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The Pace Chronicle Volume I, Issue XVIII
Inside News.....................1,3 Feature.............4 Health...................4,5 Opinion.........6,7 Entertainment....9,10 Sports.......11,12
Letter to the Editor
Pace University, Pleasantville/Briarcliff Manor, NY
Support for New Swim Coach Mixed Among Teammates
www.PaceChronicle.net
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012
Pre-Community Meeting Tests Security Response
Nicole Alvino Featured Reporter Nicole.Alvino@pace.edu
From Dean Lisa: GSA Opinion: Page 6
Pace Transportation Health: Page 5
Pace’s Director of Athletics, Mark R. Brown, came out to show support of his head swimming coach, after several team members indicated that they quit the team due to their coaches demanding approach. The five students who quit the team last semester levied certain accusations about their former coach, Sean Raffile, which included him belittling teammates, using inappropriate language towards his athletes, disregarding students’ obligations to various other school activities, and urging members of the team to put swimming before internship opportunities. Brown, who would not speak directly, released a statement in support of Raffile and the Athletic Departments decision to hire him in the beginning of the 2011-2012 season. Brown implied that the demanding approaches of Raffile where acceptable because of the results that the swim team has
Continued on Page 3 “Support for Swim Coach Mixed”
Photo by Michael Oleaga/The Pace Chronicle The Pre-Community Meeting prompted those in attendance to test the Code Blue Security boxes outside of the Kessel Student Center and Miller Hall, results of one pole station surprised students. Michael Oleaga
Editor-in-Chief Michael.J.Oleaga@pace.edu
Security response time was tested by students at the PreCommunity Meeting, hosted the Student Association (SA) on Feb.
15.
“The purpose of this meeting was to get as many students together as possible to organize their voice for Wednesday’s Community Meeting,” said junior communications student and SA President Kayla Turner, who noted last semester’s Commu-
nity Meeting lacked student attendance and participation influenced this new pre-meeting. Although several topics were discussed beforehand, the topic of Pace’s security involved par-
Continued on Page 3 “Pre-Community Meeting”
Dyson Professors Awarded for New Disease Treatment Samantha Finch
News Editor Samantha.Finch@pace.edu
Binge Drinking Dangers Entertainment: Page 9
2012 Oscar Predictions
Pace has been awarded for the hard work and research they have put forth into finding the first new treatment for the “sleeping sickness” also known as Human African Tryanosomiasis (HAT). Dyson Professors Cyrus Bacchi and Nigel Yarlett of the Haskins Laboratories on the New York City campus received the Project of the Year 2011 Award by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) for the creation of the first new drug for the HAT disease to be able to go to clinical trial in forty years. Created with the intention of finding the possible cures of lesser known diseases the Haskins Laboratory, a scientific research department, has been a part of Pace’s campus facilities since the 1970s.
Director for Haskin Lab and the Chemistry and Physical Sciences Department Chair Dr. Yarlett said, “Both Dr. Bacchi and I are very proud of our research with DNDi. It has been a stimulus to the lab, the lab staff and students involved with research. We all feel our work has truly helped humanity.” Dr. Yarlett has been with Pace since 1986 when he was hired as a research associate at Haskins Laboratories and an Assistant Professor in the biology department. The sleeping sickness HAT has infected nearly half-a- million people in sub- Sahara part of Africa. Though medication has been created in the past, the high amounts of arsenic made the drug more deadly than the disease over a period of time. In 1980, Dr. Bacchi discovered that Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) cured a model lab mouse which had the HAT
disease. Eventually science advanced and a safer medication was created which is still commonly used today and responsible for saving hundreds of lives. After many studies the medicine was administrated and the compounds successfully cured more than 90 percent of the human form of the disease. For the past few years, the research of the two doctors has expanded to find a potential new method that would ease the pain of both price and administration of the medicine. The laboratory has been working with the causative agent of HAT, Trypaosoma brucei, since 1975. Retired professor, Dr. Bacchi, said he is proud of the work the lab has accomplished and his hopes for the labs future include maintaining donations and funding. “I am proud the lab has had more than 30 years of continuous NIH grant funding and DNDi
funding for the last four years I sincerely hope that DNDi and other agencies will continue to fund the lab for many years to come,” said Bacchi. Junior environmental studies and biology student Kirstin Sandblom said, “As a student of Dyson, this development is very encouraging. It shows that what we are learning in class will give us a real opportunity to make a difference in the world.” With so many diseases in the world without medication it is important that the scientific departments of universities let their students know they can make a difference if they work hard towards a specific cause. “I think this life saving discovery will inspire the students of Pace to continue working hard because it they will see their own future potential,” Sandblom added.
Want to attend a Follow live taping “Anderson,” hosted by Anderson Cooper? See page 2. The ofPace Chronicle on Twitter: @PaceChronicle
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Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012
The Pace Chronicle Editorial Staff
PAC E U NIVER SITY
Would you like to see a taping of “Anderson” in New York City?
Michael Oleaga Editor-in-Chief
Michael.J.Oleaga@pace.edu Rose Fava Managing Editor
Tafasha Pitt Layout Editor
Erika Bellido Web Editor
Adam Samson Photography Editor
Kelly Povero Copy Editor
Mark Robertson Copy Editor
Samantha Finch News Editor
Alexandra Silver Feature Editor
Colby Hochmuth Delis DeLeon Entertainment Editor Health Editor Martin Totland Opinion Editor
Gabrielle Davina Columnist Editor
Susana Verdugo-Del Real Sports Editor
Operational Staff Sungi Clark Business Manager Shiga Sunny Circulation Melissa Recines Alumni Advisor Prof. Michael Perrota Faculty Advisor mperrota@pace.edu
Featured Reporters Derek Kademian Derek.H.Kademian@Pace.edu
Sign up to be part of the live studio audience for the tapping of two episodes of
Harrison C. Davies Harrison.C.Davies@Pace.edu
“Anderson”, hosted by CNN’s Anderson Cooper!
Nicole Alvino Nicole.Alvino@Pace.edu
When: Thursday, March 8th
Columnists
Bus leaves Briarcliff at 7 am and leaves Pleasantville at 7:15 am There are only limited spots available, so sign up now at: https://tinyurl.com/PaceChronicle-Anderson
CJ Dudek Christopher.J.Dudek@Pace.edu Ebony Turner Ebony.Turner@Pace.edu
Contributors
Dean Lisa Bardill Moscaritolo DeanLisa@Pace.edu The Pace Chronicle is published by Trumbull Printing: (203) 261-2548
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Written and edited by the students of Pace University, The Pace Chronicle is published weekly during the academic year. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of administration, faculty and The Pace Chronicle staff. The Pace Chronicle encourages responses to the opinions expressed herein, and welcomes letters and comments. The Pace Chronicle cannot guarantee publication of letters to the editor or unsolicited manuscripts, and reserves the right to edit or comment editorially on them. Appearance of an advertisement in The Pace Chronicle does not imply endorsements by the members of the editorial board, the advisor, or Pace University of the products or services offered. All photos and copyrights reserved unless otherwise indicated. Subscription and advertising rates available upon request.
