In Opinion, Page 11 Volume 93, Issue 9
www.thesetonian.com
Nov. 3, 2016
Campus poll shows students want Clinton Ashley Turner News Editor Brianna Bernath Asst. News Editor
As Election Day approaches, Seton Hall students have shown that they are no exception to national millennial voting statistics: Hillary Clinton is by far the most popular candidate on campus.
A poll conducted by The Setonian sought to find out what students were planning to do in the 2016 presidential election. The poll requested students anonymously select one of six available options: “Donald Trump,” “Gary Johnson,” “Hillary Clinton,” “Jill Stein,” “Abstain” and “ Ot h e r / Wr i t e - i n .” Students who chose to abstain were choosing to abstain from voting in the presidential election, not from The Setonian’s poll. Of the 1,001 students who participated in the p o l l , which
Photo via Flickr/Michael Vadon
opened on Oct. 6 and closed on Nov. 1, 48 percent were in favor of Clinton, 22 percent were in favor of Trump, 12 percent stated that they were abstaining from the election, 9 percent said that they were voting for “Other/Write-in,” 7 percent were in favor of Johnson and 2 percent were in favor of Stein. The poll was open to all students, regardless of whether or not they were registered or legally allowed to vote in the national election. The Setonian’s staff individually polled students on campus to ensure that participating students only entered their answer once. The statistics collected by The Setonian’s poll are nearly identical to the national statistics documented in the Harvard Institute of Politics Fall 2016 Youth Poll, which stated Clinton received 49
percent of the millennial vote, compared to Trump’s 21 percent, Johnson’s 14 percent and Stein’s 5 percent. The Harvard poll recorded the responses of 2,150 millennials between the ages of 18 and 29-yearsold. Ajiya Doka, a junior diplomacy major and presid e n t of the SHU College D e m o crats, said t h a t Tr u m p ’ s personality could have contributed to why Clinton was 26 percent more popular. “Even though we go to a Catholic institution and usually Catholics vote Republican due to LGBT issues or more social issues, I think that Donald Trump is just such a misogynistic and divisive candidate
that people just can’t vote for him,” Doka said. She added that college campuses also tend to be more liberal leaning, which could be a reason for Clinton’s popularity among millennials.
Gary Phillips Editor-in-Chief
ture president. The younger sister, in the second grade, found herself doing math homework between phone calls. The older sibling, meanwhile, was first learning what it was like to be involved in politics. What started as a whimsical suggestion by her little sister, Taryn, has turned into a life centered on political activism for Teagan Sebba. Sebba is the current president of Seton Hall’s Student Government Association. The senior political science major also interned at TurboVote – an online platform that assists in voter registration – over the summer in Brooklyn. Not even old enough to drink, Sebba
has volunteered on three presidential campaigns – Obama’s first in 2008, his re-election in 2012 and, most recently, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign – in addition to local level work in Fort Collins and South Orange. A Democrat, Sebba has committed herself to politics and spreading awareness. She knocks on doors, collects donations and disseminates information regarding voter registration and polling places. Given the country’s political divide, especially during this election cycle, Sebba’s job is not always easy. She’s had a few doors slammed shut in her face.
See Poll, Page 2
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Lorie Shaull
SGA President no stranger to the campaign trail
Photo courtesy of Teagan Sebba Sebba met former President Bill Clinton during a summer internship with the Clinton Foundation.
Boredom had set in. The two sisters, ages 7 and 12, needed something to do. Every day they would leave school for their home in chilly Fort Collins, Colo., only to sit on the couch and watch television alone. They wanted to make better use of their time. “Let’s go work for Obama,” the younger girl said, half-jokingly. It was 2008, and Barack Obama was running for president for the first time. Before they knew it, the sisters were working as volunteers on a presidential campaign, making phone calls on behalf of the fu-
See Teagan Sebba, Page 3
Millennials face voting stigma
Merging politics and comedy
From baseball to golf
In News, Page 2
In Campus Life, Page 7
In Sports, Page 14
Page 2
NEWS
Nov. 3, 2016
Millennial voting: Students face the stigma Leah Carton Managing Editor
For many students, the presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is the first election they will be eligible to vote in. But recent polls show that many millennials don’t care enough to do so. According to the Pew Research Center, 46 percent of millennials [ages 18-35] voted in the 2012 presidential election, compared to 61 percent of Generation X [ages 36-51]; 69 percent of baby boomers [ages 52-70] and 72 percent of the Silent and Greatest Generations [ages 71 or older]. The 46 percent of millennials who voted in 2012 also decreased from a 50
Poll:
Continued from Page 1 However, Mateusz Steczkowski, a senior finance major, said he will be voting for Trump because he feels the businessman has a “better future outlook for our country” and because of his plans to lower taxes to keep U.S. businesses on American soil. “I feel like everything’s really biased when it comes to the news,” Steczkowski said. “People don’t really think for themselves.” Steczkowski said that social media is one reason some voters have negative attitudes regarding Trump, which Steczkowski believes contribute to Clinton’s current lead in national polls. However, he feels that poll results vary from news outlet to news outlet. “If you watch CNN, they’ll say that Hillary’s winning. If you watch FOX, they’ll say that Trump’s winning,” Steczkowski said. “They kind of go back and forth.” According to RealClearPolitics, a political news and polling-data aggregator, Clinton holds 47 percent of the general vote and Trump holds 45.3 percent of the general vote as of 8:47 p.m. on Nov. 2. When asked about The Setonian’s poll and the presidential election, Edward Colombo, a senior political science and philosophy major and president of the SHU College Republicans, declined to comment on behalf of the Republicans. Robert Knee, a senior political science major and president of the Young Pirates for Liberty, said that he believes college students tend to form their opinions on presidential candidates based off of social issues, which contributes to Clinton’s popularity on campus. “A lot of college kids aren’t really old enough to pay income
percent turnout in the 2008 presidential election. One quarter of millennials don’t plan to vote for Trump or Clinton, according to the “2016 Millennial Impact Report: Wave 2 Trends,” researched by Achieve and supported by The Case Foundation. According to “The 2016 Millennial Impact Report,” the study investigates how millennials value “cause engagement” and how their behaviors may change during an election year. Cause engagement focuses on millennials’ engagement in various social issues. The report stated that these changes may be influenced by the emerging candidates for election or by important millennial demograph-
taxes yet, you really don’t start to come down that age for a couple of years,” Knee said. “A lot of them pay sales taxes and a lot of taxes related to labor because they do work, but at the same time, we are in such an environment that the majority of the issues that relate to us and face us other than student debt are related to social issues.” Knee said that the Young Pirates for Liberty have not endorsed a specific candidate for the election because they think there are positives and negatives to every candidate, “though there are certainly more negatives.” Personally, Knee is voting for Johnson, the Libertarian party’s nominee. He said he does not consider this a “waste of a vote” because he believes a vote can only be wasted when someone votes for a candidate they do not believe in. “I have been an outspoken opponent of Donald Trump ever since the beginning of his candidacy,” Knee said. “He’s said some things that I agree with, but at the end of the day I could never pull the lever for the guy, either in the primary or the general election. That’s why I’ve endorsed Gary.” Alex Kashtan, a senior marketing and finance major, said that he will be voting for Johnson as well, because he feels that neither Clinton nor Trump will represent the American people properly. Yet, Kashtan said that he thinks Trump has a chance of winning the election despite being down in the polls. “He does come off as a little bit racist, and I think there are a lot of people that are a little bit racist inside, and they’re going to be the people who come out to vote,” Kashtan said. “That’s the people who are sons and daughters of baby boomers, like my dad.” The Harvard study stated that an overwhelming amount of people of color feel that they are under attack.
ics such as their political ideology, geographical location, age, gender and race or ethnicity. The report found that 73 percent of millennials said that they plan to vote in the election. 17 percent of millennials said they were not planning to vote and 10 percent were unsure. Fifty-three percent said they were voting for Clinton, 21 percent said Trump, 16 percent said neither candidate, and 10 percent said they wouldn’t vote, according to the Philanthropy News Digest website, a service of the Foundation Center. This will be the first election for student D.J. Farrelly, who is supporting a third party candidate. The freshman computer science major said he was a Hillary Clin-
Sarah Yenesel/Staff Photographer A student hung a Trump sign up in a window in Neumann Hall. ton and Bernie Sanders supporter in the past, but he now opts for Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate, due to her emphasis on environmental concerns. “I feel that older generations think that we are not educated enough to understand problems,
but a lot of millennial voters actually research into the parties. Their decision is different than their parents,” Farrelly said. “My dad is voting for a main party and I’m voting third party.”
See Millennials, Page 5
Screengrab via pollmaker,com Clinton polled far higher than her opponents, receiving more than double the votes of Trump. “Nearly nine in 10 (85 percent) young African Americans believe that ‘people of [their] own racial background are under attack in America.’ 72 percent of Hispanics feel the same, as do 45 percent of young white Americans,” the study said. “There is little confidence that race relations will improve dramatically under a potential Clinton administration [Improve: 23 percent; Worsen: 22 percent; Stay the same: 36 percent], but there was significant concern it could worsen under a potential Trump administration [Improve: 8 percent; Worsen: 62 percent; Stay the same: 12 percent].” Eduardo Mendoza, a freshman pre-business major who identifies as a Democrat, said that he will be voting for Clinton because, “she is the lesser of two evils.” Mendoza added that he believes Clinton is leading in the polls right now because “she is not as dumb as Trump.” Zachary Shaw, a freshman diplomacy major, will also be supporting Clinton. He said that he has supported her since she announced her candidacy. “I really feel that Hillary, although she runs as a Democrat, has very independent policies across the board. For instance, her economic policy is pretty middleof-the-road,” Shaw said. “She’s socially liberal, which is where I consider myself, so I just felt that Hillary was the prime candidate
for me.” Shaw said that he “would never vote for Trump.” “I think most Americans realize that, although Donald Trump may have some constructive ideas, he does not portray himself in the most presidential way,” Shaw said, specifically referencing Trump’s rants on Twitter. However, Emily Hoff, a senior journalism and public relations major, disagrees with Shaw. She would not be voting for Clinton if she were registered to vote. “How can we vote for someone we don’t trust?” Hoff asked. Hoff added that peer pressure and lack of research play into Clinton’s current lead in the polls. “I think millennials are very ‘with her,’ and they don’t do the research enough about what she actually stands for,” Hoff said. “I feel like if you say ‘I’m voting for Trump’ as a woman, you’re going to get looked at differently.” Considering Seton Hall is a Catholic institution, some are surprised over the support Clinton has gotten, as some of her stances, like her pro-choice stance on abortion, oppose church values. Freshman history major Gregory Lobo said this is exactly why he will not be voting for Clinton. Lobo called Clinton “absolutely terrible.” He said that her tenure as Secretary of State was a disaster and stated that her email scandal was illegal. He also referenced her
stance supporting abortion. “She promised to repeal the Hyde Amendment, which would be problematic for people of faith, plus it would make more abortions,” Lobo said. “Two million people are alive today because of the Hyde Amendment, so repealing it would be problematic.” The Hyde Amendment is a legislative provision that bars certain states from using federal funds to get an abortion, unless the mother’s life is in danger. Lobo said that he is not sure yet who he will be voting for in the election and that he will most likely end up writing in another candidate on his ballot. With elections right around the corner on Nov. 8, Knee recommended students do as much research as possible on every candidate to make an informed decision. “Seton Hall students, we are the future of this country,” Knee said. “We need to be able to determine what is best and the best way to do that is by voting with your heart and voting with your conscious and the only way to waste a vote is to basically not do that.” Editor’s Note: The Setonian’s entire Editorial Board contributed to this report by way of polling students across campus. Ashley Turner and Brianna Bernath can be reached at ashley.turner1@student.shu.edu and brianna. bernath@student.shu.edu.
