In News, Page 2 Volume 93, Issue 7
www.thesetonian.com
Oct. 20, 2016
SHU ‘disgusted’ with reported campus rapes
Waitin’ on Dunkin In News, Page 3
Student visits Google In Campus Life, Page
Joey Khan/Photography and Digital Editor Officials say an increase in reported rapes is actually considered a ‘good sign’ because it means students are comfortable reporting crimes. Siobhan McGirl Staff Writer The newly released Annual Security Report revealed that six rapes were reported on campus in 2015, spurring dialogue among students and leaving varying impressions on the SHU community. Each of the six rapes were reported by females, said Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Karen Van Norman. She added that the reports involved five women with one woman reporting two different assaults. Students are upset over these rapes on campus.
In Sports, Page 14
that felt comfortable enough to come forward? Both of these reactions are natural for students to have, said Associate Dean of Student Life, Ashlee Carter, in an email interview. She pointed out that if you look at Seton Hall’s data over the past few years, six rapes can seem daunting compared to a year like 2013 when zero rapes were reported on campus. However, according to national statistics, the number is maybe much larger than six. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s website, every 109 seconds an
American is sexually assaulted. Among undergraduate students, the network reported 23.1 percent of females and 5.4 percent of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence or incapacitation. Furthermore, The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit organization focusing on national health issues, published a June 2015 national poll which found that one in five women who went to a residential college during a four-year span said they were sexually assaulted.
See Rape, Page 2
MASCL program suspended to undergo revamp Brianna Bernath Asst. News Editor
Men’s golf dynamic duo
“It makes me feel disgusted that we as a Catholic university still have these crimes being committed,” said Jake Etienne, a senior education major, who is upset that rape is an issue on SHU’s campus. Jocelyn Rogalo, a sophomore broadcasting major, is skeptical that the number six is representative of the actual problem. “There were probably a lot more rapes that were not reported,” Rogalo said. Many students said they are left unsure of how to feel. Is six a lot? Should we be disgusted at six? Or upset that it was only six
Seton Hall’s Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Leadership (MASCL) program has stopped admitting students and will be suspended as of September 2017. At a College of Communication and the Arts faculty meeting on Friday, Sept. 30, a resolution to form a committee to assess all MASCL program reviews in order to make changes to the program was passed by a 6-2 vote, according to Monsignor Dennis Mahon, associate professor of Communication. Mahon added via email interview that the Master’s program, created 18 years ago, will undergo “re-imagining” in order to revamp the program.
Deirdre Yates, dean of the College of Communication and the Arts, said in an email interview that it was her administrative decision to suspend the program because of “declining enrollments and unmet budgetary expectations for the past seven years.” Yates said that she had been “investigating and monitoring these issues” during her time as chair of the department for the last three years and that the program’s suspension is not related to the founding of the College of Communication and the Arts. Dr. Richard Dool, formerly an associate professor of communication and the director of graduate studies for the Department of Communication, was “not interested” in discussing the suspension of the MASCL program with The Setonian when he was
contacted by phone. Dool resigned from Seton Hall on June 30, 2016 after 14 years of teaching. Dr. Renee Robinson, the current director of the Center for Graduate Studies in the College of Communication and the Arts, was unavailable for a comment on the suspension of the MASCL program. Robinson, the wife of Provost Larry Robinson, joined the faculty full time on July 1, 2016. Yates said that College intends to complete the last two classes it has admitted. Matt Netter, a student currently in the program, said via an email interview that the college has assured him and his classmates that they will see his class through the program. “In terms of the curriculum
and the primary focus on leadership, I think it’s an amazing program, but once it has been clearly defined going forward, it needs to be marketed on its own for its differentiating factors,” Netter said. Netter described the program as “an alternative to the by-thebook MBA and to 100 percent online programs.” Netter said that future students of the program are unlikely to simply happen upon the program in the course catalog; the program will need to be marketed through social media and other digital means. Mahon did not think that the program needed to be fixed but echoed Netter’s sentiments to improve the marketing of any future programs.
See MASCL, Page 2
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NEWS
Oct. 20, 2016
SHU ranks among worst on Trojan sexual health list Isabel Soisson Asst. Digital Editor Seton Hall University was ranked 135th out of 140 schools for this year’s Trojan’s Annual Sexual Health Report Card. The study is sponsored by the maker of Trojan Brand Condoms and is conducted by Sperling’s Best Places, a website that compares factors between different locations, such as climate, economy, and in this case, sexual health. The study aims to call attention to the state of sexual health on college campuses by ranking the schools based on plans to improve sexual health and resource accessibility, according to trojanbrands. com. Factors that are considered in this ranking are contraceptive/ condom availability, HIV/STI testing on campus, sexual assault programs, and other outreach programs, according to trojanbrands. com. “Seton Hall Health Services supports the University’s Catholic Mission,” said Diane Lynch, director of Health Services. “Therefore we do not dispense condoms from our office.” Lynch also said that SHU was aware of their current ranking and
Rape:
Continued from Page 1 Regardless of the number six, Carter said sexual assault is an issue at Seton Hall. “Seton Hall is no different from any other college or university. We are constantly trying to educate our students on tough issues such as alcohol abuse, drug use, and sexual violence. Issues that we know our students are experiencing,” Carter said. The increase in the reported number is actually a positive sign because it means more students feel comfortable enough to come forward, Carter added. “While six reported incidents of sexual assault is still six too many, I’m proud of the fact that students are feeling more comfortable coming forward to report,” Carter said. “I hope this continues. We are working hard to educate students on how to report, where to report, and how we can help and offer them support and services.” Administrators at Seton Hall have been working to improve the education and awareness of these issues. Jack Einstein, a freshman diplomacy and modern language major, said he is thankful Seton Hall is addressing these issues.
Photo via www.trojanbrands.com SHU fell from 128th in 2015 to 135th in this year’s Trojan’s annual Sexual Health Report Card. knew that the school would not score highly because distributing condoms would mean going against the Catholic mission. “Just because we do not dispense condoms or contraceptives does not mean we do not address sexual health,” Lynch said. Health Services provides “counseling, treatment of STI’s, pap screenings,
and referrals to local GYN or primary care doctors for services that may fall outside of our services.” However, Lynch said she was in contact with a representative from Trojan to see what SHU can do to improve its ranking, considering it fell from 128th in 2015. Some Catholic universities ranked higher than SHU. De-
Paul University ranked 125 and Georgetown University ranked 126. In comparison, Texas Christian University ranked 91. The bottom five universities in the ranking from 136 to 140 are Troy State University-Main Campus, Providence College, University of Notre Dame, St. John’s University-New York and Brigham
Einstein spent time in high school working at the Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center. He said he got to see first hand the impact that sexual assault has on the lives of victims. When he came to SHU he wanted an outlet where he could do similar work and he found the KNOW MORE group. KNOW MORE is a new group under the Office of Student Life that is devoted to educating students on sexual assault and alcohol and drug abuse. This is the group’s inaugural year, but the group is geared toward creating programs that engage students in these discussions. “It’s important students get proper education on sexual assault because of the negative light the issue is portrayed in. Victims are shamed and asked what they were wearing, similar to what happened in the Stanford Rape Case,” Einstein said. “Women are advised to fear reporting rape and I believe that is not acceptable.” Carter said the Office of Student Life has been working extremely hard to create more messaging, such as campaigns and programs, as well as educating around the issue of sexual violence. “We have unapologetically become more ‘in your face’ with these messages, as students are
introduced to these subjects even prior to arriving on campus to begin their first year,” Carter said. Carter specifically outlined how her office has been reaching out to students. Prior to first-year students arriving for orientation, they received an email notifying them that they needed to complete the online Campus Clarity ‘Think About It’ tutorial which educates students about sexual assault and the importance of bystander intervention. On the day that freshmen moved into their residence halls, they were greeted by an oversized poster that educated them on The Red Zone. The Centre County Women’s Research Center’s website said that the first six weeks of college for incoming freshman is considered a “red zone” because that is when freshmen women are most likely to be raped or experience attempted rape. During orientation, students sat through several programs that discussed sexual assault, alcohol and drug use, the importance of bystander intervention, and information on policies, services,and support on campus. “Like I said, very in your face, but I won’t apologize for that. These are messages that students need to hear,” Carter said. “Misinformation is everywhere. We really work diligently to ensure that our students have the appro-
priate messaging and education because these are really tough issues. Proper education and accurate education is the only way we will be able to continue to support our students.” For students like Einstein, these programs are a positive step in the right direction. “This says to me that Seton Hall is invested in the lives of its students and plans to educate students so that more cases are reported and students are safer,” Einstein said. Moving forward, Carter said the “end goal” would be to eliminate her office altogether, to no longer have a need for it. “However, since I don’t have any magic beans, for now I’m going to keep working hard to educate Seton Hall students on the importance of these issues, to encourage them to make responsible decisions, and to offer my guidance and support,” Carter said. “If one more student comes forward to report an incident of sexual violence because they saw the resources that are available to them from one of the posters hanging in their residence halls, then I’ll at least feel like these messages are being heard. Any progress is better than no progress,” Carter added. Siobhan McGirl can be reached at siobhan.mcgirl@student.shu.edu.
