AS
CELEBRATING 101 YEARS
1916 -
2017
™
NEWS:
GROUP WANTS
TOBACCO
PRODUCTS
UP IN SMOKE
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HIGH PROFILE
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PAGE 9
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS
| FREE TUITION
Excelsior
Scholarship
Receives
Lukewarm
Sentiment
By ELISE COOMBS
Students from households earning less than
$100,000 will receive free tuition at Univer-
sity at Albany this fall, but they will be bound
by a set of requirements.
The free tuition as part of the Excelsior
Scholarship will require students receiving
the money to take 30 credits a year and live in
state after graduation.
The scholarship is like a contract, accord-
ing to SUNY Student Assembly President
Mare Cohen
“T think students are going to look at it and
recognize that they’ re entering into some-
thing of a contract,” he said.
For instance, if students receiving the
Lalso scholarship move
4 4 don’t
out of state after
graduation, they
plan on taking
will have to pay
back the scholar-
classes over op in the form of
aloan.
the summer to © sone say this
meet the credit requirements rea-
sonable, but others
minimum say itis unfair for
because I plan__ students.
Cohen is one
on working on
. who disagrees with
a consistent
the in-state living
. requirement.
basis — connor “Sie need to be
BUCCI, freshman supporting students’
economics major access to higher
education without
strings attached,”
he said.
Cohen believes that if students receive a
job offer in another state, they should feel
free to accept it.
On the contrary, the chair of the univer-
sity’s economic department said that the
requirement is reasonable.
“Entirely from a fiscal balance-of-the-
budget perspective, it makes sense to do what
they’ re doing,” said Adrian Masters.
Masters said that the in-state requirement
creates the potential for students to remain in
Please see TUITION page 3
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017 ISSUE 10 ALBANYSTUDENTPRESS.NET
Tyler A. McNeil / Albany Student Press
INTERIM’S NEXT TITLE UNCLEAR
AS SEARCH NEARS FINAL STRETCH
By TYLER A. MCNEIL departure to lead dual roles as chancellor
of the University of Illinois Urbana-
Champaign and vice president of the
University of Illinois System. A search
committee was formed thereafter.
“I did not expect to like it so much
when I took it, but I’m having a great time
Please see STELLAR page 2
names into a presidential search unless
a waiver is provided by the Chancellor.
Stellar’s request, sent over the winter, has
not been granted.
Stellar was appointed under these
guidelines by the SUNY Board of Trust-
ees in September before Robert Jones’
Interim President James Stellar wants
to lead the University at Albany under a
permanent title.
But under SUNY policy, interim lead-
ers are prohibited from throwing their
| HEALTH
[=e
‘ACDOH
VACCINE
CLINIC
Tyler A. McNeil / Albany Student Press
Mumps Cases Grow
Eight students have been infected with mumps, a sharp rise in cases since the virus was first reported at the University at
Albany less than two weeks back.
_ SUNY
Board Taps Engineer for Chancellor
Source: Wikipedia Commons
PRINTED BY THE TIMES UNION, ALBANY, NEW YORK — A HEARST CORPORATION NEWSPAPER
appointed its new chancellor.
Kristina Johnson, a former
undersecretary for the U.S.
Department of Energy, was
tion. She will succeed Nancy
Zimpher who has served as
chancellor since 2009.
Following her appointment,
Johnson said she was excited
and grateful to be in Albany,
has a background not just in the
physical sciences, but education
as well.
Johnson is the founder and
affairs at John Hopkins Univer-
sity. Also, she was the dean of
Duke University’s School of
Engineering and a professor at
the University of Colorado at
Boulder.
by just having one discipline,”
she said, emphasizing the need
for not just research, but teach-
ing, education and outreach. “I
This philosophy is one of the
reasons she stood out amongst
other applicants for the position.
According to SUNY Trustee
Chairman Carl McCall, she is a
leader and entrepreneur in both
By LINDSEY RIBACK and “have the opportunity serve Due to this wide range of private and public sectors.
a system in a state whose gov- previous positions, Johnson is Another distinguishing
The changes keep com- emor has put higher education aware of the need for an inter- characteristic of Johnson is her
ing. Just two weeks after front and center of his agenda.” _ disciplinary approach to any commitment to diversity, equal-
free tuition was approved for In addition to serving as un- _topic, especially whenitcomes _ ity and inclusion as noted by
SUNY andCUNY schools, the —_dersecretary, the Colorado na- to higher education. both Zimpher and Trustee Marc
state-wide university system tive who was bom in St. Louis “Youcan’tbuildacompany Cohen.
“[She’s] the right leader to
keep SUNY at the top of its
game,” Zimpher said.
Besides continuing to pro-
appointed as the 13th chan- CEO of a hydroelectric com- do think technical is one path mote diversity and inclusion,
cellor for the nation’s largest pany and has served as provost —_but it’s not the only path tothe one major challenge Johnson
public higher education institu- and vice president for academic _future of jobs.” could face is enrollment.
SUNY -wide, enrollment has
declined roughly 15 percent
in the past year from 442,940
in 2015 to 436,138 in 2016.
Please see JOHNSON page 2
NEWS EDITOR: LINDSEY RIBACK
THEASPNEWS@GMAIL.COM
NEWS
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS
STELLAR
Continued from Page 1
doing it, so if it was offered, that’s the position I would
choose -- president,” said Stellar.
SUNY has not yet provided a comment.
Should Stellar not be waived to apply -- which faces
increasing odds as presidential finalists are set to be vet-
ted before month’s end -- he has considered taking on an
administrative research role or teaching in the psychology
program. His future would be sealed by the next president.
Despite a waning window, a growing online movement
is afoot to throw Stellar’s name in the pool. Last week,
Erica Swatson released a petition on change.org advocating
for Stellar to be considered in the presidential search. So
far, the appeal has received over 700 signatures
The petition is not only set to be delivered to SUNY
governance, but also Russell Reynolds Associates, the
$245,000 capped search firm, and Michael Castellana, chair
of the presidential search committee.
“Interestingly, as potential applicants request infor-
mation on the position, a common question relates to the
eligibility of the interim, if one exists,” said Castellana in
an email. “Where there is not an exclusion of an interim,
the pool is often dramatically reduced for [the] obvious
reason of fairness.”
He continued: “As Provost, Interim President Stel-
lar had an opportunity to be considered for the permanent
position but chose instead to be the interim and he has done
an excellent job of keeping the momentum of the university
in anticipation of our 20th president.”