Nov. 3, 2016
NEWS
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Teagan Sebba: Continued from Page 1 “There was one woman who told me, ‘You should do more research. You don’t know what you’re talking about. [Clinton’s] not all you think she is.’ I was like, ‘You think I haven’t done the research?’ If I’m spending my Saturdays knocking on doors I think I’m pretty set. You can’t sway me,” Sebba said. “People on the phone are a lot meaner because you don’t see the face.” While the people she encounters are not always the friendliest, Sebba has yet to waver. She has a legacy to carry on. It was Jim O’Rorke, Sebba’s grandfather, who fostered her political drive. A soldier for the United States Army in World War II, O’Rorke spent roughly four years as a prisoner of war. Japanese forces did not release him until the global conflict ended in 1945. Following his service, O’Rorke went to work for the State Department. His job was to try and spread democracy to countries like Honduras, Panama and Guatemala. Sebba explained what her “best friend” taught her and her sister. “He really instilled in us that you can’t take democracy for granted,” she said. “He put his life on the line to fight for our democracy and other countries’ democracy.” Both sisters inherited that same outlook. Now 15, Taryn said her mother, Susan, also helped make her and her sister more appreciative of democracy and the world they live in. “She never sheltered us,” Taryn said. “So often parents want to show the world to their children in the most beautiful, sing-songy type of way, but that’s not how things are. She never babied us
and she definitely exposed us to the world and let us watch the news. Because of that, it made us realize how malleable our futures are and how we can really change the world. Anyone can create policies, anyone can get involved in politics as long as you have passion for it and as long as you’re driven.” Sebba may not be traveling to foreign countries as her grandfather did, but she certainly wants to be involved. It’s why she volunteers on campaigns, heads the SGA and applies for internships that allow her to be politically active. For her, it is a way to give back. “I feel like Teagan was born with this sense of responsibility of wanting to do whatever she can to help other people that might not be as fortunate as her to make their lives better. She has this inherent responsibility,” said Jennifer Williams, vice chair of the Larimer County Democratic Party in Colorado, who has supervised Sebba on the campaign trail. “It seems like she really lives the Gandhi quote, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world.’ Anytime you throw anything at Teagan she’s willing to take it on.” Sometimes, Sebba goes the extra mile. This year, for Halloween, she dressed up as TurboVote, simply hanging a sign with the company’s logo around her neck. “Her middle name on Facebook is TurboVote,” SGA secretary Christina Simon exclaimed. “She wants people to be voting. She wants people to be active and informed,” added SGA vice president Andrew Aguilera. “She’s always been so enthusiastic.” As a result of her commitment, Sebba has gotten to meet a couple of big-name politicians.
Photo courtesy of Teagan Sebba Teagan Sebba (right), with her sister, Taryn (left), and grandfather, Jim O’Rorke (middle). O’Rorke was a prisoner of war for nearly four years during World War II. This past summer she met Secretary Clinton in Newark. Sebba had to hop a fence, but she was able to make some small talk and snap a selfie with the presidential hopeful. The summer before that, she interned at the Clinton Foundation’s Harlem office, which doubled as Bill Clinton’s personal work space. She remembers not being on her A-game when she got the opportunity to talk with the former president. “I froze. I walked up. ‘Hi,’” Sebba recalled in an awkward tone. “He was like, ‘Where are you from?’ and I was like, ‘A small town in Colorado.’” Sebba said Clinton responded by saying he felt he knew the United States pretty well. She followed up, saying her hometown was north of Denver. Clinton wanted a name, though. Finally, Sebba told him she was from Fort Collins. When Clinton said he knew where that was, Sebba said, “Cool” before walking away. That was the end of the conversation. It was not the first time she was “star struck.”
Photos courtesy of Teagan Sebba Sebba has met both Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama.
The first time was when she got to meet Barack Obama. She was not worried about herself, though. Instead, she was focused on her grandfather, who wanted nothing more than to meet the president. It was October 2012, and Obama had a rally planned in Colorado, a swing state. Sebba wrote to every senator and state representative she could think of, hoping someone could pull some strings. Finally, State Sen. John Kefalas gave up his own VIP tickets for the two. “He’s such a role model because what a selfless – he gave up his spot for us,” Sebba said, still moved by the gesture. As Obama wrapped up his speech, Sebba recalled him making a beeline for the crowd. The Commander-in-Chief not only knew Sebba and O’Rorke were there to meet him – he actively sought them out. Sebba remembered O’Rorke being cool and collected, offering a firm handshake before sharing a few jokes with the president. She just looked on, unsure of what to say. When it came time to part ways, Obama thanked O’Rorke for his service. “Obama taking the time out,” Sebba said, “made my grandpa’s whole life.” Just a few months later Obama secured his second term. O’Rorke passed away shortly after that, and a few months later, Sebba went off to college. It is here at Seton Hall that Sebba first got involved with school government. She had never served in high school, instead donating her time to the campaign trail. She became president of SGA during the second semester of her sophomore year. She has held the title ever since. “She bleeds SGA,” Aguilera said.
Now, she sees a career in politics ahead of her. So do others. “If she decides to ever run for office she can be very successful,” said Maggie Bach, Assistant Dean of Students for Leadership Development and SGA adviser. “Whatever she wants to do she’ll be successful at.” Sebba is not quite sure what awaits her once she graduates. Law school is a possibility, but she sees herself in an elected office sooner or later. She ultimately wants a position where she is still surrounded by and working for the people. Any higher up than governor and she feels she may lose touch. “I want to stay with people,” she said. “Once you start commuting to D.C. you get detached from the whole reason you’re in office.” Others, though, have much higher aspirations for Sebba. “President of the United States,” her sister Taryn said without a second’s hesitation. “I don’t think she’s necessarily spoken about it, but she would be a really amazing president. At the end of the day she wants to help people, she wants to better our country, she wants to continue working hard, continue to see advancements for everyone.” The younger sister is right – Sebba has not thought about such lofty goals just yet. She doesn’t know exactly where she will end up in politics, but she knows she wants to make a difference. She knows she wants to do better. “I see these representatives who use [politics] as a career,” Sebba said. “They don’t give back and they’re kind of in it for themselves. I could do better. I could do so much better. I want to help people and I think my avenue for that is elected office.” Gary Phillips can be reached at gary.phillips@student.shu.edu.
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NEWS
Crime Log October 28 CDS: Drug paraphrenalia was found in a room in Xavier Hall. October 31 Incident: A student opened an emergency exit door to let another student into the first floor lounge in Aquinas Hall. The fire alarm was triggered. November 1 Incident: An unknown person wrote “TRUMP” in pink chalk on the Ward Place security booth and on the Aquinas Hall building.
Upcoming Events What: Science & Healthcare Networking Forum When: Thursday, Nov. 3, 5-7 p.m. Where: Main Lounge The Details: Undergraduates students, grad students, and alumni are all welcome to attend. Cost: Free For more information, see www.shu.edu. What: Slavic Club’s Showcase of “Ida” When: Thursday, Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m. Where: Fahy Hall, Room 236 The Details: The Slavic Club will showcase the Oscar-winning Polish film, “Ida”. The film is the first Polish film to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film is set in 1962 Poland and follows a young woman about to take her vows to become a Catholic nun when she finds out that both of her parents, who had died during World War II, were Jewish. Cost: Free For more information, see www.shu.edu. What: The Fight for Freedom of Emigration for Soviet Jews: An Insider’s Experience When: Thursday, Nov. 10, 6:30-8 p.m. Where: Beck Rooms, Walsh Library The Details: Psychiatrist Dr. Sheldon Benjamin will tell of his personal experience with his struggle for freedom for Soviet Jews and for rights such as emigration. Benjamin will tell of the political fight and the arrests of him and his wife in Kiev in 1974. Cost: Free For more information, see www.shu.edu. What: Entrepreneurship in Government: Lessons from TSA’s Transformation When: Tuesday, Nov. 29, 4 p.m. Where: Jubilee Auditorium The Details: Transportation Security Administration (TSA) administrator Peter Neffenger will deliver his last major address to Seton Hall students. The event will be hosted by the School of Diplomacy and International Relations. R.S.V.P. is required for attendance. A live stream of the speech will be available. Cost: Free For more information, see www.shu.edu.
Nov. 3, 2016
Experienced voters offer firsttimers words of wisdom Alexandra Gale Staff Writer
Many Seton Hall students who have never voted before in a presidential election will have a chance to change that when voting booths open on Nov. 8. Professors and senior students who were eligible to vote in 2012 shared their previous voting experiences and offered tips to the first-time voters at SHU. First-time voters may be confused about where to vote. Dr. Matthew Hale, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs, said that each municipality has several different districts and where you vote is based on where you live. Districts may include several different precincts or wards. The Beck Rooms in the Walsh Library serve as the polling site for South Orange residents, said Karen Van Norman, associate vice president and dean of students, via an email. She added that students who are registered to vote as residents of South Orange will vote in Walsh.
