The Setonian - Volume 93, Issue 22 - 03/30/2017

In News, Pages 3 Volume 93, Issue 22

www.thesetonian.com

March 30, 2017

New SGA Executive Board eyeing the future Simon plans on tackling issues with graduation, campus food and parking Isabel Soisson Asst. Digital Editor

Cardinal Tobin participates in Q&A In News, Page 5

Ceremony honors importance of black women In Campus Life, Page 9

Christina Simon, sophomore English major and current secretary of the Student Government Association (SGA), was elected president of the organization on Mar. 29, after a highly contested campaign season.

Simon received 54.16 percent of the total vote, Adrian Orozco received 27.63 percent, Brooke Crawford received 7.88 percent, and the remaining votes went to Billy Toney, who was ultimately disqualified, according to Maggie Bach, assistant dean of Leadership Development.

Simon, who has been involved with SGA since she was a freshman, shared her thoughts via email on what she thinks contributed to her win.

“We owe a lot of our success to the outgoing senators who mentored us and molded us into the strong, compassionate leaders that we are,” Simon said. “I think that our experience and dedication shone through during the campaign, and I am honored that the student body trusts us to lead their Senate of student body representatives.”

Simon also went on to describe how she and her administration intend to serve the SHU community.

“The interest of the student body

In Sports, Page 15

has motivated me throughout my years as an SGA representative, and it will continue to motivate my team during our term,” Simon said. “My team and I will be fully committed to the student body during our term.”

Some things that Simon intends on implementing as student body president include a parking app that will allow students to see where there are empty parking spaces on campus, se-

curing a seat on the graduation committee and improving the overall food quality on campus.

Simon is ecstatic about her win, saying that she would like to thank the SHU student body for coming out to vote. This year had the biggest voter turnout with 1604 voters in recent SGA election history, she added.

She went on to describe the kind of leader she intends on being.

“I take pride in being a compassionate leader who empowers others and motivates them to work towards our common goal: to serve the student body,” Simon said.

SGA’s vice president-elect, Violet Reed, sophomore English major, also shared her thoughts on her win via email.

See Simon-Reed, Page 2

Faculty and staff react to first woman interim president Ashley Turner News Editor

Sheppard strives for success

Photo courtesy of Christina Simon The Simon-Reed ticket emerged victorious from the 2017 SGA elections. The ticket consists of (from left to right) Josie Martinez, Violet Reed, Christina Simon and Michael Roma.

Since being named interim president on March 23, Dr. Mary Meehan–who will become the University’s first female president–has received many “welcome” and “best of luck” messages.

Outgoing President Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban said that Meehan, “is a strong and talented executive who knows this University well and is prepared to lead on day one.” Her term officially begins on April 11.

Meehan is a respected higher-education and healthcare leader, a former University administrator and an alumna, class of 1972. She is also quickly becoming a feminine role model.

Some female faculty members say they are encouraged by her appointment.

Dr. Joyce Strawser, dean of the Stillman School of Business, said in an email that she believes the appointment of the University’s first female president is historic.

Most previous Seton Hall presidents have been priests, and all have been men.

“In fact, the alumni and other stakeholders with whom I’ve talked have been very excited by and supportive of this appointment and clearly recognize its significance,” Strawser said.

She added that she believes that the appointment of Meehan is “just one in a number of steps that the University is taking to

advance women.” She added that the appointment of Dr. Karen Boroff to the position of Interim Provost is also historic because she is SHU’s first female Provost.

“The appointment sends a very positive signal to all women in our community, especially our female students, who represent a majority of our student population,” Strawser said. “The recognition and elevation of talented women is a strong motivator for others who aspire to leadership roles.”

According to CollegeFactual. com, 57.7 percent of Seton Hall’s student community is female.

Dr. Maureen Gillette, the dean of the College of Education and Human Services, said in an email the college is proud to have one of

its “outstanding alumna” serve as interim president.

Meehan earned a bachelor’s degree from the University in sociology in 1972, a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the school in 1974, and a PhD in education in 2001, according to NJ.com.

Gillette said it is wonderful to see a female named interim president, but it is not unusual for her to see a woman assume the presidency of a university. The last institution Gillette worked at, Northeastern Illinois University, had a female president while she worked there.

See Meehan, Page 2

Page 2

NEWS

Simon-Reed: Continued from Page 1

Photo via Facebook/@SimonReed17 Outgoing President Teagan Sebba said Simon’s work ethic has helped her succeed as a member of SGA. “I am thrilled and honored,” Reed said. “I loved being an ad hoc…but I’m also excited to contribute to SGA from a different position.”

Reed stated that she intends to serve the SHU student body by addressing its needs. She said that while that may be something that many have heard over the past few weeks, in this case, it is true.

“The Simon-Reed platform was crafted from actual feedback we received from students, so generally I will be working with my team to do our best to follow through with our platform ideas,” Reed said.

Reed also shared that as vice president, she would like to focus on increasing campus sustainability, so for the duration of her term, she will be looking into ways to do that.

Michael Roma, sophomore finance, economics and diplomacy major, shared via email why he feels he is qualified to take on the position of SGA treasurer.

“I ran for treasurer after having gained two years of experience on the Finance Committee, as well as serving as assistant treasurer for the past semester,” Roma said.

“I believe that my experience has given me insight into how SGA works to fund clubs and organizations, as well as helped me identify areas where I believe I can add value.”

Roma added that as treasurer, he intends to appeal on both SGA and SAB’s (Student Activities Board) behalf for their budgets to be increased, so the two organizations can better serve SHU’s growing campus.

Josie Martinez, freshman polit-

ical science major and secretaryelect, shared her thoughts on her win as well in an email interview.

“I’m really excited to have been elected by the student body to serve as secretary!” Martinez said.

“I am really looking forward to working with the new e-board and senate to accomplish our initiatives and serve the students.”

Martinez then explained some of what she hopes to do as secretary of SGA. “One of my plans as secretary is to create councils between similar clubs on campus,” Martinez said.

“These councils will increase the collaborations between clubs and make the SHU community stronger and more united.”

Martinez also shared that she intends to create more opportunities for students to strengthen their leadership skills through workshops held on campus.

A few students offered their thoughts on why they voted the way they did in this election.

Emma Tobin, freshman diplomacy and international relations major, said that she voted for the entire Simon-Reed ticket.

“I felt they were the most qualified candidates with real plans and realistic expectations for what they could achieve,” Tobin said.

Tobin said that she hopes that the Simon-Reed administration continues to advocate for student’s rights and be a voice for the SHU student body.

Kevin Lagarenne, senior accounting major, also shared why he voted for the Simon-Reed administration.

“I attended the Meet the Candidates on March 15, spoke with many people campaigning for

all positions, and interacted with supporters of every party as well,” Lagarenne said. “The most qualified in background, consistent in political stances, and noticeable in marketing was the Simon-Reed ticket.”

Lagarenne said that even though he will be an alumni of Seton Hall come May, he hopes that the Simon-Reed administration can grow the SHU community that the Teagan Sebba administration strived to achieve.

Allegra Berg, sophomore diplomacy and international relations major, said that she voted mostly for the reform party, who had Adrian Orozco running for president.

“I voted for the reform party generally because we shared similar views and I found it easier to go talk to them to suggest ideas,” Berg said.

Bach added her input on how she feels about the Simon-Reed ticket sweeping the election.

“Christina is a passionate and professional leader that has experience listening to the student voice and taking action to achieve change,” Bach said via email.

“Everyone that was elected is qualified to lead the senate and continue the hard work put in by Teagan’s administration.”

Sebba, the current SGA president, expressed her excitement over Simon being her successor.

“I am so excited for Christina’s win because I know how special it feels to win this election for her and because I’m also excited for the student body to experience her leadership,” Sebba said via email. “I first met Christina when she was a freshman and she trekked into downtown South Orange to volunteer at SGA’s table during South Orange Play Day – she was not even in SGA at the time she just volunteered to be there.”

Sebba said that from that point on, Simon’s passion and work ethic helped her continue to succeed as a member of SGA. Sebba then went on to comment on what the student body can expect from the Simon-Reed administration.

“The student body can expect a whole lot of heart, passionate leadership and hard work that is backed by experience from Christina Simon’s administration,” Sebba said. “Christina has a unique relationship with high level administrators, she has a whole year of executive board experience under her belt and she has the creativity and passion that can take SGA leadership to new heights.”

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

March 30, 2017

Meehan:

Continued from Page 1 “One of the things that attracted me to Seton Hall was the fact that there were so many female deans here,” Gillette said. “I appreciate having Dr. Meehan and Dr. Boroff in leadership roles and I appreciate having six other female deans as colleagues.”

Gillette said that as a female administrator, she finds all of her dean colleagues, female and male, “supportive and collegial.”

Dr. Joan Guetti, senior associate provost, said in an email that “seven of 12 deans, our Provost and some of our vice presidents are females. I would like to think that the University recognizes talent and leadership ability regardless of gender.”

Dr. Bonita Stanton, founding dean of the School of Medicine, agreed with Guetti.

“Gender is not in itself the critical element; competence, experience, warmth, inspiration and humility are the attributes in which I am interested in finding

in a university’s leader,” Stanton said in an email. “From everything that I have heard about Dr. Meehan and based on my brief email correspondence with her, she is exceptional in all of these regards.”

Stanton also said that the high number of female deans at the University was noteworthy and that, “Seton Hall has already firmly established itself as a university that hires the most qualified individual, regardless of gender.”

Guetti said that she knows Meehan from her previous tenure at the University.

Guetti said that she met Meehan when they were both speaking at a Bring Your Daughter to Work Day luncheon. She said that Meehan gave a “wonderful reflection” on the life and challenges faced by Elizabeth Ann Seton.

“It made a lasting impression on me,” Guetti said. “I believe that she is a person of great faith.

I also recall that she has an important trait for anyone serving in administration – a good sense of humor.”

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

Photo via shu.edu Dr. Mary Meehan graduated from Seton Hall in 1972.

Visit us at www.TheSetonian.com!

