The Setonian - Volume 93, Issue 14 - 01/19/2017

In Opinion, Page 11 Volume 93, Issue 14

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Activist, gangster, educator: Dr. Pritchett a Seton Hall ‘jewel’

Jan. 19, 2017

School of Medicine announces new deans, moves forward with accreditation application Ashley Turner News Editor

Photo courtesy of Forrest Pritchett In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded Pritchett with the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Gary Phillips Editor-in-Chief The Klan could burst through the door at any moment.

The chances of a guard getting in the way were slim. If supremacists wanted to kill any of the college kids locked away, they could.

No one would stop them. No one would bat an eye if a few young African Americans lost their lives.

These are the fears that raced through Mary Pritchett’s head as her son Forrest called from a Dover, Del. jail back in 1961. Then a student at Delaware State, a historically black college, he and some of his friends had staged a sit-in at a local diner. Now he needed $50 – a hefty amount at the time – to

post bail. Mrs. Pritchett, at home in Atlantic City, feared he would not make it through the night if she failed to get him the money.

But her son was not worried about the consequences of his actions.

He was focused on making a difference at a time when change was sweeping the nation. *** Fifty-six years after his arrest, the Rev. Dr. Forrest Pritchett is still doing what he can to impact lives. A member of the Seton Hall community since 1978, Pritchett is heavily involved in the African American community. He has been the assistant dean of the Black Studies Center and an ad-

Construction causes a commotion In News, Page 3

junct professor in the department of Africana. He currently serves as director of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Program, which emphasizes servant leadership and provides standout students with scholarship money.

Pritchett remembers feeling an urge to carry on King’s legacy when the civil rights trailblazer was assassinated in 1968.

“I laid there with tears in my eyes thinking, ‘How could America kill a man of God? Is there no shame to the extent to which racism will manifest itself to maintain this system of social stratification and degradation?’” Pritchett recalled.

See Pritchett, Page 2

The developing Seton Hall-Hackensack-Meridian School of Medicine announced on Jan. 13 that the addition of two assistant and associate deans to the school’s Executive Cabinet.

Dr. David Kountz was named the Interim Associate Dean of Diversity and Equity and Dr. Gregory Simonian was named Assistant Dean of Admissions and Chair of the Admissions Committee.

Kountz and Simonian joined eight other deans in the Executive Cabinet, including Dr. Bonita Stanton, founding dean of the School of Medicine.

Not only is the School of Medicine expanding its leadership team, but it is also working toward gaining accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), which is the U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting body for programs leading to an M.D. degree.

Stanton said that the School of Medicine will submit its accreditation application to the LCME by April 1. The school should receive a response to its application by Feb. 2018 regarding whether or not it has received preliminary accreditation.

As of now, Stanton said that the school is still on track to open in the summer of 2018.

Erik Lillquist, associate provost for academic projects, said that “these two hires are an integral part of our plans.”

Stanton said that Kountz and Simonian were chosen for their roles by the deans in the cabinet. The search and assessment for the most fitting candidates for these roles lasted six months, according to Stanton.

Kountz is vice president for ac-

Students swipe right for Tinder In Campus Life, Page 8

ademic diversity and co-chief academic officer for Hackensack Meridian Health and is also vice president of academic affairs at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, N.J. Though Kountz is serving as interim dean, Stanton said that the school is not searching for another candidate to fill the position at this time.

“In collaboration with Dr. Kountz, the dean will determine if we wish to conduct a national search (for a replacement) sometime later this summer,” Stanton said in an email.

Simonian is currently the executive vice chairman and chief of operations for the Heart and Vascular Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center. In the past he served as president of the medical staff and chairman of the Medical Executive Committee at HackensackUMC. He also served as the Chief of Endovascular Studies for 14 years and is currently the Chief of Vascular Surgery at Mountainside Hospital in Glen Ridge, N.J. “These preeminent physicians bring years of professional experience and their unique perspectives to these two pivotal roles that will shape the population of our students, faculty, and staff,” Stanton said in a statement emailed to the University.

“Starting a new school of medicine is a tremendous undertaking,” Stanton told The Setonian. “We have been so fortunate to have the unreserved support of Seton Hall and Hackensack-Meridian Health leadership and the very active and substantial support of over 200 faculty and staff from SHU and HMH and the surrounding communities.”

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

Desi on the rise In Sports, Page X

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Pritchett:

NEWS

Jan. 19, 2017

Continued from Page 1

Ten years later, Pritchett signed on at Seton Hall as an assistant Black Studies professor and soon seized an opportunity to join the leadership program.

His continual involvement in civil rights activism inside Seton Hall and beyond has been well-recognized through the years. Pritchett has received honors such as the New Jersey Association of Black Educators’ Black Educator of the Year Award, the Association for the Study of Afro American Life and History’s Frederick Douglass-Sojourner Truth Award and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: New Jersey Convention’s Distinguished Educator Award.

Plaques, awards and certificates decorate Pritchett’s cluttered Mooney Hall office, along with posters of King, Gandhi, Malcolm X and Nelson Mandela. The honor bestowed upon Pritchett by President Barack Obama stands out.

It was in early 2016 that the office of the President of the United States, along with the Corporation for National Community Service, presented Pritchett with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Pritchett, reserved when talking about his own accomplishments, said the honor “brought me to tears.”

“What you have to understand about him is that he doesn’t do things for those accolades that might come at the end,” said Brenda Knight, Pritchett’s friend and the secretary to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Seton Hall. “He does it because there is a need.”

Pritchett has made his mark at Seton Hall, immersing himself in far more than the African Ameri-

can community.

The professor won the Pirate Pride Award from 1999-2000, the University McQuaid Medal in 2003 and Employee of the Year in 2008. Sporting a deep baritone, Pritchett is the faculty advisor to the school’s gospel choir.

That is where he met Dr. Kirk Johnson. Now an adjunct professor at Seton Hall, Farleigh Dickinson and Berkeley, Johnson was a freshman at SHU in 2004. It was around that time he lost his father.

He remembers confiding in Pritchett while on a choir retreat. The two immediately connected.

“He was a mentor, a father figure,” Johnson said. “He still is a father figure to me.”

Over the years, countless students have gotten to know Pritchett through his main job on campus, faculty mentor in the Freshman Studies department. He said a freshman mentor’s job is “to ensure the success of all first time students.”

Knight said it is compassion that allows Pritchett to do the job so well.

“He is interested in the student as a whole and not as much worried about all of the grades students are always so anxious about,” she said. “That means those things which happen in the classroom, those things which could be of a personal manner.”

Those who know Pritchett will say he never stops caring, that he ceases to ease up on his work.

Again, more unwanted recognition.

“Rev. Dr. Pritchett has our heartfelt appreciation for his service to our great University, for all that he has done in support of our mission – for being a true Servant Leader,” Seton Hall president Dr. A. Ga-

Photo courtesy of Forrest Pritchett Pritchett (right) and the Dr. Martin Luther King Leadership Program received the “Best Organization Promoting Diversity” award at Seton Hall. briel Esteban said in an email. “I thank him for being an inspiration to our students and to the entire University.”

Pritchett is not looking for gratitude. He said he sincerely enjoys playing a part in what is a major transitional period for students.

The man knows a thing or two about change in life. *** Pritchett was just 12 years old when he walked into school with a sharp, jagged piece of metal.

He was tired of coughing up nickels and dimes to what he at the time called “bullies.” When he told the aggressors he could no longer afford to hand over his lunch money, the gang members threatened to kill him. Pritchett responded by coming in “strapped.”

“I told them, ‘One of you has to make a decision. You might kill me, but I’m taking one of you with me,’” he recalled.

The incident amounted to nothing more than a standoff, but it earned Pritchett a reputation. Before long, other kids were dropping

his name, threatening “Forrest has my back” when cornered by trouble. Soon, Pritchett had a group of his own.

By age 14 he was leading a gang of 100-something kids, offering protection while trying to implement what he called a “positive” and “nurturing” atmosphere.

Pritchett said gangs were a little more structured back then, with “territory” being the main source of conflict.

“A ‘rumble’ was an organized fight in which two or more gangs would line and face each other, similar to the Revolutionary War,” Pritchett said, comparing his group to modern day gangs. “If you hurt, harmed or killed an innocent person, your gang would punish you.”

Still, Pritchett found trouble as authorities in Atlantic City began to crack down on gang-related activity. Long before he was arrested for the Delaware sit-in, he found himself sentenced to seven years in a juvenile detention center in Atlantic City. It was then that he realized he needed some course correction.

Pritchett immediately began playing peacemaker, acting as a mentor to the center’s youngest.

Those in charge quickly considered him to be a model inmate, by his account. Meanwhile, some community members, including a couple of nuns, fought to have Pritchett’s sentence commuted. They argued he and his gang actualy had made the streets safer. Others questioned the judge’s motivation in the lengthy sentencing.

By what he calls the grace of God, Pritchett was out in just seven weeks. He was placed on three years probation. ***

Photo courtesy of Forrest Pritchett Pritchett attended Delaware State University, a historically black university.

It was Pritchett’s education, as well as his faith, that led him to where he is now.

He was admittedly uninterested in the classroom when he arrived at Delaware State. It took him two years to convince himself he was cut out for college, but he soon found himself civically engaged.

He realized he wanted to be a part of the Civil Rights Movement.

As for his faith, Pritchett was raised Protestant. He began to invest more time in religion after those nuns saved him from a lengthy juvenile incarceration.

