The Setonian- Volume 94 Issue - 19 3/1/18

In News, Page 5 Volume 94, Issue 19

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Female students offered rides by unknown man on campus Ashley Turner Editor-in-Chief An unknown man is offering rides in his car to people on campus, according to two students who said they were left feeling nervous after the encounter.

Brittany Labrincha and Isabel O’Brien said that they were approached by who they described as a college-aged white male with dark hair driving a gray car.

Labrincha described the car as a small Nissan, but O’Brien, who couldn’t recall the exact make of the car, described it as midsized.

Though Labrincha and O’Brien, both senior psychology majors, experienced similar incidents, they happened on different nights while the women were alone.

Labrincha said she was approached on Feb. 25 and O’Brien said she was approached on Feb. 13. Both said the incidents occurred late at night by the Ward Place Gate.

O’Brien said on the night of the incident she was walking home from the Walsh Library alone and was passing the security booth by the Ward Place Gate when a car drove past her, despite the gate having been closed for hours.

She said the car then entered the Public Safety parking lot and stopped moving until she had

See Incident, Page 2

March 1, 2018

Muslim student ‘racially profiled’ at SOPAC Student leaves ‘Steel Magnolias’ production after refusing bag check Samantha Todd Managing Editor Seton Hall students took a trip last weekend to the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) to enjoy the Seton Hall Theatre Department’s rendition of “Steel Magnolias.” However, one SHU student said she was the victim of racial profiling.

Rawda Abdelmenam, a senior special education and speech pathology major, went to the Saturday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m. showing of the play, but she never made it into the theater.

While Abdelmenam had been to SOPAC with friends before to watch movies at the Bow Tie Cinemas, this was her first time there to see a play.

Abdelmenam, a Muslim student who wears a hijab, said when she got to the theater, house manager Tom Cogan told her that her bag needed to be checked.

Abdelmenam originally agreed and opened her bag slightly before she realized that no one else was asked to do the same. She questioned Cogan, who she said told her that if she did not open her bag, then she could not enter.

When she asked Cogan why no other students were being searched, Abdelmenam said that he said “it is protocol” and that “no one else is a threat.” She said he then continued to yell at her, threatened that he would remove her from the premise and closed the theater doors.

Abdelmenam said that the audience services manager, Alicia Whavers, told her that Cogan did what he did because of “‘things that have been happening in our country,’” and that it was for security purposes, which Abdelme-

A&S Diversity category to stay in place In News, Page 3

File Photo SHU student Rawda Abelmenam left the premises after refusing to have her bag checked. nam felt insinuated that she was a threat to others in the theater due to her religion.

The incident prompted Abdelmenam to email vice president of Student Services Dr. Tracy Gottlieb.

Abdelmenam wrote in her email, “Many Seton Hall students and other members were allowed into the theater with bags and bookbags. However, I was the only outwardly veiled Muslim and the only ‘threat’ to the community.”

She added, “I feel racially profiled and discriminated against.

As a student of this university and a member of the South Orange community, I do not feel safe or welcome being here.”

Gottlieb wrote in an email that

she cannot “publicly comment about a student concern.”

Gottlieb said, “I can confirm that university is investigating this student’s complaint. It is unacceptable for any Seton Hall student to be singled out based on racism or racial profiling or to be denied access to a Seton Hall-sponsored event, period.”

In an email interview with The Setonian, Abdelmenam discussed more in detail about her experience that night.

She described her own bag as “a big backpack, your typical student backpack with my student laptop, a folder, a planner and a book in it,” asked about why she believes Cogan searched her bag, she said that he racially profiled her.

Fmr. Secret Service agent talks assasination

In Campus Life, Page 9

“I am one of the very few outwardly veiled Muslims in South Orange, when he saw me with my hijab on, he shows to take provocative and discriminatory actions. Students and attendees of all different ethnicities were not stopped, they were not questioned,” she said.

She said that Cogan made numerous comments about her bag.

“This was an obvious indication that he thought I was a threat. In fact, Tom Cogan, left his post, where he was responsible to check tickets and wanted to search my bags, while others were seated by ushers inside the theater,” Abdelmenam said.

See SOPAC, Page 2

WBB head to Big East Tourney

In Sports, Page 15

Page 2

NEWS

Incident: walked closer to the gate.

“Then the car pulled out and drove the opposite direction of the gate and stopped next to me and rolled down his window to ask me if I wanted a ride,” O’Brien wrote in an email “I kept walking and declined the offer, but he asked me two or three times if I was sure and I just kept walking and saying that I didn’t want a ride.”

She added that he waited a few

moments after she had declined his offer and then finally drove away.

Labrincha’s shared a similar story to O’Brien’s.

Labrincha said she was approched while coming onto campus from the Ward Gate. Even though she declined his offer, the man was still persistent.

“I initially reacted fine, I wasn’t sure what he wanted and I usually feel safe on campus, so I wasn’t thinking anything of him slowing down to ask me something,” Labrincha wrote in an email. “I felt uncomfortable because I was alone and because of how persistent he was. I’ve never really felt

that way on campus before.”

Neither women have yet reported the incidents to Public Safety. Sergio Oliva, the associate director of Public Safety, said the office has not received any reports regarding the unknown man on campus.

Oliva wrote in an email reminding students to, “Never accept rides from persons unknown. Report incident immediately to Public Safety with as much description of vehicle and persons. We will certainly send a unit out to search for description of vehicle.”

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

Cogan did ask Rawda Abdelmenam to do,” she added. “She [Abdelmenam] had a large backpack from what I understand.”

She went on to say that this protocol is standard and the house staff is instructed by management to do that.

Asked if anyone else had their bags searched that night, Billia responded that she did not know specifically, but “it was Saturday night and not that many students are carrying large, large bookbags on a Saturday night typically.”

“However, Tom did tell us that he did search another person’s bag and there were a couple of large bags in the upper mezzanine, which the ushers up there did look into their bags,” Billia said. “There weren’t that many large bags to be looked at.”

Billia said there is always a manager on duty and that the manager that night, Whavers, came out and addressed the issue with Abdelmenam.

Billia said SOPAC is in the process of, “Making sure that we gather the facts from all sides and we’re gonna sort this out as best as we can. Of course we don’t want to have any incidents like these. We want our customers to be happy and enjoy their experience at SOPAC and so we’re just trying to gather facts to make sure we know what happened and to address it then.”

Billia said SOPAC is still trying to figure out its next plan of action.

“It’s unfortunate that Ms. Abdelmenam felt or experienced what she did, or felt the way she did about the experience. However, we do have a policy on our website, it’s published,” Billia said.

Allison Carson, a senior psychology major, is a friend of Abdelmenam’s and was supposed to meet her at SOPAC that night with another friend, Cailee Valente.

Carson said that when she ar-

rived to SOPAC with Valente, she saw Whavers standing near Abdelmenam. “Tom Cogan was standing outside of the theater doors, but made a swift getaway to the elevator as Rawda pointed him out to us,” she said.

Carson added that Whavers spoke to her and Valente.

“Alicia [Whavers] told me that she did not agree with how the situation was handled. However, there was not much that could be done to resolve the issue at hand, because she did not have the authority to do so,” Carson said. “She apologized continuously.”

Carson said she does not feel the situation was handled properly and that Cogan’s “prejudice” drew his attention to her.

Carson said she is “extremely saddened and furious for” Abdelmenam. Carson said she was not carrying her own bag.

“I think that if the SOPAC wants to keep every[one] safe, that everyone’s bags should be checked in the future. An apology should be given to Rawda, and the SOPAC should somehow compensate for her distress,” Carson said.

Valente said, “I did not see the actual occurrence, however Alicia Whavers mentioned that they have security cameras, so any wrongdoings would definitely be caught on camera. I am interested to see if anyone else had their bag checked.”

Valente also said they never received tickets to replace the ones that had been wasted.

Valente said Cogan should be fired and Abdelmenam should receive compensation “for her traumatic experience and to show SOPAC’s respect and apologies.”

Interim President Dr. Mary Meehan wrote in an email that, “Dr. Gottlieb is looking into the matter and we are taking any actions by SOPAC staff very seriously.”

Aleessa Akegnan, a junior bi-

ology major, was a witness to Saturday’s events. She is a friend of Abdelmenam’s and she bumped into her before the show.

“I think that it is frustrating and disgusting to treat someone (who was only trying to have a fun night with her friends) with so much disrespect. They racially profiled her and did not allow her into the show without checking her bag first,” she said. “I do not stand with racism and it is shameful that our own community does not welcome people from different backgrounds with open arms.”

Akegnan said she had a bookbag with her too and that even her mom who came to the show had a bag with her too.

She added that neither of them were stopped or had their bag’s checked. She said she came to the show early and did not see anyone else get checked either.

“I think this incident speaks to what is happening in our community and in the world,” Akegnan said. “People are still not educated in cultural awareness and racism / microaggression is still prevalent. We must do more as a society and as a community to make sure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect.”

Abdelmenam said she has also contacted the mayor of South Orange and is awaiting a response. On Monday, Abdelmenam spoke with SOPAC Executive Director Mark Packer who she said, “explained that there was no need for anyone to ask me to open my bookbag. The only policy they have is against bringing food and drink into the theater.”

She added, “He explained that racial profiling and discriminating is not a part of their policy and SOPAC does not condone that type of behavior. He also said that he is currently investigating what happened.”

Samantha Todd can be reached at samantha.todd@student.shu. edu.

Continued from Page 1

Sarah Yenesel/Photography Editor Some female students have stated they were approached by an unknown man in a car (not pictured).

SOPAC: Continued from Page 1 She added that Cogan kept asking her, “‘Do you want to go in? If yes open your bag.’” She said she was not let in and he closed the door, telling her it was too late to go in since the show began.

When Whavers came over, Abdelmenam said she offered to get her and her friends tickets for the show on a different day.

Seeing that Abdelmenam was not admitted, her friends did not go in either. She said other SHU students that were there in hallway with their book bags were admitted.

Abdelmenam said she feels deeply affected by her experience.

“I have been a member of South Orange for four years now, I have contributed to the community by volunteering, working jobs in the village, student teaching for three semesters in the school district and I have never been so disappointed to be a resident of South Orange,” she said. “I understand that South Orange is not diverse, I understand that the incidents that have been occurring around the country are frightening; however, both are not an excuse to humiliate, racially profile and discriminate against a member of the community.”

Abdelmenam said her hijab is not a threat and that she will continue to boycott SOPAC until Cogan is no longer an employee.

Abdelmenam said Gottlieb responded to her email immediately and that they met on Monday to discuss what happened.

She said Gottlieb told her that she will take action and get in contact with South Orange officials.

Abdelmenam said she decided to get the school involved because it was a University production.

Abdelmenam said she has met with Gottlieb and Lori Brown, director of EEO Compliance and Title IX coordinator and said that they were supportive.

She said they also discussed how to move past this as a university and she suggested that SHU hosts workshops where students can learn what their legal rights are in these situations.

When asked what she thinks should be done, Abdelmenam replied that unless racial discrimination and profiling align with SOPAC’s values, then she believes “Cogan’s employment needs to be terminated.” She added, “SOPAC should also consider revising their security protocol and decide on if they want to check all bags or not.”