Stellar arrived at the university in 2015 as senior vice
president for Academic A ffairs and provost. In that role,
Stellar helped launched two STEM colleges set on thrust-
ing Jones’ enrollment goal of 20,000 students by 2020
and securing university identity -- which took a blow after
the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering left
UAlbany.
Francis A gyemang, 2013-15 Student Association presi-
dent, signed on to the petition based on his own experienc-
es with Stellar over a year before stepping in Jones’ shoes.
Agyemang has lauded Stellar in the past for supporting
UAlbany’s Minority Association of Pre-medical Students.
“T think it would be the biggest mistake we have
made,” said Agyemang about not waiving Stellar.
In early December, SA unanimously passed a resolution
asking for Stellar to put his name forward. It also called
for the University Council to recommend him to the Board
of Trustees. Stellar would be best fit to continue university
expansion, the resolution argued.
UA bany has had recurrent leadership shifts over the
last 13 years: two officers-at-large, four presidents, and
three interim presidents (George Philip served as both in-
terim and permanent president). Karen Hitchcock was last
university president to serve more than three years.
According to Jenna Ashley Robinson, president
of the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, a
higher education reform hub in North Carolina, frequent
tumover can hinder administrative initiatives.
“So I think that the upshot of all of that is that you’ re
going to have a lot of time being spent where either you're
searching for a new leader or that leader is trying to get a
feel of what is going on in the institution,” said Robinson.
Michael Christakis, vice president of Student A ffairs,
has experienced nine changes in leadership while working
in the department. This round, he believes the university
has landed on stable ground left by Jones.
Under Jones, UA lbany pushed several multi-million
dollar construction projects, partnered with Albany Law
School, and buoyed intercollegiate athletics.
“In a lot of ways, the search itself, the way it’s been
framed, my hope and general thinking is that candidates
will be attracted to the University at Albany because of that
momentum,” said Christakis.
RENOVATION
Podium Door Upgrade
Planned for Summer
By MAC BULLOCK
As part of the on-going effort to
modernize campus, the University at
Albany is in the process of receiving
new doors.
The university's Facilities Man-
agement team is replacing the exte-
rior doors of buildings on the podium,
which have a reputation for being
heavy and difficult to open.
“This project will replace sets of
1960’ s-era steel exterior door systems
on the Academic Podium,” reads
the initiative’ s webpage. “Replac-
ing these doors is a core deferred
maintenance need as they are in poor
condition and continue to provide
ongoing maintenance and operational
challenges to the University.”
As well as being infamously
heavy, the doors do not meet the ac-
cessibility standards of the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The Facilities Management team
plans to replace the existing doors
with “lighter, easy functioning alumi-
num/glass panel doors.”
The replacement doors will be
similar “in style and function” as the
ones at the entrances to the Campus
Center, the University Library, the
Fine Arts building, and the Arts &
Sciences building.
Podium buildings slated for the
renovation include the Biology,
Chemistry, Physics, Education,
Social Sciences, and Humanities
buildings, as well as the Performing
Arts Center.
Construction has already begun on
the north and east entrances to the So-
cial Sciences building, and the project
is expected to be completed during
the fall semester.
In addition to replacing the doors,
the project will include “installation
of motorized door operators at some
locations,” as well as cosmetic reno-
vations to the vestibules between the
exterior and interior doors.
Tyler A. McNeil / Albany Student Press
Roughly 60-year-old hefty Campus Center doors latched onto the Education Building facing the Campus
Center.
JOHNSON
Continued from Page 1
However, there is speculation that the Ex-
celsior Scholarship plan, which will provide
free tuition for SUNY and CUNY students
whose families make under $125,000 a year
attending SUNY and increase enrollment
numbers.
Regarding the scholarship program, John-
son said, “I think it’s very exciting one of
the things that really attracted me to the
position, the ability to work towards mak-
ing higher education more affordable.”
She noted that an estimated 80,000 students
are eligible for the scholarship, with half
currently pursuing aid under TA P.
“There could be another 40,000 students
and I'm excited about those students having
an opportunity to get a higher education,”
she said.
The former under secretary takes office
Sept. 5 and there is speculation that Zim-
pher will find herself on the University at
Albany campus.
According to Michael Parker, the associate
director of communications, in the original
appointment letter from when Zimpher
assumed the role of chancellor, she also
accepted a position with the School of
Education.
“The information that I’m getting is from
her original appointment letter ... I cannot
confirm what her plans are,” he said.
by 2019, will gamer a newfound interest in
CRIME BLOTTER
DRIVING WHILE IN-
TOXICATED
4/21/2017
Western Ave
Report of a female
student driving while
intoxicated. Vehicle was
towed and an arrest and
a referral were made.
DRUG COMPLAINT
4/21/2017 1
Colonial Quad- Livings-
ton Tower
Report of odor of mari-
juana. Nothing found.
PETIT LARCENY
4/21/2017
Dutch Quad: Bleeker Hall
Report of stolen pre-
scription medication.
UNLAWFUL POSSES-
SION OF MARIJUANA
4/22/2017
Indian Quad- Oneida Hall
Report of a male
student with marijuana
paraphernalia.
AGGRAVATED UNLI-
CENSED OPERATION
OF A MOTOR VEHICLE
4/22/2017
Empire Commons Lot
Report of a male subject
driving with an expired
inspection sticker, a sus-
pended license, an ac-
tive warrant out of New
York City and in posses-
sion of marijuana.
PETIT LARCENY
4/22/2017
SEFCU Lot
Report of a stolen ban-
ner from SEFCU.
ARSON
4/23/2017
State Quad- Irving Hall
Report of a fire in State
Quad by an unknown
subject.
HARASSMENT
Downtown Campus-
Phillip Schuyler
4/23/2017
Report of a male subject
and a female subject in
an altercation.
CRIMINAL POSSES-
SION OF MARIHUANA
4/23/2017
Alumni Quad- Brubacher
Hall
Report of a male subject
and a female student
smoking marijuana in
public. The female stu-
dent was referred.
CRIMINAL NUISANCE
4/23/2017
Indian Quad- Montauk
Hall
Report of odor of mari-
juana in a male students
room and a covered up
smoke detector. An ar-
rest was made.
FIRE ALARM
4/23/2017
Alumni Quad- Pierce Hall
Caused by a hairdryer.
FIRE ALARM
4/23/2017
Indian Quad Tuscarora
Hall
Caused by marijuana
smoke.