Young University. Some students were not surprised that SHU ranks so low. “It’s a Catholic school,” said Kiera Alexander, a freshman journalism major. “It makes sense.” Alexander added that if the University does attempt to help students find doctors that can provide services that SHU cannot, such as distributing contraceptives, she sees no reason why SHU should change its stance on the topic of contraceptives. When asked if Trojan should be ranking SHU, Alexander said, “I don’t think it should be placed. This is something all Catholic schools have in common and is widely known.” Sayer Collins, a junior education major, said that she was not surprised by the ranking either. “It’s the university’s responsibility to refer students to doctors, but it’s also their responsibility to stay loyal to the Catholic mission,” Collins said. “Kids today are going to be sexually active,” Collins added. “Honestly, if they don’t like the university’s stance on this topic, they should pick different schools.” Isabel Soisson can be reached at isabel.soisson@student.shu.edu
MASCL:
Continued from Page 1 “It does absolutely need bigger and better recruiting, having had resources whittled away for six years by deans of Arts and Sciences who were trying to solve large budget deficits,” Mahon said. Mahon said that goal of this suspension is ultimately to improve and strengthen the program, which he says needs a great deal of correction at the present time – so much so that the faculty of the College deems it best not to accept new students at this time. “My perspective is that MASCL is already quite good enough to recruit a new Learning Team as early as spring 2017 and could be ‘course-corrected’ if needed as we go forward,” Mahon said. Yates said that in the meantime perspective students should consider enrolling in the on-campus Master of Arts in Strategic Communication (MASC) program. Yates also said the College is compiling an interested students list for a future online graduate program that is currently “under development.” Yates did not specify a release date for the newly-developed program. Brianna Bernath can be reached at brianna.bernath@student.shu.edu
Oct. 20, 2016
NEWS
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Seton Hall students run and wait on Dunkin Madison Feser Staff Writer
Whether you need a boost to get you through that dreaded 8 a.m. class, or you are up late doing last minute studying, Dunkin Donuts is convenient, fast and easy—that is until the line spills out the front door. Its library access, low prices, and menu selection have made Dunkin a staple among college students. This popularity and convenience however, has led to a nearly unavoidable experience: long lines. Students have mentioned their concerns over these lines, which grow as the popularity of Dunkin grows, said Elianni De La Cruz, student chair of the Student Government Association (SGA) Student Life Committee, in an email interview. The busiest times are when “the caf [cafeteria] is closed or at general eating times—breakfast, lunch and dinner,” said Julia Nasiek, a freshman classics and English major. She added that during these times ordering is easy, but waiting to pick up her order can take up to 10 minutes. Emily Beres, a freshman biology major, agreed. She said that in
her 15-minute-long Dunkin visit, a majority of the time is spent waiting for her food or drink to be made. “The University is working with GDS [Gourmet Dining Services] and Dunkin to come up with ideas to reduce wait times during peak periods in this popular venue,” said Associate Vice President of Facilities Engineering and Business Affairs, John Signorello, in an email interview. In terms of SGA, however, De La Cruz said the lines are “really not something that SGA can fix. Dunkin is popular so it always has times where a lot of people are trying to grab a quick bite.” Students disagree with De La Cruz, saying the lines can be shortened. How? According to them, with the opening of another Dunkin. When asked what she thought Seton Hall could do to combat the long lines, Beres enthusiastically responded with “open another Dunkin.” Another fully functioning Dunkin Donuts on campus would help cut down the line problem because it would “disperse the amount of people” who go to Dunkin, said Michelle Miani, a freshman secondary education and English major. Where this second Dunkin
Greg Medina/Assistant Photography Editor SGA said that the long lines at Dunkin Donuts are not something they can necessarily fix. would be located, is up for debate. Miani said that she likes the idea of having a Dunkin in the Cove, so long as the option of Starbucks coffee remains in the Cove as well. Darby DeBonis, a freshman nursing major who visits Dunkin at least seven times a week, disagrees. She said that putting the theoretical Dunkin in the Cove would be a disaster due to how
heavily trafficked the Cove is already. “The lines in the Cove are a different story. Don’t put Dunkin in the Cove.” This opening of another Dunkin could become a reality. Signorello said, “The University is looking at alternate venues and offerings as it reviews and develops its Campus Master Plan.” Until then, De La Cruz said current measures to combat the
lines will stay in place. “For the busiest hours there is always two individuals at the cash register and multiple people as baristas and in the kitchen,” De La Cruz added. “This is something that all students can observe. With this specific concern I can only urge everyone to exercise patience.” Madison Feser can be reached at madison.feser@student.shu.edu
SHU’s online MHA program ranked seventh in the nation Megan O’Malley Staff Writer Seton Hall’s Master of Healthcare Administration Online Program (MHA) achieved another milestone. Not only is the MHA online program the only program in New Jersey that is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), it is ranked seventh in the nation, according to a Seton Hall website article published on Sept. 15. “Seton Hall did it right,” Dr. Anne Hewitt, director of the MHA Online program, said. One thing that sets the program apart from similar programs in the nation is the fact that Seton Hall decided to offer the program online as an alternative to students who are working jobs while also attending classes, Hewitt said. “It was difficult for students to balance a job and finding time to also make it to classes,” Hewitt said. “The MHA online program
allows students to complete their assignments at a time that is convenient for them.” The MHA program was the first online program Seton Hall offered, and the first year of the program was in 1997, Hewitt added. Both the online version as well as the traditional classroom-style program began in 1997. Hewitt discussed the three main components that form the backbone of the MHA program at Seton Hall. The first key component of the MHA program is that the students that are beginning the program are labeled as a cohort, a group of students. These cohorts remain together for two years until their graduation from the program. This means that the students within the cohorts are in all of the same courses, which allows the MHA students to form bonds within the program. The next key component of the program is the time it takes to complete courses. It is a rule
of the program that students can only take one course at a time. Students have seven weeks to complete the course. Hewitt said this method “allows students to focus more on the subject matter.” The MHA program is considered a hybrid program, the third key idea of the program. Students will meet with professors and instructors three times during the two years of the program: during orientation, at the end of the first year and at the end of the second year. Students will spend five days with faculty members and deans, discussing material and engaging in presentations at the end of their first year. During this time, they spend two days in a hotel learning and then the remainder of the time on campus. These days are busy, as students will attend classes and presentations from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. One student has considered the program after seeing the updated rankings. “I like the positive feedback from students that are in the pro-
gram, and I like how engaged the faculty is,” said sophomore Elena Gavin, a social behavioral science major. Gavin is unsure how she would respond to the online method of teaching, as she has never taken an online course before. However, Gavin is currently pursuing more information on the traditional classroom setting option, as she believes it would be a better fit for her lifestyle at this point. The curriculum does not vary between the online program and the on-campus one. The only difference between the two is that the online MHA program is accelerated, Hewitt said. The faculty that teaches the online courses are trained to teach in an online setting, noted Hewitt. Faculty members are also online 24/7. They are always available and willing to assist students with any questions they may have. Students have also seemed to have little to no issues with the online setting. “One hundred percent of the
students in the online MHA program have taken an online course before,” Hewitt said. Most of the students had completed online courses in high school. MHA Online Program student Abigail Kent is a little more than halfway through with the program. She started in August 2015 and will graduate in August 2017. She likes the online format of the program. “I love being able to arrange my schoolwork around my schedule instead of having to arrange my schedule around my schoolwork,” Kent said. Through the program, Kent was able to gain an internship with the Veterans Administration hospital in Orange, N.J. Within three months of their graduation, 96 percent of MHA program students receive job offers according to the program’s website. “Online classes are here. They are the future,” Dr. Hewitt said. Megan O’Malley can be reached megan.omalley@student.shu.edu
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NEWS
Crime Log October 8 Incident: The South Orange Fire Department (SOFD) responded to Boland Hall on an activated fire alarm. SOFD determined that marijuana smoke set off the smoke detector. October 11 CDS: A student was found to be in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in Xavier Hall. October 13 Incident: The South Orange Fire Department (SOFD) responded to Aquinas Hall on an activated fire alarm. SOFD determined that burnt popcorn set off the smoke detector.
Upcoming Events What: ABCs in Starting a Women-Led Business When: Thursday, Oct. 20, 7-8:30 p.m. Where: Beck Rooms of the Walsh Library The Details: Open to both the public and SHU students, this seminar will examine becoming a female entrepreneur. It will provide information on funding, legal issues, and marketing, among other things. Cost: Free For more information, see www.shu.edu. What: Proximity Tour by Groove Boston When: Friday, Oct. 21, 9 p.m. -12 a.m. Where: Richie Regan Recreation and Athletic Center The Details: SHU students are allowed to bring one guest each. Doors open at 9 p.m. and close at 10 p.m. Attendees may not bring food or beverages into the Field House. Water will be available throughout the event. Cost: $5 for SHU students, $15 for guests For tickets, visit setonhallsab.eventbrite. com. What: Second reading of Poetry-in-theRound series When: Wednesday, Nov. 2, 7:00 p.m. Where: Faculty Lounge The Details: Novelist and short story writer Christine Schutt will read from her works of fiction. Books will be for sale, and Schutt will take questions. Cost: Free For more information, see www.shu.edu. What: Annual Dr. Marcia Robbins Wilf Lecture When: Sunday, Nov. 6, 3 -4:30 p.m. Where: Jubilee Hall Auditorium The Details: The Sister Rose Thering Fund will hold the annual lecture to discuss ways to get along and create a better world. A reception will follow the lecture. The event is funded by the Dr. Marcia Robbins Wilf Lecture Endowment. The three lecturers are Joseph V. Montville, Faith Joy Dantowitz and Anisa Mehdi. R.S.V.P. is requested. Cost: Free For more information, see shu.edu.
Oct. 20, 2016
Clothing drive held to support the homeless Samantha Todd News Copy Editor A “Winter is Coming” clothing drive has been organized by Psi Sigma Phi Multicultural Fraternity, Inc. that will run from Oct. 12 to Dec. 12. The fraternity is looking for winter clothing donations and shoes that will be distributed to the homeless community in Newark by the non-profit organization Bridges Outreach, Inc. According to the organization’s website, it has donated clothing to more than 21,000 people in New York, Newark and Irvington, N.J. In addition to winter clothing donations for the homeless in Newark, the club is looking for summer clothing donations, including shoes, that will be sent to Haiti to help those in need after Hurricane Matthew’s destruction, said Mario Cuevas, the chapter philanthropy chair for the fraternity. Clothing drop off bins are located around campus. They can be found near the Living Room of the University Center and near the front desk on the first floor of the library. Additional bins are positioned near the entrances of some of the residence halls, such as in Xavier, Aquinas, Cabrini, Neumann and Serra Hall.
There are flyers set up at the clothing drop-off locations around campus. Those with questions should contact Cuevas at 973-955-7435 or mario.cuevas@student.shu.edu. “Fraternities’ and sororities’ main mission is to help the community and if they’re not doing that then they’re not really fulfilling their purpose,” Cuevas said about Psi Sigma Phi organizing the clothing drive. Assistant director of Leadership Development (Greek Liaison), Michael Davis, said that he is proud of Psi Sigma Phi for hosting this clothing drive and that “this is a prime example of how fraternity men of Seton Hall are living out their values.” Davis added that, “Service is absolutely one of the fundamental principles of fraternities and sororities.” Davis said that this clothing drive can provide good for a lot of people and the fact that Psi Sigma Phi is spreading the word about the event shows how important their cause is. “The main reason I joined [Psi Sigma Phi] is not to just be a part of a group, but because I wanted to help those around me,” Cuevas said. He interned with Bridges Outreach, Inc. last spring and came up with the idea of a clothing drive for this semester.
