Professional Documents
Culture Documents
news
Fees Are Too Damn High...Get It?
high-tech classroom building. The fee
By Alyssa Melillo will also cover other services, such as
the availability of iPods, iPads and An-
droid devices to students, and the up-
If students think tuition at Stony grading of wireless networks on
Brook University is already too high, campus, to name a few.
they sure won’t be happy after fees in- If that’s enough to make the stu-
crease again for the 2011-2012 aca- dents who will not be using these new
demic year. services cringe, then maybe the fact that
The student Comprehensive Fees, SBU’s current $199.50-technology fee is
which are made up of four individual the lowest of all the SUNY universities
broad-based fees, will increase by $121 will ease the pain. To compare, accord-
per semester for full-time undergradu- ing to a chart from the Bursar/Student
ate students, and by $104.50 per semes- Accounts website, University at Buffalo
ter for full-time graduate students, students pay approximately $350 per se-
bringing the fees to $831.50 and $576, mester.
respectively, each semester. At a town The transportation fee will see the
hall-style meeting on March 2, repre- biggest increase - $20 per semester,
sentatives from technology, health, which will bring it to $141. James
transportation and athletic services O’Connor, director of Transportation
elaborated on where the fee increases and Parking Operations, said that the
will go. fee increase will go toward improve-
The technology fee will increase the ments to Wolfie’s Hut at the South P lot, contractual increases and fringe bene- tuition, then it is a good idea” to “I
most, by $77.50 per semester to $277. the launch of a GPS information system fits, administrative and maintenance would be willing to pay any necessary
Graham Glynn, the executive director project that will allow students to find fees, laboratory supplies, pharmaceuti- increase to completely prevent this.”
of Teaching, Learning & Technology, out where buses are on campus using cals and the improvement of health ed- Matt Graham, USG president, said
said the increase would cover new li- their smartphones, the potential pro- ucation. the purpose of the survey was to explain
brary databases, hardware replacement, curement of new fuel-efficient vehicles A new student consultation to students what could possibly happen
the rising costs of software and the in- and a better relationship with Suffolk process, based on recommendations de- as a result of SBU’s budget cuts, and it
crease in demand for more technologi- transit. The transportation fee also cor- veloped by SUNY, allows students to was a way to get all of the information
cal services. The fee increase will also go responds with rising gas prices, O’Con- comment on these fee increases by fill- that is included in the survey out there
towards salaries. nor said. ing out a form that is available on the to students.
Results of a survey put out by TLT Undergraduates will also face an Bursar/Student Accounts website. The David Mazza, vice president of
in December show that of the students exclusive athletic fee increase of $16.50, final Comprehensive Fees recommen- communications for USG, said that cer-
who participated, 70 percent said they pushing it up to $255.50. The increase dations will be made by the end of the tain questions were made to show stu-
used Blackboard daily, and 60 percent will help fund Title IX compliance ini- spring semester, after student consulta- dents examples of the cuts other schools
said they would like increased access to tiatives, operational contractual in- tion. have made. Mazza referred to the cut-
SINC sites. Glynn said that because of creases, grant-in-aid costs, USG recently put out an online sur- ting of Hofstra University’s football
these results, the increased technology transportation costs and university vey about the fee increases and SBU’s team in 2009, saying that the point of
fee will help offer expensive software at marketing. budget issues, which sparked com- the survey was to cover instances such
SINC sites, and more content will be Finally, the infirmary fee will in- plaints from students regarding the as that to see if students were willing to
available on Blackboard in terms of crease by $7, making it $145. At the questions being misleading. Some stu- pay higher tuition to keep certain serv-
class material, such as access to course meeting, a representative from Student dents say the questions imply that cer- ices and programs.
syllabi before classes begin every se- Health Services said the Student Health tain services will be cut if students don‘t “We [USG] didn’t want to put [the
mester. Advisory Committee presented a pay higher tuition. An example of such questions] in a threatening way,” Mazza
Glynn said there is a need for more greater need for psychological services a question would be about the issue of said. “How else do you ask students, ‘Do
computer classrooms on campus, which on campus, which the added $7 will go discontinuing majors, where answer op- you want higher tuition?’”
will be partially taken care of with the towards. Along with that, it will support tions range from, “If this meant lower
renovation of Old Chemistry to a new
The Stony Brook Press News 3
Editorial Board
Executive Editor
editorials
Najib Aminy
Managing Editor
Nick Statt
Half a World Away...
Associate Editor It’s not too often that we comment on Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. dents, we are preoccupied with concerns
Evan Goldaper
or extensively cover national and global Since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake over a bleak economy. Amidst these state
Business Manager issues. We try to avoid covering such rocked the southeast Asian-island, explo- budget cuts and a University administra-
Kenny Mahoney grand topics that may have less of an im- sions have occurred at the plant, spark- tion that seeks to relay the baton of bur-
pact on Stony Brook students than a pos- ing fear of a nuclear meltdown and the den to the students, we are concerned
Production Manager
Carol Moran sible tuition hike, or how reckless and massive spread of radiation that is forc- with value of the education we are paying
nontransparent a University President’s ing thousands to evacuate. for.
News Editors administration can be. After all, we are As bodies continue to wash ashore But that is giving ourselves too much
Bobby Holt the community news and features paper on Japan’s eastern coasts, complete vil- credit. We complain about everything
Alyssa Melillo
of this beloved state-funded institution. lages are idle—left in ruin. It is estimated from bad-tasting coffee and long lines to
Features Editor But the events that have unfolded that more than 10,000 lives have been lost busy work schedules. We live in a me-
Inquire Within over the past month and most noticeably with thousands more missing. first generation where charity is scarce
this past weekend have put things into But as news reports magnify the nu- and generosity has become a low-sup-
Arts Editor
Alexa Rubinstein perspective—or at least they should have. clear crisis, Japan’s survivors are left plied, high-valued commodity.
Now more than ever, global events re- scrounging for food, shelter and safety In the upcoming weeks, Japan will
Photo Editor mind us to take one giant step back from amidst a country grappling with an un- inevitably fall to the back of our minds.
Carolina Hidalgo our highly-important lives busied with speakable tragedy. The Pakistani floods and Haiti’s quake
Copy Editor exams, work and all of the other curve- Just a week prior, the Internet was will soon find new company. Everything
Zach Knowlton balls to realize that, at times, many of our buzzing with hash tags of Charlie Sheen, will go back to normal. And we’ll go back
menial concerns and stresses really don’t winning and tiger blood—distractions to hash tagging the next celebrity steam-
Sports Editor matter. that far eclipsed the monumental protests rolling his or her way to another rubber-
Mark Greek
Japan is suffering the world’s fourth taking place in the Middle East. Ameri- necking train wreck.
Social Media Editor strongest earthquake since 1900, when can audiences were treated to interview In the interest of not sounding too
Kenny Mahoney such records began. The ensuing 30-foot after interview with Sheen, even as the preachy, let us leave it at that. Priorities
Ombudsman waves crashed as far as six miles onto chants of protesters in Wisconsin were are, after all, personal judgment calls. So
Tia Mansouri Japan’s eastern coast. Traveling at exces- muzzled while the state government it’s up to you—show interest where your
sive speeds, they washed away every- stripped unions of their right to collec- heart really lies, compassion when you
thing—cars, boats and houses, tively bargain. feel it is true, and empathy when you can
Layout Design by
Jowy Romano trailblazing a path of wreckage that left That it took a 9.0 magnitude earth- honestly label it pure and genuine.
little room for mercy. quake to finally shut Charlie Sheen up The almost incomprehensible
Now headlines have shifted from the speaks volumes about where we as Amer- tragedy in Japan throws into stark relief
Staff destructive force of the earthquake to the icans, news consumers and as people are so many things we take for granted, start-
Vincent Barone fateful future of the cooling systems in re- today. ing with the very ground under out feet.