Students who are registered to vote in South Orange but find that their names are not on the registration list can ask to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot records a vote when questions arise about a voter’s eligibility. Roseanne Mirabella, a professor of Political Science and Public Affairs, recommended that students become knowledgeable about the candidates and questions before going to vote. This year the two questions on the New Jersey ballot cover allowing gambling in two additional cities and dedicating all revenue from gas taxes to transportation projects. “The [sample] ballot [students who are voting receive in the mail] comes with a description of the questions. You have to do some research to really understand what your vote means,” Mirabella said. Mirabella said students should read more than what is on social media. “Maybe read the newspaper, look at the editorials,” Mirabella added. Mirabella also recom-
SGA Updates Brianna Bernath Asst. News Editor
mended students research the questions on the ballot beforehand. “I was the first group of 18 year olds to be allowed to vote. So it was actually very exciting,” she said. “It was an independent experience for me because it was the first time I realized I had a unique voice. I saw it as quite a responsibility because beforehand people could only vote at 21 [years old],” Mirabella said. Amendment XXVI of the Constitution went into effect on July 1, 1971, allowing 18-year-olds to vote for the first time. Mirabella voted in the 1972 presidential election. The candidates in that election were Republican President Richard Nixon and Democratic nominee Sen. George McGovern. Mirabella said that she voted for Nixon while her parents opted for McGovern. She encouraged students to not vote for candidates based solely on their party. “Don’t just go down a party line. Become informed about all the candidates to the best of your ability because there are many
different shades of people in these parties,” Mirabella said. Having voted in the last election, Jeffrey Dattilo, a senior marketing major, said students should know who they are voting for. “Once you get in it’s pretty straight forward,” Dattilo said. “My first time I just walked in, told them my name and then walked into the booth and pushed a button.” Adrianna Bertoldi, a senior nursing major, also voted in the last election. “I was actually super nervous to vote at first. I was excited to finally have a say in who will lead our country, but it was a new independence I wasn’t used to at the time,” Bertoldi said. She added that students should be confident in their choice. “A big issue for me too was getting pressure on who to vote for from friends and family, but as long as you stay informed with the candidates and you believe in their ideas, you’re set,” Bertoldi said. Alexandra Gale can be reached at alexandra.gale@student.shu. edu.
Election Day is Nov. 8!
Student Government Association (SGA) president Teagan Sebba reported that she expects “all hands on deck” for SGA’s Town Hall meeting on Monday, Nov. 7, the biggest meeting of the year, during which SGA will directly address student-fielded questions. The Student Life committee reported that they are currently talking with South Orange representatives about getting a Mega Bus for transportation to train stations and airports. The Student Life committee also concluded that Seton Hall University instituting a public tuition rate is not a possibility. The Academic Affairs committee received the breakdown of the $650 technology fee: $300 goes toward the laptop itself, $200 goes toward the warantee, and $100 goes toward services such as Wi-Fi. The Public Relations committee reported that the SGA Veterans’ Day Brunch will be held on Friday, Nov. 11. Treasurer Alyssa Potenzone announced that the SGA Fall budget is at $6,289, and the co-sponsorship budget is at $11, 690. The operational budget is at $7,533, and the GDS philanthropic budget is at $8,356. Brianna Bernath can be reached at brianna.bernath@ student.shu.edu.
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The polling site for South Orange residents is in the Beck Rooms in the Walsh Library.
A student must be registered to vote in South Orange to vote in the Walsh Library. The polls open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in New Jersey.
Nov. 3, 2016
NEWS
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SHU student voters often overlook Congressional voting Samantha Todd News Copy Editor
While many will cast their vote for president on Nov. 8, some students are unaware that they are given the choice to vote for members of Congress as well. According to Dr. Patrick Fisher, a professor of political science, voting for Congress is significant because whichever party controls Congress is important. “Keep in mind the partisan consequences of your congressional votes,” Fisher said. The ballot for president has the highest turnout of voters, Fisher added. Citizens can choose which offices they vote for, he added. However, Fisher said people can abstain from voting for the president and solely vote for other offices instead. This is called “rolloff” by political scientists, Fisher added. Some students did not know that Congress members are on the 2016 ballot. Jessica Romano, a junior public relations major, said she was unaware that she will have the option to vote for members of Congress. She said congressional members are not in the news as much as the presidential and vice presidential candidates are, so this lack of media coverage has left her unaware of
who is running for Congress. “I would abstain [voting for Congress] because I don’t know enough about it [congressional candidates] to make a decision,” Romano added. However, Romano said that voting for Congress is “a big deal and something that isn’t emphasized as much.” This may be why many students are unaware of the congressional candidates on the ballot. Another student, Zuleima Montesinos, a freshman nursing major, said she did not know that voters have the choice to cast their vote for congressional members. “I’m not very into politics,” Montesinos said. She added that she knows a great deal about the presidential candidates because they are in the media a lot. However, Cameron Wheeler, a senior diplomacy major, knows about the choice to vote for Congress in the upcoming election. As a student from West Palm Beach, Fla., he said he is voting for Marco Rubio for Senate. “The congressional members are your voice in D.C. so if you don’t pay attention who you’re voting for in Congress then you could be misrepresented in the area [state] you’re voting from,” Wheeler said. He added that he would not
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Lawrence Jackson While some students aren’t aware that Congressional voting is included on the ballot, experts say that voting for Congress is a crucial part of both Election Day and the next four years. abstain from voting for Congress because every vote matters and no matter who you are, you should vote. “The President is unquestionably more powerful in foreign affairs, but in domestic affairs, the President needs to have Congress pass legislation in order to get anything done,” Fisher said. “Congress is an underestimated policy maker in domestic policy.”
Fisher said voters abstain because they do not know the candidates running or because they do not like any of the candidates. Montesinos said that people sometimes vote for their party affiliation for Congress even if they do not know who these candidates are. She said she would vote Democrat for president so she would do the same in voting for Congress. People vote for their affili-
Millennials: Continued from Page 2 Dr. Patrick Fisher, a professor of political science, shared his opinion on millennials and voting. Fisher, who is currently on sabbatical, has taught a U.S. Election course every semester when there is a major election for more than a decade. “Younger voters historically have less interest in politics than older Americans and vote at considerably low rates. The 2008 and 2012 elections were really the exceptions as Obama was able to garner unprecedented support from younger voters,” Fisher said in an email. “Hillary Clinton has definitely not been able to maintain the same level of passion among younger voters as Obama did.” The Student Government Association’s President, Teagan Sebba, expressed what happens when a generation lacks participating voters. “The consequence of voter apathy is a failed democracy,” said Sebba, a senior political science major and Clinton supporter, in an email. “Our country is founded on the citizen’s voices being voiced and acted on, and when a whole generation of voters aren’t mobilizing, our electoral process essentially fails that entire generation. Another
Kiera Alexander/Staff Photographer Millennial students actively participate in The Setonian’s presidential poll, declaring who they would be voting for the in presidential election. detrimental consequence is simply bad candidates getting elected to office.” Fisher added that an interesting aspect of millennials this election “is the degree to which they really do not like either candidate.” “Trump in particular is extremely unpopular among millennials. Polls have shown the third party candidates are doing significantly better among millennials than other generations,” Fisher said. “It will be interesting to see if this actually holds for the election.” Sean Conway, a senior accounting major, said he intends to vote for Donald Trump this election. Conway emphasized Trump’s business background and the im-
portance of preserving jobs in the United States rather than sending them overseas. “A lot of millennials are not working and focusing on the social scene,” Conway said. “It’s important for millennials to get out and vote, and to think long term. Think of what candidate is the best for the economy, that’s the best for our own well-being and nation as a whole.” Former South Orange Mayor Alex Torpey said that a primary issue for young people is that they feel that the government can’t fix their problems. “I think the challenging part is that if people who are frustrated won’t participate, you’re basically
left with people participating who are not frustrated, that’s very concerning to me,” said Torpey, who is also a visiting professor for the department of political science and public affairs. “In my personal opinion, even though people are frustrated and that makes you feel you don’t want to get involved, the solution is to get way more involved - voting being the first step towards doing more.” Asya Crump, a sophomore business undecided major, is choosing not to vote this election season, despite being from Washington D.C. “It’s so upsetting that the first time I’m able to vote and these are the two people I have to choose from,” Crump said. “I don’t think
ated party for all positions because they want their party to have more power when making decisions, she added. “Even though you might not think voting for congressmen is as important you should pay more attention,” Wheeler said, “because it [Congress] affects you more directly than the president does.” Samantha Todd can be reached at samantha.todd@student.shu.edu. I’m going to vote because I can’t pick, I think that they’re both awful choices. I do think Hillary is probably a better option.” Crump added that she feels that a vote for a third party candidate is “a waste of a vote because there’s no way they’re going to get enough votes needed to win.” While Crump is planning on not voting, she believes that the majority of millennials do care about the election, shown through having watched the presidential debates and forming their own opinions on the candidates. “The fact that they’re following it [the election] is a big thing. A lot of elections prior when it’s obvious who the winner was going to be from the beginning people don’t pay attention then. It’s disheartening a lot of people though because they have to pick between these two - it’s up in the air as to how this election is going,” Crump said. Torpey gave encouragement to students voting and left a call to action. “I think that people are going to vote and after that they may think, ‘Now what am I going to do?’ This is for us to fix,” Torpey said. “It’s important to vote in this election but it’s also important to not allow the act of voting to make us feel like we did our job.” Leah Carton can be reached at leah.carton@student.shu.edu.
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NEWS
Mentors incite freshmen to vote Megan O’Malley Staff Writer
Leading up to next week’s presidential election, freshmen mentors, alongside peer advisers, discussed in University Life classes how crucial it was for students to develop civic engagement. One topic that came up in the classes was how students can become involved in their communities by casting their vote on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Classes recognized that leaders are not always perfect, said Peer Adviser James Maglione, a sophomore psychology major. In regard to the current election, mentors explained how both Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton have their flaws, while both also possess positive traits. Maglione said he felt that his group of freshmen took a lot away from the lesson. “I was extremely happy to see that my students chose to have a discussion instead of a debate,” Maglione said. “This really revealed to me how professional my class was.” Mentors and peer advisers were tired of discussing the election any further than just pointing out the fact that both of the can-
didates are human. “I think that everyone is kind of tired of listening to people’s positions on this election in their classes,” said peer adviser Katherine Kontos, a sophomore social and behavioral sciences major. “Everyone has very strong, emotional opinions on this election. This class format made the election a small discussion and not the entire point of the class.” After briefly mentioning the election, the lecture shifted to a discussion on how students can make changes within their communities, said Maglione. He added that following that discussion, students were divided into groups where they had to research two historical leaders: one who used his or her power for good, and one who was more sinister. Some examples of positive leaders were Susan B. Anthony, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. Examples of more negative individuals included Adolf Hitler, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Fidel Castro. Students were then asked to share what made each person a great leader, or an infamous individual. Jillian Szczepanski, a freshman occupational therapy major, said she enjoyed the lesson.
“The class was a lot more fun than I expected,” Szczepanski said. “We put a nice spin on the typical political conversation. Everyone was mature and let each other share their opinions without judgment.” Cara Jordan, a freshman occupational therapy major, felt that the class was significant. “I feel as though people our age are inclined to be disinterested about what is going on around us, especially with all the distractions that surround us,” Jordan said. “It is important for students to become involved in our community.” The lesson was also an attempt at encouraging students to go out and cast their vote. “We see far too often the privilege that is our democracy being squandered away as a result of voter apathy,” Maglione said. “It is important that they [students] vote.” Freshman Studies Mentor Brittany White also made sure to emphasize the significance students have in this election. “Students need to understand that they have the power to choose who our next president will be come Nov. 8,” White said. Megan O’Malley can be reached at megan.omalley@student.shu.edu.