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Health
The Pace Chronicle
Page 3
What’s Making News Beyond Campus? Samantha Finch News Editor
Samantha.Finch@pace.edu
Support for Swim Coach Mixed
...Continued from page 1
TRENTON, New Jersey - A bill legalizing same-sex marriage was approved by the New Jersey Assembly 42 to 33, but eventually voted by Governor Chris Christie the next day. This measure of voting power caused a confrontation with Governor Chris Christie, who assured weeks in advance there would be a swift veto. Two hours of debate passed by and the democrats supporting the bill encouraged the fellow members of the assembly to change the course of history. Earlier this month, Washington State legalized same-sex marriage this year. SYRIA - While reporting an assignment of the conflict in Syria, Anthony Shadid, a US foreign correspondent, died from an apparent asthma attack on Thursday. A New York Times photographer Tyler Hicks, who was with him, carried Shadid’s body over the Turkish boarder. The correspondent had a long written history, having his work published in The Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and the Associated Press for almost 20 years. Shadid was only 43 and was in Syria to gather information on the Free Syrian Army and other armed elements of resistance in the country. COMAYAGUA, Honduras - The thick flames of fire consumed the Comayagua National prison killing around 350 people last Tuesday, making the fire one of the most fatal disasters in the history of Honduras. The prison was extremely over-crowded with many inmates awaiting trial. According to government statistics released in September, only 53 percent of the prisoners in Honduras have been convicted of crimes. In the Comayagua Prison, less than half of their inmates have been convicted. Specialists from Chile and the US arrived in to the prison to assist with the investigation to find out what caused the fire. CHONGQING, China - The US has been the host for the past week to Xi Jinping, the future leader of the Chinese nation. For the citizens of China it is the political drama that is entering the country that could have the most impact on its future. The once secretive process of installing of a new generation of leaders in China has become more open. There has also been implication for American politics. Though dined by Washington, American Diplomats, and Chinese sources say that one of the chief figures in country sought asylum at the US Consulate but was denied because the US didn’t want to create a diplomatic crisis before Mr. Xi’s trip. The future of China is still very uncertain but it is clear that there are things that might change.
Photo by Jasmine Diaz/The Pace Chronicle Sean Raffile was hired as Pace’s new swim coach early last semester, and has split opinions among teammates.
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012
shown this year. “I’m certain all five athletes who chose to stop swimming did so for a variety of reasons,” Brown stated. “I would hate to group all of them together because I’m sure they had their own reasons why swimming was no longer a priority to them. Any time there is a change of leadership with any program, you expect a certain level of attrition. The coach did not recruit these students nor did the students expect to be swimming for him so this is very normal.” “In this particular case, the athletic department did not feel as though our swimming and diving team was performing in the classroom, in the pool, or in the community to a degree that we would expect them to. Therefore, when our old coach resigned, we looked for a coach who could improve our team in these three areas,” added Brown. Brown did not elaborate on the specific behavior issues that were present last year but he did express how they have stopped. “Our swim teams saw a significant improvement in the classroom this fall, most of our remaining swimmers have all posted personal best times and the number of campus behavior issues have all but stopped,” said Brown. Several attempts to reach Raffile were unsuccessful. Finally, a statement was given which did not relate to the student’s accusations against him. He went on to refer any questions to Brown and
News
Director of Athletic Media Relations/Communications John Tagliaferri. “Our team performed extremely well this year both in the classroom and the swimming pool by posting a fall semester team GPA of 3.44 for the men and 3.39 for the women. In addition to setting six school records, dozens of personal best performances, and achieving individual NCAA Championship qualifying standards,” said Raffile. Among the five student athletes who quit the swimming and diving team was international management student Baihua Yang DiPierto, a competitive swimmer for fourteen years, who said Raffile was her reason for quitting. “A coach is supposed to be your advisor and someone you go to when you have nowhere else to turn to,” said Yang DiPietro. “They should be there encouraging you, giving you advice in your endeavors and there to pick you up when you fall, but Coach Raffile failed to uphold his duties as a beacon of positive guidance in my life.” Yang DiPietro expressed her dissatisfaction with Raffile’s harsh language towards his players. One instance, which she recalled, was when she ran late to a practice. “I had been a half hour late to practice due to being at a Student Association meeting representing University Pan-Hellenic Council
Continued on Page 11 “Support for Swim Coach Mixed”
Pre-Community Meeting ...Continued from page 1
ticipation to test the Code Blue police call boxes outside of the Kessel Student Center and Miller Hall. This was prompted after senior criminal justice student and SA Vice President of Administration Fationa Mamo led discussion about security. “I know I brought it up with [University Security Director Vincent Beatty], and he said there’s just not enough staff,” said Mamo. “I think you should get more staff, and it’s something we should invest in. There should be security at entrance three, that’s the entrance most people can come in. Anybody can come into our school and do whatever they want. You think nothing bad can happen, but one can easily walk into our school and bang on the door in North [Hall] and walk in.” “Vincent Beatty came to our SA meeting and said we only had one crime on campus, when over the course of the year I reported two thefts,” said senior criminal justice student and SA Vice President of Finance Brian Keegan. “I had $3,000 of stuff stolen, and you tell me there was only one crime on campus?” More instances of theft were elaborated, from jewelry, pocketbooks, cameras, and iPods at either the Townhouses or cars. A total of 10 students were present for the Pre-Community Meeting in the Gottesman Room when it was decided to test out the Code Blue boxes. Although a few students sus-
pected that the response time would be slow, many were shocked to find out that the Code Blue unit outside of Kessel wasn’t working. Usually when the red emergency button is pressed on Code Blue, a member of security will speak through it, however, no response from security was heard. Students, including Turner, Keegan, and Mamo, walked to the Code Blue outside Miller. After a brief moment, security finally answered. Turner notified the security guard of the faulty Code Blue outside Kessel and stated he’ll note down that it’ll need repairs. Other concerns at the PreCommunity Meeting was housing conditions, primarily mold situations in Martin Hall and the Townhouses. Mamo commented a situation when some of her sorority sisters of Nu Zeta Phi got sick from the mold, causing one to be hospitalized due to allergic reactions. “It was a major concern,” said Mamo. “We contacted Residential Life, and maintenance was coming but they would never come. A month later when she was severely ill, her father called [Dean for Students Lisa Bardill Moscaritolo], and he was like ‘Listen, maintenance was suppose to come and get this fixed.’ The minute parents get involved, problems get solved.” Keegan suggested that maintenance requests be monitored similar to Information Technol-
ogy Services organize help requests. Other students commented on miscommunication between Residential Life and maintenance requests, with some suggesting Residential Life staff walkthrough and live the life of a residential student, and see the conditions of the bathrooms. Students at the meeting questioned if topics at last fall’s Community Meeting are being followed, such as additional transportation to the New York City campus and 24 hour service at Mortola Library. Sophomore criminal justice student Denika Desert suggested that if Mortola can’t be open 24 hours throughout the semester that it should during final exams. Behavioral issues among Chartwells workers and the quality of food and transportation was discussed; Turner stated that it will be addressed at Photo by Michael Oleaga/The the main Community Pace Chronicle Student Association President Kayla Meeting of Feb. 22.
Turner next to a broken Code Blue security box, outside Kessel.
Health
Health
The Pace Chronicle
Page 4
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012
New Diet Pictures Books Cause Controversy Are we taking weight loss too serious?