Abdelmenam said she asked Whavers to see a supervisor during the incident. Abdelmenam said Whavers told her there is no number open for the public and instead gave her her boss’s contact information and asked Abdelmenam to send an email and call on Monday to see what could be done. The name of Whavers’s boss that she gave Abdelmenam is Grayce Coviello, director of audience services.

The Setonian reached out to SOPAC to speak with Cogan, Whavers and Coviello, but were instead put in contact with the director of External Relations Dee Billia.

Asked about the protocol for searching bags, Billia said SOPAC generally doesn’t allow food or drink in the theater.

“The house managers are instructed to search large bags.

They don’t even search them, they just ask the person to open the bag and they glance inside,” Billia said.

“They look inside to see if there’s anything there that looks like food or drink, which Tom

March 1, 2018

March 1, 2018

NEWS

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Diversity category to stay in place for fall semester Isabel Soisson News Editor The diversity category that the College of Arts and Sciences decided to implement into their college core will continue as planned after a vote that was taken on Friday, Feb. 23 at an Arts and Sciences faculty meeting.

The Setonian previously reported that the Core Curriculum Committee of the College of Arts and Sciences voted on a diversity category being added to their college core just last year. The requirement will be instituted in the starting fall 2018 semester and will apply to the Class of 2022 on.

It is important to note that whether or not the diversity requirement would be added was not in question, but rather the discussion in the college was seeking clarification of this requirement in order to implement it.

This discussion was brought into question by a motion filed by a faculty member.

Dr. Wyatt Rory Murphy, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, filed the motion.

“As an individual, I did submit to the College Executive Committee a motion describing a broader approach to a diversity requirement which included the approach confirmed by the College,” he said.

Murphy described the approach to the requirement he outlined in

his motion.

“I thought, as did other members of the faculty, that cultural diversity using more inclusive approaches should be added to the power relations approach,” he said. “Most of our peer institutions have a diversity requirement that includes cultural diversity.”

In the end, the original plan for the diversity requirement was kept in place.

Dr. Karen Gevirtz, professor of English and co-director of the Women and Gender Studies program, thinks that this diversity requirement is extremely important.

“Students need the skills to think critically about other people and the powers that they have in their lives and in their societies,” she said. “It is an obligation of this faculty to provide them with the skills to do that and think like this.”

Gevirtz added that she thinks Seton Hall students are perfectly capable of taking this diversity requirement.

“Students are savvy, they are smart and they look at the world around them,” she said. “If they are walking down the street and seeing lots of different types of people, discussing these people in the classroom is not that crazy.”

Peter Shoemaker, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said in an email that is pleased with the decision to incorporate the re-

Adrian Chavez/Staff Photographer A final decision was made about the content of the diversity category on Feb. 23. quirement into the core.

“I am extremely pleased that the College of Arts and Sciences has decided to integrate a diver-

sity requirement into its core,” Shoemaker said. “This is a small, but important step toward serving the needs of our diverse student

body and our surrounding community.”

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

Student Services gives safety tips in wake of Fla. shooting Isabel Soisson News Editor Student Services sent out an emergency preparedness reminder to the University community on Feb. 16. The reminder was sent out after the shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. on Feb. 14, according to Tracy Gottlieb, vice president of Student Services.

“The tragedy in Florida reminded me that it was time to again send out that reminder,” Gottlieb wrote in an email. “We try to do periodic updates for the community so that they refresh themselves on best practices in the remote possibility of an active shooter.”

Gottlieb described what would happen in the event of an active shooter being on campus.

“Students will receive an emergency alert with information and instructions,” she said.

“Computers that are part of the

network will flash that same information.”

Gottlieb then said that from that point on the South Orange Police Department (SOPD) and other law enforcement agencies would assume responsibility of the situation. The campus community would then continue to receive communication as the event unfolded.

She also said that students should remind themselves of what do to in the event of an emergency by watching the “Run, Hide, Fight,” video provided by the university and reviewing the information on the Public Safety Code Blue webpage.

Gottlieb concluded by saying that she wants SHU students to feel safe on campus, but also alert.

Nicholas Kerr, a freshman diplomacy and international relations major, agrees that everyone should remain aware of their surroundings, but that overall, he feels safe on Seton Hall’s

campus.

“I believe the threat of an active shooter exists everywhere nowadays, and that includes Seton Hall,” he said. “But I also believe we are under less of a threat than some larger, more prominent campuses.”

Kerr added that he feels Seton Hall could be doing more to prepare the student body for such an emergency.

“Sending out an email is a nice gesture, but I believe that in order to truly make students feel safe Seton Hall should take a more active role in promoting these steps and policies,” he said.

“For instance, possibly holding seminars on how exactly students should respond to an active shooter situation.”

Dr. Mary Meehan, interim president said that she wants students to be ready for emergency as well.

“Our world is a place where sadly we all need to be vigilant and prepared at all times,” Meehan wrote in an email. “I strong-

Sarah Yenesel/Photography Editor Student Services sent out an email to SHU’s student body reminding them to stay alert after the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. ly urge our community to watch the video mentioned in the message and to take any emergency

siren very seriously.”

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

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Crime Log Feb. 23 Theft: A theft was reported in the Walsh Library. The item was found and turned into Public Safety.

Feb. 24 Disturbance: Public Safety responded to an assault in progress on campus. All parties involved were gone prior to their arrival.

Feb. 27 CDS: Marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in a room in the residence hall.

Upcoming Events What: SAB Travel: Waitress on Broadway When: March 22, 7 p.m.-10 p.m.

Where: Brooks Atkinson Theatre The Details: SAB will be selling tickets for the Broadway show, Waitress. The tickets will go on sale on March 1 at noon and 6 p.m. and will cost $20. SAB will also sell roundtrip NJ Transit tickets for $14.

Purchased tickets must be picked up from the SAB office between Mar. 12-19.

Cost: $20-$34 For more information, visit shu.edu.

What: An Evening with Andy Borowitz Live When: March 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 sopacnow.org.

What: $2 a Day : Living on Almost Nothing in America When: March 15, 2 p.m.

Where: Jubilee Hall Atrium The Details: Professor Kathryn J. Edin will be hosting a lecture discussing poverty research. Refreshments will be served.

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

What: Shakespeare Day When: April 11, 10 a.m.

Where: Chancellor’s Suite The Details: The English Club will be hosting Shakespeare Day. Come out and enjoy recitations of his plays, eat food and play “Pin the Donkey Head on Nick’s Bottom”.

There will also be birthday cake!

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

March 1, 2018

Med school receives preliminary accreditation Thomas Schwartz News Copy Editor The Seton Hall-Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine is another step closer to its prospective opening. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) provided preliminary accreditation for the School.

According to Seton Hall Interim President Dr. Mary Meehan, the LCME completes a comprehensive review of the school, which includes an evaluation of the school’s curriculum, faculty, governance, facilities and finances.

Meehan said in an email that the University plans to move the School of Nursing and the School of Health and Medical Sciences this upcoming spring.

Outstanding building approvals are preventing the schools from moving and occupying the space.

“The LCME [approval] is a huge step forward,” Meehan said.

There are still a few remaining approvals that need to be finalized before we accept applications for the medical students.”

Accreditation for the School of

Medicine is a threefold process.

The first stage includes Preliminary Accreditation, after which the school can commence operation, according to Dr. Bonita Stanton, dean of the Seton Hall Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Two years later the medical school will be considered for Provisional Accreditation.

“During the two years of preparation leading up to our receipt of Preliminary Accreditation, about 250 individuals, including many faculty from Seton Hall and Hackensack Meridian Health, community members, and University leadership including a few members of the Board of Regents, participated in 11 committees to answer more than 100 questions, requiring in a few cases one word or one sentence responses while for others, 30 to 40-page responses,” Stanton shared in an email.

After the process, the school will be assessed for Full Accreditation. Both of these stages require submission of a detailed report similar to that submitted for the first stage and a site visit from the LCME.

SGA Updates Mia Page Staff Writer The Student Government Association (SGA) meeting on Feb. 26 began with the Gourmet Dining Services (GDS) announcing that this summer the cafeteria will be going through a major renovation. According to GDS, the new cafeteria’s look will mirror that of the new atrium and will feature a new kiosk with made-to-order food.

GDS said in order to cut down on the long lines in The Cove and the cafeteria they are going to add a new outside vendor. Negotiations have begun to add a food kiosk inside of Jubilee Hall. GDS is also looking into having a “Playa Bowl” like vendor come in and provide a new food location on campus.

Discussion with the university on the topic of expansion of cafeteria hours and possibly moving to continuous dining has begun. GDS mentioned that the new renovations in the cafeteria would make it easier to implement continuous dining, but meal plan structure will be altered to include the use of more Pirate Bucks.

After the GDS forum, Dean Karen Van Norman announced that an Ad Hoc committee was formed to organize an event for the “March For Our Lives” protest.

President Christina Simon said she will be meeting with the provost to discuss the addition of a common hour on campus and how to include racial diversity in the university’s CORE. Mia Page can be reached at mia.page@student.shu.edu.

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Although the process is intensive and thorough, Stanton is thrilled it is moving along well.

“Speaking for myself, this is a very exciting time,” Stanton said.

“This is another step in the process to provide key educational, research and career opportunities to enable the next generation to pursue a career in medicine. We have a vision that every person in New Jersey and eventually in the United States, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, will enjoy the highest levels of wellness in an economically and behaviorally sustainable fashion.”

Although the School of Medicine’s accreditation process is moving along, students’ reservations remain about transportation, housing and cost.

Lisa Pastilha, a sophomore nursing student, is looking forward to having a new campus because of the new resources.

However, the school’s location poses numerous difficulties for her living arrangement.

“The change to the nursing school is definitely going to affect me in a ton of ways. The biggest issue is moving,” Pastil-

ha wrote in an email. “I have to find an apartment somewhere in between Nutley and Seton Hall, which is hard to find at an affordable price. I’ll have to commute between both campuses for classes as well as my job which will be time consuming because of gas and traffic.”

Sophomore nursing major Darby Debonis currently lives on campus, but because most of her classes will be offered at the new campus, she has chosen to live off campus.

Although challenges will be presented, Debonis said via email that she is looking forward to the school’s labs and technology.

“The aspect of the new campus I am most looking forward to is the simulation labs we will use for clinical courses, and the technology that will be in the classrooms,” Debonis said. “I am not excited about the commute but I can’t complain because I am fortunate enough to attend a university that has invested time and money into the program I am studying.”

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

March 1, 2018

NEWS

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NASA offering students fellowship Hannah Sakha Ast. News Editor

NASA is offering 12 Seton Hall students the opportunity to join a summer fellowship in the New Jersey Space Grant Consortium (NJSGC) program.

The fellowship is open to any full-time student who wishes to conduct research pertaining to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.

Dr. Mehmet Sahiner, chair of the department of physics, serves as the principal coordinator of the fellowships and leads a faculty panel who will select the awardees.

Sahiner shared via email that the selected students will be granted a six week period during the summer to conduct their choice of research under the supervision of a faculty member.

They will also receive a $2,000 stipend and an additional $500 to fund for equipment.

Students have until April 20 to send their research ideas in to Sahiner. Submission criteria, which must be sent directly to Sahiner, includes completing an application, forming a one page research proposal and selecting a faculty advisor who will supervise them.

Recipients will be announced on May 15.

