Pierce arrow spring 2014 issue 6

Volume XLVIII Issue 6 New terrorism threats put Olympic athletes and spectators on edge See Page 3

State of the Union details plans for the rest of Obama’s second term.

See Page 4

February 13, 2014

Birge defends changes at spring Town Hall meeting Mike Black & Stephen Keimig Editor-in-Chief, News Editor James Birge, Franklin Pierce University President, hosted the spring town hall meeting, where he addressed misconceptions surrounding recent program cuts and the financial state of the university.

The town hall meeting was held in Spagnuolo Hall on Feb. 3 at 3:00 p.m., and the event was moderated

by Lisa Murray, director of Communications and Creative Services.

An influx of students, faculty, staff, and alumni poured in around 2:40 p.m. With only ten minutes before the meeting would begin, all the seats were filled and a crowd had formed in rows in the back.

The event was webcasted live so that those who were unable to attend could still become informed on the subjects at hand.

Birge opened with a discussion about how the decision to cut six majors and the minors associated with them was made. The fields of study being taught out in 2016 and then permanently discontinued as majors include American studies, theater and dance, mathematics, graphic communications, arts man-

“We marketed them but the market was not interested,” said Birge.

Birge stated that Franklin Pierce was previously in $49 million worth of debt but had lowered that number to $42 million through

by closing down the campus during the holiday season and by renting out dormitories to summer groups was also discussed.

Those watching the webcast were able to submit their questions via

tions and answer session, Birge removed himself from the podium but remained available to students who still had more inquiries.

All Town Hall Meeting photos by Amanda Taparro

Sports writers discuss their favorite Olympic events.

See Page 6

ALANA Leader of the Month chosen for February.

See Page 8

Find out which artists won big at this year’s GRAMMY’S Awards See Page 10

CONTENTS News.......................Page 1-3 Editorials.............. Page 4-5 Sports......................Page 6-7 Features.................Page 8 A&E..................... Page 9-10

agement, and fine arts.

On January 9, 10, and 13 a senior staff retreat took place. During the retreat, they reviewed the university as a whole as well as past and current university data pertaining to enrollment numbers.

“The retreat was illuminative,” said Birge One of the conclusions from that retreat was that the discontinued majors were seeing extremely low numbers of students choosing to declare majors in them. According to Birge, the university has developed new programs and can no longer continue to offer programs that have low enrollment and high program costs.

“We don’t have the funds to keep them going [the majors that were cut] and to have been able to improve them [on campus facilities] would be too expensive,” said Birge.

Birge said that Franklin Pierce marketed these majors through the Admissions office just as equally as any other major on campus, but that did not help the enrollment numbers.

yearly payments.

“Franklin Pierce is a tuition driven university, meaning 96% of the revenue is dependent on funds earned by student tuition,” said Birge.

Birge called for strategic plans for the development of strong academic programs that can ensure a strong curriculum. The University has recently created three new majors: Health Sciences, Environmental Studies, and Healthcare Administration.

Starting fall of 2015, the university will cut back on the amount of financial aid distributed to students and restructure how aid is given to student athletes, a strategy Birge said will help save money.

“Reducing scholarships is more easily said than done,” said Birge.

“This reconstruction should save $500,000 yearly; we want to remain competitive in tuition price while still remaining affordable to families.”

Experimenting with more ways to gain revenue from the Rindge campus during winter and summer months by saving on energy costs

text messages, and some were selected to be asked along with others from the audience members.

Michael Brown, an alum whose life centers around the theater, asked if there was any way to reverse the decision that was made and to bring back the majors that were cut. When Birge said that the university will continue to offer courses in those majors but will not offer the majors, Brown responded with, “offering courses without the majors is like having a dog lick a steak and not being able to eat it.”

At the conclusion of the ques-

News

Page 2 u n Pierce Arrow t n February 13, 2014 Pierce Arrow October 13, 2011

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News

February 13, 2014 n u Pierce n t Page 3 October 13, 2011 PierceArrow Arrow

Relay for Life sets $11,000 goal Lacey Allain Features Editor Planning for Pierce’s Relay for Life took a different path this year than in the past, due to a new budgeting strategy.

Relay for Life captain Ashley McCormack, and co-captain Alexandra Marella budgeted $792.55 through SGA so they could afford decorations and giveaways.

In the past, the cost of decorations for the event came out of the captains’ own pockets.

Last year, Pierce’s Relay for Life event raised over $10,000 to help put an end to cancer. This spring,

Relay for Life will return with

hopes of raising $11,000, said McCormack.

will be Mardi Gras.

Last year’s Relay was held in the

of the Bubble. After being given the option to choose between the

Above photo provided by Ashley McCormack, Below photo provided by Alexandra Marella

The theme for this year’s Relay

Fieldhouse following the collapse

Fieldhouse or the Bubble this year, McCormack and Marella decided the Fieldhouse was a better, more intimate setting.

“We found that people were able to interact more, the music could be heard better, more people participated in the games, and that in general people liked the Fieldhouse over the Bubble,” said McCormack.

The number of teams that participate in Relay has varied in the

past. The number of teams participating in the relay decreased this year, down to 25 teams since last year’s achieved goal of having 30 teams was reached.

Traditionally, sports teams, clubs, and other groups on campus form Relay teams, and although McCormack said this will happen this year, everyone is encouraged to partake in the Relay. Marella said six clubs and two sports teams are involved so far.

According to Marella, the baseball team is stepping up this year by hosting an event in the Spring.

“This was a different way to involve the baseball team and they were first at getting involved.

There are some details which need to be worked out but they plan on having a “jail bail” event at their game,” Marella said.

“We are always looking for more teams and more people to be involved,” said McCormack. “We invited everyone to get involved in and come to Relay. Help us create a world with more birthdays!”

More information on how to form a Relay team will be released once the date of the event draws near. Those interested in participating in the Relay for Life should contact Ashley McCormack or Alexandra Marella.

Threats to games heighten security in Sochi Sarah Rodriguez Copy Editor Multiple national delegations participating in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, have received threats of terrorist activity, causing security to increase before the commencement of the games

on Feb. 6.

In response to the threats and teams’ demands for increased security, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has designated a 1,500 square mile zone around Sochi to create a barrier between the city and surrounding areas that experience frequent attacks, according to

Theater community reacts to program cut Stephen Keimig News Editor Many people with interests pertaining to theater had much to say regarding the decision to stop something that remains close to them.

Freshman Eric Lopez, a mass communications major, was planning on declaring a theater minor; but did not declare before the major and minor were cut.

“I applied to five other schools as soon as I received notice about the majors and minors being cut,” said Lopez. “It definitely seems like a business decision and not a personal one, but I just want to be able to earn a theater minor.”

Caroline Jepsen, a 2001 alumni with a degree in theater arts and a concentration in dance, was in disbelief when she heard the news and reflected upon why how the theater and dance departments at Franklin Pierce made her choose to enroll.

“I liked that the school was very small,” said Jepsen. “I liked how the arts program was so focused and how the productions and the work that I saw being produced were so unique and original to Franklin Pierce. I knew that I would be able to dive right into what I had interests in at Franklin Piecre.”

Lee Dunholter, former Professor of theater arts, thinks that there could be another option created to save the majors so that they would not have to be cut.

“My proposal would be to combine the art programs that were cut into one fine arts degree that touches upon art, music, and theater,” said Dunholter.

Although Lopez feels that the facilities majors like theater, dance, and fine arts are housed in have their own appeal and character,

they could use some work.

“I think that the majors and minors could have been advertised on a higher level in order to gain the attention of more prospective students, and the facilities like the Warehouse Theater and Monadnock could use an update,” said Lopez.

Jepsen agreed and added that she feels passionate about the arts and wishes that majors associated with them would not be cut.

“I feel extreme sadness, disappointment, and anger,” said Jepsen.

“Part of how I feel stems from how important the arts are to me personally and how important they are to the world.”

Franklin Pierce University President, James Birge, hosted the annual town hall meeting on Monday, Jan. 27 at 3:00 p.m. in Spagnuolo Hall where he discussed the decision and to answer questions that remained unanswered for some students, faculty, and staff.

Although the decision to cut these majors is permanent, Birge assured the audience in his speech that classes relating to the majors will continued to be offered to still provide students with a liberal arts education.