Nov. 3, 2016
Throwback Thursday
What was The Setonian reporting years ago?
“SHU hosts first-ever polling booth”
Authors: Kelly Kaysonpheth Date: Nov. 4, 2004 The story: University president Msgr. Robert Sheeran cast the first of more than 1,300 votes at the District 12 voting location in SHU’s Walsh Library. The 2004 presidential election was the first election in the school’s history for which the voting location was located on campus. Sheeran didn’t say whether he voted for Democratic candidate John Kerry or Republican incumbent George W. Bush.
“Robbers strike again”
Author: Kyle McLaughlin Date: Nov. 1, 2007 The story: Within 10 days, four armed robberies took place in the South Orange community, all within a quarter mile of the rear gate. No arrests had been made as of the article’s publication, but Public Safety’s Patrick Linfante said that they were looking into several leads. Many students expressed that they don’t feel safe walking off-campus alone.
York College:
U. of Wisconsin-Stout:
Monmouth University:
St. Edward’s U.:
Harvard University:
Temple University:
University of Arizona:
Suffolk University:
Where: Jamaica, N.Y. Date: Nov. 2 The update: The college, along with Spring Garden Township, is investigating a rape report filed in September. A student reported that she was raped by a contracted employee and posted emotional videos on social media about the alleged incident. The president of the college said that the contracted employee has been removed from campus. From: www.ydr.com Where: Cambridge, Mass. Date: Nov. 2 The update: After a three-week strike, the university has agreed to pay its dining hall workers more. The workers will now receive more than the $35,000 minimum salary they had demanded. The workers who are laid off or whose hours are cut will also receive a $3,000 stipend over the summer. From: www.universityherald.com
Where: Menomonie, Wis. Date: Nov. 1 The update: A Saudi student died after he was assaulted on a main road near campus, according to police. The student, 24-year-old Hussain Saeed Alnahdi, was assaulted outside a downtown pizza parlor by a suspect described as a white male about 6-feet tall. Alnahdi moved from Saudi Arabia in 2015 to study business administration. From: www.chicagotribune.com Where: Philadelphia, Pa. Date: Nov. 2 The update: Anne Hathaway visited the campus as a part of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s get-out-the-vote event. While Hathaway was there, she led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to Temple student Ewan Johnson during her meet-andgreet with students. Hathaway also visited Phoenixville and Bryn Mawr. From: www.philly.com
Where: West Long Branch, N.J. Date: Nov. 2 The update: A suspect in the attempted armed robbery that caused an on-campus “shelter-in-place” has been identified as 18-year-old college football player Keith Williams from Baltimore, Md. Williams allegedly demanded two female students’ cell phones and pulled out a handgun when they refused. The two students then ran to authorities to report it. From: www.abc7ny.com Where: Tuscon, Ariz. Date: Nov. 2 The update: A former pledge of the Sigma Chi fraternity at the university is suing the chapter and several of its members over a party. According to court documents, the former pledge alleged that the chapter members damaged his reputation by blaming him for a female party-goer’s nonfatal overdose. The lawsuit was filed on Oct. 7. From: www.tuscon.com
Where: Austin, Tex. Date: Nov. 1 The update: Police never found an armed suspect following an alleged aggravated assault with a gun off-campus. Police said that the armed suspect ran towards campus, so the university sent out an alert to students and placed the campus on lockdown. Campus Safety told students to find a safe place on campus, although the armed suspect was never seen on campus. From: www.kxan.com Where: Boston, Mass. Date: Nov. 1 The update: A Latina student’s claim of racism has led the university’s interim president Marisa Kelly to call for mandatory microaggressions training for all faculty to prevent similar issues from arising in the future. The student published a blog post, claiming that a professor was racially biased against her. From: www.bostonglobe.com
Campus Life www.thesetonian.com
November 3, 2016
2016 Election: The Big Issues
Voting for the lesser evil Evelyn Peregrin Staff Writer While presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton make their last attempts to garner support and boost their ratings in the polls, there are movements like “Rock the Vote,” which aims not to push voters toward the right or the left but instead to the voting booths. Victoria Blakey-Padilla, a sophomore chemistry major, thinks that many millennials don’t realize that Clinton and Trump are not the only options. “Third parties are always an option and sometimes they’re a better option than the two main candidates,” Padilla said. “In Gary Johnson’s case, he entered the race way too late and couldn’t catch up. His platform didn’t have time to gain recognition.” But for some students, like senior journalism major Ryanne Boyer, this election is not one they wish to be a part of. “The first reason I am not voting is because I don’t believe in voting for the lesser of two evils,” Boyer said. Her second reason is that she believes Clinton has already secured victory in this election. Boyer made her decision not to vote when Bernie Sanders lost the democratic nomination, leaving two candidates that she refused to choose between. For most millennials this is their first time voting in a presidential election. Dr. Naomi Wish, professor in the department of Political Science and Public Affairs, is worried that first-time voters will think this is how a regular election is conducted. She elaborated on the comments major party candidates have made. Millennials vote less
often than older generations, according to Wish. Her main concern is that the example the candidates have set by using derogatory language and discussing their private lives will impact the millennials’ perspectives on elections and the political atmosphere. “Hopefully millennials will vote and believe that it is important to be politically active and work for the system,”
“We have two completely opposite sides of the political spectrum becoming the new normal, destroying the moderates,” Santore said. “The political middle is largely forgot in this.” The fact that the political middle is being forgotten completely displaces the moderates, leaving a lot of voters unsure of where to cast their vote, according to Santore. Santore said one way to combat and remedy this situation from happening again is to vote. “If you want someone to become a political figure, vote in the primaries and for Congress. Your vote does matter. It brings these people to a national stage,” Santore said. Other Seton Hall students are in a similar struggle to find values they share with either candidate. Senior Nicole Floyd said her conscience won’t allow her to vote for either party, so she is considering voting for a third party candidate. Floyd, a sociology and Catholic studies double major, described this election as a “moral crossroads” with each candidate leading to a dead end because the major party candidates are both bad opPhoto via Flickr/Gage Skidmore tions and neither should be presiWish said. dent. Having the option to vote Senior Vincent Santore, a for a third party candidate is an business information technology alternative that Floyd is considermanaging major, has been politing. ically active by working on New “I think it would alleviate a cerJersey Gov. Chris Christie’s prestain amount of pressure that a peridential campaign, helping out son in that situation would feel,” Congressional candidate Bob PatFloyd said when asked the merit terson and getting involved with of voting for a candidate who isn’t the New Jersey College Republilikely to win the election. cans throughout the state. Neither Trump nor Clinton Santore shared Wish’s concern represent the majority of the about how this election has been population, according to Floyd, handled in regards to having two leaving many people wondering if extreme candidates, and said it they have any other options. would be “terrifying if this beEvelyn Peregrin can be reached at comes the new normal.” evelyn.peregrin@student.shu.edu.
Page 7
Trump warring on political correctness Rebecca White Campus Life Editor
major and president of the Unified Students Assembly, said that Trump should understand that Keaghlan Brady use of what some would considCampus Life Copy Editor er outdated, racist, xenophobic Many of Donald Trump’s suplanguage won’t do him any favors porters and defenders use his when attempting to have converattacks on political correctness sations with global leaders of oth(PC) as a reason to view him as a er cultures and races. champion in the struggle against However, Ravi Shah, a junior PC-ism. political science and philosophy According to the Merrimajor, said that the politam-Webster’s Dictioical correctness movenary, political corment has strayed rectness is agreeing away from its origwith the idea that inal intention to people should be encourage positive careful to not use conversations. language or behave “Sometimes in a way that could PC is too PC offend a particular when these congroup of people. versations are preTrump’s war on PC vented rather than culture did not impact enabled,” Shah said. the decision Alexandra Kiana Grant, a Henderson, senior poa senior litical art histoscience ry major, major, made to agreed vote for that PC Trump. becomes “I think too PC there when it are sit- Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore is used uations as cenwhere people take being PC so far sorship. beyond where it should be and “For example, in the Orlando that it prevents open and producshooting Trump attacked Obama tive conversation,” she said. and Clinton for not using the Zachariah Boyer, on the other words ‘radical Islam’ and accused hand, thinks that being politicalthem of putting PC over national ly correct in practice fosters an security,” Grant said. inclusive and accepting environ“Being politically correct ment. doesn’t mean you can’t joke “We should strive in our spoaround or that your speech is ken verbal language to not ofpoliced,” Boyer said. “But it also fend those around us,” Boyer doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t atsaid. “However, when individutempt to be considerate of those als misspeak and use outdated or around us.” offensive terms, we should invite Keaghlan Brady can be reached them in and talk about how those at keaghlan.brady@student.shu. phrases have been used to demean edu. or exert power over other people.” Rebecca White can be reached at Boyer, a senior political science rebecca.white@student.shu.edu.
The Daily Show brings comedic relief into politics
Justine Strzepek Asst. Campus Life Editor
With so much controversy throughout this election sea-
son, many people have been uncertain of what media outlets they should be trusting as their political news source. Roy Wood Jr. and Has-
san Mahad of the Comedy Central hit show, The Daily Show have aimed to try and empower their audience with information while bringing
lightheartedness to the discussion. Tony Varughese, a senior biology major, said that he likes The Daily Show for its political
satire, but doesn’t use it as his main political news source because of its presidential biases.
See Daily Show, Page 9
Nov. 3, 2016
CAMPUS LIFE
Page 8
Election 2016 Graphic by Clara Capone
College Democrats encourage students to vote Brynne Connolly Staff Writer The Seton Hall College Democrats are looking to help the SHU community get rid of pre-voting jitters by hosting a multitude of informative and thought-provoking events. Planned are various panel discussions, speakers and even special trips to our nation’s capital. The club’s most recent event was a debate hosted by the Unified Students Assembly with the rival Seton Hall College Republicans. These contentious times have not driven a wedge between the College Democrats and the College Republicans. College Democrats President Ajiya Doka said, “We respect everyone’s opinion, our goal isn’t just to bash them.” Doka explained that she and College Republicans president Edward Colombo often work in tandem to host events that pique public interest such as debate viewing parties and other large scale events. The mission of the College Democrats is to offer information to young voters about the Democratic party’s values and platforms, whether they be on the scale of a local school board election or the level of the presidential race. The College Democrats also strive to make sure that students are aware of their rights as citizens
Photo via Seton Hall College Democrats Facebook/SHUDems The College Democrats club encourages discussion on campus. of the United States. Liza Bell, a senior diplomacy and international relations major and former Seton Hall College Democrats Vice President said, “The club helped me engage with different political campaigns and individuals to promote activism on campus.” While working to serve the community, the College Democrats come together to serve and help each other gain new experiences and opportunities through their shared connections. Doka jokingly laments the amount of Facebook messages she receives from local campaigns looking for devoted volunteers. “We want to give our members the opportunity to intern or to volunteer for different political campaigns,” Doka said. “A lot of the people in our club want to work in public service so we want to be that bridge that makes the connection for them.”