He has carried his faith with him throughout his life, though even that has undergone a transformation.

Pritchett converted to Catholicism for his wife, Barbara. The two are ministers at Christ Church in Rockaway, N.J. Pritchett said that the aspect of confession appealed to him when making the decision to switch.

“It implies a closer relationship with God with a sense of redemptive discipline and self-purification,” Pritchett explained, hinting at his childhood experiences.

That was a long time ago, however. Looking back at his life, it is easy to wonder how Pritchett made it from running the streets of Atlantic City as a kid to being a distinguished activist and educator at Seton Hall.

He has changed a few times over since he was a teenager. Though, as he did during his gang days, he continues to look out for others.

Whether it be with the Civil Rights Movement, inner city youths in his neighborhood or a Seton Hall choir boy who lost his father, Pritchett has always tried to make a difference.

“He’s a great man. He’s an amazing man. He’s impacted a lot of people’s lives,” Johnson said. “He’s definitely a campus jewel, a campus treasure.”

Gary Phillips can be reached at gary.phillips@student.shu.edu.

Jan. 19, 2017

NEWS

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Cabrini residents call construction a ‘nightmare’ Isabel Soisson Asst. Digital Editor

The construction of the new Welcome Center has become an annoyance among some of the students living in Cabrini Hall.

According to an email interview with Albert Cardona, associate director of Housing and Residence Life, there were a total of five complaints during the fall 2016 semester reported to the Hall Director of Complex, which were then forwarded to the Facilities Engineering Department for further investigation.

Cardona also said students have asked that construction times be pushed back to later in the day.

“However, HRL (Housing and Residence Life) was informed that the starting time for the Welcome Center project of 7 a.m. was not able to be changed,” Cardona said.

Cardona added that if students are bothered by the noise, they can contact Samantha Sinclair, resident hall director, to find alter-

native living arrangements.

According to John Signorello, associate vice president of Facilities Engineering and Business Affairs, noise from the construction will diminish as the building frame and exterior are completed.

The Welcome Center is scheduled to be completed by January 2018.

Some students voiced their objections on the noise caused by the construction.

Allegra Berg, sophomore diplomacy and international relations major, complained to the administration about the noise. She lives on the first floor of Cabrini.

“Living with the construction has been an absolute nightmare,” Berg said, “It has woken me up on many occasions as early as 5:55 a.m. when the trucks arrived and idled right outside my window.”

When Berg complained to the school, she was told she could move out of her dorm if she was unhappy.

“They just offered me to move

Greg Medina/Asst. Photography Editor Some students recall being woken up by construction as early as 5:55 a.m. and were not willing to deal with my complaints,” Berg said.

Allison Powers, a sophomore political science major, lives on the second floor of Cabrini and offered her thoughts on the topic as well.

“I remember waking up at 8 a.m. and the floor was literally shaking,” Powers said.

The school also told Powers she could move out of her dorm if the noise was too loud for her.

David Gluck, a sophomore social and behavioral sciences major, who lives on the third floor of Cabrini, also voiced his opinion.

“The construction has woken me up a few times,” Gluck said, “but it hasn’t been a major prob-

lem.”

Gluck added that although a Welcome Center would be nice, he thinks the money could be put to better use.

“Why not put that money toward giving our seniors a proper graduation?” Gluck said.

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

Construction builds optimism for potential new students Samantha Todd News Copy Editor While the construction on the new Welcome Center is affecting current Seton Hall students, it also has an impact on prospective new students.

According to Dr. Alyssa McCloud, vice president of Enrollment Management, “the construction projects on campus are very positive and show prospective students that the University is investing in our campus infrastructure to provide the best environment for our students.”

McCloud said via email that investments in facilities, such as adding a Dunkin’ Donuts, fitness cen-

ter, additional parking, renovated classrooms and residence halls has given SHU students a better campus life while strengthening enrollment.

She added that enrollment has been strong in the last few years and while there are many reasons for the increase, she says “the enhancements to our facilities help.”

On discussing the impact on enrollment of investments in facilities, McCloud added that it is not just about prospective students. It is also about serving current students to make sure they are happy and have a good campus life.

This helps retain current students so they will want to continue their education at SHU and graduate as

a Pirate.

Seton Hall students who serve as Blue Crew members and act as tour guides witness first hand the impact construction has on prospective students.

Blue Crew tour guide, Cody Laska, a senior majoring in finance and minoring in legal studies, said in an email that he discusses the ongoing construction during his tour.

Laska adds that he viewed a video released months ago about SHU’s master renovations plan and he relays the details of the plan during his tours. Laska said the plan includes making Mooney Hall the new communications building. He also tells prospective

Greg Medina/Asst. Photography Editor According to University officials, construction shows new students that SHU is “investing in our campus.”

students and their parents about how Duffy Hall will be transformed into apartment style dorms and the University Center will be renovated, including the cafeteria.

Laska said parents seem excited about the construction, especially when he mentions that renovations will be done before or during their incoming student’s time at SHU. While the construction may look messy, Laska said “it is a welcoming sight because it means that as a community we are not staying stagnant; that we are actually making good on our promises to try to overtake the other major schools in the region.”

Another Blue Crew tour guide, Morgan Smith, a junior psychology major, said that before the tour starts, prospective students and parents watch a video that tells them about the construction. She said via email that no one seems to be concerned about the construction. Rather, her tour guide groups seem excited about the renovations to campus and how they will affect them if they choose to attend SHU. “We pay a lot of money to attend this beautiful school, and it is nice to see that some money is going towards things that will bring more students to our campus, and will make us stand out,” Smith said. She added that when the fitness center was under construction, families on tours liked seeing the updates to it.

Construction does not seem to be negatively impacting prospec-

tive students in their decision to attend SHU. Katie Carpenter, a prospective new student who would like to major in political science with a focus on pre-law, recently toured SHU. “Construction can only make a place better,” she said via email. She added, “SHU is a beautiful school regardless of construction,” and that it would not sway her from attending.

Another prospective student, Mackenzie Fletcher, who intends on majoring in diplomacy and international relations, said that construction has no effect on her decision to choose SHU. She toured SHU in May 2015 and the construction on the fitness center did not change her mind so the ongoing construction does not affect her decision either. Fletcher said in an email she thought “it was a good thing that Seton Hall is keeping up with any repairs that needed to happen, or redesigning to make it more appealing.”

Prospective student Nelson Mercado, who wants to major in criminal justice or psychology, or double major in both, said he is impressed by the ongoing construction. He said via email the construction will be another great thing to happen to SHU. “Seton Hall is showing future attendees and applicants that they are committed to making the campus and its facilities even more beautiful and great than they already are,” Mercado said.

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

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NEWS

Crime Log Jan. 9 CDS: Marijuana was found in a room in Aquinas Hall.

Jan. 10 CDS: Marijuana was found in a room in Boland Hall.

Jan. 12 Incident: Graffiti was found in the men’s bathroom in Walsh Library, the Arts and Sciences building, Corrigan Hall, Fahy Hall and the parking deck elevator.

Upcoming Events What: Family Day at the Rock When: Sunday, Jan. 22, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Prudential Center The Details: Seton Hall students, alumni and families are invited to the reception before the Pirates men’s basketball game against St. John’s University. Hosted by the North Jersey Regional Alumni Chapter of Seton Hall, the reception will be at the Goal Bar. After purchasing a ticket, the first 35 people to email alumni@shu.edu can have a child participate in the “ultimate ‘Fan experience’”.

Cost: $25 for both the reception and the game; $15 for the reception only.

For more information, see www.shu.edu.

What: March for Life 2017 When: Friday, Jan. 27 Where: Washington, D.C. The Details: Campus Ministry will be traveling to Washington, D.C., for the event. According to shu.edu, “The March for Life is a peaceful protest of the legalization of abortion in the United States.”

Registration forms are now available for the trip.

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

What: Get Hired Boot Camp When: Saturday, Feb. 25, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Where: Jubilee Hall, Room 111 The Details: Bob Franco will teach the workshop, focusing on two topics: “Interviewing to Get Offers - Presenting a Professional Value-adding Image” and “The Role of Social Media and Networking in a Job Search.”

Cost: $99 For more information, see www.shu.edu.

What: Graduate Open House When: Saturday, Feb. 25, 12-3 p.m.

Where: Main Lounge, University Center The Details: Participants will have the opportunity to learn about Seton Hall’s graduate programs, including certifications and online programs, both part-time and full-time. Faculty, program director, and current graduate students will provide guidance on financing grad school. Campus tours will be given.

Cost: Application fee will be waived for attendees who sign in at the event.

For more information, see www.shu.edu.

Jan. 19, 2017

SHU preps for @realDonaldTrump’s inauguration Sarah Yenesel Staff Writer With the 58th formal presidential inauguration ceremony scheduled tomorrow, Seton Hall has mixed reactions to the upcoming presidency of Donald J. Trump.

Students were asked what they would tweet to the president-elect.

A majority of those who responded said they feel indifferent toward Trump and would not know what to tweet him. A few other students said they have no desire to tweet Trump.

However, a few students had tweets in mind.

Angelo Maltese, a junior broadcasting major, said via email, “He (Trump) has to deliver on most of what he has promised to the American voters that pulled the lever for him. Protecting the First Amendment is big. I would also compliment many of his cabinet picks.”

Another student, Brian Hennel, a sophomore broadcasting major, said, “Don’t mess up too much.”