Freshman who had not yet declared a major and were going to declare in one of the majors that were cut could apply to be allowed to declare as long as they have taken at least three courses in that major. This option was open to undeclared sophomores as well, but they needed to have taken at least six courses required for one of the majors.

worldnews.nbcnews.com.

This new security area is now known as the “iron ring,” according to worldnews.nbcnews.com Security measures for the “ring” include 40,000 security officers patrolling on foot, in the sky, and on the water for 24 hours a day. There will also be sonar equipment scanning the area, and about 100,000 security personnel have been hired to work for the duration of the games, according to worldnews. nbcnews.com It is thought that the threats have come from multiple sources.

The first messages were from a “member of the public” and con-

sidered to be a hoax rather than a legitimate threat.

However, according to worldnews.nbcnews.com Sochi authorities are now concerned that the terrorist group called the “Black Widows” may be targeting the games.

The suicide-bombing group, consisting of women seeking to avenge their husbands’ deaths, has been attracting worldwide attention by playing key parts of some of the most deadly attacks in Sochi in the past decade.

At least three of the five individuals suspected to be part of the threat are believed to be “Black

Widows.” According to worldnews. nbcnews.com The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert to Russia in light of the recent threats. This simply means that travel to this region is discouraged due to potential unrest. This has caused families and friends of game participants to reconsider traveling to Russia to cheer on their teams.

Despite the terrorist threats, 3,500 athletes from 87 nations are competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics, according to worldnews. nbcnew.com.

Join the Pierce Arrow The Pierce Arrow is looking for even more reporters, photographers, and graphic designers!

Meetings are held every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in the Fitzwater J-Lab

Editorials

Page 4 u n Pierce Arrow t n February 13, 2014 Pierce Arrow October 13, 2011

The big bad “Wolf” opens audiences eyes a little wider Sarah Rodriguez Copy Editor There are movies that you must never, at any age, see with your parents - “The Wolf of Wall Street” is one of those movies.

Just. Do. Not. Trust me. I cannot stress that enough.

Don’t get me wrong, the film is amazing. Martin Scoresse is a genius, as always. His direction is legendary and reaches an exceptional status. Leonardo DiCaprio is astonishing. Remember nice

guy, Jack, who floated to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean? He really is dead. If he doesn’t get an Oscar for this performance, it is clear that the Academy hates him. Jonah Hill proves that “Superbad” is light years behind him and he really was worthy of the Best Supporting Actor nomination for “Hard Ball.” The screen writing is so thorough and honest that the audience knows the ins and outs of the life of a big time stockbroker.

DiCaprio’s character, Jordan

Belfort, is introduced as a simple man with a dream, the American Dream. He didn’t want to struggle to live comfortably, so like all men who wanted nice cars and beautiful wives, he became a stockbroker. With a few hiccups in the road, Belfort befriends Donnie Azoff, a grease ball married to his cousin, played by Hill. The pair establishes a firm selling penny stocks from less-than-successful companies to major investors.

The whole operation is illegal from the very beginning.

“The Wolf of Wall Street” was an uncensored true tale of a power hungry stockbroker who was a glutton for sex and drugs. No “f bomb” was unsaid, no naked lady was unseen, and no drug went unused. Everything was out there and in technicolor. Seriously, the movie was three hours of orgies, drugs, and crime. It has been described as “The Great Gatsby” in the 1980s, if Gatsby was a sex addict and Daisy was actually a drug sought by all stockbrokers.

Through all the naked people

and elaborate parties, the film did tell the story of the real Jordan Belfort in a most amusing way. You could not help but laugh when witnessing DiCaprio experience the worst drug trip of his life.

You could not help but feel scared for the life of his child when DiCaprio goes insane. You could not help but think about how surreal it would be if you were in his wealthy shoes and loving life as much as he did.

Canadian tar sands threaten environment Andrew Duncan Editorials Editor Despite growing public support for a “greener” energy policy and an end to dependence on oil, the United States and Canadian governments are pushing ahead with plans to make use of a massive swath of “tar sands” in the province of Alberta, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

These “tar sands” are a mix of

clay, water, sand, other minerals, and a super-thick form of petroleum oil known as “bitumen.”

The substance is so thick in fact, that it cannot by moved through oil pipelines in its current state, and requires processing to thin it out and separate the undesirable materials.

All the work that goes into processing the sands is incredibly inefficient compared to regular petroleum. It takes 4 tons of sand, along

with 4 barrels of water (which is then ruined) to produce just a single barrel of bitumen.

This is not to mention the additional energy costs required for the process, which critics believe may end up emitting three times as many carbon emissions compared to conventional methods, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

It doesn’t take a Ph.D. to realize this is a highly inefficient and

Op-Ed: State of the Union outlines priorities Andrew Duncan Editorials Editor President Obama delivered his “State of the Union” address on Jan. 27, leaning heavily on the theme of supporting working-class Americans. The annual speech is a defining moment for any president, as it reflects on the current standing of our nation and the goals that the administration has set for the year to come.

The president’s overall tone seemed optimistic and hopeful.

He began with image-heavy rhetoric, referring to some of the recent successes in the American economy. “A farmer prepared for the spring after the strongest fiveyear stretch of farm exports in our history,” and other such allegories peppered the President’s speech.

This is typical of his delivery style, and he leaned heavily on it as he attempted to paint a picture of an America that was on an upward spin, an Uncle Sam who had been knocked down but was rising to his feet again.

Obama was very keen to give Americans the impression that things were indeed getting better and that, “after five years of grit and determined effort, the United States is better-positioned for the 21st century than any other nation on Earth.”

Indeed, economic recovery was the dominant theme for the evening, and perhaps rightly so. It is an issue weighing heavily on the minds of the Americans as the world’s largest economy has faltered and struggled to keep pace

with rising contenders such as China. However, it should be noted that it is not so much that America is falling behind, as much as other markets are catching up in what is becoming an ever-more integrated world.

Education and job opportunities also received a lot of air time, with Obama noting the importance of building a stronger future by investing in the youth today. He drew attention to the need to provide our students with better resources as well as tackle health issues such as obesity. It is encouraging to see these issues being given attention, as America has drastically fallen behind other countries in regards to the quality of our public education.

Obama also cited the need to close the gap between the average salaries of men and women.

He noted how women on average make only 75 percent as much as men do for the equivalent work, “and in 2014, it’s an embarrassment, “ said Obama.

However, there were some instances where Obama’s actions did not match his words. For example, he spoke of America’s energy policies and his desire to see a “greener” agenda. Contradictorily, this comes at a time when our government is collaborating with the Canadian government to tap into the “tar sand” reserves in Alberta, which not only exacerbate our consumption of fossil fuels, but are actually more environmentally costly than traditional petroleum sources.

Additionally, despite the wide-

Letters to the Editor can be sent to arrowchief@gmail.com and will be published in the next print edition of the Pierce Arrow The Pierce Arrow is a member of the Pierce Media Group and the Fitzwater Center for Communication at Franklin Pierce University.

Opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of Franklin Pierce University or the Pierce Arrow staff. Columns, letters, and poetry reflect the opinions of their authors only.

The editors welcome all articles, comments, opinions, and criticisms. Please send

them to piercearrow@ franklinpierce.edu.

The Arrow will correct errors and clarify misunderstandings to news stories when brought to the attention of the editor.

The first copy of the Pierce Arrow is distributed free of charge. Please contact the editor to purchase additional copies.

The Pierce Arrow is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.

spread concern over the NSA’s surveillance capabilities and the lengths they have gone to gather intelligence, Obama hardly touched on it. In fact, despite his whole speech spanning over an hour, he devoted only one sentence to address this issue. In a world where our government is prosecuting individuals such as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and Army private Bradley Manning for simply revealing the truth of U.S. operations, and even wiretapping the personal phones of other world leaders such as Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, it was not only disappointing but in fact disturbing to see such little regard given to the topic. Perhaps the President was trying to avoid it.

Overall, the speech was well-written and well delivered. It served its purpose as a strong rhetorical tool for boosting moral and re-establishing confidence in the administration and policies of the man who is very much a living symbol of our country. Only time will tell if he keeps his promises.

costly form of gathering energy, and the danger it poses to the environment is devastating, especially considering that this a very fertile and fragile ecosystem where the tar sands are found. Additionally, these plans seem to run counter to President Obama’s goals of creating a more environmentally-friendly energy policy.

