The Setonian- Volume 94 Issue- 18 2/22/18

In Opinion, Page 11 Volume 94, Issue 18

www.thesetonian.com

Feb. 22, 2018

Church solicitors not tied to trafficking Students worried after social media rumor spreads Ashley Turner Editor-in-Chief

Car catches fire in parking deck In News, Page 2

Professors discuss civil discourse

In Campus Life, Page 7

A viral social media post warning of human traffickers fronting as a religious organization inviting “people to bible study” alarmed some Seton Hall students after similar occurrences were reported on campus.

The author of the post, which appeared on Twitter, stated that two women in their late 20s or early 30s tried to recruit people for their organization, discussed “God the Mother” and seemed fixated on women.

“After Googling God the Mother, we found out it’s a ploy used by human trafficking groups right now,” the post stated. “They are abducting young women from campuses and grocery stores.”

The post worried some students who shared that they experienced a similar situation to the one described in the post.

However, Patrick Linfante, the associate vice president for Public Safety, said that Public Safety does not believe the solicitors to be tied to human trafficking.

“Public Safety has contacted other law enforcement agencies and has found no evidence or information that suggest or indicates that they are part of a human trafficking group,” Linfante said in an email.

Merinda Gruszecki/Staff Photographer A rumor spread about church solicitors reportedly being tied to human trafficking after a post went viral on Twitter.

“At this time, all the information available to us indicates this was a rumor started on social media and we have no information to suggest otherwise.”

Linfante said that there were three separate incidents related to the organization that were reported to Public Safety. The incidents occurred in mid-January, right around the time students

returned from winter break, but were not reported to Public Safety until mid-February, according to Linfante.

The solicitors did not tell students what organization they were a part of. They asked students about their belief in God and said that God was a woman and that the Virgin Mary was actually God, Linfante said.

In Sports, Page 15

See Church, Page 2

Town hall focuses on race, mass shootings Thomas Schwartz News Copy Editor

Previewing baseball’s biggest tests

Other colleges like the University of Memphis, the University of Mississippi and Vanderbilt University have experienced similar situations. WREG News, in Memphis, Tenn., attributed the solicitors to an organization called the World Mission Society Church of God.

University administrators, Student Government senators, members from the Multicultural Advisory Committee, club leaders and students gathered into the Chancellor Suite for a SGA Town Hall, on Monday.

Among the topics discussed topics were diversity adjustments to the College of Arts and Sciences curriculum, the University’s response to a potential active shooter and improving communication between organizations, the SGA and administrators.

The majority of the town hall’s program consisted of a question

Photo via Twitter/SetonHallSGA Race and emergency procedures were discussed. and answer dialogue between students and administrators.

According to SGA president Christina Simon, Gourmet Dining representatives will attend an open forum on Feb. 26.

Furthermore, junior English major and SGA Vice President Violet Reed, said part of the forum’s discussion will involve

structural rearrangements in the cafeteria.

Additionally, Simon stated that the cafeteria will receive renovations this summer.

SGA secretary and political science major, Josie Martinez, instituted Club Council, a monthly program intended to facilitate open dialogue between SGA and

organizations on campus.

After being elected to SGA, she recognized a need for clubs and the organization to meet and discuss events and initiatives together. The Club Council’s format is a product of the feedback she received and an attempt to solve club issues.

Martinez explained in an email that the Club Council’s purpose “is to ensure the e-boards of each organization are well informed and are given opportunities to meet with Clubs they may never have thought of co-sponsoring with.”

She hopes the feedback from the first Club Council, which

See Hall, Page 2

Page 2

Church: Continued from Page 1 On the World Mission Society Church of God’s website, there is a page that discusses God the Mother.

“The existence of a father naturally indicates there are children,” the site states. “Children can only have life if there is also a mother because it is the mother who gives birth. Christ showed us to pray to our Father in heaven because, as children of God, we also have God our Mother.”

WREG News, The Daily Mississippian (the University of Mississippi’s student newspaper) and the Vanderbilt Hustler (Vanderbilt University’s student newspaper) all reported that law enforcement officials said that the organization did not appear to be tied to human trafficking.

Victor Lozada, a missionary with the World Mission Society Church of God, said that there are members of the church who

NEWS previously attended Seton Hall.

He said in the past those members spoke about their organization with students.

Lozada said that the rumor of the church being tied to human trafficking spread like wildfire on social media.

“This rumor has now been linked to our religious activities, without any type of proof or foundation,” Lozada wrote in an email. “Not only are the allegations completely false with no evidence to support such claims, this rumor has caused unnecessary fear among our congregations and our members.”

Lozada said that the rumors have spread fear among members of the church. According to Lozada, some social media users have threatened violence against members of the church – members have also received threatening phone calls.

Morgan Smith, a senior psychology major at Seton Hall, said members of the church once approached her on campus. Smith said that she felt uncomfortable talking to the members, but that the talk never felt malicious. She

didn’t think to report the incident to Public Safety because the situation seemed normal on a Catholic campus.

Smith said she first heard the rumor that the organization was tied to human trafficking on Twitter.

“I immediately Googled it and tried to find as much information about it as possible,” Smith wrote in an email. “The more I read about it, the more I realized that it might not be a front for human trafficking, but it still seemed pretty sketchy. I was a little nervous, but I tried to brush it off because you can’t always believe what you read on the internet, and especially on social media.”

Though the rumors about the World Mission Society Church of God were found to be untrue, Linfante wanted to remind students that they should always report suspicious persons or activities on campus.

Linfante said, “Remember, ‘If you see something, say something.’”

Ashley Turner can be reached at ashley,turner1@student.shu.edu.

Hall:

Feb. 22, 2018

Car ignites in the parking deck

Kiera Alexander/Asst. Photography Editor The car caught fire at 9:31 a.m. on Feb. 20.

Isabel Soisson News Editor A car caught fire in the Seton Hall University parking deck on Feb. 20 at 9:31 a.m., according to an email from Laurie Pine, director of Media Relations.

Pine said that no one was injured in the fire and the blaze was tamed by Public Safety with fire extinguishers until the South Orange Fire Department (SOFD) arrived and fully entin-

guished it.

According to an article on NJ.com’s website, two cars were damaged by the fire when the blaze from the first car spread to a second car.

Public Safety deferred comment to the South Orange Fire Department.

The SOFD has not released any details about the cause of the fire as of Wednesday night.

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

Continued from Page 1 which happened last Friday, can improve organization relationships with each other. At the first meeting, approximately 30 students attended, according to Martinez. Moreover, the lecture-styled meeting last Friday discussed the importance of an organization’s finance management.

“With time it would be great to see increased collaborations between clubs because it will truly benefit the entire Seton Hall Community,” Martinez said.

Vice President of Student Services Dr. Tracy Gottlieb attended the town hall and expressed her satisfaction with the event via email. Her most crucial concern this semester is reaching the goal that all members of the Seton Hall community feel welcome.

Gottlieb shared that, at times, social media prevents effective communication between administrators and students.

“If the student is unhappy with the outcome, there are processes in place and a logical chain of command for the student to follow,” Gottlieb wrote in an email.

“If a student emails me about a problem, I always try to help that student find the answer. Sometimes the student doesn’t like the answer, but I try to explain how we came to that answer.”

Amanda Courtney/Staff Photographer The SGA Town Hall held on Feb. 19 drew in faculty and members of multiple campus organizations.

In addition, at the Town Hall, the topic of a possible active shooter on campus entered arose.

According to Gottlieb, if an active shooter was present, the University’s siren would sound and, at the same time, Pirate Alert would notify students via their cell phones. Also, office phones would ring and computers con-

nected to the SHU network would flash instructions.

“Last year, we put locks on all our classrooms to provide professors and students with an extra layer of security. In addition, we work with local law enforcement agencies to provide training in this area,” Gottlieb said.

Freshman diplomacy major

and SGA senator Dominic Smith believed the Town Hall went well.

Smith thinks the biggest issue on campus includes student involvement. In particular, getting freshmen active.

Overall, the optimism displayed from administrators and students encouraged a hopeful-

ness for future endeavors.

“The SGA brought together all of our deans, top administrators, faculty and students to have a conversation about our community,” Gottlieb said. “What could be better than that.”

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

Feb. 22, 2018

NEWS

Page 3

Gerald P. Buccino Center ranked first in LEAD awards Hannah Sakha Asst. News Editor The Gerald P. Buccino Center for Leadership Development at the Stillman School of Business was ranked number one for the fourth consecutive year in the LEAD awards sponsored by HR.com.

HR.com hosts annual awards for prospective institutes who wish to share their accomplishments in Leadership Training and Development by nominating their program.

Michael Reuter, director of the Buccino Center, was thrilled when he discovered the center had won for its fourth year in a row. He wrote in an email that he felt “honored and humbled” that the center won the award.

He enjoys working closely with the students and aiding them in their accomplishments.

“It is a beautiful feeling of accomplishment that our shared vision and purpose continues to be realized and that they inspire, motivate and drive our Center and Seton Hall family to even greater heights of excellence on our leadership journey,” Reuter said.

When asked about the award’s significance, Reuter shared that it is humbling that the Center accomplishes its mission, which is to develop student leaders.

The Buccino Center aims to develop students into successful

Adrian Chavez/Staff Photographer The Gerald P. Buccino Center for Leadership Development aims to help students grow both professionally and personally. leaders both professionally and personally, according to Seton Hall’s website.

“Good is not good enough,” Reuter said. “Great is not great enough. There is always something more. The best is yet to come. And it will!”

Joyce Strawser, dean of the Stillman School of Business, expressed her gratitude upon placing first in an email. She thanked Reuter for his selfless efforts while working with stu-

dents and the Leadership Council, which consists of alumni who return to mentor students in the program.

“Through the work that it does to develop its students, our Buccino Center is perhaps the most prominent manifestation of Stillman’s commitment to its mission goal of ‘transforming concepts into business practice,’” Straswer said. “Sustaining excellence at this level is challenging, and I’m very proud

and the steps being taken to reduce water usuage. This will show how the Seton Hall community is working together to help the environment.

Assistant Director of Residential Programs and Student Development, Jessica Proano, shared how the residence halls will do their part to participate in the contest and to achieve the ultimate goal of reducing SHU’s carbon footprint.

“We are helping SGA and the #BlueGoesGreen initiative in various ways,” Proano said. “I am working with Facilities to find out what the usage is, and HRL is advertising the contest. I will be sending out information about water usage throughout the contest and we are going to collaborate with EcoFest in April.

Students expressed their thoughts about the Blue Goes Green initiative and whether they think the residence halls will be able to reduce their water usage.

Sophomores Angela Cook, a diplomacy major and Chloe Ma-

nuncia, a graphic design major, live in Ora Manor, find that the initiative can be a great start.

“I think this is an important cause and I am glad it is getting attention,” Cook said. “Since we live in Ora, we use less water because once we get to campus, we’re here for the whole day.”

Manuncia added that something else to keep in mind is recycling.

“I remember that in Aquinas, people didn’t always recycle,” she said. “There are bins, but students sometimes would mix it. We have the same issue at Ora Manor.”