This club has been contacted by MTVU, a subdivision of MTV that focuses on topics that appeal to college students, about being a part of its “Electing the First Woman President of the United States” video project. The members are now working to tape their thoughts on what it means for this country to have a serious chance of electing a female Commander-in-Chief in 2016 after 238 years of only men. As Nov. 8 draws closer, Doka and her team are out in full force campaigning for Hillary Clinton with trips planned to Pennsylvania, a key swing state. When asked who she was voting for Doka smiled, looked away and said, “I think we have to make a decision between two very distinct people.” In her opinion Clinton is the pragmatic choice. Brynne Connolly can be reached at brynne.connolly@student.shu. edu.
College Republicans prepare for election Christina McDonald-Vitale Staff Writer The Seton Hall College Republicans are getting the campus ready for the presidential election on Nov. 8 by holding informative meetings on the Republican parties candidate, Donald Trump. The Seton Hall College Republicans is an advocacy group of conservatives on campus that get together weekly to discuss the current presidential election as well as any debates or problems going on throughout campus, said Brian Mulligan, a junior political science major and executive director of Seton Hall College Republicans. According to the Seton Hall College Republicans’ Facebook, its mission statement is, “To make known and promote the principles of the Republican Party, including the values of limited government, freedom, and traditional American values, to the students of Seton Hall University.” Most students in this organization have aspirations of going to law school one day, according to Edward Colombo, chairman and senior political science major. “It’s so important to push conservative values on young people. Younger ages give different examples and views of political day-today issues,” Mulligan said. General members involved in the club have many opportunities to run for leadership positions and get involved on and off campus. “Everyone has an opportuni-
ty to speak out and grow,” Colombo said. In the past, members had the opportunity to work on the Chris Christie campaign and obtained internships working in the field. They also got hands-on experience with campaigning knocking on people’s doors. During the Thursday night meetings at 8 p.m. in the Arts and Science building room 103, guest speakers sometimes come in to talk to the club. This gives a lot of great networking opportunities for students. During election season, especially this year, attendance at the meetings sky rocketed. For the third and final Presidential debate, the College Republicans and College Democrats held an event hosted by the Unified Students Assembly on at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 in the main lounge called “Election 2016: Showdown at SHU,” which gave more insight about college students’ perspectives on this year’s election. Most of the club members have their decision set on sticking with their party this year and voting for candidate, Donald Trump, Mulligan said. “As a Republican I am not thrilled with who our candidate is and as a gentleman I would never partake in the kind of rhetoric Trump engages in,” Mulligan said. “However, I do believe he will unite our country and drive the economy in the right direction.” Christina McDonald-Vitale can be reached at christina.mcdonaldvitale@student.shu.edu.
New Young Libertarian club supports third party candidate Marianne Datu Staff Writer It does not take much effort for the young man dressed in a crisp, light blue collar shirt and sleek black slacks, to willingly dive into the world of politics with an abundance of enthusiasm. Robert Knee, a senior political science major, is currently president of the newly formed Young Pirates for Liberty Club. “Politics has always been in my blood ever since I was a little kid,”
Knee said. He said his inspiration for politics stems from his Irish ancestry and from the values his family taught him growing up. Knee has been dedicated to the Libertarian movement since he was 14 years old and has since been passionate about spreading awareness to others, especially for those who are not as politically involved. Of course, forming a new club may have its challenges, but Knee chose Vice President of the club, Garret Bluish, to be his right-
hand man. Bluish, a senior economic finance major, is helping work alongside Knee in officiating the club at Seton Hall. Bluish hopes to send the Libertarian message to the student body and raise its awareness as an important political party, especially in the current presidential election. His goal for the club before he graduates is to recruit as many members as possible and to “create a base that will help the club succeed in the future,” Bluish said.
Although the club is not endorsing a specific candidate this year, Knee and Bluish are not shy in expressing their favor towards the Libertarian candidate, Gary Johnson. “Polls have shown the third party candidates are doing significantly better among millennials than other generations,” said Dr. Patrick Fisher, professor of political science. Knee also stressed the importance of the “all-inclusive” philosophy of the club. “This club
serves to foster an environment of inclusiveness and an environment of entering new ideals into the political debate-sphere that happens at Seton Hall,” Knee said. Knee’s constant enthusiasm and obvious passion for politics is easily the most contagious attribute about him. He is excited to see what is in store for the Young Pirates for Liberty Club and its growing pool of members. Marianne-Grace Datu can be reached at mariannegrace.datu@ student.shu.edu.
Nov. 3, 2016
Daily Show Continued from Page 7 “Just like other political news sources, they each have their opinion and agenda,” Varughese said. “However, I do enjoy how the show sheds light into politics in a humorous manner.” “We’re like funny history professors,” Mahad said during a conference call with college reporters on Oct. 26, 2016. People like to be entertained when getting their information and political comedy gives audiences just that, Mahad added. “It’s our job to try and educate people on what both candidates stand for, and give people a more thorough understanding of what both platforms are all about,” Wood said. “Comedy is important to help keep your sanity in the midst of all of the election.” While The Daily Show is a comedy show first and then a news media outlet, Mahad and Wood understand that just because they can make fun of people or make inappropriate jokes doesn’t mean they should. “There’s a difference between political correctness, freedom of speech and harassment,” Wood said. “Just because we’re on a comedy show and we can do something doesn’t mean we should do something.” Both Mahad and Wood are also supporters of voting in this election and strongly encourage students who can vote, to go out and vote because even if they think their vote doesn’t matter, it does. “This democracy thing, don’t take it for granted. This shit is not funny,” Mahad said. “Despite all the stuff that you’re reading about, it’s the best operating system currently in the market where there’s tremendous possibility for change.” Mahad continued and said ,“there are many people in this world that would kill to have the chance to vote like we do in America.” Zachariah Boyer, a senior political science major and second -time voter said, “If you don’t let your voice be heard, you are missing an opportunity to be a part of American democracy.” Freshman broadcasting major Erin Neupauer, a first time voter in this election, also said it is important to vote, especially for millennials. “If [millennials] don’t instill the idea that their voice is important now, what will they think when they’re older?” Neupauer said. As Wood put it, “Voting matters, even in a system that has its flaws there’s still strength in numbers.” Justine Strzepek can be reached at justine.strzepek@student.shu. edu.
CAMPUS LIFE
HALLmarks: College democrat loves politics
Page 9
Julie Trien Staff Writer
Senior sociology major Demetrius Terry has faced a number of setbacks in his life. Even though he grew up in what he described as a broken home and even took a year off from SHU in the spring of 2012, only to return in the fall of 2013, he has not let this define him. In fact, these same setbacks have set him on a course to motivate and inspire others. As the Executive Vice President of the College Democrats of New Jersey (CDNJ), Terry represents more than 380,000 students. Terry explained that he is passionate about encouraging students to become politically active and promoting equality. He cited living in Jersey City as part of his motivation because he has witnessed economic inequality there. “[Jersey City] is more of A Tale of Two Cities,” Terry said. “I want to bridge that gap and I feel like what I am doing now will help me toward that goal.” This objective seems to have carried over into Terry’s other projects as well. In 2009, he and a friend founded Youth2Inspire, a business Terry said he hopes to continue after college. He added that Youth2Inspire is a nonprofit that helps underprivileged children through motivational speaking and providing them with “the resources they need to stay successful.” Terry explained that much of what he has achieved was thanks to the guidance of others. Among these individuals is Carmelo Garcia, former N.J. State Assemblyman of Hoboken, and Terry’s mentor. “He continues to guide me today, showing me the right path for my political and educational career,” Terry said. Additionally, Terry credits Christopher Kaiser, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, for helping convince him to come back to Seton Hall after his one-year hiatus. Kaiser explained he was able to connect with Terry, in part, because they both attended Marist Brothers Catholic institutions for high school. According to Kaiser, this connection allowed them to discuss the importance of a higher education, especially with respect to “the Catholic intellectual tradition.” “I would describe Demetrius as a hard-working, motivated, caring student, who sees it his duty to use his degree in sociology for
Photo courtesy of Demetrius Terry Terry at a Bernie Sanders meet and greet with Ben and Jerry’s ice cream founders in Jersey City on May 2, 2016.
Photos courtesy of Demetrius Terry Terry prepares for career in politics through the College Democrats of New Jersey. the betterment of others,” Kaiser said in an email. Terry’s work in the political sphere has been a transformative journey for him, allowing his views to change as he got more involved. Though he is a Democrat now, Terry was Chairman of the New Jersey Hudson County Teenage Republicans from 2010-2012. “I got attacked pretty heavily because of being African American and being Republican,” Terry said. “People thought I was crazy.” Terry went on to say that, as
he progressed in college and did more research, his views on marriage equality, raising minimum wage and college affordability prompted his transition to the Democratic party. Terry does not see his political career ending any time soon. He said he would be interested in running for public office after graduation. Terry’s academic adviser, Carroll Alston, the Associate Director of Counseling and Enrollment in Educational Opportunity Program, said he has an important choice to make as he progress in politics.
“The advice I gave him was to decide if he was going to be a politician or a servant of his constituents, but that he couldn’t be both,” Alston said. Terry explained that, even though he is young, his experiences thus far have helped him gain insight. “There are some people who tend to write me off but I want to say that actions speak louder than words,” he said, “I let my accomplishments and things that I do speak for themselves.” Julie Trien can be reached at julie.trien@student.shu.edu.
Page 10
CAMPUS LIFE
Letters to the Editor
Supports Johnson
With all due respect the editors of this newspaper, I feel it necessary to respond to a grievous mis-characterization of one of the major presidential candidates in your Oct. 27 editorial in which your newspaper endorsed Hillary Clinton. Gary Johnson is not inept, and your brief and pointed judgment of him as such indicates either the bias or ignorance of the editorial staff. Everyone, including the editors of this newspaper, are entitled to their opinions. However, a reader should expect that statements of judgment would be supported with at least the trappings of evidence, of which there little to pick from, and none in your opinion piece. Gary Johnson is the only presidential candidate on the ballot in all 50 states that has both gubernatorial and entrepreneurial experience. He has particu-
First Amendment Whether my support of The Setonian’s endorsement of Secretary Clinton is in a minority or otherwise, I commend the editors for exercising their right in a democracy and in accordance with the First Amendment guaranteed by the Constitution. You have clearly stated the process, fairly assessed each candidate’s shortcomings, and made it clear in the last statement of the article whose opinions the votes represented.