While I recognize the need to secure reliable sources of energy to sustain the needs of the human race, I think it is a terrible mistake to be investing in such dangerous and costly sources. We should be

working towards weaning ourselves off of crude oil, not delving into cruder and more inefficient sources of it. We must recognize that it is not an “investment” if it depletes the sustainability of the biosphere, ruining the Earth for future generations.

Peace of mind from Piff: Breaking down what Valentine’s Day truly means Piff Smith Senior Reporter We all have different views when it comes to Valentine’s Day. While some of us count the days until it’s here, others are over it before it even arrives. So, what really is Valentine’s Day? Is it a day where you can express the feelings you’ve been holding in, a chance to start over, or is it just a day to spoil the ones we love? Regardless of people’s perceptions on the topic, “Valentine’s Day” still only comes around once a year, every year.

To me, Valentine’s Day is a reminder of how important the people we love are to us -- show your significant other, parents, siblings, friends, and loved ones how much they mean to you.

It’s a day to forget about all the

bad and help remind us about all the good that surrounds us. We often forget that no one is perfect, no relationship is perfect and no friendship is perfect.

It’s the flaws not only within us, but also within our relationships that make us all imperfectly beautiful. Even if we argue, disagree or just don’t see eye-to-eye on certain situations, in the end, it only makes each bond stronger.

So, regardless of your opinion on Valentine’s Day, whether you celebrate it, think it’s a Hallmark holiday, or don’t care for it at all, remind the people you love, that you love them, care about them, and are thankful they are apart of your life.

Letter from the Editor: Welcome Back Hello and welcome back to Franklin Pierce for the Spring Semester! For some, this will mark the first time readers will get to see the campus turn out of the remarkably cold winter, while others have seen and welcome these changes every year. I have always been a fan of the cold, yet this year I am eager for the snow to completely melt and the temperatures to get out of the negatives.

While the semester is only just underway, this may be the perfect time to get involved with that club or event on campus that you have been putting off. As the year winds down, the potential events increase. If you have a passion that you feel is not being cultivated, find a way to do so this semester.

Think outside the box and get involved, and this semester just might be great for you.

The newspaper that you are currently reading is the first issue that I have been responsible for as editor-in-chief, and I truly hope that you enjoy it. Over the course of the semester you will be seeing a fair amount of changes to the Pierce Arrow; so I hope that you are as excited as I am!

Michael Black Editor-in-Chief

Pierce Arrow Editorial Staff 2013-2014 Editor-in-Chief Michael Black

News Editor Stephen Keimig

Arts and Entertainment Editor

Managing Editor Alyssa Borelli

Features Editor Lacey Allain

Online Editor Courtney Zorena

Production Manager Chelsea DeRaps Richardson

Sports Editor Mike Husson

Photo Edior Margaret Darcy

Editorials Editor Andrew Duncan

Production Staff Vanessa DeZorzi

Copy Editor Sarah Rodriguez

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Editorials

February 13, 2014 October 13, 2011 Arrown t Page n u Pierce Pierce Arrow Page 55

An Open Letter to the University Community From Lloyd Astmann Class of 1969 Member, Board of Trustees To the Franklin Pierce University Community: The recent posts on social media regarding changes at Franklin Pierce have deeply bothered me. Franklin Pierce changed my life and is my number one charity. My wife and I are alumni from the Class of ’69; our daughter is an alumna; and my brother is an alumnus. While at Franklin Pierce, I served as Junior Class president. After graduating, I helped to establish the Alumni Association and eventually went on to serve as Alumni Board President; I have served on the University’s Board of Trustees for over 30 years and have just completed a 3-year term as Board Chair … in short, I am no stranger to Franklin Pierce.

I love Franklin Pierce for what it was, how it helped my family members and me and for what it is today. As a trustee, I know over the years Franklin Pierce has eliminated majors in certain disciplines as enrollment interest has waned. All schools have to and should do this. All businesses need to adjust their product mix to reflect the interest of the markets they serve. Years ago Pierce offered a language major. As interest decreased, that major was eliminated.

You could still study foreign language at Pierce, but you couldn’t major in that discipline. That is all Franklin Pierce is doing today with the six majors being eliminated. Students can still take classes in these subjects, but future students will not be able to major in those subjects. All current students enrolled in those majors can graduate with a degree in their declared major. Pierce is still a liberal arts school!

As a tuition driven institution, it is even more crucial that Franklin Pierce listen and react to the market. Today, our market is more interested in majoring in Mass Communications and Health Sciences than any of the six majors being eliminated. We must offer academic programs that students and their families desire.

What makes Pierce so special is not rooted in the academic majors we offer, but how we engage students in the learning process and how they accomplish so much more than they and their families could have possibly imagined. That is what makes Franklin Pierce unique and that is why our alums love Pierce.

It is disheartening for me to see so many alumni and faculty publically criticize the University for making decisions that will ultimately strengthen Pierce. If you have a comment about what the administration is doing, call or write to Dr. Birge or any of the Senior Staff. They are approachable, interested in your views and really care about Franklin Pierce. These people work very long hours and support Franklin Pierce financially. For many, Franklin Pierce is their number one charity. Airing your views in a public forum, particularly social media conduits such as Facebook, does not make Franklin Pierce a better place. Remember, your comments are there for not only your friends and Pierce employees to read, but also for potential students and their families to read. Wouldn’t it be more productive to call or write the Senior Staff and have a real dialogue? Let’s use social media to brag about how wonderful Franklin Pierce has been to you and how terrific it is today. Let’s post on Facebook that Forbes Magazine listed Franklin Pierce as a top University for three years in a row; that Dr. and Mrs. Pappas believe so strongly in Franklin Pierce and its leaders, they donated the largest gift in our history to help build a health science center; that our students appeared on the nationally broadcast show “The Doctors” to promote public service announcements about personal health; that our athletic program has enjoyed an unprecedented success for an institution our size, etc. These are all wonderful things and these are the topics to be shared on Facebook.

Speaking of the athletic program, traditionally our athletes have earned a high grade point average, they have a high retention rate and they graduate on a timely basis. They make up a significant percentage of our best students.

Let’s post that to Facebook and privately speak to our administration about our concerns. That would be more productive if you really care about Franklin Pierce.

I apologize for going on so long, but it is my sincere hope that the alumni and faculty will be more encouraging of necessary institutional changes, rather than being so publically critical. If you want to be heard, send in a donation.

The “pen is mightier than the sword” is very true, but in the higher education business model, the “check is mightier than the pen”.

Attend Franklin Pierce alumni and athletic events. Speak to the administration – one-on-one. Let them know how you feel and that you really care about this place. I have attended and served Franklin Pierce through all its presidents. I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Birge and his Senior Staff. These people care about Pierce…just as we do.

Talk to them, listen to them and please be supportive.

Franklin Pierce ranks among the lowest percentage of alumni financial support. There is no excuse for that. I fully understand the pressures of today’s economy and that many alums are still paying for their education. For me to attend Franklin Pierce, each year I had to work two summer jobs, work as a janitor at Pierce during the school year and borrow money from the government and banks. Even when I could not afford to send money to Franklin Pierce, I tried to attend meetings, voice my opinion and be supportive.

While watching the February 3rd Town Hall Meeting via webcast, I was surprised to hear an alum claim she has never been asked to support Franklin Pierce. I have been at events where Dr. Birge has emphasized the importance of giving, attended meetings during Homecoming and Reunion Weekends where the Alumni Board talks about how important it is to give to Pierce, Pierce has an annual telethon to ask its alums to donate and there are requests in the Pierce Radius. Most alums say Pierce asks for support too often. You want to help Pierce, you want it to be a better place: call or write to Dr. Birge or any of the Senior Staff and, to the extent you can, send a donation.

That will make Pierce a better place and assure it will be around for years to come. Disparaging comments on social media sites will only discourage people from attending or supporting Franklin Pierce. I don’t think any of us want that.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my opinion.