Both students mentioned that Ora Manor’s small physical size of 99 students already provides a smaller carbon footprint.

Zachary Trivelas, a freshman resident and occupational therapy major, finds that the effort is relevant for SHU’s campus, but that reducing water usage can be a challenge.

“I think Blue Goes Green is useful, not only here at SHU, but everywhere. It’s hard for people to

that the Center has earned this honor for a fourth consecutive year!”

Strawser hopes that through winning this award, the Center will continue to attract prospective students into the program, as well returning alums to aid new students.

Michael Cappelluti, a senior marketing major, shared the positive impact that his time within the Center had on him.

In fact, five out of the six in-

ternships he worked in were obtained thanks to the Buccino Center.

“It’s taught me to keep an open mind, and lead selflessly,” Cappelluti wrote in an email.

“There is no leadership without people. If not anything else, the program has taught me to see the best in people and exploit their strengths, no matter what they may be.”

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

SGA and HRL work to reduce water usuage Kaitlyn Quinn Social Media Editor

Housing and Residence Life, (HRL) is working with the Student Government Association, (SGA) to reduce water usage in residence halls as part of their Blue Goes Green initiative.

Alyssa Futa, a freshman diplomacy major and someone directly involved with the campaign, shared details about a contest the two organizations are creating to see which residence hall can reduce the most water usage.

“The contest winner is going to be a building and its residents (i.e. Boland, Xavier, Ora, etc.).

Though individuals may not be recognized, which is because it is very difficult to measure individual water usage, whichever building reduces their water usage the most is the winner,” Futa wrote in an email.

According to Futa, the winning building will be featured in a video that Seton Hall will use to show the conservation efforts

Aly Torres/Staff Photographer SGA and HRL collaborate on Blue Goes Green initiative. adjust to not using as much water, so it’s hard to say how it will work, but it’s definitely needed.

This is the world we’ll have in the future and we need to take care of it,” Trivelas said.

Futa shared tips for students to reduce water use.

“First, taking shorter showers is a great way to reduce water usage. Second, turning off the water when you are scrubbing dishes or when you aren’t brushing

your teeth is a great way to conserve,” she said. “Third, for those who have plants in their rooms, collect the cold water that runs while you wait for the water to warm up. You can use this water for your plants so that it doesn’t waste.”

The campus-wide water conservation contest began on Feb. 15 and will end on April 13.

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

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NEWS

Crime Log Feb. 18 & 20 CDS: Marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in a room at a residence hall.

Feb. 15 Burglary & Theft: Faculty member reported a theft of money from her purse that was inside her office in Jubilee Hall.

Upcoming Events What: Bounce N’ Trounce When: Feb. 27-28, 6 p.m.-6 p.m.

Where: Main Lounge The Details: Celebrate before the Seton Hall - Villanova basketball game by supporting the Pirates! Participate in the 24hour ball bouncing marathon by creating a team with your friends or campus organization. There will also be food eating contests and chances to win prizes. A pep-rally will also be held, and appearances from the men’s and women’s basketball team, Seton Hall Cheer and Seton Hall Sapphires will be made. There will also be a photo booth and tie-dying station.

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

What: Steel Magnolias When: Feb. 22-24, 8 p.m, Feb. 25, 2 p.m.

Where: SOPAC The Details: Robert Harling’s comedy drama entails the story about six southern women bonding through love, life, tragedy and hair styling.

Cost: Free For more information, visit sopacnow.org.

What: An Evening with Andy Borowitz Live When: Mar. 3, 8 p.m.

Where: SOPAC, South Orange The details: New York Times best selling author, Andy Borowtiz, is most known for his satirical column entitled Borowitz Report. He will be perfoming a live comedy show followed by a Q&A session.

Cost: $38-$108 For more information, see sovillagecenter. org.

What: SAB Travel: Dave and Buster’s When: Feb. 24, 4:00-10:15 p.m.

Where: Woodbridge, N.J. The Details: Attend the Dave and Busters trip by purchasing tickets, which are now on sale. This covers round-trip transportation, a $20 powercard and food buffet.

Cost: $15 For more information, see shu.edu.

Feb. 22, 2018

Brownson Speech & Debate wins big Marie Leone Staff Writer On Feb. 12, five members of the Brownson Speech and Debate team returned triumphant from the Virginia is for Lovers two-tournament swing hosted by James Madison University.

Professor Catherine Zizik said in a statement, “Competing against teams from the University of Alabama, St. Joseph’s, West Chester University, Mount San Antonio College, Liberty University and others, the tiny Seton Hall team earned second place on each day.”

According to Zizik’s statement, co-captains Jocelyn Rogalo and Jonathan Thow each won several awards; Rogalo alone earned 10 awards, including First Place Overall Individual Champion.

“Freshmen Brian Sumereau, Aliezah Hulett and Olivia Klein all won awards [as well]. Brian rocked the freshmen house on Saturday, advancing to finals in Impromptu, Extemporaneous and After Dinner Speaking,” Zizik said. “Our freshmen Dramatic Duo team, Hulett and Klein took second. Olivia Klein

Photo courtesy of Jocelyn Rogalo.

The Brownson Speech & Debate took home numerous awards at the tournament hosted by James Madison U. also won awards in Prose and Poetry.”

This performance was a result of hard work, according to team Thow, a junior nursing major. He wrote in an email, “We’ve been preparing some of these speeches since August with constant redrafting and research. We spend roughly four hours a week working directly with a coach, another five hours doing individual work, and four hours peer coaching.”

Appearance and demeanor are vital aspects of a competition.

SGA Updates Mia Page Staff Writer SGA Advisor Dean Van Norman kicked off the meeting on Jan. 19 by asking the Student Government Association (SGA) to consider putting on an event on March 24 which is when the “March for Our Lives,” a nationwide student protest, is to be held. The SGA agreed to form a committee to determine what event will be held and to vote at next week’s meeting.

This week President Simon did not give a typical president’s report, instead she shared her experiences from her time campaigning. Simon gave a speech about her negative experiences as a candidate and how this upcoming election will be done with respect and integrity. She discussed her experiences, including slander based on her race and gender identity and the spread of nasty rumors both within and outside of SGA. Simon stressed that the hatred she experienced during her election will not occur in upcoming elections and she declared before the senate to respect the candidates and to respect the organization.

After her speech, Simon swore in a new At Large Senator and a new Ad Hoc. The Student Life Committee announced that they have contacted the brand Johnson & Johnson, who are considering sponsoring their “Feminine Hygiene Initiative.” They are also considering adding a Keurig and a microwave to the library to benefit students.

Mia Page can be reached at mia.page@student.shu.edu.

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

Freshman communications and visual and sound media major Olivia Klein said via email, “It was important to me that I also had my suits dry cleaned and shoes cleaned before competing to make sure I was properly representing myself and the team.”

This competition is just one of many to come. “This was just another large competition on our path towards our national tournaments,” Thow said. “We compete roughly every other weekend across the country. In

a couple weeks we are going to Ohio and then California. We finish our season with nationals in Colorado.”

According to Thow, the team values not only the awards won, but also the opportunity to speak about socially and politically relevant topics.

He said, “Each of our carefully crafted and researched speeches is designed to highlight under recognized narratives.”

Thow said that the Brownson Speech and Debate team “root[s] for the underdogs of our society” by bringing awareness to causes such as ecofeminism, sustainable burial techniques, flaws in the foster care system, and food donation, among others.

Thow gave an example from his own work: “I have a speech where I ask people to write thinking of you cards to incarcerated rape survivors.”

Thow added, “[T]he trophies are nice, but the best part is seeing that our speeches are impacting someone and forcing people to think about our world a little differently.”

Marie Leone can be reached at marie.leone@student.shu.edu.

Feb. 22, 2018

NEWS

Page 5

SHU’s interprofessional team receives grant Brynne Connolly Staff Writer The Seton Hall interprofessional team has received a fiveyear personnel development grant from the U.S. Department of Education totaling in over $1.2 million which is currently being used to benefit graduate students in the Speech Language and Pathology program and Occupational therapy students.

The School of Health and Medical Sciences (SHMS) developed a program that will begin targeting one of the largest problems facing school-aged kids. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 35 percent of kids aged three to 21 received some kind of special education services for Specific Learning Disabilities. These services include, but are not limited to, help with dyslexia, dysgraphia and language disorders.

The program entitled “Write to Learn: Preparation of Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists to Improve Written Expression in Children with Specific Learning Disabilities” will be a community oriented learning experience for the eight scholars who were selected to pilot the program.

The program is co-directed by, Ruth Segal, Professor and Chair of the Department of Occupa-

tional Therapy, and Dr. Vikram N. Dayalu, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology, along with key personnel, Associate Dr. Anthony D. Koutsoftas, and Assistant Professor Karen Hoover.

In a statement made via email, Dean Brian Shulman said, “The fact that this collaboration is being funded at the federal level underscores the real impact that we see when professionals come together for a common purpose.

In the School of Health and Medical Sciences, our ongoing emphasis on interprofessional education and community outreach allows our faculty and students to be leaders when it comes to innovation, advocacy and educational outcomes.”

Over the next five years, 40 scholars will be selected to participate in “Write to Learn.” According to Dayalu, scholars must first submit an application, and an essay outlining work or related experiences in the educational arena. It was followed by a group interview and a live writing sample. Then the eight best students, four from each discipline, will have the opportunity “to use their expertise in providing high-quality evidence-based services to children diagnosed with Specific Learning Disability.”

Students and faculty agree

Photo courtesy of Laurie Pine Several students were selected to join the “Write to Learn” program, which will help students who struggle with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and language disorders. that class and community-based learning is important for all professional clinical programs in SHMS. “The OT and SLP department’s clinical education programs rely heavily on our community partners for training graduate students. Further, this presents a big opportunity for the school and the programs to make a difference in the lives of individuals who live in our community,” Dayalu said.

First year SLP graduate cohort Leslie Ann Dessources said, “Ex-

perience is such an important factor to learning, especially in this program. It enhances what we are learning greatly. For example, we have just completed a unit on the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and will soon go out into the community to sit-in on an IEP meeting for students with a Learning Disability.

So, I will be able to pair what I’ve learned through a real-life experience. That is so important.”

Scholars, like Dessources, consider the “Write to Learn” to be another course on their schedule

rather than an alternative track.

They do not necessarily meet every week but they are required to conduct additional research.

She said, “It doesn’t feel like too much because it is something that I am very interested in.”

SHMS has clinical affiliations with a wide range of school districts, including East Orange, Bergen County Special Services, Bridgewater, Paterson and Irvington, which is a key partner for the SLP Department.

Brynne Connolly can be reached at brynne.connolly@student.shu.edu.

Professor to receive award for ‘hip-hop pedagogy’ Rhania Kamel Staff Writer

Assistant Professor Edmund Adjapong has been selected to receive the New Scholar Creativity and Pedagogy 2017 Award from the University of Calgary, which praises educators who create innovative teaching methods and incorporate these practices in their teaching.