March 30, 2017

NEWS

Page 3

Meet the 2017-2018 SGA Executive Board “My name is Christina Simon, I am a sophomore English/Psychology major, and I am honored to serve you as Student Body President! I joined SGA during my freshman year when I was appointed as a freshman senator. I initially became involved with SGA’s public relations committee, assisting with SGA social media and printing flyers for events. Afterwards, I was lucky enough to run as Secretary on Teagan Sebba’s re-election ticket. As Secretary, I chaired the SOAC committee and created 15 new clubs on campus, empowering student organizations and contributing to campus diversity. As my term as Secretary came to a close, I decided that I wanted to have a role in SGA which would allow me to serve the student body as a whole, enhancing students’ lives on campus and off campus. I wanted to work with administration and the students alike in order to ensure that student voice is heard and that action is being taken to met student needs in a timely manner. I believed that, with my e-board experience and dedication to the student body, I would best serve our community as SGA President.

These connections will put my team and I in a good place as we begin to discuss the implementation of a parking app on campus, the improvement of a GDS texting service, the improvement of student-administration communication and more.

My team and I can’t wait to get to work!”

“My name is Violet Reed, and I’m currently a sophomore studying primarily English, but also Anthropology. I ran for SGA eboard because I felt it was a logical step for me as I grow within this organization, because I knew this position would grant me more access to administration, to help voice student concerns, and because Christina Simon was gracious enough to ask me! I know I’ll be great in this position because I’m not in it for the title, or the power. Yes, I do get butterflies thinking about being VP, but I’m even more excited about applying my leadership, organizational, and communication skills to work to exact results that will make Seton Hall what the students want. My work with SGA in the past has shown me that there’s nothing quite like the feeling of accomplishing something for the student body, and I’ll be chasing that feeling over the course of my term! While I’m excited to work with my fellow eboard members to implement the main tenets of our platform, like improved food services and a solution to our parking problem, I can’t wait to work on my personal initiative of making SHU a more sustainable campus, by working on ways to reduce our carbon footprint as environmental concerns are important to me! Of course, I will work on this initiative as long as students agree it is something I should be directing my energy toward.”

“Hello Pirates! My name is Michael Roma, and I’m a Finance, Economics, and Diplomacy major, as well as a member of the Honors Program. I ran for Treasurer after having gained two years of experience on Finance Committee, as well as a serving as Assistant Treasurer for the past semester. I believe that my experience has given me insight into how SGA works to fund clubs and organizations, as well as helped me identify areas where I believe I can add value. I’m particularly excited to appeal on SGA and SAB’s behalf for budgets to be increased; so that our two organizations can better serve our growing campus.”

I’m Josie Martinez and I’m a freshman political science major.

I’m really excited to have been elected with my whole ticket and I’m looking forward to working with the new senators.

I was an adhoc during the first semester then I was appointed as an Arts and Sciences Senator along with Sara Johnson.

I worked on different initiatives such as increasing voter turnout through TurboVote with President Teagan Sebba. I ran for this position because I want to help my new community at Seton Hall and I can make a difference because I am passionate and dedicated to serving the students here. “

President

Christina Simon

Treasurer

Michael Roma

Vice President

Violet Reed

Secretary

Josie Martinez

Page 4

NEWS

Crime Log March 23 Incident: Public Safety and the South Orange Police Department (SOPD) responded to a residence hall on a complaint of loud music. SOPD issued a noise complaint violation to the resident.

March 26 Incident: Graffiti was found in the Parking Deck elevator.

March 28 Incident: Graffiti was found in the Walsh Library third floor bathroom.

Upcoming Events What: Teaching Citizenship When: Monday, April 10, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Faculty Lounge The Details: The Center for Faculty Development will host this panel of professors from the School of Diplomacy and International Relations and the College of Arts and Sciences, who will discuss how they educate not only students but future citizens.

Cost: Free For more information, contact Mary Balkun at (973) 275-2916 or mary. balkun@shu.edu.

What: Sixth Annual Servant Leadership Day When: Thursday, April 20, 4:15-5:15 p.m.

Where: Chancellor’s Suite, University Center The Details: Sponsored by the Center for for Vocation and Servant Leadership, this event was made possible by Colleen and Hank D’Alessandro, Regent. Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk will be giving a talk on “Saint Teresa of Calcutta: Model of Servant Leadership.

Cost: Free For more information, contact Laura Garofalo or Francia Peterson at csl@shu.edu or (973) 313-6042.

What: Business Boot Camp When: Tuesday, May 16, 9 a.m.-Friday, May 19, 5 p.m.

Where: Seton Hall University The Details: The College of Arts and Sciences will host its first ever Business Boot Camp for upperclassmen in the college to build their portfolios. The first three days of the conference will be workshop-style, and the program will culminate in a field experience on the fourth day. Each day will begin with a continental breakfast in the Dean’s Conference Room. Room and board will be provided to all accepted students.

Applications are due Friday, March 31. A certificate will be granted at the completion of the program.

Cost: Free For more information, contact Associate Dean Christopher Kaiser at (973) 761-9430 or christopher.kaiser@shu.edu, or stop by Fahy Hall, Room 130.

March 30, 2017

SHU still lacks working feminine product dispensers Emily Betz Staff Writer Seton Hall continues to have no working feminine hygiene product dispensers on campus in any bathroom.

In 2012, Seton Hall administration made the decision to no longer provide pad or tampon dispensaries for feminine hygiene products in the women’s bathrooms on campus, as reported in a previous article by The Setonian.

Michelle Pan, the Student Life Committee chair of the Student Government Association (SGA) and At-Large Senator-elect and a sophomore double majoring in psychology and economics, said in an email interview that the SHU administration had taken down the dispensers because they were hardly used and people were finding ways to break into them.

“I expressed my concern, saying that it was extremely inconvenient for girls who happen to get their menstrual cycle during class, because they would have to walk all the way to the bookstore.” Pan said she plans to address the issue by starting an initiative in Student Life to see why Student Services isn’t doing anything about the issue.

Greg Medina/Asst. Photography Editor On-campus bathrooms remain devoid of feminine hygiene products, even after Senator Pan expressed concern.

On June 21, 2016, New York City lawmakers passed legislation to require public schools, shelters and jails to provide free feminine hygiene products, such as tampons and pads, according to The Washington Post. Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, New York City council member, was quoted in The Washington Post saying that feminine hygiene products are “as necessary as toilet paper.”

Many other states have taken steps in that direction as well.

USA Today reported that dozens of colleges across the country

have begun initiating programs as female students push to require access to free feminine hygiene products. Some of the colleges pushing for this include Columbia University, the University of Arizona and the University of Minnesota.

A survey conducted by Harris Interactive, a market research firm, found that 79 percent of women said they had started their periods in public without the needed supplies; furthering the importance of pad and tampon dispensaries.

For some Seton Hall women, the lack of dispensers is a problem.

Kelley Trinidad, a freshman finance major, said, “I think that at the very least tampons and pads should be available in the bathrooms. Going to the bookstore every time you need one is an unnecessary burden for something that is uncontrollable and often unexpected.”

Another student, Rebecca Wasserman, a junior English major, said, “I’ve had to ask other girls in the bathroom before for a pad or a tampon.”

She added, “I feel like it is weird, at this point it is just expected when I walk into a bathroom that there will be a dispenser there.” However, this poses a problem when SHU does not have dispensaries.

Zuleima Montesinos, a freshman nursing major, said she thinks SHU bathrooms should have dispensaries. Then women wouldn’t have to worry about not having a pad or tampon in an emergency. “Some girls don’t live on campus so they can’t go to their dorm to get that (feminine hygiene) product,” she said.

Emily Betz can be reached at emily.betz@student.shu.edu.

SGA Updates Isabel Soisson Asst. Digital Editor Assitant Dean and Advisor Maggie Bach opened the meeting by stating that the Student Leadership Conference is on Saturday April 1 and all elected SGA officials must register and attend.

President Teagan Sebba began her last president’s report by summarizing her time serving as SGA president in a rap and thanked the people who have helped her along the way.

Treasurer Alyssa Potenzone reported that the co-sponsorship fund is at $2,341, the spring-finance committee fund is at $3,181 and the operational fund is at $3,045.

The GDS philantrophic fund is at $5,745. She also summarized the budget policy.

Speaker Elianni De La Cruz asked the senate to be authentic and to not spread falsehoods, especially when one is speaking at a club’s meeting.

The Student Life Committee reported that senators Josie Martinez and Marlene Da Cruz, met with the dean of Arts and Sciences about expired chemicals and advisor issues.

The Committee also said that hooks were installed in the bathroom stalls of Jubilee Hall.

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

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*Items Include: Burgers, Veggie Burgers, Chicken Sandwiches, Hot Dogs, and Grilled Cheese, OR Free Regular Fries!

March 30, 2017

NEWS

Page 5

Cardinal Tobin attends Mass on campus Benjamin Jaros Staff Writer

The newly-appointed Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, attended Mass in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception on March 23.

The Mass was followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and a Q&A session in Jubilee Hall’s fourth floor Atrium.

Jason Dudziak, a St. Paul’s Outreach missionary, asked the first question. “As a Cardinal, and with your experience as a priest, would you share with us one of your favorite experiences of your priesthood?”

Tobin answered by speaking about how his 20 years in Rome helped him better understand the mystery of the Cross.

Anthony Takarz, a freshman diplomacy and economics major, asked Tobin about diversity in the Archdiocese of Newark. “In your New York Times profile, you have a quote about how you are excited to be Archbishop of a diocese that celebrates Mass in over 20 different languages,” Takarz said. “Do you see in any of this a threat to Catholic unity?”

Tobin replied, “I think one of the wonderful things about being a Catholic is the responsibility to prolong the double miracle of

Photo via IndianaCatholic/YouTube Cardinal Joseph Tobin spent 20 years in Rome.

Pentecost.” He added, “The first miracle is obvious: Parthians, Medes, Cretans and people from Rome all heard the Word of God in their own language.” Tobin explained that the people’s hearts were moved and in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles it is written that on that day 3,000 people accepted Baptism.

On discussing the second miracle, Tobin said those people “did not all become kind of oatmeal or porridge.” Instead, the people “discovered a principle that united them, without having to sacrifice anything that they were.” He said, “That principle of course is the Holy Spirit. It does not destroy culture. It goes through it.”

From this principle of the Holy Spirit, Tobin points out “there is a

strong message in that for us today because there are forces that will drive us apart. Outside the Church and inside the Church too.”

Returning to the U.S. after 20 years in Rome, people asked him, “What changed?” He responded, “that polarization (between political parties) at times enters the Church uncritically. This is a very dangerous and I would argue, un-Christian way of thinking.”