Lloyd H. Astmann Class of 1969

Sports Men’s and Women’s Basketball team wrapping up its season

February 13, 2014 Page 6 u n Pierce Arrow October 13, 2011 Pierce Arrow t n

James B. Terry Senior Reporter The men’s and women’s basketball teams are nearing the end of their regular seasons as both squads are trying to pick up every win they can in order to make the NCAA tournament once again this year.

The men’s team, led by 15-year head coach David Chadbourne, is out to a 16-3 start behind a very balanced attack. Three players are currently averaging over 10 points per game, and 10 players are averaging at least three.

After ending 2013 on a six-game winning streak, the team lost its first game of the 2014 calendar year on Jan. 8 but continued to heat up after the loss to American International,

with the team winning five of its last six. A road win at New Haven stands out as the team won on a buzzer-beating layup by senior captain and leading scorer Ellis Cooper, who drove the floor with under four seconds left to lift the Ravens to a one-point victory.

Trouble struck the team when Cooper went down with a knee injury during its loss to Southern Connecticut State in the Fieldhouse on Jan. 25. Cooper was driving for an uncontested layup towards the end of the first half and as he landed his knee buckled and he has not played since.

“When Ellis went down, we as a group just looked at it like everyone has to step up and take a piece of what he brings to this team,” Chad-

bourne said, “Anthony Lessane and Ben Mead have stepped up and been very solid for us.”

Additions, such as Lessane, have come in handy for Franklin Pierce in the second half of the season. Lessane, a senior swingman, sat out the first half of the season due to NCAA eligibility issues because of a medical redshirt, and he has provided a strong spark to the Ravens since rejoining the team.

The team also had guard Paul Becklens transfer in between semesters and he has also provided solid minutes to the team this year. “[Becklens and Lessane] are older guys who bring maturity and a level of unselfish disposition,” Chadbourne said, “They are both talented guys who bring a lot to our team.”

Freshman point guard Donte Gittens has also been a huge piece to the team this year, in terms of replacing two-time Northeast-10 Player of the Year Eric Jean-Gillaume, who graduated and is now playing professionally in Spain. Gittens is averaging 9.7 points per game and is also leading the team with 4.5 assists per game. “Not one guy can replace a player like [Jean-Gillaume], but Gittens has done a great job stepping up and making an impact on this team,” Chadbourne said. “He has brought a lot of talent and energy to this group.”

The women’s team is currently 11-8 with an 8-6 mark in Northeast-10 play, which ties for fourth place in its division.

Sophomore forward Kara Cha-

rette has emerged this year as one of the more talented players in the conference and is leading the team with over 18 points per game and is second on Franklin Pierce in rebounding.

Senior guard Brittany Martelle has also been strong, averaging over 16 points per game and recently passing the 1,000 point mark in her career.

Each team has seven games remaining, all of them in conference before the Northeast-10 tournament begins. The regular season ends on Feb. 25 with a double header on the road at Bentley.

The final home games of the season will be on Feb. 22 when the teams each take on Merrimack.

Arrow sports staff gears up for 2014 Olympics The winter games began on Feb. 6 in Sochi, Russia - a day most people look forward to. Our sports staff share their favorite winter Olympic sports to watch and why.

Mike Husson I’m a huge fan of the Olympics but I definitely like the Winter Olympics more than the Summer Olympics for one reason - hockey. Hockey is my favorite sport and is definitely all I watch in the winter time. I barely miss a Boston Bruins game and generally watch the games from start to finish. In 2010, I followed the USA hockey team closely until that terrible overtime winning goal by Sidney Crosby. We were so close and to be able to come back into that game at the end of the third just to lose in OT stung.

This year, Team USA has many of the same members but a few key names. They may not be the best players in the NHL, but they comprise of a very well-rounded team.

In my opinion, USA will go far because of its goaltending. In 2010, Ryan Miller led us to that game, but

I believe it will be Los Angeles Kings goalie and Connecticut native Jonathan Quick, to lead us. Quick won a Stanley Cup in 2012 with the Kings and was a big factor in that. The key is that USA is going to have to use both him and Miller to stay competitive as both goalies definitely deserve to play.

Other countries to look out for are, of course, powerhouses Canada and Russia, but also Finland. Finland also has a strong goalie core led by the Bruins’ Tuukka Rask. When the Olympics start, you can be sure to see me watching closely to hope that USA comes home with a gold medal.

Brian O’Neil There is no doubt that the 2014 Sochi Olympics hockey games will be one of the most watched sports events. When the USA roster was announced after the Winter Classic on Jan. 1, I couldn’t help but get excited. Although there were some new, young faces on the roster and some “questionable” players who didn’t make it, I immediately got into the “Olympics Zone.” Hockey

has always been a very exciting sport to watch, especially after seeing the movie “Miracle” about 500 times and watching the United States beat the Soviet Team in 1980 and also nearly winning the gold in 2010 with a late goal by Zach Parise before Sidney Crosby scored the game-winner in overtime for Team Canada.

I believe it will be a very exciting and entertaining Olympics as not only do the dominant teams of USA, Canada, and Russia have great rosters, but other “underrated” teams will be competitive as well. The teams to watch out for in this years’ Olympic games are Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Austria.

Sweden and Finland have been dominant in the past with Sweden winning gold medals in 1994 and 2006, and Finland winning silver medals in 1998 and 2006. However, Switzerland and Austria will be teams to look out for as well. Although the Swiss don’t have a lot of offense, they do have one of the elite goalies in the league between the pipes, that being Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller. Hiller has stood

on his head for the Ducks this season as it is currently the top team in the NHL with 83 points.

As for Austria, the team has one deadly weapon that has been a “Bruins-killer” in his career: Thomas Vanek. Along with Vanek is Islander teammate-speedster Michael Grabner as well as Philadelphia Flyer forward, Michel Raffl.

One last team to watch out for is team Slovakia. It has top forwards Marian Hossa and Tomas Tatar as well as top defensemen Zdeno Chara, Lubomir Visnovsky, and Andrej Meszaros.

This Olympics will definitely be one for the books; we can all hope that Team USA comes out with the gold.

James B. Terry I’ve got to go with curling as my favorite sport in the Winter Olympics.

The Olympics is something I have loved for as long as I can remember, and my first taste of curling came in 2002 when the world showed up to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the games.

I was instantly fascinated.

Zach Murphy We all remember waking-up as kids to a foot of snow outside, calling a few friends, finding a hill and going sledding. Everyone can agree those were some of the most enjoyable moments of our childhood.

Now imagine doing the same thing, except this time you are going 60-90 miles per hour, you are representing the United States in the Olympics and instead of snow, you are sliding down a thick layer of ice. Sounds like a dream job to your ten-year-old self.

The men and women who take part in this event would tell anyone just how difficult bobsledding is, and just how much concentration it takes to not only succeed in the event, but to also make sure they don’t cause a catastrophic accident. In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated Olympic events as it is one of the most exciting and fun events to watch, and it has to be the Olympic event I look forward to the most.

Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey look for a strong finish Brian O’Neil Senior Reporter

The women’s ice hockey team has had a season for the books as it comes down to its final four games of the season.

With a near-perfect record of 172-1, it capped off an undefeated season at home with a 4-2 win over Sacred Heart on Saturday, Jan. 25.

This may be considered a huge improvement as the program is in its second year as a varsity sport. “It’s been great winning hockey games this year and we haven’t changed a lot of things we’ve done. Most of it, I believe, stems from the experience that the players got last year,” said head coach David Stockdale.

With only a few players leaving the team, the roster is nearly the same as last year, with some new faces, including dynamic-duo freshman goaltenders Noelle White (Corona, Calif.) and Shannon O’Neil (Tewksbury, Mass.). The two have played in all of the team’s 20 games so far this season and have been dynamite between the pipes. O’Neil has posted a perfect 9-0 record between the pipes while posting just a 1.27 goalsagainst average (GAA). White has been right up with O’Neil as she has posted a 8-2-1 record with a GAA of

just 1.88.

The offense has been quite a show for the Ravens this year as well. The top line of Karsyn Baker (Detroit, Mich.), Colleen Doucette (Wakefield, Mass.), and Michaela Faia (Malden, Mass.) has continued its success from last year as Baker (15 goals, 14 assists) and Doucette (6 goals, 15 assists) are the team’s two leading scorers. There has been no shortage of points from the new Ravens, either.