Dr. Robert Pallitto, professor of political science and chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs, has a tweet for

Photo courtesy of Marc Nozell President-elect Donald J. Trump will become the 45th President of the United States on Jan. 20.

Trump as well. “Stop tweeting. It is very un-presidential,” Pallitto said.

In regards to Trump’s policies, Pallitto said, “He doesn’t have a real depth of knowledge.” Pallitto further elaborated his statement by saying that Trump’s remarks about policy are not realistic.

In a press conference last week, Trump said that the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, will be repealed and replaced the same day, maybe the same hour.

Trump has not presented a clear alternative to Obamacare.

According to Trump’s website, www.donaldjtrump.com, the pres-

ident-elect intends to repeal and replace Obamacare with Health Savings Accounts. His website also says he plans to work with Congress to create a patient-centered health care system that promotes choice, quality and affordability.

Sarah Yenesel can be reached at sarah.yenesel@student.shu.edu.

SGA Updates Brianna Bernath Asst. News Editor Student Government Association (SGA) president Teagan Sebba reported on Jan. 9 that she continues to meet with administrators more than once a week about graduation.

The Academic Affairs committee reported that they are working on an initiative to improve communication between pre-med students and their advisers.

Senator Patrick Barron announced that he would be resigning as Academic Affairs chairman.

Treasurer Alyssa Potenzone reported that fall funds have been transferred to the new spring budget. The SGA Spring Finance committee budget is at $22,486. The co-sponsorship budget is at $11,690, the operational budget is at $5,868 and the GDS budget is at $6,945.

The Public Relations committee reported that the SGA Town Hall will be on Monday, Jan. 23 from 4-5 p.m.

The Village Relations committee announced that they will be releasing a list of job openings in South Orange within a few weeks.

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

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Jan. 19, 2017

NEWS

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New York takes steps toward free college tuition Siobhan McGirl Staff Writer

New York has taken one step closer to passing a tuition-free college program for low and middle-income families, leaving Seton Hall students considering how this program would affect them.

Tuition-free college is not new to the headlines. This movement has caught the attention of politicians, educators and students this past year. Sen. Bernie Sanders from Vermont focused a big part of his presidential campaign on making college tuition free. However, it was the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, who on Jan. 10 unveiled a plan to put this into action.

Cuomo called his plan the “Excelsior Scholarship program” and according to his proposal it would provide free tuition to two- or four-year state schools beginning in fall 2017 to families earning less than $100,000 annually.

New York’s plan would only be viable for state schools. New Jersey does not have a statewide plan for tuition-free college. However, if a plan like the Excelsior program were to take off and influence other states, this could be a reality in the future.

Dr. Alyssa McCloud, vice president of Enrollment Management, is familiar with a lot of the various programs being proposed across

Photo via Flickr/Zack Seward Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, unveiled his plan to take steps toward free tuition. the country. “In general, most of these programs, even some suggested during the presidential campaign, are good and helpful,” McCloud said. “But in actuality these programs are designed to help people who have a certain income level. Many people don’t realize that.”

McCloud warrants that context is key when analyzing the proposed tuition-free college programs. She says when the public hears about these programs they sound revolutionary, but in actuality because of her position at SHU she knows families at a certain income level are already getting a high amount of aid from federal and state governments.

While McCloud points out

that a tuition-free college program would not directly affect Seton Hall University, a private institution, there is a small possibility that it could indirectly affect the number of people who would choose to attend SHU versus a free public school option.

Gabriella Bryce, a sophomore education major, grew up in Philadelphia, Pa. Neither of her parents graduated from college and she was determined to be a first-generation student. However, she says that finances were tight and it was not a guarantee.

Her mother’s income consisted of disability checks. She would have to work hard for it.

“I knew that I wanted to come to college and I knew whatever I

What would MLK do?

Photo courtesy of Ryan Bisumber On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, students and their families gathered for “What Would Dr. King Encourage All of Us to Do in 2017?,” an all-day event in honor of Dr. King’s life and legacy, held by the MLK Leadership Program. Attendees listened to speeches, enjoyed cultural performances and engaged in a Youth Leadership Workshop. Above, students participate in a Legacy Walk and Sing In, honoring those involved in the Civil Rights Movement.

had to do I was going to do it,” Bryce said.

She said that if Pennsylvania offered an Excelsior type program she would have taken it over attending Seton Hall. Bryce said her current bill for tuition and living off campus totals about $9,000 after aid and scholarships. Even at $9,000 she still said she would attend a public university for free if given the option.

“People in a certain income bracket should have free college options. The price tag discourages a lot of people from having a higher education opportunity,” Bryce said.

Bryce said if someone told her as a girl that she could definitely go to college, regardless of her fi-

nancial circumstances, she would be ecstatic.

“Every child has dreams. And those dreams most likely require college,” Bryce said. “You have something to dream for with a tuition-free program.”

McCloud added, “These programs are definitely good. We have to start somewhere and I fully support legislators coming up with programs.”

On the other hand, for Emily Hoff, a senior journalism major, a tuition-free option would not have changed her decision to come to SHU. “At Seton Hall you are in a small environment and you get to know more students and professors. You are probably just a number at a public school like Rutgers,” Hoff said. “Seton Hall has helped me a lot and made me who I am so it is definitely worth the price tag.”

“States can’t say they would make private schools free too, but I hope they can find some equivalent way to provide additional benefit at a private school,” McCloud said. “Whether it be extra scholarship or extra grant money, because the goal is access. There is a benefit to private school in terms of quality of interaction, size and admission. I would hate that people would not be able to access that if they want it.”

Siobhan McGirl can be reached at siobhan.mcgirl@student.shu.edu.

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NEWS

Friends and family continue to mourn death of Seton Hall student Brianna Bernath Asst. News Editor Family, friends and the Seton Hall community continue to mourn the loss of sophomore pre-business student Javaughni Ashley.

As previously reported on by The Setonian, Ashley was found dead in his apartment in Orange, N.J., on Dec. 18.

Katherine Carter, a spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, said that the results of Ashley’s toxicology report had not come back as of Thursday, Jan. 12, so his cause of death has not been determined yet. However, Carter said that Ashley’s death does not appear to be a homicide.

Ashley’s childhood friend Brian Chacon spoke about Ashley at the funeral services at Island Memorial Funeral Home in East Orange, N.J., on Friday, Jan. 6.

Chacon said that he didn’t know how to react to seeing Ashley at the funeral, describing the experience as “tough,” yet “finalizing.” He had prepared a speech but decided to wing it last minute, speaking from the heart. While Chacon said that he “goofed up a bit,” he gave a three-minute-long speech reflect-

Jan. 19, 2017

Throwback Thursday

What was The Setonian reporting years ago?

“The 44th President of the United States”

Author: Maria Burks Date: Jan. 22, 2009 The story: Both the Main Lounge and the Pirate’s Cove were packed wall-to-wall with students watching Barack Obama being sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America on Jan. 20, 2009. Students who made the trek to Washington D.C. for the momentous occasion were part of the 1.5 million people in attendance.

“Everybody loves Esteban”

Photo via Facebook/Javaughni Ashley Javaughni Ashley was a sophomore pre-business major at SHU. ing back on Ashley’s early life. “[Ashley] was supportive of everyone else, even when some people weren’t supportive of him,” Chacon said.

Chacon said that placing a rose on Ashley’s coffin at the end of the

funeral services brought him “a feeling of grace that [Ashley] was finally in a better place.”

“He’s always going to be a light wherever we are,” Chacon said.

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

Author: Jessica Sutcliffe, Samantha Desmond & Ashley Duvall Date: Jan. 20, 2011 The story: On Jan. 11, the University altered its by-laws to keep Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban as president, officially making him the 20th president of Seton Hall University.

Students and faculty alike reacted positively to the announcement. Esteban also became the fourth University president to not be a member of religious life.

U. of Minnesota:

U. ofWisconsin-River Falls: University of Alabama: Georgetown University Where: River Falls, Wis. Date: Jan. 16 The update: A university campaign called “Check Yourself ” has put ‘ugly’, ‘lame’, ‘dumb’, ‘crazy’, ‘you guys’ and ‘it’ on the list of oppressive phrases that students might be using in everyday conversations. The campaign was designed to make students more aware of how their words may be demeaning to some people or groups of people.

From: www.khq.com

Where: Tuscaloosa, Ala. Date: Jan. 14 The update: Two students reported that they were raped in two separate incidents before dawn. One of the suspects, a University of Alabama student, has been charged with first-degree rape, while the other suspect, a 20-year-old non-student, denied the account. No charges have been filed in the second case yet.

From: www.al.com

Where: Washington, D.C. Date: Jan. 16 The update: University administration has told students to stop inviting inauguration protesters to stay on campus. Administrators, including Chief of Police Jay Gruber, emailed students, stating that they are not allowed to rent out on-campus residences to inauguration-goers. The students will only be allowed to host family and friends.

From: www.thecollegefix.com

Temple University:

Drury University

Sacred Heart U.:

Northern Michigan U.:

Where: St. Paul, Minn.

Date: Jan. 14 The update: University president Eric Kaler said that the school’s sexual misconduct training is not getting through to its student-athletes. Kaler said that the school needs to do a better job of training the students, especially following the school’s internal investigation resulting in 10 players’ suspensions over an alleged sexual assault.

