The Setonian- Volume 94 Issue - 12 11/30/17

In Opinion, Page 11 Volume 94, Issue 12

www.thesetonian.com

Nov. 30, 2017

March for Life flyers torn down across campus Isabel Soisson Asst. News Editor

SHU explains library hours In News, Page 2

Professors discuss sensitive issues In Campus Life, Page 8

Rodriguez exceeding preseason expectations In Sports, Page 14

The Seton Hall Pirates for Life club reported to Student Services that several of their flyers advertising their trip to Washington D.C. to participate in the March for Life were torn down around campus, according to an email sent to the student body on Nov. 29.

Tracy Gottlieb, vice president of Student Services, said in the email that students are “prohibited from tearing down the flyers of other groups.”

The situation is currently under investigation and any student who is found vandalizing the posters will be subject to the student judicial process, according to Gottlieb’s email.

Julie DeVoti, one of the co-presidents of Seton Hall’s Pirates for Life club, commented on the situation in an email.

“It is disheartening to see people deface and take down our posters when we are trying to spread a message of support for life and in the case of the March for Life, support for mothers who become pregnant unexpectedly and their preborn babies,” she said.

DeVoti then said that the posters being torn down is detrimental to

their cause.

“These March for Life posters being taken down makes it difficult to get the word out about signing up for the March for Life Trip,” DeVoti said. “With an approaching deadline of Dec. 17, it is crucial for people to see these posters with details on how to sign up for the bus trip to Washington D.C.” Benjamin Jaros, another co-president of the club elaborated on DeVoti’s comments via email.

“By taking these posters down, these individuals demonstrate a lack of respect for the views of others,” he said. “I just wish these people could see how much work myself and others from the Pirates for Life have put in to making this march a reality. Perhaps, that would deter them from destructively targeting the views they do not agree with.”

Gregory Lobo, a member of the club, also shared his thoughts on the situation via email.

“While this is obviously an unacceptable act from a free speech standpoint, we stand to gain more publicity from this than we lost if we are smart about it,” he said.

Isabel Soisson can be reached at isabel.soisson@student.shu.edu.

Photo courtesy of Julie DeVoti Several posters were torn down in various buildings throughout campus.

Majority of SHU full-time faculty white Isabel Soisson Asst. News Editor In today’s political climate, diversity is one of the most talked about topics of conversation in government, institutions of higher learning, film and television, among others.

According to Seton Hall’s 20152016 Fact Book, of the 467 full-time faculty members in the fall of 2015, 366 were white, or 78 percent. In 2001, of the 381 full-time faculty members, 307 were white, or 80 percent.

This means that in roughly 15 years, the percentage of full-time professors of color at Seton Hall has only slightly increased.

Several students and administrators had thoughts on diversity at Seton Hall.

Mohamed Shedeed, a sophomore diplomacy and international relations major, had a mixed review of

the diversity within the faculty.

“I think that in the diplomacy school, at least in my experience, the faculty is pretty diverse,” he said. “In fact, out of five professors, only two have been white and each of the others has been from a background distinct from the others.”

Shedeed also said that in the other schools and departments he personally has had professors of various backgrounds, but thinks that diversity is something that can always be improved upon.

“As an Arab, I would always welcome more representation, just like I think many other minorities would. I don’t see an obvious lack in that department at Seton Hall, however, but I do think that the school could focus on having more diverse class options for area studies programs taught by professors from those areas.”

Eduardo Mendoza, a sophomore finance major, thinks that Seton Hall’s faculty is diverse.

“In my three semesters at Seton Hall, I’ve had a very diverse set of professors ranging from women, men, white, foreign-born, liberal, conservative, non-Catholic, and more,” Mendoza said.

He said that while he feels his set of professors has been diverse, each student’s experience is different so some may feel differently.

Rawda Abdelmenam, a senior special education and speech pathology major, thinks that diversity in Seton Hall’s faculty could use some improvement.

“I don’t think that Seton Hall’s faculty is diverse,” she said. “I’m now in my senior year and for both my majors and minor, I’ve only ever had one minority professor. I can think of a couple of administrators and faculty that are minorities, but even that

number is very low in my opinion.”

Abdelmenam went on to say that she finds the lack of diversity concerning, especially today when she thinks representation is essential.

“I think it needs to be more diverse, for sure,” she said. “One of the big topics that minority students are concerned with now is the Africana Studies department which does not offer enough classes and have enough professors to keep running.”

She thinks that cutting that program if that is what it comes to will be detrimental to the school as a whole. Giving minority students representation, she said, is essential to having a thriving student body.

“You empower these students

See Faculty, Page 2

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Faculty: Continued from Page 1 and you challenge their thoughts and engage them in the Seton Hall community by giving them adequate representation,” she said.

Abdelmenam also said that when minority students spend four years at an institution where they rarely encounter a professor that looks or speaks like them, they start to wonder if there is room for them in their chosen field of study.

“We need Seton Hall to show us through the people they hire that there are successful minorities in all fields,” she said. “It’s encouraging and empowering to us and it’s an educational opportunity for the majority of students on this campus.”

Karen Boroff, interim provost, offered her thoughts on diversity in the faculty.

“As members of a Catholic university, we, more than others at other universities, know we are created in the Lord’s image,” she said. “That overarching con-

viction impels us to treat every member of our community, whether we are faculty, administrators, staff, students, or alumni, with dignity and respect, with a welcoming spirit and an even deepen sense that our community members belong here.”

Boroff said that the faculty at Seton Hall tries to find members from various backgrounds.

“I have seen faculty search committees (and these committees are at the core of all faculty hiring) work long hours to surface candidates who embrace our mission, whether they are seeking a tenure-track hire or a term hire,” Boroff said.

Boroff then said that the different schools within Seton Hall work to become more educated on various cultures.

“Every college devotes time, from guest lecturers to offering other workshops, to topical discussions of diversity, whether that centers on diverse international cultures, demographic diversity, or a dialogue about religions of the world, as examples,” she said.

Boroff shared that the Stillman School of Business for example, has created practice partners that are diverse in background as well as experi-

ence that come and join in the classroom to help with instruction. The College of Education is also working on a year-long study of the book, Evicted, by Matthew Desmond, to explore how housing impacts the lives of people across the country.

Boroff added that Seton Hall strives to be a place where all students and faculty feel welcome.

“It is my sincere belief that every day, faculty strive to make the learning environment as positive as possible for all students,” she said.

Mary Meehan, Seton Hall’s interim president, shared her thoughts on the topic.

“Diversity and inclusivity are critically important to Seton Hall,” Meehan said. “I know when faculty and administrators are hiring, they search for a diverse pool of candidates. It is especially important at Seton Hall because we have such a diverse student body and our faculty and staff should mirror that diversity as much as possible.

We have made some strides in this area, but like most colleges and universities, we need to do better in the future.”

Isabel Soisson can be reached at isabel.soisson@student.shu.edu.

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Nov. 30, 2017

Deadline passed for president application submissions Brianna Bernath News Editor The deadline “for fullest consideration” for the position of next president of Seton Hall University was Nov. 22, the first day of Thanksgiving Break, according to the school’s presidential search webpage.

However, the search committee has not yet released an update on the status of the search process.

Dan Kalmanson, associate vice president for public relations and marketing, relayed a message from a representative of the presidential search committee: “Meetings of the search committee have been scheduled for December and January,” the representative said. “The search committee has not communicated a timeline for the search.”

The committee did not comment on the size of the applicant pool, but The Setonian previously reported that there has been an “influx of applicants,” some of which the search committee had been in touch with, while they worked to schedule meetings with others.

The applicant pool is somewhat limited by the requirement in the school’s by-laws that the University President must be a Roman Catholic priest.

The University made an exception

for former University President Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban, who was not ordained. However, Patrick Murray, chair of SHU’s Board of Regents, announced on April 27 that the search committee would follow that rule during the current ongoing search.

While some students think the rule makes sense, others feel that it limits the applicant pool unnecessarily. At the same time, some students think that the Roman Catholic priest credential should be a bonus, not a bare minimum.

“I think the school should do what’s best in the interest of the students and find candidates without looking for that criteria first, and then if that comes in after the fact, then I would support it,” said Christopher Fedorczyk, a junior accounting major.

Meanwhile, Tiffany Zapata, a sophomore nursing major, said that a Catholic priest as the president of a Catholic University “sounds fitting.”

In addition to the stipulation that the next president will be a Roman Catholic priest, the leadership profile published on the search website states that he will also have “an earned terminal degree in his discipline and a proven record of accomplishment as a leader and administrator.”

Brianna Bernath can be reached at brianna.bernath@student.shu.edu.

SHU explains short library hours on Saturdays Nicholas Alfano Staff Writer

The library is an important feature on any college campus.

The building provides a place for study and leisure, but the irregular weekend hours, at times, make needed study time difficult.

The usual library hours during week are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. However, it is during the weekend that the hours change: Saturday’s hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

According to John Buschman, Dean of University Libraries, the hours are oriented around library traffic and tours.

“We shifted them to accommodate Admissions tours - which are temporarily housed in the 2nd floor of the library,” Dean Buschman wrote in an email. “We don’t have enough traffic (we’ve measured it) to justify the costs of adding staff to lengthen the hours on Saturday.”

Seton Hall University is known for slowing down over the week-

Sarah Yenesel/Asst. Photography Editor Walsh Library closes at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays despite being open later every other day of the week. end. Out of the freshman class alone, roughly 20 percent live off campus, according to the University website under “Seton Hall Ata-Glance.”

This number does not include upperclassmen and students who go home on the weekend, which is when the campus dies down.

Some students concur with Dean Buschman due to the week-

end slump.

“Nobody is here on the weekends,” says Tanner Purcel, a freshman undecided major. “There is no reason to pay for someone to sit there if no one is in the library.”

Others are not so happy about the current schedule, such as D.J. Schuck, a sophomore political science major and peer adviser.

“I think the library’s very limit-

ed weekend hours send the wrong message about the school’s priorities,” he said. “The library should be open to encourage students to be consistently concentrating on their schoolwork. Especially on this campus where there isn’t a ton of places to hang out or study, the library should be a nice spot for students to use whenever they need it.”

However, the current situation is not permanent. Once the new Welcome Center is opened in the spring, tours will be moved from the library to the Welcome Center. As such, the library will reassess its hours.

“We’ve committed to re-looking at this when the Welcome Center opens (in March I think) and we won’t have Admissions considerations,” Buschman wrote in his email.

Buschman did not specify how the hours will change.

In the meantime, Dunkin Donuts maintains late hours on the weekend, closing at 1:00 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

“Last, Dr. Gottlieb [Vice President of Student Services] and I worked hard to expand Dunkin Donuts’ hours to provide a safe space after hours,” Buschman wrote.

Library hours have already begun the 24/7 schedule for finals and will continue to be so until 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 19, 2017.

Nicholas Alfano can be reached at nicholas.alfano@student.shu. edu.

Nov. 30, 2017

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Seton Hall aims to keep student population diverse Thomas Schwartz News Copy Editor A decline in international applicants is a common fear held by admissions officers across the United States.