SGA Updates Brianna Bernath Asst. News Editor The Student Government Association (SGA) President Teagan Sebba announced that the Public Relations committee will be shifting their attention to absentee ballot promotion now that voting registration has closed as of Oct. 18. The Multicultural Advisory Committee sought $1,000 from SGA to send two students to a national conference during November’s annual Diversity Week. Student Life had already agreed to supply funding for two other attendees. SGA granted the amount in full with the stipulation that a member of SGA would be the fourth attendee of the conference. The Academic Affairs committee announced that Seton Hall would like to combat over-printing on campus by shifting toward electronic submissions of assignments in an effort to reduce the use of paper. The Academic Affairs committee also announced that Wi-Fi for non-SHU students will be launched in 2017. The Village Relations committee announced that they are working on expanding the list of South Orange businesses that accept Pirate’s Gold. Brianna Bernath can be reached at brianna.bernath@ student.shu.edu.
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Ashley Turner/News Editor Drop-off bins, like the one above, are located all over campus. “Psi Sigma Phi Multicultural Fraternity was founded in 1990 on the ideal of Multiculturalism where men from differing backgrounds can get together as brothers and have respect for each other’s differences,” Cuevas said, and this holds true as alumni from the fraternity have helped in planning this event. One alumnus from the fraternity, Daniel Pierre, class of 2011, helped in expanding the idea in terms of how long the event should run and in coming up with the Game of Thrones theme. He was also able to make the flyers and get them printed.
Cuevas encourages the Seton Hall community, including students, faculty and staff members, to donate to the cause. He added that any donation can help in relieving the suffering of the homeless community. “I hope to see students and faculty play a role in relieving some of the difficulties the homeless community faces, and with the effects of Hurricane Matthew still very present, we will be able to use this to relieve the suffering that the people in Haiti are experiencing too,” Cuevas said. Samantha Todd can be reached at samantha.todd@student.shu.edu
Have you noticed something new on campus?
We recently installed a donation bin for Catholic Charities located behind Mooney Hall, near the Campus Mail Room, under the fire escape. We accept used clothing, small appliances, shoes, linens, sheets, towels, stuffed animals, novels, and children’s books. All of the items will be sold and the proceeds will be used to support the many programs for the needy. Last year from the revenues of the bins, Catholic Charities was able to purchase 85 new metal frame beds for our homeless shelter at St. Lucy's in Jersey City. We need the help of the Seton Hall family. This is an ideal time to clean out that closet. Catholic Charities will report periodically on how the funds are used. Thanking you in advance for your consideration. Any questions or comments, please contact Maria Biancheri at Catholic Charities, at 973.596.3985 or mbiancheri@ccannj.org.
Oct. 20, 2016
NEWS
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Lecture to prompt discussion of Catholic-Jewish relations at SHU Benjamin Jaros Staff Writer Seton Hall’s Institute for Judeo-Christian Studies will host the 23rd Monsignor Oesterreicher Memorial Lecture to discuss the importance of Nostra Aetate to Catholic-Jewish relations in modern history on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Beck Rooms of the Walsh Library. The Nostra Aetate is a papal declaration on Catholicism’s relations to other religions, which was declared by Pope Paul VI in 1965. Nostra Aetate is Latin for “In Our Time.” The lecture is held in memory of Monsignor John Oesterreicher who founded the Institute of Judeo-Christian Studies at Seton Hall in 1953, said Fr. Lawrence Frizzell, the director of the Institute of Judeo-Christian studies at SHU, via an email interview. Rabbi Noam Marans, the speaker and the American Jewish Committee’s director of Interreligious and Intergroup Relations, said in an email interview that he plans to focus on recent Catholic contributions to Catholic-Jewish relations on the occasion of the 50th
anniversary of Nostra Aetate. This lecture is intended to prompt the examination of Catholic-Jewish relations on campus. In Nostra Aetate the Church rejects nothing, ‘that which is “true and holy” in other religions, extending a hand to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam-as well as Judaism,’ Marans said. Furthermore, the document rejects the claim that Jews collectively are guilty of killing Jesus Christ, denounces anti-Semitism and recognizes Judaism as the roots of Christianity. “Interreligious dialogue on a Catholic university campus should be informed by knowledge and guided by empathy for our neighbor,” Frizzell said. Frizzell’s position is affirmed by Marans. “Together, Catholics and Jews developed and sustained academic institutions of inquiry and interreligious dialogue…. especially Seton Hall’s Institute of Judeo-Christian Studies, which is the oldest in the world,” Marans said. “Without this academic focus and center outreach, Catholic-Jewish relations would not have reached the golden age now enjoyed by Catholics and Jews.”
Sarah Yenesel/Staff Photographer Seton Hall’s Institute of Judeo-Christian Studies is the oldest in the world. Although Nostra Aetate acknowledges that which is “true and holy” in other religions, it directly rejects religious pluralism when the document states, “It is, therefore, the burden of the Church’s preaching to proclaim the cross of Christ as the sign of God’s all-embracing love and as the fountain from which every grace flows.” This strong affirmation of Catholic doctrine could put-off some
believers of other faiths, including those on campus. However, Frizzell said that “the education of students across the campus is led by professors of Catholic and several other faith communities; one expects that an atmosphere of good will and a deep concern for the common good of the society is conveyed in all situations.” This is exemplified by Luke Powers, a senior history and Cath-
Learn in small classes. Succeed in big ways.
olic theology major, who said, “I am grateful for my Jewish forefathers in the faith and they have much to teach me and they give me great witness on how to grow in my own Catholic faith. In acknowledging the truth and perseverance of the Jewish faithful, I am strengthened to follow the Truth of the Church.” Benjamin Jaros can be reached at benjamin.jaros@student.shu.edu
Dr. Rikki Abzug, Professor of Management, discusses the China Immersion Trip with MBA students.
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NEWS
College Dems and Reps duke it out before last presidential debate
Oct. 20, 2016
Throwback Thursday
What was The Setonian reporting years ago?
“Two Seton Hall students arrested in sexual assault of 14-year-old”
Authors: Matt McCue Date: Oct. 24, 2002 The story: Two students were suspended from the University following their arrests on charges of sexual assault. Christopher Roberts and Benajmin Chibnik, both seniors, were charged with second-degree sexual assault after they engaged in sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl that they met with on an Internet chat room. According to authorities, the girl had indicated to the suspects and authorities that she was 17 years old, but further investigation proved she was 14. Greg Medina/Asst. Photography Editor On Wednesday, Oct. 19, the Unified Students’ Assembly (USA) hosted a debate between the College Democrats (left) and College Republicans (right), cosponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA). Presidents Ajiya Doka and Edward Colombo, respectively, along with other members of both groups answered questions on the issues facing candidates of the 2016 Presidential Election, such as immigration, poverty, taxes and terrorism. The student debate was immediately followed by a viewing party for the final presidential debate between Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump. Moderators of the student debate were USA president Zachariah Boyer, Assistant Dean of Leadership Development Maggie Bach, and The Setonian’s Assistant News Editor, Brianna Bernath. For a recap video of the event, visit thesetonian.com.
Connecticut College:
West Virginia U.:
Livingstone College:
Where: New London, Conn. Date: Oct. 18 The update: The college and the New London Police Department are investigating claims that officers pinned a student to the ground and beat him during an arrest at his dorm. The student, Lee Messier, was one of three people arrested when he attempted to assist a victim of domestic violence in another room. From: www.nydailynews.com Where: Salisbury, N.C. Date: Oct. 16 The update: The college was placed on temporary lockdown by campus police after hundreds of students and visitors were involved in several fights, according to police. Salisbury police said that they were called to the campus three times because of fights and disorderly actions, and to disperse the crowds with tear gas. From: abc11.com
“Students create site to save time”
Author: Lindsay Rittenhouse Date: Oct. 20, 2011 The story: Two Seton Hall students created a website that gave students the ability to connect and create favors for one another. The site, called Finish My Task, allowed students to pay others to complete tasks for them that they did not want to do themselves. The website gained popularity at other schools as well as at SHU.
Where: Morgantown, W.Va. Date: Oct. 16 The update: A 20-year-old student from New Jersey, Sean Guthrie, fell 20 feet from the roof of his fraternity’s house to his death. Guthrie, a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, was a Toms River High School South graduate. He was attempting to come back into house after stepping out for a cigarette when he fell during a social event. From: www.philly.com
Amherst College:
Where: Amherst, Mass. Date: Oct. 16 The update: A college soccer player wrote an open letter in the Huffington Post, criticizing Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s comments about women, stating that it was not “locker room talk.” The student was commended by the president of the college, who said that the letter, “exemplifies Amherst’s values in multiple ways.” From: www.bostonglobe.com
University of Florida:
Logan University:
St. Louis University:
Washington U. in St. Louis:
Where: Chesterfield, Mo. Date: Oct. 18 The update: Two former students of the college of chiropractic and of health sciences, Morgan Pearson and Kirsten Kirkpatrick, allege that the college administrators brushed off at least one case of persistent sexual harassment and have sued. Pearson alleged that a 31-year-old student has been stalking and harassing her in fall 2015. From: www.STLtoday.com
Where: St. Louis, Mo. Date: Oct. 18 The update: The university is studying a vaccine for Zika virus and is seeking 90 volunteers to test the vaccine by receiving two doses of either the vaccine or a placebo. The volunteers will then be followed for a year to see if antibodies develop. The vaccine was developed by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Maryland. From: www.foxnews.com
Where: Gainesville, Fla. Date: Oct. 18 The update: The university will offer counseling for students who may be offended by Halloween costumes. Many people made fun of the effort on social media, but the university was serious about the offer. Administrators reminded students that there is a 24hour Counseling and Wellness Center hotline available if any student needs to talk. From: www.cbsnews.com Where: St. Louis, Mo. Date: Oct. 18 The update: New doctors at the university will stop using cats for medical training to insert breathing tubes into human patients. The decision comes after years of pressure from animal rights activists who begged the school to use mannequins rather than cats. According to the university, the 25-year practice has never harmed any cats. From: www.mnn.com
Campus Life www.thesetonian.com
One place, many faiths
Graphic by Clara Capone
Rebecca White Campus Life Editor For Prachi Makkar, Sikhism is not just a religion, but a way of life. The senior finance, information technology and marketing major practices the centuries old religion, which worships the holy book Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji that contains the teachings of the 10 Sikh gurus and other holy saints. Though her parents are from India, Makkar was born and raised in America, and grew up with the Sikh and Hindu religions. “The two crucial and vital principles in Sikhism are the spiritual element and ethical element,” Makkar said. “Sikhism is a positive and well-balanced monotheistic religion. In Sikhism we do not worship idols so you can really practice anywhere.” The Sikh religion helps one stay rooted with God. While religion deals with a man’s inner spiritual development, ethics ensure that a man’s social responses should be on a sound footing, Makkar said. Makkar added that a true Sikh is one who always works for the betterment of others, who helps care for the poor and needy and never keeps malice or hatred for others. “A true Sikh has a selfless, definite purpose and mission in life,” she added. “Sikh is a peaceful, humble, honest, calm, open, committed and determined person.” In Sikhism, the Guru is the divinely-designated representative of God. “This is the most important and pivotal figure on which the whole spiritual and temporal edifice of Sikhism stands,” Makkar said.