CRIMINAL POSSES-
SION OF MARIJUANA
4/24/2017
Liberty Terrace North
Report of marijuana us-
age. Upon arrival there
was an odor, however
there was no contra-
band and all three male
students admitted to
smoking.Referred for
same.
POSSESSION FORGED
INSTRUMENT
4/24/2017
Freedom Quad- Truth
Hall
While on patrol RO de-
tected odor of marijuana
and was granted entry to
student room. Marijuana
was surrendered and
one of the three male
students was found to
be in possession of a
forged ID. All three par-
ties referred for same.
GRAND LARCENY
4/24/2017
State Quad- Eastman
Tower
Report taken for stolen
property.
UNLAWFUL POSSES-
SION OF MARIJUANA
4/25/2017
Colonial Quad- Livings-
ton Tower
Odor of burned mari-
juana found while on
routine patrol. Entry to
room and search was
allowed by the two male
students. Marijuana
and marijuana parapher-
nalia was confiscated.
Referred for same.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
4/25/2017
Indian Quad Cafeteria
Report of male non-stu-
dent damaging property
of female student and
throwing her against
a wall before fleeing.
Description of sus-
pect given, Affidavit of
ownership of damaged
property completed, and
domestic incident report
filled out.
FIRE ALARM
4/25/2016
State Quad- Anthony Hall
Fire alarm result of
cooking. AFD arrived and
the scene was cleared.
MEDICAL INCIDENT
4/25/2017 1
Dutch Quad- Grounds
Report of male stu-
dent unconscious after
another player landed
on him while playing flag
football. 5-Quad and
GEMS responded, stu-
dent regained conscious-
ness and was then
transported to hospital.
POSSESSION FORGED
INSTRUMENT
4/27/2017
Podium Business Admin-
istration
Report of a female
student in possession
of marijuana, mari-
juana paraphernalia and
alcohol. A referral was
made.
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS
NEWS
EDITOR: STEFAN LEMBO-STOLBA
THEASP.EIC@GMAIL.COM
3
TUITION
Continued from Page 1
for students to remain in state
after graduation, which could
generate more tax revenue for the
state.
Echoing support of the
requirement, Student Association
Vice President Colin Manchester
said, “New York state taxpayers
are bearing the cost of this.”
By making sure students
don’t leave the state right after
graduation, they would be able to
give back to the state’s economy,
Manchester said.
The other requirement of tak-
ing 30 credits a year will motivate
students to complete their degree
on time, according to Cohen.
“This is a completion-driven
scholarship,” he said.
However, some students
won't qualify for the scholarship
because they are not taking 30
credits a year, like Connor Bucci,
a freshman economics major with
a minor in political science.
“T also don’t plan on taking
classes over the summer to meet
the credit minimum because I plan
on working on a consistent basis,”
Bucci said.
Bucci is in the 3+3 program
with Albany Law School and
came into UA lbany with at least
30 credits.
In the 2012-2013 undergraduate
bulletin, the university reported
that 55 percent of freshmen enter-
ing in fall 2007 graduated in four
years.
While Cohen expects timely
graduation rates to increase, he
also expects the number of univer.
sity applications to increase.
However, the effect on the
university is not yet certain.
Masters said the university will
face the question of where the
money for tuition will continue to
come from.
Since the scholarship will be
paid for out of state general funds,
or revenues, Masters said that the
scholarship could end up paying
for itself when students pay taxes
after graduation.
Even with this, the professor
said the scholarship could take a
while to benefit the state, but that
the effectiveness may be hard to
detect.
“It’s very hard to monitor
whether it’s paying for itself or
not,” Masters said.
The university has been in
contact with SUNY administration
regarding the scholarship every
week, according to Sandra Starke,
vice provost and associate vice
provost for enrollment manage-
ment.
Starke said that the university
is still waiting for more informa-
tion from the Higher Education
Services Corporation.
In the meantime, the 30-cred-
it requirement will “certainly help
more students focus on graduating
within four years,” Starke said.
This coming year, the scholarship
will cost $163 million, which is
0.1 percent of the state’s budget
for fiscal year 2018.
Approximately 76 percent of
students statewide will qualify for
Tyler A. McNeil / Albany Student Press
New York State is the first swwtate to have tuition-free public higher education for both colleges and universities. Exactly 76 percent of
students statewide will qualify for the scholarship, which translates to over 940,000 families.
the scholarship, which translates
to over 940,000 families.
But with the requirements in
place, senior Karman Lipscomb
acknowledged that the scholarship
must have passed as a result of
some negotiations.
Speaking to the requirements, Lip-
scomb said, “Unfortunately, that’s
just how our goverment runs.
They give you something, but
they need something back.”
| TECHNOLOGY
New York Makers Plan Busy Summer
By YOSHI NEILSON
Hudson Valley
Three hundred and fifty organizers attended the first Maker Summer Calendar + Weekly, Tour the Maker’s Lab, Hurleyville
New Y ork State Maker Summit in Albany on March 24. + May 27: Arts and Crafts Fair, New Paltz
President Obama’s Senior Advisor for Making, Andrew + June 17: Great Hudson River Revival, Croton-on-
Coy, in his keynote address, pointed out how the move- Capital Region Hudson
ment emphasizes the theme “create vs consume,” and how + May 3: IGDA Albany Meeting, Troy Start-up,
makerspace members share technologies and tools to help Glens Falls Maker Space Central and Western NY
one another build “creative confidence.” Making is “telling + August 27: Troy Mini Maker Faire + Walk-in innovation coaching in Media, Arts,
a story and making mistakes, drafting and iterating.” Games, Interaction and Creativity (MAGIC)
The 1950s recreation center is being replaced with the Downstate + May 13: Super Cool Indie Arts, Syracuse
2010s technology center. New definitions of success em- + Monday and Thursday Craft Nights: NYC Resis- + May 20: Buffalo Mini Maker Faire
phasize how local collaborative efforts solve local prob- tor + June 3: Ithaca Kinetic Sculpture Derby
lems. Makers see limitations as strengths. New Y ork now + May 18: NYU Game Center Student Show + June 30: Wizarding Weekend, Ithaca, application
hosts 70 maker spaces, in school campuses and non-profit + June 3: SLIME, Students of Long Island Maker for exhibitors/makers due
buildings. “It’s all about community,” said Dan Schnei- Expo, Garden City
derman, President NY S Maker Network, “and inclusive + June 10: Eastern Long Island Mini Maker Faire, North Country
diversity.” Those who volunteer to lear a little, learn to Port Jefferson Summer, Creative Entrepreneur + May 9: Creating a Makerspace Culture in Y our
volunteer a lot; both benefit themselves and their commu- Bootcamps, Westchester CC Summer, STEM Sum- Classroom, Plattsburg
nity. mer Camp, NYC
GET PAID $12 AN HOUR.