Raina Bedford
Michelle Bylicky actor No. 1, 2, and 3 at the coastal As undergraduate and graduate stu-
Siobhan Cassidy
Lionel Chan
Natalie Crnosija
Mike Cusanelli
Eric DiGiovanni
Brett Donnelly
Amanda Douville
Lauren DuBois
Sarah Evins
Andrew Fraley
Mark Greek
Colleen Harrington
Samuel Katz
Nicole Kohn
Iris Lin
Erica Mengouchian
Frank Myles
Alex H. Nagler
Howie Newsberkman
Vanessa Ogle
Jessica Rybak
Emily Torkel
Matt Willemain
About Us
The Stony Brook Press is published fortnightly
during the academic year and twice during sum-
mer session by The Stony Brook Press, a student
run non-profit organization funded by the Student
Activity Fee. The opinions expressed in letters, ar-
ticles and viewpoints do not necessarily reflect
those of The Stony Brook Press as a whole. Ad-
vertising policy does not necessarily reflect edi-
torial policy. For more information on advertising
and deadlines call (631)632-6451. Staff meetings
are held Wednesdays at 1:00 pm. First copy free.
For additional copies contact the Business Man-
ager.
The Stony Brook Press
Suites 060 & 061
Student Union
SUNY at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY 11794-3200
(631) 632-6451 Voice
(631) 632-4137 Fax
Email: sbpress@gmail.com
Write for e P!
Meetings Every Wednesday at 1PM, Union Building 060
The Stony Brook Press 5
Hate what you see? E-mail your letters to editors@sbpress.com
Letters
The following letter is a response to an article written by keeping my face blank and trashing my first attempt, I start
Copy Editor Zach Knowlton titled, “If You Eat, I Probably Hate over. Immediately, he begins to whine at how oily the food is,
You,” which can be found online at www.sbpress.com and in and how I “clearly have no idea what I am doing”, and orders
Vol. 32, Issue 9 of The Stony Brook Press. It was a commentary another employee – who, I must point out, does not even
piece on the kindness and etiquette received when serving work with plating the food – to make his food instead.
food on campus, or lack thereof. His attitude stunned me. I have dealt with the occasional
irate customer, who blamed me on the prices and quality of
Dear Zach Knowlton and fellow Stony Brookers, the food, but never in this outright crude and blatantly cruel
manner. It shocked me even more to see him link hands with
I, too work with Campus Dining and reading this article the girl next to him. How could someone be so discourteous
gave me blissful waves of relief. The night I read this article, I and still have a girlfriend? Does she not notice how he treats
was leaving a workday that was more teeth-gritting and frus- those who he obviously thinks are “beneath him”?
trating than usual. I don’t know what the customer is doing I think the most frustrating part that we workers share is the
when they treat the server or the cashier rudely…because inability to vent. So I thank the Press for providing that outlet,
most likely, they will still be there when you come back. For where all you horrible people will read about what you do.
example, that night there was one particular obstinate cus- Next time I get another difficult customer, I’ll just casually
tomer who decided to criticize the manner in which I pre- mention how they were personally featured in the Press and
pared his food and ordered me to re-do his order. So, let them figure out the rest.
6 Vol. XXXII, Issue 10 | Tuesday, March 15, 2011
news
features
Shifting Land,
Stable Nation
A word of warning: beware the bar- which means fate or destiny, that is in- mentality is contagious, even among ex- they were remarking on the weather. A
rage of numbers flying around. 9.0— trinsically tied to this fact. The Japanese patriate foreigners like myself. few teachers posited a guess as to where
the Richter scale measurement for the know that earthquakes—devastating or March 11 in Kobe, and most of the quake was from. Wakayama, Kyoto,
quake. 2,000—the number of bodies not—are inevitable here. Elementary Japan, is graduation day. I teach middle northern Hyogo, Osaka, we guessed—
found so far in northern Honshu. 8 feet school students have “earthquake drills” school here, so all of the third year mid- all of which are located just a short way
—the distance that the island shifted as every year and no town is without safety dle school students and teachers were from Kobe. We couldn’t have been more
a result of the earthquake. Tens of thou- signs and instructions on trains and preparing for our school’s ceremony wrong.
sands left homeless. 15 trillion yen public areas. Sometimes, you’ll overhear and celebrations afterwards. Japanese We turned the volume up on the
pumped in to aid the economy. I say a conversation about the next “big one” graduation ceremonies focus almost TV news to find out. There were reports
“beware,” but, really, you can’t escape and where or when it might happen. wholly on “the past” and “the ending” coming in of a tremor off the coast of
them. You even can find signs of this relation- —a fact that added even more of a sur- northern Honshu, not far from Miyagi
It is easy to become desensitized ship in traditional Japanese architec- real feel to the events that would hap- prefecture. “That couldn’t be it,” a few
when viewing the numbers in the after- ture; low houses and light building pen later in the afternoon. After the commented. “Yeah, it’s too far for us to
math of such a disaster. We’ve seen it be- materials would help reduce the dam- ceremony, the faculty relaxed in the feel it,” I agreed. And, in truth, Kobe is
fore, of course—Hurricane Katrina, the age from potential earthquakes. Japan’s staff room and exchanged stories and a few hundred miles from Miyagi —
2004 Asian Tsunami, the terrorist at- “unmei” is irrevocably tied to the mercy chatted about the past school year. The certainly too far for us to feel an earth-
tacks on September 11. This desensiti- of nature. television, as it often is, was turned on, quake from there, I naively thought. We
zation remark isn’t some I live in the city of Kobe, a promi- but was providing little more than back- kept watching as images, video, and in-
groundbreaking thesis I’m spouting. nent port center of about 1.5 million ground noise to the scene. We were all formation came in from Tokyo. Located
However, it bears repeating again here, people in western Japan. Kobe itself is excited for the celebratory drinking much closer to Miyagi, Tokyo was feel-
if for no other reason than to remind us no stranger to earthquakes. In 1995 a party we would be going to downtown ing the effects of this tremor. The videos
that what we see on CNN or BBC or devastating earthquake, now known as later in the evening. of rattling supermarkets, shaking office
NHK doesn’t tell even a fraction of the the Great Hanshin Earthquake, de- Then we felt it. It wasn’t much, and buildings, and frightened workers were
story. So, with this in mind, I’m going stroyed most of downtown Kobe, leav- some of the staff didn’t even notice it. indeed striking. Then came word that
to abandon any pretensions of sweeping ing over 6,000 dead and 300,000 Japan plays witness to over 1,500 earth- this earthquake was somewhere near an
journalistic or global commentary. In- homeless (there are those numbers quakes every year, most of them so 8.0 on the Richter scale (it would be up-
stead, I’m going to attempt to give you again). As a result, anyone over the age small as to not elicit any reaction among graded to an 9.0 later on.) The unset-
an intimate, although limited, insight of 18 here remembers the wholesale de- the people. However, being a New tling realization that maybe the quake
into just what it felt like to live in Japan struction vividly. Now, whenever a dis- Yorker, and wholly unused to the feel of we just felt was this Miyagi one started
during one of the largest earthquakes in aster strikes in the world—such as the any shifting in the ground, I noticed the to take hold.
world history and how the Japanese are recent earthquake in Christchurch, New tremor immediately. A few of the teach- Still, the news wasn’t reporting
adjusting and reacting. Zealand—Kobe’s citizens are on the ers confirmed it, but with absolutely no much in the way of death or casualties.
The islands of Japan lie atop some frontlines in Japan when it comes to urgency or worry, as the shaking was A few injuries in Tokyo and a few
of the world’s most seismically active volunteering and fund-raising. I’ve lived minimal and incredibly short. “Jishin deaths further north. It seemed that
plates. There’s a Japanese word, “unmei” here for less than a year now, but this dayo,” An earthquake, they said, as if Japan—a nation born on the violent,
The Stony Brook Press Features 9
E-mail The Press at
editors@sbpress.com
ever shifting borders of several tectonic north. However, instead, no one speaks
plates—had dodged a bullet this time. out. It adds an initial tension to many
Then came the footage of the morning meetings when you first see
tsunami. Where the staff was calmly someone and simply say “It’s awful
watching the news just moments be- what’s happening up north,” pausing
fore, now we were up close to the TV, quietly for a moment, and then going
eyes riveted to the screen in shock and about your work. An overarching feel-
awe. Constant remarks such as “Kowai” ing of both this and “toughing it out”
and “Sugoi”—“scary” and “wow”— pervades many aspects of life here.