October 20, 2016
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Sikh students seek religious tolerance
On Sundays, Makkar practices her religion by going to the Bridgewater Gurdwara with her family. The Gurdwara, which is a peaceful place of worship, comes from Guru ka dwaar, meaning the house of Gurus. “Most Gurdwaras are part of the Humkunt Foundation which encourages the youth of community,” Makkar said. “They encourage learning more about our religion and culture.” The fact that Seton Hall is a Catholic school did not factor into Makkar’s decision to attend. “In Sikhism we are taught to be open and accepting of other religions and ways of life,” she said. “I am happy I chose Seton Hall because along with a great education in business, I have been able to learn a lot about Catholicism.” Dr. A.D. Amar, a professor of management in the Stillman School of Business, who is Hindu, said Sikh is a sect of Hinduism. “There’s a lot of commonality between Catholicism and Hinduism, such as the respect of human beings and entities, and being a good person,” Amar said. Makkar also said Catholicism and Sikhism are not that far apart in differences. “They are both monotheistic religions and do not worship idols,” Makkar said. “Similar to the 10 Commandments, Sikhism has the Rehat Maryada which is a code of conduct Sikh people follow. Like the Bible, we follow the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The main differences lie within how we practice our religion such as prayer and ceremonies.” Though Seton Hall is dedicated to the Catholic mission, Makkar said SHU does a great job of exposing everyone to Catholicism without forcing individuals to get involved. “I have never felt uncomfortable or out of place because of my religion,” Makkar said. On the other hand, Neeraja Thakur, a sophomore Hindu finance, marketing, and management major, said she has felt uncomfortable at SHU due to her religion. “The only time I felt uncomfortable at SHU was Lent and
how the university sold no meat on Friday’s,” Thakur said. “It was extremely inconvenient and also absurd that those who aren’t Catholic have to adhere by these rules.” Thakur added that she felt that she was forced to follow Catholicism for those few weeks and didn’t appreciate it. “In my opinion, if a devout Catholic followed the rules of Lent and believed in their religion, then they could do what they have to without having the university help them,” Thakur said. “For example, they should be able to avoid meat on their own instead of having the university ban meat so that they will not be compelled to eat it.” The Catholic mission is embedded into the curriculum, not just during Lent. Amar said that the Catholic mission does have an impact on his classes. “I make sure to go over the Catholic mission in all my classes, discussing the mind, heart and spirit,” Amar said. “I give my students not just bookish knowledge but help form their personalities as a manager, citizen and member of our community.” When Amar applied for a job to SHU for the second time in 1983, he asked about the Catholic religion in his interview because he had been told from outside sources that he might not fit in at a Catholic University. When he asked the dean at the time, the dean told him that he would be free to do whatever he wanted and Amar said that turned out to be true. “SHU is accepting of other religions,” Amar said. “I have seen Catholicism increase on campus through the years, but it has not created a reduction in other people’s beliefs or any discouragement.” When the CORE curriculum was created, Amar was impressed that one of the main readings was the Hindu text, the Bhagavad Gita. Harleen Kaur, a junior biology major, is also Sikh. Kaur believes that the school should make it mandatory for students to take courses like Re-
Photo via Wikipedia/Gurdwara Goindwal Sahib Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. ligions of the World and add a chapter about Sikhism. “I feel like it would help people to be more open-minded and accepting of all faiths and cultures,” Kaur said. Makkar said it is important for students to keep an open mind if they go to a school with a faith that is different than your own. “You can enlighten your friends and school community about your religion,” she said. “Take them to your place of worship, to your holidays, to other ceremonies, and help teach people about your religion and culture. At the same time, get to know more about their culture and religion.” On campus, Makkar is a member of the South Asian Students Association (SASA), which has South Asian students of all religions, including Sikh, Hindu, Jain and more. SASA puts on events for the major holidays. Thakur is also involved in
SASA. “SASA focuses more on the culture of India than the religion of Hinduism,” Thakur said. “It does however hold events that are celebrated in the Hindi religion and I am involved in those events.” Vina Tailor, a senior finance and marketing major, is Hindu and said that SHU has a variety of Indian organizations where they can celebrate Indian holidays. “I have always been a curious person so although I am Hindi and there is no temple, I have gone to church a couple of times with friends to see what the experience is like,” Tailor said. “I am more of an open-minded person so what I learn about other beliefs is interesting to me and has never tremendously affected me. I know myself, my values and what I believe in and all of that means the most to me.” Rebecca White can be reached at rebecca.white@student.shu.edu.
Oct. 20, 2016
CAMPUS LIFE
Transfer Center eases transition to SHU
Greg Medina/Assistant Photograhy Editor The Transfer Center is located in Mooney Hall. Christina Vitale Staff Writer The Transfer Center at Seton Hall provides workshops, social events and resourceful advisors for a smooth and helpful transition to campus. Professor Hezal Patel, interim assistant dean and Freshman Studies director at the Transfer Center, understands and takes into account the nerve-wracking emotions transfer students can feel during their transition period. “The Transfer Student Center is committed to the success of transfer students here at SHU,” Patel said. “We provide as much information as possible to them, by way of success workshops and continued communication throughout the semester, so that they don’t feel lost as they transition to this new community.” A number of social events occur throughout the school year to help the incoming students feel more comfortable and situated in their new environment. On Sept. 15, the Transfer Center held a welcome breakfast for students to socialize and bond with their new peers and advisers, as well as answer any questions they had. Another informal gathering, a pizza social on Nov. 16 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., is planned for the 372 transfer students at SHU, according to Patel. This will be another opportunity for students to come together again and socialize while address-
ing any concern they may have during the semester. “I transferred from Hofstra University in Long Island and started my sophomore year at SHU. When I was looking for schools closer to home to transfer to, I decided on SHU because it’s known to be one of the best schools in northern N.J., when it comes to academics and sports,” said Stephanie Guida, a senior public relations and journalism major. “The transfer experience has been pretty simple, all of my professors are great and very helpful and I’m very happy to be here.” Patel likes to keep transfer students in the loop at all times by sending out email blasts about resourceful information. Workshops also occur in preparation for registration. Each student is also assigned to an adviser in Mooney Hall, room 19. Patel said she ensures success for students transitioning to campus with constant communication. Alfredo Molina, a junior undeclared business major and member of SHU’s baseball team, transferred from Coastal Carolina. “I wasn’t playing the position that I wanted there, and Seton Hall is giving me a better opportunity,” The transfer experience has been good and the education hasn’t been hard to transition into. Everyone on my team has been very helpful as well as my teachers through this transfer process.” Christina Vitale can be reached at christina.mcdonaldvitale@student.shu.edu
Page 8
Honor society continues to grow on campus Ian Fauchier Staff Writer With competitive GPA and communications coursework requirements, Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) is hardly the common honor society. After the adviser, Kyle Heim left Seton Hall more than a year ago, LPH almost became nonexistent on campus until the current president senior Erica Naumann and adviser professor Daniel Yates reinvigorated the club. The groups primary mission is to help students in the College of Communication and the Arts establish connections with others, join students with speakers, journalists, and other media, and promote togetherness amongst academically-driven communication major students. Despite the society’s original members’ induction just last spring, the notion of revitalizing LPH as an honor organization has existed more than two years. “Erica was really the one that pushed for its induction over two years ago,” said senior and LPH
Social Media Coordinator Paige Anderson. “Without her energy, this probably would have never happened.” LPH also puts on activities and events for its members. “The society helps out with career fairs explicitly for communications students and gives students unique first-hand advantages,” said National Liaison Sarah Kraft. “Personally, I’m learning all about public relations and I’m not even a communications major myself.” The society sets a precedent for unique opportunities, something that the senior members urge prospective members to experience for themselves. “Lambda Pi Eta is going to give you so many opportunities as you mature and learn, and there’s so much to experience from professors and other first-hand accounts. Plus, you get to wear the cords at graduation, which is something to be extremely proud of,” Kraft added. Despite each senior member having different roles and responsibilities, all of them readily
agreed with the unique properties of the society. “There really is no other society like this on campus for communications. It truly is a completely unique experience for anybody that joins,” Kraft said. Naumann said the organization does not yet have an official charity set up in its name, something that can be attributed to the new status of the society. “It’s helped me establish connections with multiple faculty members as well as individuals off-campus, and I wouldn’t have had the initiative to do so without Lambda Pi Eta,” Anderson said. Despite its recent induction, Naumann said it is an honor society that has wonderful things ahead of it as well as for its members. So far, the society boasts about 40 members. “I’m incredibly proud of what my colleagues and I have accomplished so far with the society,” she said. “I can’t wait to see what those that come after us do with what we’ve built.” Ian Fauchier can be reached at ian.fauchier@student.shu.edu
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Oct. 20, 2016
CAMPUS LIFE
Page 9
SHU Alumni: Where are they now?
Breaking the glass ceiling in a male dominated industry Payton Seda Staff Writer
Seton Hall University alum Barbara Mucha (’05), has shattered the glass ceiling in her career as a computer scientist. Reminiscing about her childhood spent playing Nintendo with her older brother as he taught her how to create her own SimCity on their very first computer, she said she felt computer science was her destiny. Growing up in Poland, Mucha was aware of her talents in math at a young age. She moved to the United States and eventually enrolled at Seton Hall with a focus on becoming a teacher or an accountant. However, her fate changed after taking a computer programming class. “Prof. Marco Morazán saw my undeniable talent and encouraged me to continue in computer science,” she said. It was this same professor who served as Mucha’s most influential mentor throughout her time at SHU. “My most significant lessons came from the original research done with my advisor, Prof. Marco Morazán,” she said. “I learned from him how to stay committed
to a large project, how to deal with failures along the way, and how to think by bringing all my CS education to bear.” From then on she forged a new career path with a major in computer science. Starting in automations at the brewing company Anheuser-Busch, Mucha quickly progressed to the frontline as a lead engineer for Goldman Sachs. She later managed customer management relationship software for Starwood hotels. Mucha has rounded out her array of positions now as the Director of Engineering for the start-up company PlaceIQ, where she equates her role to that of a teacher. “I spend most of my day consulting other computer scientists,” she said. “We brainstorm about new products and ways to enhance our current offerings. I also review code design (like how teachers review homework) which might sound boring but I actually find it very therapeutic.” Mucha had little hesitation when deciding to go into a male dominated field. “I believe anyone can do anything,” she said.