ONCE A WEEK.
DELIVER THE ASP.
Talk to us at theasp.eic@gmail.com
Let’s kick some ASP.
ASP
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS
HAVE A NEWS TIP? EMAIL US AT THEASP.EIC@GMAIL.COM
EDITOR: ILENE ROTHMAN
OPINIONS.ASP@GMAIL.COM
4
CLUBS
OPINION
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS
Martial Arts Club Fuses Different Histories
By EVE BREWER
Capoeira was created in the early 16th
century by A frican people enslaved in
Brazil. Itis a fusion of various martial arts
practices from different African peoples
who were placed together on plantations,
unable to communicate except in the lan-
guage of their oppressors. People practiced
capoeira in secret, disguising the deadly
martial art as a harmless dance routine,
training to become strong enough to revolt
and escape slavery.
After slavery was banned by Princess
Isabel of Portugal, some capoeiristas used
their talents for evil, becoming mob enforc-
ers called capoeira maltas, and in reaction
the Brazilian govemment banned the prac-
tice of capoeira. It continued as an under-
ground sport until capoeira master Manuel
dos Reis Machado, also known as Mestre
Bimba, started a school to teach a variant
of capoeira he called Luta Regional Baiana
(regional fight of Bahia). The cultural elite
learned capoeira from Mestre Bimba, and
capoeira lost its association with organized
crime; it became legal in the 1940s.
Since then, capoeira has spread world-
wide. Though its roots are in Brazilian cul-
ture and Portuguese remains the language
in which capoeira moves are named and
capoeira songs are sung, practitioners come
from all over the globe.
“This is true and not true,” according to
Eng Wen Ong, founder of SUNY Albany’s
own capoeira club. The history of capoeira
is murky, since it was passed down from
teacher to student as an oral tradition for
many years. The details of the story above
may be exaggerated, but most of the history
is true. Ong, who also goes by the capoeira
name Cegonha, learned capoeira in his na-
tive Singapore. Six months before he started
school at the University at Albany, the
mestre— “master,” an experienced capoei-
rista who teaches others-- who had run the
capoeira club left and the club fell apart.
Cegonha had no choice but to start a club of
his own.
Each meeting of the capoeira club begins
with song. The club members stand in a
circle and sing in Portuguese, accompa-
nied by handclapping and either Cegonha
or his co-instructor Nick Moskwa on the
berimbau. This instrument is a wooden bow
strung with wire salvaged from a car tire,
with a hollowed gourd-like fruit as a reso-
nator. It is played by tapping the wire with
ashort stick, while holding a metal disk and
asmall shaker in the same hand. Though
the berimbau does not feature in the earliest
depictions of capoeira, it has become the
official instrument of the dance-like sport.
The songs are composed specifically to
accompany capoeira; one sung by the group
at Albany, “Capoeira Mata Um,” is about
the oppression faced by the slaves who
invented capoeira and their proficiency with
the sport. The title translates to “Capoeira
Kills One.”
“The goal of capoeira is to hit your face!
The goal of not dying after that is to protect
your face!” as Moskwa put it while leading
the other students in basic capoeira moves.
He joined Cegonha’s group in fall of
2015, and found he was the most advanced
student. This led to him becoming a co-
instructor.
Currently, the capoeira club has about
a half dozen members. Their practice ses-
sions, every Monday at 6 p.m., attract a lot
of rubbemecking and many people who
attend one meeting and then never return.
Cegonha and Moskwa intend, if they can,
to continue the club over the summer and
in future semesters. But to do that, they say
they will need more members.
Eve Brewer / Albany Student Press
Nick Moskwa demonstrates capoeira
techniques at a practice.
MUSIC
Pep and Marching Band are Part of the Sports
Culture, Create Supportive A tmosphere
By ELENA POLLACK
ne of my favorite parts of foo
basketball games is getting to hear what
new musical performances the marching
and pep bands have practiced. It adds some-
thing extra to the games, and I love seeing
all the ways people can get involved with
our sports teams without having to be an
athlete themselves! According to Mack-
enzie Trpcic, an athlete on the women’s
basketball team, the bands gives her team.
“a sense of the home crowd.” But what does
it mean to be a part of the Marching or Pep
Bands?
From the band’s perspectives, it’s an-
other home. It’s a place where music lovers
and at UAlbany can gather together and
share their passions with newfound friends.
“T really enjoy the entire pep band as
a group,” junior Ben Shiller said. “It’s a
group of talented musicians who are show-
ing their spirit every game to make the
experience that much more fun.”
Junior Erin Lynch, the section leader,
loves the friendships she’s made over the
last three years.
“Band is one of the few places you get
to interact with people from all walks of
life and all different majors on this cam-
pus, which means you open yourself up to
friendships you never would have had the
opportunity of making.”
Joining the band is also a great way of
connecting with the athletes. Heather For-
ster, Trpcic’s teammate, loves the support
and enthusiasm the band provides.
“Not only do they use their free time to
cheer us on at every home game, but they
also made the long bus ride out to Maine
to support us. The pep band has made up
cheers for all of our players, posters for the
championship game, and cheered us on at
every game. I don’t think there’s anything
they haven't done to show their support for
Oftentimes, it’s the band members that
are the biggest fans. Obviously, students
and community members come to the
games and support the athletes, but it’s the
musicians who put in hours and weeks of
practice for their performances, just like the
athletes.
“The bands are a part of our team and our
basketball culture and without them, there
wouldn't be the atmosphere that they help
to create,” Trpcic said. “Also, I do love it
when they battle against a visiting band.”
Charlie Voelker, the associate athletic
director, is incredibly proud of the bands.
“They've been a huge help to our atmo-
sphere at our games. Kevin Champagne
[the band director] has done an awesome
job,” Voelker said. “I wish we had 500 band
members, because they’ re so enthused and
they’re so spirited. I think they represent a
lot of what being a student is all about. Not
everybody plays sports. But you can be a
part of it without playing sports, and they’ re
really a big part of it.”
Champagnes said the members of the
band should have musical experience,
although it’s not the be-all-end-all.
“The music we play is generally no
harder than what they may have played in
a high school pep band. There's just a lot
more of it,” Champagne said. “Every year
we've had marching band we've had begin-
ners. By the end of the semester they’ re as
good as everyone else.”