Adjapong is an assistant professor of Education Studies who developed a teaching style that incorporates hip-hop. “Hip-hop pedagogy” incorporates music that highlights the genre, but also, the culture in order to involve and engage students.

Adjapong commented on his teaching style and his favorite part about being an educator.

“In the classroom, my teaching method is student centered,” Adjapong said. “I really want my students to think critically about issues that may or may not pertain to them and understand the realities of situations that are different from their own.”

Adjapong wants his students to understand and respect alternative perspectives.

“My favorite part about being

Photo courtesy of Edmund Adjapong Professor Edmund Adjapong was selected to receive an award for his unique teaching methods, which incorporates hip-hop into his lessons.

an educator is having the opportunity to transform lives and the way people think,” Adjapong said. “My goal is to get young people to understand and be able to answer questions from multiple perspectives and multiple lenses.”

Kalliopi Logothetis, a junior double major in secondary education and history, commented on her experience as a student in

one of Adjapong’s classes.

“What makes him stand out is his ability to recognize the trends that exist in the current education system and how to make us, the future educators, ready to face those obstacles. He is 100 percent there for the students and in every way,” Logothetis wrote in an email. “Dr. Adjapong put his strategies to practice even during our meetings and showed

us in real-time how they worked and how to even modify them if we needed.”

John Westling, a junior secondary special education major, commented on Adjapong’s best qualities as an educator.

“To me, Dr. Adjapong is exactly what you want in as a teacher and professor. When he speaks, he exudes belief and passion in the material he is presenting. He

genuinely cares about his students and their success,” Westling wrote in an email. “Dr. Adajpong is extremely approachable and is willing to talk to you about real life rather than just material you get from a textbook. It is also very clear he takes pride in come from an urban area in the Bronx and excelling the way he has.”

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

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NEWS

Cardinal Tobin calls for participation in National Dreamer Call-In Day

Feb. 22, 2018

Throwback Thursday

What was The Setonian reporting years ago?

“Online gambling grows”

Author: Maddalena Allegretta Date: Feb. 22, 2007 The story: Online gambling has become familiar amongst college students. Bobby Yost placed third in an online game and won $36,000. Congres passed an Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that prevents Americans from depositing money online from international gambling sites. However many gamblers have found ways around this law and are able to transfer the money they win from games onto an e-wallet. Statistics also show that one in every 20 college students have a gambling problem.

Photo via wikimedia.com.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark called on parishes and organizations to take part in National Dreamer Call-In Day on Monday, Feb. 26, along with universities across the nation, to advocate for a legislative solution to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In a statement, Tobin said, “Catholic teaching calls all people to make a commitment to uphold the dignity of every person and to work for the common good of our nation.”

Check us out at www.TheSetonian.com

U. of Louisville:

Where: Louisville, Ky. Date: Feb. 20 The update: The NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee announced that the university men’s basketball team must vacate 123 wins, thus causing the university to lose its 2013 championship banner. This decision was made as punishment after discovering the former basketball director allegedly committed numerous sex scandals.

From: www.courier-journal.com

Yale University:

Where: New Haven, Conn.

Date: Feb. 20 The update: Yale is believed to be the first university to have documented proof to have endowments holding in Puerto Rican bonds in its portfolio. The school is now at $27.2 billion through endowments.

Activists for Puerto Rican residents are demanding to cancel it, as the country continues to be affected by Hurricane Maria which hit last year.

From: www.theintercept.com

“Board of Regents to vote on proposed increase”

Author: Matt McCue Date: Feb. 21, 2002 The story: Seton Hall’s budget committee proposed a new plan that would increase tuition rates by 8 percent.

Dennis Garbini, vice president for finance and technology, stated that the committee is hoping to focus spending on areas that need it more, and postpone for revenues that do not.

University of Iowa:

Where: Iowa City, Iowa Date: Feb. 20 The update: The Department of Public Safety released a report stating that the university’s emergency prepardeness has “unacceptable weakenesses.” After the recent mass shooting at a Florida high school, the Department is stressing the school to strengthen their plans to better prepare for a similar situation.

From: www.govtech.com

Adams State University: Washington University: Georgia State U.: Where: Alamosa, Colo.

Date: Feb. 20 The update: President Beverlee J. McClure was placed on leave last week after accusations arose that she bullied staff and students, failed to improve declining student enrollment and wore an offensive Halloween costume that circulated through Instagram.

From: www.seattletimes.com

Where: Atlanta, Ga. Where: St. Louis, Miss.

Date: Feb. 20 Date: Feb. 20 The update: The Koch Family The update: Two unnamed studonated $12 million to create the dents were involved in an interacKoch Center for Family Business tion that led to one being hospiand two endowed professorships. talized. The two males knew each One will be in the law school and other and had an ongoing dispute. the other in the business school, It was reported that one male had called the Koch Distinguished Pro- intentions to stab the other and did so. He is now in police custody. fessorship in Family Business.

From: www.ajc.com From: www.stltoday.com

Loyola University:

Where: Baltimore, Md. Date: Feb. 19 The update: The Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority was temporarily suspended after reports of alleged reports of hazing, harassment and bullying arose. The sorority is not allowed to perform any organizational business or participate in activities. Last year two other sororities at the university were suspended due to similar behavior.

From: www.wgntv.com

Polk State College:

Where: Winter Haven, Fla. Date: Feb. 21 The update: The Foundation for Individual Rights is challenging the college after they rejected artist Serhat Tanyolacar’s painting submissions, allegedly stating it was done so due to censorship. The painting series depicted renown figures invovled in sexual activity.

From: www.insidehighered.com

Campus Life Jan. 19, 2017 www.thesetonian.com

Feb. 22, 2018 CAMPUS LIFE

Page7 7 Page

Pirates cross seas for their studies Zoey Dotson Staff Writer

Seton Hall has a wide array of students from across the globe ranging from Israel to Brazil. Many students come from exchange programs, while others simply move to the United States to follow in their families’ footsteps. SHU has extended its roots by accepting students from different countries, diversifying the student body.

Gabriel Viola, a junior business major, is an international student from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Viola spent a year and half at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to Seton Hall in 2017 to be a part of the men’s soccer program.

Viola explained that attending school in Iowa helped him become more accustomed to the U.S. and strengthen his English. Viola said that he wants to graduate from Seton Hall because the school offers a fantastic business program and an amazing education program.

However, Viola said that he occasionally gets homesick.

“I have been doing this since I was a kid,” Viola said. “I’ve grown accustomed to traveling and seeing

Photo via SHU Athletics Gabriel Viola, originally from Brazil, came to SHU to join the men’s soccer team. my family on occasions, but I will always miss them.”

Viola said he combats being homesick by calling his family and visiting them in Brazil when he has time. He is set to graduate from Seton Hall in spring 2019.

Some international students feel that school in the U.S. is widely different from other countries. Talon Manfrendini is a senior mathmatical finance and ITM major.

He is originally from Bedonia, Italy in the Northern Province of Parma, known for producing parmesan cheese. He moved to the United States during his senior year of high school.

Manfrendini explained that the school systems between the two countries are very different.

“By the time you’re entering high school in Italy, you already have an idea of what you want to

be when you’re older,” he said. “I was going to high school to be an aviator.”

Manfrendini said he remembered when he was younger, he would come to America to visit his grandfather. The two of them would tour his grandfather’s alma mater, Seton Hall.

Manfrendini’s grandfather would take him to basketball games, which encouraged his deci-

sion to attend a university in the U.S. Manfrendini explained that, although he gets homesick, he is fortunate to go back to Italy every summer and regularly see his family.

Though a lot of international students come to SHU, some of the University’s American students travel abroad, as well to other schools. Aurora Arrington, a junior philosophy major, will be spending her senior year in Ireland.

Aurora will be studying at University College of Cork and taking 23 credits throughout her two semesters. Arrington will not come back to the U.S. until May 2019, when she will walk for graduation.

She said that she will not see her family at all. Although, she said she is excited to be gone for a year, she explained that she will feel homesick in the beginning. She added that she will try to combat these feelings by calling her mom a lot.

“I’m excited for the new experience,” Arrington said. “I think it is very important to study abroad when you’re young, it opens up people to new cultures and experiences.”

Zoey Dotson can be reached at zoey.dotson@student.shu.edu.

SHU weighs in on civil discourse in America Liam Oakes Staff Writer

The College of Communication and the Arts and the Institute for Communication and Religion hosted a symposium about civil discourse in America in the Jubilee Hall auditorium on Feb. 15. The event focused on the state and development of civil discourse in America and its expected future.

“Ethically Speaking: Is there Hope for Civil Discourse in America?” was led by Catherine Zizik, an associate professor of communication. Zizik said in her welcome speech that, according to the Center for Research and Health Affairs at the University of Chicago, 74 percent of Americans believe that civility matters and that behavior has been declining in the past year alone.

Angela Kariotis, an instructor of communication, performed an opening act that addressed the issue of civil discourse through social media and the Internet, using body language to express how people can manifest themselves to attack each other. She incorporated several hashtags in her act, such as “#RealTalk.”

Kariotis said that she wanted to illustrate people’s attachment to beliefs and portray the role of social media as deconstruction civility.

“The hashtags were included because it’s fun,” Kariotis said.

“They contextualize certain parts of the piece, they serve as anchors and it speaks to how hashtags staple our conversations thematically. We use hashtags to include ourselves in broader conversations.”

Kariotis said, as a society, people restructure their language to align it with their own truth instead.

Msgr. Dennis Mahon, an associate professor of communication, discussed Pope Francis’ recent message, “Fake news and journalism for peace,” and the incivility of fake news. Mahon said that the answer to fake news in the Pope’s perspective can be found in the New Testament passage, “The truth will set you free.”

According to the Pope’s message on Jan. 24, fake news, “refers to the spreading of disinformation online or in the traditional media. It has to do with false information based on non-existent

or distorted data meant to deceive and manipulate the reader.”

Ryan McNeilly, a sophomore finance and information technology major, asked Mahon if there was truly a definition for truth through the eyes of the Pope, especially if individuals are able to embody their own truths.

“He [Pope Francis] emphasizes the more that we come to truth in relation to other people,” Mahon said. “You wouldn’t go into the discussion of, ‘Someone’s truth, someone else’s fake news.’ You have to talk that through.”

However, McNeilly said that he personally does not believe Mahon answered the question.

“To be fair, this is a very hard question to answer because there is no right answer,” McNeilly said. “Today, truth, as we know it, is in the eye of the beholder, so saying that there was one truth that will cure this fake news did not seem 100 percent right.”

The Seton Hall Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl Team presented a case study about social media being used as mediums for personal attacks. Zizik asked them if companies such as Facebook and Instagram ought to be responsi-

Fabbielle Garcia/Staff Photographer Profs. discussed challenges the U.S. faces in communicating. ble for personal attacks. The team concluded that the companies are not responsible.

Donald McKenna, a professor emeritus of communication, said in a statement.

“The idea for this symposium was a concern about the degeneration of our civil discourse in

America.” He added. “My hope is that individuals will come together to say and do what is right. As a University community, we are coming together to reaffirm our respect for the dignity of every person.”