filled the room. A solid, wide wall of Now, Japan looks to the rescue and
water smashing through the coastal rebuilding process. Fortunately, the
areas north of Tokyo, flinging cars and Japanese are arguably the most com-
planes around like an angry child tosses munal society in the world. Over the
toys. Now it was clear. Japan hadn’t past 100 years, whenever a disaster
dodged a bullet. Rather, that bullet was strikes Japan, the nation comes together
punching a hole right through the na- in a way that, frankly, is embarrassing
tion’s heart before our eyes. for the Western World. Not a single
We still had our party that night. building or shop is looted. Everyone
All of us, trying to enjoy ourselves lines up at the supermarket to purchase
rather than think about the news, chat- what little food is left in an orderly fash-
ted away in our private room at the ion.
restaurant. We spoke of the previous Courtesy of The Washington Post To use a rather famous example
school year, the coming one, the local from the Kobe earthquake in 1995, even
baseball team’s chances, the upcoming the local organized gangsters, the
travel plans we had—anything to avoid Yakuza, set up relief stations to help
talking about what was happening up out. Nearly the entire nation is con-
north. This self-deception lasted for serving and rationing electricity to help
about an hour and a half. Then, collec- divert power to the affected regions. My
tively, the room fell silently at once. It students and I conducted our classes
was one of those awkward silences that without any lights all day to help con-
often occur at gatherings. We busied serve power for the north. I watched as
ourselves for a few moments, sipping elderly women, perhaps in their 80s, ca-
our drinks or rearranging our chop- sually stuffed wads of cash into Red
sticks in no particular fashion. No one Cross donation boxes. Charity and do-
wanted to break the silence because we nation drives bloom en masse like the
all knew that once we did, the conver- nation’s renowned cherry blossoms in
sation would shift to the earthquake. spring.
The tension in the air was unbear- It is with this in mind that Japan’s
able, and when one of us finally spoke future doesn’t seem as shaky as the tec-
up, talk did indeed inevitably turn to tonic plates it sits on. The land’s foun-
the news. One teacher said they felt bad dation is chronically shifting and
for our students since they would also shaking, but the nation’s is just as reli-
remember their graduation day along- ably stable. The Japanese will mourn
side this tragedy. Another teacher re- and they will struggle with this. How-
sponded by saying the felt worse for the ever, in the end, when you view the
Courtesy of Kyodo News/Associated Press
people living up north. I only nodded. Japanese in the wake of these tragedies,
Usually the talkative type, this time I you get the overwhelming sense that
had nothing to add. they are completely assured of their
I mentioned earlier that Japan’s communal unity, survival and recovery.
destiny is constantly at the mercy of na- A few days after the quake, I asked
ture. Yet, despite this, or perhaps be- one of my coworkers what he thought
cause of it, you’ll rarely hear the would happen in the coming days as the
Japanese complain about much of any- rebuilding began. He looked at me,
thing at all. Everyone here is quick to thought for a few moments, and said in
throw around phrases like “tough it slow English, “We’ll continue. We al-
out,” “stay strong,” or “give it your best ways do. We always will. Earthquakes
try.” The Japanese know events like are our destiny — they cant be stopped.
those of March 11 will happen. When But, because we are together, survival is
they do finally occur they don’t com- also our destiny.”
plain or panic. They simply, for lack of
a better term, shut up and get to work
fixing it. We’re seeing that now, in ac- James Laudano is a former Executive
tion, first hand. Editor for e Stony Brook Press. He
On the other hand, a sort of surreal currently teaches English language in
silence can sometimes set in here dur- Kobe, Japan.
ing these times. Many people here want
to pour out a lot of opinions, ideas or Courtesy of Kyodo News/Associated Press
lamentations about the situation up
10 Features Vol. XXXII, Issue 10 | Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The
Muscle
Market By Samuel Katz
Got Muscle? ceived the “Small Company of the Year little regulation by the FDA to fact Milk seems to be mostly popular with
Muscle Milk has no milk in it, and Award” at the 16th annual Beverage check the broad promises these prod- young men, eager to get that desired
little science to support its claim of con- Forum presented by Beverage World ucts promote. There have been some physique and willing to overpay for a
taining muscle. Still, Muscle Milk re- magazine and Beverage Marketing Cor- lawsuits by the National Advertising Di- bad tasting drink that promises it all.
mains a popular item on our campus poration, for it’s “breakout success.” vision and Nestle against Muscle Milk The market and the demand are
and across the country. The drink is Like most other business success for their false marketing and these cases there, but the science isn’t. A closer look
marketed to “promote healthy sustained stories, the story of Muscle Milk’s suc- were referred to the Federal Trade at the protein contained in Muscle Milk
energy, lean muscle growth, and recov- cess is not the story of successful science Commission. Meanwhile, the supple- reveals that “milk” isn’t the only way
ery from exercise with a milkshake-like or successful health, it’s the story of suc- ment lobby, The Council for Responsi- they trick customers. The scam is in the
taste” and is good for anyone that has cessful marketing. Protein supplement ble Nutrition, is lobbying for even muscle, and the idea that you need this
the “desire to maintain lean muscle providers promote their products as leaner oversight over the claims made drink, at $4.92 a bottle, to get it.
mass.” While there is some science to being “athletic,” using images of muscu- by manufacturers. Their official posi-
support the idea of increasing protein lar active men to create an association tion as sighted in their report given to Muscle Math
intake to build muscle, there is little sci- between their product and being mus- the FTC, is “an advertising claim that Researchers Jay R. Hoffman and
ence or logic in the preference of drinks cular and lean, and consumers appear you don’t believe can’t hurt you.” Michael J. Falvo from the Department
like Muscle Milk over real foods with to have bought into this idea. Yet, walk into the campus cafeteria of Health and Exercise Science at The
high protein content, like eggs, milk and The FDA has little oversight over College of New Jersey published an
chicken. these manufacturers and their products, overview of protein intake and benefits
This 14 oz. muscle elixir is sold for both as to the safety of these products in the Journal of Sports Science and
$4.92 at campus dining facilities. The and the validity of their claims. The “... [the] diet supple- Medicine. In their paper they address
beverage was originally introduced on only time the FDA has intervened in the the different ways in which you can
campus due to popularity at other uni- supplement market was in the case of ment industry [is] an measure protein value and quality.
versities and demand for Muscle Milk
has remained steady over the last two of
Hydroxycut (a fat burning supplement)
after 23 health cases and one death were
official wild west of There are two popular approaches, the
Biological Value, which measures the
years at Stony Brook, according to An- reported as related to the product. In dubious claims and amount of nitrogen absorbed from a
gela Agnello, Director of Marketing and the words of Jim Edwards, a drug mar- protein source, and the Protein Di-
Communications for the Faculty Stu- ket analyst formerly at Adweek, “Unlike big profits.” gestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score
dent Association at Stony Brook. with meat, eggs, spinach, tomatoes or (PDCAAS), which measure the amount
The sports-nutrition market, of Lipitor, the FDA is limited to waiting of amino acids consumed compared to
which these drinks are a part of, now until people actually die before the law and you see how many do believe these the amount needed by pre school age
bring in more than $2.7 billion dollars a permits it to inspect and ban a product.” claims. The promises of easy muscle or children (who have the highest nutri-
year in revenue. Cytosport Inc., which Edwards says the “diet supplement “bulk” seem to work their trick. Cam- tion requirement), the score is then cor-
distributes Muscle Milk, reportedly industry [is] an official wild west of du- pus Dining says they don’t track who rected for digestibility.
earned $200 million in 2008 and re- bious claims and big profits.” There is consumes their products, but Muscle The Food and Agriculture Organi-
The Stony Brook Press Features 11
E-mail The Press at
editors@sbpress.com
zation and the World Health Organiza- ological Value scale their products do
tion now use the PDCAAS system to better than natural products, such as
assess protein value. The trouble with milk and eggs. But if you use the more
the Biological Value system is that it accurate PDCAAS scale, the products
measure protein potential, the amount lose the superiority.
of protein it could provide, instead of Whey protein, which Muscle Milk
uses in their drinks, has a PDCAA score
of 1.00, the highest score possible ac-
Sitting with two eggs and cording to this rating system. But here’s
the secret, according to Hoffman and
two glasses of milk says Falvo, so do eggs and milk. Eggs, milk
little about you, but hold- and whey protein all have a PDCAA
ing a bottle of Muscle perfect score of 1.00, the first two are
natural whole foods, the third has fruc-
Milk advertises you to all tose and flavors added. The first two
onlookers and to yourself cost somewhere between one and two
dollars, the third is almost five.