Joanna Bemabei-McNamee, head coach
of the women’s basketball team, said the
band creates a “sixth man” and gives UAI-
bany a “winning atmosphere.”
When asked what impact she felt the
bands had on the school, Coach Mac said,
“A collegiate band really sets you apart
from other schools because true school
spirit and camaraderie shine through a
great band - like the one we have here at
UAlbany.”
“The band really pulls everyone in and
creates an electrifying atmosphere,” Coach
Mac said.
It’s safe to say, the band is doing its job
to everyone's liking.
Tessa Schaal / Albany Student Press
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For Summer.
Albany students, headed home for the summer break?
If so, enroll in Summer Session at Suffolk County
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Both the eight-week and first five-week sessions
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CINEMA
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS
“THE CIRCLE” IS EASILY 2017’s
MOST DISAPPOINTING MOVIE
By DANIEL RUSSELL
Adapted from the 2013 novel of
the same name, “The Circle” hit
theaters this past weekend. Directed
by James Ponsoldt, the film revolves
around a young woman named Mae
(Emma Watson) who starts working
at the eponymous social media
company, founded by the charismatic
Eamon Bailey (Tom Hanks). As Mae
gradually becomes acquainted with
her colleagues and responsibilities,
she finds herself questioning the moral
standards regarding privacy in the
digital age, as well as a possible cover-
up by the company. The result here is
easily one of the most disappointing
movies of the year that drops the ball
in almost every way, and may even be
the worst film of the year so far.
One of the film’s most noticeable
errors is in the direction and editing,
both of which never really seem to
make up their minds. There’s some
interesting ideas brought up by the
film regarding the intentions of the
company, but the film shies away
from this, focusing largely on subplots
that Mae is always the center of. The
subplots themselves are shoddily paced
and edited as well, with long stretches
of time placed between them and the
main story that aren’t weaved together
very well. This all culminates into a
climax that occurs just for the sake of
ending the film, and doesn’t focus very
much on the scenes before and after its
“big” ending. Another 15-20 minutes
or so could’ ve been added to the film
to make its ending more effective, but
it ends rather abruptly, leaving much to
be desired.
Going along with
the editing aspect,
the film’s tone has
some issues as well.
The film goes back
and forth between
attempting to be
a comical satire
in the same vein
as an episode of
“Black Mirror,” and
attempting to bea
conspiracy thriller.
The film tries to be
the former towards the
beginning, but there’s
times where scenes are
too drawn out to be
considered comical,
and even comes off as
cringy on occasion.
When the film makes
the transition to the
latter, the stakes don’t
feel earned, and the
result is a “thriller”
that doesn’t really
have any thrills.
The performances
here range from
passable to poor.
Thankfully, Emma Watson is passable
as Mae, and Hanks is good as Eamon
(is he ever not?). Unfortunately, most
of supporting cast is either wasted,
or turns in less than satisfactory
performances. The most notorious
of which is Ellar Coltrane as Mercer,
a friend of Mae’s. He functions as
someone who serves as an interesting
opposite to the tech revolution going
on, but Coltrane comes across as too
angsty and overdramatic at times.
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Karen Gillan stars as Annie, one of
Mae’s friends and coworkers. She
appears in and out of the movie, and
can’t seem to decide on whether or not
she wants to do a Scottish or American
accent (Watson’s accent is spotty here
too, but it’s not as bad as Gillan’s).
John Boyega and Patton Oswalt are
both present as well, but the film
doesn’t really give them much to do,
and they feel wasted as a result.
While watching “The Circle,” one
can’t help but get the feeling that the
Source: Flickr
original script for the film had a lot
of potential. But along the way, some
aspects of the film didn’t carry over
to the screen, or were carried over
awkwardly. Although Watson and
Hanks try their hardest with what
they’re given, they can’t make up for
all the film’s other failures.
The result is a film that’s hugely
disappointing, and may be one of the
worst films of 2017. If it wasn’t clear
already, you might wanna skip this
film.
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COMMUNITY
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WEEKLY
Around UAlban
and the Capita
y
Hegion
TUES
May 2
WED
May 3
THRS
May 4
Electropop Band
7:00 p.m.
English band Fenech-
Soler performs at
the Hollow Bar and
Kitchen.
Open Mic
7:30-10:30 p.m
At Old Songs
Community Arts Center
in Voorheesville.
Evening at the Institute
5:00-8:00 p.m.
At the Albany Institute
of History and Art. Free
Admission.
FRI
May 5
SAT
May 6
SUN
May 7
Cruise
4:00 p.m.
Cinco de Mayo Cruise
at Dutch Apple Cruises
and Tours. Tickets:
$25.25 pre-sale, $30
day of. BBQ Dinner
Orchestra
3:00-5:00 p.m.
PROJECT Trio
accompanies youth
musicians from Empire
State Youth Orchestra.
Tickets $10-20.
Mayday Parade
7:30 p.m.
American pop punk
band performs at Up-
state Concert Hall.
Tickets $25.
Title: Earring with Wire and Granules Date: 8th-12th century Culture: Indonesia (Central Java)
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THEASPNEWS@GMAIL.COM
_ TOBACCO
NEWS
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS.
CRITICS STOMP VAPE BAN IN
TOBACCO-FREE MOVEMENT
By MAC BULLOCK
Students lobbied University at
Albany policymakers to ban the use
of all tobacco products on campus
grounds last week.
As part of the National Public
Health Week initiative, the New Y ork
State Public Health Association’ s
undergraduate chapter at UAlbany
worked to rally support from other
students to prevent smoking on
campus. In addition to cigarettes
and cigars, the ban would include
smokeless tobacco products and
electronic vaporizers.
NY SPHA President and spokesman
Michael Seserman has said the policy
is meant to “improve the health of
the campus community,” increase
“respect for the campus environment,”
and reduce tobacco-related litter
campus-wide.
Seserman noted that nearly half
of SUNY universities already have
tobacco-free policies in place, and
that UA Ibany is the only university
in the Capital Region that allows the
use of tobacco products on campus
grounds.
Pressed on whether the ban would
decrease the number of students
who currently use tobacco products,
Seserman said he believes it would,
though he noted that’s not the policy’s
purpose.
“The aim is to reduce exposure
to smoke for all students,” said
Seserman, adding that the proposed
ban would be more effective than the
current policy of designating smoking
areas, “as it’s clear those don’t work.”
In regards to the inclusion of
smokeless tobacco and electronic
vaporizers, Seserman said he that
does not want to encourage students
who smoke to switch to another form
of tobacco use, but instead to quit
altogether.