Voicing Opinions I commend you all for making the decision last week to endorse a presidential candidate in the upcoming national election. You revealed your collective opinions, independent of the University’s, whichever it may be, on a topic that affects your readers — the student body. I first saw the editorial on your Facebook page. Not surprisingly, the comment section quickly
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larly strong support among demographics relevant to this newspaper (college students), and has a detailed and disciplined platform from which he is running a professional and relevant third party campaign. I assume that, when you call him “inept,” you refer to his gaffs in two interviews that caught national attention. I should hope that independent thinkers do not associate interview skills with governing ability. Perhaps things like leadership experience and level entrepreneurial thinking are better metrics. It is unfortunate that the media environment that we have created for ourselves in the 21st century punishes lapses of memory and snafus more heavily than poor quality of character or, heaven forbid, policy proposals. D. Carl Ciullo III Economics and Finance Major SHU Class of 2018 I am disheartened by the misguided opposition some students and parents have voiced, and would encourage you steadfastly defend your constitutional rights and the Freedom of Press. Suppression of opinions should not be the hallmark of the Seton Hall University or the society we live in. Leonard Vovk Parent of Seton Hall Student New Jersey Resident
became a volatile area of people arguing politics and religion, as so many do. But what was more troubling to me were the angry people writing that your newspaper broke some kind of University rule by endorsing who you chose to. As a former Editor-in-Chief of this very paper and someone who now works in journalism professionally, I was blown away by those type of complaints. One even called for the University to
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stop printing the publication. Days later, I noticed that some were so enraged over the editorial (which, news flash, by definition is a biased, opinion piece, so there’s no need to get angry over not agreeing with someone) that a Change.org petition was made to “pull” the article and make sure The Setonian refrain from supporting presidential candidates in the future. This petition, which naturally was written by someone connect-
Letters Policy
The Setonian welcomes letters to the editor. All submissions must include the author’s first and last name and a phone number where the author can be reached. Submissions should be no more than 375 words. The Setonian reserves the right to edit submissions for style. Deadline for submission is noon on the Tuesday preceding publication. Letters can be e-mailed to Gary Phillips, Editor-in-Chief, at thesetonian2016@gmail.com.
Corrections
The Setonian willingly corrects errors in fact. For corrections, please contact Gary Phillips, Editor-in-Chief, at thesetonian2016@ gmail.com.
ed to the angry Facebook comments, was the final straw for me. The sheer ignorance of a petition to call for such things proves that some of your readers, whether they are angry alumni or upset students, simply do not understand the ethics of journalism. The language used in the petition shows it was written by someone who fits that description. For instance, the creator wrote “The Setonian by publishing this article is saying the school as a whole
supports...” but then later claims “The views and opinions of Ashley Turner and those on the editorial board should not represent the whole of Seton Hall.” I’m well aware the editorial board doesn’t represent the entire University. This editorial board is full of free-thinking, hard-working student journalists who have the right to share their opinions. Nicholas Parco SHU Class of 2012
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 9
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
Opinion thesetonian.com
November 3, 2016
The Voice
Page 11
The Setonian has a right to write
I
n The Setonian’s Oct. 27 issue, the paper, after a vote by its Editorial Board, endorsed Hillary Clinton for president in its Opinion section. Since then, there has been a flurry of varying reactions to the editorial. Some readers have supported the piece. Some have appreciated the idea of an endorsement, but not the candidate we chose. Others, for an array of reasons – whether it be a disagreement over political and religious beliefs or a misunderstanding of who the editorial represents – have demanded The Setonian rescind its endorsement. That will not happen. While there are some boundaries in the way The Setonian is allowed to exercise its full First Amendment rights at a private, Catholic institution, the paper’s own constitution recognizes the right to endorse a candidate. Still, not all see it that way. Some have mentioned that Clinton’s stance on abortion conflicts with Catholic doctrine. The Setonian understands this. The Setonian as a whole also acknowledges that it is governed, by its own constitution, not to advocate or endorse anything that conflicts with that doctrine. That said, we want to make clear that The Setonian – whose editors
are diverse in their beliefs, as is the rest of the student body – did not endorse abortion when it chose Clinton. We endorsed a candidate whose platform includes abortion in addition to aisle-dividing stances on a multitude of issues. There is no perfect “Catholic candidate” in this election. That, however, was not going to stop The Setonian from expressing an opinion about the person who we think is best qualified to lead this nation in these troubled times. “Abstain” is not going to be our next Commander-in-Chief. Some are forgetting that there is supposed to be a separation of church and state. Look at Clinton’s running mate, Tim Kaine. A practicing Catholic, Kaine eloquently explained during the vice presidential debate that he is personally against abortion, yet still defends a woman’s right to choose. He doesn’t think an individual’s beliefs should govern the majority. Some have said The Setonian’s endorsement was representative of the entire University and its student body. Nowhere in the editorial was that stated or even suggested. To find out how the Seton Hall community feels about the election, The Setonian had been conducting a carefully constructed online poll of student prefer-
ences in which Clinton won in a landslide. The results can be seen in this issue’s front page story. Some have asked what business a newspaper even has endorsing a candidate. The Society of Professional Journalists Ethics Committee stands solidly behind the practice, saying, “Although some readers think these endorsements signal a bias in the publication’s news coverage, SPJ encourages editorial pages to promote thoughtful debate on candidates
Ashley Turner News Editor
decriminalizing marijuana possession charges and 49 percent supported complete legalization. Medicinal marijuana use is legal in New Jersey, but Christie, a Seton Hall Law School alum, has unapologetically kept strict regulations on the program. According to TheCannabist. com, Christie said that he doesn’t want the legalization of medicinal marijuana to become a backdoor for the legalization of recreational use, but he may be fighting against a rising tide. Since 2012, Oregon and Alaska have joined Colorado and Washington as pro-pot states. California, Nevada, Arizona, Maine and Massachusetts will be voting in this upcoming election to possibly authorize recreational marijuana use.
Economically, it would be a wise move for New Jersey to follow in these states’ pioneering footsteps. New Jersey Policy Perspective, a non-profit organization that conducts research on public policy issues in New Jersey, found that the state would earn $300 million annually in taxes from recreational marijuana if it were legalized, regulated, taxed and sold to those over 21 years old. One of the biggest arguments against marijuana use is that it kills brain cells, but according to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute at the University of Washington, adults who don’t have heart disease or psychiatric conditions or don’t use marijuana while pregnant probably aren’t at risk of harming their health. It actually
Photo via Flickr/Dawn Pennington The First Amendment protects the freedom of speech, as well as freedom of the press. and politics.” The “thoughtful debate” SPJ mentions was our goal, one we feel we have accomplished. We never expected everyone to support our choice. What we did hope for was a robust exchange of ideas, even conflicting ones, as does any news organization that publishes an endorsement. Putting your neck on the line so publicly isn’t always easy. Ask The Arizona Republic. Established in 1890, the paper had never en-
dorsed a Democrat for president – until this election. The Republic voiced an opinion that did not go over well with all its readers. Many were unhappy. Death threats were made. But The Republic got its voice out. It sparked discussion. It fostered debate. So did we. 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.
The Garden State could get a little greener
For many recreational marijuana advocates, a legal puff-puffpass session may seem to be in the distant future – especially in a state like New Jersey, with a governor who has remained adamant against legalization. But with more and more states moving towards accepting recreational marijuana use, will New Jersey be far behind? Gov. Chris Christie’s second term ends next year and the citizens of the Garden State have the opportunity to elect a candidate who supports recreational marijuana use. There’s already some support for this idea. In 2014, a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll found that two-thirds of New Jersey favored
Gary Phillips/Editor-in-Chief Recreational marijuana use could stimulate New Jersey’s economy. has health benefits like controlling epileptic seizures. If New Jersey regulates the marijuana industry, we could see an increase in tax revenue and potential health benefits. Regulation would also make it more difficult for teenagers to get
their hands on marijuana due to age restriction. So, what exactly is Christie fighting against? Ashley Turner is a journalism major from Jamesburg, N.J. She can be reached at ashley.turner1@student.shu. edu or on Twitter @Ashley_MTurner.
Page 12
SPORTS
Nov. 3, 2016
THROUGH OUR EYES
Sports Quote of the Week
“We need a win. Next weekend, both games are must wins.” Volleyball head coach Allie Yaeger on the Pirates’ chances of reaching the Big East Tournament.
Quality of play, not protests, reason for NFL ratings dip Matt Amrbose Staff Writer “Week 8” of the NFL season is in the books, and one thing we have learned is that people aren’t watching. According to Sports Illustrated, primetime NFL games have had double-digit ratings decreases this season, with “Monday Night Football” ratings down 24 percent from this time last season. “Thursday Night Football” ratings are down 18 percent and “Sunday Night Football” is down 19 percent. A Seton Hall Sports Poll, conducted from Oct. 24-26, collected data stating that 56 percent of those surveyed have tuned out of NFL broadcasts because of the athletes not standing during the National Anthem. While this has become a polarizing topic over the first two months of the season, it isn’t the major reason why fans are not tuning in. Frankly, the games this year have not been very competitive. Out of 26 primetime games this season, just eight have been decided by one possession, while one game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals ended in a dull 6-6 tie. It’s easy to conclude that fans will change the channel from an uncompetitive game. That’s what has been hap-
Photo via NFL.com Jordan Howard (No. 24) of the Chicago Bears splits defense as NFL ratings drop this season. pening this season. However, many fans haven’t been tuning in to begin with. This can be attributed to outside factors, such as the ongoing coverage of the presidential election and the MLB playoffs.The NFL can’t control these things, but it can control the matchups. I don’t know about you, but I won’t be planning my Thursday night around a Titans-Jaguars game. Now, I know not every primetime game is going to feature a must-see game, but this year feels like there are more matchups that just don’t generate interest.