He continued that being Christian “is our primary source of identity” and “there is nothing that comes between our relationship with God.” He concluded his thoughts on the current polarization by saying, “We can protect ourselves from getting sucked in uncritically into

polarizing forces of the United States by remembering that we are Christian,” and that “our unity is finally a sign to the world that not only that we do believe in God, but that God sent Jesus. His Son. So the stakes are high.”

Dave Miller, a junior sports management and Catholic studies major, asked Tobin about Christian identity. “Could you say just a little bit about what you think is important for young people here especially in the Church to hear today, amidst so much confusion about what it means to be a Christian?,” he said.

“What is most important is to not get isolated,” Tobin responded. He said not to let “anybody isolate you from your Church and from your fellow Christians.”

He continued, “I am not dissing Facebook, but I do think that we need flesh and blood, not just a virtual sense of community.”

He said to be strong and support each other. Therefore, “Because there are a lot of forces that tell us that being a committed Catholic Christian makes you a little odd or behind the times or whatever.

We are not. We are the body of Christ. And you belong with each other.”

One student, Vickie Elter, a sophomore accounting major, asked Tobin to share the story of how he entered the priesthood.

“I think answering a vocation to priesthood is a bit like falling in love,” Tobin said. “ You fall in love for some reasons, but you stay in love for others.” He added, “I think in any vocation whether it’s to priesthood, religious life, married life, or committed single life, it is answering a call. A call that we first answered in our baptism when God called us out of darkness into His own wonderful light.”

Tobin also responded to a question about what his relationship would be to Seton Hall.

Tobin began by saying, “one of the nicest surprises I had in coming here” was discovering that Seton Hall and the Archdiocese of Newark are “connected at the hip.” He continued that, “Being around any university puts you in touch with incredible resources.

Human resources in the students, the faculty and the administrators. All the sort of intellectual stimulation that you get from a university. And so, I believe that this University can be and has been a real source of life and energy for the Church here.”

He continued, “Here is a perfect place to prolong that double miracle (of Pentecost). To be able to speak of Christ in way that people will understand.”

Benjamin Jaros can be reached at benjamin.jaros@student.shu.edu.

Students await budget cuts, fear losing grants Siobhan McGirl Staff Writer Demetrius Terry was your average high school student. Shy as a freshman until he could feel out the waters. Terry ran track, but was cut from the baseball team.

Being cut from the team didn’t stop him though – the coach granted him permission to exercise with the team and so that is where Terry spent his time after class. He even worked part-time at the pinnacle of high school retail stores – Hollister & Co. He grew up in Jersey City, comes from a low-income family, and had to fight to be at SHU after he was waitlisted.

Terry, a current senior sociology major, eventually got removed from the waitlist and was granted the opportunity to come to SHU because of the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG). This is a grant similar to the Federal Pell Grant, but it’s not an entitlement. Every school has an allotment from the government to give to needier students on campus. Terry is not alone in receiving this grant at Se-

ton Hall. There are 100 students who receive SEOG at SHU, according to Alyssa McCloud, vice president of Enrollment Management. However, in President Donald J. Trump’s proposed budget, this grant would be cut.

On March 16, President Trump released his “America First” budget proposal. Among the budget cuts, Trump proposed slashes in education funding. On page 18 it is written clearly that the budget, “Eliminates the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, a less well-targeted way to deliver need-based aid than the Pell Grant program, to reduce complexity in financial student aid and save $732 million from the 2017 annualized CR level.”

“Everything that Trump is proposing in his budget is just that—a proposal,” McCloud said. “Every president who has come before Trump proposes a budget—it’s a wish list. It is very unlikely that everything he is proposing will go through to the extent that he is asking.”

However, McCloud cautions that it is important students un-

derstand what is being proposed, discussed and possibly cut. Here at SHU the SEOG usually goes to students like Terry who take part in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) on campus.

According to the Seton Hall website, “EOP provides financial assistance and educational support to students who have the potential to perform college work, but who might not qualify for acceptance through regular admissions procedures.”

EOP is what got Terry moved from the wait list to the accepted list, he said. Not only does EOP provide financial support usually through the SEOG, but it also provides family support.

Terry describes it as the best of both worlds. “You get money and support,” Terry said. “I have been through a lot with my own family life, but EOP became a family for me. Always there when I needed them.”

However, the financial support provided to students like Terry could dissipate. The SEOG at SHU is usually about $4,000 a student and about 100 students receive these grants - materializ-

ing to about $400,000 that Seton Hall would be losing to help students in need attend the university, McCloud said.

Terry benefits from loans, grants and private scholarships, in addition to SEOG. However, Terry said for him it meant so much more. “It meant hope,” he said, “And losing the grant would be hurting families.”

Shaygne Rodriguez, a senior social and behavioral sciences major, is in EOP with Terry and also benefits from the SEOG. “I think Trump’s decision to cut these grants will ruin the dreams of millions of financially disadvantaged students who have dreams of a better future, but will not have means to achieve it,” Rodriguez said in an email interview.

Now it is a waiting game. Congressional lawmakers will draft their own budget proposals as well, which shouldn’t come until May. Proposed education cuts were not limited to the SEOG. Trump also proposed a 10 percent cut to TRIO programs, which are federal outreach and student services programs. This would materialize

to roughly $200 million.

Seton Hall has its own TRIO program called Upward Bound.

According to Dr. Tracy Gottlieb, vice president of Student Services, the program helps first-generation, economically disadvantaged students prepare and go to college. Upward Bound serves about 130 high school students—that number would decline if there were cuts, she said.

However, Gottlieb is optimistic. “It is hard to cut a program that is so successful - there are members of congress who are graduates of Upward Bound, so the lobbying to preserve this program is tremendous,” she said.

“We will have to wait and see and work with our congressional delegation to remind them of our successes.”

According to McCloud, the same applies to the SEOG. “SEOG cuts have been discussed before, but there are always going to be constituents in legislature who advocate for different programs.”

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

Page 6

NEWS

Faculty attend Researcher and Teacher of the Year Award Luncheon

March 30, 2017

Throwback Thursday

What was The Setonian reporting years ago?

“Hoffman wins”

Author: Clayton Collier Date: April 3, 2014 The story: After a record-high voter turnout of more than 1,400 votes, sophomore Timothy Hoffman was elected Student Government Association president. Hoffman won by just 29 votes, the results split 51-49. This was the third year in which digital voting was used.

“SGA winner decision on hold”

Photo courtesy of Bill Blanchard Faculty gathered in the Chancellor’s Suite for the Faculty Researcher and Teacher of the Year Award Luncheon, held annually to “celebrate faculty excellence in scholarship and teaching,” according to Staysha Taylor, Special Projects Coordinator of the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President. During the luncheon, the awardees were announced. Dr. Fortunato Battaglia of the College of Health and Medical Sciences and Dr. Zheng Wang of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations were named Researcher of the Year. Dr. Jason Tramm of the College of Communication and the Arts was named Teacher of the Year, and Artem Kalyanov was named Adjunct Professor of the Year.

Author: Kelly Kaysonpheth Date: April 1, 2004 The story: While Row S, the ticket consisting of Santino Certo, Kyle Graham, Thomas Smith and Sarah Lachiewicz, received the most votes, their confirmation has been put on hold as the two competing rows filed appeals against them. The other two rows appealed on the claims that Row S violated campaign rules and solicited illegal votes. As a result of the appeal, Row S would have to participate in a half-day ethics workshop and complete 10 hours of community service to keep their elected positions.

Johns Hopkins U.:

DePaul University:

North Michigan U.:

Rutgers University:

Baylor University:

University of Maryland: Texas A&M University:

Where: Baltimore, Md. Date: March 28 The update: The University dropped out of a clinical trial studying smoked cannabis’s effects on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and military veterans who intended to participate in the program are asking why. The study has been in the works since 2014 when it was approved by the Department of Health and Human Services.

From: www.reason.com Where: New Brunswick, N.J. Date: March 28 The update: An internal document shows that the University’s athletics program could owe $23.7 million to the university bank by 2021. Rutgers Athletics took out a $6.1 million loan from its internal bank to cover the cost of severance deals in 2015 and 2016, as well as larger salaries for the fired staff’s replacements.

From: www.nj.com

Where: Chicago, Ill. Date: March 28 The update: A student was shot during an attempted robbery near campus. This attack on a student is the fourth to take place in the past three months, according to officials. The 18-year-old student was approached by two men who demanded his belongings, and one of the robbers shot him in the leg as he tried to run away.

From: www.chicagotribune.com Where: Waco, Texas Date: March 27 The update: The University is firing back on claims made by a former financial aid staffer in his lawsuit against the University. The former staffer claims that she was retaliated against and fired for reinstating the scholarship of a football player wrongfully accused of sexual assault.

From: www.wacotrib.com

Where: Marquette, Mich.

Date: March 28 The update: The school will now be included in the Guinness Book of World Records, after Al Roker visited the school and led the world’s largest game of freeze tag as a part of his college series, “Rokerthon 3.” Students gathers in the university’s Superior Dome, which is also the world’s largest wooden dome.

From: www.today.com Where: College Park, Md. Date: March 28 The update: The University has created and filled an “undocumented student coordinator” position whose job will be to protect illegal immigrant students. This new position was created in response to a demand for such a person by student group, ProtectUMD. Last semester, Georgetown University created a similar position.

From: www.townhall.com

Montana State U.:

Where: Bozeman, Mont.

Date: March 28 The update: A former student is suing the University for more than $225,000, claiming that it punished him for expressing anti-transgender opinions. The student said that the University violated his rights by kicking him off campus and that the professor he privately discussed his opinions with mistook his comments as threatening.

From: www.bozemandailychronicle.com Where: College Station, Texas Date: March 28 The update: Rick Perry, U.S. energy secretary, criticized the student government elections at his alma mater. He said in an op-ed that the election of the first openly gay student body president, Bobby Brooks, was rigged in the name of diversity. Brooks’s opponent, Robert McIntosh had been disqualified.

From: www.nytimes.com

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

March 30, 2017 CAMPUS LIFE

Page7 7 Page

ROTC rallies to keep SGA Senate seat Claudia Emanuele Staff Writer

Tensions were high at the SGA meeting on March 13 as ROTC representation in the student government’s Senate was debated.

According to Christopher Morbelli, a senior political science major and SGA at large senator, the concern was “The Senate Leadership realized that those who belong in the ROTC program may be triply represented within the SGA (because they could be) represented by their major senator, an at large senator and the ROTC senator.”