According to a New York Times report, a recent Kaplan Test Prep survey revealed 63 percent of nearly 400 admissions officers from different colleges and universities “are concerned about a decline in international applicants becoming a nationwide trend.”

Although admissions officers are unsettled by the decline according to the same Kaplan survey, only 32 percent anticipate a decline in international applicants at their own institutions.

While this information may warrant concern, Seton Hall University’s international student population and applicant pool remains constant.

According to Alyssa McCloud, vice president of Enrollment Management, applications for 2018 are similar to last year’s applicant pool.

“In general we get about 500 hundred applications each year from International students seeking to enroll as incoming freshman,” wrote McCloud in an email.

In the past three years, the enrollment of international freshman has been 49, 40 and 57 students, respectively, according to McCloud.

International student Ni Hsin Yang, a sophomore nursing major, transferred to Seton Hall after studying English at Northampton Community College last year.

She left her homeland of Taiwan to receive a better education in the United States.

“I attended college in Taiwan for one year,” Yang wrote in an email. “Then, I felt that I learned nothing. The professors in Taiwan just teach information only from the textbooks, but in the U.S., a professor teaches students how to think. That is definitely my worst part - critical thinking.”

Although Yang lauds the campus’ Office of International Programs for their assistance, she wishes there were more activities on campus for meeting other international students.

“The international office in Seton Hall University is good.

It gives a lot of information to international students, such as a driver license workshop and job workshops. They are really helpful. However, I feel that the international office in my last school is better because they hold some events for international students to get together so that we can get close to each other,” Yang wrote.

Adah Beck, a sophomore biochemistry major in the pre-med program, chose to crossover from Canada to attend Seton Hall because of the University’s intimate classroom sizes, the rigorous medical studies and the Christian mission.

Beck mentioned Seton Hall’s campus welcoming presence and her contentedness with the University. Additionally, she emphasized how international students should maintain their unique backgrounds and not attempt to “fit in with everyone else.”

“Everyone here at Seton Hall comes from a different background and I think that the emphasis put on diversity definitely helped to welcome me and other international students to our home away from home,” Beck said.

Moreover, Beck included that the Office of International Programs “has also done a great job in organizing and accommodating events for us international students to meet each other and talk about life here and at home,” Beck wrote.

Anthony Toung Cheong, a senior chemistry major, crossed the globe from his native island of Mauritius, a country east of Madagascar, to experience a different education system and culture. According to Cheong, most of his friends from Mauritius are currently international students in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia.

Cheong believes that he and his friends wanted “to be able to get a college degree from a better ranked institution than the University of Mauritius and to build a career in a more developed country with more opportunities.”

As president of the Internation-

Photo via Facebook/Anthony Toung Cheong Seton Hall’s international student population remains consistent. al Student Association, Cheong acknowledged the many opportunities for international students on campus to assimilate into an American college setting.

“The international student association is an organization on campus that helps with the cross cultural exchange between international students and American students,” Cheong said. “The iBuddy program pairs two students, one international and one American, together and plans a few programs every semester for students to mingle and learn about each other’s culture.”

Nevertheless, Beck implores

more international students to attend international events, but she also hopes that more events would be held on campus.

“More student involvement and some sort of program that offers scholarships that international students are actually eligible would be nice to see,” said Beck, “but I also do understand that both of those are difficult to achieve and I love all that Seton Hall is already doing to make international students a fundamental part of its core.”

Thomas Schwartz can be reached at thomas.schwartz@student.shu. edu.

Dr. Bonita Stanton honored as Humanitarian of the Year Hannah Sakha Staff Writer At the Eighth Annual John V. Kelly Memorial Foundation dinner, Dr. Bonita Stanton, Dean of Seton Hall’s new Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, received the honor as Humanitarian of the Year.

According to the foundation’s website, their mission statement is “to continue John’s legacy of aiding the less fortunate, promoting scholarship and assisting organizations with their charitable endeavors.”

Stanton shared that one of her friends, James Gonzalez, recommended her as a nominee.

Gonzalez, a fellow resident from Nutley, runs the Broadway House in Newark. The two were introduced to each other when Stanton first moved to New Jersey.

They have been long time business acquaintances and share a common experience with family and community work.

Stanton has devoted a ma-

jority of her life to treating and helping others. She said that she spent time providing community work, both in urban and rural communities, the projects, and has worked with migrants. She has also done international work in Cairo, Egypt and Dhaka, Bangladesh.

“My work has been focused on prevention and care for children and their families living in high risk settings. I lived in Bangladesh from 1983 to 1988 and worked in the urban slums of Dhaka, preventing and treating diarrhea.” Stanton wrote in an email.

“When I moved back to the USA in 1988 to work at the University of Maryland, the HIV epidemic was beginning to involve adolescents in Baltimore. Elsewhere in the USA and across the globe. For the next 25 years I devoted my research focus to caring for families impacted by HIV in their communities in multiple countries.”

Dr. Mary Meehan, Seton Hall’s interim president, was thrilled about Stanton receiving this hon-

or.

“Wherever [Stanton] has practiced and worked, she has made people healthier, happier and better prepared for the future,” Meehan wrote in an email. “Perhaps most importantly, Dean Stanton makes people feel that they are truly cared for…With her leading the way, I know that Seton Hall has a bright future as a medical institution of the first order.”

Nashaba Chowdhury, a senior nursing major, shared her thoughts about what this means for the new medical school and all health science majors.

“In nursing school you learn how, regardless of economic background or how much money you have, if someone is in your care, you do your absolute best to care for them,” Nashaba said. “I think that her following through with the foundation’s mission on helping the less fortunate is essential; it’s a fundamental pillar of how care should be.”

Hannah Sakha can be reached at hannah.sakha@student.shu.edu

Hannah Sakha/Staff Writer Dr. Stanton has devoted most of her life to helping others.

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Crime Log Nov. 7-27 Incident: Pirates for Life reported that someone removed their March for Life posters from the parking deck and the University Center.

Upcoming Events What: Puccini’s Madama Butterfly When: Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, 7:00 p.m.

Where: SOPAC The Details: Seton Hall’s choir will be teaming up with the Mid-Atlantic Opera to perform a concert version of one of Puccini’s most famous works. Dr. Jason Tramm, professor and director of choral activities, will be conducting the concert at the South Orange Performing Arts Center.

Cost: $25 To RSVP: contact Barbara Ritchie at (973) 275-2967 or barbara.ritchie@shu.edu.

What: 6th Annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa and the Pirate When: Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, 9:00 a.m.

Where: Main Lounge, University Center The Details: Registration includes pancake breakfast, photos with Santa and other Christmas activities. Preregistration online is required; guests will not be able to register at the door. Children under age 1 do not need a ticket. Bring the whole family!

Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for children For more information, see www.shu.edu.

What: Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony When: Tuesday, Dec. 5, 5:45 p.m.

Where: University Green The Details: Get into the Christmas spirit with caroling and hot chocolate at the eighth annual tree lighting.

Cost: Free For more information, see www.shu.edu.

What: 16th Annual Northern New Jersey Working Together Conference When: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2018, 8:00 a.m.

Where: Main Lounge, University Center The Details: SHU’s Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies will host this tax conference.

Cost: $150 before Dec. 20; $165 after Dec. 20 For more information, see www.shu.edu.

What: SAB Coffeehouse: A Jazz Band Christmas When: Wednesday, Dec. 6 Where: Pirate’s Cove The Details: The final coffeehouse of the semester will feature Seton Hall’s own Jazz Band. There will be coffee and holiday themed refreshments.

Cost: Free For more information, see www.shu.edu.

Nov. 30, 2017

SHU chooses cheaper laptop option Kaitlyn Quinn Staff Writer Seton Hall faculty and students were issued 2017 Lenovo ThinkPad and Yoga laptops this semester.

Opinions of the laptops’ performance vary, as some people find them to be more efficient than others.

Student Government Association (SGA) Senator Marlene Da Cruz, a sophomore political science major, attended an SGA meeting on Oct. 23 where she addressed student concerns about why the University chose Lenovo laptops as opposed to Apple laptops.

Da Cruz mentioned that the University took into account what the students would have to pay for the laptops.

Da Cruz wrote in an email, “I would like to clarify that students wanted to know why SHU chose Lenovo instead of Macs per se. This is because the University tries to give the best technology at the lowest possible cost.”

She also said that SHU strives to find options that are suitable for both students’ budgets and

Merinda Gruszecki/Staff Photographer SGA Senator Marlene Da Cruz said that SHU considers the Lenovo laptops to be the best option for budgets and academics. academics.

“The University does look at other vendors but believes that Lenovo offers the best quality and support for a reasonable cost,” Da Cruz mentioned.

Students on campus had their share of input about the quality of the Lenovo laptops that they received.

Adrianna Masotti, a junior secondary and special education and english major, explained that she likes particular features of her Lenovo Yoga laptop.

“I like the laptops this year.

I’m able to use the stylus to take

SGA Updates Isabel Soisson Asst. News Editor Student Government Association (SGA) President Christina Simon said that SGA is working with Tracy Gottlieb, vice president of Student Services, to educate Seton Hall students about racism on campus, voice their personal stories dealing with racism, and ask questions about each other. Simon also said she is continuing to work on implementing diversity training for Seton Hall’s faculty. She said that they are looking into making the training mandatory and creating a student panel. Simon concluded by thanking Josie Martinez for her work on finalizing the list of new approved clubs on campus.

Treasurer Rishi Shah reported that the operational budget is at $5,375 and the fall fund is at $5,182. The co-sponsorship budget is at $7,780 and the GDS fund is at $4,233.

Senate Speaker Vinay Trambadia reminded the senators to continue coming to meetings despite finals coming up.

Student Life Committee Chair Michelle Pan reported that the planning of Seton Hall Spirit Week has commenced.

Isabel Soisson can be reached at isabel.soisson@student. shu.edu.

www.thesetonian.com instagram: @thesetonian twitter: @setonian

notes, which I’ve found to be really helpful,” she said.

However, Masotti is not a fan of the declining battery life.

“The battery dies pretty easily, which can be annoying,” she reflected.

Maria Henao, a sophomore marketing major, and Sergio Ferrera, a sophomore finance major, also shared their feelings about the laptops.

“The battery life doesn’t last long at all. The computer also freezes when I’m typing something important. My typing gets interrupted when I’m doing

something important and it gets frustrating,” Henao said.

Ferrera also finds the laptop to be unreliable when it comes to typing messages.

“Yeah, I’m on the eBoard of a few different clubs and there have been times when I’m in the middle of sending emails to people and the computer will just crash. The sound is also awful,” he explained.

Additionally, Henao admitted that there are also features about the laptop that she finds to be beneficial.

“I like that it’s a touch screen, that’s helpful. I also like the Windows Notes feature of the Yoga where I can draw out my notes with a stylus. I can take notes more easily with the Yoga,” she expressed.

Stephen Landry, chief information officer (CIO) for Seton Hall’s IT services, said that the reason the school chose Lenovo laptops is because of their reliability.

“The Lenovo reliability is head-and-shoulders above other vendors,” he said.