Delis DeLeon
Health Editor Delis.M.DeLeon@pace.edu
Maggie Goes on a Diet, a new children’s picture book, has caused an uproar for author Paul W. Kramer. His book is about a 14-year-old obese girl who loses weight in order to join her school’s soccer team and become popular. The book has faced controversy on whether or not it is sending a positive message to our youth as well as questioning which age group it is intended for. Although Maggie herself is 14-years-old, it is assumed that the book is intended for younger children, as teenagers themselves are no longer reading picture books by the time they are in middle school. Amazon is currently selling the book and recommends it for age’s four to eight. Although some believe the book sends a positive message about getting fit, staying healthy, and remaining positive, others believe it is sending out a different type of message to its readers. The cover of the book depicts an overweight teen staring into
a skinner version of herself in the mirror holding up her dream dress, which can be a bit discouraging to children. The book describes a young girl, Maggie, who is bullied. But through patience, exercise, perseverance Maggie turns into a rising athlete with tons of friends. Once she becomes “average” size she has high self-esteem. Many have argued that the book is promoting that the only way to be popular and/or happy is by being an “average” size. Critics are worried about the message we are sending potential readers. How will those children who looked like Maggie before her diet suppose to feel? Will this lead to an increase in suicide rates among children who are overweight? Most arguments are framed around the one page that had been revealed before the book was published. It shows an image of Maggie hunched over the fridge and binge eating in hopes of feeling better. Comfort eating is a method of coping in which many individuals take part. Whether it is because of stress, boredom, or loneliness, comfort eating is a way to pass
Photo from TopNews A new children’s book has stirred controversy about a little girl who tries on go on a diet. Is it sending a positive message to readers? the time or overcome the feeling. Many have experienced this feeling at one time or another, despite the fact that it is perceived in a
(
negative way. Opposition for the book Maggie goes on a Diet arose when it went on the market on Amazon
and Barnes & Noble.
Continued on Page 5 “Diet Picture Book Cause Controversy”
)
Faculty, staff and students comprise the Commuter Advisory Board. This group meets weekly to develop long-term strategies for commuter student success. The advisory board designs programs, examines policies and institutes practices which address practices that encourage full involvement in the life of the campus. They advise the administration and make recommendations to Student Affairs regarding commuter-related issues, thus strengthening the community among commuter students. MEETING TIME: Every THURSDAY at Commuter Lounge from 12:00PM- 1:00PM! Contact: Email: kk23681p@pace.edu Facebook Group: CABoard@groups.facebook.com
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Health
The Pace Chronicle
Page 5
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012
Health
Binge Drinking Dangers The Importance
of Male Self-examinations
Delis DeLeon
Health Editor Delis.M.DeLeon@pace.edu
Students in high school and college are more likely to abuse alcohol and engage in binge drinking more than any other age group. According to the Education, Training, and Research Associates (ETR), 61percent of people between the ages of 18 and 25 have admitted to binge drinking, which is defined as drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time, having a high blood alcohol level or experiencing problems as a result of drinking. The actual definition of binge drinking differs for males and females. While binge drinking for men is defined as consuming five or more drinks at once or multiple times during a two week period, drinking a total of four drinks or more in one sitting is considered binge drinking for women. However, one issue with these definitions is that they do not take into consideration one’s weight or how much time elapses in between drinks. Both of these variables can affect how intoxicated one becomes. Consuming alcohol in a short period of time can cause an impairment of judgment, coordination and delay reaction time. High blood alcohol levels lead to many negative consequences. The legal level is .08 percent of alcohol in one’s blood, but many people push beyond this with just four drinks in one hour. A study by ETR showed the effects of alcohol through a variation of blood alcohol levels (BAL). A blood alcohol level of .02 percent causes someone to feel relaxed and delays the reaction time a bit. A .04 percent BAL leads to a continuation of a relaxed state, but also begins developing the “buzz” which causes an even slower reaction time. A .06 percent BAL impairs one’s cognitive abilities, affecting their capability to make rational judgments and decisions and makes it more difficult to process information. At the legal BAL of .08 percent, one’s motor coordination diminishes which is why it is made illegal for someone to drive while
Delis DeLeon
Health Editor Delis.M.DeLeon@pace.edu
Photo by Adam Samson/The Pace Chronicle When it comes to classifying binge drinking, it actually depends on the gender of the drinker. under the influence. Alcohol may impair one’s vision and reaction time thus making it dangerous and even deadly to get behind the wheel. As one increases their BAL to .10 percent, there is a clear breakdown of judgment and coordination. This is when we notice the “sloppy” drunks who are falling all over the place or tripping while walking. Those who contain a BAL of .15-.25 percent have a risk of experiencing blackouts or memory loss and various injuries as their motor skills have already been impaired. Any amount higher than this can be deadly and may lead someone to lose consciousness. The lethal dose for most people is a BAL of .40-.45 percent. Binge drinking causes an increase in tolerance level, meaning that one will have to drink more to experience that same “buzz” that
they are used to getting. A high tolerance level can lead to many health concerns such as liver failure, but it also leads to a more expensive drinking habit as it costs more drinks for one to get drunk. It can also be warning signs towards a dependency on alcohol. Binge drinking can also lead to short and long term problems such as fights, injuries and maybe even death in more serious cases. It can also cause unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, rape, etc. People need to know that binge drinking is not the only way to enjoy a drink. Furthermore, it is important that people realize that there is no way to sober up quickly. All the myths of drinking coffee, vomiting, taking cold showers, etc. are false. In fact, a person’s body can burn .016 percent of their blood alcohol each hour.
Dieft Picture Book Cause Controversy ...Continued from page 4
Immediately, people started commenting on both sites boycotting the book and insisting that it be pulled from the catalogs. Objection for the booked even spilled over to social networking sites like the “Say No to Maggie Goes on a Diet” Facebook page or #savemaggie trending topic on Twitter. One Facebook user wrote, “Children should be encouraged to eat healthy and exercise, not to “diet.” Just because a person is overweight does NOT mean that that person is unhappy or un-
popular.” However, there are arguments in support of Kramer’s book. One Twitter fan wrote, “She’s 14, not 6. Are you seriously suggesting that, with the obesity problem in this country, that a book teaching children to exercise and eat right, is somehow IMMORAL? I bet you’re fat,” in response to one of the Kramer bashers. Kramer himself argues that he did not write the book to send a negative message to children. The idea he had in mind was for chil-
dren to go after their goals. Diet, he says, is not a bad word. “The main message was that Maggie went on a diet predominantly because she loves sports and wanted to be able to run faster, bend more easily and be better able to play sports more effectively,” said Kramer. One thing Kramer says he regrets is the significant weight loss difference illustrated on the book’s cover. He stated that he would have rather shown a Maggie who had lost 20-30 pounds instead of 50 pounds.
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Testicular cancer affects men the most from ages 15-34, and it is the number one tumor seen in men under the age of 40. If detected early on, testicular cancer may be 100 percent curable. Studies have shown that men who examine their genitals at least once a month are at a lower risk of contracting testicular cancer. Male self-examinations allow one to uncover possible health problems, such as testicular cancer, before they become severe. Self-exams can help identify unusual lumps or swelling in the testicles that may be a result of the early stages of testicular cancer or sexually transmitted diseases (STD). These exams take only a few minutes, but can make a vast difference in a man’s life. Although most lumps are not cancerous, it is important that they are examined by a physician. Young white males are most at risk for testicular cancer. Studies have shown that white males are four times more likely to develop testicular cancer than males of any other ethnicity. Those whose families have a history of testicular cancer should also be concerned, along with males who have been diagnosed with inguinal hernias. Doctors have found a direct correlation between inguinal hernias and young men with testicular cancer. The best time to administer a self examination is after a warm bath or shower. This is when your scrotum is soft and your testicles are hanging down away from your body which is the best position to examine your genitals. The heat from the bath allows the skin to relax and helps one concentrate on the texture underneath the genitals. The first step in examining your genitals is to roll each testicle between your fingers and
thumbs. Testicles may not be the same size. It is normal for one to be a little larger than the other or for one to hang lower than the scrotum. A normal testicle should be firm, egg-shaped, and about an inch and a half long. Any lumps or hard areas in the testicle should be examined by a doctor. It is important for a male to examine the skin surrounding the genitals, especially behind each side of the testicle. The skin should be soft, rope-like, and tender. Any detection of skin sores or bumps may be signs of an STD or cancer of the testicles. Skin on the actual scrotum and penis can also help identify serious health concerns. Rough bumps in these areas can indicate herpes, syphilis, or genital warts which should be treated immediately. Men who are not circumcised need to be cautious of examining the area behind their foreskin. Uncircumcised men should be frequently pulling back the skin and cleaning the area to avoid HPV, cancer of the penis, or genital lesions. If a male is experiencing painful discomfort in his penis, it is important to contact a physician. Men should be aware of their bodies and alert to any changes that may occur. Frequently examining the tip of the penis is recommended. If the area is red or painful, it should raise some concern, as well as any yellow or white discharge. These may be signs of STDs. Examining the groin is another essential step in detecting early health concerns. Lumps or swollen glands in this area are not normal and must be examined right away. The sooner males receive the care and treatment they require, the greater the chance of curing health issues. Men have saved their lives with self-examinations.