Morbelli said that he thought himself to be the lead opposition to the failed bill that would have removed the Military Senate Seat.

His argument stemmed from the fact that freshmen also have three representatives: the freshman senator, their major senator and an at-large senator.

Morbelli explained that, if SGA is willing to make an exception for freshmen, then that should also be the case with ROTC. “When the ROTC community heard that the ROTC Senate seat was at risk, there was some

Photos courtesy of Evan Doolittle and Daniel Osika

ROTC members Evan Doolittle and Daniel Osika showed support for the SGA Military Senate Seat. surprise and frustration amongst us all,” Evan Doolittle, a senior diplomacy major and Pirate Battalion Platoon Leader, said. “We make a point to involve ourselves in the Seton Hall community even though not all of us will

graduate with a Seton Hall degree. It would be disadvantageous to both ROTC and the SGA to not include us as a member of the Senate and weaken the cooperation between us.”

Doolittle explained that the

ROTC Senator represents not only Seton Hall cadets, but also cadets from all around Northern New Jersey who are a part of the Seton Hall community through Pirate Battalion.

“While a matriculated student

has the representation of their school senator, their at-large senator, and their ROTC senator, a non-matriculated cadet enrolled in ROTC classes at Seton Hall only has the representation of their ROTC senator,” Doolittle said.

Daniel Osika, a senior marketing major and Cadet Battalion Commander of ROTC, said he believes that, “the issue stems from a lack of understanding of what Pirate Battalion truly brings to the Seton Hall community.”

Osika said that Cadet David Park, the current ROTC senator, offers a link between ROTC and the Seton Hall community.

“Cadets deeply care for what happens to the Senate seat because Cadet Park acts as our voice to the greater student body.

Pirate Battalion is involved in numerous aspects of campus life, so losing representation would only make it more difficult for us to get involved (and) to help other organizations and to bring about issues that affect cadets,” Osika said.

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

Oklahoma! cast expresses hopes for SOPAC production Margarita Williamson Staff Writer

The Seton Hall Theatre program has chosen Oklahoma! to be this year’s spring production. The 1931 musical showcases the rocky love story of Curly, a cowboy, and Laurey, a local farm girl. The cast has been preparing for this production, rehearsing four days a week since December.

Toni Gardner a senior social work major, plays the lead female role of Laurey. Gardner, who has been dancing since she was 5 and involved in theatre since she was in the seventh grade, said she is excited to use her talents in this upcoming show. She added that the dance aspect of the musical sets it apart from past SHU productions that were more heavily based on acting and vocals.

“I love the fact that it is a true musical theatre show,” Gardner said. “It has elements of dancing, singing and acting which is what I kind of grew up doing. To be able to now incorporate all three together again is really fulfilling.”

This musical will be sopho-

more theatre major Tess Borsecnik’s eighth Seton Hall production.

“Oklahoma! is this really classic musical where it is just meant to be so much fun and there is all this dancing which is kind of a new thing for Seton Hall,” Borsecnik said.

Lauren Mangine, a freshman elementary special education major, plays Gertie Cummings, a character that the actress explained is often annoying and difficult to like. Mangine said that she has faced some difficulties in portraying Gertie.

“When you’re playing a role in any type of show you really have to find what draws you to [that character], even if it is an annoying character like Gertie.

You have to make them lovable in the sense that people want you to come back on stage,” Mangine said.

Noelle Corbett, a junior theatre major serves as the production’s stage manager. Corbett has been involved in Seton Hall theatre since her freshman year. She has seen the process on both sides by working behind the scenes and as a cast member in past shows. Corbett

Seton Hall Theatre Presents….

“You can’t go around giving kisses to every boy that asks!”

April

Should you require special accommodations for this program due to disability, please contact DSS at (973) 313-6003 prior to this event.

The Oklahoma! cast is working on its portrayal of the 1931 musical.

said her different roles in past productions have prepared her for her role as stage manager for the Oklahoma! show.

Production manager, Professor Peter Reader, explained his hopes for Oklahoma!

“We are hoping that this musical will bring the community of Seton Hall to the theatre and the community of South Orange to the theatre,” he said.

The production will be held at SOPAC on April 20, 21,

Photo courtesy of Sarah Smith

22 at 8 p.m. and April 23 at 2 p.m. Admission to the show is free and tickets can be ordered through SOPAC. Margarita Williamson can be reached at margarita.williamson@student.shu.edu.

Page 8

CAMPUS LIFE

March 30, 2017

Climate change awareness heats up SHU Payton Seda Staff Writer

What if every student at Seton Hall ignored what they should do, such as throw a gum wrapper away, in order to serve the self-interest of remaining seated, and no harm resulted? Dr. Douglas Portmore explained how these collective behaviors can apply to the issue of climate change.

Portmore explored such scenarios, which he called collective action problems, in his lecture on March 21, as part of the philosophy department’s speaker series.

“These are cases where it is in each individual’s self-interest to refrain from doing his or her part in some collective enterprise, such as the collective enterprise of reducing global carbon emissions, even though everyone would be better off if we each refrained from acting self-interestedly and instead did our parts,” Portmore said.

According to Portmore, people often act in order to receive the best outcome for themselves. Individually speaking, such decisions cause little harm to others but once significant numbers begin to act selfishly, damaging repercussions occur.

Kiera Alexander/Staff Photographer Dr. Douglas Portmore proposed various senarios to get students thinking about climate change.

“I might wonder ‘why should I vote if I won’t make a positive difference to the outcome of the election, especially when I could actually be making a positive difference doing something else’,” Dr. Travis Tim-

merman, the assistant philosophy professor who organized the lecture, said.“However, if everyone followed this chain of reasoning, then no one would vote and our democracy would be in shambles.”

Portmore argues that it is in the best interest of all of us to deny our selfish desires in order to contribute positively to the world.

“I think morality is something we should all think

about, that we should all be discussing,” said Alexandra Ross, a senior pre-med and philosophy major who attended the lecture. “It’s an ongoing debate of whether our actions are moral or not. It’s always going to be relevant no matter what.”

By using examples that are recognizable to students, attendees explained that they were better able to understand the problems that climate change presents.

Freshman sociology major Kendra Campbell said the lecture “helped strengthen (her) opinion about how everyone should do their part.”

Portmore explained that he

hopes the lecture encouraged students to think more deeply about contemporary environmental issues and their impact on our lives.

“I think that one of the most important questions any of us can ask or answer is how we should live our lives,” Portmore said. “I hope that students come away with an understanding of just how important collective action problems are, as well some ideas on how we might solve them.”

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

Poet Catherine Pierce shares her work with aspiring writers Zachary Wohl Staff Writer

On March 23, the English department held a night of Poetry-in-the-Round where poet Catherine Pierce came to share some of her poems. Pierce, a professor at Mississippi State, has written three collections of poems to date. In these collections, Pierce constructs a narrative that focuses on major themes.

“Each of my books has had some sort of thematic thread, some more explicitly than others,” Pierce said.

The main book that she read from, The Tornado Is the World, centers on an EF-4 tornado and the effects it has on a midwest town.

“These themes are personal to me in some way—I don’t think I could write about something in which I didn’t have a personal stake,” Pierce said.

During the event, Pierce explained her life in the midwest and how being a mother has shifted her focus and helped shape some of her poems. After publishing her first book of poetry in 2004, Pierce still has a strong drive to write.

Joey Khan/Photography and Digital Editor Catherine Pierce shared advice and her poetry at Poetry-in-the-Round.

“I’m drawn to the craft element of making poems, the actual building process, the maddening and satisfying puzzle of trying to shape language

into meaning,” Pierce said. In addition to writing new poetry, Pierce also serves as a co-director of the creative writing program at Mississippi State.

Students in attendance explained their appreciation for the author’s style.

Melanie Weir, a junior creative writing and theater double

-major, enjoyed Pierce’s writing so much that she purchased one of her books.

“I really liked how she took such big, complex ideas and wrote about them in an elegant manner,” Weir said. “I usually don’t find poetry as interesting as I did [at this event]. These poems did not need a lot of explaining and that made them easily accessible.”

Annie Madden, a junior visual and sound media and creative writing double-major, had a personal appreciation for Pierce’s work.

“I am from the midwest, and I’ve been through a couple tornadoes. It was interesting to see a tornado handled in such an elegant way,” Madden said.

In addition to sharing her work with aspiring writers, Pierce also gave some advice to potential writers.

“My No.1 advice is to read.

There’s just no way to be the best writer you can be if you’re not actively reading the work of other writers, seeing what’s out there [and] studying that craft,” she explained.

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

Page 9

CAMPUS LIFE

March 30, 2017

Cultural club awards active female students Nisha Desai Staff Writer

On March 25, The Chancellor’s Suite was filled with music like “This Girl’s on Fire” and “Formation,” relaying the singular message: girls rock.

The National Council of Negro Woman in Imani Chapter (NCNW) presented “Girls Rock,” a ceremony honoring Seton Hall University’s “most extraordinary women.”

The award ceremony, with about 40 people in attendance, awarded 11 women for their achievements and work.

“SHU Girls Rock is an important event because it allows people on campus to see the hardworking women on this campus and to recognize them for their dedication and commitment,” said Jayda Yizar, president of NCNW and a sophomore social and behavioral sciences major.

The ceremony started with Mikalia Morris, a freshman diplomacy and international relations major, reciting her poem, “Love thyself as thyself: A open letter to black people.”

“Seeing as this is an event for NCNW and that I am a black woman and looking at the social and political climate that we are in and the D.C. incident of black girls going missing, I thought it would be the most appropriate thing to show everyone that black

Katherine Boland/Staff photographer The National Council of Negro Women honored 11 women for their drive and positive influence. women are still important,” Morris said.

Morris explained that it’s a time for people to get together and uplift one another. She added that it’s events like this that highlight how important women are and show society that we are still here, especially as girls continue to be neglected, ignored and second-class citizens in some places.

Each award highlights the strengths of each individual winner, Izar explained. These awards included Alumni Award (Monica Hall), Rock Star Award (Ryanne Boyer), Trailblazer (Christina

Levy), Community Service Award (Kiana Benard), Motivator Award (Emani Miles), Visionary Award (Shaaliyah Lyons), Women in Art (Mikalia Morris), Entrepreneur Award (Marissa Banks), Young, Gifted and Black Award (Heather Harris), SHU Girl of the Year Award (Kyra Lucas), and Faculty Member of the Year Award (Mrs. Patricia Pitts).