Freshman Marissa Ketterman (Palmer, Ala.) leads all freshmen in points with 10 goals and 7 assists. Not too far behind her are freshman defensemen Katie Flynn (4 goals, 6 assists) and Nina Danforth (2 goals, 5 assists). “As a cumulative team I think we have a lot better chemistry than we did last year,” said sophomore forward Karsyn Baker.

Although the Ravens have dealt with a few injuries, they show no sign of slowing down as the season comes close to the end. The biggest injury came from sophomore defenseman Michelle Stock, who is out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Another injury that raised some concern for the Ravens was that of star defenseman Sara Shiels, who was out with a lower body injury. Luckily, the Ravens have had great depth as forward Haylea Barbieri (Plainville, Mass.)

has transitioned to defense to help out the wounded Ravens. “It’s a position she’s played before and she has exclusively only been a forward for us,” said Stockdale.

With three games remaining in the regular season, the Ravens hope to close out the season on a win streak as they will take on the University of New England, Sacred Heart University, and Saint Anselm College.

Meanwhile, the men’s hockey team is looking to repeat last year’s success by making the Northeast-10 Championship game as the second half of its season continues.

Last year, the men’s hockey team finished with a 6-4-1 record in the Northeast-10 conference and a 9-133 overall record. The team also advanced to the Northeast-10 semi-finals, defeating Granite State rival Southern New Hampshire University before losing to Saint Anselm College in the final, 5-2. This year, the team hopes to do the same. “Our team goal is to win a NE-10 championship. This goal does not change.

We are looking to continually be better in every area year in and year out,” said head coach Jaymie Harrington.

This year, the team has posted a 1-4-1 record in the Northeast-10 and a 3-12-1 record overall. It has

not been quite the season expected compared to last year, and this could be due to losing ten seniors, including top-line leading scorers Roscoe Sweeney (Falmouth, Mass.), who is now playing hockey over in Hungary, and Michael Carr (South Boston, Mass.) as well as losing topline graduate Anthony Chighisola (Whitman, Mass.). “Losing as many seniors as we did from last year’s team is always going to be tough. We looked to a lot of our current players to raise their game and leadership to fill those gaps,” said Harrington.

With every new season comes new players who step up and try and fillin the spots that are now gone. This season, the two leading goal-scorers are senior forward Tyler Cornele and junior forward Tim Sullivan. Although they have lost these key players, coach Harrington is very pleased with players who have stepped up. “A couple guys that stand out are Tim Sullivan, who has been leading our offense and provides valuable leadership. Ted Walsh our captain, has done a great job leading this team, along with Paddy Murphy. Dave O’Brien continues to provide leadership, putting our team in a position to win hockey games,” said Harrington.

Coach Harrington has also been pleased with his new players. “We

have a handful of freshmen who have stepped in and done a great job for us as well. Brett Oldaker, Aaron Blaker, Alex Schleper, and Shane Dowd have really done a great job of stepping in and being go to guys for us. We look forward to building around these players as we continue to strive for our first conference championship,” said Harrington.

As the program enters its 11th season, it is considered a young one.

“We still are in our building process and one of the challenges we face is playing consistently and that is one we hope to overcome to move on as a whole,” said Harrington.

The team is preparing for the second half of the year. “One of our biggest accomplishments doesn’t come on the ice, but in the classroom. Our team G.P.A. goal was a 3.2 and we came pretty close during the first semester and will look to meet this goal in the second. At the end of the day, it is my job to win hockey games, but I also think it is helping prepare these kids for life after college,” said Harrington.

Opinion: Could Franklin Pierce have an outdoor hockey game?

Michael Husson Sports Editor When the NHL came out with the Winter Classic in 2008, hockey fans everywhere were intrigued to see their favorite teams play outdoors.

Since then, it has been a much anticipated event in hockey. This year, the NHL came out with something new called the NHL Stadium Series. The series consists of four games across three different venues including Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Yankee Stadium in New York, and Soldier Field in Chicago.

So far it has been proven to be quite popular with high television ratings in the first three games. The series

will conclude on March 1 in Chicago. So with the popularity of these games, a question was asked: could a school or, more importantly, Franklin Pierce, potentially do something like this?

James B. Terry, who is in charge of the Ravens Sports Network twitter account, tweeted on Jan. 1, “RT if you want Franklin Pierce to host an outdoor hockey game at Sodexo Field! #WinterClassic #NE10 #RSN.” The tweet has gained 80 retweets and 27 favorites since he posted that.

It is definitely an interesting concept and it’s not like other schools don’t participate in them. Boston College and Boston University,

among some other schools, participate in outdoor hockey games but, of course, that is at Fenway Park. As cool of an event as it would be for Rindge to have, it is simply too expensive.

According to nicerink.com, a website that sends out equipment for people to build hockey rinks outside, with a regulation size rink which is 80 by 200 feet, the rink would cost close to $10,000. That may not seem like a lot to some in terms of university standards, but it is simply a cost that the school would never go for even if it would be considered a great annual event. But for argument’s sake, let’s say the school does go for it.

The first question would be: where would we put it? Easy, Sodexo Field.

The soccer field is big enough for the rink and there is prime seating for many students as well as standing around the field. We saw a large number of people come out to see the men beat SNHU two years ago in the NCAA East Regional championship game.

Second, who could we play? Both the men’s and women’s teams could play against rivals such as Saint Anselm and SNHU. These games could be great to find sponsors for the school as well. The last pro to this could be having clubs and other athletic teams fundraise to make money for their respective organizations.

Although this is an unlikely scenario, it is still fun to think about.

One cost effective alternative could be doing this on Pearly Pond. The ice is already there and there has already been an outside five vs. five tournament this month. The one downside to this is no seating for spectators, other than maybe the hills near Lakeview.

If there is a way for the school to do this, there would no doubt be a lot of people interested and it would bring a great culture and tradition to the school.

Sports Gamers Club hosts annual Super Bowl party Zach Murphy Senior Reporter Gamer’s Club hosted 57 students for its annual Super Bowl party in Spagnuolo Hall on Sunday, Feb. 2.

The event began at 3 p.m. with eight students taking part at Spagnulo Hall, in a Madden 25 tournament with the winner receiving a 32-inch television. The final round of the tournament had to be delayed, however, due to time restrictions.

After the tournament, more students piled into Spagnuolo Hall to watch the game. Students received raffle tickets as they arrived, and the longer a student stayed to watch the game, the more raffle tickets they received. Prizes from these raffle tickets included Beats audio head-

phones, an Ipod nano, authentic Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson jerseys as well as various gift cards. Free food was also provided

by Sodexo during the event.

Gamer’s Club president Johnathan Spicer, who helped put together the event, felt that the event this year ran a lot smoother in comparison to years prior.

“This year’s event ran a lot smoother because we were well prepared with prizes and free food for viewers catered by Sodexo,” Spicer said. “A huge part for the big turnout was the prizes as we always try to keep them recent and what students would want the most.”

February 13, 2014 October 13, 2011 PierceArrow Arrow n u Pierce n t Page 7

Up all Night returns to the Bubble after last year’s deflation of the facility caused the postponement and eventual cancellation of the event. The event will be held on Feb. 28 starting at 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.

The theme for this year’s event is: SAFARI! Doug Carty, Director of Campus Recreation, is looking forward to the return of the largest event on campus “It’s important that this tradition returns- it’s the largest event our department offers and is usually attended by well over 700 students. We’ll be taking over track, turf and basketball courts to create the theme.”

Up All Night is a carnival-style event that offers inflatables, games, activities and more. Student organizations and clubs utilize the evening to create theme-related fundraisers as well.

For more information or to get involved in this production, e-mail Director Doug Carty at cartyd@franklinpierce.edu or event intern Ellis Cooper at coopere@live.franklinpierce.edu

Editors Note: This was submitted by Director of Campus Recreation Doug Carty

Raven’s Sports Network Covering and broadcasting all sports at Franklin Pierce

Like us on Facebook:

facebook.com/RavensSportsNetwork

Follow us on Twitter: @RavensSportsNet

Questions?

Contact PMG Sports Director, AJ Berube PMGSports@franklinpierce.edu

Sports by the numbers Mike Husson, Senior Reporter

14 57 3 14-50 1.51

The number of sprint football players who made CSFL league honors.