Student A ssociation President-Elect
Jerlisa Fontaine supports the policy,
agreeing that tobacco use affects the
whole of the student body, not only
the user.
“It is important to allow people to
practice their liberty and do things
that make them happy,” Fontaine
said. “However, tobacco doesn’t help
anyone; it only harms them.”
Fontaine agreed with Seserman that
the current policy of allowing tobacco
use in designated areas is ineffective
and often ignored, and concluded that
the push for a tobacco-free campus
was a “great initiative.”
SA Vice President Colin
Manchester supports the effort to ban
smoking on campus, but stops short
of endorsing the NY SPHA initiative
wholesale. However, he does not
agree with the inclusion of smokeless
tobacco and electronic vaporizers.
“No, I do not. These products are
only harming the individual who
chooses to use it,” Manchester said.
Though he is inclined to support the
ban, Manchester said that designating
areas for tobacco use could be
effective in limiting exposure to
smoke, but added that such policies
would need to be “implemented
properly and enforced heavily.”
Alec Vidiksis, a senior human
biology major who smokes, supports
the goal of creating a respectful
environment for students who do
not smoke, but only if the policies
implemented are fair to those who do.
“Y ou’ re telling me if I want to
smoke my e-cig or a cigarette I have
to walk 5 minutes off campus to take a
few puffs? That’s kind of ridiculous,”
he said.
Tyler McNeil/Albany Student Press
While Vidiksis intends to follow the
policy is implemented, he noted that
many students may not.
Shane Carelli, a junior Psychology
major who does not smoke but uses
an electronic vaporizer, understands
the push to limit tobacco smoke on
campus, but is unsure how smokeless
tobacco and vaporizers are harmful
to other students. He is also doubtful
that the ban could be enforced
successfully.
“Nicotine use is an addiction,
people aren’ t going to stop just
because they make a rule stating it’s
not permitted,” said Carelli. “The
university is just going to waste more
time and resources enforcing the
policy that could be devoted to more
important things.”
The NY SPHA effort is not the
first attempt to restrict tobacco use
at UAlbany. The SUNY Board of
Trustees passed a resolution in June
of 2012 to support tobacco-free
policies at all SUNY schools. Former
UAlbany President Dr. Robert Jones
had previously explored efforts to ban
tobacco use on campus, but did not
push for their implementation.
It is not enough for journalists
44to see themselves as mere
messengers without understanding
the hidden agendas of the message
and the myths that surround it. ”
— JOHN PILGER, HIDDEN AGENDAS
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @ALBSTUDENTPRESS
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS
SPORTS
SPORTS EDITOR: TROY FARKAS:
SPORTS.ASP@GMAIL.COM
| NEW RECRUIT
MLAX INKS NEW RECRUIT FOR FALL
By GABE FLATEN
While the University at Albany men’s lacrosse team is
gearing up for a postseason run, its coaching staff is also
putting the finishing touches on recruits for the 2018
season. The best of them all, Tehoka Nanticoke, is one
who can help get the Great Danes in to the postseason
again for years to come.
Nanticoke (pronounced De-hoge- uh Nan-tuh- coke),
the IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and Iroquois star
attackman, is committed to play for the University at
Albany next season.
Last summer, he was named to the All-World Team
and voted Best A ttackman at the U-19 World Field
Lacrosse Championships while leading the Iroquois
Nationals to abronze medal.
Don’t let his quiet demeanor fool you. He plays like a
rock star, constantly shooting and passing with one hand
or behind his back. He has flair, vision, quickness, and
an unmatched lacrosse I.Q. His solid, 6’1, 220-pound
frame is a nightmare for defenses to guard, and his
presence will be felt immediately next season.
Nanticoke is no stranger to facing stiff competition,
which he will surely do when he arrives in Albany next
season.
“When I tumed 12, I started playing in U-18 lacrosse
leagues.” Nanticoke said.
Only a few years later, IMG’s head coach, Jason
Basso, saw Nanticoke light it up in the indoor leagues.
Almost instantly, Basso knew the Native A merican
could shine at IMG, a boarding school and popular
sports training destination. Mark Burnam, an assistant
with IMG, compares him to Lyle Thompson, the
UAlbany alum and NCAA record holder for most points
in a season (128) and career (400).
“Nanticoke is bigger and stronger than Lyle
Thompson was at this age, and I think he will make a
more instant impact,” Bumam said.
Like Thompson, Nanticoke is an “unorthodox lacrosse
player,” who plays an unpredictable style that traditional
defenses can’t defend. Nanticoke’ s other assistant coach,
Jason Levesque, noted his “presence” and ability to
create opportunities for himself and his teammates.
“If you guard him one-on- one, he will get to where he
wants,” Levesque said.
UAlbany fans don’t have to worry about how
Nanticoke will adjust to the UAlbany offense. He tumed
T =
I
Source: Casey Vock/3drising.com
down offers from powerhouses Maryland and Syracuse--
teams UA bany has lost to this season-- to join the Danes
and head coach Scott Marr's system that allows for
players like Thompson and current star Connor Fields to
play freely.
“Scott Marr was the difference. I like his style; he
gives his offensive players a lot of freedom,” Nanticoke
said.
Like Thompson and Fields, who currently leads
the NCAA in scoring, Nanticoke will certainly take
advantage of that freedom over the next four years.
Also like Thompson and Fields, he has already made
an appearance in SportsCenter’s famed “Top 10.” He
reached the No. 2 spot in 2016 with a sensational one-
handed, between-the- legs goal in a game against Don
Bosco Prep High School in New Jersey.
“Those behind-the- back shots he does, the
between-the- legs shots? I see him doing that when
he is practicing by himself. He practices those shots,”
Levesque said.
Nanticoke and his coaches think he will fit perfectly
into UA lbany’s offense, especially with Fields coming
back for one more year. It’s reminiscent of the 2015
season, when Fields was a freshman and was mentored
by Thompson. Next year, Fields will have the chance
to show Nanticoke the ropes so they can play off one
another, much like Thompson did with him three years
ago.
“T think we will mesh pretty well with our box
backgrounds, running pick and rolls,” Nanticoke said.
Bumam thinks the duo will cause serious problems
for defenses. “When Nanticoke isn’t getting double or
triple-teamed, he’s at his best because you can’t guard
him one-on- one,” he said.
Nanticoke, like Fields, consistently draws multiple
defenders. Next season, they will force defenses to play
one-on- one or in a zone, which the duo will surely pick
apart.