From: www.foxnews.com Where: Philadelphia, Pa. Date: Jan. 17 The update: Police gave students and administrators the “all clear” sign after a suspicious package with red and orange exposed wires was found at the university. Police detonated the package as a safety precaution after evacuating 300 students from the school’s College of Engineering.

From: www.6abc.com

Where: Springfield, Mo. Date: Jan. 17 The update: A former swimmer at the school says that hazing is to blame for the end of his athletic career. The student, 18-year-old Evan Petrick, claims that he and other members of the swimming team were hazed. The allegations were confirmed by the school’s Director of Athletics.

From: www.miamiherald.com

Where: Bridgeport, Conn.

Date: Jan. 18 The update: The university has refused to turn over to a judge records of a former student’s claim that she was raped last year. The university’s lawyer claims that turning over the records would be a violation of federal privacy laws. The judge has given the school time to file an appeal with the state Supreme Court.

From: www.ctpost.com

Where: Marquette, Mich.

Date: Jan. 17 The update: University sophomore football player Anthony Herbert was found dead in his dorm room following a workout and breakfast with his teammates. No cause of death has been determined yet. The 20-year-old construction management major played in all 11 games this past season.

From: www.mlive.com

Campus Life www.thesetonian.com

January 19, 2017

Page 7

SAB ushers in neon New Year Alyssa Schirm Staff Writer

Seton Hall’s Student Activities Board (SAB) is busy preparing one of its biggest events of the year, the Winter Formal. This year, after much group collaboration, the Campus Life Board decided on a “Blacklight” theme for the annual soiree.

“The theme is something we thought about and focused on for this ball, especially with things like the lighting system and the decorations all the way down to the centerpieces”, said Daniel D’Amico, Campus Life Chair and XXXXX physics major.

After receiving some complaints last year that the theme was not carried throughout the event, the board wanted to ensure it was evident in everything.

The SAB president, Alyssa Behrendt, said that the theme will be echoed throughout the space and students will see the Blacklight theme everywhere.

SAB has secured a DJ, complete with Blacklight and neon lighting equipment, as well as

a Magic Mirror photo booth, which will allow students to take selfies, apply a Seton Hall or SAB filter and post them onto social media. All of the festivities are expected to give students a oneof-a- kind experience, especially the unique “Blacklight” theme.

Allison Kroeger, a Freshman Economics major, commenting on the theme, said, “What made me want to go was picturing the atmosphere. I immediately imagined a ball like the way one would be in a movie and then having it under a blacklight where everything glows would just really look nice.”

This ball is expected to draw more students than past winter formals. Behrendent said that since the winter formal will be held in January, it gives them the opportunity to make it bigger and better than ever. Both Behrendt and D’Amico stressed that although it is a big event, ticket sales are limited and any students interested in going should get tickets as soon as possible to avoid missing out. Tickets are available at www.setonhallsab.

SAB gears up for the Winter Ball on Jan. 20. eventbrite.com for $15 each, or, if you purchase a table of 12, $12 each. The event will be held at the Sheraton Parsippany Hotel, and, if any student needs transportation, there are still tickets

Gregory Medina/Asst. Photography Editor

available for the 8:45 p.m. bus from the Richard Regan Athletic Center. Dress is semi-formal, and neon colors are encouraged.

For ideas on how to incorporate Blacklight into your formal wear,

students can also check out SAB’s Pinterest board with ideas, which can be found on their Facebook page.

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

SHU Alum: Where are they now?

Passaic county prosecutor leaves mark on history Payton Seda Staff Writer

Camelia Valdes made history on May 16, 2009 when she accepted the position as Passaic county prosecutor by being the first Latina county prosecutor in New Jersey and the first lead prosecutor of Dominican ancestry in the United States.

Born in the Bronx to Dominican immigrants and raised in Newark surrounded by crime, Seton Hall University class of 1993 alumna, Valdes was inspired by her experiences to become an advocate for justice and community service.

“I was dedicated to get an education, to make my parents proud, and to get a career so I could pay tribute to the sacrifices of my parents,” Valdes said. “My parents pay attention to me being on television more than the awards, but it’s fun to see their excitement and pride.”

The Hispanic National Bar Association named Valdes their 2016 Latina Lawyer of the year.

Photo courtesy of Carol Ann Koert In 2015, Valdes accepted the Many Are One Award from Interim Dean Crysanthy Grieco and President A. Gabriel Esteban.

“She exemplifies the importance of doing a tough job, doing it well, and making time for other public services,” said Steve Flores, the HBNA award committee chair.

He added that women like Valdes have opened “the door for other Latinas to follow.”

“It’s an extraordinary privilege to receive this national honor,” Valdes said. “It’s given me the opportunity to talk to students and women in the law and show them it’s possible with hard work.”

Valdes holds numerous awards for her successful career and her

many service contributions to the community.

“She is a great representative of what we want our students to be when they graduate,” said Carol Ann Koert, the Seton Hall director of alumni events.

A mother of two autistic girls,

Valdes said her daughters are the ones who inspire her to keep moving and never give up. She has dedicated her life to advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves, either through her career as a prosecutor or through her community service.

Valdes attributes her passion for public service to Seton Hall, whose importance of community and faith has helped her set a tone of respect, equality, and justice in her life.

“She represents that service to society, service to the community, and, there is no question, service to Newark and New Jersey,” said interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Crysanthy Grieco, who awarded Valdes the 2015 Many Are One Alumni Service Award.

Knowing she has the support of her peers, family, and school, Valdes continues her strive to make all of them proud.

Payton Seda can be reached at payton.seda@student.shu.edu

Page 8

CAMPUS LIFE

Jan. 19, 2017

Students take a swipe at dating apps Julie Trien Campus Life Editor

A 2015 Pew Research Center survey found that the percentage of adults aged 18-24 using dating apps quadrupled since 2013.

Among the more than 2,000 people surveyed, those who reported ever using dating apps rose from 5 percent in 2013 to 22 percent two years later.

Seton Hall sociology professor Leslie Bunnage explained this increase in popularity as a reflection of the major role technology plays in everyday life.

“For younger people, who have been immersed in this kind of technology for the bulk of their lives, it is comfortable,” Bunnage said, “It is the way we retrieve information now.”

The professor added that courtship and dating habits constantly change over time. She explained that using dating apps does not necessarily mean the relationships someone forms will be superficial. Regardless of the app, users are likely to make the experience their own and seek out the type of relationships they want.

“The reality is that it’s an application,” Bunnage said, “Even if it has potential to be used in all these different ways, you don’t know how people are going to use

it until you see how they actually use it.”

For example, in 2016 WayUp, an organization that assists college students in finding jobs and internships, reported that, of 200 students surveyed, 53 percent said they used dating apps such as Tinder to find friendship.

The same survey ranked the popularity of different dating apps. seventy-three percent of participants claimed Tinder was their preferred app, 13 percent favored Bumble and 10 percent primarily used OkCupid. The remaining 4 percent were not specified in the study.

Bunnage attributed this diversity in preference to how specific the demographic has become for certain dating websites, citing FarmersOnly.com as an example.

While she acknowledged that app users can craft the experience they want, she said she sees the future of online dating as an even more individualized process.

“My guess is that there will be an expansion of user control and that the best apps will be the most flexible ones that can grow with (users) for different phases of their lives when they are indeed seeking different things out,” Bunnage said.

Despite the fact that dating apps can be used for a variety of

different reasons, like for friendships or dating, SHU students seem to have mixed feelings about them.

Stacie Elfo, a sophomore psychology major, explained that these apps are not guaranteed to lead to successful relationships.

“I think the modern dating scene has transformed or changed and a lot of people have become dependent on these apps which make it hard for people to meet and build a relationship,” Elfo said. “I think they work for some and not for others ultimately.”

Other students point out the potential dangers of online dating and meeting people that you don’t know from mobile apps.

Ashley Banks, a sophomore psychology major, said online daters should be cautious when arranging a meeting offline.

“First off, there is a huge scare that the person you meet online could turn out to be a bad person and anyone meeting someone offline most definitely should meet them in a public place,” Banks said. “I think the entire experience can be too forced and the process can be very unsuccessful for people that want a real relationship.”

Rebecca Marcinko, a sophomore elementary special education and environmental studies

gle to plan out each meal, so when stocking up on snacks for those busy days, it is important to have healthy options available. Combinations such as apples and peanut butter, hard boiled eggs, hummus and pretzels are easy alternatives to vending machine selections.

Staying well-hydrated with eight glasses of water throughout the day helps provide the body with more energy.

Another tip that Lynch suggested was enjoying the food consumed. Lynch cautions not filling up plates with distasteful foods for the sake of healthy eating. Although most students are always on the go, food should be eaten with consciousness and awareness.

Lynch also suggests eating regularly and never ignoring hunger.

Eating at least every four hours keeps blood sugar stable. This routine stabilizes blood sugar and may make someone more likely to excessively snack between meals.

Staying active is key to good health habits. Lynch recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, which can also be done in intervals of 10 minutes each. Exercising regularly reduces stress, increases alertness and boosts the immune system. For those that

don’t like the gym, it’s important to find what works. Many students are involved in intramural sports, others like to take walks, while others find Zumba classes more rewarding.

Sophomore nursing major, Gabriela Bongard,makes time for exercise at least four or five times a week.

“I usually try to go in the morning before class and take a spin class every Friday,” Bongard said.

Walking briskly, taking the stairs over the elevator and parking further from class can all have a significant impact over time.