as someone focused on
his body and strength. Muscle Money
David VanDyke is the director of
Speed, Strength and Conditioning here
the amount of protein you digest when at Stony Brook. He and his team are re-
you eat it. Additionally, the Biological sponsible for the athletic development
Value was based on animal tests of pro- of Stony Brook’s student athletes.
tein intake, not humans. The PDCAAS Working with coaches and players
tries to correct that value by measuring VanDyke devises training plans for the
the amount of protein humans need teams as a whole and the athletes indi-
and including in its calculation the vidually. At the end of each workout
amount of protein excreted (there has session at the Speed, Strength and Con-
been some debate about this method, ditioning facility the athletes get a scoop
since not all protein that isn’t excreted of Muscle Milk Collegiate to consume
is used for synthesis, see Schaafsma, after their workout. powder, he only gives his athletes one. body and strength. Sure, you can get the
2000, Journal of Nutrition) VanDyke himself says he is skepti- “They just want you to consume as same amount of protein for cheaper,
Protein supplement manufacturers cal of the protein supplement market, much as possible,” he explains. He in- but it won’t feel that good or that
like to quote the Biological Value of “it’s buy and beware” he says. Muscle sists that he and his team do not do diet manly. Its bad taste and ridiculous price
their product, since according to the Bi- Milk suggests taking four scoops of plans, but they do discuss nutrition are all part of the game, so when you
with their athletes. They evaluate their drink it you feel like you are doing
athletes and those that they assign as something inconvenient, like you are
“hard gainers,” individuals who natu- sacrificing something to improve your
rally gain little weight they give extra physique. But essentially all you did is
supplements. over pay for a bottle of faux-milk that
Ultimately the protein market makes your urine more expensive than
comes down to convenience, explains the guy pissing right next to you.
VanDyke. “Many teens have never had The allure of a five-dollar magic
a real breakfast” he says, “students ask muscle drink is that it makes it seem
me what’s the best whey to get body easy. It makes getting fit and muscular
mass and I say: tuna, eggs…I stress seem like an easy process instead of the
whole foods.” But in the end, VanDyke strenuous process of physical labor it
says, students “lack the organization, actually requires. Instead of a commit-
skill and money to eat whole foods.” In ment to work and sweat, it asks for a
these cases protein supplements be- commitment to spend, and for con-
come an easy way to get the protein an sumers that’s an easy choice to make.
athlete needs. Getting a fine physique and build-
But using the supplements as meal ing muscle are both difficult and de-
replacements and not pairing it with a manding processes. Nothing is really
rigorous workout schedule is a waste that easy. The only thing easy is mixing
according to VanDyke. The result you a drink and getting young men to pay
get from taking high amounts of pro- five bucks for it. All you need is a few
tein supplements, he explains, is that images of “ripped” guys, a name that
“you get expensive urine.” suggests strength (that also sounds nat-
A $4.92 bottle of bad tasting Muscle ural) and you have yourself a 200 mil-
Milk has everything that it takes to be a lion dollar company with a popular
successful product. It promises its five-dollar drink.
buyer status. Sitting with two eggs and Apparently, that’s the only thing
two glasses of milk says little about you, that’s easy, and that’s the problem.
but holding a bottle of Muscle Milk ad-
vertises you to all onlookers and to
Courtesy of Consumer Reports Magazine yourself as someone focused on his
12 Features Vol. XXXII, Issue 10 | Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Stork University:
Babies and Books
By Alyssa Melillo
Seeing pregnant teenagers and teen self. It’s really hard to explain. It’s really newly blossomed one with Wenner. And not only that, even if they were
mothers on television isn’t unusual tough.” Even after a year and a half, though, home, they don’t really understand that
today—they’re all over MTV on the Having a baby at 17 meant sacri- Lowry said she still finds it hard to bal- I can’t go out. Like, I even have my best
popular show 16 & Pregnant, and its fices and new struggles for the teen ance school, work, relationships and friend Meg that stayed home to go to
spin-off series, Teen Mom. mom, who now lives on her own in an being a mother. school and I still get calls from her in
16 & Pregnant documents the last apartment with baby Isaac. Lowry not “I’m late for everything,” she said. the morning like, ‘You wanna go to
few weeks of roughly ten girls’ pregnan- only sacrificed the rest of her teenage “Sometimes I have to schedule appoint- breakfast?’ And it’s like, I have to take
cies each season. Teen Mom then ex- years when she had him, but her rela- ments that I don’t do. What I plan for Isaac to daycare, and then go to school,
tends four of the girls’ stories, focusing tionship with her then-boyfriend and myself during the day, sometimes I you know what I mean?”
on their struggles as young mothers don’t get it done.” Being on Teen Mom also has its
after their babies are born. Lowry doesn’t receive much sup- pros and cons. Lowry said she likes that
But being on television doesn’t “It does get frustrating. Be- port from her family. She has a fragile her story can show young girls the
mean their lives are anywhere near relationship with her mother, whom she struggles of being a teen mother, but
glamorous—just ask nineteen-year-old
cause of the show, I don’t said is an alcoholic, and she never met being in the public eye adds a lot of
Kailyn Lowry, one of the stars of the judge people the way I used her father until a month before she gave stress. Because her storyline on the
show. To support herself and her 14- to. I think twice about say- birth to baby Isaac. Although the baby show revolves around her living with
month-old son Isaac, Lowry, of ing something or thinking stays with Rivera on the weekends, Rivera’s family, many viewers criticize
Nazareth, Pa., works long shifts as a Lowry, who has primary physical cus- her on her Facebook and Twitter pages
sales associate at her local Sports Au- something, you know?” tody, said Rivera is appealing the child about being unappreciative after she
thority almost everyday, and even support she filed for. She pays for all of began dating Wenner. They also pick on
worked a second job as a waitress at one her expenses out-of-pocket, with no her for other things.
point. At the same time, she’s taking help from others, she said. “The more and more that time goes
classes as a full-time student at baby’s father, Jonathan ‘Jo’ Rivera, 19, For Lowry, motherhood has its ups on, they find the littlest things...like,
Northampton Community College in took a turn for the worst after she got and downs, just like it does for women someone criticized me for my purse,”
Bethlehem, Pa. pregnant and moved in with his family. at any age. While she said getting no she said, holding up a purple Coach
“The last year and a half has proba- She and Rivera split two and a half sleep is the worst part, she also said her bag. “So, like, to me, I could be happily
bly been the toughest of my life,” Lowry months after baby Isaac was born, and friendships aren’t the same anymore. married to Jo, and someone would still
said in an interview. “It’s like, time man- eventually she began dating her current “Most of [my friends] went away to find something to criticize. It does get
agement, finances and emotional strug- boyfriend Jordan Wenner, 20. On Teen college,” she said. “But I guess when you frustrating. Because of the show, I don’t
gles. I kind of almost fight with myself Mom, Lowry’s storyline revolves around move away, even if you are facebooking judge people the way I used to. I think
about certain things because I have to living in Rivera’s parents’ house, her them or texting them, you still grow twice about saying something or think-
do what’s best for my son and for my- troubled relationship with him and her apart, so that’s kind of what happened. ing something, you know? I mean, I’m
The Stony Brook Press Features 13
E-mail The Press at
editors@sbpress.com
always giving people the benefit of the of every 1,000 girls giving birth. In 10-hour-day child care for students said she can remember a few instances
doubt because you don’t really know. 2005, the rate was at an all-time low who have children. 10 or 15 years ago where a student had
“I mean, it hurts,” she added, refer- with every 40.5 of 1,000 girls giving Debra Scarfogliero, the business her baby in high school, then enrolled
ring back to the Coach bag. Because of birth. manager at the Child Care Center, said the child at the center upon coming to
the designer’s reputation for expensive At Stony Brook University, teen about 15 percent of all parents who Stony Brook.
accessories, pictures of her holding the pregnancy is not very common. A rep- bring their children there are under- Zaveri said she believes that young
bag sparked an outrage of criticism resentative from Student Health Serv- graduate students. She said all of them students who bring their children to the
from viewers. “It’s not like it’s a differ- ices said the university does not keep have some form of work in addition to Child Care Center are ultimately satis-
ent Coach purse every time, or a differ- records of its student mothers, but it attending school. fied with the services the staff provides.