It is safe to say that in 2018, UAlbany fans wouldn't
be surprised if Nanticoke starred in SportsCenter’s
“Top 10” again, which should give fans more hope and
enthusiasm for the next four years.
| LACROSSE
On Senior Night, Underclassmen Steal the Show
By TROY FARKAS
After a February practice, the University at Albany
seniors gathered their team together. They hadn’t
practiced hard that day. They hadn’t played to their
capabilities. They failed to live up to UAlbany’s
standards.
Over two months later, the practice seems like a distant
memory for the senior class, who played its final regular
season game at UAlbany on Saturday night in a 16-10 win
over Hartford.
On Senior Night, it was junior Kyle McClancy who
stole the show. The red-headed midfielder scored a career-
high five goals to lead the Danes to their 28th consecutive
regular season A merica East win, the longest conference
winning streak in the country.
“Five goals? Holy cow. That’s a great night for
him,” head coach Scott Marr said after the game. “Asa
leader and a captain to step up in the second half, it was
awesome.”
McClancy scored his fourth and fifth goals at the start
of the fourth quarter as part of a UAlbany run that saw
the Danes score six unanswered. The Hawks had tied the
Great Danes at eight with 8:22 in the third quarter, but
UAlbany’s relentless scoring attack extended the lead to
15-8 to put the finishing touches on Hartford.
Only trailing 8-5 at halftime, the Hawks hung with
UAlbany longer than expected. UAlbany’s face-off
specialist, TD Ierlan, had won 12 of 14 face-offs and
UAlbany nearly doubled Hartford’s number of shots on
goal. It was Hartford's physicality and intense defense
that inhibited UA lbany’s main scorers, Connor Fields and
Bennett Drake, from getting clean looks at the goal.
On Saturday morning, Hartford still had a chance to
qualify for the America East Tournament, needing a win
over UAlbany and a UMBC loss to Vermont. Vermont
won, so Hartford knew prior to the game it was eliminated
before having the chance to face UAlbany.
“They definitely came to play,” senior midfielder Eli
Lasda said. “I know they wanted that game.”
It was only a matter of time before the Great Danes
capitalized on Ierlan’s dominance. The freshman finished
22-for-24 on the night, leading to UA lbany’s attempting
of 58 shots. Ierlan even scored a goal of his own, which
came four seconds after he won a face-off. McClancy led
the team with five goals, while Justin Reh, Adam Osika,
and Mitch Laffin scored two apiece. Connor Fields, the
leading point scorer in the country, finished with five
points, four of them coming on assists. The win puts the
exclamation point on another undefeated regular season
in conference play. Last week, UAlbany locked up home
Bill Ziskin/UAlbany Athletics
Senior Adam Osika flies by a Hartford defenseman on
Senior Night.
field advantage in the America East Tournament. The
semifinals are set for Thursday, where No. 1 UAlbany
will face No. 4 Stony Brook. No. 2 UMBC will play No. 3
Binghamton on the other side. The winners will square off
in the championship game on Saturday aftemoon with an
automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
UAlbany failed to earn the automatic bid last season
after a slip-up to Hartford in the semifinals. Despite a
fairly easy time in conference play this year, Marr will
make sure his team comes ready to play next week.
Despite their loss last year, the Great Danes managed
to eam an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Because of how the rest of the NCAA has played out in
the past few weeks, it’s possible that, despite its No. 6
ranking, UA lbany could miss the postseason if it fails to
win the America East. For Marr and his team, hoisting
the trophy on Saturday will quell any fears of missing the
tournament.
“I think we have a great resume,” Marr said. “It all
comes down to RPI’s and numbers, but I certainly don’t
want to take that chance.”
Marr is confident his team will pull through. His
team has come a long way since that day in February.
His seniors, who were honored Saturday aftemoon at a
luncheon, have come even further.
“Coming off the heels of playing with Lyle
[Thompson] and Blaze [Riorden], it wasn’t a class that
had that superstar,” Marr said of his seniors. “I think they
collectively- as a group-did a great job of leading us
every day in practice and being prepared.”
McClancy is a junior. Fields is a junior. Justin and Troy
Reh are juniors. lerlan is a freshman.
But they've got more time.
For the six seniors—Jake Cullen, Adam Osika, Connor
Russell, John Glancy, Lasda, and Drake— it's their last
chance to make history for UAlbany, which has never
made a Final Four.
Time is running out for them. And like that day in
February, it’s up to them to bring together a team that has
the potential to make a deep postseason run.
The ASP is done for the semester, but we will periodically
update our website. So if you do anything cool over the
summer or want to send something in...
Email: theasp.eic@gmail.com.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SPORTS_ASP!
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017
ALBANY STUDENT PRESS
| STAR PLAYER
SPORTS
SPORTS EDITOR: TROY FARKAS.
SPORTS.ASP@GMAIL.COM
10
Savitcheff is in the Record Books,
But the Senior is Not Done Yet
By ROBERT LEPELSTAT
Dakotah Savitcheff took a pass from
Sarah Martin and scored a goal versus V er-
mont with 14:12 remaining in the first half,
just like the two have done so many times
in the past four years.
Except, this goal was unlike any other.
On April 5, Savitcheff broke the Univer-
sity at Albany women’s lacrosse scoring
record with her 176th goal. The following
week, after scoring game-winning goals
against No. 8 Comell and New Hampshire,
she eamed U.S. Lacrosse’s Player of the
Week.
“T never thought from the start that I
would accomplish something like this [re-
cord],” Savitcheff said. “But once I started
hearing I was this close and could possibly
beat it, I just wanted to work as hard as I
could and do my best.”
From the moment she stepped on to
John Fallon Field as a freshman, Savitcheff
became a scoring machine for UAlbany’s
offense. A fter receiving America East All-
Rookie honors in her first season, she set a
UA lbany all-time single season record with
64 goals in her sophomore campaign.
Asajunior last season, she was named
to the IWLCA All-Northeast Team for the
second consecutive season and was given
America East All-Conference First Team
honors.
When Savitcheff looks back at every-
thing she’s accomplished, she raves about
her teammates who allowed her to have so
much success as a Great Dane.
“I couldn't have done it without my
teammates,” Savitcheff said. “I love work-
ing with everyone.
We all have each other's backs and not
one person on the offense is selfish, which
I think has helped us a lot.”
Savitcheff’ s teammates have been
with her every step of the way, especially
this year’s senior class, which includes
Tewaaraton A ward nominee Sarah Martin,
defender Sierra Mclver, and midfielder
Emily Mizer.