There are tools that can help us be aware of our health. Human, an app that tracks steps and sets a goal of the day, helps one see activity levels. It alerts users when extra steps are needed to achieve their goals. Other apps, like MyPlate, monitor calorie intake and nutritional value, keeping a diet in check. Still, websites such as ChooseMyPlate.gov provide users with valuable information on portion sizes and what to include in each meal. Students tend to push off healthy living until after graduation, with school work and grades being the priority. These coincide however because eating properly

Photo via App Store Those looking to date online have plenty of options. major, said that she has seen many successful relationships result from dating apps.

“My high school band director met his wife on eHarmony awhile back,” Marcinko said. “They have been married a few years and now have a daughter together. I

am not personally a fan because I would rather meet someone first but they seem to work for some people so why not try it out if it’s something you’re comfortable with?”

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

How to manage a healthy life on campus Macarena Solis Staff Writer

With the many responsibilities that come with the role of a college student, maintaining a healthy lifestyle may not be number one on the list of priorities. Luckily, tips and small changes can make this process possible. Diane Lynch, director of health services at Seton Hall, offered her advice on how this can be done.

To get into the swing of things, four components make up a healthy lifestyle, exercise, diet, rest and time to relax. Being aware of these things can give a person more energy, less stress, more productivity and improve overall quality of life. “The best thing you can do for your immune system is to eat healthy, exercise, and sleep,” Lynch said.

Lynch recommends making a plate half vegetables and fruits when going to the cafeteria or when dining out, with the other half being carbs and protein, a “colorful plate.” she said. The biggest challenge about healthy eating on campus is probably that students are eating on the run, which tends to gravitate them towards junk food. College students strug-

Photo via Pixabay/jill111 A healthy diet includes a variety of options. and exercising regularly can keep people from missing class due to being sick, as well as feeling more alert and focused. “There’s big payoff if you’re willing to put in those 30 minutes a day!” Lynch said.

Just as staying active is important, rest and sleep also keep a body in top form. Poor sleeping habits end in poor performance. “You should probably try to get about eight hours of sleep a night,” said Lynch. It is not recommend to stay up all night and later compensate with taking naps. Bongard makes sure she gets enough sleep and is well-rested to get through her busy days of nursing classes. “I make sure I get at least eight hours a night and I never pull all-nighters for exams. If I don’t get enough sleep, I’ll

never remember everything I have to know for exams,” said Bongard.

Sophomore broadcasting major, Brian Connor suggests planning a schedule to complete school work.

“I plan out when I’m going to do certain assignments throughout the week so I know I’ll be able to get a decent amount of sleep each night,” he said.

Although the pursuit of degrees may seem more important than pursuing a healthy routine, there is no need to sacrifice one for the other. “If [students] really want to focus on doing well in school, being aware of the healthy diet and exercise does pay off,” Lynch said. “it will help their performance.”

Macarena Solis can be reached at macarena.solis@student.shu.edu.

Jan. 19, 2017

CAMPUS LIFE

Page 9

Senior class plans for the future

Margarita Williamson Staff Writer This New Year is different for seniors who are setting goals before and beyond graduation.

Leigha Wentz, a senior diplomacy and modern language major, said that she plans to spend her semester the way that she has planned all of her other semesters.

“I have an internship that I go to part-time, I am just trying to get through all of my classes, keep my grades up and go on a few trips,” Wentz said.

College sometimes comes with the perk of not being tied down to a specific place and having the opportunity to travel.

“This weekend I am going to upstate New York with my roommates to see the John Jay Homestead, and for spring break I am hoping to spend the weekend up in Boston,” Wentz said.

For many seniors, graduation does not mark the end of pursuing higher education. Mallory Finch, a senior diplomacy and international relations major, said she is waiting to hear back from law schools in Washington, D.C. and in her home state of North

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Barilari Barilari says he is doing everything to prepare for life.

Photo courtesy of Mallory Finch Finch is waiting to hear back from law schools.

Carolina.

“I plan to get in all the things I have not done these past four years. I want to go to different places in New York and I want to try new things,” Finch said.

“This year I want to work on myself as a whole by eating

filled with classes and work. He is on campus two days a week this semester, interns at GLA Communications, a public relations firm, and works weekends at a restaurant. Barilari said that his goals this semester are to earn all A’s and to save up some money.

healthy, doing things for my mental health as well and spiritually I am a Protestant Christian, and I want to make sure that I am reading my Bible more,” Finch added.

Kenneth Barilari, a senior journalism major, has a semester

“I am trying to do everything that I can to prepare for life after Seton Hall but it is still kind of this unknown which makes me nervous,” Barilari said.

Margarita Williamson can be reached at margarita.williamson@ student.shu.edu.

Commuters try to stay connected on campus Rhania Kamel Staff Writer

According to the Seton Hall University website, 20 percent of students are commuters.

There are a range of reasons why students choose to commute.

Michelle Belvin, a freshman business major, said, “I choose to commute because living on campus is more than my family can afford. Other reasons could be that students already live a few minutes away from campus or that they need to help at home. They could have younger siblings or an ill grandparent that their parents need help wi th.”

Despite getting to live home and save money, the life of a commuter is not an easy one.

One problem all commuters will inevitably face is parking.

Parking problems are avoidable some days but, on others, it can make any day a bad day.

Another problem commuters face is involvement in clubs.

Most clubs on campus meet later in the day and, for commuters who leave campus early, it is difficult to be involved.

Alyssa Behrendt, a junior double majoring in marketing and economics, believes that

Sarah Yenesel/Staff Photographer

Commuters say one of the biggest issues they have at Seton Hall is finding parking. extracurricular involvement is a crucial part of the college experience.

“One of the main aspects that

has made college so great for me that many commuters are missing is campus programming and involvement,” Behrendt said. “It

is shocking to me when I speak to commuters that they have difficulty naming one club on campus. I have known of oth-

er schools that have designated specific lunch blocks where, for one hour, there are no scheduled classes for students. Implementing something like this could be convenient to commuters as they have a chance for social interaction and a chance to see what the campus has to offer them.”

Social interaction and extracurricular involvement can help students feel more connected to their university.

Victoria Cardona, a freshman Business major, believes that it is important to be connected to your school.

“I feel very comfortable at SHU and with everyone on campus. I’ve met some amazing people through the programs, clubs, and classes I’m in,” Cardona said.

She continued, “Having a connection is important because college is a crucial experience in a person’s life. It is a time when people grow, meet people and make lifelong relationships, get to know themselves and ultimately where they’d like to steer their future. Therefore, a strong connection, I believe, is necessary in college to successfully achieve all of that.”

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

Page 10

CAMPUS LIFE

Jan. 19, 2017

Poetic Pirate writes of cancer battle Zachary Wohl Staff Writer

Vee Gaspa, a sophomore undeclared major interested in creative theatre and art, is already trying to accomplish something many have only dreamed, to get her poetry collection published as a book. She is forgoing the process of appealing to amateur publishers that help new writers and going straight to the major publishers.

Gaspa was inspired to write poetry from her life, using her experiences of surviving cancer at any early age.

“I have two brain tumors, one on the optic nerve of each eye.

The tumors are the source of my blindness. My blindness has given me a wider range of topics to write about. I believe it makes my writing more in-depth, and certainly gives me a different angle to write from.”

Gaspa starts her poetry process simply.

“I just start with one line that I really like and expand off of it,” Gaspa said. “I have to be inspired.

I have to be emotionally impacted before I write something.”

Gaspa initially came up with her poems by using songs she

Photo via Facebook/Vee Gaspa

Vee Gaspa is hoping to get her work published. had previously written in her free time. Only a few structural and lyrical changes were required to convert her songs into poetry.

Gaspa did not do it all on her own, however. While taking English 1202, professor Christopher Amnott noticed her talent during a creative writing assignment.

“I offer to all my classes the opportunity to present any original

work to the class for extra credit,” Amnott said.

Wanting another person to look at her writing, Gaspa sought help from Amnott.

“I was truly blown away by the power of her words and her backstory as both a cancer survivor and a leader for blind people everywhere,” Amnott said.

Since that point, Amnott has

helped Gaspa realize that publishing her work is a possibility.

Furthermore, he has guided her toward improving her writing and expanding her collection of poems. Amnott said that “she has continued to grow as both a writer and a person, which is truly inspiring to witness.”

Together, Gaspa and Amnott have been trying to secure a pub-

lishing deal since late October.

While no deal has been made yet, Gaspa continues to look for an agreement with publishers like Black Mountain Press and Coffee House Press. Until that deal comes, however, Gaspa will continue to add to her collection of poems and inspire others.

Zachary Wohl can be reached at zachary.wohl@student.shu.edu.

SHU club seeks to share art with others Evelyn Peregrin Staff Writer A club largely run by underclassmen is using its passion for creating art to send messages regarding social issues and working to bring the community together, according to club president Michael Cappelluti.

Cappelluti explained that P.O.E.T.I.C. is an acronym that stands for People of Education Together Influencing Culture.

The group of students, ranging from 15-20 regular members, meets every week during the semester to perform original art, give advice, share ideas and have their work appreciated. The editorial board suggests themes for some meetings, and members create works based on this idea.

Workshops run by sophomore Cappelluti and other members focus on certain creative outlets like songwriting and public speaking skills to further their crafts.

“As a society and a community there are certain things that should be spoke about but aren’t,” Cappelluti said when asked the purpose of the organization.

“If we communicate these things through art I think we are succeeding as a club.”

POETIC members get to express themselves in a variety of ways.