Kaitlyn Quinn can be reached at kaitlyn.quinn@student.shu. edu.

Receive texts from the Parents Program

Merinda Gruszecki/Staff Photographer It’s now easier for parents to stay in the know about campus happenings with text notifications from the Parents Program. Sign up to receive the notifications by texting “shuparents” to 55000. According to the school’s website, recipients will get no more than four texts per month.

Nov. 30, 2017

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Panel discusses student homelessness and eviction Andrea Correa Staff Writer Homelessness did not prevent Leo Ricketts from pursuing an education, attending college and attaining a history degree.

On Nov. 15, Seton Hall’s College of Education & Human Services hosted a panel discussion called “Meeting the Needs of Students and Families Experiencing Eviction and Homelessness: Opportunities for Improved Coordination among Schools, Law Enforcement & the Community.”

The panel discussion was based on the book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City” by Mathew Desmond, which focuses on a social issue of foreclosures and evictions in the South Orange, Essex County area.

There were three guest speakers: Ricketts, Jeanna Velechko, principal of Lincoln School in Rutherford, and James Walters, a retired detective sergeant and current Enterprise Lifecycle Maintenance Planning (ELMP) person.

Ricketts, a SHU student who has experienced homelessness, was born and raised in Paterson,

NJ and currently lives in Newark.

Ricketts was in a precarious living arrangement from the age of 6 to 10. He calls his life “the black experience,” which he defined as a lifestyle with a single-parent household and minimum education and resources.

He saw not only himself, but also many classmates in the same predicament. Ricketts attended six to seven different high schools and lived “in abandoned apartments and even places that are not even habitable,” he said.

Ricketts gave credit to his past teachers, mentors and godfather for helping him through these tough times by providing advice or clothes when he needed them.

He knew that if he stood in Paterson he was going to die— “where liquor stores are right around the corner, gangs are neighbors, and there is poverty everywhere; sometimes you just want to see something different. I had no interest in being in a gang or selling drugs,” Ricketts said.

Homelessness is no excuse for not being successful and not trying, Ricketts said.

Rickett’s first eviction experi-

ence was anticipated, but the second time was shocking. He said he was concerned about his mother, their safety and their future.

He recalled a night when he and his mother had sunflower seeds for dinner. He knew he never wanted that experience again.

Ricketts is a member of the Martin Luther King Association, which provides partial tuition scholarships for exceptional students who present management and leadership skills as they complete research on social justice and participate in community service.

Seton Hall’s financial aid department has no statistics related to homeless students on campus.

Ricketts, with his lively persona, reminds people “to help around this time of year—close to Thanksgiving and the holidays— but hey, homeless people are hungry in March.”

As a school principal, Jeanna said she is concerned with her schoolchildren’s interests.

“I have kids that are in foster care; I have children that are raised by other family members,” she said, “children of illegal immigrants who have fear of asking for

help at school.”

She said that a lot of her students can be considered “high-mobility” children which are kids whose parents are constantly changing their job thus they are constantly moving to different homes, areas, and schools.

Velechko said she looks “for changes in behavior.”

She provided an example of an excellent student who was present on time, completed homework and appeared hygienic. After some time, she realized the student’s behavior altered. She was frequently late and absent, missed assignments and was not preparing correctly before attending school.

Velechko acknowledged she had the right to notify the Department of Human Services but, “it is human for me to think before I even report some news like that. Would I hurt the family?

Would my action actually be a better decision for the child?”

Walters, a guest on the panel, works with law enforcement and discussed the eviction process.

The process includes the landlord filing eviction against the tenant

for not paying rent and then the tenant must attend court, pay the rent, or have a constable remove them.

“Although it’s a function of the law enforcement, it’s actually a function of the court,” Walter said.

Eviction is an issue today for many families, in particular, children, because they are powerless amidst an eviction notice.

According to Walter, the message was critical towards educators to “look beyond what you see initially and try to think what this child is going through, what the child is going home to, and what you can do to help.”

Walters discussed how he once heard children having an open discussion about seeing the red tag on an electric meter, which means state officials will come to turn off the electricity.

According to Walters, children at a young age are experiencing drastic sacrifices and have no control. Secondly, when electricity is not a resource, communication becomes a challenge.

Andrea Correa can be reached at andrea.correa@student.shu.edu.

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KNOW MORE Giving Tree garners Christmas donations

Nov. 30, 2017

Throwback Thursday

What was The Setonian reporting years ago?

“Turrell residents left without heat”

Author: Liam Drislane Date: Nov. 30, 2006 The story: Turrell Manor residents were told that the building’s boiler would be undergoing repairs and ultimately was replaced. Meanwhile, residents were given four options: be temporarily relocated to a vacant dorm in an on-campus building, commute from home, stay with a friend on campus or remain in the heatless building.

“Students look for familiar faces”

Greg Medina/Photography Editor KNOW MORE, an organization dedicated to preventing sexual violence and sexual misconduct at SHU, has set up a Giving Tree on the second floor of the University Center. KNOW MORE students will collect donations for the Jersey Battered Women’s Service (JBWS). The Giving Tree will run until Dec. 18. Those who would like to participate are encouraged to take a paper ornament from the tree and return the unwrapped items to Room 239 in the University Center by Dec. 18.

Author: Andrew Testa Date: Dec. 2, 2004 The story: The new website “thefacebook” was gaining popularity among Seton Hall students. Between Thanksgiving break when SHU was added to thefacebook’s database and the time of publication, 1,676 students had registered for the social networking site. The timing of this new site prompted student users to procrastinate on studying for finals by checking for friend requests.

University of Vermont:

Tufts University:

John Jay College:

Florida Gulf Coast U.:

Princeton University:

Northwestern U.:

University of Kansas:

Oregon State U.:

Where: Burlington, Vt. Date: Nov. 27 The update: A student is suing the school after he was suspended for groping a female student at an off-campus party. The student claimed that he did not grope the student and that the school’s disciplinary system is biased against men. The lawsuit says that the accused student was denied due process.

From: www.foxnews.com Where: Princeton, N.J. Date: Nov. 27 The update: Professor Sergio Verdu has been found guilty of sexually harassing one of his student advisers. The university mandated that Verdu take eight hours of sexual harassment training. Seven hundred fifty members of the university community have signed a petition calling for further punishment.

From: www.whyy.org

Where: Medford, Mass.

Date: Nov. 27 The update: The university delayed an event with former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci after he threatened to sue a student and the school’s newspaper. The student published two editorials saying that Scaramucci should not be serving on the board for Tufts’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

From: www.thehill.com Where: Evanston, Ill. Date: Nov. 27 The update: Alumna Meghan Markle will marry Great Britain’s Prince Harry. The couple met with the press in England to announce their engagement, which took place earlier in November. Markle graduated from the University in 2003 with a double major in theater and international relations.

From: www.wgntv.com

Where: New York, N.Y. Date: Nov. 25 The update: The Pentagon is fighting the college, which is exhibiting and trying to sell 36 paintings and sculptures created by suspected al Qaeda terrorists at Guantanamo Bay. More than 350 people have signed an online petition created by a John Jay professor protesting the Pentagon policy that might call for the artwork to be destroyed.

From: www.nypost.com Where: Lawrence, Kans.

Date: Nov. 27 The update: A federal judge has dismissed two former female rowers’ 2016 Title IX lawsuits against the university, at the request of the two women and the university. The rowers claimed that the university didn’t properly address their complaints that they were sexually assaulted by a football player.

From: www.foxsports.com

Where: Fort Myers, Fla. Date: Nov. 27 The update: “White Racism,” a new class that will be offered at the University starting in January, has caused controversy at the school because of its name. Ted Thornhill, an assistant professor of sociology who will teach the course, said that it will deal with white supremacy and ways to challenge it. Fifty students have signed up to take the class.

From: www.usatoday.com Where: Corvallis, Ore. Date: Nov. 27 The update: The university has confirmed the fifth case of meningitis in the past year. The student was admitted to the hospital on Friday and is in good condition. The other four students who contracted the disease were treated and recovered. Seven cases of meningitis were reported at the school in 2015.

From: www.katu.com

Campus Life PR students Pass It Along by giving back Nov. 30, 2017 CAMPUS LIFE

Jan. 19, 2017 www.thesetonian.com

Alyssa Schirm Asst. Campus Life Editor

Although the concept of giving back might seem too broad, students in the Public Relations II or Client Relations class realized a need in the local community and used a class project to raise awareness on campus.

Professor Devon Gifis, who teaches the course, said via email, “The students wanted to host a drive on campus to help raise awareness as well as show their classmates how easy and simple it is to give back, especially during the holiday season.”

Gifis, who worked with the charitable organization Pass It Along, said that the students chose to hold a winter accessories drive rather than a coat drive in order to maximize donations.

“We were cognizant of the fact that our main public is the college student, and we wanted to make sure we were maximizing the success of the drive,” Gifis said.

Brittany Rockenfeller, a marketing manager at Pass It Along and a Seton Hall (’16) graduate, said via email that the drive

Photo via Flickr/ Breibeest Public Relations students partnered with Pass It Along to donate hats and gloves. started with one class’ project intended to improve client communication and soon extended to the entire Seton Hall community. She also said the name of the drive comes from putting a positive note in each coat that is distributed.

“After we collect the coats, we write a note of hope and happiness to slip into the pocket so when the coat is received, it also

comes with a smile,” Rockenfeller said. She also added that the drive helps those who donate as well as those who receive a coat. “Note in a Coat not only physically and emotionally helps each person that receives a coat, but also touches the hearts of those who donate,” Rockenfeller said.

Geraldine Castro, a senior public relations major, said that

she got involved with the project because of her class but has genuinely enjoyed working on a service project and would contribute to more projects in the future.

“The drive wasn’t easy nor hard,” Castro said. “We learned that for the future we might partner up with DOVE or the nursing department, as they hold similar drives within our time-

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frame.”

She added that she was happy with response that the drive has received and echoed similar sentiments to Rockenfeller’s.

“All the time and effort we put in this project will be all worth it when I see the smile of those receiving the coats and winter accessories,” Castro said. “Having a winter coat is a luxury that most people and children don’t have.”

As of Nov. 29, students across campus donated 55 winter accessories and 11 coats via boxes around campus. There were also four boxes located in various South Orange businesses, which will be collected after the drive ends on Nov. 30 and combined with student donations.

According to Rockenfeller, the coats and accessories will be distributed to those in need in Sussex County. Gifis said that hats, gloves and scarves are essential items to keep under-privileged children warm this winter.

“We are making a difference in the lives of people who are essentially right in our backyard,” Gifis said.

Alyssa Schirm can be reached at alyssa.schirm@student.shu.edu.

Students have high hopes for Christmas Cabaret Daniel D’Amico Staff Writer

Seton Hall Theatre is putting on the student written production “A Christmas Cabaret,” in the Theater-in-the-Round from Dec. 7 through 9 at 8 p.m. and on Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. Students highlighted how they have grown closer in preparation for the event.