“It’s crazy how time flies that we are
graduating soon,” Martin said. “I’ve been
working with Dakotah on offense for so
long now. We have a really great connec-
tion and I can always sense when she’s
going to get open. She catches anything I
throw her. She just makes my job so much
easier.”
It’s not just Savitcheff doing the scor-
ing. Martin leads the Great Danes with
83 points this year (52 goals, 31 assists),
including a 10 goal explosion in a 13-11
win over Y ale on Feb. 18.
Savitcheff is a nightmare for opposing
defenses. The teammates who face her in
practice every day certainly are aware.
“She's a wizard,” Mclver said. “You
think you have her, or you think your stick
is in front of hers, but somehow she'll
move it or find a way to go through yours.”
But behind every great player, there’s an
even greater coach. John Battaglino, now in
his 7th season at UA lbany, has nothing but
love for his star attack.
“She's innately competitive and she
loves to play the game,” Battaglino said.
“She just loves to compete. She’s hard on
herself. When she gets into a little funk, she
might get frustrated, but I can see she just
keeps going at it and she doesn’t give up.”
As Savitcheff puts the finishing touches
on a historic college career, she has one
final goal in mind.
Savitcheff and her senior teammates
have lost to rival Stony Brook in the final
of the America East Tournament each of
the last three seasons. Savitcheff is confi-
dent there will be a different outcome in
2017.
“T truly believe this is the year we can
win an America East Conference Champi-
onship,” Savitcheff said. “Because of all
the hard work, effort and time we have put
in all yearlong.”
Regardless of what the future holds for
Savitcheff, she'll never forget all of the
amazing people she’s met along the way
and the moments she has spent representing
everything it means to be a Great Dane, on
and off the field.
Source: ualbanysports.com
Savitcheff and the Great Danes will
have a chance to bring the conference title
home beginning on May 5. They'll travel to
Stony Brook to face UMBC in the semifi-
nals on May 5, with the hope of advancing
to face the Seawolves in the championship
game two days later.
It’s funny how things work out.
that you two were to me.
equipment, it was me.
my life.
Y ou’re going to regret that.
From the Editor, Troy Farkas:
but I know I’ll come out better for it.
tences? No one will take you seriously.
Now here’s who I owe some thanks to:
forever be grateful to how he helped me.
which NEED to improve) but it’s not my favorite sport to cover here.
I loved “the grind” with you last year and I wish you all the best.
ability just because I really wanted to talk to them.
So I’m moving on from UA Ibany. I don’t know what the next step is. But I know I’m prepared to handle whatever challenges come my way. I truly believe I
work. So here’s my promise UAlbany:
go through some of the things I did. They deserve better.
never would have gotten the chance to do if I went to a school with a big sports journalism program like Syracuse.
Brook in the America East final. That is definitely the best sports moment I’ve ever seen in person.
I never wanted to go to the University at Albany. Not in the slightest. I had no interest in it. As a senior in high school, I knew I was capable of better.
But I left my decision for the last minute, which led me to “settle” on UAlbany, the university 20 minutes north of my hometown of Clifton Park.
Now that I look back on that decision three years later (yes, I’m graduating in three years), I don’t regret it. This school has allowed me to do so many things I
With WCDB, I've had a weekly sports talk radio show every Thursday from 8-10 a.m. on 90.9 FM and wedbfm.com. It’s been a blast. I’ve grown so much in the
last two years with this show. I also got the chance to broadcast several football and basketball games, including the 2015 Peter Hooley miracle shot against Stony
But this is about the A SP. I want everyone to know I’ve poured a lot of time into it this semester. I've tried to help out those who are interested. I genuinely care
about good journalism and good writing because too many people can’t write these days. How do you ever expect to be successful if you can’t write coherent sen-
Thank you to Aaron Cheris and Celia Balf for giving me chances when I was younger and for showing me the ropes. I tried to be the same kind of leader to others
Thank you to Stefan Lambo-Stolba, the A SP’s chief editor this year, for allowing me to have this position and for working with me. I also appreciate you letting
me document my semester abroad in the fall. I really enjoyed writing it and I know many of my friends loved reading it. It really meant a lot to me.
Thank you to the UA lbany sports information department, who has the most demanding job of any department here. It’s a ruthless life. They work nights and
weekends and travel with several UAlbany teams every week. It’s an unrewarding job and they don’t get our thanks enough. Y ou wouldn’t know this, but Dave Vatz
is the hardest working man in Albany. He set up all of my interviews for WCDB and the ASP and always lent me a hand when I was a deer in the headlights. I’ ll
But what makes UA lbany is its athletes and coaches. I know baskethall is the pride of UAlbany, (well, they say so. Y ou wouldn’t know by the attendance numbers,
Thad barely watched lacrosse or field hockey before coming to UAlbany. When I saw these two national powerhouses play, I fell in love. Their teams’ chemistry
is unlike any other. They play so freely and have so much fun playing together, which is really what it’s all about. I’m especially going to miss those teams.
A lot of people think the best athletes are stuck-up. That's not the case here. Connor Fields is the nicest, most humble guy on the lacrosse team. Paula Heuser,
Maxi Primus, and Anna Bottino are some of the greatest people in the world to talk to. I really appreciate all of them for working with me throughout the past few
years and for being so kind. They made me feel special and like I was important. I’ll never forget that. A special shout out goes to the softball team’s Donna Conrad;
Coach Will Brown was great, but I didn’t have much of a connection with him. I loved Coach Mac in the short amount of time I spent with her. But it’s really
coaches Scott Marr and Phil Sykes that were the best to me. Like their players, they made me feel special. I looked forward to the end of every game or media avail-
worked harder than any non-athlete during my time here. If you've ever seen someone sprinting across the podium to get somewhere, it was probably me. If you've
ever seen someone walking the Campus Center Halls at 7 a.m., it was me. If you've ever seen someone struggling to walk while carrying large pieces of TV or radio
I poured my heart and soul into covering UA lbany sports over the last three years. I gave up Friday and Saturday nights virtually every weekend. It was a grind,
There were so many failures along the way: technical difficulties, no one willing to help, battles with the administration, etc. But I always found a way to make it
When I make it big, which will happen, I’m donating some of my money to build the Troy Farkas Media Center at UAlbany. I’m not going to let future journalists
And to the UAlbany alum who told me last year that I “completely ruined what former people built,” thanks for giving me the motivation for the next 40 years of
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