“We have an interest in creating dialogue for social justice,” said the marketing major. Ideas that are hard to say sometimes are easier to sing about, rap about or perform, according to Cappelluti. He stressed his appreciation

for the opportunities on campus to perform. “It may feel like an athletically dominated school but there are a lot of artistically talented people here.”

For someone like Cappelluti whose major doesn’t reflect his

Photo courtesy of POETIC passion, he said it’s a good way to stay creative.

Business IT major Dom Parran picked his major for job security but, if he had it his way, he would pursue music full-time.

P.O.E.T.I.C. is a place that al-

lows him to be a part of a group of like-minded people without the structure of a choir or more focused organization.

“I can let loose and be me instead of pretending to be an IT guy,” Paraan a sophomore said.

For secretary of P.O.E.T.I.C. Shawn Brelvi, the club has been a way to continue the creative writing he accomplished in high school. Poetry is his most frequently used medium but he tries not to put any limitations on what form his art may take.

“I have a passion for helping people do things,” Brelvi said, explaining why he decided to become part of the e-board. The secondary education mathematics major gave a seminar on public speaking to club members, hoping to positively influence their performances.

Brelvi said he believes being in the club will benefit his degree. “In education you’re always talking in front of students and in P.O.E.T.I.C. you’re always giving performances,” Brelvi explained. ”I enjoy sharing my works because I believe what I’m saying needs to be heard.”

Evelyn Peregrin can be reached at evelyn.peregrin@student.shu. edu.

Opinion thesetonian.com

January 19, 2016

Page 11

The Voice Seton Hall neglecting current students with construction

A

s construction continues on campus, not everyone is happy with the order of Seton Hall’s priorities.

The Welcome Center has not been well-received by all. Earlier in the year, The Setonian reported that some students were unhappy that the project took away much-needed parking space.

Now, in this week’s issue, students living in Cabrini have voiced their frustrations as well.

Several residents told The Se-

tonian that the constant noise caused by the construction, which begins early in the morning, has been a problem. Some of those same residents voiced those same complaints to the University.

Seton Hall’s response was that they could go find new living arrangements – a task much easier said than done in the middle of the school year.

How about a compromise, such as pushing back the 7 a.m. start time of construction so that

the floor is not “literally shaking” while students slumber?

No can do, said Seton Hall.

Call us crazy, but an environment that does not allow for sleep does not sound like a “home for the mind, heart and spirit.”

The Setonian understands that construction and projects like the Welcome Center are part of Seton Hall’s future growth – something we all want to see – but the University also has to be considerate of the students already paying

Gary Phillips Editor-in-Chief Tomorrow, Jan. 20, the United States will inaugurate its 45th president.

Many will celebrate when Donald Trump is sworn in, hoping he makes good on his promise to “Make America Great Again.”

Others will protest as a campaign filled with hate and scandal culminates in the White House.

With a front row seat to the festivities, the madness, the circus – whatever you want to call it – will be President Barack Obama.

Politics aside, there is no denying the stark contrast between Trump and the 44th president.

As if a reminder was needed, both displayed their end-of-the-spectrum personas again last week.

Obama, delivering his farewell address on Jan. 10, spoke of hope for the future, of his confidence in the American people. Teary eyed at times, he delivered a message

from Chicago that was par for his usual course: collected, compassionate, intelligent and inclusive.

“This generation coming up – unselfish, altruistic, creative, patriotic – I’ve seen you in every corner of the country,” Obama said, talking to millennials. “You believe in a fair, and just, and inclusive America. You know that constant change has been America’s hallmark; that it’s not something to fear but something to embrace.”

The next day, Trump held his first news conference in roughly six months. It was an unnerving event, as he lacked articulation and information, attacked the media and brushed off conflicts of interest regarding Russia, his business and his administration.

Ask me and Trump showed the actions of a man either hell bent on tyranny or that is simply not all there. Perhaps he is both.

With Trump’s news conference, troubling political appointees and

actions on the campaign trail in mind, I truly wonder how many years it will be until we see the president of the United States make a dignified speech like Obama did in his last one.

Our current president, at least until noon tomorrow, deserves some appreciation as his eight years comes to an end.

A disclaimer: I haven’t agreed with everything Obama has done as president. Still, I am both proud and thankful that he was in office during my college years, my formative political years. He was the first candidate I ever voted for, the first president I tuned into when he was speaking, the first politician that made me want to be more informed about my country and politics and the world beyond my backyard. In the sense that I was paying attention, Obama was my first president.

Maybe you don’t like the decisions he made, but I’d like to think Obama handled himself the right

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tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and board. Seton Hall needs to be reasonable when it comes to the students who are here now.

On that same note, why was construction on a new building started when structures already in place need renovation?

Last week was syllabus week, which meant more than a few reminders that SHU has a disability policy. Meanwhile, not every building on campus is wheelchair accessible – an issue The Setonian

will explore in the coming weeks.

Wouldn’t equal access for all students to every building on campus be a better immediate and future use of Seton Hall’s money?

Again, it’s a matter of priorities.

SHU has made it clear its current students are not among them when it comes to construction.

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

Photo courtesy of Marc Nozell Thursday will be Barack Obama’s last full day as president. way at the very least. He appeared classy and genuine in his love for the people – the embodiment of “presidential.” He did it all during an age where a 24/7 news cycle and social media allowed critics to disrespect him at every turn, no matter how absurd the complaint or accusation. Remember ­when­­ Obama went “crazy” over arugula? Remember the times Trump called for his predecessor’s birth certificate?

Yet, the president never wavered in his belief in the American people.

“I’m asking you to believe,” Obama said at his farewell. “Not in my ability to bring about

change – but in yours.”

I’m not thrilled with a Trump presidency. I know many Americans disagree. I also know there are countless people on the side I consider “fair, and just, and inclusive.” As Obama always has, I will believe in our ability to “bring about change.”

The sitting president has had a tremendous impact, at the very least with me on a personal level.

For that, I sincerely say “Thanks Obama” as we “embrace” the change ahead.

Gary Phillips is a journalism major from Ramsey, N.J. He can be reached at gary.phillips@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @GaryHPhillips.

The Setonian

Gary Phillips

Keaghlan Brady

Editor-in-Chief

Campus Life Copy Editor

Leah Carton

Elizabeth Swinton

Managing Editor

Ashley Turner

News Editor

Brianna Bernath

Sports Editor

Kyle Kasharian

Asst. Sports Editor

Clara Capone

Asst. News Editor

Graphics Editor

Samantha Todd

Joey Khan

News Copy Editor

Julie Trien

Campus Life Editor

Isabel Soisson

Asst. Digital Editor

Nicole Peregrina

Social Media Editor

Greg Medina

Jenna Pearsall

Social Media Editor

Photography & Digital Editor Asst. Photography Editor

Volume 93 Issue 14

Anthony DePalma Faculty Adviser

Page 12

SPORTS

Jan. 19, 2017

THROUGH OUR EYES

Sports Quote of the Week

“I’ll tell you what we need. We need a couple days at home.”

Men’s basketball head coach Kevin Willard after his team’s 0-3 road trip.

Positionless hoops the future of the NBA Kyle Kasharian Asst. Sports Editor It’s easy to see that the NBA landscape is quickly changing.

More and more, teams are disregarding traditional positions.

Lineups are seeing more threeguard sets. Big men are chucking up threes. So called unicorns are demonstrating the skills of floor generals and centers alike.

As positions continue to break down in the NBA, the leading example of this trend resides in Milwaukee.

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is an anomaly; a player whose combination of size, basketball IQ and playstyle has no true comparison.

Antetokounmpo towers at 6-feet, 11-inches in height.With a wingspan four inches longer than that, he is as lengthy as any player could dream.

Hearing just these metrics, one would expect Antetokounmpo to player center, or perhaps power forward, but the “Greek Freak” is the starting point guard of his team.

Photo via NBA.com Giannis Antetokounmpo is the Bucks’ jack of all trades.

Antetokounmpo is putting up a remarkable 23.4 points per game, 8.6 boards, 5.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.1 blocks, which all lead his team.

Players like Antetokounmpo are starting to dot NBA rosters, and although they may not have the same level of versatility and dominance as the 22-year-old, there are some very clear similarities.

These players usually have the height of centers but display the

skills and agility of guards and wings.

Looking toward the New York Knicks, second-year stud Kristaps Porzingis has been a strong paint protector and scorer in the post, yet the 7-foot, 3-inch Latvian is tied for 25th in the league for three-point shots made.

This puts him ahead of seasoned veterans like Kevin Durant and Paul George, who are both lanky, versatile players in their own right, but simply do not have

the same length as Porzingis.

Porzingis is not the first to be doing this, but he is a trailblazer in evaporating the stigma that big men should be limited to the paint.

Bigs are evolving by expanding their range, and as other centers and power forwards such as Marc Gasol, Brook Lopez and Al Horford show their range from deep, the line blurs between centers, forwards and guards.

Not only are centers and power forwards expanding their range, but they are now putting their ball handling abilities on display as well.

Young seven-footers like Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid are in their second and first years, respectively, but are playing unlike most others their size.

The two are showing ball handling, quickness and agility typically exclusive to guards and some forwards. Embiid has even said he wants to be a point guard by the end of his career.

Their ability to handle and shoot the ball makes the differ-

ence between centers and other positions thinner than it has ever been.

This continues to flatten out the diversity among players in the NBA, a trend where players are starting to be grouped less by their position or height, and more by their skill and versatility.