The show was written and directed by Melanie Weir, a senior creative writing and theater major. Jordan Green, a sophomore music education and theater major, is the musical director. Tia Robbins, a junior theater performance and vocal performance major, is the choreographer. In addition, Elizabeth McCole, a junior theater major, is stage managing the show. Taji Steele, a sophomore theater major, designed the costumes.

Admission to the show is free and is Christmas-themed, with stage design to resemble a winter wonderland.

The creative team and the cast have devoted a fair deal of time to preparing for this event.

“We have many theatre students working on building the

Photo via Instagram/SHU_Theatre Students prepare for the Christmas Cabaret Dec. 7-10 in the Theater-in-the-Round. set and decorating the theatre, advertising for the show and working on costumes, makeup, light and sound,” Green said.

Another part of preparation included auditioning and casting for specific roles.

Jacob Pacheco, a freshman visual and sound media major, is performing the role of a Coal Department Elf and a soloist in

the second act.

He stressed the difference between working with student directors as opposed to doing shows in his high school.

In regards to working with them, he said, “Melanie and Jordan are very cooperative and understanding of any problems or conflicts you may have with the scheduling, as well as being open

to the cast’s ideas when it comes to the performance itself.”

This is Pacheco’s first show with the Seton Hall Theater, and although it is a different experience for him, he said he is thankful to be chosen for the show.

As choreographer, Robbins communicates with the cast regularly.

“Being the choreographer of

this show was amazing,” she said.

“Everyone came in with a great attitude and was ready to work.”

This show did not come without challenges, which varied based on every role.

For example, Green had mentioned the reoccurring issue of time. Conversely, other issues included remembering choreography and lines as well as waiting between scenes.

The cast said they learned a lot throughout the production, including learning more about their roles such as directing and choreographing as well as the specifics of costume designing. Similarly, Pacheco said he learned to appreciate the little parts in the show more and had “a deeper respect for those on the sidelines.”

Steele said audiences can expect a variety of performances.

“The title may initially come off as a bit misleading, since the show is a little more than just a cabaret,” Steele said. “Audiences should be prepared for quite a bit of acting and dancing as well as singing.”

Daniel D’Amico can be reached at daniel.damico@student.shu. edu.

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CAMPUS LIFE

Nov. 30, 2017

Disabled students battle unemployment Julie Trien Campus Life Editor

In 2015, the American Community Survey found that 64.8 percent of Americans with disabilities aged 21 to 64 were unemployed. The survey was based on responses from 198,395 participants and included disabilities ranging from hearing and vision difficulties, to independent living difficulties. Comparatively, the unemployment rate for adults in the same age range without a disability was 21.7 percent.

According to Angela Millman, director of Disability Support Services (DSS), this trend is indicative of a larger problem: underrepresentation of people with disabilities in the professional world. However, she explained that there is a possible solution to this issue.

“I believe students with disabilities need to take advantage of all the resources we provide at SHU career planning, internships (and more),” Millman said.

“Students also need to become accustomed to advocating for themselves.”

She added that education levels play an important role in obtaining a job. In fact, obtaining some level of higher education can provide a more even playing

field in the job market.

Gabriel Fiore, a graduate student pursuing his master’s degree in public relations, worked on a campaign for employment for people with disabilities last spring in the final semester of his undergraduate career. Partnering with the company Spectrum Works, which seeks to place people with autism into suitable jobs, Fiore and a team of PR students worked to spread awareness of vast unemployment in the autism community.

Fiore explained that often companies do not give people with disabilities a chance to prove themselves. He said that these individuals are capable of learning just like any other person and companies are putting themselves at a disadvantage by not hiring them.

Millman seemed to agree with this sentiment. “Unfortunately, I believe people with disabilities still have to fight stereotypes and prejudice in their quest to obtain employment (proportionate to) their education,” she said.

However, Millman said many companies recognize the value and potential in people with disabilities. Many have actively sought to hire them.

In fact, DSS notifies students when the Career Center posts

Amanda Courtney/Staff Photographer The Career Center encourages students with disabilities to meet with an advisor to learn about opportunities after graduation. jobs or internships specifically for people with disabilities. Millman said that this practice has helped a number of students find work after college.

According to Nancy Borkowski, associate director of the Career Center, the Workforce

Recruitment Program is an important resource coordinated by the Career Center. The program is an initiative by the Federal Government that matches qualified students with disabilities to full-time jobs or summer internships in government agencies.

However, Borkowski still encourages students to meet with their Career Center advisor as they can help ensure students are prepared for the working world ahead.

Julie Trien can be reached at julie.trien@student.shu.edu.

Professors discuss connecting with students Nicholas Mariano Staff Writer On Nov. 21, the Center for Faculty Development sponsored a session aimed at suggesting ways faculty can facilitate the conversation with students about current events in their classes.

The event, titled “Teaching after Charlottesville,” featured a panel of Seton Hall faculty from various departments speaking about different approaches they take when discussing emotionally-charged subjects.

The panel consisted of Dr. W. King Mott, associate professor of political science; Dr. Elizabeth Redwine and Angela Kariotis, both instructors in the English Department; and Rev. Forrest Pritchett, assistant dean of the Black Studies Center and a faculty mentor in the Freshman Studies Program.

The main theme shared by the panel was finding a way to create a safe environment to facilitate these conversations with students.

Various ideas the panel discussed included the possibility of introducing a one-credit course for students called “community life” in which students are freely able to

discuss the topic of race.

Kariotis, who suggested the course and teaches in the College of Communication and the Arts, stressed her passion for creating a safe space in her oral communication class.

“I have to de-center myself as the authority in the classroom and allow space for emotion eruptions,” Kariotis said. “I have to open my classroom to those who can have the conversation better than me. If I do not open my classrooms for these kinds experiences and conversations, it may never happen.”

Dr. Mary Balkun, who has served as the director of the center for three years, has offered various events for faculty to attend so that they feel more comfortable talking about diverse ideas with students.

The panel was similar to ones that universities across the country have sponsored, addressing racist and white supremacy protests this past summer in Charlottesville, V.A., as well as other modern events ranging from race relations to sexual harassment.

“It’s important that we have these conversations,” Balkun said.

“Students want to talk about these things and faculty aren’t always

Abigail Deffler/Staff Photographer Professors brainstormed ways to approach race and issues important to students in their classes. sure how to deal with it. I think it’s important to have an ongoing conversation about this.”

The event was faculty focused, but Balkun said she welcomes students attending and joining the conversation.

Two students present were quick to voice their thoughts on how professors and the University could better at addressing these issues.

Emani Miles, a sophomore Africana studies and political science major, was one of the students present. As a member of several cultural groups on campus ad-

dressing issues of race, Miles said that students are working together to confront the rally in Charlottesville, but would like to see more faculty support.

“Students already do a really good job at addressing these concerns,” Miles said. “We have programs every single night that invite administration, faculty, and their classes that are dealing with these issues. We invited a couple of deans to our events last semester and they didn’t come.”

Miles’ frustration with the lack of faculty attendance relates to scheduling.

Balkun admitted that faculty want to attend these events but are not on campus after 5 p.m. because of other engagements. She said she hopes that students and faculty can find some common ground to bring forth changes on campus.

“If they think that more faculty need this they can let me know and I will continue to run these sessions,” Balkun said. “I’m happy to work with them if they have any ideas for the kind of sessions.”

Nicholas Mariano can be reached at nicholas.mariano@student.shu. edu.

Nov. 30, 2017

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CAMPUS LIFE

Student presents paper at philosophy conference Veronica Gaspa Staff Writer

In October, sophomore philosophy major Felipe Pereira was selected to present his research paper, “Libertarianism and a Counterfactual Account of Freedom” at the Undergraduate Philosophy Conference at Southern Illinois University.

In the paper, Pereira argued that we all have free will. The paper began as just an assignment for his meta-physics class, but Pereira later found himself editing the paper multiple times with feedback from his professor, even after he had recieved his grade.

“I think free will is a fascinating topic,” Pereira said.

When Assistant Professor Travis Timmerman sent an email to his students calling for papers for the conference, Pereira offered pu his work with little confidence, but was pleasantly surprised when his paper was accepted.

Pereira said that at the conference it was nice to meet other

students wanting to pursue graduate degrees in philosophy, and not just taking on the philosophy major as a secondary major or as part of a path to law school.

After a presenter was finished reading his or her paper, the audience had a Q & A with the presenter and Pereira said he enjoyed getting many different comments on his paper.

The conference’s keynote speaker also gave the presenters feedback on their papers. “Presenting your papers to students and professors who are engaged in the field is an outstanding experience,” Pereira said.

It seems that while philosophy majors are interested in their grades, they are also interested in philosophy outside of the classroom. “I think a great part of the major is that other students taking philosophy classes are interested in talking about it outside of class,” said philosophy major Zachary Moore.

Even though Timmerman has only been teaching philosophy

Photo courtesy of Felipe Pereira Sophomore Felipe Pereira presented his paper on free will at the Undergraduate Philosophy Conference at Southeastern Illinois University. classes at SHU for two years, he has seen the program grow, and has seen the positive impact of his classes on students.

“The introductory classes provide philosophy majors with the foundations they need to take more advanced philosophy

courses,” Timmerman said. “But they also provide every student with the incredibly important (and extremely practical) writing and critical thinking skills necessary for any career. The advanced courses provide students with a deep understanding of

some of the most important subfields in ethics and contribute to providing the students with a well-rounded philosophical education.”

Veronica Gaspa can be reached at veronica.gaspa@student.shu. edu.

Stillman student offered scholarship, job and Oxford admission Nicholas Mariano Staff Writer Approximately 8,000 miles from Seton Hall University, Dominique Fortes reminisces on how her life motto guided her to teach in Taiwan: “why not?”

Fortes, a ’17 SHU graduate from the Stillman School of Business, followed this motto throughout her time at Seton Hall, pushing herself to take advantage of various opportunities on campus and beyond.

Because of this, she had a decision to make: attend the University of Oxford for graduate school, take a job at Ernst and Young, or accept a Fulbright award for the English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program.

Fortes now teaches English to Taiwanese students from grades 3 to 6 as part of the Fulbright ETA program. However, she did not have to sacrifice too much as part of her decision.

Next fall, she plans to attend Oxford because the university allowed her to defer her acceptance.

It has not been a straightforward path for her though. Despite all her accomplishments in recent years, she says that her personal successes are what she values most.

“I think there were definitely people who I thought were smarter than me,” Fortes said. “I think that a lot of my success is due to the fact that I put in a lot of work in college-for my jobs, my internships, my clubs, and my academics. I think hard work is what can

Photo via Facebook/Dominique Fortes Dominique Fortes decided to accept a Fulbright scholarship, teach in Taiwan and defer her Oxford graduate school acceptance for a year. make one stand apart. The times you turn down going to an event because you have to study really makes a difference.”

Despite wishing she could have met more people during her time at Seton Hall, Fortes believes that the people she did meet and the mentors who helped guide her couldn’t have been better.

Being a part of Seton Hall’s Ethics Bowl Team and working her way up to executive editor of The Stillman Exchange also helped

Fortes grow as a person. These groups ended up being little families within the larger Seton Hall community, Fortes said.