When asked what type of research projects would interest him, Sahiner shared it should be relevant to STEM, as well be able to produce results within six weeks.

“I think bringing these NASA Funded Grants for the SHU STEM faculty and students is crucial to enhance UG [undergraduate] STEM education at Seton Hall and I am committed to expand these programs,” said Sahiner. “As federal funding agencies are focusing to more and more UG oriented research the science is also shifting towards UG level. I strongly believe these SHU-NJSGC fellows are going to be the successful scientists of the future.”

Past awardees of the fellowship shared their research ideas and experiences while working in the NJSGC program.

Olivia Rodgers, a junior physics and biomedical engineering major, wrote in an email what her research project entailed.

“I work on improving the efficiency of cadmium based solar cells,” Rodgers said. “Our hypothesis was that by adding silver nanoparticles to cadmium based

Katherine Boland/Staff Photographer.

Students can conduct their research of choice thanks to a NASA summer fellowship. solar cells that it would improve efficiency and through our research it was discovered that it does in fact increase the efficiency! This is important because we need to start moving away from non-renewable sources of energy and improve upon renewable sources of energy such as solar power.”

In fact, Rodgers shared that she will be presenting her successful

research in the American Physical Society Meeting in Los Angeles next month.

Michael Patullo, a junior physics and engineering major, was also granted a fellowship during the previous academic year. He shared in an email why he believes students should take advantage of this opportunity.

“The New Jersey Space Grant Consortium is an impressive fel-

lowship to apply for and one even more humbling to receive,” Patullo wrote. “Working in a NASA program has even opened up other internship opportunities with executive agencies like the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and Department of Justice in laboratories all over the nation.”

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

SHU hopes to foster Letter to the editor: a safer Community Dear Editors,

Hannah Sakha Ast. News Editor

On Feb. 20, the University community received an email from the President’s Office explaining how the school will better handle racist incidents on campus.

In an email from Interim President, Dr. Mary Meehan, administration have enlisted a series of demands, in response to concerned students and faculty, who feel the University is not appropriately handling these incidents.

Some of these steps include applying for a Lumina Foundation grant, offering faculty workshops and conducting a Campus Climate Survey.

When Meehan was asked why the above steps were chosen specifically, she shared via email that there were various groups who expressed their concern regarding the issue. She and administration

felt that these were the most effective ways to ensure ownership will be taken and that the steps will be correctly followed through.

“These actions were appropriate because many of the concerns raised relate to the ways we interact with each other as a community,” Meehan said. “Engaging the entire community in discussion both through the curriculum and through other activities and events on campus is a way of the entire community learning side by side what it will take to fight prejudice and to foster mutual understanding and respect.”

Tracy Gottlieb, vice president of Student Services, said via email that she hopes these changes will not only enact positive change throughout the community, but address problems that might specifically affect an individual.

Students were asked if they felt these steps were appropriate to

address and handle the recurring problem of mishandling racist events that occur within the community.

Amatullah Shaw, a senior diplomacy major, shared via email that it is reassuring to know administration are taking proactive steps to correct these problems.

However, she hopes that this is not the last time the community will address these issues.

“But I will say that President Meehan taking what was said and putting into action is a step in the right direction,” Shaw wrote in an email. “Only time will tell whether or not these demands were said just to make us happy or if they will be sustainable for future generations of students to come. For now, I am enthusiastic to see how these demands will come into fruition.”

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

When I arrived at the University on Tuesday I was in the parking [deck] looking for a space. When I got to level 4 I saw a car on fire.

I assumed that someone had already notified security. However I decided to call security anyway fully expecting to be told that the fire had already been reported. In fact, no one had reported the fire. Students and others just walked by the burning car without showing any concern even for their own safety in a situation where gas fumes could have caused an explosion.

When you feel it’s necessary to criticize the administration for not issuing a Pirate-Alert you should also consider the lack of responsibility on the part of the students who didn’t feel it was necessary to take action in a dangerous situation.

When I reported the fire to Security they responded within 30 seconds. By the time I got back to my car a Security vehicle was already on the scene and the South Orange Fire Department arrived within minutes.

It wasn’t so long ago that a fire in a dormitory took three lives because students didn’t respond to the fire alarm.

Gregory Scime Director of Music - St. Joseph Church, Maplewood NJ Adjunct Professor of Piano -Seton Hall University Artistic Director Assisi Performing Arts Music Festival

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NEWS

Students wonder why SHU doesn’t participate in some holidays Marie Leone Staff Writer Some Seton Hall students have wondered why they do not get off federal holidays, like President’s Day. Freshman occupational therapy major Yannis Alejo said that because Seton Hall not off for certain holidays, she finds it difficult to coordinate with friends who attend other schools that have those days off.

If given the opportunity to ask administrators who make Seton Hall’s academic calendar, Alejo said she would ask, “Why didn’t we get President’s Day off and how do they determine when we have our breaks?”

According to Senior Associate Provost Dr. Joan Guetti, Seton Hall’s academic calendar is created by an Academic Calendar Committee. This committee includes members from the Faculty Senate, Student Affairs and Aca-

demic Affairs.

Guetti calls the academic calendar “an important planning document for the campus community.”

Seton Hall’s scheduled academic calendar is available online on the University’s website through summer of 2020.

Guetti wrote in an email, “The calendar is influenced by the number of holidays that fall on Monday, as well as Middle States Accreditation standards.” These standards are the Middle States Commission on Higher Education’s requirements for college accreditation.

She said that it can be difficult to meet accreditation standards while giving students Monday holidays because of the number of Monday holidays in the spring term.

Guetti said, “In general, we comply with these standards by scheduling each undergraduate class for 150 minutes per week

for 15 weeks. As a result, Monday classes prove to be the most challenging.”

Guetti added that it has been suggested that, for the spring term, the Academic Calendar Committee exchange Monday classes for classes later in the week, such as on Fridays. However, “we are also aware that for many students, who work or have other commitments, this change could have an adverse impact,” Guetti said.

The Academic Calendar Committee says that it is very willing to hear students’ opinions and commentary.

Dr. Mark Molesky, chair of the committee, said in an email that, “As chair of the Calendar Committee, I will share and discuss [all student concerns regarding the academic calendar] with the faculty members that make up my committee.”

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

Check us out at www.TheSetonian.com

March 1, 2018

Throwback Thursday

What was The Setonian reporting years ago?

“Food Network stirs up love”

Author: Jaclyn Librera Date: March 6, 2003 The story: The Food Network premiered a new show entitled ‘Date Plate,’ a new dating show with a culinary twist. Contestants were asked to cook a meal for two with a $50 budget and the help of a professional chef. The twist is that they could only pick their partner based off of their favorite dish after eating and critiquing it. “Mr. and Mrs. Right” would not meet in person until after the contestants picked their winning dish.

“Aniston stars in more realistic ‘Friends’”

Author: Rudy Palma Date: March 1, 2007 The story: Actress Jennifer Aniston, famous for her role on the hit TV show “Friends,” was set to play in the movie “Friends with Money.” The comedic chick flick narrated the tale of Olivia, played by Aniston, who was struggling to settle in life, with her career and love life. While all of her married friends were working successful jobs, she was both single and jobless.

Lehigh University:

U. of Alabama:

Savannah State U.:

San Diego State U.:

Oregon State U.:

Northwestern U.:

Crown College:

Lindenwood U.:

Where: Bethlehem, Pa. Date: Feb. 28 The update: An honorary degree that was awarded to President Donald Trump in 1988 by the university was rescinded by administration.

Eighty-three percent of the voting faculty members voted to rebuke the award, after it was decided that Trump’s current statements do not coincide with the university’s message.

From: www.huffingtonpost.com

Where: Corvallis, Ore. Date: Feb. 27 The update: Former student Christopher Shahan was arrested on Tuesday after authorities claimed he threatened to start a shooting on campus on social media. Investigators linked Shahan’s Twitter account to his home and were able to track him down and arrest him.

From: www.oregonlive.com

Where: Tuscaloosa, Ala. Date: Feb. 28 The update: The university announced it will provide $400,000 to aid sexual assault victims. The settlement was issued after the school was sued by the parents of a former student who committed suicide after filing a report that she was sexually assaulted on campus. There will also be a $50,000 scholarship in honor of the student.

From: www.bostonglobe.com

Where: Evanston, Ill. Date: Feb. 28 The update: Police are launching an investigation into the mysterious death of student Kenzie Krogh, who died on Sunday. Krogh informed her friends that she was not feeling well, then was hospitalized and died within a few hours. Police are awaiting toxicology reports.

From: www.foxnews.com

Where: Savannah, Ga. Date: Feb. 27 The update: A shooting on campus Saturday night resulted in the death of one student. This is the second campus shooting to occur within two years by an outsider. Due to the school’s open campus, there have been numerous instances of shootings and rapes committed by people outside of the campus community.

From: www.wsbtv.com

Where: St. Bonifacius, Minn.

Date: Feb. 27 The update: Authorities closed the case of deceased student Blake Smith, who was found in a creek half a mile away from his car. His death was ruled as an accidental drowning, stating that he became disoriented after a car crash, then fell and drowned in the creek.

From: www.knoxnews.com

Where: San Diego, Calif.

Date: Feb. 28 The update: The university is now offering a course entitled “Trump: Removal, Impeachment, or Conviction?” The basis of the course will be developed off of the 25th Amendment, focusing primarily on impeachment and removal. The course will be a part of the criminal justice program and will also review all 19 impeachments in history.

From: www.thehill.com

Where: St. Charles, Miss.

Date: Feb. 27 The update: Xavier Boland, a pole vaulter on the track and field team, was arrested after allegedly filming his roommate having sex with a female, then assaulting her and threatening to post the video on social media. Students are demanding for Boland to be suspended.

From: www.nypost.com

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

March 1, 2018 CAMPUS LIFE

Page7 7 Page

SHU set to celebrate its birthday

graphic by Clara Capone

Seton Hall University Charter Day Celebration 2018

Daily Seton Hall Trivia Contest

Employee Services Awards

Food Drive

Blessing of our newly comissioned statue of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Historic Symposium- Seton Hall, An Introduction to University History

Special Feature Article in the Setonian Library Windows Discounts of Participating Local Shops

Week of March 12-16

Birthday Cake

Walking Tour Celebrating Seton Hall and South Orange Community

Saturday, March 10

Walking Tour

The Charter Day Program

Seton Hall-A History Through Images& Music

Movie Presentation “Pirates of the Airwaves- The WSOU Story”

The Joseph A. Unanue Latino

SHUFFLE Concert

Monday, March 12

Tuesday, March 13

Wednesday, March 14

Liam Oakes Staff Writer The Office of the Provost announced on Feb. 28 that Seton Hall will hold its first ever Charter Week, a week-long celebration of the annual Charter Day. Events will begin on March 10 and end on March 15.

Charter Day, which is Seton Hall’s birthday, celebrates the founding of the University in 1856 and the granting of its charter by the New Jersey Legislature in 1861. This year, the University will be extending Charter Day into a week of various events that celebrate and acknowledge the history of Seton Hall as well as its Catholic identity and mission.

“We wanted to expand the concept of Charter Day to be all-inclusive so that we can include all of the different clubs and organizations on campus,” said University Archivist Alan Delozier. “It really ties in with the celebration of the University.”