This creates the perfect transition for the league as it approaches a point where lineups may be set by chemistry and skill with less focus on players meeting a certain role of a specific position.

Players will likely not be defined by their position simply because the likes of Antetokounmpo and others have enough athleticism, skill and talent that listing them at a position would not be an accurate way to describe them and their roles.

Although positions will always exist, the next generation of NBA stars is not letting that define their games.

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

Social media posts holding players accountable for actions Elizabeth Swinton Sports Editor Some of the biggest stories of this season’s NFL playoffs have branched from athletes’ posts on social media.

When athletes post the wrong thing, the public will critique it to no end.

The first example of this came when Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. posted a picture on social media of him on Justin Bieber’s yacht in Miami. He was accompanied by teammate Victor Cruz, among others.

Once the picture was posted, the public tore it apart. It was posted on Monday, Jan. 2, the day after the Giants finished the regular season. It was the team’s day off, but with the playoffs to prepare for the following Sunday, not all fans appreciated it.

The post was scrutinized on talk radio shows. Why does Beckham Jr. need to post this? Why isn’t he preparing for the playoffs? Are there drugs on the boat? Why, why, why?

Others concluded that it was their day off, and that the only difference between what Beck-

ham Jr. did that day that stood out from how every other player on the team took their day off was that he posted it and showed it to the world.

He eventually deleted it.

Athletes are allowed to use social media and post about their day off any way they please, but it creates a target for the public to shoot at if that player does not perform in the next game.

That Sunday, the Giants lost to the Packers 38-13 in the Wild Card game. Neither Cruz nor Beckham Jr. had an overly impactful game, and Becham Jr. insisted that there was no way to correlate the boating escapade to the loss.

But people did anyway.

Now, Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has been in the news for using Facebook Live in the locker room after Pittsburgh’s 18-16 playoff win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 15.

Not only did using social media so soon after a game break the team’s and league’s social media policy, but Brown recorded head coach Mike Tomlin’s postgame speech without his consent.

In that speech, Tomlin used an

Photo via Instagram/obj Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz posted this ahead of the playoffs. expletive when talking about the Patriots, the team the Steelers will play on Jan. 22. Tomlin was also caught using other expletives.

This received major backlash and Brown, a figure in the NFL who has not been known to cause trouble, is being ripped apart.

Specifically, Tomlin has publically expressed his disappointment in the matter.

“It’s our desire for him and for

everyone to be great teammates, as well as great players,” Tomlin told the media regarding the incident. “He is a great player. He is a hardworking player. He is respected, largely, in the locker room for those things. But incidences such as this don’t help him in that regard.”

Tomlin took responsibility for his language, and said that Brown will be punished in some form for

his actions.

“He has to grow from this,” Tomlin said. “He has to.”

Brown has since apologized for the live video, stating that his emotion following the win got the best of him.

One of the most upsetting parts of this video that both Tomlin and Brown have expressed is the distraction it has been to the team.

A spot in Super Bowl LI is on the line Sunday, but players have had to field comments all week on a Facebook Live video rather than purely focusing on the game.

The only way Brown will be criticized more is if he doesn’t perform well in the game Sunday. If the Steelers lose, the video will be blamed for the loss.

No matter if the players like it or not, being so warm and comfortable on social media holds them accountable for their play on the field. If Brown drops a ball on Sunday, and does poorly overall, talk shows and fans will still be talking about that video.

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

Jan. 19, 2016

SPORTS

Slow starts plaguing Pirates Matt Ambrose Staff Writer College basketball is a 40-minute game.

From the initial tip to the final buzzer, every play matters when deciding the outcome. Lately, it seems as if the Seton Hall men’s basketball team hasn’t gotten the memo.

It all began during the matchup with Rutgers on Dec. 23. The Hall’s lackluster shooting in the first half resulted in a nine-point deficit at halftime to a defensive-minded but inferior Scarlet Knights team. It took a valiant effort by the Pirates in the second half, raising their shooting percentage by nearly 30 percent from the first half, to mount the comeback and defeat Rutgers by 11 points.

The Pirates have already completed their season series against Marquette, but neither game was pretty. Though the Pirates took the first game of the season series at home in a game that featured a thrilling finish, they played sloppy basketball all afternoon and were outplayed by the Golden Eagles.

Marquette’s shooting ability got them out to a 10-point lead in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Pirates began to right the ship after that, owning an eight-point lead in the second half before an 18-8 Marquette run seemed to put the Pirates away. The Hall was able to come together in the final minute, however, and pull off the miracle 69-66 win.

These slow starts can be attributed to other recent games, especially their last two contests against Prov-

Page 13

Setonian Stats idence and Villanova. These are the two losses that have Pirates fans shaking their heads.

What set these two opponents apart were their pedigrees. The Providence Friars areCapone a team that Graphic by Clara was picked in the preseason to finish ninth in the conference after losing star players Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil to the NBA draft. Then you have Villanova, the reigning National Champions, three-time defending Big East regular season champions and current the No. 1 team in the country.

Against the Friars, the Pirates came out flat, falling behind by 16 points late in the first half. It took yet another comeback attempt in the final minutes to try and escape with a win, but it was not to be as Providence took down the Pirates, 65-61.

Two days later, after coach Kevin Willard laid into his team for an “embarrassing” performance, the Pirates took to the floor against No. 1 Villanova to try and get back on track. Instead, they did just the opposite.

An ugly overall performance highlighted by yet another slow start resulted in a 76-46 defeat. The Wildcats broke it open early with a 21-2 run to take an 18-point lead on the Pirates. Villanova never looked back, and the second half magic that appeared for the Pirates in recent games never materialized.

Villanova began the second half on a 17-3 run and at one point held a 36-point lead. Overall, even against the top team in the country, it was a very concerning performance that began with a very poor start.

JoeyKhan/Photography Editor Desi Rodriguez had a team-high 15 points in the loss to Villanova.

As the Pirates return home, they must learn to play a full 40 minutes. Eliminating slow starts must be the name of the game if the Pirates wish to be competitive in Big East play.

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

HALL ACROSS THE BOARD SCORES OF THE WEEK MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Saturday, Jan. 14

Friday, Jan. 13

Seton Hall

Villanova

52 69

Sunday, Jan. 15

Seton Hall Georgetown

58 77

Seton Hall Providence

Friday, Jan. 13

61 65

Monday, Jan. 16

Seton Hall Villanova

WOMEN’S SWIM AND DIVE

Seton Hall Rider

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

46 77

MEN’S SWIM AND DIVE Friday, Jan. 13

184 110

Seton Hall Rider

142 152

TWEET OF THE WEEK

What’s 1/19 ON DECK Thursday Home

Away

1/20 Friday

1/21 Saturday

Sunday

St. John’s 12 p.m.

Swim and Dive Marist 1 p.m.

Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball

1/22

Providence 7 p.m.

Creighton 11 a.m.

Connecticut 12 p.m.

1/23 Monday

1/24 Tuesday

1/25

Wednesday

Butler 8:30 p.m.

Joey Khan/Photography and Digital Edtior Angel Delgado (31) secured his 11th straight double-double on Friday, Jan. 13 against Providence College. This streak surpasses the school record previously held by former Pirate Eddie Griffen who posted 10 consecutive double-doubles in 2001.

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

SPORTS

Page 14

Jan. 19, 2016

Young swimmers surge Pirates to success Tyler Calvaruso Staff Writer

The 2016-2017 season has served as a youth movement for the Seton Hall swimming and diving teams.

With 10 freshmen joining the program on the women’s team and eight on the men’s side, a large majority of the swimmers on the team are underclassmen.

Youth could potentially lead to some growing pains and inconsistency throughout the course of the year, but head coach Ron Farina is happy with where his team is at this point in the season.

“We started out really strong and we’ve been able to maintain that consistency,” Farina said. “It takes a lot of hard work and I feel that they’ve been very consistent.”

Farina, who took home Big East coach of the year honors after the 2015-2016 season, said that he has not had a team with this much youth on it in his 17 years in charge of the Seton Hall swimming and diving program.

Coach Farina also spoke to the importance of recruiting, especially with a freshmen class this large, and their impact in the pool as spoke volumes of their ability to find young talent.

With 18 freshmen joining the program, Farina had to do a lot of recruiting leading up to the year.

In order to maintain success, Farina targeted a certain type of swimmer to join the Seton Hall family.

“A lot of it is versatility, a lot of it is clubs and different programs that they come from,” Farina said. “We get a good portion of kids that know kids on our team.

They’ve either swam with each other or swam against each other, so they know the rigors of being a Division I athlete.”

Not to be lost in all of the youth is the fact that many accomplished swimmers returned to the team, most notably reigning Big East swimmer of the year Noah Yanchulis, junior captain Cody Wimmer and junior Sydney Simpson.

Yanchulis, Wimmer and Simpson, along with other upperclassmen on the team, played a role in helping the incoming freshmen adjust to the college game.

“As a captain, I feel that the development has been that we are setting a precedent for what the future of the team may be,” Wimmer said. “As not just a captain, but as an upperclassman, usually the upperclassmen guide the freshmen and show them this is how the team acts, this is the way we conduct ourselves.”

For Wimmer, it’s been not just helping them adjust in the pool, but out of it as well.

“We always have an open door

to our house off campus.” Wimmer said. “They always have a place to come to talk, hang out, ask questions because sometimes being away from home for the first time is scary, so we want to give them an experience where it’s not quite as intimidating.”