Photo courtesy of Barbara Mucha SHU alum Barbara Mucha (‘05) is the Director of Engineering at a start-up company However, her success has not come without opposition. Being a woman in a predominantly male profession she constantly has “to prove [her] solution to a problem is correct.” The absence of women in high ranking leadership positions occurs in many industries. The glass ceiling is “a limit to how far a woman can advance in a career or job tract because she is a woman,” said Dr. Karen Gevirts, co-director of the Women and Gender Studies program. Gevirts explained that when
women work to get to a place that they are not expected to go they experience hostility. “I think women have a harder time being taken seriously,” said Dr. Angela Weisl, an English professor. Dr. Cecilia Marzabadi, director of Graduate Studies and professor for the department of chemistry and biochemistry, was the only woman in her department for 14 years. She said that many women feel isolated in male dominated industries because there is a lack
of resources for women. Mucha advised young women following in her footsteps to “not sit quiet; be defiant by continuously asking questions and learning. The satisfaction at the end is very rewarding.” She does not neglect the sacrifices that may have to be made and said, “Every woman in a successful career may put their life on hold. However, as long as we are happy with the choices it should not matter.” Payton Seda can be reached at payton.seda@student.shu.edu
“It seemed like I cut it so much that I lost the value in it,” he said. Aguilera was not discouraged to apply again the next year for rising juniors, this time even more determined and prepared. “As soon as they opened I
stations available in every room. From all the inspiring speakers that presented throughout the program, two stuck out to Aguilera the most. Tanya Choudhury, specialist, MBA and Industry Programs and Gopi Kallayil, chief evangelist, Brand Marketing at Google. “They really opened my mind to the culture at Google,” he said. He learned about Google’s mission “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful,” he said. During the session with Kallayil, he was introduced to some of Google’s projects, such as the self-driving car and cardboard virtual reality. Throughout the program he was also able to shadow a “Googler” in his typical work day. Aguilera stressed the culture at Google as something many may not expect. Google headquarters may be thought of as a fun, laid-back environment, but in fact they are as effective as they are efficient. “There is a thought process behind everything,” Aguilera said. Google cares about every aspect of the workplace environment, including air quality, the perfect amount of sunlight and more. “There is so much research be-
hind little things you wouldn’t think of,” he added. In the beginning, Aguilera thought it might be hard to make friends and get acquainted, but on the last day he said all 70 students went to the hotel pool for some unwinding and had a great time with each other. “At that point I knew pretty much every single person, which was really cool. You develop a nice bond,” Aguilera said. Aguilera is extremely grateful for the experience at Google and has written on the school website that the program “served as an excellent introduction into Google’s culture, mission, and career opportunities.” After the program, he said that the competitive opportunities in accounting that he yearned for were still out there. He decided to sign with a public accounting firm shortly after thanks to his time at Google. Aguilera was able to gain experience while still in college in a challenging accounting environment that provided a rigorous business understanding. “I think at the end of the day I want to go where I feel is the best fit for me,” he said. Macarena Solis can be reached at macarena.solis@student.shu.edu.
Student searches career opportunities at Google
Macarena Solis Staff Writer
This summer, student Andrew Aguilera spent four days in Mountain View, Cali. attending Google’s Building Opportunities for Leadership and Development (BOLD) Immersion program. He was one of 70 students across the country to receive the opportunity to see firsthand how a universally known company like Google operates. According to their website, the program gives students the opportunity to engage themselves in a culture where great minds, cutting-edge technology and smart business intersect to make a difference. Aguilera is an accounting and information technology major and is hoping to receive a certificate in business analytics. Discovering the world of Google allowed him to explore a wider range of career opportunities. Aguilera said that as an accounting major exploring the tech side of Google let him see all of his options. Aguilera is used to the formal accounting and business environment, while the environment at Google was more casual than he expected. “I was there wearing a polo and
khakis and I felt overdressed,” he said. Sophia Joseph, who graduated last spring, also took part in the BOLD Immersion program in her junior year. “The program was a good supplement to the things I was learning,” she said. “It allowed me to see the world more creatively and expand my thought process.” Aguilera was interested in exploring the technology side of Google, something ultimately different than the future he envisioned with accounting. “That’s what I was looking at when I was trying to evaluate if [Google] was the right place for me,” Aguilera said. The question he was determined to answer after the program was whether he saw himself working at Google in the future or working in a public accounting firm. The first time Aguilera applied to a Google program was summer 2015 in which he did not receive an invitation for BOLD Discovery for rising sophomores. He believes the essay question which he had to cut down to the 250-word requirement might have been his demise.
Photo via Google was already looking at the questions and deciding what I was going to write,” he said. From Aug. 14 to 18, Aguilera, along with the other students, stayed at a hotel in Sunnyvale, Cali. Throughout the conference he traveled to Mountain View, or Google’s office in San Francisco. One of the first things Aguilera remembers was being introduced to micro kitchens and small snack
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CAMPUS LIFE
Students enjoy new Writing Center location Rhania Kamel Staff Writer This past summer, the Writing Center moved from its previous location in the Arts and Sciences building room 206 to rooms 304, 310 and 316 of Walsh Library. The Writing Center is a part of the Academic Resource Center (ARC) and visiting for one session is a requirement for English 1201, and English 1202 as well as Basic Skills and Linked 1201 where students are required to attend six sessions per semester. Rachel Bastian, a sophomore English major and a tutor at the Writing Center, said a few students have been confused about the new location. “However, largely the students have approved of the new location because it is more convenient,” Bastian said. “The library is in the middle of campus and people already naturally go there, so I think more students will be inclined to stop by.” Samantha Dyar and Lianne Joseph, two freshmen students, seem to agree with Bastian’s statement. Dyar, a freshman theatre major said, “Moving the Writing Center has not been confusing for me. I do think Walsh Library is a better location because the library is a nice quiet place.” Walsh Library, as well as its
Oct. 20, 2016
DormHunt helps students move off-campus Katherine Segovia Staff Writer
find a renter (or apartment roommate) should contact our office, provide us with a listing and we post it to that board as a service.” In addition to the website, Orozco and Batlle also created a mobile app to supplement the site. Orozco said the app, once released, will include features such as finding and communicating with possible roommates. In terms of business goals, Batlle said, he hopes to release the app soon, in a month or two, and eventually expand DormHunt to more colleges, both in and outside of New Jersey. “I hope that DormHunt becomes a regular place where students go to find off campus housing because we know how much of a pain that can be,” Batlle said. Some students have already been taking advantage of the website despite it just being launched in September 2016. Amber Puig, a sophomore broadcasting and visual media major, used the website and said she finds it helpful. “The website works fantastically, I’ve actually had no problems using it. It is a well-planned out site that is extremely user friendly,” Puig said, “I like that it is specific to Seton Hall’s campus, meaning that it shows housing around our specific campus.” Katherine Segovia can be reached at katherine.segovia@ student.shu.edu
surroundings, is a popular area for students and faculty members alike to visit on campus. Joseph, a freshman public relations major, is glad the Writing Center’s new location is more convenient and believes its previous location would have been too out of student’s way. The Writing Center was not handicap accesible before in Arts and Sciences Hall, but Walsh li-
brary does have an elevator and fixes that issue. “I can’t imagine the Writing Center being in Arts and Sciences” she said. “The Walsh Library feels like a much more convenient location because it’s more in the center of the campus. I assume freshman go to the Writing Center the most.” Rhania Kamel can be reached at rhania.kamel@student.shu.edu
DormHunt.com, a website dedicated to make moving off-campus easier for students, has been created by sophomore political science majors Adrian Orozco and Nicholas Batlle. Orozco said he came up with the idea for DormHunt after realizing that many students struggled with finding off campus housing. He drew inspiration from other schools with similar websites. “I saw that some other campuses had similar websites such as Rutgers-Newark,” Orozco said. “Right by the lockers in Duffy there’s a bulletin board dedicated to rentals off campus and that’s pretty much all we had on this campus before DormHunt.” Seton Hall is home to eight residence halls, six of which are on campus. Tara Hart, director of the Department of Housing and Residence Life, said the college is unable to guarantee campus housing for students all four years due to capacity issues. However, HRL does assist students in finding off-campus housing. “When a student inquires about off campus, non-university owned housing, we direct them to a listing resource located outside of our office in Duffy Hall,” Hart said. “Those who wish to
the trends in social work they should know in order to achieve success. Other than networking events, SSWA considers philanthropy as an important aspect of their identity. Club treasurer Aliyah Toler, a senior social work major, said SSWA has worked with organizations such as East Orange Veterans Hospital and may have other collaborative projects this year with S.O.F.I.A (Start out Fresh Intervention Advocates), Y.M.C.A. of Newark, Isaiah House in East Orange and NASW of New Jersey. “Being connected with these type of organizations (is) important to us because, like us, they’re determined to enhance the community and to assist individuals who are in need,” Toler said. SSWA’s emphasis on community outreach is a definite draw for some of its members, including secretary Erlin Santos, a senior social work major.
“My favorite aspect of being involved in SSWA is having the ability to interact with my fellow classmates outside of the classroom setting and to be a part of improving my community,” Santos said. Members of SSWA have the opportunity to be part of Alpha Delta Mu National Honor Society (Social Work Honor Society). According to Toler, one of the eligibility requirements is that a student becomes a member of one of SSWA’s committees or serves on its executive board to be a part of the honor society. Antoinette Gardner, a senior social work major, said that students can become members at any point in the year, and, as a member, attend monthly meetings. These meetings are held in Fahy 103 from 7:45-8:45 p.m. The next meeting is Thursday, Oct. 20. Julie Trien can be reached at julie.trien@student.shu.edu.
Photo courtesy of Maryam Saleem SSWA considers support and philanthropy to be of great importance.
Sarah Yenesel/Staff Photographer The Writing Center is now easier for students to access.