Health
Opinion
The Pace Chronicle
Page 6
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012
With Pace Transportation, You’re Better Off Walking Derek Kademian
Featured Reporter Derek.H.Kademian@pace.edu
Class starts at 6 p.m. It’s 5:35 p.m., and you decide to get to the shuttle stop a few minutes early because the week before, the driver left at 5:38 p.m. and you just missed it. Now, it’s 5:40 p.m. There’s still no shuttle; no big deal, the driver probably got caught in a little traffic. Now it’s 5:45 p.m. The shuttle’s still a no-show, and now you’re getting nervous. At 5:48 p.m., the shuttle finally appears. After stopping at Memorial Plaza it’s now 6:05pm, so your plans to be prompt for class have been a complete failure. So what should you do next time, get on the 5:20 p.m. shuttle? An impractical suggestion, but is it the solution? Every Pace student knows that the shuttle service between campuses is almost always a random and unorganized solution for transportation. Oddly enough, after adding more scheduled drop offs to the spring schedule, the Pace transportation system remains severely lacking. Maybe instead of scheduling more often, they should focus on being on time.
Personally, I know I’m not the only one that is affected by this because it seems to be common topic amongst other students. Many students have reported that while going through driver changes, the drivers converse for several minutes and consequently delay the bus even further. The only viable excuse for these drivers is that “there was traffic,” but at 9 p.m. on a Monday there isn’t any traffic; in fact it wouldn’t be odd if you didn’t see any cars on the road at all. Some commuters taking the Metro North have also taken notice that the shuttle schedule posted at Memorial Plaza has not been updated since last year, causing confusion. These are very simple things that are not worth such an enormous headache. You would think that after years of running the service, something like delays would be unimaginable and a rarity. It isn’t like everyday there’s a new route so drivers need to be extra cautious. In some instances I’ve watched drivers going 20 miles per hour in the 30 miles-per-hour speed zone. I’m not saying they should be speeding, but at least
Photo by Michael Oleaga/The Pace Chronicle Pace transportation has received criticism from passengers. The main criticism from students is the inability for drivers to maintain the driving schedule, causing students to be late for classes or miss the Metro North. going the speed limit would be nice. In the time between writing this article, three out of four times I took the shuttle there was some
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sort of delay. When asked about the ongoing delays, the Pace Transportation Services said that they’re working on creating a “student
USA, Not the Greatest Country on Earth Martin Totland
Opinion Editor Karl.M.Totland@pace.edu
Enhance your Job Opportunities with Workplace Skills Spring 2012, Term B, Online 3/7 to 5/8: Adv Spreadsheet Skills – CIS 122 (22828) – WWW Adv Presentation Skills- CIS 123 (22937) - WWW Social Media – CIS 133 (22938) – WWW Summer 1, 2012, Online: Adv Spreadsheet Skills- CIS 122 (22828) – WWW Adv Presentation Skills- CIS 123 (22937) – WWW Database Applications Skills- CIS 141 (22829) – WWW 2 Credits each – Online - CIS 101 Prerequisite
Contact your advisor or Tricia Brogan PBrogan@pace.edu 914-773-3527
group” which would address the problems that students have. Hopefully that will bring us a step closer to a more reliable transportation service at Pace.
There is a pervasive idea that the United States of America (US) is the “Greatest Country on Earth.” The general populace is constantly reiterating it and approximately 100 percent of all politicians has said it publicly at least once. It’s just that by all objective standards of measurement, the US indeed is not the greatest country on earth. In a sincere effort to euthanize this perplexing myth, allow me to list a few reasons why. 1. The US is number four on the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI): The HDI lists relative measures that indicate the so-called greatness of a country. It includes life expectancy, literacy, educational standards, child welfare, and other standards of living. Currently, the US ranks fourth on this list, behind Norway, Australia, and the Netherlands. 2. The US Education is ‘Average’: The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranks education standards among 70 different countries. Comparing the reading, math, and science skills of 15-year-old students around the world, in 2011 the US placed 14 for reading skills, 17 for science, and 25 for mathematics, which is
below average. For contrast, your northern neighbor Canada’s 15-year-olds are more than one school year ahead in math and more than half a year ahead in reading and science proficiency. This marks a drop for the US from “top rated” to “average” according to the OECD. Ironically, although American students rank low on math skills, they rank first in confidence, having more confidence in their math skills than students from any other country. 3. Healthcare: According to a 2010 study by the Commonwealth Fund, the US ranked last among seven industrialized nations when it comes to the quality of its healthcare. In terms of healthcare quality, efficiency, ease of access, equity, and the ability to live long and healthy lives, the US ranked behind Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom (UK). Additionally, US citizens have the hardest time, on average, affording necessary healthcare, ranking last on every measure of cost related access problems. Finally, according to a 2009 report by the Legatum Institute in London, the US ranked dead last among 27 developed nations in terms of healthcare quality. Ac-
Continued on Page 7 “USA, Not the GreatestCountry on Earth ”
ealth HH ealth
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The Pace Chronicle
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012
The G-Spot B : G y
Ebony Turner
Featured Columnist Ebony.Turner@pace.edu
Hide Your Wallet, Hide Your Purse: America’s Fear of the Black Male What is 40 Acres and a MacBook? Whether it’s the questionable news headlines on Fox News or when we walk into Kessel and see all the same kids sitting comfortably on opposite sides of the cafeteria, it’s time to stop ignoring racial issues within our youth with our 40 acres and a Macbook - a modernized compensation for the world in which we are forced to live in. It is the only reason why taxis drive by them when there is no customer in their obnoxiously yellow vehicle. It is the only reason why three or more of them walking down a sidewalk will subconsciously force those of the other race to change direction and speed. It is the only reason why even just one of them standing in the elevator will spark a wallet and phone check amongst everyone upon leaving. The reason is he is a black man living in America. It goes without saying that the black male image is still, in many ways, intimidating. Whether it is their skin tone, the confidence that transcends amongst most belonging to the race or the stereotypes that society continues to encourage, black men are a species to be feared. The only way to euthanize their presumed character is if they water their “blackness” down (i.e. changing their speech, way of dress). This has been the mission of society since the days of slavery; the only difference is that it is not incorporated into our legal system as it was from 1860 to the late 1960s. After the Nat Turner rebellion, the image of the black man
as dangerous, angry and intimidating rose to new heights, and something needed to be done to ensure that blacks never gained enough courage to rebel again. The “Black Codes” were a set of laws for slaves that sought to limit the basic human rights amongst black people, especially black men, seeing as though women did not have many rights. One of those “codes” was that blacks were not allowed to congregate unsupervised or act in a disorderly fashion in public. Blacks were also told by their masters that slavery was a blessing from God, because it tamed them of their wild and disorderly ways when in Africa. The image of the monkey has been used as a way to defame the black man, claiming that he is wild and aggressive, and has features that physically resemble a monkey. Many racial slurs toward blacks have succeeded in hurting our community, but the monkey image is one that still exists today and was even used in a cartoon about President Barack Obama. All of these methods of suppression sought only to eliminate the qualities of our culture that made us who we are so that we could blend in with the rest of a
society that still wished to plague us with their prejudices and ignorance. This same black code has been ingrained in our society’s minds for centuries, and has manifested into innocent black men being brutalized, tormented and harassed by law enforcement for fitting the profile of an individual they do not resemble. This same black code has manifested into our media with black male actors frequently taking on Oscar winning roles as aggressors rather than nurturers. Even our President cannot get the respect he deserves from his own colleagues enough to be addressed by his position or not get interrupted during his political addresses (See: Representative Joe Wilson calls Obama a liar during his political address). It is ironic how history repeats itself: rather than accepting a person for who they are we disrespect them as a way to kill our own feelings of inadequacy. There is not a code in the world or a yellow taxi in the land that can keep a black man from being who he is. However, there are many minds in this world that can change how they respond to him.