ent brand, it’s the same one in every does provide some help for those who While finances are often an issue “In general, if you take a vote, people
single picture. It was a gift. For all they become pregnant while they attend for teen mothers, students who bring are really appreciative of the staff here,”
know, it could be fake. I mean, it’s not, Stony Brook. The representative said their children to the Child Care Center she said. “It’s a home away from home
but it could be. It just blows my mind, Health Services lays out the students’ usually don’t have to worry about pay- [for the children]. I think families, re-
the things some people come up with. options in terms of adoption, abortion ing overly expensive tuition for their gardless if you’re a teen mom or not, are
They get on me about my hair—” she and keeping the baby. They refer them children. Zahibiya Zaveri, the director very grateful for [the staff].”
gripped a portion of her thick, straight to the University Medical Center and of the Infant-Toddler program at the Despite the messages the girls on
blonde hair “—or like, when I’m at the other off-campus services, but from center, said students with a household Teen Mom try to send out to viewers
airport. Like, it’s reality TV. Normal there they are not involved any further, income under $80,000 qualify for a tu- with their stories, Lowry said she still
people go on plane, get off a plane with- the representative said. ition discount. hears of girls saying they want to have
out makeup on. I’m not getting ready Like Lowry, who drops baby Isaac Zaveri said students usually drop children of their own after watching the
for the red carpet, so it
just blows my mind
sometimes how ridicu-
lous [people can be].”
From filming the
show to taking care of
baby Isaac and her other
responsibilities, Lowry
said things get over-
whelming because she
barely has time to herself.
“I try not to ask for
people to watch Isaac,
ever, because any time
that I need time to myself,
I try to do it when he goes
to his dad’s house,” she
said. “But there are times
when I get overwhelmed
and I just cry, but I don’t
like sending him off to
anyone. Then I would feel
bad about that.”
Lowry said that hav-
ing a baby at 17 com-
pletely changed her life. It
forced her to grow up in
just nine months, and
added stresses and responsibilities that off at a daycare center at her school be- their children off between 7 and10:30 show. Lowry advises those girls to seri-
women usually don’t see until their fore she goes to class, young teen moms am. Although staff members offer one- ously think about it.
mid-twenties. here at Stony Brook have a similar fa- on-one emotional support, Zaveri said “Before I had Isaac, I didn’t think of
But Lowry and her co-stars are not it is sometimes easy to see when stu- the littlest things, like baby food, dia-
the only girls in the country who face dents are stressed when they drop off pers, or the fact that I wouldn’t have
motherhood at a young age. According “All of us say to learn from their children. “Sometimes you can support, or I would end up without Jo.
to the National Campaign to Prevent gage their stress factor, depending on if So I think they really need to think
Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, ap-
the show, so why would it’s finals week,” she said. about whether bringing a baby into the
proximately 135,000 girls between the they want to put them- The Child Care Center operates on world is fair to the child. You’re only
ages of 15 and 17 gave birth in 2008. selves in the position where a code of confidentiality, so the staff young once. Even one day when you’re
However, 68 percent of all teen births they’re the ones telling members do not know much about stu- older and your child is older and you
in that year were to girls aged 18 and 19. dents’ successes in school, “Obviously can go out and do things for yourself,
Eighty-seven percent of all teen girls
other girls to watch the some families are more talkative than it’s not the same because it’s later on.
who gave birth that year were not mar- show?” others,” Zaveri said. “Some may go to “I can’t understand someone want-
ried. their teachers more often [for support] ing to have a baby after seeing the
According to the National Cam- because they’re already there.” show,” she said. “All of us say to learn
paign, the teen birth rate overall de- cility available to them. The Stony Although the majority of the young from the show, so why would they want
creased 33 percent from 1991 to 2008, Brook Child Care Center, located teen mothers who bring their children to put themselves in the position where
with minor fluctuations. In 1991 the across the street from the South P Lot to the Child Care Center had their chil- they’re the ones telling other girls to
rate was one of the highest ever at 61.8 at the edge of West Campus, offers full, dren after they started college, Zaveri watch the show?”
14 Photos! Vol. XXXII, Issue 10 | Tuesday, March 15, 2011
N.*#"(RBJ%T+(;$.(C##J"B(I*#0*#0(N/#$%+$(>L==(
!"#$%&#'()#*+,-.#/)#0122############################################################################################### #####L.5;#"%+,#7.%#8,4+&5>%,;#+@;8#+<<%<#;8=%#
#####3&-%#+4+5ʦ&"#9,88:#;7(<%&7;#487#78# 4@+=8(,# 78# %+-.# -8&7%;7+&7)# =+:5&4# (B# 7.%#
.%+,#7.%#+=+>5&4#?8-+@#7+@%&7#8A#7.%5,#B%%,;# M8=%&F;#%"%;)#;8=%#M57.#4@577%,)#+&<#B(775&4#
+7#7.%#C7.#+&&(+@#;5&45&4#-8&7%;7#;B8&;8,%<# 4@577%,#5.%#=+@%#-8&7%;7+&7;#.+5,H#'8(#-+&#
!"# DE69F;# G.5&+# 9@(%H# I# =%=!%,# 8A# 7.%# -.%-:#7.%=#8(7#5.%#B.878#+@!(=H##
+(<5%&-%)# J8.&# D+&4)# ;+5<# KL.5;# M+;# #####J(<45&4# M+;# <8&%# !"# 7.%# +(<5%&-%# +&<#
B,8!+!@"# 7.%# !%;7# ;5&45&4# -8&7%;7# 8&# 7.%#7.,%%#X(<4%;)#`%=8# O5&)# L6I#U,%;5<%&7#
-+=B(;H# NF?%# !%%&# 78# GOGF;# +&<# GI69F;# +&<# @+;7# "%+,;# M5&&%,)# *5:%# G.5BB# 8A# ]54.#