“I just wanted to support another cultural organization on campus,” said Bryan Luis, a junior social and behavioral sciences. “We want to show that the men of Black Men of Standards

have their backs because black women…women are our backbone. You don’t see a lot of men here, but we are here to show that we have their backs.”

Women who were awarded and nominated have worked to do a number of things which have ranged from opening a non-profit organization, Together we Conquer, to starting a new business, “Sweet Honey Productions”, to mentoring and pushing other women to achieve their goals.

The NCNW has been hosting the award ceremony since 2009.

Through hosting events like this,

NCNW works to acknowledge women who work to give a voice for those who don’t have one while helping improving communities as they personally, professionally, and academically grow through their work.

Organizations such as the Black Student Union, Black Men of Standard, the American Cancer Society, Arabic Speaking Club, West Indian Student Organization, P.O.E.T.I.C, and Student Social Work Association helped co-sponsor the event.

Nisha Desai can be reached at nisha.desai@student.shu.edu.

South Orange restaurant only hires SHU students Perle Desir Staff Writer

Walia, a cozy Ethiopian restaurant located in the business and cultural center of the village of South Orange, opned in February 2013.

Named after Walia, an endangered species of the ibex family found only in the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia, the restaurant serves a variety of dishes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, rich with traditional Ethiopian flavors.

Like many habits, the pursuit of authentic ethnic food can get expensive. Walia’s owner, Getachew, more commonly referred to as Mr. G, said “My goal was to create something original here, but affordable. I have lived in South Orange for more than 20 years now, and as people from all walks of life made their way to the village, I knew Walia would be the right way to share a bit of our culture with them.”

Culture is very important at Walia, however, education is even more, and it is one of the main reasons why Getachew

Walia is an Ethiopian restaurant in South Orange that purposely only hires Seton Hall students. makes a point to solely hire Seton Hall students as waiters and waitresses. “School comes first in my eyes. I have children you see, and so, I know how hard it is to balance school and a job,” Getachew explained. “I hire Seton Hall students because they can, for one, communicate well with the customers; but above all else, I wanted to provide them with a chance to make some money do-

ing something not quite far from campus.”

Senior political science major, Kyjah Chandler, a former Walia waitress, confirmed this mindset when asked what her favorite thing about working at Walia was.

“The owners are extremely accommodating and they are very serious about enabling every student that they employ,” Kyjah shared.

“There were times that they even

Katherine Boland/Staff Photographer

purchased textbooks for me out of their own pocket.”

When questioned about the restaurant’s mission within the South Orange community, Seton Hall alumnus (2016) and diplomacy and international relations major, Michael O’Neal, who has been working at Walia for six months declared, “We’re very close-knit and family-oriented here. We treat our customers

like family, too. We go above and beyond to connect with all the guests and definitely cater to any of their requests.”

When one is ready to eat with your hands and discover the delicious taste of colorful sauces meticulously spread out on the traditional Ethiopian bread, injera, Walia is the way to go.

Perle Desir can be reached at perle.desir@student.shu.edu

Page 10

CAMPUS LIFE

March 30, 2017

Choosing a major is choosing a journey Evelyn Peregrin Asst. Campus Life Editor

I grew up the fifth of seven children with a lot of loud cousins. I’ve never had a problem making my voice heard above the chaotic sounds of my beloved siblings but words don’t always translate into choices. A lot of my family members and friends went to Seton Hall, majoring mostly in the sciences, graduated and moved on to bigger institutions and better incomes. I barely thought about my choice of college and followed along the path I was familiar and comfortable with. There was a peace in doing what was already done. I felt that I would have support in this area and people who knew how to navigate this type of major and the specifics that went with it.

But it turns out you can’t make someone else’s choices your own and then expect the same results.

As a freshman I studied as a biology major hoping to track in the Physician’s Assistant program. I liked science, had done well in high school and had watched way too much Grey’s Anatomy. I saw myself working in a hospital as a medical professional but I didn’t see the whole picture. I felt ex-

Senior Column citement towards a specific scene that would take place far in the future for a total of five minutes, and not for the years of study and hard work it would take to get there.

This realization didn’t come until the spring semester of my sophomore year, after three semesters of stress-induced sleep and way too many expensive textbooks that showcased bacteria on the cover. I knew it was time for a change.

Throughout my first two years of college I had been commuting from my parents’ home in South Plainfield, N.J. A combination of dating boys who lived off campus, working four days a week and having friend groups located

30 minutes from campus led to not really having a presence at Seton Hall. I would go to class, and leave right after either to work a shift or to eat free food at home.

While none of this is inherently bad, it reduced the quality of my college experience. If I wasn’t maximizing my time on campus then I wasn’t here for the career fairs, I wasn’t going to the Career Center and applying for internships, I wasn’t involved with any organizations associated with my major. I wouldn’t join clubs because the times would keep me on campus later than I liked. I wasn’t passionate about what I was studying and I didn’t want to spend my time working toward it any more. So I decided to change

my major.

I loved to write but I never thought I could make a career out of it so I never seriously considered any majors that focused on writing.

No one in my family ever studied anything in the communication field and I didn’t know anything about it. But somehow I found myself starting my junior year as a journalism major.

I joined the staff of The Setonian and spent hours on writing assignments instead of turning pages in textbooks that I had to deadlift out of my bookbag.

I found what made college worth the drive. My final year at Seton Hall has contained the same amount of traffic as my

freshman year, more car trouble than my bank account would like and a workload that makes me yearn for the days of ULife and Journey of Transformation classes.

But senior year has brought me a fresh perspective. I chose the avenue of higher education and, if you make the most of it, it’s worth it. We all have to grow to move forward in our lives and this is the place I chose to grow for these four years, and choosing a major that I was capable of growing in made all the difference.

Evelyn Peregrin is a public relations and journalism major from South Plainfield, N.J. She can be reached at evelyn.peregrin@student.shu.edu.

KEEP CALM, SUMMER’S ON Enrich your mind and your summer by studying on campus, online or overseas.

Choose from a variety of courses — from Anatomy to African Civilization, from Genetics to Journalism.

Registration Now Open! www.shu.edu/summer2017

Opinion thesetonian.com

March 30, 2017

Page 11

The Voice The Setonian turns to new Editor-in-Chief-elect I

t is with great excitement and an eye on the future that we announce Ashley Turner has been elected The Setonian’s Editor-in-Chief for the 2017-18 academic year.

Ashley first started working for The Setonian as a freshman news staff writer. After winning the Tim O’Brien Award, given to the paper’s best rookie reporter, she quickly climbed up the section’s ladder, first serving as Assistant News Editor and then, this past

year, as News Editor.

In addition to her work for The Setonian, Ashley has gained experience while interning for CNBC and the Asbury Park Press.

As Ashley prepares for a senior year sure to be full of challenges, she brings a unique sense of curiosity and out of the box thinking to the top of The Setonian’s ranks.

In addition, Ashley has never demanded less than the best from those working with her and has a true passion for journalism. There

is no story or topic she is afraid to tackle. These qualities and characteristics will undoubtedly prove essential as Seton Hall continues to navigate a major transitional period.

Of course, Ashley still has some things to pick up, but learning on the fly is something every new Editor-in-Chief across the industry has to do.

The Setonian has taken tremendous strides in the digital realm in recent years. As the powers of the

Keaghlan Brady Campus Life Copy Editor

dom courses. Nothing seemed to fit. I wanted to take time to figure out what I would enjoy and what would eventually lead to a career where I could be both passionate and successful – where I could be happy.

I spent my time exploring choices after leaving my first college. I began an internship working with special needs teens to experience what a career in teaching would be like. Although I enjoyed it, I knew that it wasn’t the right fit. I also worked part-time jobs in sales, hospitality, medicine and child care.

In between classes and shifts, I began visiting my grandmother, lovingly known as Gram, more often. We would go out to lunch together then usually run a few different errands. We would talk for hours about everything from her life experiences such as how she met my grandfather and what her parents and grandparents were like, to discussing what I want to

accomplish in my life.

We often spent time talking about our large but close-knit family. I am the youngest of her 10 grandchildren and all but my two siblings and myself are married and have families of their own, which bestowed on her the title of a great grandmother of 13.

Therefore, it seemed like we always had a birthday party, shower, christening, wedding, etc., that was coming or had recently passed. Despite everyone’s hectic lives, we always take time and show up to support each other in all our many milestones. Gram always loved being the first to know when one of us had news to share.

Gram was very excited when I transferred to Seton Hall. She would always ask me about class and I would bring her copies of The Setonian. She would cut out my articles and hang them on her fridge next to pictures of all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was our cheerleader

internet and social media continue to grow, Ashley will have to find the same balance that led to both The Setonian’s website and print newspaper winning awards this year.

We know she is up for that task and the many more that await her.

On a personal note, we are thrilled for Ashley as friends and teammates. She can be out there sometimes, but we’re positive her creativity will be an asset, just like

it has always been.

As Ashley gets set to take charge of The Setonian and all of its dedicated student journalists at the end of the school year, we wish her luck. Congratulations Ashley – we are sure this will be just one of the great accomplishments of your career!

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.

How transferring to SHU brought me closer to my grandmother

“Everything happens for a reason,” is the generic response someone says to comfort another during a difficult time.

Its purpose is to give hope.

Hope is not always an easy thing to have, especially when someone you love becomes ill. Perspectives change. The things that were once so important no longer hold the same kind of value.

When I decided that I wanted to transfer from the large university I attended directly after high school it was because I had decided I wanted to be closer to home and I didn’t know what I wanted to study. It felt like everyone around me had a five-year plan and knew what they ultimately wanted to do for a career. Now I know this probably wasn’t the case, but I still felt the pressure of choosing a major. I was undecided and I had taken so many ran-

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Senior Column and there was something special that came from sharing successes and celebrations with her because there was nothing that gave her more joy than to see her family happy.

My Gram passed away at the age of 95 this past August. It was, of course, devastating for everyone who knew her, because as a former teacher she truly was a kind and good hearted person. To know her really was to love her. Perhaps there is truth in that generic response “everything does happen for a reason.” If I had never transferred closer to home when I

The Setonian

Letters Policy

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

Deadline for submission is noon on the Tuesday preceding publication. Letters can be e-mailed to Gary Phillips, Editor-in-Chief, at thesetonian2016@gmail.com.