Letter to the Editor DEAN LISA BARDILL MOSCARITOLO Contributor DeanLisa@pace.edu
To the Editor of The Pace Chronicle, [February 12], The Pace Chronicle noted that the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) equality poster was ripped in half over the
weekend. This poster was created by many students over the past week to demonstrate Pace’s support for equality and respect for all students. It is unknown why this poster was torn. We are investigating this situation. Any acts of hate and bias including destruction of property will not be tolerated. Intentional destruction of property
against a protected group is in violation of the Pace University Hate/Bias-Related Crime policy as noted on page 149 in our online student handbook (www. pace.edu/student-handbook). If anyone has any information related to this incident, please contact the Affirmative Action Office at 914-773-3856 or Security at 914-773-3700.
abrielle
Fpinion eature OOpinion
Davina
“Withholding Sex as Punishment” What’s The-G-Spot About? "College is run by sexual tension. Many of us like sex, have sex, and have walked in on our roommate having sex. Why ignore it? Let’s be honest instead. In college, learning doesn’t only happen in the classroom, it happens in the bedroom. Don't be shy, now, welcome to the G-Spot." - Gabrielle Davina I tried to find an anecdote to start the column off this week, and it was a total failure. The topic is withholding sex as a punishment - something I’ve never done, but have heard guys and girls alike talk about it happening to them in the bitterest of tones. I couldn’t do it. If I’m in a relationship with you (or sleeping with you at all) then I am sexually attracted to you in all moods and at all points of the day. Withholding sex from you is withholding sex from me. Why would I punish myself? The answer is simple: I wouldn’t. There must be a more reasonable means of negotiation. Talk out your problems or go in separate corners for a while if you need to, but do not withhold sex as a means to penalize your partner unless you’re ready to bear the negative repercussions. Withholding sex as punishment attaches the wrong feeling to sex: resentment. Sex is supposed to be an overall positive experience, one that’s shared with your partner and based on consensual interest. Why turn pleasure into a weapon? Your partner probably won’t see it as a challenge or something to win back like you hope. Instead, they’ll see it for what it is: manipulation. Last time I checked, manipulation is not a turn on and emotionally abusive. Leaving someone feeling emotionally violated and blue-balled is a great way to become single or lonely again. Executing this kind of manipulation also has the ability to backfire in epic proportions. For one thing, what if your partner does it back?
You might think you’re only going to withhold sex for a week, but he or she might extend it to a month out of anger and aforementioned resentment. Sex isn’t the be-all-end-all of a relationship but it’s generally an important part of intimacy. Hanging it above each other’s heads and trying to one-up one another when you could be making fantastic in-bed memories is shortchanging your true intimacy—true intimacy being the respect and appreciation between you. On top of that, if he or she isn’t getting it from you, they’re going to get it from somewhere eventually. Sexual frustration and contempt are a powerful and dangerous combination. If you disrespect your partner, they will disrespect you. Besides, if you want to get your partner to do something or hear you out, you’ll probably be more successful after they get off. Post-orgasm, great chemical things are going on in your brain and body that make the world look a little brighter and life seem that much more wonderful. Your partner will probably be a little more receptive to your wants and needs (unless you’re just straight up nagging) after sex simply because they’ll be in a happier more cheerful mood. Important to note is that I’m not talking about cutting off sex to bring the passion back via foreplay and I’m not suggesting anyone have sex when they don’t want to have sex. Commodifying sex objectifies you, angers your partner and fractures intimacy. Make love, people, and not dysfunctional disrespectful sexual relationships!
Follow The G-Spot’s Gabrielle Davina on Twitter! @gspotcolumn
USA, Not the Greatest Country on Earth ...Continued from page 6 cording to the report, “dissatisfaction with their overall health is dragging down Americans’ sense of well-being…” 4. Safety: The Institute for Economics and Peace releases an annual report called the Global Peace Index, which ranks the relative safety of 153 different countries based on variables such as crime, terrorism, and respect for human rights, among others. In the 2011 ranking, the US came
in at number 82, behind countries such as Iceland - taking the no. 1 spot, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Canada, Australia, the UK, France and many others. 5. Government Corruption: Transparency International is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that indexes countries based on public-sector corruption. The US placed at 24 for the 2011 ranking behind several European and Scandinavian coun-
tries. In the Legatum Institute’s report for 2010, the US ranked 16 for governance, “indicating that Americans believe that there is too much corruption in their government and sometimes doubt the honesty of elections.” 6. Unemployment & Debt: The CIA World Factbook listed American unemployment at 9.1 percent for 2011, which puts the US at the 104 spot, behind countries such as Czech Republic,
Bulgaria, and France. Additionally, at the time of this writing, the US has a national debt of $15.3 trillion. The US also had its longterm credit rating downgraded from AAA to AA+ by Standard & Poor’s last summer, which indicates that that it is now less safe to invest your money in the US than it used to be. While there are many variables to take into account, this ought to make it clear that the
USA isn’t the “Greatest Country in the World.” An average public education system, expensive and inefficient health care, government corruption, a less-than-safe society, and high levels of unemployment and debt makes it unequivocal that the US has miles to go before it can declare itself the greatest country on Earth.