Liam Oakes can be searched liam.oakes@student.shu.edu.

Page 8

CAMPUS LIFE

Feb. 22, 2018

Professor says it’s okay to not know the future Adam Varoqua Staff Writer It is common for students to switch majors during their undergraduate years, but it can be tough for some to make that transition.

Professor Christopher Gbogi, a graduate assistant pursuing a master’s degree in business administration, knows that experience firsthand.

Gbogi started out as a political science major, but switched to finance and marketing during his sophomore year.

“Originally, in high school, I was a part of Model UN, Mock Trial, I did a whole bunch of different types of things and I knew my plan was to go to law,” Gbogi said. “I came to college and started studying political science.”

He said, though he did well in his classes, he did not find himself to be as passionate about politics as his peers. Gbogi noted that one does not have to be a political science major in order to go into law school, this influenced his decision as well.

“You can be any major you want to be and just take the BAR exam and you’ll be set,” Gbogi said. “So I was thinking about ‘Okay, if I’m going to do

that, let me try to maximize my opportunities,’ so I tried to strategize in case I didn’t end up going to law school.”

During his time at SHU, Gbogi took a leadership role on the Student Activities Board (SAB), founded the Gaming Sector and became a Peer Adviser. Gbogi went for business and attained five internships, two majors, three certificates and is on his way to finishing his master’s.

Gbogi said that not knowing one’s path for the future is not necessarily a bad thing but is often a factor in a student’s journey.

“If you’re in your major currently, and you don’t know where you want to be, that’s okay,” he said. “People even graduate and they don’t know exactly where they want to be or what they want to do. Even so, don’t let not knowing stop you from searching. Life is an adventure. You have a duty to yourself to proactively search, proactively find out what you want.”

Gbogi imparts his experience and advice to his students like Ellis Mitchell, a freshman sports management major, who was in his University of Life course.

“His expectations for the class were always clear and he also went above and beyond to make

Photo courtesy of Christopher Gbogi Gbogi changed his major while at SHU and said the experience helped him discover his path. it entertaining for everyone, mostly incorporating his love of memes to the lectures,” Mitchell said. “Professor Gbogi didn’t get the ‘Most Likely to Sleep with His Eyes Open’ award for nothing.”

Another student that knows

Gbogi, Daniel Kim, a senior diplomacy and international relations major, explained the most valuable thing he learned from him.

“In order to be successful in any field, you have to be hungry for new information and seek

out every opportunity you can find,” he said. “In some cases, you will have to make your own opportunities to achieve your goals.”

Adam Varoqua can be reached at adam.varoqua@student.shu. edu.

SHU literary magazine looks to further expand Veronica Gaspa Staff Writer

Seton Hall’s literary magazine, “The Corner Pocket,” has been trying to find its identity on campus. Since the beginning, “The Corner Pocket” has been serving to model the environment and ethics of professional magazines, such as the New Yorker, to give students practice in publishing and editing a literary magazine.

Recently, it has been debated to make the magazine part of a special topics creative writing course.

“The Corner Pocket” is a student-run magazine, so we really want to showcase student work,” the magazine’s President, and a senior creative writing and visual film and sound media major, Anne Madden said.

Madden also said the magazine would like to expand beyond SHU students, but is not quite sure how far or how they would do that. Madden has been involved with the magazine for about a year, when Professor Adams asked her to help edit last spring’s issue.

Treasurer and a senior diplomacy, creative writing, and Catholic studies major, Naomi Shuyama, said she has enjoyed her time with

“The Corner Pocket” operates in a way that mimics a professional magazine.

Photo courtesy of Anne Madden

The Corner Pocket.

“It was really interesting to collaborate with other writers and just have this object that we put a lot of love and hard work into,” Shuyama said.

Shuyama also said the magazine provides great experience for those wanting to pursue careers in writing and editing, as many people involved with the magazine

feedback,” Kim said.

The Corner Pocket had a deadline for this semester’s submissions, but is willing to except work from late-comers. Students interested in submitting their work to the magazine should do so via email to shuliterarymagazine@shu.edu as soon as possible.

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

intend to do.

Diana Kim graduated with a degree in English, in May of 2017 and is now getting her masters degree and teaching freshman English at SHU. Kim played a big part in putting together last spring’s issue in only a month. Kim also pointed out that The Corner Pocket provides the unique experience of

getting people to read your work for free. When you publish with other magazines you are paying them to read your work and being able to get someone to read your work for free is rare, she said.

“It’s just a really good opportunity to get your work out there and try things out, even if you don’t get accepted you still get an email with an explanation and

Feb. 22, 2018

CAMPUS LIFE

Page 9

OT majors help patients regain lost skills Kristel Domingo Staff Writer

For OT Program Scholar Leah Ogrodnik, her reason for her career choice hits close to home.

“The reason that I pursued OT was because of my younger brother,” she explained. “My younger brother is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and received Early Intervention services in my home. It truly inspired me to help children with disabilities succeed in their daily lives.”

Sometimes what is lost can soon be found - and regained.

Occupational therapy majors work to help patients regain lost abilities and ultimately live their best lives.

The type of help OTs provide can range from helping children with specific learning disabilities to assisting patients in learning daily tasks again. These types of jobs are for people with grit, compassion, and patience - thus, OT students undergo challenging classes and fieldwork to be able to have a rewarding career.

OT students take a range of courses throughout their program, from professional formation courses to foundational courses such as anatomy and kinesiology, neuroscience, and introduction to

Photos courtesy of Tierney Hughes, Anjali Patel and Leah Ogrodnik Tierney Hughes (left), Anjali Patel (center) and Leah Ogrodnik (right) chose to become occupational therapists for reasons that hit close to home. occupational therapy.

Of the variety of classes they take, OT Program Scholar Tierney Hughes is drawn to the pediatric courses. She said that in order to engage children, people have to make occupational therapy interventions as fun as possible. “Who doesn’t love to play and have fun?” Hughes said.

Later in the program, the courses are designed in trios, covering health and medical conditions, occupational therapy evaluation, and occupational therapy interventions for different populations.

In the second year, students take another trio of courses for children and adolescents.

OT Program Scholar Anjali Patel and Ogrondik explained that their schedules consist of three days of classes, as well as meetings held once a month for didactic presentations for the new “Project Write to Learn” program, which is exclusive to graduate students.

In the next few weeks, Patel will add clinical experience to the mix.

She will begin fieldwork experience at a school in the Irvington school district on Tuesdays for seven weeks. Ogrodnik balances her fieldwork experience in a school setting with her part-time job at a restaurant.

Though this program is challenging, it is well worth it. Patel

said she finds fulfillment in such a career choice.

“I decided to go into occupational therapy because this was a profession that combined my passion for helping others and my love for creativity,” Patel explained. “I love that I will be helping others that are going through some of their most difficult times and making a difference in their lives. It warms my heart to think that I can make someone’s day a little brighter or help them engage in meaningful activities.”

Patel said she chose Seton Hall because of their respectable OT program and its proximity to her home. “Many people ask me

where I attend school and when I respond by saying SHU, they always tell me that I’ve made a great decision,” Patel said.

For Hughes, coming to Seton Hall for graduate school was a big change from completing her undergraduate work at Pennsylvania State University.

She noted that the smaller class sizes and having a handful of professors truly makes the learning process more personal and effective.

In addition, engaging in group work is an integral part of their program. Most of their courses follow a team-based learning format to complete assignments.

“Not only is this style of learning helpful because everyone brings their own unique set of strengths and perspectives to the group, but I feel that the teams are a great support system,” Hughes said.

Assistant professor Karen Hoover is proud of how far the program has come. Since she started working here in 2010, they have almost doubled the number of OT graduates. “I just see nothing but positive change for the department,” Hoover remarked.

Kristel Domingo can be reached at kristel.domingo@student.shu. edu.

SHU alum builds watch company from Pirate’s Pitch victory Megan Beauchamp Staff Writer In 2016, Christian Zeron was a senior at Seton Hall, a Catholic studies major and the winner of the annual Pirates Pitch competition. Two years later, he is the founder and owner of a thriving, up-and-coming business, Theo & Harris.

The company mainly sells vintage watches, but if you happen to come across the Theo & Harris website, the brand caters to a whole range of content, including reviews and new releases. Making $1.6 million this year in sales, it’s safe to say that business is booming.

It might seem strange for a Catholic studies major to pursue a career in business, but for Zeron, his major was something that not only helped him win the Pirates Pitch competition, but also helped his business.

Every year, Seton Hall gives students the opportunity to pitch a business idea that can one day turn into a real company. Zeron did just this, winning $6,000 and turning Theo & Harris the idea, into Theo & Harris the company.

According to Zeron, his Catholic studies degree was and still is a

part of his success.

“The Catholic studies major is so free,” Zeron said. “It creates an environment to allow people to think about analytical and critical issues.”

Thinking critically is one of the tools the alum credits in his work ethic. Since learning from thinkers like St. Augustine or Thomas Aquinas requires depth and complexity, Zeron was well prepared to enter the entrepreneurial field and manage an “online marketplace.”

If critical thinking is one of the core driving points behind the start-up, then storytelling is a close second.

“My dad got a Rolex when he turned 40 – and I remember it meaning so much to him,” he said.

Zeron mentioned that since his father grew up less than affluent, a Rolex isn’t just a watch, but something people aspire to own one day.

“When he saw that it was a Rolex, I remember him starting to cry and thought to myself, ‘Why is my dad crying?’” Zeron said. “That’s when I realized that watches could mean a lot more than time.”

Fully committing to Theo &

Harris wasn’t a hard decision. After graduating, the business was still brand new, finding its legs in the field, yet Zeron’s conviction never wavered. In fact, he admits to believing in the company’s success due to faith.

“My strong opinion was built on very weak foundation,” he said. “There was no real reason why I felt so confidently about it, I just had a feeling.” Since its beginning, the company’s sales have consistently risen, so that ‘feeling,’ must have been a good one.

Zeron’s firm confidence in Theo & Harris was something well noted before he even entered Pirates Pitch.

Professor Susan Scherreik, director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and former professor of Zeron’s, noticed his passion for his start-up idea. and urged him to enter.

Entrepreneurship isn’t always easy, according to Scherreik, but she praised Zeron for sticking with the start-up even when it wasn’t a sure thing.

“He believes in his ability to overcome the inevitable challenges that arise and grow this business,” she said.

Dr. Ines Murzaku, professor of Ecclesiastical History, is some-

Photo courtesy of Christian Zeron According to Christian Zeron, a watch isn’t just a watch, but instead they “mean a lot more than time.” one Zeron credits as helping him along the way in academia. She also echoed the same sentiments as Scherreik. Murzaku said, “Since the first time I spoke to him, there was no doubt in my mind that Christian will become a learned and ethical business person.”

Looking ahead this year, Zeron

spoke of linking with like-minded brands that fit within the aesthetic of Theo & Harris.

“Brands that represent value and style, and story is the future for 2018 and beyond,” he said.