Social work values resonate with SSWA Julie Trien Staff Writer
Whether it be through passing out hygiene kits to the homeless on Essex County Homeless Connect Day or educating students from other schools about the opportunities a career in social work can provide, the Student Social Work Association (SSWA) has a mission they hope to accomplish. According to club president Maryam Saleem, a senior social work major, SSWA is a group dedicated to showing students the impact of social work on the world and providing support for those hoping to enter the field. In the spirit of this goal, the club holds a number of networking events such as last semester’s Social Work Panel in which professionals came to SHU to share their stories of how they became social workers. They also advised students on
Opinion thesetonian.com
October 20, 2016
Page 11
The Voice
SHU lacking transparency regarding suspended MASCL program
A
n article in this week’s issue of The Setonian explains that the Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Leadership (MASCL) program has been suspended with a new plan in the works, but there is no timeline for said plan. This is a story that we want to report all sides on, but also one that affects us personally. While not every student in the College
of Communication and the Arts will do so, some of us are looking towards graduate school. Over the past several weeks, The Setonian has delved into coverage of the suspended MASCL program. We have reached out to multiple sources on the matter, many of which were not interested in sharing the facts of the matter nor their opinions on it for print. As a publication that often
deals with sensitive subjects that require a healthy level of confidentiality, we do understand and respect that we as students cannot know everything. There are some situations that are just touchy or time-sensitive and that we will learn more about with time, and we fully respect that. However, it becomes difficult when our intention is to get all sides of the story and are refused the information with no explana-
Nicole Peregrina Social Media Editor
to be an engineer because of my SAT score, I ask why. Why do you want to have a career in something you identify as “practical” rather than one for which I have a passion? Arguably, a more important question to ask would be why liberal arts majors are widely known as less profitable and available than “career” majors? An Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) report from 2014 studied long-term career paths for college graduates with different undergraduate majors. According to the report, workers who majored in humanities or social sciences earn an average of $2,000 more a year at the peak earning ages of 56-60 years old than those who majored in professional or pre-professional fields like business, pre-law or pharmaceutical. However, physical science,
natural science and mathematics majors earn on average about $20,000 more than liberal arts majors at the peak ages in their careers. By comparison, a recent Glassdoor study found that nearly half of the top 50 majors with the highest earnings came from science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. As for availability, the unemployment rate for liberal arts graduates is only .04 percent higher than the rates of those with professional or pre-professional degrees. When it comes to exclusivity, the AAC&U report showed that four out of five employers agree that all students should acquire broad knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences. The critical thinking, communication and creative skills that come from the arts prove to be not only useful, but necessary.
tion, or even words at all. Members of the SHU community and even those outside of it have maintained a level of privacy surrounding the situation that has left us as reporters struggling to understand the nature of the suspension. We do appreciate those individuals that have helped us keep the Seton Hall community fully informed on the matter with ample fact and honest opinions, but that
hardly applies to everyone. In regards to the suspension, we hope that more information will become readily available with time. In the meantime, we continue to seek the truth for readers in all matters and expect the truth from administrators in return. The Voice is intended to best represent the collective opinion of The Setonian’s editorial board. It is written by The Setonian’s Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor.
Liberal arts majors not taken seriously enough
The stigma surrounding liberal arts majors became clear to me as early as I started applying to colleges. It was almost as if the world was screaming at me: Liberal arts are fruitless and a waste of your intellect. I was advised by high school teachers and college representatives to pick a major that was more reliable and financially rewarding. The top 10 of my graduating class was defaulting to the mathematics and science tracks. Unlike many, I was motivated by my passion for the written word. Majoring in the liberal arts is on a steady decline according to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which reported an 8.7 percent decline from 2012 to 2014. To those who tried to sway me
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Photo via Clyde Fitch Report People who major in the liberal arts are also necessary to society. The passion, social service and open-mindedness that liberal arts majors contribute in their lives are needed to keep this world evolving. They are just as necessary as the science and math majors. The point I’m making is not to put down any majors in order to
put liberal arts on a pedestal. In fact, it is to say the opposite; that benefits and challenges of one major or career should not take away from another. Nicole Peregrina is a journalism/ public relations major and graphic design minor from North Plainfield, N.J. She can be reached at nicole. peregrina@student.shu.edu.
The Setonian
Gary Phillips
Editor-in-Chief
Leah Carton
Justine Strzepek Keaghlan Brady
Campus Life Copy Editor
Ashley Turner
Elizabeth Swinton
Brianna Bernath
Asst. News Editor
Samantha Todd
Greg Medina
Asst. Campus Life Editor Asst. Photography Editor
Managing Editor News Editor
Volume 93 Issue 7
Sports Editor
Kyle Kasharian
Asst. Sports Editor
Clara Capone
News Copy Editor
Graphics Editor
Rebecca White
Joey Khan
Isabel Soisson
Asst. Digital Editor
Nicole Peregrina
Social Media Editor
Jenna Pearsall
Social Media Editor
Campus Life Editor Photography & Digital Editor
Anthony DePalma Faculty Adviser
Page 12
SPORTS
Oct. 20, 2016
THROUGH OUR EYES
Sports Quote of the Week
“I think it was good for the freshmen because that’s what we recruited them to come here to do. Swimming in a meet like that builds character.” Swim and Dive head coach Ron Farina after a win over Xavier.
Concussion protocol in NFL no laughing matter Elizabeth Swinton Sports Editor Concussions are no joke. The National Football League recognizes this. The league has made advancements in recent years to reduce head trauma for the sake of both in-season safety and post-football career health. Donald Trump, however, thinks the moves by the NFL are ones of a wuss. The Republican presidential nominee took a jab at concussions and the NFL on Oct. 12 when he made a side comment at a rally in Florida. A woman in the crowd passed out, but ended up returning for the end of the speech. “See, we don’t go by these new, and very much softer, NFL rules,” Trump said upon seeing the woman’s return, according to the New York Daily News. “Concussions - ‘Uh oh, got a little ding on the head? No, no, you can’t play for the rest of the season’ – our people are tough.” The remark loosely referred to an NFL rule that mandates players who fail the league’s concussion protocol cannot play again
until they pass tests that show they no longer have concussion symptoms. The concussion regulation was put in place because the NFL has borne the brunt of the blame for players experiencing the effects of head trauma after retirement.The NFL has been sued by roughly 5,000 former players over head injuries. That was not settled until April 2015, when the NFL won approval for a potential $1 billion clearance with those players, according to USA Today. But the league can’t shake the link between football, brain disease and head trauma. In September 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Boston University came out with a study reporting that 87 out of 91 deceased former NFL players tested positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. This disease is believed to stem from repetitive trauma to the head, and can lead to memory loss, depression and dementia. The fear of 3.3 years, the average career length of an NFL player, according to statista.com, impacting the quality of the rest of
Photo via flickr.com Donald Trump called the NFL “soft” for its concussion protocol. a player’s life is bringing another problem to the NFL: more and more players are retiring early. Data collected by ESPN shows that in 2015, 19 NFL players age 30 or younger retired from the league. Four years before that, the number was five. In March 2015, top NFL rookie and 24-year-old Chris Borland retired from the NFL citing health concerns. “From what I’ve researched and what I’ve experienced, I don’t think it’s worth the risk,” Borland
told ESPN, referencing the multiple concussions he hasdsustained. In September 2015, Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver Adrian Coxson, 24, decided to retire after suffering a concussion. “The next hit to my head could possibly kill me,” Coxson told the National Football Post. This quip to the NFL by Trump wasn’t planned; it was said in response to an occurrence that he believes shows his supporters are stronger than NFL players. Of course, Trump has no idea what it
is actually like to take an NFL hit to the head. “The NFL, it’s very serious, man,” New York Jets safety Calvin Pryor told the Daily News. “There’s a lot of people who have head problems and a lot of injuries that can relate to football after this. So for him to say that, it’s not a good thing.” For a league that has, and will continue to have, issues in decreasing the public perception and effects of head trauma and CTE after retirement, Trump is in no position to call the NFL’s attempt in reducing these instances “soft.” While the NFL still has lengths to go in showing its initiatives are effective in reducing concussions and CTE post-retirement, Trump has no reason to tell the organization to go back to the protocols that allowed more hits and trauma to the head. Allowing players to play through concussions won’t make the NFL any greater. Elizabeth Swinton is a television production major from Linden, N.J. She can be reached at elizabeth.swinton@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @eswint22.
Recruiting young athletes has gotten out of hand Kyle Kasharian Asst. Sports Editor The landscape of athletic recruitment will never be the same after the explosion of social media, but to see 15 or 16-year-old athletes in the class of 2019 already garnering interest is a little ridiculous. The rankings and analysis of these young prospects are more than just a name and some highlights. It has become an industry. Prospect ranking websites like Rivals and 247Sports specialize in the tracking of high school athletes, detailing player news, stats, and college visits and interest. It makes sense for seniors and even juniors looking to play at the next level, but for kids still taking taking algebra and biology courses? That’s too young as it is, but this is merely scratching the surface when realizing just how extreme recruiting has gotten. While uncommon, there are videos that have reached thousands of views for fourth-grade basketball players such as Christian Jones and Jerry Easter. The latter was called the “No. 1 4th
Photo via Scout.com Tyger Campbell got a college offer as a high school freshman. Grader in the Country,” by YouTube user “NEO Youth Elite.” Maybe that is meant to be a joke, but it’s also possible it’s not considering what has become of recruitment. A moniker such as this brings into question the validity of analyzing players at their ages, yet this is a trend that continues to blossom. 247Sports has begun to track players as early as eighth grade in basketball, while Rivals has pro-
files uploaded for two sixth-grade football players. The primary issue, in both outliers this excessively young and the more commonly recruited high school freshmen and sophomores, is that there is no telling if the athletes will continue to play their sport. An athlete at these ages can easily find a new favorite sport or pick up an entirely new interest. Do recruiters really expect them to commit to a sport, college or university before they have even
graduated, or in some cases, entered high school? Beyond this, a young athlete can fall behind the skill level of his or her peers, or fail to grow into a body type fit for the sport, hindering the chances of playing past high school. Considering these factors, many would expect players to begin being scouted seriously as a junior or senior in high school. At this point it creates a competitive environment, and players have grown into their body and are capable of a serious commitment to a sport. This is simply no longer where college programs or the athletes they recruit draw the line. Coaches are constantly recruiting younger players in order to get an edge on rival schools, and the parents and media surrounding these athletes are giving coaches, recruiters and casual fans access to the highlights and lifestyle of young athletes. The athletes are too. While it may be important to begin scouting players early, doing so too early fails to capture a lot about the athlete both on and
off the playing field. Yet, fans revel in the latest recruitment information. YouTube channels like “HoopMixtape” and “Ballislife” have popularized the new flashy style of highlight tapes for basketball. This has trickled down to “MiddleSchoolHoops,” a similar format for a much younger age group of players. While the fans enjoy following the stats and stories of players from such a young age, the impact can have negative repercussions on athletes’ confidence and growth in sports and daily life. These factors are overlooked in favor of fans constantly questioning which powerhouse programs will offer the latest stud freshman phenom or sophomore stud a scholarship. In reality, they should be questioning why a coach is giving the keys to drive their program to a teen who can’t even drive their own car. Kyle Kasharian is a business major from Green, N.J. He can be reached at kyle.kasharian@student. shu.edu or on Twitter @ItsKyleKash.