Delozier said that in years past, Seton Hall only hosted a special program on Charter Day that encompassed the SHU community in one place with music, a keynote speaker, and refreshments.

The week of events will commence on March 10 with an event hosted by the South Orange community that will focus on the importance of preserving and celebrating family and local history.

The event begins at 11 a.m. in the South Orange Public Library.

Seton Hall is extending the Charter Day celebration into a week full of events.

On March 12 and March 14, SHU will be providing special tours around campus. The tours will focus on the historical buildings that cultivate the university’s history over time and its chronological development.

The blessing of the newly commissioned statue of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton will take place in the lobby of Bethany Hall on Tuesday, March 13 at 3 p.m.

Birthday cake will be served after the blessing to commemorate the Charter Day celebration.

WSOU, Seton Hall’s student-run radio station, will celebrate its 70th anniversary in the

Beck Rooms of the Walsh Library on Tuesday, March 13 by presenting a film about the history of the radio station, called “Pirates of the Airwaves – The WSOU Story.” Producer Rob Longo will introduce and the comment on the making of the film.

The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute and Catholic Studies will be hosting several events in support of Charter Day on Wednesday, March 14. A luncheon and lecture on the Lady of Guadalupe with Fr. Augustus Puleo will take place in the Chancellor’s Suite followed by a Spanish mass at the Immaculate Conception Chapel.

Photo via shu.edu

March 15 will be the official Charter Day. There will be a historical symposium on the history of Seton Hall in the Faculty Lounge. The panel will feature faculty who have researched the more than 160 years of Seton Hall’s history. Panelists will discuss an overview of Seton Hall, the history of the Immaculate Conception Seminary, and the development of the University’s athletics.

Seton Hall will also continue its annual program at 3 p.m. on Charter Day. The annual Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid Medal for Distinguished Service will be

Thursday, March 15 awarded to a long-serving Seton Hall employee for their distinguished service and commitment to the university’s mission.

The President’s Award for Student Service will also be awarded and the Servant Leader Scholars will be recognized.

There will be daily events and activities during Charter Week, including a daily trivia contest and a food drive that will take place in the residence halls. The Walsh Library will also feature a window display on the 50th anniversary of the university becoming a co-educational campus.

Delozier said that he hopes that a week-long celebration of Charter Week will have a bigger impact on students.

Nate Valyo, a freshman economics major, said that he is interested in taking one of the tours around campus.

“I really would like to learn about the history of our school,” Valyo said. “Since I’m a freshman, I think it is important to know about the history of the place where I will spend the next three years of life.”

Brielle Runfeldt, a freshman biology major, said that she is interested in attending the University’s history events.

“Learning about the roots of our school is important,” Runfeldt said. “It will show us the growth of our University and give us pride in our accomplishments.”

Liam Oakes can be reached at liam.oakes@student.shu.edu.

SO businesses to offer discounts for Charter Week Erika Szumel Staff Writer To commemorate SHU’s Charter Week, a number of South Orange businesses will offer discounts to students and staff with a Seton Hall ID March 5 to 10. Pamela Adams, an Associate professor in the Stillman School of Business, worked with Steven

Pomponio, a senior finance, management and information technology management major to contact the merchants that are offering these discounts.

Ezequiel Myers. a sophomore information technology management major, Jacob Abel and Ryan Tonra sophomore diplomacy and international relations ma-

jors all collaborated in reaching out to businesses.

The participating businesses include South Orange Frame Shop (20 percent off items ordered during the week), Rocket Ship and Print Store (10 percent off on all purchases during the week) and BGR (20 percent off from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. from

March 15 to 17). Also, Stony’s is offering a discount every day of Charter Week except Wednesday after 8 p.m.

On Charter Day, a few merchants around South Orange will offer discounts as well.

The Leather Shop – Shoe Repair will give a 10 percent discount on all shoe repairs and

purchases. Pirates Pizza will offer 15 percent off on all orders and deliveries and Cold Stone Creamery will offer 15 percent off all orders. Finally, SOPAC is showing A Shuffle Concert performance for a reduced price of eight dollars.

Erika Szumel can be reached at erika.szumel@student.shu.edu.

Page 8

CAMPUS LIFE

March 1, 2018

Alumna credits SHU programs for success Julie Trien Campus Life Editor Gladys Henriquez, a 2002 diplomacy and international relations alumna, has a schedule she describes as “crazy.” As a multi-platform freelance marketer, her days are filled with web design, editing, client meetings and project management, among other tasks. She handles the branding and marketing for clients from law firms to smaller startup companies.

Henriquez credited SHU for giving her a strong base for her professional accomplishments.

In particular, she said that it is important to gain internship experience and keep in touch with alumni.

“Seton Hall gave me such a great foundation for everything I know now,” she said.

Though she explained her interest in the field was born out of a marketing internship she had at Western Union, a company specializing in money transfers, Henriquez said that her background in diplomacy gave her a unique social consciousness.

“Just learning about history and politics and all these things that are now so relevant and so important to be aware of was a great foundation,” she said.

Henriquez noted that her involvement in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) helped her realize what she was capable of doing.

“I loved the supporting staff and the professors there,” she said. “They saw the potential we had.”

Majid Whitney, the associate dean and director of the Educational Opportunity Fund Programs (EOP), says the organization is meant to give students an opportunity to succeed in college that they may not have had due to financial challenges. He said that the EOP has the highest student retention rate on campus.

He said that this, in addition to the program boasting the highest six-year graduation rate on campus, is largely due to student engagement.

“We create a sense of community,” he said. “I think our students feel very closely connected to our program. This is a fouryear investment of our time into our students.”

Brittany Setaro, a junior social and behavioral sciences major, explained how being a part of the EOP allowed her to grow in her college career.

“EOP has helped me become a more well-rounded, diligent student,” she said.

Photo courtesy of Gladys Henriquez Henriquez discovered a passion for marketing after participating in an internship.

Henriquez said that a combination of what she learned in and out of the classroom influences her work today. A number of her projects focus on current social issues for children, such as bullying

and friendship.

Henriquez said she is working on marketing a children’s book collection that deals with themes such as gender equality. She said that in a world where people have

greater access to information than ever before it is important to reach young people through the power of positive branding.

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

Pirates gain production experience in work study Zoey Dotson Staff Writer

Through Pirate TV, students learn about SHU’s sports teams, upcoming events and school news. However, many people do not know the faces behind Pirate TV and the Communication Department.

Many might not have heard of the TV work studies crew in the basement of Fahy Hall unless they are a communication major.

The work studies crew is comprised of three students who help with everything — from lighting, assembling sets, keeping track of equipment and the general maintenance of the equipment in the studio. According to students, the program helps instill abilities into the communication students who are aspiring to go into broadcasting or other media departments.

Thomas Mills, a senior visual and sound media major, is one of the student workers in the TV studio that help prepare the space for different projects.

Mills said he learned about the program by seeing signs posted in the TV studio and saw that it was a good chance to learn more

Sarah Yenesel/Photography Editor Students said they have learned lessons about TV production while completing a work study. about his craft.

“I got into the program because I was very interested in learning more about how TV works,” Mills said. “I also have learned about camera and other equipment such as lights and audio equipment.

“I have learned the inner workings of how a TV show should be produced and directed. I have also learned how to check field production equip-

ment to see if it is in working order.”

Mills plans on being a freelance video editor, using his skills that he has gathered from the program and his major.

Tommy Rinaldi, a junior visual and sound media major, works alongside Mills in the work studies program.

Rinaldi explained his experience and how much it has helped him learn.

“Last semester, when I started working for the TV studio, was my first time interacting with this type of equipment because I was originally a business major.”

Rinaldi said that working at the TV studio has helped him get comfortable with all the equipment needed to run a TV show as well as help him become a producer for Pirate TV. Rinaldi credits working in the TV studio as helping solidify his

dreams of working in film. He said one day he hopes to be a film critic for his own company.

Courtney Carr, a senior broadcasting major, said she became interested in the program during her sophomore year.

“I recommend it 100 percent, she said. “I have learned so much about my field just through work study.”

Carr advises future participants in the program to pay attention to detail and always ask questions.

“There is always room for questions but less room for mistakes,” Carr said.

Carr said that the three work studies students in the studio have formed a tight-knit group.

“Most of our work is a group effort but we tend to hang out outside of work and get food or other stuff like that,” she said.

Carr is set to graduate in December 2018 and said she plans on working in the production field in the future, “This job has helped me tremendously understand the workings of the behind the scene aspects of my field of study.”

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

March 1, 2018

CAMPUS LIFE

Page 9

Slavic Club holds talk discussing assassinations Adam Varoqua Staff Writer The Slavic Club hosted speaker Jerome A. Ballarotto on Feb. 22 to discuss the political and historical impact of assassinations in the U.S. The Trenton, N.J., native is a former Essex County prosecutor and former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Department of Justice.

He is also an alumnus from Seton Hall Law School, but the most eye-catching part of his life is his time with the Secret Service.

He was recruited during his undergraduate years at Loyola University and after graduating, served as a secret service agent for five years before going into law.

He was one of the few students picked to be a Secret Service agent during the Vietnam War. He was recruited for the Secret Service during the late 1960s, in the decade of seemingly endless assassinations, like that of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others. Before the presentation, Ballarotto stated what he wanted to impart.

“I want them to be familiar with how the United States specifically has developed as a result of the assassinations that have hap-

pened,” Ballarotto said. “Some of the assassinations that occurred have had dramatic effects on the history of America on how we progressed. Some of it has been good, some of it has been bad.”

Slavic Club President Teresa Gonzales, a senior diplomacy and international relations major, said that Ballaroto came to speak to the club after Professor Shiloff suggested it. Shiloff and Ballaroto are neighbors and Gonzales said Shiloff thought this would be a good event for the club.

Gonzales also highlighted why Ballarotto’s presentation was important to its organization.

“Because most of Slavic Club is diplomacy students, we thought it would be interesting because it’s not necessarily a Slavic topic but it pertains to most of our club members,” she said.

The room was filled with regular club members and guests waiting to hear about Ballarotto’s experiences.

When the event began, Ballarotto relayed how unconventional he was when he started out as a Secret Service agent. He always had long hair, which his fellow agents would make fun of him for and drove a Volkswagen Beetle as his Secret Service car.

Coby Dunn/Staff Photographer Speaker Jerome A. Ballarotto, worked in the Secret Service after attending Seton Hall Law. He also talked about how the secret service became desegregated and how he worked closely with a new African American Secret Service agent member.

He went on to describe the basics of being an agent, like how everyone has to wear glasses for

protection instead of fashion due to an acid throwing incident that happened overseas.

Members who attended this event remarked how they enjoyed the speaker and his presentation.

Grigoriy Shekhtman, a junior psychology major, learned a lot

from the event.

He said, “The number one thing I took away is that we need to be open [to] both new experiences and ideas, but also consider old-fashioned ones as well.”

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

Student awarded for service to community Kristel Domingo Staff Writer

Philanthropy has always meant a lot to sophomore Taylor Salomon, a mathematical finance major. But receiving the 2017 Team Walker Outstanding Service Award was a total surprise.

On Jan. 24, the award, which lauds Salomon for her exceptional commitment to giving back to the community through the organization Team Walker, was presented at a ceremony in Jubilee Hall’s faculty library.