The percentage of shots from the field by freshman men’s basketball player Donte Gittens.

Teddy Walsh, men’s ice hockey captain, has scored this many goals this season.

The number of three-pointers attempted by senior women’s basketball player Brittany Martelle this season.

Goals against average freshman women’s ice hockey goalie Noelle White has this season.

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Campus couples get cozy on Valentine’s Day Stephen Keimig News Editor

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, couples across campus reflected about their significant others and what their relationships meant to them.

When senior Drew Clark and girlfriend Nadine Hyde, a sophomore, met while taking a wetland ecology class, they had no idea that they would become a couple.

“Drew and his best friend wanted to study the same kind of wetland that me and my friend wanted to study,” said Hyde. “Our professor allowed us to study the same topic and because of this our groups spent a lot of time together.”

The time that they spent together cultivated a friendship.

“We started to hang outside of class,” said Clark. “I would take her to the movies, but then one night she agreed to go paintballing with me, and after I officially asked her to be my girlfriend.”

Clark and Hyde continue to find fun things to do together as a couple, using the holidays as a way to be creative.

“For Halloween this year we both dressed up as foxes and learned the dance moves to ‘What does the Fox

say,’” said Hyde. “We performed the dance together when we went out that night.”

Clark, who jokes that Hyde resembles a koala, wouldn’t change a thing about her.

“She would be a koala because she is cute, cuddly, and loves hugs,” said Clark. “In all seriousness though, there is never a moment where we aren’t having fun.”

Hyde agrees and added that finding someone who is supportive and committed was fantastic.

“I think that it is great that I found someone with the same personality as me,” Hyde said. “Drew is extremely patient. He is always there for me, helps to calm me down whenever I am stressed, and he is a great listener.”

Sophomore Félin Hernández and boyfriend Kevin Sadoski, a junior, share a connection similar to Clark and Hyde’s but is still unique to them.

“The first time I saw him at a track meet, I really wanted to get to know him,” said Hernández. “I asked my friend who is on the team if he was nice and if he was single. Once I confirmed that he was indeed nice and available, I decided to make an effort to get to know him.”

Sadoski met Hernández at brunch

in the cafeteria one afternoon through the help of some mutual friends.

“When my friends told me about her I joked around and asked why I was meeting a ‘felon’ because her name was Félin; turns out she was great,” said Sadoski.

Hernández and Sadoski both like to joke around with one another and describe the small quarrels they have as comical.

“We don’t get mad about many things,” Hernández said. “We have silly little arguments about things like what Disney or princess movies I want to watch with him.”

Besides loving the twinkle in her eye and her smile, Sadoski is fond of his girlfriend for many other things.

“I love her independence, charisma, eccentric personality, and her zeal for life,” Sadoski said. “If I were to take her on a dream date, I would take her to the beach. We would have a fancy dinner on a board walk, and then I would take her to a cliff overlooking the ocean where we would watch waves crash. While under a brightly lighted sky full of stars I would kneel down, which would get her excited, and then tie my shoe!”

To this Hernández jokingly replied, “I would hit you for tricking me that you were going to propose.”

Features

Both sets of couples have conquered adversity in the form of surviving long distance relationships.

Sadoski, who after dating Hernández for a couple of months left to study abroad in Vienna, and Hyde who resides in Seattle, Washington, don’t let distance come in between

world. Talking on Skype made it feel like he was closer.”

Clark agreed, “When Nadine goes home for break, we have Skype dates and make an effort to stay in touch.”

Students at Franklin Pierce University can expect to see these couples strolling around campus not

Photo provided by Felin Hernandez

Photo provided by Nadine Hyde

their mates.

“I missed him a lot while he was gone and I was counting down the days till he came home,” said Hernández. “While he was gone I didn’t feel like he was across the

only on Valentine’s Day, but for many more days to come.

Campus Couple: Amber Jackson & Johnathan Spicer Lacey Allain Features Editor Names: Amber Jackson and Johnathan Spicer Classes: Amber ’16, Johnathan ‘14 Astrological Signs: Amber-Libra, Johnathan-Aquarius How long have you been together? Celebrating 11 months on Valentine’s Day! How did you two meet?

Amber: The first time I met him was during orientation weekend during the club fair. It was only a minute and I don’t know if he remembered me, but I remembered him. We met more when I went to the first Gamer’s Club meeting in my first semester on-campus.

Johnathan: I met Amber at the first Gamer’s meeting when she arrived at FPU. It wasn’t until weeks later that I actually talked to her and started hanging out with her through our common friends.

How did you start dating?

A: He always made me smile and seemed so happy whenever we happened to pass each other on-campus. He invited me to watch a

movie with him, and the more we made plans to hang out, the more we just kind of fell into a relation-

ship. It was simple and we both wanted to be with the other.

J: We started hanging out separately and started to really enjoy

each other’s company. It came to the point where we’d spend hours together until I walked her back

What was your first impression of each other?

A: Honestly, I thought he was one of the most interesting people I had ever met. He’s hilarious, charming, sweet, and intelligent.

He amazed me with his range in the things he liked; from being president of Gamers to a fine arts and graphic design major.

J:My first impression was she was quiet but clearly aware of her surroundings. She always has good intentions and a clear understanding of what is going on around her.

What’s your favorite date to go on together?

A: What I like most is just staying in with him. He is a great cook...I just love being with him.

J: I’m old fashioned and prefer the typical dinner and a movie. Being stuck on-campus though turns into a night in with me cooking a full meal and watching a movie Photo provide by Amber Jackson in my living room together. Either way we are spending time together.

What is your favorite memory to her apartment. Not long after, together? we started cuddling during movies A: . This one is a tough one for and ended up spending most of me...it’s split between two: the our free time together. weekend he planned a surprise

visit to see me over the summer or the first time we ever hung out. He constantly makes me feel important.

J: I treated Amber to a full weekend vacation to my house where we went out to dinner each night, saw a movie and went to see Macklemore live in Boston.

What is your favorite thing about each other?

A: There are a few things: his eyes, his smile, his laugh, and his personality. He always remembers little things I mention. He’s really unique and I’ve never met anyone like him; I’m the luckiest person to have him.

J: Her laugh and smile. She has a great sense of humor and I love seeing that I’m doing something right when she smiles, it makes our time together even more fun.

Contributor piece: “Forgive us our trespasses” Katelyn Donga Contributor Editor’s Note: This is a nonfiction story provided by contributor Katelyn Donga. Look for short stories, poems and other works in the future editions of the Pierce Arrow. If you’d like to submit any works contact Mike Black.

Nora didn’t speak any English.

She had hair that was so black that it looked blue in the sun when we were outside for afternoon recess.

It was cut with such precision.

There was a perfect 90 degree

angle from where the edge of her bangs met the front pieces of her hair. My hair was always frizzy and was thrown into pigtails 30 seconds before running out of the house for school. I told her all the time how beautiful her hair was but she never understood. She sheepishly looked at me and the corners of her mouth would subtlety curl up.

We were in kindergarten together. I was a little ball of fire and quite the chatterbox. I often got sent to the office for talking out of turn or standing on my chair during Morning Prayer. I would mumble along with the words to

the Our Father, but I never understood what the line “forgive us our trespasses” meant. We were fiveyear-old robots droning lines of prayer that I still don’t understand.

Nora memorized the sounds of the words in this bizarre language and recited them as best as she could.

She knew more about the meaning of these words than any of the nuns who taught them to us.

I would have full conversations with her and she would stare in awe at my mouth when I spoke.

She was amazed how fast I could talk. I taught her colors and numbers. She taught me Mahjong and how to tie her satin scarves into

The science behind love Lacey Allain Features Editor Sweaty palms, weak knees… the majority of people associate these bodily reactions with one particular emotion: love. BBC Science reports that psychologists say it takes about four minutes to decide if you’re into someone, but how do you know if you love them?

It’s easy to assume that your partner’s dreamy physique and sweet personality have made you fall in love, but in reality, your brain has mixed together an appetizing brew of hormones to lure you into a romantic mental tornado.

The first stage of love, called lust, is driven by the hormones testosterone and estrogen, and drives that initial attraction to your partner, according to a BBC article, “The Science of Love.”