“What really made my time at Seton Hall was getting involved with only a few things,” Fortes said. “Not a little bit involved in a lot of clubs, but just get very involved with a couple. I devoted my heart and soul to both of those for the entirety of college.”

One of her mentors was Michael Reuter, the director of the

Gerald P. Buccino ’63 Center for Leadership Development. During her time with The Stillman Exhange, Reuter served as faculty adviser where he was able to watch her grow, according to Reuter, into a result-oriented and purpose driven individual.

“There is a beautiful and relentless intensity in her work – always dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s, and after that continuously looking for ways to build on and improve herself,” Reuter said.

“She is not hesitant to push herself out of her comfort zone, not seeing limitations, only possibilities for something more, something greater.”

John Shannon, an associate professor of legal studies, has worked with Fortes since her first year when she was in his Legal Foundations of Business course.

Shannon shares the same praise for Fortes that Reuter boasts about and believes that Seton Hall allowed her to develop into the leader that is across the world right now.

“Seton Hall provides all of its students with a remarkable range of opportunities,” Shannon said.

“Dominique has taken full advantage of those opportunities and has grown into a very successful person with an exceptionally bright future. She is a great role model for anyone else seeking to engage with learning environments that allow our students to invest in their future.”

Whether she was studying abroad in Beijing, teaching in Taiwan or fending off bullies in high school, Fortes’ motto is what has remained constant. A few years back while in high school, Fortes said that it was difficult to imagine applying for a Fulbright scholarship or to Oxford. Yet, she knew that she could try and she encourages students to follow in her shoes.

“Why not? It can’t hurt,” Fortes said. “You might be surprised by the results.”

Nicholas Mariano can be reached nicholas.mariano@student.shu.edu.

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Nov. 30, 2017

Accounting major opens successful biking business Rhania Kamel Staff Writer Deniz Yalcin, a senior accounting major and student entrepreneur, opened his own business, American Electric Cycle, this past summer in Brigantine, N.J. His business partner saw similar bikes down in Florida and together they came up with the idea to bring the concept up to New Jersey and sell them by the beach.

Yalcin commented on the success of the business in its first month of operation.

“We made 30 grand in the first month so it was decently successful,” Yalcin said.

American Electric Cycle specializes in selling different bikes like racing bikes, regular mountain bike and beach bikes. They all feature electric motors and in some cases can go up to 20 miles per hour. Yalcin said the bikes were rented and sold mostly during the summer season.

In the business, Yalcin focuses on the financial aspect. He considers himself the chief financial officer, while his partner takes on the role of managing store operations.

Business is a bit slower now in the winter, since not too many people frequent the Brigantine area at this time of year, however, sales are still made by appointment only.

James Orsini, the chief operating officer at VaynerMedia and Yalcin’s mentor, commented on Yalcin’s work ethic and how his best qualities make him a better entrepreneur.

“Deniz demonstrates a relentless pursuit of his passions,” Orsini said. “Whether that means starting businesses in language learning, social media advertising or now retail sales, he is an ‘all in’ kind of guy. Demonstration of a relentless pursuit of his passion of the moment sets Deniz apart.

‘No, impossible, and can’t happen’ are words simply not in his vocabulary.”

Professor Susan Scherreik, founding director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in the Stillman School of Business and another mentor Yalcin frequently goes to for advice, commented on his business’ potential.

“I think it has great potential,” Scherreik said. “A motorized bike is a great way to get around the Seton Hall University campus and South Orange. I think that he can take his business to other college campuses, too, as well as cities and other urban environments where you need to get around quickly in high-traffic situations. In addition, motorized bikes cause less pollution than cars.”

Scherreik believes that Yalcin’s can-do attitude is a big factor in

Photo via Instagram/@american.electric.cycle Senior Deniz Yalcin is described by his mentor as an “all in” kind of guy. his success, not only as an entrepreneur but also as a student, and that his passion and confidence really help set him apart.

As for inspiring other young entrepreneurs who may want to follow his example, Yalcin emphasizes the importance of pa-

tience.

“The most important thing is to be realistic and have patience,” Yalcin said. “I am not going to be the person who says you can do anything or be the next Zuckerberg. I am very realistic with people. But if you have a dream

and you want to make it happen then with hard work and hustle, you can make something of it. To make it you need serious dedication, and that is what I would say if someone asked me for advice.”

Rhania Kamel can be reached at rhania.kamel@student.shu.edu.

Non-traditional students come together to feel welcome at SHU Daniel D’Amico Staff Writer

Janica Go, a first year international graduate student from the Philippines, studies marriage and family therapy at Seton Hall but she is someone who does not feel capable of immersing herself within the student body. Her background as a graduate and international student causes her to feel unsure as to whether she will fit in with clubs on campus, despite wanting to join them.

The Non-Traditional Student Association is a new club on campus aimed at bringing students together to support non-traditional students at SHU. Their mission is “to offer support for non-traditional students through interactive dialogue, workshops, and a variety of other activities.

We aim to make a positive impact in the community through community service projects.”

According to the criteria of the Non-Traditional Student Association, Janica can identify as a non-traditional student. They define non-traditional students as: those who are 24 or older, a transfer student, waited to start

Photo via Twitter/@setonhallntsa The Non-Traditional Student Association aims to help any kind of non-traditional student feel welcome wherever they might feel unable to fit in. college, took a break from school, support themselves financially, are married, work full time, have children or dependents, have served in the military or are an international student.

Sarah Miller, a 25-year-old transfer student studying social work, is the president of the club.

She highlights her similar experience as a non-traditional student, and how attending school at that point in her life made it difficult

for her to fit in.

Miller felt there was no club on campus similar to this one that provides support for non-traditional students. Given her background in social work, she saw this lack of representation as a “social problem” on campus.

Michelle Rodriguez, a senior social work major and vice president of the club, had a similar story. She worked for a couple years, and then decided to come

back to school.

“This club appeals to students because there are more and more none traditional students attending college,” she said. “This club brings people together that are juggling many different situations at one time and still maintaining school.”

Despite the club not being an official organization yet, they had their first meeting on Oct. 19.

With 10 attendees at the meeting,

they discussed who they were, got to know the members and talked about upcoming events.

Miller described the meeting, stating, “Every person was saying how much they felt this club was necessary. They know other people on campus that could really benefit from this org and they are really excited to tell it to them.”

When asked if she would be interested in joining the club, Janica said, “If it’s about support, it would be nice to get support from international students because they would probably understand me a lot more.”

Despite this, she was still unsure of joining and just how well she would fit in.

Both Miller and Rodriguez highlight the need for this club, as there is an ever-increasing population of non-traditional students on campus. For this reason, they feel this club will continue to grow in numbers.

To learn more, contact setonhallntsa@gmail.com or follow them on Instagram or Twitter @ setonhallntsa.

Daniel J D’Amico can be reached at daniel.damico@student. shu.edu.

Opinion thesetonian.com

Nov. 30, 2017

Page 11

The Voice NBC should have acted quicker in the firing of Lauer

S

he’s faking it.

I don’t believe her.

She’s just accusing him to get her 15 minutes of fame.

Why did she wait so long to come forward with these claims?

These comments and questions are common responses when a sexual misconduct claim is made against a high-profile man. We’ve seen these comments made in reference to men like film producer Harvey Weinstein, Republican politician Roy Moore and comedian Louis C.K. However, those comments seem to have little effect on the recent movement that has been ousting accused sexual harassers from prominent po-

sitions.

The numerous accusations against these men go viral, resulting in swift and extensive media coverage and often ending with the accused losing or stepping down from their jobs (excluding Moore and President Donald Trump).

The months following the initial report about Weinstein’s misconduct have seemingly been days of reckoning for many men as their alleged victims gained the strength and courage to speak out against this wrongdoing. It has been a breath of fresh air to see these actions no longer be swept under the rug and many companies have been tak-

ing sexual misconduct accusations against their employees seriously.

However, it seems that the firing of these men happens only after the accusations garnered intense media coverage and sparked public outrage.

That’s not the case for NBC, though.

“Today” show host Matt Lauer was fired on Nov. 29 after an NBC employee reported a “detailed complaint” about Lauer’s sexual misconduct, according to an email sent to NBC workers by network President Andrew Lack. Lack also wrote in the email that there was reason to believe that the anonymous em-

Recently, journalists have faced an increasing number of attacks on their credibility and have endured unfair criticism from the American public.

While journalists have always had critics, the threat to the profession has been rising. During and after the presidential election, people have been labeling certain media outlets as fake news whenever they disagree with the content.

Fake news does exist, but real journalists do not write or spread this garbage. Journalists are needed in society because they play the vital role of gatekeeper and watchdog reporter.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll surveying more than 14,300 people released

in October 2017 and found that more Americans are beginning to trust the media again, despite the Trump administration’s constant claims that the mainstream media organizations are biased.

Last November, the Reuters/ Ipsos poll said that 39 percent of adults had a “great deal” or “some” confidence in the press. The latest data shows that this number rose to 48 percent as of September.

The poll also said that the percentage of people who said they had “hardly any” confidence in the press dropped to 45 percent from 51 percent over the same period of time.

While many still may not trust the media, it is a good sign that the public is beginning to place their faith back into journalists. However, there is still a long way to

go because not even half of those polled have a great deal of trust in the media.

This decrease in trust began to spiral out of control during the presidential election and it is a problem for our country. People were too quick to label media outlets as fake news if those outlets did not match up with their political beliefs. Pointing fingers at the media and saying they are fake has not done anyone any good.

A journalist’s duty is to serve the public and keep them informed on what is going on in society. Journalists are needed to report the truth and help the public discern between fake news and the truth.

Real journalists are ethical and they want to make a positive difference through their reporting.

We need journalists because they

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The media is not your enemy Samantha Todd Managing Editor

Corrections

ployee’s experience was not an “isolated incident.” Lauer’s firing came before any media outlets reported on the accusations made against him.

However, Variety, which claims it has been investigating claims against Lauer for two months, wrote that “Several women told Variety they complained to executives at the network about Lauer’s behavior, which fell on deaf ears given the lucrative advertising surrounding Today.”

NBC swiftly fired Lauer after the anonymous victim made her claim on Monday, but the network apparently ignored more

than one complaint in the past. If NBC had listened to these women, they could have possibly prevented someone from being a victim of Lauer’s sexual harassment.

The only thing that has changed is the current unforgiving atmosphere surrounding sexual assault accusations.

Hopefully, in the future, NBC won’t make the same mistake by ignoring the complaints of employees.

The Voice is intended to best represent the collective opinion of The Setonian’s Editorial Board. It is written by The Setonian’s Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor.

Photo via Wikimedia Journalists faced a wave of criticism lately from the public. play the role of a watchdog. They hold public and government officials accountable for their actions and attain information that normal citizens cannot get themselves.

Whatever your political affiliations are, journalists are an essential part of our democracy. We need them to find out the truth and tell the public when they are being lied to by officials. The media is not the enemy of the public, they are on its side.