At the ceremony, Leadership Development Director Michael Reuter, Stillman School of Business Dean Joyce Strawser, Team Walker’s CEO and founder Jerry Walker, Team Walker’s Board of Trustees members Leo Zatta and Patrick Dunne, and Salomon’s family were in attendance.

Salomon had no prior knowledge that she was going to receive the Team Walker Outstanding Service Award. It served as a reminder that she is bettering her community.

Team Walker is an organization that offers inner-city youth after-school academic and athletic programs, as well as community outreach programs for families and seniors of Jersey City.

Photo courtesy of Taylor Salomon Sophomore Taylor Salomon was commended for her service helping inner-city youths.

The founder and CEO of the company, Jerry Walker, traces his roots back to Seton Hall University, where his legacy remains as a basketball star and Stillman Entrepreneur Hall of Fame inductee.

Once Salomon entered the program a year ago, she had no idea that the relationships she would build there would transform her entire experience. When she received the award, CEO Jerry Walker called her “family,” which truly touched her heart.

During her time volunteering, Salomon has executed a variety of tasks. She has spent her time in

the office, notably revamping the Team Walker website and tracking its financial planning.

“She’s been a tremendous help to our non-profit, giving back.

You know, we don’t have a lot of funding or social media or marketing,” Jerry Walker said. “She really helped us put our website back together and have a professional look. I think she really did an excellent job for us.”

Salomon finds satisfaction in just knowing that she is working for a company that is making a difference. “Team Walker cares about each and every child that

is a part of their program. I saw several children focused on their school work. In that moment, I saw they all had dreams of becoming doctors, entrepreneurs, and more,” she said, making note of their desire to learn.

“The fact that I could work with a company helping children achieve their dreams is deeply satisfying.”

She is also a part of Stillman’s Leadership Development Honors Program. Her sophomore team member, Nicholas Cizin, an accounting and finance major, said, “As our Director Mike

Reuter says, ‘this is God’s work,’ and that’s how I truly feel about the work we have done for Team Walker. We’re doing a job greater much greater than ourselves. It has been an honor to assist a program that transforms the youth of Jersey City.”

Service will always remain at the forefront of Salomon’s aspirations. She hopes to one day open a foundation like brothers Jerry and Jasper Walker did, especially with the help of her Stillman background in marketing and finance.

As for Team Walker, Jerry Walker explains that the program is a family tradition – something he grew up around. His grandfather ran it for 50 years, and he, along with his brother Jasper, have been heading the company for 22 years.

As his program preaches the “3-D’s” – determination, dedication, and discipline – this is a place that he and many others can call “home.” Jerry Walker is planning to expand this company further throughout the state, as he believes what they are doing in Jersey City should be a “state entity.”

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

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CAMPUS LIFE

March 1, 2018

Greek organizations give back to the community Veronica Gaspa Staff Writer All SHU fraternities and sororities have philanthropic initiatives they focus on and raise money to support. Many of these organizations also think of events as ways to give back to the community.

Alpha Chi Rho (AXP) helps at the food bank in Hillside, N.J. once or twice every semester.

Tristan Ryan, the current philanthropy chair and a sophomore finance major, said they have been helping at this food bank since before he was philanthropy chair.

Their last trip to the food bank was on Feb. 17, where they spent most of their time packing boxes of food and non-food items to be dispersed throughout the state.

“We’re getting a good experience where we’re all hanging out and having a good time, but at the same time we’re actually making a difference in our community,” Ryan said.

The fraternity is also planning AXP Factor, a talent show that will raise funds for the American Cancer Society. The event will take place on March 22 in the Jubilee auditorium from 7 to 10 p.m.

The motto for AXP is “Be Men.” “I think a lot of us would agree

Photo courtesy of Jake Underkofler The Alpha Chi Rho (AXP) fraternity volunteers at a food bank in Hillside, N.J. as a way to give back to the community. that a big part of being a man is giving back to the world that has served you so well,” AXP Vice President and sophomore finance major Jake Underkofler said.

The Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity spends their time focusing on their five philanthropies: Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN), Aware Awake Alive, humane society, home for our troops and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Alpha Sigma Phi philanthropy director and sophomore mathematical finance major Andre Bakhos said they try to do at least one event for each philanthropy.

“We just got finished with selling roses on Valentine’s Day for Aware Awake Alive, all of the funds went to them,” Bakhos said.

Last semester they put on a talent show that they hope will become annual, with the funds

benefiting RAINN, and they raised around $900.

The Alpha Gamma Delta sorority (AGD) just had a change in philanthropies from diabetes awareness to world hunger.

Another focus for the sorority is the AGD philanthropy that helps sisters out with scholarships and other struggles.

A big event for the women is their event Cupcake Wars. Cupcakes are donated for the event

and money is raised by auctioning off the best cupcake decorations. Money raised during this event is normally divided between hunger and AGD. Philanthropy Chair and sophomore biology major Olivia Rohrecker said they are planning another big event for this semester but nothing yet is set in stone.

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

Aspiring veterinarian learns biology basics at SHU Claudia Emanuele Staff Writer Jessica Ferrara is a senior biology major and Italian minor, who is pursuing a unique career: she wants to become a veterinarian and has been accepted for graduate school at St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies.

“I honestly have wanted to be a vet for as long as I remember,” Ferrara said. “I grew up having pets, and I always loved animals.

My parents showed me from a young age that pets truly are members of the family.”

Ferrara added that her family was always supportive of her dreams, and even (reluctantly) let her keep a stray kitten that followed her home one day.

“In school I was always drawn to science, and whenever we brought my dog or cats to the vet I wanted to know everything that was going on,” Ferrara said. “I asked so many questions!”

Ferrara said that the classes she has taken have taught her the basics of how cells and body systems function. This in turn has built the foundation of the more complex biological and chemical

processes that will be covered in veterinary school.

There are no courses at SHU that are focused solely on animals, but, luckily, anatomy and physiology is somewhat similar in animals and humans.

In regards to her goals, Ferrara said, “I aspire to make my family and friends proud of me.

“I also aspire to be a vet for ‘small animals’ (cats and dogs) but I would love to someday expand my knowledge and be able to treat all animals, including exotic pets like birds and reptiles. My goal as a veterinarian is to provide care to the best of my ability and devote my life to keeping animals healthy and happy,” Ferrara said.

St. George’s University has a veterinary school and a medical school. “My uncle went there for medical school,” Ferrara said. “He worked at New York Presbyterian as an ER doctor before moving to Florida and teaching emergency medicine at University of Florida, and is now the clinical director of a hospital. He encouraged me to apply to St. George’s because of his success and great experience at the school.”

The school is in Grenada in the Caribbean, so Ferrara will be studying in paradise.

James Maglione, a junior psychology major and friend of Ferrara’s, said: “The only advice that I could give to Jessica would be to not accept disheartenment. The road will be tough emotionally, physically and mentally.

However, the work that you do and the love that you will bring to the people you help will be so incredibly worth it in the end!

And regardless, you will always have your friends to lift you up when you feel down.”

Kaela Mulligan, a senior social work major, has been a friend of Ferrara for years.

Mulligan described the future veterinarian as an extremely compassionate, caring and loyal friend. “Ever since I met her freshman year, she always knew she wanted to be a vet,” Mulligan said. “She never lost sight of her goal through all the frustrations and obstacles that got in the way and going into such a competitive field. I have no doubt that she will be able to succeed and live her dream.”

As she travels down to path

Photo courtesy of Jessica Ferrara Jessica Ferrara is persuing her childhood dream of being a veterinarian at SHU and St. George’s University. to her future, Mulligan advises Ferrara to, “Be you, and always remember you have an army of friends and family cheering you

on at home!”

Claudia Emanuele can be reached at claudia.emanuele@student.shu.edu.

Opinion thesetonian.com

March 1, 2018

Page 11

The Voice Don’t you dare say the Parkland survivors are actors C

onspiracy theories are not taboo in American culture.

Some may question how many people were actually involved in the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy. Some wonder if NASA faked the moon landing. Others claim that rappers Tupac and Biggie Smalls are living it up together in Somalia.

Though theories like this are sometimes eye grabbing, for the most part, they are essentially harmless.

However, a sickening new trend has arisen in the United States and it’s targeting the young survivors of one of the deadliest school

shootings in U.S. history. A conspiracy theory claiming that some of the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shotting are actors pushing for gun control has spread on the internet.

The Washington Post reported that anonymous users on websites like Reddit, 4chan and 8chan were creating false stories about the tragedy, including that some of the young students who were being featured in the media were actors. These anonymous users reportedly were creating these false statements in an attempt to thwart any calls for gun control that may

have resulted from the massacre.

David Hogg, a 17-year-old survivor, has been the center of the crisis actor theory, being targeted in a video that trended to No. 1 on YouTube.

The Post reported that one user on the website 4chan wrote, “Just wanted to say thanks for all your digging and research. Extra thanks if you’re spreading info or memes about this kid. It’s already breaking through the normie-sphere.

KEEP PUSHING!” YouTube removed the video about Hogg, but the damage had been done. Memes and posts claiming that he and other stu-

dents were actors spread online, despite the fact that the school’s administration disputed these claims.

This isn’t the first time this has happened after a mass shooting. A similarly horrible act targeted parents and mourners in Newtown, Conn. after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

“The parents and the families of these murdered children are still being harassed by people online,” Joan Donovan, a researcher at the think tank Data & Society who studies media ma­nipu­la­tion told The Washington Post. “That is the legacy of this kind of harassment.

For years to come, these students in Parkland are going to have to suffer this same fate.”

Through research, The Washington Post was able to see just how the rumor about the Parkland students started. And despite whether you saw the rumor on Facebook or on another social media site, if you spread the false information about these students without doing any research first, you are part of the problem and you should be ashamed.

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

Samantha Todd Managing Editor “Hey, can you do me a favor?”

No. “Can you – ” No. Saying “no” doesn’t come easy to me, and in general, it doesn’t come easy to most people. We feel compelled to always say “yes” when someone wants our help or asks us to do something for them.

Part of my problem in not being able to say no so easily is that I don’t want to hurt others’ feelings. However, when I have my own work to do and I’m close to my breaking point, saying “yes” to others can push me over the edge.

According to a 2016 article by the Mayo Clinic titled, “Stress relief: When and how to say no,” saying “yes” all the time is not

healthy. It reads, “When you’re overcommitted and under too much stress, you’re more likely to feel run-down and possibly get sick.”

Learning to say “no” is healthy because not only will it help cut down on your stress and keep you sane, but you also won’t let people walk all over you. Yes, if you’re at work or an internship and your boss asks you to complete some task then you should probably do it.

However, I’m talking about the everyday small things that can add up. Your friend asks you to drive them somewhere far or your classmate is always asking you for homework help.

Inside you want to say “no,” you don’t have the time for this, yet you find yourself saying yes.

That’s the problem I often find myself in. I say “yes” when I really want to say “no.”

In their book, “How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty,” Patti Breitman and Connie Hatch say we should embrace the power of saying “no.” They write, “Out of guilt or fear of confrontation, we take on more projects, invest in someone else’s priorities.…

In the process, we dissipate our most valuable personal resources – time, energy, and money – on things that aren’t important to us.

Each time we agree to something without enthusiasm for interest, we waste a little more of these precious resources.”