Coming off a successful sophomore year, Yanchulis has provided the underclassmen with some tips and has had a message for them.

“Staying positive is the one thing I preach the most,” Yanchulis said. “People can get down about a bad race or a bad practice and not every day is going to be perfect, so that’s my big thing – telling everyone to stay positive and keep their head up.”

With 40 percent of the women’s team being composed of freshmen, there could have been the potential for the team not to mesh right away. According to Simpson, that was not the case.

“We’ve all mingled together and it hasn’t been a problem coming together as a team.” she said.

Farina has noted the leadership roles that Wimmer, Yanchulis, and Simpson have assumed and he credits them, along with the other upperclassmen, for the smooth transition that the freshmen have had in their time here.

“I think they’ve helped with showing them the ropes, so to speak.” Farina said. “I think the upperclassmen have brought them along and the kids know that they have support from the staff, their teammates, and the administration, and that makes the transition a whole lot easier.”

With the men’s team currently at 9-2 and the women’s team sitting at 7-6, the underclassmen and upperclassmen have put together what has been a good season to this point. Farina has been pleased with the contributions he has gotten from both sides so far.

“I’m very happy with the attitude and effort that they’ve been putting in,” Farina said.

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

Photos via SHU Athletics The SHU swim team (top) was excited to be back in the pool after Winter recess. Sarah Ouellette (bottom) led the Hall with three wins in the 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke and 200 IM.

SHU commits honored as McDonald’s All-American nominees

Photos via SHU Athletics Seton Hall basketball’s class of 2017 consists of three McDonald’s All-American nominees.

Representing the men’s side is Delaware guard Myles Cale (bottom). From the women’s team is Kimi Evans (top left) and Selena Philoxy (top right). Evans is a native of Homdel, N.J. while Philoxy hails from Brooklyn, N.Y.

Jan. 19, 2017

SPORTS

Page 15

Desi Rodriguez heating up in Big East play Elizabeth Swinton Staff Writer Desi Rodriguez is using Big East play to get into his shooting groove.

After averaging 14.3 points per game in non-conference play this season, the junior forward has jumped to an average of 21.0 points per game in Big East action.

Once conference play hit, Rodriguez became the familiar scoring weapon that Seton Hall fans love, a threat from beyond the arc and a harmer of the hoop.

After a slow start from three this season, Rodriguez has heated up during conference play.

“Coach told me I shot the best of the three-point percentage last year. Coach is telling me that I’m not finding my shot the way I was last year,” Rodriguez said following a 81-68 win over Delaware on Dec. 17. “He said I wasn’t stepping into my shot, was releasing it too quick, so in practice, that’s what I’ve been doing, stepping into my shot, and I’ve been knocking them down in practice.”

Rodriguez has dropped 3.8

three-pointers per game in Big East play, which is a stark increase from his conference average of 0.8 threes per game last season.

He’s also shooting 53.5 percent from beyond the arc, up from his 35 percent shooting from three in-conference last year.

Last week, the junior posted a career-high 30 points against Marquette on Jan. 11 and a teamhigh 20 points against Providence on Jan. 14. For those performances, on Jan. 16, Rodriguez received a nod on the Big East Weekly Honor Roll, leading the league in points per game with 25. He also was named Big East Player of the Week following a 25-point game in which Rodriguez was perfect from the field in the first half and had five threes.

Kevin Willard knows when Rodriguez is feeling his shot.

“He got two post-ups, and that really got him going. In some games in the past, he has missed a three to start,” Willard said after a Jan. 7, 87-56 win over DePaul, Rodriguez’s 25-point performance. “I think the two easy looks Angel [Delgado] gave to him on the post-up kind of real-

ly got his motor going. When he sees one goes in, he starts firing. I thought he played tremendously. I also thought he played very good defensively.”

Rodriguez has been active on defense this season, ranking seventh in the Big East in total steals with 18, tied with fellow teammate Madison Jones.

Unfortunately for the team, Rodriguez’s increased production has been spearheaded by the team’s busy schedule. Players such as Khadeen Carrington have taken dips in their scoring averages, and a combination of this with the team’s travel has led to a 2-4 record for Seton Hall in conference play.

As the team struggles to get consistent contribution from multiple players, Willard has said he knows the team will show fight again since they are home after a threegame road trip. Even in a 76-46 beating against No. 1 Villanova, Rodriguez was able to contribute, leading the team with 15 points, contributing three treys.

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

Joey Khan/Photography and Digital Editor Desi Rodriguez has averaged 21 points per game in Big East play.

Coming home: Continued from Page 16 squad in the Big East, and a win at the Prudential Center would be a statement game for his young squad.

The Pirates will be ready when

the teams tip off on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 12 p.m. in Newark.

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

Joey Khan/Photography and Digital Editor Mike Nzei in the paint against Villanova.

Sports

thesetonian.com @SetonianSports

Youth propels swim & dive Page 14 January 19, 2017

Page 16

Willard, team eager to be home after tough road trip Kyle Kasharian Asst. Sports Editor

After one of the toughest road trips in college basketball this season, the Seton Hall Pirates will finally return home after playing three games in six days on the move.

In addition to falling to a strong Marquette team and a scrappy DePaul squad, the Pirates were defeated in their third and final contest to top-ranked Villanova in a convincing defeat.

After the loss to Villanova, head coach Kevin Willard focused on the pleasure of returning home and practicing in South Orange, N.J. “I’ll tell you what we need. We need a couple days at home,” Willard said. “Where we can get some practice and we can get some rest.”

Willard compared this road trip to an NBA team’s schedule, but he wants to put the trip behind the team and convey a positive outlook with the chance to practice at home again.

“We just feel like we’ve been living in a hotel for all season long with our travels,” Willard noted.

“Every time we’ve gone home we’ve had good practices.”

A good practice might be just what the Pirates need to get them

back on track as the Hall preps to play three of its next six at home.

“It’s a big stretch,” Willard said. “We’re in pretty good shape.

That’s what I told the team.”

Leading off the slate will be a St. John’s team led by head coach Chris Mullin.

The Johnnies are one game up on Seton Hall in conference play, boasting a 3-4 record with an impressive win over No. 13 Butler.

St. John’s also took on Villanova not long before the Hall did, losing by 13 points. Willard remains assured that his team will be ready come Sunday.

“I have total confidence in my guys that we’ll bounce back and be able to play,” Willard said.

It’s been a while since the Pirates were well-rested, and this St. John’s team is not one to overlook.

The team gave Seton Hall a scare on Feb. 21 last year at Madison Square Garden when St. John’s hosted the Pirates, as the Hall secured just a one-point victory.

New faces have been added to the roster and two of them have formed a dynamic guard combo that could give Seton Hall some trouble.

While the Pirates are powered by the veteran trio of Khadeen Carrington, Desi Rodriguez and

Angel Delgado, it is the guard pair of Marcus LoVett and Shamorie Ponds who spark the Johnnies.

The freshman duo lead the team in scoring, as Ponds averages 17.1 points per game and LoVett contributes a healthy 16.4 points per contest.

In Mullin’s second year coaching, he is looking to establish St. John’s as an up-and-coming

See Coming Home, Page 15

Joey Khan/Photography and Digital Editor Seton Hall is undefeated at home with a 7-0 record.

Women’s basketball keeping up morale over six-game skid Matt Lamb Staff Writer Making three straight NCAA Tournament appearances is not an easy task. Now, more than ever, that feat seems increasingly unlikely for the Seton Hall women’s basketball team.

After all that Tabatha Richardson-Smith did during her time at Seton Hall, as well as the contributions of transfers Aleesha Powell and Shakena Richardson last season, and the duo of Daisha and Ka-Diedre Simmons the year before that, head coach Tony Bozzella brought in a large recruiting class this season; not only in size, but in talent as well.

Throughout the first third of Big East conference play, it is becoming apparent that losing key pieces is hurting the Hall. The Pirates have now lost six straight games and six of their first seven in conference play, boasting a re-

cord under .500 for the first time since 2013.

While there have been issues that the Pirates have found hard to correct as of late, confidence and positivity are not among them.

Bozzella has been able to keep his girls moving one game at a time, and while sometimes difficult, he has them playing with toughness and intensity despite losing. That tenacity keeps him content with his team’s effort.

“We need to play with the confidence and intensity to win, which is most important,” Bozzella said after the 83-77 loss to Marquette on Jan. 10.

The Pirates were down as much as 23 in the third quarter, and cut the deficit to as little as three in the final few minutes of play, but could not make the final push.

The second half of the battle showed Bozzella a much different side of the team.

“We maintained our competi-

tiveness throughout but the biggest difference was that in the first half we played hard to play with them, but in the second half we played hard to try and beat them,” he said. “And that’s what you get with such a young team.”

The losing skid however, has not been kind to Seton Hall. Suffering defeats by an average of 17 points, many players have had their ups and downs throughout the month. Some, such as Claire Lundberg, have experienced peaks and valleys, but have held their heads high during it all.

“We need to build off of the confidence we play with, and if we can keep it rolling then we can try to get a good stretch from it,” Lundberg said after the Marquette loss.

The Pirates will not have it easy over the next month of play, but they have a chance to grab their first win in the new calendar year against Providence on Friday, Jan.

Joey Khan/Photography and Digital Editor Tony Bozzella’s team has won just one conference game.

20. Losing has not taken away all of the Pirates’ morale, but a win would certainly help it.

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