Megan Beauchamp can be reached at megan.beauchamp@student.shu.edu.

Page 10

CAMPUS LIFE

Feb. 22, 2018

How to stay healthy at the dining hall Christina McDonald-Vitale Staff Writer

The dining hall in the University Center is the main source of food for students living on campus. While there are a variety of options, some find it hard to figure out ways to eat healthy and incorporate nutritious value into their meals. Some students on campus get creative with their food ideas, while some stick to the premade hot bar sections of the cafeteria. From the pizza to the meat carving station, the wok station and salad bar, students are able to mix and fill their plates however they desire.

Don’t stick with the premade options

Lindsey Jordan, a sophomore diplomacy major, said she makes sandwiches, quesadillas and salads all the time because sometimes the options for the pre-made food are “pretty unappetizing.” Jordan drinks soda for her beverage, but she said most of the time the soda machine is out of syrup, so she will resort to water. “If you eat the premade food, it’s hard to find out what’s in it. I’m lactose intolerant so that can be a problem for me,” she said.

Utilize the different stations

Paula Thomson, a sophomore speech pathology and special education major, has the café “down to a science,” she said. Thomson likes to only drink water in the cafeteria, and although the fruity juices and sweet sodas are tempting, she said it is a good way to ensure she has water in her system throughout the day. “My typical café menu is, I check out the soups and see if those are good,” Thomson said. “I then move to the steamed veggies station or salad bar to get my raw veggies, and I also try to eat a fruit with at least one of my meals in the day.” For meats, Thomson heads to the carving station for chicken, or has some eggs or beans for protein. “If I ever make myself salads, I most always use the veggies and toppings in the quesadilla bar because they seem fresher, and if I need meat I use the taco meat from the nacho station,” she said. Thomson mentioned how the feature station is something most people forget about and she eats from there a few times a week.

Use fresh foods to mix up traditional dishes

Bella Sierp, a sophomore nursing major, sticks to the salad and vegan stations in the cafeteria. “I always take fresh foods and staple items from the salad and vegan station,” Sierp said. “I then incorporate it into a traditional meal or a ‘college’ rendition of it. It allows for some form of variety as opposed to the premade food combinations that GDS makes.”

Kiera Alexander/Asst. Photography Editor Students have different ways to mix up the options in the dining hall, like combining different stations and incorporating fresh ingredients into meals.

Cook up yummy healthy meals at the wok

Sophie Thon, a sophomore international relations and diplomacy major, likes to get creative with her meal-making. “I always gravitate towards the wok-station,” she said.

“I’m a big fan of stir fry, and I incorporate veggies, chicken, and rice for a well balanced meal.” If Thon is in a hurry, she said she makes a “bomb toasted sub sandwich with turkey, cheese and tomato.” She tries to supplement every meal with some sort of vegetable and also drink water, “unless I’m treating myself with a Dr. Pepper,” Thon said. “If I have time, I make a mango smoothie to get nutrition from the fruit and yogurt.”

Christina McDonald-Vitale can be reached at christina.mcdonaldvitale@student.shu.edu.

SHU holds vigil to honor the victims of Parkland, Fla. school shooting

Wednesday, February 28 2018 Richie Regan Recreation Center 4:30 – 6:15 PM (Stop by Anytime) Speak with employers from a wide range of industries.

Dress professionally.

Bring copies of your resume.

Sarah Yenesel/Photography Editor On Feb. 21, several organizations on campus like the Student Government Association, the Martin Luther King Student Association, Seton Hall Democrats and others led a vigil to remember the 17 students who died in the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

100+ organizations in attendance.

Check Navigator in February for the full list of attending organizations.

Should you require accommodations to attend this event, contact The Career Center: 973-761-9355, careers@shu.edu.

Opinion thesetonian.com

Feb. 22, 2018

The Voice

Page 11

Hey Seton Hall, where was our PirateAlert?

O

n Feb. 20, a fire erupted on the fourth floor of the parking deck, damaging two vehicles.

Students who witnessed the smoke and flames billowing out of the structure were quick to spread the news on social media.

Platforms like Twitter and Facebook were where many students discovered that there was a fire on campus.

Some were alarmed after seeing photographs of the incident, worrying if their cars were affected by the fire.

It would have been nice,

though, if Seton Hall had notified its students of the event more efficiently – or at all.

Every Seton Hall student and faculty member receives PirateAlerts by text message, a telephone call or an email.

According to the University’s website, “PirateAlert is used to alert the Seton Hall University community of a public safety emergency that could impact the campus (such as an active shooter/hostile intruder, severe weather conditions, hazardous material release, etc.) and to provide protec-

Kaitlyn Quinn Social Media Editor Feb. 21, five days after a snowstorm, the weather forecast is partly sunny with a high of 78 degrees.

As cheerful as the atmosphere of the Seton Hall Green is when the weather is nice, with people lounging on blankets and playing Frisbee, the reason behind such mild weather calls for a great deal of concern.

Our world is changing for the worst and the damage may be irreversible. Campus certainly is not the only place experiencing an increase in temperature.

According to the article “Arctic Ice, Permafrost, Shrinking Faster Than Ever” by the U.S. News and World Report, climate change is having a dramatic effect in the Arctic.

The report explained that “scientists say water temperatures

[are] rising faster than it has in a millennium, sea ice melting at a rapid pace and permafrost is shrinking, perhaps for good.”

Although it’s said that the damage to our planet has been done and it appears there is no turning back, the need to take further action is pressing.

There are new statistics all over the world that surface every day that share more information about concerning rises in temperatures and absurd amounts of snowfall.

Even if we get tired of scrolling through our phones and coming across new articles, let us not go blind to them. We cannot become desensitized to the harsh reality that the world around us is warming at a rapid speed.

On June 1, 2017, the United States became one of three countries to leave the 2015 Paris Agreement, an agreement among the United Nations Framework

Contact Us

Mission Statement

tive action instructions.”

Tests for PirateAlerts are conducted pretty frequently, so we know that the system works. So, really, there’s no excuse for the fact that students weren’t warned about a fire on campus.

Laurie Pine, the director of Media Relations for SHU, said that Public Safety said that a PirateAlert was not sent because it was not an imminent danger to students.

The fire wasn’t deadly and caused no injuries, but the lack of a warning from SHU is irrespon-

sible, regardless.

Passing students could have easily been hurt if the fire escalated and even though it didn’t escalate, students still deserved to know.

The fire originated from one car, but spread to a second.

The South Orange Fire Department was able to contain the fire, and other than for the two owners of the damaged cars, crisis was averted.

But if it weren’t for social media and word of mouth, students would have had no way of knowing that.

For a school that has experienced true tragedy involving fire, you’d think Seton Hall would have been more proactive in warning students of a danger on campus.

It’s on Seton Hall to warn students of campus hazards and there is a specific system in place for the University to do so.

So, maybe, in the future, SHU will actually use it.

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

Try not to forget what this warm February weather entails

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Sarah Yenesel/Photography Editor Students relax on the University Green, enjoying the warm weather.

Convention on Climate Change that would strive to maintain a global temperature rise above two degrees Celsius.

Nicaragua, one of the three countries, signed the treaty on Oct. 23, 2017, leaving the United

Letters Policy The Setonian welcomes letters to the editor. All submissions must include the author’s first and last name and a phone number where the author can be reached. Submissions should be no more than 375 words. The Setonian reserves the right to edit submissions for style and space.

Deadline for submission is noon on the Tuesday preceding publication. Letters can be e-mailed to Ashley Turner, Editor-in-Chief, at thesetonian1718@gmail.com.

Corrections

States and Syria as the remaining two countries to withdraw from the agreement.

Despite the United States’ leave, 20 states and Puerto Rico joined the alliance.

All around the country, people

are coming together for a common cause: to stop the inevitable monster that is global warming, no matter what legislators decide.

Our campus is taking strides to prevent more damage to the environment through the Blue Goes Green campaign. The campaign seeks to create a variety of opportunities for students to reduce Seton Hall’s carbon footprint.

Although the amount of damage done to our planet is alarming, any effort, no matter how extensive or small, is worthwhile.

We cannot be in the mentality that it is too late to do anything.

Yes, the damage may be done, but we cannot afford to do more.

The time is now to change our reality.

Kailtyn Quinn is a junior secondary and special education and English major from Bayonne, N.J. She can be reached at kaitlyn.quinn@ student.shu.edu.

The Setonian

Volume 94 Issue 18

Ashley Turner Editor-in-Chief

Alyssa Schirm Ast. Campus Life Editor

Sarah Yenesel Photography Editor

Samantha Todd Managing Editor

Christina Vitale Kiera Alexander Campus Life Copy Editor Ast. Photography Editor

Isabel Soisson News Editor

Elizabeth Swinton Sports Editor

James Justice Sports Copy Editor

Hannah Sakha Ast. News Editor

Tyler Calvaruso Ast. Sports Editor

Andrew Lombardo Sports Digital Editor

Thomas Schwartz News Copy Editor

Clara Capone Graphics Editor

Vanessa Vela & Kaitlyn Quinn Social Media Editors

Josh Steier Digital Editor

B.J. Schecter Faculty Adviser

The Setonian willingly corrects errors. For corrections, please conJulie Trien tact Ashley Turner, Editor-in-Chief, Campus Life Editor at thesetonian1718@gmail.com.

Page 12

SPORTS

Feb. 22, 2018

THROUGH OUR EYES

Sports Quote of the Week “If myself getting dead last in everything I swam were to, for some odd reason, benefit the team, I would gladly do it.”

Olympic Games bring pride MLB’s moves to along with feverish debate shorten game mean – SHU swimming and diving sophomore Tyler Kauth

nothing without punishment

Andrea Keppler Staff Writer

The 2018 Winter Olympics gained much attention even before the games kicked off earlier this month on Feb. 9 in South Korea. The buzz around whether or not Russian athletes would be able to participate was where most of the Olympics spotlight shone for over a year. A final ruling by the International Olympic Committee in December 2017 banned the nation from this year’s games, but Russian athletes that can prove they are “clean” have been allowed to participate under the title “Olympic Athletes of Russia.”

It was announced on Feb. 20, however, that Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky failed a drug test. Regardless of the regulations that were implemented prior to the start of the 17-day event in Pyeongchang, athletes still find a way to disregard them.

In addition to the doping scandal, other question marks surround the future of the Olympics as debates arise regarding the potential mortality of the biggest event for the world’s best athletes.

The discussion of Olympic controversies and unfair advantages extends to topics such as whether natural advantages for athletes like height, body type and large amounts of testosterone should be regulated, or if they make the Games unfair.

Olympic Women’s bobsledder in 2014, Jazmine Fenlator, told The Setonian via email that she does not believe that natural physical advantages are unfair in competitions as long as there is research backing the stipulations of fair play for these advantages.

“I have competed with and against women of all different shapes and sizes, weights, muscle tone, seeing abilities, etc.” Fenlator wrote. “This is what makes it possible for different types of people to be able to do the same sport.”

Sophomore elementary and special education major Madeline Pfaff agreed with the sentiment, reiterating an idea likely shared by many, in that as long as the advantage is natural, it should not be given second thought.