I agree that when we say “yes” to doing things we don’t want to do, we take away from our resources. Our time and energy are

valuable and we shouldn’t waste them.

Between juggling six classes, working for The Setonian, extracurriculars and a social life, all the things I have to do seem daunting at times. So when people ask me for a favor that I don’t have time for it feels like I’ve got too much on my plate to handle.

While you should be nice to others and help them out when you can, if you are finding yourself stressed out and overworked then you should say no. You also shouldn’t feel guilty about it or feel like you have to explain yourself to that person.

If you are worried about looking mean when you say no, you can phrase it in a positive way.

Instead of flat out saying no, you can say “I would like to, but I

can’t” or “I don’t have the time.”

Businessman Warren Buffet put it best when he said, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”

I don’t think a person should turn down everything, but occasionally you have to put yourself first.

I’m going to learn to say no more to things that don’t make me happy and take control over my life because so far I’ve seen that nothing is more empowering than learning to say no.

So maybe it’s time for you to say “yes” to saying “no.”

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

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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

The Setonian

Volume 94 Issue 19

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

March 1, 2018

THROUGH OUR EYES

Sports Quote of the Week “When I first saw this kid play, I thought he was pretty good. I’m not much of a swing guy, but he certainly passed the eye test.”

– SHU men’s golf coach Clay White on Gregor Tait

NBA smart to be proactive in potential gambling onset Kyle Kasharian Staff Writer

Greg Medina/File Photo Kevin Willard responded to a report that Isaiah Whitehead was paid by his agent as a freshman.

Willard showed proper initiative in FBI allegations response Tyler Calvaruso Asst. Sports Editor Since the City College of New York point shaving scandal of 1951, college basketball has not been a clean sport by any stretch of the imagination.

Despite the various point-shaving and recruiting scandals that have turned college basketball on its head over the years, Yahoo Sports’ latest report of corruption in college basketball released on Feb. 23 takes the cake as the biggest story in the history of the sport.

From the bluebloods programs such as Duke, Kentucky and Michigan State to the small-conference programs, such as Delaware State who have not achieved relevancy in decades, the number of programs caught up in college basketball’s latest case of corruption displays the magnitude of the problem the NCAA now has to deal with.

It is a flaw in the system and it needs to be addressed. However, that is not the problem at hand right now. Rules are put into place for a purpose and coaches across college basketball have been violating recruiting rules for years.

Now, it is time for those coaches to face the music.

As expected, the coaches implicated have done anything but face the music. Instead, most have either released generic statements denying any involvement, such as the one Kentucky coach John Calipari issued on the day that the report surfaced.

“I have no relationship with

Andy Miller or any of his associates,” Calipari said, according to USA Today. “Neither my staff nor I utilized any agent, including Andy Miller or any of his associates, to provide any financial benefits to a current or former Kentucky student-athlete. We will cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities.”

Some coaches, such as Seton Hall’s Kevin Willard and Xavier’s Chris Mack, have done their part in facing reporters with legitimate responses, not statements that seem as if an attorney authored them prior to public release. “[Miller] plays no role in the recruitment of potential student athletes on Xavier’s behalf,” Mack said. “Beyond that, our staff has never created a path for him to foster a relationship with any of our student-athletes while enrolled at Xavier. Any suggestion that I or anyone on my staff utilized Andy Miller to provide even the slightest of financial benefits to a Xavier student-athlete is grossly misinformed.”

“We’ve already hired an outside law firm to come in and do an investigation,” Willard said.

“As a staff and as the head coach, I’m looking forward to having them come in. We’re going to be 100-percent open, we’re going to be 100-percent honest and I have a lot of confidence in my staff and ourselves in what we’ve done in the past. I’m glad the school has moved quickly on this so we can move on from this.”

While no coach is going to provide a 100 percent transparent answer regarding the scandal, accountability is key in a situation

of this magnitude. Mack was the only coach to respond to Yahoo’s request for comment, while Willard was the only coach to give a true open-ended answer and welcome an investigation in a postgame press conference.

Could Willard and Mack be lying and giving the media answers that they want to hear? Certainly.

However, there is something to be said about their responses in comparison to other coaches around the country.

Calipari’s response is the standard operating procedure in a situation such as the one programs across the country currently find themselves in. While pre-drafted statements such as Calipari’s have been accepted in past years, now is the time to press the coaches involved in the scandal.

It is time to hold the serial rule breakers accountable, and not just let them off with a slap on the wrist. Accepting statements such as the one Calipari issued is no longer acceptable, as college basketball fans deserve answers as to why the sport now has a dark cloud hovering above with March Madness approaching.

College basketball needs to be cleaned up, and the first step in doing so is ensuring that coaches are accountable for their actions.

If Willard and Mack can do it, the likes of Mike Krzyzewski, Calipari and Tom Izzo should step up to the microphone and do the same for the benefit of the sport.

Tyler Calvaruso is a journalism major from Howell, N.J. He can be reached at tyler.calvaruso@student. shu.edu or on Twitter @tyler_calvaruso.

The movement toward legalized sports gambling continues to grow stronger, and the topic continues to grow more relevant as the Supreme Court deals with a New Jersey-based case on the matter.

Legal sports betting is slowly becoming a reality and the National Basketball Association has recognized this by taking a definitive stance in benefitting from it.

In late January, the NBA testified and requested to a New York State committee that laws be created to form a foundation for national legalized wagering on games of professional sports leagues.

“We believe a federal approach is the simplest way to create clear and uniform protections for the integrity of our games,” the NBA’s statement read, according to Sports Illustrated.

In addition to advocating for a regulated form of sports gambling, the NBA sees an opportunity to generate revenue by getting a piece of the betting action.

A two-part request was made

by NBA attorney Dan Spillane, which led with the league receiving one percent of every bet made on NBA games, along with other regulations. This alone could provide a substantial boost to league revenue, but the financial windfall could be even greater should the second part of the league’s request take form.

Spillane, in addition to speaking about the one percent aspect, advocated for a form of gambling that is more accessible for fans.

The NBA and Spillane are pushing to make bets occur legally on smartphones and at kiosks, freeing the range of betting from onsite exclusively to mobile. This could exponentially increase the number of bets being made on NBA games and thus exponentially increase the potential revenue the NBA could generate.

To provide some perspective on the potential gains, Nevada saw $4.5 billion in sports wagers in 2016, according to an ESPN

report. While much of that betting is on other sports, like horse racing and boxing, if even five percent of that betting is NBA related, a one percent cut of all bets would bring in roughly a few million dollars per year.

The NBA is something of a trendsetter when it comes to new innovations, and the step it is taking with gambling is a beneficial one that other sports leagues will certainly follow. The potential windfall from profits, especially if betting becomes mobile, would be too alluring for other leagues to not adopt.

These profits could be used in a variety of ways by the NBA, especially considering the number of different directives the league has, and the different priorities commissioner Adam Silver outlined when he took the position a few years ago.

One method could be to aid in NBA expansion and popularity on a national level. Another method could be using the money to assist in taking NBA games to other countries and continents to give international fans a chance to see NBA action at home.

This excess revenue could also become a piece in solving the one–and-done issue, which has become a particularly hot topic lately amid the latest scandal of non-professional athletes being paid under the table. The NBA and NCAA would have to work together, but such money could be utilized to create a deal where athletes are drafted into and paid by the NBA but still compete in college in a way that reminisces a G-League affiliation.

While it is still undetermined whether the NBA and Commisioner Adam Silver will have their wishes granted with a federal and legal form of sports begging, the association being proactive by taking the right step by diving into discussions and seeing what comes out of it.

Kyle Kasharian is a business major from Green, N.J. He can be reached at kyle.kasharian@student. shu.edu or on Twitter @ItsKyleKash.

March 1, 2018

SPORTS

Page 13

Lockdown defense the key to success for Seton Hall Men’s Basketballl Jose Feliciano Staff Writer For the Seton Hall men’s basketball team, it was not March that came in like a lion, but February.

The team endured its toughest stretch of the season early in the month, as it suffered four straight losses at the hands of No. 1 Villanova, Marquette, Georgetown and No. 4 Xavier.

In the closing weeks of the month, the Pirates showed their ability to overcome adversity, with three straight wins against DePaul, Providence and St. John’s. The key for Seton Hall in its recent return to form has been improved defending in the first half, particularly from three.

During the four-game losing streak, opponents averaged 91.2 points per game. In their recent

three-game winning streak, however, Seton Hall’s defense has limited opponents to 76 points per game.

One can make the case that the Pirates were bound to give up more points per game against those teams, considering their skill level. Two of those teams are in the top-four in the country, and Marquette, despite its losing conference record, still is fourth in the Big East in points per game. That said, giving up an average of 90 points per game is not acceptable for a team with NCAA tournament aspirations.

The defensive struggles for the Pirates were rooted in poor first halves. During its four-game losing streak, Seton Hall allowed Villanova to shoot 46.3 percent from the field, Marquette 59.3 percent, George59.4 percent and Xavier to shoot 56.7 percent from the field in

the first half.

The Pirates were unable to prevent teams from finding their rhythm from deep, and it hurt them in the games against Xavier and Marquette, specifically. Against Xavier, Seton Hall allowed nine threes in the first half ,creating a 20-point first half hole. Meanwhile against Marquette, the Pirates allowed six threes in the first half.

What is ironic is that the opposite was true in the Pirates’ game against Georgetown, as they limited the Hoyas to 28.6 percent shooting from behind the arc in the first half and 31.6 percent on the game. The problem in that game was Seton Hall’s failure to defend the paint and box out Marcus Derrickson, who exploited that to the tune of 22 points and 18 rebounds.

The defense in the second half was much better in three of those

four games, as they limited the opposing teams to 50 percent from the field or lower in the final 20 minutes. Villanova was the only team that equaled 50 percent shooting in the second half, as the Wildcats got hot in the final 10 minutes.

The problem was that the Pirates went into the halftime with a large deficit that ended up being too much to recover from. In the four games, the team was outscored by opponents 174-136 in the first half, a 38-point differential.

The Pirate defense improved slightly in a home win against DePaul on Feb. 18, but it was the offense that led the way as DePaul shot 50 percent from the field in the first half. Seton Hall’s bizarre game against Providence proved to be the turning point, as the Pirates limited the Friars’ offense to just 41.9 percent shooting in the first

half. Seton Hall’s best defensive game in the stretch was their last against St. John’s on Feb. 24, where the Pirates limited the Red Storm to just 42.6 percent shooting in the game.

Moving forward, the defense will be critical for Seton Hall as it faces Villanova on Feb. 28 and Butler on Mar. 3.

Defense wins championships and the Pirates will have to step up on that end of the floor if they want to have any postseason success.

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

HALL ACROSS THE BOARD PHOTO OF THE WEEK

SCORES OF THE WEEK WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Thursday, Feb. 22

Marquette Seton Hall

Thursday, Feb. 22

81 54

Seton Hall Providence

Sunday, Feb. 25

DePaul Seton Hall

89 77

Saturday, Feb. 24

72 68

Seton Hall St. John’s

(F/OT)

81 74

SOFTBALL Friday, Feb. 23

Appalachian State Seton Hall (F/8)

Friday, Feb. 23

2 3

Seton Hall UNC-Greensboro

Saturday, Feb. 24

Seton Hall UNC-Greensboro

5 12

Sunday, Feb. 25

2 1

Virginia Seton Hall

7 9

BASEBALL Saturday, Feb. 24

Seton Hall

Wofford

What’s 3/1 ON DECK Thursday Home

Away

Saturday, Feb. 24

5 12

3/2 Friday

Women’s Tennis

3/4

Sunday

3/5

Monday

3/6

Tuesday

3/7

Wednesday

TBA Big East Tournament

Xavier (Big East Tournament) 7 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

Baseball

3/3

Saturday

SIU/LIU LoyolaBrooklyn Chicago/Central 4/6:30 p.m.