;5&45&4# -8&7%;7;# +&<# GGPF;# $+,+8:%)# +&<# G)#8&%#8A#7.%#-+=B(;#+#-+BB%@@+#4,8(B;)#+&<#
7.5;#8&%#5;#M%@@#8,4+&5>%<#+&<#57F;#7,5Q@5&4(+@# $"@%#*+&@%")#+#;%&58,#=(;5-#=+X8,H#J(<4%;#
;8# %?%,"8&%# 5&# 7.%# +(<5%&-%# :&8M;# M.+7F;# ?87%;# -8(&7%<# A8,# a# +&<# +(<5%&-%# A8,# 2)#
485&4# 8&H# L.5;# "%+,F;# ;5&4%,;# M%,%# ,%+@@"# M.5-.#5&#%;;%&-%#4+?%#7.%#+(<5%&-%#7.,%%#8A#
488<HK## 7.%5,#A+?8,57%;H##
#####L.%# M5&&%,)# R+,"# '+<8&4# 6(&)# ;+&4# #####G.5&+#9@(%#-+=%#(B#M57.#+#;=+,7#M+"#78#
!"#$% &'% ()*+,# S A8,# T8(&<# 4%7# 7.%# +(<5%&-%# 78# ?87%# M.5@%# -8@@%-75&4#
7.%5,# %=+5@# -8&7+-7# 5&A8# +7# 7.%# ;+=%# 75=%H#
2)# +&<# 7.%&# -+BB%<# 7.%# -.+@@%&4%# 8AA# M57.#
3&@"#7.8;%#M.8#?87%<#!"#;(!=5775&4#+#B+B%,#
7.%#B+;;58&+7%#@8?%#;8&4)#-)*$./%0$*1.$2"*%
!+@@87# 487# +# 488<5%# !+4H# D.5@%# 7.%# X(<45&4#
S 5&#T8(&<#0H##
M+;#485&4#8&)#7.%#+(<5%&-%#M+;#%&7%,7+5&%<#
#####L.8=+;#6()#G.5&+#9@(%F;#U,%;5<%&7)#;+5<# M57.# B5+&8# ;8@8;# !"# [=5@"# G.(+&4# +&<#
.%# M+;# &87# +7# +@@# ;(,B,5;%<# 7.+7# R+,"# M8&H# J%,%="# '8&4H# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # H#
I&#%V-.+&4%#;7(<%&7#A,8=#L+5M+&)#@+;7#"%+,# #####L.%#M5&&%,;#8A#T8(&<#2#+;5<%#A,8=#R+,"#
R+,"# .+<# !%%&# -.8;%&# A8,# L+5M+&F;# M%,%# 67%B.+&5%)# O(-")# RM%&# +&<# [@+5&%#
%W(5?+@%&7# 8A# I=%,5-+&# N<8@H# I@7.8(4.# .%# 6.+8"5H# R+,"# A5&5;.%<# M57.# -)*$./%
.+<&F7# M8&# 7.+7)# X(;7# 4%775&4# -.8;%&# =%+&7#
0$*1.$2"*# S 67%B.+&5%#
.%#.+<#+#-.+&-%H#
#####I&<# G.5&+# 9@(%# =+:%;# ;(,%# 7.%# M57.# !@$*% 8)9% S O(-"# <5<#
-8&7%;7+&7;# .+?%#+# 488<#-.+&-%#8A# M5&&5&4# ######2;7#U@+-%#D5&&%,#R+,"#'+<8&4#6(&###########################U.878#!"#9,5+&#O88# -471$*% 1)% 1@$% >A$"*# S RM%&#
788)# M.5-.# -,%+7%;# +# !%77%,# @5;7%&5&4# B$C% D$"*% S +&<# [@+5&%# ;+&4#
%VB%,5%&-%H#E&@5:%#+#:+,8+:%#8B%&#=5-#&54.7)#G.5&+#9@(%#.8@<;#7,"8(7;#;8#7.+7#57#5;# E*F474G.$% !4*+7# S H ###################################H
7.%#!%;7# M.8#+,%#-8=B%75&4#+4+5&;7#%+-.#87.%,H#N7# =+:%;#A8,#+#4,%+7#&54.7#8A#;8&4)# #####I&87.%,# +(<5%&-%# =%=!%,)# `48-# Z()# +4,%%<# M57.# 7.%# M8,<;# (;%<# 5&# 7.%# ?5<%8#
%?%A#"8(#<8&F7#;B%+:#*+&<+,5,#G+&78&%;%H# 7.+7#[@+5&%#M+;#K+#-(75%#B+78875%HK#`48-#%VB@+5&%<#7.+7#[@+5&%#M+;#KB%757%)#;M+"5&4#
#####L.%#%?%&5&4#!%4+&#M57.#+#?5<%8#;B88A#8A#I=%,5-+&#N<8@#-,%+7%<#!"#7.%#YZ#7%+=# !+-:# +&<# A8,7.)# +&<# ;5&45&4# W(5,:"# ;8&4;HK# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # )#
@%+<%,#6(;5%#*8"H#6.%#(;%<#7.%#-8&7%;7+&7;#+;#+-78,;#M57.#;8=%#;5&45&4#,%+@@"#M%@@# #####L.%# X(<4%;# -.8;%# 7.%# A5&+@5;7;H# R+,"# M8&# 2;7# B@+-%# +&<# 487# +# B@+W(%# +&<# 45A7#
!(7#87.%,;#5&7%&758&+@@"#8(7#8A#7(&%#+&<#+-75&4#@5:%#!(AA88&;H# -%,75A5-+7%#A8,# b0^#S=+V#+@@8M%<#!"#E6R_)#O(-"#*+;(#M8�&<#B@+-%#+&<#+# b01#45A7#
#####L.%&#-+=%#T8(&<#2H#3&%#8A#7.%#,%W(5,%=%&7;#8A# 7.%#-8&7%;7#5;#7.+7#+7#@%+;7#8&%# -%,75A5-+7%)# +&<# 67%B.+&5%# L;%# M8&# /,<# B@+-%# +&<# +# b21# 45A7# -%,75A5-+7%H# # H#
;8&4# 5&# %57.%,# ,8(&<# =(;7# !%# 5&# #####L.%# 8&@"# ;8(,# &87%# 8A# 7.%# &54.7#
G.5&%;%H# L.5;# 5;# &87# =%+&7# 78# @5=57# M+;# IZH# Y(,5&4# 7.%# ?5<%8# +&<#
7.%# -8&7%;7# 78# 7.8;%# 8A# G.5&%;%# T8(&<# 2)# 7.%# ;8(&<# M+;&F7# ;7,8&4#
.%,57+4%# !(7# 78# B,8=87%# 7.%# (;%# 8A# +&<# 57# ;%%=%<# +;# 7.8(4.# &87# +@@# 8A#
7.%# @+&4(+4%)# X(;7# +;# G.5&+# 9@(%# 7.%# ;B%+:%,;# M%,%# 8&H# P8,7(&+7%@"#
57;%@A# <8%;H# I&<# 8&%# 8A# 7.%# M5&&%,;# <(,5&4# 5&7%,=5;;58&# 7.%"# -8,,%-7%<#
8A# T8(&<# 2)# [(,8# I=%,5-+&# RM%&# 7.%#B,8!@%=#;8#T8(&<#0#M+;#3$H####H#
D%;78&)#B,8?%<#7.+7#B85&7H# #####3&-%# +4+5&)# G.5&+# 9@(%# B(@@%<#
#####L.%# -8&7%;7+&7;)# 5&# 8,<%,# 8A# 8AA# +&87.%,# ;(--%;;A(@# %?%&7H# *+:%#
+BB%+,+&-%)#M%,%#RM%&#S211# ;(,%# "8(# 48# 78# 7.%5,# &%V7# 8&%# Q# 7.%#
'5&4# \8&4# S G.5&+# 9@(%# 6%=5QA8,=+@# 5&# 6IG#
P,+&:# L+&# S3"45/1".$)# 9+@@,88=#I#8&#IB,5@#2/7.H###############H#
D5&;8=%# G.%(&4# S #####U.878;#8A#7.%#;5&45&4#-8&7%;7#+,%#
[,5-#*+#S +7#7.%#@5&:#!%@8MH#9,5+&#O88)#G.5&+#
9@(%F;# ]5;78,5+&# +&<# U.8784,+B.%,)#
[@+5&%# 6.+8"5# D+&4# S
788:#+@@#8A#7.%;%#B.878;#+&<#7.%#8&%;#
](+&# D%5# S
5&# 7.%# +@!(=# %V-%B7# 7.%# 4,8(B# ;.87#
O(-"# *+;(# S6477% 8)9% :;<% ="/7)# ;8# .%# -8(@<# !%# 5&# 57H# I&<,%M# A,8=#
/C^ 67%B.+&5%# L;%# 7.%#+(<5%&-%#788:#7.%#4,8(B#B.878H##H#
S>*./% ?)'$)# *+&<"# *88,%_)# +&<# #####.77Bcdd++;W(+,%<H8,4d4+@@%,"d#
R+,"H# G965&45&4G8&7%;70122H##
#####R+,"#+@;8#B,8?5<%<#;8=%#-8=%<"# #####'8(# -+&# -.%-:# 8(7# =8,%# +!8(7#
A8,# 7.%# +(<5%&-%H# J8.&# D+&4# -+@@%<# G.5&+# 9@(%# +7# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # H#####################
.5=#K+#;5@@"#!+<#+;;#4("K#M.8#-+=%# ######.77BcddMMMH++%>5&%H8,4d+,75-@%;d
8(7# A8,# T8(&<# 2# 5&# +# -8;7(=%# 78# ?8@0^d0^`0G.5&+9@(%H;.7=@##
=+7-.#.5;# ;@%%B".%+<#;8&4# Q# ;7,5B%<# #####I&<#.8B%A(@@"#!"#7.%# &%V7#5;;(%)#
/,<#U@+-%#D5&&%,#67%B.+&5%#L;%# UJF;#+&<#+#A(,,"#78B#.+7H# 7.%#?5<%8#8A#7.%#;.8M#M5@@#!%#8&@5&%e! 0&<#U@+-%#D5&&%,#O(-"#*+;(#
B.878#!"#9,5+&#O88# B.878#!"#9,5+&#O88#
U4"0*#*#0($.%(!"#0('(SV(WJ"#(N.")B%+(R(!"#0(N%#$%)(S./$/(N/#$%+$('(FFF8""%6*#%8/)0(O/)(&%"&B*#%+(X()JB%+(
:/#$.B3(CC(D2E*#%(S./$/Y/J)#"B*+4(N/#$%+$+'(:")9.(2(S/)$)"*$(/)(I%BO2S/)$)"*$('(Z%"&B*#%(C-)*B(=,(>L==((#
!"#$%&'(!)*$%)+,(-./$/0)"-.%)+,(1*&%/0)"-.%)+(2("#3/#%(*#$%)%+$%&(*#(4%&*"(5(""%6*#%73".//89/4(
:%++"0%+'(;<=(;<>(=<?@((5((!%%AB3(CC(D2E*#%(-./$/(F/)A+./-+G4%%$*#0+(H)*&"3+,(I$J&%#$(K#*/#(LM=(
N.%9A(/#B*#%(O/)(I-)*#0(>L==($*4%+((5((DP9%)-$(/O(FFF8"">+QJ8/)0G""%6*#%(*#(IR(S)%++(:")9.(>L==(
The Stony Brook Press ADS! 17
18 Vol. XXXII, Issue 10 | Tuesday, March 15, 2011
arts&entertainment
2
At Stony Brook, E=mc (No Art)
With all these oppositions staring this campus. He is also willing to take bands. “I want to expose people to new
By Alexa Rubinstein them in the face, those involved in the
arts and music scene on campus are
art promotion a step further, through
art rallies, which he says many depart-
music they haven’t heard of,” he said.