Without journalists, there would be no one to look out for the public’s best interests and get to the bottom of the truth. The public needs to have more faith in journalists because whether they like it or not, the media is essential to keeping the government in check.

Samantha Todd is a junior journalist major from Middlesex, N.J. She can be reached at samantha. todd@student.shu.edu.

The Setonian

The Setonian vows to serve the In the article, “GroupMe chat Seton Hall community and the designed to feed the hungry shut wider surrounding area by deAshley Turner Alyssa Schirm down,” it was reported that “the livering the news with a sense of Editor-in-Chief Ast. Campus Life Editor graphic photo was sent in an email to integrity, honesty and urgency. the Student Government AssociaSamantha Todd Christina Vitale tions advisor Maggie Bach, which Office: 973-761-9083 Managing Editor Campus Life Copy Editor eventually led to the take down of the Fax: 973-761-7943 The Setonian, the official undergraduate newspaper of Seton GroupMe.” This is a false statement, Brianna Bernath Elizabeth Swinton Email: which was corrected to “many Hall University, is published News Editor Sports Editor thesetonian1718@gmail.com in the University Center each students left the groupchat and it was Thursday of the academic year, Isabel Soisson Tyler Calvaruso eventually shut down.”

Advertising Inquiries: excluding final examination and Ast. Sports Editor Also, in the picture story “Business Ast. News Editor samantha.todd@student.shu. holiday break periods. The SeLeadership Program wins national edu tonian is a member of the New Thomas Schwartz Clara Capone ranking,” The Setonian mistakenly Jersey Press Association.

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Volume 94 Issue 12

Greg Medina Photography Editor

Sarah Yenesel Ast. Photography Editor James Justice Sports Copy Editor Andrew Lombardo Sports Digital Editor Hannah Sakha & Vanessa Vela Social Media Editors B.J. Schecter Faculty Adviser

Page 12

SPORTS

Nov. 30, 2017

THROUGH OUR EYES One Giant mistake Keith Egan Staff Writer

The job of a quarterback is to be the general on the field. He is the man, the leader and the one that gets the blame when his team fails. From this aspect of the position, Eli Manning has been the model quarterback.

Through 14 seasons as a Giant, with 210 consecutive starts, two Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVP’s, Manning has been the face of the New York Giants, and has done so with the utmost class and respect.

With the Giants having arguably their most disappointing season in franchise history, currently holding a 2-9 record, there has been a lot of blame thrown around. The offensive line has certainly struggled, the defense has had some awful games, and head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese have received a lot of criticism for their control of the team.

However, despite Reese and McAdoo failing to address the Giants’ weaknesses in the offseason, it is Manning who will face the consequences this week, with the Giants announcing on Nov. 28 that he will not start the Dec. 3 game against the Raiders.

“This is what’s best for the team,” McAdoo said to media Tuesday, announcing the decision to start Geno Smith instead.

Is it really what is best? Is it the best decision to take away the only consistent part of the organization when the rest of it is in complete disarray? Is it best to bench the quarterback, who, despite being without his three best receivers, is still somehow putting up decent numbers?

It also does not make sense to “evaluate” a quarterback who already started and failed with the Jets while there is a rookie in Davis Webb on the bench who can actually be evaluated. It just does not make sense to bench the best quarterback in the franchise’s history, who has done nothing but been a model captain.

Manning is the New York Giants and has been for the past 14 years. When one is a player like that, in a season like this, one gets to end it on their own conditions. If this is the end of the Manning era in New York, then he deserves a much better ending than this.

Yes, Manning was asked if he wanted to start to keep his streak

Sports Quote of the Week “Everyone was picking up for each other, going back and forth. No one was guarding just one person, so we played better team defense today.”

– Women’s basketball sophomore guard Kaela Hilaire

Schiano debacle sheds negative light on Tennessee Matt Ambrose Staff Writer

Photos via NFL.com Geno Smith (bottom) is starting ahead of Eli Manning on Dec. 3, halting his 210-game streak. alive, knowing that Smith would eventually come in. However, if that is what McAdoo considers respect, then it is no wonder how he lost his team.

McAdoo and Reese should not be able to take the rest of this season away from Manning.

Without the two rings Manning led the Giants to, Reese would be long gone. Without Manning vouching for McAdoo to be head coach after Tom Coughlin was fired, he very well may not be head coach right now.

Right away, the NFL media was buzzing with disapproval for this decision by the Giants.

Several former Giants and teammates of Manning have expressed their discontent with the decision as well, speaking in part for Manning’s outstanding character.

Former teammates Justin Tuck and David Diehl took to Twitter to show their disdain with the decision, as well as former player and radio personality Carl Banks.

Even former coach Coughlin

stated his shock of the news, saying, “I was very upset when I heard that.”

The disrespect the New York Giants have shown the face of their franchise is a tarnish in their record of nearly 100 years of class. The blame spreads from top to bottom in the organization.

As a Giants fan, all I can do is thank Eli. Through the criticism and up and down seasons, he has not changed from the classy person he is. He put everything on the line for his teammates, coaches and organization. Unfortunately, the Giants did not pay him the same respect back on Tuesday.

It is not clear what Manning’s future is with the franchise, or where he may end up next. But one thing is for sure – he is, and always will be, a New York Giant.

Keith Egan is a visual and sound media and journalism major from Tinton Falls, N.J. He can be reached at keith.egan@student.shu. edu or on Twitter @Keith_egan10.

Early on the afternoon of Nov. 26, it appeared that Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano was set to become the new head coach of the University of Tennessee football team after coach Butch Jones was fired. But later they were still without a coach.

During the time in between, students and fans came out in protest of the hiring, both in person and on social media. A boulder on the university campus, known affectionately as “The Rock” by locals, was spray painted with the message “Schiano covered up child rape at Penn State.”

Somehow, the monstrosity of a story that is the Jerry Sandusky rape scandal made its way into the news during this moment.

The protest and connection to Sandusky was sparked by assumptions that Schiano, during his tenure as an assistant coach at Penn State from 1991-95, knew of and covered up the fact that Sandusky was sexually assaulting minors. Sandusky was the defensive coordinator at Penn State at the time.

These accusations stem from statements made by former Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary in an August 2015 deposition. McQueary stated that Schiano went to fellow assistant coach Tom Bradley in the early 1990s after he saw Sandusky “doing something to a boy in the shower.” After this deposition was released in 2016, Schiano denied having knowledge of any of Sandusky’s sexual misconduct at the time.

Since he left Penn State, Schiano has had many stops along his coaching career, most notably a 10-year stint as head coach at Rutgers. This statement by McQueary did not hurt Schiano’s ability to get a job last year, as he was named defensive coordinator of Ohio State before the 2016 season.

Whether Schiano actually knew of any wrongdoing by Sandusky during his tenure cannot be said definitively by anyone, except for those people directly involved. One thing is for sure and that is that no wrongdoing has ever been proven.

Still, the charge that Schiano did know was enough to stop him from a potentially life-changing hire to a

huge program in the Southeastern Conference. His reputation is damaged as a result; having McQueary’s comments in the public view is one thing, but having a university’s fan base protest his hiring on the basis of it is another.

The whole situation is a bad look for the University of Tennessee. Volunteers athletic director John Currie, along with other school officials, essentially saw the reactions to the hire from fans on social media, as well as the small protest that gathered on campus, and attempted to distance themselves from Schiano. Bear in mind, this backpedaling was done as the program was reportedly and figuratively handing the pen and paper of the contract to Schiano.

Is that all it takes? A little bit of backlash on social media causes the rescinding of a head coaching hire only hours after announcing it?

Fans chanted “Fire Currie” at a WWE event in Knoxville on the night Nov. 28 in response to Currie’s hiring of Schiano. However, maybe his firing should be done for other reasons, such as allowing his fan base to persuade personnel decisions via angry tweets.

This all boils down to the fact that Tennessee fans are upset – not just about the decision to hire and then back away from Schiano, but also, about the state of the program. It has not been to a National Championship game since it won in 1998.

The team has not even been to the SEC Championship since 2007.

The program is in search of its fifth coach since legendary coach Philip Fulmer left the program after the 2008 season.

The fans want results, and they want them now. Lane Kiffin was a disaster of a head coach, and so was Jones. It is impossible to know whether the outrage for Schiano was truly fueled by a belief in McQueary’s statements, or whether McQueary’s statements were easy to latch onto for a candidate Tennessee fans already did not like.

Whatever it may be, this whole ordeal has been an embarrassment for Tennessee, and encapsulates the last 10 years of this program.

Matt Ambrose is a journalism major from Exeter, N.H. He can be reached at matthew.ambrose1@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @mambrose97.

Nov. 30, 2017

SPORTS

Page 13

Men’s basketball is on rise, but more support still needed Evando Thompson Staff Writer The Seton Hall men’s basketball team has seen a steady increase in the number of fans attending its regular season home games over the last few years. With the team in position for title contention in the Big East and a deep NCAA Tournament run possibly looming, the fan attendance this season is needed now more than ever.

Attendance at home games, whether against the top intra-conference opponents or teams at the bottom of the standings ,will be a necessary factor this season.

In February 2017, the Prudential Center saw its largest showing ever for a Seton Hall game when 16,733 people came out to see the Pirates take on No. 2 Villanova Wildcats.

The demand for that game forced the Prudential Center to open its upper

Sarah Yenesel/ Asst. Photography Editor The student section has provided SHU with a boost in 2017. level, as the game shattered the previous attendance record of 13,369, which was set in 2012 against former Big East foe Syracuse according to NCAA.org.

Two seasons ago, the Hall was 67th in the nation in total attendance as 113,125 fans walked through the turnstiles over 16 home games, mak-

ing for an average 7,070 fans a game.

Since then, home attendance has been on the rise and last season the total number of fans was 111,350, but for only 14 games, making the average attendance increased to 7,953 people per game. That attendance ranking was good enough for 62nd in the nation.

According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s statistics, Seton Hall had the 18th best increase for average attendance from the previous year to the 2016-17 season out of the 347 total Division I teams across college basketball. Villanova, St. John’s (N.Y.) and Creighton were the only Big East teams with higher increases.

Coach Kevin Willard has touched upon the importance of the student section of the crowd, with this season being the first for student season tickets to sell out.

“The one thing that we’ve had tremendous over the last four years, our student section has been as good as it gets, it really has,” Willard said. “It’s not easy for them, but our students have been absolutely phenomenal.”

Of the teams with the 10 best total attendances last season, seven made the NCAA Tournament. Further-

more, the teams that qualified for the tournament had a combined record of 103-15 at home during the season, which means they combined to have a win percentage of 85 percent at home.

With expectations as high as they have been in recent years, Seton Hall men’s basketball needs fans to come out and support now more than ever.

If attendance is indicative of anything, it is that support provides an off-court element that energizes the home team in times of need.

Evando Thompson can be reached at evando.thompson@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @Thompsev.