Corrections

The Setonian willingly corrects errors in fact. For corrections, please contact Gary Phillips, Editor-in-Chief, at thesetonian2016@ gmail.com.

did, I would have missed all those lunches and one-on-one time with Gram, running to the market to pick up some more Lipton tea and ingredients to make her homemade chicken soup.

I will treasure those little moments for the rest of my life. I am heartbroken that I will not be able to celebrate my graduation with her but because of her, I have a large, caring family to serve as a reminder of her love and support.

Keaghlan Brady is a public relations major from Sparta, N.J. She can be reached at keaghlan.brady@ student.shu.edu.

Gary Phillips

Editor-in-Chief

Leah Carton

Evelyn Peregrin

Ashley Turner

Elizabeth Swinton

Brianna Bernath

Asst. News Editor

Samantha Todd

Asst. Photography Editor

Keaghlan Brady

Campus Life Copy Editor

News Editor

Greg Medina

Asst. Campus Life Editor

Managing Editor

Sports Editor

Kyle Kasharian

Asst. Sports Editor

Clara Capone

News Copy Editor

Graphics Editor

Julie Trien

Joey Khan

Volume 93 Issue 22

Isabel Soisson

Asst. Digital Editor

Nicole Peregrina

Social Media Editor

Jenna Pearsall

Social Media Editor

Campus Life Editor Photography & Digital Editor

Anthony DePalma Faculty Adviser

Page 12

SPORTS

March 30, 2017

THROUGH OUR EYES

Sports Quote of the Week “You could say I was born into it. As long as I remember, I was always on a baseball field.”

Seton Hall baseball head coach Rob Sheppard on his career on the diamond.

Raiders relocation It’s time for LaVar brings mixed bag to NFL Ball to shut up for Andrew Lombardo Staff Writer

On March 27, NFL owners voted to allow the relocation of the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas, Nev. After years of botched stadium deals and relocation attempts, the move seemed inevitable. The relocation will be league’s third in the last year, after the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers ditched their longtime homes for Los Angeles, Cal. While it may seem cynical to let a franchise move to Sin City, there is a solid argument to be made. The greater Las Vegas area has more than 2 million residents, making it the largest metro area without a professional sports team. Although the NHL’s new expansion franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights, will begin play this year, the allure of an NFL franchise is much greater. The Raider’s history in Los Angeles also gives them an immediate fan base not too far away.

The Raiders have been trying to secure a new stadium for years.

Their current stadium, the ugly and outdated Oakland Alameda Coliseum, has been standing since 1966 and its age and shortcomings have left the Raiders near the bottom of the league in home game revenue. Unfortunately, the team was not able to secure the necessary tax dollars to fund a new stadium in Oakland. The NFL also rejected the Raiders’ proposed move to Los Angeles last summer, instead favoring the plan of the once St. Louis, now Los Angeles, Rams. However, the Raiders were able to cut a deal on a stadium in Las Vegas, one that was too good to pass up.

The Raiders will build their nearly $2 billion stadium with the help of $750 million in Clark County, Nev. taxpayer money along with $650 million in financing from Bank of America.

Most of those taxpayer dollars will come from the litany of tourists that visit the city. Las Vegas owner Mark Davis also saved a ton of money by negotiating the relocation fee down to around $350 million, a significantly lower number than the $650 million both the Rams and Chargers paid.

Yet, there seems to be plenty of drawbacks to the move. The assumption that moving to a city without a professional franchise

the sake of his kids Tyler Calvaruso Staff Writer

Photos via NFL.com The Raiders will move from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2019. will guarantee success is shortsighted. Television money reigns most superior today. The Raiders will be moving from the country’s sixth biggest television market to its 40th. They will instantly have the fifth smallest NFL market as well. Although the Raiders have struggled to fill up seats in Oakland, there is no certainty that they will be able to change that in Las Vegas. The city will be near the bottom of NFL cities in terms of population and average income. With that in mind, it may be difficult to fill a 65,000-seat stadium weekly. The Raiders have insisted that tourists will make up the gap and will buy as much as a third of each game’s tickets. However, there is currently no basis for the assumption that tourists can become a major source of ticket sales.

The sole winner of the move will not be the fans or the league, but the pockets of Raiders owner Mark Davis. The city of Oakland

did its best to retain its team, making a final offer of $350 million in public money last December.

Davis, just like many other selfish owners, instead went searching for a deal that would pay for the stadium itself. In fact, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf ’s refusal to waste more public funds on a stadium has turned her into a local hero of sorts, and rightfully so.

Until their stadium is finished, the Raiders will remain in Oakland. The move will likely occur after the 2018 season, making for two seasons of the lame-duck Oakland Raiders. Perhaps the move will be for the best. The league could profit heavily with the addition of a Las Vegas television market. The stadium could also turn into a profitable tourist attraction for the team and city.

Andrew Lombardo is a journalism major from Middletown, Conn.

He can be reached at andrew.lombardo@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @Anlombardo8.

Crazy parents in sports are nothing new, but LaVar Ball is a different breed.

He is the parent that you see walking around your local little league complex, telling every parent that his kid is the best player in the league, but there’s one major difference that sets Ball apart from all of the other sports parents.

With his outlandish statements, Ball has essentially painted a target on his kids’ backs and it is not fair to the three of them.

For the sake of Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo, it is time for Mr. Ball to stop talking and fade into the background as almost every other sports parent eventually does.

Forget about Ball saying crazy stuff about himself, like his ability to beat Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley in games of one-on-one. Some of the things that he says has shined unfair light on his kids, especially Lonzo.

It is not Lonzo saying that he could be the next Magic Johnson. It is not Lonzo saying that he would lead UCLA to a National Championship.

It is not Lonzo saying that he is going to be the savior of the Los Angeles Lakers. It is not Lonzo comparing himself to the likes of Stephen Curry.

That’s all LaVar and it’s unfair to his son.

By saying all of this, he is setting lofty expectations that Lonzo might not be able to reach. That’s not a knock on Lonzo, who is a sure-fire top five NBA Draft pick.

It’s unrealistic to compare a kid one year out of high school to one of the greatest point guards of all time in Johnson.

It’s not fair to compare Lonzo to one of, if not the best shooters, of all time in Curry.

The ridiculous comparisons that LaVar is making is only the beginning of Lonzo’s problems. You can bet once he gets to the NBA that players will be

gunning for him on a nightly basis because nobody wants to be the player that was lit up by the UCLA standout.

Not every NBA player is going to be as forgiving as LeBron James, who said that he respects Lonzo’s game but has no respect for LaVar. Players are going to view Lonzo in a certain light because of his father.

Lonzo is a relatively quiet guy who doesn’t talk all that much, but he is still being called out by other players such as fellow top-five projected player Markelle Fultz.

The sad part of it all is Lonzo never said anything to deserve that kind of hate.

It was all LaVar. When it comes to LiAngelo and LaMelo, LaVar hadn’t made many bold statements about the two until he appeared on ESPN’s First Take on March 27.

“UCLA lost this year, but we gonna win it next year because I’m gonna take one Ball and bring in another one,” the dad said.

With that statement, Ball guaranteed a national title because of his son’s presence on the team and nothing else, but that’s not all. If LiAngelo can’t get it done at UCLA next season, LaVar will be back saying LaMelo, who is currently a high school sophomore and became a national story after he scored 92 points in a game, will take the Bruins to the promised land when he arrives on campus.

All LaVar Ball wants is attention and unfortunately, this article is just giving him more.

Despite the fact that this is giving LaVar what he wants, it is time to take a stand against the disservice that he is doing to his children by spewing nonsense to the media.

It is time for LaVar Ball to shut up.

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

March 30, 2017

SPORTS

Stealing bases no longer a Seton Hall specialty Keith Egan Staff Writer

In 2016, the Seton Hall baseball team was nationally known for stealing bases. As the No. 1 team in the country in that category, the Pirates made their mark on the NCAA. Stealing bases is a unique advantage to have over opposing teams.

Singles become doubles, and a walk could turn into a runner in scoring position without even touching the ball at the plate.

That being said, whether Seton Hall could keep this advantage for the 2017 season is a question they have faced.

Entering Wednesday, March 29, the Seton Hall baseball team has succeeded in 23 of 36 stolen base attempts. A nearly 64 percent success rate is not a stat to be ashamed

of, however last season’s 84 percent success rate on 217 triesblew teams out of the water.

Much of last year’s success on the base paths can be accredited to the national leader in stolen bases, and Seton Hall’s senior male athlete of the year, Derek Jenkins. His 53 total stolen bases was the highest in the Big East for the third straight year, gained national recognition and led him to score a team-high 42 runs. Filling his shoes is no easy task.

So far this season, Ryan Ramiz leads the team in stolen bases, converting on six of seven attempts.

Last year, Ramiz went 15-20, which was the fifth highest in attempts and steals for the Pirates.

The only player who had more that and has returned for the 2017 season is Joe Poduslenko, who is currently three for five in stolen

bases this year after going 16-17 last year.

These two will have to carry a lot of the burden on the base paths if the Pirates want to compete with the numbers they put up last season.

Seton Hall has succeeded in 23 of 36 stolen base attempts. A nearly 64 percent success rate is not a stat to be ashamed of, however last season’s 84 percent success rate on 217 tries blew teams out of the water.

However, the numbers have not even compared thus far. Seton Hall is on pace to finish with 58 stolen bases on less than 91 attempts.

That being said, stolen bases are not the only key to success and winning.

The 2016 National Champion, Coastal Carolina, had 112 stolen bases on the season. The team it defeated in the championship, Arizona, had 77. Nonetheless, it is still an advantage, and an advantage it appears Seton Hall will need to find an alternative to in order to reach the Big East Tournament again.

The best way to get runners in scoring position as fast as possible without stealing is of course an extra base hit. Seton Hall has momentum in this regard. The team has 35 doubles on the season, which has them on pace to end the with 88, 10 higher than last year’s total.

In addition, an area in which Seton Hall struggled last season was home runs, with only 11. Now a third of the way through the year, the Pirates have five home runs.

Page 13

Setonian Stats Top Returning Base Stealers (Stolen base-attempts) Last Season This season

Ryan Ramiz

15-20

3-6

Joe Poduslenko 16-17

3-5

Graphic by Clara Capone

Not an extraordinary number, but still an improvement that Seton Hall can work on with Mikael-Ali Mogues and Poduslenko returning, and new talents such as Al Molina joining them.