Maybe that is a result of no team, aside from the New England Patriots, really being able to assert its dominance within the spectrum of the league. Not a whole lot of parity exists in the NFL right now, and the ratings are suffering as a result. I’ll give praise to “Sunday Night Football.” Out of the three primetime slots during each week, they normally feature the best matchup. However, when it comes to “Monday Night Football,” I’d rather watch paint dry. The Monday Night Football matchups this season and in re-
cent seasons have been consistently unappealing. ESPN hypes it up for what it used to be, which was the marquee matchup each week. Nowadays, it is mostly just an afterthought. This season, there have been nine “Monday Night Football” games. Out of those nine, only two have been decided by less than 13 points. To make things worse, according to Forbes, one of those games – a “Week 5” matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers – had the worst ratings for a Week 5 matchup since ESPN got the
rights to “Monday Night Football” in 2006. According to CNN Money, a “Week 3” matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints had the lowest viewership for ESPN in the past 25 years. This came as a result of the game going up against the first Presidential debate. While there wasn’t much the network could do, it still doesn’t bode well that their two most competitive games – as the Falcons-Saints matchup was the second closest game in terms of score so far this season – each set record lows in terms of ratings. “Thursday Night Football” tries to bring in viewers by focusing primarily on divisional matchups. At times, however, the divisional matchups they feature still aren’t appealing. For example, the Cardinals have been underwhelming so far, but everyone knows they can still bully around a weak San Francisco 49ers team, making that matchup uninteresting. It’s hard for the NFL, especially this season, to consistently show the best team in primetime week after week. Until the product on the field improves, though, those ratings won’t be getting better. Matt Ambrose is a journalism major from Exeter, N.H. He can be reached at matthew.ambrose1@ student.shu.edu or on Twitter @ mambrose97.
Get your penalites here: The NFL is not holding back Bobby Bevilacqua Staff Writer It’s really becoming more and more appropriate to call the NFL the “No Fun League.” On Oct. 30, Earl Thomas returned a fumble for a touchdown in Seattle’s 25-20 loss at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. After scoring, the Seahawks safety hugged the referee. He was penalized 15 yards for it. Sure, you can say that players shouldn’t be touching referees at all, but Thomas explained after the game that he was just caught up in the moment and the excitement of the touchdown and that’s how he reacted, according to Fox Sports. Thomas is not the first player to be punished for a celebration. The NFL made it a point of emphasis to have referees around the league crackdown on excessive celebration as “unsportsmanlike
conduct.” According to ESPN, flags for unsportsmanlike conduct were up 56 percent through the first four weeks of the season, They haven’t slowed down since. Antonio Brown was penalized for twerking. Josh Norman and Brandon Cooks were penalized for shooting a fake bow and arrow. Vernon Davis was penalized for shooting the football through the field goal posts. The Giants’ Owa Odighizuwa was penalized and fined $12,154 for taking a fake picture of fellow teammate Landon Collins in the end zone. Odell Beckham Jr. was flagged for taking his helmet off after he already reached the sidelines. It’s getting to the point where if a player seems to react in any way or show some emotion and excitement, they’re getting penalized for it. It’s not only celebrations, but an increase in taunting calls. If someone celebrates a big hit or
a great play in a way that’s just a little bit too offensive, that’s a 15-yard penalty and the play is coming back. Those penalties can cost a team a game or points, like it did in the Browns-Ravens game on Sept. 18. Terrelle Pryor caught a 20-yard pass to get to the 10-yard line with the Browns trailing by five points with 30 seconds remaining. While trying to flip the ball to the referee to place it for the next play, it hit an opponent, resulting in a flag. No catch and the Browns were backed up again. While the NFL might be doing this to try and maintain a professional look or to promote sportsmanship, it’s really sending a message of control. It’s a display of power and trying to reel in the so-called “childish” players. The league can argue all it wants about setting examples for the young athletes out there and trying to prevent them from see-
Photo via NFL.com Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 13) has received $96,772 in fines. ing the “oh-so-terrible” celebrations, but it seems pretty contradictory when the camera pans to cheerleaders in tiny outfits while the league encourages kids to play a sport that can damage their brains. Some of these players have waited all of their lives to showcase their talent and do so on the world’s biggest stage, so why take away their opportunity to express
themselves and celebrate a little bit? The NFL has gone way too far in trying to limit celebrations to the point where the blatant display of power and control is becoming uncomfortable and insulting for fans and players alike. Bobby Bevilacqua is a journalism major from Eastchester, N.Y. He can be reached at robert.bevilacqua@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @rpb725.
Nov. 3, 2016
SPORTS
Page 13
Big East soccer maintains relevance despite split AROUND THE
Tyler Calvaruso Staff Writer When the “Catholic 7” agreed to depart from the Big East in March 2013, the split’s main focus was the impact it would have from a basketball standpoint. The Catholic 7, consisting of DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Villanova, were close to a lucrative basketball television contract with Fox Sports Network. On June 30, 2013, the Catholic 7 officially split from the old Big East, kept the Big East name and maintained their rights to host the conference basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden. Soon after this, Xavier, Butler and Creighton were added to the newly formed Big East. Due to the split’s focus on the basketball side, it’s impact on the other sports flew under the radar, specifically on men’s soccer.
Graphic by Clara Capone
Schools like Syracuse, Louisville, Notre Dame and Connecticut were mainstays in national rankings during their Big East days. In 2011, seven Big East schools ranked in the final top-25. In 2012, six were in the final top-25. When those aforementioned schools left the Big East, it was unclear if the conference would remain prominent in men’s soccer, or if it would take a step back. The 2013 season was the first for the newly-formed Big East. It was an inaugural season with many question marks, but some of those questions were soon put to rest. The Big East had only two soccer teams finish in the final top-25 (No. 10 Georgetown and No. 11
Marquette). This was a drop-off from the two previous seasons, but there were positives to be taken away from the 2013 season. Five Big East schools (Creighton, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence and St. John’s) qualified for the NCAA tournament, and newcomers Xavier, Creighton and Butler showed their ability to play in a major conference. Xavier, Creighton and Butler all finished above .500 and Creighton was able to make an NCAA tournament appearance - a positive sign for the conference going forward. Despite the strides the new Big East made in it’s first season, the presence of the teams from the old conference did not go unno-
ticed. Notre Dame took home a national title in 2013 Three teams that were a part of the old Big East finished in the final top-25. It was clear the new Big East would have a ways go before it could recapture the success of the old conference, but the success that it was looking for would come sooner than expected. The 2014 season was a major step in the conference’s quest to re-establish itself as a force to be reckoned with on a national level. Providence finished No. 3 in the country while Georgetown (No. 6) and Creighton (No. 7) finished in the top-10. Xavier came in at No. 11. Providence, Georgetown and
Xavier all qualified for the NCAA tournament and Providence made a run all the way to the national semifinals before falling at the hands of eventual runner-up, UCLA, in a double-overtime thriller. The conference as a whole took a step back in the 2015 season, but both Georgetown and Creighton were able to finish in the top-25, solidifying that even though the Big East may not be as deep as it normally is, there will always be at least a couple of schools present in the national picture. The old Big East schools may be irreplaceable, but make no mistake about it: The new conference is serious when it comes to men’s soccer, and despite some losses, it remains nationally relevant. Tyler Calvaruso is a journalism major from Howell, N.J. He can be reached at tyler.calvaruso@student. shu.edu or on Twitter @tyler_calvaruso.
HALL ACROSS THE BOARD SCORES OF THE WEEK MEN’S SWIM AND DIVE
WOMEN’S SWIM AND DIVE Saturday, Oct. 29
Saturday, Oct. 29
Providence Seton Hall
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
83 179
Sunday, Oct. 30
Providence Seton Hall
126 162
Sunday, Oct. 30
Bucknell Seton Hall
112 171
Bucknell Seton Hall
WOMEN’S GOLF
168 107
MEN’S GOLF
Friday, Oct. 28 to Saturday, Oct. 29
Friday, Oct. 28 to Sunday, Oct. 30
Seton Hall
Seton Hall
658 (82+) (3 of 14) VOLLEYBALL
3 0
Saturday, Oct. 29
Xavier Seton Hall
Saturday, Oct. 29
Providence Seton Hall
0 3
What’s 11/3 ON DECK Thursday Home
Away
Soccer Women’s Basketball Swim and Dive Volleyball
(7 of 11)
MEN’S SOCCER
Friday, Oct. 28
Creighton Seton Hall
287 (8+)
1 2
WOMEN’ SOCCER Friday, Oct. 28
Seton Hall Villanova
11/4 Friday
11/5 Saturday
0 2
11/6 Sunday
11/7 Monday
11/8 Tuesday
11/9
Wednesday
Photo via SHU Athletics The Seton Hall women’s swim and dive team went 2-1 this week, while the men’s team went undefeated in their meets, going 3-0. Both teams played Monmouth (Oct. 25), Providence (Oct. 29), and Bucknell (Oct. 30)
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Villanova 3 p.m. Philadelphia University 12 p.m. Two Day Meet Rutgers 4 p.m. Georgetown Villanova 7 p.m. 7 p.m.
For complete coverage of all Seton Hall Athletics, visit thesetonian.com or follow us on Twitter @SetonianSports.
SPORTS
Page 14
Nov. 3, 2016
Pantelas transitions from ground balls to golf balls Kyle Kasharian Asst. Sports Editor
Before Cassie Pantelas was swinging her club for the Jackson High School golf team and eventually Seton Hall University, she was swinging bats while playing America’s greatest pastime. “I actually played baseball until I was 13,” Pantelas said. Being the youngest of five, Panetelas naturally wanted to be like her older siblings, especially her brothers Ari and Alex, who were just starting to get into baseball. “Ari and Alex are both a year older than me so they were starting t-ball and I was like, ‘Hey, I’m playing t-ball if they’re playing t-ball,’” Pantelas said. “I ended up being a little bit better at it than them.” Her brother Alex chimed in on their time together playing through t-ball and beyond on the same team. “I was always on the line of being kind of proud that we were playing together. We were happy and we were children so that was great,” Alex said. “At the same time it was also something where we kept each other competitive, and that was really great because we were both really good at it.” Pantelas thrived in baseball, and for that reason, all of the negative comments and displeased coaches simply could not change her skill and abilities. “I remember all the coaches wanted to throw her out of the league for being a girl, but the talent is what made her stay in the league,” Alex said. Her skill in the sport kept her on teams and eventually allowed her to play travel baseball for two years, but there came a point where teams would no longer allow her to play. “They wouldn’t let me play anymore because I was a girl,” Pantelas said. As frustrating as it was for Pantelas, her father was there for her every step of the way. “My dad coached me all throughout those years,” Pantelas said.” So he and I kinda have a bond, we’d go golf together all the time whenever I’m home.” Her father, Gust, saw the discrimination first hand as he served as her baseball coach for some of Pantelas and her siblings’ baseball career. “There were times where she would make an all-star team and some of the other coaches would say things like, ‘We don’t want her on the team because she’s taking a spot that a boy could have,’” Gust recalled. At 13 years old, Pantelas’ baseball career was at its end. Alex reflecte on her professional, mature
Photo via SHU Athletics Cassie Pantelas (third from the left) helped the Pirates secure their third straight Big East Championship last spring as a sophomore. She placed second individually among all goflers by firing an even 72. reaction in her final days of playing on the diamond “I know there were a couple nights where we had sore talks with our parents, or times where maybe she even showed a little emotion,” Alex said. “But for the most part she kept playing until they made her stop.” Pantelas, seeking some direction, decided to accompany her mother on a golf lesson with a professional trainer, where she took a couple swings with a golf club. “I was just out with my mom. We live across from a golf course and I was just hitting balls out there. The pro stopped watching her (Pantelas’ mom) and started watching me instead,” Pantelas said. The professional noticed something special in Pantelas, and despite having little to no prior instruction or experience, suggested she take up golf. “I was out there just hitting golf balls and my mom was actually getting a lesson,” she said. “The pro was like, ‘Hey you should probably get her to start playing golf.’” The timing could not have been any more perfect, as this encounter took place the summer before Pantelas entered high school, and right in the midst of her baseball dilemma. “That was probably one of the major turning points in my life where I really had to make a decision about what I was going to do,” Pantelas recalled. “In retrospect, you don’t really think about
how much that’s going to affect you, but choosing golf obviously has put me into the position I am today.” Pantelas trekked confidently into the world of golf during her high school career, and eventually was given the opportunity to play collegiately when she was offered the chance to play Seton Hall University. In the process though, she would be leaving home and following her siblings in the way of forging their own path, but naturally the distance has been challenging. “It was pretty hard, but I think just who I am as a person- we’re all really independent. We love each other and we would do anything for each other,” Pantelas said. She feels that her transition to Seton Hall from her Ohio home has helped her flourish and grow as a person. “I see myself making decisions I know my parents would be proud of and I know that my siblings would be proud of,” Pantelas said. “So even though I don’t have them in my life directly, I try to do things that are true to my roots and who I am as a person. So think I’ve grown just by things I do, by priorities I put in place.” Pantelas has been strongly influenced by her outgoing, siblings who have all taken their own unique, unconventional paths. “I have two brothers (Ari and Alex) in the military, and my brother (Zack) is an orthopedic surgeon, and then my sister (Clair) works for a company in
Photo via SHU Athletics Pantelas has accumualted three top 10 finishes and two top five finishes in the fall 2016 season. California,” Pantelas said. “I’m really lucky surrounding myself at home with some really good people.” For Pantelas to make a big swing in her life’s direction, it was a never a question that her family would support her and know she would be successful in anything she put her mind to.