HALL ACROSS THE BOARD PHOTO OF THE WEEK

SCORES OF THE WEEK WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Saturday, Nov. 25

Thursday, Nov. 23

Rider Seton Hall

49 85

Sunday, Nov. 26

Rhode Island

Seton Hall

75 74

Friday, Nov. 24

Jacksonville State

Seton Hall

54 73

Vanderbilt Seton Hall

59 72

For complete coverage of all Seton Hall Athletics, visit thesetonian.com or follow us on Twitter @SetonianSports.

What’s 11/30 12/1 ON DECK Thursday Friday Home

Away

Men’s Basketball

No. 22 Texas Tech @ MSG 6:30 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

Marist 7 p.m.

12/2 Saturday

Sunday

No. 17 Louisville 4:30 p.m.

St. Francis (N.Y.) 1 p.m.

U.S. Winter U.S. Winter Men’s Swim- U.S. Winter@ Nationals @ Nationals @ ming & Diving Nationals Ohio State Ohio State Ohio State Women’s Swimming & DIving

12/3

U.S. Winter U.S. Winter U.S. Winter Nationals @ Nationals @ Nationals @ Ohio State Ohio State Ohio State

Photo via SHU Athletics Junior Kaity Healy (left) and senior Ja’Quan Jackson (right) hoist the Thanksgiving Classic trophy after defeating Jacksonville State on Nov. 27.

12/4 Monday

12/5 Tuesday

12/6

Wednesday

TWEET OF THE WEEK

SPORTS

Page 14

Nov. 30, 2017

Rodriguez looks like an All-Big East first team player Elizabeth Swinton Sports Editor Among Seton Hall’s three 1,000-point scorers in Khadeen Carrington, Angel Delgado and Desi Rodriguez, just Carrington and Delgado were named to the preseason all-Big East first team on Oct. 18. Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett, Creighton’s Marcus Foster and Butler’s Kelan Martin rounded out the first team roster.

Rodriguez wasn’t even a second team selection; he was preseason All-Big East honorable mention.

Six games into the season, Rodriguez has proved to be the team’s best players, leading the Pirates with 17.8 points per game on 51.9 percent shooting from the field.

Rodriguez’s impact on the roster goes beyond the numbers. His ability to shoot from distance and finish at the rim makes him a dual threat. He has struggled a bit from three this season, making a third of his shots (9-of-27) through six games, but his efficient 61.5 percent (32-of-52) shooting on two-pointers has pushed his scoring ahead.

After a strong junior season that resulted in a 2017 All-Met second -team selection, Rodriguez has taken a step up for his senior year. If Rodriguez follows his scoring pace, he is projected to finish the regular season with about 553 total points. Rodriguez finished last season with 519 total points, and that included the Big

Sarah Yenesel/ Asst. Photography Editor Desi Rodriguez has stepped up his game for Seton Hall in 2017, out-performing preseason expectations.

East and NCAA Tournaments.

According to the Seton Hall record book, a 553-point season would put Rodriguez at 1,665 points for his career, good for 11th in school history and landing behind Ben House’s 1,670 points. Carrington and Delgado’s production will be right in that range as well.

For Seton Hall, Rodriguez is as versatile a player the roster hold and proves to be a mismatch for his opponents.

“Desi is an elite player,” coach Kevin Willard said after Rodriguez dropped 19 points in an 82-53 win over NJIT on Nov. 18.

“He has put the work in, he has the confidence. He is scoring in so many different ways. He is playing at a very high level.”

Rodriguez recorded his gamehigh in his most recent game this

season in a 27-point performance vs Vanderbilt on Nov. 24, with his low point being a nine-point outing against Monmouth on Nov. 12. Rodriguez’s 27 points were key for the team’s 72-59 win, as Carrington scored just one point that night and Rodriguez helped fill the void.

The Vanderbilt game was not the first time this season Rodriguez stepped up. Rodriguez has shown he can deliver against high- profile opponents, as he put up 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting against Indiana on Nov. 15.

While Rodriguez continues to improve, his success does not come without the chemistry formed with his teammates. Carrington and Delgado have been two players that have set up Rodriguez for plays, and when Rodriguez is having an off night,

teammates like Myles Powell step up, as he did with his 18 points that paced the Pirates on Rodriguez’s off game against Monmouth.

While he has earned Big East weekly honor roll recognition this season, what makes Rodriguez an all-Big East first team candidate is his aggression on the court. When he does not put his effort in an emphatic dunk, Rodriguez is aggressive in helping his teammates in whatever is needed.

“I’m very aggressive,” Rodriguez said after Seton Hall’s win over Vanderbilt. “When you call a post-up play for me, I’ll get aggressive with that. Even when I’m on the outside and don’t have the ball in my hand, I make smart plays.”

One person who did not agree 100 percent with Rodriguez’s statement was Willard, who interjected from the side of the interview room.

“I wouldn’t say smart,” Willard bellowed. “You make plays.”

Rodriguez laughed at the comment and went on to rephrase how he goes about his effort on the court each game.

“I try to make the best play that I can,” Rodriguez said. “I’m just happy that [Willard] trusts me with the ball in my hands, and I’m happy for that.”

Willard has called Rodriguez one of “the best players in college basketball this season,” and with his coach’s support, Rodriguez has been flourishing.

To enter the all-Big East first team this season, Rodriguez still has some work left to do. Currently, he stands at eighth in the conference in points per game (17.8) and seventh in field goal percentage (51.9). Players ahead of him in those categories include preseason all-Big East first team players Bluiett and Foster.

Rodriguez is currently ahead of the aforementioned Martin in those categories, his direct competition at forward in the first team lineup. Martin has averaged 16 points per game on 38.3 percent shooting, so he is not far behind.

Six games through the season, an all-Big East honorable mention for Rodriguez seems low.

With the stiff competition in the Big East, the final vote will come to consistency, improvement and team role. Currently, Rodriguez is on an upward trend and has been the go-to Pirate on this season’s roster.

A second-team selection may be in the cards for Rodriguez as other players ramp up their play through the season but right now, he is among the elite in the conference. If he can keep up his production and on-court impact as Seton Hall’s schedule continues to get tougher and progresses into Big East play, Rodriguez looks like he could be first-team Big East bound when it’s all said and done in 2017.

Elizabeth Swinton can be reached at elizabeth.swinton@student.shu. edu or on Twitter @eswint22.

Postseason absence doesn’t dampen Pirates’ milestone-filled season Matt Lamb Staff Writer

After three months of drama and excitement, the Seton Hall volleyball team finished with a 16-15 overall record and 10-8 mark in the Big East. The Pirates finished fifth in the conference, meaning that unlike last season, they missed the Big East tournament, which features the top four teams.

However, numbers and the final position in the standings does not tell the story of their season.

The Pirates played hard from start to finish, consistently being in the mix for a bid to the Big East Tournament. They bounced in and out of the top four spots all the way until the regular season’s final weekend on Nov. 17, where they dropped their final two contests.

Despite missing out on the postseason, the Pirates surpassed expectations again this season, turning an eighth-place preseason poll projection in the Big East into a fifth-place finish.

“It’s nice that we were fighting for something for the most of

the season,” coach Allison Yaeger said. “We were in the mix and fighting until the very last second of our season. It’s great to have the fight in us, but unfortunately things didn’t go as we planned for them. But there were so many good things that came out of this season.”

Seton Hall began its season in thrilling fashion with a fiveset victory over the University of Oklahoma on Aug. 25 in the Oklahoma Invitational. The Pirates went 2-1 in that weekend tournament before returning home for the Seton Hall Classic, held on Labor Day Weekend.

The Pirates wound up defeating both Rutgers and the University of Buffalo to become the lone team in the classic to win both its matches. Sharay Barnes, Abby Thelen and Sophia Coffey were named to the All-Tournament team.

“Non-conference play taught us a lot,” Yaeger said. “I scheduled hard this year. I knew we would have a good team this year and sometimes that harder schedule helped us, but at times it also hurt us; we had a few five-

Photo via SHU Athletics This fall was a season of milestones for the volleyball team. set losses that really could have went either way.”

The Pirates made their mark when they began conference play, as through the first half of the Big East schedule the blue and white went 6-3, including a 4-1 record in their first five home games.

The season did not end as planned for the Hall who lost four of their final six games and were unable to squeeze into the postseason for a third time in four seasons. Seton Hall did, however, reach double-digit wins in conference for the second straight season, and the third time in program history.

The season culminated with several other milestones and accomplishments. Thelen was named to the All-Big East First Team, as the junior established herself as the Hall’s primary option on offense with a career-high 430 kills. This season also marked the end of three players’ careers at Seton Hall, with Barnes, Dominique Mason, and Sarah Kenneweg all receiving their honors at Senior Night on Nov. 18. Kenneweg was the only senior to play all four collegiate seasons, and experienced a “very special moment” against DePaul on Oct. 27 when she recorded

her 1,000th-career dig. The libero finished her career with 1,109 digs, which is the eighth-most in program history.

Mason played two seasons with the Pirates, after transferring into the program as a junior, while Barnes played just one as a graduate transfer.

As the team looks forward to next season, the Pirates will be returning the bulk of its experience, including Thelen and Coffey. Mason mentioned sophomore setter Maggie Cvelbar as a player who came into her own this year and really improved.

“She was more outspoken this year and took charge of what she wanted to do on the court,” Mason said. “She has tough skin and the heat she would get from playing at her position, I think she took it very well.”

Once the new season comes, this group filled with experienceand led by Yaeger who is entering her eighth year at the head coach, will be ready to take on the challenges that lie ahead.

Matt Lamb can be reached at matthew.lamb@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @MattS_Lamb.

Nov. 30, 2017

SPORTS

Defense a constant message from Bozzella Andrew Lombardo Sports Digital Editor It is no secret that this year’s Seton Hall women’s basketball team is able to score. After putting up more than 80 points just once last season, Tony Bozzella’s squad has already eclipsed that mark three times in just five games, including a 91-point outburst in the team’s opener against St. Peter’s on Nov. 10. While the offensive front for the Hall may be promising, Bozzella knows that his team will struggle if they are unable to handle their defensive responsibilities.

Throughout the preseason, Bozzella emphasized communication and effort. Knowing offense would be the easy part, he made a point to focus practice and position-battles on the defensive end of the floor.

Due to the shooters he possesses, the fifth-year Pirates head coach knew that the best way to create open shots for his players would be to get out in transition and run.

In the first preseason game against Division-III Jefferson on Nov. 4, the Pirates scored 89 points despite shooting just 5-for-25 from threepoint-range. Many of those buckets came from their strong transition offense, but the transition defense on the other end of the floor left Bozzella irritated.

“We really were out of sync for long periods of this game,” Bozzella said after the game Jefferson contest.

“Our transition defense has been disgusting. We just can’t play this way and if we don’t start fixing that, we are going to get run out of the gym.”

Since that lackluster preseason effort, the Pirates have shown considerable improvement on the defensive end. In their first regular season game against St. Peter’s, the Pirates forced 33 turnovers. That stingy defense is also the reason why they were able to drop 91 points, turning their defense into easy offense.

“That’s how we’re gonna play,” Bozzella said. “We’re gonna get up, we’re gonna force turnovers, and we’re gonna play basketball that way.”