Seton Hall has a long road ahead as it prepares for conference play. The Pirates currently stand in fourth place, where they were predicted to be at in the preseason poll.

Keith Egan is a visual and sound media and journalism major from Tinton Falls, N.J. He can be reached at keith.egan@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @Keith_egan10.

HALL ACROSS THE BOARD SCORES OF THE WEEK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

WOMEN’S TENNIS Friday, March 24

LIU-Brooklyn Seton Hall

3 4

Sunday, March 26

Xavier Seton Hall

SOFTBALL

6 8

8 2

Sunday, March 26

Villanova

Seton Hall

What’s 3/30 ON DECK Thursday Home

Away

Friday, March 24

Connecticut Seton Hall

2 1

Saturday, March 25

Saturday, March 25 (12:30 p.m.)

Villanova Seton Hall

5 2

BASEBALL

Saturday, March 25 (10 a.m.)

Villanova Seton Hall

Connecticut Seton Hall

2 3

Sunday, March 26

8 7

Connecticut Seton Hall

3/31 Friday

4/1

Saturday

4 0

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4/3

Monday

4/4

Tuesday

4/5

Wednesday

Baseball

LIU-Brooklyn LIU-Brooklyn LIU-Brooklyn 12 p.m.

6 p.m.

1 p.m.

Wagner 3:30 p.m.

Softball

DePaul 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Rutgers 4 p.m.

Women’s Tennis Golf

DePaul 1 p.m.

Photo via SHU Pirates Alexis Walkden made the Big East Honor Roll behind a busy weekend series against Villanova. Walkden batted .600 and bombed three home runs across the three contests.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Fairfield 12 p.m.

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

SPORTS

Page 14

March 30, 2017

Pirate Blue to visit Isaiah Whitehead, Delgado declares for Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center the NBA Draft Elizabeth Swinton Sports Editor

Seton Hall Athletics’ Pirate Blue Athletic Fund is hosting an event to watch former Pirate Isaiah Whitehead and the Brooklyn Nets take on the Orlando Magic on April 1 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Pirate Blue is selling tickets for Pirate Blue night, with the first 100 tickets sold including a chance to meet Whitehead following the game. According to the website to order tickets, it is sold out.

“Isaiah is a favorite among Pirates fans, and he has been a wonderful ambassador for our University both while he was attending Seton Hall and now with the Brooklyn Nets,” Seton Hall Athletics said in a statement. “We are proud of how well Isaiah is doing in his first year in the NBA, and Pirate Blue and our fans are excited to go to Barclays Center and support him.”

Whitehead declared for the 2016 NBA Draft after he completed his sophomore season at Seton Hall, which included a Big East Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. He was then selected as 42nd overall selection in the draft with a pick the Brook-

Tyler Calvaruso Staff Writer

Photo via NBA.com Due to injuries and consistency, Whitehead is playing more than 22 minutes per game for the Nets. lyn Nets bought from the Utah starting point guard Jeremy Lin Jazz. missing time due to injury.

With his rookie NBA season Whitehead is Seton Hall’s first almost complete, entering March player to go to the NBA since An29, Whitehead has averaged 7.7 dre Barrett did in 2005. points, 2.6 assists and 2.5 reElizabeth Swinton can be reached bounds per game. He also has 26 at elizabeth.swinton@student.shu. starts this season for the Nets with edu or on Twitter @eswint22.

Angel Delgado is throwing his hat into the ring for the NBA Draft.

The junior forward took to Twitter on March 28 to announce that he will enter the draft without an agent.

“After talking to my coach and family I decided to enter to the 2017 NBA Draft without an agent,” Delgado tweeted.

The decision not to hire an agent gives Delgado the chance to test NBA waters and return to school if he does not feel comfortable with where his draft stock lies. If Delgado had made the decision to sign with an agent, he would not be able to return for his senior season.

Delgado will have until May 24 to remove his name from the

NBA Draft.

As NCAA rules specify, Delgado is able to enter the draft without jeopardizing his eligibility, allowed to participate in the NBA Draft combine (May 9-14) and can participate in one tryout per NBA team.

Delgado’s decision doesn’t come as a surprise, as there have been rumors that he will not return for his senior season all year long after leading the country in rebounding. He averaged 15.2 points and 13.0 rebounds per game.

He said at the end of the season that he will likely return to Seton Hall rather than go pro, but entering the draft gives Delgado options. At the very least, he will have the opportunity to get feedback from NBA team officials and scouts.

Tyler Calvaruso can be reached at tyler.calvaruso@student.shu.edu.

Photo via SHU Athletics Delgado was also a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award, which recognizes the best center in college hoops.

You’re invited to apply to the first Business Boot Camp! The Business Boot Camp is a unique opportunity for College of Arts and Sciences students to hone and grow transferable skills and build their portfolio before they step into the real world. Room and board will be provided.

This program is available to rising Juniors and Seniors. The Boot Camp will take place from May 16th to May 19th, all applications are due by March 31st .

For more information or an application, please visit us in Fahy Hall Rm. 130.

March 30, 2017

SPORTS

Cohen:

Continued from Page 16 former Mets teammates Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez. The crew brings both sharp knowledge and occasional banter to its audience.

“It’s a match made in heaven kind of deal,” Darling said. “The most difficult part about a threeman booth is the traffic during the game – who speaks when.

We never really had that problem from day one and that never happens. Keith does the hitting, I do the pitching and Gary does the steering and we kind of figure it out.”

Instead of a play-by-play man, Darling calls Cohen a “caretaker of Mets history.” Darling added Cohen is “meticulous” in his preparation. Integrating him into the rotation among Darling and Hernandez was a smooth transition from the start despite the two former players having already formed a bond.

“It was more Gary having to include us in the conversation more,” Darling said. “Gary is one of the great baseball voices of all time, so he can carry an entire broadcast by himself without Keith or I. But he’s generous enough that he learned very quickly to include us.”

With Cohen’s schedule so hectic once baseball season hits, calling Seton Hall basketball games in essence ends up being what he does in his free time. One day, Cohen will be calling a Mets spring training game in Florida. The next day, he will be on the call for Seton Hall, whether in Newark at The Rock or at Madison Square Garden for the Big East Tournament.

Darling recognizes the drive in Cohen that allows him to take on so many responsibilities.

“Gary is a special human being.

He could balance 1,000 things, I’m sure,” Darling said. “Gary’s

Sheppard: Continued from Page 16 and everyone must commit themselves to excellence. For someone who has coached a Big East Championship team, a pitcher who threw a perfect game last season, three freshmen All-Americans in the past three years and more, this strategy has been the driving force behind Sheppard and his team.

Senior catcher Matt Fortin said this mindset was instilled into the team “when I came in as a freshman. [Sheppard] gets a group of seniors together and just makes sure that he can trust us and give us enough leeway so we can take the freshmen and sophomores, underclassmen under our wing to show them the way.”

Another part of this approach is to play it game-to-game.

“I know it sounds cliché and people say take one game at a time,” Fortin said. “But the reality is that’s how you have to approach it. Whether you’re having a great year or a not so great year, you have to take it one game at a time.”

The upcoming 2017 season will mark the head coach’s 14th year at the helm. In those 14 seasons, many players have gone through the University’s baseball program, and Sheppard has had the opportunity to impact each of their lives. He said that he gauges his work as a coach on the success of his former players. In his role he explains that the “biggest thing

you get out of it as a coach [is] knowing that you have the opportunity to impact someone’s life in a positive way.”

Fortin said he spends more time with Sheppard than his other teammates do since the catcher and coach work closely together.

He said Sheppard drove home the notion of being committed physically and mentally “to get better each and every day.” He added how it can be simple “to show up to practice and go through the motions, but if you work on something each and every day over the course of your four-year career,” you can see “how much you’ve improved and how much that’s had an effect on you from the beginning.”

The impact of Sheppard’s presence in Fortin’s life goes beyond the baseball diamond. “When I was younger as a freshman, it was kind of hard for me because I’ve never had a coach on me that much but now looking back at it, I’m very glad he was a hard coach,” Fortin said. “[Sheppard has] made me such a better baseball player and a human being and a man.

“He’s really made me be the person who I am today and I’m very happy about that, happy that he’s my college baseball coach.”

Part of his coaching strategy is to have his players “understand that baseball is a microcosm of life. It really is a model that will help prepare them” on the field

forte is, of course, baseball broadcasting, but he could do anything he chose to do. He chooses to do Seton Hall basketball games because he has a love for college basketball.”

Baseball and basketball are two different animals, but so are broadcasting for television and radio. In baseball, there’s more downtime between action, and a viewer can see it all unfold on TV. Basketball, however, is fast-paced, and on radio, Cohen is the artist that brings the game to life for listeners.

“This feels totally normal to me, this is what I grew up doing,” Cohen said of his basketball radio work. “I love the fast pace of the game, I love the quick thinking and the vocabulary that goes into it. I love being able to bring the game to life for people who can’t see it. To me, the great craft of radio is allowing people to see the game in their minds, and basketball is the perfect vehicle for that.”

Cohen added that sitting close to the game, too, helps him capture the emotion, pace and physicality of the action.

Both Seton Hall and the Mets and in the future, Sheppard said.

He recounts in 2011 when the team was ranked No. 5 in a tournament, their record wasn’t great, but they were still able to shut down a higher-ranked Arizona team and win the game.

Moments like this, Sheppard said, help make his job special and memorable. He said he enjoys seeing his players grow up.

“There have been a lot of different things that have gone on as a coach and sometimes they’re not the most publicized moments,” Sheppard said. “I think even every year when your players graduate you get an opportunity and the thing I love about coaching the most is you get to see a young man as a sophomore, junior in high school and you see him develop into a man, and graduate college and move on.”

Sheppard emphasizes the importance of hard work off the field as well, and said he wants to recruit players who are tireless and strive to be better in all aspects of life.

“We tell our guys that whether it’s a baseball game, a term paper or just meeting somebody in public, it’s an opportunity to put a name on something,” he said.

“Your name’s on it and every time you put your name on something, you want it to be your best effort, your best ability, and whatever it may be, whether it’s a professional baseball player, a businessman, a teacher, a coach, a father, you want to be present and do your best job.”

This mindset can be easily reflected in the team’s 3.4 GPA and 20-plus players on the Dean’s List, Sheppard said.

“I would say there are principles

Page 15 have experienced success in recent years, but to Cohen, every game is just as enjoyable. That said, of all the games Cohen has announced in his career, he noted one that continues to stand out.