During the second stage of love, attraction, people experience the “love struck” feeling. Thinking of nothing else but that one person.

Possibly even the loss of appetite and sleep. The group of neurotransmitters responsible for this phase consists of dopamine: the same hormone in your body after doing cocaine; norepinephrine, also known as adrenaline; and serotonin, a hormone that can drive

you temporarily insane.

The third stage of love is called attachment. This stage is a long-lasting commitment. Two hormones are guilty of causing this stage: oxytocin and vasopressin. These both help to make partners feel as if they need one another.

According to BBC Science, the events occurring in the brain during stages of love are close to those events during mental illness.

Love may be in the air, but science will determine whether your relationship will last!

flowers. Sometimes you don’t need words to communicate at all.

She was a piano prodigy. I heard Nora play for the first time at the Christmas concert. She was a little Beethoven. Girls from the fifth grade were sitting behind me.

“Stupid Chink,” one of them hissed through her teeth. Her posse giggled along with their leader before Sister Mary Rose leaned over and hushed them. I had no idea what “Chink” meant. I remember my heart feeling heavy for Nora. She wasn’t stupid. She was smarter than I was. I would bet probably smarter than the big, bad fifth graders.

After the performances ended, we all filed back to class. I weaseled my way down the line to Nora and gave her a big hug. I wanted to tell her what the girls had said but I didn’t want to take away from her moment of glory. Everyone was congratulating my best friend and talking about how talented she was. Her humble and bashful smile was the only response she gave to her admirers.

I was thrilled that the rest of the school could see her the way I always have even if Nora couldn’t.

“Sister Gail, what is a Chink?”

I inquired.

“Young lady! Where did you hear such a word? We don’t condone racism here. It is a terribly bad word for a Chinese person and I better not hear that from your lips again!”

Why would anyone make fun of Nora for being Chinese? My young mind couldn’t conceptualize why anyone would make fun of her for something she had no control over. I was young and still blind to the hate of the world. I promised myself to not tell Nora what was said. I hated to see her sad.

We were playing our favorite game at recess. We would see who could throw my beat-up, blue lunch bag the highest. The windows on the side of the building were the judges of our silly contest. She always beat me. I tried with all my might to whip it up in the air and being a clumsy child I threw it in the wrong direction. It whirled through the air and landed in front of the fifth grade clan.

Nora ran over to go grab it for me.

“Get out of here, Chink” said one of the sidekicks.

“Can you even see?”, the leader spit out as she pulled on the corners of her own eyes forcing them into an evil slant.

Nora had no idea what the words they were saying meant by definition, but she still felt those words cut her like a dagger. She stood there and cried openly in front of them. I ran over and tried to pull her away and she shook me off with force.

She smiled through her tears and said to the girls, “And forgive us our trespassers as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

A&E

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Campus Senate Digest: Wednesday, Dec. 11 - Wednesday, Feb. 5 Alyssa Borelli Managing Editor

The purpose of this column is to better educate the student body on the campus-wide issues and possible solutions brought to each Student Government Association (SGA) meeting. This is a way of making sure class officers are accountable for the issues affecting the university so it can grow at large.

Meeting Dates 2013/14: Where: Marcucella Hall room 215 When: Every Wednesday starting at 6:30 p.m.

SGA Executive Board Bianca Acebron Peco, President Daniel Wilkins, Vice President Hayley Brown, Treasurer Hayley Baron, Secretary Ashlyn Bourgeois, Parliamentarian Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013 SGA members attended a faculty and staff appreciation event, hosted by the class of 2016, recognizing the following individuals for their outstanding support of students: Thomas Bennett, James Hussey, Amy Piispannen, Carole Brasili, Cheryl Flood, Jason Little, Andrea Bergstrom, Peggy Hakala, and Chris Johnson.

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014 SGA members welcomed back students from winter break. Acebron Peco reported that trash cans from the capital improvements budget have been placed at Lakeview town houses.

A budget of $2,000 prepared

by Doug Carty, director of Cam-

pus Recreation, was approved by the SGA to cover the cost of the annual Up All Night event the Department of Recreation sponsors.

Up All Night is an annual tradition described as an “alternative substitute for a Friday night,” said Carty. Last year, Up All Night was cancelled due to the deflation of the Bubble. Each year encompasses a theme. Previous years’ themes were ‘80s, Disco, Western, Mardi Gras, and baseball. Carty hopes to rotate themes every four years so he doesn’t have to keep rebuilding props. Up All Night usually attracts between 500 and 800 students, according to Carty.

A budget of $792.55 prepared by the Relay For Life Planning Committee was approved by the SGA to cover food, drinks, giveaways, and decorations for the event to be held Friday, March 28, in the Field House from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Planning committee members hope to involve the whole campus community, including alumni and sports teams.

A budget of $200 prepared by BRO and SISTUHs was passed by the SGA to cover the cost of bingo cards and two $25 gift cards.

A budget of $1,388.50 prepared

by Gamers Club was passed by the SGA to cover the cost of food and giveaways for its Superbowl event on Sunday, Feb. 2. The Appropriations Committee amended the original amount Gamers Club was budgeting for.

A budget of $2,510.00 prepared

by BRO and SISTUHs was approved by the SGA to fund a guest speaker on sexual assault.

A budget of $5,687.38 prepared by the Class of 2015 was approved

by the SGA to fund a big screen movie night on Sunday, May 4.

The Class of 2015 will be playing the second Hunger Games movie, “Catching Fire.” Giveaways will include free lawn chairs with a logo on the back, drawstring bags, a hot chocolate bar, photo mugs and much more. Clubs are welcome to fundraise at the event. This event will be the Class of 2015’s second year organizing this event. “It’s a great send off event for students before Final Exams,” said the Class of 2015 president Mike Black.

A budget of $312.95 prepared by the Sports and Recreation Club was approved by the SGA to fund its Red Alert event at the double-header basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Giveaways will include 150 pink stress reliever balls and a red pair of Beats by Dre. Senate Reports The Class of 2014 announced Tristan Pagliari as its new secretary; it’s currently seeking two class senators.

The Class of 2015 announced it’s seeking a new secretary and is accepting submissions for a logo for the lawn chairs at its Big Screen Movie Night.

The Class of 2016 announced an open senate seat and is still collecting tabs for the Jamie Mayer fundraiser.

The Class of 2017 announced it has two open senate seats available.

Announcements Acebron Peco took suggestions from SGA members on concerns and campus improvements to bring to the Pierce Council meeting. Suggestions for improvements included installing a guardrail

next to Pearly Pond, course registration, student-to-faculty parking ratio, and the insufficient lighting in the dorms and the Glass Foyer.

Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014 President Birge attended the SGA meeting to address his reasoning behind the decision to discontinue six majors and minors.

An email sent out to Rindge students earlier that same day from the Provost’s office stated that the American studies, theater & dance, graphic communications, fine arts, mathematics, and arts management majors and minors would be discontinued. Courses will still be available, but there “won’t be as many to satisfy other program requirements,” said Birge.

University data reflected that such courses had little demand. Read more on page one.

Relay for Life co-captain Ashley McCormack encouraged classes and clubs to create teams for the annual Relay for Life event to be held on Friday, March 28, in the Field House from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

McCormack is looking for cancer survivors to participate in a survivor lap. To sign-up or donate, go to http://main.acsevents.org/site/ TR?fr_id=59068. For further questions contact McCormack at relayforlife@franklinpierce.edu.

Senate Reports The Class of 2014 announced that it is in the process of interviewing two students to fill its two open senator spots. The Class of 2015 is seeking a secretary. The Class of 2016 welcomed its newest senator, Brad Ouellette. The Class of 2017 reported that it received interest in its two open senator spots.

Club Reports

BRO announced that it will be in the Glass Foyer collecting signups for its RhymeFest event.

Advisor Reports Advisor Chris Johnson commented on how well students behaved during Dr. Birge’s talk.

“This campus plays a horrible game of telephone. Please dispel the rumors that you hear and make sure the right story gets out,” said Johnson.

Announcements Acebron Peco commented how impressed she was with the amount of students that came to the SGA meeting. Secretary Haley Baron announced that ALANA is seeking a recipient for its MLK Service Award. Acebron Peco shared that Pierce Council Representatives were impressed with the student body’s suggestion of installing a guardrail next to Pearly Pond.