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Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012
Entertainment
Is a Silent Film Really Going to Win Best Picture? 2012 Oscar Predictions Mark Robertson
Copy Editor Mark.S.Robertson@pace.edu
Don’t feel bad if you can’t name the nine films nominated for Best Picture at this years Oscars. A lot of the nominees in all the major categories are unheard of. In fact, you may not even care who wins. There’s something different about this year. No, it’s not that the rules keep changing and there are nine nominees for Best Picture. It’s because there are no really exciting nominees. Although they didn’t win, people were rooting for big-budget films like ¬ Avatar and Inception these past two years. The highest grossing film nominated for Best Picture this year is The Help. There’s just no comparison. While it’s probably not going to be receiving the highest honor of the night, it’s pretty much set in stone that The Help will be honored for its performances, mainly in the Supporting Actress category. Octavia Spencer won both the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award for her performance as the maid Minny Jackson, and it will be a surprise if she doesn’t take home the gold. Spencer’s biggest competition is fan-favorite Melissa McCarthy for her hilarious and raunchy performance in the hit comedy Bridesmaids. McCarthy’s popularity has skyrocketed in the last year and people would love to see her success continue, but in this case, it really will be an honor for her to have been nominated. Another potential, but unlikely threat is Spencer’s co-star in The Help, Jessica Chastain. She may be a fresh face in Hollywood, but Chastain gave three well-received performances in in 2011, including The Help, Take Shelter, and The Tree of Life. Other nominees include Bérénice Bejo for The Artist and Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs. Like Supporting Actress, the winner in the Best Supporting Actor category is also a lock. Veteran actor Christopher
Photo from Collider.com (Pictured Above) Nominated actress Meryl Streep aims to add another Oscar to her list of accolades at the 84th Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 26. Plummer, who was nominated in the same category just two years ago for The Last Station, has already won the Golden Globe and SAG awards, which are basically prerequisites to winning the Oscar. Plummer is nominated for his role in Beginners, in which he plays Ewan McGregor’s terminally ill and fresh out-of-thecloset gay father – Also known as the perfect equation to winning an Academy Award. If anyone is going to beat Plummer in this category, it will be Kenneth Branagh for playing acting legend Laurence Olivier in
My Week with Marilyn, but this is highly unlikely. Jonah Hill (Moneyball), Nick Nolte (Warrior), and Max von Sydow (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) complete the nominees for Best Supporting Actor. While the winners in both supporting categories are set, the winners in the lead acting races are completely up in the air. The nominees for Best Actor are split between heavy hitters Clooney, Pitt, and Oldman, and foreign newcomers Jean Dujardin and Demián Bichir. Sorry Brad, Gary, and Demián, but with Cloo-
ney winning the Golden Globe and Dujardin winning the SAG award, it is a fight to the Oscar between these two actors. Clooney’s film, The Descendants, and his performance have been receiving praise for months even prior to awards season, which made him the likely winner for a long period of time. This was, of course, until the SAG awards a few weeks ago, when French actor Jean Dujardin beat Clooney for his silent leading role in The Artist. Clooney won Best Supporting Actor in 2006 for his role in Syriana. For the Academy, it may be
Act of Valor is Breaking New Ground Harrison C. Davies
Featured Reporter Harrison.C.Davies@pace.edu
A new feature film titled Act of Valor is founding a new term in film business and bringing audiences into a world not yet uncovered. Filmmakers Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh, and Jay Pollak have coined the new phase “Action Realism” which in its entirety combines very plausible themes of everyday life and places them in the backdrop of a fictional storyline. In this case Act of Valor takes on the plot of a Navy SEAL squad
who take on a covert operation to rescue an abducted CIA officer, while also taking down terrorists who aim to strike America. The story is as enticing and realistic as they come, but Act of Valor does not stop there as the entire assembly of protagonists is played by real-life active Navy SEALs which gives this film rich and philosophical authenticity not yet truly examined in motion picture history. What is further so poignant about this film is that it takes on such an exciting plot and the acting is so top notch that it’s hard to believe that Act of Valor is not the product of everyday Hollywood
and instead was an independently financed and produced picture, which initially was unable to find a studio willing to green light the script. And it is a good thing it did, because Act of Valor combines everything which makes a movie great including a fine storyline concept, extremely believable performances by amateur Navy SEALs and professional actors alike, high genuine production value depicting every day armed forces battle action, and of course the newly designed genre “Action Realism” which would be remarkable if it does not catch on as a new trend in modern filmmaking.
Photo by Harrison C. Davies Featured Reporter Harrison C. Davies at the premiere of Act of Valor, directed by Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh.
too soon for him to win another Oscar, although he has been nominated three times since then for his leading roles in Michael Clayton, Up in the Air, and now, The Descendants. Although it is time for Clooney to be recognized for his work as a leading man in Hollywood, this category will most likely be reminiscent of the 1999 Best Actor race, in which Italian actor and first-time nominee Roberto Benigni (Life is Beautiful) beat previous two-time winner Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan). That’s right, many of you probably don’t know who he is, but Jean Dujardin is expected to win this year. His surprising win at the SAG awards will weigh heavily on his chances here. “There is no doubt in my mind that Jean Dujardin is going to win Best Actor,” said senior communications major Rebecca Pepe. “The Artist will be the big winner of the night.” Other actors nominated in this category are Brad Pitt (Moneyball), Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), and Demián Bichir (A Better Life). If one close race isn’t enough, Best Actress has its own battle being fought between Meryl Streep and Viola Davis. In The Iron Lady, Meryl Streep completely transforms and delivers a powerful and emotional performance as Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of England. In The Help, Viola Davis plays the fictional character Aibileen Clark, a long-term maid and nanny who strays from this role in society. Now, let’s break it down. This is Meryl’s 17th nomination. She has only won two Academy Awards to date, and her most recent win was in 1983 for Sophie’s Choice, which was also the only recognition she received as a Lead Actress. Streep has been nominated four times prior to this in the past 10 years alone for films including The Devil Wears Prada
Continued on Page 10 “2012 Oscar Predictions”
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2012 Oscar Predictions ...Continued from page 9 and Julie & Julia. Streep plays a real person in The Iron Lady, and the “real person” generally always wins at the Oscars. Six out of ten of the most recent Best Actress winners won for playing real people, but the Academy is also not fond of giving an actor or actress three Oscars so easily. Should Meryl Streep win? Of course! Will she win? Sadly to say, probably not. Despite winning the Golden Globe, Viola Davis took home the SAG award, which is often a more concrete indicator. This is Davis’ second nomination. In 2009, she was nominated for her supporting role in Doubt, in which Meryl Streep was her co-star. Her film this year, The Help, also has four nominations, including Best Picture, which means that the film is loved by the Academy and they will be more willing to give its leading lady the statue. If Viola Davis does win, this will also be the second time in the history of the Oscars that an African American will have won Best Lead Actress. Best Actress is full of other very strong contenders this year, including six-time nominee Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), Mi-
chelle Williams, for playing the iconic Marilyn Monroe (My Week with Marilyn), and Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). However unlikely, any of these women could pull a potential upset. As previously mentioned, due to newly instated rules, there are nine nominees for Best Picture of the Year. In order to sort through them and find out which films truly stand a chance, it’s important to match up the nominees in this category to those up for Best Director. With that in mind, Midnight in Paris (nominated director: Woody Allen), The Artist (nominated director: Michel Hazanavicius), The Tree of Life (nominated director: Terrence Malick), The Descendants (nominated director: Alexander Payne), and Hugo (nominated director: Martin Scorsese) are the five films that are really capable of taking home the biggest prize of the night. This year, though, it’s not difficult to predict the winner. The Artist has received critical praise these past few months because it is a motion picture that pays homage to the classic silent films of the 1920’s. The Artist is a black and white silent film itself, and will be the second silent film to
Photo from AwardsDaily.com Despite it being a silent film, The Artist has the chance to capture the Best Picture award at the Academy Awards. ever win Best Picture – 84 years after the silent film Wings won in 1929. In reality, no other film stands a chance. The Artist is nominated for ten Academy Awards. The only other film that beats that record this year is Hugo with 11.
If any movie were to steal Best Picture from The Artist, it would be Hugo, but it did not win any Golden Globe or SAG awards. The four remaining nominees for Best Picture include The Help, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Moneyball, and War
Horse. Tune into the 84th Annual Academy Awards Sunday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. on ABC to see Host Billy Crystal and to find out who will be taking home the biggest prize in Hollywood – the Oscar.
