONICLE.COM/SPORTS PLEASANTVILLE/BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY

S PORTS

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I AM BUILDING A FIRE, AND EVERY TIME I TRAIN, I ADD MORE FUEL. AT JUST THE RIGHT MOMENT, I LIGHT THE MATCH.” -MIA HAMM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

ONLINE AT PACECHRONICLE.COM

Freshman Gaining Confidence on the Court NATALIA ALVAREZ PAGEN SPORTS EDITOR Making the transition from high school to college ball can be quite the challenge, with a whole new world of obstacles to overcome. Everyone copes with this in different ways, including freshman women’s basketball guard Gabriella Rubin.

Joining the Setters after a successful four years at Moore Catholic High School in Staten Island, NY (winning the state championship four years in a row), Rubin proved to be a critical piece throughout the season.

While at the surface things might have looked rather well, Rubin was just named to the NE10 All Rookie Team after earning three ECAC Rookie of the Week honors, admitting that things were much more challenging.

“The college level is completely different than High School, I found myself struggling, it wasn’t easy,” said Rubin, an accounting major. “Even when I was doing well, I still struggled.

A lot of times it was hard for me to realize that I was even making an impact. I felt like I was messing up a lot of things. But the upper classmen helped me a lot, they pushed me everyday.”

One of the things that Rubin quickly noticed was that “everyone was fast” at the college level.

Rubin notes that in high school she was the fastest player around, but now in college it wasn’t as easy.

Knowing this, Rubin ac-

knowledges that she had to focus on more things, which she didn’t realize until she started playing.

Rubin’s biggest challenge became her mindset during practice.

She explains that she constantly doubted herself, messing up during practices which made her think that she wasn’t going to do well with the team.

So what changed? Confidence became the key for Rubin, allowing her to change her mindset eventually leading to better results.

“My mindset became that I wasn’t going to play, but I quickly realized that I couldn’t think like that,” said Rubin, who led the team with 38 steals and finished second in the team with 11.1 points. “I had to realize that you’re gonna mess up, its basketball. Once I changed my mindset and became confident things got better. The upperclassmen and my coach helped a lot as well.

They pushed me to do better. I’m still not great, but it’s an improvement. It’s easy to lose confidence but its very hard to keep it. There are a lot of ups and downs in basketball and you have to realize that each day is a new day. You need to learn to let go of the bad.”

That proved to be the gamechanger for Rubin, who ended up having a pretty impressive rookie season with the Setters. Rubin has had her taste of success however, during her high school years.

Rubin notes her high school was always “really good”, but Rubin found herself not always having a big role on the team.

This let doubt creep in as Rubin explained that she would even take herself out of the game when things weren’t going well. But that was all part of the journey that led her to finding her confidence.

Rubin started playing basketball in the third grade, after shooting some hoops at her camp.

From there it led Rubin to playing basketball everyday at home over the summer with her two sisters, cultivating the love for the sport while spending some quality sister time.

They played all day, from sunup till sun-down, and this Rubin credits as the moment when her passion for basketball really grew.

But as it turns out, basketball wasn’t the only sport that caught Rubin’s eye growing up.

“I did cheerleading when I was younger,” Rubin says with a laugh. “I also played soccer, swimming; I did softball for a little bit. The problem with soccer though was that no matter how hard I tried I always found myself picking up the ball with my hands.”

Rubin’s competitive nature can be said to come from her love of sports, but her “get to the point attitude” comes from her father.

She describes her father as someone who doesn’t play games.

Owner of a few businesses, Papa Rubin is not one to mess around.

This no-nonsense attitude led Rubin to her major-accounting.

A self-proclaimed lover of math, Rubin finds comfort in the numbers and equations.

Photo from Stockton Photo Inc. “With English I always found it so hard because I just want to get to the point,” Rubin said.

“Math is just direct, you solve the problem and that’s it. But accounting isn’t like my final destination. I always want to shoot for more. One day I would like to

take-over some of my dad’s businesses or maybe own my own business. But for now I’ll just focus on getting my degree.”

Whether on the court or at the office, Rubin seems to have found the key for success.

Setter Profile: Freshman Outfielder Shelby Yung NATALIA ALVAREZ PAGEN SPORTS EDITOR Sophomore outfielder Shelby Yung has picked up right where she left off as the 2015 Pace softball season has gotten underway.

Having been named Northeast-10 Freshman Player of the Year for the 2014 season, Yung continues to shine.

But things in between seasons weren’t that simple. Yung missed out on fall practices after finding out that she had an ovarian cyst shortly after the season had finished. The cure? Surgery and lots of downtime in order to recover limited Yung’s activities for quite some time.

“It was really tough, at the time I was calling everyone; it was really tough having to cancel flights and classes, I had to take the rest of the semester off,” said Yung, who has a .469 batting average thus far. “I stayed in [California] recovering with my

family, but I honestly believed it needed to happen. I’m glad it happened. It was a huge wakeup call. It showed me why I love sports, showed me what I was made off.”

What seemed to be a huge disaster for Yung turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Despite the numerous obstacles she faced, Yung was up for the challenge.

She learned to build a tough mentality during her recovery period, persevering through the months.

Yung was able to get back to the gym by November, where she began to build up her strength once again. The injury took out Yung’s core and even made simple acts such as laughing or sneezing difficult. But after overcoming all her injuries, Yung knew it didn’t mean things would get easier.

“This season is going to be the deal breaker,” Yung said.

“Coming back from any injury is really hard; you won’t know how you feel or what you can do un-

til you actually get out there and start playing again, but mentally it can take a toll on you.”

Playing in the outfield is a lot of “stop and go,” as Yung puts it, leaving lots of time for unwanted thoughts to creep in. But Yung understands it is important to stay focused on the game. That includes envisioning the next play, maybe hoping to rob a homerun.

“You need a positive mind out there,” Yung said. “In this game you are set up to fail. You can go 3 out of 10 and think it’s horrific but you can’t be perfect.

Obstacles are good because they make you who you are. Sports has made me who I am and all the lessons I have learned from my time playing thus far are lessons I look forward to taking into my career.”

Yung still has some college playing time left, but at this stage in her life, she acknowledges that the opportunities for her to continue playing softball after college are slim. But Yung hopes

to remain close to the game, whether it be via her dream job of working for SportsCenter, or coaching.

“I definitely want to coach someday,” Yung said. “I want to stay close to sports in any way I can. But I would also love to work for Ellen; I love that woman to death. But probably my biggest want would be to coach, not just athletes but kids as well. I live vicariously through people.”

Yung’s love and desire to coach comes from her love for the game, but also from her close relationship with her father, who has been her own coach over the years.

Yung believes she sees more of him in herself, as he’s been there through all the ups and downs, stating that he’s been a vital part of her success.

“He’s always watching the games so we are always constantly in contact talking about softball and techniques and all that stuff,” said Yung, who was just

named Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Week. “A huge part of my work ethic comes from him. We speak a language most people don’t understand.”

Yung describes her father not only as a huge influence in her life but also as a role model. Her other role model? Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant. Yung grew up watching Kobe and he quickly became a huge motivating factor for her. Bryant’s drive for success and hunger for wanting more motivated Yung to do her best and strive for achievement.

“It lit a fire in me, and you need that passion in sports,” Yung said. “My other role model is John Wooden. As a great coach, I really followed his philosophy a lot.”

Yung has faced much adversity in her young career thus far, but with a strong support system and a tough mentality she will continue to look to persevere in this season and beyond.