Arkansas

Seattle 1 p.m.

South Florida 6:30 p.m.

Buffalo 2 p.m.

Notre Dame Youngstown State 2:30 p.m. 10:45 a.m.

Youngstown State

Photo via SHU Athletics

0 The Seton Hall Men’s Swimming & Diving team took home their second consecutive conference 1 championship on Feb. 24.

Butler 8 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

Softball

Pittsburgh Seton Hall

Central Michigan 2 p.m.

Loyola Marymount

TWEET OF THE WEEK

SPORTS

Page 14

March 1, 2018

Carrington needed as a scorer for Pirates to achieve dreams James Justice Sports Copy Editor Khadeen Carrington scampered down the court with the time ticking down in overtime on Feb. 24 at Madison Square Garden. When the senior guard grabbed hold of the rim and slammed the ball down through the hoop on a fast break, Seton Hall fans throughout the World’s most famous Arena erupted, as the team had won what had been a war of attrition with St. John’s.

Carrington’s dazzling 22-point performance was the follow-up to another heroic effort that took place on the morning of Feb. 22 in small Alumni Hall on the campus of Providence College.

It was there that Carrington finished off a 25-point performance and helped a Seton Hall team playing without Desi Rodriguez begin a new winning streak following a stretch of four straight losses.

The performances earned Carrington Big East Player of the Week and Met Writers Player of the Week honors. After the Providence game, Carrington spoke about his role as a point guard to Fox Sports 1 analyst Tarik Turner.

“That was my big thing all season, try to get my teammates involved,” Carrington said. “Previous years, my focus was scoring; the team needed me to score. But

now, the ball is in my hands.”

Truth be told, Carrington is a different player this year. He may never fully assimilate into a point guard, but his mentality and style of play has undeniably changed.

Still, no matter the alteration, the numbers back up the fact that Carrington needs to be successful as a scorer for Seton Hall if the Pirates to reach their goals this March. When Carrington has scored at least 18 points or more in conference play, the team is an impressive 6-0.

Looking back at the Providence game – which has the potential to be the turning point of Seton Hall’s season if the Pirates end up creating some magic in the Big East and NCAA Tournament – Carrington did not have a prototypical point guard’s game by any stretch of the imagination, as he went for 25 points and a mere two assists. Two days later against St. John’s, the numbers were not much different with 22 points and four assists.

This is not meant to discredit the changes that Carrington has made, but is intended to illustrate how necessary it is that Carrington feeds his scoring sweet tooth when the moment calls for it. By that same token, when the time comes to operate as a point guard, Carrington needs to step up and so far, he has.

This season, Carrington has averaged 4.5 assists compared to

Sarah Yenesel/Photography Editor In order for Seton Hall to have success this March, Khadeen Carrington will have to revert to his ways as a primary scorer.

2.9 last season, which is not surprising considering how much more the Bishop Laughlin product is handling the ball. What is commendable is that his turnovers are down, from 75 in 33 games to 65 in 29 games, despite an increased usage rate.

Perhaps this decision-making with the ball is part of the reason why Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard has so often praised Carrington for his play at the position like he did after the Providence game.

“Everyone has been on him all season long about what he’s not doing, and I’ve been telling

him how great he has been doing,” Willard said. “He has led us, he has sacrificed his offense at times…I’m so proud of the way he’s been a leader, and the way he has played all season long.”

Some fans have only seen the negative side to Carrington in his senior season. His field goal percentage has gone down, from 42.4 to 40 percent, as well as his three-point percentage, from 38.2 to 33.3 percent. Those same fans have not seen the positive side where Carrington has upped his free-throw percentage 10 percentage points, from 73.1 to 83.1 percent, helping to solve

Seton Hall’s problems at the line.

Interestingly enough, Carrington’s last two games are reminiscent of his start to conference play, with back-to-back 20-point games. However, in the middle of conference play in which the Pirates experienced peaks and troughs, Carrington’s scoring fluctuated dramatically. When Carrington scored 10 points or fewer, the Pirates were 1-4 in conference play.

While it can be argued that Carrington’s inconsistent scoring during the middle of conference play was a result of him trying to discover how to operate in his new role, it is impossible to dismiss how Carrington still needs to be a scorer for the Pirates to be successful. His old teammate Isaiah Whitehead was able to strike that balance in March as he led the Pirates to a Big East title back in 2014 and with all of the work that Carrington has put in to make the transition to point guard a smooth one, there’s no reason why he can’t find a way to do the same.

Carrington may have the decision of where to go with the ball in a critical moment in March, but it will not be shocking if that decision is for the point guard to embrace the scorer in him and keep it himself.

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

How a vacation sparked golf dreams for Gregor Tait Andrew Lombardo Sports Digital Editor Many people play golf on vacation, but few love it enough to devote nearly every day after returning to train and become one of the best young players in their country. Then again, most people are not Seton Hall freshman Gregor Tait.

On Feb. 13, Tait became just the 11th Pirate to win an individual title, as the 20-year-old finished in first at the UNCG/ Martin Downs Collegiate in Palm City, Fla. As the son of Scottish parents, Tait grew up around golf, playing occasionally with his father. For most of his childhood, however, Tait spent the majority of his time playing soccer and swimming competitively. It was not until Tait was 15 that he chose golf as his primary sport, after discovering his love for the game on a family vacation in Scotland.

“My family and I were on a holiday in Scotland, and there was a little course right by where we were staying, so I played all day, every day, for the next two weeks, pretty much,” Tait said.

After returning home, Tait practiced daily at his home course, Ipswich Golf Club and started competing in tournaments regularly. On a trip to England in 2015, coach Clay White scouted and introduced himself to Tait and his father at the British Boy’s Championship.

“I came to golf quite late, so [playing college golf in the U.S.] was always something my dad and I joked about,” Tait said.

“We never really took it seriously, but I played in this tournament and I spoke with coach White who told me what he was all about so we stayed in touch.”

Tait still had his work cut out for him as he tried to overcome the challenge of coming to golf at such a late age in comparison to his competitors, many of whom have been playing golf since they were toddlers. Still, from the first time seeing him golf, White understood the potential that Tait possessed.

“When I first saw this kid play, I thought he was pretty good,” White said. “I’m not much of a swing guy, but he certainly passed the eye test.”

The turning point, according

to Tait, came during his final year of high school, when he qualified for the England School’s team, giving him the chance to represent his country against Scotland.

After representing England, Tait took a gap year to improve his game and get recruited by a high-level program. During that year, Tait worked on his game tirelessly, playing nearly every day in preparation for collegiate golf.

When he was not on the course, Tait was earning a few pounds working in a local restaurant.

It was during his gap year that White reached out once again, this time with a concrete offer to play for Seton Hall. Tait committed shortly after, citing his relationship with White and nearby family in New Jersey.

Since arriving in South Orange, the freshman has performed at a high level, finishing the fall season as the Pirates’ third best golfer. However, White made it clear that the results were not as important as the work Tait has put in behind-the-scenes.

“We talk a lot about the process and not looking at the results,” White said. “I don’t like to set expectations about winning

Photo via SHU Athletics Only a freshman, Gregor Tait has all of the traits needed to become Seton Hall’s next star golfer. this or that tournament, but instead to focus on the process every day.”

For Tait, the win at the UNCG/Martin Downs Collegiate is a promising sign of good things to come.

As optimistic as White is about Tait’s future, he continues to push Tait to keep working and trust in the process of becoming a great golfer.

“For me there are two types of confidence: results confidence and personal confidence,” White said. “Gregor had the personal

confidence already and we hope he can use this results’ confidence in a positive way to grow as a golfer.”

In a program that has featured its fair share of standout golfers in recent years, Tait has the potential, work-ethic and now the neccesary confidence and swagger to to go down as one of the best golfers in program history when it’s all said and done.

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

March 1, 2018

SPORTS

Page 15

Women’s basketball chanelling its strengths ahead of Big East Tournament Matt Lapolla Staff Writer With 29 games in the book, the Seton Hall women’s basketball team is headed to Chicago for the Big East Tournament from March 3 to 6, where the Pirates hope to take part in three more.

The Big East Tournament is always a challenge, but the bracket is even more difficult for a reeling Pirates team. The Hall ended its 2017-18 regular season on a fivegame losing streak, its longest of the season.

The end-of-season slide meant the Pirates entered the postseason as the No. 7 team in the conference, setting up an opening round matchup against Xavier on March 3. The winner of that game will face No. 2 seed DePaul the following day.

Seton Hall swept the No. 10 seed Musketeers in their two matchups this season, a 62-51 victory in Cincinnati on Jan. 10 and a 58-53 victory in South Orange on Feb. 2. Both victories featured strong performances from Inja Butina, as the junior guard racked up six points, five assists and four steals in the first matchup and dropped a teamhigh 17 points in the second.

If the Pirates can pull off a third victory over Xavier, they will face their toughest challenge of the season against a well-rested DePaul team, playing in their home city of Chicago. The

Pirates dropped both matches against DePaul this season, with the first being an 88-69 defeat in the Windy City back on Dec. 28.

The second was the Pirates’ last game of the regular season, one in which they went toe-to-toe with the Blue Demons and lost by just four points.

Ending the season with a close finish against a highly-ranked opponent may signify a shift in momentum for the Hall. But, if the Pirates want a chance of redemption against DePaul – and a shot at winning the tournament – they need to play to their strengths and put together its best three games of the season.

When asked what the team’s greatest strength is, coach Tony Bozzella did not hesitate.

“I think our defense, when we’re playing with passion and toughness,” Bozzella said.

While the team allowed over 70 points in three of the last four games, the Pirates still rank in the top half of the conference in scoring defense, allowing 65.3 points per game. The Pirates put up that number with their homestretch of the regular season not being the easiest, as they finished with four of the top five teams in the conference in Villanova, St. John’s, Marquette and DePaul.

“We took a step forward, but we have to take more steps forward heading into the Big East Tournament,” Bozzella said.

Bozzella also believes the team

Sarah Yenesel/Photography Editor Seton Hall is the No. 7 seed in the Big East Tournament, facing No. 10 Xavier on March 3. tween the two games, averaging 12 points on 65 percent shooting.

Brown, a 6-foot redshirt sophomore, is a force to be reckoned with on the inside. She ended the season as the team’s second leading scorer with 10.1 points per game and she looked strong in her return.

“She brings a lot of energy and a lot of toughness,” Bozzella said.

“We had some kids step up for a period of time, but then over the long term you need to get that kid back. I’m proud of the girls to get us to a certain level, and now

hopefully Taylor can take us to the next level. It’s almost like we added a new recruit for the Big East playoffs.”

With Brown back in the rotation, the team is at full strength.

With an extra week of practice set up prior to the Big East Tournament, the team can work on righting the ship defensively.