Improvement on defense has generally continued each game since, even in the Pirates’ two-point overtime loss to Princeton on Nov. 16. Losses will come, especially for this young team. The only way to improve will be to gain more experience on the floor together, where dips in form due to inexperience are expected to be seen as part of growing pains.

In the first game of the SHU Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 25, for instance, Bozzella saw holes in his defense, despite holding Rider to

49 points and 28.1 percent shooting. He worried that a better team would not miss the open shots that his team gave away early on.

“We have to be even better,” Bozzella said. “If we don’t [get better], we’re going to struggle to score because we’re not going to get the easy baskets that we need to give us confidence. I thought they had some easy looks early on and we didn’t do a good job of defending them. They missed, but we need to make them miss.”

In the final against Jacksonville State on Nov. 26, however, the Pirates stepped up to capture their 18th SHU Thanksgiving Classic title. Sophomore guard Kaela Hilaire credited her teammates’ communication and focus as reasons for the win.

“We communicated so well today,” Hilaire said. “Everyone was picking up for each other, going back and forth. No one was guarding just one person, so we played better team defense today.”

Through five games, it is clear that offense will be the forte of this Pirates squad. But if the side from South Orange continues to win, it will be because of what is happening on the defensive end.

Andrew Lombardo can be reached at Andrew.lombardo@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @lombardo_andrew.

Page 15

Theodore: Continued from Page 16

“I was playing really well; I would go out and I would kill these teams, but we would lose because we just weren’t good enough,” Theodore said. “Sometimes that is just the reality of going overseas; you can play well and lose.”

Then came rock bottom. Not long after signing with his third European team – JL Bourg in France – Theodore suffered a long-term injury that sidelined him from the end of June 2014 through January 2015, missing half of the season with his new team in the process.

By the time Theodore finally took the floor, his team was well out of contention. Again, he played well once reaching the court, but once more none of it mattered with his lack of team success.

He left France weary, but most of all hungry, and arrived in Frankfurt, Germany that summer and joined a young team built of players who shared a similar passion and willingness to do anything to win. It was there, in what was his Theodore’s senior season of sorts, that team and individual success finally collided.

His team, Fraport, finished fourth in the German League despite being placed 12th, while Theodore finished second in the league Most Valuable Player voting. On top of that, Fraport won the FIBA Euro Cup. That success in Germany would only be a springboard as Theodore returned for a second stint in Turkey. Although this time, Theodore did not come in as a wide-eyed recent college graduate, but a 26-yearold with a European championship medal around his neck. He signed with his third Turkish team, Banvit, and after back-to-back experiences of relegation, had his eyes set on turning things around.

“Going to Banvit, well, people just felt my wrath, because I started realizing a lot of these dudes were not good,” Theodore said. “I felt like I was better than everyone, and I wanted to show that, and that is what happened last season. I was able to dominate the game every chance I stepped on the court. And, you know, I had some really good teammates who also wanted to win, who followed my lead and understood that I would do anything to win. It didn’t matter if it was playing defense or getting that stop, taking the shot, whatever we had to do to win, I sacrificed for the team, and the guys understood that, they saw that, and they were able to follow my lead.”

His 12 months with Banvit were littered with both personal and team accolades. In February, Banvit captured the Turkish Cup, as Theodore took home Cup Final MVP. While on the continental front, Banvit competed in the inaugural Basket-

ball Champions League, making it through the group phase and advancing all the way to the tournament final. Banvit would fall short in the tournament’s final, but Theodore’s performances throughout the tournament were still enough to earn him tournament MVP, even in a losing effort.

Despite the New Jersey tattoo on his back, Theodore admits that at this stage of his life, home is Europe.

It is where he lives for 10 months out of the year with his girlfriend, as he now plays in Milan with Olimpia Milano after conquering Turkey last season. The point guard from Englewood will forever be tied to his connections back in the Garden State. Despite that, this year he took a step toward connecting with his new home and European roots by obtaining a Macedonian passport, which made him eligible to play for the Macedonian national team.

“Playing for the national team was crazy because our first game we played Kosovo, and Macedonia and Kosovo don’t get along,” Theodore said. “And you really don’t understand the rivalry because you don’t really know why they’re fighting, what the problem is. But when you’re playing in a game, and you’re getting spit on and people [are] throwing stuff at you, it’s like ‘Well s---, I hate these mother f------ too.’

Just because, I was never part of it, but now, I got the Macedonian jersey on, so now I’m a part of it. I had to embrace the culture, the people, and understand that when I stepped on the court, I’m not playing for myself.”

For Theodore, his role on the court has become much bigger than his days of representing Seton Hall, as he now has the power and responsibility of putting on a Macedonian jersey and standing for an entire nation. He went from big man on campus, to one of the bigger basketball figures in all of Europe.

“I’m pretty much a celebrity everywhere I go for the simple fact that I embrace the culture,” Theodore said. “I get out, I sightsee, I talk to people, I love to go to schools and talk to kids. I’m not just the basketball player that goes to work [and] comes home. I actually try to do things in the community and help out, because, this is home.”

Everywhere he goes, be it France, Germany, Italy or Turkey, Theodore has tried to pick up a little bit of the culture, a little bit of the language, and more than a little success on the court. Safe to say that, for the most part, as he approaches the business end of a sixth season in Europe, Theodore has accomplished a great deal of all three.

James Justice can be reached at james.justice@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @JamesJusticeIII.

Sports

thesetonian.com @SetonianSports

Women’s basketball ramping up defense Page 15 Nov. 30, 2017

Page 16

From struggle to stardom: Sanogo’s return to starting lineup Jordan Theodore’s reignites defense European journey James Justice Sports Copy Editor

Tyler Calvaruso Asst. Sports Editor

Jordan Theodore is five years removed from his days of playing college basketball for Seton Hall.

The 6-foot point guard has made the jump that many talented college players attempt in playing overseas. Unlike the majority, Theodore stuck the landing, as he has become one of the most renowned and recognized basketball players in all of Europe. This rise to the top, however, was not achieved without its fair share of scrapes and setbacks along the way.

When Theodore arrived in Turkey – his first destination in Europe – nothing was compatible, from not being able to speak the language, to not being able to plug his cell phone to charge because of the different outlets and plugs. Couple that latter factor with the seven-hour time difference, and communication between Theodore and his family – for the first time in his life – became extremely difficult.

“In the beginning, it was kind

After watching his team give up 54 first-half points to Rhode Island in the NIT Season Tip-Off on Thanksgiving night, Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard knew something had to change defensively.

Willard went back to his old ways to solve his team’s defensive woes.

Ismael Sanogo, the senior forward, played scarcely as a freshman, appearing in 18 games and making just one start. However, in his sophomore and junior seasons, Sanogo started 50 of the 61 games that he played in, establishing himself as a glue guy and arguably the team’s most valuable player on the defensive end in the process.

Despite his defensive prowess over the two previous seasons, Sanogo was forced out of the starting lineup for the first five games of the season thanks to a strong offseason by redshirt junior forward Michael Nzei. While Nzei brings an advanced offensive skillset compared to Sanogo to the table, Sanogo is the more experienced defender and compliments Angel Delgado better than Nzei on that end of the floor, leading to his return to the starting lineup against Vanderbilt in the third-place game of the NIT TipOff. “Mike [Nzei]’s been playing great, but I just felt like that first unit needed more of a defensive spark,” Willard said after the team’s 72-59 victory over Vanderbilt in the third-place game of the NIT Tip-Off on Nov. 24. “Mike covers Angel [Delgado] offensively, but I felt as the games go on, we needed to cover him defensively and Ish does the best job of that.”

Upon returning to the starting lineup against the Commodores, Sanogo made an instant impact, blocking two Vanderbilt shots in the first five minutes of the game.

He went on to block four shots on the night while corralling eight rebounds.

Starting Sanogo added a heightened defensive intensity for Seton Hall, as the Pirates turned in a lockdown defensive performance in which Vanderbilt struggled throughout the night. The Com-

Photo via Twitter/Eurohoopsnet Jordan Theodore kisses the Turkish Cup in February 2017. of like hell on earth,” Theodore said. “Because, once I got there and I knew how different it was, I didn’t want to be there, I wanted to go back home immediately.

I wasn’t scared, I had just never been this far away from my family…and knowing that I was going to be away for 10 months, I didn’t know how I was going to do it.”

Unlike many friends who had previously come from overseas

Photo via SHU Athletics Jordan Theodore played for the Pirates from 2008-12.

and brought multiple people with them, Theodore went to Turkey alone. No family, no friends, just a 22-year-old and a dream to play professional basketball. But nothing was the same for Theodore, even though he was still playing the game that had gotten him to this point. Whether it was the culture in a volatile country that connects Europe and the Middle East, the fact he was one of six Americans – the maximum number of American players allotted – on one of the lowest-budgeted teams in Turkey, Theodore grew up quickly.

“This my fifth year having been in Europe, and I understand the game now,” Theodore said. “It’s like going to college; some players don’t adapt over the first couple years, but when they are seniors they get it. I had to mature on and off the court. I think me losing my first two years in Turkey helped me; it was a blessing in disguise.”

Dealing with professional egos was a new phenomenon for Theodore in those first years in Turkey.

Another new element to playing in Europe was relegation – something which is not a feature of professional basketball in the United States, but is in Europe where the bottom teams in the top flight drop down a division.

In his first two seasons, Theodore performed well individually, but both times experienced the bitter taste of falling out of the first division.

See Theodore, Page 15

modores shot 33.9 percent from the field and 20.8 percent from beyond the arc, while turning the ball over 16 times and even going scoreless for 11 minutes at one point.

“I just wanted to be the aggressor on defense and not let the other team run what they’re doing,” Sanogo said. “From what it looks like based on the results of the game, it worked.”

With Sanogo out of the starting lineup against Rhode Island, the Rams shot 60 percent from the field in the first half and 52 percent from three on the night, the exact opposite of what Vanderbilt was able to do against Seton Hall’s defense.

“We lost that game in the first half,” Willard said. “I don’t think we have ever given up 54 points as a team in a half. If we come out with good defensive intensity, if it’s 4545 at the half, you’re giving yourself a much better chance to win the game.”

Sanogo saw increased minutes in the second half against Rhode Island and not coincidentally, the Rams managed to score only 21 second-half points. That second half against Rhode Island was the beginning of the tide turning on the defensive end for Seton Hall and a lot of it had to do with Sanogo being on the court and active on defense.

Sanogo embodies the qualities of a defensive stopper – a high-intensity, tough, lengthy player who cares more about locking down the other team’s best players than putting up points on offense. He is what this Seton Hall team needs moving forward, as defense is what ultimately wins championships.

After the loss to Rhode Island, Willard voiced his concerns about the team’s defensive intensity, but seemed unsure of what he could do on his end to change things.

“It’s just more of a defensive mentality, a little more of an intensity,” Willard said. “We were really flat defensively for some reason defensively in the first half. I just can’t figure it out.”

While the defense may need some tweaking down the road, for now it was a quick fix thanks to Sanogo.

Tyler Calvaruso can be reached at tyler.calvaruso@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @tyler_calvaruso.