“But every once in a while it’s cool to
pushing to get the word out. When the ments would be involved with. “The art bring out a band people have heard of.”
Spotted: a group of students at the TAC has a night for slam poetry per- department is trying to stay alive, and Wenzel said he did not want to pigeon-
large white board in the North Reading formances, science students are not focusing on themselves,” he said, indi- hole himself into a specific genre or into
Room, drawing an incomprehensible swarming Tabler to watch their peers cating that FAO is receiving little feed- booking bands that have the same
reaction they learned in organic chem- stand on the small stage with a lonely back from the art department, and that sound.
istry. Spotted: biology students scan- black microphone, spilling their feelings the art department is focusing on their As far as advertising for Stony
ning their textbooks, open to a page to the audience. When graduate stu- struggle to keep classes despite severe Brooklyn, it will pretty much never hap-
with pictures of muscles in the human dents display their work in the univer- budget cuts. pen on Facebook. Wenzel said he hates
body. It’s no secret that Stony Brook sity art gallery in the Staller Center, or Kozlovski is not the only one bur- it with a passion. Still, “there’s a fine line
puts the sciences at the top of its prior- the Lawrence Alloway Memorial dened by the fact that Stony Brook por- between putting the word out there
ity list, and it’s difficult to find a student Gallery on the first floor of the library, trays itself as a “science school.” Every where people will find it… and being
who’s not a biology major, chemistry the majority of students stroll past with- other Monday, hair flies as head- blatant about promoting,” he said. He
major, or (gasp!) both. But what about out so much as a glance in that direc- bangers rock out to bands playing at even explained that the advertising for
the students who opted for a paintbrush Das Racist was one of the least adver-
instead of a periodic table? Or a sculp- tised for Stony Brooklyn; the band al-
ture instead of scapula? (That’s your ready has its name out in the music
shoulder blade). universe.
Those students may feel underrep- Even though Wenzel himself does-
resented or intimidated at a “science” n’t value in-your-face promotions, he
school. Sure, they can showcase their still thinks it is important that students
work at the Staller Center Art Gallery at Stony Brook know that there are peo-
or Tabler Arts Center Gallery, or they ple who care about the arts here, and he
can perform live music at UCafé. But, wants students to know that art and
so many students are unaware of per- music on a college campus are impor-
formances or art exhibits simply be- tant.
cause there is a lack of advertising for Patrice Zapiti, 22, founder and host
those things. How can artists and mu- of RockYoFace Entertainment & Pro-
sicians make a name for themselves if motions, feels the same way. “There are
the university does not want to support now some amazing shows on campus,
them as much as they support science but a ton of students still don’t know
students? what RYFC is or what we do,” she said.
A solution to the underrepresenta- She advocates for better advertising
tion of the arts could be more funding, around campus, even though RockY-
but, that is easier said than done. Stony tion. Arthur Kozlovski, 20, president of RockYoFaceCase. Bill Wenzel, founder oFace is becoming increasingly popular,
Brook’s budget has been cut by millions the Fine Arts Organization, thinks that of Stony Brooklyn, brings both lesser- mostly through word-of-mouth. One
of dollars, and often times, art and needs to change. His goal is to begin known and popular bands from New of RockYoFace’s better advertising
music classes are the first things to go. closing the gap between what he sees as York City to perform. But still, too strategies, she explained, is having “in-
In the past ten years, funding for the an increasing rift between art students many students are unaware of the per- terns dressing up in gorilla and banana
University Hospital has literally went up and science students. “The school has formances in the dark, comfy little suits chasing each other around while
hundreds of millions of dollars. For the grown to be cliquey and isolated,” he space behind the Union ballroom. handing out fliers between classes.”
2010-2011 year, total funding for the said. “We’re segregated in the quads. However, Wenzel kind of likes it Everyone has seen them. Zapiti says
college of arts and science is around What if I don’t want to live with the that way. He wants to translate the that it’s actually very effective.
$111,000,000. Last year, it was around people I see in class every day?” he music scene of Brooklyn to Stony The first RockYoFace show of the
$113,000,000. Within the College of asked, about the fact that Tabler quad is Brook, where he said not much was semester featured six bands, a stray
Arts and Sciences, the music depart- generally where arts/theater students going on in terms of live music before from the three-act line up that it nor-
ment has seen a $100,000 decrease. In live, and Mendelsohn is where many bi- Stony Brooklyn and RockYoFace. That’s mally is. Since that show was very suc-
the 2008-2009 year, the art department’s ology or pre-med students call home. why the bands at Stony Brooklyn are cessful, Zapiti says that trend will
funding was around $2,100,000. Now, it For Kozlovski, a psychology major, not ones that are heard on the radio continue. At the show on March 21st,
is a little over $1,800,000. the next step for the Fine Arts Organi- very often, if ever. Wenzel wants to for example, there will be four acts; one
Meanwhile, funding for the sci- zation, and possibly the art department keep Stony Brooklyn from becoming acoustic and three electric. Zapiti
ences has steadily increased. For exam- itself, is to significantly increase the uni- too commercialized. To do that, he in- would like to see more students walking
ple, funding for pharmacology alone versity’s “minor” focus on art, through a vites bands that are more or less un- through the double doors of UCafe to
has shot up around two million dollars process he calls “art therapy.” known to the general public to play see RockYoFace, and the best way to ac-
since last year. In 2006, funding for That would include lectures or dis- Stony Brooklyn in the fall, such as complish that is by increasing awareness
anatomical sciences was $1,900,000. cussions about how science impacts art, Drink Up Buttercup. Then, he ex- and funding of the art/music scene on
This year, it is almost $3 million. The and vice versa. Since Kozlovski has a plained, he can invite a band that has campus. Perhaps through the work of
way things are going now, artists will perspective from both the arts and sci- more of a name for itself, such as Das art advocates, the students who opt for
continue their struggle to make them- ences, he believes that art therapy would Racist, in the spring semester in order that paintbrush can feel more welcome
selves known at Stony Brook, while be a step toward some type of unifica- to keep the balance between unknown, at Stony Brook, a school that’s not so
classes get cut right and left. tion between the arts and sciences on underground bands and more popular “sciencey.”
The Stony Brook Press Arts & Entertainment 19
Das Awesome
to the band than what we had initially
By Andi Liao thought.