Celebrity Killer: Prescription Drugs Colby Hochmuth
Entertainment Editor Colby.A.Hochmuth@pace.edu
With the recent passing of Whitney Houston, as fans, we’re forced to ask, “What went wrong?” It has become a trend for celebrities to start using drugs, go to rehab, and then be praised or Marilyn Monroe: She was found dead in her Los Angeles home at the age of 36. The toxicology report showed high levels of barbiturates, which was ruled a “probable suicide,” but many believe the overdose was accidental. Jimi Hendrix: The accidental death that claimed his life at 27 was caused by “inhalation of vomit” after taking the sleep aid aecobarbital. Whitney Houston: Houston was found in the bathtub in her hotel room in Los Angeles, dead at 48. Sources say her death was a result of mixing prescription drugs with alcohol.
glamorized for it. Unfortunately, another trend has also started; death by prescription drugs. Just because they are legal does not mean that pharmaceuticals are any less dangerous than illegal types of drugs. When combined with other drugs or alcohol they can be potentially deadly. The trend started with a young Marilyn Monroe.
Whatever type of drug taken, the bottom line remains that the death could have been prevented. Stardom has led many individuals to have a false sense of security, and when their fiscal means are unlimited, so can their drug habits. No matter how legal prescription drugs are, they can still be extremely dangerous, and take lives far too early.
Anna Nicole Smith: She died at the age of 39 from what was found to be “acute combined drug intoxication.” She was found in a Florida hotel, and the coroner reported there were 11 different drugs in her system.
Michael Jackson: While he might not have died because of the deliberate taking of a prescription drug, Propofol is still a medicine prescribed by medical personnel. Jacksons doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray was arrested for murder for administering dangerous amounts of this drug to Jackson.
Heath Ledger: When Ledger was found dead in his New York City apartment at 28 years old, the medical examiner found a total of six prescription medications in his system and ruled that that was his cause of death.
Elvis Presley: He has the record for the largest amount of drugs in his system, with a total of 14 different prescription drugs. He died from cardiac arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat, which doctor’s claim was caused by the drug usage. In the eight months prior to his death, Presley had been prescribed between 5,000 and 10,000 pills.
Photo by Adam Samson/The Pace Chronicle
Over 40,000 people in the United States die of prescription drug overdose each year.
Have a Comment? Why not write a Letter to the Editor? Email at PaceChronicle@Pace.edu. It may even be shown in next week’s edition.
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Tough Break for Men’s Basketball ...Continued from page 12
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012
Sports
Sports on the Side:
What Jeremy Lin Can Teach Us about Success CJ Dudek
Sports Columnist Christopher.J.Dudek@pace.edu
Photo from CSI-Photo (Archives) Setters lost two away games last week in Northeast-10 conference games. night and stick to Coach Harter’s game plan and execute.” Although these losses on the road has impacted Pace negatively, they were predicted to finish thirteen in the conference and have proved everyone wrong as they are currently in fifth place and with a bye on the first round of playoffs. When Pace took on the Panthers of Adelphi on Tues. Feb. 14, it became a wild and close game as they lost by only six points. Pace began with a slow start
allowing Adelphi to take a lead early in the first half but regained movement when they scored points on the basket that turned into a close game at the end of the first half, with Pace down 33-27. In the second half, Pace battled for points and they were aggressive with their defense to stop the Panthers from scoring. To the last second, it was an intense game with both wanting the win and knowing they could take on the other team. In the end, the Panthers came
to a victory but with a scare as Pace had a strong, assertive performance from several Setters. Williams finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds while guard and communications graduate Kevin Clark added 12 points for the night. Merceus contributed with nine rebounds and seven points. Primus-Devonish had six points, three assists and two rebounds. Alston pulled through six points, seven rebounds, and two assists.
Support for Swim Coach Mixed ...Continued from page 3
(UPC) that had ran late, and when entering practice with a note from Shawn Livingston, Associate Director of Student Development and Campus Activities, Coach Raffile told me ‘this wasn’t a legitimate excuse and it would be marked as an unexcused absence.’” According to Yang DiPietro, Raffile proceeded to say, “I don’t care about your sorority [explicit]! This is a [explicit] illegitimate excuse so get off my pool deck!” Another former team member, sophomore communication student Brandon Georger quit the team due to a choice that he had to make. He was either going to take an opportunity he was awarded to intern at the European Music Awards in Ireland and miss some time with his team or stay apart of the swim team. Georger would have flown out of the country for free and would have received credits to work with MTV UK in London and Ireland. “My coach, Sean Raffile, said that I would have more opportunities and that I am just a sophomore,” Georger said. Georger then emailed his whole team along with the head of the communications depart-
ment, asking all for the permission to participate in this opportunity, all supported him in his decision. “I had a substantial athletic scholarship and with the support of my parents, fraternity brothers, and teammates I made the decision to quit the Swim Team and attend my internship,” said Brandon Georger. “Now without a scholarship, I have to take out loans, and I was able to accomplish my dream, and it has led me to an awesome internship this summer with Lady Gaga’s Public Relations team.” “I miss swimming, but my coach was an [expletive]; coming in after being selected to be our coach in August. Mind you Raffile was one out of five applicants, and the remaining four declined because Pace chose too late,” said Georger. “He was the only option, and it made many people leave the swim team, which was one of the best athletic teams at Pace last year.” The other three students who quit the team were unavailable to give a statement. After coaching for this season, Raffile has increased the swimming team’s grade point average.
The athletic department is thrilled with his performance as a coach. “Coach Raffile has been a tremendous asset to Pace,” stated Brown. Childhood education student Thomas James Virgona, a current member of the swim team explained how he doesn’t find his current coach to be a problem. He feels Raffile’s coaching style is different but it wasn’t bothersome to him. “Coach Raffile approached Pace’s Swim Team with different a coaching style from our old coach, Bill Natlo,” said Virgona. Virgona added that the numbers on the team decreased slightly, but this was not a direct correlation to Raffile himself, but members on the team making lifetime decisions for example, internships or the nursing program. “They decided that those priorities outweighed swimming in itself,” he continued. For some, the Athletic Department’s decision to hire Sean Raffile was a success, for others their passion for swimming and hopes to continue swimming competitively ended up coming to an unexpected end.
The story of Jeremy Lin’s journey to the NBA is a fascinating read. Lin went to Harvard until 2010, when he applied for the NBA draft. The point guard did well in his summer league games, yet he went undrafted. He signed with Oakland, California’s Golden State Warriors’ summer league team that same summer, yet he got cut. Lin went on to sign with the Houston Rockets summer league team hoping for better luck than he had in Golden State, but Houston cut him too. After Houston, Lin got picked up by the New York Knicks; his third team in two years. He came off the bench against the Warriors, yet he got sent back down to the D-League. His final stint in the D-League was short lived. Lin got recalled on Jan. 23, 2012 and started in his first game against the New Jersey Nets on Feb. 4. Injuries reduced the Knicks to Tyson Chandler and four other guys wearing the orange and white jerseys. The team’s disappointment had knocked the wind out of the fan base. New York’s tabloids called for Mike D’antoni’s head to be delivered to Times Square and served on a Sabrett cart for the fans to devour. Everything about the Knicks appeared to be going wrong. And then Lin put up 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists against the New Jersey Nets for the win. In Lin’s second game, he put up 28 points, two rebounds, and eight assists in a win against the Utah Jazz. The following night, Lin recorded his first career doubledouble (23 points, 10 assists) against the Washington Wizards. And in a matchup against Kobe Bryant and the vaunted Los Angeles Lakers, Lin put up 38 points, four rebounds, and seven assists. After just four games, Lin has become the temporary king of a pretty rough sports town. The Knicks have put together a four-game winning streak with Chandler, Lin, and three other guys wearing the orange and white. New York’s recent run has pole-vaulted them into eighth place in the conference ahead of the injury-plagued Milwaukee Bucks. Lin’s story has become something of an urban legend in the New York media; getting told and retold, each time the storyteller getting just as captivated as the listener. Lin’s story is far from over, and we don’t know if future chapters will be as captivating as this
one. Still, what happens when Lin misses game winning shots? Or his production drops when Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire come back from injury? Or when he gets frequently hurt? Or he announces that he is taking his talents to another team in an hour-long television special? Or if he is secretly involved in some kind of illegal underground activity, such as betting on games he plays in? If two of those things happen at the same time, Lin’s success will be forgotten. The city’s new-found love for him will turn to spite. And the very same architects that built him up will tear him down just as quickly. Such is the Jekyll and Hyde sports world we live in. One minute a nice story like Lin may blossom into a beautiful flower. The next, the same hand that watched that flower grow could crush it because a few petals fell off. It happened before to countless athletes and will continue to happen long after this generation is gone. It’s engraved somewhere within our society to build up the figures that entertain us, pester them until we discover their faults, and hatefully rip them from the very pedestal that was built for them. Just like the others, Lin’s success is primarily defined by the fans who watch him. Good play will shoot him past the moon and up to the stars. A dip in production can quickly turn into a bottomless pit of ridicule and torment, or like in some cases, Lin could simply get shot at the stars and vanish into the vacuum of space. There are two exceptions to this norm: the rare athlete who never does anything wrong and ultimately raises to immortality and the humpty dumpties. The immortals of the game are the ones that fathers tell their sons about--the athletes who were unconquerable. A group of select few that get awards named after them and their own TV. The humpty dumpties are the stars who rise to the top, fall off the wall, and get put back together again by all the kings horses and all the king’s men; the cracks are always there, but they are masked extremely well by their play. There is no guarantee regarding Lin’s future. One thing for certain is that Lin will shed the “flavor of the month” status and gets categorized. When this will happen we do not yet know; yet the certainty is irrefutable. For now, we can enjoy Jeremy Lin as the nice story that he is and worry about a legacy later.