“She’s the center of our family because she is the baby of the family,” Alex said. “It’s unsurprising that she’s done so well at golf because knowing my whole life and our whole life as a family, we knew she was going to do great things.” Kyle Kasharian can be reached at kyle.kasharian@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @ItsKyleKash.
Nov. 3, 2016
SPORTS
Page 15
Fournier goes from walk-on to Hall history books Matt Lamb Staff Writer Senior libero Tessa Fournier has meant progress for Seton Hall University volleyball in her four years with the program. Now in the team’s fifth season under head coach Allie Yaeger, the Pirates started off slowly improving over the first two years with a new coach at the helm, peaking with a marvelous season in 2014 that found themselves in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. After losing so many vital pieces from that team in 2015, the Pirates have utilized their younger players to create a team that has exceeded pre-season expectations last season, as well as this season. One of the players that has exemplified the word “progress” is Fournier. She was a walk-on during her freshman season in 2013, and proved herself to earn a scholarship in 2014, where during that year, as well as 2015, she earned the honor of being named the Big East Libero of the Year. She’s been a leader time and time again for the Pirates. “As leader you have to be relaxed at times, and a little laid back and understanding at times,”
Fournier said. “This year we have such a young team, but I also take that as we push everyone to be the best that they can be and play the best that you can be.” Fournier came to Seton Hall with a lot to prove, and when reflecting on her past accomplishments and experiences, she has been able to take advantage of certain situations and opportunities to become the player and person she is today. “I mean I’ve always loved volleyball and that’s what makes me want to play everyday,” Fournier said. “I love the game, I love playing, as well as the atmosphere, my team and coaches. Making it to the NCAA Tournament was such a big accomplishment because people thought we were underdogs, so we were so motivated to play well as a team.” Yaeger can only add to the grit and work ethic that Fournier holds. “She has grown up a ton throughout her time here,” Yaeger said. “She came in as a freshman playing in the back row just as a defensive specialist, making sure she wasn’t completely thrown in there but she was playing against All-Americans on the other side. Getting that experience only
helped her for the years to come.” Fournier has broken nearly untouched ground at Seton Hall, not only by winning the Big East Libero of the Year award in consecutive seasons, but also surpassing 2,000 digs with a total of 2,050 digs as of Oct. 29, putting her in second place in school history behind current assistant coach Allie Matters. She was also one of only 30 student-athletes nationwide to be named a candidate for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award. With Matters and Yaeger both also playing as a libero in college, she knows that her technical game and skill level have improved vastly, and that what they have to say goes a long way. “It’s awesome having them both give their opinions and insight on the position,” Fournier said. “It’s great to stop in practice and talk technically on a certain point or play, and it was a big recruiting push for me.” That relationship that Fournier and Yaeger hold has made the coaching job for Yaeger become also a sort of mentoring experience, as she points out key elements to her that can help her improve her game. “It’s huge for her to know that when I get on her, she knows what
I’m talking about and that she needs her to take me seriously,” Yaeger said. “At this point I don’t expect her to make any mistakes because she knows that I know how good she is. I think she’s one of the best liberos in the country.” Fournier has continued to prove to herself and her team that she has been able to make a stand and contribute to the Pirate squad. The progress has translated to the entire team giving their hard work and success over her past four years. “I love every team that I’ve played for, and I love being here
Learn in small classes. Succeed in big ways.
Photo vis SHU Athletics Tessa Fournier (No. 3) at SHU. everyday surrounded by great people,” Fournier said. Matt Lamb can be reached at matthew.lamb@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @MattS_Lamb.
Dr. Rikki Abzug, Professor of Management, discusses the China Immersion Trip with MBA students.
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Sports
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Tessa Fournier digging for Big East history Page 15 November 3, 2016
Page 16
Men’s basketball not planning Anthem protest Elizabeth Swinton Sports Editor
“We stand with our hand above our chest.” Kevin Willard did not waver when asked if Seton Hall men’s basketball team will take part in any protests during the National Anthem once the season starts. The coach stood with his hand over his heart, and repeated, “We stand with our hand above our chest.” The question stemmed from the actions of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has stirred controversy with his practice of taking a knee during the National Anthem. The football player has sparked movements across the nation, as athletes and teams at various levels have followed suit, protesting the Anthem in one way or another. Even a few Anthem singers have protested as they sang at sporting events. The movement has transferred to collegiate sports as well, with teams using their own methods to show their stance. Football players from Michigan and Michigan
Photo via SHU Athletics Veer Singh, Angel Delgado and Michael Dowdy Jr. with their hands over their hearts. State have stood with fists raised. Even some fans of college teams have started to partake in the protest, as University of North Car-
olina football spectators and the band put their fists up in protest during a Sept. 24 game. With basketball season ap-
proaching, college basketball players will be in the spotlight as the Anthem is played. Junior Desi Rodriguez said that Seton Hall
has not specifically discussed any form of action they could take. “No, we never talked about that,” Rodriguez said. “We just talk about what’s going on in society and just with the debate, and stuff like that, that’s things we talk about in the locker room. But we never talked about taking a knee in the game.” While Rodriguez does not want to take a knee, he believes there are other ways to send a message on the protested issues. In the NBA, some teams and players have linked arms. Rodriguez said that could be something the team thinks about. He is not going against what Willard said. He agreed that the team will not partake in protests, but said there is a chance for the team to show its unity. “Maybe we can do something like that, that’s more appropriate,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t think taking a knee is appropriate, so definitely holding arms, doing something that shows that we are trying to make a change.” Elizabeth Swinton can be reached at elizabeth.swinton@student.shu. edu or on Twitter @eswint22.
Women’s soccer reflects upon season completion James Justice Staff Writer The phrase “It’s always darkest before the dawn” may just be true for the Seton Hall women’s soccer team. The Pirates finished the season 5-11-1, but improved 77 spots in the NCAA’s RPI rankings. The season, while full of losses, was a step forward for head coach Rick Stainton and his players. Seton Hall began its season with eight games against local, out of conference teams. The Pirates played every team close, with every match being decided by one goal, and four of the eight going into overtime. The Hall would escape the non-conference schedule with a 4-3-1 record, already surpassing its win total from all of last season. The Pirates would then enter a grueling gauntlet of Big East opponents. It began at home against St. John’s during Pirate Weekend on Sept. 24. An energetic crowd was not enough, as the Hall fell 1-0, a precursor to the struggle Big East soccer matches would prove to be.
Eight days after the result against St. John’s, the Pirates season-long streak of not allowing more than two goals was broken when they allowed four in backto-back losses against DePaul and Creighton. “The Big East, as our team is aware, it is a whole different level,” Stainton said. “It’s not forgiving, you know, we play teams in our conference that if you do make one mistake, they’re going to make you pay for that mistake. And unfortunately we weren’t… mature enough I guess you can say, to really try to make up for some of those mistakes.” Freshman Marissa Aniolowski addressed similar struggles. “There are times where it’s tough because it takes a lot to go out every game with energy, knowing all the games we are going to be playing in are games against the best teams in the nation,” Aniolowski said. “I’m hoping in the next two years we’ll be able to push through more. Push through the adversity of losing, and the next game we’ll be able to come out with more intensity than we have.”
The following game was the one bright spot in the Pirates’ Big East schedule, a triumphant 1-0 home win against Xavier. The game came shortly after Stainton had switched to his preferred 4-33 formation, moving Aniolowski, the winning goal-scorer, from fullback to forward. “I think the Xavier game was one of our best games,” Aniolowski said. “There’s moments where it’s really good and we can play like a team, but there’s times where our communication isn’t there, or we’re playing as individuals. But the times where we are playing together and we’re playing as a team, we are successful. So I think the more united we get, the more we’ll be set for future games.” The Pirates’ next and final home game of the season was Senior Night, Oct. 20, against Georgetown. The Pirates honored five seniors: Illisa Blackshear, Cathy Chukuka, Sarah Cortes, Sarah Fiorino and Frankie Maier, who Stainton called “pioneers” for the program. “Even though we didn’t find
Photo via SHU Athletics Junior Katie Landes will be asked to step up next season. much success in the results, because that is what everyone looks at, they’ve really helped blaze the trail in regards to our progress,” Stainton said. “Every year that they’ve been here we’ve seen improvement in the program, and every year that they’ve participated, we’ve grown as a whole.” Aniolowski admires the seniors for what they have overcome in their years at Seton Hall. “They’ve dealt with not the best
seasons for the last four years, yet all of them pushed through and made the most of it; which I think is really something to look up to,” Aniolowski said. The Pirates will look to keep that attitude of perseverance set by the departing seniors, but change the results on the field come Fall 2017. James Justice can be reached at james.justice@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @MLSTakeover.