The trio capitalized on their seem-
ingly overnight rise to stardom and sub-
Two weeks ago, the enigmatic hip- sequently released their critically
hop group Das Racist, hailing from acclaimed mixtape, Shut Up, Dude, in
Brooklyn, came to our very own Uni- early 2010.
versity Café—and boy was it a perform- The album was well crafted and at-
ance to remember. tempted to rewrite the meaning of pop-
Now before this show, I was not a ular hip-hop by removing all the
fan of Das Racist at all. The only song I posturing and seriousness that we have
had heard was their big 2008 hit, “Com- all come to associate with it. To put it
bination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell,” and simply, they wanted to have fun. And
to be honest, like many music fans and you know what, good for them. It’s
critics, I dismissed the group as nothing about time that musicians started to
more than a joke act. I mean, our rea- take themselves less seriously, because
sons weren’t completely unfounded. at the end of the day, we all do what we
The lyrics merely repeat the title over do because we love to do it and want to
and over again. It’s not anything revolu- have fun doing it.
tionary or groundbreaking in terms of The debut earned them a 7.8 rating
songwriting and lyricism. on Pitchfork Media, which was no small
However, there was more, it seems, feat for a new artist, let alone a new was extremely and pleasantly surprised other artists to keep us along for the
artist that was previously consid- by what I heard. What they lack in tra- ride.
ered to be nothing more than a ditional hip-hop lyricism, wordplay and Before this show, I had absolutely
joke. Taking advantage again of flow, things that they challenge in their zero interest in Das Racist’s music. I
their critical acclaim, they re- music, they make up for with obscure thought it to be childish, amateurish
leased their second mixtape, Sit references and just straight up swagger. and just bad. I know I’m a bad music
Down, Man, in the later portion of Most rappers do tend to either take critic considering I live close to nearly
2010 and like Shut Up, Dude, it themselves too seriously or not seri- all of the venues in NYC and had more
was a free download on their web- ously at all. The members of Das Racist than enough opportunities to see them
site distributed through Mishka have found themselves a perfect middle live, but after finally seeing them at
and their own label, Greedhead. ground. They play packed venues like Stony Brook, I came away really digging
This time, they garnered even Death by Audio and Glasslands for peo- their music. I was expecting to hear ter-
more praise from critics, collabo- ple who want to get down with their ribly mediocre music, but I was treated
rating both with well-known pro- bad selves and have a great time. with some of the most interesting hip-
ducers like Diplo and Chairlift, as If anyone has epitomized the party- hop I have heard in a long time.
well as artists like EL-P and Des- rap scene at all, it’s definitely Das Racist. They captured all the bravado and
pot, snatching up a “Best New However, they do it right. They get the cool guy attitude without getting
Music” tag along with an 8.7 from crowd pumped up with great beats and bogged down with false posturing and
Pitchfork. almost unrivaled energy. But instead of trying to be cooler than thou.
Prior to this show, as I had relying on corny party chants, they use Go download their albums. You’ll
stated, I had no idea what their their vast knowledge of quite literally thank me later.
music sounded like. But after- everything as a reference point to hook
wards, I went out and down- listeners and dig deeper than most
loaded their two mixtapes and
20 Arts & Entertainment Vol. XXXII, Issue 10 | Tuesday, March 15, 2011
opinion
Wherefore Art Thou, Ghoul-A-Go-Go?
Since USG’s
rather sudden
takeover of SBU-
TV a few weeks
ago, many have
noted (including
The Press) what a
Zach Knowlton complete dick
move that was.
Even members of
USG themselves have kinda sorta ad-
mitted that they probably didn’t go
about things in exactly the way they
should have. But it was all for the best,
right? They’ll bring SBU-TV into the fu-
ture, make it relevant again and stop
wasting student money on a media out-
let that no one even paid attention to,
right? Well, I for one actually watched
SBU-TV with a regularity I’m sure the
members of the station itself even did-
n’t, and there is one specific reason for
that: Ghoul-A-Go-Go. How the fuck am
I supposed to watch my beloved Ghoul-
A-Go-Go now?
For those of you unfamiliar with
this brilliant little show, let me describe
its majesty to you. Ghoul-A-Go-Go is a
public access show unlike no other. Pro-
duced in nearby Hauppauge, it’s a kid’s
show that I’m fairly certain no actual
child watches. Hosted by vampire Vlad
Tsepis and his monstrous friends
Creighton and The Invisibleman,
Ghoul-A-Go-Go plays clips of old 50’s
and 60’s educational films and adver-
tisements, with a decent chunk of the
show dedicated to live music from local
and more well known bands. The 5, 6, 7,
8’s, that awesome all-girl Japanese rock-
abilly band (featured in the first Kill Bill
movie) performed there once, many
years ago. There are also random seg- women, who may or may not be secret about a public access show that features ready going through withdrawals. It was
ments of kids dancing to weird 60’s pop lesbian lovers, should never go camping grown men pretending to be vampires the best thing about SBU-TV, perhaps
songs. In other words, it’s absolutely alone because they’re useless and will and other sorts of Universal monsters), even one of the best things about living
brilliant. just start forest fires. I never would have Ghoul-A-Go-Go is perhaps the perfect on campus, and I really am saddened to
Without Ghoul-A-Go-Go, I never seen advertisements for house cleaning show for college students. It requires no no longer see it on my television. Ex-
would have learned about how incredi- robots that actually were ads for kitchen brain power, it’s absolutely absurd, cuse me while I go listen to its guitar-
bly vital paper is. Thanks to the short appliances, but thanks to Ghoul-A-Go- there’s neat music and you get to make twangarific theme song and weep.
educational film “Paper and I,” I truly Go, I did. fun of stupid little kids dancing in
understand wood pulp’s importance. Or In all seriousness (well, at least as ridiculous ways. Sadly, it’s not online,
I would have never learned how two serious as one can be when writing and it plays on very few stations. I’m al-
The Stony Brook Press 27
sports
Can the Mets “Amaze” Again?
ising. The brawny corner outfielder The Bad will have to be able to stay healthy
has had the hot swing of the spring. David Wright looks absolutely and get at least 500 plate appear-
By Vincent Barone Yes, I know, Spring Training isn’t lost at the plate. Not Even Carlos ances a piece. I expect maybe a 25-
indicative of anything, really, but Beltran himself knows when he’ll homer/80 RBI season from the first
Even the most casual of Mets Duda’s pre-season success could be ready to play. And we most likely baseman, which would be nice from
fans know that the ballclub is in translate into serious playing time if won’t see Johan Santana at all this the six hole in the lineup.
shambles. When I saw my baby Carlos Beltran’s glass knee poses a season due to his shoulder woes. Even if healthy, it’s not likely
cousin of just 14 months in a Mets problem, which, considering that This is all bad news for the Mets, that Bay will put up the numbers
onesie the other day, I asked her Beltran barely made it through one who are trying desperately to put In- like he did in Boston, but he can still
what she thought about the health of Grapefruit League game before hav- juryfest 2010 behind them. produce. Beltran, on the other hand,
Johan Santana, Jason Bay’s swing What is going on in the quag- is just a giant question mark.
and Luis Castillo’s range at second. mire that is second base? Luis As far as the rotation is con-
She drooled a bit, mumbled, and Castillo is not professional-grade cerned, R.A. Dickey’s success is
rolled over. “Yeah,” I said. “Things talent any more; he hasn’t been for a paramount. He came into his own
aren’t looking too good.” while now. Castillo’s Mo Vaughn- last year with the Mets, but it re-
When your team’s Spring Train- esque range, coupled with his offen- mains to be seen if last year was just
ing headlines read something like: sive ineptitude, will kill the Mets in a matter of serendipity. Both new
‘Wright Swears He Won’t Bail,’ 2011. And his understudies, Daniel starters, Young and Chris Capuano,
‘Reyes Can’t Name All Previous ing to be sidelined, is very possible. Murphy and Brad Emaus, aren’t need to stay healthy and give at least
Teammates Who Have Played Sec- Mets pitching has been surpris- much better. Murphy might be the a B effort as well.
ond Base,’ ‘Santana Promises That ingly competent this March. New- best of the lowly trifecta. He might You can forget about winning
His Health is Not Getting Worse,’ comer Chris Young has looked as be a hole in the lineup, but at least the division. The Phillies already
and ‘New York Sports Fan Forgets superb as he could in his nine in- he’s young and has a bit of an up- have that in the bag. Even in the
the Mets Existence,’ it’s tough to go nings of work, compiling five strike- side. best-case scenario, the Mets will
in to the regular season with even a outs and with just two runs need to depend on colossal break-
modicum of hope. surrendered. And, if the injury-prone How the Mets Could Win downs on the parts of the Braves
But, hey, nobody could have en- right-hander stays healthy, Young Well, with the talent in the Na- and Marlins. After that, maybe they
visioned the Texas Rangers success could be a solid four or five man at tional League East, so much has to could notch the Wild Card spot if—
last year, so I guess you can’t com- the end of the rotation. Francisco go wrong for the Mets to come out eh, you know what, maybe just wait
pletely rule the Mets out. Rodriguez looks like he will be the all right in 2011. Firstly, a successful till 2012.
veritable ninth inning threat that the season hinges on the heart of the
The Good Mets need him to be. Met lineup. The three-four-five hit-
Um…uh…Lucas Duda looks prom- ters—Bay, Beltran and Ike Davis—