“As long as it’s natural, it’s fair game,” Pfaff said.

Pfaff compared Olympic athletes’ natural advantages to people being gifted in pursuing a particular area of study. She noted how education is mental and sports are physical, but some people were just born with either of these advantages and it is fair to compete.

With issues of competitive imbal-

Elizabeth Swinton Sports Editor

Photo via Team USA Jazmine Fenlator competed as a U.S. bobsledder in 2014. ance among multiple sports, the question of whether professional athletes should compete in the Olympics is another relevant topic that comes up in almost any Olympic Games.

In a sport like tennis, competition outside of the Olympics is governed by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which hosts tournaments throughout the world. Tennis players participating in the Games are not only representing their own nation in these events, but in a way their league as well. If professional tennis players like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic compete in the Olympics along with all of the other ATP players, then are the Olympics not just serving as an elevated stage of the ATP? With more well-known athletes in tennis in that case, is it not unfair when sports like equestrian and archery do not have such stars?

A professional athlete is one who gets “a salary income from an organizing group, but rather payment to actually perform and do their sport as a job,” Fenlator wrote.

Fenlator stated that she believed professional leagues should be eligible to compete in the Olympics, but that there should be a range of requirements for them. “[A minimum] standard of their national teams’ practices and games or races in order to be eligible for the Olympic Team,” Fenlator wrote. “Restricting the number of professional athletes on the] roster or field at any given time.”

Another heavily debated topic dealing with the Olympics is whether or not the age minimum should be raised. This differs based on the sport, but many sports accept athletes in their teens.

“I think that each international federation for a specific sport should regulate the minimum age requirement for participation in the Olympics, but the final approval would be by the IOC,” Fenlator wrote.

Senior psychology major Stacie

Elfo was torn on this topic. On one hand, Elfo saw the risk in teenagers – whose bodies are still developing – being asked to compete in such a physically demanding sport. On the other hand, she felt that the Olympics should not restrict people from doing something if they have the capability to take part.

“Age should not restrict when you should be allowed,” Elfo said. “If you’re in your prime and you’re at the top of your game, you should be allowed to compete.”

Elfo cited Chloe Kim, who fell short of the cutoff for the minimum age at the 2014 Winter Games.

For young athletes – like Kim in 2014 – who have the talent to participate in the Games but do not meet the requirements, it is difficult to hold them back. That being said, at such a young age, people are left to wonder whether or not they are being pressured to train, or whether they really want to be involved in such a competitive lifestyle so early.

If someone is naturally gifted, it is something that should be shared with the world regardless of his or her age. If someone has the talent, then he or she should be able to compete.

However, if an athlete is training at an Olympic age at the age of 14 years old, it seems as if the children are forgoing their childhood.

NBC Sports reported that there are five athletes competing in this year’s Games who are 15 years old.

Almost as certain as there will be Olympics every two years, there will be controversies. The Russian doping scandal is not going anywhere after the latest violation by Krushelnitsky, but the resolution on issues like participation of professional athletes are issues that can be decided by Olympic governors’, and it is time for them to agree on a solution.

Andrea Keppler is a communication major and math minor. She can be reached at andrea.keppler@student.shu. edu or on Twitter @keppler_andrea.

When I was younger, I did not like drinking milk. I did whatever it took to not drink it. I sat in my seat for hours after dinner because I was not able to leave the table until I finished my milk.

Eventually I would drink it down because my punishment for not drinking it was not getting dessert and I loved dessert.

The punishment snapped me out of my habits, but Major League Baseball does not believe in that philosophy, at least not yet.

On Feb. 19, Major League Baseball announced its latest enforcements to help shorten the length of baseball games, including limiting visits to the pitcher’s mound to six. This involves not just catchers, but also pitching coaches who visit the mound without making a pitching change.

It is great for MLB to try to shorten the game and appeal to a wider audience, as the quality of the sport is deserving, but this move can impact the quality of the game itself. I ended up finishing my milk because I knew there would be punishment if I did not. If a seventh visit to the mound is committed, though, there is no set punishment.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and chief officer Joe Torre said that if the mound visits exceed six during a game, umpires will tell a catcher or other player to return to his position. If a catcher defies that order and gets into an argument with an umpire, then an ejection could take place, according to ESPN. This is not enough of a threat to stop players from doing their jobs. Chicago Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras is not afraid to do what it takes for his team to win.

“What about a tight game or an extra-inning game and you have to go out there?,” Contreras said, according to ESPN. “They cannot say anything about that. That’s my team. If they are going to fine me for mound visit No. 7, I’ll pay the price.”

This move is being made by MLB ultimately to shorten the game, but it is hard to imagine how much time will actually be saved. There are catchers like the Yankees’ Gary Sanchez who visits the mound often, while others like to stay put most of the time.

It is possible the rule change can even extend games. If a player visits the mound for a seventh time, an argument with an umpire will eat up the time the rule is saving. Some of these trips are a part of a player’s nature, and cutting that out can not only affect rhythm but the performance and game quality as well.

“Some of the stuff that is just second nature to baseball players is now being counted as a mound visit, and it’s going to be a weird situation to follow because that’s just part of the game,” Houston Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel said, according to ESPN. “When you change part of the game [that’s] second nature to guys, it’s going to take a while to get used to.”

A rule change MLB made during the 2017 season governed when players could leave the batter’s box between pitches, and the rule will remain in effect for the 2018 season again without clear punishment. Instituting a pitch clock was also discussed for the 2018 season, but MLB wants to “give players an opportunity to respond to the new rules and positively affect pace of play throughout the 2018 season,” according to the league’s website.

The batter’s box initiative did not seem to make an impact on game length though, as the average length of an MLB game was listed as 3 hours and 5 minutes following the 2018 season, a jump of about four and a half minutes from the season prior, according to Sports Illustrated. It is a good effort

by MLB to shorten games to draw a deserved wider audience, but rules are nothing without punishment. A rule without a punishment is just a suggestion and players are not going to follow it if a win is on the line.

It is to be determined if the changes will shorten the length of games significantly, but the suggestions made by MLB are setting up potential disputes that will disrupt the game rather than make it shorter. If Manfred wants to shorten games, punishments need to be put in place along with the rules. If not, there is no reason for catchers to resist putting down the metaphorical milk glass to visit their pitchers for a seventh time.

Elizabeth Swinton is a broadcasting and visual media major from Linden, N.J. She can be reached at Elizabeth. swinton@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @eswint22.

Feb. 22, 2018

SPORTS

Page 13

Softball’s offense showing capability mixed with inconsistency Kyle Beck Staff Writer

The Seton Hall softball team began its season in the Lone Star State – home to six of its players – beginning in San Antonio, Texas at the UTSA Softball Classic from Feb. 9 to 10, before traveling to the Sam Houston State tournament in Huntsville, Texas the following weekend. The Pirates battled to a 4-2 record during the opening six games, but dropped the final two games on Feb. 17 to fall to 4-4.

Though the season is still young, the statistics from those first eight games have shown that it has been feast or famine for Pirates hitters.

When they have found success, it has been behind a powerful hitting core and strong starting pitching.

Outfielders Hailey Arteaga and Janae Barracato, third basemen

Photo via SHU Athletics Seton Hall’s Alexis Walkden Alexis Walkden and catcher Payton Beaver have accounted for 17 of the team’s 25 RBIs through eight games. The team’s five home runs are split between them and Walkden has reached base at least once in every game.

The quartet also has a combined batting average of .371 and have a collective on-base percentage of .452, meaning any one of them has nearly a 50 percent chance of reaching first base or farther

in any given plate appearance. By comparison, the Pirates as a whole have been batting .277, which is 10 points lower than what their opponents are batting thus far.

The Pirates are not getting on base solely by swinging the bat either. Beaver, despite being tied for fourth on the team in batting average at .333, leads the team with a .481 on-base percentage. She has accomplished this feat by drawing six walks through eight games.

This is one area where the Pirates have been ahead of their opposition, as they have drawn 21 walks so far, while only giving up 15 on the other end.

But the Pirates’ runs have come in chunks this season. The Hall has racked up nine individual multirun innings on the offensive end, highlighted by a seven-run sixth inning that powered the team over

Sam Houston State, 10-6, on Feb. 16 in Huntsville, Texas. At least two of Arteaga, Barracato, Walkden and Beaver either scored or knocked runs in during all nine of those innings, and all four of them have taken the role as the inning’s catalyst at least once.

Despite the affinity for big innings, Seton Hall has struggled at times to get going at the plate. The Pirates have scored 10 runs in a game twice already, but have been held to three or fewer runs in the other six. They have also been shut out by No. 4 Washington and nohit by Northern Colorado.

Seton Hall’s lineup is beginning to look like a streaky, but capable group. If the early season has been any indication, the Pirates have shown the ability to bounce back with strong hitting after games where the bats have been shut

down.

The Pirates face a big turnaround as they travel to Greensboro, N.C. this week, looking to erase the sour taste from a 10-run loss to No. 4 Washington, where the hitting was silenced by dominant pitching. It is inevitable for teams to have down games, but how the Pirates come out this weekend and how their core of hitters perform will go a long way in determining the results in what are five crucial non-conference games.

Kyle Beck can be reached at kyle. beck1@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @notkylebeck.

HALL ACROSS THE BOARD PHOTO OF THE WEEK

SCORES OF THE WEEK WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S BASKETBALL Sunday, Feb. 18

Friday, Feb. 16

Seton Hall Georgetown

56 75

DePaul

Seton Hall

77 82

Wednesday, Feb. 21

Seton Hall DELAYED AT 13:03 56 Providence 47

SOFTBALL Friday, Feb. 16

Northern Colorado Seton Hall

Friday, Feb. 16

5 0

Saturday, Feb. 17

Wichita State Seton Hall

Seton Hall Sam Houston State

10 6

Saturday, Feb. 17

4 3

No. 4 Washington Seton Hal l

10 0

BASEBALL Friday, Feb,. 16

Seton Hall

No. 23 NC State

What’s 2/22 ON DECK Thursday Home

Away

Sunday, Feb. 18

1 3

Seton Hall

No. 23 NC State

2/23 Friday

2/24 Saturday

Softball

2/25 Sunday

St. John’s @ MSG 12 p.m.

Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball

8 6

Marquette 7 p.m.

DePaul 1 p.m.

Appalachian Appalachian State/UNCG State/UNCG 12/2:30 p.m. 9:30 a.m./2:30

Virginia 9 a.m.

Baseball

USC Upstate Wofford 4 p.m.

2 p.m.

Women’s Tennis

Cornell 1 p.m.

Pittsburgh 12 p.m.

Photo via SHU Athletics Following an individual championship at the UNCG/Martin Downs Collegiate, freshman golfer Gregor Tait was named Big East Men’s golfer of the week.

2/26 Monday

2/27 Tuesday

2/28

Wednesday

Villanova 8:30 p.m.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

SPORTS

Page 14

Feb. 22, 2018

Seton Hall freshmen finding their footing at the right time Tyler Calvaruso Asst. Sports Editor Sometimes, all it takes for a young player to get comfortable is some playing time.