“Last year was fantastic, to win the Big East Tournament and go to the NCAAs for the first time since Dave and I’s first season.

That’s when we got in the Tournament,” Cohen said. “But it had been a long time, and it was a thrill, it really was.

“That Big East Championship game against Villanova in The Garden was one of the special moments I’ll treasure for a long time.”

Popkin has fond memories of that games as well. He recalls a collected Cohen before the tip and after the buzzer. In between, however, was a different story.

“He’s always calm before and after every game, but in-game he really gets ramped up and I know the Seton Hall fans appreciate that,” Popkin said. “I remember on that last call when [Isaiah] Whitehead had the three-point play and Seton Hall went on to the upset win. [Gary] had a great call,

of course, on the Pirates winning.

Then I waited a beat and I said, ‘That ball sat on the back of the rim for 23 years’ and he laughed and that just kind of put an exclamation point on it for both of us.

It was one of the more memorable games I’ve called as well.”

With two busy schedules, Cohen has expressed a love and care for his craft. Others recognize his hard work, as well. In November 2016, Cohen was one of eight nominated for the Ford C. Frick Award, an honor the National Baseball Hall of Fame presents each year for excellence in broadcasting. Cohen was also nominated in February 2017 for a New York Emmy for sports play-by-play.

“It’s trending as north as a career can trend,” Darling said.

“He’s gonna be a Hall of Fame announcer someday. He’s gonna win many Emmys. All of those things are going to come his way just because he’s a special talent.”

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

Gary Phillips can be reached at gary.phillips@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @GaryHPhillips.

Photo via SHU Athletics Rob Sheppard succeeded his father as Seton Hall’s head coach. that we’re guided by from Rob,” Cundari said. “Part of the reason that the players really thrive in this environment is because coach Sheppard has created that kind of culture on a daily basis.”

Throughout his time as head coach of Seton Hall’s baseball team, he has had many achievements, but for Sheppard, the best is yet to come. He said he doesn’t believe he has had his greatest accomplishment yet.

However, Sheppard’s commitment to Seton Hall’s baseball team does not go unnoticed.

“Coach shows up more than anybody I know on a daily basis, on a regular basis and his leadership is by his example so nobody in this program works harder than Rob and I don’t want to underestimate that in any way,” Cundari said. “He’s a leader on the field and off the field. His work ethic and his vision for the program really resonates with the players and I’m just really grateful to be part

of it.”

In Sheppard’s tenure at the Hall, Fortin said his coach has “really pushed us to want to win. Just [to have] the desire to go out and win, not just to show up and play, but we go out there expecting to win each and every game.” Fortin added how “it’s hard to have a bad practice just because he’s there wanting everybody to get better and just encouraging everyone to improve upon their skills and knowledge of the game.”

Sheppard, however, is always looking to do more.

“That’s my opinion. I think I could always be better,” Sheppard said. “I think that’s one thing as a coach, regardless of the amount of success you have or haven’t had, you always want to move beyond, or raise the bar. I like to think that we have accomplished some great things here. I just always want to be a little bit better.”

Andrea Keppler can be reached at andrea.keppler@student.shu.edu.

Sports

thesetonian.com @SetonianSports

SHU Athletics visiting Isaiah Whitehead Page 14 March 30, 2017

Page 16

Always on call: Gary Cohen’s life behind the mic Elizabeth Swinton Sports Editor Gary Phillips Editor-in-Chief

Every sport has an offseason, but Gary Cohen rarely gets time off.

A 24-year veteran, the play-byplay man spends all months of the year behind a microphone. As SNY’s television announcer for the New York Mets and the radio voice of Seton Hall basketball for AM970 The Answer, Cohen is always on the call somewhere. He works other college hoops games, too, like the wild Kentucky-North Carolina Elite Eight matchup on March 26. That night he was on the dial for Westwood One. Cohen’s top priority is baseball, but he makes it a point to see some action on the hardwood. He welcomes the challenge of a tricky schedule that often overlaps.

“I’m actually really lucky the Mets and SNY have bent over backwards to allow me to do as much basketball as possible,” Cohen said.

Cohen has been on the Mets broadcast team since 1989 and

with SNY since 2006. As college basketball season ends, baseball season begins. Challenges start to arise for Cohen when spring training baseball starts in February and college basketball enters March Madness.

He missed just one game during Seton Hall’s regular season this year, but a problem would have come about if the Pirates had made the NCAA National Championship game on April 3 since that is Mets’ Opening Day. Before television, radio was Cohen’s first love. A graduate of Columbia University in 1981, Cohen got his first job in professional broadcasting in 1983 as the voice of Minor League Baseball’s now-defunct Spartanburg Spinners. Beyond baseball, Cohen announced games for ice hockey and college football.

After joining the Mets broadcast team, and before starting with Seton Hall in 2003, Cohen was the play-by-play announcer for St. John’s men’s basketball on WFAN. That’s what eventually led him to Seton Hall.

“I had actually been doing St. John’s for seven years, but that ended because they changed ra-

dio stations,” Cohen said. “Keith Meyers, who was then the Associate Athletic Director [at Seton Hall], reached out to me.”

While his work for the Mets may be more well-known to the public, Cohen finds his heart in college basketball.

“I love college basketball,” Cohen said. ”It’s always been a huge part of what I’ve done since I started as an undergrad at Columbia, and it’s probably my favorite sport.”

Dave Popkin, Cohen’s partner on The Answer, said the enthusiasm Cohen brings to a basketball broadcast is easy to notice. He said he gets a kick out of watching his partner in his element, especially in the closing minutes of tight games.

“It’s been an education for me working with him the last 14 years,” Popkin said. “Just to see the fervor with which he still prepares for and cares about every broadcast.”

Popkin went on to explain that both make it a point to listen to each other’s work away from The Answer. Despite being a Yankees fan, Popkin regularly tunes into SNY to hear Cohen.

Photo via SHU Athletics Gary Cohen has been SHU’s play-by-play man since 2003-04.

Cohen never planned to be on television. His radio success put him in high demand on the small screen, but it was the opportunity to join the Mets broadcast team that intrigued him.

“I’m a radio guy, that’s how I grew up. It’s only through the quirk of the introduction of SNY that I became a television broadcaster with the Mets,” Cohen

said. “I had resisted a lot of other opportunities to go to TV before that, so it’s a double bonus for me to be able to do these [Seton Hall basketball] games, because it keeps my hand in radio at a time when my day job is doing television.”

Cohen has spent 12 years in the SNY booth alongside analysts and

See Cohen, Page 15

A look into the baseball mind of Rob Sheppard Andrea Keppler Staff Writer Boxes filled with clothing – the word “beanies” partially scribbled on the side of some – sports equipment and much more linger around the cluttered space.

The floor is graced with a baseball, a black Under Armour backpack and several Rawlings baseball bags filled with beat-up bats.

Upon entering, one could have easily mistaken it for the inventory room of a Modell’s Sporting Goods store. In actuality, it is the office of Seton Hall baseball head coach Rob Sheppard.

To add to the assortment of objects in his unconventional office, there are keys, remotes, papers, folders, post-its, two pieces of whole wheat bread and paper cups scattered about his desk. An order form with “Baseball, Softball and Lacrosse Products” on the cover is sitting on top of a lineup card, but the biggest and most prominent object is the 2011 Big East Championship trophy shining at the far end of the coach’s desk.

The office explodes with baseball memorabilia and signs: Big East Conference trophies and autographed baseballs line the shelves. Plaques with baseball pledges read “Lord, in all I do in work or play, may I serve you every day,” and “Baseball player’s prayer.” In addition, an All-Big East Second Team trophy for Cullen Dana sits on the back shelf along with his teammate Shane McCarthy’s hardware, his All-Big East First Team award.

On this frigid morning in November, the Seton Hall community is gearing up for the opening game of the men’s basketball season later that night at historic Walsh Gymnasium. Even though Opening Day of the baseball season is months away, coach Sheppard is using the offseason to his full advantage.

One of his players stops by the office, and the coach directs him to a conference room downstairs in the Richie Regan Recreation Center.

“We have a number of guys if you’re talking [who] are draft-eli-

gible,” Sheppard said. “So we have scouts come in to get an opportunity to speak with them. The gentleman that came in is a former player that played here in the 90s, but now works for the Mariners.

So he’s coming back to talk to some of the guys. We’re trying to negotiate, navigate through that, too.”

Sheppard explains that throughout “my whole life, I’ve been surrounded by baseball.”

This office and his job are testaments to his words.

Despite the lack of cohesion or flow to Sheppard’s office, he is anything but scattered or disorganized. With baseball practically in his genes, he said he is creating a new chapter of the Sheppard baseball legacy at Seton Hall.

Sheppard succeeded his father as Seton Hall’s head coach in 2004.

“You could say I was born into it. As long as I remember, I was always on a baseball field,” he said.

“Born into” is an understatement: he, his older brothers and cousins have all played baseball at

the Hall, and his brother-in-law is the current head coach of the St. John’s baseball team.

One can only imagine holidays at the Sheppard’s with baseball talk and memories thrown around the dinner table like an inning-ending double play.

“You’d be surprised,” he said.

“It’s actually a little bit more normal than I think people would imagine. We talk a lot of other things. We really don’t talk much about baseball as much as people would think.”

Even though Sheppard’s family is living baseball day in and day out, the SHU head coach initially worked a career in finance. Sheppard said that his objective after graduation was to use his degree.

“I worked for a couple years and I had the opportunity to come back and get my MBA and at the same time be the volunteer coach here,” he said. “So one thing led to another.”

Like a player moving through a team’s farm system from Single-A ball to the majors, Sheppard worked his way up the ranks in

Seton Hall’s program. He was a volunteer, assistant and associate coach before becoming the team’s head coach.

“It was over a period of time, but I’ve always been around it. I didn’t necessarily have the thoughts I was going to be a coach in high school or in college, but as my career kind of moved on, that’s the path I ended on taking,” Sheppard said.

Seton Hall baseball associate head coach Phil Cundari has been working with Sheppard for more than 15 years and “one of the benefits of that is that we have a really good understanding of what he expects and what he wants as a head coach,” Cundari said. “At the same time, Rob has given me a great deal of freedom in terms of being able to do my job and my responsibilities” and “that’s a freedom that every coach would love to have.”

Sheppard’s philosophy for success in his tenure is simple: everyone has to be on the same page

See Sheppard, Page 15