Oct. 20, 2016
SPORTS
Page 13
Around the Big East: Volleyball in mix for Tournament berth Matt Ambrose Staff Writer
The 2016 volleyball regular season is in the home stretch, and the race for a berth in the Big East Tournament is as competitive as it gets. Only the top four teams in the conference will receive a spot in the Big East Tournament, which is to be held at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Nov. 25 and 26. The Pirates are one of six teams vying for the final two spots in the conference standings, with reigning champions Creighton, as well as Marquette, looking like they will lock down the first and second spots, respectively. The Pirates have nine games left on their regular season slate, one against every other Big East squad. Here’s what the Pirates need to do down the stretch to ensure that they will be heading to Indianapolis to compete for a Big East title: The major thing this team will
need to find consistency in the closing sets. At times, this team has looked like one of the best in the conference. At other times, this team has looked overmatched and unable to answer the challenge. They have had a hard time maintaining long stretches of winning volleyball. Their longest of the season, which was five, was followed by losses in four of their next five matches. The Hall began conference play with a 3-1 record, but have proceeded to lose four of their last five matches to drop to 4-5 in Big East play. Coach Allison Yaeger’s squad has shown their capability to play strong volleyball, but they must keep up the positive play over each of their final nine games if they want a chance at a Big East title. Over the final nine games of the regular season, five of them will be on the Pirates’ home floor inside Walsh Gymnasium. Included in that stretch of games is a fourgame home stand against Creigh-
Photo via SHU Athletics Abby Thelen (left), Maggie Cvelbar (center), and Haylee Gasser (right) prepare before a serve in Walsh Gynasium. ton, Providence, Georgetown and conference record. The young Villanova. Taking advantage of Pirates attack will be asked to step this stretch of four straight home up in a big way in a match that games is crucial for the Pirates will likely be their most important if they wish to move up in the contest of the season. standings. Providence and Georgetown are Creighton presents the greatest two of the three teams below the challenge for the Pirates, as the Pirates in the Big East standings. team is currently holding the top These matches, along with the spot in the Big East with an 8-0 final home match of the year
against St. John’s – the third team beneath the Pirates in the standings – are all matches that the Pirates should be expected to win. Then there’s Villanova, one of the six teams competing for the third and fourth spots in the Big East. This one will be huge for the Pirates, as they will get a chance to boost their record and cause a setback for one of their biggest competitors. We know about their youth. We know about the success they have had early on in their careers at Seton Hall. Now it’s time for this young Pirates team to step up when it matters most, build momentum to finish sets strong and claim one of the four spots in the Big East Tournament. They have the talent, it all just comes down to one thing: consistency. Matt Ambrose is a journalism major from Exeter, N.H. He can be reached at matthew.ambrose1@ student.shu.edu or on Twitter @ mambrose97.
HALL ACROSS THE BOARD SCORES OF THE WEEK SWIM AND DIVE
VOLLEYBALL
Friday, October 14 (Men’s)
Friday, October 14
Seton Hall Xavier
231 118
Seton Hall West Virginia
157 204
Seton Hall Lehigh
3 1 0 3
MEN’S SOCCER
232 117
Providence Seton Hall
228 128
Sunday, October 16
1 0
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Friday, October 14 (Women’s)
Seton Hall Butler
CROSS COUNTRY
1 2
TENNIS
Saturday, October 15
Men’s Team Women’s Team
Saturday, October 15
Friday, October 14 (Women’s)
West Virginia Seton Hall
Seton Hall Providence Sunday, October 16
Friday, October 14 (Men’s)
Seton Hall Butler
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Saturday, October 15
4th of 7 4th of 5
Seton Hall Fordham
1 6
What’s 10/20 10/21 10/22 10/23 10/24 10/25 10/26 ON DECK Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Home
Away
Xavier 3 p.m.
Volleyball Soccer Women’s Golf Tennis
Women’s Georgetown 7 p.m.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Butler 6 p.m.
Men’s Women’s Butler Providence 7 p.m. 1 p.m. Delaware Lady Blue Hen Inv. Three Round Event All Day ITA Championship Four Day Event All Day
Photo via SHU Athletics Christiana Rutowski (above) led the women’s cross country team to fourth place by placing seventh individually at the Leopard Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 15. The men’s team matched the women with their own fourth place finish and two top 25 finishes.
Men’s Georgetown 7 p.m.
For complete coverage of all Seton Hall Athletics, visit thesetonian.com or follow us on Twitter @SetonianSports.
SPORTS
Page 14
Oct. 20, 2016
Sophomore golf duo flourishes over time Kyle Kasharian Asst. Sports Editor
Before Gen Nagai and Chris Yeom step foot on Seton Hall’s campus, the duo’s fate was almost forever changed. The two were slated to room together freshman year, but a housing mix up nearly kept that from happening. That was when Seton Hall men’s golf coach, Clay White, stepped in. He was set on having the two room together. He’s big on making sure his players are comfortable. “I try to pay more attention to the players, White said. “Not just if they’re practicing enough or going to the gym enough, but if they’re comfortable and if they feel comfortable with their environment. They’ll really explode if they feel comfortable.” Comfort doesn’t always come quickly, though, especially since Nagai and Yeom are from nearly opposite ends of the world and entirely different cultures. “We knew nothing about each other before coming to Seton Hall,” Nagai said of his New Yorkborn teammate. “His name. that’s it.” Nagai is from the Philippines, so communication prior to their move to New Jersey was not easy. “Before college we sent a couple emails to each other,” Yeom said. White, meanwhile, worked
behind the scenes and ensured his two new freshmen would be taking on their college experience together as roommates. He hoped that their time together would enhance their comfort at SHU. “After that got all set up, we spent almost 24/7, basically 24/7 [together], basically every single day and even now I still don’t mind. I actually like it,” Yeom said. “It kind of worked out because Coach talked to everyone and sort of worked out with us being roommates,” Nagai said. “It just happened from there, and even this year we live off campus but we’re still roommates. I’ve gotten close to him and I think we go pretty well together.” White knew that beyond just helping the duo get along, Yeom and Nagai living together would make them more comfortable transitioning to collegiate golf. As Yeom and Nagai became more accustomed to life at the University, they quickly learned more about each other. “[The difference between us] was a good thing,” Yeom said. “I feel like I was able to learn about his culture, but we also have a lot of similarities. One, we’re both Asian, so right then and there the food and stuff like that, but most importantly I thought it was the personalities. I feel like we fit well with each other, so it didn’t really
Photos via SHU Athletics Gen Nagai (left) and Chris Yeom (right) in action during the Fall 2016 season. matter if he was international or if was pretty cool,” Nagai recalled. pong table and I’m not that good he lived here.” “He [Yeom] videotaped it for me but Gen’s really good,” Yeom said. The pair found comfort in the and he was just laughing about “Especially last year since I’m unfamiliar and showed improvemy reaction of snow falling and it okay, I’m average, but they’re realment through the trials and chalwas pretty cool.” ly good, so I had no competition.” lenges of their first semester. The two have since blossomed “The ping-pong side is not as “They both started off kinda as golfers and leaders with the competitive as our golf,” Nagai slow in the fall,” White said. “Gen Pirates. Their competitive nature joked. “But he’s getting better, no coming in for the first time to the has brought out the best in each doubt.” United States. Chris didn’t play other. Even their ping-pong battles great at the start. And as they got “If he’s playing well I’m really have contributed to their develmore comfortable with the prohappy for him,” Nagai said. “I opment. Much like the growth gram and with the other guys they mean obviously there’s a bit of a and comfort of their friendship, started realizing that they could thing where you want to beat him, Yeom and Nagai’s improved comcompete. They both played a lot but if you don’t and he plays well fort on the green comes from the better in the spring.” it’s good for the team and good small, fun interactions that have Naturally, many of their strugfor everyone. I feel like we also strengthened their bond. gles came on the green or in the have very similar scoring averages “Gen and Chris have a really practice facilities. Other, however, overall so it’s a good comparison.” great relationship so it’s neat to were cultural, especially for Nagai. While the competition between see kids come in and develop such He remembers one moment the pair betters them on the golf a strong relationship,” White said. where his adjustment to the U.S. course, it also runs deep in their Kyle Kasharian can be reached at was particularly apparent. other athletic pursuit: ping-pong. kyle.kasharian@student.shu.edu or “Seeing snow for the first time “In our house we have a pingon Twitter @ItsKyleKash.
Seton Hall swim team is Hall in for the Big East title Keith Egan Staff Writer The Seton Hall men’s swimming team added to its rich recent history with a win over Xavier Friday, Oct. 14. The Musketeers had won the past three Big East Championships. The Pirates don’t plan to stop there however, for they have their eyes set on a much bigger prize. Seton Hall finished last year 8-3 overall with only one senior on the roster. With much of that team back for the 2016-2017 season, they added seven new freshmen, four of which placed first in their respective races against Xavier. “I think it was good for the freshmen because that’s what we recruited them to come here to do,” head coach Ron Farina said. “Swimming in a meet like that builds character for the freshmen.” Freshmen were brought to Seton Hall to make an impact, and that is just what they’re doing. Joshua Tosoni was named CollegeSwimming.com’s Big East Swimmer of the Week after placing first in the 100 and 200
Photo via SHU Athletics Seton Hall swim and dive practicing before their tournament in West Virginia. m breaststroke against Montclair State and St. Peters Friday, Oct. 19. He then did the same against Xavier. His times ranked top-50 nationally for both events, according to CollegeSwimming.com. Tyler Kauth is another freshman making an immediate impact, winning the 200m backstroke against Xavier. He was named the Big East Swimmer of the Week following the win. “It was a very exciting meet. Probably one of the most exciting I’ve been a part of,” Kauth said. The players and Farina spoke highly of one thing when asked about their success: team unity.