Through Seton Hall’s first 25 games, the freshmen trio of Myles Cale, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jordan Walker were an afterthought for the most part, relegated to small roles in which all three players saw sporadic playing time.

When it came time to call upon them in conference play, not a single member of Kevin Willard’s 2017 recruiting class looked comfortable on the court.

Aside from the highlight-reel dunks that landed him on ESPN’s Top 10 highlights, Cale spent most of his time on offense forcing the issue, taking ill-advised shots and driving into traffic in an effort to make the most of his limited minutes. Mamukelashvili, a talented shooter, lost his touch from the outside and with his minutes coming in short spurts, there was no chance for the Montverde Academy product to find his three-point stroke.

From an on-the-court standpoint, Walker’s freshman year has been a rollercoaster, as he found himself behind the eight ball early in the season after tearing a ligament in his thumb in a November game against Monmouth. The injury cost Walker a month’s worth of games, opportunites Walker

could have used to improve heading into Big East play.

It had reached the point where it seemed like Seton Hall fans were going to have to wait until next year to see what Cale, Mamukelashvili and Walker truly have to offer. However, much to the benefit of Willard and a veteran Seton Hall team, the group found a way to flip the script at an opportune time.

Down by as many as 27 points on the road in the second half against No. 4 Xavier on Feb. 14, Willard inserted his second unit into the game. At the time, the move looked to be nothing more than Willard getting his starters some rest and the younger guys some valuable minutes. Neither Willard or his coaching staff could have expected what was about to take place at the Cintas Center next.

Out of nowhere, Mamukelashvili broke out of his seemingly season-long slump with 15 second-half points to lead a furious comeback. Meanwhile, Cale played mistake-free on the offensive end and was diligent in guarding Xavier star Trevon Bluiett at the other. Even Walker found a way to contribute, giving a team that sleep-walked through the first half a spark that ignited an unlikely second-half comeback.

Though the comeback ultimately fell short, the impact of the freshmen was not lost on Wil-

Sarah Yenesel/Photography Editor Freshman forward Sandro Mamukelashvili has been one of three Seton Hall freshmen to step up over the past week. lard and the rest of the team following the game.

“Sandro’s practiced great and he’s getting used to what’s going on; the speed and just getting more comfortable,” Willard told Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin in his regular post game interview. “Jordan is the one guy that can actually change the pace of the game. We definitely needed a change of pace.”

The emergence of the three freshmen against Xavier left Willard with a big question heading into a Feb. 18 showdown with DePaul: Should he give the freshmen increased minutes, or rele-

gate them back to the roles they had been playing for most of the Big East season?

While Cale, Mamukelashvili and Walker did not see the number of minutes they did against Xavier, all of their minutes were impactful ones. Cale checked in early and scored five quick points, sparking a Seton Hall squad that was off to another sluggish start.

Mamukelashvili only played four minutes, but they came at a key time with Angel Delgado staring foul trouble in the face. Walker wound up being thrown into the fire down the stretch, as he was called upon to run the show for

the final 68 seconds after Khadeen Carrington fouled out.

“Myles Cale played really well in the first half,” Willard said.

“Again, I think the freshmen have been really progressing great.”

“When you see those guys, the guys who come off the bench coming in and playing hard, you get motivated,” Angel Delgado said of the trio. “These guys want it.”

There are still concerns surrounding Seton Hall down the stretch and the freshmen are by no means over the hump yet.

Still, the past two games have shown potential and the experience gained could serve as stepping-stones to increased success.

The Big East is not a neophyte-friendly league and Seton Hall’s freshmen have found that out the hard way. With the conference tournament just around the corner, each of the three will have to view the minutes they get as chances to not only prove to Willard they can contribute in the postseason, but also as opportunities to grow.

The minutes may be scarce, but time on the court is better than time spent on the bench.

“We’ve got to get them on the floor,” Willard said. “And we have to get them on the floor at the right time.”

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

Student-athletes find guidance from influential panel Keith Egan Staff Writer On Feb. 19, the athletic department, led by athletic director Pat Lyons, held the sixth annual leadership forum for student athletes, where Seton Hall players had the opportunity to pick the minds of successful professionals with connection to the university.

Val Ackerman, Len DeLuca and Nancy Holecek were on the panel to give their stories and advice to the student-athletes, as well as answer their questions.

The event started out with presenting each panelist’s theme for the evening. Val Ackerman, commissioner of the Big East and one of the founders of the WNBA, chose relationships. Ackerman emphasized the importance of relationships by referencing how the relationships she kept from her days of playing basketball at the University of Virginia helped her reach the heights she has in management.

“If you want to be successful in your job, you have to have a good base of people that you can rely on,” Ackerman said following the event.

Sean Barry/Staff Photographer Seton Hall student athletes gather in Walsh Gymnasium for the Pat and Mary Ann Pfaff Murray Leadership forum.

Although Ackerman finds herself working in sports, her career post-playing days initially started with law. She told athletes to network because what one ends up doing may be different than initial intentions in college.

“Sometimes what you think you want to do coming out of college may not be where you land,” Ackerman said.

Meanwhile, Seton Hall graduate and current senior vice president for RWJ Barnabas Health System, Holecek, talked about communication. Holecek had ini-

tially wanted to make it through college quickly, but would end up taking the route of nursing school at Seton Hall, which led her to finding success. She noted back to several career crossroads, as the panelists and herself shared the good and bad stories on their paths to their current positions.

DeLuca, a senior consultant at IMG, found that challenging himself and taking risks is what helped him after going through a series of positions, some of which he never thought he would find himself in. After going through

law school, he found himself working at CBS Sports and found a path in the entertainment world due to the risks he was willing to take.

“Take risks because you’re at a great school, you have a radical liberal education that you can now take advantage of,” DeLuca said.

All speakers recognized the athletes face a difficult landscape when they get out of college in terms of finding a career, but tried to use their mistakes as a lesson to find a path to success.

Volleyball player Caitlin Koska talked about how she felt relieved after the event, as the speakers made her realize it is alright to not know what the future holds yet.

“I think sometimes we can get wrapped up in our sport and going to class and just our daily lives, but we need to realize that four years does end, and we need jobs and to move on and be adults eventually,” Koska said.

Koska and Seton Hall pitcher Shane McCarthy both reiterated how much events like this have practicality and value for student-athletes looking to tran-

sition from college to a full-time career.

“It’s nice that they bridge that gap between the two,” Koska said.

“I think it’s huge that Seton Hall Athletics has events like this for the student athletes,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy had his question on leadership answered in the presentation, as DeLuca exuded a mentality that the senior pitcher said he could bring to the diamond.

“Don’t tell someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself,” DeLuca said in his presentation. “It’s no surprise that you find great leaders coming from the athletic fields. Because you have a common goal and you have a certain finite time, and you have the ability to go out there and win or lose.”

As many of the athletes prepare for their individual and team goals this spring, it was their lifetime goals that were at the top of their minds, and they found some direction with the help of Ackermann, DeLuca and Holecek.

Keith Egan can be reached at keith.egan@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @Keith_egan10.

Feb. 22, 2018

SPORTS

Page 15

Pirates Strong non-conference schedule to open season Andrew Lombardo Sports Copy Editor Although there is still snow in some places. college baseball is in full swing and the Seton Hall Pirates have started another spring season. Last season, the Pirates finished 29-24, including a 10-8 record in Big East play. That mark was enough to make it to the four-team Big East Tournament, where their season ended after two losses.

From Feb. 16 to 18, the Pirates opened their season with a win and two losses on the road against No. 23 N.C. State. The road trip to Raleigh, N.C. was the first of many for the squad, who face a challenging non-conference schedule before the start of Big East baseball in April.

Notable non-conference opponents include Notre Dame, Oklahoma State and Hawaii, with head coach Rob Sheppard making it clear that in order for his Pirates to fulfill their potential, they needed to give themselves a tough schedule.

“We wanted to challenge ourselves, and have an opportunity to play some of the best teams in the country right off the bat before conference play,” Sheppard said.

The non-conference schedule should help the Pirates prepare for the tough nature of Big East play. As usual, the league will be competitive from top to bottom, with rival St. John’s pegged as the early favorite.

“Based on preseason rankings, St.

John’s looks to be one of the contenders along with Xavier and Creighton,” Sheppard said. “But I think [Big East teams] all improved considerably. Any time you play in-conference, it’s going to be tight and tough and you see it with [Big East] basketball too.”

For the second straight season, Cullen Dana – now a junior – and Shane McCarthy – now a senior – will lead the Pirates’ pitching staff. Dana, the staff’s top returning pitcher, posted a 3.40 ERA and struck out a team-high 81 batters last spring. McCarthy posted an ERA of 5.13, which was a surprising step down after leading the Big East in ERA each of his first two seasons. Despite the adverse season, McCarthy was still selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in last year’s MLB Draft, a testament to his ability and past success.

“Any time you get a guy of Shane’s stature to return, it helps the rest of the staff,” Sheppard said. “He’s a guy that leads by example and works really hard.”

The rest of the staff will be filled by a handful of veterans and newcomers.

Redshirt junior Andrew Politi will move from the bullpen to fill the last starting rotation spot, with sophomore Rick Devito behind him as the staff’s fourth starter.

The bullpen will be led by senior righthander Matt Leon, who was named Big East Pitcher of the Week after throwing 3.1 scoreless innings against N.C. State.

Sophomores Corey Sawyer and Noah Thompson will also be counted on in bigger roles, as the two will fill out the

Photo via SHU Athletics SHU started the season going 1-2 against No. 23 N.C. State. back end of Sheppard’s bullpen.

“We’re always looking for those young guys to step up and show they can compete at this level,” McCarthy said. “We have a bunch of freshmen that are ready to go, and some other young guys that proved themselves this past weekend.”

Although the pitching staff is the clear strength of this team, they return multiple experienced bats to power the offense, most notably sophomore Matt Toke. Last year, Toke led the team with a .321 batting average and has already seen improvement, hitting his first career home run against N.C. State.

Seniors Mike Alescio, Ryan Ramiz and Al Molina also broke out as key starters last season and will be looked to fill the heart of the lineup. Other key contributors will include freshman Casey Dana, brother of Cullen, and junior Sebastiano Santorelli, who was named to the Big East Honor Roll on Feb. 19.

“I think we’re a lot more experienced,”

Sheppard said. “We have more guys that have played quality innings, so we expect our offense to be a lot more productive this season.”

From Feb. 23 to 25, the Pirates will travel to Spartanburg, S.C. to play South Carolina Upstate, Wofford and Pittsburgh as they look to improve on their 1-2 record.

If the pitching staff performs to its ability and the lineup produces, the Pirates will see themselves as a surefire Big East contender. But for a team with so much returning experience and talent, the goal for Sheppard and his players may be even higher than that.

“The key is, if we want to move on to [NCAA] Regionals, then we need to have a really good record not only in Big East, but in the non-conference too,” said Sheppard.