The road will be challenging, but the Pirates must remember their strengths to make a run.

Matt Lapolla can be reached at matthew.lapolla@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @MatthewLapolla.

Matt Leon: Seton Hall’s Swiss Army knife

Seniors:

Nick Santoriello Staff Writer

No matter the inning, fifth, seventh or ninth, Matt Leon is always ready to step out of the bullpen with the game on the line.

Seton Hall’s new closer, Leon is replacing Zach Prendergast who graduated last year and Leon is perhaps the most consistent and versatile relief pitcher this year for coach Rob Sheppard’s Pirates.

“Matt is a product of his work ethic and I couldn’t be happier for a young man, who, especially in his senior year, can be relied upon in the bullpen,” Sheppard said. “He’s a determined young man and we’re really glad he’s off to a good start.”

Leon has been a force in relief for the Pirates this season. The righthander has yet to allow a run in his three appearances, striking out nine batters in his 4.1 combined innings of work. Leon is also holding opposing batters to a lowly .235 batting average against, and is yet to allow an extra base hit this season.

Photo via SHU Athletics Matt Leon has been unhittable.

“I just want to do whatever job is asked so whether that’s coming [into the game] in the sixth inning or coming in at the end,” Leon said.

“I just go in there and try to be the aggressor.”

The senior from Bethlehem, Pa., showed that versatility in the first series of the season against No. 23 N.C. State from Feb. 16-18. In the Pirates’ second matchup against the Wolfpack, Leon entered the game in the fifth inning and proceeded to strike out six of the seven hitters he

needs to improve on interior shooting, as he noted the team shot under 41 percent from twopoint range against DePaul on Feb. 25.

Fortunately for the Pirates, they have a strong interior scorer back in the rotation. Taylor Brown, who missed over a month of action after suffering a knee injury warming up before the Villanova game on Jan. 12, made her return to action for the Feb. 23 game against Marquette and also saw time against DePaul. She played 36 minutes combined be-

faced, helping Seton Hall climb out of trouble. It was in the final game of the series, a win, where Leon showed his tough mental makeup by shutting the door en route to his first save of the year.

“He’s a guy who wants the ball late in the game,” Sheppard said. “He threw strikes and got ahead of hitters just like you preach to all your pitchers. He went out there and competed and challenged the hitters.”

The two appearances in the series earned Leon the first Big East Pitcher of the Week award of the season.

“It’s great, but we’ve always got another game coming up,” Leon said. “More importantly, we won on Sunday, but it’s always nice to be recognized.”

With the Hall in the midst of a tough non-conference schedule, Leon knows the Pirates must be ready every game.

“It’s all about taking advantage of our opportunities,” Leon said.

“In the series against N.C. State, we were pretty much in every game until a turning point where we didn’t

take advantage. On Sunday, we took the opportunity and hit the ball well with the bullpen shutting the game down. If we follow that formula and get some good starts early, it will lead to success.”

Being a four-year pitcher, Leon has what it takes to win and knows how to lead by example.

“He provides great leadership for this team,” Sheppard said. “The senior class as a whole works really hard and sets the tone for the other players. Matt being a guy that the other players can rely on, he shoulders that responsibility with a lot of humility.”

To be successful this season, the Pirates will need pitchers who can get the team out of tough situations in the middle innings, and pitchers who can close the deal in the final frame. In the case of Leon, the situation does not matter. Give him the ball, and he will get to work, whenever that may be.

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

Continued from Page 16 Seton Hall created a website entitled “SHUSeniorDay.com” that features information on purchasing tickets, a meet the seniors guide and includes details of the event. As of Feb. 28, the website listed just 486 tickets remaining for the game.

“They have brought heart, grit and competitiveness to every game, and in just a few short months, they will proudly receive their diplomas and become graduates of this great University,” the site reads.

Opportunity awaits the seniors again at Prudential Center before heading to the postseason, seeking another Big East championship and NCAA Tournament bid. The setting of Senior Day will be one of motivators and while it will be a bittersweet moment for Seton Hall fans, the seniors will look to create some magic at The Rock one last time.

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

Sports

thesetonian.com @SetonianSports

Tait’s hobby turned college career Page 14 March 1, 2018

Seton Hall’s Senior Day

Page 16

The planning behind the one-of-a-kind celebration Elizabeth Swinton Sports Editor

On March 3, the Prudential Center will have the makings of a party.

As seniors Angel Delgado, Desi Rodriguez, Khadeen Carrington and Ismael Sanogo scan the audience, they will see shirts and towels scattered across the arena with their faces on them in celebration of Senior Day. It will be a moment four years in the making, with the class set to be honored prior to the game against Butler with framed jerseys and acknowledgment from the program.

Thomas Chen, Seton Hall’s associate athletics director for digital media and communications, described in an email why a celebration to this magnitude was organized.

“We as an external team were discussing how unprecedented this senior class is for the basketball program. It’s a foursome that has heavily contributed to a great amount of success,” Chen wrote. “We thought that since they’ve developed quite a bond with our fans, it was only fitting that we push our fans to make Senior Day a celebration of all the great things they’ve accomplished and help send them off into this year’s postseason with a memory they will never forget.”

Chen went on to detail how the seniors have engaged with fans, taking photos, signing autographs and giving apparel to young fans. They have celebrated with the student section after wins, giving high fives and thanking them for the support.

“Then beyond that, there’s been hospital visits, special “get-well” videos to fans who are ill, delivering pizzas to students, Christmas parties with season ticket holders,” Chen wrote. “You name it, they’ve done it.”

All fans who attend the Senior Day celebration will receive a towel with the animated graphic of the four seniors in action, and the first 1,000 students in attendance will receive an Under Armour T-shirt with the same graphic.

The graphic that pictures the four seniors was designed by Seton Hall alum Ben Douglass, a 2007 graduate who runs a self-titled graphic design and illustration business. The inspiration to create the graphic came from Douglass’ interest to honor the team he follows closely.

“I was a huge fan of the basketball team, always have been since I was in college,” Doug-

lass said. “I decided I wanted to do my own take on a Seton Hall poster, so in early January I did something and put it on Twitter and Instagram. It was like a team poster, and it had the seniors plus [Mike] Nzei and [Myles] Powell.

It got great atten-

tion and feedback on Twitter, so I figured why not try and get it in front of anyone at Seton Hall and see if they’d be interested in using it.”

The athletic department ended up showing interest, having Douglass tweak the image so it focused on the team’s four seniors. The graphic has since been used in marketing for Senior Day and will be visible throughout Prudential Center.

For the second straight week, Douglass will see Prudential Center adorned with his creations. On Feb. 24, he was on hand at The Rock to see the patch he created for the retirement ceremony of former New Jersey Devil Patrik Elias. On March 3, he will see his Senior Day graphic adorned on shirts and towels throughout the crowd.

“I can’t wait, I’m so excited,” Douglass said. “To have back-toback weekends where my work is featured at the Prudential Center is super exciting. I really can’t wait…

Seton Hall is near and dear to my heart, so it’s going to be special to me, for sure.”

Being a fan of the team since he was a student and attending games each year since, Douglass said this class of seniors

changed the energy around Seton Hall basketball, a liveliness that will be reflected in the Senior Day celebration.

“You have to give these seniors a lot of credit because they completely changed the atmosphere at and around the games,” Douglass said.

“Before these guys, if you went to one of the bars outside the stadium, it would be empty and the game would be empty. Now the bars are packed, there’s a true college atmosphere, the games are packed and so many of the games this year have been filled and sold out. They’ve really changed the culture around Seton Hall basketball.”

The hype the seniors brought to South Orange and Prudential Center can be defined by the class’s 12 victories against nationally ranked teams and 48-12 all-time record in home games heading into the Feb. 28 matchup against No. 4 Villanova. The home game against the top-ranked team will give the seniors another shot to add to their legacy.

Along the path of those victories came three 1,000-point scorers, over 2,800 rebounds, a Big East Tournament championship and two NCAA Tournament bids.

In an effort to sell out the game,

See Seniors, Page 15

Men’s swimming and diving repeat as champions Kyle Beck Staff Writer The core seniors for the Seton Hall swimming and diving team could not have envisioned a better finish to their careers, as the season-long pursuit for the men to repeat as Big East champions was successful, while the women finished third once again. All told, seven program records were broken in the team’s triumphant three days at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio from Feb. 21-24.

Coming off of an identical weekend in the spring of 2017, seniors such as men’s swimmer Noah Yanchulis and women’s swimmer Sydney Simpson knew the Pirates could not rest on their laurels if they wished to repeat the success they had last year.

Yanchulis, who was instrumental in both championship runs, talked about the keys to maintaining the right mentality throughout the season, as well as during the championship meet which tested the resolve of the men’s swimmers.

“[The key] is just staying focused,” Yanchulis said. “We won last year, so we knew we had the ability to repeat, but it was just about staying hungry and making sure we weren’t getting complacent…we wanted to continue to get better.”

Four Pirate swimmers traveled to the United States Swimming Winter Nationals earlier in the season, including Yanchulis and Simpson, where they faced competition that demanded the very best out of them. National records were set at the meet, and the competitors included international athletes and American Olympians.

Yanchulis, who swam at Nationals, cited how different it was to compete against the quality of swimmers that were present at Nationals. “[It was] a really great experience,” Yanchulis said. “We swam against much faster competition than we were used to, and it was a humbling experience”.

The experience that Yanchulis acquired from the Nationals proved invaluable at the conference champi-

onship meet, as heading into the last day, the Pirates trailed Villanova by a slim margin. Going into the meet’s final races, Yanchulis and the others knew it would take a strong team effort to retake the lead and keep the trophy in South Orange for another year.

With “a lot of heart, and a little bit of luck,” as Yanchulis put it, the Pirates claimed the top three places in the 100-yard freestyle, and won both the 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard breaststroke to reclaim the lead and clinch the championship from Villanova. Seton Hall finished with a score of 777 points, just beating out Villanova who finished with 749.5.

The women’s swimming and diving team also had a successful season, as it finished third in the Big East championship and broke several program records. Head coach Derek Sapp earned the honor of conference Co-Coach of the Year this season, and senior Sydney Simpson underlined his importance in the team’s improvement this year.

“I think the biggest thing is he’s helped with a lot of the little things,” Simpson said. “In the past, we’ve been very big picture and like, ‘This is what everyone needs to do.’ He’s focused more on individual stroke techniques, or that little thing you can do to drop half a second.”

The changes, as subtle as they may have been, led to major achievements, including a second-consecutive third place finish, wherein the closed the gap with rival Georgetown.

While Yanchulis, Simpson and several other Pirate swimmers and divers have finished their collegiate careers and will graduate this spring, both were very positive about what the future holds for the program.

Simpson praised the freshmen and sophomores on the women’s side who played part in record-breaking relays in their first or second seasons, while Yanchulis took pride in the culture the program has built during his time at Seton Hall.

According to them, the future is in good hands with the program built

Photo via SHU Athletics The men pose with the trophy. on the right principles.

“I hope that the culture stays positive and [revolves] around swimming,” Yanchulis said. “I think over the last four years our senior class has built up a pretty good environment where people are excited to swim, people are excited to swim fast. And I hope that the legacy of the team continues to be a team that excels in the pool and in the classroom. That’s the reputation that we want to have.”

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