“The team atmosphere is awesome. Everyone’s hungry, everyone knows what this team can do. Day in and day out we’re racing at practice,” junior Vadim Jacobson said. The Pirates have stressed working as a team. Although many look at swimming as an individual sport, Seton Hall swimming credits much of its success to being unselfish and winning for each other. “I think for some of the freshmen that’s really why they’re swimming so well… they’re feeling that they’re part of a team as opposed to just a club team or just
a high school team,” Farina said. Kauth spoke of working as a team as well. “It’s not really about winning individuals for me. It’s not about being the guy that brings home the most points, it’s about bringing home points that are going to get us a Big East Championship.” The feeling is mutual for others in the program. The Big East Championship is the goal of this team and both the players and coach don’t shy away from talking about it. Jacobson, who transferred from George Mason, said the opportunity for a conference championship is one of the rea-
sons he transferred to Seton Hall. Farina expressed the importance of taking the season one “benchmark” at a time. The Rutgers Invitational and Patriot Invitational are two events coming up that will be important for Seton Hall before facing off against rivals such as Villanova and Georgetown. “Right now, we’re right where we want to be, but we still want to work,” Farina said. The swimmers know the importance of using the big Xavier win as a starting point, rather than a final destination early in the season. “You have to act like you’ve just been there… because the last thing you want to do is get hyped up over a win and go to Big East and have them come back for you,” Kauth said. “It’s business as usual as it has been the past eight weeks.” A young team with veteran leadership is a combination SHU hopes ends in a Big East title run this February. Until then, the Hall is taking it one meet at a time. Keith Egan can be reached at keith.egan@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @Keith_egan10.
Oct. 20, 2016
SPORTS
Page 15
Soccer partnership at midfield a key to success James Justice Staff Writer The Seton Hall men’s soccer team has taken steps forward this season, and a lot of it comes down to the midfield partnership of Alex Pozesky and Matheus Miranda. The two are different in many ways off the field; Pozesky, a 5-foot, 10-inch sophomore from Columbia, P.A., Miranda a 6-foot, 1-inch senior from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. But when the two step foot onto the field, they combine to solidify the Seton Hall midfield. “They are the link between the defenders and the attacking players,” said head coach Gerson Echeverry. “I think the two of them together make a good partnership. They’re two hard working guys that are also good with the ball, so they not only break up plays but start our attack a lot of the time.” Pozesky is coming off a freshman season in which he emerged as a starter, appearing in all 16 games for the Pirates last season. Miranda on the other hand, a transfer from Graceland University, was forced to sit out all of last season with a torn ACL.
Photo via SHU Athletics Alex Pozesky (No. 4) has made a difference at midfield with his teammates. When asked about the importance of their central partnership, Miranda said, “It is a key thing for us.” “When we started to understand each other on the field, things started to get better,” Mi-
randa said. “The beginning of the season we struggled a little bit, but now we’re getting used to playing with each other and understanding where we move in the field.” Pozesky added that “having a good understanding of the other
person and their style of play” has been crucial in helping the team improve. But the two have different roles in the center of the pitch. Miranda plays a more disciplined role of holding midfielder, in which he
is tasked to stay home more and break up attacks with his physicality. Pozesky has a longer leash, covering more ground by moving vertically up and down the field to push the play from one end of the field to the other. Pozesky acknowledged how “life is easier” with a player like Miranda in the midfield. “It’s so much better [this year],” Pozesky said. “Last year it was kind of just me against three other players or two other players in the midfield. Now, if it’s not just me, it’s me and him, so it makes my job easier.” Although Miranda has had to push his body to be available for the Pirates, Coming off ACL recovery is no easy task, and he said. “It is a struggle to be 100 percent for every game.” “There is always something bothering me, but I am pushing through it, and hopefully, I can contribute to the team,” Miranda said. Together, Pozesky and Miranda are helping Seton Hall men’s soccer get back to where it needs to be as a mainstay in the Big East. James Justice can be reached at james.justice@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @MLSTakeover.
Blackburn: Continued from Page 16 “It is a two-year program that I actually got through ALPFA where I went to a convention and got an internship from them, which turned into a job.” Moon has seen Blackburn, a hard-worker both on and off the field, deliver the same fire that she came in with her freshman year, and said that Blackburn is “a coach’s dream.” “She’s a workaholic and a role model for the team,” Moon said. “She’s a hard worker and the type of individual who stays hungry to get better, both in and out of the classroom.” The surplus of activities Blackburn is involved with has not slowed down her running performance this season. Throughout everything she has going on, Blackburn continues to use lessons she has learned in cross country in her academic and extracurricular life. “I use cross country in my everyday life,” she said. “If something’s hard you keep on pushing through it, keep on striving and dig deep and those same mantras are the same things I emulate in life and continue to use every day.” Moon has high hopes for Blackburn not only as a runner, but as
a person too. “I wish I could mold her so I could have her for next year,” Moon said. “She makes my job easier, I love having athletes and people like her on the team.” Blackburn hopes that she will be able to continue to utilize the skills and connections she has acquired from these organizations and athletics, since she was faced with coming to the other side of the country unclear of what to expect. “My main goal was to get a job after college and that was something which I have achieved, and that’s from me joining all these clubs, learning how to network, and just being involved was a catalyst to that, as well as being surrounded by good people, having connections and getting new opportunities,” Blackburn said. While she has plans for her future, Blackburn believes that she will be able to stay active on campus, and will look to continue her strong season running when the team travels back to Van Cortlandt Park in New York City for the Big East Championships on Oct. 28. Matt Lamb can be reached at matthew.lamb@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @MattS_Lamb.
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Men’s swimmers eye conference title Page 15 October 20, 2016
Page 16
Freshmen phenoms making a difference in fall sports Elizabeth Swinton Sports Editor
While Jonathan Jiminez, Siobhan McGovern and Haylee Gasser all play different sports at Seton Hall, they are connected in the immediate impact they have made on their respective teams this season. Starting on the pitch for men’s soccer, freshman Jiminez is at the top of the stat sheet for his team. The forward is tied for second on in goals, as he has scored two this season, one being a game-winner. Jiminez has also put up four assists for his teammates and has started 12 of the 13 games played. Jiminez even won Big East Freshman of the Week following his three-point performance against Marquette that resulted in a 2-0 win on Oct. 1. He made the first goal in the sixth minute, and went on to assist Francisco Alderete in the 53rd minute for his first career goal. “It was good,” Jiminez said on his three-point outing. “I just played my game, and the whole team was playing well. It was extremely motivating, and we got the win.” The honor was the first individual nod for the men’s soccer team this season, alongside sophomore Andres Arcila, who has received multiple weekly honor roll achievements. “I was shocked, and then I got really excited,” Jiminez said of the
Photo via SHU Athletics Jonathan Jiminez has scored two goals for his team. Big East honor “It just made me motivated to work harder.” A player who has put up two game-winning goals this season is McGovern of the women’s soccer team. What made the goals clutch is that they both came in overtime. “It was definitely really rewarding, it was a good feeling to help the team win,” McGovern said. McGovern is tied at the top of her team with two goals on the season and is third on the team with four points. She has started in 13 of the 14 games played, which has brought a welcomed responsibility to the freshman forward/midfielder. She’s had a mindset of a workhorse from the start. “I was trying to make the biggest impact I could coming into the program,” McGovern said. “I didn’t really expect anything, I wasn’t expecting anything to be
given to me, so just to work as hard as I can to earn a role on the team.” Even with the big performances and earning a rotation spot, Big East weekly honors came as a surprise to McGovern. “It was definitely very exciting,” McGovern said. “I didn’t even know that was something you could get, so I was excited to get something.” On the volleyball court, Gasser is the new addition turning heads. The freshman has stepped up in a middle blocker role that was left wide open with the exit of Amanda Hansen. “I knew coming in that I had big shoes to fill because of Amanda leaving,” Gasser said. “Being a freshman, I wasn’t sure of how the team would receive me or how I would perform. I have found a place on this team and I feel good about what I am doing.“
Photos via SHU Athletics McGovern (left) and Gasser (right) are all off to a hot start. Gasser’s big star performance came on a sweep of Georgetown on Sept. 27. She put up a career-high 10 kills to just one attack error, giving her a team-high .429 attack percentage. She also had three blocks and two digs to add. “It always feels awesome to contribute to winning games,” Gasser said. “I am a very competitive person so I love to win and so does my team.” Other freshmen have been stepping up as fall sports have progressed at Seton Hall. As the swimming and diving season has kicked off, all five individual wins in a meet against West Virginia were notched by freshmen.
Male swimmer Tyler Kauth won Big East swimmer of the Week following his first-place finish in the 200m backstroke on Oct. 15. Additionally, freshmen on the women’s end tallied multiple second-place finishes. Some freshmen student-athletes grow in playing time and skill over the course of their collegiate career, while others make an immediate impact. Jiminez, McGovern and Gasser have all done the latter, but their performances show they’re going to be forces to be reckoned with as they age as well. Elizabeth Swinton can be reached at elizabeth.swinton@student.shu. edu or on Twitter @eswint22.
Blackburn’s competitive drive fuels academic success Matt Lamb Staff Writer The term “student-athlete” is quite literal; one is both a student and an athlete, and academics are to be taken just as seriously as athletics. Senior cross country runner Desyre Blackburn tries to encapsulate that definition with her time at Seton Hall. The Aloha, Ore. native has done more than make her mark running, as she is a co-captain this year under coach John Moon. She has also gotten heavily involved in several business and marketing organizations and societies, as she is a finance and marketing double-major. “I’m a part of Alpha Kappa Psi, the professional business fraternity, as well as ALPFA, which is the
Stillman Business Club, and those are the two main organizations I’m in,” Blackburn said. “I also work with SAC (Student Advisory Committee) for athletics and the Leadership Academy which is also run by athletics, which helps athletes gain leadership on and off the field.” Blackburn is also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honors society for the top 10 percent of the class, as well as Chi Alpha Sigma, which is the Athlete Honors Society. All of the hard work that Blackburn has done has already set her up for a job post-graduation. “I’ll be with JP Morgan starting in the summer of next year as a financial analyst,” she said.
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Photo via SHU Athletics Desyre Blackburn (No. 9659) is a senior and co-captain on the women’s cross country team.