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

Swimming and diving start Big East Championship Kevin Kopf Staff Writer

The Seton Hall men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams travelled to Geneva, Ohio to take part in the annual Big East Championship from Feb. 21 to 24. Both squads are looking to replicate, or even surpass, the success each had last year.

The men will try to repeat as champions, last year notching Seton Hall’s first-ever victory in the Big Championship. On the women’s side, it will be of almost equal difficulty to rival last season’s mark, as the women put up a third-place finish, also the best in program history.

Heading into the whirlwind four days, the men’s team sits at 9-7 overall and 4-1 in conference play, while the women are 6-11 overall and 2-3 in conference play. Nevertheless, both teams are riding a win streak heading into the tournament, with the men at three straight victories and the women at two straight.

Head coach Derek Sapp was impressed with the recent performances, but understands that de-

spite the overall results, swimming can largely be interpreted on times and individual play.

“Their performances definitely help build confidence going into the Big East Championship,” Sapp said. “The other aspect is looking at everyone’s times coming off of those meets. Swimming is a unique sport in that way; you can lose a meet but it can still be very successful based on times.”

This season, with Sapp stepping up from assistant to head coach, much of the tactics have revolved around similar principles to last year, but there have been changes.

“We have implemented some changes, but there are definitely a few things we are doing in the same method we used last year,” Sapp said. “We tweak things and change things while leaving others the same.”

Sapp places a lot of trust in his team and wants his players to have fun more than anything else. Despite how the numbers may appear on the standings sheet, Sapp believes the team is in a solid position, and as is often the case, the stats never tell the full story.

“I am most looking forward to seeing who is going to rise to the occasion,” Sapp said. “We have a great mix of upper and underclassmen. Seeing that dynamic grow throughout the season is always really cool.”

Among the players expected to play a large part at this year’s championship is sophomore Tyler Kauth. At last year’s competition, Kauth set three personal records in the 100-yard backstroke, the 200-yard backstroke and the 200yard individual medley. In addition to individual honors, Kauth also picked up wins in the 400-yard medley relay and the 800-yard freestyle relay.

Despite the heightened stakes, a calm Kauth is demonstrating his trust in his teammates and viewing this week as any other week.

“This year it’s about remembering how we made [last year] all possible as a team,” Kauth said. “No changes on our part, just business as usual.”

Further, Kauth has abandoned all his personal goals in favor of team goals. For him, repeating as team champions is the ultimate

goal.

“If myself getting dead last in everything I swam were to, for some odd reason, benefit the team, I would gladly do it,” Kauth said.

Perhaps the elevated sense of team loyalty comes from the bond the members have formed outside of the pool. The team, both men and women integrated, can often be seen in the school cafeteria or around campus smiling and laughing.

“There is no doubt that the camaraderie on the team adds to the success that we have had,” Kauth said. “Everybody is building each other up and getting each other hyped to win their next race. Nobody is left behind. That’s a big part of the reason why we have been so successful of late.”

With the team united and a year of preparation in the books, nothing is left for the Seton Hall swimming and diving team other than to chase that ultimate goal of more history at the Big East Championship.

Kevin Kopf can be reached at kevin.kopf@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @KMKTNF.

Femaleathletes honored Jose Feliciano Staff Writer During an intermission of the Seton Hall men’s basketball game against DePaul on Feb. 18, female-student athletes got their due with the faithful in the Prudential Center honoring them in what was the culmination of a two-week long stretch of honoring women in sports.

Feb. 7 marked the 32nd Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and the state of New Jersey conducted its celebration at SHU for the third straight year. The festivities were held on campus on Feb. 4, with one female athlete from each high school honored by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJAIAW).

In addition to honoring high school athletes the NJAIAW handed down awards to female college athletes. Seton Hall’s NJAIAW Woman of the Year award winner was golfer Cassie Pantelas, following softball player Lauren Fischer last year.

The celebration started with a brunch in the Richard & Sheila Regan Fieldhouse for all honorees and finished with a soldout women’s basketball game, where they were honored again.

Seton Hall’s female athletes were also honored with a video and on-court tribute during the men’s basketball game at the Prudential Center on Feb. 18, something that senior associate athletics director for compliance Rachelle Paul led the charge in. She also holds the title of senior woman administrator.

“We really just wanted to recognize and celebrate the contribution that our female student-athletes make to our athletic department in honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day,” Paul said.

“It is definitely awesome to be a female recognized at a male event,” Seton Hall volleyballs’ Amanda Rachwal said.

Elizabeth Sottung, another member of the volleyball team, added her perspective on what it was like to be honored at such a well-attended event.

“I think it is pretty cool, because, usually the boys get the first things in the higher hands,” Sottung said. “So, to be honored at an event as big as this is nice; and it is really good to be noticed for something.”

Paul does not struggle in relating to being a female student-athlete, as she played both lacrosse and soccer for Canisius College. She credits her time and participation as a student-athlete to where she is today.

“The lessons that you learn from being on a team are, to me, far more important and long-lasting and impactful than some of those that you will learn in a classroom,” Paul said. “So, for me personally, this is amazing.”

For Paul and all the female student athletes, their commitments to Seton Hall have been equal to the men, and their spot in the spotlight is equally deserving.

“We really just wanted to congratulate them and celebrate them for all they do for the University,” Paul said. “And for the strides that we have made as females.”

Jose Feliciano can be reached at jose.feliciano@student.shu.edu or onTwitter @JFeliciano1101.

Sports

thesetonian.com @SetonianSports

Swimmers have Big East title aspirations Page 15 Feb. 22, 2018

Page 16

Arteaga’s hot start

How a ballerina from California made her way to Seton Hall Nick Santoriello Staff Writer Hailey Arteaga was not always destined to be a softball player, at least not according to her mom, Rebeca Cook. A gymnast, Cook never envisioned her daughter playing softball. She thought she would be a ballerina. “‘There’s no way [she will play softball],” Cook often remarked.

“She’s going to be a ballet dancer.’”

But it was Arteaga’s father, Michael, a former baseball player, who nudged his daughter toward a career in cleats and not slippers.

“My dad just kept telling me, ‘You’re playing softball, you’re playing softball,’” Arteaga said.

“Now years and years and years later, I’m still playing.”

Now in her second season as a Pirate, Arteaga has a new perspective on playing a collegiate sport.

“I definitely went in with a different mindset [this year] than I

did my freshman year,” Arteaga said. “My freshman year I was way more-timid and trying to prove myself. I’ve had a whole season to see pitching, so I just got in the box and was seeing the ball pretty well.”

Arteaga is modest, as to say the second-year starter has just been ‘seeing the ball well’ in the Pirates’ first eight games is an understatement. Arteaga is hitting .435, with two home runs and seven RBIs through eight games, good enough for an .826 slugging percentage. Looking to build off a solid freshman season, Arteaga put conscious efforts into improving all aspects of her game, including her diet.

“My freshman year I ate really bad. This offseason I lost like 15 to 20 pounds,” Arteaga said.

“Since I’m an outfielder I have to be fast, so I’ve been trying to work on my speed.”

So far, the diligence has paid off as Arteaga has already stolen two

bases this season, which is only one shy of her total from all of last year. She has also played a stellar left field for Seton Hall coach Paige Smith.

“She’s one of those kids that everybody respects,” Smith said.

“So, having someone that works so hard do so well shows everybody what hard work can do.”

A California native, Arteaga had a long journey to the Hall.

“I was like, New Jersey?,” Arteaga said.

Despite not knowing more than the Pacific Ocean breeze, the sophomore always knew she wanted to play on the east coast, and found South Orange to be a great match.

“Her travel coach said such amazing things about her that we decided we had to go see her,” Smith said. “I don’t think we saw a game that she didn’t hit a home run in.

“She was just a perfect fit for our culture. She’s a hard worker

Photo via SHU Athletics Arteaga won Big East Player of the Week on Feb. 12. who’s always smiling and just a pleasure to work with.”

Right away Arteaga fell in love with that very culture surrounding Seton Hall softball.

“I love my teammates. They’re awesome people and I can be myself around them,” Arteaga said.

“That’s really what I wanted in a school, somewhere I can make mistakes and not feel bad about it, and have a good college experience.”

“We just need Hailey to be Hailey, and that’s really it,” Smith

said. It’s really been fun to see her grow.”

Off to a strong start in her sophomore season, Arteaga’s growth bodes well for a softball team with expectations to achieve high goals this spring. With so much promise and potential, Smith and the Pirates hope Arteaga will not be handing in her cleats for slippers anytime soon.

Nick Santoriello can be reached at nicholas.santoriello@student.shu. edu or on Twitter @NickSantoriello.

Seton Hall-Providence game suspended due to court conditions Kyle Kasharian Staff Writer James Justice Sports Copy Editor

Sean Barry/Staff Photographer Desi Rodriguez was diagnosed with a mild ankle sprain after slipping in the first half.

The game between Seton Hall and Providence that began on Feb. 21 in the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. was postponed early in the second half due to unsafe conditions on the court. It will finish at 12 p.m. on Feb. 22 in Providence’s on-campus facility, Alumni Hall. The game will be broadcast on YES Network from the 1,800-seat gymnasium.

The conclusion to the game Thursday will mark the first time Providence men’s basketball has played a conference game at Alumni Hall.

The reason for the abrupt suspension of action was the unsafe conditions of the court

after unseasonably warm weather caused the ice under the court, which is used for hockey, to make the court too slippery to compete despite the work of the Center’s crew.

Seton Hall’s Desi Rodriguez took a hard fall from a seemingly strange slip with 3:52 remaining in the first half, with players, coaches and referees noticing the court’s condition as an issue of safety that could not be resolved.

The coaches and referees took a 10-minute break to discuss the issue with 13:03 remaining in the second half, with Seton Hall director of athletics Pat Lyons seen on the broadcast speaking with referees. After the lengthy stoppage, officials concluded that continuing play would be unsafe, and announced the postponement.

The change will give Se-

ton Hall a short window to turn around for its next game.

Luckily for the Pirates, that game is a trip back to the New York area, as the team will face St. John’s at Madison Square Garden at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24.

Seton Hall led Providence 56-47 when the game was stopped after a promising start to the second half.

Myles Powell led all scorers with 16 points, including two three-pointers in the opening minute of the second half.

Angel Delgado and Khadeen Carrington were both in double figures with 11 points each. Meanwhile, Alpha Diallo and Kyron Cartwright led Providence with 10 points apiece.

Seton Hall dominated the paint both offensively and defensively in the 27 minutes of play, putting together 30

points in the paint while holding the Friars to just 16.

The Hall controlled the speed and pace of the game as well, as Providence failed to muster any fast break points, compared to Seton Hall’s nine in that variety.

The challenge for the Pirates will be to find a way to continue the rhythm they displayed Wednesday in what will be an Alumni Hall atmosphere only open to students and faculty, according to ESPN’s Jeff Goodman.

A win for the Pirates would bring Seton Hall even with Providence and Creighton for fourth place in the Big East standings.

Kyle Kasharian can be reached at kyle.kasharian@student.shu. edu or on Twitter @ItsKyleKash.

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