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Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012
Sports
Tough Break for Men’s Basketball Susana Verdugo-Del Real
Sports Editor Susana.VerdugoDelReal@pace.edu
Pace traveled to Assumption and Adelphi to take on away Norhteast-10 (NE-10) conference matches and lost 67-62 against the Greyhounds and 5650 against the Panthers. With the loss against Assumption on Sat. Feb. 18, the Setters are now placed 11-10 in NE-10 records while they drop 13-12 in overall standings. It was a hard loss since the Setters started off so strong early in the first half and maintained a headstrong game performance tallying up points even if they were not leading score-wise. Solid performances were conducted by the Setters that ended a close game at the halftime break with Pace down 32-25. The second half came in and
the Setters had every intention of taking control of the game and grab a lead from the Greyhounds. Pace came close to taking a lead but Assumption, with home-court advantage, got their act together and began to score towards the end of the half. Offensively, Assumption led the way as Pace missed more shots than the Greyhounds. For Pace, junior forward and business student Keon Williams led the offense with 18 points and eight rebounds. Sophomores forward and criminal justice student Jon Merceus added 17 points and four rebounds, and guard marketing student Denzel Primus-Devonish contributed with 13 points. Senior guard and criminal justice student Justin Alston finished with eight points, five rebounds, four steals, and two assists. “It was Assumption’s senior night and they were pumped and fired up. Our Athletic Director,
Photo from CSI-Photo (Archives) Pace’s mens basketball team are 11-10 in Northeast-10 conference play after facing Adelphi and Assumption last week. Mark Brown, was there and we loved his support. We were in the game the whole night, it was a tough one that we let slip away. We beat them in the beginning of
the season and we can beat them again. We just need to be focused,” said Williams. “It’s tough because all of these games are on the road, and with Le Moyne on
Monday we need to match their energy level as it’s their senior
Continued on Page 11 “Tough Break for Men’s Basketball”
Setter Spotlight with
Denzel Primus-Devonish Susana Verdugo-Del Real
Sports Editor Susana.VerdugoDelReal@pace.edu
As a sophomore point guard and marketing student, Denzel Primus-Devonish has most certainly turned heads at Pace with his fast and aggressive moves on the basketball court. Only two years in, Primus-Devonish has determined a major, but his main goal is to continue playing the sport he was destined to stay with: basketball. Because he used to play soccer, he has developed an incredible ability to move quickly on the court, and has a keen-eye that makes plays happen. This talented point guard has every potential to take the men’s basketball program to the next level. Pace Chronicle (PC): Why did you come to Pace from Maryland? Denzel Primus-Devonish (DP): The coach came all the way down to visit me and gave me a scholarship. My parents thought it would be a good opportunity. PC: How does your hometown compare to Pleasantville? DP: It really doesn’t compare to it. I think the environment is more relaxing up here. PC: Why did you decide to major in marketing? DP: It was the only major I was really interested in when I came to the school but now I’m minoring in psychology. PC: How did the name “Sugarfoot” come about, and how do you feel about it? Do people call you other nicknames? DP: I guess it was from Kevin Hart - “Seriously Funny.” I got it last year; it was because I liked to dance all the time. I don’t mind it because it’s pretty funny. The other nickname I can think of is “Zel.”
PC: Have you struggled to adjust at Pace at all? DP: Yes, my freshmen year with the early workouts and the classes at nine took me a while to get used to. PC: What are your individual goals to finish this season? DP: My individual goals at the end of the season is getting quicker, jumping higher, working on my game, and getting bigger. PC: Why do you play basketball instead of another sport? What was the deal breaker in choosing basketball? DP: I mean I played soccer and then I just got tired of it. I used to play basketball outside all the time. I just fell in love with it. It gave me a challenge. PC: I am amazed by your quickness on the court, how are you so fast? What is your secret? DP: I think it’s just natural. I have always been this quick. If anything, my secret is playing soccer at a young age and learning how to accelerate at any given point, learning angles.
PC: What is your favorite aspect about being a point guard, specifically?
Photo by Adam Samson/The Pace Chronicle DP: You’re the quarterback of Sophomore marketing student and basketball point guard Denzel the team; everybody looks at you. Primus-Devonish, this week’s Setter Spotlight. You basically control the game with your defense and offense. around nine when I first lost inter- the next two years? est in playing soccer. Everyone feeds off of you. DP: My plans for the next two PC: Why do you wear #1?
DP: All throughout high school I wore the number 10 and my senior year I decided to wear one instead, and I had the best year, so I just ran with it. PC: You have pretty much been a starter since your freshmen year, and very well earned. How does that influence your playing and how much pressure is that on you? DP: I mean, it’s a little bit of pressure but I just try to go out there and play hard every game. It doesn’t really affect my playing if I start or not. PC: Were you always a guard? When did you start playing basketball? DP: Yes, I have always been a guard. I started playing basketball
PC: How do you prepare yourself for game days; any routines?
DP: I just go with the flow; basically I try to eat three hours before the game. I try to get to the gym, get ready, and just listen to music until game time. PC: You missed the opportunity to go to Brazil over summer because of a shoulder surgery, what happened? DP: Out the blue my shoulder got hurt and it got worse and worse. No one knew what it was so I went to the hospital and they said I had bacteria in my shoulder, which was causing inflammation. They didn’t know where I got it from, but I had surgery and now it feels a lot better. PC: You have two more years of eligibility, what are your plans for
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years is to become stronger, faster, and more of leader on the court. I want to work on my game more so I can have more moves. Just to work hard basically so I can help my team win a championship and win NCAA. PC: What are your long-term goals, like after graduation? DP: I wish to play overseas but if that doesn’t work out I want to work in the marketing field.
PC: What is that one game you will never forget? Why? DP: The one game I will never forget is the game this year when we beat Bentley. I felt like that’s the game that turned our season around. PC: What are you most proud of? DP: Getting to where I am right now.