Pierce Council representatives must consult the Town of Rindge before installing a guardrail. More details TBA at a later SGA meeting.

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014 Due to the winter storm, the Rindge campus was closed for the day. SGA members participated in a first-time online meeting. The Anime Club’s proposed budget for $850.12 to go to the Cherry Blossom Festival on April 12 to 13, in Newark, New Jersey, was approved.

Single on Valentine’s Day? Stephen Keimig News Editor This Valentine’s Day, instead of feeling forever alone due to a lack of a relationship, stay positive, because according to one Franklin Pierce student, life goes on.

As cheesy as it sounds, sophomore Samantha Mead actually loves love.

“Valentine’s Day actually makes me happy,” said Mead. “I love seeing happy couples walking around campus. It serves as proof that love is definitely out there.”

It is no easy feat to try and make Mead feel down on what she refers to as “Single’s Awareness Day,” but

it is possible.

“The only time I get sad is if the only thing I receive all day is a care package from my mother with a T-shirt that says ‘mom likes me the best,’ which is what happened last year on this joyous holiday,” said Mead with a humorous grin.

A holiday where the media constantly encourages consumerism habits and public displays of love are things that Mead thinks are a bit overdone.

“When you’re single and it’s Valentine’s Day, you should give yourself a self-high-five for not having someone else trying to suffocate you with heavily perfumed roses or make you fat from all the choc-

olate they gave you,” Mead said.

“Dodge the bullet there!”

Although currently single herself, Mead admitted that she feels comfortable saying she is single.

“I do not have a guy in my life right now that I am willing to give up any of my time to as a boyfriend,” said Mead. “I have a lot on my plate right now that it would have to take a pretty special guy to change my mind.”

Maturity and poise are some good qualities that Mead suggests people who struggle with being alone on Feb. 14 should possess.

“Before you should be in a successful relationship, you should be successfully single, or you will most likely get into the wrong relationship for the wrong reasons,” Mead said. “As simple as it sounds, you do you!”

Photo provided by Samantha Mead

ALANA announces sophomore Joel Torres as its February leader of the month Lacey Allain Features Editor Sophomore Joel Torres was selected by ALANA as its February leader of the month. Torres has found ALANA to be a way to unite the diversity of students’ cultures on-campus. “It’s important to know that you’re not alone…the most impact for me personally came from getting to realize that there are people from all over,” said Torres.

ALANA has made an impact on Torres, who says he believes it is an important organization at any school. One of the goals of ALANA, according to advisor Derek Scalia, is to promote multiculturalism on campus. Torres believes this is being achieved, saying, “it shows diversity…considering how many athletes are international.”

ALANA serves students of African American, Latin, Native American, and Asian American

descent. According to the University’s statistics, about 10 percent of students fit into the races and ethnicities covered by ALANA. Torres is not only involved in ALANA on campus, but also serves as the president of the Class of 2016. He is an ambassador for the new student social network, The Perch, and has participated in Alternative Spring Break. Torres is a double major in political science and English.

When asked about his philosophy on leadership, Torres said, “Everyone is a leader in their own way, whether they see it or not. In order to be a leader, you must have been the learner…leading by example goes a long way.”

ALANA meets every other Wednesday at noon in the Campus Center’s Monadnock Lounge, and welcomes new members at all times. Those interested are encouraged to attend a meeting, or contact one of ALANA’s advisors, Photo provided by Kelz Photography Derek Scalia or Bill Beardslee.

Created by Mike Black, Editor-in-Chief

A&E

February 13, 2014 Page 10 u n Pierce Arrow October 13, 2011 Pierce Arrow t n

Madison Square Garden houses the Arctic Monkeys invasion Sarah Rodriguez Copy Editor After kicking off the “AM” tour in Ventura, Calif., in May 2013 and making multiple appearances in European festivals, the Arctic Monkeys has come back to North America to perform its largest headliner show at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Feb., 8.

The group played 19 songs from its studio al-

bums, including “Suck It and See” and “Favourite Worst Nightmare.”

Photo by Sarah Rodriguez

The set list was a true reflection of the past and present style of the Arctic Monkeys.

Songs rarely performed live, such as “Dancing Shoes” and “Cornerstone,-” thrilled the Garden and filled the venue with the crowd’s appreciative noise.

The real treat for the sold out arena was when lead singer Alex Turner invited “The Last Shadow Puppets” partner, Miles Kane, to the stage to sing “505.”

Kane also shared the stage to play a Beatles original, “All My Loving,” in honor of the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the British Invasion that took place on the “Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964.

From “Fluorescent Adolescent” to “One for the Road,” the performance sounded as if the audience was sitting in at a session at the re-

cording studio.

Turner’s showmanship and banter with the crowd, along with spectacular vocals, made the concert an experience never to be repeated.

The “AM” tour has proved to be a success in Europe and North America. Every show was sold out from Ireland to Italy. Tickets for every show in the States have been sold out.

New York City’s Madison Square Garden was no exception. All the

seats were filled from the floor to the nose bleeds. There were even two separate pits on the arena floor to accommodate the general admission ticket holders.

The merchandise sold at the show included tour t-shirts and sweatshirts with the “AM” album art, “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High” baseball t-shirts, beanies, and posters.

Meet the Roommates: Leah & Austin Alyssa Borelli Managing Editor

Meet Leah Kaczanowicz and Aus-

Austin: Professor Susan Silverman’s first year inquiry, Beliefs into Actions class.

2. Who is your celebrity crush?

Photo provided by Austin Ebersole tin Ebersole, the lovely ladies of Cheshire 343!

1. How did you two meet?

Leah: Freshman year

sion shows do you like to watch?

Austin: We have a schedule Leah: Thursday nights Austin watches “Glee” and I get to watch “New Girl” on Tuesday nights.

Austin: We’re big fans of “American Horror Story,” too.

4. What’s a food you can’t live without?

Austin: Popcorn Leah: with hot sauce 5. Who has the best fashion sense?

Leah: I’m sporty Austin: Well then, I guess I am.

6. If you were stranded on an island, what would you do?

Leah: I would probably build a boat and row away Austin: I’d use my Girl Scout abilities.

Leah: One Direction Austin: Brendon Urie from the band Panic at the Disco.

3. What kind of movies or televi-

Horoscopes Aires: Normally, you adventurous Aires you, your goal is to make Valentine’s Day the best it can be! And this year you are going over the top! But you know your significant other will love it because you have a knack for making your sweetheart feel special.

Taurus: Your love life is sure to be in bloom. Take the opportunity! Don’t let your shy side come out now. It’s the month of love. You could find your main squeeze.

by Courtney Zorena

have balance. Make sure to focus on yourself as well. You are just as important.

Scorpio: Dear Scorpio, this month you will be focused on getting everything done. We know you are determined, but this month you take it to a whole new level.

Sagittarius: Sagittarius, you are extremely romantic. This is your month to shine! Find that special someone and treat them well, as I’m sure you already do.

Gemini: Your social life will be moving, moving, moving, dear Gemini. But because of your charming personality, that’s nothing new. This Valentine’s Day will be full of fun for you and your friends. I see a party in the future!

Capricorn: Capricorn, you love relaxing. And, this month you will be sure to slow down and enjoy what you have.

Cancer: Dear Cancer, you are very focused on your work lately. Give yourself time to relax and unwind this month. Treat yourself with chocolates and a good book. It will make you feel much more relaxed.

Aquarius: You have never had so much energy, dear Aquarius! Make sure you keep that going, because it will affect those around you. You have the power to make people’s days better!

Leo: Leo, Valentine’s Day is coming up soon and your goal is to make it luxurious, exactly what you deserve! Single or not, you will make sure it is a great time!

Pisces: Dear Pisces, your laid-back attitude will make this month of love relaxing, which you need since you have been working so hard.

Virgo: You have been feeling low lately, Virgo. Try and move past what has been bothering you and start fresh this month. Yoga and meditation can make anyone’s day better.

Try it out, Virgo!

Libra: This month you have been focused on a certain someone. But Libra, you love to

Editor’s Note: Courtney Zorena is not a trained astrologist.